The league year has started, and the first wave of free agency is in the rearview mirror. Now that teams have some new faces and filled some roster holes, let’s take a guess at what round one will look like in April’s NFL Draft. For the sake of this particular mock draft, we will not be using trades. The selections here are what I think teams will do, which will undoubtedly be wrong, so feel free to mock the mock in the comment section!
Pick 1, Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza will step into a decent situation: current Seahawks offensive
coordinator Klint Kubiak is now the head coach, Ashton Jeanty will be in the backfield, and Brock Bowers is an elite pass catching option. They also beefed up their offensive line and traded away Geno Smith, further cementing this pick.
Pick 2, New York Jets – Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
The Jets made a couple trades (for Geno Smith and Minkah Fitzpatrick), but still need some edge help. Reese provides versatility for Aaron Glenn and company in the front seven.
Pick 3, Arizona Cardinals – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Cardinals added a couple guards in free agency and cut Kylar Murray. The big question mark is quarterback, but it seems like the team is planning for a 2027 draft pick at that position. Here, they shore up the outside of their offensive line.
Pick 4, Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Titans spent some money overhauling their defensive line and secondary. They could still use some playmakers at linebacker, and Styles has the athleticism and skills that could make him an absolute monster of a front seven chess piece.
Pick 5, New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Giants added some offensive help by way of fullback, tight end, and slot receiver. Malik Nabers is returning from injury, so he might need some time to get back in the swing of things. Tate can provide a jolt to the offense and be a true X receiver for this offense.
Pick 6, Cleveland Browns – Rueben Bain Jr, Miami (FL)
Cleveland added several offensive linemen, including a right tackle, so I’m not sure Mauigoa goes to the Browns here. Instead, they add a pass rusher opposite Myles Garrett. Bain has a knack for getting to the quarterback, so in the rare moments Garrett can’t beat a triple team, Bain should be able to clean up.
Pick 7, Washington Commanders – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Commanders add a dynamic playmaker to the offense next to Jayden Daniels, as well as insurance in case Daniels gets hurt again. If Marcus Mariota has to step in, the offense should still be explosive with Love joining Terry McLaurin, Treylon Burks, and new addition Chig Okonkwo.
Pick 8, New Orleans Saints – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Saints may have found their quarterback of the future, so they will likely try to surround him with as many weapons as possible. Tyson is a bit of a risk due to injury history, but when healthy he’s good enough to be WR1 in this class.
Pick 9, Kansas City Chiefs – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
The Chiefs need to keep Mahomes healthy and open running lanes for newly signed Kenneth Walker III. Mauigoa could slide right in at right tackle on day one or move inside if necessary. Jawaan Taylor was a cap casualty, so they need some extra competition at the right tackle spot.
Pick 10, Cincinnati Bengals – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Bengals finally let Trey Hendrickson go, so they add another productive edge rusher in Bailey. Bailey could slot in opposite new addition Boye Mafe and second year player Shemar Stewart. With Jonathan Allen in the middle now, the edge players should be able to take advantage of more one-on-one opportunities.
Pick 11, Miami Dolphins – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Miami brought in some secondary help in free agency, but need a lot more. Delane has been a consistently elite coverage corner with consistent positive grades against the run as well, perfect for a team trying to remake their defensive identity.
Pick 12, Dallas Cowboys – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Cowboys didn’t add anything of note on offense, which wasn’t their issue last season. Defense was the issue, and they’ve added some decent pieces through free agency and trades. The back end of their defense still needs some help, and Caleb Downs is the best player available here.
Pick 13, Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Rams needed help at corner, but they made a couple big moves to address that position with former Chiefs players. Now they can focus on other needs, like giving Matt Stafford another weapon in his arsenal. While Puka Nacua and DaVante Adams are great, Lemon would add another versatile piece to the Rams offense.
Pick 14, Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Though the Ravens signed John Simpson in free agency, they still need to beef up the interior of their offensive line. Ioane is the unquestioned top guard prospect (not including the tackle prospects who may move to guard) in this draft.
Pick 15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
The Bucs need help with their pass rush, and Mesidor is one of the best in the class. With the coaching staff and front office likely on thin ice after another disappointing season, I could see them not caring about Mesidor’s age and taking the most pro-ready edge rusher in the draft.
Pick 16, New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts) – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
After trading for Geno Smith, taking Ty Simpson in the first round seems unlikely. McCoy, if fully healthy, is one of the best corners in the draft and could nicely round out a completely overhauled defensive secondary.
Pick 17, Detroit Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Lions don’t want to rely on former fourth round pick Giovanni Sanu at left tackle. Freeling is a left tackle, allowing the Lions to keep Penei Sewell on the right side where he’s been fantastic.
Pick 18, Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Vikings are paying Brian Flores a lot of money to run a very good defense, and Thieneman could be the next player to really thrive under Flores. His versatility on the back end will really allow Flores to continue his next-level scheme.
Pick 19, Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Panthers addressed nearly all their needs in free agency, signing big name players to positions where they needed reinforcements. This allows the team to truly go BPA according to their board, and there are very few players available at this point better than Sadiq. He would provide the athletic mismatch at tight end that JT Sanders was supposed to provide and, while Sadiq isn’t a good blocker per se, he will work his butt off blocking in the run game.
Pick 20, Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers) – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Cowboys took Downs earlier this round, and they continue to invest in their defense here. McDonald is the best run stopping tackle in the draft and has the traits that could turn him into an above average pass rushing lineman. It’s a bet on projection, but worst case the Cowboys get better against the run and allow Rashon Gary, Quinnen Williams, and company to feast against the pass.
Pick 21, Pittsburgh Steelers – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Aaron Rogers is still taking his sweet time deciding on whether or not to return to the Steelers. With the Browns picking behind them, the Steelers might not want to risk waiting until the second round to grab QB2 in this draft. Simpson would immediately challenge Mason Rudolph for the starting spot if Rogers decides to hang up his cleats.
Pick 22, Los Angeles Chargers – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The Chargers were aggressive in patching up their offensive line, so they try to add some talent to their defensive secondary. Safety has become a bit of a weakness for the Chargers, and EMW would provide a versatile, talented player on the back end.
Pick 23, Philadelphia Eagles – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Philadelphia has had more than its fair share of drama the last few seasons, but they kept the majority of their team intact. Nakobe Dean signed with Las Vegas, so the Eagles might look to continue their pattern of having a dominant rotation of front seven players.
Pick 24, Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars) – Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
The Browns already took a pass rusher earlier this round, so they would probably want to give their young quarterback (either Shadeur Sanders or a draft pick in 2026 or 2027) a weapon to grow with. Cooper isn’t the flashiest player in terms of sheer athleticism, but he produces. He also brings that winning culture from Indiana to a team that desperately needs it.
Pick 25, Chicago Bears – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Banks is steadily rising back up draft boards as he continues to show that his injuries appear to be completely behind him. The Bears addressed the starting safety spots in free agency, but only signed some depth pieces on the defensive line. Banks would immediately be a rotational piece at the very least.
Pick 26, Buffalo Bills – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Now that the Bills have DJ Moore, taking a first round receiver isn’t in the cards, especially with how this board has fallen. Defensively, the Bills need to get better against the run. Allen fits that mold. While he struggles in pass coverage at times, he is often looked at as a perfect “green dot” linebacker at the next level.
Pick 27, San Francisco 49ers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The 49ers added a couple stopgap options at wide receiver, so they might look to improve their offensive line. Proctor has all the talent in the world, but may have to move inside to guard. Worst case, he could play right tackle and learn from Trent Williams for a year or two until Williams ultimately retires.
Pick 28, Houston Texans – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Texans defense is already one of the best in the league, but they are a bit thin up the middle. If Woods turns out to be as good as his potential once promised, the Texans might have an historic level defense keeping them in games regardless of how CJ Stroud plays.
Pick 29, Kansas City Chiefs (via Los Angeles Rams) – TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Chiefs got an extra first rounder this year as part of the Trent McDuffie trade to the Rams. After getting a mauling tackle earlier in the round, the Chiefs decide to help out their pass rush. Parker is another Clemson defender that disappointed last season but has shown the ability to be a complete game wrecker.
Pick 30, Miami Dolphins (via Denver Broncos) – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Dolphins just swung a trade with the Broncos sending Jaylen Waddle and a fourth round pick in exchange for this pick, a third, and a fourth. Miami used its first pick this round to take a corner, so this time they take a receiver to try to fill the void.
Pick 31, New England Patriots – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
The Patriots aren’t ready to move on from Will Campbell just yet, so they instead look to the other tackle position. Morgan Moses is 35 years old, and Blake Miller played the vast majority of his snaps at right tackle in college. He could be a swing tackle when needed while learning from Moses.
Pick 32, Seattle Seahawks – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
The Seahawks got poached quite a bit this offseason, which usually happens to the defending champs. Here, they grab an edge defender who has some experience bumping inside on passing downs. Since the Seahawks like to be multiple on the defensive front, Young would be a great chess piece for that defense.
