Well folks, the time has finally come. All the rumors and the chatter will become fact as the NFL draft is here. When the dust settles, we’ll know where the next crop of NFL players will be headed. With that being said, lets jump right into a mock draft.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Yeah, this is obvious. No shocker here as the Raiders land their franchise QB with a pick that we all assumed was happening months ago.
2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
I debated this pick being Bailey or Ohio State’s Arvelle Reese but ultimately landed on Bailey. The talented pass
rusher lands in New York.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
I don’t do trades in these mock drafts but if I did, this could very well be a spot that would be on the move. I expect many teams to be calling Arizona in an attempt to move up. If they stay at this pick, Reese makes a ton of sense.
4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Titans add a dynamic offensive piece to help out Cam Ward a bit more. While drafting a running back inside the top five may be controversial, Love is a game changing player that should help the Titans offense in multiple areas.
5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
For years John Harbaugh had Kyle Hamilton lead his defense in Baltimore. This time in New York he finds that type of player in Downs.
6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
This is another spot that a trade could occur as there are still many good prospects available. Adding Tate to this group makes a ton of sense and is a good fit. They might have some questions at the quarterback position but regardless of who is throwing the football, Tate will help in that area.
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The third straight Ohio State player goes off the board here as Sonny Styles is a explosive prospect which is what this Washington team needs. Styles makes a lot of sense for Dan Quinn’s team.
8. New Orleans Saints: Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami
The Saints grab a guy who was once considered a blue-chip prospect. Concerns about his size and some potential off field troubles cause him to fall a little bit and right into the hands of a New Orleans team that needs a jolt in the pass rush department.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The second straight Miami Hurricane comes off the board and heads to Kansas City. Many think this pick will be defense and it could be, but offensive tackle is a need for this team as well and Mauigoa is a talented football player.
10. New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
After a recent trade with the Bengals sending defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to Cincy, the Giants grab a receiver with a lot of potential. Tyson could have very well been the top receiver off the board if he didn’t come with injury concerns. The Giants take advantage of those concerns and land a potential blue chipper.
11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Miami simply needs talent on both sides of the ball. Adding a guy like Delane to their defense would be a pretty good start.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Cowboys need talent on defense and adding Thieneman at the safety position would certainly help that. They have a few other needs but Dallas takes the second safety off the board.
13. Los Angeles Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Los Angeles is stacked and this pick is almost a luxury as this was Atlanta’s original pick stemming from the James Pearce Jr trade last year. They spend that pick to give themselves yet another weapon. Adding Lemon to that receiver room would almost be unfair.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
Ioane might very well be the safest player in this entire draft class. If there were someone who has the biggest chance to become a good football player at the very worst and one of the best at the position at the very least, Ioane would be the guy to look at. Many teams would love a player like this.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Here we go, the Buccaneers address their pass rush by selecting Mesidor. He had a fantastic season at Miami and is very polished as a pass rusher. However, there are legit concerns that come with him. He has had trouble with injuries in the past and he is a 25 year old rookie. Are the Bucs the right fit for Mesidor though? Perhaps they could view it as selecting a player that won’t need as much development and can step in right away and make an impact.
Tampa Bay could certainly look to trade down from this spot and they may even prefer that if the board falls this way but adding to that defense is something that seems likely even though Jason Licht could always throw a curveball by selecting a guy like Vega Ioane or Kenyon Sadiq.
16. New York Jets: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Jets second first round selection addresses the offensive side of the ball with Denzel Boston. They need talent on that side of the ball and while they might not get their long term solution at QB in this draft, adding good football players is always a good idea.
17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Detroit taking a tackle at this spot feels like a pretty obvious thing to happen and they are in luck because there is a lot of talented players at the position in this close. Freeling’s stock has risen over the last few weeks and the Lions pounce.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
I think the Vikings would have loved Dillon Thieneman but with him off the board they go with the next best safety. McNeil-Warren has a knack for creating turnovers and that is something a team like Minnesota could certainly use.
19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Panthers could consider wide receiver here, but I think the appeal of Sadiq may be too good to pass up. They simply need weapons on that offense no matter where they line up and Sadiq could bring an explosive element to Carolina’s offense.
20. Dallas Cowboys: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
As I said earlier, Dallas needs defensive help and they double up on defense in the first round picking CJ Allen here. Linebacker is a need for them and while there are a few guys on day two that could make sense but this feels like a solid landing spot for Allen.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Spence Fano, OT, Utah
This is a dream scenario for the Steelers. They may look to move up a few spots to ensure they get a tackle. In this case, they don’t have to move up at all. This addresses a need while not having to give up any extra assets. That’s a win-win for Pittsburgh.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Chargers take advantage of a talented player falling due to injury. If it weren’t for a torn ACL that caused him to miss the entire 2025 season, McCoy may very well have been a top ten pick. Instead he drops to the early twenties where the Chargers take a gamble on the upside.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Philly could go in a few different directions here and the pending status of A.J. Brown’s future with the Eagles made me wonder about receiver here but ultimately, I think the Eagles go back to the trenches and land an offensive tackle for the future.
24. Cleveland Browns: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Ohio State
Another offensive tackle off the board and Cleveland lands another Buckeye. The Browns have reworked nearly their entire offensive line and adding Proctor to help out makes a ton of sense.
25. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Faulk is an interesting player. He is listed as an EDGE rusher but his size has lead many to believe he may kick inside to the interior at the NFL level. Chicago adds another piece to that defensive line.
26. Buffalo Bills: Kayden McDonald, IDL, Ohio State
Buffalo is still in contender mode and while they have a few options here, adding McDonald would help them be able to stop the run more consistently. This is a pretty nice fit late in the first round.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Banks, IDL, Florida
If it weren’t for some injury concerns, Banks could certainly go higher than this, but the Niners take advantage. That defense has a lot of talent and adding Banks makes it even more dangerous.
28. Houston Texans: Peter Woods, IDL, Clemson
The run on interior defensive lineman continues with Peter Woods. The Texans already have a fantastic pass rush group and adding a player with Woods’ potential could be a very scary thought to opposing offenses.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Kansas City could very well consider corner at 9th overall but after acquiring this pick by trading away Trent McDuffie, they look for a way to replace him. Terrell comes in and plays an important role on the Kansas City defense.
30. Miami Dolphins: Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
Like Kansas City dealing away McDuffie, Miami takes a receiver to replace Jaylen Waddle, who they traded for this pick from Denver. After moving on from both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Cooper comes in with a golden opportunity to be a big piece of Miami’s offense.
31. New England Patriots: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Rodriguez’s stock has risen a good bit over the past couple of months and now he finds himself in the first round. He is an explosive athlete who can do a little bit of everything. He put up monster numbers at Texas Tech and figures to be a solid player at the next level.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Just to get this out of the way, I would be surprised if Seattle was actually picking here. They have only four total picks in this entire draft and obviously will want more. Being the last pick in the first round, it is the last chance for someone to get a player with the 5th year option. They lost Riq Woolen this offseason so if they stay, adding a corner makes sense.
There it is. The time for guessing is over, and we will have our answers before we know it. We’ll see just how right (or wrong) I am soon enough.
