The NFL Combine has come and gone, which means it is a fitting time for my first mock draft of the season! This is a combination of both what I think could happen and what I would personally do as the team’s General Manager.
- Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza to the Raiders has been the consensus number one pick for the last two months, and the only way I see that changing is if someone trades a haul to move up and select him; however, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Mendoza offers a solid baseline in his processing, accuracy, and decision-making, with room to improve in all three categories. What really makes Mendoza special is the unbelievable character and leadership he brings to a locker room, as well as an amazing work ethic. These intangibles are what the greats possessed, and they build a very good foundation for Mendoza to develop his other tools. However, my concern with Mendoza in the next level is the talent level that will be present around him. The Raiders completed the first step by hiring a strong offensive mind in Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator, Klint Kubiak, but they will need to bolster the offensive line and the receiving corps around Mendoza if they truly want to get the best out of him.
- New York Jets – Reuben Bain, ED, Miami (FL)
Many are going to be concerned about Bain’s arm length at the next level, measuring in at the combine with 30 ⅞” arms, which is a historic outlier for the position. However, I think if anyone is going to overcome historic arm length, it’s Bain. He consistently wins with power on the edge and has a very large pass rush skillset that includes many different moves and counters. He is also extremely stout against the run, can set a hard edge, and has a relentless motor, both against the run and the pass. He is also extremely versatile, meaning he could play 3-tech if asked, and this gives the Jets incredible flexibility along the Defensive Line. In addition, the Jets just traded edge rusher Jermaine Johnson less than a week ago, so the edge position has a glaring role currently. Overall, while the arm length is concerning, I believe Bain has the pass-rush tools to become a top-tier edge rusher at the next level, and he will solve a big area of need for the New York Jets.
- Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Arvell Reese might be the most complicated prospect in this year’s draft. His lack of experience at both LB and Edge Rusher means there are two possible outcomes for him in the NFL. He could be a strong edge rusher who will need to develop a proper pass rush plan as he tends to either bull rush Offensive Linemen or simply out-athletes them, but he will be extremely strong if asked to drop into coverage due to his strong eyes and zone IQ from playing Linebacker. Or he could be a strong linebacker, who teams could scheme up open lanes to get after the ball carrier. He has a good ability to shed blocks and tackle, so his future position will depend entirely on who drafts him and the Defensive Coordinator’s plan for him. Regardless of what position he plays, he will need a decent amount of coaching to refine his game, as he missed out on crucial snaps based on his usage. If the Cardinals were to draft him here, they would immediately bolster the run-defense and he is well worth the risk to a team that has been lacking defensive playmakers the last couple years.
- Tennessee Titans – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Titans have needs at almost every position on the roster. They need Offensive Line, they need edge rushers, they need secondary help. I think Lemon is the best wide receiver in this class, and he would be insanely valuable in helping Cam Ward develop further. Lemon projects as a slot receiver at the next level, but he has the ability to play outside if need be, and has the route-running nuance and body-control to get open at all three levels of the field. He is also extremely intelligent to understand zone coverage and has a strong ability to work open and find the soft spot in the zones. Lemon has the incredible ability to catch rather difficult contested catch opportunities, while also only having 3 drops on 175 career targets. The last two years have shown the ability for primarily slot wide receivers to be a number one option in an offense, such as Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and there is a good chance that Makai Lemon could join those guys in the next few years.
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- New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
At this point in time, the Giants have a strong core of young guys at many of the premier positions in the league. They could realistically draft offensive line, but I think they draft the best player available and draft Caleb Downs to be another playmaker on that defense. He has every single trait you could want in a starting Safety at the next level, he has the requisite athletic tools, some of the best Zone IQ you will find at the position, and is a strong tackle against the run. He is the complete package and will immediately raise the floor of the Giants’ defense.
- Cleveland Browns – Francis Mauigoa, T, Miami (FL)
The Browns enter the offseason needing to address all five positions along the offensive line, while they made a trade for Tytus Howard, they still need four more guys, so Mauigoa is a no-brainer. He has the chance to slide inside to guard if needed, but otherwise, he can be a franchise right tackle at the next level, and his ability to pass protect and run block gives him an incredibly high floor at the next level.
- Washington Commanders – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Washington has one of the oldest rosters in the entire league, and they need to begin to add young talent. Adding Delane to a CB room that has Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil will become an instant strength for this team and will begin the roster turnover that Washington desperately needs.
- New Orleans Saints – David Bailey, ED, Texas Tech
Bailey has one of the best first steps in the entire class and can provide an immediate impact in the direct passing game as he has the requisite traits to win extremely well against the pass. Where his concern comes in is he often doesn’t have a secondary move to fall back on when the speed or bull rush doesn’t work, and will need to develop further to become more of an impact against the run. The Saints could use some added juice along the defensive line; how much juice Bailey will bring in the long-term will be entirely dependent on how he can develop a more complete pass-rushing profile, in addition to strengthening his anchor against the run.
- Kansas City Chiefs – Spencer Fano, T, Utah
The Chiefs have announced that starting Right Tackle Jawaan Taylor will be released in order to save on some cap space. Investing in the Offensive Line this high in the draft has the potential to be the smartest long-term move as the Chiefs try to get back into the Super Bowl conversation. The O-Line market is particularly weak in Free Agency this year and Fano projects as a plug-and-play Right Tackle at the next level.
- Cincinnati Bengals – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Bengals need to take the best defensive player available. The defense was atrocious last season, and particularly the linebacker play, so drafting Styles at 10 will add a much-needed playmaker to this defense. Styles is the ideal linebacker prospect; he measured in at 6-foot-5, ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, and jumped a 43.5” vertical. The Bengals tend to pick players who are absurd physical specimens, and Styles fits that bill to a tee. Not to mention, he is a consistent tackler, isn’t afraid to take on blocks, has a strong set of eyes and a feel for zone, as well as the athletic tools to man up on Tight Ends or Running Backs.
- Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Dolphins desperately need Cornerback help. Right now, all of their starting cornerbacks from 2025 are projected to hit free agency, so this McCoy might be one of the more obvious picks in the entire draft. When McCoy played back in 2024, he had some of the best tape you will see in this entire draft. The issue is that he played no college football in 2025 due to an ACL tear, and also didn’t work out at the Senior Bowl or the Combine. The trust in McCoy will come from what he showed in 2025, but for the Dolphins, it just might be worth the chance.
- Dallas Cowboys – Akheem Mesidor, ED, Miami (FL)
Mesidor is a fascinating prospect because he has some of the best pass rush film of any edge rusher in this draft class, however he will be 25 years old on Draft Night. Now, for a rebuilding team that is a few years away from competing, will most likely not be in on Mesidor. But for a team like Dallas, who you could make the argument that they are only a few pieces away from competing in the NFC once again, could definitely be interested in bringing in an extremely clean and talented player in Akheem Mesidor.
- Los Angeles Rams – Monroe Freeling, T, Georgia
The Rams are in a very advantageous position, they just took a trip to the NFC Championship game, and are regarded as having one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, and have two first-round picks due to the James Pearce trade in the 2025 NFL Draft. They are in the position to take the best player available, and while they could draft a wide receiver, I believe investing in the Offensive Line will continue to keep the championship window open, in addition to Freeling being the potential Rob Havenstein long-term replacement. Freeling is one of the most athletic tackles in the class, and just so happens to be the size of a building. Although he is still raw in run blocking, he is a sound pass protector and, with time, can develop into a potential franchise tackle.
- Baltimore Ravens – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Ravens have been searching for a big-bodied “X” wide receiver to pair with Lamar Jackson for a long time: Tate is that guy. Tate has borderline generational ball skills and has excellent contested catch ability, converting 12/14 contested catch opportunities in his final season, while also registering zero drops. While he ran a limited route tree, and he’s not going to be good after the catch, he can be the strong red zone presence and elevate the Ravens’ passing attack.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cashius Howell, ED, Texas A&M
One of the biggest weaknesses that was exposed this past season for the Buccaneers was the lack of a consistent pass-rush. Tampa Bay has some young talent along the Defensive Line. YaYa Diaby and Calijah Kancey have both shown flashes, but nothing consistent. Tampa Bay adding Cashius Howell to the mix could be the piece to push it over the edge. Howell is a little undersized, meaning he would need to play in a 2-4 since he mainly relies on his speed and agility as opposed to relying on power. Tampa Bay is one of the most consistent teams to run a 2-4; so the scheme fit is there.
- New York Jets – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Other than Garrett Wilson, the Jets have very little help in the receiving room, even with the addition of Adonai Mitchell. The room is still barren and needs another guy. Tyson’s play on the field is nothing short of awesome; he is a great route runner, good after the catch, and has reliable hands. He is also QB-friendly as he tends to work back towards the QB during the scramble drill. All of his red flags are contingent on his extensive injury history; he has suffered three season-ending injuries over the past three years. At some point, the talent is worth the gamble, and I think the Jets will stop the slide with their second first-round pick.
- Detroit Lions – Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
An aging Lions O-Line, which just two years ago was one of the team’s strengths, is now in need of more young talent as Frank Ragnow retired last season, and the retirement of Taylor Decker is coming sooner rather than later. Ioane might be one of the better guard prospects to come out in the last few years, and he should be a plug-and-play guard for the Lions.
- Minnesota Vikings – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
With the release of Aaron Jones, the Vikings are in need of a feature back, and Love will immediately fill that need. He has amazing vision, great contact balance, and the ability to be a reliable target in the passing game. One of the best things a young QB can have is a consistent run game. Love will provide that and should elevate the offense next season.
- Carolina Panthers – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Carolina is going to continue to add to a young and upcoming defensive line. Banks is a physical freak of nature, with insanely long arms, and is insanely effective when shedding blocks in the pass game. However, he tends to play upright due to his size and needs to be paired next to a DT who could consistently hold gaps to counteract Banks. Lining up Banks next to Derrick Brown would be the ideal scenario for Banks and would allow him to develop more against the run.
- Dallas Cowboys – C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
DeMarvion Overshown is the only starting caliber LB that is currently under contract for the Cowboys next year. Allen will help to bolster a thin LB room and continue to be another piece added to the Dallas defense as they look to begin to rebuild the defense after the Micah Parsons trade.
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Ty Simpson had a strong week in Indianapolis, showing that he is a potential first-round quarterback and solidifying himself as a late-day one option. This pick from Pittsburgh would be to counteract the possibility of a team trading up back into the first round to select Simpson. Ideally, Aaron Rodgers would return for one more year, which would let Simpson sit for a year before starting in 2027, and what better situation for a young QB than to be behind one of the greatest QBs of all time? Simpson has very few starts in college, with only being a full-time starter in 2025, so more snaps under his belt before becoming a full-time starter will be crucial.
- Los Angeles Chargers – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
While the Chargers have a very strong need for an offensive line, I believe they will attack free agency to fill those needs. McDonald will be a natural fit in this defense. He will be a very good two-gapping defensive tackle who can play nose if needed. Although he does lack overall athleticism and upside in the passing game, McDonald will help to improve an already strong defense.
- Philadelphia Eagles – Caleb Lomu, T, Utah
Howie Roseman has consistently improved the trenches through the draft. With the uncertainty surrounding both Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson’s long-term viability, it makes sense for them to target a reliable offensive linemen who won’t need to play right away, but can be the future at the position, and allow future resources to be allocated towards other areas of the roster.
- Cleveland Browns – Kadyn Proctor, T, Alabama
As mentioned in Cleveland’s previous pick, they desperately need an offensive line, so doubling on the line makes sense for them. They will need to handle Proctor with care as he is still a rather raw prospect, but if the Browns were able to play him at a position where he would feel the most comfortable, as there is the option of moving him inside to Guard, and be patient to rush him into disadvantageous positions. I feel his most realistic place would be to play Proctor at guard in Year 1 and then move him to tackle in the future.
- Chicago Bears – Zion Young, ED, Missouri
Young is extremely effective in playing with power, being able to collapse the pocket and provide consistent run-stopping ability. He lacks overall bend and change of direction, which makes him becoming a high-end pass rusher unlikely, but being a high-floor, four-down starter at the edge position is extremely valuable. Chicago has Montez Sweat, but adding a reliable force on the other side will help to make the defense more effective as they attempt to maximize this winning window.
- Buffalo Bills – Denzel Boston, WR, Boston
Ever since Buffalo lost Stefon Diggs, the lack of a true #1 wide receiver for Josh Allen has been glaring. Boston will fit well into the offense as they will finally have a true outside premier guy, as they have Shakir in the slot and then Dalton Kincaid as a third option. Boston is only going to be exactly what you draft him to be, a consistent ball-winner who lacks athletic twitch, and is going to fill that prototypical “X” role. If you expect him to become one of the top wide receivers in the league, you might be disappointed, but regardless, he has a strong and unique skillset to join a wide receiver room.
- San Francisco 49ers – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Thieneman lit up the combine this past week in Indianapolis and has shown to be an insanely athletic and reliable safety. Thieneman will likely go much earlier in the draft than here, but in this exercise, he was able to fall to 27. San Francisco could use some reliability in the back end of the defense, and adding another playmaker to the likes of Fred Warner and Nick Bosa could prove crucial as they look to continue upon this winning window.
- Houston Texans – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Houston is going to continue to add to an already stacked defensive roster. Woods was a potential Top-5 pick entering the 2025 season and had a disappointing season relative to his expectations. Regardless, Woods is a penetrating 3-tech who is an insanely twitched-up athlete, while he does lack weight in his lower half, which makes him less effective against the run. There is so much talent already on the Texans’ defense that his weakness could become overshadowed by the guys around him.
- Los Angeles Rams – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
The Rams will add one of my favorite players in this entire draft, who is most likely going to keep climbing the rankings as the process goes on. Cooper is an amazing wide receiver who is probably the best after-the-catch out of anyone in this class. Cooper is going to join a Wide Receiver room that already has Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, giving Matthew Stafford yet another top receiver option.
- Denver Broncos – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sean Payton is finally going to get a “Joker” player. All of last year’s draft cycle, the Broncos were consistently mocked to take a Tight End just for them to take Jahdae Barron. Sadiq will become the TE/WR hybrid that has been lacking from the roster since Payton arrived in Denver. Sadiq has the potential to be one of the better receiving tight ends in the league, who also had an amazing week in Indianapolis, breaking the record for fastest 40-yard dash by a Tight End since 2003. Sadiq will join a Broncos weapons room that already has numerous different skillsets, and it will be fascinating to see Sadiq in this offense.
- New England Patriots – T.J. Parker, ED, Clemson
New England will need another body in that Edge room, as K’Lavon Chaisson is most likely to leave in free agency. Parker had top-10 hype entering the season, but like everyone at Clemson, he had a very disappointing season and has shown a lack of technique in his pass rush game that he will need to develop at the next level. However, Parker looks the part of an edge rusher and has shown some very impressive wins using his bull rush, both on film and at the Senior Bowl.
- Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Seattle will be losing many secondary pieces in free agency next week, mainly Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, and Josh Jobe. Adding to the secondary with a very reliable player in Avieon Terrell will be extremely beneficial. Terrell has inside/outside versatility similar to Devon Witherspoon, and it will be very fun to watch Mike MacDonald create even more havoc with his secondary.
Cover Photo Courtesy of NFL
Mock Draft Photo Courtesy of Pro Football Focus
