One Final Mock Draft: Making sense of all of the noise on NFL Draft eve
One mock to rule them all...
Welcome to NFL Draft Eve, my friends! We have made it.
From Inside the Film Rooms to quarterback charting profiles, to best fit articles, and more, we have covered this draft cycle as intently as possible. Now, pens go down, and the draft comes on.
There is one more matter of business to take care of first: one final mock draft.
So, being as predictive as one can be about the NFL Draft, I guess, here is one final mock draft to celebrate the ringing in of another main event. I am not doing trades. Those get too murky to try to predict value, slot, and more.
However, what I have done is identify which teams I believe to be trade-up candidates or trade-down candidates. This is based on intel that I’ve heard. More intel is sprinkled in throughout the mock draft as well.
For one last time, let’s roll.
Reminder that I am running a “You’re on the clock!” draft week special! This week, until the end of the 2026 NFL Draft, I am offering 20% off of annual subscriptions to the site. Don’t miss out!
1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
This horse has been beaten to death. The draft starts at pick No. 2.
2. New York Jets: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Arvell Reese vs. David Bailey is the big conversation here. And probably will be up until the Jets turn in the card. However, defending the run is non-negotiable in this mock draft, whereas it has been negotiable for Bailey throughout his college career.
So here, the Jets opt for perhaps the most violent player in the class; they can either play off-ball at linebacker or off the edge in the Ohio State standout.
3. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
trade-down candidate
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort has been a stickler for drafting premium positions only early in the draft. So, while there is some smoke around Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick, the Cardinals take David Bailey instead.
Upgrading their pass rush, Bailey brings explosiveness off the edge and a nuanced play of attack as a pass rusher. The flexibility is what it is, and he has to stiffen up against the run, but the Cardinals get a dynamic pass rusher nonetheless.
4. Tennessee Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
I have on pretty decent authority that the Titans are leaning toward either Arvell Reese, David Bailey, or Jeremiyah Love. Well, the former two are already off the board, leaving the Titans with the ladder.
Taking pressure off of Cam Ward’s shoulder by giving him a playmaker he can hand the football to 15+ times a game, the Titans land the Notre Dame running back here.
5. New York Giants: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Last week, three bigger names in the industry all mocked Caleb Downs to the Giants over Sonny Styles. Then just yesterday, a local Giants beat reporter also mocked Downs to the Giants over Styles. That seems to be the direction.
They cannot really go wrong with either defensive standout. And while Styles is the top player on my board, I get it with Downs. Here, I follow suit and have the Giants also selecting Downs with the fifth overall pick in the draft.
6. Cleveland Browns: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
trade-down candidate
The word on the street is that the Browns desperately want out of this draft slot. However, finding a suitor to give up extra assets to come up seems to be an issue. So, we mark them as a trade candidate, but move forward with them selecting Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano.
While Fano played right tackle his last two seasons at Utah, he does have experience playing left tackle, where the Browns have a hole. They have also stated that veteran Tytus Howard could play left tackle if needed.
Here, they take OT1 in the class and move on.
7. Washington Commanders: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
This one is easy. With Sonny Styles still on the board, Dan Quinn gets his alien linebacker in the middle of his defense. They do not make 6-foot-5 and 245-pound human beings who move the way that Styles does. He’s been my top player since December, and I’ve had no reason to move off that.
With Frankie Luvu at WILL, and with Leo Chenal at SAM, Styles now rounds out that Commanders’ linebacker room.
8. New Orleans Saints: EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami
With Cameron Jordan in the back part of his career, the Saints need to think about life without him. How about another stout and condensed pass rusher in the same mold?
Here, the Saints land Rueben Bain with the eighth overall pick. Powerful and explosive, Bain will make a Day 1 impact in New Orleans and usher in a new era that Jordan will soon leave behind.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
trade-up candidate
The Chiefs need a wide receiver outside of the mold of the rest of the guys in the room. And by that, I mean they need a dominant ball winner down down the field who is consistent and trustworthy. That man is Ohio State’s Carnell Tate.
Kansas City is a sneaky trade-up candidate, though. They have extra draft capital and security at the quarterback position. If they were a team that made a move up, it would not surprise me.
10. New York Giants (via CIN): OG Vega Ioane, Penn State
After trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Giants now come back on the clock. They re-signed right tackle Jermaine Elumanur to a three-year deal this offseason, but the interior of their offensive line still needs work.
This brings us to the best pure guard in the class, Penn State’s Vega Ioane. Stout, explosive, and powerful, Ioane is an instant upgrade to the Giants offensive line and gives now second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart an enforcer upfront.
11. Miami Dolphins: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
trade-down candidate
Listed as a trade-down candidate, the Dolphins have sold off a ton of assets already, so continuing to stack them for the future makes sense. However, sticking and picking here, the Dolphins select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane
Transferring over from Virginia Tech to LSU, Delane put together a stellar season in Baton Rouge. He is the betting favorite to land as the first cornerback off the board. That comes to fruition here.
He takes his talents to South Beach here.
12. Dallas Cowboys: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
trade-down candidate
The Cowboys are targeting a defensive standout. The three names I’ve heard are Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, or Mansoor Delane. Those three names are all off the board here, though. This means they need a fallback. That fallback? An offensive playmaker instead.
Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson is back on the rise. He had an impressive private workout, and it seems the reports of his draft day slip were greatly exaggerated. Tyson lands with the Cowboys here to give Dak Prescott a new toy.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
trade-up candidate
The Los Angeles Rams are still looking to fill the void left by Cooper Kupp. Puka Nacua is up for a big-time contract soon as well, but cannot stay out of the news. Davante Adams is aging and has just one year left on his deal. A wide receiver is very much in play for the Rams.
However, even after drafting Terrence Ferguson a year ago, another pass catcher is added to the mix here. And it’s another Oregon tight end. Welcome to Los Angeles, Kenyon Sadiq.
For what it’s worth, I’ve heard they may be trying to come up to leap some wide receiver-needy teams for Tyson.
14. Baltimore Ravens: WR Makai Lemon, USC
Another first round receiver to the Baltimore Ravens? Another first round receiver to the Baltimore Ravens here. With Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson off the board, the third of the Big Three comes off the board here with Makai Lemon landing as a new weapon for two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
Coming off a Biletnikoff Award-winning season, there is no more productive receiver than Lemon in this 2026 NFL Draft class. I have concerns about the size and athleticism profile, but if the Ravens find an immediate role for Lemon in the slot, he’ll feast.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Ahkeem Mesidor, Miami
trade-down candidate
This is too high for Akheem Mesidor, and I concede that. However, Tampa is a firm trade-back candidate. And Mesidor is one of the names I’ve heard they're interested in.
The other two? Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and pass rusher Malachi Lawrence. I can’t really stomach this pick as a 25-year-old pass rusher who almost exclusively wins with inside counters. But hey, more power to the Bucs.
16. New York Jets (via IND): S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Wide receivers flying off the board here.
I have been told by a scout that the Jets are more likely to go back-to-back defense in the first round. This is the natural Dillon Thieneman slot then.
17. Detroit Lions: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
trade-up candidate
Finding a landing spot for Francis Mauigoa proved tougher than initially thought. Once he falls out of the top-10 in a mock draft, the slots become thin for him to land in. However, viewing the Lions as a trade-up candidate, they could get aggressive to maximize their window.
They’ve stated they’d like to kick Penei Sewell to left tackle as well, opening up a pathway for them to add Mauigoa to their offensive line in the draft. They do that here.
18. Minnesota Vikings: DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
trade-up candidate
The Vikings are one of the hardest teams to figure out. They could go in a variety of directions, including wide receiver or safety. Here, however, they take the young and massive Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk.
While he is underdeveloped as a pass rusher, Faulk is a stout run defender for Brian Flores to develop. There has been some buzz that Jonathan Greenard will be traded to the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend as well. So, filling that need right away.
19. Carolina Panthers: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
New bit just dropped: use every first round pick on a wide receiver. That’s been the Panthers’ plan of attack, but for good reason. Here, they add the twitchy and explosive KC Concepcion to their room to pair with Tetairoa McMillan; there are no excuses for Bryce Young now.
The clap-catching technique of Concepcion has to change to improve the drops, but there may not be a more dynamic wide receiver in the draft class. The Panthers get a playmaker here.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
trade-down candidate
After missing on Delane early on, the Cowboys still have a need at cornerback. And one piece of new information that I’ve heard this week is that it’s not Colton Hood, Chris Johnson, or Jermod McCoy who the Cowboys have as CB2 on their board.
It’s D’Angelo Ponds.
While he is undersized, Ponds is scrappy, a hitter, and technically refined. If he were two inches taller, he’d be a top-10 pick and the first cornerback off the board. Despite the size, he is the second cornerback off the board here.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
trade-up candidate
We could see the Steelers get aggressive this year for either a wide receiver of an offensive tackle. In this scenario, one drops to them as well. From a helmet scouting perspective, taking Monroe Freeling might traumatize Steelers fans based on the last offensive tackle drafted from there.
However, the Broderick Jones era is looking bleak. He has not played well, and now has a recurring neck injury that could continue to sideline him. Welcome, Monroe Freeling.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
trade-down candidate
Khalil Mack is back for one last rodeo with the Chargers, but the depth behind their starters is lacking, and life beyond Mack must be planned for. While T.J. Parker is a pure power rusher who lacks nuance beyond that, he has a high floor as a run defender.
Besides, that power profile is a great initial move to build off of. He just needs to develop a change-up off of it. He has a chance to learn from Mack in Los Angeles in this mock draft.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Blake Miller, Clemson
trade-up candidate
It feels like it’s every year we talk about the Eagles needing to plan for life after Lane Johnson. I get the feeling this is the year they finally do it. I have heard there is a chance the Eagles could get aggressive up the board to land an offensive tackle. I have also heard they may have some love for the Clemson big man, Blake Miller.
That is the direction they take here. Miller is a freak athlete, a fantastic mover on the field, and has played a ton of high-level football. This is the making of a first round pick. Miller lands with the Eagles and has the opportunity to ease into his NFL career.
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
trade-down candidate
The Browns are a team that could look to trade down at both opportunities in the first round to get as many bites at the apple over the next two seasons. However, after landing Fano with their first pick in this mock draft, they now get their wide receiver.
Their wide receiver selection of Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. does come after a healthy run on pass catchers that saw all of Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, and KC Concepcion fly off the board between their two picks. However, Cooper brings YAC-ability, immense body control, and strong hands at the catchpoint.
While he was a slot-only at the college level, he has the skillset and play-strength against press to play Z as well.
25. Chicago Bears: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
trade-up candidate
There is some buzz that the Chicago Bears could be in the market to move up for an offensive tackle. Something to monitor. However, here, one is on the board for them to pluck. Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor fills in a weak link upfront for the Bears at left tackle.
The tape is up-and-down. The highs are quite high for Proctor, though, if the Bears can get the most out of him from a snap-to-snap and game-to-game basis. He now protects Caleb Williams.
26. Buffalo Bills: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
trade-up candidate
The Buffalo Bills are in a tough spot. They likely want a wide receiver, so we could see a trade-up from them to secure a new target for Josh Allen. However, the board has not fallen in their favor here. There is one left on the board with first round buzz, however.
Do not compare Denzel Boston to Keon Coleman. He is a smoother mover and a more natural glider on the vertical plane. There are limitations to his game, but the Bills need a wide receiver in a big way. They take another swing here.
27. San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
While the San Francisco 49ers utilized a ton of the top assets along their defensive line a year ago, they use their first round pick on another pass rusher in this mock draft, too.
A different mold than Mykel Williams, the Niners take a standup pass rusher after Bryce Huff provided negligible impact. Malachi Lawrence is good at one thing: attacking the quarterback. He is explosive, flexible, and has a wide array of ways to beat blockers.
He’ll now have the opportunity to do just that on the West Coast.
28. Houston Texans: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
The Houston Texans are not out of the woods along their offensive line, but they did enough to punt on selecting one early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, they turn to their defensive trenches and add the best run defender in the class in Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald.
In a room headlined by Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togiai, young talent is much-needed upfront for the Texans. McDonald adds just that.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR): OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
trade-up candidate
The Chiefs were able to upgrade their wide receiver room early, and ideally, they’d be able to draft an edge rusher here. However, the quality of the edge class has already been swept up. So, they address another need on their roster after parting ways with Jawaan Taylor.
While Jaylon Moore is getting $15 million from the Chiefs, he was getting the same last year to be a swing tackle. Besides, with just one year left on his contract, the Chiefs select the powerful but raw Max Iheanachor here, and do not have to feel the pressure to start him right away.
30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN): CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
trade-down candidate
After landing Sadiq with the 11th overall pick in the draft, the Dolphins come back on the clock and address a massive need on their roster. Making him the second cornerback off the board in this mock draft, the Dolphins select San Diego State’s Chris Johnson.
Small school, big talent. Johnson has risen to the level of competition when the Aztecs took on Power Four opponents, and he held his own at the Senior Bowl. A top-end athlete as well, Johnson now appears to be the favorite to go as the second cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
31. New England Patriots: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
trade-up candidate
The vibe is that Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is going to go in the first round. Finding a slot for him is a bit of a tougher conversation. However, with the boards being decimated at offensive tackle and edge rusher for the Patriots here, this becomes the spot for Rodriguez.
With Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss as the only two notable linebackers on the roster, Rodriguez infuses starter talent into the Super Bowl loser as they look to run it back. I’d go with CJ Allen over Rodriguez, but the current trend is that Rodriguez will go higher.
32. Seattle Seahawks: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
trade-down candidate
There have been some rumblings that I’ve heard that the Seahawks would like to move out of this pick and out of the first round altogether. However, obviously, trades are not on the table, so the Seahawks are sticking and picking.
Here, we stop the slide of Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy. The knee is an issue, and he may fall out of the first round altogether. However, he is a premier player in this class and is worth the risk at the back end of the first round.