2026 Pre-Combine 1 Round NFL Mock Draft

Every year I fight hard to wait for my first mock of the season until after the combine. Mocks like these always felt like nonsense to me because there’s really no way to predict anything with so many variables left to play out (The combine, final coaching hires, free agency, etc.). However, I always make mocks like this for myself so that I can track how players are trending throughout the process, and funny enough, my pre-combine has been one of my most accurate 1st Round mocks the past few years. 

I’ve come to realize that there’s a lot of fluff and misdirection that comes up between now and the draft, which makes the mocks before my final a little more unpredictable. As of now, I’ve already watched plenty of tape and done my initial analysis on anyone with a chance to sniff Round 1 this April. So why not get a mock out before the combine? This will be the one based most purely on the initial big board and needs for a while. No Trades. So, without further ado, let’s get rippin’:

Round 1

1. Las Vegas Raiders - QB Fernando Mendoza Indiana:

We’re only in February and this pick feels as close to a lock as you can get. The Raiders hired Pete Carroll last year because they believed he could make them a winner right away. That was a flop. Now, John Spytek adds Klint Kubiak as his second coach in as many years, but this one has a much longer leash. While I don’t really agree with the belief that he’s a QB guru, Kubiak is one of the top young offensive minds in the game and he’s riding high after turning a group of Seattle misfits into a well oiled machine. This hire is made with building a franchise QB top of mind, however, Vegas will ruin Mendoza if they don’t get a solution in place for the league’s worst Offensive Line. Hopefully, they make at least two FA moves and we can see Jeanty and Mendoza get off the runway. The only way Mendoza doesn’t go to Vegas at 1 is if a trade happens and I’d say that’s a massive long-shot.

2. New York Jets - Edge/LB Arvell Reece Ohio State:

This is another pick that most people see as a near lock. Reese is an athletic freak and a playmaker, he’ll put on a show at the combine and likely cement himself as a top 3 pick. However, I don’t agree with the sentiment that he needs to be pigeonholed into playing Edge only to maximize his value. Hybrid defenders are a great thing, and Reece will have the most success bouncing around from Interior Defender to Edge Defender on passing downs. He excels as a run and chase backer and a ferocious blitzer coming downhill but his tape doesn’t scream natural edge rusher to me. During his tenure in Detroit, Aaron Glenn was a very creative D-Coordinator, the exact type of defensive mind that could get the most out of Reece. That said, while he hasn’t had an athlete quite like this, he’s quite familiar with how a blue-chip Edge can transform a defense (See Aidan Hutchinson). Therefore, he could be inclined to sway the way of Texas Tech’s more proven Edge David Bailey. I expect Bailey to have a fantastic combine and push himself into this conversation, taking it from highly probable for Reece to a 50/50 toss-up.

3. Arizona Cardinals - OT Spencer Fano Utah:

The Cards are in a very unique position, while the previous coaching regime had plenty of shortcomings, Monti Ossenfort has quietly built a talented young roster (Hence how he kept his job). New HC Mike LaFleur inherits two clear problems, a massive question at QB and a shaky O-Line. At this point, I’m really not sure what Kyler’s situation looks like. With LaFleur coming in and a sub-par QB market/draft, I don’t think Kyler getting one more chance is out of the question, and in my opinion, it’s probably Arizona’s best move (Keep in mind I’m a certified Kyler naysayer). His contract situation will be very impactful whether he’s the QB this year or not, I think there’s a large dropoff for any FAs (Willis is an okay gamble though), and Monti Ossenfort is the guy who paid him! That situation is complicated, but whether Kyler gets a shot to redeem himself or not, that O-Line has to get better for whoever the QB of the future is. Depending on Arizona’s FA moves, I’d say OL is a safe bet for their first pick. Now, there are no trades in this mock, but as I mentioned earlier, there’s a clear top 3 on my board right now, and someone will likely be looking to jump over Tennessee to get David Bailey at this pick. This situation is very reminiscent of the pick for Paris Johnson in 2023, OL is what Arizona needs but it feels too rich for 3rd overall. Hopefully, Ossenfort learns from past mistakes and looks to move back from here come draft day. Now, the question is Miami's Francis Mauigoa or Utah's Spencer Fano. I personally prefer Mauigoa, but the two of them have very different styles, making comparisons difficult. Mauigoa is a massive mauler who shows plenty of promise on the edge, but a body type tailor-made for Guard. Fano is an agile mover with experience at both tackle spots and athleticism that screams upside despite an unideal frame. I ended up on Fano here for two reasons: 1. He has more to gain in the process than Mauigoa. We know what Mauigoa is, and if he displays great strength at the combine, it shouldn't change a lot of opinions. Fano, on the otherhand, can burst up boards if he tests with the athleticism his play suggests he has. It's a safer bet for Fano to wow more athletically than Mauigoa will. 2. Fano will be a Tackle in the NFL, and when you're picking at 3, you can't risk taking a guy who ends up needing to move inside to Guard. Despite the imposing strength and surprising athleticism, there will be major concerns for teams inside the top 5 about where Mauigoa projects to play.

4. Tennessee Titans - Edge David Bailey Texas Tech:

This is an easy pick. If Arizona sticks at 3 and takes a Tackle, Robert Saleh will be ecstatic to start his second tenure as a head coach by taking whichever soon-to-be defensive superstar the Jets pass on at 2. David Bailey is hands down the draft's best edge-rusher, and I believe he'll put more and more distance between himself and number 2 as we move throughout the process. Saleh's teams thrive through building up a talented defensive front. While Bailey is a bit of a different flavor than Saleh is used to, his speed off the Edge will immediately help Tennessee's defense breakout next season. His tape (especially against lesser teams like Kansas and Houston) is just awesome to watch.

5. New York Giants - OT Francis Mauigoa Miami:

John Harbaugh has two great options here to kick off his tenure in the Big Apple. Mansoor Delane would be an awesome fit for Harbaugh's style of Defense and would check the box at a major position of need. However, I see Harbaugh going a different route with the massive OT from Miami. Like I mentioned earlier, there are fair concerns for Mauigoa, and his style/body type won't be everyone's cup of tea at Right Tackle. In Baltimore, Harbaugh's teams often utilized big bully types at the tackle spots, making Mauigoa's concerns less daunting for a regime accustomed to that style of player. New York has their QB, and possibly RB of the future in-house already. Harbaugh knows that it's time to shore up the Offensive Line and allow the young guys to really take off.

6. Cleveland Browns - WR Carnell Tate Ohio State:

Every so often, Cleveland gets put in a situation that even they can't find a way to mess up. When you look at the Browns' roster, there are plenty of needs, and I think we all know that the QB of the future isn't in the building right now. However, one of the most successful draft strategies in the modern NFL is to get key supporting pieces in place a year or two before you draft your QB1. The Giants will be one of the latest benefactors of this once Malik Nabers gets healthy this year. The Browns are depleted of talent out wide, and a player like Tate can bring steadiness to that position for the long-term. Tate is one of the rare players who can carry a low-risk tag throughout the process while still maintaining elite-level upside. Not to mention, he's a Buckeye. If Tate is available here, Cleveland absolutely has to take him.

7. Washington Commanders - HB Jeremiyah Love Notre Dame:

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Washington is my top candidate to trade up into that 3 spot for David Bailey, but in this mock, they have to stay put. Edge is a need and has been a major issue, but this is too high for any other Edge Rushers this year. Rueben Bain is a phenomenal player, and it's hard not to fall inlove with his tape, but evaluators will be rocked back to earth when they have to confront his lack of arm length and compact frame. His polish and strength give him a very high floor, but the ceiling just isn't there, and these are traits that always scare away teams picking inside of the top 10. So, while I could see Bain as a great fit and it's possible they take that shot here, I think they'd feel more comfortable trading back if Edge is still the selection. If Washington were forced to stay put here, Jeremiyah Love is both the best Player on the board and potentially the biggest need filler. Their lack of a run game was laughable at times in 2025, and there isn't a single player on the roster who appears capable of leading this group going forward. This is probably the best move they can make to help get an ailing Jayden Daniels back on track in '26 as Love will give this offense a whole other dimension. Caleb Downs and Delane could both be in play here defensively as well.

8. New Orleans Saints - CB Mansoor Delane LSU:

Receiver could be on the board here with a lack of depth outside of Chris Olave, who happens to be due for a big payday in 2027. That would be a great move for Tyler Shough's development, but there are plenty of playmakers available for The Saints on day 2. I have them exercising patience in that department so that they can steal the in-state superstar Delane. As I mentioned, I could easily see him landing inside the top 5 picks, if he’s here at 8 the value is huge. New Orleans is slated to lose Alontae Taylor in Free Agency and the rest of their CB room is just fine. Not bad but not great. Delane would bring some stability as the number 1 Corner in the bayou for years to come.

9. Kansas City Chiefs - Edge Rueben Bain Jr. Miami:

The Chiefs are in a prime position here to bolster their line on either side of the ball. While I think Love could be in play if he was still on the board, I'd be surprised if KC doesn't walk away with some sort of lineman at 9 come draft day. Despite the frame concerns, Bain is the clear second-best pure Edge Rusher behind David Bailey. While the size/build will cause him to slide, the tape is simply too hard for most teams to ignore. A really good player with Bain's measurables would typically come off the board in the late teens to early 20's. Bain, however, is a pure X-factor on the field in a draft that's a little light on top-tier talent. If things fall right, he could slide into the back-end of the top 10 like we see here. Kansas City is a great spot for Bain, they're still a win-now team, and Bain is a pro-ready player. He'd be quite the force on a line already featuring Chris Jones and George Karlaftis; upside doesn't matter nearly as much with the instant impact he'd make in this equation.

10. Cincinnati Bengals - S Caleb Downs Ohio State:

Three Buckeyes in the top 10! This is another pick that absolutely needs to happen if the player is there. The Bengals wasted the earlier portion of Burrow's career with a terrible O-Line. While that's sadly still an area of concern, they now sport arguably the worst defense in the entire NFL. Cincy was second-worst in total yards allowed (worst in rushing and 7th-worst against the pass) in addition to giving up a league-most 60 touchdowns. How do you turn that around you may ask? You get one of the other few X-factors in this draft, even if it's at an undervalued position. If Downs came out 10 or so years ago, he's a top 10 pick easy. He's an absolute star on the field, a beast coming downhill and in the box with great cover skills in both man and zone. When you see Safety, you usually think that's only an upgrade in the passing game, but not with Downs. He'll immediately take Cincy's pass game up a level, but his talent when coming downhill to the line of scrimmage will bring that league-worst run defense up to middle-of-the-road in year one. Downs upgrades the entire defense from the get-go.

11. Miami Dolphins - WR Jordan Tyson Arizona State:

Miami’s going to be an interesting one this year, I expect Jeff Hafley to do some major roster reshaping this offseason and it’s already underway with the releases of Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb. If Miami strikes out on Malik Willis, they could be a good fit for Ty Simpson either by moving back a bit here or jumping into the back end of the 1st by trading their 2nd rounder. After Chubb’s departure, I feel like what Hafley really wants here is a star Edge Rusher to pair with Chop Robinson. 11 feels too rich for anyone available right now, this is another scenario where trading back 4 or 5 picks is a great option. If that happens, I’d love Akheem Mesidor as a fit, Miami needs an edge who can contribute right away on every down and he’d fit the bill. However, after Tyreek’s departure, Receiver is a massive need and if Hafley and co. are forced to stay put at 11 that will likely be the pick. With Tyson and Makai Lemon sliding out of the top 10, this is the perfect marriage of need and best prospect available. In the Mike McDaniel era, I think Lemon would’ve been their desired option, but I have the new regime going a different route. Lemon would bring some very similar elements to what Miami currently gets with Jaylen Waddle while Tyson helps round out this receiver room. The former Sun Devil brings inside-outisde versatility as well as a different level of physicality at the catch point giving The Phins a wideout who can become an elite 50/50 ball winner.

12. Dallas Cowboys - LB Sonny Styles Ohio State:

I believe Dallas re-signs George Pickens, even if they didn’t I think they’d target a veteran like Mike Evans or Tyreek Hill to fill that WR2 role, so I don’t think Makai Lemon will be top of mind here. Dallas needs to improve their defense just a little bit more and it’s clear that they believe getting a star Linebacker is the missing piece. They tried to fill the gap with trades for veterans Kenneth Murray and Logan Wilson but neither produced. I expect both to be in new cities come April, making way for Styles to hit the ground running. Linebacker has been undervalued in recent years making 12 feel a bit high, but similar to his former teammate Caleb Downs, Styles is just an elite level talent. He’s a converted Safety and it shows up in his athleticism, but he’s become a polished player in all phases of the game and has an ideal Linebacker frame. Styles could finally cement the long struggling interior of this Dallas Defense. 

13. Los Angeles Rams - CB Jermod McCoy Tennessee:

I always find the Rams to be a tough team to predict. There's a bevy of options for Les Snead here at 13 (A spot that a team this good has no business picking in). Makai Lemon will be tempting, but I think LA feels fine with the depth of pass-catching options they have. Upgrading at OT or Safety could make sense too, but the talent available feels better suited for their later 1st round pick. With what's on the board and Snead's drafting style, I see the Rams taking a big swing on Jermod McCoy here. LA isn't going to be desperate in the secondary, but it's definitely an area that could benefit from improvement. McCoy could've very well been the draft's CB1 if it wasn't for a lost 2025 season due to an ACL tear. I expect LA's brass to trust the tape and bet on McCoy's bounce back here in an effort to get a true #1 corner to compete against JSN next season.

14. Baltimore Ravens - G Olaivavega Ioane Penn State:

Yet another pick passes that could be Makai Lemon, but his build and style will make him a love/hate type of prospect and push him back a bit past Tyson and Tate. His time will come. The Ravens had an average interior O-Line in 2025 that fell short of expectations. To make matters worse, this group appears set to be raided in Free Agency and will likely look a lot different on draft day. New Raven's HC Jesse Minter knows the importance of a good offensive line. When him and Jim Harbaugh came over from Michigan to LAC, the regime's first draft pick was a Tackle. This past season, Minter watched a very talented team get absolutely decimated over the course of the season due to an array of O-Line issues. Needless to say, he won't want to see more of the same during his tenure in Baltimore. Ioane is a mauler who should help Lamar stay healthy and further increase the rushing prowess of this Derrick Henry led attack.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Edge Cashius Howell Texas A&M:

Tampa's offense struggled down the stretch last year, but that was largely due to an injury-riddled group of weapons and incompetent Quarterback play. The latter of which will continue to be an issue as long as they stay married to the idea of Baker Mayfield as their starter, hence why Mike Evans is keeping his options open this offseason. With their current stance at QB, there isn't much to add/change on the offensive side of the ball. The Defense, however, is looking at a large list of potential free agents in addition to several spots that could use a bit of an upgrade. Edge Rusher might be the largest of them. The Bucs deploy a very average group of Edge Rushers and need desperately to find a true difference maker for the group. Howell is well-suited for a 3-4 scheme where his size can become a smaller issue due to a longer runway standing up on the Edge. He's an undersized Edge Rusher who plays with relentless intensity and speed. Todd Bowles will happily welcome a player with Howell's motor. 

16. New York Jets - QB Ty Simpson Alabama:

Aaron Glenn takes a similar approach to the one DeMeco Ryans did a few years ago. Target the future leader on both sides of the ball if you're lucky enough to have two 1st Round picks. I know most people will see this as a massive mistake because of the mess that the Jets are right now, but it makes a ton of sense for Glenn. Woody Johnson made it clear last season that QB play was a major problem for him, and it nearly cost Aaron Glenn his job. Glenn could very well turn this show around, and if he's going to do so, he needs to get himself a longer leash. He knows that grabbing the young QB will buy him a few years (2 to 4) of development time, and that just might be enough for him to build up this roster. If they can resist the urge to rush Simpson onto the field before week 14 or so this year, I think he has the potential to be a true QB1 in the league. He just needs the right type of development that I'm far from confident New York can provide.

17. Detroit Lions - Edge Akheem Mesidor Miami:

Lions D-Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was vehement about Detroit's need to better pressure passers last season. It's been a frustrating stretch for Detroit, trying to supplement Edge talent to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, and there's no time better than the present to finally find a solution. The way I see it, Edge Rusher is highly likely here come draft day, but there are a lot of different routes that Detroit can go dependant on how the cards fall. In this scenario, I boiled it down to two Mesidor and Auburn's Keldric Faulk (Zion Young could be a darkhorse candidate here as well). Faulk is a freaky specimen; he's young, massive yet nimble, and can rush from both the edge and interior. His versatility is a great fit in Detroit, and his upside is tremendous. That said, Faulk is early in his journey, Mesidor on the other hand is older but ready to contribute at a high level from day 1. I have Detroit opting for the more polished prospect in hopes that he'll be the missing piece for an otherwise solid defense.

18. Minnesota Vikings - WR Makai Lemon USC:

At a glance, this pick may seem like a best-available reach of sorts, but give me a minute to explain. First off, yes, part of this is that Lemon is just too good of a value to be around at 18 (Someone has probably traded up for him by now in the real draft). Like I mentioned, I think Lemon's unique style will cause him to have a really wide range, I could honestly see him pushing inside the top 10 or dropping into the early 20's. He'll be an interesting name to watch on draft day. That unique style lead's me to my second point, Lemon is the perfect type of reciever to breathe some life into this strugling offense under J.J. McCarthy. Lemon can come in and provide McCarthy with a talented slot option who can win early on in the route. This should give McCarthy more high percentage throws and in-turn, better confidence. Lastly and most importantly, Jordan Addison has a 2027 option and is a FA after that. He's been a headache off the field to say the least, and I can't see Minnesota making Addison's price tag work with Justin Jefferson under contract. I see them having this trio for one year, exercising Addison’s option in ‘27, and moving him at the trade deadline. Minnesota has done a great job maintaining these top tier receiving duos for an impressive stretch and Lemon will enable them to keep the status quo. He’ll ease J.J.'s transition and grow with him for the long-term. If Lemon were gone here, this could be one of the pivotal picks of the draft. Minnesota could look at Tight End (Sadiq), Linebacker (Allen), Corner (Hood or Terrell), or Safety (Thieneman or McNeil-Warren). It’s really hard to predict.

19. Carolina Panthers - DL/Edge Keldric Faulk Auburn:

I was tempted to go Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq here but Carolina has gone with receiving weapons in the first round the past two years. Even if that’s still a need, I think they go Defense here. The Panthers could upgrade at DL, LB, and Safety and all of those have some awesome values here. They doubled down at Edge last year on day two but this is more about player and scheme than positional need. Faulk is a very rare prospect that creative DCs like Ejiro Evero will drool over. He measures at 6’ 6” 280+ pounds, with the athleticism, power, and arm length to play both on the Edge and the defensive interior. The downside is that he’s fairly raw, but he is only 20 years old. Faulk also checks massive character boxes by all accounts. I expect Evero to move him all over the defense in Carolina. To me, Faulk projects as a base DE in Evero’s 3-4 defense with the ability to kick outside or rush from the interior on passing downs. He could also play base OLB on clear rushing downs if they want to add some extra beef to the front seven.

20. Dallas Cowboys - CB Avieon Terrell Clemson:

Cornerback has been a popular take for Dallas after the departure of Trevon Diggs last season. I don’t 100% agree with the logic, I think Dallas felt comfortable moving on from him in large part because they believe in 2025 rookie Shavon Revel. As do I. However, The Cowboys do need to upgrade their nickel corner role and Terrell is best suited for that spot at the NFL level. He’ll star on the inside where they can hide his lack of size schematically and better utilize his surprisingly good blitzing prowess. He can also compete with Revel for the starting base corner role if the former ECU star still isn’t 100% ready to go. Worst case is that Terrell stars in the slot from the get go, but he’s not a bad option outside in a bind.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers - S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Toledo:

This will surprise most Steeler fans, myself included. It makes sense to go Offense here as OT, G, and WR are all very much in play. Dylan Cook brings some controversy to the O-Line discussion that could cause the McCarthy regime to take one more year to evaluate the left side of the line. I can imagine a world where The Steelers bring in a vet or a day 2 pick to compete at Guard, Cook wins the job at LT, and Broderick Jones bounces inside for a shot at Guard himself before The Steelers make a decision on him moving forward. There are also a ton of talented WRs available on day 2, so no need to rush there. Even with the offensive issues in ‘25, Safety was possibly the biggest problem for Pittsburgh at two key points in the season. Early in the year it felt very lacking in coverage with Juan Thornhill and DeShon Elliott, things got better later on with Kyle Dugger and Jalen Ramsey, but then Ramsey showed his rawness at the position down the stretch letting quite a few big plays run through his zone while he was too busy watching the QB. Not only does Safety play need to improve in Pittsburgh, but it’s also a massive part of new DC Patrick Graham’s defense. Graham likes to deploy a big Nickel in his scheme that either Ramsey or McNeil-Warren can excel in. That big Nickel role means there will be a lot of situations where three safeties are on the field, even if Dugger re-signs Graham could use another difference maker at the position and McNeil-Warren will be a perfect fit.

22. Los Angeles Chargers - DL Peter Woods Clemson:

LA has several needs here and I expect this pick to be heavily dictated by what they do in Free Agency. The Chargers have the third most cap space in the league, I’d expect them to have two more Edges under contract by draft day (maybe just re-signing Mack and Oweh), at least one or two additions to the interior O-Line, some reinforcements in the defensive backfield, and Denzel Perryman returning at LB. Texas A&M Guard Chase Bisontis could be a dark horse here. He needs to have a great combine to push into the first due to length concerns, if he does, I could see him getting inside the top 25. For now, we’ll play it on the safe side for Bisontis (30-45 range). Harbaugh’s best units have excelled with great D-Line play and that’s somewhere this group could benefit from adding at. Traditionally, Harbaugh likes ultra-athletic players at the D-Line and Edges, and we saw how much that can help his defense after Odafe Oweh was added to the fold last season. I have him opting for ceiling and athleticism here at the interior with the enigmatic Peter Woods. I think Woods could benefit from lining up as a 3-4 End in this scheme, his brawler mentality and high motor would be really well utilized as a 4 or 5-technique and he’d be comfortable shading inside as a 4i. He’ll be impactful right away in the run game and as a pocket pusher on passing downs with the athleticism to develop into a really impactful interior rusher.

23. Philadelphia Eagles - TE Kenyon Sadiq Oregon:

Philly faces the precarious situation of having a lot of key Free Agents and not a ton of cap to work with. It's felt like the writing has been on the wall for Dallas Goedert for a while, I don't think he's getting another extension with The Eagles, who also have their TE2 and 3 headed to Free Agency. While the Secondary and Edge spots have their own free agency problems and need for upgrades, I think Howie Roseman has been quite resourceful when it comes to getting overlooked talent on the defensive side of the ball. I'd expect him to be more willing to spend in those areas, and look to build at a position like TE through the draft. Tight End is such a big part of what Philly does offensively and Sadiq would be a dream fit. He'd instantly improve the running game with his ridiculous blocking prowess and provide Jalen Hurts with both a field-stretching option down the seam and a run-after-the-catch star in the quick game. 

24. Cleveland Browns - OT Kadyn Proctor Alabama:

The Browns stand to get crushed this offseason across their Offensive Line, with 4 of their 5 2025 starters slated for Free Agency, plus arguably their top two backups. In addition to that, they have a terrible cap situation due to the Deshaun Watson debacle. It would be surprising to see them retain more than one or two of those players. An above-average O-Line was a massive piece of Cleveland's short turnaround in the Kevin Stefanski era, and new HC Todd Monken needs to kick things off similarly. Going back to what I mentioned at their first pick, this organization desperately needs to build up both a depleted O-Line and recieving corp to help whoever their future QB1 is succeed. Cleveland has had an interest in behemoth Tackles in the past (see current starter at LT Dawand Jones), and Proctor is the type of hulking power blocker that will continue that trend. I believe he'd make it as a bookend on the right-side in this scheme, but Proctor can be a very talented Guard if a move inside better suits Cleveland.

25. Chicago Bears - S Dillon Thieneman Oregon:

The Bears appear ready to lose star Safety Jaquan Brisker in Free Agency, but even if they don't, Kevin Byard's second wind in Chicago can't last forever. Safety play is such a big piece of Dennis Allen's defense, and Thieneman's smarts and versatility will be perfect for filling the hole that Brisker is expected to leave behind. Thieneman can become Allen's new swiss army knife on the backend and an instant leader in this very talented Bears' secondary. T.J. Parker also makes a lot of sense on paper here; however, I feel like we've been mocking Edges to Chicago in the first forever now. Edge doesn't feel like something Ryan Poles will target at this point in the draft.

26. Buffalo Bills - WR Denzel Boston Washington:

Joe Brady rings in his tenure as Head Coach by finally getting Josh Allen a WR1 to replace Stefon Diggs. Boston has some questions to answer athletically but he looks like a surprisingly good mover for his size on tape. He’s a ball winner, if Allen can get the ball in Boston’s space, he’ll find a way to come down with it. Boston can star inside and outside and finally give Allen a true go-to guy. That all said, he could find himself going much earlier if things come together the right way at the combine.

27. San Francisco 49ers - OT Monroe Freeling Georgia:

I see San Fran going one of two routes here and both positions end with the word Tackle. Defensively, San Fran could really use an upgrade down the middle of their defense. There are quite a few great DT options available at this point in the mock to fill that role (Kayden McDonald, Caleb Banks, Lee Hunter, Christen Miller), but San Fran has a pair of 2025 draft picks who I expect to factor into their 2026 plans. The cupboard is much more bare on the offensive side. While they look good on paper with future HOFer Trent Williams and Right Tackle Colton McKivitz who seemed to finally come into his own this past season, things seem to be pointing toward Williams release. Even if Williams and John Lynch can come to terms on a restructured deal, Williams is 37 and nearing the end of his time in the NFL and McKivitz has been far from consistent. To make matters worse the team only has one other Tackle under contract and he started ‘25 on his 6th different practice squad since 2020. Freeling can either come in and start right away at LT if Williams leaves, take over RT if McKivitz reverts to his pre ‘25 form, or worst case sit for a year or two behind the soon to be hall of famer and hone his craft before taking over. 

28. Houston Texans - DT Lee Hunter Texas Tech:

I think their will be some interest in another OT here (Blake Miller from Clemson) but this is just too perfect of a need meets talent match to pass up on. Houston’s starting DT’s from ‘25 are both slated for Free Agency and Like I mentioned at the last pick, the board is crawling with talented DTs in the back half of the 1st. Houston has their pick here and if a situation like this presents itself in draft day, they might as well look to slide back a bit and add some value if they have similar grades across the pack (someone has to be looking to move up for Colton Hood here). If they stay put and pick from the field, I’d expect them to go with either Kayden McDonald or Hunter. DeMeco Ryans values good run stuffing DTs and has plenty of depth at the position to avoid needing to pressure these players to be too involved in the pass rush initially. I ended up going Hunter here because I think he has a smidge more pass rushing upside long-term and the in-state ties.

29. Los Angeles Rams - WR Zachariah Branch Georgia:

As I mentioned earlier, Safety, OT, and potentially another Corner are all going to be looked at by The Rams and I think they feel fine with Adams and Puka at WR. So why Branch? He fills a very niche need in LA’s offense/special teams. First off, possibly the biggest contributing factor to The Rams’ loss in the NFC championship game was poor special teams play. Specifically, punt returner Xavier Smith muffed two punts in the game, one leading to a Seattle score that The Rams could never quite recover from. Branch is a phenomenal talent returning and should be an instant upgrade in that regard as well as one of the best punt returners in the league next season. Smith was also a player McVay loved to manufacture touches for because of his explosiveness. Branch excelled in a similar tole during his time at Georgia. The McVay offense loves utilizing a creative quick game and Branch will take that to another level as a true home-run hitter. In LA, Branch can be the type of player he is and not have to worry about developing into a #1 or #2 option. In a lot of ways, he may be LA’s missing piece.

30. Denver Broncos - LB CJ Allen Georgia:

The Broncos are a team with very few true "needs" at this point, but they'll be taking a long look at beefing up their D-Line or adding at Inside 'Backer here. How scary is it to think that the league's best defense could add its long-term Defensive Captain in the draft? Allen is a high-IQ player who will bring stability to this Linebacking corp for the foreseeable future. Alex Singleton may be hitting Free Agency in the next few weeks, and Dre Greenlaw is far from reliable from a health standpoint at this stage of his career. This defense will excel for many years to come with Allen in the Middle.

31. New England Patriots - OT Blake Miller Clemson:

The Patriots should have enough cap to retain 2025 breakout star K'Lavon Chaisson at Edge. If not, I think Miller's college teammate T.J. Parker would be the pick here. With the assumption that Chaisson returns, I have New England opting to better protect their MVP-contending QB with some reinforcement on the O-Line. Current RT Morgan Moses is getting up in age and doesn't have a ton of time left on his contract, he was serviceable last season, but I question if that consistency will keep up over the next year or two. Adding Miller can make him expendable if more cap space is needed. Miller has a whopping 54 career starts at Clemson, and a brawler's mindset; he just feels like Mike Vrabel's type of guy. Long-term Miller and Will Campbell will provide a very solid foundation upfront during the course of Drake Maye's career.

32. Seattle Seahawks - CB Colton Hood Tennessee:

This is a great domino fall for the defending Super Bowl Champs. Seattle will be considering a few different spots here, but by far the biggest need will be their defensive backfield. They stand to potentially lose a starting Safety and two highly involved corners this offseason (Coby Bryant, Josh Jobe, and Riq Woolen). Getting a Cornerback that can come in and start opposite Devon Witherspoon right away will be a huge win for the Hawks and a must if they want a chance to repeat this season. Hood is a phenomenal value at 32, his tape suggests that he can be a fantastic starter in year one, but he has some small drawbacks. The sample size for Hood isn't huge (Only 1 start prior to 2025), and his speed/agility looks a bit suspect at times. He's a guy that could fall a bit lower if he tests badly or move much higher if he tests well, at this point, I'd expect him to go closer to 25 if trades were available in the mock.

If you've read through the entirety of this mock, thank you! Please stay tuned for more as I put out a Post-Combine 2 Rounder, Post-Free Agency 3 Rounder, and a final Full 7 Round Mock Draft every season. I also plan to cover the next 3 mocks on my YouTube channel: CardiO YouTube . Hope to see you there!