2026 Post-Combine 2 Round NFL Mock Draft
We had an absolute treat with this year's combine, plenty of records and performances that we'll be talking about for years to come. The talent at some non-premier positions this year should add some parity to a draft that's a bit light on top positions like QB and DL. To top it off, we've already had quite a few pre-free-agency moves that have begun to reshape team needs and draft boards. A lot has changed in the week and a half since my last mock, and a lot more will. That said, this is where the fun really starts, and we can draw some good connections.
This will be the first of a 3-part series of mocks I’ll be doing for this page, followed by: a post-free-agency 3-rounder, and a full 7-rounder that will release around a week before the draft. Typically, I leave trades out of my post-combine mock, but with a tradeless mock in the rearview, let's have some fun. This mock will have trades, and I expect several. Let’s get rippin’:
Round 1
1. Las Vegas Raiders - QB Fernando Mendoza Indiana:
As I mentioned last time, this is about as much of a lock as we can get at this point in the draft, so there isn't a ton to talk about here. This pick is the perfect marriage of player, need, and fit. Let's just hope for Mendoza's sake that Vegas makes some improvements to that monstrosity of an O-Line prior to the draft.
2. New York Jets - Edge/LB Arvell Reese Ohio State:
It's funny, last mock I was really tempted to go with Texas Tech's David Bailey here, but everyone seemed set on Reese, and I fell into it. Now, with Jermaine Johnson on the move to Tennessee, most mocks are beginning to place Bailey here, but now my gut says Reese. This pick will be 50/50 until we get to the draft, but I'll tell you why I'm leaning toward Reese right now. The Johnson trade actually pushed me more toward Reese. Believe it or not, getting T'Vondre Sweat in return symbolized a philosophy shift. Glenn and new DC Brian Duker are both comfortable running a hybrid style defense, but like to lean more heavily into a 3-4 base. Sweat allows this defense to get back to that by adding a gap-clogging Nose Tackle up front. Edges in this type of scheme are often asked to play standing up on early downs, and the hybrid nature of the scheme can benefit greatly from Edges who aren't a liability if asked to play off the ball and/or drop into coverage. It feels to me that New York, knowing that they have their choice of players not named Mendoza at 2, knew they'd likely be able to snag Reese and pinpointed the Sweat deal as the perfect catalyst to move toward a Defense that will be better suited for the young superstar and more comfortable for the coaching staff. With this move underway, several of The Jets' oversized Edge options that are left over from the Robert Saleh era will likely be destined for a move inside on early downs (Baron, Watts, and Clemons if retained). Despite his explosive talent, Bailey is a true pass-rushing specialist, and I don't see him being best utilized in this Aaron Glenn hybrid Defense. This is a dream fit for Reese and will allow him to be an every-down star opposite of Will McDonald from day 1.
3. Kansas City Chiefs - Edge David Bailey Texas Tech:
And the winner of the David Bailey sweepstakes is..... The Kansas City Chiefs. KC finds themselves in a really unique position this offseason, and I think the Trent McDuffie trade was very telling. Moving McDuffie (A young superstar) tells me that Andy Reid and staff view this offseason as a chance for a miniature rebuild. Last year, things began to go a little stale for the 3-time Super Bowl Champs. The window isn't closed, but KC needs to move now on revamping some key groups before it's too late. It's obviously rare that we see a team who went to 5 of the last 7 Super Bowls picking inside the top 10, I think moving McDuffie was an attempt at gaining some additional firepower to ensure that the Chiefs walk away with a true blue-chip talent. I think guys like Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs will be of interest to KC as well, but the opportunity to grab a sure-thing at Edge Rusher without giving up the 29th pick is way too good to pass up on. This is a bit further back than Arizona would probably like to drop (Hence the high price), but I think the value is going to be way better here than what someone inside the top 7 will be willing to offer. The Chiefs have the capital to get it done and are betting that a speedy recovery from Mahomes will lessen the value of that additional 2nd Rounder come time for the '27 draft. Bailey solves a long-time need for KC and gives the Chiefs a phenomenal pairing with George Karlaftis, while they maintain that 2nd 1st round pick to spend on some help for Mahomes later on.
4. Tennessee Titans - WR Carnell Tate Ohio State:
I'm very torn here between Tate and his OSU teammate Sonny Styles; either way, Robert Saleh and co can't go wrong. I have them ending up on Tate for one simple reason: Cam Ward. Ward's development will be drastically accelerated with a true number 1 receiver, and Tate's combination of polish and natural hands will allow him to easily (and quickly) ascend to that position in Tennessee. My only cause for pause here, his athletic make-up. Tate could stand to get stronger, though it hasn't impacted his ability on contested catches thus far, but his 4.53 40 at the combine is a tad slow for me when it comes to selecting a Wideout in the top 5. That combination of route-running and ball skills signals Hall of Fame-level potential to me. He has a very solid floor, but that lack of speed and strength saps his ceiling a bit. Styles was very enticing here because he's a dream talent for the new regime. Both Robert Saleh and Gus Bradley are used to running their defenses through stud linebackers like Fred Warner, Zaire Franklin, and Telvin Smith. Styles could be the centerpiece of this defense for years to come, and he'll be very tempting for this defensive-minded core. However, Brian Daboll will be pounding the table for a guy like Tate, and I think that's the best move for Tennessee's young QB1.
5. New York Giants - LB Sonny Styles Ohio State:
New York could go in a number of directions here, and I like all of them. In my first mock, I had them selecting Miami Tackle Francis Mauigoa at this pick. That still feels very much in play and makes sense on a lot of levels. Mauigoa would help their young QB1 stay upright and build some confidence going forward. I could also see CB Mansoor Delane as a great fit and some potential for John Harbaugh to fall inlove with the uber talented Bryce Love. However, no player helped themselves at the NFL combine quite like Sonny Styles. Even though it's not a position of flash, Styles certainly feels like a lock to be a top 10 Linebacker in the NFL within his first few years, with the potential to be the best of his generation. Systems that really value strong Linebacker play will recognize how much of an instant game-changer Styles can be, and they won't hesitate to make the pick, even if Top 10 Linebackers are uncommon in this day and age. Styles is plenty worth the pick, and Harbaugh's teams have thrived when a great Linebacker is entrenched in the middle (Ray Lewis, CJ Mosley, Roquan Smith). He gets his defensive captain in New York, and the Giants find themselves building quite a bullying front 7.
6. Cleveland Browns - OT Francis Mauigoa Miami:
At first, I really struggled with this pick. With Tate and Styles gone, the trade for Tytus Howard threw me off quite a bit but Cleveland is set to lose their entire starting interior O-Line even after that deal. Some of these Ohio State talents will be tempting here but I have a hard time seeing Cleveland in a position where they can afford to pass on the best OL available. Mauigoa and Howard can have an open competition for the Right Tackle spot but either has the ability to be a very solid option at Guard. Even if he kicks inside for a year or two, Mauigoa has plenty of capability to make it long-term on the edge.
7. Washington Commanders - HB Jeremiyah Love Notre Dame:
I caught some slack from Washington Fans on my last mock for this pick, but I find myself sticking with it here. Love is just an unreal talent, and would have no business being available here if he weren't a Running Back. I think this is his absolute floor, but I could see him going as high as 3, potentially, if the Cards were forced to stay put there. I also flirted with the idea of NOLA leap-frogging Washington and taking him at 6, but I don't think they'll be willing to meet Cleveland's price for the pick with both Love and their guy at 8 on the board. I have two schools of thought with Washington right now as far as the draft. They could use upgrades across all levels of the defense, but their squad is bad enough defensively that that'll be plenty doable in the middle rounds. The other key need is a weapon for Jayden Daniels. McLaurin's injury streak last year, paired with a lack of standout options on the roster at WR, HB, and TE, leaves the cupboard looking pretty bare for Daniels on offense. Washington could add a No. 2 option at WR in round 2, but I think they'd benefit much more by sticking the landing with Love here. He's instantly the top weapon in Washington, even if Scary Terry returns to form. Slam dunk pick.
8. New Orleans Saints - CB Mansoor Delane LSU:
New Orleans could go a few directions here, but again, this pick just makes way too much sense. It's a close race for top on my board here between Delane and Caleb Downs, but Delane is just at a much more premier position. Couple that with the fact that he played last season in the Bayou, and New Orleans should feel plenty comfortable taking him at 8. The Saints always do a great job ofnot being desperate at any one position coming into the draft, and I expect this year to be no different. They'll have a few spots where they could stand to upgrade (Corner, WR, Edge, G, HB), but they'll end up staying pretty true to their board. Again, Delane will be right at the top of it here and become their top starter on the outside by week 1. He'll remind Kellen Moore a lot of one of Philly's main Super Bowl catalysts from 2024: Quinyon Mitchell.
9. Arizona Cardinals - S Caleb Downs Ohio State:
This is tough, I get it. Arizona needs to find a long-term bookend at Right Tackle, and I'm projecting them to be hoping that Mauigoa falls here. However, I think they feel comfortable moving back and stockpiling picks for two reasons: 1. It feels too rich to take Mauigoa at 3 compared to the defensive talent on the board, 2. The Cardinals have plenty of cap space and are relatively decent across the board. Signing Malik Willis appears to be priority 1, but I think getting a capable Right Tackle in place prior to the draft is priority 2. RT will remain a spot that could be upgraded, but they won't be getting desperate and reaching on Mauigoa at 3 or going a bit high on a guy like Fano or Monroe Freeling here. Downs is the best player available, and he'd be a top 5 pick if he played a more premier position or had some outstanding measurables. Lucky for Arizona, he doesn't meet that criteria, and they're able to add potentially the most polished player in this year's draft after trading back to 9th overall. Safety is a position of need as well, with Jalen Thompson slated for Free Agency and Budda Baker getting up in age.
10. Cincinnati Bengals - Edge Rueben Bain Miami:
To be clear, after the measurables came out at the combine, I think this is too early for Bain. The arm length is extremely concerning. I get that there's a lot to love on tape, and I know that it's easier to find something when you're looking for it, but after a rewatch, I can already see plenty of reps where he's washed out of the play clearly due to that lack of length. In most years, you can't risk taking a guy with that big of a red flag inside the top 10 because of what it does to his ceiling (And I'm still not sure that this happens). However, the lack of talent at premier positions benefits Bain and allows him to stay on the high end of boards this draft season. He's still clearly the next best pure rusher after Bailey, but I see him as a better fit in the 12 to 17 range. I'm concerned that the additional athleticism/size from NFL tackles will force him to kick inside on passing downs at the next level. That all said, Cincy knows that this pick absolutely has to be Defense, and they're feeling great knowing that they'll land either Bain, Downs, or Delane after seeing Love go at 7. Bain is a stark contrast to last year's top pick, Shemar Stewart, as a player with a high floor due to outstanding power and technique but a low ceiling due to measureables. If the Bengals don't find a way to retain Joseph Ossai or add an Edge in Free Agency, Bain will easily be their best Edge to start the season.
11. Miami Dolphins - TE Kenyon Sadiq Oregon:
Miami is a tough one to project this year. They have a new staff, a ton of holes, and no cap space to really make a dent in that laundry list before the draft. That's why I expect two things from them here: First, they'll look to trade back and gather picks, but I don't see anyone looking to jump up at this point. Second, best available is the name of the game. With no shortage of needs, it's a fairly safe bet that whoever Miami takes on days 1 and 2 will be in the lineup immediately. Now, with that all said, taking a non-premier position like Tight End probably seems a little crazy, but here's my thought. I believe Sadiq helped himself even more than most realize with his ridiculous combine performance. He's set himself apart, showing the potential to be a true offensive X-Factor. There aren't a lot of players in this draft with the distinction of being a major factor in the quick game, having top-end vertical talent, and being strong and physical at the catch point. Sadiq will be an instant hit with his future QB on screens, third-down zone beaters, field-stretching plays, and in the red area. I would honestly love to see him utilized on Jet Sweeps and out of the backfield in the NFL. Long story short, without even discussing his very good blocking skills, we can easily identify many areas where he'll elevate his future team. That's why I love this fit for Miami, they need tools across the board. Sadiq will help their top playmaker, De'Von Achane, on runs and be the immediate number 2 receiver on a team beaming with speed. He helps in far more areas than anyone else available would.
12. Dallas Cowboys - CB Jermod McCoy Tennessee:
Dallas honestly has a solid roster outside of a gaping hole at Edge Rusher, but they could stand to upgrade all across the Defense. In my last mock, I mentioned that I wasn't totally bought-in to Dallas taking a Corner because they believe in 2025 pick Shavon Revel. However, this is too early for the next tier of Edge-Rusher, and the generational talents at Safety and LB are off the board. Corner makes the most sense for them at this junction if they can't trade back, and the pick of McCoy actually reminds me a lot of last year's pick of Revel. Both players would be in the argument for top of the class if they weren't still nursing major knee injuries leading up to the draft. I can see Jerry Jones betting on McCoy's skills here and filling their need at Edge when it comes to pick 20. If McCoy returns to his prior form, Dallas will be very thankful that they bet on him.
13. Los Angeles Rams - WR Makai Lemon USC:
The only reason I end up on Lemon here is that the Rams are in win-now mode, and this is a perfect win-now move. Sean McVay's offense is scary enough with the tools currently at their disposal. Imagine if they could add Lemon to that list. Lemon will immediately add value to the Rams as a superstar in the slot. He's a bit of a different flavor than what Adams and Puka provide, helping to round out this fantastic recieving corp and push Matt Stafford toward another MVP season. Corner still feels like the biggest need for LA here, but with McCoy off the board, I see them opting for the best player available. It's worth noting as well that 4 of LA's starting five O-Lineman are on contracts expiring after the '26 season. Fano and Ioane could both make a ton of sense at this pick, but I don't see Sean McVay drafting someone in the first to redshirt and develop at this point in his Rams tenure.
14. Las Vegas Raiders - OL Spencer Fano Utah:
I mentioned last week that Spencer Fano stood to help himself more than any other O-Lineman at the combine because he'd have the chance to show off his superior athletic ability. He did everything I thought he would, showcasing phenomenal movement skills, agility, and technique. That said, I didn't expect his arms to measure as short as they did at all. The lack of length didn't really show up on tape in my opinion, with his superior athletic ability covering it up, but it's extremely concerning nonetheless. Outside of that, I felt that Fano did everything he needed to in order to cement himself as the best O-Lineman in the class and possibly stake his claim to Arizona at 3. The measurables killed that dream, but I can't imagine him going much further down than here. With experience at both Tackle spots, Fano offers 5 position flexibility on the line. For a team like Vegas, that flexibility will be a very welcome addition. It's hard to say what that roster looks like on draft night with the excess of cap freed up from the Crosby trade, but I'm certain they'll still find themselves interested in at least one reinforcement on the line. Right Tackle and Center are both spots where an upgrade could make plenty of sense, and starting Guard Dylan Parham is looking like a probable Free Agent departure. The amount of help needed at this point on the line is what thrusts the versatile Fano over someone like Vega Ioane or a WR or Edge.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers - WR Jordyn Tyson Arizona State:
It seems like Tyson is trending in the wrong direction, hence the small slide here. His injury history is being put under the microscope right now due to his inability to really work out at the combine. Early in the process, I felt that GMs would view Tyson vs. Tate as a 50/50 toss-up with Makai Lemon coming in as a close third. Now, I think it really is Tate as WR1 and Lemon getting a slight edge on most boards because of the durability concerns. That all said, Tyson is still clearly entrenched in that top 3, having a range of somewhere from 8 to 20. He'll be a bit of a wild card come draft day, but look for opportunistic contenders to move up and stop his slip in the middle rounds. Pittsburgh's passing offense has been stagnant for quite a while, and Tyson could be just the guy to provide some much-needed juice. They're the type of team to not be deterred by the injury questions, and they've quietly stockpiled a lot of draft capital to make a move like this possible without mortgaging their day 2. Tyson would form quite a pair of physical field stretchers with DK Metcalf.
16. New York Jets - S Dillon Thieneman Oregon:
New York landed Arvell Reese at two and doubles down to build a bully of a defense with another hybrid style player in Thieneman here. He will be a superstar in Aaron Glenn's defense as a chess piece on the back end that will remind him in a lot of ways of his former player Brian Branch. Thieneman's superior athleticism was on full display in Indy, and I think it could boost his landing spot even higher than here. He'll do it all for Glenn in New York. The Jets could also consider IOL here with Vega Ioane, but I think they'll add there in Free Agency. Thieneman will help in a lot more areas for a very poor Jets secondary.
17. Detroit Lions - OT Monroe Freeling Georgia:
Detroit has a few key needs come draft time and very little cap space to do anything about them prior to that point: Find an Edge who can excel opposite of Hutchinson, Get an active Linebacker to replace Anzalone, and find a new bookend to fill the hole left by Taylor Decker's departure. I have them going OT here, as there's a big drop off after this second group of tackles, but plenty to work with at Edge and Linebacker in the middle rounds. Freeling is the best of that second bunch in terms of potential; his is enormous. He's a bit less seasoned than others, with only one year as a collegiate starter under his belt, but he's an athletic freak at 6 foot 7. I'd say Freeling has the highest ceiling of any Tackle in this class, and Detroit poses a perfect fit with Penei Sewell already in town and capable of switching to LT if Freeling looks more prepared for the right side.
18. Minnesota Vikings - S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Toledo:
I flirted with the Vikings moving back from here, and I think there will be interest from Edge needy teams trying to beat the impending run or CJ Allen suitors. However, there are a lot of teams coming up that need a Safety, and despite slightly lower than expected combine testing, McNeil-Warren is still the last of a clear top 3 in this position group. Safety is in vogue right now around the league with creative DCs moving their trusted safeties up and down alignments, and these three (Downs, Thieneman, EMW) are extremely versatile. No one expects more from their Safties than Brian Flores, and even though McNeil-Warren is a bit of a different flavor than longtime star Harrison Smith, he'll be a great fit for what Flores wants to do. Even if Smith returns for another year or two, Minnesota often deploys 3 safety sets. McNeil-Warren will be involved right away with the chance to take over as the key piece in this defense with time. I do want to note that the slightly below expected testing numbers worry me here due to the small school action. I wonder if McNeil-Warren could face a slide into the lower end of round 1 with teams trying to weigh his tape against the level of competition he was facing in the MAC.
19. Carolina Panthers - DL/Edge Keldric Faulk Auburn:
Carolina gets their pick of the second wave of Edge Rushers here and I have them going potential/upside over immediate polish. Faulk is a unique type of prospect, he played all over the defensive front at Auburn and measured 6’6” 276 lbs with 34.5 inch arms at the combine. He needs to fill out his frame a bit more, he’ll likely be playing in the 280s in the NFL but he moves with great agility and fluidity at that size making him a bit of a tweener. I think he’s best suited for a role as a base end in a hybrid 3-4 defense with the ability to play Edge in jumbo sets and rush from both the inside and outside on passing downs. That requires a creative DC and Carolina has the perfect system fit with Ejiro Evero at the helm. There’s also enough talent and depth across their defensive front to allow Faulk to find himself in the NFL and not have to carry the defense right away.
20. Dallas Cowboys - Edge Akheem Mesidor Miami:
As I mentioned earlier, Dallas has a very solid roster with one main hole at Edge. They have very little cap space but even if they find a way to retain one of their 4 Free Agent Edges, they’ll still want to find 2025 2nd Round star Donovan Ezeiruaku a long-term running mate. Add that to the fact that they’re in win-now mode and I think you have a perfect match for an older prospect like Mesidor. Ranking based on pure Edge rushing skills, Mesidor would easily be 3rd on my board after Bailey and Bain, but he turns 25 on April 5th and he’s likely hit his developmental peak. You know what you’re getting with him, he’ll be an above average starter off the rip and a great complement to Ezeiruaku stylistically. It’ll be time to worry about age when he hits the end of his rookie deal, but for now, you have a good quality starter for cheap at a premium position.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB CJ Allen Georgia:
Tampa’s cap situation isn’t terrible, but I don’t think they’ll find themselves retaining too many of the guys that stand without a deal today. The Bucs could upgrade at every level of the Defense but I expect they’ll be focused on adding key pieces at Linebacker and Edge early in the draft. I love the fit of Texas A&M Edge Rusher Cashius Howell in Tampa Bay, but I think he’s another guy who will be forced down the board due to bad measurables. In his case, it may even cause him to become a day 2 guy. The rest of the pack who would be considered this early at Edge doesn’t seem to contain any natural fits for Todd Bowles’ system. However, Tampa’s defense has long been run through phenomenal Linebacker play and they find themselves rebuilding in that area. CJ Allen fills the void that Lavonte David will soon be leaving as a high character leader in Bowles’ defense. While he’s not an athletic freak, Allen is smart, he’ll wear the green dot in tampa and win with technique and preparation. Those types of players are rare and Tampa will be thrilled to land one here.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - OG Olaivavega Ioane Penn State:
If Ioane does happen to stumble to LA's pick, this is probably the easiest pick of the draft after #1 overall. The Chargers' Achilles heel last year was their terrible O-Line. It was a combination of losing their two superstar OTs to injury and a poorly performing interior group, giving LA the distinction of being a rare O-Line needy team that isn't looking at Offensive Tackle. The entirety of their IOL group from last year is slated for Free Agency, and I view this season as an ideal time for Jim Harbaugh to shake it up at Center and Guard. Prior to the combine, Ioane was touted as the clear top IOL in the draft, but Spencer Fano's measurement woes have made that convo more interesting. In this mock, Fano got the nod from the first team willing to move on an IOL, and Ioane finds himself sliding to a contender in the 20s. This is a great trade-off for LA.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - Edge T.J. Parker Clemson:
Philly is apparently working hard to extend the crown jewel of their 2025 trade deadline, Jaelan Phillips. They're, however, fairly limited on cap. While I see them adding to the Edge room in Free Agency, I think it will be someone at a bit lower of a price tag (Unless they end up moving Jalen Carter). That still leaves this room pretty thin. Parker will come in and compete for reps right away, both on running and passing downs. He's a well-rounded weapon on the Edge, who offers the ability to rush from the inside in sub-packages. He'll be a solid part of the rotation in year 1, but I could see him rising to the top of the Edge room rather quickly in Philly.
24. Houston Texans - OT Blake Miller Clemson:
Houston and Cleveland just did business on the Tytus Howard trade, but things come back around, and Cleveland helps Houston obtain his replacement in Blake Miller. I think Houston moved Howard because they feel okay with their Tackle room, and I by no means think they'll feel desperate to get a Tackle in the 1st Round. That said, Trent Brown only has 1 year left on his contract and Miller is far too good of a value to be available here at 24 with an expected late round run on tackles gearing up to get started. This move is relatively low-cost for Houston and allows them to ensure that they get their guy before KC can leapfrog them. Miller is a great fit for this offense, and he has the size, temperament, and experience to be an immediate star in the NFL.
25. Chicago Bears - Edge Zion Young Missouri:
Chicago has been trying to solve their Edge Rushing issues for quite a long time. The trade for Montez Sweat has paid great dividends, but they're still looking to get a true difference maker on the other side. Zion Young will be an instant upgrade on run-stuffing downs, and his size/build is ideal for Chicago's defensive scheme, but he'll be a work in progress as a rusher. I think Young is interesting because his power and temperament give him a lot of room for growth, while he'll still provide very strong run support from day 1. This will solve the positional need on early downs from the get-go, but we'll see if he can become a better all-around player in the long-term.
26. Buffalo Bills - CB Avieon Terrell Clemson:
After the release of Taron Johnson, an already thin defensive back group in Buffalo is now even thinner. Much like Receiver, Buffalo took a few stabs at bringing in established veterans late last season to see if they could get the position to some sort of consistency. I still believe 2025 1st Rounder Maxwell Hairston will come along. Even when that happens, Buffalo will still be in need of an upgrade to their Nickel corner situation, which is, coincidentally, where Terrell should thrive at the next level. He'll be an instant upgrade in Buffalo with the skills to be a day 1 starter at Nickel and the ability to help out on the outside if absolutely needed.
27. San Francisco - WR Denzel Boston Washington:
This is a fairly similar pick to what we just had with Buffalo, San Fran took a stab at addressing WR two years ago with the pick of Ricky Pearsall, yet it remains a major position of need, especially with Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk seemingly set to leave town. Pearsall's been solid when he's on the field, but that's been few and far between in his NFL career thus far. Boston would be a great complement to Pearsall, taking over Number 1 WR duties and hopefully establishing some stability at the position. If Pearsall can get right, San Fran would have a very formidable duo of young WRs for Brock Purdy to play with.
28. Cleveland Browns - WR Omar Cooper Jr. Indiana:
This whole situation shakes out very favorably for the Browns. Cleveland slides back a few picks, nets a 4th rounder, and luckily gets the same player they were targeting at 24. I think the Browns would favor Omar Cooper's physicality and run-after-the-catch prowess compared to the other WR options poised to go around this selection. Cooper would quickly establish himself as a trusted safety-valve for whoever Cleveland's future QB1 may be.
29. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Kadyn Proctor Alabama:
Despite trading up and landing the uber-talented David Bailey, I have KC finding a way to retain their second 1st round pick here at 29. Tackle has been an issue for a while now in Arrowhead, and Pat Mahomes is starting to feel the consequences. Last year, KC got a steal at Left Tackle with Ohio State's Josh Simmons. Now, they can pair him with the talented behemoth from Alabama to form a duo that can keep Mahomes upright for the long haul. Proctor's size leads to some natural questions, but he moves phenomenally on tape. This has the makings to be a massive steal this late in the 1st round, breathing some new life into this Chiefs dynasty that looked to be on the verge of slipping away last season.
30. Denver Broncos - DL Peter Woods Clemson:
Denver's in good shape with only two starters from their deep playoff run slated for Free Agency. One of whom is starting interior D-Lineman John Franklin-Myers. Whether he returns to the Broncos or not, Woods will find himself as an instant impact-maker in Denver's defensive rotation with the potential to become one of the stars on this great defense in the long-term. There's a lot to love with Woods on tape, and I believe Sean Payton and Vance Joseph are just the guys to unlock his potential.
31. New England Patriots - Edge Cashius Howell Texas A&M:
Howell's slide ends here. Prior to the combine, I had Howell as my 3rd best true Edge Rusher coming off the board at 15. However, he's another guy whose measurables came in really unfavorably, and he didn't test as freakishly in speed and athleticism as I would've thought. Howell's tape is insane, though; he constantly wins as a rusher with speed, athleticism, preparedness, and tenacity. Good coaching staffs, much like the one Mike Vrabel has built in New England, will overlook the red flags in the backend of Day 1 to secure a guy with instant impact rush potential. Howell will provide some juice to a group of New England Edge Rushers that may be missing their most productive piece from 2025.
32. Seattle Seahawks - CB Colton Hood Tennessee:
This pick makes way too much sense for Seattle at the end of the round. The defending champs appear slated to lose two of their top corners from 2025 (Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen). The Hawks still have a lot of cap space, so it wouldn't surprise me if they were able to retain one of the two. However, neither has been able to provide any exceptional play over the last few seasons, and it feels as though the Seattle cornerback room has gotten a little stale. Hood is a guy worth betting on to revitalize it, as his tape shows that he could potentially be the best corner in this class. He can operate fantastically from both man and zone as well as provide quality tackling and effort in run support. The only knock on Hood is that he's really only shown this over the course of one season. The lack of sample size causes his slide here, which should make the defending champions very happy.
Round 2:
33. New York Jets - QB Ty Simpson Alabama
34. Arizona Cardinals - OT Caleb Lomu Utah
35. Tennessee Titans - DT Caleb Banks Florida
36. Las Vegas Raiders - LB Anthony Hill Jr. Texas
37. New York Giants - OT Max Iheanachor ASU
38. Houston Texans - DT Lee Hunter Texas Tech
39. Cleveland Browns - DT Kayden McDonald Ohio State
40. Arizona Cardinals - WR Zachariah Branch Georgia
41. Cincinnati Bengals - CB Chris Johnson San Diego State
42. New Orleans Saints - Edge Malachi Lawrence UCF
43. Miami Dolphins - Edge Gabe Jacas Illinois
44. New York Jets - OG Emmanuel Pregnon Oregon
45. Baltimore Ravens - OG Chase Bisontis Texas A&M
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Edge R Mason Thomas Oklahoma
47. Indianapolis Colts - WR Chris Brazzell II Tennessee
48. Atlanta Falcons - WR KC Concepcion Texas A&M
49. Minnesota Vikings - HB Jadarian Price Notre Dame
50. Detroit Lions - LB Jacob Rodriguez Texas Tech
51. Carolina Panthers - LB Jake Golday Cincinnati
52. Green Bay Packers - CB Brandon Cisse South Carolina
53. Pittsburgh Steelers - S A.J. Haulcy LSU
54. Philadelphia Eagles - TE Eli Stowers Vanderbilt
55. Los Angeles Chargers - CB D'Angelo Ponds Indiana
56. Jacksonville Jaguars - HB Mike Washington Jr. Arkansas
57. Chicago Bears - DT Christen Miller Georgia
58. San Francisco 49ers - OG Keylan Rutledge Georgia Tech
59. Houston Texans - C Logan Jones Iowa
60. Chicago Bears - S Bud Clark TCU
61. Los Angeles Rams - CB Keionte Scott Miami
62. Denver Broncos - LB/S Kyle Louis Pitt
63. New England Patriots - WR Malachi Fields Notre Dame
64. Seattle Seahawks - WR Antonio Williams Clemson
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