2026 Post-Free Agency Frenzy 3 Round Mock Draft
Free Agency was a blast this year. We had record-setting deals, familiar pairings reuniting in new cities, big-name veteran trades, and one could-have-been trade that shocked the world and threw mock-drafters for a loop. Although a lot can still change over the next month, the draft landscape is now much clearer than it was just a few weeks back. However, we now know the majority of the faces that will be on each roster by the time round 1 kicks off, which means we can make some much more reasonable predictions than we have before.
This is the third in a series of mock drafts that I’ll be doing on this page, followed by a full 7-round mock that will be released around one week before the draft. I like to ramp up with each new mock, and therefore, I'll be doing all of Day 1 and all of Day 2 in this one, with round 1 trades included. As always, we can expect some movement throughout the first round of the draft, so let's speculate a bit. Let’s get rippin’:
Round 1:
1. Las Vegas Raiders - QB Fernando Mendoza Indiana:
In every mock, I say the same thing: This one is essentially etched in stone. Mendoza will know he's a Raider well before draft night (if it hasn't been made known behind closed doors already), and the Raiders' Free Agency strategy has further cemented that in my opinion. While they didn't waste a lot of money in a fairly shallow Reciever market, I need to commend them for going out and landing the best O-Lineman available in Tyler Linderbaum. The impact that his presence will make on Mendoza's development equals money well spent.
2. New York Jets - Edge David Bailey Texas Tech:
I’ve been so back and forth on this selection. It's no surprise that Aaron Glenn and company went full force investing in defense throughout Free Agency and I expect that theme to continue at this pick. The message from ownership last year was clear, Glenn was brought in because of his defensive prowess, and that defense cannot remain as bad as it was. This pick has to be either Bailey or the enigmatic hybrid Linebacker/Edge Arvell Reese. Reese is honestly a better fit for everything Aaron Glenn likes to do in his hybrid 3-4 scheme. However, The reason I’ve swung back in the direction of Bailey here is simple. Bailey is already a super polished pass rusher, I’d expect 8 to 12 sacks from him in year 1. Reese, on the other hand, will be a work in progress on the Edge as a traits based pick. New York added two capable every-down Edges in Free Agency but they felt like rotational pieces and not guys that will be heavily relied on when it comes to passing downs. Reese would likely be more of the same early on in his career. It feels like the stage is set for Bailey to come in as a star situational rusher and not need to be relied on heavily in run support as a rookie. This is a good situation for him.
3. Arizona Cardinals - OT Francis Mauigoa Miami:
I was so steadfast early on that Arizona’s best move here would be to slide back if they want a Tackle. I’m 100% off of that line of thinking now. Sure, Mauigoa is more in the 6 to 8 range when it comes to my board here, but Free Agency should be a prime indicator of how teams are valuing the Tackle position in this year’s draft. Last year, there was desperation in the OT market leading to an average guy like Dan Moore being far overpaid. This year… hesitancy. The best OT available, Rasheed Walker, felt primed for a Dan Moore deal but ended up with a 1 year prove it offer. Two of the next best veteran names, Jawaan Taylor and Taylor Decker, find themselves without a new deal at this point ( I’m writing this piece on the 18th). The Tackle market seemed to dry up in ‘26 and I believe that’s a direct reflection of this draft class. OT is deep in the first 40ish picks this year and after Spencer Fano’s measurable issues, Mauigoa is the clear number 1 guy in that crop. Arizona should lock their guy down at 3, he won’t be here long.
4. Tennessee Titans - HB Jeremiyah Love Notre Dame:
The Titans went all out on rebuilding the Defense in free agency. Even though they spent some money on pass catchers when it came to Offense (Wan’Dale Robinson, 2 TEs, Retaining Calvin Ridley), the haul felt quite lop-sided. I’m taking this as a sign for things to come, I think The Titans know that they can most likely add either the Draft’s best O-Lineman or Offensive Weapon at this pick, and they’re poised to go best Offensive player available. Love is that guy and he’ll help their offense immensely in year 1. He’s going to be a superstar in every facet of the run game and arguably provide Tennessee’s best weapon through the air. This makes things so much easier for Cam Ward, both players should excel with this pairing.
5. New York Giants - CB Mansoor Delane LSU:
I struggled with this one. At this point, everyone should know that Cleveland is taking a Buckeye at 6, and I think the phones will be lighting up with teams targeting Arvell Reese. It's hard for me to imagine a world where Reese slides outside of the top 5, but I have New York staying put for multiple reasons. First off, I think the biggest players to move up here would be in that 9 to 15 range, but I think that's further than New York would really like to move back and too expensive of a jump for most of those teams. KC could make sense at 9, but I think they've been hit a lot harder with departures than I initially expected, and they'll opt to hold their day 1 and 2 picks this year. Secondly, I think Cornerback is similar to OT in the regard that there's a clear number 1 and a decent drop off after him. Delane has set himself apart in the pre-draft process. He's tested well, he's skilled in every facet of the game, and he has no major red flags. Each player in the next tier of CB (McCoy and Hood from Tennessee, and Clemson's Avieon Terrell) has a red flag, whether it be injury history, measurables, or lack of experience. Delane will safely be a star in the NFL, but he still has as much upside as anyone in the class. Not to mention, he's exactly the style of Corner that John Harbaugh coveted during his time in Baltimore.
6. Cleveland Browns - LB/Edge Arvell Reese Ohio State:
In this mock, Reese falls right into the Browns' lap, and of course the former Buckeye is just too good to pass up on. At first glance, most will assume that Reese isn’t a great fit for Cleveland’s defense. However, It’s not quite that simple. The Browns’ new DC Mike Rutenberg is on his way over from Atlanta where they made great use of last years hybrid Linebacker/Edge phenom Jalon Walker. While Rutenberg will maintain Cleveland’s base 4-3, he should be comfortable building an athlete like Reese into the scheme. While I’m not quite sure what his usage will look like yet, Cleveland has been trying to find an effective partner across from Garrett on passing downs for quite a while now. That said, Alex Wright is a really talented Edge Setter in the run game. I’d hypothesize that Reese would be an off the ball LB on early downs and come down to rush the passer to kick off his career. He’s easily in the running for second best Pass Rusher on the roster despite his relative rawness on the Edge. Either way, he’s an immense talent and an OSU alum, The Browns will find ways to get him involved.
7. Washington Commanders - LB Sonny Styles Ohio State:
This is another tough one. Washington seems to have a good grip on what will and what won’t be available at this pick. Their Free Agency moves seemed to perfectly align with the top players left on my board here. Offensively, they could use another WR for Jayden Daniels. Defensively, they’re still looking a little light down the middle with needs at Linebacker and Safety. Each of those spots could be filled by one of the fantastic remaining Buckeyes (Styles, Downs, and Tate). I have Styles being the pick here. He's my top player available, and Washington is still set to be without future Hall-of-Fame Bobby Wagner this season. The Commanders have added Leo Chenal, but he's a much different style of 'backer. There's room for Chenal, Luvu, and Styles in Daronte Jones' Viking style defense. I think he'll be very creative with blitzes and coverage packages for Styles, and while he fills Wagner's empty role as the tackle machine (and eventual nerve center) at the heart of this defense.
8. Dallas Cowboys - S Caleb Downs Ohio State:
I've been looking at trades pretty heavily here as well as at pick 5. It wouldn't shock me if we had little to no movement inside of the top 12, it just feels like the board will fall that way this year. However, I found a fit here that makes a lot of sense. This one really comes down to how high NOLA is on Carnell Tate, if they feel comfortable sliding back a bit, gaining picks, and potentially having to go with Jordan Tyson or defense, then this makes a ton of sense. For a team that's still rebuilding, I'd say this is the way to go. On the other side, Dallas did a good job filling needs in Free Agency and really isn't desperate anywhere. That means they can take a best player available approach. For a lot of teams that would be Tate here, but for teams that aren't scared off from the lack of A+ physical traits, I think that's Downs. Despite having a solid roster, Dallas could use a difference maker somewhere in the secondary, and they'll be well aware that Downs will be gone by 12. In this scenario, they spend a bit of extra capital in a win-now move and go get the guy who will help them the most this season.
9. Kansas City Chiefs - Edge Rueben Bain Jr. Miami:
I've said it before and I’ll say it again, Bain typically wouldn’t (and probably shouldn’t) go this high due to his measurables. I think he’ll be a very solid NFL starter but his lack if arm length has a decent chance to push him inside on pass rushing snaps. His tape is awesome, but if you watch it closely, you can see evidence that he’ll be a great Edge Setter at the next level due to his base and strength but he’ll likely struggle rushing the passer against longer, more athletic Tackles. In most years, you’re probably talking 12 to 17 range, but this draft is a little light on top end talent. Win-now teams like KC will welcome the lowered ceiling due to Bain’s outstanding polish. Even if he’s forced inside on passing downs, he’s an every-down starter off the rip for the former champs.
10. New York Jets - WR Carnell Tate Ohio State:
The last of the ultra-talented group of Buckeyes comes off the board here at the edge of the top 10, kicking off a run on pass-catchers. I can see Tate sliding a bit, but I don't think there's a world where he could fall outside of the top 11. I believe most teams will have him as the number one wideout on their board, but the variance between the top 3 won't be that big. Some teams may even like Tate better from a skill standpoint, but prefer Lemon or Tyson based on scheme. That's how we end up here. The Jets jump at the opportunity to grab a top-tier WR for their eventual QB1, and he'll make quite the tandem with Garrett Wilson. New York has been fairly aggressive this offseason, and I think that carries over to the draft. They know how bad they were in '25, and they made a habit of trying to add talent to as many positions as possible in Free Agency. That said, they were quiet when it came to offensive skill positions, which has led to a pretty thin Receiver room. They have plenty of capital and are in a much better spot right now than they were at the end of last season, so why not move up a bit and nab the draft's top WR? Tate could be a great fit here. As for Ciny, the board fell pretty badly for them. Might as well slide back a bit and focus on filling one of your key needs, since several teams will likely be calling in to get Tate. Adding the 44th overall pick certainly lessens the blow of missing out on the top wave of defenders in this class.
11. Miami Dolphins - TE Kenyon Sadiq Oregon:
I think the Dolphins would've been in on a potential deal for Downs, but got beat out by Dallas. Missing out on Tate's slide by a division rival trading up definitely hurt too, but Miami still had plenty of great options here. They have glaring needs at both pass-catcher and in the secondary, so I have them looking to add someone who can help in multiple areas. Sadiq is the perfect choice. His blocking prowess will be a helpful addition for a team that I'm expecting to deploy an offense focused heavily on the run game, his ability on screens and quick routes will be a welcome extension of that run game, not to mention he'll also be Malik Willis' top downfield target after the departure of Jaylen Waddle. Miami has a lot of needs, so why not stay put, keep your picks, and draft the player that can impact your team in the most areas. Sadiq is a freak athlete, and his abilities will be put on display in an offense starved of talent.
12. New Orleans Saints - CB Jermod McCoy Tennessee:
I expect New Orleans to be very tempted to stay put and grab Tate at 8, but I believe the opportunity to add extra capital and the potential available at some other key needs will push them to move back. While Receiver is still a big need, the Saints focused on putting help around Tyler Shough in free agency and let the defense get a bit stagnant. I think adding a top Corner should be priority number 1 for New Orleans. Missing out on Mansoor Delane hurts, but the tape suggests that Jermod McCoy could be just as good if he bounces back well from the ACL tear that caused him to miss his entire season. I think a lot of teams will be viewing McCoy as a potential top 10 talent with a major injury flag. The fact that we have yet to see him work out has his draft position very up in the air in my mind. If he doesn't go full swing at Tennessee's pro day on the 31st, a drop into day 2 isn't out of the question. Take 2025 3rd rounder Shavon Revel for example, he was seen as a potential late 1st rounder, but questions around his recovery pushed him to round 3. McCoy could suffer a similar fate and fall into round 2 if he doesn't prove he's getting healthy at his pro day, but if he looks good, I'd say he's a top 15 lock.
13. Los Angeles Rams - WR Makai Lemon USC:
Lemon's staying put in SoCal. The Rams are obviously another team in win-now mode, and they did a phenomenal job this offseason of filling needs so that they're solid across the depth chart and able to draft the best available come April. Receiver is honestly one of their bigger needs because of a lack of depth after the two-headed monster of Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Lemon would also be a phenomenal addition to Sean McVay's offense as a slot superstar who wins with smarts and savvy, much like Adams and Nacua. Talk about a win for the defending NFC runner-up and their MVP-winning QB.
14. Baltimore Ravens - OL Spencer Fano Utah:
Funny enough, I had Fano at the same spot in my last mock, just to the Raiders instead…. Oh, how things change. Baltimore isn't really desperate anywhere except for Center, but they have needs across the O-Line. Both Guard spots could be upgraded, and veteran LT Ronnie Stanley has been declining in his quality of play. I wouldn't expect Baltimore to get a ton of additional time from Stanley, and his injury history leads to concerns about his availability even while he is hanging around. Fano is a day 1 starter at Center or Guard, depending on what other acquisitions the Ravens make. He also offers the flexibility as a swing tackle if Stanley's age continues to catch up with him, and he may be a long-term solution at OT if Stanley retires and he continues to prove that his arm length can be hidden by supreme athleticism. This is a player that can wear a lot of hats for an O-Line-needy team like Baltimore.
15. Cleveland Browns - OT Monroe Freeling Georgia:
There are a lot of mocks out there right now that have Freeling in the top 10, and many of those are finding a fit for him with the Browns at 6. I don't think that's out of the question, but it still feels a bit early for me when we're talking about a fairly unseasoned, traits-based prospect. Cleveland sees Freeling sliding here and knows his floor has to be with Detroit at 17. They'll also be aware that division rival Pittsburgh may want to move up for Freeling here and that there's a chance their other rival, Cincinnati, may be targeting Freeling as a long-term blindside solution for Joe Burrow at the next pick. I have the Browns sliding up here and locking down a prospect who they'll love for the long-term. I think this season will mostly be about building a foundation for whoever the future QB1 is next season, and I can't think of a better move to support that.
16. Cincinnati Bengals - DL/Edge Keldric Faulk Auburn:
While there's a chance Cincy would have considered Freeling here, I have a feeling they don't mind Cleveland's move all that much. Despite some off-season additions, they still have a clear need to upgrade at DB and Edge, and I have them opting for another traits based player here much like they have in the past. Faulk can deliver the same type of hybrid ability that they're looking to eventually get from Shemar Stewart which makes him a perfect fit for Al Golden's heavy hybrid scheme. He'll be somewhere around 285 in the league, so he can play on the edge and also kick inside as a pass-rusher. Faulk's a little raw, but Golden can maximize his strengths; the Bengals are bound to hit on a toolsy pass-rusher sooner or later. I also wouldn't rule out Dillon Thieneman here, but I think they'd benefit more from getting a true boundary corner if they were to go secondary
17. Detroit Lions - OT Blake Miller Clemson:
I'm very torn between Miller and Miami Edge Ahkeem Mesidor here. Detroit is obviously in Win-Now mode and could use a boost at both Edge and OT. A lot of people are thinking the Lions are in the market for LT only, which would drastically limit their options. However, I have a strong hunch that Penei Sewell kicks over to LT in 2026, leaving the right side wide open. The Lions have enough talent to get by in both spots, but I think they'll look to add a rookie to the competition at each. That said, it would be much easier to do that at Edge in the second, as OT looks as though it will really thin out after the first 40ish picks. I think Mesidor is a little higher on my board here, but due to that thinness, I have them opting for Miller here and planning to grab an Edge on day 2. Miller is an experienced brawler; he just screams Dan Campbell's type of guy.
18. Minnesota Vikings - S Dillon Thieneman Oregon:
This is a slam dunk pick for Minnesota. Whether or not Harrison Smith returns, the Vikings would greatly benefit from adding one of this draft's high-end playmaking safeties, and luckily for them, there are two still available here. Brian Flores asks a lot of his safeties and values guys who can move all over the alignment in 3 safety sets. Thieneman can do just that, and at a high level, too. He's a great fit in Minnesota and an explosive athlete who put on an absolute show at the combine. He's the top safety on my board after Caleb Downs, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him land inside the top 15 come draft day.
19. Carolina Panthers - S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Toledo:
The last of the big 3 safeties comes off the board here at 19. I don't get a clear sense of direction when it comes to Carolina after the acquisitions they made in free agency. They find themselves coming into the draft as a pretty well-built roster with the ability to upgrade at Safety, Nickel Corner, and DL. Safety may be the biggest of those needs, and it coincidentally has one of the best players on the board here. McNeil-Warren looks great on tape, but the lack of supreme testing numbers blended with the lower-end competition he faced in the MAC has me a bit wary. It could cause the perfect storm for him to drop to the end of the round, but an opportunistic team like Carolina will want to pounce on the upside and bring him along at his own pace.
20. Dallas Cowboys - LB CJ Allen Georgia:
Dallas has been quietly focused on building up the middle of their defense since trading away Micah Parsons last year. They traded for two absolute stud DTs in Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams, attempted to find a long-term signal caller in the middle in Logan Wilson, and added two talented safeties this offseason (Not to mention the addition of Caleb Downs, I have them slated to make early in this draft). They'll be very happy to find the true solution to their woes in the Middle with Allen coming in as Wilson's replacement here at 20. In an era where everyone is obsessed with measurables, Allen's high IQ play and leadership qualities are less sought after than they once were. He should go higher than this, but it just doesn't feel like it's in the cards. Those skills aren't easily replicated and will make him an instant star who brings consistency to the middle, no matter what scheme he ends up in.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - OG Olaivavega Ioane Penn State:
A lot of Steeler fans will be clamoring for Jordan Tyson here, but Pittsburgh added Michael Pittman in the offseason, and a dream situation is falling into their laps. In this scenario, Spencer Fano's lack of length is the best thing to happen to the Steelers. It causes a chain reaction, making Ioane the 2nd-best interior lineman on a lot of boards due to Fano's extensive positional flexibility. Baltimore ends up with Fano instead of Ioane now, and the former Nittany Lion falls to the Steelers at 21. Guard is probably the Steelers' biggest need, and they add a great one with Ioane. He's a physical brawler on the interior, the exact type of player that fits Pittsburgh's DNA. Things will change a bit under Mike McCarthy, but we can still expect smash-mouth football in PGH, and Ioane will be another addition in a long line of tone-setters upfront.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - DL Peter Woods Clemson:
We saw it last year, flashy/athletic D-Lineman often get a bit of a boost come draft day. Kenneth Grant found himself inside the top 15, and Walter Nolen boosted all the way from fringe 1st rounder to 16. Woods is a similar type of player; he’s athletic and plays with urgency. He’s been fairly inconsistent in college, but the flashes are phenomenal. Coaches that deploy a heavy rotation on the D-Line love getting a player like that. Worst case, he comes in and brings energy to a solid rotation. Best case, he gives the Chargers something they’re lacking, a true star on the Interior Line. I also think there will be a bit of a bidding war here with some early second-round teams looking to move up and grab Jordyn Tyson. Specifically, I can see Vegas and the Giants in on him here. However, there are some talented tackles that would be available if LA moves back, but none that play the style Woods does. I think Woods has both the highest upside and the best fit schematically for LA, so I doubt they’ll feel comfortable moving back that far and most likely missing out on him.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Jordyn Tyson Arizona State:
Things just have a way of working out really awesome for Philly on draft day, don’t they? Tyson is arguably the most skilled receiver in the draft, but this draft isn’t light on instant impact wideouts, and Tyson’s injury history will have teams reluctant to bet on him in the early-to-mid teens. There also aren’t a lot of WR needy teams in the 20s, causing Tyson’s slide to Philly at 23. There is a lot of momentum building toward A.J. Brown being traded in July (likely to New England), and I’m buying it. That situation has been a struggle for years now, and that’s way too much headache for a WR on a run-heavy team. I expect the Eagles to jump on Tyson here with the intention of having him fill the big-body downfield threat role that Brown will be vacating. He’d be a slam dunk for Jalen Hurts as a high-effort guy who always finds a way to come down with the ball. If I’m wrong on the Brown trade, this has to be Miami Edge Akheem Mesidor.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Edge Akheem Mesidor Miami:
If Mesidor hadn't slid to this pick, I'd be very tempted to have Tampa go with Jacob Rodriguez here. However, the Bucs are elated to move back to 24 and find Mesidor still available. The fact is, Mesidor will be considered the most polished Edge behind only David Bailey and his former teammate Rueben Bain on most boards. That said, he's going to be 25 years old as a rookie and has an injury history to go along with it. Those issues sap his potential and projected longevity a bit, making him a much more ideal fit for teams that view themselves as contenders, like Tampa Bay. Rebuilding teams won't be able to justify spending a 1st on a guy who will be 30 by the time things start to click. That causes Mesidor's slide but leads to a really good Edge talent falling to a contender who's desperately in need.
25. Chicago Bears - Edge T.J. Parker Clemson:
Chicago finally finds a running mate across from Montez Sweat. I believe it's Edge or bust here for the Bears, and I think they'd be fairly happy with Parker, Mesidor, or even Missouri's Zion Young if the other two are gone. Parker is a very talented and polished player who's had a bit of a roller coaster ride when it comes to draft stock. He was a projected top 5 pick after a fantastic 11 sack campaign in '24, then crashed back down into an early second round projection following a large production drop off in '25. Then, he put his long-arm rush on full display at the Senior Bowl, raising his stock back up to a late first-rounder. Parker shines at using his length and power on the Edge, even if he lacks a bit of speed, those tools will have Coordinators drooling over his ability in the right scheme. He's polished enough to be a major contributor from day 1, but I expect he'll add some more tools to his bag and become a very successful NFL Edge defender.
26. Buffalo Bills - OT/G Kadyn Proctor Alabama:
Buffalo doesn’t have a ton of needs, but David Edwards’ departure left a gaping hole at Left Guard. Going through the tape, I have little doubt that Proctor could start at Tackle, and I'd wager that whoever takes him would agree. However, Buffalo is pretty set at Tackle for now, so I'd expect Proctor to slide inside at least to kick off his career. Proctor would offer the Bills enormous upside as a starting Guard with swing Tackle ability in the event of an injury to one of their starters. The Bills have long had an affinity for behemoth O-Lineman, and the 6'7" 352-pounder certainly keeps the tradition going.
27. San Francisco 49ers - OT Caleb Lomu Utah:
Niners fans are going to kill me here, but they need to accept where the Trent Williams situation is headed. It does sound like there will be a restructured deal, but I'd expect it to be for one year. We're at a point where I think they'll be content extending the accomplished vet year-by-year until his inevitable retirement, which may be coming sooner rather than later. There are most likely 1 to 2 good years left for Williams in San Fran, so why not grab his heir apparent here? Lomu is very athletic and could easily be a big-time upgrade at LG as long as Williams hangs around, but he should have the stuff to be an LT in the league.
28. Arizona Cardinals - QB Ty Simpson Alabama:
The price is a little bit hefty here for Arizona, I'm sure they'll try to talk their way out of the 2027 2nd, but Houston has the leverage of a small bidding war. I think the Jets, Cardinals, and Browns will all kick the tires on moving into the 27 to 32 range to grab Simpson. I see this for two reasons: 1. Simpson is a Jet if he makes it to their 3rd selection at the start of day 2, so Arizona and/or Cleveland will have to trade back into round 1 if they want him. 2. Getting back into the first for Simpson gives his suitor the massive advantage of a 5th year option if he does indeed become the franchise guy. While I think Cleveland has interest and NYJ would be happy to land him, Arizona makes the most sense for Simpson to me. With the addition of Mauigoa earlier, a phenomenal group of receiving targets, and Jacoby Brissett to develop behind, this feels like the perfect landing spot for the inexperienced signal caller. If Mike LaFleur is everything Arizona is hoping he is, he should be able to unlock Ty Simpson's potential.
29. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Max Iheanachor Arizona State:
KC has two major needs after grabbing Rueben Bain at 9: Cornerback and Right Tackle. There are some phenomenal Corners still on the board, but this is a fairly solid DB class, and there are going to be some great names available for the Chiefs' next pick at 40. Tackle, on the other hand, is pretty thin, and Iheanachor is the last available blue-chipper in a top-heavy class. He's a freaky athlete who didn't start playing football until Junior College, but that hasn't stopped him from putting some really promising work on tape. Iheanachor has as much upside as any player in the class, let alone O-Lineman, and Andy Reid will find a way to get him going.
30. Miami Dolphins - CB Colton Hood Tennessee:
Miami could consider a WR here, and there are some ridiculously good values still on the board, but with the earlier addition of Kenyon Sadiq, I have them opting for one of the draft's best Corners. Hood is another one of those guys who flashes enough on tape to show the potential to be at the top of his class. He's only been a starter for one season, though, and the relatively small sample size will give teams some cause for pause. That means Miami will land a heck of a steal at the back end of the first, one that they would've likely felt comfortable selecting much earlier in the draft.
31. New England Patriots - Edge Cashius Howell Texas A&M:
New England has an absolutely phenomenal talent fall into their lap here with Howell. I think this is going to be a common pick for me, Howell is falling (and rightfully so) because of subpar combine testing. Coming into the combine, we knew Howell was a bit undersized, extremely explosive, and had a motor for days. Unfortunately, he’s another guy whose arm length came back very unfavorably, and his speed, while still good, was slower than expected. The tape suggests that he’s a top 15 talent, but the combine testing will scare a lot of teams off. Smart organizations trust the tape in these situations, and much like Fano or Bain before him, Howell’s tape showcases a guy who’s easily a 1st Round talent. Vrabel and the Pats are typically one of those smart teams, and they’ll jump at the chance to fill a need with an undervalued star like Howell.
32. New Orleans Saints - WR Denzel Boston Washington:
The Saints are having an interesting draft in this mock. If they stayed put at 8, they probably would've ended up with Carnell Tate and a second-tier CB like Chris Johnson or Brandon Cisse. Instead, I have them doing a bit of wheeling and dealing. The way it nets out, they end up giving up a 4th this year and a 4th next year for a 2027 2nd Rounder, Jermod McCoy, and Denzel Boston. Not a bad trade-off! Few would argue that Tate isn't the best of the players listed, but they still get a CB who would've likely been a top-10 pick if not for an injury, a big physical ball-winner for Tyler Shough, with an additional day 2 pick next year to continue their full-force rebuild. There's about to be a run on WRs early in the 2nd round, and the Saints are behind a few pass-catcher-needy teams. By trading into the back-end of the 1st, they're able to lock down their preferred guy for minimal cost.
Round 2:
33. New York Jets - CB Avieon Terrell Clemson
34. Houston Texans - DT Caleb Banks Florida
35. Tennessee Titans - Edge Zion Young Missouri
36. Las Vegas Raiders - WR Omar Cooper Jr. Indiana
37. New York Giants - WR Zachariah Branch Georgia
38. Houston Texans - LB Jacob Rodriguez Texas Tech
39. Cleveland Browns - WR Germie Bernard Alabama
40. Kansas City Chiefs - CB Chris Johnson San Diego State
41. Cincinnati Bengals - OG Chase Bisontis Texas A&M
42. Seattle Seahawks - HB Jadarian Price Notre Dame
43. Miami Dolphins - WR Chris Brazzell II Tennessee
44. Cincinnati Bengals - CB Brandon Cisse South Carolina
45. Baltimore Ravens - TE Eli Stowers Vanderbilt
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB Anthony Hill Jr. Texas
47. Indianapolis Colts - LB Jake Golday Cincinnati
48. Atlanta Falcons - WR KC Concepcion Texas A&M
49. Minnesota Vikings - DT Lee Hunter Texas Tech
50. Detroit Lions - Edge Malachi Lawrence UCF
51. Carolina Panthers - DT Kayden McDonald Ohio State
52. Green Bay Packers - Edge Derrick Moore Michigan
53. Pittsburgh Steelers - LB Josiah Trotter Missouri
54. Philadelphia Eagles - S A.J. Haulcy LSU
55. Los Angeles Chargers - OG Emmanuel Pregnon Oregon
56. Jacksonville Jaguars - Edge Gabe Jacas Illinois
57. Chicago Bears - S Bud Clark TCU
58. San Francisco 49ers - DT Christen Miller Georgia
59. Houston Texans - OG Keylan Rutledge Georgia Tech
60. Chicago Bears - WR Antonio Williams Clemson
61. Los Angeles Rams - CB D'angelo Ponds Indiana
62. Denver Broncos - LB Kyle Louis Pitt
63. New England Patriots - WR Malachi Fields Notre Dame
64. Seattle Seahawks - Edge R Mason Thomas Oklahoma
Round 3:
65. Arizona Cardinals - S Treydan Stukes Arizona
66. Tennessee Titans - S Kamari Ramsey USC
67. Las Vegas Raiders - OT/G Caleb Tiernan Northwestern
68. Philadelphia Eagles - LB/Edge Jaishawn Barham Michigan
69. Houston Texans - C Logan Jones Iowa
70. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - OT/G Gennings Dunker Iowa
71. Washington Commanders - WR Elijah Sarratt Indiana
72. Cincinnati Bengals - C Connor Lew Auburn
73. New Orleans Saints - Edge Joshua Josephs Tennessee
74. Kansas City Chiefs - TE Max Klare Ohio State
75. Miami Dolphins - S Jalon Kilgore South Carolina
76. Pittsburgh Steelers - WR Deion Burks Oklahoma
77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - QB Garrett Nussmeier LSU
78. Indianapolis Colts - WR Chris Bell Louisville
79. Atlanta Falcons - HB Mike Washington Jr. Arkansas
80. Baltimore Ravens - S Zakee Wheatley Penn State
81. Jacksonville Jaguars - HB Emmett Johnson Nebraska
82. Minnesota Vikings - C Sam Hecht Kansas State
83. Carolina Panthers - CB Keionte Scott Miami
84. Green Bay Packers - CB Daylen Everette Georgia
85. Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Dametrious Crownover Texas A&M
86. Los Angeles Chargers - DL/Edge L.T. Overton Alabama
87. Miami Dolphins - Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton Penn State
88. Jacksonville Jaguars - TE Dallen Bentley Utah
89. Chicago Bears - C Jake Slaughter Florida
90. Miami Dolphins - CB Keith Abney II Arizona State
91. Buffalo Bills - DT Domonique Orange Iowa State
92. Dallas Cowboys - CB Malik Muhammad Texas
93. Los Angeles Rams - Edge Romello Height Texas Tech
94. Miami Dolphins - OG Jalen Farmer Kentucky
95. New England Patriots - DL Zxavian Harris Ole Miss
96. Seattle Seahawks - CB Davison Igbinosun Ohio State
97. Minnesota Vikings - DL Gracen Halton Oklahoma
98. Philadelphia Eagles - TE Sam Roush Stanford
99. Pittsburgh Steelers - S VJ Payne Kansas State
100. Jacksonville Jaguars - LB Deontae Lawson Alabama
Comments
Post a Comment