Round 1:
1.Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, quarterback (Indiana)
It's been over a decade since the Raiders made their last significant investment in a young quarterback and after dealing Geno Smith to the Jets following a disastrous inaugural season with the team at the start of the new league last year month, they officially cleared the way to snap that drought. Mendoza turned a lot of heads with his storybook 2025 season where he won the Heisman and the first national title in Indiana's history and his high football IQ, accuracy at all levels of the field and terrific ball placement has people bullish about the odds of him succeeding in the pros. At the bare minimum, he should at least turn out to be better than the last quarterback the Raiders took with the #1 overall pick...
2.New York Jets: Arvell Reese, edge rusher/inside linebacker (Ohio State)
Reese is a fascinating prospect as he was an off-ball linebacker that was sometimes deployed as an edge rusher in college. The expectation is that he'll transition to the edge full time in the pros, which has inspired plenty of debate in league circles about whether or not he can handle such a daunting task. What makes his proponents believe that he can is that he has already proven that he has natural pass-rushing instincts, a devastating first step and most importantly, incredible strength for a guy his size (6'4, 243 lbs). It wouldn't be entirely shocking if Aaron Glenn-who is already on the hot seat after a dumpster fire first season in East Rutherford-successfully lobbied to take the more polished David Bailey here, but Reese's versatility and freakish set of tools could be too tempting for GM Darren Mougey to pass up.
3.Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, edge rusher (Texas Tech)
While right tackle is a bigger need for the Cards, I'm not convinced they're willing to pull the trigger on that position this high. If they can't pull off their reported plan to trade back and acquire more picks later in the draft, the top edge on the board seems like the play and in this scenario, that's Bailey. As I just said above, Bailey is viewed as the most NFL-ready edge rusher in this class and putting him alongside Josh Sweat could do wonders for a team only registered 30 sacks last season (the only other Cardinal besides Sweat-who logged 12-that finished with more than 2 last was current free agent Calias Campbell, who somehow ended up getting 6.5 on a bottom 6 defense at age 39)
4.Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, running back (Notre Dame)
Anybody that watched the Titans play even just a few offensive snaps last season knows that Cam Ward needs all the help he can get ASAP before his confidence is shattered and his loads of potential go forever unrealized. Bringing in Love would be a great first building block in the quest to save Ward from the vast graveyard of prospects who've had their careers killed by the team that drafted them. Love is the kind of explosive dual-threat weapon that every team is seeking at the running back position, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him become one of the premier game-breakers in the league in short order. Plus, Love's arrival would allow Tony Pollard to transition back to the change-of-pace role that he thrived in with the Cowboys and give the Titans the rare opportunity to form a true 2-headed monster in the backfield that could prove to be a giant headache for their opponents to defend.
5.New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson, wide receiver (Arizona State)
Landing another top 10 pick from the Bengals in the stunning trade for Dexter Lawrence on Saturday night puts the Giants in a great position to land a top prospect on both sides of the ball. Based on how much he's surged up the board over the past week and all of the reports circulating that have been linking him to the Giants, it would make a whole lot of sense for them to take Tyson here before any other WR-needy team got the chance to take him. Tyson's absurdly dynamic skill set (Contested catch ability! Route running! Toughness! Inside/outside Versatility! Willingness to block!) has made teams overlook an injury history that is frankly completely fucking terrifying (he never played a full season in college and has dealt with everything from hamstring to collarbone to knee ailments over the past few years). If Tyson can stay out of the blue tent, he could be a special player and the prospect of pairing him with Malik Nabers should be very appealing for the remarkably still employed Joe Schoen.
6.Cleveland Browns: Francis Mauigoa, tackle (Miami)
To their credit, the Browns have used plenty of resources this offseason to try and address their longstanding issues along their offensive line. Despite all of these veteran additions (Elgton Jenkins, Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson), they're still in need of another starter or two and Mauigoa could certainly fill one of those roles. The University of Miami product was a rock at right tackle for the past three years but has the size and nastiness to play guard if needed.
7.Washington Commanders: Caleb Downs, safety (Ohio State)
If Downs ends up going in the top 10 as widely predicted, he would become the first safety to be selected there in a decade and only the 4th overall since 2010 (Eric Berry, Mark Barron and Jamal Adams are the others). Using such a high pick on Downs would be pretty wise as he's a high floor/high ceiling player who's been pegged as a generational talent by a bunch of analysts (he has one notable detractor, but some people believe this is the clearest sign yet that Downs is going to be special). Downs has the instincts, athleticism and IQ to patrol the box or drop back in coverage with equal proficiency and Dan Quinn is the type of coach that would have a field day coming up with different ways to deploy him throughout his defense.
8.New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, wide receiver (Ohio State)
The Saints offense really started to show some life when Tyler Shough replaced Spencer Rattler as the starting QB in Week 9 and now is the time to start further investing in the WR room to boost the odds of him taking a leap in his sophomore season. Tate's sure hands, strong route running and terrific body control/vertical leaping ability make him the perfect complement to fellow Ohio State product Chris Olave while also providing the team with the type of towering redzone target that they've sorely lacked since Jimmy Graham was dealt out of town following the 2014 season.
9.Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, cornerback (LSU)
The Chiefs corner room is currently in crisis as 3 of their top 4 corners (Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams) from last season left via trade and free agency last month. Getting the opportunity to select Delane here would significantly reduce the odds of this group falling into the gutter in 2026. Delane is a long outside corner who has the fluidity to stick with top receivers in man or zone coverage and the ball skills/instincts to make plays if a QB is silly enough to throw his way. He's a real threat to become a true lockdown guy from the jump and there are surely a lot of people in the football world that would be shaking their fists at the sky if the Chiefs were able to find a viable replacement for McDuffie so quickly.
10.New York Giants: Sonny Styles, inside linebacker (Ohio State)
Taking Tyson at #5 would turn #10 into a best player available situation for the Giants and all indications are that Styles would be that guy. His head-turning performance at the Combine back in February reaffirmed the special athletic gifts he flashed at Ohio State and John Harbaugh would probably be very interested in having yet another freak athlete serve as the quarterback of his defense.
11.Miami Dolphins: Makai Lemon, wide receiver (USC)
Not selecting a wide receiver with one of their three picks in the top 50 after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos in mid-March would be malpractice by the new Dolphins regime. While the extensive list of needs they have as they officially launch their rebuild could very well lead to them going in a different direction at #11, providing Malik Willis with a receiver he could trust right away would be a good way to start building a foundation for the future. Despite primarily operating in the slot, Lemon's sure hands, toughness and deep route tree makes him the ideal candidate to turn into an immediate high volume WR1 option on a team like the Dolphins that is in desperate need of reliable playmakers.
12.Dallas Cowboys: Rueben Bain Jr, edge rusher (Miami)
Bain Jr. is a very difficult player to mock right now as it's impossible to gauge how the always morally consistent NFL feels about his involvement in a March 2024 car accident that put a woman into a coma until she died 3 months later. As of this writing, I'm expecting a slight tumble from the #8-10 range he was initially favored to land in. History has shown that Jerry Jones doesn't give two shits about character concerns if the player is talented enough and Bain Jr has plenty going for him in that department. What he lacks in length he makes up for with an unrelenting motor and deep bag of pass-rushing moves, which gives him one of the highest floors in this deep edge class.
13.Los Angeles Rams: Spencer Fano, tackle (Utah)
After 11 seasons with the Rams, Rob Havenstein decided to call it a career in February. This wasn't an overly surprising move as he had gotten really dinged up in each of the past 3 seasons and turns 34 next month. The luxury of being a great team with a pretty high draft pick that was picked up from a weaker team (that team being the Falcons, who surely have no regrets about making this trade) a year ago is that they have the ability to select a plug-and-play starter to fill their vacant right tackle spot. Fano's extensive starting experience against legit competition at Utah and terrific athleticism that allows him to mirror pass rushers and get out into the space to provide run blocks downfield should endear him to a team that is considered to be one of the frontrunners to win the Super Bowl this season.
14.Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, guard (Penn State)
While I'm not exactly sure what the Ravens offense is going to look like with Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle running the show, it's safe to assume that Derrick Henry will remain a focal point of their attack. As it stands right now, Henry is going to have a hard time finding lanes to run through as the Ravens lost the anchor of their offensive line Tyler Linderbau in free agency. While expecting another Linderbaum to walk through the day would be wildly unfair, Ioane would absolutely help restore some of the grit and consistently technically sound interior line play they lost when their star center dipped to Vegas. Turn on a highlight tape for 15 seconds and you'll see Ioane commit some unspeakable acts of gridiron violence on unsuspecting defenders. Saying he'd be welcomed in Baltimore would be a gigantic understatement.
15.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, edge rusher (Miami)
Mesidor's advanced age for a rookie (he turned 25 earlier this month) is actually a big plus for a team that is looking to win now, and his fierce playing style would be a welcome addition to a front 7 that needs all the juice they can get as Todd Bowles' defense tries to regain its edge after another subpar season.
16.New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., wide receiver (Indiana)
Todd McShay has called Cooper Jr. a faster Jarvis Landry and that comp is so perfect that I have to steal it. Cooper's possession receiver skill set (YAC, shiftiness, clean underneath routes) meets track speed could open things up for the Jets passing attack in ways we haven't seen since that somewhat magical 2015 season where Ryan Fitzpatrick was slinging the ball to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.
17.Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, tackle (Georgia)
For the first time since 2015, Taylor Decker won't be at the top of the left tackle depth chart for the Lions. Replacing a steady blind side protector after 11 years on the job is an unenviable task for GM Brad Holmes, especially since offensive line play has been cited as the main reason the team underachieved in 2025. Enter Freeling, who falls under the increasingly scary umbrella of tackles who have more traits than polish but is 1 of just 2 tackle prospects currently projected to go in Round 1 that is being viewed as an undisputed left tackle in the NFL. A desperation-induced gamble isn't the path to a starting LT GM's will talk about in a press conference or after hoisting a Lombardi Trophy, but Holmes' hands are tied here and he'll have to hope that Hank Fraley can turn Freeling into something other than a big, athletic guy who has no fucking clue how to play the position.
18.Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, safety (Oregon)
Thieneman is a rangy, instinctive player who was always around the ball during his 3 years in college (306 tackles, 10 TFL's, 2 sacks, 14 passes defensed, 8 INT's, 2 forced fumbles) and could morph into one of the best safeties in the league if his game translates to the pros.
19.Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, tight end (Oregon)
Bringing in reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetarioa McMillan was a nice start to the Panthers' efforts to give Bryce Young a complement of legit pass-catching options, but a lot of work still needs to be done if they want to be a truly good passing team, let alone a feared one. Sadiq would be an ideal candidate to serve as the next downfield weapon brought in by the Panthers to help out Young. The Oregon product could prove to be a matchup nightmare as a 6'3, 241 lb target with 4.4 speed, high-end body control/leaping ability and shiftiness that paves the way for big YAC opportunities. Him lining up at tight end provides the added bonus of not taking snaps away from Jalen Coker as the Panthers try to figure out whether his late season surge last season was the start of his emergence as a legit NFL starting WR or merely a fluke.
20.Dallas Cowboys: Avieon Terrell, cornerback (Clemson)
There's some debate about whether or not Terrell is a 1st round talent, but the Cowboys CB room is such in a deep state of turmoil right now that they can't really afford to not add some new blood here. For what it's worth, I believe that Terrell is a 1st round talent as he's got great ball skills and a willingness to get under receivers' skin in press coverage. If Terrell does indeed land in Dallas, he should compete for the #2 corner job in camp with free agent pickup Cobie Durant.
21.Pittsburgh Steelers: Kadyn Proctor, tackle/guard (Alabama)
If I were Omar Khan, Ty Simpson would be the pick here. Waiting around for Aaron Rodgers to talk to his energy healer, life coach and RFK Jr. before he decides if he wants to keep playing or not is a needlessly shortsighted move that has limited upside for both 2026 and the future as he can only do so much at 42 going on 43. Mike McCarthy was tapped as Mike Tomlin's replacement in large part due to his lengthy track record of putting productive offenses on the field and giving him an opportunity to coach up a guy who didn't play much in college, but frequently flashed NFL-caliber talent when he was out there seems like a good business decision. Alas, that doesn't seem to be in the cards, so let's pivot to a guy who plays in the trenches in Proctor. The physically imposing (6'7, 352 lbs) but not overly athletic offensive lineman who started at left tackle for 3 years at Alabama projects as a guard in the pros, but with Broderick Jones' poor play and continued injury concerns, could very well line up at one of the tackle spots if the 2022 first round pick loses his starting job or isn't healthy enough to play in Week 1.
22.Los Angeles Chargers: Keldric Faulk, edge rusher (Auburn)
Faulk was effectively built in a lab to appeal to Jim Harbaugh's sensibilities as a coach. His length and lunchpail attitude make him the ideal replacement for free agent departure Odafe Oweh while his strong play against the run should earn him the opportunity to become an every-down player early on.
23.Philadelphia Eagles: Blake Miller, tackle (Clemson)
Lane Johnson has reached the point of his career where it's becoming less and less likely that he'll be able to play through or seamlessly return from the injuries he's seemingly always suffering. In terms of replacements for Johnson, Miller is about as ideal of a candidate as you could find for the impossible job of replacing a future Hall of Famer. His athleticism is pretty similar to Johnson's and unlike many of the other tackle prospects in this class that have question marks surrounding their technique, strength etc. his play steadily improved each year he was at Clemson.
24.Cleveland Browns: K.C. Concepeion, wide receiver (Texas A&M)
Adding another receiver with shaky hands to the roster could understandably draw some ire from Browns fans that have watched quite a few scoring opportunities slip through the fingers of Jerry Jeudy over the past couple of seasons. The thing is that Concepeion is downright electrifying after the catch and the Browns are so devoid of offensive playmakers that they just might have to live with having another guy around who will some drop some easy passes at the worst possible time.
25.Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, safety (Toledo)
It's not every day that a team completely overhauls an entire position group after making the playoffs, but that's precisely what happened with the Bears as Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jonathan Owens all signed elsewhere in free agency (the only free agent they retained at the position is Elijah Hicks-who primarily plays on special teams). Given all of the vacant jobs they have, the Bears are definitely going to be taking a safety at some point in the draft, and McNeil-Warren's physicality and knack for creating turnovers around the line scrimmage would allow him to slot in as a starter alongside free agent pickup Coby Bryant right away-which might not be the case with too many other safeties that are still on the board at this juncture.
26.Buffalo Bills: Kayden McDonald, defensive tackle (Ohio State)
Being unable to stop the run was one of the primary reasons the Bills failed to get to the Super Bowl last year. McDonald is the best run-stuffing interior defensive lineman in this class by a pretty wide margin, and having him clogging up gaps upfront could spurn a rapid significant turnaround for their run D.
27.San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, tackle (Utah)
Trent Williams' latest contract standoff with the 49ers was resolved on Monday when he inked a 2-year-extension that will keep him with the team through the 2028 season. Beginning to groom Williams' successor while the All-Pro left tackle is still in the building is imperative and Lomu is the kind of guy that would really benefit from having the opportunity to sit and learn from one of the best in the business before he's thrust into a high leverage role. Lomu is a developmental prospect in the purest sense of the term, but if he can get to the point where his fundamentals can match his special strength and athleticism, he'll be a hell of a player.
28.Houston Texans: C.J. Allen, inside linebacker (Georgia)
A sneaky need for the Texans is inside linebacker. Both of their starters (Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To'o To'o) are free agents after this season and new pickup Marte Mapu is nothing more than a speculative dart throw on a guy who's in the final year of his rookie deal who hasn't played snaps during his initial 3 NFL seasons. Allen is a smart, physical linebacker who carried out his green dot role at Georgia with grace that would give the Texans insurance in the middle of their defense if one or both of their current starters don't return to the team in 2027.
29.Kansas City Chiefs: Cashius Howell, edge rusher (Texas A&M)
Steve Spagnuolo has a tendency to favor big, bruising players on the edge. But after posting just 33 sacks as a team last season, it's clear they need to shake things up a bit. Howell could be just what the doctor ordered on that front. Watching his tape is some of the most fun I had during this entire predraft research process as his speed and hand usage made a lot of people look stupid at the college level. He's not a strong enough run defender to carve out a huge role right away, but he could very well thrive as a situational pass-rusher in this system.
30.Miami Dolphins: Chase Bisontis, guard (Texas A&M)
A defensive pick (specifically an edge or a defensive back) could very well be in the cards here, I just think the Dolphins trying address their longstanding offensive line woes early on is slightly more likely. Bisontis has become a bit of a favorite among some draft pundits since the Combine and his combination of strong footwork, lateral movement skills and toughness on the interior would certainly be welcome on a team that is going to be heavily relying on giving De'Von Achane the ball around the line of scrimmage for the foreseeable future.
31.New England Patriots: Zion Young, edge rusher (Missouri)
It became abundantly clear once the Patriots played a couple of teams that had offensive lines that were capable of pass protecting for more than 0.2 seconds during the playoffs that they needed more firepower on the edge. While I don't think a single guy is going to completely turn the tide for this group that currently doesn't have any player that's better than decent, Young is a hard-nosed workhorse who takes just as much as pride in defending the run as he does going after the quarterback and having that kind of all-around edge on the roster could allow them to take a meaningful step forward in 2026.
32.Seattle Seahawks: Chris Johnson, cornerback (San Diego State)
Riq Woolen was a cap casualty for the reigning Super Bowl Champions as they elected to re-up Josh Jobe instead. Johnson might not have the same length as Woolen, but he's much more disciplined when he's attacking the ball in coverage and plays with the type of unwavering ferocity that Mike Macdonald cherishes at the position-making him the ideal guy to step into this vacant starting role on one of the best defenses in the league.
Round 2:
33.New York Jets: Ty Simpson, quarterback (Alabama)
34.Arizona Cardinals: Max Iheanchor, tackle (Arizona State)
35.Tennessee Titans: Denzel Boston, wide receiver (Washington)
36.Las Vegas Raiders: Emmanuel Pregnon, guard (Oregon)
37.New York Giants: Caleb Banks, defensive tackle (Florida)
38.Houston Texans: Gennings Dunker, guard/tackle (Iowa)
39.Cleveland Browns: R Mason Thomas, edge rusher (Oklahoma)
40.Kansas City Chiefs: Germie Bernard, wide receiver (Alabama)
41.Cincinnati Bengals: Colton Hood, cornerback (Tennessee)
42.New Orleans Saints: T.J. Parker, edge rusher (Clemson)
43.Miami Dolphins: Treydan Stukes, cornerback/safety (Arizona)
44.New York Jets: Brandon Cisse, cornerback (South Carolina)
45.Baltimore Ravens: Eli Stowers, tight end (Vanderbilt)
46.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jacob Rodriguez, inside linebacker (Texas Tech)
47.Indianapolis Colts: Josiah Trotter, inside linebacker (Missouri)
48.Atlanta Falcons: Ted Hurst, wide receiver (Georgia State)
49.Minnesota Vikings: Peter Woods, defensive tackle (Clemson)
50.Detroit Lions: Jermod McCoy, cornerback (Tennessee)
51.Carolina Panthers: D'Angelo Ponds, cornerback (Indiana)
52.Green Bay Packers: Jake Golday, inside linebacker (Cincinnati)
53.Pittsburgh Steelers: Jadrian Price, running back (Notre Dame)
54.Philadelphia Eagles: Malachi Lawrence, edge rusher (UCF)
55.Los Angeles Chargers: Keylan Rutledge, guard (Georgia Tech)
56.Jacksonville Jaguars: Anthony Hill Jr., inside linebacker (Texas)
57.Chicago Bears: Christen Miller, defensive tackle (Georgia)
58.San Francisco 49ers: Dani Dennis-Sutton, edge rusher (Penn State)
59.Houston Texans: Derrick Moore, edge rusher (Michigan)
60.Chicago Bears: Sam Hecht, center (Kansas State)
61.Los Angeles Rams: Chris Brazell II, wide receiver (Tennessee)
62.Denver Broncos: A.J. Haulcy, safety (LSU)
63.New England Patriots: Max Klare, tight end (Ohio State)
64.Seattle Seahawks: Mike Washington Jr., running back (Arkansas)
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