As stated in Mock 1.0, there isn’t too much value in doing a mock draft until free agency begins—but it’s still an opportunity to reset following the Combine based on various rumors and reports.
1. LV: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
I am still not completely sold on Las Vegas staying here and picking Mendoza, but if he’s the selection for them, the offensive line must be bolstered this month. In a division with Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix, and Justin Herbert, the Raiders better get their quarterback choice right.
2. NYJ: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Jets would seem to be the team that might trade up for Mendoza—and it would arguably be a better fit with Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou being a top young tackle duo to protect him. If they remain at No. 2, Reese could have the edge with his best fit being as an off-ball linebacker who should see heavy usage as a blitzer in a new 3-4 scheme.
3. ARI: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Fano wasn’t even in my initial mock (which weighs more of what we think about prospects), but there is plenty of smoke around him going high. With the Cardinals rumored for Jimmy Garoppolo, their goal would be to solidify the offensive line with Fano sliding in at right tackle.
4. TEN: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Love should have already been given consideration this high based on what he did at Notre Dame (film is always the most important thing), but his “stock” is on the rise after a tremendous workout on Saturday. Head coach Robert Saleh (with Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco) and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll (when he had Saquon Barkley in New York) both understand the value of an elite back.
5. NYG: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
I think Caleb Downs—our No. 1 overall prospect—is the slam-dunk choice for New York, but the momentum sounds like it’s slanting towards Styles after an all-time great Combine performance. We’ll see if the Giants sign someone like Nakobe Dean to make Downs the favorite again, and I’d expect they would like to trade down with no third-round selection.
6. CLE: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The lack of a consensus opinion at wide receiver and offensive tackle makes it difficult to determine who Cleveland might select here, but Freeling is our top offensive tackle in the class. Whether it’s Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, or someone else at quarterback, they’ll have a lot more time if Freeling hits his ceiling and Dawand Jones can stay healthy.
7. WAS: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Although general manager Adam Peters discussed finding a playmaker in the top 10, he didn’t specify it being an offensive playmaker—so maybe Bailey fits the billing in their eyes. Washington is a team that should become much easier to predict after holes are filled in free agency.
8. NO: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Lemon being the first wide receiver off the board would be somewhat of a surprise, but he is a perfect complement to Chris Olave to balance out Kellen Moore’s attack. The defensive front is another clear weakness for New Orleans that could be addressed.
9. KC: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Bain getting knocked for his arm length and falling to the Chiefs is a scary possibility—and those who don’t want to see Kansas City return to being an AFC powerhouse should hope all three of Bain, Jeremiyah Love, and Caleb Downs are off the board for them.
10. CIN: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Again, Downs is our No. 1 overall prospect, but other top safeties like Kyle Hamilton (No. 14), Malaki Starks (No. 27), and Kamren Kinchens (No. 99) have fallen in recent years. Cincinnati should sprint the card to the podium if they get a chance to take the Ohio State star.
11. MIA: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Right tackle Austin Jackson is a potential cap casualty, but even if he remains with the team, we know Miami wants to bolster the offensive line. With that in mind, Mauigoa could either start immediately at right tackle or kick inside to guard for a year.
12. DAL: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Cowboys should be a lot better on defense this year with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker coming over from Philadelphia after coaching under Vic Fangio, and Delane has some similarities to Quinyon Mitchell in terms of his play style. Of course, we’ll see how the needs change for Dallas if they’re aggressive in free agency.
13. LAR (via ATL): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
D’Angelo Ponds—who is finally getting buzz after measuring bigger than expected and putting up a 43.5-inch vertical—was my original pick for the Rams in Mock 1.0, but Hood might be a better scheme fit for them. There is also increased talk about Kenyon Sadiq, but I don’t see that after the team took Terrance Ferguson last spring and had Colby Parkinson emerge in 2025.
14. BAL: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate only running a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash shouldn’t have been a major surprise with his pure explosiveness/acceleration not matching his smoothness and build-up speed, but he is a prototype X receiver to pair with Zay Flowers. This would be a terrific landing spot for Tate with all the stacked boxes opponents use to slow down Derrick Henry.
15. TB: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Mike Evans returning to Tampa Bay might make it more unlikely that they spend another premium asset on a pass-catcher, but adding Sadiq would give Baker Mayfield perhaps the best supporting cast in the league. Georgia linebacker CJ Allen in the middle of Todd Bowles’ defense would be fun, too.
16. NYJ (via IND): D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
Aaron Glenn is calling the defense himself in Year 2, and I’d expect him to also have a bigger say in personnel based on his scouting background. If so, Ponds could remind the head coach of himself as a competitive, “undersized” cornerback, and he’d allow Glenn’s unit to play more man coverage.
17. DET: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
This might be a bit early for Faulk, but the explanation from my first mock still fits with the 20-year-old being “their kind of player” with a six-foot-six frame. Look for the Lions to be aggressive in improving the offensive line as well—though free agency might be the path for that.
18. MIN: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Harrison Smith is contemplating retirement, so Thieneman has been pegged as a natural successor on the backend. Based on his size, athletic traits, and aggressiveness, Thieneman is an ideal fit patrolling in Brian Flores’ defense.
19. CAR: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
I mentioned the Panthers needing a leader on defense when Allen was the choice for them previously—and that was without even knowing just how involved he was for the Bulldogs. This should be the floor for Allen next month.
20. DAL (via GB): T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell measuring in smaller than expected might prevent him from going in the top 20, and Dallas might want more of a power complement to Donovan Ezeiruaku in a new system. Parker didn’t live up to preseason expectations entering his final season, but it’s easy to imagine the Cowboys liking his skillset.
21. PIT: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
I’m assuming Aaron Rodgers will be back for one more season, but he surely wants to hear a plan for Pittsburgh to have a better group at wide receiver than they did last year. Concepcion compares to Jaylen Waddle and would be a speedy, shifty complement to DK Metcalf.
22. LAC: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
There might not be an interior defensive lineman worth taking as a clear first-round pick, so trading back could be a possibility for Los Angeles with a bunch of options grouped on Day 2. If they stick and pick, Woods was thought of as a potential top-five pick entering the fall, and Jim Harbuagh might feel his staff can get the most out of him.
23. PHI: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The status of A.J. Brown is perhaps the biggest storyline of the offseason, and a trade could completely change their outlook for Round 1. If not, I could see McCoy—still working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in January of 2025—being the pick to complete a cornerback trio with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
24. CLE (via JAX): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Tyson has the talent to go in the top 10, but durability concerns could push him down the board—perhaps even out of the first round altogether in a deep receiver class. With the Browns, Tyson could give them an exciting young player out wide to pair with Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin Jr.
25. CHI: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
If the Bears don’t re-sign Kevin Byard III and/or Jaquan Brisker, safety will vault to the top of the list in terms of needs—making McNeil-Warren a prime target here. The pick could also be part of a possible trade for Maxx Crosby, in which case Las Vegas would have a few options at wide receiver and offensive line to choose from.
26. BUF: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
General manager Brandon Beane still doesn’t sound like a guy who believes wide receiver is a major need for them, but Josh Allen can only hope that’s posturing for a potential blockbuster trade or them taking one early. If the draft is the path for Buffalo, Brazzell is a fast, six-foot-four weapon who can get deep and play above the rim.
27. SF: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
I would anticipate things getting worked out, but there is a bit of drama surrounding Trent Williams with a large cap number that the team wants to lower—which could make left tackle a major need. Either way, San Francisco needs to begin thinking about life after Williams is done, and Proctor could benefit from learning from a 12-time Pro Bowl selection.
28. HOU: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane is considered the top guard by most in the media, but Bisontis is our choice—and he’d be an excellent value this late for a Houston team that needs to improve up front.
29. LAR: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
It’s tough to predict whether the Rams will spend a first-round pick on a quarterback with the Super Bowl window being wide open, but it’d be easier to sell Matthew Stafford on the decision with the extra selection essentially being “house money.” Arizona trading up for Simpson—who has some Jimmy G to his game—would be another option.
30. DEN: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Perhaps I am trying to will this pick into existence for the sake of Bo Nix getting a potential superstar at wide receiver—as Bernard was also given to Denver in Mock 1.0. The former Alabama standout not even being on Top 50 lists is a mystery to me.
31. NE: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Howell could be a seamless replacement for Harold Landry III if the Patriots move on, and taking Will Campbell in 2025 showed the organization doesn’t care much about measurements. The talented pass rusher had 11.5 sacks in his final season at Texas A&M.
32. SEA: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
The Seahawks could lose both Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen in free agency, so John Schnieder and Mike Macdonald may have some work to do in retooling the secondary. Johnson was one of the stingiest cornerbacks in college football last year.