#1: Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza is the top QB in the draft and there is no question about it. The Raiders are coming off one of their worst seasons ever, and the QB leading the way was one of the leagues worst in Geno Smith. Smith threw the most interceptions, and was near last in league passing rating. Mendoza is the perfect QB the lead the way for the Raiders, because he is a phenomenal teammate, and will help the team. Mendoza has the decision making of Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins, and could spot the ball as well as Drake Maye. Mendoza is a safe QB, loving to throw the checkdown, and not throw many deep balls. There is no other way the Raiders go then here.
#2: Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
This is not a top need for the Jets at all. The Jets right now need QB the most, but Simpson won’t be going #2. They need WRs badly as Adonai Mitchell is currently the WR2. But Tate won’t be going #2, because Aaron Glenn needs a favorite and a leader in a defensive piece to lead his team. Reese is the perfect fit for the Aaron Glenn. He can finnaly bring some consistency to this defense. Reese is a phenomenal play reader, and he isn’t any one way linebacker he can stop the run and pass whenever he wants, no matter what player it is. The Jets need some help to a defense that allowed 30 points a game
#3: Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Cardinals could go many ways here, ways that need to be talked about more than just Mauigoa or Fano. The could go Simpson, which wouldn’t be the worst option because of how badly they need a QB, or they could go for Rueben Bain to bolster this defense. To could even go Caleb Downs because Jalen Thompson is a free agent, but going offensive-line makes the most sense. Tackles Jonah Williams and Kelvin Beaucham are both free agents this off-season, leaving the Cardinals with holes there. The Cardinals will have a new QB under center and they need some stability at the offensive line to help the new QB. For these reasons I feel the Cardinals have to take a very rare once in a lifetime guy in Francis Mauigoa.
#4: Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
How is this not talked about more? Everybody says Fano, or Bain, or Bailey but WR is a bigger need than tackle, O-Line or even secondary. Cam Ward didn’t play bad for what he had at WR. Chimere Dike was good, but super inconsistent and very on-off. Besides that he had nothing. Eric Ayomaner was better than expected, but still is not a WR2, and Chig Okwonko was also terrible. Cam Ward is the hopeful franchise QB, so you have to help the franchise QB, and for Cam that is the #1 thing he would want. The Titans were bottom 5 in nearly every receiving game metric in the league, making this a big need. Carnell Tate would bring great consistency to the offense, and a saftey blanket for Cam Ward and the new coaching staff. Carnell Tate is a great route runner, and when your in a division with Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley that is key. WR is the Titans biggest need and this is the best one.
#5: Giants: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Giants are a worse team than people think. They have too many needs to count, and the only positions they are secure on is QB, RB, WR, LT and some players on the defensive line. That’s around 6 players out of 22 starters that are secure. As I mentioned LT is a secure position and that is because of Andrew Thomas. But even there Thomas has only played 29 of the last 51 games with the Giants, leaving their QB protection rating to consistently be near bottom of the league Including being 28th, 31st, and 32nd 3 of the last 4 years. The Giants right side of the offensive line are both free agents, so the Giants will need stability on that side of the pocket. That’s where Fano comes in. Spencer Fano is an absolute monster, and can run block unlike any other. He can push one guy to the other side of the field so well he makes it look like a 5 year old can do it. Spencer Fano will limit the hits Jaxon Dart will take, and with how many concussions Dart suffered this season, Fano will be a big help in stopping that. With how many needs the Giants have, I feel protecting the QB is so valuable they have to do this.
#6: Browns: Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State
This is probably the most picked in mock drafts, but for a good reason as it is an obvious one. To be honest though this isn’t their biggest need, as they lost their entire offensive line, and quarterback is such a need, but WR is a solid #3. I don’t know if they would still go WR here if they don’t have the later pick, but the later pick brings stability. The Browns WR core is absolutely terrible with Jerry Jeudy as the WR1 who only averaged only 35 yards a game last year and Isaiah Bond and Cedric Tillman shi have barely shown many flashes. Those two cant be starters next year so going Tyson would help a lot. Jordan Tyson is the most athletic WR in this class with absolute insane speed and catching ability and can get the ball with no matter how bad the QB is. The Browns need better WRs for whoever the QB is, so I think Tyson is the right call for them.
#7: Commanders: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
I feel the Commanders would be very lucky to have Bain falling to them, and for Dan Quinn this pick is an absolutely great addition to his defense. Nearly all Commanders EDGE rushers are currently in their 30s and free agents, so there is no other time to make this move. This year the Commanders were 20th in pressure rate, and the Commanders are bottom 10 in running back yards before contact. The defense was terrible this year, so the Commanders need for Defensive talent especially in the front seven. Rueben Bain is a beast and a force that could power through to give the Commanders more consistent stops and drafting Bain would give the defense a better pressure rate and team sacks. I think the Commanders don’t have any other needs as big as EDGE rushers, so here is where they should go.
#8: Saints: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
This is a very surprising one to me and a lot of people, because you nearly never see Makai Lemon mocked in the top 10, and I don’t think Lemon is a top 10 talent either. So why do the Saints go here? Chris Olave was a big help to should have been rookie of the year Tyler Shough, especially since Olave was 7th in yards, and top 10 in receiving touchdowns, but on the depth chart it is pretty nasty under Olave. Devaughn Vele was the WR2 post trade-deadline and he brought some splashes and didn’t even play as bad, but who knows if he can bring that again this year. And even if so I don’t think he is WR2 level. The Saints offense could be great if they go Makai Lemon. I think picking Lemon is the pick because the Saints are a good rosters team in my opinion who Don’t have many needs, especially since they don’t have many free agents. I think this is where the Saints go at #8.
#9: Chiefs: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
I have said this a lot in this mock draft but why does everybody say Jerimyah Love is going here, Downs should be talked about a lot more. The Chiefs #1 need right now is in the secondary with CB Jaylen Watson and S Bryan Cook both being free agents. The Chiefs secondary wasn’t even that good as is as they allowed the 6th most completion rate in the league. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnullo has led 6 top 10 scoring defenses, and he could do it again with drafting Downs. Caleb Downs is the best secondary player in this draft, and he can play anywhere on the field pretty much like Kyle Hamilton. Downs can stop anybody from making the catch and even when that is allowed he can still finish and make the tackle. Since the Chiefs have secondary needs I think Downs is the pick they go with.
#10: Bengals: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Bailey is the best defensive player in this draft in my opinion. The Bengals are replacing Trey Hendrickson a top EDGE rusher for Bailey a future top EDGE Rusher. The Bengals were bottom 10 in pressure rate, and bottom 10 in running back yards. The Bengals are widely known as one of the leagues worst defenses, so if they lose Hendrickson they need a strong and very great replacement, which is what Bailey can bring. David Bailey is an exceptional EDGE rusher because he just has everything. He has phenomenal speed and strength, and his finesse moves are off the charts and could get past lots of tackles to get key stops and pressures. The Bengals have to go Defense so this is where they should be going to round out the top 10.
#11: Dolphins: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Once again, how has this not been mentioned at all? The Dolphins so far this off-season have shown they might be the team going absolutely all-in on any QB they can, so taking a risk here is what they should be doing. The Dolphins need to get rid of Tua, as he is one of the leagues worst QBs, and for a perfect replacement is Ty Simpson. Ty Simpson Sucks. Ty Simpson has no football IQ and just chucks the ball up. In college when you play for Alabama it will work, but good luck in the NFL Ty. 20 Interceptions in a season. Unlike Mendoza he is not safe and all, and seems to hate the checkdown. So Simpson is a perfect Tua replacment, and a great way to start off this so called rebuild.
#12: Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Cowboys are in a great position here. They have so many options when it comes to Delane, Styles, Faulk or maybe somebody else. So really it comes down to best player out of those 3, and in my opinion that is Mansoor Delane. The Cowboys need a new Cornerback room and badly. The Trevon Diggs era has come to an end, and Daron Bland is never going to be back to his prime form. Mansoor Delane is a lockdown corner that will defend anybody, and that is important when your division has A.J Brown, Malik Nabers, Mclaurin and Smith. Delane also has amazing speed and I think Delane is the best option of the 3 I mentioned earlier.
Rams trade away 2026 1st round pick 13 to Raiders for 2026 3rd round pick, 2027 1st round pick, and 2028 6th round pick
#13: Raiders: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
This trade has to happen to me. The Rams are set and I don’t think they need to draft here especially with 2 first round picks. The Raiders have a playoff ready team here with Mendoza, Jeanty, Klubiak, Bowers and Crosby so fixing the corner need would make them a team to fear. Raiders #1 corner Erik Stokes is a free agent, and the Raiders pass defense has just flat out looked terrible. They can add some consistency and a great corner in this draft by adding Jermod McCoy.
Players Left Out:
Jerimyah Love, RB, Norte Dame
Vega Ioane
Sonny Styles
Kenlrick Faulk
Peter Woods