QB | Fernando Mendoza

Round 1 | Pick 1 | New York Jets (via NYG)

The Jets trade up to acquire their franchise QB! Fernando Mendoza is a consensus All-American, Heisman winner, and Big Ten Champion with great arm talent, solid athleticism, and a prototypical frame. He comes in with a good floor and high ceiling if he continues developing the mental side of his game.

Indiana
RS-Junior
6'5"
225lbs

QB | Dante Moore

Round 1 | Pick 2 | Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders stick and pick at 2 and draft their QB of the future. Even though Geno is on his way out, having a bridge QB like him and a "QB whisperer" in Pete Carroll is a solid situation for Dante Moore to develop. Additionally, Tom Brady would likely love this move and encourage the LV administration to add quality linemen and offensive weapons for Moore.

Oregon
RS-Soph
6'3"
225lbs

WR | Carnell Tate

Round 1 | Pick 3 | Cleveland Browns

With the two top QB prospects off the board, the Browns stick at 3 and draft a dangerous vertical weapon for Shedeur to rely upon in 2026. Not only is Tate able to create downfield separation, but he's also an incredible ball winner with elite tracking skills. A dynamic WR1 who can bail Shedeur out from time to time will open up the Cleveland offense. 

Ohio State
Junior
6'3"
195lbs

WR | Jordyn Tyson

Round 1 | Pick 4 | New York Giants (Via NYJ)

Jaxson Dart has looked really good in 2025, especially considering the absence of Malik Nabers and star rookie Cam Skattebo. Their return in 2026, with the addition of Jordyn Tyson, would create an environment where Dart could rise to genuine stardom. When healthy, Tyson is as dangerous a separator as you'll ever find. 

Arizona St.
RS-Junior
6'2"
205lbs

RT | Spencer Fano

Round 1 | Pick 5 | Arizona Cardinals

QB is an uncertainty in Arizona and with the top two off the board, the Cardinals opt for a stalwart at the right tackle position. Fano is an elite athlete who will walk into the NFL as a dominant run blocker with high upside as a pass blocker. Spencer Fano and Paris Johnson (who is quietly one of the better LT's in the NFL) will be a QB's dream with continued development.

Utah
Junior
6'5"
308lbs

LB/EDGE | Arvell Reese

Round 1 | Pick 6 | Tennessee Titans

It's unclear who will coach the Titans defense in 2026, but acquiring a versatile weapon who can play off the ball, blitz, set the edge, and rush off the edge would be a major help to the new regime. Arvell Reese is an absurd athlete with elite upside as an edge rusher, as well as immediate utility as a chess piece in a modern hybrid front.

Ohio State
Junior
6'4"
243lbs

EDGE | Rueben Bain Jr.

Round 1 | Pick 7 | Washington Commanders

Rueben Bain Jr. is an immediate starter in the Quinn/Whitt 4-3 defense, able to play base end or rush from the 3-tech (some like him here altogether due to his extremely short arms). I, however, slot him to the Commanders here as an edge; his rush win rate is significantly better playing 5-tech or wider, and he sets a good edge in the run game.

Miami
Junior
6'3"
275lbs

EDGE | Keldric Faulk

Round 1 | Pick 8 | New Orleans Saints

Brandon Staley has quietly done an awesome job with the Saints defense, and Keldric Faulk is a short-term upgrade with long-term star upside playing in the Saints odd front. Faulk has a massive frame, long arms, and NFL-ready play strength to win as a 4i, 5-tech, or even further inside on exotic passing down looks. Staley can maximize Faulk's potential in New Orleans.

Auburn
Junior
6'6"
280lbs

IDL | Peter Woods

Round 1 | Pick 9 | Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are in desperate need of a disruptive interior lineman with rare power and athleticism; they blitz as little as any team in the league, but lack the manpower to create consistent pressure rushing 3 or 4. Woods provides major upside as a pass rusher, and from day 1, he'll be key in improving one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. 

Clemson
Junior
6'3"
315lbs

CB | Jermod McCoy

Round 1 | Pick 10 | Miami Dolphins

McCoy is an athletic boundary cornerback prospect who would thrive in Anthony Weaver's (if he's still there) chaotic, aggressive, cover-2-heavy defense thanks to his elite reactive athleticism and route recognition. The Dolphins desperately need a real CB1 of the future, and McCoy can be that without a doubt in my mind.

Tennessee
RS-Soph
6'0"
193lbs

RT | Francis Mauigoa

Round 1 | Pick 11 | Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)

Rob Havenstein is in the twilight of his career, and Warren McClendon (who has been really good in Havenstein's absence) will be in the final year of his rookie deal in 2026. With Dotson's contract also expiring in 2026, Mauigoa provides potential utility as a guard should McClendon earn an extension. You can't go wrong reinforcing the trenches with a young, versatile player.

Miami
Junior
6'6"
315lbs

RB | Jeremiyah Love

Round 1 | Pick 12 | Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City offense is in desperate need of a dynamic weapon to take them back to contender status, and Jeremiyah Love is that guy. Love is a receiving threat with serious RAC ability--something KC covets for its playmakers. Combine that with the fact he's all but guaranteed to be a perennial 1000-yard rusher? I'm thinking Kansas City's offense is back. 

Notre Dame
Junior
6'0"
214lbs

LB | Sonny Styles

Round 1 | Pick 13 | Dallas Cowboys

Sonny Styles is a plug-and-play star with outrageous run defense traits--something that Jerry Jones has wanted to emphasize desperately according to the moves he's recently made. This follows that trend and more, as Styles is an impact player in every way. He'd be a STEAL at the 13 spot.

Ohio State
Senior
6'5"
243lbs

RG | Olaivavega Ioane

Round 1 | Pick 14 | Baltimore Ravens

The Daniel Faalele experiment is all but over in Baltimore and Ioane is a perfect plug-and-play replacement for him. Ioane is a dense, mauling guard prospect who will fit right in with the power-heavy element of the Ravens run scheme, but he also has the requisite movement ability to be effective on the explosive wide zone/end-around concepts. 

Penn State
Junior
6'4"
328lbs

S | Caleb Downs

Round 1 | Pick 15 | Minnesota Vikings

You may be wondering why Downs is available... safeties don't get drafted that high! It doesn't help that Downs appears to be a good-not-great athlete. Regardless, the Vikings land a perennial Pro Bowler with this pick and a true stalwart for their hyperaggressive, complex Brian Flores defense. 

Ohio State
Junior
6'0"
205lbs

TE | Kenyon Sadiq

Round 1 | Pick 16 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kenyon Sadiq is a major immediate upgrade at the TE spot, with the slow overhaul of an aging group of weapons being necessary for Tampa Bay. Sadiq is an elite athlete with great speed, body control, RAC ability, as well as an elite motor and mauler mentality as a run blocker. It'd be hard to pass up on a talent like Sadiq at this spot.

Oregon
RS-Soph
6'3"
255lbs

CB | Avieon Terrell

Round 1 | Pick 17 | Detroit Lions

Avieon Terrell is a versatile cornerback whose reactive athleticism, speed, and burst would allow him to succeed in Detroit's man-heavy pass defense. Terrell is also one of the most physical run defenders in the class, regardless of position, forcing 8 fumbles in his career and regularly making plays near the LOS. An immediate upgrade over soon-to-be free agent Amik Robertson.

Clemson
Junior
5'10"
180lbs

CB | Mansoor Delane

Round 1 | Pick 18 | New York Giants (via NYJ, via IND)

The Giants go defense with their second selection from the Mendoza trade, and not only is it a position of need, it’s also an incredible value pick. Chris Shula is a top candidate for the Giants HC job, and Delane would be an instant impact player in Shula’s complex defense thanks to his IQ, discipline, and ball skills.

LSU
Senior
6'0"
191lbs

LT | Caleb Lomu

Round 1 | Pick 19 | Cleveland Browns (via CAR, via JAX)

The Browns trade up to grab their blindside protector of the future in Caleb Lomu. Between Lomu's technical refinement as a pass blocker and Carnell Tate's ability to threaten a defense, Shedeur Sanders and/or Dillon Gabriel will have serious upgrades around them, allowing little room for excuses in 2026. They fail? Well, the 2027 QB class awaits. 

Utah
RS-Soph
6'5"
308lbs

WR | Makai Lemon

Round 1 | Pick 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers

The Browns leapfrogged the Steelers for Lomu, who would have otherwise been their pick, so they pivot toward acquiring a dynamic playmaker in Makai Lemon. He's a savvy slot receiver, a compliment to DK's physicality on the boundary, and can separate at all three levels. Will Howard might be Pittsburgh's QB in 2026, so having Lemon will make things a lot easier.

USC
Junior
5'11"
195lbs

EDGE | David Bailey

Round 1 | Pick 21 | Dallas Cowboys (via GB)

Jerry Jones isn't messing around... the Cowboys have had one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and with their second pick in the 1st round, they continue making upgrades. Bailey is a freakish speed rusher with a deep bag of moves to pair with Donovan Ezeiruaku. In the aggregate, the Cowboys have managed to upgrade from Micah Parsons via draft capital. 

Texas Tech
Senior
6'3"
250lbs

RG | Kadyn Proctor

Round 1 | Pick 22 | Philadelphia Eagles

Kadyn Proctor is an incomplete tackle prospect, but he has a monstrous athletic profile that would be developed nicely at guard or tackle. Tyler Steen is only under contract through 2026, and Lane Johnson isn't getting any younger. With the top three CBs off the board, pivoting toward immediate depth and long-term stardom in the trenches is a recipe for success.

Alabama
Junior
6'6"
366lbs

IDL | Caleb Banks

Round 1 | Pick 23 | Houston Texans

The Texans have arguably the best defense in the NFL in spite of a serious lack of high-end talent and youth on the interior defensive line. Banks is a towering presence with the athleticism and raw power to utterly dominate playing either 1-tech or 3-tech in Houston's bare bones 4-2-5 that relies on devastating 4-man pressure. 

Florida
RS-Senior
6'6"
330lbs

EDGE | Cashius Howell

Round 1 | Pick 24 | Cashius Howell

Greg Rousseau is awesome, but Joey Bosa isn't getting any younger, and the Bills need to be able to continue generating pressure from their edge rushers as a team that blitzes infrequently. Howell is an immediate plug-and-play replacement, assuming Bosa doesn't return in 2026. 

Texas A&M
RS-Senior
6'2"
248lbs

EDGE | T.J. Parker

Round 1 | Pick 25 | San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers blitz infrequently and their pass rush room has been decimated by injuries, making them one of the worst teams in the league at generating pressure. Parker is a high-floor solution, finishing 2025 top 15 in true pass rush win rate despite it being his worst season so far. Parker is, to me, a rare high-floor, high-ceiling prospect whose value is back on the rise.

Clemson Junior
6'3"
265lbs

LG | Emmanuel Pregnon

Round 1 | Pick 26 | Los Angeles Chargers

Stick Pregnon anywhere on that LAC interior offensive line, and he's an immediate upgrade. Johnson and Becton are both failing to protect Herbert, allowing nearly 60 combined pressures through 15 games. Pregnon will be an immediate upgrade not only in pass protection, but in the run game as well, thanks to his athleticism and pad level.

Oregon
Senior
6'4"
318lbs

EDGE | Malachi Lawrence

Round 1 | Pick 27 | Carolina Panthers (via CLE, via JAX)

The Panthers have the worst pressure rate in the NFL and ZERO edge rushers who rank TOP 75 IN THE NFL in true pass rush win rate!! They need to act on that immediately, and Malachi Lawrence is a plug-and-play solution. Lawrence is 3rd in the entire Power Four in true pass rush win rate because of his elite hand usage, athleticism, and hot motor.

UCF
Senior
6'4"
250lbs

QB | Ty Simpson

Round 1 | Pick 28 | Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford won't play at an MVP level forever, and the Rams have to be thinking about who the next high-level signal caller in the McVay offense will be. Simpson is the best pre-snap processor in the class, and he operates with poise and precision post-snap, allowing him to target the middle of the field with immense precision. McVay's offense is the perfect spot for.

Alabama
Senior
6'2"
208lbs

IDL | Kayden McDonald

Round 1 | Pick 29 | Chicago Bears

The Bears are near the bottom of the NFL in run defense, and their serious lack of talent on the interior defensive line is the main reason why. Kayden McDonald is a total monster when it comes to defending the run thanks to his elite play strength and thunderous hand power. Acquiring a stalwart like him will completely change the dynamic of the Chicago defense.

Ohio State
Junior
6'3"
326lbs

RT | Trevor Goosby

Round 1 | Pick 30 | New England Patriots

Morgan Moses is under contract for two more seasons, which is ample time for the development of Goosby to take place. Goosby possesses great athletic traits, good length, and some flashes of dominance on film (see: him shutting down Cashius Howell), all while being barely 21 years old on draft night. I expect him to go much earlier than this, honestly. 

Texas
Senior
6'7"
312lbs

LB | CJ Allen

Round 1 | Pick 31 | Denver Broncos

Dre Greenlaw is back, good, and under contract, but Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad simply aren't long-term solutions for the Denver LB room. CJ Allen is a true downhill thumper with elite tackling ability, good athleticism, and a knack for finding his way to the ball carrier. Still some work to do in coverage, but being a part of an already awesome defense will help out.

Georgia
Senior
6'1"
235lbs

CB | Chris Johnson

Round 1 | Pick 32 | Seattle Seahawks

With the likely departure of Riq Woolen in the 2026 offseason, Chris Johnson is a plug-and-play replacement who is honestly a much better fit for the Mike Macdonald system. Johnson possesses IQ, remarkable route recognition, and a near-elite athletic profile that will allow him to excel playing off-coverage in a complex, highly disguised scheme.

San Diego St.
Senior
6'0"
195lbs