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QB | Fernando Mendoza
Round 1 | Pick 1 | Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders stick and pick and draft their QB of the future. Geno Smith season is over, and devout Christians Fernando Mendoza and Klint Kubiak are ready to revive a Raiders franchise that has been terrible for some time now. Mendoza is the only QB worth drafting top 10 in the class. Home run offseason for the Raiders… so far.
Indiana
RS-Junior
6'5"
225lbs
LB/EDGE Arvell Reese
Round 1 | Pick 2 | New York Jets
In a draft that's somewhat of a crap shoot after 1.1, your best bet is the upside play at a position that is both highly valuable and one of need. Reese offers off-ball ability as a QB spy and blitzer in addition to his immense upside as an edge rusher. New York's wealth of draft capital affords them some wiggle room for gambling on traits and potential.
Ohio State
Junior
6'4"
243lbs
RT | Francis Mauigoa
Round 1 | Pick 3 | Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals opt to bookend their offensive line with Francis Mauigoa at right tackle, who, in tandem with Paris Johnson, would make one of the most exciting young OT duos in the NFL. Mauigoa steadily improved throughout the 2025 season and looked totally dominant by the time the CFP rolled around. Perhaps a slight reach, but a solid selection here nonetheless.
Miami
Junior
6'6"
319lbs
EDGE | Rueben Bain Jr.
Round 1 | Pick 4 | Tennessee Titans
Bain is the perfect fit in a Saleh/Bradley 4-3 defense that requires a stout edge setter who can also rush the passer as a three-down contributor. There's no telling how arm length will impact Bain's stock this far out from draft day, but as it stands, Bain is a no-brainer at this spot with alignment versatility (3-tech could be his future), production, and scheme fit.
Miami
Junior
6'3"
275lbs
S | Caleb Downs
Round 1 | Pick 5 | New York Giants
The Giants go best-player-available in an effort to bolster a secondary that needs improvement at both cornerback and safety. Downs is a Swiss-Army Knife type of player who can dominate the game from a variety of positions--something the Giants desperately need in their back seven. Downs can make an impact at safety, in the box, or from the nickel.
Ohio State
Junior
6'0"
205lbs
WR | Carnell Tate
Round 1 | Pick 6 | Cleveland Browns
With the top QB prospect off the board, the Browns stick at 6 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
EDGE | David Bailey
Round 1 | Pick 7 | Washington Commanders
New Commanders DC Daronte Jones plans to pivot from the base 4-3 and install a defense that utilizes multiple fronts--something that opens up their draft board to a stand-up edge rusher like David Bailey. Bailey is one of the most productive edge rushers in the class and will immediately contribute on passing downs.
Texas Tech
RS-Senior
6'3"
250lbs
RB | Jeremiyah Love
Round 1 | Pick 8 | New Orleans Saints
Father time is catching up with Saints legend Alvin Kamara, and his explosive playmaking ability needs to be replaced if they want to take an offensive leap in 2026. Look no further than Jeremiyah Love, one of the most explosive backs in recent years, who doubles as a safety blanket in the receiving game for Tyler Shough.
Notre Dame
Junior
6'1"
214lbs
WR | Jordyn Tyson
Round 1 | Pick 9 | Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City offense is in desperate need of a dynamic weapon to take them back to contender status, and Jordyn Tyson is that guy. He opens up the playbook due to his vast route tree and ability to create separation vs. both zone and man coverage. Additionally, he makes things easier on the interim QB who'll play in place of the injured Mahomes.
Arizona St.
RS-Junior
6'2"
205lbs
IDL | Peter Woods
Round 1 | Pick 10 | 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 11 | Miami Dolphins
McCoy is an athletic boundary cornerback prospect who would thrive in Jeff Hafley's attacking, zone-heavy (modest cover-0 and heavy cover-2 usage) 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
LB | Sonny Styles
Round 1 | Pick 12 | 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. Being my #1 overall player, he'd be a STEAL at the 12 spot.
Ohio State
Senior
6'5"
243lbs
CB | Mansoor Delane
Round 1 | Pick 13 | Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)
The Rams' CB room is in desperate need of help, and Mansoor Delane is the type of refined shutdown boundary CB they need. Chris Shula did wonders with a patchwork group of guys, and Delane offers him a plug-and-play #1 to start fortifying a position that is in serious need of overhaul.
LSU
Senior
6'0"
191lbs
RG | Olaivavega Ioane
Round 1 | Pick 14 | Baltimore Ravens
A bit chalky at this point; 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
EDGE | T.J. Parker
Round 1 | Pick 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Parker had become a bit underrated as a prospect during the 2025 season, but is now seeing a resurgence in his stock as he's one of just a handful of true, three-down edge prospects in this class. Parker is a plug-and-play starter, though not the best fit for Bowles' 3-4 defense. Bowles, however, appears to be on his last leg as defensive playcaller, and Parker will be here a while.
Clemson
Junior
6'4"
263lbs
WR | Makai Lemon
Round 1 | Pick 16 | New York Jets (via IND)
The Jets will almost certainly not find their QB of the future this offseason, so you may as well make things as easy as possible on the guy you get in 2027. Makai Lemon is the perfect type of player for this--an ultra-reliable slot receiver who runs an expansive route tree and attacks the ball fearlessly over the middle.
USC
Junior
5'11"
195lbs
OT | Monroe Freeling
Round 1 | Pick 17 | Detroit Lions
Taylor Decker's career is winding down and with 2026 likely being his final season, investing in a high-upside player for the future of one of the most important positions in the game is a no-brainer given the circumstances. Let Freeling, with his immense power and athletic upside, develop under a franchise legend with a similar build--one from whom he can learn a lot.
Georgia
Junior
6'7"
315lbs
CB | Avieon Terrell
Round 1 | Pick 18 | Minnesota Vikings
Avieon Terrell is a versatile cornerback whose reactive athleticism, speed, and burst would allow him to stand out in a weak secondary. 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 impending FAs Jeff Okudah and Fabian Moreau.
Clemson
Junior
5'10"
180lbs
IDL | Lee Hunter
Round 1 | Pick 19 | Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have the worst pressure rate in the NFL and are in desperate need of some disruptive pass rushers, both off the edge and on the interior. Lee Hunter is a dominant player who can immediately contribute on both run and pass downs. Hunter and Derrick Brown ought to form an unstoppable interior pass rushing duo.
Texas Tech
Senior
6'4"
324lbs
S | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Round 1 | Pick 20 | 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. McNeil-Warren is an incredibly versatile chess piece who can play deep, in the box, or sometimes in the nickel. He's also a turnover machine, forcing 10 fumbles and grabbing 5 picks in 3 seasons.
Toledo
Senior
6'2"
202lbs
WR | Omar Cooper Jr.
Round 1 | Pick 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers
It's likely the Steelers will stick with Aaron Rodgers in 2026, so why not make things easier on his aging arm by grabbing a monster RAC receiver who works the middle of the field and creates quick separation in the short game? Cooper immediately upgrades a thin receiver core and provides Rodgers with a go-to guy on passing downs.
Indiana
RS-Junior
6'0"
204lbs
LG | Emmanuel Pregnon
Round 1 | Pick 22 | Los Angeles Chargers
Stick Pregnon anywhere on that LAC interior offensive line, and he's an immediate upgrade. Johnson, Bozeman, and Becton all failed to protect Herbert, allowing 11 pressures and 3 sacks in the Wild Card round loss. 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
CB | Brandon Cisse
Round 1 | Pick 23 | Philadelphia Eagles
Brandon Cisse is an ascendant CB prospect the Eagles would be willing to take a chance on, given his high-end run defense chops and great athletic upside. There will likely be a learning curve, but as a CB2 in a defense with an established CB1, elite nickel DB presence, and high-end coaching, Cisse is in a position to quickly develop and find success with Philadelphia.
S. Carolina
Junior
6'0"
190lbs
RT | Spencer Fano
Round 1 | Pick 24 | Cleveland Browns (via JAX)
The Browns grab their right tackle of the future in Spencer Fano. Between upgrades in pass protection 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
Junior
6'5"
308lbs
IDL | Kayden McDonald
Round 1 | Pick 25 | Chicago Bears
The Bears were 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
S | Dillon Thieneman
Round 1 | Pick 26 | Buffalo Bills
Dillon Thieneman is the type of highly productive DB prospect with electric athleticism that the Bills defense, which so sorely lacks speed and youth on the back end, is in need of. Thieneman has awesome range and ball tracking, but is capable of taking snaps in the box and playing above his weight class. Incredibly smart, athletic, and productive player for the Buffalo D.
Oregon
Junior
6'0"
205lbs
WR | KC Concepcion
Round 1 | Pick 27 | San Francisco 49ers
While the pass rush requires an upgrade, it's tough to pass up on a dynamic receiving threat like Concepcion when the San Francisco WR room is littered with uncertainty. Concepcion offers immediate relief thanks to his alignment versatility, speed, and run-after-catch ability to go with a solid route tree and immense athletic upside.
Texas A&M
Junior
5'11"
190lbs
IDL | Caleb Banks
Round 1 | Pick 28 | Houston Texans
The Texans had 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
QB | Ty Simpson
Round 1 | Pick 29 | 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 often operates decisively post-snap, allowing him to target the middle of the field with immense precision. McVay's offense is a great spot for him to develop.
Alabama
Senior
6'2"
208lbs
TE | Kenyon Sadiq
Round 1 | Pick 30 | Denver Broncos
The Broncos upgrade the TE position by acquiring a legitimate weapon for Bo Nix. Sadiq is a monster after the catch with the dominant athletic traits to win up the seam and win at the catch point. Expect to see Sadiq lined up everywhere, whether that's in-line, in the slot, or the various other spots a versatile hybrid TE like Sadiq may line up.
Oregon
RS-Soph
6'3"
250lbs
OT | Caleb Lomu
Round 1 | Pick 31 | New England Patriots
The Patriots decide to grab their right tackle of the future... or perhaps they end up playing him at left tackle, sliding Will Campbell to guard, and rotating Jared Wilson in at center. It's unlikely this happens so soon, given Campbell's success throughout most of the season, but the value for Lomu at this spot is hard to pass up on.
Utah
RS-Soph
6'6"
308lbs
CB | Keith Abney II
Round 1 | Pick 32 | Seattle Seahawks
With the possible departure of Riq Woolen in the 2026 offseason, Keith Abney II is a plug-and-play replacement who is honestly a much better fit for the Mike Macdonald system. Abney II possesses alignment versatility, zone IQ, remarkable route recognition, and incredibly smooth movement that will allow him to excel playing off-coverage in a demanding scheme.
Arizona St.
Senior
5'11"
190lbs
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