With just over two weeks to go until the NFL Draft, here’s my latest two-round projection with thoughts on every pick detailed below…
Round one
#1 Las Vegas — Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
Kudos to the Raiders, they made a smart move by bringing in Kirk Cousins. Let Mendoza settle into the playbook, learn how to be a pro and ease him in gently. This isn’t draft related but I visited the Raiders’ stadium last week. Everything is focused on former glories. It was a striking example of how a team can end up stuck living in the past. The whole franchise feels like a shrine to Al Davis. They need to think forwards and set about creating new heroes.
#2 New York Jets — Arvell Reese (EDGE, Ohio State)
It’s going to be really interesting to see what the Jets do here. There’s no obvious answer. No home-run pick. Reese is a really good player but is he a linebacker or an EDGE? I’d be tempted to start him at linebacker and let him rush on passing downs. But if you take a player like this at #2 overall do you have to try and make him a full-time pass-rusher?
#3 TRADE Kansas City (v/ARI) — David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)
There’s a lot of talk about the Cardinals wanting to trade out of this spot. It’s also being suggested it won’t actually cost that much to move up. Within this thin draft at the top-end, are teams basically going to jockey for position to get the value they want and address their key needs? In this mock, the Chiefs offer #74 and a 2027 second round pick to move from #9 to #3 to get a much-needed pass-rusher. The Cardinals, wanting to draft an offensive tackle, take the offer knowing they’ll have plenty of options at #9 — plus they get an extremely valuable high 2027 pick.
#4 Tennessee — Rueben Bain (DE, Miami)
My reservations about Bain’s body type and length are not shared by some people in the league. I spoke to sources in the last two weeks who just saw him as an amazing arse kicker who will beat opponents up in the trenches. Yet there are still some people voicing reservations about his body type and lack of arm length. There just aren’t players who look like Bain succeeding in the league. Could he last longer than people realise? I think it could happen.
#5 NY Giants — Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
I think the Giants are just going to take the top player on their board. Many consider Love to be the best player in the draft. They have players at linebacker and safety already. Inserting Love into an offense with the weaponry they already have would make the Giants box-office viewing in 2026.
#6 TRADE Dallas (v/CLE) — Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
The Cowboys have a big need at linebacker and with no second round pick, they act to make sure they address the problem. They move up six spots, giving up #92, #152 and a 2027 third rounder. Cleveland, like Arizona, appear to be keen to move down and will appreciate a day-two pick in 2027 being thrown into the offer.
#7 Washington — Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)
I think this is a reach but some teams are going to be forced into this kind of move in the top-20. Tate lacks amazing speed and I don’t think he’s a #1 target. However, the Commanders simply don’t have enough people on their roster to make things happen. He will be consistent, reliable and complement Terry McLaurin. There are going to be a few picks in this draft where teams take a double rather than go to hit a home run.
#8 New Orleans — Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
The EDGE rushers expected to go early are off the board, leaving the Saints to decide whether they want to go for Makai Lemon here or take their pick of the cornerbacks. They opt to keep Delane in Louisiana after his 4.38 forty at his pro-day likely secured a top-12 placing in the draft.
#9 TRADE Arizona (v/KC) — Francis Mauigoa (T/G, Miami)
The Cardinals moved down six spots, gained some extra stock for next year and get the player they might’ve taken at #3 anyway. This is why they might be open-minded about moving down at a discount. They can’t expect to get the haul they got from the Texans in 2023. This is a very different class.
#10 Cincinnati — Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)
There seems to be an increasing amount of chatter that Downs might last longer than people realise. He hasn’t done any pre-draft testing. His brother Josh only ran a 4.48 at 171lbs so there’s every chance Caleb, who is 35lbs heavier, is actually quite slow. We saw what that did to Kyle Hamilton’s stock. Could he fall into the teens? I wouldn’t bet against it.
#11 Miami — Spencer Fano (T/G, Utah)
If you’re launching a major rebuild and want to shake off your finesse, party-city image that the Dolphins have had for far too long, start by focusing on the trenches. This would be a statement pick for Miami. Fano is really good and could play guard initially and eventually move over to right tackle in the future if needed.
#12 TRADE Cleveland (v/DAL) — Kadyn Proctor (T/G, Alabama)
There’s been speculation that the Browns are very interested in Proctor. In this scenario they move down a few spots rather than reaching at #6. We know the Ravens always liked size on their offensive line so perhaps Todd Monken has adopted that approach? Proctor would be kept at left tackle, at least initially, if this is the pick.
#13 LA Rams (v/ATL) — Vega Ioane (G, Penn State)
The Rams could easily go for a receiver here but they might be just as well investing in the trenches. They could move Steve Avila back to center if they wanted but they’ll also be mindful that he’s out of contract after this season. Sean McVay pivoted to massive linemen two years ago and Ioane certainly fits that bill. He’d give them an immediate contributor in year one as they seek to win the lot in 2026.
#14 Baltimore — Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
Both Proctor and Ioane feel like Ravens-type linemen but they go off the board before Baltimore gets a chance to take either. Therefore, they settle on adding another weapon. Lemon had an odd combine where his interviews were all over the place — but he’s a good player and if the Ravens were prepared to draft Mike Green a year ago, I doubt some weird media sessions are going to put them off drafting Lemon.
#15 TRADE Philadelphia (v/TB) — Blake Miller (T, Clemson)
The Eagles make a move, climbing eight spots for the price of #98 and #153. The Buccs are willing sellers, knowing they are trading into the range where they can kick-off a run on pass-rushers at the end of round one. The Eagles are seeing the offensive tackles come off the board and worry they’ll miss out at #23. They go up to get Blake Miller, whose explosive testing results were at an elite level — not too far off what Lane Johnson produced at his combine. I can’t think of a better heir apparent in the circumstances.
#16 NY Jets (v/IND) — Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
McCoy lasts on the board because he hasn’t played football for 18 months and teams are quite rightly going to be a little bit cautious about that. With Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon off the board, the Jets decide to wait until later to add a receiver and instead go for the talented McCoy to further bolster a defense that didn’t record a single interception last season.
#17 Detroit — Caleb Lomu (T, Utah)
There’s a lot of talk about the Lions really liking Kadyn Proctor but he’s not available in this mock. Lomu, for me, is the most capable pure left tackle in the draft. He can be a plug-and-play starter for the Lions, meaning they don’t have to mess Penei Sewell around switching his position.
#18 Minnesota — Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
Thieneman is an incredible talent who had one of the best on-field combine performances I can recall in 18 years of writing this blog. His upside potential is so high and he has special qualities. It shouldn’t be a surprise if a team very early in the draft calls his number. He could easily go earlier than this.
#19 Carolina — Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Sadiq went in the top-15 or lasted to the end of round one. He’s a tough projection. On the one hand, running a 4.39 at 241lbs is highly impressive. But he’s not an orthodox tight end and as a ‘big receiver’ he hardly set the world alight at Oregon.
#20 Dallas (v/GB) — Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)
In 2016 Tony Romo was approaching his 35th birthday. The Cowboys tried to trade up in round one to draft Paxton Lynch (the Broncos beat them to it). Instead, they drafted Dak Prescott. Romo suffered a compression fracture in his back months later, Prescott stole his job and the rest is history. Fast forward to today. Prescott turns 33 in July. He has an injury history. The Cowboys traded for Trey Lance and Joe Milton and appear to at least be entertaining the idea of finding someone who can potentially be the future. If they rate Simpson highly — and there’s plenty of buzz suggesting he will go in round one — they might draft him to plan ahead, allowing him to sit and learn for the next year or two. If Prescott gets injured again, we might see Simpson elevated in the way Prescott was in 2016. There’s also no linebacker worth this pick and the depth at that position should present an attractive option in round three.
#21 Pittsburgh — Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia)
The Steelers are going to have start investing in their offensive line again and the starting point has to be at left tackle. Freeling isn’t strong enough at the moment and will experience some major growing pains. Pass-pro is king, however, and he has the size and traits that are coveted at the position.
#22 LA Chargers — Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
There’s some recent buzz that Woods will definitely find a home in round one. I don’t really understand it — his testing was underwhelming based on raised expectations from Bruce Feldman’s ‘freaks list’. He had a very average 2025 season. However, the Chargers need more up front but could they, along with the Vikings and Texans, make a call to the Giants about Dexter Lawrence?
#23 TRADE Tampa Bay (v/PHI) — Akheem Mesidor (DE, Miami)
The Buccs have such a striking need for a pass-rusher. In this mock they felt comfortable moving down into the early 20’s knowing this was going to be the ‘pass-rush sweet-spot’. Todd Bowles likes speed off the edge and has used shorter-armed rushers before. Mesidor feels like a better than Keldric Faulk. He’s seen as a very different type of prospect to Miami team-mate Rueben Bain but the expectation is, despite his age and injury history, Mesidor will still go in round one.
#24 Cleveland (v/JAX) — Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
Tyson’s injury situation is a concern. He just misses too many games. It could mean he lasts into the 20’s. The Browns could be his floor if he does drift in round one.
#25 Chicago — Keldric Faulk (DE, Auburn)
The Bears do like bigger defensive ends (they signed Dayo Odeyingbo, who is recovering from a torn achilles). Faulk is a bit of an enigma — he’s athletic for his size but doesn’t look like an 8-10 sack player. He’s more of a big-end who can reduce inside. There’s a range where players like this get taken and it’s typically not until about here. To go higher he would’ve needed to test brilliantly and he opted out instead.
#26 Buffalo — CJ Allen (LB, Georgia)
The signing of Bradley Chubb takes the edge off the pass-rushing need a little bit. They need more at linebacker and while Allen is hardly Luke Kuechly, his hard-nosed, downhill style will go down a storm with Bills Mafia.
#27 San Francisco — TJ Parker (EDGE, Clemson)
I thought Parker was one-dimensional on tape, relying on playing off a straight-arm. He’s not the quickest to the edge and he doesn’t counter well enough. Yet there seems to be a feeling he will go in the late first round despite an underwhelming 2025 season.
#28 Houston — Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State)
I wanted to see more at the combine because on tape you see flashes of athleticism that teased a great workout. Then he didn’t run or jump and looked sluggish during on-field drills. Even if the pass-rush upside isn’t there, McDonald is going to be able to come in and secure your run-defense from the interior immediately. He’s a heck of a player.
#29 Kansas City (v/LAR) — Max Iheanachor (T, Arizona State)
He’s long, explosive and has plenty of upside. The Chiefs love to focus on traits and with these two picks in the first round they reinforce their trenches ahead of what will be a bit of a roster-refresh over the next two seasons.
#30 Miami (v/DEN) — Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
Hood can really cover in close quarters. He’s not a zone merchant but if you want him to get up close and compete, he’ll do it. Moving around three teams in three years is a bit off-putting but that’s the modern college game. He’s a talented player who would fit Miami’s attempts to be more physical.
#31 New England — Zion Young (DE, Missouri)
I have serious reservations about his speed and burst but he’s a powerful human with a bit of a wild side. The Patriots have shown over the last few months that they’re willing to live with a lot — so they might be less put off by his recent DWI charge than some other teams.
#32 Seattle — Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M)
He’s a relentless, intense pass rusher with the quickness to get around the edge. His win percentage is 19.8%. His arm length isn’t ideal but Mike Macdonald was able to get a lot of production out of Kyle Van Noy in Baltimore. The Seahawks need more quick wins and Howell is no slouch vs the run either. His personality fits this team. Cornerback is a very strong consideration here too but the options are deemed better than the edge rushers at #64 in this projection.
Round two
#33 NY Jets — Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
This would be a good move for the Jets — especially given Geno Smith will be starting in 2026. He’ll need someone who can win a few contested catches.
#34 Arizona — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
This isn’t Arizona’s biggest need but they are clearly positioning themselves for a longer-term build, looking at the 2027 quarterback class (like many others).
#35 Tennessee — KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
He currently has some injury question marks and part of me wonders if he’s a bit too similar to the receivers they already have but they need more weapons.
#36 Las Vegas — Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)
Adding more at cornerback makes sense, unless they really like someone like Emmanuel Pregnon to fill a void at left guard. However, if they’re playing a lot of zone under their new defensive coordinator, Johnson is a great fit.
#37 NY Giants — Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina)
When I recently asked a NFL source who had the potential in this class to be a #1 cornerback, the three names were: Delane, McCoy and Cisse.
#38 Houston (v/WAS) — Chase Bisontis (G, Texas A&M)
I am not a big fan of Bisontis’ but this isn’t a mock to show what I’d do. Nick Caserio once used a top-20 pick on Kenyon Green too and I wouldn’t have taken him in round three.
#39 Cleveland — Eli Stowers (TE, Vanderbilt)
His combine testing has highlighted the potential he has a big target in the passing game. He’s not going to be a big blocker — but he can be a mismatch option for a team that will likely use a lot of two-TE situations (see: Baltimore’s offense under Todd Monken).
#40 Kansas City — Christen Miller (DT, Georgia)
There seems to be a feeling the Chiefs want to refresh their defense and get back to being a more dangerous threat on that side of the ball. They might be copying the Seahawks — run the ball (with Ken Walker) and play defense (at least until Patrick Mahomes is back to 100%).
#41 Cincinnati — Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
Some teams will be put off by the repetitive foot injuries and the hit-and-miss effort. Then there’s the Bengals, who will probably look at the frame and the athletic upside and take a chance.
#42 New Orleans — Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson)
Terrell is very talented but you have to eventually acknowledge that running in the 4.5’s or even 4.6’s and blaming a hamstring issue will just linger in minds. Can he run again before the draft? Maybe. But he might be more top-50 than top-32 at this stage.
#43 Miami — Gabe Jacas (EDGE, Illinois)
He can run and has some quickness but he doesn’t show it enough on tape. He just wants to run through everyone all the time. Use your speed.
#44 NY Jets (v/DAL) — Emmanuel Pregnon (G, Oregon)
I still think there’s a chance Pregnon goes earlier than this. You can’t be as explosive as he is and not be very interesting to teams. His testing profile matches some of the best O-liners in the league.
#45 Baltimore — Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech)
His body looks like an orange balancing on two matchsticks and that’s why he only managed a pathetic 21.5 inch vertical at the combine. That should sink his stock really but I’ve only heard positive things about Hunter when speaking to people, so here we are. I’m not a big fan though.
#46 Tampa Bay — Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech)
His production, character, playing style and a strong Senior Bowl have combined to put him in a position to go in the middle of the second round. His explosive testing numbers, important at linebacker, were strong.
#47 Indianapolis — Jake Golday (LB, Cincinnati)
I said after the combine that Golday has a Colts feel to him and I’m sticking by that. He can be used to rush the passer too, which is another need for the Colts.
#48 Atlanta — Domonique Orange (DT, Iowa State)
It’s not often you get a nose tackle with with his size (322lbs) and length (33.5 inch arms) who can also disrupt the passing game. He’s not a million miles behind Kayden McDonald to be honest yet they get him 20 picks later.
#49 Minnesota — Davison Igbinosun (CB, Ohio State)
I am not a fan of Igbinosun. I think he gives up too many plays and has way too many flags (even though that issue improved in 2025). I understand why his talent is tantalising though for teams who think they can fix him.
#50 Detroit — R Mason Thomas (EDGE, Oklahoma)
He just feels like a Dan Campbell player and they need more juice off the edge to help Aidan Hutchinson. He’s not big and his testing was average but his motor runs non-stop throughout every game he plays.
#51 Carolina — Keionte Scott (CB, Miami)
There aren’t many slot cornerbacks who play with aggression, intensity and impact. Running a blazing forty at his pro-day should put him in round two.
#52 Green Bay — Will Lee (CB, Texas A&M)
I watched him this week and while he does give up some plays, his size, length, explosive traits and competitiveness are very interesting.
#53 Pittsburgh — Chris Brazell II (WR, Tennessee)
He’s just such a fluid and fast player who does an amazing job contorting his body to adjust to the ball. Don’t be surprised if he goes a lot earlier than this.
#54 Philadelphia — AJ Haulcy (S, LSU)
He’s tough, versatile, comes downhill and hits you in the face but also shows good instinct and a nose for the ball. It was surprising how well he faired playing free safety for LSU.
#55 LA Chargers — Gennings Dunker (T/G, Iowa)
He just feels like a Jim Harbaugh player. Tough, physical, quirky personality. He could plug in at guard and cover at tackle if needed.
#56 Jacksonville — Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame)
I wouldn’t be shocked at all if Price goes in the top-40 picks. Some people think he belongs in that range. Others see him as a late second rounder. It could go either way — if you really study the tape you see how often he makes people miss to create big plays.
#57 Chicago — Bud Clark (S, TCU)
Production tends to translate at safety. Clark had 15 interceptions in college. He’s one of the most fun players to watch on tape — a dynamite safety prospect.
#58 San Francisco — Gracen Halton (DT, Oklahoma)
The 49ers continue their D-line overhaul that began a year ago. They bring in an interior pass-rush presence to try and cause havoc from the inside. Halton jumped off the screen when watching Oklahoma in 2025. He is disruptive.
#59 Houston — D’Angelo Ponds (CB, Indiana)
There’s no lack of talent or passion for the game with Ponds. But the reality is he will have issues with his size. Someone will take him in this kind of range but his next-level play will be up-and-down depending on the matchups he faces.
#60 TRADE Baltimore (v/CHI, BUF) — Logan Jones (C, Iowa)
It feels like we’ve been talking about Jones forever but he finally enters the draft this year. The Ravens, who lost former Iowa man Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders, move up to draft another one to replace him. They give up their fourth round pick (#115) and two of their fifth rounders (#154 & #174) to jump from #80 to #60.
#61 LA Rams — Omar Cooper Jr (WR, Indiana)
I like Cooper — but there was about a three week period where it felt like the internet and draft media got a bit too carried away. His range is probably round two and probably not early round two.
#62 Denver — Josiah Trotter (LB, Missouri)
Speaking to people recently, I was struck how well liked Trotter is. The feeling is he’s a lot more like his dad than brother Jeremiah is and he could end up being a Nick Bolton type.
#63 New England — Chris Bell (WR, Louisville)
Bell would’ve likely been a top-40 pick but for his injury situation. It might keep him on the board as a consequence, with the Patriots in this case benefitting. He’s a big bodied receiver who can make plays after the catch.
#64 Seattle — Daylen Everette (CB, Georgia)
The Seahawks are probably going to want someone with similar size and athleticism to Riq Woolen at cornerback. Someone they can work with to try and develop as their third corner, who can play in a rotation when Devon Witherspoon moves inside. I’m not sure they need to use a first round pick on that — especially with depth at corner.
Thoughts on the Seahawks picks
It could easily come down to a combination of edge rusher and cornerback, in either order, at #32 and #64.
They are two need areas following the departure of Boye Mafe and Riq Woolen. Based on the ESPN piece that Brady Henderson contributed to last week, it seems like they might be interested in adding youth to the pass-rush even if they want to pursue a Von Miller type after the draft.
I could’ve easily placed Brandon Cisse or Chris Johnson at #32. I could’ve put Colton Hood there too if he lasted. All would be fair value in this draft. But the way Brady phrased it in his piece — that Woolen was the cornerback #3 — on top of the fact they’ve not added anyone to the pass rush pre-draft (just as they didn’t take a guard before drafting Grey Zabel) makes me think they might do it in the order projected in this mock.
There will be pass rushers they could consider at #64, including Joshua Josephs and Dani Dennis-Sutton (although there are reportedly some character concerns with both). It’s nothing serious — but you can definitely see with their interviews (especially DDS) why teams might have a few question marks.
There are no such issues with Howell who screams Seahawks when you listen to him speak.
I also have Malachi Lawrence lasting into range because some of the air seems to have come out of his balloon recently.
The Seahawks have options — whether they go EDGE then corner, or corner then EDGE. But it feels like a plan either way that could happen.
Dating back to 2010, John Schneider has drafted an offensive or defensive lineman 19 out of 32 times (59.4%) with his first or second pick.
I don’t want to go over old ground too much on whether they would consider Jadarian Price. I think they will — it’s just how highly they rate him. I think they will have a lot of time for Jonah Coleman too.
I don’t want to rule out Emmanuel Pregnon either, or Gennings Dunker for that matter. Adding an offensive lineman to set up the next five years with that unit makes sense.
Projected scenarios
#32 Cashius Howell (EDGE)
#64 Daylen Everette (CB)
#96 Jonah Coleman (RB)
#32 Chris Johnson or Brandon Cisse (CB)
#64 Malachi Lawrence (EDGE)
#96 Jonah Coleman (RB)
A final point — I think we will see a run on pass-rushers at the end of the first round and a run on cornerbacks in round two. That might indicate how the league, and therefore the Seahawks, views the positional shelves in this class.
