Tag: nfl-draft

2026 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

Just when you think things can’t get any crazier in the NFL, the Ravens trade two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby and then a few days later, they rescind the trade due to a “failed physical”.  I put that in quotations because it feels a little convenient.  They knew he had meniscus surgery in January; the knee stuff wasn’t a surprise.  They then signed Trey Hendrickson to a deal that is suspiciously the same money left on Crosby’s deal.  The Ravens look bad and it’s only one piece of the mock draft puzzle.  The first-round pick (14) goes back to the Ravens now (along with next year’s one).  The Ravens need a new center because the Raiders seriously outbid them for Tyler Linderbaum.  I’m not a conspiracy buff but the Ravens didn’t rescind the trade until the Raiders had stolen Linderbaum.  I’m not saying…but…I’m not, not saying. 

Free agency certainly changed the team needs as is to be expected and so did a trade or two.  My repeated attempts to send RB Jeremiah Love to Kansas City are over with the Chiefs signing Kenneth Walker III.  The Chiefs’ need to refill their secondary becomes paramount with the losses of CB Trent McDuffie (traded), CB Jaylen Watson (signed with the Rams), and S Bryan Cook (headed to the Bengals).  The Panthers no longer have a crying need for a MLB with Devin Lloyd signing and they spent a boatload of money on edge rusher Jaelen Phillips; another need off the checklist.  The Commanders signed two edge rushers, Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, probably not a priority early in the draft now.  The Dolphins traded WR Jayden Waddle to Denver, that was the big move for the Broncos and that may be a white flag from the Dolphins.  I love trying to put all the pieces together.  Let’s take a look at my latest Mock Draft. 

1. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14): Fernando Mendoza     QB      Indiana

As expected, the Raiders did not go out and sign Malik Willis or trade for Patrick Mahomes (just seeing if you’re paying attention).  This pick is Mendoza; it’s been Mendoza and at this point we could just have him sign his contract and tell the Jets they’re on the clock.  Fernando should find a house, buy it, set up the moving company to take his stuff from Bloomington to Vegas, probably just use the company that moved him from Berkley, CA to Bloomington last year.  Someone give him a key to Raiders’ facilities so he can start working out. 

2. New York Jets (3-14): Arvell Reese     Edge     Ohio St. 

The Jets have been quite aggressive in changing up their defensive personnel for Aaron Glenn.  They traded for DT T’Vondre Sweat and S Minkah Fitzpatrick, and signed Edge Joseph Ossai, DE Kingsley Enagbare, DT David Onyemata, S Dane Belton, and CB Nashon Wright, that looks great for Glenn who is trying to save his job.  The problem is Wright, Belton, Enagbare and Onyemata are all one-year deals, this isn’t a long-term plan.  GM Darren Mougey still needs to set this team up for success in the future even if Glenn isn’t the coach.  The best player available is Arvell Reese who can slot in with these guys just fine.  There are some questions as to whether or not Reese is really an edge player.  His pro day workout showed some issues that might give the Jets some pause.  However, Reese doesn’t have to be an edge player for them with the guys they signed plus Will McDonald around, he can be a LB.  They have Demario Davis, who is 37 and Jamien Sherwood, someone they aren’t completely sold on.  The team will have to decide soon if they are keeping McDonald long-term and Ossai’s contract isn’t prohibitive in any way.  Reese gives Glenn, or any new coaching staff in the future, plenty of versatility to fit into any system.

3. Arizona Cardinals (3-14): Sonny Styles     LB     Ohio St.

I have consistently had the Cardinals trading down because they need a RT and there isn’t great value in taking one here.  They addressed offensive line with the signing of LG Isaac Seamalo, and they also brought in RT Elijah Wilkinson, who started last year for the Falcons.  Styles is such a phenomenal athlete and would change the feel of their defense. Cody Simon was okay at ILB last year and Mack Wilson is fine too, but Styles is a true difference maker.  Teams like the Giants (Tremaine Edmunds) and the Browns (Quincy Williams) addressed LB so there may not be team looking to move up unless the Titans want to move up one spot.  When in doubt, just take the 6’5 240 lbs. athletic freak on defense and call it a day.

4. Tennessee Titans (3-14): David Bailey     DE     Texas Tech

Robert Saleh wants to remake the Titans’ defense and he’s off to an excellent start.  They signed three new CBs (Alontae Taylor, Cor’dale Flott, and Josh Williams) and he rebuilt most of the front four with the trade for DE Jermaine Johnson and signing DT John Franklin-Myers.  David Bailey would be the last piece to a truly overhauled defensive line with Johnson and Bailey at DE and Fraklin-Myers and Jeffrey Simmons inside at DT.  Saleh likes an attacking front four and these guys would fit the bill.  Franklin-Myers can also play DE on running down early to allow Bailey to grow into the role a little more and that would be ideal for him.  The Titans might decide to try to move up for Sonny Styles if they think Arizona might take him, but they can’t go wrong with Styles or Bailey. 

5. Kansas City Chiefs (TRADE from NYG): Rueben Bain Jr.     DE     Miami

The Chiefs decided not to wait and see if Jeremiah Love would be available to solve their RB problem and they signed Kenneth Walker III instead.  Here they decide not to wait to see who they can get at nine overall, they make a move up to get the pass rusher they want.  They picked up extra draft picks from their trade of Trent McDuffie to the Rams and if they are willing to part with a third-round pick here, they can get ahead of Washington and New Orleans and get Rueben Bain Jr.  With Reese and Bailey gone in the first four picks, the run on edge players scares them into moving up.  Bain is the perfect fit in their defensive scheme, and they desperately need to get more pop off the edge.  The team saw their Super Bowl window slam shut last year and they know they can’t wait around to make some changes. 

6. Cleveland Browns (5-12): Monroe Freeling     LT     Georgia

The Browns are slowly but steadily rebuilding their offensive line.  After trading for Tytus Howard, they re-signed OG Teven Jenkins, and then signed LG Zion Johnson and C/G Elgton Jenkins.  While I wouldn’t say Teven Jenkins is a surefire starter and they overpaid Johnson, technically they have starters at four spots.  That leaves LT still to be filled unless they actually think Dawand Jones is a LT, he’s not.  They may be better playing Jones at RT and moving Howard inside to guard.  Freeling is the guy who climbed the draft boards between the end of the season and the actual draft.  That doesn’t always work out great, but Freeling has the length and athleticism to be a LT in the NFL.  There aren’t many of those guys in this draft, so the Browns take their shot here and hope they find a long-term answer at the position.  This team knows it has time to develop a player like Freeling, they know where they are as a franchise. 

7. Washington Commanders (5-12): Jeremiah Love     RB     Notre Dame

This would be the dream for the Commanders because they desperately need to improve their running game.  The offensive line has some talent and with Jayden Daniels returning to health, the offense can get back on track.  This may come down to a choice between Love and Carnell Tate because they need offensive playmakers everywhere.  Love is an elite prospect and is so far above the other RB prospects, he’s not even in the same universe.  There is far more depth at WR in this draft, and I also still believe Brandon Aiyuk ends up in Washington once the 49ers jettison him.  Love would make for a great backfield mate to Daniels and he’s the top RB on the roster on day one. 

8. New Orleans Saints (6-11): Carnell Tate     WR      Ohio St.

The Saints have Chris Olave at WR and then not much else.  If they want QB Tyler Shough to continue to progress as a player, they need to get him some help.  Tate is the perfect complement to Olave as a big-bodied outside WR who can get down the field but also dominate in the intermediate area.  He would be a great red zone target and pushes guys like Devaughn Vele into more of a support role, where he would be better suited.  The Saints could use some new blood on defense so CB Mansoor Delane or S Caleb Downs are certainly a possibility but giving Shough a chance to succeed is a smart move.   

9. New York Giants (TRADE from KC): Spencer Fano     OL     Utah

The Giants aren’t the most obvious trade down candidate as they could take an o-lineman or they could draft Jeremiah Love or Carnell Tate at five overall, both fill major needs.  However, they don’t have a third-round pick, and this team has plenty of holes to fill.  They need WR, DT, offensive line, and LB help, just to name a few.  Fano has a chance to step in at RG immediately with the potential to be a long-term solution at RT. Some teams also see him as a potential center and this team can’t be too married to the idea of John Michael Schmitz at center since he’s entering the last year of his rookie deal and hasn’t been the picture of consistency.   

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11): Mansoor Delane     CB     LSU

The team addressed issues on the defensive line with DT Jonathan Allen and DE Boye Mafe signing.  You can question the wisdom of the Allen signing but they needed a DT and beggars can’t be choosers.  The Bengals’ CBs were solid last season with Dax Hill being healthy, DJ Turner playing well and even Jalen Davis was solid at nickel.  All three of these guys are scheduled to be free agents in 2027 so unless they get working on contracts now, they could lose one, two, or all three next year.  Delane isn’t an elite athlete, he’s actually about as average of an athlete as you’ll find at CB.  However, he’s also excellent in coverage.  At LSU, he showed he could be a man cover corner last season, and that was after three years of being a very good zone corner at Virginia Tech.  His versatility makes him a worthy choice here even if he’s not the superior athlete most teams like at CB. 

11. Miami Dolphins (7-10): Caleb Downs     S     Ohio St.

I doubt anything would please Jeff Hafley more than getting Caleb Downs to start the rebuild of the Dolphins’ secondary.  They’re a blank slate and Downs is arguably the best defensive player in this draft.  Getting him at 11 overall would be a major coup and Hafley was a secondary coach coming up the ranks.  Downs is an immediate starter at safety and the best player in their secondary and it’s not close.  If they think Downs won’t fall this far they do have plenty of draft capital to make a move up if they want after trading WR Jaylen Waddle.  The Waddle trade does mean they will consider WR if guys like Downs and Mansoor Delane are off the board, but if either of those guys are around, they have to take the best defensive player available for the secondary.  WR is a far deeper position and they can find help later. 

12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1): CJ Allen     LB     Georgia

This is pretty high for an off-ball LB who isn’t the ridiculous athlete that Sonny Styles is, but the Cowboys are telegraphing this pick with their moves.  Unless they plan on drafting Makai Lemon to be their third WR and turning this offense nuclear, they are looking to fill the ILB role.  They love DeMarvion Overshown but he’s only one ILB and he’s coming off his long rehab season.  Marist Liufau is not the answer next to him.  Allen is a hard-nosed, run-stuffing beast who can help this team continue to improve their run defense and he can be the QB of the defense.  They finally got some beef up front with Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams, now all they need is a tackling machine at the second level, welcome CJ Allen.  There will be talk about the value of taking an off-ball LB at this high of a pick but the Cowboys have never cared about positional value in the draft.  They have routinely taken interior offensive linemen in round one (Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin) despite that not being a valued position.  All of them were excellent picks. 

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta): Makai Lemon     WR     USC

The Rams had one glaring need going into this off season and it was outside CB.  They decided to import the Chiefs top two CBs, Trent McDuffie (trade) and Jaylen Watson (free agent) to fix it. The entire Rams offense from the end of the season when Warren McClendon Jr. had taken over at RT returns next season with only Jordan Whittingham stepping into Tutu Atwell’s spot as the third WR.  This team simply doesn’t have a major hole so they take the one guy who can supercharge their offense.  Lemon is from just down the road in Los Angeles at USC and he’s the perfect slot receiver to complement Puka Nacua and Devante Adams.  He gives Sean McVey the chance to only use three TE sets when he wants to and not because he needs to.  Lemon plays bigger than his size and still gives you excellent speed and route running in the slot.  This offense was excellent before and they just got better. 

14. Baltimore Ravens (back from Las Vegas): Kenyon Sadiq     TE     Oregon

This pick belonged to the Raiders for a few days but it’s back to Baltimore after the Maxx Crosby trade was rescinded.  The Ravens’ needs have changed after signing Trey Hendrickson at edge and John Simpson at guard, addressing their two biggest needs.  They still need a center after losing Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders crazy free agent offer but there are no centers here to take.  Sadiq isn’t usually mocked to the Ravens, but they did just lose Isaiah Likely to the Giants and Charlie Kolar to the Chargers.  They need depth and their new offensive coordinator is Declan Doyle.  Doyle came up under Sean Payton, a coach who loves a good, versatile TE for his passing game.  Just think of guys like Jimmy Graham, Taysom Hill, and even Payton trying to make Evan Engram happen in Denver last year.  Doyle also then spent last year in Chicago under Ben Johnson using Colston Loveland as a weapon in the Bears’ offense.  Johnson was the guy who made Sam LaPorta so incredible in Detroit.  Doyle could see Sadiq as the guy who can give the offense some punch and playmaking. 

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (TRADE from TB): Olaivavega Ioane     OG     Penn St. 

This would be a smart move for the Steelers as they need a LG after losing Isaac Seamalo in free agency. If Ioane falls this far the Steelers can use some of their 12 picks to move up and Tampa Bay could use a few more picks in this draft to address some needs.  The Steelers filled their long-standing need for a WR with their trade for Michael Pittman Jr. from Indianapolis.  Pittman is a fantastic addition and a great complement to DK Metcalf.  Everyone is operating under the assumption Aaron Rodgers will be back at QB, whether that’s good or bad is a matter of perspective.  Having a solid offensive line is an absolute necessity if Rodgers is the QB, Ioane helps that.  They filled holes at CB (Jamel Dean), RB (Rico Dowdle), and safety (Jaquan Brisker) in free agency.  Ioane gives them another young, talented offensive lineman and he feels like a Steeler.  He’s a powerful run blocker and an excellent pass protector who fits the offense quite well.

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis): Jermod McCoy     CB     Tennessee

The Jets signed a number of defensive backs to reconfigure their secondary but that shouldn’t stop them from taking McCoy.  CB Nashon Wright was only signed to a one-year deal and CB Brandon Stephens could be gone after the season if they want out of his deal.  McCoy is a guy coming off a missed season due to his torn ACL, but he should be ready for next season.  The good news is the Jets wouldn’t have to rush him onto the field but he’s well worth taking as he could eventually be a CB1.  The Jets need talent; McCoy might be the best CB in this draft. 

17. Detroit Lions (9-8): Kadyn Proctor     OT     Alabama

It feels strange to put Proctor ahead of Francis Mauigoa but Mauigoa isn’t a LT prospect and Proctor is the next best LT prospect after Freeling.  Proctor would fit the Lions offensive scheme that is predicated on power running and he fills the huge hole created when they released Taylor Decker.  Decker is 32 and coming off an injury plagued season so moving on is understandable, but it won’t be easy.  Proctor is a mammoth individual at 6’7 352 lbs. and he has excellent athleticism even if he can be a bit heavy-footed going side to side.  It is possible they will take Mauigoa and either play him at LG or move Penei Sewell to LT and play Mauigoa at RT.  He does fit the profile of a power player on the offensive line like the Lions prefer.  LT is the more important position than LG and taking Proctor just lets Sewell continue to dominate at RT instead of having to move more people around.

18. Minnesota Vikings (9-8): Dillon Thieneman     S     Oregon

The Vikings feel like they addressed their biggest issue with the signing of Kyler Murray to “compete” against JJ McCarthy at QB.  This is even less of a competition than Daniel Jones vs. Anthony Richardson was in Indianapolis last year.  If they won’t say it, I will, Kyler Murray is the starting QB.  I’m not a Kyler fan but he’s better than McCarthy.  They didn’t have many holes on the roster to address and signed CB James Pierre, that’s a solid pickup.  The one other major loss is Harrison Smith probably won’t be back a safety.  They have Josh Mettelus and Theo Jackson, but Brian Flores likes to use three safeties.  Thieneman put on a show at the combine with his incredible athleticism and he’s a great successor to Smith. He gives Flores all the versatility he needs in his safety group to keep the defense at its highest level.   

19. Carolina Panthers (8-9): Jordyn Tyson     WR     Arizona St.

The Panthers took a WR in round one last year, but Tyson would be too good to pass up here.  The Panthers filled their biggest needs in free agency with LT Rasheed Walker, C Luke Fortner, LB Devin Lloyd, and edge rusher Jaelen Phillips.  The rest of the roster seems solid, but Tyson would be a major upgrade over Xavier Leggette who stills leaves a lot to be desired.  Pairing Tetairoa McMillan with Jordan Tyson on the outside with Jalen Coker in the slot would leave no excuses for Bryce Young.  This would be one of the better young WR groups in the NFL if Tyson stays healthy.  The only reason he falls this far in the draft is due to questions about his durability.  Leggette’s presence would mean Tyson wouldn’t have to carry a heavy load early on and could ease into the job.     

20. New England Patriots (TRADE from Dallas): Francis Mauigoa     OL     Miami

The Patriots have eleven picks in this draft and with all of their free agent shopping the last two years and their draft last season, they don’t have glaring needs.  They signed Alijah Vera-Tucker to be their LG but he’s a coin flip at best to be healthy each game and there’s really no chance you should count on him for 17 games.  RT Morgan Moses is 35 and could fall off the cliff at any moment and they don’t have anyone of note behind him.  If Mauigoa starts to fall to this range of the draft the Patriots should trade up to get ahead of teams like the Chargers and the Bills who may be looking for interior help.  He has the ability to play guard so he’s insurance against Vera-Tucker’s inevitable injury and he’s the heir apparent to Moses at RT.  Last season, the Patriots lacked power at LG as Jared Wilson was overmatched physically, that wouldn’t be a problem if Mauigoa played there.  The worst-case scenario would be in two years Mauigoa replaces Michael Onwenu at RG. 

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TRADE from Pittsburgh): Akheem Mesidor     Edge     Miami

The Buccaneers lost WR Mike Evans to free agency, and they simply can’t replace him. They still have Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson so they won’t even try to replace Evans here.  They also lost CB Jamel Dean and DL Logan Hall in free agency, but they drafted Benjamin Morrison at CB last year and they picked up free agent A’Shawn Robinson to replace Hall.  That will allow them to find the best player for their defense and this defense needs an edge rusher.  Mesidor was fantastic at Miami last year and while Miami played him at DE, he’ll move to OLB here and it’s a solid move for him.  Mesidor isn’t the longest edge player so moving off the line a bit should be a better fit.  He will already be 25 in his rookie season so there’s not a lot of time to waste and the Bucs are looking for help right now.  The Bucs pick up an extra pick from the Steelers to move down a few spots and still get a guy they need. 

22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6): Denzel Boston     WR     Washington

It feels a little strange having the Chargers taking a WR in round one with Jim Harbaugh as the head coach, but he clearly recognized the offense wasn’t good enough last year.  He hired Mike McDaniel to fix it and while McDaniel’s Miami offenses were predicated on speed, they did that to match personnel.  Harbaugh wants to run the ball, McDaniel is excellent at that, but the passing game has to be better.  WR Quentin Johnston has been the definition of inconsistent, and they have to make a decision on his future here soon.  Ladd McConkey is the underneath, slot guy while Tre Harris started to get more playing time as the deep threat.  Boston would be the perfect fit in this group.  He’s a big, powerful receiver who is excellent in the intermediate area, a true red zone threat, and would allow Justin Herbert to attack all areas of the field.  At 6’4 212 lbs., he’s a big-bodied WR who plays tough and can run after the catch, another thing McDaniel would be able to use on offense. 

23. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): Keldric Faulk     DE     Auburn

The Eagles are an expensive team with some tough decisions coming up and they made one decision this off season that could have ripple effects.  They signed DT Jordan Davis to an extension, and it may mean they look to move on from Jalen Carter.  A year ago, that would have seemed crazy, but Carter had a down year, and Davis stepped up big time.  GM Howie Roseman loves to pick trench players, offensive or defensive side doesn’t really matter to him.  Getting Faulk, a guy who doesn’t turn 21 until September, feels like Howie making a move to cover for himself a year early.  If the team looks to trade Carter instead of paying him and Davis, Faulk can be the DE on one side of Davis.  Faulk isn’t a twitchy edge player like a lot of the pass rushers in this draft.  He’s 6’6 274 lbs. and is a power end who stuffs the run.  He’s never going to be a high sack guy and that’s fine, that’s not what the Eagles would ask him to do. 

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville): Omar Cooper Jr.     WR     Indiana

The Browns have overhauled their offensive line, their defense really doesn’t need any help unless it’s young depth, and they desperately need a QB but that’s a problem for 2027.  They could look at Ty Simpson, but they are set up to draft a QB next year so getting some more help for that guy now would be nice.  They will still have Jerry Jeudy on the books for a couple of years, and they seem to like Isaiah Bond.  Neither of those guys should stop them from getting a playmaker like Cooper.  Cooper isn’t the biggest or fastest WR but he’s an excellent route runner and would be a QBs best friend. 

25. Chicago Bears (11-6): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren     S     Toledo

Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Owens, and CJ Gardner-Johnson were all free agents, and I thought the Bears would re-sign one or two of them, they didn’t.  They did sign Coby Bryant from Seattle but as of now their other starting safety is…Cam Lewis? I guess.  That’s not ideal.  Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is an excellent prospect out of a small school that seems to be making solid defensive backs lately.  McNeil-Warren has the size and skill set to be starter and having a veteran like Coby Bryant and the rest of that secondary around him would be very helpful for a rookie. 

26. Buffalo Bills (12-5): Kayden McDonald     NT     Ohio St.

The Bills filled their biggest need with their trade for DJ Moore and while I could argue they should pick up another WR, I’m guessing they will try to get something out of Josh Palmer this year.  The defense is taking on more of a 3-4 alignment with new head coach Joe Brady hiring Jim Leonhard to run it.  That means they need a true NT and 6’8 Deone Walker is not the guy you want to try to play at NT.  McDonald is 6’3 330 lbs. run-stuffing beast who is built exactly how you want a NT to be built and plays the game like an immovable object.  Put Walker and Ed Oliver on either side of McDonald and you have yourself the start of a solid three-man front for your defense. 

27. San Francisco 49ers (12-5): KC Concepcion      WR     Texas A&M

The 49ers have added two free agent WRs and traded for one DT.  They signed the biggest WR they could, bringing Mike Evans to be their top outside threat.  Evans isn’t young anymore but he’s still 6’5 and a ball winner when it counts. They also signed Christian Kirk as a stopgap at slot receiver; he’s not a long-term plan.  They traded a third-round pick for DT Osa Odighizuwa, an excellent DT who improves the middle of the defense.  The offense still needs playmakers with Ricky Pearsall the only WR of note, besides Evans, and George Kittle likely to miss at least most of the season after his Achilles tear in the playoffs.  Enter KC Concepcion, the slot receiver from the Aggies.  He’s a shorter player at 5’11 but he’s nearly 200 lbs. so he can play over the middle with his size.  He’s quick and deadly with his change of direction and will give Kyle Shanahan a solid piece in the passing game.  Kirk’s presence means Concepcion won’t be rushed but the kid can make plays.   

28. Houston Texans (12-5): Peter Woods     DT     Clemson

The Texans’ roster is in very good shape; the one area they could use some help is at DT.  Unfortunately for them, the DT position isn’t exactly great.  Caleb Banks was looking like a solid choice until he broke his foot at the combine, adding that to his foot injury during the season and his stock is way down.  Woods was the top DT prospect coming into the season, but he had tough year at Clemson.  He’s still a talented player but teams have to ask themselves if his play was on him or if it was a Clemson thing, other Clemson guys weren’t great either.  Woods is the type of penetrating DT the Texans like, they have Sheldon Rankins, who does it well.  Rankins is aging so getting a guy who can spell him now and eventually replace him would be a smart move. 

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from LA Rams): Caleb Lomu     OT     Utah

The Chiefs would likely jump at the chance to take Jermod McCoy or Mansoor Delane but they will be long gone.  They won’t spend a first-round pick on just any CB, they have found starters in mid and late rounds before. I think they will settle for a mid-round CB and take Lomu.  Lomu is excellent value at this point in the draft.  He’s perfect for them now because he’s a young player and they don’t have to start him right away because they have Jaylon Moore to play at RT.  Moore only has one more year on his deal so Lomu can sit for the year, if necessary, but he also gives them a potential LT alternative if Josh Simmons has any other personal issues he has to deal with.  The hope would be in two years they have Simmons at LT and Lomu at RT and have a great pair of young OTs for the next decade. 

30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver): Cashius Howell     Edge Texas A&M

The Dolphins can go in just about any direction here, but Howell would give them a dynamic edge player to line up opposite Chop Robinson.  They signed Josh Uche and David Ojabo but neither of those guys are going to stop them from bringing in some real talent.  Howell is undersized and isn’t great against the run but that’s what the veterans are for, to give him some time to adjust to the NFL.  The Dolphins are nearly a clean slate so it’s hard to predict where they will go in the draft but taking a talented pass rusher who can get to the QB seems like a good idea. 

31. Dallas Cowboys (TRADE from NE): Aveion Terrell     CB     Clemson

The Cowboys signed Cobie Durant from the Rams and he’s a solid player, but he shouldn’t stop them from drafting a guy with the upside of Terrell.  DaRon Bland has been a good starter for them when healthy but that’s not a given anymore.  Bland can play the slot while Durant and Terrell play the outside, or Terrell could give them snaps in the slot.  Either way, with the makeup of this defense and new defensive coordinator Christian Parker being around, expect the team to address their need at CB. 

32. Las Vegas Raiders (TRADE from Seattle): Blake Miller     OT     Clemson

The Seahawks have four picks in this draft, so they are motivated to move off this pick to save some money after re-signing Jaxon Smith-Njigba and with Devon Witherspoon next in line for a raise.  The Raiders move up to get themselves a new RT who would fit nicely into their revamped offensive line.  Miller is a big man with good mobility and great toughness.  If they are investing in QB Fernando Mendoza with the first pick of this round, it’s a wise move to get him a new OT with the last pick of the round.   

Round 2

33. New York Jets: Jacob Rodriguez     LB     Texas Tech

The Jets just signed Demario Davis but he’s 37 years old and their other ILB is Jamien Sherwood who I’m not sure they even like anymore.  Rodriguez isn’t the most physically intimidating LB but he’s just plain good.  They need more good players.   

34. Arizona: Max Iheanachor     OT     Arizona St.

The Cardinals signed Elijah Wilkinson as a stopgap RT, he started as an injury replacement all last season for the Falcons.  They can do better.  Iheanachor is still raw and Wilkinson could give him some time to adjust but he’s a much better talent for the long-term.

35. Tennessee: Chase Bisontis      OG     Texas A&M

The Titans have addressed many of their needs in free agency, especially on the defense.  One area of concern is still the interior of the offensive line.  It doesn’t look like Kevin Zeitler will be back at RG so Bisontis would be an immediate starter.  He’s a talented interior player and a better option than free agent signee Cordell Volson.

36. Seattle: Colton Hood     CB     Tennessee

When you’re the Super Bowl champs you don’t generally have glaring needs so it’s smart to look at where you lost someone in free agency.  They let Riq Woolen leave in free agency and while they re-signed Josh Jobe, it leaves them a little thin at CB.  They also lost Coby Bryant at safety so if they wanted to use Devon Witherspoon at nickel so Nick Emmanwori can play safety, Hood would give them an outside CB who can step into Witherspoon’s spot.    

37. New York Giants: Caleb Banks     DT     Florida

The Giants were awful at stopping the run last year even with some real investments in their front seven.  They weren’t great on the interior of the defensive line and their LBs were bad.  They cut Bobby Okereke and replaced him with Trumaine Edmunds and here they draft Banks.  Banks has a foot issue to worry about but taking him at 37 is a steal.  If he’s healthy all season, he changes the defensive line immensely. 

38. Houston: TJ Parker     DE     Clemson

While the Texans already took a defensive lineman in round one with Peter Woods, they doubled up by taking a DE here, Woods’ Clemson teammate Parker.  Parker was a top prospect who fell a little in this draft because he had a less than stellar year at Clemson.  He’s still a talented edge rusher.  The Texans have Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, but Hunter will be 32 this season, he’s getting really expensive, and they are going to have to spend a ton to keep Anderson pretty soon.  Getting a younger, cheaper alternative at DE is smart play, especially when they are getting Parker at a discount. 

39. Cleveland: Gennings Dunker     OL     Iowa

The Browns grabbed Monroe Freeling to play LT and that would give them five new starters but only if Teven Jenkins is the RG, they can do better.  Dunker is a beast who played RT in college but should be a road grader at guard in the NFL.   

40. Kansas City: Chris Johnson     CB     San Diego St.

Johnson looks like an average athlete on the field, but he proved at the combine that’s not actually true, he’s a very good athlete.  He’s 6’0 193 lbs. and he can play man or zone coverage equally well.  His versatility will be the thing Steve Spagnuolo loves about him, and he’ll be starting fairly early because I just think he’s better than Kristian Fulton.

41. Cincinnati: Christen Miller     DT      Georgia

Jonathan Allen and BJ Hill are slated to be the Bengals starting DTs, they are both 31.  TJ Slaton was supposed to be their big free agent signing last year that they brought in to stop the run, it didn’t work.  Miller is an underappreciated player from Georgia who should blossom in the NFL.  He does all the dirty work but there is untapped potential in his game. 

42. New Orleans: Lee Hunter     DT      Texas Tech

Even with the departure of LB Demario Davis and the expected departure of Cam Jordan, this front seven still has too many guys on the wrong side of 30.  One of those is NT Davon Godchaux who will be 32 this season and they are going to need a new nose tackle soon.  It’s the perfect fit for Hunter who doesn’t fit in all alignments on defense but is perfect to fill that spot in New Orleans.    

43. Miami: Emmanuel Pregnon     OG     Oregon

Miami took two defensive playmakers in the round one, now it’s time to address the offense.  They signed OG Jamaree Salyer in free agency and they have LG Jonah Savaiinaea who they drafted in the second-round last year.  I’m not convinced either is a great fit in Bobby Slowik’s offense.  Salyer has never been great inside at guard even though he’s built like one and Savaiinaea struggled last season.  Pregnon fits any scheme and he’s better than either of these guys.  Keeping Malik Willis upright would really help this offense.  

44. New York Jets: Germie Bernard     WR     Alabama

The Jets addressed all three levels of their defense with their first three picks, time for some offense.  Bernard isn’t flashy but this team has Garrett Wilson and AD Mitchell for flash, they need substance.  Geno Smith will appreciate Bernard being exactly where he’s supposed to be, exactly when he’s supposed to be there. 

45. Baltimore: Sam Hecht     C     Kansas St.

The Ravens can’t go too far into this draft without finding Tyler Linderbaum’s replacement at center.  There aren’t really any centers with good size for their scheme, so they go with Hecht who has the technique to play any style of offense.  I was tempted to go with Logan Jones just to replace one Iowa center with another, but he’s much more of a zone-only center and that’s not what the Ravens will likely run. 

46. Tampa Bay: Jake Golday     LB     Cincinnati

Tampa signed Alex Anzalone from the Lions, he’s a solid LB but they need more help.  Golday is a supreme athlete who isn’t your typical LB prospect, he’s hard to slot into just one role.  He would give Todd Bowles some flexibility at LB and he would likely replace SirVocea Dennis in a lot of alignments.

47. Indianapolis: Anthony Hill Jr.     LB     Texas

The Colts are basically staring over at LB after trading Zaire Franklin.  The guys on the roster have no experience to speak of.  If you’re going to start over at LB, Anthony Hill Jr. is a good place to start.  He’s an excellent three-down LB and he can run your defense from day one.  He’s fast, athletic, he can cover, and he can tackle, what more could you ask for? 

48. Atlanta: Zion Young     Edge     Missouri

The Falcons traded this year’s first rounder last year to draft James Pearce Jr. and now James Pearce Jr. has been charged with four felonies (Google it, it’s a truly horrible episode I would not like to discuss here).  Not only is his NFL future uncertain at best, so is his future freedom.  They signed Azeez Ojulari and Samson Ebukam, but those guys are coming off injuries. Young gives them a solid power edge player to line up opposite Jalon Walker.    

49. Minnesota: Malachi Lawrence     Edge      UCF

Lawrence is a late rising prospect who really opened some eyes at the combine.  This may end up being too low for his eventual spot.  The Vikings are exploring trading Jonathan Greenard for some salary cap relief, and they will need another pass rusher if they do that.  Even if they keep Greenard, his contract is getting expensive and his counterpart, Andrew Van Ginkle is 31.  They should be looking for a long-term partner for Dallas Turner on the edge. 

50. Detroit: Gabe Jacas     Edge     Illinois

With the addition of LT Kadyn Proctor in this mock draft and C Cade Mays in free agency, the offensive line issues should be addressed.  On defense, they still don’t have an edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, and they need to replace Alex Anzalone at LB.  Jacas is great value and far better than any LB left on the board.  Jacas is almost always described as a rugged DE, I can’t think of a description Dan Campbell would love more. 

51. Carolina: Ty Simpson     QB     Alabama

I’ve been struggling with where to put Simpson, he’s not a guy teams are going to draft to start right away.  However, he has starting potential.  The Panthers traded Andy Dalton to Philly, and they signed Kenny Pickett to be the backup.  Bryce Young has been good enough to not be outright discarded but what if Dan Morgan and Dave Canales aren’t sold.  This would be like the Eagles drafting Jalen Hurts when they had Carson Wentz as their starter.  Wentz failed and the Eagles didn’t miss a beat.  If Young struggles again, Simpson could be their answer.  This would be one of the more intriguing places Simpson could get drafted.  He wouldn’t take Young’s job immediately, but he would ratchet up the pressure on Young to be better.   

52. Green Bay: Brandon Cisse     CB     South Carolina

The Packers are counting on Micah Parsons to be healthy and Lukas Van Ness to finally be relevant at edge rusher.  If they aren’t, the secondary is not equipped to handle the pressure.  Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and Benjamin St. Juste are not good enough at CB.  The Packers have a size threshold for their CBs, so D’Angelo Ponds is off the table for them.  Cisse had round one buzz early, but other guys passed him.  He still has starter potential and that makes him a solid choice for the Packers.

53. Pittsburgh: Zachariah Branch     WR     Georgia

The Steelers roster is actually in solid shape overall, if you consider Aaron Rodgers a solid choice at QB, it seems dubious to me.  One area of need is still at WR, even with the addition of Michael Pittman Jr.  The next best WR after DK Metcalf and Pittman is either Roman Wilson and his 12 catches from last year or Ben Skowronek.  Branch needs to work on his route running but he can be a slot merchant right away.  If Aaron Rodgers is the QB, he will hate the way Branch runs routes, but he will love the fact that he’s open almost immediately so Rodgers can dump the ball off to him.

54. Philadelphia: Chris Bell     WR     Louisville

The AJ Brown divorce from Philadelphia is coming at some point.  It may not happen this off season, but it is inevitable.  Bell is a big, physical WR who uses his strength to bully opponents and he’s excellent after the catch.  The only reason he’s still here is because he’s coming off a knee injury.  If the Eagles keep Brown into the season, Bell may be healthy enough by the trade deadline to allow them to move Brown then.   

55. Los Angeles Chargers: R Mason Thomas     Edge     Oklahoma

The Chargers re-signed Khalil Mack at age 35 and they still have Tuli Tuipulotu on the edge, that’s the same two they started last season with.  Last year they traded for Odafe Oweh because they needed more pass rush, now Oweh is in Washington.  They need some speed off the edge and that is Thomas’ specialty.  He’s not a big guy but they have Mack to play on run downs.  Thomas is the designated speed rusher to start the year, and he gives them some juice off the edge. 

56. Jacksonville: Josiah Trotter     LB     Missouri

The Jaguars suffered a major loss when LB Devin Lloyd signed with Carolina.  Trotter isn’t the all-around LB Lloyd is but he’s a solid MLB prospect who can fill a need as a run-stuffer early in his career as he rounds out his game overall.

57. Chicago: Dani Dennis-Sutton     DE     Penn St.

The Bears need some help opposite DE Montez Sweat and while Dennis-Sutton wasn’t the most productive player at Penn St. he was a solid player.  He showed excellent athleticism at the combine although he doesn’t show it on the field.  He is the size profile Dennis Allen prefers so he’s the pick here.

58. San Francisco: Eli Stowers     TE     Vanderbilt

Stowers is an elite athlete who is a pass catching TE only.  If you need a blocking TE, this isn’t your guy.  George Kittle will be rehabbing a torn Achilles most of the season and this offense needs a TE who can be a part of the passing game.  Jake Tonges is a nice player, but Stowers would be a weapon. 

59. Houston: Max Klare     TE     Ohio St.

The Texans have Dalton Schultz and that’s nice, but he’s ageing and they need some depth.  Klare is a solid all-around TE who can be a security blanket for CJ Stroud and give you some real production. 

60. Chicago: Keylan Rutledge     OG     Vanderbilt

Chicago had to make a trade for C Garrett Bradbury when Drew Dalman suddenly retired because while they are good on the interior of the offensive line, they are not deep.  Joe Thuney is 34 and Jonah Jackson is 29 and hasn’t always been the healthiest.  Rutledge is a stud run blocking guard and would give them some depth inside and someone to eventually replace one of the guards.

61. Los Angeles Rams: Connor Lew     C     Auburn

This would be the perfect situation for Connor Lew.  The Rams have Coleman Shelton at center and he’s a trusted veteran.  However, he’s 31 and he’s not some superstar, he’s just a solid player.  Lew is coming off a torn ACL and probably won’t be ready to start the year.  He is talented enough to take the job from Shelton when he’s healthy, but he wouldn’t be needed this year necessarily.

62. Denver: Dominique Orange     DT     Iowa St.

The Brocos defense is excellent and while Orange wouldn’t be a one-for-one replacement for John Franklin-Myers, he would allow them to move some guys around.  They don’t have a traditional NT on the team and Orange would give them one.  That would allow Malcolm Roach and DJ Jones to be used in a rotation along the line.

63. New England: Derrick Moore     Edge     Michigan

The Patriots signed Dre’Mont Jones, a very solid veteran edge player who gives them more in the run game than K’Lavon Chaisson did last season.  They still need more help on the edge as Harold Landry is aging and coming off an injury, and the rest of the depth chart is unproven.  Moore would be the perfect player to eventually replace Landry.

64. Seattle: Jadarian Price     RB     Notre Dame

The Seahawks may try to move down from this spot too just to pick up another pick but if they keep it, it’s hard to see them not taking a RB.  Maybe it’s Mike Washington Jr. from Arkansas and not Price because of Washington’s speed but I like Price.  I think he’s just scratching the surface of his talent and Seattle lost Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet is coming off a torn ACL in January.  They need someone to carry the load early in the season.                   

2026 NFL Draft QB Prospects

In the 2024 NFL draft there were six QBs taken in the top 12 picks, in 2025, Shadeur Sanders was the sixth QB off the board and he was taken in round five with pick #144.  In 2026 there probably won’t be six QBs that go in the top 12 (it’s not completely out of the question but it’s unlikely), but we won’t be waiting until pick 144 for the sixth one either.  When I made my preliminary list of QBs to look at just to get a sense of draft eligible guys who could reasonably get drafted, I had 25 to start.  That doesn’t include guys like Diego Pavia or Noah Fifita who just don’t physically profile like NFL prospects.  They could change my mind with incredible seasons but I’m not going there at this point.  I’m going to do my Top 10 QB prospects for now and then throw in some others to watch out for.  All these players are draft eligible meaning they have been out of high school for at least three years.  The heights and weights are generally from there school’s listing so take those with a grain of salt, and I’ll note any that seem really out of whack.  Also, their listed class, take that with a grain of salt too, with all the NCAA rule changes, transfers, redshirts, JUCO things, and other issues, some of these guys may have more eligibility than it seems.  While we should essentially be at the end of the Covid extra eligibility guys there was a TE at Miami last year who was in his 9th year of college eligibility so I’ll believe anything at this point.  Let’s take a look.

1. Arch Manning     Redshirt Soph    Texas

I’m going to start with this; Manning is the #1 QB prospect in this draft until we reach the deadline to enter the draft in January.  I don’t think Manning will be in this class, I think he goes back to Texas unless three things occur.  1. Texas wins the national championship, 2. He wins the Heisman Trophy, 3. A team he wants to play for has the #1 overall pick.  If he pulls off the first two things in his first year as a starter for the Longhorns, he’s a legend and has nothing left to prove, if he fails to achieve either one, he can say he’s got something to come back to accomplish and just cash some more checks; NIL and otherwise.  The third one is going to be the huge piece here. Do you remember his grandfather Archie Manning making the Chargers trade his uncle Eli to the Giants because he didn’t want to go to that organization. Well, if the Cleveland Browns have the first pick it’s not hard to see Arch saying, thanks but no thanks, I’ll stay in Austin.  If it’s the New Orleans Saints, a team where his grandfather was a legend, he might be more tempted to come out.  Now, as for Manning the prospect.

He’s a legit 6’4 225 lbs. QB with a rifle for an arm like his uncles (Peyton and Eli) but he is more athletic than they ever were (his dad Cooper played WR before an injury ended his career).  Arch has some serious wheels when he leaves the pocket and he can still throw on the run too.  He’s everything you want from a physical standpoint, plus he has Manning DNA.  The one thing lacking is playing time in college.  He stepped in for Quinn Ewers when he was banged up but he only has a few starts so his sample size is limited.  If he balls out at Texas this year, there will be no stopping the hype train and we will just be living in the Arch Manning world until he decides when he wants to go pro.  If he has just a good year and enters the draft, he’s going first overall because there isn’t a GM on the planet who will pass on drafting the next great Manning.  Like I said though, I think he has to be great and have a hugely successful year to come out and if he does that, he’s a no-brainer at #1 overall. 

2. Drew Allar     Senior     Penn St.

If I were a betting man and I had to bet who I think will actually be the first pick of the 2026 draft, I’m taking Allar.  He’s 6’5 235 lbs. and this is going to be his third year as the starting QB at Penn St.  He’s had his issues against the best competition the Nittany Lions have faced over the last several years but he was pretty good last year against some good teams, his team let him down.  He’s straight out of central casting with his size and build for an NFL franchise QB.  While he’s a big, strong-armed pocket passer, he’s not a statue, he can move out of the pocket and throw too.  They aren’t designing runs for him like the Longhorns do for Arch Manning but he’s not going to just stand in the pocket and get killed either. 

He has a howitzer for an arm and can make any throw necessary but his ball placement needs some work.  He doesn’t always give his WRs the most catchable pass and Tyler Warren bailed him out of some bad throws last year.  Allar doesn’t play with the greatest group of WRs so some of it is him and some of it could be them not being exactly where they should be.  The good news is that over the last several years you can watch Allar get better as he plays.  He’s making the progress you want to see and after another full year as the starter, he could easily be the best QB in the draft…if there’s no Arch Manning. 

3. Garrett Nussmeier     Senior     LSU

Nussmeier is the son of longtime NFL and college coach and former NFL QB Doug Nussmeier.  His father is the new OC for Kellen Moore with the New Orleans Saints.  Doug was a journeyman QB and Garrett has a higher ceiling than that.  Garrett took over as the starter for LSU last year after Jayden Daniels graduated and he didn’t miss a beat.  He didn’t have Malik Nabers or Brian Thomas Jr. to throw too but that didn’t slow him down. He did play behind a brick wall last year but OT Will Campbell, OT Emory Jones, OG Miles Frazier and G/C Garrett Dellinger all got drafted.  That’s a major revamp happening in front of him. 

Nussmeier is accurate and smart, two things you would expect from a coach’s kid.  He’s also fearless with where he will throw it.  He will chuck it all over the yard if you let him.  He has a good arm for sure, he thinks he has an elite arm, which can get him in trouble. One other knock on his is he’s not very big.  He’s listed at 6’2 200 lbs. and the height might be true but he looks really slight compared to other players.  I will be interested to see how he performs this season after losing most of his o-line to the NFL draft.  He’s not built to take a beating if the o-line struggles.

4. Sam Leavitt     Redshirt Soph     Arizona St.

I’m probably higher on Leavitt than many people but after watching him at the end of last season and in the college football playoff, I’m a believer.  He got overshadowed by all the Cam Skattebo hype but Arizona St. doesn’t sniff the Big 12 title game or the college football playoff without Leavitt.  He brings an attitude and a swagger you want in a QB.  He will throw the ball anywhere, anytime, and it does get him in trouble a little, but it really energizes his team.  He does have the same flaw as Nussmeier in the fact that he’s a bit undersized, listed at 6’2 200 lbs.  I actually think it maybe his height is a little exaggerated but he’s probably 200 lbs. at least.  I think he has a little bit more of a frame that could grow and he’s almost three full years younger than Nussmeier so he has some time to fill out his frame.  Leavitt does have a good arm with strength and touch and he plays in a more pro-style offense, they use some play action like pros.  His head coach is Kenny Dillingham who is an excellent QB coach too.  I’m a fan of Leavitt and there’s a good chance he could pass up Nussmeier if has a big year.  There’s also a chance he doesn’t enter the 2026 draft if he’s making good money at Arizona St. or someone else wants to pay him a big number in college he could return.  He doesn’t turn 21 until December so he’s got time. 

5. Cade Klubnik     Senior     Clemson

Klubnik was a highly rated recruit out of Texas who has been a multi-year starter at Clemson.  It wasn’t until last year, and mostly later in the year, that he truly started to put it all together.  He’s 6’2 210 lbs. so he’s not the biggest guy, and that 6’2 may be a bit generous.  The one big difference between him and guys like Leavitt and Nussmeier is he doesn’t show the same arm strength they do.  He has great mechanics and keeps them consistent but he just doesn’t have the same level of arm strength to make all the throws.  That means he has to have great anticipation because if he’s not ahead of the defense, he doesn’t have the arm to make up the difference.  His level of experience and accuracy make him a good prospect and guy someone is going to take a shot on early in the draft next year. 

6. LaNorris Sellers    Redshirt Soph     South Carolina

Sellers is a 6’3 240 lbs. athletic specimen who is everything you want physically in a modern QB.  He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical, and he has a very strong arm.  He’s underdeveloped as a passer, which is understandable given his physical profile. In the college game, when your QB is a physical mismatch, coaches tend to lean towards a one-read and go offense.  That means teaching the QB to look for his one read and if that guy isn’t open, just get going.  That tends to lead to good offensive plays and winning for the team and coach but doesn’t develop great QB traits for the player.  If Sellers shows advancement in his ability to read defenses and make plays with his arm, it will really help him as a prospect.  He also isn’t a guy who’s great in the short game which is also a product of being a superior athlete.  You don’t teach great athletes to dump off short passes to guys who aren’t as athletic when Sellers can just take the ball and get yards.  He probably has the highest potential of anyone not named Manning in this class but it’s all going to depend on where his QB development goes this season.  His ceiling is being the #1 overall pick in the draft; his floor is being Jalen Milroe and dropping to the third round.  He is only a redshirt sophomore so he can always go back to school if the season doesn’t go great for him. 

7. John Mateer     Redshirt Junior     Oklahoma

This one is a bit of a projection because Mateer is transferring from Washington St. to Oklahoma and it’s a big step up from Washington St. to the SEC.  Mateer will be running the same offense he excelled in at WSU and I mean the exact same because his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, is now Oklahoma’s OC.  However, he’ll be getting used to a whole new team around him and way better competition.  Mateer is 6’1 219 lbs. and he’s got a pretty stout build to him.  He has great arm strength and he’s a great runner.  He picks up a lot of yardage on the ground and it’s a big part of his game and the offensive game plan.  While he has great arm strength, what he doesn’t have is great consistency with his mechanics.  He can get himself in trouble trying to make off balance and off platform throws and while his arm made up the difference against last year’s competition, the SEC is a different level.  He needs to make sure he’s in good position to throw and needs to throw with better anticipation or he could turn the ball over more.  If he’s awesome against the SEC, his prospect profile is going to skyrocket.    

8. Fernando Mendoza     Redshirt Junior     Indiana

There’s a trend here at the end of my top 10 which is the same trend that’s happening in college football, the last four guys are transfers for this season.  Mendoza was awesome last year at Cal and he’s got the prototypical size for an NFL QB.  He’s 6’5 225 lbs. and he’s an excellent athlete.  He’s very accurate with his ball placement and he understands coverages but he has a little of the same thing as Sellers, he takes off quickly and uses his athleticism instead of letting the play develop.  He does have a little bit of a strange follow through with his delivery and I wonder if they will change that at Indiana.  It will be interesting to see him in a new offense at Indiana.  Curt Cignetti, his new head coach, designed a great offense last year for his one-year transfer QB Kurtis Rourke and Mendoza is a better talent at QB than Rourke was.  The move from Cal to the Big Ten will also be a challenge and he doesn’t have the luxury of already knowing the offense the way Mateer does at Oklahoma. 

9. Nico Iamaleava     Redshirt Soph     UCLA

The saga of Iamaleava transferring from Tennessee to UCLA has been well chronicled and you can google it if you want to read about everything that is wrong with college sports, NIL, and the transfer portal.  The way he has handled that situation and himself could bother teams, we just watched Shadeur Sanders fall in the draft because of the way he handled himself.  Iamaleava is a far superior talent to Sanders but he could get dinged for the whole fiasco at Tennessee.  Dealing with the player as a prospect is another story.  Iamaleava is 6’6 215 lbs. and he’s a supreme athlete with a rocket arm.  He’s completely undisciplined and needs plenty of development as a QB but his physical gifts are incredible.  He’s transferring from Tennessee’s weird college spread offense that doesn’t translate to the NFL to a more pro-style system at UCLA.  They also don’t have the same supporting cast at UCLA that he had a Tennessee so it’s going to be an interesting transition.  I would say there’s a very good chance he declares for the NFL draft regardless of the season he has at UCLA.  How he plays and progresses will determine if he’s a top 15 pick in the draft or a mid-round developmental prospect for someone. Iamaleava could turn out to be Vince Young, and I mean that in both the best ways and the worst ways. 

10. Carson Beck     Senior     Miami

Beck was arguably the top QB prospect going into last season and oh how the mighty have fallen.  Beck’s season was a disaster and then he got hurt.  His draft stock was in shambles to end the season and instead of declaring for the draft, he took a huge NIL deal to transfer to Miami and replace Cam Ward.  It’s not a great sign that Georgia didn’t seem to want him back.  He needs a massive bounce back season and this is going to be a tough QB class to compete with.  He should be recovered from his elbow injury and ready to start for the Hurricanes but if he stumbles, they could turn to Emory Williams and that could be the end of things for Beck.  Beck has the physical profile of an NFL starter with his 6’5 225 lbs. frame.  He had the arm strength to go with is size but it will be interesting to see if his elbow injury affects that.  He struggled last year after losing his top targets from 2023 (Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers were awesome for him in 2023).  Beck doesn’t seem to be the guy who raises the play of the guys around him so I think he’s a mid-round pick at best. 

Out of my top 10 QBs only four are seniors.  Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik, and Carson Beck are certain to be in the 2026 NFL Draft.  The rest of these guys could return to school and my best guess is Arch Manning, Sam Leavitt, and John Mateer feel like the best bets to return to college for the 2026 season.  That would leave LaNorris Sellers, Nico Iamaleava, and Fernando Mendoza as the wildcards for this draft.  I think Sellers has a great year and comes out, Iamaleava has a decent year and declares, and Mendoza has a very good year but goes back to Indiana to improve his overall position for the 2027 draft.  So, that would give us a top of the QB class of Allar, Nussmeier, Klubnik, Sellers, Iamaleava, and Beck. That would be a huge upgrade over 2025 but doesn’t rival 2024.  Unless…

What this class could really have is depth we haven’t seen in a long time.  While the 2024 class had six guys in the top twelve the seventh guy was Spencer Rattler who was a fifth-round pick.  This class has guys who can rise up or at least give great depth in the middle rounds.

Seniors to know

Mark Gronowski (Iowa) – The transfer from South Dakota St. had a chance to be in the 2025 class but is taking one last shot to show off at the Big Ten level.  If he can make Iowa’s new passing offense start humming, he’ll move up the boards.  He’s got the size of an NFL QB at 6’3 230 lbs. and he’s a good athlete.

Miller Moss (Louisville) – The transfer from USC should have a good year at Louisville under the tutelage of Jeff Brohm.  He’s undersized and doesn’t have a great arm but he’s smart and he should be able to run the offense effectively.  He doesn’t have Tyler Shough’s physical gifts but he’s a healthier guy than Shough. 

Young guys who could breakout

Aidan Chiles (Michigan St.) – A 6’3 217 lbs. athlete that would have NFL teams falling all over themselves if he puts together a good season.  He’s really raw as a QB and makes some really dumb decisions with the ball at times but he’s still young and has only started one year at Michigan St.  He needs time to play and learn from his mistakes. It would likely take a huge year from him to get him into this draft.

Eli Holstein (Pitt) – He started at Pitt last year after transferring from Alabama and had a solid year.  He doesn’t turn 21 until October so he’s still a very young prospect.  He’s 6’4 225 lbs. with a howitzer for an arm but you can see him thinking on the field.  He could be a beast if he figures it out and puts all his talent together. 

Darian Mensah (Duke) – Started last year as a redshirt freshman at Tulane and was really good and now he’s moved on to Duke.  He’s 6’3 200 lbs. so he needs to fill out his frame but he’s a good athlete who would be the type of modern QB NFL teams are looking for.

Dante Moore (Oregon) – Moore is stepping into the Oregon offense that has produced Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel the last two draft cycles.  Moore has a higher ceiling than either of those guys due to his frame and athletic traits.  At 6’3 210 lbs. as a redshirt sophomore NFL teams will have him all over their radar. 

There are other names who could have big seasons and move up in this QB class.  Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Rocco Becht (Iowa St.), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Jackson Arnold (Auburn), Connor Weigman (Houston), and Avery Johnson (Kansas St.) 

This class has massive potential and it will be better than the 2025.  The questions are how good, how deep, and who’s in the class.  The Steelers, Browns, and probably the Saints are all going to be looking to start over at QB next year.  There are also a couple of other teams that may need new plans.  Matthew Stafford isn’t getting any younger for the Rams, Tua could be out the door if the Dolphins’ season tanks and Mike McDaniel gets fired, and if Kyler Murray regresses is Arizona, they may need a contingency plan.  The Jets have Justin Fields for two years but that’s not a big commitment, Geno Smith is 36 in Las Vegas, and if Sam Darnold flames out in Seattle would they really just go to Jalen Milroe?  Quarterback is the most important position in all of sports and more teams could need one than you think.               

2025 NFC South Draft Review

Atlanta Falcons

(15) Jalon Walker LB Georgia
(26) James Pearce Jr. Edge Tennessee
(96) Xavier Watts S Notre Dame
(118) Billy Bowman Jr. S Oklahoma
(218) Jack Nelson OT Wisconsin

Immediate Impact: LB Jalon Walker, Edge James Pearce Jr., S Xavier Watts

The Falcons’ defense was not very good last year and they haven’t had a pass rusher in years. They got three starters with their first three picks. Walker is a hybrid LB/Edge player who can step right in as a playmaker they have desperately needed for years. The traded up for James Pearce Jr. because they really liked him and they needed more pass rush, he’s going to start. Xavier Watts was a very good pickup in round three and he will start next to Jessie Bates and form a nice safety duo.

Best Value: S Xavier Watts

Watts isn’t the most physically gifted player you’ll find at safety but he’s intelligent and instinctive. He helps the back end of the defense as much as anyone reasonably could and will hopefully allow Bates to be even better.

Sleeper: OT Jack Nelson

There’s not a lot to choose from given this was a five-player draft. LT Jake Matthews is 33 and RT Kaleb McGary hasn’t always been the picture of health so Nelson could come in handy. He’s an athletic guy who’s 6’7 314 lbs. coming out of Wisconsin where they know how to make offensive lineman. Nelson isn’t going to be some superstar but if he ends up playing for his team at some point, he can hold his own.

Overall Analysis

This draft class will be judged by the impact of James Pearce Jr. The team traded their second-round pick plus a first rounder next year to move back into the first round to take Pearce after already drafting Jalon Walker. It was a bold move and if Walker and Pearce don’t transform the defense this could really backfire. If they end up with a bad record and give up a high pick next year to the Rams, it’s going to cost GM Terry Fontenot his job.

Watts was a great pickup and they must have liked Billy Bowman Jr. enough to think he could help the defense. The safety position isn’t stacked and Bowman can also help at nickel.

Nitpick or Concern: Trading up for Pearce is a big risk. He’s not a perfect prospect and he has had some maturity issues and coachability issues. If he flames out and they gave up future first for a guy who doesn’t work out, it’s going to cost the front office. I don’t think I would have made that big of a bet on a player as suspect as Pearce. Especially when you got good value on a pass rusher in round one to begin with.

Carolina Panthers

(8) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona
(51) Nic Scourton Edge Texas A&M
(77) Princely Umanmielen Edge Ole Miss
(114) Trevor Etienne RB Georgia
(122) Lathan Ransom S Ohio St.
(140) Cam Jackson DT Florida
(163) Mitchell Evans TE Notre Dame
(208) Jimmy Horn Jr. WR Colorado

Immediate Impact: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Edge Nic Scourton, Edge Princely Umanmielen

Xavier Legette was a solid rookie WR last year and they like Jalen Coker but they needed a true WR1 and McMillan can be that. Bryce Young needed a real weapon and McMillan is going to be the true downfield asset that could unlock the offense. The Panthers also needed to get better on defense and they chose to pick a couple of pass rushers who will really help that. Scourton and Umanmielen are two different types of edge players but they should complement each other well. They probably won’t start right away but they will both play a ton.

Best Value: S Lathan Ransom

The Panthers signed Tre’von Moehrig to be one safety but they don’t have a lot of great options at the other safety spot. Ransom has a chance to take that other safety spot. He was a very good player at Ohio St. and he can be even better if he works on tackling guys instead of trying to get the big hit. As a fourth-round pick who could take a starting job at a position of need, that’s good value.

Sleeper: TE Mitchell Evans

The Panthers have Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders at TE, not exactly murder’s row. Evans isn’t a surefire player but he is a steady player who offers a little bit of everything. He’s not the most dynamic playmaker but he’s got good hands, runs solid routes, and can block when needed. He could eventually develop into a solid contributor.

Overall Analysis

The Panthers understood the assignment here. They got a real WR1 for Bryce Young and then they started to address the defense. They hit offense here and there throughout the draft and got some solid prospects there too. McMillan was the right choice at #8 overall. Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen are going to help the defense and they should be building blocks moving forward. The choice of Trevor Etienne seems a little strange considering they have Chuba Hubbard, signed Rico Dowdle, and should be hoping Jonathan Brooks returns at some point. I didn’t think Etienne was the type of RB you should feel compelled to draft.

Lathan Ransom has starter potential and then they drafted DT Cam Jackson. They have enough depth at DT to not need Jackson anytime soon but he’s a good investment for the future. He’s big, and he can be physical when he keeps his pad level down. He needs to work on that and he has some good veterans around him t learn from. TE Mitchell Evans has potential down the road too. WR Jimmy Horn Jr. is a pretty skinny player but he may have a future as a slot receiver. For now, they have Adam Thielen but he’s an older player and Horn could stick around if he beats out Hunter Renfrow.

Nitpick or Concern: The Panthers hit almost every spot they need to with WR and edge rusher being the primary objective, but also getting a TE, S, and a DT. The one thing they didn’t address was CB. They are paying Jaycee Horn a ton of money but Mike Jackson is a replacement level player at the other outside CB spot. They better hope their pass rush is considerably improved because the secondary is still a little concerning.

New Orleans Saints

(9) Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas
(40) Tyler Shough QB Louisville
(71) Vernon Broughton DL Texas
(93) Jonas Sanker S Virginia
(112) Danny Stutsman LB Oklahoma
(131) Quincy Riley CB Louisville
(184) Devin Neal RB Kansas
(248) Moliki Matavao TE UCLA
(254) Fadil Diggs Edge Syracuse

Immediate Impact: OL Kelvin Banks Jr, QB Tyler Shough

Banks could end up the LT, the RT, or the LG depending on how they want to deploy Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning. Fuaga is naturally a RT but he played LT last year and Penning played RT. If they want to use Banks at LT, Fuaga goes to the right side, and Penning goes to the bench but then they have to find a LG. Or Fuaga and Penning stay where they are and they plug in Banks at LG. No matter what, Banks gives them the opportunity to play their best five. Tyler Shough might get baptism by fire if Derek Carr’s shoulder injury keeps him sidelined. Shough will be a 26-year-old rookie so he shouldn’t be overwhelmed. The good news is he’s basically the same player as Carr from a skill perspective so the offense doesn’t have to change.

Best Value: CB Quincy Riley

I had Riley as a boarder line second round pick and the Saints got him in round four. They have Kool-Aid McKinstry as their top CB and Alontae Taylor at nickel but Riley could beat out Isaac Yiadom for the other outside CB spot. He doesn’t have elite size but Riley is a tough player who can hold up.

Sleeper: RB Devin Neal

Obviously, the Saints have Alvin Kamara at RB and he’s an excellent player. However, it might help Kamara be even more effective if the Saints had a RB to take some of the early down work and save Kamara from some of that workload. Neal is that type of RB and could be a guy to help save Kamara’s legs for later in the season. He has starter potential from a talent standpoint.

Overall Analysis

Banks and Shough are likely to either start or get a lot of playing time this season no matter how things pan out. Shough might not be the highest ceiling QB prospect at this point but he’s ready to step in an play. DT Vernon Broughton is an underrated pickup. He was overshadowed at Texas by Alfred Collins but he’s a very effective DT too. The Saints have several veterans at that spot but not a lot of high-end players.

Broughton started a run of four defensive players who might not be starters immediately, but could certainly end up as starters. S Jonas Sanker will back up Tyrann Mathieu who is 33 and not getting any younger. Then LB Danny Stutsman who could eventually make the lineup with Demario Davis being even older the Mathieu. Finally, it’s CB Quincy Riley who will certainly play a lot for this defense even if he isn’t a starter right away. Love the Neal pick up after that too.

TE Moliki Matavao was an interesting selection. They have Foster Moreau and just re-signed Juwan Johnson plus they signed free agent Jack Stoll and still have Taysom Hill. Hill is coming off an injury and is 34 so he’s coming to the end of the line. Matavao may be stashed on the practice squad until the depth chart clears up a bit. DE Fadil Diggs may be in a similar situation given they have bodies at DE but could use some youth.

Nitpick or Concern: It’s the same concern every year with the Saints, this roster is expensive, aging, and they don’t seem to have a plan to pivot from it. It all feels like half measures. Taking Tyler Shough, an older prospect who is a more athletic, maybe slight upgrade from Derek Carr isn’t exactly a great plan at QB. Are they moving off aging guys like Tyrann Mathieu, Demario Davis, and Cameron Jordan with Jonas Sanker, Danny Stutsman, and Fadil Diggs? All half measures with no real plan to get difference makers because they have put themselves in a no-win situation with their salary cap.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(19) Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio St.
(53) Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame
(84) Jacob Parrish CB Kansas St.
(121) David Walker Edge Central Arkansas
(157) Elijah Roberts DE SMU
(235) Tez Johnson WR Oregon

Immediate Impact: CB Benjamin Morrison

I’m struggling with the Egbuka pick because I love the player but him having an immediate impact with this WR corps seems unlikely. Morrison, on the other hand, can absolutely take a major role if not a starting one as long as his hip is healthy. He worked out late in the draft process to show teams he was recovering but still fell to round two. If he’s 100% by training camp, he’s going to give Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum everything they can handle and challenge for a starting job.

Best Value: CB Benjamin Morrison

Again, if he’s healthy, he’s got starting CB ability. Also, if he lives up to his talent level, he has legitimate CB1 ability. They stole him in round two and there are going to be teams that passed on him who are going to regret it.

Sleeper: DE Elijah Roberts

He’s not the flashy edge rusher they probably needed but he’s excellent depth at DE on their three-man line. They have Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey as starters but they have no depth. Also, they are going to have to make a call on paying Logan Hall as his rookie contract comes to an end. Roberts is the type of big, powerful edge setting DE they need and if they prefer to spend money on Kancey, they may let Hall walk in free agency. Roberts gives them that option if he plays well.

Overall Analysis

Emeka Egbuka is an excellent player and a great person to bring onto the team but his path to playing time right away is cloudy. Mike Evans is aging but hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. Chris Godwin is coming off another injury but the team just re-signed him in free agency. And Jalen McMillan looked good filling in for Godwin after he went out last season. Egbuka can fill in any of the three WR spots but I’m not sure he gets enough time this year to be an impact player. The Morrison pick is boom or bust depending on his hip and I would bet on him being awesome.

The team did a smart thing and doubled up at CB taking Jacob Parrish after taking Morrison. One caveat is that Parrish feels like a nickel more than anything and the team already has Tykee Smith at nickel and he was very good last season as a rookie there. Parrish may have to find his way to play on the outside. Edge rusher David Walker was a menace at the FBS level and has elite pass rushing instincts. The one problem is he is seriously undersized for the NFL and is going to have to find a way to make it work. Elijah Roberts was well worth the fifth-round pick they paid for him and gives them immediate depth at the DE position.

I love WR Tez Johnson and it would be an awesome story if he makes the NFL at his size but he’s fighting a tough battle on this roster. Most teams only keep five or six WRs and they have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka who are locked in meaning there’s only one or two spots left. They have Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer as veterans they have had for a few years and that puts Johnson behind the eight ball.

Nitpick or Concern: They probably could have done more at LB and I mean both inside and outside on the edge (David Walker isn’t enough). They certainly needed the CB help but Jacob Parrish’s pick could have been used on LB with Lavonte David aging and them having no depth. Walker is a fun prospect to watch but there were players on the board there who may have been better at helping this team right away.

2025 AFC South Draft Review

Houston Texans

(34) Jayden Higgins WR Iowa St.
(48) Aireontae Ersery OT Minnesota
(79) Jaylin Noel WR Iowa St.
(97) Jaylin Smith CB USC
(116) Woody Marks RB USC
(187) Jaylen Reed S Penn St.
(197) Graham Mertz QB Florida
(224) Kyonte Hamilton DT Rutgers
(255) Luke Lachey TE Iowa

Immediate Impact: WR Jayden Higgins, OT Aireontae Ersery

The team lost Tank Dell to a gruesome knee injury late in the year and so they really shouldn’t expect him back this next season. They drafted Higgins to be the outside WR opposite Nico Collins and he should be an excellent addition. OT Aireontae Ersery was a mid-second round pick who has a legitimate chance to start at LT. Cam Robinson is a stopgap at best and Ersery has plenty of upside. He’s a massive human being who has athleticism you wouldn’t expect out of man his size; he wins the job over Robinson in camp.

Best Value: WR Jaylin Noel

I should probably give this to Ersery and if he proves me right and wins the starting LT job it really is him. A starting LT at 48th overall is great value. However, Noel was an absolute steal in round three. I doubt the Texans had planned on drafting both Iowa St. WRs but when he was still on the board at 79, they couldn’t pass him up. The team traded for Christian Kirk so Noel won’t be an immediate starter but if he ends up playing more than Kirk, that’s not going to be surprising.

Sleeper: TE Luke Lachey

The top two TEs on the depth chart are Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan, neither of whom have guaranteed money on their contracts past this season. The team took Cade Stover in the 2024 draft but Lachey offers more upside as a receiver. He had a tough year at Iowa coming off an injury, adjusting to a new offense, and dealing with some bad QB play, but Lachey has talent. It won’t happen immediately unless there are some injuries but he’s a worthwhile bet in round seven.

Overall Analysis

The Texans traded out of round one to allow the Giants to move up to get QB Jaxson Dart and while they didn’t get a big haul of picks, they got some value. Both Iowa St. WRs give them help at WR even if it didn’t seem like a glaring need. They have a lot of bodies at the position but both Higgins and Noel are well positioned to get playing time. John Metchie III and Christian Kirk are penciled in as starters and neither one of them is a guarantee. Ersery was arguably the last viable starting LT option on the board and they needed a guy who can beat out Cam Robinson, Ersery will.

The next two picks were a bit odd and were probably reaches where they were taken. Jaylin Smith is an undersized CB who is likely a nickel and the Texans already have Jalen Pitre and CJ Gardner-Johnson who can play that position. Not sure Smith was so good you needed to take him in round three. RB Woody Marks is a solid back and good pass catcher but they traded up for him in round four, he wasn’t that highly regarded. S Jaylen Reed is a solid prospect but he’s going to find it hard to make this roster at safety, they’re deep there.

QB Graham Mertz was also a questionable pick. This team has CJ Stroud entrenched at QB with Davis Mills seemingly entrenched as his backup. They have Kedon Slovis, who they drafted last year, as a developmental QB and I don’t think Mertz is an upgrade there. Strange choice. DT Kyonte Hamilton may have been a late round pick but the DT spot isn’t overly impressive so he could stick around. Lachey has plenty of potential.

Nitpick or Concern: I have a few. This was an interesting draft in the fact that every pick the Texans made was traded at some point. Up or down, GM Nick Caserio didn’t sit still. The middle round picks of Jaylin Smith and Woody Marks were questionable at best. Smith will find playing time hard to come by on this roster. Marks can find a role behind Joe Mixon because Mixon isn’t a pass catcher, but there were better RBs on the board; Jarquez Hunter, Dylan Sampson, Jordan James, and Jaydon Blue were literally the next four RBs off the board. Also, while they were taking guys like Smith and Marks, there were DTs like Deone Walker, Ty Robinson, CJ West, and Jordan Farmer on the board. They had a bigger need at DT than at nickel and those guys would have helped.

Indianapolis Colts

(14) Tyler Warren TE Penn St.
(45) JT Tuimoloau DE Ohio St.
(80) Justin Walley CB Minnesota
(127) Jalen Travis OT Iowa St.
(151) DJ Giddens RB Kansas St.
(189) Riley Leonard QB Notre Dame
(190) Tim Smith DT Alabama
(232) Hunter Wohler S Wisconsin

Immediate Impact: TE Tyler Warren

The Colts have a huge need at TE and Warren is a guy who can fill it. He has the all-around game every team hopes to find at TE. He isn’t an elite blocker but he can get the job done and he’s probably an upgrade over the guys they have. If the Colts figure out the QB situation with a suitable solution, whether it’s Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, Warren can be an additive piece to the offense.

Best Value: RB DJ Giddens

The RB room is getting a little crowed after the team signed Khalil Herbert and drafted DJ Giddens to join starter Jonathan Taylor and backup Tyler Goodson. They probably didn’t need Giddens but he was too good to pass up in round five. He’s a good RB who brings value in the passing game and he might make Goodson expendable.

Sleeper: OT Jalen Travis

RT Braden Smith is in the last year of his contract and is 29 years old. LT Bernhard Raimann is an emerging talent that they are going to want to secure into the future with a new deal. They probably won’t want to pay to keep Smith and Travis has starter potential. He needs some development but he’s 6’8 339 lbs. and you can’t teach that kind of size. He can be the swing tackle this year with the upside to be the starting RT next year.

Overall Analysis

TE Tyler Warren going to the Colts was one of the most mocked picks leading up to the draft and it came true for a reason. The Colts needed a real TE and they got one. DE JT Tuimoloau is such a Colts type of DE I can’t believe more people didn’t put it together. They collect big, physical DEs with high floors but low pass rush ceilings like it’s their job. Tuimoloau isn’t going to blow anyone away with his pass rush but he is going to be a very reliable defender on the edge. CB Justin Walley felt a little early in round three.

OT Jalen Travis and RB DJ Giddens were good value picks who can contribute to this team, it just might not be this year unless injuries strike. QB Riley Leonard is a nice idea if you think a team would put together a package to use his running ability but this team has Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones at QB, those guys are already runners. You could assume they just wanted a QB with a similar skill set as the QB3 but that’s giving Leonard a lot of credit, he’s not that good of a passer.

DT Tim Smith is a solid interior defensive lineman from Alabama who isn’t going to blow you away physically but is going to be solid. The DT group isn’t deep so he could stick on this roster. S Hunter Wohler is a size, speed guy that is a Chris Ballard special, maybe he sticks on special teams.

Nitpick or Concern: It’s not that I don’t like JT Tuimoloau but they could have had an edge rusher with more juice like Mike Green or Nic Scourton at that pick. Couple that with the underwhelming Justin Walley in round three and those picks could have had more impact. They also passed on CB Will Johnson in round two and that could come back to haunt them.

Jacksonville Jaguars

(2) Travis Hunter CB/WR Colorado
(88) Caleb Ransaw CB Tulane
(89) Wyatt Milum OT West Virginia
(104) Bhayshul Tuten RB Virginia Tech
(107) Jack Kiser LB Notre Dame
(194) Jalen McLeod LB Auburn
(200) Rayuan Lane III S Navy
(221) Jonah Monheim OL USC
(236) LeQuint Allen RB Syracuse

Immediate Impact: CB/WR Travis Hunter, CB Caleb Ransaw

The Jaguars have spoken about Hunter playing both ways and he fits well on offense where they need a complement to Brian Thomas Jr. Hunter gives them more dynamic playmaking than free agent Dyami Brown or last year’s free agent bust Gabe Davis. On defense they have Tyson Campbell as their CB1 but Hunter will rotate in with Jarrian Jones at the other outside spot. Caleb Ransaw is quietly a pretty good nickel prospect. The Jaguars signed Jourdan Lewis to a big deal to come over from the Cowboys but Lewis is past his prime. I think Ransaw gives them someone who can play that spot even better.

Best Value: RB Bhayshul Tuten

Tuten has a lot of burst coming out of the backfield and can be a real playmaker for this team. Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby haven’t exactly been lighting it up and Tuten gives them a more dynamic player. As a fourth-round pick he was good value because he very well could unseat Etienne as the starter at some point, maybe even early in the season.

Sleeper: OL Jonah Monheim

The Jags have Robert Hainsey and Luke Fortner at center right now and they could use an upgrade. Monheim played OT at USC but has some positional flexibility and might end up the best center of the three. He’s going to get a chance to develop at the position and he may become the long-term solution there.

Overall Analysis

The Jaguars made the big trade early in round one to move up and take Travis Hunter second overall. They gave up the fifth pick, their second-round pick, and a first next year. That may seem like a lot to only move up three picks but Hunter might be two players, he’s at least one and half. They needed someone to give them some playmaking at WR opposite Thomas, Hunter does that. They also need another outside CB opposite Tyson Campbell, Hunter does that too. He also just simply ups the excitement level about the Jaguars overall. It’s a strong move by first time GM James Gladstone.

Not having a second-round pick would normally hurt the overall haul but if Hunter plays two positions well, that’s moot. CB Caleb Ransaw is a solid pick to also help them at the nickel. OL Wyatt Milum has some position versatility because he was an OT in college who likely moves to guard. He could be an OT in a pinch and they need depth. Tuten was a good pick and the only issue they may have with him is that he fumbles too much.

Jack Kiser and Jalen McLeod are depth pieces at LB for now. I don’t see either of them competing except on special teams. The same can be said for S Rayuan Lane III. Monheim is a long-term play at center if he can pick up the position. LeQuint Allen is a pass catching back who will be buried on the depth chart for the time being.

Nitpick or Concern: Everyone had the Jaguars picking Mason Graham fifth overall in their mock drafts because we didn’t see this trade coming but also because this team needs help at DT. They didn’t draft a single one. Getting Hunter was a coup but they had other chances to help the DT rotation. They took Caleb Ransaw 88th and Wyatt Milum 89th, they could have waited to address the nickel spot or the guard spot at that point and taken any one of Deone Walker, Ty Robinson, CJ West, or Jordan Farmer and they would have helped the defensive line.

Tennessee Titans

(1) Cam Ward QB Miami
(52) Oluwafemi Oladejo Edge UCLA
(82) Kevin Winston Jr. S Penn St.
(103) Chimere Dike WR Florida
(120) Gunnar Helm TE Texas
(136) Elic Ayomanor WR Stanford
(167) Jackson Slater OL Sacramento St.
(183) Marcus Harris S California
(188) Kalel Mullings RB Michigan

Immediate Impact: QB Cam Ward, Edge Oluwafemi Oladejo

The Titans took the guy they hope is their franchise QB and they will give him every opportunity to prove he is. They spent money on the offensive line to keep Ward safe and they hope he makes the most of his opportunity. The team also got Oladejo in round two which is helpful for a team that doesn’t have great options at pass rusher. Dre’Mont Jones isn’t a speed rusher and Arden Key isn’t a full-time player. Oladejo still has a lot to learn as he’s only been an edge rusher for a year but he should get better.

Best Value: WR Elic Ayomanor

Ayomanor was generally considered a second-round pick by most people and the Titans got him in round four. Considering how barren the WR group is in Tennessee Ayomanor is going to be a guy who plays for this team next year. He’s not a perfect prospect; he can be a bit stiff and his hands will fail him from time to time but he’s an upgrade over most of their group.

Sleeper: TE Gunnar Helm

Helm isn’t going to wow you with his athleticism, even though he’s a better athlete than he gets credit for. He’s not the pass catcher Chig Okonkwo is or the blocker Josh Whylie is but he’s a better blocker than Okonkwo and a better pass catcher than Whylie. In short, he’s solid at most aspects of the job but not great at any one in particular. Helm is a very reliable pass catcher as he doesn’t drop anything. He will be an affective player for Cam Ward in the future.

Overall Analysis

It’s almost as if no one really noticed that the Titans drafted a new franchise QB #1 overall in this draft. It became obvious about six weeks before the draft that the Titans had settled on Ward so there wasn’t a lot of talk about him, then the Travis Hunter trade happened at #2 overall and everyone moved on. Ward is not a sure thing for a #1 QB pick but he’s a very talented player and the Titans have done some things to help him out. They rebuilt the o-line and have given him some help at WR and TE.

The team didn’t forget about their defensive needs either, they took Oladejo in round two and then S Kevin Winston Jr. in the next round. Oladejo will get every chance to prove he can rush the passer. Winston is a solid bet at safety. They signed Xavier Woods to pair with Amani Hooker there but Woods is an aging veteran and Hooker is going into a contract year. Winston helps now and is a nod to the future.

The next three picks were made to support Cam Ward at QB. WR Chimere Dike, TE Gunnar Helm, and WR Elic Ayomanor are all guy who can earn playing time. I’m not a huge Dike fan but this team needs WRs and Dike has the speed the rest of the group lacks. Ayomanor has a size and playmaking that will fit well next to Calvin Ridley and he’s a better option at this point than Van Jefferson. Gunnar Helm gives them a better all-around player at TE than others on the roster. OL Jackson Slater is depth, S Marcus Harris is depth, and RB Kalel Mullings is at best a depth piece.

Nitpick or Concern: When you combine their free agent haul of some solid veteran additions with the draft class, there’s not a real nit to pick or a concern. They don’t have as much high-end talent as others but they won’t be terrible at any position. There are two moves that deserve attention. First, I usually don’t mention undrafted free agents but this team signed Cam Ward’s favorite college target, Xavier Restrepo. Restrepo was incredibly production as a slot receiver for Miami but he ran a ridiculously slow 4.82 40 and fell off everyone’s radar. The Titans signed Tyler Lockett recently to be the slot receiver but he’s going to be 33 and he’s not as affective as he once was. Restrepo understands how to play with Ward and that can help him make the team.
The other move they need to make is trading QB Will Levis. They signed Brandon Allen to be their veteran backup and they need to ship Levis somewhere so Ward has a clear path to leading this team. Levis should still have value to someone. The Steelers still have a need at QB until they sign Aaron Rodgers. The Rams should be a team looking for a young developmental guy, Levis has more upside than Stetson Bennett. The Jets only have Justin Fields for two years. Liam Coen coached Levis at Kentucky and the only backup he has to Trevor Lawrence is Nick Mullins. And finally, I hate to say it, but the Patriots Mike Vrabel was the coach that drafted Levis and they could use a new #3 QB after trading Joe Milton III.

2025 NFC West Draft Review

Arizona Cardinal

(16) Walter Nolen DT Ole Miss
(47) Will Johnson CB Michigan
(78) Jordan Burch DE Oregon
(115) Cody Simon LB Ohio St.
(174) Denzel Burke CB Ohio St.
(211) Hayden Conner OL Texas
(225) Kitan Crawford S Nevada

Immediate Impact: DT Walter Nolen, CB Will Johnson

Walter Nolen shouldn’t have to start given the veterans they signed for the defensive line; Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson, plus Darius Robinson being healthy. That’s probably best because Nolen needs to mature into being a pro and having Campbell and Tomlinson around should help him do that. He will bring an attacking style of play to their front and that will be helpful. Will Johnson should absolutely start right away. He pushes Sean Murphy-Bunting into a backup role and gives the Cardinals a legit CB1. He also allows Max Melton to settle in to his CB2 spot and takes the pressure off him.

Best Value: CB Will Johnson

He may have a knee injury that could affect the longevity of his career. So what? If he’s healthy right now, he has CB1 skills and abilities. His size and play style are a great fit in Arizona and Sean Murphy-Bunting is not going to keep Johnson out of the lineup. He isn’t the fastest player but his game isn’t predicated on speed and getting a guy who can be a true #1 CB in the middle of round two is excellent value.

Sleeper: LB Cody Simon

Simon isn’t particularly good at any one thing but he was the glue that kept the Ohio St. defense together. Given the other two ILB for the Cardinals are Mack Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither there’s playing time available. Simon can be an additive piece to a defense that’s still looking for leaders.

Overall Analysis

Clearly, the priority of this draft class was to improve the defense. Nolen gives them a penetrating DT they really didn’t have last year and he’s a talented player. Will Johnson was just way too valuable to pass on in round two and might be the top CB they have been missing since the Patrick Peterson days. DE Jordan Burch is great fit as a bit DE with some power and some push. They need to get to the QB better and he can help that. All three of those guys can help this defense this year for sure.

LB Cody Simon went to a place where he can compete for playing time. Wilson and Davis-Gaither aren’t exactly entrenched starters. CB Denzel Burke is a guy who looked like a top prospect a couple of years ago but never seemed to put it together. He’s a little undersized and struggles at times but he does have talent and he was worth taking a shot on in the fifth round. This secondary needs all the help it can get. OG Hayden Connor is a big dude who brings a lot of power with him but I’m not sure he’s good enough to unseat Evan Brown, even if that’s not a high bar to clear. S Kitan Crawford is a longshot for the roster but given it is Arizona’s secondary; I won’t rule him out.

Nitpick or Concern: Zero help on the offense? Really? This team wasn’t bad on offense but they could have used some help. Interior offensive line needed more than Hayden Connor and they needed some WR help too.

Los Angeles Rams

(46) Terrance Ferguson TE Oregon
(90) Josaiah Stewart Edge Michigan
(117) Jarquez Hunter RB Auburn
(148) Ty Hamilton DL Ohio St.
(172) Chris Paul Jr. LB Ole Miss
(242) Konata Mumpfield WR Pittsburgh

Immediate Impact: TE Terrance Ferguson

Tyler Higbee is getting older and the Rams have been looking for a TE for a couple of years. When one of the top two didn’t fall far enough for them to get them, they traded out of round one and ended up taking Ferguson in round two. Sean McVay will use him plenty and Ferguson has all-around TE skills, he’ll be a good player.

Best Value: DT Ty Hamilton

Hamilton isn’t a big body on the inside but he has the play strength to be a NT for this team. The Rams have never cared about body type, they used Aaron Donald for years as an undersized DT and they just signed Poona Ford. Ford is a 6’0 300 lbs. player who plays much bigger, Hamilton can play bigger than his size.

Sleeper: LB Chris Paul Jr.

This is what the Rams do at LB, they take guys late in the draft, or after the draft, and turn them into eventual starters. Last year it was undrafted free agent Omar Speights and this year it will be Paul. He may not start this year but when the team decides to move on from Troy Reeder, don’t be shocked if Paul is the guy replacing him.

Overall Analysis

The Rams traded out of the first round after not being able to move up to get the TE they wanted, also because they fleeced the Falcons. This wasn’t one of their “F* them picks” moves. The Falcons gave them a first-round pick next year for the 26th pick in round one this year to move up and take James Pearce Jr. You make that trade 100 out of 100 times. The Rams were good last year but they have some aging players, including QB Matt Stafford, so an extra first next year is good business.

They did well to get Terrance Ferguson in round two, he’s a useful player who can replace Tyler Higbee at TE. Higbee is aging and gets hurt a lot, Ferguson is a terrific athlete and a good TE. Edge Josaiah Stewart is a very undersized pass rusher but like I said, the Rams really don’t care about body type. Stewart will be a terror off the edge as a designated pass rusher, opponents are going to hate him. RB Jarquez Hunter was an interesting pick after they took Blake Corum last year. Corum was supposed to be the next Kyren Williams but Hunter is more Williams than even Corum. Sean McVay will ride Williams into the ground but now he has two future options to pick from.

DT Ty Hamilton and LB Chris Paul Jr. are going to be depth pieces this year and then probably starters in a year or two. They are very good picks late in the draft. Konata Mumpfield is a skinny WR who isn’t all that fast but you know who else wasn’t fast, Puca Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Mumpfield isn’t those guys but if anyone can figure out how to use him at some point, it’s Sean McVay.

Nitpick or Concern: The Rams seem to never care about the secondary. They didn’t care in free agency or in the draft and it’s not like it’s a stacked unit. They are still counting on Ahkello Witherspoon as one outside CB and I assume Quentin Lake at nickel. They should really consider upgrading the CB spot, maybe trade for Jalen Ramsey again.

San Francisco 49ers

(11) Mykel Williams DE Georgia
(43) Alfred Collins DT Texas
(75) Nick Martin LB Oklahoma St.
(100) Upton Stout CB Western Kentucky
(113) CJ West DT Indiana
(138) Jordan Watkins WR Ole Miss
(147) Jordan James RB Oregon
(160) Marques Sigle S Kansas St.
(227) Kurtis Rourke QB Indiana
(249) Connor Colby OG Iowa
(252) Junior Bergen WR Montana

Immediate Impact: DE Mykel Williams, DT Alfred Collins, DT CJ West

The 49ers’ run defense was atrocious last year and they drafted three defensive linemen to fix it. Williams is an athletic freak who needs some work as a pass rusher but the one thing he already does well at DE is play the run. Alfred Collins is a gigantic man at 6’6 332 lbs. and he’ll eat space in the middle and occupy blockers to help keep Fred Warner clean at LB. CJ West doesn’t have quite the size of Collins but he’s plenty big and he’s an anchor on the interior. Williams will start immediately at DE and I think Collins wins a spot early. West may have to show he’s ready to play over some veterans before he gets to start, but I think he can do that.

Best Value: DT CJ West

He won’t get the notice right away as he will literally be overshadowed by his new linemates Williams and Collins. However, he’s a rock on the inside and will be the run stuffer then need and could end up starting at DT next to Collins. As a fourth-round pick, that’s excellent value.

Sleeper: OG Connor Colby

Call me a homer, I don’t care. This team needs offensive line help and they did nothing in free agency and only took Colby in the draft. They lost LG Aaron Banks in free agency and for now they have Ben Bartch penciled in there. I could see them sliding Dominick Puni, their excellent rookie last year from RG to LG and Colby getting a shot at RG. He already knows the run scheme because it’s the same one Iowa is running. Kyle Shanahan has a penchant for taking later round offensive linemen and turning them into starters, Colby could be next.

Overall Analysis

The 49ers intentions were clear early in the draft, get better on the defensive front. Williams can learn some pass rushing secrets from Nick Bosa but for now he can stuff the run. Alfred Collins gives them a run stuffer they haven’t had in quite some time. DT CJ West was a day three pick that does the same thing and was too good to pass up.

I didn’t like the Nick Martin pick at LB that early, they could have gotten him later. He fits their mold of small, speedy LBs but round three was early. You could say the same thing about CB Upton Stout, way too early. One other thing about Stout, he’s an undersized guy who needs to play the slot and that’s Deommodore Lenoir’s best spot. They needed an outside CB. They also took two WRs that I’m not sure help them. Jordan Watkins in round four and then a seventh-round pick on Junior Bergen, they could have done better.

RB Jordan James was a solid pickup and you know Kyle Shanahan will get the absolute best out of him for the next few years. S Marques Sigle is an undersized safety, not sure where he fits. QB Kurtis Rourke has some talent to work with but he played last year with a torn ACL and had it fixed after the season. This should be a redshirt year for him. Love the Colby pick, he can play in this offense.

Nitpick or Concern: It’s the Nick Martin/Upton Stout part of the draft that I don’t get. Shavon Revel Jr. literally was the next pick after Martin. Maybe he isn’t a perfect scheme fit in their eyes but he’s a better player than Martin and he’s an outside CB. There were also some speedy LBs left in round four where they took Stout. I would rather have Revel at CB and then a LB like Danny Stutsman, Jack Kiser, Cody Simon, or Barrett Carter where they took Stout.

Seattle Seahawks

(18) Grey Zabel G/C North Dakota St.
(35) Nick Emmanwori S South Carolina
(50) Elijah Arroyo TE Miami
(92) Jalen Milroe QB Alabama
(142) Rylie Mills DL Notre Dame
(166) Tory Horton WR Colorado St.
(175) Robbie Ouzts TE Alabama
(192) Bryce Cabeldue OT Kansas
(223) Damien Martinez RB Miami
(234) Mason Richman OL Iowa
(238) Ricky White III WR UNLV

Immediate Impact: G/C Grey Zabel, S Nick Emmanwori, TE Elijah Arroyo

The Seahawks offensive line was awful inside last season and Grey Zabel is going to start at one spot. He’s probably the LG but he could end up the center if they find other guards. He’s an upgrade at any spot. S Nick Emmanwori should be the starter opposite Julian Love but he needs to prove he’s reliable. They have Coby Bryant but Emmanwori has a higher ceiling. TE Elijah Arroyo has the chance to be a real playmaker for this team. He’s a better pass catcher than AJ Barner and maybe better all-around than Noah Fant.

Best Value: WR Tory Horton

If Horton’s knee is ready to go this year he’s going to play for this team. They aren’t exactly stacked at WR with an aging Cooper Kupp and a middling Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He can be a better deep threat than MVS almost immediately. I’m a fan of Horton and he’s going to be a good WR in the league.

Sleeper: RB Damien Martinez

Martinez isn’t going to take Kenneth Walker’s job but if I were Zach Charbonnet, I would be a little worried. Martinez is a big power back who can do all the things Charbonnet is supposed to do. Martinez was one of my favorite backs in the draft and having him available in round seven was a steal.

Overall Analysis

Zabel was a no-brainer pick for the Seahawks with their needs on the interior of the offensive line. He’s a day one starter and he gives them options on the interior. They traded up to get S Nick Emmanwori in round two and he’s a guy who has the type of skills Mike Macdonald can use on his defense. Arroyo is a really good investment at TE long term and brings skills this year.
While the team signed Sam Darnold at QB it’s only a three-year deal for now so the team took Jalen Milroe as a developmental QB. He won’t be pressed into service with Darnold and Drew Lock around but he’s well worth the draft pick. DL Rylie Mills gives them some depth on the defensive line. WR Tory Horton was one of my favorite picks in the draft, the Seahawks got a good one.

They also took a second TE Robbie Ouzts who is more of a blocker. Not sure how he fits considering they took AJ Barner last year and that’s pretty much his role. They sandwiched a couple of more offensive linemen around the Martinez pick; Bryce Cabeldue and Mason Richman. Both guys offer positional flexibility as they were OTs in college but are expected to be guards in the pros. They should be guys who can compete to at least be depth considering how bad the offensive line was last year. They took another WR in round seven, they can use the depth.

Nitpick or Concern: As much as I like Horton at WR, they could have invested an earlier pick at the position. Cooper Kupp isn’t a long-term answer and Marquez Valdes-Scantling isn’t an answer at all.