This mock draft is out on 4/18/2026. First thing to know is that I am behind in updating my rankings due to me quitting YouTube for a while so, I am going to be doing this mock draft based on what I would do with a mix of grades from the season and some that have final evaluations. I don't expect this to be an accurate mock for what the actual NFL teams will do.
We all know this is going to happen, I think he is a good prospect who is worthy of going this high despite me having him graded towards the bottom of Round 1 due to the QB tax.
We all know this is going to happen, I think he is a good prospect who is worthy of going this high despite me having him graded towards the bottom of Round 1 due to the QB tax.
I think the Cardinals need to adress tackle in this draft, especially if they target a QB later on in the First round. Even if they decide to roll with who they have at QB I personally don't think they have a starter at RT right now and Mauigoa could step in and play right now.
Love will likely finish as my #1 overall player in this draft, I thought about taking Styles with this pick but I feel they need to adress offense to help out Cam Ward. I do think the Titans could consider addressing offensive line but I see a small drop off between Mauigoa and Fano as of right now before I finish my re-watch for the Tackles.
The Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds but I think John Harbaugh has never shied away from putting resources into the LB core. I also think Styles has a ton of potential and he could come in and learn from a player with a similar skill set. I will say I thought Caleb Downs at this pick but decided that Styles fits the mold of a Harbaugh player a little better for his position.
Tate is not my top WR but I do feel like he fits the Browns the best. He pairs well with Jerry Juedy in my opinion and with how the board fell I think they are forced into making this pick since I don't see a team that feels the need to jump up here. I personally would rather pick a LT for the future I just don't see a player at that position worth taking here.
Makai Lemon is my top reciever in this class and I think he fits perfectly with Terry McLaurin. If I'm the Commanders I'm very excited about giving Jayden Daniels a chain moving target who will create with the ball in his hands. I know the slower 40 time scares some people with Lemon but I just don't see that as being an issue for him since it's not essential to his game.
Bain may not fit the exact mold of a Micky Loomis edge rusher but I think he would be dominate player opposite Chase Young and I think he would fit DC Brandon Staley's defense well. If he had longer arms I have no doubt that Bain would be in competition for the top player in this class, the problem is he had an inconsistent middle of the season that dragged down his grade and I have not done my final re-watch yet for him.
I think the top need for the Chiefs is at RT, they may have paid Moore but he just hasn't been a productive starter in my opinion. I see Fano as a good option for RT of the future and if you pair him with Simmons from last year you could have your tackles of the future secured.
The Bengals need help at safety and the clear best safety in this class fell to 10 so this is an easy pick. Downs is a great prospect who makes up for a bit of athleticism questions with his sky high IQ, I think he is an easy top 10 player in this class.
Miami takes one of the best players left on my board and with the other two players having injury concerns Delane gets the nod here. I think Miami needs to be a little safer with this pick considering the state of this roster right now and I see Delane as a very good player and someone who could be CB one for them.
I don't see Bailey as the #2 overall player in the Draft despite the rumors of the Jets being interested in taking him. Now here at #12 to Dallas I really like the value for him and I think he can be a difference making edge rusher who probably will never be great against the run.
The Rams probably hoped Lemon would make it here and for me it to early for the other receivers available outside of Tyson, but I don't see Tyson as a fit personally. I think they can move Avila into center and plug Ioane into the Guard position and have their offensive line fortified going forward with one of the best prospects in the class.
Guard may be the biggest need for the Ravens but Ioane didn't make it to them so they address what I view as the second biggest need with a true outside corner who can play opposite Wiggins. McCoy being hurt definitely has clouded his evaluation but looking at the 2024 tape will get you excited about his upside.
This pick will not be popular and I know that especially with Tyson still being on the board but I just don't see the Bucs being willing to take a swing on another injured reciever after the dealing with injuries at the position the last few years. I see Boston as the replacement to the role Mike Evans filled for the last decade and I know I'm higher on him than most but I think he would be the best option available based upon how the board fell.
The Jets need a playmaker opposite Wilson and I think they could swing for the fences and take the uber talented Tyson who would be receiver one if not for all of the injuries throughout his career. If he can stay healthy he will be a steal for the Jets here at pick 16 but he is a pure boom or bust prospect.
The Lions need to come out of this draft with a tackle for the future. I think they can flip Sewell over to the left side but personally I still like the upside of Proctor and I like that you won't have to swap Sewell to the left side. In my opinion he fills a big need and with him you won't have the uncertainty of a position change for Sewell. Proctor to me based on my early grades was a true boom bust prospect so this is the range I would feel comfortable taking the shot on him.
Saftey may be the biggest need for the Vikings but with me not having final grades on the Safties I have to trust my in season reports which say Sadiq is the better prospect. I also think the Hockenson hasn't been the same since his knee injury and Sadiq would be another great addition to the offense.
I think Cooper Jr will fit very well in this receiving room alongside McMillian and Coker. He has dynamic RAC ability but he doesn't show a ton of twitch in his route running oddly enough, I think he would be a great weapon to help the Panthers figure out if Bryce Young is the future.
I've seen him mocked to the Cowboys many different times at #12, but in this situation they snag him at 20 which based on my in season grade prior to the rewatch is a much better value.
I have a higher grade on Simpson than I expected and even though technically this is a reach, if you view Simpson as a long term answer like I do you have to pay the QB tax and take them earlier. I don't expect the Steelers to actually make this pick but since it's me I think he is a good developmental option who has far more upside than Will Howard. The 15 college starts scare the heck out of me but, I really actually like his command and the mental side of the game that he seems to have a firm handle on.
This could be another situation that makes me look bad once I finish my re-watches and assign final grades but based on my in-season scouting grades he was the best late round 1 edge available. To me the Chargers badly need to get an edge 3 who could take over for Mack next year while being able to contribute this season. Parker came into the season with a ton of hype but, just like everyone from Clemson this season he was a disappointment.
The Eagles need to plan for their future after Lane Johnson and I think Blake Miller would be a great tackle to pick who has a ton of college experience. I could see them swinging for more upside but since Jeff Stoutland left this off-season I feel less confident in their ability to develop the raw guys so Miller is the safer option who is still a good solid tackle prospect.
The Browns get their left tackle of the future who is still a bit of a project due to his obvious need to add strength. I will say he is young and has plenty of upside if he can just add that strength because he is already pretty good at the technique for the position. I could see Freeling jumping him in my final rankings but I'm using my board as its currently set up which doesn't include tackle re-watches with final grades.
I love Mesidor as a player but I have some serious concerns due to his age and I know that weighed my in-season ranking down a lot. I do really like his fit with the Bears and I see them as a team who is opening a winning window who would be more willing to take him because of his instant impact despite the worry about his age in the first round.
He is the big play receiving threat that the Bills have been missing. He has inconsistent hands but his explosiveness more than makes up for them and he did show a lot of development this past season after coming over from NC State.
He is a player I'm excited to get back to watch more film of in the coming weeks because truthfully I expected him to return to school so I have few tapes watched on him and my grade is very incomplete. He does have a ton of raw talent but to me he is just that, a completely raw guy who needs a lot more time to develop.
Woods like every other Clemson player disappointed this year and that was particularly frustrating because he was a top 3 player for me coming into the year. I think he will fit really well into the Texans defense and I trust this staff to get the most out of him. I also want to add that if Banks didn't break his foot at the combine he would be the pick here even with him missing most of the season.
Hood seems to have dropped throughout the draft process but to me he was the top corner left on the board. I will say Terrell would have been the pick but that 40 time scares me even if he did pull his hamstring while running.
The Dolphins need a Safety and he is usually expected to go a little higher than this so the Dolphins leap at the chance to draft him here. I will admit this is a player that I have very limited notes on because I only started to watch his film shortly before I quit YouTube so this is based upon the hype around him and not my own tape eval.
He is a raw tackle prospect who will have the chance to sit behind Morgan Moses and continue to develop with OL coach Doug Marrone. If you seen Coach Vrabel working him out at the pro day it shows me that they have interest in him.
Chris Johnson is a player that I was higher on after watching his film but the biggest issue is that he just wasn't tested due to San Diego State not playing a good team this year. I know the Seahawks just re-signed Josh Jobe but I still think they can add to the room.