The Draft "Expert" - 2026 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

Hello everyone and welcome to the FINAL mock draft of the 2026 NFL Draft season! Before we get into everything, I do have to say that this year may have been the hardest draft to navigate throughout the past few years.

I don't want to sit here and just bitch and moan to you, but I can't lie, part of me is actually happy that the draft is now upon us. This isn't me being un-grateful or anything, I will always love and cherish mock draft season but man, for my own well being I need this draft to get over and done with!

Jokes aside a lot of time and effort went into this mock draft, so of course I do hope you enjoy reading through it and at least try to understand where I'm coming from with each and every pick. There will be some picks that may surprise you while reading through this, and I just hope that I didn't go a little too crazy when trying to be as unpredictable as this draft appears to be.

With that in this mock draft there are two quarterbacks, one running back, five wide receivers, one tight end, seven offensive tackles, two interior offensive linemen, seven edge rushers (including Arvell Reese), two linebackers (again, if you include Arvell Reese), three corners, and three safeties!

All in all I just hope you guys enjoy reading through this mock draft, and I hope you don't hate me too much if you don't agree with some (or all) of the picks I made throughout. So without any further delay I, Logan Blackman, host of the Logan Blackman Show and self proclaimed Draft "Expert," am proud to present to you mock draft 3.0! Enjoy!

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Rueben Bain, DL/EDGE, Miami (FL); Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana; Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

1. Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

• Do I really need to go over why this is the pick? I mean, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza has been the consensus number one pick in the draft pretty much since the start of 2026. The Raiders are in need of a franchise quarterback, and Mendoza, who is coming off of a National Championship winning Heisman Trophy season, has all the tools to be that at the next level. After signing Kirk Cousins this past week, Mendoza would be afforded time to develop behind a solid NFL vet who I'm sure is desperate to prove himself after all that went down in Atlanta. This pick makes too much sense and barring some unforeseen trade, Mendoza will be wearing the silver and black come next season.

2. New York Jets - David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

• As you are probably going to find out throughout the rest of this mock draft, the New York Jets are one of many teams that I haven't sent a different prospect throughout each mock draft up to this point. I don't know if I'm just over thinking it or what, but it feels like teams are holding their cards much closer to their chest(s) this year much more than they have in years gone by. That being said I do feel like we can at least narrow the Jets pick down to one position, edge rusher. There's no real way to sugar coat this, but this past season the New York Jets were an absolute dumpster fire. With Aaron Glenn coming in to be the team's new head coach, I'm sure many out there felt as though he would take a defense that featured some very talented players to the next level. Now, unless the next level is going completely backwards, I think it's safe to say that he did not manage to that. Look, I am aware that the Jets did trade away two of their best defenders prior to the trade deadline this past season, but that's no excuse for registering zero interceptions this past season. Since 1933, no other team in NFL history has gone an entire season without registering an interception, and this past season's Jets had one whole extra game to do it. As sad of a stat as that is, part of the reason it exists is because of their lack of a legit pass rush, as the Jets finished second from bottom in sacks with 26 this past season. After trading away former first round pick Jermaine Johnson, the Jets are in desperate need to get someone opposite of last season's leading sack getter in Will McDonald (eight). Though I had them taking Ohio State's Arvell Reese here in my last mock draft, I am starting to feel like the questions regarding his "best" position may cause the Jets to look in another direction, as I'm sure they are looking for a more "natural" pass rusher. With that, Texas Tech's David Bailey may very well wind up being their pick here at number two. A natural pass rusher who possesses a good amount of length, Bailey played a massive part in Texas Tech's run to the College Football Playoff this past season. Throughout said season Bailey showed his worth, registering a national leading 14.5-sacks and a 20.1% pressure win rate. Possessing excellent first step quickness (posted a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash), Bailey has numerous moves he can beat you with while also boasting some powerful hands. He's got so much speed and breezes past opposing offensive linemen with ease, giving the Jets a legit pass rusher to get after the quarterback, partnering with the aforementioned McDonald to hopefully help improve them on the defensive side of the ball.

3. Arizona Cardinals - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

• Throughout each of the previous two mock drafts I have had the Arizona Cardinals selecting a different player. In mock draft 1.0 I sent them Miami (FL) offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. In the same vain, in mock draft 2.0 I had them trading back with the Washington Commanders before selecting Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano. No matter who you ask or who you talk to, I think most people can all agree that the Cardinals biggest need going into Thursday night is right tackle. With the likes of Kelvin Beachum and Jonah Williams both departing in free agency, Elijah Wilkinson is slated to start the season at that position. Though he started all 17-games for the Atlanta Falcons last season, he was initially brought in to serve as Kaleb McGary's back-up, only for the former first round pick to be placed on season ending IR prior to the season starting. Apart from last season Wilkinson does have starting experience at the NFL level, starting 62-games across a nine year career that has seen him play multiple positions along the offensive line for multiple NFL teams. Is he the answer at right tackle for the Cardinals? Short answer, probably not, which is why everyone and their mom is suggesting they move for one of Fano or Mauigoa with their first pick in the draft. That being said I think that the general consensus is that it may be a little too early to be taking either one of them here with the third overall pick, which is why it's been widely reported that Arizona is desperate for a trade to move down the draft board. The thing is though I don't know if they're going to be able to find a willing trade partner, as the price may be a little too steep for some teams given the talent available. Now, they could still very well wind up taking one of the top tackles, but I think it's more likely at this point in time that they move for another position here, especially since I think ownership will play a massive role in how this pick plays out. Obviously I'm not in the room, but I could see a reality where owner Michael Bidwell wants a true "star" on his roster. Though the positional value argument will be raised (which is understandable) most signs are pointing to the Cardinals selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love here with the third pick in the draft. Now again, I'm sure there's going to be some out there that say you don't draft running backs this high, but the thing is though, Love is anything but your traditional running back prospect. One of the best backs in Irish history, Love finished up this past season with 1,300+ yards rushing with 18-touchdowns to go along with 280-yards receiving and three more touchdowns there. One of the most dangerous players in the open field, Love possesses excellent size (6'0" 214 lbs.) and explosiveness that see's him break tackles with ease (60-forced missed tackles) while also being able to beat defenders for speed once he gets to the outside. He could add so much to this offense as both a runner and a pass catcher, giving head coach Mike LaFleur and the Cardinals a nice option out of the backfield. Michael Bidwell gets what Michael Bidwell wants.

4. Tennessee Titans - Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

• This pick is probably going to bite me in the ass when it's all said and done. Why do I say that, I hear you ask? Well, because like so many other teams throughout this mock draft, I have no idea which direction the Tennessee Titans will wind up going once the draft officially rolls around. Obviously I have a general idea, but that "general idea" is between like 10-different players. You know what? I'm actually getting tired this draft, I can't seem to make my mind up on anything. So in the end I just hope everyone has a good time, is that too much to ask? In regards to the Titans, by all reports they're looking at Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, one of the draft's top edge rushers, and/or one of the draft's top wide receivers. Hell, I've even seen reports suggesting that the Titans want to move down the draft board. I think in a perfect world general manager Mike Borgonzi would want to move for Love, as he would provide second year quarterback Cam Ward with a reliable weapon out of the backfield. For a team with as big of a running back history as the Titans (and Houston Oilers) adding Love to their offense would make all the sense in the world, regardless of what ultimately winds up happening with Tony Pollard. The thing is though it seems unlikely that that will happen at this point in time, which may force them to pivot to their next target. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles has been linked a bunch recently, as many suggest he could the Fred Warner in Robert Saleh's new look defense. Thing thing is, given what I know about Saleh, I just have a hard time envisioning him passing on one of the draft's top edge rushers to select a linebacker in the top five. Obviously that could very well wind up happening, but Saleh's love for "waves" of edge rushers makes me think that one of Ohio State's Arvell Reese or Texas Tech's David Bailey will wind up being the pick here. With Bailey going off the board to the New York Jets with the second overall pick (not confident in that at all) I think the Titans would swoop in for Reese here with the fourth pick in the draft. Depending on who you ask, Reese could either be described as an off the ball linebacker or someone who can come off of the edge and get after the quarterback. He's a very instinctual player, as he's able to fly all across the field and make plays that most out there could only dream of. Along with great instincts Reese is very fluid and possesses excellent bend and burst, which is why so many see him developing into an edge rusher at the next level. Compared by some to the likes of Jalon Walker and Micah Parsons, Reese's lack of a "true" position could see some people back off of him with this early of a selection. Regardless of what position he ultimately winds up playing, we can bet on that he's going to make plays on the defensive side of the ball. Reese would be an excellent addition to Robert Saleh's defense.

5. New York Giants - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

• Yet another pick that I'm having an insanely hard time working my way through. Thank to a recent trade that saw them send former All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 10th overall pick in the draft, the New York Giants have suddenly turned into one of the more intriguing teams to look out for come draft time. Now, I don't want it to sound like I had any idea of what they were doing before hand, but I do feel like their wants and their needs were a little more straight forward when they had just the one pick as now they have multiple ways to attack the first round. The big conversation surrounding the Giants selection really revolves around who's making the pick, as new head coach John Harbaugh is expected to have at least somewhat of a decent roll in deciding on who the G-Men ultimately go with here at pick five. Though he'll have a say, I do believe that general manager Joe Schoen will have final say on who they end up selecting, as the former Buffalo Bills assistant general manager has done a pretty decent job at drafting since taking over as general manager back in 2022. Now you could say they were all pretty straight forward selections, but it does seem as though ownership has faith in Schoen at least for one more draft. With that the Giants could really go in a few different directions, as players such as Ohio State's Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, and Carnell Tate have been linked, as has Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love. Hell, even offensive lineman have been linked with this pick, but based on recent reports it would not shock me if Schoen wound up selecting Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson here with the fifth overall pick in the draft. If it weren't for nagging hamstring issues, I don't think many people out there would bat an eye at this pick. Depending on who you ask, Jordyn Tyson may very well be considered the best receiver in this year's draft class. At 6'2" 203 lbs., Tyson possesses the prototypical size teams look for in potential number one receivers at the next level. A very explosive and fluid receiver, Tyson is an absolute pain to lock onto in coverage, and can also make people miss in the open field. Able to make some insane circus like catches to come down with 50/50 balls, Tyson is someone you can throw to a spot and he'll make a play, especially in the red zone. Overall, Tyson would be an excellent addition to the Giants receiving core, pairing nicely with the recovering Malik Nabers and giving second year quarterback Jaxson Dart and insanely solid receiving room to work with.

6. Cleveland Browns - Kadyn Proctor, iOL/OT, Alabama

• The Cleveland Browns have been one of the teams most constantly linked with a move down the draft board, with teams like the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs being two of the more likely candidates. The thing is though, at this point in time I don't know if I can truly see them striking a deal with either one of those organizations. For Dallas, though it is well documented that they want to trade up, it is almost as welly documented that they do not want to give up the 20th pick in the draft, as they don't possess any picks from 20 until pick 92 in the third round. In a draft that most consider to have weaker back end talent, it would probably be in your best interest to hold on to any late first round or second round picks. Unless of course you're a team like the Chiefs who have plenty of ammunition to move up the draft board (as we discussed earlier). Though I don't want to rule out a trade all together, I think the Browns may very well just stand pat at six and take the top player on their board. Unlike some of the other teams in the top-10, the Browns draft need(s) are pretty more straight forward, as they have desperate needs both out wide at receiver and along the offensive line, most notably at tackle. The good thing for the Browns is that they (like the Chiefs and Giants before them) possess two first round selections, meaning whichever position they don't wind up going with here they can just swoop up at pick 24. Though wide receiver is a massive need for the organization, as no receiver registered more than 700-yards last season (rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. registered 731), I feel as though they'd be better served drafting any of the top tackles available here at pick number six. According to most, Miami's Francis Mauigoa is considered to be the best tackle in the draft, but according to recent reports it seems as though the Browns are between Alabama's Kadyn Proctor and Utah's Spencer Fano. Though most would consider Fano to be the better tackle prospect, his arm length leads me to believe that the analytically driven Browns may move towards Proctor with the sixth pick in the draft. Pound-for-pound Proctor is one of the more athletic offensive line prospects in this year's class. An absolute behemoth at either guard or tackle, Proctor measured in at 6'7" 352 lbs. at the recent NFL Combine. A three year starter with 40-career starts at left tackle for the Crimson Tide, Proctor possesses excellent feet and agility for someone at his size. Possessing an explosive first step in the passing game, Proctor handles both speed and bull rushers well, using his athleticism, size, and length to keep opposing pass rushers at bay. In the run game he is able to get to the second level while driving back smaller defenders with ease. An intriguing prospect for sure, there will be some who suggest kicking him inside due to his sheer size. If he's able to fully control his weight, there's no reason why he couldn't be a great tackle at the next level. Though this would be considered a reach by almost everyone out there (including myself) Proctor just feels like the type of prospect general manager Andrew Berry would target along the offensive line, dipping his hand back into the Alabama cookie jar with Proctor hopefully serving as their longterm answer at left tackle (or tight end, right?).

7. Washington Commanders - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

• This would be a potential dream scenario for Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders, as Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles falls right into their laps with the seventh overall pick in the draft. Now, at the same time I do think there is a decent chance that the Commanders take one of the draft's top receivers, as apart from Terry McLaurin they are really lacking in weapons on the outside for Jayden Daniels, with players like Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson and Ohio State's Carnell Tate constantly being linked with them here at this pick. To me, should they go receiver Tate would be my guess, as he has stated the McLaurin (fellow Buckeye) has been somewhat of a mentor to him throughout the draft process. The Commanders could also go for someone like LSU's Mansoor Delane, as I'm sure they would love to find someone to partner last year's second round pick (Trey Amos) on the outside. With Washington ranking in the bottom five in regards to passing defense just a season ago, Delane could definitely be the pick here for the Commanders. The thing is, though they ranked bottom five in regards to passing defense, they were even worse as a total unit, ranking dead last in total defense while giving up a whopping 384-yards per game (ranked in the bottom three in rush defense as well). With the aforementioned Dan Quinn being a defensive minded head coach, I'm sure he wants to figure out the defensive side of the ball more than anything with their first pick. So far this offseason they've done a good job at adding depth to that side of the ball, bringing in the likes of K'Lavon Chaisson, Leo Chenal, Charles Omenihu, Odafe Oweh, and Tim Settle. Though all good players, none of them have ceiling of that of Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. One of the big winners of an overall impressive Combine, Styles put all of his athletic gifts on display, leading all linebackers in 40-time, broad jump, and vertical, registering a rather insane 43.5" in the latter (best ever for the position). A former safety, Styles's aforementioned athleticism is always on display, as he possesses excellent speed and play recognition for the position. He is a more than willing tackler, using his speed to close in on rushers before they have a second to think about it. He would a perfect fit in the middle of Quinn's defense. Though it may be too good to be true, and maybe a team like the Dallas Cowboys trade up to get him, but if he's somehow here Washington should absolutely sprint to the podium with the seventh overall pick in the draft.

8. New Orleans Saints - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

• I struggled more with this pick a whole lot more than I initially thought I would. Though I ultimately wound up giving the New Orleans Saints the same player that I did in mock draft 1.0, there was a good part of me that thought of giving the Saints a defender with this pick, especially given all the moves that they've made on the offensive side of the ball in free agency. Though there's still work to do overall, the Saints were able to bring in the likes of David Edwards from Buffalo, Noah Fant from Cincinnati, and Travis Etienne from Jacksonville, with the latter being born and raised in Jennings, Louisiana. The addition of Etienne is the one that excites me the most, as the Louisiana native will be a massive help in both the run and pass game for the Saints moving forward, though it does seemingly rule them out of the race for Jermeiyah Love. With those signings, part of me thinks that they may look to address the defensive side of the ball with this pick, as longtime edge Cameron Jordan is entering free agency and turns 37 in July. Though Carl Granderson and Chase Young are solid options, reinforcements along the outside are much needed for the Saints, so someone like Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. would make a ton of sense here. Another area that they could address could be the cornerback position, as LSU's Mansoor Delane would add some much needed depth at the position. Not only that, but it's also pretty convenient for all parties involved, as the former Tiger would only need to travel an hour and a half east to play for his new team. That being said I just can't fully bring myself to have the Saints pass on an offensive weapon for Shough with this pick, especially with Chris Olave's injury history. With all of the top receiver prospects still all available, the Saints will have their pick of the bunch. Out of the top options I would fully expect them to take Ohio State's Carnell Tate here with the eighth pick in the draft. Despite posting a somewhat disappointing 40-time (4.53) the dude was one of the best deep threats in all of college football this past season, averaging 17.5-yards per reception, giving the aforementioned Jayden Daniels a true deep threat that would be a great option opposite of another former Buckeye in the form of Olave. Though he missed some time this past season due to injury, Tate's size (6'2" 192 lbs.), route running, body control, hands, and willingness to block will make him hard to pass on for a receiver needy team like the Saints, giving them another Ohio State product on the outside. Like I alluded to before, defense could still be the move here, but I feel like New Orleans may find it hard to pass on Tate here at pick number eight.

• NOTE: the Saints have been linked with a move up the draft board, could it be to secure a receiver or take one of the top edge rushers?

9. Kansas City Chiefs - Rueben Bain Jr., DL/EDGE, Miami (FL)

• If you believe recent reports, the Kansas City Chiefs are one of apparently many teams that are trying to work their way up the draft board. With all the unknowns that go along with this year's draft, I would certainly not be the one to rule that out. A big reason why I would imagine so many think they'll move up is because that the likelihood that they'll pick this high up the draft board in the next however many years seems incredibly slim, despite my best efforts of wishing that they'll stay bad for the rest of time. Alas I'm not that naive, and knowing my luck the Chiefs will probably wind up knocking my Buffalo Bills out of the playoffs for the umpteenth time to date. Personal feelings aside, the Chiefs will definitely be a team to watch come draft time as they are one of a number of teams that possess multiple first round selections (29), giving them the proper ammunition to move around the board should they please. Based off everything I have gathered all options are on the table for the Chiefs, with seemingly every top skill position player, edger rusher, defensive back, and even offensive tackle has been linked to them at some point throughout the offseason. Like so many teams the Chiefs have held their cards insanely close to their chest, but if I had to guess (which I do for the sake of this blog post) I would say they're more likely to target a defensive player with this pick more than any offensive player, though I do feel like Utah tackle Spencer Fano makes a lot of sense here given Andy Reid's connection to former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. With that the two main areas that stick out right away lie in the secondary and along the defensive line, mainly along the edges. After trading away star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, and watching his partner Jaylen Watson follow suit and safety Bryan Cook signing with the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chiefs' secondary needs are well documented up to this point. The thing is though with LSU's Mansoor Delane already off the board, and Tennessee's Jermod McCoy's stock in serious question (dropping to the second round?), I think edge rusher may be the way to go here, which is why I have them selecting Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. here with the ninth overall pick in the draft. Now, I am aware that there will probably be some people against drafting Bain with a top-10 pick, as his official arm length is the third shortest in Combine history (30 7/8"). The thing is, everyone and their mom knew of Bain's shorter arms coming into the Combine, so the measurement being what it is/was shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise to anyone out there (at least in my opinion). Since the official measurements were released, there have been some out there suggesting that Bain could fall completely out of the top-10, but again, the number should not have been a surprise. Regardless of his arm length, Bain is an absolute terror when it comes to getting after the quarterback. This past season, Bain totaled a whopping 83-quarterback pressures while averaging 6.3-pressures per game, with the former being the joint highest in recent history. On of the biggest reasons Miami made it all the way to the National Championship game, Bain registered 9.5-sacks, with three of those coming on the road against Texas A&M, a team which boasted one of the best offensive lines in the country. Ultra disruptive with an excellent motor, Bain uses his hands to jolt offensive linemen back before using his combination of bend, power, and speed to make plays. The biggest mark against Bain is again his arm length and overall size (6'2" 263 lbs.), but the dude is the ultimate game changer and would be a natural fit along the edge in the Saints defense. The dude is a great football player and I feel would be an excellent addition to Steve Spagnuolo's defense.

10. New York Giants (via Cincinnati) - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

• This is a pick that falls under the category "pay attention to what you hear first," as the first player to pretty much ever be linked to the New York Giants was Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Obviously this could wind up being wrong, as the Giants have been linked to a multitude of different players, but Downs has been someone who has been consistently linked with the G-Men pretty much since the start of the offseason. That being said unlike previous years, the Giants have been keeping their cards insanely close to their chest (as has everyone else) as the national media linked them to a multitude of different prospects throughout the offseason. As I discussed before though, with two first round picks courtesy of the Dexter Lawrence trade, the Giants will have multiple chances to secure the players the truly want when everything is all said and done. After selecting Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with their first selection, New York can turn their attention to arguably their favorite prospect all offseason in the former of Caleb Downs. Though he may not possess the insane physical attributes of some of his collegiate teammates (namely Sonny Styles) Downs is considered by many to be one of the top three players in the entire draft. Talked about in the same breath as Eric Berry, Downs is somebody who could potentially change the course of your franchise on the defensive side of the ball. As versatile as they come, Downs is a sure tackler who possesses excellent instincts, being able to diagnose plays without a second of hesitation. The Giants, who ranked in the bottom five in total defense and bottom-10 in scoring defense last season, would love to have someone like Downs. Able to line up anywhere in the secondary, able to match-up well in coverage and able to make big hits in the run game, Downs is a true leader and do everything player that would instantly help improve the Giants on defense. It's been a massive talking point all offseason about who's truly running the Giants draft, whether it's general manager Joe Schoen or new head coach John Harbaugh. Though the Tyson selection feels more like a Schoen pick, this one has Harbaugh's finger prints all over it. I think Downs is a good enough player where the pair can come together and feel good about the new direction of their franchise. He's just the complete football player, and again would be an excellent addition to New York's defense. For the Giants, coming away with both Tyson and Downs would be absolutely insane.

11. Miami Dolphins - Spencer Fano, iOL/OT, Utah

• I'm sorry to disappoint you Miami Dolphins fans, but your team is probably not going to be very good this coming season. Wait what the hell am I talking about? I'm not sorry at all, in fact, I quite enjoy picturing the Dolphins struggling, as I do with all of the other AFC East teams (despite my own of course). But in all seriousness I did kind of struggling figuring out what exactly to do for the Dolphins with their first of two selections, as they also hold the 30th pick in the draft thank to them trading away wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos back in mid-March. This is a whole new Dolphins team with a whole new identity, as they brought in two new faces from the Green Bay Packers organization to run the team in the form(s) of Jon-Eric Sullivan (general manager) and Jeff Hafley (head coach). They also brought in another former Packer in the form of Malik Willis, who they signed to a three year $67.5-million deal to replace Tua Tagovailoa. In many ways, the aforementioned Jaylen Waddle trade was the final nail in the coffin of what was once considered to be a "revolutionary" offense lead by then head coach Mike McDaniel. Crazy how quickly things can change throughout the course of an offseason. As for this pick though the Dolphins could really go in a multitude of different directions, as their roster is littered with holes. That being said, based on both general manager and head coach coming from Green Bay, I would imagine that they'd either want to address the offensive or defensive line(s) here with the 11th pick in the draft. To me, this pick should ultimately come down to one of two players, those being Miami's Francis Mauigoa and Utah's Spencer Fano. Depending on who you ask, these two are widely considered to be the best tackle prospects in the class, with Maugioa more or less held in a higher regard. The thing is though, Mauigoa's stock has under fire recently due to a herniated disk in his back. Though it doesn't seem to be a glaring issue now, should he get surgery to repair it he may be out for three months, which is obviously less than ideal. Though I would think most would say he's the better prospect, I think Spencer Fano's athleticism could see him go off the board to the Dolphins here at pick 11. Despite there being some question marks surrounding Fano's future position in the NFL (mostly due to his arm length), no one can deny that he may be the most athletically gifted tackle in this year's class. Considered by some to have put on one of the best performances at this year's NFL Combine, Fano posted an impressive 4.91 in the 40-yard dash with a 1.72 10-yard split while also posting the fast time in the three cone drill (7.34). That athleticism should make him a seamless fit in Miami, as they will run a lot of outside zones with De'Von Achane at running back. Though he started 24-games at right tackle across the past two seasons, Fano is a former left tackle who could make either position his home at the next level. At 6'5" 311 lbs., Fano possesses really light feet while also being technically sound, giving up zero sacks in 12-starts last season. I feel like Fano would be a very natural fit along Miami's offensive line.

12. Dallas Cowboys - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

• Much like the Kansas City Chiefs before them, the Dallas Cowboys are definitely going to be one of those teams to look out for when it comes to a possible move up the draft board. Like I said before though, in a perfect world they would love to hold onto their second first round pick (20) as they do not have another selection all the way until pick 92 in the third round. Maybe they could move up into the back half of the top-10 or something, but given the fact that they seemingly want to hold onto pick 20, and the fact that they haven't traded up in the first round since selecting Morris Claiborne back in 2012 (ironically picked at 12 originally) makes me think that they may just stay put and pick here at 12, taking the best player available at a position of dire need. That being said like I alluded to in my previous mock drafts, the Cowboys' main goal throughout the entirety of the 2026 draft should be focused on one thing, improving the defensive side of the ball. Despite ranking second in both total and passing offense this past season, the Cowboys finished with a disappointing 7-9-1 record, with their defense in turn ranking in the bottom three in total and dead last in scoring defense. I mean hell, the Cowboys gave up a rather astonishing 30.1-points per game. To put that in perspective, the 2017 Cleveland Browns, you know, the second ever team to finish with an 0-16 record in NFL history, gave up 25.6-points per game. The fact Dallas won seven games this past season is nothing short of a miracle, and unless they want to continue to waste an elite offense, they better start improving the other side of the ball. Now, I will say efforts have been made, as they traded for Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline last season before signing Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson in free agency as well as trading for Rashan Gary just last week. Though the signings of Durant and Thompson do help in aiding the secondary, there is still room for improvement, as the Cowboys also ranked dead last in passing defense this past season. The Cowboys need a true number one guy on the outside, and with all of the top corners still available Dallas will have their pick of the bunch. Though the likes of Clemson's Avieon Terrell and Tennessee's Jermod McCoy are good players, LSU's Mansoor Delane is widely considered to be this year's top corner prospect, making him the pick here at number 12. One of the quicker corners in the draft, Delane (who did not partake in the 40-yard dash at the Combine) is a long and fast player who can play well in both zone and man coverage. He also possesses excellent ball skills with quick and fluid hips, picking off eight passes and breaking up a further 27 throughout his four year career (per ESPN). Delane could really go a lot sooner than this, but regardless he's got a good amount of upside and would make a lot of sense for the Cowboys here at number 12.

13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta) - Makai Lemon, WR, USC

• For the third mock draft in a row, I am sending USC wide receiver Makai Lemon to the Los Angeles Rams here with the 13th pick in the draft. At this point the Rams are just playing with house money. I mean, so far this offseason the Rams have made a couple of "win now" moves to help strengthen the defensive side of the ball, as they traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie before signing his Kansas City Chiefs teammate Jaylen Watson to a three year $51-million contract. Going into the offseason cornerback was seen as arguably the biggest weakness on an already talented roster, now they can kind of sit back and rely on the "best player available" approach with their first (and now only) first round draft pick. With corner now out of the way, the two areas I would guess that the Rams would like to target would be either along the offensive line or out wide at receiver. With longtime right tackle Rob Havenstein announcing his retirement after 11-seasons with the organization, right tackle is a position many may look at as an area of concern. But after scrolling social media for a while though, there seems to be a decent amount of confidence in 2023 fifth round pick Warren McClendon, who started 10-games at the position this past season. Sure if Miami's Francis Mauigoa was available then maybe we'd have a conversation, but in this scenario I have a hard time believing that they'd take one of the remaining tackles over the aforementioned Lemon with the 13th pick in the draft. Though he may not be the biggest (5'11" 192 lbs.) Lemon possesses the best hands in the draft, catching damn near everything thrown in his area code. I mean, the dude only had one drop in 110-targets this past season (79-catches), which is ridiculous. Forcing 21-missed tackles, Lemon is not an easy person to bring down after the catch. Though primarily a slot, Lemon can line up anywhere on the outside. With Matthew Stafford coming back for "one last ride," and with Davonte Adams turning 33 in December, Lemon would add some juice to an already fantastic receiving room. Even after Adams and Stafford are gone, Lemon and Puka Nacua would surely make for one of the more terrifying receiving duos in the league. God bless the Atlanta Falcons, am I right?

• NOTE: Is Ty Simpson a realistic option here? Same with Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq?

14. Baltimore Ravens - Olaivavega Ioane, iOL, Penn State

• One of the more fun teams to watch throughout the offseason. Once upon a time this belonged to the Las Vegas Raiders, as they traded star edge rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their 2026 and 2027 first round selections. The thing is though, whether it was truly a failed medical or the Ravens just had cold feet, the trade was ultimately axed with Baltimore eventually turning their attention to former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. In one of the fishiest moves that I can remember, Crosby was technically a member of the Ravens for three days, as he ultimately failed his physical. Do I believe that? I'm not sure, what I am sure of though is that the timing of Crosby's failed physical and the relative cheapness of Hendrickson did line up pretty simultaneously, am I right? Regardless, this pick once again belongs to the Baltimore Ravens, who I would assume are choosing between two players. To me (unless someone like Rueben Bain falls) this pick is between Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Penn State interior offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane. Starting with the former, after losing both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar this offseason in free agency, the only two tight ends on the Ravens roster are Mark Andrews and Durham Smythe, with the latter catching only four passes for 25-yards last season as a member of the Chicago Bears. One of the many winners of the NFL Combine, Sadiq could really fall anywhere inside the first 20-picks, but as of right now I just don't seeing it being Baltimore, as I just have a hard time seeing them passing on Ioane. Though the Ravens brought in John Simpson on a three year $30-million this offseason to start at one guard spot, they could still do to improve their play upfront overall, especially after center Tyler Linderbaum signed with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. Overall, I just feel like Penn State's Olaivavega Ioane is too much of a Ravens pick to be passed up on here with pick 14. A thick and powerful presence, Ioane may hold the title of being the most physical offensive lineman in this class (overall). Not allowing a sack across the past two seasons while at Penn State, Ioane handles power rushers well while bending and anchoring down to stay in front of oncoming defenders. Though great in the pass game the run game is really where Ioane makes his name, which is perfect for Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the Ravens offense as a whole. His aforementioned physicality and raw power allow him to drive through defenders, looking to finish each and every block he engages in. He is a real problem along the interior offensive line, giving the Ravens a true grater and people mover up front.

• NOTE: GM Eric DeCosta said Ioane comes "straight from central casting for what you want your guards to look like."

15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Tampa Bay) - Francis Mauigoa, iOL/OT, Miami (FL)

• This may seem like a ridiculous pick, and I don't blame you for looking at me all sideways for having this scenario play out. That being said, if I'm being honest, I could completely see this scenario playing out like this. If you've been paying attention to the NFL Draft long enough, you would know that somehow someway, the Philadelphia Eagles always manage to secure a prospect no one in their right mind thought they would be able to get come draft night. In this case, they come away with arguably the draft's top offensive tackle prospect. Now, how does a situation like this happen? I get the arm length and positional concerns at the next level, but how does a tackle who's widely considered to be a sure fire top-10 pick fall all the way down to pick 15? Well, though some of it will revolve around the things that I brought up just a little bit ago, a lot of it will probably come down to Mauigoa's recently discovered back injury (herniated disk), and though it doesn't seem to be a glaring issue now, should he get surgery to repair it he may be out for three months, which is obviously less than ideal. For the Eagles, it is pretty well documented that they are in need of reinforcements at both guard and tackle, as both Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson's futures are both looking uncertain at this point in time. One thing general manager Howie Roseman has always done a good job at is making sure there's a succession plan in place for damn near every position, seemingly putting an emphasis on making sure the offensive line in secure for years to come. Players like Andre Dillard, Cam Jurgens, and the aforementioned Dickerson (among others) were drafted despite having starters in place at their respective positions. With Johnson turning turning 36 in May, I am very confident that Roseman will look to find an eventual replacement, which is where Mauigoa steps in. An absolute mauler, Mauigoa is arguably the most consistent tackle in this year's class, taking the fight to on coming pass rushers. At 6'5" 329 lbs., Mauigoa is a natural right tackle (could play guard at the next level) who gave up only one sack for Miami as they made it to the National Championship game this past season. Whether he starts off at tackle or steps in at guard, Mauigoa is a standout blocker who would the Eagles some nastiness to their offensive line.

16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis) - Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

• After securing the edge rusher of their dreams with their first selection, the New York Jets can now to their attention to the multitude of other needs they have all over their roster. Let's call a spade a spade, the Jets were a horrible football team last year. They boasted an offense that couldn't throw the ball, while also boasting a defense that couldn't stop a nose bleed. Hell, they didn't register a single interception all of last season, that's the first time that's happened in NFL history. With a defensive minded head coach coming in in Aaron Glenn, that's a pretty damning indictment. That being said I do believe that the Jets will look to target the offensive side of the ball with their second of two first round picks, as again their passing offense was essentially non-existent this past season. It didn't matter who was at quarterback, the Jets just could not get anything going through the air to save their lives. I mean, Garrett Wilson lead the team in receiving yards last year. Normally that wouldn't be that shocking of a statement, until you look a little deeper and see that he only registered 395-yards, while not catching a single ball after their 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos back on October 12th. Regardless of if Wilson is playing for the team or not come next season, the Jets need to get some more weapons on the outside for the newly signed Geno Smith. In a perfect world I'm sure they would love to get one of the top top receivers in this year's class, but as things stand right now unless they make a big time move up the board, that dream seems pretty unlikely. So with that being said, the Jets may have to turn their attention to the next pool of wide receivers, which would be one of Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr., Texas A&M's KC Concepcion, and Washington's Denzel Boston. Though there's some noise around Boston, I think Indiana's Omar Cooper is the next best receiver in the draft, and the Jets would be smart to swoop him up here at pick 16. One of my favorite players in the draft, Cooper averaged 2.55-yards per route while also forcing a whopping 27-missed tackles last season. Positionally versatile, Cooper is a very patient route runner who is a threat in each and every direction. He also possesses great hands, dropping just 4.2% of catchable balls thrown his way while making the catch of the season against Penn State. Mixed with that the dude is as tough as they come, again being one of the hardest players to bring down in the open field while also being a more than willing blocker in the run game. Overall I think Cooper would bring the toughness, versatility, and willingness to win that the Jets could definitely use at wide receiver. He'd go nicely next to the aforementioned Wilson on the outside.

17. Detroit Lions - Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

• Same pick as the previous two mock drafts, I feel like the Detroit Lions and Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling are a match made in football heaven. Now, this match is very much dependent on whether or not the Cleveland Browns wind up selecting him with the sixth pick in the draft, as they are in desperate need for a left tackle. In the last mock draft, I spoke about how Freeling may very well wind up being one of the biggest risers come draft time, as his athletic traits and ceiling made him an intriguing target for teams in need of a left tackle. That being said, I'm not sure if I was expecting to see him being talked about as a potential top-10 pick in the draft after his insanely impressive Combine performance. Not saying that it's not deserved, but it did surprise me a little bit on how fast the hype grew (if that makes sense). Much like Utah's Spencer Fano beforehand, Freeling really put on a show at the Combine as he posted a 4.93 in the 40-yard dash (1.71 10-yard split) along with a 33.5" vertical and a 9'7" broad jump, all top five for offensive linemen. With longtime starter Taylor Decker putting in a request to be released from the team, Freeling could be the guy to slot right in opposite of Penei Sewell. Despite starting just 18-games across his collegiate career,  Freeling possesses all the traits teams tend to look for in franchise left tackles, standing at 6'7" and weighing 315 lbs. with 34 3/4" arms, giving him a very intriguing ceiling. He's quick out of his stance while possessing great bend and agility for the position, allowing just two sacks all of last season for the Bulldogs. Again, with the aforementioned Decker requesting his release left tackle is a massive area of concern for the Lions going into next season. Though there is a solid chance that Freeling could be long gone by the time the Lions are ready to make their selection, in this scenario they sprint to the podium before anyone else realizes that he's still available. Though he battled some injuries this past season, Freeling's aforementioned ceiling makes him an ideal target for the Lions here at pick 17. He just makes too much sense.

18. Minnesota Vikings - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

• I said this in mock draft 2.0, but you know how sometimes you can look at a prospect and think to yourself man, you are just destined to play for this team. Well, that's kind of how I feel when I look at Oregon's Dillon Thieneman, as he just feels destined to play for the Minnesota Vikings. I know that may seem a little crazy to hear (or read) given that I had a different safety going to Minnesota in my last mock draft, but after the recent Combine it just feels that the safety needy Vikings are going to fall in love with idea of drafting Thieneman here with the 18th pick in the draft. The Combine really does some weird things man, as I would be willing to wager that most people out there would have considered Thieneman to be a second round prospect, with pick 18 being a little too rich for the former Boilermaker. Since then though, 18 feels like the absolute lowest spot he can go, with teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, the Dallas Cowboys, and maybe the New York Jets all being potential landing spots as well. At 6'0" 201 lbs., Thieneman again put on a show at the Combine, registering a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash with a 1.52-split with a 41" vertical. The dude also put up 18-reps in the bench press, ranking top amongst safeties at the Combine. That athleticism has been fully on display throughout his college career. Able to line up in multiple positions in the secondary, Thieneman possesses excellent closing speed with fluid/smooth hips and footwork that allow him to track receivers down the field with ease. He also possesses excellent anticipation and range, which further allows him to make plays on the ball that most other safeties can't. Along with his skills in coverage he is also a reliable tackler, as he can be a force against the run. Overall Thieneman is a complete safety prospect that would instantly fill a big whole in the Vikings secondary. Maybe it's because of how long Harrison Smith was there but again, it just feels like Thieneman is destined to be a Minnesota Viking. Obviously I could wind up being very wrong, but the dude is way too talented to fall much further than the 18th pick in the draft. Just feels like a match made in football heaven. Brian Flores would love him.

19. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

• Much like a few other picks beforehand, I have the Carolina Panthers selecting the same player that I had them taking in my previous three mock drafts. To me, this pick should be dedicated solely to the offensive side of the ball. Not saying someone like Clemson's Peter Woods, Florida's Caleb Banks, or any of the top remaining defensive backs wouldn't fill an immediate need for the Panthers, but I feel like priority number one in Carolina should be to figure out whether or not former number one overall pick Bryce Young is truly your answer at quarterback. Throughout all of last season, Young would show flashes of being the guy that Panthers fans hoped he would be, before then turning into somewhat of a pumpkin as he battled through some inconsistencies. Drafting Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan at eight overall last year worked out better than even the most hopeful fan could have thought, as McMillan lead all rookies in receiving yards and touchdowns before coming away with the Rookie of the Year award. With McMillan, Young was able to once again flash the talent that got him drafted first overall, just a shame that it happened in spurts and not more consistently. The thing is though that apart from McMillan, the Panthers don't necessarily have the most loaded group of weapons for Young to work with. Sure Jalen Coker is a solid option, but they could really use another weapon on the outside. Though receiver could be an option here, I feel like tight end could wind up being the answer here, as tight ends J'Tavion Sanders and Tommy Tremble registered 439-yards combined last season, which is far from ideal. Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq would add so much to this Panthers offense, which is why I have them selecting him here with the 19th pick in the draft. After absolutely blowing up the NFL Combine, Sadiq's stock has risen through the roof. I mean, the dude was either first or second in every drill he participated in at the Combine, posting a rather ridiculous 4.39 in the 40-yard dash with a 1.54 10-yard split. That speed translates on the field, as Sadiq is extremely explosive out of his break(s), and is able to make defenders miss with excellent speed after the catch. Able to line up anywhere Sadiq does most of his work on quick screens and wheel routes, with his aforementioned speed making him a match-up nightmare wherever he lines up. Though he may not be the most physically imposing tight end (6'3" 241 lbs.), Sadiq is a fierce and competitive blocker in the run game, which should bode well for the Panthers offense. Overall the dude is just a game changer for an offense, with his athleticism, versatility, and competitive nature setting him apart. He could really go anywhere here in the first round, but I feel like Carolina may be one of the perfect spots for him.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay) - Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

• As I alluded to before, in a perfect world it seems as though the Dallas Cowboys would rather move down the draft board as opposed to moving up into the top five. Obviously I could wind up being very wrong about that, but I do think that they would love to find a trade partner here at pick 20, especially with a team like the Houston Texans possessing multiple day two picks. The thing is though, I think Dallas could get cold feet as they may want to just make sure they secure "their guy" rather than see them fall into the hands of another team after trading back. Who knows, maybe they could still get whoever they're targeting with a later pick, but as the old saying goes, sometimes you just have to control what you can control. With that being said as I mentioned with the Cowboys first selection the defense has to be addressed tenfold here in the first round, as despite having one of the best offenses in the entire NFL Dallas finished with an insanely disappointing 7-9-1 record, losing four of their last five games in the process. After selecting LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with their first selection in the draft, the Cowboys can now turn their attention to the other problem areas on the defensive side of the ball, which are mainly edge rusher and linebacker. I guess they could take another secondary piece just to be safe (Colton Hood) but I do feel it's more likely the target one of the two positions I mentioned before. Though linebacker is a big need for the team, I do find it hard to believe that they would move for one of Georgia's CJ Allen or Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez (or someone else) with this pick at this point in time. To me (depending on who they draft at 12) this pick comes down to Auburn's Keldric Faulk and UCF's Malachi Lawrence. In mock draft 2.0 I had Dallas selecting the former, as his age profile and versatility along the defensive line made him an ideal fit for Christian Parker's new look defense. That being said, one thing to note is that the Cowboys went out and hired former Central Florida defensive analyst Demeitre Brim to serve as the team's new assistant defensive line coach. Obviously this could be a whole lot of nothing, but as I've stated before connections are important, which is why I have Dallas selecting UCF's Malachi Lawrence here with the 20th pick in the draft. Someone who's draft stock has been shooting up like a rocket in recent weeks, Lawrence possesses excellent size, length, and twitch to be an excellent pass rusher at the next level. At 6'4" 253 lbs., Lawrence has put on some great performances at the Senior Bowl and the recent NFL Combine. At the Combine Lawrence posted a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash with 1.59 10-yard split, while also registering a 40" vertical and a 10'10" broad jump, with every number ranking in the top three for edge rushers. That athleticism pops up on the field, as he is extremely explosive coming out the blocks and is able to rip passed opposing offensive tackles with ease while also possessing powerful hands. Now, I would not say that he is the finished product as of right now, but his ceiling is very high, and his athleticism will cause opponents problems at the next level. I feel like he'd be an excellent addition for the Cowboys here at 20. 

21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

• For the third consecutive mock draft, I have the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting someone completely different. In mock draft 1.0 I had them taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, as it seemed like a very natural fit with Mike McCarthy coming in as the head coach. In mock draft 2.0 I had them taking Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., despite the fact that they had just recently traded for former second round pick Michael Pittman Jr.. Given Cooper's connection to new receivers coach Adam Henry, it again seemed like a very natural fit. Though I feel like both players could be options here (I'm reaching with Simpson) I now feel like the Steelers will turn their attention to the offensive line, which in fairness was an area of concern when I made each of my first two mock drafts. The player I initially thought of for Pittsburgh was Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, as Isaac Seumalo left for the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. Though I still think Ioane is a realistic option for the Steelers here at pick 21, based on a bunch of recent reports it seems as though offensive tackle may be the direction the team ultimately ends up going, despite spending their 2023 and 2024 first round picks on offensive tackles. The thing is, it's not necessarily that either Broderick Jones or Troy Fautanu are terrible options or anything, but it seems as though the Jones experiment at left tackle is all but finished thanks to a recent setback he had in his recovery from a neck injury that required surgery this offseason. Now I'm no doctor or anything, but I can tell you that it's a whole lot easier said than done to come back from a neck injury without any setbacks, and even harder when you have them, With that, it sounds as though Fautanu could be shifted over to left tackle, leaving an opening at the right tackle spot for the upcoming season. One positive for the Steelers is that this first round is filled with right tackle prospects, as four of the top six tackle prospects are natural right tackles. Now, they could still potentially move up to secure the one they really want, but in this scenario they stand pat and let the board fall to them before selecting Clemson's Blake Miller here with the 21st pick in the draft. One of the more experienced tackle prospects in this year's draft, Miller started a whopping 54-games while at Clemson, with almost all of those starts coming at the right tackle position. Along with again being one of the more experienced prospects in this draft, Miller also possesses a good amount of athleticism that would mix very well with what the Steelers do on offense. At 6'7" 317 lbs., Miller put on a show at the recent NFL Combine, posting an impressive 5.04 in the 40-yard dash with a 9'5" broad jump, possessing the ideal size, length, and athleticism that teams look for along the offensive line. With that all being said Miller uses his length well in pass protection, keeping defenders at a distance while also possessing nice quickness to control them around the edge. In the run game (obviously Philly's bread and butter) he is great at moving down the field while always looking to finish his blocks. Overall I feel like Miller would be a very natural fit at right tackle for the Steelers. He's super talented and would be a very solid pick by Pittsburgh here at 21.

22. Houston Texans (via Los Angeles) - Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

• In a shocking move, the Houston Texans strike a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers to select one of the top remaining tackles at pick number 22. Now I'm not going to lie, part of me really want to have the Texans trade out of the first round all together, as I found it unlikely that they were going to be able to secure one of the top tackles all the way at pick 28. The thing is though, after doing a little digging, I saw that they actually held two second round picks in the form of 38 and 59, with the former coming courtesy of the Washington Commanders as they sent them former first round tackle Laremy Tunsil prior to last season. That extra second round pick (mixed with pick 69 in the third round) gives them ample ammunition to move up the draft board, which is pretty beneficial for the Chargers who have only five picks to their name throughout the entire draft. So it looks like a pretty beneficial trade for both sides, at least to me. For the Texans, I think most people agree that if they were to move up the board it would be for an offensive tackle. Though they did make a decent amount of moves this offseason in order to sure up their offensive line, bringing in the likes of Evan Brown, Braden Smith, and Wyatt Teller. The three of them are solid options for the here and now, but with none of them signing contracts of more than two years, the offensive line should still be their top priority come draft time. I mean, I guess the top priority should be helping quarterback CJ Stroud discover his best former once again, and that all starts up front along the offensive line. With that all being said now it's just a matter of figuring out which tackle the Texans could wind up taking, as the run on tackles has seen the likes of Spencer Fano (6), Francis Mauigoa (11), Monroe Freeling (15), Kadyn Proctor (17), and Blake Miller (21) already taken off the board this makes Houston's selection pretty straight forward, as they select Arizona State's Max Iheanachor here with the 22nd pick in the draft. Though he may be one of the rawer prospects out there, Arizona State's Max Iheanachor would be an excellent addition along the Texans offensive line here with the 28th pick in the draft. Picking up football much later than most prospects, Iheanachor didn't officially start playing football until he got to junior college, as his family moved to Los Angeles from Nigeria when he was 13-years old. Though he's far from the finished product, he could very well wind up being the best tackle in this class when everything is all said and done. Explosive out of his stance, at 6'6" 321 lbs. Iheanachor possesses a lot of raw strength that absorbs a lot of pressure from opposing pass rushers, using his athleticism to redirect them as well. In the run he uses his natural strength to drive back defenders (powerful), using his aforementioned athleticism to get to the second level. Again, though he is insanely raw, Iheanachor has the tools to develop into a very good tackle at the next level. I think he'd be a very solid pick for the Texans here at 22.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Philadelphia) - Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)

• After striking a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ultimately wind up with the player they would have selected back at 15 all the way down at pick 23. Now I could be looking at this all wrong, as it feels as though linebacker has been a position of need down in Tampa for quite some time now, with mock drafts constantly linking them to the position in the first round. Though I do think they could take Georgia's CJ Allen (especially with Lavonte David retiring), I do feel like it's more likely that they look elsewhere with this pick. Should they stay back at 15, I could really see them moving for someone like Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, as his electric Combine performance got people all excited on how he could be used at the next level. With Mike Evans leaving in free agency, the Buccaneers could definitely use a bigger body for Baker Mayfield to throw to, even after re-signing tight end Cade Otton on a three year deal. If not Sadiq, my attention turned back to the defensive side of the ball, most notably in the pass rushing department as Tampa Bay was widely inconsistent when it came to getting after the quarterback this past season. As a unit, not one player registered more than seven sacks, with Yaya Diaby registering seven and the next closest being nose guard Vita Vea with 4.5. Todd Bowles will definitely want to improve upon that area of his defense, and though he's going to be one of the older prospects possibly taken in the first round, I feel like Miami's Akheem Mesidor would be a very natural fit for the Buccaneers here at pick 15. Turning 25 in April, there will be people out there that are completely put off by Mesidor's aforementioned age, and could very well have him completely off their board as a result. If it weren't for that, I'm sure most would view him as a potential top-10 pick, as his traits and production more than justify that viewpoint. This past season, as Miami made a run to the National Championship game, Mesidor was one of the most productive edge rushers in all of college football. Playing opposite of another first round talent in Rueben Bain Jr., Mesidor racked up 12.5-sacks and four forced fumbles, ranking top five nationally in both categories. A powerful and relentless pass rusher Mesidor over powers opposing offensive tackles, knocking them back to create separation before working back upfield to get to the quarterback. That power also assists him in the run game, as tight ends are typically no match for him with his decent length causing them problems as well. Overall I think Mesidor would be a great addition to the Buccaneers defense. Though some may view this selection a little rich due to his age, Tampa Bay usually hasn't shown an issue at drafting "older" prospects, making the Mesidor selection all that more likely. He would definitely help improve their pass rush.

24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville) - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

• As I stated before, the Cleveland Browns are one of the more straight forward teams when it comes to figuring out who they'll select in this year's draft. In a year full of uncertainty, it is nice to know that there's at least one team out there that we can look at and say, "we may not know who you're drafting, but thank you for at least being transparent about the positions you're targeting." That's just the kind of kindness that you just don't see throughout the course of this draft. Now it would be hysterical if the Browns went in some completely different direction and took a page out of Sonny Weaver Jr.'s book by selecting someone like Sonny Styles (ironically have the same name) with their first pick in the draft. Unlikely, but I feel it would be disingenuous to completely rule it out. With that being said as I stated before, the Browns have been pretty straight forward that they're going to be targeting an offensive tackle and a wide receiver with each of their first two selections in the draft. Though I'm not 100% sure which players they will ultimately wind up selecting (more so with their first pick) I do feel like this pick will come down to one of Texas A&M's KC Concepcion and Washington's Denzel Boston. The funny part about this is that both receivers are completely different, as Concepcion is an absolute burner and Boston is a big/physical "go up and get it" guy. Both have their perks, but I feel like for Cleveland having an absolute burner on the outside could really make a world of difference for their offense, which is why I have them selecting A&M's KC Concepcion here with the 24th pick in the draft. Though not the biggest receiver prospect out there (6'0" 196 lbs.), Concepcion has elite burst and speed that you flat out just can't teach. Explosive right as the ball is snapped, Concepcion absolutely flies down the field, creating massive amounts of separation in the process (good luck when in man). Excellent at taking those "quick hitters" the extra mile, Concepcion is great in the screen and slant department. As Willis is an excellent deep ball thrower, adding someone like Concepcion would give the Browns a true threat for their whoever their quarterback is to work with on the outside. Now, one of the issues with him though is that he has pretty inconsistent hands, with about 10% of his targets resulting in drops. If he can get that side of his game sorted, Concepcion would be an excellent addition to the Browns offense.

25. Chicago Bears - Keldric Faulk, DL/EDGE, Auburn

• After spending almost all of last offseason strengthening the offensive side of the ball for then second year quarterback Caleb Williams, I'm sure most people would suspect the Chicago Bears to address the defensive side of the ball with their first pick in this year's draft. That being said, I'm sure there will be some Bears fans out there that suggest the team look for a longterm answer at left tackle, as current starter Braxton Jones was only brought back on a one year deal worth $5-million. But again, I do feel that this pick will ultimately be used on a defensive player, especially given some of the players that they lost this offseason in free agency. At first glance you could think that safety would be the team's biggest need going into the draft, as the likes of Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson all left this offseason on one year deals. As things stand right now, the Bears starting safety tandem is Cam Lewis and Coby Bryant, and though I feel comfortable with the latter as a longterm solution, I don't necessarily feel the same about Lewis, as I don't really consider him a natural safety. He's a solid player don't get me wrong, but I feel his best role is as a versatile player off the bench. Someone like Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren would make a ton of sense here for the Bears, but just given who they've been linked to throughout the offseason my gut tells me that they're going to head in the direction of edge rusher with their first pick in the draft. Though Montez Sweat is coming off of a 10-sack season, the current edge rusher opposite of him (Dayo Odeyingbo) registered just a singular sack this past season. Though he only appeared in eight games, I'm sure the Bears would want a more formidable partner opposite Sweat, to not only get after the quarterback but to make plays in the run game as well. This past season the Bears finished near the bottom in regards to rushing defense, giving up 134.5-yards per game and a whopping five yards per carry. Given the archetype defensive coordinator Dennis Allen likes in his edge rushers, I think Auburn's Keldric Faulk could be the perfect pick for the Bears here at 25. Though he's far from the finished product, I feel Faulk's age and his freakish size could cause teams to turn the other cheek in regards to his "lack" of production this past season (totaling just two sacks). At 6'6" 276 lbs., Faulk possesses excellent fluidity positional versatility that sees him line up anywhere along the defensive line. Though he's not the finished product in regards to being a pass rusher, but he sets a firm edge in the run game, using his length and balance to generate pushback and keep blockers at bay. Like I said before, I'm sure there's going to be some that are turned off by his lack of production this past season, but his age, size, and work ethic should get you excited about what he can become at the next level. Faulk turns 22 in September, and I feel like Chicago would be one of the best places for him to land in order to get the best out of him.

26. Arizona Cardinals (via Buffalo) - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

• Barring something rather crazy come draft night, one of the worst kept secrets in the league is that the Arizona Cardinals love themselves some Ty Simpson. That shouldn't come as a surprise to those of you who have kept up with my blog posts this offseason, as in my pre-postseason mock draft I actually had the Cardinals taking the Alabama signal caller with the third overall selection, right after the Raiders took Fernando Mendoza (shocker) and the Jets took Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (who decided to go back to school). Sometimes in the draft process you have to go with what teams are saying initially. Though not an exact science, teams will be more open to telling you what they want to do early on in the process rather than a week or two before the draft, as that's when the lying and "smokescreens" really start kicking off. That all being said do I believe that the Cardinals would select Simpson all the way up at pick number three again? That answer would be no, as though teams do sometimes tend to "over draft" quarterbacks due to their overall value, I think Simpsons will come off the board sometime after pick 20. I could be wrong, as teams tend to reach for quarterbacks more than any other position, but that's just how I see it at this point in time. Remember back to last year with Shedeur Sanders and/or Jaxson Dart, or back in 2023 will Will Levis, quarterbacks who could go in the top-10 wound up falling down into the 20s or out of the first round all together (steeper fall for Sanders than Levis, but still). Again, I would wind up being very wrong as a team like the Los Angeles Rams (13) or the New York Jets (16) could swoop in and take Simpson. Hell, maybe the Cardinals trade back a little bit and take him inside the top-12, or just take him at three, crazier things have happened, right? Regardless of where he winds up, I think Simpson has the chance to be a really good player at the next level, despite what some may be saying on social media. If you were following my weekly quarterback prospect rankings throughout this past season, you'd know that I have held Simpson in pretty high regard, with him taking home the top spot in each weeks rankings from week seven all the way until week 14 following back-to-back rough performances against Eastern Illinois and Auburn. Though he ultimately fell down to number three, Simpson is someone who I think could have been the top pick in the draft if not for some niggling injuries (most notably his back). Arguably the most fearless quarterback in this draft class, Simpson has never been afraid to push the ball down the middle of the field. Possessing excellent pocket mobility and great pre-snap recognition Simpson plays the game with great poise, which is something we don't normally see from a quarterback with his few of starts. There will be questions about his deep ball accuracy (and rightfully so) but when Simpson is in rhythm he's arguably the best quarterback in the country. No one made more "NFL level throws" this past season than Simpson, which is why I could easily see him winding up in Arizona with new head coach Mike LaFleur. Coming away from the first round with your new right tackle and potential franchise quarterback, it can't really get much better than this for Arizona.

27. San Francisco 49ers - Caleb Lomu, iOL/OT, Utah

• I'm not going to lie, I struggled a good amount with this pick, as the San Francisco 49ers could really go a couple of different directions with their opening pick in the draft. If you were to poll most Niner fans out there, I'm sure most of them would say their main needs come out wide at receiver, along the offensive line (most notably tackle), and on the edges on the defensive side of the ball. Starting with the latter, I do feel that this need gets talked about the least compared to the other two, despite them ranking dead last in the league last year in sacks. I mean, San Francisco racked up just 20-sacks last season, which was six behind the 31st ranked New York Jets who finished the season with an abysmal 3-14 record. Sure they drafted Georgia's Mykel Williams last year with the 11th pick in the draft, but the dude finished with one sack to his name, which came in week six in a 30-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Nick Bosa coming back from injury the pass rush should improve by default, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't think about addressing it here for the second consecutive first round. All that being said I'm sure head coach Kyle Shanahan will want to strengthen his offense, as receiver and tackle again both need addressed at some point in time. After signing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk this offseason, the Niners receiving room has been improved upon, but it'll still need work. That being said with the depth at the position I could see them passing on one here and taking one of the draft's top available tackles. Though Trent Williams signed a new two year extension with the organization the dude turns 38 in July, and for as great as he is father time is undefeated, so I feel it may be best to find his eventual successor with this pick. With there being a run on tackles San Francisco swoops in to get the one they want, selecting Utah's Caleb Lomu here with the 27th pick in the draft. Once upon a time considered to be the best left tackle prospect in the draft, Lomu is someone who could really fall anywhere after the Detroit Lions pick at 17. At 6'6" 313 lbs., Lomu is very consistent in pass protection, giving up zero sacks in 12-games this past season and just three throughout his entire collegiate career. He possesses excellent agility and quickness for the position (posted solid numbers at the Combine), mixing that with good awareness against oncoming pass rushers. That being said he could do to improve in the run game, needing to put on more weight as he doesn't necessarily possess the same amount of power as some of the other top tackles, but he does use his aforementioned athleticism to get to the second level. Overall Lomu boasts a very high ceiling, and a frame that suggests he could put on more weight and strength with ease. He could again go earlier than this, but for now the tackle needy Niners will gladly select him here with the 27th selection, giving Brock Purdy a potential longterm solution at tackle.

28. Los Angeles Chargers (via Houston) - Chase Bisontis, iOL, Texas A&M

• After striking a trade with the Houston Texans, the Los Angeles Chargers are able to move down the board, secure a few extra picks, and still get the guy they may have taken at pick 22. As I mentioned before when talking about the Texans, the Chargers have only five picks to their name throughout the entirety of the draft, with those being 55 (2), 86 (3), 123 (4), and 204 (6). I'm not sitting here saying that they need to move all around the draft board or anything, but for a team that could use some help on both lines, it may be smart to have more picks than not come Friday night. If we're getting specific, the two areas the Chargers will likely address at those spots would be guard and/or edge rusher. Starting with the latter, after losing Odafe Oweh to the Washington Commanders in free agency this offseason, the Chargers are looking pretty thin in regards to their edge rushers. Sure they still have Tuli Tuipulotu, and yes they re-signed Khalil Mack to a one year deal, but the dude turned 35 in February and is coming off of a season that saw him register just 5.5-sacks in 11-starts. He's not getting any younger, so getting someone to sit behind him before partnering Tuipulotu may be a smart decision, but I just cannot ignore the offensive line. This past season the Chargers boasted one of the worst overall units in the league, a unit that was certainly not helped by both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater going down for the season due to injuries. Regardless of their health though, the interior line for the Chargers was abysmal to say the least, and it's not looking any better now as they've currently got Trevor Penning and Cole Strange slotted in at both guard spots following Mekhi Becton and Zion Johnson leaving in free agency. To avoid an Andrew Luck type catastrophe, I think it would be wise to not have Justin Herbert play behind such a shaky line, which is why I have them selecting Texas A&M's Chase Bisontis here with the 28th pick in the draft. A versatile player along the offensive line, Bisontis spent time at both guard and right tackle throughout his time in College Station. After spending his freshman season at tackle he kicked back inside to guard, putting on a good amount of weight to compete with SEC defensive lines. A dominant presence in the run game, Bisontis possesses quick feet mixed with some raw power that allows him to bully the defender opposite of him. That raw strength pops up in the weight room, as the dude boasts a rather insane 705-lbs. back squat, which is something I'm sure Jim Harbaugh would love. He's a very well liked prospect, with one of those reasons being that he took part in every single drill at the Combine (only one of six to do so). He may not have the longest arms in the world, but the dude has a ton of starting experience and is mean, nasty, and powerful in the run game, making him an ideal target for the Chargers whether they wind up picking at 22, or here at 28.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Los Angeles) - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

• As I mentioned before, the Kansas City Chiefs could be one of the teams to strike a deal to move up the draft board. Now, I don't think we should just limit that to the ninth pick, as I feel that they could very well use this pick to trade up and select one of the available tackles. Per reports, it's pretty well documented that Andy Reid wants to sure up his offensive line, especially since Patrick Mahomes is coming off of a torn ACL. What's kind of funny though is the reaction of Chiefs fans on social media if were dare suggest that they draft an offensive tackle with either of their two first round picks, as they do not want their team to go that direction come draft night. Though I think it's a lot more likely than many Chiefs fans would like to admit, I do think that general manager Brett Veach will look to re-tool the defensive side of the ball more than anything here in the first round, especially when you look at when he's targeted offensive lineman throughout his time in Kansas City. I mean, barring Josh Simmons (who they selected with the last pick in the first round last year) every starter along the Chiefs' offensive line was drafted in the second round or later, which again leads me to believe they'll continue to address the defensive side of the ball here as well (though Utah's Caleb Lomu could be an option). As I mentioned before, the Chiefs' biggest needs on the defensive side of the ball come at the edge rushing department and in the secondary, the latter especially after trading away Trent McDuffie and losing the likes of Bryan Cook and Jaylen Watson in free agency. With only three defensive backs off the board to this point in the draft (with Mansoor Delane being the only corner) the Chiefs could realistically have their pick of the bunch here at 29. Though I think there's a solid chance they move for Tennessee's Jermod McCoy, as he went to the same high school as Patrick Mahomes (different years obviously), I think his knee issue could be more serious than initially thought, which could see him fall out of the first round entirely (Chiefs do have pick 40 as well). With that I believe they may look in the direction of McCoy's Tennessee teammate (though they never shared the field together) in Colton Hood. Despite not being the most physically imposing cornerback prospect out there (5'11" 193 lbs.) Hood plays with excellent speed and toughness that make up for many perceived lack of size. Not only does Hood possess good patience when working the underneath routes, he has plenty of speed to follow vertical routes with ease. With that he's not afraid to put his hands on opposing receivers, which though that can hurt him, he's usually in good position to make plays on the ball. He's also a solid and reliable tackler in the run game, making him a pretty complete player that would work well in the Chiefs secondary. If the Chiefs are able to come away with the likes of Rueben Bain Jr. and Colton Hood in the first round, getting back to the top of the AFC certainly isn't out of the question.

30. Miami Dolphins - Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

• To me, this is a classic Green Bay Packers styles draft, and to be honest I think that would be the best case scenario for the Miami Dolphins. I know the Packers get a decent amount of stick for how they've gone about the draft in recent years, with both fans and neutrals alike getting frustrated at the fact that they hadn't drafted a wide receiver in the first round (prior to last year) since 2002. Though I could be reading it wrong, initially when this trade was made, many people assumed that the Dolphins would target one of the top receivers in the draft, whether that be at 11 or here at pick 30. It's easy to see why people would think that, given that Malik Washington is the current WR1 on Miami's roster. Again though, the Dolphins have so many needs on their roster, that I think the best way to attack this draft is to just trust your board and pick the best player available. Obviously if a receiver pops up as one of those top options then you take him, but with new head coach Jeff Hafley being a defensive minded guy, I'm sure he would like at least one of their first round picks to be used on a defender. Looking at the defensive side of the ball the first area of concern you would look at for Miami would come along the edges, especially after trading away former first round pick Jaelen Phillips to Philadelphia at the trade deadlines and losing Bradley Chubb to the Buffalo Bills in free agency. As of right now Chop Robinson is the only real "threat" Miami has coming off the edge, and he's coming off of a down year following a pretty solid rookie campaign. Edge rusher could very much be an option here, but I feel like Hafley would rather address that need at pick 11 rather than here at 30, which leads me to believe that the secondary could be the direction they wind up going here. Last season only Rasul Douglas registered more than one interceptions, with Ethan Bonner, Jack Jones, Jason Marshall Jr. the only other corners on the roster to register an interception, and they each only picked off one pass. Corner is a massive need for Miami, so I would suggest just taking the highest one on your board, which in this case I believe would be San Diego State's Chris Johnson. Though I think Tennessee's Jermod McCoy is the better overall player, concerns about his knee could see the Dolphins look at the other corners with this pick. That being said, Johnson is far from just a consolation prize. Standing at 6'0" and weighing 193 lbs., Johnson was a two year starter on the outside for the Aztecs, showing an excellent feel for the game to go along with smooth and fluid hips. He's very good at baiting quarterbacks into throws, as his aforementioned feel and instincts see him break on routes and break up or pick off passes, as he returned two interceptions for touchdowns this past season. He's also a willing run defender, and played special teams each of his four years in college, so you know he's got the mindset teams are looking for in their corners. He may not be the most physically imposing corner prospect out there, but he could be a true difference maker on Jeff Hafley's defense.

• NOTE: Reports suggest the Packers are big fans of Johnson's, so wouldn't it make sense for a couple of former Packers to swoop in and take him here at 30?

31. New England Patriots - T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

• I know I brought it up in my last two mock drafts, but watching the New England Patriots get absolutely dominated the way they did by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX will always bring a smile to my face, despite the fact that Drake Maye made a Super Bowl before Josh Allen did. That last part will always sting, but I still went to bed that night with a smile on my face. With that performance it seems as if a lot of people are looking at Maye and the rest of the Patriots much differently. Sure the schedule jokes were made throughout the course of the season, but it seems like they hit a fever pitch after the Super Bowl was done and dusted. Hey, I'm not complaining, let's all make fun of the Patriots. But in all seriousness this is/was a good football team, they just happen to have run into a much better football team in the final game of the season. Though I again believe they're a good team, they still have some holes that they need to fill in order to repeat their successes from this year, especially since they'll have a much harder schedule (not like that's hard to do). Looking at their roster there are probably three needs that stand out more than others, with two coming on the offensive side of the ball, with those being receiver and right tackle. For receiver, though they went out and signed Romeo Doubs to a relatively massive four year $68-million contract, they don't have anyone on the roster who finished with more than 600-yards receiving last season (just talking receivers), which is why they're constantly linked with a move for Eagles receiver AJ Brown. For the other spot as of right now starting right tackle Morgan Moses is still a Patriot, but with rumors circulating about his longterm future it may be smart to find his replacement early on in the draft. All that being said, with most of the top receivers and tackles already off the board, New England may have to pivot to another problem area, with this one coming on the defensive side of the ball. This past season the Patriots finished in the bottom-10 in regards to sack production. With that, they also lost second leading pass rusher K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency to the Washington Commanders, leading to edge rusher arguably being the teams top need going into the draft, which is why I have them selecting Clemson's T.J. Parker here with the 31st pick in the draft. Despite a decent drop in sack production from two seasons ago to this past one (11 sacks to five), Parker proved at the Senior Bowl why he should still be taken with a top selection in this year's draft. A consensus preseason top-10 selection, Parker possesses decent size (6'4" 263 lbs.) and versatility to line up both on the inside and the outside. He may not possess the most elite burst when initially coming off the line, but he more than makes up for it with natural speed and power once he gets going. More of a power guy than a speed guy, Parker he is a problem both on the inside and the outside, giving the Patriots a versatile player along the defensive line. The production may have been down this past season, but he has the talent to warrant being taken in the first round.

32. Seattle Seahawks - Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona

• The Seattle Seahawks will definitely be one of the teams to look out for in regards to dropping completely out of the first round. Not because of anything really in particular, it's just that general manager John Schneider has stated he's open to the idea of acquiring more picks, and as I've said before, this is a year where it may be better to have multiple day two picks. That being said forget about day two picks, as things stand right now the Seahawks only possess four picks throughout the entire draft, with their next three picks after this one coming at 64 (2), 96 (3), and 188 (6). Despite the lack of picks, the aforementioned Schneider is someone I will always have full trust in come draft time, as he has been responsible for building two separate Super Bowl winning teams. I know he's been in Seattle for his entire career (as a general manager), but he is not only responsible for building this past year's squad, but as well as a "Legion of Boom" who came away with a Lombardi Trophy back in 2012. I could have this wrong, but I believe Schneider is the only GM in NFL history to be build two Super Bowl rosters that did not share a single player. The dude is just one of the best in the business, and him and head coach Mike Macdonald have built something really exciting in Seattle. Possessing one of the most feared defenses in the league, Seattle bitched down the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl by the score 29-13, as they registered three takeaways and a touchdown in the win. They're a versatile bunch who just want to make plays, and I feel as though the Seahawks will look to strengthen a strength to some capacity with this pick. Sure Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price is an intriguing option here following Kenneth Walker leaving for Kansas City and Zach Charbonnet recovering from a late season ACL injury, but as the old saying goes, "defense wins championships," and no one seems to understand that more in recent years than Seattle. With that, the two areas the Seahawks are most likely to address would be in the secondary or at edge rusher, as they lost the likes of Tariq Woolen to Philadelphia and Boye Mafe to Cincinnati this offseason in free agency. Though I think they could go after an edge rusher, I think Macdonald would love to add another versatile piece to his secondary. Though he may go a little earlier than this, I feel as though Arizona's Treydan Stukes could be the perfect fit for his defense here at pick 32. Compared to the likes of L’Jarius Sneed and Prince Amukamara, Stukes is a versatile playmaker who can line up pretty much anywhere in the secondary. Listed at 6'0" 190 lbs., Stukes registered an insane 4.33 (with a 1.50 10-yard split) in the 40-yard dash as the combine to go along with a 38" vertical and a 10'10" broad jump (joint best). Those combine numbers show up on the field as Stukes shows no sign of slowing down in the open field. He possesses very fluid hips and is very instinctive, using those instincts to recover well and break on opposing receivers (last committed a penalty in 2023). Stukes showed no signs of regression post tearing his ACL in 2024, which is good to hear despite battling some other injuries throughout his college career. Overall I think Stukes could fill a multitude of different positions for the Seahawks on defense. He's a coach on the field who possesses excellent athletic tools to make plays all over the field. This may be considered a reach by some, but I could see Macdonald falling in love with him.

Positions Drafted

• Quarterbacks - 2

• Running Backs - 1

• Wide Receivers - 5

• Tight Ends - 1

• Offensive Tackles - 7

• Interior Offensive Line - 2

• Interior Defensive Line - 0

• EDGE Rushers - 7 (including Arvell Reese)

• Linebackers - 2 (including Arvell Reese)

• Cornerbacks - 3

• Safeties - 3

Just Missed Out (20)

*alphabetical order by position

• Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

• Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

• Emmanuel Pregnon, iOL, Oregon

• Keylan Rutledge, iOL, Georgia Tech

• Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

• Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech

• Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State

• Christen Miller, DL, Georgia

• Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

• Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

• Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois

• R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma

• Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

• C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

• Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

• Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

• Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

• D'angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

• Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

• Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

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