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Written By: Logan Farren with Green Dot Sports, April 20th, 2026

~#1: Las Vegas Raiders, Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Grade A-: While Mendoza is the obvious first overall pick, many have raised concerns about his actual talent. Although Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy and the National Championship, his draft stock may be experiencing common inflation due to these factors. If you look at the numbers though, Fernando’s Heisman season proves why he is, and should be, the No. 1 overall pick.

Let’s look at Jameis Winston, for example. Winston, a Heisman winner and national champion himself, was selected with the first overall pick in 2015. His Heisman season, when compared to Mendoza’s, looks almost identical for that coveted No. 1 overall pick.

Winston threw 387 passes, completing 257 (66.9%). He threw 40 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and had a 184.8 passing efficiency rating. Mendoza had almost a replica season of the once star-studded Jameis Winston, throwing the ball 379 times and completing 273 of them. He threw 41 touchdowns to go along with only 6 interceptions. Mendoza finished with a rating of 182.9. Vegas should have their foundational piece.

~#2: New York Jets, Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

Grade A: Arvell Reese is somebody who is meant to wear the captain’s patch in the NFL. Reese is an animal who would immediately change the dynamic of the defense of any team that drafts him. The Jets can hopefully use Reese to catapult their rebuild and give their fanbase hope going forward. Great pick.

~#3: Arizona Cardinals, Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Grade A: Jeremiyah Love would fit perfectly into the Arizona Cardinals’ offense and their organizational plans going forward. After James Conner’s gruesome injury last season, the Cardinals struggled to find an identity outside of star tight end Trey McBride. Love could be the piece this offense needs to become a scary unit. Love, McBride, and Marvin Harrison Jr., who knows, maybe they bring in a QB next year and suddenly things aren’t looking too bad in Arizona. Go with the talent when talent is available. Arizona goes Love

~#4 Tennessee Titans, Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Grade B-: Francis Mauigoa not only is a monster on the offensive line with athleticism all over him, but he also brings in an underrated leadership ability that I think a young team could benefit from. The 3-year captain at Miami could make the development of second-year QB Cam Ward really take off. I think the Titans go O-line to make a difference in their Brian Daboll-led offense.

~#5 New York Giants, David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Grade A: The Texas Tech defense was something to admire last year, and that was in large part in thanks to David Bailey. Bailey is said to be the best pass rusher in this class, no doubt. And Bailey being the animal, he could blow the cap off of an already star-studded young core of defensive linemen for the Giants. There are not enough guys on the offensive line to block Abdul Carter, David Bailey, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Giants, go Bailey.

~#6 Cleveland Browns, Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Grade B: The Browns’ offensive plays the past few seasons have been lackluster to say the least. Defensively, the Browns seem solid. Taking offense will make the Browns more dynamic instantly next season. It could also help with the development of young pieces such as Judkins and Fannin Jr. The Browns go with the best available and pick up the athletic phenom, Carnell Tate.

~#7 Washington Commanders, Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Grade?: Sonny Styles is the biggest question mark in this draft. Washington could take a huge risk at 7 and fill a position that’s needed to be filled. It’s hard to picture the impact Styles would have on an NFL defense, especially one that would need him to step up into a big role almost instantaneously. Although Sonny Styles crushed the draft combine running a 4.46 40, 43.5″ vertical jump, and 11’2″ broad jump, his actual performance on the field doesn’t scream NFL-ready to me quiet yet.

Styles, born and raised in Ohio, committed to play at Ohio State in 2021. Since then, he’s recorded 245 total tackles, 9 sacks, and 3 FF in what was really 3 years of college play. The senior’s best season came when he was a junior in 2024 when he recorded 100 total tackles and 6 sacks.

With this pick the Commanders try to get their defensive cornerstone and try to return to 2024 NFC Championship game form. With Jayden Daniels on the other side of the ball, Styles will be a great addition.

~#8 New Orleans Saints, Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

Grade A-: After the recent news of Miami’s star defensive end being tied to a car crash in which a woman lost her life, it’s been hard to predict what will happen to his draft stock. Bain is a freak of a player and was a major piece of Miami’s CFB championship run last year.

I can’t help but look back a few years and remember the Jalen Carter situation, comparing it to Bain. Both are dogs on the defensive line, and both were involved in car crash-related news before the draft. Carter, similarly to Bain, was once thought to be a top three pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, he fell to the ninth pick in the first round to the Philadelphia Eagles, pushed past the negative talk online, and proceeded to put his head down and win a Super Bowl.

I can only hope for the same story for Bain. The Saints take a gamble on talent; Bain is a Saint.

~#9 Kansas City Chiefs, Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Grade A: If Caleb Downs stays healthy and on the field, the Chiefs would look scary with a piece like Downs on defense. In a year that looked like a sharp decline for the once unstoppable Kansas City Chiefs, everybody is seeming to forget one thing. The AFC still runs through Mahomes and Reid. If Patrick Mahomes returns to MVP form, which I think he will, next season, then Caleb Downs is an elite choice for the Chiefs’ coaching staff. Don’t reach for an offensive talent in a year with loaded defensive skill, especially if you’re going out and getting an NFL-ready safety. Safe, smart pick here by the chiefs. Downs will bring them back to a Super Bowl.

~#10 New York Giants, Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Grade A: The Giants find themselves in one of the easiest decisions in the first round. You have a young quarterback that you’re about to go all in on. A young running and passing game calls for a star tackle, and I think Fano is the perfect fit. He’s going to allow for so many things to work on this offense and gives the Giants the opportunity to fire on all cylinders this upcoming year.

~#11 Miami Dolphins, Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Grade C+: In a defense that has been searching for identity, Mansoor Delane could be it. He plays a contagious brand of football that I think fits Miami perfectly. Miami likes talent and speed mixed with swagger.

Personally, I worry about Delane’s size and if it’ll translate to the same style of play in the NFL. At 5’11” and 185, Delane is oozing with athleticism. If he could put on 5-10 pounds of muscle, he could be a lockdown corner in the NFL. This pick stands at a C+ for the developmental factors that come with drafting an undersized corner this early when there are other options on the board left. Fits Miami, but the Dolphins might be better off just going with the best available.

~#12 Dallas Cowboys, Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Grade B-: McCoy is the corner the Dolphins might look back and wish they had gotten. He’s a bit bigger than Delane, and there’s nothing he can do that McCoy can’t. We’ve seen Jermod lock up some of the best wideouts in the country, like Ryan Williams. McCoy being born and raised in Texas would fit the cowboys too well. I think this is a great pick for the cowboys and one that could prove to be solid.

~#13 Los Angeles Rams, Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Grade B-: Monroe Freeling is a sure bet at the tackle position. He has all the measurables and on-field performance of an NFL-ready tackle. Freeling is going to be a solid long-term option for this Rams offense. There’s nothing in his game that screams “elite” to me, and that’s why he falls behind these other O-linemen, but the Rams could get a steal of a pick here and try to run it back with Stafford 1 more time.

~#14 Baltimore Ravens, Malaki Lemon, WR, USC

Grade A: This pick makes too much sense. The Ravens have stacked defense all offseason, and with a new coach in charge of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, things could get interesting real fast. Lemon would blow this offense wide open. How do you stop a three-way attack of Henry, Jackson, and Lemon? Not to mention he’d be a great physical opposition to Zay Flowers, another former USC Trojan, current Ravens WR.

Malaki Lemon was born to play receiver, and he fits the city of Baltimore like a glove. If the ravens get a hold of someone with his caliber of play, the AFC champions could very well be coming to Baltimore next season.

~#15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Grade C+: Faulk isn’t someone who’s going to blow you away athletically. He’s a guy that understands the game of football and plays it well. His physicals are insane, and he knows how to use his body to fight off blockers and be a force in both the pass rush and run defense. Tampa Bay, I think, would love a player like this to help them elevate their defense to an elite level once again. Faulk is a dog, and you know what you’re going to get out of him.

That being said, you know exactly what you’re getting out of him. The Bucs aren’t taking Keldric here to be a foundational piece to a defense that needs rebuilding. They’re taking him to add to an already talented unit and hopefully get them over the hump they’ve failed to hit recently.

~#16 New York Jets, Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Grade B+: Jordan Tyson, alongside Garrett Wilson, is what this Jets offense needs to finally hit the ground running this season. Breece Hall in the run game and a promising defense led by head coach Aaron Glenn, and suddenly the Jets’ future isn’t looking so grim. A franchise QB is still a need, but Geno Smith has proven to be a solid bridge shot caller for young, rebuilding franchises.

Tyson’s athletic ability will be a huge addition to this offense if they decide to go this route; I love it!

~#17 Detroit Lions, Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Grade C-: After two seasons in which the Lions fell short of huge expectations, I’m not sure if the offensive line is what will elevate this team from what it already is. If the Lions can snag a major defensive piece, that may be the better option.

But at this point in the draft, Lomu just makes the most sense. He’s a stud exterior offensive lineman with size and athleticism. He’s a young player with things to round out at the NFL level, but he should be an impact player for any offense that gets him.

In my mock, Lomu goes to Detroit, but he could fit in a lot of systems toward the back of the draft. I don’t think Dan Campbell wants to pass him up.

~#18 Minnesota Vikings, Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Grade A+: If this pick happens, it may end up being my favorite pick of the draft. The Vikings, who just lost Harrison Smith, could use a replacement playmaker on the defense. Thieneman ran a 4.35 at the NFL combine along with a 41″ vertical jump. He’s everywhere on the field and loves to come downhill. Dillon Thieneman has a bright future, and the Minnesota Vikings are his perfect home.

~#19 Carolina Panthers, Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Grade A-: The Carolina Panthers, after losing the first round of the playoffs last season, turn back to the drawing board this offseason. I think a huge need for this young offense is a big tight end who can do a little bit of everything.

Sadiq turned heads at the combine a few weeks ago by putting up record-breaking numbers for tight ends. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, which is now an NFL record for the tight end position. He added a 43.5″ vertical jump and 11’1″ broad jump. His measurables are simply inhuman.

Sadiq would send Carolina back into the playoffs and possibly elevate them to a level they haven’t been to since ’14-’15. I’m excited to see what this Panthers coaching staff decides to do if they can replicate the season they had last year and add on to it.

~#20 Dallas Cowboys, Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

Grade B: It’s easy to overlook Akheem Mesidor because of Reuben Bain on the opposite side of the line at Miami. But remember, Miami had one of the best defenses in college football last season. A unit that led Miami to the national championship.

Mesidor is a balanced, NFL-ready prospect. His stats in his team’s national championship say it all. 12.5 sacks, 63 TOT, and 4 FFs. He’s a piece that’ll help the Cowboys defense after losing Micah Parsons.

Quinnen Williams and Akheem Mesidor on the defense are scary. If the offense continues doing what they are doing, then the Cowboys’ only way is up next season.

~#21 Pittsburgh Steelers, Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

Grade B: The Steelers have an opportunity to draft the number 1-ranked guard in this year’s draft. Whoever Pittsburgh decides to go with at quarterback, Ioane would help a ton. He provides a wide frame and balanced-style blocking.

The Steelers may consider taking Ty Simpson here, but I don’t think holding out a year and waiting for a better quarterback next year is a terrible option for this franchise to choose. Pittsburgh goes O-line.

~#22 Los Angeles Chargers, Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Grade B-: Peter Woods is a guy that offenses have to game plan around. And to secure him this late in the draft is a huge addition for this charger’s defense. When it comes playoff time next year, Woods could prove to be the difference in a game or two and finally give Justin Herbert the breathing room to perform well in the playoffs, finally. He’s a big-bodied interior D-lineman that is immovable. Performs well in the run game and recorded 2 sacks last year in his junior season. Woods is a difference maker and falls into the Chargers’ lap at 22.

~#23 Philadelphia Eagles, CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

Grade?: This is one of my “hear me out” picks of the first round. Howie Roseman (Eagles General Manager) has proven to love and even reach for Georgia defenders in the past. And why not? It seems to always work out for the Eagles in recent years, and I don’t see Allen as a pick that’ll disrupt that chain of draft dominance.

He’s an athletic linebacker that sees the field well. Ranked as the #2 linebacker in the class, Allen could step into an already loaded LB room and shine. He’s better at pass coverage than current Eagles LB Jihaad Campbell and provides a younger leadership role to take some of the load off Zack Baun next season with Nakobe Dean leaving for Las Vegas.

~#24 Clevland Browns, Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Grade C-A: “A rebuilding franchise needs OL help wherever they can get it,” is the saying, and this isn’t any less true for the Cleveland Browns. Kadyn Proctor is a piece that could grow alongside the franchise. He’s a huge ex-O-lineman who needs shaping up in his game. That’s not to say Proctor doesn’t have the makings of someday being a real dawg on a winning offensive unit. He does. He just needs proper training and coaching to get there. For Cleveland’s second pick in the first round, this one is a bit more of a project than immediate impact.

~#25 Chicago Bears, Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Grade A-: The Bears, after having an exciting season last year, look to be more stable and win games more efficiently this season. McDonald is the perfect fit for this goal. He’ll slow down the opposing team’s offense by being disruptive in every aspect of the game. I’m sure if the McDonal(d)s go to Chicago, they’ll return to where they left off last season.

6’3, 326, and nothing but skill and hard work show on tape. McDonald is enough to make any defense scary but, in this case, turns the Bears elite. I don’t see how the bears mess this up.

~#26 Buffalo Bills, Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Grade B: Omar Cooper Jr. is a beneficiary of being a top option on a championship-winning team last season, and that’s why he goes over some of the other receivers still left on the list. Physical and efficient is the name of Cooper’s game. The toe-tap catch in the back of the end zone vs. Penn State tells you everything you need to know about this guy.

Cooper, if he goes to Buffalo, has the chance to instantly take over as Josh Allen’s number 1 option. If Omar Cooper finds himself in a system with stable quarterback play, he will be a good to great receiver, but his floor is solid.

~#27 San Fransico 49ers, Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Grade B-: I think the 49ers want to go with Caleb Lomu or Kadyn Proctor in this year’s draft. If they’re not available, like they aren’t in mine, I can see the 49ers going for the next best thing in Iheanachor. He’s a huge frame with tons of experience in some really good Arizona State offenses. I don’t hate the pick for the Niners; in fact, I think Iheanachor is a very underrated player in this year’s draft; I just do not think he is their first option.

He’d be an elite athlete across the line from star Trent Williams. Kyle Shannahan would love his playmaking ability and his knack for holding down the passing game. I think Max could grow into a great player under this coaching staff and would perform well in San Francisco’s high-powered offense.

~#28 Houston Texans, Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

Grade C+: Houston gets a need at defensive tackle here, but I can’t help but think this would be avoiding a gaping hole in their team in offensive weapons. I think a receiver like KC Conception or Skylar Bell wouldn’t be a bad pick for the Texans either.

What you get out of Christen Miller is a high motor, elite strength, and the NFL readiness that comes with drafting a Georgia D-lineman. He’s not going to hurt Houston, but I’d like to see Houston go on offense.

~#29 Kansas City Chiefs, Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Grade B: Denzel Boston could be the replacement for Rashee Rice, as Rice can’t stay on the field due to off-the-field issues. Boston is an explosive receiver and is a highlight reel waiting to happen. With the Chiefs getting an option like him, they could return to dynasty form.

Patrick Mahomes has been in desperate need of a go-to guy for seasons now after Tyreek Hill leaving and Kelce aging. The Chiefs thought they got it in WR Xavier Worthy; however, he’s developed into a decent deep threat gadget guy for the Chiefs. Boston offers Mahomes “his guy” and gives Andy Reid no excuse to not return to former glory.

~#30 Miami Dolphins, Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Grade C+: The Dolphins go with the first quarterback off the board since Mendoza, in Alabama star QB Ty Simpson. I’d see this as a developmental, long-term pick, as they just gave a deal to former Packer standout Malik Willis.

Willis had a breakout season at the backup position in Green Bay last season and was the obvious starter when picked up by Miami this offseason. I don’t see this changing if they go with Ty Simpson, and I think instead they’d use Willis as a bridge guy while Simpson sits and develops and can come in a few years and take over.

From a long-term POV, this pick doesn’t seem too bad. But there’s a lot of talent on the board left here, and I’d be upset if I saw a rebuilding franchise put itself into a dicey QB situation.

~#31 New England Patriots, Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Grade A: I think Mike Vrabel would jump out of his seat drafting a guy like this. A Heisman finalist at the linebacker position absolutely secures the Patriots as favorites in the AFC next season. This would be the best pick here for the Patriots as they seal up a leak on their defense and overload talent on both sides of the ball.

~#32 Seattle Seahawks, Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Grade B+: After the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, they don’t need to change up anything fundamental. They lose an important piece to their identity as a defense in Riq Woolen to the Eagles. So, to address that, the Seahawks make a smart pick in a smart player and get Colton Hood.

Hood is a lockdown guy who gets in man coverage. He could replace the competitive edge that Woolen brought too, as he’s a physical guy and doesn’t back down vs bigger opponents. The Seahawks look to aim big again and go with defense.

Written by: Logan Farren
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