We had a wild night last night with plenty of trades and some big surpises. Here are some initial thoughts:
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
We all knew this was coming, and it’s the right choice.
Mendoza capped a historic Heisman season by leading Indiana to a national title. The Raiders selected him to be the face of the franchise under new coach Klint Kubiak, valuing his elite accuracy and poise.
2. New York Jets: David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)
Widely considered the best pure pass-rusher in the class, Bailey offers elite bend and burst. The Jets took him at No. 2 to fix a pass rush that finished last in the AFC in sacks last season.
It’s hard to criticize this pick, but I would have gone with Arvell Reese here.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
The Cardinals are a mess and this pick shows they have no idea how to build a winning roster.
And that’s nothing against Love, who is a “field-tilting” athlete with comparisons to Saquon Barkley. But the Cardinals ignored positional value and now have a running back with a massive, guaranteed contract.
4. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)
This may be a bit high to take Tate, but they needed weapons on offense.
Tate is a polished route-runner with some of the most reliable hands in the draft. The Titans selected him to provide a consistent primary target for second-year quarterback Cam Ward.
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese (EDGE, Ohio State)
The Giants luck out with one of the best players in the draft falling to them at the fifth pick. Wow.
Reese is a beast. He’s a massive, versatile athlete who can play off-ball linebacker or stand-up edge. The Giants prioritized his ability to create “perfect storm” chaos in a defense looking for alignment variety.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (via CLE): Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
Delane was the top-ranked corner for many scouts due to his lockdown man-coverage skills. The Chiefs traded up with the Browns to secure a definitive No. 1 corner to stabilize their secondary.
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
Styles is a generational athlete with a nearly perfect 9.99 RAS score. The Commanders drafted him to be the centerpiece of Dan Quinn’s defense, essentially serving as a younger, more explosive replacement for Bobby Wagner.
8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
Tyson was a wild card with all the injury concerns. He put some of those doubts to rest with an impressive workout last week. You could see how emotional he was when the Saints picked him.
9. Cleveland Browns (via KC): Spencer Fano (OT, Utah)
The 2025 Outland Trophy winner is seen as the most technically sound tackle in this class. After trading back with the Chiefs, the Browns still landed their cornerstone blindside protector. They also picked up an extra 3rd and 5th by trading back three spots.
10. New York Giants (via CIN): Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami)
He’s a powerhouse blocker with rare strength in the run game. This is a solid pick, but I can’t believe they passed on Caleb Downs here . . . who ends up with the Cowboys!
11. Dallas Cowboys (via MIA): Caleb Downs (SAF, Ohio State)
Like the Giants at pick 5, the Cowboys were sooooo lucky to have this guy fall to them.
Downs is a high-IQ safety who won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. The Cowboys traded up one spot to make him the vocal leader and “quarterback” of their secondary.
12. Miami Dolphins (via DAL): Kadyn Proctor (OT, Alabama)
Proctor is a massive tackle with elite reach and a high-pedigree background. But he’s one of the most polarizing players in the draft. He has huge upside, but there’s risk here. Nick Saban pretty much admitted he wasn’t a self-starter. He once balloned up to 390 pounds.
Worse yet, the Dolphins traded down and passed on Caleb Downs to draft him. That seems crazy to me!
13. LA Rams (via ATL): Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)
Next to the Cardinals drafting Love at 3, this might be the worst pick of the night.
Sure, there’s some logic to drafting him as the heir apparent to veteran Matthew Stafford. But at 13?? Also, the Rams are a serious Super Bowl contender. There are plenty of players on the board who could help them this season.
Finally, you’re drafting a small QB wityh only one season of experience who also looked terrible after a few injuries.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane (G, Penn State)
The Ravens always patiently wait and get a stud. Ioane is a physical “mauler” who fits the Ravens’ identity perfectly.
The Ravens drafted him to reinforce their interior line and power their rushing attack.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE, Miami)
This was a big drop for Bain and his short arms.
Does that make sense? Bain led the nation in pressures and is a versatile powerhouse. He was dominant in the college playoffs. The Buccaneers viewed him as a steal at 15, adding a high-motor rusher who can disrupt from multiple spots on the line.
16. New York Jets (via IND): Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
A modern matchup nightmare who moves more like a wide receiver than a traditional tight end. Sadiq gives their offense a dynamic middle-of-the-field weapon.
17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller (OT, Clemson)
A high-floor starter with extensive experience against top-tier competition. The Lions drafted him to add even more depth and talent to what is already considered one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
This is a boom or bust pick. He’s a beast with potential injury concerns so some called this a reach. Banks is a massive interior presence who can swallow up double teams and disrupt the run. The Vikings targeted him to shore up a defensive front that struggled with consistency in 2025.
19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling (OT, Georgia)
Freeling is nn athletic tackle with long arms and high developmental upside. He might end up being the best left tackle in the draft. The Panthers selected him to provide better long-term protection for Bryce Young.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (via GB): Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
The Eagles traded up and swiped this versatile playmaker from the Steelers who looked like fools as they were calling Lemon to pick him at 21.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor (OT, Arizona State)
After losing out on Lemon, the Steelers rebounded with this physical, aggressive tackle who thrives in gap-scheme blocking. He has tons of raw talent, so he’s a bit of a project for the 21st pick, but he has a very high ceiling.
22. LA Chargers: Akheem Mesidor (EDGE, Miami)
A high-motor defender who can slide inside on passing downs to rush the passer. The Chargers took him to provide rotational depth and tactical flexibility for Jim Harbaugh’s defense. But he’s also 25 years old, so that explains why he didn’t go higher.
23. Dallas Cowboys (via PHI): Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, UCF)
The Cowboys used their second pick of the night to bolster their pass-rush rotation, though the opinions on this player vary wildly. This was a reach.
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
The Browns needed a receiver, and KC gives them a versatile weapon who can contribute in the slot, out wide or out of the backfield. The Browns drafted him to add more speed to their offensive rotation.
25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman (SAF, Oregon)
An elite “centerfield” safety with incredible range and ball skills. The Bears drafted him to be a long-term fixture and playmaker in the back end of their defense.
26. Houston Texans (via BUF): Keylan Rutledge (G, Georgia Tech)
A technically sound and consistent interior blocker. The Texans traded up and selected him to help stabilize the pocket for C.J. Stroud and improve their interior run blocking.
27. Miami Dolphins (via SF): Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)
A fast, feisty corner who excels in press-man coverage. The Dolphins used their second first-round pick to add youth and competition to their secondary.
28. New England Patriots (via BUF): Caleb Lomu (OT, Utah)
An athletic tackle with great feet and pass-protection technique. The Patriots traded back into the first round to make this pick, which makes you wonder about what they think about Will Campbell and where on the line he’ll play next year.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR): Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
A versatile lineman who can play any position on the defensive front. The Chiefs took him to add more disruptive potential alongside All-Pro Chris Jones. This is another polarizing prospect and he sometimes disappeared.
30. New York Jets (via DEN/SF): Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana)
Cooper is a strong-handed receiver who excels at winning 50/50 balls and getting yards after the catch. The Jets suddenly have an impressive set of targets fior Geno Smith.
31. Tennessee Titans (via NE/BUF): Keldric Faulk (EDGE, Auburn)
A powerful defensive end who is elite against the run and still developing as a rusher. The Titans traded back into the round to secure a physical presence for their defensive front.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame)
Another Notre Dame running back? The Seahawks drafted him to replace Kenneth Walker III and maintain a dynamic, high-speed backfield for their offense.
