We are just hours away from the start of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Here are the Mock Drafts I’ve been tracking and a run down of the players that you may see in Round 1. Plus some players to watch for Day 2 and 3.
NFL Mock Draft Review
The Players
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
There really is only 1 QB that is 1st round worthy – Fernando Mendoza, Indiana – he will be the 1st pick in the Draft. The only other player even remotely considered other than Mendoza is Ty Simpson from Alabama who does not have a ton of starts. Simpson has been mocked to PIT, NYJ and AZ at different times, but consensus as you will see does not show him there. The tricky thing is Simpson has been invited to the Draft in Pittsburgh, which would be rare to have a player not selected in the 1st Round be invited. So, it is likely a team like AZ or the Jets will trade back into the back of the 1st Round with SEA or some other team to get Simpson. That will be fun to watch.
Past Round 1, the QB class is pretty light. There are some intriguing prospects like Taylen Green from Arkansas that lit up the Combine. He measures out more like a WR than a QB a la Matt Jones a decade ago. A couple of players that will likely get drafted – Carson Beck, MIA (former Georgia) and Garrett Nussmeier, LSU – both have be arms and size. They did not intrigue scouts enough to be considered at the top of this Draft. However, they should go 3rd through 5th Round. Last guy to mention, Diego Pavia from Vandy has that moxy most teams would love in a backup QB. He may have what it takes to start in the league given the right coach – he is competitive and athletic, if not undersized. He will be a later round guy, too.
Running Backs
Again, there is only 1 RB that is 1st round worthy – Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame – he will be a Top 5 pick in the Draft depending on if there are trades. He has been compared to Saquon Barkley, even if that is a bit lofty a comparison. Love will be a great player in the league, but not unlike Ashton Jeanty who went to the Raiders in 2025 – he may not have immediate impact. The only other RB that could crash Round 1 is he teammate Jadarian Price. Price is also very dynamic, but not a game changer like Love. The Seahawks at Pick 32 are the team slotted for Price, but again, they may trade out and pick him a few picks later in the 2nd Round.
The other RBs are not big names or flashy like the ND guys. However, RB Mike Washington, Arkansas; Adam Randall, Clemson; Demond Claiborne, Wake – all should hear their names called. Another later round player that was Mendoza’s running mate, Roman Hemby just has the making of a guy in a timeshare that will surprise people, a hard runner that will be tough for any team.
Wide Receivers
This will be the WR draft for sure. As many as 6-7 names could be called on Thursday, but even if your team does not pick one in Round 1- never fear there are more to come. The guys at the top – Carnell Tate, Ohio State and Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State – both can crack the Top 10 if things play right. Tate is probably the best of the group, but Tyson has some teams’ eyes despite some injury concerns. Other potential 1st Round guys – Makai Lemon, USC – who did not have a great Combine; KC Concepcion, Texas A&M – who is explosive; Denzel Boston, Washington – who has great size; Omar Cooper, Indiana – can crack the 1st Round.
Later round guys to watch in Rounds 2-4 – Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee – he’s a 50/50 throw winner; Zachariah Branch, Georgia – a slot WR type with good in and out quickness; Skyler Bell, UConn – a smaller program guy that can play; Elijah Sarratt, Indiana – “Waffle House” as he is “always open.” A guy I really want to see drafted, but more likely an Undrafted Free Agent – Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll University – he is a small school guy who has all the tools to play in the League.
O-Line
The line is what makes everyone else look better, but this draft has a lot of good players just not the elite Left Tackles we are used to seeing. A lot of the players I’ll list may end up playing Guard, not Tackle right away.
First Round talent – to me, the best player in this group is OG Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State – he is a Guard, but he is a mauler and can also pass block – if he was a tackle he would be the first lineman off the board. The next three guys are a pick your flavor situation – OT Spencer Fano, Utah will likely start at Guard and need to grow into Tackle – I think he’s the first one off the Board; OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama should be able to play Left or Right Tackle with his size; and OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami – is a large human and profiles as a Right Tackle. Those should be the top 3 tackles with Vega going in the Top 20. Other players that can crack the 1st Round – OT Caleb Lomu, Utah; OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia; OT Blake Miller, Clemson; OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State – all can be from Top 15-30.
The remaining players to watch – OG Chris Bisontis, Texas A&M could crack the 1st Round; my favorite mullet of all time – OG Gennings Dunker, Iowa is a trip; C Connor Lew, Auburn – all will be guys in the first 3 rounds.
Tight Ends
Another light position group this year after 2025’s class was so deep. One first round talent in this Draft – Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon – big, strong, fast – he is a physical specimen who can both block and create matchup nightmares on the outside. He will be a Top 20 guy for sure, but can he crack the Top 10? Possibly.
There are other less sexy names to watch in Rounds 2-5 – Max Klare, Ohio State is a good athlete that may be a sneaky contributor on the right team; Sam Roush, Stanford – is a classic TE of yore – big at 267 lbs – he can be an inline TE; Eli Stowers, Vandy – was a QB that can make athletic plays really made for the modern NFL.
DEFENSE
Edge Rushers
There are 2 guys at the top after Mendoza – Arvell Reese, Ohio State and David Bailey, Texas Tech. The main difference here is that Reese is not necessarily a pure pass rusher. He is a linebacker that can rush, so depending on the scheme he may be a 3-4 OLB vs. 4-3 DE. Bailey is a prototypical rusher with a little more size. Reese has the higher ceiling, while Bailey has the higher floor. After that, there are 2 other guys that will go in the 1st – Rueben Bain, Miami – the stud rusher from the Canes – his big knock is his arm length; and Keldric Faulk, Auburn who like Bailey is a classic 4-3 DE with explosiveness.
Other Edge guys to consider – Akheem Mesidor, Miami as Bain’s running mate and even if he falls from the 1st round will be a great pro. He has incredible work ethic and effort. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M is another disruptive player with burst; Malachi Lawrence, UCF has been mocked in the 1st at times with all the measurables. All 3 could get into the 1st. TJ Parker, Clemson and the 2 Michigan players – Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham are quality players after the 1st.
Defensive Tackles
Not a super deep group this year at DT. There are 2-3 players who can hit the 1st Round. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State should be a lock as a run stopper and Peter Woods, Clemson is also mocked in the 1st by most people. Caleb Banks, Florida has long arms and height, but may struggle with that higher leverage inside.
Later round players – Lee Hunter, Texas Tech was key in the Red Raiders’ front and should be a 2nd Rounder. Christen Miller, Georgia is a solid player. Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss is a big man at 6’7″ who can implode a line.
Linebackers
There is one inside LB and maybe one more that can crack the 1st Round. Sonny Styles, Ohio State is my favorite player in this draft. He is 6’5″, 244 lbs and can run like a deer. Like one of my former favorites – Brian Urlacher – he started a Safety and converted to LB. So, he can cover and defend the run. Plus, with his speed, he will be a great blitzer. The only other guy I’ve seen in the 1st at times – CJ Allen, Georgia – a leader of the defense who plays with instincts and toughness.
Other players who will go from Rounds 2-4 – Anthony Hill, Texas – who can stop the run and cover; Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech was the playmaker for that Tech D; Jake Golday, Cincinnati – looks to be an immediate contributor with speed.
Secondary
The NFL is a passing league – if you have top WRs entering then you need top cover people. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State is the best player in the secondary in this draft – a playmaking Safety that can also stop the run. The CB group is interesting this year – LSU’s Mansoor Delane is the best of the bunch – best a press coverage; Jermod McCoy, Tennessee – has fallen with injury concerns of late; Avieon Terrell, Clemson – not a tall guy, but very athletic and competitive; and Colton Hood, Tennessee – another press coverage CB who can sneak in the back end of the 1st. There are 2 other Safeties of note – Dillon Thieneman, Oregon who is a ball hawk on the back end and his Combine really pushed him up the Board; Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo is a small school guy who packs a wallop – I’m a big fan of his for a team that wants a tempo setting player that makes your D tougher.
Other notable players in later rounds – CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State has been mocked at the end of the 1st at times – he’s a bigger CB; D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana is a good slot CB; CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina is a pure athlete. Safeties – AJ Haulcy, LSU is a classic strong Safety and Bud Clark, TCU is a 6th year senior who is a competitor.
Here are the mock drafters I’ve been tracking. The dates are listed under their name. I show the average draft position and percentage in the first round.
Enjoy the Draft. Should be a fun couple of days.
Wegs