The Geno Smith experiment has not gone as the Raiders had hoped, leaving Las Vegas with a massive need at the most important position in sports. The team addresses that hole here, taking a polished and steely signal caller in Mendoza. The Hoosiers star and Heisman winner is an accurate rhythm passer who helped elevate the Indiana football program to new heights. The Raiders surely hope that Mendoza can do that with their franchise as well. 

The Jets haven’t exactly had the best luck at picking quarterbacks for, well, forever, but that doesn’t mean they should stop trying. New York grabs a talented passer here in Moore, who throws with good zip and accuracy both from the pocket and on the run. Moore has a limited number of college starts (19 between his time at Oregon and UCLA), but he’s an ascending playmaker with the tools to develop into a franchise quarterback. 

The Cardinals have holes all over the roster, so they can go in pretty much any direction with this pick. They make a prudent choice in bolstering the offensive line here, grabbing a potential bookend tackle in Fano to pair with 2023 first-rounder Paris Johnson Jr. Fano has experience starting at both tackle spots, but Arizona could drop him on the right side from day one. There’s no telling what the Cardinals will do at quarterback going forward, but whatever path they take, it’ll help to have some quality blocking up front. 

The Titans already have a lot of beef in the middle of their defensive front in Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat, and now they add a versatile and explosive defender in Reese, who can get after the quarterback from the edge or play off the ball at linebacker. Tennessee has a lot of work to do to shore up this defensive unit, but Reese is a foundational player to build around for the future. 

The Giants keep adding to an already stacked front, bolstering their pass rush unit with a high-intensity defender in Bailey. A transfer from Stanford, Bailey emerged as an elite chaos creator for Texas Tech in 2025, notching 14.5 sacks (tied for best in the FBS) and 19.5 tackles for loss (second) in 14 games. He’s a blur off the edge and gives New York yet another difference-making playmaker up front.

The Browns look to rebuild what was once one of the better offensive line groups in the league, nabbing a tough and physical blocker in Mauigoa. The Hurricanes stalwart blocks with a powerful punch and cool demeanor, giving Cleveland a big boost at either the right tackle or guard spots. Whether it’s Shedeur Sanders or someone else starting at quarterback for the Browns in 2026 and beyond, they’re going to need more on the offensive line than what they had in 2025. 

The Commanders have been an absolute sieve against the run this year, and they haven’t been much better against the pass. They need more young talent on the edges of their defensive line and get that here in Faulk, who brings excellent size, length, and power to the unit. The Auburn standout can affect the play on all three downs and gives Washington’s coaching staff flexibility to move him around the front. 

Kellen Moore has done a lot of good things for the Saints offense this year, and the team might just have found a long-term starter in quarterback Tyler Shough. Adding more talent to the team’s receiver group makes a ton of sense. Tate is a silky-smooth route runner with automatic hands and a penchant for winning at the catch point. He’s an excellent complement to Chris Olave and gives New Orleans another playmaker at all three levels.  

The Chiefs look to strengthen their defensive back room here, grabbing an instinctive cover corner in Delane. The Tigers standout excels in both press and off-man looks, showing a knack for anticipating routes and making plays on the ball at the catch point. Delane did not give up a touchdown in coverage this year, per PFF.

McCoy could be just what the doctor ordered for the Bengals pass defense, which ranked among the worst in almost every meaningful metric. The Volunteers star missed all of the 2025 season after tearing his ACL, but his reaction speed, ball skills, and instincts are all apparent on his 2024 tape. 

With Tyreek Hill’s future in Miami in doubt, the Dolphins need to add more playmaking pass catchers to complement Jaylen Waddle. Sadiq could do exactly that. He offers good speed to get up the seam or run after the catch and has strong vise-grip hands to corral passes in traffic. He could develop into a high-volume pass catcher in Miami, but he’s also an effective and relatively reliable blocker in the run game—giving the team a bonus on the ground and through the air. 

The Cowboys get great value here with their first of two day one picks, adding a big-time defender in Downs. The younger brother of Colts receiver Josh Downs, the former Buckeye is a do-everything playmaker who can line up just about anywhere in the back end to cover, blitz, and tackle. He’s the type of talent Dallas can build its secondary around. 

The Rams look to improve their secondary with the first of their two first-round picks, grabbing a high-level playmaker in Terrell. The younger brother of Falcons corner A.J. Terrell, Avieon is a tenacious defender with a knack for always being around the ball. He racked up big play after big play for Clemson, totalling 106 tackles (nine for a loss), two picks, 21 pass breakups, and eight forced fumbles in his past two seasons. 

The Ravens add to the trenches by landing Woods here, potentially another great value pick for GM Eric DeCosta. Woods is a spritely big man, boasting excellent foot quickness and burst off the snap. He plays with good leverage in the run game and can shoot through gaps and catch offensive linemen off guard as a pass rusher, using his strong hands to rip and swipe opponents out of the way. He’s capable of lining up at multiple spots on the defensive line for Baltimore. 

The Buccaneers need to plan for life after Lavonte David, who’s almost 36 years old and is heading into free agency. Allen could help. He’s a speedy, athletic linebacker who flies around the field and makes an impact as a blitzer, tackler, and coverage defender. Allen’s range and incredible makeup speed in pass coverage are huge pluses, and he closes in on the ballcarrier in a flash. 

After taking their quarterback of the future with the no. 2 pick, the Jets turn around here and get him some playmaking talent. Tyson is a good-sized pass catcher who runs routes with sharp, sudden cuts, and he gets open with top-tier burst and acceleration. Alongside Garrett Wilson, Tyson provides a big boost to Dante Moore in his development as a franchise quarterback. 

The Lions add another kneecap-biting defensive lineman in Bain, a tough and powerful pass rusher with a tenacious, high-motor style. The Miami star wins as a rusher with a combination of explosiveness, powerful hands, and enough bend to dip past offensive linemen. He’s a solid run defender who can contribute on all three downs for Dan Campbell and Co. 

The Vikings add some muscle to their defensive line, grabbing a powerhouse in McDonald. The Buckeyes stalwart has a rotund build and plays with immense strength and physicality. He has quick feet and excellent agility for his size, and he uses his hands to rip and swipe away at blocks as he collapses the pocket or finds his way into it. 

The Panthers address their linebacker group here by grabbing the rangy Styles. The Buckeyes ’backer brings a scintillating combination of athleticism and length, and he’s always around the ball. Styles racked up 21.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, nine passes defensed, and three forced fumbles over the past three seasons for Ohio State. He’s comfortable in space, can play both the pass and the run, and is explosive when closing on the ballcarrier.

The Cowboys continue to build on defense, using the second of their two first-round picks to grab an edge defender. Howell is an explosive, flexible rusher with a quick first step and the ability to dip and duck under blocks to get into the pocket. The former Aggies standout has his gas pedal mashed to the floorboard at all times and should up the intensity on the Dallas defensive line. 

Whether or not Aaron Rodgers is back for another year, the Steelers desperately need to address their lack of depth at receiver. They do that here, adding the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner. The former Trojans standout has lightning-quick feet as a route runner and can stop and cut on a dime to separate. He’ll be an excellent complement to DK Metcalf and can line up all across the formation for Pittsburgh. 

The Chargers bolster their interior defensive line with a high-upside prospect in Washington, who has just one year of starting experience but possesses a rare combination of size and athleticism. The Ducks standout is a mountain of a man (listed at 6-foot-3, 330 pounds) with very quick feet and an explosive first step. He overwhelms blockers against the run and flashes the ability to shoot into the pocket as a pass rusher. 

The Eagles love to build through the trenches, and they do that again here, grabbing a gargantuan offensive lineman in Proctor. At 6-foot-7 and 366 pounds, he brings people-moving power and has relatively light feet. In Philly, he could start at guard, with the potential to move to tackle down the line. 

Despite what Brandon Beane might try to tell us, the Bills still need help at the receiver position. Keon Coleman has been a disappointment, and Khalil Shakir does most of his work from the slot. Concepcion is the type of playmaker that Josh Allen and this Buffalo offense need. He’s a great run-after-the-catch option but has also proved that he can be impactful as a vertical big-play receiver on the outside as well. 

The Bears offense is ascending under Ben Johnson, but on defense they need to get better. Chicago starts from the inside out here, grabbing a brawler in Miller. The former Bulldogs standout has a big, beefy frame and plays with immense upper-body strength. He’s a force against the run and has flashed the ability to collapse and affect the pocket, using rip moves to send offensive linemen flailing. 

The 49ers need to think about a long-term successor for Trent Williams at some point, and they get a head start on that here. Lomu is a smooth mover with top-tier upside as a blindside blocker (and he has a little bit of experience at right tackle, too). He gives the team flexibility on the offensive line for 2026 and beyond.

Love is too good to have fallen this far. The Texans stop his tumble here, grabbing the dynamic and versatile playmaker out of Notre Dame. The Doak Walker Award–winning back is effective on all three downs and gives Houston’s run game some much-needed juice. Love will pair perfectly with Woody Marks to give the Texans the type of backfield they need to take some of the pressure off C.J. Stroud. 

The Browns add talent to their cornerback room with Cisse, a good-sized defender who is sticky in coverage and can run step for step with receivers downfield. Cisse is comfortable in man coverage and has a good feel in zone, playing with anticipation to break on the ball and knock it away at the catch point. 

Davante Adams isn’t getting any younger, so the Rams look to the future here for another big-time ball-winner in Boston to pair with Puka Nacua for the long term. The former Huskies star has good size, the speed to get deep, and the very good body control necessary to either go down low to scoop a pass or sky up high to pluck it at its highest point. 

The Patriots look to reinforce their defensive front with this pick, grabbing a tough and physical lineman in Parker. The Clemson standout is a strong edge setter and run defender, and he rushes the passer with a high motor and aggressiveness. He brings potential to be a three-down contributor early on. 

Denver gets bigger and tougher in the trenches with this pick, adding a massive defender in Banks to the mix. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, Banks is long and athletic, boasting excellent twitch and movement skills for his size. He wins with a variety of pass-rush moves and brings sky-high potential. He missed all but three games in 2025 with a foot injury, but Denver is willing to bet on his upside. 

The Seahawks took a guard in the first round of last year’s draft (Grey Zabel), but if they get the chance to solidify their interior offensive line in 2026, they should absolutely do it again here. Ioane is tough and reliable, displaying excellent balance and power as a blocker. He’d fit Seattle’s identity for toughness in the run game.