The McShay Mock Draft

Behind the scenes, Mendoza has already been preparing for the transition, working with Brian Griese on the nuances of an NFL system (likely Klint Kubiak’s). His private workout and visit in Bloomington functioned more like an early install than a typical predraft stop.

The Raiders have prepared for this the right way. Signing Kirk Cousins gives them a veteran bridge and allows Mendoza to develop on a proper timeline—very much in line with the Brady philosophy of not rushing young quarterbacks.

Mendoza is transitioning from a shotgun-heavy, RPO-based offense to a scheme where he’ll take roughly 50 percent of his snaps under center, with an emphasis on wide zone play-action and quick, timing-based decisions. But there’s nothing in Mendoza’s background to suggest he won’t handle it. It’s just a new system, a new language, and a new pace. Las Vegas is committed to giving him the time he needs to develop.

Now we’re back to Bailey, and it’s close to a foregone conclusion in NFL circles.

While the Jets are miles away from playoff contention, HC Aaron Glenn needs to build positive momentum in 2026. Bailey gives them an elite pass rusher immediately. He’ll take his lumps as a run defender, but the real value at edge (the league’s second-most valued position) is pass rush production.

Pairing Bailey with Will McDonald IV will give the Jets a strong, young defensive foundation.

If they go corner, Mansoor Delane would be a clean fit, but because edge is the second-most premium position in the NFL behind only quarterback, moving up for Reese would make a lot of sense. If the price is right—I’m projecting pick no. 42 this year plus a 2027 second-rounder—it’d be exactly the type of deal that GM Mickey Loomis has never been shy about making. He even explained to us at the Senior Bowl why he believes so strongly in going up to get a player the Saints truly covet.

From Khalil Mack to Joey Bosa to Tuli Tuipulotu to Leonard Floyd to Chase Young, difference-making edge prospects come in different shapes, sizes, and 40 times, but they all share one trait: elite takeoff speed. Reese fits that mold. He may not be fully polished, but his 1.58-second 10-yard split (94th percentile over the past three drafts) shows up on tape with explosive get-off speed. Plus, Staley values versatility across all three levels, and Reese’s background as an off-ball linebacker convert would give the defense real flexibility.

This Titans situation is different. It’s a new regime that has already reshaped the roster, particularly on defense, with the additions of Jermaine Johnson II, John Franklin-Myers, Alontae Taylor, and Cordale Flott. More importantly, they have a second-year quarterback in Cam Ward—now paired with Brian Daboll and an improved offensive line—who’s in a critical stage of his development. At this point, it’s about surrounding him with playmakers.

Love fits that vision perfectly. He’s 6 feet and 212 pounds with excellent vision, power behind his pads, loose feet, and 4.36-second 40 speed, which makes him a high-end runner. But what really elevates him for Tennessee is his versatility. Love’s dynamic impact in the passing game (10.4 yards per catch last season) and his reliability in pass protection make him a true three-down factor.

I even reached out to former coaches and personnel who’ve worked with Harbaugh to get a sense of which way he might lean, and while linebacker and safety are important, there’s a belief he would go offensive line in this scenario.

Taking Mauigoa after signing Jermaine Eluemunor—with both players capable of playing right tackle or sliding inside to guard—would give the Giants valuable flexibility to get their best five on the field. Mauigoa is massive, at 6 feet, 5 1/2 inches and 329 pounds, and he was a three-year starter and 2025 team captain at Miami. His arm length is a bit shorter than ideal, but it doesn’t show up as a major issue on tape. He’s a powerful run blocker with impressive range for his size, and he more than holds his own in pass protection.

Beyond the off-the-charts testing, Styles is widely regarded as one of the smartest players in the draft. One executive told me that he’ll run a company when his football days are over. He should step in and improve the football IQ of this defense and help clean up the play at the second and third levels.

If there’s any question about the value in trading up for an off-ball linebacker, just look at what the Eagles did last year: Vic Fangio and Parker moved up for Jihaad Campbell, and his impact showed up immediately.

They were on the wrong side of history last season as the only team to play at least 16 games without a single receiver topping 400 yards (Garrett Wilson led the way with 395 in just seven games), and that has to change.

Tate brings the profile they’re missing. He’s over 6-foot-2 with massive 10 1/4–inch hands, which helped him secure 85.7 percent of his contested catch opportunities in 2025. He’s not a pure burner, with 4.53-second 40 speed, but plenty of top NFL receivers have lived in that range, and Tate wins where it matters as an exceptional deep route runner with strong ball skills.

With Tate at X and a healthy Wilson at Z, the Jets would finally have the kind of perimeter firepower needed to stabilize the offense and properly support a future franchise quarterback from the loaded 2027 class.

Arizona’s issues up front were clear last season, as it allowed the fifth-most sacks in the league (59) and struggled to run effectively outside the tackles. Fano directly addresses both problems and helps an improving unit that added Isaac Seumalo in free agency. 

The discussion about Fano’s arm length is real, but that hasn’t shown up as a major issue on tape. He started 12 games at left tackle as a freshman and then logged 24 starts at right tackle over the past two seasons. He’s an excellent athlete who has consistently protected at a high level, and his mobility was a key factor in Utah’s outside run and screen games. At 6 feet, 5 1/2 inches and 311 pounds, Fano tied for the fastest 40-yard dash among offensive tackles over the past three years, and his 32-inch vertical (72nd percentile) highlights his lower-body explosiveness.

That said, I’ve been getting a lot of questions from teams about Tyson and where he might land, which is typically my biggest indicator that a player’s going earlier than expected. The long-term questions about his knee aren’t as big a concern in Kansas City as they might be elsewhere, as the Chiefs are looking to win now with Patrick Mahomes still in his prime. 

A healthy Tyson is arguably the best wide receiver in the class. He’s a 6-foot-2-plus target who consistently separates and is a reliable option (1.6 percent drop rate last season), traits that Mahomes desperately needs at the position.

But the prevailing feeling around the league is that Cincinnati won’t pass on the opportunity to draft an Ohio State star in this spot, and Downs is more than worthy of the 10th overall pick. His game draws comparisons to two of the best safeties of the modern era: Eric Berry and Earl Thomas, both top-15 picks who went on to multiple Pro Bowls.

What stands out most on Delane’s tape is his football intelligence—particularly how seamlessly he transitions from man to zone—along with how natural and effortless he looks when the ball is in the air. The testing backs it up, too, as the 6-foot, 187-pound corner boosted his stock with a high-4.3 run at LSU’s pro day.

Proctor’s evaluation is a bit of a roller coaster. The tape is inconsistent, and the weight fluctuation—from around 390 pounds to 365 during the season to 352 at the combine—raises legitimate concerns. But at 6 feet, 6 5/8 inches and 352 pounds, he’s a rare mover, posting a 5.21-second 40 and a 32.5-inch vertical. Offensive tackle is a traits-driven position, and Cleveland is an analytics-driven organization. This is exactly the kind of bet it’s willing to make.

The production backs up the tape: Lemon averaged over 3.0 yards per route run against both man and zone coverage during his college career. Since 2021, only five other receivers have done that: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jaylen Waddle, D’Wayne Eskridge, Ja’Marr Chase, and DeVonta Smith.

From what I’ve been told, Bain could still go as high as no. 9 to Kansas City, but his arm length is a real concern and may contribute to a draft-day slide (no edge with sub-31-inch arms has gone in the first round in at least two decades). It’s worth noting that teams have known about and investigated Bain’s involvement in a fatal 2024 car crash for months, so this projected slide is not a reflection of that news.

Guard Vega Ioane and TE Kenyon Sadiq are also very much in play for the Ravens here.

Production-wise, he checks out. He had 12.5 sacks, a 21.3 percent pass rush win rate (just behind Bain and Bailey in this class), and four forced fumbles in his final college season. That’s the type of impact the Bucs need off the edge.

He would step in as an immediate starter, and his inside-out versatility would give Blough flexibility in three-receiver sets, where Cooper could work alongside Terry McLaurin and either Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, or Deebo Samuel.

With or without the 30-year-old Samuel, there’s a clear role here for Cooper, as neither Treylon Burks nor Van Jefferson nor Dyami Brown has reached even 30 catches in any of the past three seasons. Cooper’s physicality, toughness, strength through the catch, and ability to generate YAC with contact balance and body control make him an ideal fit. He’d line up opposite McLaurin and give Daniels a big, reliable target who can consistently win in contested situations.

Miller is 6 feet, 6 3/4 inches and 317 pounds with 34 1/4–inch arms, and he ran a 5.04-second 40, posted a 32-inch vertical (72nd percentile among the last three OT classes), and put up 32 bench reps (the best among offensive linemen at the last three combines).

He also brings experience and reliability, with 54 career starts, and is widely viewed as one of the highest-character players in the class. He’s all about consistency and grit, which makes him a natural culture fit for Dan Campbell’s Lions.

It really comes down to stylistic preference, and for Minnesota, the need is clear: a big, physical outside receiver to complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Boston fits that mold perfectly. His ball skills—including a 77 percent contested catch rate—stand out, and he brings the size and physicality this offense is missing. He also pairs well with a mobile quarterback thanks to his natural feel for uncovering downfield in scramble situations. As the new era begins with Kyler Murray under center, this would be a strong, clean fit.

That athleticism shows up on tape and was on full display at the combine, where he ran a 4.39-second 40 (an all-time record for tight ends) and posted a 43-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad jump—both in the 97th percentile among TEs over the past three years.

That said, you could make a strong argument that cornerback is the bigger need, and McCoy offers outstanding value here. He’s a top-10 talent who slides to no. 20 largely due to concerns about his knee after he tore his ACL, PCL, and MCL in January 2025. He looked excellent at Tennessee’s pro day—running in the 4.3s and moving well in position drills—but medical evaluations remain mixed.

When healthy, McCoy is a sudden, fast ball hawk with real toughness. He may not be quite at the level that prospects like Patrick Surtain II and Derek Stingley Jr. were, but he’s not far off—comfortably in that next tier.

At 6 feet, 4 1/4 inches and 320 pounds, Ioane is a powerful, physical presence who consistently moves defenders in the run game. He’s not an elite athlete, but he more than makes up for that with awareness, balance, and play strength, grading out as a high-level pass protector.

Thieneman brings the range and coverage ability to help clean up those numbers and fill a positional need immediately. He’s both the best player available on my board and the type of rangy, coverage-oriented safety that DC Dennis Allen wants.

This is the perfect time to plan for the future at offensive tackle. Freeling isn’t polished after just 18 starts at Georgia, but he has elite traits worth developing.

It’s also worth noting that the league is higher on Concepcion than the public thinks. Many teams I’ve spoken with have him graded as a WR4 or WR5 in this class. The main concern is his tendency to drop passes in traffic, but outside of that, he’s a dynamic YAC threat who found pay dirt 30 times over the past three seasons. His ability to transition quickly upfield after the catch, combined with his vision and stop-start quickness, really stands out on tape.

Donte Jackson was the top performer in that group last season, while Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart—both 2024 fifth-round picks—continued to develop. Adding Johnson, who is generating more buzz in league circles than people probably realize, would give the Chargers an immediate upgrade and long-term stability at the position in a division featuring Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix, and now Fernando Mendoza.

As for why Johnson over Colton Hood, who ranks higher on many boards, it comes down to scheme fit. DC Chris O’Leary leans heavily on zone-match concepts, which align perfectly with Johnson’s strengths: quick processing, man-zone versatility, ball skills, and physicality in the run game.

First, although Buffalo won’t pick again until no. 91, there will likely be impact receivers (think Malachi Fields, Elijah Sarratt, or Deion Burks) available there. Second, Faulk represents excellent value at no. 26. The production at Auburn wasn’t eye-popping, and I understand why some scouts question his ceiling as a pass rusher, but his skill set is unique, he just turned 21, and, at minimum, he’s already a very strong run defender.

Third—and most importantly—the Bills have a real pass rush problem, and that’s not something Allen can fix. They ranked 27th in pass rush win rate (31 percent) last season and managed just one sack across two playoff games. Even if you’re skeptical about Faulk’s pass rush upside, his ability to hold up against the run will help keep the rotation fresh and create better situations for others to get after the quarterback.

He’s a bit high-cut and could stand to add more bulk, but he’s a high-level athlete with the quickness, balance, and mirroring ability you look for at the position.

I don’t see him kicking inside to guard in 2026, but that’s up to Kyle Shanahan and his staff. Either way, this is good business. Draft, develop, and have your next left tackle ready to go on a rookie deal for four years.

Iheanachor gives Houston flexibility to get its best five offensive linemen on the field—potentially with him at right tackle and Smith kicking inside to guard—a competition that would sort itself out in training camp.

He’s still developing, particularly working on his hand placement and occasional lunging, which makes sense given that he’s relatively new to football after growing up in Nigeria and not playing high school football. But the traits are undeniable, and his progression in a short amount of time has been impressive.

Hood brings a physical, aggressive play style with the ability to turn and run vertically (verified 4.44-second 40 speed). He’s still developing his instincts when the ball is in the air, but the traits, competitiveness, and confidence are all there for him to grow into a high-level starter.

That creates an opportunity for Arizona. After trading down from no. 3 to no. 8 and adding extra capital this year and in a QB-rich 2027 class, they’re in a position to take a calculated swing. The cost (a fifth- and sixth-round pick) is minimal, and they’d land a quarterback with legitimate starting upside who fits first-year HC Mike LaFleur’s system. Just as importantly, it would give them a full year to evaluate Simpson internally before deciding how aggressive they want to be in next year’s quarterback market.

While the offensive and defensive lines may be higher priorities—especially if the anticipated A.J. Brown move happens after June 1—this pick checks both the value and future need boxes.

McNeil-Warren has average top-end speed and comes from a non-P4 program, but he’s a smooth mover with quick processing, toughness, and confidence—all traits the Patriots likely valued during his visit. He’s also a proven playmaker, finishing 2025 with five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions.

Parker was viewed as an ascending talent entering the 2025 season, but things didn’t quite go as planned (which was the case for several Clemson prospects). NFL teams seem to think there were some off-field factors—including getting married during the season and adjusting to a new defensive coordinator—that contributed to the uneven year.

Physically, though, the traits are clear. At 6 feet, 3 1/2 inches and 263 pounds with 33 1/8–inch arms and verified 4.68-second 40 speed, Parker is a power-based edge who can collapse the pocket and set a strong edge against the run. Based on his 2024 tape and Senior Bowl performance, he still profiles as a first-round talent, making this a potential high-value pick for Seattle, and one that helps offset the loss of Boye Mafe in free agency.