1. LV- Fernando Mendoza QB IU – There’s no mystery. Moving on.

2. ***PROJECTED TRADE #1*** TEN (from NYJ) – Arvell Reese EDGE/LB tOSU- Few are more tapped into the NFL draft than Daniel Jeremiah and he recently said he’s hearing it’s Bailey or Arvell Reese at 2 for the Jets with Bailey being more likely. With that plus the Jets clearly looking at 2027 and beyond in mind, I’m thinking the Jets are open for business at 2 and it wouldn’t take a ton to move them off that pick. I think the Titans are high on Reese and his flexibility to play both off-ball and on the edge.

3. AZ- Sonny Styles LB tOSU- The Cardinals need help at OL and QB, but there isn’t good value at 3 for OL (Francis Mauigoa may be best at guard) and really isn’t good value for QB. I have them going BPA with Styles who is an immediate floor-raiser for an entire defense. You rarely see off-ball LBs go this high, but you rarely see prospects as talented at the position as Styles. Plus, this draft isn’t strong at the top at the premier positions.

4. NYJ (from TEN)- David Bailey EDGE TT – Completing the thought from the trade for pick 2. Bailey is a more well-known commodity at edge vs. the projection that is Reese.

5. NYG- Carnell Tate WR tOSU- The third tOSU player in the top 5. How did they ever lose? I think the Giants are going to try to build options for Jaxson Dart (the first should be to not lead with his head when he runs and to slide occasionally). They have Malik Nabers as an explosive short and intermediate weapon and someone I think is a true WR1 of the future. They don’t have a field stretcher. Tate is most adept as a vertical threat, which also fits Dart’s style. I’m not as high on Tate as others, but he does profile to a Tee Higgins type.

6. CLE- Monroe Freeling OT UGA- Ok, time for the Browns to do something stupid. Well, I can at least see the logic in this one. They currently have Dawand Jones at LT. He is a piss poor LT. Francis Mauigoa is the best OL in the draft, but he might profile best as a guard and doesn’t fit the profile of what the Browns usually take (long arms). Freeling is 6’7” with 34 & 3/4” arms and very athletic. He has a high ceiling but is super green with bust potential.

7. WAS- Jeremiyah Love RB ND- The ‘Manders get a perfect pick for them. Love is my #2 overall player and I like him the best at the position since Bijan (including over Jeanty last year). He’s a home run threat on the ground and a legit weapon in the pass game. If you want to give Jayden Daniels some help, there are few better choices.

8. NO- Rueben Bain Jr. EDGE TheU- Bain slides a bit and it’s all Will Campbell’s fault. Will Campbell was the 4th pick in last year’s draft and got his lunch very publicly taken in Super Bowl 60. Most blamed it on his unusually short arms. Rueben Bain measured 30 and 7/8” arms at the combine (for reference, edge rushers are usually 33”+). Bain has the talent and production to be the 2nd overall pick, but I think he slides because teams don’t want to play the outlier game in the top 5 two years in a row. I think he’s a perfect fit for the Saints to replace Cam Jordan. Bain reminds me a lot of Jared Verse in that he’s a damn wrecking-ball.

9. KC- Jermod McCoy CB Tenn- The Chiefs lost both of their top corners to the Rams on March 11- Trent McDuffie via trade and Jaylen Watson via free agency. I think they go with McCoy who was a presumptive top 10 pick prior to an ACL tear in January of ’25. McCoy’s workouts make him look 100% ready to go.

10. ***PROJECTED TRADE #2*** MIN (from CIN)- Caleb Downs S tOSU. I’m so sorry, VOR. I know the Bengals need a safety and I love Downs (he’s my #1 overall player), but recently they tend to go only for crazy physical specimens with their first-round picks (Shemar Stewart, Amarius Mims, Myles Murphy, Daxton Hill). Downs is amazing. Highly intelligent, off-the-charts instincts, but he doesn’t fit that physical profile. If anything, he’s a bit average on size and athleticism for the position. Enter the Vikings who are looking to replace Harrison Smith at safety and looking to get ahead of the Cowboys at 12 who would certainly like Downs.

11. MIA- Francis Mauigoa OL TheU- I think Mauigoa is the best OL in the draft, and the Dolphins have needs essentially everywhere. Figure out where Mauigoa fits best and you’ve got a nice building block for whoever comes after Malik Willis. Plus, low moving costs!

12. DAL- Mansoor Delane CB LSU- The Cowboys pass defense was atrocious in 2025, giving up a league worst 288 passing yards per game last year. They DFA-ed Trevon Diggs before the end of the season and 3rd round rookie Shavon Revel did not remotely play to his potential. They have multiple holes in the secondary, but I have them taking Delane here, who should start immediately at corner.

13. LAR- Makai Lemon WR USC- The Rams have Puka Nacua and Davante Adams at WR, but Adams turns 34 this season and I don’t know if you’ve seen the news recently, but Puka is in rehab after a string of truly bizarre behavior. Puka is also entering the final year of his rookie deal. If you’re the Rams, can you honestly offer him an extension at this point? Can you see Adams on this roster in 2027? I don’t think either one is a yes at this moment. I think Lemon fits the Rams the best both for this season and the future. He’s undersized and probably needs to be mainly out of the slot, but he is a hard-nosed SOB who isn’t afraid to make tough catches (like Puka) and has great YAC ability.

14. BAL- Kadyn Proctor OL Bama- Lots of chatter that Proctor will go a lot higher than people think- that a lot of the concerns with him were weight-related at the start of the season and he got his shit together by the end of it. He’s massive and athletic and fits the downhill scheme that Baltimore likes to play. Plus, he’s from Alabama and the Ravens love Alabama.

15. ***PROJECTED TRADE #3*** DAL (from TB)- Dillon Thieneman S Oregon- Remember how I just mentioned how awful the Cowboys pass defense was? They move up from 20 to 15 to ensure they get a 2nd starter in Thieneman (whom I think the Bengals would strongly consider at 18- sorry again, VOR).

16. NYJ- Jordan Tyson WR ASU- Tyson has the highest upside of any WR in the draft, but he’s also available at pick 16 as the 3rd receiver taken because he’s missed time with injury in each of the last 3 seasons. Were he healthy, I could see him at 5. Again, I’ve got the Jets essentially punting 2026, so they can take the upside swings that other teams looking for immediate gratification can’t.

17. DET- Spencer Fano OT Utah- Two years ago, the Lions had the best OL in football without much question. Injuries, attrition, and age have bumped them to the middle of the pack. They are planning to move Penei Sewell to left tackle with the departure of Taylor Decker. Fano is super athletic (like Sewell’s draft profile) and can slot in immediately on the right side.

18. CIN- Vega Ioane OG PSU- The Bengals have to improve their OL. First and foremost, you’re getting Joe Burrow absolutely beat to shit. Second, you had the worst run game in the entire league. Ioane helps with both. He hasn’t allowed a sack since 2023 and only allowed 4 pressures on 613 snaps this year. He’s also excellent in the type of scheme the Bengals want to try to run.

19. CAR- Kenyon Sadiq TE Oregon- A pass catcher in the first round three years in a row? When your current TE is Tommy Tremble (who is ass) one of those picks was Xavier Legette (who is super mega ass), it makes sense. Sadiq is a super athletic move TE who does give effort in blocking (though it’s not his forte). Pairing him with McMillan and Coker gives Bryce Young some nice, big targets.

20. TB (from DAL)- Akheem Mesidor EDGE TheU- When you think of old draft prospects, think of Akheem! He just turned 25, but the Bucs desperately need some help getting to the QB off the edge. I love Mesidor’s motor and physicality but worry about his physical limitations.

21. PIT- KC Concepcion WR aTm- What are the Steelers doing? Like… honestly. WTF are you doing in hiring Mike McCarthy? Is this to try to lure Rodgers into coming back? Is that also why you signed Michael Pittman Jr., who turns 29 this year to play alongside DK Metcalf, who also turns 29 this year? It can’t be because you love Mason Rudolph. Since I have no idea what they’re doing and assume it’s to placate Rodgers in some misguided way, I’m giving them KC Concepcion, who I am way higher on than most. He adds an electric YAC dimension to the Steelers that they don’t have. DK can go up and get it on the vertical routes, Pittman is a solid possession option, but they don’t have a just-get-him-the-ball-in-space guy.

22. LAC- Keldric Faulk DL/EDGE Auburn- If you just grade the flashes and the physical tools, Faulk is a top 10 player in the draft. 6’6” 285#, 35” vert, by all accounts a high character guy, positional flexibility, and not even 21 yet. Big paws on a puppy. But he doesn’t really know what he’s doing when he’s out on the field. He’s super green. He needs tutelage. He needs a place where he won’t be counted on to be a 10-sack contributor right away. I think the Chargers are a good fit with Khalil Mack at the end of his career and Tuli Tuipulotu blossoming into a star. Faulk can likely start out at a 30-front DE and maybe get some reps as an OLB. Let him grow.

23. PHI- Max Iheanachor OT ASU- This seems like such a Philly pick to me. Lane Johnson is nearing the end of his career. Iheanachor is still learning football (he only started playing 4 years ago) but he’s incredibly gifted physically. Like Faulk, he can ideally take a de facto redshirt year and be ready when Johnson retires.

24. CLE- Denzel Boston WR UW- The Browns need help at WR (among other places). Jerry Jeudy was their #1 WR (yuck) and Cedric Tillman, who was projected to break out, was a disappointment. Boston is a true X receiver at 6’4” who is excellent at winning contested balls (likely needed with Shedeur’s inaccurate ass throws this year) and is a good route runner.

25. BEARRSSSSSSSSSS- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren S Toledo- The Bears let both Byard and Brisker walk this offseason. They brought in COBY! Bryant to fill the Byard role. The only other safety they have on the roster is Elijah Hicks, who I sure as hell don’t want to rely on. This is an excellent safety class, so you could make the argument to wait until the 2nd for someone like AJ Haulcey (who is incredibly Brisker-y), but if EMW is there, I think you take him over an edge or a DT. He’s a big safety- 6’ 3 & ½” and ran a 4.52. He creates takeaways- 6 forced fumbles and 5 INTs at Toledo. He blows receivers the fuck up. I’m in.

Speeding through the rest of these because this is already too long…
26. BUF- Omar Cooper Jr. WR IU- Getting another weapon for Josh Allen because I don’t think the 2026 version of DJ Moore will be enough.

27. SF- Caleb Lomu OL Utah- Not sure if he’s a tackle or a guard, but he’s 100% a Shanahan-style OL.

28. HOU- Emmanuel (ERIC IS) Pregnon OG Oregon- Houston needs to completely revamp their OL. I like Pregnon the best of what’s available.

29. KC- Keionte Scott NB TheU- I gave the Chiefs a starting outside CB at 9, now I give them a beat-bitches-up nickel at 29.

30. MIA- Chris Johnson CB SD State- I love Johnson… hang on, let me try that again… Chris Johnson is an excellent fit for the scheme Miami wants to run.

31. NE- Blake Miller OT Clemson- Can either take over for Morgan Moses at RT or Will Campbell at LT if they think he needs to kick inside. Miller is experienced.

32. ***PROJECTED TRADE #4*** AZ (from SEA)- Ty Simpson QB Bama- The Seahawks need picks and the Cardinals move up 2 spots to get the 5th year option. I think Simpson kind of sucks, but the Cardinals can give it a try and see if they hit the lotto.