Round 1 NFL Mock Draft With Trades

Every team, every topic, everywhere. This is believed.

And now, this is the moment you've all been waiting for.

We all live on the charity strike podcast with your host, Alex, Josh, and Ned.

We'll back baby striped sports to free throws because they're free of Fisher to sopless toss or about to hit April.

You know what that means, my friend is NFL draft time.

Is that time of year unbelievably exciting.

Might be our favorite time of year in sports, dare I say.

Could be very well. We've got the masters NFL draft, the hype before the NFL draft.

You've got the NBA playoff starting. So NBA awards coming in baseball in month two.

Some of the guys that started on the I L or restarted, you know, hey, they're going to just kind of shake the dust off a little bit.

Get introduced back into the lineups, get introduced back into rotations and things like that too.

So yeah, it's really, really, really exciting.

Exciting first weekend in baseball too, Josh.

We protecting throughout the entire weekend about just young players all across the board making impacts already.

When it's talking about three home runs, three games.

Like what's up?

I mean, it won't go.

It'll walk off.

South Stewart's got seven of his first 10 at bat seven hits.

KJ weather hold had a walk off in a home run in his first game.

I mean, they're going to be going to go as a stud.

Yeah.

So this broke, chased a lot or is ridiculous.

I mean, the rookie class is going to be a bit, but I made a video about it.

The rookie class is going to be a bit of a good.

Just because of the depth alone, like I'm not me.

They're made there may not be like a superstar superstar, like top 10 player in the league in the group.

But there are guys.

In this group that are going to contribute not only for years to come at this season for like contending teams.

So a lot of really interesting stuff.

Guys pitched well, like a lot of strikeouts miss.

We had through four guys punch out 10 plus dudes, which is pretty cool to see.

And then another guy, Emerson Hancock, you heard it here first.

Pretty intrigued by him on the Seattle manners.

Just going to throw that out there to get it on the record.

I don't think he, I don't think it was by that he pitched that well.

You're born and triggered him then with Luke Rayley who.

Through his first three, three games has hit three home runs.

And last year hit four home runs through 180 at bats.

Like we know that he, we know that the healthy Luke Rayley can his 20 home run potential.

Emerson Hancock was a former six overall pick from Seattle who kind of.

Got looked over and passed over by other guys in the rotation.

But we know how they develop guys over there.

And he's kind of hitting his what would be his quote on quote prime.

And he's added new pitches to his repertoire and not only add into the new pitches.

And he's implementing, implementing them.

And higher usage rates and talking about his sweeper that he's really pelting right handers with.

And the guardians try to deal with the bunch of left handers and it didn't work.

He no hit them through six innings.

So he's got a tough matchup I think against the Yankees next.

But if he can stimey them a little bit.

Very intrigued by him being their.

Five starter this year instead of Bryce Miller.

I think it comes to it who's.

Again, but guys that are hurt.

He's one of those guys.

So he's a guy that early on.

I'm like, okay.

I'm, you know, like one guy that's like not one of these like superstar rookies.

He's like a guy that I'm keyed in on to watch a little bit.

In this.

Yeah.

I think Rocky Sasaki pitches today.

And he obviously had a horrendous spring.

So I think a lot of people are keyed in on what it's going to look like now that the season's actually started.

For him and unfortunately with the Dodgers kind of being villainized by the rest of baseball fandom.

I think it translates and it bleeds into the players sometimes too.

So like I feel like a lot of people are kind of rooting against Rocky Sasaki, which will be interesting to see.

Yeah.

I'm curious to see how he does as a starter.

Something's not clicking for him there.

So I will definitely be keyed in on that game.

It's a great call out.

And it's not a very palpable lineup.

I know we mentioned Chase the lottery and obviously Jay Ram and Cleveland.

But that's a, it's a manageable lineup in my opinion if you're a pitcher.

So I'm curious to see how he comes out the gate.

I'm going to end up being a better reliever.

And that's okay.

But, you know, not everyone just because he's a countryman of Yamamoto not everyone could be a Yamamoto.

But we're here to talk about the NFL draft.

We did another mock draft.

You got odds.

I got evens.

There's trades in this one.

So, Toss, 2026 NFL mock draft.

You have odds.

I have evens.

There are trades in this mock.

You are first overall the Vegas Raiders on the clock.

And I think we, we took like a two week hiatus from doing mock draft.

So to give our brains a little bit of a refresh, get back into these prospects.

Not overwork and over massage.

Okay.

What can this team do at this pick?

This pick?

But with that said, the first overall pick in the 2026 draft.

The Vegas Raiders will select quarterback Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana.

Not buying into the Dan Orlovsky hype around Ty Simpson.

We like Ty Simpson.

He's a good player.

I don't even think that Orlovsky was necessarily positing that the Raiders should take him overall.

First overall, it doesn't really matter though.

And that's why I bring this up.

It's mostly just ingest.

They're taking Fernando Mendoza.

It is chalk at this point.

But what I will not do, Josh, and what I will allow, what I will not allow anybody to do.

Is not get excited about this pick for the Vegas Raiders organization.

And for the fact that Fernando Mendoza is the first overall pick in an NFL draft.

It is a huge responsibility.

Yes, but it is a huge praising of what he did in college.

What he was able to take that Indiana team to the national championship heights.

And so the expectations are there, but the excitement is there too.

And it should be.

Yeah, I mean, I, we do our three round mocks.

And I was going to do one for the Raiders.

Today, I pivoted last second to the Bears.

But like going over the monologue in my head.

Because obviously it's such a chalk pick at this point.

But I just think it's such a breath of fresh air with the coach with him.

Right guy, right pairing to get into the locker room.

And he's a winner.

And I know there are other guys that are winners in college.

But they won games because of him because of his heroics.

Even like a Penn State game where he had his arguably worst game in the entire season.

He led them back against the good defense guys.

You'll see drafted a ton of guys.

You'll see drafted actually in this NFL draft in 2026.

He led this drive with Omar Cooper Jr.

And had a heroic touchdown.

And obviously we saw it in the national championship.

And everything prior really.

So I think it's a tremendous pick for the Vegas Raiders organization.

Second overall, I.

The New York Jets.

And I think it's chalk as well at this point.

I love David Bailey.

I'm not totally poo pooing.

The.

I don't think it's impossible that he's the pick it to.

I just think they're very much locked in an R.

Bell Reese in his versatility.

What they think they can get out of him in his ceiling.

So I think out of Ohio State,

R.

Bell Reese, the linebacker slash edge is a lock to be the second overall pick back to you.

Arizona.

Third overall.

Yeah.

And just quickly circling back on.

I love the point you made about the Raiders organization.

And them having.

Kind of a fresh start from a management standpoint from a coaching standpoint.

In a way that is very different than the Titans last year with cam ward, right?

Brian Callahan was not a first year head coach.

He was a second year head coach.

Yes, they wanted cam ward to be the guy.

But like it wasn't that timing wasn't at the same level as I think it will be with Kubiak.

And Mendoza.

And obviously there's also just the hype around Kubiak coming from the Seahawks offense too.

It's just.

They win the Super Bowl.

Mendoza wins.

Kubiak wins.

They've got Brady and ownership.

Like he the more the longer he's there, the more he's going to get more ingratiated and take more of an involved step.

So it's just a different vibe and a different feel there.

Which is most important for that organization to change.

Absolutely.

Third overall pick.

The Arizona Cardinals select Francis Maui Noah, the offensive lineman.

Out of the University of Miami lost in that national championship game.

You build a line for the future.

Your left set your left side of the offensive line is set.

With say Molo who they brought in in free agency and then obviously Paris Johnson.

So you book end your offensive line for the future.

I understand that there are top tier defensive players available.

But to me, not knowing and not having the guarantee that you're going to take a quarterback early or a quarterback that you believe will be the future of this franchise.

You're looking ahead to 2027.

You're understanding that we want to create an offensive line that supports that quarterback for the future.

You bring in a guy who could potentially be the book end right tackle or at worst an awesome guard on the right side for the future here.

So I just I think it's the move that the Cardinals need to make even though it means turning away a sunny styles a David Bailey a Rubin Bane.

They're going they've got a lot of work to do candidly.

And I actually think I like their defensive draft last year and a lot of these guys are going to be second year players.

And I think they're going to come around and really impress in this in this upcoming you know this new this rework scheme.

That no longer has Jonathan Ganon overseeing it, which with him having to take on the head coaching responsibilities was too much for him to handle.

So I like Maui Noah for them and I like what that will mean for Kobe for set this year.

He'll he'll once again be able to cook a little bit.

I mean, if they are targeting Simpson in the second round, which we've seen a lot of people do.

We'll see how our draft plays out. I don't know if he's going to be there, but even if they're trading back into the the back of the first round to get that fifth year option or they're taking him at the very, very beginning of the second round.

Making sure your offensive line is ready to go for him who if the Cardinals plan guess what by week seven week eight he's going to be their starting quarterback.

Like you need to make sure that that's in place. I don't think that's the route that they're ultimately going to go.

I think that Simpson is a good fit with the floor in that system. That's why I liked him so much, you know, two months ago in those conversations before the Rams made that trade for Trent McDuffie.

So it works for now. If you want to draft Simpson and it works for next year, if you want to take a quarterback in 2027 because ultimately even whoever they select here.

Whoever they select with the rest of their draft, whether it's Simpson or just a bunch of players, they're not going to win the NFC West. They're playing in some of the best teams in football.

They're going to be a bottom feeder in the NFL for one more year, at least while they reestablish in turn and rework their system and what they want their organization to look like, which means they're probably going to have an opportunity to take a quarterback in 2027.

Yeah, it's it's a multi year rebuild for them undoubtedly Tennessee Titans at four. I'm going with Ruben Banger and you're out of Miami the edge.

I think he just fits what Robert saw likes and I know there's issues about his arm length, but watching this guy play the power, the motor, he's ferocious.

I would love to have that guy as one of my edges now looking at what this defense looks like with some of the moves they've already made this off season. He can be the final piece for Robert Salah to make this defense competitive again.

So I'm locking him in there at number four.

Okay, fifth overall pick. Obviously the New York Giants. I think, you know, we said this before they're on the phone. They're trying to make trades happen. They're trying to utilize the hype of Jeremiah love to make a deal.

They're considering Jeremiah love at this spot as well, because I think a plan in their running back room, helping out young quarterback Jackson Dart, if it's love, if it's Skataboo and Tyrone Tracy, like you really have a lot of weapons there.

I mean, Tracy is the guy who started games for them and been a productive running back. So at that point, they'd have one of the deepest rooms in the entire NFL.

And you don't have to rush Skataboo back from the injury and with his running style, you know, there is some concern with longevity and the fact that in four games, the way he runs, he might get injured again. Right. That's just the way he does it.

But they look at the price tag that would be attached with the fifth overall pick. They understand that they would be paying Jeremiah love $8.2 million in this first year and that would only be going up.

And in comparison to other players who you could be paying $8.2 million, that's why they ultimately, I think don't do that deal because it's like who's the highest paid running back in the NFL, Josh.

Right now it's whoever it is, the numbers between 15 and 18 million. Yeah. So you're paying half of that right now for a guy to come in and be the eighth or ninth most highest paid running back in comparison to if you take any sort of defensive player, like the one that I'm going to take.

You know, the highest paid linebacker is, I think, you know, 10, 12.

It's the million more than the highest running back. So they're going to select sunny styles, the linebacker out of a high of state, caled down as a consideration, monster dilemmas, consideration.

Jeremiah love is consideration, even Cornell Tate, knowing how value wide receivers are in the current NFL, was a consideration, especially with the neighbors injury.

But I think ultimately this team was not good at stopping the run last year. And yes, you brought in Edmunds, who's excellent against the run.

But that doesn't mean that you can't bring in sunny styles to also be kind of the captain of the middle of this defense.

You know how much talent you have up front. You know, you took a, there is Robinson last year out of Memphis in the interior that you think can come along a little bit to be a run stuff or up the middle.

You have DBs coming back. You have your safeties, who I think in the Harbaugh system will do a little bit more.

And I really think that getting that captain of the defense for the future in sunny styles, who's also an athletic freak, who presents some upside from a past rushing standpoint, as well.

Just as much as Arvel Reese, which you keep bringing up, I think this is a great pick for the Giants.

I really don't think they can go with the wrong pick with all the considerations they're making.

It's a win, win, win, win, win for the Giants, no matter which direction that they go.

Did they go? And then this particular win is sunny styles.

I think that is the best pick they can make.

Sixth overall, we have our first trade in this mock.

You have your Dallas Cowboys trading up with the Cleveland Browns.

The Cleveland Browns get 12, 20 and 92 in the Dallas Cowboys get 6 and 39.

So they give up one pick in their selection group.

And then they move back 19 spots at 20. Cleveland now has three first round picks.

And the Dallas Cowboys move up to get edge David Bailey from Texas Tech.

I know they brought him a shong Gary. I know they have Ezraku.

But this guy isn't a league above, in my opinion, of what he can be for this defense.

He is a real home wrecker, a real playmaker, a real guy that wins and has a high win rate and can get after the quarterback.

And obviously that is unbelievably paramount in this league.

I think Jerry Jones realizes smells blood in the water and goes up and gets a stud at six and David Bailey and keeps him in Texas.

Okay.

Up next, we have another trade. The Washington commanders were on the clock.

That pick is now going to the Minnesota Vikings.

They are trading the 18th overall pick and the 49th pick in the second round to the Washington commanders for that seventh overall selection.

The commanders need more draft capital. They move back for still in the first round, but they add in that second round pick for them makes a ton of sense.

And the Vikings just really capitalizing on seeing a guy who for a lot of prospect evaluators is number one on their entire big board.

Jeremiah love the running back. The Vikings are a team that have bought into a running back being the engine of their offense.

Obviously know that well with Adrian Peterson, what he was able to do there. Jeremiah love is an incredible running back prospect.

He will lead this room. He will support Kevin O'Connell's offense. He's going to make things way easier no matter who that quarterback is, whether it's going to be the young and McCarthy or they're given the keys to Kyler Murray.

All of them will benefit from having Jeremiah love there and to be honest where Aaron Jones is in his career where Jordan Mason is with his propensity to get injured.

They they have a solid running back room, but an incomplete one in my opinion and you bring Jeremiah love to any running back room in the NFL.

He immediately becomes one of the best weapons on your offense.

And now you're one of the best weapons as a pass catcher in Justin Jefferson and Jeremiah love.

You still have TJ Hawkinson. You can decide what you want to do with Jordan Addison who you know there's been heavy conversations about the fact that they might trade him.

And I think that's completely viable. So this is a team that wants to compete. This is a team that can't mess around. And I think that's why they go up and they get Jeremiah love.

Yeah, love that. Eight the New Orleans Saints go with Cornell Tate the wide receiver to Ohio State.

I think he's a really good compliment to Chris Olave. They brought David Edwards. They brought in Travis H and in the off season.

And it really seemed that they're going full steam ahead with Tyler Shuck, which I kind of love in the small sample size we saw of him last year.

Obviously not necessarily small, small, but it wasn't a full season. I think year two Kellen Moore Shuck Olave, you have Kamara with H and then now you bring in a guy like Carl Tate who has the highest floor.

Of any receiver in this class, in my opinion, again, a really good compliment to Chris Olave. I think this really now makes that wide receiver room a bit more full with Devon Vale as your third receiver.

Okay.

At the ninth overall pick.

The Kansas City Chiefs select Montsord to lane the corner back out of LSU.

Everybody knows they made that Trent McDuffie trade sending one of their star corners to the Los Angeles Rams. They go and replace him with a guy that can immediately be a number one corner on any roster.

Montsord to Lane who ran a 435 at his pro day. They often talk about like if you're going to especially in the current age of the NFL and prospect evaluation.

If you're already number one at your position, you don't necessarily need to do certain things. He did it anyway.

I know it's an unofficial time, but if he's running a 435 at worst with an official time, he's running a 444, which is exactly what you want to see from a guy like him who also has the instincts and the where with all to play within zone to play man coverage.

And I think, you know, we've seen time and time again that one thing that the chiefs always know how to nail is picking corners and evaluating that that position in particular.

So it's one of those where he could have gone at five to the Giants.

He could have gone to the Saints. He could have gone four picks ahead to really any one of those teams.

And so the chiefs entertaining trades. Sure. But like we know we can go get a number one corner right here. Let's do it.

Yeah, 100%. I almost did it in New Orleans to keep him in Louisiana, but boxed for the more offensive approach.

Ten Cincinnati bangles considered Kenyans to take the tight end because more offense. Why not? Let's have some fun and since he, but with Caleb downs on the board.

I don't care that they made a move in the offseason for a safety already. They are bringing him in. If he's there at 10, they are running up to Mr. Gidell and putting in that pick to keep him in Ohio.

Is a D Jack Hobbs locker room for 20 million rupees that Caleb downs goes to Cincinnati if he's there at 10.

So that's the selection I'm making.

Okay. At 11, the Miami Dolphins select guard Vega, Yohane at a Penn State.

Seven picks in the top 100 Josh to me means take best available.

And this is a guy who a lot of people believe is the best offensive lineman.

Forget position in the entire class. You saw the Cowboys do it last year taking Tyler Booker in a similar range.

And now after one season of watching him in the NFL, nobody's questioning that.

So I'm not going to question the dolphins if they end up doing this pick. In fact, I'll make it for them right here.

And you have plenty of other selections in the rest of the top 100 to take care of your other roster holes, which are plentiful.

Not to mention, you just signed Malik Willis to a three year, but really two year deal.

And if you want to give him a shot to test the waters as a potential starting quarterback, which I like taking those type of swings, because you need to do it as much as possible until you find your guy.

Like get him some semblance of an offensive line. So at least he has some amount of time back there.

So he's not running for his entire life. We already know Malik Willis is excellent when he tucks and runs.

So I don't necessarily need to see that 70% of every snap that the guy takes this upcoming season.

And if we don't bolster that offensive line, that might be the case. So go get an absolute beast in the interior with Vega, you on a and figure out the other positions later.

Yeah, I mean, they have a ton of crack ton of bites, the apple, like you like to say, great call on the Cowboys.

Like they do it every single year, bringing in, okay, we're not going to force it if there's a great offensive lineman there.

We're just going to take him and he's going to be a stud.

And I think Vega can easily be the best offensive lineman in this class.

And plus you have to Von H and who you need a good guard for him as well.

12 Cleveland Browns now here at 12 after that trade with Dallas Cowboys.

And they're going to take Monroe, feeling the left tackle from Georgia.

They made a ton of moves this off season, revamping their offensive line.

The one missing piece is that left tackle of the future.

Obviously they're considering Monroe, feeling there at six, but they still get him here at 12 while picking up extra draft capital and also getting a third first round pick.

So after everything's broken down, it's kind of a home run trade in my opinion for the Cleveland Browns.

Getting their left tackle for the future in Monroe, feeling who's flying up boards.

And I think it's a real snag here at 12.

I never disliked it for the Browns for the Cowboys.

I have concerns and issues potentially with that trade.

But exactly to your point, it all kind of worked out how the Browns wanted it to at 13.

You know, this is one of those picks where the beginning of the mock draft process.

A lot of people saw the vision.

And then people got cold to the fact that, you know, it's almost like you see it so many times and you're like, do we want his ag now?

And now I've kind of worked my way back to it.

The Rams.

The 13th overall pick will select Makai Lim and the wide receiver out of USC.

You immediately have one of the best wide receiver trios in the entire NFL.

You want to win now.

We don't know about Matthew Stafford and his timeline.

How much longer he's going to play.

You keep bringing up to me like the Rams go and do it.

How much more does Sean McVeigh want to keep coaching in the NFL?

I think he's just a guy that's addicted to doing that.

And that's why he won't step away from it.

But it's not like it's the first time that anybody's mentioned that he might want to do, you know, be in the broadcast booth or, you know, just not have to be dealing with the ins and outs.

And just the pressure that being a head coach in the NFL brings.

And Makai Lim and just answers a bunch of questions for them.

Puka Nuku can continue to play the style that he wants to play.

Devante Adams with the age like there's small injury concerns with both of those players that could happen and strike up at any point in the season.

And I think all those questions are answered.

Once you have that third wide receiver in the room.

Makai lemon who in certain moments, I think might look like the second or best receiver on that team.

I think he's that talented.

And I think he can really learn how to be a consummate professional behind Devante Adams.

I'm like going to say the same thing about Puka Nuku given some of the things we've seen off the field from Puka, especially recently.

But I think from a football standpoint, it's just a perfect fit.

Yeah, 100%.

14 the Baltimore Ravens, a lot of considerations here.

Vega obviously off the board.

That would have been a home run for them, but he's gone.

I consider Kenyans a deep tight end to be the heir apparent for Mark Andrews.

Obviously, Isaiah likely going to the New York Giants this off season.

I considered CJ Allen to get another thumping linebacker in there.

There's no detaco.

I really love.

But at the end of the day, to me, Zay flowers is a wide receiver to win a championship team.

And they really need that wide receiver one.

You want to talk about the guy that can be the best wide receiver in this class.

He's fallen because of the hamstring issues.

And I'm not saying that's going to go away.

I'm not saying that can't linger.

But if he was fully healthy, he'd be the number one wide receiver.

No questions asked.

I think he has the highest, highest ceiling of any of these receivers.

So I'm going to go with Jordan Tyson out of Arizona state.

Baltimore Ravens are an organization that don't overthink things and take shots.

And when they think the best guy, the best value is there.

And I think it's right here at 14 with Jordan Tyson.

They jump on that wide receiver three in this class.

Yeah, like the pick a lot.

15 the bucks are up.

This is an interesting point in the draft to me because I think.

It's it's been heralded as an edge heavy draft, right?

And there's a lot of teams that need extra support in the edge positions.

And could do very well to get more pressure on the quarterback.

Now the problem is a lot of these teams that are from the like 12 to 20 range.

Run three fours, not four threes.

And then you get into the questions of like what kind of edge rushers are available.

Right.

And you look at guys like Kendrick Fock and TJ Parker, who are bigger, longer and really.

A key mezzador.

Those three guys really present as like guys that can stop the run.

The guys that have upside as a past rusher who would fit better as like a defensive end type in a four three as that.

More traditional edge rusher.

And then you get the other guys who are like your hybrid linebacker edges who are a little smaller speedier can close.

But might have concerns like cash is how with the arm length right and you don't necessarily feel comfortable taking him at 15.

With the Tampa based selection here, but I'm talking about Tampa Bay, but I'm also talking about other teams that are in this vicinity who.

Ashes Hall is a great, great player, but are the cowboys if they don't make the trade that you put out there.

Are they going to make that selection at 12 probably not right.

But could they use a guy opposite of Ezra acu absolutely.

So I look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who run a base three four defense who could use extra.

You know rushing support at the edge position, who also just signed Alex and Zaloni as a linebacker.

So yes, bringing CJ Allenin would be beneficial to them, but I also think it could be a little early for him at this point.

Given that you know he's not.

He's a bit smaller right he's not six four to he's not sunny styles of size.

Although he is excellent in past coverage and he's a great leader of a defense and he's incredibly capable as a player one of my favorite prospects.

In this entire draft so because of that I'm looking at this wide receiver room.

I'm looking at a wide receiver room who lost Mike Evans who lost some size there at.

Candidly a receiver room who is lacking in size and a tight end who solid who can block well.

Who's a decent past catcher but not very explosive after the catch.

And it just feels like they've got some limited weaponry for Baker Mayfield and a quarterback and a team that wants to win this division.

But they're going to select tight end out of Oregon.

Kenyan Cedeek with the 15th overall selection here and I think you know you you can tell me but they brought Kate out and back.

Well, the thing about Cedeek is he can do some of the stuff that Harold Fanon did.

You can run him as a big slot to push Godwin to the outside.

Just gives you a more versatile look offensively with that explosive playmaking after the catch that Austin doesn't necessarily provide.

And who did they bring as they're bringing in as their new offensive coordinator Zach Robinson who has a lot of history with the Rams who like running to tight and sets too.

So if you need Cedeek on the in line to put his hand in the dirt to block for you, he can do that too.

I think it just makes a ton of this a ton of sense here for a team.

Who is falling off a little bit in the rest of the teams in the division.

I think we like what they've done a lot especially with the Panthers falling hard.

There's people talking about them taking ties Simpson it is it is getting ugly there.

I say in Tampa, but I don't think it has.

Well, I don't think so either.

And I also think you look at who picks four picks after you.

It's the Carolina Panthers who desperately would love to have a guy like Kenyans to Deek.

So not only are you bringing in a quality playmaker on your offense,

but you're also kind of sniping a guy away from the Carolina Panthers who I think would take a crack at him if he's available at 19.

Yeah, 100%.

I consider having the Panthers trade up to one of the selections to make that move.

Over here at 16, the New York Jets,

you know I really believe that they should continue to build this defense despite adding a ton of dudes in the off season

and go defense, defense, defense, defense with their first four picks in the top 50.

All that to be said, I do believe and am in line that they can obviously beef up that wide receiver room outside of Garrett Wilson,

even though we love our guy 80 Mitchell.

And I've fallen in love as I think a lot of people have with Omar Cooper Jr.

I really think he's a great compliment to Garrett Wilson.

I really think there's a ton of things, obviously athletically he could do on the field,

but he makes big catches, acrobatic catches, big time plays.

And it's a perfect guy to bring in this wide receiver room to now have Gina Smith.

And more importantly, see what this offense can actually be with Gina and Frank.

We don't know what that's going to look like necessarily.

But see what this offense can be with a ton of weapons or more weapons in the room.

And if you have a quarterback next year, presumably that they're going to take in 2027 with a bevy of their picks that they have,

he'll now be coming in to Garrett Wilson and Omar Cooper Jr.

Who yes, Garrett Wilson's the wide receiver one,

but he has the potential to also be a wide receiver one in this league.

I really love him.

So it's 16, not a reach to perfect selection, my opinion.

Yeah.

And very likely could happen here.

I mean, the way that we listed it out with Tate lemon and Tyson all going like Cooper has now kind of worked his way into being that tier one or tier like back a tier one with those guys,

or at least like tier one and a half kind of by himself before you get to that next tier two round of receivers with.

Yeah, in case you concept your own like some of those other guys.

So I think it makes a ton of sense, man.

17th, the lines with 17th overall pick will select Spencer Fano, the offensive lineman at a Utah versatility guy can line up anywhere,

get him in on the interior of the offensive line, an offensive line that in certain places is aging, right.

And obviously pennies going to be your staple there for the foreseeable future.

But I think this jet this guy can just,

he can play everywhere in the offensive line.

If you needed to move him to center eventually, he could do it.

If you need him to play guard for you, he can do it.

If you need him to spot start a tackle for you, he can do it.

You have Jameer Gibbs, you're committed to Gibbs.

You got the checker behind him like he needs to run the football.

They need to run it well to try and win this division and kind of get back to where they were the past two, three years before this past season where they were disappointed with the outcome.

And I think they, they got to where they were because they made a precedent upon establishing drafting and making sure their offensive line was shared up.

So go back to that and that'll get back and that'll get you back to where you want to be.

100% 100%.

Got the Washington commanders in the trade back.

You may with the Minnesota Vikings.

They brought in Nick Cross this off season as a safety, but I still think they go safety again with Dylan dynamin.

At a Oregon, he could be the captain of that defense in the backfield.

He's a very good athlete.

He could play all over the defensive backfield if you need him to.

And I think he's kind of a missing chess piece that Dan Quinn hasn't really had in Washington.

And they brought in two good edges.

I thought they got a steal and chase on.

So I think it's a really good value pick.

And again, the Panthers picking right behind you.

You steal him away from them.

Yeah, as you mentioned, Panthers up at 19 are going to select safety out of Toledo.

A manual McNeil Warren.

I look at their receiver room.

You know, receiver could have been a consideration here, but with those top four guys off the board.

I didn't necessarily want to reach on a guy.

Technic Millen was a success in his first year.

He's their number one for the future.

Coaker came back after that injury.

Thought he looked good.

And I think Xavier Legett as you know, your third player in the backfield.

He's a great player.

I think he's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

He's a great player.

I think Xavier Legett as you know, your third receiver with you know, maybe a Jimmy Horn trying to compete for some of those touches.

Is a solid room.

Yes, they need to upgrade the tight end room.

But we both have hope that Jettavian Sanders can kind of take that next step forward and maybe be one of those guys for Bryce Young.

So I didn't want to push the issue there in the just from a weaponry standpoint.

Excuse me.

They crushed our against they crushed the off season.

They absolutely crushed free agency and you know, for a while before free agency, we had thought maybe they would target a tackle.

And that's still I think available to them, but I think less of something that they need to do with the Walker signing.

So this is a team that to me, I look at their defense and I know like.

We still have Nick Scott.

We still have Trayvon Merrick, you know, in the defensive backfield at the safety positions.

But man, manual McNeil Warren is a defensive playmaker in a way that, you know, we kind of evaluated Jade Baron last year and him coming into that Bronco secondary and just being a guy that can take the whole way.

Force fumbles like that's exactly what it manual McNeil Warren does.

So adding some extra juice to what already could be a really good defensive backfield unit for the Panthers, I think makes them really, really scary.

You know, what they did bringing in Jalen Phillips, right, bringing in Devon Lloyd, like they addressed some of the past rushing issues, the linebacking core in a way where I don't think they have to go for Alan here.

And I think that you can kind of get quote unquote cute with it, but they're not getting cute because this guy's an absolute stud.

Yeah, I mean, I think it's safety is a huge need.

You've added Devon Lloyd, you had Brown now up the middle kind of you're really strong at every level within a manual McNeil Warren pick and like you said, takeaways are abundant with him and he's a massive dude.

He's like six, three, two, two, he's a fucking unit.

Yeah, I think the reason why I brought up kind of looking at the depth chart, I think a lot of Panthers fans will probably say, but we have Mary and we have Scott, so it's not a need.

But with how multiple defenses have to be in the NFL right now, while it's not a need, it is a luxury to have that kind of depth at that position.

I actually don't think Panther, I think Panthers fans will be very on board with your selection here. I don't think you get any pushback.

Could be could be minimum Panther, Panther's fans, but some people are just free agency watchers and it's like if they got a player that fits that position, we don't need to do that in 100% 100%.

Cleveland Browns with their second selection, obviously they made that trade with the Dallas Cowboys. They had Monroe Freeling, the left tackle at 12, they're sitting here at 20, the first four receivers are off the board would consider of course going receiver here could also go defense in some capacity.

I'm not on the table for the Cleveland Browns where I'm sitting right now, but I'm going to do it. I'm going to take Ty Simpson. I really think a guy like Todd Monkin can figure him out and work with him.

I don't think Dylan Gabriel is the guy. Obviously, I don't think to Sean Watson's the guy and unfortunately I just don't think Shador Sanders is the guy in Cleveland, but Ty Simpson is going to hold the clipboard.

I'm just going to get his shot still. Ultimately, I think Ty Simpson is the better prospect and I think he has a higher ceiling and Shador Sanders and I think Todd Monkin, who we've seen smoke that he's into him.

I think it's legitimate and I think again, if he could hold the clipboard not be thrown into the fire right away in Cleveland, I think it's worth a shot getting that fifth year option on a guy who has the potential to be one of the better quarterback who has the potential to be the best quarterback in this class.

I think Todd Monkin will shake against Fernando Mendoza, but we only got to see Ty Simpson one year at Alabama and at his peak.

People were talking about him as the first overall pick, him as the Heisman. So getting him here at 20, I think is a pretty good snag, pretty good value.

And again, you get that fifth year option on a quarterback. It's always good to take a stab at a quarterback if you can in the draft of the values there. And I believe it's here for Ty Simpson.

So I think Todd Monkin tries to go and get his guy here.

Yeah, which makes things then he's not even a consideration right for the Steelers there at 21 who as of right now, we expect that it will be Rogers taking snaps for that Steelers team.

But if it's not, then you're looking at Mason Rudolph and Will Howard competing for that quarterback job, which whatever you think of either one of those guys.

And obviously you have more, there's more potential that you would buy into for Howard because he's a younger player.

Those guys aren't going to be top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL and they're probably not going to be top 15 quarterbacks in the NFL.

And if you don't have a top 15 quarterback, then at that point, you don't really have a guy that you can win with.

But I also look at this Steelers team and I mentioned it before, they are a team that runs a three, four base.

But if there was a guy at the edge position that you were going to take a shot at who has the athletic profile where he could be, he could line up on the outside of that three, four, but also potentially project as that kind of edge outside linebacker spot opposite of TJ Watt with the youth with the athletic profile of Kendrick Falk.

That would be the guy that you'd want to take a shot on. So they select edge, Kendrick Falk out of Auburn.

I mean, they did such a good job selecting Derek Harman last year out of Morgan.

And I think he really came on, especially in the second half of the season.

You got to think about who is on the opposite side of God.

They got Kiana Benton up the middle who's an excellent player.

Yes, they have Sebastian Joseph Day who's a veteran.

Cameron Hayward, man, like it's still on this team, but he's 35 years old.

And what better guy to learn from if you're Kendrick Falk coming into a defensive system that not only as TJ Watt, but also as Cam Hayward who can learn all the tricks of the trade from and really flourish into the max potential of what your outcome could be, which is a really scary edge Russia in the NFL.

So I think he's a guy that could be like rotational in his rookie season and then just really tap into, you know, what could be for the foreseeable future.

And then that he could be one of those pieces alongside Harman, they took last year.

You know, they they signed Jamel Dean, they still have Ramsey as a safety, right?

They've got Joey Porter, Jr. who they took in the last about two or three years.

Yeah, I mean, they miss Queen, like their linebackers are set, Peyton Wilson coming up Nick Herbick, like this defense, all the sudden hitting in the right spots.

Could be right back to what we know it can be as a Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Agreed. Yeah, I mean, getting that depth again, like he could he could rotate with Hayward and Harman, and then he could also rotate with the linebackers.

He's that athletic and that big.

Especially first and second down, I know at least coming into the league, he's going to be good against the run, no matter what.

Yeah, 100%.

22, the Los Angeles Chargers, obviously like offensive line is such the chalk pick.

But I really think they take a big swing on a big time player in a key mezzador, the edge of Miami.

If he was 21, I know he's not, but if he was 21, 22, he'd probably be a top 10 pick.

He's that productive, he's that disruptive.

He was that awesome for Miami this year.

And now you bring him into the rotation with Tully and Khalil, and you have a really strong and deep edge rotation.

And I think underratedly, the defensive side of the football is something this Chargers team can afford to address.

So I like them taking a stab at a guy like a key mezzador who despite his age is one of the most productive, productive edge rushing prospects in this class and could even be the best edge rushing prospect in this class from production standpoint.

So that's why I have the Chargers taking.

Okay.

23rd overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select Blake Miller, the offensive tackle at a Clemson.

This is your right tackle for the future.

This is the guy that's opposite of my Lada, who's 28 years old, who's your current right tackle.

Lane Johnson, who's 35, having a hard time staying healthy.

And just candidly is not quite the same player that he used to be in his prime, which is expected with a guy that's his age.

So make sure that for the future you can run the football.

You have Saquon Barkley, you have Jalen Hertz, protect that guy, protect both those guys and create open lanes for Barkley to make explosive plays.

I get it and I'm making this pick even with the idea that I think that AJ Brown is not going to be on this team next year, but Omar Cooper is not there.

Denzel Boston is good outside receiver, so he would kind of fit the mold with AJ Brown.

But I also think this Eagles team wants to be an explosive plays type of team.

And they've got the Montesmith who can kind of work, you know, he can work hash to hash and over the middle of the field.

I know you don't necessarily want him to do that.

You know, you want to limit his opportunities there because he's a slider player, but that can be your right receiver one.

And I don't think you have to get too cute and reach on an off on a weapon here if it's not the weapons that you like.

But you can always use more offensive line support.

And you did bring in Terry Gwoon, the defensive backfield.

You have, you know, still a very solid defensive line up front linebackers that can make plays good defensive depth.

So I think making sure that you invest in that offensive line is what's going to sustain your success for the Eagles and how he roseman.

So go get Blake Miller as a ton of starts under his belt.

Can immediately come in as a great tackle and start if you need him to or just be waiting in the wings ready to go.

When inevitably Lane Johnson probably will go down at some point this upcoming season or retired.

He almost did this off season.

So yeah, Cleveland Browns of 24.

They're going to make another trade.

Miami dolphins are moving up with 30 and 94 into Miami dolphins are going to take a shot at your mod McCoy, the cornerback from Tennessee.

Obviously, we didn't see him all last year because of the injury.

We haven't really seen him yet at all in any of the off season workouts.

We will see him tomorrow at the Tennessee pro day.

He is going to run.

So that is definitely something to keep an eye on.

Miami with all their selection and where they're where their program is as a franchise.

They can afford to take a stab and take a risk on a guy who's coming off an injury but has the potential and talent to be the number one corner in this class.

You have so many third round picks.

So using one of those third round picks to move up and get a guy at 24 who, again, if he's fully healthy, could go even higher than that.

I think the value and the high risk high reward value is there for me for Miami.

So I think this is a franchise that's in a position to take that kind of take that take that kind of stab.

So they move up to get to mom McCoy and still again have a bevy of picks to work with on day two.

I mean, I was talking about now with the bears up on the clock that some of these teams are in an interesting quandary when they are evaluating the edge rushers that are available.

Whether they run a four three base or a three four base because different players fit different schemes better.

Of course, that's an obvious statement.

But for me, all of the sudden, the guy that I believe is a top 20 prospect in an ad rusher and TJ Parker is now available for the bears at 25.

And they run a four three base.

So if you want a guy opposite of sweat who can get after the quarterback and is good against the run, that's exactly who TJ Parker is and that's exactly who they select here.

Yeah, I'm going to go with the Buffalo Bills at 26 receiver was obviously such a huge need.

They went and they traded for DJ more the second round pick.

You lost David Edwards in the off season manual pregnant on guard from Oregon who was dominant for them this season, a guy that you love sitting here at 26.

You got to easily gone earlier to the chargers.

You could easily gone to in the top 20 to a team that needed a guard.

He falls to here at 26.

You run the football.

It's the biggest thing for Joe Brady, Josh Allen and James Cook to continue to do to continue dominance to hopefully get over the hump.

The place David Edwards right here with a guy who can be a stud, pro bowl, dare I say all pro caliber guard at 26 and a manual pregnant.

So I love that a value in that selection for them at 26.

It's not the sexiest pick, but I think it makes a huge impact on that offense.

Yeah.

You got to protect Josh Allen.

27.

27th overall pick.

San Francisco 49ers select Kevin conception.

It's a redundancy to calm Casey conception because the C stands for his last name.

But I think he's exactly the kind of juiced playmaker.

That the 49 that the 49ers offense would love to have.

It's a common pick for them and it's a common pick for a reason what he would be able to do.

Catching the ball across the middle of the field and then just using those burners to get up field and make defensive defenses pay.

Is a dream for Kyle Shanahan.

He's got pier saw.

He's got Kittle who can be more possession looks.

But it's all about that yak and Cooper junior right as a guy that's a bit of a yak king.

But I think Casey can do some of those same things.

And I think he would be a welcome to playmaker in addition for Brock pretty and for Shanahan.

So that's what the 49ers do.

Yeah, love it.

Love that selection 28th Houston Texans.

I know people don't necessarily love this direction that I like going with them because obviously offensive line is a knee.

But they brought in Braden Smith.

They brought in Eddie Ingram brought back at Ingram.

Sorry, they brought in Wyatt Teller.

They can get younger and they can't actually get a little more disruptive on the interior of the defensive line.

I think he had a McDonald the 28 a guy again that I feel can go higher in this class.

You have two picks early in the second round.

Why not take a run when you want to be sorry you have one pick early in the second round.

And can get a guard there or get a guard with your other second round pick.

Why not take or why not take a stab at the guy.

I think is the best player available on the board and it actually helped your defense get even better and the rich get richer.

I love Kate and McDonald what he could do against the run.

How he could continue to open things up for the other edge guys blocking those gaps for Daniel Hunter who is a monster and obviously will Anderson junior who's only getting getting better.

But he's an all pro caliber player.

So yes, it's not definitely it's a little more outside the box than what we typically see for the Texans and chase peasantas was a definitely consideration.

But I think Kate and McDonald can really come in for to make a rind to be disrupted right away and make this defense not only.

And make this defense by far the best defense in the NFL.

Okay.

So that brings the chiefs up with their second selection.

So they went delaying at nine to replace McDuffie and at 29 the chiefs are going to select Peter woods the interior defensive lineman at a Clemson who can just play alongside Chris Jones learn from Chris Jones.

That's a disruptive past pressure from the interior of their defensive line.

And if there's one thing that I think all NFL fans and talking heads can agree on that winning to on the defensive line inside out.

Has worked at every level at every point of the season and namely for the teams that won the Super Bowl the last two years when you look at the Seahawks this past season and you look at the Eagles two seasons ago.

So winning from the inside out I know they need to get after the quarterback more you can do that from the inside of the defensive line.

And that's one of Peter woods strong suits and that's what he showed two years ago on tape.

And they bulked him up this past season and he had some challenges with that and that Clemson team wasn't where you wanted to see it.

But I have the utmost faith that the chiefs are going to know exactly how to utilize this guy who going into this past college football season was a top 10 top five prospect for a lot of people.

So to get that guy at 29 I think he's still an incredibly valuable player.

And I think it's a home run first round honestly for the chiefs who may not be done yet too.

Yeah, it's very strong.

Continue to build up that interior of the defensive line they brought in Tonga not normal lot will come back and obviously Jones not old but he's 31.

So you're preparing for the now to be a competitive team defensively but also for the future.

So woods is steel at 29 I love that 30 the Browns traded back to Miami dolphins.

So they've already taken Monroe for healing they've already taken Ty Simpson and they picked up two extra third round picks here.

So they could even try to trade back again to get into the second round and get a more draft capital they're not going to do that.

I know we value them as one of the strongest defensive units and it doesn't feel like they have a ton of needs defensively I really feel that one of their need defensively underrated is the nickel corner back.

The best nickel in this class to me is avion terrell could be a really strong slot corner nickel corner for this defense and really make it complete and add to the depth that corner back room.

But if needed but again as that nickel corner I really think he could be an awesome player in the slot.

So I'm going to have them select him at a Clemson again a lot of these Clemson guys are so talented it was just a poor season for them.

So a lot of them are falling down draft boards but the talent is there for these guys and I think Cleveland really gets a steal here at 30 with Terrell.

Yeah.

Man I'm pumped for this next pick I'm so pumped for it.

New England Patriots 31st overall selection coming off of a Super Bowl loss take linebacker CJ Allen out of Georgia everybody seen the clip.

Of Mike rabble you know test in the hands of Maxi the offensive lineman out of Arizona state I think he certainly a consideration I think he probably will go in the first round.

And the fact that he hasn't gone in this mock that we're doing just means that he would shortly be coming up on the board for a team that's picking at the top of the second round.

But I also don't think that the Patriots thought that CJ Allen was going to be here for them I think that they thought that someone else was going to take him.

And I think there is a perfect marriage from a coach scheme and player standpoint if you are taking CJ Allen for the Patriots he can be their green dot linebacker for the future.

He can be what Mike rabble was for the Patriots in the years of old hopefully he can be Bruce key hopefully he can be Bruce key and what we know about him is he is a good coverage linebacker.

So I get it you've got some some old vets in that room right now and you've got some other guys like Ellis who like you're getting good value out of.

But this guy can be your linebacking beast defensive captain in the middle of the defense for the foreseeable future and you absolutely need that your secondary is taking care of.

We know your interior defensive line is a really really good spot there's a ton of trust there sure they could use more edge positions but there's more picks to be made later in the draft and there are other good linebackers that I like.

I'm a big fan of Anthony Hill junior our guy out of Texas I'm a big fan of Jacob Rodriguez who's maybe a little bit more of a captain of a defense in the way that Anthony Hill is who's more of like a guy that you can.

Ask to play the linebacker position but can get after the quarterback maybe a little bit more than CJ Allen can but what he can't do is captain a defense like CJ Allen can and cover sideline to sign line like CJ Allen can I know he's a little bit smaller than rabble right he's 62 doesn't have quite that 64 frame.

But he's a damn good player and he's a re he's he is the main reason why the Georgia defense was still competing late in the season vying for a national championship they didn't have enough.

But one player does not make defense but he gave his damn best effort and he gave him a good shot at it so CJ Allen air yeah it's a great pick for them.

I know you weren't happy with me selecting for your cowboys but I am happy for you you sucked it up but I I blew the doors off for you so it's all good.

Okay 32 Seattle sea up defending Super Bowl champs not so fast we have our final trade in this one the Kansas City Chiefs are trading back in 40 109 and 176 for 32 and they're making their third selection they've already taken Peter Woods which you just saw they've obviously already taken Montsword Delane they are going to get an edge here.

Zion Young across from car lofties with that now revamped beefed up defensive line could be an absolute monster.

I think he's one of the most underrated prospects in this class he could really get after the quarterback and they keep him over there in that section of the country and they close out the third they close out the first round with a big move up in their third selection now their defense is totally revamped and ready to go and compete.

A deep receiver class you can go get a weapon later like all the sudden I'm looking at the Chiefs team and I don't really care that whether or not my home is going to play in the first month of the season or if he's ready for week one they're right back in the mix as a true contender in my opinion and right now like there are questions about their questions about the defense right now if they don't nail this first round and I love that you traded back in it was something that I wanted to do and looked at doing for the Patriots but because Allen was there.

I felt that couldn't but I really want I was like if they go get an ad rusher one of these top ed rushers especially guy like Zion Young guy you like gay back is a lot right.

If they want one of those guys who's a little bit bigger who can rush the passer but also hold up on the edge of the defense from a run standpoint like who's not our cash is how who's not our armace and Thomas who are also other guys that we like they could sit and take those guys and I still think they're in a great spot.

If they go up and get Zion Young man this defense is going to be a handle a handful to deal with and if I was Justin Herbert if I was both next and if I was Fernando Mendoza coming into his rookie season I'd be shaking in my boots a little bit.

Spags homerun happy camper here.

I still have a third they could do something with.

It's our latest mock we'll see you guys later we'll see you another time.

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