The NFL season just wrapped up, and teams now are directing their attention to the most pivotal moment in the offseason, the NFL Draft. Running from April 23rd to April 25th in Pittsburg, PA, it is the moment where teams can find generational talent which can make or break a franchise for years. This is where decisions are made that separate great analysts, scouts, and GMs from not so great ones. Let’s dive into what the top 20 picks in an NFL mock draft could look like.
Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders need a QB and they get a hard working, low ego player that can turn this franchise around with some help from players like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty. Mendoza is coming off of a Heisman year where he broke the school record for passing touchdowns and won a National Championship. A majority of the spotlight and noise will be on Fernando Mendoza, which he has shown he can not only handle, but also thrive in.
New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Jets need some help and a 6’4” 265 pound Arvell Reese is a big help on any defense, especially since the Jets lost Sauce Gardener and Quinnen Willams. With the right coaching, a player as talented as Reese will be a game changer in the NFL.
Washington Commanders (From Arizona Cardinals) – Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Not many people have the Washington Commanders trading up here but it will be important for them to go all in. They have a chance to bounce back instantly if their team can stay healthy. They can still be a team that can make a playoff run and here they would be trading up for the most talented player in the draft. Bain was a force on the Canes defensive line and would be a huge addition. He is definitely worth the cost to trade up four spots in the draft. He should be the frontrunner for defensive rookie of the year next season.
Tennessee Titans – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Titans need some weapons for Cam Ward and Tyson is the most talented receiver in the draft. If the Titans can get Ward some help, they should be able to turn their franchise around which has been struggling for the past few years. At ASU, Tyson played 21 games in the last two years catching 136 passes for 1821 yards and 19 touchdowns across that span.
New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Giants are in a great place, with Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo coming back from injury and with John Harbaugh arriving as the new head coach. Drafting Tate will be another weapon given to QB Jaxon Dart, who had a promising rookie year. Selecting Ohio State receivers tends to work well for teams as Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith Njigba and more have been a success out of Ohio State. Tate should not be any different.
Cleveland Browns – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Cleveland needs to better protect their QB this year and they can do so by selecting the top lineman in the draft here. Cleveland gave up the 7th most sacks a game and will need to improve this number to start winning games. Mauigoa was a unanimous first team All-American and won the ACC Jacobs Blocking award as the top lineman in the ACC.
Arizona Cardinals (From Washington Commanders) – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
If the Cardinals trade down, they should still be able to select a quality pass protector which will be important as they allowed the fourth most sacks a game (3.5) last season. Fano was an All-American this season at Utah so he should start on day one for Arizona.
New Orleans Saints – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Tyler Shough nearly won offensive player of the year, and despite a rough training camp, he may have shown he was the best QB in the draft. Giving him another weapon would not hurt the New Orleans Saints as besides Chris Olave, Tyler Shough does not have much help on offense. Lemon caught 79 passes for 1156 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had an incredible year and was an All-American. He should have an instant impact and could be a frontrunner for offensive rookie of the year if Shough plays well.
Kansas City Chiefs – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Despite Isiah Pacheco showing flashes, he has shown he cannot play consistently. Love had a video game year in which he finaled for the Heisman trophy award and should be another contender for offensive rookie of the year if the Chiefs decide to move on from Pacheco, and they should. Love ran for 1372 yards and 18 touchdowns in only 12 games which is incredible.
Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs is a two time All-American and was the Big Ten this year. He is the best safety in the draft and could be a major help in the Bengals’ pass defense. Downs came 9th in the Heisman voting and is going to be very hyped up in April.
Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, DB, Tennessee
The Dolphins need some help in the pass defense and an athlete like McCoy can make an instant impact. He would be a gamble, but the gamble should be worth it given his athleticism. McCoy snagged four interceptions in 2024 and was a force in college.
Dallas Cowboys – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Bailey led the nation in sacks in the regular season and was named an All-American. The Dallas Cowboys will be lucky if he falls to them given his incredible season, but they have a chance given some of the teams’ needs that pick before Dallas. Bailey is a force and Dallas will be lucky to have him.
Los Angeles Rams (From the Atlanta Falcons) – Avieon Terrell, DB, Clemson
The Rams have a great team but could use a DB to upgrade a little. Terrell forced five fumbles and defended nine passes this season and is very athletic. Coming out of Clemson helps too as many forces in the NFL have been developed in Dabo Swinney’s program.
Baltimore Ravens – Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
This will be a transition year for Baltimore no doubt after having just fired their coach. They will need to build for the future, and Peter Woods addresses a need on the defensive line. He was solid in his three years at Clemson and is still very young with much potential.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
There is a good chance Styles goes before this, but if he falls to TB, he would be a great successor to Lavonte David as a middle linebacker. Styles has had 17 TFLs the last two seasons and will certainly be a hot commodity this April.
New York Jets (From the Indianapolis Colts) – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Jets need to take a gamble here to try and find a franchise QB. They have struggled to find a guy and they are going to need one if they want to turn their franchise around as they have won the fewest games in the 2020s out of any NFL team.
Detroit Lions – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Mesidor could be a great partner in crime with Aidan Hutchinson, he was Miami’s sack leader and was incredible against great offensive lines in the playoffs. Many mock drafts have Mesidor much lower than this, but it would be a crime not to draft him here given his incredible playoff run.
Minnesota Vikings – Mansoor Delane, DB, LSU
The Vikings finished well, winning their last five games. Besides the QB, the weakest position on the team is probably cornerback or running back. Delane was an All American at LSU and had 4 interceptions his junior year at Virginia Tech.
Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Panthers really need a tight end and Kenyon Sadiq is the best option by far. There really is no better or other option for the Panthers here as they do not have a starting caliber TE on their roster. Sadiq could help block in a run game as well as add a weapon for the improving Bryce Young in the passing game.
Dallas Cowboys (From Green Bay Packers) – Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Howell could be a great partner in crime alongside the newly added Quinnen Williams. Howell had 11.5 sacks and was the SEC defensive player of the year. Dallas should be really excited if they really have a chance to take Howell here.
