1.1 | Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
After winning the Heisman and National Championship, Mendoza completes the trifecta as Vegas’s selection with the No. 1 pick.
1.2 | New York Jets: LB/ED Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Reese may have the highest ceiling of any player in the draft class. The Jets’ defense was decimated by the midseason trades of Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, and free agency will likely see Quincy Williams depart.
1.3 | Arizona Cardinals: ED Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
With no top-five level QB option to replace Kyler Murray, they select Bain, who led No. 10 Miami to the CFB Championship.
1.4 | Tennessee Titans: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Robert Saleh’s Jets took an OSU receiver in the top ten in 2022, now history repeats. Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor are building blocks, but Tate would be a massive upgrade over both.
1.5 | New York Giants: SAF Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Harbaugh’s best teams in Baltimore had elite safety play. Jevon Holland’s first season was underwhelming, while Dane Belton is an impending free agent. There’s an argument that Downs is the best player in the entire draft.
1.6 | Cleveland Browns: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
The Browns will need to find an answer at quarterback, but until then, they need to continue to construct their offensive line. Both guards are set to be free agents, and left tackle Cam Robinson is also likely to depart.
1.7 | Washington Commanders: ED David Bailey, Texas Tech
The Commanders need to get younger on the edge. Bailey led TTU’s famed $7 million defensive line, notching 14.5 sacks.
1.8 | New Orleans Saints: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
The Saints lack difference makers for Tyler Shough, but a trio of Olave, Tyson and tight end Juwan Johnson is respectable.
1.9 | Kansas City Chiefs: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
The Chiefs are slated to be $62 million over the cap to start 2026. Releasing Jawaan Taylor, who had 13 penalties this season, would save them $20 million. Josh Simmons looks to be a stud on the left side, and with Fano on the right, the Chiefs line becomes younger, cheaper and better.
1.10 | Cincinnati Bengals: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
The Bengals will be annoyed they missed out on Fano, but Delane is an excellent consolation prize. The Bengals are in a position to immediately compete, so forgoing the potential injury issues that come with Jermod McCoy could be wise.
1.11 | Miami Dolphins: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Jeff Hafley’s Dolphins could enter full scale rebuild mode. McCoy’s ACL injury could raise concerns, but the Dolphins’ need at the position is too great. Not looking to compete immediately, they take the player with the highest ceiling.
1.12 | Dallas Cowboys: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
The Cowboys were desperate defensively this season without Micah Parsons and wound up being the league’s worst unit. The 6-foot-5 former safety is an excellent athlete and would immediately be the Cowboys’ best at the position.
1.13 | L.A. Rams: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
The Heisman finalist finished with nearly 1,400 rushing yards for the Fighting Irish and would join a backfield already featuring Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.
1.14 | Baltimore Ravens: DT Peter Woods, Clemson
It’s unlikely Nnami Madubuike will ever play again, and new head coach Jesse Minter will want to ensure the future of his defense. Woods had a down ‘25 but was excellent in ‘24.
1.15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Assuming Mike Evans returns, Baker Mayfield’s cache of weapons would expand even further with Sadiq.
1.16 | New York Jets: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
The Jets set an unbreakable record by not recording a single interception all season. Former corner Aaron Glenn gets his guy.
1.17 | Detroit Lions: ED Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Howell’s short arms may cause him to slide, but he was an exceptionally productive player at A&M. Howell would make an excellent running mate to Aidan Hutchinson.
1.18 | Minnesota Vikings: WR Makai Lemon, USC
Lemon being a slot exclusive player will likely result in a fall down the board. Loading up on weapons may be the best plan to give J.J. McCarthy the best possible chance to succeed. Lemon would also give them the flexibility to trade Jordan Addison.
1.19 | Carolina Panthers: LB C.J. Allen, Georgia
Christian Rozeboom needs replacing, and the athletic Allen quarterbacked an excellent Georgia defense.
1.20 | Dallas Cowboys: ED T.J. Parker, Clemson
The Cowboys continue to add to their dismal defense. Donovan Ezeiruaku has a chance to become one of the league’s best, and adding Parker alongside him could help the defense reach new heights.
1.21 | Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
Regardless of quarterback, the Steelers’ pass catchers aren’t good enough. Adding Boston gives the next QB another big target alongside D.K. Metcalf.
1.22 | L.A. Chargers: OG Vega Ioane, Penn State
The Chargers’ interior will likely all be replaced this offseason. Ioane is the best IOL on the board.
1.23 | Philadelphia Eagles: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Whether A.J. Brown stays or not, Jahan Dotson is a free agent. Concepcion slides into the slot and is one of the fastest players the draft has to offer.
1.24 | Cleveland Browns: WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Double dipping on offense seems a given for the Browns. Jerry Jeudy is the only legitimate receiving threat, so adding to the receiver room is key. Bell had 72 catches this year.
1.25 | Chicago Bears: DT Caleb Banks, Florida
The Bears are one of the league’s most exciting teams, but they could stand to improve in the trenches. Banks was hurt for much of this year, but at 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, they’re getting a people mover.
1.26 | Buffalo Bills: ED Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa are pending free agents, and the Bills need immediate playmaking help. Using free agency to fix the offense while Faulk fills the edge hole would be best practice.
1.27 | San Francisco 49ers: OG Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Colton McKivitz has quietly become one of the league’s best tackles, but the line still needs improvement. With Joey Bosa and Mykel Williams set to return next year, keeping Purdy protected should be John Lynch’s priority.
1.28 | Houston Texans: OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
The Texans’ line is far from elite. They need help at both tackle and guard, and Proctor could fill either. He’s an excellent athlete but must get stronger to be great at the next level.
1.29 | L.A. Rams: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
After selecting Love at No. 13, the Rams address the defense through Hood. An excellent tackler who spent just one season with the Vols, he’s very young: 21 in February. Emmanuel Forbes and Cobie Durant are okay, but Hood could step in as a starter quickly.
1.30 | Denver Broncos: SAF Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Jahdae Barron moving back to safety could be an in-house option, but they instead opt to pair Talanoa Hufanga with McNeil-Warren. P.J. Locke becomes the next man up.
1.31 | New England Patriots: OT Carter Smith, Indiana
Protecting Drake Maye should be the priority, and Smith can do just that. Morgan Moses turns 35 this offseason, and Smith could step in as the swing tackle before succeeding him.
1.32 | Seattle Seahawks: ED Zion Young, Missouri
Boye Mafe is a free agent and Derrick Hall has just two sacks this year. 7/8 of Young’s sacks came against teams from the SEC.
Teams without a first-round pick:
Indianapolis Colts (47): DL LT Overton, Alabama
Atlanta Falcons (48): WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Green Bay Packers (52): CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
Jacksonville Jaguars (56): C Logan Jones, Iowa