1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza
- School: Indiana
- Class: Redshirt Junior
- Draft Notes: Did not test at the NFL Combine; elite-graded thrower at every level of the field; navigation of pressure is the one notable flaw
While it’s been tumultuous with the Maxx Crosby trade saga, the Raiders have been successful so far this offseason. They’ve spent handsomely to improve the defense and have already helped to get Fernando Mendoza settle by spending big on Tyler Linderbaum. But make no mistake, the Indiana quarterback is still coming to Las Vegas as the hopeful franchise quarterback. He’s not a generational prospect necessarily, but he’s going to be a starter in the NFL for a long, stable time, and the Raiders need that.
2. New York Jets – LB/EDGE Arvell Reese
- School: Ohio State
- Class: Junior
- 40-time: 4.46s (10-yard split: 1.58s)
- Draft Notes: Weighed in at 243 pounds, which is a bit small for every-down EDGE; phenomenally versatile; 280+ snaps on line and in the box
We’re almost at a point where I just can’t imagine the Jets going in another direction besides taking the best player on the board, Arvell Reese, in this spot. You can talk yourself into a variety of outcomes, but the Jets offseason has been so defense-heavy, that I have a hard time believe the top of the draft won’t follow suit. Despite a low public opinion rating right now, I do believe Aaron Glenn has the tools as a defensive-minded head coach to get it right with Reese.
3. Arizona Cardinals – OT Francis Mauigoa
- School: Miami (FL)
- Class: Junior
- Draft Notes: Did not test at the Combine; improved every year of college career; physical tools are pure NFL offensive tackle and will only be 21 years old
Somewhat similar to how I feel about the Jets, the fact that the Cardinals have spent to sign guard Isaac Seumalo and veteran tackle Elijah Wilkinson leads me to believe they are signaling the pick for a tackle like Francis Mauigoa with the third pick. Mauigoa isn’t a finished product, even if I believe he can succeed as a bookend right now with room to grow. But surrounding him with veteran options to give him a softer runway ultimately makes a ton of sense for what Arizona is trying to set up infrastructurally.
4. Tennessee Titans – EDGE David Bailey
- School: Texas Tech
- Class: Senior
- 40-time: 4.50s (10-yard split: 1.62s)
- Draft Notes: Checked box after box at the Combine; explosiveness and burst present on the tape with 15 sacks in 2025; plus run defense with elite pass rush
If David Bailey is on the board, the Titans better take him. Admittedly, I’ve been less than enamored with Tennessee’s spending in free agency. It feels like Robert Saleh has been pushing for his guys on defense, regardless of the sense they make, and that the team has also been wildly overspending. That will look a lot better with a pass rusher of Bailey’s caliber joining this group, however. He has the look of a surefire NFL pass rusher who will make an immediate impact.
5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles
- School: Ohio State
- Class: Senior
- 40-time: 4.46s (10-yard split: 1.56s)
- Draft Notes: Maybe the best athlete at LB in NFL Combine history; 43.5-inch vert and 11-foot-2 broad jump; purer linebacker but can rush off the edge too
The Giants simply aren’t in a position to not just take the best player available. Sure, Sonny Styles doesn’t fit the most immediate need for New York, but it shouldn’t matter for Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh. Too many times, they’ve favored the need over the player, and we’ve seen it come back to haunt them. Styles has the potential to be a legitimate all-world linebacker with more versatility beyond that, and they need to ensure that happens with the G-Men.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (via trade with CLE) – EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
- School: Miami (FL)
- Class: Junior
- Draft Notes: Did not test at NFL Combine; short arm measurements aren’t a concern on film, but could cause minor slide; 68 hurries and 12 sacks in 16 games
After signing Kenneth Walker III this offseason, the Chiefs made it clear they won’t be taking Jeremiyah Love. But they do still need major defensive upgrades, and a stagnant team like the Browns could acquire more draft capital for Kansas City to move up in a trade to draft a potential star.
Short arms be damned, the Chiefs can elevate the defense with Rueben Bain in an instant. Yes, they need to replenish the secondary after free agency. That said, they also aren’t in a completely dire spot, and I’d argue upgrading the pass rush is still more important. Bain would accomplish that in a huge way.
7. Washington Commanders – RB Jeremiyah Love
- School: Notre Dame
- Class: Junior
- 40-time: 4.36s (10-yard split: 1.55s)
- Draft Notes: Lived up to hype with a blistering 40 at the Combine; two years of elite production with just under 2,500 yards and 35 touchdowns rushing
Hear me out, the way the Commanders have operated so far this offseason has me wondering if this is now very much in play for them. I still think they’d prefer someone like Bain, but there has been some buzz that Dan Quinn and Co. are trying to upgrade the run game. Frankly, I don’t think they have someone as capable as Love to do that in the building. It would be a risk, sure, but he also might be the best pure talent in the draft, and there are worse strategies than that.
8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate
- School: Ohio State
- Class: Junior
- 40-time: 4.53s (10-yard split: 1.61s)
- Draft Notes: Only ran 40 at the Combine; speed isn’t his game, plus a 4.53 is better than he’s getting credit for; movable chess piece with few weaknesses
Though there have been some splashes, such as Travis Etienne, for the Saints in free agency, they have left the door still wide open for the draft. New Orleans can pretty comfortably just take the best player available who makes sense, and that’s clearly Carnell Tate. With Chris Olave’s health concerns and the emergence of Tyler Shough, we have seen the Saints already start to invest around their young QB. A versatile, sure-handed receiver would be a great next step in that plight.
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