Just as things were starting to line up at the top of the draft, Dante Moore decided to throw a wrench into everything by returning to college for another year. With that decision, the quarterback landscape completely changed. There’s now only one quarterback who truly feels worthy of a top-10 pick in Fernando Mendoza, and there’s a legitimate argument that no other quarterback belongs in the first round at all.
Quarterback chaos aside, the rest of the board is beginning to settle. Conference play cooled off some early risers while boosting the stock of others, and the draft order itself looks very different than it did just a few weeks ago. With that in mind, let’s dive into Mock Draft 3.0 and take a look at how this could all shake out before the playoffs wrap up.
Draft positions for picks 19–32 are based on ESPN’s January 12 projections.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana
Mendoza’s pro-level poise and processing unlock a level of accuracy few first-overall picks possess, paired with legitimate NFL athleticism. His high floor, leadership, and command make him a valuable building block for a franchise still searching for stability.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese | LB/EDGE | Ohio State
Reese is a true three-level defender who excels against the run, in coverage, and off the edge. His athleticism, technique, and football IQ allow him to diagnose plays instantly and pressure quarterbacks with ease.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Reuben Bain Jr. | EDGE | Miami
The book is still out on where Bain’s stock ultimately lands, but his talent is impossible to ignore. Short arms and a smaller frame didn’t stop his edge dominance at the college level. Arizona could go in several directions here, but Bain offers an ideal blend of upside and immediate impact.
4. Tennessee Titans: Peter Woods | DL | Clemson
Tennessee lands an all-pro-level disruptor in Woods. He’s a run-jamming force who pairs violent hands with fluid athleticism rarely seen at his size. His pass rushing is still developing, but the traits suggest significant growth.
5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate | WR | Ohio State
Tate fits seamlessly as a second wide receiver for Jaxson Dart. He runs a pro-ready route tree and creates explosive plays at every level, especially between the numbers where he consistently outruns defenders.
6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano | OT | Utah
Cleveland has several offseason questions, but offensive line help should be the priority. Fano is a fleet-footed tackle who consistently neutralizes top edge rushers. His combination of run and pass blocking stands out among this class.
7. Washington Commanders: Keldric Faulk | EDGE | Auburn
Faulk is a massive presence who sets the edge with violence and attitude. His flexibility at that size gives him a very high ceiling as a pass rusher, while his run defense is already elite.
8. New Orleans Saints: Caleb Downs | S | Ohio State
Downs is as close to generational as this draft gets. His instincts, athletic gifts, and ability to diagnose offensive tendencies allow him to impact games before plays fully develop.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love | RB | Notre Dame
Even an all-time great quarterback benefits from a dynamic playmaker. Love brings speed, versatility, and pass-game utility, with physicality at the next level being the lone concern.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: David Bailey | EDGE | Texas Tech
Bailey wins off the edge with speed, agility, and relentless motor. His coverage instincts give Cincinnati flexibility, though his lack of physicality can make setting the edge a challenge.
11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane | CB | LSU
Delane is a fast, instinctive corner who didn’t allow a single touchdown all season. He’s undersized for a press corner but plays with a junkyard-dog mentality and hits far bigger than his frame.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy | CB | LSU
McCoy missed all of 2025 with an early ACL tear, but his size and physical approach still make him the best outside press corner in the class. He’ll need refinement to avoid penalties, but the upside is clear.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Avieon Terrell | CB | Clemson
With limited time left in the Stafford window, the Rams address their biggest weakness. Terrell is deadly in zone coverage, winning with processing, timing, and an elite ability to generate turnovers.
14. Baltimore Ravens: LT Overton | DL | Alabama
Overton is a dominant run stopper who overwhelms linemen with a powerful bull rush. He has enough flexibility to play on the edge at times but projects best as a long-term interior presence.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Francis Mauigoa | OL | Miami
Mauigoa provides Baker Mayfield added protection. He’s a violent, powerful blocker who transitions smoothly between run and pass sets. His ceiling may be higher at guard, but he’s effective wherever he lines up.
16. New York Jets (via IND): Ty Simpson | QB | Alabama
Simpson isn’t New York’s ideal outcome, but he’s a solid consolation prize. He’s surgical from the pocket, releases the ball quickly, and thrives under pressure despite limited arm strength.
17. Detroit Lions: Sonny Styles | LB | Ohio State
Styles has successfully transitioned from safety to linebacker. He’s a downhill enforcer with rare coverage ability and could grow into a dominant pass-rush role alongside Aidan Hutchinson.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Chandler Rivers | CB | Duke
This is a reach, but one worth taking. Rivers is a coverage savant who wins with technique and intelligence. A more aggressive play style would unlock his full ceiling.
19. Carolina Panthers: Kadyn Proctor | OL | Alabama
Proctor’s athletic profile is absurd. His power and agility overwhelm pass rushers, and his technique continues to improve. Carolina lands one of the highest-ceiling blockers in the draft.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Cashius Howell | EDGE | Texas A&M
Howell is a pure pass-rush specialist with elite speed-to-power conversion. His run defense needs work, but Dallas has the interior help to mask that weakness.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona State
Tyson is an elite space creator with excellent hands and ball tracking. Injury concerns linger, but his talent still warrants WR1 consideration.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Olaivavega Ioane | OL | Penn State
Ioane is a power blocker who dominates in close quarters. Refinement is needed, but strong OT’s around him should allow for development.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenyon Sadiq | TE | Oregon
Sadiq’s oversized-slot profile creates immediate mismatches. He provides Philadelphia with a much-needed pass-game boost.
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Denzel Boston | WR | Washington
Boston is a physical boundary receiver with elite hands. His route tree needs expansion, but his catch radius gives him massive upside.
25. Chicago Bears: Akheem Mezidor | EDGE | Miami
Mezidor is an older prospect with injury history, but his hand-fighting ability is elite. He was arguably more impactful than Bain late in the season.
26. Buffalo Bills: KC Concepcion | WR | Texas A&M
Concepcion lacks elite physical traits, but his route running and playmaking ability make him extremely difficult to ignore.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Makai Lemon | WR | USC
Lemon is a smart, quick slot receiver who thrives in short-yardage situations. Size limits his ceiling, but the upside remains real.
28. Houston Texans: Emmanuel Pregnon | IOL | Oregon
C.J. Stroud needs protection, and Pregnon provides it. He’s a stout mauler who wins with strength and attitude.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Zakee Wheatley | S | Penn State
Wheatley adds another chess piece to the secondary. He flows naturally within the defense and consistently finds himself around the ball.
30. New England Patriots: CJ Allen | LB | Georgia
Allen is a sideline-to-sideline tackler who blows up run plays. His coverage lags behind, but the athletic foundation is strong.
31. Denver Broncos: Caleb Banks | DL | Florida
Banks is a fast, fluid disruptor with massive upside. He’s raw and inconsistent, but the ceiling justifies the risk.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Caleb Lomu | OT | Utah
Lomu’s pass-blocking foundation is elite, with excellent balance and anchor strength. Run blocking needs improvement, but the upside is immense.
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