WSBU 88.3fm "The Buzz"

By Noah Randall — Co-Sports Director

It’s NFL Draft time once again. This draft class is interesting, to say the least, and it feels like attempting to mock anything outside Mendoza to the Raiders is an exercise in futility. Nevertheless, I’ll attempt to throw my hat into the 2026 mock draft ring. Without further ado, here goes. 

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana 

To quote my blurb for Cam Ward going #1 overall last year: I mean, come on.  

2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State 

The Jets, now in sole ownership of the longest active playoff drought in sports, could totally Jets this pick and take David Bailey at 2. For their sake, I’m betting they take the prospect with the higher ceiling. Anyone else craving peanut butter cups?  

3. Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech 

With an aging Josh Sweat and an inconsistent Darius Robinson currently outlining the Red Sea’s defensive trenches, I’ll hazard a guess that the Cardinals take whichever edge rusher the Jets leave on the board, if they don’t trade down. 

4. Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame 

I’m sorry to say I just don’t think Tony Pollard is that guy in Tennessee. At pick 4, there’s really not a better way to help take the load off your rising second-year QB’s shoulders and add another element to your offense in one fell swoop. Jeremiyah Love is a bad, bad man who we should expect to see hurdling opposing AFC South defenders come September – especially in those sweet, sweet new jerseys. 

5. New York Giants – Sonny Styles, MIKE, Ohio State 

New coach John Harbaugh has a history of not attending pro days, which made it all the more interesting when he was spotted at Ohio State’s. This leads me to believe Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, and Carnell Tate will be on Big Blue’s radar with their picks at 5 and 10. With Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin holding their positions at safety, I’m willing to guess they pass on Downs and take a rare off-ball talent at linebacker. 

6. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State 

The jury is still out at quarterback for the Browns, with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders bringing to mind an old John Madden quote: “if you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none.” Cleveland will have to make the best of a bad situation, however, as the dearth of quarterback talent in the top 10 will make it hard to definitively move on from either. As such, the Browns can bolster their offense with a true #1 wideout, while still attempting to give their QB room all the help it can get. 

7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State 

The run of Buckeyes continues as the Commanders scoop up what some are calling a “generational” prospect, as much as that term gets thrown around nowadays. Lining up alongside a promising Nick Cross, Caleb Downs could have a nice future in the nation’s capital. 

8. New Orleans Saints – Rueben Bain, Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL) 

Franchise legend Cameron Jordan left this offseason, leaving a hole at edge rusher alongside Chase Young for NOLA. Rueben Bain could pick up where Jordan left off and, potentially, even surpass him. 

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL) 

The Chiefs should look to protect Patrick Mahomes as he comes off an ACL and LCL tear, especially after losing players like Joe Thuney and Jawaan Taylor in years past. Depending on the severity of the Mahomesinjury, Mauigoa could even see himself blocking for Justin Fields to start the year. 

10. New York Giants – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State 

Tyson reportedly had dinner with Giants GM Joe Schoen a few days before Schoen offloaded star DT Dexter Lawrence to acquire this pick. That, mixed with the loss of Wan’Dale Robinson in the offseason, leads me to believe the Giants are looking to give Jaxson Dart another weapon to work with. 

11. Miami Dolphins – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU 

New Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan are, in essence, standing atop the rubble of what was once a team 3 points away from setting a new record for points in a game. Any position they select here would be a position of need, but I think the defensive-coordinator-turned-head-coach will push to start their rebuild on the championship-winning side of the football.  

12. Dallas Cowboys – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee 

The Cowboys are sorely missing a presence like 2021 Trevon Diggs on their defense (if only they had a guy like Micah Parsons…). McCoy’s knee could cause him to miss some time in 2026, but with Shavon Revel Jr. entering his second year and DaRon Bland still being a plus player, they would have no issue letting him heal in time for a late-season push. 

13. Los Angeles Rams – Makai Lemon, WR, USC 

Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are both entering the last year of their respective deals. While it will undoubtedly be a priority to re-sign Nacua, Adams isn’t getting any younger. Having Lemon learn behind arguably one of the best WR corps in the league while adding another matchup nightmare for opposing DCs is a great direction for the Rams as they prepare for a post-Stafford era. 

14. Baltimore Ravens – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah 

After losing players like Tyler Linderbaum, the Ravens offensive line looks a bit in limbo. I project Fano will be the first player to hold up those new “Next Flight” jerseys on draft night. 

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn 

While the Bucs might have other needs they could go here, no hole is as glaring as the one they find at edge rusher. Faulk might be a reach at 15, but he’s a great player that fits a big need for Tampa Bay. 

16. New York Jets – Omar Cooper, Jr., WR, Indiana 

The Jets were, by all accounts, a complete failure in 2025. Recording 0 interceptions all season combined with Garrett Wilson’s team-leading 395 receiving yards despite not catching a pass since Week 6 means the Jets need to cover a lot of ground in their rebuild. Since they already took Arvell Reese in this mock, I believe they’ll turn to the other side of the ball and add another receiver alongside Wilson.  

17. Detroit Lions – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama 

The Lions lost their most eligible receiver in tackle Taylor Decker this off-season. This hole can be easily filled by Proctor, who should develop into a nice blindside blocker for not only Jared Goff, but his replacement as well.  

18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon 

The Vikes will sorely miss their hit man in Harrison Smith, but Dillon Thieneman could prove to do quite nicely in that role. The Duck will hope to do what Smith couldn’t and bring a Lombardi back home to Minnesota for the first time in their history. 

19. Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon 

Quite frankly a freak athlete, Kenyon Sadiq ran the fastest 40-time ever for a tight end at a blazing 4.39 during this year’s combine. The Panthers can add a sure-handed safety blanket for Bryce Young, something they sorely needed at the end of their Wild Card game against the Rams, as well as a genuinely dynamic option to an offense that can need it at times. 

20. Dallas Cowboys – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia 

In this position, the Cowboys will look to grab a tackle to better protect their aging leader in Dak Prescott. Freeling only started 18 games throughout his time at Georgia, but the Cowboys will be in no rush to get him out on the field behind 2022 1^st rounder Tyler Smith and Terence Steele. A rare combination of size, strength, and speed, Freeling should be a developmental perfect fit. 

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State 

In what could be one of the loudest draft reactions of the night, the Steelers could draft the hometown kid to plug up their offensive line and walk out to thunderous applause from the sea of Penn State fans in the audience. 

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL) 

Potentially a reach, the Chargers won’t have Khalil Mack forever and are running out of edge rusher options outside of Madden franchise legend Tuli Tuipulotu. The former Hurricane winds up a Charger here at pick22.  

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah 

The Eagles offensive line has been in the upper echelon of the league’s best over the last few years. With right tackle mainstay Lane Johnson potentially hanging it up soon, however, a pick like Lomu would be the perfect way to ensure Saquon Barkley will still have running lanes to find.  

24. Cleveland Browns – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson 

When they have the NFL’s new sack leader and the reigning defensive rookie of the year on their defense, it’s easy to predict the Browns will most likely double dip on the offensive side with their two Top 32 selections. After picking up C/G Elgton Jenkins this offseason, I think the Browns will be keen to protect their less-than-stellar QB room at pick 24. 

25. Chicago Bears – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State 

Current DT1 for Chicago, Grady Jarrett, is just a few days away from his 33^rd birthday at the time of writing. That, for me, is cause enough for belief that the Windy City will put a 1^st round investment into the position. Between Woods and McDonald, I’m taking McDonald if I’m Chi-Town, as his 6’2”, 326-lb frame appears to have the higher upside. 

26. Arizona Cardinals (via trade with BUF) — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama 

I’m sure Bills GM Brandon Beane doesn’t even know what he’ll do with pick 26 yet. Given his so-so track record in the first round and the talent available at this point, I expect Beane to work the phones attemptingto work his way back into the 2^nd. While there are many suitable trade partners to tango with, I’m not sure there’s one that will be as hungry to get their guy as Arizona will be, as they look to move on from the nothingburger that was Kyler Murray’s tenure. Will Simpson be the next Shough? 

27. San Francisco 49ers – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State 

The Niners finally closed out a deal with Trent Williams on Monday, ending talks they might move on from the legend. One of only 5 remaining active players from the 2010 NFL Draft though, it’s safe to say Williams won’t be playing just a few minutes away from an electrical field for much longer. When that happens, a huge hole will be left in the tackle position; why not get a head start on replacing him with Iheanachor, letting him learn behind the former Sooner? 

28. Houston Texans – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson 

Houston has one of the most expensive defensive payrolls in the league, and until they ran into the buzzsaw (somehow?) that was Old Man Rodgers and the Steelers in the playoffs, they played like it. Derek Stingley, Jr., Kamari Lassiter, Jalen Pitre, and Calen Bullock comprise arguably one of the best secondaries in the league and Will Anderson, Jr. found himself atop the highest-paid in league history after signing a $150 million deal last week. The interior defensive line is the only piece that’s “missing,” and with McDonald off the board, I expect the Texans to take Woods. 

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee 

After a sudden and shocking dealing of Trent McDuffie to the Rams gave them this pick, I can only imagine the Chiefs have their eyes on a corner this draft. Of course, to my dismay, I will have to root against the Volunteer if he ends up here, but this is the smartest football move for KC with their second 1^st round pick. 

30. Miami Dolphins – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M 

As previously stated, the Dolphins could do almost anything here and be correct. Since they already took a corner, I think they begin to rebuild their WR corps, now Tyreek Hill and Jayden Waddle-less. 

31. New England Patriots – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington 

New England’s offensive performance during their playoff run left a lot to be desired, before they were shut out in the first half of the Super Bowl, with most of their production coming in garbage time. Giving Drake Maye a 1^st round-caliber weapon could bring this offense to a new level. 

32. Seattle Seahawks – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri 

Finally, after losing a top 10 pass rush winner in Boye Mafe this offseason, I expect Mike MacDonald (not to be confused with the Bonnies’ recent local hire) to look to replace him. Zion Young, coming off a 2025 campaign at Mizzou that saw him record a team-high 16.5 TFLs, could be poised to not only replace Mafe, but make the 12^th Man not even miss him.