What happens in a year when there aren’t many elite prospects in the NFL draft? Normally, nothing is normal. Trades are more likely to happen because teams have significantly different draft boards and are worried about not getting one of the few players they think could be a difference-maker. When a team sees their first-round finish wiped out, they’re suddenly willing to trade down, while teams with just one name left are trading like crazy to move up.
Players will be drafted in all kinds of unexpected places in April, so fans should prepare for shock and awe. Here, in our first full first-round mock draft of the offseason, we try to capture as much of that sentiment as possible. Predicting trades in such an exercise is futile, so no team will be allowed to move during this exercise. Instead, everyone stayed out of it and operated under the premise that “the front office fell in love with this guy before the draft.” That fits the situation for the Dallas Cowboys most years, so they’ll feel right at home.
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1.1: Las Vegas Raiders — Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (15) throws a pass during spring football practice on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
The obvious choice here is that instead of tanking them for no reason, the front office went with the Heisman winner. Nothing crazy happens here.
1.2: New York Jets – LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Pretty crazy for a No. 2 linebacker, but Aaron Glenn kept the job after a poor first season at HC, and the addition of Reese gives him a force multiplier to rebuild the defense.
The Cardinals need plenty of help here and there, but solidifying their offensive line to acquire a free-agent quarterback may be their top priority.
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1.4: Tennessee Titans – Edge Rueben Bain, Jr., Miami
New head coach Robert Saleh lets his breakers lead the defense. Nothing crazy here yet.
1.5: New York Giants – WR Jordin Tyson, Arizona State
The Giants made their first major move in the draft, replacing high-volume Won’Dale Robinson with the exciting Tyson out of Arizona State.
1.6: Cleveland Browns – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
The Browns have moved on from the Kevin Stefanski era and are immediately starting to rebuild the offense with wide receiver U prospects.
December 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) watches before the game against the James Madison Dukes at Ocean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Dan Quinn has to fix his defense, but what if he realizes he can make the offense better by adding an undefendable tight end? Sadiq was not considered a top-10 candidate, but Washington has fallen in love with him.
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1.8: New Orleans Saints – WR Makai Lemon, USC
As Kellen Moore rebuilds his Amari Cooper-CeeDee Lamb tandem, Lemons paired with Chris Olave makes too much sense for quarterback Tyler Shaw.
1.9: Kansas City Chiefs – RB Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame
The Chiefs don’t usually move into early RB draft picks, but Love falling to No. 9 awakened something in their spirit. A game-changing RB sitting in the backfield will expand Patrick Mahomes’ window of dominance and drive defenders into the zone.
1.10: Cincinnati Bengals – DT Peter Woods, Clemson
The Bengals have to hit the reset button on their entire defense, and there’s no better place to start than from the inside out, front to back.
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1.11: Miami Dolphins – CB Mansour Deline, LSU
The Dolphins may need to search for a quarterback in free agency and may need a new wide receiver, but DeLeon may be too good to pass up on new, defensive-minded HC Jeff Hafley.
1.12: Dallas Cowboys – Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey (31) against the Arizona Sun Devils at American Hill Stadium. Mandatory photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Cowboys have huge needs everywhere on defense, but upon reflection, speculation is that the edge well will dry up ahead of defensive backs.
1.13: Los Angeles Rams – CB Jermaine McCoy, Tennessee
Los Angeles may have found Rob Havenstein’s replacement, but they don’t have any solutions for a second-stringer who has allowed more than 28 points per game over the past seven games. McCoy, who missed the entire season with a torn ACL, should make a full recovery.
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1.14: Baltimore Ravens – DE Keldrick Faulk, Auburn
The Ravens aren’t used to drafting outside of their 20s, but they need to rebuild their defense from the inside out. With Minter’s 3-4 defense coming on the scene, having young Faulk as their 4i/5T is much needed.
After 15 seasons in Lavonte David, the Buccaneers found their next star linebacker in Styles out of Ohio State. It makes so much sense.
1.16: New York Jets – DT Caleb Banks, Florida State
The Jets sold their best cornerback midseason when they traded Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys. Adding Banks to the interior of their backline will help rebuild the foundations and keep Reese clean.
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1.17: Detroit Lions – CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
The Lions will lose a ton of corners in free agency, so adding to their secondary would make a lot of sense, especially since Terrell’s toughness is a perfect fit for Dan Campbell’s team.
1.18: Minnesota Vikings – Safety Caleb Downs, Ohio State
The franchise was able to transition smoothly from the Harrison Smith era to the Towns era because somehow the best player in many people’s minds in the draft fell all the way to this point.
1.19: Carolina Panthers – LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Hill is a downhill slugger, and the Panthers are giving up more offensive weapons and looking to fix their defense after spending much of last season in linebacker purgatory.
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1.20: Dallas Cowboys – Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
December 23, 2025; Boca Raton, FL, USA; Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (7) celebrates his third stop against the Louisville Cardinals during the third quarter of the Boca Raton Bowl at CU Stadium in Flagler. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images
The Cowboys know they need secondary help, and adding McNeil-Warren as Donovan Wilson’s replacement is a perfect place to start. Depending on the type of safety they acquire in free agency, they may prefer Dillon Thienemann.
1.21: Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Denzel Boston, Washington
The Steelers are in dire need of more offensive firepower, and a tough, big-bodied receiver like Boston’s will help end the Rodgers era, as well as any players in black and yellow who follow him.
1.22: Los Angeles Chargers – Guard Olewawega Ivan, Penn State
With their tackle returning, adding an elite linebacker prospect should change quarterback Justin Herbert’s future in the best possible way. It’s easy to adapt here.
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1.23: Philadelphia Eagles – Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Even if they retain Jalen Phillips, the Eagles will be looking to bolster their pass rush in the upcoming draft. Adding Howell should speed up opposing quarterbacks’ tempo.
1.24: Cleveland Browns – OT Spencer Farno, Utah
The Browns have been a mess on offense for years, so after getting their top weapon, they focused on creating time for the quarterback to get Tate the ball.
1.25: Chicago Bears – LB C.J. Allen, Georgia
The Bears already have the offensive firepower to compete, but adding a defender like Allen would go a long way in helping an opportunistic secondary.
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1.26: Buffalo Bills – Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami
January 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akhem Mesidor (3) sacks Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza during the third quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium Mendoza (15 years old). Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Bills need to get a weapon in Josh Allen, but pairing Mesidore with former teammate Greg Rousseau would create a dominant edge rusher scenario that would lead to more offensive opportunities due to turnovers.
1.27: San Francisco 49ers – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
With the departure of Brandon Aiyuk, the exodus of WR talent from San Francisco will continue. Adding Concepcion to Ricky Pearsall would help stem that trend.
1.28: Houston Texans – DT Caden McDonald, Ohio State
Houston’s biggest question may be the quarterback position, but it’s not time for them to end C.J. Stroud just yet. Instead, Demeco Ryans has been a part of the middle of the backcourt that has been strengthening the league’s top defense.
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1.29: Los Angeles Rams – QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
No brainer here. Received fifth-year option on Matt Stafford’s heir apparent.
1.30: Denver Broncos – TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Giving Bonix some extra firepower makes a lot of sense.
1.31: New England Patriots – OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Everyone has seen the Super Bowl, right?
1.32: Seattle Seahawks – CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
The Seahawks have too many pending free agents at the position to overlook cornerback, especially being able to acquire Cisse so late in the first round.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: ‘Falling in Love’ first-round mock draft: Commanders, Chiefs, Cowboys stun
