Featured Photo: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) scrambles against Old Dominion on Aug. 30, 2025, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo / Darron Cummings)

Now a few weeks removed from the NFL Scouting Combine and free agency, and just one month away from the NFL Draft, it is time for the third edition of the mock draft series.

While team needs are more apparent for some, multiple holes remain on many teams picking at the top of the draft. The question that all continue to ask as the draft approaches, will teams stick to their board or pass on the top players for better position value?

This mock draft includes trade predictions and draft selections for the entire first round.

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

Mendoza is going to be the number one overall selection in April’s draft spectacle. The Raiders front office moved off QB Geno Smith, trading him to the Jets in a full circle moment for the veteran QB.

Even with the Maxx Crosby deal falling through, the Raiders plans of Mendoza to be the QB of the future go unscathed.

2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, DE/LB, Ohio State

The general consensus is the Jets plan to select one of the pass rushers on the board. Most likely between Reese and David Bailey. With this pick, I have them selecting the more versatile player in Reese, as this Jets team is in need of a big swing.

Aaron Glenn’s seat is already sizzling and the defense must improve under his watch in year two for Glenn to see a year three.

3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech

Cardinals are in position to take the best player on their board, regardless of the position of the player. There is not a QB for new head coach Mike LaFleur to select at this spot, so he bolsters his defense by selecting Bailey third overall.

LaFleur witnessed what a star pass rusher in Verse brought to the Rams his rookie season. As a prospect, Bailey is held at a higher regard and has an opportunity to be even better as a pass rusher than Verse.

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

New head coach Robert Saleh had a front-row seat of what an elite running back can add to an offense in San Francisco. Saleh and company select Love to help take some of the pressure off the second-year QB in Cam Ward.

This draft selection continues the additions of weapons to new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s offense in year one. The Titans run-game has the potential to jump from the bottom to the top of the league’s rankings straight away.

5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Giants enter the draft with not too many roster holes. This allows them to pick their poison. The best three players remaining on their board are a linebacker, safety, and wide receiver.

With the injury to Malik Nabers, John Harbaugh adds the best weapon on the board in Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. Tate compliments Nabers well when he does return, and adds another weapon for Jaxon Dart to target in year two.

6. Cleveland Browns: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Todd Monken’s team is in desperate need of an offensive tackle and wide receiver. However, Monken in his first draft selects the best player on his board. With the future of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s career in question, the Browns decide to draft his replacement, pairing him with the AFC defensive rookie of the year Carson Schwesinger. 

The Browns still have another selection and can address WR and OT later on.

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

Commander’s HC Dan Quinn’s defense has gone through a transformation this offseason. I believe they would love for one of Love or Tate to fall to them at this pick. In this scenario, both players are not there, so they take the best player on their board. A LB and S go back-to-back in the top ten.

Downs can be a Kyle Hamilton type of safety for a Commanders defense that needs an infusion of youth. The Commanders made defense a focal point in free agency and continue to add on in the first round of the draft.

8. New Orleans Saints: Reuben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (FL)

The Saints are in best player available mode. Bain falls into their lap at pick eight after rough measurements at the combine cause a slip. Teams draft players based on measurables and fit and Bain fits exactly what this new era Saints are looking for in a pass rusher.

Bain is coming off a great season with the Miami Hurricanes and his film speaks for itself. If Bain does fall out of the top five, a team is getting a steal in the first round of this draft.

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

The Chiefs have holes at RT and DB. The one year extension for Travis Kelce limited what the team could do in free agency and now they must fill major needs in the draft. Following the trade with the Rams, the Chiefs now also hold pick 29 in the draft as well.

At pick nine, they add their RT of the future in Mauigoa. Mauigoa is the best RT prospect in the draft and even projects to be a high-caliber interior lineman as well. The Jawaan Taylor era is finally behind them.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The motto still stands; “Defense, Defense, Defense.”

Bengals continue to bolster the defense by adding Delane to the secondary. This defense needs high quality defensive players and they add on with the best press-man CB in the draft.

11.  Miami Dolphins: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

12. Dallas Cowboys: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

13. (Projected Trade): Detroit Lions (From ATL/LAR): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

16. (Projected Trade): Cleveland Browns (From IND/NYJ): Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

17. (Projected Trade): Los Angeles Rams (From DET): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

18. Minnesota Vikings: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

19. Carolina Panthers: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

20. Dallas Cowboys: Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (FL)

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

23. (Projected Trade): Arizona Cardinals (From PHI): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

24. (Projected Trade): New York Jets (From JAX/CLE): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

26. Buffalo Bills: TJ Parker, DE, Clemson

27. San Francisco 49ers: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

28. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

29. (Trade): Kansas City Chiefs (From LAR): Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

30. (Trade): Miami Dolphins (From DEN): Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

31. New England Patriots: Zion Young, DE, Missouri

32. Seattle Seahawks: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M