The college football season is done now . Congratulations to The National Champion INDIANA HOOSIERS ! PLUS THE SEAHAWKS ARE SUPERBOWL CHAMPS. Congratulations to the fans of both. The EAST-WEST SHRINE game and SENIOR BOWL just came and went as well , but both weeks did give us all more information about a lot of players. So far this draft looks subpar in blue chip players, and its been getting worse with so many draft eligible higher level prospects returning to school , Yet there could be a lot of depth , and a lot of starters at the Pro level. Now It's Scouting Combine week. I still have a lot of studying , but at this point I doubt there will be 15 players with a 1rst round grade in this draft. On a personal note this has been a tough College season for me in real life. I have been moving , and the old house is still being fixed up for resale. So I am behind on my tape watching for this time of the year compared to previous seasons , but now things have slowed down , and I am mostly bedridden with a injury , which consequently gives me a lot of free time to grind film. Right now I have done one game one 182 players and 3 or more games on 114 guys, but I doubt I will have time to do a minimum of 3 games of even 400 players this year. Although I will get a lot more games done on the players I end up liking and with those who I am intrigued with enough to put in my final top 200 right before the draft. The 2026 draft also 4 teams with an extra 1rst rounder this year , but unless I believed I was getting a franchise QB out of it I would be trading away any pick outside the top 15 for a 1rst rounder next year if I could get it , because that draft looks like it could be the best class of prospects since 2014. In fact the 2027 draft might be even better because the 2027 draft has the multiple potential ace QB's that 2014 lacked. Yes , I have watched all of these players actually play a lot more , but that is not the same as breaking down the film on them so I still have tons of work to do in this class. Throw in the guys who are draft eligible sophomores that I didn't expect to even contemplate going Pro so early, or that haven't played much yet so they aren't on my radar right now, and you get the picture . Then chime in with the fact we have only have a partial idea what teams will need at that time because of injuries, free agency, retirements , the cap, suspensions , and who knows what else could happen ? Not to mention all the STUPID HEAD COACH FIRINGS THIS OFF SEASON , and now all those new coaches are going to be trying to assess their current rosters and implement their schemes on their new teams. Plus the transfer portal & NIL money has drastically changed the face of college football , but at least more guys are staying in school longer as the early entry draft list is relatively small this time around. That means that the guys who don't make it in the NFL are more likely to actually get a degree , and that the ones who do make the league should be more polished coming in. However , year after year many guys disappoint, go back to school, get injuries, get in trouble , and others come out of the woodwork. Also I have even more work to do on injuries and character concerns , but a lot of that stuff comes out during and after the combine. So you can see what a crapshoot it really is at this time. At least the draft order is set at this point. I expect Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza to go #1 , and I personally doubt the Raiders trade the pick. Also a few trades will probably happen in the 2nd half of the 1rst round , but I only have one in this mock. This is NOT my top 32 , but instead what I believe teams will do in the first round , or with their first pick FOR THE 4 TEAMS who are lacking a a 1rst round pick this year. I don't remember having a guy in my top 10 that I didn't have a first round grade on before now , unless it was a QB , but I have The Bengals taking such a player this year at #10 . Like I said it's not that great at the top in this draft , and they are a team that drafts for need & tools, and they rarely trade unless its a one sided slam dunk in their favor. Without further ado here it is. Agreeing or disagreeing is welcome, but please do it intelligently & respectfully or I just won't post it. so here it is. Enjoy.
# Is for a player for with reported character or maturity concerns.
** Is for a player with reported injury concerns.
1.RAIDERS - FERNANDO MENDOZA - QB - INDIANA
2.JETS - DAVID BAILEY - OLB/DE - TEXAS TECH
3.ARIZONA - FRANCIS MAUIGOA - T/G - MIAMI
4.TITANS - ARVELL REESE - LB/EDGE - OHIO ST.
5.GIANTS - CALEB DOWNS - S - OHIO ST.
6.BROWNS - SPENCER FANO - OT - UTAH
7.WASHINGTON - RUEBEN BAIN - DE/DT - MIAMI
8.SAINTS - MANSOOR DELANE - CB - LSU
9.CHIEFS - JEREMIYAH LOVE - RB - N.DAME
10.BENGALS - TJ PARKER - DE/OLB - CLEMSON
11.MIAMI - CARNELL TATE - WR - OHIO ST.
***TRADE*** The JETS TRADE the 1rst rounder (#16) they got from The Colts and they also send back to DALLAS the 2nd rounder (#44) they have from The Quinnen Williams trade (#44) (#12) for The COWBOYS 1rst rounder ***TRADE***
12.JETS-(dall)- TY SIMPSON - QB - ALABAMA
13.RAMS-(atl)- MAKAI LEMON - WR - USC
14.RAVENS - CALEB LOMU - OT - UTAH
15.TAMPA BAY - SONNY STYLES - LB - OHIO ST.
16.DALLAS-(jets,colts)- AKHEEM MESIDOR - DL - MIAMI
17.LIONS - KADYN PROCTOR - T/G - ALABAMA
18.VIKINGS - DILLION THIENEMAN - S - OREGON
19.CAROLINA - PETER WOODS - DT - CLEMSON
20.DALLAS -(gb)- CJ ALLEN - LB - GEORGIA
21.STEELERS - LEE HUNTER - DT - TEXAS TECH
22.CHARGERS - EMMANUEL PREGNON - G - OREGON
23.EAGLES - JORDAN TYSON - ** - WR - AZ ST.
24.BROWNS-(Jax) - OLAIVAVEGA IOANE - G - PENN ST.
25.BEARS - JERMOD MCCOY - ** - CB - TENNESEE
26.BILLS - DENZEL BOSTON - WR - WASHINGTON
27.49ers - KELDRICK FAULK - DE - AUBURN
28.TEXANS - MONROE FREELING - OT - GEORGIA
29.RAMS - MAX IHEANACHOR - OT - AZ. ST.
30.DENVER - KAYDEN MCDONALD - DT - OHIO ST.
31.PATRIOTS - KENYON SADIQ - TE - OREGON
32.SEATTLE - CASHIUS HOWELL - DE/OLB - TEXAS A&M
2ND ROUNDERS FOR TEAMS WITHOUT A 1RST ROUNDER THIS YEAR
47.COLTS - BLAKE MILLER - OT - CLEMSON
48.ATLANTA - ZION YOUNG - EDGE - MISSOURI
52.PACKERS - CALEB BANKS - # - DT - FLORIDA
56.JAGUARS - AVIEON TERRELL - CB - CLEMSON
