NFL mock drafts are all about exploring different situations. Because of that, it's important to understand where the author is coming from.
There are four kinds of mock drafts:
Predicting what will happen
Exploring a specific situation
Talking about what teams should do
What would you do as an analyst
The last one is the premise of this mock draft, as this is what I would do by selecting for every team in the first round.
Love was a four-star recruit for the Fighting Irish in the 2023 recruiting class.
After playing as a reserve during his freshman season, he was a two-year starter at running back.
Love scored 40 touchdowns over the last two seasons, and was an All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist in 2025.
1. Las Vegas Raiders : Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
This is a no-brainer for the Raiders. Mendoza isn't just a good quarterback prospect; he can attack every blade of grass on the field, and will be an elite distributor of the football in Klint Kubiaks' offense.
2. New York Jets : Sonny Styles Jr., LB, Ohio State
The top three players in this class on my big board are all at non-premium positions. Downs and Love are slightly ranked higher, but Styles is a better fit for where the Jets are at. Styles is a perfect modern-day linebacker as a former safety convert who runs in the low 4.4s.
3. Arizona Cardinals : Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Cardinals need to get impact players. While Reese isn't the elite edge rusher yet that many have projected him to be, but he's already a great off-ball linebacker who has the athletic profile to be a dynamic edge rusher. If it doesn't work on the edge, he's still a plus off-ball linebacker.
4. Tennessee Titans : Makai Lemon, WR, USC
This is the first surprise off the board. I like what Jeremiyah Love brings to the table, but the value proposition isn't there. Lemon thrives in the short and intermediate routes that will help maximize Cam Ward , while also helping in contested catch situations.
5. New York Giants : Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
The Giants would have loved to get either Styles or Reese, but it didn't end up that way. They have to do a better job of protecting Jaxson Dart . While Mauigoa played right tacke for the Hurricanes, his profile is better suited for guard where he can be a destructive mauler.
6. Cleveland Browns : Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate isn't an elite player from an athletic testing perspective, but he's incredibly smooth in everything he does. Plus, he's an elite contested catch receiver, having caught 12/14 attempts with his elite body control and ball tracking.
7. Washington Commanders : Caleb Downs , S, Ohio State
The Commanders get my top player in the class with Downs, as they are the ones to capitalize on him being the latest safety to fall down the board. Downs is a versatile player with elite instincts who can be a dynamic player for Daronte Jones.
8. New Orleans Saints : David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Tate would be a great player to pair with Chris Olave , but he's not available. Bailey has been often linked to going in the top three selections, but the Saint benefit and get an explosive edge rusher that they have been lacking.
9. Kansas City Chiefs : Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
Finding a place for Bain in a predictive mock draft could prove difficult with the news of an incident in 2024. This isn't a predictive mock draft, but rather what I would do. Bain is exactly what Steve Spagnuolo wants in an edge rusher from a power and size perspective.
10. Cincinnati Bengals : Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Bengals have been linked to defensive players, but keeping Joe Burrow upright should be a priority. Fano is a right tackle who can kick inside to either guard or center and create the best five to protect Burrow and maximize the offense.
11. Miami Dolphins : Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Dolphins need just about everything on the roster with their rebuild. McCoy is an elite prospect at cornerback who can thrive in multiple schemes. His explosiveness and ball skills will help maximize their pass defense.
12. Dallas Cowboys : Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Cowboys have always been a team to focus on making a big splash. Selecting Love would be that big splash. Even with the Cowboys signing Javonte Williams to a decent sized contract, it's always good to have two running backs, and Love is a good complement.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Is there a better receiver in this class for what Sean McVay likes to do? I don't think so. Concepcion is a twitchy route runner who thrives on all three levels of the field. With Puka Nacua also in the room, McVay will have two different types of weapons to attack vertically with.
14. Baltimore Ravens : Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Ravens have been the land of small receivers for some time. They did sign DeAndre Hopkins , but he's past his prime. Tyson can play a similar role for the Ravens, and do more than what Hopkins was able to do, and that can maximize Lamar Jackson .
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers : Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Bucccaneers are desperate to improve at edge rusher, and they have multiple to choose from. Faulk is the highest upside rusher remaining, as he provides a baseline of great run defense.
16. New York Jets (via IND): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Terrell is my top cornerback in the class. Despite his size deficiencies, Terrell will endear himself to Aaron Glenn with his bulldog mentality at the catchpoint and when taking on blockers in the run game.
17. Detroit Lions : Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
With the retirement of Taylor Decker , the Lions need to replace him either with a left or right tackle. Freeling has been a late riser in the process, but he is a plus athlete with refined technical ability to thrive on the outside.
18. Minnesota Vikings : Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The biggest needs for the Vikings are at defensive tackle (where there aren't great prospects in round one) and the secondary (where the draft is loaded on day two). Sadiq would give them a better third option at wide receiver than Tai Felton while being developed to take over for T.J. Hockenson in 2027.
19. Carolina Panthers : Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Wide receiver would be nice for the Panthers, but an X-receiver in Denzel Boston doesn't make sense with Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Leggette on the roster. Delane would give the Panthers another man coverage corner to pair with Jaycee Horn .
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GBP): R Mason Thomas , EDGE, Oklahoma
Edge rusher is a priority for the Cowboys. They arguably should have taken one at No. 12 but get a talented player in Thomas. He isn't just an explosive pass rusher off the ball, but his run defense is better than he's given credit for.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers : Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Ty Simpson could be a thought here for Steelers, but I don't think he's a first-round pick. Broderick Jones slightly improved last year, and Lomu could replace him. At the very least, he can kick inside to guard while giving Jones one more year.
22. Los Angeles Chargers : Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
An ass kicking Big Ten guard? Sign Jim Harbaugh up. The Chargers need to improve an interior that had issues last season both staying healthy and playing well when they were. Ioane will help solve that for Mike McDaniel's offense.
23. Philadelphia Eagles : Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Jeff Stoutland might not be with the Eagles as the offensive line coach anymore, but the organization still knows how to pick offensive lineman. Proctor will be given the most development with the Eagles than any other organization.
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Blake Miller , OT, Clemson
High character and athletic upside? The Browns could use both, and Miller will provide some more stability on an offensive line seeing a major overhaul.
25. Chicago Bears : Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Bears have a need on the defensive line, especially in rushing the passer. This is finally the spot to take Woods, who had a down year after looking like a future top-five pick as a sophomore in 2024.
26. Buffalo Bills : Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Bills have Khalil Shakir and DJ Moore who can handle the short and intermediate areas, but they still need a big-bodied receiver who can win in contested situations. The Bills finally get that player after failing with Keon Coleman .
27. San Francisco 49ers : Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
The future of Trent Williams is in doubt and Colton McKivitz is replacement level. Taking a high-upside player who can be an elite player in Kyle Shanahan's scheme predicated on movement is a great use of 27th overall.
28. Houston Texans : Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M
The Texans would love to have a tackle fall here, but they all ended up going. Bisontis is a really good guard prospect in Bisontis. He is a high-level pass protector, which will help maximize C.J. Stroud .
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR): D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
The Chiefs got their pass rusher early on with Bain, and now get a cornerback to replace Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson . Ponds might be small, but he plays big and has a 43.5″ vertical jump. He's a great man coverage cornerback and can thrive with Spagnuolo.
30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN): T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
After getting McCoy, the Dolphins take a chance on Parker, who was once thought as a top ten pick. He is a plus run defender who needs some more refinement as a pass rusher.
31. New England Patriots : Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Edge rusher is a priority for the Patriots and they get an explosive edge rusher who can bend the arc. Howell is also versatile enough to drop into coverage, which will help the versatility of the unit.
32. Seattle Seahawks : C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
Allen is one of my favorite prospects in the class. He's got a stunningly high football IQ and thrives shooting gaps when blitzing and stopping the run. Allen needs development as a man coverage cornerback, but the rest of his game is more than enough.
