1. Las Vegas Raiders - QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana 

Not much explanation needed here, Mendoza has been the clear favorite for the first overall pick since the college football season ended. Even recently traded for QB Kirk Cousins said he can’t wait to help Mendoza learn, just another signal that he will be taken here. 

2. New York Jets - LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

There’s been a lot of talk about this pick being Reese or David Bailey out of Texas Tech, but I ultimately think the Jets will opt for Reese. He has elite physical traits to be an edge rusher and has a high floor as an off-ball linebacker if it doesn’t work as a full-time pass rusher. 

3. Kansas City Chiefs (via Trade w ARI) - EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech

I think Arizona is desperate to move back, and Kansas City needs to add a pass rusher to this defense. They do have a lot of other holes to fill, but think adding Bailey, a proven pass rusher, is an opportunity that Kansas City doesn’t usually have, and they need to take advantage of. 

4. Tennessee Titans - RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

While I am not super high on taking running backs this early, this is a unique draft class where the top players mostly don’t play the highly valued positions. Love is the best player in the class, in my opinion, and the Titans need to help out Cam Ward in any way they can. 

5. New York Giants - S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

I wrestled between Downs and Styles, but ultimately think Downs is a cleaner and higher IQ prospect who Harbaugh will love. They could try to wait until ten to see if Downs falls. I don’t know if they want to miss out on who they see as the future leader of their defense. 

6. Dallas Cowboys (via Trade w CLE) - LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

I think the Cowboys are trying to move up for Styles, and I don’t think Washington would pass up on him if he got to seven. They move up to get a leader on a defense that desperately needs one. The Browns now have three first-round picks, while giving Dallas back their second. 

7. Washington Commanders - WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

The Commanders quietly have one of the worst receiver rooms in the league, with nothing behind Terry McLaurin. Tate provides them another serious threat for Jayden Daniels after they miss out on their likely top defenders on the board in the two edges, Styles, and Downs.

8. New Orleans Saints - CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

The Saints need cornerback help, and Delane is the cleanest prospect here due to all the injury concerns around McCoy. I also considered Bain here, but think the arm length could cause him to drop a bit, though I still think he is a high-level prospect. 

9. Arizona Cardinals (via Trade w KC) - OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

The Cardinals are able to pick up an extra first-round pick while swapping their third for KC’s fourth and still get the right tackle that they desperately need. Mauigoa gets to play his natural right tackle position, and Arizona sets up their next QB with a young, talented tackle duo.

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

While, as a Giants fan, I would love for them to go corner or offensive line here, there has been a ton of speculation around this pick. With Delane gone, I don’t see them taking the risk on McCoy, but I could see them taking Fano or Ioane if they are worried about the offensive line. 

11. Miami Dolphins - EDGE Reuben Bain, Miami

With many of the other top defenders gone, Bain makes a ton of sense as he likely is their top defender on the board, even with his shorter arms. They have a ton of holes to fill, and going with the best player available makes the most sense. 

12. Cleveland Browns (via Trade w DAL) - OT Spencer Fano, Utah

The Browns are rumored to take Freeling at 6th overall, but I think Fano is a much better prospect and has experience on the left side. They still have 20 and 24 to fill other holes, more specifically, wide receiver, but can take a sigh of relief filling out their left tackle spot here. 

13. Los Angeles Rams - WR Makai Lemon, USC

The Rams don’t have a ton of holes to fill, but with the aging and injury-prone Davante Adams, they could look to add another receiver to create one of the best rooms in the league. Lemon could be the long-term pairing with young superstar Puka Nacua.

14. Baltimore Ravens - OG Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

There is a clear need on the interior of the offensive line for the Ravens, and Ioane is a plug-and-play guard for them. They have been rumored to take Sadiq here as well, but I think Ioane is a better prospect and is a more pressing need to help protect Lamar Jackson.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (via Trade w TB) - OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

I think the offensive tackle run is about to start, and Pittsburgh wants to get ahead of Detroit and take their long-term answer at left tackle. They give up one of their three third-round picks as well as a Day 3 pick to move up six spots and grab their guy. 

16. New York Jets - CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

With the top three wide receivers taken, I don’t think the Jets force the WR pick with two second-round picks to fill that hole. Instead, they opt for my top corner in McCoy, who gives them a replacement for Sauce Gardner. He has the traits to be an elite cornerback.

17. Detroit Lions - OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

While he is not my highest tackle on the board, I don’t think Proctor gets past the pick unless Freeling or Fano were to somehow fall. Proctor will likely be a guard in my opinion, but Detroit has to take a swing on tackle, and there aren’t a lot of people his size who move the way he does.

18. Minnesota Vikings - S Dillon Thienenman, Oregon

I’ve had this pick in each of my mock drafts, and it makes a ton of sense. The Vikings need a difference maker on the back-end, and he is my top player on the board here. I didn’t find any homes for him before this, so if he’s here, I think that’s Minnesota’s pick. 

19. Carolina Panthers - TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Another pick I love, Carolina needs another weapon, and he is the top weapon on the board. They have Ja’Tavion Sanders and Tommy Tremble there, but I don’t think that would stop them from taking Sadiq, who gives them a high ceiling and a tight end who is a solid blocker as well. 

20 . Cleveland Browns (via Trade w DAL) - WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M 

The Browns already filled their biggest hole at left tackle, but need to find receivers for whoever starts for them at quarterback. While Concepcion isn’t my top receiver available, I think Monken finds his version of Zay Flowers, and Concepcion has a ton of upside.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Trade w PIT) EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami

The Buccaneers can trade out of fifteen and take the player I likely would have had them go. They need to add to their pass rush, and despite Mesidor already being twenty-five years old, he has shown a ton of ability to get to the quarterback, and he seems like a safe pick.

22. Los Angeles Chargers - EDGE Keldrick Faulk, Auburn 

The Chargers need to add to a thin pass rush group with an aging Khalil Mack. I think Faulk provides them a solid run defender who can set the edge, with upside as a pass rusher learning from Khalil Mack. I could see them reaching for a guard, but I don’t think it’s worth it this early.

23. Philadelphia Eagles - OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

Lane Johnson realistically has one to two seasons left, and Iheanachor has a ton of upside but might not be ready to play just yet. Having him sit behind Johnson and then eventually take over as their right tackle is something the Eagles would do, and I think it would be a smart plan.

24. Cleveland Browns - CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

After filling massive needs at receiver and left tackle, the Browns are able to take one of the top corners in this year's class, who can play either outside or in the slot. I could see them even doubling up on wide receiver in this scenario, but I think Terrell is the smarter pick.

25. Chicago Bears - S Emmanuel McNeil Warren, Toledo 

While there is a massive need on the defensive line, I think the Bears could look to address those needs on Day 2, with there being so much depth at those positions and them having two second-rounders. He is the best player available, and the Bears have said they want to pick that way.

26. Buffalo Bills - EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF 

After trading for DJ Moore, I don’t think that receiver is their top priority, and their pass rush has been a real problem in recent years. Though not my top edge available, Lawrence has been a hot name rising on draft boards, and there are a lot of tools to work with there. 

27. San Francisco 49ers - OT Caleb Lomu, Utah 

Even after resigning Trent Williams, Lomu gives them a developmental future left tackle, who can operate as their swing tackle for the upcoming season. I considered Omar Cooper Jr. here as well, but I think the depth at receiver in this draft causes him to fall.

28. Houston Texans - OT Blake Miller, Clemson 

I could see Houston opting for an interior defender, but they pick again at thirty-eight, and there is a lot more depth at that position than at offensive tackle. Miller has a ton of starts and should come in right away to compete with Braden Smith for the starting right tackle spot.  

29. Arizona Cardinals (via Trade w KC) - QB Ty Simpson, Alabama 

Due to the trade with Kansas City, Arizona doesn’t have to trade back up to take their potential signal-caller for the future. They have been heavily linked to Simpson, and if they don’t trade back, look for them to jump back into round one to grab Simpson for the fifth-year option.

30. Miami Dolphins - WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

After taking Bain with their first of two first-round picks, the Dolphins need to give Malik Willis a weapon. Cooper Jr. has been mocked as high as 16 to the Jets, but I think his value is right around this spot and makes perfect sense for the Dolphins, who have zero receiving threats.

31. New England Patriots - EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson

The Patriots need to add to a pass rush that was their only real defensive weakness last season, and Parker has a ton of upside. Though not my top edge rusher available, I think Vrabel will be able to work with Parker’s tools and get the best out of him. 

32. Seattle Seahawks - CB Chris Johnson, SDSU

I thought about adding an edge rusher here, but I think corner is a more pressing need at the moment, and Johnson is a solid prospect who has been rising up draft boards. I also thought about running back here, but I'm not sure Seattle would take one this early.