Mock Draft: What Teams SHOULD Do in Round 1

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human. What a scream! We installed telephone wires across rural Britain over a century ago, and you're still paying to use them for your broadband today! If it ain't broke, what? Eeeh! Stop! Your days of selling phone age broadband are over! Blast! I've spilled the beans! Upgrade to 100% full fibre. Gigaclear, faster broadband for rural Britain from only £19 a month. Price may rise during contract. T's and C's apply. Check availability at gigaclear.com. Nothing beats a jet-tue holiday! Right now, we've got some great deals available! Plus, you'll get the best choice of rooms and hotels! Book now, with just a £60 deposit per person. Get 22kg of baggage included, and now you can go direct from London Gatwick! Jet-tue holidays! Package holidays you can trust. Afternation protected. Subject to availability conditions. Welcome to NFL Daily, where we would never meet an impasse. I'm Greg Rosenthal. I'm here in the Chris Wesleyan podcast studio with Jordan Rodry. Hello! Ian Rafferport, our guy. Even though he technically works for ESPN now, reported Dexter Lawrence and the Giants reached an impasse in their contract negotiations last night. I was surprised to see the lack of education on social, where most of the responses were like, what's the definition of impasse? Good word! I hope they receive some creditable responses. There you go. Another good one. We're going mock draft heavy here as we get closer to the draft. As you are listening to this, we are one week away from the 2026 NFL draft. We wanted to start talking about what we think could happen on draft night. But more in this show, what we think should happen, Jordan. We're bringing back a dueling mock draft where we go back and forth. There's going to be some testing of our brainwaves here, because we have to think on our feet. Back and forth with picks in the first round. Not what we think will happen, what we think should happen. What do you want these teams to do? Yes, it will be a test of our organizational skills. I sent myself into a little bit of a... You're the odd numbers. Yes, I do know that. But I sent myself into a little bit of a tailspin yesterday, Greg, when I was prepping for this, because I tried to put myself in your size fours and think about what you would do in these, so that I could game theory around what I thought you would pick. And it really did send me into a dark place. I'm just trying to get organized here. I'm a size 10, kind of over index and shoe size compared to height, so not a good indicator there for you, Jordan. You got the choice to have the number one overall pick or not, and you did decide to take the Raiders' choice. I thought maybe she's taking the easy way out, or maybe you're going to surprise us. What should the Raiders do? Just kidding. They're going to pick Fernando Mendoza. They should pick Fernando Mendoza. Quarterback out of Indiana, of course. This is a no-brainer to me because they've been in the quarterback desert for so long, and even though there have been more exciting quarterback prospects to emerge than he, there have also been far less exciting top quarterback prospects to emerge than he. He's really solid, in my opinion. He gives you such a good base around which to build, and he is not afraid to try to take the shots to make the big plays. He's kind of darnoldy in that regard, but this version of Sam Darnold, not the previous. I like the fit with what the Raiders are building around him. They've all but broadcasted that this is what they're going to do. I do expect they'll get some calls, but they should stick and pick here. Yeah, John Spitek said this week he has gotten some calls, but there's no expectation that they'll be interested in moving. I'm just curious who you're shading, who are less exciting quarterback prospects at the top of the graph. We've had some years. Josh Rosen was a top prospect. He was pretty exciting, though. Nick Shrabitzky was a top quarterback prospect. That was a wild one. People forget. Daniel Jones was a top quarterback prospect. Blake Bordel's, I think Mendoza has great size, great timing on those opposite field hash throws. We're going to talk about him at length, actually, on our next show. We're finally diving into the quarterbacks a little bit and running back tight ends with Oli. So we won't go on and along, but that makes total sense. It'll be interesting to see how he fits with Clint Kubiak. He hasn't thrown to the middle of the field a ton, which makes for very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very player that the most obvious fan scout, whatever, looks at. To me, when I watch all the players and just like, oh yeah, that's like a number one player in the draft. Like, I could see him being a Miles Garrett, like a defensive player, getting taken one in a draft where there were no quarterbacks. He has that sort of special ability and the fact that he might be just an absolutely transcendent linebacker prospect, but also you might be using him as an ed rusher or in the Zac Bonn type of role where he is rushing. I'm not even thinking about him for the Jets. To me, if you're taking this high, you should just take someone that you could at least imagine putting on like a green jacket someday. And I think he stands out with a couple other prospects we'll talk about, but they're at lesser positions as the guy most likely to be that guy. So I'm going to take a swing for the fences. And I think the floor is plenty high with Reese at linebacker especially. I like that pick because I like that he does multiple things well. And so you can build different looks with him in the front. You could build different things around him. I like that there are some really exciting high upside prospects that we're going to talk about here through the course of this first round. But he's just all around just such a good football player that I like the Jets saying, this is best player available and this is what we're doing. And since we're going should, I'll just cop to it. I'm basically going off like my evaluations on some level. Like I think he's the most exciting defensive prospect to me. So I'm going to take him for the Jets. And it makes sense to me because I think they're loading up with the three first round picks next year to possibly take a quarterback then that they just take the best player. All right, you're up with the Cardinals. Now, almost the rest of the top seven or eight, I mean, are fascinating, but especially the Cardinals. And again, we're not predicting what they will do, what they should do, Jordan. This is where I get a little freaky, right? Because I think that the Cardinals should draft a player who sets a cornerstone and sets an identity for a new generation of what this coaching staff, what this era with Monty Austin Fort hiring, kind of helping hire like the guy he wanted with him pairing with Michael Floor. So you'd think they'd go offense. You'd think they might go need and BPA meeting each other. I went best player available in my mind. And that is sunny styles. I think that the Cardinals of your have always had a key cornerstone franchise defensive player around whom the fan base rallies. It was Patrick Peterson. It was Kaleas Campbell. Dan Buchanan was really someone that they love, Bouda Baker, obviously. But that era either has ended completely or is ending soon. And I think that with Nick Rallis out from under Jonathan Gannon at this point, remember, Michael Floor retained him. He gets a lot of heat from the fan base and I think rightfully so based on the lack of production. But I do think that of the defensive coordinators who would have a plan and a multiple enough scheme for a player of his caliber. And this is a franchise that desperately needs some pop. They love Ohio State players as well by the way. And this is a franchise that desperately needs to get someone who gets the fan base excited, gets them feeling like, okay, maybe, maybe this is the start of something new. That's why I think they should pick sunny styles. And I throw a wrench in the rest of it because I think popularly, and I could totally see the Cardinals doing this, is going with Maui Noah or someone who immediately adds juice to their offense. But they don't have a quarterback, Greg. And they won't have a quarterback. Even if they pick one this year, I don't believe they'll even have that guy starting until next year if they do. And so they can wait a little bit on that side of the ball for that to continue to unfold. All these guys, I think at this high level, you can't worry about the guys that are there that much. You have to take the guys that you think are gonna become the guys in your organization for a long time. And one thing, I know Montiassin for, isn't thinking it this way. But I think about Andrew Berry last year. It's like they took non-premium positions and they had some of the best defensive rookies in the league and that helped save his job. Like if sunny styles comes out and he might be as quote unquote pro ready, and by the way, they have a massive need at linebacker. It's not like he's not fitting a huge need. Those are the types of guys that do win defensive rookie of the year. That's not a bad thing for the Cardinals. I love that pick. I was debating for the Titans who are next on the board at number four, between Styles, Jeremiah Love, the running back, and Carnell Tate. One note on Tate and the Titans. I feel like no one's mocking that. It's like, oh, well, they still have Calvin Ridley. And they just gave Wondale a lot of money. And they drafted those two guys last year. You're like, I don't matter. None of those guys should prevent you from taking a foundational wide receiver who would be better than all those guys. But I'm not taking. I'm just saying. You had me go, I was getting my notes. You get ready to pass some things. I think that would be like a good pick too. It's not the reason I'm not taking him. I'm taking Jeremiah Love because of the same reason why I took Arvill Rees at two. And we had this discussion a little bit on 40s and free agents and reasonable minds can disagree. I think if you see a potential future Hall of Famer there, you're not worried about the Tony Pollard at the end of a heavy contract. You're certainly not worried about my guy from Tulane being the backup to Jeremiah Love. He is such a special prospect. And I guess it's just, you're just making that evaluation. But to me, his balance, size, speed, strength, everything is special in a way that I think can only be compared to a Bajon Robinson as a prospect. Maybe Saekwann and CMC are maybe in that category, I think Love might be even a little tick above them coming out, a head of Gentie. If he's that good, I just think about, okay, we need offense, we need juice with Kim Ward, the two of them together, it would be a lot of fun, that's what I would do. Oh, I love that. I think Titans fans would love that. It's starting to become a little more consensus-y. At first it was controversial, but now people are kind of warming up. No, I think, I know our friend Justin Graver, he has a sign in his background of the podcast that he does. Music City Miracle. Music City Miracle, that I think it says, Jeremiah Love, no matter what. So I think I know where the fan base might be, applauding you for that one there, Greg. This is tough because the Giants, I could absolutely have seen, if Jeremiah Love falls to them, I could see them totally picking him as Saekwann Redemption. It's just the, you could just see Joe Shane doing it, just the narrative, right? But this is not Joe Shane's team anymore. This is John Harbaugh's team. And John Harbaugh wants to bring in cost-controlled, like his guys, guys, that set a foundation for the type of heavy personnel and heavy football that he wants to play. They have greater needs on defense, in my opinion, than they do on offense. But I think, so I could see like them, I don't think Kavon Tibidow is gonna be there next year, so I could see them picking up like a heavier, stronger pass, rush her to compliment Abdul Carter and Brian Burns. I looked at David Bailey here for that reason. But I'm actually going to pick, I'm gonna start the offensive lineman here, because I think it would be absolutely insert if offensive lineman kept falling in this draft. Francis Malinoa, I know that he fits the type of just profile that's very like, okay, even if he's a little extraneous, you know, that line needs, still needs help. It was, it was creditable. That line could still use in a fusion of young talent, even if it's a little bit more of a luxury pick in a team with a team that really has a lot of needs. If Jeremiah Love is gone, I can absolutely see them picking up a road grading offensive lineman who has a little, could have a little position flex for them as well, and who also can really help set a new tone for what John Harbaugh wants to be all about. It is so important to hit your first pick. I think you're trying to set like a groundwork of who you're gonna be. And by the way, just to, just to, sorry to cut you off with our Greg, but I was talking with a colleague about a pattern that the Giants kind of have been in over the last several years. They really love players who are once on Bruce Feldman's breaks list. They really, I seriously, they really do. So like, I mean, who wouldn't, right? But like, this is, he's so traitsy. He's so, he's just somebody who, even if they feel okay about who they have along the offensive line, this is a new era. And so a head coach is going to want to bring in a person who he thinks sets a tone that he wants to be about. And I think John Harbaugh wants to set a tone we want to play physical, ass kicking football. And he is certainly somebody. Well, they have to move him to guard. Yes. And if he plays, and that's where, for what it's worth, we talked about on our show. Ali Connelly believes he's best at. A lot of people believe he would be best as a guard, period. That he has a little lacking. And so they have Jermaine Illuminaur on the right side. They just gave money to, they have Andrew Thomas on the left side. That makes sense. Let's talk to Dexter Lawrence news just quickly. That Ian reported there was an impasse, the New York Daily News followed that up on Wednesday morning and went a little further and even just said, that's putting it lightly. Like talks have completely broken off. There's talk of just that they're nowhere near each other in terms of contract per year value. Dexter Lawrence has two years remaining on his contract, Joe Shane. I was going to put some sound in, but it was fairly non-committal. My takeaway from these reports and from what Joe Shane said at his press conference, just support my general feeling that a trade is more likely than not. That's my take. I think he's a risky evaluation for other teams out there because you have to give a lot of money and he's coming off a season. I went back and watched a little. I think I'm just sick of watching the college. Dave, I got it mad. Just like watching NFL tape. I mean, compared to the NFL. He was like a bad run defender. He was not the same player returning off a major surgery as he was before, but there's still that pass-rest juice. He's still pretty young. You could make the argument he was unhappy with the Giants and maybe it wasn't the best effort in the world. Like you're going to get a better Dexter Lawrence. It's a little tricky to give him a raise to the very top when he's coming off a season that wasn't as good, but I do think there'll be a market for him. Yeah, for sure. I mean, it's been reported widely that the Giants received calls ahead of last season's trade deadline about him and weren't willing to part ways. And he made it clear he wanted out more or less. Yeah. And so I definitely think he'll have a market. What's always kind of a tough reality check for a player is maybe your market isn't what you thought it was going to be before the draft. Now let's see how the draft shakes out or even draft day leading up to the draft if the Giants feel that they can recoup some capital that they'll want to use in the draft itself. But a team is much more likely to, in my opinion, want to see just strategically thinking unless there's a real market that's competitive. Teams will probably want to see how the boards fall. Oh, yeah. Before doing anything. To me, Giants fans are going to be disappointed because of the contract that he'll require. I mean, he's certainly not going to get traded for a first round pick. I don't think it's not a Quinn and William situation. The conversations start during day two, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Giants are ready to just say goodbye and I don't think it's crazy if it's like a high third round pick, something like that. All right, let's go to the Browns. Okay, this is kind of how I figured the board would fall on some level. And so I'm choosing between two Ohio State guys, Cardinal Tate. And I don't think it's that crazy to think about Caleb Downs here if you were looking at a long shot. You hate these linemen, don't you? No. I think they'll go higher. Like the run will go higher. They could take one, certainly. They're expected to take an offensive lineman or receiver, but I do think Cardinal Tate makes sense here. So let's not get too cute. It's the best receiver in the draft by a decent amount. It's the best receiver on the Browns by a decent amount. You just have to take offensive players, I think, early in this draft, if you're the Browns. I think the way that this NFL draft falls, the fact that their second first round picked at 24, I think you feel okay about who will be there at tackle. There's probably eight or nine offensive linemen who might go in the first round. Maybe even have to trade back up, which I know that they wouldn't love to do for the tackle. They have the capital, though. That they'd love, but Cardinal Tate just makes all the sense in the world to me to step in as a foundation, potential top 20 wide receiver in the league. Okay, Cardinal Tate off the board. Commander's going again, what I think they should do. They absolutely are in dire straits with their pass rush, have been for a little bit, Dan Quinn potentially coaching for his job this year. I'm going David Bailey, the edge, to the Washington Commanders, and I think he gets immediate, immediately as a factor for them, and helps set the rest of the puzzle along their offensive front, where they just need help. Defensively, I'm going a lot of defense for commanders in this draft in general. This, I think, is a dream scenario for them that they at least get one tackle taken ahead of them, and that the Titans and Browns go often, because then they get one of the real deal, highest ceiling defensive players in this draft, David Bailey, or maybe one of the Ohio State guys, obviously, goes differently. But I tend to agree with you. I think they would love any situation where any three of those guys fall to them, and in terms of first step quickness and just potential to fix that defense in terms of just juice off the edge, he would be at the top of the list, so I agree with you. I'll go Saints. Next, so Tate's off the board. Our friends at the Saints Block Party Podcast did like a word cloud of the players that they wanted. And unfortunately, I'm going to take someone that's not really near the top of that. I'm going to take, now once I'm on the clock, it's tricky. It's tricky, because I just think Ruben Bain is such a Saint, but I guess now that I get to the end of this, if I'm doing what they should do, what I want them to do, I am going to go Caleb down. Yes, well, no, I wanted him to be a Saint. Okay, good. I think with Brandon Staley's defense and how that group came along last year, people who watch those games, including our friends at the Saints Block Party Podcast, I think would be thrilled to have a player of that versatility, that caliber, that smarts. Like, I think that he's just a franchise player for them. He remember the days of Tyron Matthew. He is a friend, I think he's a franchise player for them if they pick him up. I agree, and I think there are teams out there that see him differently. Dana Jeremiah mentioned some teams don't have him as their top safety. I think you look at the lack of like crazy physical traits and you think it's a safety. Is he enough of a playmaker? I just think, again, this is a guy that talking about like we did with Reese, that you have an image of him being a total franchise cornerstone. I think Reuben Bain fits exactly the type of defense events that they normally want, and it's absolutely a need for them and would make sense. But if it's my team, I think Downs helps calm down the secondary, improves all the players around him. All right, you're up with the chief. Well, and that leaves the chiefs very happy because they're gonna pick up Reuben Bain in my mock draft. They need pass rush help. They just do, flat out. This was kind of a bummer for me though, because I really wanted to put like a really top corner with them. I think Caleb Downs would be really fun with them with spags specifically. You could take a top corner and just leave Reuben Bain on the board. But I think that. But they need pass rush help. And they are a team that is historically more likely to overlook any red flags a prospect may have coming in. Good point. And also Steve Spagnolo needs to start resetting that entire defense front to back. And starting up front is probably where they're gonna go because they lost so many players and they already had deficiencies that absolutely have to start like resetting the mathematical equation that he likes to play with. And so obviously you're gonna get some pass rush juice. I think the floor is high for him. I think the ceiling's a little higher than people think. We talked at length with Ali about him as a player earlier this week. So check out that episode. But also talked about the off field stuff, which I don't know if it's gonna impact his draft status that much ultimately, especially not with a team like the Chiefs. I think this is a worst case scenario for the Bengals. I think they want more than one tackled to go ahead of them because they don't need a tackle. And I think they would love a scenario where downs fell to them. I think Bane would fit well to them. I think there's a drop off now at edge. And so I am going with the guy who I saw Paul Daener, your colleague at the athletic. Two's for them. Very plugged in. In a mock. I had him written down. You can even look at my little board as the third guy on my board behind downs in Bane, my Bengals board. And then Daener had him too. It's Jermon McCoy taking a little bit of a swing, coming off of a torn ACL, the cornerback from Tennessee who had the highest ceiling tape in this draft, that cornerback. And I do think that the more I've heard, the more I've talked to some people that the top two cornerbacks in this draft are probably viewed a little higher than we gave them credit for. Maybe in a normal draft, like they're pushed down slightly, but I think they're a representative, creditable top two cornerbacks of a draft that everyone would be excited about. And I know when positions kind of fall off, then players get pushed up a little. It's a huge need for the Bengals. They have a lot of huge needs on defense. You could actually argue cornerback is like not at the very top, but I think they just have to take best offensive player. And to me, he's the highest ceiling. Me and Sora Delaney is obviously another option, maybe a little bit of a safer pick because you're not worried about the injuries. The Bengals like to take swing. So I'm going McCoy. Yeah, I love how you're drafting, Greg. Okay. Because it gives me the players that I want to match to the teams I want the dolphins to pick up Mansour Delaney, the cornerback out of LSU, for all the reasons actually that you just said, the dolphins are in a sprint rebuild. So they need not only the best defensive player out of their totally decimated defense to help fix that area immediately, but they also need dependability because if you're going to sprint rebuild, you have to stay healthy. And that is exactly what they're trying to do. So I think that this being their first pick, I really thought about going tackle here. I thought of Beno from Utah. I thought about even receiver here, there's been some chatter locally about Jordan Tyson and how a lot of the local market is sort of high on him. But... Mackay Lemon is not a crazy pick here. Mackay Lemon would be a great pick here. But I also, to me, if I'm looking at just the formula of what these sprint rebuilds have looked like, it is going draft heavy at the position group that you just decimated. And basically that is their defense. And that dependability and his upside in talent, they could really use a badass corner back in the mix in Miami. So I think he's a good fit for them. And it feels like a John Eric Sullivan. This is what I want to be about. Okay, you honking so long made me able to check. What I think is true, Brian Gutekan's first ever draft pick was Jair Alexander, which was a great one. And so here would be the pupil, John Eric Sullivan, also taking a corner back. Magic. Alexander was a little later, right? They traded up. They traded back and they traded up. They traded two times when they took them a little later in the top 20, around 18, I believe. So that's a fun one. All right, I'm going to go Cowboys. Again, a lot of these teams, and I just think it was because I had the even numbers, I think I got the teams that didn't necessarily need the offensive Lyman, at least so far. I don't think the Cowboys just doesn't make sense for them. Take another guard there. Just be a little crazy. I think they'll have to think about the cornerback. They'd have to think about Caleb Downs. I think the board has not fallen well for them in general. This is the first time where I'm officially scrambling while I'm on the clock. Mm, despite all your advice to me before the show started. Well, that's, but you- Do you need a pause? I said, I don't need a pause. You just keep talking. If it's my team, I don't care that I gave Jake Ferguson money. To me, he's there. I'm going to go Kenyon Siddique and take him much later. So there's so many versions of this mock draft. The tight end from Oregon goes to Dallas here at number 12. There's so many versions of this mock draft where I think Siddique could fall into the 20s. But in this particular version, I'm adding juice to an offense that we're just going to try to outscore people. Because I don't necessarily think that the value is there with the defensive players that are available on the board. And I think it's a too tight end set world. I don't know if George Pickens is there long term. And that's what I went with. Thank you, Greg. Mm. I mean, I love that. First of all, I would love to see Kenyon Siddique in Brian Schottenheimer's system. I thought that was a fun, fun offense to watch. I want to see Kenyon Siddique in, oh my god, now I just forgot his name. Clayton. Clayton Adams. Yeah, I was about to say Clayton Tune. Clayton Tune, Kersha. Lot of great Claytons out there. But I would love to see what he does as a blocker too, as how you can kind of activate him along the run surface. Well, that's why I think he compliments Ferguson fine. To me, if Kenyon Siddique has an upside comp or even a mid to upside, it's like Vernon Davis. Like not the most natural pass catcher exactly. Like he's going to be more of the blocker. But when he gets the ball in his hands, he's so big, strong, and fast that he's also going to be a big time weapon. So I think he's better with another tight end. I think Ferguson fits well with him. I know they took Schoonmaker in the second round. That was three years ago. It didn't work. You keep trying. I don't know if Cowboys fans are going to be happy with that one. But frankly, I think the way this draft fell, again, for a team that doesn't need tackles, is about worst case scenario. I did the best I could. Sorry, Cowboys. Well, I also think that if you, we talked about this on the show earlier this week, if you consider the tight end to be a premium position on your roster because of what they can do as a skill player, then yeah, you have to keep replenishing and keep resocking. And I see him more in the mold of what, you know, we're talking about with some of these very volume, heavy targets of tight end. And certainly after the catch, he's really special too. So we already know they can stretch the field. You got to be a little bit of both. Having two tight ends, and especially in this draft, I just think sometimes the premium positions, quote, unquote, it's not matching up where the best talent is. And so I think the tight end goes to the Cowboys. All right, you're up with the Rams. Of course you have the Rams. It wasn't on purpose. It certainly wasn't on purpose. OK, I was thinking going between offensive linemen and receiver here. And I just want to point out for the listeners and for the Rams fans that I know listened to this podcast, thank you guys. Just be ready. Just be prepared. Because inevitably, as we've seen the pattern happen every year, a couple days before the draft or the morning of the first round of the draft, some insane scenario gets leaked, where you can just literally see Sean McVeigh like holding a knife to less need, saying, see how much this will cost to trade up for this guy, or see how much it'll cost. And I want, you know, and Sean McVeigh typically has had a very significant influence on the first pick that the Rams pick, even though they mostly have not been in the first round. Only one of those players has ever been a defensive player, ironically, was their first round pick. I think that Sean McVeigh would want to go skill some position that touches the ball as often as possible. I would think that that's what Sean McVeigh would want to do. I think if they don't trade back, potentially cooler heads prevail. OK. And I think in this case, if Spencer Fano is available at this position, understanding the massive gap they have at Right Tackle, I know Warren McLendon did fine. Last year, he is not, to me, their franchise Right Tackle. Spencer Fano coming in and immediately being a long-term cornerstone, maximizing out the rest of Matthew Stafford's career, helping boost their run game to the right side, not just through Kevin Dotson, and also really helping, kind of continuing to replenish a position they never want to be without. Again, I will just say, though, just get ready for some crazy stuff. Just get ready for something. It always happens every year. Something will leak that's just like, wait, what? And who would they be trading up for? No, I'm saying at this pick, probably. If you had a guess. I'm not saying trade up specifically would be the crazy thing that happens. I'm saying in the past, because they've picked so low or not even the first round at all, it's always been, they want to trade up for this or that or the other. Well, I'm just saying, I would imagine some crazy match to this team will come out in the days before the draft. But we'll see what happens. I think that this is the pick they should make. Well, I got you here, Ram's expert. Let's say Ty Simpson is sitting there on the board at pick 60, whatever they have in the second round. Do you think they would take them there? In the second? Yeah, wait a second. They had no trade up. I mean, I could see it, because Jimmy Garoppolo's still undecided, like, future is still undecided there. I'm curious, actually. I know there's been some discussion on this pod about, like, oh, is he going to go elsewhere after? Like, I actually wonder if he's considering retirement. I'm just not sure. Seems like reading the tea leaves. What else is there? Yeah, it seems like that would be a feasible consideration for him. So Stetson Bennett is not going to be the guy for them. So they do have to have a solution here. And they aren't really shy. If they like a player, they'll take him. OK. I was just curious here. Why don't we put a pin in it? Let's take a little break. And let's come back with a very special Baltimore Ravens pick after the break. Back on NFL Daily, the teas before the break, a very special number 14 overall selection. That's where the Baltimore Ravens are picking. What a letdown last season. You know what's not a letdown? The fact that I've calling in the big guns, I've tapped Patrick Claiborne to come in and make this 14th pick. Thanks, Greg. I appreciate this opportunity to pick on behalf of the Baltimore Ravens on today's podcast. My participation is, of course, in coordination with all perceived rules and regulations. Wow, you guys have made some really great picks. I really enjoyed Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders. Anyway, with the 14th pick in the 2026 NFL Daily Mockdraft, the Baltimore Ravens select Jordan Tyson, wide receiver, Arizona State wanted to fill a position of need here. And I'm glad you guys allowed this prospect, as talented as he is, to make his way to Baltimore in this hypothetical exercise. I appreciate the opportunity to participate. Let's resume the 2026 NFL Daily Mockdraft. Wow. You know what's crazy is he just had such individualized special analysis that just was piggybacking off of everything that happened previously in the draft. That was really great. It's like he was here, but he wasn't. Specifically, he wasn't. Yeah. That was going to be my pick. I wouldn't have made that pick. I feel like he's a little risky, Jordan Tyson. You're a guy. Sun Devil. You got any? Go, Devil. Inside Sun Devil. Goop on Tyson. Good football player. Compliments. You know what they need? They certainly need a wide receiver. I just, I don't know. I think I would have taken a venga, Ioni. I think like a special, maybe the top offensive linemen in this class at guard. They could certainly use it. It would have given Patrick a chance to talk about Daniel Falele, who's never on the team. He plays him there. So this is actually maybe just about the only spot where I was going to take alignment, but not there. I love the pick. Jordan Tyson, certainly a high ceiling player, played through a lot of injuries in college that affected him. But the great plays are great. And he definitely is a different sort of receiver to Zay flowers. All right, you're up with the buck. Yeah, I wanted them to go edge here. And I think that there is a player left on the board in this edge class who has a really high ceiling and is trait C and toolsy and has a lot of potential. And we know Todd Bowles loves those types of players. Jason Light has done well when drafting toward those types of players. I'm going with Keldrick Falk out of Auburn. The thing about him is that he's still really young. He's only 20 years old. And I just think that the bucks like getting players in who they think they can mold and develop. We saw this happen with some of their defensive linemen in the past. We've certainly seen it happen along their offensive line. It would not surprise me at all to see the bucks go for what I think is a position of need, but also a player that they specifically, I think, would like. First first reach, I think, of the draft so far. Keldrick Falk now. He's not a huge fan. I do like Akeem Mestador better. Even catches how. We'll see. But he is the type of guy that you're right. Not a lot of production necessarily. Not a lot of juice. I do have them both going in the first round still. Those other guys, too. Yeah. No, that's good. That left everything I want on the board. Now you know what it feels like. What I want is Casey Concepcion is going to go to the Jets. Oh, wow. I kind of forgot that this was supposed to be what I want. Because it's what the teams should do. Because I don't want Casey Concepcion going to the Jets. I would love. Gino throwing to him actually I think it's a nice combination with him and Garrett Wilson. Certainly he's going to be playing a little bit over the middle of the field where Gino excels. I don't think it's a bad outcome for him. But obviously there's more stable organizations. But if it's not clear by now, if you've been listening daily, I think he has truly special traits. He's my wide receiver too in this class. I think he could wind up being number one. A little riskier, I guess, than some others. But to me, it's not that risky. I think he's going to get open. I think if I'm choosing between him and Makaela, and they're both really good picks, I think the Jets would be really happy if they had the board that they had. Get to them here. But I'm going to go Concepcion. Very, very interesting. I like that pick. I like that you're doing what you think the team should do. I would be interested if they actually do this with so many needs on defense and some really good play. Oh, I think they're taking receiver. Left on the board. I do. But yeah, they want to. Or probably not him. They want to be creditable on offense. They've missed being such a team. And they have the quarterback who could get the ball to him. They want, I think, a team that will be creditable for the quarterback that takes over the team next year ultimately. And so if you have Garrett Wilson signed long term, you have Concepcion or Makaela or Omar Cooper. Like they're all reasonable options here on a long term contract. And then you got to start with Taylor at Pieden. You're up with the line. This was tricky for me because I definitely think they should go offensive linemen here. But I was going between, I was sort of threading needles and parsing hair, splitting hairs about which guy I wanted them to take. I've had this conversation with a few people too. Who is the Lions guy? So I even went so far as I'm reading about their personality profiles. And if I'm reading about their personality profiles, this guy, Blake Miller out of Clemson, he's like. That's it. He's like the gnarly guy. Right? Like he's the gnarly guy. He's got the edge and the scouting reports all say that he's got that sort of like grimy, like a** gonna really be a jerk on the field kind of guy, which they need. And they love that in that room. I really wanted to go and a** just calmly in the middle of the show. I just feel like you have to be one if you're going to play offensive line at an elite level. This does air on what we call the fast network. NFL channel free over the air television. Now they're going to have a chance to edit that out for you or beep it, but you're giving them extra work. Should I have said butthole like you the other day? That's fine. That's a human body part. I'm just being molded in your image, Greg. So I got a great pick. That would have been mine too. I mean, should and in would. I wouldn't be surprised if he's my Lions pick when I do my final sort of like, here's what I think will happen. And listen, I think that there's some real talent here because I did look at Caden Proctor. I did look at Monroe Freeling. They do need a guy who's going to come in right away for them though. They absolutely need the help. They're trying to maximize out this window that they have protect Jared Goff. And again, he just the reports on it. I don't know him personally, but the reports on his personality, I'm like, OK, that is a Lions player. I think Freely will go higher than we have him getting taken. I think Blake Miller, though, will get taken higher than than expected as well. So this would be a spot where that happens. OK, I'm up with the Vikings. And I'm going to go with my guy CJ Allen, linebacker out of Georgia. I think they should just keep stocking up. I think these guys that would fit Brian Flores' defense, a little extra special is such a value add that Flores has. I think he'll be able to minimize some of the risk taking ability that CJ Allen has and really tap into the high ceiling. Just throw your body around, heat seeking missile, like tone setter of a defense, better, I think, in zone coverage than people give him credit for, and a guy who has a chance to be one of the best linebackers in the league. I keep banging this drum that I think his ceiling is just a little higher than people think. So I'm going to go CJ Allen there at linebacker. You've thrown out a green jacket so far. You've thrown out a best linebacker in the league so far. You're excited. This is why not. It's hyperbole. You know what? I love CJ Allen. I was interested in looking at where he falls on some of these big boards, and it was, I think the position kind of hurts him a little bit in some of these cases. I think the fact that he's in this class with Sunny Styles and Reapers. And he's 30 on Daniel Jeremiah's board, and he's in the mid-40s on Dane Bruegler's board of top 50 prospects. So of course, this looks like he's going much higher, but he's such a fit. And that's a thing. If you have a guy who's perfect for your total unicorn scheme that you run, and he can come in right away as a rookie and potentially green dot, that defense, like that, to me, is absolutely worth picking, even if it, quote, unquote, seems like. Got a little neg there on my about. You're like, what? You think you're better than Dane Bruegler and Jeremiah? Yeah, in this case. I do think you think that in this case. Yeah, no, just kidding. I don't think they've spent like an hour watching them. They've spent a lot of time. All right, go, Jordan. OK, so I'm really excited that this pick falls to me because I was definitely listening in to Dan Morgan's press conference. I was listening in to some of the press conferences previous to that, that they did as an organization. I'm looking at what really worked for the Panthers last year and what really worked for the Panthers last year was when Jalen Koker got back into this offense after being injured for so long and became such a quarterback friendly target that also sprung loose what Tetoroa McMillan could do in all phases. I also think that they are a team, as Dan Morgan said, doesn't see anything wrong with drafting receiver another year in a row. And I went for a receiver who I think is not traits popular, I guess, but somebody who is extremely quarterback friendly and who in the middle of the field for Bryce Young could unlock everything else that they want to do on the perimeter. I'm going Mackay Lemon. Actually, that's the Cowboys Draft Room happy that you just left their guy for them. They really. But I really do think that he makes so much sense in here. And yes, you know, Panthers say, I know you have Jalen Koker and you guys love him. You even have a nickname for the fan base of Jalen Koker, the Cokeds. But I also think that he can't, he's not reliable, unfortunately, a sense that he hasn't been able to stay healthy. He also looked better as a three than a two. And so I love this. I love that you don't necessarily have to keep trying to make this Xavier Leggett thing work. You can actually build layers into your offense and try to maximize the quarterback in the year that you absolutely have to know if he's going to be your guy moving forward. If Dylan Thienamon was not on the board for the Cowboys at number 20, I would have been a little panicky. I didn't love my other picks, but I think the Oregon safety makes all the sense in the world for them at that. I almost thought you were going to go when I was putting on my Greg hat. I thought you were going to go him for Minnesota. Yeah, that I could see. I could see either way. And look, Christian Parker, he loves a great dynamic versatile white safety. Look what he did with Cooper Dijine there in Philadelphia. He's the new defensive coordinator with the Cowboys. I don't think they have to go secondary back to back picks. I think they could take an edge here, for instance. I think they could look at receiver. I actually don't think that's a crazy idea, but ultimately Thienamon. It's really his tape at Purdue, which I think rounds out his profile because he almost played a different position there than he did at Oregon when he was just kind of hanging back and not doing as much in this like three safety look, but there was more about that scheme there. And so I think he'd be a great addition for the Cowboys. They try to solve their secondary in one draft, kind of like what the Eagles did a couple of years ago with Fnion and Cooper Dijine. All right, you're up with the Steelers. I'm going to break my own heart here with what I think the Steelers should do because what I think the Steelers should do is take Omar Cooper, Jr., the receiver out of Indiana. I really wanted to see him in whatever the Sean Mannion offense is going to look like in Philadelphia. So I thought he would be a really nice compliment over there, depending on how that room shakes out after June 1st. I also really wanted to see him in like one of these like modern throwback Kubiak schemes that's now repopularized in the league because he is just such a player who is like the yards after the catch and the way that he can create space and all of these things. But I think he's a really, really good compliment to DK Metcalf. I know Michael Pittman, Jr. is there. He's an older receiver, obviously. And I just think they need another guy. They need another layer to this offense that is not Mount Washington. And I think that he would be a good fit there. And he's also they're going to be missing their yards after the catch guy, right? The running back. Shoot, Gainwell. Kenny Gain. Kenny G. Team MVP. Yes. I always think Patrick's favorite player, whatever. And they're going to be missing. They're going to be missing that. So I think that he's also gives them that element that they really will want. Like on one hand, they just need more juice. Yeah. And on the other, he's just such a classic stealer. Like you could make the argument he's a little duplicative with Michael Pittman. But having now, maybe, but too many receivers is not going to be a problem. And yes, Pittman did get a contract extension. We'll see. This is the scenario. I was a little worried about. Wait, I have lost a little track of who's on the board. Is Spencer Fanot still on the board? No, the Rams picked him. That's right. He was long gone. So I tried to think about what the Chargers like. It's a tackle heavy class, but I think if they're taking an offensive lineman here, it's a guy that they're going to convert to guard and is available to play a tackle where they have two guys coming off of an injury. And I don't think any of them right now are necessarily worth it. I'm going to wait. Hang on. You know that he's still on the board. Right. Oh, wait, I totally did forget about that. OK, OK, OK, OK, I just like I just wanted to make sure you. Yeah, I was so expecting to take him or get him get taken earlier that, yes, Vanga, Aoni with the Penn State. This would actually be a dream draft. I did not write him down on my. That would be ideal for the Chargers. Yes, because otherwise, like I honestly was thinking of. Them essentially. Reaching for Rutledge, who might be like a second round candidate or someone that they trade back and then take, who just seems like a John Harbaugh player. But Aoni is absolutely perfect. The draft falling this way would be awesome. Again, this is what we think they should do, just the way that it's fallen. Maybe offensive linemen are a tad more available than they might be in the real mock. But who knows, this is about when the real run is going to start going. I mean, I love it. I've been picking linemen this whole time, Greg. I don't know where you've been. Why I was going to Baltimore here. I don't need to. It's what they should do. I I think this class is getting pushed up a little because it's not a great class after the top 10 or 12. And so people are just like, let's just take the line. I just hate when people say that if you're big and you can get in the way and stay in the way, you're probably going to play good football down the down the league. I think you could simplify it a little bit. People always like to say, oh, it's like, oh, it would be a 10 year starter. It's safe. Like go through the list. People like to say there are more bus and offensive line and almost any people like to say, oh, he'll be a 10 year starter just as much as they like to say. I don't know if this is as great of a class as maybe it's being to be. So maybe it's right in the middle and we could just sit there. This one. Everyone needs one in particular has has got a lot of down. All right, let's go. Let's go faster through the top 10. The final 10 Eagles are up. Yes, I'm putting another lineman, Caden Proctor here. This is Howie Roseman hearing that maybe the Browns were going to try to sneak in and grab another one of these falling offensive linemen here. This is also the Bears kind of being sneaky and having their eye on another offensive lineman because of some of the injuries that they're facing and uncertainty along their front. So this is Howie Roseman saying, OK, I think Caden Proctor, Monroe Freeling, I think could have gone here, except I think they're going to need help quicker than they expect along that offensive line. And with a new offensive line coach there, you don't necessarily have the predictability of Stoutland University developing a prospect like Monroe Freeling. So Caden Proctor to me just seems like somebody who it would be a reliable fit for them. However, it's the Eagles. They're going to do something that we don't expect. And then at the end of the draft, we'll be like, damn, how'd they do that? How'd they get that guy? Yeah, I could see Miller going here. I could see Freeling as you mentioned. And I'll just keep keep the tackle run going. I do think the Browns are in a pretty good spot at 24, especially if the board falls like this. They have their choice between Monroe Freeling or Max Ionaccio, who I think is going to go in the first round. Ultimately, I will take Monroe Freeling. Get excited. Like you're saying, I mean, it like with the Chargers, the board could not fall more perfectly for them because I think there is a feeling with Freeling out of Georgia that he'll be able to play right away. Obviously, it had a lot of big time snaps there in the SEC. They have a massive need. And it's also kind of perfect. It's nice. So we're just giving everyone what they want and it's what they should do also. All right. The Bears are up next. OK, the Bears, their tackles that they like, they're off the board in this scenario. Right. And they're looking at once again at their defense. I looked at the possibilities between the safety at a Toledo, Emmanuel McNeil Warren. I looked at the possibility of an Akeem Messador out of Miami. Ultimately, I just really, I think, joined Bears fans and being frustrated by how often they had to blitz and send that type of pressure where they couldn't get enough pressure up front. I think they need to add to their front. Akeem Messador is the pick for the Bears at number 25. Like that pick and a little bit of an older prospect. I just think they have such a need there. And I think the strength of this class, like because so many tackles might get taken earlier, that like that's a good value here. Akeem Messador, who has a lot of moves. I like these guys that have like it. There's more than one, you know, back like he has a lot in his bag, which sometimes it takes those players a little longer to develop like a layout to a lot to. But he's an older prospect. And so maybe he'll hit the ground running. That leaves the Bills to take Cassius Howell. And it's not perfect. You're at number 26. Is he going to play every down as a rookie? Probably not. I don't know if Eric behind the glass is excited about a situational pass rusher with your first round pick. You will be when he gets like 10 sacks as a rookie. He he's a pretty special pass rushing talent. We talked about him at length this week, so I won't repeat it. But if you were just talking, who's the best pass rusher in this class? Like his pass rush moves everything. There are questions about like everything, the run stopping, the consistency. Like. But if you're saying that there's a decent chance that he's the best pure pass rusher in this class, maybe a little Hasan Redick to him, like later period Hasan Redick. I think that's a good pick for the Bills position that they absolutely need. Me, Neil Warren would have been an interesting one now that I think about it. Didn't think he'd be on the board. So kind of forgot about it. You know what? This was the other. Sorry, Eric. This was the other place that I had CJ Allen going. Yes. Actually, because Jim Leonard, you just know he would be a total Jim Leonard guy. But he's already gone in this draft. See, I wrote him down as one of my most likely picks. And I'm the one that took him away from me. I should have known not to write him down when I had him first with the Viking. You're your own first enemy. He was never getting past the Vikings. You're up with the 49. OK, this was this was tough for me because I was looking again. I was I was probably overthinking this when I as one does. But I was gaming out like all the different things that could happen. And then they just they could pick pretty much any almost any position. And I would think probably that would be the right thing because they're so top heavy with the age of a lot of their guys on their roster right now. And then they do have some some clear needs as well, especially on defense. So I looked at some of the edge guys. I looked at I looked at a guy like Chase Basantus out of Texas A&M who has been mocked to them a few times and certainly could be somebody who could play for them quickly. I even looked at I already put Blake Miller somewhere else, but I looked at some of the tackle guys, Caleb Lomu, developmental guy who could play behind Trent Williams and then slot in pretty much wherever they need him to. But I just kept thinking history tells us something about these 49ers. And Kyle Shanahan is usually going to get his way in the first round or the early rounds. And so I also and I'll get to it the pick in a second. I know you got to move. I also looked at like a Denzel Boston for them to kind of replace that power slot guy that they're going to need. If you want, you know, with Joanne Jennings being away and all of that. Ultimately, I did go Caleb Lomu because I think that they're going to need Trent Williams insurance at some point. And it's just the thing that I think they should do. Do I think they will? No, no. But I do think this is the pick or the the position. Or the type of pick that they should make. Yeah, I think they could look offensive line. Certainly. I think they could look in the secondary, especially if Neil Warren is there. That's not a crazy. But I wanted to give my guy that they that I think they would also pick. I wanted to give him to another team. Denzel Boston makes sense. Oh, now you're going against your own teams. You know, they could go in the secondary. I think we might have some players fall out of the secondary because with the Texans, I'm pretty excited that that Max Einacher from Arizona State is on the board. He's another guy. I've been talking about this all week. But if you're looking at the over under of where he gets taken, I think he's going to get taken higher than people expect. I don't know if this is the floor for him because it matters who goes ahead of him. But I think if he is on the board, he has a great choice to continue to try to rebuild this offensive line. I don't think they're offensive line or bust at all, which I feel like a lot of Texans fans feel that way. But I do think if they're the right player, and this is it for me, falls to take him. I'm setting, I think both of us up for success with this next pick, or at least I hope I am. But I know I'm setting a player that I really like up for success with Steve Spagnolo because at number 29, I think the chiefs with the pick that they got from the Rams with that trade for Trent McDuffie. I picked Chris Johnson, the cornerback at San Diego State. Love it. He is ranked number 40 on DJ's board and in the early 20s on Dane Brugler's board. But I look at his scouting reports and his fit, good tackler, smart player, aggressive, going to compete early and really, I think, has some potential as a blitzer as well, which hello, Steve Spagnolo. So I just think he just fits what Steve Spagnolo likes to do. I love that pick. I wouldn't be surprised if DJ moves him up in his final top 150 just because he seems like one of DJ's favorite players. Mina talked about him a lot this week too. I really love that pick and the fit and the need. And that is a great replacement for Trent McDuffie, who was taken in a similar slot. That leaves the Dolphins on the board. And now I got to do it in conjunction with your first Dolphins pick. Who did you take? You took Mansour Delayne. So I think then I do look to the offensive line to see if there's the right value there. And I go, Caleb Lomo. He's already gone. Oh wait, he's gone too? I knew I would lose it. I was like, you just said you thought about him for one of your previous picks. I said I'm picking him for the 49ers ultimately. Oh, I missed that. But I set you up for a pick that I think the Dolphins should pick. I don't know about that. Who? Denzel Boston. No, I'm not a fan. I think I'll go because I was thinking secondary in general. We finally get you an offensive lineman and this is what happens. Posantis is there. You could go Kailin Rutledge, who I think is a guy a lot of people are ultimately going to be interested in. Do they double up in the secondary because they think it's the best value? What should they do? I like Avian Zarell. I thought Chris Johnson would be on the board. But of the players that I like the best that are still available, yeah, I don't think any of the receivers are worthy of being taken or the offensive tackles aren't my favorite ones. I'm going to go with Avian Zarell from Clemson. I know he's more of a solid than spectacular type of pick. I think he's going to be a guy who starts a lot in the NFL. There might be a little position flexibility, but probably a guy who's going to be played on the outside. But ultimately, that's a position which I expect them to take multiple picks in their first seven picks at cornerback because they have Devon in the top 100. In this scenario, they just get them back to back. Yeah, I don't mind doubling up on a position group that way. You've seen it work in the past. The reason I liked Denzel Boston there was because they are facing the very quick escalation of a world without Travis Kelsey. And certainly, the amount of volume in the middle of the field is something that Andy Reid will still want to have. I don't necessarily trust other players on their roster right now to be able to develop into that middle of the field, power, physical target for Patrick Mahomes. That's why I liked the fit there. If he was available, I think there are better players who could fill a similar role like that. But I just really liked the possibility that they go defense, offense, defense, offense. You got the Patriots wrapping up here. Yes. Actually, I'm curious what you think about this because I was going to put Cassius Howell here, but he's gone. It'd be fun. Yeah. So I also, I still went edge. I went with TJ Parker. I just think that Scouting Reports say he's just kind of like all around, can do a variety of things. He can defend the run and rush the passer. He's also still developing. I just think that he helps level set a group that really needs help and certainly could have seen them going offensive line here. But at the same time, I thought, okay, and there's also not really a tight end that I could see them targeting here. I think that's a big decision to need for them as well. But it's just not really this whole area right now. It's kind of like, I think you got to almost go with need if you're sticking and picking here. I mean, they need almost everything. Yeah. I would say they need offensive line. It wouldn't be a surprise. Keep an eye if there's a little stake up there during the draft potentially. I'm glad you took them because I did want Malachi Lawrence as sort of a hipster pick to wrap up this draft for the Seahawks. He just seems like such a Seahawk. He feels like he would be a really good part of a pass rush plan that in four years' time, maybe five years since he'll have the fifth year option now as the first round pick, the Central Florida kid who has a pretty high ceiling and can do a lot of stuff, is very rugged. And you can just see him having 500 to 600 really quality snaps. And maybe he's a little more exciting than some of the other edge prospects out there. When you see him out there, he's about the same size as David Bailey, you could just see a really good player. And so I think that would be a perfect landing spot for any defensive lineman. So I'm going to go Malachi Lawrence from ECF, go into 32. We did it! We did it. And I'm sure we forgot somebody who's very good at football that we will hear about. You didn't need to pause. I was the only one that lost track of who's available and started scrambling. That Dolphins pick was the stuff. That's all right. I forgot Kenny Gainwell's name and Clayton Adams' name. But that's fair. That's you're just you're getting older. You know, that's true. I feel it every day. Just wait. Just wait till your 40s. Okay. Speaking of which, one more 40s in free. Coming in the feed next week. But before that all happens. Yeah, we're going big on NFL Daily this week. We are hitting every single day of the week. So we will be back on Friday. Let's get out of here. This time we're going to be talking quarterback. We're going to be talking some of the running back. We're going to be talking tight end skill players. I'm a simple man. They're more fun to watch. Ultimately, been saving this as a as a special treat. We are almost there one week away from the draft. We will see you on Friday.