Pre-Combine Mock Draft
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Pre-Combine Mock Draft
(Feb 24, 2026)
Round 1
Picks 1-16
Picks 17-32
Feels like a no brainer
#2 is where the debate begins. In terms of pure pass rushing ability, I feel like David Bailey could be the best available in terms of a combination of upside and polish. Although it could come a bit at the cost of run defense ability.
Is Arvell Reese an off-ball linebacker or EDGE rusher? To go this high, he'd definitely need to be an EDGE rusher who can maybe dabble a bit in off-side linebacker play. I do like the fit opposite of Josh Sweat in the desert.
Do the Titans go with an EDGE who lacks length in Rueben Bain, or give Cam Ward a weapon? I have them choosing the latter route. Carnell Tate is the latest in a long line of recent Ohio State receivers destined to be a high draft pick.
As tempting as Caleb Downs is here given that John Harbaugh had Kyle Hamilton with him in Baltimore, an offensive tackle or weapon to help Jaxson Dart could make more sense. Assuming the Giants view Francis Mauigoa as a tackle and not a guard, he'd be a nice pick.
Like the Giants ahead of them, the Browns will likely have WR and OT under major consideration at this spot. Also like the Giants, the Browns choose the offensive tackle route.
Based on talent, Caleb Downs could be a top 5 talent in the draft. The only problem is the positional value a safety provides with that type of selection. Washington has needs all over both offensively and defensively, so they take arguably the most talented prospect available in Downs.
Kellen Moore knows what a great talent at running back can do for an offense having had Saquon Barkley with the Eagles in 2024. He gets his own version of that with Jeremiyah Love. Like Caleb Downs, Love is quite arguably a top 5 talent in the draft, but positional value dropped him down a bit.
Already having a 4.21 speedster in Xavier Worthy, Makai Lemon just feels like a perfect fit for the Chiefs. He won't wow with 4.2 speed, but he excels at route running and getting open. I could see him becoming Patrick Mahomes' new best on-field friend.
Fix the defense, Bengals! It's holding you guys back considerably. Rueben Bain could be gone by this point, but given questions about his arm length, it's conceivable he could remain available here. If he is, the Bengals should pounce.
Where don't the Dolphins have needs? That's what makes them a hard team to project right now in terms of a mock draft. They hired Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to be their new head coach, so I have them going defense. With questions about the health of Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy, Mansoor Delane may be the top CB prospect in the class. He probably won't fall much beyond this point.
Again, positional value drops a prospect a bit. A lot of people will argue that Sonny Styles is a top 10 talent in the draft, and he could certainly sneak into the top 10 on draft night. It's rare to see middle linebackers go that high these days, though. The Cowboys have needs all over defensively, and Styles could become the new face/leader in the middle of their defense.
Jets get: Pick 13
Rams get: Pick 16 and a 2027 3rd round pick
Perhaps thinking they need to get ahead of the Ravens, the Jets deal a 3rd round pick next year to the Rams so they can draft ASU's Jordyn Tyson. We still have no clue who will be throwing the ball to him and Garrett Wilson, but Tyson and Wilson is an excellent 1/2 punch if they can find a reliable answer under center.
Rams get: Pick 16 and a 2027 3rd round pick
Perhaps thinking they need to get ahead of the Ravens, the Jets deal a 3rd round pick next year to the Rams so they can draft ASU's Jordyn Tyson. We still have no clue who will be throwing the ball to him and Garrett Wilson, but Tyson and Wilson is an excellent 1/2 punch if they can find a reliable answer under center.
An EDGE rusher or receiver are very much possibilities here, but Ioane feels like the Tyler Booker of this draft class. With Derrick Henry still pounding away, he feels like a perfect fit for a Ravens team that could really use help at both guard spots.
EDGE rusher was a position the Buccaneers surprisingly didn't address until Day 3 in the 2025 Draft. They get on top of it this time around, going for Cashius Howell. Like Rueben Bain, length is a question mark, but the pass rush chops aren't.
Medicals are going to be BIG for Jermod McCoy. Had he been eligible for the 2025 Draft, McCoy would've been the first corner off the board and a top 10 to 15 pick. His draft standing is more in flux coming off a torn ACL. If healthy, he'd be an excellent addition to the Rams secondary.
Picks 1-16
Picks 17-32