The 2026 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, so teams across the league are making final preparations, visiting with players, and figuring out how to attack the draft board. As we have said many times, this year's class is just not that special.
There isn't a ton of blue-chip talent, but there is always a chance that teams find some diamonds in the rough, especially on day two and perhaps even into the early stages of day three. The first round is definitely going to be the most interesting, as there could be some wild trades given the lack of overall talent.
Teams might prefer to try and move down to recoup extra captial, or even move up to try and land some of the top prospects. Let's get into our latest mock draft. It's three rounds long and dives into some wild trades that also feature some crazy picks.
3-Round NFL Mock Draft predictions with crazy picks and wild trades
1. Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Kirk Cousins might end up being the Week 1 starter for the Raiders, but Fernando Mendoza, in that case, would get to settle into a solid situation and perhaps be in a 'watch and learn' scenario.
2. New York Jets - David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
David Bailey is a hyper-productive pass-rusher who is going to flirt with double-digit sacks as a rookie, but he's not as stout as you would like against the run.
3. Arizona Cardinals - Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
Arvell Reese could have potential at both off-ball linebacker and at EDGE. The Cardinals, if they pick Reese, will have to settle him into one of those positions, but the potential at both is massive.
4. Tennessee Titans - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Some may not agree with this pick, but the Titans could look to give Cam Ward an elite weapon in Jeremiyah Love. This team did make a ton of strides along the defensive line this offseason, so that need isn't nearly as urgent as it once was.
5. New York Giants - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Caleb Downs is going to be a defensive back who does a bit of everything for the Giants, and new head coach John Harbaugh had someone like that in Kyle Hamilton. I am not saying Downs is going to be as good as Hamilton, but having a versatile player back there changes everything.
6. Dallas Cowboys (via CLE) - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Trade! The Dallas Cowboys come up six spots from the 12th overall pick to take Sonny Styles, one of the blue-chip prospects this year. Styles is going to be a successful pro for over a decade and is going to help the linebacker room finally come into shape for the Cowboys, a team that has already made a ton of positive defensive changes.
7. Washington Commanders - Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
Rueben Bain Jr, as I have said before, is a player that evaluators are probably overthinking. He's got incredible bend and a profile to get to the quarterback consistently. The size could be a concern, but it should not be a big enough concern to push him down the draft board.
Bain is a top-10 pick in our recent mock and heads to Washington to join a revamped defensive line.
8. New Orleans Saints - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Francis Mauigoa is a mauler of a right tackle, but there seems to be an outside chance that he has to kick inside to guard. The Saints have Taliese Fuaga at right tackle, so heading inside could give the Saints a revamped interior, as they also signed guard David Edwards to a four-year deal in free agency.
This draft should be all about loading up for Tyler Shough for a hopeful year two breakout campaign in 2026.
9. Kansas City Chiefs - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Chiefs traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams and also lost Jaylen Watson to the Rams. They also lost safety Bryan Cook to the Cincinnati Bengals, so the secondary needs a major boost. The Chiefs draft for need here and take Jermod McCoy from Tennessee, who some have said has better overall tape than Mansoor Delane, a player that has been a CB1 prospect for a while now.
10. Cincinnati Bengals - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Speaking of Delane, the defensive-needy Bengals take him at pick 10. Delane is a polished player who is going to cement himself as one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL almost immediately, and the Bengals really just need to field an average defense to end this shocking three year playoff drought. It can't be that hard to be average on defense, right?
11. Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Eagles are coming! Philadelphia trades up just over 10 slots with the Miami Dolphins, and in doing so, they take Carnell Tate from Ohio State. Tate does have a George Pickens-like skillset and is someone who could take the place of AJ Brown.
Sure, those are two different receivers, but Brown is a bit of a unicorn. The Eagles did well here grabbing Tate at pick 11.
12. Cleveland Browns (via DAL) - Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Browns are able to land Monroe Freeling despite moving down six slots with the Cowboys. Freeling can play both left and right tackle, but he should settle into that left side. The Browns acquired right tackle Tytus Howard earlier this offseason in one of many moves to get better along the offensive line.
Freeling could be the final piece of this puzzle for General Manager Andrew Berry.
13. Los Angeles Rams - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Rams may have some wide receiver concerns coming. Davante Adams is a free agent following the season, and Puka Nacua has been dealing with some off-field issues. Makai Lemon could be an immediate contributor for the Rams, and given that Matthew Stafford is able to get the ball to all of his pass-catchers, Lemon could have a higher workload than expected as a rookie.
14. Baltimore Ravens - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Spencer Fano has tackle, guard, and perhaps even center versatility. The main issue here is figuring out which spot is best for him. The Ravens could use both guard and center help, so perhaps that's where they begin.
Fano is a truly rare prospect in this respect, and he'll likely be a Pro Bowl-level player if he settles into an interior spot. The Ravens find some major offensive line help here.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Buccaneers simply need to get to the quarterback at a higher level in 2026, so sometimes you just have to sit back and draft for need. Keldric Faulk is the pick for GM Jason Licht, who does have a strong track record of being quite strong in the NFL Draft.
Tampa's collapse in 2025 was not at all due to a lack of talented players.
16. New York Jets - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Jordyn Tyson might not go quite as high as people think, but the Jets could jump on him with their 16th overall pick. After addressing the defense with Bailey, GM Darren Mougey flips to the other side of the ball for some major offensive help, slowly rounding-out that unit with legitimate talent.
The Jets could suddenly have a great offensive line, good receiver room, excellent running back, and a potential 2027 quarterback to place right in the middle.
17. Detroit Lions - Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
The idea of Blake Miller being on the Lions is so fun to me. He did not miss a college start and started all but one game on the right side. He's got the length to thrive at tackle and is a true ironman. Miller's durability would fit right in with the Lions, and this would seamlessly allow the team to feel comfortable kicking Penei Sewell over to left tackle permanently.
Miller might be a fringe round one prospect to come, as this seems to be a deeper class at tackle, but I simply might be higher on him than most.
18. Minnesota Vikings - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The Vikings do need some defensive back help in 2026. They'll stay put at 18 and take Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a hard-hitting safety from Toledo. Many have Dillon Thieneman mocked to Minnesota here, but it rally could just come down to preference. Both McNeil-Warren and Thieneman are top prospects here.
19. Arizona Cardinals (via CAR) - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Trade! The Cardinals get back into Round 1 to shock the NFL world, taking Ty Simpson from Alabama. There is some level of development that has to happen here, but with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew in the quarterback room, Simpson will have timie and a ton of experience to lean on here.
20. Dallas Cowboys - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Cowboys use their second of two first-round picks to further bolster the secondary. After adding Jalen Thompson in free agency, Dallas truly shores up the backend of the defense with Thieneman. Don't look now, but adding Styles and Thieneman to this defense could be the remaining pieces that are needed to elevate this unit.
Dallas could be a threat in the NFC East in 2026 at this rate.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Kadyn Proctor’s position in the NFL is not settled. He could be an elite tackle, but the weight seems to be a concern, so some have looked at him as being a guard. Either way, the Steelers could use more young offensive line help.
Guard Isaac Seumalo departed in free agency, so there is a hole at that position, and left tackle Broderick Jones just hasn’t been very good on the left side. Either way, Proctor is going to slide into one of those spots at some point.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Caleb Lomu could be the missing piece along the Chargers offensive line. After a rather underwhelming free agency in addressing the position, the Chargers add Lomu to the mix. I personally believe there is a slight chance that Rashawn Slater eventually kicks inside to guard, but I might be way off there.
The important thing here is that both Slater and Joe Alt have to stay on the field if this unit wants to stabilize.
23. Miami Dolphins (via PHI) - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Dolphins traded down with the Eagles and will take Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of AJ Terrell and someone who could have the ability to play in the slot and on the outside. Miami’s roster is among the worst in the NFL, so the front office needs to stack as much talent as possible.
24. Cleveland Browns - Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
The Browns have done a ton of work along the offensive line, but now it’s time to get some wide receiver help. They’ll take Omar Cooper Jr. from Indiana here, a prospect that is probably going to go a lot higher than the general consensus believes at the moment.
25. Chicago Bears - Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
The Bears are probably one more impact player along the defensive line from getting that unit shored up. The unit struggled to stop the run at times and also struggled to get to the quarterback. Akheem Mesidor is going to be 25 years old as a rookie, which is insanely old, but he’s a good player, period.
Given his age, you could reasonably expect his ceiling to be hit rather quickly, so this is a major risk and is a lot different than if he was 21 years old. GM Ryan Poles drafts for need and gets a good player here.
26. Buffalo Bills - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Kayden McDonald is going to help the Bills stop the run, which is something this defense was truly bad at during the 2025 campaign. Former Denver Broncos position coach Jim Leonhard is now the defensive coordinator in Buffalo, so he’ll surely understand the value of being stout against the run.
McDonald is a space-eater if nothing else and could help this defensive line get younger.
27. Denver Broncos (via SF) - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
This is a major trade. The Broncos do not have the 30th overall pick anymore, as that was traded for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, but the Broncos do have the 62nd overall selection, so they manage to make a strong enough haul with the San Francisco 49ers to trade up almost 40 spots, taking Kenyon Sadiq.
Tight end could be the team’s biggest need, and Sadiq is the best tight end prospect in this year’s class. He is insanely athletic and can also block well right out of the game. Sadiq is also another weapon for Bo Nix.
If this trade were to happen, it would be an all-in, all-hands-on-deck type of season in 2026.
28. Houston Texans - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Peter Woods can play all across the defensive line, and the Texans could surely value this. Woods is added to a strength but could find a home somewhere in the interior. Given how well Houston tweaked the offensive line this offseason, the first round of the NFL Draft is wide open for them.
29. Kansas City Chiefs - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Chiefs also need to get another weapon for Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City swung a trade for Justin Fields in the offseason, which made many believe that Mahomes is going to miss some time to begin the season.
Even if he is 100 percent healthy, which might be unlikely, we probably won’t see him scrambling all over the place like he has done and can do. Mahomes can and may have to live in the pocket, as a torn ACL is a major injury to come back from.
Adding Denzel Boston into the mix, along with having signed Kenneth Walker III in free agency, does give the Chiefs two massive upgrades to take some much-needed pressure off Mahomes. He’s had to carry the load far too often in recent years.
30. Miami Dolphins - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The appeal of KC Concepcion is that you can simply throw him the ball, and he’ll do the rest. He’s deadly with the ball in his hands, and he could emerge as a favorite target of Malik Willis, who signed on a free agency deal with the team.
The Dolphins did trade Waddle to the Broncos and also cut Tyreek Hill earlier in the offseason, so it’s obvious that wide receiver is going to be addressed.
31. New England Patriots - Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Zion Young is a more developmental player, but he’s got a very high ceiling. After making it to the Super Bowl this past season, the Patriots did get better in the offseason and must continue stacking young talent everywhere to ensure this window is taken advantage of.
32. Seattle Seahawks - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
With Riq Woolen departing in free agency, something the Seahawks likely prepared for, but there is still a need on the backend. In order for Seattle to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2026, they’ll need to ensure the best part of their team, the defense, is just as dominant.
Round 2
33. New York Jets - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Jets get an absolute steal here and land CJ Allen from Georgia, which is another player who could factor into this defense. New York did add a good bit of talent to this side of the ball in free agency, and earlier in this mock, took Texas Tech’s Bailey with the second overall pick.
Allen is the most intelligent linebacker in a very deep class and is going to be a rock-solid pro for over a decade. He might not have the highest ceiling of the class at the position, but the brains are more than there.
34. Carolina Panthers (via ARI) - Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Max Iheanachor is still new to football, but the athleticism and traits are there. Right tackle Taylor Moton is under contract through the 2027 season, and it’s not clear what the Panthers long-term plan is at left tackle.
Ideally, Carolina develops Iheanachor at one of those spots, as he’s got a high-end starting profile on either side of the offensive line. Carolina’s offensive line is also quite good already, as this front office has not been afraid to spend money to fix certain positions.
35. Tennessee Titans - Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State
I’m floored that Vega Ioane fell this far in our latest mock draft, but I guess that’s how things shake out sometimes. Players are going to go a lot earlier and later than expected. Ioane is a road-grader and is going to be an elite run-blocking guard almost immediately. The Titans had Kevin Zeitler along the offensive line in 2025, but he’s obviously quite old and clearly isn’t going to be brought back.
Tennessee instead opts for Ioane at pick 35 in a massive steal of a pick.
36. Las Vegas Raiders - Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Chris Johnson is a cornerback name who has begun to get a lot of steam lately. The Raiders, despite adding a ton of talent in free agency earlier this offseason, still need some major help in the secondary. Johnson could fill a starting spot on the backend of the defense in this new era of Raiders football.
With a likely QB room of Cousins and Mendoza, coupled with a high-end spending spree in free agency, the Raiders may have actually set a legitimate blueprint for long-term success.
37. New York Giants - Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
The Giants could use another starter along the interior, and this is a sweet spot for some of the top guard prospects. Chase Bisontis’ range might be right around this spot, so the Giants get solid value here. Other prospects like Ioane and even Emmanuel Pregnon are going to be immediate starters along the interior.
New York has to continue building around Jaxson Dart, and that does not just mean giving him a ton of wide receivers and running backs.
38. Houston Texans - Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Jacon Rodriguez at pick 38 might be rich in the eyes of some, but Rodriguez is going to be an excellent pro, as the Texans continue pouring resources into the defense. With the team having shored up the offensive line in free agency and even adding a new running back in David Montgomery, getting stronger on defense is going to be the icing on the cake here.
39. Cleveland Browns - Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Brandon Cisse could hear his name called at the bottom of the first round, but he’ll drop into the second round here and head to the Browns. On paper, the Browns have more talent than you think, and all it might take for this team to win more games in 2026 than the NFL landscape thinks is average quarterback play.
That likely won’t come, but you really can’t argue with the amount of talent that has been brought in by this front office last year and in this mock draft.
40. Kansas City Chiefs - TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Chiefs add some help along the defensive line and have, thus far, done a masterful job at addressing key roster needs. The secondary and wide receiver room got some love earlier in this mock, but now GM Brett Veach turns to the defensive line to get that unit squared away.
41. Cincinnati Bengals - Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Bengals continue to follow in the Chiefs footsteps in this mock draft and also take an EDGE. Offensively, this unit is rather solid. The offensive line really came together down the stretch in 2025, which is awesome for Joe Burrow.
The front office has to continue spilling resources on the defensive side of the ball. This type of thing happened way back in 2021, and in that season, Cincy advanced all the way to the Super Bowl.
42. New Orleans Saints - Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
If you looked up what a high-end WR2 looked like in the NFL, you’d see a picture of Germie Bernard. The Saints need another wide receiver to pair up with Chris Olave, but they did sign running back Travis Etienne in free agency and have tight end Juwan Johnson in the mix as well.
Adding Bernard to the mix gives the Saints a very full cupboard of talent for what could be a shockingly successful 2026 campaign. Keep an eye out for the Saints. This team is better than you think.
43. Miami Dolphins - Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
Continuing to stack talent left and right, the NFL Draft capital-rich Dolphins take Christen Miller, a defensive tackle from Georgia. The defensive line prospects from Georgia over the years have really had success in the NFL.
New Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley is a defensive guy, so he’ll surely pound the table for some trenches help on his side of the ball, but Miami is still multiple years away from competing for a playoff spot if all goes well.
44. New York Jets - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Caleb Banks’ foot injury could push him down the NFL Draft board, so the Jets jump on the chance to snag him at pick 44. Banks is otherwise a slam-dunk first-round prospect, as his measurables are off the charts.
45. Baltimore Ravens - D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
D’Angelo Ponds is a smaller player, but he’s the type of future slot cornerback who simply makes big-time plays when you least expect it. These smaller defensive backs tend to have a chip on their shoulder when they play.
It’s also a position that doesn’t really get as much love as others, so Ponds could be a homerun of a selection for Baltimore.
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
Lee Hunter will help the Buccaneers defensive line thrive in 2026. We saw Tampa bolster this unit in the first round, and there is nothing wrong with doubling down. A wide receiver would not be a bad choice here, either, as Mike Evans departed in free agency, and Chris Godwin is slowly getting up there in age.
47. Indianapolis Colts - Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
With no first-round pick due to the Sauce Gardner trade, the Colts have to really hope they hit on a couple of these draft picks. For all the faults of GM Chris Ballard, he has typically done an above-average job in the NFL Draft, especially in the middle rounds.
We can’t pretend like Ballard is this dysfunctional mess. Yes, he’s not accomplished much as the Colts GM, but oddly enough, he’s always had some ‘hits’ in the draft. Bolstering the defensive line would make sense. Kwity Paye is gone, and the team probably had some level of interest in reuniting Trey Hendrickson with Lou Anarumo.
48. Atlanta Falcons - Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Chris Bell is a first-round-caliber prospect working his way back from a late-2025 knee injury. This would be some highway robbery for the Falcons. The franchise has made a ton of changes this offseason, but none might be bigger than bringing in Tua Tagovailoa, who could have the ‘in’ to start in 2026.
And given how many viable weapons the Falcons have, this could be an offense ready to breakout in a major way, as Tagovailoa has been capable before in a resource-rich offense.
49. Minnesota Vikings - Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Jadarian Price is a pure runner and actually might be a smoother runner than Love, his teammate. The Vikings could have seen Price go off the board way earlier than this, as you can find mocks out there with the other Notre Dame running back going in the first round, but Price does have limited third-down value and is not super explosive, so he is a solid second-round prospect.
With Kyler Murray likely starting for the Vikings in 2026, it would not be a bad idea to not only field a great receiver room, which the Vikings have, but also field an efficient running back room as well.
50. Detroit Lions - Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
Malachi Lawrence might be one of those players who go a bit higher than expected, but the 50th overall selection could be some fair value with the pass-rusher. The traits are present with Lawrence, and the Lions have a major need along the defensive line to find another pass-rusher with some youth, who the Lions can pair up with Aidan Hutchinson.
Detroit’s roster talent has never been an issue, but it’s more been the health of the group these past two seasons.
51. Carolina Panthers - AJ Haulcy, S, LSU
The Panthers signed both Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips in free agency, so General Manager Dan Morgan has done good work on this side of the ball. In order for Carolina’s defense to finally hit its stride and take that next step, they’ll need one more impact addition in the secondary, likely at safety.
AJ Haulcy has good ball skills and is going to be a solid pro. If Young can take another step forward in his fourth year, the Panthers could absolutely repeat as NFC South champions and host their second home playoff game in a row.
52. Green Bay Packers - Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
Emmanuel Pregnon is going to be a better run blocker than pass protector, but he has a metric ton of collegiate experience under his belt and is going to be one of those stable presences in the middle of any offensive line.
Pregnon may never truly be looked at as an elite guard, but there is some value in being a ‘high floor’ player in the NFL.
53. Pittsburgh Steelers - Keionte Scott, CB, Miami (FL)
Keionte Scott is another fun slot cornerback prospect in this year’s class. He heads to the Steelers at pick 53. It seems like Aaron Rodgers may eventually announce that he’s returning for one more season, and sadly enough, that would be the best-case scenario for the Steelers.
While the long-term quarterback situation remains unsolved, GM Omar Khan can chip away at other key roster needs. After years of piecing together the secondary in free agency, Pittsburgh begins using some NFL Draft capital.
54. Miami Dolphins (via PHI) - Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
A high-upside linebacker, the Dolphins take Anthony Hill Jr. at pick 54. There might be a chance that the Dolphins eventually entertain trade offers for Jordyn Brooks at some point, which wouldn’t be a bad idea, especially if a team comes in with a strong offer.
But even now, the Dolphins could use more linebacker help.
55. Los Angeles Chargers - R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
The Chargers lost former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to the Ravens head coaching job earlier this offseason. Losing Minter is a major loss for that side of the ball, as that unit under Minter was performing better than the roster talent would indicate.
Los Angeles has to restock this unit big-time, especially in the secondary and along the defensive line. With a ton of draftable pass-rushers available, there is no excuse for LA to not get someone new here.
56. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
Losing Lloyd in free agency to the Panthers, the Jaguars snag Jake Golday from Cincinnati, and use their first draft pick this year on a direct need. When teams are near the top of the NFL hierarchy and are on the cusp of being contenders, I believe the ‘draft for need’ mindset carries more value than simply taking the best player available.
Golday is 6-4 and nearly 240 pounds, and he’s way more athletic than you think. The ceiling here is insanely high.
57. Chicago Bears - Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Eli Stowers on the Bears would be fun and also unfair to opponents. Stowers might actually end up in more of a wide receiver role. He’s a high-end athlete and is going to be a mismatch against any defensive back, but he’s not going to block much at all.
And his frame, while imposing, is closer to a big-bodied receiver than even a smaller tight end. In my view, Stowers could thrive as a receiver in Ben Johnson’s offense for years.
58. San Francisco 49ers - Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Chris Brazzell II from Tennessee is going to be a very strong deep-ball target. While quarterback Brock Purdy doesn’t exactly have the biggest arm in the world, Brazzell is also simply a player the Niners need at the position, as the receiver room has been through the wringer in recent years.
Brandon Aiyuk kind of disappeared in 2025, and Ricky Pearsall is struggling to stay healthy. San Francisco added Christian Kirk and Mike Evans in free agency this offseason.
59. Houston Texans - Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
Houston can go in a number of directions with this pick. They’ll use pick 59 on Antonio Williams from Clemson. Williams is 21 years old until the summer and is potentially a productive slot receiver at the next level. The Texans have a nice receiver room right now, especially if Tank Dell can’t return to form.
And in a major year for quarterback CJ Stroud, I’m sure he’d love it if his GM, Nick Caserio, gave him another weapon. Stroud’s fifth-year option was exercised, but that doesn’t at all mean he’s going to be signing an extension.
60. Chicago Bears - Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
The Bears could benefit from adding some secondary help as well. Keith Abney II is a tough corner who is going to give 110 percent on every rep, and while the Bears secondary did force a ton of turnovers last year, there was some meat left on the bone in coverage.
The front office reshaped the secondary a bit in free agency and will have the NFL Draft to do that further.
61. Los Angeles Rams - Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
The Rams could have the best roster in the NFL, depending on who you ask. It’s been a heck of a job done by GM Les Snead. It feels like Los Angeles hasn’t missed on an NFL Draft pick for years. In Round 1 of this mock, we saw the Rams target Lemon from USC in the receiver room.
They’ll take to the defensive side of the ball now and grab Josiah Trotter from Missouri. His father played in the NFL, so Trotter has NFL bloodlines, and you honestly struggle to find another position for the Rams to target here.
Los Angeles probably should have won it all last year, but the defense kind of collapsed down the stretch. The secondary was the biggest need, and that’s already been taken care of, but the linebacker room could use a slight boost.
62. San Francisco 49ers (via DEN) - Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
The 49ers have another pick here thanks to the Broncos trading up nearly 40 picks way back in Round 1 of this mock. They’ll take Treydan Stukes from Arizona here and try to add more talent in the secondary.
Funnily enough, the Broncos did sign safety Talanoa Hufanga away last offseason and also employed Dre Greenlaw for a year, who went back to San Francisco earlier this offseason. The Niners probably enjoyed getting extra capital from Denver in this trade scenario.
63. New England Patriots - Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
The Patriots can go in a ton of different directions here. They’ll settle on Caleb Tiernan from Northwestern and add some talent along the offensive line to protect Drake Maye. The offensive line made some strides from 2024 into 2025, but there is clearly still more work to be done there.
64. Seattle Seahawks - Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech
Keylan Rutledge is a player who some have said could go in Round 1, but that might be too rich a draft slot. The Seahawks could use an upgrade over Anthony Bradford, so being able to take Rutledge closer to the bottom of the second round could present a logical choice and an eventual upgrade at that spot.
Round 3
65. Carolina Panthers (via ARI) - Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
66. Tennessee Titans - Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
67. Las Vegas Raiders - Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa
68. Philadelphia Eagles - Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
69. Houston Texans - Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
70. Cleveland Browns - Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
71. Washington Commanders - Ted Hurts, WR, Georgia State
72. Cincinnati Bengals - Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
73. New Orleans Saints - Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
74. Kansas City Chiefs - Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
75. Miami Dolphins - Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
76. Pittsburgh Steelers - Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Justin Joly, TE, NC State
78. Indianapolis Colts - Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
79. Atlanta Falcons - Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College
80. Baltimore Ravens - Sam Hecht, OC, Kansas State
81. Jacksonville Jaguars - Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
82. Minnesota Vikings - Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
83. Carolina Panthers - Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
84. Green Bay Packers - Will Lee II, CB, Texas A&M
85. Pittsburgh Steelers - Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
86. Los Angeles Chargers - Bud Clark, S, TCU
87. Miami Dolphins - Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
88. Jacksonville Jaguars - Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
89. Chicago Bears - Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina
90. Miami Dolphins - Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M
91. Buffalo Bills - Genesis Smith, S, Arizona
92. Cleveland Browns (via DAL) - Connor Lew, OC, Auburn
93. Los Angeles Rams - Jake Slaughter, OC, Florida
94. Miami Dolphins - De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
95. New England Patriots - Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
96. Seattle Seahawks - Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
97. Minnesota Vikings - Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn
98. Philadelphia Eagles - Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
99. Pittsburgh Steelers - Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
100. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jalen Farmer, OG, Kentucky
We won’t cover every pick here, but there is a notable quarterback move in Round 3, as the Panthers snag Garrett Nussmeier at pick 83 to perhaps put a tiny bit of pressure on Bryce Yong in what is going to be a major fourth year for him.
There was also a major run on safeties, with five prospects going between picks 86 and 95. In this year’s draft, there is a ton of value to be had here in the third round, so expect more starters than you think from this group.