25. Baltimore Ravens: Kade Pieper, C, Iowa
This is my favorite NFL mock draft pick until further notice. No Iowa center has been picked in the first round of the NFL Draft since Tyler Linderbaum was selected by – guess who – the Baltimore Ravens back in 2022.
Now that Linderbaum is with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Ravens have a need for the center position once again. And the Kirk Ferentz Offensive Line Factory will oblige.
Kade Pieper may not quite be on the same level coming out as Linderbaum was once upon a time, but he has the look of a longtime starter, nonetheless.
26. Cincinnati Bengals: Tae Johnson, SAF, Notre Dame
Even though the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense has shown signs of improvement this season already, they still need more playmakers on the back end.
How about a guy who had 4 interceptions at Notre Dame last season?
Tae Johnson’s playmaking skills are obvious, but right now, the question is going to be about durability as he goes to the NFL level. He probably has the talent to be picked a lot higher than this, but he has only played 15 games at the collegiate level, so the sample is small.
But when has that ever stopped NFL teams before?
27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kingston Lopa, SAF, Cal
Kingston Lopa is poised to be one of the most interesting players in the entire 2027 NFL Draft.
He’s a rare player at the safety position, checking in at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds. When is the last time you heard of a 6-foot-5 safety?
What’s even more fun – he already has five interceptions in the young college football season, including three in Cal’s game against Syracuse. With NFL teams playing so much nickel already, and most of them looking for these “positionless” weapons they can use all over the place, Lopa will intrigue every DC out there.
28. Cleveland Browns (from Rams): Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
You want to see the Cleveland Browns approach the quarterback position with more conviction than this. I always hate projecting the late 1st-round quarterback, because it feels like a team didn’t love a guy, but if he fell far enough, they might take the risk.
Obviously, NFL teams play this game all the time. And maybe it will be the Browns. There’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of some good value.
Darian Mensah hasn’t been blowing anyone away with the zip on his passes this season, but he’s been extremely accurate with the football, making good decisions, and playing some great point guard.
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