Teams at top of the draft opt for pass rush over offense
By Pete Prisco Mar 23, 2026 at 9:20 am ET • 1 min read 
Getty Images This is mock draft 1.0.
Do not hold me to it.
With free agency now mostly behind us, it's a lot easier to do these mock drafts. One thing is for certain: We will all get pick No. 1 right.
That's Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders. They can talk all they want about the process going on now, but he will be the pick. Guaranteed.
The rest of the mock is tough to do because there aren't a lot of slam-dunk players. This is a draft that features a small group of elite players, but a giant group of good players. That means it will be Rounds 2-4 where a lot of top talent is taken.
Prediction: When we look back at this draft in three years, there will be just as many top players taken in Rounds 2-4 than there will be in the first round.
As for this mock, dive in, eat it up, complain about it -- but just don't hold me to it. I have two more to come and, of course, my favorite one of all: The Who-They-Should-Take Mock. That's not predictive like this, but rather me telling teams what they need to do.
This mock might look different than many of those out there now. That's based on my assessments of players and talking with league scouts and personnel people. It isn't a cookie-cutter mock.
My next mock comes in two weeks -- and then the others the week of the draft. For now, this is mock 1.0. Rip it to shreds.
NFL Mock DraftRound 1 Round 1 - Pick 1
Fernando Mendoza QB Indiana • Jr • 6'5" / 236 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 3535 RUYDS 276 INTS 6 TDS 48 This is a slam dunk. All mock drafters will get this one right. He is the guy to turn that franchise around. Round 1 - Pick 2 
Arvell Reese EDGE Ohio State • Jr • 6'4" / 243 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 2nd I think they will consider David Bailey here as well, but in the end Reese plays the run better and will give them more position versatility. Round 1 - Pick 3 
David Bailey EDGE Texas Tech • Sr • 6'4" / 250 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 3rd Adding Bailey to a front with Josh Sweat would give the Cardinals a nice 1-2 punch on the edge. They could also consider tackle here, but Bailey is a better prospect. Round 1 - Pick 4 
Rueben Bain Jr. EDGE Miami (Fla.) • Jr • 6'2" / 263 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st They added some nice pieces to the defense in free agency, so this will give them a nice edge player to finalize their front four. Round 1 - Pick 5 
Sonny Styles LB Ohio State • Sr • 6'5" / 243 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 1st He is the type of player John Harbaugh loves in the middle of his defense. He has the speed to chase down plays behind a good defensive line. It fits. Round 1 - Pick 6 
Carnell Tate WR Ohio State • Jr • 6'2" / 192 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 51 REYDS 875 YDS/REC 17.2 TDS 9 They need to get a premier receiver, even if the quarterback situation is muddied. Tate would be that guy. He is a polished player who fits a major need. Round 1 - Pick 7 
Jeremiyah Love RB Notre Dame • Jr • 6'0" / 214 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 1st RUYDS 1372 YDS/ATT 6.9 REYDS 280 TDS 21 They would consider edge Reuben Bain Jr. in this spot if he were there, but they signed guys in free agency. They opt for the star runner who can be their go-to guy in the run game. Round 1 - Pick 8 
Caleb Downs S Ohio State • Jr • 6'0" / 205 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st In Brandon Staley's scheme, he could play the "star" role in their defense. That's a hybrid player who can do a lot of things in coverage, in the run game and as a blitzer. Round 1 - Pick 9 
Francis Mauigoa OT Miami (Fla.) • Jr • 6'6" / 329 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 4th They have a need at right tackle -- although Jaylon Moore can play there -- and Mauigoa can be a starter right away. Down the line, he could also be a guard, which is what some scouts think he will be. Round 1 - Pick 10 
Jermod McCoy CB Tennessee • Jr • 6'1" / 188 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st He missed last season with a torn ACL, but word is he's made a nice recovery. He's the best cover player in this class when healthy. The Bengals could use another corner. Round 1 - Pick 11 
Mansoor Delane CB LSU • Sr • 6'0" / 187 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 3rd He is a good man cover player who would fit a major need in the Dolphins corner room. They have a lot of bodies there, but is there a true quality starter in the group? Round 1 - Pick 12 
R Mason Thomas DL Oklahoma • Sr • 6'2" / 241 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 41st POSITION RNK 6th The Cowboys have to get some twitchy help on the edge. Thomas can do that. He isn't big at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, but he would fit the new defense. This would seem high for him, but watch his tape. From Atlanta Falcons Round 1 - Pick 13 
Makai Lemon WR USC • Jr • 5'11" / 192 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 18th POSITION RNK 4th REC 79 REYDS 1156 YDS/REC 14.6 TDS 13 They add to their receiver room, giving them a little more juice. We know that Davante Adams isn't a kid anymore, so why not get a young receiver to develop for the future? Round 1 - Pick 14 
Olaivavega Ioane IOL Penn State • Jr • 6'4" / 323 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 1st He is the cleanest offensive lineman in this class. He is a power player who will step in and start right away to bolster a line that needs it. Round 1 - Pick 15 
Keldric Faulk EDGE Auburn • Jr • 6'6" / 276 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 5th They need more help for their pass rush. Faulk seems to fit the type of player general manager Jason Licht likes to draft. His best football is in front of him. From Indianapolis Colts Round 1 - Pick 16 
Jordyn Tyson WR Arizona State • Jr • 6'2" / 203 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 1st REC 61 REYDS 711 YDS/REC 11.7 TDS 9 The Jets need to get receiver help to go with Garrett Wilson. Tyson might be the most talented in this class, but he has missed a lot of time with injuries. Round 1 - Pick 17 
Spencer Fano OT Utah • Jr • 6'6" / 311 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 2nd This is a team in need of young offensive line help. Fano played tackle in college, but he could also move inside to guard. Round 1 - Pick 18 
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren S Toledo • Sr • 6'4" / 202 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 2nd They need a young playmaking safety who has a lot of tools in the box. McNeil-Warren is that type of player. He might end up as the best safety in this class. Round 1 - Pick 19 
Kenyon Sadiq TE Oregon • Jr • 6'3" / 241 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 29th POSITION RNK 1st REC 51 REYDS 560 YDS/REC 11 TDS 8 They need to give Bryce Young a playmaking tight end, which Sadiq can become. He is also a willing blocker, which is big in the run game. From Green Bay Packers Round 1 - Pick 20 
Jacob Rodriguez LB Texas Tech • Sr • 6'1" / 231 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 83rd POSITION RNK 9th They can use some linebacker help, and this kid can do it all. He is good against the run and the pass. Round 1 - Pick 21 
Emmanuel Pregnon IOL Oregon • Sr • 6'4" / 314 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 51st POSITION RNK 5th He is the perfect Steelers player. He is nasty in the run game and good in pass protection. He's just scratching what he can become as a left guard, which is a position of need for the Steelers. Round 1 - Pick 22 
Malachi Lawrence LB UCF • Sr • 6'4" / 253 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 58th POSITION RNK 7th They have to get some young blood for their edge group. Lawrence is one of those guys who would fit what they want in their scheme. He plays hard all the time, which shows up on tape. Round 1 - Pick 23 
Kadyn Proctor OT Alabama • Jr • 6'7" / 352 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st They have to get some younger offensive linemen with Lane Johnson always talking retirement. Proctor played left tackle in college, but he could easily move to the right side. From Jacksonville Jaguars Round 1 - Pick 24 
Ty Simpson QB Alabama • Jr • 6'1" / 211 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 33rd POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 3567 RUYDS 93 INTS 5 TDS 30 Are they sold on the guys they have? That's debatable, especially with a new coach. Simpson would be an interesting pick for the Browns. Round 1 - Pick 25 
Peter Woods DL Clemson • Jr • 6'3" / 298 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 1st He played heavy last year, and didn't play as well. That's why he's down this far in the draft. But Woods was once considered a top-10 talent and his weight is down. Round 1 - Pick 26 
Cashius Howell EDGE Texas A&M • Sr • 6'3" / 253 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 4th The Bills have to get more edge-rush help and Howell can do that. He has shorter arms, but he can impact the game off the edge. Round 1 - Pick 27 
Monroe Freeling OT Georgia • Jr • 6'7" / 315 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 52nd POSITION RNK 7th Trent Williams is getting up in the years and wants a new contract. It's time to start looking for a replacement. Round 1 - Pick 28 
Caleb Banks DL Florida • Sr • 6'6" / 327 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 46th POSITION RNK 7th They need to get some young talent inside on defense. It might seem strange to do that here with other needs, but Banks has the talent -- if he can stay on the field -- to become a nice power player inside. From Los Angeles Rams Round 1 - Pick 29 
Avieon Terrell CB Clemson • Jr • 5'11" / 180 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd They have to get corner help with both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson now with the Rams. Terrell said he modeled his game after McDuffie, so it would fit. From Denver Broncos Round 1 - Pick 30 
Akheem Mesidor DL Miami (Fla.) • Sr • 6'3" / 259 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 4th The Dolphins need pass-rush help, so they can take the local product to liven up their pressure. He's older at 25, but he would be a nice addition to their defense. Round 1 - Pick 31 
T.J. Parker EDGE Clemson • Jr • 6'4" / 263 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 49th POSITION RNK 6th Edge help is needed, and Parker has some juice. Parker didn't play as well last year as he did in 2024, but the talent is there. Round 1 - Pick 32 
Dillon Thieneman S Oregon • Soph • 6'0" / 201 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 35th POSITION RNK 3rd They lost Coby Bryant to free agency, so Thieneman would compete right away. He is a playmaker who has the range to fit in this scheme. Join the Conversation comments 
