15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

Like Bain, Howell’s arm measurements were the main takeaway from the Combine. He accurately points out that his shorter arms have never stopped him from producing big numbers at the college level. Some NFL teams are reportedly not willing to go beyond certain measurables, but given that the Buccaneers drafted Luke Goedeke and Calijah Kancey with similar arm-length question marks it doesn’t appear they are one of those teams. Goedeke has worked out well as an above-average right tackle and while injuries have curtailed Kancey’s production over three seasons he has definitely shown he can rush the passer at the NFL level when healthy. Edge rusher is, obviously, a huge need for the Buccaneers, and I think they are thrilled to have Howell make it to this spot.

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis): WR Makai Lemon, USC

The Jets got the top edge rusher with the second-overall pick and now add some much-needed pass-catching help for whoever their next starting quarterback will be. Lemon didn’t test at the Combine but he did measure in with an impressive wingspan of more than 73 inches and he looked very smooth in positional drills.

17. Detroit Lions: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson

Parker’s final season at Clemson wasn’t as strong as expected but he did have a late-season three-sack game against South Carolina and then was very impressive at the Senior Bowl. The upward trajectory continued in Indy, as he finished with a top-five relative athleticism score at his position and ran a 4.68 40-yard dash with a very nice 1.61-second 10-yard split. The Lions get the complement to Aidan Hutchinson they badly need.

18. Minnesota Vikings: DL Caleb Banks, Florida

Banks was one of the Combine’s biggest winners, and here it makes him the first interior defensive lineman off the boar, ahead of the likes of Peter Woods and Lee Hunter. Banks measured in at 6-6 and 327 pounds with an incredible wingspan of nearly 86 inches, the longest for any IDL since at least 2003. His 1.76-second 10-yard split as part of a 5.05-second 40-yard dash suggests the kind of short-area explosiveness teams covet in interior linemen. The Vikings plan to release defensive tackle Javon Hargrave if they can’t trade him, so there’s a spot for Banks to slide right into.

19. Carolina Panthers: LB C.J. Allen, Georgia

Allen reportedly impressed teams during interview sessions, though he chose not to participate in any onfield work. He’s still the consensus number two linebacker after Styles (assuming Reese is an edge), however, and the Panthers have a need with Christian Rozeboom and Krys Barnes as pending unrestricted free agents.

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay): CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

The Cowboys reportedly plan to spend big in free agency this year, but there isn’t a deep group of cornerbacks likely to be available. Better to address this need in the draft. Terrell didn’t run the 40 or do other measurable testing but he did take part in on-field drills and looked very smooth. He showed off sure hands and the quick change-of-direction skills so crucial to the position.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Tate didn’t have a great week in Indy, but maybe that’s good news for the Steelers, who in this exercise get a player at number 21 who has sometimes been mocked in the top 10. Tate’s 4.53-second 40-yard dash time doesn’t sound that bad but it was 27th among the receivers who ran this year. He should definitely get credit for choosing to run the 40 when some of the other top prospects did not, and high-end speed was never considered his top trait anyway. It’s not like many teams have regretted drafting Ohio State receivers in recent years.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Faulk had a fine week in Indianapolis. He didn’t run the 40 but he did well in the vertical leap (35 inches) and the broad jump (9-9). He also had the longest wingspan among the assembled edge rushers at a little over 82 inches. Both Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh are pending free agents so the Chargers could use a recharge at the edge position.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

The Eagles and Dallas Goedert made it work for one more year in 2025 but this could be the year he departs in free agency. Three of the Eagles’ four tight ends, in fact, are pending free agents. Meanwhile, Sadiq did nothing to hurt his already strong draft stock in Indianapolis, blowing away the tests including a 4.39-second 40-yard dash that set a Combine record at the tight end position. He joined DK Metcalf and Nick Emmanwori – notable Combine freaks – as the only players ever to run a sub-4.4 40, exceed 40 inches in the vertical leap and surpass 11 feat in the broad jump. If A.J. Brown is indeed on the way out of Philadelphia, Sadiq would give the team another big and dynamic pass-catcher.

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville): WR Omar Cooper, Indiana

This might be a bit of an aggressive prediction for Cooper, but the Browns desperately need help at receiver and the Indiana star helped himself at the Combine. He didn’t do the onfield drills but he did answer questions about his speed with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash that included an explosive 1.55-second 10-yard split. Plus, I can’t get that game-winning catch against Penn State out of my mind; the mid-air body control is insane.

25. Chicago Bears: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Thieneman is another player whose stock seems to be on the rise. Among his impressive Combine exploits was a 4.35-second 40 and a 41-inch vertical leap. The Bears might consider Peter Woods or another defensive tackle here, as their run defense needs help, but they also have virtually their entire safety corps hitting free agency.

26. Buffalo Bills: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

Concepcion was a big-play machine for the Aggies and he didn’t hurt his draft pedigree at the Combine. He didn’t run a 40-yard dash but there isn’t really any question about his speed. He did do the onfield workouts and looked very polished while not dropping any passes. The Bills could really use a burner to diversify Josh Allen’s array of weapons.

27. San Francisco 49ers: DL Peter Woods, Clemson

Woods is another Clemson defender who may not have had the 2025 season expected of him, but he could be a value pick this late in the first round. Jordan Elliott is a pending free agent and the 49ers like to use their top draft assets on their defensive front.

28. Houston Texans: T Monroe Freeling, Georgia

The offensive line depth in this year’s draft is a good thing for the OL-needy Texans, who could opt for Freeling, Caleb Lomu or Kadyn Proctor. Freeling has been a riser in mock drafts of late and that trend should continue after a Combine in which he produced the second-best relative athleticism score of any offensive lineman since 1987.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from L.A. Rams): EDGE Zion Young, Missouri

This pick was part of the compensation the Chiefs got from the Rams in the McDuffie trade, and here they turn it around and apply it to another part of their defense. I already gave them a cornerback with the ninth pick, and while Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren would be tempting here (Bryan Cook is a pending free agent). The Chiefs have already announced their intention to release defensive end Mike Danna and could use a bookend for George Karlaftis. Young’s draft stock seems to be rising quickly; he didn’t do the measurables tests in Indianapolis but he did participate in position drills and was fast and fluid. He also sets the edge well against the run.

30. Denver Broncos: WR Denzel Boston, Washington

Boston didn’t run a 40 at the Combine and his vertical leap of 35 inches was middle of the pack. He also dropped a couple passes in the onfield drills. I had him going to the Steelers at 21 in my first mock draft but now I think he could slide to the point where he can help out a Broncos pass-catching group that could use a big-bodied, physical receiver of his ilk.

31. New England Patriots: TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

Stowers was widely considered the second-best option at tight end in this class after Sadiq, but not necessarily a first-round pick. That thinking may change after a Combine in which he not only matched Sadiq’s impressive performance but in some instances exceeded the Oregon star’s numbers. That included the vertical leap, in which he quickly followed up Sadiq’s incredible mark of 43.5 inches with a Combine record 45.5-inch elevation. He didn’t match Sadiq’s blazing 40 time but still turned in a 4.51 that is eye-opening for the position. He may be something of a big receiver without the high-end blocking chops, but the Patriots need pass-catching weapons of any stripe.

32. Seattle Seahawks: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee

Hood had a very good Combine, beginning with a 4.44-second 40, a 40.5-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 10 feet and five inches. He also had a strong performance in the “gauntlet” drill, showing off his hands and acceleration. The Seahawks have a strong roster across the board, obviously, but two of their top three cornerbacks, Josh Jobe and Tariq Woolen, are pending free agents.