The Serby Mock 5.0 gives the Giants and Jets a defensive blue-chipper and enticing wide receivers for Jaxson Dart and Geno Smith, respectively, in a wildly unpredictable NFL draft.
No fewer than nine offensive linemen appear in Serby’s prediction for Thursday’s first round, and four Ohio State Buckeyes land in the top 10.
QB Ty Simpson squeaks into the first round thanks to the second of two trades.
1. Las Vegas Raiders
QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Tom Brady doesn’t have to be embarrassed anymore when Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix show up against him twice a year.
2. New York Jets
Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
The Great Debate ends with Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn turning to a pass-rushing bookend for Will McDonald IV to chase Josh Allen and Drake Maye.
3. Arizona Cardinals
RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
The draft’s best player sells tickets in the desert in what figures to be a frustrating year for him without a quality quarterback. GM Monti Ossenfort would welcome a trade down for a team (Chiefs? Saints?) that covets Arvell Reese.
4. Tennessee Titans
LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Robert Saleh would have a grand old time tormenting offenses with an elite defensive weapon with tantalizing upside to assist Jeffery Simmons and Jermaine Johnson II.
5. New York Giants
S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
John Harbaugh’s quarterback genius of the defense is also his culture-setter and future captain. Love is the answer if he’s available.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Getty Images
6. Cleveland Browns
WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
A popular first pick for new HC Todd Monken, not to mention Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Any interest in Sonny Styles, Jerry Jones?
7. Washington Commanders
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
A 6-foot-4, 244-pound unicorn for Dan Quinn to fill the void left by Bobby Wagner. Former 49ers GM Adam Peters will liken him to Fred Warner.
8. New Orleans Saints
CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
A shutdown corner with 4.35 speed to replace Alontae Taylor opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry for DC Brandon Staley.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
DC Steve Spagnuolo’s magical powers won’t be able to make this guy’s arms any longer, but unleashing his relentless motor alongside Chris Jones will do.
10. New York Giants
WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
An immensely athletic 6-2, 203-pound gift for Jaxson Dart to pair with Malik Nabers. Just gotta keep him on the field.
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
11. Miami Dolphins
T/G Francis Mauigoa, Miami
His herniated disk could cause him to slide, but rookie GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and rookie HC Jeff Hafley are in full rebuild mode and can wait on a satisfactory resolution for the draft’s best offensive lineman when healthy.
12. Dallas Cowboys
S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
A 6-0, 201-pounder who can play the do-it-all Nick Emmanwori role for new DC Christian Parker.
13. Los Angeles Rams
WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
An explosive separator to supplement Puka Nacua and Davante Adams who can also serve as a returner to juice Matthew Stafford in a Super Bowl-or-bust season.
14. Baltimore Ravens
OL Spencer Fano, Utah
LT Ronnie Stanley is 32 and the interior needs an upgrade, especially now that Sexy Dexy Lawrence will be making waves all across the division. And perhaps the heir apparent to center Tyler Linderbaum.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
RT Lane Johnson is 36 next month, the Kirby Smart feeder system has been kind to Howie Roseman, and this is a raw 6-7, 315-pound prototype considered the draft’s best natural LT.
16. New York Jets
WR Makai Lemon, USC
No, he won’t be Amon-Ra St. Brown, but he’d catch plenty of balls from Geno Smith and take the heat off Garrett Wilson.
USC wide receiver Makai Lemon (r.) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
17. Detroit Lions
OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Dan Campbell will make sure the 6-7, 352-pounder stays away from the biscuits because he needs a replacement for LT Taylor Decker and a road grader for Jahmyr Gibbs.
18. Minnesota Vikings
TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
A 6-3, 240-pound TE with 4.39 speed for Kyler Murray since T.J. Hockenson will be a 2027 free agent.
19. Carolina Panthers
OT Blake Miller, Clemson
LT Ickey Ekwonu is recovering from a torn patellar tendon and RT Taylor Moton turns 33 in August, so a 6-7, 317-pound iron man who missed exactly one practice protects Bryce Young.
20. Dallas Cowboys
DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
A young 6-6, 276-pounder who can set the edge while he learns the art of the pass rush.
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21. Pittsburgh Steelers
G Vega Ioane, Penn State
The host city will go wild when Roger Goodell gifts Aaron Rodgers — vacationing in Egypt again, Aaron? — a mauler who will crush Iron City beer cans with his teeth and won’t be intimidated by Lawrence.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Donte Jackson will be a free agent in 2027 so Jim Harbaugh corrals a 6-0, 193-pounder with 4.44 speed to replace Benjamin St-Juste, who bolted this year for Green Bay.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Philadelphia Eagles)
Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Yaya Diaby led the club with seven sacks in 2025. OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad (11 sacks for Lions in 2025) is 31 and a 2027 free agent. Todd Bowles can dial back the blitz.
24. Cleveland Browns
LT Caleb Lomu, Utah
Monken completes his O-line makeover with an athletic 6-6, 313-pound blindside pass protector who will get stronger.
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25. Chicago Bears
DT Peter Woods, Clemson
A powerful and disruptive interior force to combat the likes of Gibbs and Josh Jacobs.
26. Buffalo Bills
Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF
A fast-rising 6-4, 253-pounder with 4.52 speed to be a bookend with Greg Rousseau.
27. San Francisco 49ers
WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Kyle Shanahan gets a yards-after-catch complement to Mike Evans and quality insurance for Ricky Pearsall.
28. Houston Texans
OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
GM Nick Caserio overhauled his O-line and now adds a raw 6-5, 322-pounder from Nigeria with 4.91 speed and an 83-inch wingspan as a future bookend for LT Aireontae Ersery.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Spags needs replacements for Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, and though there are concerns this guy won’t have a long career after missing 2025 with a torn ACL, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are in win-now mode.
30. Miami Dolphins
CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
An instinctive 6-foot-½, 193-pound plug-and-play starter with 4.4 speed and scheme versatility.
31. New England Patriots
Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson
A 6-3 ¹/₂, 262-pound power rusher physically comparable to HC Mike Vrabel when he played to replace K’Lavon Chaisson.
32. Arizona Cardinals (from Seattle Seahawks)
QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Rookie HC Mike LaFleur moves up from No. 34 to groom the inexperienced signal-caller behind Jacoby Brissett just in case Mougey and the Jets might have made the move.