Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes<\/p>\n
We are just two weeks away from the end of the 2025 NFL season, and the draft-season landscape is rapidly shifting. A benching at quarterback in the AFC East gives us a new contender to trade up for a franchise signal-caller in the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n Using the updated draft order, here\u2019s how the first round could look when April rolls around.<\/p>\n 1. Miami Dolphins<\/a> (via Giants<\/a>): QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana<\/a><\/p>\n Projected trade: New York Giants send No. 1 overall pick to Miami Dolphins for No. 10, No. 44, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick<\/p>\n With Tua Tagovailoa<\/a> benched ahead of the Dolphins\u2019 Week 16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>, it\u2019s obvious that Miami is in the market for a new quarterback. In this mock draft, they get aggressive to move up for one.<\/p>\n Mendoza recorded a 6.2% big-time throw rate and a 2.3% turnover-worthy play rate this season, which compares well with recent No. 1 overall picks Cam Ward<\/a> (6.3%, 3.3%) and Caleb Williams<\/a> (6.2%, 3.6%).<\/p>\n 2. Las Vegas Raiders<\/a>: QB Dante Moore, Oregon<\/a><\/p>\n With Geno Smith<\/a> and Kenny Pickett<\/a> earning PFF passing grades of 58.3 and 60.7, respectively, this season, it\u2019s obvious that the Raiders need to invest in a quarterback. Las Vegas narrowly misses out on Fernando Mendoza in this mock, but Moore is another great option. He has earned a 92.3 PFF passing grade this season, which trails only Ohio State<\/a>\u2019s Julian Sayin among FBS quarterbacks.<\/p>\n 3. Cleveland Browns<\/a>: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State<\/a><\/p>\n Cleveland\u2019s quarterback situation remains murky, but if the team misses out on one of the top signal-callers in this draft, finding a top wide receiver would be a solid consolation prize. Tate has put together a phenomenal season for Ohio State, bringing in every catchable pass thrown his way while averaging 3.35 yards per route run and producing an eye-popping 85.7% contested catch rate.<\/p>\n 4. New York Jets<\/a>: DI Peter Woods, Clemson<\/a><\/p>\n The Jets shipped off interior defender Quinnen Williams<\/a> and cornerback Sauce Gardner<\/a> at the trade deadline, so if the top quarterbacks are off the board<\/a>, a replacement at either of those spots makes a lot of sense.<\/p>\n Woods didn\u2019t have his best season in 2025, but he still earned PFF overall grades above 80.0 in both 2023 and 2024 and has all the tools to be a force in the NFL.<\/p>\n 5. Arizona Cardinals<\/a>: T Spencer Fano, Utah<\/a><\/p>\n Quarterback remains a huge question mark for the Cardinals, but they don\u2019t get the opportunity to address it in this mock draft. Instead, they focus on finding a partner for left tackle Paris Johnson Jr.<\/a> and go with Utah\u2019s Spencer Fano, who earned an 83.7 PFF pass-blocking grade on true pass sets and PFF run-blocking grades above 75.0 on both zone and gap runs.<\/p>\n 6. Tennessee Titans<\/a>: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State<\/a><\/p>\n Help for quarterback Cam Ward needs to be a priority for the Titans this offseason, and Tyson is the top-ranked wide receiver on the PFF Big Board<\/a> as things stand. He has earned PFF overall grades above 80.0 in each of the past two seasons and is coming off a 2025 season in which he dropped just 1.6% of the catchable passes thrown his way.<\/p>\n 7. Washington Commanders<\/a>: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech<\/a><\/p>\n The Commanders need an injection of youth on defense, and the way this draft has played out gives them a plethora of options. Bailey has dominated off the edge this season, earning a 93.5 PFF pass-rush grade and producing a 21.6% PFF pass-rush win rate. There will be questions about his size, but he\u2019s too good a pass rusher to fall out of the top 10.<\/p>\n 8. New Orleans Saints<\/a>: WR Makai Lemon, USC<\/a><\/p>\n Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough<\/a> has shown enough in 2025 for the Saints to want to build around him, so a playmaker like Lemon makes sense here. The USC star logged an 81.0 PFF receiving grade against man coverage, caught 66.7% of contested targets and dropped just 2.5% of the catchable targets thrown his way this season.<\/p>\n 9. Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)<\/a><\/p>\n The Bengals are still looking to bolster a struggling defense. It would be fitting for them to draft an edge defender who has question marks about his measurables but was a stud production-wise a year after doing the opposite last year by picking Texas A&M\u2019s Shemar Stewart<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bain has earned PFF overall grades of 87.6 and 91.7 in run defense and as a pass rusher, respectively, in 2025 and has the size to kick inside to rush in obvious passing situations.<\/p>\n 10. New York Giants<\/a> (via Dolphins): S Caleb Downs, Ohio State<\/a><\/p>\n The Giants are still crying out for difference-makers on defense. Downs is the top-ranked player on the PFF Big Board<\/a> but slips to New York here because of positional value.<\/p>\n For a Giants team whose starting safeties have both earned sub-60.0 PFF overall grades in 2025, a player like Downs \u2014 who has earned PFF overall grades of 89.3 and 82.5 in coverage and run defense, respectively, this season \u2014 makes too much sense.<\/p>\n 11. Los Angeles Rams<\/a> (via Falcons<\/a>): CB Mansoor Delane, LSU<\/a><\/p>\n The Rams have several potential avenues at this pick, but the prospect of finding a true shutdown cornerback is tempting. Delane was fantastic in 2025, earning an 89.1 PFF grade in man coverage and allowing a catch on just 37.1% of the passes thrown into his coverage.<\/p>\n 12. Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame<\/a><\/p>\n The Chiefs with quarterback Patrick Mahomes<\/a> will always terrify offenses, which is why a dynamic running back would elevate the team in 2026.<\/p>\n Love has earned elite PFF overall grades of 91.1 and 92.9 over the past two seasons, and he averaged 4.5 yards after contact in 2025. He would instantly be the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year if he landed in Kansas City.<\/p>\n 13. Dallas Cowboys<\/a>: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State<\/a><\/p>\n Dallas did well to acquire Quinnen Williams for a lacking defensive interior, although further investments are needed if the Cowboys want to become contenders.<\/p>\n There are similarities between Reese and former Cowboys star Micah Parsons<\/a> in their college usage, and Reese earned a 72.5 PFF pass-rush grade from 112 pass-rushing snaps this season.<\/p>\n 14. Baltimore Ravens<\/a>: G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State<\/a><\/p>\n If the 2025 season has taught the Ravens anything, it\u2019s that they need to invest in the trenches, be it on offense or defense. Right guard Daniel Faalele<\/a> is one of the NFL\u2019s lowest-graded guards \u2014 and an impending free agent \u2014 while left guard Andrew Vorhees<\/a> ranks outside the top 30 guards in PFF overall grade this season. Ioane has been elite in pass protection, earning a 90.9 PFF pass-blocking grade on true pass sets this season.<\/p>\n 15. Minnesota Vikings<\/a>: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee<\/a><\/p>\n The Vikings don\u2019t have a cornerback who has earned a PFF overall grade above 70.0 this season, so investing in the position early in the draft would be wise. McCoy earned an 87.0 PFF overall grade in 2024 after allowing a reception on just 50.0% of the passes thrown into his coverage. He also came away with six interceptions between 2023 and 2024.<\/p>\n 16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a>: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State<\/a><\/p>\n Styles has yet to miss a tackle in a phenomenal 2025 season at Ohio State. He has earned PFF overall grades above 85.0 against the run and in coverage and would be a plug-and-play NFL starter in Tampa Bay, which badly needs help at the linebacker position.<\/p>\n 17. Detroit Lions<\/a>: T Kadyn Proctor, Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n Although Penei Sewell<\/a> is a proven star, Taylor Decker<\/a> is in his 30s and on track for his lowest-graded season since 2017. It\u2019s time for the Lions to think about a long-term replacement at left tackle.<\/p>\n The best options on the left side are Proctor and Utah\u2019s Caleb Lomu. While both are strong prospects, the Lions opt for the 20-year-old Proctor here. He earned PFF overall grades above 80.0 as a run blocker and in pass protection in 2025.<\/p>\n 18. New York Jets<\/a> (via Colts<\/a>): CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson<\/a><\/p>\n The Jets added a potential Quinnen Williams replacement at the top of the round and now opt for a potential Sauce Gardner successor here. Terrell improved his PFF overall grade in each of the past two seasons and has proven to be a willing run defender, earning an 86.4 PFF run-defense grade in 2025.<\/p>\n 19. Carolina Panthers<\/a>: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee<\/a><\/p>\n The ideal player fit here is Ohio State\u2019s Sonny Styles at linebacker, but with him off the board<\/a> to the Buccaneers just a couple of picks earlier, the Panthers opt for positional value and go cornerback. Hood is enjoying his best college season, earning PFF coverage grades above 70.0 in both man and zone coverage.<\/p>\n 20. Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a>: WR Denzel Boston, Washington<\/a><\/p>\n The city of Pittsburgh will be hoping for a franchise quarterback as their pick is announced from the Steel City, but with the top two off the board<\/a>, they opt for another big need: wide receiver.<\/p>\n In 2025, Boston earned an 89.7 PFF overall grade against man coverage, caught 76.9% of contested targets and dropped just 3.1% of catchable targets thrown his way.<\/p>\n 21. Dallas Cowboys<\/a> (via Packers<\/a>): EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn<\/a><\/p>\n After acquiring more pass-rush juice with Arvel Reese earlier in the round, the Cowboys can look to find a replacement for DeMarcus Lawrence<\/a> here. While Lawrence was good as a pass rusher, he was elite as a run defender \u2014 something the Cowboys have lacked in 2025. None of their edge defenders own a PFF run-defense grade above 70.0. Faulk earned an 85.2 PFF run-defense grade in 2025 and can line up all along the defensive front.<\/p>\n 22. Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>: EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M<\/a><\/p>\n Although the Eagles acquired Jaelan Phillips<\/a> at the trade deadline, there\u2019s no guarantee that he will be back for the 2026 season. Should he leave as a free agent, they would be thin along the edge once again. Howell has earned a 90.3 PFF pass-rush grade and produced a 19.8% PFF pass-rush win rate this season. He would immediately contribute to Philadelphia\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n 23. Houston Texans<\/a>: G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon<\/a><\/p>\n Pregnon has been one of the best guards in college football in 2025 and could step in on day one for a Texans team that has seen three players play 200 or more snaps at left guard this season, none with much success. Pregnon has earned PFF grades above 86.0 in pass protection and as a run blocker in 2025.<\/p>\n 24. Buffalo Bills<\/a>: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson<\/a><\/p>\n While the Bills<\/a> made a splash by signing Joey Bosa<\/a> in the offseason, they are still looking for more long-term help at the position. Parker has earned PFF overall grades above 75.0 in each of the past three seasons and produced a 15.4% PFF pass-rush win rate in 2025.<\/p>\n 25. San Francisco 49ers<\/a>: T Caleb Lomu, Utah<\/a><\/p>\n Given Trent Williams<\/a>\u2019 age (37), the time is now for the 49ers<\/a> to be looking for a long-term replacement at left tackle. Lomu earned an 82.1 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025 and has spent more than 1,500 snaps on the left side of the line since the start of the 2024 season.<\/p>\n 26. Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>: T Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)<\/a><\/p>\n The Chargers<\/a> need to address their interior offensive line. Mauigoa was a tackle at Miami but could kick inside at the next level. He has earned an 87.2 PFF pass-blocking grade and would come with the added benefit of being able to play at tackle if the Chargers found themselves in an emergency, similar to this season.<\/p>\n 27. Cleveland Browns<\/a> (via Jaguars<\/a>): QB Ty Simpson, Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n This would be a reach, according to the PFF Big Board<\/a>. But after missing out on Mendoza or Moore at the top of the round, the Browns could take a chance on a player like Simpson. The Alabama star produced a 6.2% big-time throw rate and a 2.7% turnover-worthy play rate in 2025, earning an 81.6 PFF passing grade in the process.<\/p>\n 28. Los Angeles Rams<\/a>: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M<\/a><\/p>\n This is another potential landing spot for Alabama\u2019s Ty Simpson, but he is now off the board<\/a>. With that in mind, the Rams choose to bolster a top-heavy receiving corps. Puka Nacua<\/a> and Davante Adams<\/a> are the team\u2019s only wide receivers with more than 25 targets this season.<\/p>\n Concepcion earned a 77.8 PFF receiving grade versus man coverage and caught 61.5% of the contested targets thrown his way this season.<\/p>\n 29. Chicago Bears<\/a>: DI Kayden McDonald, Ohio State<\/a><\/p>\n Chicago\u2019s interior has been weak against the run this season, with no player at the position earning a PFF run-defense grade above 60.0. McDonald could instantly be the best player in the Bears<\/a>\u2019 group, and while he\u2019s not a huge threat as a pass rusher yet, he was a monster against the run this season, logging a 92.2 PFF run-defense grade and producing a 13.6% run-stop rate.<\/p>\n 30. New England Patriots<\/a>: T Gennings Dunker, Iowa<\/a><\/p>\n Although Morgan Moses<\/a> has been solid for the Patriots this season, he\u2019ll be 35 years old in March. New England should set out to add his long-term replacement in this draft.<\/p>\n Dunker was better in 2024, when he earned an elite 90.2 PFF overall grade, but still put together a solid 2025 campaign, notching 75.0-plus PFF grades in pass protection and as a run blocker.<\/p>\n 31. Denver Broncos<\/a>: DI Christen Miller, Georgia<\/a><\/p>\n The Broncos don\u2019t have many needs, but there is always value in defensive line depth. Miller has been a monster against the run this season, earning an 88.3 PFF run-defense grade. He has been solid as a pass rusher, too, producing an 11.4% PFF pass-rush win rate. He would fit right into the rotation up front for the Broncos and potentially make their defense even more fearsome.<\/p>\n 32. Seattle Seahawks<\/a>: EDGE Romello Height, Texas Tech<\/a><\/p>\n Boye Mafe<\/a> is scheduled to be a free agent in 2026, so adding more pass-rush ability off the edge makes sense for the Seahawks<\/a>. There will be questions about Height\u2019s size, but pairing a player with a 92.4 PFF pass-rush grade and a 21.1% PFF pass-rush win rate with Mike Macdonald, one of the best defensive minds in football, feels like a match made in heaven.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Dolphins make a splash trade up for Fernando Mendoza: With Tua Tagovailoa benched, Miami may find itself…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":363962,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[349,99],"class_list":{"0":"post-363961","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-nfl","9":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=363961"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363961\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/363962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=363961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=363961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=363961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Editorial-Banner-3-1024x256.jpg\")
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