Heading into the final two and a half weeks before the Draft officially gets underway,\u00a0PFF\u00a0shook up its latest mock draft<\/a>. This includes two projected trades between four teams in the top-10. The trades project that both Arizona (3) and Tennessee (4) and Cleveland (6) and Kansas City (9) exchange picks. Below are the latest projections from PFF.<\/p>\n Reigning Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion\u00a0Fernando Mendoza\u00a0seems poised to be the pick to lead the Las Vegas Raiders into a new era. In his lone season at\u00a0Indiana, Mendoza emerged as the best player in college football. The\u00a0Cal<\/a>\u00a0transfer passed for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns with just six interceptions, leading the Hoosiers to an unblemished 16-0 season and a national title.<\/p>\n The Raiders are thirsting for success, as they have not won a playoff game since 2002 (AFC Championship). They suffered their worst season since 2006 with veteran quarterback\u00a0Geno Smith<\/a>\u00a0(who has since been traded to the New York Jets)\u00a0at the helm, and a shake-up is desperately needed. Mendoza now has a veteran quarterback in\u00a0Kirk Cousins<\/a>\u00a0to help ease him into the NFL, which could be a decision that could finally bring sunshine back to Sin City down the road.<\/p>\n It was yet another miserable season for the New York Jets, who missed the postseason for the 15th consecutive year. PFF has the Jets landing on\u00a0Ohio State\u00a0linebacker\u00a0Arvell Reese\u00a0with the second overall pick. Reese, a reigning First Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten selection, recorded 112 tackles, seven sacks, and two pass deflections across two seasons.<\/p>\n The Jets defense, which did not record an interception all season, is in need of a massive boost. Reese, who helped the Buckeyes to a National Championship in 2024, would be a strong addition for organization. With defensive-minded\u00a0Aaron Glenn<\/a>\u00a0coaching the Jets, this pick seems like a no-brainer.<\/p>\n Star\u00a0Notre Dame\u00a0running back\u00a0Jeremiyah Love\u00a0has skyrocketed up NFL Draft boards over the past month, and now seems poised to be the first non-quarterback offensive player selected. In PFF\u2019s latest Mock, he is projected to head to the Tennessee Titans with the No. 3 overall pick, following a trade up one spot with the Arizona Cardinals. The addition of Love to Tennessee\u2019s offense would instantly give them their most dynamic player since\u00a0Derrick Henry<\/a>.<\/p>\n Across three seasons in South Bend, Love recorded 2,882 rushing yards and 36 rushing touchdowns. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2025, and was named a Unanimous All-American and the Doak Walker Award recipient. Tennessee is seeking a return to the postseason for the first time since 2021. Bringing in one of college football\u2019s biggest playmakers would certainly be a strong start.<\/p>\n All-American\u00a0Miami\u00a0OT Francis Mauigoa is projected by PFF to be selected with the No. 4 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals, following their mock trade with the Tennessee Titans. Whether or not Mauigoa would be blocking for\u00a0Jacoby Brissett<\/a>,\u00a0Gardner Minshew<\/a>, or a rookie quarterback next season remains unknown. Arizona parted ways with former franchise cornerstone quarterback\u00a0Kyler Murray<\/a>\u00a0this offseason, leaving the future of the position up in the air..<\/p>\n Mauigoa was an anchor of\u00a0Miami\u2018s offensive line this past season. The Hurricanes snuck into the College Football Playoff and made a run to the National Championship before falling just short of their first title since 2001. Of the last five offensive tackles selected within the top-five picks in the NFL Draft (Will Campbell<\/a>,\u00a0Joe Alt<\/a>,\u00a0Andrew Thomas<\/a>,\u00a0Brandon Scherff<\/a>, and\u00a0Greg Robinson<\/a>), two have been named Pro Bowlers (Alt and Scherff).<\/p>\n With the fifth overall pick, PFF projects the New York Giants to select\u00a0Ohio State\u00a0star safety\u00a0Caleb Downs. A pick that would excite New York fans heading into year one of the John Harbaugh<\/a> era, Downs would make an immediate impact on a struggling Giants defense. Last season, New York ranked 28th in the NFL in yards allowed per game (359.5 YPG) and 26th in points allowed per game (25.8 PPG).<\/p>\n Downs was one of the best defensive players in all of college football over the past three seasons (one at\u00a0Alabama\u00a0and two at\u00a0Ohio State), racking up 256 tackles, 10 pass deflections, six interceptions, and 1.5 sacks. The Giants are desperately seeking a return to relevance, as they\u2019ve made the postseason just twice since their Super Bowl XLVI victory in 2011. Putting together a strong defense, to pair with a young offense, could work out nicely for the organization.<\/p>\n Just one season removed from making their third consecutive appearance in the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs are selecting No. 9 in the NFL Draft. PFF projects that\u00a0Andy Reid<\/a>\u00a0and the Chiefs will be trading with the Cleveland Browns up to pick No. 6, however, and boosting their defense with\u00a0Texas Tech\u00a0EDGE rusher\u00a0David Bailey. Bailey recorded 52 tackles, 14.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and three forced fumbles last season.<\/p>\n Bailey, who transferred to Lubbock for his final season of college football, emerged as one of the biggest game-wreckers in the sport. His strong play was a catalyst for\u00a0Texas Tech\u2018s first-ever Big 12 Championship, and in turn, its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Bailey had a dominant showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, ranking first among DE\/EDGE rushers (according to NFL.com<\/a>) in production score (96) and total score (86).<\/p>\n Although he may not have even been the best wide receiver at\u00a0Ohio State\u00a0last season,\u00a0Carnell Tate\u00a0is projected to be drafted No. 7 overall by the Washington Commanders. Tate emerged as\u00a0Julian Sayin<\/a>\u2018s WR2 (behind\u00a0Jeremiah Smith<\/a>) last season, hauling in 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. He would be joining a WR core consisting of Terry McLaurin<\/a>, Dyami Brown<\/a>, Luke McCaffrey<\/a>, and Treylon Burks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tate would instantly become a prime target for third-year quarterback\u00a0Jayden Daniels<\/a>, who is returning from a shoulder injury that affected his 2025 campaign. A season after making a run to the NFC Championship Game, Washington finished with a disappointing 5-12 record last year. Bringing in an immediate playmaker in Tate, however, could ensure that they\u2019d have a much better shot at reaching those heights once again.<\/p>\n PFF\u00a0has the New Orleans Saints selecting hometown star\u00a0LSU\u00a0defensive back\u00a0Mansoor Delane with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft. With Downs off the board at pick No. 5 in this mock, selecting the next best defensive back seems like the best case scenario for the organization. Last season, New Orleans ranked ninth in the NFL in yards allowed per game (299.8 YPG) and 16th in points allowed per game (22.5 PPG).<\/p>\n Across four collegiate seasons (three at\u00a0Virginia Tech<\/a>, one at\u00a0LSU), Delane boasts 191 career tackles with 27 pass deflections, eight interceptions, and four forced fumbles. The Saints continue to build on both sides of the ball as they seek a return to the postseason. Bringing in Delane to boost a young defense would continue to show that the organization is on its way back to being true contenders in the NFC.<\/p>\n Second Team All-SEC\u00a0Georgia\u00a0OT\u00a0Monroe Freeling<\/a>\u00a0is projected to be selected with the No. 9 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns, following their mock trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Whether or not Freeling would be blocking for\u00a0Shedeur Sanders<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Deshaun Watson<\/a>\u00a0next season remains unknown. Sanders returns for his sophomore season in Cleveland, while Watson is returning from an Achilles tendon injury that kept him out for the entirety of the 2025 season.<\/p>\n Freeling posted a 71.4 PFF grade last season, ranking 81st out of 632 qualified collegiate offensive tackle\u2019s. His pass blocking grade of 85.6 ranked 10th at his position, while his run blocking grade of 61.3 ranked 252nd at his position. Freeling would be Cleveland\u2019s first selection of an OT in the NFL Draft since 2020, when it selected\u00a0Alabama<\/a>\u2018s\u00a0Jedrick Wills Jr.<\/a>with the 10th overall pick.<\/p>\n To round out the Top-10, the Cincinnati Bengals are projected to select\u00a0superstar EDGE rusher\u00a0Reuben Bain Jr. Bain absolutely dominated the College Football Playoff this season. The Miami native recorded 17 tackles and five sacks in four CFP games. On the year, Bain Jr. totaled 54 tackles, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception.<\/p>\n Bain Jr. would make an immediate impact on a struggling Bengals defense. Last season, Cincinnati ranked second-to-last in the NFL in yards allowed per game (380.9 YPG) and third-to-last in points allowed per game (28.9 PPG). Cincinnati\u2019s offense has been good enough year over year to take them to the postseason, but the defense has repeatedly let them down. Bain Jr. would be a much-celebrated pick for the organization.<\/p>\n Picks 11-32<\/p>\n 11. Miami Dolphins:\u00a0Makai Lemon<\/a>, WR,\u00a0USC<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Arvell-Reese-1.png\")
\u00a9 Samantha Madar\/Columbus Dispatch \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Caleb-Downs.png\")
Nov 29, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs (2) reacts in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mansoor-Delane.png\")
Aug 30, 2025; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; LSU Tigers cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) celebrates after a play against the Clemson Tigers during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Makai-Lemon.png\")
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) takes the ball on a kickoff return in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles<\/a>, LB, Ohio State<\/a>
13. Los Angeles Rams: Spencer Fano<\/a>, OT,\u00a0Utah<\/a>
14. Baltimore Ravens:\u00a0OlaivavegaIoane Ioane,<\/a>\u00a0G,\u00a0Penn State<\/a>
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq<\/a>, TE,\u00a0Oregon<\/a>
16. New York Jets: Jordyn Tyson<\/a>, WR,\u00a0Arizona State<\/a>
17. Philadelphia Eagles: Dillon Thieneman<\/a>, S,\u00a0Oregon<\/a> (Projected trade with Detroit Lions)
18. Minnesota Vikings: Jermod McCoy<\/a>, CB,\u00a0Tennessee<\/a>
19. Carolina Panthers: Blake Miller<\/a>, OT,\u00a0Clemson<\/a>
20. Dallas Cowboys: Akheem Mesidor<\/a>, EDGE,\u00a0Miami<\/a>
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Omar Cooper Jr.<\/a>, WR,\u00a0Indiana<\/a>
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Caleb Banks<\/a>, DL, Florida<\/a>
23. Detroit Lions: CJ Allen<\/a>, LB, Georgia<\/a> (Projected trade with Philadelphia Eagles)
24. Cleveland Browns: Keldric Faulk<\/a>, EDGE, Auburn<\/a>
25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren<\/a>, S, Toledo<\/a>
26. Carolina Panthers: Avieon Terrell<\/a>, CB,\u00a0Clemson<\/a> (Projected trade with Buffalo Bills)
27. San Francisco 49ers: Max Iheanachor<\/a>, OT,\u00a0Arizona State<\/a>
28. Houston Texans: Emmanuel Pregnon<\/a>, OL,\u00a0Oregon<\/a>
29. Arizona Cardinals: Cashius Howell<\/a>, EDGE, Texas A&M<\/a> (Projected trade with Los Angeles Rams)
30. Miami Dolphins: Colton Hood<\/a>, CB,\u00a0Tennessee<\/a>
31. New England Patriots: Jake Golday<\/a>, LB, Cincinnati<\/a>
32. Seattle Seahawks: Kayden McDonald<\/a>, DL, Ohio State<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In just 16 days, a new crop of talent will be joining the National Football League via the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":570829,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[174547,127886,175216,218945,127698,126779,42973,126780,42152,216825,127887,174550,175227,174551,7314,399,175231,42159,139553,179249,175237,175240,179250,175243,127110,175247,218963,211754,398,396,397,42988,126786,42169,175254,99,175258],"class_list":{"0":"post-570828","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-akheem-mesidor-20-clearwater-academy-international","9":"tag-arvell-reese-23-glenville","10":"tag-avieon-terrell-23-westlake","11":"tag-blake-miller-22-strongsville","12":"tag-caleb-banks-21-southfield","13":"tag-caleb-downs-23-mill-creek","14":"tag-carnell-tate-23-img-academy","15":"tag-cashius-howell-21-rockhurst","16":"tag-cj-allen-23-lamar-county-comprehensive","17":"tag-colton-hood-23-eagles-landing-christian-academy","18":"tag-david-bailey-22-mater-dei","19":"tag-dillon-thieneman-23-westfield","20":"tag-emmanuel-mcneil-warren-22-lakewood","21":"tag-emmanuel-pregnon-20-thomas-jefferson","22":"tag-fernando-mendoza-22-columbus","23":"tag-football","24":"tag-francis-mauigoa-23-img-academy","25":"tag-jake-golday-21-arlington","26":"tag-jeremiyah-love-23-christian-brothers-college","27":"tag-jermod-mccoy-23-whitehouse","28":"tag-jordyn-tyson-22-independence","29":"tag-kayden-mcdonald-23-north-gwinnett","30":"tag-keldric-faulk-23-highland-home","31":"tag-kenyon-sadiq-23-skyline-senior","32":"tag-makai-lemon-23-los-alamitos","33":"tag-mansoor-delane-22-archbishop-spalding","34":"tag-max-iheanachor-22-king-drew-medical-magnet","35":"tag-monroe-freeling-23-oceanside-collegiate-academy","36":"tag-ncaa","37":"tag-ncaa-football","38":"tag-ncaafootball","39":"tag-omar-cooper-22-lawrence-north","40":"tag-rueben-bain-23-miami-central","41":"tag-sonny-styles-22-pickerington-central","42":"tag-spencer-fano-23-timpview","43":"tag-sports","44":"tag-vega-ioane-22-graham-kapowsin"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570828","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=570828"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570828\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/570829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=570828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=570828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=570828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}