Matt Chabot’s Mock Draft 2.0

1. Jets – Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza

In this mock draft, I am going with the assumption that Aaron Glenn stays at coach for the Jets… and in this scenario, Medoza is clearly the best fit. While Dante Moore is my top QB in this year’s class, it’s close, and Medoza is a far better fit in the Jets offense than Moore would be. Mendoza manages the game incredibly well and does a great job putting his team in positions to win. The Jets’ defense is great, and they have playmakers. Mendoza will give those players a chance.

2. Dolphins – Oregon QB Dante Moore

The Dolphins recently extended Tua Tagovailoa on a four-year deal worth north of $212 million. But since signing the deal, he has struggled with injuries and consistency on the field. While Miami likely can’t get off the contract until 2027, if they finish with the fourth-worst record in football, they likely will not hesitate to add a quarterback at the top of the draft. Moore is my top QB, and again, under the assumption that Mike McDaniel stays as coach, Moore would be an exceptional fit.

3. Saints – Miami EDGE Rueben Bain

Bain has been my top edge rusher since day one, and this year, he has exceeded even my expectations. Bain already has two sacks this year, and on film, he has been utterly dominant. He has always been known for his dominating power, but it’s his impressive burst and quickness that have boosted his draft stock immensely. The Saints’ roster has a way to go before they can become competitive. In this mock draft, the Saints choose to build their roster and give Tyler Shough a chance before taking a QB.

4. Titans – Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk

The Titans’ new coaching staff has transitioned their defense into a true hybrid scheme, providing opposing teams with a variety of different looks and schemes. The Titans only have one sack off the edge this season and absolutely need to bring in reinforcements this offseason. Faulk is one of the best athletes in the class, and he has proven to be an elite edge prospect. He will line up next to Jeffery Simmons, making a powerful defensive pairing for the foreseeable future.

5. Ravens – Clemson DL Peter Woods

Woods is the top DL in this year’s class, and while Clemson has struggled, Woods has flashed everything scouts hoped to see from him this season. His unique blend of speed and power makes him one of the best interior pass rushers in college football. That skillset is exactly what the Ravens need to anchor their defense, and while I don’t think they will pick this high, shoring up the front seven is the top priority.

6. Browns – Ohio State DB Caleb Downs

Downs is the best all-around player in the class, but could fall because of his positional value. While the safety position has become more and more valuable in the NFL, it still is not considered a premium position, and teams may look elsewhere at the top of the draft. The Browns have a ways to go before they will be back in playoff contention, and BPA feels like the way to go.

7. Raiders – Mimai OT Francis Mauigoa

If you have watched an ounce of Raiders football this season, you know that building their offensive line is priority one. When healthy, Kolton Miller is the franchise left tackle for the Raiders, but adding a right tackle and moving DJ Glaze to guard could be beneficial. Mauigoa has been the best tackle in college football this year and has locked down the right side of the line for the Hurricanes.

8. Giants – Jordan Tyson WR Arizona State

McCoy has yet to play this season due to injury, but when you watch his tape from 2024, there should be no doubt that he is CB 1 in this year’s class. He has the elite frame and athleticism that NFL teams are looking for, and he has proven to be a consistent and reliable boundary corner. Deonte Banks and Paulson Adebo are not cutting it for the Giants right now, and if they get the chance to add McCoy, they won’t pass up on him.

9. Cardinals – Ohio State LB Arvell Reese

Reese has been the biggest riser in this year’s draft, with most people not really knowing his name entering the season, to being almost a consensus top 15 prospect. He is one of the most versatile players in the class, and his ability to make tackles all over the field, as well as rush the passer and play in coverage, is unique. Jonathan Gannon had a knack for developing linebackers in Philadelphia, and now he gets an anchor to his defense in Arizona.

10. Texans – Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

The most common pick for the Texans here is offensive line, but soon, I am going to write something about why that would not be a good idea. If you have followed my writing for the last few years, you may be shocked to hear me make the case for a team to take an RB in the first round, especially over offensive line… But hear me out. Tytus Howard and Aireontae Ersery have been great at tackles, and they can add depth later. Love is an elite running back prospect who will take some pressure off the pass protection and off Stroud. They can add interior help later in the draft. This would be a trade-down spot if possible.

11. Bengals – Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor

Over the last several years, it has become apparent what the Bengals are looking for in their offensive tackles… Traits, traits, traits. They took Amarius Mims 18th overall in 2024 and also signed Orlando Brown and Trent Brown to their roster; all three are AT LEAST 6’8/340. Proctor is 6’7/360 and entered the year as the consensus top tackle, and with Orlando Brown likely being cut/traded, the Bengals would love to grab him in the first round if he’s available.

12. Commanders – Clemson EDGE TJ Parker

The Commanders may very well have the worst DE room in football, and there should be little to no doubt that this is where they will look in the draft. Parker is the second top prospect on the Clemson defensive line, alongside Peter Woods. While Parker’s stock has taken a hit with the struggles from Clemson this season, he is still a great prospect with all the traits Adam Peters likes to see. Dann Quinn would love to have a first-round edge on his defensive line, which can really be a threat to the quarterback.

13. Cowboys – Florida IDL Caleb Banks

Banks is one of the most athletic guys in the class, and while I am not as high on him as others, a team will take a chance on his sheer athletic ability. Similar to Deone Walker from last year, Banks is simply a freak of nature, and teams will not make the mistake of letting him slip in the draft the way they did with Walker. The Cowboys traded away Micah Parsons in part because they wanted to be better at stopping the run, and if Jerry Jones was serious about that, Banks feels like their guy.

14. Rams – LSU CB Mansoor Delane

Delane has steadily been rising boards this season and has been a guy I graded as a top 3 corner in the class since day one. He is an elite coverage corner who sticks on the hip and makes life very hard on opposing receivers. At LSU, he has succeeded in every coverage he was assigned, and he showed the same skills at Virginia Tech. The Rams get a day one starter on the outside.

15. Vikings – Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy

McCoy is the top corner in the class, but may fall a bit because of some injury concerns that have kept him off the field so far this season. The Vikings have a decent corner room, but with McCoy on the board, Brian Flores pounds the table and gets his guy.

16. Panthers – Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun

Iggy is at the top of the “my guys” list and is someone that I will be talking about all offseason. In my opinion, Igbinosun is the best pure man corner in the draft, and his physicality at the line of scrimmage and a bulldog mentality make him one of the toughest guys in college football to separate from. He is aggressive on the ball and sticks to his man with elite sheer athleticism. I have heard the complaints with him about issues with being grabby and being flagged, but similar to someone like Dru Phillips or Jack Jones, you are willing to accept that if it results in turnovers and PBUs.

17. Chiefs – LSU LB/EDGE Harold Perkins Jr

Yes, I am a Chiefs fan. Yes, I am a Harold Perkins Jr fan. I think that this would be a match made in heaven, and one of the most versatile players in the draft lands in one of the NFL’s most unique defenses. Steve Spagnuolo loves to blitz his linebackers, but he also loves to disguise coverages, and having a linebacker like Perkins would be an immediate game-changer in Kansas City.

18. Bears – Utah OT Spencer Fano

Fano is the better of the two Utah offensive tackles in the draft this year, and I think Ben Johnson would love a player like him to help anchor their offensive line. Fano plays RT on the Utah offensive line, but I think he is more than capable of flipping to left tackle, and may even be better on that side. Caleb Williams needs a tackle who can help keep him clean and has the athletic ability to keep up with his reckless scrambling, and Fano is that guy.

19. Browns – Ohio State WR Carnell Tate

The Browns already landed my top player in the class with Caleb Downs, and now will look to take the best offensive player available to help Dillon Gabriel. With the top OTs off the board, Cleveland could go QB here, but with two rookies on the roster this year, and a roster that is in dire need of some help, they look to bolster the team and evaluate the young guys they already have. Tate is next in line at Ohio State and will continue the streak of Buckeye receivers selected in the first round.

20. Chargers – Oregon EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei

Matayo is united with his brother, DJ, on the West Coast as the Chargers get themselves some DL help with a relentless pass rusher. Uiagalelei is a pure hand-in-the-dirt defensive end, and with Khalil Mack reaching the end of his career, adding Uiagalelei gives him a chance to take some plays off and to teach a young and talented DE.

21. Bills – Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey

The Bills run a pure 4-3 defense with Sean McDermott, but they always love to have one speed rusher on their roster who can stretch the offensive line. Bailey has been great this year and is my OLB 2 in this year’s class. I think he has the heft to play some DE but will specialize with his speed ability off the edge, allowing the Bills’ interior more chances to get to the QB. Similar to the role the Bills hoped Von Miller would play.

22. Seahawks – Washington WR Denzel Boston

JSN is maybe the best reciever in the NFL right now, but he needs some help to keep the attention off of him going forward. Boston is a Washington native and grew up just an hour and a half away from the Seattle area. He now gets drafted by the Seahawks and gives Sam Darnold a true outside X wide reciever. The hope will be that Boston can take some of the attention off JSN down the field and open things up for the Seahawks even more.

23. Lions – Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor

With the incredible success of Reuben Bain this season, Mesidor’s success has flown somewhat under the radar. But on the other side of the defensive line, Mesidor has also been incredibly dominant and has proven to be one of the strongest defensive ends in the draft. The Lions would love a guy like Mesidor on the other side of Hutchinson, who will win with power and require attention on the defensive line.

24. Rams – Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq

Tyler Hibee hits free agency this offseason, and while the Rams have some young TEs who could fill that role, Sadiq is on another level. A player I comped to Derrick Henry because of his sheer athleticism, Sadiq is a unique weapon who will shine in Sean McVay’s offense. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay feel like the optimal group to work with Sadiq and make him into a star.

25. Steelers – South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers

Aaron Rodgers is not the long-term answer for the Steelers, and even if they are picking in the 20s, they will have interest in adding a quarterback. Sellers entered this season as a consensus top 10 pick, but has struggled both with health and performance. He is still a raw prospect, and if the Steelers looked to bring back Rodgers (or another veteran QB) next season, a year on the bench and scout team could be good for Sellers’ development.

26. Broncos – Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr

The Broncos have a solid middle linebacker in Alex Singleton, but behind him, their ILB room is quite weak. Anthony Hill was a consensus five-star recruit out of high school and has been a star on the Longhorns’ defense the last few years. The Broncos need more solid players on their defense to hold things down, and with Hill and Singleton in the middle of the defense, they will be in a good spot.

27. 49ers – Louisville WR Chris Bell

Kyle Shanahan made a superstar out of Debo Samuel, and now he will look to plug Chris Bell into the same role. Bell is a big-bodied reciever who moves with above-average speed and quickness while weighing in around 225 pounds. His skills with the ball in his hands are elite, and adding him to the 49ers offense will make life a lot easier for Brock Purdy.

28. Eagles – Clemson CB Avieon Terrell

Terrell is yet another Clemson prospect who entered the season with a lot of hype but has seen his stock take a hit with the Tigers’ struggles this season. The Eagles’ biggest need all year has been a more consistent corner to play across from Quinyon Mitchell. Kelee Ringo, Adoree Jackson, and Jakorian Bennett have been okay, but all will become free agents in the next two years. Ringo and Bennett are good depth pieces behind Mitchell, DeJean, and Terrell going forward.

29. Patriots – USC WR Makai Lemon

Drake Maye looks like one of the best quarterbacks in football, and getting him as much help as possible is priority one in New England. They have missed so many times on reciever with Ja’Lynn Polk, N’Keal Harry, and Tyquan Thornton, and this time they need a hit. Lemon is a very safe bet and is one of the best route-running and pass-catching receivers in the draft. He has an elite ability to create space and make tough catches, giving Drake Maye a reliable slot option going forward.

30. Cowboys – Arkansas EDGE Quincy Rhodes Jr

Jerry Jones has spent each of Dallas’ last five first-round picks in the trenches, and after trading Micah Parsons, he will likely do it again. Dallas does not mind gambling on traits, and picking up Rhodes Jr would do that. The 6’6/275 DE out of Arkansas is very reminiscent of his former teammate Landon Jackson, but in my opinion, he is even better. Dallas already landed Caleb Banks at pick 13, and now they take another incredibly athletic defensive lineman at pick 30.

31. Buccaneers – R Mason Thomas EDGE Oklahoma

Thomas was eligible for the draft last year, but elected to return to Oklahoma for his senior season, a decision that has clearly paid off as he is widely looked at as a top 50 prospect. One of the best OLB prospects in the draft, I have compared Thomas to former Buccaneer Shaq Barrett, who was a superstar under Todd Bowles. Thomas could have similar success and would give the Buccaneers a true pass rusher on the edge for the next several years.

32. Colts – Colorado CB DJ McKinney

Chris Ballard is one of those GMs who loves corners with good traits, and Colts DC Lou Anarumo started as a DB coach. McKinney is a somewhat raw prospect who found serious success last season and has repeated it this year. Keith Abney and Colton Hood are in the running for this pick, but I think Ballard would take a gamble on the traits and give Anarumo a chance to make him a star.