2026 NFL Mock Draft - 120 Proof Style
Mock drafts are fun, and by fun, I mean in the way you'd enjoy an unanesthetized root canal. Yes, every fan wants to know who the experts think is going to their team, what trades might happen, or what the winning Powerball numbers are. The problem is, nobody does good ones anymore. Anyone can get the first pick or two right, and then it’s a crapshoot. Might as well throw a dart blindfolded—your guess is as good as the experts'.
But hey, if you can’t beat ’em, flee in terror. Or join ’em. However it goes.
Before we jump into it, a disclaimer or two. The following is based on picks that make sense for the franchise—based on needs and where they are in their competitive cycles. Basically, it’s who we would pick at that spot for that team, not what their idiot GM is bound to do. It also doesn’t factor in trades, of which there will likely be several.
Now that we have that—and several shots of Casamigos—out of the way, let’s do it.
Picks:
1. Las Vegas Raiders. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana:
Unless God herself divinely intervenes, there is no other pick to make here. The Raiders are a Benny Hill skit in shoulder pads, and they need immediate relief from the ruinously bad quarterback play of Geno Smith and whatever collection of spare parts followed him last season. Mendoza is the Heisman winner, a clear upgrade, and after he heroically leads them to a 4–13 season, they’ll be in prime position to draft someone to protect him from the chaos they’ve created.
2. New York Jets. Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State:
The Jets should absolutely trade down here. This is a “quantity over slightly better qualiity” draft, and stockpiling picks makes all the sense in the world. Would you rather have one bottle of Grey Goose or three bottles of Ketel One? Exactly. But this is the Jets, and good decisions are treated like urban legends. Reese is a solid defensive building block for a team that desperately needs something—anything—to go right.
3. Arizona Cardinals. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech:
This could easily be Reese if Bailey goes second, but the Cardinals are still several zip codes away from relevance and should also consider trading back. That said, if you’re staying put, maybe start with a pass rusher since they couldn’t generate pressure last season if you spotted them a free rusher and a map.
4. Tennessee Titans. Francis Mauigoa, Tackle, Miami:
You draft a franchise quarterback like Cam Ward and then… you protect him. Revolutionary concept, I know. Otherwise it’s like opening a bottle of Opus One and drinking it out of a Solo cup in a parking lot. Mauigoa is the best lineman in the class, and unless the Titans are interested in watching Ward get folded like a lawn chair, this is the move.
5. New York Giants. Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State:
The Giants won’t make this pick because they’re dumb. They’ll convince themselves they can get him later, or pivot to something needlessly complicated like a punter with “intangibles.” Downs is the best player in the draft, full stop. The league undervalues safeties, which is how this nonsense happens. Don’t be a dingus. Just take the elite player and move on.
6. Cleveland Browns. Spencer Fano, Tackle, Utah:
A slight reach? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely. The Browns’ offensive line needs a full spiritual cleansing, and while Fano might not be a star, he’s dependable—which, for Cleveland, is basically a five-star trait. You have to start somewhere, and for the Browns, that somewhere is rock bottom with a hard hat.
7. Washington Commanders. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame:
I would honestly like to see what they have Jacory Croskey-Merritt. But... you don’t pass on a potential star like Love. Pair him with Jayden Daniels and suddenly you’ve got an offense that can ruin defensive coordinators’ sleep schedules. Recency bias has people forgetting Washington won 11 games not that long ago. This is a team closer than people think.
8. New Orleans Saints. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State:
The injury history is terrifying, like “read the fine print before signing your life away” terrifying. But the talent? Off the charts. If Tyler Shough is the guy, you need weapons beyond Chris Olave. Safe pick would be Tate. This is not safe. This is upside, baby. This is draining the bottle AND eating the worm.
9. Kansas City Chiefs. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State:
If Caleb Downs didn’t exist, Styles might be the best player in the draft. The Chiefs will pretend they’re upset Love is gone, then sprint this card to the podium. Plug-and-play Pro Bowler, no overthinking required—which is why Kansas City will nail it while other teams are still developing new ways to outsmart themselves.
10. New York Giants. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State:
Ohio State is basically a wide receiver factory at this point. If the Giants somehow walk away with Downs and Tate, you can slap an A+ on the draft and go home early. Wan’Dale Robinson is gone, Malik Nabers needs help, and this is about as straightforward as it gets.
11. Miami Dolphins. Olaivavega Ioane, Guard, Penn State:
Will they make this pick? Of course not. That would imply a commitment to winning football games. But if they did, pairing the best interior lineman with Devon Achane would make actual, tangible sense—which is why it probably won’t happen.
12. Dallas Cowboys. Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Oregon:
This is the correct pick, which means Jerry Jones will absolutely ignore it and draft a wide receiver just to feel something. The Cowboys need secondary help. Thieneman is sitting right there. It’s so obvious it’s practically glowing, which makes it highly unlikely. It’s a shame, too, because he’s nearly as good as Downs.
13. Los Angeles Rams. Makai Lemon, WR, USC:
As a Rams fan, I am bracing for something breathtakingly stupid—like trading up for a tight end they don’t need. But this is simple: Davante Adams is probably gone after the season, and they need a receiver. Lemon is local, talented, and makes too much sense, which is exactly why I’m nervous.
14. Baltimore Ravens. Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana:
The Ravens will be mildly annoyed Lemon is gone, but Cooper is a perfectly acceptable consolation prize. Lamar stays healthy and this team is dangerous again. This is a luxury pick, and those are always more fun.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ruben Bain, Edge, Miami:
They couldn’t rush the passer. They couldn’t cover anyone. It was a defensive horror show. Bain alone won’t fix all the problems. However, he probably shouldn’t still be here and Tampa Bay will happily scoop him up like they found cash in an old jacket.
16. New York Jets. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee:
Big swing here. Coming off a major knee injury, but if healthy, he’s a top-tier talent. The Jets traded Sauce Gardner (still processing that) from a secondary that failed to log a single interception in 2025, so they need help badly. High risk, high reward—but who are we kidding. We’re playing with other peoples’ money.
17. Detroit Lions. Kadyn Proctor, Tackle, Alabama:
Outside of Penei Sewell, the line underwhelmed. When Goff has time, the offense hums. When he doesn’t, things get weird fast. This is about removing the “weird fast” part. I hate the Lions with the searing heat of my uncle Manfred’s 1972 Continental with the busted AC, but this makes them better.
18. Minnesota Vikings. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Safety, Toledo:
Harrison Smith can’t play forever, despite what Vikings fans might tell you. This is a future-proofing pick. McNeil-Warren is legit—you just haven’t heard of him because Toledo isn’t on primetime.
19. Carolina Panthers. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M:
Pair him with Tet McMillan and suddenly this offense has real juice. Also brings return value, which matters more than people admit. Panthers are sneaky interesting and could easily be aggressive if the board breaks right.
20. Dallas Cowboys. Chase Bisontis, Guard, Texas A&M:
Bit of a reach? Sure. Necessary? Also sure. The offensive line last year should be investigated by The Hague for atrocities. Dak Prescott is a good quarterback, but he needs protection in order to stay upright. This helps. Also, I am now struggling to remain upright after that last Casamigos.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon:
Athletic freak, raw as sushi. Teams will fall in love with the measurables and ignore the “needs to learn football” part. This is about the earliest I’m comfortable with that gamble. Rodgers might be back, and he’ll either elevate Sadiq or glare at him into oblivion.
22. Los Angeles Chargers. Monroe Freeling, Tackle, Georgia:
Justin Herbert spent more time horizontal last season than Stormy Daniels. Injuries to Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater wrecked the line. This is about preventing a repeat. You can never have too many quality linemen, especially when your QB is a franchise investment, not a crash test dummy.
23. Philadelphia Eagles. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington:
AJ Brown feels like he’s halfway out the door already. Behind DeVonta Smith, the wide receiver depth is tumbleweeds on a deser two-laner. Boston adds depth and keeps the passing offense from turning into a two-man show.
24. Cleveland Browns. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU:
They need a receiver, but the board says no. So take the value. Delane is a steal here and immediately upgrades the secondary. Not sexy, but Cleveland isn’t in a position to be picky about aesthetics.
25. Chicago Bears. Max Iheanachor, Tackle, Arizona State:
Young QB. Protect him. It’s the NFL version of “don’t touch the stove.” Iheanachor crushed the combine, and this is how you keep your burgeoning offense on the growth track.
26. Buffalo Bills. Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami:
Yes, he’s older than some assistant coaches. No, that doesn’t matter. He’s ready now, and Buffalo needs help stopping the run. Immediate impact > long-term projection here.
27. San Francisco 49ers. Caleb Lomu, Tackle, Utah:
I hate this pick because I hate the 49ers. But it makes sense. Trent Williams isn’t immortal, despite rumors. And while the recent contract drama is sorted out now, this is about planning ahead, which San Francisco annoyingly does well.
28. Houston Texans. Blake Miller, Tackle, Clemson:
CJ Stroud running for his life is not a sustainable offensive strategy. Miller has size, potential, and just needs some weight room time. This is about keeping your franchise QB upright for longer than three seconds.
29. Kansas City Chiefs. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee:
They trade McDuffie, they replace McDuffie. Simple math. Chiefs bounce back by doing logical things consistently, which remains a foreign concept to half the league.
30. Miami Dolphins. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama:
Yes, I said the remaining receivers worth taking near here. But context matters. The Dolphins are spending some cash on a Malik Willis experiment. You might want to give him someone to throw to since Hill and Waddle are gone, lest you risk peeing in the petri dish.
31. New England Patriots. Keylan Rutledge, Tackle, Georgia Tech:
This pick probably gets traded for AJ Brown, let’s be real. But if it doesn’t, protecting Drake Maye is priority one. The Patriots are annoyingly good again, and solid, grounded, logical decisions is how they stay that way.
32. Seattle Seahawks. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame:
Defending champs, no glaring holes. Must be nice. Kenneth Walker is gone, Charbonnet is solid, but Price is the best player left. If you’re on Rodeo Drive and have cash in your pocket, you do what the Beverly Hillsians do.
Jesus Pole Vaulting Christ, I am so glad I only do this once a year.
Because let’s be honest about what this actually is: it’s not analysis. It’s not prediction. It’s not even educated guessing. It’s a 32-pick exercise in self-inflicted psychological warfare where you spend hours—hours—convincing yourself that you’ve uncovered some hidden truth about roster construction, positional value, and organizational direction, only to watch it all go up in flames approximately six minutes into the actual draft when some GM decides, “You know what? I’m feeling whimsical today,” and takes a long snapper out of Ball State at pick 11.
Mock drafts are the sports equivalent of building a sandcastle right at the waterline and then acting surprised when the tide comes in and obliterates it like it owed the ocean money.
You pour over team needs. You study depth charts. You talk yourself into and out of prospects like you’re negotiating in a hostage situation version of your own brain. “Is this guy a generational talent, or is he just tall and fast and destined to be out of the league by 2029?” You convince yourself that this time—this time—you’ve accounted for everything.
You haven’t.
Because you can’t account for:
The owner who meddles
The GM who panics
The coach who wants “his guy”
The prospect who falls for no reason
The prospect who rises for even less reason
The team that drafts for need when they should take best player available
The team that takes best player available when their roster is held together with duct tape and vibes
It’s chaos. Pure, unfiltered chaos. And we sit here every year pretending we can map it out like it’s a controlled science experiment instead of a 32-team group project where half the participants forgot the assignment.
And yet… we do it anyway. Because there’s something deeply, disturbingly satisfying about it. You might only nail one or two of the picks, but you also only hit one or two decent shots per 18 holes, and you still haven’t thrown your clubs off a cliff.
It’s the hope. It’s the illusion of control. It’s the idea that for one brief moment, you’re the smartest guy in the room, orchestrating a perfect draft where every team behaves rationally and the board falls exactly the way it should.
It never does.
But for a few hours, sitting there with your notes, your rankings, and your rapidly diminishing bottle of tequila, you get to believe it might.
And that’s enough.
Torsten
120 Proof Ball
Proof that the internet was a mistake.
