Post-Free Agency 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Full 1st Round | Who Do Ravens Pair With Trey Hendrickson?

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Welcome back to with the first pick.

Today I'm joined by our good friend from the cover three podcast time for Nelly, one of

the most entertaining voices in college football who also happens to dabble in mock trash

this time of year.

And since people like to yell and scream on the internet, it's time that mocks are

after useless until for agency.

Now seems like the perfect time to fire one up.

By the way, fun fact, I looked this up, Tom, you and I both started the AOL fan house

earlier this century, which is always a fun phrase to say combined.

We've been a CBS sports for 31 years.

We have a middle age son or daughter out there somewhere.

That's why I have died in my beard right now, Ryan, because we are that old at this

point.

We've been doing this for so long when you're in this industry, you start to lose that

color in your hair a little bit already just leads your hair all together.

So thanks for that.

All right.

Enough with the reminiscing.

Let's get to it.

Tom is our now bear span and he hates all the 31 other teams as everyone on Twitter knows.

So Tom, I have the first pick.

Well, I'll get from there.

So Tom, you have the layup of layups.

Don't air ball at what are you doing with first overall pick for the Las Vegas Raiders?

Well, I mean, I don't know.

Is it a layup anymore?

Is anything with the Raiders like for certain at this point after what happened with the

Max Crosby trade?

Maybe, you know, I don't know.

Maybe the Raiders are saying, you know, maybe this is a sign.

We need to change things up and do it a little differently.

But no, I do think this is a pretty clear pick and until there is some huge drastic change

that gives you a reason to make it, you know, to change it up.

It's going to be Fernando Mendoza.

So I've got Mendoza going to the Raiders there clearly in the market for a quarterback.

If you look at this quarterback class and this draft, not great, at least especially compared

to recent seasons, like I've talked about this, I would have had Mendoza behind Cam Ward

on my board last year if they were in the same draft, I would have had both of them behind

the top three guys in the class the year before that.

So this is not a slam dunk prospect, but as far as the available options and the needs

that the Raiders have, this is a slam dunk pick.

And I do think for Fernando Mendoza with his size, with his accuracy, with his intelligence

and his ability to kind of read defenses before and after the snap.

As long as they can protect him with an offensive line, I do think he can be a successful

player at the NFL and he's stepping into a situation where he also already has Ashton

Gentie as a running back.

So like the parts are in place if the Raiders continue to improve their offensive line for

this to work pretty quickly.

It's just, I don't look at Mendoza as somebody who's going to be like a Josh Allen franchise

QB type as much as he could be an above average starter, like a Kirk cousins kind of guy.

Yeah.

And that's a great comp.

And I've heard the Kirk cousins comp previously and you don't have to be Josh Allen.

If you can build the infrastructure around the quarterback, the Raiders are trying to do

that.

And the Ravens said, no, thanks.

But they can keep trying.

Well, we'll see.

But I'm with you.

For all the things you said, I'm glad you laid out how Fernando would have ranked last

year in the year before because that's a question you get often.

And I do think that a lot of happy would have Cam above Fernando last year's draft class

and half would have them pretty close or maybe Fernando would just smidge ahead.

But, you know, we'll find out together.

All right.

Next up, the New York Jets picking it too.

They have been incredibly active in free agency trading for some guy named Eugene Cyril

Smith III.

And they're going to come back home.

It feels like things will be different.

We will see when Genoa arrives.

But on the deepest side of the ball, they've gone nuts.

Edge rushers.

They traded for Devonters.

Sweat the defensive lineman.

They traded for Mink if it's Patrick the Safety Nation on right.

They signed from your bares.

I think it's five picks last year, the cornerback.

So I'm interested what you think about this.

I went with CC Mao Noah, the right tackle out of the U. If you want to have him play

guard for a year or two, that's fine as well.

They let a large bear tucker walk in free agency.

But instead of going with Arville Rees or David Bailey, a Roombaian junior because of all

the defensive things they've done, Tom, what do you think about the idea of protecting

the quarterback in the short term in Genoa and whoever the long term quarterback ends

at me?

I mean, I think it makes sense.

I do think if I look at this tackle class and the Jets needs now after the moves that

they have made, I wonder if they would in this spot, if they're going to be more inclined

to trade down to maybe, you know, because I do feel like you can get Mao Noah or you

can get another one of the tackles that are at the top of your board.

Perhaps later in the top 10, but the problem is, you know, you have to find a dance partner

and with this class being not exactly deep in quarterbacks.

I don't know how many teams will be willing to jump up to get somebody at this spot.

So I think if they are picking second, this makes a lot of sense.

They do need to improve their offensive line, particularly with Genoa Smith, because

we saw Genoa when he was in Seattle with a good offensive line played well when he was

in Las Vegas with a bad offensive line.

Everybody's like, why the hell did the Raiders go get Genoa Smith?

I think he's somebody you need to protect and it's proven.

If you give him time to throw, he can make the plays.

Yeah.

Just to be clear, because I know just fans would angry, I understand that you have Armour

and Mimbo and Olofash knew Mao Noah can play inside and that's been, you talking to

some teams they haven't played inside.

The point is you have to get five guys out there that can protect Genoa Smith as a

middle aged, someone in his mid 30s.

All right.

Next up, the airs on a Cardinals, no Kyler Murray, they've done a few things.

They can use help just about everywhere.

What are you doing at three for the Cardinals?

Yeah.

My strategy for any team that's not the Raiders in this class that's bad is to just kind

of try to be bad again this year so you can get a chance at a quarterback next year.

But that doesn't mean you can't improve your defense.

So if I am the Cardinals, our Valarice is still on the board.

I'm going to take our Valarice.

I know that there are some questions about what he will be at the NFL level, but I'm

not making the comp player wise, but I will say, you know, because our Val at Ohio State

was mostly an off-ball linebacker who was used rushing the pastor in certain situations.

You know, who else was an off-ball linebacker for most of his college career until the

very end?

Micah Parsons worked out pretty well for the Cowboys there taking Micah Parsons who then

these obviously have been traded to Green Bay since.

But I think our Valarice could have a similar career path where he moves along the edge going

from being off-ball and can develop into an excellent past pressure because you look at

his size, you look at his athleticism, you look at his first step, he has all the traits

for what it would take to excel at that spot.

And I think that versatility would also make him more attractive.

So I still think defensively, he is my top prospect in this class.

So if you still on the board at the Cardinals at three, take him.

Yeah.

So they signed Taller L. Gere, they're running back, they get Isaac C. Amalu, the guard

from Pittsburgh.

But defensively, they've gone derriere for Robinson two years ago, the edge rusher

and then Walter Nolan last year, they're going to continue to go down that road until

they get it right.

I think this pick makes a ton of sense.

And I think it's okay to say Micah Parsons name, not in whispers, but it's a possible path

for Arvel to to be an NFL player just because of that versatility and partly because

of the unknown.

All right.

Next up, I'm going to steal a page from the Tom Fonelli book, The Titans are on the clock.

And while Robert Salas, the head coach, it certainly feels like Brian Dable is getting

a lot of what he wants as a new OC, a lot of offensive players, a lot of former giants

on that team.

And I'm of the opinion, Tom, that if you have a young team that's not very good with

a franchise quarterback, just keep giving the franchise quarterback players.

So you did this in your mock draft.

But I'm going to Jeremiah Love.

Let me ask you the question this way to you.

Rank for me coming out, not now, but coming out of college where you would rank Bijon,

Jameer Gibbs, Ashton Gentie and Jeremiah Love in terms of best to least best because they're

all great players.

Well, I caught a lot of heat for this last year on the cover three podcasts because I

was sharing this take frequently and getting yelled at.

I had Jeremiah Love as being a better player than Ashton Gentie last year in college.

And we know how Ashton Gentie went early in the first round and I still think he is

a better running back than Ashton Gentie all around.

So I would have him ahead of Gentie.

I think I would have him ahead of Gibbs, too, not because I think just because he's bigger.

He has a lot of the same traits as Jameer, but he's a bigger guy and I feel like maybe

he can handle it a heavier workload because of it.

I would still have to put Bijon ahead of him.

I think Bijon's just kind of a unicorn.

This guy that only comes around once in a while at that position and I think we kind of

start.

We've seen plenty of it during his time in Atlanta.

He's been on some bad teams, but he's been by far the best player on that team for a while.

So I would go Bijon, Jeremiah Gibbs, and then Gentie.

Love it.

All right.

Next up, the New York Giants you're picking for Jackson Darts team here.

What are you going to do?

Perhaps for Jackson Darts, even.

Let me get him another receiver.

I'm going to go to get Cardinal Tate out of Ohio State who I know there was a lot of,

you know, bad reactions to his 40 time at the combine.

I'm sorry.

The 6-2 or 6-4 great route runner is only running a 4-5.

I guess 4-5 is just slow in this day and age, but I think I look at Tate, and honestly,

he's not my top receiver in the class.

I like McCuy Lemmon better, but I think Tate is a better fit for Jackson Darts because

if you look at what Jackson Darts did during his time at Ole Miss and where he truly excelled

at, it was like those kind of back shoulder deep sideline kind of throws.

That is something Tate can excel at.

He's a very smooth route runner.

He's a big body who will help out in the red zone.

He will help out in third down.

So you can kind of use Malik neighbors when he's healthy to be the terror threat in your

offense, the deep threat, the guy that, you know, has defenses up at night, and then you're

going to get Cardinal Tate in a lot of one-on-one because of it.

And I think he, as a wide receiver too, could be one of the best wide receiver twos in

the NFL and he would give the Giants immediately one of the best receiver combinations in the

NFL.

And that helps Jackson Darts because we've talked about it already.

The best way to help your young quarterback is to give him talent and useful tools around

him to help him succeed.

So I think you put Tate in there.

You get neighbors already.

This is an offense that's starting to cook.

I love this so much for the reason she laid out.

They also signed as they are likely the Baltimore reunion with John Harbaugh, the half-thio

Johnson.

They're going to get Camp Scataboo back.

So it feels like it's all starting to come together, at least on paper in New York.

And then finally, the Cleveland Browns, they're first of two first round picks.

They've been busy in free agency, sending every available free agent, not named Rashid Walker

along the offensive line.

Titus Howard, they traded four, just got Elton Jenkins.

They also got Zion Johnson, whose contract was up in the Chargers.

I'm going to get him a right guard in Vega, Yohane, who played love guard and also played

right guard.

Did that previously at Penn State.

And I consider taking him, as I mentioned, as high as number two here, but he goes six.

And the Browns would have loved to have gotten Cardinal Tate here.

So they'll have to circle back later in the first round and see what the wide receiver options

there are for them.

But that's it.

Top six right now.

Let's say a quick break here, producer.

We come back.

So they're watching the commanders are going to do.

They've been busy in free agency as well, stocking up on edge rushers.

What do they do at pick seven?

Talk about that right after this.

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All right.

Welcome back to with the first pick.

Next up, Mr. Tom for nearly picking for the Washington commanders and Tom so far this

free agency they've been getting it after because Von Miller was the leading sack getter

on that team a year ago at age 36 or 37.

So they've gotten a doffy away bringing him back to the east coast.

They just done Caleb on chase on who had a big year for the Patriots, get Leo Chenol,

the Kansas City linebacker.

They are making moves.

I don't think you, Rick Spillin once said you could never have enough pass rushers.

So what do you think the commander should do at seven?

I mean, let's look at the sea hawks this year, see how it goes and you just able to rotate

in a thousand guys at that position the entire game.

If I'm the commanders and he is still on the board at this point, give me David Bailey.

I don't know how much David Bailey is going to give you as a run defender in the NFL,

but I do know that he's going to be able to get it after the quarterback for you.

He's got the terrific first step.

He's got the size.

He's got the speed.

He's got the length.

He's got the band.

He's got all the cool words that you want from an edge rusher in any draft in any prospect.

So I think if you're Washington clearly like the problem that they had last year was their

defense.

Their defense was terrible.

That's why as you mentioned, they've been doing so much to address it already this

off season.

You can never have enough.

I think this is the kind of guy who could be the centerpiece of your defense going forward

and the guy who makes the rest of your defense better.

So it makes too much sense for me to pass it up here.

I'm with you 100 percent.

You can never have enough of those guys and the the Seahawks should be the blueprint.

It is interesting that you went David Bailey over Roomba and Junior.

I think that's just whatever flavor ice cream you like for the defense you're trying to

run.

One man's vanilla is another man's chocolate chip cookie dough because New Orleans

Saints pick eight.

I'm picking Roomba and Junior.

So I talked to CC Malino at the combine and he said obviously going up against Roomba

and Bane and Keem Mesador every day of practice made him better.

He also said you could tell when a player has short arms as someone who's seen Roomba

and Bane play throughout the entirety of his career at the U where there ever any concerns

about his play style not translating because he especially the last two years, even in

2024, I thought he got after it.

But in terms of your you guys seeing eyeballs on him every day, were there ever any red flags

let's say about what he might be at the next level?

No, I fell in love with Roomba in the first time I saw him as a freshman, just just watching

the Miami tape that one season and I was like, who the hell is this kid?

Like he was just blowing up off the line of scrimmage and that's the thing.

He has short arms.

That's there's no getting around it and I do understand why teams would be concerned

about it because it's shown historically not a great thing for NFL ed rushers.

But he gets off the ball so quickly that the guys with the long arms aren't really able

to get their hands on it because he's already on them before they've had a chance to think

and he's kind of blowing them off the ball.

So I do wonder if it limits his ceiling at the NFL level.

Like maybe he's not going to become a perennial all pro.

Maybe he won't be getting 20 sacks a year like Miles Garrett, but he's going to be a productive

pass rusher for you.

And he's also good against the run.

That's the other thing too.

Like you can use him in different ways.

If you want to kick him inside in certain packages and use him as a run stuff for, he's

proven he's got the ability to do that as well.

So this is a versatile defender who might not have the prototypical body type that you

want.

He's got the motor.

He's got the strength.

He's got the spill.

He's skill.

He's got the speed.

He's got everything else you want.

Yeah.

I think he is going to be the exception to the rule and it's hard to pass up here because

the Saints need extra to help as well.

Next up to can see chiefs.

You could argue whether they need extra to help or not or defensive line help or secondary

help.

And I will tell you this, chiefs fans get very angry when you give them an offensive

line and especially a tackle because they have Jalen Moore here.

I've done that and fallen trapped to that as well.

So certainly you would not go offensive line here, Tom Fernelli.

I'm going offensive line.

I mean, I need to protect Pat Mahomes and I have, I mean, I'm sorry, the chiefs have been

very good.

I know they weren't very good last year, but even at their best, the chiefs have had problems

on their offensive line.

If I'm the chiefs, I'm always looking to try to fix that and find a guy who I really

feel comfortable with and that Monroe Freeling is a guy who in this class where there are

a lot of good tackles.

I don't know if there are any great tackles and I look at Freeling who has less experience

than a lot of the other guys in the class, but just projectible wise for his size, for

his frame, for his athleticism.

I feel like the ceiling here is higher than most of the other guys in the class.

And I was high on him before the combine, but I had him in my initial, not going in like

the 20s.

After watching him at the combine, I was like, this guy's going to climb up towards the

top 10.

If not be in the top 10 in this spot, I've got him going to Kansas City.

He's not a home run, but he has the chance to be your franchise left tackle and who

doesn't want a franchise left tackle.

Just to be clear, because I think producers are on wasn't sure, Ruben Bain goes to the

Saints at eight.

That's the whole conversation I was having with Tom.

So I didn't make that clear.

No, the Saints get Ruben Bain at eight and then Monroe Freeling at nine to the chiefs.

Back to back years, first round, picks and off with the tackles again, you have to protect

your quarterback.

We've had this conversation a million times about a million different quarterbacks.

So I'm not going to push back on that at all.

Next up, since then, he bingles and this is a real dilemma for me because historically

prior to free agency Caleb Downs, if he's here and the edge rushers are gone, you take

him, but they sign Branko, formerly the chiefs.

He's a really good football player.

They signed Boyamoffe, the edge rusher, really good football player.

And while they have some young linebackers on that roster, the young linebackers struggled

last year.

Maybe they'll get tons better.

Maybe they won't.

I don't care.

I'm taking sunny styles here.

And the fact that he's here at 10 feels almost like stealing.

What do you like about sunny styles?

Because I'll be honest, when I watched him in 2024, it still felt like he was transitioning

from safety, which he was.

Last year, Paul completely different in terms of how he was attacking a linebacker position

time.

Yeah.

I mean, it's diversity because he has played safety.

And we know based on what we saw at the combine, he is an athletic freak.

And as he's gotten more familiar with the job of being a linebacker, he's gotten more

comfortable in the role.

He's been better in the role.

And he was in a Ohio State defense last year that, you know, you talk about development,

Matt Patricia was a very successful NFL defensive coordinator for a long time.

So this is a guy who got a year to study under Matt Patricia, who's coming in with a much

better understanding of what you're going to be expected of you at the NFL level.

And we have seen how versatility and kind of hybrid qualities have been, you know, really

adapted in the NFL and how valuable those guys have become.

So I think styles as a guy who can come in, you can use them in a lot of different ways,

you can use them in different schemes, different plays, you can have them drop in coverage,

you can have them rush the pass or he can do a bit of everything for you.

And I think, you know, as far as Bengal's ownership is concerned, the biggest thing

here is he's in a Ohio State book.

I said, maybe he'll help sell a few extra tickets.

Next up, the Miami dolphins.

And a lot of times I like to look at our lads, they have all the, the rosters for the teams

and they actually very kindly color coded this time of year.

And if you're green, you're a free agent.

And if you're yellow, you are a recently signed player or traded for a player.

When you look at Miami, it's a sea of green.

They've got Malik Willis and there's two other guys in the roster, including they traded

make up the spectre of the jets.

So this feels like a layup only because he's a fantastic player.

And any player at this point is going to be an upgrade over a roster that's currently

bare and outside of quarterback.

Yeah, I've got to take in Caleb Downs.

And it is strange because I do think Downs is one of the best players in this draft.

It's just you never know how NFL teams are going to view a safety because it's like

the running back positioned where most of these teams in recent years have felt that

they know we can find one later, get one cheaper.

But you know, Jeremiah Love, we've got him going number four overall.

I want to be shocked at all of Caleb Downsons going in like the top six or seven picks.

But here, falling to 11, this is a huge get for Miami who has plenty of holes to fill.

They can bring in Caleb Downs.

He is going to be a leader on that defense from day one.

He is like if you've ever talked to him.

It's like talking to a 35 year old father or four who's got his life in order.

The kid just, you know, he's a very smart, very intelligent kid.

He also happens to be a very good football player who really loves playing football.

And he kind of reminds me of what we've seen with Brian Branch in Detroit.

Very similar players, you can use him in different ways and kind of a culture

center for Miami defense that could probably use a bit of a culture shift.

Yeah, that Brian Branch comp is an interesting one.

That's the one that our buddy, Brian McFadden, used the other day when we were

going over the DBs in our ranking.

So not the first time I've heard that.

And that's a great comp to have.

The difference is he probably won't run a four five eight.

Both should be first round picks can go back in time for Brian Branch.

That's a win for the Lions.

All right.

Next up, pick 12 of the Dallas Cowboys.

And look, they have Rashon Gary in the roster.

And I don't know if his best years are behind him.

They could go edge rush here, but we had to run on these edge rushers.

I'm going to go with CB one monster delaying out of LSU.

They need help in the secondary.

And while they sign Jalen Thompson and PJ Lock, there's certainly room for growth

in the DB room there.

So I'm going to go with monster delaying.

I think he's physical.

I loved the way he played last season for LSU after transferring from tech.

Is he the best athlete in this CB class?

Nope.

It doesn't matter though.

He's an absolute shut down coloners close.

You can get to that in the year 2026.

So that's the first of the Cowboys first round picks.

We'll see what they do with the second first round pick later in this mock draft.

But for now, let's say a quick break here and we come back the ramps.

They're on the clock, pick 13.

We'll see what they do right after this.

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All right, Tom.

The Rams are on the clock at pick 13.

They did have two first round picks.

They sold they sold.

They traded their original their own first front pick to get trim Mcduffie.

And they've spent a lot of time this free agency period getting a lot better.

Got trim Mcduffie extended him also signed Jalen Watson of the chiefs.

So that secondary seems to be in good shape here at pick 13.

Uh, what are you going to do to help Sean McVeg?

I'm going to help Sean McVeg by getting him another wide receiver who's quick,

shifty gets open all the time has shorthands and is great after the catch.

Cause you know, he just hasn't had enough of those at his disposal over the years.

Give me a macaille lemon out of USC, who is my number one receiver in the class.

I just, I think lemon is going to show up day one.

It's I, he went to the same schools.

Amon Ross Saint Brown.

I've seen a lot of scomps to Amon Ross Saint Brown.

I don't think they're the same player.

I think Saint Brown is a little more explosive overall, but I think macaille is tougher.

I don't know that I don't mean that is a insult to its ASB.

I just mean I think after the catch macaille limit is harder to take down.

I also think that when you look at his size, he's only 5 11.

But when you watch him play, he plays like he's six, too.

Like he, he looks at a quarterback who might be towering over him and thinks,

you're not big enough to guard me.

I am too big and strong for you.

And he plays that way.

He's one of the more exciting players to watch at college level last year.

He was unstoppable.

Teams really game planned around, you know, take him out of the picture and force USC to go

other places.

They were not successful doing so.

I think you throw him in the Rams offense.

You've already got to deal with Pukinakoole.

You've got the run game that they always have going.

And now you've got lemon on the other side or lining up, even on the same side of the field

as Nikoo on some snaps.

It becomes a really difficult offense to deal with.

And it already is.

So it's like how often are the Rams going to be drafting this early with a chance to

get a talent like this?

Probably not very.

So take a shot when you get it.

Yeah.

And this is the pick they got from the Falcons last year when they trade for James Pierce

Jr.

Falcons got to figure out their address situation as well.

But I want to applaud you on your maturity and growth because clearly you had to watch

Mokai lemon run up and down the field in Illinois, Illinois, like his life depended on

it.

That was one of the craziest single individual performances I've seen by a wide receiver.

But everything you said about Mokai is true.

I have him just a hair behind Carl Nell, but I think it just depends on what you're looking

for.

White receiver wiser.

They're different players.

But in that charming way offense, it feels like he's going to be cooking for me.

Yes.

I mean, I love that pick for sure.

Next up, the Baltimore Ravens, if they're still in the league by the time this airs, they're

now in the clock with the pick they sent to the to the Raiders or Max Crosby and then

said psych at the 12th of the 11th hour.

This is a wild situation and it feels like just my perusal of the internet that everyone

is anti Baltimore in terms of how they handle this, we'll find out, you know, as we get

through this together.

But for our purposes here, they're still picking 14.

I'm going to get in Peter Woods, defensive lineman out of Clemson.

And I think he's a better player than this, but as Tom and producer Striker and I talked

about earlier this morning, everyone's down on Clemson given the way they played last

year.

So maybe he slips a little bit, either way, they need help along the defensive line.

They don't need an edge rusher because they just try to trick Hendrickson throwing salt

in the wound of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Peter Woods is a really good football player.

He was my number one guy on my big board coming into the 2025 season.

He's still a top 15, top 10 guy for me now.

So the Ravens short the middle of that defense, a get trade, Hendrickson, they got to figure

out Lamar's contract.

They can do that down the road.

And next up, one of producer's runs, favorite coaches, Todd Bowles coaches, Tampy Buckeneers,

and they are on the clock at 15, Tom.

What are they going to do?

Yeah, they're going to go right back to the Clemson bucket.

They've got to run on Tigris here.

They are taking edge rusher, TJ Parker, who is similar to Peter Woods in that he's a very

good football player.

But for some reason, his team stunk.

I don't really put it on the defense.

I think that this was more of a coaching situation and a roster situation and they have

a head coach.

It comes into his maybe fallen behind the times of what college football has become.

And it's allowed his team to kind of slip away.

But when you watch the tape, like Peter Woods and TJ Parker are still very good football

players.

You do feel like sometimes Parker for his size, his intangibles, and like his athleticism.

There were too many snaps where I felt like he got beat where he shouldn't have been

beat.

But I still think this is a kid who has a very high ceiling.

And once he starts tapping into things full time and maybe gets into a NFL camp and

maybe gets, you know, a little more coached up than he had been at Clemson in the last

few years, could end up being a monster.

So for the bucks who could use some help, Todd Bowles, God knows he's going to love having

another guy who can get after the quarterback.

So it makes sense.

Yeah.

I'm with you.

And a couple of things.

So you're ex, I'm with you on terms of the scouting port for TJ last fall.

And then the South Carolina game in the year gets four sacks of the North sellers.

Then he goes to the senior bull praxis all three days, which is rare for a, a presumed

first round pick.

Any dominates.

So I think he's throwing his hat back in the ring as a legit first rounder.

And I do think it's a tough 15 guy.

We'll see how the board falls in real life.

But I think it's a great pick for the buck in the years.

Next up, the New York Jets, this is the pick they got via the Colts for the toss gardener

trade back during the trade deadline.

And remember, it picked two.

I had them taken CC Malonella.

I'm sure Jets fans are still celebrating that.

So let's see if they like this doubling down on offense.

Because again, they've been so busy defensively.

Jordan Tyson, Arizona state wide receiver.

And let me put it to you this way, Tom.

He would be my wide receiver too.

If I knew there was going to be a clean bill of health coming in, you can't control injuries

once you get into the league.

What is your level of concern based on watching him over the course of his college career?

Because if he's healthy, he's fantastic.

The problem is he's not always in the field.

Yeah, I do wonder about it because like, as you said, when he's healthy, he's fantastic.

And I think part of the problem in all honesty is like he was here as on a state offense.

He was, I think he got 125% target share during the last few years when he was on the field.

That was how focused they were on getting him the ball because he was their best playmaker.

So I wonder like, honestly, once he gets to the NFL and he doesn't have to be the guy

who's totalling the rock on every single snap, that might help his health situation

because he won't be taking as many hits as he was taking at Arizona state.

But talent wise, yes, he could prove to be the best wide receiver in this class.

If he stays on the field, and as I mentioned, he was option one, two, three,

and four with the Arizona State Sun Devils and team still couldn't stop him,

even though they knew where the ball was going.

So that's typically a good sign for guys going forward in the NFL.

That's a great point because it'll be a Garrett Wilson in 80.

Mitchell's going to try to recover himself with the Jets.

They trade it for him last year.

And then if Jordan Tyson's wide option three or four,

Breeze Hall is going to be there.

Maybe that makes that transitional a little easier and a little healthier.

So they get Jordan Tyson, wide receiver for Geno Smith,

and they get CC Mount Noah who can play guard to begin his career.

And now suddenly that offense appears to be coming together.

All right. Next up, the Troy Lyons picking 17 here.

What are you going to do for the, the body kneecaps?

They're going to go after the offensive line.

They're going to take Spencer Finoe from Utah who maybe he's a tackle.

Maybe he's a guard.

Obviously the Lions could use one at either spot based on what's going on with Taylor Decker

and what their plans are.

They're going forward, but I just think that culture wise,

this is a guy who's going to fit with what Detroit likes to do.

Like we know how Dan Campbell is.

You mentioned the body in the kneecaps.

This is a guy who played at a college program who has a very Detroit line style

approach to football and that they want to be physical.

They want to beat you up and they want to grind you down.

And he showed an excellent ability to do that during his time with the Utah youths.

Now, when you go back and watch some of the tape, you will see he did not have a great day

against David Bailey in Texas Tech this season,

but that kind of performance was very much the outlier during his career.

He has been one of the most steady players at the tackle position

and the college level that I can recall seeing over the years.

So I do think he steps in.

You put him on the other side of Penae Soule.

Maybe you put him in at guard somewhere.

He's going to help with Detroit offensive line.

That's kind of going through a reconfiguration.

He can use a little infusion of youth and talent.

Yeah, no, I'm with you.

And someone might be watching this and say, well, they have Penae Soule.

They don't need a right tackle.

I'm going to play left tackle before K.

A low move showed up on the scene, so they moved him over.

So he has that versatility.

The other thing, and I want to get your thoughts on this.

I don't care based on the way he played.

And I'm okay with him struggling against Texas Tech because everybody did.

But his arms are short of the little Campbell's arms.

So is that a concern for you at all?

Yeah, that's why I do think he could easily be kicked into guard.

And you might feel more comfortable within there.

But I would try him at left tackle because when he did play left tackle for you,

tall, it's not like he was bad.

He just wasn't incredible.

So I do think you give him a shot.

How I would put Penae, I would try Penae Soule at left tackle.

I think Penae could play anywhere along the offensive line if you truly wanted to.

But this is a guy I just think who's going to add depth to your offensive line

and make it better.

I'm with you.

And he is my office of tackle two.

So I would take him here over edge rush or four or five.

If that were the choice.

All right, next up, I'm just going to stay in the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings are on the clock.

As of this episode, we don't yet know if Kyler Murray is headed to Minnesota.

Either way, the MJG McCarthy, this is not going to be a quarterback situation with Ty Simpson.

I'm going to go defense and get Brian Flores some more weapons.

Dermod McCoy, cornerback two off the board at a Tennessee.

The issue is he hasn't played since the 2024 season towards ACL in January, 2025.

We talked him of the combine.

Sort of surprised he didn't work out of the combine.

So we'll have to do that as pro day, just so we can see an idea of how he runs in a straight line of nothing else.

But when he was playing in 2024, he was lights out as close to a shutdown corner.

You're going to get in terms of the physicality at crazy ball skills.

And I would have loved to sing him and cold and hood on the field together in 2025 with the balls.

That of course did not happen.

But one more weapon for Brian Flores.

They did sign James Pierre, who's a good sort of fill in at cornerback.

If you do that for the Steelers, he's a good special teamer.

Here's the Smiths come probably going to retire.

They have some needs there in the secondary.

So I think this pick makes sense.

All right, we're 18 picks in.

Who's strong?

Let's take another break here and we come back.

Carolina Panthers.

The NFC South Division winners.

Carolina Panthers, they are on the clock.

And we'll see what they do right after this break.

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All right, welcome back to what the first bit going through this post-free agency mock draft.

Next up, Carolina Panthers at 19.

They have signed Jalen Phillips, so they're both from the edge rush room.

They've signed Devin Lloyd, get some help at linebacker.

Got Luke Fortner, interior offensive lineman as well.

And Kenny Pickett, if you're wondering about that on your bingo card, Tom.

What are you gonna do for Carolina Panthers and Kenny Pickett with that 19th pick?

I mean, you got to get Kenny Pickett some weapons, right?

No, I look at this.

It's probably not their biggest need, but it's an area where I do think they can afford to upgrade.

And for me, this is one of those possibly BPA situations where it's the best player available on your board.

They're taking tight end out of Oregon, Kenyans, Sedic.

Bryce, you know, Bryce Young took a step forward last year at quarterback,

really helped out by the addition of Teppek Millen at wide receiver.

So why not get him another weapon?

You know, you saw they had Adam Thielin last year, but they moved on from him.

We've seen Xavier LeGet just kind of hit, but also be very inconsistent.

I think Sedic would be a very useful weapon in that offense.

I think Dave Canalis and that offensive staff would find ways to use him.

This is a guy who honestly, I'm not, I'm not making the direct comp,

but he does remind me a lot of George Kittle and what he's able to do in the passing game.

The difference is he's not the blocker.

George Kittle is in the run game, but that's not for lack of effort.

He's willing to get in there and do it.

He's just not as good at it as Kittle is.

So this is a guy who I think would help your offense would make you a bit more dynamic,

give Young an extra option there would help the run game to a little bit.

So it makes a lot of sense for Panther's team that maybe is a little bit ahead of schedule,

but is looking to get back to the playoffs again next year.

I'm with you and I'm sure Panthers fans will push back about other bigger needs.

But if we're going to continue the theme of helping young quarterbacks by putting weapons around him,

this is makes perfect sense.

You talk about Sedic's blocking ability compared to Kittle.

You know, that's a tough ask.

He's a much better blocker than JT Sanders.

So you start there.

So that's that's a good, a good point with which to look.

And yes, JT Sanders allows you to have two athletic tight ends on the field,

perhaps at the same time.

That's OK too.

All right, next up the Dallas Cowboys are back on the clock.

And this is the pick they got in the trade from the Green Bay Packers for Mike Parsons.

At pick 12, we took Montserrat Elaine, the cornerback at LLSU, at pick 20,

Kima Mesador, who actually might be older than Mike Parsons.

It does not matter.

He's going to join former Packer, Rashon Gary, who is now in Dallas.

And Mesador has played a lot of college football,

but I thought he was at times as dominant, if not more dominant in the room,

being junior.

Is that too rich a take for the 2025 season time?

No, Mesador was fantastic for the Hurricanes last year.

I mean, there's a reason that team got to the national title game.

It was largely because of that defensive line.

And Bain and Mesador were the two biggest parts of it.

Bain did command a lot of attention, which sometimes left Mesador

in one-on-one situations for him to take advantage of.

But don't you want a guy who could take advantage of one-on-one situations

when he gets put in them?

So this is a guy I think, you know, ceiling-wise.

Again, like you mentioned, like you're drafting a veteran here.

So I don't know how much ceiling there is for Mesador.

But floor, I'm feeling pretty confident.

I'm going to get a guy who's going to help me out and be a useful player for me.

So at this point of the first round, it's the 20th pick.

Maybe you only plan to have a key Mesador there for his rookie contract

because he might be 30 by the time that thing is over.

So that's when you would move on.

But you're going to get plenty of value out of that contract.

So for a first-round pick for a Cowboys team that needs help with the past rush,

after trading with Michael Parsons,

makes too much sense not to pull the trigger here.

Yeah, and that's the thing, you know, initially back in the fall,

I would ask, you know, is 25 to old.

If you get in for five years, you're not thinking about what's going to happen

in 30, 2031.

You're worried about what's going to happen next season.

And I think the Cowboys, if they land on two picks like this with the lane in Mesador,

that team's telling me it becomes very dangerous because we know what Dak can do.

They have George Pickens franchise tag.

They'll figure that out.

But the offense was never the problem.

It was the defense and getting in that right.

And that would be, I feel like two players in the right direction for the Cowboys.

Next up, the Pittsburgh Steelers still don't have a quarterback.

We'll see how that sorts itself out.

But for now, you are going offense.

What are you going to do here, Tom?

Yeah, we're taking another Clemson Tiger in the first round.

Why did this team stink?

I mean, they had all this first round talent.

But this is a guy, this is one of the bigger surprises for me at the Combine.

Like, my biggest problem with Clemson over the last few years,

watching as a college football analyst was their offensive line was not nearly good enough.

But the one guy that they had on their offensive line who kind of impressed you

and made you look twice was Blake Miller.

I knew he was athletic based on what I'd seen on tape.

Did not expect him to have the kind of performance he did at the Combine.

But this is another one where you put that athleticism with that frame.

And as we've discussed in the show already, there's not a lot of super high ceilings

at the tackle position in this draft.

Miller has one of them.

If I'm the Steelers, maybe they go after a quarterback here.

I, you know, I think they did hire Mike McCarthy with the idea of QB development

or maybe they run it back with Aaron Rogers and think maybe we'll swing at the quarterback

apple, you know, next, next season.

But getting a guy like this who could be your left tackle for years to come,

this late in the first round, why not take a shot on it?

No, that's right.

So Isaac said, Molly left.

They have concerns to the left tackle position because broader Jones had a pretty serious

injury that wasn't really revealed until a few weeks ago.

And we don't know his availability, the start of the season.

And he wasn't necessarily crushing it either.

Didn't help that the Steelers kept moving from right side to left side.

So there are real question marks there.

And I would imagine Tom, excuse me, Tom Brady.

That would be something Aaron Rogers or whoever the quarterback is will love to be

better protected.

So I will not push back on this, especially given the fact they have Michael Pippman,

junior now wide receiver in that trade.

All right.

Next up, the LA Chargers, another team that's been incredibly active in free agency,

bolstering the offensive line and wisely.

So given the onslaught of injuries they had along the O line and the beating that

Justin Herbert took as the season progressed through no part of his own.

So they're relatively set along the offensive line.

So I'm going to go best available.

I want to take the time for an LA approach and address a need at safety.

I'm going to manual McNeil Warren out of Toledo.

We talked to him at the combine in this guy.

He is big.

He is fast and I ran a four four five.

He plays so much faster than that.

He is electric in the middle of the field playing center field.

He will come down hill and pop you.

He takes good angles.

Does a lot of things really well?

Got a figure things out in the post Jesse mentor world, but a Mayo McNeil Warren

feels like a guy who can come in right away and be a contributor in that secondary.

So I just went with that pick there.

I feel pretty good about it.

Team that I have some questions about.

This is one of Sharon's many teams producer.

He's an Eagles fan.

We'll see if he likes this pick.

What are you doing for the Eagles who have been kind of quiet in pre-agency?

And they, you know, they got to equal and not much else.

Yeah, I'm addressing the offensive line.

I think when you look at the Eagles, like they have a lot of questions up front and not,

not talent wise, just how much longer is this guy going to be here?

How much longer is he going to stick around?

Like they've been doing the dance with Lane Johnson, the Willie Woney kind of thing for a while now.

So, you know what, I need to start addressing that situation.

When we've been winning Super Bowls, when we've been at our best,

it's because we've been really strong along the lines of Scrimmage.

So let's start addressing that.

Let's get Caleb Lemov, the offensive tackle from Utah.

The guy who forced Feno to move from the left to the right was a very productive player

for Utah at left tackle.

I think that this is a guy who could end up being the best left tackle in this draft class

if he continues to develop and hits on his potential.

So for the Eagles, this is a guy who maybe you might not even have him start right away.

Maybe he kind of sits in grooms and earns a spot as the season goes along,

but you need to start figuring it out because they're going to be going through an overhaul

on their offensive line at some point here in the very near future.

So maybe it starts at the draft.

Yeah, when I talk to Caleb at the combine,

he also mentioned that he had been working on it right tackle.

So he wants to have that versatility, be on his resume by the time the draft rolls around.

But as you mentioned, he obviously played left tackle for the youths

and moved Spencer to the right side.

But I do think that he has a chance to be a really good football player.

He admitted he needs to get a little stronger, but he's 21 way over here.

So he can certainly add 10 pounds and get stronger as he gets to his grown man body.

By the way, that draft, I think it was a 2013 draft,

which at the time was widely panned, Eric Fisher and Luke Jokel were the first two offensive

players taken.

Lane Johnson was in that class.

Don't want to talk about him at the time.

So you never know where you're going to find these hidden gems.

All right.

Next up, pick 24 Cleveland Browns or back on the clock.

This is the pick they got for Travis Hunter.

Last year, I initially had them taking Vega, you want a pick six, now a pick 24 in Denzel

Boston.

Denzel Boston is my wide receiver, three behind Carnell and McKay.

And I have been a huge Denzel Boston fan going back to last summer, Tom, and they need

help in the wide receiver room.

So that's this feels like a layup for me.

But I want to get your thoughts on them because Rand's concern, our buddy, Rand Carthon

was that he questioned his straight line speed.

I thought he was a long strider and he's such a big target at six three and change that

he's just going to jump out, jump all everyone.

And the key on Coleman comps, I don't think are fair to Denzel.

I think he's a better, more explosive player than Denzel, than Keon, excuse me.

But what are your thoughts on watching Denzel at UW?

Yeah.

I think Denzel say much better wide receiver than Keon Coleman was at this point coming

out of as far as like understanding the position and how to play the position.

And I mean, I had them in my very first mock.

I had them going to San Francisco 49ers towards the end of the first because as I've watched

Denzel at Washington, he strikes me as the kind of guy who would flourish in a Kyle

Shanahan offense.

So maybe he doesn't have like the super deep burner going to run a four four and beat you

over the top, but he's so kind of savvy and he's got such a good sense of timing and

footwork and wind.

And you know, how to get guys off balance, how to take advantage of what players defenders

are doing to him that I just feel like he would flourish in a system like that.

I think this would be a great pick for Cleveland who clearly they've got a need at wide

receiver.

I mean, they've got 55 quarterbacks.

You have to have some players for them to throw the ball to.

So I think Denzel Boston at this part of the first round tremendous value for Cleveland.

They have more quarterbacks in OTAs than they have receivers that throw the ball to.

That's a real they should probably consider moving some of their quarterbacks to receiver

just to see if they could fit in somewhere.

All right.

The moment we've all been waiting for Tom is picking.

He's going to be Ryan polls.

He's going to pick where Chicago bears here.

Our buddy Joe Musso, also a bears fan has been pining for Max Rosby prior to the deal

falling through Baltimore.

I'm not sure where you were on that.

How are you going to help out Montess wet and his Montess West still on the team when the

Max Rosby deal eventually happens?

I don't know.

My sense from watching the bears off season moves is that Ryan polls is kind of allowing

his head coach to dictate what he wants on offense and by the moves that they've made

on defense.

The defense of coordinator Dennis Allen dictate what they want on defense.

So if they want to help their past rush and they're looking for an edge rusher, Dennis Allen's

history is a defensive coordinator.

He's got a certain type of edge rusher that he likes.

They're usually about six, five or taller.

They're long and they're athletic.

Zion Young, Adam Missouri, he's not he's he's raw.

He's young.

He's living up to his name.

He's only 21, but he's six six.

He's about two hundred and forty five pounds.

He's got a little bit of learning left to do a little bit of refinement, but just as

far as the project ability and the ceiling there.

I think this is the kind of guy that a Dennis Allen would be interested in.

So if the bears are looking to help their past rush, whether or not they've already

traded for Max Crosby, who knows it might not have this pick.

But I do think that if they do with this pick and they do want to go after the past

rush of the guys available on the board, Zion Young, I think is the best fit.

All right.

Love it.

Let's say quick break here.

We'll wrap up this mantra.

Wrap this break.

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All right, Tom.

I was a dilly and a dally and early on, so I got to rip through these last seven picks

here.

And we'll talk more in depth about them because I know people get angry, but I don't

want to get your thoughts on the Patriots pick.

But at 26, I had the bills taken to safety, Dylan Thiniman, I had an Oregon, they need

help in the secondary.

So I think that makes sense.

You had the 49ers with the next pick taking Caden Proctor off the tackle out of Alabama.

There are some rumors that Trent Williams might get traded.

28, the Houston, Texans, Caleb Banks, 330 pound defensive line on the floor.

I love that pick.

Pick 29.

Can't see the chiefs via the trade for trimming the doubles from the ramps.

Avion Terrell, they need help in the secondary.

They get another Clemson player.

Pick 30.

Denver takes Caden McDonald.

They'll have a state defense of Lyman.

Pick 31.

The Patriots get Omar Cooper Jr. at Indiana, the wide receiver there.

You pick 32 Seattle rap things that was Celtic Falk, Ed Ruscher out of Auburn.

The rich get richer to continue the theme that you mentioned earlier.

But let's talk about Omar Cooper Jr. before we get out of here because what a great football

player on a great football team.

And I love the fit in New England.

Now the stuff digs has been released.

It is kind of funny in that we are doing a mock in which we had four Clemson players

go in the first round.

And yet the team that actually went undefeated last year and won the national title, obviously

they had their quarterback go at number one.

But then they don't have another player go until number 31 with Omar Cooper going to

the Patriots.

And I think this would be a great pick for the Patriots.

Obviously would Drake May there again.

We are continuing our theme.

We are helping out our young quarterbacks.

They have lost to fond digs.

They have moved on.

They do need more help at the receiver position.

They need a more dynamic player.

And Omar Cooper is kind of a unique guy in that you don't find a lot of guys at his

size who are capable of moving the way that he is capable of moving.

So he's kind of a match up nightmare.

You can put him on the outside at the axe.

He can big body along the sidelines.

And then you can kind of move him into the slot and he can shake loose against guys on

the inside too.

So he's a very versatile player.

He's not over the top like big time number one receiver as far as the class is concerned.

But as far as finding a guy who I think it's step onto an NFL field is a rookie and be

productive from the jump.

This is Omar Cooper.

I'm with you.

I love Omar Cooper's game and I think he's going to fit into that offense especially

well.

Thanks a ton for Nelly.

Let's cover through podcast for helping us do this mock drive.

You can check out with the first pick where we get your podcast game that you're a

Coke, QR code.

We'll see you in the next one.

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