2026 NFL first round mock draft: Early predictions and team fits.

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will take place in one month on April 23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so it’s time for a mock draft.

Pick 1: Las Vegas Raiders

Fernando Mendoza beginning to pass the ball
Photo Credit: Daniel Flick of si.com

With the number one overall pick, the Raiders will pick Fernado Mendoza, QB (Indiana).

This pick is obvious, and almost all professional football analysts will agree. He is the best quarterback in the class, and he is what the Raiders need.

The Raiders went out and secured many weapons for him and signed one of the greatest centers in the league, Tyler Linderbaum. On top of that, the Raiders traded away Geno Smith to the New York Jets.

QB is the biggest missing piece on the Raiders team, and the Raiders spent a lot of money in free agency to surround Mendoza to put him in the best position to succeed as a rookie.

For later picks, the Raiders will have to address other weaknesses at WR, CB, OL, and Edge.

Pick 2: New York Jets

Arvell Reese warming up before a big game
Photo Credit: Ian Valentino of atozsports.com

With the second pick in the draft, the Jets will select Arvell Reese, Edge (Ohio State).

The Jets will select Reese here because he is the best Edge in the class and outshines other possible picks, and the Jets need an Edge the most.

This season, the Jets traded away Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2027 first-round pick, along with a 2026 second-round pick. On top of that, the Jets traded away Sauce Gardner for a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick.

Although trading the defensive stars away brought in many valuable picks for future drafts, the Jets’ defense is in dire need of help.

Furthermore, as stated earlier, the Jets acquired Smith from the Raiders, so QB is no longer an immediate need. The Jets will focus on rebuilding the weak defense and will start by picking Reese.

Unlike the Raiders, the Jets need help on both sides of the football. The team has many needs: QB, WR, CB, OT, and Edge.

Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals

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With the third overall pick, the Cardinals will select Francis Mauigoa, OT (Miami).

The Cardinals’ O-Line ranked number 26 last year in the league, according to Pro Football Focus, with many starters getting injured. In fact, the Cardinals had six offensive linemen severely injured during the season. The team will look to improve for next season by drafting a new and healthy OT in Mauigoa.

Another reason the Cardinals will take Mauigoa is considered one of the top prospects in the class. He is the number one OT by far, and the other positional needs for the Cardinals don’t come close.

The Cardinals, like the Jets, need many missing pieces: QB, OT, Edge, S, and DL. Even after recently releasing QB Kyler Murray, the team will draft an OT.

Pick 4: Tennessee Titans

With the fourth overall pick, the Titans will select David Bailey, Edge (Texas Tech).

Photo Credit: draftnation.com

In free agency, so far, the Titans have spent money bringing in the help the team so desperately needed: Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, John FranklinMyers, DT, Cor’Dale Flott, CB, Alontae Taylor, CB, and two O-line men. The only position this team needs help with is Edge.

There are two great players left on the board who play Edge: Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. The team can go either way, but Bailey is the better choice. He has proven himself on the field and has many accolades to back him.

Bailey has five more sacks and 4 more tackles for loss (TFL) than Bain. Along with this, Bailey has better physical traits. His arms are 3 inches longer than Bains and he is much more explosive with a 4.5 forty-yard dash.

In sum, between the two, the Titans should go with Bailey instead of Bains.

Pick 5: New York Giants

With the fifth overall pick, the Giants will select Carnell Tate, WR (Ohio State).

Carnell Tate celebrating in the snow
Photo Credit: Michael Fabiano of si.com

This pick can go in two directions: Tate or Sonny Styles, LB. The team needs both LB and WR, seeing as the team lost stars Robinson and Bobby Okereke, LB. However, the Giants should go with Tate.

Tate had an amazing senior season, which cemented him as one of the best, if not the best, WRs in the class. The Giants need someone to fill the hole in the slot Robinson left behind, and Tate is the perfect man for the job simply because he can be in the slot and bounce to the outside.

With Tate, the Giants will have built one of the scariest offenses in the league. During free agency, the Giants signed TE Isaih Likely, which was huge because it brought extraordinary talent to the team and added much-needed depth at the position. The only thing left to do is do the same for WR.

Tate is the man the team needs; that is why he will be selected rather than Styles.

Pick 6: Cleveland Browns

Spencer Fano celebrating after a win
Photo Credit: Joe Coles of deseret.com

With the sixth overall pick, the Browns will select Spencer Fano, OT (Utah).

The Browns desperately need help with the over-hyped O-Line. In the preseason, the Browns’ O-Line ranked 4th in the league; the unit finished 31st. This is due to multiple starters sustaining injuries, taking some out of multiple games and some of the season.

Plainly, the team needs to rebuild the aging and failing O-Line. Fano is the new spark the team needs and is a great starting point to rebuild.

Other team needs the Browns will address in later rounds are QB, WR, CB, and LB.

Pick 7: Washington Commanders

With the seventh overall pick, the Commanders will select Jeremiyah Love, RB (Notre Dame).

Jeremiyah Love sprinting towards the end zone
Photo Credit: Chris Phelps of athlonsports.com

Across the nation, analysts have argued about who the greatest prospect in the draft is. The player consistently talked about is Love. He is a generational talent at RB, and the Commanders undoubtedly need him.

Seeing as he is seen as the best prospect, he may not fall this far, but he will go to the Commanders. There is only one team above the Commander who may take him: the Browns. However, the Browns need help in other places more, and the Commanders are in dire need of a running back.

With Austin Ekeler aging and more injured, the Commanders need to take an RB to help Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the backfield.

Saint Paul’s senior Luca Rodas believes Love is the pick. “Love is the perfect fit for the commanders. He is extremely talented and will boost the team immediately. Also, Jayden Daniels had many talented running backs in college to help him, and Love will bring that back,” Rodas said.

If Love does not fall this far, the Commanders may go with Bain Jr. The team needs help with WR, CB, Edge, RB, and TE. Bain Jr. is the best defensive player still on the board at this point, so he will be the fallback.

Pick 8: New Orleans Saints

With the eighth overall pick, the Saints will choose Sonny Styles, LB (Ohio State).

Photo Credit: Thomas Martinez of si.com

The Saints need to rebuild the defense. The offense has young, talented players who will be the future of the team. The defense is the opposite; the unit is old and simply the team’s past. The Saints have started to let go of some of the aging players, so the empty roles need replacements.

One of the biggest departures from the Saints is LB Demario Davis. Styles will have to fill the huge shoes Davis left behind, and he has the talent to do so.

Styles is seen as the best LB in the class and had an amazing combine, cementing himself as a future star. The Saints need to take him.

Some other team needs the Saints will have to address in the following rounds are Edge, WR, CB, DL, and OL.

Pick 9: Kansas City Chiefs

With the ninth overall pick, the Chiefs will select Mansoor Delane, CB (LSU).

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Last year, the Chiefs needed no help with CB since the team had stars Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Bryan Cook. However, all left on the first day of free agency. Now, the Chiefs need to fill in the holes that have been left behind, and Delane is an amazing start.

Delane is praised as the best CB heading into the draft, and many professional analysts have him as their number one CB prospect.

The reason he is the best is because of his numbers and tape. He allowed only 14 catches on 35 targets and had two interceptions with LSU. Analysts agree that his tape is the best among CB’s, and it isn’t close.

The Chiefs need help with the defense. The team focused on bringing in top offensive talent in free agency while letting many great defenders leave. Now, the team is in desperate need of CB, Edge, LB, DL, and WR.

Pick 10: Cincinnati Bengals

With the tenth overall pick, the Bengals will select Caleb Downs, S (Ohio State).

Photo Credit: reuters.com

Downs is easily seen as the best safety in this draft class, and some analysts have him in their top 10 prospects in the draft. He is an incredible defensive player that the Bengals so desperately need.

It isn’t hard to say the Bengals’ defense was atrocious last year. The unit finished with a second-to-last ranking for the year, and the team nearly made the playoffs. This is attributed to the extremely high-powered and feared offense. Plainly, the offense is not the problem of this team; it’s the defense.

Although the team made big splashes in free agency, bringing in good talent to the defense, it needs more long-term options. The team brought in Bryan Cook, S, but he is towards the end of his career. The Bengals need to have a replacement sooner rather than later. The answer is Downs.

Other team needs the Bengals will have to address are DL, OL, CB, LB, and Edge.

Pick 11: Miami Dolphins

With the eleventh overall pick, the Dolphins will select Rueben Bain Jr., Edge (Miami).

Rueben Bain Jr. preparing for the start of a play
Photo Credit: Geoffrey A Knox of ravenswire.usatoday.com

This team needs to rebuild. The front office let go of Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill, two of the team’s highest-paid players. The team has started rebuilding and should continue to do so.

The defensive unit is young with an average age of 25.6, according to palmbeachpost.com. To round out the squad, Bain Jr. will fill the holes that are left.

Bain Jr., like Downs before him, is seen as a top ten prospect. The Dolphins need someone of that skill level.

In later rounds, the Dolphons will have to address WR, QB, OL, CB, and S.

Pick 12: Dallas Cowboys

With the twelfth overall pick, the Cowboys will select Jermod McCoy, CB (Tennessee).

Jermod McCoy preventing a completion
Photo credit: rockytopinsider.com

Cornerback is the number one need of the team, so it is obvious the front office will take the best CB available in McCoy. The Cowboys’ defense finished in third-to-last overall and last in passing, which reflects the failing cornerback room.

In addition, the team let go of their number one CB, Trevon Diggs. The team has tried to fix the unit, but has brought in only one CB in free agency. In other words, the team lost more than it gained in the worst CB room in the league. They need to draft a promising rookie.

McCoy had a great year at Tennessee and cemented himself as one of the best CB’s in the class. There is no doubt the Cowboys will take him. To put it plainly, they need him more than any other player.

Later in the draft, the team will have to address more CBs, Edge, LBs, OLs, and S as well.

Pick 13: Los Angeles Rams

With the thirteenth overall pick, the Rams will select Monroe Freeling, OT (Georgia).

Photo Credit: Jake Rowe of on3.com

The Rams are a very feared team with an outstanding offense and defense. The team has very few holes on the headlined roster. However, there are a few.

The most notable is OT. The Rams lost Rob Havenstein to retirement, who was the starting right tackle. That is where Freeling comes in. He will learn and improve much faster on the Rams’ roster because of the talent surrounding him.

Additionally, the Rams are looking to add more depth on the O-line, adding another reason why Freeling will be the selection.

The Rams received this high pick from the Atlanta Falcons in a trade; the Rams would have only had the 29th pick otherwise.

The team’s other needs are WR, Edge, LB, and CB.

Pick 14: Baltimore Ravens

With the fourteenth overall pick, the Ravens will select Olaivavega Ioane, G (Penn State).

Photo Credit: Sydney Ciano of victorybellrings.com

The Ravens are a very talented team that needs a little help. For starters, the O-Line. The Ravens had a great O-line for the past few years; the reason it needs help now is because of Linderbaum. He was an amazing center for the team, and unfortunately, he left. With an early draft pick, the team should look into replacing him.

Ioane is the place to start. He is held as the best guard in the class and is very skilled. The Ravens need someone like him.

His skills are easily seen in his stats. He allowed 0 sacks, 0 QB hits, and only 4 pressures all season. He is referred to as an earth-mover. He may go earlier in the round, but he most likely will end up with the Ravens.

Later, the Ravens will have to address Edge, WR, DL, and CB.

Pick 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the fifteenth overall pick, the Buccaneers will select Keldric Faulk, Edge (Auburn).

Photo Credit: Jeff Shearer of auburntigers.com

Edge is the biggest need for the Buccaneers. In free agency, the front office brought in multiple defensive players to help the defense. However, the team didn’t bring in any Edge rushers.

Possibly, the team did this because the front office intends to address the problem during the draft.

Faulk is the best Edge left, so the Buccaneers will select him. He will bring the much-needed help and prosperous future that the Edge room needs.

In the next rounds, the team will have to address the other positions of need: DL, CB, LB, and OL.

Pick 16: New York Jets

With the sixteenth overall pick, the Jets will select Jordyn Tyson, WR (Arizona State).

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As previously mentioned, WR is one of the biggest needs the Jets have. Outside of Garett Wilson, the team doesn’t have an amazing WR room. The team will fix this in the draft.

Tyson is held as the second-best WR in the class. He and Malaki Lemon can be interchangeable; however, the Jets will select Tyson. Tyson is bigger and more explosive than Lemon. Most analysts say his hand and body control are better as well. In other words, Tyson is the better playmaker.

The Jets need players who can make plays because the team does not have a star QB. Tyson will be able to do that; Lemon is a slot receiver who won’t be able to make big plays.

After this pick, the Jets will have to focus more heavily on QB, CB, and OT.

Pick 17: Detroit Lions

With the seventeenth overall pick, the Lions will choose Cashius Howell, Edge (Texas A&M).

Cashius Howell celebrating after forcing a sack
Photo Credit: 12thman.com

This team is leagues above what their record makes them seem. This is a very strong and respected team in the league with very few weaknesses. However, there are some, including the D-Line, specifically the edge position.

The Lions have star Edge Aidan Hutchinson, but there is no one to complement him on the other side. That is why the Lions will select Howell. He is the best Edge on the board and will fit right in. He will be an amazing complement to Hutchinson, which this team will need.

In the next rounds, the Lions will have to focus on OL, LB, CB, DL, and QB. The Lions lost some defensive players to free agency and should replace these open slots with new talent. For QB, the team will have to start looking for a replacement for Jared Goff; he is a great QB for the Lions, but he is one of the older QBs.

Pick 18: Minnesota Vikings

With the eighteenth overall pick, the Vikings will select Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S (Toledo).

Photo Credit: Kyle Rowland of toledoblade.com

The Vikings are in need of an S as well as CBs. The team brought in a young CB in free agency, James Pierre, so the team should look to address the S problem in the draft.

McNeil-Warren is arguably the best S available. Additionally, the Vikings’ defense was outstanding last year, finishing third overall. When the team brings in McNeil-Warren, the unit will become even better.

For the rest of the draft, the Vikings should focus on the other areas of need: OL, DL, and CB.

In the second round, the team should address the O-line problem, seeing as the unit was in the bottom half. The reason the front office will take McNeil-Warren is that safety is a higher need than any other position at this point in the draft.

Pick 19: Carolina Panthers

With the nineteenth overall pick, the Panthers will select Kenyon Sadiq, TE (Oregon).

Photo Credit: Dale Bliss of autzenzoo.com

The Panthers need help with the TE room. The team currently has a few young TEs who haven’t done much in their career so far. Sadiq can fix that problem.

He can do both jobs that a TE is expected to do very well. He is an amazing route runner, catcher, and can make great plays after the catch. On top of that, he blocks very well, much more than fans give him credit for.

The current Panthers’ TEs can barely do one of the two jobs. He will come in and do both at a level the team hasn’t seen since Greg Olsen. He is a sure pick for the Panthers.

In later rounds, the Panthers will address OL, S, WR, CB, and DL.

Pick 20: Dallas Cowboys

With the twentieth overall pick, the Cowboys will select CJ Allen, LB (Georgia).

Photo Credit: Connor Riley of ajc.com

As previously mentioned, one of the Cowboys’ positional needs is LB. Now is when the team will address this need.

Allen is held as the second-best LB in this class. According to anylists, he is a fast force when tracking ball carriers and QBs. Additionally, he is good in coverage against TEs and slot receivers.

Sikes strongly agrees that CJ Allen will be an outstanding player in the NFL. “As a Georgia fan myself, CJ Allen has been an honor to watch as he has grown each year. With the young defense Georgia had, Allen established himself as a true leader of the defense and recorded over 8.5 tackles per game. I have no doubt he can do this at the second level because this guy plays with elite intensity and will make whoever he plays with around him better as well,” Sikes said.

The Cowboys haven’t brought in any LBs in free agency. Because of that, the front office will address the need in the draft, further cementing Allen as the selection here. Allen is a natural leader, and since the departure of Micah Parsons, the Cowboys haven’t had someone fill that role; Allen will, as Sikes mentioned.

To restate, the team will need to focus on CB, Edge, OL, and S with their next picks.

Pick 21: Pittsburgh Steelers

With the twenty-first overall pick, the Steelers will select Ty Simpson, QB (Alabama).

Ty Simpson celebrating after a huge play
Photo Credit: rolltide.com

The Steelers have never found the right replacement for Ben Roethlisberger since his retirement. The team has tried and failed. Aaron Rodgers led the team to a playoff berth, but he is not long-term and is unlikely to resign with the team. However, Simpson may be the man the team needs.

With Rodgers gone, there are two below-average QBs on the roster that are neither good nor reliable starters. To add, the team has not brought in any QB help in free agency. All of these signs point to the Steelers drafting a QB.

Saint Paul’s junior Connor Ayala agrees that Simpson is the selection. “I think Simpson will help the Steelers out a lot if he goes there. It’d be a great place for him to strengthen and develop his craft, and hopefully he can get a starting spot in the near future,” Ayala said.

Simpson is held as the second-best QB in the class. He had an amazing year with Alabama and will continue it into his NFL career. Plus, with the Steelers, he will be brought into a good roster. The team brought in two weapons for him in Michael Pittman Jr. and Rico Dowdle, as well as bolstering the already great defense.

The biggest hole on the roster is QB, so with the team’s first pick, they will select a QB.

Next, the team will have to address OL, WR, DB, and DL as these positions need some help.

Pick 22: Los Angeles Chargers

With the twenty-second overall pick, the Chargers will select Kadyn Proctor, OT (Alabama).

Photo Credit: Joseph Zucker of bleacherreport.com

The Chargers need help with their O-Line more than any other team in the NFL. Though the team has stars like Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, the rest of the O-line and the depth the team has are horrendous. In fact, the team’s O-Line performed so bad one of the MVP voters gave his first-place vote to Justin Herbert because of what he did with the O-Line he had.

In sum, the front office needs to look for replacements. Proctor is the place to start. He is the best OT on the board and will find a starting role.

He is great at blocking and creating plays, which is what the team needs. Positively, he was a co-winner of the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy, proving he is a great OT.

Later, the Chargers should focus on more O-Line, Edge, DL, CB, and S.

Pick 23: Philadelphia Eagles

With the twenty-third overall pick, the Eagles will choose Makai Lemon, WR (USC).

Photo Credit: Kai Assad of dailytrojan.com

Lemon is an amazing slot receiver who, some argue, is the best in the draft. According to analysts, he is extremely fast and dominant in the slot to create yards after the catch, YAC.

On top of that, Lemon was named Unanimous All-American and won the Biletnikoff Award, furthering himself as one of the best WRs in the class.

The reasoning behind the Lemon pick is a gamble. The reason, There are rumors going around the NFL about the Eagles trading AJ Brown, WR. In addition, there were two teams that had serious talks with the Eagles for Brown.

Moreover, trading Brown has another benefit. It would not only give the Eagles an incentive to draft Lemon, but it would also save the team millions in cap space. In fact, the reason the team hasn’t traded him away yet is money.

If the Eagles traded him now, the team would suffer $43,000,000 in dead cap, losing $20,000,000 in cap space. If the team traded him after June 1, they would only suffer $16,400,000 in dead cap but free up $7,000,000 in cap space. In sum, the Eagles are waiting to trade AJ Brown, and when they do, they will draft Lemon.

The teams should focus on Edge, TE, OL, and S with their next picks.

Pick 24: Cleveland Browns

With the twenty-fourth overall pick, the Browns will select Denzel Boston, WR (Washington).

Photo Credit: Roman Tomashoff of uwhuskieswire.usatoday.com

The Browns ranked dead last in the PFF ranking for the WR room. In other words, the WR room needs help fast. So, the Browns will have to select the best WR available in Boston.

He is a great fit for the Browns. He is big and fast with “running back like YAC,” according to analysts. He also has great catching ability, as he dropped only 2 passes on 62 receptions.

On top of that, he offers help in areas outside of receiving. He is a great blocker and will help in the run game. He is exactly what the Browns need, so it should be an obvious selection for the team.

The Browns should continue to look into QB, CB, and LB.

Pick 25: Chicago Bears

With the twenty-fifth overall pick, the Bears will select Dillon Thieneman, S (Oregon).

Photo Credit: oregonlive.com

The Bearns lost their two starting, star safeties. The team was able to bring in Coby Bryant, S, but he can’t fill both roles. That is why the Bears will draft Thieman.

Thieman is a very versatile safety. He can line up deep and play close on coverage. He will be the playmaker the Bears are looking for. It also doesn’t hurt that he is the second-fastest S in the draft and the strongest with 18 reps of the bench press, according to ESPN.com.

Moreover, Thieneman is considered a top 5 prospect at the safety position, and is the best S left on the board. For those reasons, the Bears will pick Thieman.

Later in the draft, the Bears will have to focus on Edge, DL, OL, and WR to improve on.

Pick 26: Buffalo Bills

With the twenty-sixth overall pick, the Bills will select Caleb Lomu, OT (Utah).

Photo Credit: Joe Coles of deseret.com

The Bills need Lomu to improve the O-Line. While the O-Line was good last year, the team lost its starting LG to free agency. The team didn’t bring anyone in, which once again points to drafting a replacement.

For starters, Lomu is the best OL on the board. He is an outstanding protector who let up zero sacks all last year in college. However, some analysts say he will need to improve his strength to handle the NFL pass rushers. To counter, strength is easier to gain than skill.

Additionally, he is quick on his feet, which allows him to make quick movements. This makes him a great prospect for the Bills, even if he has to move from left tackle to left guard.

The Bills will then need to look to improve the Edge, DB, LB, and DL positions.

Pick 27: San Francisco 49ers

With the twenty-seventh overall pick, the 49ers will select KC Concepcion, WR (Texas A&M).

Photo Credit: Doug Coats of qcnews.com

The 49ers lost the team’s two highest receivers: Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings. While the team did bring in Mike Evans to help with the loss, there are still holes in the WR room.

The 49ers will look to fix that problem in the draft and choose Concepcion. He is the best WR left on the board and will immediately bring the talent the team needs.

He is the perfect complement to Evans, as he played in the slot heavily in college. He is quick off his feet and finds the space to make plays after the catch. He can also double as a punt returner if needed for the 49ers.

With later selections, the team should focus on drafting OL, Edge, S, and CB.

Pick 28: Houston Texans

With the twenty-eight overall pick, the Texans will select Max Iheanachor, OT (Arizona State).

Photo Credit: Brandon Thorn of bleacherreport.com

The Texans’ O-Line ranked dead last in the NFL last year, according to PFF. In addition, the team traded away its star OT Laremy Tunsil. So, the team is in dire need of help with the O-Line.

The team did find help in free agency. However, the team didn’t find enough. The front office will have to draft more OL to help.

Iheanachor is debatably the best OT left on the board and is what the Texans need. He can be the Tunsil replacement.

Iheanachor didn’t let up a single sack during the 2025 season. He is a big man who is quick off the line and redirects and resets oncoming rushers, according to CBSSports.com. Shockingly, he didn’t start playing football until junior college. He possesses an ample amount of skill and potential, making him a great selection for the Texans.

Later, the Texans should focus on the team’s other needs: DL, Edge, LB, and DB.

Pick 29: Kansas City Chiefs

With the twenty-ninth overall pick, the Chiefs will select Kayden McDonald, DT (Ohio State).

Photo Credit: Joey Kaufman and Columbus Dispatch of sports.yahoo.com

The Chiefs have already selected a high-end CB in the draft with their ninth overall pick. Now, the team should focus on bolstering the DL.

McDonald is the best DL available and will be a great fit on the defense. Analysts praise him for his size, strength, and ability to play on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He has good hands and lateral movement as well.

The Chiefs need him so he can complement DT Chris Jones and learn from him. He would be a big piece alongside Delane (who was mocked here earlier) in creating a strong defense.

The Chiefs should continue to focus on CB, Edge, LB, and WR with the team’s later picks.

Pick 30: Miami Dolphins

With the thirtieth overall pick, the Dolphins will select Omar Cooper Jr., WR (Indiana).

Poto Credit: Mike Schumann of thedailyhoosier.com

The Dolphins are out of receivers. Tyreek Hill was severely injured, then released, and Jaylen Waddle was traded for this pick and more. The Dolphins will look to repair the WR room by drafting Cooper Jr.

Cooper Jr. is well-rounded. He can play both outside and in the slot, seeing as he played both for a year each. To add, analysts say he has a running back build. He pounces off players and stays on his feet.

Moreover, he has less than a 5% drop rate, according to CBSSports.com. In sum, Cooper Jr. can run, catch, stay on his feet, and play anywhere on the field. The Dolphins need that.

In the next few rounds, the Dolphins need to continue to address QB, OL, CB, and S.

Pick 31: New England Patriots

With the thirty-first overall pick, the Patriots will select Peter Woods, DL (Clemson).

Photo Credit: clemsontigers.com

The Patriots’ D-Line was ranked 16th overall last season, which, for a team that nearly won the Super Bowl, is not good enough. The Patriots didn’t gain or lose power in free agency, so the team has to bank on the draft to bring in new and cheap talent.

The Patriots’ offense is not a priority for the team, at the moment; it is the defense. The team needs to improve the D-Line, and Woods is the place to start.

Woods is big and fast. He is quick off the line and unpredictable; he can line up anywhere on the line of scrimmage and still succeed. In addition, he is durable. He stays on the field for all three Downs. He is what the D-Line needs.

The Patriots should continue their focus on Edge within the next round, and then they can draft WR, TE, and OL later.

Pick 32: Seattle Seahawks

With the thirty-second overall pick, the Seahawks will select Avieon Terrell, CB (Clemson).

Photo Credit: Derrian Carter of GreenvilleOnline.com

The Seahawks lost some of their talent to free agency. For instance, Kenneth Walker III, RB, and, more importantly for this pick, Riq Woolen, CB. The Seahawks will need to replace him in the draft, and that is where Terrell enters.

Terrell is easily the third-best CB in the draft, but he is still amazing. He can play both man and zone coverage extremely well. In addition, he achieved accolades: first player in FBS history with 20+ PD and 8+ FF in two years.

Furthermore, Terrell is not afraid to go after bigger WRs and RBs, even though he is on the smaller side. He is extremely fast. Terrel ran a 4.27 40-yard dash. He proved he deserves to be a first-round selection.

The Seahawks should turn their focus to the offense in the next rounds by helping RB, OL, and WR.

Featured Image Photo Credit: americanfootball.fandom.com

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