The Scouting Combine is now underway, which means we are fully immersed in draft season at Blitz Sports Media. My first Top 50 Prospects of the season were released earlier this week, as well as our brand new Mock Draft Simulator.
Of course, I had to break it in with a pre-combine first-round mock draft.
The Raiders rebuild starts fresh, once again. This time, it starts with a National Champion in Fernando Mendoza. New head coach Klint Kubiak gets his QB immediately to start molding him into the face of the franchise.
Head coach Aaron Glenn is taking over the Jets’ defense, and he needs all the help he can get. Arvell Reese has the highest ceiling in the draft and is a versatile playmaker who Glenn can use in a variety of ways.
New head coach Mike LaFleur is yet another Sean McVay disciple, and I expect him to bring McVay’s inside zone run scheme to Arizona with him. Mauigoa is a perfect fit as he excels in downhill blocking and can start immediately at right tackle.
Robert Saleh is the new leader of the Titans and prefers to get after the QB with the front four. Rueben Bain Jr. is built for Saleh’s defense who will make an immediate impact on the edge in the run and passing game.
The Giants landed the top head coach on the market in John Harbaugh and are looking to win fast with their QB already in place. Harbaugh is no stranger to talented safeties, having coached Ed Reed, then drafted Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks in the first round. Caleb Downs is a better prospect than all three.
The Browns will ride with Shedeur Sanders at QB in 2026, but need to surround him with better talent. Offensive line is a major need that can be better addressed later in the draft. Carnell Tate is a QB-friendly receiver who provides an easy target for Sanders and should open up Todd Monken‘s offense.
2026 acts as a bit of a reset for the Commanders after a falloff from their immediate success under Dan Quinn and Jayden Daniels in 2024. Quinn’s defenses thrive off of pressure, and there’s nobody in this draft who applies more of it than David Bailey.
The Saints turned a corner late last season under new head coach Kellen Moore and appear ready to compete in ’26. Some consider Jeremiyah Love the best talent in the class – he provides an identity for the Saints’ offense as they continue to build around Tyler Shough.
Eric Bieniemy returns to Kansas City tasked with restoring Patrick Mahomes and the offense back to its former glory. Makai Lemon provides a receiving threat who can win on his own in all fields.
The Bengals need bodies ready to defend in the NFL. Mansoor Delane is pro-ready and has no weakness in his game.
The Miami Dolphins’ roster is under full reconstruction. They elect to select the best player on their board at a premium position to begin building Jeff Hafley‘s defense.
Sonny Styles is not a perfect scheme fit with the Cowboys switching to a 3-4 defense, but he’s too good a prospect to ignore. Jerry Jones continues to rebuild the defense and lands a potential superstar.
With the top-end corners off the board, the Rams replace their retiring right tackle, Rob Havenstein. Spencer Fano‘s best football is ahead of him, and his athleticism on the offensive line will be used creatively by Sean McVay.
Olaivavevga Ioane is in play here, but the Ravens rarely draft this high. Weapons of Jordyn Tyson‘s caliber are not available near the end of the first round, where the Ravens typically make their selections.
Another season, another edge mocked to the Buccaneers. Thankfully, it’s a good year to need one. Cashius Howell is an NFL-ready pass rusher who gives them a bookend rusher opposite Yaya Diaby.
Aaron Glenn continues to rebuild his defense. Peter Woods is a game wrecker to creates havoc all along the defensive line.
Center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement, and tackle Taylor Decker is reportedly contemplating it. The Lions address the offensive line before it becomes a problem by adding Monroe Freeling. He enters the league with starter quality and hasn’t reached his ceiling yet. He’ll fortify the Lions’ line for a decade.
The retirement of Harrison Smith leaves a giant hole in the back end of the Vikings’ defense. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a QB reading missile capable of creating turnovers and jarring hits.
The Panthers surprised many with a formidable defense in 2025. They look to build on that by adding Keldric Faulk, who can fortify their defense and add some pass-rush upside once he builds a quality move set.
The Cowboys continue to build their defense with Avieon Terrell, who brings intensity to the secondary. His ability to play inside as a nickel or on the boundary gives new defensive coordinator Christian Parker a matchup advantage.
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has once again made it his mission to find a WR2 in Pittsburgh, and he finally succeeds. Denzel Boston is a big-bodied wideout who runs smooth routes and excels at contested catches.
Olaivavega Ioane is a home run for the Chargers, who are desperate for interior offensive line help. Jim Harbaugh prefers maulers in the run game, and Ioane fits the bill perfectly.
The Eagles may be rebuilding their offensive line sooner than expected, so they begin by adding a monstrous body who can contribute right away. Kadyn Proctor is a powerhouse who can play at guard and then kick out to tackle when Lane Johnson retires, if needed.
The Browns begin addressing their biggest problem by bringing in their left tackle of the future. Lomu is an athletic, versatile blocker whose best football is ahead of him.
The Bears took a huge step forward in Ben Johnson‘s first season as head coach, but there are still areas that desperately need addressing. Kayden McDonald is an instant upgrade to their run defense that finished 27th in the NFL last season.
New Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard brings a new toughness to a Bills defense that has often been accused of being too soft. Adding to that toughness is the uber-aggressive Caleb Banks, who will set the tone on the Bills’ new look D.
The 49ers can go a variety of ways in the first round, but Sadiq‘s unique skillset will be hard for Kyle Shanahan to ignore. He fits into their position-less offensive approach as an immediate catch-and-run option for a team that needs playmakers outside the oft-injured George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey.
C.J. Stroud didn’t stand a chance in the Texans’ playoff game against the Patriots. They are once again addressing their offensive line, which has been a long-term rebuild. Emmanuel Pregnon brings scheme versatility and will upgrade Stroud’s protection immediately.
Matthew Stafford fittingly announced he was returning for his 18th season as he accepted his league MVP award at age 37, but even he can’t play forever. Ty Simpson is tailor-made for Sean McVay’s traditional under-center, play-action pass game. With this selection, he has the advantage of learning behind a Hall of Famer while being coached by the best in the game.
The Broncos don’t have many holes to fill, being an AFC Championship contender who is still on the rise. Vance Joseph gets yet another talented playmaker to add to his already daunting defense in C.J. Allen.
The Patriots are in win-now mode, and Akheem Mesidor can help them do just that. Being 25 years old won’t scare Mike Vrabel off one bit; he’s interested in football players who can help his team win now. Mesidor can do that.
The Super Bowl champion Seahawks are set to lose part of their secondary in free agency. Brandon Cisse is a raw, uber-talented boundary corner who will eventually lock down the receiver opposite Devon Witherspoon.
