Alright, welcome back to the war room. We’re deep in the weeds for the 2026 cycle, and let’s be honest, half these guys are still trying to figure out how to use a laundry machine without ruining their NIL hoodies, but here we are. This is the FFM McGillicuddy Mock 2.0, and we’ve triple-checked the eligibility to make sure we aren’t drafting guys who are already selling insurance or playing for the UFL.
Let’s get into it.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders aren’t overthinking this. They need a "Face of the Franchise," and Mendoza is that guy. He’s basically a 6’5” brainiac who passed up Yale to sling it, which is the kind of psycho confidence you want in a QB. He’s a Klint Kubiak special—slippery in the pocket with the kind of footwork that makes you think he’s dancing in a club, but he’s actually just avoiding a 300-pound man trying to end his career. He’s incredibly smart, maybe too smart. Like, he’s probably in the huddle explaining the concept of a "sunk cost" while they’re down 14 in the fourth.
The Flip Side: He’s got that "smart kid" vibe where he sometimes tries to out-think the blitz instead of just ripping it into a window. In the NFL, "high IQ" doesn’t matter if you hold the ball for five seconds and get your ribs turned into dust. He’s got the arm and the size, but he needs to prove he can handle the "meathead" part of the game when a linebacker is screaming in his face.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
The Jets are going defense here, and Reese is a certified freak. He’s one of those guys who looks like he was built in a lab by a mad scientist who only loves third-and-long. He’s an explosive pass rusher with a first step that makes tackles look like they’re moving in slow motion. His job is to make the QB wish he’d stayed in the locker room.
The Flip Side: He’s a bit of a project in the run game. He can get so locked into "sack mode" that he’ll completely lose his gap and let a running back skip past him for a 20-yard gain. He’s like a guy who only wants to hit home runs and forgets how to play defense. If he can't set an edge, he's just a very fast, very expensive specialist.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Arizona is building a wall. Mauigoa is a absolute mountain of a man who somehow has the feet of a point guard. He’s the premier tackle in this class, and he plays with a level of nastiness that makes you think he’s personally offended by the existence of defensive ends. He anchors like a tank and has the length to keep even the twitchiest rushers at bay.
The Flip Side: Weight is the conversation with him. If he lets himself go, he turns into a human planet, and those speed rushers will start treating him like a revolving door. He needs to stay in peak Miami shape, not "offseason buffet" shape, or that elite lateral movement is going to disappear.
4. Tennessee Titans: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Titans get a guy who is essentially a coach who can run a 4.4. Downs is a football genius. He reads the game better than most veterans and has that "Eraser" quality—wherever the ball is, he’s already there waiting for it. He’s a safe, high-floor pick who instantly fixes a secondary.
The Flip Side: He’s so aggressive that he can occasionally be baited. He’s like a guy who’s so sure he knows the answer that he yells it out before the teacher finishes the question. If a savvy QB uses his eyes well, they can pull Downs out of position and go over his head.
5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Giants desperately need a true WR1, and Tate is the most polished route runner we’ve seen in years. He’s got that "X" receiver frame and catches everything—if the ball touches his hands, it’s a completion. He’s the kind of reliable target that makes a bad QB look decent and a good QB look like a Hall of Famer.
The Flip Side: He isn’t a "burner." He’s not going to outrun an entire secondary for an 80-yard touchdown every week. There are concerns that against elite, physical NFL corners, his lack of high-end vertical speed might limit him to being a "chain-mover" rather than a true game-breaker.
6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
This is RC’s top-ranked offensive lineman, and for good reason. Fano is a technician. He doesn’t just block you; he deconstructs your entire pass-rush plan with his hands. He’s got incredible balance and moves with a fluid, natural motion that you just can’t coach.
The Flip Side: He’s a bit "light" for a traditional power tackle. If a guy like Dexter Lawrence lines up over him and just tries to drive him through the turf, Fano might struggle to hold his ground. He needs to put on some "man strength" in an NFL weight room before he’s truly ready for the trenches.
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Washington adds a versatile weapon to the middle of their defense. Styles is a massive athlete who can play safety or linebacker and move like a much smaller man. He’s a heat-seeking missile who excels in coverage, which is a rare find for a guy with his size and power.
The Flip Side: He’s a "tweener." If he doesn't find a permanent home and master the nuances of one position, he can get lost in the shuffle. He needs a defensive coordinator with a specific plan, or he’ll just be a guy who’s "okay" at everything and great at nothing.
8. New Orleans Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Saints need juice, and Love is pure electricity. He’s the kind of back who touches the ball and you just wait for the fireworks. He’s got elite speed and receiving skills that make him a nightmare in space. He’s a one-man highlight reel.
The Flip Side: He’s not a 300-carry-a-year workhorse. He’s a bit lean, and if the Saints try to run him between the tackles 25 times a game, he’s going to break. He’s a Ferrari—you don't use it to haul lumber. They need a complementary back to handle the dirty work.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
The Chiefs keep the defense scary. Bain has a motor that just doesn't stop. He’s a heavy-handed, powerful rusher who collapses pockets and makes QBs very uncomfortable. He’s a productive, gritty player who fits the Steve Spagnuolo mold perfectly.
The Flip Side: He’s a bit "stiff" in the hips. He’s a power rusher who isn’t going to bend the edge like a freak of nature. If he can’t win with his initial punch and power, he can get stuck on blocks and vanish for stretches of the game.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Bengals need a lockdown corner, and Delane has that LSU defensive back pedigree. He’s smooth, physical, and has the ball skills to turn the game around in one play. He’s the kind of guy who wants to follow the opponent’s best receiver and shut down half the field.
The Flip Side: He gets very "handy." He’s going to lead the league in DPI calls if he doesn’t learn to trust his feet more. He loves to grab the jersey at the top of the route, and NFL refs are going to be all over him until he cleans that up.
11. Miami Dolphins: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Miami takes their shot at the next franchise QB. Simpson has the pedigree and the pure arm talent to ‘make it’ in the NFL. He’s got a lightning-quick release and can make the "impossible" throws that keep defensive coordinators awake at night.
The Flip Side: He’s incredibly raw. He’s played in a very structured system and hasn't had to deal with the chaos of a collapsing NFL pocket. He can get "happy feet" and start throwing off his back foot when things get muddy, which leads to some ugly turnovers.
12. Dallas Cowboys: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Cowboys love high-upside defenders. Bailey is a relentless pass rusher who dominated the Big 12. He’s got a great mix of power and speed, and he’s the kind of guy who just finds a way to the quarterback.
The Flip Side: He’s a bit of a "one-trick pony" right now. He wins with effort and a solid bull-rush, but he needs to develop a real set of counter-moves. NFL tackles are too smart; if your first move doesn't work, they’ll just sit on you for the rest of the afternoon.
13. LA Rams: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Rams desperately wanted a top corner, and McCoy is an ascending talent. He’s long, athletic, and plays with the kind of confidence that borders on arrogance—which is exactly what you want in a corner. He’s a ball-hawk who isn't afraid to take risks.
The Flip Side: Those "risks" can turn into touchdowns for the other team. He’s a gambler. He’ll jump a route and either get a pick-six or give up a 50-yard bomb. He needs to find some discipline and learn that sometimes a simple PBU is enough.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega "Vega" Ioane, IOL, Penn State
This is the most Baltimore pick ever. Ioane is a massive road-grader who loves to move people against their will. He’s a wall in pass protection and a bulldozer in the run game. He didn’t allow a sack all year and will make life very easy for Lamar Jackson.
The Flip Side: He’s a "phone booth" blocker. If you ask him to pull or get out in space on a screen, he looks like a guy trying to run through a swamp. He’s not a great athlete, and if the play breaks down and becomes a scramble, he struggles to find a second block.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Tampa Bay adds a twitchy, high-motor rusher. Howell is productive and has the kind of bend that makes you think he doesn't have a spine. He’s a natural pass rusher who is always around the ball.
The Flip Side: He’s very light for an NFL EDGE. He’s going to get washed out in the run game if he doesn't add some mass. Right now, he’s a designated pass rusher, and you really want more than a specialist at #15.
16. NY Jets: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Jets stay defensive. Terrell is feisty and physical, playing with a chip on his shoulder the size of a Tesla. He’s got the bloodline and the instincts to be a very good NFL starter.
The Flip Side: He is small. Like, actually small. If a team has a 6’4” receiver, they are going to target Terrell in the red zone every single time. He can play the ball, but you can’t jump high enough to beat physics.
17. Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Lions love big boys, and Proctor is massive. He’s a powerful run blocker who fits the "grit" culture perfectly. He’s got years of SEC experience and can dominate at the point of attack.
The Flip Side: His pass-pro technique is still a work in progress. He relies on his size to swallow people up, but NFL rushers will use his own momentum against him. If he doesn't fix his footwork, he’s going to be a liability against the elite speed of the league.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
Woods is an interior disruptor who can ruin a game plan. When he’s "on," he’s unblockable. He’s got a quick first step and the power to collapse the pocket from the inside out.
The Flip Side: He’s a bit of a "flash" player. He’ll have a dominant quarter and then vanish for the next three. You need more consistency from a first-round pick. He needs to prove he can play with that high motor for four quarters.
19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
No wide receiver here, so they take the ultimate mismatch weapon at tight end. Sadiq is essentially a jumbo wideout who is too fast for linebackers and too big for corners. He’s a red-zone nightmare.
The Flip Side: He is a "tight end" in name only. He doesn't block. He’s essentially a very large receiver who lines up in tight. If you ask him to help out on a power run, he’s basically a spectator with a good view.
20. Dallas Cowboys: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
The Cowboys take the "high upside" bait. Iheanachor is an incredible athlete with a basketball background and a massive frame. He’s the kind of project that coaches drool over because the ceiling is the moon.
The Flip Side: He’s very raw. He didn't play football until recently, and it shows in his hand placement and awareness. He’s going to get flagged for holding constantly until he learns the nuances of the position. He’s a multi-year project.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Steelers get a big target for whatever QB they have—let’s assume it’s the guy Aaron Rodgers likes. Boston is 6’4” and has a catch radius that covers half the field. He’s a "go up and get it" specialist.
The Flip Side: He is very "stiff." He’s not a guy who’s going to shake a corner off the line or create separation with route-running. He wins with size, and if he can’t out-muscle the corner, he doesn't have a Plan B.
22. LA Chargers: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Faulk is a high-effort, productive player who fits the blue-collar mold. He’s good against the run and has enough pass-rush upside to keep tackles honest. He’s a "coach's favorite" type of player.
The Flip Side: He lacks elite "twitch." He’s a solid player, but he might never be a double-digit sack guy. He’s more of a high-end rotational piece or a solid starter than a game-changing superstar.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Eagles love Georgia and they love O-line. Freeling is an athletic tackle who moves well in space. He’s a natural fit for the Eagles' offensive system and provides much-needed depth.
The Flip Side: He needs to get much stronger. He gets bullied by power rushers and can be driven back into the QB's lap. He needs a year in an NFL weight room before he’s ready to handle the bull-rushers of the league.
24. Cleveland Browns: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
RC thinks this guy is destined for the first round. Hill is a violent, aggressive linebacker who hits everything that moves. He’s an alpha on the defense and a leader in the locker room.
The Flip Side: He plays like a crazy person. He’s going to have a short career if he doesn't learn to protect himself. He throws his body around with zero regard for his own health, which is terrifying for the guys paying his salary.
25. Chicago Bears: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Bears need defense, and Parker is a safe, high-floor pick. He’s a disciplined end who is exceptional against the run and provides a steady pass-rush presence.
The Flip Side: He doesn’t have the "wow" factor. He’s not going to make the highlight reel with a crazy spin move or an insane first step. He’s a "do your job" guy, which is valuable but maybe not what you want at the end of the first round.
26. Buffalo Bills: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Bills take a gamble on a dynamic playmaker. Tyson can score from anywhere on the field and has elite acceleration. He’s a home-run threat every time he touches the ball.
The Flip Side: The injury report is a "mile long and mostly scary." Taking him in the first round is a massive risk. He’s made of glass, and if he can't stay on the field, this could be a wasted pick for a team in their championship window.
27. SF 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Niners take an athletic tackle who fits their outside-zone scheme perfectly. Lomu has great feet and moves exceptionally well in space.
The Flip Side: He is very lean for a tackle. He looks like a tight end who was forced to eat more. He’s going to get absolutely crushed by the power-ends in the NFL until he puts on another 25-30 pounds of muscle.
28. Houston Texans: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
The Texans are desperate for O-line help, and Dunker is a tough-as-nails Iowa lineman. He’s fundamentally sound and plays with a nasty streak that will make him a fan favorite.
The Flip Side: He is not a great athlete. He struggles with lateral quickness, and fast NFL edge rushers are going to run circles around him. He might end up being forced to move inside to guard at the next level.
29. LA Rams: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
The Rams double down on the secondary. Cisse is a fast, fluid athlete with good size and upside. He’s a high-upside developmental corner who can play man or zone.
The Flip Side: He’s a bit "passive." He doesn't like to stick his nose in the run game and sometimes plays too far off the receiver. He needs to get more aggressive if he wants to survive in the Rams' system.
30. Denver Broncos: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
FFM’s Ross Jacobs sees some Amon-Ra St. Brown here. Lemon is a tough, reliable slot target who will be a quarterback's best friend. He’s a chain-mover who isn't afraid to work the middle of the field.
The Flip Side: He has issues with concentration drops. He’ll make the hardest catch in the world and then drop a simple slant. It’s frustrating because the talent is obvious, but the consistency isn't there yet.
31. New England Patriots: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Patriots need weapons, and Concepcion is a versatile playmaker who can do a little bit of everything. He’s a "gadget" guy who can actually run routes and create after the catch.
The Flip Side: He’s small and lacks a true "position." If you don't manufacture touches for him, he can disappear for whole quarters. He’s a high-maintenance player for an offense that is still trying to find its identity.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Seattle finishes the round with a physical corner who fits their historic profile. Hood is a tough, man-to-man specialist who isn't afraid of anyone and plays the ball well.
The Flip Side: He lacks elite deep speed. If he gets caught in a footrace with a legit burner, he’s going to get exposed. He needs to be perfect with his technique because he can't rely on his athleticism to bail him out.
Based on my FFM McGillicuddy Mock 2.0 and the specific scouting intel provided, here are my five most radical, against-the-grain decisions I am making, along with the defense for each:
1. Anthony Hill Jr. (LB, Texas) — Pick #24 (Cleveland)
The Decision: Locking Hill into the first round as a "positive radical" pick while the mainstream mostly doesn't have him in their Top 32 mock at all.
The Defense: While others are fading Hill due to a perceived statistical "slump" or his reckless playstyle, I am betting on the "alpha" personality. He is a violent, tone-setting linebacker who hits everything that moves. In the AFC North, the Browns don't need a "safe" tackler; they need a "crazy person" in the middle of the defense who forces offenses to account for him on every snap. I’m prioritizing his elite "dawg" mentality over the mainstream's concerns about his 2025 production.
2. Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State) — Pick #26 (Buffalo)
The Decision: Projecting a massive slide to the end of the 1st round, whereas the mainstream consensus and Xavier Cromartie still view him as a potential WR1 and Top-10 lock.
The Defense: This is my most radical "negative" stance. The industry is in love with the highlight reel, but I’m looking at a medical report that is "a mile long and mostly scary." He’s been injured in three straight seasons. I am being the "adult in the room"—you don't spend a Top 10 pick on a player made of glass, no matter how good the tape is. Buffalo gets the value at #26, but the rest of the league was right to be terrified.
3. Max Iheanachor (OT, Arizona State) — Pick #20 (Dallas)
The Decision: Ranking the Arizona State tackle as a Top-20 pick, while the mainstream boards (NFL Mock Draft Database) have him as a project with a Day 2 or even Day 3 grade.
The Defense: I am firmly ahead of the curve on the "Dancing Bear." He’s a former basketball player with elite footwork who hasn't allowed a sack since 2024. While the mainstream calls him "raw" and worries about his holding penalties, I see a player where "the ceiling is the moon." For a Cowboys team that prioritizes athletic traits, I’m arguing that his frame and movement skills make him a 1st-round lock. I’d rather take the guy with the Pro Bowl ceiling at #20 than a "safe" player with a limited floor.
4. Gennings Dunker (OT, Iowa) — Pick #28 (Houston)
The Decision: Keeping Dunker in the 1st round as a tackle while the industry labels him a "non-athlete" who must move to Guard.
The Defense: I’m defending the "meat-head" machine. RC notes he is "possibly the best offensive lineman in the draft," yet the mainstream is obsessed with lateral quickness scores. Dunker is a fundamentally sound "road-grader" who doesn't give up pressure. In a league where pass protection is a crisis, a guy who is "nasty" and pro-ready like Dunker is a premium asset. Houston is getting a Day 1 starter who "eats nails for breakfast," regardless of what the Combine measurables say.
5. Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State) — Pick #5 (NY Giants)
The Decision: Taking Tate at #5 overall, despite the Giants having Nabers-Wan’Dale and a defensive-minded head coach.
The Defense: This is radical because of the positional investment at the top of the draft. The defense here is simple: The Giants are staring at the potential loss of Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency and Nabers is rehabbing from major injury. They cannot afford to take a "project" or a "burner" with no hands. Tate is the most polished route runner in the class and a "true WR1" who makes a QB's life easy. While he’s not a 4.3 burner, his ability to separate and catch everything makes him the high-floor, high-impact replacement the Giants need to keep their offense from collapsing.
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1 | Raiders | Fernando Mendoza (QB) | Fernando Mendoza (QB) | Fernando Mendoza (QB)
2 | Jets | Arvell Reese (EDGE) | Caleb Downs (S) | David Bailey (EDGE)
3 | Cardinals | Francis Mauigoa (OT) | David Bailey (EDGE) | Francis Mauigoa (OT)
4 | Titans | Caleb Downs (S) | Arvell Reese (LB) | Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE)
5 | Giants | Carnell Tate (WR) | Spencer Fano (OT) | Carnell Tate (WR)
6 | Browns | Spencer Fano (OT) | Carnell Tate (WR) | Spencer Fano (OT)
7 | Commanders | Sonny Styles (LB) | Sonny Styles (LB) | Arvell Reese (LB)
8 | Saints | Jeremiyah Love (RB) | Makai Lemon (WR) | Makai Lemon (WR)
9 | Chiefs | Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE) | Jeremiyah Love (RB) | Jeremiyah Love (RB)
10 | Bengals | Mansoor Delane (CB) | Rueben Bain Jr. (DE) | Caleb Downs (S)
11 | Dolphins | Ty Simpson (QB) | Francis Mauigoa (OT) | Olaivavega Ioane (IOL)
12 | Cowboys | David Bailey (EDGE) | Mansoor Delane (CB) | Mansoor Delane (CB)
13 | Rams | Jermod McCoy (CB) | Jermod McCoy (CB) | E. McNeil-Warren (S)
14 | Ravens | Olaivavega Ioane (IOL) | Jordyn Tyson (WR) | Jordyn Tyson (WR)
15 | Buccaneers | Cashius Howell (EDGE) | CJ Allen (LB) | Sonny Styles (LB)
16 | Jets | Avieon Terrell (CB) | Peter Woods (DT) | Peter Woods (DT)
17 | Lions | Kadyn Proctor (OT) | Zion Young (DE) | Zion Young (EDGE)
18 | Vikings | Peter Woods (DL) | Dillon Thieneman (S) | Dillon Thieneman (S)
19 | Panthers | Kenyon Sadiq (TE) | Keldric Faulk (DE) | Omar Cooper Jr. (WR)
20 | Cowboys | Max Iheanachor (OT) | Akheem Mesidor (DE) | Akheem Mesidor (EDGE)
21 | Steelers | Denzel Boston (WR) | Ty Simpson (QB) | Denzel Boston (WR)
22 | Chargers | Keldric Faulk (EDGE) | Olaivavega Ioane (IOL) | Kenyon Sadiq (TE)
23 | Eagles | Monroe Freeling (OT) | Kenyon Sadiq (TE) | Blake Miller (OT)
24 | Browns | Anthony Hill Jr. (LB) | Monroe Freeling (OT) | Monroe Freeling (OT)
25 | Bears | T.J. Parker (EDGE) | Kayden McDonald (DT) | Kayden McDonald (DT)
26 | Bills | Jordyn Tyson (WR) | Denzel Boston (WR) | Malachi Fields (WR)
27 | 49ers | Caleb Lomu (OT) | Kadyn Proctor (OT) | Lee Hunter (DT)
28 | Texans | Gennings Dunker (OT) | Jadarian Price (RB) | Caleb Lomu (OT)
29 | Rams | Brandon Cisse (CB) | Blake Miller (OT) | Colton Hood (CB)
30 | Broncos | Makai Lemon (WR) | E. McNeil-Warren (S) | CJ Allen (LB)
31 | Patriots | KC Concepcion (WR) | R Mason Thomas (EDGE) | Zion Young (EDGE)
32 | Seahawks | Colton Hood (CB) | Avieon Terrell (CB) | Avieon Terrell (CB)
