The NFL Scouting Mix is a month away and we’re already hitting draft season. At this level everybody is aware of that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza would be the No. 1 general choose, barring one thing catastrophic occurring — however what occurs from there on is anybody’s guess.
Mel Kiper Jr. is already to work together with his first mock draft of the yr, and whereas there are rather a lot which align with our personal newest mock right here at SB Nation, there are additionally some absolute stunners. Kiper is understood for marching to his personal beat in terms of the draft and never at all times aligning with nationwide sentiment, so let’s dive in.
David Bailey is the second EDGE off the board
It actually might be splitting hairs in terms of the highest move rushers within the 2026 class after Arvell Reese, however it’s nonetheless slightly wild to see Texas Tech’s David Bailey passing Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami. It wasn’t way back that Bain was projected because the No. 1 general choose (assuming on the time the Titans have been choosing and didn’t want a QB), however Bailey actually got here on in the direction of the top of the season.
The massive query for Robert Saleh and the Titans in terms of a move rusher is whether or not or not they need extra scheme versatility (which Bain Jr. affords), or maybe a extra polished participant (in Bailey) who would purely be relegated to outdoors linebacker.
Make no mistake: Kinds is a BEAST, however this may be phenomenally early for a center linebacker to go within the draft. This is able to be the earliest a linebacker with no move rush skillset can be taken since Devin White in 2019, and Luke Kuechly in 2012 earlier than him.
Kiper calls Kinds “a High 10 participant” on this yr’s class, which very properly might be proper — however it’s an element of linebacker being a lesser valued place the place there isn’t that a lot of a distinction between having a High 3 center linebacker, and somebody within the 5-to-10 vary. Nonetheless, the Cowboys have talked rather a lot about desirous to bolster their move rush, which is why he suits the invoice.
The Jets nonetheless go quarterback
There’s completely a necessity for quarterback in New York, however I’m extremely skeptical that taking Ty Simpson with the No. 16 choose (as Kiper does) is the correct transfer for them. This can be a crew that should get off the hampster wheel of QB improvement and develop a crew that doesn’t want a younger passer to flourish. There’s a superb probability the Jets shall be again within the High 10 in 2027, as properly being in a spot the place they’ll personal three first spherical picks — which may permit them to maneuver up and really get a franchise QB.
Simpson is promising, however dangerous. The Jets can’t afford to throw dangerous cash after good in desperation to land a QB.
We had Delane because the No. 1 nook in our mock, going to the Miami Dolphins with the No. 11 general choose. Kiper has him at No. 18 to the Minnesota Vikings. That isn’t up to now off, however it’s extra that Kiper has Jermod McCoy of Tennessee going earlier that may be a little stunning.
This is able to be a dream situation for the Vikings, nonetheless. They want secondary assist in the worst approach, and touchdown Delane later within the first spherical can be unbelievable for them.
C.J. Allen within the High 20?
The multi-role linebacker from Georgia is seen as an early second spherical choose by most analysts, however very like the Kinds choose early within the draft, Kiper goes linebacker sooner than anticipated as soon as extra. The Carolina Panthers take Allen at No. 19 within the mock, which is justified by the chance they’ll lose starter Christian Roseboom in free company.
Taking a linebacker within the first assumes the Panthers are pleased with the event of their move rush, which stays a little bit of a large number. That is positively a shock.
The NFL goes receiver completely satisfied
This can be a actually good crop of receivers, however Kiper is all-in on groups going heavy into move catchers. We had 5 going within the first spherical in our mock — which felt excessive, however Kiper has six.
Maybe essentially the most shocking is Chris Brazell II of Tennessee sneaking into the primary spherical and going to the Payments, reasonably than Kevin Conception — who’s seen as having extra upside as a burner within the NFL. One factor about Brazell is that you may’t educate dimension, and at 6-foot-5, 200 kilos he’s an intriguing choose.
