NFL mock draft: Tom Rock's picks for the Jets, Giants and rest of the league

1. Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Only two other quarterbacks have won the Heisman, a national championship and been selected first overall in the same five-month span: Cam Newton and Joe Burrow. Mendoza will join them. While Newton and Burrow did bring their teams to the Super Bowl too, neither won it (yet). Still, the Raiders will sign up for similar results.

2. Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

The Jets have a lot of holes to plug on defense and Reese can fill a few of them, playing on the edge or off the ball. With Aaron Glenn already coaching for his job next season and taking more control of the defense, he’ll get to use Reese’s flexibility the way other teams use Micah Parsons (and how the Giants should be using Abdul Carter).

3. Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah 

The Cardinals — like the Jets — have questions at quarterback but they won’t be answered with the third overall pick in this draft. They’re more likely to look at free agency for their QB1, but they can use this selection to help protect whoever they wind up with.

4. Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State 

New coach Robert Saleh and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll both know what a top receiver can do for a quarterback after their experiences with Garrett Wilson and Malik Nabers. Now they get a weapon for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. 

5. Giants: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Giants haven’t had much luck drafting cornerbacks in the first round with their choices this century ranging from meh (Aaron Ross, Prince Amukamara) to misery (Eli Apple, DeAndre Baker, Deonte Banks). Delane has a shot at bucking that trend and even with Paulson Adebo on the team could be the CB1 on the depth chart. Don’t forget that John Harbaugh played and coached cornerbacks before he became a head coach.

6. Browns: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State 

Cleveland has the Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett up front, the Defensive Rookie of the Year in Carson Schwesinger in the middle and this pick gives them the same caliber of player on the back end of their defense.

7. Commanders: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech 

The Commanders did not have a single player with more than 5.5 sacks in 2025 so getting a premier edge rusher is definitely on coach Dan Quinn’s shopping list. With this pick he gets one of the quickest, slipperiest ones to come out in recent memory. 

8. Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Saints coach Kellen Moore knows the value of dynamic running backs; he won a Super Bowl as the Eagles’ play-caller with Saquon Barkley in that role. Love has a lot of those same qualities in terms of home-run hitting and pass-catching abilities and will give quarterback Tyler Shough a chance to make a big second-year jump. 

9. Kansas City: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

At a position where many teams like to see pure speed and quickness, Bain brings some old-school physicality and nastiness that will appeal to Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo. He doesn’t run past would-be blockers, he crushes them and disrupts plays.

10.  Bengals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami 

Cincinnati needs a reset on defense but they also need to figure out how to protect and keep Joe Burrow on the field. Mauigoa is a mauler who can start at tackle but eventually he may best be utilized at guard.

11. Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Opposing quarterbacks completed a staggering 72% of passes against the Dolphins (and they played the Jets twice!) so they need to put a stop to that trend. McCoy missed all of the 2025 season with a knee injury but should be ready to go in ’26 and become the signature pick for new defensive-minded head coach Jeff Hafley.

12. Cowboys: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee 

Back-to-back Tennessee corners? Why not. This one helps steady a Cowboys secondary that made Russell Wilson look like a world-beater (for one game anyway) and was the bane of Dallas’ season. They could wait for the 20th pick to address that need but there is a bit of a falloff at the position after Hood and McCoy so better to grab the corner now and go for a deeper position like edge rusher later.

13. Rams (via Falcons): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford gets another prize with this tough, gritty receiver who will play well in the slot while Puka Nakua and Davonte Adams take care of business down the field.  

14. Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

It’s a weird draft where the best offensive lineman may be a guard and not a tackle. Bad luck for Ioane to play a position that most teams can’t justify using a really high pick to select. Good luck for the Ravens to be waiting here for him.

15. Buccaneers: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

It's unsure how much longer 35-year-old Lavonte David will be around, so the Bucs need to find their next linebacker. In a perfect world, David will stick around and help groom his replacement but even if he retires, Styles has the stuff to step in and take over.

16. Jets (via Colts): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

If the Jets still don’t have a quarterback by April, they may have to use this pick and reach a bit for someone such as Ty Simpson. Assuming they have at least some kind of presence at the position, though, they need to give whoever that is another target and Garrett Wilson a wingman. Boston is a big-bodied player some scouts compare to Courtland Sutton.

17. Lions: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

He may not have the size and physical dominance to be a team’s top pass-rusher, but the Lions wouldn’t need him to be that with Aidan Hutchinson on the other side. With Hutchinson getting the majority of the double-teams and chips, Howell should be able to flourish.

18. Vikings: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Minnesota needs to find a long-term heir to Harrison Smith at safety but this may be a bit too soon to take Emmanuel McNeil-Warren or Dillon Thieneman. Woods gives defensive coordinator Brian Flores a big ol’ anchor.

19. Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Bryce Young took a huge step forward last year thanks to Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan. The Panthers keep that progress going by adding a new element to the offense with the best tight end in the draft.

20. Cowboys (via Packers): Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

Dallas still needs to replace what it lost in the Micah Parsons trade in terms of pressuring quarterbacks and Mesidor gives them some of that. He’s got a strong motor on the outside and is strong enough to step inside and battle with guards if needed, too.

21. Steelers: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Mike McCarthy’s offense will be more wide open than what the Steelers have played in the past so they need to start adapting their personnel to that philosophy. Hines Ward coached Tyson at ASU so there will be plenty of inside info available to the Steelers.

22. Chargers: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

The Chargers should know by the draft what will become of Khalil Mack, who is a free agent but could also decide to retire. But either way, they’ll need to start replacing him now or in the short-term future. Faulk can do that in a division in which affecting opposing quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix and (presumably) Fernando Mendoza is the key.

23. Eagles: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Philadelphia already has a good young secondary with Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. Terrell gives them a third such player who can line up in the slot and also be an effective blitzer.

24. Browns (via Jaguars): Kayden Proctor, OT, Alabama

Whatever the Browns wind up trying to do on offense it will have to start with blocking. Proctor is enormous (6-7, 340) but also has the athleticism to have caught a screen pass against Georgia.

25. Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

The Bears will have to make some decisions in free agency with a few of their safeties hitting the market. Whoever they wind up keeping, McNeil-Warren will be able to play alongside with high energy and some big hits that’ll have the Soldier Field faithful on their feet.

26, Bills: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The Bills haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2023. Concepcion is quick and jittery and tough to cover and someone like that should fit nicely with Josh Allen and the new offensive-minded head coach in Joe Brady.

27. 49ers: R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma

San Francisco had the fewest sacks in the league last year (20); Thomas had15.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss over his final two seasons while playing against some of the SEC’s top protectors. He doesn’t have elite size (6-2, 249) but his speed and motor stand out.

28. Texans: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

This seems like a perpetual problem but the Texans have to improve their offensive line if they are going to go anywhere with C.J. Stroud at quarterback. Freeling gives them a player who is technically sound, has played a lot of high-level football, should improve his strength and has the flexibility to play on either side of the line.

29  Rams: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

It’s been a while since the Rams last had a shutdown cornerback in Jalen Ramsey during their Super Bowl year. They need someone to match up with receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. in the division and the other top pass-catchers in the conference.

30. Broncos: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

Denver needs someone to step in at inside linebacker and become an immediate leader for the defense. Allen can do that even though he turns just 21 in March.

31. Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Assuming the Will Campbell Experiment at left tackle ended after a disastrous Super Bowl LX. he’ll move to guard and the Pats will need to find a replacement on the outside.

32. Seahawks: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Expect a lot of changes in the Seahawks secondary through free agency this offseason. Thieneman gives Mike Macdonald the Kyle Hamilton-type player in versatility and range to play with.