Combine Mock, Version 3.0

Indiana

The Kubiak-Mendoza marriage is going to happen. He wouldn't have taken the job otherwise, folks. Of note from Indianapolis is that Mendoza was measured to be about the same size as Josh Allen and Andrew Luck. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Texas Tech

The Jets will have their pick of the highest-rated defensive player on their board. Bailey and Bain Jr. are probably the most pro-ready pass rushers available. Reese could be a hybrid off-ball LB/edge rush type, and he might need some time to fully develop. Downs would be the highest-drafted safety in over 30 years, yet he might have the highest floor of any player. It will likely come down to one of these players, and for now I will continue to give the nod to Bailey. It's very much worth noting that after trading pass rusher Jermaine Johnson away (for T'Vondre Sweat), it likely increases the odds that Downs won't go this high. Both Reese and Bailey's workouts were excellent, as well.

Ohio State

If Arizona goes defense here, the same guys that I mentioned above for the Jets should be in play. Downs might be a sneaky call here, given that Arizona can move on from Budda Baker after '26 with a minimal dead cap hit, if they wanted to. Still, I'd bet on one of the pass rushers (including Reese) if the team chose to go defense. The OL, especially the right side, needs a makeover, though, so perhaps this could come down to the top-rated OL. Since I believe the top defenders will be graded higher than Fano or Mauigoa, and since it's not like Arizona is a RT away from winning a Super Bowl next season, I am going to switch from my prior mock and guess that Reese wins the day.

Miami

The same defenders I've discussed in the Jets and Cardinals blurbs are in play here. The team could also look at the WR1 of the draft, likely between Tate and Lemon, it appears. Bain's decision not to work out at the Combine suggests to me that he thinks he's going to be picked very high. His motor and production are on full display when you turn on the tape, and I'm guessing that Robert Saleh would be very happy to add him to a DL that also features Jeffery Simmons. With the trade for Johnson, this would give Saleh yet another edge talent to go along with Simmons.

Utah

Fano might be a safer evaluation as a RT prospect than Mauigoa is, since the latter does not have ideal arm length for a tackle. Peter Skoronski ended up as a guard, and some think that the same could happen with Mauigoa. So if the G-Men go OL, I'm giving the edge to Fano here if both are available. Downs could be a consideration, and so could one of Tate/Lemon, considered to be in their own tier for WR1 at this point. I think a possible course of action for this team is to draft Fano and sign Tyler Linderbaum (Harbaugh's center with the Ravens, who is now a free agent), thus drastically improving the OL in one offseason, similar to what the Bears did last year.

Ohio State

Mauigoa is there, and we know about this team's OL crisis, so that could be a logical pick. However, Andrew Berry is a value-based drafter, and Styles absolutely obliterated the combine, wiht a 4.46 40 and a 43.5 inch vertical jump. This is otherworldly stuff, especially since he's tall so that means a lengthy wingspan as well. I had Carnell Tate here before, but he ran a 4.54 40 and that usually drops you out of the top 10. So the other Buckeye could get the call instead. Note that although the Browns already have a strong defense, Devin Bush is a free agent, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah may never play again.

LSU

I will scrap my idea of the Rams trading up for Downs here, just because his measurables are such that he may fall a bit. Styles would be a great fit if available, replacing free agent Bobby Wagner. A WR is possible, as the team has very little behind Terry McLaurin. But with the defense in obvious need of help and with the trade for Marshon Lattimore not working out, here's an attempt at a CB1 for the roster.

Notre Dame

A WR could be really tempting here to pair with Chris Olave. However, Alvin Kamara looked so washed last season, and the team has nothing at the position behind his tired legs. Love is the highest-rated RB prospect since Bijan Robinson, and he makes sense here or to the Chiefs with the next pick. Sorry, KC.

USC

You could make the case for a WR here, as Rashee Rice is in possible legal trouble (again) and Xavier Worthy is more gadgety than a full route tree guy. If Trent McDuffie is signed to a long-term deal before free agency then a CB here is much less likely; if not, a replacement with this pick makes sense. That could mean we are in Delane or McCoy territory here, if available. And if Downs is available, you can't rule him out, either. With the way the offense has lagged recently, and with how thin the WR depth chart is (and with how Rice seems like a suspension waiting to happen at any time), the reliable Lemon might get the priority. He goes as the new WR1 of the draft.

Tennessee

Cincy could be in play for McCoy or another top pass rusher like Faulk here. Given Duke Tobin's obsession with RAS, Styles would be logical if available. Since Mauigoa is there I guess one could make an argument for him, but this defense is so terrible that I still think Tobin's hand is forced a bit. (Largely because of his own draft misses on defensive players, but I digress.) Due to the lack of elite measurables, I don't see Tobin going for Downs, even though he probably should. I'll give the edge to McCoy for now, just as it might be rare to take a pass rusher two years in a row.

Miami

The Miami man could go from a Hurricane to a Dolphin if he falls out of the top 10. If Downs is still available as he is in this mock, I wonder if Miami could field calls about a trade up. Although the team is well-stocked with picks this year, when you're entering into a total rebuild, it might be smart to gather even more draft capital. If Miami were to stick and pick, I'm guessing that the team would value Mauigoa over Downs if they see the former as a RT. New GM John-Eric Sullivan comes from a Packers front office that values RAS, and maybe that would work against Downs if he is still on the board.

Ohio State

This is a gift for Dallas, as Downs just falls right into their laps.

Ohio State

The Rams get a seemingly reliable WR to pair with Puka Nacua for the long term, and with as much as the Rams like to get both Nacua and Davante Adams off the field for brief rests when they go to 12 or even 13 personnel, Tate can still get plenty of snaps not only in 3-wide but even 2-wide sets as well. I have Tate as a faller after his glacially-slow 4.54 on what has been a fast track in Indy. Per Hayden Winks, when adjusted for size, his time is bottom-11th percentile. For that reason, I have him out of the top 10 now. The Rams, however, have long embraced "slower" WR's who are productive.

Arizona State

The Ravens have tried to patch the X receiver position lately, what with veteran Deandre Hopkins on the outside last year. Zay Flowers is probably miscast as a go-to receiver and best suited for slot duties. Rashod Bateman has delivered some production at times but should be a rotational guy. Maybe Tyson has the chops to be a go-to guy on the outside.

Oregon

Jamel Dean is a free agent, so this could be a Delane or McCoy team if one of them slipped to this spot. Perhaps the next group of CB's could be in play here as well, or an edge rusher, since Jason Licht has used several early picks on the DL. But I'm going to get Sadiq back into the top 15 because his performance in Indy was scintillating. The dude ran a sub-4.40 and is comparable in physique to Vernon Davis. With Cade Otton a free agent, it's not like this couldn't make sense.

Clemson

After helping the DL at #2 overall, now Gang Green turns to the secondary with Terrell. Yes, he might be a nickel in the NFL, but it's not like that isn't valuable in today's game. He's also the younger brother of AJ Terrell, so maybe he gets the pedigree bump.

Penn State

LT Taylor Decker announced he would return to play in 2026. And while that doesn't rule out a tackle pick such as Lomu, Freeling, or Proctor, perhaps plugging Ioane into a guard spot would garner immediate '26 dividends.

Oregon

It's rare that 3 safeties would go in the 1st Round. And while Daniel Jeremiah has McNeil-Warren rated very highly, he was likely hurt by his 4.50+ 40 time and average size. Contrast that to Thieneman, who blazed 4.35 and who looked more fluid with his movement in drills. At this point he looks like a sure 1st rounder, and perhaps he's seen as the successor to the retiring Harrison Smith.

Auburn

With LT Ikem Ekwonu coming off a torn patellar tendon, a tackle pick could be in play here. But if not, helping the defense makes sense. Faulk's measurements at the Combine were ideal, as were his 35-inch vertical and 9'9 broad jump.

Clemson

Dallas goes defense again, this time helping the pass rush. I had Cashius Howell here before, but his arm length and wingspan were outlier short at the Combine. Because of that, I'm going to drop him out of the 1st entirely, at least for now.

Texas A&M

I'm going to drop Ty Simpson out of the 1st Round this time. Concepcion could be a big-play slot guy waiting to happen and might be a nice complement to rugged DK Metcalf on the outside.

Utah

If Rashawn Slater can make a full recovery, the team is set at the OT spots. However, LG Zion Johnson was ineffective on his rookie contract and is now a free agent, ineffective C Bradley Bozeman just retired, and 2025 free agent RG Mekhi Becton wasn't a great fit. Thus, I see the iOL need as particularly dire. While Lomu was Utah's LT, perhaps he can provide an immediate guard solution for the Bolts.

Georgia

Freeling looks like a riser, and how does Howie Roseman pass up another Georgia ascending talent? Lane Johnson is year-to-year and 2026 may be his last campaign.

Alabama

After picking Tate at #6, here the Browns address the OL need with Proctor. His tape is up-and-down and he needs to keep his weight down, but there's upside potential here.

Florida

Banks has helped himself in Indy with a strong workout. His 2025 was pretty much ruined by a foot injury, but his 2024 tape and now his combine performance look like it should entrench him in the 1st Round.

Washington

The Bills hope that Boston is more of a success on the outside than Keon Coleman has been.

Indiana

This will be a tough pick to project because of all of the 2025 injuries on the defensive side of the ball; obviously, picking a defender would make sense. However, the team needs to replace Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall has had trouble avoiding injuries, and both Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne are free agents. To add to this, George Kittle is coming off a torn Achilles. More weapons on offense are going to be needed, and Cooper has really helped himself at the combine. With good size at about 6 feet and 200 pounds, he ran a strong 4.43 and was already garnering legit buzz as Fernando Mendoza's go-to guy last year.

Arizona State

In need of OL help, perhaps the Nigerian-born Sun Devil makes some sense. Garnering last 1st/early 2nd buzz, Iheanaschor has ideal size at 6'6 and 330 pounds, and he ran one of the fastest 40's among OL's.

Tennessee

Hood addresses the CB need with the Rams' second pick of the round.

Georgia

The Georgia man is a fabulous run defender and should test well at the Combine.

Oregon

Everyone knows that the Pats have to improve up front. Pregnon might be the #2 guard in the class, behind Ioane.

Clemson

Jarran Reed and Leonard Williams (and Demarcus Lawrence) hit free agency after the '26 season, and we know that Mike Macdonald loves having a strong DL crew. Woods didn't have ideal measureables and didn't do any workouts in Indianapolis, so for now he looks like a faller.