FantasyPros - Real First Round NFL Mock Draft (Ep. 1944)

It’s official: after a title game that felt epic, we’re flipping the page to NFL Draft season with Pat Fitzmaurice, Scott Bogman, and a special guest from ESPN’s Todd McShay Show, Steve Mench—one round, mock draft vibes, and we’re keeping it moving.

That was the best championship in years, I’m running on fumes after the reaction pod, but I’m fired up to dive into this.

The board looks different this year, some usual late pickers are up top, I crammed pronunciations and I’m ready.

Mocks before free agency are for testing fits and learning the class; even if this group isn’t legendary, there are real dudes here.

Pick one, Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, right; Tom Brady in Raiders gear, questions about frame and sacks, but the kid just wins—does this click?

He’s quirky but relentless, accurate with sneaky juice, more Jared Goff than Joe Burrow, and there’s no other first‑round QB this year—don’t overthink it; long term, I’m higher on Dante Moore next year with real top‑tier tools.

He’s coachable and genuine, a leader who’ll sell jerseys, but they must rebuild that line to protect him.

His arm is underrated, the ball placement is money, and a football nerd landing in Vegas isn’t a bad thing.

He’s also the lone superflex swing up top, so the fantasy ripple is real; now let’s speed up the board.

Pick two, Jets: Steve, you’re up—what’s the move?

Arvel Reese, LB, Ohio State—best player on my board with edge snaps in the bag and Parsons‑style deployment potential without the direct comp.

Pick three, Cardinals: pass rush or line?

Ruben Bain, EDGE, Miami—special get‑off, power, and motor; fix sacks and pressures now, chase line help in free agency.

Pick four, Titans: stack talent or fill a hole?

David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech—pair him with Jeffrey Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat to supercharge the front and make the secondary’s life easier.

Pick five, Giants with Harbaugh: trench time?

Fano, OT, Utah—plug‑and‑play at right tackle with top‑tier upside; keep Jackson Dart upright and let the receivers wait.

Pick six, Browns: where first?

Francis Mauinoa, Miami—elite athlete who can play tackle or kick inside if needed; they need a full line rebuild.

Pick seven, Commanders: premium or best player?

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State—tackle machine with coverage chops to clean up the missed‑tackle mess.

Pick eight, Saints: help Tyler Shuck?

Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State—separator with improved hands to give Shuck a true playmaker, while elite non‑premium talents slide a bit.

Pick nine, Chiefs: running back too early?

Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame—home‑run accelerator with hands who eases Mahomes’ load and fixes the CEH over Taylor regret.

Pick ten, Bengals: where’s the value?

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State—true BPA and instant stabilizer who can line up anywhere on the back end.

Pick eleven, Dolphins: swing on ceiling?

Tremont McCoy, CB, Tennessee—best corner when right, ACL risk acknowledged, but the tape from two years ago screams CB1 traits.

Pick twelve, Cowboys: stay in the secondary?

Mansoor Delane, CB—cleaner health profile and top cover skills now; hunt edge with their later first.

Pick thirteen, Rams: a little vanity?

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State—sure hands and a high floor to prepare for an aging vet exiting and a young QB transition.

Pick fourteen, Ravens: classic Baltimore?

Keldrick Falk, EDGE, Auburn—long, explosive, and toolsy; production will catch up in their system.

Pick fifteen, Buccaneers: more juice off the edge?

Cassius Hall, EDGE, Texas A&M—undersized lightning as a situational rusher to lift a quiet unit.

Pick sixteen, Jets again: pass catcher time?

Denzel Boston, WR, Washington—strong hands, red‑zone production, and chains‑mover reliability next to Garrett Wilson.

That’s a steal—big frame, wins in traffic, and wildly underrated tape.

Pick seventeen, Lions: future at tackle?

Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah—athletic left tackle who can succeed Taylor Decker sooner than later.

Pick eighteen, Vikings: the eternal need?

Avian Turell, CB, Clemson—sticky cover man with ball skills to stabilize a perennially thin room.

Pick nineteen, Panthers: stop the bleeding?

Caden McDonald, IDL, Ohio State—top run defender to curb those first‑down carries.

Pick twenty, Cowboys’ second swing?

Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami—violent hands and inside‑out versatility with real power wins.

Pick twenty‑one, Steelers: weapon over QB?

Makai Lemon, WR, USC—slot dynamo with route savvy and return value; Ty Simpson’s late slide makes a QB reach unwise.

Pick twenty‑two, Chargers: protect Herbert.

Vega Ione, iOL, Penn State—elite pass pro metrics and clean penalties profile fit a run‑heavier plan too.

Pick twenty‑three, Eagles: TE insurance?

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon—natural catcher with rare YAC for the position and a competitive blocker if Goedert moves on.

Pick twenty‑four, Browns again: wideout now?

Casey Concepcion, WR—electric slot creator who uncovers instantly; expect Senior Bowl clips to pop.

I’d still lean Jordan Tyson plus Caden Proctor over Mauinoa plus Concepcion because of frame and true tackle value if Mauinoa kicks inside.

Pick twenty‑five, Bears: front help?

Peter Woods, IDL, Clemson—heavy hands and pocket collapse to fix a leaky run defense.

Pick twenty‑six, Bills: defense over WR?

Caleb Banks, IDL, Florida—massive, athletic, and a run‑game anchor so Allen doesn’t have to play hero ball every week.

Pick twenty‑seven, 49ers: we’ve gone this far without an Alabama player—feels like that’s about to change.

For San Francisco, I’m locking in Caden Proctor as Trent Williams’s heir. He’s a massive, explosive athlete who stumbled in the opener but settled in, and the Niners need that cornerstone to keep Shanahan’s offense humming.

Easy call. At this spot it has to be an offensive lineman.

For the Texans, I’m going interior line with the Oregon mauler who grades well in pass and run blocking. He’s allowed one sack since his freshman season across roughly three thousand two hundred snaps and only two penalties the last two years, which stabilizes a unit that lagged in pass protection and yards per carry.

No foot‑shooting here with that pick. On to the Rams at twenty‑nine—what’s the play with their bonus first?

I’m taking Ty Simpson as the Rams’ future at quarterback. He was streaky and the supporting cast sagged late, but the top‑end flashes were real; let Stafford bridge a year and let McVay develop Simpson, and I wouldn’t be shocked if they’d even consider him at thirteen.

If McVay is molding him, I feel a lot better about Simpson.

I didn’t love him leaving early, but landing with the Rams could make us all eat our words—great receivers, good run game, and a staff that maximizes quarterbacks.

With that extra first, the Rams can swing on upside without wrecking the plan.

Right—miss and you pivot to a vet or next year’s deeper class.

That pick from Atlanta feels like found money, and it opens a ton of doors.

Atlanta still did well; Arthur Blank wants a ring now, so expect quick decisions if things stall.

All right, my Patriots at thirty—who you got?

I’m giving New England Clemson edge TJ Parker. He’s a rugged run defender with past production as a finisher, and even if he isn’t the twitchiest rusher in the class, he projects as a steady three‑down piece.

Broncos at thirty‑one—staying on the edge?

Yep, I’m taking the Texas Tech edge who flies on third down. He’s light now but creates hurries, holds up in coverage when asked, and can grow into a heavier role while immediately helping the sub‑package rush.

Close us out at thirty‑two for Seattle.

I’m pounding the table for San Diego State corner Chris Johnson. He’s instinctive, comfortable finding the ball with his back turned, fits press or zone, picked off four this year, and should shine at the Senior Bowl—I see him as a first‑rounder.

Is that our lone Group of Five guy? The portal really concentrated talent.

Pretty much, though a Toledo safety could sneak in. And keep an eye on TJ Parker’s pre‑draft rise; he wins with power, and early mocks had him and Peter Woods way up. Proctor, Parker, Woods had down years, but the traits are still there, and both Clemson and Alabama dealt with noise that can drag play.

Great run, boys. If you’re not already watching the show with Todd and Steve, fix that, and Steve, say hi to our guy Derek Brown at the Senior Bowl and put him through a drill or two.

I’m still coaching flag, running the girls clinic, and we’re undefeated—my daughter’s tossing touchdowns like candy. With girls flag growing in the NCAA, the pipeline’s real.

This is just the start. Subscribe to FantasyPros on YouTube and socials for wall‑to‑wall draft coverage, and we’ll be live again for the draft. That’ll do it for us, but the story of the game rolls on—for Pat, Scott, and Steve, I’m Joey P. We’ll see you next time, kids.