With the biggest wave of NFL free agency now behind us, team needs across the league look a lot different than they did a few weeks ago. Several franchises addressed major roster holes with veteran signings, while others still have clear gaps heading into the draft.
Because of that, it’s a good time to revisit the first round. This mock draft reflects how free agency has reshaped priorities for every team in the top 10 and where I think they’ll look to add talent next.
Here’s my updated post–free agency NFL mock draft. 🏈
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1. RAIDERS: QB FERNANDO MENDOZA
Might as well just turn the card in now. Unless the Raiders get the offer of a lifetime to trade out of this spot, they’ll be taking Heismandoza to be their QB of the future.
2. JETS: LB ARVELL REESE
The Jets made a lot of moves on defense in free agency – and given that they can use their pick at 16 to go offense (Makai Lemon or Spencer Fano?), they will use this pick to choose the top defensive player on their board for newly hired DC Brian Duker’s defense. I think that will be Reese, but it could very easily be Bailey as well.
3. CARDINALS: DE REUBEN BAIN JR
I believe teams are currently overthinking it with Reuben Bain Jr. He’s a prototypical defensive end with elite pass rush production on the National Champion Runner Ups, while also serving as a better run defender than other edge prospects. The Cardinals need blue-chip talent – that’s Bain.
4. TITANS: RB JEREMIYAH LOVE
Is it ever smart to take a running back in the top 5? It obviously didn’t work out for the Giants when they took Saquon Barkley in 2018, but what’s also not smart is to draft your franchise quarterback and then give him no weapons. Cam Ward needs some playmakers, and no one in this draft makes more plays than Love.
5. GIANTS: LB SONNY STYLES
Sonny Styles’ draft stock was already on a rocket ship to the moon before the combine… and then he had a historic testing performance, running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 6’5″, 244 lbs. He also recorded a 43.5-inch vertical and an 11’2″ broad jump, cementing his reputation as an elite athletic prospect. The Giants’ linebackers were horrendous last year; they should take Styles to pair with new signee Tremaine Edmunds.
6. BROWNS: T MONROE FREELING
If you watched any of Shedeur Sanders’ snaps last year, odds are you probably saw him running for his life. Cleveland added three new starters on the offensive line in free agency, but they could use a franchise tackle – and given Freeling’s athletic profile, he could develop into one of the league’s best.
7. COMMANDERS: WR CARNELL TATE
The best-case scenario for the Commanders is to trade back and recoup more draft picks after trading multiple for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel. But if they stay at 7, the pick should either be the top defensive player available or a young wide receiver to pair with Terry McLaurin and give Jayden a legitimate full WR room for the first time as a pro.
8. SAINTS: DE DAVID BAILEY
The Saints made a few moves to help Tyler Shough and the offense in free agency, notably G David Edwards and RB Travis Etienne, meaning they can go with the best player available here.
9. CHIEFS: CB MANSOOR DELANE
The Chiefs traded away former All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams, then lost DBs Jaylen Watson and Brian Cook in free agency. Nohl Williams is a good player, and they signed Alohi Gilman and Kader Kohou, but Mansoor Delane would be an immediate talent infusion for their secondary.
10. BENGALS: S CALEB DOWNS
Caleb Downs will be a game-changer for the Bengals defense from Day 1. Multiple years of elite production for Ohio State, arguably the highest football IQ of any prospect in the class, great athleticism – the only reason Downs isn’t going higher is because of the positional value of a safety and the lack of history of them going top 5. That’s a win for Cincinnati.
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