Scout's Notebook - Mock Draft Number 5 FREE PREVIEW

John B. Everett
2 days ago
11 min read

Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor sets up in a game against Missouri — *Kadyn Proctor / OT / Alabama*

The latest SNS mock draft values the positions of depth that NFL teams prioritize. Namely, OT and EDGE are two of the deepest positions in the 2026 NFL Draft - 13 of the 32 picks in this mock draft are either OTs or EDGEs. On the other hand, only six of the 32 first round picks are from "skill" positions of QB, RB, and WR. When the 2025 season began, the QB class was viewed as potentially deep and talented. But the reality of the situation was much starker as the QB class failed to live up to expectations due to injuries (Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier) and poor performances (Carson Beck, Cade Klubnik). So, this draft may not be "sexy" but teams wanting to improve their offensive and defensive lines, as well as LB, are going to find a great selection of playmakers and sturdy pass protectors to choose from the last weekend in April.

1. NY Giants	Kadyn Proctor / OT / Alabama	The Giants are in an odd position. Their record indicates that they have many needs. But glancing at the Giants' roster reveals few holes or serious issues that need to be addressed. NY already has every key position manned by a young, promising player with plenty of upside. The Giants select Proctor, a physical freak of an OT, and place him at ORT and slide Evan Neal inside to guard. Proctor has Pro Bowl potential and would immediately upgrade the entire offensive attack.
2. Las Vegas	Fernando Mendoza / QB / Indiana	Unlike the Giants, the Raiders have plenty of needs, none more than the offensive line, but the gaping hole at QB is the most glaring need on Las Vegas. Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, is experienced, productive, smart, athletic, and a proven winner at the FBS level and he would give the Raiders a young QB to build around in the desert.
3. Tennessee	Francis Mauigoa / OT / Miami, Fl	The Titans need a young EDGE Rusher to improve a porous defense. But the biggest asset on the Titans is QB Cam Ward and protecting their young QB needs to be priority number one. And it is clear to any observer that the Tennessee OL is not adequately protecting Ward. Mauigoa could be inserted at either ORT or inside at guard and would immediately upgrade the entire line. Mauigoa plays with a nasty mean streak that OL coaches love and that will endear him to the entire fan base.
4. Cleveland	Carter Smith / OT / Indiana	Most scouts are sleeping on Indiana OLT Smith, who has one year of college eligibility remaining but has little left to prove in college football. Smith is a technician who has the bend, balance, and athleticism to be a ten year starter in the NFL. Smith would immediately address the need for a blindside protector for QB Shedeur Sanders.
5. NY Jets	Cashius Howell / EDGE / Texas A&M	The Jets' defense has only two cornerstones - EDGE Will McDonald and LB Quincy Williams - and the rest of the defense needs a major upgrade. Howell may be the quickest EDGE in the 2026 NFL Draft and he would pair with McDonald to give NY potentially one of the best set of outside pass rushers in the NFL.
6. Arizona	Jeremiyah Love / RB / Notre Dame	Although it appears that Kyler Murray's days in Arizona are numbered, the Cardinals decide that there is no QB worth this pick and decide to improve the running game. Love, the top RB in college football, is a powerful inside runner with breakaway speed and soft hands as a receiver out of the backfield. The Cards rushing attack has been ineffective ever since James Conner (and Trey Benson) were lost to injury. By drafting Love, the Cardinals would have elite depth in their RB room.
7. New Orleans	Arvell Reese / LB-EDGE / Ohio State	The Saints are happy with the development of rookie QB Tyler Shough and it's time to improve the talent surrounding Shough. Reese plays MLB for the Buckeyes but is a fantastic athlete - he has an unofficial sub-4.5 40 time and bench presses 410 lbs - who some NFL teams view as an EDGE prospect. Reese may be the most athletic prospect potentially available next April and looks like a top ten selection next spring.
8. Washington	David Bailey / EDGE / Texas Tech	Perhaps no team has fallen farther or faster than the Commanders, who went from being a game away from playing in the Super Bowl to putting franchise QB Jayden Daniels on the shelf for the season due to a barrage of injuries. The Commanders' defense has noticeably dropped off this season and is a major reason why Washington has struggled this year. Bailey finished with 13.5 sacks this season and would give the Commanders another EDGE to pressure the QB in DC.
9. Cincinnati	Isaiah World / OT / Oregon	The Bengals never really had a chance this season with the injury suffered by Joe Burrow but ownership really didn't give the Bengals much of a chance by their fantasy football approach to player retention (i.e. destroying the cap by retaining Burrow, Chase, and Higgins). The Bengals' offensive line has been virtually ignored and this has hurt the entire offensive attack this season. World is an experienced OT with grapevines for arms and he would give the Bengals a ten year starter at OLT.
10. LA Rams (from Atlanta)	Ty Simpson / QB / Alabama	QB Matthew Stafford is nearing the end of his career and it is time to find his eventual successor. Simpson has only started this season in Tuscaloosa but he has displayed the intelligence, maturity, and playmaking skill to become an eventual starter in the NFL.
11. Kansas City	Spencer Fano / OT / Utah	In a shocking development, the Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention prior to Christmas. Worse yet, Patrick Mahomes' season has ended with several torn knee ligaments. The Chiefs OL has been a weak spot throughout the season and it is time to get some reinforcements. Fano plays ORT for Utah but has the athleticism and lateral agility to protect the QB's blindside at OLT.
12. Minnesota	A'mauri Washington / IDL / Oregon	The Vikings invested heavily on their DL last offseason but the results have been mixed at best. Playing in a division with premiere RBs Josh Jacobs (Packers) and Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions) means that Minnesota needs to retool their defensive front. Washington is just beginning to tap into his potential and has a combination of size and athleticism that DC Brian Flores covets in his DL.
13. Miami	Caleb Downs / S / Ohio State	The best player left on the board, if not the best player in this draft, Downs is a value pick at number 12 overall. Downs is a versatile safety who can be employed wherever needed in the secondary and has no real holes in his game.
14. Dallas	Mansoor Delane / CB / LSU	The Cowboys defense has been a sieve this season, getting battered by pretty much every team they have faced. The secondary, in particular, has been prone to both coverage lapses and poor tackling. Delane is a smooth technician with the length and short area reaction skills to be a long-term starting NFL CB.
15. Baltimore	Anthony Hill / LB / Texas	The Ravens always seem to find an elite talent falling to them in the draft and Hill would certainly qualify as another gem that fell in their laps. Hill is a three-down LB with the pass rushing chops to intrigue teams as an EDGE Rusher and the agility and range to cover TEs and RBs out of the backfield.
16. Carolina	Jacob Rodriguez / LB / Texas Tech	The Panthers harken back to their glory days by drafting the Butkus Award (Best LB) winner, an instinctive and athletic LB in the mold of franchise great Luke Kuechly. Rodriguez is an elite playmaker creating eleven turnovers (seven forced fumbles and four INTs) his senior season in Lubbock.
17. Detroit	Jake Slaughter / IOL / Florida	The Lions no longer have one of the top offensive lines in the NFL with the loss of Kevin Zeitler in free agency (Tennessee) and the sudden retirement of center Frank Ragnow, although young guards Tate Ratledge, Christian Mahogany, and Miles Frazier display plenty of promise, but reinforcements are needed. Florida center Jake Slaughter is a multiyear starter and possesses similar size to Ragnow. Slaughter is technically proficient, a strong run blocker, and looks like a long-term, Pro Bowl-level pivot for the Lions.
18. NY Jets (from Indianapolis)	Hezekiah Masses / CB / California	When the Jets traded Sauce Gardner to the Colts, NY traded away their most marketable star, and more importantly, jettisoned their best playmaker on defense. The Jets' defense is on a record pace - but not in a good way. The Jets have failed to record a single INT through 14 games this season, the longest drought to start an NFL season in history. Masses may be the best ball hawk in college football with 5 INTs and 13 passes defensed this season, amongst the national leaders in both categories.
19. Tampa Bay	Jermaine Mathews / CB / Ohio State	The Bucs are in the most serious battle for the NFC South that they've had for many years as the Panthers and the Bucs are prepared to meet twice over the last three weeks, and those battles will determine the division champion who will be ensured of a home playoff game next month. Mathews has very loose hips, light feet, and stays in-phase well with speedy receivers downfield. Mathews has the flexibility to line up out wide or cover a WR in the slot and that versatility makes Mathews a likely first round draft pick, once he declares for the NFL Draft.
20. Pittsburgh	Chris Brazzell / WR / Tennessee	Although the Steelers still need to find a long-term starting QB, they do not see any prospects that warrant this pick. After employing DK Metcalf as the team's number one WR, the team sees the value in having big, physical, and fast outside WRs who make inviting targets over the middle of the field. Brazzell (6'5" / 200 lbs) finally started capitalizing on his immense potential this past season, catching 62 passes for 1,017 yds (16.4 YPR) and 9 TDs for the Volunteers as a junior.
21. Philadelphia	Kenyon Sadiq / TE / Oregon	Eagles GM Howie Roseman plays the NFL Draft like a fiddle, finding Pro Bowl-level talent where others fail to see it. Sadiq is a freak athlete with the speed and agility to be a YAC monster after the catch and he would give the Eagles a mismatch piece that opponents will hate trying to slow down.
22. Houston	Emmanuel Pregnon / IOL / Oregon	The Texans are becoming one of the best and most dangerous teams in the AFC as the playoffs approach. The level of play from rookie OLT Aireontae Ersery has steadily improved and it looks like he may be the long-term solution as Stroud's blindside protector. Pregnon has a great combination of size and athleticism and has Pro Bowl potential in the NFL.
23. Dallas (from Green Bay)	Matayo Uiagalelei / EDGE / Oregon	When Dallas traded Micah Parsons to Green Bay, the Cowboys knew that their pass rush would take a hit. And although rookie EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku has been a pleasant surprise, additional EDGE help is needed. Uiagalelei has improved his ability as a run stuffer and displays promising ability as a pass rusher off the edge.
24. Buffalo	Zxavian Harris / IDL / Ole Miss	The Bills rush defense has been porous this season and Ed Oliver could use some help up front. Harris is huge and powerful with a huge wingspan. Despite his size (6'8" / 330 lbs), Harris bends well and has fantastic lateral agility for his size. Harris would also give Buffalo an elite kick blocker - Harris has six career blocked kicks while at Ole Miss.
25. Chicago	Rueben Bain / EDGE / Miami, Fl	Perhaps the biggest surprise team in the NFC this season, the Bears control their own destiny in winning the NFC North. The Bears are a young team built to contend for seasons to come but Montez Sweat is the only proven pass rusher coming off the edge for Chicago. Bain is a well-rounded EDGE with the size and strength to hold the edge in the run game and the pass rushing skill to pressure the passer consistently.
26. LA Chargers	Olaivavega Ioane / IOL / Penn State	The Chargers' offensive line has been under siege all season long with both starting OTs being lost for the season due to injuries. Although drafting an OT here is a possibility, LA feels confident that Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will return to full health next season and decide to improve the interior protection for Justin Herbert. Ioane is a powerful interior blocker with the athleticism and agility to be ten year starter in LA.
27. San Francisco	Austin Barber / OT / Florida	OLT Trent Williams will be furnished with a gold Hall of Fame jacket as soon as he is eligible after retirement. And that day is quickly coming for the 37-year old, 16-year NFL veteran. Barber has started for over two seasons in Gainesville and he possesses a prototypical measurements and length for an OLT in the NFL.
28. Cleveland (from Jacksonville)	Chris Bell / WR / Louisville	It appears that the Browns have found their young QB to build around in Shedeur Sanders but aside from RB Quinshon Judkins and TE Harold Fannin, the talent surrounding Sanders is lacking. Bell would give Cleveland a big, physical number two WR to line up next to Jerry Jeudy. Bell is a powerful runner after the catch and plays much like Washington WR Deebo Samuel - he is as willing to run you over as much, if not more, than he is willing to run past you.
29. New England	Carnell Tate / WR / Ohio State	The Patriots are the biggest surprise in the NFL this year as Drake Maye is making a serious bid to be named the NFL MVP. But truth be told, this team is overachieving and Maye could use some help. Tate has a fantastic combination of size, speed, and playmaking ability to become a number one WR in the NFL.
30. Seattle	Dani Dennis-Sutton / EDGE / Penn State	The Seahawks are in a race with the Rams for the NFC West title and a potential top seed in the conference. Coach Mike McDonald's team wins games by playing smart football focused on defense and protecting the ball. DDS flashes dominating performances where he combines power with agility and an impressive closing burst. If he becomes more consistent, he could become a Pro Bowl-level player.
31. LA Rams	Avieon Terrell / CB / Clemson	The Rams have a quality secondary but lack CBs with the size and length to match up with bigger WRs in space. Terrell, who's brother AJ is the number one CB for the Falcons, has the length, speed, and quickness to eventually become the Rams' number one CB.
32. Denver	McKale Boley / OT / Virginia	The Broncos have the best record in the NFL and few glaring needs that need to be filled. OLT Garrett Bolles is completing his ninth year in the NFL and he has proven to be a reliable and durable starter for the majority of his time in the Mile High City. But QB Bo Nix requires improved protection going forward so an upgrade is needed. Boley is a multiyear starter at OLT for the Cavaliers with the length, feet, and tenacity to be a long-term NFL starter.