12th Annual Football Garbage Time Twitter/X NFL Mock Draft! – Round 1

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

Howdy, y’all!

We all know that the NFL Draft is right around the corner, beginning on April 23rd.  And we all know that the choices that teams make that night will be a significant part in whether they end up with the Lombardi Trophy and the 32nd pick in a future draft, or if they end up with the first overall pick looking to rebuild.

Seeing as how important these decisions are, we here at Football Garbage Time again got together and decided to conduct a mock draft.  In fact, this will be our 12th Annual Twitter NFL Mock Draft!

This year, seven different writers & podcasters from four different sites participated, including:

Each one took part as GMs of several teams in the draft and conducted the mock draft live over several weeks on Twitter (feel free to check out the back and forth on Twitter/X by searching for #FGTMock).  A few trends became clear and we certainly had more than a few surprises.

Missed it?  Don’t want to check Twitter/X?  Well, you’re in luck, because we have Round 1 of that mock draft below along with the reasoning for some of the picks.  And also don’t forget to check out Round 2!

1 – Las Vegas Raiders

Pick: Fernando Mendoza – QB (Indiana)

Staff: George Templeton

I am sure the Raiders will consider trading down now that they have Kirk . . . Oh nooooo. Las Vegas is not the same old dysfunctional franchise that they’ve been. You don’t hire a bright offensive mind like Clint Kubiak and not pair him with THE outstanding quarterback in this year’s draft class. Fernando Mendoza was the only choice for the Raiders.

2 – New York Jets

Pick: Arvell Reese – EDGE (Ohio State)

Staff: Ha Kung Wong

In many ways, the Jets might benefit from trading down to get more picks since they have so many gaps to fills and could benefit from on both defense and offense.  But if they’re picking at number 2 overall, Arvell Reese is the player they should pick.

In 2025, Reese started all 14 games for the Buckeyes piling up 69 tackles, 10 TFLs with 6.5 sacks and 2 pass breakups, resulting in being named First-team Associated Press All-American, Big Ten Conference LB of the Year, and First-team All-Big Ten.  He’s an EDGE who can also play second-level linebacker and did so regularly Ohio State, allowing for some great versatility and defensive creativity at the NFL level.  The Jets are in dire need of a pass-rush, but being able to effectively track jet sweeps as well as drop in to mid-route coverage checks several boxes that can help improve a struggling Jets defense.

Reese had the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.46 seconds) and 10-yard split (1.58) of any defensive end in the NFL Scouting Combine and absolutely blasted agility drills.  He has enough speed to cover sideline-to-sideline and can be that spark the Jets need.

3 – Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Sonny Styles – LB (Ohio State)

Staff: Scott King

The Logic: Arizona needs a transformative defender who can anchor a versatile scheme. Styles is a defensive “eraser” with the size of a linebacker (6’4″, 240 lbs) and the range of a safety. In 2025, he recorded an elite tackle-to-miss ratio (90 attempts, 2 misses), proving he can stabilize the middle of the field while neutralizing the “big-slot” tight ends that typically create mismatches.

4 – Tennessee Titans

Pick: David Bailey – EDGE (Texas Tech)

Staff: George Templeton

I am sure the tug of war inside the Tennessee war room was real. Help your quarterback by getting the best offensive player in this draft (Jeremiyah Love) or give newly-hired Robert Saleh a chance to build the kind of defenses he’s built in New York and San Francisco. The fact the best edge rusher in the draft, David Bailey, fell to 4 makes him the pick for the Titans.

5 – New York Giants

Pick: Carnell Tate – WR (Ohio State)

Staff: Joanne Kong

In the 2025 season, Jaxson Dart has proven he can become the new face of the Giants’ franchise. Now that the NY Giants have a quarterback they can build on, that should be the goal for the 2026 NFL Draft. Former Baltimore Ravens and new Giants head coach John Harbaugh loves his running backs. It might have been a need if the Giants hadn’t found their work horse with Cam Skattebo, who left last season with an injury. Skattebo was a breakout player in his rookie season, bringing the Giants backfield to life. To expand the field, Harbaugh recruited Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, predicting big things for Likely and big wins for the NY Giants. During free agency, wide receiver Darnell Mooney (Atlanta Falcons) and Calvin Austin III (Pittsburgh Steelers) were also brought in to expand the receiving core. The additions help Jaxon Dart, but the Giants are still missing the big playmaker.

This is where the #5 draft pick, Carnell Tate, fits into the puzzle. Carnell Tate finished his last season at Ohio State with 875 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Throughout his college career, Tate totaled 1872 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. During the combine, Tate was noted for his route running and excelling at contested catches. At six-three, Carnell Tate should be a welcome target for Jaxson Dart.

6 – Cleveland Browns

Pick: Monroe Freeling – OT (Georgia)

Staff: Dave Earl

Freeling is a massive (6’7”, 315 lbs), highly athletic left tackle prospect with elite length, quick feet, and rare movement skills (near-perfect RAS score). He started full-time at LT for Georgia in 2025 after limited prior experience, showing upside as a pass protector with room to add strength. The Browns have invested in interior OL and RT via free agency but still have a clear hole at left tackle, where protection remains a priority for their young QBs. His size, athleticism, and developmental traits make him a strong, high-upside fit to anchor the edge long-term.

7 – Washington Commanders

Pick: Jeremiyah Love – RB (Notre Dame)

Staff: Dave Earl

Love is an explosive, do-it-all running back (6’0”, 212 lbs) with elite speed (4.36 40), vision, receiving skills, and big-play ability—he led Notre Dame with strong production and ranks as a top overall prospect. The Commanders added veteran RBs in free agency but still value young, dynamic talent to complement their offense and add explosiveness. His three-down versatility and playmaking fit what the team has sought in skill-position additions, providing immediate impact without over-relying on one back.

8 – New Orleans Saints

Pick: Rueben Bain Jr. – EDGE (Miami)

Staff: Dave Earl

Bain is a powerful, compact edge rusher (6’2”-6’3”, ~263-270 lbs) known for violent hands, elite run defense, bull rush strength, and high motor—he generated massive pressures and plays with alpha leadership. The Saints’ defensive line has struggled with pressure rates and needs reinforcements at edge/DL amid veteran transitions. His high-floor power game, versatility (edge or sub-package inside), and disruptive potential align well with bolstering the front seven for a more competitive unit.

9 – Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Caleb Downs – S (Ohio State)

Staff: Wole Akinso

10 – Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Jermod McCoy – CB (Tennessee)

Staff: Ha Kung Wong

The Bengals had a ton of issues to address on defense entering the offseason, but since then have signed Jonathan Allen to the interior of their defensive line, Bryan Cook to their safety room, and Boye Mafe to their edge rusher group.  That leaves the Bengals in a good spot to address their need at corner with Jermod McCoy.

McCoy is coming off an ACL injury over a year ago but has a slightly depressed draft stock since he hasn’t played since 2024.  He did put up some solid numbers at the Tennessee Pro Day with a 38” vertical jump and a 10’7” broad jump, also running a 4.38 40-yard dash.  In 2024, McCoy had 44 tackles and 4 interceptions on the season and likely would have been an easy Top 5 Draft pick if he didn’t have the ACL injury. But the Pro Day performance should give the Bengals enough confidence that he’s back to picking up exactly where he left off.

11 – Miami Dolphins

Pick: Makai Lemon – WR (USC)

Staff: Kaiden King

12 – Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Mansour Delane – CB (LSU)

Staff: Ha Kung Wong

The Cowboys clearly have a rebuilt defense in their sights after getting new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who brings a 3-4 scheme from Philadelphia.  They gave up 6.1 yards per play in 2025, 31st in the NFL and third worst for any team in any of the past five seasons, so there’s plenty of room for improvement.  They’ve already made some solid additions at corner this offseason like Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick, along with having Shavon Revel and Daron Bland returning, but if they really want their secondary to pop, taking one of the best corner backs in the draft in Mansour Delane makes a ton of sense.

At LSU last season, Delane was named First-team Associated Press All-American, First-team All-SEC and tied for ninth in the FBS with 1.2 passes defensed per game. He started 11 games leading LSU with 11 pass breakups and added 45 tackles and 2 INTs.  Delane can step immediately and take away an opposing team’s best receiver with his man-to-man coverage ability and knack for attacking the ball when it’s in his vicinity, perfect for Parker’s system.  With McCoy off the board, this is a no-brainer.

13 – Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons)

Pick: Francis Mauigoa – OT (Miami)

Staff: Scott King

The Logic: This is a high-floor, high-value move to secure the pocket. Mauigoa entered the draft as the consensus top offensive lineman after allowing zero sacks and zero penalties during Miami’s 2025-26 postseason run. His 6’6″, 335 lb frame and elite hand-fighting technique make him a plug-and-play starter for the Rams’ outside zone and duo-run schemes.

14 – Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Jordyn Tyson – WR (Arizona State)

Staff: Wole Akinso

15 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Akheem Mesidor – EDGE (Miami)

Staff: Joanne Kong

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fall from grace in the 2nd half of the 2025 season was disappointing for Buccaneer fans and fantasy players alike. Finishing with an 8-9 season asks the question…what went wrong?

Was it Baker Mayfield? The offensive line? The defense?

Like all struggling teams, pinpointing a specific area is easy, but the truth of the matter is that the team cohesively didn’t work.

In the quarterback position, Baker Mayfield will be backed up by Jake Browning, since drafting a quarterback will be difficult at pick fifteen. Protection for Baker Mayfield should be on the list for the 2026 draft, since a protection in the pocket will be a necessity for Mayfield’s production and health. Even though the offensive line could use some tender love and care, with the fifteenth pick of the 2026 draft, the Buccaneers need to consider shoring up the defense.

Although the Buccaneers had 38 sacks last season, much of that pressure came from the interior and blitz rather than outside. Opposing teams quickly learned the weakness of the outside rush defense, leaving the Buccaneers vulnerable to the passing game and late game breakdowns.

Edge, Akheem Mesidor, had 71 total pressures, 21.3% pass-rush wins (94th percentile) rate and 16% pressure rate.

Although his past foot injuries are concerning for this 25-year-old defender, Mesidor possesses talent that cannot be overlooked, strength, flexibility and athleticism that translates into the NFL. With a solid foundation and discipline, Mesidor has shown the ability to beat the opposing offensive line and attack opposing quarterbacks by becoming the aggressor, initiating contact and beating the opponent with effective hand play and movement.

Mesidor’s addition would create a credible threat that would put pressure on opposing offenses, allowing the Buccaneers to finish games and win.

16 – New York Jets (from Colts)

Pick: Ty Simpson – QB (Alabama)

Staff: Ha Kung Wong

I suspect that this pick might be controversial among fans because the Jets have so many needs on defense.  But let’s be honest, the Jets bombed out with Geno Smith when they drafted him, and a 35-year-old Geno Smith coming off a terrible season in Las Vegas is not filling me with much optimism.  Neither does winless UDFA Brady Cook or re-tread Baily Zappe make me think anything resembling an offense could be on the field at MetLife for the Jets in 2026.  So with the Jets second pick of the draft, Ty Simpson makes a lot of sense.

Simpson waited in Alabama behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe before getting his chance in 2025 and he did not disappoint ending up being ranked 7th in the FBS with 305 completions (473 attempts, 64.5%), 10th with 3,567 passing yards along with 28 passing TDs and 5 INTs, plus 2 rushing TDs. He started all 15 games as a Team Captain and ultimately led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Championships before falling to eventual champion Indiana.  It’s clear he has the pedigree and the ability to work under pressure, with excellent mechanics, but is probably not ready to start immediately.  Some might disagree with me on this but getting him now makes for a great plan for 2027, with some 2026 upside.

Ty Simpson Passing Stats
Season Team Class G Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD Int Y/A Y/G Rate
2022* Alabama FR 4 4 5 80.0 35 0 0 7.0 8.8 138.8
2023* Alabama FR 6 11 20 55.0 179 0 0 9.0 29.8 130.2
2024* Alabama SO 6 14 25 56.0 167 0 0 6.7 27.8 112.1
2025 Alabama JR 15 305 473 64.5 3567 28 5 7.5 237.8 145.2
Care Care Care 31 334 523 63.9 3948 28 5 7.5 127.4 143.0

17 – Detroit Lions

Pick: Kayden Proctor – OT (Alabama)

Staff: Scott King

The Logic: This pick doubles down on Detroit’s identity of physical intimidation. Proctor is a massive 6’7″, 360 lb tackle who plays with a violent, relentless style that matches the Lions’ “grit” culture. He is SEC-tested and brings the lateral quickness necessary to maintain a dominant ground game while offering an elite physical ceiling for the left side of the line.

18 – Minnesota Vikings

Pick: Dillon Thieneman – S (Oregon)

Staff: Ha Kung Wong

With Harrison Smith likely retiring or at least looking like he might retire at the time the draft starts, the Vikings are going to need to find a new field general for their defense at safety.  With Caleb Downs off the board in the Top 10, something that’s likely to happen on draft night, Dillon Thieneman would be the best safety on the board, but he’s far from a consolation prize.

In 2025, Thieneman started all 15 games for the Ducks, totaling 95 tackles, 3.5 TFLs with 1 sack, 2 INTs, and 5 pass breakups, resulting in being named Second-team Associated Press All-American and First-team All-Big Ten. He’s a ball-hawk with amazing agility, particularly downhill (a 4.35 40 yard dash with a 1.52 10 yard split). He also managed the 2nd highest vertical jump (41.00″) and the most bench press reps (18) among safeties at the combine.  We can do stats all day long, but the bottom line is that Thieneman may be the most natural transition the Vikings could draft to take over for Smith, and even if Smith stays, would be a great pick so that they don’t miss a beat on defense in the future.

19 – Carolina Panthers

Pick: Avieon Terrell – CB (Clemson)

Staff: Kaiden King

20 – Dallas Cowboys (from Packers)

Pick: C.J. Allen – LB (Georgia)

Staff: Ha Kung Wong

As I mentioned at Pick 12, the Cowboys are eyeing a reboot of their defense, so it makes sense for the Cowboys to go defense again here.  C.J. Allen has tons of versatility as he can drop in coverage, run down ball carriers and even blitz. He led the Georgia with 88 tackles (8 TFLs) last season for Georgia, showing an amazing ability to assess and react to opposing offenses.  He started 13 games totaling 3.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles.  He’ll be a difference maker from day 1.

21 – Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Olaivavega Ioanne (Penn State)

Staff: Joanne Kong

The PIttsburgh Steelers have a laundry list of needs with so many players in free agency, and so many heading to free agency in 2027. First and foremost, there is a need at quarterback. At pick 21, taking a chance on a quarterback will unlikely benefit the rebuild of the team. Aaron Rodgers did just enough to have a 10-7 record, finished first in the AFC North for the first time since 2021, and made the playoffs for the third season in a row. Unfortunately, the post-season was short lived, losing the wildcard game to the Houston Texans 6-30.

In all honesty, he’s done just enough to bring the Steelers into the postseason, but has continued to fall short during his stint with the team. Regardless of who is at center, the Pittsburgh Steelers need to address their offensive line issue. In 2025, Rodgers was sacked 29 times. Protection will be key in rebuilding the offensive line. Olaivavega Ioane is where the STeelers should start. Available at pick 21, Ioane is a steal of a pick and great value to building the offensive line.

22 – Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Peter Woods – DT (Clemson)

Staff: Wole Akinso

23 – Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Spencer Fano – OT (Utah)

Staff: George Templeton

There’s no telling what Howie Roseman might cook up before the draft starts. But in case the Eagles are picking here they will be thrilled that one of the best offensive line prospects falls right in their lap. Recently the best offensive line in football has lost a little bit of luster do to retirements, injuries and age. Well step forward Spencer Fano who will plug right and give Philadelphia some athleticism and a little bit of the attitude they once had.

24 – Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars)

Pick: Denzel Boston – WR (Washington)

Staff: Dave Earl

Boston would give the Browns a reliable, mismatch-creating outside weapon who elevates the entire passing game without needing years of development. The Browns hosted him for a top-30 visit, and positive buzz from his pro day (strong route work, athletic testing like 37.5” vert and quick shuttle) as he offers a safer, higher-floor profile than some boom-or-bust vertical threats in the class. He has exceptional contested-catch rate (around 61-77% in recent seasons) and a massive catch radius as he extends well, plucks away from his body, and wins jump balls with a “my ball” mentality.

25 – Chicago Bears

Pick: Kayden McDonald – DT (Ohio State)

Staff: Ha Kung Wong

Saying the Bears have significant inconsistency on defense is a huge understatement.  They had a bottom 5 run defense, allowing the 6th-most yards rushing in the NFL last season and were tied for the 7th-fewest sacks.  The amount of heroics the offense had to have was directly proportional the number of big plays given up by the defense last season.  Kayden McDonald can be a good step to resolving some of those issue.

McDonald played as a backup to first-round pick Tyleik Williams during Ohio State’s 2024 national championship run and became a starter in 2025 piling up 65 tackles, including 9 for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and was named an All-American.  He was a constant disrupter in the middle of the defense with excellent ability to change direction and had to be accounted for on every play.  Clearly, that’s something Bears really need.

He had his first pre-draft visit with the Bears in early April, so he’s already shown interest, so I think this is the perfect pick for the Bears near the end of the 1st round.

26 – Buffalo Bills

Pick: Keldric Faulk – DE (Auburn)

Staff: Scott King

The Logic: Buffalo needs a consistent, heavy-handed edge presence who can disrupt without requiring a blitz. Faulk is an elite run-defender with a high floor and the frame (6’6″, 276 lbs) to slide inside on passing downs. His high-character profile and versatility provide the Bills with a reliable rotation player who can collapse the pocket from multiple alignments.

27 – San Francisco 49ers

Pick: T.J. Parker – DT (Clemson)

Staff: Joanne Kong

The edge position might not seem like an immediate concern for the San Francisco 49ers with star players Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, but fans, coaches and the 49ers head office are aware of Nick Bosa’s injury history. In 2025, Nick Bosa tore his ACL in week 3. He was out for the season, and finding a replacement to shore up the edge wasn’t easy. With this in mind, a stable successor would make sense for the 49ers first round pick.

Enter T.J. Parker. Parker finished his college career with 39 straight games played and 41.5 tackles for a loss. He shows a good use of arms to disrupt offensive blockers, and has the ability to use speed and power to drive back blockers and force his way into the pocket and disrupt the quarterback.

28 – Houston Texans

Pick: Christen Miller – DT (Georgia)

Staff: George Templeton

The Texans need offensive weapons but there isn’t really any worth picking at this spot so the Houston brass continues to reinforce their interior line with another Georgia defensive product Christen Miller.

29 – Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams)

Pick: Omar Cooper Jr. – WR (Indiana)

Staff: Wole Akinso

30 – Miami Dolphins (from Broncos)

Pick: D’Angelo Ponds – CB (Indiana)

Staff: Kaiden King

31 – New England Patriots

Pick: K.C. Concepcion – WR (Texas A&M)

Staff: Wole Akinso

32 – Seattle Seahawks

Pick: Colton Hood – CB (Tennessee)

Staff: Dave Earl

Hood is a physical, well-rounded corner (6’0”, ~193-195 lbs) with good technique, man/zone coverage skills, length, and tenacity—he stepped up as a shutdown-type player in 2025 after transfers. Seattle’s secondary has holes, particularly at corner after potential departures, and the team often prioritizes athletic, press-man capable DBs. His size, coverage versatility, and ascending traits make him a logical addition to rebuild depth and competitiveness on the perimeter.

Second round picks coming soon!

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