It's your buddy Lou Pickney with you here with a DKDB update.
April 13th 2026 We're just 10 days away from night one of the 2026 NFL Draft.
We've reached the stretch run part of this process.
And in the DKDB, my expert curated personally curated 2026 NFL Mock Draft database, I've got the best of the best.
I'll show you my very latest mock draft.
It was a mild revision this morning.
We'll go through that in just a moment.
Got some updates from today.
I knew this Monday was going to have several coming in.
Charlie Campbell Nicholas Rome Michael Middlehursh Schwartz and Brendan Donahue.
Only two people in the world that have a higher score in the Huddle Reports competition from 2021 to 2025.
I'm tied for third, just like I was tied for third from 2020 to 2024.
Had a pretty good run.
But over the past 5 years, only two people have a higher score than I have are Jason Boris and Brendan Donahue.
Jason puts out one mock draft per year.
He puts it out the usually the morning of that first day of the draft.
He's done quite well the last few years.
Jason's number one over the past 5 years.
Brendan is number two.
He's got a brand new up today.
And it's noteworthy that Brendan has Arvell Reese at two.
Something to keep in mind.
It's particularly relevant when you compare it with my updated mock draft.
Just a mild revision, but I thought it was necessary based on new information.
Mendoza at one has been a lock since the Raiders clinched the number one pick the last week of the regular season.
So they've known that for a while.
It's Mendoza.
If it's not Mendoza, it would be a shock of all shocks.
It's not going to happen.
He's going to the Raiders absent something just absolutely astonishing.
At two.
Now here's the switch I made.
Only a mild switch, but it does affect the top of the draft.
I flipped Arvell Reese and David Bailey.
Moved Bailey up to two.
Reese down to four to the Titans.
Everything else is the same as it was when I updated it just a couple of days ago.
It's somewhat misleading to have Francis Mauigoa in that three spot with the Cardinals cuz there is a lot of smoke saying that the Dallas Cowboys and maybe others, but notably the Cowboys looking to trade up.
Looking to get an elite edge rusher.
Whether it's David Bailey or Arvell Reese.
They might ask, "Well Lou, why why the switch?
Why this slight change?
Why does it just say LB there?" Well, he's a linebacker that can also play edge.
And in some ways at least with some evaluators, it seems like that hurts him.
And that's not a unique thing.
Versatility and unique skills have to be cultivated in the right system to be maximally effective.
That's just the reality of it.
And teams are looking for edge rushers.
Aside for quarterback an elite edge rusher with some youth that isn't all banged up is about as difficult as it is to find in the NFL.
If you've got one that's on a rookie contract again, quarterback is the top as far as that goes by a significant margin.
But a great edge rusher is going to be in demand.
And the question with Reese is, "Well, what do you need to learn more technique-wise to be a full-time edge rusher?" But I think by the way the Titans are set up I think they could utilize Reese in both his linebacker and edge rushing skill set.
A lot of things the Titans could do, but that's only if they get him.
Cuz what if Dallas trades up here to number three in order to get either Arvell Reese or David Bailey, whichever of the two is there.
In that case, what do the Titans do?
I asked that in the last DKDB update.
And there's still not a good answer.
I think the reality is they'd probably take either Sonny Styles, linebacker from Ohio State or Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love.
A lot of people think that Love is going to the Titans.
And yet I think of what Adam Schefter has said.
He's been very adamant.
And he's not typically like that.
This whole thing has been kind of weird though.
It's felt like Schefter, at least my perception of it, maybe it's not true, but my perception is that Schefter has come across as very uncomfortable every time this topic has come up.
But he's been steadfast saying he doesn't think that the Titans will use that number four overall pick on Jeremiah Love.
He then expanded on that saying he he doesn't think the Giants and Philly will either.
He's saying like what I've got right here.
Commanders Jeremiah Love at seven.
It gets interesting with the Browns.
If Carnell Tate is there at six at least some circles or people that feel pretty strongly the Browns will go for Tate.
If he's gone they might go with Monroe Freeling there.
They might go with Spencer Fano there.
It's hard to know for sure.
So there's the extra bit of intrigue.
Remember the Browns had the number 24 pick as well in the draft.
So that's the quick change I made to my mock draft.
And it wasn't just to put a new date on it.
But that was a legitimate change that I thought was important to recognize and reflect.
And yet it is noteworthy mentioning the DKDB where Brendan's new mock over on Sharp Football Analysis has Arvell Reese there still there at number two.
What Michael has here with Jeremiah Love.
I pick out typically I'll try to go for three players for each mocker that are noteworthy in some particular way.
Maybe connection with a team that you haven't seen as much.
And those late risers in there like Malachi Lawrence from UCF edge rusher getting a lot of attention.
I urge you bookmark the DKDB.
I'm I'm not just on a daily basis.
I'm updating this several times a day this time of year.
Newest up at the top and a whole bunch from the past week couple of weeks.
Sam Teets did a great job.
I'll put a link to this in the description as far I'll probably go through it at some point.
Give you a chance to read it first.
But looking for some under the radar type players that evaluators are particularly high on.
He talked to a bunch of guys.
I said, "Okay, pick the my guy, quote unquote, who you think is a an under the radar prospect that's going to do well and that deserves attention." So that just came out this morning.
So I encourage you to read that.
Sam does a really good job.
I read a lot of stuff from a lot of different people.
Wait to see some of these guys from PFF.
Still got them down here at the bottom because the unfortunate layoffs that PFF made.
I imagine they'll be showing up between now and night one of the draft.
Keep a close eye out for it.
Always do.
That's a look at what we have here as far as the very latest in the DKDB.
But wait, there's more.
Make sure to mention I've got prospects listed by position.
Some of these I have more to add to.
Trying to get everybody that at least got an invite to the NFL Combine in there.
Finished the linebackers.
I'll show this real fast.
So there are a bunch of different players like Red Murdoch.
I've got risers.
Of course, I keep the DKDB updates in there for people to see the very latest they happen to check out the website want to learn more about Red Murdoch out of Buffalo linebacker.
Well got what you need to know there information-wise.
Linked to the official school page which is going to have all the stats.
A lot of good information.
Got the prospect list.
I mean I don't I don't even have my own draft simulator on the DKDB.
I'm going for human curated.
But those simulators are very popular.
I enjoy doing them too just to see how it plays out.
So okay.
What do they have?
I read and listen to and take in as much as I can during draft season for the relevant stuff.
So I encourage you to check that out within the DKDB.
Again, suddenly the it looks really large on a if it's a television like I'm using here for my monitor or a regular computer screen.
But you get this on a phone.
I think a mobile.
That's the idea with the larger font with some of this.
At some point I'm going to go through with cloud coding after this draft and really get things dialed in.
But for now, we'll do the old with the new as far as the DKDB goes.
Picking a new.
I've got now team projections.
So, for this DKDB update, I'm going to go through the AFC.
We'll start with the AFC East here.
Let's start with Buffalo, Buffalo Bills.
I've got your commonly mocked positions and your frequently projected players.
So, with the Bills, especially as of late, lot of talk about a safety.
If one's there, it's possible there could be three safeties gone before the Bills pick.
Defensive tackle, you hear that a lot, edge rusher.
Even wide receiver.
As far as some of the more frequently projected players, Akheem Mesidor, edge from Miami, who turned 25 years old earlier this month, which is very old for an NFL Draft prospect, but he's in his physical peak right now at age 25.
So, if he's on the board, he might not be.
Mesidor here, to me, makes sense.
McKinnley Warren, very physical, 6-3 and 1/2.
Most guys of this size don't have the speed to play safety, but he does.
Cade McNamara, very effective defensive tackle for as pressuring quarterbacks, getting those tackles for loss.
And then, Heldrick Falk, edge rusher from Auburn.
Now, whether any of those players are still there when the Bills come on the board, that would be number 26.
At that point, that's what's projected, at least.
New England Patriots.
The Patriots with a pick near the end of the first round.
See a lot of edge rusher.
Get some offensive tackle, offensive line, but tackle in particular.
Wide receiver.
And then, tight end.
And tight end tends to be if you see a slide for Kinyon Sadiq.
I don't know if he's getting past the Patriots.
But in addition to that, kind of the most frequently or several frequently for as mock drafts in the DKDB and other projections, Zion Young, edge rusher from Mizou.
Akheem Mesidor, just mentioned him from Miami, so edge.
Of course, a lot of looks, Blake Miller, offensive tackle from Clemson.
Denzel Boston, wide receiver from Washington.
I'm getting talked about with the Patriots.
New York Jets.
The Jets have the number one, the number 16, and the number 33 for as those picks go.
It's number two.
Let's say this is a one, number two, number 16.
If they had the number one, they get Mendoza, but they don't.
So, what's been talked about with that number two pick, linebacker, which is really code for Arvel Reese.
Edge rusher, David Bailey.
And then, they can board that 16 pick, wide receiver, interior offensive line.
I'd see a corner as well.
We're talking about what's commonly mocked.
Remember, the Jets had zero interceptions last season.
Of course, frequently projected, well, Reese and Bailey up there.
Those are the two names you see over and over the number two pick.
Number 16 pick, one receiver, Jordan Addison.
If he's there, perhaps that's the floor for Addison, who's a tremendous playmaker, but might see a drop due to injury concerns.
And then, Omar Cooper Jr., wide receiver, national champion Indiana Hoosiers.
Excellent season there.
O'Rayan.
Getting talked about with the Jets.
Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins with a pair of first-round picks.
Lot of offensive tackle, and that's been more and more what I've been hearing.
The Dolphins with a lot of offensive tackle talk.
Quarterback, of course, a need, edge.
Wide receiver, or they just traded a receiver, so perhaps you don't trade a receiver to get a first and use that for a different receiver.
Trading Waddle to Denver.
Of course, frequently projected players for Miami, Francis Mauigoa, Mansour Delane, Jermaine McCoy, Zion Young.
They'll play out for the Dolphins.
For as the AFC North goes, Baltimore Ravens.
I had to shorten them as far as the mock positions.
You hear a lot of offensive line, particularly interior offensive line.
I should probably adjust that.
Wide receiver and tight end.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu from Penn State, perhaps the best offensive guard in this draft class.
That's the opinion as far as pure guards go, not just a tackle tweener that can play guard as well.
Um but Fashanu, on many evaluators' boards, the top.
For as for interior offensive line, guard or center, for that matter.
Spencer Fautanu is getting mentioned a lot.
Jordan Addison, Kinyon Sadiq.
I like the idea of Sadiq going to Baltimore, but I'm not sure that's what they're going to do.
I'm not sure if Sadiq's going to be there, for that matter.
Addison's a possibility.
But it's an obvious need, an interior offensive line for Baltimore.
And if Fashanu is there, or maybe they go with Spencer Fautanu if he's there.
But I think one of those two makes a lot of sense.
We'll see.
Cincinnati Bengals.
Since he has the number 10 overall pick in the first round.
You hear a lot of safety, edge, cornerback, linebacker.
Safety is if you're seeing that, it's going to be Caleb Downs from Ohio State.
Edge rusher, maybe Ruben Bain Jr.
Or has been mentioned.
I know some Bengal fans, I've talked to some online that are not keen on the idea of them using a first-round pick on a corner, but it's been talked about.
And look between Mansour Delane and Jermaine McCoy, that's a reasonable range for Cincinnati to consider corner, if that's the move.
And then, linebacker, if perhaps Sonny Styles slides.
Lot's thought that Styles will be gone by the Giants at number five.
But maybe not.
Off-ball linebacker is not a premium position, but something to keep in mind.
With Downs, he would be the first safety, for as a pure safety, drafted in the top 10 of the NFL Draft in 10 years, if the Bengals took him at number 10.
And as noted, the cornerback possibility, Mansour Delane, he gets seen mocked seen mocked here quite a bit to Cincinnati.
Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland has two first-round picks, the sixth and the 24th.
Offensive tackle, wide receiver, and that's really the talk.
I mean, maybe a a tweener type that can play guard if you need him to.
Lot of whispers that the plan, and this these are just whispers, keep that in mind.
Lot of talk that Carnell Tate will be the choice at number six for Cleveland, if he's on the board.
There's also talk that Cleveland would like to trade back, to move back.
It's true for a lot of teams.
Francis Mauigoa, his name mentioned there sometimes, if he's there, although he tends to be off the board in a lot of these mocks.
Monroe Freeling, it's no secret that Cleveland is a big fan of Freeling, at least.
If they're not, they fooled a lot of people on it.
And then, Jordan Addison mentioned as a possibility, as well.
Those are player names you see show up quite a bit.
And again, Cleveland with the sixth and the 24th, it's a little bit of a different dynamic.
We'll see how things play out for the Browns.
Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wide receiver, interior offensive line, offensive tackle, and then quarterback.
Omar Cooper Jr., he's been a riser here in this process.
Lot of talk about Cooper being first round.
Boston perhaps will be as well.
A 6-4 frame really helps.
Of course, people are making a case for him.
Hayden Proctor, if he's not gone already.
Lot of talk that Detroit wants Proctor at 17, but you never know, things can change in the course of a draft.
And then, finally, Taliese Simpson.
I don't think that's going to happen.
There have been multiple indications out of Pittsburgh that Simpson, at least in round one, is not going to be the selection.
The hope for Steelers fans is that Aaron Rodgers will put off retirement for one more year, give it one more run with the Steelers.
If you're going to go defensive tackle, Kayden McDonald is really I wouldn't say he's broken away, but a lot of evaluators are high on him where there are some question marks about some other top defensive tackle prospects.
Seen that kind of fade on some evaluator lists for Peter Woods, defensive tackle from Clemson, Caleb Banks from Florida.
Great athlete, but has been plagued by injury.
And then you've got Kayden Proctor, Kayden McDonald, excuse me.
Got a couple of Kaydens in there.
Kayden McDonald has eight and a half sacks or tackles for loss, I should say, from a nose guard position for the Buckeyes last year.
Proctor, physically tremendously gifted, 6'7, goes with the 350 lbs, and yet athletic enough where he could play guard if need be at the NFL level.
Going more traditional guard type, there's been whispers of Emanuel Pregnon Oregon being to Houston.
You go defensive tackle, another possibility, Christian Miller, defensive tackle, Georgia.
These are frequently projected players for Houston.
Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts don't have a first round pick.
Keep that in mind.
As far as from the box with multiple rounds, I get some ideas from that.
Edge, linebacker, wide receiver, safety as far as positions.
So, a lot of defense.
Frequently projected, Anthony Hill Jr.
Really good linebacker out of Texas.
Malachi Lawrence.
Inevitably, there will be players that will slide to day two at the edge position that look like potential first round picks.
Even as valuable as edge is, doesn't mean there'll be just a keeping number of them necessarily going in the first round.
Every team's got different needs and different wants.
And if you can get the number seven edge on your board and get the top player at a different position, perhaps that's the move.
But young, elite edge talent always going to be in demand by the NFL as now.
It's just going to keep tilting more and more in that direction.
Those rule changes made for safety reasons, those were important rule changes.
They're not going to undo them.
This That position will just become increasingly important.
As other linebackers, Josiah Trotter from Missouri, Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech getting a lot of talk as well.
He might sneak into the late part of the first round even.
Let's look what the Colts are getting projected with.
As teams without first round picks, Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tony Khan, how you doing, bud?
For your team, and linebacker, defensive tackle, safety, and edge.
So, clearly the people with those multiple I tend to focus on the first round, but I read everything that I possibly can.
And there's a lot of talk with the Jaguars looking to fill some holes in their defense.
As projected players, Jake Moody, linebacker from Cincinnati, a lot of talk about him going as a possible high day two pick.
Anthony Hill Jr.
from Texas as noted.
I think if linebacker weren't seen as a non-premium position, off-ball linebacker, he would be a first round pick, but just the way the position is valued in the NFL.
Rayshaun Benny, if they go defensive tackle from Michigan, getting some looks.
And Gabe Ikard, that J is silent.
It's Gabe Ikard, edge from Illinois.
As players frequently projected for the Jacksonville Jaguars, then finally my Tennessee Titans, my hometown Titans.
As the AFC South goes, probably mocked.
Well, you've seen it by now.
Edge, running back.
I could have just written Jeremiah Love there, but you get the idea.
Linebacker, wide receiver.
I've gone through this many times.
Whether it's David Bailey or Arvell Reese, a lot of whispers that those two one of those two would be ideal for the Titans if they can just get one of those the fall to them at four.
It appears very strongly that one of them, whether it's Reese or Bailey, is going to go to the Jets at two, the Cardinals at three.
If they just sit still and take an offensive tackle, great for the Titans.
If somebody trades up to get Jeremiah Love, and if the Titans really don't want Love, then great for the Titans as well with that.
And if not, then perhaps they trade back.
Or perhaps they do take Jeremiah Love after all at four.
Also possibility, Sonny Styles.
Going to off-ball linebacker, but Styles is unique, that safety-linebacker hybrid.
Those are the most frequently projected players as those DKDB drafts go for the Tennessee Titans.
And finally, now the AFC West.
The next update I'll go through the NFC.
Let's talk about the AFC West.
Denver Broncos.
Another team without a first round pick.
As what has been commonly mocked, linebacker, tight end, cornerback, and defensive tackle.
There possibilities of running back as well, but that's that's just conjecture, really.
As what is commonly mocked, you see it there.
More and more talk about Eli Stowers, tight end, Vandy.
Some teams viewing him as more of a tall wide receiver than a tight end.
Max Kliar from Ohio State, another tight end getting a look.
Davison Igbinosun from Ohio State.
What a lot of defense the Buckeyes have had last couple of years.
And Josiah Trotter, linebacker Missouri.
He's been a bit of a riser, showing up on lists as day two possibilities.
Let's look at Denver.
Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City with a pair of first round picks.
I think who they might take at number nine, who they might take down number 30 and beyond.
Kansas City, the first time in a long time for the Chiefs to be drafting in the top 10.
They've been consistently very good the past several years, haven't had a top 10 pick.
I talked earlier about how the demand is for elite young edge rusher prospects.
And there'll be edge rushers on day two, but guess it depends on how the Chiefs see some of these prospects, particularly Ruben Bain Jr.
Get him in a minute.
Cornerback, definitely a need for the Chiefs.
They face some salary cap crunch and had to work some deals that kind of let them thin at corner.
Wide receiver and tight end really meaning Kinyon Sedeeq.
Mansour Delane, upper corner, Chiefs.
That's funny, I already assigned him there.
That's a That's a blooper right there.
He's not there yet.
What school did he go to?
You would be Chiefs.
>> [laughter] >> Started Virginia Tech, transferred to LSU.
Many have Delane as the top corner on their draft boards as far as the top evaluators.
Also a lot of talk about Jermaine McCoy after his really strong workout in Knoxville, it should be noted.
And Ruben Bain Jr., that ferociousness off the edge.
A little bit of a fade on Bain as of late.
And Kinyon Sedeeq sitting there.
Travis Kelce will be back for next season, but he's in the twilight of his career.
It's not like you couldn't work Kelce and Sedeeq in a two tight end set.
You could find ways to make that work.
That's what's being mocked right now as far as some of those top mock drafts in the DKDB for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders.
Raiders have number one pick and they have to wait till day two.
That trade, the Max Crosby trade.
That fell through, they didn't get Baltimore's number 14 overall pick.
A quarterback, who who get You know who it's going to be.
Fernando Mendoza, we talked about that already.
Wide receiver as far as okay, what beyond that?
Wide receiver, offensive tackle, safety as far as commonly mocked positions beyond just that number one overall spot.
I have to look at this in two parts.
Mendoza at one, it's And that's what it's going to be barring a massive surprise.
And then if you're looking at filling needs, players that might be there on day two, Blake Miller, that might be wishful thinking for Raiders fans because there's a lot of talk that Miller will be gone on night one.
But such things are are never a guarantee.
If he does slide, then there's talk the Raiders might be interested.
And then a pair of Bells at receiver.
Chris Bell from Louisville had a great 2025 season, but unfortunately, Bell suffered a torn ACL in one of his knees in Louisville's bowl game.
But again, the wonders of modern sports medicine.
A lot of optimism that Bell will be able to recover and be back in time to play at least part of the season.
There are a lot of teams that were high on Bell before he got hurt and they're still high on him.
There was talk of that for the Raiders.
And they got a different Bell, Skyler Bell from Yukon.
Been some talk as well.
The latest with the Las Vegas Raiders and one more AFC team to talk about, the Los Angeles Chargers.
They can get number 22 in the first round.
They got edge, interior offensive line, defensive tackle, wide receiver.
Caldor Fall if he were to slide with some thinking he might be gone at Tampa Bay at 15, Dallas at 20.
Well, maybe that doesn't happen.
Maybe he's there at 22 for the Chargers.
K'Lavon Chaisson Howel also getting a mention.
10 and 1/2 sacks last season for the Aggies playing against some top-notch competition.
Arm length is an knock as far as Chaisson goes.
Raekwon Davis mentioned as a defensive tackle.
I can see that happening.
And if he's there, Raekwon Davis from Penn State.
I love that player team match-up, but increasingly the indicators were there that Raekwon was unlikely to slide to the Chargers.
But interior offensive line is not a premium position as far as the way teams value it.
As great as Raekwon is, it's entirely possible that he could be there.
He could slide, but I don't know.
But that's what the projections are showing.
All right.
So, went through the AFC teams today.
For tomorrow's DKDB update, we'll go through the NFC.
Go through the latest draft rumors, updates.
Be sure to check out the DKDB.
Bookmark this.
You'll be glad you did.
The very latest in there.
No AI, no filler, no nonsense, no gimmicks, no every team trades their pick nonsense.
Now, this can be fun.
Those can be entertaining.
But if you want to go for the good stuff, if you want to go for the information, the people have gotten this right with a proven track record, we're talking top media outlets.
We're talking top broadcasting companies, newspapers, blogs.
If you've got the good stuff, you're an independent, you'll make it to the DKDB.
