Hello friends, it's your buddy Lou Pickney with you here with the DKDB updates.
April 14th, 2026.
We're more than a week away from night one of the 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
Now more than ever is the time, if you haven't already, bookmark the DKDB.
I put the best of the best in this NFL Mock Draft database.
Proven successes, people with long-term track records, major media outlets, newspapers, television, radio, independent websites as well.
Update this several times a day this time of year.
My latest Mock Draft was updated yesterday.
What's in this?
The last DKDB update where I flipped David Bailey and Arvell Reese from the two and the four spot.
Still a lot of talk that the Cardinals might be trading down from three.
And even if they don't trade down, there's a thought that they could go for either Arvell Reese or David Bailey at three.
There are some that think Bailey would be the more appealing choice of the two for Arizona, but a lot of that is strictly people speculating from the outside.
Styles to New York.
A lot of people think that's going to happen if Sonny Styles is on the board.
Much like if Cornell Tate is there for the Browns at six.
We'll see if the Commanders go for Jeremiah Love.
It could depend on who else is on the board.
I wouldn't pass up the Saints necessarily going with a an edge rusher here at eight depending on who's available, but a lot of talk about receiver.
Lots of about talk about some Makai Lemon and the Saints.
With the Chiefs, it'll depend on how they feel about Ruben Bain Jr.
about the top corner prospects.
Chiefs also with the number 30 pick in the first round of the draft.
Caleb Downs to the Bengals.
It's the first time in 10 years for a pure safety to go in the top 10 of the NFL Draft.
Jermod McCoy had that great workout in Knoxville.
Ruben, he's back to full health after suffering a torn ACL in one of his knees in January of last year.
That fades somewhat on Ruben Bain Jr.
Cowboys are unable to trade up.
Perhaps they'll end up with a top edge rusher here at 12.
See, a lot of these players in this top 12 range, you see them to one degree or another.
Jordan Tice, some questions on injury history.
Maybe he goes to 13, maybe he slides.
Banging to the Ravens, I've been talking that one up for a long time now.
Still not sure with the Bucks.
Do you go with Kendrick Faulk?
Where does Kenyon Seddik fit into this?
Unique talent with that kind of speed, that sub-4.4 40-yard dash speed, weighing north of 240 lb.
A lot of talk Proctor to the Lions.
Lions need an offensive tackle.
Just like Minnesota needs a safety.
Well, need doesn't necessarily drive a given decision.
Zion Tyneman with that 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine.
I think that's a viable possibility.
Fano, Spencer Fano, will he really be here at 19?
Could go top 10.
We'll see with the Cowboys if they trade up, it might take the 12 and the 20 to do it.
I don't know.
But if they're there, corner's a need.
I've gone through this before.
I mean, this a lot of these same names you're going to see over and over.
A lot of these top prospects Again, Ben Roel Freeling could go up to number six, the Browns.
McNeal Warren to the Bears.
And Mezidor to the Bills.
I just I really think that's a good fit.
Older player like Mezidor at 25 and the Bills who are looking to win right now, right away.
And Sepso to the Niners, I've heard a lot of talk of that.
A bit of a fade as far as people saying certain people saying the 49ers are unlikely to go with an offensive lineman here at 27.
Receivers a need for the Niners and there'll be talent there.
Lomu Fills a need for the Texans.
Cashus Howeth, not an edge rusher for the Chiefs up at nine.
I'm saying 30, the Chiefs have the 29th pick.
Anyway, the late first round pick that Kansas City has, they can go with Cashus Howeth.
Here's his projected trade cuz I really think somebody's going to get Tice Simpson.
Now, if Arizona trades back with Dallas, gets the 12 and the 20, then maybe they use one of those two picks to get Simpson if they in fact want Simpson.
Who knows what to believe this time of year.
Zion Young to the Pats, edge rusher, and then Colson Hood to fill a corner need for the Seahawks.
And I feel about the same with this as I did when I published this yesterday and when I put the what was it the time mostly new information in there when I put this together a few days ago.
I mean, things start to solidify this time of year, but you don't want to get too hung up with any team, player combination.
But a lot of this feels like it's on point and whether it's going to be the exact team match or not.
Of course, there are always surprises.
Can't presume anything.
I don't know and I don't know if the Bengals really do want Caleb Downs.
That's been kind of a mystery.
Of course, teams want more than one player.
So, that's what I'm looking at with my Mock Draft over on mockdraftnfl.com where you can find I've got a link right here in the DKDB.
I got the best of the best.
This is busy season for people like me in the NFL Mock Draft business.
I went through my Mock Draft, talked about the very latest with that.
Other thoughts still dialed in.
Be sure to check out the prospects on the DKDB.
Position by position, you can go through.
Added a bunch of corners and safeties.
Some of these have been in here for a while and some are relatively recent additions.
Like Bishop Fitzgerald.
And possibly even for some of these smaller like Coffeyville Community College sells a page up for Bishop Fitzgerald, so got it linked down here.
So, in the DKDB, we got players.
On top of that, we got team by team projections.
If you missed it yesterday, be sure to check out my team by team evaluation as far as the AFC goes.
We'll pick up where we left off in that last episode with the NFC starting with the NFC East, Dallas Cowboys.
Commonly mocked positions, remember Dallas with the 12 and the 20 or as the overall picks in the first round.
Edge rusher is an obvious huge need.
Cornerback likely to be addressed.
Safety's a possibility, which gets interesting because there's possibility we'll have three safeties going in the top 25.
It's a viable possibility.
And Dallas could be part of that equation.
Also, linebacker.
So, a lot of mocked positions on the defensive side for Dallas.
As the frequently projected players, Ruben Bain Jr.
where I've got him in my current Mock Draft as of this recording.
Elite edge rusher talent.
Sunny Styles, if he's somehow still there.
And some of those projections are people projecting the Cowboys trading up.
But maybe Styles will fall.
Off-ball linebacker's not a priority position.
But Styles is an elite player.
He's really a safety-linebacker hybrid.
Jermaine McCoy, corner from Tennessee as mentioned just a couple of minutes ago, had that great workout University of Tennessee's pro day in Knoxville.
Talking about safeties, Emmanuel McNeal Warren, 6' 3 1/2.
Great size.
And guys with that size typically don't have the speed to play safety at the NFL level, but Emmanuel McNeal Warren does.
Look at what being mocked in some of the latest in the DKDB.
It's top positions and players being mentioned.
New York Giants.
The Giants with the number five overall pick.
It's fairly obvious we see linebacker, wide receiver, >> >> quarterback, running back.
Got you a little sampler platter here.
Got the Ohio State trio and Jeremiah Love.
Sunny Styles, he's really impressed people.
Great showing at the combine.
Cardale Tate, an uncanny ability to get open in 3 seconds or less.
Caleb Downs.
If Downs were to go to the Giants at number five overall, it would be the first time in 16 years for pure safety to go in the top five in the NFL draft.
Let's go back to 2010, Eric Berry of the University of Tennessee to Kansas City.
And Jeremiah Love, although I've seen less of that as of late, it was one thing when Adam Schefter seemed to be very pessimistic about Jeremiah Love going to the Titans at four, and then he later amended that to add that he didn't think the Giants would be a player five.
Now, who knows what's going to actually happen, but Schefter tends to know things.
Anyway, well, you know, Fernando Mendoza is going at number one overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
So, if nothing else, the Giants know if they like these four players, they will be able to get one of those four players, no matter what happens, as long as they get the pick turned in on time at number five.
Philadelphia Eagles.
Been a bit difficult to pin down what the Eagles might do.
Wonder if they're done wheeling and dealing as far as their personnel goes.
Questions with A.J.
Brown.
A lot of whispers that he might be dealt, but it hasn't happened yet.
A lot of talk the Eagles could go offensive tackle.
Wide receiver's been talked about, particularly if A.J.
Brown's traded, but even if he's not.
Brown's been in the league for a few years now.
Doesn't hurt to get a a new ace wide receiver.
Somebody that can help you out.
Cuz the Eagles have the parts and pieces.
They're not that far removed from their Super Bowl win.
There's very little as far as patience goes in the modern NFL.
Edge rusher, also possibility for Philadelphia, and tight end, which is really code for Kinnion Seddik.
As far as frequently projected players for the Eagles, Monroe Freeling, talented tackle from Georgia that seemed as a bit of a project, but had a great showing at the NFL combine, very athletic.
Caedan Proctor, if he makes it to the Eagles, if he's still on the board when Philly comes up, then that's a possibility.
Just the huge potential with Proctor at 6'7, goes at 350 lb, athletic enough where they can have him initially play offensive guard if they needed him to, Eagles, and then eventually move him to tackle.
Omar Cooper Jr.'s been mentioned.
He's been mentioned with a lot of teams.
Wide receiver from Indiana.
And Blake Miller, another offensive tackle being talked about at Clemson.
The latest as far as the projections with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Washington Commanders.
They make this title for them a little bit shorter.
The Commanders name's long.
Anyway, as far as the mock positions with Washington holding the number seven overall pick, running back, safety, linebacker, edge.
Now, let's spell it out for you right here.
There's plenty of people, plenty of experts in the DKDB expert curated NFL mock draft database seeing these players show up.
Jeremiah Love, and the ideal with Love, it's not just that he's a running back, but that he can potentially help wherever he ends up, that team's passing game in ways that other running backs simply can't.
In a Jahmyr Gibbs kind of way.
That's if whatever team goes with Love, that's a huge component of it, just the way that the NFL has changed.
It's not 2005 anymore.
Not going to see three running backs going in the top five.
Rule changes made for safety reasons tilted the game more and more favor passing attacks and in turn passing defenses.
Caleb Downs, Sunny Styles, of course they're going to get mentioned.
And Ruben Bain Jr., edge from Miami.
You got the Washington feels pretty good.
I mean, if those players aren't there for some reason, that'll mean Ar'vell Reese or David Bell have slid.
So, it's not a bad spot for Washington.
I think edge shouldn't be as much of a focus as it might have looked before the start of free agency with some of the spending and personnel moves the Commanders have made.
I think Love going to that Commanders offense could be a major boost.
It would be.
There's no doubt.
Wherever he goes, he's going to be a boost for that offense.
All right, let's talk about the NFC North.
About the Chicago Bears.
A bit of a mystery at number 25 as far as what the Bears are going to do.
As far as the commonly mocked positions, defensive tackle, edge, safety, and offensive line.
So, in the trenches, edge rusher, a lot of defensive tackle talk.
Where it gets interesting with Chicago is what if there are three safeties that are all gone?
Caleb Downs, Dylan Feamster, and Emmanuel Moseley could potentially all be gone before the Bears go on the clock.
That would likely mean some edge rushers in the mix.
Zion Young, his name has been projected to Chicago.
Ditto for Adetomiwa Adebawore, edge from Miami.
Been a bit tougher to get a read on what the Bears are going to do.
But this group of player positions seems to be the most likely, particularly when you look at the best overall player, the way a lot of evaluators see it in that range.
Of course, opinions on some of these defensive tackles really seems to vary.
Some questions about some of those top prospects.
Detroit Lions.
Of course, offensive tackle.
That's the bulk of the projections at this point.
It's a pretty easy fit.
There's a lot of talented offensive tackle in that range at number 17 where the Lions are slated to pick, at least at this as of now.
Who knows what might change between now and April 23rd.
Interior offensive line gets mentioned as well.
Edge rusher, wouldn't hurt to add to that.
Linebacker.
Those are the most commonly mocked positions with those expert mock drafts in the DKDB.
The Detroit Lions and as far as the projected players, I've heard nothing to dissuade me.
The smoke about Detroit supposedly being very interested in Alabama offensive tackle, Caedan Proctor, and that physical tool set he has.
Proctor at 6'7, goes at 350 lb, and super athletic.
That would be an interesting fit.
I think he would actually fit very well with the Detroit.
But if that doesn't happen, Spencer Fano, the promising offensive tackle prospect, Viliami Fehoko probably won't be there at 17, but if he is, that's where you see that interior offensive line.
As Venga is very much well respected by evaluators.
Keep in mind, Green Bay traded its first round pick to Dallas as part of the Micah Parsons trade.
But some players, a little bit different mix here as far as the frequently projected players for Green Bay, Davison Igbinosun, corner from Ohio State.
Christian Miller, defensive tackle, Georgia.
Gabe Ikard, edge from Illinois.
Dominique Orange, defensive tackle, Iowa State.
So, a lot of talk that it may be defense focused on early for the Packers.
That defensive line is a distinct possibility as far as the way it looks now.
Minnesota Vikings.
Safety, corner, edge, defensive tackle.
Minnesota has the number 18 overall pick.
And no surprise that the top two safeties who aren't Caleb Downs, Dylan Feamster from Oregon and Emmanuel Moseley from Toledo are both frequently mocked to Minnesota.
More and more talk that Harrison Smith is done.
And look, the guy's If he's not 38, he's about to be.
He had a great career.
So, Minnesota's going to need a replacement.
And particularly when you think about last year with Seattle trading up into the high part of the second round with Tennessee to draft South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, who was a surprise when he slid out of the first round.
NFL's a copycat league.
So, don't be too terribly surprised if there's an adjustment.
And this year we see three safeties going in the first round, maybe the top 25 picks.
It really could happen that way.
Minnesota would likely be a large part of that if it does.
Corner also a need, Avion Terrell has been mentioned.
Clemson and then Caden McDonald, defensive tackle, Ohio State.
Also projected to Minnesota.
That's the NFC North.
Now, the NFC South.
Atlanta Falcons Falcons do not have a first-round pick.
Talking about some players that may not be in round two.
Although all four potentially could go on night one.
Chris Olave, corner from San Diego State.
He may go to number 32 to Seattle, we'll see.
Christian Miller, defensive tackle, Georgia.
Lee Hunter defensive tackle, Texas Tech.
Zakhari Branch, wide receiver from Georgia.
It would be fun to see Branch with Atlanta.
Branch has that I mean just that local connection there.
Athens, Georgia is not too far of a drive.
Georgia Bulldogs games.
But Branch is an electric player.
He has an extra gear he can kick it into.
So, several options here for Atlanta as far as the variety of team needs.
The way it looks now, this is looking at some of these mock drafts that have multiple rounds.
I tend to focus on the first round.
But some people these multiple round mock drafts just help for context for some of these teams lacking a first-round pick.
Carolina Panthers, they've got a first-round pick.
Number 19 overall.
Offensive tackle gets mentioned quite a bit.
Tight end as well, wide receiver edge.
Frequent projections.
If he's there, and that's an important caveat.
Cuz in probably half if not more of the mocks, Seddik doesn't make it to 19.
But if he's there, Kanyon Seddik tight end, Oregon.
Be a big help for Bryce Young if he had a weapon like Seddik.
A matchup problem.
He's got that speed.
Really challenge opposing defenses.
Looking to help bolster things with offensive line.
Spencer Fano, Utah.
As far as wide receivers Okay, Kendre Boclair is not a wide receiver.
I need to fix that.
That's embarrassing.
>> [laughter] >> But yeah, at the edge I was thinking there but for a while I mean maybe he could line up at receiver but I would not recommend it.
He's much better as an edge rusher.
Jordan Tice, and if he slides a lot of thought Tice would be gone by 16 to the Jets, but if not maybe Jordan Tice and if he could slide because of injury concerns that teams have.
We'll see.
That's the latest with the Carolina Panthers.
New Orleans Saints All sorts of conjecture when it comes to the Saints.
This draft.
The number eight pick, wide receiver edge cornerback, linebacker.
The frequent projections, Carnell Tate if he's there.
More and more talk seems to be that Tate may not make it to the number eight spot, that he could go to Cleveland at six.
Mekhi Wingo has been mentioned quite a bit.
He's one of the more polarizing prospects as far as some of the evaluators.
I know it was at least some of his interviews apparently did not go well at the combine.
But >> >> he would be a very good fit in that Saints offense.
He only had I think one drop all last season, very reliable.
Playmaker.
Be a good fit in that Saints offense.
Ruben Bain Jr.
Edge rusher, if he's there.
They don't want to go receiver, that's another possibility.
Mekhi Wingo to the line corner from LSU.
But also filling needs.
So, a pretty good spot for the Saints as far as perceived need positions and best overall player on a lot of evaluator boards.
These projected players, they get one of those guys pretty good spot there for the Saints.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers I lived in Tampa for five years, lived down in the Ybor City area.
2001-2006 run down there was a lot of fun.
Hard to believe that was more than 20 years ago now.
Man, oh man.
But I was down there when the Bucs won the Super Bowl for the first time.
Although a lot of long-time fans people that had gone through the really bad days in the '80s of really not so good Buccaneers teams in the creamsicle uniforms.
Well, while I am of course a Nashville guy pull for the Titans.
I always have a soft spot in my heart for the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Fun five years down there in Tampa.
It was great having Clearwater Beach at a half-hour drive.
Anytime I wanted to go to the beach I just could.
>> [laughter] >> Oh my, so many fun adventures back in the day.
As for the Buccaneers, commonly mocked positions with the number 15 overall pick, edge linebacker, tight end cornerback.
And you think, well, why tight end?
Didn't they re-sign Kade Otton?
And they did.
But of course we're talking Kanyon Seddik.
Of course, if it's a tight end that's who it would be.
And there's Seddik could potentially go in a wide variety of spots.
And that almost warranted warrants its own stand-alone segment.
Maybe in a day or two.
Cashus Howel, edge rusher from Texas A&M.
Akheem Mesidor from Miami.
Kendre Boclair, the edge, he's not a receiver.
Edge from Auburn.
All those players are possibilities for the Bucs.
And if they like at least a couple of those edge prospects they'll be in a good spot to take one.
Just got to remember those edge players, a young elite edge prospect or player talent.
Those are just so hard to come by that truly elite level.
That's going to drive a lot of decision-making.
It's a need for the Bucs.
So, that's a look at what the latest from the mock drafts in the DKDB with the commonly mocked positions and frequently projected players for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And finally NFC West.
Start with the Arizona Cardinals.
Cardinals with the number three overall pick offensive tackle, edge and then quarterback is Look at that whole mock trade.
Whether it's somebody trading up to the Cardinals at three like Dallas, I think at the 12 and the 20.
Or if the Cards trade up from that high second-round pick which is number 36.
But the idea of trading up into the late first round if he's still there for Tyree Wilson.
If it's true that Arizona's interested in Wilson.
I think some are skeptical as far as that sort of thing goes this time of year.
But there is talk that Arizona is interested.
But probably not the number three overall pick.
>> >> So, if they were to whatever reason not trade back and they go offensive line, Francis Mauigoa offensive tackle, Miami.
He's the player that gets listed quite a bit.
Spencer Fano also a possibility, but there are certain clues, certain things that I look for that are telling me, at least the way it looks now, Mauigoa would be the most likely if that's the move and they keep the pick and they don't take an edge rusher.
Because David Bailey, if he's there, is a possibility.
Ar'vell Reese linebacker/edge.
What's in that in the yesterday's DKDB update about some teams see potential for Reese.
You wouldn't have him just as a strictly edge rusher that he might need to go through and further refine his technique versus that kind of hybrid role.
Anyway, as far as thinking about what the Cardinals will do and then maybe trading back, getting Tyree Wilson, trading up, etc.
There are people Tyree Wilson, when he declared, believed he seemed to very much believe he'd be a first-round pick.
This is not a strong year for quarterback prospects if you haven't noticed by now.
So, we'll see what happens if that drives things as far as the decision-making for Arizona.
Remember, Arizona does not have Kyler Murray anymore.
We'll see what happens with the Cards.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver offensive tackle tight end safety.
For the Rams number 13 overall pick.
A lot of thought for receiver.
Mekhi Wingo and Jordan Tice are the two most frequently mentioned.
Ginyard Seeded, a bit of a wild card.
Tight end is not a need for the Rams per se.
But with what Seeded can provide to any offense in the NFL, I mean just there aren't guys his size that can run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash and be a reliable tight end.
It just doesn't happen.
One of the intrigue Francis Mauigoa if he were to slide and maybe he will.
If he's there, they'd be a nice pick up for the Rams, so a lot of thought to be receiver, but it didn't have to be receiver.
They've got a few options do the Rams.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, offensive tackle, edge, interior offensive line.
But I have to note there's been certain hints that it won't be offensive tackle first round.
Offensive line less likely.
A lot of talk about wide receiver.
KC Concpecion His name seemed to be linked to the 49ers a whole bunch.
Particularly a few weeks ago, but that's just that's talk.
These teams are still forming opinions.
This whole process is just a dog and pony show.
They wouldn't go through all this effort with all the travel and the not so glamorous parts of the business running these GM's trying to negotiate with free agents while going to all these pro days and meeting with people and getting second guessed by every fan out there.
It's not easy business.
So for the 49ers with their Concepcion, they could go Denzel Boston.
Boston at 6'4 has got a great frame.
Tough match up.
Aren't many corners out there that easily match up against a 6'4 receiver.
Caden Proctor Caleb Eleby But again, there's been recently some push back as far as some analysts, some whispers that then okay, maybe not first round for offensive line for San Francisco.
Finally, Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Quarter, edge, interior offensive line and running back are the most commonly mocked positions in the mock drafts in the DKDB.
Quickly projected Kashius Saugh arm length People have made a big deal about that with Ruben Bain Jr.
The whole lack of historical success for edge rushers with arm length shorter than 31 inches.
But Saugh measured a half inch shorter arm compared with Bain.
And yet Saugh with 10 and a half sacks last season for Texas A&M.
So he's proven that he can do it.
Just like Bain has proven he can be effective.
But it's something that will turn some teams off.
I just that's the indication.
So Saugh could slide which could make him a nice pick up for Seattle.
Colton Hood and Avonte Maddox couple of corners mentioned.
Some talk of Chris Johnson as well.
Seattle tends to do its own thing.
Remember last year there was that leak about offensive lineman Gray Zabel and sure enough you could tell it was paying attention like I had that and Jason Borris did.
Plenty of other people did as well.
It's tough to know though when it gets down to crunch time and those rumors come out, who do you believe?
What's a true rumor but somebody say, "Oh, I really meant day two." That happens sometimes.
But Seattle, they tend to do things that aren't going to be that quote unquote group think.
And with the last pick in the first round, the only thing I can say is they're unlikely to trade with Arizona.
If Arizona is wanting to trade up to get a 5th year option of Ty Simpson their division rival Seattle Seahawks they will not be cooperating with that.
But other than that, it's hard to know with Seattle other than looking at their team needs.
They'll have some options.
There'll be some quality corners there at the end of round one for Seattle to choose from.
And who knows, maybe somebody else would want to trade up get a quarterback, get somebody for a 5th year option.
So you can be sure to check out these team needs.
I did the AFC yesterday.
You can watch that video as well.
It's right there.
Got the giant A.
This one will have the N the National Football Conference.
Be sure to keep checking out the DKDB board market.
Check it on a regular basis.
What do here with the best of the best.
Again, only two people in the world have a higher score in the Huddle Reports competition over the past five years.
Just like from 2020 to 2024 I was tied for third.
2021-2025 also tied for third.
So I've had a pretty good run.
Two people with better records in that time over the past five years, Jason Borris.
His mock will be out on the 23rd, the morning of day one of the draft.
Then Brendan Donahue of Sharp Football Analysis.
It's noteworthy with Brendan's latest update.
He's got Arvell Reese still at two.
That is noteworthy.
And just these late risers, watch these names.
They're showing up for a reason because there's Malachi Lawrence, edge from UCF.
Max Eichenberg offensive lineman, Arizona State Deondre Rutledge, offensive lineman Georgia Tech showing up.
I anticipate these boards will get updated more and more frequently as you get closer and closer.
And the cutoff generally is going to be midnight the day before the draft.
Make sure to have my latest my final mock gets sent into the Huddle Report.
I'd like to show you all that.
I was going to do this, but I'll show you.
See if I'll regret doing this live on air or live to tape, whatever.
Five year score.
See, I'm tied with Jared Smola from Draft Sharks.
It's true.
It's me.
There's Jason, Brendan, and then Jared and I tied for third.
2021's going to rotate out for after this, so we'll see how things go.
For the five year average without that, there's a lot of people near the top there that did pretty well in 2021.
Anyway, this and it's not just a few names on here.
There's a lot of people.
These are like legitimate people.
It's not just somebody throwing something to AI or picking names out of a hat.
I mean there's a lot of talent here.
Look at this.
All these names way up here.
You got me.
And I mentioned this not to boast but to point out I know what I'm talking about.
When I put the best of the best in here in the DKDB and notice a lot of those names from there are in the DKDB with good reason.
