Hello friends. It's your buddy Lou Pickney with you here.
It's the DKDB update.
April 22nd, 2026.
So here we are.
Long last, reached the point where I lock in my final 2026 NFL mock draft.
I have other people working on that tonight.
They'd already have theirs completed.
I encourage you to check out the DKDB.
It's my expert curated 2026 NFL mock draft database.
I put the best of the best in here.
I've Jason Boris's mock draft linked on Thursday when it goes live over on the Times News online website.
The moment it's a link to Jason's X account.
If years past are any indication when it goes live, he'll have a a tweet or whatever you call a tweet on X, a post.
We'll have that link up in the DKDB once that's available on Thursday.
I moved my mock draft from mockdraftnfl.com over to the DKDB.
Let's go ahead and get to it, shall we?
Yeah, I advise you to go through the DKDB.
A bunch of new mock drafts in today.
This Thursday.
It's the last few days, a bunch coming in.
I put the best of the best in here.
It's not any AI any gimmicks or a staff effort that was slapped together.
Actual draft experts, people with proven track records.
Major publications, broadcasting outlets along with top independents.
So here it is.
It's a DKDB world exclusive.
The Lou Pickney 2026 NFL mock draft.
I encourage you to join me Thursday 7:00 p.m.
Eastern.
We'll be live before that with the War Room Blitz classic pre-show.
I'll be live.
I'll do a test live stream on Thursday, probably around midday.
Early afternoon, maybe.
Once Jason Boris's mock draft is out.
Jason's number one the DKDB over the past 5 years.
I'm tied for third.
Brendan Donahue is in second.
His new mock draft will likely be out early tomorrow.
It's a midnight central deadline for the Huddle Report.
I already got mine ready to go.
At one, Las Vegas Raiders Fernando Mendoza, quarterback, Indiana.
It's interesting that Indiana is hosting its spring game Thursday 7:00 p.m.
Eastern to the coincide with what is expected to be the Raiders drafting Mendoza.
A bunch of fans there in Bloomington, Indiana.
I anticipate a huge crowd pop when Mendoza gets drafted.
You know they're going to show a cutaway of the stadium, people going crazy.
And perhaps have other times to celebrate later on in the evening.
And of course the spring game so that Hoosiers fans can get up to speed with the new group coming off that championship run.
So it's Mendoza at one to the Raiders.
If that's not the pick, it would be a shock the likes of which we haven't seen in many, many years in the NFL draft.
At two, David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech.
A lot of ping-ponging last several days with the Jets and what those in the know think were going to happen.
But it was going to be David Bailey or Ohio State linebacker {slash} edge Arvell Reese.
And in the end, looks like it's Bailey.
It's not the sure thing that Mendoza to the Raiders appears to be, but that's the most likely as it looks now.
At three, Arizona Cardinals.
Lots of talk about the Cardinals wanting to trade down.
Maybe an offensive lineman.
But there's been enough talk late about Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love that whether this is trying to induce a team to trade up, it's hard to know if it's gamesmanship this time of year.
But with Love, he'd be committing a large amount of guaranteed money to a running back.
That's something to consider the way as great as it could be for teams with elite players on rookie contracts, there's that positional consideration as well.
It's possible the Cardinals could trade back and still get Love.
That's another thing to keep in mind as well.
At four, Tennessee Titans Arvell Reese, linebacker, Ohio State.
For weeks now, the talk has been with the Titans they were hoping to get either Bailey or Reese here at four.
The question would be what if they're both gone?
And there's been some talk of Jeremiah Love, obviously.
But I think there was something to what Adam Schefter, the way he was very much hesitant but didn't want to outright say it.
He felt it seemed he appeared uncomfortable talking about it.
But made it clear that he didn't think the Titans were going to take Love.
We'll finally find out for sure coming up Thursday 7:00 p.m.
Eastern.
Night one of the NFL draft.
But here, Titans getting Reese at four.
At five, New York Giants Jordan Tyson, wide receiver, Arizona State.
Remember that New York, the Giants, they have both the number five and the number 10 overall picks in the first round.
They got the number 10 overall pick from Cincinnati thanks to the Dexter Lawrence trade.
At six, Cleveland Browns Spencer Fautanu, aside from Arizona, perhaps, Cleveland has seemed like the most eager team to trade down.
Even heard whispers they may be willing to trade outside the top 10.
The talk is that the Browns want to trade back a few spots to get an offensive lineman.
Wide receiver consideration as well.
Been a lot of thought that it might be Carnell Tate, wide receiver, Ohio State here.
But in the end, I give the nod to Fautanu.
With this being a consideration for a likely potential trade back.
I try to limit projected trades.
There is one in this mock.
That's a bit further down the line.
Seven, Washington Commanders Sunny Styles, linebacker, Ohio State.
Think it's a possibility for Styles to go to Tennessee at four if Reese is gone and Bailey as well.
But otherwise, it looks entirely possible like Styles could be on the board here at number seven.
For the Commanders, off-ball linebacker is not a premium position in the NFL because of the way the passing game is very much valued.
It's become more and more important thanks to rule changes made for safety reasons.
And yet Styles is unique.
He started his career in Columbus, Ohio as a safety.
But proved to be more effective as a linebacker, off-ball linebacker.
Had a great showing at the NFL combine.
I've got Styles at seven to the Commanders.
At eight, New Orleans Saints Mansour Delane, corner, LSU.
A lot of talk about the Saints and wide receiver Carnell Tate.
That was one of my last switches.
Seemed to be some rather strong pushback on that as far as the Saints going receiver at eight.
Now, it's hard to know what's a smoke screen and what's not this time of year, but through the years with this, going back to 2003, even beyond that, just reading up the draft online, but as far as being a a publisher of mock drafts, learned who to trust through the years.
So we'll see what happens with the Saints if they actually get Mansour Delane there at number eight.
He'd he'd be a big boost there for that Saints secondary.
At nine, Kansas City Chiefs Carnell Tate, wide receiver, Ohio State.
And so many different names the last few days associated with the Chiefs.
The Chiefs have two first round picks in this draft, at least as of this as of this recording.
Who knows what kind of draft day trades might happen.
But Tate's got that ability to get open in 3 seconds or less, and he catches practically anything you throw his way.
He's just not going to drop the ball much at all, if ever.
And to have a player like that with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback once Mahomes is healthy again, I mean, you could see how that could be a winning combination there for Kansas City.
So, if Tate is on the board at nine or if Kansas City maybe trades up, either way, if they get Tate, that'd be a big boost to that Chiefs offense.
Also talk, of course, that it might be an edge rusher.
Also talk of offensive line offensive tackle.
Although opinions vary on that.
At 10, New York Giants.
Selection they acquired from Cincinnati in the Dexter Lawrence trade.
But the Giants taking Caleb Downs, safety, Ohio State.
If this happens, it would be the first time in 10 years for pure safety to be drafted in the top 10 the NFL draft.
But Downs is a unique talent.
He's got that remarkable ability to read and react.
So, it's Downs at 10 to the Giants.
11, Miami Dolphins, Francis Mauigoa, offensive tackle, Miami.
So, a little bit of a slide in the end for Mauigoa.
There's been talk that he could go as high as number three overall to Arizona.
Arizona does need a right offensive tackle.
It's kind of Mauigoa's specialty.
Dolphins in the midst of a rebuild.
But if you look at it like some evaluators do where there's maybe 12, 13, 14 players that they see as elite first round grades if you have a average draft year, 11's not the worst spot to be.
If you really aren't willing to go best player available or something close to it.
There's a sliding scale with that, of course.
So, Mauigoa, he's a proven talent.
The Dolphins will be familiar with him cuz he's played in town with the Hurricanes.
So, they've already got a a pretty good understanding of what Mauigoa brings to the table.
I've got Miami getting Mauigoa at 11.
At 12, Dallas Cowboys, Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami.
Now, it's no secret that Dallas has talked with multiple teams about wanting to trade up.
It's tricky though for Dallas.
They've got the 12 and the 20.
From everything I've heard, and I'd speculated this independently before I ever heard any sort of confirmation from people that actually knew from the inside, but as you might expect, Dallas not keen on the idea of trading the 12 and the 20 to move up, giving up two top 20 picks to get just one player.
Now, there is the possibility of Arizona, with its two first rounders, and Dallas, with its two first rounders, maybe working something out.
That's a lot of if and maybe, isn't it?
Rueben Bain Jr., tremendous edge rusher for the Hurricanes.
The knock on Bain is his arm length.
He's got that shorter than 31-in arm measurement.
And historically in the NFL, there is not a strong track record for edge rushers with arms measuring shorter than 31 in.
However, all these NFL teams are aware of that, and they're still looking at Bain as a first round prospect.
He's got that motor.
He's going to bring full effort on every play.
Dallas needs help at edge rusher, whether it's a 12 or a 20.
Maybe Dallas trades up.
Maybe they don't have to.
Either way, I've got Dallas taking Rueben Bain Jr., edge from Miami.
13, Los Angeles Rams, Makai Lemon, wide receiver, USC.
Lemon had a great 2025 season with the Trojans.
Rams, very mysterious.
In a league that values secrecy, particularly this time of year, uh the Rams tend to take things to the next level as far as that goes.
Makes it tough to get a read on them, and yet you can look at the roster and say, "Okay, this would make sense here as far as team needs go." I mean, Lemon is solid.
He's reliable.
He only had, I believe, three drops over the course of three seasons for USC.
He only had one drop last year.
He's very reliable.
He could dial it up into the uh next gear, next level.
He's able to get some separation in the secondary.
14, Baltimore Ravens, Vera Ioane, offensive guard, Penn State.
I've had the Ravens and Ioane linked for some time.
Maybe a wide receiver if Lemon is still on the board.
So, a few options for the Ravens, but Ioane in the end gets my nod here to Baltimore at number 14.
And this pick was originally slated to be part of the Max Crosby trade.
Baltimore would have given up two first round picks to get Crosby.
Crosby, of course, ended up failing the physical per the Ravens.
And the timing of it was just very difficult for Las Vegas cuz they had a right as free agency was starting.
But whatever the case, Baltimore kept the pick, and here I've got Ioane to Baltimore.
15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kenyon Sadiq, tight end, Oregon.
So, if Sadiq's still on the board, which is not a given.
Sadiq could be gone to Kansas City at number nine.
There are some people that think that's going to happen.
But I do see that as a possibility.
Ultimately, Sadiq still on the board, Buccaneers get him here at number 15.
Plenty of talk about Tampa Bay wanting to trade back, and maybe they will.
Linebacker an obvious need.
Said to be a consideration there for Tampa Bay.
But difficult to trade back from 15 unless the right player slides.
All you need is one team wanting one player really bad.
And then suddenly maybe that phone rings.
It should be noted the NFL draft, the first round this year, these selections are 2 minutes shorter on the clock.
We'll see how that affects things.
If teams have any uh problems getting their picks in by the deadline, if there are fewer trades.
Got to keep that in mind.
It's tougher to negotiate if you have less time.
At 16, New York Jets, Jermaine McKoy, corner, Tennessee.
Some people have McKoy falling out of the first round.
People remember, just like I do, from last year, Will Johnson, cornerback, Michigan.
Injury plagued him in the 2024 season, and he ultimately slid out of the first round, ended up with Arizona on day two.
But it should be noted that Will Johnson had a great 2025 season.
I mean, it was tough overall for Arizona, but Will Johnson played really well, especially for being a rookie.
And much like with Nick Cross, safety from South Carolina that slid out of the first round last year despite running a 4.38 40-yard dash, we'll remember Seattle traded up in the second round with Tennessee to draft him in worry.
He played a key role in that Seahawks playoff run, especially the NFC Championship win over the LA Rams.
The NFL's a copycat league.
All things to keep in mind.
And yet, McKoy, it is possible, but because it said that some teams uh may have McKoy outright scratched out as far as the first round goes due to injury concerns and whatever lingering doubt there might be.
For McKoy, he had that torn ACL in January of last year, but he looked really impressive at Tennessee's pro day.
I mean, he looked the part.
That was the thing I was saying before.
He has to go out there and show that he can do it, that he's healthy.
And it seemed to me that he did that.
But there are some that apparently and maybe beyond the ACL tear, it's hard to know.
Some stuff with the medical.
Sometimes the public hears about it, sometimes uh that stuff stays quiet.
And particularly when it comes to team evaluations.
It's all something to keep in mind.
You look at the Jets, and they may be able to trade back from here, trade if they traded down from 16.
Again, it'd be tough to say who's going to be in demand here in this range, but if one of those elite players in that top group is If you just need one team to see one player as being in that group for them, and remember, this is going to be a subjective thing team by team.
There's the possibility of trading back.
If not, the Jets could stick here at 16.
Remember, the Jets had zero interceptions as a team for the entire 2025 season.
Unprecedented in NFL history.
They've got to do something to boost that defense up.
Get an edge rusher at two, get a top corner at 16.
That's not a bad one-two combo.
Remember, the Jets have three first round picks in next year's draft.
So, I doubt the Jets would be stretching to take a quarterback here.
I mean, that's going to be a draft potentially loaded at quarterback depending on how things play out.
You never know for sure until you get there, but the Jets They've got three first rounders, so you can tell they're in position potentially be in position, depending on how it plays out, to draft a quarterback next year with a high pick.
That's kind of the rationale there at 16.
17, Detroit Lions.
This is said to be the floor for Caeden Proctor, offensive tackle from Alabama.
Proctor could go top 10.
He could go to Cleveland at number six.
There's been talk of that, but there's a lot of different names have been floated.
Kind of suspiciously.
Maybe some subterfuge from the Browns, or maybe they really do like several of these top offensive tackle prospects.
But it's not just Cleveland that's had Proctor's name whispered.
The fact that he is so athletic that at 6'7 and more than 350 lb, that he can legitimately play guard at the NFL level.
He's got that athleticism to do that, which is rather remarkable.
But he also has the potential to be an elite offensive tackle.
I think the Lions would have a great system for him.
I think he'd be a perfect fit there.
If he's still on the board, I think Proctor to Detroit at 17 is a strong possibility.
Mentioned Nick Thieman War running that 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine last year, and then sliding out of the first round, but again, Seattle got him.
They won the Super Bowl.
Makes it an easier sell those meeting rooms for us taking a safety in the first round.
Minnesota, a clear need at safety with Harrison Smith, had a great career, but get to 38 years old, it's tough.
Up at Thieman, had a great career at Purdue, and a solid 2025 season for the Oregon Ducks.
I've got Thieman at 18 to the Vikings, and then at 19, Carolina Panthers, Caeden McDonald, defensive tackle, Ohio State.
Several options here for the Panthers.
Been tough to get a read on them.
But McDonald, he had those eight and a half tackles for loss last season, but he's really good against the run.
So he brings some of both to the table there as far as the run and the pass rush.
For some of these top defensive tackle prospects, someone like Peter Woods, defensive tackle from Clemson, who is not in here.
There's one spoiler.
He did not make my final round one mock.
Although Woods looks to be potentially in position to do really well as a pro with that pass rushing skill.
Just the way it looks now, Panthers, they bring McDonald in, they'll shore up that interior defensive line.
He's one of the best as far as the way most evaluators see it in this draft as far as the defensive tackles go.
20, Dallas Cowboys, Chris Johnson, corner, San Diego State.
So if up at number 12, whether they stick there, they move up, if Dallas gets Ruben Bain Jr., or a different edge rusher, they get edge rusher filled there.
At 20, they'll have some options.
And couple whispers late about Chris Johnson being of interest to Dallas.
He's been a riser in this process.
With this whole gauntlet, this pre-draft gauntlet process, uh but Chris Johnson has been a name that's been showing up more and more than that late word that Dallas could be giving him a lot of consideration here at number 20.
21, Pittsburgh Steelers, Omar Cooper Jr., wide receiver, Indiana.
Some people think the Steelers will go offensive line here, and perhaps they will, depending on who's on the board.
But you look at what Pittsburgh would be looking for at receiver, especially if they get Aaron Rodgers back for one more year.
If they don't have Rodgers, that's going to be a tougher situation all around, obviously.
Uh but if they do have him, it would make sense to bring in a top rookie who you know is going to be in the right position with that route running.
Cooper, great hands, and high end on that on his route running.
He's going to be in the right spot.
So we'll see how it plays out, but I've got Cooper to Pittsburgh at 21.
22, LA Chargers, Chase Bisontis, offensive guard, Texas A&M.
We'll see if that late rumor about the Chargers being interested in Bisontis comes true.
Now Venga slides, where I've got him going at 14 to Baltimore.
If he's on the board, that could change things.
A late talk about riser, Bisontis has been a riser in this process.
And you see that sometimes with interior offensive linemen, you want a few guys that kind of break through late and hear word about them from enough people, like, okay, there may be something to this.
I've got him going at 22.
This may surprise people, but Bisontis to the Chargers at 22.
23, Philadelphia Eagles, Monroe Freeling, offensive tackle, Georgia.
I think it makes a lot of sense when you look at the needs the Eagles have.
They'll have an offensive line that will mostly be intact this upcoming season.
But for 2027, likely a very different situation.
With Freeling, he's got great potential.
Tremendous showing at the NFL combine, very athletic.
But again, viewed as more of a prospect.
You get the feeling that Freeling would be the best fit with a team that doesn't need him to step in immediately.
But I like that fit as far as the Eagles and Freeling at 23.
24, Cleveland Browns, Denzel Boston.
So the Browns go offensive line up at number six, come back at 24, and it's a wide receiver.
Boston, 6'4, with that great frame.
We'll see if Boston's still on the board here at 24.
If so, be a nice addition to that Browns passing game.
At 25, Chicago Bears, Emmanuel McNeail Warren.
I've got three safeties going in the first round, the top 25 at that.
McNeail Warren brings a little bit different element to the table.
You got Thieman with that remarkable high-end speed, that 4.35 40-yard dash.
You don't really get that out of McNeail Warren, but what you do get is a 6'3 and 1/2 height safety that is really good against the run, but also is going to help you out a lot as far as your secondary goes.
But like when it comes to third and short, you got to get a stop, he's the kind of safety that can make some plays for you.
Most guys with his size don't have the speed to play safety effectively in the NFL, but McNeail Warren does.
That's what I've got for the Bears at 25.
26, projected trade, Arizona trading up for Ty Simpson.
Talked about this in prior DKDB updates.
Lots of talk about the Cardinals wanting to move up into the first round.
But the Cardinals have the number three overall pick.
It would be something if they got Jeremiah Love and Ty Simpson, running back, quarterback.
Kyler Murray is gone, so they need a long-term answer at quarterback.
Simpson at 23 years old, essentially grew up in the business.
His father's been a coach at University of Tennessee-Martin, up in Martin, Tennessee, for many years now.
So Simpson is certainly savvy to football as a sport, but overall as a business as well.
Uh so he's he gets it.
He had one year of eligibility remaining, but it felt the way it looked from the outside like it was important to Simpson that he be an Alabama quarterback, that be his legacy.
So even though he has fewer than the typical number of starts you'd want to have for a quarterback coming into the NFL, uh he's not exactly a newcomer to this stuff.
Again, there's lots of talk that Arizona is going to want to move up here.
Ahead my last mock, Arizona moving to Miami at number 30, but that's kind of close.
I just I don't see Arizona being able to trade up with Seattle at number 32.
I know I saw at least one mock draft earlier today that had that, like, well, well, maybe, but kind of a rare thing.
You wouldn't normally help out a division rival.
And it appears they're looking at a quarterback where they can get a fifth-year option, that rookie contract.
Buffalo, lot of talk they want a linebacker.
Looking to trade back, lacking a second-round pick.
So here they trade with Arizona, and the Cards get Ty Simpson at 26.
27, San Francisco 49ers, Keldrick Faulk, edge, Auburn.
It's a bit of a slide for Faulk.
Some have him going higher, even top 15, even top 12.
But here he's on the board for the 49ers at number 27.
I know some people have said offensive line for the 49ers.
I've gotten the impression, particularly later in the process, that uh that seems less likely for the Niners here at 27.
I've got Keldrick Faulk to the Niners.
But another team that would be difficult for Arizona to trade with if they're looking to trade up.
You got San Francisco, division rival at 27.
You got Seattle, division rival at 32.
That does limit things somewhat with Arizona.
You think they would like to trade up above this spot if possible.
Supply and demand and whatnot.
28, Houston Texans, Kingsley Eguakun.
Offensive lineman, Utah.
Eguakun is a young player, redshirt sophomore, so he had 2 years of eligibility, but he had pretty good advice to come out.
Looks like a a late first.
Maybe he'll slide to day two.
Uh he's got a lot of potential.
You can use him in multiple spots.
Texans trying to get things settled on their offensive line.
You can find several ways to work Eguakun into the mix.
29, Kansas City Chiefs, Adetomiwa Adebawore, edge, Miami.
Uh Adebawore 25 years old, which is old for an NFL Draft prospect, especially for an edge.
Adebawore had double-digit sack performance last year for Miami.
A great one-two combo opposite Rueben Bain Jr.
You wonder how did the Hurricanes make it to the College Football Playoff Championship game?
From that presence with the elite double edge rushers there.
That worked out pretty well for the Hurricanes.
So if Kansas City goes with an edge rusher at number nine, let's say they get Bain at nine, then this would be unlikely to happen.
But in this case, Kansas City not going with an edge at nine.
Here at 29, you go Adebawore, edge, Miami.
30, Miami Dolphins, Zion Young, edge, Missouri.
A flurry of edge rushers late in this round one mock.
Young is really good against the run, but he's enough of a threat as a pass rusher.
There's been more more talk that Zion Young's going to find a spot maybe surprisingly higher.
There were some whispers about Tampa Bay, although that was kind of earlier in the process.
But Miami here at 30, pick they got from Denver, Jaylen Waddle trade, again, Zion Young, edge, Missouri.
31, New England Patriots, Blake Miller, offensive tackle, Clemson.
A lot of thought that it might work better for that Patriots offensive line to have Will Campbell at a different spot.
So while you're going to hear some whispers and talk about offensive guards late first round, I think a tackle makes more sense for the Patriots.
Now which one?
Obviously depends on who's on the board.
But in this case, Miller, solid offensive tackle out of Clemson.
Looks like he'd be a good fit for the Patriots if they stick here at 31.
Lots of talk about trading back, but you'll get a lot of that this time of year.
