I am hard at work on my Madden NFL 27 Draft Classes. The NFL draft is on my mind, and I have to keep the website content coming, so why not another mock draft?
Draft order is based on a blind prediction I ran over on Playoff Predictors. Blind, meaning I just picked the winner of every regular season, then playoff game, without looking at standings. So, there are plenty of surprises, like the Browns for example. Whatever, that does not matter.
1. Miami Dolphins
QB Arch Manning, Texas
6’4, 221 lbs
2025 Stats: 246-404, 3163 yards, 26 TD, 7 INT
Miami is so early in its rebuild that it might make sense to trade this pick to a quarterback needy team and stockpile as many assets as possible. Not that Miami does not need a quarterback also, they just need almost everything else more. College quarterbacks are always so volatile, that it is rare for a Trevor Lawrence or Caleb Williams to go wire-to-wire as a top prospect. Right now, it looks like Arch Manning, Dante Moore and Julian Sayin. Do not pencil any of those guys at the top. Someone else could emerge. Arch Manning has franchise changing, star potential. It was a rough go of things at times at Texas, but he looked more and more like a blue chipper as the 2025 season went on. He has the arm strength and size to be a superstar, and Texas is locked and loaded for a championship run.
2. Atlanta Falcons
QB Dante Moore, Oregon
6’3, 206 lbs
2025 Stats: 296-412, 3565 yards, 30 TD, 10 INT
The quarterback duo of Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. is underwhelming, to say the least. For as good as Jeremiah Smith is, if Atlanta finishes this high in the draft, that means they wasted another year of Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson. They have to address the quarterback position. Dante Moore could have been a top ten pick in 2026, but, thanks in part to the new NIL landscape, chose to return to Oregon, in hopes of improving and winning a national championship. He has everything you look for in an elite signal caller, and started to clean up a lot of the messes he made at UCLA. He could easily be the first overall pick next year.
3. Minnesota Vikings
QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State
6’4, 226 lbs
2025 Stats: 246-404, 3163 yards, 26 TD, 7 INT
JJ McCarthy was considered a reach the minute he was drafted, and he has done nothing but show he is not a long, or short-term starting quarterback. Kyler Murray will hold down the fort in 2026, but a long term option is needed. Sayin may not have the size that the other two quarterbacks have, but he will have almost 30 games of experience by the time his junior season wraps up,, and has enough arm strength to be successful. While he will continue to be surrounded by NFL talent, he did complete 77 percent of his passes, and is the engine that makes Ohio State go. I feel less confident about Sayin than I do the two players picked above him, but with continued development, he should be a solid NFL starter, at the least.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
6’3, 223 lbs
2025 Stats: 83 rec, 1243 yards, 12 TD
This would be the best case scenario for the Raiders. They get to sit back and watch the top prospect in all of college football land to them. Jeremiah Smith would be a monster boon, and help, for first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Smith has been a match up nightmare, an elite target hog since the second he stepped onto the Ohio State campus. He is built like a tight end, and can do everything you ask from a wide receiver. With Smith, Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers on the roster, the Raiders offense could be elite.
5. Arizona Cardinals
EDGE Colin Simmons, Texas
6’3, 240 lbs
2025 Stats: 43 tackles, 12 sacks
This draft has been all offense so far, but with the top quarterbacks off the board, Arizona turns its attention towards the defensive side of the ball. Colin Simmons may be the most feared pass rusher in college football. He enters his third college season with more than 20 career sacks on his resume. He may be a bit small and one dimensional right now, but has the ability to become a very good all around defender. Guys who can get after the quarterback like Simmons are drafted high every year.
6. Carolina Panthers
EDGE Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
6’5, 245 lbs
2025 Stats: 33 tackles 4.5 sacks, 3 FF
Other than Jaelan Phillips, Carolina did not do much to address a troublesome pass rush, and that was before Nic Scourton suffered a serious injury in training camp. Dylan Stewart is one of the most talented players in college football. His sophomore season was not as good as his freshman year, but South Carolina really struggled as a whole. Stewart remains an elite prospect. He could flirt with double digit sacks in the NFL, and is an adequate run defender as well. It will be tough going in the SEC, but he could have an All-American season for the Gamecocks.
7. Tennessee Titans
OT Jordan Seaton, Colorado
6’5, 307 lbs
2025 Stats: N/A
Tennessee is still in “best player available” mode, so even though there are two recent first round picks on the offensive lineman, Jordan Seaton would represent a big upgrade on the left side. I am a Colorado fan, and it hurts to see Jordan Seaton leave, but that is the reality of college football. He outgrew that program, and will finish his development at LSU. He is as talented as any player in this class, and early reports out of Louisiana say he is transforming his body and game, and should be a very high pick.
8. Washington Commanders
CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
6’2, 197 lbs
2025 Stats: 31 tackles, 5 INT, 1 FF
Washington has invested a few day two picks to address the secondary, but they still lack a true impact defender at the position. Leonard Moore is a big time playmaker at cornerback, with great size at 6’2, 197 lbs. According to CBS Sports, Moore is the only All-American defender from 2025 who will return to college football in 2026. This is a very deep cornerback class, and Moore currently leads the way.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
OT Trevor Goosby, Texas
6’7, 325 lbs
2025 Stats: N/A
The Jaguars offensive line is in flux. Walker Little has been a disappointment and there are a couple of upcoming free agents. Trevor Goosby could have been a first round pick in 2026, but chose to return to Texas, where he will be a part of a loaded roster with several first round prospects. He has elite size for the left tackle position, and will protect the blind side of Arch Manning, the possible Heisman Trophy winner and number one overall draft pick.
10. New York Jets (from GB)
WR Cam Coleman, Texas
6’3, 203 lbs
2025 Stats:56 rec, 708 yards, 5 TD
With three of the next five picks in this mock, New York could truly go best player available. They add an elite receiver talent to a group that already features Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq. Cam Coleman showed flashes of greatness at Auburn, and he hopes transferring to Texas will unlock his potential. With he and Ryan Wingo, Arch Manning will have an elite receiver duo to throw to. Coleman has the required speed and size combination to be a WR1 at the NFL level
11. New York Jets (from IND)
DT David Stone, Oklahoma
6’3, 315 lbs
2025 Stats: 43 tackles, 1.5 sacks
New York added T’Vondre Sweat to help out its run defense, but might want a little more juice off the edge with its outside defensive lineman. David Stone would be a fantastic addition, and is the type of versatile defensive tackle that could play any spot in a 3-4 defense. It usually takes tackles a while to get going at the college level, even elite recruits. After playing a small role as a freshman, Stone broke out with 43 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. Not otherworldly numbers, but his combination of strength and quickness is rare at the position. There is a lot of untapped potential here.
12. Seattle Seahawks
OG Carter Smith, Indiana
6’5, 307 lbs
2025 Stats: N/A
Even after the selection of Grey Zabel in the first round of the 2025 draft, Seattle should continue to rebuild its offensive line, especially when it comes to the interior and the run game. Carter Smith plays left tackle for Indiana, but will likely transition to guard at the next level. He is agile and quite experienced, and should be a plug-and-play option for any playoff hopeful.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia
6’0, 180 lbs
2025 Stats: 20 tackles, 4 INT
The Steelers desperately need a long term option at quarterback, but there is a reason they are still searching. This team is always too good to pick in the top ten. That is the case again in this mock, where I do not have a fourth quarterback ranked as a first round prospect right now. Cornerback is not an immediate need, but Jalen Ramsey, a safety and nickle back at this stage of his career, is nearing the end. Ellis Robiinson IV was en elite recruit who sat his first year at Georgia, but showed what he was capable of with four interceptions as a part time cornerback. He is expected to be an every down starter as a redshirt sophomore, and has the look of a true shut down corner at the next level.
14. New York Jets
CB Brice Pollock, Texas Tech
6’0, 195 lbs
2025 Stats: 48 tackles, 5 INT
New York used one of its first round picks in this mock to replace Quinnen Williams, and does the same with a Sauce Gardner replacement here. Brice Pollock reminds me of Mansoor Delane. He is not widely thought of as a first round pick amongst the consensus, but I had him in my first round this time last year, and he kept rising throughout the process. I like Pollock just as much. He picked off five passes as a junior, and should have a big season for Texas Tech, the team that looks like the best in the Big 12.
15. Cleveland Browns
OG Cayden Green, Missouri
6’4, 226 lbs
2025 Stats: 246-404, 3163 yards, 26 TD, 7 INT
I seriously doubt the Browns pick this low, but my picks to determine this draft order provided a few strange results. Even after several draft picks and free agent acquisitions, Cleveland should continue to rebuild its porous offensive line, this time focusing on the interior. I have had Cayden Green on my first round radar for years. He currently plays tackle for Missouri, but fits best as an overpowering, run blocking guard. He should be an instant starter over whoever the Browns trot out there this year.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CB Brice Pollock, Texas Tech
6’0, 195 lbs
2025 Stats: 48 tackles, 5 INT
Tampa Bay is counting on former top prospect Benjamin Morrison to start at cornerback, but he has struggled to stay healthy, even going back to his days at Notre Dame. Brice Pollock is one of the most slept on players in this class. To me, he is comparable to Mansor Delane. He picked off five passes as a junior, and should have a big season for Texas Tech, the team that looks like the best in the Big 12.
17. San Francisco 49ers
TE Jamari Johnson, Oregon
6’5, 257 lbs
2025 Stats: 32 rec, 510 yards, 3 TD
The 49ers skill position group is a mess. George Kittle can no longer stay healthy, Ricky Pearsall is out for the season, and both Mike Evans and Christian Kirk are on one year contracts. Kenyon Sadiq, former tight end for Oregon, was a first round pick in 2026, but his backup may have been a better NFL prospect. Jamari Johnson should follow in his footsteps this year. Splitting time with Sadiq, Johnson had over 500 yards as a sophomore. Big, strong, and quick, he is the complete package at tight end.
18. New England Patriots
LB Sammy Brown, Clemson
6’2, 235 lbs
2025 Stats: 106 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF
Whether it was Jarod Mayo or Mike Vrabel, the New England defense has always been at its best with an elite off the ball linebacker talent. Sammy Brown is a do-it-all player at the middle linebacker position. He can chase down ball carriers, rush the passer and drop back into coverage. Clemson does not develop blue chippers like they used to, but Brown is an exception.
19. Detroit Lions
DT A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
6’3, 330 lbs
2025 Stats:33 tackles, 1.5 sacks
It seems like the Lions are forever trying to rebuild a porous defense. A’Mauri Washington, a Detroit native, is what he is. A massive nose tackle who is excellent against the run, and can get to the quarterback on occasion. He could have been a first round pick, but, along with several other top prospects, chose to return to Oregon and vie for a national championship.
20. New Orleans Saints
S KJ Bolden, Georgia
6’0, 185 lbs
2025 Stats: 76 tackles, 2 INT
Even though the Saints are picking this low because they ended up as the “least bad” team in the NFL’s worst division, are still in the early stages of rebuilding a roster that got old and expensive, and will go best player available. KJ Bolden might not have the size you look for in a starting safety, but he is a ball hawk, play-maker and solid tackler. He should also excel in nickel packages, as more and more teams are playing three safeties on passing downs.
21. Houston Texans
RB Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
5’11, 205 lbs
2025 Stats: 306 carries, 1567 yards, 24 TD
Houston traded for David Montgomery, but he is almost 30, and Woody Marks is more of a part-time, change of pace back. They could use that bell-cow to help take some pressure off of CJ Stroud. After carrying the ball only 23 times as a freshman, Kewan Lacy had a monster junior season, toting the rock over 300 times and finding the end zone for 24 rushing touchdowns. He is also a decent pass catcher, making him a true three down back worthy of a mid-to-late first round pick.
22. Kansas City Chiefs
WR Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama
6’0, 182 lbs
2025 Stats: 49 rec, 689 yards, 4 TD
Patrick Mahomes may not be at the level where he can completely elevate the offense anymore, so continuing to surround him with skill position talent is important. I am willing to give Ryan Coleman-Williams a pass on his poor 2025 season. He still possesses that “99 OVR” speed that made him such a dangerous threat as a true freshman. He really struggled with drops as a sophomore, and will have to clean that up if he wants to remain in the first round mix. He is quite talented, and with improved focus, should be an easy first round pick.
23. New York Giants
DT Will Echoles, Ole Miss
6’3, 315 lbs
2025 Stats: 68 tackles, 5 sacks
The New York Giants have transitioned to a 3-4 defensive alignment, and traded Dexter Lawrence, so they need to rebuild a defensive line relying on old veterans and short free agent signings. Will Echoles was another Ole Miss Rebel who played a part time role as a true freshman before coming on as a sophomore. He has everything you look for in a pass rushing defensive tackle, with true double digit sack potential.
24. Los Angeles Chargers
OG Brandon Baker, Texas
6”4, 315 lbs
2025 Stats: N/A
Even though the Chargers should get both of their starting offensive tackles back from injury, the interior of the line remains a huge issue. Brandon Baker is the starting right tackle for Texas, but he likely slides inside in the pros. The former top recruit has been as good as advertised for the Longhorns, and forms perhaps the best tackle duo in the country, with fellow first round pick Trevor Goosby.
25. Denver Broncos
TE Trey’Dez Green, LSU
6’7, 237 lbs
2025 Stats: 33 rec, 433 yards, 7 TD
Denver may be the deepest team in the NFL, and without many key upcoming free agents, they can afford to draft a project with big upside. Trey’Dez Green has the size of a tight end but runs like a wide receiver. He needs to get stronger to play more inline, but could be a match-up nightmare outside. Even though it may take him longer to develop than even the average rookie tight end, his size and speed combination is unfair.
26. Chicago Bears
EDGE Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama
6’3, 253 lbs
2025 Stats: 52 tackles, 8 sacks
The Bears chose against adding pass rushing help during the off-season, instead hoping for continued development for its youngsters opposite Montez Sweat. Chicago struggled to get after the quarterback in 2025, however, and you can never have enough pass rushers. Yhonzae Pierre has followed in the footsteps of Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner, as Alabama’s next great EDGE rusher. During his first extended action during the 2025 season, he had 8 sacks and showed strong ability as a run stopper as well. He could end up going a lot higher than this.
27. Philadelphia Eagles
CB Zabien Brown, Alabama
6’0, 192 lbs
2025 Stats: 39 tackles, 2 INT, 1 FF
Other than the two recently drafted youngsters, nearly all of Philadelphia’s cornerbacks are upcoming free agents. Cooper DeJean fits best at the nickel, so they could use another guy on the outside. Zabien Brown may not have elite size, but the former top recruit had a very good sophomore year, picking off two passes and playing solid man coverage. He should develop into a solid starter with the upside for more.
28. Baltimore Ravens
C Kade Pieper, Iowa
6’3, 298 lbs
2025 Stats: N/A
Baltimore lost Tyler Lindenbaum during free agency, and Ethan Pocic, his replacement, is a journeyman at this stage of his career. Even though the Ravens spent a first round pick in 2026 on an interior lineman, they should continue to address that position. Kade Pieper is one of the best true-center prospects in a while. He is very athletic, and comes from a program, Iowa, that has always been good at developing offensive lineman. He should be an instant starter.
29. Dallas Cowboys
WR Nick Marsh, Indiana
6’3, 213 lbs
2025 Stats: 59 rec, 682 yards, 6 TD
Dallas needs to continue to add to its defense, but most of their receivers are upcoming free agents, including George Pickens. A compliment to CeeDee Lamb will also be needed. Nick Marsh chose to transfer to the National champions and play for a coach that made Omar Cooper Jr. a first round pick last year. Marsh has it all, the size and speed combination that could make him a good WR1 at the next level. He will now get to show what he can do on a national stage.
30. Cincinnati Bengals
FS Brauntae Johnson, Notre Dame
6’3, 206 lbs
2025 Stats: 48 tackles, 4 INT
The Bengals have eight upcoming free agents along its secondary, a position that is not all that deep to begin with. Brauntae Johnson is a part of a loaded Notre Dame secondary full of NFL prospects. He had an expanded role as a Notre Dame sophomore, and responded with 48 tackles and four interceptions.
31. Cleveland Browns (from LAR)
EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
6’5, 272 lbs
2025 Stats: 34 tackles, 6 sacks
As they have done nearly every year for the past decade, the Los Angeles Rams traded its first round pick for immediate help, this time to the Browns for Myles Garrett. Cleveland got Jared Verse in return, and Alex Wright has shown promise, but good teams need more than two rotational defensive ends.
32. Buffalo Bills
DT Justin Scott, Miami
6’4, 303 lbs
2025 Stats: 26 tackles, 1 sack
As is usually the case with defenses changing alignments, the Bills need defensive lineman more suited for a 3-4 defense. Justin Scott’s numbers may not jump out off the page at you, but he was a vital part of what brought Miami all the way to the championship game in 2025. He is an elite talent, a former five star recruit who is still coming into his own as both a pass rusher and run defender. Still a project, but may expect him to take a huge leap in 2026.
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