- Rueben Bain Jr. on track to be No. 1 pick: Titans fans use the top selection on the Miami (FL) edge defender most often.
- Cowboys fans looking for Micah Parsons’ replacement: Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey is their most frequent selection.
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Estimated Reading Time: 21 minutes
The countdown to the 2026 NFL Draft is officially underway. With speculation at an all-time high, fans are eager to see how their favorite teams will shape the future.
To get a sense of where each franchise might be leaning, we turned to the PFF Mock Draft Simulator to identify the most popular selections among fanbases. From potential franchise quarterbacks to game-changing defenders, here’s a look at the picks fans are making the most — with some analysis from PFF’s Lead Draft Analyst Trevor Sikkema’s big board on each player.
Arizona Cardinals: WR Makai Lemon, USC
Big board notes: Lemon wins with devastating quickness in every aspect of how he moves: his footwork out of his release, the speed in his acceleration and the pumping of his hands to break press, clear a defender or go up and catch the ball. He'll give up some situational versatility due to a lack of overall size, but he has the potential to be incredibly productive in the NFL.
Atlanta Falcons: DI A'Mauri Washington, Oregon
Big board notes: Analysis Coming soon!
Baltimore Ravens: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Big board notes: Styles looks the part of an NFL linebacker with an imposing frame, even as a converted defensive back. He has improved his run-stopping ability, thanks in part to his long wingspan, to wrap up ball carriers. As a former safety, he's fluid and moves well when dropping in coverage. The linebacker instincts are still a work in progress, but there is a good baseline for improvement. That offers him a mid-round projection heading into 2025.
Buffalo Bills: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
Big board notes: Parker is an exciting underclassman edge rush prospect who has the body type, athletic ability and snap-count experience to line up anywhere from an interior 4i to a stand-up 6/7-tech. His first step and fluidity make him a high-potential player, as evidenced by an ascending win percentage. He doesn't have rare or elite bend and twitch, but it is plenty good enough to start and win at the NFL level.
Carolina Panthers: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
Big board notes: Bailey is a good all-around athlete for an on-ball linebacker. His first-step explosiveness is impressive and the root of his pass-rush efficiency. Through this, he converts speed to power with an effective bull rush as a go-to. But, he doesn't show much pass-rush diversity beyond that and must master more moves. He is fluid enough to be a spot-drop coverage player, but his PFF run-defense grades have been low. Bailey is exciting in flashes, but not a complete player yet.
Chicago Bears: DI Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Big board notes: Analysis Coming soon!
Cincinnati Bengals: DI Peter Woods, Clemson
Big board notes: Woods is an ideal blend of size, strength and athleticism for a big man. That shows up in his versatility not only in his 0-to-5-technique alignments, but also his ability to make an impact in two- and three-point stances, making him truly scheme-versatile. His bread and butter is explosiveness in his first step, converting speed to power quickly and consistently. Pairing that with inside hand placement allows him to stack and shed blockers with haste to make plenty of plays at the line of scrimmage. If Woods continues to improve and diversify his pass-rush plan (even with shorter arms), he can convert his pass-rush win rate into more sacks and tackles for loss as opposed to just making stops at the line.
Cleveland Browns: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Big board notes: Tyson was the Sun Devils' top playmaker in the passing game in 2024 and looks to be that again in 2025. He is a bit on the smaller side, but plays stronger than his listed weight. He makes impressive contested catches, though he also recorded some bad drops in 2024. He boasts inside-out versatility thanks to his strong blocking ability and good breaks on intermediate routes. The biggest area of growth for him in 2025 should be in his release package versus press off the line of scrimmage. That could be the difference between being drafted on Day 2 or Day 1.
Dallas Cowboys: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
Big board notes: Bailey is a good all-around athlete for an on-ball linebacker. His first-step explosiveness is impressive and the root of his pass-rush efficiency. Through this, he converts speed to power with an effective bull rush as a go-to. But, he doesn't show much pass-rush diversity beyond that and must master more moves. He is fluid enough to be a spot-drop coverage player, but his PFF run-defense grades have been low. Bailey is exciting in flashes, but not a complete player yet.
Denver Broncos: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Big board notes: Sadiq is an alluring combination of size and athleticism, even at a position with many of those types of prospects. He played both sides of the ball effectively, as a receiver and a defensive back, in high school, and was also a multi-sport athlete. He plays and is deployed like a big receiver, and one whom you won't want to be attached to the line of scrimmage. His movement skills give him a lot of alignment versatility. We just need to see Sadiq as a focal point TE1 in 2025.
Detroit Lions: DI Caleb Banks, Florida
Big board notes: Banks is a big, strong, and violent player with the size and strength to be an impactful defensive lineman in the NFL. He brings a strong club move that he relies on to get past blockers and into the backfield as a go-to option. His first step has good burst, but he won't be one of those defensive linemen making chase-down tackles to the outside. His length and strength give him ideal scheme versatility as a nose tackle, 3-technique, or 3-4 defensive end in odd and even fronts, as a good run defender, though at times he is too focused on gap-shooting rather than holding his spot. Right now, Banks just wins with power. He must improve his pass-rush diversity and pad level, areas that have held his career pass-rush win rate below 12.0% heading into 2025.
Green Bay Packers: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Big board notes: Analysis Coming soon!
Houston Texans: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
Big board notes: Mauigoa is a strong and sturdy offensive tackle prospect with a lot to like. He doesn't shy away from taking the fight to pass-rushers and dictating contact to throw them off their timing. He keeps his weight on his inside foot when kick sliding to neutralize inside moves. He plays with a good motor through the whistle. He appears to have adequate arm length to stick at tackle. With his thick lower body, he can be a people mover in the run game. His weight can be a bit too heavily on his toes, and an imbalance moving forward seems to be the root of many of his negatively graded plays. Mauigoa possesses the size and skills to be a starting offensive tackle in a man- or gap-blocking scheme.
Indianapolis Colts: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Big board notes: Thieneman has had a lot of experience as a deep (and I mean deep) safety in Purdue‘s single-high coverage system. He has good anticipation for deep throws down the sideline or over the middle, and has NFL-level top speed when pursuing. His hips, change of direction and acceleration appear average. He has some impressive downhill tackles, lining guys up at full speed. But he seems to struggle when asked to play at the linebacker level, despite his willingness to be physical.
Jacksonville Jaguars: S A.J. Haulcy, LSU
Big board notes: Analysis Coming soon!
Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
Big board notes: Bailey is a good all-around athlete for an on-ball linebacker. His first-step explosiveness is impressive and the root of his pass-rush efficiency. Through this, he converts speed to power with an effective bull rush as a go-to. But, he doesn't show much pass-rush diversity beyond that and must master more moves. He is fluid enough to be a spot-drop coverage player, but his PFF run-defense grades have been low. Bailey is exciting in flashes, but not a complete player yet.
Las Vegas Raiders: QB Dante Moore, Oregon
Big board notes: Analysis Coming soon!
Los Angeles Chargers: G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Big board notes: Ioane is a densely built guard prospect who does a lot of things well when projected to a downhill man or gap run-blocking scheme. Along with football, he grew up playing rugby and basketball, giving him an intriguing multi-sport background. He has a low, wide and powerful pre-snap stance, which gives him a good first step for reach blocks and power when blocking downhill. He does a good job of hand-fighting with coordination and balance to reposition in pass protection. His wide base helps him neutralize some pass-rush moves, but he can struggle with lateral movements, such as when outside zone-run blocking and facing cross-face pass-rush moves.
Los Angeles Rams: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
Big board notes: Delane is a long, fast cornerback who brings an adequate balance of top speed and agility to play press-man coverage at the NFL level. He is comfortable getting his hands on receivers in true press, and generally has the speed to keep up with them vertically. His hips are oily and can flip very quickly to stay in phase out of press. He is on the slender side, and that shows up when tackling and making contact at the catch point. If he can get a little stronger while maintaining his fluid movement skills, he can be a contributing outside cornerback in a man- or man-match-heavy system.
Miami Dolphins: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Big board notes: McCoy has the body type and athleticism to play press-man coverage at the NFL level. His ball production as a sophomore was very impressive in terms of interceptions and forced incompletions. He is comfortable hand-fighting receivers at any point of their route and pairs that with good long speed and excellent first-step explosiveness. At the same time, he is coming off a torn ACL and must get back to pre-injury form. He could also use more patience with inside releases. But it's all there for him to be a CB1 in the pros.
Minnesota Vikings: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Big board notes: Love is a future impact back at the NFL level. He checks every athletic box: speed, burst, agility and change-of-direction and pairs it with sharp footwork and natural receiving ability. While his power game between the tackles and in pass protection still needs refinement, the foundation is strong. Love projects as a versatile offensive weapon with first-round potential.
New England Patriots: EDGE LT Overton, Alabama
Big board notes: Overton has a thick, compact build and uses good leverage and impressive speed-to-power conversion to defend the run with high efficiency. As a pass rusher, his win percentage is high due to disruption, but he often fails to win cleanly with haste. His length is limited, but what he does best seems to lend itself to a 3-4 defensive end role with some inside-out alignment flexibility. However, he can be a contributing player in a 4-3 scheme as a power defensive end. He just might struggle to threaten the outside shoulder as a pass rusher with a lack of stride length and bend.
New Orleans Saints: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Big board notes: Mendoza looks the part of an NFL quarterback, with above-average size and sufficient arm strength. He flashes good touch, particularly on sideline throws. He also demonstrates the patience to work through progressions, although his lower-body mechanics can break down under pressure. As of this preseason evaluation, he must improve his vision against zone coverage, a key factor in his high turnover-worthy play rate.
New York Giants: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Big board notes: Downs has the NFL bloodlines that already back up a pro-level IQ as just an underclassman. He is slightly undersized, but brings everything else you'd want at a good or even elite level for the position. He should be drafted as high as you feel comfortable taking a safety.
New York Jets: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Big board notes: Mendoza looks the part of an NFL quarterback, with above-average size and sufficient arm strength. He flashes good touch, particularly on sideline throws. He also demonstrates the patience to work through progressions, although his lower-body mechanics can break down under pressure. As of this preseason evaluation, he must improve his vision against zone coverage, a key factor in his high turnover-worthy play rate.
Philadelphia Eagles: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Big board notes: Concepcion is a smaller, primarily slot receiver who brings versatility to the field, functioning in the slot, as a motion player and occasionally as a running back. He shows good athleticism and change-of-direction skills, with the ability to generate yards after contact. However, he must improve at the catch point and develop a cleaner plan for navigating defenders after the catch. Reducing drops and avoiding unnecessary contact will be key to taking the next step in his development.
Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Big board notes: Tate is a talented wideout with a long frame and what appears to be an equally long catch radius. He is typically lined up as the X or Z receiver in Ohio State‘s formations due to his ability as a blocker. He has some separation savviness but needs to turn up his twitch and play speed as an upperclassman. He would also benefit from putting on some good weight for strength.
San Francisco 49ers: OT Kadyn Proctor, Ohio State
Big board notes: Proctor is a super-sized offensive lineman, even by NFL standards, with a skill set perfect for a man- or gap-blocking scheme. He tips the scale in total weight yet has good weight distribution in his upper and lower halves. He is lighter on his feet than expected, but changing direction to handle cross-face moves is a challenge. He has imposing strength and is very difficult to get through. His arm length appears shorter for the tackle position, which will naturally raise the question of a move inside to guard.
Seattle Seahawks: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Big board notes: Analysis Coming soon!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Big board notes: Sadiq is an alluring combination of size and athleticism, even at a position with many of those types of prospects. He played both sides of the ball effectively, as a receiver and a defensive back, in high school, and was also a multi-sport athlete. He plays and is deployed like a big receiver, and one whom you won't want to be attached to the line of scrimmage. His movement skills give him a lot of alignment versatility. We just need to see Sadiq as a focal point TE1 in 2025.
Tennessee Titans: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)
Big board notes: Bain Jr. is a strong, dense edge player with a versatile build, capable of playing as a 3-4 defensive end all the way to a 4-3 outside linebacker. He is also versatile in rushing from the left or right. His length appears to be below average for the NFL, but he avoids getting locked up against longer tackles with powerful and fast hand movements, led by a strong two-hand swipe as a go-to. He shows the baseline and skill to be a starting-caliber defensive end, preferably in a 4-3 front.
Washington Commanders: EDGE Keldrick Faulk, Auburn
Big board notes: Faulk brings ideal length and strength to the defensive end position. His wingspan seems to match his listed height, which would be well above average for the pros. He does his best work as a 4i or 5-tech defensive end, where he can start with his shoulder down in a 3-point stance. He utilizes a long arm and push-pull moves to win with strength, though his win percentage has been relatively low. He is a plus defender in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
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