Philly Front Office

Eighteen NFL teams officially said goodnight to the season this weekend with the Ravens being the last ones up before turning out the lights. These teams are now in full preparation for the coming year by making changes to the front office and coaching staffs followed by pending salary decisions and then finally taking stock of the NFL Draft.

The draft is last in that order because a lot of things still need to happen. Not only are four teams still playing for the National Championship, but we haven’t had the Combine yet or even know who will officially be ready to forgo that lucrative NIL money for a shot at the NFL. Free agency could seriously change things too as that begins in March while the Draft isn’t until the end of April. Still, let’s assess team needs and take a first stab at the top 18 picks…

1. Las Vegas Raiders
   • Needs: Everything but RB. They are going to trade Maxx Crosby and should. This team needs a full reset. They weren’t just bad this year, they were depressing and lifeless. People forget they won their first game of the year meaning they lost 14 out of 15 and one point. Their only real question is whether to go for the QB right away or to trade the pick for more picks and attack the lines first.
   • Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana. I would probably lean into trading the pick right now, but you can’t fault them for taking the best QB in college football. This pick may look like a no brainer by the time the CFP is done.
2. New York Jets
   • Needs: Everything, but QB more than anything. The Jets made it a point to strip their roster of damn near all its veteran talent this season. Not only did they get extra draft picks (#16 this year), but they were just a few lucky (unlucky?) bounces away from getting the #1 pick. They tanked damn near perfectly. That being said, with a top WR and good LT already in house, they are in a better position than the Raiders to grab a QB and they simply have no one else to roll with in 2026. I know the memory of Zach Wilson is still fresh, but they have to throw the dice again.
   • Pick: Dante Moore, QB Oregon. The big problem here is what happens if Moore stays in school? He is only 20 years old and will probably get a ton of cash to stay in Eugene, especially if a National Championship goes on the resume of the former #1 recruit in the country. The Jets better hope that Moore wants that big time spotlight but equally big rebuild and burden that will come with being the #2 pick. If he doesn’t, then take the best player available or try to trade with the Raiders.
3. Arizona Cardinals
   • Needs: QB. The Cardinals are going to hope like hell that some QB emerges to challenge the top 2 in this class over the next few months (assuming Moore declares), because they need somebody. Kyler Murray is no longer in their future. However, they have a solid infrastructure already to give the next face of the franchise a head start. If no QB fits the bill, a trade down or defender should be the move.
   • Pick: Ty Simpson, QB Alabama. This may look like a reach but the Cards are in a tough spot. If they try to get cute and trade down thinking that the Dolphins are probably the next QB needy team at #11, they risk another team jumping them for Simpson. Of course, there is also the possibility that they make a trade for someone like Tanner McKee or even Tua Tagovailoa instead of pulling the trigger on Simpson, but he seems kind of perfect with the infrastructure already in place in the desert.
4. Tennessee Titans
   • Needs: Everything but QB. Cam Ward’s first season was nothing to write home about but he was also the #1 pick last year. This is purely a great player available situation and that would be either Arvell Reese or Reuben Bain Jr. The real order of business is trading Jeffery Simmons for a King’s ransom and getting another first in this draft for a WR or CB
   • Pick: Reuben Bain, DE Miami. Let’s keep the Hurricanes coming to Nashville. He would help restart a defense in desperate need of an overhaul.
5. New York Giants
   • Needs: OL, CB, S, TE, but not EDGE. If Reese is there, they almost have to take him even though they have a ton of pass rushers already. It doesn’t matter as they’d be getting a #1 level pick at #5. You trade Burns and build around a monster young pass rush for years. Of course, it’s the Giants, so they will probably not do that. Instead, they’ll convince themselves that Dart needs a receiver, forgetting that they already have Malik Nabers, and take Carnell Tate.
   • Pick: Pick: Francis Mauigoa, OT Miami. They shouldn’t over think this. Mauigoa has been a big time prospect for years and can immediately step in to help their perpetual offensive line problem.
6. Cleveland Browns
   • Needs: Everything but EDGE. They are in a similar position to the Giants with Reese. The difference is that the Browns are probably going to entertain trading Myles Garrett. After all, his contract is ripe to be traded since it came with a small signing bonus. It’s smart to trade him now too if they can get a three first round pick haul for a 30 year old, they have to do it.
   • Pick: Arvell Reese, OLB Ohio State. This team needs so much that they can prioritize the defense while seeing if Shedeur Sanders is their guy for another year.
7. Washington Commanders
   • Needs: YOUTH. The Commanders are a year late to the party in realizing they need to get younger instead of older. A young OL would be a good idea as would a WR to replace aging Deebo and McLaurin. That can wait though. They really need youth in their front 7 on defense. They are slow and old. If Reese or Bain are still here they would be a no brainer.
   • Pick: Keldric Faulk, DE/DT Auburn. Considering they play in the same division as Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Jaxson Dart, getting a disrupter on the interior defensive line is a must.
8. New Orleans Saints
   • Needs: Everything, but not a QB yet. Funny thing happened on the way to the 2026 NFL Draft, Tyler Shaugh wasn’t half bad. This gives the Saints another year to build the team before addressing the QB spot if they even need to. I’ve seen a bunch of mocks with the Saints taking a RB. Mickey Loomis isn’t that dumb. They need defense and protection. This is going to be a lineman pick.
   • Pick: David Bailey, EDGE Texas Tech. Bailey had 14.5 sacks last year, albeit in his 4th year. Still, that’s serious production in college. He seems like he will have a big variance depending on his combine numbers.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
   • Needs: Protection. The Chiefs have been drowning these last few years with little ability to not get overwhelmed by a pass rush. They have receivers, the QB, and can always churn out defensive backs. They took o-line last year and need to keep it coming.
   • Pick: Spencer Fano, OT Utah. Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith are a great foundation, but with Josh Simmons last year, the Chiefs still need another new body on this line. Fano has the versatility to play inside and out so that will help when weeding out the ineffective line bodies in KC
10. Cincinnati Bengals
    • Needs: Defense, always defense. The Bengals just announced that they are bringing back their shadowy GM Duke Tobin for unexplained reasons. He does not know what he’s doing. With Trey Hendrickson likely leaving, they have openings all over the defense but they need a culture setter most of all. One option is Ohio State LB Sonny Styles, but…
    • Pick: Caleb Downs, S Ohio State. Downs is the captain of an elite defense. He’s the kind of guy that you build around even if the positional value isn’t there. He’s good and should make building the rest of the defense easier
11. Miami Dolphins
    • Needs: Yikes! Once this team decides to tear everything down, they will need literally everything. There is not an element of this team that is worth keeping and investing in right now except Patrick Paul at LT. Once they come up with a plan, then we can think about needs. Otherwise it’s BPA.
    • Pick: Sonny Styles, LB Ohio State. This is not unlike the previous pick to the Bengals. The Dolphins need someone on defense to build around and Styles is the type that can lead a defense and fill all of their considerable holes. Also, his name is flawless for Miami.
12. Dallas Cowboys
    • Needs: Defense, desperately. This was one of the worst units EVER by DVOA this season and the worst in about 40 years. Considering they flopped draft picks and Micah Parsons for Quinnen Williams , you’d think they would have had a plan. Not Jerry! He decided to just get more WRs he has to pay. Brilliant move my guy. They have to hope the actual draft goes better than this mock considering all the good pass rushers are taken at this point.
    • Pick: Mansoor Delane, CB LSU. Considering other than DT the Cowboys have holes all over their defense, they can’t go wrong with the best CB in the draft. Trevon Diggs is gone and Daron Bland isn’t far behind. With all the WRs in this division, this needs to be a position of activity in Dallas.
13. LA Rams (from Atlanta Falcons)
    • Needs: Not much. The Rams will be very tempted to use this pick as a luxury. Drafting a RB like Jeremiyah Love or a TE like Kenyon Sadiq might seem like the move but expect them to either go OL or CB depending on how these playoffs go. WR wouldn’t be crazy either considering Davante Adams is 33 and will be a chunk of the payroll next season.
    • Pick: Jermod McCoy, CB Tennessee. I almost went with Carnell Tate here considering he is sliding, but the Rams CBs might be what gets them killed in the playoffs. Emmanuell Forbes was a fun story for a little bit, but he’s not a starter in this league.
14. Baltimore Ravens
    • Needs: WR and a lot more. The Ravens fell apart for a lot of reasons this year including their defense and their protection. However, they have never given Lamar Jackson a true #1 WR despite drafting Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman in the 1st round. Defensive line would be the fallback choice if this guy isn’t available, but…
    • Pick: Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State. If he is still available at this point (and I don’t think he will be), Lamar needs to be throwing footballs at his GMs face to get his attention. Jackson would finally have a partner on the offense who could take advantage of his significant skills.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • Needs: Secondary. The offense fell apart this year, but it wasn’t from lack of talent. The defense wasn’t that bad either, but Jamel Dean is on his way out and Benjamin Morrison was pretty bad.
    • Pick: Avieon Terrell, CB Clemson. A CB named Terrell out of Clemson? Yes, he’s AJs brother. They would be in the same division and both drafted in the first round. The pedigree and need is too good for a Tampa team in need to pass up.
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts)
    • Needs: Everything BUT QB now. With Dante Moore in the fold, they could go get another lineman to protect him or focus on the defense, but I don’t think they want another situation where their rookie is put in a failing position. Plus, they went and got Arman Membou last year to anchor the offensive line and here is no guarantee Garrett Wilson stays with the Jets either. That means they need a WR.
    • Pick: Jordyn Tyson, WR Arizona State. The second best WR in the class goes later than expected here, but goes into a surprisingly good situation as the rookie teammate of Moore. This works out nicely for both guys.
17. Detroit Lions
    • Needs: RT and C. The defense was bad this year, but that was more because of injury than lack of talent. They need depth there, but not starters. They have a solid QB and a ton of playmakers. What they never had in 2025 was protection. After Frank Ragnow retired, he was never replaced then failed his physical when he tried to return. Taylor Decker might also be moving on. It would probably be more efficient to go center later and RT now.
    • Pick: Kadyn Proctor, OT Alabama. This is a BIG man. Putting him on the front side with Penai Sewell across from him would be a solid way to not worry about the position for a long time.
18. Minnesota Vikings
    • Needs: Competent QB play. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen. The JJ McCarthy timeline has been a total disaster. It’s not that he’s been terrible, he’s just been hurt and lost out on valuable experience that this veteran team could not afford to lose. I feel bad for Vikings fans. The team took a big swing on the Michigan QB and he’s just not the guy. If he was, they’d likely be in the Super Bowl conversation. That’s how talented they are.
    • Pick: Peter Woods, DT Clemson. He’s the best defender available. Unfortunately, he will not be the answer to their prayers.

Next Mock Draft coming after the Super Bowl with the full 32.