2026 Mock Draft Thread

[mayoclinic]

Agreed.

Bur barring injury, it is very difficult for me to see Bain, Faulk, Woods, Tyson, Lemon, Fanu or Mauigoa not being top 20 picks. Those positions are prized, the hype is there (it has an effect on some teams), the tape is good and the production is there.

Downs and Love play less prized positions, but are too good.

There will be top 20 QBs and CBs as well. Position too valued.

 

[manxman2601]

Agreed.

Bur barring injury, it is very difficult for be to see Bain, Faulk, Woods, Tyson, Lemon, Fanu or Mauigoa not being top 20 picks. Those positions are prized, the hype is there (it has an effect on some teams), the tape is good and the production is there.

Downs and Love play less prized positions, but are too good.

There will be top 20 QBs and CBs as well. Position too valued.

The only thing I will say is that the FOs aren't involved in the draft yet. When Brugler says 'teams' love Arvell Reese, he really means scouts. I agree with your list, almost all the players you mentioned are likely to be first rounders barring injuries or surprise revelations about character (Reid had Shedeur Sanders going first overall lol). What intrigues me is who the Membou's, Barron's, and Zabel's are going to be.

 

[mayoclinic]

Reese's tape is hard to overlook.

I don't much care as long as the Pats get him.

But I generally agree with you.

I feel that we are just starting to get to the point where the media is moving away from pre-season lists. I still see mocks with TJ Parker and Cade Clubnik so too-10 picks but they are far less common.

 

[manxman2601]

Reese's tape is hard to overlook.

I don't much care as long as the Pats get him.

But I generally agree with you.

I feel that we are just starting to get to the point where the media is moving away from pre-season lists. I still see mocks with TJ Parker and Cade Clubnik so too-10 picks but they are far less common.

1. I'm not saying Reese won't be top 15, just that that info is likely not coming from front offices.

2. Pre-season lists are little more than a useful guide to introduce us to names to talk about.

 

[mayoclinic]

Manx's top 20 (roughly):

1. Rueben Bain, EDGE
2. Caleb Downs, S
3. Jordyn Tyson, WR
4. Spencer Fanu, OT
5. Makai Lemon, WR
6. Mansoor Delane, CB
7. Arvell Reese, LB
8. Francis Mauigoa, OT
9. Kenyon Sadiq, TE
10. Conner Lew, OC
11. CJ Allen, LB
12. Caden Green, OL
13. Akheem Mesidor, EDGE
14. Romello Height, LB/EDGE
15. Jacob Rodriguez, LB
16. Michael Trigg, TE
17. Zakee Wheatley, S
18. Ian Strong, WR
19. Joshua Joseph, EDGE
20. Cashius Howell, EDGE

To be honest, it's a pretty damn good list.

 

[manxman2601]

Manx's top 20 (roughly):

1. Rueben Bain, EDGE
2. Caleb Downs, S
3. Jordyn Tyson, WR
4. Spencer Fanu, OT
5. Makai Lemon, WR
6. Mansoor Delane, CB
7. Arvell Reese, LB
8. Francis Mauigoa, OT
9. Kenyon Sadiq, TE
10. Conner Lew, OC
11. CJ Allen, LB
12. Caden Green, OL
13. Akheem Mesidor, EDGE
14. Romello Height, LB/EDGE
15. Jacob Rodriguez, LB
16. Michael Trigg, TE
17. Zakee Wheatley, S
18. Ian Strong, WR
19. Joshua Joseph, EDGE
20. Cashius Howell, EDGE

To be honest, it's a pretty damn good list.

Fixed it for you.

1. Akheem Mesidor

It's not quite my list. but it's safe to say Rodriguez, Wheatley & Mesidor are borderline locks for future mocks. I might look at some sort of board next week.

 

[mayoclinic]

Akheem Mesidor reminds me of Efton Chism. He will thrown himself in front of the oncoming tanks if necessary to win the battle.

I want a few guys like that on my team.

 

[manxman2601]

Pick 19. It's beautiful.


19. David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Watching Josh Allen having all the time in the pocket at times yesterday really re-enforced for me how badly we need a pass rusher who can get quick pressure. Those connections to the TEs yesterday weren't because of the linebackers or safeties, it was because Allen had the time to wait for them to come open.

51. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

A gift for Mayo. I like our WR corps but we don't really have a 'presence' in the group.

83. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State

We will simply lack the roster numbers at this position next year. Wheatley has 4.4 speed to play single high but the burst to fill holes at the LoS quickly too.

115. Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan.

RB is becoming a big need. Stevenson has his fumble issues and Henderson is looking like he won't be able to fill the every down back we hoped for. Haynes doesn't have a great deal of wiggle, but at 210, has enough power between the tackles and the speed to break big plays. More importantly, zero career fumbles!

119. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

The best linebacker in CFB and has an excellent coverage grade. He's the personification of Vrabel's character, effort and leadership mantra. And he's very productive. He led Texas Tech with 22 pressures and 6 sacks last year, he has 5 forced fumbles this year and last and 2 INTs this year. Very versatile as either an MLB or WLB.

158. Akheem Mesidor, Miami, DL

I've said my piece about Mesidor so won't bore you. You know how I feel about him. Weirdly he's not on the PFF simulator any more. I'm sure that's a admin error.

197. Beau Stephens, LG, Iowa

The 2nd highest graded guard this year, he's equally good as a run blocker as he is a pass blocker. Allows Wilson to revert to his best position.

218. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon

He currently plays LG for Oregon but switching sides at guard seems to be easier than at OT. Another excellent pass blocker that grades out well in run blocking too.

232. Jyaire Hill, CB, Michigan

A lengthy CB at 6'2", 190lbs who has been consistently good in both coverage and run support this year.

 

[mayoclinic]

I love it except for David Bailey. Who else was available?

 

[manxman2601]

I love it except for David Bailey. Who else was available?

Fano which was a difficult choice. I know you're not high on designated pass rushers but I'm more of the opinion that it's better to draft someone who is exceptional at something rather than average at everything which is where I am with most of these edge rushers this year.

 

[stelfans]

Pick 19. It's beautiful.


19. David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Watching Josh Allen having all the time in the pocket at times yesterday really re-enforced for me how badly we need a pass rusher who can get quick pressure. Those connections to the TEs yesterday weren't because of the linebackers or safeties, it was because Allen had the time to wait for them to come open.

51. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

A gift for Mayo. I like our WR corps but we don't really have a 'presence' in the group.

83. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State

We will simply lack the roster numbers at this position next year. Wheatley has 4.4 speed to play single high but the burst to fill holes at the LoS quickly too.

115. Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan.

RB is becoming a big need. Stevenson has his fumble issues and Henderson is looking like he won't be able to fill the every down back we hoped for. Haynes doesn't have a great deal of wiggle, but at 210, has enough power between the tackles and the speed to break big plays. More importantly, zero career fumbles!

119. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

The best linebacker in CFB and has an excellent coverage grade. He's the personification of Vrabel's character, effort and leadership mantra. And he's very productive. He led Texas Tech with 22 pressures and 6 sacks last year, he has 5 forced fumbles this year and last and 2 INTs this year. Very versatile as either an MLB or WLB.

158. Akheem Mesidor, Miami, DL

I've said my piece about Mesidor so won't bore you. You know how I feel about him. Weirdly he's not on the PFF simulator any more. I'm sure that's a admin error.

197. Beau Stephens, LG, Iowa

The 2nd highest graded guard this year, he's equally good as a run blocker as he is a pass blocker. Allows Wilson to revert to his best position.

218. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon

He currently plays LG for Oregon but switching sides at guard seems to be easier than at OT. Another excellent pass blocker that grades out well in run blocking too.

232. Jyaire Hill, CB, Michigan

A lengthy CB at 6'2", 190lbs who has been consistently good in both coverage and run support this year.

Wonderful job. Bailey wouldnt be my first choice but i get it.
That Iowa line is something else.

 

[Clonamery]

Pregnon per Google AI is rated a consensus (40+ sites) #75 overall.

 

[mayoclinic]

Sorry, Bailey over Fanu doesn't work for me.

Someone I know thinks Mesidor is pretty good. Re-sign Chaisson, draft Mesidor, and see how things play out. Fanu and Pregnon on the right side would be nice.

 

[manxman2601]

Sorry, Bailey over Fanu doesn't work for me.

Someone I know thinks Mesidor is pretty good. Re-sign Chaisson, draft Mesidor, and see how things play out. Fanu and Pregnon on the right side would be nice.

Chaisson isn't very good. I just want to add elite talent and Bailey is a potentially elite pure pass rusher. A potential Nik Bonito v Chaisson is not a difficult choice for me.

 

[mayoclinic]

What happened to BPA over need?

No way for me Bailey is BPA over Fanu or Mauigoa. JMHO.

 

[manxman2601]

What happened to BPA over need?

No way for me Bailey is BPA over Fanu or Mauigoa. JMHO.

Well BPA is in the eye of the beholder. I've just come to realise that I want to add talent that has the potential to be elite at what they do best. Fano certainly fits that and I said it was a tough choice. i'm not quite as high on Mauigoa. For me, at least, Bailey has something that is rare to find which is top notch athleticism and the ability to stress a tackle by winning quickly. That's something I value.

It's a fair question though.

 

[mayoclinic]

Disagreement is the spice of life, and as far as I am concerned you have the best set of eyes around. Not claiming to be right. But I don't even have David Bailey on my board, and wouldn't even consider him before Day 3. He has a great first step, but that's it. He has limited length and a limited pass rush repertoire, doesn't do well either his hand down, can't set an edge and is a liability in the run game. A one trick pony, albeit a good trick at the college level. But I want a more complete player.

 

[manxman2601]

Disagreement is the spice of life, and as far as I am concerned you have the best set of eyes around. Not claiming to be right. But I don't even have David Bailey on my board, and wouldn't even consider him before Day 3. He has a great first step, but that's it. He has limited length and a limited pass rush repertoire, doesn't do well either his hand down, can't set an edge and is a liability in the run game. A one trick pony, albeit a good trick at the college level. But I want a more complete player.

Fair enough.

 

[mayoclinic]

Happy to take Dwight Freeney circa 2002 if there's one available.

 

[manxman2601]

Disagreement is the spice of life, and as far as I am concerned you have the best set of eyes around. Not claiming to be right. But I don't even have David Bailey on my board, and wouldn't even consider him before Day 3. He has a great first step, but that's it. He has limited length and a limited pass rush repertoire, doesn't do well either his hand down, can't set an edge and is a liability in the run game. A one trick pony, albeit a good trick at the college level. But I want a more complete player.

From the article you posted in the Watch List thread:

"Bailey’s rush arsenal includes club-swims, swipe-rips, spins, and pure speed rushes around the outside shoulder or through the B-gap. He is loose and springy enough to execute sudden B-gap counters. Bailey lacks a consistent power element to his rush plan but is a menace for linemen to mirror when he has the two-way go to attack either the B or C-gap."