No. 26: Buffalo Bills – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Snagging a linebacker early could become a point of emphasis for the Bills as the draft draws closer, with it being a severe weakness as it stands. Allen is a young, projectable, and experienced defender who is often praised for his run defense and leadership skills. He may not light up the stat sheet, but he would give Buffalo a steady LB and captain over the middle of their defense.
No. 27: San Francisco 49ers – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
San Francisco still has its eyes set on contention, but at some point, they need to divert resources toward the future. One area in particular is along the offensive line, with Trent Williams surrounded by contract conflict and increasing age. Miller could play whenever needed and should be able to slot in as their future left tackle.
No. 28: Houston Texans – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
The Texans' front office is seemingly addicted to overhauling their offensive line whenever they get the chance, so it would be no surprise to see them add another name to the group. Iheanachor has a pretty split perception among analysts on how much of a project he is, but it's clear that he at least needs some time to refine his game. How Houston would operate with him is unknown, but he has extremely desirable upside at a premium position.
It will be interesting to see how the Chiefs approach 2026 and beyond with plenty of complicated roster situations. If they take the route of attempting to remain in the Super Bowl hunt, Mesidor matches that timeline. He's an older prospect, but the production and tape have shut down those concerns enough for him to be seen as an inevitable 1st round selection.
No. 30: New York Jets via Miami Dolphins – Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
Hear me out on this one. Much has been made about the Jets waiting for the historically hyped 2027 quarterback class, but to ignore any other possibility would be malpractice. There's so much within Payton's game that looks translatable, and New York would be presented with plenty of pathways toward developing him into a real game-changer. Slightly moving up to secure his 5th-year option is something we've seen teams do in the past, so why not take a shot at predicting that it happens again?
No. 31: New England Patriots – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
New England was simply outclassed in the trenches during the entirety of the Super Bowl, and changes need to be made. Signing Dre'Mont Jones was a start, but not a needle-mover. After addressing the offensive line in free agency, here I have them drafting a violent pass rusher with more than enough athletic tools to give QBs nightmares on the Patriots' defensive front.
No. 32: Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The 32nd pick of the draft is a luxury reserved for the defending champions, and the Seahawks are looking for cornerback help. I've matched them with a few different corners in past mock drafts, and here I'm giving them Hood. He's a feisty and physical SEC defender who can match the Seattle defensive mindset from the jump.