Hayden Winks Mock Draft After The Dexter Lawrence Trade

2 hours agoHayden Winks

Enter your own mock draft at UnderdogMockDraft.com and compete with the live leaderboards. There is a ton of free data on top of the Round 1 or team-based mock draft options. I'm biased because I built this myself, but any NFL Draft fan should love this site. Go read my Top 100 Big Board while you're at it.

1. Raiders - QB1 Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

He's a strong 1st overall pick, even if he needs some development reading things out. The physical and mental traits are encouraging.

2. Jets - LB1 Arvell Reese, Ohio State

The team reporters/analysts believe it's leaning Reese, then the national insiders all came out at once saying they lean towards David Bailey. Scheme wise, either would fit, but Reese's fit and their lack of long-term depth at off-ball linebacker stands out to me. Jamien Sherwood is only 216 pounds and on a bad, expiring contract, while Demario Davis is 37 years old. Reese would be the centerpiece of the defense at off-ball linebacker, then rotate up in pressure packages as an outside backer in dime personnel. He is ideal in a 3-4 defense, and coach Aaron Glenn has said he wants to be more multiple and physical on defense this year. What is in that Arvell Reese scouting report again? Multiplicity and physicality.

On top of that, the Jets hosted Reese for an official Top 30 visit, and then afterwards, the Jets cancelled their visit with Bailey. That could be interpreted as Reese is their guy, and they didn't wanted to waste Bailey's time heading into the draft. It'd be odd, not impossible, to draft a player 2nd overall without having him walk around the facilities and meet everyone in the building. This pairing is the most common (54%) on UnderdogMockDraft.com.

3. Cardinals - EDGE1 David Bailey, Ohio State

Arizona easily can trade down if someone has a blue chip grade on Bailey (perhaps the Titans, Saints, Chiefs, Bengals, or Cowboys). I haven't seen anything substantiated to believe it's more likely to happen than not, so I'll go with the consensus best player available at a premium (defensive) position. That's Bailey, who would link up with Josh Sweat and play ahead of the group of forgettable pass rushers already on the roster. There are rumors Sweat isn't happy with the team, so this unit may need edge help sooner than expected. Bailey has legit burst as a pass rusher with the production to match.

On top of that, the Cardinals haven't added anyone of note this offseason on defense and are somewhat likely to use the 34th overall pick (or more) on QB Ty Simpson. If you're retained DC Nick Rallis, wouldn't you feel some type of way to go an entire offseason without adding anyone on defense?

4. Titans - RB1 Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

New HC Robert Saleh has a deep history of picking athletic edge rushers, so Bailey or Reese falling here would make this decision easy. In many scenarios, that doesn't happen. I'm defaulting to the opinion of Titans insider Easton Freeze, who leans Love after the owner's meetings. This would not be the choice I'd make for positional value reasons, but this is what they are likely to do. It would at least help this disastrous ownership group sell some season tickets for a new stadium during his rookie contract. This pairing is the most common (53%) on UnderdogMockDraft.com.

5. Giants - LB2 Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Long-time columnist Ian O'Connor was all over the John Harbaugh hiring, and he tweeted, "For the 5th pick I'm still putting my $20 on Sonny Styles over Caleb Downs to the Giants". His reasoning is Harbaugh's deep wish to stop the run. Styles' instincts and range were all over the tape in both coverage and run defense. The Giants have the DL to stop the run, but their LB room was so bad last year that they were exposed to the tune of the worst rushing EPA allowed.

I think "trenches" would mean Francis Mauigoa, Spencer Fano, or Vega Ioane are in play, but it's actually been Caleb Downs who has been getting the most secondary love in the media sphere, potentially linking Harbaugh's Kyle Hamilton to the OSU safety. Styles does a lot of the things Downs does but with verified freaky athleticism at a position even closer to the ball. When they traded DT Dexter Lawrence, they opened up their already putrid run defense further, which makes me believe Styles is even more likely to be this 5th overall selection. Downs does help the run game but just far less. More on him at 10th overall, though... This pairing is the most common (52%) on UnderdogMockDraft.com.

6. Browns - OL1 Spencer Fano, Utah

The Browns need a LT, and then secondary to that would be WR. To me, there is a lot of depth at WR and very little beyond the 1st-round picks at LT. The Browns could gamble on a LT they grade highly falling to 24th, but the risk is real and historically the top LTs in the NFL are drafted within the first 10ish picks. Which tackle could they be eyeing is harder to pin down.

Georgia LT Monroe Freeling has all the physical traits to go this high (I rank him 5th overall), but the development is also real with him, which is why he sits much lower than 6th overall on consensus boards. It's almost the same story with Alabama LT Kadyn Proctor, too. On the other hand, the top consensus tackles are actually RTs in Miami's Francis Mauigoa and Utah's Spencer Fano. Mauigoa has the typical RT/OG traits, which is why I actually grade him specifically as an interior player. Fano has cleared 33" arms on some team's measurements per Daniel Jeremiah's conference call, and he has all of the movement skills of a LT/RT. He has also played LT before. When Browns GM Andrew Berry answered "We grade tackles in the aggregate" when asked about tackles playing the left or right side, my ears perked up. They don't believe the right side is less valuable or that a tackle can't switch sides. That opens the door that Fano's elite movement skills and youthfulness are ideal traits for an analytics front office to fall in love with.

I also loved Dane Brugler's report that the Browns passed on Tetairoa McMillan in part because he didn't have a full athletic profile and a mediocre 4.53 forty. That's exactly the situation with Carnell Tate here.

7. Commanders - CB1 Mansoor Delane, LSU

Washington doesn't have a 2nd- or 4th-round selection and are ripe for a trade down, but no early trades in this mock draft, as every team is more likely to pick than trade down. The Commanders have been drafting with athleticism in mind under GM Adam Peters, so Jeremiyah Love and Sonny Styles should absolutely be in play. They're just likely gone.

The next verified athlete in consensus rankings is CB Mansoor Delane, who was outstanding on tape and plays a semi-premium position. Washington is solid at corner, so Delane would be the outside CB1 with 2025 2nd-rounder Trey Amos holding down the other outside spot and Mike Sainristill battling out with Amik Robertson in the nickel. That's not too much investment to rule it out, but the Commanders defense would be go bereft of depth to legitimately deep at multiple spots in one offseason. Mock draft expert and Commanders beat reporter Ben Standig listed Delane as a top target if Love and Styles are off the board. Washington has visited with Delane, Rueben Bain, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Caleb Downs for this selection.

8. Saints - WR1 Carnell Tate, Ohio State

It makes sense why the Saints are visiting with every top WR in the class, including Carnell Tate. They have nothing behind Chris Olave and have a 2nd-year QB they are trying to develop/evaluate. Coach Kellen Moore could use an underneath target like Makai Lemon or Jordyn Tyson to pair with Olave's downfield playmaking, or they can stop any potential slide of consensus top target Carnell Tate, who adds another Buckeye to the offense. It'd be a surprise if Tate isn't selected in the 4-9 range as the WR1.

9. Chiefs - OL2 Francis Mauigoa, Miami

Andy Reid has taken a tackle at 1st overall before, and his super star QB is rehabbing a torn ACL as we speak, so selecting a RT here is absolutely on the table. In fact, they are even officially visiting with left tackles (Kadyn Proctor and Monroe Freeling)! Mauigoa is graded higher than them in the consensus grades and would fit the changing identify of the Chiefs offense: more balance. Mauigoa is used to blocking for a Mahomes-styled QB with Cam Ward, but his strengths are as a mauling, physical downhill runner. His combo blocks with RG Trey Smith will allow newly-signed RB Kenneth Walker to rip off explosives, while Mahomes ramps up throughout 2026.

The counter to no RTs at 9th overall according to many Chief fans is the Jaylon Moore signing from last year, but was he good last year in reserve? Not really. Was he signed to be a swing tackle when they didn't have an established LT? Yes. So why can't he be OT3, especially with Josh Simmons' off-field in the rumor mills.

10. Giants (via CIN) - S1 Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Blockbuster. 28-year-old super star DT Dexter Lawrence is traded for the 10th overall pick over salary disagreements and organizational issues. That is tough to swallow for the Giants, but this is a great haul if their hand was forced by the player (it was). The Bengals get the beef they've been missing since the DJ Reader days, and they probably didn't have a blue chip grade on the available defensive players this high. That's fair! Treat these Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins years as gold. Go try to win now. This is just that.

As for the mock draft implications, the Giants seem even more likely to target LB Sonny Styles as I outlined above, but they have to have other very high grades on some of the falling talent. The initial reports recently suggest the team loves Jeremiah Love (gone), Caleb Downs (available), the top receivers (some available), and the top tackles (gone). It'd also make sense to pair the Buckeyes together given the chemistry needed between safeties and backers, and the Harbaugh Ravens had studs at both positions this multiple times throughout his tenure, most recently with Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton.

11. Dolphins - CB2 Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

The entire roster is bad, but the starters in the secondary are Storm Duck, Darrell Baker, Jason Marshall, Dante Trader, and Lonnie Johnson (all real names). Come on!!! Miami at least has 30th overall, 43rd overall, and four 3rd-round picks to iron things out, but the outside corner depth is pretty weak in this class after watching all of them for my Top 100. Jermod McCoy has a lot of risk given his lateral ability was still reportedly a work in progress during his on-field workout, but he is a 20-year-old elite athlete who will be two years removed from his ACL tear in Week 1. Miami has all the time in the world to get him up to speed, and his ceiling is as high as anyone in this class if he reaches his potential in 2-4 years.

12. Cowboys - EDGE2 Rueben Bain, Miami

Jerry Jones is ripe for a trade up with multiple first rounders and very clear needs at LB, EDGE, CB, and S. If they can't stomach a trade all the way up to 3rd overall, then their targets suddenly become whoever is falling between Sonny Styles (unlikely to fall), Mansoor Delane (unlikely), Rueben Bain (tossup), Caleb Downs (tossup), and Jermod McCoy (tossup). Among all of the "There's no way this guy falls" prospects, Bain could be the one who slides because the Giants don't need edges and pick twice ahead of them. Bain would be a "faller" because of arm length and his driving history, but neither will cause him to slide much further than this, if it all. Bain wins as a high-side rusher due to his cornering ability and pass rush moves, not because he's long-arming tackles with a bull rush. That makes me optimistic that his outlier short arms won't give him too many problems in the NFL. Teams are unlikely to care about the car crash in college, as he won't be suspended and has stayed out of trouble since.

13. Rams - WR2 KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

The depth beyond Puka Nacua and Davante Adams is concerning, for as good as that duo is. They just can't have an injury derail an otherwise Super Bowl ready roster. They don't have other needs to force here, and Nacua's versatility means they can go with a slot, flanker, or X receiver. Lemon's play is that of a miniature Cooper Kupp, so his fit is easiest to see. There is equal hype with Jordyn Tyson here, but I don't see the Rams' physical identity matching up with Tyson. The underrated name is KC Concepcion because he can be a slot in 3-WR sets, work as a an explosive downfield threat, and add return value to a Rams team that stunk on special teams. If his ceiling hits, Concepcion is a long-term answer to the inevitable Davante Adams departure after 2026 in ways that Lemon physically can't be as an outside receiver. Perhaps the film nerds on Twitter are wrong and Concepcion doesn't go this high, but Concepcion is a baller and fits the Rams' scheme to a tee. I thought he really battled in yards after catch situations as an example.

14. Ravens - OL3 Vega Ioane, Penn State

His tape is so clean that his ceiling could be up at 7th overall. Ioane is physical in the run game, but he was athletic enough to handle everything in pass protection while also getting moved around as a FB/TE lead blocker in funky personnel groupings on pure run downs. The Ravens have lost a lot on the interior recently and could use an All Pro ceiling on the interior in the final year(s) of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry's physical primes. It'd be a surprise if the Ravens passed on him. This pairing is the most common (48%) on UnderdogMockDraft.com.

15. Buccaneers - TE1 Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Tampa Bay is on the prowl for more explosiveness at 3-4 OLB, so I don't think Keldric Faulk makes much sense. Is this too early for 25-year-old Akheem Messidor with some foot problems in his history? Probably. So "best player available" could come into play if they can't find a trade down partner. Sadiq wouldn't be that for me, but he is for many others. He'd be the flex TE next to Cade Otton in 2-TE sets, while playing in pure passing downs as an explosive threat up the seam and on crossing routes. The Bucs seem deep at the skill group, but Chris Godwin wasn't himself last year and his contract makes him a cut candidate in 2027. Sadiq would help bridge that gap into the next era of the skill group.

16. Jets - WR3 Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Almost every report out of New York has been pro-Tyson and pro-WR at 16th overall. I can see CB being in play, too, but there are more receivers than corners in this range. Tyson has some of the same wasted movement that the other receivers on the roster, but his acrobatic grabs and loose movements at the top of his breaks are mesmerizing. Whatever weaknesses he needs to develop will be hidden by Garrett Wilson's presence as the top option, and they have the timeline to develop them without a serious QB on the roster. This pairing is the most common (23%) on UnderdogMockDraft.com.

17. Lions - OL4 Monroe Freeling, Georgia

The handling of LT Taylor Decker's potential retirement turned release means a tackle is fully on the menu. It can be either side because of Penei Sewell's history at both positions, so any tackle can be an option. Freeling is the consensus best tackle available, and he'd allow Sewell to stick at RT where he's been an All Pro caliber player for years. Freeling's upside, while unproven, is that of a prospect typically selected in the Top 10, so this would be a blessing for a contending team to land after an outlier bad season. It reminds me of the Chiefs adding Josh Simmons last year. Take the swing.

18. Vikings - S2 Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

This is mocked 66% of the time per our data, and it's hard to argue against it. Brian Flores needs smart safeties with range to run his chaotic blitzing scheme, and Thieneman has both. He can play as the post safety whenever in single high (Purdue tape) or run down underneath ball carriers when rocked into the box (Oregon tape).

19. Panthers - WR4 Makai Lemon, USC

The front office stated they are looking for TE, S, and WR in the draft, and felt more comfortable with their OL depth after free agency. That matches up with their spending and team needs to me, so I think the most likely options are whoever falls at WR, Kenyon Sadiq, and Dillon Thienemen. Lemon is the faller at receiver here because of his slot profile and the iffy forty time, but his production is that of a top-20 pick and his fit with the Panthers is seamless. Tetairoa McMillan at X, Jalen Coker at flanker, and Lemon in the slot when they are in their spread looks. Some of Bryce Young's best throws are first-read anticipation moon balls on out routes, and that's where Lemon is at his best. He'd provide the YAC skills the rest of the roster lacks, too.

20. Cowboys - CB3 Chris Johnson, San Diego State

After scooping up a sliding Bain at 12th overall, the Cowboys pivot to the secondary and take the corner with the most buzz late in the process. His tape shows smooth feet and great anticipation of concepts in zone coverage. He stamped his ticket to the 1st round with 4.4 speed at the NFL Combine and excellent interviews by all reports. Johnson would compete with last year's 3rd-rounder Shavon Revel on the outside, and he'd be a favorite to win it in Week 1. The defense is really coming along now.

21. Steelers - OL5 Kaydn Proctor, Alabama

Keeping his weight in the 350s (and ideally in the 340s) is what will allow Proctor to reach his obvious sky-high potential. He was beat in every direction while playing closer to the 380-400 range last year, but the Steelers will value his pop in the ground game and can bring him extra help in protection with Troy Fautanu not needing any on the other side. The question becomes: Who plays LT? Broderick Jones hasn't lived up to his pre-draft potential, but Proctor could start at LG in place of current Cardinal Isaac Seumalo before replacing Jones in 2027. If Jones improves, 21st overall is totally fine for a high-ceiling guard, which is what Proctor could ultimately settle in as. This team would be extremely powerful up front with him.

22. Chargers - EDGE3 Keldric Faulk

I can see Jim Harbaugh taking a look at Faulk's size and his forty time, and just falling in love. He'd be the inheritor of the Khalil Mack edge-setting role, and Faulk would get one year of studying everything Mack does in hopes of developing his light pass rush game. The Chargers didn't address edge enough after seeing Odafe Oweh reach a deal with the Commanders this offseason, and it's not very Harbaugh/Hortiz to not do anything about that.

23. Eagles - OL6 Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

What if the Eagles are legitimately resetting? They might have a Post June 1st deal in place to ship away A.J. Brown and even DT Jalen Carter has been rumored as a trade target. If they don't feel great about the roster without Brown, they could look for their long-term RT when Lane Johnson retires (likely after 2026). Iheanachor in theory could play some right guard as a rookie, or just develop behind the scenes from a Hall of Famer, just like Cam Jurgens did with Jason Kelce.

24. Browns - WR5 Denzel Boston, Washington

Spencer Fano at 6th overall (or after a trade down) rounds out the revamped offensive line, but the future QB will need a big body to throw to, too. Cleveland has met with 8 receivers on official visits who are expected to be Round 1-2 selections, including Boston. Jerry Jeudy and Harold Fannin Jr. do enough underneath and over the middle, so the focus should be in the red zone and on the perimeter. That's where Boston does his damage as a contested catch artists with a little more well-roundedness than others give him credit for.

25. Bears - S3 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

Chicago let both of their starting safeties hit free agency and really only replaced one of them. Cobie Bryant is a stud, but he'd be unlocked even more with McNeil-Warren's length and playmaking over the middle. Bryant would be the more trusted player reading things out, while EMW could create more turnovers.

26. Bills - OL7 Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M

Former UDFA Alec Anderson is currently starting at LG with David Edwards gone. That's suspect with Josh Allen and James Cook as the center pieces of the team. Bisontis is pound-for-pound strong, plus very flexible in his movements. He can play in either scheme, and his weakness of being bulled in pass protection is mitigated by the fact Allen is a monster who can throw over semi-collapsed pockets. The guard depth in the class dries up quickly, while the LB and DT groups extend into Round 3 pretty easily, so if it's between those positions primarily, then Bisontis plus Round 3 LB/DT makes the most sense.

27. Cardinals (via SF) - QB2 Ty Simpson

The only trade I'm mocking is for a QB, and there are obvious reasons for this. The Jets and Cardinals are easily the two teams least settled on their current QB room, and they pick back-to-back in Round 2. If either want Simpson as a dart throw quarterback, then they are incentivized to make the small move up the board. It's more likely the Cardinals move up into Round 1 than the Jets because New York does have the 16th overall pick if they love Simpson and they do pick ahead of the Cardinals in Round 2. The obligation is on the Cardinals to move up into Round 1 if they want to take the swing. It's possible after watching every Simpson rep last year that neither love him and he slides into Round 2 (or even beyond).

The 49ers could be a trade down team because they don't have 3rd-, 5th-, 6th-, or 7th-round selections and have needs at WR, OL, CB, and with depth in general. The Niners also might welcome Simpson being the Cardinals' swing on a QB if they don't love his evaluation.

28. Texans - OL8 Blake Miller, Clemson

Houston needs help yesterday at right tackle, and Miller set the Clemson snaps record across 50ish starts. He'd kick newly-acquired short-armed RT Braden Smith to the interior (just like they did with Tytus Howard), and let CJ Stroud grow with a pair of young tackles. Miller's nastiness fits the Texans' balanced identity, and he had the athletic testing to imagine more as a pass protector over time.

29. Chiefs - EDGE4 Malachi Lawrence

After beefing up their OL at 9th overall, the Chiefs take another swing at edge rusher, this time with a truly elite athlete with an underrated win rate in college. Lawrence is a stand up edge who wins with quickness and length on the high side, and he has far more upside than even George Karlaftis. The Chiefs are desperate for someone to take over on passing downs as All Pro DT Chris Jones exists the prime of his career. Kansas City drafts in the trenches, and then makes DC Steve Spagnuolo figure things out with Day 2 and Day 3 selections in the secondary. This would be a carbon copy of that here.

30. Dolphins - WR6 Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

There are endless needs and endless scheme fits here. This is the proper range for Cooper Jr. in my eyes, and he'd be a great culture fit for a new staff in Miami. He can play inside and out, so he's a nice prospect to build around initially before finding the long-term top receiver.

31. Patriots - EDGE5 Akheem Messidor, Miami

With his injury history (feet) and age (25 years old), Messidor is at risk of falling out of the 1st round, but the teams picking at the very end are in "win now" mode and could use his pass-rush services. He'd be an outside linebacker for the Patriots and enter into a rotation with Dre'Mont Jones and Harold Landry, neither of whom are real needle movers. Messidor had a lot of juice on interior rushes, too, so all three can get on the field if need be. He once played 3-4 DE, too.

32. Seahawks - CB4 Colton Hood, Tennessee

The defending champions lost a couple key rotational players in the secondary this offseason, leaving them vulnerable on the outside. Hood is a physical outside corner with above-average traits. His game runs hot and cold in ways similar to Riq Woolen, but he wouldn't have to start right away with Josh Jobe still in the building. I'd wonder if coach Mike MacDonald would fear of Hood's undisciplined zone skills or would be willing to bet that he'd fix/hide him enough to let his man coverage skills take over. He did something similar with nickel Nick Emmanwori last year.

Top players left out: DT Peter Woods (size), LT Caleb Lomu (physicality), CB Avieon Terrell (speed at his size), DT Kayden McDonald (pass rush), and EDGE T.J. Parker (burst and moves).