ExtremeRavens Posted yesterday at 11:30 AM Posted yesterday at 11:30 AM The college football season is over. Now it’s time for the NFL draft. Here are The Baltimore Sun’s early projections for the first round, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh: 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana This pairing feels destined given Mendoza’s success and the Raiders’ need for a franchise quarterback. Perhaps the happy-go-lucky Heisman Trophy winner and national champion can help uplift a team desperate for a spark and new leadership. 2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State Quarterback Dante Moore’s decision to return to Oregon opens up a world of possibilities for the Jets. There’s no clear-cut top prospect, so why not bet on Reese’s traits and versatility as an off-ball linebacker and pass rusher? 3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami The Cardinals have a hole at right tackle with Jonah Williams entering free agency. Mauigoa can step in and form a promising young pair of offensive line bookends with 2023 first-round pick Paris Johnson Jr. 4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami The Titans could choose a receiver here to pair with quarterback Cam Ward, but the defense shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Adding a powerful rusher like Bain next to big bodies Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat on the defensive line would be a matchup nightmare for opposing offenses. 5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State In a draft without a lot of elite talent at the top, Downs might be the best overall prospect. He doesn’t play a premium position, but his instincts and impact both on and off the field as a leader make him just the kind of player that new coach John Harbaugh is looking for to build his program. 6. Cleveland Browns: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State If the Browns want to get a true evaluation of quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, they need to surround them with more talent. Tyson, whose brother Jaylon plays in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is an electric playmaker who could inject a shot of adrenaline into the offense. 7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech It feels like “best defender available” for coach Dan Quinn and Washington after a disappointing season following an NFC championship game appearance. Bailey is a powerful rusher who can help collapse the pocket in a way the Commanders often failed to do this past season. 8. New Orleans Saints: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah There will be plenty of calls for Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love or a wide receiver here, but protecting quarterback Tyler Shough should be a priority. Fano can step in immediately at guard and bolster a promising offensive line that already includes first-rounders Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga at tackle. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State Tyler Kelce might retire, Rashee Rice can’t seem to stay on the field and Marquise Brown is headed for free agency. The Chiefs need to give Patrick Mahomes another playmaker, and Tate is a perfect fit given his route-running polish and veteran savvy. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State The Bengals simply need a better defense to have any hope of competing for championships with quarterback Joe Burrow. Styles is a standout athlete and respected leader who can step in and be a true difference-maker from Day 1. 11. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee New coach Jeff Hafley is going to prioritize fixing Miami’s defense. That should start in the secondary, which has had trouble at cornerback for years. McCoy missed all of the 2025 season because of a torn ACL, but he looked like a first-round pick in 2024. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn Dallas bolstered its defensive front with the midseason trade for Quinnen Williams, but several of its top pass rushers are hitting free agency. Faulk is a versatile player who would pair well with promising rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku on the edge. 13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU The Rams have built one of the league’s best defenses through the draft, but the secondary could use some more help. Delane, a Silver Spring native and former Spalding star, was one of the top cornerbacks in the country this past season with a 89.1 Pro Football Focus grade in man coverage. 14. Ravens: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson The Ravens already seem to be planning for a future without star defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike after re-signing Travis Jones and John Jenkins. Woods didn’t meet high expectations in 2025, but he has the talent to be a standout pass rusher and run defender in the middle of the defense. Ravens executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta, shown earlier this month, could choose to bolster Baltimore's defensive line during the first round of the NFL draft. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon With wide receiver Mike Evans’ future uncertain and tight end Cade Otton hitting free agency, there might be an opening for another pass catcher to complement Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka. Sadiq has the makeup to be a game-changing player if he can reach his full potential. 16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama The Jets and coach Aaron Glenn need to keep taking chances at quarterback until they find one. While Simpson didn’t hold up well under pressure in college, he showed flashes of brilliance and has the pedigree of a former five-star prospect. 17. Detroit Lions: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah Left tackle Taylor Decker isn’t getting any younger, and the interior of the offensive line wasn’t very impressive in 2025. The Lions might plan ahead with Lomu, who could be molded into the tackle of the future while competing immediately at guard. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson It always feels like the Vikings always need cornerback help, but that just means they still haven’t found a keeper yet. Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons star A.J., is a highly competitive player with a nose for the ball. 19. Carolina Panthers: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State The Panthers showed progress in pushing the Rams to the brink in the wild-card round, but the defense must improve for the franchise to take the next step. McDonald and Derrick Brown would be an intimidating duo to deal with at the point of attack. 20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame OK, let’s finally give Jerry Jones another first-round running back. Even if Javonte Williams re-signs, there’s a strong case to be made that Love’s big-play ability is exactly what Dallas’ offense needs. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina The Steelers are entering a new era without Mike Tomlin, but defense should remain a focal point for the next coach. Pittsburgh needs another young building block in the secondary alongside cornerback Joey Porter Jr. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State This pairing just makes too much sense. The Chargers’ inability to protect Justin Herbert in the wild-card round highlighted the importance of reinforcing the offensive line, particularly the interior. “Vega” could step in immediately at guard next to star tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama A 6-foot-7, 360-pound lineman who needs some refinement? Sounds like an Eagles pick. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has made a living on building up prospects like Proctor, who can take over at guard if Tyler Steen struggles or Landon Dickerson has more injury trouble. 24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia The offensive line is a major concern for whoever becomes the next Browns coach, as all five starters are entering the open market. Freeling has the potential to be a long-term fixture at left tackle. 25. Chicago Bears: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida The Bears’ defense was one of the worst in the league against the run this past season. The 6-6, 335-pound Banks is a big interior presence who has flashed some pass-rushing upside. 26. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington Although new president Brandon Beane is still in charge, the Bills can’t ignore their shortcomings at wide receiver any longer. Boston is a big target (6-4, 210 pounds) who can run smooth routes and win contested catches. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Makai Lemon, WR, USC With Brandon Aiyuk unlikely to play another snap in San Francisco, 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall struggling to stay healthy, Jauan Jennings entering free agency and tight George Kittle out for months with a torn Achilles tendon, the 49ers simply need someone to throw the ball to. Lemon works best as a slot receiver with his speed and reliable hands. 28. Houston Texans: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia The Texans have the league’s best defensive end pairing in Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., but there’s room for improvement along the interior. Miller is a stout run defender who can keep offenses honest while Hunter and Anderson wreak havoc. 29. Los Angeles Rams: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo Rams safety Kam Curl enters free agency after making the game-changing interception against Caleb Williams in overtime of the divisional round. Adding a cornerback and a rangy deep safety like McNeil-Warren would help keep Los Angeles’ championship window open if Matthew Stafford returns. 30. New England Patriots: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M Harold Landry III and K’Lavon Chaisson helped take New England back to the AFC championship game, but the Patriots could use a young pass rusher. Howell is undersized relative to NFL edge defenders, but his traits and production are worth betting on. 31. Denver Broncos: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia Linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are entering free agency and Dre Greenlaw isn’t a safe bet to play a full season given his injury history. Otherwise, there aren’t a lot of weaknesses on the Broncos’ roster. Allen is a sure tackler and reliable presence in the middle of the defense. 32. Seattle Seahawks: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon Seattle’s 2024 first-round pick Grey Zabel looks like a long-term starter at guard, but there’s room for improvement on the interior. Pregnon posted elite pass-blocking numbers for the Ducks and would help further solidify the protection in front of Sam Darnold. Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article Quote
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