After months of mock drafts, the first round is finally behind us. With teams picking up future stars and addressing their rosters biggest holes, let’s take a look at some of my favorite and least favorite picks in round one.

Top Six Worst:

6 – Pick No. 32: Jadarian Price to the Seahawks

Do not get me wrong, I love Jadarian Price as a player. Sitting behind the best running back in college football definitely makes it hard to shine as a player, but Price was far from disappointing at Notre Dame and played a key role alongside Love in making that backfield so elite. I do love his fit with Seattle as well, although I feel that this was a reach considering who else was on the table. After losing lots of secondary talent in free agency, I would have liked them to take a swing on the plethora of star-studded corners still available to them at No. 32.

5 – Pick No. 2: David Bailey to the Jets

Similar to my stance on Jadarian Price, I think David Bailey is a fantastic player. Bailey is a technical phenom that has mastered what it takes to be a productive machine at the defensive edge position. Yet here at No. 2, I think taking a productive defensive edge vs. Arvell Reese, a potential future all-pro at two positions, was the better choice. The Jets have had a fantastic draft outside of this pick, but I just can’t get behind taking Bailey over Reese.

4 – Pick No. 28: Caleb Lomu to the Patriots

These first three picks are all the same to me. Just like Price and Bailey, Lomu is a stud. Lomu, who did not let up a sack in 2025, has proven he is an NFL ready tackle and can make an impact on any offensive line. Yet, with the veteran talent and last year’s selection in Will Campbell making up that offensive line for New England, I just do not see the vision here. Drake Maye could always use more weapons and the Patriots desperately need pass rusher. Although Lomu could prove to be a strong pick a few years down the line, I do not understand picking a lineman that may not start for you at all in 2026.

3 – Pick No. 31: Keldrick Faulk to the Titans

Faulk, the athletic freak out of Auburn, is easily the best run defender in this draft, and that is about it. For an edge rusher of his athletic profile you would hope to see more tenacity and skill in the pass rush, but there truly is none. Although I know Robert Saleh has a strong history of developing edge rushers, I would have liked to see them draft someone that is less of a project, especially after trading up to make the pick.

2 – Pick No. 12: Kadyn Proctor to the Dolphins

There were not a lot of picks that made zero sense, but this was one of them. Amidst a full scale rebuild in Miami, I just don’t understand drafting the offensive lineman with the biggest bust potential in Kadyn Proctor. Proctor’s size and frame give him all-pro potential, yet his lack of tenacity and speed could make him a complete nonfactor against any strong defensive front. On top of Proctor’s boom or bust play, with blue chip prospects like Makai Lemon and Olaivavega Ioane still available at No. 12, I simply cannot justify taking a player that could be the biggest bust of this draft in years to come. 

1 – Pick No. 13: Ty Simpson to the Rams

Over the years of the Les Snead and Sean McVay regime running the Rams organization, I have loved nearly every decision they have made, but I would be lying if this pick did not have me scratching my head. After an A+ free agency in which they filled their only true hole in the corner, I thought surely they would use No. 13 to snag one more weapon and add to their case of being the consensus Super Bowl favorite. Yet, even in their Super Bowl window with maybe the best roster in the league, they drafted for the future in Ty Simpson. It is never bad to draft for the future, yet in a weak quarterback class and the reigning MVP at the helm of your team, taking Simpson over another weapon for Stafford to work with makes zero sense and was easily the worst pick of the night. 

Top Six Best:

Honorable Mention: 

6 – Pick No.30: Omar Cooper Jr. to the New York Jets

Although it does not break my top five, I had to fit it in here. I love Cooper as a prospect and believe he has what it takes to be one of the best receivers in this league. After an underwhelming showing at the top of the draft for New York, seeing them reach back into the first round to grab Garret Wilson’s future partner in crime redeemed what was shaping up to be a questionable first round for the Jets. 

5 – Pick No. 17: Blake Miller to the Lions

This may have been the most slept on pick of the night, but I love it. The Lions have been in desperate need of a tackle to match Penei Sewell and Blake Miller is the perfect guy to do it. Miller’s strong anchor and strength makes him the perfect match for this offensive line and I cannot wait to see what Dan Campbell does with him in what is sure to be a productive career for the Clemson product.

4 – Pick No. 14: Olaivavega Ioane to the Ravens

Similar to Miller, I do not have much to say about this other than it is a perfect fit. The Raven’s offensive line had Lamar Jackson running for his life every snap in 2025 and it was clear they needed to address the trenches in this draft. Although the Ravens are known for taking more flashy picks, they addressed their biggest need and took the only blue chip guard in this draft in Ioane, easily an A+ pick for Baltimore.

3 – Pick No. 7: Sonny Styles to the Commanders

I would not be doing my mock draft justice if I did not include my favorite player in this draft in linebacker Sonny Styles to the Commanders. After the offense slowed down last year for Washington, it was clear that this defense was in even worse condition. The Commanders defense looked old and sluggish in 2025 and they desperately needed to grab some young fire power in this draft. Adding the Ohio State product gives them the perfect mix of young fire power and football savvyness that they desperately needed. Styles falling to them at No. 7 was a dream come true, and I could not have imagined a better pick for the Commanders in night one.

2 – Pick No. 15: Reuben Bain Jr. to the Buccaneers

I am still in shock that Bain managed to fall to the Buccaneers at No. 15. Bain was regarded as one of if not the best defensive player in the nation last year, and was easily a top five player for me in this draft. I had a feeling that he would fall potentially out of the top ten due to the arm length concerns, yet when you ignore the measurables and watch his tape you see an edge rusher with the potential to be in conversations as a top five rusher in the league in coming years. This is one of my favorite picks of the night and I cannot wait to see what he does next to Vita Vea in this front.

1 – Pick No. 11: Caleb Downs to the Cowboys  

Multiple teams managed to get their future defensive stars on night one, but no one made out like the Cowboys. Snagging Downs, who was regarded as the best overall player in this draft is always a big win, but at No. 11 is what truly makes this pick special. I am not usually this excited with Jerry Jones drafting, but this pick was easily some of his best work as the owner of the Cowboys. After years of the league undervaluing safeties the Cowboys finally had the guts to ignore that sentiment and take the future star in Cable Downs, a pick I am sure will prove to be worth it for years to come.