No one’s considering alternatives for Las Vegas. The Tyler Linderbaum signing supports the assumption that Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick, as a veteran center is a huge benefit for a young quarterback. The Raiders need a quarterback, and there’s a player worthy of that selection. Pretty cut and dried.

The Jets are likely deciding between Ohio State pass rush Arvell Reese and Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey at No. 2 overall. Reese has a higher ceiling, but Bailey is more ready to see the field now. New York may be feeling the pressure to compete in 2026, so Bailey is more conducive to that goal.

The odds of Francis Mauigoa going here seem to be dwindling. The buzz suggests that Arizona would lean toward whichever edge rusher New York leaves on the board rather than Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

Is Tennessee’s roster to a point that would justify the selection of Jeremiyah Love? Probably not. There is an argument that Brian Daboll and Robert Saleh were fired from their previous head coaching gigs because the offense fell short of expectation. Prior trauma may inform their thought process.

Thinking about the tenets of John Harbaugh’s Baltimore teams, there was a lot of emphasis on being strong up the middle: defensive line, linebacker and safety. The Giants have invested in the safety position with Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin, but Caleb Downs answers those questions unequivocally.

A Browns trade down with the Cowboys has been publicly negotiated and most scenarios do not result in a win-win for both parties. Dallas wants to win now whereas Cleveland is probably more comfortable acquiring resources into the future. The Cowboys can move up to No. 6 overall and keep No. 20 overall, but part with Day 2 picks each of the next two years. Dallas comes up to select a star defender in an effort to make a 2026 push.

If Washington misses the run on defensive talent and Jeremiyah Love is gone, where do they go? Wide receiver is the most logical path. The Commanders pair one Ohio State receiver with another.

New Orleans lands a powerful edge rusher opposite Chase Young as the Saints embrace the post-Cameron Jordan era. LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane and Arizona State wide receiver may be a few other considerations for the team in the top 10.

Kansas City is going to take a premium position. They never find themselves in a position to do so. Although offensive line makes a lot of sense, there is a real opportunity for them to find a No. 1 wide receiver if Jordyn Tyson can stay healthy.

The wide receivers are off the board, so the decision is taken out of the hands of John Harbaugh. However, it would not surprise me if all this last-minute wide receiver association was just smoke. Yes, they need help at the position, but it doesn’t have to be top 10 overall. They could find that player late Round 1/early Round 2, but there is no guarantee a comparable option would be available at offensive tackle. The idea is that Francis Mauigoa could begin his career at guard and just see how it goes with Jermaine Eluemunor, who was once traded by Harbaugh.

Miami’s focus should be adding best player available. Aside from quarterback and running back, no position should be off the table. Mansoor Delane represents best player available, but also at a position of need.

Spencer Fano played right tackle for the Utes, but he has the foot speed to play on either side. Teams are not worried about a lack of ideal arm length. Cleveland’s focus is getting the five best on the field and there is a lot of flexibility among that group.

The Rams are all in on this championship window with Matthew Stafford. A pass catcher — whether that be wide receiver or tight end — would be the most impactful player Los Angeles could add to the roster at No. 13 overall. Makai Lemon is a polarizing prospect, but is at his best post-catch.

I have maintained a belief that Vega Ioane is a prototypical Raven and while John Harbaugh is gone, one of his former coaches is now the head coach and the front office remains intact. KC Concepcion or Denzel Boston could be interesting additions, but Ioane is a higher rated prospect.

Beyond Philadelphia’s history with Georgia, it is in Howie Roseman’s wheelhouse to draft the trenches in the first round. He has to get a bit aggressive to ensure he gets a swing tackle for the 2026 season and the heir apparent to Lane Johnson.

Whether or not New York taking a wide receiver is a luxury depends upon how one feels about AD Mitchell. As it stands, the Jets do not have a reliable outlet to pair with Garrett Wilson, who has dealt with injuries of his own. Omar Cooper Jr. brings a toughness to the position that Aaron Glenn has been attempting to instill across his team.

Giovanni Manu is set to start at left tackle with Taylor Decker and Detroit parting ways. One would imagine Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes seek an alternative at the position. Kadyn Proctor is a big body who does a good job executing some of the blocks in space that the team has executed in the past.

Safety may not be the highest priority, but it is a need for Minnesota. NFL teams salivate over prospects with ball production and premium athletic traits; Dillon Thieneman checks both boxes. It is difficult to envision him lasting much longer than this point in the first round.

The unfortunate fall of Jermod McCoy is to the fortunate gain of Chris Johnson. If there are concerns over McCoy’s knee long term, then a prospect has to step into the CB2 role. Johnson has all that physical traits and athleticism to be a quality starter in this league.

Dallas retained its second first-round pick despite its bid to move up the board from No. 12 overall. It may hamstring future plans, but the Cowboys add two key defenders with Sonny Styles and now Keldric Faulk.

Troy Fautanu moves back to his more natural left tackle position and Blake Miller is installed as the right tackle. Mike McCarthy had a collection of interchangeable bullies in Green Bay and are now building that in Pittsburgh.

Los Ángeles re-signed Khalil Mack opposite Tuli Tuipulotu, but that is not going to be an option forever. The selection of T.J. Parker allows them to absorb the loss of Joey Bosa, while also ensuring the team has depth setting the edge in the event of injury.

Edge rusher is the biggest need for Tampa Bay, but there may not be a player who can provide the spark that the team covets. In recent years, it has been the offense that has made this team fun and Zac Robinson comes from a Rams offense that uses a lot of two and three tight end sets. It’s an important year for Todd Bowles and I do not envision a player capable of making a bigger impact here than Sadiq.

General manager Andrew Berry would likely be thrilled with this outcome: drafting Georgia offensive tackle Spencer Fano and Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion and picking up additional resources in a trade back.

The Bears are likely to address the trenches in some capacity. Would they consider a left tackle or take advantage of the edge rusher depth? In this case, they take the first defensive tackle off the board. Peter Woods is a prospect who had been mocked in the top 10 frequently dating to the summer.

Buffalo lost David Edwards in free agency and now replaces him with one of the best pass-blocking offensive guards available in the draft. Chase Bisontis had a strong performance at the NFL combine.

I have gone back and worth between offensive line and edge rusher with most of the wide receivers off the board. Initially, UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence was in this spot, but Lomu continues to come up in connection with San Francisco. It makes sense for the 49ers to have an off-ramp at either offensive tackle spot in the next few years.

Houston plugs Kayden McDonald between Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. The Texans get a proven run-stopper to catch all the debris created by those pass-rushing maniacs.

Arizona trades back up into the first round to get the fifth-year option on quarterback Ty Simpson. The Cardinals had previously taken Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and are now getting the quarterback, a similar strategy the Giants and Saints used last season with Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough, respectively.

After taking Mansoor Delane earlier, Miami now takes a bigger-bodied wide receiver. There may not be a lot to write home about with this team but there is a fun competition between first-round picks to watch in training camp.

There was a viral video of Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel getting hands-on in Max Iheanachor’s workout. Right tackle is a position of need, because Morgan Moses will not play forever, and Iheanachor’s play style matches the physicality Vrabel is trying to instill.

Seattle has been a patient bystander in the running back market, which may be a sign that they are willing to take a player at the position in the first round. Jadarian Price may have more untapped potential on third down after taking the back seat to Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame.