FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast – Episode Summary
Episode: 2026 NFL First Round Mock Draft 2.0 (Ep. 1961)
Date: February 16, 2026
Host: Joey P. (Joe Pisapia)
Co-Hosts: Pat Fitzmaurice (“Patty Cakes”), Derrick Brown (“Debro”), Scott Bogman
Theme: 2nd mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft—complete first round selections, analysis, and implications for each pick.
Episode Overview
The crew returns for their 2nd first-round NFL mock draft of the 2026 cycle. With most coaching vacancies filled and college prospects declared, Joey P., Pat Fitzmaurice, Derrick Brown, and Scott Bogman dive pick-by-pick through every first-round NFL Draft selection, debating team needs, explaining prospect landing spots, and breaking down fantasy football implications—always with the signature mix of fun and expert insight.
Main Draft Discussion & Key Analysis
[00:31] – [03:43] | No. 1 Overall: Las Vegas Raiders Select QB Fernando Mendoza
Hosts' Rundown:
- Derrick Brown: “Fantastic prospect. One of the cleanest quarterback evals I’ve had in some really the last few years, man. … I think you’ll appreciate the comp that I have for Mendoza … Eli Manning.” (02:12)
- Joey P.: “Oh, you mean soon to be Hall of Famer Eli Manning, that guy? … Fernando Mendoza makes Tim Tebow look like Ice Cube, I feel like.” (02:30)
- Pat Fitzmaurice: “Processing, mechanics, ball placement and accuracy... Plus, he’s got a little bit of mobility and he’s just a football nerd, which I love.” (03:05)
- Scott Bogman: “He definitely has one of the best attitudes that we’ve ever seen. He’s ready to lead.” (03:35)
Consensus: Mendoza is a high-floor, high-character quarterback who embodies the leadership and intelligence the Raiders have been missing. Hall-of-Fame comp sparks lively debate.
[04:14] – [05:56] | No. 2: New York Jets Select EDGE Ruben Bane
Pat Fitzmaurice: “It is very tempting to give the Jets Arvell Reese … But I want to give them Ruben Bane the edge from Miami. … He is a T-Rex—yes, Bane does have short arms, but so did Dwight Freeney, so did Terrell Suggs. … Even with the T-Rex arms, Ruben Bane is an incredible football player and he is going to launch a defensive renaissance for the Jets.” (04:14, 05:01)
Insight: Pat expects endless “arm length” debates but insists Bane is an instant-impact edge rusher, the central figure for a new Jets defense.
[06:05] – [06:47] | No. 3: Arizona Cardinals Select LB/EDGE Arvell Reese
Scott Bogman: “I’ll take Arvell Reese … They do need linebacker more than edge so he fits … This team has to be taking BPA. I think that’s what they do here.” (06:05)
Comparison: Reese gets a “Micah Parsons” mention; versatile and potentially a future full-time edge. High praise as best player available.
[07:05] – [07:54] | No. 4: Tennessee Titans Select WR Carnell Tate
Derrick Brown: “Carnell Tate, baby. My wide receiver one of the process. Let’s give Cam Ward a true wide receiver one.” (07:05)
- Joey P. (on trade-ups): “Could you see the Titans trading up with the Jets a couple spots to get one of those two guys?”
Debro doesn’t rule it out, but stresses impact-player needs for both teams. Tate is called a “true WR1”—Titans seek a playmaker.
[08:17] – [09:03] | No. 5: New York Giants Select S Caleb Downs
Pat Fitzmaurice: “Let’s make it three Ohio State Buckeyes in a row. Select safety Caleb Downs. … Downs can be the Giants’ defensive leader, a glue guy who can do so many things for a defense. … Comes from the Kyle Hamilton mold.” (08:17)
Highlight: First time (possibly ever) three straight picks from same college (Ohio State). Versatility and leadership a theme.
[09:31] – [10:20] | No. 6: Cleveland Browns Select OL Francis Malnoa
Scott Bogman: “Every single offensive lineman is a free agent for them this year, and they graded dead last in pass blocking. … Malnoa … one of the best offensive linemen in this class and Cleveland is absolutely desperate for o-line.” (09:31)
Summary: Team meets dire need for offensive line help—regardless of Malnoa’s best fit at tackle or guard.
[10:45] – [11:05] | No. 7: Washington Commanders Select EDGE David Bailey
Derrick Brown: “Easy pick … Give them David Bailey, edge out of Texas Tech. Last year, seventh lowest pressure rate, Bailey led the freaking nation in sacks.” (10:45)
Bailey seen as immediate boost to Washington’s pass rush—system fit and positional need align.
[11:20] – [13:02] | No. 8: New Orleans Saints Select RB Jeremiah Love
Pat Fitzmaurice: “They go fun. I’m giving the Saints Jeremiah Love … the best running back in this draft by a mile. … Instant acceleration, easy speed, burst … also a really good pass catcher.” (11:20)
- Derrick Brown: “If this happens, I’m buying a Jeremiah Love jersey. … Please, Mickey Loomis, don’t screw it up.” (12:49)
Love viewed as near-tier prospect to Ashton Jeanty; Saints’ RB room needs youth and explosiveness.
[14:36] – [15:28] | No. 9: Kansas City Chiefs Select EDGE Keldrick Falk
Scott Bogman: “They need edge rush real bad. … Keldrick Falk … he would be a nice addition to the Chiefs here on the edge.” (14:36)
Chiefs pivot from RB to best available pass rusher. Defensive value prioritized post-Love.
[15:33] – [15:59] | No. 10: Cincinnati Bengals Select CB Menzor Delane
Derrick Brown: “Menzor Delane, baby. … Give DJ Turner a running mate … This could allow the Bengals to play more man coverage.” (15:33)
Delane—a man coverage specialist—fits needs for a Bengals secondary in transition.
[16:18] – [16:59] | Nos. 11–15: Dolphins, Cowboys, Rams, Ravens, Buccaneers
- 11. Dolphins: OL Spencer Fano (Pat) – “Exceptional athlete for an offensive lineman. He allowed zero sacks for Utah last year.”
- 12. Cowboys: LB Sonny Styles (Bogman) – “Just an easy, easy fit for the Cowboys to get someone that can tackle on the defensive side of the ball.” (17:03)
- 13. Rams: CB Jermaine McCoy (Debro)
- 14. Ravens: DL Peter Woods (Pat)
- 15. Buccaneers: EDGE Cassius Howell (Bogman)
Notable for the return to OSU picks and focus on both lines and defensive playmakers.
[22:13] – [37:27] | Mid-to-Late First Round (Picks 16–29) Highlights
Key Notable Picks and Points:
- 16. Jets: DT Caleb Banks (Debro) – “Continue adding to the defensive line.”
- 17. Lions: OT Kaden Proctor (Pat) – “There are not many people on the planet with the combination of size and athleticism that Proctor has.” (22:33)
- 18. Vikings: CB Mavion Terrell (Bogman) – “This dude tackling may be an issue for him. … He plays the ball really well and even punches it out.”
- 19. Panthers: WR Jordan Tyson (Debro) – “You flubbed the pick with Xavier Legette. Let’s give him Jordan Tyson here and make up for that.”
- 20. Cowboys: EDGE T.J. Parker (Pat)
- 21. Steelers: WR Makai Lemon (Bogman) – “Snaps off those routes so well. Massive separation.”
- 22. Chargers: OG Ol Vega Ione (Debro)
- 23. Eagles: TE Kenyon Sadiq (Pat) – “He is big enough and a good enough blocker to play in line, but he’s also just an athletic freak.” (29:05)
- 24. Browns: WR Casey Concepcion (Bogman) – “They need a home run hitter, they need speed.”
- 25. Bears: S Emmanuel McNeil Warren (Debro)
- 26. Bills: WR Denzel Boston (Pat) – “If the board falls like this … Bill’s fans are going to storm team headquarters with torches.” (34:13)
- Debro: “He gave me Puka Nacua vibes, man. … He’s able to make adjustments on the fly. I really like him.” (34:52)
Fantasy football implications: WR landing spots, rookie RBs like Love, and shifting offensive line investments noted throughout.
[37:27] – [41:01] | Final Picks: Offensive Line Runs, Defenders, and Scheme Fits
- 27. 49ers: DT Kaden McDonald (Bogman)
- 28. Texans: OT Caleb Lomu (Debro)
- 29. Rams: OT Monroe Freeling (Pat)
- 30. Broncos: LB Anthony Hill (Bogman)
- 31. Patriots: EDGE Akeem Mezador (Debro)
- 32. Seahawks: CB Chris Johnson (Pat)
- “He is a zone ace and he’d be a really good fit for the Seahawks.” (40:02)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Fernando Mendoza:
“Fernando Mendoza makes Tim Tebow look like Ice Cube, I feel like.”
— Joey P. (02:30) -
On Ruben Bane’s measurables and play style:
“If Ruben Bane had long arms, he would be the second coming of Bruce Smith.”
— Pat Fitzmaurice (05:01) -
Arvell Reese as Micah Parsons?:
“He might be a guy that makes that Micah Parsons-like transition to the edge.”
— Scott Bogman (06:05) -
On Jeremiah Love:
“If this happens, I’m buying a Jeremiah Love jersey.”
— Derrick Brown (12:49) -
Cowboys’ linebacker woes:
“Kenneth Murray might have had one of the worst linebacker seasons I’ve ever seen in my life.”
— Scott Bogman (17:03) -
On Denzel Boston to Buffalo:
“If the board falls like this and Bill’s general manager Brandon Bean does not take Denzel Boston... fans are going to storm team headquarters with torches.”
— Pat Fitzmaurice (34:13) -
Bogman giving credit to an Aggie:
“Look, I’m giving props to an Aggie here, so if I’m doing that, you know this guy is pretty good.”
— Scott Bogman (19:51)
Timestamps for Key Picks and Segments
- 00:31: Kick-off, cast intros, Mendoza house-keeping
- 02:12: Derrick Brown's Eli Manning comp for Fernando Mendoza
- 04:14: Pat selects Ruben Bane for the Jets
- 06:05: Bogman picks Arvell Reese for the Cardinals
- 07:05: Debro picks Carnell Tate for Titans
- 08:17: Pat picks Caleb Downs for Giants
- 09:31: Bogman reinforces Browns O-line needs
- 10:45: Debro picks David Bailey for Washington
- 11:20: Pat picks Jeremiah Love for Saints
- 14:36: Debro pivots Chiefs to Keldrick Falk
- 15:33: Debro picks Menzor Delane for Bengals
- 17:03: Bogman picks Sonny Styles for Cowboys
- 22:33: Pat picks Kaden Proctor for Lions
- 34:13: Pat picks Denzel Boston for Bills, lively debate ensues
Fantasy & Draft Strategy Takeaways
- Context reigns supreme: Team needs, positional value, and organizational trends (e.g., Giants and Ravens seeking “glue” defenders) consistently shape selections.
- Premium positions: Edges, tackles, and WRs remain premium, but teams with unique schemes (Saints, Eagles, Giants) dip into RB, TE, and S early if the fit is right.
- Fantasy implications: Rookie WRs and RB landing spots like Tate (Titans), Love (Saints), Boston (Bills), Lemon (Steelers), and Concepcion (Browns) can shake up dynasty rookie draft boards.
- Team-building philosophy: Frequent “best player available” (BPA) nods over rigid positional chasing, but gaps (Cowboys at LB, Browns at OL/WR) drive many picks.
Final Thoughts
The draft room banter stays sharp and informed, with ongoing debates over comps (Mendoza–Eli Manning), fantasy upside, and NFL outcomes. The FantasyPros team blends insight with personality—making this mock draft a thorough, engaging guide for both fantasy managers and die-hard NFL draft fans.
For full analysis, scouting reports, and mock draft coverage, check out the FantasyPros Dynasty Channel and the website.