FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: Real First Round NFL Mock Draft (Ep. 1944)

Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Joey P. (Joe Pisapia)
Guests: Pat Fitz Morris, Scott Bogman (Dynasty Podcast), Steve Mensch (ESPN, The Todd McShay Show)

Episode Overview

The FantasyPros crew kicks off NFL Draft season hot on the heels of the college championship with a real 2026 first-round NFL mock draft. Joey P. is joined by regulars Pat Fitz Morris and Scott Bogman, plus special guest and draft analyst Steve Mensch. Together, they run through each pick, discussing the state and needs of every team, their top prospect fits, and deeper fantasy implications. The tone is conversational, packed with both sharp analysis and fun banter.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Opening Reflections: From College Title to NFL Draft (00:29–04:50)

• Championship Recap: Steve Mensch highlights the thrilling, competitive game, noting, "That was the best game we've had probably since the TUA game. ...I’m a little tired after that, but I'm excited to be here." (01:25)
• Draft Season Begins: Panel shares how mock drafts help teams and fans make sense of prospects’ fits and team needs, especially before free agency.
  • Scott Bogman: “Every mock draft we do now is pretty useless until free agency is over, but it’s a great way to talk about the prospects, talk about the fits…" (03:42)
  • 2026 class: Not stacked at QB, but strong in WR, Edge, and OL prospects.
  • Mock structure: Just the first round, focus on top fantasy/real-life names.

2. Picks 1–10: Quarterback, Edge, and Skill Positions Dominate

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (04:50–13:41)

• Unanimous No.1: Raiders desperate for a tone-setting QB; Mendoza delivers leadership, clutch play, and toughness.
  • Steve Mensch: "He just finds ways to make plays in big moments...I don’t have him as one of the elites…he’s an accurate quarterback, he’s got some mobility, he’s got more than enough arm strength." (06:21)
• Comparisons: Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins, but with more mobility.
  • Pat Fitz Morris: “His arm is actually kind of underrated. Like, his ball placement is fantastic...” (11:59)
  • Scott Bogman: “He’s a big goofball, but he is a well-intended and moldable, coachable person. That is all that you need...” (10:30)
• Fantasy Notes: Immediate superflex relevance.

2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State (14:15–15:54)

• Positional Value Debate: LB rarely goes No.2, but Reese’s edge versatility sells the pick.
  • Mensch: "I think the Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese is the best player in this draft." (14:15)
  • "He comes off the ball and rushes the passer, I get super excited about that. …I’m comfortable with Reese." (15:05)
• Jets overhaul defense, betting on uncommon athleticism.

3. Arizona Cardinals – Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami (16:13–18:00)

• Cardinal Needs: Terrible pressure rate, grab ‘special’ defender.
  • Pat Fitz Morris: "Cardinals were tied for 28th in sacks and 29th in pressure rate. ...Bain is special." (16:13)
  • Arm length a concern, but disruptive on tape.

4. Tennessee Titans – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (18:21–19:42)

• Build That Line: Titans stack D-line strength, helping a poor secondary.
  • Scott Bogman: "He led the country in QB hits and sacks...an amazing player and he is going to be in the top 10 for sure." (18:21)
  • Considered WR and OL; Bailey’s production wins out.

5. New York Giants – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (19:54–21:26)

• Start in the Trenches: New coach Harbaugh prioritizes O-line stability to protect young QB and RB.
  • Mensch: "Plug and play starter at right tackle...I'm really high on Fano...the Outland Trophy winner." (19:54)
  • Giants prep to lose Jermaine Eluemunor to free agency.

6. Cleveland Browns – Francis Mauinoa, OL, Miami (21:48–23:00)

• OL Rebuild: Browns need a foundation for Sanders, grab a freak athlete up front.
  • Pat Fitz Morris: "Browns basically need a complete rebuild up front...Mauinoa is just a freak athlete. He can give the Browns a combination of quickness and explosive power." (22:09)
  • Interior/OT flexibility helps.

7. Washington Commanders – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (23:04–24:04)

• Tackling Machine: Styles replaces aging Wagner, solves missed tackle woes.
  • Bogman: "Nicknamed Captain in the middle; #1 tackle grade in the country; second lowest missed tackle rate..." (23:04)

8. New Orleans Saints – Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State (24:28–25:33)

• Weapons for Schuck: WR-needy Saints favor Tyson’s route-running and ability to separate.
  • Mensch: "I love him as a route runner. His ability to separate...this is where it’s appropriate to start looking at receivers." (24:28)

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame (26:07–28:36)

• Right Player, Right Team: Chiefs take the lone ‘special’ RB, correcting past draft mistakes.
  • Pat Fitz Morris: "If Chiefs GM Brett Veach has the draft fall to him this way, he will have a chance to correct one of the biggest draft blunders...Jeremiah Love is one of the few special players in this draft." (26:07)
  • Steve Mensch: “I love Jeremiah Love going here.” (27:48)
  • Love brings speed, vision, all-purpose ability for immediate fantasy impact.

10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (29:12–30:58)

• Best Player Available: Weak defense takes versatile, can’t-miss safety.
  • Bogman: "Downs is a true stud...played in the box, slot, free safety, on the line as a blitzer. You can move him anywhere." (29:12)

3. Picks 11–20: Corners, Playmakers, and O-Line Bolstering

11. Miami Dolphins – Jermond McCoy, CB, Tennessee (33:08–34:47)

• High-Risk, High-Reward: Dolphins gamble on a top CB prospect bouncing back from 2025 ACL injury.
  • Mensch: "He’s the best corner in this class if he’s healthy. I really believe that." (33:19)

12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, [college] (34:55–35:38)

• Banged-Up DBs: With Diggs gone and Bland hurt, Dallas snaps up a sticky, healthy cover guy.
  • Fitz Morris: "Best cover guy with no overwhelming health issues." (34:55)

13. Los Angeles Rams – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (36:12–38:37)

• Preparing for the Future: WR insurance for Adams’ uncertain future, high-floor, big-contest-catch WR.
  • Bogman: "Zero drops this year...the floor is insanely high. Gets lost in the shuffle of amazing Ohio State WRs." (36:50)

14. Baltimore Ravens – Keldrick Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (39:56–40:39)

• Classic Ravens: Grab upside, athletic trench monster.
  • Mensch: "He can get after the quarterback, play the run...they’re going to bet on the tools and upside." (39:56)

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cassius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M (40:43–41:28)

• Situational Pass Rusher: Undersized but ultra-quick; expected to play a specialist role.

16. New York Jets (from IND) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington (41:35–43:45)

• Two-Sided Draft: After Reese, Jets snag a big, steady WR to add to their abysmal pass-catching corps.
  • Bogman: "Maybe you don’t want a guy named Boston playing in New York, but he’s just a steady Eddie...This is a home run." (41:49, 43:00)
  • Mensch: “This might be my favorite pick in the whole exercise...He’s an outrageously talented guy and a great pick there.” (43:00)

17. Detroit Lions – Caleb Lomu, LT, Utah (45:35–45:57)

• Succession Planning: Goff’s left side likely to retire—Lomu fits future and needs to get stronger but is athletic.

18. Minnesota Vikings – Avian Terrell, CB, Clemson (46:01–46:43)

• Tradition Continues: Vikings always need CB help; Terrell brings coverage skills and aggression in run support.

19. Carolina Panthers – Kaden McDonald, DT, Ohio State (46:43–48:09)

• Stop the Run: Panthers address terrible run D with draft’s top run-stopper, McDonald.

20. Dallas Cowboys (from GB) – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (48:18–49:42)

• Pairing With CB: “You have to win with power at the NFL level, and Mesidor has violent hands.” – Mensch (49:12)

4. Picks 21–32: Filling Gaps, Projecting Futures

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Makai Lemon, WR, USC (49:56–51:29)

• Slot Playmaking: Lemon brings explosive playmaking and return skills.
  • Bogman validation: "He is very speedy, very slippery, and a kick and punt returner...I love that pick." (51:03)

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Vega Ione, IOL, Penn State (51:32–52:50)

• Ol Fiasco: Chargers line was a disaster—top pass-protector fits the need.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (52:59–54:48)

• Guard Potential Exit: Goedert’s future murky; Sadiq has the physical and receiving tools for NFL TE1.

24. Cleveland Browns (from JAX) – Casey Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M (54:56–56:29)

• Slot Weapon: “He is tough...gets open quickly, is great after the catch.” – Mensch (55:48)

25. Chicago Bears – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (57:56–58:54)

• Defense Focus: Run game woes fixed by adding a hands-heavy, versatile DT.
  • Bogman: “Woods is a bit of a project, but he collapses the line really well.” (57:56)

26. Buffalo Bills – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida (59:02–60:27)

• Stopping the Run: Ignore WR needs for now, plug DT to fix porous defense.

27. San Francisco 49ers – Kaden Proctor, LT, Alabama (61:02–62:13)

• Trent’s Heir: Uber-athletic mountain of a tackle, former top-10 prospect, slides after slow start.

28. Houston Texans – Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL, Oregon (62:19–64:06)

• Run-game Revamp: Clear path to OL upgrade with tough, penalty-free guard.

29. Los Angeles Rams – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (64:13–65:52)

• QB of the Future: After sliding, the Rams scoop a project QB to groom behind Stafford.
  • Mensch: “If he goes to the Rams, it’s going to make us look bad because [they] will develop him.” (65:22)

30. New England Patriots – TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson (66:50–67:33)

• Defensive Foundation: Run-defending edge rusher with past double-digit sack upside.

31. Denver Broncos – Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech (67:37–68:17)

• Third-Down Specialist: Slim but athletic, plugs in for pass-rush rotation.

32. Seattle Seahawks – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (68:25–69:49)

• Small-School Standout: “Absolutely blown away with how instinctive he is...plays the ball really well. Scheme versatile.” – Mensch (68:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mendoza’s Fit With the Raiders:

  • "The guy wins. The guy continues to just show up, show out, and get W’s." — Joey P. (05:11)
  • "He's a big goofball, but he is a moldable, coachable person." — Scott Bogman (10:30)

• On Jeremiah Love to KC:

  • "If you love fantasy football and have a heartbeat, you gotta take Jeremiah Love for the Chiefs here." — Scott Bogman (27:48)
  • "Love is just the best RB in this draft by far. ...Just a human joystick in the open field." — Pat Fitz Morris (28:36)

• On Denzel Boston to the Jets:

  • "He is outrageously talented...the third receiver off the board here makes a ton of sense." — Steve Mensch (43:00)

• On Ty Simpson’s Fall:

  • "When he was at his best, it was a very high level. Do the Rams find their future QB this late in the first round?" — Steve Mensch (64:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Fernando Mendoza deep dive (Raiders): 04:50–13:41
• Edge/Defensive run (picks 2–4): 14:15–19:42
• Receiver debate (Tyson/Tate/Boston/Concepcion): 24:28–56:29
• RB/Chiefs–Jeremiah Love: 26:07–28:36
• Late first-round OL/DT focus: 61:02–65:52
• QB Ty Simpson, Rams: 64:13–65:52
• Small-school prospect Chris Johnson: 68:25–69:49

Tone and Noteworthy Dynamics

• Panel is quick to joke about pronunciations, prospect “nerdiness,” and old scouting debates.
  • Scott Bogman on Mendoza: "His bad traits: he’s an effing nerd."
  • Pat Fitz Morris: “This guy is gonna be having his milk and cookies on Saturday nights before games…Sometimes you want your QB to be a football nerd.”
• Multiple references to fantasy/real value intersecting — first-round mocks guide dynasty managers.
• Spirited discussions (and some disagreements) on OL priority vs. WR, risk tolerance with injury-prone prospects.

Summary Table – Top 10 Selections

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | School | Panel Rationale | |------|---------------|-----------------------|------------------|---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Raiders | Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana | Leadership, clutch, accurate, changes culture | | 2 | Jets | Arvell Reese | LB/Edge | Ohio State | Value, athletic hybrid, defense cornerstone | | 3 | Cardinals | Rueben Bain | Edge | Miami | Special, helps pressure stats, “unique” | | 4 | Titans | David Bailey | Edge | Texas Tech | Highly productive, build DL to aid secondary | | 5 | Giants | Spencer Fano | OT | Utah | Need in trenches, Harbaugh likely to prioritize OL | | 6 | Browns | Francis Mauinoa | OL | Miami | Athletic, rebuild entire line | | 7 | Commanders | Sonny Styles | LB | Ohio State | Missed tackles fixed, “captain” caliber | | 8 | Saints | Jordan Tyson | WR | Arizona State | Needs playmakers, top route runner | | 9 | Chiefs | Jeremiah Love | RB | Notre Dame | Special RB, fantasy ceiling, weapon for Mahomes | | 10 | Bengals | Caleb Downs | S | Ohio State | Best player available, versatility, much-needed talent at safety |

For Dynasty and Fantasy Managers

• The consensus QB1 (Mendoza), RB1 (Love), and the top WRs (Tyson, Tate, Boston, Concepcion) profile as immediate dynasty rookie draft darlings.
• Several edges and versatile defenders are elevated for their NFL fit, but will need real draft capital to become IDP assets.
• Monitor team fit: multiple panelists stress how landing spots could tip the talent balance (WR competition, OL situations, developmental QBs).

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers an informed, lively, and fantasy-aware first round mock, with every panelist sharing actionable prospect feedback and NFL/dynasty context. The panel highlights consensus picks (Mendoza, Love) and provides thoughtful pushback on positional value and roster-building philosophy. For fantasy managers, it’s a treasure trove of immediate and future rookie draft insight. For NFL draft fans, the panel’s transparency about uncertainty, class strengths, and prospect volatility is invaluable.

Notable Quotes Recap

• "When the board falls like this, don’t overcomplicate it." – Steve Mensch (Mendoza at No.1, 06:21)
• "Fantasy football and a heartbeat: you draft Love here." – Scott Bogman (27:48)
• "Sometimes you want your QB to be a football nerd." – Pat Fitz Morris (12:51)
• “He is outrageously talented...He’s a home run at this point.” – Steve Mensch on Denzel Boston (43:00)

For a detailed timestamped pick-by-pick review, revisit segments at:

• [04:50] Mendoza to Raiders
• [14:15] Reese to Jets
• [26:07] Love to Chiefs
• [41:35] Boston to Jets
• [54:56] Concepcion to Browns
  …and more throughout the first hour.

Panelists: Joey P., Pat Fitz Morris, Scott Bogman
Guest Analyst: Steve Mensch

Listen for: Mock draft debates, prospect deep dives, draft strategy, and top rookie targets for both NFL and fantasy.