FantasyPros - 2026 NFL First Round Mock Draft 3.0

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd / FantasyPros
Date: March 8, 2026
Host: Joey P. (Joe Pisapia), with analysts Pat Fitzmaurice (“Fitzy”), Andrew Erickson, and Derek Brown (“D Bro”)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the 2026 NFL First Round Mock Draft, fresh off the heels of the NFL Combine. The FantasyPros crew—Joe, Pat, Andrew, and Derek—debate every pick, discuss hot stocks in the rookie class post-combine, and give insights into both real-life and fantasy football implications. The conversation blends sharp draft analysis, Combine standouts, classic movie banter, and detailed breakdowns of each team's strategy and needs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Combine Recap & Draft Class Impressions

• Mike Washington’s stock soars:
  • “He tested like a champ, Joe. It definitely raised eyebrows. One of the winners at the combine... Maybe even 2 or 3 for some people.” – Pat Fitzmaurice (01:37)
  • Concerns: high fumble rate in college.
• Kenyan Sadiq’s breakout:
  • “Posted videos all over the Internet. 4.39, not too shabby there, buddy.” – Joe (02:04)
  • Derek: “He’s going to go screaming up the board for a lot of teams.”
• Class Reputation:
  • “Heard a lot of talk about this class being very mid and very bad… but a lot of really good testing coming out.” – Derek (02:12)
• Players skipping certain drills:
  • "If you're slow, you don't run… with NIL, they know what they're worth." - Derek (02:42)
  • “They might as well just do away with the 20 yard short shuttle because no one does it anymore.” – Pat (03:30)

Detailed Mock Draft Breakdown

Picks 1–5 (04:56–13:05)

• 1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza (QB)
  • “He can provide stability... Kubiak’s system excels at protecting QBs. Put a competent, accurate QB behind a healthy line, and you can see some fantasy juice.” – Andrew (05:03)
• 2. New York Jets – David Bailey (Edge, Texas Tech)
  • “Aaron Glenn's looking for a pure edge rusher. Bailey had 14.5 sacks, 6’4, 251, ran a 4.51. They need a hit or Glenn loses his job.” – Andrew (06:24)
• 3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese (LB/Edge, Ohio State)
  • “They need pass rush... Fourth lowest pressure rate last year.” – Derek (07:54)
• 4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
  • “Styles is great against the run, used to be a safety. 6'5, 244, 4.46 speed, 43.5” vert. Everyone fell in love with him at the Combine.” – Pat (08:44)
  • “He gets his handle from Sonny Corleone of the Godfather because Styles was so hot tempered as a kid. I love that.” – Pat (09:54)
• 5. New York Giants – Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)
  • “Partial meniscus tear and degenerative ACL concern, but expert says not a major deal… Harbaugh called him a future Hall of Fame safety.” – Andrew (11:27, 12:19)

Notable Mid-First Round Picks

• 7. Washington Commanders – Jeremiah Love (RB)
  • “If they can't get Reese, Bailey, or Styles, they could trade down... or just stay and take Love. They'd have one of the most exciting offenses.” – Pat (14:30)
• 8. New Orleans Saints – Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)
  • “Probably first receiver drafted—only top 3 WR to run. Even though 4.53 isn’t elite speed, it’s about how he creates separation.” – Andrew & Derek (15:36–18:27)
• 9. Kansas City Chiefs – Kenyan Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
  • “Forecasting: Kelce retires, Chiefs draft Sadiq… three-down tight end, runaway TE1 of this class.” – Derek (18:45)
• 10. Cincinnati Bengals – Ruben Bain (Edge, Miami)
  • “Plays like a wrecking ball. Arm length is short, but falling to 10 would be a gift.” – Pat (19:31)

Additional Thoughtful Picks & Team Strategies

• 13. LA Rams (from ATL) – Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
  • “Adams and Nacua in last contract year. Lemon is like a high-floor, high-upside slot guy—comped to Amon-Ra St. Brown.” – Pat (24:04)
• 16. New York Jets (from DEN) – Jordan Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
  • "Good size, can line up anywhere, even blocks well—tutored by Hines Ward." – Pat (28:15)
• 21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Denzel Boston (WR)
  • “Don’t know who’ll be throwing him the ball, but he’s a fantastic route runner.” – Derek (34:36)

Draft Fandom, Pop Culture, and Memorable Quotes

• Sonny Styles’ Godfather nickname:
  • “He gets his handle from Sonny Corleone of the Godfather because Styles was so hot tempered as a kid. I love that.” – Pat (09:54)
• Classic Movie Banter:
  • Comparing Face/Off and Con Air:
    • "Face/Off was way better." – Derek (25:55)
    • "I like Con Air better." – Joe (25:57)
  • John Woo draft jokes:
    • “I'd like him to direct the NFL draft—slow motion, Roger Goodell hugs, birds flying out...” – Joe (26:23)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:35 | Show introduction, Combine reaction | | 01:37 | Mike Washington & Combine Winners | | 02:04 | Kenyan Sadiq’s performance | | 04:56 | Mock Draft picks start – Raiders pick 1 | | 06:24 | Jets pick 2 explained | | 07:54 | Cardinals pick 3 - Arvell Reese | | 08:44 | Titans pick 4 - Sonny Styles & his backstory | | 11:27 | Giants pick 5 - Caleb Downs & his medicals | | 14:30 | Commanders pick 7 - Jeremiah Love discussion | | 15:36 | Saints pick 8 - Carnell Tate | | 18:45 | Chiefs pick 9 - Kenyan Sadiq as Kelce successor | | 19:31 | Bengals pick 10 - Ruben Bain | | 24:04 | Rams pick 13 - Makai Lemon | | 28:15 | Jets pick 16 - Jordan Tyson | | 34:36 | Steelers pick 21 - Denzel Boston | | 39:41 | 49ers pick 27 - Kaden Proctor | | 44:01 | Seahawks pick 32 - Avion Terrell to close out |

Notable Quotes

• On the WR Combine “speed concern” trope:

  “When are we going to get to a point where we stop doing this? You're either good and the film backs it up or you're not.”
  – Derek Brown (18:39)

• On positional value and team tendencies:

  “If there's any guy that's going to not even think twice about drafting a safety in the top 5, it's John Harbaugh.”
  – Andrew Erickson (12:19)

• Fantasy Reactions to Draft Trends:

  “Imagine having three first round safeties in our 2026 NFL season. Oh you love to see it.”
  – Andrew Erickson (33:40)

Summary Table: Picks, Teams & Key Analysis

| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Rationale/Notes | |------|-------------------|-------------------|----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Raiders | Fernando Mendoza | QB | Stability, accurate, possible boost to Genti/Bowers| | 2 | Jets | David Bailey | Edge | Pass rush need, 14.5 sacks | | 3 | Cardinals | Arvell Reese | LB/Edge | Pressure rate issue, athleticism | | 4 | Titans | Sonny Styles | LB | Versatile, “chess piece,” top Combine interviews | | 5 | Giants | Caleb Downs | S | High floor, fits Harbaugh’s vision | | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | | 32 | Seahawks | Avion Terrell | CB | Need at CB, tough tackler, fits McDonald D |

Overall Tone & Episode Style

• Energetic, conversational, and deeply knowledgeable.
• Mixes sharp football analytics with personal opinions, jokes, and fantasy football focus.
• Pop culture references (The Godfather, Face/Off vs. Con Air) inject personality.
• Hosts tease one another, giving a feeling of camaraderie and authentic “draft room” debate.

Final Thoughts

The episode delivers the full first round, focusing not only on the top-tier prospects but also on team needs, positional value, and potential surprises. Listeners get the benefit of high-level analysis packed with in-jokes, combine insights, and clear explanations for each pick’s strategy—making it an ideal primer for both football draft enthusiasts and fantasy football managers prepping for rookie drafts.