Peter Schrager Drops New Expert NFL Mock Draft in Video With Field Yates, Dane Brugler, Ran Carthon

ESPN's Peter Schrager called in some friends to assist with a new first-round mock draft.

In a video podcast of The Schrager Hour, Schrager was joined by draft analysts Field Yates, Dane Brugler of The Athletic and former Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon to go project the first 32 picks in the 2026 NFL draft.

Team	Pick
1. Raiders	Fernando Mendoza, QB
2. Jets	David Bailey, EDGE
3. Cardinals	Arvell Reese, EDGE
4. Titans	Sonny Styles, LB
5. Giants	Jeremiyah Love, RB
6. Browns	Francis Mauigoa, OT
7. Commanders	Caleb Downs, S
8. Saints	Carnell Tate, WR
9. Chiefs	Mansoor Delane, CB
10. Bengals	Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE
11. Dolphins	Makai Lemon, WR
12. Cowboys	Dillon Thieneman, S
13. Rams	Omar Cooper Jr., WR
14. Ravens	Jordyn Tyson, WR
15. Buccaneers	Jermod McCoy, CB
16. Jets	KC Concepcion, WR
17. Lions	Kadyn Proctor, OT
18. Vikings	Emmanuel McNeil, Warren, S
19. Panthers	Monroe Freeling, OT
20. Cowboys	Akheem Mesidor, EDGE
21. Steelers	Spencer Fano, OT
22. Chargers	Olaivavega Ioane, IOL
23. Eagles	Max Iheanachor, OT
24. Browns	Denzel Boston, WR
25. Bears	R Mason Thomas, EDGE
26. Bills	Peter Woods, DL
27. 49ers	Kenyon Sadiq, TE
28. Texans	Blake Miller, OT
29. Chiefs	Caleb Lomu, OT
30. Miami Dolphins	Keldric Faulk, DL
31. Patriots	Jacob Rodriguez, LB
32. Seahawks	T.J. Parker, EDGE

One of the big takeaways is how different this mock looks than most projections have thus far. There are several out-of-left-field picks for Day 1, including R Mason Thomas and Jacob Rodriguez.

As a point of comparison, B/R's NFL scouting department's big board has Rodriguez ranked as the No. 103 prospect in the class.

An explanation for some of the uniqueness of the picks is that teams aren't as focused on positional value in this class as they typically are, per a text Schrager received from an NFL general manager.

The text was in response to whether or not Caleb Downs could be a top-five pick because of the value, or lack thereof, for the safety position. He has frequently been projected at No. 5 to the New York Giants, including in B/R's mock draft.

ESPN's expert mock has the Giants taking Jeremiyah Love, which also gets into the positional value argument. Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick last year, has the second-most guaranteed money among all running back contracts in the NFL right now.

If Love turns into Saquon Barkley or Christian McCaffrey, no one will care about the value of his rookie deal. If he "only" turns into a good NFL running back when they have other needs to fill, will the pick be held up as a success?

Another surprise pick, at least based on where he is taken, is safety Dillon Thieneman going to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12.

By that point, all of the top-tier pass-rushers are off the board. The Cowboys need help in the secondary, so Thieneman would be a fit for Jerry Jones' roster.

But B/R's mock has the Cowboys able to land Thieneman with their second first-round pick (No. 20) and getting Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy at No. 12.

We will finally get the answers to exactly what teams are thinking about this class soon when the 2026 draft kicks off on April 23.