Fornelli 2026 NFL mock draft 4.0: Chiefs trade up to address pass rush

I feel bad for Ty Simpson.

If you missed it last week, the Alabama quarterback became part of The Discourse in the NFL Draft Content Machine. This fact, more than anything else, is the biggest symptom of the lack of juice surrounding the lead-up to this spring's draft.

We all know who the first pick will be, and after that, it's a class full of players who are intriguing, but there aren't any no-doubt superstars that teams are dying to get their hands on. And when that happens, well, there's time to fill, and somebody has to fill it.

Enter Simpson, who is suddenly maybe better than the guy everybody has had going first overall for months now? This is not to say the opinions are disingenuous (though they could be!). There's never a consensus among scouts and pundits when it comes to ranking players based on their talent and projections in any sport, not just football. There are definitely people out there who believe Simpson is better than Fernando Mendoza. You'll find people who think Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, or Carson Beck are better than both. Hell, somebody out there thinks we're all sleeping on Cole Payton.

But Simpson has been chosen to be the lightning rod. So no matter what happens to him in the NFL Draft (he could go in the first round, he could wait a few days), he will be talked about. My advice to Ty is, if you get extended a green room invite, stay home with the family, big dog. The invite is more for them than for you.

NFL Mock Draft

Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 1 Fernando Mendoza QB Indiana • Jr • 6'5" / 236 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 3535 RUYDS 276 INTS 6 TDS 48 Do not include me among the group of people who believe Ty Simpson is better than Fernando Mendoza.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Arvell Reese EDGE Ohio State • Jr • 6'4" / 243 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 2nd I retain my right to change my mind, but I doubt I will. Reese is the most intriguing defensive prospect in the class with the highest upside. He's exactly who you want to take at No. 2 in this spot.

Mock Trade from Arizona Cardinals Round 1 - Pick 3 David Bailey EDGE Texas Tech • Sr • 6'4" / 250 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 3rd The Chiefs get aggressive with their many draft picks and move up to address their pass rush by taking Bailey. Patrick Mahomes has somebody to talk about Texas Tech with in the locker room now.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Jeremiyah Love RB Notre Dame • Jr • 6'0" / 214 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 1st RUYDS 1372 YDS/ATT 6.9 REYDS 280 TDS 21 I'm convinced that if it's not the Titans taking Love here, it's somebody trading up to take Love. It'd be odd for that to happen for an RB, but with his talent and in this draft class, it makes sense.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Sonny Styles LB Ohio State • Sr • 6'5" / 243 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 1st I'm not as convinced on Styles as many others seemingly are at this point, but there's enough reliable smoke out there about the Giants' interest in him that I'm joining the party.

Round 1 - Pick 6 Carnell Tate WR Ohio State • Jr • 6'2" / 192 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 51 REYDS 875 YDS/REC 17.2 TDS 9 The Browns are likely to go OT or WR here and have their choice of the top one on their board at both spots. In this scenario, I imagine the WR gets taken first.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Caleb Downs S Ohio State • Jr • 6'0" / 205 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st The Commanders have plenty of needs on their defense, and maybe they address the pass rush here, but you can't understate how valuable a player like Downs would be for a defense. He's a Field General. He improves everything.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Rueben Bain Jr. EDGE Miami (Fla.) • Jr • 6'2" / 263 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st The Saints happily snap up Bain as he falls down the board into their laps. Perhaps not the most pressing need in New Orleans, but a need nonetheless.

Mock Trade from Kansas City Chiefs Round 1 - Pick 9 Monroe Freeling OT Georgia • Jr • 6'7" / 315 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 52nd POSITION RNK 7th After trading down six spots, the Cardinals acquire some additional draft capital and are still able to take the top OT on their board. Is it Freeling? I don't know, but for a team that's rebuilding, why not take the project left tackle over the right tackle who may have to move to guard?

Round 1 - Pick 10 Mansoor Delane CB LSU • Sr • 6'0" / 187 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 3rd The Bengals grab the best corner in the class to help out a defense that needs help everywhere.

Round 1 - Pick 11 Makai Lemon WR USC • Jr • 5'11" / 192 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 18th POSITION RNK 4th REC 79 REYDS 1156 YDS/REC 14.6 TDS 13 With Jaylen Waddle in Denver, the Dolphins grab a new receiver in Lemon, who is the top WR on my board.

Round 1 - Pick 12 Jermod McCoy CB Tennessee • Jr • 6'1" / 188 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st McCoy didn't play in 2025 but was fantastic in 2024, and as long as he has a clean bill of health, he isn't likely to last long.

From Atlanta Falcons Round 1 - Pick 13 Jordyn Tyson WR Arizona State • Jr • 6'2" / 203 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 1st REC 61 REYDS 711 YDS/REC 11.7 TDS 9 Sean McVay is never shy about adding new weapons to his offense, and, honestly, with all the headlines Puka Nacua is making off the field these days, it doesn't hurt to add more depth to the position.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Olaivavega Ioane IOL Penn State • Jr • 6'4" / 323 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 1st There are two locks in this draft: Mendoza to the Raiders and Ioane to the Ravens. OK, so Ioane isn't a lock, but it feels like one, seeing as how he's the pick in every single mock you've read.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Akheem Mesidor DL Miami (Fla.) • Sr • 6'3" / 259 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 4th Mesidor is likely tapped out as far as potential, but he'll be a valuable member of anybody's defensive line rotation.

From Indianapolis Colts Round 1 - Pick 16 Avieon Terrell CB Clemson • Jr • 5'11" / 180 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd If Terrell were 6-foot-1, he might be a top-10 pick. Regardless, he's the best corner still on my board at this point, and the Jets can use help at corner.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Francis Mauigoa OT Miami (Fla.) • Jr • 6'6" / 329 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 4th Perhaps it's time for Detroit to move Penei Sewell over to the left side of the offensive line? Drafting Mauigoa would help ease the transition and keep the Lions' run game from dropping off considerably.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Dillon Thieneman S Oregon • Soph • 6'0" / 201 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 35th POSITION RNK 3rd The Vikings are somebody to keep an eye on for a possible trade up, but if they stick where they are, Thieneman feels like a logical choice considering what's likely to be available, and their needs.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Kenyon Sadiq TE Oregon • Jr • 6'3" / 241 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 29th POSITION RNK 1st REC 51 REYDS 560 YDS/REC 11 TDS 8 This would be two straight years of using a first-round pick on a pass-catcher, but when you've used a No. 1 overall pick on Bryce Young (not to mention the capital that went into acquiring the pick), you have to keep doing everything you can to give him weapons.

From Green Bay Packers Round 1 - Pick 20 R Mason Thomas DL Oklahoma • Sr • 6'2" / 241 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 41st POSITION RNK 6th There are differing opinions on Thomas. Odds are he's not going to develop into an all-around defensive end, but he has high upside as a pass-rusher, and the Cowboys will take all the help they can get in that department.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Spencer Fano OT Utah • Jr • 6'6" / 311 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 2nd A third tackle in four years in the first round isn't the hope, but the Steelers still need help finding a tackle they can rely on. Perhaps Fano is finally it.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Peter Woods DL Clemson • Jr • 6'3" / 298 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 1st The Chargers got mauled along the lines of scrimmage last year, in large part due to injury, but it's hard for me to believe Jim Harbaugh watched it happen all season long and won't use a first-round pick on improving one of his lines.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Caleb Lomu OT Utah • Soph • 6'6" / 308 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 3rd Lomu is a player I like quite a bit who doesn't get the same kind of love from the consensus. The Eagles look toward the future up front with this choice.

From Jacksonville Jaguars Round 1 - Pick 24 Blake Miller OT Clemson • Sr • 6'7" / 317 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 22nd POSITION RNK 5th Miller is one of the more projectable tackle prospects in the class, and the Browns certainly need help along their offensive line. A worthy value pick at this point in the first round.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Zion Young EDGE Missouri • Sr • 6'6" / 262 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 76th POSITION RNK 10th Young doesn't have the production of other edge players in the class, but he's very young in comparison and has the measurables teams seek at the position. The Bears are seeking improvement all across their defense.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Omar Cooper Jr. WR Indiana • Jr • 6'0" / 199 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 69 REYDS 937 YDS/REC 13.6 TDS 14 It's hard to play WR with Josh Allen because he extends plays so often, but Cooper's skillset is one I think would blend well with Allen and improve the Bills offense.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Denzel Boston WR Washington • Jr • 6'4" / 210 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 34th POSITION RNK 6th REC 62 REYDS 881 YDS/REC 14.2 TDS 12 In my first mock, I had Boston going to San Francisco, writing at the time that he's always struck me as a perfect fit in a Kyle Shanahan offense. I'm glad I was able to reunite them here in my fourth go-round.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Kadyn Proctor OT Alabama • Jr • 6'7" / 352 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st Proctor's stock seems to be falling the deeper we get into the process. Not a free fall where I expect him to drop out of the first, but I've seen names climb above him in mocks, as well as on my own board. Still, there's enough here to make him an enticing option for a Houston team with plenty of needs up front.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Colton Hood CB Tennessee • Soph • 6'0" / 195 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 37th POSITION RNK 4th After trading up to get Bailey earlier, the Chiefs use the extra first-rounder they got in the Trent McDuffie trade to grab a young corner who could serve as his replacement.

From Denver Broncos Round 1 - Pick 30 Max Iheanachor OT Arizona State • Sr • 6'6" / 321 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 23rd POSITION RNK 6th Perhaps the Dolphins use their newly-acquired late first-rounder to get a QB, or maybe they prefer to wait until next season when the QB class is expected to be considerably stronger. I've made it clear what I feel is more likely.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Jacob Rodriguez LB Texas Tech • Sr • 6'1" / 231 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 83rd POSITION RNK 9th Rodriguez was a tackle machine at Texas Tech last season with an instinct for forcing turnovers. He had a very strong performance at the combine and displayed better athleticism than I anticipated. He strikes me as a player Mike Vrabel can love.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Emmanuel Pregnon IOL Oregon • Sr • 6'4" / 314 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 51st POSITION RNK 5th I've no idea what Seattle does here, but adding another body for the interior of the offensive line doesn't seem like a bad idea.