2027 NFL Mock Draft Analysis

Welcome to an early look at the 2027 mock draft. Just kidding—who wants to start that already? Really, the federal government should probably step in and do something about these premature predictions.

The 2026 NFL Draft was packed with intriguing decisions made by various teams, though not all of them were great choices. Some were so bad, they’re almost unforgettable. Let’s break down the highs and lows of the draft.

Honestly, it took everything in me not to slam my laptop shut while writing this. I mean, it’s tough watching others cheer over a player as if they have some magic touch each time good luck strikes. But, I have to say, the Eagles made some smart moves. They jumped ahead of the Steelers to snatch McAylemon from right under their noses, all while the Pittsburgh general manager was otherwise occupied. They also grabbed Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers, who should really bolster their offense as he takes over from Grant Calcaterra, hopefully with an eye toward Dallas Goedert’s eventual spot. Plus, after a trade with the Jets, they welcomed Miami tackle Markelle Bell in the third round. You have to hand it to them—they nailed their first three picks.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—the Saints clearly dominated the NFC South in this draft. They snagged the most electrifying receiver, Jordyn Tyson, and added back Bryce Lance in the fourth round. Their defense got a boost too, with Georgia defensive tackle Kristen Miller selected in the second round, rounded off by Ohio State safety Lorenzo Stiles in the fifth. Throw in new arrivals like Travis Etienne and Tyler Shaw, and it seems like the Saints are gearing up for a solid playoff run. By the way, I had to Google how to spell “beignets”—the spelling hunt involved typing “binyay” and hoping for the best, and hey, it worked!

Their defensive lineup was reminiscent of a washed-up 2025 team. With players like Bobby Wagner and Marshon Lattimore, the core was once fantastic—back in 2019. This time around, they picked perhaps the class’ most athletic linebacker, Sonny Styles, at seventh overall, along with receiver Antonio Williams in the third round, and running back Caitron Allen in the sixth. Their decisions might have had limited options, but they brought on players who could make a real difference.

The Dolphins grabbed two of my favorite draft picks, both in the same position. Jacob Rodriguez in the second round and Kyle Lewis in the third round should solidify their defense nicely for the future. They also picked up tackle Kaydin Proctor in the first round, and receiver Chris Bell in the third—good young talent to help them step into a new chapter.

This is now the second straight year where I actually liked what the Browns did in the draft. They drafted Spencer Fano to solidify the left tackle position, doubling down with receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston to shore up what might be their weakest squad. The late pick of Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren had great value too, and I’m intrigued by athletic QB Tylen Green from Arkansas. If these choices bear fruit, fans might start looking back on these drafts more fondly.

If you’re reading this, check your phone; you might just impress someone with your agility at a corporate event, especially if you switch seamlessly from chicken to lettuce wraps. Apparently, that’s a desired skill in today’s game.

Now, the Jaguars—I’m scratching my head at their decision-making. They took Stanford wide receiver C.J. Williams with a sixth-round pick, who appeared at No. 678 on most charts. To round it off, they picked tight end Nate Borklicher at 56th overall, someone who only had 38 receptions over five college seasons. They also chose Oregon guard Emmanuel Preignon in the third round, which seems decent, but many of their other selections felt misguided.

As for the Bills, it’s almost comical how Brandon Beane manages to lose trades in the draft, only to let go of solid players later on. There was a bit of a reshuffle at pick 26, where they traded to the Texans since that chair was too big, and later dealt the 28th pick to the Patriots because it was too small. By the time pick 31 rolled around, they just passed on it too. Eventually, they had the 35th pick, which is where Beane picked an edge rusher, TJ Parker. However, the real head-scratcher was the cornerback Davison Igbinosun from Ohio State, who, realistically speaking, could have been available much later. It’s tough to get pumped about even their so-called favorite picks after all the misfires. I could almost hear the groans from Bills Mafia echoing across the land.

Looking at the Rams, they took a chance with Ty Simpson, which could either make them look clever or lead to a regrettable trade for Joe Burrow down the line. If that does happen, it might just make sense in the big picture, but reaching for tight end Max Clair in the second round feels unnecessary, especially since they’re doing this for the second year in a row. The third-round tackle Keegan Trost also seemed like a bit of a stretch, considering he had to move around the line too.