ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
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Continuing with a Mock Draft look from the weekend edition of the Coffee Club, here are projections for teams making selections in the second half of this year’s NFL draft...
17. Detroit Lions — Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
While the center position might be the most important area for the Lions’ offense to improve this season, a Taylor Decker succession plan might not be too far behind. Lomu plays calm with light feet, and he has a good frame but could stand to add strength to take his game to the next level.
18. Minnesota Vikings — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Vikings’ defense was incredible last season, but Minnesota still could use another hoss in the middle of the field. McDonald would make a lot of sense as a true nose tackle talent in Brian Flores’ defense
19. Carolina Panthers — Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Woods could go much higher than this, or much lower. His flashes are as good as any defensive player in this draft class, but he had a maddeningly inconsistent year on an underwhelming Clemson team. The Panthers need to continue to add needle-movers to their defense and if Woods reaches his ceiling he could be just that.
20. Dallas Cowboys — Brandon Cisse, DB, South Carolina
After spending their first pick on Sonny Styles, the Cowboys can add another piece here with Cisse. They desperately need help at cornerback, especially after cutting long-time starter Trevon Diggs.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers — Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Steelers might not traditionally take wide receivers in the first round, but after their 2025 passing attack faltered time and again outside of deep forays to DK Metcalf and a bevy of tight end targets. Lemon’s play style (he was primarily a slot player at USC) pairs nicely with Metcalf.
22. Los Angeles Chargers — Vega Loane, G, Penn State
The Chargers, again, need help up front after a brutal showing in the postseason that saw their Super Bowl hopes end after one game. It’s impossible to predict losing so many offensive linemen to injury, but having more of them at least gives an opportunity to build some much-needed depth up front.
23. Philadelphia Eagles — Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Freeling has been a big riser over the back half of the college season and might go even higher than this when this cycle is all said and done. He has good size with long arms and a frame that could add even more bulk. Freeling is an easy mover (his basketball background shows up constantly) whose technique and polish sharpened quickly after he got healthy this past season.
24. Cleveland Browns — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Browns become the Ty Simpson team. Simpson struggled over the back half of his final college season due to injuries, but the Browns have nothing at quarterback in a tough division not to have one. Simpson is not the highest-upside guy out there, but he gives Cleveland a chance for some much needed, bare-minimum competency with upside to get better.
25. Chicago Bears — Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
The Bears’ defense had admirable late-season performances, notably against the Rams in the divisional round, but that group needs to become more stout against the run. Luckily, this is a good defensive tackle class, especially for run-first guys. Hunter is one of those talented interior defenders, and he would give the Bears a burly defender who can eat blocks but also get into the backfield
26. Buffalo Bills — T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
Buffalo’s defense improved as the season hit the waning moments, but the Bills still need more talent at all three levels. That’s a tall ask, but they can dip their toes in the edge rusher market with the selection of Parker, an athletic defensive end.
27. San Francisco 49ers — Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Miller is a right tackle with good size, quickness and light feet as a pass protector. His agility would make him a great fit for a Shanahan offense that likes to have its linemen constantly on the move. Trent Williams keeps staving off any big drop in play but is getting up there in years, and while the 49ers extended right tackle Colton McKivitz recently, he is not a needle-moving player.
28. Houston Texans — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Texans’ offensive line is still a problem, so Houston can take a massive swing here to fix it with the 6-foot-7, 370-pound Proctor. He has to answer questions about his conditioning, but if he can stay in shape at the next level he has a chance to tap into the athleticism that has scouts and fans so excited about his upside.
29. Los Angeles Rams — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Rams have reportedly poked around about moving up in the draft and selecting a pass-catcher high in recent years (Tetairoa McMillan in 2025, Brock Bowers in 2024), and this time they stand pat with their original selection and get Boston at the tail end of the first round. Boston is a big wide receiver with the skill set of a true “X” wide receiver who can win in isolated situations. He would give the Rams a behemoth starting wide receiver trio with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to go along with their deep tight end room.
30. Denver Broncos — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
A long-term linebacker prospect is exactly what the Broncos need and they get a talented one here in Hill. He was injured to close the season, but the Broncos can use his talents here to give them a more complete defense with young talent at all three levels.
31. New England Patriots — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
A team picking in the top five the past two drafts is suddenly in the bottom five thanks to the Super Bowl. And while the Patriots nailed their recent free-agency class, they could stand to add some more building blocks, especially on offense around their star quarterback Drake Maye. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels loves to use tight ends, and Maye has loved throwing the ball to Hunter Henry in his first two seasons. Sadiq would give them a weapon who can turn those screens and underneath routes into big plays. He has the speed and receiving ability to stretch the defense, and also some real grit as a blocker that Mike Vrabel would love.
32. Seattle Seahawks — Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
The Seahawks have hit the “no-clue-let’s-mock-them-a-pass-rusher” level in their roster building. They don’t have too many holes that can immediately be plugged here, so let’s just give them another front seven player to add to that defense. |
