Inside The Star
Every year when I build a mock draft, I try to strip away the noise.
Fan bias, team needs shouted into existence, consensus boards that start to feel more like group thinking rather than evaluation.
My first-round mock draft isn’t about playing it safe, it’s about how I believe the NFL actually thinks when the clock is on.
And the truth is: upside wins.
I finished my first-round mock draft and I already know it won’t be for everyone.
Traits > consensus
Upside > comfortWho’s too high? Who’s too low? ⬇️#NFLDraft #MockDraft #DraftSeason pic.twitter.com/Zqg5hI2ACW
— Cody Warren (@cwinsidethestar) December 21, 2025
Whether fans like it or not, quarterbacks dictate the top of the draft.
Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore will go one and two. Are they finished products? I don’t think so, but teams drafting at the top aren’t looking for “steady.” They are looking for hope.
Mendoza has the arm talent and creativity teams convince themselves they can mold into a franchise player.
Moore fits the same profile, high ceiling, traits you can’t coach, and enough flashes to sell ownership on this pick.
I don’t always agree with this logic, but I understand why it happens every year.
What stands out to me on this board is how early the offensive skill players came off.
Jeremiyah Love at No.3 will surprise some people, but it shouldn’t. Running backs who can create explosive plays, stay on the field every down, and stress defenses horizontally are becoming harder to find.
Wide receivers like Jordan Tyson, Carnell Tate, and Makai Lemon coming off the board early show where the league is. We see offenses wanting players who separate quickly and turn short throws into big gains.
Size matters less than speed, instincts, and versatility. I think this draft leans fully into that reality.
I am happy to say this is not an offense-only draft. It’s a premium position draft.
Edge rushers still come off the board early because pressure changes everything.
Rueben Bain Jr., Kendrick Faulk, Cashius Howell, and T.J. Parker all fit the mold teams covet. Which is length, burst, and the ability to affect the quarterback without blitz help.
Interior defenders like Peter Woods and Kayden McDonald go in round 1 for the same reason as the defensive ends.
If you can collapse the pocket from the inside, you break an offense faster than any coverage scheme ever could.
When I got to pick 23, I didn’t try to get cute. I went with a player who fits the modern NFL perfectly and fills a major need.
Caleb Downs.
This is the kind of pick that stabilizes a defense for years. He’s versatile, smart, and can line up in multiple roles without coming off the field.
All of these traits...
