Draft season is here, which means Steve is back to predict all 16 first-round picks in his annual YFFL mock draft. With a clear favorite at No. 1, several teams searching for answers at quarterback, and plenty of talented receivers on the board, the opening round should get unpredictable in a hurry.
1. Dragons — Jeremiyah Love, RB, ARI
Like the last few years, we have a clear-cut top pick in the draft. The Dragons quickly start things off with Love and cement their status as title contenders this season.
2. Bear — Carnell Tate, WR, TEN
Tough call for Bri here, but at least he has had all offseason to make up his mind. A case can be made for Mendoza, Tate, and Price. In the end, Bri takes the safest player and gets his rebuild underway.
3. Eaters — Makai Lemon, WR, PHL
It doesn’t take long for the draft to devolve into any player at any time. Lemon has been a stud at USC the last few years, and he slides into the perfect situation in Philly.
4. Thugs — Fernando Mendoza, QB, LV
Bobby has to take Mendoza here if he makes it to No. 4, right? CJ Stroud is not looking like the answer for the Thugs. They have a good team and are just a quarterback away at this point.
5. Beans — KC Concepcion, WR, CLE
It’s going to feel gross selecting these Browns players in the first round, but both Concepcion and Boston are really talented. If Cleveland can get the quarterback right in 2027, these players could really pan out.
6. Chickens — Jadarian Price, RB, SEA
Rejoice! The downfall of the Chickens has finally arrived! We’ve waited 25 long years for this moment, but we’ve finally made it. This is probably the highest pick they’ve had since they drafted Elliott in 2016. The aging Chickens have seen the wheels come off this offseason. Trading Hurts to the Thugs and building around Loveland would make a lot of sense.
7. Big Boys — Jordan Tyson, WR, NO
Chris takes the plunge on the second-best player in this draft. Tyson also just happens to be the most injury-prone. The bad news is that he is already on IR. The good news is that the later in the draft he goes, the more likely he is to pan out so everyone above regrets not picking him.
8. White Guys — De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, SF
Getting Washington and Pierce off the waiver wire last year did wonders for the White Guys’ wide receiver room. They still have plenty of work to do, and picking Stribling is a great move. The 49ers were widely panned for taking him so high, but it’s a pick that’s looking better by the day.
9. Refugees — Antonio Williams, WR, WAS
What do you do when you already have two Commanders wide receivers? You triple down on that bet and get a third. But seriously, Williams has great draft capital and has looked good in camp. He’s the future at that position with Jayden Daniels throwing the ball, not the aging Diggs and McLaurin.
10. Llamas — Jacoby Brissett, QB, ARI
Two Cardinals in the first round?! A journeyman veteran quarterback taken in the first round? Yeah, this draft is going to get wacky. The Llamas have everything they need to win the division and challenge for a Super Bowl berth. They might as well plug a hole at backup quarterback.
11. Eaters — Ty Simpson, QB, LAR
Simpson flashed this preseason, and neither Ward nor Love has looked like a franchise YFFL quarterback, so Kurt continues to roll the dice until he gets the right guy.
12. Orangutangs — Omar Cooper, WR, NYJ
Now that we finally know Jon has spent all these years running his own AI, which he developed to help make his picks, it comes as no surprise that it takes Omar Cooper. He checks all the boxes Jon likes when it comes to wide receivers: big, fast, and a four-year college player.
13. Mallards — Jonah Coleman, RB, DEN
There are still some good wide receivers left on the board, but it’s pretty clear the Mallards are set at that spot. So they might as well draft another Denver running back to replace the one they traded to the Eaters for this selection.
14. Buddies — Denzel Boston, WR, CLE
The Buddies need to attack the wide receiver position in this draft and hope they can find a couple of 50-point players. Boston has some good tools and, as we went over earlier in this mock, if Cleveland can get the quarterback right next year, this offense can be really fun to watch.
15. Huskers — Mike Washington, RB, LV
Luckily for Kevin, the Jeanty injury news got better and better by the hour. There’s still no word on exactly how long he’ll be out, but after seeing what the Merry Men have accomplished with two running backs from the same franchise, Kevin decides to try the same plan.
16. Bear — Nicholas Singleton, RB, TEN
Apparently, being Penn State’s all-time leader in scrimmage yards doesn’t get you the draft capital you deserve in the NFL or the YFFL.