With the NFL draft evaluation process coming to a close, here is our latest look at how the first two days play out in Pittsburgh:
ROUND 1
1. Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The only question now is, how soon will Mendoza take the reins?
2. New York Jets
Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
With so many draft assets within the next two years, the Jets can afford to go best pure player here, rather than filling a specific need.
3. Arizona Cardinals
David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
In Bailey, the Cardinals get the draft’s best pure pass rusher in the draft.
4. Tennessee Titans
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Titans cut against the grain on conventional thinking to secure arguably the best player in the draft. Love will help young quarterback Cam Ward immensely.
5. New York Giants
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
While it’s tempting to add another young wide receiver here, the Giants settle on Downs, who will eventually be their defensive leader.
6. Cleveland Browns
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Browns need help everywhere on their offense, but it never hurts to start up front.
7. Washington Commanders
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Nobody is happier with how the draft played out for the Commanders than Jayden Daniels, who now gets to throw to a dynamic wide receiver.
8. New Orleans Saints
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Saints could opt to beef up around quarterback Tyler Shough, but Delane will be a Day 1 starter at a critical position.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Chiefs would have loved Tate or Love here, and are taking a bit of a gamble on Tyson’s injury history, but if he’s right, he will add a much-needed element to the offense.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
On film, Bain is a top-five player in the draft. But his less-than-ideal arm length pushes him right into the arms of the Bengals, who need a replacement for Trey Hendrickson.
11. Miami Dolphins
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Dolphins are in full rebuild under new head coach Jeff Hafley, a defensive-minded general who gets his much-needed on-field leader.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
McCoy missed all of last season with a knee injury. Had he been healthy, he would have been a top-10 pick. The Cowboys are the beneficiaries.
13. Los Angeles Rams
Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Lemon lacks ideal size, but he’s a premier football player and a perfect weapon in Sean McVay’s offense.
14. Baltimore Ravens
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
The Ravens pull a surprise here, but Cooper fits perfectly with Lamar Jackson as a do-it-all weapon who can excel all over the field.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq is a wide receiver dressed up as a tight end, able to punish people as a blocker and rugged receiver, but also run right past them athletically. Now it’s on the coaching staff to unleash him.
16. New York Jets
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Three years from now, Freeling will be the best tackle from this draft.
17. Detroit Lions
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
With Penei Sewell being moved to left tackle, Fano has a chance to immediately compete for the starting job on the right side.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Thieneman and the Vikings have felt like destiny for weeks now. But will someone wise up earlier in the draft to beat them to the punch on an instinctive, versatile player who can line up all over the field?
19. Carolina Panthers
CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Allen is a three-down linebacker with leadership qualities. He’ll eventually be the captain and linchpin of the Panthers’ defense.
20. Dallas Cowboys
Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
After getting their much-needed cornerback earlier in the draft, the Cowboys add a young pass rusher with immense upside. It’s a good first day in Dallas.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
The Steelers have a knack for finding top-notch pass rushers, and in Mesidor, they add a plug-and-play prospect off the edge.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
The Chargers catch a bit of a break here when their biggest need lines up with the best player available. Ioane will be a decade-long player on the interior of their offensive line.
23. Philadelphia Eagles
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The forward-thinking Eagles proactively address an important position a year before it becomes a critical need.
24. Cleveland Browns
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
After addressing their offensive line, the Browns add a smooth, technically sound cornerback to their defense.
25. Chicago Bears
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
McDonald, who has three-down capabilities, is just too good to pass up at this stage of the draft.
26. Buffalo Bills
Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
The Bills were just “meh” as a pass-rush defense, registering 36 sacks last year. That needs to get better, and Howell will help immediately.
27. San Francisco 49ers
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The 49ers need to upgrade at safety, and McNeil-Warren is exactly what they need as a rangy player who can be an enforcer lining up close to the line of scrimmage, while also providing smooth pass-coverage skills.
28. Houston Texans
Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Bottom line, the Texans have to start protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud, who has taken a beating for multiple years. Miller will help with all that from Day 1.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
Zion Young, Edge, Missouri
Young is a smart, savvy pass rusher who will fit right in in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
30. Miami Dolphins
Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The Dolphins wrap up a great day of defensive additions with Hood, who has a chance to start right away.
31. New England Patriots
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Drake Maye played under pressure far too much last year. Iheanachor may need some development time, but the upside is too good to pass up.
32. Seattle Seahawks
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Needing a replacement for Riq Woolen, who left in free agency, the Seahawks get their guy in Cisse, a tough, highly athletic prospect who fits in any scheme.
ROUND 2
33. Jets
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
34. Cardinals
Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
35. Titans
Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
36. Raiders
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
37. Giants
Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
38. Texans
Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
39. Browns
Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
40. Chiefs
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
41. Bengals
Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
42. Saints
KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
43. Dolphins
Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
44. Jets
Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
45. Ravens
Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
46. Buccaneers
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
47. Colts
Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois
48. Falcons
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
49. Vikings
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
50. Lions
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
51. Panthers
Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
52. Packers
Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
53. Steelers
Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
54. Eagles
Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan
55. Chargers
Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
56. Jaguars
Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
57. Bears
T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
58. 49ers
Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
59. Texans
Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss
60. Bears
A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
61. Rams
Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
62. Broncos
Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
63. Patriots
Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
64. Seahawks
Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
ROUND 3
65. Cardinals
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
66. Titans
Kage Casey, OT, Boise State
67. Raiders
Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
68. Eagles
Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
69. Texans
Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
70. Browns
D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
71. Commanders
Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech
72. Bengals
Devin Moore, CB, Florida
73. Saints
Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt
74. Chiefs
Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
75. Dolphins
Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan
76. Steelers
Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa
77. Buccaneers
Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
78. Colts
Jalon Kilgore, CB, South Carolina
79. Falcons
Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
80. Ravens
Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State
81. Jaguars
Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
82. Vikings
Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky
83. Panthers
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
84. Packers
Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
85. Steelers
Connor Lew, C, Auburn
86. Chargers
Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M
87. Dolphins
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
88. Jaguars
VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
89. Bears
Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M
90. Dolphins
Brian Parker II, OT, Duke
91. Bills
Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
92. Cowboys
Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
93. Rams
Markel Bell, OT, Miami
94. Dolphins
Anthony Lucas, Edge, USC
95. Patriots
Austin Barber, OT, Florida
96. Seahawks
Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee
97. Vikings
Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
98. Eagles
Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
99. Steelers
Bud Clark, S, TCU
100. Jaguars
Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State