Mel Kiper's first mock draft was released, and it reflected what I have been saying in the lead-up to the draft.
Mel Kiper is one of the most respected draft analysts in the business, and his first mock draft tells a story that I have been saying for the entirety of this pre-draft process.
Kiper's first prediction for the first round has several Ohio State Buckeyes going in the first round. I think that it is safe to say that Kayden McDonald is consistently being regarded as a back-end of the first round player.
However, he will have to wait a long time to join his fellow Buckeyes as Kiper has the other four going in the Top-7 and more importantly, he has the first Buckeye off the board being safety Caleb Downs.
Pick No. 2: New York Jets Select Caleb Downs
This is the surprise of the first round. Up until this point, this pick is predicted to be Arvell Reese, and Kiper is the first analyst to switch it up and go Downs.
The talented defensive prospect is regarded by some as one of the top two players in the entire draft. He is a do-it-all safety who plays with incredible physicality, toughness, speed, and intelligence.
I said it the other day, some would be surprised, but no one would question the pick if Downs goes over Reese or any of the others in the draft.
Pick No. 4: Tennessee Titans Select Arvell Reese
Arvell Reese doesn't drop very far. He could go anywhere in the top-5, and Kiper has him slotted in the 4 spot to the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee believes that they solved their quarterback position, and if they get that solved, the last thing left to do is solve the pass rusher position.
They do that here with Reese. This would be a great step to select the pass rusher from Ohio State who proved last year that he is one of the best in the country at getting to the quarterback. This would give the Titans their nucleus for the future.
Pick No. 6: Cleveland Browns Select Carnell Tate
This pick would be Cleveland's first step to solve their offense in both the short and long term. The Ohio State wide receiver tree is productive at the next level, and this selection would solve a lot of Cleveland's problems and give Shedeur Sanders the No. 1 weapon that the Browns have been yearning for.
Pick No. 7: Washington Commanders Select Sonny Styles
Now we are talking.
Styles is believed to be one of the best players available in this entire draft. His only negative is that he plays the traditional linebacker position, which isn't valued as highly as quarterbacks, pass rushers, or wide receivers.
The veteran playmaker makes any team better immediately and he would be the long-term star on defense to go with their long-term star quarterback.
Pick No. 25: Chicago Bears Select Kayden McDonald
The Chicago Bears beef up their defensive line interior with the selection of McDonald. McDonald is one of the best stories of the 2025 fall as he went from a total unknown player to one of the best defensive linemen in the draft.
McDonald goes to a team ready to take the next step to the NFC Championship Game and maybe even a Super Bowl in the years to come.
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