Mel Kiper's final mock draft goes two rounds
We are just over one week out from the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, which means mock draft season is heating up.
ESPN's Mel Kiper just released his final predictions for next week's draft. But unlike his previous editions, Kiper projected the first two rounds this time around.
With the fifth overall pick, the draft analyst did not change his selection from his last mock draft, sticking with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
"I could see Carnell Tate as the team's No. 2 receiver opposite Malik Nabers," wrote Kiper. "I could certainly see Sonny Styles quarterbacking the defense from the middle linebacker spot. But I keep coming back to what Downs could do from the back end of this secondary. Next to Jevon Holland, his incredible instincts would pop in this defense. Downs would be the first safety taken in the top five since Eric Berry went to the Chiefs in 2010, and he'd be worth it."
Downs began his career at Alabama, where he was named SEC Freshman of the Year and second-team All-American after registering 107 total tackles (70 solo), two interceptions, four passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery across 14 games. The 6-foot, 206-pound safety then entered the transfer portal after Nick Saban's departure from Tuscaloosa, which led to him landing at Ohio State.
Downs only got better during his two seasons with the Buckeyes. He was named Unanimous All-American, Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, and first-team All-Big Ten after both of his seasons in Columbus, while playing a big role in Ohio State's run to a National Championship in 2024.
After his standout 2025 campaign, Downs also took home the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back, in addition to the Lott Trophy and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Here are the top 5 picks in Kiper's final mock draft:
- Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- New York Jets - David Bailey, OLB, Texas Tech
- Arizona Cardinals - Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State
- Tennessee Titans - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
- New York Giants - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Moving to the second round, Kiper has the Giants addressing the offensive line with the selection of Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutdlege.
"Rutledge started 43 games in college and gave up only two sacks," the draft analyst wrote. "He could slide into a starter's role as a rookie."
Measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 316 pounds, Rutledge put together a very successful collegiate career.
He started off at Middle Tennessee, where he allowed just two total sacks and 22 pressures across his freshman and sophomore campaigns. This led to him being named first-team All-CUSA in 2023.
He then transferred to Georgia Tech where his performance improved even more. Over his two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, Rutledge was credited with zero sacks and only nine total pressures allowed on over 800 pass block snaps. He was named first-team All-ACC after both campaigns, as well as first-team All-American this past season. Rutledge was also the recipient of the ACC's 2025 Brian Piccolo Award.
Rutledge has been one of the biggest risers in most prospect rankings during the pre-draft process, due in part to his standout performance at the combine. The lineman ran a 5.05 40-yard dash to go with a 32.5-inch vertical, which helped him land a 93 Athleticism Score, according to Next Gen Stats, which was the highest of any guard in Indianapolis this year.
His 9.62 Relative Athletic Score also ranked 68th out of 1,749 guards dating back to 1987.
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his fourth ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 50 Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
No. 49 R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
No. 48 Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
No. 47 Keylan Rutledge, IOL, Georgia Tech
No. 46 Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
No. 45 Zion Young, Edge, Missouri
No. 44 Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
No. 43 Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
No. 42 Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
No. 41 Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
No. 40 Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
No. 39 Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
No. 38 Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
No. 37 Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
No. 36 Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
No. 35 Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
No. 34 Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
No. 33 Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
No. 32 Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
No. 31 Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
No. 30 CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
No. 29 KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
No. 28 Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
No. 27 Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
No. 26 Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
No. 25 Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
No. 24 T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
No. 23 Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
No. 22 Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
No. 21 Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State
No. 20 Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
No. 19 Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
No. 18 Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
No. 17 Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
No. 16 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
No. 15 Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 14 Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
No. 13 Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
No. 12 Makai Lemon, WR, USC
No. 11 Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
No. 10 Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
No. 9 Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
No. 8 Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
No. 7 Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
No. 6 Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
No. 5 Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
No. 4 David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
No. 3 Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
No. 2 Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
No. 1 Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Giants are back at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center for Week 2 of the 2026 offseason workout program.
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