Relevant parts of the write-up:

1. Miami Dolphins (via Giants): QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Projected trade: New York Giants send No. 1 overall pick to Miami Dolphins for No. 10, No. 44, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick

With Tua Tagovailoa benched ahead of the Dolphins’ Week 16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, it’s obvious that Miami is in the market for a new quarterback. In this mock draft, they get aggressive to move up for one.

Mendoza recorded a 6.2% big-time throw rate and a 2.3% turnover-worthy play rate this season, which compares well with recent No. 1 overall picks Cam Ward (6.3%, 3.3%) and Caleb Williams (6.2%, 3.6%).

10. New York Giants (via Dolphins): S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

The Giants are still crying out for difference-makers on defense. Downs is the top-ranked player on the PFF Big Board but slips to New York here because of positional value.

For a Giants team whose starting safeties have both earned sub-60.0 PFF overall grades in 2025, a player like Downs — who has earned PFF overall grades of 89.3 and 82.5 in coverage and run defense, respectively, this season — makes too much sense.

25 comments

  2. An IU quarterback won the Heisman and could go first overall. What is the world coming to?

  4. Miami would need to add in a quality starter or an additional 3rd round pick in 2026. The Panthers went from 9 to 1 in 2023 and gave up DJ Moore, 2 firsts and 2 seconds. Regardless let’s hope a new GM will be making the trade down

  6. getting caleb downs, another 1st, and 2 2nds for the 1st pick would be amazing lol.

  7. That seems like way too little to move from 1 to 10. Need to add a couple more picks and/or a player.

  9. If you compare the Bears-Panthers trade, the Panthers traded DJ Moore, a 2023 1st, 2023 2nd, a 2024 first, and a 2025 second.

    I’d be thrilled in a scenario where we end up with Jaylen Waddle, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, and a fourth.

    Edit: Panthers traded that, not the Bears.

  10. The Jets have traded everyone for picks because they’ve identified a QB they want and will trade those picks for him.

    Number one overall is going to be a bidding war.

  12. 10 seems a little low for a team without multiple firsts this year but Caleb downs I love

  13. We can probably 2nd’s and two 1st from a team in the top 5 if we wind up with the #1 pick.

  19. If the giants end up picking number one they can absolutely fleece some of these team for picks. Jets and dolphins would trade everything but the kitchen sink for the 1st pick

  21. How detached from reality is this author? The dolphins would need to give significantly more than this. The Jets would blow away this offer anyway.

  22. Unpopular opinion – if the Giants are holding the #1 pick they should draft Mendoza and trade Dart.
    They may be able to snag a mid/late 1 pick from the Steelers and a 3.

    Dart, while having shown flashes of brilliance, doesn’t take care of his body. Also, while not a great runner, he’s a very good runner, which is vital to his game.

    He’s going to get hurt/ be in concussion protocol constantly. Those injuries will take a toll on his running which will devalue his game. He has franchise QB talent but not franchise QB longevity.

    Mendoza while unproven obviously is a massive pocket passer. Hes an excellent decision maker, had a quick release and can throw deep. He’s mobile for his size and tore up Big10 secondaries, which churn out NFL players, with a bunch of 3* WRs.

    Mendoza has a better body and game for a
    10+ year career as an nfl starter than Dart

  25. all moot. there’s no way we lose to the Raiders. put me behind center and we still win.

Leave a Reply