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<\/a><\/p>\nIOWA CITY, IA – SEPTEMBER 27: Quarterback Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers throws a pass in the first half against of the Iowa Hawkeyes on September 27, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n
In one of the least surprising moves of the offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders get their franchise quarterback \u2014 and make no mistake about it, that\u2019s exactly what Fernando Mendoza is. He\u2019s the QB1 of this class. He won the Heisman and followed it up with a National Championship. And we all saw that 4th down play. He\u2019s QB1 and should change the Raiders franchise for many years to come.<\/p>\n
The rest of the top-10 is as follows:<\/p>\n
1:02 | New York Jets | Arvell Reese | EDGE | Ohio State1:03 | Arizona Cardinals | Francis Mauigoa | OT | Miami1:04 | Tennessee Titans | David Bailey | EDGE | Texas Tech1:05 | New York Giants | Carnell Tate | WR| Ohio State1:06 | Cleveland Browns | Spencer Fano | OT | Utah1:07 | Washington Commanders | Rueben Bain Jr. | EDGE | Miami1:08 | New Orleans Saints | Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona State1:09 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jeremiyah Love | RB | Notre Dame1:10 | Cincinnati Bengals | Caleb Downs | SAF | Ohio State<\/p>\n
With the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select:::<\/p>\n
Keldric Faulk<\/a>, DE, Auburn<\/p>\n We don\u2019t know<\/a> if Tua Tagovailoa<\/a> will still be Miami\u2019s quarterback next season, but either way, it\u2019s probably too early for Alabama\u2019s Ty Simpson<\/a>. We do know the defense could use some work, though, and new coach<\/a> Jeff Hafley\u2019s background is on that side of the ball. I thought about cornerback here, and Tennessee\u2019s Jermod McCoy<\/a> might make sense, but I just wasn\u2019t ready to pull the first CB off the board.<\/p>\n Miami could use this pick to reload on the edge. The Dolphins traded<\/a> Jaelan Phillips<\/a> at the deadline, and Bradley Chubb<\/a> could be a cap-saving release<\/a> this offseason, since he has no guaranteed money left on his deal. Mixing Chop Robinson<\/a>\u2019s burst with Faulk\u2019s power could be a long-term solution.<\/p>\n The Miami Dolphins have needs all throughout the roster, so it makes sense for the team to stand pat and take the best available player at a premium position. Here, the Dolphins add a dynamic EDGE opposite of Chop Robinson that could be the foundation of Miami\u2019s defensive line for years to come.<\/p>\n During his three seasons at Auburn, Fualk appeared in 37 games for the Tigers, recording 109 total tackles (73 solo), 19.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He had 24 pressures and two sacks in 2025. Now, Faulk looks to be one of the top prospects selected in the 2026 NFL Draft and would certainly be a game-changer for Miami\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n That said, I can\u2019t help but remember just a year or two ago when the Dolphins had a plethora of guys on the EDGE \u2014 even after the team let Andrew Van Ginkel walk for pennies. Having to retool the defensive line, after years of investing in the group, is half the reason Miami is in this mess. The same can be said about the cornerback room, which is where Kiper also considered going at 11 overall.<\/p>\n In a previous mock draft <\/a>done by his colleague, Matt Miller, the Dolphins did select Jermod McCoy, the shutdown cornerback from Tennessee. Here\u2019s what Miller had to say back in November:::<\/p>\n \u201cBefore the 2025 season even started, the Dolphins lost their entire starting secondary from 2024 due to free agency<\/a>, trades<\/a> and injuries<\/a>. And while some of the new additions have been positive, this defense could still use a true No. 1 outside cornerback. McCoy hasn\u2019t played yet in 2025 after suffering an ACL tear<\/a> in January but put enough great tape out in 2024 that scouts still consider him the top corner in the class. And while the Dolphins could consider a quarterback here, there isn\u2019t one on the board that would be a serious threat to push Tua Tagovailoa<\/a> in 2026.\u201c<\/p>\n