Colin Cowherd· Apr 9, 2026
Cowherd delivered a mock draft of the first 15 picks based on what he says he's hearing from league sources, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1 and running through Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to Tampa Bay at No. 15.
“I'm going to give you the top fifteen draft picks where I think I have a chance to be at least reasonably accurate.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
15 checkable claims — 15 mock draft picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 30 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 15 have settled, averaging 78.2 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Their call against what happened
overall pickTheir call against what actually happened.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Sonny Styles
- New York Giants
- David Bailey
- Arizona Cardinals
- Mansoor Delane
- Miami Dolphins
- Carnell Tate
- Cleveland Browns
- Caleb Downs
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Francis Mauigoa
- Washington Commanders
- Arvell Reese
- New York Jets
- Fernando Mendoza
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Spencer Fano
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Rueben Bain
- New Orleans Saints
- Monroe Freeling
- Baltimore Ravens
- Jeremiyah Love
- Tennessee Titans
- Makai Lemon
- Los Angeles Rams
- Jermod McCoy
- Dallas Cowboys
15 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Mock Draft PicksSonny StylesNew York GiantsApr 9, 2026
Sonny Styles to be picked at number 5
“number five. I think the Giants get that. Maybe the cleanest player in the draft, sunny styles ... Giants take Sunny Styles”
Hit · 92Scored 91.7 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.57 against a shuffle’s 50+43.57 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.57
- player:
- Sonny Styles
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 91.7
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 7
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 91.7
- predicted pick:
- 5
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.57
David Bailey to be picked at number 3
“Number three. So Arizona, seeing that Bailey is now available David Bailey Texas Tech, they will then draft David Bailey because they have a pass rush issue.”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.57 against a shuffle’s 50+43.57 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.57
- player:
- David Bailey
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 95.76
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 2
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 95.76
- predicted pick:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.57
- Mock Draft PicksMansoor DelaneMiami DolphinsApr 9, 2026
Mansoor Delane to be picked at number 11
“number eleven, Well, defensive head coach, they need a lot but mansour Delaye the LSU corner ... I think Miami goes for a lockdown guy”
Hit · 81Scored 80.52 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Mansoor Delane
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 80.52
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 6
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 80.52
- predicted pick:
- 11
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
- Mock Draft PicksCarnell TateCleveland BrownsApr 9, 2026
Carnell Tate to be picked at number 6
“number six. The best receiver in this draft is Carneal Tate and Cleveland's got an egregiously bad wide receiving corps”
Hit · 92Scored 91.7 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Carnell Tate
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 91.7
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 4
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 91.7
- predicted pick:
- 6
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
Caleb Downs to be picked at number 10
“Number ten, Caleb Downs, Ohio State ... Caleb Downs stays in state. He goes to the Bengals at ten”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Caleb Downs
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 95.76
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 11
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 95.76
- predicted pick:
- 10
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
Francis Mauigoa to be picked at number 7
“number seven. Well, Jaden Daniels needs protection. Laramie Tonzel meet Francis Mawiinoah Miami ... He goes seven to the Commanders.”
Hit · 88Scored 87.81 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Francis Mauigoa
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 87.81
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 10
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 87.81
- predicted pick:
- 7
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
- Mock Draft PicksArvell ReeseNew York JetsApr 9, 2026
Arvell Reese to be picked at number 2
“Number two, I think the Jet take a big swing on Rvel Reese, who's one of the youngest prospects in the draft.”
Hit · 88Scored 87.81 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Arvell Reese
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 87.81
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 5
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 87.81
- predicted pick:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“Number one. Okay, that's the easy one. I'm going to go one for one. Fernando Mendoza ... the most obvious pick outside of Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Fernando Mendoza
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to be picked at number 15
“Number fifty Buccaneers draft well safety from Toledo, Emmanuel McNeil. Warren, local kid played in Tampa.”
Miss · 16Scored 15.52 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 15.52
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 58
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 15.52
- predicted pick:
- 15
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
Spencer Fano to be picked at number 9
“Number nine. See this seems obvious. Spencer Fino to tackle from Utah to Kansas City ... I think he goes nine to Kansas City Spencer Fane.”
Hit · 100Scored 100 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Spencer Fano
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 9
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 100
- predicted pick:
- 9
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
Rueben Bain to be picked at number 8
“Number eight. Another Miami Hurricane goes eight, Ruben Bain. Listen, you could say the Saints have a lot of needs, but this kid lives in the backfield.”
Close · 74Scored 73.84 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Rueben Bain
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 73.84
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 15
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 73.84
- predicted pick:
- 8
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
Monroe Freeling to be picked at number 14
“Number fourteen ravens Lamar Jackson last year pressured on twenty six percent of his throw career high. They go get Monroe Freeling, Georgia. Tackle”
Hit · 81Scored 80.52 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Monroe Freeling
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 80.52
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 19
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 80.52
- predicted pick:
- 14
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
Jeremiyah Love to be picked at number 4
“If they get Bailey number four, then I think the Titans will take Jeremiah Love ... He goes four to the Tennessee Titans”
Hit · 96Scored 95.76 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Jeremiyah Love
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 95.76
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 3
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 95.76
- predicted pick:
- 4
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
- Mock Draft PicksMakai LemonLos Angeles RamsApr 9, 2026
Makai Lemon to be picked at number 13
“Number thirty McKay lemon wide receiver USC ... McKay lemon walks in day one. He'll figure the playbook out in three practices.”
Close · 74Scored 73.84 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Makai Lemon
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 73.84
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 20
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 73.84
- predicted pick:
- 13
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
- Mock Draft PicksJermod McCoyDallas CowboysApr 9, 2026
Jermod McCoy to be picked at number 12
“Number twelve. I think the Cowboys ... They get Jermad McCoy from Tennessee.”
Miss · 2Scored 2.12 on this pickthis mock ordered the draft 93.13 against a shuffle’s 50+43.13 skillHow this was scored
- draft:
- 2026
- naive:
- a shuffled mock scores 50
- skill:
- 43.13
- player:
- Jermod McCoy
- season:
- 2026
- zero at:
- 32
- accuracy:
- 2.12
- baseline:
- 50
- actual pick:
- 101
- difficulty:
- 1
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- pick accuracy:
- 2.12
- predicted pick:
- 12
- weeks left when called:
- 0
- mock ordering score:
- 93.13
What others said about the same people
- Randy GurziRoster Spot Calls · Justin BarronMiss · 0Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player he expects Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. He also predicts Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere.
- Bucky BrooksRoster Spot Calls · Josh JohnsonMiss · 0Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season.
- Jason La CanforaRoster Spot Calls · Gerad LichtenhanMiss · 0La Canfora predicts the Ravens will keep several young players on their practice squad — DL Kaimon Rucker, LB Dominic DeLuca, LB Ethan Burke, CB Amani Oruwariye, OT Gerad Lichtenhan and QB Joe Fagnano — and expects the team to make at least one trade from its surplus of cornerbacks.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandMiss · 0Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order.
- Ryan WilsonDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100A CBS Sports piece states Deshaun Watson has won Cleveland's starting quarterback job for Week 1 with Shedeur Sanders next in line, while arguing Watson will not play like even an average NFL quarterback and that none of the Browns' current young passers should stop them from drafting a first-round quarterback next April.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Gregg RosenthalMock Draft Picks · K.C. ConcepcionClose · 68Rosenthal disagrees most with Casey Concepcion being left out of the first round, arguing he could go as high as the top 15 and certainly won't last past receiver-needy teams in the late twenties.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · Keyron CrawfordHit · 81In discussing teams without first-round picks, Jeremiah projected specific Day 2 picks: Clemson WR Antonio Williams to the Falcons at 48, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez to the Colts in the second round, Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas to the Packers at 52, and Auburn edge Keiroon Crawford to the Broncos at 62. He also expects Riley Leonard to open as the Colts' starting QB and Travis Hunter to play cornerback full time in Jacksonville.
- Jeff CavanaughMock Draft Picks · Lorenzo StylesMiss · 1Streaming from the NFL Combine, Jeff pegged safety Dylan Thienemann's draft range at roughly picks 20-35, said LSU safety AJ Halsey would cost a second- or third-round pick, and insisted Sonny Styles' brother would not be a top-50 selection despite a fast 40.
- Scott BogmanMock Draft Picks · Olaivavega IoaneClose · 71He gave David Bailey to Tennessee at 4, Sonny Styles to Washington at 7, Caleb Downs to Cincinnati at 10, Carnell Tate to the Rams at 13, Denzel Boston to the Jets at 16, Kayden McDonald to Carolina at 19, Vega Ioane to the Chargers at 22, Peter Woods to Chicago at 25, Emmanuel Pregnon to Houston at 28 and Romello Height to Denver at 31, and insisted both Bailey and Downs are top-10 locks.
- Steve MenschMock Draft Picks · Caleb LomuClose · 62Making the even-numbered picks in the mock, he sent Arvell Reese to the Jets at No. 2, Spencer Fano to the Giants at 5, Jordan Tyson to the Saints at 8, a Tennessee cornerback to Miami at 11, Keldric Faulk to Baltimore at 14, Akheem Mesidor to Dallas at 20, Kenyon Sadiq to Philadelphia at 23, Caleb Banks to Buffalo at 26, Ty Simpson to the Rams at 29 and Chris Johnson to Seattle at 32, plus Caleb Lomu to Detroit at 17.
- Tom PelisseroMock Draft Picks · Ashton JeantyHit · 100Pelissero says Cam Ward is the Titans' pick at the top of the 2025 draft and that Travis Hunter is most likely the Browns' selection at No. 2; he also endorses Tyler Warren as a top-10 pick, expects Ashton Jeanty inside the top 10, and names five under-the-radar players who could sneak into round one, including Emeka Egbuka between picks 20-25 and Tyler Shough (whom he pegs more likely as a Day 2 pick).