Brandon Carney · Apr 22, 2026
Co-hosting a mock draft, Carney made the odd-numbered picks: Fernando Mendoza No. 1 to the Raiders, Arvell Reese No. 3 to the Cardinals, Sonny Styles No. 5 to the Giants, Mekhi Lemon No. 7 to the Commanders, Caleb Downs No. 9 to the Chiefs, and more. He also predicted AJ Brown will be a Patriot, said Kenyan Saddiq will be the first-round bust, and picked the Bengals to finish ahead of the Ravens in the AFC North.
“Fernando Mendoza, number one overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, kicking off what is gonna be a new era for them.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast) · read the original →
22 checkable claims from this
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 PicksTy SimpsonPittsburgh SteelersApr 22, 2026
Ty Simpson to be picked at number 21
“Ty Simpson, 21 overall.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksCaleb DownsKansas City ChiefsApr 22, 2026
Caleb Downs to be picked at number 9
“Caleb Downs goes to the Chiefs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksSpencer FanoDetroit LionsApr 22, 2026
Spencer Fano to be picked at number 17
“the way this has fallen, they get Fano”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Fernando Mendoza to be picked at number 1
“Fernando Mendoza, number one overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksArvell ReeseArizona CardinalsApr 22, 2026
Arvell Reese to be picked at number 3
“I'm going with Arvell Reese at three.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksSonny StylesNew York GiantsApr 22, 2026
Sonny Styles to be picked at number 5
“New York Giants here at number five... despite what I said about Sonny Styles, I am gonna pick him here.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksMakai LemonWashington CommandersApr 22, 2026
Makai Lemon to be picked at number 7
“the best receiver on the board is Mckay Lemon, and I'm gonna give them Mckay Lemon”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksK.C. ConcepcionCarolina PanthersApr 22, 2026
K.C. Concepcion to be picked at number 20
“So I'm gonna put KC Concepcion.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksMansoor DelaneLos Angeles RamsApr 22, 2026
Mansoor Delane to be picked at number 13
“I guess they might go to Delaine here... I'll go with the lane.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Dillon Thieneman to be picked at number 19
“then we're we're gonna go with Thiemann”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to be picked at number 23
“The Philadelphia Eagles at 23... we're going with mister EMW, Emmanuel McNeil Warren.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksT.J. ParkerChicago BearsApr 22, 2026
T.J. Parker to be picked at number 25
“Let's go TJ Parker here from Clemson. He's going to the Chicago Baez at twenty five.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksKenyon SadiqSan Francisco 49ersApr 22, 2026
Kenyon Sadiq to be picked at number 27
“Kenyan Saddique's a 40 niner, baby... this was the kind of move that Shanahan wanted to make here at 27”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Mock Draft PicksColton HoodKansas City ChiefsApr 22, 2026
Colton Hood to be picked at number 29
“I'll go Collin Hood here. Just to just positional need.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Max Iheanachor to be picked at number 31
“The New England Patriots at number 31... I'm gonna go with with Iron Eagle. Tackle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
A.J. Brown to move to New England Patriots
“Sounds like everybody's in in the league is pretty much operating under the assumption that AJ Brown is going to be a Patriot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Draft Bust CallsKenyon SadiqApr 22, 2026
Kenyon Sadiq to disappoint at the next level
“I'll go Kenyan Saddiq. I'll say Saddiq. He's the one that kinda concerns me the most.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Power RankingsApr 22, 2026
“Browns are last. Steelers are third... I'll go with the Bengals just with the just as, Ty pointed out, continuity sake.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksCincinnati BengalsApr 22, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to make the playoffs
“I think them and the Ravens will both be fighting for that and we'll both make the play”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensApr 22, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“I think them and the Ravens will both be fighting for that and we'll both make the play”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Akheem Mesidor to be picked at number 15
“we are going with Akeem Mesador”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Francis Mahoney now to be picked at number 11
“Miami Dolphins here at number 11... I'll go Francis Mahoney now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.