With the First Pick: An NFL Draft Podcast from CBS Sports · CBS Sports, NFL Draft, Mock Draft, NFL, 2023 NFL Draft, NFL Combine, Bryce Young, CJ Stroud

Post-Combine 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Full 1st Round | Bills TRADE UP To Number 3 👀

·49 min·4 clips

The Bills trade up to pick 3 for Carnell Tate—is he the next Julio Jones or a risky gamble?

This episode features CBS Sports analysts Ryan Wilson and Ryan Carton reviewing Wilson's post-NFL Combine mock draft for 2026. They examine first-round projections, including a major trade scenario and evaluations of top prospects. The hosts discuss their recent interactions with many of these players at the Combine in Indianapolis. Wilson's mock draft has the Las Vegas Raiders selecting quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. He projects the Buffalo Bills trading a massive haul to move from pick 26 to pick 3, targeting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. The New York Jets take edge rusher David Bailey second, while linebacker Arvie Reese surprisingly falls to the Washington Commanders at pick seven. Other notable picks include safety Sonny Styles to Tennessee, safety Caleb Downs to the New York Giants, and running back Jeremiah Love to the New Orleans Saints. The hosts debate whether the Kansas City Chiefs would pass on Love for an offensive tackle like Spencer Fano. A key insight is Carton's belief that for the Bills' huge trade for Carnell Tate to be justified, their front office must be completely convinced he is a true, elite number-one receiver, comparing the situation to the Atlanta Falcons' successful trade for Julio Jones. Wilson reveals that top linebacker prospect Arvie Reese repeatedly described himself as "a dog" in their Combine interview, which matched his intense on-field presence. The analysts were surprised by cornerback Jeremiah McCoy's decision not to work out at the Combine, which may have cost him a chance to be the first cornerback selected. They note that defensive tackle Caleb Banks, projected to Baltimore, is a massive physical specimen who impressed analyst Pete Prisco with his prototype build. Tight end Kenyan Sadiq's explosive Combine performance, including a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, drew comparisons to Evan Engram from Carton. The discussion of defensive tackle Peter Woods falling to the Minnesota Vikings at pick 18 highlights how "what have you done for me lately" can affect draft stock, as his tape remains highly regarded. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending insider anecdotes from the Combine with straightforward draft evaluation and team need analysis. The style is relaxed and often humorous, with the hosts joking about each other's opinions and their interactions with prospects. This episode is ideal for NFL draft enthusiasts who enjoy speculative mock drafts and behind-the-scenes stories from the scouting combine. Listeners who prefer finalized news or in-depth X's and O's schematic breakdowns might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A post-Combine mock draft that keeps testing whether the board move holds up.

Ryan Wilson's post-Combine mock draft hangs on one big trade up the board, and the real interest is in how that move changes the rest of the top half. The hosts keep coming back to fit, value, and the basic question under every pick: can a team actually justify it?

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Why you'd press play

You want one big post-Combine trade-up to shake up the first round.

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