It’s time for one of my favorite traditions at Pride of Detroit. Going back 13 years, we’ve been doing an annual mock draft that is completely randomized?
Why? Well, initially it was done to see if Pride of Detroit founder Sean Yuille could draft better for the Lions by picking names out of a hat than Detroit’s former general manager Matt Millen. I still do it today, because it’s silly, fun, and just about as useful as any other mock draft out here. Plus, it gives me something else to root for on draft night: blindly getting a pick right simply by randomization.
Unfortunately, last year we struck out completely.
So this year, the tradition continues. I put 32 names—the top 32 players in Wide Left’s Consensus Big Board—into a hat, drew them one-by-one, and paired them with a team in chronological draft order.
Before we get into this year’s pick. if you’re interested in the results from previous years, here are backlinks all the way to the original concept:
• 2025 Random Hat Draft
• 2024 Random Hat Draft
• 2023 Random Hat Draft
• 2022 Random Hat Draft
• 2021 Random Hat Draft
• 2020 Random Hat Draft
• 2019 Random Hat Draft
• 2018 Random Hat Draft
• 2016 Random Hat Draft
• 2015 Random Hat Draft
• 2014 Random Hat Draft
• 2013 Random Hat Draft
Here are the picks this year:
1. Las Vegas Raiders: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State2. New York Jets: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah3. Arizona Cardinals: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon4. Tennessee Titans: RB Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame5. New York Giants: G Vega Ioane, Penn State6. Cleveland Browns: WR Makai Lemon, USC7. Washington Commanders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana 8. New Orleans Saints: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana9. Kansas City Chiefs: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State10. New York Giants: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson11. Miami Dolphins: DT Peter Woods, Clemson12. Dallas Cowboys: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee 13. Los Angeles Rams: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn14. Baltimore Ravens: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M16. New York Jets: OT Blake Miller, Clemson17. Detroit Lions: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State18. Minnesota Vikings: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami19. Carolina Panthers: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami20. Dallas Cowboys: OT Spencer Fano, Utah21. Pittsburgh Steelers: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech22. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia23. Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State24. Cleveland Browns: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State25. Chicago Bears: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama26. Buffalo Bills: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State27. San Francisco 49ers: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU28. Houston Texans: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee 29. Kansas City Chiefs: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon30. Miami Dolphins: WR Denzel Boston, Washington31. New England Patriots: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo32. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami
Starting with the Lions’ pick, there is no chance of that being right. Tate is projected by most to be the top receiver off the board, likely to go in the top 10 picks. It’s an interesting thought experiment to wonder if the Lions would pick him if he’s still on the board, but considering their heavy investment in their current top-three receivers, it would be a very strange pick. Unfortunately, I missed pairing the Lions with Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller by a single pick.
As for picks that have a chance of being right, Jeremiah Love to the Titans at fourth overall is looking very nice. He’s the most commonly mocked player to the Titans in ESPN’s mock draft simulator. Pairing the Cowboys with a cornerback is on the right track, although it’s unlikely to be Colton Hood, unless we’re talking about their 20th overall pick. Same deal with the Bills and a wide receiver. Good positional pairing, but Jordyn Tyson is likely to be gone by Pick 26. If they swing a trade up, there’s a chance of a match there.
Caleb Downs goes to the Browns with the 24th pick, and while that won’t happen, it’s possible he still lands in Cleveland with the sixth overall pick.
Another possible match is Denzel Boston to the Dolphins at 30. That’s around his projected draft spot (26th on the big board) and Miami could use a receiver or two after moving on Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Which pairings do you like the best? Share your thoughts on this very important mock draft in comment section.
