Cote: NFL Draft live. Final. Dolphins make weird 1st pick, Cote beats Kiper 5-4!
OUR FULL OFFICIAL 35TH ANNUAL MIAMI HERALD MOCK DRAFT
VOTE HERE IN OUR NEW POLL! GRADE THE KADYN PROCTOR PICK
Welcome to our exclusive online-only NFL Draft coverage featuring our Cote vs. Kiper Mock Fight and coming to you live from the Dan Le Batard Show watch party in downtown Miami.
We will have constantly updated, as it-happens reaction and commentary on every first-round pick tonight, along with a running scorecard on how my own mock draft is faring vs. that of ESPN draft lord Mel Kiper Jr.
I beat Kiper for most Zagactos three straight years before he prevailed, 11-9, last year, so I’m out for revenge. Most know a Zagackto a.k.a Exacto is a perfect bull’s-eye pick: Right player to right team. (A Super-Zagackto is right player to right team in precise draft order.) Mel and I differ on 23 of 32 1R picks, so it’s anybody’s game tonight.
In brackets to the left of each pick I’ll note whether my mock pick scored a SUPER-ZAGACKTO, a ZAGACKTO, a mere PLUS (correct first-round player but not to right team) or a MISS (player drafted wasn’t in my mock first round).
Quick aside: I’m missing a Bruce Springsteen concert tonight to do this. Seen him live several times, but, still a bummer. Favorite Bruce songs: Glory Days, Born in the U.S.A. and Tenth-Avenue Freeze-Out. I don’t need to impress anybody with some obscure 46-year-old album cut to prove my chops. (Oh, but add Land Of Hope and Dreams, too.)
OK let’s get to it! And check back often because we’ll be updating constantly all night...
WE’RE LIVE!!! “COTE VS. KIPER: Two Mocks. Only One Will Win! (Unless it’s a tie)”
Vote HERE on Dolphins drafting Kadyn Proctor 12th overall.
No. 32 pick -- Cote: Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price to Seahawks. Kiper: Same. Result: Price. We both nailed it. Comment: [Giant exhale]. Mock scorecard: Final! Cote 5, Kiper 4!
No. 31 pick -- TRADE! Texans get pick from Patriots. Cote: Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell to Patriots. Kiper: Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor to Chiefs. Result: Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk. Comment: I need to go home. Mock scorecard: Can I hold my 4-3 lead for one more pick!?
No. 30 pick -- Cote: San Diego State CB Chris Johnson to Dolphins. Kiper: Alabama QB Ty Simpson to Cardinals (in trade with Dolphins). Result: Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. Comment: Got earlier credit for Johnson to Dolphins. Mock scorecard: Still 4-3, me.
No. 29 pick -- Cote: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell to Chiefs. Kiper: Tennessee CB Colton Hood to Chiefs. Result: Clemson DT Peter Woods. Comment: None. Getting late. Mock scorecard: 4-3, me. Three picks left.
No. 28 pick --TRADE! Patriots get pick from Texans. Cote: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald to Texans. Kiper: Georgia DET Christen Miller. Result: Utah OT Caleb Lomu. Comment: No change. Mock scorecard. Cote leads Kiper 4-3 with for picks left.
[ZAGACKTO] No. 27 pick -- TRADE! Dolphins trade up, get pick from 49ers. Cote: UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence to 49ers. Kiper: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor to 49ers. Result: San Diego State CB Chris Johnson. Comment: I had Johnson going to Dolphins at No. 30 before trade. That’s a regular Zagackto for me with right player to right team though not in exact order. Mock Scorecard: Cote now leads Kiper 4-3 in total Zagacktos!
No. 26 pick -- TRADE! Texans get pick from Bills. Cote: Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion to Bills. Kiper: Auburn DE Keldric Faulk to Bills. Result: Georgia Tech OG Keylan Rutledge. Comment: I have no comment at this time. Mock scorecard: Still 3-3.
No. 25 pick -- Cote: Missouri EDGE Zion Young to Bears. Kiper: Same. Result: Oregon S Dillon Thienemann. Comment: Nada. Mock scorecard: Still 3-3.
No. 24 pick -- Cote: Utah OT Caleb Lomu to Browns. Kiper: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy to Browns. Result: Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion. Comment: No change. Mock Scorecard: 3-3 still.
No. 23 pick -- TRADE! Cowboys get pick from Eagles. Cote: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor to Eagles. Kiper: Clemson OT Blake Miller. Result: UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence. Comment: Springsteen about to his encore by now? Mock scorecard: Still 3-3.
No. 22 pick -- Cote: Clemson DT Peter Woods to Chargers. Kiper: Same. Result: Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor. Comment: Happy a third Cane goes 1R! Scorecard: Still 3-3.
No. 21 pick -- Cote: Washington WR Denzel Boston to Steelers. Kiper: Penn State OG Olaivavega Ioane to Steelers. Result: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor. Comment: Nope, nope. Mock scorecard: Still 3-3.
No. 20 pick -- TRADE! Eagles get pick from Cowboys. Cote: Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor to Cowboys. Kiper: Washington WR Denzel Boston to Browns (in trade with Cowboys). Result: USC WR Makai Lemon. Comment: Anybody gonna break this tie? Mock scorecard: Still 3-3 in Super-Z’s
[SUPER-ZAGACKTO] No. 19 pick -- Cote: Georgia OT Monroe Freeling to Panthers. Kiper: Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to Panthers. Result: FREELING! Comment: Finally just tied Kiper! Mock scorecard: Cote 3, Kiper 3 in Super-Zagacktos!
Bulletin!: We are suspending the PLUS designation because we won’t know, really, ‘til end of the draft.
[PLUS] No. 18 pick -- Cote: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman to Vikings. Kiper: Same. Result: Florida DT Caleb Banks. Comment: Wonder what song Springsteen is doing right now? Mock scorecard: See previous. Where my next Z at!
[PLUS] No. 17 pick -- Cote: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor to Lions. Kiper: Georgia OT Monroe Freeling to Lions. Result: Clemson OT Blake Miller. Comment: Well, at least Mel and I had the position right. I had Proctor falling to 17th! You hear that, Dolphins!? Mock scorecard: Unchanged from the previous pick.
[PLUS] No. 16 pick -- Cote: Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. to Jets. Kiper: Same. Result: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq. Comment: Yet another miss for Mel and me. Mock scorecord: Still 3-2 in Super-Z’s., 16-16 overall.
[PLUS] No. 15 pick -- Cote: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq to Buccaneers. Kiper: Same. Result: MIAMI EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. Comment: The guy Miami could-a had! Mock scorecard: Still celebrating getting within 3-2 vs. Mel on previous pick. now 15-15 overall.
[SUPER-ZAGACKTO] No. 14 pick -- Cote: Penn State OG Olaivevega Ioane to Ravens. Kiper: Utah OL Spencer Fano. Result: Ioane! Comment: Finally! Thank you, mock gods! Mock scorecard: Cote draws within 3-2 vs. Kiper in Super-Zagacktos; 14-14 tie overall.
[PLUS] No. 13 pick -- Cote: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson to Rams. Kiper: USC WR Makai Lemon to Rams. Result: Alabama QB Ty Simpson. Comment: Still shaking my head over Fins pick. Neither of us had Simpson going nearly this early. Mock scorecard: Still 3-1, Kiper in Super-Z’s and 13-13 tie overall.
[PLUS] No. 12 pick -- TRADE! Dolphins pick in trade with Cote: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy to Cowboys. Kiper: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor to Browns (in trade with Cowboys). Result: Miami drafts Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor. Comment: OH NO! WHAT AN AWFUL PICK! Mock scorecard: Still 3-1, Kiper; 12-12 overall. OH MY GOD DOLPHINS!
[PLUS] No. 11 pick -- TRADE! Cowboys pick; Dolphins trade down one spot. Cote: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa to Dolphins. Kiper: LSU CB Mansoor Delane to Dolphins. [Watch for an online poll on Miami’s pick soon after selection is announced.] Result: Ohio State S Caleb Downs. Comment: I should-a gone to Springsteen. Mock scorecard: Still 3-1 Kiper in Super-Z’s; tied 11-11 overall.
[PLUS] No. 10 pick -- Cote: Ohio State S Caleb Downs to Giants. Kiper: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa to Giants. Result: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa. Comment: Ouch. Had Mauigoa going next to Miami now that won’t happen. Kiper had him going in this spot and gets the Super-Z Mock scorecard: Kiper now up 3-1 in Super-Z’s; tied 10-10 in 1R picks overall.
[PLUS] No. 9 pick -- TRADE! Browns with pick in prior deal with Chiefs. Cote: USC WR Makai Lemon to Chiefs. Kiper: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson to Chiefs. Result: Utah OT Spencer Fano. Comment: And the bloodbath continues. Mock scorecard: Still 2-1 Mel in Super-Z’s; tied 9-9 in 1R picks overall.
[PLUS] No. 8 pick -- Cote: Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. to Saints. Kiper: Same. Result: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson. Comment: Wow. Dry spell continues. Will Dolphins have a shot at both Mauigoa and Bain? Mock scorecard: Kiper still up 2-1 in Super-Z’s; tied 8-8 in 1R picks overall.
[PLUS] No. 7 pick -- Cote: LSU CB Mansoor Delane to Commanders. Kiper: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate to Commanders. Result: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles. Comment: It’s a bloodbath ... but for both of us at least. Mock scorecard: Kipper still up 2-1 in Super-Zagacktos; tied 7-7 in 1R picks overall.
[PLUS] No. 6 pick -- TRADE! Chiefs choice in trade with Browns. Cote: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate to Browns. Kiper: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles to Cowboys (in trade with Browns). Result: LSU CB Mansoor Delane. Comment: Another double miss or Mel and I. Neither of us had Delane in this spot or going to Chiefs. Mock scorecard: Kiper leads 2-1 in Super-Zagacktos; tied 6-6 in 1R picks overall.
[PLUS] No. 5 pick -- Cote: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles to Giants. Kiper: Ohio State S Caleb Downs to Giants. Result: Ohio State OLB/EDGE Arvell Reese. Comment: Had Reese going second overall. Only good news is, still only trailing Kiper by one in Super-Zs. Long way to go. Mock scorecard: Kiper leads 2-1 in Super-Zagacktos; tied 5-5 in 1R picks overall.
[PLUS] No. 4 pick -- Cote: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love to Titans. Kiper: Same. Result: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate. Comment: We both missed his one. Our slow start continues, but still only one off Kiper. Mock scorecard: Kiper leads Cote, 2-1 in Super-Zagacktos; tied 4-4 in 1R picks overall.
[PLUS] No. 3 pick -- Cote: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey to Cardinals. Kiper: Ohio State OLB/EDGE Arvell Reese to Cardinals. Result: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. Comment: Rough start for me. I had Love going next. At least Mel missed this one, too. Mock scorecard: Kiper leads Cote, 2-1 in Super-Zagacktos; tied 3-3 in 1R picks overall.
[PLUS] No. 2 pick -- Cote: Ohio State OLB/EDGE Arvell Reese to Jets. Kiper: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey to Jets. Result: Bailey. Comment: Ouch. First big either/or test of night and first big miss for me. I’m climbing uphill already. Mock scorecard: Kiper leads Cote, 2-1 in Super-Zagacktos; tied 2-2 in 1R picks overall.
[SUPER-ZAGACKTO] No. 1 pick -- Cote: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza to Raiders. Kiper: Same. Result: Mendoza. Comment: The pride of Miami Columbus High was as certain a top pick as top picks get. He did not attend the draft -- the first overall No. 1 to not attend since Trevor Lawrence, who in 2021 opted out related to Covid. But I double-dare anybody to criticize Fernando preferring to stay home with family and his multiple sclerosis-stricken mom. Mock scorecard: Cote & Kiper tied, 1-1 in Super-Zagacktos, 1-1 in 1R picks overall.
Pre-Draft:
MIKE VRABEL AGAIN SAYS LITTLE: Patriots coach Vrabel spoke just now. Having that right before the draft fueled speculation he might resign or at least take a leave of absence? Nope. Mike reiterated he was going to skip Day 3 Saturday to seek counseling in the wake of the Dianna Russini mess ... but that he was very confident in his team not to draft any retired players in his absence.
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Canes tackle secures Necklace of the Night honors in pre-draft intros.
Hey thanks for following along everybody!
This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 7:26 PM.
