NFL Draft Round 1: Wisconsin High School Redo

<p><strong><em>*Use code Johnson30 for 30% off a Prep Redzone subscription*</em></strong></p>   <p>The NFL Draft is underway! Last night we watched the lives of 32 athletes change forever as they accomplished a major goal of making it to the NFL and doing it via becoming a first round draft pick. This event on the NFL calendar is my favorite three days of the year, allowing us to try and predict impacts, discuss, argue, and simply watch all the joy as these 32 young men try to establish themselves at the NFL ranks. In past years here at Prep Redzone WI I have done a mock draft article where we select the high school athletes across the state. This year I wanted to change it up a bit. Instead we waited for the first round to conclude and now we are going to go back through and mirror the position selected but replace the actual selection with our highest ranked athlete at that position. So if a team drafts an OL then we will be forced to go with the best OL on our rankings. So let's go through all 32 picks and see how it would end up.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Raiders select QB Fernando Mendoza</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">This was an easy first choice Thursday night and it is an easy first choice for us here. Tyler is the top QB in the state heading into 2026. Strong, athletic, live and accurate arm. A kid who can make all the throws and move around the pocket. A legitimate Division 1 caliber talent. Also a multi-sport standout and dedicated weight room attendee year round.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Jets select Edge David Bailey</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Another easy choice for us here as [player_tooltip player_id='2103609' first='Isaac' last='Miller'] is by far the top talent when it comes to edge defenders. Isaac has the elite frame with plenty of length. He has the explosive first step and long strides that cover ground deceivingly quick. Plus he has the power to set a stout edge. Isaac also has the frame to continue to grow and fill out so that he can play all across the DL/edge.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Cardinals select RB Jeremiyah Love</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Love was a special talent that was very deserving of a Top 3 pick. Here in WI we have our own rare talent in the backfield in [player_tooltip player_id='1620318' first='Kingston' last='Allen']. Allen will finish his career as one of the most prolific rushers we have ever seen come out of the state. He has a powerful frame that can win in every way. Speed, contact balance, power, and his vision and instincts always seem to put him in the best position to make a highlight reel quality rush.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Titans select WR Carnell Tate</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">This pick was a surprise on Thursday night, but here in WI we have an excellent talent in WR1 [player_tooltip player_id='2098610' first='Jude' last='Siikarla']. Jude brings an elite frame and massive catch radius to the field. He dominates every 50/50 ball scenario and is so talented at utilizing his immense frame to create separation and win at the catch point. This is a kid that can stretch the field too with that huge catch radius.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Giants select Edge Arvell Reese</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">This is a very fitting selection here. Reese is an athlete who can play off the edge or drop into space while bringing a rare frame to the field. [player_tooltip player_id='1733711' first='Guardian' last='Harris'] is used the same way and also while playing with an elite frame. Harris is so fluid in space with his speed and change of direction. His ability to flip a switch and violently rush the edge gives a glimpse into the versatility he offers on the edge.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Chiefs select CB Mansoor Delane</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">A lot of the top DB talent plays safety here in WI, but [player_tooltip player_id='1223052' first='Bryce' last='Austin'] is a kid that has the tools to play CB at the next level. Not to mention WR as well. Bryce is a long, lean athlete that can use his size to be aggressive at the line, and break up passes downfield. He has outstanding speed and the reactive athleticism and agility to be able to stay glued to the hip of the WR throughout route breaks. The '27 ATH is a talent that could be a future D1 commit.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Commanders select LB Sonny Styles</h2>    <p>It is crazy to see how much we can match the general idea of what was selected with what we have here in WI. Giants took a freakishly large LB with excellent athletic tools. Harker has that impressive frame too, with so much room to continue to fill out in a college weight room. Larsen has the sideline to sideline range and the inside/outside versatility to line up where he gives his DC an advantage.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Saints select WR Jordyn Tyson</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Here we go with the big target out of Union Grove. Justin is a powerful athlete, but his complete game makes him a guy who will continue to rise up our boards. Justin can win vertically with speed, get open quickly underneath with his size, and no matter what he and his QB can lean on his strong hands to make the highlight reel catch in traffic. After the catch Justin is a tough kid to contain too. A legitimate WR talent that I believe can play at a high level of college football.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Browns select OT Spencer Fano</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">If we were doing our own mock draft prior to the draft we would have an OL go way sooner than here, but the NFL Draft didn't have the same quality of top tier talent that we are producing here in the high school to college ranks. Our top talent in a deep class is [player_tooltip player_id='1335688' first='Cole' last='Reiter']. Massive. Powerful. Heavy-handed. All the tools needed to punish and set the tone in the trenches at Wisconsin for years to come. Plus the big man can move well on his feet. Outstanding talent and commit for the Badgers.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Giants select OT Francis Mauigoa</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The NFL Draft saw a run on OL here, so next up we go with one of the Sussex twins, [player_tooltip player_id='1335695' first='Hunter' last='Mallinger']. Hunter's arc of development and growth over the past two years have been elite. Physically and athletically he is so vastly improved and it has me excited for what he could become at the college level. The '27 OL is now a mauler with the power to reset the line of scrimmage but also have the range and change of direction to provide secure pass protection.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Cowboys select S Caleb Downs</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">This was another one of the easier choices in this article. Dustin is the state's top safety talent. It looks effortless for him to go from centerfield to the sideline to make a play on the ball. He is outstanding at reading the QB or diagnosing the play as it is happening. Plus he is a kid that you can trust tackling and he also offers the ability to provide depth at the WR position where he has also looked elite.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Dolphins select OT Kadyn Proctor</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Next up we go with the massive athlete out of Verona at OT. Ethan is another kid who has made huge strides but seems to be just scratching the surface on what he could be. A long OT with room to add 40+ lbs to his frame. Despite being 6'7" Ethan has shown the consistent flexibility in his lower body to be able to drop his pad levels and gain leverage on smaller athletes. The power is already there in droves too and will become even more violent after a few years in a college weight room.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Rams select QB Ty Simpson</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">This was a tough choice, but I went with the 2028 QB for our second QB off the board. JJ has all the arm talent in the world and has earned a few D1 offers in his first couple years of high school football. This season coming up is where he has his breakout on the field. We will get to see JJ on a weekly basis leading his offense, making decisions, and showing off the arm strength and pinpoint accuracy from the pocket.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Ravens select IOL Olaivavega Ioane</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Next up we have a kid who is racing towards the new IOL1 spot for us in the Class of 2027. Orville is an absolute bully and mauler on the interior. Every move is quick and backed up by devastating power. His lower body has a rare blend of quickness and power. The hands are equally strong and have created pancakes on their own at a high rate. Orville is quickly rising and earning a lot of offers on the way.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Buccaneers select Edge Rueben Bain Jr.</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Brett is an intriguing prospect. Big, long, strong frame who plays how he looks. The big man is able to manhandle TEs and OTs, maintain separation, and then quickly shed and get after the QB. He has the range to chase down the ball and also has the first step quickness that will stress OTs. Brett also offers high quality TE talents too. Another athlete in the Class of 2027 who is just as versatile as he is talented.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Jets select TE Kenyon Sadiq</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The top talent in our state is next up. The Badgers commit checks a lot of boxes. Size, strength with room to fill out, smooth athleticism as a route runner, and the aggressive ball skills to ensure he is coming down with the football. Korz is impressive after the catch too where he can win with physical running or by making you miss one on one. If Korz can create space he has proven he can accelerate and get past DBs. This is the state's biggest mismatch.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Lions select OT Blake Miller</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">We go back to Sussex for another Mallinger. This time [player_tooltip player_id='1335691' first='Reece' last='Mallinger']. The big fella is another elite OT talent in this loaded class. Reece plays with that dancing bear style. An athletic lower body that can get him to level two or mirror pass rushers and an upper body that can deliver strong punches that control defenders as soon as he clamps onto them. I can't wait to watch him develop at UW-Madison.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Vikings select DT Caleb Banks</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Next up we have our #1 DL. Richie wins at such a high rate in the trenches. He brings an unreal blend of burst and power. His ability to turn the burst into power leaves OL off balance and trying to recover until Richie bursts past them and to the football. It is clear that Richie is well coached up, relying on his hand fighting technique just as much as his raw strength and tools. Notre Dame has a good one on the way.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Panthers select OT Monroe Freeling</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The run on OTs continue and we are equipped to handle it. Next up we go to West De Pere for their RT [player_tooltip player_id='1226880' first='David' last='Provost']. The big, long athlete is another kid who has seen a huge leap in his abilities over the past year as everything came together. The strength now matches the big frame, allowing him to set a strong anchor and quickly clear running lanes. The big fella has always played on very nimble feet too, which should allow him to stay out at OT at the next level.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Eagles select WR Makai Lemon</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Eli is a useful athlete in this article because he could be a DB or WR selection. We are going with him as a WR here. The '27 is such an explosive athlete. He can take the top off of the defense on any snap and forces defenses to rotate to his side of the field to provide help over the top. Even if he isn't stretching the field Eli has the speed and vision after the catch to be a nightmare to try and contain. Get this kid the ball in his hands and let him completely take over the game.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Steelers select OT Max Iheanachor</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Cade has experience all over the OL, but we are going to go with him at OT. He sure looks the part at 6'7" 285 lbs and the devastating power he brings to the field matches that rare frame. Cade is outstanding as a run blocker. He completely clears out gaps with instant power that overwhelms DL. Cade also flashes the range to get up to level two. The raw tools are outstanding, and I believe the NDSU commit is just starting to head towards his ceiling.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Chargers select Edge Akheem Mesidor</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Wisconsin is so talented in the front seven on defense. Our next edge that will be selected is 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1426803' first='Harlan' last='Kuehn']. The soon to be senior has really built out his frame to be ready to make an impact vs the run and pass. He can take on OL and hold his ground just as well as he can fire off the snap and use his length to keep himself clean while getting into the backfield. The '27 edge also has shown the ability to step up in the most important moments.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Cowboys select Edge Malachi Lawrence</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">We have a little run on edges so we turn to the Class of 2028 for our next athlete. [player_tooltip player_id='1709706' first='Owen' last='Kloosterboer'] is one of the best two way players in his class with what he can provide on the edge and as a TE. Today we are using that big frame as an edge. Owen comes off the line at 100 mph and instantly gets his hands involved when he has an OL in front of him. A lot of times on his highlights you see the 2028 get through gaps so quickly he doesn't have to even engage with the OL. Having his frame as a sophomore and the body control, quickness, and power in one package has Owen looking like a special recruit.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Browns select WR KC Concepcion</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">We stay on the Class of 2028 with our next WR. Franklin's [player_tooltip player_id='1287224' first='Gavin' last='Schiek'] has proven to be a difference maker on Friday nights since he was a freshman. His track speed, strong frame, and ball tracking downfield are making Gavin a tough cover. He is very quick off the line and can be at his top speed within a few strides. After the catch he is just as dangerous. The '28 WR is on a great trajectory early in his career.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Bears select S Dillon Thieneman</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">This would be a heck of a steal here. Brady is one of the best defenders in the Class of 2027, recently committing to North Dakota. The safety is a true three level athlete. He is a safety that you can trust to roam, read, and react on the back end. And you know he is going to be physical and make all the tackles while providing run support. Plus his superior athleticism allows him the ability to line up 1 on 1 in coverage. Big time talent here.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Texans select IOL Keylan Rutledge</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The run on OL hasn't slowed up yet and neither has our talent to choose from. Carter is a top IOL talent with his elite frame. The big man is nimble and agile on his feet. He is able to pull and attack level two consistently. You can't question the power he has to maul DL in the run game. Carter is also a multi-sport athlete who is receiving offers to play baseball at the next level to go along with the D1 offers he has earned as an OL.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Dolphins select CB Chris Johnson</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Next up we dive back into the CB position and select Catholic Memorial's CB1, [player_tooltip player_id='653861' first='Zy'aire' last='Smith']. Smith is a fantastic talent out wide. He is twitchy, explosive, reacts to WRs in a split second and has the recovery speed to get back to their hip if he ever slips off. The '27 CB also has a great closing burst that he will use to either make a play on the ball or deliver a hard hit. Smith will surprise you with his violent tackles.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Patriots select OT Caleb Lomu</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The final OL that we will select is yet another Division 1 talent in [player_tooltip player_id='1412712' first='Sam' last='Schmidt']. Sam is checking a lot of boxes and improving quickly where necessary. Size, length, and athleticism have long been the keys to his success, but now this past season we saw a jump in his strength and an increase in that nasty mentality to want to punish his opponents. Big things are ahead for Sam.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Chiefs select DT Peter Woods</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The talent doesn't run dry as we return to the Class of 2028 for one of the best linemen in the state. As just a sophomore Hendrix already holds multiple Power 4 offers, has a rare 6'4" 285 lbs frame that is muscular and explosive. Everything he does packs a punch while also being done so quick and smooth. His body control throughout everything is also elite. The size, the power, and the ease of movement in the trenches and while engaged is great.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Jets select WR Omar Cooper Jr.</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Our final WR drafted is Verona's 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1653433' first='Dejon' last='Knutson']. I love this kid's game. He can stretch the field with speed and has great body control to instantly break into his route. I love the way he attacks the football and can contort his body to find ways to secure the catch. Give me a fast, explosive playmaker who always finds a way to reel in the ball every chance I can get it. I have a feeling Dejon is going to be a big winner this summer.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Titans select Edge Keldric Faulk</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Our final 2028 draft choice is Kewaunee's [player_tooltip player_id='1709717' first='Dane' last='Harrell']. Even though he is just a sophomore, Dane looks the part at 6'4" 225 lbs. The multi-sport standout also is a multi-positional kid on the football field. Dane's highlights on defense show a kid that is ready for the dirty work. He takes on blocks and sets the edge vs the run with really good power. I love the motor he plays with too, chasing down plays and pursuing downfield.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Actual Pick: Seahawks select RB Jadarian Price</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Our final selection of the first round is New Richmond RB [player_tooltip player_id='1647055' first='Austyn' last='Wittek']. The 2027 RB and NDSU commit is a strong talent to steal this late. He is such a balanced runner who absorbs contact really well, keeps his legs churning, and doesn't go down on first contact. I also love that Austyn is always gaining yards, not hesitating or dancing around. He is a one cut runner and most. Otherwise he gets north and south and uses that power and second gear to create big plays.</p>

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