House is King of the World: A Solo Draft Extravaganza
With Rooster, Pope, Milk, and Bison networking with the sponsor Injury Board in Virginia, House finally took the microphone all to himself for a special “King of the World” episode—SMQB’s episode 263. The timing couldn’t be better, with the NFL Draft kicking off this Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, running throughout the weekend.
While the real pundits are calling the 2026 class a “relatively down draft” for surefire top-10 superstars, House sees it as a massive value opportunity, especially for teams with deep draft capital. These teams, who could make a lot of noise, include the Steelers (12 total picks, five in the top 100), the Ravens (11 picks), the Dolphins (11 total picks, seven in the top 100), and the Raiders (10 picks).
The Return of the Running Back & The Mendoza Mystery
The headline story of the 2026 class is the resurgence of the running back, influenced by recent Super Bowl champions being carried by players like Kenneth Walker and Saquon Barkley.
- Jeremiah Love: Jeremiah Love out of Notre Dame is being hailed as perhaps the best overall athlete in the draft, with the potential to go as high as #3 to the Cardinals or no lower than #7 to the Commanders.
- Fernando Mendoza: On the quarterback front, all eyes are on Fernando Mendoza. He is the locked-in #1 pick for the Las Vegas Raiders. Interestingly, rumors are swirling that he will not take the stage with Roger Goodell, instead opting to celebrate at home in Miami with his family. House compared Mendoza’s game to a Tim Tebow-type, noting his qualities as an incredible leader and college quarterback.
Why is this year’s QB class so thin? It’s a really weak draft, and it’s highly possible that Mendoza will be the only quarterback taken in the first round. This is because teams are already looking a year ahead to a “monstrous” 2027 class featuring star to superstar quarterbacks like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Brendan Soarsby (Texas Tech), Lenoris Sellers (South Carolina), Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), Darien Mensah (Miami), Julian Sayen (Ohio State), Sam Levitt (LSU), and John Matier (Oklahoma).
Value Picks and “Unicorn” Talent
If you’re looking for the safe bets, look no further than Ohio State and Miami, particularly on defense. House breaks down why:
- Safe Defensive Anchors:
- Ohio State: Edge rusher Arvel Reese is seen as the number one overall talent, a can’t-miss defensive anchor, and a dominant pass rusher. Linebacker Sonny Styles is a freaky athlete and very good linebacker. Other potential early picks include stud safety Caleb Downs, who did not allow a touchdown for two years, and wide receiver Carnell Tate, a definite day one NFL starter.
- Miami: Defensive prospects include Ruben Bain, a powerful and disruptive edge rusher, and offensive tackle Francis Maui Goa.
- The “Unicorn” Talent: The real “unicorn” of the draft might be Oregon tight end Kenyon Siddiq. Described as an absolute freak and even more of a physical freak than Kyle Pitts, Siddiq is unbelievably strong, a great catcher, and a great blocker. He is the primary target for any team needing immediate offensive muscle.
Finally, the Giants are an interesting story, having traded Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals, leaving them with two top 10 picks (at 6 and 10). House previews the need for the Giants to go heavy on defense and stresses that they simply cannot afford another draft miss if they are to improve the team around Dart and Neighbors. Tune in to the full episode to hear House’s complete breakdown of the “Top 100” leverage teams.