Hello everybody and welcome to the Draft "Expert's" first officially official mock draft for the 2024 NFL Draft! I know, I know, exciting times!
I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty proud of myself for getting this thing actually out on time, as for those who are unaware, the original plan was for this to be released on New Year's Day. But, as the day grew closer, the more it became clear that that wasn't possible, by any means really.
I mean, shit, it takes about 76-minutes to read this whole thing, there was just no way to get this done by that self imposed due date, right? Well, I guess we'll never know.
Regardless, again, I am pretty proud of this mock draft, as it is the longest mock draft 1.0 I've ever written. In this, you will see that there are four quarterbacks, five wide receivers, one tight end, seven offensive tackles, three interior offensive linemen, three interior defensive linemen, three edge rushers, and six corners taken in this mock draft, so we've got a little something for everybody!
So, without any further delay, I, Logan Blackman, host of the Logan Blackman Show and self proclaimed Draft "Expert," am proud to present to you mock draft 1.0! Enjoy!
Podcast Links
Pictured: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU; Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State; Caleb Williams, QB, USC
1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina) - Caleb Williams, QB, USC
From what I can tell, there seems to be a lot of mixed feelings from Bears fans surrounding this pick. Earlier in the season you could tell that most fans were ready to move on from the Justin Fields experience and start something new, as this just wasn't working out. But as the season progressed, Fields showed improvement. Since coming back from injury, the former Ohio State quarterback threw for 1,361-yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions to go along with 420-yards on the ground and a further three touchdowns. Now, one of those aforementioned interceptions came on what should've been a game winning touchdown for the Bears against the Cleveland Browns, but with Darnell Mooney seemingly in a giving mood a week before Christmas, the ball landed in the grateful arms of a Browns defender. Weirdly enough, the Bears were a late Lions touchdown/safety and the aforementioned unlucky interception away from being above .500, isn't that insane? Who would've thought that after their 41-10 ass kicking they received from the Kansas City Chiefs in week three? All things considered, Justin Fields has not that been bad for the Bears this season, but with a newer GM in Ryan Poles, I think the Bears may want to invest in a new franchise quarterback. Though it does continue the seemingly never ending cycle of new head coach/old quarterback and old head coach/new quarterback with Eberflus coming back. Now, there's a lot of differing opinions about this guy, but I think if the Bears were to move on from Fields, it would be for USC's Caleb Williams. Now, regardless of if you think Williams is vastly over rated or the second coming of Jesus Christ, no one can tell me that the dude isn't immensely talented (I think analysts throwing around the word 'generational' changed some peoples thoughts on him). Though he may not have had the greatest season by his standards, he was still able to put up good numbers in a very suspect USC Trojan team that finished the regular season at 7-5, throwing for 3,633-yards with 30-touchdowns to just five interceptions, with a further 136-yards on the ground with 11 more touchdowns. Despite starting the season 6-0, USC fell apart at the latter part of the season, going 1-5 and losing to the likes of Notre Dame, Utah, Washington, Oregon, and in-city rival UCLA, all in games where the defense allowed 41.6-points per game, and 42.8 if we include USC's 50-49 win against Cal. It's hard enough competing against the opposing defense, and it's even harder when you're also forced to compete against your own, which is something Williams and the Trojan offense had to do a lot this season. Williams is one of the most electrifying players in all of college football, being able to make something out of nothing more times than not. That being said, he can get in the habit of trying to play 'hero ball,' sometimes forcing the issue rather than taking what the defense gives him. The dude has extreme confidence in himself and it's clear to see why, but sometimes he has to just trust his playmakers. If he can throttle that down just a tad he could be even more deadly. Trusting those around him would not only take the pressure off of him, but would also speed up the offense and his release time, which is on the slower side of things in his game. Again, if he can harness all the tools in his game, he could be a real threat at the next level, giving the Bears a true franchise quarterback, something they haven't truly had since Sid Luckman (obviously there's a chance Chicago trades this pick to Washington, but for now, I'm keeping it in the Windy City) (IF a trade with Washington does happen, Marvin Harrison Jr. will be the pick).
2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Ding dong the witch is dead! After a reign of terror that spanned from 1999 to 2023, Daniel Snyder has finally sold the Washington Commanders. Viewed once as a legendary franchise, many people my age only know the Commanders as a laughing stock, with scandals and wastes of money and draft picks coming out the ass, I'm sure every fan in the DC area is ecstatic that Snyder is no longer in charge of their team moving forward. Now, whether or not the Josh Harris era will bear fruit remains to be seen, though it can't be much worse than what we all had to witness for 24-years. Changes are plentiful in Commanders country, as not only is there a new owner, but there's also a new general manager in Adam Peters, along with a new head coach in Dan Quinn. Though that's all very exciting, I would argue no change this offseason will excite fans more than the fact that there will (potentially) be a new quarterback under center next season. Now, around the midway point in the season, many out there may have thought the Commanders had themselves a potential franchise quarterback, as second-year player Sam Howell was putting up some fairly solid numbers. Despite the four-interception game against Buffalo in week three, before the midway point in November, Howell was leading the league in passing yards while also leading the league in sacks, registering multiple 300+ yard performances and a few three+ touchdown games as well. Since then, Howell has been benched on more than one occasion. Now, there are more problems with the team than just Sam Howell, but when an opportunity presents itself, you've got to pounce on it, right? The question is, which one do you take. Sure you'd like to select DC native Caleb Williams, especially after hiring Kliff Kingsbury to be your new OC, but that just doesn't seem realistic at this point, does it? So that leaves you either LSU's Jayden Daniels or North Carolina's Drake Maye. With new GM Peters coming from San Francisco, where he was the assistant GM when the organization selected Trey Lance third overall in 2021, you could maybe see them take a quarterback in a similar-ish mold in Daniels (in regards to athleticism), plus he fits Kingsbury's system. Though Maye is someone Howell played with at North Carolina, I just feel history and fit suggests that the Commanders go ahead and select Jayden Daniels here with the second pick in the draft. Now, as someone who has been a fan of Daniels for a few years now, I would've never been able to guess he would be drafted with a top three pick in the draft. But after the season he just had, it's not hard to see why. The best player in college football, Daniels' vast improvement as a passer is why he is being considered for a top three pick. Always seen as a great athlete, the passing game just didn't seem to click for Daniels early on in his college career. Sure he had moments, but there was never any real sustained consistency from him as a passer. This year though, not only did Daniels improve, he exploded. In a season that saw him come away with the Heisman Trophy, Daniels threw for an impressive 3,812-yards with a whopping 40-touchdowns to just four interceptions, not to mention a further 1,134-yards on the ground and 10 more touchdowns. The best deep ball thrower in the country, while also being the most athletic, Daniels is someone who causes insane headaches for opposing coaches. My only real knock on Daniels is that he needs to know when to slide, as he took some cartoon-ish ass hits this past season, and for someone who's not the biggest, that's something he definitely needs to improve on. With a new regime in place in DC, it only makes sense for them to draft their hopeful quarterback of the future. Try to get Williams, sure, but if you can't, they may move for the more recent Heisman Trophy winner.
3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
There's a new era taking over the New England Patriots. After 24-seasons at the helm, longtime coach Bill Belichick is finally leaving the Patriots organization. Sad times for everyone, I know. Whether or not you truly believe Belichick is the greatest coach of all time, like it or not, he and a certain quarterback ruined a lot of our childhoods, winning six Super Bowls while also going to a further three more. Just unrivaled domination for the time. With the help of Brady, Bill helped turn the Patriots from essentially nobodies to one of the best franchises in the league, now jointly sitting atop the NFL world with those aforementioned six championships. Again, just completely unrivaled. But as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and for Belichick in New England, the good times ended a few years ago. Since Brady took his talents down to Tampa, the Patriots have missed the playoffs three of the past four years, with their lone playoff appearance seeing them get blasted 47-17 by Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in 2021. This past season, New England finished with an abysmal 4-13 record, though they did have more wins against teams with records above .500 than a certain Dolphins team, but that's neither here nor there. Regardless, change was needed, with longtime Patriot, on and off the field, Jerod Mayo taking over as the Patriots new head coach. Though relatively young in regards to years of being a coach, Mayo's name has been in and around NFL circles in regards to taking a head coaching job, so it should be to the surprise of no one that he ended up replacing the coach he once played for. With Mayo now taking the reins, the next logical step for the Patriots would be to select a new signal caller, right? Though owner Robert Kraft seemingly really likes Mac Jones, I do think it'd be hard to pass on one of the top prospects here with the third overall pick. With that being said, I think the Patriots potentially make a move for former North Carolina quarterback, Drake Maye, with their first pick in the draft. Unless the Patriots want to move for someone like Marvin Harrison Jr., Maye seems like a slam dunk pick for the Patriots. From a family of fantastic athletes, Maye comes out supreme. At 6'4" 230 lbs., Maye has definitely got the prototypical size you look for in a quarterback. Mix that with his insane arm and athleticism and you've got a real threat on your hands. Like, there are just some plays that Maye makes that no other quarterback can. He the arm to fit the ball through every window, whether that be in the middle of the field or even along the sideline. The only real issue with Maye is that he sometimes suffers from 'big arm syndrome,' meaning he'll sometimes force the issue because he feels he can make every single throw on the field, which can, at times, lead to turnovers. Whether it's beating teams over the top by throwing it or even running it as we saw against Duke, Maye is a problem at the quarterback position. He may've worn number 10 and played at North Carolina but trust me, he's not Mitchell Trubisky. As a Bills fan I hate this, but Maye would be an excellent selection for the Patriots here with the third overall pick.
4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
This is one of the more straight forward picks in the draft. That being said, what's funny about this pick is the fear on GM Monti Ossenfort's face when his team beat the Philadelphia Eagles in week 17, in a game that could've booted them out of the Marvin Harrison Jr. race. Thankfully for Arizona, the three teams currently above them need a quarterback (though I could see the Patriots taking him at three), allowing the best overall player in the draft to fall right into their laps here with the fourth overall pick. This pick fills a massive need for the Cardinals, who are in desperate need of weapons on the outside, especially since DeAndre Hopkins went east to Tennessee to join up with the Titans and rookie quarterback Will Levis. This past season, second year tight end, Trey McBride, led the team in both receptions and yards. Though he's a very talented player, you would think they would've like to have the receiver they traded a first round pick for to lead the team in those aforementioned categories instead, right? Like, even Marquise Brown stated that he traded himself in fantasy football because of his lack of production, in a season that saw him haul in 51-passes for a measly 574-yards with a team high four touchdowns. Now, Brown is a free agent this offseason, though I would imagine quarterback Kyler Murray, who was his teammate at Oklahoma, would like him to return, despite his lack of production and injury problems over the years. Regardless, the Cardinals need to get a legit threat on the outside, and that's where Marvin Harrison Jr. comes into play. Compared to the likes of Ja'Marr Chase, AJ Green, and Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald, Harrison has everything you looked for in a monster on the outside. At 6'4" 205 lbs., Harrison's size allows him to out muscle any defender trying to guard him, while also being able to separate himself from said defenders after the catch, whether that be breaking tackles or blowing them away with his speed. His size also comes into play in regards to his catch radius, as if you put the ball in his general vicinity, he'll more than likely come down with it. A Heisman finalist who finished the season with 14-touchdowns while averaging over 18-yards per reception, Harrison is truly one of the greatest receiver prospects in recent memory. If he's anything close to the players I mentioned before, the Cardinals will have an insane player on their hands. If he slips outside the top three, Arizona should sprint their card up the podium to select him here with the fourth overall pick.
5. Los Angeles Chargers - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Well, it finally happened. The Chargers went out this offseason with a purpose, bringing in arguably the most sought after coach on the market, poaching Jim Harbaugh from Michigan to serve as their new head coach. Fresh off a national championship, mixed with not so fun allegations, it seemed pretty obvious that Harbaugh would return to the NFL this offseason. Like, he did what he originally set out to do and brought a national championship to his alma mater, what else was there to really do? I think it's pretty easy to see how insane of a coach Jim Harbaugh is. The dude completely turned Stanford's fortunes around, as they were 1-11 the season before he got there, and were 12-1 when he left four years later. Not only that, but he led a 49ers team that hadn't been to the Playoffs since 2002 to the NFC Championship in his first year, before guiding them to the Super Bowl the very next year, though they did end up losing to his brother and the Baltimore Ravens 34-31. Then finally, he led his aforementioned alma mater to their first national championship since 1997. Everywhere he's gone he's won, so one would expect him to do the same in LA, right? Well, this is the Chargers we're dealing with. A franchise that has possessed some of the most talented players in league history, and yet has never been able to get over the hump. Like, in 2010, the Chargers had the league's top ranked offense and the league's top ranked defense, and still missed the playoffs. That's the kind of team we're dealing with. Can Harbaugh change their fortunes? I don't know, but what I do know is that they've got one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Justin Herbert, so things can't be all too bad, right? Well, the Bolts don't necessarily have the most cap space, so some big name players may be shown the exit door this offseason, namely wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Along with them potentially being shown the door, players like Austin Ekeler, Gerald Everett, and Jaylen Guyton are also free agents, making this offseason somewhat of an obstacle for their new head coach. It's no secret, the Chargers need to continue to supply Herbert with some weapons, and though they could take one of the top receivers with this pick, my gut tells me they'll make a move for former Georgia Bulldog tight end Brock Bowers here with the fifth overall pick. Strictly looking at this from a legacy stand point, the Chargers have always liked pairing a star quarterback with a star tight end. Like, two of the greatest quarterback-tight end duos have come through the Chargers franchise, whether that be Fouts and Winslow, or Rivers and Gates, it's seemingly apart of their franchise history. But as for Herbert, he has always liked throwing to his tight ends, regardless of the fact that the Chargers haven't necessarily been blessed in that department. Sure, Everett, Parham, and even Jared Cook before are solid, but nothing that really backs the defense up. Look at Kansas City, Mahomes and Kelce have owned the Bolts since they've been together, don't you want to exact your revenge? All those things aside, Bowers is an elite talent at tight end. At 6'4" 240 lbs., Bowers is an excellent route runner who seemingly has stickum permanently on his hands, because the dude catches everything, whether it's with one or two hands. To go along with that, Bowers also has an innate ability to make plays after the catch, using a fantastic combination of athleticism and awareness to turn a short gain into a big gain. The first ever two time Mackey Award winner, Bowers is truly a special talent at the position, and would help take the pressure off of both Herbert and last year's first round pick, Quentin Johnston. With 26-receiving touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns, Bowers can add so much to a Chargers offense that is in need of some weapons. Sure, receiver and/or tackle could be an option here, but Bowers is just too talented to pass up here at five (Harbaugh recruited Bowers out of high school) (I really wanted to have the Chargers take Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga here, but with Trey Pipkins 'receiving a text' I think they may look to address the offensive line later).
6. New York Giants - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Sorry (to some) Giants fans, it looks like your organization is sticking with Daniel Jones for a few more seasons, at least. That being said, I've done my fair share of defending 'Vanilla Vick' from time to time, but one thing I couldn't defend was the contract the Giants offered him last season, locking him up for the next four-years for $160-million. That's too damn much. Again, I kind of like Jones, but c'mon, based off the previous season alone he wasn't worth anywhere near that. In his last full season as the Giants starter, Jones threw for 3,205-yards with a whopping 15-touchdowns with five interceptions, though he did put up a very solid amount of rushing yards, picking up 708-yards and seven touchdowns. In a perfect world, I'm sure many Giants fans would've rather seen the organization sign running back Saquon Barkley to a long term deal and put Jones on the franchise tag, but after the latter had a career game against the Vikings in the Playoffs, a contract extension was all but inevitable. So, with Jones quarterbacking the team moving forward, you would think the Giants would like to help build around him. So where to start? Well, with the conveyor belt of offensive linemen coming through the door this season, one could justify the team moving for one of the top tackles, especially since Evan Neal could kick inside to guard if necessary. But with Neal only starting 20 of a possible 34-games since being drafted due to injury, I feel like they'll give him the benefit of the doubt for his poor play and give him at least one more chance at right tackle before making a decision. Instead, we should look to the receiving core, which has been certainly less than optimal since Jones has been in the league. With Parris Campbell and Sterling Shepard entering free agency, and with Darius Slayton on the final year of his deal, receiver should be the Giants main priority going into April. With only one receiver going before them, the Giants have their pick, and I would imagine they'd select LSU's Malik Nabers here with the sixth overall pick. With some comparing him to current Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, I'm sure head coach Brian Daboll would love to bring him to New Jersey. Arguably the best deep ball receiver in the draft, Nabers would pair awful nicely with Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson. Last season at LSU, Nabers produced a whopping 17 30+ yard catches this season (34-catches on 20+ yard plays), which is two more than Giants had as a whole this past season (per ESPN). Earlier this offseason, Giants GM Joe Schoen stated that the top trait he’s looking for at receiver is Football IQ and the ability to get open (per Chris Pflum), which are two traits Nabers definitely possesses. Nabers may not have the size of Harrison or Odunze, but his abilities as a route runner and his abilities to make plays after the catch truly make him a special prospect, the dude is just a YAC machine. You're really spliting hairs when it comes to the top receivers outside of Harrison, but I think Nabers would be the best option for the Giants moving forward.
7. Tennessee Titans - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Much like a few of the other teams we've mentioned so far, the Titans are also going through a little bit of a transition period, as they fired head coach Mike Vrabel back in early January. I'm not going to lie, I was pretty surprised at this decision, as Vrabel made the Titans an incredibly tough team to beat with a clear mindset in place. But I guess cooler heads couldn't prevail, as some reports suggest that the relationship between Vrabel and the organization was slowly deteriorating, which seems to be a common theme with Bill Belichick disciples, doesn't it? Though it must be said, things seemed to take a turn for the worst after the trade that sent wide receiver AJ Brown to Philadelphia, especially after Brown dropped 119-yards and two touchdowns on their head top, as the Eagles came out 35-10 victors. Then GM, Jon Robinson, was fired just two days after the defeat. With Vrabel now out the door, the Titans officially welcomed in now former Bengals offensive coordinator, Brian Callahan, son of former Raiders coach Bill Callahan, to run the organization. The dude has been around offensive play calling his entire life, as his dad has been calling things from the offensive side of the ball since 1987, three years after Brian was born. With Brian coming in, one would expect him to help further develop last year's second round pick, Will Levis, who did do some good things throughout his rookie season. With Derrick Henry more than likely leaving this offseason, a lot of pressure will now be placed on Levis' shoulders, so one thing is for certain, we got to make sure we keep him upright, and I'm sure Bill will be drilling that through Brian's brain as he's been an offensive line coach for most of his career. After kicking last year's first round selection, Peter Skoronski, inside to guard, tackle is still a pretty decent position of need for the Titans moving forward, even more so with current left, Andre Dillard, likely to be released this offseason. So, with their first selection, I think the Titans could select Notre Dame's Joe Alt here with the seventh pick. Like I mentioned with Nabers before, you're really splitting hairs when it comes to the top tackles, but I feel like Callahan may side with Alt purely for the fact that he's a football guy's son as well, as Joe's dad, John Alt, was an All-Pro selection with the Chiefs in the 90s. I know, I know, I may be making too much of that, but sometimes that's how stupid the draft can be. Regardless, it's not like Alt can't friggin play. In 33-starts at Notre Dame, all at left tackle, Alt only gave up two sacks, and for a team that ranked in the bottom four in regards to sacks given up, I'm sure the Titans would like that. Along with that, Tennessee ranked 31st in the rate of sacks per drop back (11.1%) in 2023 (per ESPN), which is far less than ideal. With his experience, I think Alt would be an excellent pick for the Titans here at seventh overall.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
I don't know why, but I feel like the Green Bay Packers and the Atlanta Falcons are very similar franchises when it comes to the NFL draft. Why? Well, when Aaron Rodgers was the starting quarterback in Green Bay, it felt like everyone and their mom felt the Packers should select a wide receiver in the first round. The issue was that the only people that didn't share that sentiment happened to run the Packers organization, to the frustration of many fans and analysts alike. That's not to say they didn't draft wide receivers, it was just that they refused to take one in the first round every single year since 2002. To me, the Falcons are the same way, just on the defensive side of the ball. Every time the NFL draft rolls around, one common need for the Falcons is discussed by the masses, the need for a top tier edge rusher. Though that's seemingly common knowledge to those outside the organization, the team just, for whatever reason, refuses to draft edge rushers in the first round, despite being in the bottom half of the league in sack production every year since 2017, ranking dead last or in the bottom two on a few occasions since then. Looking at the past three years, the Falcons have ranked second to last, last, and 10th in sack production. What positions did they draft in the first round of the following drafts? A tight end, a wide receiver, and a running back. Not to say those weren't needs to a certain extent, just nowhere as big for the need for a top tier edge rusher. Like the Packers though, the Falcons have drafted edge defenders in the later rounds of the draft, selecting Zach Harrison (3; 2023), Arnold Ebiketie (2; 2022), DeAngelo Malone (3; 2022), Ta'Quon Graham (5; 2021), and Adetokunbo Ogundeji (5; 2021), but only Ebiketie has ever registered more than five-sacks in a single season, which is sad. So, it would make sense for Atlanta to select someone like Dallas Turner, right? Well, yeah, but will they? I don't know. They did just hire former interim head coach, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to replace the frustrating Arthur Smith, but like the Packers, I don't think they'll pull the trigger. Now, I do think the Falcons will look to strengthen the defensive side of the ball, but with Morris and his new defensive coordinator, Jimmy Lake, both once serving as secondary coaches, I feel like the Falcons may instead look to strengthen a secondary that could lose the likes of Jeff Okudah and Tre Flowers this offseason to free agency (not to mention AJ Terrell and Mike Hughes will be free agents next year, though I think they'll re-sign Terrell). Though they drafted Clark Phillips III from Utah in the fourth round last year, I think corner could still be addressed here with their first pick, so enter in Alabama's Terrion Arnold. A former safety, Arnold is one of the best overall athletes in the draft. Though he's not the most refined in his craft as of right now, his ceiling is arguably the highest out of any of the other corners in this class. Super aggressive, the dude picked off six passes and had 20-total breakups as quarterbacks completed just 43.7% of their passes when he was the nearest defender in coverage over the past two seasons, while also allowing just four receptions of 20-plus yards in 2023 (per ESPN). Not to mention, as a corner, he was fourth on the team in tackles this past season, while only being four off of being second on the team in that category, showing off his aggressive nature. I think pairing him on the outside with the aforementioned AJ Terrell would give the Falcons one of the best corner duos in the league, giving Morris a nice one-two wombo combo on the outside (Dallas Turner obviously makes sense here too).
9. Chicago Bears - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
You got the quarterback, so why not go and get the wide receiver? One of my favorite things in the draft is when teams who draft a quarterback early go and draft them a legit option on the outside (or vice versa), allowing them to grow together throughout their time in the league. Like, if you can do it, why wouldn't you? Now, obviously the Bears have DJ Moore, who they received in that trade with the Carolina Panthers before last year's draft, but other than him, who else do they really have? Apart from Moore, no other Bears receiver finished with above 500-yards, with Darnell Mooney only registering 414-yards on just 31-catches. The receiver that had the most yards after Mooney was rookie Tyler Scott, who finished with 168-yards, with both him and Mooney combining for one touchdown. Obviously DJ Moore received a lot of attention from the Bears' quarterbacks, but you would expect at least one more receiver would have more than 500-yards, right? To go along with their poor stats, Mooney, along with Equanimeous St. Brown and Trent Taylor, are entering free agency this offseason, with none of them guaranteed a spot back in Chicago next season (I think Mooney's time in Chicago may have ended after the Browns interception). Whoever the Bears quarterback is next season, they could really use some help along the outside. If he's available, I think the Bears would be smart to select former Washington Husky Rome Odunze here with the ninth pick in the draft. Arguably the most athletic receiver out of the top options. His timing and body control are top notch and are hardly rivaled in this class. Like, I've never seen a quarterback and a receiver connect on so many back shoulder throws than both he and Michael Penix Jr. did this past season for Washington. Last season, Odunze absolutely lit the world alight, registering a national leading 1,640-yards on 92-catches with 13-touchdowns (registered 1,145-yards with seven touchdowns the season prior). With the Huskies having one of the better receiving cores (when healthy), Odunze was granted the freedom to play both on the outside and inside, which made him an insane match-up nightmare for any defender in college football. Imagine trying to guard a 6'3" 215 lbs. receiver in the slot, it's damn near impossible, especially when they move as fluidly as Odunze. The dude just makes everything look so easy, which is perfect when you have a young quarterback coming in. He just makes plays, and pairing him with DJ Moore would give so many defensive coordinators headaches for years to come. With Williams at quarterback and Moore and Odunze on the outside, the Bears could have one of the more fun offenses to watch throughout the league (if the Bears don't go receiver, I would imagine they'd try to take one of the top edge rushers, giving Montez Sweat a running mate on the outside, looking mainly at Florida State's Jared Verse, as he'd fit into Eberflus' 4-3 defensive front).
10. New York Jets - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Jets main draft focus is fairly simple, keep Aaron Rodgers upright and healthy. This whole experiment they're trying to do in New Jersey only works if Rodgers is lining up under center for the Jets. That's why everyone with a position of power within this organization is still here, because they've hitched their wagon to a 40-year old quarterback who played all but four plays this season. Like, I don't think owner Woody Johnson could justify firing everybody this offseason, as we haven't had a real chance to see what this team could be with a legit quarterback. As talented as Zach Wilson could be, he's no Aaron Rodgers, and that's what the Jets are hoping. That's all fine and dandy, until you remember Rodgers didn't just get hurt, he tore his achilles, and at the aforementioned age of 40, I don't necessarily expect him to come back fully swinging, at least early on into next season, though I could be wrong. With all that being said, the Jets pick kind of chooses itself, doesn't it? Maybe not the player, but the position is locked in at this point, right? The Jets need to draft an offensive lineman here with the 10th pick, especially when you see Duane Brown is entering free agency, who will be 39 by the time next season rolls around. Mixing that with reports that former 11th overall pick Mekhi Becton could be heading out as well, left tackle should be the Jets top priority. With Joe Alt coming off the board to Tennessee with the seventh pick, I think the Jets move for Penn State's Olu Fashanu here with their first pick in the draft. Though I think Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga fits the Jets culture well, I feel like they may swing for a more natural left tackle, rather than try and flip a right tackle to the opposite side (though I have no doubts Fuaga could do it). Like I mentioned before, you're really splitting hairs when it comes to ranking the top tackles in this class, as Alt, Fashanu, and Fuaga had very solid collegiate careers. Though some out there may consider him to be a pretty raw prospect in regards to run blocking, at 6'6" 319 lbs., Fashanu possesses really good body control and really light feet, having both the build and athleticism to develop into a well rounded blocker. As a pass protector, there aren't many better than the Penn State product. He absorbs power really well and in 21-starts for the Nittany Lions, Fashanu allowed just one sack, which is something a team that gave up 64-sacks this past season should be looking for. He may not be the most developed, and he may not have had as good of a season as he did the year prior, but Fashanu could really develop into one of the best tackles in football. I'm sure Aaron Rodgers would love to have an athletic tackle guarding his blind side for the next however many years.
11. Minnesota Vikings - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The Minnesota Vikings could go a couple different directions with this pick. On one hand, I think some fans would like to see them go for a quarterback, especially given the fact that Kirk Cousins is an impending free agent and will turn 36 by the time next season rolls around (plus is coming off an achilles injury). Though I don't have it predicted here, Minnesota making a move for a quarterback wouldn't shock me. If you believe some of the more recent rumors, the Vikings tried to move 'heaven and earth' to try and select Florida's Anthony Richardson in last year's draft. With a younger head coach, a new GM, and an older quarterback, sure, making a move for a project piece definitely makes sense, as I'm sure Richardson would have benefited from learning from Cousins for a season, or two. This time around though, I have a hard time envisioning that, at least right now. As of today, it feels like the top three quarterbacks will be taken within the first three picks, so a big time trade up seems unlikely. Do they then in-turn select Michigan's JJ McCarthy? I'm definitely not going to rule it out, as McCarthy's skill set would mesh nicely with O'Connell's offense. Plus a year sitting behind Cousins would do him some good in regards to his development. Though that's a very possible option, I think the Vikings are more likely to turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball, namely on the edges with the likes of Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, Jonathan Bullard, and DJ Wonnum all entering free agency this offseason. Given that Brian Flores is still the defensive coordinator, and the fact that he loves himself a blitz package, I'm sure he'll be pounding the table for some more help along the edges, and Alabama's Dallas Turner would fill in very nicely in Brian Flores' 3-4 defense. Again, I know a lot of Vikings fans would love to see them draft a quarterback of the future, especially since they've been linked with a trade up for one across the past two to three years. The thing is though, I am more confident, at this point in time, that the Vikings bring back Kirk Cousins rather than Danielle Hunter, among others. I could end up being very wrong, but I feel that's just what my gut is telling me right now (though I do think they'll draft one at some point throughout the draft, i.e. Michael Penix Jr.). About Turner, at 6'4" 242 lbs., Turner finished his Alabama career with 22.5-sacks across three seasons, registering a calm cool 10 this past season (along with two forced fumbles) as the Crimson Tide made it to the College Football Playoff semi-final. A combination of speed and power, Turner's 16.7% pressure rate (per ESPN) was good for eighth in college football this past season. For a team that blitzes as much as the Vikings, you'd definitely want the sack numbers to increase, as the team ranked in the bottom half of the league in sacks this past season (43). With their top two sack artists from last season potentially leaving in free agency (Hunter, 16.5; Wonnum, 8), I think getting a top tier edge rusher may be atop the Vikings draft board (apart from quarterback) come April. If he's available, I think it'd be wise for Minnesota to draft the draft's best edge defender in Dallas Turner. Brian Flores would sure be one happy man.
12. Denver Broncos - JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
I don't really know what to make of the Denver Broncos going into the offseason, as this season was just filled with so many twists and turns. Like, after trading a first round pick for former Super Bowl champion head coach Sean Payton, the Broncos started the season off with an abysmal 1-5 record, with one of those loses coming way of a 70-20 beat down by the Miami Dolphins in week three. After a narrow 19-8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week five, Denver rattled off five-wins in a row, beating the aforementioned Chiefs in Denver as well as the Packers, Bills, and Browns, all who were eventual playoff teams. Then the Broncos started losing again, finishing the season winning just two of their next six games, getting blasted by the Lions and losing to the Patriots on Christmas Eve. Then, to throw another wrench into the mix, Russell Wilson, who was having a solid year up to the Patriots game, was benched for the final two games of the regular season, with reports suggesting that it was to 'preserve financial flexibility.' Regardless of the reason, this season was just so up and down. It made my head spin as a neutral, I couldn't imagine it as a fan. Will Wilson be returning as the Broncos signal caller next season? I have no idea. That being said, one thing I do know is that Sean Payton has made it clear, from the jump, that he doesn't necessarily like Russell Wilson (or at least that's what it seems like). Like, the first thing he essentially did as head coach was kick Wilson's team out of the building, saying, 'that’s foreign to me, that’s not going to take place. I’m unfamiliar with it. Our staff will be here, our players will be here and that will be it.' Fair enough. Not only that, but Payton also threatened to, and eventually did, force Wilson to wear a play call wrist band, as Wilson wasn't running things as smoothly as Payton would've liked. Like I said before, I don't know whether or not Wilson will be the Broncos starting quarterback going into the season, but I do feel they'll try to add another quarterback in the draft, whether that's to add competition or just flat out replace the former Super Bowl champ. Everything was just so odd, so with this pick, I'm going to have the Broncos select former Michigan quarterback, JJ McCarthy, here with the 12th pick in the first round. To me, McCarthy just feels like a perfect fit for what Sean Payton wants to do on offense. Now, though I am a big fan of McCarthy, a lot of people out there are still trying to figure out what all the hype is about, which I completely understand if you solely look at his stats. Comparatively, looking at the other top quarterbacks in this class, McCarthy just can't hold a candle to them when it comes to numbers. Due to Michigan's offensive scheme, McCarthy only threw for 2,991-yards, though he did manage to register 25-total touchdowns to just four interceptions this past season as the Wolverines won their first national title since 1997 (three of those four interceptions came against Bowling Green). To me, McCarthy's ceiling is very high. Sure he'll need to put on some weight, but the dude can do so much with the football when provided the opportunity. Good arm strength mixed with a quick release and good decision making gives you a lot of tools to work with. Even more so when you throw in his running ability, as the dude is one of the fastest quarterbacks in this class, but again, he was really given the chances to show off his athleticism apart from maybe four or five times this past season. Overall, I think McCarthy is extremely talented, and if the right team takes him, he could become one of the better quarterbacks in the league. If he starts right away in Denver (or wherever) is a different story, but I just feel like McCarthy has all the right tools to work in Sean Payton's offense.
13. Las Vegas Raiders - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
After a few years of going after the biggest named coaches on the market, the Raiders listened to their players and officially hired former interim head coach, Antonio Pierce, to serve as their guy going forward. Say what you want about the Raiders hiring Pierce, but the dude completely changed the locker room after taking over after Josh McDaniels was fired following a 26-14 loss to the Detroit Lions. After starting the season 3-5 under McDaniels, the Raiders finished the regular season strong with a 5-4 record, which included an impressive 20-14 road victory against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas day. Though a lot of people seemingly wanted Jim Harbaugh, I can't say the Raiders made the wrong move by hiring Pierce. If he's able to keep the locker room on his side, and continues building the team's identity, the Raiders could be a solid team next season. One big issue the team must figure out though is who's going to line up under center for them next season. Though Jimmy Garoppolo is still under contract, the only person in the building that seemingly wanted him was Josh McDaniels, as he coached him while they were both in New England. Pierce seemed content with riding the Aidan O'Connell wave once he took over, but is he really someone to lead the team into the future? Especially in a division with very talented quarterbacks? I'm not sure. That being said, right now, I don't necessarily think they'll make a move for one in the first round, as though (if available) McCarthy is immensely talented, I think they'd want to go for someone who could play right away, rather than someone that could use a couple years to develop. Though it seems unlikely, maybe the Raiders try to shoot up the draft board to draft Pierce's former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels. You never truly know. So, with quarterback pushed aside for now, what other needs could the Raiders look to address? Defensively, one may expect the Raiders to address the secondary. As predicted, Marcus Peters did not work, so the Raiders will more than likely still be looking for a true number one corner to pair with Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones, especially with Amik Robertson entering free agency. That being said, the Raiders may also want to improve their offensive line. A couple years ago, the Raiders went out and draft Alabama's Alex Leatherwood with the 17th pick in the draft. In a move that predictably fell on it's face, the Raiders have a hole along the right side of the offensive line, especially since current starter, Jermaine Eluemunor, is a free agent this offseason. If he's available, I think a perfect fit for the Raiders offensive line could be Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga. Though it may mean absolutely nothing, new GM Tom Telesco's first draft pick as GM of the Chargers was right tackle DJ Fluker, we may see history repeat itself here. For a team with a re-established culture that seeming wants to run the ball, Fuaga would definitely be a good pick-up for the Raiders, especially given Oregon State's 56-44 run-pass split. Though the dude predominately played right tackle in college (making 25-starts at that position), I have no doubt Fuaga could make the transition over to the left side of the offensive line, if necessary. A big dude with even bigger power, Fuaga is able to dominate the defender opposite of him. He also works well to the second level of the defense, destroying the smaller linebackers that try to make a play on the ball. He's surprisingly nimble in the pass game, using a quick step and a powerful punch to drive defenders away, keeping the distance while dropping back into pass pro. Last season, Fuaga allowed zero sacks on 351-pass blocking snaps, which is insanely impressive. The dude is just a dominant presence on the offensive line, giving whoever drafts him a hopeful franchise offensive tackle. If worse comes to worse, or if it's required, Fuaga could kick inside to guard, giving him some nice positional versatility along the offensive line. I think he makes perfect sense for the Raiders.
14. New Orleans Saints - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
One thing I've seen from a few different mock drafts is that the New Orleans Saints are in desperate need of some weapons on the outside. Apart from Chris Olave, who else really is there for the Saints offensively? Sure Michael Thomas is good, but the dude has been perpetually injured since 2019, playing 20-games across the last four seasons. The thing is as well, Olave and Thomas are two of the three receivers they currently have on the roster. So by mixing those three receivers with the two tight ends the Saints have on the roster, the team only has five weapons on the outside for quarterback Derek Carr, who they signed to a four-year $150 million contract this past offseason. Though I do think the Saints will look to add some more weapons on the outside in the draft, I think one thing they may need to do first is address the trenches, which is something GM Mickey Loomis has always done since taking over in 2002. As things stand, longtime starting guard Andrus Peat is entering free agency this offseason, along with James Hurst and Trai Turner, with the latter tearing his quad three days after signing this past offseason. With former Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning struggling up to this point in his young career, in both play and health, Peat was moved out to left tackle, with Penning starting in just five games this past season, equalling six in total for his career. With Ryan Ramczyk not getting any younger, it wouldn't surprise me if the Saints moved for an offensive tackle with their first pick. Though that could be the case, all in all, I think Loomis may look to address the defensive line here with their first pick in the draft, as the team finished in the bottom five in regards to sack production this past season, totaling just 34 on the year (tied for fourth worst with the Giants). With franchise legend Cameron Jordan turning 35 in July, I think it may be best served for New Orleans to try and get someone in to eventually replace him, as former first round pick Payton Turner hasn't really worked out to this point (appearing in 15-games over the past three years while totaling just three sacks). So, with their first pick, I'll have the Saints select Florida State's Jared Verse. A player who would've been a first round pick had he come out last year, Verse is a very good power rusher coming off the edge. The dude is very strong, and he uses that aforementioned power, speed, and hand usage to get past blockers and into the path of the quarterback. Like most power and speed guys, Verse sometimes can over commit too much (mostly in the run game), but that can be coached out of him at the next level, especially with Joe Woods coming in to serve as the defensive coordinator (who recently worked with Myles Garrett in Cleveland). Best suited to having his hand in the dirt, Verse would fit perfectly in Dennis Allen's 4-3 defense, and having him learn from someone like Cameron Jordan would be very beneficial for his career. Jared Verse would be an instant upgrade for a below average Saints pass rush.
15. Indianapolis Colts - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The Colts were a breath of fresh air this past season. Going in, I don't think a lot of people expected them to do much of anything this season. A new head coach mixed with a extremely raw, though insanely talented, quarterback don't usually equal a ton of wins, especially when you're forced to turn to your back-up quarterback after just five weeks after the aforementioned Richardson went down for the season with an AC joint sprain. Not only did the Colts overachieve by many metrics this season, they were also one game away from making the friggin playoffs, which again, was not expected of them going into the season. Last offseason, the Colts had a firm plan in place, drafting a bunch of young and immensely talented that would more than likely need time to develop. Players like Richardson, JuJus Brents, Blake Freeland, and Adetomiwa Adebawore all fit that mold of young, raw, physically gifted, and talented players that the Colts were looking for, all with varying ranges of success this past season (they also drafted Josh Downs in the third round, but he's on the smaller side of things). If they continue down that path, I could really see them taking someone like Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell or Clemson's Nate Wiggins, with the latter probably being a little more likely given his height and length (or maybe Cooper DeJean because of his versatility). Though corner is a massive need for this team, I'm sure they'd like to continue to surround Richardson with some more weapons, especially if Michael Pittman Jr. decides to go somewhere else this offseason. Though this may be seen as a little early by some people out there, LSU's Brian Thomas falls right into the Colts 'freak list' of athletes. Despite mostly serving as Malik Nabers' 'Robin' at LSU, Thomas put up some ridiculous numbers in Jayden Daniels Heisman winning season. This past season, Thomas racked up 1,177-yards with a national leading 17-receiving touchdowns, two more than the next closest receiver. At 6'4" 205 lbs., Thomas is an elite deep threat, averaging a whopping 17.3 yards per reception. Widely considered to be the draft's WR4, he's quick and explosive off the ball, being able to separate himself in man coverage, while also being able to out muscle and out jump damn near any defender that tries to guard him. With that, he shows excellent positional awareness as well, making numerous end zone side line catches throughout last season. Whether he lines up on the outside or in the slot, Thomas will make a bunch of plays for your offense. He has all the tools to be a legit number one in the Colts offense, giving Anthony Richardson a true big play threat on the outside. Though the organization could (and probably will) bring back former second round pick Michael Pittman Jr., it's always nice to have other options for your quarterback, especially for one that still needs some time to fully develop. Richardson showed a lot of signs that he could be the real deal in the NFL, by adding a big time deep threat in Brian Thomas, you could potentially help him realize his potential even sooner than expected. I really like this fit for the Colts (Thomas could really go anywhere in the first round, as receiver isn't a massive need for most teams outside the top 10. But the dude's skill set and athletic traits make him feel like a perfect fit in Indianapolis).
16. Seattle Seahawks - Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
The Seahawks are kind of at a crossroad right now. With Pete Carroll and the Seahawks 'mutually' agreeing for him to step down as head coach, the Seahawks are now looking for a new coach for the first time since 2010. For teams like Seattle who were consistently one of the top dogs in the league for the better part of a decade, this is a weird situation to be in. Given Carroll's age though, this shouldn't come as too much of a shocker, right? With him leaving, a new era is about to unfold. It's always hard to replace a long tenured head coach, and it's even harder when said coach helped guide the organization to two Super Bowls, winning one of them in dominating fashion. With that being said, the Seahawks recently announced that former Michigan and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald, will be taking over as head coach for the foreseeable future. So, with Macdonald being a defensive minded coach, could Seattle move for a defender with their first pick in the draft, or go in some other direction? Well, whichever direction they go, one thing is for sure, the trenches should be addressed here in the first round, whether that be on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. Who knows? They may even try to select a quarterback for the future. Depending on how likely you think that is, the fact of the matter is that Geno Smith isn't getting any younger. Mixing that with a somewhat down year (compared to last year) leads me to think Seattle could try and find someone to eventually replace the tenured quarterback. That being said, I don't think they need to find someone to flat out replace Geno right away, rather they should get someone to learn from him for a year or two before officially making a long term change at quarterback, especially since Geno will be a free agent in 2026. With that being the case, unless Michigan's JJ McCarthy is available, I don't think they'll make a move for a quarterback in the first round. To me, as mentioned before, the offensive and defensive lines need to be improved/replenished, namely in the middle parts of both lines. On offense, Phil Haynes, Evan Brown, and Damien Lewis are all entering free agency. With all three getting starting minutes this season, the interior offensive line could definitely be an option here. In the same breath, Leonard Williams (who they acquired in a midseason trade from the Giants) and Mario Edwards are also entering free agency, with Williams probably leaving this offseason in search of a decent payday. Though there's a chance he returns, I just think Seattle may look to draft his replacement here in the first round, selecting former Texas Longhorn Byron Murphy II here with the 16th pick. At 6'1" 308 lbs., Murphy may not be the biggest when comparing him to his former Texas teammate T'Vondre Sweat (6'4" 362 lbs.), but for what he lacks in 'size,' he more than makes up for with speed, quickness, and athleticism, able to cause a ton of problems in both the pass and run game. This past season at Texas, Murphy registered a career high five sacks, with two coming in their 38-6 win against Baylor back in September (a game where he also totaled his season high in tackles with four). Though five sacks for an interior lineman in college is impressive, what makes it even better is that this past season Murphy posted the best pass-rush win percentage (19.6%) among all interior linemen. Making it even crazier is that no other DT was above 17.0% (per The Athletic). Expected to have a very good combine showing, Murphy is someone that would definitely improve the Seahawks defensive line. He's an absolute game wrecker that would cause a ton of havoc for opposing offenses. He'd be a perfect fit for Macdonald's defense.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
What a disappointment 2023 was for the Jacksonville Jaguars. After making the playoffs fresh off of having the first overall pick for the second straight year, many were expecting the Jags to become one of the better teams in the AFC, with some even suggesting that they win 13 or 14 games while also claiming the number one overall seed in the playoffs. Let's just say that didn't happen, and it wasn't really close. It's not like their struggles came out of nowhere as there were definitely signs, especially after week three when they got absolutely boat raced by the Houston Texans 37-17. Knowing what we know now about the Texans, that result may not surprise you, but at the time that was insane, especially since Houston lost their first two games by double digits. Apart from beating the Bills in London the Jaguars really didn't have a whole lot to celebrate, losing five of their last six games to ultimately miss the playoffs. In five of those final six games, quarterback Trevor Lawrence struggled immensely. While battling a high ankle sprain, Lawrence threw nine touchdowns to seven interceptions (dude sat out against the Panthers, their only win in their final six games). Though Lawrence struggled, the defense didn't play much better, giving up 29.2 points per game (146 total points) in those final five loses, definitely not ideal. Long story short, there's a few different directions the Jaguars can go to hopefully get back on track. Defensively they could look to add either a corner or an edge rusher, especially since former first round picks Josh Allen and K'Lavon Chaisson are entering free agency this offseason. But, with Lawrence struggling as he did throughout the season, I imagine the Jaguars would like to continue to add to the offense to once again try to get the best out of the former first overall pick. With Lawrence suffering a high ankle sprain in the latter stages of the year at the hands of his own offensive lineman, I think the Jags may look to, once again, strengthen the trenches. Though Cam Robinson is still under contract for one more year, his early season suspension and injuries saw him appear in just five-games this past season. With Walker Little as his main back-up, I'm sure the Jaguars would love to get an eventual replacement with this pick. Given Trent Baalke's track record, he loves himself some big time athletes along the offensive and defensive line, that though maybe not ready to play right away, have all the tools to develop into a very good player at the next level (i.e. Travon Walker and Anton Harrison). Speaking of Harrison, I could see the Jaguars traveling back over to Oklahoma to select another tackle, this time in the form of Tyler Guyton. After having a very good week at the Senior Bowl, Guyton has seemingly started to move up some draft boards. Though he only started 15-combined games at both Oklahoma and TCU, the dude has all the physical tools to be a legit tackle at the next level. At 6'7" 327 lbs., Guyton is very explosive and fluid with his movements, which isn't usually the norm for someone who is that big. Now, with that lack of experience does come some issues, as he can get a little off balanced when going up against more physical pass rushers, but that can be improved with time. In the run game, his athleticism allows him to burst into open space and clear out running lanes, with Daniel Jeremiah even comparing his movements to that of a tight end. Again, the dude may need some time to develop, but he's got all the tools to develop into a very good tackle at the next level. Guyton's ceiling is very high, given that the size, athleticism, fluidity, and awareness are all there, you just got to be patient (the dude could learn behind Robinson before taking over at either tackle, though they'd probably move Harrison back to left tackle and start Guyton on the right side).
18. Cincinnati Bengals - JC Latham, OT, Alabama
There are really only two positions a top the Bengals draft board this year, right? Offensive tackle and wide receiver. Let's start with the latter, as former second round pick Tee Higgins is set to finally hit the free agency market (along with longtime Bengal Tyler Boyd). One of the best receivers in football when firing, Higgins has been stuck in the shadow of Ja'Marr Chase since he was drafted fifth overall back in 2021. That being said, that shouldn't be seen as an insult towards Higgins by any means, as Chase has solidified himself as one of the top receivers in the league. That's not something Higgins can really control, yet that's the situation he's been in for the past few seasons. Though the presence of Chase looms large, Higgins has still been able to put up two 1,000+ yard seasons since 2021. Really impressive stuff, despite this past season not being his best, mostly due to a few injuries and the fact Joe Burrow wasn't throwing him the football. Though there is a chance he leaves, most signs point to the Bengals franchise tagging Higgins, which would keep him in Cincinnati for at least one more year (Ja'Marr Chase's contract will be the real deciding factor for Higgins' long term future with the team). So, with receiver essentially out of the way, offensive line makes by far the most sense, right? Well, yeah, especially when you look at the fact that former first round pick and starting right tackle, Jonah Williams, is entering free agency this offseason, and with him not having the greatest run of form over recent years, I fully expect the Bengals to go after a right tackle in the draft. Not to mention quarterback Joe Burrow is coming back from yet another season ending injury. Mixing that with his bum calf saw him start in 10-games this season. The Bengals will definitely want to keep him on the field as much as possible, so drafting someone like Alabama's JC Latham would make a lot of sense for them moving forward. I know it's early, but this pick just feels right (if he's available). Over the past two seasons, Latham started 27-games at right tackle, which is perfect for a team like the Bengals, who wouldn't need to worry about flipping a tackle from one side of the line to the other. An absolute man mountain, at 6'6" 360 lbs., Latham surprisingly moves very well, as he is light on his feet while also being extremely powerful from the point of attack. According to some, Latham may be considered the strongest player in the entire draft, which he uses to his advantage in the run game, driving back defenders with relative ease. Light in the pass game and power in the run, Latham has the potential to be a very good right tackle at the next level. Hey, if worse comes to worse, the dude has also spent some time at guard, so you can kick him inside if necessary. Overall I think is the most ideal scenario for the Bengals, and I'm not just saying that because this is my mock draft. Right tackle is their biggest need and they arguably got the best one in the draft.
19. Los Angeles Rams - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
I don't know if I was surprised or not by the Rams season. On one hand, the Rams were slowly building one of the youngest teams in football, as they signed a whopping 14-rookies to their roster this past offseason. Along with rumors suggesting head coach Sean McVay wasn't fully committed to a rebuild, things could've turned sour for the Rams this season, but they didn't. Though they signed an incredible number of rookies, the Rams just kept things rolling, as players like Puka Nacua, Steve Avila, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, among others, made immediate impacts on the roster, with Nacua and Turner both being nominated for offensive and defensive rookie of the year, respectfully. Mixing that with a resurgent Matthew Stafford, who was coming off a spinal contusion, and the emergence of running back Kyren Williams, not to mention Cooper Kupp, the Rams were able to come away with an impressive 10-win season, closing out the regular season by winning seven of their last eight games after the bye week (though they did only beat one fully equipped playoff team during that run). With that all being said, to build on an impressive season, I feel like the Rams need to continue to build their defense (as well as their offensive line). When looking on the defensive side of things two areas of concern stand out, and they are in the secondary and coming off the edge. Starting with the latter, the Rams could possibly look for someone to partner the aforementioned Byron Young off the edge. This past season, as a team, the Rams finished in the bottom 10 in regards to sack production, while also finishing 30th in regards to team takeaways. In regards to the pass game specifically, the Rams ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards, touchdowns, and interceptions forced this past season, with opposing teams throwing on the Rams 604-times this past season. With the likes of Ahkello Witherspoon and Duke Shelley entering free agency this offseason, the secondary looks to be a little more lost. Though those players may not the biggest loses in regards to how good they are, they both saw a decent amount of game time this season, with Witherspoon even starting all 17-games. All in all, the Rams should look to find a true number one corner for their defense, especially since they trade their last one to Miami last offseason. If he's available, I think Los Angeles could pick-up Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell here with the 19th pick in the draft. To some, this may seem like somewhat of a reach, but Mitchell is someone who's been quickly rising up draft boards, and it wouldn't surprise me if he went off the board to Los Angeles here at 19. A 6'1" 200 lbs. corner who is expected to blow up the combine, from an athletic standpoint, they don't really get much better than Mitchell. Though that's the case, his on the field stuff is almost even more impressive. Sure he played in the MAC and didn't necessarily face the stiffest competition, but still. This past season, though he only registered one interception, the dude did not allow a single touchdown pass as the nearest defender in coverage, despite being targeted 59 times. The season prior, Mitchell picked off a whopping five passes (along with 20-pass breakups), which placed him in the top-10 for interceptions where he was jointly ranked with Iowa's Cooper DeJean, among others (stats per ESPN). After a good showing at the Senior Bowl, I wouldn't be too surprised if he went earlier than this pick. Mitchell would give the Rams a true shut down corner, and the scary thing is, he can only get better.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jackson Powers-Johnson, iOL, Oregon
I don't want to come off as too mean or anything, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have to be one of the worst playoff teams in recent memory, right? Like, this team was just horrific to watch throughout the season, barely being able to have any sort of production on the offensive side of the ball (similarly to the team that shares their uniforms at the colliegate level). Despite winning 10-games this past season, the Steelers were one of two playoffs teams to rank in the bottom 10 in regards to total offense, and were the only team with a .500+ record to rank in the bottom 10 in regards to points per game, averaging less points than even Arthur Smith's Falcons. Funny how that works out, because Smith is set to become the Steelers new offensive coordinator, so we'll have to wait and see how that works out. There were just so many issues for the Steelers that's it's actually impressive that they finished with a winning record. Even defensively they weren't great, ranking in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed, though they didn't give up a ton of points, which isn't something you really see everyday. If it weren't for TJ Watt's 19-sacks, how much would this defense struggle? All in all, there's a good amount of issues on this team, but they can't all be solved with this first pick. Though the secondary will be a big area of concern for some fans out there with Levi Wallace and Chandon Sullivan entering free agency and Patrick Peterson turning 34 in July, but I feel they'll try and fix some of the issues on the offensive side of the ball first. Given what Mike Tomlin has said so far this offseason, it seems like the organization will continue to show faith in Kenny Pickett, though they will look to add some competition for him this offseason. Not only that, but I feel the organization wants to see the best out of Najee Harris again. Though he rushed for over 1,000-yards, he was wildly inconsistent this season, with back-up Jaylen Warren looking the better out of the two backs for portions of the season. The offense needs to improve and it all starts up front. After hitting on Broderick Jones in the first round last year, I feel the Steelers could dip their hand back in the proverbial cookie jar and select another offensive linemen here with the 20th pick, selecting Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson. One of the best overall players from Senior Bowl practices, though a natural center, Powers-Johnson can fill so many holes along the interior for the Steelers offensive line (even spent some time at defensive tackle while at Oregon). Compared by some to the Incredible Hulk, Powers-Johnson displays a lot on the field with what is in his name, and that is 'power.' A nice mixture of size, speed, and strength, at 6'3" 320 lbs., Powers-Johnson is arguably the best natural interior blocker in this class, being able to get back to depth in pass protection while also being able to get to the edge with quickness as a puller. The dude is a real threat when he's alone, as he hunts down his prey with sheer determination. One thing about Mike Tomlin is that he loves himself some Senior Bowl prospects, and Powers-Johnson is one he spent a decent amount of time with down in Mobile. I'm not saying that's the end all and be all with this pick, but Powers-Johnson definitely fits the mold of a Steelers offensive linemen. With the Steelers identity circling around the run, Powers-Johnson would be an excellent pick in regards to getting them back to the top, especially in a tough AFC North. As someone who is rising up draft boards, I wouldn't be surprised if dude went even sooner. If he's available here though, don't be surprised if the Steelers pick him up with the 20th pick in the draft.
21. Miami Dolphins - Troy Fautanu, iOL/OT, Washington
The Miami Dolphins really should have one goal in mind when it comes to the draft, and that is to improve their offensive line. For whatever reason, this past season the Dolphins could not keep a consistent unit on the field, with numerous players missing various amounts of time throughout the regular season. It seemed like every week someone was going down with some sort of injury. Whether it was Austin Jackson with an oblique injury, Robert Hunt's hamstring, Liam Eichenberg's calf, Connor Williams and Isaiah Wynn's season ending knee and quad injuries, or Terron Armstead with his insane wrath of injuries, the Dolphins were down astronomically bad in the o-line department. I don't know how many units they ended up finishing with, but around mid-December, the Dolphins had lined up with 10-different offensive line units, that's insane. Not only that, but aforementioned starters like Connor Williams, Robert Hunt, Isaiah Wynn, and Robert Jones (rotational) are all entering free agency this offseason, and with little to no cap space, it's not necessarily realistic to think Miami will be able to bring back all, or even some, of the main guys across the line. Even Armstead brought up the possibility of retiring this offseason, as the former Saint will be 33 in July. It's just a mess, and it's not going to all be fixed with this selection, but it's definitely a start, right? With their not really being a set need, I would imagine the Dolphins would target a more versatile lineman here with their first pick. Though they could go with Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson (if available) or Duke's Graham Barton (who can play all five positions), I think Miami would be best served to draft Washington's Troy Fautanu with the 21st pick in the draft. Though the majority of his Washington career was spent at left tackle, Fautanu has some experience playing on the interior as well, more than holding his own at both positions in a high powered Husky offense. Throughout his time there, Fautanu allowed two career sacks on nearly 1,250 pass-blocking snaps, and I'm sure Miami would love to have someone like Fautanu there to secure up the offensive line, at either guard or tackle, especially since they ranked 31st in pass block win rate last season (49.2%, per ESPN). Now, I don't want to jinx anything, but the dude rarely got hurt at Washington, not missing any significant time throughout his tenure with the Huskies. Depending on how you view him, Fautanu could slot at either tackle or guard, though most out there see him as a guard due to his size and speed when it comes to pulling and hitting the edge on screen-like plays. Either way, the dude will more than likely lock down any spot you put him at along the offensive line, maybe even replacing Armstead when things are all said and done. I think he'd be a perfect fit for the Dolphins (if available, Jackson Powers-Johnson would be a great scheme fit).
22. Philadelphia Eagles - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The way this season ended for the Eagles should be studied for some time. After beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead back in late November, many out there thought we may see the Eagles back in the Super Bowl, especially since they were 9-1 at this point in the season. Nick Sirianni yelling at the fans must've upset the football gods, or something, as the Eagles went on to lose five of their next seven games, even losing to the Arizona Cardinals (at home) during the second to last game of the regular season (not to mention they lost by double digits in three of those five games). It was so odd, because by all things considered, this team should consistently be one of the top dogs in the NFL, not a team that implodes on itself during the month of December before getting bounced in the first round by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it just shouldn't happen (especially in the way that it did). After the season, the Eagles announced that they were firing both their offensive (Brian Johnson) and defensive (Sean Desai) coordinators, just a year after their previous coordinators took head coaching jobs after their success last year. Even Jalen Hurts, who was an MVP candidate the season prior, received a bunch of flack from the media this season. Hopefully for his sake, Kellen Moore can come in and rejuvenate the offense, because they're in desperate need of it. Not only that though, the Eagles are getting older, with longtime players like Brandon Graham, Lane Johnson, and Jason Kelce all taking questions about retiring this offseason (with offensive tackle possibly being addressed here). Not only that, but defensively, key players in the secondary, i.e. James Bradberry and Darius Slay, are on the 'wrong side of 30,' with the latter recently turning 33 in January. Mixed in with the Eagles aging secondary, the team allowed 7.8-yards per attempt (27th) and a 66.8% completion rate (26th) after week 13 (per ESPN). Despite drafting Georgia's Kelee Ringo and signing Alabama's Eli Ricks last offseason, corner is still an area of concern for the Eagles. With Vic Fangio coming back to the organization as DC, one would assume the organization would look for a long/athletic corner. Looking at his last two jobs in Denver and Miami, in his first year, the team's added Patrick Surtain II (Denver) in the draft and traded for Jalen Ramsey (Miami), two corners that fit that mold. Based on who's available, Clemson's Nate Wiggins certainly meets the qualifications. At 6'2" 185 lbs., Wiggins has the size that most teams are looking for in a corner in today's NFL. A very long and rangy corner with elite athleticism and short area quickness (expected to run 4.3 at the combine), he fits the mold of exactly what the Eagles could be looking for in a corner prospect. Despite missing two games with a knee injury this past season, Wiggins allowed just 18-catches for 179-yards as the nearest defender in coverage, and two of those were turned into touchdowns (with one pick-six against Florida Atlantic) (per ESPN). Along with his coverage skills, Wiggins rarely gives up on a play, showing great recovery speed to chase down receivers and backs if need be, even totaling six or more tackles three separates times this past season (eight v Miami, seven v North Carolina, six v South Carolina) (look up his forced fumble against North Carolina). I think Wiggins has the physical and mental mack-up to be a very good corner at the next level, certainly filling a need for the Eagles.
23. Houston Texans (via Cleveland) - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Arguably the most shocking team from this past season, the Houston Texans went from having the second overall pick in the draft (and the third after a trade) to not only finishing above .500, but also winning the division and a friggin playoff game. That wasn't supposed to happen, especially for a team with a first year head coach and an apparently stupid quarterback, who will for sure be walking away with the offensive rookie of the year award when it's all said and done. No matter how you slice it, this was an incredible season for the Houston Texans, especially when they really weren't supposed to win more than five games this season. The thing is though, when you have a season like this, when no one expects you to do anything, you've got to make sure you re-tool and replenish, you can't afford to get cocky now (though they have every right to be). That being said, it is difficult to find an exact need for this team heading into the draft, especially since most of their 'big name' players are rookies. If I had to choose one or two areas of 'concern,' I would probably turn my attention to the offensive and defensive line(s). Starting with the offense, they battled a ton of injuries with this unit throughout the season, with Stroud lining up behind center with four different starters on the offensive line from week one to week two. I know we talked about the Dolphins injuries but good lordy, that's an insane turnaround after just one week. That being said, with head coach DeMeco Ryans being a defensive guy, something tells me he'll look to address that side of the ball here in the first round, and worry about the offensive line later on. Now, looking at the defensive line, you've got players like Sheldon Rankins, Derek Barnett, Teair Tart, Hassan Ridgeway, and Jonathan Greenard all entering free agency. Though their individual importances varies, that's a decent amount of depth you could lose this offseason, not to mention Jerry Hughes will also turn 36 in August. Again, for Ryans, I think this is the biggest area of concern, and you could go a couple different directions here. Sure, getting another big body in the middle of the line would certainly help, but I just feel Ryans will try and find Will Anderson a longterm running mate on the outside. If he falls, I think UCLA's Laiatu Latu could be the pick for Houston here at 23. If it weren't for injuries, there's no way Latu would be available for the Texas here with their first round selection. Back when he was at Washington, Latu technically retired from football before 2021 spring practices after Washington's team doctors deemed that his injured neck had not recovered enough and that it would be too dangerous for Latu to continue playing football (per Wiki). After transferring to UCLA to try and re-pursue a career in football, Latu became one of the best edge rushers in the country. The dude ranked first in the nation in total pressures (55) and pressure percentage (19.1%), while ranking ninth nationally with 10.5-sacks. During this past season, he ranked first in pressure percentage (20.1%) and pressures (56) and was fourth in sacks (13, per ESPN). If not for injuries, Latu would be in contention to be the first edge rusher off the board, but sadly these things come into play when the draft rolls around. At 6'5" 265 lbs., Latu would slot in perfectly as the edge rusher opposite of Will Anderson. Moving forward, Houston could have one of the best edge rush tandems in the NFL (Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton was another option here, but I think Latu would be higher on the Texans' draft board).
24. Dallas Cowboys - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Welp, it happened again. Like clockwork, the Dallas Cowboys couldn't get it done in the playoffs. At this point, we should just expect this to happen, rather than be surprised by this never ending cycle of early playoff exits for 'America's Team.' It's really the fact that they lost this year, as every team apart from one will lose in the playoffs each year, but it's how bad they lost. At home, the Cowboys were absolutely embarrassed by Jordan Love and a 9-8 Green Bay Packers team that really had no business being in the Playoffs. Boasting the youngest team in the league, the Packers walked right in to Jerry's World and snatched his chain in front of a national audience, as Love played a near perfect game and the Packers came out 48-32 victors. I'm not exaggerating here, but Jordan Love looked like a seasoned vet against a top-five defense on the road. Like, everyone that caught a pass in this game, apart from Aaron Jones, was either in their first or second year in the league. Just really impressive stuff all things considered. For the Cowboys though, what do you really take away from this game? The team put up very good numbers throughout the regular season, ranking in the top five in both total offense and total defense, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb both ranking in the top three in regards to total passing yards and receiving yards. Hell, Dak even led the league in passing touchdowns this year with 36, so this shouldn't be viewed as doom and gloom time for Dallas, however embarrassing the playoff loss was. So how do you want to build the team for next year? Well, one of the biggest areas to look at is along the offensive line, as longtime stalwart Tyron Smith is entering free agency this offseason, and at 33-years old and given his injury history, I think the Cowboys may look to find his replacement, even if said replacement sits behind Smith for a year or two if they re-sign him. Now, I would look at this differently is Tyler Smith didn't lock up the left guard spot, as the former first round pick was named to the second team All-Pro team this season. Had that not happened, I would imagine they'd kick him back out to tackle (as that's where he played in college), but he's been so good at guard, why change it? Instead, I'm going to have the Cowboys draft a tackle here in the first round, selecting Georgia's Amarius Mims with the 24th pick. An incredibly large human being, standing at 6'7" and weighing in at 340 lbs., Mims has the physical attributes down to be a bookend right tackle at the next level. Despite only starting eight-games in college, the dude only allowed one pressure in more than 150 pass-blocking reps this season, which is pretty impressive. He's your typical Georgia prospect, unnatural size mixed with extreme length and insane power to absolutely drive back opposing defenders. Mims' ceiling is really high, and could stand to learn from a tackle like Johnson for a year or two, as he's obviously extremely raw. If given time, the Cowboys could have beast at either tackle spot for years to come (remember, Tyler Smith was a developmental pick, look how he turned out).
25. Green Bay Packers - Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa
As we brought up with the Cowboys pick, the Green Bay Packers had no business going as far as they did in the playoffs this past season. After finishing the regular season with a 9-8 record, which the youngest team in football, many expected the Dallas Cowboys to roll past their NFC counterpart, with Mike McCarthy getting revenge against the team that fired him back in 2018. Let's just say that didn't happen, as Jordan Love played lights out with the Packers coming away 48-32 road victors, becoming the first seven seed to knock off a two seed in the playoffs (I know there's only been a seven seed for a few years, but it's still funny since it happened to the Cowboys). Sadly for the the Packers, their fairy tale run would come to an end at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. Though I thought they did enough to win that game, a late ill-advised throw from Love ultimately sealed the game, with the the Niners coming out on top 24-21. Though this was impressive end to the season for the Packers, they've still got to build their roster for next season in order to make it even farther in the playoffs the next time around. For the first time in what feels like a long time though, they are not being linked with any of the top receivers in the draft, at least right now, as the likes of Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Bo Melton, Dontayvion Wicks, and Christian Watson have given them the building blocks to have a solid receiving core. Not to mention tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, who each also had solid seasons for the Packers in their rookie seasons. Instead, many out their will expect the Packers to try and re-fortify the offensive line or make improvements in the secondary, as those are arguably their two biggest areas of concern going into the offseason. Starting with the offensive line, the main focus would be to find an eventual replacement for David Bakhtiari, who will be 33 in September while also coming off yet another injury plagued season. In two of the previous three seasons, Bakhtiari has appeared in a combined two games, missing a significant amount of time due to injury. Mixing that with the rumors swirling about him wanting to re-united with Aaron Rodgers in New Jersey and you've got yourself a pretty significant need on your hands. All that being said, there is something standing in the way of that. As we know by now, the Packers are a team of habit, as they apparently believe it's a sin against God to draft a wide receiver in the first round, not drafting one since 2002. Not only that, but the Packers haven't drafted an offensive player (apart from Jordan Love) in the first round since 2011. You want to know what position group they've targeted the most in the first round in recent years? The secondary, using five first round draft picks on corners and safeties since 2014. After trading Rasul Douglas to the Bills at the midway point of last season, and with Eric Stokes starting just 11-games across the past two seasons (plus in a contract year) and Keissean Nixon entering free agency, I think corner may be the Packers top priority entering the draft, especially since Jaire Alexander's future is in question. After drafting Iowa's Lukas Van Ness in the first round last year, I think the Packers go back to the well and select another Hawkeye, this time in the form of Cooper DeJean. This pick just makes so much sense to me. One of the most electrifying players in all of college football, DeJean can make an impact for your team in a multitude of ways, whether that be on defense, special teams, or even offense, he can do a bit of everything. As a corner, he can lock down a whole side of the field, as he had seven interceptions throughout his past two seasons at Iowa (five in 2022), including three pick-sixes. Whether you line him up on the outside or in the slot, DeJean will make a play for you defensively, as his excellent vision and athleticism allow him to guard anybody on the offensive side of the ball. As a return, DeJean served a most of Iowa's offense, totaling 241-return yards this past season (along with a touchdown), which would put him at third on the team in receiving yards, just 58-yards behind leading receiver Erick All (could've had more yards and another touchdown if not for the BS penalty against Minnesota). The dude is just an insane athlete, possessing the size and willingness to be a beast at the next level. Though he's a corner, some suggest he could move to safety at some point. Regardless of his position, he'll continue to make plays (though he could go much higher than this, I feel his late season leg injury could play a factor on how soon/late he's taken).
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Graham Barton, iOL/OT, Duke
To be honest, I have no idea where to go with this pick. Much like some of the other teams we mentioned before, the Buccaneers could be tossed into the pool of teams that surprised people this past season. After losing Tom Brady (technically for the second time) to retirement, the Bucs brought in Baker Mayfield to compete with former second round pick Kyle Trask for the starting quarterback position. I don't know about you, but that battle didn't necessarily fill me with confidence, especially because it felt like the team took a long ass time to name either as the starter going into week one. I don't know about y'all, but I had relatively low expectations for the Buccaneers, despite the talent they had on the defensive side of the ball. For me, I just thought the defense would have to play lights out throughout the season for the Bucs to have an iota of a chance to win games, because I wasn't confident that the offense, despite boasting Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, would be able to score the necessary amount of points to win anything more than like five or six games. In reality, Tampa not only ended up finishing above .500, but they won the division and beat the reigning Super Bowl runners up in the opening round of the playoffs in rather convincing fashion. Though their run would end after their next playoff game against the Detroit Lions, the Bucs can feel good with how this season went, for the most part. Going into the offseason though, we may have some issues. As of right now, players like Mayfield, Evans, Devin White, Lavonte David, William Gholston, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Aaron Stinnie are all entering free agency this offseason. Though I have a hard time seeing them let most of these guys walk, it is an interesting problem to be facing this offseason. That's where the problems with this pick come into play. Depending on who they sign/re-sign, or don't, that completely changes this pick. If Mike Evans leaves, one would imagine the Bucs move for a wide receiver first. If one or both of the linebackers leave, maybe they move for Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper. Who the hell knows. We can go on and on about who the Bucs either will or won't resign, but one thing we can guarantee is that center Ryan Jensen will not be there next season. After being ever present along the offensive line, Jensen missed most of the past two seasons due to a knee injury, appearing in just one game across those two seasons. That's a massive hole to fill for the Bucs, Jensen has widely been considered to be one of the best centers in the league for some time now. I think this is an area the Bucs should look to address. Though this may be a little early for some, Duke's Graham Barton could be a very nice addition for the Bucs offensive line. While playing for the Blue Devils, Barton spent most of his time as the team's starting left tackle, starting at the position for his final three-years in college. He also spent time at center as well, starting five and playing six games at that position during his freshman season. Despite spending most of his career at left tackle, many expect Barton to kick inside at the next level, as at 6'5" 314 lbs. with 'average' length, he's not necessarily the most 'ideal' looking tackle (though I think he could manage just fine). That being said, Barton is quick at the point of attack, getting out of his stance fast to pull and get to the second level. With that, the dude is an excellent run blocker, as his speed and compact frame help him to drive back defenders with ease. He still may need some development as a pass blocker, though it does take some time for him to ultimately lose out against an opposing pass rusher. His length sometimes comes into play in those situations, as he can sometimes struggle to separate, but the dude never gives up on a play, which is exactly what you would like from an offensive linemen, regardless of position. This past season, the Bucs ranked dead last in both rush yards per game (88.8) and rush yards per carry (3.4), adding someone like Barton would boost your run game tenfold. His athleticism and dominance in the run game would really help out in improving the Bucs rough run offense, as he could slot in nicely at center replacing Ryan Jensen. I think he'd be a very nice pick-up for the Buccaneers (corner, edge rusher, and wide receiver are also options here with this pick, with Washington's Bralen Trice probably being my next option).
27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston) - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
This is really an odd selection for the Arizona Cardinals, and not for the reasons you're thinking. Looking back at the 2023 NFL Draft, when the Houston Texans shot up from 12 to three to select Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., who thought the Cardinals were going to have the top two picks in the 2024 draft? Because, that's what the world seemed to think once the trade went through, not a lot of people out there were really expecting the Texans to go on and win their division and a playoff game, it just didn't seem possible. To make things even better, Anderson turned out to be a stud, and the Texans (had they owned this pick) would've wound up with the 27th pick in the draft. A far cry from the Cardinals having the top two picks, right? To be honest though, I don't think either team is really complaining. Now, if the Texans didn't own the Browns pick from the Deshaun Watson trade, maybe they'd feel a little differently, but as far as I can tell, both teams made it out alright. After getting arguably the best overall player in the draft at four, the Cardinals are back on the clock and will probably look to address two different areas. One being along the offensive line, and the other coming in the secondary (or along the edge). As for the offensive line, this is more to try and find an eventual replacement for either DJ Humphries (who's coming off a torn ACL) or Kelvin Beachum, who was the starting right tackle before Paris Johnson Jr. came to town. Another thing to mention is that both Humphries and Beachum are on the wrong side of 30, with the latter turning 35 in June, so a tackle here would definitely make sense. But with the main 'top' tackles already coming off the board prior to this pick, I think the Cardinals may look to boost their secondary first, especially with Antonio Hamilton entering free agency this offseason. Though the Cardinals secondary didn't allow a ton of yards this past season, they got eaten up in regards to opponents completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns, interceptions, and passer rating, ranking in the bottom two in completion percentage and passer rating, while also ranking in the bottom 10 in the other categories as well. With head coach Jonathan Gannon coming from Philadelphia, who put a decent amount of time and effort into crafting their secondary, I feel like he could implement the same strategy here by selecting Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry. Similar to what the New York Jets did in the 2022 draft, the Cardinals could come away with potential stars at both wide receiver and cornerback, with the corner coming in with one of, if not the, coolest name(s) in the draft. I understand it's not his real name, but Kool-Aid McKinstry is such a buttery name, possibly going down as one of the greatest of all time, right? The thing is though, he's more than just a sick ass name, as McKinstry and teammate Terrion Arnold created one of the most feared corner tandems in all of college football, despite not getting as much attention as Arnold this past season. Across three years at Alabama, McKinstry batted away 23-passes, ranking in the top three in passes defended in 2022 with a whopping 15, ranking behind the likes of Quinyon Mitchell (19) and jointly Penn State's Kalen King. Though he only came away with two-interceptions throughout his collegiate career, the dude was able to lock down a whole side of the field, with opposing quarterbacks completely avoiding his side of the field. The only real 'issue' with McKinstry is that he may not possess the same speed, or quickness, as some of the other top corners in the draft, with some viewing his ceiling as lower than the other first round options. That being said, he's a smooth operator in coverage and as consistent as they come, which is why I'm sure the Cardinals wouldn't mind him falling into their laps here with the 27th pick.
28. Buffalo Bills - Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
As the old saying goes, time is a flat circle. Despite beating the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season for the third time in a row, the Buffalo Bills season ended with yet another heart breaking loss to the aforementioned Chiefs, losing 27-24 at home to close out the season. That being said, throughout certain portions of the season, many may not have expected the Bills to be even close to that spot, especially after they started the season 6-6, with loses coming against the Jets, Patriots, and Broncos, plus a near Sunday Night Football loss to the Giants. All in all, the early to mid portion of the season was a complete and utter mess, with the Bills firing offensive coordinator, Ken Dorsey, after their 24-22 home loss to the Denver Broncos. After the bye though (and I guess even before the bye after the second Jets game) things definitely started to turn around, as Buffalo was able to rally and pick up wins against the Chiefs, Cowboys, and Dolphins to not only sneak into the Playoffs, but pick up the two seed and claim their fourth straight division title. What an insane season it was, especially when you rope in the media driven Stefon Diggs drama and the quotes made by head coach Sean McDermott. It's a testament to them that they were able to ignore the noise and make the playoffs but again, same story different season. So, what do you do to get over that proverbial hump? It's not like the Bills have a ton of cap space to work with, as the organization ranks in the bottom three in regards to that heading into the offseason. With that, the Bills will have to make some extremely tough calls on who, and who not to bring back this coming season, as the likes of Da'Quon Jones, Leonard Floyd, Dane Jackson, Tyrel Dodson, Trent Sherfield, AJ Epenesa, Cam Lewis, Ty Johnson, and Gabe Davis (among others) are all entering free agency this offseason. Though their individual importances vary, the Bills could be without some key starters going into next season, namely wide receiver, and captain, Gabe Davis. To me, that's the biggest area for the Bills to address, as I just don't see a reality where Davis comes back to Buffalo in free agency. Sure he had his moments (i.e. the 2021 divisional round against Kansas City) but his time in Buffalo has been marred with inconsistency, with\ no one really knowing how good, or bad, he actually was. One game he'd go off for about 150-yards on five-catches with two-touchdowns, then the next he'd have about eight-yards with one-catch and three-drops, with one of those drops ending up in the arms of a defender. With Stefon Diggs now over the age of 30, I think it'd be wise for the Bills to look to add another option for Josh Allen on the outside to pair with Diggs and Khalil Shekir. Though you could go a couple different directions, to me, Oregon's Troy Franklin just feels like a Buffalo Bill, which is why I have them taking him here with the 28th pick in the draft. At 6'3" 187 lbs., Troy Franklin is one of the best deep ball threats in the draft, with 31% of his routes classifying as deep routes (per ESPN), the dude averaged an impressive 17.1-yards per reception this past season to go along with 1,383-yards and 14-touchdowns. A guy with speed to burn, Franklin could hurt you either in the slot or on the outside, using his speed and quick breaks to lose defenders in coverage. Despite some drops, Franklin does an excellent job at tracking the deep ball, which is something the Bills will miss with Davis potentially leaving. Despite not being the 'thickest' receiver, Franklin still managed to rank inside the top-50 in regards to broken/missed tackles per reception (per SIS), which is something the Bills seem to look for in draft prospects. I think the Bills have to get another receiving option early in the draft, and Franklin just seems like the ideal target. An insane deep threat who's good after the catch is exactly what the Bills need, he'd fit in rather nicely in this new Joe Brady led offense.
29. Detroit Lions - Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
We were so close to seeing something magical. Just one more win, and we would've seen the Detroit Lions make it to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. That would've been insane on a multitude of levels, especially since in 2008 we saw the Lions become the first 0-16 in league history. Imagine being alive to see the Lions not only go 0-16, but also make the Super Bowl. That's almost too much to wrap my brain around, and yet it was almost a reality. To many out there, the Detroit Lions were going to be an improved team from the season before, as ever since Dan Campbell took over in 2021, the Lions have been on a steady upwards trajectory, going from 3-13-1 in Campbell's first year to 12-5 this past season, a complete 180 degree turnaround, and in just three-seasons. That's insanely impressive stuff, especially when you consider how much shit the Lions got for their draft last year. Despite most people expecting Detroit to take a corner and potentially someone to go along the defensive line in the first round, the Lions traded back and select Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell, two insane reaches to most people out there, especially when you consider Detroit traded former second round pick, DeAndre Swift to Philadelphia just before the draft. Not only that, but the Lions selected another former Hawkeye, Sam LaPorta, in the second round, despite most people thinking that Notre Dame's Michael Mayer was the better prospect. Despite of what people said, two of those three players wound up being finalists for rookie of the year, with LaPorta also being named as a second team All-Pro. All in all, this was a fantastic season for the Lions, with their rookies balling out all season long. Though they may have a rather unconventional approach, Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have done an excellent job at building this roster, and I expect that to continue here. Looking at the Lions current roster, most of their needs lie on the defensive side of the ball, as they ranked in the bottom half in regards to total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and points allowed, ranking in the bottom six in regards to passing defense, giving up 247.4-yards per game while also conceding 28-passing touchdowns. Though rookie Brian Branch was very good at nickel this past season, the Lions still need some help in the secondary, especially since the likes of Kindle Vildor, Emmanuel Moseley, and Will Harris are all entering free agency this offseason. In a division with Jordan Love, Kirk Cousins (if he re-signs), and potentially Caleb Williams, the Lions have to get better in the secondary, which is why I have them taking Missouri's Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with the 29th pick. To me, Rakestraw just feels like a future Detroit Lion. The dude is an energizer bunny in the secondary, playing with extreme energy and toughness that sees him ranked in the bottom-15 percentile at his position in 'fatigue rate' (per NFL Network). The dude just never gets tired, and doesn't stop til the whistle, which is the perfect Dan Campbell corner. With that, Rakestraw is excellent against the run (despite only being 6'0" 188 lbs.), as he attacks those trying to block him, rather than wait for them to get to him. He then does a fantastic job at reading the runners movements, being able to make plays on the ball. In coverage, Rakestraw shows very nice fluidity, while also not over committing on the deep ball or underneath routes. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he went a lot higher than this, but for now, he finds a home in Detroit. He'd be a perfect fit for the Lions secondary, giving them a legit corner along the outside.
30. Baltimore Ravens - Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
Close, but not close enough for the Baltimore Ravens. Despite finishing the regular season with the league's best record (13-4) and making it to their first AFC Championship game since 2012, the Ravens couldn't get past the NFL's new boogie men, the Kansas City Chiefs. Though they came up short on the final hurdle, the Ravens did a lot of really good things this season, winning their first division title since 2019 while also posting the league's top scoring defense, making them one of the hardest teams to beat from this past season. Not only that, but we also saw quarterback Lamar Jackson come away with his second MVP award. Despite posting average passing numbers throughout the season (while also registering a team high 821-rushing yards), Jackson came up big for Baltimore later in the season in massive match-ups against the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins, registering his third career perfect passer rating against the latter in a 56-19 home beatdown. Overall, this was a very solid season for the Ravens, though I'm sure they wished their season lasted just one more game, playing for their third Super Bowl title in the franchise's rather short existence. All that being said, for teams that finish near the top of the NFL, it's sometimes hard to pinpoint exact needs. If I had to mention a couple, they more or less reside on the defensive side of the ball, which is kind of insane to think about given how elite they were this past season (though receiver could be an option as well). The main areas to focus in on come along the edges and in the secondary. Starting with the latter, apart from Marlon Humphrey, the Ravens could use an upgrade at the cornerback position, especially since the likes of Rock Ya-Sin, Ronald Darby, Daryl Worthy, and Arthur Maulet are all entering free agency this offseason. Speaking of free agency, the Ravens have a decent amount of starters entering the market, with the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Kevin Zeitler, Gus Edwards, Nelson Agholor, Patrick Queen, Jadeveon Clowney, Geno Stone, JK Dobbins, Justin Madubuike, Brent Urban, Devin Duvernay, Kyle Van Noy (among others) all available for the taking. The Ravens will have some tough choices to make, but arguably none harder than along the defensive line, and on the edges (though Patrick Queen may be out the door, in regards to the draft, I feel they'll address that need later). Though Clowney and Van Noy are free agents, a massive decision needs to be made about defensive tackle Justin Madubuike. This past season, the dude picked up a whopping 13-sacks and 12-tackles for loss, while also registering the sixth most quarterback hits this past season. He's going to command a massive payday this offseason, and I'm not sure Baltimore will be able to retain him, which leads me to believe that they may draft someone in his position with this pick. To me, someone who could potentially fill that hole is Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton. Though he may not be the biggest interior d-lineman (6'2" 295 lbs.), Newton was extremely productive throughout his time at Illinois, registering 18-sacks across four-seasons, while also setting a new career high this past season with 7.5-sacks. Quick and powerful from the inside, Newton has shown versatility to play in multiple positions across the defensive line, giving new DC Zach Orr a nice piece to play with on the defensive side of the ball. Again, though he may not be the biggest, he uses his power to push back offensive linemen, and uses a relentless motor to chase down backs out of the backfield. A very good player throughout his time in college, I think Newton would be a very nice addition to the Ravens defensive line.
31. San Francisco 49ers - Jordan Morgan, iOL/OT, Arizona
A year after coming a game short of the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers are back 'where they belong' as one of the top dogs on the NFL. One of the most historic franchises in league history, it feels right when the 49ers are playing in the Super Bowl. To be honest though, I think most people saw this coming at the start of the season (at least I did). After losing the way they did in Philadelphia, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that the 49ers came into this season with a fiery vengeance, as they were arguably the best team in the league throughout longer portions of the season. It's funny how the football world works though, after they dismantled the Cowboys 42-10 on national television, I had a hard time imagining them losing another game throughout the season. Wouldn't you know it? The damn Niners lost their next three-games against the Browns, Vikings, and Bengals to go from 5-0 to 5-3. I don't think many out there really saw that coming. After the bye week though, they started to right the ship, as they won their next six-games before losing to the Ravens on Christmas Day. Though they didn't play their greatest during the Playoffs, they still did enough to make it to the big dance, against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, a rematch of Super Bowl 54 where the Chiefs came out on top 31-20. Now, I'm writing this before the Super Bowl, so I don't know what happened, but what I can tell you is that this Niners team is insanely talented, both on offense and defense. Defensively, they have the likes of Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Dre Greelaw, Fred Warner, and Charvarius Ward, with Warner and Ward both making NFL All-Pro teams. Offensively though, that's where things get fun, as the Niners were the first team in NFL history to have four skill position players go for over 1,000-yards of total offense, with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and, of course, Christian McCaffrey having their typical seasons, with quarterback Brock Purdy keeping it all together (can't forget about Kyle Juszczyk and Trent Williams). This is just an insanely complete team, and with complete teams comes little to no real needs come draft day, at least at face value. Though the likes of corner (opposite of Ward) and edge rusher could be addressed, I think the Niners should look to strengthen their offensive line, especially since they haven't really had a set unit throughout the season. Though they've held their own, the right side of the o-line is the main area to upgrade, as I don't think Jon Feliciano and Colton McKivitz are longterm options at right guard and right tackle (Feliciano is also a free agent). Not to mention the Niners ranked 27th in pass block win rate during the regular season (54.3%), making this probably the obvious choice here in the latter stages of the first round. For the Niners, I think they make a move for someone like Arizona's Jordan Morgan. Though he may not be as freakishly massive as some of the other top offensive tackles in this class (6'5" 325 lbs.), Morgan possesses fantastic athleticism from the tackle position. He rarely gets beat for speed coming off the edge, as he's able to kick back with an explosive first step to get to depth, getting out of his stance with the upmost urgency. That being said, if and when he does lose the battle off the line of scrimmage, his aforementioned athleticism allows him to gather himself before giving up a sack, or a TFL. Now, an area where Morgan needs to continue to improve is in the run game, as he'll probably need to add some more strength to his game at the next level, as he doesn't produce a ton of force when moving downfield. That being said, a lot of tackles come into the league like that, well refined in one area but still a working progress in the other. The 49ers have to get better in pass protection, and by adding someone like Jordan Morgan, they'd definitely be heading in the right direction.
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Darius Robinson, DL/EDGE, Missouri
I hate this team with a burning passion. Despite not being in the same division, the Kansas City Chiefs and my Buffalo Bills play each other damn near twice every single year. Despite my team coming out on top in the last three regular season games, the Chiefs have owned the Bills when it maters most, in the Playoffs, recently beating the Bills, in Buffalo, 27-24, in Patrick Mahomes' first road Playoff game no less. The Chiefs are just inevitable, aren't they? Like, if there was the year to beat them, it was this one. Throughout the entire regular season, the Chiefs had numerous questions brought up against them, with almost all of them focusing in on the offensive side of the ball, with even Mahomes and Travis Kelce receiving some flack this season. Look, we all know Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in football, but for his standard, 4,183-yards with 27-touchdowns and 14-interceptions is not great. Same goes for Kelce, as he posted less than 1,000-yards receiving for the first time since 2015, while also recording just five-receiving touchdowns. But, as the old saying goes, their bad years are some player's career years. Despite their 'bad' years, they more than turned it on in the Playoffs, which is what you expect from the great players. Apart from them, the receivers were borderline atrocious all season long, as Chief receivers lead the league in drops with 44. Though rookie Rashee Rice has stepped up as of late, veterans like Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney had messy regular seasons, with the latter having at least two drops turning into interceptions this season (and an offsides that destroyed Travis Kelce's legacy). Even the offensive line had questions thrown their way, as last season's big free agent signing, right tackle Jawaan Taylor, racked up 17-penalties this season. With all that being said, you would think the Chiefs would address the offensive side of the ball with their first pick, right? Well, though that's the obvious direction, part of me thinks they'll look to address the defense first, and here's why. Though they ranked in the top five in total, passing, and scoring defense, the Chiefs will have some tough decisions to make in regards to free agency, namely when it comes to the likes of Chris Jones and L'Jarius Sneed. Though I think there's a reality in which they re-sign both, I still think Kansas City will look to continue to strengthen their defense via the draft, as they've done in recent years. GM Brett Veach has done a great job at building this defense, with Steve Spagnuolo's defense getting better and better with the additions brought in through the draft. Though he may eventually move inside, I think Missouri's Darius Robinson would be a very nice pick for the Chiefs here in the latter stages of the first round. After very good week at the Senior Bowl, Robinson has thrust himself thoroughly into the first round conversation. Voted 'practice player of the week,' at 6'5" 286 lbs., Robinson could fill multiple positions across the Chiefs 4-3 defensive front, spending time both inside and outside throughout his time at Missouri. That positional versatility is something Spags really looks for in defensive linemen, with Robinson's 35" reach giving him a sometimes unfair advantage against opposing offensive linemen. He may not have the most explosive first step, but for what he lacks in that he makes up for in effort and determination, which helps him out a lot when playing against the run. This past season, Robinson registered 8.5-sacks for a Missouri Tiger team that finished 11-2 with a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State, where Robinson picked up a sack. He's very violent with his hands, while also using his aforementioned arm length to rip around blockers to get to the quarterback. A powerful and versatile defensive linemen, Robinson has the make-up to fit in Spags' defense. Whether it's inside or outside, this dude could make a difference for the Chiefs defense, reuniting him with former Missouri teammate Nick Bolton (Mike Danna is a free agent and Charles Omenihu will be coming off an ACL injury, so this pick is not necessarily dependent on Jones coming back or not, I just think he's a good fit) (also, Jones will be 30 in July, so this pick could make sense on that front too).
Positions Drafted
Quarterbacks - 4
Running Backs - 0
Wide Receivers - 5
Tight Ends - 1
Offensive Tackles - 7
Interior Offensive Line - 3
Interior Defensive Line - 3
EDGE Rushers - 3
Linebackers - 0
Cornerbacks - 6
Safeties - 0
Just Missed Out
*alphabetical order by position
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Tez Walker, WR, North Carolina
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Zach Frazier, iOL, West Virginia
T'Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
Jonah Elliss, EDGE, Utah
Demeioun 'Chop' Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
TJ Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami (FL)
Tory Taylor, P, Iowa
Thank you for taking the time to read through the list! Hope you enjoyed it! If you did, give the article a like and comment down below how you felt!
While you're at it, go subscribe and/or follow me on all forms of social media!
Facebook: The Logan Blackman Show
Instagram (personal): @blackmanlogan
Instagram (show): @theloganblackmanshow1
LinkedIn: Logan Blackman
TikTok: @theloganblackmanshow
Twitter: @logan_blackman
YouTube: The Logan Blackman Show
Comentarios