Hello everybody and welcome back to yet another Draft "Expert" mock draft! Man oh man we are inching ever so close to the 2024 NFL Draft, and though it seems like at this point we have more questions than answers, it doesn't make it any less fun to try and predict!
Like, wouldn't you think that after the combine things would start to become a little more clear? I guess in some cases that's true, but I still don't have a clear grasp on what each team is going to do. As for someone who over analyses everything, having answers for the thing I over analyze the most would be really helpful.
Regardless of if my questions are getting answered or not, I am really exciting to bring you this mock draft as this is the first one of the season that has trades! Which could make this better or worse, depending on how you look at it.
With the trades, there are four quarterbacks, six wide receivers, one tight end, eight offensive tackles, two interior offensive linemen, two interior defensive linemen, four edge rushers, and five cornerbacks!
With all that being said, 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 2.0! Enjoy!
Podcast Links
Pictured: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan; Rome Odunze, WR, Washington; Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina) - Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Before the combine, I wasn't necessarily sure what the Bears were going to do with the first overall pick. Since then though, I am about 99% sure that Ryan Poles and co. will select USC's Caleb Williams with the top pick in the draft. The reason I've reached this astonishing conclusion comes down to a couple of factors. Number one, and this may be seen as lazy, but the current Bears front office has absolutely no affiliation to Justin Fields, as they were not around when they traded up to get him in 2021. Number two, in my opinion, Caleb Williams is the better player, plain and simple. Now, I understand Bears' fans worries about drafting another quarterback, especially after retaining Matt Eberflus this offseason. In a seemingly never ending cycle, the Bears will have a coach then draft a quarterback. Then fire said coach and keep the quarterback. Then trade, release, or get rid of said quarterback after the new coach's first season, and so on and so forth. Just look at John Fox to Trubisky, then Trubisky to Nagy, then Nagy to Fields, then Fields to Eberflus, now we're talking about Eberflus to Williams? Again, I understand the hesitancy, but to me, Williams is the better player. One of the best off script quarterbacks of the common draft era, Williams' ability to make something seemingly out of nothing is astonishing. Whether it's in the run or pass game, Williams will make a play for the offense. That being said, there are times he can hold on to the ball a little longer than many out there would like, and though I will accredit some of that to him, the main reason behind that comes from the offense he was running at USC. An air raid system with no real talent on the outside and a beyond suspect offensive line doesn't necessarily make for the quickest offense, so when Williams buys time, more often then not it's out necessity rather than him just doing it to do it. Like, if you were to take a look at USC's offense last season, which of those players will get drafted in the first three rounds of the draft? You may be able to find one, if you're lucky. As for the defensive side of the ball, forget about it. Throughout his colligate career, Caleb Williams led teams have lost 10-games. In those 10-games, his defense(s) allowed 38, 36, 52, 34, 48, 46, 47, 43, 37, and 27, that's an average of 40.8-points per game, so you can miss me with Williams' record against top-25 teams. It's hard enough competing against the other team's defense, it's even harder when you're also competing against your own. All in all, Caleb Williams is a truly special player from the quarterback position. He's got everything you look for in a potential franchise quarterback, from arm talent to mobility, to ad-libbing to being smart with the ball. In two-years at USC Williams totaled 72-touchdowns to just 10-interceptions, but please, keep bringing up the Notre Dame game and tell me how he's 'careless' with the football (though he can get caught carrying the ball in one hand in Shady McCoy when running the ball). The 'generational' talk scares me, but Williams is the real deal, and should be the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. I think he can more than handle a Bears fanbase that is desperate for their first ever real franchise quarterback (outside of Sid Luckman).
2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Much like the Caleb Williams pick before, I'm not necessarily 100% sure on which direction the Washington Commanders go here with the second overall pick. Sure, I'm fairly confident that the team will select a quarterback, I'm just not sure about which one. Obviously the main two in this conversation are LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye, though I definitely wouldn't rule out Michigan's JJ McCarthy here with this pick, especially since his stock continues to only go north the closer we get to the draft. Though again I won't rule it out, the choice right now seems to be between Daniels and Maye and based current rumors, it's hard not to say they don't end up going with the former. Now this will probably flip back and forth 100-times throughout the draft process, especially when you look at some of the recent rumors surrounding Maye and the Commanders. With the decision resting on new general manager Adam Peters' shoulders, some out there have reported that Peters is 'really into' the North Carolina product after sitting down with him at the combine. Not only that, but Maye definitely fits the system that new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will be running in Washington, as North Carolina ran an air raid style offense in Maye's first season as the starter under current Wisconsin OC Phil Longo. Though all of that may be true, according to people much closer to the draft than I, Jayden Daniels will more than likely be the second overall pick in draft. The best player in college football this past season, Daniels' vast improvement as a passer is why he is being considered for a top threepick. Always seen as a great athlete, Daniels just couldn't find the necessary consistency in the passing game early in his colligate 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 this past season. The fact of the matter is that Daniels is one of the most athletically gifted quarterbacks in recent draft memory. A mixture of breakaway speed and a great deep ball, Jayden Daniels can beat you in a multitude of ways, giving opposing defensive coordinators nightmares the days and weeks before a game. Like against Florida, the dude totaled over 600-yards of total offense (372-passing 234-rushing) with five-total touchdowns in a 52-35 home victory. Absolutely ridiculous numbers like these left many in awe of his abilities. Even current Commanders head coach, Dan Quinn, called Daniels a 'game changer' in a nice little game of word association last week. As a defensive minded head coach, Quinn knows first hand of how hard it is to defend someone like Jayden Daniels. In the same breath, he knows how impactful a quarterback with that skill set can be, giving the opposition 100-different things to think about once the ball is snapped. 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. For someone who's not necessarily the biggest, that's something he definitely needs to improve on. Regardless, Daniels is a truly special player, and I think he would benefit from learning from former second overall pick, Marcus Mariota in Washington. Again, my opinion will change numerous times leading up to the draft, but as of right now, it seems like Daniels is the pick.
3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Believe me when I say, I almost didn't have the Patriots selecting a quarterback here with their first pick in the draft, but can you really blame me? Like yes, I am aware New England has a need at the quarterback position that has to be filled (especially now since Mac Jones was traded to Jacksonville) but this team is really a complete and utter mess, especially on the offensive side of the ball. I know he's been bad recently, but I can't just throw all of the Patriots problems down at the feet of Jones, who has had a conveyor belt of offensive coordinators and weapons around him. Like, who would succeed with a combination of Joe Judge (former special teams coordinator) and Matt Patricia (defensive mastermind) as co-offensive coordinators? Bring forth your greatest warrior and I challenge them to succeed in those circumstances. I'm not saying Mac Jones is a fantastic quarterback by any means, but he was far from the only problem. We'll get back to quarterback in a little bit but as for the other issues, receiver and offensive line are big areas of concern as well. With starting left and right tackles, Trent Brown and Michael Onwenu, both entering free agency this offseason (though they did recently sign the latter back on a three-year deal), a trade back could definitely be on the cards, especially after hearing de facto GM Eliot Wolf may want to 'stock pile' picks. Hell, maybe New England just takes Notre Dame's Joe Alt here with the third overall pick, wouldn't be the first time the Patriots surprised everyone on draft day. More likely, maybe they move for star Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. here at three, especially since they're apparently shopping DeVante Parker and only have JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquon Thornton, Demario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte on the roster, with the latter being alleged to have placed 8,900-wagers while underage, including at least six on LSU football games. From what I've read, this pick ultimately comes down to if 'their guy' is available or not. Based on that, with Drake Maye falling past Washington, New England seems likely to stay put and select him here with the third overall pick in the draft (much to the chagrin of the Minnesota Vikings). Maybe it's just prospect fatigue, but the conversations surrounding Maye and his skill set as a quarterback have driven me absolutely insane these past couple weeks. The dude can play. At 6'4" 223 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. One of the issues surrounding 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. His mechanics may be a work in progress, but I think sitting behind the recently signed Jacoby Brissett could be very beneficial for Maye. Like I said in the last mock draft, he may've worn number 10 and played at North Carolina but trust me, he's not Mitchell Trubisky. I think this is a very good fit for all parties.
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 6'3" 209 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 (some reports suggest the Cardinals could trade back, but I just have a hard time seeing them pass on Harrison if he's available).
5. Chicago Bears (via Los Angeles) - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
This may come as a little surprise to some of you out there, but I think the Bears and GM Ryan Poles could be really aggressive come draft night, as seen by moving up from nine to five to select Washington receiver Rome Odunze. Now, why would the Bears need to move up four-spots to select a wide receiver? As the old saying goes, 'control what you can control.' If the Bears are looking to add more weapons on the outside like most reports suggest, they shouldn't just sit on their hands and hope one of the top three receivers falls to them at nine, especially with every team above them potentially in the receiver market. By moving up to five, Chicago has a chance to select 'their guy,' jumping the likes of New York, Tennessee, and Atlanta in the process. Though receiver may not be each of those teams 'top' needs, there is enough of a need there to, in my opinion, kind of force the issue a little bit. Not to mention, depending on who you ask, the receivers that sit atop the draft could be seen as top five players in the entire draft, let alone position. I think this would be a very smart move by the Bears who definitely need to improve the weapons on the outside before Caleb Williams' first game (if he's drafted by Chicago of course). Now, obviously the Bears have DJ Moore, who they got 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 (very likely Williams), they could really use some help along the outside. Though you're splitting hairs here, I think the Bears would be smart to select former Washington Husky Rome Odunze here with the fifth 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" 212 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. In my opinion, this is a perfect fit for everyone involved.
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. With Michigan's JJ McCarthy still available, one could expect to see him come off the board here at six. That being said, I think the Giants may look to help build around Jones, at least for the time being. 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 splitting 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 (quarterback is obviously an option here, but right now, I think the only quarterback the Giants would go for is North Carolina's Drake Maye).
7. Minnesota Vikings (via Tennessee) - JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Well, I think the decision about what the Minnesota Vikings are going to do come draft day just got a whole lot simpler. After not being able to retain Kirk Cousins this offseason (who signed a four-year deal in Atlanta), Minnesota will be going into the regular season with former third overall pick Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback, at least for now. Despite having some needs on the defensive side of the ball, there's zero chance the Vikings go into next season with Darnold, Nick Mullens, and last year's fifth round pick Jaren Hall as the only quarterbacks on the roster. Now, if your plan is to get Justin Jefferson out of town quicker, that'd certainly be the way to go. But seriously, the Vikings have to come away with somebody they consider a potential franchise quarterback, especially since they've got all the pieces in place to be very good on the offensive side of the ball. With Kevin O'Connell at the helm, the Vikings have (depending on who you ask) the best receiver in the league in Jefferson, a really good number two option in the form of Jordan Addison (last year's first round pick), an elite tight end in TJ Hockenson, and one of the more underrated offensive lines in the league, spear headed by left tackle Christian Darrisaw. They were also able to upgrade at running back this offseason by bringing in Aaron Jones from Green Bay, who signed on a one-year deal (love the pettiness). With Darnold in as the 'bridge' quarterback, Minnesota is truly one of the best spots to land if you're a rookie quarterback. Everything is in place for them to succeed, now it's just a matter of figuring out which one Minnesota wants to take. In a perfect world, I'm sure they'd love to select North Carolina's Drake Maye, especially after bringing in his former assistant high school coach Josh McCown to serve as the team's quarterback coach. As someone who benched his own son in favor of Maye, I'm sure no one wants to take the North Carolina product more than McCown, but as of right now, I just don't see that as a realistic option. Apart from Maye, sure the likes or Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. are solid options, but to me, the most natural fit for the Minnesota Vikings is Michigan's JJ McCarthy. As someone who is a big fan of McCarthy, to me, the dude just feels like a perfect fit for what Kevin O'Connell wants to do on the offensive side of the ball. Though some are coming around, 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. Like I said before, Minnesota has all the resources to breed a successful young quarterback, and I think sitting behind Sam Darnold for a year (potentially) would be very beneficial for him. You'll probably have to trade up to get him, but, this is one of my favorite fits in the draft (Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Titans GM Ran Carthon worked together in San Francisco, making this trade go through smoothly).
8. Atlanta Falcons - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Though receiver is certainly an option here after signing Kirk Cousins, I think the Falcons finally need address their pass rushing issue. Like, this seems like a never ending theme when it comes to the draft and the Atlanta Falcons. Every single year everyone and their moms rant on and on about why the Falcons need to draft an edge rusher, and yet they never do it. Despite ranking in the bottom two in two of the past three seasons in sack production, the Falcons seemingly ignore this glaring flaw in their team. Now, I am aware that there is more to a pass rush than just sacking the quarterback but still, they haven't ranked in the top half of the league in sacks since 2017, and yet they still ignore it. Even though they ranked closer to the top half this year than the previous two, their top two pass rushers from this past season, Calais Campbell (6.5) and Bud Dupree (6.5) are both entering free agency, with both also being on the wrong side of 30. In regards to pass rush win rate, the Falcons ranked 32nd with an abysmal 30.9%, while also ranking 29th in takeaways with 16 (per ESPN). Though there's part of me that thinks the Falcons will keep trying to stock pile offensive weapons, they have to finally address the defensive side of the ball in the first round, something GM Terry Fontenot has not done throughout his tenure in Atlanta. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they took Alabama corner Terrion Arnold or Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell here with this pick (given Raheem Morris and Jimmy Lake's previous history as secondary coaches), I think the Falcons may just take the best pass rusher available, which is another Crimson Tide player, this coming in the form of Dallas Turner. An athletic edge rusher that can make plays in the run game as well as get after the quarterback, Turner would fit in very nicely if the Falcons stick with their 3-4 defense. At 6'4" 242 lbs., Turner finished his Alabama career with 22.5-sacks across three seasons, registering a calm and 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. After putting up very impressive numbers at the combine, many out there suspect Turner has locked up spot inside the top-10. With the Falcons in constant need of pass rushers, this pick just makes too much sense, regardless of their recent draft history. With the aforementioned Raheem Morris in as the full time head coach, I'm sure addressing the defense will be atop his wish list for the draft. Turner could potentially solve the Falcons problems off the edge (I did toy with the idea of sending Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell, or a wide receiver here, but Dallas Turner just feels like a natural fit in Atlanta).
9. Los Angeles Chargers (via Chicago) - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
After striking a trade with the Chicago Bears, who selected former Washington receiver Rome Odunze, the Bolts are now on the clock here with the ninth overall pick. Depending on who you ask, the Chargers could go in a multitude of different directions with their first selection in the draft, with almost all of them coming on the offensive side of the ball. Starting off on the outside, with longtime option Keenan Allen turning 32 in late April, and former top-10 pick, Mike Williams, potentially being a cap casualty this offseason. Not to mention last year's first round pick, Quentin Johnston, didn't necessarily light the world alight during his rookie campaign, with his most notable contribution coming way of a drop against the Green Bay Packers. Along with that, tight end Gerald Everett is entering free agency this offseason, and with Donald Parham and Stone Smartt the only tight ends currently on the roster, it would definitely make sense for the Chargers to look towards that direction in the draft, especially since Harbaugh recruited Georgia product Brock Bowers out of high school. All that being said, there a couple of things Jim Harbaugh loves to do that the Chargers currently don't, and those things are establishing the run and being physical at the point of attack. Along with that, in listening to recent interviews, Harbaugh stated that their main focus would be to protect Justin Herbert, which is another thing the Bolts don't do all too well. Not only that, but new offensive coordinator Greg Roman asked reports, 'can you imagine Justin Herbert with a great run game? We don't know, but I can imagine what it might look like. So that's kind of the vision.' To me, it's becoming more clear the Chargers want to bolster the offensive line, and after trading back, they go to the podium and select Notre Dame's Joe Alt with the ninth pick in the draft. This would be an absolute dream scenario for those within the Chargers organization. Not only were they able to move a few spots down in the draft, they were also able to nab arguably the best offensive tackle in the entire draft. Like, it's not often you get the number one guy on your board four-picks later, but that's reality in which we live in I guess. Son of former Kansas City Chief All-Pro tackle John Alt, Joe has all the necessary traits you're looking for in a potential franchise offensive tackle. At 6'9" 321 lbs., Alt is truly a sight to behold at the tackle position. In 33-starts at Notre Dame, Alt only gave up two-sacks, and for a team that ranked in the bottom half in regards to sacks given up, I'm sure the Chargers would like that. He does a good job at using his size and length to keep people back in the pass game, while also using his football IQ (thanks dad) to make up for decent athleticism to help stop defenders in the run game, always making sure to finish through the whistle. He may not be the finished product yet, but at 21-years old, he's got the potential to be a dominant tackle at the next level. Though he was a three-year starter at left tackle, I have no doubt Alt will be able to flip to the right side to help improve the Chargers offensive line. He'd help improve LA's run game while also helping keep Justin Herbert upright for the foreseeable future.
10. New York Jets - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon 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, offensive tackle should be the Jets top priority. With Notre Dame's Joe Alt coming off the board with the Chargers pick, the Jets could turn their attention to Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga to help fill their need at tackle. For a team and a culture that wants to commit to the run, Fuaga would definitely be a good pick-up for them, 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, and for a team that gave up 64-sacks last season, that definitely be an upgrade. He's 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. Again, with Aaron Rodgers not getting any younger (while also recovering from a torn achilles) and the Jets rushing attack, I think Fuaga would be an excellent addition for the New York Jets here at 10 (if he's available).
11. Tennessee Titans (via Minnesota) - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
I could've read the room wrong, but from everything I've read and seen, the Tennessee Titans are either drafting a wide receiver or an offensive tackle with their first pick in the draft. Though I'm going with the latter on this pick, GM Ran Carthon did say that, 'you got a young offensive coach, an offensive-minded coach (Brian Callahan). He’s going to need weapons to bring this offense to life. So we have a responsibility of finding that.' Since firing former coach of the year Mike Vrabel back in early January, the aforementioned Carthon has essentially been given full control of the roster and coaches, being promoted to Executive Vice President shorty after Vrabel's departure. With that being said, Carthon has been given an incredibly tall task by Titans ownership, as he's seemingly responsible for cleaning up the mess left by Jon Robinson, who was fired back in December of 2022 shortly after AJ Brown's 119-yard and two touchdown performance against the Titans, which saw the Eagles come out 35-10 victors. The AJ Brown trade has been something Tennessee hasn't really ever recovered from, especially since his replacement, Treylon Burks, has spent more time in the treatment room than on the field, starting just 15-games since getting drafted 18th overall in 2022. To everyone out there, it's clear the Titans need to find some more weapons for last year's second round pick, Will Levis, as apart from DeAndre Hopkins (who turns 32 in June) the Titans don't have a lot of top options on the outside. Though drafting someone like LSU's Malik Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze would make sense for Tennessee, I just feel like they're going to try and re-strengthen the offensive line. After kicking last year's first round selection, Peter Skoronski, inside to guard, the Titans have a decent need at the left tackle position, especially with former first round pick Andre Dillard struggling to find footing in his first season with the organization. With that being said, after trading back with the Minnesota Vikings (Carthon and Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah worked together in San Francisco) the Titans select former Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu with their first pick in the draft. A former teammate of Will Levis, Fashanu is considered by some to be the best natural pass blocker in the draft. 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. Though some out there may consider him to be a pretty raw prospect in regards to run blocking, at 6'6" 312 lbs., Fashanu possesses really good body control and really light feet, having both the build and athleticism to develop into a well rounded blocker. 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. Like I mentioned before, there's some chemistry already there between Fashanu and Levis, giving the young quarterback someone he's comfortable with guarding his blind side. If they can't get Notre Dame's Joe Alt, a trade back would make sense for Tennessee, especially if they can still get Olu Fashanu. With Skoronski at guard, the Titans could have one of the best young blind side tandems in the league.
12. Denver Broncos - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Outside of the top three teams, the Denver Broncos will certainly be one of the teams to look out for when it comes to trading up for a quarterback, especially after cutting Russell Wilson last week. In one of the weirdest trades in league history, the Broncos cut their loses with the former Super Bowl champ to the tune of an $85-million dead cap hit. Unsurprisingly, that's the biggest dead cap hit in NFL history, with Matt Ryan's $40.53-million hit the second largest. I think things were pretty clear from the get go on how new head coach Sean Payton felt about the team's quarterback situation. 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. I think Sean Payton genuinely hated Russell Wilson, and it felt like every game there was something new going on between the pair. Regardless of how Payton felt or feels, Wilson did have a decent bounce back year from the season prior, throwing for 3,070-yards with 26-touchdowns and eight-interceptions before getting benched prior to week 17 in order for the Broncos to 'preserve financial flexibility' (s/o $85-million). Thankfully for Broncos fans, this up and down season has finally ended and we can start to focus on the offseason, where Denver will have to find an eventual replacement for Wilson, whether that's in free agency, via a trade, or in the draft. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean they have to take a quarterback in the first round, as their lack of picks may hurt them in trying to land someone like Michigan's JJ McCarthy (who knows though). If not him, Oregon's Bo Nix makes a lot of sense schematically, but the 12th pick is way to early to select Nix, so I'd imagine they'd turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball, either in the secondary or along the edges. Like, I still can't get that 70-20 loss against the Dolphins out of my head, along with Jared Goff's five-touchdown performance against them in December. The Broncos secondary was burnt toast this season, and though drafting a corner would definitely help alleviate some of those issues (especially since Denver finished 30th in passer rating and 29th in touchdown passes), I think edge rusher may be the first position they target in the draft. Sure, the likes of Baron Browning, Jonathan Cooper, and Nik Bonitto are solid, the Broncos could really use an alpha dog on the outside of the defense, especially since after cutting Randy Gregory a year and a half into his five-year deal (six-starts). If available, I think Florida State's Jared Verse would be a very nice addition to the Broncos defense. 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. Being able to play both inside and outside in the Broncos 3-4 defense, Verse could cause a lot of problems for a division that features the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. After impressing at the combine, I wouldn't be too surprised if Verse went sooner than 12th. But with four quarterbacks off the board, the Broncos are able to pounce on one of the best edge rushers in the draft.
13. Las Vegas Raiders - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
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 (they did just sign Gardner Minshew)? Especially in a division with very talented quarterbacks? I'm not sure. Right now though, I don't necessarily think they'll make a move for one in the first round. That being said, though it seems unlikely, maybe the Raiders try to shoot up the draft board to draft Pierce's former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels (if he slips past Washington). You never truly know. So, with quarterback pushed aside for now, I think Pierce may want to improve the defense, namely the secondary. As predicted, Marcus Peters did not work, so the Raiders will still be looking for a true number one corner to pair with Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones, especially with Amik Robertson entering free agency. After bringing in former Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to help sure up the defensive line, I feel like the Raiders may try to secure the back half of the defense here with their first pick in the draft. To me, someone who just feels like a future Raiders is 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 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 Arnold is someone Pierce would love on his defense, as his skills and attitude would make him a very good pick for the Raiders here in the first round.
14. New Orleans Saints - Troy Fautanu, iOL/OT, Washington
I can't put my finger on it, but for whatever reason, it always seems like the New Orleans Saints are always in 'cap hell.' I don't know this for certain, it's just a feeling I get. Like, have the Saints ever been good and/or super diligent when it comes to the cap? I apologize if I'm wrong, but again, that's what it feels like. With that being the case, it makes it hard for them to make any real splashes in free agency, which sometimes sees them lose some of their best players. Though they were able to extend safety Tyrann Mathieu, they were forced to part ways with safety Marcus Maye and former first team All-Pro receiver, Michael Thomas. Hell, some reports even suggest that star running back Alvin Kamara may be one of the Saints' cap casualties as well. Long story short, 'cap hell' is not a fun place to reside. One way to kind of maneuver around this is by drafting well, which is something New Orleans has been kind of spotty on in recent years. Sure players like receiver Chris Olave have come through the door to great fanfare, but so have players like defensive end Payton Turner, who has amassed three-sacks and has appeared in just 15-games since being a first round draft pick in 2021. Speaking on Turner, his lack of production has really made defensive end/edge rusher one of the Saints top priorities going into the draft. With franchise legend Cameron Jordan turning 35 in July, the Saints may want to find his eventual replacement, which is what Turner was supposed to be when they drafted him. Not only that, but 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). Though that's definitely an area of concern, one position group general manager Mickey Loomis has paid the most attention to across his tenure is the offensive line, using premium picks to help build a nice and solid offensive line down in New Orleans. With that being said, a lot of reports suggest that the Saints may be looking to replace former 19th overall pick Trevor Penning this offseason, as the former Northern Iowa Panther has failed to hit the ground running so far through his young career. With that being said (and it pains me to say this), I feel like the Saints will select a tackle with their first pick, taking former Washington tackle Troy Fautanu with the 14th pick in the draft. After putting forth an excellent performance at the combine, Fautanu is a name seemingly rising up the draft board. 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 (per ESPN), and I'm sure New Orleans would love to have someone like Fautanu there to secure up the offensive line, whether it's at guard or tackle. 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, which is another plus for the Saints who have struggled with the injury bug as of late. Depending on how you view him, Fautanu could slot at either tackle or guard, though most once saw him as a guard due to his size and speed when it comes to pulling and hitting the edge on screen-like plays, his measurements at the combine suggest he'll be able to start off at left tackle at the next level. Either way, the dude will more than likely lock down any spot you put him at along the offensive line. The Saints offensive line is a massive problem area for them, and if they don't add an edge rusher, look for offensive tackle to be their first pick in the draft, regardless of who it is. That being said, I feel like Fautanu fits really well in Klint Kubiak's offense, making him their pick here at 14.
15. Indianapolis Colts - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
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 Alabama's Terrion Arnold 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 to help aid in his development. To me, one of the safest bets in the entire draft would be former Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, which is why I have him going to Indianapolis here with the 15th pick in the draft. As the old saying goes, a good tight end is a quarterback's security blanket. With a rich history of tight ends going from John Mackey to Dallas Clark, there's a chance Bowers could be the best of the rest. At 6'3" 243 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 (yes, that same Mackey), Bowers is truly a special talent at the position, and would help take the pressure off of Richardson moving forward. With 26-receiving touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns, Bowers can add so much to a Colts offense that could use some more weapons. Coming from Philadelphia, I'm sure head coach Shane Steichen would love to recreate the chemistry that Jalen Hurts and Dallas Goedert had in Indianapolis. Though Richardson may be bigger than Bowers, I think the dude would be an excellent addition to the Colts offense, pairing up nicely with the recently re-sign Michael Pittman Jr.. This could make for one of the most exciting young offenses in the league.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (via Seattle) - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
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 colligate 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 getting released a few days ago, but I feel they'll try and fix some of the issues on the offensive side of the ball first. After moving for recently disgraced Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (signing a one-year deal), the Steelers now have a potential solution at quarterback, at least for the here and now, with Pickett seemingly getting kicked to the curb. With that, the Steelers can turn their attention to other facets of the offense, as I 'm sure the organization would like to get 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 16th pick (after striking a trade with Seattle), selecting former Georgia tackle Amarius Mims. Though it may not mater to most out there, at 6'8" 340 lbs., Mims posted an insanely impressive 5.07 in the 40-yard dash at. the combine. At face value, that's not that amazing, but a human that big should not be able to move like that, it's just not fair. That seems to be a common theme with Georgia players though, doesn't it? To quote the great Stacy King, 'too big, too fast, too strong, too good.' With that, a lot of what Mims is and what he could be comes down to projections, as the dude only started eight-games in college. Despite that, Mims 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 after testing well at the combine, I'm sure a team like the Steelers would love to take him, which why the may need to move up to get him. By drafting Mims, the Steelers could afford to move the aforementioned Jones back. to his more natural position of left tackle, giving Pittsburgh two-young tackles to build around for years to come.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
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, there were definitely signs, especially after week three when they got absolutely boat raced by the Houston Texans 37-17. Though that result may not surprise you now, knowing what we now know about the Texans, 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. What didn't help is that Tyson Campbell had a down year by his early standards, struggling a decent amount in man coverage. With Campbell hitting free agency next year, and Darious Williams being released, corner seems to stand out as the Jags top need (arguably). That, mixed with the fact that new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen loves to run himself some aggressive man coverage, we could see the corner position addressed here in the first round. As we have learned through a few drafts, Jaguars GM Trent Baalke loves himself some traits, especially when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. This may seem like somewhat of a reach, but Toledo corner Quinyon Mitchell is someone who's been rising up draft boards, and it wouldn't surprise me if he went off the board to Jacksonville here at 17. A 6'0" 195 lbs. corner who had a very good performance at the combine (posting a 4.33 in the 40), Mitchell is truly in the conversation for best corner in this class. Though his combine numbers were impressive, his on the field stuff is almost even better. 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 (per ESPN). 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 putting forth back-to-back stellar performances at the Senior Bowl and the combine, I wouldn't at all be shocked if Mitchell went even sooner than this. An athletically gifted corner, Mitchell would be more than capable in playing in Nielsen's defense. The dude just seems like an ideal Trent Baalke pick, though he also fills an immediate need on the Jags defense (despite signing Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay, receiver could still be an option for Jacksonville as well, especially with LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. still available).
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 Higgins gets traded after being franchise tagged, I think receiver may be something they address later in the draft. So, with receiver essentially out of the way (for now), 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" 342 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 (if Georgia tight end Brock Bowers is available, I wouldn't be shocked if they moved for him, even after signing Mike Gesicki).
19. Los Angeles Rams - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
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 former, the likes of Ahkello Witherspoon and Duke Shelley are entering free agency this offseason. Though not the biggest loses, they both saw a decent amount of game time this season, with Witherspoon even starting all 17-games (they did also re-sign former Jaguar Darious Williams, who started opposite of Jalen Ramsey in the Rams Super Bowl win). As far as the edge rushing department goes, 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. The Rams need to continue to improve their pass rush, and the next best one available is UCLA's Laiatu Latu. If it weren't for injuries, there's no way Latu would be available for the Rams here at pick 19. 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" 259 lbs., Latu would slot in perfectly at one of the outside linebacker spots for the Rams. Moving forward, Los Angeles could have one of the best edge rush tandems in the NFL, all while having Turner and a still firing Aaron Donald along the defensive line (with him seemingly being medically cleared, it wouldn't shock me if Latu went a little sooner than this come draft day).
20. Seattle Seahawks (via Pittsburgh) - Jackson Powers-Johnson, iOL, Oregon
I could be wrong, but I feel like the Seattle Seahawks may be one of the teams to really keep an eye on once the NFL Draft officially rolls around. Why do I say that? Well, one of the main reasons is because the Seahawks just replaced longtime Super Bowl champion head coach Pete Carroll with former Michigan and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald. With a new head coach in town, a new philosophy could start to be implemented. Mixing that with the fact that GM John Schneider doesn't always use the most conventional thinking and you've got a recipe for mystery come draft time. Like, the Seahawks could really go in a multitude of different directions, as there's not necessarily one need that really stands out above the rest (at least how I see it). There's part of me that really thinks Seattle could trade down in the first round an potentially select their quarterback of the future. With Geno Smith turning 34 in October, and becoming a free agent in 2026. It wouldn't shock me at all if the Seahawks moved for someone like Washington's Michael Penix Jr., especially given the fact that Penix's college offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb, joined Macdonald's staff earlier this offseason to serve as their new offensive coordinator. I mean, that would make sense, right? Especially since Geno is currently the only quarterback on Seattle's roster. I also wouldn't be too surprised if the Seahawks did the inverse and traded up for someone like Michigan's JJ McCarthy, who was with Macdonald at Michigan before he left for Baltimore. All in all, don't rule out the quarterback position for Seattle. Apart from that position, I would expect the Seahawks to look to improve the trenches, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Starting with the latter, though former New York Giant Leonard Williams signed a new three-year contract to stay with the team, it wouldn't be insane to suggest that Seattle adds more to the defensive line, especially since Mario Edwards is still on the market. Though that's an option, Phil Haynes, Evan Brown, and Damien Lewis are all entering free agency, with the latter recently signing in Carolina. Throughout last season, the Seahawks battled a decent amount of injuries along the offensive line. So much so that they were forced to make a move for a now 42-year old Jason Peters to take up one of the tackle positions. Whether it be involving free agents or injuries, it seems like every year we talk about the Seahawks offensive line in at least some capacity. With all that being said, I think Seattle should look to find someone who can plug and play in a multitude of positions along the offensive line, which is why I think they could move for the Oregon product, 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 Seahawks 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" 328 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. With holes at each of the three-interior offensive line positions, drafting someone like Powers-Johnson may be the way to go for Seattle. The Seahawks have always liked keeping PAC-12 (RIP) players in the region, giving them even more reason to trade back and select JPJ with the 20th pick in the draft (I imagine Washington's Troy Fautanu would be their top target if he were available, re-uniting him with Grubb in Seattle).
21. Miami Dolphins - Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
The Dolphins are in somewhat of a tricky place when it comes to preparing for the NFL Draft. Like, when I dropped mock draft 1.0 a month ago, one goal was in mind, and that was to improve the offensive line. Now, that still should be near the top of their priorities list, but the Dolphins made some interesting moves once free agency opened on Monday, meaning they let a lot of their key pieces leave the organization. Players like Christian Wilkins (Raiders) and Robert Hunt (Panthers) both signed for massive contracts to play elsewhere. I understand they signed ridiculous contracts, but those were two key pieces in the trenches for the Dolphins across the past couple seasons. Like, who's going to grab Josh Allen's nuts now that Wilkins is in Vegas? Those types of questions need answered for the Dolphins but the point still remains, Miami has to address the trenches with their first pick in the draft, whether that be on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. Starting with the offense, the Dolphins battled countless injuries all across the line of scrimmage. 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 last season. 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, which is insane. Not only that, but along with the aforementioned Hunt, other starters like Connor Williams, 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. Now, the Dolphins did bring in former Titans center Aaron Brewers, though the other positions will need to be addressed before the start of next season. As for the defense, not only did former first round pick Christian Wilkins leave, but so did Raekwon Smith, who signed a two-year deal in Indianapolis. That's two of their three defensive line starters gone, which is massive (both literally and figuratively). So, with this draft class being absolutely stocked full of offensive linemen, I'm going to have the Dolphins address the defensive side of the ball first, with them taking former Texas Longhorn Byron Murphy II. At 6'0" 297 lbs., Murphy may not be the biggest when comparing him to his former Texas teammate T'Vondre Sweat (6'4" 366 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). After a solid combine showing, Murphy is someone that would definitely improve the Dolphins defensive line. He's an absolute game wrecker that would cause a ton of havoc for opposing offenses. He won't fill the hole of two loses, but adding him would definitely be a start in the right direction.
22. Buffalo Bills (via Philadelphia) - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Like I stated in the last mock draft, the Bills should definitely look to add some more weapons on the outside for Josh Allen, even more so with Gabe Davis officially leaving for Jacksonville in free agency. To be honest, I could've made the case for Buffalo to draft a wide receiver with their first pick regardless of Davis' future with the team. Sure, Gabe Davis did some very good things throughout his time with the organization, with his main contribution coming in the 13-second game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 where the former fourth round pick hauled in eight-catches for an astonishing 201-yards with an even crazier four-touchdowns, with those four-touchdowns setting a new NFL record. But for every performance like that you'd have the odd stinker, where he'd be targeted five-times with one-catch for 11-yards to go along with three-drops. He had the ability to make the most insane/spectacular catches while dropping balls that would hit him right in the chest. All in all, Gabe Davis' time in Buffalo was mostly positive, but an upgrade was certainly needed, which is exactly why they're letting him test the waters in free agency. Now, this isn't to say the Bills don't have any other needs on the roster, as they currently have the worst cap situation in the NFL, but wide receiver is definitely a position that jumps off the page, and given this year's positional depth, the Bills could even double down and get another solid option in the later rounds as well. Outside of the top three guys, the receivers in this class are relatively hard to grade, as again this is one of the deepest classes in recent memory. Though there's certainly other solid options, based off context clues, I feel like general manager Brandon Beane is going to move his way up the draft board to get 'his guy.' Since Beane's first draft in 2018, the Bills have traded first round picks five-times, most recently moving up for former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid in last year's draft. If the dude sees a guy he likes, he makes a move to get them and to me, someone who just feels like a future Buffalo Bill is LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.. One thing Beane pointed out in a recent press conference is that they're looking for, 'that speed and explosiveness at all positions.' Outside of Texas' Xavier Worthy, for his size, Brian Thomas may be the most explosive receiver in the draft. Despite being 6'3" and weighing 209 lbs., Thomas posted an astonishing 4.33 40-yard dash time at the combine, the joint third fastest time at the combine. It should be illegal to be that big and run that fast. That being said, Thomas is much more than just a combine merchant, the dude can ball. Despite mostly serving as Malik Nabers' 'Robin' at LSU, Thomas put up some ridiculous numbers in Jayden Daniels' Heisman winning campaign. This past season, Thomas racked up 1,177-yards with a national leading 17-receiving touchdowns, two more than the next closest receiver. At the aforementioned 6'3" 209 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 Bills offense, giving Josh Allen a true big play threat on the outside. It'll cost a little bit to move up six-spots in the draft, but from everything I can tell, Brian Thomas Jr. is more than worth it. He checks every box the Bills normally look for in first round prospects, giving Joe Brady and co. a new toy to play with on the outside. As a fan, I absolutely love this fit. As a neutral or a rival, I would absolutely fear it.
23. Houston Texans (via Cleveland) - Darius Robinson, DL/EDGE, Missouri
To the surprise of pretty much everyone out there, the Houston Texans became one of the most fun teams to watch this past season. With a rookie quarterback and a first time head coach, Houston went from being perceived as one of the worst teams in the league, to winning their division and dominating in the 'Deshaun Watson' bowl thanks back-to-back two-pick sixes. Though they would end up losing in the divisional round to the Baltimore Ravens, there is certainly a lot to be excited about down in Houston, who hope to build on their momentum and become one of the better teams in the AFC. With a season like the one they just had, it can sometimes be hard to find exact needs within the team. Like, everything they did seemed to work, whether it was on offense or defense. Now, if I had to narrow down some 'probllem areas' for the Texans, they'd mostly focus on the outside and in the trenches, on both sides of the ball. Starting on offense, Houston battled a ton of injuries along the offensive line throughout the season, with Stroud lining up behind center with four-different starters on the offensive line from week one to week two. As for receiver, though they did just re-sign Noah Brown, the Texans may look to add some more weapons on the outside for their young quarterback, adding to what they already have with the likes of Nico Collins and last year's third round pick, Tank Dell. Now, I think those areas will get addressed in some capacity, with DeMeco Ryans being a defensive minded head coach, I kind of expect Houston to address the defensive side of the ball with their first pick. As I mentioned before, the needs come on the inside and the outside of the defense. Though the Texans signed former third overall pick Jeff Okudah. Along with Okudah (who signed on a one-year deal) Houston signed Mike Ford to a two-year contract. They may be solid options, but are they really being viewed as Derek Stingley Jr.'s longterm partner at the position? I'm not so sure. With Ryans coming from San Francisco, I would imagine he'd put some emphasis on the defensive line. After losing Jonathan Greenard to the Vikings, the Texans turned right around and signed former Viking Danielle Hunter (basically a trade without the trade) and former Titan Denico Autry, filling two big holes along the edges. With the edges set, I think Ryans may want o start beefing up the interior, which is why I have them drafting Missouri's Darius Robinson with their first pick. Though I'm sure they'd like to get their hands on Texas' Byron Murphy II, I just can't see that at this point in time without Houston orchestrating some kind of trade, so Robinson will have to do. After a 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" 285 lbs., Robinson could fill multiple positions across the Texans 4-3 defensive front, spending time both inside and outside throughout his time at Missouri with his 34.5" 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 DeMeco Ryans' defense. Whether it's inside or outside, this dude could make a difference for the Texans defense.
24. Dallas Cowboys - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Despite recent reports suggesting Jerry Jones and the Cowboys were 'all in' going into free agency, all Dallas has done has shown people the door. Based off what we've seen so far, one could be forgiven in thinking that the Cowboys mindset has been the polar opposite of 'all in,' as they only team to not make any signings up to this point. I could be wrong, but that doesn't sound 'all in' to me, especially when you look at the fact that a decent amount of their key free agents have signed contracts to play elsewhere next season. Players like running back Tony Pollard (Tennessee), center Tyler Biadasz (Washington), and defensive ends Dorance Robinson and Dante Folwer Jr. (both also Washington) have all left so far this free agency period, with longtime left tackle Tyron Smith seemingly joining them before too long. The thing that kind of makes matters worse for the Cowboys and their fans is that the rest of the division have been making moves, even if one move saw a player go from one division rival to another (Saquon Barkley to Philadelphia). Long story short, it's been a very interesting offseason so far for the Cowboys, who are looking to bounce back from last season's first round playoff exit, which saw Jordan Love and the Packers absolutely run riot in AT&T Stadium. After that game, I for sure thought Mike McCarthy would be shown the door with someone like Bill Belichick coming in to replace him, but that didn't happen. If things don't go swimmingly this year, one has to believe this is McCarthy's last go around in Dallas, right? Despite the early playoff exit, this past season was a solid one for Dallas, as quarterback Dak Prescott finished the regular as a second team All-Pro selection while wide receiver CeeDee Lamb led the league in receptions along with receiving first team All-Pro honors. With all that being said, the path to team success starts with the NFL draft, and the Cowboys could go a couple different directions with their first pick. Though wide receiver here makes sense, as they may need to add someone else on the outside to take some of the attention off of Lamb, I think Jerry will want to try and replace the aforementioned Tyron Smith. Though 2022 first round pick, Tyler Smith, was drafted to be the replacement to Smith at left tackle, his performances at left guard this season may see him hold on to that position, as he finished the year as a second team All-Pro selection as well. With that being said, I think it may be wise to look towards the draft for Smith's replacement, which is why I have them selecting Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton with their first pick in the draft. 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 6'8" 322 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 cause 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 needs some time to develop, but he's got all the tools to develop into a very good tackle at the next level. Size, athleticism, fluidity, and awareness are all there, you may just have to be a little patient (remember, Tyler Smith was a developmental pick too, look how he turned out).
25. Green Bay Packers - Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa
If we're being honest, 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 for a team that's a potential dark horse Super Bowl contender (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. After re-signing the likes of Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Antoine Winfield Jr. (franchise tagged), with the former signing a well deserved three-year $100-million contract, the Bucs needs start to take shape, as most of their best players were free agents a month ago. To me, the top two 'areas of concern' for Tampa come in the form of the center position and along the edges. Though they cut former second team All-Pro selection Shaquil Barrett back in February, I think finding someone to replace the recently retired Ryan Jensen may sit atop their draft needs (especially after he appeared in just one game across those two seasons due to a knee injury). 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. To me, 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" 313 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.
27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston) - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Like I said in my last mock draft, I still can't believe this is where the Cardinals second pick is. 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 three different areas. One being along the offensive line, one coming in the secondary, and the final one in either outside on the edge(s) or along the interior. 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. As for the secondary, 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. They did sign Sean Murphy-Bunting from Tennessee this offseason, but they're probably going to want to continue improving their secondary as the draft continues. To me, if he's available, I think it'd make a tone of sense for Arizona to draft Clemson's Nate Wiggins. At 6'1" 173 lbs., Wiggins will come into the NFL as one of the fastest players in the league. Though his size (weight) could concern some teams, I would imagine he cut some weight in order to run a faster 40. Based off what we saw, I can't say it didn't work, as Wiggins clocked an insane 4.28 in the 40 at the combine, which was the second fastest time from the weekend (he only ran it once after injuring his hip flexure). A very long and rangy corner with elite athleticism and short area quickness, Wiggins fits the mold of exactly what a lot of teams 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 athleticism and mental mack-up to be a very good corner at the next level, certainly filling a need for the Cardinals (like I said before, he could definitely go sooner than this, but I feel like Emmanuel Forbes' rookie struggles may steer some teams away) (even though they signed Justin Jones from Chicago and Bilal Nichols from Las Vegas, the defensive line and the edges will need addressed as well, they ranked dead last in rush yards allowed per game (143.2) and 30th in sacks (33)).
28. Philadelphia Eagles (via Buffalo) - Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
After striking a trade with the Buffalo Bills, the Philadelphia Eagles are picking six-spots later here at 28. For some out there, you may be confused on why I did this trade, especially looking at it from an Eagles fan perspective as I have them taking the exact same position, just a different player. So why not just stay at 22 and pick Clemson's Nate Wiggins, like I had in my last mock draft. I could be completely wrong, but to me, I don't necessarily thin Wiggins is someone that fits what Philadelphia wants to do on the defensive side of the ball. Don't get me wrong, the dude is damn good at what he does and showed off his ridiculous speed at the combine, but I think he may be a little too small for Philadelphia's liking. In my last mock draft, Wiggins' listed weight was 185 lbs., whereas at the combine he came in weighing 173 lbs.. I understand the drastic drop in weight could be because he wanted to run a faster 40 but still, 12 lbs. is a big gap, especially in the NFL. I'm not at all saying all prospects are created equal, but the Eagles saw first hand what problems a smaller corner can face in the NFL, as last year's 16th overall pick Emmanuel Forbes struggled mightily in his first season in Washington. I'm not doubting he can turn it around as I liked him a decent amount as a prospect, but I just can't see the Eagles taking someone like Wiggins in the first round, especially given new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's background. Speaking of Fangio, he's the main reason why I feel like corner is the way to go in Philadelphia. Obviously each defensive coordinator has what they like and what they don't like, and as for Fangio, one of those 'likes' is cornerbacks. Looking at his last two jobs in Denver and Miami, in his first year, his teams added the likes of Patrick Surtain II (Denver) in the draft and Jalen Ramsey (Miami) via a trade, two corners that are both absolute dogs and widely seen as one of, if not the best in their respective positions since coming into the league. With Nick Sirianni desperate to reestablish a culture in Philadelphia, and general manager Howie Roseman loving himself some Georgia products, I think Kamari Lassiter may be the perfect fit for the Eagles here in the latter stages of the first round. Kind of getting lost in the sauce per se, Lassiter is truly one of the best corners in this draft, though I don't feel like he gets talked about much. That being said, after putting forth a very impressive performances at the combine, many are starting to turn their heads towards the former Bulldog. Posting the best three-cone drill time regardless of position (6.62) and one of the best 20-yard shuttle times for corners (4.12), Lassiter's fluidity and change of direction allows him to guard nearly every receiver on the outside. Though he only registered one-interception throughout his entire colligate career, Lassiter never got beat. Seriously, the dude didn't allow a single touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage this past season and in total, he allowed nine-receptions for 91-yards (per ESPN). Despite the lack of production in regards to interceptions, those are absolutely elite numbers. With the likes of Darius Slay (33) and James Bradberry (31 in August) are getting older, I think it'd be wise for the Eagles to start thinking about a succession plan at the cornerback position (something Philadelphia does better than most). I think Lassiter would not only be a good pick-up because of who he is as a player, but also because he fits what the Eagles usually look for in first round selections. I think this would be a very nice pick for Philadelphia (I did think about Penn State's 'Chop' Robinson and West Virginia's Zach Frazier here as well).
29. Detroit Lions - Demeioun 'Chop' Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
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, along with ranking in the bottom-10 in regards to sack total (41). If the Lions want to stay atop the NFC North and continue to challenge for conference titles, they have to improve on the defensive side of the ball. Though the signings of Amik Robertson (Las Vegas) and Marcus Davenport (Minnesota) improve the Lions defensively, they should still look to improve, especially since Davenport only signed a one-year deal. To me, Davenport is a good rotational piece, but I don't think Detroit would want him as their full top number two opposite of Aidan Hutchinson, which is why I have the Lions taking Penn State's Demeioun 'Chop' Robinson with the 29th pick. Nicknamed 'pork chop' by his mom after weighing 14 lbs. at birth, the slimmed down Robinson became one of the most well known edge rushers in all of college football, despite limited production. Though he only registered four-sacks in his final season at Penn State, Robinson's athleticism always made him a problem for opposing offenses. Super explosive (ran a 4.48 40 at the combine with a 1.54 10-yard split), Robinson's 'get off' and use of hands made him hard to block while in college, causing a bunch of issues of the lineman opposite of him. Along with that, his athleticism allows him to drop back into coverage, not looking out of place by any means when asked to do so. Again, his production, or lack there of, may scare some people off, but the dude will for sure cause problems at the next level. If you're not getting sacks, might as well be disruptive, which is exactly what he is. He would fit in super nice in Detroit's 4-3 defense front (as that's what he ran at Penn State), lining up as a defensive end opposite the aforementioned Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions got more explosive on offense by adding the likes of Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs, so why not try and do the same thing on defense by adding someone like Robinson? Rotating and learning from Marcus Davenport would be very good for his development, as well as vastly improving the Lions pass rush.
30. Baltimore Ravens - Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
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, and so far this offseason, Baltimore has done a good job at addressing those needs. Sure they lost the likes of Patrick Queen (Pittsburgh) and Geno Stone (Cincinnati), but the Ravens were able to re-sign star defensive tackle Justin Madubuike to the tune of $98-million, while also bringing in Titans legend Derrick Henry to partner Lamar Jackson in the backfield, giving them arguably the scariest backfield tandem in the league. Though those two signings are big, Baltimore will probably still look to improve either the offensive line or the wide receiver position. With the Ravens offense being extremely run heavy, re-tooling the offensive line may not be the worst thing to do, as this thing can't really work without solid play upfront. With Kevin Zeitler entering free agency and Morgan Moses recently turning 33, a case could definitely be made. That being said, with Devin Duvernay signing in Jacksonville, and Odell Beckham Jr. still a free agent, the Ravens only have five-receivers on the roster and apart from last year's first round pick Zay Flowes, who is really a threat on the outside for Baltimore? If the Ravens go receiver here, I'd imagine they'd get a bigger target, and though Florida State's Keon Coleman or South Carolina's Xavier Legette would make sense, I think they'd go for Texas' Adonai Mitchell. At 6'2" 205 lbs., Mitchell definitely played himself into the first round with his performance at the combine. Like, everyone already knew he had wheels, but I don't think many out there were expecting him to run a 4.34 in the 40-yard dash. That time would rank him third out of the wide receivers, but his 11'4" broad jump would see him come out on top. A transfer from Georgia, Mitchell and Worthy did some really good things this past season at Texas, which saw them take home the Big 12 title and earn a trip to the College Football Playoff. For Mitchell, he put up 845-yards with 11-touchdowns (led team) on 55-catches, becoming one of the best deep threats in all of college football in the process. A player with top-15 talent, Mitchell is a very smooth and explosive receiver who has the speed to beat you deep and the size to out jump defenders (39.5" vertical). The only real concern about Mitchell's game is that he can be a serious body catcher, which doesn't always translate the best at the next level. Though that's the case now, it's definitely something that can get coached out. For a team like the Ravens would need some more options on the outside, Mitchell could be another big play threat or Baltimore's offense. I don't see him slipping past Baltimore if he's still available (Arizona's Jordan Morgan or BYU's Kingsley Suamataia would make sense as well).
31. San Francisco 49ers - Jordan Morgan, iOL/OT, Arizona
Despite losing yet another Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Francisco 49ers are still considered one of the best teams in all of football. They have everything in place to compete at the highest level for the next however many years, with an offense and defense that seemingly dominate each and every week. Like, defensively they have the likes of Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Dre Greelaw, Fred Warner, and Charvarius Ward, with Warner and Ward both making NFL All-Pro teams (they also signed Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Jordan Elliott after releasing Arik Armstead). 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. That being said, after releasing the aforementioned Arik Armstead, and letting Javon Kinlaw walk in free agency, it wouldn't surprise me too much if San Francisco looked to address the defensive line with their first pick. Maybe even along the edges and at corner opposite of Ward as well, especially after the Chase Young trade didn't really bear any fruit (he is also a free agent). Though this may sound weird, I think the Niners may look to improve on the offensive side of the ball with their first pick, as the offensive line is one of the bigger problem areas that San Francisco faced all of last season. Though they 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" 311 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 (again, defensive tackle is definitely an option here, but the right side of that o-line needs improved).
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Despite winning the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs possessed one of the worst receiving cores in recent memory. I don't necessarily mean that in the literal sense, as I can probably think of much worse receiving cores, but for a Super Bowl championship winning team, it has to go down as one of the worst. This past season, Chiefs receiver lead the entire NFL with a whopping 44-drops, two-more than the second place Cleveland Browns (42) and seven-more than the third place Dallas Cowboys (37). Again, for a Super Bowl winning team, that's unacceptable. That being said, rookie Rashee Rice definitely grew as the season went along, turning into one of Patrick Mahomes' favorite targets throughout the Playoffs, catching 26-balls with 262-yards and a touchdown. Though Rice proved his worth and then some as the season progressed, players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, and Kadrius Toney failed to impress, with the former getting cut at the end of February, to the surprise of absolutely no one (provided $12-million in cap space as well). That being said, the Chiefs do have other big area of concern outside of wide receiver, which mainly centers around the future of corner L'Jarius Snead (Chris Jones would be mentioned too, but the dude just signed a whopping five-year $95-million contract). Though the Chiefs did place a franchise tag on him, they have expressed that they were open to consummating a trade, as the tag they placed on him was 'nonexclusive.' After signing Jones, the Chiefs can now afford to focus on the offensive side of the ball with their first pick. That being said, if they were unable to figure out Snead's long term future, I wouldn't be shocked if they made a move for one of the draft's top corners here with their first pick. Looking at their roster, a few of their other top options on defense are either in their first or second year, as GM Brett Veach has done a great job at building this defense through the draft, with Steve Spagnuolo's defense getting better and better with each of the additions brought in. Though that's definitely on the cards, receiver remains the team's top priority. Like I've said before, you're really splitting hairs with the receivers outside of the top three, but I think someone like Texas' Xavier Worthy would make an excellent addition to the Chiefs receiving core. To many out there, this would absolutely be worst case scenario. How would the NFL world react to the Chiefs getting the fastest receiver in combine history (4.21 40)? It just doesn't seem fair, right? Now, this may seem crazy, but I wouldn't be too surprised if Kansas City had to trade up for the former Texas speedster, as his 40-yard dash time really does translate to his on the field play. That's the biggest concern to some in regards to the 40-yard dash, is that it doesn't always translate to raw football speed, as there is in fact a massive difference between track speed and football speed, but Worthy has shown the ability to harness both while at Texas. He may not be the biggest, standing at 5'11" and weighing 165-lbs. at the combine (I'm sure to post a faster 40 time), but there's no quarterback that could possibly over throw Worthy, even Patrick Mahomes. With the ability to play both inside and outside, Worthy's speed is truly a match-up nightmare for every defense his team faces. He'll beat the defender using a double move before striking upfield to take the top off the defense. Even in the short game, his raw speed allows him to get the corner on the defense, even when things look to be dead in the water. He's a crisp route runner who, despite some suspect hands in recent times (though they were better this past season), would be an excellent addition to Andy Reid's offense. I'm sure Mahomes would love to throw to someone like Worthy, who could potentially be the Chiefs' long term answer to Tyreek Hill. There's so many different ways Worthy can kill you, and I fear thinking about what he could do in Kansas City.
Positions Drafted
Quarterbacks - 4
Running Backs - 0
Wide Receivers - 6
Tight Ends - 1
Offensive Tackles - 8
Interior Offensive Line - 2
Interior Defensive Line - 2
EDGE Rushers - 4
Linebackers - 0
Cornerbacks - 5
Safeties - 0
Just Missed Out
*alphabetical order by position
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Zach Frazier, iOL, West Virginia
Braden Fiske, DL, Florida State
Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan
Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
T'Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
TJ Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Tory Taylor, P, Iowa
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