Well, it's finally here ladies and gentlemen, mock draft 3.0! I'm not going to lie, this was one of the more difficult draft processes I've ever gone through, as there's just so many different things that could completely alter the course of the draft, for better or worse. For someone that over thinks quite a bit, that's not necessarily a good thing.
Like, this is the first time in a while where I haven't done at least four mock drafts. Again, nothing ever really seemed cemented, and every time I came up with an idea that seemed reasonable, a trade or report came out putting a kibosh on the whole thing. But hey, we're here now, and that's all that matters.
Much like the previous mock draft, this one also has trades! It's always difficult to try and predict when and where trades take place, but that's also what makes the process fun (and stressful)! The NFL Draft is not an exact science, making every year insanely different from the last.
With the trades, there are six quarterbacks, six wide receivers, one tight end, eight offensive tackles, one interior offensive lineman, one interior defensive lineman, five edge rushers, and four corners (22-offensive players going in the first round, new record)!
With all that being said, I, Logan Blackman, host of the Logan Blackman Show and self proclaimed Draft "Expert" am proud to present to you mock draft 3.0! Enjoy!
Podcast Links
Pictured: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia; JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan; Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina) - Caleb Williams, QB, USC
After days, weeks, and months of debating on social media, we finally know, for sure, what the Chicago Bears are going to do with the first pick in the draft. With former 11th overall pick Justin Fields getting traded to Pittsburgh for a sixth-round selection, I can feel very confident by saying that Chicago will select USC's Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the draft. Though this is somewhat hard to stomach for some Bears fans out there, even before the trade, it was fairly obvious that they were going to select the former Heisman Trophy winner with this pick. A couple of reasons for that are that, one, 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. As lazy as you may think that is, that's just the truth. Number two, in my opinion, Caleb Williams is just the better prospect and player, plain and simple. Now, like I said in the last mock draft, I completely 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 a lot of people out there, which I get, but Williams is the real deal and will surely become 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).
Other - N/A
2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Much like the Caleb Williams pick before the Justin Fields trade, 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.
Other - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina or JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
In my opinion, this is truly where the 2024 NFL Draft starts. Though we may not necessarily know which direction Washington will go with the second pick, much like Chicago with the first pick, we know they're targeting a quarterback. New England on the other hand could do a multitude of things that could completely flip the draft on it's head. Conventional wisdom says the Patriots should just stay and pick a quarterback here with the third pick in the draft, but with teams sitting outside the top-10 seemingly desperate for a quarterback, an 'unprecedented deal' could see the Patriots move back in the draft, with the Minnesota Vikings the most likely team to strike a deal due to the two first round picks they currently posses. With the draft edging ever so close, who knows what to believe. Like, earlier this week I saw a report that suggested that the Patriots weren't necessarily sold on North Carolina's Drake Maye, and that the Vikings valued him more. Now, I do believe the Vikings do probably value him more given the connections they have with the former Tar Heel, but in the same week, I saw that the Patriots are 'comfortable' with either Maye or LSU's Jayden Daniels, which leads me to believe they'll probably stay here come draft night and take whichever quarterback they have highest on their draft board (which could very well be Michigan's JJ McCarthy). Though McCarthy could be an option, I think New England will ultimately end up selecting the aforementioned North Carolina product here with the third pick in the draft. Like I've brought up in previous mock drafts, Drake Maye seems to be suffering from 'prospect fatigue,' a plague that has effected numerous top quarterbacks in the past, namely Justin Herbert. The conversations surrounding Maye and his skill set as a quarterback have driven me absolutely insane these past couple weeks and months. The fact of the matter is, 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. The dude has the athleticism and arm to work wonders in New England. Compared to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, I'm sure Eliot Wolf and co. would love to have a quarterback like Maye under center. Like I've brought up in previous mock drafts, he may've worn number 10 and played at North Carolina but trust me, he's not Mitchell Trubisky. As a Bills fan, I unfortunately think this is a very good fit for all parties (the Patriots have a history of drafting 'lineage' athletes, Drake Maye's dad played quarterback at North Carolina and his brothers played basketball and baseball at North Carolina and Florida).
Other - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU or JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Arizona Cardinals are currently the team that is getting linked the most with trades left, right, and center. Much like I brought up before with the Patriots, with teams outside the top-10 seemingly desperate for quarterbacks, the Cardinals could very much benefit from the amount of picks a team would be willing to give up in order to select their potential quarterback of the future. Though the quarterback position is seemingly the main reason Arizona would jump back in the draft, but a lot of this is also based on the fact that GM Monti Ossenfort is not afraid to bounce all around the draft board. Though he's only been in the desert one season, the 2023 draft really struck a chord with a lot of people out there, as the Cardinals move from three to 12 before jumping back up to six to select Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr.. To many out there, including myself to a certain extent, that's something that's definitely on the cards for Arizona as the draft creeps ever closer. Though I won't rule out that option entirely, I ultimately think the Cardinals stay here and pick the top player on their board here with the fourth pick in the draft. To me, that player is Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.. Now, there is a scenario where Arizona trades back and then jumps back up to five to take Harrison, but with the Bears linked with a move from nine to five, a deal with them may be more intriguing to the Chargers, as they would be able to pick two-spots sooner and not risk the Jets at 10 taking the player they may want. So if the Cardinals trade back, there's no guarantee they can move back up to take Harrison, who again, is the player I think they'd ultimately like to select with their first pick in the draft. Like, remember back when the Cardinals beat the Eagles late last season? Remember the look of distress Ossenfort had on his face after that victory? To me, it looked like the face of someone who may've just lost, arguably, the best overall player in the draft. Though they may like other receivers, I feel like they love Harrison, which is why I've decided to not have a quarterback needy team trade up with them. Now, this pick fills a massive need for the Cardinals, who are in desperate need of weapons on the outside. 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 (if they trade back and can't trade back up to get Harrison, I expect them to go after Washington's Rome Odunze).
Other - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington or Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
5. Minnesota Vikings (via Los Angeles) - JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Given all the rumors and noise surrounding four quarterbacks going within the first four picks of the draft, this scenario may come as a surprise to some out there. Don't get me wrong, I can definitely see that scenario playing out, but as we get closer and closer to the draft, the more I think teams atop the draft may keep their picks rather than trade back. Though a team like the Minnesota Vikings could offer an organization a couple first round picks in this draft alone, barring a monumental trade, I don't know if a team would be willing to drop from three or four all the way down to 11. I could be very wrong with that take, but that's just what my gut is telling me right now. Right, wrong, or otherwise, one thing I think we can all agree on is that the Minnesota Vikings will try their best to move up the draft board to secure one of the top quarterback options, even if it isn't in the top four. In my opinion, this would be a perfect situation for the Vikings to find themselves in. To me, the Vikings find themselves in a somewhat similar situation to what the Buffalo Bills did back in the 2018 Draft, as they too were desperate to find their longterm answer at quarterback, while also possessing two first round selections. Before the draft, many out there thought the Bills would have to trade into the top five to select one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. Though they did attempt to trade up with the Denver Broncos (who held the fifth pick) they ultimately struck a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at seven, which allowed them to keep their second first round pick, which some reports suggest is something the Vikings would like to try and do. That being said, unlike the year the Bills drafted Allen, there is a team that sits above the Vikings in the pecking order that could also use a quarterback, the New York Giants. Though I think the only quarterback they'd really move for is North Carolina's Drake Maye, the threat of the Giants could force the Vikings hand to a certain extent, with them trading up into the top five. With the Chargers having holes all over the roster, and Jim Harbaugh implanted as the head coach, the Vikings could very well strike a trade with them to jump into the top five, as I'm sure Harbaugh would love to send his college quarterback to the best situation possible, which in my opinion, would be the Vikings. Now, in a perfect world I think Minnesota would love to trade up with New England to select the aforementioned Drake Maye, but like I brought up before, I just don't think the Vikings would be willing to part with the amount of capital the Patriots would request to move from three to 11 (though I could be very wrong). So instead, the Vikings take arguably the best scheme fit in the draft and select Harbaugh's protege in Michigan's JJ McCarthy here with the fifth overall pick in the draft. To me, McCarthy 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). 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. With Darnold in as the 'bridge' quarterback and weapons consisting of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson, and Aaron Jones, the Vikings have all the resources to breed a successful young quarterback, and I think sitting behind the aforementioned Darnold for a year (potentially) would be very beneficial for him. You'll have to trade up to get him, but this is one of my favorite fits in the draft (again, Drake Maye is the dream, but I just don't know if it happens) (also, the Giants have some interesting connections with McCarthy that could spark a move up the board, control what you can control).
Other - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina or Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington (stay put)
6. New York Giants - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
For whatever reason, I can't really gauge what the New York Giants are going to do with their first pick in the draft. Obviously the main areas of concern for the Giants lie on the offensive side of the ball, with quarterback, receiver, and offensive tackle all being linked to the organization throughout the entire draft process. That being said, though tackle is a massive need, I think the pick really comes down to quarterback and wide receiver. With multiple reports suggesting the Giants have 'buyers remorse' and are 'done' with former sixth overall pick Daniel Jones, it wouldn't be too surprising to see them move for one of the draft's top quarterbacks here with their first selection. The only issue that comes to my mind is that I think New York really wants one specific quarterback, and that would be North Carolina's Drake Maye. Sure, Michigan's JJ McCarthy is definitely an option, especially since it wouldn't take a ton of convincing to have a team move back one or two spots, but I just feel if the Giants were to go quarterback here, it would be Maye. Constantly compared to Brian Daboll's former quarterback Josh Allen, Maye can do a lot of things with the ball in his hands. Much like Allen, the North Carolina product comes into the draft with some question marks. He can make every single throw on the field, as well as beat you with his legs, but sometimes he can be quite erratic, with some 'mechanical issues' raising some concerns around those in the media. Now, I love Drake Maye as a prospect, but with the Commanders and Patriots constantly linked with him as well, I just have a hard time imagining they'd part ways with the opportunity to take him in the top three, which is why I imagine the Giants would rather move for one of the draft's top receivers here, and move for a quarterback in the later rounds (someone like Tulane's Michael Pratt or Tennessee's Joe Milton III would make a lot of sense imo). The only question we have left is which receiver would the Giants prefer between LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze. Starting with the former, Nabers is one of the most electrifying players in the draft, let alone receiver. He's super competitive and explodes off the line of scrimmage before making a big play either down the sideline, or even up the middle of the defense. That being said, real or not, there have been some questions raised about his 'character,' with some reports suggesting he could be better served playing in a smaller market, rather than a big one like East Rutherford, NJ. I usually don't hold a lot of weight to reports about 'character concerns' coming from nameless faces, but it does seem like the Giants may go more towards the latter and select Washington's Rome Odunze here with the sixth pick. 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. From an x's and o's stand point, I feel like Odunze could be a perfect fit with the Giants. 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 Odunze definitely possesses. They have burners in Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson on the roster, so why not try and find something a little different to go along with them? If the Giants don't move for a quarterback, I think Odunze would be a very solid pick (you're really splitting hairs between Nabers and Odunze imo) (also, the Buffalo Bills are a team linked with Odunze as he fits within the ethos of the organization, a team that has former Bills staff running their team? The New York Giants).
Other - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU or Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina (trade up)
7. Tennessee Titans - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
This pick really comes down to two positions, offensive tackle and wide receiver. Starting with the latter, even after signing former first round pick Calvin Ridley to a four-year deal worth $92-million (which is an awful lot for a receiver turning 30 in December) I still think receiver is on the cards. As of right now, along with Ridley, the Titans only really have DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks as their main options on the outside for second-year starter Will Levis. Sure they have a rather deep room in regards to how many receives they have, but those other options aren't really needle pushers, if that makes sense. With former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan replacing Mike Vrabel this offseason, one could expect to see the Titans move for one of the top options in the draft, especially if someone like Malik Nabers falls right into their laps here with the seventh overall pick. Like, at the combine, Callahan stated that 'I’ll always lean, when all things are equal, guys who can score touchdowns tend to make more of an impact.' Now, that was before they signed the aforementioned Calvin Ridley, but with the Titans top two options soon to be on the wrong side of 30, it wouldn't shock me at all if they went that direction, especially since Callahan was the offensive coordinator when the Bengals passed on Oregon's Penei Sewell in favor of LSU's Ja'Marr Chase in the 2021 Draft, a move that has worked out rather well for both the Bengals and the Lions. With all that being said, the most 'logical' move the Titans could make with this pick is securing the offensive line, namely at left tackle. After cutting former first round pick Andre Dillard back in March (less than a year after he signed a three-year $29-million contract) the Titans have a massive hole on the left side of the offensive line. Yes, they did draft Northwestern's Peter Skoronski with their first pick last year, but he's really made the case to be the team's starting left guard rather than left tackle. With Brian's dad, Bill, serving as the team's offensive line coach (one of the best in the game with that), I think Tennessee may look to build a wall around Levis before adding more weapons in the later rounds. So, with this pick, I'm going to have the Titans select Notre Dame's Joe Alt here in the first round. Much like Brian Callahan, Joe Alt is the son of a football guy as well, as his dad John was a second team All-Pro tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs back in the 80s and 90s. I know it's small, but it could be something the Callahan's can relate to. Besides that though, Alt is seen as the far and away best natural left tackle in the draft. 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. Alt would provide Will Levis with a nice security blanket, giving the Titans one of the best young left sided offensive lines in the league. If he falls past the Chargers at five, Alt seems like a natural fit to be a Tennessee Titan.
Other - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU or JC Latham, OT, Alabama
8. New York Jets (via Atlanta) - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
One team that has constantly been linked with adding more weapons on the offensive side of the ball is the New York Jets. Whether it be wide receiver or tight end, it seems like the Jets are going to keep adding pieces around the soon to be 41-year old Aaron Rodgers, who if you remember, is coming off a season ending achilles injury. With that injury in question, some people have also brought up the idea of the Jets adding some more pieces along the offensive line, even after signing and trading for the likes of Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. That being said, those two aren't the long term answers at the tackle position for the Jets, especially since both are currently 33-years old, with Smith turning 34 in December. That, mixed with the fact that the aforementioned Smith hasn't played a full season since 2015 could suggest that the Jets could move for someone like Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga or Washington's Troy Fautanu, who could both play guard before kicking back outside when they move on from the two elder statesmen. But again, the Jets seemingly want to add weapons, with multiple reports suggesting it may come down to either Georgia's Brock Bowers or whichever of the top three receivers are available. In a recent press conference, Jets general manager Joe Douglas noted the presence of 'a tight end that is a Swiss army knife that can move the ball around the formation and can really stress the defense (per Jets Country).' He continued to say that 'the right type of tight end can be a real weapon,' and that's just it. If you look at it from a positional value standpoint sure, you could be justified into thinking that this is somewhat of a reach for Bowers. But when you look at him more as a 'weapon' rather than just strictly a tight end, it opens some many more holes for your offense, which makes him a truly exciting prospect. Now, despite Douglas saying all that, I'm older enough to remember a time when he said he wouldn't pass on NC State's Ikem Ekwonu in the 2022 NFL Draft, before ultimately passing on him for Cincinnati corner Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner. With that being said, I think the Jets may jump the Bears and select LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers with the eighth pick in the draft. Much like the tackles before, the Jets did go out and sign former Chargers wide out Mike Williams to a one-year deal, but his recent injury history suggests that the Jets could/should look to add at that position too. Like, apart from Williams and Garrett Wilson (who should have a big season with Rodgers back under center), the only other option Rodgers will probably target is his old pal Allen Lazard, which should really tell you all you need to know. As for Nabers, he's 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. As competitive and as explosive as they come, Nabers produced a whopping 17 30+ yard catches this season (34-catches on 20+ yard plays, per ESPN), which is exactly what the Jets could use more of in their offense. The dude posted two-1,000+ yard seasons, with this season seeing him eclipse the 1,500-yard mark, all while hauling in an impressive 14-touchdowns on one of the most high powered offenses in the country. He does an excellent job at working both the middle of the field and the outside, being on the receiving end of a few fade routes throughout last season. Like I brought up before, he's insanely explosive, both off the line and when the ball is in his hands, which would give the Jaguars a completely different element to their offense. 'Character concerns' aside, I think Nabers would be a perfect addition to the Jets offense, giving Aaron Rodgers yet another weapon to work with on the outside to pair with the aforementioned duo of Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams (Nabers gives the Jets a little something different on the outside).
Others - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington or Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
9. Chicago Bears - Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
After selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick in the draft, conventional wisdom would suggest that the Bears look to add more weapons around the former Heisman Trophy winner. Sure they traded a fourth round pick to the Chargers for Keenan Allen, but apart from him and last year's acquisition DJ Moore, the Bears aren't necessarily sport for choice when it comes to weapons along the outside. Apart from those two, Chicago only boasts the likes of Collin Johnson, Velus Jones Jr., and last year's fourth round pick Tyler Scott (Cole Kmet is also there, but I was more focusing on the wide receivers). With the likes of Darnell Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Trent Taylor leaving in free agency, receiver is definitely a spot to look at here at nine, especially with Keenan Allen's age and injury history coming into play too. That being said, if the top three receivers are already off the board, I would expect Chicago to either trade back or go for a different position entirely here with their first selection. As much as I think the Bears would like to add more to the offensive side of the ball by potentially drafting a tackle (Caleb Williams' high school teammate Olu Fashanu), there is another part of me that thinks the Bears want to follow the Houston Texans mold and pair a cornerstone quarterback with a potentially cornerstone player on defense. With Matt Eberflus being one of the better defensive minds in the game, and with Chicago seemingly wanting to improve the defensive line, we could be looking at either a defensive tackle or edge rusher here at nine. With the likes of Laiatu Latu, Dallas Turner, and Jared Verse all available, it wouldn't shock me if the Bears went out and found a pass rushing partner for Montez Sweat, who was awesome down the stretch for Chicago last season. That being said, with the importance of interior defensive linemen becoming more and more prevalent, and with Ryan Poles coming from Kansas City, I wouldn't shock me at all if the Bears moved for someone like Texas' Byron Murphy II (not to be confused with Minnesota Vikings corner Byron Murphy). Now, despite trading back with Philadelphia who took Georgia's Jalen Carter ninth overall, this was a position the Bears were linked to a decent amount to in last years draft. Like I alluded to before, having an absolute game wrecker in the middle of your defense is seemingly essential nowadays, with the likes of Derrick Brown, Justin Madubuike, Christian Wilkins, and the aforementioned Chris Jones all signing massive contract extensions this offseason (would mention Aaron Donald too but he obviously just retired). In Matt Eberflus' system, having someone like that could be incredibly important. 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). This may seem like a little bit of a reach to some, but Byron Murphy's name has been rising up draft boards for about a week or two now. Given the Bears defensive mindset, he would make a lot of sense for the team moving forward. If Chicago were to add Caleb Williams and Byron Murphy II, they would have to potential cornerstone pieces on each side of the ball, which could spell success sooner rather than later for the much maligned Bears (there are some reports suggesting they may more Heaven and Earth to get Marvin Harrison Jr., but I just have a hard time imagining him getting past Arizona).
Other - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington or Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
10. Atlanta Falcons (via New York) - Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
In a very weird way, this could be one of the picks to look out for come draft day. Not necessarily because of any one player getting drafted here, but with accusations of tampering floating around after the signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins, some reports suggest that the Falcons could either swap first round picks with the Minnesota Vikings or lose their first round draft pick all together, much like the Miami Dolphins did a year ago. Now, though those are circulating, the chances of that happening before the draft seem thin, at least at this point in time. So as of right now, we can probably expect the Falcons to either stay and pick at eight or strike a trade and move down the board with someone who needs a quarterback or receiver or something, but who really knows? Despite the rumors, the Falcons and their fans should be looking forward to a decently fun season this time around as not only do they now have a quarterback (though they overpaid for him) but they also have a new head coach in the form of Raheem Morris, who served as the team's interim head coach before heading off to Los Angeles to be the Rams defensive coordinator. The days of Desmond Ridder and Arthur Smith are over, that should in itself be enough to excite fans for the coming season. Now, with Raheem Morris coming in, many out there would expect Atlanta to look to improve on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the pass rushing department, as the Falcons haven't ranked in the top half of the league in sacks since 2017. Despite the continuing problems on defense, GM Terry Fontenot has continued to draft offensive skill position players with high value picks. Since taking over in 2020, the Falcons have drafted Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson. All good players sure, but none were necessarily the teams biggest need going into the draft, which means that skill position door will still be open come draft time. That being said, I do think the Falcons will address the defensive side of the ball this time around, whether that be at corner or in the edge rushing department. Though they may want to find someone to pair with AJ Terrell, the Falcons top two sack artists from a season ago both left in free agency, with Calais Campbell (6.5) and Bud Dupree (6.5) both not currently on an active NFL roster. With that being said, I think the choice may come down to Alabama's Dallas Turner and UCLA's Laiatu Latu (or even Texas' Byron Murphy II). Though the organization has connections to Latu (defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake coached him up at Washington), I think the medical concerns may keep them from taking the UCLA product this high in the draft. Instead, I'm going to go for Alabama's Dallas Turner. In regards to natural fit, none of the other top edge rushing prospects fit Atlanta more than the Alabama product. Per Steve Palazzolo, Raheem Morris' Rams defense had 355-snaps where at least one edge defender dropped into coverage last year, most in the league. While at Alabama, Dallas Turner dropped into coverage 238-times, with the next closest being Latu, dropping back 55-times. Connections are important when it comes to the draft, but fit may ultimately reign supreme. 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.
Others - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA or Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
11. Los Angeles Chargers (via Minnesota) - JC Latham, OT, Alabama
For the third time on the bounce, the Chargers are yet another team linked with moving down the draft board with one of those aforementioned quarterback needy teams . Out of the three or four teams I've mentioned up to this point, I think the Chargers are probably the most likely team to trade back as they are a team with a multitude of needs, but like the other two organizations, I think Los Angeles will stay and pick the top guy on their draft board. Now, the 'top guy' on the Chargers draft board may vary from person to person. The main area of concern for almost everyone out there lies at the feet of the wide receiver position. This offseason, the Chargers cut former first round pick Mike Williams before trading star wide out Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears for a fourth round pick. As things stand, the Chargers top receivers are Joshua Palmer, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko, and last year's first round selection, Quenton Johnston. On paper, this is by far one of the worst receiving cores in the entire league, bar none. With Justin Herbert obviously intrenched as the team's starting quarterback, many out there would think that Los Angeles would try and add some more weapons around him, but I'm not so certain that's the direction they will go here with their first pick. Throughout the entire offseason, Jim Harbaugh and co. have talking about the importance of the offensive line, and how without a good line nothing else works. At Michigan, Harbaugh coached one of the most physical teams in the country, focusing on establishing the run and beat teams up at the line of scrimmage. Across these past few seasons, that is pretty much the exact opposite of what the Chargers have been known for as a team, ranking in the bottom-12 each of the past three seasons. In a recent quote, Chargers run game coordinator Andy Bischoff stated that 'this offense, and this building, is an O-line-centric space. When it comes to our strength program, it's built around the o-line. Everybody else fall in line. Some people don't value offensive linemen. We do.' He went on to say they're looking to build a 'balanced offense that brings out the greatest strengths in everyone on the unit.' Offensive coordinator Greg Roman also stated, 'can you imagine Justin Herbert with a great running game? We don't know, but I can imagine what it might look like. So that's kind of the vision.' Despite the clear need at the wide receiver position, it's clear what the Chargers vision is, especially after signing the likes of JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Hayden Hurst this offseason. This is an insane deep receiving class, and I feel like Harbaugh and co. will build through 'his vision' and look to take multiple receivers in the following rounds. After trading down, I think the Chargers may look to add Alabama's JC Latham with their first selection in the draft. Like I've brought up before, connections are important when it comes to the NFL Draft, whether they're good or bad. I would say this is an example of a good connection in this case as Harbaugh once recruited the former Alabama tackle while he was at Michigan. Not only that, but Harbaugh's Wolverines took on Latham's Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff semi-final this past season, making the two very familiar with each other on a couple levels. Other than the connection(s), Latham would just be an excellent addition to the Chargers offensive line. Over the past two seasons, Latham started 27-games at right tackle, which is perfect for a team like the Chargers, 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 powerful in the run game, 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 Chargers. Trading back, adding another first round pick, and taking one of the top right tackles in the draft. I'm sure Harbaugh and co. would be just fine with this outcome.
Other - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame (stay put) or Malik Nabers, WR, LSU (stay put)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (via Denver) - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
I know, I know, all the noise currently surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles in this draft seemingly revolves around the cornerback position, and it's easy to see why. With the organization bringing back Vic Fangio, it would make sense for the Eagles to make an emphasis on the secondary. 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 the likes of Darius Slay (33) and James Bradberry (31 in August) getting older, I think it would make sense for the Eagles to start thinking about a succession plan at the cornerback position. That being said, Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman tends to put a little more emphasis on a different area, on the complete opposite side of the ball in fact, and that is the offensive line. With longtime center and future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce retiring this offseason after a 13-year ago, their is a gaping hole along the interior of the Eagles offensive line. Not only that, but long time starting right tackle Lane Johnson isn't getting any younger, with him even being asked about potentially retiring after last season ended. With all that being said, one thing Roseman does better than most is try to be at least a year ahead, especially when it comes to the trenches. In previous drafts the Eagles have drafted the likes of Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson to potentially replace the aforementioned Kelce, they drafted Andre Dillard to eventually replace Jason Peters, they drafted Jordan Davis to eventually replace Fletcher Cox, like, the Eagles want to make sure all their ducks are in order before going into the season. With Kelce gone, one would imagine Jurgens would kick back inside to center, vacating his right guard position. With right guard open, and the need for an eventual successor for Johnson needed, I think the Eagles may strike a trade with the Broncos and take Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga with the 12th pick in the draft. An absolute road grater that would fit perfectly along the Eagles offensive line. 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), but has also spent time at guard as well, making this an ideal pick for the Eagles if they trade up. A big dude with even bigger power, Fuaga is able to dominate the defender opposite of him. He also works well to the second level of the defense, destroying the smaller linebackers that try to make a play on the ball. He's surprisingly nimble in the pass game, using a quick step and a powerful punch to drive defenders away, keeping the distance while dropping back into pass pro. Last season, Fuaga allowed zero sacks on 351-pass blocking snaps, which is an excellent plus when combing with his aforementioned run blocking expertise. Again, I know many out there expect the Eagles to take a corner, and though it definitely makes sense, I think Roseman will want to continue to strengthen the offensive line, as he usually likes to do. From a versatility and power stand point, Fuaga may be the perfect fit for the Eagles.
Others - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo or Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma (stay put)
13. Las Vegas Raiders - Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
A phrase I have brought up a couple times in this mock draft is 'conventional wisdom,' which is something that I think is important when it comes to the NFL draft. In a weird way, conventional wisdom can sometimes have an inverse effect, where something that was once obviously happening is just not the case come draft day. In this instance, conventional wisdom, to me, would suggest that the Las Vegas Raiders look to either target and offensive tackle or a corner here with their first pick. Starting with the former, the Raiders let last seasons starting right tackle, Jermaine Eluemunor, leave for the New York Giants in free agency. With Eluemunor gone, the Raiders now have a decent sized hole on the right side of their offensive line. New general manager Tom Telesco came in this offseason after spending 11-years with the division rival Chargers. With his first pick in-charge of the Chargers (bar), he selected Alabama's DJ Fluker, hoping he would be the answer for San Diego (that's where they were at the time) at the right tackle position. Though Fluker's career was up and down at best, Telesco still went out and tried to sort out the offensive line. The difference between then and now is that the Chargers had Philip Rivers under center, who had been the starter since taking over for the New Orleans bound Drew Brees in 2006. Though he wasn't coming off his best year, the Chargers still knew they had a reliable quarterback under center. To me, the same cannot be said for the Las Vegas Raiders. If you look at the Raiders quarterback room you won't necessarily be greeted with a pretty sight. As of right now the quarterback room reads Anthony Brown, Gardner Minshew, and last year's fourth round pick Aidan O'Connell. Though the latter did alright in 10-starts last season, I just have a hard time imagining the Raiders going into the season with those three as their quarterback options (though I could be wrong). With owner Mark Davis giving the 'green light' for Telesco and co. to look for a quarterback, I think the Raiders may try to move for one here in the first round. Though in a perfect world they'd want LSU's Jayden Daniels to re-unite with Antonio Pierce, I think the more realistic option is to go for the person who finished second to Daniels in last seasons Heisman race in Michael Penix Jr. from Washington. In regards to natural 'fit' in an offense and a system, I think Penix would suit new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy just fine. The literal antithesis of former Bears quarterback Justin Fields (who worked with Getsy in Chicago), Penix is an absolute surgeon when he has time in the pocket. Though the dude turns 24 in May, and has had multiple major knee injuries, there's no doubting Michael Penix's ability at the quarterback position. While at Washington, Penix and co. made magic on the offensive side of the ball, consistently putting out one of the best and most high powered offenses in the country. In his final two seasons in Seattle, Penix threw for an astonishing 9,544-yards with 67-touchdowns to 19-interceptions, again finishing as runner-up to LSU's Jayden Daniels in the Heisman Trophy race this past season. Despite getting fisted by Michigan in the National Championship game, no one can take away this past season from Penix, which saw him have a near telepathic relationship with wide receiver Rome Odunze, connecting on about 100-back shoulder balls this past season alone. Though there will be concerns about his aforementioned age and injury history, Penix is lethal with the ball in his hands. One of the strongest arms in the draft, the dude can make every single throw on the field with ease, while also showing that he can make plays in the run game as well, which is something we saw more of as the season progressed last time out. A perfect spiral every time, Penix is exactly what you're looking for in a prototypical pocket passer. With the quarterback room somewhat of a mess right now, I think the Raiders may make a move for Penix either here at 13 or via a trade at the end of the first round. This feels like a very natural fit (I didn't say anything about corners, but Alabama's Terrion Arnold feels very much like a 'Pierce guy,' would make sense given the Raiders recent corner woes and their new 'blue print' in beating the Chiefs).
Others - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State (if available) or Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
14. New Orleans Saints - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
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 Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu with the 14th pick in the draft. Considered by some to be the best natural pass blocker in the draft, Fashanu has a very high ceiling at either tackle position. 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. I think having pieces in place like Ryan Ramczyk could really help in Fashanu's development. With questions surrounding Ramczyk's future, New Orleans may ask him to slot in on the right, or have Andrus Peat or Trevor Penning move to the right and have Fashanu play his more natural position on the left. Regardless if you play him on the left or right, I'm sure Fashanu will develop into a very nice tackle at the next level. This fills a need for the Saints.
Others - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State or Troy Fautanu, iOL/OT, Washington
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.
Others - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo or Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
16. Seattle Seahawks - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
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. (if available), 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? Even after they traded for Sam Howell? If not Penix, I wouldn't be insanely surprised if the Seahawks did the inverse and tried to trade up for someone like Michigan's JJ McCarthy, who was with Macdonald at Michigan before he left for Baltimore (but that's very unlikely). All in all, don't rule out the quarterback position for Seattle. Apart from that position, I wouldn't be shocked if the Seahawks looked to improve in 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. Players like Florida State's Jared Verse or Texas' Byron Murphy II would make a lot of sense. Though that's an option, Phil Haynes, Evan Brown, and Damien Lewis are all entering free agency, with the latter recently signing in Carolina. With another Grubb product still available in Troy Fautanu, it wouldn't shock me in the slightest if they moved for him, especially given his versatility. But with the aforementioned Macdonald coming in, he's going to want to install a system and culture similarly to the one he just left in Baltimore. While with the Ravens, Macdonald implemented a defense who's main focus came in the secondary, and though Seattle has the likes of Devon Witherspoon and Tarik Woolen, I wouldn't be shocked if the Seahawks looked to continue strengthening the secondary even more with their first pick in the draft. With both of the top corners still available, I would imagine the Seahawks would go for the guy from the bigger school, someone who could help reshape the culture in Seattle. To me, that would be 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. Like I mentioned before, if Macdonald wants to have a defense similar to what he had in Balimore, drafting someone like Terrion Arnold would make so much sense for the Seahawks here at 17. Seattle's middle of the road pass defense would instantly get a boost by adding Arnold.
Others - Troy Fautanu, iOL/OT, Washington or Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
This could very well be the San Francisco 49ers pick once the draft kicks off, as the Jaguars are constantly being linked with receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but for now we'll have Jacksonville keep their pick. Now, speaking of the wide receiver position, that is an area that I would imagine the Jaguars would like to continuing improving on before the season starts, whether that's with Aiyuk, a first round pick, or a later round pick. The reason I say that is because I think the Jaguars should look to try and get the best out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who by all accounts didn't have the year that many were expecting of him. Like, I saw some people out there suggest the Jaguars could wind up holding the best record in the AFC, especially given how weak their division looked on paper at the start of last season. For Lawrence, his yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage all decreased, whereas as his interception total damn near doubled, going from eight to 14. With four of the other top five quarterbacks from the 2021 Draft now on different teams (with Mac Jones now serving as Lawrence's back-up) I'm sure Jacksonville would love to add some more weapons around Lawrence in order to get the best out of him once again. Sure, they did go out and sign Gabe Davis from Buffalo and Devin Duvernay from Baltimore, but I just can't see the Jaguars going into the season with the Davis', Duvernay, and Christian Kirk as their top options, especially in an ever improving division. If someone like LSU's Malik Nabers slips past the Giants at six, I would imagine the Jaguars would pounce on the opportunity to trade up with Atlanta and select the explosive receiver. If not that, we're either looking at a trade for Aiyuk or a corner, as I don't necessarily think the Jaguars would take one of the receivers outside of the 'big three' here at 17 (though I could be wrong). Much like I brought up with the Colts before, the AFC South is getting more and more loaded with weapons each passing day, so I think it would be smart to have the infrastructure in place to at least slow down the other teams in the division. To some out there, corner may be the biggest area of concern within the organization, as they did cut former Super Bowl champion Darious Williams this offseason. Along with that, former second round pick Tyson Campbell is on the final year of his deal and is coming off of a somewhat suspect season, which could force the Jaguars hand to take either of Alabama's Terrion Arnold or Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell, both who ironically grew up in the northern part of Florida. Who knows? They could've been raised as Jaguars fans, which is a storyline that a few teams like to follow when the draft ends up rolling around. With Arnold going off the board to Seattle, I think the Jaguars would likely target Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell here with the 17th pick in the draft. 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.
Others - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama or Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
18. Cincinnati Bengals - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Cincinnati Bengals really could do a multitude of different things come draft nights, but the main areas of concern, at least to me, lie in the trenches. That being said, I'm sure there's a few people out there who feel like the Bengals should look to add another receiver, as former second round pick Tee Higgins has made it quite obvious that he may want to seek pastures new after being franchise tagged back in February. In my opinion, there is a pretty solid chance that we see Higgins get traded on draft day, which could of course open the door to someone like LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. or Texas' Adonai Mitchell. Remember back to the 2022 Draft, where we saw the likes of AJ Brown and Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown get traded on draft night to the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals respectively. Now, what makes those deals even more interesting is the fact that only one of the two teams targeted a wide receiver in the first round after trading their player, and that was the Tennessee Titans who used the pick to select Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks, who has had a injury riddled tenure throughout his time in Nashville. The Ravens on the other hand decided to draft Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, who recently made it to his first Pro Bowl. The morale of the story is that just because you gave up a receiver doesn't mean you need to draft one right after the trade is completed. I know he was drafted earlier, but the Ravens left the first round that year with Kyle Hamilton and the aforementioned Linderbaum, two of the better young players in the league at their respective positions. Again, the Bengals could go out and draft a receiver right after trading Higgins, or just draft one with him on the roster, but I feel like they'd be better served addressing either the offensive or defensive line with this pick. The name atop a lot of people's lists for the Bengals is Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II. With DJ Reader heading up north to Detroit this offseason, the Bengals have to find an answer in the middle of their defense, especially in a division that features three very run heavy teams. Though they brought in Sheldon Rankins from Houston, I think defensive tackle is something the Bengals would like to address at some point throughout the draft, but with Murphy gone, they'll have to look somewhere else. If he's available, I would have a hard time imaging Cincinnati passing on Georgia's Amarius Mims here with the 18th pick. Though the Bengals signed former Patriot Trent Brown this offseason, I highly doubt he's the long term solution at the right tackle position for Cincinnati, as he is only signed to a one-year deal and only started eight games last season and has only started 16-games once after the 2018 season. Though he's not the future, he could be an excellent option as a 'bridge tackle,' as someone like Mims would need time to develop before taking on a full time starting roll at the next level. 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 Bengals would love to take him. By drafting Mims, Cincinnati would be able to replace the Arizona bound Jonah Williams at right tackle. Learning from Trent Brown, Mims could become one of the better right tackles in the league, helping keep quarterback Joe Burrow healthy (hopefully) for years to come.
Others - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State or Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
19. Los Angeles Rams - Troy Fautanu, iOL/OT, Washington
For the first time since 2016, and the first time since Sean McVay has been the head coach, the Los Angeles Rams finally possess a first round pick! It's been a long ass time coming hasn't it? The era of 'f* them picks' is finally done and dusted, now Rams fans actually have something to look forward to come day one of the draft. Now, that's not to say Rams fans haven't been excited watch the draft, hell, they made it to the playoffs and a couple points away from beating the eventually NFC runners-up with a team full of rookies (ironically losing to their 2016 first round draft pick). 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, you have to re-tool following a somewhat surprising season. To me, the main areas to look at for the Rams come along the offensive and defensive lines. With NFL legend Aaron Donald retiring this offseason, many out there think the Los Angeles should look to replace him immediately, much like the division rival 49ers did when they traded DeForest Buckner to Indianapolis, selecting South Carolina's Javon Kinlaw with their first pick in 2020. Though that's a nice thought, the odds of someone like Byron Murphy II falling to them at 19 (given the recent rumors) seems slim. They could trade back and select someone like Illinois' Jer'Zhan 'Johnny' Newton but I think they may look a little more outside on the defensive line, at the edge rusher position. Players like Laiatu Latu, Dallas Turner, and Jared Verse are all options here for the Rams as they may want to add more speed off the edge, but ultimately I feel like Los Angeles will look to bolster the offensive line. Like I said before, this is Sean McVay's first first round pick as a head coach, and I'm sure he's going to want to add some more pieces to his offense, namely along the offensive line. With starting right tackle Rob Havenstein contemplating retirement, McVay may want to find an eventual replacement with this pick. If he's available, I would find it hard to believe McVay and co. would pass on Washington's Troy Fautanu with the 19th pick in the draft. Though the majority of his Washington career was spent at left tackle, Fautanu has some experience playing on the interior as well, more than holding his own at both positions in a high powered Husky offense. Throughout his time there, Fautanu allowed two career sacks on nearly 1,250 pass-blocking snaps (per ESPN), and I'm sure Los Angeles would love to have someone like Fautanu there to secure up the offensive line, whether it's at guard or tackle on either side. Now, I don't want to jinx anything, but the dude rarely got hurt at Washington, which makes it surprising that he had a medical red flag pop up a couple days ago. The dude did not really miss any significant time throughout his tenure with the Huskies, which should be a plus for the Rams, especially since the injury shouldn't effect the early portion of his career. Depending on how you view him, Fautanu could slot at either tackle or guard, though some out there see him as a guard due to his size and speed when it comes to pulling and hitting the edge on screen-like plays. Either way, the dude will more than likely lock down any spot you put him at along the offensive line, keeping a 36-year old Matthew Stafford upright for the near future (if he slips past Seattle and Cincinnati, Los Angeles should sprint their card to the podium to take him, his five position versatility makes him a real valuable asset on the offensive line).
Others - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA or Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Graham Barton, iOL/OT, Duke
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had somewhat of a busy offseason. After sneaking into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth for the hundredth year in a row, the Steelers now hold on to a draft pick that doesn't exactly match the product on the field. Like, 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? 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 (Broncos) and Chandon Sullivan (Vikings) leaving in free agency and Patrick Peterson getting released back in early March, but I feel they'll try and fix some of the issues on the offensive side of the ball first, especially after making some drastic changes at the quarterback position. After signing former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal in March, the Steelers then proceeded to trade former first round pick Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth-round pick before trading for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick. The Steelers went from having 'full faith in Kenny Pickett' to then signing Russell Wilson, trading Pickett, and acquiring Justin Fields. Just an insane month of March for the black and gold. With the quarterbacks in place, the Steelers can now look to help build around them. For this one, I've been flipping back and forth between receiver and offensive lineman with this pick. As for receiver, after trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh is only really left with George Pickens, Van Jefferson, and Quez Watkins. Though the latter two aren't awful receivers, it's clear to see why Khan could want to acquire more pieces for the receiving room. Though that's the case, the bread and butter of the Pittsburgh Steelers lies in the running game, which all starts with the offensive line. Though running back Najee Harris eclipsed the thousand yard mark for the second year in a row, he was wildly inconsistent this past season, with back-up Jaylen Warren looking the better out of the two backs for portions of the season. Again, the offense needs to improve and it all starts up front. Though offensive tackle could be an option here, I think Pittsburgh may look more towards the interior and side with the versatility of Duke's Graham Barton. 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. His athleticism and dominance in the run game would really help out in improving the Steelers rushing attack. I think he'd be a very nice pick-up for Pittsburgh here at 20.
Others - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU or Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
21. Miami Dolphins - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
When you think of 'needs' for the Miami Dolphins, rarely does it ever start with the wide receiver position. But if you read some of the reports, receiver is definitely a position the Dolphins could target with their first round pick. If anything, the Dolphins receiving core may very well be their best overall asset, with the likes of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle terrorizing opposing defenses across these past couple seasons. Hell, Hill just led the league in receiving yards, totaling a whopping 1,799-yards with a further 13-touchdowns, whereas Waddle eclipsed the thousand yard mark for the second time in his young career while also totaling four-touchdowns. I'm sure McDaniel would love to add more speed on the outside, but I just think the Dolphins have much more pressing needs than wide receiver, at least here in the first round. Like, when you look at the Dolphins main needs, most of them come along the trenches, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. This past offseason linemen such as Christian Wilkins (Raiders), Robert Hunt (Panthers), and Raekwon Davis (Colts) all left, whereas Emmanuel Ogbah and Conor Williams still remain unsigned. With the Dolphins injury history on the offensive side of the ball, many out there would be forgiven into thinking that'd be their biggest area of need. Like, 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. Though they signed Aaron Brewer from Tennessee and brought back Isaiah Wynn, it wouldn't shock me at all if that's the direction they ultimately ended up going here at 21, especially with the aforementioned Armstead potentially retiring next offseason. The needs along the offensive and defensive line(s) are well documented up to this point in time, which is why I'd lean more towards those directions here at 21. In a perfect world I'd have Miami taking Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton, as he can fill multiple needs along the line. But with Pittsburgh taking him a spot earlier, I think the Dolphins could turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball. Though Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan 'Johnny' Newton is an option, I think they may stay in the state of Florida and take Florida State's Jared Verse with their first pick in the draft. I brought up the absences of Davis and Wilkins before, which could leave some to think they'll go interior first. Though that makes all the sense in the world, remember Bradley Chubb tore his ACL during the last game of the regular season, and Jaelan Phillips has only started more than 10-games once throughout his three-year career. Though both spots are positions of need, I think Miami would target the best player available, which in my opinion is Verse. A player who would've been a first round pick had he come out last year, Jared 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 Dolphins 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Verse could cause a lot of problems for a division that features the likes of Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, and potentially Drake Maye (or Jayden Daniels or JJ McCarthy). Apart Mike McDaniel wants to add pieces along the edges or in the interior, Verse could fill multiple holes giving the Dolphins a real threat on the defensive side of the ball (I'm going to be really pissed if/when Xavier Worthy is the pick here).
Others - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas or Graham Barton, iOL/OT, Duke
22. Denver Broncos (via Philadelphia) - Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
The Denver Broncos will really be one of the teams to look out for come draft night. With no second round picks, and only one pick on day two, the Broncos are in a prime position to move down the draft board and secure some more draft capital. The main thought process behind that is because head coach Sean Payton would probably love to find the organizations next quarterback of the future, something Denver hasn't had since Peyton Manning retired back in 2015. Since then the Broncos have had nothing but broken promises and shattered dreams at the position, as players like Paxton Lynch, Trevor Siemian, Case Keenum, Drew Lock, Joe Flacco, Teddy Bridgewater, and most recently, Russell Wilson all leaving with their tails between their legs, as Denver continues that seemingly never ending search for a quarterback. The last one, Russell Wilson, was probably the most disappointing of them all. 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. Though they traded for former second overall pick Zach Wilson, that will not keep the Broncos out of the quarterback market. A trade up could see them get Michigan's JJ McCarthy, but I think trading down is a more likely scenario at this point in time, especially since they don't have any second round picks. After striking a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Broncos take Oregon's Bo Nix with the 22nd pick in the draft. With his quick decision making and accuracy, I think Nix could be someone that would be perfect for Sean Payton's offense. Much like I've broughten up with Jayden Daniels before, a few years ago, who would have thought we'd be in a position to say Bo Nix would be in position to be select with a first round pick? Not me. Like, there was always the hype at Auburn, but there was very little substance behind the hype, especially since he seemed to get progressively worse while playing for his boyhood team. After transferring to Oregon, everything changed. Nix put up video game numbers through his final two seasons in college football, totaling 95-touchdowns with just 10-interceptions. The dude also set insane career highs in passing yards, throwing for 4,508-yards during his final season at Oregon while completing 77% of his passes. Now, Oregon's offense is designed to go quick, with receivers getting open before the defenders have time to react. But like I said before, Nix was able to register things really quick, all while not forcing the issue, rather just taking what the defense gave him. The dude would suck teams in with the underneath passes before killing them with a deep ball to either Troy Franklin or Tez Johnson. Accuracy and quick decision making are two traits Payton looks for in a quarterback. Mix that with his arm talent and athleticism and you've got a pretty talented quarterback on your hands. I think Nix would be a very nice fit in Denver, hopefully getting them out of the quarterback purgatory they've been in since they sold their soul for Peyton Manning.
Others - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia (stay put) or Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama (stay put)
23. Los Angeles Chargers (via Minnesota from Houston from Cleveland) - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
After trading back with the Minnesota Vikings and going from five to 11, the Los Angeles Chargers find themselves on the board again here with the 23rd pick in the draft. As much as I'm sure the Vikings would love to hold on to this pick, I just can't see a world where they do that at this point, especially given all the recent links with JJ McCarthy and the New York Giants and the Denver Bronocs. As the old saying goes, control what you can control, and if that means parting ways with the 23rd overall pick to secure your hopeful quarterback of the future, so be it, right? The thing is though, I can never seem to nail down an exact position when trying to predict what the Chargers would do should the acquire the 23rd pick come draft night. Hell, it wouldn't surprise me too much if Los Angeles tried to trade down again, as they have multiple needs on the roster that can't all be filled with just two first round picks. That being said, as of right now, I'll have the Chargers staying here and picking someone of a position of need. The question is, which position is it? On one hand receiver is the obvious choice, as the team cut former first round pick Mike Williams and traded star receiver Keenan Allen to the Bears for a fourth round pick, leaving Joshua Palmer as the teams number one wide receiver. It's not that Palmer is bad or anything, but seeing him listed as WR1 on the depth chart can't really fill too many fans hearts with hope, right? That being said, looking at Harbaugh's coaching history, he has always put an emphasis on establishing the trenches, both on the offensive side and defensive side of the ball, which leads me to think the Chargers could look for someone like Jer'Zhan 'Johnny' Newton or Kris Jenkins, the latter who played under Harbaugh while at Michigan. Corner could also be addressed with this pick, as the Chargers aren't necessarily sport for choice at that position either. All that being said, I am ultimately going to have the Chargers go for the first thing I mentioned, wide receiver, and have them select Texas' Xavier Worthy with the 23rd pick in the draft. The closer and closer we get to the draft, the more it seems like Worthy's stock continues to rise, and it's pretty easy to see why. The main thing people will look towards when discussing Worthy and his draft position is his 40-yard dash time, as his 4.21 set a new combine record. I know at face value it doesn't mean a whole lot to some out there, as there's a difference between track speed and football speed, but Worthy's 40-yard run definitely translates to his on the field performance. Though 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), there's no quarterback that could possibly over throw him, even Justin Herbert. 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 the Chargers offense. He could slot very nicely in that Roman Wilson roll, giving Herbert an absolute weapon on the outside. Others - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson or Jer'Zhan 'Johnny' Newton, DL, Illinois
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).
Others - Graham Barton, iOL/OT, Duke or Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
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).
Other - Graham Barton, iOL/OT, Duke or Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
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 starting center Ryan Jensen retired this past offseason, I think head coach Todd Bowles would want to add another presence coming off the edge, especially after they cut former second team All-Pro selection Shaquil Barrett back in February. If he's available, I think it would be hard for Tampa to pass on someone like UCLA's Laiatu Latu. The thing is, if it weren't for injuries, Latu would be going much higher in the draft. But of course, that stuff does carry a lot of weight, especially since 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 Buccaneers (note; GM Jason Licht has had a history of drafting Washington players higher in the draft, though Latu is coming out of UCLA, that Washington connection could hold some weight as both GMs and coaches like going back to places they trust for players) (if teams aren't concerned with his medicals, Latu could go much much higher than 26).
Others - Demeioun 'Chop' Robinson, EDGE, Penn State or Graham Barton, iOL/OT, Duke
27. Washington Commanders (via Arizona from Houston) - Jordan Morgan, iOL/OT, Arizona
After selecting their hopeful franchise quarterback with the second overall pick in the draft, many out there expect the Washington Commanders to trade back in to the first round and select an offensive tackle. Now, it's fairly easy to see why the Commanders would take such a step in improving their roster, as they hold two early second round picks, which makes this a pretty easy move for both the Commanders and the team moving back. In this case, Washington strikes a trade with the Arizona Cardinals, who have made sure to let everyone know that they are 'open for business' when it comes to moving either up or down the draft board. From the Commanders stand point, the offensive line is a massive area of concern going into the season. Sure, the quarterback I expect to go to Washington second overall, Jayden Daniels is very mobile and will be able to buy some time behind their suspect offensive line, but he can only evade defenders for so long before taking a big hit. Though they brought in the likes of Nick Allegretti from Kansas City and Tyler Biadasz from Dallas, the left tackle spot is a position of worry for most out there. With another former Chief, Andrew Wylie, and former second round pick Sam Cosmi holding down the right side, Washington needs to get their blind side sorted before the upcoming season. Though they could go for a multitude of tackles in this draft, the one they constantly get linked to is 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. Throughout his time in the desert, Morgan allowed just two-sacks on 454-passing blocking snaps this past season, which is perfect for a team that gave up the joint second most sacks this past season (65, Carolina Panthers). 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 Commanders have to get better in pass protection, and by adding someone like Jordan Morgan, they'd definitely be heading in the right direction. With 37-starts career under his belt, Morgan should seamlessly slot into the Commanders offensive line. If Washington comes away from the first round with Jayden Daniels and Jordan Morgan, I'm sure their fans would be more than excited for the coming season (in some aspects more than others I suppose) (if Arizona keeps this pick I'd look out for either 'Chop' Robinson or Nate Wiggins, as edge rusher and corner are their two biggest needs outside of wide receiver).
Others - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia or Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
28. Buffalo Bills - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Well, they finally did it. After years of speculation and rumors, the Buffalo Bills traded star wide receiver Stefon Diggs (along with a fifth and sixth round pick) to the Houston Texans for a 2025 second round selection. As a Bills fan, I am really caught in two minds. On one hand, Diggs is one of the greatest players to ever put on a Buffalo Bills uniform, and I'll always appreciate everything he did throughout his time in the 'Queen City.' But on the other hand, part of me is glad it's over. The constant rumors about him getting traded grew exhausting, along with the tweets and the seemingly fractured relationship with quarterback Josh Allen. Moving on just made sense for everybody involved, but it still made me feel like kind of a dick head about the whole thing. Like, as a fan, you can sometimes get caught looking at things through rose tinted glasses, defending every little action because he's on your team, telling yourself and others constantly that this 'isn't like Minnesota, he loves it in Buffalo, he loves Josh Allen, he'll never be traded.' Then poof, it happens. Again, just makes me feel like a dick head, to a certain extent. Like I said before though, I will always appreciate his time with the Bills, as both he and the aforementioned Josh Allen grew together, becoming arguably the most deadly combination in the league across the four-years they were together. Sadly, the relationship wore thin, and now the Bills have to find another option for Allen along the outside. The thing is, this was a problem area before Diggs was traded, now it's even more amplified by the fact that the Bills are currently going into the season with Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir (awesome), and Mack Hollins as their top three receivers on the roster. Thank the Lord we're in April, because there's no way the Bills could go into the season with that as their main receiving core. So far this offseason, the Bills have cut, or gotten rid of a lot of veteran pieces, older players that were key contributors to the recent success in Buffalo, making outsiders feel the this team is done. Though I could again be looking at this through rose tinted glasses, the Bills are far from done. As long as Josh Allen is the team's starting quarterback, they'll always have a chance. Like I alluded to before though, the Bills have to come away with a stud here in the first round, and as I've brought up in previous mock drafts, Brandon Beane loves himself a draft day trade. Throughout his time as GM in Buffalo, Beane has traded up in the first round on four different occasions, recently jumping Dallas to select Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid. Though there are a bunch of recent reports suggesting the Bills are making a ton of phone calls trying to move up, there could be a reality in which the Bills are forced to either stay and pick at 28 or move out of the first round all together. In this scenario, Buffalo comes out massive winners, as they can stay at 28 and pick LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. with their first pick in the draft. In the weeks and months leading up to the draft, this scenario seemed like a fantasy and nothing more. But, as we edge closer to the draft, more reports are coming out about Thomas' medical history which could cause him to go a little later than expected, which is the Bills gain. 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. Brian Thomas Jr. just feels like a future Buffalo Bill.
Others - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas or Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
29. Detroit Lions - Darius Robinson, DL/EDGE, Missouri
We were so close to seeing something magical. Just one more win, and we would've seen the Detroit Lions make it to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. That would've been insane on a multitude of levels, especially since in 2008 we saw the Lions become the first 0-16 in league history. Imagine being alive to see the Lions not only go 0-16, but also make the Super Bowl. That's almost too much to wrap my brain around, and yet it was almost a reality. To many out there, the Detroit Lions were going to be an improved team from the season before, as ever since Dan Campbell took over in 2021, the Lions have been on a steady upwards trajectory, going from 3-13-1 in Campbell's first year to 12-5 this past season, a complete 180 degree turnaround, and in just three-seasons. That's insanely impressive stuff, especially when you consider how much shit the Lions got for their draft last year. Despite most people expecting Detroit to take a corner and potentially someone to go along the defensive line in the first round, the Lions traded back and select Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell, two insane reaches to most people out there, especially when you consider Detroit traded former second round pick, DeAndre Swift to Philadelphia just before the draft. Not only that, but the Lions selected another former Hawkeye, Sam LaPorta, in the second round, despite most people thinking that Notre Dame's Michael Mayer was the better prospect. Despite of what people said, two of those three players wound up being finalists for rookie of the year, with LaPorta also being named as a second team All-Pro. All in all, this was a fantastic season for the Lions, with their rookies balling out all season long. Though they may have a rather unconventional approach, Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have done an excellent job at building this roster, and I expect that to continue here. Looking at the Lions current roster, most of their needs lie on the defensive side of the ball, as they ranked in the bottom half in regards to total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and points allowed, ranking in the bottom six in regards to passing defense, giving up 247.4-yards per game while also conceding 28-passing touchdowns, 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 Marcus Davenport (Minnesota), DJ Reader (Cincinnati), and Amik Robertson (Las Vegas) 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 Missouri's Darius Robinson with the 29th pick. A boyhood Lions fan from Canton, Michigan (just over a half hour away from Ford Field), Robinson just feels like a natural fit for the Lions on the defensive side of the ball. Voted 'practice player of the week' at the Senior Bowl, at 6'5" 285 lbs., Robinson could fill multiple positions across the Lions 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 Dan Campbell's locker room. Whether it's inside or outside, this dude could make a difference for the Lions defense (I couldn't ruin the storybook ending by not sending a Detroit area native to the Lions when the draft is in Detroit).
Other - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama or Demeioun 'Chop' Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
30. Baltimore Ravens - Demeioun 'Chop' Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
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 signing in Detroit and Morgan Moses being traded to New Jersey, 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 Flowers, who is really a threat on the outside for Baltimore? Both are realistic options, but with the offensive line and receiver classes being as deep as they've ever been, I could see the Ravens target someone on the defensive side of the ball, either at corner or edge rusher. That being said, with Jadeveon Clowney leaving for Carolina in free agency, the Ravens outside linebacker spots are being held by Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy, with the latter turning 33 back in March. If I know the Ravens, they're going to probably want to strengthen that area of their defense with their first round pick. With that, I think they may go back to Oweh's college of Penn State and select Demeioun 'Chop' Robinson with the 30th pick in the draft. 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 Baltimore's 3-4 defense Zach Orr. Robinson's got the athleticism and ceiling the Ravens tend to sometimes look for in first round draft picks. If he's available, I could definitely see him winding up in Baltimore (Jordan Morgan would probably be the pick if Washington didn't trade up to get him at 27).
Others - Jordan Morgan, iOL/OT, Arizona or Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
31. San Francisco 49ers - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
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. According to some recent reports, San Francisco will implement the 'best player available' strategy, which seems to work out for teams more often then not in my opinion. As for 'who' that best player is, that remains to be seen. Like, if we're looking along the defensive line, where the aforementioned Arik Armstead (who signed in Jacksonville) was cut and players like Javon Kinlaw (New York) and Chase Young (New Orleans) both walked away in free agency to seek pastures new. On the face of it, defensive line could be the teams biggest need, but would the best defensive lineman be considered the 'best available?' I'm not sure. Same goes for the offensive line. There are multiple reports out there suggesting the Niners want to address that area at some point in the draft, with some even suggesting they could try and trade up in round one to get 'there guy.' But with Washington trading back into the first round with Arizona and selecting Arizona's Jordan Morgan, there's no real 'natural' fit for San Francisco at this point in that position. A spot that maybe hasn't received enough love is the cornerback position. Yes, starters Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir are still on the roster, but both will be entering free agency next offseason, as are Isaac Yiadom and Rock-Ya Sin, who both signed this offseason. Though offensive and defensive line may be more 'pressing' needs, I think if the Niners really went down the 'best player available' route, they may take one of the top corners. If he's available, I wouldn't be shocked if San Francisco took Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry with the second to last pick in the first round. Look, I understand it's not his real name, but Kool-Aid McKinstry is such a buttery name, possibly going down as one of the greatest of all time, right? The thing is though, he's more than just a sick ass name, as McKinstry and teammate Terrion Arnold created one of the most feared corner tandems in all of college football, despite not getting as much attention as Arnold this past season. Across three years at Alabama, McKinstry batted away 23-passes, ranking in the top three in passes defended in 2022 with a whopping 15, ranking behind the likes of Quinyon Mitchell (19) while ranking jointly with Penn State's Kalen King. Though he only came away with two-interceptions throughout his collegiate career, the dude was able to lock down an entire side of the field, with opposing quarterbacks completely avoiding his side of the field. Despite discovering he had a Jones fracture in his right foot at the combine, McKinstry should still very much be in play for the 49ers in round one. As consistent as they come, McKinstry would bring a 'winners mentality' to the 49ers organization. Whether he starts now or has to wait until next year, San Francisco can drink all the Kool-Aid they want as they got one of the better corners in the draft at 31.
Others - Darius Robinson, DL/EDGE, Missouri or Jordan Morgan, iOL/OT, Arizona
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Adonai Mitchell, 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). After signing Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown this offseason, could the Chiefs potentially go in a different direction? Now, they do have a couple other areas of concern outside of wide receiver, and those come in at offensive tackle and at corner, especially after trading L'Jarius Snead to the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 third-round pick (and a swap of seventh round picks). Though the loss of Sneed will be big, the Chiefs do need to find an answer at left tackle. After letting Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie leave in free agency last offseason, Kansas City brought in Jawaan Taylor and Donovan Smith, with the latter coming in on a one-year deal. With Smith still not signed, that leaves last year's third round pick Wanya Morris as the team's starting left tackle. Can Morris be the answer at left tackle? Will they end up re-signing Smith? Who knows. Regardless, left tackle will be addressed at some point in the draft, I just don't know about the first round (Kingsley Suamataia would be my guess for a first round target). With Rashee Rice facing a multi-game suspension, I feel like Kansas City may end up going down the receiver route, selecting Texas' Adonai Mitchell with the last pick in the first round. I think Mitchell would make an excellent addition to the Chiefs receiving core. 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). Now, some may be surprised to see Mitchell drop this far, but with recent reports coming out suggesting teams have concerns that he can be 'uncoachable' and the fact that he is a Type 1 diabetic. One report went as far to say that 'when his blood sugar's off, he's rude, he's abrasive, he doesn't pay attention in meetings. It's why you get really, really shitty character reports coming out of Georgia and Texas. But when his stuff is normal, and they get him normal by lunch time, he's out at practice high energy, best practice player, loves football.' Who knows how much weight those reports will hold, but all in all, Mitchell feels like a fit in Kansas City. For a team like Chiefs who need some more options on the outside, Mitchell could provide another big play threat for their offense (I flipped back and forth a hundred times between Mitchell and Kingsley Suamataia from BYU).
Other - Jordan Morgan, iOL/OT, Arizona or Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Positions Drafted
Quarterbacks - 6
Running Backs - 0
Wide Receivers - 6
Tight Ends - 1
Offensive Tackles - 8
Interior Offensive Line - 1
Interior Defensive Line - 1
EDGE Rushers - 5
Linebackers - 0
Cornerbacks - 4
Safeties - 0
Just Missed Out
*alphabetical order by position
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Jackson Powers-Johnson, iOL, Oregon
Zach Frazier, iOL, West Virginia
Braden Fiske, DL, Florida State
Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan
Jer'Zhan 'Johnny' Newton, DL, Illinois
Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
TJ Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
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