Hello everyone and welcome to the first officially official mock draft for 2025! I know, I know, it's truly exciting stuff and I would know, because I'm the one who wrote it! Now, obviously I may be a little biased, but I think this is the best mock draft out right now!
Unlike last year, this year's class is going to be viewed a lot differently due to the real 'lack of star power' at the quarterback position, as there's a little no chance that we see six quarterbacks taken in the first round this year (let alone in the first 12-picks).
Now, I don't want people to view this draft class as 'weak' because of the lack of elite quarterback talent as this draft does have it's fair share of talented players, most notably Abdul Carter (Penn State), Mason Graham (Michigan), and Travis Hunter (Colorado). We as a people must rise above hating a class due on it's quarterback strength, which I know is a lot easier said than done.
With all that being said this mock draft features two quarterbacks (shocker), one running back, five wide receivers (including Travis Hunter), two tight ends, 5 offensive tackles, one interior offensive lineman, four interior defensive linemen, seven edge rushers, one linebacker, three corners (including Travis Hunter), and two safeties.
So without any further delay I, Logan Blackman, host of the Logan Blackman Show and self proclaimed Draft "Expert" am proud to present to you Mock Draft 1.0! Enjoy!
Podcast Links
1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
With the first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select Cam Ward, quarterback from the University of Miami (FL). If I'm being 100% honest, I really do not know which direction the Titans will go here with the first overall pick. When you look at Tennessee, the first need you think of comes at the quarterback position as the Will Levis experiment didn't really hit the ground running in year two, with new head coach Brian Callahan and him not necessarily seeing eye-to-eye throughout the course of the season. Despite being considered a fairly raw talent coming out of college, Levis had numerous head scratching plays throughout the season. Whether it be the 'surrender cobra' interception against the Chicago Bears, the upside falling down backwards pass against the New York Jets, or the nuts to the face play against the Green Bay Packers, it's safe to say that Levis' second year in the league was filled with much more lowlights than highlights. That being said, President of Football Operations for the Titans, Chad Brinker said that, 'you can't pass up on a generational talent,' which makes me and many others out there believe that Tennessee could move for someone other than a quarterback with their first pick. By that criteria, the only real options the Titans would have here would be either Colorado's Travis Hunter or Penn State's Abdul Carter. Though you can't really go wrong with either, if the Titans were to go in this direction I'd bet they'd take Hunter, as a year ago Callahan suggested that he would like to add a level of explosiveness and speed to the wide receiver room. Hunter is arguably the most explosive player in this entire draft, let alone amongst the receivers as he is also a shut down corner. With the Titans current receiving core boasting the likes of 30-year old Calvin Ridley, former first round flop Treylon Burks, and three un-drafted players I'm sure he'd love to add some supreme talent to that receiving room. That all being said, I don't know if I believe that the Titans would make a move at GM if they weren't moving for a quarterback in the draft. Quarterback is the most important position on the football field and though I could be wrong, I think Tennessee ends up moving for a quarterback with the first pick in the draft, again selecting Miami's Cam Ward to hopefully be the teams answer at the position. The top quarterback in this year's class (according to me), Ward can make so many plays for you at the position. Sure he may not be like Jayden Daniels in regards to pure athleticism (not many are) but his ability to make plays off script is truly second to none in this class. With that, when he's forced to scramble outside the pocket or make off platform throws Ward is as cool as they come, rarely letting the pressure get the best of him. That being said, there are times Ward can get caught trying to play hero ball, which is something that doesn't usually work all too often. Thankfully for the Titans, that can be improved upon. Ward has a fantastic arm and loads of experience, lining up for the likes of Incarnate Word, Washington State, and Miami (FL) while setting the all time career NCAA passing touchdown record (158). With the Titans offensive line a little rough, a quarterback with Ward's ability to make something out of nothing would be very beneficial. His arm talent, athleticism, and calmness under pressure make him the ideal prospect for the Titans here with the first overall pick.
Other(s) - Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State; Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
2. Cleveland Browns - Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Much like the Tennessee Titans with the first overall pick, the Cleveland Browns find themselves in a quarterback predicament as well. Lets call a spade a spade, the Deshaun Watson experiment fall completely flat on it's face, but the thing is, almost everyone but those within the Browns organization saw this from a mile away. Coming off a season where he refused to play, Watson reputation was completely tarnished with numerous sexual assault allegations against his name, meaning that he'd be forced to sit out the first 11-games of the following season. With that in mind, the Browns still decided to fork over three first round picks (2022, 2023, 2024) along with a third (2023) and two fourths (2022 and 2024) while signing Watson to a fully guaranteed five year $230-million deal, the largest in NFL history. Pound for pound, this is by far the worst trade in NFL history, and I'm not even close to exaggerating on that. To make matters even worse Watson tore his achilles in week seven, only for him to apparently re-rupture that injury this offseason meaning he could miss all of the 2025 season as well. Again, just a complete and total mess on all fronts. So, with all that being said, shouldn't the Browns just move on by taking a quarterback here with the second overall pick? Though I wouldn't rule it out completely at this point, I just think that the Browns brass may look to strengthen other areas and potentially take a quarterback in the later rounds as well as one early in next year's draft (looking at Penn State's Drew Allar), which means I think Cleveland should just implement the 'best player available' strategy and take either Colorado's Travis Hunter or Penn State's Abdul Carter. Though both are available, I think the Browns should turn their attention to the latter and select Carter here with the second overall pick. Throughout the season Carter constantly demonstrated why he was the best pass rusher in college football. Wearing the number 11 jersey that was made famous by LaVar Arrington and Micah Parsons, Carter terrorized quarterbacks to the tune of 12-sacks and 68-total tackles (which ranked fourth on Penn State) with 23.5-tackles for loss, good for best in the nation. Playing with one arm against Notre Dame, Carter was constantly in the backfield, causing quarterback Riley Leonard a ton of problems throughout the game. Carter's explosiveness and power around the edge make him a scary opponent whether he's got his hand in the dirt or he's in a sprinters stance. With Myles Garrett's future uncertain due to trade rumors, Carter could be a cornerstone for the Browns on defense. Though if they're somehow able to hold on to Garrett despite the trade request, the Browns would automatically have one of the top pass rushes in the league. You can never have too many pass rushers when you're in a division with Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.
Other(s) - Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado; Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
3. New York Giants - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The first quarterback finally comes of the board here with the third overall pick as the New York Giants select Miami's Cam Ward. It's just a common theme up to this point in the draft as each of the top three teams have questions at quarterback, but unlike the Titans and Browns who at least have some options, the Giants literally don't have any options at the position. I'm not joking, the Giants don't actually have any quarterbacks currently under contract for next season, as they cut former first round pick Daniel Jones back in November and have Tim Boyle, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito all entering free agency (though DeVito is an exclusive rights free agent, so he'll more than likely be back). It's just a horrific space to be in, and to make matters worse head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen are likely on their last legs, meaning that they can't really afford to pass on a quarterback here with the third overall pick. Sure if last year was their first year(s) in New Jersey than they may have some more grace but with the Jones contract falling flat on it's face and the team struggling beyond belief they again can't afford to miss on one of the top options here. So again with this pick I'm going to have them select Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, giving last year's sixth overall pick Malik Nabers a legit quarterback to throw him the ball. Previously mentored by Tom Brady, the former seven time Super Bowl champ has spoken very highly of the former Colorado signal caller, praising him for his work ethic, accuracy, and toughness. As for the latter, I don't know if there's a tougher quarterback in this class than Sanders. Sure the dude has been criticized for holding on to the ball too long in the pocket, but even outside the pocket he's taken some serious shots, most notably against the Kansas Jayhawks back in late November. Sanders may not be the same athlete as Cam Ward in regards to making plays off script but he can make every single throw on the field, being able to fit the ball into tight windows with pressure barreling down on him. Despite him being right handed, Sanders throws with a lot of accuracy when rolling out to his left, as he is one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the draft when it comes to throwing on the run. He can make damn near every throw on the field and I think would be a very solid addition to the Giants quarterback room, again giving wide receiver Malik Nabers a legit player at the quarterback position. Recipient of the Johnny Unitas Award as the nation's top upperclassman signal caller, Sanders' aforementioned work ethic, accuracy, and toughness make him the ideal prospect for the Giants here with the third overall pick. I could be wrong, but given everything I've seen surrounding the team and the player in question, this pick feels like it's already happened (unless the Raiders trade up of course, I could really see that happening).
Other(s) - Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado; Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
4. New England Patriots - Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The New England Patriots are starting over with the head coaching position, firing one former linebacker for another by hiring former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel. Though they are making a change at head coach, one thing the Patriots don't need to worry about is who's lining up under center. Unlike the three previous teams, the New England Patriots seemingly got their quarterback of the future in the 2024 NFL Draft by taking North Carolina's Drake Maye with the third overall pick. As someone who loved Maye as a prospect, it pains me to my core that he plays for the Patriots. As much as I despise that as a rival fan, I think Maye is an excellent player to build your team around. Much like Josh Allen in Buffalo, Drake Maye was considered by some to be a 'project' coming out of college and was drafted by a young defensive minded head coach with no real help around him. Record wise, his first season in the league was rough as the Patriots finished with a 4-13 record, with a win agains the aforementioned Bills on the final week of the regular season eliminated them from first overall pick contention. Despite their record being abysmal, Maye still made numerous plays throughout the course of the season, throwing for 2,276-yards with 15-touchdowns (and 10-interceptions) while also picking up 421-yards on the ground in 13-games under center. There's definitely room to grow, but you'd be naive to think that the Patriots don't have a stud under center. With that, I believe that it'd be in New England's best interest to provide Maye with at least some talent on the offensive side of the ball, as the Patriots were void of that this past season whether that'd be out wide or along the offensive line. I think that the Patriots would love to select LSU's Will Campbell or one of the other top tackles in this year's class here with the fourth overall pick (as the Patriots 'boasted' arguably the worst offensive line (namely tackles) in the league) but if the draft plays out like this I'd find it hard to believe that they'd pass on Colorado's 'do everything specialist,' known better as Travis Hunter. This past season, Travis Hunter totaled 1,152-yards receiving with 14-touchdowns while also coming down with four interceptions as he walked away with the Heisman Trophy. Travis' explosiveness on the outside was truly something to behold while in Boulder, as he could take a screen pass 50-yards to the house, bursting past numerous defenders, as well as making spectacular catches over the top of defenders 25-yards down the field. His speed and pure athleticism make him an absolute match-up nightmare on both sides of the ball, which could give Drake Maye an elite weapon on the outside as well as giving second year corner Christian Gonzalez an excellent running mate on the defensive side of the ball. Again, I'd personally (as a neutral) would love to see the Patriots draft an offensive tackle here to protect Maye for the next 10-years or so, but when a player like Travis Hunter comes available you just have to take him, right? He could help solve a lot of problems in New England.
Other(s) - Will Campbell, iOL/OT, LSU; Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
This offseason for the Jaguars so far has been an absolute jumbled mess. After firing Doug Pederson on Black Monday due to him apparently 'falling seismically short of owner Shad Kahn's expectations.' Though I wasn't at all surprised Jacksonville moved on from Pederson despite him leading the team back-to-back 9-8 seasons and a trip to the AFC Divisional Round in 2022, but I just don't know how he fell 'seismically short' of Kahn's expectations. Like, do you know who you are? I understand some people out there expected the Jaguars to challenge the likes of the Chiefs after their first 9-8 season under Pederson but c'mon, you are the Jacksonville Jaguars, what ridiculous expectations have you set in place for the team to fall 'seismically short' of them? Trevor Lawrence's recent injury struggles mixed with weird off-seasons have failed to help the Jaguars, even with the fantastic rookie season put forth by wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.. The main 'culprit' is/was GM Trent Baalke, who managed to stay in power long than his term held this team back from reaching it's potential. The fact that Shad Kahn held on to him longer than he should have made some of this off-seasons top coaching options turn down the chance to coach in Jacksonville. Like, it took them finally firing the former 49ers general manager to get Buccaneer offensive coordinator Liam Coen to take the job, as he was planning to return to Tampa Bay had Baalke stayed on as the General Manager. Again, just an absolute mess of an offseason, and there's a lot of different areas to improve upon for this team to be at the top of the AFC South again. On one hand I'm sure Coen would love to get some more weapons around Trevor Lawrence, as the Jaguars will only go as far as Lawrence will take them, especially after signing him to a five year $275-million ($142-million guaranteed) this past offseason. Though that could be the case, Jacksonville's defense ranked in the bottom two for yards per game while also ranking dead last in passing yards per game, leading me to believe they may go the defensive route here at five. With Coen coming from Tampa he knows the importance of being physical from the point of attack on defense, especially along the defensive line. So with this pick I'm going to have the Jaguars take Michigan's Mason Graham to help sure up their defense. At 6'3" 320 lbs., Graham causes massive problems for interior offensive linemen, using his size, power, and technique to blow past them in both the run and pass game. He may have only finished the regular season with three and a half sacks (two coming in one game) but he will always make plays along the defensive line. Again, with Coen coming in from Tampa, the defensive side of the ball may very well be addressed with this pick, despite himself being an offensive guy. Plus, the Jaguars could do a lot worse than pairing Graham with Arik Armstead in the middle with Josh Hines-Allen and former first overall pick Travon Walker coming off the edges. Drafting Graham would definitely help sure up the defensive side of the ball, making them more physical and more intimidating in the process.
Other(s) - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan; Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
6. Las Vegas Raiders - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Raiders were a very interesting team this past season. Despite the players fighting for then interim head coach Antonio Pierce to remain in charge, the Raiders decided to let him go after just one season. Look, I know Vegas finished with a pretty rough 4-13 record but given their quarterback situation and how the rest of the roster looked, was anyone actually expecting anything different? I mean, they went into the season with Gardner Minshew (who they signed from Indianapolis last offseason) and former fourth round pick Aidan O'Connell as their quarterbacks, that's not necessarily a recipe for success. Even if those around the Raider organization and anonymous executives thought O'Connell would be a first round pick in the 2024 Draft. I can respect the confidence, but that's insane. O'Connell was fine the back half of the previous season but that was it, fine. To go into the season with those two as your only quarterbacks is malpractice, and yet we were expecting different from them, especially with Christian Wilkins and Maxx Crosby missing time? Now, the Raiders did have themselves a nice draft this past year, getting tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick, but Vegas also fired general manager Tom Telesco. We have ourselves a whole new regime here which is again spear headed by Tom Brady. To replace those who have been fired, the Raiders brought in former Super Bowl champion Pete Carroll and former assistant general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers John Spytek while also bringing in recent Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to serve the same role in Vegas. Though quarterback is again the teams biggest need, I don't know if one of the top options in either Ward or Sanders will be available to select here at pick number six (I'm sure Brady would love to draft Sanders as he mentored him and has praised him in the past). With quarterback seemingly off the table (for now) I'm sure Carroll would love to address the defensive side of the ball, a unit that ranked around the middle of the pack in almost every statistical category apart from points per game (ranking in the bottom 10 while giving up 25.5-points per game). In a decently recent quote Spytek stated, 'to me in my career it's been proven that if you can affect quarterbacks, however you do it, at a high level you've got a chance' Going on to say that, 'I'm fortunate enough to have won two Super Bowls in my career, and both times was because we couldn't stop hitting quarterbacks in the Playoffs.' Though I'm sure they'd love to get Michigan's Mason Graham, I think they may have to settle on another Michigan player in the form of Will Johnson. 'Settle' definitely isn't the right word as Johnson is a top top corner, but it's hard to get much better than Graham from the defensive line standpoint, but Johnson fills an immediate need in the secondary for a team that's in a division with some great quarterbacks. Though not the same style of player, to me the recent news around Johnson's draft stock reminds me a lot of when the Texans ultimately selected Derek Stingley Jr. out of LSU in 2022. Despite being one of, if not the top corner throughout his colligate career, Stingley's draft stock in the early stages took a hit due to some nagging injuries. Much like Stingley, Johnson has been one of, if not the top corner in college football, but injuries really hurt his final season in Ann Arbor, only appearing in five games due to a lower leg injury. I have no doubt that when the draft rolls around in April Johnson will be considered a top five pick, and I'm sure the Raiders would love to take him here at six. With no real alphas in the secondary, Johnson would add that and more to the Raiders organization. Johnson, standing at 6'2" and weighing 202 lbs., boasts the ideal size teams look for in the modern NFL corner. Extremely instinctive and reactive, Johnson reads quarterback's eyes better than most at the position, being able to break and make plays on the ball with ease. With both interceptions from this past season being returned for touchdowns, Johnson is also able to make plays with the ball in his hands, making him just that much more dangerous. A nagging toe injury could hurt him a little bit, but I think he's too talented to fall much farther past Las Vegas. Johnson could provide the Raiders with a true shut down corner.
Other(s) - Mason Graham, DL, Michigan; Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
7. New York Jets - Will Campbell, iOL/OT, LSU
I've brought up some messes before, but when you think of the term 'shit hit the fan,' you should instantly think of the New York Jets and their ridiculous 2024 season. I don't know if I've personally ever enjoyed a downfall as much as this one in my entire life. Obviously I'm a fan of the rival Buffalo Bills so of course I'm going to love it, but just with how the media talked about them before the season to how they ended up, you'd have to be pretty sick not to enjoy it. All I heard this offseason was that the Bills window was 'closed' and that on paper the Jets had the best team in the division. This reign of the Buffalo Bills was over and the New York Jets, with their 41-year old quarterback coming off of a torn achilles were going to take over the division. That's what we were all told, and look how everything turned out? Despite the aforementioned Rodgers putting up decent numbers the Jets were an utter mess, being the first team to fire their head coach with reports suggesting that Rodgers actually made a call to owner Woody Johnson to make the move rather than firing the offensive genius known as Nathaniel Hackett (Rodgers' buddy from Green Bay). Along with Saleh, the Jets also fired general manager Joe Douglas, the man partially responsible for bringing Rodgers to New Jersey in the first place. As a team the Jets ranked near the bottom in regards to total offense but were still able to boast a strong showing on the defensive side of the ball, ranking third in total defense. With former player and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn coming in as head coach one should expect defense to remain the teams main identity, which makes me believe that the Jets may look to re-strengthen the offensive side of the ball, with needs along the offensive line and in the receiving core (and maybe quarterback depending on what Rodgers decides to do). Given how the Lions built their team from the trenches, I would imagine Glenn would want to the same here in New Jersey. Though they spent a first round pick last year on Penn State's Olu Fashanu, both Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith are set to leave in free agency this offseason. I know they still could come back, but with both well on the wrong side of 30 and both missing time last season I don't know if that's really on the cards. Plus, I don't think it'd be a bad idea for them to double dip on the same position this year as well, regardless of their future(s). With that being said, I think LSU's Will Campbell would be a very solid get for the Jets here at seven. Though his arm length may be in question, I think Campbell is the draft's top tackle prospect. At 6'6" and weighing 323 lbs., Campbell has started at tackle for the Tigers since 2022 and since that first season, the dude has given up just two sacks, boasting great footwork, technique, and athleticism to mix with his big frame. Solid in pass protection and a finisher in the run game, whether you want him to line up at tackle or guard Campbell would be an excellent addition to the Jets offensive line, giving them one of the better young tackle tandems in the league.
Other(s) - Mason Graham, DL, Michigan; Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
8. Carolina Panthers - Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Despite hiccups early on in the season, it seems that the Carolina Panthers have figured out who their starting quarterback will be going into next season. Though he got benched early on in the season, former first overall pick Bryce Young managed to not only turn this season around, but potentially his career at the same time. With CJ Stroud putting up fantastic numbers in his rookie season that helped lead the Houston Texans to a division title and a Playoff win, many out there labeled Young as being a bust despite it being only his rookie season. Not only that, but with the haul the Panthers gave the Chicago Bears to move up from nine to one last year to select him, those same people who labeled him a bust also said it was among one of the worst trades in NFL history. Young was made an easy target for many online trolls, with his benching seemingly being the final nail in the coffin for his career. But with Andy Dalton not necessarily lighting the world alight, Young was afforded the opportunity to take his job back, which he did. Since regaining his job against the Denver Broncos in late October, Young totaled 15-touchdowns to just six interceptions, leading the Panthers to some wins over the likes of the Saints, Giants, Cardinals, and Falcons, with the latter officially kicking the Falcons out of Playoff contention as Young totaled five touchdowns (three passing two rushing). The conversation about his future (for the time being) is done, and I'm happy for him. So instead of finding a new quarterback Carolina can look in a couple other directions, mainly along the defensive line and at wide receiver. Despite the Panthers drafting Xavier Legette with the 32nd pick last year, Carolina only can boast him, a soon to be 35-year old Adam Thielen, and un-drafted rookie Jalen Coker as the only receivers currently on the roster. Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan would be a nice pick here, but despite him being available I think Carolina may still look to address the defensive side of the ball. As a unit, the Panthers ranked dead last in total defense (as the only team to give up more than 400-yards per game (404.5)) while also ranking dead last in scoring defense (as they gave up an absurd 31.4-points per game) and passer rating (105.4). Not only that, but they also ranked in the bottom three in regards to sacks, making the defense a top priority with this pick. Though he may be raw, Georgia's Mykel Williams may be the best option for the Panthers here at pick number eight. At 6'5" 265 lbs., Williams is extremely explosive and uses his speed and power to get around the edge to get after the quarterback. For being as big as he is, Williams also shows a lot of bend in his play, rarely seeing him get beat at the line of scrimmage. Out of all the players in the draft Williams may have one of the highest upsides, which should excite people despite only putting up five sacks this past season (with two coming against Texas in the SEC Championship game). The Panthers need an influx of young talent on the defensive side of the ball, and Williams' aforementioned upside could provide a much needed spark to the organization.
Other(s) - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona; Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
9. New Orleans Saints - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Out of all the teams to have moved on from their head coaches this season, the New Orleans Saints are the only team not to have hired a new one yet. This may sound mean but I can't say I blame them as the Saints are routinely in cap hell and have been stuck in football purgatory pretty much ever since Drew Brees retired. They're usually never good enough to win anything yet never good enough to get premium draft picks. They are seemingly in denial of who they are as an organization and I can't really see any young or ambitious head coach candidate go down there this offseason. Honestly, who is there to get excited about on this roster? Sure you have former 11th overall pick Chris Olave, but the dude battled multiple concussions throughout the season and has been linked with trades away from the organization this offseason. Not to mention your quarterback is Derek Carr, someone who nobody on or associated with the Saints actually likes. Along with that some key players on the team such as Alvin Kamara, Cam Jordan, and Tyann Mathieu are going to be on the wrong side of 30 when the new season kicks off, with Jordan turning 36 in July. It's just an ideal situation to be in for any coach, which makes me think they'll just hire former interim head coach Darren Rizzi to be the teams next full time coach (I wrote this before the reports came out suggesting Kellen Moore would become the next head coach). So what to do with this pick, the Saints have a decent amount of holes across the roster, namely at receiver, along the offensive and defensive line, and corner to replace Marshon Lattimore. Though I think getting a corner or drafting an edge rusher would be solid options here, I think the Saints need to add some more to the offensive side of the ball, which leads me to believe that they may turn to Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan here with the ninth pick in the draft. At 6'5" 212 lbs., McMillan is a match-up nightmare for most corners who try to guard him. His size mixed with his body control and great hands allow him to high point balls while out muscling the smaller corners. He may not be an absolute burner, but he still can create some late separation from defenders with his long strides. He's a physical receiver who finished third in the nation in receiving yards despite playing for a rough Arizona team (though I like Noah Fifita). Again, he's a big bodied and physical receiver who just makes going up and getting it look effortless. Next to Olave (if he can stay healthy), I think McMillan would be a very nice addition to the Saints receiving core and give Derek Carr (or whoever lines up at quarterback) nice young star to throw to.
Other(s) - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan; Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
10. Chicago Bears - Armand Membou, iOL/OT, Missouri
Along with the Jets, the Bears could be considered one of the bigger disappointments from this past season. Prior to the draft, many out there thought the Bears could be challenging not only for a division title, but a chance to make some noise in the Playoffs, especially after drafting former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. Some out there said this was the greatest supporting cast a rookie quarterback has ever had, but if you listened to the show back before the season started we dumped some water on that seemingly ever growing fire. Look, I really like Caleb Williams, but the supporting cast the Bears boasted was always a tad bit overrated in my eyes. Sure DJ Moore is a good wide receiver, but some out there were trying to throw him into a tier of receivers he just didn't belong in. Rome Odunze was a good get at nine and Keenan Allen, despite being fairly risk free, turned 33 in April and hadn't played a full season since 2021. As for the running backs, D'Andre Swift was now on his third team in three years and Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert haven't proved much since being in the league. Finally, the Bears offensive line was/is bad and they were coached by Matt Eberflus, a guy who should've been fired midway through last season but saved his job thanks to a late season surge on defense. All in all this team was vastly overvalued, which led to them finishing with a 5-12 record, losing 11 of their final 12-games of the regular season. That being said, Williams still performed well, throwing for 3,541-yards with 20-touchdowns to six interceptions while also nearly totaling 500-yards on the ground. With Ben Johnson coming in, expectations for Williams will only increase, and with him coming from Detroit I'm sure he's going to want the organization to strengthen the offensive line. Serving as the OC in Detroit, the Lions boasted one of the best offensive lines in football, which is an area the Bears should address here at 10. Though LSU's Will Campbell would be the dream it's seems unlikely that he's available for selection here. With him being off the table for now, I think the Bears move on to arguably the next best option in the form of Missouri's Armand Membou. Though a right tackle in college, Membou's 6'3" 325 lbs. frame leads some out there to believe that he'll make the transition inside to guard, which is again what I would say the Bears are in the most need for especially with question marks surrounding former second round pick Teven Jenkins' future. Despite him not possessing the 'prototypical' size most teams look for in an offensive tackle Membou's arm length mixed with an explosive get off and power make him a dominating presence along the offensive line. I think Membou would be a perfect fit for Ben Johnson, who I'm sure is going to want to have a dominating offensive line (like he had in Detroit). Again, powerful agains the run and explosive when dropping back into pass protection, Membou has all the traits you'd look for in a guard or a tackle, regardless of his size. Turning 21 a month before the draft, the dude's ceiling is arguably the highest out of the draft's top offensive linemen. Young, athletic, powerful, and versatile, for a team with needs along the offensive line, you could do a lot worse than selecting Membou here with the 10th overall pick.
Other(s) - Kelvin Banks Jr., iOL/OT, Texas; Tyler Booker, iOL, Alabama
11. San Francisco 49ers - Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
Another disappointing team but for different reasons, the San Francisco 49ers followed their Super Bowl last year with a 6-11 season. Though a disappointment in the grand scheme of things, the long and short of it is that the Niners were without some of their best players for varied times throughout the course of the season with reigning NFL offensive player of the year Christian McCaffrey missing all but four games and receiver Brandon Aiyuk playing just seven games before tearing his ACL. Even on the defensive side of the ball, players like Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, and Charvarius Ward all missed time, putting San Francisco in some pretty rough spots as they lost seven of their final nine games of the season. Far from an ideal situation for the 49ers but one should expect them to be back and firing among the NFL's best next season, right? Well for how talented they are, both the offensive and defensive line(s) need improvement before next season. Yes they still have the likes of Trent Williams and Nick Bosa along the edges, but as units they performed way below their standard this past season, especially inside on the interior. Though I'm sure Kyle Shanahan is going to want his offense to improve by bolstering the offensive line, especially with reports suggesting that the team wants to lock quarterback Brock Purdy down to a new extension sometime before the start of next season. I really wanted to give the Niners either Missouri's Armand Membou (who would really fit their zone blocking scheme) or Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr., but with Robert Saleh returning as the defensive coordinator, and GM John Lynch loving to draft defensive linemen, I think San Francisco may look to address the defense by taking Ole Miss' Walter Nolen here with the 11th pick in the draft. Since taking over as general manager in 2017, the aforementioned Lynch has drafted a defensive lineman with their first pick four time, selecting the likes of Solomon Thomas, Nick Bosa, Javon Kinlaw, and Drake Jackson (second round). After not using any of their eight picks last year on a defensive lineman, I know Lynch is inching for another one this year, and Nolen would be a very nice addition to the Niners defensive line. After putting forth an excellent showing at the Senior Bowl, Nolen is a name that's going to continue to keep rising up draft boards leading up to the draft. An explosive defensive tackle, Nolen is an absolute game wrecker from the interior, generating 6.5-sacks and 12.5-tackles for loss this past season at Ole Miss. Nolen's burst off the line when the ball is snapped is really impressive, allowing him to get past opposing offensive linemen and make a play on the ball. Nolen has a very high ceiling, though one of his main issues is sometimes over-commit, but that again comes with this explosiveness. Overall Nolen is just a problem along the line, and for a team like the 49ers who could use a little jolt along the line. He would be an excellent player to draft here at 11.
Other(s) - Kelvin Banks Jr., iOL/OT, Texas; Armand Membou, iOL/OT, Missouri
12. Dallas Cowboys - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
This has been a very common theme up to this point, hasn't it? Yet another team that failed to meet expectations this past season. The question when it comes to Dallas though is that should we have really been that surprised? I mean, it's just in their nature. Despite quarterback Dak Prescott finishing second in the MVP race and receiver CeeDee Lamb being named a First Team All Pro selection for the first time in his career, the Cowboys came into this past season with no real vision. After losing the likes of Dan Quinn and Tyler Biadasz to Washington, Tony Polland to Tennessee, and Michael Gallop and Leighton Vander Esch to retirement, owner/GM extraordinaire Jerry Jones boldly announced that the team would be 'all in.' Well, I guess 'all in' to Jerry means something different to him than it does to everybody else as the Cowboys not only failed to replace the key pieces they lost, but signed just three players during the offseason as Eric Kendricks, Royce Freeman, and Ezekiel Elliott all signed for one year deals. To go along with the lack of effort put in last offseason the Cowboys dealt with a vast array of injuries, namely to the likes of Dak, CeeDee, DaRon Bland, Trevon Diggs, Dexter Lawrence, and Zack Martin all missing time just to name a few. Overall, this was just about as bad of a season as you could have asked for if you are a Dallas Cowboys fan. I guess the only real saving grace was the fact that the team agreed to part ways with head coach Mike McCarthy, who many thought should have been out of the job following their first round playoff exit to the Green Bay Packers last season. The only issue with that was that many fans and neutrals thought they'd try to go out and make an ambitious hire, with Detroit's Ben Johnson being the preferred choice by the fans. Unfortunately for them Jerry boy went 'all in' again, essentially promoting offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. I can't speak for Cowboys fans, but this hire came as a complete shock to me. Maybe it ends up working out but man, this is not who I thought Dallas would hire to be their next head coach. Due to the Cowboys' offensive struggles this past season I feel like Jerry and co. will want to see a vast improvement from that side of the ball. I know there's a few other directions they could go, but with a Schottenheimer calling the plays on the sideline it just makes sense for them to target a running back early, right? I know Rico Dowdle rushed for over 1,000-yards, but I just don't see them keeping him as RB1 when Frisco, Texas' own is available, selecting Ashton Jeanty here with the 12th overall pick. This just feels like a safe pick, doesn't it? I mean, Jeanty feels like the type of player Jerry would target early in the draft as he was an absolute star despite applying his trade at Boise State. The dude was an absolute electric factory while in college, finishing this past season with a whopping 2,601-yards and 29-touchdowns while helping the Broncos secure the three seed in the first ever 12-team Playoff. Though he didn't come away with the Heisman Trophy, Jeanty came closer than anybody to break Barry Sanders' all time single season rushing record, finishing 27-yards short of football immortality. Though he may not be the biggest back in the draft (5'9" 215 lbs.) his ability to bounce off tacklers and all around toughness is truly second to none in this class, forcing 126-missed tackles while averaging a pretty insane seven yards per carry. Though his numbers in the pass game may not be insanely impressive, Jeanty is still a more than capable receiver out of the backfield, making him a threat in almost every aspect of the offense. With the resurgence of the running back position in the NFL, this pick seems like far less of a reach than it would have three or four years ago. Jeanty is an absolute stud and could be massive in helping the Cowboys get back to their best on the offensive side of the ball.
Other(s) - Kelvin Banks, iOL/OT, Texas; Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
13. Miami Dolphins - Kelvin Banks Jr., iOL/OT, Texas
I struggled a little bit trying to figure out which direction I thought the Miami Dolphins would go with their first pick in the draft. Initially my mind went to the safety position, as both Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer are entering free agency this offseason. With Holland constantly being linked with moves away from the organization and Poyer turning 34 in April it seems that safety will be one of the team's top priorities going into the draft. That being said so far this offseason the Dolphins have made one thing clear, that they want to protect starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who started only 11-games this past season due to injury after signing a monster four year $212.4-million contract (making him the fifth highest paid player in the league) this past offseason. So far in his relatively young career, Tua has managed to start and/or make an appearance in 17-games once, coming last year as the Dolphins finished with a 11-6 record and losing four of their final six games (including the Playoffs). The 2023 season also saw Tua make the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career as he led the league in passing yards with 4,624-yards through the air. Based on his statistical performance last year you could justify giving him a nice contract extension but again, can you count on him staying on the field? When he plays he's good, but apart from last season he's never played more than 13-games, which is definitely not ideal when you believe he's your franchise quarterback. Again, I know safety is a massive need for them, but protecting Tua should be the team's main priority this offseason, especially given how the line played this past year. Terron Armstead signed a new five year $75-million contract last offseason but the former second team All Pro selection has also missed time due to injury and turns 34 in July. The Dolphins could also be without starting guards Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn who both enter free agency this offseason, meaning that this position should be addressed with a premium pick. With three linemen already off the board, the Dolphins rush up to the podium and select Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. with the 13th overall pick. Considered by some to be the best tackle in the draft, Banks is explosive and plays with a lot of athleticism. Though he made 42-starts at left tackle while playing in Austin, some out there anticipate Banks to kick inside to guard, as his power and aforementioned athleticism make him a difficult player to go up against. I think would be a very natural fit as the Longhorns run a lot of similar looks to that of the Dolphins, as they run a lot of wide zones and screens that should bode well for Banks in this offense. Whether he lines up at tackle or guard I think Banks can make a difference in this Miami offense.
Other(s) - Armand Membou, iOL/OT, Missouri; Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
14. Indianapolis Colts - Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
There is one goal the Indianapolis Colts should be focusing on this offseason, which is making sure to get the absolute best out of former fourth overall pick Anthony Richardson. If you've listened to the show long enough or have read some previous blog posts you would know that I am a pretty big fan of the former Gator. Richardson has all the tools you look for in a new age franchise quarterback. The dude is just an athletic specimen, standing at 6'4" and weighing 244 lbs., Richardson is a super athlete who can boast one of the strongest arms in the league. During his rookie season, though Richardson only appeared in four games due to injury, he flashed a lot of promise with some ridiculous throws that saw him total 577-yards through the air with three touchdowns to just one interception. With expectations sky high following his promising yet limited showing, all eyes were focused on Richardson going into the season, with many (including myself) expecting him to take a decent leap in year two. Though he still made some impressive plays, Richardson's second season in the league was far from fruitful, registering eight passing touchdowns to a whopping 12-interceptions which saw him getting benched following him tapping himself out against the Houston Texans. He would flash his insane potential with some very impressive throws that only a handful could make, but at the same time would miss some of the easiest passes almost every quarterback should comfortably make. As a fan of the player, this season was wildly frustrating, and I hope the Colts continue to try and develop him to be their longterm quarterback. I'm not done with Anthony Richardson, and I think this draft will be important for his longterm development. The Colts may have some issues on the defensive side of the ball (namely in the secondary) but if a player like Penn State's Tyler Warren is available here at 14 they have to take him. One of the best things for a young quarterback is to give him a reliable target at tight end, Warren would provide not only that but would also boost up the rest of the offense with his overall play. As a guy who finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy race, Warren did a mixture of everything while playing in Happy Valley. I'm not exaggerating, the dude even lined up at center and caught a touchdown on the same play this past season against USC (a game where he caught 17-balls for 224-yards and a touchdown). Whether you want him to put his hand in the dirt as a traditional tight end, line him up in the slot, as an H-back, or even as a wildcat quarterback, Warren will add so much to your offense. At 6'6" 257 lbs., Warren totaled 1,233-yards receiving with eight touchdowns, with 700 of those yards coming after the catch. He may not be an absolute burner but defenders just can't handle him, his size makes him a match-up nightmare both before and after the catch as defenders just can't match up with him on the outside. I don't know if he'll be available for the Colts to take, but if he's here they have to spring to the podium to get the card in. He would be the perfect player to help Richardson hopefully reach his potential.
Other(s) - Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas; Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
15. Atlanta Falcons - Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
Ever since they hired Terry Fontenot to serve as their GM, the Falcons have been one of the main teams to watch when the draft rolls around. Much like the Raiders back in the day under Al Davis, no one ever seems to know which direction Atlanta will go with their first round selection. Sure players like Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson were good to great players coming out of college, but were they necessarily their biggest need(s) going into the draft? Apart from maybe London, probably not. This year though was the creme de la creme for the Falcons in the draft as they selected former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick, a little over a month after signing former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four year $180-million contract. The pick was obviously met with scrutiny, with many out there expecting the Falcons to finally address their long standing need at edge rusher, as the team had ranked in the bottom half of the league in sack production for nearly a decade. With players like Laiatu Latu (who was coached by then defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake at Washington), Dallas Turner, and future DROY Jared Verse all available, no one in their right mind expected the Falcons to make a move for a quarterback. Now, the pick did end up working out as Cousins struggled in his first season in Atlanta, getting benched for Penix prior to their week 16-match-up against the New York Giants after leading the league with 16-interceptions while also being tied for the league lead in fumbles. Though it may have ended up working out (really got bailed out), the Falcons still needed to address their many needs on defense with a premium pick, whether that again be along the edges or in the secondary. Based off recent history I really shouldn't have Atlanta take a defender, but I just can't in good conscience go any other direction with this pick, I can't. Especially since they ranked second to last in the league in sacks (what's new, right?). Part of me feels stupid for doing this, but I think the Falcons should take Georgia's Jalon Walker here with the 15th pick in the draft. Widely considered to be one of the top overall players in the draft, Walker's size could see him slide down the board a little further than his talent suggests. At 6'2" and weighs 245 lbs., for what Walker 'lacks' in size he makes up for in pure speed and power in either getting after the quarterback or dropping back as a spy. The dude is just so explosive (probably the most explosive in this class) which allows him to get past blockers with ease, picking up three sacks in Georgia's week eight win against Texas. Not only that, but his side-to-side movement and his quick change of direction allows him to be effective in the run game as well. He just makes so many plays, and if he's somehow available for the Falcons to take they should sprint up to the podium to submit their card. He's just too good to pass up.
Other(s) - Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas; Shemar Stewart, DL/EDGE, Texas A&M
16. Arizona Cardinals - Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
I think I can speak for a lot of people out there when I say that I really didn't know what kind of team the Arizona Cardinals were going to be this past season. Obviously the year before many out there thought that the Cardinals would finish as one of the worst teams in the league, as the team was the heavy favorite to have the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft after the Texas shot up from 12 to three to select Alabama's Will Anderson. Not only were the Texas nowhere close to gifting the Cardinals the second overall pick (as they won the AFC South) but Arizona also finished with a relatively surprising 4-13 record (I say relatively surprising because some thought they'd win one game max that season). With that record, Kyler Murray back and fully healthy, and a couple of solid pick ups in the first round (Marvin Harrison Jr. and Darius Robinson) many thought the Cardinals would improve, but no one really knew by how much. Murray's impact on the team was evident from the jump, as Arizona came into Buffalo week one and nearly upset the Bills. They would then rattle off four straight wins against teams with much higher preseason expectations before the bye week (beating the Chargers, Dolphins, Bears, and Jets) that would see them in and around first place in their division. The end of the season was a little different story as the team lost five of their final seven games to finish 8-9 (though they did play in some really close games). All in all the Cardinals should continue to improve next season, but in order to do that they must fix some of the issues on the defensive side of the ball, namely when it comes to the defensive line. Despite ranking around the middle of the pack in regards to total defense and sack numbers, the Cardinals lacked those true playmakers at those positions this past season, areas where head coach Jonathan Gannon has really coveted throughout his coaching career. Starting off with the edge rusher positions, as starters Zaven Collins and LJ Collier (two former first round picks) finished this past season with five and three and half sacks each this past season, career highs for each player, which is far from ideal. They did also have the aforementioned Darius Robinson, but the rookie injured his calf in preseason which kept him out until his debut on December 1st. Appearing in six games and playing just 184-snaps, Robinson totaled 10-tackles and one sack, the Cardinals will definitely be looking for more this coming season, especially with Collier potentially leaving in free agency. So, with this pick I am going to have the Cardinals dip into the G5 market and take Marshall's Mike Green here with the 16th overall pick. Though he put forth a dominant season for the Thunder Herd last time out (registering a national leading 17-sacks), Green didn't really start making top-20 noise until this past week at the Senior Bowl, notably blowing up potential first round selection Josh Conerly Jr. in one-on-one drills. Along with his impressive production, Green is insanely explosive coming off the line, converting speed to power once he gets out of his stance. He's able to blow past tackles in the pass game while also holding his own against the run, showing excellent effort, showing off his work rate as he just refuses to stay blocked. Though he isn't coming from a monster program, and though he's not the biggest, Green is one of the top edge rushers in this draft and could give the Cardinals and head coach Jonathan Gannon a real threat along the defensive line (would be the first Marshall player taken in the first round since Chad Pennington in 2000).
Other(s) - Shemar Stewart, DL/EDGE, Texas A&M; Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
17. Cincinnati Bengals - Shemar Stewart, DL/EDGE, Texas A&M
The Cincinnati Bengals were one of the weirdest teams in the league this past season. Despite preseason expectations being sky high thanks to Joe Burrow's return from injury, the team dropped each of their first three games, shockingly losing to the New England Patriots in week one by the score of 16-10. Thanks in large part to that 0-3 start to the season, the Bengals failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year, despite Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson having elite seasons. Again, it was just so weird, and to make matters even funnier Bengals fans on Twitter aired their frustrations about the Chiefs resting their starters in their week 18 match-up against the Denver Broncos, claiming that they were 'scared' to meet up with the red hot Bengals in the Playoffs. Though Cincinnati finished the season by winning each of their final five games, the team still lost eight games. So, were the Chiefs really 'scared' of the Bengals, or were they just not good enough to make the Playoffs? It kind of reminds me of Alabama and the of the SEC complaining that they didn't get an invite to the first ever 12-team Playoff. It's not that anyone is 'scared' of you or anything, it's the fact that you lost three games to teams almost everyone expected you to beat. That's why you're not in. So I'm sorry to any Alabama or Cincinnati fans that are reading this, the sad reality is that you just weren't good enough, again even despite the insane years put forth by Burrow, Chase, and Hendrickson. In wake of them missing the Playoffs for the second straight season Cincinnati fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, as they ranked in the bottom 10 in almost every defensive category. Though I think that was harsh move given the fact that he was arguably the best coach on the staff, sometimes change is needed, which is why they brought in Notre Dame's Al Golden to serve as their new DC. This past season at Notre Dame, Golden's defense ranked in the top five in points per game and passing yards per game while also ranking in the top 15 in regards to total yards per game. That dominant defense helped the Irish reach the National Championship, where they ultimately lost to Ohio State by a score of 34-23. Despite the loss, it's clear to see why the Bengals would bring in someone like Golden to help sure things back up on the defensive side of the ball. I know there's going to be some out there that'd suggest Cincinnati move for a receiver, and with Tee Higgins' future in question that is a fair position to bring up but again, the defense just needs to improve in the Bengals want to compete with the best in the AFC once again. With players like Sam Hubbard, BJ Hill, and even Trey Hendrickson's futures all in question, the defensive line may be the area to look at for Cincinnati. With that being said, I think it'd be hard for Cincinnati to pass on Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart here at 17. Though he didn't put up insane production this past season, Stewart is one of the most athletically gifted defensive linemen in this class. Despite the four and a half sacks in three seasons at A&M Stewart still generates a lot of pressure from the defensive line, using his explosiveness and long arms to drive offensive linemen back into the quarterback. He's far from the finished product but his ceiling is ridiculously high. Putting on a great display at the Senior Bowl, Stewart definitely has scouts on notice. Again, with the futures of Sam Hubbard, BJ Hill, and Trey Hendrickson in question, Stewart would be a scary versatile piece to add along the defensive line for Cincinnati. He may be gone by this point, but if he's not, I think the Bengals have to take him here at 17.
Other(s) - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri; Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
18. Seattle Seahawks - Tyler Booker, iOL, Alabama
Much like their division rival down in Arizona, I wasn't really sure what to make of the Seattle Seahawks going into this season. On one hand they were returning a decent amount of key players, but they replaced longtime former Super Bowl winning head coach Pete Carroll with first time head coach and former Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. Though I really liked the Macdonald hire, I again just didn't know what to make of this team. This might sound bad, but as much as I've enjoyed watching Geno Smith's career resurgence, part of me thought that the former Jet would see his play drop this season. Though it did to a certain degree as he threw 21-touchdowns with 15-interceptions, he also registered a career high in passing yards as well as completing over 70% of his passes while attempting a career high 578 (up from 499 the previous season). With it all said and done, Seattle finished with a nice 10-7 record, a one game improvement from the season before. Despite the improved record, the Seahawks were a pretty mediocre team when looking at their statistical ranks. Whether that be total offense or total defense, Seattle ranked somewhere between 10-20 in almost every category. The problem though is that the offense became pretty one dimensional, as the passing attack really carried the rushing attack, with the latter ranking in the bottom five, which is ultimately why the team moved on from first year OC Ryan Grubb. As a former defensive coordinator, Macdonald wants the run game to be much more involved in the offense, and that just didn't happen in year one. They have good backs in Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, but the offensive line will definitely need to be improved if the overall rushing attack is to get better, especially along the interior. Not only does he need to improve, but with Laken Tomlinson possibly leaving in free agency there's a hole at the left guard spot. To improve their run game and overall offensive line, I'm going to have the Seahawks take Alabama's Tyler Booker here with the 18th pick. At 6'5" 325 lbs. Booker allowed zero sacks in 13-starts for the Crimson Tide this past offseason. Dominant in pass protection using his strength and movement to hold off opponents while also using good speed and quickness given his size to get to the second level in the run game, Booker would be someone who could be an instant upgrade in Seattle. An absolute physical specimen who loves to flatten people, if the Seahawks want to get better they have to improve along the offensive line, and Booker would definitely be a step in the right direction.
Other(s) - Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama; Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
The first pick out of the Playoff teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have lost in their first round match-up against the Washington Commanders but they can hold their heads high as they won their fourth straight division title. Given all the injuries they had throughout the course of the season their 10-7 record is even more impressive, with rookie running back Bucky Irving being one of two players to catch a ball this season to appear in all 17-games (Sean Tucker is the other). With quarterback Baker Mayfield completing 407-passes this year, that makes his impressive individual season look even better, especially after signing a three year $100-million contract this past offseason. With Mayfield posting career highs in every single category (obliterating his old touchdown record of 28 with 41) and Irving's impressive rookie season the Bucs again finished the regular season with a 10-7 record. Looking at their needs before the draft I'm sure most would suggest that Tampa select a wide receiver here with their first pick. With all the injuries plus the fact that both Chris Godwin and Sterling Shepard could leave in free agency and that Mike Evans will turn 32 before the start of next season makes that look like the most logical pick for the Bucs here with the 19th pick. But with that being said, head coach Todd Bowles is a defensive minded guy who's defense ranked around the middle of the pack in most statistical categories, though they were much worse against the pass than they were against the run this past season. I know we brought up their receivers that could leave, but Tampa could also lose some key pieces on defense, namely Lavonte David and KJ Britt, who were the Bucs' starting middle linebackers this past season ranking in the top five on the team in tackles. With David recently turning 35-years old, how many more years can Tampa depend on him to continue to play at a top level, especially with some reports suggesting that he may retire this offseason? Replacing David is a lot more than just replacing a tough tackling linebacker as he's been one of the most important players on the team through not just his play but his leadership. Replacing that is a lot easier said than done. So, if we're looking at potential replacements we can't just go after any linebacker, but someone who's as good of a leader as they are a player. With that, I think Alabama's Jihaad Campbell would be the team's best option. Though recruited as an edge rusher, Campbell has turned himself into one of the best off-ball linebackers in the country. Widely praised for his leadership and versatility, made 112-tackles while also totaling five sacks this past season at Alabama. He is a tough tackler who explodes in the run game while also having the wherewithal to drop back into coverage in the pass game. He does absolutely everything you want from the linebacker position, with his speed, explosiveness, and range making him one of the hardest players to game plan for. I think Campbell would be the perfect addition to the Bucs on the defensive side of the ball.
Other(s) - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri; Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
20. Denver Broncos - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Depending on who you asked before the season started you would get multiple thoughts about how good or bad the Denver Broncos would be this season. On one hand some were worried about their cap situation after parting ways with Russell Wilson as well as how they would do with a rookie quarterback under center, some who many out there to be an 'over draft' during last year's draft. But to others out there, the potential cancer that was Wilson and head coach Sean Payton's relationship was now gone, giving the Broncos a new lease on life to start the new season. Whoever you asked though, I don't know if many had them actually making the playoffs this year. Being above .500? Maybe, but to actually make the playoffs was a whole other story, especially when you looked at how potentially stacked the AFC was going to be this year. Like, not only did you have the 'usual' suspects in Kansas City, Buffalo, and Baltimore, but teams like the Texans, Steelers, Chargers, Dolphins, Bengals, Jets, and even the Colts, Jaguars, and Browns were all expected to be better than Denver going into the season. Obviously that was far from reality, as the final six teams failed to make the playoffs with the latter two holding top five picks. Despite all of that the Broncos finished with an impressive 10-7 record, boasting one of the league's most stifling defense led by Patrick Surtain II and three players who all finished the season with more than eight sacks (Nik Bonitto (13.5), Jonathan Cooper (10.5), and Zach Allen (8.5)), leading the league with 63-sacks. Despite the aforementioned cap situation, the Broncos aren't in risk of losing a ton of players this offseason (Javonte Williams, DJ Jones, Cody Barton, and Justin Strnad being the biggest names entering free agency). Though the defensive line and linebacking cores could be addressed, I think Sean Payton is going to want to continue building up his offense, hopefully helping Bo Nix build on what was a successful rookie season. This past season the Broncos got little to no use out of their tight ends, with starter Adam Trautman totaling just 188-yards receiving and two touchdowns. Not only that, but Trautman only registered 13-catches on 22-targets, with Lucas Kroll leading the tight ends in catches and targets with 19 and 23. With that being said, I think the Broncos may spend this pick on Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. I'm sure the team picking at 22 would love to have him reunite with his former college head coach, but Denver's need for a tight end is too great to pass up, and Loveland could be a very nice addition to the offense. Though he may not be as massive as Tyler Warren, Loveland possesses great awareness and quickness at the position, working well in space and is able to make plays with the ball after the catch. Able to line up in-line or in the slot, Loveland is a match-up problem for most defenses from a receiver stand point. He may not be the most impactful blocker, but he can get the job done when asked to. I think he'd be an excellent addition to the Broncos who again would receive a massive boost of production from the tight end spot.
Other(s) - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri; Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Like clockwork, the Pittsburgh Steelers somehow finished the regular season with a plus .500 record and a blowout loss in the first round of the playoffs. As a neutral, I don't understand the Steelers at all. Like, they start almost every season off like a bat out of hell, going into the final weeks of the regular season with a 10-3 record. Obviously no one thought it was sustainable, as like almost every end to the season they collapse, losing each of their final four games (losing three by double digits) to finish with a 10-7 record. Then finally, like almost every year that met a superior opponent in the first round and got absolutely flattened, losing to the Baltimore Ravens by the score of 28-14 while giving up 464-yards of total offense and allowing them to pick up 29-first downs to their 11. Again, I just don't get it, and it happens damn near every single year, and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Like, as a fan, you always want your team to succeed and make the playoffs, but what's the point if you're guaranteed to get blown out in your opening game? It's like they're stuck in football purgatory and are just fine with making the playoffs and nothing else. It's hard to get good or premium draft picks this way but again, they seem fine with it within the organization. Speaking of the draft I don't really know which direction would be best for Pittsburgh, as I could see them going in a few different directions on either side of the ball. On defense corner is a position of concern as Donte Jackson, CJ Henderson, Cameron Sutton, and James Pierre are all entering free agency this offseason. The defensive line could also use an upgrade, especially since Cameron Heyward turns 36 in May. On the offensive side of the ball I wouldn't be too shocked if they moved for a quarterback, namely Alabama's Jalen Milroe with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson also entering free agency. Ultimately, I think the position the Steelers will address here in the first round is wide receiver. With George Pickens the only receiver to surpass 600-yards, and with his future even in question I think it'd be wise for Pittsburgh to bolster the receiving room. Sport for choice, I think Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka would be the best fit for the organization. A physical and strong receiver, Egbuka is arguably the best blocking receiver in this class. Standing at 6'1" and weighing 205 lbs. you can line him up either on the inside or outside, being able to out physical most defenders covering him while also being able to work over the middle of the field on crossing routes or deep routes. He may not be an absolute burner, but his toughness and will power help him make nice plays after the catch. Again, I think he'd be a good fit for what the Steelers do on offense, giving them another option to pair with Pickens (probably in the slot).
Other(s) - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri; Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
As many expected, the Los Angeles Chargers were a much improved team under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, finishing with an 11-6 record while boasting the league's top scoring defense, giving up just 17.7-points per game. Just for comparisons sake, when the Chargers were coached by the 'defensive guru' known as Brandon Staley the team never gave up less than 22-points per game, which is pretty crazy to think about. Before the season started many also assumed that Harbaugh would put far less pressure on quarterback Justin Herbert, which was also correct as the former Oregon Duck registered a career low in passing yards (when playing a full season) as well as touchdown, but also interceptions as he only threw three all season. I wish the same could be said for the playoffs, as Herbert tossed a pretty ridiculous four against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round as the Chargers fell by a score of 32-12, ending again what was a very promising season and a step in the right direction for the organization as a whole. The team finally had an identity, and it didn't matter what anyone else thought about it. Looking back to last year's draft, some people suggested that the Chargers take one of the draft's top receivers, either LSU's Malik Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze with the fifth overall pick. Obviously Los Angeles chose Notre Dame left tackle (now right tackle) Joe Alt to help sure up the offensive line and give them a little more oomph up front. Safe to say some didn't agree with that pick. Along with Alt, the Chargers selected Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey in the second round, giving them one of the best drafts out of the entire league through the first two rounds as Alt was named to the PFWA All Rookie team and McConkey totaled 1,149-yards receiving while also breaking the NFL rookie record for yards in a playoff game (197). Though I'm sure fans will want them to add more weapons around Justin Herbert with this pick, my gut tells me that Harbaugh will want to continue strengthening the trenches, this time on the defensive side of the ball, especially with Morgan Fox, Poona Ford, and Teair Tart all entering free agency this offseason. So with this pick, I'm going to have the Chargers select someone Harbaugh said was 'a gift from the football gods' in the form of Michigan's Kenneth Grant. Again hailing from Michigan, Grant is a massive presence in the middle that possesses great quickness and power. Best against the run and the short passing game, Grant shows a nice willingness to not give up on the play as his effort is one of his better traits. He may not be as evolved as a pass rusher as he is a run stopper, but Grant has a very high ceiling that should see that side of his game develop in time (that being said, he did register 6.5-sacks across the last two seasons). Though most, if not all of the national attention was on his line mate Mason Graham, Grant can definitely hold his own as one of the draft's top tackle prospects. His power, quickness, and effort are traits that Harbaugh covets on either the offensive or defensive line, giving the Chargers a nice presence in the middle of their defense.
Other(s) - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri; Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
23. Green Bay Packers - Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Green Bay Packers kind of fell on their face to end this past season. Sitting at 9-3 after winning three straight games coming off of their bye week, the Packers dropped three of their final five games, with all three being to divisional opponents to finished with a 11-6 record. Then, to cap everything off, they got beat down pretty good in Philadelphia against the Eagles by a score of 22-10, with quarterback Jordan Love throwing three interceptions and no touchdowns (weirdly the first interception(s) he threw since November 17th against the Bears). Expectations were pretty high for Green Bay going into the season, but Love's injuries/inconsistencies mixed with their vast array of other injuries and their rough 1-5 record in the NFC North made this season a little more tough than many originally thought. I don't know if many out their thought that the Minnesota Vikings would finish above them in division play this year, but that's exactly what happened. I'm sure going into next year expectations will vary a little bit more, but with the Chicago Bears hiring former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to serve as their new head coach, the NFC North could once again be the toughest division in the NFL, especially if the Lions and Vikings are able to maintain form (which I bet they will). Despite having a top five offense and a top 10 defense this past season changes will need to be made in Green Bay if they want to get back to being the top dog in the division. Based off what we know about the Packers recent draft history is that they're going to focus their attention mainly on the defensive side of the ball, as shocking as that may seem. Though they again boasted a top 10 defense, the Packers did struggle a little bit against the pass, especially when corner Jaire Alexander was out injured. In a division that has the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze, not to mentioned other weapons like TJ Hockenson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta who can also all cause you problems I think it'd be wise for the Packers to continue to bolster their secondary. With Alexander's health seemingly always an issue and future in question, mixed with the fact that Eric Stokes and Corey Ballentine are free agents makes this need even more apparent. Though there's a couple different directions to go here, I think the Packers may take Texas' Jahdae Barron here with the 23rd pick. The reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner, Barron was the main cog in one of the nation's top defenses in regards to total and passing yards allowed per game that also led the nation in interceptions (as a team they had a nine to 22 touchdown to interception ratio). Able to line up anywhere in the secondary, Barron's mixture of athleticism/quickness and reaction time made him one of the best corners in the country. He's so anticipatory using his eyes to know exactly where the quarterback is going with the ball. He may not be the biggest defender out there (5'11" 200 lbs.) but he's an excellent playmaker who would make a massive difference wherever you line him up on defense. With corner arguably being the team's biggest need, they could do a lot worse than drafting Barron here.
Other(s) - Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame; Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
24. Minnesota Vikings - Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
I think it may be safe to say that the Minnesota Vikings caught some people off guard this past season. After letting Kirk Cousins walk in free agency, the Vikings went on and signed former third overall pick Sam Darnold to serve as one of the team's new quarterbacks. This move was met with some scrutiny as Darnold struggled in New Jersey with the Jets before being shipped off to Carolina and being benched for 2018 draft mate Baker Mayfield and serving as the back-up to former Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy. Safe to say Darnold's stock was at an all time low, but this in turn was a pretty low risk move by the Vikings as they signed him to a one year deal to serve as their bridge quarterback. Obviously attempting to trade up for one of the draft's top options last year, the Vikings moved up one spot to select Michigan's JJ McCarthy while holding on to their second first round draft pick, a great move from the Vikings brass. Though it was a smart move, McCarthy would be ruled out for the remained of the season after suffering a knee injury in their first preseason game, meaning that it was fully Darnold's team for the remainder of season which again, was not met with a bunch of praise. Though heavily doubted, Darnold lit the world alight, throwing for 4,319-yards with 35-touchdowns as Minnesota finished the regular season with an impressive 14-3 record. The Vikings had talent, but given all the things that took place last offseason and the arrival of Sam Darnold, I again don't think many expected them to be as good as what they were. Unfortunately their regular season success would mean nothing come Playoff time as they would get bounced in the first round by the LA Rams by a score of 27-9, with Darnold struggling in the process. That leads us to here, as Minnesota currently holds the 24th pick in the draft, and there's a couple different directions they could go, most notably on the defensive side of the ball. Starting with the secondary, the Vikings could potentially lose safeties Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum and corners Byron Murphy, Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin, and Fabian Moreau to free agency this offseason. But with Minnesota boasting a top-10 cap situation, I would imagine they'd be able to bring most of those key secondary pieces back and draft a corner or safety sometime later in the draft. With that being said I do feel like the Vikings could stand to improve along the defensive line. As a unit the team did well, ranking second in the league in rush defense while giving up just 4.1-yards per carry, but they don't necessarily have a stud in the middle. Jonathan Bullard, Harrison Phillips, and former first round pick Jerry Tillery are solid pieces (Bullard and Tillery are also both entering free agency), but I think someone like Oregon's Derrick Harmon would add a real disrupter to the middle of Brian Flores' defense. At 6'5" 310 lbs., Harmon has a very strong upper body while being quick and disruptive from the interior. Against the pass, Harmon uses quick hands to penetrate the line and apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks, totaling five sacks with 39-hurries and 10.5-tackles for loss. Though he put up good numbers against the pass, Harmon is a better run defender, as he handles double teams well and is able to shoot the gaps with his aforementioned quickness to disrupt teams in the run game. A big bodied lineman who absorbs blocks and can make plays in the backfield utilizing his quickness Harmon's skill set would be a nice fit for the Vikings. He has some things to work on (mainly his pad level) but overall he would be an ideal player to insert in the middle of the defense.
Other(s) - Kennth Grant, DL, Michigan; Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
25. Houston Texans - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
All things considered, the Houston Texans had a very strange season, at least in my opinion. Like, they won the AFC South for the second season in a row (congrats) but the team was very up and down throughout the course of the season, beating teams like the Buffalo Bills but losing to teams like the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans. Again, it was just strange. I can't speak for everyone but when I was doing my playoff predictions I didn't even think twice about their first round match-up against the Los Angeles Chargers, as I thought Justin Herbert and the Bolts' tough defense would be enough to see this game out on the road. Contrary to my personal belief, the Texans routed the Chargers by a score of 32-12, picking off the aforementioned Herbert four times in the process. To put things in perspective, Herbert had only been picked off three times all season, making his performance in the playoffs look that much worse. The Texans would ultimately meet their fait against the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round, with a couple of glaring needs standing out right away, both coming on the offensive side of the ball. On one hand Houston could definitely use some more help on the offensive line, especially along the interior. In just two playoff games Stroud was sacked 11-times, with eight of them coming against the Chiefs. I know sacks aren't 100% on the offensive line, but it felt like Kansas City had someone in the backfield right as Stroud snapped the ball, it was like a revolving door of sorts. All in all Houston allowed 54-sacks in the regular season, giving them the joint third worst mark in the league. I toyed with the idea of sending them either North Dakota State's Grey Zabel or Ohio State's Donovan Jackson but this may be a little too early for them at this point in the offseason. The other position of need lies at wide receiver as they could use some serious depth in that position, with Nico Collins catching 12-passes on 16-targets throughout the playoffs, with the next closest receiver being John Metchie III who only caught six passes. Obviously a big part of this was because of the injuries to Tank Dell and recently acquired Stefon Diggs, but the Texans could definitely look to add more weapons around CJ Stroud who did not have the greatest season following his impressive rookie campaign. With Dell potentially missing all of next season and Diggs pretty much locked on to going to Dallas, I think drafting someone like Missouri's Luther Burden III would be great for their offense. Though not the biggest at 5'11" 208 lbs., Missouri's Burden is as dynamic as they come from the receiver position. One of, if not the most athletic receiver in the draft, Burden generates a lot of yards after the catch, doing his best working the underneath routes and quick hitters to the outside. Able to stretch the field, Burden would give Nix a true deep threat as well, as his ability to cut up field is really impressive. All that mixed with excellent body control would give the Texans an excellent option for Stroud to look to on the outside along with Collins and Dell. With Diggs unlikely to return I think it'd be wise for Houston to look to bolster their receiving room, with Burden providing a little juice to the offensive side of the ball.
Other(s) - Donovan Jackson, iOL/OT, Ohio State; Grey Zabel, iOL/OT, North Dakota State
26. Los Angeles Rams - Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
The Los Angeles Rams had quite an interesting season all things considered. Prior to the season starting, many out there, including myself thought the Rams would challenge the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers for the NFC West crown. The only issue with that was that the Rams started the season off with a pretty abysmal 1-4 record, losing to the division rival Cardinals by a score of 41-10 in week two as they got out gained 489-yards to just 245. Though their week three win against the aforementioned 49ers re-instilled at least some hope, their following losses against the Bears and Packers sent fans back to the depths as inconsistencies and injuries really hurting them through this early portion of the season. That being said, after their loss to the Packers, the Rams won nine of their remaining 12-games to not only finish the regular season with a 10-7 record, but their first division title since 2021. Through those final 12-games Los Angeles beat the likes of the Vikings, Seahawks, and Bills, with the latter being an insane 44-42 thriller back in early December. With Stafford looking back to form as Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp battled back from injury, as well as solid defense led by a wrath of young players (namely Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, and Jared Verse) the Rams did one better than just win the division, they won their opening round playoff game against the aforementioned Vikings in Arizona (due to the LA wildfires) by a score of 27-9. Though they fell short agains the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round, this season definitely gives the Rams more to build on in the coming years, especially given all the young talent they have sprinkled throughout the roster. With that Los Angeles does have some areas to improve on for next season, namely along the offensive line and the secondary. Starting with the latter as they ranked in the bottom half of the league in passing defense, the Rams could stand to add to a secondary that could lose Ahkello Witherspoon this offseason in free agency. Though they've had a nice youth movement on the defensive side of the ball, I'm sure Sean McVay will want to sure up the offensive line with Joseph Noteboom and Alaric Jackson entering free agency this offseason and soon to be 33-year old Rob Havenstein entering free agency next offseason. With Stafford himself not getting any younger, it may be in their best interest to keep him upright and healthy during the latter stages of his career. Though there's a couple directions they could go, I think they may lean towards Oregon's Josh Conerly Jr. here with the 26th pick. Voted the top offensive linemen by the defensive linemen and linebackers from the National squad at the Senior Bowl, Conerly possesses an athletic frame, quick feet, and great length from the tackle position. At 6'4" 315 lbs., Conerly's athletic ability allows him to handle the fastest players coming off the edge, popping his opponents and driving them back on first contact. Able to get to the second level in the run game well, the dude showed a lot of toughness and aggression throughout his time at Oregon. All in all Conerly just feels like a natural fit for the Rams here at 26, providing some more stability along the offensive line
Other(s) - Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State; Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
27. Baltimore Ravens - Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Once again the Baltimore Ravens were one of the league's top teams, though it didn't look like that'd be the case to start the season. Despite putting on an excellent showing in a losing effort on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs in week one many thought the Ravens would breeze through the Las Vegas Raiders in their next game, especially with it being back at home. In one of the more shocking performances of the season Vegas, led by Gardner Minshew took down Baltimore by the score of 26-23, making people question what time of season the Ravens would ultimately end up having. Of course they wouldn't end up with a losing record but that result definitely made people look at the Ravens differently early on in the season. Following that loss Baltimore would go on a nice five game winning streak, beating the Buffalo Bills 35-10 in the process. They would then alternate wins and loses, losing three of their following six games with one of those loses coming against the previously one win Cleveland Browns. The Ravens would finish the regular season with a nice 12-5 record, coming away with their second straight division title. They would beat up on the division rival Steelers in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the aforementioned Bills by a score of 27-25 in the following round, thus ending their promising yet kind of weird season. When it comes to the draft there's a couple different directions I could see the team going. Starting with the offensive side of the ball, with left tackle Ronnie Stanley and left guard Patrick Mekari both entering free agency this offseason, offensive line will probably be near the top of the team's draft board. Same with wide receiver as they only currently have Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers, and Tez Walker on the active roster. Though those are important areas to address, the Ravens defense fell off mightily last season, especially against the pass, ranking just above the four win Jaguars in that regard as they finished with the second worst passing defense in the league. Compared to their top six passing defense from the season before I think Baltimore will want to sure that area up going into next season. Though corner is an option, recent reports suggest that the Ravens would like to utilize safety Kyle Hamilton in a more free role, which leads me to believe Baltimore could be looking for another safety to free him up more this season. Though it would be pretty surprising if he fell this far, I think Baltimore would be thrilled to select Georgia safety Malaki Starks here with the 27th pick in the draft. Though he may not have had the production many were expecting from him this past season, Starks can give you a little bit of everything on the defensive side of the ball. One of the more versatile players in the draft, Starks has rotated between both safety and nickel in his time at Georgia. As a player who can make tackles in space and cover both the underneath routes and follow the deep ball, Starks would give any defensive coordinator a nice little weapon in the secondary. With the Ravens struggling against the pass as much as they did this past season, getting someone like Starks would help gear them towards the right direction. A safety tandem of Hamilton and Starks, mixed with Nate Wiggins would give Baltimore one of the best young secondaries in the league.
Other(s) - Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon; Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
28. Detroit Lions - Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
To some, the Detroit Lions were 'America's team' this past season. After sucking major ass my entire life, the Lions have turned into one of the more formidable teams in the league led by Dan Campbell. Who would have thought that when the organization first made Campbell the head coach back in 2021? Especially after his opening press conference where he talked about biting off the opposition's knee caps (among other things). To many people out there the hire seemed like a giant joke, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that. People just didn't take the hire seriously, but as time has proven, they should have. Since hiring Campbell the Lions have improved on each and every season, starting off 3-13-1 in his first season to 9-8, 12-5, before hitting the dizzying heights of 15-2 this past time out. In four years, the Lions went from laughing stocks to again, one of the more formidable teams in the league. One thing I love and respect about Campbell and the rest of the organization in recent years is that they go to the beat of their own drum, no matter what anyone in the outside world says. There's no better examples of that then the 2023 NFL draft, where the team 'over drafted' the likes of Jahmyr Gibbs (12) and Jack Campbell (18). Those two picks were met with massive scrutiny, but since then the pair have been two of the main cogs for the Lions on both sides of the ball, as Gibbs has been named to back-to-back Pro Bowls and was the NFL's co-rushing touchdown leader this past season (tied with Derrick Henry and James Cook) with Campbell leading the team in tackles this past season with 131. The draft is where the Lions have really made their mark, with that 2023 draft seemingly being the poster child for their recent successes (also got Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch in the second round). Players like Penei Sewell, Levi Onwuzurike, Alim McNeill, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Derrick Barnes, Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Kerby Joseph, Terrion Arnold, and the aforementioned Gibbs, Campbell, LaPorta, and Branch all being drafted by this regime and all playing big parts in the Lions success. So it's be stupid for me to think they'd fail to pick up a key player this year, right? Though they could go a couple different directions here, I think the defense will need addressed as their depth was really tested this past season. With Hutchinson coming off a broken leg and Za'Darius Smith turning 33 in September I think the Lions may look to add another edge rusher with their first pick. To me, Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku feels like the right pick for Detroit here at 28. Despite putting up some pretty ridiculous numbers this past season for the Golden Eagles, Ezeiruaku stock really started to trend upwards after his week at the Senior Bowl, impressing teams in one-on-one drills with his use of speed and ridiculous bend to get around offensive tackles. Though not the biggest at 6'2" 247 lbs., Ezeiruaku totaled 16.5-sacks (second only to Marshall's Mike Green) and three forced fumbles as he was named a Consensus All-American. The Senior Bowl brought him to a more to a national stage, but Ezeiruaku's aforementioned speed and bend were on display a bunch while in college, possessing great length and an excellent burst off the line of scrimmage, meeting blockers as they get back to depth. His defending against the run may need some more fine tuning but his athleticism and length would give Detroit a dangerous defender off the edge.
Other(s) - Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan; Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
29. Washington Commanders - Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
One of the more surprising teams from this past season, the Washington Commanders were truly a joy to watch for all the neutrals out there. I'm sure fans of teams in the NFC East were annoyed with their success after holding the second overall pick just a year ago, but the Commanders really made a lot of noise throughout the season, not only finishing the regular season with an insanely impressive 12-5 record (best since 1991), but also a trip to the NFC Championship game after beating the 15-2 Detroit Lions on the road in the Division round of the Playoffs. Getting blasted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the aforementioned NFC Championship game by a score of 55-23 probably didn't feel the greatest, but it shouldn't take away from the season they had overall. One of the main reasons Washington had as much success as they did this past season was due in large part to rookie sensation Jayden Daniels, who the Commanders took with the aforementioned second overall pick in last year's draft. The former Heisman Trophy winner put on an absolute show in the nation's capital, throwing for over 3,500-yards with 25-touchdowns and nine interceptions while also registering 891-yards on the ground (rookie record) with a further six touchdowns there as well. Not only were his stats impressive, they were record breaking, finishing the regular season with the most rushing yards (again, 891), highest points per game (28.5), and highest completion percentage by a rookie quarterback in NFL history (69%). He also registered a rookie record 12-passing touchdowns in the fourth quarter or overtime, with five of them coming with less than 30-seconds left or overtime, the most by any player since 1970. I know in recent years we've given Justin Herbert or CJ Stroud the title of 'greatest rookie season ever,' but it's really hard not to give it to Daniels after what he did this year. With that being said, for the Commanders to remain as one of the top dogs in the league they're going to have to continue building around Daniels, as I'm sure they'd love to avoid another RGIII situation. To me, receiver and offensive line are the two mains areas to address here at 29 (unless they trade for Myles Garrett). Though addressing the offensive line here would make a lot of sense (especially since Washington gave up 50-sacks this past season), but as of right now they only have two receivers on the active roster in the form(s) of Terry McLauren and last year's third round pick Luke McCaffrey. With Kliff Kingsbury returning as OC I think Washington may lean receiver here and select Texas' Matthew Golden here with the 29th pick in the draft. Though not the most physically gifted receiver at 6'0" 195 lbs., Golden is one of the most technical receiver in the draft, constantly showing off great instincts and toughness from the position. Lining up a decent amount in the slot while at Texas, Golden wracked up 987-yards receiving and nine touchdowns en-route to the College Football Playoff semi-final. He has a nice combination of quickness mixed with his aforementioned toughness/strength that allows him to not only create separation but also allows him to break through tackles as well. A very confident receiver (shown by his nonchalant one handed catch against Ohio State), Golden would given Daniels another fantastic weapon on the outside. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if he went sooner than this, but in this case he falls to Washington, which they should be more than happy about.
Other(s) - Donovan Jackson, iOL/OT, Ohio State; Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
30. Buffalo Bills - Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Ah the Buffalo Bills, my team. What a season it was for the team out of Western New York. After listening to my friends along with numerous media outlets, it seemed like the common take surrounding the Bills was that this was going to be a rebuilding year, that it was either the Jets or Dolphins time with the Bills finishing third in the division (obviously no one said they'd finish below the Patriots). On face value it was easy to see why that was the narrative going around as Buffalo finally traded star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans while also getting rid of the likes of Mitch Morse, Jordan Poyer, and Tre'Davious White while letting Gabe Davis and Micah Hyde walk in free agency. To the naked eye the Bills got rid of a ton of key pieces, but if you payed attention to the Bills throughout the previous few seasons you would understand why these moves were made. Though Diggs put up fantastic numbers throughout his time in Buffalo, the off the field drama (whether it be with his brother or just him tweeting) and his performances in the back half of last season (one touchdown after Joe Brady took over, getting out played by Khalil Shakir, and his drops in the Playoffs) made me feel fine about moving on. As for Davis, this may sound mean but he built up a reputation after that 13-second game that he just couldn't live up to. Great locker room guy and teammate, but inconsistencies seemed to rear their ugly head more often then not. To me, they were never re-signing him, and I think that was obvious before the season even started. And though the likes of Hyde, Poyer, and White were key cogs in what once was arguably the best secondary in football the three of them hadn't really played together since 2020, as all three of them battled numerous injuries throughout the past few seasons. Whether it be Tre White tearing his ACL then achilles, Micah Hyde breaking his back, or Jordan Poyer's wrath of injuries, they were not the same trio that they once were, especially this season before last. Not to mention they were/are on the wrong side of 30, with Hyde and Poyer 34 and 33. All in all the loses the Bills had this offseason were massively overplayed, as the team finished with a 13-4 record with Josh Allen winning his first NFL MVP award (rightfully so). I had a blast watching this team, and though they fell short against Kansas City in the Playoffs again, I have a ton of hope for the future. Though I have hope this team does have some areas to address, and most if not all of them lie on the defensive side of the ball, whether that be in the trenches or in the secondary. Throughout the season the Bills defensive line struggled, seemingly getting driven back more often then not, with Ed Oliver taking a step back from his impressive season a year ago. Someone like Oregon's Derrick Harmon would make a lot of sense here, helping free up Oliver while also giving them a massive body in the middle. Edge rusher is also an option here but if I know Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott they'd love to re-establish that aforementioned dominance in the secondary. Sure the likes of Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp held their own but they definitely can be upgraded. Along with them Rasul Douglas is entering free agency and turns 31 in August, and if you saw the game against the Chiefs you'd know the Bills depth in the secondary is not great, at either corner or safety. Cole Bishop improved as the season progressed but I'd still love to see the Bill look for another young safety to partner him. Given their love for young, long, and rangy players I think they may look at South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori here with the 30th pick. An absolute beast of a safety, at 6'3" 227 lbs. Emmanwori is one of the most physically gifted players in the draft. Able to play at strong safety or even linebacker, Emmanwori is a really effective tackler in the open field, making him a tough presence to block in the run game. In the pass game he shows excellent instincts and ball skills, bringing in six interceptions across the past two seasons with two pick sixes coming coming against Kentucky and Oklahoma last season. Overall the dude is just an insane playmaker from the safety position, able to wear multiple hats while being able to cause disruptions in both the pass and run game. For a team that values the secondary and physically gifted players as much as the Bills, Emmanwori would be an excellent addition here at pick 30.
Other(s) - Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon; Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
I was talking to my dad about this a couple weeks ago and I feel that I can say with the upmost certainty that I despise the Kansas City Chiefs more than I did the New England Patriots. I know, I know, crazy, but it's true. Now I am aware with how this looks, as I've seen a recent 'trend' on social media that has been comparing the Chiefs to the Patriots, with people seemingly re-writing the history of the Patriots but I promise you this is not recency bias, I'm promise. And no, it's also not about the refs, my hatred for the Chiefs stems from the fact that they have beaten my beloved Buffalo Bills in the Playoffs four times in a row. I have had to sit back and watch my team be ever so close to reach the summit just for Patrick Mahomes and co. to rip the carpet out from under me. Sure the Patriots beat the absolute piss out of the Bills during the Tom Brady era every time they met but here's the thing, during that time the Bills were in the midst of a 17-year playoff draught, there was no hope. Of course it's depressing as hell to see Brady have more Super Bowl MVPs (5) than losses to the Bills (3) but it's not like we as fans ever had hope. You know the old saying it's the hope that kills you? Well, that right there is why I hate the Chiefs more. I think it also helps with that fact that I live in the state of Iowa, so I'm constantly surrounded by and constantly reminded about the Bills playoff struggles by Chiefs fans damn near everyday. Don't get me wrong, I still very much despise the New England Patriots, but the Chiefs have taken top spot for me. It's just a sad and lonely existence but hey, at least we got to see Josh Allen finally win an MVP. As for the Chiefs as a whole though this season was pretty strange. For a team that finished with a league best 15-2 record (the best record during Andy Reid's tenure) they just seemed beatable. Like, out of the four playoff loses to the Chiefs this was the year I was the most confident as though they boasted a ridiculous record, the team didn't register a single 30+ point game throughout the course of the regular season, with their only 30+ point game of course coming in the playoffs against my Bills. Like, that was on par with some of the worst teams in the league, and yet they still finished with a 15-2 record. That being said for what they 'lacked' on offense they made up for and more on defense, ranking inside the top-10 for total defense and scoring defense. They just couldn't be beaten (until the Super Bowl), even with Patrick Mahomes having his worst statistical season of his career. For a team like them though it's really hard to find holes in the roster. When thinking about their draft strategy in recent years, one would assume that Kansas City may move for a defender with their first pick. Like, apart from Drue Tranquill and Justin Reid, every single starter on the Chiefs defense was drafted by them. Whether that be Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis in recent years or Chris Jones back in 2016, the Chiefs have made it a priority to stack their defense with the best young players in the draft, with Steve Spagnuolo turning them into Pro Bowl and/or All Pro level players. They could love for a more secure corner opposite of McDuffie, or another interior presence next to Jones (especially since Tershawn Wharton is entering free agency), but after watching their offensive line get blown up in the Super Bowl I think they may break trend and go that direction. With Jawaan Taylor being a walking five yard penalty (at least) and Joe Thuney being played out of position due to all the inconsistencies guarding Mahomes' blind side, I think tackle is their best option and if he's available, Ohio State's Josh Simmons would be an excellent here at 31. If it weren't for a season ending injury against Oregon back in October, Simmons may very well be considered as the draft's top tackle prospect. An athletic tackle that shows excellent footwork, Simmons is very consistent from the tackle spot. Formerly a right tackle at San Diego State, Simmons made the transition to the left side look effortless prior to his aforementioned injury. He's great in pass protection and is able to use his athleticism to get to the second level and drive defenders back in the run game. There's no doubt in my mind that he could go much much higher than this, but for now I'm going to have the Chiefs taking him here at 31, which I'm sure they'd be more than fine with.
Other(s) - Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State; Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
32. Philadelphia Eagles - James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
I think I've said this over 100-times throughout the course of this blog post but man, the Philadelphia Eagles truly had one of the more interesting seasons. Like, if you would have told me at the start of the year that this team would've been in the Super Bowl (let alone win it) I would have called you crazy. I don't know if you all remember all the drama that surrounded the Eagles locker room this past offseason, but stories of infighting and questions surrounding head coach Nick Sirianni's future were pretty much all anyone could talk about, especially after the team started off with a 2-2 record. After their 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, many out there (including myself) thought we were seeing the writing on the wall, as Sirianni was one of the favorites to be one of the first coaches fired. To say things completely flipped would be a scarce understatement as not only would Sirianni not be fired during the season, but the Eagles would win all but one game the rest of the way to finish with an insanely impressive 14-3 record. Again, after how the season started who would have saw this outcome? Certainly not me. Now, there were a lot of reasons behind Philadelphia's success this season. On one hand the defense played beyond lights out, leading the NFL in total defense as they were the only team in the league to allow less than 300-yards per game (279.4) while also allowing just 17.8-points per game (.1-point behind the Los Angeles Chargers) with players like Zack Baun (DPOY candidate), Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, and the rookie tandem of Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell (among others) absolutely balled out this year. Then on the offensive side of the ball they were spear headed by Saquon Barkley and a typically dominant offensive line that helped Barkley get within 100-yards of the all time single season rushing record. With players like AJ Brown, Dallas Goedert, DeVonta Smith, and even Jalen Hurts all missing time, the offense rarely missed a beat with Barkley taking home the Offensive Player of the Year award. Despite the rough start this Eagles team really put forth a successful and dominant season, so it can be hard to really identify needs for them for next season. Though they may be hard to find, I think Philadelphia could use with some reinforcements along the edges of the defensive line, especially with leading sack getter Josh Sweat and legend Brandon Graham both entering free agency this offseason. Even if they re-sign one or both of them, GM Howie Roseman is never afraid to add depth to either line, which leads me to think they may move for Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. with their first pick in the draft. Though he's on the leaner side of things (6'5" 243 lbs.) Pearce does not get pushed around too much by bigger offensive linemen. Able to beat linemen either on the outside or even the inside, Pearce uses his athleticism to blow past the opposition, creating a ton of pressure for opposing quarterbacks. Against the run Pearce may have some room to grow, though he does set a nice edge despite his aforementioned lean frame. At 21-years old Pearce has a ton of room to go and like Nolan Smith before him, I would expect Pearce to add strength and learn in his first season before taking full control of the position his next time out. He's got a very high ceiling and could go higher than this, which makes this the ideal pick for the Eagles here with the 32nd pick in the draft (Pearce could go a lot earlier, which makes this an even more likely pick for the Eagles, right?).
Other(s) - Josaiah Stewart, EDGE, Michigan; Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Positions Drafted
Quarterbacks - 2
Running Backs - 1
Wide Receivers - 5 (including Travis Hunter)
Tight Ends - 2
Offensive Tackles - 5
Interior Offensive Line - 1
Interior Defensive Line - 4
EDGE Rushers - 7
Linebackers - 1
Cornerbacks - 3 (including Travis Hunter)
Safeties - 2
Just Missed Out (20)
*alphabetical order by position
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (FL)
Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia
Donovan Jackson, iOL/OT, Ohio State
Marcus Mbow, iOL/OT, Purdue
Grey Zabel, iOL/OT, North Dakota State
Joshua Farmer, DL, Florida State
T.J. Sanders, DL, South Carolina
Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Josaiah Stewart, EDGE, Michigan
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
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