Williams was always going to be the pick, but he’s an absolute
lock now. Chicago traded away Justin
Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, solidifying they’re ready
to go in a new direction. There are always rumors swirling before
the NFL Draft to make it seem more open than it is, but Williams
is the best prospect available. He’s going to be the first
overall pick, and he owns -20000 odds via Vegas.
1.02 Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
I still believe Drake Maye is the better prospect of the duo,
but my beliefs hold no weight in the NFL community. There’s
far too much smoke for there not to be fire here. Daniels has
heavy odds via Vegas to be drafted second, and most of the NFL
Draft analysts who are plugged in agree. Both prospects are outstanding
but it comes down to which QB Washington would rather build around
and that appears to be Daniels. For what it’s worth, there
seems to be a small amount of smoke around J.J. McCarthy being
the pick here, but I’m not buying it.
1.03 New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB, UNC
I don’t anticipate New England trading out of this pick,
and I also don’t anticipate this being a surprise. They
need their quarterback of the future, and they’re likely
going to select whichever of the top three are left. I believe
J.J. McCarthy is firmly set up to be a top 5 pick in this draft,
but I don’t expect him to jump the obvious three options.
1.04 Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Harrison was seen as the best wide receiver prospect since Calvin
Johnson prior to the season, but that changed a bit in 2023. He
had sub-par quarterback play, which resulted in less than impressive
results. Still, he’s the top receiver in a loaded class, and he’s
going to be a WR1 in the NFL for years to come. Arizona needs
help on the outside, especially with Marquise
Brown now in Kansas City. The Cardinals will give Kyler
Murray every chance to succeed this season, and Harrison will
be a huge part of that plan.
1.05 Los Angeles Chargers - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
This is where the draft starts getting interesting. Truthfully,
this is probably a trade-up spot for someone like J.J. McCarthy,
Malik Nabers, or Rome Odunze. The Chargers could go with a wide
receiver to give Justin
Herbert another weapon. They could also opt for Brock Bowers,
but this feels a bit too high for a tight end. Instead, Jim Harbaugh
is going to change the way this offense runs. This is a loaded
offensive tackle class, and Alt is arguably the safest option.
Look for Harbaugh to stay away from the flashy pick, and grab
a player who will help in the trenches.
1.06 New York Giants - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Nabers is gaining a ton of steam as the offseason progresses.
There are some who believe he’s a better prospect than Marvin
Harrison Jr. but I believe that’s more for the media and
clicks. Still, I also believe the conversation for those two is
closer than the conversation between Caleb Williams and any other
QB in this class. The Giants are in drastic need of an upgrade
to their pass catchers, and Nabers is the type of player who can
immediately start as their WR1.
1.07 Tennessee Titans - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
The Titans are essentially locked into an offensive tackle or a
wide receiver here. Rome Odunze is the obvious option at receiver,
but Tennessee added Calvin Ridley in free agency to go along with
DeAndre Hopkins and former first-round pick Treylon Burks. Instead,
they can protect Will Levis with the top offensive tackle. I originally
had Olu Fashanu slotted here for my first three mock drafts, but
Fuaga is climbing draft boards, and he can immediately help the
Tennessee offense.
1.08 Atlanta Falcons - Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
I feel confident in the position I initially chose in version
1.0, but I’m swapping players. Jared Verse still feels
like the safer option, but Turner’s upside could have him
moving up draft boards. The latter has the potential to become one
of the league’s premier pass rushers, and that’s something
Atlanta is in drastic need of.
1.09 Chicago Bears - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Chicago got their quarterback of the future with the first overall
pick, so they need to get him a weapon. Odunze looks the part
of a WR1, and he enjoyed an elite season at Washington. He can
immediately make the receiver group better, adding to the potential
that Williams can find success early in his career. While Keenan Allen joined the receiver room in Chicago, Darnell Mooney left
in free agency and Allen is nearing the end of his career. Odunze
will be their wide receiver of the future.
1.10 New York Jets - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Jets revamped their offensive line in the offseason, and it
isn’t as pressing of an issue with Aaron
Rodgers returning. Instead, they can get Rodgers a ridiculous
mismatch in the passing game. Some are projecting Bowers to fall
a bit because of his position, but he’s the type of player who can
change an offense. If New York can be creative in ways to get him
the ball, he can be one of few true game-changers in the NFL.
Love him or hate him, it seems as if McCarthy is going to be selected
extremely early in this draft. Some scouts have fallen in love
with him, and he’s been consistently connected to Minnesota.
I don’t believe they’re going to get him with this
particular pick, but I don’t project trades. That said,
I do believe the Vikings are going to move up for him.
1.12 Denver Broncos - Byron Murphy, DT, Texas
This is one of the most difficult spots because I do believe there’s
an outside chance that Denver either drafts Bo Nix or trades back
in the first to get him. That said, this spot is too high for Nix
at the moment. Instead, Murphy becomes the biggest riser in version
3.0, as he can change the game in several ways defensively. He’s
outstanding against the run, and he’s a player who can create
pressure up the middle. Denver needs help along the defensive line,
and Murphy is a player who can immediately improve their defense.
1.13 Las Vegas Raiders - Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Raiders are one of the teams who are going to make this draft
interesting. They could trade back to select Michael Penix Jr.
or they could stay put and opt for an offensive tackle or cornerback.
They need to find stability along the offensive line for their
future franchise quarterback, and there could be an argument that
Fashanu should be a top 10 pick.
1.14 New Orleans Saints - JC Lantham, OT, Alabama
The Saints need help at offensive tackle with Trevor Penning
struggling more than expected. They could draft Troy Fautanu,
but there are question marks about his ability to play tackle
in the NFL. Lantham is moving his way up boards as the draft approaches,
and he’s an NFL-ready option for New Orleans. He also doesn’t
have the question marks around his ability to play tackle at this
level.
1.15 Indianapolis Colts - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The AFC South needs all the secondary help they can get with
the Houston Texans taking the NFL by storm. Arnold and Quinyon
Mitchell are seen as the best cornerbacks in this draft, but the
former comes with tremendous upside as a player. He is a big play
waiting to happen, and there are very few cornerbacks who can
truly change the game the way Arnold may be able to in a couple
of years.
1.16 Seattle Seahawks - Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
I stand by the Seahawks drafting an edge rusher here, especially
considering Dallas Turner is the only edge off the board. They
need help along the defensive line, and it looks as if Latu has
jumped Jared Verse to be the second edge rusher off the board.
He’s an extremely safe option, as most project him to have
one of the higher floors of the prospects in this draft.
Houston has one of the most stacked offenses in the NFL, and
the AFC South is going to be loading up on cornerbacks to try
to slow them down. How can you possibly stop Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell? There are a few cornerbacks who could
hold claim to the most talented in this draft, and it depends
on who Jacksonville likes the most. Mitchell has as much upside
as anyone and he can quickly turn into a CB1 for the Jaguars.
1.18 Cincinnati Bengals - Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
It feels like a given that Cincinnati is going to draft an offensive
lineman if Brock Bowers doesn’t somehow fall to this pick.
They need to keep Joe Burrow healthy, and that starts with their
offensive line. There are some concerns that Fautanu won’t
be able to stay outside at tackle, and he’ll be forced to
bump inside to guard. The Bengals are in a spot to test that,
but he’s clearly ahead of the other offensive tackles available
at this point.
1.19 Los Angeles Rams - Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
With Latu jumping Verse, the Rams need to change their focus
to the latter. They need help with their pass rush, and Verse
is falling a bit because he’s a good but unspectacular prospect.
The Rams perennially lack draft picks, so it makes sense that
they would draft a floor player rather than trying to hit on a
boom-or-bust option.
1.20 Pittsburgh Steelers - Jackson Powers-Johnson, iOL, Oregon
The Steelers can use more help along the offensive line, and
Powers-Johnson is somewhat of a perfect option. He’s likely
to play inside in the NFL, but there are some who believe he could
potentially move to tackle. I don’t expect that to be the
case, and I do believe that he’s going to be one of the
top interior offensive linemen in the NFL in a few years. The
Steelers are building a young foundation, and Powers-Johnson is
a safer option.
1.21 Miami Dolphins - Graham Barton, OL, Duke
The Dolphins could use help along the offensive line, and they
can draft one of the most versatile options in the draft here.
Barton can start his career on the interior, but he has the ability
to move outside. He could also play a swing tackle position with
the ability to cross-train several positions. Simply put, he adds
a ton of versatility to any offensive line.
1.22 Philadelphia Eagles - Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
The Eagles are in need of help in their secondary, and that’s
where they should look early in this draft. The cornerback position
is wide open, and there are several players they can go here.
DeJean showed off his athleticism at his Pro Day, which likely
solidified himself as a first-round pick. He’d immediately
help a secondary in dire need of it.
The Vikings are in an interesting position with Newton and Darius
Robinson available here. Robinson is more well-rounded, as he
can play edge or a team can kick him inside depending on how they
want to run their defense. Newton is strictly a defensive tackle,
and he can blow up games from the inside. That’s something
Minnesota is lacking, and they have the option to fill that hole
here.
1.24 Dallas Cowboys - Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Cowboys have the ability to solidify their tackle positions
for years to come with this pick. They need help, and Guyton can
pair with Tyler Smith as a great young tackle duo. Both players
have the upside to play left tackle, so there is a bit of safety
to having both on the team. This is a pick that comes with upside
and a solid floor.
1.25 Green Bay Packers - Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Packers let David Bakhtiari go during the offseason, and
they absolutely need help along the offensive line. Mims only
played right tackle at Georgia, which could hurt his draft stock,
but there are reports that teams believe he’ll be able to
shift to the left side. Regardless, he’s an NFL-ready player,
who will be able to help this offense from the start of the season.
They can shift their line around how they want, but they need
to add another body with this pick.
1.26 Tampa Bay Bucs - Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
The Bucs could use help in their secondary here, but they can
also help their secondary by taking a high-upside pass rusher.
Robinson isn’t ready to play every down at this point, but
he has unteachable characteristics that you often can’t
get at this point in the draft. He comes with incredible upside
down the line, and he’s a player who comes with the ability
to potentially change the game at the defensive end.
1.27 Arizona Cardinals - Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri
The Cardinals took Marvin Harrison Jr. with their first overall
pick, so they switch to the defensive side of the ball here. Robinson
is a versatile option along the defensive line. He’s listed
as an edge, but I’m not entirely sure that is the best way
to list him. He could stay at end, using his power to rush the
quarterback and set the edge. There’s also a chance that
he adds weight and moves inside. His versatility is what could
be appealing for Arizona.
1.28 Buffalo Bills - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
It feels wrong having Thomas fall this far in the draft, but
that’s the way it goes without any trades. The Bills would
be ecstatic with him in this spot, as they desperately need to
find their WR1 of the future. Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis left
in the offseason, and there is a massive hole in their offense.
Granted, Josh Allen still has Dalton Kincaid as a mismatch, but
Justin Shorter, Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and Mack Hollins
leave quite a bit to be desired in terms of a true WR1.
1.29 Detroit Lions - Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Detroit could go a few different ways here, but they still need
help in their secondary. Wiggins could be viewed as the best cornerback
by some teams in this draft, as he has the upside to hit that
ceiling. His speed stands out above the rest, but he certainly
isn’t a one-trick-pony at the position.
1.30 Baltimore Ravens - Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
The Ravens could go a few different ways with this pick, but
I believe Morgan is in a tier above any defensive linemen left
at this point. That’s why they’ll likely focus on
their offensive line. Baltimore needs quite a bit of help along
their offensive line, and Morgan should have the ability to play
either tackle position.
1.31 San Francisco 49ers - Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
Rosengarten is an interesting option here. San Francisco could
be in trouble after this season with their tackles, but I’m
not entirely sure Rosengarten is going to switch to left tackle
in the NFL. Still, the 49ers can use him to replace Colton McKivitz
after this season.
1.32 Kansas City Chiefs - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Kansas City is in need of help with Travis
Kelce aging and Rashee
Rice being their only other promising option on the outside.
Granted, they signed Marquise Brown, but Rice is in some trouble
with the law at the moment. Worthy recently broke the 40-yard-dash
record (4.21) at the NFL Combine, and he’ll be able to take the
top off of defenses. He’s an elite fit to go along with Kelce
and Rice’s skillsets. He also has the versatility to develop into
more than a downfield threat for the Chiefs.
Predict the top ten picks of the NFL Draft
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