Extra mock drafts? Extra mock drafts.
The NFL panorama has modified now that the largest wave of free brokers have signed, giving extra readability on what groups may wish to do within the upcoming draft.
Whereas issues have modified, this mock draft begins in a well-known place — the place the primary choose already feels locked in.
On this version, Charles McDonald makes the choice of the odd-numbered draft picks whereas Nate Tice selects the even.
Justin Fields, out. Caleb Williams, in. We’re finished right here barring some large change in info within the coming weeks.
There’s a LOT of smoke about Jayden Daniels ending up at this No. 2 choice, however I’m holding agency that Maye, who’s my 1A to Williams’ 1B, would be the second participant off the board. Measurement, arm expertise, athleticism, creativity, Maye has all of it, with a extra superior psychological facet to his sport that makes him a lot greater than an unaimed Howitzer and makes me suppose he’ll hit the bottom quicker on the subsequent stage than folks anticipate.
The primary huge commerce of the draft, with the Vikings transferring as much as safe their man for the long run. McCarthy is a little bit of a Rorschach take a look at, however he’s considered extremely by groups and the Vikings have an enormous want after shedding Kirk Cousins to the Falcons. McCarthy can be strolling into an incredible state of affairs for him to actualize his expertise, however he nonetheless has a protracted method to go.
4. Arizona Cardinals — Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Cardinals can be the captains of this draft if Jayden Daniels was certainly nonetheless on the board right here. They may get wild with a commerce, however maybe ask for an excessive amount of and as a substitute take one of many cleanest large receiver prospects in latest reminiscence to place some boosters on their rebuilding offense. Harrison will be capable to carry the load as the first choice in an NFL passing sport, with the power to win in and out and in any respect three ranges. Harrison and tight finish Trey McBride, a Kyler Murray favourite, is a darn good one-two punch to construct off of, with Michael Wilson displaying flashes as a rookie and Greg Dortch additionally in that large receivers room, together with maybe one other middle-round rookie (the Cardinals have seven picks within the first 104 picks). Add that, and the Cardinals’ offense turns into actually attention-grabbing, actually shortly.
Los Angeles doesn’t have any scary large receivers, however Jim Harbaugh may not care about that in any respect based mostly on his observe report. The Chargers want a sort out simply as badly as they want a large receiver. Right here’s who many individuals imagine is one of the best sort out within the class to kind a rock stable tandem with Rashawn Slater.
6. Chicago Bears (through Giants) — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Giants make a commerce! And it’s to not transfer up for a quarterback! As a substitute, the Bears leap forward and add weapons to their arsenal, snagging Odunze as the right complementary piece to pair with DJ Moore and a well-rounded ability set that can be utilized nevertheless new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron desires to attract it up. With Keenan Allen additionally added to this group of go catchers this offseason, the Bears have a method to bridge and overlap their weapons’ timelines with their shiny new quarterback of the long run. The trenches may be checked out right here, however the Bears like the place they stand with tackles Darnell Wright (who I feel has All-Professional potential) and Braxton Jones, and there simply may not be a defensive expertise they view as worthy of a nod.
The Titans don’t want a large receiver right here after spending a ton on Calvin Ridley, making this a major place so as to add an offensive sort out to assist their rebuilding efforts inside that group. Fashanu ought to slot in effectively subsequent to Peter Skoronski because the Titans’ long-term left sort out — an enormous place of want after the failed Andre Dillard experiment.
8. Atlanta Falcons — Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The primary defensive participant off the board is to the group that has so desperately wanted sacks since Obama’s first time period in workplace. Turner examined effectively on the scouting mix and has various expertise, and rushes the passer, performs the run and drops into protection with equal aplomb. His sack complete upside may not be as excessive as different edge defenders we usually see go within the high 10, however he suits completely in Raheem Morris’ protection as a Jack linebacker and is a helpful participant who does quite a lot of issues effectively.
9. New York Giants (through Bears) — Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The board performed out completely for the Giants right here, the place they will get the big-play large receiver they want whereas dropping down a couple of slots and choosing up picks within the course of. The Giants have a number of wants on offense, but when they’re going to stay with Daniel Jones, they could as effectively seize somebody who opens up the offense.
I feel the smart move for the Jets, each for this all-in season and the long run, can be so as to add one of many proficient offensive line prospects on this draft and provides themselves the double-whammy of a possible robust starter and precise depth at a place the place it’s been wanted for therefore lengthy.
That’s the good choice. However Bowers is the enjoyable choice, and after signing a handful of offensive line free brokers this offseason, on this situation the Jets resolve to maintain juicing up their passing assault and provides Aaron Rodgers a souped-up model of Jermichael Finley. I lately wrote about how Bowers is an offensive weapon and never only a tight finish, and with the highest three large receivers off the board, Bowers can work with Garrett Wilson to create matchup benefits, with Mike Williams because the remoted X receiver and Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert obtainable to do the soiled work required of typical tight ends. Bowers can be an thrilling piece to assist the Jets try to push their contendership excessive.
11. New England Patriots (through Vikings) — Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Patriots commerce again and cease Jayden Daniels’ fall down the draft board. They are not arrange effectively to help a rookie quarterback, however the monetary threat lessens at this level within the draft and Daniels will give them a flooring to no less than be a high quality dashing group.
12. Denver Broncos — Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell’s inventory is hovering all through this draft cycle, and deservedly so (he’s the No. 1 defender on my huge board). He has superb physique management, burst and ball expertise to remain sticky in protection and make performs on the ball. That confirmed up on the Senior Bowl in Cellular and together with his wonderful testing day in Indianapolis. The Broncos want a ton of assist all through their roster, and can probably be eyeing the trenches, however pairing Mitchell with one of the best cornerback within the NFL in Pat Surtain II might no less than give Denver one place unit to hold its hat on.
It is a little bit of a shock based mostly on the place Penix has been mocked, however the Raiders clearly wish to enhance their quarterback play and Penix has the arm energy to be an intriguing choice. Penix, Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. The way forward for the Raiders.
14. New Orleans Saints — Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu’s greatest place may find yourself being inside, however he has the size, hand utilization and foot pace to have an opportunity to begin on the skin on the subsequent stage. The Saints need assistance alongside their offensive line contemplating the Trevor Penning expertise has been a nasty journey, Ryan Ramczyk’s profession may very well be coming to a detailed quickly and James Hurts continues to be beginning at guard. Which spot is greatest for Fautanu? In New Orleans, he may help the Saints get their greatest 5 beginning linemen to all the time be on the sector collectively, regardless of the make-up.
Indianapolis wants expertise at cornerback in an enormous method and Arnold may be one of the best of the bunch on this 12 months’s class. A group that has been within the dialog for L’Jarius Sneed will most likely be trying on the identical place within the draft.
Barton performed left sort out his final 12 months at Duke, however he’s one other offensive lineman on this class who has high quality beginning upside in any respect 5 positions alongside the road. The Seahawks’ offense was derailed in 2023 due to accidents to their entrance 5, and Barton offers them a high-level beginning choice and depth at each spot. If Barton finally ends up at left guard initially for the Seahawks, it might create a supremely proficient left facet of the road together with Charles Cross.
The Jaguars have an enormous gap at large receiver after shedding Calvin Ridley in free company. They will try and fill that gap with Mitchell, who has the upside to grow to be a real No. 1 large receiver within the NFL.
This might be a little bit of a steal for the Bengals! Even with the Bengals including Trent Brown this offseason, Latham would nonetheless give them a sort out for the long run after Brown’s mercenary position finishes out. Latham is a top-10 expertise on this draft and he may begin out at guard if this have been how the draft performed out and due to the Bengals’ present roster make-up. It could be a powerful succession plan for Cincinnati in attempting to street grade defenses in 2024 and past.
The Rams have an opportunity so as to add an all-encompassing defensive again within the draft with DeJean. He can play each single spot within the defensive backfield, which is the participant the Rams have to make issues gel again there. DeJean and Kam Curl can be an thrilling defensive again pairing.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
After including Broderick Jones within the first spherical of final 12 months’s draft, the Steelers choose Powers-Johnson to place the batteries at the back of Arthur Smith’s offense. Whether or not he begins out at guard or heart, Powers-Johnson will carry an perspective and dynamism to the inside of Pittsburgh’s offense. A superb athlete with dimension and still-developing method, Powers-Johnson will assist energy Smith’s run sport together with his energy and skill on the transfer, and would carry some spotlight blocks on screens, too.
Christian Wilkins was an enormous loss that the Dolphins want to try to interchange within the draft. Byron Murphy is sensible right here as an explosive 3-technique that may wreak havoc in Anthony Weaver’s protection.
22. San Francisco 49ers (through Eagles) — Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan and Howie Roseman haven’t met a commerce they didn’t like. The 49ers transfer up 9 spots to take the sort out with the very best upside on this draft. Mims solely began eight video games at proper sort out in school, however that was all of the 49ers wanted to see to get their potential Trent Williams successor (and Colton McKivitz alternative). It’s not usually {that a} group can discover a sort out prospect with Mims’ ceiling at this level of the draft. Endurance (and damage luck) might permit them to reap the advantages.
23. New England Patriots (through Vikings) — Brian Thomas, WR, LSU
The Patriots purchase the Vikings’ different first-round choose within the deal made above, giving Jayden Daniels some juice and add his former school teammate Brian Thomas to assist take the highest off of defenses. New England desperately wants some pace and ability on the skin and it’ll be tough to search out extra explosive choices than Thomas.
24. Dallas Cowboys — Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
Not precisely positive if I view Fuaga greatest with no consideration sort out or guard, however the Cowboys, who’ve by no means been shy to spend money on the trenches, take him at choose 24 to begin at left guard and assist shore up their reconfigured offensive line. Fuaga will persistently hearth off the ball and would create some actual motion on double-teams with Tyler Smith. He has some bend limitations towards the higher athletes in go safety, however that will probably be hidden a bit extra when taking part in inside.
25. Inexperienced Bay Packers — Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Inexperienced Bay wants a brand new sort out to groom after the discharge of David Bakhtiari. Tyler Guyton is a high-upside man that may play left or proper sort out for the Packers. It could nonetheless be a younger offense with a probable younger offensive line, however the Packers have to inventory their sort out place with expertise, which Guyton has.
If there’s a potential inside offensive lineman that the Bucs favored right here, I might see them nabbing that participant to assist out the center. As a substitute, they try to interchange the lately traded Carlton Davis with Wiggins, who’s a cornerback prospect who has fairly a couple of variations than Davis. Wiggins is a protracted and twitchy athlete who can keep sticky in man protection. He has a thin body and there are considerations about how he’ll maintain up if focused within the run sport, however I really like this slot in Todd Bowles’ aggressive protection, which might let Wiggins keep aggressive with receivers on the skin.
27. Arizona Cardinals (through Texans) — Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Enormous potential steal for the Cardinals right here as they add Laiatu Latu to Jonathan Gannon’s protection on the finish of the primary spherical. The Cardinals nonetheless want juice on the sting of their protection and Latu may be capable to present that.
There are a couple of large receiver choices, however I really really feel like higher suits for what the Payments want on the place can be within the second spherical. They as a substitute attempt to recreate the method that helped result in a lot success throughout Sean McDermott’s regime: a deep, proficient, hockey-shifting defensive position. Verse is a power-first go rusher who can persistently push the pocket and is a plus-run defender. Placing him as a part of the Payments’ present rotation would give them robust solutions towards the run, whereas additionally including one other participant to place strain on the quarterback.
Chop Robinson is a bit uncooked, however it’s exhausting to search out prospects that run a legit 4.4 off the sting of a protection. With guys like Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil already on the defensive position, Robinson would have one-on-one alternatives the place his pace is extra of a menace.
30. Baltimore Ravens — Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
This offensive line class is so deep {that a} participant like Suamataia, who may be very proficient however nonetheless uncooked, would often climb up about 10 spots increased due to the same old lack of expertise on the place. As a substitute, here’s a participant with actual upside as a blindside blocker obtainable for the Ravens at choose 30. Suamataia will want some improvement, however would give the Ravens a possible needle-mover in the long run, whereas additionally serving to shore up a place of want.
One other Georgia cornerback for Howie Roseman to obsess over. Hopefully, this one is successful as a result of the Eagles really want an infusion of younger, high quality expertise at cornerback.
Paul is one other high-upside residence run swing at sort out for a perennial contender. Paul has super-long arms with athleticism and energy, however is extra of a bundle of instruments than something near a completed product. Andy Reid doesn’t like going right into a season with out solutions for his offensive line, and whereas Paul has a methods to go to appreciate his potential, he would give Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck a ball of clay with long-term upside as Patrick Mahomes’ blindside protector of the long run.
Groups with out a first-round choose
33. Carolina Panthers — Xavier Leggette, WR, South Carolina
Diontae Johnson was a pleasant pickup for the Panthers, however they want far more on the place and a youthful large receiver to proceed to inventory expertise there. Leggette is the kind of cube roll that the Panthers want, given his dimension and pace to pair with Johnson and Thielen.
42. Houston Texans — Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
The Texans introduced they have been available in the market for a large receiver when it got here out they have been attempting to commerce for Keenan Allen. McConkey is a big-play large receiver himself that ought to slot in properly with Tank Dell and Nico Collins.
A possible long-term Za’Darius Smith alternative for the Browns. Brandon Dorlus has huge time ability and was an integral half to a profitable Oregon protection (besides once they performed Washington).