The last major piece of the off season that truly changes the draft is free agency. Not all of the free agents have signed but most of the big ones have signed and those are the guys that affect the draft. Teams go into the off season with needs and they can either fill them in free agency, trades, or through the draft. Now that they have signed free agents (and some notable trades have happened, or will happen) to fill roster holes they can look to the draft to fill the rest of their needs.
The other major news since my last mock draft was the Bears trading the #1 overall pick to Carolina for two 1st round picks (this year and next year), two 2nd round picks (this year and 2025) and WR DJ Moore. This trade significantly changes the top of the draft by making things a lot simpler. Carolina traded up to get a QB, we don’t know which QB just yet, but it’s not a trade you make unless it’s for a QB. Other moves may have shifted teams’ priorities in the top 10, both Seattle and Detroit made signings on defense that could really change their outlook on the draft. This is where things start to clear up. We are about six weeks out from the draft so teams have to focus in on where they want to go with their picks. Here we go.
1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago): CJ Stroud QB Ohio St.
The Panthers haven’t actually settled on a QB of choice here but this feels like the most likely one. Stroud seems like the surest thing in this draft. He’s the purest passer of the bunch, he has prototypical size, he’s the best processor of information of all the QBs, and he’s more athletic than he gets credit for. In my previous mock draft, I compared him to an athletic version of Tom Brady, that would fit Frank Reich just fine. Reich has worked with Phillip Rivers, Andrew Luck, Carson Wentz, and others to varying degrees of success. He could turn Stroud into the best version of himself. Stroud would get to work with a good offensive line in front of him and while the team gave up DJ Moore in the trade, they have signed TE Hayden Hurst, RB Miles Sanders, and WR Adam Thielen. The team gave up quite a bit of draft capital in the trade but they aren’t completely baren of picks because they picked up extra ones in the Christian McCaffrey trade. They still need to add to the WR corps but they can still surround Stroud with a solid offense to play with.
2. Houston Texans (3-13-1): Bryce Young QB Alabama
The Texans’ moves have only really confirmed they plan to draft a QB. They signed a veteran backup QB Case Keenum, grabbed a veteran WR Robert Woods signed TE Dalton Schultz and RB Devin Singletary. They are trying to change the culture after two tumultuous years and Bryce Young would help that move tremendously. Between the leadership of new coach DeMeco Ryans and the character of Young, the path to a new and improved Houston Texans would start to take shape. Keenum is a good mentor and locker room presence, as is Robert Woods. Woods also allowed them to move Brandin Cooks, he was a good player but he was unhappy in Houston. There is no room for that energy here and it will be easier on Young if he doesn’t have to contend with an unhappy WR. Young’s size is his only drawback but the Texans need his leadership and demeanor as much as they need his talent.
3. Arizona Cardinals (4-13): Will Anderson Jr. Edge Alabama
This pick now becomes a pivot point in this draft. If Carolina and Houston take QBs to start off the draft as expected, then teams may look to Arizona for a shot at the third QB if they really like one. Anthony Richardson and Will Levis are potential starters at QB and there are plenty of teams that would welcome them. Indianapolis is next and they are likely to take one. I’m not sure new GM Monti Ossenfort wants to drop too far and if he doesn’t get an offer he likes, he can just stay put and take Anderson, arguably the best prospect in this draft. Anderson should be a terror off the edge for whichever team gets him and he would actually fit quite nicely in Arizona where new head coach Jonathan Gannon would love his ability to pressure the pocket. Anderson has star potential and the Cardinals have to build a defense almost from scratch, an elite pass rusher is a good place to start.
4. Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1): Anthony Richardson QB Florida
The Colts were outbid for the first pick assuming they were bidding. Now they have to decide if they want to sit and wait for a QB at four, try to make a small deal with Arizona to insure no one else moves ahead of them for a QB, or try to gauge Houston’s appetite for some draft capital to move up to two. Here they stay put and take Richardson. I think he’s the guy they would take at two or three anyway. New head coach Shane Steichen developed Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia the last several years and Richardson isn’t all that dissimilar, except he’s bigger, stronger, and faster. Richardson needs to work on his passing but for now, he’s a super athlete who can move the offense along. He would benefit from Jonathan Taylor running the ball and having Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce at WR. His athleticism would help mitigate a less than stellar offensive line in front of him. He has all the tools to be an elite QB but the Colts have to allow him to develop without rushing him. I’m not sure if owner Jim Irsay is willing to wait but picking Steichen as his head coach means I think he might actually be willing to wait.
5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Jalen Carter DT Georgia
The Seahawks re-signed QB Geno Smith (and backup Drew Lock just for good measure) and while that doesn’t preclude them from taking a QB, it means they don’t have to take one unless someone they really like falls. I doubt Will Levis is that guy. However, Carter might tumble down the draft boards a little. His legal issues probably aren’t going to really hurt him, he recently pleaded no contest to some driving charges and isn’t facing jail time. His less than stellar showing at Georgia’s pro day is raising some red flags. He has time to do some other workouts and convince teams he’s fine and will get back on track. The Seahawks won’t be scared off, Pete Carroll believes in his own ability to motivate guys and he won’t shy away from Carter. Carter would fit nicely up front with newly signed defensive linemen Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed. There is a versatility to those two that would work well with Carter and he adds a youthful element that the team needs up front. He’s a game wrecker up front and that would bode well for their defense.
6. Detroit Lions (from LA Rams): Tyree Wilson DE Texas Tech
Detroit’s secondary was an area of concern after a rough year and having a lot of free agents that they really didn’t want to bring back. They have Jeff Okudah, who had his best season last year and Jerry Jacobs, a young guy who came on last year and they like a lot, but that was it. They signed Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley and that adds real depth. They could still address CB but it feels like the defensive line offers better value now. Tyree Wilson is a big defensive end who can play both the run and pass. Opposite Aidan Hutchinson the Lions have a lot of bodies but most are smaller pass rushers with John Cominsky the only bigger body. I could see the Lions trading down if someone wants to move up for a QB. I don’t think they like any of the QBs enough to go get one here and unless they love Will Levis they pass on QB here.
7. Las Vegas Raiders (6-11): Will Levis QB Kentucky
The Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo to be their starting QB but they are going to need someone to start at least the other seven games next year when he gets hurt. Also, they didn’t make a long-term commitment to Jimmy G which means they are still looking for a QB of the future. They aren’t going to move up to get a QB but should Levis fall here, I think they like him enough to draft him. They can let him learn behind Garoppolo for as long as he stays healthy this season. Levis is a physically gifted player who could take advantage of playing with Devante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Hunter Renfrow (assuming Renfrow is still there). I’m not sure this would be the best choice, this team really needs to improve their defense and there are some top defensive prospects still on the board, but I understand getting a QB when you need a QB.
8. Atlanta Falcons (7-10): Christian Gonzalez CB Oregon
It seems as if the Falcons are content to play next season with Desmond Ridder at QB and they re-signed and extended the right side of their line with Kaleb McGary and Chris Lindstrom. They addressed a need up front on defense with DT David Onyemata and signed OLB Kaden Ellis from New Orleans for some pass rush help. They also splurged on safety Jessie Bates III because they were pretty bad on the back end last year. One area with a serious need is CB. AJ Terrell is an elite cover guy but Casey Hayward will be 34 next season and Isaiah Oliver just left for San Francisco. They have no depth. Gonzalez is my favorite CB in this draft and he and Terrell could pair up as one of the best cover duos in the league. He has length and athleticism and natural coverage skills. The team could look for a pass rusher like Lukas Van Ness or Myles Murphy here but they aren’t great fits in the Atlanta defense and Gonzalez would make a bigger impact quicker than they would.
9. Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Peter Skoronski OT Northwestern
The Bears got a really good deal from Carolina and picking up the Panthers’ first round pick next year could be huge if they are starting a rookie QB all season (or Andy Dalton for that matter). The key piece of the trade was WR DJ Moore. Moore has legitimate #1 WR ability, he’s been a borderline top WR every year and he’s never played with a good QB. He should be excellent with Justin Fields. They also have Chase Claypool who they got for their second-round pick in this draft that they hope to get more out of next year. I really wanted to give them RB Bijan Robinson here but they have added D’Onta Foreman and Travis Homer on cheap deals to supplement Khalil Herbert and I just can’t see them spending an asset like this on a RB. Skoronski is arguably the best OT in this draft and at worst he’s the best OG in this draft. I think he comes in and starts at RT immediately but he’s also a hedge against Braxton Jones not developing at LT. This team needs to make some decisions on guys like Cody Whitehair, Teven Jenkins, and Larry Borom moving forward and Skoronski gives them the ability to move those guys to different positions or possibly send them packing. He’s an upgrade at literally any position he ends up playing on the offensive line.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): Paris Johnson Jr. OT Ohio St.
The Eagles have actually done a good job or re-signing a number of defensive players they could have lost and they have some young guys ready to step in everywhere but safety. They lost Marcus Epps and didn’t re-sign Chauncy Gardner-Johnson yet but there is no safety worth taking here and Howie Roseman almost always takes big guys. On the offensive line they didn’t re-sign Isaac Seumalo at RG and they lost backup Andre Dillard. Paris Johnson played RG at Ohio St. before he become their LT and he could step in at guard now, he can backup at OT, and he could be the eventual RT replacement for Lane Johnson since Johnson will be 33 this year. GM Howie Roseman almost always takes linemen early and after re-signing Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham the defensive line need isn’t nearly as pressing as it seemed. Johnson might just be too good for Roseman to overlook.
11. Tennessee Titans (7-10): Michael Mayer TE Notre Dame
The Titans addressed their offensive line with free agents Andre Dillard and Daniel Brunskill. They will give those guys a chance to be full-time starters with Dillard playing LT and Brunskill finding his best spot inside. After adding Azeez Al-Shaair and Arden Key at LB they can look to fill a more pressing need instead of reaching for a LB here. The Titans are still a run-first team with Derrick Henry and they don’t have a TE at the moment with Austin Hooper and Geoff Swaim both free agents. Mayer would add a pass catcher to their offense who is also a very good blocker. They aren’t exactly stacked in the passing game and Mayer contested catch ability would be a welcomed addition for Ryan Tannehill (assuming he’s still the QB this year). Mayer will be fine blocking for them and that matters as much in their offense as his pass catching skills.
12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland): Lukas Van Ness DE Iowa
The Texans take Bryce Young with the second pick and they have added some veterans on offense to help him out; WR Robert Woods and OG Shaq Mason improve two units that needed help the most. The defense still needs a lot of help. Their pass rush was pretty bad last season, Jonathan Greenard was injured and Jerry Hughes was their most productive pass rusher. Jerry Hughes will be 35 years old. They signed Chase Winovich but he’s never been a productive pass rusher. Van Ness is a raw pass rusher but he has impressive physical tools. It would be quite beneficial for him to learn from a coaching staff led by DeMeco Ryans and from a vet like Hughes who knows all the tricks of the trade. The Texans are starting off their rebuild so they have time to wait for Van Ness to figure it out as a pass rusher.
13. New York Jets (7-10): Broderick Jones OT Georgia
Assuming the Jets hold onto this pick and don’t have to send it to Green Bay in the Aaron Rodgers trade I would think they would like to get better protection on the edges for Rodgers. Mekhi Becton, Duane Brown, and Max Mitchell don’t make anyone feel comfortable with at the OT spot. Jones can step in on the left side with Becton slotted for the right side and Brown and Mitchell as depth. There are some other options like Myles Murphy at DE if they have to do something with Carl Lawson to get Aaron Rodgers’ contract in under the cap. The Jets’ defense was quite good last season so I expect this pick to be on offense to help Rodgers and we know he doesn’t like rookie WRs and they don’t need a RB or TE. That leaves the line. It might seem high but it wouldn’t be a bad move to draft John Michael Schmitz, the center from Minnesota because they could use a new one.
14. New England Patriots (8-9): Myles Murphy DE Clemson
Before free agency it seemed the Patriots would target an OT with Isaiah Wynn and a couple of other free agents leaving Trent Brown as the lone tackle. Then the Patriots extended Conor McDermott, re-signed Yodny Cajuste, and signed free agents Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson. Now they have a depth chart full of middling OTs, great. I’m avoiding the obvious pick here which is Belichick taking Alabama safety Brian Branch because Belichick loves collecting safeties. However, he has Kyle Duggar, Adrian Phillips, Jabrill Peppers, Joshuah Bledsoe, special teams stud Brandon Schooler and they are supposedly moving Jalen Mills, so he may have enough, but I wouldn’t be shocked. Myles Murphy seems like a Belichick type of DE, he’s big, he’s physical, and he doesn’t actually produce a lot of sacks. He can back up for now and with Lawrence Guy aging, he can eventually replace him. So, like I said, he’ll draft Brian Branch, just to bother me (I like Branch but no team needs this many safeties).
15. Green Bay Packers (8-9): Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio St.
The Packers are almost certainly trading Aaron Rodgers to the Jets but they already have the QB they want to take over in Jordan Love. Love is no guarantee to be good but they have to get a look at him this year to make a decision if he’s the guy going forward. The offensive line needs to be healthy, especially David Bakhtiari and Elgin Jenkins. They could definitely use a TE too but I think Jaxon Smith-Njigba might be too good to pass up for their offense. They need an inside slot receiver and that’s the exact role Smith-Njigba is made for. He’s not an outside guy. He doesn’t have the speed to win on the outside, however, he has the lateral quickness and precision route-running to destroy defenses from the slot. He would be Jordan Love’s favorite target as his security blanket over the middle. The Packers have Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs to win on the outside, Smith-Njigba would make them even better by making teams cover over the middle. If the Packers take Dalton Kincaid from Utah at TE, I won’t be shocked but this should be the pick.
16. Washington Commanders (8-8-1): Brian Branch FS Alabama
The Commanders plan to go with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett at QB and see how far they can get. It might work out if their defense rebounds to be elite and their offense is solid otherwise it could result in them having a very high pick in the draft next year to get a new franchise QB. They added a couple of solid veteran starters to the offensive line in C/G Nick Gates and RT Andrew Wylie. Those two won’t set the world on fire but they are solid upgrades for a team that needed upgrades. If Howell or Brissett can be decent with the rest of that offense, they should be fine. On defense they need upgrades in the secondary. The picked-up Cam Dantzler from Minnesota off waivers but they a safety. Branch can do a little of everything, he can play deep, play in the slot, and he can be moved around. He’s a good coverage player and he will make them better overall on defense. He can be the playmaker they need in the secondary.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8): Darnell Wright OT Tennessee
The Steelers picked up Patrick Peterson at CB trying to put another band-aid on that spot so they may wait to address the position. One place they haven’t addressed in free agency is OT and while I think Darnell Wright is best suited for the right side of the line, some think he could play LT. Either way, he’s an upgrade at either RT or LT and then Dan Moore Jr. and Chukwuma Okorafor can battle for the other spot. This team needs to improve the offensive line so it can run the ball better and use Najee Harris instead of relying on Kenny Pickett too much. Wright had an excellent year last season at RT for Tennessee after he struggled the year before at LT. He has the athletic profile to be a LT but he will have to put in the work to make the switch work.
18. Detroit Lions (9-8): Dalton Kincaid TE Utah
The Lions have done a good job of building an offense around Jared Goff and their running game. They replaced Jamaal Williams with David Montgomery and that should keep things moving right along. Jameson Williams should step into the spot vacated by DJ Chark at WR leaving only TE as a sore spot. After trading TJ Hockenson last year, they could use a replacement in the passing game. Kincaid is an excellent pass catching TE who give them a nice complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. He isn’t the biggest guy and he’s not a good blocker but they aren’t drafting him to block.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9): Dawand Jones OT Ohio St.
The Buccaneers are in a strange spot. Their team has plenty of really good veterans that makes you think they should compete for their division but they are going with either Kyle Trask or Baker Mayfield at QB. The team cut LT Donovan Smith because he made too much money and simply wasn’t very good any more. The belief is that they plan to move Tristan Wirfs from RT to LT which would solve their LT problem but create a hole at RT. Dawand Jones would fill that hole quite well. Jones is a gigantic human being and while he doesn’t move all that quickly, you don’t have to move very far when you have his size and length. Jones would solidify the OT spots on the team for the next several years as it seems the Buccaneers plan to keep Wirfs around for the long haul.
20. Seattle Seahawks (9-8): John Michael Schmitz C Minnesota
The Seahawks re-signed Geno Smith which was their top priority to keep their offense going. They have RB Ken Walker, WRs Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, TE Noah Fant, and OTs Charles Cross and Abe Lucas; that’s a pretty solid foundation to build around. One area that could undo all of it is the interior of the offensive line where Damien Lewis is the only sure thing. C Austin Blythe retired and Gabe Jackson was let go so they need multiple players inside. Schmitz is the best center in this draft and he’s an excellent place to start. He comes from Minnesota where they know how to run block and he will make Walker’s life a lot easier and keep Geno upright.
It seems as though the league is going with ignoring the fact Miami’s pick is forfeited and just moving on with 31 picks in round one. This is where Miami’s pick would have been.
21. Los Angeles Chargers (10-7): Bijan Robinson RB Texas
The Chargers could have been looking for a RT but the re-signed Trey Pipkins III meaning there is less of a reason to draft one early. They also signed Eric Kendricks at LB to try to fix their problems with run defense, something they still haven’t figured out. I still maintain they need a deep speed element like Jalin Hyatt and I wasn’t going to change from that pick without a really good reason, Austin Ekeler gave me that reason. Ekeler has been the Chargers primary offensive weapon for several years now and now he wants to get paid like it. One problem, the Chargers don’t want to give him a megadeal. Ekeler is fantastic but he does get banged up from time-to-time and he admits to wanting a complementary RB to take some of the workload. Well, here’s his replacement instead. Robinson is the complete back, he’s a runner and a pass catcher, much like Ekeler he excels at both. Robinson is younger, cheaper, and probably has a higher ceiling than Ekeler as a playmaker. The Chargers can look for the deep threat WR in round two, Jalin Hyatt may even still be available then, the WR group is hard to gauge.
22. Baltimore Ravens (10-7): Devon Witherspoon CB Illinois
The Ravens have the whole Lamar Jackson situation to figure out and their offense doesn’t make any moves until they figure that out. One thing they can do is solidify their defense. Marcus Peters is a 30-year-old CB who is a free agent they don’t plan to bring back. Marlon Humphrey needs a new partner on the outside and Witherspoon would be a great addition. He’s not the biggest CB but that’s fine because Humphrey is the guy who can take on the bigger WRs while Witherspoon can match up with the other shiftier guys. The Ravens don’t tend to reach to fill a need and that’s why they will pass on a WR and take Witherspoon. It also just so happens that Witherspoon is one of the best prospects left and he fills a need.
23. Minnesota Vikings (13-4): Cam Smith CB South Carolina
The Vikings have a need at WR and at CB and at this point I think the value of a guy like Cam Smith is better than the WRs in this draft. They did sign Byron Murphy and they did draft Andrew Booth Jr last year but they have no depth and Smith might be better than either of those guys. Booth is coming off of knee surgery. Smith is not the biggest CB but he plays with an attitude and doesn’t back down. He should be a starter immediately and he can be a high-level one at that. The Vikings other needs like WR and LB can be addressed later in the draft but the top of the CB class is starting to dwindle and they are better off getting a good one now. They could also use a pass rusher if they deal Za’Darius Smith but that move can also wait.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8): Kelee Ringo CB Georgia
The Jaguars offense adds Calvin Ridley at WR and with a healthy season out of OTs Cam Robinson and Walker Little they offense could be quite good. They lost Jawaan Taylor to Kansas City but if Robinson can stay on the field Little can play RT, they can be fine there. They should look for some OT depth but they can do that later. Here they look to help out their young defense. They let Shaquill Griffin go at CB and they need another outside guy. Ringo has plenty of flaws but he’s a superior athlete with good ball skills and supreme confidence. He gambles too often and gets beat but they can hope to coach that out of him. Either way, he’s a playmaker they could really use in the secondary and they should be able to fit him into their defensive scheme.
25. New York Giants (9-7-1): Quentin Johnston WR TCU
The Giants had arguably the worst WR corps in the league last season (the Bears may have been worse) but apparently, they didn’t mind it because they re-signed Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, and Sterling Shepard. Wan’Dale Robinson and David Sills V are also still here. The only change they made was dumping Kenny Golladay and signing Paris Campbell, not exactly a needle mover. They did trade for TE Darren Waller but I think they still need WR help especially considering Shepard, Robinson, Campbell and Waller all have injury histories that should worry the team. Johnston is a boom or bust WR prospect. He’s 6’4, 212 lbs. and has great deep speed but he rarely plays as big as his size and his hands are inconsistent. Still, in this group of WRs he could be an absolute stud. Daniel Jones needs more playmakers and Johnston at least looks like one. The team also needs interior offensive line help so O’Cyrus Torrence is a distinct possibility here or if John Michael Schmitz makes it this far, he would be a no-brainer.
26. Dallas Cowboys (12-5): Keion White DL Georgia Tech
The Cowboys have a couple of areas of concern, the interior of the offensive line and TE on offense. They let TE Dalton Schultz go and they are getting older on the line including Zack Martin and Tyron Smith. For now, Tyler Smith can be the LG if Tyron Smith and Terrance Steele get healthy but Tyler Smith is the eventual LT. Tyler Biadasz is the center and he’s fine but he’s replaceable. TE is a real possibility but there is plenty of depth at that position in the draft class so they can wait. On defense they need help up front. They traded for CB Stephon Gilmore to address the biggest need and brought back their safeties. Demarcus Lawrence is still a good DE but they don’t get much from the rest up front. Keion White has the ability to play inside and out on the defensive line and that could come in handy. He’s a more talented version of some of the guys they have and he can make some plays and help Lawrence and Micah Parsons as a pass rusher.
27. Buffalo Bills (13-3): Calijah Kancey DT Pittsburgh
The Bills do have a couple of needs and I wouldn’t be surprised if they take an interior offensive lineman like O’Cyrus Torrence or a WR like Jordan Addison, a RB like Jahmyr Gibbs, or a LB like Drew Sanders. However, the Bills are the type of team to take the best player available and Kancey may be that guy. Kancey is an undersized DT who’s an excellent penetrator and pass rusher. The Bills drafted one of those guys once hoping he would be the next Aaron Donald, that was Ed Oliver, but he never turned into the disruptor Donald is. No one should be expected to be Aaron Donald but Kancey has many similar traits and can be better rusher than Oliver. Oliver will also be a free agent next year and I doubt the Bills want to invest in him, especially if they can get the cheaper rookie model.
28. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4): Darnell Washington TE Georgia
The Bengals have to get cheaper at some positions as they prepare to pay Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and possibly Tee Higgins over the next couple of years. That led to them letting Hayden Hurst walk in free agency but they need a better TE than Devin Asiasi. Washington is a beast at 6’7 and somewhere around 270 lbs. He is an excellent blocker and he has a huge catch radius. He will be a great red zone threat especially with Joe Burrow throwing to him and since he won’t be taking a backseat to Brock Bowers, he might actually catch some balls as a TE. The Bengals could grab Jahmyr Gibbs at RB as Joe Mixon’s eventual replacement or they could grab a RT if they decide to trade Jonah Williams after his trade request after losing his LT spot to Orlando Brown Jr. Safety help is also a big need and if one of the top four CBs falls here, they should seriously consider drafting one, otherwise they can wait to address RB, OL, safety or CB until rounds two and three.
29. New Orleans Saints (from Denver): Nolan Smith OLB Georgia
There is almost no chance Nolan Smith falls this far, he’s far too elite of an athlete and pass rusher but I just couldn’t find a good spot for him before this. The Saints aren’t a perfect match considering he’s more of a 3-4 OLB and they run a 4-3 but Dennis Allen is a fantastic defensive mind and he would find a way to use Smith’s immense talent. One thing the Saints do need is a pass rusher. Cameron Jordan is aging, Marcus Davenport left for Minnesota, and Kaden Ellis signed in Atlanta, they need help. A playmaking LB can fit in anywhere and Smith is a major playmaker. This team is always trying to compete, they showed that by signing Derek Carr and bringing back Michael Thomas one more time, so a readymade starter at LB works. Smith is a far better option than relying on Zack Baun to finally breakout.
30. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3): Drew Sanders LB Arkansas
The Eagles brought back plenty of their defensive guys to make sure they aren’t desperately looking to fill holes but one place they lost some guys and don’t have all the replacements lined up is at LB. TJ Edwards and Kyzir White left and only Nakobe Dean can only fill one spot, likely at MLB. Sanders only really played LB for his one year at Arkansas after transferring from Alabama. He was a pass rusher at Alabama but Arkansas used him more as an off-ball LB, the Eagles will use him to do both. They already have Hassan Reddick as one LB who rushes, Sanders gives them even more options. He’s a big LB too so he can help offset the fact that Dean is undersized. Sanders has some developing ahead of him but for now, the Eagles can use him to do the things he does well and bring him along at the other stuff.
31. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3): Bryan Bresee DT Clemson
The Chiefs should look for another OT after losing both Orlando Brown Jr and Andrew Wylie and only signing Jawaan Taylor. Counting on Lucas Niang to finally develop is a bad idea. Unfortunately, the value at OT isn’t great here as they would have to reach for Matthew Bergeron, Anton Harrison, or Jaelyn Duncan. There is great value at DT with Bresee, he would be a steal this late in round one. They lost Khalen Saunders and haven’t re-signed Derrick Nnadi or Brandon Williams. Chris Jones needs some help on the inside and Bresee is good enough to actually take some focus away from Jones because he can beat a guy inside pretty well. The Chiefs could look for a WR to replace Juju Smith-Schuster or try for some depth at safety after Juan Thornhill signed in Cleveland but Bresee is the best player available and when you’re the Super Bowl Champions, you don’t have to draft anything in particular.
Round 2
32. Pittsburgh: Jordan Addison WR USC
Diontae Johnson had 86 catches last year and no touchdowns. George Pickens started to impress on the outside and found some chemistry with Kenny Pickett. The Steelers don’t have any other receivers to count on. Addison was Pickett’s go-to guy at Pittsburgh two years ago and he would look awesome as a slot guy in their offense and be a real playmaker.
33. Houston: Cody Mauch OL North Dakota St.
The Texans extended Laremy Tunsil at LT, traded for Shaq Mason at RG and drafted Kenyon Green to play LG last year. Mauch was a tackle at NDSU but he worked out inside at both center and guard at the Senior Bowl. He’s a zone blocking type of player and the new Texans’ offensive coordinator comes from the Shanahan tree. Mauch could be the new center in Houston very quickly, they aren’t great at that spot.
34. Arizona: Julius Brents CB Kansas St.
Arizona’s top CB is Marco Wilson after Byron Murphy left for Minnesota, that’s not good. Brents is a 6’4 CB with great cover skills and he has legitimate #1 CB potential and he would start out as that immediately on this defense.
35. Indianapolis: DJ Turner CB Michigan
Turner was a speed demon at the combine with the fastest 40 time. He’s not the biggest CB but he has coverage skills and the Colts are woefully thin at CB. Turner could start immediately. They need plenty of help at spots on the offensive line too but Turner is good value here.
36. Los Angeles Rams: Derick Hall DE Auburn
It’s almost hard to make a pick for the Rams because their roster is in shambles, that’s the price you eventually pay when you mortgage everything to win a Super Bowl. They have a lot of free agents they can’t re-sign because their cap is taking the hit now for past spending. The offense has QB Matthew Stafford (assuming he’s healthy), WR Cooper Kupp, TE Tyle Higbee, and then a bunch of replacement level guys everywhere else. And that’s the good news. The defense is DT Aaron Donald and some young CBs they say they like (I wouldn’t go so far as to say I like them). They traded away draft capital for years and this is what happens to your roster. They have to start somewhere and just taking the best defensive playmaker left is a decent start. Hall has all the traits you look for in a pass rusher; speed, power, length, and he was actually somewhat productive on an Auburn team that wasn’t great. Getting Donald some pass rushing help is a good place to start and generating a pass rush could help those young corners they like so much. There’s a long road to a rebuild ahead.
37. Seattle: Zay Flowers WR Boston College
Seattle has DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett but after that the WR group is pretty rough. Flowers would be an excellent addition as a guy who can mix and match with Lockett both inside and out opposite Metcalf. Flowers is very small but he’s electric when he gets the ball and he would be a matchup nightmare as a third guy.
38. Las Vegas: Luke Musgrave TE Oregon St.
The Raiders traded Darren Waller to the Giants and they need some help there. Musgrave is a big, physical athlete who will only make it out of round one because of some medical questions with his knees. He has superstar potential and Jimmy G loves to throw to the TE.
39. Carolina: Trenton Simpson LB Clemson
The Panthers basically have Shaq Thompson at LB and then not much else. New defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is bringing in a new defensive scheme and Simpson can fit into anything Evero wants to do. He’s good in coverage and he can rush the passer when needed as a blitzer.
40. New Orleans: Josh Downs WR North Carolina
The Saints re-signed Michael Thomas to a one-year reworked contract and they have Chris Olave, who had a great rookie year. The rest of the WR group is not good. Thomas isn’t really a guy you can count on either so Derek Carr needs help. Downs can be the slot guy immediately and he’ll become a Carr favorite quickly.
41. Tennessee: Joe Tippman C Wisconsin
The Titans may have added Andre Dillard and Daniel Brunskill to the line but they still need a center with Aaron Brewer penciled in there now. Tippman comes from Wisconsin where they ran the ball with power, that’s the Titans’ game. He would start immediately.
42. Cleveland Browns: Jalin Hyatt WR Tennessee
This is the Browns first pick after trading their first rounder to Houston for Deshaun Watson. They have spent some money to try to sure up their defense with DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, and safety Juan Thornhill plus they hired Jim Schwartz as the new defensive coordinator. Watson didn’t have a great year after missing the first half or so of the year with his suspension, the offense never found a groove. Amari Cooper proved he still has it at WR and had a good year but the rest of the group is underwhelming. Donovan Peoples-Jones is solid but never spectacular and he’s simply not the deep threat they claim he is. They need someone to truly take the top off the defense, open up the underneath stuff for TE David Njoku and WR David Bell, and back the safeties up so Nick Chubb has more room to run. Say hello to Mr. Hyatt. Deep speed is his game and he threatens everyone deep. Hyatt doesn’t have to be the whole package right away; he can simply play his game for now and learn some of the finer points of being a WR from Cooper and Bell.
43. New York Jets: Will McDonald IV Edge Iowa St.
The Jets rely pretty heavily on Carl Lawson and Quinnen Williams for pressure on the QB and could really use some extra help. Will McDonald is a thin-framed DE who has great speed off the edge and a deadly spin move. He would be an excellent addition as a designated pass rusher as a rookie who could grow into a bigger role.
44. Atlanta: Rashee Rice WR SMU
The Falcons need WRs to go with Drake London and picking up TE Jonnu Smith to go with Kyle Pitts is not enough. Given Arthur Smith’s affinity for bigger players he will likely go for Rice over a guy like Marvin Mims even if it might be smarter to vary his type of WR.
45. Green Bay: Tucker Craft TE South Dakota St.
The Packers are looking to make the move to Jordan Love and surrounding him with some skill position talent would be good. Craft is a small-school prospect but he has big time athleticism and he has a variety of skills. Playing at South Dakota St means he had to do many different things and that helped him become an all-around TE.
46. New England Patriots: Deonte Banks CB Maryland
Belichick loves to draft defensive backs and he actually usually does well with it. One problem is his propensity to draft small guys named Jones (the Jones thing is less of a problem than the small thing). Banks is over 6’1 and plays man coverage, which Belichick likes. Jack Jones was in the coach’s doghouse last year so Banks could potentially slide in at one outside spot and give the team some size against bigger WRs.
47. Washington: Anton Harrison OT Oklahoma
The Commanders have Charles Leno Jr at LT and while he’s been serviceable Harrison would represent the potential to improve tremendously. Harrison isn’t a finished product but he could come in, give them depth for now, and eventually take over for Leno at LT.
48. Detroit: Jahmyr Gibbs RB Alabama
Detroit swapped David Montgomery in for Jamaal Williams and if Gibbs falls this far, they would be crazy not to swap him in for D’Andre Swift. Swift has had some great moments for Detroit but he’s injury prone and unreliable. Gibbs does all the things Swift can do and he’s younger and cheaper.
49. Pittsburgh: Antonio Johnson S Texas A&M
The Steelers didn’t re-sign Terrell Edmunds and only brought in Damontae Kazee at safety. They need a guy to pair long-term with Minkah Fitzpatrick and Johnson has a myriad of complementary skills. He can cover in the slot a little, cover a TE, and do some other stuff. He would work nicely with Fitzpatrick.
50. Tampa Bay: Tuli Tuipulotu DL USC
Tuipulotu is a big end who could add nice depth to the front three in Tampa Bay and help them get younger up front. The have Logan Hall but the other ends have aged out and now it’s just Hall and Greg Gaines to flank Vita Vea and Gaines is pretty under sized. That’s not Tuli’s problem at all, he just needs some experience.
51. Miami Dolphins: Sam LaPorta TE Iowa
Mike McDaniels comes from the Shanahan coaching tree in San Francisco and he has been building an offense like the 49ers. He even has two former 49er RBs so it would make sense he might want his own version of George Kittle. LaPorta has been compared to Kittle and has a similar skill set. He is a very good receiver and can be used both inline and on the outside. He’s a willing blocker and while he can be more consistent, he can get there. LaPorta is one of the better two-way TEs in this draft and that’s saying something because this is a stacked TE draft. The Dolphins have been assembling a top group of skill position players and they let TE Mike Gesicki go because he wasn’t a great fit in their scheme, LaPorta is obviously a fantastic fit for them. He also won’t demand the ball but he’ll make everyone pay for how much attention they have to give to Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. In this offense, he could be a Pro Bowl caliber player.
52. Seattle: O’Cyrus Torrence OG Florida
The Seahawks need more help than just a center inside on the offensive line and Torrence is too good to pass up. I have a hard time thinking he will actually fall this far but it’s possible. He would immediately step in at RG.
53. Chicago: Felix Anudike-Uzomah DE Kansas St.
The Bears need some pass rush because they simply don’t have much. They signed Demarcus Walker in free agency but he’s not really a pure pass rusher. Anudike-Uzomah will be a good designated pass rusher as a rookie. He has plenty of ability to become a good DE in the NFL.
54. L.A. Chargers: Emmanuel Forbes CB Mississippi St.
The JC Jackson signing was a catastrophe last year and while they have to hope to salvage something from him this year, they need more CB help. Forbes is really skinny but he’s strong enough and he’s a very good cover guy.
55. Detroit: Hendon Hooker QB Tennessee
The Lions might be the best landing spot for Hooker. He is coming off a knee injury and needs time to heal. Hooker has all the physical skills you want and he would be an excellent guy to develop behind Jared Goff. He could be their long-term starter eventually.
56. Jacksonville: Matthew Bergeron OT Syracuse
Even with Cam Robinson and Walker Little penciled in at the tackle spots, they need depth. Robinson isn’t the picture of health and Bergeron could be their long-term replacement for him. For now, he can be depth at several positions and maybe push the starters.
57. New York Giants: Steve Avila OG TCU
The Giants lost Nick Gates inside on the offensive line and they need some reinforcements. Avila is a really wide body at 334 lbs. and he’s nearly immovable. The Giants need a guy who can start early and Avila has plenty of starting experience in college, his transition to the NFL should be quick.
58. Dallas: Zach Charbonnet RB UCLA
The Cowboys cut Ezekiel Elliott for salary cap purposes and franchise tagged Tony Pollard. Pollard is coming off an injury but he should be fine next season. Pollard is an absolute speed demon who deserves his chance to be the #1 RB but he’s not built to get 30 touches a game. Elliott was the power back and they need a short yardage guy to take that role. Charbonnet can be more than that but as a rookie he’ll be fine being Pollard’s partner.
59. Buffalo: Jack Campbell LB Iowa
This might be a little high for Campbell but the Bills just lost LB Tremaine Edmunds in free agency and Matt Milano needs a new running mate. Edmunds was a tall, lanky LB with great range, sounds like a Hawkeye I know. Campbell is rangy and instinctive and would make a nice replacement at MLB that would allow Milano to keep doing what he’s been doing quite well.
60. Cincinnati: Clark Phillips III CB Utah
Cincinnati’s top CB is Chidobe Awuzie, he got hurt last year and they had to rely on Eli Apple again. Apple is a free agent they shouldn’t bring back and Phillips would make him unnecessary. Phillips isn’t the biggest CB but what he lacks in size he makes up for in attitude, he doesn’t back down from anyone. He has a higher ceiling than Cam Taylor-Britt or Mike Hilton so he would really upgrade the secondary.
61. Chicago: Devon Achane RB Texas A&M
The Bears let David Montgomery go and signed D’Onta Foreman as his replacement as Khalil Herbert’s partner. Foreman and Herbert are power backs who run people over, Achane is the guy you can’t catch. He’s the homerun hitter they need. If you want this offense to succeed, you have to get gamebreakers, DJ Moore was a start, Achane is the next level. He’s small but he’s absolutely electric with the ball and can score at a moment’s notice. He can make Justin Fields look very good taking a 4-yard dump off pass for a 60-yard TD.
62. Philadelphia: Jordan Battle S Alabama
Right now, the Eagles are looking at starting Reed Blankenship and K’Von Wallace at safety, that seems unlikely. For a team that is looking to compete for a Super Bowl, you have to do better. Battle doesn’t wow you with his physical gifts but the guy started 50 games at Alabama for Nick Saban, he can start in the NFL.
63. Kansas City: Marvin Mims Jr. WR Oklahoma
The Chiefs lost JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman leaving them with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, and Skyy Moore, not exactly awe-inspiring. Mims was a playmaker at Oklahoma regardless of who his QB was and if you put him with Mahomes, look out. He isn’t the biggest receiver but he can play inside or outside and the Chiefs have never cared much about size at WR.
The Hott Read 