I’ll be reacting to the NFL draft live, right here as it happens. Here we go!
Congrats to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens for finally figuring out what we all knew they were going to do. And to Aaron Rodgers, remember, you’re with the Jets now, feel free to be terrible.
Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young QB Alabama
I’m not sold on Bryce Young as a long-term starter, his size is going to be an issue eventually. I think of RGIII and how his career started really well and then he got beat up and it ended quickly as a starter. Good luck Bryce, at least Carolina has a nice offensive line for him.
Houston Texans – CJ Stroud QB Ohio St
Well, there goes all that overthinking. Stroud is good, Stroud is a huge upgrade, sorry Davis Mills. Time to finally move that franchise forward.
So I missed on the teams switching spots but I got the first two picks right. Now here comes Arizona, at least it’s not Steve Keim screwing up this pick for them.
Houston – Will Anderson Jr. Edge Alabama
Wow Houston. Well done. Using the extra draft capital from the Watson trade and getting two of the top three picks. Anderson is a stud. DeMeco Ryans is going to love coaching Will Anderson. Their defense needed this guy. He sets the tone.
Smart move by the Cardinals. They just gave themselves more capital and an extra 1st round pick next year so they can go after a QB to replace Kyler Murray after this season. Their new GM Monti Ossenfort is already doing better than Keim ever did.
Indianapolis Colts – Anthony Richardson QB Florida
I really don’t think Richardson is good enough right now to be the 4th pick but the Colts are taking a shot. He’s a physical freak and Shane Steichen can mold him. He can create an offense for him that will work right now.
I’m 4 for 4 in my mock on the players but I’m only 1 for 4 on the teams. I’ll take it. Here’s where things go off the rails.
Seattle Seahawks – Devon Witherspoon CB Illinois
Yep. John and Pete hate me and went with Witherspoon. They generally don’t draft CBs this early but they have to love his attitude and temperament. He can play and he’ll be deadly opposite Tariq Woolen and lets Coby Bryant play in the slot.
Arizona Cardinals – Paris Johnson Jr. OT Ohio St
Making a trade back up, bold. Taking Paris Johnson, not so bold, but smart. Their offensive line is not great and their OTs are both over 30. He can block for Caleb Williams or Drake Maye after next year.
Las Vegas Raiders – Tyree Wilson DE Texas Tech
This is the first of the replacements for all the Gruden/Mayock draft misses. Wilson replaces Clelin Ferrell. He could start if they cut or trade Chandler Jones. Wilson is huge and would look good opposite Maxx Crosby. Solid choice. I would have taken Gonzalez or an offensive lineman but Wilson is solid value.
Atlanta Falcons – Bijan Robinson RB Texas
Holy crap. A top 10 RB. Robinson was the second best player in the draft for me (Jalen Carter was my #1). Robinson seriously upgrades the position for the Falcons, now Arthur Smith has to unlock Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Robinson. Big move for the Falcons.
Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Carter DT Georgia
Trade up. Eagles wanted Carter bad enough to move up a pick. He is a special talent and going to Philly with his former teammates Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean there is great for him. He needs to prove he can be a good guy, he needs to mature as a person. He’s a great player on the field, get him straight off the field, the sky is the limit.
Chicago Bears – Darnell Wright OT Tennessee
There’s the new RT for the Bears. Braxton Jones stays at LT and Wright becomes the starting RT right away. I had him in my mock draft to Chicago, he fits. He’s a huge dude who can move. No more Larry Borom, Teven Jenkins, this guy, that guy, it’s Wright, it’s his job. It’s not a sexy pick but he makes Justin Fields better, he makes the running game better, he solidifies the line.
Tennessee Titans – Peter Skoronski OL Northwestern
Skoronski could start at any of the five spots on the line and be an upgrade for the Titans. Good pick up
Detroit Lions – Jahmyr Gibbs RB Alabama
Holy shit Lions. Gibbs is a stud and I have to assume this means they are going to move D’Andre Swift. Swift can’t stay healthy and Gibbs can complement David Montgomery. This is truly shocking this high but Detroit traded down and picked up extra picks so they are reaching here. Here’s the first truly holy shit moment.
Please, please, please Green Bay, don’t take Gonzalez, they shouldn’t but please leave him for New England.
Green Bay Packers – Lukas Van Ness DE Iowa
There he is. Go Hawks. Van Ness has plenty of physical gifts and he needs some refinement. He has enormous potential.
Damn it Belichick, just take Gonzalez
Pittsburgh Steelers – Broderick Jones OT Georgia
Jones was my favorite OT, I wish the Patriots didn’t have 6 middling OTs and they would have taken him. Jones is light years ahead of Dan Moore, he makes the offensive line way better.
New York Jets – Will McDonald IV Edge Iowa St.
There’s the second holy shit pick. Great athlete with a deadly spin move but it’s his only move too. This is a reach. I love a Cyclone going to the Jets, I can just feel fine continuing to hate him. He and Breece Hall, Cyclones to the Jets, yep, can’t stand them. They panicked after the Steelers moved up to get the last good tackle, New England made that trade just to screw the Jets over? Now I don’t hate it so much.
Washington Commanders – Emmanuel Forbes CB Miss St.
Yikes. The Commanders need CBs but Forbes is 166 lbs. Really surprised he went a head of Christian Gonzalez and Joey Porter Jr. He can get his hands on the ball but someone might break him in half. He can cover Davonta Smith but if he has to line up against AJ Brown, good luck.
New England Patriots – Christian Gonzalez CB Oregon
Wooohooo!!! The Patriots got the guy. He’s a bigger CB they need and the trade down worked out because the Jets and Commanders screwed up. Belichick got lucky but that works some times. No WR and my favorite CB, awesome.
I’ve been thinking about this for a few minutes since Detroit’s first pick. The Patriots need a complement to Rhamondre Stevenson and the D’Andre Swift would be an excellent guy to do that and be the James White replacement they haven’t found. Belichick, call up Brad Holmes and make it happen.
Detroit Lions – Jack Campbell LB Iowa
Wow, just wow. I didn’t think he was going in round one and he goes 18th? This is a huge need for them and he fits with Malcolm Rodriguez, who is a small LB, Jack is a big dude. They will love him. Their fans will love him. He will set a tone.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Calijah Kancey DT Pittsburgh
This draft is drunk. Kancey is so small, short arms, this is a reach. How did they pass on Levis with only Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask at QB. Teams must really hate Levis, it’s weird. Kancey is a subpackage pass rusher, that’s it.
Seattle Seahawks – Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio St.
Gee, I wonder if he can beat out Dwayne Eskridge at slot receiver? Oh wait, he just did. He’s the slot guy, getting a hell of a lot balls thrown his way with Lockett and Metcalf taking all the real coverage. He’s amazing in the slot, could be the offensive rookie of the year.
Los Angeles Chargers – Quentin Johnston WR TCU
I like other WRs better and I like other WRs better for what they need. Johnston can play but he plays a very specific way. He is really good yards after the catch (YAC). They need guys who can make plays but I would have really liked a true deep threat. He can develop into something more but they have to use him right. Your move Kellen Moore.
Baltimore Ravens – Zay Flowers WR Boston College
Hey, Lamar gets a new contract and actual WRs to play with. Odell Beckham Jr, Nelson Agholor, Rashod Bateman, and now Zay Flowers in the slot. That’s the best WR group Lamar has ever had in his professional career. Zay is a playmaker, I guess it won’t be Mark Andrews, Mark Andrews and more Mark Andrews.
If the Vikings don’t take Will Levis he’s falling into the second round unless someone comes back into the end of round one for him. Maybe, maybe the Saints think he’s too good to pass on with Derek Carr’s contract not that long.
Minnesota Vikings – Jordan Addison WR USC
So it’s the WR portion of the draft. Addison is a good WR, he’s a bit light but he only has to be the second guy with Justin Jefferson as the true #1 WR. The Levis tumble continues. Addison can be a playmaker.
New York Giants – Deonte Banks CB Maryland
Well, they needed a CB with size. Banks has size and he’s a really good athlete. He can start on the outside right away opposite Adoree’ Jackson if Jackson sticks around.
Buffalo Bills – Dalton Kincaid TE Utah
They wanted to get another weapon for Josh Allen, Kincaid is a really impressive offensive player. He can improve their offense by giving them another dimension.
Dallas Cowboys – Mazi Smith DT Michigan
Here’s another surprise. Smith is a nose tackle and this isn’t where I thought they were going. Smith is a plugger, he’s a rugged run stuffer in the middle who can wreck an offense.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Anton Harrison OT Oklahoma
The Jaguars make a smart play here. Cam Robinson is suspended for PEDs to start the year and Harrison could replace him now and for the future. Harrison is an athletic guy who just needs some more reps to get better. The Chiefs might be disappointed here, they may have to change their plans.
Cincinnati Bengals – Myles Murphy DE Clemson
He fell a lot farther than many thought, including me, but he is a guy who needs some development. He doesn’t finish his pass rushes with sacks as much as you might like. Talented guy, not a big producer.
New Orleans Saints – Bryan Bresee DT Clemson
Hey, I got this one right. He fills a huge hole for them. He’s good, he might be great if he isn’t dealing with all the personal issues he had last year with his sick sister passing away. Good for him, you have to root for this guy.
Philadelphia Eagles – Nolan Smith LB Georgia
The Eagles are just drafting Georgia’s defense from 2021. They have four Georgia defenders. I’m marking it down now, CB Kelee Ringo in round two.
There are going to be some good players in Round 2…tomorrow should be fun.
Kansas City Chiefs – Felix Anudike-Uzomah DE Kansas St.
They need an edge rusher who really gets around the edge. This might be slightly high but he fills a huge need and he will play a lot for him.
Thanks for hanging around all night. This was as crazy as I thought it would be. Two Hawkeyes in round one is always great. Tomorrow, Will Levis, Hendon Hooker, Brian Branch, Michael Mayer, all tomorrow night. Love the draft, good night.
The Hott Read 