The draft is fast approaching and teams are making their final moves, I hope. The Bills trading Stefon Diggs was an inevitability but I didn’t see it happening a couple of weeks before the draft. It puts some pressure on the Bills to find some help at WR, Josh Allen is good but he’s now lost Diggs and Gabe Davis leaving Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir as his top WRs, that’s rough. We haven’t seen the Vikings make their move up the board yet but we may have to wait until draft day to see if the Patriots like their options at three, if the Cardinals decided they’re willing to move off four, or if it’s the Chargers trading out at five. Draft boards are taking shape, teams are devising strategies to fill their needs, and it’s almost time to get the show on the road.
I’m going to have a little fun with this final mock draft. I made a few big trades up in the first round with teams that have glaring needs. It threw a wrench into some of the picks and then I threw in a couple of different moves. I’m not a huge fan of this overall draft class, it’s a little thin. However, there are some guys I like a lot.
Round 1
1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Caleb Williams QB USC
I’m not getting cute here and if you want to know my thoughts on this pick, go back and read my other mock drafts. Unless Williams pulls an Eli Manning between now and the draft, this one is set. According to reports, the Commanders made a big offer and Chicago turned them down, they are all in on Caleb. I think he has a high ceiling as a potential superstar but I do see the scenario where he doesn’t work out. The Bears have worked to get him help so he’s supported on the field. The questions are; Will Williams become the player his talent shows he can be or will he be another failed Bears QB? Is Shane Waldron the guy to get the best out of Williams? Only time will tell. I see the flashes of greatness from Williams but I also recognize the problems in his game.
2. Washington Commanders (4-13): Jayden Daniels QB LSU
Washington has kept a pretty tight lid on which QB they plan to take with this pick. I can make the argument for Daniels or Drake Maye and if you want me to work a little harder, I could make the case for JJ McCarthy but it’s not as convincing. The one aspect I don’t believe I’ve touched on is that this team needs a face of the franchise. While I firmly believe Maye is the better pro prospect, Daniels is clearly the higher profile player. Daniels won the Heisman last season, he put up video game like stats, and he’s one of the most athletic QBs ever. This is a franchise that could use an easy PR win and that can’t be discounted. It won’t be the reason they take Daniels over Maye but it’s part of the equation when you’re drafting a QB this high.
3. New England Patriots (4-13): Drake Maye QB North Carolina
I think the Patriots want Maye and they are using the JJ McCarthy hype as a smokescreen in case Maye goes second. If Maye is off the board here, they will look to trade down and the best thing they can do is create interest from multiple teams. The Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders all may be looking to move up but they may like different QBs here. Making each of them think you might take the guy they like creates competition for the pick. The Patriots have Jacoby Brissett so they don’t have to take a QB if they don’t like their options. They also don’t have to trade out if they don’t like the offers. Marvin Harrison Jr. would be an amazing consolation prize if Maye is gone and no teams make a trade offer worth moving down for. I love Maye, he’s my favorite QB and I think he has elite talent.
4. Arizona Cardinals (4-13): Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio St.
I said this before but it’s worth repeating, the Cardinals have six picks in the top 103 overall. They do not need to move down to get draft capital, they have draft capital. They need difference makers so unless someone makes it worth their while, they stay here and take Harrison. He’s the best WR prospect in a decade at least and they need him. Unless, Monti Ossenfort believes he can do what he did last season when he traded down and then traded back up to get the guy he wanted, he stays here. Trying the trade down, trade up move is risky when you’re talking about losing Marvin Harrison Jr.
5. Minnesota Vikings (TRADE from Chargers): JJ McCarthy QB Michigan
I know, this is the same as my last mock but I just feel like this is the most realistic possibility when it comes to the top five picks. The Chargers have no reason to stay here unless Jim Harbaugh just loves Malik Nabers and that seems unlikely. Harbaugh is going to build in the trenches first and foremost. The Vikings have amassed draft capital to make this move and McCarthy fits their style of play. He’s the point guard just dishing it out to his playmakers; Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson, and Aaron Jones. He makes Kevin O’Connell’s offense run and does it at about a tenth of the cost of Kirk Cousins. Jefferson gets an extension, LT Christian Darrisaw gets and extension, and there’s still money to spend on defense next year.
6. New York Giants (6-11): Rome Odunze WR Washington
Sorry, my top six picks stay the same. I think Odunze fits what the Giants need and with all four QBs off the board they just take the WR they need. Malik Nabers is probably the preferred choice over Odunze by most teams but Odunze is the better fit for the Giants’ WR corps. They have smaller, fast guys, Odunze is a big fast guy. He can make Daniel Jones look better if Jones can stay healthy (that’s a big if). If not, he makes Drew Lock more acceptable. Odunze, Jaylin Hyatt, and Wan’Dale Robinson isn’t a bad young group of WRs for the Giants next QB to start off with.
7. Tennessee Titans (6-11): Joe Alt OT Notre Dame
Okay, I’m going back to the Joe Alt to the Titans pick that is everyone’s standard pick in every mock draft everywhere. The Titans have Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, and Treylon Burks at WR so unless they give up on Burks already, they need an OT before they need Malik Nabers. It won’t do Will Levis any good to have great WRs if Nicholas Petit-Frere is lining up as his LT. Alt is a big guy with long arms and all the skills needed to be a Pro Bowl LT. He’s not the flashiest guy but he’ll be solid as a rock for the next decade at LT.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (TRADE from Atlanta): Malik Nabers WR LSU
GM Trent Baalke and coach Doug Pederson can’t have another failure like last year. They wanted Calvin Ridley back to pair with Gabe Davis but he left for Tennessee. They still need help at WR because they may still cut Zay Jones. Nabers would be a homerun swing to try to fully unlock Trevor Lawrence. This would be an expensive trade moving from 17 to 8 but the roster isn’t lacking and they could afford to give up some draft capital. Also, their biggest need is at CB and while they could draft one at 17 there are more good veteran CBs on the market to sign after the draft who can help than there are WRs who move the needle. Taking Nabers and signing Stephen Gilmore at CB is far more impactful than signing Odell Beckham Jr. and drafting Terrion Arnold or Nate Wiggins. They make this move to get ahead of the Bears when they see Nabers fall past the Titans. This is the first of some fun trades and picks coming up.
9. Chicago Bears (7-10): Dallas Turner Edge Alabama
The Bears will almost certainly try to move up if Nabers falls past the sixth pick but they don’t have a lot of capital to make it worth it to the Titans to risk losing Alt. If all the WRs are gone the Bears then have to weigh trading down vs. taking the top edge rusher. Some of the teams looking to move up might be teams looking to draft that edge rusher (Rams, Bengals). A team looking for an OT could also look to move up but that’s either teams picking much later in round one (Packers, Chiefs, Ravens) or teams without much to trade (Saints, Dolphins). If the Bears like Turner as the complement to Montez Sweat, they should just take him here.
10. New York Jets (7-10): Olu Fashanu OT Penn St.
The Jets signed LT Tyron Smith and traded for RT Morgan Moses but both of those guys are 33 years old and Smith hasn’t played a full season in a long time. They need depth and talent for the future and Fashanu is too good to pass up. Keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy is priority one in New York. While the Jets could also look at WR, it seems unlikely they plan to heavily use a rookie WR given Rodgers’ aversion to them. They feel like a team that will sign a veteran free agent WR sometime before training camp. They also still have Allen Lazard on the roster and while he was bad last year, he’s a Rodgers favorite so they may have more plans for him than we know.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (TRADE from Minnesota): Cooper DeJean CB Iowa
The first curveball moment in the draft comes here. DeJean has been the forgotten man after Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold seemed to secure the top two CB spots at the combine, then DeJean’s pro day happened. His relative athletic score was off the charts and while they may have needs on the offense, defensive back is a big need too. New defensive coordinator Jesse Minter studied in Baltimore and the Ravens defense likes defensive backs with versatility. DeJean is as versatile as they come. He can play any position in the defensive backfield, he can be an outside corner opposite Asante Samuel or play the nickel, or he can pair with Derwin James to be the best safety duo in the league. Harbaugh throws off everyone’s draft boards.
12. Denver Broncos (8-9): Brock Bowers TE Georgia
The Broncos need a QB but I don’t see them taking one here and they don’t have the draft capital to move up for one. This roster also just needs help. The offense has Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, and Marvin Mims Jr., you aren’t scaring anyone with that group unless Patrick Mahomes is your QB, and they don’t have a Mahomes. Bowers is an electric offensive weapon and Sean Payton has been known to figure out how to use those in his career. Bowers is also simply the best prospect on the board and the Broncos need good players. Whoever they end up with at QB would greatly appreciate having a guy with Bowers skills at his disposal.
13. Las Vegas Raiders (8-9): Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo
The Raiders need help at QB also but they are in a similar spot to the Broncos in the fact they just don’t have the means to move up without mortgaging their entire future. They stay put and take Mitchell who would seriously upgrade their secondary. They have Jakorian Bennett penciled in as the starter opposite Jack Jones at CB and it would look a lot better if Mitchell was your CB1 and Jones was your #2. They could go offensive line but CB is just as big of a need and Mitchell is the type of athlete the Raiders love. He may be coming from a small school but he’s ready to play right away and he’s got top level talent.
14. New Orleans Saints (9-8): Taliese Fuaga OT Oregon St.
The Saints are generally an organization that is hard to pin down when it comes to the draft. They shouldn’t be this year; they desperately need help on the offensive line. LT Trevor Penning was so bad last season he got benched. RT Ryan Ramczyk has a knee injury with a troubling prognosis. Fuaga should probably play RT or inside at guard but I wouldn’t rule him out at LT if it’s between him and Penning. They should probably re-sign Andrus Peat regardless of who they draft here but if they don’t, Fuaga could fill the LG spot. He gives them options and right now they need that on this offensive front. Derek Carr isn’t great with a good line in front of him, a bad line just compounds the problem.
15. Indianapolis Colts (9-8): Terrion Arnold CB Alabama
I go back and forth on the Colts needing a CB and maybe wanting a WR but if Arnold falls to this spot, I think it’s an easy choice. He’s a starting caliber CB on day one and gives them a guy with CB1 upside to play opposite JuJu Brents. Brents and Arnold would make a nice duo outside with Kenny Moore in the slot. Arnold has the versatility to play in the slot too which always helps. WR is a potential need but this draft is much deeper at that position than CB so they wait to find a new deep threat.
16. Buffalo Bills (TRADE from Seattle): Brian Thomas WR LSU
The Bills lost Gabe Davis in free agency and traded Stefon Diggs; they need WR help. Luckily for them, they have quite a bit of draft capital in this draft and they picked up capital next year with the Diggs trade. They have 10 draft picks in this draft and while they have taken some heavy losses at WR and in the secondary, 10 rookies aren’t making this roster. They need quality, not quantity. They use some picks to move up and get the fourth WR. There is a clear top three at WR but Thomas feels like he’s the second tier of WR all by himself. The Bills need a difference maker and Thomas would be an upgrade over what Gabe Davis gave them before. He has the size and speed to really open up the offense for Josh Allen and he’s a potential WR1.
17. Atlanta Falcons (TRADE from Jacksonville): Byron Murphy II DT Texas
The Falcons’ defense is in a transition to the Raheem Morris/Jimmy Lake scheme from what Ryan Nielsen was running last year and the front needs some juice. DTs Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata aren’t getting any younger as both are over 30. They need so much help at DT they are dusting off Eddie Goldman trying to find bodies. Murphy is an undersized DT with a great first step and the ability to collapse the pocket. Morris and Lake coached the Rams last year with Aaron Donald so they should know how best to use Murphy. They can hope his inside rush presence will make things easier on the edge guys.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8): Jared Verse DE Florida St.
The Bengals need some pass rush help opposite Trey Hendrickson and Myles Murphy didn’t do much last year after being their first pick. Verse has some burst off the edge but he also brings power to the position. He can finish the play in a couple of ways and has more skill than Murphy. Verse is a little older and farther along in his development and this team needs someone who can help right away. They want to compete; Verse would help this defense do that.
19. Los Angeles Rams (10-7): JC Latham OT Alabama
The Rams spent big money to keep RG Kevin Dotson and to sign LG Jonah Jackson in free agency. That moves Steve Avila to center and turns the interior of the Rams line into a power running group. They still have LT Alaric Jackson, who they like, but RT Rob Havenstein will be 32 this season and it’s the last year of guaranteed money on his contract. Latham would continue their trend of getting power players up front, he’s a massive road grader at RT. He could even play some guard this year if he doesn’t unseat Havenstein.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7): Jackson Powers-Johnson C Oregon
This pick just makes too much sense. This team has to block well up the middle or the offense just won’t run with either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields at QB. Powers-Johnson is a monster inside and his power game will work well in Arthur Smith’s offense where they will rely heavily on Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. He isn’t the most experienced player with only one year as a starting center but the guards are veteran guys who can help him develop.
21. Miami Dolphins (11-6): Troy Fautanu OL Washington
The starting guards on the Dolphins depth chart going into the draft are Isaiah Wynn and Robert Jones, that’s rough. Fautanu played tackle at Washington but his best fit is likely inside at guard. He would be an immediate starter for the Dolphins and he honed his pass protection skills playing in Washington’s high flying passing game so he would fit right in down in Miami. He also brings the added versatility that if Terron Armstead’s injury concerns persist, he’s a solid choice as a fill in at LT. Maybe not his ideal spot but he can handle himself if needed.
22. Kansas City Chiefs (TRADE from Philadelphia): Amarius Mims OT Georgia
The Chiefs see the run on offensive linemen start and decide they have to get ahead of the Chargers and Cowboys or they will miss out on the good OTs. They make Philly a strong offer to move up for an upgrade at LT. Mims is really inexperienced with only eight starts in college but the man is 6’8 340 lbs. and is an athletic freak. He played RT at Georgia but he has all the physical qualities of a LT. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl with Donovan Smith at LT last year, there is no way Mims growing pains will make him any worse than Smith was and Mims will only get better. If Mims hits, and under Andy Reid’s tutelage it’s not hard to imagine he would, he has All-Pro potential.
23. Los Angeles Chargers (TRADE from Minnesota): Tyler Guyton OT Oklahoma
Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz play this just right and end up with the most impactful DB for them, Cooper DeJean, and still get a starting RT. Guyton might not unseat Trey Pipkins immediately because he’s still a work in progress but he will eventually. Harbaugh won’t ask too much of Guyton early and they will develop him into a starting RT. Guyton is a little green but he has the size, skill, and athleticism to excel at RT.
24. Dallas Cowboys (12-5): Graham Barton OL Duke
Barton played LT at Duke for most of his career and it’s possible he could man that spot in a pinch but he’s probably moving inside. His best position is likely center where his lack of ideal length won’t hinder him. Just so happens that the Cowboys need a new center or someone to play either LG or LT depending on what they do with Tyler Smith. Either way, Barton starts somewhere and he’ll be good immediately. This team isn’t trying to build for the future, they need to win now.
25. Las Vegas Raiders (TRADE with Green Bay): Michael Penix Jr. QB Washington
With the top OTs, the top two centers, and the top three CBs (especially Cooper DeJean) off the board, it shouldn’t be hard to convince the Packers to trade out of this spot. I think the Raiders give up the 44th pick in this draft and a second rounder next year. The Raiders make the move up to get Penix to give them an upgrade over Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. They make the move to ensure Denver doesn’t do something like give up a first rounder next year to get into the back of the first round to steal Penix.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8): Laiatu Latu Edge UCLA
The run on offensive linemen pushes Latu down a bit in this mock draft. That’s good news for the Bucs as they need a legitimate pass rusher and Latu has serious skills. He’s not the most athletic pass rusher, that’s Dallas Turner, and he’s not the most powerful, that’s Jared Verse. What he is, is the absolute best technician we’ve seen in quite some time. Most college edge rushers have a move or two they rely heavily on and that’s how they win. Latu is the most complete edge rusher you will find when it comes to his arsenal of pass rush moves. His hand fighting is elite and he has moves, counter moves, and counters to his counter moves. He won’t wow you with his athleticism but he’ll put on a clinic when it comes to pass rush techniques.
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Nate Wiggins CB Clemson
This pick would be a bigger no-brainer than taking Marvin Harrison Jr. earlier. When your top CB is Sean Murphy-Bunting having Wiggins fall this far is a blessing. Wiggins is as skinny as they come, he’s 6’2 173 lbs., and that might scare some teams off but beggars can’t be choosers. Emmanuel Forbes was the skinny CB who got drafted last year by Washington and struggled but it’s unfair to compare Wiggins to Forbes. Wiggins’ game isn’t like Forbes’ game at all. Wiggins is willing to play a WR up close and he doesn’t back down. He will get overpowered in the run game but he covers like a blanket.
28. Seattle Seahawks (TRADE from Buffalo): Jer’Zhan Newton DT Illinois
The Seahawks trade down twelve spots and still get a guy they would have considered at 16 overall, smart move by GM John Schneider in his first draft without Pete Carroll. The Seahawks know they need reinforcements on the d-line. They signed Jonathan Hankins after re-signing Leonard Williams. The problem is Williams will be 30, Hankins is 32, and Jarran Reed is 31. They need some young talent and Newton is awesome. He’s only available because he had foot surgery and there may be some questions about his health. He’s a monster on the interior when healthy and he’s well worth the risk.
29. Detroit Lions (12-5): Kool-Aid McKinstry CB Alabama
The Lions traded for Carlton Davis III, signed Amik Robertson, and hope Emmanuel Moseley will be healthy this year, that’s not enough. If McKinstry is available he’s too good to pass up. He has a really high upside even if he didn’t quite live up to expectations this last season. McKinstry has a body of work at Alabama that shows he has top-level skills. With as bad as things got in the secondary last season for the Lions, they should err on the side of caution. They lost CJ Gardner-Johnson and had to cut Cam Sutton; more help is needed. McKinstry might not have the ceiling of a CB1 like people thought going into the season, but he’s still a really good CB.
30. Baltimore Ravens (13-4): Marshawn Kneeland Edge Western Michigan
There has been some buzz about Kneeland moving up into the first round and I think there’s a chance the Ravens take a chance on him. They need pass rush help. They re-signed Kyle Van Noy because they are still waiting for Odafe Oweh or David Ojabo to break out and Van Noy gave them some help last year on the edge. The problem is that he’s 34 and they may need him at ILB with Patrick Queen gone. Kneeland is a bet on potential. He shows flashes of great pass rush but he isn’t consistent. He has some power, knows how to use his hands, and has long arms but he’s still raw. I suppose if you have three raw pass rush prospects, one of them will hopefully hit.
31. Los Angeles Chargers (TRADE from San Francisco): Ladd McConkey WR Georgia
The Chargers traded down to get two first-round picks from Minnesota and now they take a little of their extra draft capital to move back up in to round one to get a third pick and get ahead of teams like Carolina and New England who want WRs. McConkey would be their replacement for Keenan Allen. Allen was a savant in the slot and ran routes with precision and accuracy that Justin Herbert loved. This guy can do the same thing. He’ll be exceptional at getting open and giving Herbert a target over the middle of the field.
32. Philadelphia Eagles (TRADE from Kansas City): Darius Robinson DL Missouri
The Eagles made the move down because they got a good deal from Kansas City but I could see them trying to make a move back up to get Jer’Zhan Newton, they have the picks to do it. But in this mock draft they don’t so they take Darius Robinson. Robinson is a big DE or a tall, long DT. They just lost Fletcher Cox to retirement meaning the DT rotation will heavily rely on Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. Davis isn’t a full-time player and Robinson gives them a versatile piece on the d-line. He can rotate inside and can also give them a big DE who can play on the edge against the run. They have some smaller edge guys like Bryce Huff and Nolan Smith so Robinson would be a good complement to those guys.
Round 2
33. Carolina Panthers: Adonai Mitchell WR Texas
The Panthers are trying to help Bryce Young succeed but they need better weapons. They have Jonathan Mingo, Diontae Johnson, and Adam Thielen, none of those guys are great deep threats. Mitchell has the ability to get down field and open up the underneath stuff for Johnson to thrive. Young probably doesn’t have the ideal arm to take total advantage of Mitchell but he adds a dimension the offense doesn’t have right now.
34. New England Patriots: Keon Coleman WR Florida St.
I’m trying to manifest this pick if the Patriots don’t make a deal for Tee Higgins or Brandon Aiyuk during the draft. I like Coleman’s upside as a potential #1 WR and one way or another, the Patriots need one of those.
35. Arizona Cardinals: Chop Robinson Edge Penn St.
The more you watch Chop Robinson the more convinced you become that he shouldn’t be a first-round pick. He might still make it but he’s just a designated pass rusher and he’s no great at that. The Cardinals need defensive help and Robinson is the kind of prospect that if he hits, he’s really useful, if not, he’s off the team in three years.
36. Washington Commanders: Kingsley Suamataia LT BYU
If the Commanders go into the season with Cornelius Lucas at LT, it won’t matter what QB they take second. Suamataia isn’t a finished product by any means but he has the talent to be a starting LT in the NFL.
37. San Francisco 49ers (TRADE from LA Chargers): TJ Tampa CB Iowa St.
Charvarius Ward is a good outside CB and Deommodore Lenoir is good in the slot and passable outside. If they can find an outside CB better than Ambry Thomas, they should. Tampa is a better CB than Thomas and he’s really tough, something that defense will like.
38. Tennessee Titans: Bralen Trice DE Washington
The Titans need pass rush help and while Trice isn’t the quickest edge rusher he has legitimate pass rush skill. He also has enough size to play on the end of the Titans three-man front and not be completely overwhelmed.
39. Carolina Panthers: Ja’Tavion Sanders TE Texas
Sanders is never going to be Travis Kelce; he’s probably not going to approach being Greg Olsen but he’s got a higher ceiling than Tommy Tremble. Sanders has the ability to be a good middle of the field target, assuming Bryce Young looks that way.
40. Washington Commanders: Jordan Morgan OL Arizona
If the Commanders draft two offensive linemen with their second round picks it will be among the smartest moves the team has ever made. Morgan would upgrade the right side of the line at either RG or RT.
41. Green Bay Packers: Kiran Amegadjie OT Yale
The Packers have Zach Tom at RT but word is they want to move him inside to center to replace Josh Myers, that means they need a new RT. Assuming Rasheed Wallace is still the LT Amegadjie can play on the right side. Amegadjie might end up at LT because of his long arms but for now he starts at RT.
42. Houston Texans: Zach Frazier C West Virginia
The Texans have made a lot of moves to surround CJ Stroud with a good team ready to compete. They signed a lot of veterans to improve their defense. On offense they went big with trades for both RB Joe Mixon and WR Stefon Diggs. The Diggs trade gives them one final piece to go with Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Dalton Schultz, and Diggs is a heck of a piece. I don’t think he’s who he was two or three years ago, but he’s a great second WR to Collins. Last year they had a number of injuries up front and yet Bobby Slowik made the offense work. One of those injured guys was Juice Scruggs, their second round pick last year. Scruggs was supposed to be their center last year before he got hurt, instead he played some guard when he was healthy. Frazier would be a potential upgrade at center and at the very least he gives them interior depth with Shaq Mason on the wrong side of 30.
43. Atlanta Falcons: Adisa Isaac Edge Penn St.
Isaac isn’t the athlete Chop Robinson is but he might end up the better player. The Falcons need help rushing the passer and Isaac can give them some help there. He’s versatile enough to allow them to use multiple fronts and if he and Byron Murphy II can improve the pass rush enough, the holes in the secondary won’t seem so pronounced.
44. Green Bay Packers (TRADE from Las Vegas): Tyler Nubin S Minnesota
The Packers get this pick from the Raiders for the trade up in round one and they grab a safety to pair with Xavier McKinney. McKinney is a good pickup but he doesn’t solve the whole safety problem, he and Nubin just might.
45. New Orleans Saints: Cooper Beebe OG Kansas St.
The Saints may have just drafted an entirely new left side of the offensive line with Fuaga in round one and Beebe here. That wouldn’t be a bad idea. Beebe has versatility as he’s played both tackle spots and both guard spots and he has practiced at center just in case. If everything goes wrong at RT, he could fill in there in a pinch. Fuaga and Beebe together on the left side would be a nice combo.
46. Indianapolis Colts: Xavier Leggette WR South Carolina
I nearly put Xavier Worthy here as the deep threat the Colts need to help open up the middle for Michael Pittman to work, then I remembered Chris Ballard is their GM and he would never take a guy that small. Here’s Leggette instead. He’s only 6’1 but he’s 223 lbs. of pure athleticism who also has legit deep speed. Sorry Alec Pierce, you’ve been replaced.
47. New York Giants: Ennis Rakestraw CB Missouri
The Giants have a need for a CB opposite Deonte Banks. Banks had a nice rookie year but he has little help on the other side. I’m not a huge fan of Rakestraw considering his lack of production and his lack of size but he’s not a bad pick here. If he goes round one, that’s a bad pick.
48. Atlanta Falcons (TRADE from Jacksonville): Patrick Paul OT Houston
Jake Matthews is 32 and somehow Kaleb McGary is already 29 and both guys don’t have any guaranteed money on their deals after this season. McGary hasn’t been the picture of health and using this extra second round pick from Jacksonville to get a potential future starting OT is a smart move.
49. Cincinnati Bengals: T’Vondre Sweat DT Texas
Sweat falls a bit because he had a drunk driving arrest just a few weeks before the draft. The Bengals have never shied away from guys with some questionable personal issues before. They need to replace DJ Reader at DT and Sweat is the perfect replacement on the field. Hopefully for him and the team that drafts him the DUI was a one-time stupid mistake and he learned his lesson.
50. Philadelphia Eagles: Andru Phillips CB Kentucky
Phillips is a little on the small side at 5’11 190 lbs. but he doesn’t play like it. He’s tough, physical, and not afraid to mix it up. The Eagles need some help at CB and Phillips has the type of toughness their defense needs.
51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Xavier Worthy WR Texas
I’m sticking with this pick from my last mock draft. Worthy is a deep speed guy who is the polar opposite body type of George Pickens. Worthy is short and light but he will go long, all day long, if you want. This offense needs WRs.
52. Los Angeles Rams: Jaden Hicks S Washington St
The Rams have overhauled their secondary with veterans Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White at CB and Kamren Curl at safety. It was a needed an overhaul and Hicks completes it when he pairs with Curl at safety.
53. Philadelphia Eagles: Malachi Corley WR Western Kentucky
Corley is a big, physical WR who is known for his run-after-the-catch ability. The Eagles may run into issues with AJ Brown’s contract and getting a guy like Corley would be a nice hedge against losing Brown over a contract dispute.
54. Cleveland Browns: Junior Colson LB Michigan
They signed Jordan Hicks to be their new MLB but he’s going to be 33 this season and he’s not a long-term solution. They also signed Devin Bush because they needed help at LB and he’s just a guy. Colson isn’t a flashy player but he’s tough, steady, and he’s a starting caliber player on day one.
55. Miami Dolphins: Bo Nix QB Oregon
There are some questions about Tua Tagovailoa’s future in Miami if the Dolphins don’t want to pay top dollar for him. Nix is a highly accurate QB over the middle with a quick trigger and Mike McDaniel might be able to make him work in his offense.
56. Dallas Cowboys: Roman Wilson WR Michigan
The Cowboys have to get some offensive weapons besides CeeDee Lamb. They need help at WR and RB and Roman Wilson is better value than any RB in the draft. Wilson becomes the third receiver behind Lamb and Brandin Cooks and pairs quite nicely as he can play inside or outside.
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Sanristil CB Michigan
The Buccaneers plan to play Zyon McCollum as Carlton Davis III’s replacement meaning they need a third CB. Sanristil is undersized at 5’9 but he’s highly athletic and he’s a superstar nickel back. He has amazing field awareness and despite his size, he’s a tough as can be.
58. Green Bay Packers: Edgerrin Cooper LB Texas A&M
The Packers depth chart looks pretty solid overall. They are planning on Isaiah McDuffie to take over one LB spot opposite Quay Walker and they usually play five DBs. Cooper is a really talented prospect who needs some development but he’s a steal here. He can team with McDuffie as they should complement each other.
59. Houston Texans: Kamari Lassiter DB Georgia
Lassiter is a tough prospect because he’s undersized at 5’10 180 lbs. and he ran slow at the combine, 4.61 in the 40. That’s a bad combination. There’s just one thing, he’s a good football player. I don’t think he sticks at CB but he could be a safety prospect for some teams and play a little in the slot. The Texans have Jimmy Ward and he’s getting older and Lassiter would fit in with the Texans strategy of getting good football players.
60. Seattle Seahawks (TRADE from Buffalo): Ja’Lynn Polk WR Washington
The Seahawks picked up this pick from Buffalo after trading in round one. Tyler Lockett has no guaranteed money past this season and he’ll be 32 this year, good time to find his replacement. Polk isn’t as big as DK Metcalf but he’s actually a better contested catch guy than Metcalf has proven to be. Metcalf can be the deep threat, Jaxson Smith-Njigba is the slot guy, Polk can be the other outside guy.
61. Detroit Lions: Troy Franklin WR Oregon
This is the Josh Reynolds upgrade. Franklin is a good after-the-catch guy and he’s a big play waiting to happen. He would work well with Amon-Ra St. Brown in the slot and Jameson Williams as the deep threat opposite him. Franklin doesn’t get the credit he deserves for just being a playmaker with ball in his hands.
62. Baltimore Ravens: Ricky Pearsall WR Florida
The Ravens need offensive line help but this isn’t an organization that reaches and the linemen left here are not as good as Pearsall will be at WR. He’s a guy who just understands how to get open and he’s a good athlete too.
63. San Franscisco 49ers: Blake Fisher OT Notre Dame
This is a Kyle Shanahan special. Fisher shouldn’t go this high but he’s a long, lean athletic mover at OT and he’ll do exactly what Shanahan likes. He could replace Colton McKivitz at RT and kick McKivitz inside. If it doesn’t happen this year, it would happen eventually.
64. Philadelphia Eagles (TRADE from Kansas City): Dominick Puni OG Kansas
Puni was a Division II player who transferred up to Kansas and looked like he belonged. He can play guard or tackle and the Eagles could use some depth at both. He needs to get stronger but his pass blocking is solid and he has length. He’s an alternative to Tyler Steen at RG this season and maybe an option at RT when Lane Johnson retires, he’ll be 34 this year.
The Hott Read 