Well, you can’t say that wasn’t interesting. Six QBs in the top 12, a stunning pick at eight overall, and 14 straight offensive players to start the draft. After my five mock draft and the billions of other mocks people did across the internet, we all got the top four right, we should have known the fifth pick, and then at eight, it got weird. Let’s take a look.
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams QB USC
The Bears just drafted the best QB in franchise history (I know, I said the same thing about Justin Fields three years ago, it was true then too). The difference is Williams is about to lead the best Bears offense ever because he has help and his coordinator is an actual coordinator and not Luke Getsy.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels QB LSU
The Heisman trophy winner becomes the face of the franchise for the new and improved Washington team. He’s going to be running for his life if they don’t draft some lineman but he won’t be boring. Thank you, Adam Peters, for this next pick.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye QB North Carolina
I was so bummed when the Patriots ended up with the third pick because I thought they had blown their chance at getting Maye, instead they get the steal of the draft. He’s everything Mac Jones wasn’t. He’s a leader, he has all the physical tools to be a star, and I can’t wait to watch him. Now, go get him some help.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio St.
Monti Ossenfort didn’t get cute and he got a superstar. Harrison is going to be awesome. He walks in on day one as WR1 and he’ll catch 100 passes this year.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt OT Notre Dame
How did we all miss this one? We knew Jim Harbaugh wanted to build in the trenches and we knew it would be really expensive for team to trade up. So, Harbaugh stays here and picks the best offensive tackle in the draft. It made so much sense, no one saw it coming.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers WR LSU
I had the Giants picking Odunze so I had the right position but my Odunze love colored my judgement. They went with the guy so many people had as the second best WR and it makes sense. Now, if they only had a QB who could throw it to him.
7. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham OT Alabama
Latham was always hard to project because he’s a specific type of mauler who only played RT. Turns out he ends up going to a team with one of the best offensive line coaching in the game, Bill Callahan, who loves those guys. I’m a little skeptical that Latham can play LT but Callahan turned Jedrick Wills Jr. into a solid LT in Cleveland, if he can do that, I’m not counting out Latham.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr. QB Washington
The stupidest pick in draft history? Possibly. This one shocked everyone but Falcons GM Terry Fontenot. He just spent $100 million guaranteed to sign Kirk Cousins and then he takes a QB with the eighth pick, WTF? This isn’t even a developmental player who needs to sit for a couple of years, Penix is about to turn 24. I’m fairly certain the Falcons, who plan to try to win right now, could have used a difference maker here at #8 overall. I’m not a Penix fan anyway but this is incredibly bad team building. Your defense needed help and every defensive player is still on the board and there are at least 12 defenders who would have an immediate impact on the defense.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze WR Washington
Yeah, about that “best Bears offense ever” I mentioned earlier. Here’s the guy to put it over the top. He’s the perfect fit in an offense with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, and D’Andre Swift. He’s the big, physical downfield receiver who will dominate in the red zone and he’s always available whenever Caleb wants to scramble around and make a play.
10. Minnesota Vikings: JJ McCarthy QB Michigan
The Vikings didn’t have to make a major move up (they flipped spots with the Jets) to get their QB. McCarthy is the more athletic version of Brock Purdy and in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, that will be perfect. He’s set up to succeed with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and a solid offensive line.
11. New York Jets: Olu Fashanu OT Penn St.
The Jets did the smart thing after signing two 33-year-old OTs in free agency, they drafted a great OT prospect. Fashanu is going to be excellent and he isn’t even going to be thrown into the starting lineup until Tyron Smith gets hurt, so around week 5 probably.
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix QB Oregon
Can you smell that? That’s desperation. Sean Payton traded for Zack Wilson last week and now he drafts Bo Nix at 12, he’s grasping at straws. I don’t think either of those guys beats out Jarrett Stidham in a fair fight but now that Nix was taken 12th overall, I think the fight is fixed. Payton hopes Nix is his new Brees, the problem is Nix is Drew Brees his last two years when he wasn’t very good.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers TE Georgia
I get going best player available and Bowers’ skillset fits in nicely with Devante Adams and Jokobi Meyers at WR and Michael Mayer as the traditional TE. However, the QBs are Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell and you probably need two starters on the offensive line. Bowers may languish in an offense that doesn’t have the ability to use his gifts.
14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga OT Oregon St.
He’s a day one starter, I’m just not sure if it’s at LT, RT, or LG. Either way, he’s a quality starting offensive lineman and they should probably draft more of these in this draft. Fuaga will be good, he may never be a perennial Pro Bowler but he’s solid.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu DE UCLA
The first defender off the board is Latu. He’s a great technical pass rusher who probably tops out as a 10-12 sack guy but he’ll get those 10-12 sacks every year for the next 8-10 years if stays healthy. I’m a little shocked they didn’t take a CB with the massive need they have there and every defender still on the board.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Muphy II DT Texas
I can’t say I’m surprised because Murphy fits what Mike Macdonald, the new head coach likes to do. Macdonald had Justin Madubuike in Baltimore last year and he was awesome, Murphy can be that guy. This makes Seattle’s defense much better up front.
17. Minnesota Vikings: Dallas Turner Edge Alabama
The Vikings move up again, this time six spots, and take a guy who shouldn’t still be available and is a perfect fit in Brian Flores’ defense. Flores comes from the Belichick school of defense where he likes defenders who can do multiple things. Turner is a really good pass rusher who can also drop in coverage and hold his own. He gives Flores the ability to disguise any and all looks and that should scare people.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims OT Georgia
The Bengals continue a trend of drafting guys a year before they will likely need them. Trent Brown is on a one-year deal at RT and Mims needs some time to develop. He will likely have to play 8-9 games this year when Trent Brown gets hurt because that’s inevitable, but he should be good by then. Also, the Bengals’ OTs are Olando Brown Jr. who is 6’8 345 lbs., Trent Brown who is 6’8 355 lbs., and Mims who is 6’8 340 lbs., that’s insane. This was literally the only place Mims could go where he’d be the little guy at OT.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse DE Florida St.
The Rams needed help on their defense and Verse is a guy who steps in immediately and gives them actual help. He’s a pocket pusher as a rusher and he’s very good against the run. Verse makes this defense better.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu OL Washington
Fautanu is a good player and it will be interesting to see where they play him. Most teams had him rated as a guard but that’s the one place the Steelers are good on the line. He can play LT but he doesn’t have prototypical length for it. The question that brings up is whether he is a better option at OT than Dan Moore Jr. They also have Broderick Jones at RT and could move him to LT. The other thought is could he move to center, another spot where the Steelers need help.
21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson Edge Penn St.
Famous quote from Brad Pitt in Moneyball “if he’s a good hitter, why doesn’t he hit good,” that’s what I think of when I watch Robinson. If he’s such a good pass rusher, why did he only have four sacks last year at Penn St. He has a electric first step, but it takes more than one step to get the QB. I’ve never seen an edge rusher take one step and sack a QB on his second step. It doesn’t get easier to rush the passer in the NFL, I’ve seen too many of these guys fail to believe he’ll be any different.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo
This is a frickin steal for the Eagles. Mitchell is the best CB in this draft and they just got him at 22. James Bradberry’s days are numbered in Philly. Mitchell comes in and he can start immediately opposite Darius Slay and he eventually replaces Slay as CB1.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr. WR LSU
I have to admit, well played by Trent Baalke. He traded down six spots and got a potential #1 WR in Thomas. Thomas needs a little time to hone his skills but I like him better than every WR they have, especially Gabe Davis.
24. Detroit Lions: Terrion Arnold CB Alabama
This is another ridiculous steal. Arnold is the perfect Detroit CB. He is an absolute dawg and Dan Campbell is going to love this guy. He can play inside or outside and he’ll work perfectly in Aaron Glenn’s defense. This could not have fallen better for a team desperate for a starting CB. The NFC North is going to be a dog fight.
25. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan OT Arizona
A lot of scouts have Morgan pegged as a guard but I think they will give him a shot to win the RT job so they can move Zach Tom inside to center. If not, Morgan replaces Jon Runyan Jr. at OG and he’ll be very good. This was the first place where I wondered about Cooper DeJean not going in round one because he would have been an excellent fit in Green Bay and the Packers tend to love Hawkeyes.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton OL Duke
Robert Hainsey was okay at center last year but I think Barton takes the job and kicks Hainsey out to LG which might be a better spot for him anyway. If they team wants to keep Hainsey at center because he has some experience than Barton plays LG and he and Tristan Wirfs form a Pro Bowl left side in Tampa for the next half decade.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Darius Robinson DL Missouri
Arizona’s defensive line is made up of a bunch of guys nobody else wanted so this isn’t surprising. I am a little surprised they didn’t grab DeJean because they need CB help just as much as they need d-line help and I think DeJean is a better player.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy WR Texas
The Chiefs traded up to make a pick I hate. Did the Chiefs forget they already signed Marquise Brown? Brown is 5’9 170 lbs. and only known for his speed. Worthy is 5’11 165 lbs. and is only known for his 4.21 forty at the combine. I understand the thought that Patrick Mahomes can make any WR better but that didn’t work for Mecole Hardman and to me I’m not sure Worthy is more than just a skinny, faster version of Hardman. They needed a guy with some size to give them a complement to Brown’s speed. This feels like the WR version of the Clyde Edwards-Helaire pick after their first Super Bowl, the just went for the shiny object.
29. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton OT Oklahoma
The Cowboys move down and still get the OT they need. Guyton is pretty raw but he has skill and beggars can’t be choosers. It will be interesting how they bring him along. They can throw him out there immediately and let him take his lumps or let Tyler Smith start at LT and give Guyton some time.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins CB Clemson
I don’t like to question Baltimore’s first round picks; they are historically very good at these things. However, they lost three starting offensive linemen in the off season and LT Ronnie Stanley hasn’t been the picture of health. Lamar Jackson is going to be running for his life if the start Daniel Faalele at RT and Ben Cleveland at RG. They know what they’re doing when they draft DBs but o-line is such a glaring need.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall WR Florida
Clearly, they are planning or life after either Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk. Kyle Shanahan knows what he needs to keep his offense humming and Pearsall feels like a good fit. There are WRs I like better but this pick is understandable.
32. Carolina Panthers: Xavier Leggett WR South Carolina
The Panthers got antsy and moved up one spot so they could get the WR they like in Leggett. I’m not sure how Leggett is much different than Jonathan Mingo, who they drafted in the second-round last year but they must see something. I’m not Leggett’s biggest fan, he was a fifth-year senior breakout player who hadn’t done much of anything for four years. There are a number of WRs I like a lot better and I certainly didn’t see the need to move up into round one to get Leggett when you had the next pick.
Second Round thoughts
I’m stunned Cooper DeJean didn’t get picked in round one and not just because I’m a Hawkeye fan. I think the thing that conspired against him was no defensive players off the board in the first 14 picks and then no CBs until pick 22. Teams over drafted two QBs and four edge rushers went before any of the top CBs. It’s a tough beat for DeJean considering he could have returned to Iowa to be a part of their elite defense again. The good news is the first five teams that pick in round two could all use a CB so I hope his wait isn’t too long.
Other guys who I thought were first round guys were C Jackson Powers-Johnson and DT Jer’Zhan Newton but their falls are a little more understandable. Powers-Johnson only has one year of experience at center. Newton is coming off foot surgery that certainly could have given some teams some pause. Kool-Aid McKinstry is also a little surprising but he hasn’t been as highly rated as he once was and the CB position fall hurt him too.
At WR, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like Ladd McConkey, Keon Coleman, Adonai Mitchell, Troy Franklin and even Ja’Lynn Polk more than Worthy, Pearsall, and Leggett but WR is a position where teams take guys they think fit their scheme and style the best. I may disagree with them but at this point WR is a crapshoot.
There are still some offensive linemen on the board I like. OT Kinsley Suamataia, C Jackson Powers-Johnson, C Zach Frazier could all be day one starters on the right team. At CB you have DeJean, McKinstry, and TJ Tampa who all look like starters to me. Throw in Newton all the WRs I just listed and you can understand why Day 2 of the NFL draft is my favorite.
The Hott Read 