The NFL off-season is in the thick of it, but the draft process is at the home stretch! We are now past NFL Free Agency where the biggest names are signed, the NFL Combine, and the University Pro-Days. Evaluations of players and team rosters leading up to 4/27 is rounding third and headed home (go Buccos). The blockbuster between the Bears and Panthers gave us a nice opportunity to gain clarity to how draft night 1 will begin. We all knew the best move for the Bears was to trade out of 1. In turn, they were able to address the WR position and acquire additional draft compensation to build this roster around Justin Fields.
With the biggest question obviously being who is officially going number 1 overall (as we know it’s a QB), the next thing is will the Texans follow up and also take a QB. Taking a QB essentially starts the clock of when they are ready to compete as teams want to aim to have a solid team around a rookie QB salary. If that QB turns out to be that dude, then the extension changes roster construction. If I am them, I trade back and acquire as many picks as possible. If they do not trade back, then that will make next Thursday VERY interesting.
| 1. Carolina Panthers | QB CJ Stroud |
| 2. Houston Texans | QB Bryce Young |
| 3. Arizona Cardinals | EDGE Will Anderson |
| 4. Indianapolis Colts | QB Anthony Richardson |
| 5. Seattle Seahawks | DT Jalen Carter |
| 6. Detroit Lions | CB Christian Gonzalez |
| 7. Las Vegas Raiders | QB Will Levis |
| 8. Atlanta Falcons | EDGE Tyree Wilson |
| 9. Chicago Bears | OT Paris Johnson |
| 10. Philadelphia Eagles | RB Bijan Robinson |
| 11. Tennessee Titans | EDGE Myles Murphy |
| 12. Houston Texans | WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba |
| 13. New York Jets | OT Broderick Jones |
| 14. New England Patriots | CB Devon Witherspoon |
| 15. Green Bay Packers | TE Michael Mayer |
| 16. Washington Commanders | CB Joey Porter Jr. |
| 17. Pittsburgh Steelers | OT Darnell Wright |
| 18. Detroit Lions | EDGE Lukas Van Ness |
| 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | OT Peter Skoronski |
| 20. Seattle Seahawks | EDGE Nolan Smith |
| 21. Los Angeles Chargers | DT Calijah Kancey |
| 22. Baltimore Ravens | DT Brian Breese |
| 23. Minnesota Vikings | CB Deonte Banks |
| 24. Jacksonville Jaguars | OT Dawand Jones |
| 25. New York Giants | EDGE Keion White |
| 26. Dallas Cowboys | WR Jalin Hyatt |
| 27. Buffalo Bills | WR Zay Flowers |
| 28. Cincinnati Bengals | CB Kelee Ringo |
| 29. New Orleans Saints | DT Mazi Smith |
| 30. Philadelphia Eagles | EDGE Will McDonald IV |
| 31. Kansas City Chiefs | RB Jahmyr Gibbs |
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