You guys know what time it is. It’s another week which means it’s time for yet another mock draft. While I may have only posted three of these to the blog, I am constantly in the lab (my room) cooking up mock drafts for y’all to enjoy.
Let’s roll through with some quick things before we get into the mock;
1.) Aaron Donald officially retired. Hell yeah king! Enjoy the good life, you earned it.
2.) The Steelers got both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields…let that sink in people.
3.) The Minnesota Vikings acquired the 23rd pick in the draft from the Texans.
I believe that is all the big news that I can think of, but I’m sure I left out a couple of things that some people might find interesting. Same thing as last time. Explanations for the first round, but only names in the second round. Enough of that junk though, let’s get on with my mock.
Pick 1 – Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams (QB/USC)
With Justin Fields officially being traded to the Steelers (Hail Omar Khan), the Bears are now free to draft their quarterback of the future. It will go without saying that this pick will be USC’s Caleb Williams. They are fully immersing him in talent though as they picked up Keenan Allen to be one of his running mates in the wide receiver department. Can’t say they did that for Justin…
Pick 2 – Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels (QB/LSU)
Rumors are spreading like wildfire that the Commanders want to move up to the first pick in the draft to take Caleb Williams. I just don’t see the need to considering they are able to grab the next best option in the former Heisman trophy winner Jayden Daniels without having to give up a lot of draft capital. Just seems silly to me. Take Daniels.
Pick 3 – New England Patriots
Drake Maye (QB/UNC)
If I had to bet my life on it, I would swear that the Patriots would be the ones to trade down with the Vikings for draft capital. Since we aren’t doing trades though, they still will thrive as they take the next best quarterback on the board in UNC’s Drake Maye. His falling shouldn’t reflect his ability as most of these takes are just narratives to try to stir the draft pot.
Pick 4 – Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR/Ohio State)
For some reason, people have the Cardinals as a candidate to trade down with teams. Like don’t be dumb here. Your best wideouts are Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson. Grab the best receiver in the class with Marvin Harrison, and don’t think twice about it.
Pick 5 – Los Angeles Chargers
Malik Nabers (WR/LSU)
The Chargers had one of the best wide receiver rooms in the NFL. What happened here? Cap space and dumb contracts. They traded Keenan Allen to the Bears, cut Mike Williams (who became a Jet), and restructured both Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. The Chargers now desperately need a true wide receiver. Grab Malik Nabers so we don’t have to see Quentin Johnston try and catch as the number one.
Pick 6 – New York Giants
Rome Odunze (WR/Washington)
The Giants have been linked to taking J.J. McCarthy here, but I just don’t see it. The massive Daniel Jones contract still plays a part for this pick even if they do want to move on from after this season. However, then they went and signed Drew Lock, These aren’t long-term answers here, but the smarter thing would be to grab the receiver of the future in Washington’s Rome Odunze.
Pick 7 – Tennessee Titans
Joe Alt (OT/Notre Dame)
If Rome was here, we might have thought about taking him a while ago, but they signed Calvin Ridley to a massive deal to accompany DeAndre Hopkins. This makes the pick so much easier as the Titans struggled to protect Will Levis against opposing defenses. They’ll select Notre Dame’s Joe Alt who I believe is the best offensive tackle in the class.
Pick 8 – Atlanta Falcons
Dallas Turner (EDGE/Alabama)
Atlanta has plenty of weapons. Stop saying they’ll draft a weapon. I’m gonna be sick if I hear it one more time. They will be the first team to draft a defensive player. In my mind, there are two options; edge rusher or corner. While having Mitchell or Arnold alongside Terrell sounds like heaven, this team can’t rush the quarterback. If they were smart, they’d take Dallas Turner here.
Pick 9 – Chicago Bears
Jared Verse (EDGE/Florida State)
I can see the Bears wanting to trade down here to collect more draft capital, but yet again we can’t trade in these mocks. The Bears should take the next best edge rusher in this class to put next to Montez Sweat. It could be either Verse or Latu, but with the injury concerns with Latu I would go Jared Verse here.
Pick 10 – New York Jets
Brock Bowers (TE/Georgia)
The Jets have shown me from their moves in this free agency period that they seem to be all in this year. They signed veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses to protect Aaron Rodgers. They signed Mike Williams to be their number two wideout with Garrett Wilson. They should take the best weapon available for Rodgers. That would be the Georgia tight end; Brock Bowers.
Pick 11 – Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy (QB/Michigan)
The Vikings plan to go quarterback in this draft. The question is will it be Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy. I can see them going either way. Since the top three quarterbacks in this draft have been taken, the logical choice then is to go Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. I don’t think he should be taken this high in the draft, but the Vikings are desperate.
Pick 12 – Denver Broncos
Bo Nix (QB/Oregon)
If I were the Broncos, I would definitely trade back and collect some draft picks. They could still take Bo Nix later in this draft, but with no trades and no second round pick, I don’t expect Sean Peyton to wait around to select his quarterback. It’s so early, but Bo Nix will be the pick here.
Pick 13 – Las Vegas Raiders
Taliese Fuaga (OT/Oregon State)
I’m back on the Fuaga train for this pick. To me, Antonio Pierce wants to bring his style of smash-mouth run first offense back to the NFL. You let Josh Jacob’s walk, but you still have a future star in Zamir White. You have to give open the run lanes for this to happen though which means you have to replace the right tackle spot. This line would benefit dearly from a Miller and Fuaga combo.
Pick 14 – New Orleans Saints
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (OT/Penn State)
Edge rusher would have been something to consider here, but then the Saints signed Chase Young. I would stick with a tackle here and worry about some more edge depth in the next round. Ryan Ramczyk is set to come back so you have to draft a left tackle to get ride of Trevor Penning. Olumuyiwa Fashanu is the best available for the selection.
Pick 15 – Indianapolis Colts
Terrion Arnold (CB/Alabama)
The first corner finally comes off the board with Alabama’s Terrion Arnold. This pick could change depending on if the Colts truly trade for La’Jarius Sneed from the Chiefs, but for now you have to help out that secondary as Kenny Moore is still your best corner on the roster.
Pick 16 – Seattle Seahawks
Troy Fautanu (IOL/Washington)
The Seattle offensive line needs some work (particularly the interior). While it is true that Fautanu has the measurements to be a true tackle, it might be smart to move him inside next to Charles Cross on the left side. Some extra protection could never hurt.
Pick 17 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Quinyon Mitchell (CB/Toldeo)
The Jags could use receiver or corner with this pick. In my mind, the corner position needs addressed first. Even though they signed Ronald Darby, he’s purely a journey man at this point. Go grab the freakish athlete that dominated the Senior Bowl and the Combine; Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell.
Pick 18 – Cincinnati Bengals
Brian Thomas Jr. (WR/LSU)
Tee Higgins wants out of Cincinnati. I believe that he will be dealt during the draft, but the question is to what team? You want a true LSU squad, then go grab Brian Thomas Jr to serve as Joe Burrow’s number two in this offense.
Pick 19 – Los Angeles Rams
Byron Murphy II (DT/Texas)
This pick is a no-brainer. Aaron Donald retired. Now go and try to get the same level of talent out of that position. Byron Murphy II has a fast and freaky way he punishes offensive tackles and quarterbacks. He’d be perfect for the Rams.
Pick 20 – Pittsburgh Steelers
JC Latham (OT/Alabama)
If you are Pittsburgh, there are two pieces of that offensive line that need improvement; center and right tackle. I would personally go tackle here and look to grab a center later in the draft. I’ve mocked Mims here plenty of times, but I’ll switch it up here since Latham is always gone by now and select him.
Pick 21 – Miami Dolphins
Graham Barton (IOL/Duke)
While the appeal of JPJ feels real here, I personally feel like the Dolphins should go with Duke’s Graham Barton. He can play tackle, guard, or center. He has variety while I believe JPJ is a pure center. The Dolphins need help everywhere on their line so Barton would be the pick.
Pick 22 – Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper DeJean (CB/Iowa)
The Eagles could still use some secondary help even with them bringing back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. Bradberry and Slay are older than dirt and their success is starting to decline. So whether he decides to play safety and be a pure corner, DeJean would be perfect for the Eagles.
Pick 23 – Minnesota Vikings
Laiatu Latu (EDGE/UCLA)
The Vikings are back on the clock, and they should now be turning their heads to the defense. It is a case of best player available, and in my mind that is the edge rusher Laiatu Latu. He has some injury history, but if the medicals are good then this pick would be a slam dunk.
Pick 24 – Dallas Cowboys
Jackson Powers-Johnson (IOL/Oregon)
The Cowboys could not have lucked out any better as they land their center of the future in JPJ. It works out since they lost their center to the Washington Commanders. There are a lot of needs, but if there is one thing Dallas seems to do best is draft offensive linemen.
Pick 25 – Green Bay Packers
Amarius Mims (OT/Georgia)
Green Bay lost their franchise tackle in David Bakhtiari. You need to start thinking about the future of the offensive line. What better way to do that than to take an offensive lineman freak like Georgia’s Amarius Mims. He has only played eight games, but am confident with the right coaching can play either left or right tackle.
Pick 26 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nate Wiggins (CB/Clemson)
With the loss of Carlton Davis to the Lions, the Buccaneers need to address the for corner. Wiggins is an incredible athlete. Everyone was worried about the size, but it looks like he’s put on some weight to address those issues. He’ll be perfect for Tampa Bay.
Pick 27 – Arizona Cardinals
Jer’Zhan Newton (DT/Illinois)
The Cardinals are back on the clock here, and they grabbed Marvin Harrison Jr with their first pick. Now they’ll address the defense here and take the promising defensive tackle out of Illinois. He had some injury concerns, but he’ll look to improve this defensive line for the future.
Pick 28 – Buffalo Bills
Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB/Alabama)
The Bills defense got turned upside down in free agency letting go of both their safeties and all star corner TreDavious White. They’ll look to add a piece of that Alabama secondary to help them out with Kool-Aid McKinstry. He’ll need some time with the injury, but he will be one hell of a talent when he’s healthy.
Pick 29 – Detroit Lions
Adonai Mitchell (WR/Texas)
The Lions made some major moves in free agency. They needed help in the secondary, they got Carlton Davis. They needed some help on the defensive line, they got D.J. Reeder. They could go edge here, but they need that outside receiver. Adonai Mitchell would be a perfect addition to this offense.
Pick 30 – Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Guyton (OT/Oklahoma)
The Ravens need some serious help on the offensive line. They lost both Kevin Zeitler and Morgan Morses in free agency. You need to take the next best offensive tackle. That would be Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton. He’s a bit raw, but he should do great for the Ravens here.
Pick 31 – San Francisco 49ers
Chop Robinson (EDGE/Penn State)
The Niners lost Chase Young to the Saints and a number of defensive tackles in free agency. You have to go defense here. I would personally go with edge rusher here, and the best one on the board is Penn State’s Chop Robinson. He’s a hell of an athlete and a hell of a pick for the 49ers.
Pick 32 – Kansas City Chiefs
Ladd McConkey (WR/Georgia)
This has been a different receiver every time, but I firmly believe that Ladd McConkey will be on the radars of the Chiefs this time. You put him, Rashee Rice, and Travis Kelce together and you have a really decent receiver group. He’s got the route running ability to succeed in a great system.
Pick 33 – Carolina Panthers
Troy Franklin (WR/Oregon)
Pick 34 – New England Patriots
Keon Coleman (WR/Florida State)
Pick 35 – Arizona Cardinals
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (CB/Missouri)
Pick 36 – Washington Commanders
Kingsley Suamataia (OT/BYU)
Pick 37 – Los Angeles Chargers
Edgerrin Cooper (LB/Texas A&M)
Pick 38 – Tennessee Titans
Jordan Morgan (OT/Arizona)
Pick 39 – Carolina Panthers
Jonah Elliss (EDGE/Utah)
Pick 40 – Washington Commanders
Bralen Trice (EDGE/Washington)
Pick 41 – Green Bay Packers
Payton Wilson (LB/NC State)
Pick 42 – Houston Texans
Darius Robinson (DT/Missouri)
Pick 43 – Atlanta Falcons
Kamari Lassiter (CB/Georgia)
Pick 44 – Las Vegas Raiders
Michael Penix Jr. (QB/Washington)
Pick 45 – New Orleans Saints
Chris Braswell (EDGE/Alabama)
Pick 46 – Indianapolis Colts
Xavier Worthy (WR/Texas)
Pick 47 – New York Giants
Christian Haynes (IOL/UConn)
Pick 48 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Zach Frazier (IOL/WVU)
Pick 49 – Cincinnati Bengals
T’Vondre Sweat (DT/Texas)
Pick 50 – Philadelphia Eagles
Cedric Gray (LB/UNC)
Pick 51 – Los Angeles Rams
T.J. Tampa (CB/Iowa State)
Pick 52 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Xavier Legette (WR/South Carolina)
Pick 53 – Philadelphia Eagles
Tyler Nubin (S/Minnesota)
Pick 54 – Cleveland Browns
Kris Jenkins (DT/Michigan)
Pick 55 – Miami Dolphins
Cooper Beebe (IOL/Kansas State)
Pick 56 – Dallas Cowboys
Trey Benson (RB/Florida State)
Pick 57 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Marshawn Kneeland (EDGE/Western Michigan)
Pick 58 – Green Bay Packers
Javon Bullard (S/Georgia)
Pick 59 – Houston Texans
Roman Wilson (WR/Michigan)
Pick 60 – Buffalo Bills
Jonathan Brooks (RB/Texas)
Pick 61 – Detroit Lions
Kamren Kinchens (S/Miami)
Pick 62 – Baltimore Ravens
Junior Colson (LB/Michigan)
Pick 63 – San Francisco 49ers
Kiran Amegadjie (OT/Yale)
Pick 64 – Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Paul (OT/Houston)
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