It’s finally time as one of the best days of the year is finally here! No more smokescreens, no more rumors, and no more stupid rumors about Jim Harbaugh selecting JJ McCarthy and trading Justin Herbert which has to be the dumbest trend I’ve ever seen in this draft.
To say I’m excited is an understatement. I have not written multiple mocks this year but am fully prepared to get more than 2.5 picks right (Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, and the .5 coming from Will Anderson Jr. going 3). Since this is no trades, then I just hope I get the player right or the slot right. The obvious spots where trades can happen are towards the end of the first. Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix would be the targets, however, we may see some big-time wide receiver trades. Teams trading up for the big 3 (Marv, Nabers, Odunze) could happen pending what happens with a potential JJ McCarthy trade. My next tier of receivers (Brian Thomas Jr., Adonai Mitchell) could also be coveted as the Bills and Chiefs seem like prime trade up candidates for these two. Either way, we’re in for some hectic stuff!
For the Steelers, just give me anything upfront as it’s not rocket science. My mock suggests this, but I am avoiding trading this pick for Brandon Aiyuk at all costs since that’s been the hot rumor in Pittsburgh. In the deepest WR draft we’ve seen in some time, there is no need to pay a premium in picks + money when there are legitimate bigger holes to fill. Let’s also squash the Courtland Sutton rumors since he’s 28 and does similar-ish things that George Pickens does. Draft a WR in round 2 or 3, then line up him up opposite of Pickens, who is a certified dog out there, and somehow people honestly forget.
DISCLAIMER: THIS MOCK HAS ZERO TRADES, THE WAY GOD INTENDED
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams – QB USC
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels – QB LSU
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye – QB North Carolina
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. – WR Ohio State
5. Las Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers – WR LSU
6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze – WR Washington
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt – OT Notre Dame
8. Atlanta Falcons: Laiatu Latu – EDGE UCLA
9. Chicago Bears: Dallas Turner – EDGE Alabama
10. New York Jets: Olumuyiwa Fashanu – OT Penn State
11. Minnesota Vikings: JJ McCarthy – QB Michigan
12. Denver Broncos: Quinyon Mitchell – CB Toledo
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga – OT Oregon State
14. New Orleans Saints: Amarius Mims – OT Georgia
15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold – CB Alabama
16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu – OG Washington
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Byron Murphy – DT Texas
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Brock Bowers – TE Georgia
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse – EDGE Florida State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton – C Duke
21. Miami Dolphins: Jackson Powers-Johnson – C Oregon
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper DeJean – DB Iowa
23. Minnesota Vikings: Johnny Newton – DT Illinois
24. Dallas Cowboys: JC Latham – OT Alabama
25. Green Bay Packers: Chop Robinson – EDGE Penn State
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nate Wiggins – CB Clemson
27. Arizona Cardinals: Kool-Aid McKinstry – CB Alabama
28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr. – WR LSU
29. Detroit Lions: Max Melton – CB Rutgers
30. Baltimore Ravens: Darius Robinson – EDGE Missouri
31. San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Guyton – OT Oklahoma
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell – WR Texas