I’ve come to the realization that aside from screaming at the television on Steelers Gamedays, I may just enjoy the draft more than the NFL as a whole. That doesn’t mean I’m relatively good at mocks, nor does it mean I’ll be rushing to attend another draft that isn’t located in the Steel City in the next ten years but it does mean I’ve done more mocks than I can count at this point.
I think I’ve officially tricked my brain into thinking this is the game; an ability for me to stay calm on guys who could impact the game I love for years to come. Sadly, however, with an obsession like this comes it’s disastrous misses.
The draft has made me develop a soft spot for Cleveland Browns players for no reason, falling in love with the likes of David Bell, Harrison Bryant, Grant Delpit, Greedy Williams, and Cedric Tillman. The draft has made me swear by injury-ridden kings like Bryce Love and Jake Butt and has made me obsessed with late-round QBs like Nate Stanley, Josh Dobbs (S/O Dobbs to Hodges for the OG crowd), and even The Rosen One.
I’ve flopped on Emmanuel Forbes, called Jeff Okudah a “can’t miss prospect” and thought that Derrius Guice could maybe get through one whole season.
All that to say, I’ll never stop missing. I’ll miss the entire draft this year, most likely the next year and the year after that just so eventually I can say out loud “I knew he was a bust” and hold the likes of Treylon Burks over every single head I can. Suck it Dre, Greg and Moorhead.
This mock will change drastically come that Thursday in Green Bay but as of now, this is law.
1 New York Giants – Shadeur Sanders – QB Colorado
In any other draft, you’d be hard-pressed for me to have Shadeur or Cam as high as they are today. It’s not a knock as much as it is the realization that this QB class has fallen drastically from projections. Shadeur is the prize jewel of QB-needy teams and should step in day one as the true starter whether that be in New York or Vegas. Come draft night, this will be the pick.
2. Las Vegas Raiders – Cam Ward – QB Miami (FL)
Cam Ward will be the second player off the board in Green Bay regardless of which team finishes with this pick. If the Pats or Jags slide this far, a trade-down is almost written in the stars. Ward had an amazing year and provides us with proof that quarterbacks should spend as much time as possible in college. A few years ago I was a strong member of the “go get your money” crowd for these quarterbacks but with the ability to make millions off NIL, Ward followed in the footsteps of Jayden Daniels as a transfer portal riser. He has a slow release and a calm demeanor in the pocket, making him an interesting but high prospect for this class.
3. New England Patriots – Travis Hunter – ATH Colorado
Despite your thoughts on his Heisman campaign, Travis Hunter is the best prospect in this class. He’s arguably the best receiver in the nation and has the best corner title locked down with the injury to Will Johnson. The Patriots are desperate for play-makers and Hunter finds himself in a team that could use him on both sides of the ball. Right now I see Hunter as a corner who gets added into offensive packages for almost any team in the league, but Jerod Mayo may experiment with this all-world talent.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham – DL Michigan
Mason Graham has been an impressive riser and is an instant stud the second he touches grass at the next level. Jacksonville paid T-Law way too much and is devoid of a true playmaker outside of BTJ, but that defensive line needs interior help. If Will Johnson tests fine after his injury I could see this as his ceiling, but Graham has been a day-one start for Michigan and was a huge reason for their recent victory over Ohio State.
5. Carolina Panthers – Abdul Carter – EDGE Penn State
Carter flew up boards as the best edge rusher in this entire class for a Penn State team that finds themselves in the 12-team CFB playoffs. He’s a freak athlete with production numbers to match it, something the Panthers desperately need. Carolina has upgraded their O-Line and given Bryce Young a real shot at being a quality quarterback, so expect them to hit the defensive side heave in this draft.
6. Tennessee Titans – Tetairoa McMillan – WR Arizona
Man, what the hell happened in Nashville? The start of the year Will Levis was ready for a leap, the rushing attack was a two-headed monster and the Tit’s had their best-receiving core in years…on paper. As we sit here today Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is arguably their WR1, Tajee Spears has been used correctly once and Levis has been benched twice for Mason Rudolph. I pray the Titans don’t panic draft a QB here and keep it simple with a 6-5 stud receiver in T-Mac.
7. Cleveland Browns – Kelvin Banks – OT Texas
Sadly for the Cleveland Browns they’re still tied to massage-man for the near future, although we sit here today praying that Jameis Winston is their short-term starter. Kelvin Banks came into this year as the best tackle prospect and disappointed, despite still being my top healthy tackle in the class. The Jedrick Wills experiment is coming to and end and the Browns should go tackle unless a quarterback tests so well it’s undeniable, something that is as likely as Aaron Rodgers winning another ring.
8. New York Jets – James Pearce Jr. – EDGE Tennessee
Coming into the season I had Pearce as my 1.01 draft pick, no questions asked. He’s a freak athlete with all the tools for the next level but had a difficult time seperating himself from the field in Tennessee. The Jets need everything and could easily swing at a Quarterback here with Rodgers nearing the end of his time in NY but at this point, the team needs talent.
9. Chicago Bears – Will Campbell – OT LSU
Caleb Williams was, and I quote the world, a “generational talent” who is now being viewed as a project due to their bad coaching hires and the lack of a strong o-line. Will Campbell falls into the category of tackles who were slightly disappointed this season in college, but he’s still a stud that’s very worthy of a top-ten pick in this class. Get Williams a coach from this century and a line that can stop a nose bleed and pray he becomes the player we all fell in love with in college.
10. New Orleans Saints – Mykel Williams – EDGE Georgia
Mykel Williams could be the top edge in this class if not for his ankle injury, something that will be closely monitored heading into combine season. The Saints are in limbo, most likely moving on from Kamara and having no true future at QB with Carr out for the year and Spencer Rattler getting first-team reps. Kevin James left this team in cap hell and Dennis Allen just kept someone else’s seat warm, so snagging talent is a clean and simple pick today.
11. Miami Dolphins – Malaki Starks – S Georgia
We love Starks on Two Beers Deep, plain and simple. He’s a true safety and the best in the class, showing similar signs to the Kyle Hamilton year as a great prospect at a low-need position in the NFL. The Dolphins need some o-line help if one of the big names falls here, but Starks heads right into the starting lineup.
12. Indianapolis Colts – Will Johnson – CB Michigan
If Will Johnson falls this far on draft night I would be shocked but his injury combined with positional needs slate him at 12. Johnson is arguably a top-three talent in this entire class and has “shut-down” written all over him. The Colts should look to capitalize on his injury slide here and improve their rocky secondary.
13. Cincinnati Bengals – Derrick Harmon – DL Oregon
Harmon has been a name rising on my board lately and would be a big body to plug into this Bengals defense, a defense that is single-handedly killing Jeaux Burreaux’s MVP season. Harmon is having his second 40 tackle season in a row and has racked up 5 sacks this year, providing a ton of assitance to Trey Hendrickson on that D-line. I’ll throw up and cry if Will Johnson somehow finds himself here.
14. Dallas Cowboys – Ashton Jeanty – RB Boise State
This is the single most popular pick in this entire class, mainly because of how disappointing the Cowboys rushing game has been this year. A ton of people will be calling for a defensive pick here which is logical with how bad they’ve been, but once injuries heal the Cowboys need to justify the contracts of Dak Prescott and Ceedee Lamb with some legitimate help in the rushing game. Jeanty is a stud, not quite the prospect’s we’ve seen of late but is arguably the best pure runner we’ve seen in the draft in years.
15. San Francisco 49ers – Josh Simmons – OT Ohio State
Simmons is, in my mind, the single best tackle in this entire class and would be a top-ten pick if it weren’t for his injury. The 49ers need a ton of holes filled this offseason and with a looming Brock Purdy extension, they could go defense here. I love Simmons here due to the fact that he won’t be ready by camp, giving him a ton of time to sit and learn behind a healthy Trent Williams.
16. Atlanta Falcons – Nic Scourton – EDGE Texas A&M
Scourton is a powerhouse at 6’4″, 285 pounds and a slam-dunk pick for the Atlanta Falcons who find themselves once again near last in sacks in the entire league. There are questions around Scourton’s overall production and we could see the edge class shuffle a bit in the off-season, but Scourton is as sexy a prospect as we’ve seen in recent years.
17. Arizona Cardinals – Kenneth Grant – DL Michigan
The Cardinals are a team I joke about being in perpetual limbo, living in the 12-30 range every year and just being ok with playing spoiler towards the end of the year each season. Kenneth Grant had the benefit of playing beside Graham and produced because of it, finding himself in the advantageous spot of being a top-20 pick.
18. Seattle Seahawks – Jalen Milroe – QB Alabama
The giant asterisk here is that I don’t believe Jalen Milroe leaves Alabama this off-season, especially with the school missing the 12-team playoff but if he were to enter the draft he should be a first-round pick easy. Seattle has been much better than I’ve expected with Geno still in charge of the offense but there has to be a plan for after the Smith experiment. Milroe has some great tape this season, particularly the Georgia game. Combine that with his rushing upside and the ability to sit behind Geno for a year, Milroe would thrive in Seattle.
19. Los Angeles Chargers – Tyler Warren – TE Penn State
Tyler Warren is an interesting prospect, mainly because he’s used in so many different ways at Penn State. He’s a terrific runner, a great receiver and a quality blocked, all things that the Chargers need in a Harbaugh system to continue to let Herbert thrive. The Chargers will most likely look to add another running back either in the draft or in free agency with J.K. Dobbins injured once again but if they bring back the same core, Warren should see some snaps on the ground as well.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Benjamin Morrison – CB Notre Dame
The Bucs have been a pleasant surprise again this season, a team that tends to stick around and be fun to watch. The receiver class this year is deep enough that they aren’t in dire need or a Chris Godwin replacement instantly, so Morrison adds some much needed skills to that secondary.
21. Los Angeles Rams – Aireontae Ersery – OT Minnesota
The Rams had a terrific draft the last two seasons with Verse, Fiske, Turner and Young all hitting on the defensive side of the ball. They will most likely look to add a receiver with Kupp slowing down from his triple crown season, but again this draft is deep enough a reach isn’t needed. Ersery is a monster at 6’6″, 330 who has shown consistent improvement over this year.
22. Washington Commanders – Colston Loveland – TE Michigan
Loveland and Warren will battle for the “Top TE” in this class despite the two of them being very different players. While Warren is a Swiss Army Knife, Loveland is much more your prototypical tight end and should add as a nice weapon to continue and see Jayden Daniels as an elite talent in the league. I wouldn’t be shocked if they went receiver here, but again, a deep class leads me to lean TE here.
23. Denver Broncos – Luther Burden – WR Missouri
A year ago Luther Burden was without a doubt the number one receiver in this class and arguably the number one overall prospect in this class. Although it hasn’t truly been a fall from grace, he hasn’t taken an elite leap this season we were hoping for. Burden is the best route runner in this class and would be a terrific target for Bo Nix in this system.
24. Baltimore Ravens – Shemar Stewart – DL Texas A&M
Shemar Stewart has proven his top-tier explosiveness is some of the best in this entire class despite his production being somewhat minuscule this past year. He feels like the ultimate prospect, something that the Ravens have done well with in the past. Baltimore should be looking at their O-Line as well here but Stewart feels as much a raven as anyone in this class.
25. Houston Texans – Cameron Williams – OT Texas
Williams is yet another tackle that seemed to all short of the preseason hype for the Longhorns, but still well enough to be an obvious first round selection. The Texans have a somewhat decent line, but depth has been a downfall for this offense and Howard and Tunsil aren’t getting any younger.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers – Shavon Revel Jr. – CB East Carolina
I hate drafting for the Steelers in any mock because I don’t know which way to go, but corner is absolutely on the table. Donte Jackson has played well for the Steelers this season and Beanie Bishop has stepped up for some major plays, but ensuring this defense is maintained needs to be a priority to capitalize on our window. Receiver, Tackle, IOL, LB and RB are all positions that need addressed this offseason but there isn’t a receiver after Burden I’m reaching for here. Revel has had injury concerns but if he is half the prospect we think he is, our secondary will rise to the level of our pass rush.
27. Green Bay Packers – Walter Nolen – DL Ole Miss
Nolen was a five star recruit for Ole Miss and a decent producer at the college level. He’s a big, physical tackle who wouldn’t need to be “the guy” in Green Bay, a mantra they have continued to build on with Luke Van Ness and Rashan Gary.
28. Minnesota Vikings – Jonah Savaiinaea – IOL – Arizona
Savaiinaea can play both interior and tackle at the next level and would be an instant starter at a few positions for the Minnesota Vikings. With uncertainty around the Sam Darnold situation, solidifying that line is a sure fire way to set up whoever they want as their QB1 next season. I think Jonah is off the board come closer to the draft personally, but he’s a terrific fit in Minnesota here with the top corners off the board.
29. Buffalo Bills – Isaiah Bond – WR Texas
Knowing the Bills took Keon Coleman last year I’d be a bit surprised if they went receiver again, but adding Bond to that Josh Allen offense is just gross. Bond is phyiscal as a receiver and an instant starter, someone I wouldn’t mind the Steelers picking if they were to go receiver. Although Shakir has performed well this year, the Bills should keep swinging at a true WR1.
30. Philadelphia Eagles – Jack Sawyer – Edge Ohio State
I really wanted Sawyer to fall to the Detroit Lions to have a nice little Michigan and Ohio State pass rush, but the Eagles adding to that defensive line was too good to pass up. After watching the Eagles play the Steelers yesterday, there isn’t much this team needs. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are an elite DT duo, Cooper and Slay are an amazing corner duo, the O-Line is as strong as ever and I don’t believe the AJ Brown smoke so giving Nolan Smith another edge rush partner felt right. Sawyer is not a first round prospect at the moment but I do believe some draft night, he’ll have first round smoke.
31. Detroit Lions – Josh Conerly Jr. – OT Oregon
Conerly is a name I love as a late riser for the tackle class and is Sawyer isn’t there, i could see the lions getting their line a bit younger. They have some HOGS up front for the Motor City Kitties so Conerly doesn’t need to produce instantly. Egbuka, Barron and Mike Green are all guys I could easily see going here but at the moment, protect that cutie patoutie at QB.
32. Kansas City Chiefs – Emeka Egbuka – WR Ohio State
I almost always aim for a skill position player for the Chiefs for no reason at all but this time it actually makes sense. Rashee Rice will most likely see a ban, Xavier Worthy has been hot and cold and DeAndre Hopkins most likely won’t be with the team next season. Egbuka joins a recently long line of amazing receivers from Ohio State that absolutely prove their worth in production and measurables, adding to the projected Super Bowl Champs roster.
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