1. CHI- Caleb Williams QB USC
No need to overthink this.
2. WAS- Drake Maye QB UNC
The total downplaying of Maye in draft circles the last few weeks has really been puzzling, with it being almost a sure thing that Jayden Daniels goes 2. For the sake of this mock, I’m going to categorize that as “lying season lies” from some teams trying to get him to drop.
3. ***TRADE*** MIN (from NE)- JJ McCarthy QB UM
Minnesota traded up to pick 23 for the express intent of moving up for a QB. I think they’ll be happy with whichever of Maye and McCarthy is there. I don’t think Daniels fits what they want to do. New England needs a QB, but they also need everything else. Their roster might be the worst in the league top to bottom and drafting the 3rd best QB and starting that rookie clock when the rest of the roster is poor just doesn’t make a ton of sense. They get picks 11, 23, and next year’s 1st from MIN.
4. AZ- Marvin Harrison Jr. WR tOSU
I think teams will be calling the Cardinals to go up for Jayden Daniels, but I think the draw of a potential generational talent in Harrison will be too much to pass up. Harrison has Larry Fitzgerald type upside.
5. ***TRADE*** LV (from LAC) Jayden Daniels QB LSU
Lots of talk surrounding the Chargers wanting to get out of pick 5 and with one remaining top tier QB available and the Giants at 6 potentially wanting a QB, they’re fielding calls from two division rivals in the Broncos and the Raiders. I think Daniels fits the Raiders a bit better. The Chargers get pick 13, this year’s 4th rounder, and next year’s 1st.
6. NYG- Malik Nabers WR LSU
The Giants get saved from themselves by having a top 3-4 player in the draft fall to them at 6. I love Nabers. He moves like young OBJ before the catch and runs like DJ Moore after the catch.
7. TEN- Joe Alt OT ND
This seems like such a natural fit that there’s almost no way it happens.
8. ATL- Dallas Turner EDGE Bama
The Falcons desperately need edge rush help and Turner is the most explosive of the bunch and fits their need.
9. CHI- Rome Odunze WR UW
The Bears have DJ Moore and just acquired Keenan Allen, so what gives? Well, Allen plays primarily in the slot and is on the wrong side of 30. Odunze immediately slots outside as an X with massive upside, giving your rookie QB every possible advantage to win now and down the line. I kicked around the idea of the Bears and Falcons doing a pick swap with the Bears kicking in a mid rounder next year just to ensure someone like the Chargers don’t come back up to 8 to take Odunze, but I already have a lot of trades.
10. NYJ- Brock Bowers TE UGA
Bowers is one of the rare rookie TEs that can have an immediate impact and he’s an instant upgrade over their current TE Tyler Conklin. He’s essentially a big slot receiver that can work between the numbers and maximize what Aaron Rodgers can do this year- which is why I went this route instead of having the Jets go with a tackle to bolster the aging pair they added/replace them when one of them inevitably gets hurt.
11. NE (from MIN)- Taliese Fuaga OL Oregon St
If you have a team devoid of talent, the first thing you should be doing is adding in the trenches. Fuaga is a plug and play type lineman who can start immediately at either tackle, giving the Patriots the versatility to play their best 5 linemen.
12. ***TRADE*** PHI (from DEN)- Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo
In this case, I have the Broncos swinging and missing on trading up for a QB and this is entirely too rich for them to be taking a QB here. The Broncos also don’t have a 2nd round pick. Which team has two of them, a glaring need at cornerback made blatantly obvious at the end of last season, and would love the chance to go up and take the first CB off the board? The Eagles. They have to get younger and better at corner, so I have them going up to take MY GUY, Quinyon Mitchell.
13. LAC (from LV)- JC Latham OL Bama
This is connecting the dots based on the Jim Harbaugh hire. They want to get bigger and more physical up front and Latham is an absolute mountain that can play a couple of different positions.
14. NO- Olu Fashanu OT PSU
I still rate Fashanu very highly and think he has the upside of one of the best LTs in the league. This is both a BPA and a need-filling move for the Saints.
15. IND- Terrion Arnold CB Bama
The Colts get CJ Stroud and Trevor Lawrence 4x per year and they need to get better at corner.
16. SEA- Graham Barton OL Duke
My first real WTF swing of the draft so far. The Seahawks are kind of a dumpster fire on the interior of their OL and Barton can play any of the 5 positions, though many scouts think he’ll fit best at center. This versatility plus his athleticism have him as a late riser.
17. ***TRADE*** BUF (from JAX)- Brian Thomas Jr. WR LSU
I joked about it in the other thread, but following the Diggs trade, that Bills cupboard is bare at receiver. Who is Josh Allen going to throw to? I’ve got them getting ahead of teams like Steelers, Patriots, and Cowboys who may be in the market for a receiver. I personally think Thomas is trash- he’s my ANTI MY GUY of the draft, but he’s going to go pretty high.
18. CIN- Troy Fautanu OL UW
Protect Joe Burrow at all costs, you’ve seen what happens when he’s out. Fautanu is an excellent addition who can start immediately at guard and eventually kick out to RT.
19. LAR- Johnny Newton DT ILL
Newton will have some massive shoes to fill, immediately stepping into the role left by the retiring Aaron Donald. Byron Murphy from Texas is also getting a lot of buzz at this spot, but I think that’s only because Newton hasn’t been able to test for scouts over the last month. I still think Newton is the better player.
20. PIT- Jackson Powers Johnson C Oregon
The Steelers don’t really have a viable center on the roster. JPJ showed out at Senior Bowl week and can be the day 1 starter.
21. MIA- Amarius Mims OT UGA
Another OT off the board. Mims is absolutely massive and athletic but is a project. He can sit and learn behind Terron Armstead, who considered retiring this offseason.
22. DEN (from PHI)- Bo Nix QB Oregon
Sean Payton eats almost $90M in dead money to chase off Russell Wilson and in this scenario tries and fails to get up into the top 3 for the QB of the future and is instead left with… Bo Nix. That would feel a lot like Terry Benedict getting in to the elevator at the end of Ocean’s 11. Nix fits that Payton system as well as can be expected for the 5th QB off the board. I prefer Michael Penix Jr., but not in this system.
23. NE (from MIN)- Laiatu Latu EDGE UCLA
Keep building in the trenches for the Patriots. I gave them a tackle with the first pick, now I give them an edge. Latu is a great technician. By far the best rush moves in the draft. Potential injury concerns are the only thing pushing him down the board.
24. DAL- Tyler Guyton OT OU
The Cowboys sent long time LT Tyron Smith packing this offseason and are expected to move guard Tyler Smith out to fill that position. On the other side, RT Terrence Steele was pretty terrible last year. Either way, the Cowboys need help at tackle. Guyton is kind of a project, but could be forced into a starting role.
25. GB- Cooper DeJean DB UFI
I hate this because I think DeJean is really good and gives the Packers another defensive chess piece to move around the secondary. He can play inside or outside corner or safety and move around to neutralize matchups. He reminds me a lot of Brian Branch from last year who went to the Lions.
26. TB- Jared Verse EDGE FSU
Like the Bears, the Bucs prefer longer, stronger, bigger defensive ends. Verse is a truck with great power moves and strength to set the edge vs. the run. I think he’s a steal at 26.
27. AZ- Byron Murphy DT Texas
This is really a BPA and positional fit type pick for the Cardinals. They just spent a lot on bringing in 3 former Bears to play DL for them (Bilal Nichols, Justin Jones, Khyris Tonga), so DT isn’t a huge need, but Murphy gives them dynamic athleticism that the others don’t have. And he’s another great value.
28. JAX (from BUF)- Nate Wiggins CB Clemson
Before I had the Jags trading down from 17, I had Wiggins penciled in to them. It just felt a little rich at that spot. In this case, they trade back and still get him.
29. DET- Zach Frazier C/G West Virginia
Current Lions center Frank Ragnow reportedly contemplated retiring this offseason and the two current starting guards (Graham Glasgow and Kevin Zeitler) are both on the wrong side of 30. Frazier can either play center or guard and has a wrestling background, which Lions coach Dan Campbell supposedly really loves.
30. ***TRADE*** SEA (from BAL)- Michael Penix Jr. QB UW
WTF VIV? The Seahawks have Geno Smith and they just traded for Sam Howell. Why the hell would they trade up for Michael Penix Jr.? Well, neither of those QBs are very good, for one. Second, who is the new OC (don’t call it that) for the Seahawks? Former Washington Huskies OC (don’t call it that) and QB coach Ryan Grubb. You really couldn’t ask for a better hole to put your Penix in.
31. SF- Jordan Morgan OL Arizona
The one semi-need for the 49ers is getting better on the OL. Morgan is very athletic, which makes him a good fit for the 9ers run game and he can play either tackle or guard.
32. KC- Xavier Worthy WR Texas
The Chiefs are gonna keep chasing that Tyreek Hill dragon of tiny fast guys until they find one that fits. Mecole Hardman? Meh (winning TD of the super bowl aside). Kadarius Toney? Uhhh, no. How about the new combine 40 yard dash record holder?
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