It’s that time of the year, the biggest event of the NFL offseason, the Draft. This year is truly unique all around, whether it’s the prospects, depth/talent of positions or teams’ plans. This makes it possibly the hardest draft to predict in years, and the parity in mock drafts this year proves that. The only sure thing in this draft, so we think, is the number 1 pick. After that, basically, nothing else is known with certainty. With that being said, I’m going to do my best to predict this crapshoot, probably to no avail.
Important Note: There will be no predicted trades in this mock.
1st Round
- Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
This seems to be the only “lock” ahead of the draft. Young offers both the floor and upside the Panthers need in a QB after giving up a haul for the 1st overall pick.
- Houston Texans – Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama
Here we have the second Alabama player in a row with the first two picks. The Texans seem uncommitted to any specific QB in this class, besides Young, so with him off the board, the Texans opt for the best player available.
- Arizona Cardinals – Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
The Cardinals are likely going to look to trade down here, but with Quarterbacks falling and no clear-cut #2 QB in class available, there might not be a big market for this pick. Tyree Wilson offers the unique size, length and upside at Edge that teams desire.
- Indianapolis Colts – CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Colts get their choice of quarterback here (besides Young), and I have them going with CJ Stroud. Just days ago, it might’ve seemed unlikely that Stroud would be available here 4th overall.
- Seattle Seahawks – Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia
Despite the massive concerns off the field, Carter is still one of the best players in the draft. Pete Carroll is an experienced coach, and Seattle has a good culture that should be able to keep Carter in check.
- Detroit Lions – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The Lions need a Corner after trading draft bust Jeff Okudah. They get their choice of a corner here and take Witherspoon.
- Las Vegas Raiders – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Raiders can use a lot of things, but they definitely need to improve their defense to stop the dynamic passing attacks of the Chiefs and Chargers. Gonzalez hopefully helps them do that.
- Atlanta Falcons – Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
The Falcons look to complete their offensive line and take Skoronski. He’ll be a plug-and-play guard for the Falcons here, and can eventually kick out to tackle.
- Chicago Bears – Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
The Bears need to beef up the trenches and protect Justin Fields. Paris Johnson helps in both areas and looks to be the team’s Franchise LT.
- Philadelphia Eagles – Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
With the Seahawks taking Jalen Carter, the Eagles will be unable to trade up for him and reunite him with former Georgia teammates Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean. Instead, the Eagles opt for a high-upside edge rusher in Van Ness.
- Tennessee Titans – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The Malik Willis experiment quickly failed. With Ryan Tannehill on an expiring deal, the Titans need a successor at QB. With the AFC flooded with superstar QBs, the Titans need to shoot big at QB if they want to successfully rebuild and become contenders.
- Houston Texans – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The Texans pass on a QB at 2 but don’t come out of the first round empty-handed. They get the QB they likely would’ve taken at 2 here while also adding possibly the best defensive player in the draft.
- Green Bay Packers – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
The Packers acquired this pick in the Aaron Rodgers trade via a pick swap. Have to wonder if they did this to target a certain player. In this case, I believe they did, jumping the Patriots to draft their first 1st Round WR in a long time. Wouldn’t surprise me if they opt for a TE here instead. Dalton Kincaid possibly being the target.
- New England Patriots – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Bill Belichick has never really drafted off of positional value, and I don’t see that changing with possibly the best player in the draft still on the board. The Patriots have been looking to revitalize their offense, and drafting a true difference-maker here will certainly help.
- New York Jets – Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The Jets need to surround Aaron Rodgers with as much talent and protection as possible so their offense can fulfill its potential and take this team to the Super Bowl along with their elite defense.
- Washington Commanders – Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
It’s no secret that the Commanders are looking for another corner. Forbes is a corner they think highly of and this seems to be their corner of choice with Witherspoon and Gonzalez off the board.
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
After drafting a RB and QB in the last two drafts, the Steelers need to put together a good offensive line to support both of them. Wright is the best offensive lineman on the board.
- Detroit Lions – Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
After trading TJ Hockenson, losing DJ Chark in free agency, and Jameson Williams getting suspended for 6 games, the Lions need to add another receiver to surround Jared Goff with the weapons he needs to succeed again. Johnston should be a good replacement for Chark while offering more upside.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
The Bucs were at their best when they had a dominant defense, specifically a pass rush. With Shaq Barrett getting older and regressing, and Joe Tryon being a disappointment to this point. Adding Nolan Smith adds much-needed pass rush upside to the edge group.
- Seattle Seahawks – Joe Tippmann, OC, Wisconsin
Going out on a limb here and saying the Seahawks will trade back from this pick and draft their preferred center, who I believe is Joe Tippmann. Nothing should be surprising when it comes to the Seahawks and the First Round.
- Los Angeles Chargers – Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
The Chargers need to surround Justin Herbert with weapons. Especially since their receivers struggle to stay healthy. Kincaid is the best receiver on the board regardless of position.
- Baltimore Ravens – Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
After Marcus Peters didn’t re-sign with the Ravens, they have a gaping hole at outside corner opposite Marlon Humphrey.
- Minnesota Vikings – Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The Vikings haven’t been able to figure out the cornerback position, and it’s not going to get fixed if they stop trying, so here they take the best one left on the board.
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
This pick kills two birds with one stone. The Jaguars have needs at both Nickel Corner and Safety, Branch can fill either role depending on where he plays best at.
- New York Giants – Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The Giants are never going to want to go through what they did last year throwing practice squad and street free-agent receivers out there every week. After paying Daniel Jones, and the standards set much higher, the Giants need to be more efficient in the passing game and Addison should help with that.
- Dallas Cowboys – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Cowboys have always prioritized adding offensive weapons. They also want to run the ball more. This pick kills two birds with one stone adding a tight end with receiving and blocking capabilities.
- Buffalo Bills – O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
Torrence adds a mauling guard to the Bills’ offensive line that really struggled last year. This should offer more protection for Josh Allen and help the Bills with a much-needed improvement to the run game.
- Cincinnati Bengals – Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Mixon has regressed, is on a bad contract, and has only gotten into more off-the-field issues this offseason. Gibbs offers a different dynamic to the Bengals’ run game and gives Burrow another weapon.
- New Orleans Saints – Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
The Saints’ defensive line has taken a big hit in the last few years losing a lot of talent to free agency. They have always prioritized adding to the trenches.
- Philadelphia Eagles – Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson
Basically what I said above for the Saints applies here too. The Eagles prioritize building through the trenches and have immediate and future needs across the defensive line to fill. They could also trade back from this pick to accumulate lost draft capital.
- Kansas City Chiefs – Will McDonald, Edge, Iowa State
Pass rush is key in the NFL now, and the Chiefs could stand to improve in this aspect. Here they take one of the best pass rushers in the draft to play a designated pass rusher role.
2nd Round
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
- Houston Texans – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
- Arizona Cardinals – Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
- Indianapolis Colts – John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota
- Los Angeles Rams – Matthew Bergeron, OL, Syracuse
- Seattle Seahawks – Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
- Las Vegas Raiders – Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
- Carolina Panthers – Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
- New Orleans Saints – Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh
- Tennessee Titans – Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
- Green Bay Packers – Derick Hall, Edge, Auburn
- New York Jets – Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
- Atlanta Falcons – Keion White, DL, Georgia Tech
- Green Bay Packers – Jartavius ‘Quan’ Martin, DB, Illinois
- New England Patriots – Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
- Washington Commanders – Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
- Detroit Lions – Keeanu Benton, IDL, Wisconsin
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Mazi Smith, IDL, Michigan
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
- Miami Dolphins – Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
- Seattle Seahawks – Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
- Chicago Bears – Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
- Los Angeles Chargers – Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
- Detroit Lions – Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
- New York Giants – Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
- Dallas Cowboys – Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
- Buffalo Bills – Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
- Cincinnati Bengals – Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
- Chicago Bears – Isaiah Foskey, Edge, Notre Dame
- Philadelphia Eagles – Cody Mauch, IOL, North Dakota State
- Kansas City Chiefs – Zacch Pickens, IDL, South Carolina
3rd Round
- Chicago Bears – Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse
- Houston Texans – Steve Avila, IOL, TCU
- Arizona Cardinals – Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
- Denver Broncos – DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
- Denver Broncos – Byron Young, Edge, Tennessee
- Los Angeles Rams – Clark Phillips, CB, Utah
- Las Vegas Raiders – Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
- New Orleans Saints – Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
- Tennessee Titans – Luke Wypler, OC, Ohio State
- Houston Texans – BJ Ojulari, Edge, LSU
- Cleveland Browns – Gervon Dexter, IDL, Florida
- Atlanta Falcons – Sydney Brown, S, Illinois
- New England Patriots – Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
- Los Angeles Rams – Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State
- Green Bay Packers – Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
- Indianapolis Colts – Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
- Detroit Lions – Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M
- Seattle Seahawks – Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
- Miami Dolphins – Juice Scruggs, OC, Penn State
- Los Angeles Chargers – Nathaniel ‘Tank’ Dell, WR, Houston
- Baltimore Ravens – Atonio Mafi, OG, UCLA
- Minnesota Vikings – Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh
- New York Giants – Chandler Zavala, OG, North Carolina State
- Dallas Cowboys – Siaki Ika, IDL, Baylor
- Buffalo Bills – Tuli Tuipulotu, DL, USC
- Cincinnati Bengals – Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
- Carolina Panthers – DJ Johnson, Edge, Oregon
- Philadelphia Eagles – Jammie Robinson, DB, Florida State
- Kansas City Chiefs – Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
- Arizona Cardinals – Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
- Washington Commanders – Zach Harrison, Edge, Ohio State
- Cleveland Browns – Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
- San Francisco 49ers – Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State
- Las Vegas Raiders – Nick Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion
- San Francisco 49ers – Ji’Ayir Brown, S, Penn State
- San Francisco 49ers – Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
