- Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams- QB USC (Junior)
Chicago gets a fresh start at quarterback with the dynamic Caleb Williams running the show in Chi-Town
2 Washington Commanders: Drake Maye– QB North Carolina (RS Sophomore)
This pick comes down to whether Adam Peters and company prefer Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels. Maye has the skills to be an elite passer in Kliff Kinsbury’s offense and while last season was better for Maye at North Carolina, he has been a star in college since he stepped foot on the field.
3 New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels- QB LSU (Senior)
Last season was a disaster in Foxborough with all the turmoil being centered at horrific quarterback play. Jerod Mayo now leads the charge and will get his franchise quarterback to bring a new dynamic to the Patriots with reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
4 Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr.- WR Ohio State (Junior)
There will be temptation to send this pick away for a potential haul from a quarterback-needy team, but the smart decision is to stick at this pick and select Kyler Murray’s franchise receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison’s skillset reminds me of arguably the greatest Cardinal ever in Larry Fitzgerald.
5 Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy- QB Michigan (Junior)
Projected trade with Los Angeles Chargers
The Vikings are preparing for a massive haul to move up for their next quarterback after the departure of Kirk Cousins to Atlanta. This trade sends picks 11, 23, a 2025 first round selection, and a swapping of 4th and 5th round picks to make this happen. McCarthy gets the perfect situation to learn while Sam Darnold handles the reigns of the Viking offense for now.
6 New York Giants: Malik Nabers- WR LSU (Junior)
This season looks to be the last straw for Daniel Jones to prove he can stay healthy and be the quarterback for the Giants. Malik Nabers will be the future centerpiece of this offense. He is proficient out wide or in the slot and reminds me a lot of another LSU receiver who the Giants took a decade ago in Odell Beckham Jr.
7 Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt- OT Notre Dame (Junior)
The Titans are taking steps to improve on the offensive side of the ball with the additions of Calvin Ridley at receiver and Lloyd Cushenbery at center. Joe Alt has sky high potential and comes from an offensive lineman factory in Notre Dame. A left side of the line featuring Alt and last year’s first rounder Peter Skoronksi will make life easier for Will Levis moving forward.
8 New York Jets: Rome Odunze- WR Washington (Junior)
Projected trade with Atlanta Falcons
With both Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses now signed to play tackle, the Jets are going to send pick 10 and pick 111 in the 4th round to Atlanta for pick 8 and pick 143 in the 5th round. The Jets must make the most of bringing in Aaron Rodgers and Rome Odunze is a bigger target that Rodgers can use as another option. Standing at 6’3, Odunze is the perfect complement with the shifty Garrett Wilson to give the Jets potentially one of the NFL’s best receiver duos.
9 Denver Broncos: Dallas Turner- EDGE Alabama (Junior)
Projected trade with Chicago Bears
Chicago has only four picks at the current moment in this year’s draft, so a trade down makes sense to add some picks later in the draft. Denver will send away pick 12 along with picks 136, 145, and 203 to make this move happen. To the surprise of some this is not a quarterback move for the Denver Broncos as they opt to improve their pass rush with the uber talented Dallas Turner.
10 Atlanta Falcons: Chop Robinson- EDGE Penn State (Junior)
Projected trade with New York Jets
The Falcons need help at rushing the passer and they take a swing on a high ceiling player in Penn State’s Chop Robinson. His burst and bend rushing the passer are elite. With some refinement from new Head Coach Raheem Morris and Defensive Coordinator Jimmy Lake, Robinson could sniff All-Pro potential.
11 Los Angeles Chargers: JC Latham- OT Alabama (Junior)
Projected trade with Minnesota Vikings
The Chargers move back and still get a guy they could realistically take at 5. Latham is a big body who has solid footwork for someone who measures in at 6’6 and 360 pounds. He should be able to settle in as the right tackle of the future opposite Rashawn Slater.
12 Chicago Bears: Byron Murphy- DT Texas (Junior)
Projected trade with Denver Broncos
Chicago will potentially be in on one of the big three receivers in this class, but they are able to get more picks in this class and strengthen a position that Head Coach Matt Eberflus covets in his defense. Byron Murphy provides that pass rushing aspect on the interior that can be hard to find for teams.
13 Las Vegas Raiders: Tailese Fuaga- OT Oregon State (Senior)
The Raiders get a guy who personifies the identity Antonio Pierce wants from the Raiders. Fuaga can slide in either at tackle or guard on the right side of the line and will be a big mover in the run game for Vegas.
14 New Orleans Saints: Brock Bowers- TE Georgia (Junior)
Derek Carr needs someone other than Chris Olave to throw the ball to consistently. Bowers tape is fun to watch. He can run routes out wide, in the slot, even take handoffs in heavy sets. Bowers can unlock a new element in the Saints offense this season.
15 Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold- CB Alabama (RS Sophomore)
Rumors have swirled about the Colts and potential interest in Chiefs corner L’Jarius Sneed. With their luck the top corner in the draft falls to them at pick 15. Arnold tracks the ball incredibly well and will do well opposite JuJu Brents in Gus Bradley’s zone defense.
16 Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu- OT/OG Washington ( Junior)
Seattle’s interior offensive line got decimated this offseason. With right guard Anthony Bradford and right tackle Abraham Lucas being lackluster this past season, Seattle dips into their backyard and someone new Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb is familiar with. Fautanu can play either tackle or guard depending on what proves to be a bigger need for Seattle.
17 Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinyon Mitchell- CB Toldeo (Junior)
The Jaguars will have interest in both receiver and corner with this pick. Quinyon Mitchell has been one of the biggest risers of the draft process and will fit great in the man-heavy scheme Jacksonville is looking to implement.
18 Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims- OT Georgia (Junior)
The Bengals signed Trent Brown to a one-year contract recently, but I think that is more of a patch for the departure of Jonah Williams than the answer. Amarius Mims has the size and experience playing in a gap blocking scheme that the Bengals will covet.
19 Los Angeles Rams: Cooper DeJean- CB Iowa (Junior)
The talk of this pick has turned to the defensive line since the news of Aaron Donald’s retirement, but the Rams need help in the secondary. DeJean fits the zone scheme Los Angeles runs and is a smart player with instincts. Given his flexibility to play outside, the slot, or even at safety at the next level, DeJean is a useful chess piece for the Rams defense.
20 Pittsburgh Steelers: Olu Fashanu- OT Penn State (Junior)
Broderick Jones had a solid rookie season last year for the Steelers. Fashanu falls to Pittsburgh due to some inconsistencies this past season at Penn State but has all the talent and athleticism at the position to be molded into a franchise left tackle.
21 Miami Dolphins: Jared Verse-DE Florida State (Junior)
Miami lost two key pass rushers in defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and Andrew Van Ginkel on the edge. With Jaelan Phillipa healing from a torn achillies Verse can be that juice off the edge that the Dolphins will need.
22 Philadelphia Eagles: Edgerrin Cooper-LB Texas A&M (Junior)
A big reason why the Eagles took a major step back defensively this past season why due to poor linebacker play. Between letting T.J. Edwards walk last year, Nakobe Dean not panning out, and Devin White is on a one-year prove it deal. Cooper’s skillset should fit like a glove in new Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense.
23 Los Angeles Chargers: Brian Thomas Jr.- WR LSU (Junior)
The Chargers had to make tough financial decision in cutting Mike Williams and trading away Keenan Allen. 2023 first round selection Quintin Johnston struggled when both Williams and Allen missed time due to injury and this gives Justin Herbert another young weapon in the new look Chargers offense.
24 Dallas Cowboys: Jackson Powers-Johnson-C Oregon (Junior)
Tyron Smith’s departure makes way to shift Tyler Smith full-time to left tackle. JPJ gives Dallas a plug and play option out the gate at either center or guard.
25 Green Bay Packers: Nate Wiggins-CB Clemson (Junior)
Green Bay traded Rasul Douglas at the deadline last year and have lost Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens this offseason. Wiggins has blazing speed and favors the man coverage scheme the Packers run.
26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Laitu Latu- EDGE UCLA (Senior)
Tampa cleared the offensive hurdles of getting both Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans back. Shaq Barrett was let go this offseason and signs are that Joe Tryon-Shoyinka’s time in Tampa is running out. Enter Latu to solidify the edge opposite last year’s third round hit in Yaya Diaby.
27 Arizona Cardinals: Jer’Zhan Newton- DT Illinois (Junior)
With a top receiver added in Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona looks to give its defense some firepower in the form of Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton. He will slide in and should play instantly at the 5-tech with his pass rush skills.
28 Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell- WR Texas (Junior)
With Gabe Davis gone and at least some concern with Stefon Diggs’s end of the season, Buffalo gives Josh Allen a receiver of the future in the talented Mitchell.
29 Detroit Lions: Kool-Aid McKinstry- CB Alabama (Junior)
Detroit has done excellent at filling their needs and adding talent the past few seasons. Detroit now gets a solid player to fall in McKinstry in a major position of need.
30 Baltimore Ravens: Xavier Worthy- WR Texas (Junior)
Baltimore may get needy to pick offensive line with the losses of both John Simpson at guard and Morgan Moses at tackle, but adding weapons for Lamar Jackson is going to be important. Worthy adds game-breaking speed to an offense already with Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, and Mark Andrews.
31 San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Guyton- OT Oklahoma (Junior)
Trent Williams turns 36 before the season starts and this ensures the future blindside protector for the 49ers. Guyton has the tools to be elite, but some time learning will do him good behind arguably the greatest left tackle ever.
32 Kansas City Chiefs: Keon Coleman- WR Florida State (Junior)
Kansas City made it somehow work last year with a very depleted receiver corps. Rashee Rice was a standout down the stretch and the signing of Hollywood Brown gives a deep threat to the offense. Keon Coleman is a little raw and his 40 time at the combine may scare people, but the physical tools are astounding. He won’t have the pressure to be a top option out of the gates for the Chiefs and can either line up wide or split time as a big slot receiver with Rice.
