MOCK NFL DRAFTS
| Pick | Team | Pos | Player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 |
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QB |
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| In another age, Williams’ contract would have already been signed. The former Trojan is one of the cleanest quarterback prospects in recent memory, possessing an elite ability to work outside structure that will remind NFL fans of Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. | ||||
#2 |
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QB |
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| Maye is not the consensus top choice for QB2 but he’s ultimately the most superior prospect among the tier-two signal callers. The 2022 ACC Player of the Year needs to improve his consistency, often missing the “lay up” directly after completing a mesmerizingly accurate 30-yard post between coverages. Despite his imperfections, Maye’s passing ability and arm strength offer the highest ceiling among the remaining quarterbacks. | ||||
#3 |
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WR |
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| Throughout the entirety of the offseason, New England has been linked with the third-choice quarterback, with Chicago and Washington ever-expected to pluck the top two. Despite possessing an opportunity to draft Jayden Daniels or JJ McCarthy, New England opts for the surer thing and grabs the generational pass catcher over an unproven third choice QB option. Harrison Jr. will likely have a short college-to-pro learning curve, offering the proven technical ability of his legendary father with a George Pickens-like size/speed combo. Harrison is a slam dunk of a prospect. | ||||
#4 |
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QB |
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| This one may shock readers, but it’s my sneaking suspicion that the NFL covets McCarthy more than it does Jayden Daniels. McCarthy has that midwestern pedigree that should immediately endear him to Vikings fans. The 2023 National Champion grew up in Illinois, where he excelled as a hockey player, before taking his talents to Ann Arbor. While at the University of Michigan, McCarthy was heralded for his leadership, maturity, and his intangibles more so than he was for his game-changing performances. Despite being a seldom-tested signal caller at the collegiate level, McCarthy is a proven winner with an NFL-caliber skillset. One of the biggest hurdles of a young quarterback is their ability to overcome adversity and rebound quickly from mistakes, and given McCarthy’s open advocacy for mental health, he’s provided encouraging signs that he can well withstand the pressure of being a professional signal caller. Trade Details: Arizona receives pick 11 and pick 23 from Minnesota in exchange for pick 4 and pick 71. | ||||
#5 |
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WR |
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| The Bears aren’t messing around. Rather than letting the draft come to them at pick nine, Chicago takes a page out of Houston’s playbook from a year ago and jumps up to make a second selection within the top five. Nabers is in the elite echelon of pass catchers even in this receiver-rich draft. Chicago could experience an offensive renaissance in 2024 adding Caleb Williams and Nabers into a skill position group already consisting of Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, DeAndre Swift, Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. Trade Details: Los Angeles Chargers receive pick nine and a 2025 second round pick from Chicago in exchange for pick five and pick 225 | ||||
#6 |
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QB |
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| There is always a quarterback slide on draft night, and despite his links to the second overall pick, I have a feeling that the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is being overvalued as a prospect. Daniels is an elite athlete, offering a running ability seldom tethered to such a high-quality passer. Daniels is, however, an inconsistent decision maker with an unproven ability to comprehensively read sophisticated defenses, far too often relying on his legs when his top reads fail to get open. In addition, his penchant for taking sacks has reportedly raised red flags among evaluators. A season of tutelage behind Daniel Jones would do the former LSU Tiger some good, offering Daniels the time to develop both his slender frame as well as his processing ability. | ||||
#7 |
|
OT |
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| This is an old fashioned “run the card up” type of moment. Drafting the top left tackle prospect is a no brainer for a Tennessee team in desperate need of a blind-side guardian for Will Levis. Alt is a fantastic pass blocker, offering elite athleticism for the position, especially for a player of his 6’9 stature. Despite his towering size, the former Golden Domer also has surprisingly good bend and power in the run game. | ||||
#8 |
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WR |
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| Aaron Rodgers has spent most of his career without first-round wide receivers – now, he is getting a second one. Odunze does not have a singular aspect of his game that stands above the rest, but he has a well-rounded skillset that is amplified by his toughness and competitiveness. Odunze has both the experience and capability of lining up as either a Z or X and could even handle snaps in the slot. The former Huskie will not ever make a living off his speed or elusiveness, but he has the fearlessness and the strength that make him a contested catch dynamo. Trade Details: Atlanta receives pick 10 and pick 111 from the New York Jets in exchange for pick eight. | ||||
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#9 |
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TE |
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| Harbaugh is a fanboy of the “big uglies,” but his team is in desperate need of playmakers after losing Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler this offseason. Drafting a tight end seems like the best compromise for the new head coach, satiating his need for hard-nosed football players while plugging a glaring hole in the team’s skill position group. Bowers is the singular elite talent at his position this year and one of the most heralded tight end prospects in recent memory. While Bowers’ tape is undeniable, a cause for concern could be his lack of workout numbers, as the 21-year-old refrained from testing at both the Combine and his Pro Day. Despite his lack of testing numbers, Bowers did reportedly look explosive in pass-catching drills at Georgia’s Pro Day, alleviating concerns that his lack of testing was related to any undisclosed injury. | ||||
#10 |
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CB |
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| The Falcons are the suspected starting line for the defensive players in this year’s class. Despite pass rushers like Dallas Turner and Laiatu Latu proving to be the odds-on favorites for this pick, there’s just far too much quality in Mitchell’s game to overlook him as the draft’s top defensive player. Mitchell excelled in Senior Bowl practices and provided his athletic bonafedes last month in Indianapolis with a blazing 4.33 40-yard dash. There are understandable questions surrounding as to why an elite player like Mitchell, in this age of NIL, was not a more highly coveted small school transfer target. Despite that, Mitchell showed too much dominance during his week in Mobile to be worried about his ability to level up against NFL talent. | ||||
#11 |
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CB |
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| General manager Howie Roseman has reportedly been seeking a trade into the top-15, specifically with his eyes on one of the top cornerbacks in the draft. Arizona, already having obliged the Vikings’ trade desires, continues to stockpile picks, earning through this trade its fifth pick in the top-50 and eighth pick inside the top 104 selections. With this pick, the Eagles are getting the top man-coverage corner in the draft. Arnold has superb lateral movement skills, doing his best work in tight press coverage. In addition to his technical skill, Arnold has a toughness to his game that’s been missing from the Eagles’ defensive backfield. Trade Details: Arizona receives pick 22 and pick 50 from Philadelphia in exchange for pick 11 and pick 226 | ||||
#12 |
|
QB |
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| If this season were to begin today, Denver’s starting quarterback would be Jarrett Stidham and his backup would be Ben DiNucci. That is not good. There’s absolutely no way the Broncos close out this draft without a new quarterback. The Broncos are currently strapped for draft capital, having shipped off their second round pick to New Orleans for Sean Payton, and because of this, they may find it difficult to jump up into the top six picks for one of the premium four quarterbacks. With their second selection of the draft not coming until pick 76, Denver chooses here to make their strike on a future signal caller. Penix is a polarizing prospect. The former Huskie and Heisman finalist had a superb 2023 season before revealing some inconsistent accuracy and processing issues in the Pac-12 Championship game and the National Championship. Despite his on-field imperfections, Penix has reportedly wowed coaches with his sterling character, leadership, and competitiveness, making him realistically worthy of first-round consideration. | ||||
#13 |
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DE |
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| It was only a matter of time before team “F*** Them Picks” made its moves. With five quarterbacks already off the board and the entirety of the draft’s pass rushers still available, the Rams send pick 19 and a couple mid-round selections to Vegas for the top rusher in the draft. The Sacramento-born Latu stays in his home state, addressing a major immediate need for the Rams as their defense begins its post Aaron Donald era. Latu is the most technically sound pass rusher in this draft, combining a cerebral approach to his one-on-ones with a ferocious technique. The 2023 All-American does not come without caveats, however. Before transferring to UCLA, Latu was medically retired by the University of Washington medical staff due to a neck injury. It is unknown whether or not Latu’s injury history has raised red flags in the NFL – but giving him the benefit of the doubt that his injury concerns are a thing of the past, he is every bit deserving of being this year’s top edge rusher selected. Trade Details: Las Vegas receives pick 19, pick 99 and pick 196 from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for pick 13 and pick 229 | ||||
#14 |
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OT |
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| The Saints could go many ways with this selection, but ultimately take the best player available as well as one who can make an immediate impact. Fuaga addresses an area of concern for New Orleans. Current left tackle and 2022 first rounder Trevor Penning has been a disappointment so far, while right tackle and former Pro Bowler Ryan Ramczyk is rumored to be approaching forced medical retirement. Fuaga is a mauler of a tackle. A college right tackle, he is likely to stay on his more natural side in the pros, but he showed at the Senior Bowl an ability to hold his own on the left. | ||||
#15 |
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LB |
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| Colts general manager Chris Ballard loves him some athletes, and boy does he get one here. Turner is in the mold of 2022 first-overall pick Travon Walker, a player with lots of room to grow, if developed properly, could emerge as one of the top players in the draft. | ||||
#16 |
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DE |
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| Seattle has been regularly linked to the draft’s top interior offensive linemen with this pick, but in the past, GM John Schneider has said that interior line is not a position the team traditionally covets with its premium draft capital. Taking that admission at face value, the Seahawks opt to instead add a pass rusher, “reaching” for an athletic freak in Robinson that I think is currently being overlooked, as he enters Thursday just 27th on the consensus board. Seattle tends to zig where others zag, often having an internal draft board that looks nothing like the consensus. | ||||
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#17 |
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DL |
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| On Wednesday, after an offseason of speculation, Tee Higgins formally requested a trade from the Bengals. Higgins is currently under the franchise tag with Cincinnati but has so far been absent from team activities as he demands a lucrative contract extension – one the Bengals do not seem keen on providing. As we saw with AJ Brown in 2022, the price tag for an emerging young receiver is a mid-first round pick. Jacksonville, having already satisfied its major needs via free agency, pulls the trigger, handing over their top selection to the Bengals for Higgins. With the earned capital, the Bengals snag Byron Murphy, a versatile player who lined up all across the Longhorns’ defensive line last season. Despite being relatively undersized, Murphy is stout enough against the run to line head-up over a center or guard while also providing enough quick-twitch ability as a legitimate interior pass rush threat. Trade Details: Jacksonville receives Tee Higgins from Cincinnati in exchange for pick 17 | ||||
#18 |
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WR |
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| With Higgins heading to Jacksonville, the Bengals bring in his replacement. Thomas has a profile reminiscent of DK Metcalf, looking every bit the part of a star receiver despite showing uninspiring tape in college. Again, like Metcalf, Thomas’ route tree for the Tigers last season was limited, running mostly just go-routes and shallow drags. His route-running concerns notwithstanding, Thomas is a beast of an athlete, possessing a size/speed combo seldom seen at his position. | ||||
#19 |
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OT |
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| The Dolphins leapfrog the Steelers to secure a perfect player for their scheme, while the Raiders keep racking up draft picks. A college left tackle just short of 6’4, Fautanu has the stature of a guard but every bit the arm length and athletic profile to remain at tackle. Fautanu has great feet and should excel in Miami’s read-option pass attack. In addition to his smooth moves in the passing game, the former Huskie is a straight up bully. Fautanu will likely begin his career at left guard while offering insurance for the oft-injured Terron Armstead at tackle. Trade Details: Las Vegas receives pick 21, pick 158 and a 2025 fifth round pick from Miami in exchange for pick 19 and a 2025 seventh round pick | ||||
#20 |
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OT |
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| Fashanu, once heralded as a potential top-10 selection, has seen his draft stock slide as of late, due to a focus on his less-than-stellar run-blocking prowess. Fashanu is an odd fit for a Pittsburgh team likely to lean heavily on Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren this upcoming season. Pittsburgh does, however, have a penchant for drafting young players (Fashanu doesn’t turn 22 until December) as well as those with elite tools ripe for development. The Penn State product, who did not allow a sack in his collegiate career, should, once developed, offer Pittsburgh an upgrade to incumbent left tackle Dan Moore Jr. | ||||
#21 |
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CB |
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| It may be a new regime in Las Vegas, but if one thing is a constant within the Raiders organization, it is how it covets speed above all else. Wiggins is slight, weighing-in at the Combine at just 173 pounds. He makes up for that tiny frame with elite athleticism, punctuated by his 4.28 forty, which led all defensive backs at the Combine. Wiggins has smooth movement and high-end recovery speed. The biggest knock on the former Tiger is his physicality, something new Raiders head coach Antonio Pearce can surely drill into him. | ||||
#22 |
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CB |
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| After spending most of their night collecting picks, the Cardinals finally begin their draft. With their first of three first-round picks, they grab the last consensus top-32 cornerback left on the board. McKinstry, not too long ago, was heralded as a potential top-10 pick, but saw his star dim in the 2023 season after being outshined by teammate Terrion Arnold. McKinstry will make his living near the line of scrimmage, often relying on his physicality to slow down his opponent, rather than allowing a foot race to ensue. | ||||
#23 |
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DE |
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| With their second of consecutive picks, the Cardinals select a heralded pass rusher experiencing an unexpected draft night slide. Verse is a prospect who does all things good, but maybe nothing particularly great. He’s a fierce competitor with an NFL-caliber pass-rushing repertoire and never-ending effort. Verse will need to elevate his ability to blow past blockers at the next level but he should offer Arizona an immediate upgrade to their current edge-rushing duo of Dennis Gardeck and Zaven Collins. | ||||
#24 |
|
OT |
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| Dallas is in the midst of an offensive line reshuffling after long-time stalwart Tyron Smith bolted for the Jets via free agency. In addition, emerging star and 2022 first rounder Tyler Smith is in positional purgatory, caught between remaining an All-Pro talent at guard and a potential switch over to the more important left tackle position. Barton allows the Cowboys additonal flexibility, offering a skillset and positional diversity that should allow him to play at all five positions along the line. Barton, with his sub-33 inch arms, will likely find at home in the interior at the professional level, but during his final collegiate season, he excelled at left tackle, playing particularly well against Jared Verse during Duke’s matchup against Florida State. | ||||
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#25 |
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CB |
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| DeJean is a conundrum. The former Hawkeye made a reputation for himself at Iowa as an athletic freak, coming into college after excelling at multiple sports, in addition to being one of South Dakota’s greatest high school track and field athletes ever. DeJean is a hard-nosed football player with great closing speed, but his biggest hurdle as an NFL cornerback may be his lateral quickness. The 2023 All-American will get a crack at being outside and inside cornerback for the Packers, but he will likely find his ultimate home at the free safety position. | ||||
#26 |
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OT |
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| Washington, having grabbed its quarterback of the future earlier in Round One in Drake Maye, trades back into the first to get the young signal caller some protection. Latham is a mauler, and while his hip stiffness may ultimately preclude him from continuing to play tackle, his physical nature should allow him to adjust well to the guard position. Trade Details: Tampa Bay receives pick 36, pick 78 and a 2025 sixth round pick from Washington in exchange for pick 26 | ||||
#27 |
|
C |
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| The Cardinals use their third and final first-round pick on the draft’s top center. Powers-Johnson is as quality an interior prospect as they come, sliding this far down in the first round due only to the fact that he plays a low-impact position. Powers-Johnson is still a young player, having just turned 21 in January. Despite that, the former Duck is as strong as an ox, proving such with his 30 bench reps at the Combine in February. | ||||
#28 |
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WR |
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| After losing Gabe Davis to Jacksonville and dealing Stefon Diggs to the Texans, the Bills really have no choice but to take a receiver with this pick. Mitchell is an elite talent 75% of the time, but often gets lazy with his route running. When he’s locked in, he is just as good as the top-end receivers in this draft, offering a superb break at the zenith of his routes. Mitchell also plays with great speed, especially at his 200-plus pound frame. | ||||
#29 |
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DL |
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| The Lions, in a short time, went from a team with needs across the board to one with very few. The Lions could be tempted to trade out of Round One, but with Newton still on the board, Detroit gets great value. Newton is a flashy player with excellent interior pass-rush ability while offering above average skill against the run. | ||||
#30 |
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QB |
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| After passing on the top quarterbacks at the onset of Round One, the Patriots trade back in to get the last member of the “big six.” Selecting Nix here at the backend of Round One allows the Patriots the luxury of a fifth-year option, something unavailable to second rounders. Grabbing Nix here offers New England a low-risk, high-reward option at signal caller, very much leaving them unincumbered to seek a QB the following offseason, should Nix prove unspectacular. Nix is a cerebral player with a big arm, and at 24 years old, more mature than most incoming players. Nix can sling it, but he often gets hung up by his processing shortcomings and poor decision-making. Trade Details: Baltimore receives pick 34, pick 137 and a 2025 third round pick from New England in exchange for pick 30 | ||||
#31 |
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DL |
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| Robinson’s talent is undeniable, flashing excellent pass-rushing ability at his herculean 6’5/285-pound frame. The former Mizzou Tiger likely would be a sure-fire top-20 pick had he not disappointed in Indy with a sub-par 4.95 forty-yard dash and just a 9’3 broad jump. Athletic shortcomings notwithstanding, Robinson should be an excellent supplement for San Francisco’s offseason departures of Arik Armstead, Chase Young and Randy Gregory. | ||||
#32 |
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OT |
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| Most prognosticators have penciled in a receiver with this pick. Last season, the Chiefs won the Super Bowl despite having a receiving corps bereft of any true stars. To make matters worse, promising talent Rashee Rice has experienced a highly-public off-field issue this offseason that is fully expected to result in a lengthy suspension. The sum of those issues notwithstanding, the Chiefs are equally in need of a tackle, currently going into 2024 with Wanya Morris as the expected starter on the left side. Mims, a project unto himself, will at least offer the Chiefs a failsafe for Morris. Mims is a herculean talent, but very raw, having only one season of college football under his belt. | ||||