Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

By no means am I a Shedeur Sanders fan, but him sliding past teams like the Raiders, Steelers, and Saints is pretty wild. Despite not winning when he was at Colorado, he did put up good numbers, especially in 2024 when he threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Cleveland’s picking at 33 and 36, the Raiders are at 37, and the Saints are at 40, so expect to see one of those teams pull the trigger on Sanders.

Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo

Last night the two top running backs in the draft, Jeanty and Hampton, came off the board. Next in line should be either Skattebo or Henderson to find their homes for the future. In the case of Skattebo, he showed off that he can really do it all in the playoffs vs Texas. Even though his team lost, he rushed for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns, caught 8 passes for 99 yards, and even threw a touchdown. Kansas City at 63 or Dallas at 44 seem like good fits for the physical, hard working back.

Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson

Akin to Skattebo, TreVeyon Henderson is a guy who can kind of do it all. Opposite of Skattebo however, Henderson’s numbers took a bit of a hit due to sharing the backfield with Judkins, but he was still efficient totaling 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns on 144 carries while also catching 27 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown. Green Bay at 54 or Kansas City at 63 would be an awesome fit.

Missouri WR Luther Burden III

Every year I have a few favorites going into the draft. This year there were a few: Will Campbell, Jalon Walker, Xavier Watts, Tyler Booker, and Luther Burden III. Three (or four, I’m not sure how to categorize Travis Hunter) came off the board before Burden III and I think the Packers made a huge mistake taking Golden over the 6’0″ Missouri Tiger. Burden III has great hands, is a sleek route runner, and will be an immediate WR2 on just about any team that takes him. The Patriots at 38, Broncos at 51, or even the Chargers at 55 would all be great fits.

Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins

If Tet McMillan wasn’t in this years draft, I think Jayden Higgins could’ve been an early first round pick because of his 6’4″, 215 pound frame. He was the biggest offensive weapon for Iowa State in 2024 as he caught 87 passes for 1,183 yards and 9 scores and he’ll be a steal in the second round for Baltimore at 59 or Washington at 61.

Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr.

I’m a big Harold Fannin Jr. fan. He’s a speedy tight end and an underrated good blocker, but a team taking him isn’t drafting him to block, they’re drafting him because he caught 117 passes for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The Rams need a tight end badly and I had them taking Fannin in the first round last night. Now they might be able to snag him at 46.

Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery

The first look appeal of Aireontae Ersery is his 6’6″, 331 pound frame, but when you get past that you see a tackle who only allowed 1 sack last year and was a reason that Minnesota’s run game was as efficient as it was. Houston traded out of the first round last night and are in need of offensive line help to protect C.J. Stroud. They pick at 34 and 58 tonight and would be an ideal landing spot for Ersery.

Georgia IOL Tate Ratledge

At his size and with the power he brings, Tate Ratledge is going to make an NFL team very happy. Standing at 6’7″, 307 pounds, Ratledge is an extremely sound player who moves well at his size and excels in zone schemes. The Raiders at 37 should be in play especially after taking Jeanty at 6. Other teams to keep an eye on will be San Francisco at 43 and Seattle at 50 or 52.

Georgia IOL Jared Wilson

The selling point on Georgia guard Tate Ratledge is his size. For his counterpart at center, Jared Wilson, the selling point is his above average athleticism. While he doesn’t have a ton of experience, he is very explosive and his ability to reach the second level is the best of any center in this years draft class. Had Atlanta not traded up to take James Pearce Jr. I would’ve said they’d be the perfect fit, but because they don’t have a second round pick I could see the Patriots at 38 grab him (which’d really piss off the fan base), the Buccaneers at 53, or Atlanta gets lucky that he slips and they get him at 101.

Tennessee DT Omarr Norman-Lott

I had Omarr Norman-Lott tabbed as a late first round pick so him escaping round one isn’t a major shock. He’s a solid pass rusher, but is a bit of a liability when it comes to stopping the run, which makes sense why Derrick Harmon, Walter Nolen, and Tyleik Williams went ahead of him. I envision Indianapolis at 45 or Buffalo at 56 to grab the 6’2″, 291 pound Tennessee Volunteer.

UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger

What’s not to love about Carson Schwesinger? He’s a quick 6’2″ inside linebacker who tallied 136 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass breakups on an abysmal UCLA team this year. Tampa Bay seemed like a landing spot for Jalon Walker who came off the board a few picks prior to them, so they’ll get the next best thing at pick 53. Other teams to keep an eye on should be Miami at 48, Carolina at 57, or Washington at 61.

South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr.

There were a lot of studs on South Carolina’s defense this past fall (we’ll get to another), but the heart and soul of it is linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. With 82 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 interception in 2024, any team who has the chance to fill a gap on the middle of their defense should scoop him up. I’d like to see Knight land in Detroit at 60 or even earlier with Green Bay at 54 or Buffalo at 56.

Marshall DE Mike Green

I’m so high on Mike Green, and I know that I shouldn’t be, but I am stunned he fell out of the first round. He’s a lean 6’3″, 250 pound ball of fire off the edge and packs a massive punch in his bull rush technique. Where Mike Green will end up is a big question and because edge is an evergreen position, I could see him landing anywhere in round two. Fit wise, New Orleans at 40, Dallas at 44, and Denver at 51 feel the most prime.

Boston College DE Donovan Ezeiruaku

Someone is going to land a really good pass rusher, one who won ACC Defensive Player of the Year, in Donovan Ezeiruaku and it’ll be a steal. The team that’d be the best fit for Ezeiruaku, who tallied 16.5 sacks last season, is the Baltimore Ravens at 59. They have a glaring need for a pass rusher and probably should’ve addressed the need last night. But if Ezeiruaku can slide to them in the late second round then it’s no harm no foul.

Michigan CB Will Johnson

Apparently the reason Will Johnson is falling so far in the draft is due to a knee injury concern, but in my opinion now that we’re out of round one, any team with a need at corner should jump on the opportunity to draft him. He played in five games last season and was productive making 14 tackles and 2 interceptions. The Titans at 35, Colts at 45, and Packers at 54 feel like likely landing spots.

Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison

I’m obviously a bit biased regarding these next two guys because they’re Notre Dame men, but they’re both studs who will make massive impacts for whoever drafts them. Starting with Benjamin Morrison, he’s a physical man-to-man corner who is awesome vs the run and doesn’t get targeted often. His season ending hip injury may still be a concern, but when you watch what he can do when he’s healthy then you’re gonna want him on your team. Miami at 48 or Green Bay at 54 are teams who could use corner help and would be nice fits for Morrison.

Notre Dame S Xavier Watts

In the case of Xavier Watts, he’s a dude. He’s one of those guys who is a ball hawk with great instincts and makes the guys in front of him correct. In 2024, Watts tallied 83 tackles, 6 sacks, and 9 pass breakups just showing off how well he moves around the field. Lots of teams could use a player like Watts so the Texans at 34 and Jets at 42 would make a lot of sense. I wouldn’t be stunned if the Vikings even traded up to grab Watts.