This is the first mock draft I’ll ever put out for other people to critique. Obviously, like any other football head, I’ve done my own, but I’ve always kept them to myself. This time it’s different. I’ll try to explain my reasoning as best as possible but no promises.
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1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence QB Clemson
No surprise here, moving on.
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson QB BYU
Again, I don’t think this is going to shock anyone.
3. San Francisco 49ers (via MIA): Trey Lance QB North Dakota State
The third quarterback taken has been a hot topic, and for good reason. I think Justin Fields is the third-best in the class, but I think Lance is a better fit for the ‘Niners. He can sit behind Jimmy G for a year and really learn the system.
Proposed Trade: ATL trades the 4 & ’22 4th for DEN 9, 71, & ’22 2rd
The Bronocs need a quarterback and the Falcons can get some serious capital for this year and next year.
4. Denver Broncos: Justin Fields QB Ohio State
I think the Broncos are in a really good situation. The only position they really need to be competitive is a quarterback so trading one extra pick for it is a steal. I think Fields is good enough to beat out Drew Lock for the starting spot and give the Broncos a legitimate shot at the playoffs.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase WR LSU
Yes, the Bengals need offensive line help, but you can’t put a price on the connection Joe Burrow and Chase have. Now, I could totally be missing the boat on this one, but I think there are solid enough tackles in the second round for the Bengals to take. Also, Burrow seems to be making a push for the Bengals to take him here.
6. Miami Dolphins: Devonta Smith WR Alabama
Yesterday, I would’ve said they go Penei Sewell. However, I’ve heard rumors that they aren’t as in love with him as mock drafts would have us believe. With that, I think the Heisman winner is the clear pick. He adds something the Dolphins don’t have, an explosive weapon for Tua Tagavoila.
7. Detroit Lions: Penei Sewell T Oregon
If Sewell falls this far and the Lions don’t take him I’ll be shocked. He’s exactly the kind of lineman the Lions need. He fits the culture the Lions are trying to build, and most of all, he gives them a great run blocker.
8. Carolina Panthers: Kyle Pitts TE Florida
Kyle Pitts might end up being the best player in this draft, but because he plays tight end he loses some value. The pick makes even more sense with the Panthers’ recent move for Sam Darnold. Pitts gives him a huge target with a massive catch radius.
9. Atlanta Falcons: Patrick Surtain III CB Alabama
The Falcons need a lot of different things, but Surtain feels like a can’t miss cornerback here. He’s long and physical. He essentially played on an island last year for Alabama and was phenomenal. Surtain would start day one for the Falcons and immediately upgrade their secondary.
10. Dallas Cowboys: Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina
Back-to-back corners being taken here with Horn going to Dallas. He is my CB2 ahead of Caleb Farley because of his ability to shut down anyone. Horn only allowed eight catches in 239 coverage snaps. He also went toe-to-toe with Kyle Pitts. Great spot here for the Cowboys.
11. New York Giants: Rashawn Slater T Northwestern
Slater is a complete mauler. He’ll open up lanes for Saquon Barkley and help protect Daniel Jones. There’s really no way to go wrong with Slater. Giants upgrade a huge need.
12. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Waddle WR Alabama
The Eagles need wide-out help for Jalen Hurts and Waddle is just as solid as anyone else in this class. If the Eagles don’t pick him here, Howie Roseman needs to be fired.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Christian Darrisaw T Virginia Tech
The Chargers need someone to protect Justin Herbert. Darrisaw is that guy. He’s a little rawer than Sewell and Slater, but with a little bit of help, he can be a great starter in this league.
Proposed Trade: MIN trades 14 for WAS 19 & 74
Minnesota doesn’t need anyone here so trading down to get some more capital to make a move back into the second makes sense.
14. Washington Football Team: Mac Jones QB Alabama
Jones is the fourth Bama player taken in the top 15. The Football Team has Ryan Fitzpatrick for this year but have no long term plans after. 14 is a perfect spot to trade up for a solid player in Mac Jones who can sit behind Fitz for a year and develop.
15. New England Patriots: Micah Parsons LB Penn State
Parsons is just too good of a prospect for Bill Belichick to pass up on. They get a generational talent here with him falling all the way to 15. He’ll be a staple in this system for years to come. The only issue is the Pats don’t get an elite playmaking receiver.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Christian Barmore IDL Alabama
The Cards need some help along their defensive line and Barmore gives it to them. It’s not the flashiest pick, but it will make them better. The wideout class is deep enough where they don’t have to get that here.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Tevin Jenkins T Oklahoma State
Jenkins is the exact player the Raiders need, especially with Gruden and Mayock putting no priorities on the offensive line in free agency. Jenkins is a mauler and will help with the Raiders line woes.
18. Miami Dolphins: Alijah Vera-Tucker T USC
Vera-Tucker is a versatile offensive lineman that will allow the Dolphins to move some pieces around to get the best result. They have to do their best to help Tua in his second season and Vera-Tucker helps keeping him in a clean pocket.
19. Minnesota Vikings: Azeez Ojulari EDGE Georgia
The Vikings desperately need help on the edge. Ojulari just might be the best pure speed rusher in the draft. It seems like a no brainer to pair him with Danielle Hunter.
20. Chicago Bears: Samuel Cosmi T Texas
I don’t know what Ryan Pace is doing at quarterback, but it seems like Andy Dalton is going to be QB1 this year. There’s two ways they could go with this pick; wideout or tackles. To me, tackle just makes more sense, especially with Allen Robinson in the core.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Rashod Bateman WR Minnesota
Carson Wentz gets another shot with Frank Reich after being traded from the Eagles this offseason. So why not get the man as much help as possible? Bateman is a surefire as it gets in this range. In most classes he’s a one or two in the class. Indy is getting him at 21. This is a steal for them.
22. Tennessee Titans: Kwity Paye EDGE Michigan
This is one of those fits that just feels right. The Titans defense fell of a little bit last year, mostly due to the lack of pass rush. Paye is extremely raw, but with Vrabel coaching him, he could turn into a great edge threat.
23. New York Jets: Greg Newsome II CB Northwestern
The Jets get some much needed help in the passing game with Newsome. Although, it would be nice to get an offensive weapon for Zach Wilson, but they have to focus on defense with this pick. Newsome is a great CB4 in this class for the Jets.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris RB Alabama
He might not be the consensus number one running back, but he is the perfect fit for a Steelers run game that was dead last. Harris is explosive and built like a truck. He can go through or around, which is exactly what the Steelers need.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Pat Freiermuth TE Penn State
“Baby Gronk” is a great pick for an offense that just needs a guy to move the sticks on third and intermediate. Freiermuth and Trevor Lawrence could develop an instant connection because of Freiermuth’s ability to get open. He’s the last piece for an offense that looks to fully turn the corner.
26. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LB Notre Dame
JOK is a great do-it-all linebacker, a position of need for the Browns. The only issue is that JOK isn’t the greatest in the run game, which might deter the browns. His upside is his unrivaled man coverage ability. He can go up against the best tight ends in the game.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Terrace Marshall Jr. WR LSU
The Ravens obviously need a wide receiver in this draft. They have their burner in Hollywood Brown and now get a more possession receiver in Marshall. It might not be the favorite pick, but I think the fit is good.
28. New Orleans Saints: Elijah Moore WR Ole Miss
The Saints offense is seeing some major turnover for the first time in 15 years. With Jameis Winston at QB this year (yes, he’ll be the starter) there’s a lot of questions as to what style of offense they’ll play. Regardless of what style they use Moore is a homerun pick for Sean Payton.
29. Green Bay Packers: Rondale Moore WR Purdue
The third straight wide receiver taken and the first time the Packers draft Aaron Rodgers a weapon in the first round. Moore is a swiss army knife that will be awesome in that offense. Rodgers gets another weapon to try and get to the Super Bowl with.
30. Buffalo Bills: Jayson Oweh EDGE Penn State
Oweh is a great athlete and fits great in the Bills’ system. If he falls this far I’d be shocked if the Bills went elsewhere. The Bills pass rush is going to go from average to great with the addition of Oweh.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Gregory Rousseau EDGE Miami
The Chiefs have two major needs; Tackle and edge. I thought about tackle, but wasn’t in love with any of the ones left on the board. Then I went to edge and saw I still had Rousseau on the board. He’s a great piece for the Chiefs to get some much needed edge pressure.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trevon Moehrig S TCU
The safety class isn’t all that deep this year, which is why the first one didn’t go until pick 32. Moehrig is a great player, but safety is not the biggest need for a lot of teams. The Bucs, however, do have a little bit of a need there. Jordan Whitehead isn’t a bad player, but I think Moehrig and him could split snaps at the safety position.
