My first and only iteration of an NFL Mock Draft prior to tonights draft beginning at 8 PM EST. A fairly good class with it’s fair share of top talents as well as some post combine risers. Let’s dive in.
1 Carolina Panthers (Via Chicago) – Bryce Young QB Alabama
2 Houston Texans – Will Anderson Jr. EDGE Alabama
3 Arizona Cardinals – Tyree Wilson EDGE Texas Tech
4 Indianapolis Colts – CJ Stroud QB Ohio State
5 Seattle Seahawks (Via Denver) – Jalen Carter IDL Georgia
6 Detroit Lions – Christian Gonzalez DB Oregon
7 Las Vegas Raiders – Anthony Richardson QB Florida
8 Atlanta Falcons – Nolan Smith EDGE Georgia
9 Chicago Bears (Via Carolina) – Paris Johnson Jr. OT Ohio State
10 Philadelphia Eagles (Via New Orleans) – Bijan Robinson HB Texas
11 Tennesse Titans – Broderick Jones OT Georgia
12 Houston Texas (Via Cleveland) – Myles Murphy EDGE Clemson
13 Green Bay Packers (Via NYJ) – Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio State
14 New England Patriots – Anton Harrison OT Oklahoma
15 New York Jets (Via Green Bay) – Peter Skoronski OL Northwestern
16 Washington Commanders – Devon Witherspoon DB Illinois
17 Pittsburgh Steelers – Darnell Wright OT Tennessee
18 Detroit Lions – Lukas Van Ness EDGE Iowa
19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Will Levis QB Kentucky
20 Seattle Seahawks – Cam Smith DB South Carolina
21 Los Angeles Chargers – Joey Porter Jr. DB Penn State
22 Baltimore Ravens – Quentin Johnston WR TCU
23 Minnesota Vikings – Zay Flowers WR Boston College
24 Jacksonville Jaguars – Calajah Kancey IDL Pittsburgh
25 New York Giants – Jordan Addison WR USC
26 Dallas Cowboys – Dalton Kincaid TE Utah
27 Buffalo Bills – Deonte Banks DB Maryland
28 Cincinnati Bengals – O’Cyrus Torrence IOL Florida
29 New Orleans Saints (Via San Francisco) – Felix Anudike-Uzomah EDGE Kansas State
30 Philadelphia Eagles – Brian Branch S Alabama
31 Kansas City Chiefs – Jahmyr Gibbs HB Alabama
Best Day 2 Available (No Particular Order)
Michael Mayer TE Notre Dame
Dawand Jones OT Ohio State
Emmanuel Forbes DB Mississippi State
Bryan Bresee IDL Clemson
Antonio Johnson S Texas A&M
Will McDonald IV EDGE Iowa State
Jalin Hyatt WR Tennessee
Hendon Hooker QB Tennessee
BJ Ojulari EDGE LSU
Darnell Washington TE Georgia
Definitely not a typical mock you’ll see that stack QB in the top 7, but one that attacks needs instead of reaching on some QB’s that could potentially be the franchise guy, but have shown minimal signs of actually being one especially if there’s struggles in college and need a significant amount of time to develop into being even a starting caliber NFL QB. If it weren’t for the off the field issues for Jalen Carter I would’ve had him going #2 as I feel he’s the best non QB player in the draft, and #2 overall on my big board. Nolan Smith had a great combine and offers a unique combination of speed and agility off the edge to be one of the league’s top pass rushers for years. I could see the Titans going a variety of ways with their first pick, whether that be QB, WR, DB, or OT, as they lack in so many positions but ultimately I have them getting my OT2 in Broderick Jones to be the blindside blocker for Willis or Tannehill. Washington benefits on the slide from Devon Witherspoon right into their lap at 16 to jump next to Kendall Fuller. I have a slight run in the early 20’s of WR, as Johnston, Flowers, and Addison all go within 4 picks of each other, all of whom I view as in the same tier and hard for me to give on an edge over the other. Looking back on it, the Bengals could’ve gone TE here and taken Mayer as that is another one of their needs, but I chose Torrence as they need to bolster their interior OL to set up the run game more efficiently. Not much to complain about for KC, but another dynamic back in Gibbs to add a weapon for Mahomes is ideal – maybe a WR but I lean Gibbs.
I’m expecting to make another post similar to this, breaking down R1 of the draft as well as best guys left for day 2, as well as winners/losers over the weekend to recap the draft. Let me know your thoughts, comments, where you agree/disagree in the comments below.
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