One of my favorite times of the year is the NFL Draft. I love the suspense of the selections and making mock drafts. This year’s mock was kinda difficult, as there is no clear cut No. 1 pick or extreme talent. But I hope you enjoy!
1) Carolina Panthers: CJ Stroud – QB – Ohio State
The Panthers traded up for a quarterback to win now, and they surrounded the future No. 1 pick with talents, like Hayden Hurst, Miles Sanders, and Adam Thielen. Stroud has the slight advantage over Young, just because of his prototypical size.
2) Houston Texans: Bryce Young – QB – Alabama
I really wouldn’t draft Young, because although he’s really good, he measures in at 5’10” and weighed 204 lbs at the combine. The question is will he be able to maintain that weight during the season?
3) Indianapolis Colts (Mock Trade from Arizona): Will Levis – QB – Kentucky
The Colts traded up to 3 in this mock to make sure that they can get the franchise quarterback they want. Levis has Josh Allen comps but he will take time to develop.
4) Arizona Cardinals (Mock Trade from Indianapolis): Will Anderson Jr. – OLB – Alabama
The mock trade from the Colts is largely beneficial to the Cards as well, because they should be able to get a 4th or 5th round pick, while also being able to get one of the best defensive players in this class in Will Anderson Jr.
5) Seattle Seahawks: Tyree Wilson – DE – Texas Tech
I would have the Seahawks drafting Jalen Carter, but due to his poor performance in the pro day and his legal issues, I have Seattle drafting Wilson, who is one of the most explosive players in the draft.
6) Detroit Lions: Christian Gonzalez – CB – Oregon
After trading Jeff Okudah, the Lions need to get a new corner. Gonzalez is a long, lanky corner, who covers a lot of ground. Since the Lions busted on Okudah, they take the safest corner in this mock.
7) Las Vegas Raiders: Anthony Richardson – QB – Florida
The Raiders drafted my favorite player in this class. Richardson’s explosiveness and deep ball accuracy provide a tantalizing option for Josh McDaniels and his coaching staff. I think Richardson needs to sit for at least half the season, so he can fully develop.
8) Atlanta Falcons: Miles Murphy – DE – Clemson
The Falcons’ pass rush needs to improve if A.J. Terrell is going to continue to develop into a star. Murphy projects in a similar role to Aidan Hutchinson. You’ll never get a superstar performance out of him, but he will be a solid player for a long time.
9) Chicago Bears: Peter Skoronski – T/G – Northwestern
After committing their future to Justin Fields, the Bears need to protect him. Skoronski can play all 5 positions on the line and probably can play left tackle as well.
10) Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Carter – DT – Georgia
I dropped Carter to 10 because of the issues I talked about earlier. Not including his legal issues, he is probably the best player in the draft, and if he gets his stuff together, he could end up being a future hall of famer.
11) Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson Jr. – OT – Ohio State
With Taylor Lewan leaving, the Titans really need to replace him, as he used to be a cornerstone player of the Titans. For the Titans’ offense to work, they need to have a good offensive line, and Johnson could provide that.
12) Houston Texans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba – WR – Ohio State
To surround Bryce Young with talent, the Texans have to draft a wide receiver and Smith-Njigba is the best one in this class. Even though he basically missed the entire season, his talent is undeniable.
13) New York Jets: Brian Branch – S – Alabama
Brian Branch is so versatile and can be the backbone of the Jets’ defense. He comes from the Alabama program and if Nick Saban trusts him, then Robert Saleh should too.
14) New England Patriots: Devon Witherspoon – CB – Illinois
Witherspoon is exactly the player the Patriots love. Tough, scrappy, and hard-working players always succeed under Bill Belicheck, and Witherspoon should flourish in the Patriots’ complex defensive system.
15) Green Bay Packers: Lukas Van Ness – DE – Iowa
The Packers ranked 26th in the NFL in sacks, and Lukas Van Ness should be able to bring up the Packers’ defensive line.
16) Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr. – CB – Penn State
The son of a former NFL linebacker, also his namesake, Joey Porter Jr. is a big, lanky corner, who also struggles changing directions. Even with this, he can end up being one of the best corners in the NFL.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones – OT – Georgia
To protect their chosen quarterback of the future, the Steelers take Jones, who anchored the National Championship winning Georgia Bulldogs and later round draft pick Stetson Bennett.
18) Detroit Lions: Dalton Kincaid – TE – Utah
After trading T.J. Hockenson earlier in the year due to a contract dispute, the Lions need to shore up one of their only needs on offense: Tight End. Kincaid is an athletic freak who doesn’t really block that well, but is normally used as a wide receiver type tight end.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Calijah Kancey – DT – Pittsburgh
Not to get ahead of myself here, but the last time there was an undersized Pittsburgh defensive tackle, he turned out to be one of the best players of all time. Now, with the Buccaneers’ defensive line aging, they turn to one of the highest upside players in the draft in Kancey.
20) Seattle Seahawks: O’Cyrus Torrence – G – Florida
To protect their newly signed quarterback, Geno Smith, I have the Seahawks taking Torrence, 6’5” a guard from Florida. Playing a guard, he should help pave lanes for Kenneth Walker, as well as protect the quarterback.
21) Los Angeles Chargers: Bijan Robinson – RB – Texas
With Austin Ekeler’s demand for a trade, the Chargers get an immediate and probably better replacement for him in Bijan Robinson. Hailed as the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley, Robinson’s explosive running style should lead to many future touchdowns in the NFL.
22) Baltimore Ravens: Quentin Johnston – WR – TCU
If the Ravens want to keep Lamar Jackson happy and in Baltimore, they need an explosive wide receiver for him to throw to. While Rashod Bateman might become that player, he can’t do it alone, and this is where Johnston comes in. A big bodied deep threat, Johnston would be able to stretch the Ravens offense while Bateman works underneath.
23) Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison – WR – USC
Justin Jefferson (probably) can’t do it alone, with Adam Thielen moving on to the Panthers. To avoid the constant double teams on Jefferson, Addison would work in the slot and would directly replace Thielen. Jefferson and Addison is a salivating combo that should torch the secondaries of the NFC North.
24) Jacksonville Jaguars: Kelee Ringo – CB – Georgia
To keep up with the prolific offenses of the AFC, the Jaguars draft another cornerback. This time, it’s Ringo, from the National Championship winning Georgia Bulldogs. Ringo will pair nicely with Tyson Campbell.
25) New York Giants: Cam Smith – CB – South Carolina
One of the most well rounded cornerbacks in the draft, Smith will help lock down the excellent receivers of the NFC East. The Giants already have a decent roster, and Smith will make it even better.
26) Dallas Cowboys: Michael Mayer – TE – Notre Dame
With Dalton Schultz signing with the Texans, the Cowboys are now lacking at tight end. Mayer is a balanced prospect with no outstanding traits but is good at everything, including blocking, which is important.
27) Buffalo Bills: Nolan Smith – OLB – Georgia
Even after drafting Boogie Basham and A.J. Epenesa Smith would give the Bills an extra explosive element in their pass rush. After missing a large portion of the year, Smith showed out at the combine, and that should propel him into the first round.
28) Cincinnati Bengals: Deonte Banks – CB – Maryland
Banks ran one of the fastest 40 yard dash times at the combine this year, coming in behind my hometown favorite D.J. Turner. Cornerback is slowly becoming one of the most important positions in the NFL, with offenses becoming more and more explosive. Banks should be good for the Bengals, especially in their duels with the Chiefs.
29) New Orleans Saints: BJ Ojulari – OLB – LSU
After Marcus Davenport turned out to be a bust, the Saints now need help in their pass rush. Ojulari has a brother already in the NFL, in Azeez Ojulari, and he might end up even better than the latter.
30) Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Bresee – DT – Clemson
Bresee was projected to go into the top 10 last year, but after a rough season, where family members died, his tape suffered. He still has a lot of upside, but now comes with more risk after his understandably disappointing season this year.
31) Kansas City Chiefs: Zay Flowers – WR – Boston
Even though the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, they did it with a completely average wide receiving corps. Flowers is a shifty receiver, who mostly plays in the slot, but is always open. The Chiefs offense could become even better, with Flowers in at the slot.
THIS IS THE BEST MOCK EVER!!!!!
Fun and helpful draft analysis AK. Love the call for Dallas to draft TE Mike Mayer from Notre Dame in first round. Notre Dame is indeed Tight End U!