Man even looking back at my mocks from 2 months ago, things change so fast in this cycle. Players get hurt, teams go on runs, players develop or fall off. It's amazing what can happen and both how long and how short a football season is. This is not what I would do, but what I think will happen. I play in an ultra competitive team building madden league and I don't want my compatriots to know what I'm thinking or where I'm grading players anymore because now it's getting serious. So here we go. My first real shot at a mock now that the first 18 teams orders' are locked in.
1. Chicago Bears - QB Caleb Williams, USC
Look, Justin Fields shows flashes of absolute brilliance. He really does, but his pocket awareness and ability to scan down field is well below average and he simply is not a very productive NFL passer at this point. Plus, Fields was not drafted by this regime - Fields will likely fetch a day 2 pick, which is valuable and you can start building around the 2nd best QB prospect I've ever scouted and one of only 3 99 rated QBs (Luck, Lawrence). He's a Patrick Mahomes clone and he makes up for a mountain of ills on your football team. Add a day 2 pick, draft a superstar, and then support him.
Also huge kudos to Ryan Pace, he dominated that draft back last year. Added the first overall pick this year, DJ Moore, and Darnell Wright, along with adding another pick at 61 that they sort of turned into Tyrique Stevenson, and another 2nd round pick in 2025. GRAND SLAM.
2. Washington Commanders - QB Drake Maye, UNC
Don't overthink this Washington. I know some people may want you to trade back and get a king's ransom but in the NFL if you have your guy at QB you're 50% of the way there, and Maye is the guy. If he weren't in a class with Caleb Williams he'd be the slam dunk first overall pick. He's got size, a plus-plus arm, good mobility, toughness, and has played behind a trash offensive line which is a huge benefit. It means he won't flinch when the bullets are flying. Maye is a blue chip prospect and can solve your QB issues for a decade or two.
3. New England Patriots - QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
I don't think Bill Belichek will ultimately get to make this call but even if he does, with a defense that great, adding a ultra high floor QB like Daniels makes a ton of sense. I get that people are going to say "high floor" and be confused by the 6'4 210 pound Heisman winner. The thing is, his scrambling ability is the best I've ever seen minus Lamar. Just his ability to take losses and turn them into 3rd down conversions should get you into a lot of field goal situations. He throws a beautiful deep ball, is VERY careful with the ball, and could be the ultimate complimentary football player in the NFL. Not to mention, he's a potential superstar in the NFL.
4. Arizona Cardinals - WR Marvin Harrison Jr, Ohio State
Freaking dream scenario here for the Cardinals who get the best WR prospect since Calvin Johnson and don't even have to use capital to do it. MHJ is going to walk into the NFL and be a top 15 player at his position and he has the potential to be WR1 in the entire NFL. If the Cardinals can bring back Hollywood Brown and pair him with MHJ and a rising Trey McBride - their OL was a very pleasant surprise this season, damn that Cardinals team could really make a push next year in a wide open NFC playoff picture.
5. New York Jets (TRADE!!! from the Chargers) - OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
The Jets are going to give up pick 10, 2025 2nd, and 2026 3rd
The Jets are in all-in mode for two seasons with Aaron Rodgers, so giving up two mid round picks to move up 5 spots is a necessary evil here. The OL was a trainwreck this season and while there are some pieces to work with here, getting another player or two or three up front has to be everything they are trying to do with pick 1. Alt doesn't maybe have the upside that Fashanu does but he's the most consistent player in this class and he won't be a miss. He's ready to be a professional LT the minute he walks into the room, so this pick along with a free agent or three is mandatory. We'll cover why the Chargers would like this move later.
6. New York Giants - WR Malik Nabers - LSU
I really did think about QB here but they just have so much money wrapped up in Daniel Jones that giving him one more season makes sense when it's that or settle for QB4 in this draft class. Plus the Giants are still bullish on RT Evan Neal even if the rest of the world is not. If you're the Giants you hope that Neal and Schmitz take a step forward next year and you add a crazy weapon here in Nabers who has serious Stefon Diggs vibes. The team has some weapons with Slayton, Robinson, and Hyatt outside but nobody anywhere near what Nabers can do. Let's give Jones one more year and go out and buy us a guard in free agency I think is the idea. Plus he's got $63.9m in dead money if they cut him, they need to build up the roster even if he's not the guy.
7. Tennessee Titans - OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
This is a really good board for the Titans who are in beyond desperate need of OL help and Fashanu might not last this long on draft day. He's a crazy athlete for someone who is 317 pounds and while he may not possess the anger in the run game you'd like to see, he's a truly elite pass protector who has A+ upside on the outside. I'd be shocked if Tennessee doesn't go OT with its first pick and the board fell really well to them here.
8. Atlanta Falcons - QB Michael Penix, Washington
This feels high to me but after watching the trainwreck that was the Falcons QB play this past season, they may need to make a big swing. I actually kind of like their roster and feel like they should push to go get a veteran so they can use this pick elsewhere like a Cousins or Fields but both will be in high demand. Penix is a beatiful thrower of the football and he can layer or drive the ball when needed. He's not great when there is a messy pocket though but Atlanta has a solid offensive line, great weapons, and a good run game. He'd fit right in from all the help he got at Washington.
9. Chicago Bears - WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Back to back Huskies in this mock draft as the Bears get Penix best weapon. Caleb Williams is the franchise at this point so let's give him as much help as we can get. Odunze is a natural X WR who can play all over the formation and it doesn't matter what you need him to do, he can do it. The thing here is too you can double both he and DJ Moore so the Bears should have a ton of opportunities to sling the football. This would be a good board for the Bears.
10. LA Chargers (Trade Back from Jets) - TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
This would be whoever takes over this team's first draft and typically those guys don't like taking chances. Trading back makes too much sense because your roster is VERY top heavy so you have to accumulate cheap talent and Bowers is a can't miss prospect. The Chargers have a huge need at TE and while there are other good pieces and team needs, this is a simple best player available approach. This is likely the first of a 6 year deal for a GM - BPA is the way they may approach this and they now have two extra day 2 picks.
11. Minnesota Vikings - Edge Laiatu Latu, UCLA
I really believe the Vikings are going to bring back Kirk Cousins and I think it'll be on a multi- year deal. They love him there, he was playing great football this season and it makes sense on both sides. If that happens though, Danielle Hunter is probably gone. The aggressive approach defensively of Brian Flores got some solid results but it still relies on guys winning one on one matchups. Latu is the best edge rusher in this class per most scouts and his size and strength will allow him to thrive in Flores' system.
12. Denver Broncos - QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan
Obviously the Broncos don't believe in Russell Wilson as they are willing to pay him over $60m in dead cap to not be there so they are going to have to get aggressive here. While they wanted to trade up into the top 3 that ain't happening so the Broncos settle for their guy here. Sean Payton has always had fantasies of a mobile QB and McCarthy supposedly runs in the 4.4 range and has a massive arm. This allows the Broncos to reset under Payton with a young moldable QB - if he goes to the draft.
13. Las Vegas Raiders - OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
This could certainly be a QB as well but we're now down to QB6 so instead the Raiders improve their OL with a run blocking monster from Oregon State. O'Connell has proven he can manage games well enough for them at this point so let's build up the roster a bit. Plus honestly, it would be surprising if the Raiders don't end up with a decent veteran QB this offseason. Who wouldn't want to go play in Vegas, I could see Fields going there or even a guy who should be highly coveted this offseason in Jacoby Brissett who has played VERY well two years in a row in his time. That being said, getting a good RT to pair with Kolton Miller could turn this team's weakness into a strength.
14. New Orleans Saints - OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
The Saints seem enamored with building on the offensive line and do so again after whiffing on Trevor Penning. At this point they'd like to get at traditional LT but instead go with upside here. I'm not sure if he could work out at LT or not but for 340 pounds and as he's a developmental prosepct anyway, why not see if he can develop on the left side instead of the right.
15. Indianapolis Colts - CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
The Colts have to get better at the outside cornerback position. While JuJu Brents showed promise as a rookie - only a 83 passer rating against, the team needs a star cornerback. Wiggins could be that guy, a long corner who could thrive in Gus Bradley's scheme. He would be a wonderful addition and would be a good value at a key position of need here.
16. Seattle Seahawks - OL Troy Fautanu, Washington
I'm honestly not sure if he'd go this high but the Hawks like to do different things in round one and arguably their biggest need is interior offensive line. Yes they are terrible against the run but there isn't a 1T/NT DT in this class close to worth the 16th overall pick, with the QBs gone and a lot of players with similar values floating around they couldn't find a tradeback partner. Fautanu is going to shift inside to guard most likely and he is a mauler. He'd be a perfect scheme fit and could help this team run downhill the way they want to.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars - DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
The Jags need to get more athletic up front and their decision to re-sign Davon Hamilton looks like a bad one after one season. There's no way they don't at least franchise tag superstar Josh Allen so I'm not worried about edge. Newton could give this team three really good athletes up front and would make life more difficult for the trio of young signal callers they'll be going against in the AFC South.
18. Cincinnati Bengals - OT JC Latham, Alabama
Let's please stop having Jonah Williams play too many snaps here and go get a super high upside tackle for Joe Burrow. Latham has tremendous upside and would pair with Orlando Brown to give the Bengals maybe the biggest pair of tackles in the league. Williams was meant to play guard in the NFL and he may kick inside to help them out or go out for greener pastures somewhere else.
19. Green Bay Packers - CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
DeJean is exactly what the Packers need outside at corner. Eric Stokes can't stay healthy, Jaire Alexander is a headache and the team needs a rock solid playmaker on the outside. DeJean is a big play guy who plays a physical brand of cornerback but has the length and agility to defend multiple players at WR. I think they should swap DC's and if they do whoever the new one is will probably want a new cornerback whether or not they keep Alexander.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Edge Dallas Turner, Alabama
There is always a guy or two who slides down the board in mock drafts that make you think this will never happen, and honestly this probably won't. I'd be surprised if Tampa doesn't roll with Baker Mayfield again next season, dude played his ass off for them and felt like he willed them into the playoffs. Turner is a very athletic productive edge player who likely won't last this long on Draft Day but you have to put a slide or two in because it's not realistic if you don't.
21. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston) - CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
The biggest need for Arizona after WR was CB and they get maybe the best one here. McKinstry is rock solid and is someone who may even be able to track down WR1 type guys in the league. He has a tremendous combination of H-W-S for the position but shows fluid hips and good closing burst. He's a very good player for the position and fills a huge need for the Cards. They likely need to bring in a veteran as well but this would help.
22. LA Rams - CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
A long physical corner who can play zone and man, Arnold gives us back to back Crimson Tide corners off the board. LA has gotten some good snaps from their bevy of cornerbacks but if you put the tape on it's pretty clear they need an infusion of talent at that spot. The team got tremendous play from its young DL this season and McVay will always figure out a way to score points, so adding a corner is the priority in 2024.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
The Steelers likely need to add help at cornerback as well but Morgan might be a better pick here. He's someone who can play both tackle and guard in case they want to stick with Dan Moore outside but I think he'd provide a near instant upgrade out there. They are certainly going to think about QB here as well but with cheap options there they give Kenny Pickett one more season with a new OC. The change midseason really did jumpstart the offense as Matt Canada's reign of terror ended and the Steelers offense looked intriguing. Give them better OL play particularly at LT and let's see what happens.
24. Miami Dolphins - OL Graham Barton, Duke
Connor Williams is coming off an ACL injury and is a free agent and Liam Eichenberg just hasn't worked out. The team needs an athletic smart pivot and while Barton played tackle at Duke he projects as a very good center in the league. I think his ability to maybe be one of the few true 5 position players up front in the league would really give the Dolphins flexibility and potential in their starting 5.
25. Buffalo Bills - DE Chop Robinson, Penn State
An ultra high upside edge rusher Robinson could pair with Gregory Rousseau to give this team an extremely dynamic duo. The team looks likely to move on from embattled edge Von Miller and with a really good inside pairing at DT this may fill out the defense. Sean McDermott was under siege but if you look at the stats he put up with his defense this year with all the injuries he deserves a massive amount of credit. This would do nothing but help.
26. Kansas City Chiefs - WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
Honestly I don't know which WR it's going to be but it damn well better be a WR. We've started to see some Kelce regression and Rashee Rice looks like he's going to be a good player but they absolutely need to improve at OT and WR. Coleman has tremendous size but also shows good RAC ability and runs routes well for someone his size. He'd improve the Chiefs catch radius at WR immensely.
27. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
Lassiter is an impressive player outside and he has really quick feet and a big time burst. He's someone who is willing to take some chances but he's a playmaker outside. Slay is still playing at a high level but Bradberry had a down year and Maddox struggles to stay healthy. While Ricks and Ringo flashes as rookies, they also had their share of rough moments. Lassiter would provide instant help and a big time developmental piece as Slay is 33 and Bradberry has started to decline, this almost has to be a corner.
28. Houston Texans (from Cleveland) - WR Brian Thomas, LSU
CJ Stroud has been a revelation this season for Houston, arguably playing like a top 5 QB in the NFL as a rookie. As a Texans fan it's not arguable, considering the injuries, lack of run game, etc he's been a top 5 QB. Let's get him more weapons. Something the Texans need to improve upon is redzone offense so why not go get a 6'4 210 pound WR? Thomas not only is a big play threat, where Stroud thrives but at 6'4 he provides a go get it player in the red-area. Match made in heaven.
29. Dallas Cowboys - OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
The Cowboys may end up losing Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz in free agency and the team has always taken pride in its OL. Guyton is the type of player the Cowboys like to target, very high upside and talented. Guyton is super mobile with tremendous feet and he could likely play inside or outside at the next level. Maybe Dallas kicks Tyler Smith outside, maybe Tyron Smith comes back, who knows, but the team likes to go get high upside offensive lineman, and they do it again here.
30. Detroit Lions - DE Jared Verse, Florida State
The Lions have two things they have to improve to take the next step and that's the secondary and another pass rusher opposite superstar Aiden Hutchinson. Hutchinson is an absolute monster but they need to get him a running mate, insert Verse. Verse is a very good player against the pass and the run and picked up 18 sacks the past two seasons combined at Florida State. He'd provide a very nice partner in crime to Hutchinson.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (TRADE!!) - QB Bo Nix, Oregon
Raiders give up 44, 112, and a 2025 2nd and get back 209
The Raiders wanted to snag the 5th year option on a QB and Nix shouldn't fall out of round 1. Whoever the new coach is here wanted to really add some talent and so they got a nice new OT early and snagged a big time game manager here. Nix is accurate, takes care of the ball, mobile, and poised. They gave up a lot to go get him but it's time to get aggressive here for the Raiders.
32. Baltimore Ravens - DE Bralen Trice, Washington
Kind of a tough decision here between WR and Edge but Edge wins out. I feel like Lamar makes a lot of WR's look good and with a new offense there he should have his share of suitors. The team though got a ton of production from free agents to be along its DL and so they add a guy who kind of plays like a Raven in Trice. He works hard, is really good at games which Baltimore likes to run and feels like he'd provide a good mixture of athleticism and toughness.
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