Every year, we roll out our own version of a mock draft: it is never based by reporting or fielding information from league sources, but rather, is constructed 100% by placing our GM hat on for each team and selecting players based on what we would do if we were in the room. Our mock will likely vary rather significantly than the majority of mocks you’ll see, especially from those of highly reputable authors and reporters. As individuals who lack plugged-in sources, however, this is our own spin of having fun within the Mock Draft Season.
As a final note: we won’t be including any specific trades within our mock but will have some information detailed on spots where we could envision a trade or where we believe one makes some sense.
#1 Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young (QB – Alabama)
This is an easy selection here for Carolina and one that matches up nicely to what we expect to see Thursday night. Young, to me, is the best prospect in the class. He has terrific intangibles and is able to make any throw on the field; his comeback in the Iron Bowl, going 97 yards at Jordan Hare Stadium to send the game to overtime was amongst the most impressive displays of “quarterbacking” we’ve seen at the college game in a long time. Young’s size (5’10) is the main knock on him, but this isn’t 2000s football anymore where quarterbacks are statues within the pocket. Young’s ability to improvise and create plays should allow him to elevate a supporting cast.
#2 Houston Texans: Anthony Richardson (QB – Florida)
Based on the recent intel, it seems like the Houston Texans are leaning defense here, either with Tyree Wilson from Texas Tech or Will Anderson from Alabama. In my opinion, that would be a mistake. Quarterback is the most valuable position in football and while there’s a fair argument to be made that, because the best opportunity to win a Super Bowl comes while a quarterback is on his rookie contract, that building out the roster before drafting a quarterback will maximize title opportunities, I wouldn’t take that risk with Anthony Richardson still on the board. Richardson boasts one of the most impressive physical profiles we’ve seen in recent memory from a quarterback; his accuracy is a concern, but tailoring an offense to him could unlock a dominant unit that resembles what the Philadelphia Eagles have built with Jalen Hurts. Richardson’s upside is too high to pass on; a smart coaching staff will maximize his skillset and, if they do it successfully, will have an offense that annually performs at an elite level.
#3 Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson (EDGE – Alabama)
The rumor mill has made it clear that the Arizona Cardinals are angling to trade down from this pick, which makes plenty of sense. I think Will Anderson is the 3rd best overall prospect in the class after Young and Richardson, but he’s not a “can’t miss” prospect, in my opinion, that needs to be selected over a trade down. I’m nearly always a fan of trading down to accumulate more picks, which is exactly what the Cardinals should be focusing on. In a no-trade mock, however, Anderson is the pick here. He’s shown an elite ability to rush the passer and create turnovers, while also remaining strong against the run. Arizona needs to start finding pillars to rebuild their roster around and Anderson’s character, work ethic, and play should set a strong cultural foundation in the desert.
#4 Indianapolis Colts: CJ Stroud (QB – Alabama)
The NFL Draft feels extremely uncertain this year, but one thing does feel certain: the Indianapolis Colts will be drafting a quarterback. On draft night, if Will Levis is here, I’d bet he’s the pick. But it’s not what I would do: CJ Stroud, who’s stock seems to be slipping a bit due to a low S2 score, would be a home run selection. Stroud worked with an elite supporting cast at Ohio State, but people seem eager to use that in order to explain away his terrific evolution as a quarterback. Stroud can make any throw on the field and has some underrated mobility, highlighted by his terrific performance against the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff. I don’t like Stroud nearly as much as Young / Richardson, but I feel confident in his potential to be, at minimum, a league average starter.
#5 Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter (IDL – Georgia)
Jalen Carter is certainly talented and, according to many draft pundits, is probably the most talented / dominant prospect in the class. There’s no denying Carter’s on-field impact, but I certainly have some concerns. His motor runs hot and cold and his off-field concerns, including being cited in a drag racing incident, is certainly a red flag. Carter is, for me, a prospect where my risk tolerance is quite low. In Seattle’s shoes, however, Carter does make sense. The Seahawks fell into this pick due to the Denver Broncos’ disaster of a season; taking a big swing on Carter’s potential game wrecking talent is a worthwhile risk.
#6 Detroit Lions: Devon Witherspoon (CB – Illinois)
Devon Witherspoon has been a common mock to the Detroit Lions and I concur with a lot of the pundits here. Witherspoon played a high frequency of man-to-man in college, which aligns well with the Lions’ defensive scheme. Combined with his fiery competitiveness and sticky coverage, it’s easy to see how perfectly Witherspoon fits in Detroit. I like Witherspoon here as well for a few additional reasons; the Lions’ pass defense was extremely porous a year ago and, even with a busy off-season of reshuffling, they still need high impact defensive players. Plus, Witherspoon plays a premium position and drafting a corner is a strong usage of a top-10 selection.
#7 Las Vegas Raiders: Peter Skoronski (OL – Northwestern)
The Las Vegas Raiders had a really rough season last year; Josh McDaniels struggled (as most Bill Belichick assistants have), the defense was extremely poor, and the offense never carried the team. Now, the Raiders will have Jimmy Garoppolo over Derek Carr (I’m not sure that’s an upgrade), traded Darren Waller, and still have an underwhelming defense. The Raiders could go multiple different directions here, but the top teams are built in the trenches. Peter Skoronski is my top offensive lineman; he’s got great character, he’s extremely versatile, and can help build a long term foundation alongside Kolton Miller.
#8 Atlanta Falcons: Will Levis (QB – Kentucky)
Admittedly, I’m not as high on Will Levis as others. In fact, I don’t think he’s a top-10 prospect in the class and I believe there to be a decent gap between the top three quarterbacks and Levis. However, if I were Atlanta, I’d pull the trigger for Levis here for a few reasons. Quarterback is the most premium position on the field and having that player eat a miniscule amount of cap space is a massive advantage. Levis is an upgrade over Desmond Ridder and, considering the aggressiveness from the Falcons to bolster their defense this spring, it’s clear they’re aiming for a leap in competitiveness this season. The Falcons also have a solid foundation for Levis, which would allow him to instantly be in a position to succeed. Arthur Smith is a good offensive coach, Tyler Allgeier was terrific in his rookie season, as was Drake London, and Kyle Pitts remains one of the most physically gifted tight ends in the league. There hasn’t been a lot of smoke that the Falcons are in the quarterback market, but to me, that’s a mistake. They could win the division if they upgraded over Ridder.
#9 Chicago Bears: Nolan Smith (EDGE – Georgia)
In my opinion, all teams should opt for the “best player available” method at the draft, which should factor in positional value into the formula. For a team that’s still in their rebuild infancy (relatively) like the Chicago Bears, that’s even more true. Nolan Smith is my top prospect left; he’s a physical freak with tremendous athleticism, but his ability to rush the passer and defend the run is what sets him apart on the edge. “Toolsy” players have shown potential to break out in the NFL, but Smith’s line of collegiate production gives you optimism he could make multiple Pro Bowl appearances. Remember: the top teams are built through the trenches. With Skoronski gone already, the Bears would be smart to fortify their defensive line / pass rush.
#10 Philadelphia Eagles: Christian Gonzalez (CB – Oregon)
The Philadelphia Eagles face a luxury pick here at #10; this is one of, if not the best roster in the NFL and they lack any pressing needs. Now, there are certainly some areas where the Eagles could improve their depth; their offensive line has two aging stars (Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson) and will bring in a new starting right guard, their defensive line has older players functioning in crucial roles (Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox) and their secondary is bookended by two aging corners (Darius Slay, James Bradberry). Christian Gonzalez makes a lot of sense here; he’s got a great physical profile and was terrific at two Pac-12 programs. The Eagles have two first-round picks, but only have four other picks and none in rounds 4-6. I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to trade down from #10.
#11 Tennessee Titans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – Ohio State)
The Tennessee Titans are a team teetering on a full rebuild; in my opinion, they should go fully all in and strip down the roster to the studs while players like Derrick Henry and Kevin Byard (among others) have some trade value. The Titans are in the quarterback market, but this is too early for Hendon Hooker. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the pick here; I think he’s the clear top receiver in the class and his ability to navigate routes and create plays after the catch reminds me of CeeDee Lamb. The Titans’ quarterback future is murky, but they’d set up their future signal caller well with Smith-Njigba joining last year’s first round pick Treylon Burks.
#12 Houston Texans: Tyree Wilson (EDGE – Texas Tech)
Anthony Richardson is already in tow, so focusing on the defensive side of the ball makes sense. In reality, Tyree Wilson might be the pick for Houston at #2, but I’m a bit lower on him than the consensus. Wilson burst onto the scene this year and has the ideal physical profile, but I think he’s a notch below the aforementioned players. Wilson would be a nice piece for DeMeco Ryans to deploy along the defensive line. The Texans coming away with a quarterback and edge rusher is an ideal first round scenario.
#13 Green Bay Packers: Michael Mayer (TE – Notre Dame)
Green Bay selecting a wide receiver here makes sense; I love Zay Flowers, but I think Michael Mayer is the superior prospect overall. Mayer’s ability to block and catch will make him an extremely valuable tight end and pass catching option for Jordan Love. Teams that have an elite tight end have, not surprisingly, performed extremely well; it gives additional versatility, mismatches in the passing game and, an additional valuable blocker in the run game which provides ambiguity into play calling. Mayer to Green Bay makes a ton of sense.
#14 New England Patriots: Zay Flowers (WR – Boston College)
I’ve seen a few rumbles about the New England Patriots trading Mac Jones in a deal that would allow them to catapult to #2 in the draft order, a move that would be of seismic proportion and rather against the typical status quo in New England. Regardless of who the quarterback is, the Patriots need to better support their signal caller; Juju Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, and Hunter Henry is not an acceptable supporting cast. Enter Zay Flowers, a dynamic playmaker and physical receiver who’s stature is not indicative of his play style.
#15 New York Jets: Paris Johnson Jr. (OT – Ohio State)
The New York Jets feel like a lock to draft an offensive lineman. Paris Johnson Jr. isn’t the best player available on my personal board, but he’s at a premium position, fills a glaring need, and I don’t have the gap between him and my top remaining player (Joey Porter Jr.) as one that’s so extreme to not draft Johnson. It’s a big addition for Aaron Rodgers.
#16 Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr. (CB – Penn State)
I love Joey Porter Jr. this year; he doesn’t boast impressive turnover numbers, but he’s a physical corner who plays blanket coverage and limits splash plays. The Washington Commanders have hovered in mediocre territory for the past several seasons, in large part because they haven’t figured out the quarterback position. If I’m Washington and Anthony Richardson slides outside the top-5, I’m doing what it takes to trade up for him. If not, Porter Jr. will be a welcome addition to a very, very underrated defense.
#17 Pittsburgh Steelers: Broderick Jones (OT – Georgia)
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line was been underwhelming for the past several seasons and it’s been a positional group that’s consistently been overlooked. The Steelers’ roster isn’t great, but Mike Tomlin is a master at maximizing what he has. Broderick Jones gives Pittsburgh much needed offensive line help and, as they’d surely hope for, a lynchpin to protect Kenny Pickett with.
#18 Detroit Lions: Dalton Kincaid (TE – Utah)
I haven’t seen many mock drafts pegging a tight end to Detroit, but it’s a huge need for the Lions. Detroit’s issues were on defense last year, but this is a roster thin on skill players, especially with Jameson Williams’ suspension. Dalton Kincaid in most years would be the top tight end prospect. He’s got great hands and is a proficient route runner with some untapped blocking upside. A trio of Kincaid, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Williams gives Detroit a talented group of pass catchers for Jared Goff and eventually, a younger quarterback, to work with.
#19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Darnell Wright (OT – Tennessee)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are selecting #19, but they have a ton of holes on their roster. Quarterback is a huge question mark, but the Bucs’ roster is spotty overall; this is a perfect example of a team which should fortify the surrounding pieces before dipping their toe into the quarterback market. Tampa’s offensive line was horrible a year ago and they released starting tackle Donovan Smith this spring. Darnell Wright is a monster tackle and, along with Tristan Wirfs, could help the Buccaneers rebuild a crucial positional group and help provide a stable foundation for a future quarterback.
#20 Seattle Seahawks: Hendon Hooker (QB – Tennessee)
Seattle structured Geno Smith’s contract in a manner that seemingly encourages the Seahawks to draft his heir apparent. I’m not in love with Hendon Hooker, but there are advantages to drafting him in Round 1; you get the 5th year option under your belt being the biggest. Hooker’s mobility and experience makes him a really intriguing fit in Seattle, who has a roster that’s capable of remaining competitive while he continues to develop.
#21 Los Angeles Chargers: Brian Breese (IDL – Clemson)
The Los Angeles Chargers have commonly been connected to running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends, but to me, those are secondary needs to fortifying their run defense. The Chargers’ defense needs to improve; Brian Breese is a terrific interior lineman with a strong pedigree (elite 5-star recruit) and the ability to rush the passer and stop the run. In a deep tight end class with the top two prospects gone, I’d wager the Chargers would be better off waiting on skill players and addressing the defensive line earlier.
#22 Baltimore Ravens: Cam Smith (CB – South Carolina)
Cam Smith is one of “my guys” in this class; he’s rarely mocked as a first round pick, but I love his game. He plays with swagger; he’s a fiery competitor who’s ultra physical. The Baltimore Ravens, despite their quarterback uncertainty and continuous shallow receiver group, possess their biggest need in the secondary. Outside of Marlon Humphrey, they are thin at corner. Smith gives them a capable bookend at a premium position.
#23 Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison (WR – USC)
With the Minnesota Vikings parting ways with Adam Thielen, it immediately makes wide receiver a position of need. The Vikings’ record was misleading a year ago and we know their defense, in particular, was quite poor, but Jordan Addison is a terrific prospect and would give the Vikings a scary 1-2 receiver duo. Minnesota feels like they could be angling towards a retooling period despite their record a year ago; Addison, however, gives them a good piece who should play regardless of their future direction.
#24 Jacksonville Jaguars: Calijah Kancey (IDL – Pitt)
The Jacksonville Jaguars were a pleasant surprise a year ago and it’s clear their offense isn’t the issue. They could use an offensive lineman here to replace outgoing free agent Jawaan Taylor, but with Calijah Kancey on the board, I’d opt for him. Jacksonville has two promising pass rushers in Josh Allen and Travon Walker, but they could stand to improve their interior presence.
#25 New York Giants: Quentin Johnston (WR – TCU)
The New York Giants were the most surprising team in the NFL last year, in a positive way. But still, when evaluating their roster, it does underwhelm. Daniel Jones had a breakout year, but he needs more talent to work with, and that includes going beyond just acquiring Darren Waller. Quentin Johnston provides Jones a big body threat who, New York would hope would develop into the player they thought they were getting in Kenny Golladay. Johnston’s physical tools make him a promising player to develop.
#26 Dallas Cowboys: Myles Murphy (EDGE – Clemson)
The Dallas Cowboys have consistently been connected to Bijan Robinson, but drafting a running back here would be a mistake. Dallas has other needs and has Tony Pollard, who’s a terrific back that should dominate backfield touches. Myles Murphy is a better selection; he’d fill into a pass rushing rotation with DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons and has untapped upside. From a “toolsy” standpoint, Murphy is among the best in the class.
#27 Buffalo Bills: Lukas Van Ness (EDGE – Iowa)
The Buffalo Bills were a team built to win the Super Bowl last season. They’ll face some difficult financial decisions to make in upcoming seasons, but currently, they’re still in the position to compete at a high level. One area of improvement? The pass rush, which was non-existent without Von Miller. Lukas Van Ness is a physical monster who didn’t start for Iowa but has plenty of potential. I’d imagine the Bills will try to get aggressive during the draft for an impact guy in the top-20, but if they stay put, Van Ness is a strong option (although he’ll likely go much higher than this).
#28 Cincinnati Bengals: Bijan Robinson (RB – Texas)
Bijan Robinson falling to #28 is unlikely to happen Thursday night, but I’m a believer in deprioritizing the running back position. However, Robinson makes a lot of sense for Cincinnati; the Bengals have a pretty complete roster overall and while Brian Branch could make some sense, Robinson’s elite play is well worth the selection. The Bengals really struggled to run the ball a year ago, an area which Robinson should instantly improve.
#29 New Orleans Saints: Darnell Washington (TE – Georgia)
The New Orleans Saints are a team that consistently is trying to stay afloat; signing Derek Carr, rather than opting for a rebuild, is further proof. That being said, this isn’t a great roster overall. Darnell Washington is a player I’d certainly gamble on; his physical tools cannot be taught and he’s one of the most unique players we’ve seen. He’ll be a weapon as a blocker with untapped pass catching potential. If things come together, he’ll be a truly dominant player.
#30 Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Branch (DB – Alabama)
The Eagles doubling up on the secondary is unlikely to actually happen, but it would go a long way in fortifying an aging unit. Brian Branch’s versatility, particularly in the slot, would be a huge boost to an Eagles’ secondary which struggled against slot receivers and lost CJ Gardner-Johnson in free agency.
#31 Kansas City Chiefs: Anton Harrison (OT – Oklahoma)
There’s no secret the Kansas City Chiefs could use a wide receiver, but continuing to fortify their trenches is important as well. Anton Harrison fits; Jawaan Taylor was signed to replace Orlando Brown Jr., but Taylor and Lucas Niang isn’t the most inspiring tackle duo. Harrison gives Kansas City insurance at their most important position for Patrick Mahomes, with the potential to upgrade receiver later on.
The Chirp 