The Sports Appeal’s First Ever NFL Mock Draft!
The NFL Draft starts on Thursday, April 25. It’s a hopeful time for NFL fans, especially those who’ve been waiting tirelessly for good news since Week 14 when Justin Herbert’s finger broke and sidelined him for the rest of the season.
It’s also a time for Mock Drafts!
I’ve never tried one, but thought it would be fun to give it a shot. I had no idea how much time this would involve when I started, and holy smokes did I underestimate the effort involved. So here’s my first ever attempt at a real mock draft—I welcome any and all critiques (although I may never do this again if you’re too mean!).
Here’s the basics of how I approached it:
I only went through four rounds because it gets pretty weedy after that. If you’re familiar with Round 5-7 prospects like I am, you’re potentially suffering from a serious illness and should seek help.
I projected some trades in the first and second rounds, but shied away from trades after that as there’s just too much variability and guesswork involved at that point.
For any trades I made, I tried to ensure that the team moving back recouped meaningful draft capital. I used the Fitzgerald-Spielberger draft value chart for guidance.
I tried to be faithful to what I think teams will do given their current roster, salary cap situation, and philosophy. But I’m not a reporter, so I won’t pretend to have perfect insight into what they might be thinking (that said, no one does).
That’s it. Let me know what you think of your team’s results, whether you like the picks or I missed a player you’d love or I got the team needs wrong. It helps me learn for sure.
In the immortal words of Dak Prescott, here we go!
Round 1
Pick 1 - Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams (QB, USC)
There’s not a whole lot of drama here. As I guessed back in January, Bears moved on from Justin Fields to make way for a new quarterback. Caleb Williams is the not-so-secret choice. The USC quarterback has been the gem of the draft for almost two years. He can play inside and outside the pocket and make every throw in the book. Don’t overthink this.
Pick 2 - Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)
Jayden Daniels had a meteoritic rise up draft charts this season after throwing for 3800+ yards and 40 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions. Daniels led the Tigers to a nation-leading 543.5 yards of offense per game. Daniels has two elite attributes in his deep passing and speed. He averaged 11.7 yards per pass attempt, highest in the country amongst quarterbacks with at least 500 yards passing, and run sub-4.5 seconds in the 40 yard dash—elite for a quarterback. Despite an awkward meeting with the Commanders these week, Daniels should be the second QB off the board.
Pick 3 - New England Patriots: Drake Maye (QB, UNC)
The Patriots don’t have a future QB on their roster, but they’ve got lots of other holes too. I wanted to have the Pats trade back and pick up more draft capital, but I just can’t see them opting out of a potential long-term solution at quarterback given the value of a franchise player. They’ll get any offer made available to Arizona or the Chargers, but it would take some serious cajones for the Patriots to pull the trigger on a deal to move back.
Maye needs to work on his accuracy and mechanics, but he’s got prototypical tools for an NFL quarterback with great size and arm talent. He’s also flashed a lot of talent at times, especially in 2022. He could take longer to develop but the potential upside is obvious.
Pick 4 - Minnesota Vikings: JJ McCarthy (QB, Michigan)
Trade: Minnesota sends three first round picks (#11, #23, and a 2025 first rounder) to Arizona in exchange for pick #4. Arizona gets excess value equivalent to an extra top-5 first round pick in exchange for moving down.
Our first projected trade, and it’s a massive haul for the Cardinals!
Minnesota lost Captain Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason and the quarterback room looks a little bleak (with due respect to Nick Mullens, and Sam Darnold too I suppose). The Vikings signaled pretty clearly they wanted to move up when the snagged pick #23 from Houston earlier this spring, so a trade up shouldn’t come as a surprise. But moving up is expensive, especially with teams like the Giants, Broncos, and Raiders all potentially vying for a quarterback. Although Arizona will miss out on Marvin Harrison Jr. by making this trade, the return is too good to forgo. [As an aside, I see lots of mocks suggesting that Minnesota would make a deal with the Chargers. That’s possible, but it wouldn’t make a ton of sense from the Vikings’ perspective—why wait and risk somebody else leapfrogging you at 4? The price isn’t going to change much between #4 and #5.]
McCarthy is coming off a story-book season after leading Michigan to a National Championship. Though he wasn’t asked to carry the team himself (Michigan was loaded with talent), he’s accurate, poised, athletic, and sports a good arm. He also did a great job avoiding mistakes and playing within himself. Given he’s just 21 years old, there’s plenty of room for McCarthy to continue to develop, and putting him with an elite talent in Justin Jefferson and a strong offensive mind in Kevin O’Connell will help him succeed quickly at the NFL level.
Pick 5 - LA Chargers: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Ohio State)
There’s a lot of smoke that the Chargers would move down in the draft, but with McCarthy off the board, there isn’t a great trade partner available (while teams get desperate and go HAM to draft quarterbacks, there are rarely huge swings to snag other positions). There’s also a ton of smoke that the Chargers want to build through the trenches, though the actual evidence that either Jim Harbaugh or Joe Hortiz has ever done that in the NFL is scant.
Let’s not get cute. The Chargers receiver corps is both shallow and incredibly inexperienced, and there is elite wide receiver talent at the top of this draft. I’ve got the Chargers sticking and taking the best player on their board, which happens to be at their biggest position of need.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, who paired with Peyton Manning to be one of the greatest quarterback-receiver duos in league history. At 6’3”, 209 pounds, MHJ is significantly bigger than his father, but he sports the same elite receiver skills that allow him to win at every level of the field. In the last two years as a starter at Ohio State, MHJ racked up 144 catches for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also beat up on Harbaugh and arch-rival Michigan to the tune of 119 yards and a touchdown per game (average), so if anybody should be familiar with his talent, it’s Harbaugh.
Personally, I’d love to see the Chargers pick Malik Nabers (my favorite WR in the draft), who has better speed and run-after-catch abilities, but that appears to be the minority position so I’m sticking with MHJ here.
Pick 6 - New York Giants: Malik Nabers (WR, LSU)
Malik Nabers is my favorite receiver in this year’s draft., and I wrote about him extensively in my Five Favorites post last week. Nabers’ defining trait is his speed—he’s the type of receiver that gives DBs nightmares and a threat to score any time he touches the ball, regardless of where he is on the field.
Despite taking a number of receivers in the second and third rounds over the past few years, the Giants haven’t been able to land a bona fide #1 receiver. Nabers can be that guy, and he gives the team one more shot to see if Daniel Jones can succeed as an NFL quarterback when surrounded with more talent.
The Giants could also try to trade up for Maye or McCarthy and secure a future quarterback, but the cost to move up is too high given other needs on the roster and the possibility that Jones can salvage his career in New York.
Pick 7 - Arizona Cardinals: Rome Odunze (WR, Washington)
Trade: Arizona sends a first rounder (#11), a second rounder (#35), and a 2025 fifth rounder to Tennessee in exchange for pick #7. Tennessee gets excess value equivalent to an extra late first round pick in exchange for moving down.
Hold up, another trade! Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort has shown he’s not afraid of moving around the draft board. Last year, the Cardinals traded out of pick #3 and secured pick #12 and additional draft capital before moving back up the board to #6 to select tackle Paris Johnson Jr. This year, they’re doing something similar. In effect, the Cardinals exchange picks #4 and #35 for picks #7 and #23, plus the Vikings 2025 first rounder, a healthy haul.
The trade down costs the Cardinals their first choice of wide receiver, but they still nab an elite talent in Washington’s Rome Odunze. Odunze helped lead the Huskies to the NCAA National Championship (before eventually falling to Michigan), with production that rivaled anyone in the country: 92 receptions, 1,640 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns. At 6’3” and 212 pounds, Odunze has great size for an X receiver to go with incredible hands and very good speed (he ran a 4.45 second 40 yard dash). He dominated the college level and should continue to be effective on Sundays.
Pick 8 - Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner (Edge, Alabama)
This is a bit chalky, but I’ve got the Falcons picking defensive end Dallas Turner from Alabama. Turner fills a major need for Atlanta, which needs to improve its pass rush, as Grady Jarrett can’t sack the QB on his own every time. Turner has great physical traits—he’s 6’3”, 247 pounds, and has elite explosives (4.46 second 40 with a 1.54 second 10 yard split, 40.5” vertical jump, and 10’7” broad jump)—and he’s managed to rack up 25 sacks in three years at Alabama. He’s still got room to develop his pass rush toolkit (he relies too much on his athleticism now), and he could stand to bring pressure a bit more consistently, but a good coaching staff in Atlanta should be able to unlock his potential.
Pick 9 - Chicago Bears: Byron Murphy II (DT, Texas)
With the three top WRs already off the board, Chicago picks Byron Murphy to supplement its defensive line, and second one of my Five Favorites comes off the board.
Murphy is the type of pass-rusher who can generate incredible pressure from up the middle, and Chicago will greatly benefit from his presence. Murphy and Montez Sweat (who Chicago traded for last year) will give the Bears a strong pass rush to go along with an ascending defense overall. Though the Bears took Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter last year, neither is the level of player that Murphy is, so there shouldn’t be much of an issue. Plus, Chicago (somewhat amazingly) doesn’t have many huge needs outside QB, which they’ve already filled here, so they can afford a luxury pick that will raise the level of their defense overall.
Pick 10 - New York Jets: Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia)
I went back and forth on this pick. Should the Jets take an offensive lineman or snag a weapon for Aaron Rodgers? At the end of the day, I can’t shake the idea that the Jets are going to just say YOLO and let Rodgers rock.
Tight end is one of the least valuable positions to draft, but Bowers is an exceptional talent. The Georgia product is fast, strong, and has excellent hands and run-after-catch skills (he was a high school running back in Napa). Playing at the highest levels of college football, Bowers routinely ate up everyone who tried to cover him. He’s going to produce in the league.
Taking Bowers means the Jets will have another quality weapon for Rodgers to go along with receivers Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams (who is coming off an ACL tear). The cost is that they are thin on the offense line, which in part derailed their season last year. The better long-term move is probably opting for an offensive tackle, but Bowers’ appeal is obvious—he’s a safe pick to contribute immediately.
Pick 11 - Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame)
The Titans traded back with Arizona to pick up #11 and a second rounder (#35). That’s great, because in this scenario they still land their preferred pick, offensive tackle Joe Alt.
Watching Alt play is kind of boring—he just does his job pretty much every time. He’s got great athleticism and size for his position and can hold up against speed and power rushers. He’s not the strongest OT in the class, and he isn’t a mauler in the running game, but he makes up for it through technique and getting quickly to his spots. There’s no secret that Tennessee needed to improve its offensive line, and Alt is a quality tackle prospect that they can expect to play right away.
Pick 12 - Denver Broncos: Bo Nix (QB, Oregon)
Quack, quack, quack.
The Broncos bailed on Russell Wilson early. As a result, they’re left with the memory of a disastrous trade and massive salary cap hits as a result (they’re paying Wilson almost $38 million to play for another team).
Even after trading for Zach Wilson this week, it’s pretty clear that the Broncos need better options at quarterback—and it has to come cheaply. The natural response is to draft a quarterback.
Bo Nix isn’t the sexiest quarterback prospect around, but he’s got a ton of experience (five years as a starter at Auburn and then Oregon). He’s been effective during that time, especially this past season where he threw for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns while completing 77.4% of his passes and throwing only three interceptions. Nix wins by making smart decisions and accurate short and intermediate throws; he won’t wow anyone with his arm talent down the field, but that’s not a pre-requisite for being a successful NFL quarterback.
Without a second round pick and with their division rival Las Vegas Raiders also in need of a quarterback, the Broncos are best off taking Nix rather than hoping to get better value by moving down the draft board.
Pick 13 - Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga (OT, Oregon State)
We’re sticking with the state of Oregon here as the Raiders take offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga to secure the right side of their offensive line. Fuaga is a massive dude at 6’6”, 324 pounds. While he’s not the most nimble tackle prospect in the draft, he has incredible strength that he uses to absolutely demolish defenders in the run game. If you like offensive linemen to be tone-setters, Fuaga is your guy. The Raiders are building their identity as a tough, physical team, and Fuaga fits that mold to a T. And since their set at left tackle with Kolton Miller, Fuaga can slot in at right tackle or guard and play immediately.
The Raiders forego a quarterback upgrade here, but they’ve got a serviceable option in Gardner Minshew on the roster already for this year. They also don’t get to bolster their interior defensive line, but with Murphy already off the board, there isn’t a good value option available anyway.
Pick 14 - New Orleans Saints: Olu Fashanu (OT, Penn State)
The Saints are in a tough spot in terms of roster construction. They’ve got a number of aging pieces on their roster, some holes to fill, and little cap flexibility to do it. They’ve got to draft with an eye toward finding talent at big money positions like offensive tackle, edge rusher, defensive tackle, and wide receiver (their corners are actually pretty solid). With only two picks in the first four rounds, there’s not a ton of room for error.
Offensive tackle may become the Saints biggest need if right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is forced to miss time with a knee injury (he recently suffered a setback in his recovery and there’s been talk of potential retirement). While the Saints drafted Trevor Penning in 2019, he has struggled mightily during his two years in the NFL and isn’t ideally suited to play left tackle. Fortunately for the Saints, the offensive tackle class this year is pretty strong at the top. I’ve got them taking a high-upside left tackle prospect in Penn State’s Olu Fashanu.
Fashanu has good size and length along with great functional athleticism for his position. At just 21 years old, he still needs to develop strength (he struggled in college with bigger defensive lineman) and master technique, but the ceiling is high. And unlike a number of the high-level tackle prospects, Fashanu profiles naturally as a left tackle.
Pick 15 - Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell (CB, Toledo)
The Colts have a solid roster with few glaring holes, but they lack a shutdown outside corner; Kenny Moore got big money this off-season but he primarily lines up in the slot. Enter Quinyon Mitchell, one of the best defensive players in the class (he’s also one of my Five Favorites).
Even though Mitchell didn’t play against the top college competition at Toledo, he shined whenever he took the field. He’s got a great combination of size and speed to match all kinds of NFL receivers, he moves smoothly in coverage, and he has good ball tracking skills. By drafting Mitchell, the Colts snag the best corner available at a position of clear need.
Pick 16 - Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu (OT, Washington)
The Seahawks have talent on the outside but need to find a way to get better in the trenches. They strengthen their O-Line here by taking Washington star left tackle Troy Fautanu, who will only have to move south of downtown Seattle to play on Sundays (low moving costs are obviously a key factor).
Fautanu is a moving wall in pass protection. He’s an incredible athlete for the position, so he can stick with any edge rushers. At 6’4” and 317 pounds, he’s a bit on the short side for a tackle, but a lot of scouts have him projected as a guard where he also has experience, which negates the concern a bit. He’s got great 34.5” arm length to make up for a lack of size. Fautanu can plug in immediately on Seattle’s offensive line, whether at guard or tackle, and offer a significant upgrade right away.
Pick 17 - Jacksonville Jaguars: Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama)
Jacksonville has spent up in recent years on its offense and just signed star pass rusher Josh Allen to a $150 million five-year deal. Now it’s time for them to find secondary help to pair with Tyson Campbell. Even with Quinyon Mitchell off the board, there are several quality cornerbacks available. The best among them last year was Alabama’s Terrion Arnold, who was tremendous in pass coverage last year under Nick Saban. Arnold came into the year less heralded than his counterpart in the Alabama secondary Kool-Aid McKinstry, but he regularly stood out, as he secured five interceptions and forced a fumble to go with 63 tackles.
Arnold plays aggressive but with discipline, and has smoothness and hand skills to stick with receivers without getting too grabby. He isn’t the fastest cornerback (an issue for several top corners in this class), but he has god size and strength to play press if he needs to.
Pick 18 - Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham (OT, Alabama)
The Bengals have to protect Joe Burrow to be effective. They recently brought in Trent Brown to play right tackle, but Brown is on a 1 year deal—if he plays well, the Bengals probably won’t be able to afford him in free agency next year. With the offensive tackle talent in the draft, the easy solution is to draft somebody and future-proof the position.
You could do worse than Alabama right tackle JC Latham. Latham is a hulking 6’6” and 342 pounds and shows incredible strength at the point of attack. And given he’s started 25 games at Alabama, there’s no doubt Latham has quality experience. He commits a few too many penalties and spends a little too much time blocking air (especially in pass protection), but there’s talent here in spades. If he doesn’t have to start immediately on the outside, he’s got the tools to develop into a quality tackle.
Pick 19 - LA Rams: Laiatu Latu (Edge, UCLA)
The Rams just lost one of the best pass rushers in history when Aaron Donald retired this past March. There’s no way for them to replace Donald’s production, but they’ll find a quality young pass rusher in their back yard by drafting UCLA’s Laiatau Latu.
Latu’s pass rushing production is miles ahead of anyone else in the class. According to Pro Football Focus, in the last two seasons Latu has had 25 sacks and 81 hurries, and he posted a 2023 pass rush win rate of over 26%. Those figures rival Will Anderson Jr., who burst onto the scene after being drafted #3 overall last year.Latu’s athletic profile doesn’t stand out much, but he’s got a solid combination of size, speed, and strength. Where he shines, though, is in technique. Latu has incredible hands that allow him to keep offensive lineman from getting hold of him, and he has a pass rush arsenal that looks like it belongs to a 10-year NFL veteran. Where a lot of college edge rushers rely on athleticism, Latu’s refined his technique so that he can roll out pass rush moves in combination with counters to keep offensive linemen off balance. He’s incredibly effective as a result.
Latu does have some medical concerns, as a neck injury caused him to temporarily retire from the University of Washington before he transferred to UCLA. That could depress his stock, but the Rams take advantage here and land a high quality prospect at a critical position.
Pick 20 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Amarius Mims (OT, Georgia)
The Steelers drafted an athletic offensive tackle out of the University of Georgia when they took Broderick Jones in 2023, but they still have obvious needs along the offensive line. Why not go back to the well?
The Steelers run it back here and draft Amarius Mims, a physical specimen and mountain of a man who profiles as a future star if he can stay healthy. Mims is mammoth at 6’8” and 340 pounds and he’s built like a super hero:
Seriously, I’m not sure whether this guy is a human or an alien version of Andre the Giant.
Mims has only started 8 games and he’s played only about 800 snaps in his career due to injuries, but the physical talent is wild. You see him move in ways that nobody that big has business moving, and he can push around smaller players with ease. He’ll need to develop of course, but he’s got all the tools you could want in a tackle and more.
Pick 21 - Miami Dolphins: Graham Barton (OL, Duke)
Graham Barton doesn’t scream South Beach and he isn’t the most physically imposing offensive lineman that will go in the first round. But despite going to an obvious basketball school, this guy can play football. He’s an effective player in run blocking and pass protection and has the versatility to play almost any position along the offensive line.
The Dolphins are built around speed and quick passes, but their offensive line needs to be retooled after getting wrecked by the Chiefs and then losing Robert Hunt and Connor Williams as free agents. Barton is good enough to start for the Dolphins immediately, as other than Terran Armstead, I’m not sure there’s a locked in starter on the roster. Plus, Barton’s position flexibility will help the Dolphins find the best five to put on the field.
Pick 22 - Philadelphia Eagles: Jared Verse (Edge, Florida State)
The Eagles have needs at linebacker and in the secondary, but GM Howie Roseman has a philosophy that works: draft for the trenches and figure the rest out later. They haven’t drafted a first round secondary player since Roseman took over the top job in 2010, and linebacker is a low value position, so you can bet they’re not going to fill either hole!
So what about the trenches?
The Eagles have had some changes at edge rusher and could use an infusion of talent soon. Josh Sweat remains the most complete edge rusher on the team, but situational pass rusher Bryce Huff has come in to replace Haasan Reddick. Brandon Graham is also getting up there in age, and we’ve yet to see whether Nolan Smith can produce.
Verse is a high-quality edge who can play the run or pass effectively. At 6’4” and 260 pounds, he’s more stout in run defense than Huff or Smith, so he can find a role even if those two are better pass rushers. The Eagles keep their defensive line fresh, so adding Verse to the rotation will allow them to get younger and cheaper while maintaining and core strength. For another year, the Eagles answer the question of what to do about their secondary with a clear answer: find good lineman.
Pick 23 - Arizona Cardinals: Nate Wiggins (CB, Clemson)
Arizona picked its number 1 offensive option by drafting Rome Odunze at pick #7. Now, with the extra draft capital they received from moving back, they can turn to another need in cornerback.
Nate Wiggins has qualities as a cover corner. He’s fast, fluid, and instinctive—and he gives great effort when he needs to—he’s had several chase-down tackles that saved touchdowns. But Wiggins is rail-thin and there are valid concerns that he can get bodied by bigger receivers and won’t be able to hold up well against the run. Nobody really questions the cover skills though, and he’s getting paid to cover people not tackle them.
Pick 24 - Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton (OT, Oklahoma)
The Cowboys have had a reputation for great offensive line play over the last decade. But last year, they struggled to run the ball—in part because their talent along the O-Line has started to dwindle over the years. Former stalwart left tackle Tyron Smith is now with the Jets, and the Cowboys have three undrafted players holding down starting roles right now. So the Cowboys could use an infusion of younger talent on the line.
Guyton is widely considered to be a bit of a project, but he’s got the traits to be a quality tackle at the NFL level. He’s got size and strength, and he can move quickly for a huge 325+ pound man. Originally a defensive lineman, Guyton lacks experience—especially in run blocking given Oklahoma’s pass-heavy scheme. But there’s talent here and the Cowboys can take advantage of it while filling other needs like wide receiver later in the draft.
Pick 25 - Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, LSU)
Trade: Buffalo sends a first rounder (#28) and a second rounder (#60) to Green Bay in exchange for pick #25. Green Bay gets excess value equivalent to an extra early third round pick in exchange for moving down.
Another trade! Green Bay has oodles of young talent and no obvious draft needs, so they take advantage by trading back with Buffalo. Buffalo is desperate for a receiver after dealing Stefon Diggs for a 2025 draft pick, so they move up to avoid potentially getting leap-frogged for their choice of receiver after the Big 3 (MHJ, Nabers, Odunze).
Brian Thomas Jr. is a rare athlete at 6’3” and 209 pounds with 4.33 speed in the 40. He can absolutely fly down the field put defenders on their heels, which is especially valuable when paired with a quarterback like Josh Allen who can flick the ball 70+ yards with ease. Thomas Jr. lacks polish as he is largely limited to vertical routes, but he’s got the chance to be special. He puts in good effort all the time and can make house-calls regularly; in fact he led the nation in receiving touchdowns last year with 17. Buffalo has some options in the short passing game, so getting a deep threat to really stretch defenses will be critical.
Pick 26 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson (Edge, Penn State)
Tampa Bay could go a few different directions here, but one obvious need is their pass rush. Yaya Diaby produced solidly after being drafted in the third round last year, but Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has never quite lived up to his first round pedigree on the other side. The Bucs would benefit from adding talent, and teams can never have too many good pass rushers.
With Turner, Latu, and Verse all off the board, the remaining pass rush prospects all have some flaws. Chop Robinson is the highest upside of those that remain, as he sports elite traits and an ultra-fast get-off. As expected, Robinson smoked the combine, where he ran a 4.48 second 40 yard dash and posted strong jumping and shuttle numbers. But Robinson still needs to develop refined pass rush moves, and his smaller size (6’3” and 254 pounds) can result in him getting pushed off his spot in the run game. He also had relatively middling production in terms of sacks given the physical tools, though his 20.9% pass rush win rate (per Pro Football Focus) was certainly respectable. Regardless, Robinson’s potential is obvious and he could develop into an elite pass rusher over time.
Pick 27 - Carolina Panthers: Adonai Mitchell (WR, Texas)
Trade: Carolina sends second (#33) and third round (#65) picks to Arizona in exchange for moving up to pick #27. Arizona gets excess value equivalent to an extra third round pick in exchange for moving down.
Just like the Bills, the Panthers get a little nervous here and move up to secure the highest ceiling receiver left in the draft in Adonai Mitchell.
The most important thing for the Panthers to do this off-season is give Bryce Young a chance to be successful. They’ve already started on that project, going big in free agency to secure quality interior offensive linemen and trading for former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson. But they still don’t have a big bodied receiver who can operate as a redzone option.
Mitchell fits that bill. At 6’2” and 205 pounds, Mitchell is a big, sure-handed receiver who has dominated in the redzone at both Texas and Georgia. He’s a true redzone threat who has five touchdowns in five College Football Playoff games. He also has elite speed for his size, having run a 4.35 second 40 at the NFL Combine.
You wonder a little bit about Mitchell’s motor. He can give halfhearted efforts at times, and he won’t always go full speed if he doesn’t expect the ball to come his way. If he can find a way to fix that, he’s going to be closer to the top 3 receivers in this draft than anyone else.
Pick 28 - Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean (CB/S, Iowa)
Green Bay drops back a few spots by virtue of its trade with the Bills and still secures the same player: Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean.
The Packers secondary could use some more talent despite adding Xavier McKinney this off-season. DeJean played corner at Iowa but many around the league think he will find his home eventually at safety (I am certain nobody is falling victim to any implicit biases in coming to that conclusion…). Regardless, the Packers will find space for him—he’s got incredible instincts, toughness, and a nose for the ball. He also returned punts for Iowa last season, and would’ve had a game-winning punt return touchdown against Minnesota if it weren’t for some absolute nonsense.
This dude can play football and Green Bay will be glad to have him in the secondary wherever he ultimately ends up.
Pick 29 - Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr. (QB, Washington)
Trade: Las Vegas sends second (#44) and third round (#77) picks, plus a 2025 fourth rounder, to Detroit in exchange for moving up to pick #29. For its trouble, Detroit gets excess value equivalent to an extra third round pick in exchange for moving down.
After missing out on the first five quarterbacks taken in the draft, the Raiders move up to pick Michael Penix Jr. from Washington. By moving up into the first round, the Raiders ward off other teams like the Giants and Rams from moving up ahead of them in the second round for a QB.
Penix is a well-known commodity at this point and would be a big upgrade over Gardner Minshew at QB for the Raiders. He’s an elite deep ball thrower and put up electric numbers at Washington, ultimately leading them to the National Title game against Michigan. He led college football with over 4,900 yards passing last year, while tossing 36 touchdowns (against just 11 interceptions). Penix is already 24 years old, needs to work on his ball placement for underneath throws, and has had significant injuries in the past, but his success last year showed that when he puts everything together, he can be a really effective player. He also wowed scouts at his pro day by showing good athleticism, running a sub-4.6 second 40. That wasn’t on display at U-Dub, so there may be more in the cupboard than expected.
Pick 30 - Baltimore Ravens: Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB, Alabama)
The Ravens have had depth issues at cornerback for years. They can fill a need at a high-value position by selecting Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry at pick #30.
McKinstry is a really good corner who has consistently put quality play on film. He plays with fluidity and consistency in coverage, and he doesn’t make a ton of mistakes. Terrion Arnold definitely overtook him as a playmaker this year, but that’s more a reflection of Arnold’s stellar play that it was of McKinstry somehow falling off. He lacks elite athleticism and speed for a corner, which has pushed him down most draft boards, but he’s still got the skills to be a starter on Sundays.
Pick 31 - San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan (OT, Arizona)
That the Niners are picking at the end of the first round again is a testament to the overall quality of their roster; they simply don’t have a ton of needs to fill. Still, San Francisco could stand to improve at tackle opposite of Trent Williams and at cornerback opposite Charvarius Ward.
Jordan Morgan is the best player left at those positions. He’s a really good athlete with good movement skills for a 6’6”, 320-pound man. His lack of natural strength shows up at times in run blocking and pass protection, which makes him more fit for a zone running scheme than a power/gap scheme. That matches well with the 49ers scheme, so Morgan will be a solid fit. Though Morgan’s experience is all at left tackle, he’s a good enough athlete to make the switch to the right side.
Pick 32 - Kansas City Chiefs: Keon Coleman (WR, Florida State)
The Chiefs don’t really have needs because they have Pat Mahomes, who is good enough to render other offensive positions largely irrelevant. But if you had to pick something, it would be wide receiver—especially if Rashee Rice misses time as a result of legal issues stemming from a car crash. Kansas City picked up Marquise Brown, a deep threat with a small body, this off-season, so they can go for a complimentary piece.
Keon Coleman was a beast at Florida State after transferring from Michigan State (where he played football and basketball). He’s got the body to match, at 6’4” and 215 pounds with elite leaping ability. He caught 18 touchdowns in two years at FSU and had some highlight reel plays, including as a punt returner, but it felt like his overall receiving production was a bit lacking. He only averaged about 725 yards per season over the last two years, and he didn’t catch contested passes as often as you’d guess for a guy with his size. But his effort and athleticism were frequently on display, and you can’t teach his size. Speed is a bit of a question after he ran an unexpectedly slow 4.6 second 40 yard dash, but he was also clocked at the NFL Combine running over 20.3 miles per hour in the gauntlet drill (fastest among receivers), which suggests good functional speed despite the slower 40. The Chiefs will find a way to take advantage of his unique skillset.
Round 2
I’m going to cut down on the descriptions for Round 2 (my fingers hurt, too many words typed)—but trust that I put a lot of thought into this!
Pick 33 - Arizona Cardinals: Jerzhan Newton (DT, Illinois)
The embarrassment of riches for the Cardinals continues. They bolster their below-average interior D-Line with Johnny Newton, the best interior pass rusher in college football last year. Newton lacks the strength of Byron Murphy, but he’s a really disruptive player regardless.
Pick 34 - New England Patriots: Xavier Legette (WR, South Carolina)
After drafting Drake Maye, the Pats have to get him a weapon. Legette is a physical specimen who had an incredibly productive year last season with over 1,250 yards and 7 touchdowns. He’s big and has breakaway speed, but drops to the second round because he was a bit of a one-year-wonder (where was this his first four years at South Carolina?). He’ll bolster the Patriots receiving corps regardless.
Pick 35 - Tennessee Titans: Darius Robinson (Edge, Missouri)
Darius Robinson is a bit of a tweeter at 6’5” and 285 pounds, but he’s a disruptive pass rusher with great strength. He’s not as explosive as other NFL pass rushers, but he’s versatile and productive. The Titans have a reputation for developing disruptive defensive linemen with versatility and Robinson absolutely fits that mold. He’s good enough to compete with Sebastien Joseph-Day for a starting role right away.
Pick 36 - Washington Commanders: Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (CB, Missouri)
Rakestraw’s game screams toughness. He’s physical with receivers at the line of scrimmage and doesn’t mind putting his hat on somebody when he needs to. He at his best playing man coverage, though he graded out well in zone per Pro Football Focus. Similar to other CBs in this class, Rakestraw lacks speed compared to the top outside corners at the NFL level, which is part of why he falls to the second round.
Pick 37 - Atlanta Falcons: TJ Tampa (CB, Iowa State)
Trade: Atlanta sends its second round pick (#43) and a fourth round pick (#109) to the Chargers in exchange for pick #37.
Atlanta needs a cornerback to play with AJ Terrell and at this point in the draft, there aren’t a ton of obvious candidates to start right away. The Chargers, meanwhile, have a number of holes to fill and opt to move down rather than take a corner themselves (which they also need).
TJ Tampa has great size for a cornerback and doesn’t give much of that advantage back in terms of fluidity or coverage skills. He can get a little mixed up with shiftier receivers and lacks elite speed and recovery, but he’s got good strength to re-direct guys when he needs to. He’s a willing run defender too.
Pick 38 - Tennessee Titans: Troy Franklin (WR, Oregon)
Franklin specializes in taking the top off the defense. He’s rail thin at 6’2” and 176 pounds, but he’s got good speed that regularly turned into chunk yardage at Oregon. He had over 1,380 yards and 14 touchdowns last year—how’s that for production? Giving Will Levis a deep threat like Franklin to pair with DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley will help the young QB thrive.
Pick 39 - Carolina Panthers: Zach Frazier (C, West Virginia)
The one part of the offensive line that Carolina hasn’t invested in recently is center. Frazier is coming off an injury but was a three year starting center at West Virginia—his depth of experience gives him a slight edge of Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon here despite slightly less athleticism, as Carolina is trying to get Bryce Young as much immediate help as possible.
Pick 40 - Washington Commanders: Chris Braswell (Edge, Alabama)
Washington seems to have traded away all its edge rushers, sending Montez Sweat to the Bears and Chase Young to the 49ers. They take Braswell here to bolster their edge rush. Braswell was super productive last season with 13 sacks and 33 pressures per Pro Football Focus, and he’s got great athleticism. He may not have the same ceiling as the first round guys, though.
Pick 41 - Green Bay Packers: Braden Fiske (DT, Florida State)
The Packers can bolster their defensive line with a situational interior pass rusher in Braden Fiske. Fiske is incredibly explosive (he lit the combine on fire for a defensive tackle) and productive as a pass rusher, but he’s on the smaller end. With Kenny Clark approaching free agency next season, there’s no harm in the Packers giving themselves alternatives at D-Tackle.
Pick 42 - Houston Texans: Kamari Lassiter (CB, Georgia)
Houston moved out of the first round via a trade with Minnesota earlier this spring, so this is their first pick. They’ve already addressed most of their big needs in free agency, but there is a need at cornerback opposite Derek Stingley Jr. Kamari Lassiter is a gamer who showed good instincts, fluidity, and cover skills at Georgia, but he had a disappointing 40 time (reportedly over 4.6 seconds), so there’s some concern about his ability to play on the outside in the NFL. Lassiter’s consistent play at Georgia showed he could hang with top dogs at the college level, though.
Pick 43 - LA Chargers: Kingsley Suamataia (OT, BYU)
Fine, I’ll bow a bit to the crowd here—the Chargers look to bolster their run game by taking BYU tackle Kingsley Suamataia. A cousin of Penei Sewell, Suamataia has great size and athleticism and can over-power defenders as part of a power run scheme. He’s got more upside than tackle prospects outside the first round, but he needs to work a lot on his technique in all areas. I suppose that’s what coaching is for.
Pick 44 - Detroit Lions: Adisa Isaac (Edge, Penn State)
After trading back with the Raiders, the Lions take Adisa Isaac from Penn State to supplement their pass rush. Aidan Hutchinson is a beast, but the Lions need someone to take advantage of the attention he draws. Isaac can join Detroit’s rotation with Marcus Davenport to help bring more pressure from the opposite side. Isaac was productive in college and has the physical tools to play at the NFL level, although he isn’t an elite athlete and has some room to improve his technique.
Pick 45 - New Orleans Saints: Ladd McConkey (WR, Georgia)
The Saints could use help on the defensive line, but they also need an underneath pass catcher to take advantage of the space created by Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. They take Ladd McConkey here as he’s the best player available. McConkey projects as a slot receiver, but he’s got good size and speed to pair with nice route running skills. He can also keep the Saints receiver room humming if Shaheed leaves in free agency after next season.
Pick 46 - Indianapolis Colts: Xavier Worthy (WR, Texas)
The Colts filled their biggest defensive need in Round 1 and now turn to the offensive side of the ball. Worthy is absurdly fast—he ran a record 4.21 second 40 yard dash at the combine—and he plays like it. His game-breaking speed will create space for Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce, especially with the threat of Anthony Richardson’s electric arm. Worthy isn’t as shifty as iconic speedsters like DeSean Jackson, but he’s can fill a clear role for the Colts.
Pick 47 - New York Giants: Javon Bullard (S, Georgia)
The Giants have needs all over the field, but after wide receiver, their biggest priority should be their secondary after the departure of safety Xavier McKinney. Bullard has great football instincts and is a willing tackler. He profiles well as a potential nickel corner, but he’s got experience dropping into coverage from the safety position too. He’s physical and will make his presence felt in games—he’s the guy who knocked out Marvin Harrison Jr. in the College Football Playoff game between Ohio State and Georgia in 2023.
Pick 48 - Jacksonville Jaguars: Marshawn Kneeland (Edge, Western Michigan)
The Jags are heavily invested at edge, but Travon Walker’s been a bit disappointing. Adding another pass rusher to the group gives them some insurance in case Walker can’t take a step. It would also give them versatility on clear passing downs. Enter Kneeland, who has great size and strength for the position at 6’3” and 275 pounds. Kneeland relies heavily on his power rush, but he’s strong as hell so it can work. He’ll need to develop a deeper bag of pass rush moves to live up to his potential at the NFL level.
Pick 49 - Cincinnati Bengals: Ja'Lynn Polk (WR, Washington)
The Bengals franchise tagged Tee Higgins this year, but they need a plan to move on from him if they can’t repair the relationship. They also let Tyler Boyd walk in free agency, so they’ve got space in their receiver room. Polk is a really good football player who was highly productive at Washington, racking up 1,159 yards and 9 touchdowns opposite Rome Odunze. Polk isn’t as big as Higgins, but he has good size, never shies away from contact, and routinely pulls down contested balls.
Pick 50 - Philadelphia Eagles: Ricky Pearsall (WR, Florida)
The Eagles also quietly have a need at receiver, even with big money being spent on AJ Brown and Devonta Smith. Pearsall profiles as a really good slot receiver as he excels at working in tight spaces and shows solid short-area quickness. He’s got great hands and enough speed to create a little bit in space too. With defenses focusing on Brown and Smith, Pearsall could eat underneath alongside Dallas Goedert.
Pick 51 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson Powers-Johnson (C, Oregon)
The Steelers are one of many teams that need a center. Although the position has been devalued league-wide, Jackson Powers-Johnson (“JPJ”) has all the tools to be a high-level starter. He’s huge for a center, weighing 330 pounds, but he’s extremely athletic and quick nonetheless. By adding Broderick Jones in 2023 and Amarius Mims and JPJ in 2024, the Steelers are setting their O-Line up to have some of the biggest and best athletes in the trenches across the NFL.
Pick 52 - LA Rams: Max Melton (CB, Rutgers)
Rutgers hasn’t produced a lot of NFL talent lately, but I love Max Melton’s game. At 5’11”, 187 pounds, Melton may fit best on the interior, but he’s athletic enough to warrant a look as an outside corner—he posted solid explosion numbers at the combine compared to a lot of other corners in the class. He’s tough and likes to play physical, which helps him win plays early but can result in some undue grabbiness at times. He’ll have to clean that up to avoid penalties in the NFL.
Pick 53 - Philadelphia Eagles: Edgerrin Cooper (LB, Texas A&M)
The Eagles finally fill a real “position of need” with their third pick of the draft (slot receiver is a bit of a luxury for them). Edgerrin Cooper is a stellar athlete at linebacker and his production last season was off the charts. He’s a really strong athlete who holds up well in pass coverage, which makes him a good fit for the modern NFL. But he can fall off tackles and can run himself out of plays sometimes, and he needs to work on his play recognition skills. Still, with his incredible athletic traits, the Eagles can find a way to get him on the field even if his best skill early on is as a blitzer.
Pick 54 - Cleveland Browns: Payton Wilson (LB, NC State)
The Browns don’t have their first pick until #54 overall thanks to their trade for Deshaun Watson. Linebacker is probably not their highest position of need, but Payton Wilson is a talented linebacker who can find his way into an effective role on an already-elite defense. Wilson has good size and elite athleticism for the position, and he’s got versatility to play inside and outside, or as a pass rusher if he needs to. That kind of versatility can be put to good use immediately by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Pick 55 - Miami Dolphins: Roman Wilson (WR, Michigan)
Miami loves fast receivers, and Roman Wilson fits the bill. The Dolphins want to get their receivers on the move to stress defenses and Wilson gives them another weapon to do so. And quietly, Tyreke Hill could be done in Miami sooner than later, as he’s got no guarantees on his deal after 2024 and the Fins will have to pay quarterback Tua Tagovailoa soon. Having another speedster on the roster will increase Miami’s flexibility in the off-season after 2024. Michigan’s national title run also showed that Wilson is also a gamer who shows up in big moments—whenever the Wolverines needed a big play, Wilson seemed to break one.
Pick 56 - Dallas Cowboys: Jonathan Brooks (RB, Texas)
The Cowboys need a running back and they don’t need to go far to find one in Jonathan Brooks. Brooks suffered a torn ACL last season, but he’s a talented back who does a little bit of everything—size, speed, agility, vision, balance, and tackle-breaking ability. Brooks is widely considered the best back in the draft and will help elevate the Cowboys’ run game along with first round pick Tyler Guyton.
Pick 57 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Sainristil (CB, Michigan)
The Bucs need to bolster their secondary after trading away Carlton Davis. They brought in Bryce Hall on a 1 year deal to build up their depth at outside corner, but they could use some juice in the slot. Sainristil is a Wolverine, both as an alum and in spirit. He’s undersized but tough as nails, never shying away from contact and always willing to play physically. He’s got great instincts for finding the ball, perhaps as a result of time he originally spent at receiver. He would compete for a starting job right away.
Pick 58 - Green Bay Packers: Brandon Coleman (OT, TCU)
Brandon Coleman has all the physical tools necessary to play tackle in the NFL, but his play was inconsistent. He played really well in 2022 as TCU made a run to the National Championship game, but he bounced around between guard and tackle in 2023 and struggled a bit. The Packers don’t need Coleman to start right away, but his upside and positional versatility would bring them some depth on the O-Line and growth prospects.
Pick 59 - Houston Texans: Maason Smith (DT, LSU)
You can’t take Maason Smith this high based on his college production, as Smith struggled to find consistency this season after coming back from an injury that caused him to miss all but one game in 2022. But his physical traits are absolutely tantalizing and Houston can afford to take a big swing on him. Smith is 6’6” and weighs 315 pounds, and he’s shown he has really good power and movement skills. He needs a lot of work on technique and play recognition, but if he can figure it out, he can be a Pro Bowl caliber player.
Pick 60 - Green Bay Packers: Tyler Nubin (S, Minnesota)
The Packers already have Xavier McKinney and Cooper DeJean from the first round, but they snag Nubin here anyway in the hopes that DeJean can work out at corner. Nubin has great play recognition and coverage skills and finds ways to get the ball in his hands. Despite that, he also does a good job playing his run responsibilities, which can be hard to find in modern safeties. Combined with McKinney and DeJean, you’re looking at a safety group that is versatile and can really turn teams over.
Pick 61 - Detroit Lions: Brandon Dorlus (DT, Oregon)
Standing 6’3” and weighing in at 283 pounds, Dorlus is a bit of a tweener who may bounce between roles as an edge rusher and interior lineman. But he brings versatility, strength, and disruption when he’s on the fields (although he could be more consistent). Even if Dorlus can’t bring the every-down consistency that stars like Hutchinson does, adding him to the pass rush group would give the Lions another good player to let throw out different looks, especially on passing downs.
Pick 62 - Baltimore Ravens: Kiran Amegadije (OT, Yale)
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player drafted from Yale, but I guess if you absolutely dominate the Ivy League you can make it pro. Amegadije won’t be ready to start right away, but the Ravens don’t need him to—they can help him build strength and get experience against NFL-level talent before he steps on the field. With Ronnie Stanley getting older and approaching free agency, the Ravens would benefit from developing another potential tackle prospect. Amegadije also has some experience at guard if they need to play him there.
Pick 63 - San Francisco 49ers: Andru Phillips (CB, Kentucky)
The Niners finally get to take a corner! Phillips is a good athlete who has experience both at outside corner and in the slot. He’s more natural in man coverage than in zone and doesn’t have the ball instincts of some corners who will go later in the draft, but he’s got size, speed, and can swivel his hips to play sticky coverage. He’s also not afraid of playing in a crowd and will come up to make plays in the run game if called upon, though he could stand to wrap guys up better. If he can round out his technique in zone coverage, he’ll find time on a good team.
Pick 64 - Kansas City Chiefs: Roger Rosengarten (OT, Washington)
The Chiefs let go of left tackle Donovan Smith in free agency and now need someone to protect Mahomes. Rosengarten played right tackle at Washington, but was responsible for protecting Michael Penix’s blindside (Penix is left-handed). He’s a bit limited athletically and not necessarily the strongest tackle around, so he may never pan-out as a long-term solution. But Rosengarten does a good job of finding a way to stay on blocks and could function as a spot-starter early if needed. He’s also young enough to reasonably project some physical improvement, especially in terms of strength.
Round 3
We’re down to Round 3 and I have few more words left. The notes are going to get shorter.
Pick 65 - Arizona Cardinals: Christian Haynes (OG, UConn)
Haynes was a standout at the Senior Bowl and can shore up the Cardinals interior offensive line.
Pick 66 - Arizona Cardinals: Ruke Orhorhoro (DT, Clemson)
Developmental defensive tackle with an intriguing blend of size, strength, and athleticism. He’s got experience playing inside out to head-up on tackles. Probably needs to keep adding weight to reach his peak on the interior.
Pick 67 - Washington Commanders: Ja'Tavion Sanders (TE, Texas)
The Commanders feel weird without a quality tight end (apologies to Zach Ertz, whose best years are behind him). Sanders is a quality receiver for a tight end but light in the run game and ran slower than expected.
Pick 68 - New England Patriots: Patrick Paul (OT, Houston)
Paul is a project but has the chance to become an effective pass protector at the NFL level. He’s got great length, but needs to build strength.
Pick 69 - LA Chargers: Kris Jenkins (DT, Michigan)
Harbaugh gets a Michigan guy! Jenkins is a powerful athlete who excelled in the run game, but he’s still got a fair amount of work to do to become a credible pass rush threat. The Chargers need a dude on the interior, though, and Jenkins can be it.
Pick 70 - New York Giants: Cooper Beebee (OG, Kansas State)
The Giants need to build talent on the O-Line and Beebee has experience playing a variety of positions. He’s got good size and power, which gives him a solid floor as a prospect even though he isn’t necessarily an elite athlete for the position.
Pick 71 - Arizona Cardinals: Malachi Corley (WR, Western Kentucky)
This is one of my favorite players in the third round. Corley is a dog with the ball in his hands, and he can bring a physical element to the receiving game that the Cardinals do not have. Paired with Rome Odunze and Michael Wilson, you can picture some pretty nasty WR screens going Corley’s way.
Pick 72 - New York Jets: Dominick Puni (OG, Kansas)
After eating dessert first and drafting Brock Bowers in the first round, the Jets turn to the trenches and grab Dominick Puni from Kansas. Puni plays with power and has experience at guard and tackle, so he can fill in if the Jets do suffer injuries on the O-Line.
Pick 73 - Detroit Lions: Jermaine Burton (WR, Alabama)
Jermaine Burton has a really strong athletic profile, with decent size (6’0” and 196 pounds), speed (4.45 second 40 yard dash), and explosion. His production at Alabama and Georgia was a bit underwhelming, though. Off-field issues and reports of character concerns push Burton down the board, but Detroit can afford to take the risk here—they won’t actually need him if he doesn’t find a way to fit in.
Pick 74 - Atlanta Falcons: Jonah Elliss (Edge, Utah)
Dallas Turner is the Falcons pass-rushing prize from this draft, but Elliss can also help out as a situational pass rusher. He has a solid variety of pass rush moves and plays hard all the time; he also has the college production to prove it, as he had 13 sacks in his last season at Utah. He’ll need to get stronger and add bulk to become a three-down player.
Pick 75 - Chicago Bears: Devontez Walker (WR, UNC)
Tez Walker is a luxury pick and a bit of a project. He has a great combination of size and speed, but he didn’t produce nearly as much as you’d like to see and he struggles at times with tracking the ball and drops. He also needs to work on his footwork to do more than run vertical routes—getting him in a room with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore may help unlock his potential.
Pick 76 - Denver Broncos: Jalen McMillan (WR, Washington)
The Broncos need help in the receiver room and McMillan is a good player out of the slot. He’s got decent size and speed, and does a good job finding space, but he will need to work on his ability to make plays in a crowd to be really effective.
Pick 77 - Detroit Lions: Jaden Hicks (S, Washington State)
Hicks likes to hit people and plays with aggression all the time. He wants to come up and make big hits. But he’s got some work to do on technique, including reading plays. He’s got the size and athletic traits to bet on though and can contribute on special teams early.
Pick 78 - Washington Commanders: Calen Bullock (S, USC)
Bullock is more of a coverage safety. He’s rangy and does a great job of reading quarterbacks. He’s on the smaller side and can struggle defending the run. While he’s willing to mix it up, he can get tossed around a bit. Washington’s biggest secondary issues are really with coverage though, and Bullock can help with that.
Pick 79 - Atlanta Falcons: Kris Abrams-Draine (CB, Missouri)
Falcons need a slot corner and Abrams-Draine was a menace last year. He’s small, but he breaks up a lot of passes and can turn QBs over. He’s never going to be the best press corner or tackler, but the Falcons have already added TJ Tampa in the second round to address those needs.
Pick 80 - Cincinnati Bengals: Jaylen Wright (RB, Tennessee)
Another one of my Five Favorites, it pains me that Wright has to wait this long to find a home, but there aren’t many teams with huge running back needs earlier in the draft. Wright has big-play speed and if he gets space, he can break a game wide open. He’ll bring a different skill set than Zack Moss and Chase Brown.
Pick 81 - Seattle Seahawks: Blake Fisher (OT, Notre Dame)
The Seahawks continue to build out their offensive line by selecting Blake Fisher, an athletic right tackle from Notre Dame. Fisher isn’t plug-and-play like Troy Fautanu, but if he can build up his strength, he’ll be able to slot in at right tackle (assuming Fautanu eventually lands at guard).
Pick 82 - Indianapolis Colts: Austin Booker (Edge, Kansas)
The Colts don’t have huge needs to they take a swing here on a toolsy pass rusher in Austin Booker. Booker needs to add bulk and strength, but he’s got good length and produced last year for Kansas. He could develop into a high-quality player if given time.
Pick 83 - LA Rams: Junior Colson (LB, Michigan)
Colson is a traditional middle linebacker who does a little of everything well. The Rams could use depth at middle linebacker, and Colson has the chance to develop into a starter for them over time.
Pick 84 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Khyree Jackson (CB, Oregon)
The Steelers have a clear need at corner opposite of Joey Porter Jr. Khyree Jackson is enormous for the position (6’3”, 195 pounds), but he still moves well and displays good flexibility. He can get caught looking in the wrong places, but the tools are really good.
Pick 85 - Cleveland Browns: Brenden Rice (WR, USC)
The son of Jerry Rice, Brenden Rice has really nice size for a receiver. He’s not the quickest guy on the field, but he can get up to decent speeds when he needs to. He had solid, though not outstanding production at USC. Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and David Njoku are going to be the primary receiving threats in Cleveland, but Rice can work his way into a rotational role.
Pick 86 - Houston Texans: Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (LB, Clemson)
Trotter Jr. is the son of former Eagles stand-out linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr. He’s got great athleticism and plays smart football, including doing a nice job of finding his run fits and playing sticky in pass coverage. But he has significant size limitations at just 228 pounds with shorter arms. But Demeco Ryans will love his ability to find the ball and stick his nose in the mix.
Pick 87 - Dallas Cowboys: Javon Baker (WR, Central Florida)
The Cowboys are thin at receiver and need to starting looking for cost-controlled options as extensions for Dak Prescott, Ceedee Lamb, and Micah Parsons loom. Baker has some developing to do, but he’s got good size and manages to separate well enough to put up good production.
Pick 88 - Green Bay Packers: Bralen Trice (Edge, Washington)
Trice is one of those defenders who just screws things up. He’s always creating havoc and pushing quarterbacks off their spot, which is a nice talent to have. He generated 99 pressures in the last two seasons according to Pro Football Focus. Trice doesn’t have elite get-off, but he’s got good size and strength to wreak havoc (even if it’s not always controlled).
Pick 89 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trey Benson (RB, Florida State)
Benson has a really interesting athletic profile—at 6’0”, 216, he’s a bigger back, but he has really fantastic breakaway speed. He runs hard and can break through arm tackles, but he’ll need to play with a bit more physicality to be at his best. He’s a bit too eager to try to get outside to use his speed, he’s got other clubs in the bag.
Pick 90 - Arizona Cardinals: Bucky Irving (RB, Oregon)
Bucky Irving is pretty small at 5’9” and 192 pounds, and he’s not as fast as you’d like at that size with 4.55 second 40 speed, but he produced like crazy at Oregon, with almost 1,192 yards on the ground and another 395 yards receiving. He plays really hard, doesn’t shy away from contract, and he’s got versatility. I’m a bit scarred by seeing Oregon backs with similar profiles who couldn’t reproduce their success in the NFL (hello, LaMichael James), but Irving deserves a shot.
Pick 91 - Green Bay Packers: Mason McCormick (OG, South Dakota State)
McCormick is a bit of a depth pick for the Packers. They could use interior offensive lineman, and McCormick has as good of a chance to pop as anyone at this point in the draft. He can really move people around in the run game.
Pick 92 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (C, Georgia)
Van Pran-Granger has started 44 games for Georgia since 2021, so you know the guy can play football. It’s not always pretty and he can get off-balance at times, but he finds a way to handle his assignment consistently. The Bucs have some holes on the interior of their O-Line and Van Pran-Granger should help solidify things there.
Pick 93 - Baltimore Ravens: Malik Washington (WR, Virginia)
The Ravens need to find some receiver help for Zay Flowers, but at this point in the draft the top prospects are gone. Malik Washington is on the smaller side, and his skillset overlaps a bit with Flowers, but he was incredibly productive in college and can find time on the field immediately.
Pick 94 - San Francisco 49ers: Michael Hall Jr. (DT, Ohio State)
Hall Jr. is the last of my Five Favorites on the board, and he finds a good home in San Francisco. Hall is small for an every-down defensive tackle, so the Niners would use him primarily on passing downs. Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd, Javon Hargrove, and Hall could make for a pretty scary pass rush group on third down.
Pick 95 - Kansas City Chiefs: Jalyx Hunt (Edge, Houston Christian)
The Chiefs are often playing with a lead, so pass rushers are a key part of their defensive success. Hunt is athletically gifted enough to play in the NFL, but he still needs a lot of work (to say nothing of the competition jump he’ll face coming from Houston Christian). The Chiefs can develop him as a backup and hope he can convert his athletic traits into production.
Pick 96 - Jacksonville Jaguars: Cole Bishop (S, Utah)
Bishop has starting caliber speed, size, and athleticism, so he could easily go higher in the draft than this. He plays with force and is a willing tackler, but he can sometimes get too loose with his assignments. Jacksonville could use his versatility to enhance their physicality in the secondary.
Pick 97 - Cincinnati Bengals: Cam Hart (CB, Notre Dame)
Hart is a big, physical corner who may ultimately be better suited to special teams. But Cincinnati’s cornerback room is on the smaller side and the Bengals will appreciate having a bigger DB who they might be able to develop into a starter on the outside.
Pick 98 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Jamari Thrash (WR, Louisville)
Thrash has the coolest name of any wide receiver in the draft. He’s got good vertical speed and does a solid job tracking the ball, but he can improve his functional play strength so that he can catch the ball through contact. The Steelers need another receiver after letting Diontae Johnson go, and Thrash may be the best remaining receiver.
Pick 99 - LA Rams: Spencer Rattler (QB, South Carolina)
Rattler may never develop into a starting quarterback, but with Stafford approaching the end of his career, the Rams should look to put themselves in position to have a replacement on the roster if they can get lucky. Rattler’s had a bit of an up and down career, but he’s got enough talent to potentially succeed at the NFL level if he can play with more pace.
Pick 100 - Washington Commanders: Javon Solomon (Edge, Troy)
Solomon is undersized (with short arm length) and played at a lower level in college, but he managed to rack up 17 sacks last season anyway. The Commanders need pass rushers, though, so taking a flyer on Solomon with a compensatory pick is a worthwhile shot to take.
Round 4
Alright, my fingers are truly tired. Nothing to say about these guys except the Chargers (I can’t help myself), but you can email me if you want to know more about any of them!
Pick 101 - Carolina Panthers: Blake Corum (RB, Michigan)
Pick 102 - Seattle Seahawks: Brennan Jackson (Edge, Washington State)
Pick 103 - New England Patriots: Xavier Thomas (Edge, Clemson)
Pick 104 - Arizona Cardinals: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (S, Texas Tech)
Pick 105 - LA Chargers: Caelen Carson (CB, Wake Forest)
The Chargers badly need corner depth and Carson has the athletic profile to do it, with solid size and adequate speed. He’s got a good amount of experience playing in different types of coverages and has displayed solid coverage skills and a willingness to play strong run defense too. He’s battled injuries in the past, which he’ll obviously need to avoid.
Pick 106 - Tennessee Titans: Kamren Kinchens (S, Miami)
Pick 107 - New York Giants: Michael Pratt (QB, Tulane)
Pick 108 - Minnesota Vikings: Jarvis Brownlee (CB, Louisville)
Pick 109 - LA Chargers: Marshawn Lloyd (RB, USC)
Lloyd is a talented running back with starting caliber athletic traits. He’s got speed, burst, and the chance to turn into a solid pass catcher. He won’t be used in a starting role, but he could bring some juice to the run game.
Pick 110 - LA Chargers: Christian Mahogany (OG, Boston College)
Even though I think the hype about the Chargers drafting OL early is a bit overrated, they do need some more guys. Neither Zion Johnson nor Jamaree Salyer showed enough at guard to have a vice-grip on a starting role, but they’ll probably keep their roles initially. Mahogany offers good power in the running game and a downhill mentality that Harbaugh and Greg Roman will appreciate.