Entering a point in the season where the soon to be drafted players in college football are solidifying their draft ranges and the NFL teams are solidifying their draft position leads me to believe it’s time for a big mock draft. So without further ado, the New England Patriots are on the clock.
Round 1 Pick 1 — New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, ATH, Colorado
The Patriots need talent on both sides of the ball. With it looking more and more likely through the past 2 weeks that they have their future franchise Quarterback in Drake Maye, why not select a player who can play both sides of the ball in Travis Hunter. Whether the team decides to mainly use him on offense or defense, he’s bound to have a big impact his rookie year and this is a perfect spot to become the face of the franchise.
Round 1 Pick 2 — Carolina Panthers: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The Panthers need help with their defensive line and EDGE room, but the most important position in the world of football is QB and the offense has good pieces in line for a rookie to succeed and with my eyes not seeing an EDGE or IDL here besides Mason Graham worth this 2nd overall pick the Panthers select Cam Ward and hope to finally get the QB position right.
Round 1 Pick 3 — Cleveland Browns: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
The Browns are in QB and cap hell due to the play and contract of now injured Deshuan Watson. With Watson going down with an Achilles tear this past week the Browns almost certainly have to select a QB in April. Drew Allar has all the tools but has also made all the necessary adjustments in his game, he is my QB2 at the moment and he goes high in this mock draft to potentially be the QB of the future for the Browns.
Round 1 Pick 4 — Tennessee Titans: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
While the Titans have a need at QB I don’t see another QB worth this high of a round 1 selection. The Titans also have a need at RT and there’s a damn good athletic offensive tackle on the board who I believe can make the switch or can slot in at LT and move stellar rookie JC Latham back to Right Tackle. With Bill Callahan and the traits of Ersery this could solidify the offensive line for 10+ years.
Round 1 Pick 5 — New York Jets: Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan
The Jets have been plagued with injuries this season on their defensive front. With the 2nd best player and best defensive lineman being on the board here at pick 5 the Jets rush to the podium and select Mason Graham to pair with their superstar defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and 2 EDGE rushers Will Macdonald and Jermaine Johnson.
Round 1 Pick 6 — New Orleans Saints: Will Campbell, OT/OL, LSU
The Saints have needs at interior OL and potentially RT. You can select Will Campbell who’s my 3rd offensive tackle prospect on my board and try him at RT or put him in at Guard or possible even Center and have a pro bowl level interior offensive lineman for years.
Round 1 Pick 7 — Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Jaguars need help on the interior DL and at Corner. Will Johnson who is the top player on my big board falls to pick 7 and the Jaguars select him to pair with Corner Tyson Campbell. Johnson is a borderline generational talent but I project a sort of fall similar to Patrick Surtain in 2021. Johnson offers All-Pro level talent for the Jaguars.
Round 1 Pick 8 — Las Vegas Raiders: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
With the Raiders trading away Davantae Adams they are lacking an offensive threat outside of Brock Bowers. While they need a QB like I have said past Ward and Allar I don’t think there’s one worth taking in the first round. The raiders take my top WR on the board in hopes to replace the production Davantae Adams gave them.
Round 1 Pick 9 — New York Giants: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Giants have an opportunity to add another weapon along side superstar rookie Malik Nabers. Jeanty is a generational RB prospect in my eyes, so adding him to a team that needs to build on offensive talent even with QB questions, they select Jeanty giving another threat and dimension to the offense.
Round 1 Pick 10 — Miami Dolphins: Emery Jones , OT/OL, LSU
The Dolphins need to protect their QB point blank. To do that with needs at OT and IOL Emery Jones like his teammate Will Campbell is flexible and can be tried at both spots. This fills a glaring need and offers a high ceiling starter for the future.
Round 1 Pick 11 — Los Angeles Rams: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
The Rams need help at Corner and OT, Miller is a technician with high athletic ability and offers a great starting role at Right Tackle for the Rams. With injuries to top corners in the class it feels like OT is a spot they should address instead, so they select Miller here at pick 11.
Round 1 Pick 12 — Arizona Cardinals: Shemar Stewart, EDGE/OLB, Texas A&M
The Cardinals need to add talent to their defense, Stewart is my EDGE1 through the halfway point of the college season. He’s a big smooth athlete who offers great power and speed off the edge. Along with his he offers potential to drop into short zones, a perfect fit for the Gannon defense.
Round 1 Pick 13 — Cincinnati Bengals: Nic Scourton, EDGE/DL, Texas A&M
Scourton is a flexible high floor defender and will be able to come in and start immediately for the Bengals defense. A team that desperately needs EDGE help and with uncertainty about Trey Hendrickson wanting to stay they need to address this position early in this draft.
Round 1 Pick 14 — San Francisco 49ers: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The 49ers need help on the offensive line and with Trent Williams getting up in age, Simmons is someone who they can get and let sit while he recovers from a knee injury suffered against Oregon. Simmons is an athletic tackle with a high ceiling, and someone who will excel in the Niners zone heavy running scheme.
Round 1 Pick 15 — Dallas Cowboys: Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
Walker is someone who I have been super high on since the start of the CFB season. Coming off of an amazing performance against Texas, Walker can come in and give the Cowboys all the help they need on the defensive side of the ball. A raw player Walker can develop and live up to his high potential in Dallas.
Round 1 Pick 16 — Denver Broncos: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Bond is my WR2 as it stands right now, perfect for the Broncos as they are in need of a big play threat to pair with 2024 First Round Pick Bo Nix. Bond can come in and elevate the offense that needs another passing weapon next to Courtland Sutton.
Round 1 Pick 17 — Atlanta Falcons: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Falcons need to pair another EDGE with Matt Judon, Carter is a high potential player who offers athletic ability and burst off the EDGE to add another threat on the front 7 for the Falcons.
Round 1 Pick 18 — Philadelphia Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
The Eagles once again need LB help. Campbell is a perfect fit for the Fangio defense as he offers potential as an off ball blitzer or on certain downs as an EDGE rusher. Campbell has range to play Mike to OLB to EDGE, and will be a great pick here for the Eagles.
Round 1 Pick 19 — Seattle Seahawks: Kelvin Banks Jr. OT/OL, Texas
The Seahawks need Tackle and Interior help. Banks is flexible and offers potential to play both at the next level. Banks is a high floor player and would be a great pick for the Seahawks.
Round 1 Pick 20 — Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Colts need to add a safety net for their young QB Anthony Richardson. Warren fits everything the Colts like with their athletic RAS demons. Warren can be a high potential starter for the Colts offense on day 1.
Round 1 Pick 21 — Los Angeles Chargers: LT Overton, EDGE/DL, Alabama
The Chargers need help on their front 7, Overton is a high ceiling player who has range to play EDGE or all the way down to the 3T. Not much to say about this selection as the Chargers get a good player who offers huge potential down the road.
Round 1 Pick 22 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Williams is a high ceiling athletic freak. He adds to a Bucs front 7 that has Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby. Williams can come in an wreck the run game for opposing teams and develop into an awesome pass rusher down the road.
Round 1 Pick 23 — Chicago Bears: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
Not much to say about this pick at all. The Bears need IOL help bad and Booker is the best available guard on my board. Day 1 starter.
Round 1 Pick 24 — Baltimore Ravens: Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
The Ravens need to add WR for former MVP winning QB Lamar Jackson. Burden can play the Z or Slot for the Ravens and would be an electric pairing for star WR Zay Flowers.
Round 1 Pick 25 — Buffalo Bills: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
The Bills need to continue to help Josh Allen, Ayomanor is a high potential WR who can play X to the Slot. He offers an awesome vertical skill set for the Bills offense along with his YAC ability.
Round 1 Pick 26 — Washington Commanders: James Pearce Jr. EDGE, Tennessee
The Commanders need some help on the EDGE to pair with their lethal interior. Pearce is an awesome athlete and is finally putting all the parts of his game together. He can come in and thrive in the Dan Quinn defense.
Round 1 Pick 27 — Pittsburgh Steelers: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Mixing it up here, Higgins is an awesome player, he’s big and athletic and is starting to add nuance to his route running. The Steelers need WR help and pairing Higgins with Pickens would be a dream.
Round 1 Pick 28 — Green Bay Packers: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
The Packers don’t have many needs, but it doesn’t hurt to add a high potential CB to that room. Pairing Davis with Jaire Alexander gives the Packers a great duo for years to come.
Round 1 Pick 29 — Houston Texans: Dontay Corleone, DL, Cincinnati
The Texans need help on the interior. Corleone is an athletic run stopping DT and offers an awesome dimension to that lethal EDGE pairing the Texans have in Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
Round 1 Pick 30 — Minnesota Vikings: Malaki Starks, DB, Georgia
Starks should not have fallen as far as he did, but the Vikings run to the podium to add the rangy DB to the Flores defense. Starks has high potential but at the minimum is a plus starter for this defense.
Round 1 Pick 31 — Detroit Lions: Kyle Kennard, EDGE, South Carolina
The Lions need EDGE help and while Kennard might be a little early here, he’s the best available at the position and gives a sweet high potential pairing with superstar Aidan Hutchinson.
Round 1 Pick 32 — Kansas City Chiefs: Wyatt Milum, OT/OL, West Virginia
The Chiefs should probably look to add to there OL room, with the play of their Offensive Tackles and the contract extension due for star guard Trey Smith, Milum is a high floor starter and can slot in for this Super Bowl winning offense.
Round 2
Pick 33 — NE: Cameron Williams, OT, Texas
Pick 34 — CHI: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
Pick 35 — CLE: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
Pick 36 — TEN: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Pick 37 — NYJ: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Pick 38 — NO: Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
Pick 39 — JAX: TJ Sanders, DL, South Carolina
Pick 40 — LV: Sheduer Sanders, QB, Colorado
Pick 41 — NYG: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Pick 42 — MIA: Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
Pick 43 — CAR: Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU
Pick 44 — ARI: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Pick 45 — CIN: Shevon Revel, CB, ECU
Pick 46 — SF: Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Pick 47 — DAL: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Pick 48 — DEN: Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon
Pick 49 — ATL: Lander Barton, LB, Utah
Pick 50 — PHI: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Pick 51 — SEA: Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
Pick 52 — IND: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Pick 53 — LAC: Nohl Williams, CB, Cal
Pick 54 — TB: Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas
Pick 55 — CHI: Omarion Hampton, RB, UNC
Pick 56 — BAL: Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
Pick 57 — BUF: Josiah Stewart, EDGE, Michigan
Pick 58 — WAS: Marcus Bryant, OT, Missouri
Pick 59 — PIT: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
Pick 60 — GB: Jamaree Caldwell, DL, Oregon
Pick 61 — HOU: Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue
Pick 62 — BUF: Kevin Winston Jr. SAF, Penn State
Pick 63 — DET: Jaedon Roberts, OL, Alabama
Pick 64 — KC: Kamari Ramsey, SAF, USC
