We are through 5 weeks of the NFL season and the draft order is starting to take shape so it’s time for my first mock draft of the year. The draft order is the current NFL Draft order according to tankathon.com. Remember to go follow my twitter @jvertDraft for more content!
- New England Patriots (1-4): Will Campbell – OT – LSU
The Patriots offensive line is their biggest issue and so far in 2024 they’ve had multiple starting left tackles in just 5 games. Will Campbell gives the patriots a blindside protector for Drake Maye and starts the process of shoring up the line to protect their young QB.
- Cincinnati Bengals (1-4): Mason Graham – IDL – Michigan
The Bengals have holes on both the offensive and defensive line but so far in 2024 the biggest reason they’re 1-4 is because their defense can’t stop anyone, so filling a hole they have at DT with Mason Graham who brings great pass rushing and run stopping ability from the interior would help their defense in multiple ways.
- Cleveland Browns (1-4): Kelvin Banks – OT – Texas
The Browns offense is a dumpster fire on all levels and with aging and injury prone tackles on both sides landing a franchise LT like Kelvin Banks would boost this offense substantially.
- Los Angeles Rams (1-4): Will Johnson – CB – Michigan
The Rams have continued to infuse youth into their defense but one spot they haven’t hit is corner. At 4th overall they are able to land the best corner prospect in the draft with Will Johnson. Johnson has elite size and athleticism and is great in both man and zone coverage and would step onto the field week 1 as the Rams #1 corner.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4): Benjamin Morrison – CB – Notre Dame
The Jaguars defense is pretty brutal and their secondary is a big issue and drafting Benjamin Morrison gives them an elite corner opposite of Tyson Campbell. Morrison would be CB1 in most drafts but happens to be in the same class as Will Johnson but Morrison is still an amazing corner prospect who is easily worth a top 5 selection.
- Carolina Panthers (1-4): Travis Hunter – WR/CB – Colorado
QB will probably be at the top of the Panthers needs list in 2025 but I’m not sure there is a QB worth the 6th overall pick and I don’t think the franchise can handle taking another risk at that position and missing on another player. Instead they sure up their secondary and add offensive firepower by selecting the most exciting player in the country.
- Tennessee Titans (1-3): Cam Ward – QB – Miami
It doesn’t seem like the new coaching staff in Tennessee views Will Levis as their franchise QB so the Titans add their QB of the future here at 7 and at this point in the draft process it seems like Cam Ward is the clear option to be drafted first. Ward has mental issues he needs to clear up but possesses all the physical talent in the world.
- Miami Dolphins (2-3): Aireonte Ersery – OT – Minnesota
The Dolphins offensive line is extremely lacking in both depth and youth and Aireonte Ersery gives them an intriguing tackle for the future who is dripping with physical tools and potential.
- New York Jets (2-3): Luther Burden – WR – Missouri
It’s a safe bet to assume that Rodgers will return for 2025 at least and the Jets biggest hole right now is their lack of weapons on offense outside of Garrett Wilson. Burden gives the Jets a dynamic weapon in the pass and run game that could give their offense the spark they are missing in 2024.
- Arizona Cardinals (2-3): Nic Scourton – ED – Texas A&M
The Cardinals lack top end talent on all levels of their defense aside from safety so taking a talented, versatile edge rusher like Scourton will boost their defense substantially against both the run and pass.
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-3): Shedeur Sanders – QB – Colorado
The Raiders obviously don’t consider Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell as an option to be their QB long term so they select a guy with the all the mental tools to play QB at the next level with the added bonus of having the dawg mentality that head coach Antonio Pierce desires in his players.
- New Orleans Saints (2-3): James Pearce Jr – ED – Tennessee
The Saints have more questions than answers at the edge rusher position going forward with Chase Young only on a 1-year deal and Cam Jordan getting up their in age. So, adding a talented, high potential edge rusher like James Pearce would boost the ceiling of their pass rush substantially.
- Indianapolis Colts (2-3): Malaki Starks – SAF – Georgia
The Colts biggest hole on defense is at CB but at 13 there isn’t a corner worth taking so the next best option is to take a dynamic, playmaking safety like Malaki Starks. Starks will add a lot of talent to the back end of the Colts defense and improve their pass defense despite not getting the outside corner they likely want early in the 2025 NFL draft.
- San Francisco 49ers (2-3): Emery Jones – OT – LSU
The Niners could turn their season around and end up picking much later than this but if this trend continues and they find themselves picking in the top half of the first round they should use this pick to sure up their biggest hole on the roster which is RT. Emery Jones is a 3-year starter at RT and has that big mauler mentality that the Niners like with their offensive lineman so if they have the opportunity to select him it should be a no brainer.
- New York Giants (2-3): Jalen Milroe – QB – Alabama
The Giants biggest hole is easily QB and if Brian Daboll is able to keep his job being able to draft the QB of his choice to mold and develop will be a huge desire for him. Milroe fits the mold of a Josh Allen like Daboll had success with in Buffalo and if he’s able to coach him up Milroe could become an elite threat at QB for the Daboll offense.
- Philadelphia Eagles (2-2): Josaiah Stewart – ED – Michigan
Following their 2023 run to the Super Bowl the eagles defense has been on a steady decline on all 3 levels. Edge rusher looks like it will be the biggest issue for the Eagles this upcoming offseason so getting some juice off the edge will be important. Josaiah Stewart is one of my favorite players in the draft and brings a lot of explosiveness and fire off the edge and should help bolster the Eagles pass rush.
- Chicago Bears (3-2): Jonah Savaiinaea – OT – Arizona
The Bears offensive line has been a major let down so far in 2024 despite some optimism about the development of the unit. The Bears need to address one of their tackle spots this offseason and selecting a big, athletic mauler like Jonah Savaiinaea would be a great move in their quest to support their new franchise QB.
- Green Bay Packers (3-2): Kenneth Grant – IDL – Michigan
The Packers are a talented young team with players who will continue to improve and grow all over the field but they definitely lack depth and youth on the interior of their defensive line. Picking Kenneth Grant will give them a great run stopper early on with the athletic profile of a player who can develop into a solid pass rusher down the line.
- Los Angeles Chargers (2-2): Ashton Jeanty – RB – Boise State
The Chargers will likely have other needs that are bigger than RB, but the talent of Ashton Jeanty is undeniable and Harbaugh could see the perfect piece to his run-heavy offense when watching Jeanty. Number 19 actually seems too low for Jeanty at this point but the fit made the most sense and would be a great pairing for both Jeanty and the Chargers
- Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2): Tetairoa McMillan – WR – Arizona
The Steelers biggest need is another WR to pair with George Pickens and despite their similar style I think McMillan and Pickens would actually be able to co-exist very well together since it will free Pickens up to move around the formation and use his RAC ability more since he won’t be the only scary outside receiving threat on the roster anymore.
- Seattle Seahawks (3-2): Tyler Booker – IOL – Alabama
The Seahawks need to sure up their offensive line in order to push their offense over the edge and Tyler Booker would be a slam dunk selection who would slide into their left guard spot on day 1 and improve the offensive line drastically. Booker has all the tools to be a first round guard and we could see a team take him even earlier than this.
- Denver Broncos (3-2): Colston Loveland – TE – Michigan
The Broncos need to add more weapons on offense for Bo Nix and with a couple receivers on the roster who have some potential they may avoid that position this early in the draft but for a coach like Sean Payton who is great with TEs Colston Loveland would be a very intriguing pick. Loveland has all the tools to be a 3 down TE in the NFL and Sean Payton’s scheme could unlock Loveland’s full potential.
- Dallas Cowboys (3-2): Deone Walker – IDL – Kentucky
The Cowboys run defense has been horrible in 2024 and they need a boost in young talent on the inside of their defensive line. Deone Walker has a lot of potential but needs some work as well but if the Cowboys can develop him he will be the perfect addition to their defense for years to come.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2): Jalon Walker – ED – Georgia
The Buccaneers weakest position of their defense is their edge rusher position. Outside of Yaya Diaby there isn’t much to be excited about but picking a guy like Jalon Walker who has proved this season at Georgia that his permanent home is at edge rusher at the next level and he would bring a lot of young talent to the Bucs D line.
- Buffalo Bills (3-2): Isaiah Bond – WR – Texas
The Bills offense looked unstoppable early in the season but as they started to play harder opponents it became clear that they need more help at WR. Isaiah Bond would be a great compliment to 2024 draft pick, Keon Coleman and would give Josh Allen a consistent separator that the offense is lacking with the loss of Stefon Diggs. Bond’s speed and route running would bring a great new dynamic to the Bills offense.
- Baltimore Ravens (3-2): Abdul Carter – ED – Penn State
The Ravens have definitely found a permanent pass rusher in Odafe Oweh, but outside of him they don’t have any other consistent pieces at edge rusher. Abdul Carter fits the bill of a Ravens pass rusher with his size and athletic ability, not to mention he would be the 3rd Penn State edge rusher on the roster. Carter may not be ready to play NFL edge as a rookie but the other pieces they have will give him time to develop.
- Atlanta Falcons (3-2): Denzel Burke – CB – Ohio State
The Falcons have seemed to have found their groove and should remain a solid team going into 2025 but they definitely have a need for a CB2 alongside AJ Terrell. Denzel Burke is an extremely solid corner in all ways and would be ready to start immediately on a team that should be looking to compete at a high level.
- Detroit Lions (3-1): Jack Sawyer – ED – Ohio State
The Lions are in need of another edge rusher on the opposite side of Aidan Hutchinson and Jack Sawyer would immediately slide into that role because of his high floor as a player. The Lions are in win now mode for the foreseeable future and Jack Sawyer would be a day 1 solid starter for them and improve their defense right away.
- Washington Commanders (4-1): Tacario Davis – CB – Arizona
The Commanders haven’t had much success drafting corner the last couple of years but in order to improve their pass defense they need to take another stab at the position. Tacario Davis has all the physical tools to be a really special corner and with some improvement to his technique he could develop into the type of player worth a pick much higher than 29 but some early season struggles push him down to the back end of the first round at this point.
- Houston Texans (4-1): Tyleik Williams – IDL – Ohio State
The Texans biggest hole on defense is the interior of their defensive line and as a team looking to compete for super bowls they need pro ready players in the first round and Tyleik Williams fits the bill. Williams is a great run stopper and a solid pass rusher already and would be an instant upgrade on the Texans defensive line.
- Minnesota Vikings (5-0): Shavon Revel – CB – East Carolina
The Vikings defense has been elite this season under Brian Flores but after this season they are expected to lose both starting corners and they will need to bring in some young talent at the position. Shavon Revel has all the athletic tools in the world and probably would have gone much earlier if he didn’t tear his ACL. If the Vikings are able to sure of their CB room with some veterans this offseason they may be inclined to take a risk on Revel because if it works out they would get the steal of the draft.
- Kansas City Chiefs (5-0): Wyatt Milum – OT – West Virginia
Kansas City doesn’t seem to like any of the options they have at tackle so far this season so they could definitely look to add one early in the draft in 2025. Wyatt Milum is having a great 2024 season and could continue to play himself into the first round conversation and potentially land on a team like the Chiefs at the back end of day 1.
