With the college football regular season concluded, players are now shifting their focus to either preparing for bowl games, gearing up for a playoff run, or beginning their preparations for the NFL Draft. With the chaos of the regular season behind us and the excitement of the College Football Playoff and NFL playoffs on the horizon, I thought this would be an ideal time to release my first mock draft.
Here’s the draft order provided by Tankathon
1. Jacksonville Jaguars-Travis Hunter-CB/WR-Colorado
Jacksonville could auction this pick off to the highest bidder. Since we don’t know how teams are going to look like once the season is more, they keep the pick and draft Hunter. He is dynamic at both CB and WR, which ironically are needs the Jaguars will have going into free agency.
2. Las Vegas Raiders-Shedeur Sanders-QB-Colorado
The Raiders need to get a QB this year. They have one of the best young TE’s in the game in Brock Bowers, and will want to pair him up with a QB. Sanders is very accurate, has good arm strength, and can make NFL throws. Plus, the Raiders will love marketing him for the team, and he just fits the Raider’s moxie.
3. New York Giants-Cameron Ward-QB-Miami (FL)
Daniel Jones is already cut, and this feels like a full clean house is incoming. The QB free agency market isn’t that great, so the Giants are in a great spot to take Ward. He’s mobile, has great arm talent, and a ton of starting experience.
4. New England Patriots-Kelvin Banks-OT-Texas
New England has needs all over, and a lot of money to spend in free agency. Protecting Drake Maye with my OT1 will be a start. Banks has great traits in the pass game, and his size and athleticism are a major plus.
5. Carolina Panthers-Abdul Carter-EDGE-Penn State
Bryce Young has improved the past couple of weeks so I believe the Panthers are not going to focus on QB anymore. Their pass rush is abysmal, so they pick Carter. Carter is only getting better with more experience, and he is already a freak athlete that defensive coordinators will have fun using him all over the field.
6. New York Jets-Will Johnson-CB-Michigan
The Aaron Rodgers situation is confusing, so in this mock, he comes back for another year and the team address their CB need. Will Johnson has great size and coverage skills for the position. This pick would make it hard to throw against him and Sauce Gardner.
7. Tennessee Titans-Tetairoa McMillan-WR-Arizona
With this QB draft class not being as deep as the past 2 years, the Titans give Will Levis another chance but add McMillan. McMillan is a tall receiver who has great hands and deceptive speed. Adding him will give Levis another chance of either becoming the franchise QB or Tennessee looking into 2026 for its quarterback.
8. Cleveland Browns-Will Campbell-OT-LSU
Cleveland’s QB situation is interesting. I don’t like any other QB in the first round this early so take one of the best offensive linemen in this draft that fills a need. Campbell can start by playing tackle and then move inside to guard once Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are done playing.
9. Cincinnati Bengals-Mason Graham-DL-Michigan
The defense wasted away a great season from the offense. The Bengals need to address the defense early by taking the best defensive player on the board. Mason is disruptive and powerful, which was on effect in both the Rose Bowl last year and the Ohio State game this year.
10. New Orleans Saints-Mykel Williams-EDGE-Georgia
Cameron Jordan’s career is ending soon so New Orleans invests in adding help at the position. Williams hasn’t played a whole lot in his career but has been disruptive and powerful the games he has played.
11. Chicago Bears-Tyler Booker-OG-Alabama
The offensive line needs an upgrade at every position. Booker is an aggressive IOL and will be immediate help for Chicago protecting Caleb Williams for the future.
12. Miami Dolphins-Kenneth Grant-DL-Michigan
While addressing the offensive line will help Tua for the future, their run defense is abysmal after letting Christian Wilkins walk in free agency. Grant is a massive defensive lineman who has great agility for his size.
13. Dallas Cowboys-Ashton Jeanty-RB-Boise State
Dallas has holes all over the team. Jeanty is RB1, and is from the Dallas area. Adding him will help take the pressure off Dak and CeeDee, and it gives Dallas a running game since the committee this year is not working.
14. San Francisco 49ers-Nic Scourton-EDGE-Texas A&M
The 49ers have been plagued with injuries, and San Francisco needs help on the defensive line. Scourton will add versatility and athleticism to an defensive line that is so dependent on Nick Bosa.
15. Indianapolis Colts-Malaki Starks-S-Georgia
The Colts need help in their secondary. Adding Starks will give the Colts a versatile defender who can play both in the box and in coverage.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Luther Burden-WR-Missouri
Chris Godwin might not be a Buccaneer next year, and Mike Evans isn’t going to be a top receiver forever. Burden is explosive and shifty, and gives Baker Mayfield an option.
17. Los Angeles Rams-Benjamin Morrison-CB-Notre Dame
Los Angeles has a great defensive front but can use secondary help. Morrison suffered a season-ending hip injury and that can cause medical concerns. However, he has great ball skills and versatility. He is one of my favorite prospects, as you can see from my scouting report here.
18. Arizona Cardinals-Walter Nolen-DL-Ole Miss
Jonathan Gannon has got the Cardinals playing tough and physical, but they can use some more physicality on the defensive. Nolen has versatility, and will give the physicality that Gannon looks for in his players.
19. Atlanta Falcons-James Pearce-EDGE-Tennessee
Atlanta shocked everyone by taking Michael Penix over a defensive player like Dallas Turner or Jared Verse last year. They still need help at the EDGE position, and Pearce offers an ton of upside with his motor and long wingspan.
20. Seattle Seahawks-Jonah Savaiiaea-OT-Arizona
The Seahawks are one of the worst running teams in the NFL, and they need offensive line help. Jonah Savaiiaea offers positional versatility having play both guard and tackle in college, and the Seahawks need help on that side of the line. I have Savaiiaea starting at RG and kicking out to tackle in case Abraham Lucas gets hurt again.
21. Washington Commanders-Emeka Egbuka-WR-Ohio State
Jayden Daniels has been so valuable to the Commanders already in his first year. The Commanders give Daniels another weapon in Egbuka, who can be another Ohio State productive wideout in the NFL. Egbuka gives versatility lining up both in the slot and on the outside.
22. Houston Texans-Donovan Jackson-IOL-Ohio State
Houston needs glaring help in the inside of their offensive line, and Donovan Jackson has been key for the Buckeyes this year lining up both in the tackle and guard spot. He’s been getting better every year, and can help the Texans protect his old college QB. Plus, it also doesn’t hurt that Donovan grew up in Houston.
23. Denver Broncos-Aireontae Ersery-OT-Minnesota
Garett Bolles is a free agent, and the Broncos need to help out Bo Nix as he has solved the Broncos QB problem this year. Ersery has great size for the position, and can anchor the left tackle spot to help out Bo Nix.
24. Baltimore Ravens-Derrick Harmon-DL-Oregon
The Ravens need to address the interior part of their defensive line, as they are in the bottom half of yards allowed. Harmon can collapse the pocket quickly, and it is a nice added bonus that he can get after the QB.
25. Los Angeles Chargers-Colston Loveland-TE-Michigan
Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert need a TE, and it only helps that Harbaugh recruited Loveland out of high school. Loveland has dealt with a limited offense this year, but he has great size and hands for the position. Plus, he knows what Harbaugh wants out of his tight end.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers-Isaiah Bond-WR-Texas
Pittsburgh’s offense has gotten better the past couple of weeks but they need a weapon who can take the inside. Bond has great speed for the position, and his YAC ability will help Russell Wilson moving forward.
27. Green Bay Packers-Shavon Ravel-CB-East Carolina
Eric Stokes hasn’t lived up to his first round pick status due to numerous injuries. Shavon Ravel was a top CB prospect before he tore his ACL. However, he has great ball skills and size for the position, which is a need in the tough NFC North.
28. Minnesota Vikings-Deone Walker-DL-Kentucky
Brian Flores has helped this defense tremendously with his blitz happy scheme. The Vikings could use an interior defensive lineman who can cause confusion for offenses with size and athleticism, which happens to be Walker’s speciality.
29. Philadelphia Eagles-Jalon Walker-LB/EDGE-Georgia
Eagles taking another Georgia Bulldog? Shocking, but Walker’s talent was on full display during the Georgia-Texas game a couple of months ago. He’s a dynamic athlete who can line up at both LB and EDGE, and give Vic Fangio a versatile piece to use in his defense.
30. Buffalo Bills-Landon Jackson-EDGE-Arkansas
You can never go wrong with too many edge rushers in a conference with Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. Jackson’s size and length are going to be a problem for offensive lineman, and they can ease him in to replace Von Miller when the time comes.
31. Kansas City Chiefs-Tyler Warren-TE-Penn State
At some point, Travis Kelce is not going to be around anymore. Might as well get the most athletic TE in Tyler Warren for Andy Reid to find new ways to use his talents.
32. Detroit Lions-Jack Sawyer-EDGE-Ohio State
Edge rusher is going to be a need for the Lions, and Jack Sawyer just fits in Dan Campbell’s culture. He offers versatility lining up both with hand in the ground and standing up, while having a motor that does not take plays off. He is another one of my favorite prospects from my scouting report on him.
