As we turn the calendar to December, teams are either ramping up for a deep playoff run, or moving on from their coaches and looking to the off-season to fix what ails them. So I figured now is as good a time as any to do a NFL Draft Mock!
The order is based on the Super Bowl odds from FanDuel as of 12-01, with this analyst electing to pick the tiebreakers, and without further ado, picking at pick 1:
1:Jacksonville Jaguars – Travis Hunter, CB/WR, University of Colorado
My Comparison: Champ Bailey, Denver Broncos
- For Jacksonville, this selection is about taking the best player available, and that is Travis Hunter in this class. This is a pick you can mark in sharpie if Jacksonville earns Pick 1.01.
2: Carolina Panthers – Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State University
My Comparison: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
- For Carolina, this is a team that has a lot of needs everywhere, and I think Dave Canales will want another season with Bryce Young at QB. With that being said, Carolina takes a swing on an edge with the highest ceiling of any prospect in this class, and one that will test out of his mind at the Combine in April.
3: Tennessee Titans – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona University
My Comparison: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- For Tennessee, while QB is on the docket for them as well, I think they look elsewhere and run it back with Levis next season. With that being said, we give them one of the best pass catchers in this class, especially in red zone situations, to make life easier for Will Levis (or their QB of the future).
4: New England Patriots – Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M
My Comparison: Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints
- For New England, Left Tackle is likely their highest need. However, there isn’t one in this class worth taking this high, so they then look to add an edge rusher from Texas A&M who is the top overall edge rusher on my big board in Scourton.
5: Chicago Bears- Mason Graham, DT, University of Michigan
My Comparison: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
- For Chicago, they also have a need along their offensive line, but picking one this high would not be a good use of this draft pick. Instead, they opt to select the best player available in Mason Graham, who is one of the top 3 overall best players in this class, regardless of position.
6: Cleveland Browns – Luther Burden 3rd, WR, University of Missouri
My Comparison: Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings/Seattle Seahawks
- For Cleveland, this is all about getting a playmaker for their bridge QB (Jameis Winston?) in 2025, while you wait out the Watson deal. Luther Burden is electric with the ball in his hands without question, and is excellent value here.
7: New York Giants – Cam Ward, QB, University of Miami
My Comparison: Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota Vikings
- For NY Giants, this pick is all about getting their QB of the future. With both QBs still here, the Giants select my QB1, who has the best arm talent of any quarterback in this class.
8: Las Vegas Raiders – Shedeur Sanders, QB, University of Colorado
My comparison: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
- It’s a quarterback run! For Las Vegas, they would get the player that some analysts have listed as their QB1 in this class. This would be a home run fit, both on the field and off the field for Las Vegas, especially when it comes to ticket sales and marketing for the team (the son of Deion Sanders playing for a team partially owned by Tom Brady on the sunset strip? That’s money.)
9: Dallas Cowboys – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
My comparison: Ladanian Tomlinson, Los Angeles (San Diego) Chargers
- For Dallas, this pick is all about getting one of the best players and offensive stars in this class to pair with Dak and Ceedee. In addition, this would take the pressure off of both of those players, as he can significantly improve the run game in Big D.
10: New York Jets – Will Johnson, CB, University of Michigan
My comparison: Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins/Los Angeles Rams
- For NY Jets, this pick could be significantly different if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return next season. In this mock, he returns, so Gang Green elects to solidify the the defensive backfield and lock down the corner spot next to Sauce Gardner with one of the top cornerbacks in this class.
11: New Orleans Saints – Mykel Williams, Edge/LB, University of Georgia
My Comparison: Leonard Floyd, Chicago Bears/Los Angeles Rams
- For New Orleans, this pick is all about getting a pass rusher with some serious upside down in the big easy. Mykel has one of the higher ceilings in this class and if the right team can help him reach that ceiling, you could be looking at multiple double digit sack seasons.
12: Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
My Comparison: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals
- For Indianapolis, this pick gets Anthony Richardson a safety blanket in the passing game, and an elite athletic weapon as well. Indianapolis loves players with size and athleticism, both of which Tyler has in spades.
13: Miami Dolphins – Will Campbell, G/T, LSU
My comparison: Quentin Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
- For Miami, this pick is all about improving the offensive line in front of Tua. Some folks may have Will Campbell as a LT in the NFL, however this analyst has Campbell sliding inside to guard due to his arm length and issues with athletically gifted edge rushers on the outside. Even with him sliding inside, this would be an excellent pick for Miami.
14: Los Angeles Rams – Shavon Revel, CB, ECU
My comparison: Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks/San Francisco 49ers.
- For LA Rams, this pick would be building on last year’s draft successes on the defensive line in Fiske and Verse by getting one of the best corners in this class. While Revel’s ACL injury likely prevents him from testing or attending a pro day, he should be good to go for training camp for the Rams.
15: Cincinnati Bengals – Landon Jackson, Edge, University of Arkansas
My comparison: Aiden Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
- For Cincinnati, this pick may look significantly different if Tee isn’t retained this offseason. In this mock, he stays in Cincy, meaning they attack the defensive side of the ball and getting a running mate for Trey Hendrickson whose length will be a problem for offensive lines in the AFC.
16: Seattle Seahawks – Princely Umanielen, Edge, Ole Miss
My Comparison: Yannick Ngakoue, Jacksonville Jaguars
- For Seattle, this pick gets Mike Macdonald his top flight pass rusher in Seattle, similar to some of the players he had in Baltimore. While Offensive Line is also on the table, I think this pick would be a home run for the team from the Pacific Northwest.
17: Atlanta Falcons – James Pearce JR, Edge/LB, Tennessee
My Comparison: Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers/New York Giants
- For Atlanta, the most glaring need for this team is a stud who can get after opposing quarterbacks. While Pearce needs to develop more of a pass rush repertoire at the next level, his blend of speed and athleticism will strike some serious fear into tackles in the NFC South.
18: Washington Commanders – Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
My Comparison: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans
- For Washington, this pick is getting Jayden Daniels a young, large pass catcher who can take advantage of jump balls in the red zone. Offensive Line is also on the table here as well, but my next LT has a second round grade, so that would be a serious reach at this point in the draft.
19: Arizona Cardinals – Shemar Turner, DT/Edge, Texas A&M
My comparison: Vinny Curry, Philadelphia Eagles
- For Arizona, this pick would give them a big man in the middle of this defensive line. However Turner is athletic and skilled enough to play on the edge in 3-4 defenses as well, so he would be a chess piece for Gannon and Company in the desert defensively.
20: San Francisco 49ers – Jonah Savaiinaea, T/G, Arizona
My Comparison: Alijah Vera-Tucker, New York Jets
- For San Francisco, this selection is all about getting younger along the offensive line. Jonah can play multiple positions along the OL, but I think his landing spot for San Francisco would be at right tackle, and potentially shift to left tackle upon Trent Williams retirement.
21: Denver Broncos – Xavier Restrepo, WR, University of Miami
My Comparison: Golden Tate, Seattle Seahawks/New York Giants
- For Denver, this pick is made to get Bo Nix another offensive weapon around him. Restrepo is a slot receiving monster that Sean Payton will be able to scheme up additional touches for him as well.
22: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ben Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
My Comparison: AJ Terrell, Atlanta Falcons
- For Tampa Bay, this pick gets them a star cornerback to lead their defense into the future. His hip and shoulder injuries may give some teams pause, but taking him here at 22 is excellent value, and the Buccaneers could have a top 10 corner on their hands when all is said and done.
23: Los Angeles Chargers – Harold Fannin JR, TE, Bowling Green
My comparison: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
- For LA Chargers, getting a weapon for Herbert in the passing game is huge, and selecting a player who many (including myself) have rightfully called TE1 is excellent value here at 23. While some are concerned about his size as well as how he would be used in an NFL offense, I have no doubts this offensive staff would be able to maximize Fannin’s potential at the next level.
24: Pittsburgh Steelers – Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
My comparison: Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
- For Pittsburgh, this selection gives their QB (whether it’s Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, or someone else) a rising star as a pass catcher. Some folks may see Bond as a copy of Xavier Worthy (KC Chiefs), this analyst believes he could be better and faster than Worthy currently is, and that alone makes this an excellent value selection.
25: Houston Texans – Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati
My comparison: Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- For Houston, this pick gives them a big man in the middle of their defensive line alongside Hunter and Anderson Jr. While the blood clots in his lungs from earlier this season may have been a concern for some, this analyst believes that there’s a strong possibility he could go even higher than this, with his size profile, immense power and ability to rush the passer.
26: Minnesota Vikings – Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
My comparison: Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
- It’s a defensive tackle run! For Minnesota, this pick nets Brian Flores a big body athlete in the middle of his defense. His conditioning and keeping his weight will be important, but some analysts have had Deone as a top 10 pick in this draft at certain points of the season, so this is a home run selection for the Vikings here at 26.
27: Green Bay Packers – Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota
My comparison: Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
- For Green Bay, getting a cornerback to pair with Jaire Alexander, who also has the same play style as him would be an excellent boom selection. Some folks may think this is too high for Walley, but this analyst believes that his true grade is in the top 40, so this is good value here at the tail end of round 1.
28: Buffalo Bills – Mike Green, Edge, Marshall University
My comparison: Emmanuel Ogbah, Cleveland Browns/Miami Dolphins
- For Buffalo, getting younger in the edge rusher room is important. One of the fast risers in this process, Mike Green could see his stock rise even higher during the off season testing phases, so for Buffalo to grab him here is likely the best value of any pick in this mock draft.
29: Philadelphia Eagles – Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, University of Georgia
My comparison: Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens
- Philadelphia selecting another Georgia Bulldog? Likely the easiest thing to project about any mock draft. But getting a high ceiling talent like Jalon Walker to be able to play both LB or Edge for this eagles defense? That is one of the best team to player fits of any pick in this mock as well.
30: Baltimore Ravens – Tyler Booker, G, University of Alabama
My comparison: Wyatt Teller, Cleveland Browns
- Baltimore has a need for Offensive Linemen, especially along the interior at Guard. Selecting Booker here nets them one of the top offensive guards in this NFL Draft cycle, especially with his powerful run blocking ability, which is a dream fit for the Ravens.
31: Kansas City Chiefs – Aireontae Ersery, T/G, University of Minnesota
My Comparison: Kolton Miller, Las Vegas Raiders
- This pick for the Chiefs is all about solidifying the blindside protection for Patrick Mahomes. Even though they selected Kingsley Suamataia in last year’s draft, this pick would allow you to have two young offensive tackles, Ersery on the left side and Suamataia on the right.
32: Detroit Lions – Tate Ratledge, G, University of Georgia
My comparison: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
- This pick is a true Detroit Lions pick. The man with the mullet can slide right inside Detroit’s interior offensive line and use his “lunch pail” attitude and nasty streak to open up holes for Montgomery and Gibbs on the interior of the offensive line.
And there you have it folks, my Mock Draft 2.0! Feel free to share this with your friends, family, or come on over to “X” and reach out to me @sparkscouting if you think your team goes in a different direction!
