1. Titans –Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
If the Titans land the number one overall pick again this year, there will be a lot of discourse around what they should do with it. They do not need a quarterback, and they could trade down, but in a mock draft with no trades, we go with the best available player. Arvell Reese is a top-five player for me, and is number one on most boards, and the Titans take their number one player.
2. Giants – Miami T Francis Mauigoa
The Giants will have a new coach, but they will still have the same young team they had this year. Jaxson Dart has already suffered a major injury, and with Jermaine Eluemunor heading to free agency, there is an opening at right tackle. Mauigoa has been the best tackle in the draft, and the Giants lock up the right side of the line to keep their young QB clean.
3. Browns – Utah OT Spencer Fano
The Browns are one of many teams in the first round that people expect could be interested in adding a quarterback. But I have mentioned before that I do not think their team is ready to plug a quarterback into their offense. They may very well have the worst offensive line in football, and in this mock, they look to address that. Fano is a plug-and-play right tackle, and in a class with limited OL talent, the Browns reach a bit for a starting RT.
4. Saints – Ohio State S Caleb Downs
Downs is my number one player in the class, and the Saints need to go out and get their roster better. The team is in salary cap hell, and I think this would be a good spot for a trade out of the pick. But if the Saints pick here, I think grabbing Downs, who is a versatile defensive weapon, would be a good pick up for their future.
5. Jets – Miami EDGE Reuben Bain
Bain is the clear-cut top edge rusher in this year’s draft, and he falls right into the Jets’ lap. New York is in the middle of a rebuild, and while they clearly need a QB, it would be malpractice to throw a quarterback into their awful offense. Jermaine Johnson and Reuben Bain could make for the best DE duo in the NFL in a few years.
6. Raiders – Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor
If you have watched an ounce of Raiders football this season, you know that building their offensive line is priority one. When healthy, Kolton Miller is the franchise left tackle for the Raiders, but adding a right tackle and moving DJ Glaze to guard could be beneficial. Proctor has gotten some hate, but with his size and athletic ability, he could be a great fit on the right side of the line.
7. Commanders – Auburn DE Keldric Faulk
The Commanders may very well have the worst DE room in football, and there should be little to no doubt that this is where they will look in the draft. Faulk entered the year near the top of my big board and has remained at the top throughout the year. He is one of the best athletes in the draft and has incredible movement skills off the edge that will play well in Dann Quinn’s defense.
8. Rams – Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
The Rams traded down in last year’s draft with the Falcons, and in that deal, they acquired Atlanta’s first this year. That trade has proven to be quite lucrative, and the Rams will almost certainly be picking in the top 10, where they can take the best player available. The Rams’ secondary is weak, and McCoy is my top corner in the draft. He has missed this season so far with an injury, but if healthy, he is worth the risk for the Rams, who could be getting a shutdown outside corner.
9. Bengals – Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
The Bengals’ running back room is awful, and while Chase Brown has held down the fort, they will not pass on a chance to get a superstar in Jeremiyah Love. This season, Love has dominated yet again with the Fighting Irish, and the Bengals add yet another elite weapon for Joe Burrow.
10. Cardinals – Arizona State WR Jordan Tyson
There are rumors of the Cardinals moving on from Kyler Murray, but with Jacoby Brissett recently setting the NFL record for completions in a game, it is clear the Cardinals need a lot more. Their coaching staff is struggling, and outside of Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison, the weapons are lacking. Jeremiyah Love would be the ideal pick, but with him going one pick earlier, Tyson feels like the guy.
11. Dolphins – Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
The Dolphins recently extended Tua Tagovailoa on a four-year deal worth north of $212 million. But since signing the deal, he has struggled with injuries and consistency on the field. While Miami likely can’t get off the contract until 2027, if they finish with the fourth-worst record in football, they likely will not hesitate to add a quarterback at the top of the draft. Mendoza is my top QB in a weak QB class, and the Dolphins do not want to wait to get their guy.
12. Cowboys – USC WR Makai Lemon
Lemon has been making a hard push for the title of WR 1 in this year’s draft as of late, and the Cowboys simply cannot pass him up here. Dallas has one of the best WR duos in the NFL, but outside of them, there is not much. Lemon gives them a reliable slot and a third option that could take their offense to the next level.
13. Vikings – LSU CB Mansoor Delane
Delane is like the Makai Lemon of corners and has been making his case to be the top corner in this year’s class. The Vikings blitz a ton, but are clearly desperate for help in the secondary. Brian Flores will love how well Delane sticks to receivers in man coverage and grab him with pick 13.
14. Ravens – Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey
The Ravens’ pass rush sucks, and the OLB room is screaming for help. Bailey is the clear top OLB in this year’s draft and would be a perfect fit in the current Ravens defense. Feels like a no-brainer.
15. Chiefs – Clemson EDGE TJ Parker
The Chiefs do not look like themselves, and they clearly need help at several spots. The team is likely to move on from Mike Danna this offseason and will need an edge rusher to fill his spot. Parker was a staple in my preseason top 10, but with Clemson falling short of expectations, his stock has taken a hit. But his talent is undeniable, and Steve Spagnuolo is over the moon to land Parker at 15.
16. Texans – Clemson DT Peter Woods
The most common pick for the Texans here is offensive line, but I have already written about why that should not be the case. Instead, the Texans make Demeco Ryans happy by adding a dominant defensive tackle to shore up the middle of their defense. The Texans’ pass rush gets a little scarier as they continue to make their push for the AFC South.
17. Panthers – Clemson CB Avieon Terrell
Terrell was a guy whom I was not in love with to start the season, but he has sold himself to me as of late. Clemson should be so much better than they are with their three elite defensive prospects, and despite them not meeting expectations, all three should be top 20 picks. Terrell anchors the secondary for the Panthers going forward and gives some insurance if Jaycee Horn gets injured again.
18. Lions – South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse
Cisse has been the biggest riser as of late in this year’s class, and when you turn on the film of the SC defense, you can see why. He is an athletic corner with a big physical frame who can match with any type of reciever on the outside. He does a great job using his body to zone receivers out of the catch point and has speed and quickness to keep up with smaller guys. Great fit in Detroit.
19. Buccaneers – Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr
Hill is my favorite pure off-ball linebacker in a class that is loaded with them from top to bottom. The Buccaneers decide not to wait and grab their favorite one in the draft. Hill is a former five-star recruit and has looked every bit like one with his play for Texas. He will be a day one starter for the Buccaneers and should have a substantial impact on Todd Bowles’ defense.
20. Browns – Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
The Browns already landed my top player in the class with Caleb Downs, and now will look to take the best offensive player available to help Dillon Gabriel. With the top OTs off the board, Cleveland could go QB here, but with two rookies on the roster this year, and a roster that is in dire need of some help, they look to bolster the team and evaluate the young guys they already have. Tate is next in line at Ohio State and will continue the streak of Buckeye receivers selected in the first round.
21. Steelers – Alabama QB Ty Simpson
Aaron Rodgers is not the long-term answer for the Steelers, and even if they are picking in the 20s, they will have interest in adding a quarterback. Simpson was QB 1 and a top 5 pick for me a week ago, but his performance last week really hampered my projection for him and brought his performance back to reality. A lot of high misses and sometimes forcing the ball hurt his stock, and while I still have him as QB 1, I am less confident in this year’s class. Regardless, he falls to the Steelers, who cannot pass on his ability to lead an offense.
22. Chargers – Oregon EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei
Matayo is united with his brother, DJ, on the West Coast as the Chargers get themselves some DL help with a relentless pass rusher. Uiagalelei is a pure hand-in-the-dirt defensive end, and with Khalil Mack reaching the end of his career, adding Uiagalelei gives him a chance to take some plays off and to teach a young and talented DE.
23. 49ers – Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion
The 49ers need a receiver, and Kyle Shanahan will be looking for a guy that he feels he can get the ball to in space and let them make plays. Look no further than KC Concepcion, who has really shot up my draft board in recent weeks. His movement skills are electric, but he is far more than just a gadget guy, and would immediately become the 49ers’ top reciever.
24. Cowboys – Florida IDL Caleb Banks
Banks is one of the most athletic guys in the class, and while I am not as high on him as others, a team will take a chance on his sheer athletic ability. Similar to Deone Walker from last year, Banks is simply a freak of nature, and teams will not make the mistake of letting him slip in the draft the way they did with Walker. The Cowboys traded away Micah Parsons in part because they wanted to be better at stopping the run, and if Jerry Jones was serious about that, Banks feels like their guy.
25. Bears – Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas
The Bears will need EDGE help this offseason. Montez Sweat has struggled and will be a cut candidate, and Dominique Robinson is a solid player but not much more than just that. R Mason Thomas is a great pass rusher who has compact power to set the edge and impact every facet of the game. RMT is a well rounded edge rusher and is exactly what the Bears need on defense going forward.
26. Bills – South Carolina WR Nyck Harbor
The NFL would be in big trouble if you paired the skills of Nyck Harbor with the arm of Josh Allen. That size and speed would be terrifying for NFL defenses to try to contain for 60 minutes of football, which would open things up for the rest of the offense. This would easily be the most exciting pick of the draft, and what Harbor and Allen could do together is scary.
27. Seahawks – Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun
Iggy is my guy in the draft, and there are very few players I will be pounding the table for more as we get closer to the draft. The Seahawks have a history of loving corners with great traits, and there may not be a better example of that than Davison Igbinosun. He is not getting the hype he deserves, and with his reduction in penalties this season, he should be a first-round prospect.
28. Jets – Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
Styles has been overshadowed by fellow stars like Arvell Reece and Caleb Downs, but he has had an incredible season in his own right. The Jets need a middle linebacker for the future of the defense, as they will likely move on from Quincy Williams, and Styles could be just the guy. His ability to make plays sideline to sideline is exactly what Aaron Glenn will be looking for.
29. Rams – Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
Tyler Hibee hits free agency this offseason, and while the Rams have some young TEs who could fill that role, Sadiq is on another level. A player I comped to Derrick Henry because of his sheer athleticism, Sadiq is a unique weapon who will shine in Sean McVay’s offense. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay feel like the optimal group to work with Sadiq and make him into a star.
30. Patriots – Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell
Howell is a polarizing prospect who has gotten a lot of attention for his ability to rush the passer with elite speed. But there is also a lot of concern about his shorter arms, which limit how high he may go in the draft. Mike Vrabel is a “results over metrics” type of guy and may be able to overlook the arm length for Howell as they look to improve their pass rush going forward.
31. Eagles – Georgia WR Zachariah Branch
Branch was once the top freshman reciever in the nation, but has taken a bit of a step back ever since. The former track star has broken out again at Georgia and still belongs in the first round conversation. The Eagles will be looking for a deep threat who they can pair with their current receivers, and there may not be a better option than Branch.
32. Broncos – Georgia LB CJ Allen
The Broncos have a solid inside linebacker in Alex Singleton, but they need another guy in their 3-4 defense, and Allen has impressed me this season. A traditional inside guy who can play the run and the pass, Allen will make an impact on the Denver defense from day one.
