The NFL Draft begins tonight, so here are our bold predictions:
1. Only 1 Quarterback will be selected in the first round.
Tennessee has already said that they will take Cam Ward first overall, but Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, and the other top quarterbacks will not hear their names called on Thursday.
2. Only 3 Quarterbacks will be selected by the end of Round 2
As badly as ESPN wants draft coverage to be quarterback-centric, there really isn’t enough quality at the position in this draft. Look for Sanders and Dart to be selected by the end of Friday night, while the others wait for Saturday.
3. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will trade up in Round 1
Kansas City and Philadelphia have two of the best front offices in the NFL. Kansas City knows it needs to be aggressive to get an OL to help protect Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia has a ton of draft capital to make a bold move.
4. RB Ashton Jeanty is selected at pick 5
Most draft pundits have speculated that Jeanty would be taken by the Las Vegas Raiders at #6 for the past few weeks. However, if everyone knows that to be true, then doesn’t it make sense for the pick to be in play. Either Jacksonville will take Jeanty at 5, or they will move the pick to a team that will instead.
5. Only three wide receivers (not named Travis Hunter) will be taken in Round 1
This year’s wide receiver class is very thin. Outside of a few big names, the rest look more like late Day 2/early Day 3 picks. Look for Tet McMillan, Matthew Golden, and Emeka Egbuka to join Hunter as the only receivers selected in Round 1
6. Five Tight Ends will be selected by the end of Day 2
For as weak as the wide receiver position seems to be is as strong as the tight end position is. Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland are locks to be selected in Round 1. In Round 2 expect to see Elijah Arroyo, Harold Fannin Jr., and Mason Taylor come off the board
7. Three Running Backs will be selected in Round 1
Everyone knows that Ashton Jeanty will go inside the top ten, and Omarion Hampton is a lock to go in the first round as well. The true wild card is TreVeyon Henderson from Ohio State. Reports are flying around that he is going to go much higher than expected. Washington would be an ideal fit for him
8. All four AFC West teams will take offensive players
In a division that has three potential Hall of Fame coaches (and a College Hall of Fame Coach in Jim Harbaugh), it feels like at least one team will want to continue building on defense. However, Kansas City needs OL help, Denver and Las Vegas need RB/WR help, and Los Angeles could use a WR or a TE.
