Everyone and their mothers have a mock draft…it’s become a highly profitable cottage industry, and some have made a fantastic career at it. For me, it’s not about fortune and fame…it’s about being right. It’s fun to match wits with others to see who comes out on top.
The main thing to understand about this exercise is that it really takes about three years to see who got it right and who got it wrong. But everyone who is making these mock drafts is surely going to be proclaiming who won and lost the draft as soon as it is over.
For the purpose of this exercise, I will not be including trades, although there will undoubtedly be a handful throughout the first round.
So here it is…and as the saying goes, This is For Fun and Amusement Only.
Tennessee Titans-Cam Ward, QB Miami: At this point, Ward is the consensus no.1 pick.
Cleveland Browns-Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado: The Browns could go in a number of ways…they could use a QB, too, but I’m banking on Kirk Cousins ending up in Cleveland. Taking Hunter could give the Browns two players for the price of one.
New York Giants-Abdul Carter, DE Penn St: Grabbing Sanders will be tempting, but they will go with the explosive Carter, who is the best athlete on the board.
New England Patriots-Will Campbell, T/G LSU: It’s a boring pick, but it’s necessary…regardless of Campbell’s short arms.
Jacksonville Jaguars-Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise St: Jeanty could be the next Saquon Barkley…and the steal of this draft.
Las Vegas Raiders-Shaddeur Sanders, QB Colorado: Tom Brady covets Sanders. He has worked with him to develop his game, and he has fallen right into the GOAT’s hands.
New York Jets-Mason Graham, DT Michigan: The Jets need help on both lines. With their first pick, they focus on the D-Line with Graham.
Carolina Panthers-Armand Membou, T Missouri: Membou is every bit as talented as Will Campbell, but at RT, he’s not quite as valuable.
New Orleans Saints-Kelvin Banks, T Texas: This will prove to be an unusual draft. Banks will be the third O-Lineman to go off the board in the top 10.
Chicago Bears-Mykel Williams, DE Georgia: Williams is incredibly quick off the ball and has an amazing first step. He has a non-stop motor and is a true game wrecker.
San Fransisco 49ers-Tyler Booker, G Alabama: The 49ers biggest assets are in their backfield, with QB Brock Purdy and RB Christian McCaffrey. Booker will be the fourth O-Lineman to come off the board. His presence will help both the passing and running game.
Dallas Cowboys-Tyler Warren, TE Penn St: When you have a chance to take a generational player with the 12th pick in the draft, you take it. Warren could be that TE for the Cowboys.
Miami Dolphins-Josh Simmons, T Ohio St: Simmons will be the fifth O-Lineman taken. I’ll stop counting now, but overall, I have eight being taken in this first round. The Dolphins top priority is to keep QB Tua Tagovailoa upright and healthy. Simmons will help do that.
Indianapolis Colts-Josh Conerly, T Oregon: Conerly is fantastic in the running game which will help RB Jonathan Taylor, as well as QB Anthony Richardson.
Atlanta Falcons-Kenneth Grant, DT Michigan: The Falcons weren’t terrible last season on offense. They were 13th in scoring and a surprising sixth in yardage. They were only 23rd in the league on defense. Grant will improve that rank this season.
Arizona Cardinals-Grey Zabol, T North Dakota St: The Cardinals have developed a pattern; the start the year far better than they finish it. And that goes for QB Kyler Murray too. He has a slight frame and does get beat up throughout the season. They need help on the O-Line, and Zabol will provide that help, with his massive 6’6, 325lb frame.
Cincinnati Bengals-Jalen Walker, LB Georgia: There is something about defensive players who come from Georgia. They are all a special breed of nasty, and Walker is no different. At 6’2, 245lbs he’s a tad undersized, which is why he’s going in the mid-teens instead of the top 10.
Seattle Seahawks-Tet McMillan, WR Arizona: The Seahawks jettisoned both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockette. McMillon is the next great WR to come out of the Pacific Northwest.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Shemar Stewart, DE Texas A&M: The Buccaneers defense from their Superbowl season is beginning to get long in the tooth, and they need to re-stock the shelves. Stewart will do that for the Bucs for the next decade-plus.
Denver Broncos-Colston Loveland, TE Michigan: There were two bona fide studs at TE in this draft. Warren went earlier, Loveland is going here to the Broncos.
Pittsburgh Steelers-Walter Nolan, DT Ole Miss: The Steelers finished 12 on defense last season which isn’t that bad, but when you are forced to face Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson twice each year, that isn’t good enough. Nolan is solid against the run and pass.
Los Angeles Chargers-Jihaad Campbell, LB Alabama: Joey Bosa is gone and Khalil Mack isn’t too far behind. Although the Chargers had the best scoring defense in the league last year, maintaining it will be crucial. Campbell will be a solid replacement for Bosa.
Green Bay Packers-Will Johnson, CB Michigan: In a division that has the Detroit Lions aerial attack, as well as an up-and-coming Bears offense, thePackers need as much help in the secondary as possible. No.23 is a tad low for Johnson, and a steal for them.
Minnesota Vikings-Nick Emannuri, S South Carolina: What was just said about the Packers can be said about the Vikings. They have to play the Lions twice, the Packers twice, and the Bears twice each year. Help in the secondary is paramount.
Houston Texans-Emery Jones, T LSU: The Texans did not protect CJ Stroud last season. He was sacked over 40 times. The big tackle from LSU will help keep him standing in the pocket.
Los Angeles Rams-Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio St: The Rams got rid of Cooper Kupp which I think was a mistake, but with Puka Nacua still in the fold, taking Egbuka here is a no-brainer.
Baltimore Ravens-Derrick Harman, DT Oregon: The Ravens are great on both sides of the ball, but of the two, they are less great on defense…and ultimately it is their defense that fails them in the playoffs every season. Harmon will help clog up the running game.
Detroit Lions-Landon Jackson, DE Arkansas: The Lions need a speed end rusher. Jackson is that guy. He’s versatile and can play in any formation.
Washington Commanders-Luther Burden, WR Missouri: The Commanders already have a stud receiver in Terry McLaurin, why not give Jayden Daniels another target to get the ball to? Burden is a speedy receiver who will complement the offense.
Buffalo Bills-Malakai Starks, S Georgia: This selection has as much to do about the playoffs as it does the regular season. Taking Starks isn’t for the random game in October against the Patriots…it’s about the playoff game in January against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Kansas City Chiefs-Quinshon Judkins, RB Ohio St: The Chiefs have been picking at the end of the first round for the better part of a decade, and they love to take speedy offensive weapons in this spot. Last season they snagged WR Xavier Worthy. This season they snag RB Judkins, who ran a 4.48 40yd dash at the combine.
Philadelphia Eagles-James Pearce, DE Tennessee: When you are picking the last pick in the round it says you are really, really good. The team is stacked on both sides of the ball. They were able to dominate the Chiefs’ offensive line without having to blitz. Taking Pearce is just overkill for an already great team.
