The NFL Draft is a time for hope. That’s the best part of the draft — it’s the biggest trafficker of hope in all of sports. For one night, every team in the league has something to cheer about. No matter what their record was last year, or what they project to be last year, the draft gives everyone hope. Hope that this year can be different. Hope that the name being called will be one that gets printed on jerseys for the next decade. Hope that this player can help this franchise win a Lombardi Trophy. It’s a great time to be a fan. Here’s who I project to give each of the NFL’s 32 franchises some hope this Thursday night:
1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The one true lock in this draft. The best QB in the draft goes to a team with an offensive-minded head coach who wants one to build around.
2. Cleveland Browns – Travis Hunter, Athlete, Colorado
If I were Cleveland, I think I would be taking Abdul Carter, but it seems that people “in the know” have Hunter as the pick. He will instantly come in as Cleveland’s WR2 and CB2, and the only thing left to be seen is how many snaps he will play at both positions.
3. New York Giants – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
While edge is not necessarily New York’s biggest position of need, they simply can not pass on Carter, who reminds me of a young Von Miller.. This draft very clearly has two top players in Hunter and Carter, and I think the prudent play is to take Carter and figure out how to make it work.
4. New England Patriots – Kelvin Banks Jr., Tackle, Texas
Consensus seems to think the Patriots go offensive line here with the draft’s best skill player gone in Travis Hunter. I think that offensive linemen will be Kelvin Banks, not Will Campbell, who most mock drafters have going to New England. Banks stepped onto campus in Austin and immediately started at tackle and is much better in the run game and offers more positional versatility than Campbell.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
The new regime in Jacksonville is likely to want to build through the trenches, and the best option available is Mason Graham, who was a game-wrecker at Michigan.
6. Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, Running Back, Boise State
This one just makes too much sense. The Raiders need a running back, and Jeanty is in the top-3 of prospects at the position in the last decade with Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson. Yeah, he’s that good.
7. New York Jets – Tyler Warren, Tight End, Penn State
The Jets will surely address the offensive side of the ball early in this draft, and the most logical pick to me is Tyler Warren, a moveable chess piece who can excel when lined up at multiple positions in the offense.
8. Carolina Panthers – Jalon Walker, Linebacker, Georgia
No defense defended the run worse than Carolina last season. Jalon Walker is a talented player with positional versatility who can help the Panthers defense against both the run and the pass no matter where he lines up.
9. New Orleans Saints – Will Campbell, Tackle, LSU
I do not think that QB is in play for the Saints here. With an older roster, the Saints are probably in “win-now” mode, and Campbell is a hometown player who addresses an immediate need on the offensive line.
10. Chicago Bears – Armand Membou, Tackle, Missouri
The most physically gifted tackle in this draft class would instantly help the Bears’ struggling offensive line protect Caleb Williams.
11. San Francisco 49ers – Walter Nolen, Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss
This is truly a wild card selection that could go in a variety of different ways, but Nolen is a super talented former 5-star recruit that would plug an immediate need in the interior of the defensive line and would likely shine with the rest of that defense around him.
12. Dallas Cowboys – Tetaiora McMillan, Wide Receiver, Arizona
Jerry Jones loves to make a splash on draft night, and while trading up for Ashton Jeanty would make the biggest splash, drafting McMillan might rank second, and he would make the perfect partner to pair with CeeDee Lamb with his ability to catch contested passes in the short and intermediate areas of the field.
13. Miami Dolphins – Jahdae Barron, Cornerback, Texas
The Dolphins can not enter the season with a disgruntled Jalen Ramsey and UFL-caliber players in the rest of the secondary. The first step to rebuilding it would be taking Barron, who can play in the slot or on the outside and excels in all types of zone coverage.
14. Indianapolis Colts – Colston Loveland, Tight End, Michigan
The Colts have ignored the tight end position for the last decade, and Loveland would immediately fill that void and the current 20-year old should blossom into a great pro.
15. Atlanta Falcons – Mike Green, Defensive End, Marshall
The Falcons need a pass rush in the worst way, and Green will likely be the best one available when they are on the clock. He has the deepest array of pass rush moves out of any edge rusher in this draft.
16. Arizona Cardinals – Will Johnson, Cornerback, Michigan
The Cardinals need secondary help, and Johnson is the type of player who can do so. His 2024 was not the best, but if 2023 Will Johnson returns the Cardinals will get an elite corner who can shut down an entire half of the field.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Mykel Williams, Outside Linebacker, Georgia
The Bengals simply have to invest in the defensive side of the football if they wish to return to the playoffs, and Mykel Williams would be my highest-available defensive player at this point.
18. Seattle Seahawks – Shemar Stewart, Defensive End, Texas A&M
The physical tools Stewart possesses are worthy of a top-10 pick, but his lack of raw production in college will cause him to tumble to the latter half of the first round.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell, Linebacker, Alabama
The best pure off-ball linebacker in the class has some injury concerns, but the Bucs will primarily want him for the future as Lavonte David nears the twilight of his historic career.
20. Denver Broncos – Omarion Hampton, Running Back, North Carolina
The Broncos need a running back to complete their offense around Bo Nix, and Hampton will fill the void in style. He’s a downhill runner with breakaway speed who can add an explosive punch to a methodical offense.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Shedeur Sanders, Quarterback, Colorado
I could totally see Pittsburgh taking Jaxson Dart here, but with an elite defense, playoff-ready roster, and two alpha wide receivers, Shedeur Sanders makes the most sense as a high-upside playmaker at QB who could make enough magic happen to carry Pittsburgh back to the playoffs.
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Matthew Golden, Wide Receiver, Texas
The Chargers hit a home run by taking Ladd McConkey in the second round last year, so they now could use a vertical threat that can take the top off the defense and open up space for McConkey underneath.
23. Green Bay Packers – Donovan Ezeiruaku, Defensive End, Boston College
The Packers could use some help defending the pass, whether that’s achieved by improving their secondary or their pass rush is up to them. Ezeiruaku should come in and right away be a great pass rushing asset.
24. Minnesota Vikings – Troy Amos, Cornerback, Ole Miss
The Vikings could use some help on defense, and their blitz-heavy, man-to-man style should make Amos an immediate fit.
25. Houston Texans – Josh Simmons, Tackle, Ohio State
He could have been one of the top tackles in this class if he didn’t get injured against Oregon, and Houston taking Josh Simmons here would signal to CJ Stroud that they are looking to take care of him for the long haul.
26. Los Angeles Rams – Gray Zabel, Offensive Line, North Dakota State
The Rams’ last 4 seasons have gone how their offensive line has. When they stay healthy, the team makes the playoffs and is a true Super Bowl contender. Zabel could come in and immediately provide depth as a utility player along the offensive line.
27. Baltimore Ravens – Tyler Booker, Guard, Alabama
The Ravens are very much a team that builds through the offensive and defensive lines, and one who likes taking the best player available as opposed to positions of need. This checks both boxes.
28. Detroit Lions – Nic Scourton, Defensive End, Texas A&M
The Lions may be getting Aidan Hutchinson back from injury and signed Marcus Davenport in free agency, but last season showed you can never have too much depth on defense, and Scourton is a balanced player who can rush the passer and stuff the run from his defensive end position.
29. Washington Commanders – James Pearce Jr., Defensinve End, Tennessee
The Commanders need some pass rush help, and Pearce is arguably the most talented rusher in this group not named Abdul Carter, but comes with work ethic and character concerns.
30. Buffalo Bills – Malaki Starks, Safety, Georgia
A fast-moving center-fielder in pass coverage who can fly in the box and tackle in the run game is just what the doctor ordered for the Bills defense.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Donovan Jackson, Offensive Line, Ohio State
The Chiefs got straight up bullied on the line in the Super Bowl, and drafting Jackson, who was a great college player who can play multiple positions, would be step one in reversing that agenda.
32. Philadelphia Eagles – Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
The Eagles’ roster is so good that you can argue they don’t have any true positional needs, and taking the best player available here would be the sound strategy. So why not take Egbuka? He’s a coach’s dream who has a low ego and is not afraid to block, and is used to being a part of talented receiver rooms in his time at Ohio State.