1. Tennessee Titans – QB Cam Ward (Miami)
Cam Ward has been the likely selection for a while, and with how much the Titans are asking for the 1st pick, sticking here and choosing your franchise just makes too much sense.
2. Cleveland Browns – CB/WR Travis Hunter (Colorado)
Passing up on a generational talent like Travis Hunter is not something a team should do, and with where the Browns are in building this roster, more talent is needed.
3. (TRADE) Las Vegas Raiders – EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State)
The first trade of the mock draft comes from a surprising team. In this scenario, the Giants want to draft an offensive tackle, but know they can should be able to get who they want at pick 6. The Raiders, who would love to add another edge rusher to partner up with Maxx Crosby, gives up their second round pick plus a bit more to jump the Patriots and select one of the best players in the draft, Abdul Carter.
Trade details:
-Giants receive: #6, #37, and a 2026 4th
-Raiders receive: #3
4. New England Patriots – OT Will Campbell (LSU)
The Patriots need offensive line help and Will Campbell is arguably the best offensive lineman in the draft. If Mike Vrabel has zero issues with the arm length, this will be the selection.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – DT Mason Graham (Michigan)
Just like with the Titans’ selection, the Jaguars have been connected with a player throughout this draft process, and unless he is gone already, Mason Graham should be the pick. the team needs defensive tackle help, and in regards to the arm length worries with Graham, the Jaguars’ new GM was apart of the Rams front office who just drafted DT Braden Fiske, who has even shorter arms.
6. (TRADE) New York Giants – OT Armand Membou (Missouri)
As I mentioned in the Raiders selection, the Giants traded away #3 with the idea of selecting a certain player at 6. This might have changed if Will Campbell was still available, but in this scenario, the Giants had their eyes on OT Armand Membou as the selection. New York has their starting left tackle in Andrew Thomas (when healthy), but Evan Neal has struggled on the right side and there is rumors the Giants could move him to guard. That leaves a massive hole at RT, and Membou fits perfectly in that spot.
7. New York Jets – TE Tyler Warren (Penn State)
At this selection, the Jets will probably be between two prospects: Armand Membou or Tyler Warren. With Membou already gone, Warren is the obvious decision and the Jets get a the perfect weapon to pair up with QB Justin Fields.
8. (TRADE) Chicago Bears – RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
This is where star running back Ashton Jeanty fall ends, and if it was not for this trade, the Saints would have taken him at 9. The Bears knew this and had to make to make a move.
9. New Orleans Saints – WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)
This board was nearly worst-case scenario for the Saints. The top tackles, Ashton Jeanty, Tyler Warren, and Mason Graham are off the board. Still, New Orleans ends up with one of the best WRs in the class and add the big bodied receiver they have been without since Michael Thomas. Yes, the Saints can also go for QB here, but if it was never the plan to draft one at 9 before the Derek Carr news, it shouldn’t be the plan now. We truly do not know who Kellen Moore wants out of the QB prospects, but if the team and Moore know they want a certain QB at 9, that will be the selection.
10. Carolina Panthers – LB Jalon Walker (Georgia)
The Panthers were able to trade back and get Walker, who they would have selected at pick 8 anyway.
11. San Francisco 49ers – CB Will Johnson (Michigan)
Offensive line is the obvious choice here, but I think the 49ers believe they can wait and get one later to develop. With Charvarius Ward leaving in free agency, cornerback is a massive need for the 49ers and Will Johnson is the best available.
12. Dallas Cowboys – WR Matthew Golden (Texas)
The Cowboys could go many different directions here, but I’m not sure Jerry Jones stay away from the flashy pick here. Although I think Dallas should go with RB Omarion Hampton here, WR is also a need and keeping Mathew Golden in Texas is the perfect story.
13. Miami Dolphins – OT Josh Simmons (Ohio State)
With Terron Armstead officially retired, the Dolphins offensive line is in really bad shape. This issue is too glaring to fix, and if Josh Simmons medical issues are fine, selecting him here would make sense.
14. Indianapolis Colts – TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)
Throughout the draft process, Loveland has been considered the second-best TE behind Tyler Warren, but that should not diminish what Loveland could bring to an offense. The Colts get a great weapon for whoever is playing QB.
15. Atlanta Falcons – EDGE Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)
The Falcons need to go with the best edge rusher available and that was Shemar Stewart. Mykel Williams or Mike Green could be considered here, but with the potential that Stewart has, it will be hard for Atlanta to pass up.
16. Arizona Cardinals – EDGE Mike Green (Marshall)
Just like with the Falcons, the Cardinals’ number one need is edge rusher and Mike Green can be the final piece. His talent is undeniable, and the competition he faced is always a question that is brought up, Green showed how good he was against top competition like Ohio State. The off the field issues must be brought up, and whoever drafts him needs to feel comfortable that it is not an issue.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – EDGE Mykel Williams (Georgia)
Trey Hendrickson’s future with the Bengals is unknown and they need to improve at run defense and pass rush. Mykel Williams may not be a dominate pass rusher right away, but he will be one of if not the best run defender on the Bengals.
18. Seattle Seahawks – OT/G Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)
Going into this mock draft, I had the idea that Grey Zabel would be the pick here, but Kelvin Banks Jr. dropping is something that the Seahawks could not pass up on. He can play guard right away and seems like a perfect offensive line for new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme. He can also play tackle if that spot opens up due to injury throughout the season.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)
Another edge rusher comes off the board and HC Todd Bowles adds an excellent piece to his defense. Ezeiruaku’s production in college is something teams will value, and although there are some worries about his run defense, the effort he can bring on any play could make up for that in the NFL.
20. Denver Broncos – LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)
Offense has been a popular pick here by the Broncos, but Sean Payton is someone that believes he can get offensive talent in later rounds and make them better in his scheme. Payton saw how good a top tier linebacker can be on a defense when he had Demario Davis in New Orleans, and with linebacker being a big defensive need for Denver, going with Campbell here makes too much sense.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – CB/S Jahdae Barron (Texas)
The Steelers can definitely go QB here, but I do think Aaron Rodgers signs with Pittsburgh, which gives them some flexibility at 21. Barron is arguably the best player on the board and the Steelers need to improve their secondary. He has the versatility to play on the outside or inside, but Pittsburgh need an answer at slot cornerback, and Barron will thrive there right away.
22. Los Angeles Chargers – DT Derrick Harmon (Oregon)
Defensive tackle is a top defensive need for the Chargers and he is the best player available on the board.
23. Green Bay Packers – CB Trey Amos (Ole Miss)
The future of Jaire Alexander on the Packers is up in the air and cornerback is already a need for the Packers. This may be a bit of a reach for Amos, but in this mock, the Packers were not able to trade back so they took him here at 23. They could have also gone with a WR or EDGE, but the Packers have not taken a WR in the first round since 2002 and there has been a bit of a fall off with the edge prospects.
24. (TRADE) Cleveland Browns – QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
This is the first trade of many, at the back of the first for the QB prospects. The Browns had the best offer to the Packers, and they select Shedeur Sanders. Also, he is now reunited with Travis Hunter.
Trade details:
-Vikings receive: #33 and #67
-Browns receive: #24
25. Houston Texans – OT/G Grey Zabel (North Dakota State)
I had this as the Texans’ selection in my last mock draft and it still makes to go in this direction. Offensive line is a massive need for this team and Zabel is arguably the best one available. They could have gone with Tyler Booker here also, and if they do like him more, that could easily be the pick at 25.
26. Los Angeles Rams – CB Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky)
Cornerback is the top need for the Rams and they must leave the draft with a long-term starter there. Hairston is the best cornerback and can play right away for Los Angeles.
27. (TRADE) New York Giants – QB Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss)
The Giants made a big trade earlier in the draft by trading back and selecting Armand Membou. Now, with some of the extra draft capital, they can trade up in the back of the first and still have a second round pick in this draft. The Giants have a choice between Dart or Milroe, and in this scenario, Brian Daboll goes with Dart.
Trade details:
-Ravens receive: #34, #105, and future 5th
-Browns receive: #27
28. Detroit Lions – EDGE James Pearce (Tennessee)
The Lions need to add another edge rusher to these defense. There was a big run earlier in the 1st round, so they may have missed out on some of the edge rushers they wanted, but James Pearce is still available. There are some character issues with Pearce, which is one of the reasons he is projected to drop so much. The Lions are one of those franchises where these issues can be fixed and now Pearce in a perfect situation to succeed.
29. Washington Commanders – RB Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
Running back may not be one of the most pressing needs, but Hampton still being available is something the Commanders can not pass up. Washington will now have one of the best rushing offenses in the league.
30. Buffalo Bills – CB Shavon Revel (East Carolina)
Buffalo’s most pressing need is undoubtedly cornerback, and although this may be a bit of a reach, they need to select one here. If Revel’s health all checks out, him being a first round pick is not a crazy idea, and on the Bills, he can start right away in 2025.
31. (TRADE) New Orleans Saints – QB Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
This may be a bit of an interesting trade but hear me out. With the Browns and Giants already trading up for QBs, Jalen Milroe dropping to pick 40 is likely, but getting him on a 5th year option is worth it. Milroe is going to need development and will probably not start in 2025, so having as many cheaper contract years as possible before potentially having to pay him is needed. Also, the price for this trade is not bad.
The Saints coaching staff is also built for QB development and this will be a great scenario for Milroe to succeed.
Trade details:
-Chiefs receive: #40, #131, and future 4th
-Saints receive: #31
32. Philadelphia Eagles – S Malaki Starks (Georgia)
I had a Georgia player dropping to the Eagles in my last mock and it happens again, except with Malaki Starks. This is fully going with the best player available and Starks coming from the Georgia Bulldogs is just the perfect mix for a Eagles selection.
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