The NFL Draft is now upon us! Teams have some new faces and filled some roster holes, so let’s take a guess at what days one and two will look like. For the sake of this particular mock draft, we WILL be using trades. Trade valuations will be based on multiple draft value charts. The selections here are what I think teams will do, which will undoubtedly be wrong, so feel free to mock the mock in the comment section!
Round 1
Pick 1, Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V from every other mock draft since the National Championship game.
Pick 2, New York Jets – Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
The Jets traded away a young edge defender, so they need some pass rush help. Reese provides versatility for Aaron Glenn and company in the front seven.
Pick 3, New Orleans Saints (via Arizona Cardinals) – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech **TRADE**
The Cardinals like the first round depth at offensive tackle, so they’re willing to slide down a bit here. The Saints give up 8, 73, and a second round pick next year to grab the most productive pass rusher in the draft before the Titans can grab him.
Pick 4, Tennessee Titans – Rueben Bain Jr, Miami (FL)
The Titans were hoping Bailey would fall to them, but they’ll still be happy to take Bain here. Bain is a damn good edge rusher, T Rex arms be damned.
Pick 5, New York Giants – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Giants traded Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals, so now they desperately need to get better against the run. Styles provides that from the linebacker spot.
Pick 6, Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Cleveland added several offensive linemen, including a right tackle, so I’m not sure Mauigoa goes to the Browns here. Instead, they add a pass catcher for whichever quarterback ends up starting for them.
Pick 7, Washington Commanders – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Commanders add the best player available in Love, a player who can be an excellent battery-mate to Jayden Daniels, who should be healthy this year.
Pick 8, Arizona Cardinals (via New Orleans Saints) – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Cardinals traded back and still landed who many believe is the best right tackle in the draft. Worst case, he could slide inside and be an elite guard if necessary.
Pick 9, Kansas City Chiefs – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
The Chiefs need some pass rush opposite Karlaftis, and they know their core isn’t getting any younger. Mesidor is an older prospect but arguably the most NFL-ready edge defender. He’d slide right in and play like a multi year veteran as the Chiefs try to get Travis Kelce one more ring.
Pick 10, New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Giants got a playmaker at linebacker just five picks ago, and here they get his teammate and best safety in the draft in Downs.
Pick 11, Miami Dolphins – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Miami has had a fire sale this offseason, rebuilding from the ground up. Best place to start a rebuild is in the trenches. Freeling is a raw prospect, but this way he’ll get a chance to learn for a year or two before they draft another quarterback.
Pick 12, Dallas Cowboys – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Cowboys need defensive help and take arguably the best corner in the Draft. All the medicals seem to have checked out for McCoy and he blazed through drills at his pro day.
Pick 13, Los Angeles Rams – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
While Puka Nacua and DaVante Adams are great, Lemon would add another versatile piece to the Rams offense. Lemon is the type of gritty, physical player that McVay loves.
Pick 14, Baltimore Ravens – Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Seems like the Ravens always need offensive playmakers, and Tyson would likely be WR1 in this class if not for his injury history. If the medicals check out, he could be gone before this point.
Pick 15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The Bucs decide to beef up their interior offensive line with the Draft’s best option there. They like the depth at other positions of need, so they’ll target those in later rounds.
Pick 16, New York Jets – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
After trading for Geno Smith, the Jets decide to forego a quarterback in the first round, instead bolstering their defense (which did not record an interception the entire season).
Pick 17, Detroit Lions – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Dan Campbell openly toyed with the idea of moving Penei Sewell to left tackle. This would allow Proctor to play the right side and be a mauler from day one.
Pick 18, Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Vikings need to replace Harrison Smith, and Brian Flores would love the type of player Thieneman is.
Pick 19, Philadelphia Eagles (via Carolina Panthers) – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah **TRADE**
Fano might be the first tackle off the board, but he started falling in this mock. The Eagles jump up and grab the heir apparent for Lane Johnson, using picks 23 and 98 to do so.
Pick 20, Dallas Cowboys – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Cowboys go full defense in this first round, trying to replace at least some of the pass rush production that Micah Parsons gave them. Faulk is not Parsons, by any means, but he will add some juice to that front.
Pick 21, Pittsburgh Steelers – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Mike McCarthy looks to get Pittsburgh back to the feared defense it once was by bringing in a dynamic run stuffer who could evolve into a decent pass rusher as well.
Pick 22, Los Angeles Chargers – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The Chargers would love to bolster their defense and they are able to do so here with potentially the next size/speed/strength combo safety akin to Nick Emmanwori.
Pick 23, Carolina Panthers (via Philadelphia Eagles) – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Panthers picked up some draft capital and took a player many mocks have them taking at 19. While I am a little hesitant on the Sadiq hype, there is no denying his fit as a Panther: Dave Canales mentioned wanting a guy who could potentially start day one, Sadiq would instantly improve the offense’s explosiveness, and he is a more than willing run blocker who works his ass off even when the ball isn’t in his hands.
Pick 24, Cleveland Browns – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Browns already took a receiver earlier this round, but here they take a completely different type of pass catcher. A combination of Tate and Concepcion would make for quite a tool box for whomever is under center for the next five years.
Pick 25, Chicago Bears – Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
The Bears need some pass rush help and go with a local product to help boost the defensive front. Jacas has alignment flexibility and quality pass rushing skills.
Pick 26, Buffalo Bills – Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Bills start a bit of a run on edge rushers, landing an undersized but very productive player. The Bills have been desperate for pass rush and use a draft pick here instead of signing an older veteran a la Von Miller or Joey Bosa.
Pick 27, San Francisco 49ers – Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
The 49ers are completely revamping their receiving corps this offseason, and Cooper would be a perfect fit for the scheme and personality of the 49ers.
Pick 28, Houston Texans – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Texans have possibly the best combination of edge rushers in the NFL, and they decide to boost the interior rush by taking Woods. This would create an even more terrifying defense for Houston.
Pick 29, Arizona Cardinals (via Kansas City Chiefs) – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama **TRADE**
The Cardinals know the Dolphins and Jets might take Simpson, so they trade with the Chiefs to snag him. The Chiefs get 34 and a third round pick next year, which might be pretty high considering the Cardinals might still be pretty bad.
Pick 30, Miami Dolphins – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Dolphins signed Malik Willis then got rid of most of their good offensive players. To keep Willis happy, they’ve taken a tackle and now add a quintessential X receiver.
Pick 31, New England Patriots – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
The Patriots aren’t ready to move on from Will Campbell at left tackle just yet, so they firm up the opposite side with Iheanachor.
Pick 32, Seattle Seahawks – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
The Seahawks got poached quite a bit this offseason, including letting Riq Woolen walk in free agency. While they still have two very good corners, they like to play a lot of nickel, and Johnson is the type of versatile zone defender that could step right in.
Round 2
Pick 33, New York Jets – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Jets start day two by bolstering their defense further. Allen is a monster against the run and an immediate green dot linebacker in the middle of Aaron Glenn’s defense.
Pick 34, Kansas City Chiefs – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Chiefs traded out of the first round and still got a first round talent at corner. They need the help there after losing two top corners to the Rams.
Pick 35, Tennessee Titans – Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Despite coming off a major injury, Bell has the talent to be a round one pick. If the medicals check out, he and Cam Ward could be a formidable combination.
Pick 36, Las Vegas Raiders – Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Another team that looks to pair its young quarterback with a big, speedy receiver.
Pick 37, New York Giants – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
The Giants were hoping for a wide out here, but instead continue to bolster their defense.
Pick 38, Houston Texans – Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
The Texans constantly need offensive line help, especially on the interior. Bisontis is one of the best in the draft inside.
Pick 39, Cleveland Browns – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Browns continue to improve their woeful offense, this time protecting the blind side of whichever player is under center.
Pick 40, Kansas City Chiefs – Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona
The Chiefs continue bolstering their secondary. Stukes is a versatile player who can play the slot and safety.
Pick 41, Cincinnati Bengals – TJ Parker, EDGE, CLemson
The Bengals lost Trey Hendrickson and added Dexter Lawrence, so they need some more juice on the outside.
Pick 42, New Orleans Saints – Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
The Saints got a pass rusher in round one and now add a zone beating receiver to help out Tyler Shough.
Pick 43, Pittsburgh Steelers (via Miami Dolphins) – Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt **TRADE**
The Steelers use 53 and 99 to move ahead of several teams and get an elite pass catcher for (they hope) Aaron Rodgers.
Pick 44, New York Jets – Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
The Jets have spent their first three picks on defense, so now they beef up their offensive line.
Pick 45, Detroit Lions (via Baltimore Ravens) – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee **TRADE**
The Lions use 50, 157, and a fifth rounder next year to jump the corner needy Bucs and take Hood.
Pick 46, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
This was too rich for the Bucs to take one of the next tier of corners, so they get the second best running back in the draft.
Pick 47, Indianapolis Colts – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Indy’s first pick of this draft doesn’t come until pick 47, and they decide to use it to lock up their right tackle spot.
Pick 48, Atlanta Falcons – Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
The Falcons’ first pick in this draft is used on a playmaking, albeit undersized, linebacker.
Pick 49, Minnesota Vikings – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
After shoring up their secondary in round one, the Vikes add an absolute disruptive force (when healthy) at defensive tackle.
Pick 50, Baltimore Ravens (via Detroit Lions) – Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa
The Ravens passed on a guard in the first round but absolutely have to address that spot at some point.
Pick 51, Carolina Panthers – Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
A’Shawn Robinson was a cap casualty, so the Panthers could look to add some beef up front. Miller has some pass rush upside and is already NFL ready against the run.
Pick 52, New England Patriots (via Green Bay Packers) – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri **TRADE**
The Pats see a few edge needy teams ahead of them, so they send 63, 125, and 191 to the Packers to take who they consider the best edge still on the board.
Pick 53, Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh Steelers) – Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
The Dolphins have added some good young talent on offense, so now they can start building the defense with one of the best pure pass rushers in the draft.
Pick 54, Philadelphia Eagles – R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
The Eagles are constantly getting their pass rush poached in the offseason, so they constantly add to that depth in the draft.
Pick 55, Los Angeles Chargers – Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
The Chargers decided to go defense earlier, but they have to address the tackle spot on day two at the latest.
Pick 56, Jacksonville Jaguars – AJ Haulcy, S, LSU
The Jags had to wait quite a while for their first pick in this draft, and they use it to take a very productive ball-hawking safety.
Pick 57, Chicago Bears – Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
The Bears have a long history of having really good linebackers. They hope Golday can continue that history.
Pick 58, San Francisco 49ers – Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
The 49ers are constantly needing to improve their offensive line, and Rutledge is one of the better overall linemen in the draft.
Pick 59, Houston Texans – Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
The Texans already have an incredible pair of edge rushers, but they’ll need at least one more to keep the other guys fresh.
Pick 60, Chicago Bears – Keionte Scott, CB, Miami (FL)
The Bears continue improving their defense, this time focusing on the secondary.
Pick 61, Los Angeles Rams – Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas
Hill slid a bit but will fit in well with the Rams athletic and dynamic defense.
Pick 62, Denver Broncos – Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
The Broncos traded away their first round pick, so this is their first of the draft. Sean Payton loves to have pass catchers at tight end, and Klare is a very talented one.
Pick 63, Green Bay Packers – Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
The Packers also traded their first rounder, and they decide to use their first pick of this draft to improve their interior defensive line with a player some have going early in the second round if not breaking round one.
Pick 64, Seattle Seahawks – Genesis Smith, S, Arizona
The champs continue keeping their strengths strong, this time attempting to replace Coby Bryant at the safety spot opposite Nick Emmanwori.
Round 3
Pick 65, Arizona Cardinals – Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
The Cardinals have a bookend tackle and a new quarterback, so they add a playmaker to give Simpson some easy YAC options.
Pick 66, Tennessee Titans – Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
Trotter is his father’s son: a quick processing thumper in the middle of the defense that the Titans need.
Pick 67, Las Vegas Raiders – Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
After improving their passing offense, the Raiders now address their pass defense.
Pick 68, Minnesota Vikings (via Philadelphia Eagles) – Connor Lew, C, Auburn **TRADE**
The Vikings send 82, 163, and a fourth rounder next year to jump some center needy teams and take their pick of the litter.
Pick 69, Houston Texans – Mike Washington Jr, RB, Arkansas
The Texans add some speed to their backfield alongside CJ Stroud.
Pick 70, Cleveland Browns – Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
The Browns have been focusing on their offense so far, and here they grab the uber athletic DDS to rush opposite Myles Garrett.
Pick 71, Washington Commanders – Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
The Commanders know a drop off in edge talent is coming, so they grab an athletic pass rusher to help on defense.
Pick 72, Cincinnati Bengals – D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
Ponds will likely be relegated to the nickel spot, but the Bengals need as much defensive help as they can get.
Pick 73, Arizona Cardinals (via New Orleans Saints) – Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Cardinals finally address the defensive side of the ball by grabbing a slightly (ironically) undersized but solid edge defender.
Pick 74, Kansas City Chiefs – Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
The Chiefs take a true X receiver type of player to let their other receivers move around and take advantage of mismatches.
Pick 75, Miami Dolphins – Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
The Dolphins need talent, so even if Abney is a little on the small side to play outside they’ll still grab him.
Pick 76, Pittsburgh Steelers – Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Hurst was a productive, athletic player in the Group of 5 and has the type of contested catch ability Aaron Rodgers likes.
Pick 77, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt
Todd Bowles is a defensive guy and should be able to get the most out of this athletic but raw linebacker.
Pick 78, Indianapolis Colts – Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
The Colts lost Michael Pittman Jr in the offseason, so they’ll need to address that position at some point.
Pick 79, Atlanta Falcons – Dominique Orange, DT, Iowa State
The Falcons continue trying to improve their defense by taking the Big Citrus to help solidify the middle of the defensive line.
Pick 80, Baltimore Ravens – Darrell Jackson Jr, DT, Florida State
Bit of a run on defensive tackles as the Ravens take the massive down lineman from Florida State.
Pick 81, Jacksonville Jaguars – Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
The Jags add an uber athletic corner to help bolster their pass defense.
Pick 82, Philadelphia Eagles (via Minnesota Vikings) – Elijah Surratt, WR, Indiana
Who knows how much longer AJ Brown will be in Philly. For now it seems like he’s staying, and Surratt would be a good complement to him and DeVonta Smith.
Pick 83, Carolina Panthers – Markel Bell, OT, Miami (FL)
The Panthers have their starting tackles already on the roster, so they can take a chance on a guy with immense (pun intended) potential. If he can get coached up, he has the size and power to potentially be the next Orlando Brown Jr.
Pick 84, Green Bay Packers – Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
The Packers need another playmaker opposite Christian Watson, and Lance has the size and speed to really threaten the back end of a defense.
Pick 85, Pittsburgh Steelers – Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Even if Aaron Rodgers comes back this year, he can’t play forever. Nussmeier is an older prospect, but he has shown the ability to produce against SEC defenses.
Pick 86, Los Angeles Chargers – Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn
The Chargers have lost some veteran pass rushers in recent years, so they need to add another piece to the line.
Pick 87, Miami Dolphins – Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
The Dolphins continue piling up promising young talent for their rebuild.
Pick 88, Los Angeles Rams (via Jacksonville Jaguars) – Jaishawn Barham, EDGE, Michigan
F Them Picks, Inc sends 93 and a fifth round pick next year to the Jags for the last of this tier of pass rushers.
Pick 89, Chicago Bears – Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
The Bears’ defensive revamp continues.
Pick 90, Miami Dolphins – Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
Malik Willis would love this type of athletic tight end to target over the middle of the field.
Pick 91, Buffalo Bills – Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Despite adding DJ Moore this offseason, the Bills take a tiny but mighty YAC monster to help give their offense some explosiveness.
Pick 92, Dallas Cowboys – Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
Coleman isn’t the most explosive back, but he is reliable.
Pick 93, Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams) – Skylar Bell, WR, UConn
The Jags add an athletic receiver to take some heat off of Brian Thomas Jr.
Pick 94, Miami Dolphins – LT Overton, DL, Alabama
The Dolphins use this pick to take one of the more positionally versatile down linemen in the draft.
Pick 95, New England Patriots – Logan Jones, C, Iowa
The Patriots desperately want to improve the line in front of Drake Maye, including on the interior.
Pick 96, Seattle Seahawks – Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky
The Hawks go with a massive road grader of an offensive guard to help open holes for whomever replaces Kenneth Walker III.
Pick 97, Minnesota Vikings – Devin Moore, CB, Florida
The Vikings love big, versatile defensive backs, and Moore definitely fits that mold.
Pick 98, Carolina Panthers – Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
The Panthers get their center of the future, and this pick will make Panthers fans cackle. Can’t spell Slaughter without “laughter,” after all.
Pick 99, Miami Dolphins – Brian Parker II, OL, Duke
Most teams view Parker as a center at the next level, but he has literally played significant snaps at every single offensive line spot, providing versatility as both a swing tackle and interior depth if the starting center job is won by someone else.
Pick 100, Cincinnati Bengals (via Jacksonville Jaguars) – Bud Clark, S, TCU
The Bengals have been aggressively improving their defense, and that continues here. Instead of waiting until day three and letting teams regroup at the top of round four, they decide to go get the best safety still on the board.
