With only two weeks to go before the start of the NFL Draft, this draft has become decidedly one of the more exciting in recent memory. With all of the premium talent in the top ten, the top five, there will be plenty of movement, or at least phone calls.
How many quarterbacks go in the first round? In the top five? When will the first defensive player come off the board? How many tackles could we see come off the board? How many receivers?
This mock draft will do its best to answer those questions and improve every team in the first round in the process.
1
Chicago Bears: USC QB Caleb Williams
The more things change, the more they remain the same. USC’s Caleb Williams is the QB1 and the top player in this draft. Chicago will select him accordingly.
2
Washington Commanders: LSU QB Jayden Daniels
LSU’s Jayden Daniels hasn’t done anything but strengthen his case to become the QB2 of this draft, wicked elbow and all. Daniels is the future of Washington Commander football.
3
New England Patriots: North Carolina QB Drake Maye
The allure of trading down is enticing but not enough for the New England Patriots as Jerod Mayo and company stay put and take their guy in North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
4
Arizona Cardinals: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison
The phone is ringing off the hook for Arizona as well, but at the end of the day, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison, Jr. is just too good of a prospect to pass up.
5
Minnesota Vikings (via Los Angeles Chargers): Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
Minnesota sends 11, 23, 167 & 2025 first-round pick to Los Angeles for 5 & 2025 fourth-round pick
With Harrison Jr. gone and the need for more playmakers around their superstar QB, the Chargers decide to be the beneficiary of Minnesota’s Godfather offer. Minnesota takes their heir apparent in Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy to learn under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
6
New York Giants: LSU WR Malik Nabers
As the movement begins behind them, the Giants stay put and take their dynamic pass-catcher in LSU’s Malik Nabers.
7
Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
Tennessee spent a lot of money to surround Will Levis with talent, but if he’s on his back, it will all be for naught. Notre Dame’s Joe Alt comes in to make sure that is not the case for the Titans.
8
Atlanta Falcons: Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner
The world’s worst-kept secret is that the Atlanta Falcons like Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner. After not being able to trade down, they take their much needed pass-rusher.
9
Chicago Bears: Washington WR Rome Odunze
Somehow, the stars align, and the Bears take their next quarterback and a top-tier pass-catcher to grow alongside him in Washington’s Rome Odunze.
10
New York Jets: Washington OT Troy Fautanu
Is he a tackle? Is he a guard? Washington’s Troy Fautanu can play anywhere you need him to, which is perfect for a New York Jets team that can’t afford to skimp on the offensive line.
11
Los Angeles Chargers: Georgia TE Brock Bowers
After trading down and seeing the top three receivers come off the board, the Chargers still decide to take a pass-catcher in Georgia’s Brock Bowers.
12
Denver Broncos: UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
A potential franchise quarterback should be on the shortlist of needs for the Broncos, especially after the Russell Wilson experiment fizzled out. However, there aren’t any on the board right now, so addressing other needs will take precedence at 12. In 2023, Denver had 117 total pressures for the season, the fourth-worst in the NFL. The uncertainty on the offensive side of the ball will put more pressure on the defense. Alabama’s Dallas Turner and his elite athletic profile could be just what the doctor ordered as they look to rebuild this roster.
13
Las Vegas Raiders: Alabama OT JC Latham
With a glaring need at right tackle, the Raiders decide to take the best one in the draft in Alabama’s J.C. Latham.
14
Jacksonville Jaguars (via New Orleans Saints): Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
Jacksonville sends picks 17 & 96 to New Orleans for picks 14 & 212
Jacksonville can’t afford to allow their pick of cornerback to fall to division rival Indianapolis, they jump the Colts by trading with the New Orleans Saints to acquire Toldeo’s Quinyon Mitchell.
15
Indianapolis Colts: Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
Alabama’s Terrion Arnold’s mix of athletic ability and skill makes him a perfect selection for Indianapolis Colts’ General Manager Chris Ballard.
16
Cincinnati Bengals (via Seattle Seahawks): Penn State OT Olu Fashanu
Cincinnati sends 18 & 97 to Seattle for 16
Cincinnati had to make sure to get their choice of tackle so they sacrificed a top-100 pick to secure Penn State’s Olu Fashanu.
17
New Orleans Saints (via Jacksonville Jaguars): Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
With all of the talent at the offensive tackle, New Orleans just takes the next best guy on their big board in Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga.
18
Seattle Seahawks: Duke OL Graham Barton
With a glaring need on the interior, the Seahawks take one of the more versatile linemen, not just on the interior, in this year’s draft in Duke’s Graham Barton.
19
Los Angeles Rams: Florida State EDGE Jared Verse
The Los Angeles Rams stop the slide of Florida State’s Jared Verse, adding to a defense in need of top-tier playmakers on defense.
20
Pittsburgh Steelers: Oregon OL Jackson Powers-Johnson
The fit of Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson to Pittsburgh is too seamless to ignore, Mike Tomlin will love him as soon as he reaches the building.
21
Miami Dolphins: Texas DT Byron Murphy
Miami has their pick of interior pass rushers, and they decide to go with Texas’ Byron Murphy II to replace the production lost by Christian Wilkins.
22
Philadelphia Eagles: Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson
Verse’s fall pushes the ultra-explosive Chop Robinson from Penn State right into the waiting arms of Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman.
23
Los Angeles Chargers: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
With their second first-round pick, the Chargers decide to address the defense by taking Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry.
24
Dallas Cowboys: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton
Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton has the combination of size and quickness that you take a chance on in this part of the draft and the Dallas Cowboys do just that.
25
Green Bay Packers: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean
Iowa’s Cooper DeJean finds a home in the backend of the Green Bay defense, whether it’s safety or corner.
26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Missouri DL Darius Robinson
With most of the premium offensive line talent gone, the Bucs take a chance on Missouri’s Darius Robinson to help fill out the defensive line.
27
Arizona Cardinals: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
Clemson’s Nate Wiggins brings his length and elite speed to Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense.
28
Buffalo Bills: Florida State WR Keon Coleman
Florida State’s Keon Coleman comes with a lot of questions but he has the potential to execute at a high level, especially with a quarterback like Josh Allen throwing to him.
29
Detroit Lions: Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Detroit isn’t leaving the draft without a cornerback. Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. fits the Lions’ culture with his toughness and physicality.
30
Baltimore Ravens: Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
Taking one of the best combinations of size and speed at the receiver position sounds like a win-win for the Baltimore Ravens and Texas’ Adonai Mitchell.
31
San Francisco 49ers: Arizona OL Jordan Morgan
There are plenty of routes that the 49ers can go, simply because they don’t need anything but OL depth will probably take priority. Arizona’s Jordan Morgan can play all over the line, making him a worthwhile target with this pick.
32
Kansas City Chiefs: Georgia WR Ladd McConkey
The synergy and timing that a route-runner like Georgia’s Ladd McConkey and Patrick Mahomes could potentially have would be unfair to the rest of the league.