Mock Draft 3.0

 

Hey what’s up everyone! My second mock of draft season is below. Every mock I do is based on what I think is going to happen rather than what should happen. I won’t account for any trades until my last mock draft so keep that in mind. As always, give your thoughts and if you need any clarity, ask me in chat.

 

1. Chicago Bears (from CAR) – Caleb Williams (QB – USC)

I don’t care what color his fingernails are, the Bears are drafting Caleb Williams.

 

2. Washington Commanders – JJ McCarthy (QB – Michigan)

I’m riding this thing out to the end and I think JJ McCarthy ends up in Washington. He checks nearly every box for the Commanders and offers a high floor to go with a ceiling as high as anyone’s in this class. I think there is a common misconception that Kliff Kingsbury wants to run the Air Raid offense. Also, how much of a say does Kingsbury actually have in the decision of who the Commanders select at 2? Less than Quinn and Peters.

 

3. New England – Jayden Daniels (QB – LSU)

If Jayden Daniels goes 2nd overall, I think the Patriots move out. If he doesn’t, this is the QB I think they want.

 

4. Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – Ohio State) 

There is a ton of smoke with the Cardinals possibly moving back from this spot and they might. If they do move down to 11, they absolutely would be in play to move back up to take one of the big three WRs. 

 

5. LA Chargers – JC Latham (OT – Alabama)

There is a shot Latham is the 1st non-QB off the board, which is why I bet him at +7500 to be just that. If the Chargers can’t move out of 5, they will take the offensive lineman they deem best for their system, which I think is JC Lathem. Jim Harbaugh recruited Latham out of High School to Michigan. I also like Fuaga to LA.

 

6. New York Giants – Malik Nabers (WR – LSU)

If one of the big four QBs drop to 6, the Giants pounce. This is a reminder that I don’t do trades in my mock drafts so I penciled Drake Maye into the Vikings in this draft at 11 but I do think they jump up with the Chargers ahead of the Giants to take Maye. The Giants are good with that and take Malik Nabers.

 

7. Tennessee Titans – Joe Alt (OT – Notre Dame)

If you put a gun to my head and asked me who the 2nd biggest lock is of this draft, it is Joe Alt going 7th overall to the Titans.

 

8. Atlanta Falcons – Dallas Turner (Edge – Alabama)

Another player I think we can more or less pencil in is Dallas Turner going 8th overall to the Falcons. I’m not buying the recent Laitatu Latu rumors. The only way Turner doesn’t go here is if the Falcons move back and a team leaps the Bears for Odunze.

 

9. Chicago Bears – Rome Odunze (WR – Washington)

Maybe this is just a pipe dream but wouldn’t it be fun to watch Caleb Williams with three stud WRs and Shane Waldron calling plays? I’d like to see it.

 

10. New York Jets – Brock Bowers (TE – Georgia)

Brock Bowers is viewed by many as a top 5 talent in this draft but for various reasons, he falls to 10. The Jets may go with Offensive Line here but I think they get the best player available and get Aaron Rodgers another weapon for the middle of the field. 

 

11. Minnesota Vikings –  Drake Maye (QB – North Carolina)

I think the Vikings move up to select Drake Maye ahead of the New York Giants. Whether that is pick 4 or 5 remains to be seen but I think it does eventually end up being the Chargers the Vikings trade with to get their project QB at 5.

 

12. Denver Broncos – Jared Verse (Edge – Florida State)

I think the Broncos WANT to move down here as opposed to moving up in this draft. If they’re forced to sit tight, I think they go edge or corner.

 

13. Las Vegas Raiders – Quinyon Mitchell (CB – Toledo)

The Raiders could go OL here with plenty of Day 1 starters left on the board but with Antonio Pierce running the show, I think they end up taking a CB.

 

14. New Orleans Saints – Olumuyiwa Fashanu (OT – Penn State)

The Saints need Offensive Line help and Fashanu would slide right in and be a starter Week 1.

 

15. Indianapolis Colts – Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – LSU)

The Colts LOVE freak athletes and Thomas checks the boxes.

 

16. Seattle Seahawks – Taliese Fuaga (OT – Oregon State)

Fuaga profiles as a Guard or Tackle and he would bolster an Offensive Line on a team led by a defensive minded Head Coach.

 

17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Terrion Arnold (CB – Alabama)

The Jaguars defense took a big step back last year. I wouldn’t be shocked if they move up to get a WR but if they stay put, CB is the spot I think they end up at.

 

18. Cincinnati Bengals – Byron Murphy II (DT – Texas)

Offensive Line is always in play with the Bengals but they tightened up RT by signing Trent Brown. With that said, they have a hole at IDL with Reader heading to Detroit.

 

19. Los Angeles Rams – Laiatu Latu (Edge – UCLA)

Latu is high on some boards and even going Top 10. Rams did a lot of work to get a big interior OL in free agency so I think they go Edge or Corner here.

 

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Troy Fautanu (OT – Washington)

The Steelers are going to want to establish the run in 2024 and what better way to do that than to continue to bolster the OL.

 

21. Miami Dolphins – Chop Robinson (Edge – Penn State)

Chop has a lot of raw talent and could end up being the best Edge in this draft. I love pairing him with new Dolphins Defensive Coordinator, Anthony Weaver.

 

22. Philadelphia Eagles – Nate Wiggins (CB  -Clemson) 

The Eagles love the trenches and could go Defensive Line here but their pass defense was BAD in 2023. 

 

23. Minnesota Vikings (from HOU) – Roman Wilson (WR – Michigan)

If the Vikings do move up with the LA Chargers and use pick 23 to do so, would anyone be shocked to see Jim Harbaugh replenish his WR room with a former Michigan Wolverine?

 

24. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Guyton (OT – Oklahoma)

The Cowboys are always looking to improve their Offensive Line, which has had a bit of turnover in recent years. 

 

25. Green Bay Packers – Cooper DeJean (CB – Iowa)

The Packers ran into some pass defensive issues last year. With a new Defensive Coordinator, I think they try to tighten up their Defensive Backfield too with a player who can play both Corner and Safety. 

 

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jackson Powers-Johnson (OL – Oregon)

I don’t have a good read for what the Bucs are going to do here but stud Center, Ryan Jensen, just retired so I could see interior Offensive Line in this spot.

 

27. Arizona Cardinals (from HOU) – Graham Barton (OG – Duke)

I think the Cardinals want to build up the offensive more while Jonathan Gannon continues to get the most out of his defense.

 

28. Buffalo Bills – Adonai Mitchell (WR – Texas)

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Mitchell fall completely out of the first round or Xavier Worthy here but the Bills are going to want to run the ball, I think they go with the bigger body over the burner. Wouldn’t be shocked to see them go Offensive Line here either.

 

29. Detroit Lions – Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB – Alabama)

Another team who’s pass defense was horrid in 2024. They continue to add talent to their defensive secondary here.

 

30. Baltimore Ravens – Amarius Mims (OT – Alabama)

The Ravens will take the best player available on their board in this spot or trade back. I could see them valuing the ceiling of Mims higher than most teams.

 

31. San Francisco 49ers – Jer’Zhan Newton (DT – Illinois)

This team was in the Super Bowl and they don’t have a ton of needs. Maybe Offensive Line? I think they continue to build in the trenches regardless.

 

32. Kansas City Chiefs – Ladd McConkey (WR – Georgia)

Okay I’m being selfish here. I just want to see McConkey play in this offense. Wouldn’t be shocked to see them go with the burner in Xavier Worthy or Offensive Line here.