The NFL draft is finally here. Without any ado whatsoever, here is my final predictive mock draft.
1) Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young, Quarterback, Alabama
The Panthers are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. After trading up to the number one pick it looks like they’ve found one.
2) *Trade* Detroit Lions – Will Anderson, Defensive End, Alabama
The Lions just missed the playoffs last season. They improve their defense this year by adding the best player in the draft.
3)*Trade* Las Vegas Raiders – Anthony Richardson, Quarterback, Florida
Unlimited upside is too tempting to pass up for a Raiders team that has met with Richardson on three separate occasions.
4) Indianapolis Colts – Will Levis, Quarterback, Kentucky
A little less upside than Richardson, but a little more polished too. Levis has great tools to become a franchise quarterback.
5) Seattle Seahawks – Jalen Carter, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
The star of the back to back national championship Georgia Bulldogs. Character concerns let him slide to five.
6) *Houston Texans – Tyree Wilson, Defensive Line, Texas Tech
There is rumor that the Texans would take Wilson at second overall. They can trade down and still get their man.
7) *Arizona Cardinals – Paris Johnson, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
The Cardinals are about to experience what a season without their franchise quarterback looks like. Drafting on the offensive line will prevent that from happening in the future.
8) Atlanta Falcons – Bijan Robinson, Running Back, Texas
The Falcons need an identity. Drafting the best playmaker in the draft will make their offense one worth taking notice of.
9) Chicago Bears – Peter Skoronski, Offensive Line, Northwestern
The Bears added a star receiver by trading down. Now they can add some protection for their franchise quarterback as well.
10) Philadelphia Eagles – Christian Gonzalez, Cornerback, Oregon
The Eagles are in a great position to build on an excellent roster. Adding one of the best players in the draft will keep this secondary great for a long time.
11) Tennessee Titans – CJ Stroud, Quarterback, Ohio State
The Titans are preparing for a rebuild and need a face of the future. Stroud might be the best quarterback in the draft and he falls in their lap.
12) Houston Texans – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
This isn’t a rich draft of receiver talent. Smith-Njigba is a dangerous slot weapon who is the best in the draft.
13) Green Bay Packers – Lukas Van Ness, Defensive End, Iowa
The Packers are notorious for not drafting weapons. As much as I would love to see them draft one as a final goodbye present to Aaron Rodgers, Van Ness fits their profile perfectly.
14) New England Patriots – Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback, Illinois
Bill Belichick has always built from the outside in. Having arguably the best corner in the draft fall into his lap is a dream scenario.
15) New York Jets – Broderick Jones, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
The proud owner of a new forty year old quarterback and trying to replicate the Tom Brady Bucs model. Now they need to protect him:
16) Washington Commanders – Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle, Tennessee
The Commanders have invested a lot into their defensive line in recent years. Now it’s time to build the other side of the trenches.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers – Joey Porter Jr., Cornerback, Penn State
The Steelers are full of tradition. Drafting the son of a former star linebacker, who is also one of the best cornerbacks in the draft, will only add to their storied history.
18) *Trade* Jacksonville Jaguars – Nolan Smith, Defensive End, Georgia
The Jags made the playoffs for the first time in a long time last year. Now they have a chance to steal one of the most talented athletes in the draft to build on their defense.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Anton Harrison, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
The Brady era is over. Regardless of who the quarterback of the future is, he will need a blindside protector and an improved running game. Harrison helps with both.
20) Seattle Seahawks – O’Cyrus Torrence, Guard, Florida
The sheer size and power of Torrence is overwhelming. He can make the Seahawks offensive line much more menacing and strengthen an already potent offense.
21) Los Angeles Chargers – Michael Meyer, Tight End, Notre Dame
The Chargers need a playmaker. With a limited wide receiver pool, getting perhaps the best tight end in the class can still give them that.
22) Baltimore Ravens – Deonte Banks, Cornerback, Maryland
The Ravens aren’t used to having a bad defense. A leaky secondary was an issue for them last year and they need a corner opportunity Marlon Humphrey.
23) *Trade* Buffalo Bills – Mazi Smith, Defensive Tackle, Michigan.
The Bills have invested a lot into their defensive line, but it’s still missing something. Smith is 330 lbs of that missing link.
24) *Detroit Lions – Calijah Kancey, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
The Lions defense wasn’t very good last year. Adding a high upside pass rusher to the interior will certainly help with that.
25) *Trade* Green Bay Packers – Brian Branch, Safety, Alabama
It wouldn’t shock me if the Packers took Branch at 13. They can move back into the first round and get one of the best ten players in the draft here.
26) Dallas Cowboys – Dalton Kincaid, Tight End, Utah
The Cowboys lost Dalton Schultz in free agency. They can keep their offense as strong as it was last year by drafting my top ranked tight end in the class.
27) *Minnesota Vikings – Cam Smith, Cornerback, South Carolina
The Vikings pass defense wasn’t good last year. I’m sure they wanted one of the top cornerbacks to slide to them, but Smith is hardly a consolation prize.
28) Cincinnati Bengals – Will McDonald, Defensive End, Iowa State
If the Bengals want to win a Super Bowl then they’ll have to go through Patrick Mahomes. We’ve seen the way to do that is by keeping pressure on him. McDonald is one of the best pass rushers in the draft.
29) New Orleans Saints – Bryan Breese, Defensive Tackle, Clemson
The Saints lost a lot of talent on their defensive line this offseason. Breese is loaded with talent and potential. A natural fit.
30) Philadelphia Eagles – Myles Murphy, Defensive End, Clemson
The Eagles love to draft in the trenches. Murphy has been one of the highest regarded prospects all season long. This value and need makes sense.
31) Kansas City Chiefs – Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver, Boston College
It’s hard to say who the lead receiver of the future is in Kansas City. Flowers gives Mahomes a great running mate for the next decade.
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