Guess what day it is? Mock Draft Monday! The draft is about 1 month away. Most dominoes have fallen in Free Agency. It is time to revisit what to expect next month in Kansas City. To that end, I have put together a look at what to expect in this 3 round mock draft exercise.
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And away we go. Mock Draft Monday 1.0:
Mock Draft Monday 1.0 Round 1:
1. Carolina Panthers (Via Chicago Bears)
CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
CJ Stroud appears to be in the driver’s seat to be the first name on called on April 27th. His combination of size and talent is the best fit for HC Frank Reich’s offense.
2. Houston Texans
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The former Heisman winner is deserving of being the #1 overall pick. His height and slender frame don’t mesh with what the Panthers want to do. The Texans hear Stroud’s name called at 1, and sprint to the podium to make Bryce Young the new face of their franchise.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Will Anderson Jr, EDGE, Alabama
Anderson was the best player in college football in 2021. This past season, his production waned a bit, but he is still a menace. The Cardinals may trade back if not, adding this game-wrecking star to their defensive front will pay immediate dividends.
4. Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
This is a big swing. Richardson was not a very good college player. However, the Colts are desperate to extricate themselves from an annual revolving door of disappointing veteran options. Richardson has unique and considerable tools, if the coaching staff can harness them.
5. Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia
Carter might be the best player in the draft. But, he’s not a quarterback and he is facing legal issues along with character concerns. Regardless, Carter will not have to wait long to hear his name called.
6. Detroit Lions
Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Lions addressed their most glaring needs in Free Agency. At #6, they are free to take the Best Player Available. Wilson is already a good player, but teams see his freakish wingspan and envision molding him into an All-Pro.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Raiders have holes all over the roster. They will hope a blue chip player falls to #7. Failing that, taking a swing at a very good player at a premium position would be the wise move. Gonzalez fits the description.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
The versatile defender was a key piece of back-to-back Bulldog titles. The Falcons can turn him loose to wreak havoc. Intangibles like leadership are a bonus. He has the speed and discipline to be a productive piece in Atlanta for a decade.
9. Chicago Bears
Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Justin Fields has to be a happy man. The Bears’ offense has been retooled this off-season in an effort to maximize the QB’s chance at success. Skoronski would be the cherry on top. He is a versatile piece along the OL who could be counted on at tackle or guard. The Bears can just find their best 5 and get to work.
10. Philadelphia Eagles
Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
Iowa Philadelphia loves to build through the trenches. Van Ness thrived in a backup role at Iowa. He will do the same initially in the league, as he will apprentice with the formidable group the Super Bowl runners-up always put on the field.
11. Tennessee Titans
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The Titans have a new GM and need a new direction. Levis has flaws, but he’s worth consideration at this point in the draft as a flier with upside who may be an immediate upgrade on the aging Ryan Tannehill.
12. Houston Texans
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
JSN has had a rocky year. At one time he appeared a top 10 (maybe even top 5) lock. Being the standout talent among several other first round players will do that. It would be interesting to see the Bears decide to reunite him with his college QB in Justin Fields, but #9 might be a bit early. The Texans elect to add the controversial playmaker to Bryce Young’s arsenal of weapons.
13. New York Jets
Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State
Considered by most to be the top true offensive tackle in the draft. The Jets have questions at both tackle spots that need answers, and are likely to address with their first draft pick. Will they hold on to their first rounder? Or be forced to include it in the inevitable trade for Aaron Rodgers?
14. New England Patriots
Jordan Addison, WR, Southern California
The Patriots need to do everything in their power to evaluate Mac Jones. A talented rookie wideout could inject some life into the offense.
15. Los Angeles Chargers (*LAC trade 21, 54 to GB for 15, 116.*)
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
In a different era, Robinson would have been a top 5 pick. He is not worth that investment now, but he is a special player. LAC can take him and have the flexibility to move on from Austin Ekeler.
16. Washington Commanders
O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida
Florida Torrence fits in Washington like a glove. He is a massive human who can start at guard from day 1. As a result, he’s a perfect fit for the Commanders in our Mock Draft Monday.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
The Steelers need to continue to rebuild their offensive line. Wright is a powerful right tackle. He can start immediately as the organization tries to find out what Kenny Pickett is made of.
18. Detroit Lions
Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State
Detroit shored up the cornerback position in Free Agency. That influx allows them to pass on corner at 6. However, if one of the best corners slips to their second pick in the round, the team still needs talented young cover-men.
19. Baltimore Ravens (*BAL trade 22, 124, 2024 5th* to TB for 19)
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Witherspoon is a versatile corner who plays with attitude and blitzes especially well for the position. He could step into Marcus Peters’ role, and be the next great corner in Baltimore.
20. Seattle Seahawks
Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
Seattle grabs McDonald with their second pick of the night. He is a sack artist, tying the Big 12 Conference record for career sacks.
21. Green Bay Packers
Brian Branch, S, Alabama
The Pack trade back and still land the top player at the safety position. Branch fills a need. He does not have elite speed, but just about everything else in his game is at that level.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Jones is an unpolished offensive tackle. Because of the lack of refinement, it is easy to see what he could be. Tampa Bay trades down and takes on a project that could pay off in a big way down the line.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
The Vikings need to break in a new WR2, and Flowers is up to the task. He plays like TY Hilton and has similar measurables. If he can become 90% of that player, this would be a steal.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Mayer is the top tight end in the draft. The Jags brought Evan Engram back on the Franchise Tag, but that’s a short-term option. Mayer can develop rapport with Trevor Lawrence and become his security blanket in no time.
25. New York Giants
Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
The Giants have a lot of good-not-great players in their pass-catching corps. Johnston gives them a completely different skill-set as a big-bodied outside receiver option. Let Daniel Jones cook? Probably not, but you need to try.
26. Dallas Cowboys
Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Murphy has tumbled a bit down draft boards. He feels like a safe but unspectacular pick in the later first round. That is exactly what the ‘Boys need to add to their front 7.
27. Buffalo Bills
Calijah Kancey, IDL, Pitt
Kancey has been unfairly compared to Aaron Donald. They’re built similarly, and both played for the Pitt Panthers. But let’s be clear – Kancey is no Aaron Donald. He is, however, a very good player who can bring some juice as an interior pass rusher immediately.
28. Cincinnati Bengals
Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
It has to be a tackle, right? Wrong! The Bengals love to stockpile first round corners. Banks is a fantastic athlete who can really run. He might be thrust into action week 1 if Chidobe Awuzie isn’t fully healthy. The following season, expect a rookie draft pick from this year to be starting opposite Cam Taylor-Britt.
29. New Orleans Saints
Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson
Bresee is a powerful defensive lineman. The Saints need to take a high ceiling player. He fits the bill and should be able to carve out a role quickly.
30. Philadelphia Eagles
Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Late-first to early-second round feels like the sweet spot for the behemoth Bulldog. Washington thrived in college as a ridiculously overqualified TE2. Why not run it back in the NFL?
31. Kansas City Chiefs
BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
Ojulari offers a robust selection of pass-rush moves. Adding him to the Super Bowl champs’ defense makes them that much more formidable. The other 31 teams are hoping they whiff big in the draft. They have nailed the past few and will need to continue to do so.
Mock Draft Monday 1.0 Round 2:
32 PIT Mazi Smith IDL Michigan
33 HOU Kelee Ringo CB UGA
34 ARI Cam Smith CB South Carolina
35 IND Jalin Hyatt WR Tennessee
36 LAR Steve Avila IOL TCU
37 SEA John Michael Schmitz C Minnesota
38 LV Dawand Jones OT Ohio St
39 CAR Dalton Kincaid TE Utah
40 NO Emmanuel Forbes CB Mississippi St
41 TEN Adetomiwa Adebawore IDL Northwestern
42 GB Josh Downs WR UNC *NYJ trade 42, 2024 Conditional Pick to GB for Aaron Rodgers*
43 NYJ Keion White EDGE Georgia Tech
44 ATL Jack Campbell LB Iowa
45 GB Siaki Ika NT Baylor
46 NE Anton Harrison OT Oklahoma
47 WAS Antonio Johnson S Texas A&M
48 DET Hendon Hooker QB Tennessee
49 PIT Cody Mouch OL NDSU
50 KC Kayshon Boutte WR LSU *KC trade 63, 2024 3rd to TB for 50, 2024 5th*
51 MIA Drew Sanders EDGE/LB Arkansas
52 SEA Sam LaPorta TE Iowa
53 CHI Jahmyr Gibbs RB Alabama
54 LAC Gervon Dexter IDL Florida
55 DET Luke Musgrave TE Oregon St
56 JAX Clark Phillips CB Utah
57 NYG Trenton Simpson LB Clemson
58 DAL Jammie Robinson DB Florida St
59 BUF Matthew Bergeron OL Syracuse
60 TEN Tuli Tuipulotu EDGE USC *TEN trade 72, 2024 3rd to CIN for 60, 2024 6th*
61 CHI Felix Anduke-Uzomah EDGE Kansas St
62 PHI Luke Wypler C Ohio St
63 TB Christopher Smith S Georgia
Mock Draft Monday 1.0 Round 3
64 CHI Keeanu Benton IDL Wisconsin
65 HOU Daiyan Henley LB Washington St
66 ARI Joe Tippmann IOL Wisconsin
67 DEN Tank Dell WR Houston
68 DEN Garrett Williams CB Syracuse
69 LAR Blake Freeland OT BYU
70 LV Tanner McKee QB Stanford
71 NO Zach Charbonnet RB UCLA
72 CIN Tucker Kraft TE SDSU
73 CAR Cedric Tillman WR Tennessee *CAR trade 93, 114, 145 to HOU for 73*
74 CLE Isaiah Foskey EDGE Notre Dame
75 ATL Jayden Reed WR Michigan St
76 NE DJ Turner CB Michigan
77 LAR Tyrique Stevenson CB Miami
78 GB Zach Harrison EDGE Ohio St
79 IND Jaelyn Duncan OT Maryland
80 PIT Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson SCB TCU
81 DET Noah Sewell LB Oregon
82 TB Zack Kuntz TE Old Dominion
83 SEA Julius Brents CB Kansas St
84 MIA Devon Achane RB Texas A&M
85 LAC Tyler Scott WR Cincinnati
86 BAL Parker Washington WR Penn St
87 MIN Darius Rush CB South Carolina
88 JAX Derick Hall EDGE Auburn
89 NYG Andrew Voorhees IOL USC
90 DAL Luke Schoonmaker TE Michigan
91 BUF Owen Pappoe LB Auburn
92 CIN Tyjae Spears RB Tulane
93 HOU Andre Carter EDGE Army
94 PHI Eli Ricks CB Alabama
95 KC Ji’Ayir Brown S Penn St
96 ARI Zacch Pickens IDL South Carolina
97 WAS Jalen Redmond IDL Oklahoma
98 CLE Jaquelin Roy IDL LSU
99 CIN Wanya Morris OT Oklahoma *CIN trade 2024 3rd to SF for 99*
100 LV Jordan Battle S Bama
101 SF Sean Tucker RB Syracuse
102 SF Xavier Hutchinson WR Iowa St
Until next time.. Enjoy your Mock Draft Monday.
