1.01 Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
There’s only one pick that we should feel confident in at the
moment, and it’s Mendoza. This is an extremely weak quarterback
class, and it’s clear that Mendoza sits at the top. Las Vegas
experimented with Geno Smith and Pete Carroll last season, and
it was a disaster. They brought in Klint Kubiak as their new head
coach, and he’ll grab his quarterback of the future here.
Previous Pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
1.02 New York Jets Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Jets made several moves in free agency, adding to their defense.
I expect them to continue that in the draft. Reese could need
a bit more time to develop than the top edge rushers but he’s
a versatile piece that can be a game-changer on defense for the
next decade. Mixing in with the veterans who can immediately start,
adding the upside of Reese is too good to pass up here.
Previous Pick: Reuben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami (FL)
1.03 Arizona Cardinals - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Arizona has several holes throughout their roster, but they desperately
need help along the offensive line. Paris Johnson Jr. can handle
the left side, which makes Mauigoa the perfect option here. He
dominated at right tackle throughout his college career, and he’ll
immediately slide into a starting role. It likely won’t be necessary,
but there is also the option that he could slide to the left side,
if needed.
Previous Pick: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
1.04 Tennessee Titans - David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
It makes sense for the Titans to add offensive pieces to help
Cam Ward, but the available talent on the defensive side of the
ball is too good. Bailey comes with elite pass rush potential
off the edge, and Tennessee drastically needs to upgrade several
positions. The position is too important to pass up for the second-best
offensive tackle or a top wide receiver in this draft.
Previous Pick: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
1.05 New York Giants - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Generally, linebackers aren’t taken this high in the draft, but
Styles is a unique player. Someone will fall in love with his
physical traits, and he’ll be drafted ahead of where his position
generally goes. John Harbaugh is an old-school coach, and he’s
the type of coach that would take the chance here to build his
defense.
Previous Pick: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
1.06 Cleveland Browns - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Browns need help along the offensive line, and it doesn’t
look like this is a draft where a team is even going to be able
to reach for a quarterback. Instead, they can focus on the rookies
they drafted last year and give them the best chance to succeed.
Fano has experience on both sides of the line, and he’ll slide in
wherever Cleveland needs him. He’ll immediately make this offensive
line drastically better, specifically in pass protection.
Previous Pick: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
1.07 Washington Commanders - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints signing running backs
to big contracts in free agency suggests that Love isn’t going to
make it to them. A few teams are in the mix, but he lands with Washington.
They signed two mediocre options at running back (Rachaad White,
Jerome Ford), and it’s a position they can still upgrade. He’ll
immediately create a dynamic duo with Jayden Daniels. This would
create significant mismatches for their opponents, and Love has
the talent to be a running back drafted in the top 10.
Previous Pick: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
1.08 New Orleans
Saints - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Saints drastically need help at wide receiver and cornerback,
and they’ll have their pick of the two positions here. I don’t believe
they’re ready to compete at this point regardless, which means it
makes more sense to help Tyler Shough continue his growth rather
than focus on defense. Chris Olave has proven he can be an outstanding
option as the WR1, and Tate can make an elite pairing with him.
He also has the potential to take over the WR1 slot eventually.
Kansas City added a few key pieces in free agency, and they get
a gift with Bain falling here. They need edge rushers, and Bain
has the potential to go as high as second in this draft. He’s an
elite option, who can immediately help this defense. He also has
the potential to be a long-term defensive game-changer for the Chiefs.
Previous Pick: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
1.10 Cincinnati Bengals - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Bengals are a team that can always compete when Joe Burrow
is healthy, but they have plenty of holes throughout their roster.
They need help in their secondary, and Delane could be the first
corner taken in this draft. He has the upside to become a shadow
option that can lock down opposing WR1s. This is a chance for Cincinnati
to add elite potential to their secondary.
Previous Pick: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
1.11 Miami Dolphins - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Dolphins signed their short-term answer at quarterback in
Malik Willis, but they have plenty of holes throughout the rest
of their roster. They could add a wide receiver here, but they also
have massive needs on the defensive side of the ball. This came
down to McCoy or Keldric Faulk, and I’m going for the former. Similar
to Delane, who he could be drafted ahead of, McCoy has the potential
to turn into a top cornerback, which is something Miami desperately
needs.
Previous Pick: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
1.12 Dallas Cowboys - Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
Dallas needs to replace Micah Parsons, and Faulk is a player who
can help them find production. He comes with high-end pass-rush
potential, but he’ll also be able to play the run well. He can occasionally
move inside to disrupt opposing offenses from a different slot.
He doesn’t have the pure upside as the other two edge rushers at
the top of this draft, but he certainly can help fill a void for
the Cowboys.
Previous Pick: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
1.13 Los Angeles Rams - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Rams bolstered their secondary through free agency (CB Jaylen
Watson) and a trade (CB Trent McDuffie), but they could still use
a safety here. Downs is one of the best players in the draft, but
safeties tend to have less value than other positions. He can immediately
become an impact player, and there’s very little reason they’d pass
him up at this point in the draft.
Previous Pick: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
1.14 Baltimore
Ravens - Olaivavega Ioane, iOL, Penn State
The Ravens need help on the interior of their offense line, and
Ioane is an elite option. He’s far-and-away the best iOL option
in this draft, and he can immediately help upgrade this offensive
line. He’ll help Lamar Jackson and company, and upgrading the line
could immediately thrust Baltimore back into the playoffs.
Previous Pick: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami (FL)
1.15
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami (FL)
The Bucs need help on the defensive side of the ball, and they could
go a few different ways here. There isn’t a cornerback available
in the same tier as Mesidor. Instead, they go with the edge rusher
and help their defense that way. It’s potentially a bigger position
of need regardless.
Previous Pick: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
1.16 New York Jets - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
If this were a different class, Simpson likely wouldn’t be going
in the first round. He only started one season in college, but he
showed plenty of flashes. The Jets need to fill a rotating quarterback
position, and Simpson would give them hope. We know quarterbacks
get drafted earlier than their talent, and I’m expecting that to
be the case again here.
Previous Pick: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
1.17 Detroit Lions - Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Lions desperately need help at offensive tackle, and they have
a few options they could choose from. Freeling isn’t the most polished
tackle in the draft, but he comes with elite upside. If he hits,
he could anchor the left side of Detroit’s line for years to come.
Minnesota needs to find a replacement for Harrison Smith, and
that’s likely their most pressing need at this point in the draft.
Caleb Downs isn’t going to fall this far, but they should have their
pick of the next set of safeties. Thieneman has the ability to be
a difference-maker on the back end, and that’s exactly what the
Vikings should be looking for.
Previous Pick: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
1.19 Carolina Panthers - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Panthers hit with Tetairoa McMillan, but they still need help
at the receiver position. Lemon will add another dimension to this
offense out of the slot, and he’d make an outstanding pairing with
McMillan. They’d give Bryce Young an outstanding young duo to help
lead this team to the playoffs once again.
Previous Pick: Olaivavega Ioane, iOL, Penn State
1.20 Dallas Cowboys - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The Cowboys already bolstered their defense with an edge rusher
earlier in this draft, but they also need help in their secondary.
There are a few options they can go here in a deep class, but Hood
can add an element of physicality to this defense. The concern is
that he projects better in man coverage, but he’s also flashed the
ability to find success in zone. This is a bit of a boom-or-bust
option for Dallas, but they’re in a position to make that type of
pick.
The Steelers had an obvious hole at wide receiver, but they filled
that with Michael Pittman Jr. There also aren’t any quarterbacks
that should be considered here, so they can move to the offensive
line. Proctor boasts plenty of upside for a lineman this late in
the draft, and he’s an outstanding option for Pittsburgh.
Previous Pick: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
1.22 Los Angeles Chargers - Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Chargers will have their pick of the next tier of offensive
linemen. They drastically need help protecting Justin Herbert, and
it was evident this past season that this is by far the biggest
hole for them at the moment. Lomu is generally viewed as the next
option, and he can help solidify this line, adding to the overall
upside of Herbert and company.
Previous Pick: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
1.23 Philadelphia Eagles - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
It looks like Philadelphia and A.J. Brown could part ways sooner
rather than later, although I don’t think this pick is contingent
on that. Dallas Goedert re-signed with the Eagles, but Sadiq is
an extremely high-upside tight end prospect. He’s going to be a
matchup nightmare for whoever drafts him, and allowing him to learn
behind solid options before taking on a bigger role will only help
his career.
Previous Pick: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
1.24 Cleveland Browns - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Browns need help at receiver, and Tyson is an elite option.
He has the potential to become a WR1 in the NFL, and he can immediately
help upgrade this offense. Cleveland still needs to see what they
have with their young quarterbacks, and giving them another high-end
receiving option will only help their development.
Previous Pick: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
1.25 Chicago Bears - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Bears need help along the defensive line, and Woods will immediately
fill that hole. He’s going to play the majority of his snaps as
an interior defensive lineman who can hold the line of scrimmage.
He can move outside, though, setting the edge and finding some pressure.
He isn’t likely to find a ton of snaps as an edge, but it’s important
to note his versatility.
Previous Pick: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
1.26 Buffalo Bills - Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
The Bills traded for D.J. Moore in the offseason, and they also
added DE Bradley Chubb. Those were two of their biggest needs, but
they could still use help along the offensive line. Helping Josh
Allen is never a bad idea for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations.
Previous Pick: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
1.27 San
Francisco 49ers - Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
It looks like Trent Williams’ time in San Francisco is going to
be done at some point in the near future. They’ll need to replace
him on their line, and Iheanachor is a solid option. He can learn
behind Williams for the time being, and eventually anchor the left-side
for years to come.
Previous Pick: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
1.28 Houston Texans
- TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson
The Texans had massive issues at the offensive line, but they added
a few options in free agency. Parker is a solid option who can add
depth to one of the best defenses in the NFL. He can eventually
take over, but he’ll have the option to learn from one of the best
defensive-minded coaches in the league.
Previous Pick: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
1.29 Kansas City Chiefs - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Chiefs got this pick by trading away CB Trent McDuffie, and
they’ll need to replace him. Terrell is a player who consistently
made plays in college, but they rarely turned into interceptions.
He’s also willing to attack in the run game. He’s a player who has
CB1 upside, and he can slide into the starting lineup for Kansas
City early in the season.
Previous Pick: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson (Los Angeles Rams)
1.30 Miami Dolphins - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Dolphins are in a complete rebuild, and they traded away Jaylen
Waddle. They need to revamp their wide receiver room, and that starts
here. Boston found plenty of success in the NCAA, and he has the
ability to become a WR1 in the NFL. He’ll immediately pair well
with Willis, and this would be an ideal spot for Miami to find Waddle’s
replacement.
Previous Pick: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia (Denver Broncos)
1.31
New England Patriots - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Banks is a player who can eat up a ton of space. He can control
the line of scrimmage, and he comes with elite size. New England
doesn’t have a ton of holes throughout their roster, but they could
use help along the defensive line.
Previous Pick: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
1.32 Seattle Seahawks - Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
The Seahawks could lose some of their cornerbacks to free agency,
and they can replace them here. Cisse’s going to be a bit of a project,
but he comes with elite athleticism. The Seahawks are a team that
can bet on development and upside, and Cisse comes with as high
a ceiling as any corner in this draft. He just also comes with drastically
more risk.
Predict the top ten picks of the NFL Draft
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