With the upcoming NFL Draft happening in 9 days, I decided to predict how the first round of the draft will go. (This will be a mock draft that has no trades.)
1. Carolina Panthers (from CHI): Alabama QB Bryce Young
Bryce Young is the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner and is known to be a natural leader. Young has height and size concerns but I believe that the Panthers will overlook that. Frank Reich gets his franchise QB.
2. Houston Texans: Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr.
I'm believing the reports that say the Texans do not love any QB prospect in this draft. They go with the safest pick in the draft with Anderson Jr.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Texas Tech EDGE Tyree Wilson
Tyree Wilson has physical tools that pop off the paper like his 86-inch wingspan. The Cardinals go with a dominant edge rusher with upside for a team that needs just about everything.
4. Indianapolis Colts: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
The revolving door of QBs for the Colts finally ends when they get their franchise guy with Stroud. Stroud is the type of QB Indianapolis would love to have and they snag him without moving up.
5. Seattle Seahawks: Georgia DT Jalen Carter
The Seahawks locked up their QB when they gave Geno Smith a new contract. They go with a defensive player that was on the same tier as Anderson Jr. before off-the-field concerns arose.
6. Detroit Lions: Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith
The Lions end up showing a sign of faith in their QB Jared Goff and picking Smith. He had a great combine and is a former highly-rated recruit. Detroit keeps making moves to get better and make a playoff push.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski
I would've originally had the Raiders going QB with this pick. The Raiders ended up getting Jimmy Garoppolo. They end up getting an offensive tackle that can play multiple positions. This pick is an attempt to bolster their offensive line that needs work.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Georgia OT Broderick Jones
The Falcons give help to Desmond Ridder, who they hope to be their franchise QB. They draft a high-upside athletic offensive tackle that has practiced or played against the best defenses in the country. The SEC run continues.
9. Chicago Bears (from CAR): Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr.
As we saw last season, Justin Fields is great, but he needed a lot of help on the offensive end. Whether it was wide receiver or offensive line help. The Bears got a true WR1 in D.J. Moore, and now give Justin Fields a former teammate and they fill a need.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from NO): Texas RB Bijan Robinson
RBs typically shouldn't be selected in the first round, but Robinson is an elite prospect and is the exception. The Eagles draft an RB in the first round for the first time since the 80s. A Miles Sanders replacement.
11. Tennessee Titans: Florida QB Anthony Richardson
After a disappointing season for a perennial playoff contender, they look for a QB to replace Ryan Tannehill. They get a high-upside QB who is athletic with highlights and measurables that pop off the screen.
12. Houston Texans (from CLE): Kentucky QB Will Levis
The Texans took a gamble by not taking a QB at two. They come back at 12 and get one of the top 4 QB prospects. They need a QB and get Levis, while with his struggles, he has the tools to be a franchise guy.
13. New York Jets: Tennessee OT Darnell Wright
The Jets need offensive line help, especially if Aaron Rodgers comes to town. Wright is a mauling tackle that played himself into the 1st round, especially his performance against Alabama and Will Anderson Jr.
14. New England Patriots: Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon
The Patriots missed the playoffs again, and end up going best player available. They get Witherspoon, a top talent in this draft, that could've gone way earlier in this draft.
15. Green Bay Packers: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The Packers get another young WR to create a tandem with Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Smith-Njigba is a great WR, and in my opinion, the clear WR1 in this class, even with speed concerns. There's a reason why Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave said he was the best WR in the room when they were all at Ohio State.
16. Washington Commanders: Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
Gonzalez has a case to be the best corner in the draft. Ron Rivera gets another piece for his defense with a speedy, and smart corner. Gonzalez is a pick that will bolster Washington's defense tomorrow.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.
Porter Jr. also has a case to be the best corner in the draft, as all these guys are neck and neck. Steelers get a cornerback that checks many boxes and has family ties as his dad Joey Porter Sr. also played for the Steelers.
18. Detroit Lions: Maryland CB Deonte Banks
Even though they already got defense with Nolan Smith, and loaded up on CB help this off-season, I could see them in the market for a corner. They still get a corner that can match up with NFL WRs and plays big, fluid, and physical.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Iowa EDGE Lukas Van Ness
I could see a QB here after Tom Brady retired, but they fill a need with an edge rusher. Van Ness is a polarizing prospect, with his position in this draft being a very wide range of outcomes. He lands with Tampa Bay fitting into Todd Bowles's defense.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
The Seahawks have a need at TE, even after getting Noah Fant in the Russell Wilson trade. They draft Mayer, a down-the-field threat that can also block. Mayer is a TE that can fit into an NFL offense and start Day 1.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs
With reports that Austin Ekeler wants out after not being able to secure a long-term deal. I could see LA taking an explosive RB in Gibbs to replace him. Gibbs is the 2nd best RB in this class and will be another weapon for Justin Herbert.
22. Baltimore Ravens: USC WR Jordan Addison
In a class that has no true WR1, Addison could make a case that he should have that title. He's not a big target but he showed in college that he's a dynamic playmaker and can win outside or in the slot. Ravens get Addison to hopefully entice Lamar Jackson to stay.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Boston College WR Zay Flowers
Flowers is an explosive receiver that shined in college even with quarterback play that was suspect at best. With the Vikings losing Adam Thielen to the Panthers, they draft his replacement and the WR2 alongside Justin Jefferson.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alabama DB Brian Branch
Branch can play anywhere in the secondary and he fills a huge need for the Jaguars. A no-brainer choice for the Jaguars.
25. New York Giants: TCU WR Quentin Johnston
The Giants have a huge need at WR and fill it with Johnston. Johnston is big and physical and can catch above defenders and make all the contested catches you would want your receiver to catch. A huge weapon for Daniel Jones.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Utah TE Dalton Kincaid
Kincaid can do it all at the TE position, a position that the Cowboys desperately needs to fill. I don't see the Cowboys going into the year with a group of TEs that only totaled 32 receptions last year. Kincaid gives the Cowboys a possible TE of the future.
27. Buffalo Bills: Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy
To compete with one of the greatest QBs of all time (Patrick Mahomes), you need to have a stellar defense. The Bills know this and add a young pass-rusher that could've gone higher to an already deep rotation.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Georgia TE Darnell Washington
The Bengals make it 3 first-round TEs as they pick Washington. A TE that can block and can be another weapon for Joe Burrow. Irv Smith Jr. is there but Washington can become the starter quickly and keep the job for a while.
29. New Orleans Saints (from SF): Clemson DT Bryan Bresee
Even though Bresee has had his ups and downs in terms of being on the field, he is a special talent. As a former 5-star recruit, he can put it together and be a problem in the NFL.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald IV
The Eagles love having talent in the trenches. They pick up an edge rusher that has first-round talent at pick 30.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt
The Chiefs get another weapon for Patrick Mahomes with Hyatt. Hyatt broke out as a junior and was a first-team All-American and winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award. Hyatt is the JuJu replacement for the Chiefs and will become a key part of the Chiefs' offense.
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