This year’s draft contains a huge need for arguably the most important position on the field. All the “lottery” picks are in contention for their next game manager, field general, captain of the offense, or most commonly known as the quarterback. SoCal’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr, Oregon’s Bo Nix, and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy are this year’s featured QBs and likely in a year or 2 will be handed the keys to the team. Outside of the quarterbacks, wide receiver and offensive tackle are two positions of need. OSU’s Marvin Harrison is getting comparisons to all-time great Calvin “Megatron” Johnson; while LSU’s Malik Nabers, Washington’s Rome Odunze, and FSU’s Keon Coleman are getting high praises of their own. Notre Dame’s Joe Alt and PSU’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu lead the offensive linemen. With the top needs and players in mind, here is my mock draft before the combine.
Mock Draft #1: Commanders Shock the World
Trade details:
Washington receives Pick 1.1 from Chicago in return for picks 1.2 and 2.36
Chicago receives pick 1.3 from New England in return for pick 1.9 and QB Justin Fields
Jaguars receive pick 1.14 from New Orleans in return for picks 1.17, 3.96, and 5.151
Buffalo receives pick 1.23 from Houston in return for picks 1.28 and 3.99
#1: Washington Commanders – Caleb Williams, QB, University of Southern California (Trade with Chicago)
Washington trades up to get the quarterback who is said to be “the best QB prospect since Trevor Lawrence.” Some GMs are hesitant about drafting Williams due to “attitude issues” but no one should be scared of Caleb, he’ll be a franchise QB in this league.
#2: Chicago Bears- Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, OSU (Trade with Washington)
Chicago trades down and gets Harrison is being compared to NFL great Calvin Johnson which gives him big shoes to fill. His father was a six-time All-Pro giving Harrison huge expectations to live up to. However, he can handle it, Harrison was an absolute MONSTER at OSU and should produce in the NFL. Harrison is the best player in this draft in my opinion.
#3: Chicago Bears- Drake Maye, QB, UNC (Trade with New England)
After dealing Justin Fields to New England to move up in the draft, the Bears take what they hope to be the QB of the future in Drake Maye. The Bears are still yet to have found a franchise QB in their organization’s history so this is a crucial draft for Chicago. Remember what happened last time the Bears took a QB from UNC in the first?…
#4: Arizona Cardinals- Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Hollywood Brown is not fit to be the WR1 in this Arizona offense, and Malik Nabers without a doubt has the potential to be the star wideout for Kyler Murray. Nabers, who in my opinion was robbed of the Biletnikoff Award this past season, put up huge numbers in a successful LSU offense. While I think Harrison is the best pass catcher by a mile in this draft, Nabers is easily worth a top-five pick if Marv is off the board.
#5: Los Angeles Chargers- Brock Bowers, TE, UGA
Brock Bowers is the most complete tight-end prospect we have seen in YEARS. The number one option for both recent Georgia Natty-winning teams, Bowers will immediately become a weapon that Justin Herbert needs with the possible trade rumors of Keenan Allen and frequent injuries suffered by the Chargers offense.
#6: New York Giants- Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
This is a tossup for me; I feel as if athletically Fashanu has more upside, but I have no preference between him or Alt. The Giants’s offensive line is repulsive outside of star LT Andrew Thomas. Both he and Alt are left tackles, so whichever one could make the switch to right tackle will get picked here.
#7: Tennesee Titans- Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Same with Fashanu, whoever is taken first, the other will be drafted one pick later.
#8: Atlanta Falcons- Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Atlanta sits at eight and gets the QB they wanted. Desmond Ridder unfortunately is not the answer for the Falcons and with all the offensive talent. He’s the definition of a dual-threat QB but needs to learn how to get down. Daniels tends to have a fumble problem which he needs to figure out before he meets harder hitters in the NFL. Atlanta gets a steal in the reigning Heisman winner.
#9: New England Patriots- Rome Odunze, WR, Washington (Trade with Chicago)
The Belichick era is over. After acquiring QB Justin Fields as a trial QB, the Patriots will look for a weapon, and Rome Odunze is just that. Odunze was an absolute STUD at Washington and was a huge part of the success of his pass-thrower Michael Penix Jr.
#10: New York Jets- JC Latham, OT, Alabama
The Jets are desperate for a tackle. Aaron Rodgers can’t end his season on the first drive again. This pick makes sense, Latham is a beast.
#11: Minnesota Vikings- Michael Penix Jr, QB, Washington
Kirk is getting old and after another season-ending knee injury, it is time for the Vikings to search for his replacement. Unfortunately for them, the best QB on the board is not getting any younger. Penix is twenty-four years old, a super-senior, and has suffered two separate ACL tears. Penix is good, but his longevity scares me.
#12: Denver Broncos- J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Tall, white QB, exactly what John Elway likes. Bonifide BUST!
#13: Las Vegas Raiders- Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
McKinstry is as good as his name is cool. Being the star DB 0ut of the university who is in the argument for “DBU,” he’ll be the first corner off the draft board.
#14: Jacksonville Jaguars- Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson (Trade with New Orleans)
While yes, I’m slightly biased, I think Nate Wiggins is the best corner in this draft. I watch every Clemson game and can confidently tell you this guy is the real deal. He has the chase-down speed and ball-tracking skill set needed to compete against the best wideouts in the league. The Jags will love Wiggins.
#15: Indianapolis Colts- Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
I have no idea how he falls this far, but Dallas Turner is gonna be a problem. Very physical pass rusher with good run-stopping instincts. Pray for NFL QBs in two to three years.
#16: Seattle Seahawks- Jared Verse, EDGE, FSU
Another guy who is a huge problem for opposing QBs, RBs, and OTs. Verse was the captain of that nasty FSU defense and gave every team he played problems. Verse could very well end up being the best defensive player in this draft.
#17: New Orleans Saints- Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA (Trade with Jacksonville)
As of right now, I am pretty unfamiliar with Latu’s game, but statistically speaking he was a monster at UCLA. With Cameron Jordan getting older, it might be good to find his replacement sooner than later.
#18: Cincinnati Bengals- Keon Coleman, WR, FSU
Coleman was a beast at MSU and broke out at FSU. He decimated LSU’s defense and only had problems against one corner this season, that being Nate Wiggins…
#19: Los Angeles Rams- Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
I LOVE Cooper DeJean. DeJean has an incredibly high motor, high football IQ, first guy in, last guy out mentality, heaps of grit, sneaky athletic, overall very cerebral, a technician of his craft, has a desire to get better, workmanlike attitude, and just very fundamentally sound. DeJean has the chance to be the first ever white cornerback to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. Cooper DeJean is a trailblazer.
#20: Pittsburgh Steelers- Amarius Mims, OT, UGA
They took a tackle out of Georgia last year, and they do it again this year. Pickett needs the protection and Mims is the best guy available for that.
#21: Miami Dolphins- Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
If Tua wants to stay in the league, they need another tackle. Their offensive line was all over the place.
#22: Philidelphia Eagles- Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Eagles’ secondary is horrendous so this is the only reasonable fit for the Eagles at 22. Reid Blankenship can not do all the work.
#23: Buffalo Bills- Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU (Trade with Houston)
It seems as if Stefon Diggs’s time is up in Buffalo, and the Bills are looking to move him this offseason. Brian Thomas was a great WR2 alongside Malik Nabers and should be a sneaky late 1st-round guy in this draft.
#24: Dallas Cowboys- Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Big body. Cowboys D tackles need the upgrade.
#25: Green Bay Packers- Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Bahktiari is past his prime, time to upgrade the second most important position on the offense.
#26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Bralen Trice was a key piece for Washington’s run in which they ultimately fell short of the National Championship. Trice is an elite pass rusher and would be an outstanding fit in Todd Bowles’s defense.
#27: Arizona Cardinals- Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Cardinals got their future star WR with their first pick, then immediately turned around and took a player on the other side of the ball in Quinyon Mitchell. The Cardinals’ defense was lackluster, to say the least, and Mitchell will be a huge bolster for it.
#28: Houston Texans- Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon (Trade with Buffalo)
Speed. CJ Stroud deep ball. Goodbye.
#29: Detroit Lions- Kamari Lassiter, CB, UGA
Lions need secondary players desperately and Lassiter could be a steal.
#30: Baltimore Ravens- Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Mitchell is a DAWG and Lamar will benefit from the addition of him heavily.
#31: Kansas City Chiefs- Xavier Legette, WR, University of South Carolina
While he has a second-round draft grade, I think the combine will help Legette become a first-round pick. Legette was outstanding all season until he faced a huge problem in the Palmetto Bowl. NATHANIEL WIGGINS……………..
#32: San Francisco 49ers- Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Not much this 49ers team needs, I expect them to win the superbowl then immediately reload. Do not be surprised if they end up trading back and not drafting in the first at all.
