Is it almost May already? That means it’s mock draft season, baby!
Using my patented (not actually patented) consensus big board, I’m joining the ranks of millions of other armchair GMs and showing exactly why we aren’t working in an NFL front office.
1) Carolina Panthers (from Chicago): Bryce Young, QB (Alabama)
The Panthers move up and get their guy.
2) Houston Texans: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE (Alabama)
I don’t know what to believe and/or how much of this is smoke, but I’m really starting the buy the hype that Houston is going to roll the dice and wait on a QB.
3) Tennessee Titans (TRADE from Arizona Cardinals): C.J. Stroud, QB (OSU)
The Colts try to move up one spot but fail to prevent another team from leaping them and stealing their guy (*cough* Tennessee *cough*).
4) Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB (Florida)
The Colts don’t get the guy they want, but the guy they need.
5) Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): Jalen Carter, IDL (Georgia)
The Seahawks get possibly the best player in the draft by taking a chance on his character concerns.
6) Detroit Lions (from L.A. Rams): Devon Witherspoon, CB (Illinois)
The Lions don’t really have much of a long-term answer at CB, until now.
7) Las Vegas Raiders: Christian Gonzalez, CB (Oregon)
Any of the available players would be an upgrade, but upgrading the secondary would be the most impactful.
8) Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB (Texas)
I don’t know what NFL GMs think about spending a high pick on a running back, but if Bijan lives up to the hype, it doesn’t really matter what we think of this pick at the time.
9) Chicago Bears (from Carolina): Peter Skoronski, OT (N’western)
Local kid bolsters the O-line at any position.
10) Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): Tyree Wilson, EDGE (Texas Tech)
As much as I want to manifest Bijan to the Eagles, their history of drafting trenches in the first makes me believe they will get Graham’s replacement.
11) Arizona Cardinals (TRADE from Tennessee Titans): Paris Johnson Jr., OT (OSU)
Arizona basically gets the guy they would have taken at #3 and a boatload of picks to boot.
12) Houston Texans (from Cleveland): Will Levis, QB (Kentucky)
The Texans bet on themselves and they somehow manage to come away with a QB at the end of the day.
13) Green Bay Packers* (from N.Y. Jets): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR (OSU)
The Rodgers era has come to an end and every young QB’s best friend is a safety net.
14) New England Patriots: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE (Iowa)
The Pats are in a tough spot in a brutal division and could go in many different directions here, but I think they could use an upgrade across from Judon.
15) New York Jets* (from Green Bay): Broderick Jones, OT (Georgia)
The Jets need to protect their new investment.
16) Washington Commanders: Joey Porter Jr., CB (PSU)
It feels a little high to draft Hooker here, and CB is their next biggest need.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers: Darnell Wright, OT (Tenn)
As much as drafting Joey Porter Jr. would be a feel good story, protecting Kenny P would make him feel even better.
18) Detroit Lions: Quentin Johnston, WR (TCU)
The Lions grab another weapon for Goff, hopefully this one can stay off DraftKings.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nolan Smith, EDGE (Georgia)
Tampa needs a lot of things, but taking a BPA pass rusher might be a good start.
20) Seattle Seahawks: Deonte Banks, CB (Maryland)
The Seahawks stay on defense and beef up the secondary.
21) Los Angeles Chargers: Myles Murphy, EDGE (Clemson)
As much as the Chargers could use another offensive weapon, Murphy is just too damn good to pass up.
22) Baltimore Ravens: Calijah Kancey, IDL (Pitt)
I’ve spent a lot of time giving this some thought: The Ravens are going to ultimately re-sign Peters, Lamar plays on the tag and then the only real immediate need is the interior of the defensive line.
23) Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR (USC)
The Vikings really do need a WR to replace Thelian; By hook or by crook they need to get one in the first 2 rounds.
24) Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Branch, S (Alabama)
Branch is super talented, but projects to be a nickel more than a safety, which is perfectly fine for the Jags, who could use either.
25) New York Giants: O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL (Florida)
The Giants don’t have a ton of needs, so beefing up the interior of the line is worth a first.
26) Dallas Cowboys: Michael Mayer, TE (Notre Dame)
Mayer has been compared to Jason Witten; He isn’t the most physically gifted player, but he blocks well and gets open.
27) Buffalo Bills: Zay Flowers, WR (Boston College)
I’m assuming they don’t get D-Hop, so they instead draft their own version of Tyreek Hill.
28) Cincinnati Bengals: Dalton Kincaid, TE (Utah)
The Bengals have an embarrassment of riches on offense and the rich get richer.
29) New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco through Miami and Denver): Bryan Bresee, IDL (Clemson)
The Saints could use any help they can get on the defensive line and it just so happens that one falls into their lap.
30) Mystery Team???? (TRADE with Philadelphia Eagles): Hendon Hooker, QB (Tenn)
I don’t know who it will be exactly (Washington? Minnesota? Vegas? Tampa Bay?), but someone will want that 5th year option and the Eagles aren’t desperate.
31) Kansas City Chiefs: Anton Harrison, OT (Oklahoma)
The Chiefs lost a couple of offensive tackles this off-season, so replacing them should be at the top of the list.
Ice Analytics 