Love the Thomas fit with the Rams after a trade down. I've toyed with this idea myself, but in my mock I have them moving up instead for Barron (at 15 with Atlanta). But yeah, moving down for yet another Florida St. defender is absolutely something that is logical for them.
I do think you have Zabel and Hairston much too low. I think Zabel is a 1st Round lock. Just a plug-and-play guard starter after a dominant Senior Bowl week, and with so many teams needing iOL help after Seattle at 18 (if he gets by them), I just can't see him lasting into the 2nd. As for Hairston, maybe he could fall out of the 1st because he doesn't have ideal size for an outside corner, but with that 40 time, I just don't see him lasting almost until pick #50. We'll see!
I really appreciate this mock, and not just because we do have several matches through 2 rounds, ha. I don't agree with you on Arizona taking a WR (Golden) at #16, though. McBride and Harrison are going to be high-volume targets, and they need to get Harrison going more in 2025 than they did in his rookie year. They have major issues on the OL (iOL in particular, and RT Jonah Williams is aging, injury-prone, and has void years left after this one), not to mention at CB (apart from Garrett Williams). Barron is neck-and-neck with Johnson to go as the first CB (obviously not including Hunter), and he was available in your mock. Personally, I'd see Barron, a preferred OL, or even Jihaad Campbell as much more likely in this spot.
Also agree with Mr. Bitter about the 49ers. They take LB later, and tend to value length in their DL players. Think Shemar Stewart, Mykel Williams, or Kenneth Grant, I think, if they go with DL at 11. Campbell or Membou (if they fall) would be great picks there as well, or maybe even Banks, though my gut is that John Lynch would go with Stewart or Williams over Banks.
Thought the same thing about ARI/Golden. Don't mind Golden in that range, but a 1st RD investment on a distant 3rd receiving option seems a luxury ARI can't afford.
I'd add ILB to that ARI needs list. Obviously not a premium position, but Gannon's PHI-inspired scheme really needs a Zack Baun-type playmaker to click. ARI currently has journeymen Mack Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither at ILB and don't seem to be making much of an effort to re-sign Kyzir White. Jihaad Campbell or Jalon Walker would make a lot of sense for ARI.
Love this mock and love the trades. I'm currently working on my mock and have the same exact NE/LV trade. It just makes so much sense; sure, LV has the worst RB room in the NFL and Jeanty would be a great fit, but they also desperately need a CB1 and a big-play receiver to complement Bowers and Meyers. Hunter could provide both. I love Jeanty, but he loses that "value" debate every time.
From NE's side, they have Christian Gonzalez, signed Carlton Davis to a nice bag and even have big-play-CB-that-moonlights-as-a-WR Marcus Jones, so I'm not sure where Hunter fits for the Pats unless they value him at 1.04 purely as a WR. Doubtful.
A potential monkey wrench in the NE/LV trade scenario is NE signing Tyron Smith. The Pats still have mucho cap space and haven't been shy about handing out bags to older/injury-prone vets (Davis, Harold Landry, Morgan Moses) to spackle need positions during free agency.
Love the WAS/Ezeiruaka pick. Dan Quinn still doesn't have his all-important LEO, and 1.29 is right about where one of this draft's custom-built LEOs (Ezeiruaka/Mike Green/James Pearce) should still be available. WAS should be able to stick 'n' pick and get excellent value.
Gotta push back on SF/Walker. I don't see how this isn't a trench-heavy draft for the 49ers. The D-line is just Bosa and tumbleweeds, while the O-line needs a LG now and likely two OTs by 2026. SF is excellent at finding LB value on Day 2/3, and their last 1st RD LB (R. Foster) burnt them to a crisp. In your scenario, I think it would be Mykel Williams or Kelvin Banks for SF. Banks in particular would fit SF's MO of drafting with an eye a year or two into the future (Pearsall in preparation for Deebo's exit, etc.). The 'Niners could plop Banks in at LG this season then kick him out to LT as soon as Trent Williams goes completely off the cliff. That's serious value at 1.11.
Nitpick: Not sure about PIT/O. Hampton. They re-signed Warren and picked up Gainwell, so a 1st-rounder on a bruising complement in a RBBC seems rich. I gotta think they learned their lesson with Najee Harris. In your scenario, I have to think PIT would be all over Kenneth Grant. The way their run-defense was pummeled last season can't be sitting well in PIT. They want to move Keeanu Benton off the nose, so Grant's presence would essentially upgrade two positions.
(BTW, I still think Russ could re-sign with PIT. Heavy-package, 2-TE sets with a couple of moon ball-magnet WRs on the boundaries...the offensive seems designed for Russ, not Rodgers. Rodgers can't move at all anymore and was hesitant to push the ball downfield last season.)
Last thing: I think CLE could easily Shedeur Sanders. I'm not a huge fan of Sanders as a top-5 value, but I'm not sure why I'm seeing so many mocks that have Carter or Hunter going to CLE, then turning right around and giving Sanders to the Giants as a "no-brainer". If Sanders is a no-brainer for the Giants, why wouldn't he be a no-brainer for the Browns? CLE's QB depth chart is just Kenny Pickett, and their cap situation probably makes a rookie the only affordable QB option.
@Mr. Bitter Appreciate the feedback. I think the LV/NE trade is very likely - whether the Pats want OT or a skill position player, they'll still get the guy they want at #6, and LV would benefit more from Hunter than Jeanty in terms of elevating the team in multiple ways.
I do see the Jalon Walker argument - Mykel Williams was the other option I considered for SF.
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Love the Thomas fit with the Rams after a trade down. I've toyed with this idea myself, but in my mock I have them moving up instead for Barron (at 15 with Atlanta). But yeah, moving down for yet another Florida St. defender is absolutely something that is logical for them.
I do think you have Zabel and Hairston much too low. I think Zabel is a 1st Round lock. Just a plug-and-play guard starter after a dominant Senior Bowl week, and with so many teams needing iOL help after Seattle at 18 (if he gets by them), I just can't see him lasting into the 2nd. As for Hairston, maybe he could fall out of the 1st because he doesn't have ideal size for an outside corner, but with that 40 time, I just don't see him lasting almost until pick #50. We'll see!