USC

We should get word on whether or not Fields will be traded soon enough, as Ryan Poles has told the press that he would move the former Buckeye sooner rather than later, if he's moved, "out of respect" to him and so it happens before free agency. Logically, it just makes too much sense to take the better QB prospect in Williams, not just because he represents higher upside as a passer (and one who also has mobility), but because of the cap economics of having a rookie QB in year one. If you pass on Williams, you're essentially committing yourself to paying Fields long-term, and Williams for cheap for 4 years vs. paying Fields, well, that should be an easy call.

Plus, luckily for Chicago, Fields has shown enough that other desperate teams will take a shot on him, and it's likely that the Bears can get something like a 2nd and a 4th Round pick for him.

LSU

Washington is extremely likely to take a QB (sorry, Sam Howell!), and I'm going to guess that Daniels' skill-set is a better fit for what new OC Kliff Kingsbury wants to do, as opposed to Drake Maye. I also find it curious that Daniels, like Williams, will not throw at the Combine, which suggests to me that he thinks he's the QB2 (or that Washington has told him he's their guy if Williams isn't available) because, well, not throwing suggests that he doesn't feel he has anything to gain.

North Carolina

Our first inflection point has arrived. As I see it, New England has three options: pick the QB3 of the draft, pick Harrison Jr, or trade down. You can certainly make logical arguments for all 3 potential courses of action. I'm settling on Maye, at least for now, because of my belief that you're just spinning your wheels in the AFC if you don't have a potential franchise QB, one with upside. It appears that Eliot Wolf, the son of legendary exec Ron Wolf, is calling the shots as it relates to the draft, and Wolf oversaw a period in Green Bay with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers back to back. Despite the fact that Harrison has a significantly lower chance to bust than any QB, the positional value here could dictate that Maye would be the pick.

Ohio State

Oh sure, maybe the Cards would listen to trade overtures for a few minutes on the clock, but this would be the home run, dream pick. If the draft goes QB-QB-QB at the top, this one should be a no-brainer.

LSU

Like the Pats at #3, I see 3 logical scenarios for the Bolts here: pick players from one of 2 positions (in this case, WR or OL), or trade down because of holes on the roster. Like the Pats, we have a new regime or decision-maker calling the shots in the draft and with personnel. It's unclear whether new coach Jim Harbaugh or new GM Joe Hortiz has final say, but you'd have to imagine that Harbaugh's input will hold huge sway no matter what. I was thinking that because of that, OL was the most likely pick, but the more I think about it, Nabers would represent the best long-term play for helping Justin Herbert, and Hortiz comes from an organization that employs a BPA approach to the draft. So that's the guess for the moment.

Washington

The size-speed combo of Odunze could get him drafted ahead of Nabers, and in this case, the Giants simply do not have a player of his caliber in their WR room. (They have about a million smallish slot WR's, it seems.) I see this as a bit early for McCarthy, but that wouldn't stun me, either.

Notre Dame

This seems to be the chalk here, and if the top 3 WR's are off the board, it's a very strong bet that the Titans could go OL for the second consecutive year in the 1st. They would hope that Alt and Skoronski can form a strong left side of the line for years to come.

Michigan

TRADE! Denver sends a 2025 2nd Round pick, along with #12 overall this year, for #8.

First off, my guess is that it's Atlanta that ends up with Fields, and that they give up a 4th this year and a 2nd next year for him. Meanwhile, of all the teams that need an obvious QB upgrade, it's Denver that, in my view, couldn't be players for a free agent like Kirk Cousins because of the huge dead cap hit that they are going to have to absorb on Russell Wilson. And so, to me, they are in the most desperate position of needing to land a rookie. McCarthy seems to be the clear QB4 at the moment due to his youth and traits, despite a much lower passing volume than, say, what Penix or Nix have put on tape.

Alabama

With its own pick after Carolina so generously gave them Caleb Williams, I think the Bears would be looking at either Odunze or Nabers if they happened to fall here. That hasn't happened, so it could make a lot of sense to beef up the pass rush. Yes, the pass rush was much better after the acquisition (and subsequent extension) of Montez Sweat, but it was still bottom-third in the league after they got him. With an ascending defense overall, adding the first pass rusher off the board could be the way to go. This could also be a trade down spot for Chicago, as they don't currently have a 2nd Round pick.

Penn State

This almost HAS to be an OL upfront. You're all-in with Aaron Rodgers, and for him to have any chance, he has to be better protected. Fashanu's 2023 was considered uneven, so if it's not him in this spot, it should be another hog mollie.

Alabama

Taking the first CB could be appealing to the Vikings here, and this is under the assumption that Cousins re-signs. I realize that even if this happens, they could be in play for a QB like McCarthy. But getting back to Arnold, if he's a quality corner right out of the gate, it could allow DC Brian Flores the ability to blitz a bit more. And we know he loves to do that.

Florida State

TRADE! (See details at #8 overall.)

So the Falcons have made the trade for Fields, and also the move down to recoup some draft capital from Denver next year. Verse could go ahead of Latu because of the latter's possible medical concerns. Perhaps we will get some info on that in the coming week or two.

Oregon State

Fuaga would really help the Raiders at RT, which is where I believe he can and should stay as a pro. No, I don't know what the Raiders are going to do at QB, but perhaps they can be a candidate to pick Nix or Penix in the 2nd Round. I believe this would be far too early for either of those QB's.

Texas

The Saints still have a competitive defense but their DL group is becoming a concern, and stalwart Cam Jordan is past his prime. Murphy isn't an edge rusher, but he has big-time upside.

Georgia

Bowers is obviously going a bit higher in many mocks, but I have concerns that he could slip a little bit. He looks slightly built for a TE, though of course he has good speed and his tape speaks for itself. If he lasted here, he could be a mismatch weapon for Anthony Richardson.

Oregon

Powers-Johnson had a dominant Senior Bowl week, and he may be the best interior iOL of the draft. Seattle has its tackle spots settled but needs help in the middle.