USC

It's the Caleb Williams' Era in Chicago. No analysis. This will be the pick.

LSU

The "Commanders" like both Maye and Daniels. I have gone back and forth here but Peters will make the pick and I think the staff prefers Daniels to Maye. While Peters wants a Purdy type of player (JJ McCarthy/Drake Maye) the infrastructure isn't in place for that to take place like it was in San Fran.

The "Commanders" take Daniels to open up the offense under Kliff Kingsbury and build toward the future.

North Carolina

The Pats will have calls from the Giants and Vikings to acquire Drake Maye, who is both of their preferred targets, but ultimately the Pats cannot pass on a rookie signal caller as they enter a full rebuild under a rookie contract.

Maye is my QB #2 in front of Daniels. The rushing ability of Daniels breaks the tie for most but Maye is a sneaky athlete too and throws over the middle better than Daniels, which is more common in the NFL game than the college game. All 3 QBs seem poised to become solid players, you really can't go wrong unless you start getting in Penix, Nix, or McCarthy.......

Ohio State

I think the biggest shock of the draft will be the trade that doesn't happen.

Rumors are flying that the Cardinals and Vikings have a deal in place for #4 assuming the board falls the way the Vikings prefer. However, I think Minnesota has to have some intelligence in the front office.

If Maye falls to 4, I think the trade goes through. Minnesota trades #11, #23, #167, and a 2nd and 4th in 2025 to Arizona. Minnesota wouldn't be penalized for taking a swing on Maye.

However, to move all this for JJ McCarthy just seems asinine. You are talking about giving up 2-1's, a 4th, and a 2nd and a 4th in 25' for a player that wasn't a first round pick a month ago? This is on top of the fact that Minnesota does not have a 2nd or 3rd this year. Are they really gonna take McCarthy and then stall until the 4th round and sacrifice a 2nd and 4th next year? Do they really believe JJ McCarthy takes them over the top when they have defensive needs to be addressed? I don't.

I just do not believe Minnesota is that dumb to tie their fate to JJ McCarthy. Minnesota needs to build their roster to compete with Green Bay, Detroit, and Chicago, not deplete it by trading the farm for a 2nd round QB at #4. Sam Darnold is still only 26 and has offensive weapons (Jefferson, Addison, Hockenson, and Jones) to be successful and still build the defense.

For what it is worth, I have McCarthy as QB 5 behind Nix and in front of Penix.

That being said, if the board falls this way. Arizona will have a tough time moving this pick if Minnesota backs out. The Giants, Broncos, or Raiders could move up but the price might be too steep for McCarthy. That doesn't matter because Arizona can stay pat and draft the #1 overall player in the draft at number 4 in Marvin Harrison Jr.

Not only does Marvin Harrison Jr. fill the BPA mantra but he also fills a huge need in Arizona. Since the Cardinals are all in on Kyler Murray, they can provide a true number 1 for him and still have #27 to address the holes at CB and EDGE.

LSU

I believe the Chargers want Nabers or Alt, if Marvin Harrison Jr. is off the board.

Trading 5 may be what they want to do but someone has to move up. The Giants know the Chargers won't take McCarthy and the Broncos and Raiders are division rivals.

I can see Harbaugh developing a team similar to San Fran and Michigan predicated on running the ball and winning in the trenches. I also see ownership and the fans desperate for a #1 WR for their newly extended young franchise QB.

I think ownership wins out. You have to put fans in the seats and drafting a middle of the road NFL tackle at 5, doesn't move the needle. Nabers instantly becomes the team's #1 WR and brings the big play to LA, opposite 23-1st round (bust?) Quentin Johnson and Josh Palmer.

While Alt will be a solid OT for years to come (think Jake Matthews), you can not pass on a #1 WR in today's NFL, especially when your current WR core is as bare as it gets. Give Herbert the tools when you can and build the line through the middle of this deep draft.

Washington

The Giants lost out on Harrison and Nabers but now have Odunze and McCarthy on the board. Drew Lock is a serviceable back up and the Giants are financially tied to Jones this year. Are they really going to bail after giving him a huge contract and him getting injured early? I don't think so. Especially since they have a young functional QB behind him. Instead, they choose to give Jones a default #1 WR after failing to move the pick, which is fine considering many believe Odunze is a top 5 talent.

I am in the minority on Rome Odunze. My comp for him was Mohamed Sanu. I just don't believe he is that elite guy at the next level. He is more of a team's #2 then a guy that can carry an NFL offenses such as a Jefferson, Chase, Hill, or Lamb.

Is he worthy of a first rounder? Absolutely. I just do not think he is at the level of Harrison or Nabers. He finds a nice situation in New York where he gets a shot to prove me wrong, and I hope he does.

Notre Dame

Does anyone have anything else mocked here? Alt just seems destined to land in Tennessee. This is a rebuilding team that needs to protect Will Levis. A solid and consistent LT at 7 does exactly that. I do not think he is going to be the best in the league but he will consistently hold down the spot and show up every week as Tennessee starts their rebuild.

Alabama

The Falcons sitting at 8 have a chance to take my #1 overall defensive player in the draft.

There is a lot of smoke that Atlanta could choose Latu over Turner, but I am not buying it. Latu is the best pure pass rusher in the draft but is a prototypical 4-3 DE, that is not what Atlanta is going to be under Raheem Morris' 3-4 scheme. The stat that continues to stick out is Morris dropped his Edge guys into coverage 344 times last year with the Rams. Turner had 286 drops at Alabama compared to Latu's 55 at UCLA. Turner is athletically superior too. He just fits Raheem Morris' defense better while still providing a pass rush.

He finally gives Atlanta an edge presence they have been missing for almost 10 years.

UCLA

Speaking of scheme fits, Latu lands in Chicago the very next pick in a much better situation.

Chicago is a 4 man front based team and needs an Edge outside of Montez Sweat. Latu fills the spot immediately and creates a nice duo in Chicago.

While the smoke says Byron Murphy, I do not think Ryan Poles will allow Eberflus to take Murphy at 9 after spending 2nd and 3rd round picks at DT last year. The Bears extended Cole Kmet and with the WR core brought in basically took themselves away from Brock Bowers as a need.

Georgia

The Jets decided to go all in on the win now model for 2024. Aaron Rodgers is in the last year of his 2 year deal and they signed two veteran tackles to ease the burden of selecting a rookie at 10. They want someone that can step in now and help the team. Brock Bowers does it all. He can block, leak, run, and create mismatches, something Aaron Rodgers never had at this position. Bowers makes too much sense for the current state of the Jets.

Michigan

Remember all that mess I talked about McCarthy at #4? It still is all true but the difference is that Minnesota does not give up the farm if they stay at 11 and take him (they also keep their 23rd overall pick).

The question is who comes up for him after the top 3 are gone?

Do the Broncos, who are in cap hell, trade their resources for him?

Do the Raiders, who have 2 functional QBs and prefer Penix, trade theirs?

We all have seen QB's fall and the fact of the matter is no one from 4-10 needs a QB except the Giants (tied to Daniel Jones financially and have a functional back up but need a #1 WR) and the Falcons (tied to Kirk Cousins for 2 years but need defensive help). I think McCarthy could slide to 11 should the board shake this way.

I just don't believe McCarthy is the guy to trade picks for. He falls in your lap, great but giving up multiple picks is just bad business. Minnesota exercises patience and gets a QB with minimal risk and keeping #23 for edge or CB. That is how you keep your job.

LSU

******TRADE********
Broncos trade #12 to the Bills for #28, #60, #128 and a 1st next year.

The first of three trades I have in this mock goes down at #12. There will be more but I'm not going to torture my brain with that.

The Broncos don't have a second round pick and want a QB for Sean Payton. While I think Zach Wilson could do pretty well in Denver (hide your wives and call your mom), Payton could be eyeing a guy that reminds him of Drew Brees (more on that later). At least moving down 16 slots nets the Broncos a 2nd and 4th round pick this year and a late 1st next.

The Bills are desperate for a starting X WR. Giving up a 2nd, 4th, and next years 1 does not hurt that bad for a team that BILLIVES they are still in their Super Bowl window (I don't think they are). Brain Thomas Jr. most likely won't be there at 28, so the Bills move up and get their guy.

Thomas is my ultimate boom or bust WR in this draft. He played in a friendly offense at LSU and had a Heisman QB with him. However, he has fantastic tools and size. He could be an elite NFL WR in 2-4 years or flame out like Corey Davis. The Bills have a need and will give him the opportunity.

Alabama

The Raiders are a QB wildcard in the draft but there is just no one worth moving up for unless you go to #3, which would cost at least 3 first round picks. They have functionality with Minshew and O'Connell right now and the front office is fine with that. They can play for Penix in round 2 or the end of round 1.

The next two needs are OT and CB. Luckily for the Raiders the top 2 CBs and OT 2 and 3 are still on the board. The decision is between Latham, Fashnau, Arnold, and Mitchell.

I had the Raiders taking a corner here the last month but think their mentality will change. Latham is starting to get the love he deserves and I think this is his floor. He immediately slides in the RT position for Vegas creating a solid tackle duo with Kolton Miller.

Penn State

The Saints are in cap hell and in tackle purgatory. Ramczyk is a All-Pro when healthy but is experiencing set backs from his surgery where he might not play this year or ever again. Penning has not made the growth that they need and may need to move to guard.

Fashanu can step in on the left side day 1 and move Penning inside or to the right. The Saints must go Tackle in round 1 to solve this issue.

Alabama

The Colts covet Brock Bowers. I do believe they will attempt to trade in front of or with the Jets to acquire him. However, in this mock they were unsuccessful. Instead, they address their other need of CB with the top ranked CB on the board, Terrion Arnold.

Arnold struggled early in his career at Alabama (see 21 Georgia game) but has certainly turned around his career. He is fantastic in man coverage while still solid in zone schemes. The Colts have to go best CB available if they whiff on Bowers as JuJu Brents and Dallis Flowers aren't at this level.

Toledo

*******TRADE**********
The Seahawks trade #16 to the Eagles for #22, #50, and #120.

The Eagles seem to have a target on acquiring Quinyon Mitchell and should the board fall this way, I think they can convince Seattle to move back 6 spots and take the best available guard at #22. Seattle is without a 2nd round pick and the Eagles have 2 (#50 and #53).

The Eagles could have sat pat and taken a lineman but they have been calling about moving up and their rumored target is Quinyon Mitchell. If the Colts and Raiders pass, I think the Eagles would jump at the chance to take him.

Mitchell has done everything you can do coming out of Toledo. He dominated MAC competition, the Senior Bowl, and the Pre-Draft process. I do not think he is as "raw" as some experts say. I think he will be a fantastic pro.