psteezie
|
PRE-DRAFT: - CLE trades Myles Garrett to WAS for 2025 1st rd pick (#29) & 2026 2nd rd pick. WAS also acquires and cuts QB Deshaun Watson (which lowers the overall cost of Garrett).
130 Page Views |
0 Comments
|
Round 1
Browns:
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas 
(from WAS in Myles Garrett trade)
So what do the Browns do with this pick acquired in the Myles Garrett deal? The choice (unfairly) will always be associated with Garrett. After picking up Abdul Carter at #2, the Browns get an offensive weapon for whoever's under center in 2025 and beyond.
Titans:
Cam Ward, QB, Miami 
Does Tennessee believe Cam Ward is the best player available? Maybe not, but they're not dropping to #6 and losing out on a franchise cornerstone. I don't think the Giants trade up to #1 - they're more likely to panic trade to #2 if the Titans draft a QB.
Browns:
Abdul Carter, OLB, Penn State 
While the Browns could drop to #3 if this situation occurs, I don't think they'll take a chance on their heir apparent to Myles Garrett going anywhere but Cleveland. They're more likely to take a flier on Russell Wilson or Zach Wilson and aim for Arch Manning in 2026.
Giants:
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado 
Am I convinced Shedeur is the future at QB for the Giants? Not entirely - but Daboll and Schoen are drafting for their jobs, and that means QB at #3 overall. If they opt for Darnold in free agency, I'd fully expect a trade down here for a 1st round OT and an extra 2nd rd pick.
Patriots:
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
I don't think Travis Hunter to NE is a slam dunk, simply because the Patriots have more glaring holes elsewhere. An OT, WR or edge rusher makes more sense - but ultimately, no prospects in this class at those positions match up to Hunter. And with Ward & Sanders gone, nobody's trading up here.
Bears:
Will Campbell, OT, LSU 
TRADE! CHI gets #5 & #106 picks, 2025 draft
JAX gets #10 & #41 picks, 2025 draft
Chicago cannot leave this draft without a stud OT, and they trade up for the best one. Jacksonville can drop to 10, get a CB or DT (however the draft falls), and pick up a high 2nd rounder in the process.
Jaguars:
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan 
(from CHI in trade for #5 pick)
Grant is a mammoth of a man at 6'5", 335 lbs. He's slotted as a late 1st rounder right now, but I expect him to fly up draft boards as the pre-draft process continues. This ends up being a good trade down for Jacksonville.
Raiders:
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The best pure cover corner in the draft class heads to the Raiders. A flashy pick? No. But Tom Brady's around now, and I expect less dumb drafting from LV moving forward. Plus, don't discredit the chances Tom takes a Michigan man.
Jets:
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The best DT in the draft rejuvenates a Jets front four that looked shockingly sluggish last season. If he drops to #7, I expect Gang Green to rush to the podium with their envelope.
Panthers:
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona 
A bit high on McMillan here, but he checks all the boxes for what Bryce Young needs at WR right now - big body, possession heavy, and a strong red zone target. Carolina could also opt for Mykel Williams, but there are some quality edge rushers early in Round 2.
Saints:
Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia 
Unlike their NFC South rivals, the Saints don't wait to draft a premium edge rusher in Mykel Williams. 6'5", 265 lbs. and a good motor all fit the prescription to improve New Orleans' front seven.
Broncos:
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State 
TRADE! DEN gets #11 pick, 2025 draft
SF gets #20 & #51 picks, 2025 draft
The real shock of this mock draft. Denver leapfrogs Dallas (the 1 team they HAVE to jump) to get Ashton Jeanty, the stud RB to complement Bo Nix's development. The 49ers can get a quality OT at #20 and pick up a valuable pick at #51 (WR there?).
49ers:
Armand Membou, OT, Missouri 
(from DEN in trade for #11 pick)
Huge score for SF here, in my opinion. Membou's mocked to SF at #11 in many current mock drafts, but #20 feels like the right asking price. The heir apparent for Trent Williams (SF hopes) lands in the Bay area.
Cowboys:
Kelvin Banks, OT/G, Texas
The Cowboys are stunned to miss out on Jeanty in this mock, but the "consolation prize" might be the most versatile OL prospect in the draft. Dallas needs an heir apparent to Zack Martin, and Kelvin Banks can easily start at guard Week 1.
Dolphins:
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The mock drafts putting Tyler Warren in Miami are overlooking a far more glaring need at safety. Malaki Starks to Miami is one of my favorite player-to-team fits in the entire draft, and the Dolphins would love seeing a top-10 talent fall to #13 due to the position he plays.
Colts:
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Like Starks to Miami, Warren to Indy is a killer fit. With this pick, the Colts quietly assemble a pretty scary offensive skill unit around Anthony Richardson (Warren, Jonathan Taylor, Pittman, Pierce, Mitchell, Downs) -- now can he take advantage of it?