Ohio State

I.. love this pick. Tee Higgins is one of the biggest offseason questions the Bengals will have to answer this offseason, and in my mind, they could be content to let him go or trade him. This is especially true if they land Egbuka on draft night. Egbuka is a shifty route runner and an elite slot receiver, something Cincinnati has lacked for a long time, save for when Ja'Maar Chase has been lined up there. AS long as his 2023 leg injury shows no signs of hampering him (which it didn't in 2024), the Bengals have a #2 receiver at a fraction of the cost of franchise tagging or re-signing Tee Higgins.

Penn State

Seattle has the base of what you would like in a playoff contender. A solid running game, solid receivers, a decent offensive line and an excellent defensive line. The problem lies in a similar but upgraded fashion as Jacksonville, there is too much average on their team. Noah Fant has been average his entire career and 2024 was no exception with him averaging about 3 catches and 33 yards per game with only one touchdown. Seattle can afford to insert a star in the lineup in his place, ergo Tyler Warren. Warren was the obvious focal point of the Penn State offense in 2024 and yet teams still couldn't stop him. He's physical, an excellent route runner and completely willing blocker and will fit very nicely in this offense.

Ohio State

Tampa Bay has oddly experienced a resurgence under a maturing baker Mayfield. The offense is potent and the defense looks sharp. With a little more edgy-ness and a receiver to replace the unfortunate injury to Chris Godwin, this would be a team I'd hate to see in the playoffs. Jack Sawyer is one of my favorite players in this draft as he's shown an unstoppable motor, high football IQ and the versatility to rush the passer at an elite level. He tends to be a straight-line rusher so he will need to refine that quality a little bit in order to be the elite rusher Tampa needs.

Michigan

Denver has plenty to be excited about as the Sean Payton-Bo Nix era got off to a flying start. Nix showed maturity and smarts to begin his career and led Denver to a 10-7 season and a playoff berth. The most amazing thing to me is that every single loss they had in 2024, except for a brutal 41-10 beatdown by the Ravens, was by one score. Tis team is competitive and they are poised to take the next step. The Broncos need a tight end and if Tyler Warren didn't have a freakish 2024 season, Loveland would be at the top of the board. He has excellent athleticism and is a great blocker at both levels in the run game. He'll need to improve his focus as sometimes he can get caught looking to run before catching but otherwise, he could be a Pro Bowl caliber starter.

Missouri

Pittsburgh has been in the same place for over a decade. Their defense is excellent with generational talent, but their offense can't keep pace with the AFC elites. The difference is they've been passed up by Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore while New England and Indianapolis have faded. They need offensive firepower especially with the weird situation/effort levels that George Pickens has given. Luther Burden was once viewed as a top 5 talent for this draft, but his draft stock faded slightly with an average 2024 season. He's an incredibly elusive route runner and dynamic after the catch. Something the Steelers will definitely need with whoever commands the offense at quarterback in 2025.

North Carolina

The Chargers saw a predictable uptick in wins with the drafting of Joe Alt and the hiring of Jim Harbaugh as head coach. The Chargers defense improved their physicality and now the big question is can they take the next step and win some playoff games. Something they desperately need is a reliable starting running back, as the position was a revolving door in 2024 with the best flashes coming from the oft-injured J.K. Dobbins. Omarion Hampton is a back I feel like Harbaugh will salivate over as he is incredibly physical and has unbelievably balance. His betweeen the tackle rushing and 3 down capability will give Herbert a much needed breather from shouldering the offensive load.

East Carolina

The Packers have a lot to be excited about, with Jordan Love solidifying his place as the QB of the future and Josh Jacobs replacing Aaron Jones' production nicely. There are several offseason issues that must be addressed and at the forefront will be what happens with Jaire Alexander. Alexander carries a $25.5 million cap hit in 2025 and a $27.9 million cap hit in 2026. For a corner that has played in only played in 14 games over the past 2 season and 34 over the last 4, those are not enticing numbers for a team. I can see the Packers trading Alexander for a day 2 pick and replacing him with Revel. He has great size and length and is a willing contributor in run support as well. He is also incredibly patient in coverage and has smooth hip transition. His technique will need to improve slightly, as his main flaw seems to be not turning to look for the ball when his back is to the quarterback.

Ole Miss

Minnesota was fun to watch this season and Kevin O'Connell rightfully earned the 2024 coach of the year. The Vikings can take another big step in 2025 if they can remain healthy and the defense can add quality youth to its defense. Walter Nolen is a physical force in the interior and an excellent run stopper who is no sleeper in the pass rushing game either. Nolen has great technique and size but will need to show said tools every down, as he had too many plays with a high pad level where he was a non-factor.

Michigan

I can see the Texans going interior offensive line or defensive line, but they must improve in the trenches. I think Kenneth Grant is the better pick with who's available here, and he is a gem find for Houston at 25. Grant is a massive 6'3 and 340 pound DT, whose explosiveness and nastiness in the interior is stunning. Grant thrived with 1 on 1 blocks and consistently won matchups. As with most defenders his size, his down side has been his conditioning, and he may have to have his workload regulated to begin his career. All in all, the Texans will end up with a ferocious interior lineman.

Missouri

The Rams are competing but last year may have been the last gasp with their championship core. Aaron Donald has retired, Cooper Kupp's production heavily declined and is now looking at getting traded as is mainstay QB Matthew Stafford. I foresee the Rams trading for picks and potentially using a day 2 pick on a project QB who can compete with Stetson Bennett for the starting job. At 26, the QB value is not there but they can address their need for offensive tackle help. Armand Membou is a solid pick who projects as a starting right tackle due to his physical nature and size. He possesses elite power in the run game and he can definitely elevate the play of RB duo Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.

Texas A&M

Baltimore and Buffalo are so similar to me track record-wise, it's crazy. Generational talents at QB, plenty of regular season hype and offseason additions that inspire confidence that "this is their year" and thennn... Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City ruin the party. Baltimore has their identity set with a young and physical defense combined with a stellar offensive line and running game. The focus and execution just have to be there come playoff time. On defense, the line could use a little help, with the pass rush needing to add a few more effective rotational pass rushers. Nic Scourton is a perfect fit for this defense as he will fit nicely into Baltimore's 3-4 defensive scheme. He is excellent against the run and capable as a pass rusher, he'll just need to expand his pass rushing moves to become elite.

Georgia

I honestly feel sorry for the Lions faithful that saw this team still not make it to the Super Bowl last season. All of the pieces are there except for one: health. Detroit and San Francisco competed for who could lose the most starters to injury last season and Detroit's defense was especially depleted starting with star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions will be given a fresh start and they are a top favorite of mine to make a deep playoff run. The defensive line will need a consistent edge rusher across from the returning Hutchinson and I foresee Walker being that guy. Walker's knock is his lack of playing time, but his tape doesn't lie as he has shown flashes of being an incredibly disruptive pass rusher with an unstoppable motor. Walker is exactly the piece Detroit needs to give them another shot at the title.

Oregon

Anyway, I don't think anyone predicted the turnaround the Commanders had last season. Jayden Daniels had a remarkable rookie season with many dramatic finishes and clutch moments. Washington will look to build on that momentum this season and I think it starts with Conerly. Conerly is one of the most refined picks in this years draft and has one of the highest floors of any of the tackles. He's slightly undersized but has excellent technique and projects as one of if not the best pass protector in this draft. Daniels will excel even further with a reliable blindside protector like Conerly.

Texas

Baltimore and Buffalo are so similar to me track record-wise, it's crazy... oh wait, we did this already. Buffalo was so close once again, but the offense just didn't have the punch to top KC. The Bills need a deep threat receiver and Matthew Golden could fit that bill (no pun intended) like a glove. Golden excels with explosive plays and had multiple games at Texas averaging over 20 yards per reception. His concern will be his health, as he tends to have minor injuries that plague him due to his size. If he adds a little weight and keeps his hamstrings healthy, Josh Allen could have a new deep ball favorite.

North Dakota State

The Chiefs primary concern was wildly evident in the Super Bowl vs the Eagles: the offensive line was overrun. They were bullied. It looked like varsity vs JV and Patrick Mahomes was running for his life all game. The line needs help beyond stalwart C Creed Humphrey, and Zabel would be a plug and play starter. Zabel started at center in college but could easily transition to guard with his natural blend of aggressive power and above average athleticism. He will need to become slightly LESS aggressive in certain situations as his lunge-blocking can put him off balance or cost efficiency.

Marshall

Another championship run as the Eagles went back to their formula from their last championship run: rush the football, and rush the passer. The Eagles have a chance to repeat, but this offseason will be crucial. Several impact players will have decisions to be made, particularly on defense. Zach Baun, Milton Williams, Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat are all impending free agents and more likely than not, not all of them will be retained. The pass rush will need to be reloaded as that has been the Eagles bread and butter for years. Mike Green is an exceptional pass rusher with the quickness, bend and initial burst that is typical of Eagles rushers. Green will be a welcome rotational rusher to a deadly defense.