Marshall

The Bengals will hope to keep Trey Hendrickson, but in an off-season where they'll need to extend star receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, I could easily see them trading Hendrickson. Myles Murphy also appears a huge bust, so they could use this deep EDGE/DT class to replenish their front seven. Based purely on-tape, Mike Green has a case to be the 2nd or 3rd edge rusher taken. He was a monster for Marshall this season, accumulating a whopping 17 sacks and dozens of pressures. For his build, he’s also quite an efficient run defender. He has upside to improve and is amongst the younger prospects in this draft class. However, Green is a player being flagged with character issues and amongst any source I trust is being given more late 1st round grades. If Green’s off-field character is clean and he interviews well, he’ll probably go top-20; however, there is a capacity for him to fall. Historically, the Bengals are open-minded to players with problematic character reports, so I could see them being a decent fit for him.

V2 Pick: Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
V1 Pick: Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)

Penn State

The Seahawks reportedly like Kelvin Banks Jr. and Tyler Booker, but its optimistic to think either are still here. Seahawks GM John Schneider has also not historically put a ton of stock into IOL in early rounds. Meanwhile, the Seahawks really need a true TE1, and this is a terrific tight end class with 4 prospects (Warren, Loveland, Arroyo and Taylor) being in my top-40. Warren in particular has been on an absolute tear in 2024 putting up elite production as a receiving tight end. He also should be a functional to decent, if not elite, in-line blocker at the next level.

V2 Pick: Kelvin Banks Jr. (OT/G, Texas)
V1 Pick: Jihaad Campbell

Alabama

Lavonte David is close to retirement, and Devin White did not pan out in Tampa Bay. Since then, their linebacking group (really, their front seven in general outside of Vita Vea) has been lacking. The Bucs continue to need better off-ball and on-ball linebacking play. Campbell specialises in the former, possessing true sideline to sideline linebacker with pass rushing upside, good coverage ability and the physical stature to oppress the run Campbell is a bit raw, and some may prefer Walker’s upside, but Campbell is my LB1 who I believe could be a top-20 pick in this coming draft. He feels like a hand-in-glove fit for Todd Bowles.

V2 Pick: Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
V1 Pick: Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)

Michigan

Bo Nix has far exceeded any reasonable expectations for him as a rookie, and has done so with middling offensive talent. This feels like an offensive weapon spot, be it a running back, wide receiver or - as mocked - a Tight End. Colston Loveland's production dropped with inferior quarterback play, and isn't a demonic blocker by any means, but figures to be a dangerous receiving tight end at the next level.

V2 Pick: Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
V1 Pick: Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)

Texas

The Steelers desperately need help in their secondary, but in a decent Day 2 class at the position, they take a receiver from a thin top-end group to pair with George Pickens (who himself is involved in trade speculation). In my third attempt to find a good fit, Matthew Golden has rocketed himself up draft boards with a terrific 2024 season and sensational combine. He is sure handed, a terrific route runner and very quick.

V2 Pick: Luther Burden III (WR, Missouri)
V1 Pick: Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)

North Dakota State

Jim Harbaugh builds his teams from the front out, and although his tackle tandem is clearly set, their interior offensive line needs work. Zion Johnson will man one guard spot, but with a vacant center spot and upgradable 2nd guard spot, this feels like a really good fit for a highly versatile player who projects to be a quality NFL guard or center. Zabel has been amongst the quickest risers in this draft class. He destroyed the Senior Bowl, being voted Senior Bowl MVP, then had a terrific work-out at the combine. He is now in all likelihood a 1st round pick, and his floor is somewhere in the 33-40 range.

V2 Pick: Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)
V1 Pick: Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)

Texas A&M

The Packers could easily justify a cornerback here (Revel Jr., Thomas, Barron) but their defensive front failed to meet expectations in 2024. Stewart is an enigma and the biggest boom/bust prospect in this class. It wouldn’t shock me if a team in the top-20 took a bet on his freakish skill-set; it equally wouldn’t shock me if he fell to mid Day 2 because of how raw he is as a pass rusher. Stewart’s athletic profile is video-game-esque; his agility for his size is incredible and he predictably had a terrific workout at the combine. However, Stewart has shown an alarming lack of progression in his ability to close; he has just 1.5 sacks in each of his last 3 seasons. Stewart is so talented I think he'll go top-25, potentially as higher as the top-16, but he is a high risk/high reward player. Stewart particularly seems to match the "Green Bay" toolsy prototype they look for in their edge rushers.

V2 Pick: Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
V1 Pick: Trey Amos (CB, Ole Miss)

Ole Miss

The Vikings defense has played phenomenally given the personnel under Brian Flores; however, they need talent in their secondary and defensive interior. Walter Nolen has had an up and down college career, but is finishing on a high with his best year at Ole Miss. He shown his ability to rush the passer and was a terrific run defender this past season. Cornerback and interior offensive line could also get consideration here.

V2 Pick: Jahdae Barron (CB/S, Texas)
V1 Pick: Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)

Ohio State

The Texans need support on both side of the trenches - their interior offensive line in particular is highly troublesome. However, the Texans also now need receiving help. Nico Collins is a stud, but Tank Dell's serious injury and their swing and miss with Stefon Diggs leaves their receiving corps exposed. Egbuka has experience with Stroud and it could be a perfect pairing. Emeka Egbuka is not the same caliber of elite OSU prospects as the draft community has become accustomed too, but he is an extremely solid WR2 type player who appears to have eclipsed Luther Burden III (who is plummeting down my draft board).

V2 Pick: Armand Membou (OT/G, Missouri)
V1 Pick: Josh Simmons (OT, Ohio State)

Kentucky

The Rams have done an incredible job this season given their defensive personnel, but outside cornerback is still a clear weakness. There are a few cornerbacks in the 25-40 range who make sense - Barron, Revel Jr., Hairston, Thomas. Hairston had an elite combine workout and upon re-watching him, I now have him as a borderline top-25 prospect. He was terrific in 2023, then gave it his all to come back from injury for Kentucky and played well in his limited sample size. Charlie Campbell reported Hairston has a possible late -1st round pick during Combine Week.

V2 Pick: Azareye’h Thomas (CB, Florida State)
V1 Pick: Shavon Revel Jr. (CB, East Carolina)

Tennessee

Death, taxes and the Baltimore Ravens drafting huge steals in Round 1. The Ravens' pass rush has underwhelmed in recent years, and James Pearce Jr. could be an oustanding 3-4 fit. As a prospect, he is becoming this year’s Jared Verse - not so much in prospect profile - but in being underrated by the end of their college career due to prospect fatigue. Although "only" posting 7.5 sacks in 2024, Pearce has improved tremendously as a run defender and is an elite athlete, accumulating a lot of pressure in lieu of his sack numbers. The main reason I've got Pearce dropping by nearly 20 selections is reports of his character evaluation being terrible, and some teams dropping him off their boards entirely.

V2 Pick: Shemar Stewart (EDGE, Texas A&M)
V1 Pick: Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)

Oregon

This is the second time in a row I've mocked this fit. The Detroit Lions’ roster is immensely talented, but their various injuries and lack of a true EDGE 2 outside of Aidan Hutchinson was the hamartia of their 2024 campaign. Just like they focused on DB early in 2024, I suspect they’ll look to improve their DL early in 2025. Every time I review my top-100, I raise Burch. Although his team-mate Derrick Harmon gets more love, I think Burch is comfortably the more talented prospect. Similar to Walter Nolen at Ole Miss, it took Burch a while to put it all together but finally did so in 2024 with some truly brilliant wins and 8.5 sacks. Burch is also a prototypical 4-3 base end with oppressive size and athletic traits.

V2 Pick: Jordan Burch (EDGE/DT, Oregon
V1 Pick: JT Tuimoloau (EDGE, Ohio State)

Ohio State

In my last mock, I speculated that the Commanders could trade for Deebo Samuel and - sure enough - that has now happened. I believe the Commanders are likely to focus on trenches with this pick, and Josh Simmons is comfortably my top prospect available. Simmons could be knocking on the door of the top-10 with a clean bill of health, but he tore his patellar tendon in October, a particular nasty injury. Although he reportedly had positive combine medical evals, patellar tendons are historically career threatening and Simmons could still plummet into Day 2 because of this injury. As it stands, the Commanders need another OT badly, and he's worth the risk this last in the 1st round as if he fully recovers, he'll likely outplay his draft positioning to a significant degree.

V2 Pick: Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
V1 Pick: Nic Scourton (EDGE, Texas A&M

Texas

The Bills used to have an elite safety tandem in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, but since then, they’ve had underwhelming play at the position. They also lack a true CB1, and Jahdae Barron is a highly talented player who can play outside cornerback, but is better profiled to play safety and nickel. Although I really like him as a prospect, he could slide into the 25-40 range, as these positions are much less valued than boundary corner. Buffalo wouldn't complain.

V2 Pick: Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
V1 Pick: Jahdae Barron (CB/S, Texas)

North Carolina

The Chiefs have a clear and dire need to address their Left Tackle spot, but I'm not sure there is a clean, range-worthy solution at this spot. Josh Conerly is more of a guard projection for the NFL, and my next rated tackles are Anthony Belton (70 on my Big Board) and Cameron Williams (72). The Chiefs could be best picking BPA here, and although their previous end of R1 running back pick back fired, Hampton is a far, far superior prospect to him. A pure 1st rounder in terms of ability, Hampton may slide to the top of Round 2 due to positional value in a very good group of non-Jeanty RB's (Hampton, Judkins, Henderson, Johnson). Hampton is an elite runner though who could give the Chiefs a long-term RB to replace the injury afflicted Pacheco and veteran stop-gap Hunt.

V2 Pick: Donovan Jackson (G/OT, Ohio State)
V1 Pick: Cameron Williams (OT, Texas)

Ohio State

he Eagles barely have a weakness on their roster. It’s absolutely stacked everywhere. The two most logical picks in relation to their modus operandi and potential free agency vacancies is a 3rd defensive lineman on their 3-4 front to replace Milton Williams, and right guard to replace Mekhi Becton (this of course presumes neither are re-signed, which is possible). Of the two, there is less depth along the OL and I have Jackson rated a few spots higher than TJ Sanders. Donovan Jackson has put himself firmly in the R1 conversation after an exceptional final season at Ohio State. His tape in relief of Josh Simmons was so good that teams will likely have a conversation as to whether Jackson can hang at Left Tackle; otherwise, he could be a Pro Bowl calibre player at his presumed NFL position of guard.

V2 Pick: TJ Sanders (DT, South Carolina)
V1 Pick: Shemar Stewart (EDGE, Texas A&M).