Tennessee

A number of teams seem to be out on James Pearce due to character concerns. The Eagles did well with Jalen Carter in 2023 after he had some character issues of his own coming out of Georgia, so they could be more willing to roll the dice than other teams.

Minnesota

49ers get: Pick 38
Vikings get: Picks 43, 138 (R4) and a 2026 6th round pick

It’s not a secret that the 49ers are looking for a possible Trent Williams successor. Aireontae Ersery could fit the bill. In the short term, he could possibly challenge Colton McKivitz at right tackle or step in at a currently wide open left guard spot.

Missouri

Saints get: Pick 34
Giants get: Pick 40, 130 (R4) and a 2026 5th round pick

No doubt that Luther Burden would make a lot of sense for the Giants, but they really need help at corner with Deonte Banks not panning out thus far. So they trade back with the Saints, who get Burden here at 34 instead.

Oregon

JC Latham had his ups and downs, but held his own as a rookie at left tackle. Still, the Titans have hinted they could be open to moving him to right tackle. Josh Conerly had the one bad rep against Mike Green at the Senior Bowl, but has recovered nicely and seems to be in play here in the late R1/early R2 range. He could make sense for the Titans, who really need another solid option at tackle.

Marshall

Speaking of Mike Green, he shows up after the guy he demolished in that one Senior Bowl rep. Green has had allegations of sexual assaults come against him, all of which he has denied are true. He’ll make sense for any team that’s comfortable with him after doing its research. Are the Commanders one of those teams? I’m obviously not sure. If the answer is no, perhaps they’ll pivot to Nic Scourton or Landon Jackson, both of whom are also available here.

Kentucky

Remember how I talked about the Giants needing a cornerback? Well, they get their guy with Maxwell Hairston. He was outstanding at the combine, and that helped back up his 2023 tape. A shoulder injury in 2024 dropped his draft stock some coming into draft season, but he's risen it back up to where he's a potential Round 1 pick who won't have to wait long to hear his name called in the second round if still available like he was in this mock draft.

Ohio State

Ashton Jeanty is an option at 6 for the Raiders, but if they pass, they’ll have plenty of great options to choose from on Day 2. TreVeyon Henderson could be one of those options. Chip Kelly could pound the table for him as he was Ohio State’s offensive coordinator in 2024. He’s also another very high character individual, which mirrors the first round pick of Jalon Walker.

Arkansas

Dennis Allen is the new defensive coordinator, and going back to his time in New Orleans, he’s often preferred bigger and longer defensive ends. Combine riser Landon Jackson could fit the bill, as could Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton. Jackson won the coin toss here. Apologies to Nic Scourton!

Florida State

A popular spot for a QB in mock drafts at either 7 or here at 42, I have the Jets passing and instead going with a cornerback to help fill another huge need. Azareye’h Thomas is a popular name in most first round mock drafts, so he’d be a tremendous value selection here. If the Jets did take a QB here, Jaxson Dart is the obvious name to watch if he’s not already off the board.

Georgia

Da Bears have upgraded both guard spots, but could use a center. If they don’t find one in free agency or via trade, Jared Wilson could make some sense. His athleticism at the combine was tremendous, and undoubtedly helped his draft stock tremendously. I acknowledge this could be a bit early for him, but with how he raised his draft stock, I’m not convinced he’ll make it to the Bears 3rd round pick. With that in mind, they pull the trigger here. Having veterans like Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson next to him at the guard spots would be a very good situation for Wilson to walk in to if the Bears picked him.

Ohio State

Between the secondary, defensive tackle, interior offensive line and running back positions, there are a number of ways the Vikings could go with this selection. In this mock, they go safe with Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson. This guy is an ultimate team player, as he kicked out to left tackle for Ohio State after the injury to Josh Simmons and more than held his own. Maybe he could do that for the Vikings one day en route to them winning a Super Bowl? Their fans would love it!

Ohio State

It's appearing less and less likely that Ashton Jeanty will last until the 12th pick, but in a deep running back class, the Cowboys can still grab a guy like Quinshon Judkins here in the second round. Ohio State is on a roll here in Round 2.

LSU

Indianapolis took one very high character individual in Tyler Booker, and they'll add another one here in Mason Taylor. This is the son of Dolphins EDGE rusher Jason Taylor, and the nephew of Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas, so hard work won't be lost on him. He also looked awesome at the combine, perhaps pushing Elijah Arroyo for the TE3 spot. He'll be a welcomed target for Anthony Richardson.

East Carolina

Were it not for an ACL injury, Shavon Revel would be long gone by this juncture. Guys with his size and length are rare at the corner spot, and the Falcons decide to jump on the value here at 46 to give them an option across from A.J. Terrell.

Texas A&M

People are understandably playing a game of which Philadelphia Eagles big money free agent will sign with Arizona given Jonathan Gannon's connection there. Those free agents being Josh Sweat and Milton Williams. Maybe they get neither one. Until we know the answer for sure, the best defensive lineman available makes sense here. I believe that's Nic Scourton, who could be a late first round pick without anyone batting an eye.

Arizona

Ssavaiinaea has played both tackle and guard in college. That versatility will help him appeal to all NFL teams. His best fit might be at right guard with teams knowing he could certainly play tackle if need be. Miami has needs all across both lines, so a lineman on either side makes sense for them here, especially if they go safety in Round 1 like they did in this mock.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden left the Irish for the Bengals, and his pull in the room brings Xavier Watts to Cincinnati. The Bengals have never really replaced Jessie Bates since he left as a free agent. Like Bates, Watts has excellent ball skills, and if he lives up to his potential, could have a Jessie Bates kind of impact at the NFL level.

Ole Miss

Bills get: Pick 50
Seahawks get: Picks 56, 131 (R4) and 179 (R6)

With tons of third day draft capital at their disposal, the Bills use some of it to trade up for Ole Miss corner Trey Amos. A good-sized corner with great ball skills who shows well in both press and zone, I like the fit between team and player here.

Miami

Injuries are really the only question mark with Elijah Arroyo, whose talent could very easily get him selected a lot higher than this on draft night. When he's been on the field, Arroyo has shown he's a dynamic pass catcher who is a tough cover for anyone. Sean Payton had Jimmy Graham with him in New Orleans for many years. It's hard to say Arroyo will be that good, but the profiles are similar. Both also played college at 'The U', which is yet another similarity between them.

Notre Dame

Pittsburgh is another spot for Jaxson Dart, but if they pass, I'd see them looking at either cornerback or wide receiver in a scenario where they went D-Line in Round 1. The Al Golden AFC North reunion continues, as the Steelers take Benjamin Morrison here. In this scenario, Morrison would be going against his former teammate and defensive coordinator. Like Shevon Revel, Morrison likely would've been a guaranteed first round pick if not for an injury (hip in this case) that caused both to miss most of 2024.

Texas

So, Isaiah Bond, what was that about beating Xavier Worthy's 40 time? That didn't happen (not even close), but he is still plenty fast and has a built in chemistry with Bryce Young. Remember, Bond started his career at Alabama and caught passes from Young in 2022 (then Jalen Milroe in 2023) before he transferred to Texas in 2024.

Stanford

Anyone following the NFL offseason knows that DK Metcalf has requested a trade from the Sehawks. I mentioned that earlier, and as I mentioned earlier, I think there's a better chance of him being dealt than Tee Higgins being dealt from Cincinnati. While I won't predict an exact trade for this mock, I do acknowledge it makes drafting a receiver on the first two days a much higher probability. Elic Ayomanor out of Stanford could be a fit as a guy with good size and explosiveness and solid speed for his size. His performance against Travis Hunter and Colorado in 2023 really put him on the map. Also a very willing blocker.

Texas

A very deep D-Line class means some guys have to fall. Alfred Collins is one who fell a bit in this mock, but he could be a nice pick for the Packers here in the second round. As a very big guy who moves well for his size, he seems like he'd be up GM Brian Gutekunst's alley.

Iowa

If you're looking for a starting running back in this draft and can't find one, you're simply not trying as a GM. Under Jim Harbaugh, everyone knows the Chargers will try as hard as anyone to find a starting running back sometime in the first three or so rounds. Kaleb Johnson is a tank, and he can't be brought down easily by just one defender. His toughness would mesh well with a Jim Harbaugh team.

South Carolina

Eagles get: Pick 53
Buccaneers get: Pick 64 and a 2026 3rd round pick

Sensing that T.J. Sanders may not last until the 64th selection, and knowing Milton Williams is more likely than not gone in free agency, the Eagles move up with Tampa Bay to snag him. The South Carolina defensive tackle offers promise as a pass rusher in the middle, which is what the Eagles need to replace if they do indeed lose Williams in free agency. Good news for them is they already have two third round picks to deal in next year's draft (the Jets and their own), and one or two more may be on the way with Williams and Josh Sweat, so they have plenty of capital to make this move with.

Purdue

We got the Texans a receiver with built in chemistry with C.J. Stroud at 25, so let's get them an offensive lineman here in Marcus Mbow. The 'M' in his last name is silent, but his play at Purdue wasn't such, and neither was his Senior Bowl performance. He showcased some versatility in Mobile, but with his shorter arm length, his most likely NFL home is inside at guard. A few have also suggested center as a possibility, and of course he played tackle at Purdue. He could be a Day 1 starter inside for Houston, which wouldn't be bad at all here late in the second round.

TCU

A fit I've seen thrown around in certain places and that I really like myself is Jack Bech and the Ravens. The Senior Bowl and combine standout may not necessarily be a superstar in the making, but he's been one of the big winners of the pre-draft process and seems like he'll make any team who pencils him in as a #2 or 3 receiver a very happy team. The Ravens should love his strong hands and competitive fire.

Iowa State

Yet another connections draft selection here. Tyler Roehl was hired from Iowa State by the Lions, so there's familiarity here, and Higgins brings a skill set as a big receiver with solid speed (especially for his size) and a willingness to block. Higgins is a solid compliment to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Of note, he began his career at FCS Eastern Kentucky before transferring to Iowa State.

Ole Miss

Jets get: Pick 61
Commanders get: 2026 2nd round pick

Alright, Jaxson Dart maybe goes off the board later in this mock than he does on draft night, but I didn't have the easiest time finding a spot for him once the Jets and Steelers chose corners over him with their initial or only second round picks. The Commanders drove a hard bargain in discussions for purposes of this mock draft, and got the Jets second round pick for next year's draft for moving out of this pick. Maybe they can use it towards a Myles Garrett trade if the Browns ever soften their stance on possibly trading Garrett?

Ole Miss

Flavor of Round 2 for the Bills is guys from Ole Miss named Tre (or Trey). Beginning his career at Louisiana Tech, Harris wasted no time in proving that he could also produce at the SEC level. He'd give Josh Allen a big, reliable outside target.

Iowa State

Texas receiver Isaiah Bond is someone they were thinking about at 53, so Jaylin Noel is a guy who could work for the Buccaneers at 64. Especially with an extra third round pick next year at their disposal. Like teammates Darien Porter and Jayden Higgins, Noel impressed at the combine. This was after he showed very well at the Senior Bowl. His speed could give the Buccaneer wide receiving corps something they're currently lacking.

Utah State

For more reasons than one, this pairing makes total sense. The obvious one being the Chiefs needing to add to their WR room. Royals is a guy with very good speed, can break tackles, catches everything and is a pretty good route runner as well. Plus his last name just makes him a natural fit in Kansas City (baseball reference/joke if you don't understand).