South Carolina

It's worth noting that the most recent reporting is that Trey Hendrickson's agent and the Bengals have been in communication about the possibility of working out a new contract after all. If that happens, and after Joseph Ossai was re-signed, perhaps it could lead the club to take a look at a different area of the defense. Duke Tobin will covet the 10.00 RAS of Emmanwori, and Vonn Bell is a free agent.

North Dakota State

The iOL is downright hideous, and Zabel has done nothing but draw rave reviews ever since his dominant Senior Bowl week.

Alabama

After learning that Campbell had labrum surgery that requires a 6-8 month recovery period, I had dropped him into the late 1st. But after doing some more digging, it looks like his floor still could be this pick, and perhaps Tampa Bay still loves the value of Campbell essentially replacing Lavonte David by 2026.

North Carolina

Denver has done a great job of adding defensive talent in free agency, so you'd think that this could be a choice between Loveland and Omarion Hampton...is what I wrote before Denver just signed Evan Engram. To me, this is an indication that Denver doesn't think that Loveland will make it to this pick. As such, I have to adjust, so now I think that Hampton could be the pick. I suppose you can't rule out a WR like Golden or Egbuka here, either.

Ole Miss

I will slot Dart here for the time being, as Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only QB's on the roster. I may change my mind if Rodgers or Wilson end up with the club, though.

Michigan

I think we can certainly rule out OL after Mekhi Becton was signed, and even Andre James was added as an iOL depth piece. You could certainly argue for Golden, but with Grant there and since we know Harbaugh's team-building philosophy, I think the Michigan man will have priority here.

Texas

Green Bay needs a possible go-to WR, Golden's 4.29 speed could give the offense the jolt that Christian Watson does but with better availability, and perhaps it's time for Brian Gutekunst to finally take a 1st Round receiver.

Georgia

TRADE! Minnesota trades #24 to Philadelphia for #32, #96, and #168.

Minnesota is the most obvious trade-down team in the back half of the 1st Round, since they don't have a 2nd or 4th Round pick, and since its 3rd rounder is only a comp pick. And as it's been clear to me since last year that they've wanted JJ McCarthy to be their starter (the rest is nothing but media fluff), you've seen GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah aggressively spend money elsewhere on the roster. They patched up their iOL weakness with both Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. They re-signed CB Byron Murphy and added CB Isaiah Rodgers. They've added Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen on the DL. They kept RB Aaron Jones and they traded for Jordan Mason, too.

With all this in mind, while Starks would have been a good addition to the safety room for the Vikes (and if they keep the pick and Starks is taken, you would get credit in the mock contest anyway), Philly gets aggressive to come up and take him. Athletic safeties are critical to Vic Fangio's scheme, and there's a void after the Chauncey Gardner-Johnson trade to the Texans.

Ohio State

I don't like what the Texans have done with the OL at all. Going from Tunsil to Cam Robinson at LT is a steep downgrade, and if they are counting on Laken Tomlinson and Ed Ingram to start for them at guard, yikes. They've also added Trent Brown (who struggles to stay healthy), but the bottom line is that the OL looks like a major question mark. Simmons still makes a ton of sense.

Georgia

TRADE! (See #15 for details.)

Most expect the Falcons to take an edge rusher at #15, but after the trade down netted them some extra draft capital, they have a clear 1st Round talent on the board in Williams, who may fall a bit due to a lack of explosive testing.

Alabama

Though LT Ronnie Stanley was re-signed, LG Patrick Mekari departed in free agency to the Jaguars, so there's an obvious opening. Hat tip to Mr. Bitter for this, as he was right about the fact that Booker would be a great fit in Baltimore's power run scheme. Booker is a mauler and gets downhill, so I don't think that the Ravens will mind his athletic testing numbers.

Oregon

Though I think Detroit needs to find a starting guard, Harmon makes sense for the DL, especially as a hedge to the recovering Alim McNeill.

Ohio State

TRADE! Washington trades #29, #128, and a 2026 5th Round pick to Chicago for #39 and #72.

Washington doesn't have its 3rd or 5th Round picks this year, so perhaps they could look to move down. As for the Bears, I think they could covet Henderson's dynamic ability out of the backfield, as Ben Johnson could see him as his new Jahmyr Gibbs. Armed with two 2nd rounders (they'd still have a pick at #41 overall), the Bears deem the trade to be worth it to add the jolt to the offense that Henderson would provide.

Kentucky

Buffalo did a lot to address its edge rushing need during free agency, though Michael Hoecht is facing a 6-game suspension to begin the year. As Hairston was firmly in Jeremiah's 1st Round mock (23rd to the Packers), and given that Dane Jackson (who was brought back in free agency) was horrific last season, CB could be a consideration with this pick. I will especially think so for however long that Rasul Douglas remains a free agent.

Ole Miss

The Chiefs hope to have shored up the LT need by signing former 49er Jaylon Moore, who was Trent Williams' understudy who started several games last season. Moore fared well, earning a 74.9 PFF grade. They are apparently going to move last year's 2nd rounder, Kingsley Suamataia, to LG. As such, I will go away from OL here and switch my attention to DL for this pick. While Jerry Tillery was added in free agency, Chris Jones is the only DT on the roster who is actually good, so I could see a DT pick here if there were someone on the board that the team really loved. While many teams appear to have concerns about Nolen, the Chiefs are one of those clubs that frequently toss character concerns aside, and he probably has a clear 1st Round grade on talent alone. KC takes the plunge.

Ohio State

TRADE! (See #24 for details.)

After the move down, and even though DB looks like the biggest need, adding Egbuka to Jefferson and Addison could be an appealing trio of WR weapons for JJ McCarthy, and there's scant depth behind those top two guys at the moment, though Rondale Moore (and his injury history) was just signed. Egbuka's presence could also mean that the team doesn't feel compelled to give Jordan Addison a big contract extension before his rookie deal is up.