Alabama

The Texans are in a scenario where they just need to take the best player available and not get too cute, because they're bad all over. Their top pass rusher is 34 year old Jerry Hughes, and no one else on that defense has even four sacks through ten games; that isn't very sustainable. So take the best player in the class in Will Anderson Jr. and be happy. Anderson in a monster on both passing and rushing downs. He's an all-together complete player on launch, and would be a godsend for whoever gets him.

Northwestern

A lot of people are already writing Derek Carr off the Raiders, and personally, I don't see it. They would be insane to let Carr walk, they aren't getting better at quarterback unless they commit to a massive rebuild, and for a team that pushed all their chips in this season (figurately, thematically, AND literally), that would be a terrible idea. Plus, Carr's already said he's silver-and-black for life, so do the right thing, which is to re-sign him, and protect him. He's had atrocious edge protection for years. They tried and failed to fix it with Alex Leatherwood, try it again here with Peter Skoronski, the best tackle prospect to come out in years.

Alabama

The Kitties catch a lucky break as the two best non-quarterback prospects go 1-2, leaving them with their choice of who to take as the first QB off the board, and that depends on what you want from your quarterback, elite athleticism (CJ Stroud) or elite quarterback traits (Bryce Young). There's no wrong answer to that question, but Carolina's O-line is on the rise. They can give their quarterback time to throw, so in that case, take the one with the better arm, and that's Young. He's a confident thrower who can make precision passes that'll help this young offense start to purr.

Georgia

via Denver
Geno Smith is another player who could earn a big bag this offseason, but considering that this is the first sustained success that Geno's had in his entire career, he has to keep that momentum going with the team that's working for him. So, like Carr, I think he also re-signs with his current team, and they keep improving around him. Pass rush is a weak spot for the Seahawks, so adding someone like Jalen Carter would be a slam dunk for them alongside Uchenna Nwosu.

Clemson

via LA Rams
If C.J. Stroud is available at #5, I'd be tempted to say he goes here, but the Lions biggest weakness is well-known: basically their entire defense, outside of Aidan Hutchinson and Jeff Okaduh if healthy, which is basically his full legal name at this point. Best defensive player available is one of the Clemson linemen, Bryan Bresee or Myles Murphy. Bresee is the more well-rounded, complete player, and that is what I think will make the Lions go for him, since they're a team that's close to competing. The Jared Goff thing can be kicked down the road another year, he's just fine for now. Fix that defense.

TCU

Justin Fields running the ball 15-20 times a game is heckin' fun, but at some point, he's got to develop as a passer, and that requires either receivers or O-linemen to do so. If Skoronski were on the board here, I'd take him, but if not, the next best player at one of those spots is Quentin Johnson, an absolute beastly receiving specimen who draws favorable comparisons to Randy Moss. He's a man who go up and snag the ball from mid-air, and leave defenders looking foolish. Johnston would be the first step in unlocking Fields's true passing potential, and it would also screw over the Packers, a time-honored tradition.

Clemson

via New Orleans
It must be nice to have the best roster in the league and still be proud owners of a top ten pick. They have no needs as of right now, though a lot of their defensive line is getting up there in age, and are in contract years, so drafting a raw talent like Myles Murphy could be a strong play. This way, they can re-sign who they can, and then build up Murphy into a starter over a season or two. Murphy has some kinks to work out, but he's a strong run stuffer (which their recent struggles to contain the run without Jordan Davis has shown to be a weakness) and can develop into a more complete pass rusher.

Ohio State

via Cleveland
Keep in mind, this is a no-trade mock. The Texans would shit bricks if C.J. Stroud were still on the board at #8, and they would sprint to the podium and announce the pick themselves if that happened. Stroud is a big bodied thrower with great arm strength, a high football IQ, and plenty of mobility. On a rebuilding offense like Houston's, he could be asked to improvise early and often. Plus, since they'd still have an emerging star in Dameon Pierce in the backfield, that means Stroud doesn't have to throw 50 times a game as a rookie. Plus, using one of the Watson picks to grab their new QB of the future just feels right.

Georgia

This Cardinals team feels like it's seconds away from a total Square 1 restart. Kliff Kingsbury is on borrowed time, and it feels like the team could use a new identity. Their only starting caliber corner, Byron Murphy, is on an expiring contract, and they really need a compliment to him at the very least. Ringo brings a rare bit of physicality to the position that comes from a converted linebacker, and that sounds like someone a new coach or coordinator could build around.

Ohio State

It feels like the Steelers have been in need of a left tackle for years, and they just haven't been addressing it, letting the problem just get worse and worse as the years go by. Paris Johnson is just a one-year starter at left tackle for the Buckeyes, moving over from right guard last year, but has already been a stabilizing force from the departure of Nick Petit-Frere last season. Hopefully he can do the same for the Steelers at that spot.

Penn State

REPLACE RASHEED WALKER WITH Olumuyiwa Fashanu

The Jaguars have been slowly, but steadily improving the last few years, and could be a year away from playoff contention. That can be expediated if A) Trent Baalke leaves, and B) they find a franchise left tackle. Cam Robinson has been mid for several years, and Jawaan Taylor is a free agent. Move Robinson to the right side, and slot Olu Fashanu into that left tackle spot. He can hold down the line there, and hopefully help the Jags get to that next level.

Kentucky

This feels like a story destined to end badly, doesn't it? Zach Wilson has proven himself to not only be unreliable as a leader of men, but also just downright bad through a season and a half as the unquestioned starter, drawing unfavorable comparisons to Ryan Leaf and Johnny Manziel. Let's question that starter status. Levis might be the most pro-ready quarterback in this draft class, since Kentucky ran an offense coordinated by former NFL OCs. He's got a massive arm and can run for firsts with ease, the two biggest traits that scouts are looking for in today's NFL. You put that on a team that might be a quarterback away from success, and suddenly the Jets are looking dangerous.

Ohio State

"ALRIGHT FINE AARON, WE'LL GIVE YOU A WIDE RECEIVER, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?" Both Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs have both shown flashes of potential this season, but they need a #1 guy that Aaron Rodgers can put his trust in again, and that can be Jaxon Smith-Njigba. JSN has been hobbled for most of the season so far, but he was the best receiver in the entire country last season, and think of all the good rookie receivers in the League this year that that stacks him up against. He got the raw speed and playmaking ability to be an instant #1 receiver.

Texas Tech

Last year, the Falcons got a pretty good find in the second with Arnold Ebiketie to help with their anemic pass rush, and he has had a noticeable impact. Unfortunately, he's one of only three Falcons with more than one sack through 11 games. Yikes. Yea, pass rush is still a big problem for them, so Tyree Wilson could be a play here. This guy gives me the same vibes Jordan Davis got last year: an absolute physical monster who's going to be the talk of the Combine and launch up the board, maybe into top 10 range, before settling cozily into the top 15. The Falcons would be getting a steal here in Wilson.

USC

I think we need to just accept that we have no fucking clue what the Patriots are gonna do, and that's ok. For now, let's just assume that the Pats take the best player still available, which happens to include a position of need in Jordan Addison. USC's become a wide receiver powerhouse as of late with Drake London, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Pittman, and Juju Smith-Schuster all wearing Trojan colors, and Addison seems like the next in that lineage. He's a bit of an elite slot receiver type who excels at finding the holes in the defense and getting the ball in that spot. Although, knowing them, they'll probably take a long snapper from Guam State or something.

South Carolina

The Lions should continue to bolster their ailing defense with a corner to give Jeff Okudah a strong partner, and take the #1 job should Okudah get hurt again. Cam Smith has reached the status in college football were people just stopped throwing to his side of the field, and that's when you know you've ascended. Explosive, lengthy, and smart all describe Smith well, and he could make the Lions a little more scary to throw on.