Free Agency Mock, Version 4.0

On March 30, Dan Campbell said that the plan is to move Sewell to LT in the wake of Taylor Decker's release, which makes sense. As such, Proctor's massive size at RT could be a perfect fit for the Lions.

Yes, Dillon Thieneman makes total sense as a possible Harrison Smith replacement. However, despite Brian Flores' defensive wizardry, I can't help but notice that the DL depth is looking perilously thin after some salary cap purging, and this doesn't even take into account that the team is looking to trade Jonathan Greenard. I had Caleb Banks here before, but it was revealed on March 12 that he needed surgery for a metatarsal injury to his foot; it's unclear at this time if this is a new injury, or a recurrence of the foot injury that knocked him out for much of Florida's season in 2025. In any case, I have to think that this drops Banks out of Day 1, unfortunately for him. So I'll go back to Thieneman.

A tackle play could be in play here, given that LT Ikem Ekwonu is recovering from a torn patellar tendon. However, Stone Forsythe was signed, and then on March 13, the team signed LT Rasheed Walker, formerly of the Packers. This is a much more significant move than Forsythe was, and an indication that the team likely expects Ekwonu to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season. The Walker signing makes a tackle pick here much, much less likely. Instead, this could be a spot for Sadiq if available, as the Panthers have the third-best odds to be his drafted team at the moment, at +375. (The Eagles are +275 and the Chiefs are +325.) Tommy Tremble and Ja'Tavion Sanders are not exactly lighting the world on fire on the TE depth chart, so there's a path for Sadiq to get immediate targets.

Downs fell into Dallas' laps earlier in the mock. If that happened, perhaps attention would be turned to improving the pass rush. Mesidor is 25, but he should appeal to teams in the back half of Round 1 that view themselves as contenders. I have no doubt that Jerry Jones sees Dallas as a contender. Mesidor's production is elite, and he could help right away.

Heading into 2025, the Packers hadn't drafted a WR in the 1st Round since 2002 (Javon Walker), ending a 23-year drought. The draft was held in, you guessed it, Green Bay. Heading into 2026, the Steelers haven't drafted a WR in the 1st Round since 2006 (Santonio Holmes), which is a 20-year drought. Guess where the draft is this year? Perhaps the Steelers will give their fans some excitement with the big-play talents of Concepcion, a YAC-maestro who would complement bigger wideouts DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. very well. You want toys, Aaron Rodgers, you got 'em.

While OL could be very much in play (it has the second-best odds to be the pick), DL is the favorite. In looking at the pass rush depth chart, Tuli Tuipulotu is a young keeper, but Khalil Mack is aging and only on another 1-year deal, and there's not a ton behind them. Faulk is only 20 and doesn't turn 21 until September, so he can be groomed to take on a big role next year while possibly seeing action this season as a situational rusher.

A possible AJ Brown replacement, either this year or next. I just have a feeling that Cooper will be picked ahead of Denzel Boston, due to the former being seen as more polished. I also think that we will see a Brown trade executed after June 1, when his dead cap hit would be much lower; the return of Dallas Goedert suggests as much, as it's unlikely that the team can financially retain both. And no, Hollywood Brown on a 1-year deal does not take Philly out of the running for a WR here. Cooper did come in for a Top 30 visit.

It shouldn't be a surprise that the club has used several Top 30 visits on WR's, including Tyson, Lemon, Concepcion, Cooper, and Boston; if Freeling or another OL went at #6, this would likely be a WR pick. But if it's Tate at #6, then OL has to be the favorite in this spot. Lomu would be a fantastic pick at this juncture and if you ask me, he has all the upside of Monroe Freeling with even more experience and similar youth.

***MALACHI LAWRENCE, EDGE, UCF***

Lawrence is still not in the player queue, but after getting him up to #39 a few days ago, I'm going to keep this trend and get him all the way into the 1st Round. His RAS was the best among edge players, and it's not like he wasn't productive last season at UCF, with 7 sacks and over 40 QB pressures. That type of profile will land a guy on Day 1.

LB is an important spot in new DC Jim Leonhard's defense, and Matt Milano is a free agent (and injury-prone) as it is. At this time the team has not had a Top 30 visit with Allen, but it has with Josiah Trotter, a possible 2nd Round LB target.

There are a ton of directions that the 49ers could go in. One of those possible directions is WR, so I find it notable that the team has had all 3 of Concepcion, Cooper, and Boston in for Top 30's, and the team could be in range for all 3 of those guys. I personally love the fit of Concepcion if available, but he's gone in this mock. With OL the favorite for this pick and with a successor needed for Trent Williams, perhaps Miller will get serious consideration. Miller has 54 college starts under his belt, has the 6'7 size that figures to appeal to Kyle Shanahan, and has a truly remarkable 9.97 RAS score that is 5th-best among all OT's from 1987 onward. That would appeal to anyone associated with coaching, I would have to think.

Nick Caserio tends to value experience with early picks, so even though OL is the favorite for this pick, I feel like Iheanaschor is the next-best tackle available, but he only started playing football in college. As such, that might be a hard sell for Caserio. With DL the second choice for the pick and with Sheldon Rankins in a contract year, how about the first true run-stuffing DT to come off the board in McDonald?

I think a CB makes a ton of sense if Delane isn't there at #9, and Terrell has slipped a bit in this mock. Terrell did re-injure his hamstring on March 30 at his Pro Day, perhaps making a fall into the late 1st all the more likely.

Now that Denver has traded this pick to Miami, I obviously have to re-think this. Yes, there's no obvious #1 WR on the roster, but the consensus top WR on the board would be Boston, and this regime is not likely to value him highly because he's not fast or explosive. As such, I think they would wait until Day 2 to select a WR in this scenario. Instead, here's an edge rusher with a 9.33 RAS that should appeal to the new brass.

DL and OL are the huge favorites for this pick. With the OL need being more acute, I think that Iheanaschor or Miller would be atop the list if available, but they may not be. I will note that none other than Mike Vrabel was coaching up Iheanaschor at his Pro Day in a literal hands-on way as they went over pass pro technique. With Vrabel's Ohio St. connection, you'd have to think that Kayden McDonald could be appealing if available.

Seattle has lost Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant in free agency, and Devon Witherspoon could be a candidate for an extension before 2027 (which will be his fifth year option). As such, cheaper potential starters could be needed. Hood is youthful and rangy and has the upside to be a good press corner on the boundary.