Free Agency/Trades Mock Draft

Barring something unforeseen between now and April 23rd, Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza will be saying 'Viva Las Vegas!'

Certainly wouldn't surprise me to see the Jets look at potentially trading out, but they might not have such an easy time finding a trade partner. If they stay at 2, an EDGE rusher feels like the best bet. Aaron Glenn will need to show some progress in his second year as head coach, so I could see him preferring the more polished David Bailey over the more hybrid EDGE/LB in Arvell Reese.

Like the Jets in front of them, I think the Cardinals could also be open for business at 3 if the right offer comes. Just not sure that offer will come this year like it did in 2023 when the Texans wanted to trade up from 12 to 3 to select Alabama EDGE rusher Will Anderson after they took C.J. Stroud at 2. If forced to stay at 3, Reese feels like a good bet in the scenario where the Jets take David Bailey at 2.

Options at middle linebacker are more plentiful after the first round than the running back options will be, which tilts the scales in the direction of Jeremiyah Love here over Sonny Styles even though Styles would be such a great fit in a Robert Saleh defense. Gotta help Cam Ward out, and with no receiver worth the selection, Ward feels an endless love with the selection of the running back named Love. Lame pun, I know...

Two Ohio State guys stand out here for new coach John Harbaugh. I'll go with Sonny Styles here over Caleb Downs as I think he'd be an excellent fit next to Tremaine Edmunds in the middle of that Giants defense.

By all accounts I'm seeing, Freeling seems like a guy who's gaining helium and will go in at least the top 15 and possibly in the top 10. Ideally, the Browns could find a trade partner here. But with none calling, they stick here and grab Freeling to be their left tackle.

Jeremiyah Love might be the dream selection here to pair with Jayden Daniels, but I feel it's more likely that one of the two standout Ohio State defensive players will still be available. And either one would be a nice, needed selection here to help out the defense. In this instance, Downs is the one left standing.

Despite reports that Makai Lemon gave off some weird vibes at the combine and may not have interviewed particularly well, he's a guy I'm still all in on. His route running is terrific, and he'll catch anything in his vicinity. He also ran a bit better than expected at his pro day. Remember last year when the Carolina Panthers took Tetairoa McMillan at 8 to help out Bryce Young in last year's draft? Well, in a copycat league, the Saints decide to take a page out of that playbook.

Cowboys get: Picks 9, 29 and 109 (R4)
Chiefs get: Picks 12, 20 and 92 (R3)

Dallas moves up three spots to get Mansoor Delane, the likely to be top corner to be selected in this year's draft. It's certainly possible the Chiefs themselves could draft Delane given that they've lost Trent McDuffie via trade and Jaylen Watson in free agency, but they have another prospect in mind and allow Dallas to move ahead of Cincinnati for the LSU corner, whose stock might be rising further after running a blazing 4.35 40 time at LSU's pro day.

Although the Bengals did add Boye Mafe in free agency, they did (predictably) lose Trey Hendrickson in free agency to the Baltimore Ravens. Teams can never have too many quality guys who can get after the QB, especially after Shemar Stewart struggled mightily as a rookie last season. Bain doesn't have the ideal length, and he may not test out of the gym the way Stewart did, but he's a much more polished and ready-made EDGE rusher coming out than Stewart ever was.

Mauigoa has the look of a long-time quality starter at either right tackle or inside at guard. The Dolphins would not be unwise to add him and ensure he continues playing his home games at Hard Rock Stadium.

I'm fully aware that Travis Kelce signed a three year deal just recently, but it's really only a one year contract disguised as a three year deal. Sadiq would be a perfect understudy for Kelce to mentor and eventually take Kelce's spot as the TE1 in Kansas City.

Should the draft board play out like it does from picks 1 through 11, the Rams really couldn't lose. Kansas City made their decision easier by selecting Sadiq, leaving them Carnell Tate. He's the latest great WR talent to churn out of Brian Hartline's factory, and what a great replacement he'd be for Davante Adams long-term.

Baltimore was thought to have a deal in place for EDGE rusher Maxx Crosboy, sending this pick and a 2027 first round pick to the Raiders in return. Depending upon whether you believe the deal fell through due to legitimate medical concerns or the Ravens getting cold feet, the Ravens got their picks back. Penn State's Vega Ioane just feels like a great fit for what they like to do, pounding the rock with Derrick Henry and mixing in some runs with Lamar Jackson.

Chiefs get: Picks 15 and 46 (R2)
Buccaneers get: Picks 20, 40 (R2) and 92 (R3)

Kansas City moves up and addresses their secondary with the versatile Dillon Thieneman, who I just love as a prospect. He's a guy who excels in all aspects of the game and is capable of wearing multiple different hats, something I'm sure defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would covet.

Geno Smith definitely isn't the long-term answer at QB for the Jets, but whoever that is will need some legitimate receivers to throw to. Jordyn Tyson is the best one left on the board, and he's gotten some great tutelage from former Steelers WR Hines Ward the last couple of years.