Ohio State

I'm going to flip-flop back to Stroud, even as Bryce Young has become the betting favorite to go #1 overall. It's been floated out there that the Panthers are smokescreening to try to get the Texans to trade up for Young, and I think I buy it. The odds shift going to Stroud once the trade was announced is just sticking with me.

Alabama

If the Panthers are trying to get the Texans to cough up some draft capital to move to #1 for Young, it will be interesting to see if the Texans flinch. If Young does go #1 to the Panthers, there are increasing rumors that the Texans could pass on Stroud and then things could really get chaotic for the mocks, assuming they don't make a pre-draft trade.

Alabama

The obvious pick for the Colts here would be Levis. We know that the Colts need a potential franchise QB. But, work with me here...what if they simply don't like Levis? Would they force the pick anyway? I'm not so sure. Perhaps they would take Anderson instead, and go QB hunting next year. In any case, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Indy would take Levis if they can't trade up to #3 for Richardson, the QB I believe is significantly ahead of Levis for most teams. If he doesn't go here, I believe he could fall significantly.

Florida

TRADE! #11, #41, and a '24 1st for #3.

Let's try a different trade here from the last mock, where I have Indy making the small move up for Richardson. Perhaps the fact that Arizona's new GM, Monti Ossenfort, just came from Tennessee's building could lead to a deal between the two sides. We know that the Titans made an offer to move up to #1 before the Bears took Carolina's offer, so they are clearly QB hunting with Ryan Tannehill in the final year of his deal. This would be a scenario where the Cardinals would be passing on Will Anderson but picking up significant draft capital, and that wouldn't be a bad thing for a rebuilding club. Richardson can sit and learn for a year behind Tannehill, or perhaps make starts later in the season.

Texas Tech

Instead of Anderson falling to them, here it's Wilson who is available, and Seattle still addresses a position of need.

Illinois

I'm going back to this pick that I had weeks ago, and I especially feel more confident of it now that Witherspoon has become the heavy betting favorite to go as the first CB off the board (-200 as of April 12). The more I think about the type of player that Witherspoon is (so stingy in run support and a willing tackler), and the more I think about Dan Campbell's comments about watching the tape, I just can't get this pick out of my head.

Oregon

I feel like the Raiders could value the potential CB1 on their board more than the first OL, but you could certainly make a case for any of the hog mollies up front. I do not think this regime would take Levis here, as I think they might be under pressure to produce some improved results this season.

Texas

If the top two edge players and top two CB's are off the board for Atlanta at #8, as they are here, this is a tough call. Jalen Carter? Bijan Robinson? The third-best edge rusher, whomever that might be? The third-best CB, widely thought to be Joey Porter Jr.? The player with the highest grade here is Robinson, but he plays the position of least importance in today's NFL. However, Atlanta has an unwavering commitment to running the ball. I'm going to guess that Robinson's talent wins the day.

Ohio State

After getting the haul from the Panthers, the Bears are now in this spot. Nate Davis was an excellent guard signing in free agency, and selecting a blue-chip tackle prospect could be another way of giving Justin Fields his best chance to succeed in '23. If the OL is shored up, and after acquiring DJ Moore, Bears brass should have a better answer as to whether or not Fields can be the long-term answer, particularly as a passer. (We know he can run.) If Fields flops with a better offensive supporting cast, the team could have the draft capital next year to try to get one of the top QB's, if it wants to move on. I think that Johnson could be seen as the highest-upside tackle prospect.

Georgia

Philly loves to build through the trenches. Jalen Carter is still on the board. It certainly seems like there are red flags with Carter, but this could be a scenario where Howie Roseman goes with a Georgia DT early in the draft in back-to-back years. With another pick at #30, they simply may feel like the upside is worth more than the downside.

Iowa

TRADE!

After the move down the board, Arizona takes the guy that it thinks is the best pass rusher available. Of course, we know the DL needs rebuilding, and Jonathan Gannon's Eagles defense had a bevy of pass rush options. Van Ness is a start.

Ohio State

JSN is the big favorite to be the first WR chosen, and perhaps the Texans will want to get their new franchise QB an immediate #1 receiving option.

Northwestern

Skoronski would be the clear-cut OL1 of the draft if he had longer arms, and he still could go off the board as the first one. There were similar questions about former Northwestern LT Rashawn Slater, who has looked like a Pro Bowl LT since he stepped on the field for the Chargers. Skoronski seamlessly took his place in college, and perhaps he'll follow a similar path in the NFL.

Georgia

Perhaps Jones wouldn't start right away, but with aging Trent Brown at LT and stopgap free agent signee Riley Reiff at RT, Jones could make sense. It should also be noted that releasing Brown would only leave behind $1.25MM in dead cap.

Georgia

As much as I want to slot Quentin Johnston here, history suggests that Green Bay simply doesn't take 1st Round WR's. It really would be funny if they did it in the year that they are going to let Rodgers go, though. Still, what they often do is take athletic pass rushers with upside, so that's what I'll slot them here.

Penn State

Washington steals Porter Jr. away from the Steelers here, and in so doing, they fill a big need. Nope, no Levis here.