USC

Justin Fields is not a certified bust, but he’s clearly not done enough to warrant a lucrative contract extension and is flawed as a passer. With at least 2, arguably 3 prospects available with higher ceilings as passers to “reset” the position, I think it’s almost a guarantee Chicago moves on with their pick of quarterback atop the draft.

Charlie has reported that teams have more variance franchise-by-franchise than the media, but I think Williams has the highest ceiling and the most special play-making ability - although I think Jayden Daniels could be a special quarterback too. His consistency on-script concerns me, but with the right development, Williams could be a special player.

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Other Options:

Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU) or Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina) - I’m a big fan of Daniels and believe he could be a dark horse for No. 1 overall. I’ve cooled a bit on Maye, but has an undeniable franchise QB skill-set. Charlie reported that teams are high on all 3 with comps to Kyler Murray (Williams), Lamar Jackson (Daniels) and Jared Goff (Maye).

Trade Down - Theoretically, the Bears could stick with Fields and trade down. I’d put that at around 20 % likelihood or less, though.

LSU

I said in my 1st mock that Sam Howell had probably done enough to keep his job, but I’ve changed my mind completely. Howell looked awful to end the year, and a new regime, new coach, and hopefully a new identity for a previously historic team rotted to the core by corruptive ownership needs a true franchise QB. It now seems almost inconceivable that Washington does not draft a QB here.

Many have Drake Maye here - a decision I would not criticize in the slightest - I personally have Jayden Daniels as my QB2 at this stage. Daniels would have been a 2nd or 3rd rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft, but returned to school and developed tremendously. He is coming off a Heisman Trophy campaign and is compared to Lamar Jackson by teams. I expect Daniels to surpass Maye as QB2, and could be a dark horse for the No. 1 overall pick.

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Other Options:

Caleb Williams (QB, USC) or Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina) - It’s possible that the top-3 QBs could go in any order, with Williams the No. 1 front-runner. However, the DC native could end up going to Washington if Chicago makes a surprise pick earlier. Some would disagree with me and have Maye in front of Daniels, too.

North Carolina

Update: Bill Belichik has indeed left via "mutual agreement". Wow. End of an era.

The Patriots can’t outright fire the man who created the greatest dynasty in NFL history, and the Patriots defense remains adequate, but signs point towards some form of departure for Bill Belichik. At the very least, I expect a more formal restructure of their football operations if he remains head coach, as this team is finally paying the price for abysmal drafting outside of a few decent picks (e.g. Christian Gonzalez).

Either way, though, New England needs a new quarterback. In a previous Open Rant (please bring them back, walterfootball.com) where I re-graded picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, I said the following after Mac Jones’ “pro bowl” rookie season - “Ultimately, I feel pretty confident in my original analysis. It shouldn’t shock people Mac Jones – out of the gate – was the best, as he was the most pro ready player. I believe Jones entered the best situation, playing under the best coach in NFL history, and much of his success has pertained to a solid run game. Would he have done much/any better in New York, or Chicago? That, I’m not sure of and is a part of the puzzle so many people miss. I do question whether in 5 years’ time, we still deem Mac to be the best QB in this class.”

Indeed, with time, Mac Jones proved the skeptics right - he’s not a starting QB in the NFL, and straight up sucks after 2 dismal years. This draft needs to focus on a complete overhaul for their putrid offense, starting with a quarterback. At one point I felt Maye could challenge Williams, but I have him as QB3 now behind Williams and Daniels. Still, teams seem high on him, and he has a good skill-set. He could be a great NFL starter.

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Other Options:

Caleb Williams (QB, USC) or Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU) - The other QBs who could go in the top-5.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Ohio State) - Harrison Jr. is the best player in this class. Belichik isn’t known for playing by the rules, and could opt to take the can’t-miss receiver if he isn’t in love with QB3 of this class.

Ohio State

I’ve long felt Kyler Murray is exceptionally overrated as a “3 time Pro Bowler”. However, given the slew of terrible quarterbacking we’ve seen this past season, it's clear he’s good enough to be an above average starting QB in the NFL. The Cardinals need to focus on acquiring talent rather than forcing need, and have a golden opportunity in this class with their draft capital. At No. 4, they get the sweet mix of BPA at one of their biggest positions of need.

Marvin Harrison Jr. seems destined to be the first non-QB off the board and is amongst the most elite prospects I’ve ever seen coming into the NFL. Since I’ve been mocking on walterfootball.com, the only receiver I’ve graded higher is Ja’Marr Chase. He has virtually no flaws, and is a truly special player who seems destined to be the next perennial Pro Bowl receiver. The Chargers at No. 5 feel like his absolute floor.

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Other Options:

Malik Nabers (WR, LSU) - Malik Nabers could be WR1 in most classes and is “the Jaylen Waddle to the Ja’Marr Chase” of the 2024 Class. Since digging more since my last mock 2 months ago, excluding Harrison, Nabers is my favorite WR prospect since the 2021 class and could easily be WR1 in the majority of other drafts. He’s worthy of a top-8 selection.

Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame) - Alt is starting to separate himself as OT1 after an exceptional season. This site is more down on Alt than most, and I trust Charlie Campbell over everyone else, but even here he’s a perennial top-10 pick. Back to back OT’s may be uncomfortable contractually, but the OL is paramount to the Cardinals’ new regime working. Joe Alt and Paris Johnson Jr. could be an elite bookend duo.

Trade Down - The Cardinals moved around the draft a lot in 2023, and could easily do so again in 2024. They have an awful roster and seem committed to Murray. If Harrison does go in the top-3, moving down for the final of the top-3 QBs feels like a good move.

Notre Dame

I was shocked by how dismal the Chargers were in 2023. Defensively they were an absolute mess, and their 1st round pick Quentin Johnston - my favorite WR coming into the draft last year - looked like a Laquon Treadwell caliber bust. They are blessed with a franchise QB, and a great Left Tackle, but they need to sort the rest of their roster quickly or risk squandering the prime years of Justin Herbert’s career. In my opinion, the best way they can improve quickly is to draft a premium bookend tackle here, then focus almost exclusively on defense for the remainder of the draft.

Joe Alt is an exceptionally gifted tackle who has very few flaws to his game. I think the argument could be made that he's the best tackle prospect since Penei Sewell. He has great size, is athletic, has stellar technique, is very consistent and left/right side versatility. He has some stiffness, but that’s almost inevitable for his size and not at a critical point of concern. Calling my shot now, I think Alt is a lock to go top-10 short of injury.

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Other Options:

Olu Fashanu (OT, Penn State) - Most media has Fashanu as their OT1, with others liking Alt more. However, Charlie Campbell has gone against the grain by saying Fashanu is not an elite prospect based on the opinion of several teams. Sure enough, although not by force, Fashanu’s stock has cooled a bit after a solid, but not spectacular 2023 season. I fall somewhere in between, liking Fashanu in the 7-16 sort of range as OT 2 or 3. He’s a possibility here, but I wouldn’t love it over Alt.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Ohio State) or Malik Nabers (WR, LSU) - I liked Quentin Johnston coming out of TCU as my WR1, but wow, I whiffed on that if his rookie season was anything to go by. He was utterly dreadful. With Keenen Allen 32 at the time of the next draft, and Mike Williams having the physical constitution of glass, I think receiver is an underrated possibility here. This is Harrison’s absolute floor.

Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia) - Bowers is an outstanding talent and should go top-10 based on talent and upside alone; he’s my 4th rated prospect. Much like Kyle Pitts, he’s a difference maker and a special prospect. The Chargers are his best shot of going in the top-10, otherwise, I think he may slide due to team needs.

LSU

If one of the top-3 QB’s is available, I think the Giants could make the call to move on from Daniel Jones, cap space hell or not. However, I think it's more likely the Giants ride out 2024 and gather as much talent as possible before addressing the position in 2025 (or, going down the Day 2 route of someone like Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr.). The Giants OL in 2023 was also awful, with Evan Neal approaching bust status, so they could consider moving Neal to guard and drafting a Fashanu, Mims or Latham. However, I think the Giants are best finally drafting their No. 1 receiver after 2-3 years on the trot of missing out on one.

As mentioned in “other options' ' for Arizona, Malik Nabers is a tremendous WR1 prospect in his own right, and if not in the same draft as a blue-chip elite graded franchise No. 1 receiver, he’d likely be WR1. He’s fast, dynamic, a deep threat and a good route runner with versatility to play on the outside or in the slot. Nabers was elite in 2023 and was the highest graded receiver in the country on PFF with very few flaws and would be WR1 the moment he touches down in East Rutherford.

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Other Options:

Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame) or Olu Fashanu (OT, Penn State) - OL was a huge problem in 2023. Kicking Neal in to guard and drafting a premium tackle to bookend with Andrew Thomas is within the realm of possibility.

Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU), Drake Maye (QB, North Carolina) or JJ McCarthy (QB, Michigan) - Daniels or Maye would be good value at No. McCarthy is my QB4 and list him as a technical possibility, but I have him more in the Will Levis range (whom I mocked to the Vikings at No. 23 last season, and never got the hype with) with a 50/50 shot at late 1st. I’m not overly confident at how high I’ve mocked him already, let alone at No. 6. In the top-10, I think they’d be making a Daniel Jones 2.0 reach. I’d prefer a Nix/Penix pick early Day 2 over McCarthy this high.

Penn State

Firstly, regarding Mike Vrabel, what the actual f**k? Vrabel is a top-10 head coach in the NFL who squeezed this roster for every ounce of quality he could get. Perhaps he was unwilling to fire his guys or something, because otherwise there was no grounds to get rid of him. The Titans’ current predicament falls on their sub-par drafting and awful contract extensions under Jon Robinson, not Vrabel’s coaching ability. Unless they get a Mike McDaniels type of offensive guru, I think they’ll regret this decision.

Regardless, I liked the Titans approach of taking the best OL available and then kicking the tires with a Round 2 QB last year, and they need to continue building their awful offensive line. Andre Dillard has my vote as the worst starting LT in the league and Nick Petit-Frere has not proven himself to be a capable starter, either, so they need a premium tackle upgrade.

Charlie Campbell reported that the media is higher on Olu Fashanu than NFL teams, but I think Fashanu is still a clear mid to high 1st rounder who is a safe prospect to become a multi-year good starting tackle in the NFL. He probably made a mistake not declaring in the 2023 draft as I think he was worse this season than in 2022, but has all the physical tools to be a difference maker. His floor will be attractive to the Titans who desperately need help on the OL.

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Other Options:

Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame), Amarius Mims (OT, Georgia) or Tyler Guyton (OT, Oklahoma) - Alt is probably the dream pick here. In terms of skill-set, Mims would be a top-5 prospect and is my Tyler Smith OL draft crush of this class, as his physical skill-set is elite and was very good when he played in 2023. He’ll probably slide due to his paper thin sample size, though. Guyton is another guy I’m higher on than consensus, and have him as my 16th overall prospect in this class.

Malik Nabers (WR, LSU) - The Titans need a WR1 long-term. Treylon Burks appears to be a bust, and DeAndre Hopkins is not a long-term solution at this stage. I doubt they’d prioritize it over OL, but if 2 or more OT’s go in the top-6, WR could be an alternative option.

Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama) or Laiatu Latu (EDGE, UCLA) - Turner and Latu are comfortably the two best edge players in this draft class. The Titans pass rush isn’t anemic by any means, but needs an injection of youth.

Alabama

The Falcons’ front office has done a good job in the draft and free agency by and large. I love their approach of “fire power, no matter what” in the 1st round, and filling defensive needs with proven veterans. However, they have not figured out the QB position yet. Ridder has proven that he is not an NFL starter, and they need to seriously consider being aggressive and trading up if they want a franchise QB. In this mock, they miss out on the top-3. They could entertain a moderate reach on JJ McCarthy, but instead I have them taking a franchise EDGE player.

Dallas Turner has been a menace in 2023 and has consolidated himself as a top-16 selection, worst case scenario. With Turner’s athletic profile and sack artistry acumen, I think he could be in line to be EDGE 1 and would fit the Falcons’ criteria of high-upside athleticism they typically look for in their 1st round players (Pitts, London, Robinson). I prefer Latu as a pure football player, but also have Turner rated highly and think he’ll go first with Latu’s medical history and lesser athleticism.

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Other Options:

Laiatu Latu (EDGE, UCLA) - Latu is my 7th overall prospect and a notch above Turner, who is my 9th. I think Turner is the better fit for Atlanta, but would not criticize Latu in the slightest.

Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU) or JJ McCarthy (QB, Michigan) - The Falcons need a quarterback, but are in an awful position to acquire one. Perhaps they trade him. I think it would be a mistake to “settle” for McCarthy, but we’ll see. Day 2 is feasible, as Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. are intriguing prospects.

Rome Odunze (WR, Washington) or Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, LSU) - It’s optimistic to think Nabers could be available at this juncture, but this class is loaded with receiving talent. Both of these guys are top-20 prospects, and aside from Drake London, the Falcons have a huge hole at receiver.

Washington

I think taking a Defensive End to pair with Montez Sweat could be a good option here, but without a 2nd round pick, I think they need to prioritize giving their new quarterback someone to throw to. DJ Moore is a clear WR1, but in the modern NFL you really need a great WR1 and WR2 to have a potent passing attack.

I was very split on whether to mock Odunze or Thomas. I really like Brian Thomas Jr. and think he could be an exceptional pro worthy of a top-20 selection, but Odunze has been ridiculously productive in 2022 and 2023 and himself has a solid skill-set with a higher floor. He has similar concern to Drake London, but like London, can get past his separation issue with his pure physicality and ability to win contested catches. No. 9 overall is the ceiling for Odunze, perhaps, but would be a safe pick few would criticize. Moore, Odunze and Kmet - plus the Bears’ OL investments - would give their quarterback of the future a very solid start.

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Other Options:

Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, LSU) - Odunze and Thomas Jr. are almost 50/50 on my rankings, having them 12th and 13th respectively on my big board.

Laiatu Latu (EDGE, UCLA) or Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama) - The Bears need to pair Sweat with somebody. I imagine they’ll chase an EDGE in free agency, but I wouldn’t criticize another trenches pick by Ryan Poles here either.

Trade Down - If they want a receiver, they may be best trading down. This draft has 5-7 receivers with 1st round grades, so they’d be unlikely to run out of options.

Oklahoma

The Jets’ OL should be much better than the disaster it has been under Joe Douglas given the investments gone into it. Mekhi Becton, after a promising rookie season, busted out from Year 2 onwards and is now a free agent. Alijah Vera-Tucker is very talented, but has had 2 season-ending juries in 3 years and really needs a home as he’s played virtually every spot aside from center. Their IOL still needs work outside of AVT. There are a variety of directions the Jets can go down, including a receiver or Brock Bowers, but without a 2nd round pick I think the Jets are best committing to the offensive line. Without being clairvoyant, I think they will conclude that AVT is best at guard or right tackle, focusing on Left Tackle instead.

Amarius Mims is amongst my favorite prospects in this class, but recently burned by drafting a 1st round OT with question marks, I think they may instead go with another player. As such, I’m going with a mild surprise here in Tyler Guyton. I am very high on Guyton and think he could be a riser for the 2023 draft class. He’s commonly mocked in the 20-32 range, but has a brilliant skill-set and is presently underrated in the media, but needs to play a bit tougher and more consistent. He reminds me a bit of Christian Darrisaw, who has become one of the league’s best Left Tackles.

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Other Options:

Olu Fashanu (OT, Penn State), JC Latham (Alabama) or Amarius Mims (Georgia) - Pick your poison on the offensive line.

Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia) - The Jets’ passing attack right now is Garrett Wilson and Tyler Conklin, the latter of whom is not a franchise long-term player for the Jets. Bowers would be more than range-worthy, but considering the Jets have a 2-year window to compete and no 2nd round pick, I’d question drafting a tight end over an offensive lineman, even if he’s technically the best prospect available.

UCLA

The Vikings have a clear and definitive need at quarterback, but will likely miss out on the best options. This is the first spot wheer I think JJ McCarthy makes sense - a reach, perhaps, but he’d be entering a great situation with a great coach. However, I think the Vikings may once again go back to Kirk Cousins, draft a QB on Day 2 and address their defense which is due to fall apart (based on their last few games of 2023, perhaps already has). They need multiple young front-seven additions, specifically, with a lot of expiring contracts.

Latu would be a tremendous value at No. 11 as I have mocked him as high as No. 5 where the Bears help said selection. Latu has been one of, if not “the” biggest risers of this process thus far. Playing well in 2022, he’s taken his play to another level in 2023. He’s been an animal, with speed and power moves, winning with technique and athleticism. He’s a nightmare for offensive lineman and can play in 3-4 or 4-3 defenses.

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Other Options:

Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama) - An alternative to Latu.

JJ McCarthy (QB, Michigan) - This pick or the next are the two picks where I think McCarthy could make sense, even if I view him more as a late 1st/early 2nd round prospect. Entering the perfect situation with a switched on offensive head coach, I think McCarthy could be a capable starter.

Nate Wiggins (CB, Clemson) or Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama) - Cornerbacks start coming into play here, as most of the secondary picks of this questionable regime have been busts. I’m not convinced they’ll go CB in Round 1, but if they do, both of these players are starting to come into their ranges.

Jer’Zhan Newton (DL, Illinois) - I have Newton as a prospect in the 20 - 32 range, but he could go higher than that due to his interior pass rushing ability, which is a rare and very valuable commodity. I wouldn’t hate Newton here if Latu and Turner are gone, as they need a difference maker up front.

Michigan

Statistically Russell Wilson was improved from 2022, but he’s still clearly not the same hall of fame-caliber quarterback he appeared to be for Seattle. After benching him despite being in playoff consideration, it's clear that the Broncos do not view him as their long-term quarterback. Considering the trade they made and the contract they gave him, that should mean the door for George Paton, although he still remains. The Broncos could feasibly take an edge rusher or cornerback here (they have their pick of the litter amongst secondary prospects) but I think Sean Payton could covet a signal caller like McCarthy and look to move on from Russell Wilson.

McCarthy is a polarizing prospect that some outlets have as a top-10 selection, and others has a 2nd round prospect. I view McCarthy more in the latter esteem, and I’m not overly confident with putting him at No. 12 as I think he’s more of an early 2nd round prospect like Will Levis, Drew Lock, etc. However, I think Minnesota and Denver would be two promising spots for McCarthy to land in the 1st round and would be reaches that could at least be argued for given their franchise situations. Whether he’ll ever be an elite playmaker remains to be seen, but McCarthy is a good athlete with a strong arm and can effectively push the ball downfield, something Wilson has really struggled with. He has some upside for Payton to work with.

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Other Options:

Bo Nix (QB, Oregon) - Similar to McCarthy, I do not view Nix as a 1st rounder, but I quite like his style of play. He is more of a 2nd rounder, but I wouldn’t hate McCarthy or Nix here if they are QB4 off the board, as I have close grades on both. A trade down would naturally be ideal.

Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama) or Laiatu Latu (EDGE, UCLA) - The Broncos need a more consistent pass rush. They’ve gotten away with what they currently have

Nate Wiggins (CB, Clemson) or Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama) - The Broncos have one of the best corners in football in Pat Surtain II, but aside from him, this position is a huge weakness. Wiggins or Arnold could be quality choices here.

Jer’Zhan Newton (DL, Illinois) - Zach Allen has not proven to be worth the investment so far

Clemson

The Raiders are yet another team with a need at quarterback, but I’m pretty confident they will miss out on the top guys as there are 5 QB needy teams ahead of them. Aidan O’Connell isn’t a long-term starter, but he will probably start for 2024. Meanwhile, the Raiders need to make multiple upgrades on their defense, especially at cornerback, which has been bleak for years.

Wiggins and Arnold grade very closely for me, but I think Wiggins has the slight edge as CB1 due to his better boundary physical skill-set, with good range, size and athletic ability. His ball skills aren’t exceptional, but he is very disruptive and a balanced corner between man and zone.

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Other Options:

Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama) or Cooper DeJean (CB/S, Iowa) - Arnold and Cooper DeJean are the next two players on my entire big board after Wiggins. DeJean is an exceptional athlete who would be better as a nickel or safety. Arnold was incredible in 2023 and for me is a safe 1st rounder, and the better of the two Alabama cornerbacks (more on Kool-Aid later).

Jer’Zhan Newton (DL, Illinois) - Another position neglected for far too long under the previous two regimes. Newton would help a lot to improve that.

Amarius Mims (OT, Georgia) or JC Latham (OT, Alabama) - According to this site, the Raiders wanted Paris Johnson Jr. in 2023, but was pipped by the Cardinals via a trade up. Their OL has outperformed their personnel, and I absolutely love the idea of the raw but

Georgia

The Saints need more defensive line investment, and could justify drafting an OT as well, as Trevor Penning looks to be a bust. However, if Bowers slips to 14 they’d surely pull the trigger. Juwan Johnson isn’t going to stop the Saints targeting the premium tight end, and their remaining receiving corps still needs help. Olave is a good player, but Michael Thomas is done and Rashid Shaheed is a WR2/3. Bowers is a very polished player already who is a dangerous receiving weapon and decent blocker for his size. He is not quite as special a prospect as Kyle Pitts, but he has speed, athleticism, strength and route running prowess more akin to a wide out rather than a tight end.

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Other Options:

Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, LSU) or Rome Odunze (WR, Washington) - Receiver could be in play for the above reasons.

Amarius Mims (OT, Georgia) or Tyler Guyton (OT, Oklahoma) - The Saints still have a huge issue at LT, and their IOL isn’t much better. Mims could be a quality upside pick.

Laiatu Latu (EDGE, UCLA) - Based on the player alone, this would be Latu’s floor. However, his medical retirement at Washington could make Latu slide. I’m going to presume he’s medically sound until the combine implicates otherwise, but it is something to monitor.

Alabama

Ronny Moore is a quality corner, and I liked the JuJu Brents selection 44th overall last year, but the Colts need another cornerback to finish the room. I really like Terrion Arnold as a top-20 selection. Arnold would be a good fit as he can either play the inside, or outside if they opt to play Moore at nickel instead.

Arnold has mild speed concerns, but is a tremendous football player who outside of a couple of rough games - notably, against Texas - had a stellar 2023 season. He also has good ball skills. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the more popular Alabama cornerback, but Charlie recently reported that teams typically prefer Terrion “Ghost” Arnold, and that speed is the only thing really preventing him from being a 1st round lock. If he runs anything above average during pre-draft testing, I think Arnold will ascend higher and higher, as the tape is that of a mid-1st round pick.

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Other Options:

Nate Wiggins (CB, Clemson) or Cooper DeJean (CB/S, Iowa) - Other options.

Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, LSU) or Rome Odunze (WR, Washington) - If Michael Pittman Jr. leaves, this will probably be a receiver. If he remains, then I think Pittman-Downs-Pierce is a good trio of receivers for Richardson in 2024.

Georgia

This pick is really about prioritizing an underperforming offensive line and getting great value out of an elite-skill set player. Abe Lucas is a good right tackle I like, but has had injuries throughout 2023, and could move inside to guard. The Seahawks IOL is a mess, so the Seahawks could prioritize drafting a more natural guard - like Troy Fautanu or Graham Barton - or drafting someone like Mims who could play at guard or RT, playing Lucas at the alternate spot.

In terms of pure skill-set, Mims is my OT1; balancing tape, athleticism and other factors, he’s my OT3. Mims could go as early as No. 10, or slide to the late 20’s because of his little tape. However, what he did as a starter in 2023 really impressed me. Mims should test like a physical freak and if he interviews well, I think he could still break the top-20. He looks like a monstrous tackle with an elite skill-set, and Charlie has reported comparisons to future HOF tackle Tyron Smith.

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Other Options:

Cooper DeJean (CB, Iowa) or Kamren Kinchens (S, Miami) - Kinchens was a bit inconsistent in 2023 but is still a top-2 safety for me, the No. 1 if you consider DeJean a corner. DeJean can play safety or nickel. The Seahawks safety corps is getting old and underperforming their contracts. I could see the Seahawks getting rid of Adams/Diggs and getting younger on defense.

Jer’Zhan Newton (DL, Illinois) - The Seahawks seemed destined to take Jalen Carter before taking Devon Witherspoon instead. They couldn’t have gone wrong either way, as both players are having tremendous rookie seasons. However, their DL did struggle at times. They traded for Leonard Williams in an ill-fated attempt to improve their DL, and Newton could bring some youth to that defensive front. There is a chance their scheme may also change now Pete Caroll is shockingly out of the door, where Newton could thrive sas a 4-3 3-tech.

JJ McCarthy (QB, Michigan) or Bo Nix (QB, Oregon) - Is it shocking to consider that Geno Smith may not stay on with a coaching change? I’m not so sure it is. McCarthy and Nix aren’t great values at this spot, but the Seahawks may miss out on both by picking the 3rd round, as they traded their 2nd round pick for Leonard Williams.