The NFL draft is this Thursday, the 23rd. It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year. Full of optimism and intrigue. And there seems to be more mystery than ever this year – I’ve heard that’s on purpose as the League wants this to be a high-drama spectacle. No spoilers!
Anyway – here is my first ever attempt at a mock draft. I decided not to inject trades into this, although there certainly will be some on Thursday night. Adding that layer of complexity would just make it too hard to follow. I linked highlights for each guy so you can take a peek.
I set the over/under on correct picks at 1.5… let me know what you think.
- Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Best prospect since Andrew Luck? Weird personality but can’t deny he’s a stud. Bears fans should be very excited.
- Washington Commanders – Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Gets a lot of Josh Allen comparisons… but he does not have the arm Josh has. Some throws just look weird, then others fly out of his hand beautifully. Looks smaller than Josh even though he just barely is. Doesn’t jump off the screen to me the same way Caleb or Jayden do. Everyone is mocking Jayden Daniels here but I’m sticking to my guns.
- New England Patriots – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Roadrunner. Wow.
- Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, OSU
There’s power in king’s blood.
- Los Angeles Chargers – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Hoss. Pro sports runs in the family. NFL weight room = Hall of Fame potential.
- New York Giants – Malik Neybers, WR, LSU
Better than Marv? People are asking.
- Tennessee Titans – Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Best run blocker in college football last year. And didn’t give up a single sack throughout his college career.
- Atlanta Falcons – Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
Freak.
- Chicago Bears – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Plays strong. Looks like an NFL player. Named Rome because his dad was really into the Empire. Sick.
- New York Jets – Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Stud Polynesian. Seems like a good dude. Sneaky violent. Secret Service for Aaron Rodgers.
- Minnesota Vikings – JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Thought he was a dud. Re-watched the highlights and now see the ceiling a little bit. Prediction: high paid backup for a long time. All his TDs went to the same guy… maybe just draft Roman Wilson?
- Denver Broncos – Jared Verse, Edge, FSU
How did I not know more about this dude? Has a name that sounds like we’ll be hearing it for 10 years.
- Las Vegas Raiders – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toleda
Absolute dawg out of the MAC.
- New Orleans Saints – Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Man amongst boys. Saints need an offensive lineman in the worst way.
- Indianapolis Colts – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
A tank with a jet engine. Incredible.
- Seattle Seahawks – Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Super athlete. Could squish you like a bug. Jumps off the screen as a clear pro.
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Florida man.
- Cincinnati Bengals – JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Protect Joe Burrow at all costs. This dude is a mountain.
- Los Angeles Rams – Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Beast. Medically retired from football a couple years ago and found his way back. Would be the first defensive player drafted if he didn’t have a fused neck. Somehow still makes football look easy… and violent.
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Graham Barton, OT, Duke
Tried to think of a pancake: pierogi pun but came up with nothing.
- Miami Dolphins – Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
The Dolphins need offensive line, and JPJ can play center, left guard, and right guard. Strong like bull.
- Philadelphia Eagles – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
WHITE CORNERBACK. This is unprecedented. For real though, the Eagles secondary is a severe liability. And I think the Eagles will be one of the best teams at adapting to the new kick-off rules, which would make DeJean’s return skills very valuable.
- Minnesota Vikings – Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton
They got their QB with their first pick. Now let’s get a QB killer. Tough as all hell. Want him on my team.
- Dallas Cowboys – Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
6 foot 8, 340 pounds. Incredible upside. Is his balance a little off? Seems like he should mash people harder.
- Green Bay Packers – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
A lion.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Ridiculous athlete. Was recruited to play both football and basketball at Alabama. Nickname came from Grandma who said he had the Kool-Aid man smile.
- Arizona Cardinals – Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
Chop Chop.
- Buffalo Bills – Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Let’s unleash a Tiger in Orchard Park. Dude would disintegrate an on-fire folding table.
- Detroit Lions – Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Absolutely reeks of a Dan Campbell favorite.
- Baltimore Ravens – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Dude is 6’8 320 pounds and initially signed to play at TCU as an “athlete” rather than naming a position because he wasn’t sure if he wanted to play tight end, running back, or offensive lineman.
- San Francisco 49ers – Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Jordan Morgan has the most 49ers sounding name ever.
- Kansas City Chiefs – Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri
And when Andy Reid saw the breadth of his domain he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.