Great news: the NFL Draft is just over 24 hours away.
The bad news: the NFL Draft ends in over 72 hours.
This has been a chaotic offseason filled with drama, discussions, debates, and conversations on draft prospects, who teams could be drafting, which one of them is taking a quarterback, and so much more. I have thoroughly enjoyed evaluating this year’s prospects while being able to write about them for both Blue Chip Scouting and Fansided’s Cat Crave Blog.
This is my third and final mock draft of the draft process. This is how I believe the first round could go down Thursday night in what is setting up to be one of the most unpredictable first rounds in recent recollection. Please note that I will likely be 100 percent wrong with every selection.
1) Carolina Panthers (via Bears) select Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Scott Fitterer and Frank Reich secure their quarterback for years to come in Bryce Young, whose’s size will be a talking point during his playing career.
2) Houston Texans select Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
With their top player off the board, DeMeco Ryans gets arguably the best player in the draft and his very own Nick Bosa in Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr.
3) Arizona Cardinals select Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
If the Cardinals are able to trade back, I believe they will do so. However, I think they will sit tight and look to add protection around Kyler Murray once he returns from injury by selecting his personal choice at No. 3 overall.
4) Indianapolis Colts select Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
The patience of GM Chris Ballard pays off as the Colts finally find their successor to Andrew Luck with historically athletic and gifted Anthony Richardson, who is a perfect fit in Shane Steichen’s offense. The Gators QB has the ability to start right away and should he improve his accuracy and consistency as a passer, he could be the best player from this draft.
5) Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos) select Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
This could be Will Levis, but Tyree Wilson is beloved by the NFL and his raw talent should excite Pete Carroll and his defense as the Seahawks continue to build a steady roster for years to come.
6) Detroit Lions (via Rams) select Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
With the style of football the Lions like to play, Devon Witherspoon makes too much sense here. He’s a physical and aggressive player against both the run and pass, and he fills a crucial need at the cornerback position following the Jeff Okudah trade.
7) TRADE! Minnesota Vikings (via Raiders) select C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Vikings acquire: 1.07 and 3.100 | Raiders acquire: 1.23, 4.119, 2024 1st Round, 2025 2nd Round
The Vikings take a massive gamble by moving up to acquire Kirk Cousins’ successor in C.J. Stroud, whose elite accuracy on all levels of the field and football IQ make him a premier selection and worth the trade-up.
8) TRADE! Tennessee Titans (via Falcons) select Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Titans acquire: 1.08 | Falcons acquire: 1.11, 3.72, 2024 2nd Round
Back-to-back trades for quarterbacks as the Titans move up three spots in the draft order to acquire their successor for Ryan Tannehill. Levis is a raw prospect who will need time to develop, yet offers the potential to be a high-level QB at the next level.
9) Chicago Bears (via Panthers) select Jalen Carter, iDL, Georgia
The Bears have an abysmal defensive front. I believe they will end Jalen Carter’s slide and shore up that position group with arguably the best overall prospect in the draft.
10) Philadelphia Eagles (via Saints) select Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Just missing out on Jalen Carter, Howie Roseman adds to the EDGE rusher group by selecting Carter’s teammate, the unique Nolan Smith, with the 10th overall selection.
11) Atlanta Falcons (via Titans) select Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
It seems like the Falcons are set with Desmond Ridder at quarterback. That means it’s time to add more weapons around him for him to succeed. That starts with the best receiver in the draft, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who can be a high-volume target for the franchise.
12) TRADE! Washington Commanders (via Texans) select Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Commanders acquire: 1.12 | Texans acquire: 1.16, 3.118, 2024 3rd Round
The Commanders jump up four spots to take the best defensive prospect on the board. Christian Gonzalez is a fluid and sound cornerback who fills a big need for Ron Rivera’s defense.
13) Green Bay Packers (via Jets) select Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Protecting Jordan Love should be a priority for the Packers. I love the idea of adding a versatile offensive lineman like Peter Skoronski to their offensive line.
14) New England Patriots select Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
The Patriots have needs at offensive tackle and corner. However, they can knock out two birds with one stone by taking a versatile defensive lineman such as Lukas Van Ness, whose power and athleticism allow him to play both from a five-technique and three-technique in certain situations.
15) New York Jets (via Packers) select Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Welcome to New York, Aaron Rodgers! Time to make sure you get some steady protection up front starting with Georgia’s Broderick Jones, who could be the future of the Jets offensive line.
16) Houston Texans (via Commanders) select Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
We may look back in a few years and see this draft as the one where the Texans added two key parts to their great defense. Deonte Banks is a fluid and disciplined corner who is also a violent tackler in the run game, something Ryans will value a lot.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers select Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
One of the biggest rules for building around a young franchise QB is adding protection around him. The Steelers have a big need at right tackle, and Darnell Wright is arguably the best player at that specific spot.
18) Detroit Lions select Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Bresee is the best defensive tackle in this draft class outside of Jalen Carter, I still believe he will be the second DT off the board, and that will be the case here as the Lions continue to add more talent to their up-and-coming defense.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
This is a no-brainer selection for the Buccaneers. Murphy is the best player available and will look to make an immediate impact on Todd Bowles’ defense.
20) Seattle Seahawks select Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Seattle really can’t help themselves with big, long-armed cornerbacks. However, adding an exciting No. 2 cornerback opposite of the rookie sensation Tariq Woolen would make this a slam-dunk first-round for the ‘Hawks.
21) Los Angles Chargers select Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Austin Ekeler’s future in L.A. is in doubt and it wouldn’t surprise me if is traded this weekend or afterward. The selection of top three overall prospect Bijan Robinson would be the final nail in the coffin for Ekeler’s time with the Chargers.
22) Baltimore Ravens select O’Cyrus Torrence, iOL, Florida
The Ravens should be getting a healthy Rashod Bateman back this season while also keeping their fingers crossed that Odell Beckham Jr. returns to his prime form. Whoever the QB is, however, adding more protection up front following the loss of Ben Powers would be beneficial for all parties.
23) Las Vegas Raiders (via Vikings) select Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
The Raiders trading back pays off, as they secure one of my favorite offensive line prospects in this year’s draft class, the 6-foot-8, 359-pound Dawand Jones.
24) Jacksonville Jaguars select Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Brian Branch is a top-five prospect in this year’s draft, in my honest opinion. The Jaguars have a need for safety and nickel. The Alabama defensive back would be an excellent selection here for a franchise on the rise.
25) New York Giants select Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
The Giants have done well to add more weapons around Daniel Jones and they continue to do so here with the electric Zay Flowers.
26) Dallas Cowboys select Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
I have no idea what the Cowboys are going to do here. My guess is that they could go with the No. 1 overall player on Bryce Feldmen’s Freaks List (who also happens to be a good defensive lineman), Mazi Smith.
27) Buffalo Bills select Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The Bills should start considering their future at wide receiver. Could this be Stefon Diggs’ last season in upstate New York? It’s unclear, but I do love the fit here with the selection of USC’s Jordan Addison, a top-three route runner in this draft.
28) Cincinnati Bengals select Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
It wouldn’t surprise me if Michael Mayer was the best player available on their draft board at this point. This is a dream scenario for the Bengals, who secure their future at tight end and give Joe Burrow a true security blanket over the middle of the field.
29) TRADE! Los Angeles Rams (via Saints) select Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Rams acquire: 1.29 | Saints acquire: 2.36, 3.77, 5.179
The Saints choose to trade back into the second round, allowing the Rams to fill a need in the backend of the first round with Julius Brents, a raw cornerback with terrific size and athleticism.
30) Philadelphia Eagles select Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
The Eagles need to consider the future of Fletcher Cox. While Jordan Davis is expected to be the future one-tech, I can see the Eagles falling involve with Calijah Kancey, who is an outlier but offers the talent to be a steady penetrating three-technique at the next level.
31) Kansas City Chiefs select Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
This might be the perfect place for any wide receiver with immense talent to succeed. I certainly like the idea of Johnston in K.C., but I don’t think the rest of the league will enjoy this selection whatsoever considering what the Chiefs just did without Tyreek Hill in 2022.
