It’s Draft Day! The time has finally come where all the work put in throughout the draft season comes together culminating in a special three day stretch for teams and fans alike. As we draw closer to the Tennessee Titans officially being put on the clock, lets take one last predictive look at how the 1st round will turn out.
Pick 1: Tennessee Titans – QB Cam Ward
This pick has seemingly been locked in for over over a month now. Ward travels from Miami to Tennessee to try and revive a Titans franchise at a low point.
Pick 2: Cleveland Browns – CB/WR Travis Hunter
Andrew Berry has made his love for Travis Hunter very known and it seems like they will sprint in the card to pickup the unicorn two-way prospect with this selection.
Pick 3: New York Giants – EDGE Abdul Carter
While QB is certainly an option, there is no player available worth selecting here. So they instead opt to go best player available in EDGE rusher Abdul Carter.
Pick 4: New England Patriots – OL Will Campbell
The Patriots decide to neglect the arm length questions and take the first step in improving the protection for promising young QB Drake Maye by selecting the former LSU tiger.
Pick 5: Chicago Bears (Mock Trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars) – RB Ashton Jeanty
The Bears start the movement of the draft off with a trade to come up and get big time playmaker Ashton Jeanty. Ben Johnson values running back more then most other coaches so the common argument of positional value will not hold water within the Bears organization.
Pick 6: Las Vegas Raiders – OL Armand Membou
With their rumored top interest –Ashton Jeanty– off the board, The Raiders turn their attentions toward tightening up the offensive line in front of new QB Geno Smith.
Pick 7: New York Jets – TE Tyler Warren
The Jets are looking for weapons to surround new QB Justin Fields, and they get a big one in Penn State’s dynamic tight end Tyler Warren.
Pick 8: Carolina Panthers – EDGE/LB Jalon Walker
The Panthers bring home the North Carolina kid and former Georgia Bulldog to add a versatile piece to their defense for Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero to utilize.
Pick 9: New Orleans Saints – OL Kelvin Banks
The Saints had a glaring need on the offensive line and with the added loss of Ryan Ramczyk retiring, that need is even more of a priority. Banks is one of the best offensive linemen in this class and he is the pick here to sure up the trenches in New Orleans.
Pick 10: Jacksonville Jaguars (Mock Trade with the Chicago Bears) – Tetairoa McMillan
After sliding down from pick 5, the Jaguars intended target falls to them in Arizona’s “T-Mac”. The Jaguars add a versatile wideout to pair with Brian Thomas Jr., while picking up added draft capital in the process.
Pick 11: San Francisco 49ers – DL Mason Graham
The 49ers end Grahams slide as they bring in the Michigan product to rejuvenate the interior defensive line unit.
Pick 12: Dallas Cowboys – WR Matthew Golden
The Cowboys keep the Texas wideout in state at pick 12. Golden is a dynamic inside out wide receiver who would pair nicely with superstar Ceedee Lamb.
Pick 13: Miami Dolphins – DL Walter Nolen
Nolen is one of the hardest prospects to nail down a range for, but here the dolphins opt to bank on the upside and select Nolen to revitalize a struggling defensive front.
Pick 14: Indianapolis Colts – OL Grey Zabel
This pick likely comes down to Colston Loveland or Grey Zabel, here the Colts opt for the bigger need and bring in the FCS offensive linemen to fill the glaring hole at right guard left by Will Fries.
Pick 15: Atlanta Falcons – EDGE Mike Green
The Falcons have continuously passed on their need of EDGE help in previous drafts but that stops this year as they add exciting Marshall EDGE rusher Mike Green.
Pick 16: Los Angeles Rams (Mock Trade with the Arizona Cardinals) – TE Colston Loveland
In a big projected move, the Rams come up from 26 in a move to acquire the dynamic tight end. The rams brass was all-in on Brock Bowers last year but was unable to get into range to select him. This year they are able to successfully get in range to add a difference making tight end.
Pick 17: Cincinnati Bengals – EDGE Shemar Stewart
Stewart is an interesting case as he lacks sack production in college but man is he explosive. He has all the traits to develop into a big time EDGE rusher and the Bengals will make the bet here on being able to shape and develop him in their scheme.
Pick 18: Seattle Seahawks – CB Will Johnson
The slide of Will Johnson ends in Seattle. Once heralded as a surefire top 5 pick, Johnson has fell down draft boards due to injury and speed concerns. The seahawks take a chance on Johnson, hoping he can return to the form that once had him projected so highly.
Pick 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LB Jihaad Campbell
Campbell is the perfect fit for the Todd Bowles defensive scheme. Getting to learn under and play side by side with Lavonte David is arguably the best place he can be selected to maximize his unique skillset.
Pick 20: Denver Broncos – RB TreVeyon Henderson
Sean Payton is no stranger to shocking the masses and having complete disregard for other teams draft boards. Here Payton and co opt to take the exciting Ohio State running back prospect to turn around their ground game.
Pick 21: Pittsburgh Steelers – RB Omarion Hampton
Back to back running backs as the Steelers are thrilled Hampton slides to them. Quarterback is likely on the table here – as the seemingly never ending Aaron Rodgers saga is still unknown. But instead choose to get Arthur Smith his bell cow back that he can funnel the offense through.
Pick 22: Los Angeles Chargers – DL Kenneth Grant
Harbaugh gets one of his guys in Kenneth Grant. Chargers brass has outspokenly expressed their regret in not getting Poona Ford back on the roster. They replace Ford with an even better run stopper with an immensely high ceiling.
Pick 23: Green Bay Packers – DB Jahdae Barron
Barron’s slide ends here as the Packers add the dynamic defensive back. Barron is one of the best players in this class but many teams classify him as a nickelback which is a devalued position. Nonetheless Barron is far too talented to slip further then this and the Packers are thrilled do add a dynamic DB especially with Jaire Alexander’s uncertain future.
Pick 24: Cleveland Browns (Mock Trade with the Minnesota Vikings) – Shedeur Sanders
The Browns come back up into the first round to get their guy in Shedeur Sanders – keeping the Colorado boys together-. This is closer to the range Sanders belongs in terms of true talent and he will get a chance to compete from day 1.
Pick 25: Houston Texans – OL Tyler Booker
The Texans offensive line is in the process of being fully overhauled. Reports have indicated that the Texans feel fine about their tackles and are looking to prioritize a guard. There is no “bigger and badder” guard to set the tone for the new look offensive line then Booker.
Pick 26: Arizona Cardinals (Mock Trade with the Los Angeles Rams) – OL Donovan Jackson
The Cardinals offensive line coach is coming from Ohio State as their offensive line coach so there is levels of familiarity with Jackson and the coaching staff. Many teams have Jackson as the best pure guard in the class and the Cardinals would happily turn in the card here.
Pick 27: New York Giants (Mock Trade with the Baltimore Ravens) – QB Jaxon Dart
After seeing the Browns come up for their guy, the Giants do the same for theirs coming up to snag Dart. Daboll did wonders for last years MVP Josh Allen in Buffalo and he will look to do the same thing while developing Dart.
Pick 28: Detroit Lions – EDGE Mykel Williams
The Lions need EDGE help and they are able to find it in Georgia’s freak athlete Mykel Williams. Williams does not have high level college sack production but still has the potential to grow into a true difference maker.
Pick 29: Washington Commanders – EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku
The Commanders in need of EDGE help, take Boston College’s Ezeiruaku to add firepower to their defense. Ezeiruaku has a deep bag of pass rush moves and can be a true game breaker in the often productive Dan Quinn defense.
Pick 30: Buffalo Bills – DB Malaki Starks
Starks is a dynamic playmaker on the backend – an area where Buffalo has struggled-. Starks fills a need and is arguably the best player on the board, making this an easy selection for the Bills.
Pick 31: Kansas City Chiefs – OL Josh Simmons
Simmons is coming off a devasting leg injury but seems to be making incredible progress -evidenced by his pro day mobility-. The Chiefs added an unproven tackle in free agency but after losing the super bowl due to their tackle play, they opt to continue to overhaul the room and take the best tackle available.
Pick 32: Philadelphia Eagles – DL Derrick Harmon
The Eagles continue to do “Eagle things” selecting the star defensive tackle dropping due to some injury concerns. Philly has lost some pieces in the front 7 to free agency and they replenish part of that unit here.
