Written By
Jeff Bowers
It’s just not draft season without a completely pointless and quickly irrelevant mock draft.
However, it’s a fun talking point so here we go:
1. Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
This might be the most obvious pick in the draft, and I expect Fields to garner multiple Day 2
picks from someone (in this mock it’s the Raiders). Williams is an amazing playmaker, but my
only concern is his mental makeup adapting to the pro level and his ability to simply execute
offense without relying on going off-script (ironically the same issue Fields has).
2. Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
This is where the draft gets fun. I think the Commanders will get seduced by the perfumed inner
thigh of the playmaking QB and take Daniels over the more prototypical Drake Maye. Daniels is
a poor man’s Lamar Jackson and, like Lamar, he must learn to protect himself when running
and become more than a “one read and run” QB. But the flash will be too much to resist.
3. New England Patriots – Drake Maye, QB, UNC
The Patriots are still looking for the successor to Tom Brady after the Mac Jones experiment did
not bear fruit. Maye has prototypical size and processing skills. The issue was his step back
after losing his weapons at North Carolina, drawing obvious comparisons to his predecessor
Sam Howell. But I think Maye has a chance to be the most ready-made QB in this draft.
4. Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
The Cardinals are absolutely thrilled to land the best player in the draft at 4. Harrison Jr is the
full package of size, speed and toughness (playing through injuries last season). Health and
chemistry with Kyler are all he needs to become the next young superstar receiver.
5. Los Angeles Chargers – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Chargers are in desperate need for team speed. With Mike Williams returning on the
outside, they draft Bowers to become a versatile weapon for Justin Herbert. Bowers absolutely
carried the Bulldogs offense this year and his ability to play in-line, outside and even in the
backfield makes him a perfect fit for the new [Jim Harbaugh] offense.
6. New York Giants – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
This seems to be another early consensus pick among mock drafters as the Giants need
another speedy WR and getting a superstar from LSU has OBJ callbacks. Nabers is a
firecracker that will hopefully help unlock the Brian Daboll offense.
7. Tennessee Titans – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Titans patchwork OL really let them down last year and they need to bolster it big time. Joe
Alt is a plug-and-play LT that should be a staple for 10-15 years in Nashville.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
It’s tempting to look at QB in Atlanta after the Desmond Ridder experience fell apart and cost
their coach his job. However, I believe they will look for a veteran QB (Russell Wilson perhaps?)
especially if they end up with Belichick at the helm. Turner is an all-around player versus the run
and pass with some nice pass rush moves.
9. Chicago Bears – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Now that they have Caleb Williams, the Bears need to get him some weapons. Odunze’s
combination of size and speed is a great compliment to DJ Moore and will give them a true 1-2
punch.
10. New York Jets – Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Jets are desperate to find a way to protect Aaron Rodgers next year and will be thrilled if
either Alt or Olu are there at 10. Fashanu, while still a little raw in technique, is a dancing bear in
pass pro and just turned 21 in December. The tape in 2023 wasn’t nearly as good as 2022 but
that might have been him battling injuries. Either way, Fashanu has the potential of a
cornerstone LT for the next decade.
11. Minnesota Vikings – Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
The Vikings have big needs at both CB and Edge rusher. But with really good depth at CB in
this draft, I think the Vikings will take the edge here. If the medicals come back clean on him,
Latu is the most polished pass rusher in the draft.
12. Denver Broncos – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
It seems curious that the Broncos would draft a CB this high (more on that later) but Arnold is
the best corner in a draft stacked with them and too good to pass up here.
13. Las Vegas Raiders – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The Raiders cannot resist drafting a guy who might blow up the Combine 40 times and also fills
a huge hole for them in the secondary. I could also see the Raiders take DT or RT here, but the
spirit of Al Davis still wants speed, speed and more speed.
14. New Orleans Saints – Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon St
The Saints have a number of holes here and I was very tempted to go QB or Edge here. But I
believe the Saints need to address the OL and take the big man from Oregon State. Though still
a little raw, Fuaga is amazingly agile for his size and showed a trajectory in 2023 that will have
him as an anchor at LT for a long time.
15. Indianapolis Colts – Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
The Colts are another team that could go in a number of directions, though I expect them to be
aggressive in free agency. Even so, I think adding a weapon for QB Anthony Richardson in the
speedy and big Thomas is too good to pass up.
16. Seattle Seahawks – Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
The Seahawks need to find the heir-apparent to Geno Smith and do so in their own backyard
with Nix. Bo Nix has nice accuracy, decision making and mobility that should help him become a
solid starter in the NFL.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
DeJean is an interception waiting to happen as well as a plus kick returner and the versatility to
move all over the secondary. The Jags could use a playmaker on that defense.
18. Cincinnati Bengals – JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Latham is a road grader who likely will fit best at RT in the pros and replaces Jonah Hill for
them. Pairing him with Orlando Brown gives them bookends to help protect Burrow,
19. Los Angeles Rams – JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The Rams need to get their succession plan behind Stafford in place with one of their rare 1 st
round picks. McCarthy has prototypical size and can’t have a better teacher than McVay.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Steelers go for the Georgia Bulldogs box set, adding Mims to last year’s selection of
Broderick Jones. The Steelers must find a way to protect Kenny Pickett or whoever they bring in
to compete with him at QB.
21. TRADE! Denver Broncos – Jared Verse, Edge, FSU
The only trade I have projected in this mock comes courtesy of the Broncos shipping CB Patrick
Surtain Jr to the Dolphins in exchange for the 21 st overall pick. With said pick, they add the
versatile pass rusher who anchored the Seminole defense this season.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
The pipeline from Georgia to Philly continues as the Eagles nab another Bulldog corner for the
newly installed Fangio defense.
23. Houston Texans – Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn St
The perfect complement to last year’s 1 st rounder Will Anderson, Chop Robinson has an
explosive first step and relentless motor to put real teeth into DeMeco Ryan’s defensive front.
24. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
It’s finally time for the Cowboys to begin to replace some of the stalwarts on that vaunted O-line
and they begin by letting Tyron Smith move on and replacing him with Guyton. Versatile to play
both on the left and right tackle spots and skilled in run and pass blocking, Guyton is the full
package stepping into protect Dak Prescott.
25. Green Bay Packers – Troy Fautanu, G/T, Washington
The Packers love versatility in their offensive lineman and Fautanu fits that bill to a tee. Though
a tackle in college, most scouts project him to play guard at the NFL level. But Green Bay uses
guys all over their OL so he will definitely contribute to replacing Baktiari in some capacity.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bralen Trice, Edge, Washington
Back-to-back huskies as the Bucs bolster their pass rush with the relentless Trice. Having both
size (275lbs) and bend around the edge, Trice will be a fun toy for the Todd Bowles system.
27. Arizona Cardinals – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Perhaps the best name in the draft goes to the desert and the Jonathan Gannon defense. Kool-
Aid, while perhaps not possessing the best straight-line speed, is ferocious in press and so
quick in tight spaces.
28. Buffalo Bills – Keon Coleman, WR, FSU
The Bills need more weapons, especially given the seeming decline of Stephon Diggs. Enter
Keon Coleman, a monster at 6’4” and 215, for Josh Allen to throw alley-oops in the endzone.
29. Kansas City Chiefs – Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
A late 1 st round run of wide receivers starts as the Bills take the speedy Mitchell out of Texas.
Thriving on crossing routes, Mitchell uses his acceleration to make normal plays into
touchdowns. Exactly what Mahomes and company have been missing.
30. Detroit Lions – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Though I doubt many of you, outside you hardcore Rockets, watched much Toledo football. But
Quinyon Mitchell is going to make a name for himself through this process and will be an
incredible asset to the Aaron Glenn defense.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
The Niners need to invest in the OL as they really struggled when Trent Wiliams went down in
mid-season for a stretch. Morgan is a powerful blocker that can also move well for the zone
blocking scheme.
32. Baltimore Ravens – Ennis Rakestraw, Jr, CB, Mizzou
I have always found that there is one pick that Mel Kiper always nails in his mock draft and that
is from his hometown Baltimore Ravens. Rakestraw is a versatile corner giving the Ravens
depth at both outside and slot.