The day has finally arrived
We made it folks. Draft day is upon us, and we will finally get the answers we have been searching for over the past few months this weekend. Before that though, let’s take a look at how I see the first round shaking out.
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Over the past month and a half, this pick has become more and more clear. Tennessee adds their franchise QB to build around. No surprise here.
2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
For many, this is where the draft truly begins. The Browns could go in a number of different directions but they take arguably the best player in the draft in Travis Hunter and hope to just keep adding building blocks to this team.
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Another player who you could argue is the best player in the class. Like the Browns, the Giants could go a few different ways here, but I don’t think they over think this too much. Carter is a fantastic football player, and New York should feel fortunate to land him at 3rd overall.
4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Pats could very well trade out of this spot or pick someone else, but I think their priority is still going to be protecting Drake Maye the best they can. While some have doubts about Campbell’s ability to stick at tackle in the NFL, there’s no doubt that he has a ton of talent and that’s something New England desperately needs right now.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan
I haven’t over thought this one. Despite there being a lot of buzz and rumors about Jacksonville potentially taking an offensive player, I think they take care of the trenches with a talented player in Graham.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
I almost want to go in a different direction here as it almost seems TOO obvious that Jeanty will be a Raider. I think they consider other options here such as a tackle or receiver, but I think Pete Carroll is going to pound the table in April to be able to pound the rock with Jeanty in the fall.
7. New York Jets: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
An ultra talented player who can do it all at the tight end position. The Nittany Lions this past season had Warren lineup all over the place and he was constantly a threat to defenses. The Jets need playmakers on the offensive side of the ball so adding Warren makes a lot of sense.
8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, ILB/EDGE, Georgia
This is another one that almost feels too obvious. Walker has been connected to Carolina for a long time now and the fit is certainly there. The Panthers have some talent, but they desperately need more of it specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Walker can help in more ways than one as there is some thought he could line up as both an inside linebacker and pass rusher in the NFL. Carolina takes a gamble on the upside here.
9. New Orleans Saints: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
There is a very wide range of opinions on McMillan. Some view him as a sure fire top 10 pick while others question whether or not he will be will even be the first receiver off the board. The Saints wide receiver room lacks talent even with Chris Olave there. Adding McMillan here would give them another pass catching option and take some of the load off of Olave.
10. Chicago Bears: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Chicago continues to beef up their offensive line and land Membou. After what was a disaster of a season for the Bears offensive line and their inability to protect Caleb Williams, things would be looking up with a revamped unit and new coaching staff.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Walter Nolen, IDL, Ole Miss
This is a rare spot for the 49ers to be in lately as this past season everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Their consolation prize though is the chance to take a talented player in Walter Nolen. With Robert Saleh back in the fold as San Fran’s defensive coordinator, it makes a lot of sense that the Niners look to add along the defensive line.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Mathew Golden, WR, Texas
Dallas keeps Golden in the state of Texas and addresses a need. Pairing Golden with CeeDee Lamb would make for a fun duo. Dallas has a lot of issues and receiver is one of them. They are able to add a threat to their passing game here.
13. Miami Dolphins: Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas
Back-to-back Longhorns off the board here as Miami adds a talented player to a position of need. The Dolphins last few draft picks on the offensive line have not worked out the way they would have liked so they take another swing on a guy like Banks.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
I think the Colts would love for Tyler Warren to be here, but Loveland is a great consolation prize. They could also look to add a linebacker but their tight end room could use a jolt and Loveland would provide just that. He’s a really good player that will make any offense better.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Atlanta could go a few different ways and coincidentally, a lot of their needs align with Tampa Bay’s. The Falcons could look to add a linebacker but with Mike Green on the board, they grab their pass rusher.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
This is a dream for Arizona. Will Johnson could end up being the best corner from this class. He dealt with injuries in the 2024 season and that could lead to him being here. If he’s available at this spots Arizona needs to get this pick in ASAP.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenneth Grant, IDL, Michigan
Back-to-back Wolverines here as the Bengals take an impact defensive lineman. Cincinnati could use help on both sides of the trenches, but their defense was really bad in 2024, and they need all the help they can go on that side of the ball.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State
Seattle could use help along the offensive line and Zabel can play multiple positions. I think his spot in the NFL is likely at guard, but he can be a very good one. The Seahawks just invested a lot of money in Sam Darnold, and they need to protect their investment.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Donovan Ezeiruaku EDGE, Boston College
Here it is folks. With a lot of different options on the board, I have Tampa Bay selecting Ezeiruaku and adding to their pass rush. I do have to admit, I am buying into the Maxwell Hairston smoke, and I almost slotted him into this spot, but Ezeiruaku has long made sense for them. Hasson Reddick is only signed for one season and Yaya Diaby feels more like number two pass rusher than a number one. The Bucs have never invested this high of a pick in an edge defender in the Jason Licht era and I think it’s time to finally pull the trigger on that.
Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I’m sure the team would consider guys like Jihaad Campbell and Malaki Starks in addition to Hairston, but they land on Ezeiruaku.
20. Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
This is a nice get for Denver, who has been rumored to have interest in potentially moving up for a running back. In this scenario they don’t have to move anywhere and still get their guy. Hampton is a talented back who will help keep the pressure off of Bo Nix and the number of responsibilities in their offense.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The drop finally ends for Sanders as he lands with Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. I still do think there’s a decent chance Aaron Rodgers ends up in Pittsburgh, but having Sanders sit for a year behind Rodgers is not a bad scenario to have for the young QB out of Colorado. His fall finally ends, and he lands with a Steelers team that has been trying to find their long-term solution at quarterback.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Derrick Harmon, IDL, Oregon
The Chargers continue to add more beef up front. They were a very good defense in 2024, and they make a solid selection here. Harmon has risen up boards as of late and has a lot of talent. Jim Harbaugh continues to build the trenches.
23. Green Bay Packers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Barron could very well go earlier than this, so Green Bay takes advantage of a slight fall and adds a talented player to their secondary. There is still a lot of questions surrounding Jaire Alexander’s situation with Green Bay so the Packers adding a corner makes sense.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Malaki Starks, DB, Georgia
I think the Vikings would love to trade down here as they only have four picks in this year’s draft but I didn’t do trades in this mock, so they stick and add Starks. I am a big fan of Malaki Starks and his game. He’s a Swiss Army knife who can do a little bit of everything and play everywhere in the defensive backfield.
25. Houston Texans: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The Texans need offensive line help. There’s the tweet. They simply need to protect C.J. Stroud better than they did in 2024 and their plan was to… trade their best offensive lineman in Laremy Tunsil? Houston should take the best available offensive lineman at this spot and Simmons fits the bill.
26. Los Angeles Rams: Josh Conerly Jr, OT, Oregon
The Rams were another team that made the playoffs in 2024 that had offensive line issues. Adding Conerly Jr at tackle makes some sense as they look to continue to try and contend with Matt Stafford.
27. Baltimore Ravens: James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee
This is a pick for Baltimore that could pay off big time. At the beginning of the season, Pearce was considered one of the top players of this class but didn’t have as good of a year as expected so he slides down to the Ravens. This fit with Baltimore is so fun and if Pearce puts it all together, could end up being a big steal.
28. Detroit Lions: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Speaking of potential steals… The Lions not having to move and still landing Williams here could end up being a huge get. Aidan Hutchinson is still coming off of a major injury so adding a pass rusher makes sense. Great pairing for Williams and Detroit.
29. Washington Commanders: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
The Commanders could go with a pass rusher here, but I think corner makes sense with Amos on the board. The Marshon Lattimore move has not been what Washington hoped it would be, so they take Amos as some insurance in case Lattimore is truly cooked.
30. Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Hairston is a player who I think is the classic league is higher on him than the media is. His speed is tantalizing and his ability to play both man and zone coverage makes him an intriguing player. Buffalo could use some help along the trenches, but corner makes sense as well.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
As we saw in the Super Bowl, Kansas City could use some serious help along the offensive line and Booker makes a lot of sense. Booker has played a bit of everywhere along the offensive at some point or another besides center, but he projects as a guard in the NFL. The Chiefs need talent here and Booker fits the bill.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, ILB, Alabama
Finishing up the first round with another member of the Crimson Tide. The Eagles don’t typically draft linebackers this early, but Campbell is a talented player that may be worth the risk with his injuries at this point. The Super Bowl champs take a chance that Campbell will be healthy and good to go as they add another high ceiling piece to their defense.
So that’s it. This has been one of the more difficult first rounds to predict and I think that’s due to there not being as much high-end talent in this class and there being a lot of guys very similar in talent in the 15-45 range.
Let me know what you guys think about the picks and now the fun begins.