The season is officially in the rearview and all eyes are on the NFL Combine. This 1-round Mock Draft has three quarterbacks going in the first round with two New York-based trades happening to select their signal-caller.
1) Tennessee Titans
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Tennessee Titans need a quarterback, but in a weak quarterback draft, Tennessee opts for the best player available. Any player that draws comparison with Dallas Cowboys EDGE Micah Parsons is an easy draft choice. While the Titans were in the top 12 of pass-rush win rate, adding Carter opposite Arden Key makes their defensive line much scarier.
2) Cleveland Browns
Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
The revolving door at quarterback continues for the Cleveland Browns as the Deshaun Watson experiment has failed miserably thus far. Cam Ward had a prolific college career at all three stops thanks to his strong arm and slippery elusiveness.
The pieces are in place for the Browns to have a quick turnaround with the right quarterback, and Cleveland takes their swing at the best arm talent in the draft.
3) New York Jets (via Giants)
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Trade: Jets received pick 3 from the New York Giants. The Giants received picks 7, 42, and 157.
The New York Jets have hired Aaron Glenn as their next head coach while also announcing they were moving on from Aaron Rodgers. It is unlikely that the Jets will have a reunion with Sam Darnold or Zach Wilson. This is an organization that needs a star — and there might not be a bigger star in the draft than Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders would be surrounded by Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall and protected by an improved offensive line. While his arm strength is average, Sanders’ quick release could likely pay dividends early as the rookie figures it out.
4) New England Patriots
Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
Travis Hunter is a unicorn talent. Playing entire games on both sides of the ball at the D1 level is practically unheard of. His production was unaffected as he went on to win the Heisman amongst several other awards. His receiver skills make him a lethal corner, the position he will likely play full-time in the NFL.
The Patriots have lacked the superstar draw since the retirement of Brady, and drafting Hunter would create a buzz for the new regime.
5) Jacksonville Jaguars
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Graham displays outrageous anchoring ability and a quick processor against the run, making him one of the most well-rounded interior defenders of the past decade. His play with his pants on fire while craving violence is reminiscent of Braden Fiske, who prospered as a rookie despite having half the physical tools Graham has at his disposal.
6) Las Vegas Raiders
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
It’s rare for a running back to be selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft these days, with a few exceptions. The Atlanta Falcons picked Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall in 2023, and the New York Giants drafted Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall in 2018.
Ashton Jeanty put up better numbers than both Barkley and Robinson in college, and he is the complete package at running back coming into the NFL.
7) New York Giants (via Jets)
Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Trade: Jets received pick 3 from the New York Giants. The Giants received picks 7, 42 and 157.
The New York Giants moved on from Daniel Jones and likely do not see Drew Lock as the answer. While the Giants could have addressed that at pick No. 3, they have been tied to another quarterback (more on that later). New York has routinely been at the bottom of the league in pass protection, thus the trenches need to be addressed by adding the most productive college lineman in this year’s draft.
Campbell has massive size at 6’6″, 320 pounds but lacks the wingspan that teams covet at the tackle position. He has proven to be one of the more technically sound prospects coming into the draft, but many feel that his upside would be at the guard position rather on the outside.
8) Carolina Panthers
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Malaki Starks possesses the frame necessary to survive in the box and the reactionary athleticism to legitimately line up as a boundary cornerback. However, his best role would be as a back-end safety.
Starks is an intelligent coverage defender on the back end with a quick downhill trigger as a buzz defender and as an alley filler in the run game. In a league moving more and more toward coverages requiring safeties to survive against the vertical threat from No. 2 receivers, players like Starks are a huge relief for defensive coordinators worried about explosive plays.
9) New Orleans Saints
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Nic Scourton isn’t perfect, but nobody else in this class possesses his blend of technical prowess, bend, size, and power. He’s playing too heavy right now, but losing the unnecessary weight he’s currently carrying on his frame should only make him more dangerous as an arc rusher.
Scourton’s pass-rush plan is artwork, and the suddenness and fluidity he already plays with at 280 is terrifying. He’ll be one of the youngest players in the class while already possessing nuance far beyond his years.
Scourton’s naturally thick lower half makes him a sturdy edge setter, and there’s a chance he’ll continue growing into his frame while building a more consistent power element to his game.
10) Chicago Bears
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
The Bears have their quarterback, now they have to keep him upright. Many believe that Kelvin Banks Jr. could be the best tackle in the draft while others see him moving inside. Regardless of where he ends up, protecting Caleb Williams is a step in the right direction.
Although he’s a bit more heavy-footed than is ideal for a tackle, Banks makes up for it by understanding his opponent and playing to attack their weaknesses while combatting their strength off the edge. You’ll often see him employing different strike techniques within the same game depending on the situation and which opponent pass rusher is coming off the edge at him.
11) San Francisco 49ers
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Will Johnson has prototypical size, length, and reactive athleticism. If it weren’t for Hunter, we’d discuss Johnson’s ball skills among the best we’ve seen in recent times. He consistently shows he can turn, find the ball, locate it in the air, and elevate to its highest point while finishing the catch to the turf.
Johnson is a better true man coverage cornerback than Hunter, and he’s certainly no slouch playing with zone eyes, either.
12) Dallas Cowboys
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Cowboys are looking at one more shot to prove that Dak Prescott is the answer for their franchise. He’s been good, but he only has one high-level option to distribute the ball to. Pairing Tetairoa McMillan with CeeDee Lamb would take this offense to another level. McMillan’s length is his greatest weapon. He possesses a wingspan matched only by the likes of Mike Evans and Kyle Pitts.
He’s smooth and technical as a route runner, and he attacks the football and makes it disappear better than almost anyone. However, his lack of post-catch creativity and overall explosiveness means he lacks two of the most consistent indicators for NFL success.
13) Miami Dolphins
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
His wingspan is otherworldly, and there are reps of him on the interior (at 265 pounds) extending a wing on an interior defender while anchoring down against a second blocker coming his way.
Although raw as a rusher, we’ve consistently seen players like Williams quickly round into dominant forces at the NFL level. Pass rushers frequently exchange notes and train together with private coaches who have found the secret sauce to turn these ingredients into five-star meals.
Williams’ upside will be hard to walk away from in a class lacking many true “first-round” graded players. However, his physical gifts only extend so far. He potentially has more lower-half flexibility to produce than he currently provides on tape, but his lack of bend, in addition to his technical smoothness, could land him lower in Round 1 than we originally anticipated.
14) Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Think of everything Brock Bowers did for Georgia’s offense over the years, and then package that in a prototypical in-line TE frame with more athleticism. Tyler Warren is practically the TE version of the Permian Panthers’ Boobie Miles.
He’s a big, physical, explosive, loose route runner with the frame and ball skills to shield himself from defenders. Some of Penn State’s most explosive offensive moments come from Warren taking direct snaps in the backfield, capturing the edge, and scampering toward the sideline where he can bully defensive backs with his size.
15) Atlanta Falcons
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
As a proactive athlete, it’s unfair to have Shemar Stewart’s blend of length, explosiveness, and density. He’s a lab-built creation with untapped potential as a pass rusher.
Stewart may never have the technical details of his pass-rushing Aggies partner on the defensive line, but he also possesses an athletic profile we haven’t seen since J.J. Watt.
That’s not to say he’ll be Watt. That would be reckless, even if he was a technical wizard. However, Stewart converts speed to power at an outstanding rate, and that is as translatable to the NFL level as pure juice and bend are. He also provides interior alignment versatility, plus he’s no stranger to dropping into coverage.
16) Arizona Cardinals
Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
There isn’t much that Tyler Booker can’t do at left guard. Despite his smooth athleticism, the Crimson Tide left guard possesses outstanding torque and grip strength to politely place himself between defender and ball carrier.
17) Cincinnati Bengals
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Shavon Revel Jr. might have the easiest long speed in the class. He effortlessly carries receivers downfield, and that same explosion extends to his ability to bait throws from quarterbacks and close downhill when playing from space.
While he has the eyes and athleticism to bait quarterbacks into bad decisions, good passers can manipulate him in the same ways. Revel’s high-cut frame also makes him slightly sticky in transition. However, a lack of film against legitimate competition — and an ACL injury, keeping him from participating in an all-star game — muddies his evaluation further.
18) Seattle Seahawks
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
James Pearce Jr.’s effortless explosiveness makes him a consistent arc threat. Pearce’s ankle and hip flexibility make him a true danger, but his ability to win with his hands outside, through, and inside tackles could make him a pass-rushing assassin at the next level.
When the Volunteers’ pass rusher times up the snap perfectly, there’s nothing for an offensive tackle to do but open up the door and let him in the house. Pearce is too explosive and turns too tight of a corner to stop him.
He’ll likely fit into the mold of Brian Burns. That means he’s a consistent threat on passing downs while being an overall underwhelming run defender, but Pearce’s pass-rush chops still make him worthy of high draft capital.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
He’s displayed flashes of pass-rushing brilliance, and despite his sawed-off frame, Walker has adequate length to be a full-time pass rusher. However, he’s currently more of a “master of none,” which is common for defenders playing multiple positions without specificity.
Walker is inexperienced in coverage, and much of his pass-rush productivity stems from spying quarterbacks and using his outstanding closing speed to bring them to the turf when they attempt to leak away from the pocket. His length also helps him take on climbing offensive linemen, and he has a natural feel for playmaking.
20) Denver Broncos
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Luther Burden III has a knack for making huge plays in important moments, usually on slot fades and while flashing only one hand out to finish the catch. The highs are incredibly high, but the lack of nuance as a route runner and the amount of volume he receives crossing the field or on screens compared to winning 1-on-1 matchups is alarming for his projection as a separator at the next level.
Nevertheless, Burden’s natural fluidity, conspicuous explosiveness, and violent agility with the ball in his hands should realistically extend to his natural separation ability at the NFL level.
21) Pittsburgh Steelers
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka has the natural play strength, frame, and technical detail to play on the outside at both outside designations. However, his skill set would be best utilized in the slot, allowing him full freedom to operate as the route-running savant he is.
Egbuka’s lackluster top-end explosiveness theoretically limits his ceiling, but he’s in a similar mold to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has rounded into one of the most dangerous pass catchers in the NFL.
22) Los Angeles Chargers
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Walter Nolen could end up as the most impactful prospect in this draft or just an average rotation guy. It all comes down to how consistent can his motor be. When Nolen is motivated, he looks every bit like the No. 1 recruit that he was. Then there are games where you did not even notice Nolen was on the field.
He was more consistent after leaving Texas A&M for Ole Miss, but the talented defensive tackle will need to figure out how to play with a high motor all of the time. Jim Harbaugh is the kind of coach that could draw that out of Nolen and lead him to an immediate impact player as a rookie.
23) Green Bay Packers
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Matthew Golden’s ability to improve his hands at the line of scrimmage will ultimately dictate how consistently he produces at the next level. He’s savvy but must improve his ability to skirt more technically proficient press-coverage defenders.
Nevertheless, there’s a reason Golden became Quinn Ewers’ preferred target down the stretch. His nuanced route running and consistently impressive ability to finish make him a reliable target for quarterbacks, no matter the situation.
He tracks the ball incredibly well in the air, which was evidenced against Georgia and Arizona State. Golden’s ability to contort his frame mid-air and finish with an eye on the sideline further proves his prowess as a pass catcher.
24) Minnesota Vikings
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The Vikings were tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for most takeaways in the NFL with 33 and finished fifth in opponents points per game. Needless to say, the Vikings’ defense was really good in 2024. Upgrading their defensive line is their main area of need on that side of the ball, and Derrick Harmon is the best player available at this point in the draft.
Even though Harmon is a bit high-cut, he fires low with a wide base in short-yardage situations, proving he’s not just a gap-shooting disruptor as a run defender. But the ferocity with which he flows against horizontal stretch concepts while defending the run stands out the most on tape.
25) Houston Texans
Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
All Armand Membou did in 2024 was face some of the best pass rushers in this class, only to best them in battle at right tackle. However, despite his accolades, Membou’s also receiving the tackle-to-guard treatment, but I’m putting my foot down on this one.
Membou possesses more than enough length and mobility not only to survive but to thrive on the outside. He was on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” and what issues do arise on tape would be magnified, not mitigated, by a move inside (underwhelming core strength/anchor specifically versus sturdier rushers).
26) Los Angeles Rams
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Although improved technically and mentally from a season ago, Ohio State’s schedule left Josh Simmons without a marquee matchup. Even Marshall’s Mike Green barely lined up across from him in their matchup.
In short, Simmons didn’t face any legitimate NFL talent.
Things weren’t so pretty when he did in 2023. While his game certainly improved from that time, the bad taste from stiffer competition couldn’t be washed away in 2024 because of the injury. It feels like Simmons will hit, and the NFL should likely take him early because of his tools and play in 2024, but it still feels like a mighty gamble.
27) Baltimore Ravens
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Jihaad Campbell possesses the kind of playmaking gene that coaches dream of, and he’s no slouch as a blitzer or in the Sam role rushing off the edge. In a world where positionless football becomes ever more present, Campbell has every available tool in the shed. The only thing keeping him from ascending into blue-chip territory is a lack of instantaneous run-key instincts and inconsistencies as a reactive run defender.
28) Detroit Lions
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
His high-cut frame makes him look taller than he actually is, but his wingspan and feel for playing off receivers with over-the-top leverage help keep everything in front of him. That extends to man coverage, where Morrison plays on the front hip. While that allows nuanced receivers with brakes to snap off routes back to the QB on him, Morrison’s feel for route depth and receiver tells keeps him tight and prevents big plays with consistency.
29) Washington Commanders
Cameron Williams, OT, Texas
Cameron Williams is one of a select few athletes in this class who possess legitimate OT tools from top to bottom. He does all this in a ridiculously athletic 335-pound frame. Williams is certainly an inexperienced gamble, but his length, ease of movement, natural power, and flashes of consistent brilliance are enticing.
30) Buffalo Bills
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
His unique measurables are scary on the surface for his position, there is no stickiness to his movements, he carries downfield with ease, and he’s an incredibly intelligent boundary safety.
The only thing really missing from Nick Emmanwori’s game because of the way he’s deployed is a blitzing element. However, his sure tackling force and technique, paired with unique athleticism, should make him a weapon there for imaginative defensive coordinators at the next level. He’s also uniquely qualified to be a TE eraser because of his blend of coverage prowess, physicality, and length.
31) New York Giants (via Kansas City Chiefs)
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
In a weak quarterback class, there is potential for Jaxson Dart to go even higher. The Giants appear to have strong interest in Dart as they have looked for stability at the position since another Ole Miss quarterback led them to two Super Bowl victories. Eli Manning remains involved with the Giants since his retirement and is a fan of the Rebel senior.
Dart had a prolific college career, breaking most of Manning’s passing records at Ole Miss. His bowl game performance and time at the Senior Bowl have caused him to shoot up some draft boards. His deep-ball touch is one of the best in this class, while his grit and athleticism make him a polarizing prospect.
32) Philadelphia Eagles
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Kenneth Grant possesses impressive lateral explosiveness as a run defender to avoid getting reached by offensive linemen. However, he also tends to be late off the snap, which has been a common issue among Michigan interior defenders for years now.
Yet, Grant’s size, athleticism, and hand usage should make him an impressive presence in the middle of an NFL defense quickly. He only really possesses a swim move as a pass rusher, but he’s surprisingly nimble when given the green light.
