The San Francisco trade to No. 3, followed by Miami’s trade back up to six, left me doubting what I believed. Everyone seems to be screaming that Mac Jones is going to go No. 3, but I just don’t buy it. I grade him as a Day 2 quarterback and due to teams over valuing the position, I’m maintaining my stance that he is drafted in the second half of the first round.
For the purposes of this mock draft, I did not make any trades that have not been officially announced. I do, however, believe a team like Atlanta will trade down for more assets and you may even see teams like New England feel good with the way the board breaks down and also end up trading back for more assets.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
This may be the most universally accepted No. 1 pick in years. Lawrence has the highest floor of any quarterback since Andrew Luck.
2. NY Jets - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Zach Wilson has the chance to be the best quarterback in the draft, but he is very raw. The best way to describe him is to quote Daniel Jeremiah from his Pro Day, “That’s just a silly throw.”
3. San Francisco 49ers - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
The biggest question mark in the entire draft is Trey Lance. If Jimmy Garoppolo is in fact the guy in San Fran (for now), a project quarterback with a boat load of potential seems like the perfect pick.
4. Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
There’s a very high likelihood that Atlanta trades back with a team salivating for Justin Fields, but if they actually make the pick, they need to help Matt Ryan to have any chance of success this season.
5. Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Protecting Joe Burrow should be Cincy’s number one priority and Sewell is clearly the best lineman prospect in this draft.
6. Miami Dolphins - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
People seem to think Tua stinks. Give him the best player in the entire draft and an offensive coordinator that wants him to succeed and I promise you Tua will thrive.
7. Detroit Lions - Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Lions just lost their top two receivers. The Heisman winner seems like a great start to replacing them.
8. Carolina Panthers - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Carolina may be the team hungriest for a quarterback so whether it is at eight or higher, I think they get their guy.
9. Denver Broncos - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Bama
The best four quarterbacks are gone, time to continue building a top tier defense.
10. Dallas Cowboys - Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
Dallas needs defensive help like a goose needs water.
11. NY Giants - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The last notable linebacker the Giants have had was Antonio Pierce. It is time to change that.
12. Philadelphia Eagles - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Bama
Jalen Raegor was not the wave in last year’s draft. Philly couldn’t possibly miss on back to back wide receivers in the first round, right?
13. LA Chargers - Caleb Farley, CB, VA Tech
Questions are swirling around Farley after his back procedure, but the talent outweighs the risk here for new defensive minded HC Brandon Staley.
14. Minnesota Vikings - Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Giving Cousins time to find Theilen and Jefferson and opening lanes for Cook seem like the easiest way for the Vikings to improve.
15. New England Patriots - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
The Patriots never take who we think they will so let’s go a bit off the board at a position Belichick has had great success drafting.
16. Arizona Cardinals - Jaycee Horn, CB, S Carolina
The Cardinals SHOULD draft a tackle here, but they’ll prioritize replacing Patrick Peterson over protecting Kyler Murray.
17. Las Vegas Raiders - Christian Darrisaw, OT, VA Tech
Having traded away more than half of their offensive line, the Raiders need to start rebuilding.
18. Miami Dolphins - Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
Miami already got their offensive playmaker early in the draft, now it’s time to go grab a defensive playmaker.
19. WFT - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
Washington is shaping up to have one of the best defenses in football, the only soft spot is linebacker which this pick immediately patches.
20. Chicago Bears - Mac Jones, QB, Bama
Mac Jones is not going in the top 10. Mac Jones is not going in the top 10. Mac Jones is not going in the top 10. Mac Jones is not going in the top 10.
21. Indianapolis Colts - Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan
Receiver is a possibility here to help out Carson Wentz, but supplementing DeForest Buckner with another edge rusher is the right move.
22. Tennessee Titans - Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
Forget sacks, the Titans could not even apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks last season. Signing Bud Dupree is nice, but you are going to need more than that.
23. NY Jets - Trevon Moerhig, Safety, TCU
The Jets got this pick in exchange for Jamal Adams, this is the best way you can try and replace him.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Alijah Vera Tucker, OT, USC
Protecting your dilapidated quarterback seems like the best way to go for Pittsburgh.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Christian Barmore, DT, Bama
Barmore could become the center of what is shaping out to be a good young defensive front for the Jags.
26. Cleveland Browns - Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
Cleveland definitely needs to add some juice to the defense and the quickly rising Jamin Davis could provide the glue in the middle.
27. Baltimore Ravens - Teven Jenkins, OT, OK State
Orlando Brown Jr. wants out which leaves a starting right tackle position open for one lucky rookie.
28. New Orleans Saints - Jaelen Phillips, EDGE, Miami
The Saints need to replace Trey Hendrickson on the cheap and this is the perfect way to do that.
29. Green Bay Packers - Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
Jaire Alexander is one of the best corners in football and Green Bay needs to be prepared for teams to target the other side of the field.
30. Buffalo Bills - Najee Harris, RB, Bama
The Bills relied so heavily on Josh Allen last season in part because of a putrid running game that could easily be bolstered by a strong runner and receiver like Najee Harris.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
They decided it would be a good idea to let their two tackles go so they have to draft one here and Eichenberg is the best available.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Greg Newsome II, CB Northwestern
Adding another solid corner to a budding, young defense would be a smart move by Tampa Bay.