“Wishful Thinking Edition”

The top 23 positions are set, actually 24 but Miami forfeited their first rounder. I’ve projected a couple trades in this one, for QBs of course.

1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (Projected trade w/Chicago)- Will Levis, QB, Kentucky: Indy seems the most likely team to move up to number one, and rumor has it they’re already enamored w/ Levis.

2. HOUSTON TEXANS- Bryce Young, QB, Alabama: Texans get jumped by a division rival, but Young is a pretty good consolation prize.

3. CAROLINA PANTHERS (Projected trade w/Arizona): CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State- Panthers are sitting at 9 w/ one team definitely in the market for a new QB & 3 more that could be in front of them. They can’t afford to wait.

4. CHICAGO BEARS (Projected trade w/ Indianapolis)- Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama: Best case scenario for the Bears, they add more draft capital moving down 3 spots & still land the guy they’d have taken at 1.

5. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (from Denver)- Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia: The Russell Wilson trade gets more lopsided in favor of Seattle.

6. DETROIT LIONS (from LA Rams)- Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia: Detroit is a team on the rise, strengthening the pass defense could make them a playoff team.

7. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS- Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State: Raiders are in the QB market, but they’ll probably go the veteran free agent route. Strengthening the OL is the play here.

8. ATLANTA FALCONS- Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson: Falcons have got to get better defensively.

9. ARIZONA CARDINALS (Projected trade w/ Carolina)- Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech: Cardinals trade down, adding draft capital & finding a replacement for JJ Watt.

10. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (from New Orleans)- Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State: Eagles could lose James Bradberry in free agency, they draft a replacement.

11. TENNESSEE TITANS- Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU: Johnston & last year’s first rounder, Treylon Burks, would give Tennessee a young, formidable receiver duo.

12. HOUSTON TEXANS (from Cleveland)- Jordan Addison, WR, USC: Texans give their new QB a go to WR to grow with.

13. NEW YORK JETS- Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern: Regardless of who is behind center for the Jets next season, he’ll need better protection.

14. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon: Receiver might be a bigger need, but Belichick will prioritize defense.

15. GREEN BAY PACKERS- Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame: Adding another reliable pass catcher seems like a move to appease Rodgers.

16. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS- Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina: Bolstering the pass defense in a division w/ Philly & Dallas is a wise move.

17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS- Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson: Steelers benefit from an inexplicable fall, Bresee is a top ten talent in this class.

18. DETROIT LIONS- Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida: With Jared Goff in the fold, the Lions can be patient w/ Richardson, who has all the tools but needs time to develop.

19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS- Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois: Tampa needs to start revamping their defense, they start with a corner.

20. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS- Brian Branch, S, Alabama: Branch could be the final piece in Seattle’s new legion of boom.

21. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS- Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia: Adding Jones could give Justin Herbert elite protection.

22. BALTIMORE RAVENS- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State: Injuries marred his 2022 season, but JSN might be the best receiver in the class.

23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Minnesota tried to improve their secondary in last year’s draft, they need to take another shot.

The order for the rest of the picks are subject to change.

24. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma: Jags might lose Jawaan Taylor in free agency, they draft a replacement.

25. NEW YORK GIANTS- Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee: Giants have one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL.

26. DALLAS COWBOYS- Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas: Tony Pollard is probably gone in free agency & Zeke is a shell of his former self.

27. CINCINNATI BENGALS- O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida: Cincy vastly upgraded the offensive line last offseason but it still needs work.

28. DENVER BRONCOS (from SF via Miami)- Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia: Denver drafts a replacement for Bradley Chubb.

29. BUFFALO BILLS- Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M: Bills have no glaring needs, safety might be one.

30. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS- Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame: Can never go wrong with a pass rusher.

31. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson: Eagles use their second first rounder to land the best off ball linebacker in the class.