I know, I know, I swore I wouldn’t do another mock draft before free agency, barring a trade. Well, the news of Jalen Carter’s implication in the death of a teammate and Georgia football staffer has sent ripples through the draft just like a trade would.

How will it affect his draft status? Hard to say, for sure, because we still have nearly 2 months until draft day. He could ultimately reclaim his previous status as one of the top two non quarterbacks in this class.

For now, I think it drops him completely out of the top ten. There’s too much talent there for him to fall completely out of the first round, but that could also change.

With that being said, let’s get to it.

*TRADE*

Seattle trades picks #5, 20 & 37 to Chicago for pick #1

1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS- Bryce Young, QB, Alabama: The first surprise of the draft. Seattle has Geno Smith, maybe, but Pete Carroll has made it clear he’s looking at these QBs. They have one thing the other suitors don’t, an extra first this year. That should sway Chicago.

There’s been a lot of talk about Young’s size, or lack there of, but Seattle has vast experience with a smaller QB (Russell Wilson). All of Young’s intangibles will outweigh his smaller physical stature.

2. HOUSTON TEXANS- CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State: Houston has an extra first this year, as well, but they’re unwilling to part with it to move up one spot, especially when Stroud is a pretty good consolation prize.

3. ARIZONA CARDINALS: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama: Cardinals explore trading back, but with Anderson still on the board, they hold at 3. Anderson may be the one ‘can’t miss’ prospect in this class.

4. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS- Will Levis, QB, Kentucky: Colts GM Chris Ballard has said the Colts are fine not trading up for a QB, that may be a smoke screen or it may be because Levis has been their guy and they figure he’ll still be on the board.

5. CHICAGO BEARS- Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech: Trading with Seattle is enticing for Chicago a couple reasons. One is the extra first rounder in this draft and the other is staying in the top five.

It’s really starting to look like Wilson is their guy, he fits their 4-3 scheme better than Will Anderson, and with Jalen Carter’s fall down the board, he might not be on the board if they go any further down.

*TRADE*

Carolina trades picks #9 & 61 to Detroit for pick #6.

6. CAROLINA PANTHERS- Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida: Carolina can’t wait any longer, they need to get their QB. Richardson is the biggest project of the possible first round QBs, but he may have the highest ceiling.

7. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS- Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State: Raiders will probably get their QB in free agency or via a trade, here they’ll strengthen his protection.

8. ATLANTA FALCONS- Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson: I’m convinced Atlanta will go defense here. They could have their pick of corners, but opt instead for an edge rusher.

9. DETROIT LIONS- Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois: Detroit happily pounces on the top corner on the board.

*TRADE*

NY Jets trade picks #13, 74 & 145 to Philadelphia for pick #10.

10. NEW YORK JETS- Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern: Jets leapfrog Tennessee to grab the top OT on the board.

11. TENNESSEE TITANS- Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU: With Skoronski off the board, Tennessee pivots to WR.

12. HOUSTON TEXANS- Jordan Addison, WR, USC: Houston gets their new QB a number one WR to grow with.

13. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon: Philadelphia adds a couple more picks and then snags a replacement for James Bradberry.

14. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State: WR is a huge need, but I feel like Belichick will go defense here.

15. GREEN BAY PACKERS- Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame: First, Aaron Rodgers will be the Packers QB in 2023. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get him some help, the top TE in the class would do that.

*TRADE*

Detroit trades picks #18 & 154 to Washington for pick #16.

16. DETROIT LIONS- Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia: Detroit moves up and stops Carter’s fall. Red flags aside, Carter is a massive talent.

17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS- Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia: Pittsburgh builds up the protection for Kenny Pickett.

*TRADE*

Jacksonville trades picks #24 & 88 to Washington for pick #18.

18. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Brian Branch, S, Alabama: Jacksonville moves up to secure the top safety in the class.

*TRADE*

Philadelphia trades picks #30 & 74 to Tampa Bay for pick #19.

19. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas: Philly keeps wheeling and dealing, leapfrogging several teams to grab the best RB prospect since Saquon Barkley. Robinson could take this Eagles offense to a whole other level, scary.

20. CHICAGO BEARS- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State: The city of Chicago rejoices as GM Ryan Poles turns the number one pick into Tyree Wilson & a true number one receiver and one that Justin Fields is quite familiar with.

*TRADE*

NY Giants trade picks #25 & 100 to LA Chargers for pick #21.

21. NEW YORK GIANTS- Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee: Giants jump ahead of Baltimore to snag the speedster from Tennessee to bolster one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL.

22. BALTIMORE RAVENS- Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College: Baltimore will ultimately sign Lamar Jackson to an extension, now they get him another weapon.

23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa: I’d be surprised if Minnesota doesn’t go defense with this pick.

24. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS- Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia: After trading down twice, Washington lands what was once considered the top corner in the class.

25. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Chargers drop down a few spots and add a stud TE for Justin Herbert.

26. DALLAS COWBOYS- Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas: Pairing Sanders with Micah Parsons would give Dallas’ opponents’ nightmares.

27. BUFFALO BILLS- O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida: Bills grab the top interior lineman in the class.

28. CINCINNATI BENGALS- Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina: For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, like Cincinnati, pass defense is paramount in the AFC.

29. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson: Personally, I’m shocked Bresee is still on the board, but New Orleans should be perfectly happy about it.

30. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS- Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia: So many directions Tampa could go, but with the GOAT gone, it’s time to get younger and cheaper everywhere.

31. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS- Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma: Super Bowl champion Kansas City drafts a replacement for the possibly departing Orlando Brown.