THE FINAL MOCK

We’re finally here. Draft Day! Hopes are renewed for every fanbase. I’ve done four months of mock drafts, and what follows is my best guess as to how the first round will go.

Before we begin, I’d like to make a few points and clarify some thoughts that went into making the selections I did:

• The first three picks are about as solid as can be. The Chicago Bears are taking Caleb Williams. The Washington Commanders are taking a QB, either Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye, and the New England Patriots will likely take the one Washington doesn’t.
• Picks 4-6 are where the intrigue lies in the top ten. The Arizona Cardinals at #4 could take perhaps the best overall player in the draft or trade down with a QB needy team or a team that covets MHJ. The Los Angeles Chargers at #5 have similar options, depending on what Arizona does. Meanwhile, the New York Giants at #6 could shock almost everyone by trading up for a QB or taking one at #6 if they’re still on the board.
• The Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos & Las Vegas Raiders are the teams outside the top ten to watch as far as trading up for a QB goes. The Vikings are the favorites because they have more draft capital to offer in a trade and their odds increase if Arizona stays at #4 because the Chargers won’t trade with a division rival to let them get their franchise QB.
• Speaking of the Denver Broncos, there’s been a major change in my final mock. Previously I’ve had them taking the fifth QB with their pick at #12, because they have the worst QB situation outside of Chicago, Washington & New England and they don’t pick again until the third round. I figured they had to be desperate. I’ve changed my mind, I think Sean Payton might be willing to gamble on a less heralded prospect while building up other parts of his roster. NOTE- I made this change before Denver traded for Zach Wilson, which only reinforced my belief that the Broncos will not go QB in the first round.
• I’m not an NFL insider. I do not have access to any special information, any trades I project are purely speculative. Such is the case with the Philadelphia Eagles moving up for Quinyon Mitchell. I like the fit of team & player and Philly will have to move up from #22 to get him. Howie Roseman has proven to be aggressive to get the guys he wants.
• Another team that has shown the willingness to be aggressive to get their guy is the Detroit Lions, which is why I projected them to move up to get a CB that I believe they like.
• I think at least five QBs will go in the first round and there’s a good possibility of six, depending on how desperate a team is. Somebody is going to trade into the back end of the first round for one, and I think it could be the Las Vegas Raiders, who picked up some extra capital in a trade down earlier in the round that they could use to facilitate this trade with the Baltimore Ravens.
• The Los Angeles Chargers will be the busiest team during the first round, orchestrating two moves down the board. First, from fifth to eleventh, then, from 23rd (a pick acquired in their first move) to 31st.

I used Pro Football Network’s mock draft tool for this mock, now let the real drafting begin:

A new era begins for the Chicago Bears.

Ultimately, I believe new Washington Commanders OC, Kliff Kingsbury, will prefer Daniels’ skill set over Drake Maye.

The New England Patriots will be happy with either Maye or Jayden Daniels.

The draft truly begins now. The Arizona Cardinals have options, but the opportunity to add a generational talent is too good to pass up.

I’m convinced that the Minnesota Vikings stockpiled assets to make a move for a QB.

There’s some buzz about the New York Giants grabbing a QB, but I think they’ll get themselves a #1 WR instead.

The Tennessee Titans will land the best offensive tackle.

The Atlanta Falcons will have their pick of defensive players, it should be Turner.

By pairing Caleb Williams & Odunze, the Chicago Bears will have a formidable air attack for years to come.

There’s rumblings about the New York Jets moving up for a receiver, but Bowers is a uniquely talented pass catcher as well.

The Los Angeles Chargers will take the deal to move down six spots, then add a mauler to their offensive line.

The Denver Broncos throw a big curveball and go with a tone setter for their defense.

The Philadelphia Eagles make the move up to grab a corner whose skill set they should covet.

The New Orleans Saints need an offensive tackle and land a very good one.

The Indianapolis Colts go with one of the top corners in the class.

The Seattle Seahawks will move Fautanu inside to upgrade their offensive line.

The Jacksonville Jaguars opt to replace Calvin Ridley over addressing their defense.

The Cincinnati Bengals add a disruptive force to their defensive line.

The Los Angeles Rams land the most complete edge rusher in the class.

The Pittsburgh Steelers add Latham to last year’s first round pick, Broderick Jones, to give themselves a pair of young bookend offensive tackles.

With Verse still on the board, the Miami Dolphins will pivot away from offensive line.

The Las Vegas Raiders add an extra second rounder in a trade back, then land an offensive tackle.

The San Francisco 49ers move up the board to secure a top interior offensive lineman.

The Dallas Cowboys land the best center prospect in years.

The Green Bay Packers add a versatile piece to their secondary.

The Detroit Lions jump up a couple spots to land their top choice at corner.

The Arizona Cardinals shift to defense with their second pick of the first round.

The Buffalo Bills start the rebuilding of their receiving corps.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drop down a few spots and still land their edge rusher.

The Las Vegas Raiders move back into the first round to get their QB and the fifth year option on him.

After their second trade down of the first round, the Los Angeles Chargers add a seriously explosive weapon to their passing attack.

The Kansas City Chiefs defy expectations by going offensive line instead of receiver or corner.