This is my first trade-free Mock Draft. With the Draft being ten days away, it is a great time to throw 1.0 out there. Is Cam Ward the slam dunk number one pick? Who will be the player that falls later in the first round? Who will be the team that reaches on a player they could have selected later in the draft? Find out below!
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB Miami (FL)
The Tennessee Titans selecting Cam Ward is a no-brainer. The consensus number one draft pick for the better part of the past three months is the franchise quarterback that the Titans have needed for the better part of the last five seasons. Drafting Ward will give Tennessee the spark they need to move the franchise in the right direction and should stabilize the position.
2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, EDGE Penn State
With the Cleveland Browns adding Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett to their QB room this offseason, taking Abdul Carter makes a lot of sense. You add the best edge player in the draft to play opposite of former DPOY Myles Garrett, thereby giving Cleveland two unblockable pass rushers. Last season, they were tied for 13th in sacks; adding Carter would put them instantly in the top ten and arguably top five of defensive lines.
3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado
With the New York Giants signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this offseason, that almost assuredly rules out QB here. They draft the best cornerback in the draft and one of the best talents the draft has ever seen in Travis Hunter. You bring in a player who will instantly be your number one corner to shore up a defensive backfield that added safety Javon Holland in free agency. Lastly, with Hunter’s ability to be a playmaker with the ball in his hands, he and Malik Nabers would be an exciting 1-2 wide receiver combo.
4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT LSU
Last season, the Patriots got their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye. This season, they make a move to protect his blindside. They were tied for 5th in the NFL in sacks allowed per game, and drafting Will Campbell will improve a lackluster offensive line. This is a Mike Vrabel pick as well, drafting a tackle that has only given up a total of five sacks in his entire three-year college career.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB Michigan
It’s another no-brainer selection with the Jags drafting CB Will Johnson. Last season, Jacksonville was last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. Adding the best available corner gives them their best DB since Jalen Ramsey. Despite missing the second half of his senior season, Johnson was a dominant cornerback at Michigan, only allowing a total of two touchdowns in 32 total games.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Mason Graham, DT Michigan
The Las Vegas Raiders drafting Mason Graham makes perfect sense. You add a dominant player like Graham to a talented defensive core with Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins. They instantly add a disruptive player in the running game with 18 TFLs in his 39 college games. A typical player that new head coach Pete Carroll will fall in love with after the first practice.
7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT Missouri
With Will Campbell gone, the Jets turn to Armand Membou out of Missouri. With the signing of Justin Fields this offseason, the Jets need to bolster their offensive line. Last season, the Jets drafted their left tackle, Olu Fashanu; this season, they select his bookend right tackle with Membou. With great size at 6’4″ and 332 pounds, Membou only allowed three sacks and 26 total pressures in his three seasons at Missouri.
8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR Arizona
The Carolina Panthers give their young quarterback a true number one receiver in Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona. McMillan led the conference with 1,319 receiving yards and has great measurables with a 6’5″, 212 lb frame. Lastly, he is a great long ball threat with an average of 16.4 yards per reception in college.
9. New Orleans Saints: Jalon Walker, LB Georgia
New Orleans Saints pick up one of the best linebackers in the draft with Jalon Walker out of Georgia. Walker improved every season at Georgia with his versatility as an edge rusher and an off-ball linebacker. The Saints were 31st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed and 18th in sacks. I love Walker’s ability to improve this defense mightily next season.
10. Chicago Bears: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT Texas
Last season, the Bears drafted their franchise QB in Caleb Williams, and they protect his blindside in this draft. Kelvin Banks Jr. was an excellent tackle at Texas, giving up only four sacks in 42 career college games. And new coach Ben Johnson from the Lions knows the strength of any great team starts with their offensive line. Lastly, the Bears were first in the NFL in sacks allowed with four per game in 2024.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Malaki Starks, S Georgia
The 49ers pick up the versatile DB out of Georgia, Malaki Starks. He can play safety and nickel for a defense that lost a plethora of starters, including Charvarious Ward and Talanoa Hufanga. You don’t see many freshmen show up and start for Kirby Smart’s defense as a freshman. Starks did that and was excellent all three seasons at Georgia. Kyle Shanahan and Robert Salah will fall in love with him after his first practice.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State
The Dallas Cowboys give Dak Prescott and an offense that has struggled over the past two seasons rushing the ball the best running back in the draft, Ashton Jeanty. Last season, Dallas was 27th in rushing yards per game. Adding Jeanty will give this offense a boost they have needed. Outside of Ceedee Lamb, they don’t have any other big-time weapons. Jeanty to Dallas is a no brainer.
13. Miami Dolphins: Jahdae Barron, CB Texas
The Miami Dolphins selecting Jahdae Barron would help boost a secondary that lost Javon Holland in free agency, and outside of Jalen Ramsey, they need some help. Last season, they finished nineth in passing yards allowed per game. With Barron and Ramsey on the opposite side, don’t be surprised if they are contending for one of the best secondaries in the league. Barron had his best season this past year at Texas with five interceptions and 67 total tackles.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE Penn State
The Colts drafting tight end Tyler Warren out of Penn State is a no-brainer. With Anthony Richardson struggling with accuracy, you give him a big body-tight end with a 6’5″ frame and a wingspan of 76 1/32″ wingspan. You can also line him up in the backfield in short-yardage situations and snap him the ball. He is a Swiss army knife on the offensive side of the ball.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Mykel Williams, EDGE Georgia
The Falcons were 31st in the NFL in sacks last season, so adding Mykel Williams out of Georgia is a perfect fit. Essentially drafting him from your backyard, Williams has excellent measurables with a 6’5″ 260-pound frame and was great at Georgia. Despite his lack of production in his collegiate career, last season was his best with 21 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, and five sacks. Atlanta needs help on the edge and Williams will improve it mightily with one of the higher ceilings in the draft.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Shemar Stewart, EDGE Texas A&M
Despite his lack of production at A&M, Shemar Stewart has all the measurables to be an explosive edge defender for a Cardinals defense that last season was 13th in sacks and 20th in rushing yards allowed per game. With a 4.59 40 time, 40″ vert jump, and 10’11” broad jump, Stewart is a physical freak who has the ability to jump off the screen. Like Mykel Williams, he has one of the higher ceilings in the draft.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Benjamin Morrison, CB Notre Dame
With the Bengals’ offense not being the issue last season, Benjamin Morrison is the obvious choice. He will help a defense that was 21st in passing yards per game and 25th in points allowed per game. Morrison was dominant at Notre Dame. As a freshman, he tied for third in the FBS with 6 INTs. As a sophomore, he led the team with 10 PBUs. As a senior, he started the first six games, recorded 20 tackles and four PBUs, then missed the final 10 games with a hip injury. He has the frame and speed to be an above-average DB in the NFL.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Booker, OG Alabama
The Seahawks select the best guard in the Draft. Tyler Booker out of Alabama makes perfect sense. They signed Sam Darnold in free agency and will need to keep him upright in order to be successful. Last season, they were tied for third in the NFL, allowing 3.18 sacks per game. In his three-year collegiate career, Booker allowed only two sacks in 1,035 pass-blocking snaps.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
James Pearce Jr. adds depth and explosiveness to an already great front line. The Buccaneers were tied for sixth in sacks last season; however, they had the second-highest blitz rate in the NFL at 38.9%. They were successful, but the addition of Pearce would allow Tampa to keep their linebackers and DBs in coverage. He is another edge rusher with a very high ceiling. He was excellent at Tennessee, with 30 TFLs and 19.5 sacks in 39 games.
20. Denver Broncos: Matthew Golden, WR Texas
The Denver Broncos and Sean Payton will pair their young quarterback with an excellent wide receiver, Matthew Golden out of Texas. Golden was outstanding in his last season with Texas. He finished with 987 receiving yards on 58 catches. He averaged 17 yards per catch, and was tied for the lead with nine receiving TDs in the SEC. The Bo Nix to Matthew Golden connection could be similar to the CJ Stroud to Tank Dell connection.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado
With the Pittsburgh Steelers sitting at 21 and in need of a franchise quarterback, they draft Shedeur Sanders out of Colorado. Sanders was excellent at Colorado by completing an unfathomable 74% of his throws last season. And for his two seasons at Colorado, he completed 71.8% of his passes which is the best completion % ever in FBS. He did that behind the 127th out of 134 FBS teams in pass block efficiency according to AP News. His accuracy will translate perfectly in the NFL.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE Michigan
Jim Harbaugh is drafting a Jim Harbaugh guy; who would have thought? Colston Loveland was with Harbaugh at Michigan and he will give Justin Herbert a security blanket that he was missing last season. Colston led the team with a single-season TE school-record 56 catches for 582 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He played in 10 games with seven starts. He did miss time with a shoulder injury, but he will be excellent for Harbaugh again.
23. Green Bay Packers: Mike Green, EDGE Marshall
The Green Bay Packers drafting an edge rusher like Mike Green at 23 is great value. Despite his lack of physical traits, such as arm length or overwhelming size, his production is off the charts. His last season at Marshall, Green finished the season with 17 sacks, which led FBS and was second in TFLs with 23. Green Bay finished tied for eighth in sacks in 2024. Green will help elevate a defensive front that will be need to produce for the Packers to contend in the NFC North.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Nick Emmanwori, S South Carolina
The Minnesota Vikings are drafting Nick Emmanwori, and the safety out of South Carolina will help a secondary that was 28th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. Learning under Harrison Smith will be great for Emmanwori. In his last season at South Carolina, he finished with 88 combined tackles and four interceptions; two of them returned for touchdowns. Lastly, he has the measurables with a 6’3″ 220-pound frame to be an elite safety in the NFL. He also dominated the combine, running a 4.38 40-yard dash, a 43″ vertical jump, and an 11’6″ broad jump.
25. Houston Texans: Josh Simmons, OT Ohio State
The Houston Texans drafting Josh Simmons, a tackle out of Ohio State, makes total sense. Houston traded away their all-pro left tackle, Laremy Tunsil, this offseason and now needs to protect CJ Stroud’s blindside. Simmons will do that with his massive 6’5″ 317-pound frame. He allowed zero sacks and zero QB hits in the six games he played last season. His season was cut short due to a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. In his 2023 season, Simmons only allowed one sack.
26. Los Angeles Rams: Jihaad Campbell, LB Alabama
The Los Angeles Rams drafting versatile linebacker Jihaad Campbell from Alabama makes sense for the improving defense the Rams had last season. In 2024, the Rams ranked 17th in points allowed per game, 22nd in rushing yards allowed per game, 21st in sacks per game, and 26th in tackles for loss per game. Those rankings will improve mightily with Campbell on the field. He has the ideal size and frame to be an excellent linebacker in the NFL. In his last season at Alabama, he finished with 117 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and five sacks.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Xavier Watts, S Notre Dame
The Baltimore Ravens drafting Xavier Watts out of Notre Dame is such a classic Raven pick. Watts led FBS with 13 interceptions over the last two seasons. He is very versatile and will improve a defense that was 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. He and Kyle Hamilton will be an excellent 1-2 punch in the back end. Watts has some experience in college at playing linebacker which might give the Ravens options to run some smaller defensive packages.
28. Detroit Lions: Nic Scourton, EDGE Texas A&M
The Detroit Lions drafting an edge rusher to pair alongside Aidan Hutchinson is a great move. Despite coming off a down season, Nic Scourton has shown the ability and measurables to be a solid starter in the NFL. Statistically he had half the number of sacks in his senior year compared to his sophomore season, but that doesn’t deter me from his abilities as an edge player. He still led Texas A&M with 14 TFLs and five sacks, despite the down year.
29. Washington Commanders: Derrick Harmon, DT Oregon
The Washington Commanders drafting Derrick Harmon out of Oregon will be a great addition. The Commanders ranked 30th in rushing yards allowed per game. Harmon is coming off his best season in his collegiate career. He played in all 14 games, with 13 starts. He finished the year with 45 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, five sacks, four PBUs, and two FFs, and led all Duck interior linemen in QB pressures with 55.
30. Buffalo Bills: Shavon Revel Jr., CB East Carolina
The Bills drafting Shavon Revel Jr. out of East Carolina will help a secondary that ranked 24th in passing yards allowed per game. Despite only starting three games last season due to a torn ACL, Revel has great measurables with a 6’2″ frame. His only downside is his lack of ball skills. However, his enticing blend of length and top-end speed will translate great in the NFL.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Walter Nolen, DT Ole Miss
The Kansas City Chiefs drafting Walter Nolen will shore up their defensive line. Nolen is coming off a dominant junior campaign at Ole Miss. Nolen finished the year with 48 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks. With Chris Jones getting up there in age, it could be beneficial to add another defensive tackle as a rotational piece. The Chiefs already have a great rush defense, eighth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game, but it never hurts to add another dominant lineman.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE Boston College
This is a classic Philadelphia Eagles pick taking Donovan Ezeiruaku out of Boston College. Despite his lack of physical size, he is coming off a dominant senior season. Ezeiruaku finished with 80 tackles, 21 TFLs, and 16.5 sacks. We saw how the Eagles dominated the Chiefs in the Super Bowl by winning every defensive snap at the line of scrimmage. This pick will add to the dominant pass rush the Eagles possess as they begin the quest for back-to-back Super Bowls.
Recap
As you saw, I have Shedeur Sanders dropping the lowest to the Pittsburgh Steelers at number 21. If the Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers, how will that effect their dynamic and Sanders’ growth in the NFL. Who would YOU like your team to draft this season? Be sure to check out our other posts here at New Leaf News. Thank you so much for making us part of your day!
