(photo courtesy PFN.com)
This year’s NFL draft is one of, if not, the most anticipated draft in recent memory. After an offseason filled with speculation and trade drama, the time is now. With an exciting college football season behind us, now these prospects hope to hear their names called and franchises hope to turn the tide. With that being said, here is my full first round mock draft.
#1 Chicago Bears (VIA CAR): Caleb Williams QB USC
Williams has been the number one pick since before the start of the 2023 season. The Arizona Cardinals held this sport for the majority of the season, and it was the Carolina Panthers who finished with the worst record (2-13). Unfortunately, they don’t hold this pick, as they traded it last year to move up to number one and draft Alabama QB Bryce Young. Now the bears hold the pick, and after trading Justin Fields to the Steelers a month ago, Williams is a shoe in here, and the bears where aggressive in the early stages of the offseason, trading for Chargers wideout Keenan Allen, and signing TE Gerald Everett and RB D’Andre Swift. Williams starts his career in Chicago with a great supporting cast.
#2 Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels QB LSU
Here is where the draft really starts. The big debate over the course of the offseason has been Daniels vs Maye, and who the Commanders will draft. Recently there has been rumors in the league saying Daniels to Washington is locked in, and that’s what I think they’ll do. Daniels is coming off an astounding Heisman campaign, throwing for 40 TD’s to only 4 INT’s, along with just over 1,000 rushing yards and 10 TD’s. He’s a phenomenal leader and a tough runner, willing to take hit’s most QB’s are afraid of. Washington gets their centerpiece for the future.
#3 New England Patriots: Drake Maye QB North Carolina
As I discussed in my article about what the Patriots should do with the third pick, taking Maye is the clear choice here. The two best QB’s are off the board, and you get the third, in an offense that I believe is just a quarterback away. Maye is a skinnier version of Josh Allen and is most likely won’t have the pressure of starting right away. The Patriots can hopefully get their guy after the Mac Jones experiment failed.
#4 Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio St.
It’s no secret that Harrison is the best non-qb in this year’s class. He fills a need for the Cardinals, who lost Hollywood Brown to the Chiefs in free agency. Standing at 6’4, he has an outstanding catch radius and dominates the outside, giving college corners nightmares. Kyler Murray will get a new number one wide receiver, and hopefully he’s there for the stay.
TRADE Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins left for Atlanta, and the Vikings went out and signed Sam Darnold from San Francisco. While he will most likely be the week one starter, he probably isn’t their long-term answer. The Vikings acquired the number 23 pick from the Houston Texans, and that gives them plenty of ammo to make a move and trade up, and that’s what they do here.
#5 Minnesota Vikings: JJ McCarthy QB Michigan
McCarthy is the biggest question mark in this year’s draft, as many believe he should’ve stayed at Michigan and declared in next year’s draft. But his draft stock has only risen since he won the national championship. He’s a tremendous play extender who has incredible accuracy, giving Justin Jefferson a reliable QB for the future. The Vikings would be taking a risk with McCarthy, but if it pays off, the Vikings won’t be missing Kirko.
#6 New York Giants: Malik Nabers WR LSU
Daniel Jones is still the guy in New York, despite many fans wanting him out. With most of the top quarterbacks off the board, they opt for the best player available which also fills a need for them at receiver. Many NFL execs have Nabers as the number two receiver in the class, and for good reason. Following the footsteps of Justin Jefferson and Jamarr Chase, he put up a productive two years for the tigers. The G-men get a brilliant outside receiver to hopefully turn the tide in Jones career.
#7 Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt OT Notre Dame
For a long time, I had the Titans as a potential trade back team, but they were aggressive in the early stages of the offseason, and they continue by taking the best offensive lineman in this year’s class. Alt has only let up 4 sacks in his career, giving the Titans an easy choice to give Will Levis protection.
#8 Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner EDGE Alabama
Many early mock drafts had Atlanta taking a quarterback with this pick, but then they made the bombshell signing of Kirk Cousins. And now they take the first defensive player off the board in Dallas Turner. Turner was an incredible player for the crimson tide, and now finds himself in position to be the centerpiece for a Falcons defense in need of a big star.
#9 Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze WR Washington
The Bears have a chance to win the draft, and they make their case by giving Williams another weapon in Odunze. He is a phenomenal talent outside the numbers, with incredible speed and agility, giving Williams a long-term weapon in the new era of Chicago.
#10 New York Jets: Brock Bowers TE Georgia
The Jets are coming off an extremely disappointing season following the Achilles tear of Aaron Rodgers. However, there is always a silver lining, as they find themselves in a great position to take the best tight end prospect since Rob Gronkowski. Bowers is not only a 2-time national champion with the bulldogs, he’s also a phenomenal athlete and can both block and find space when going out for a pass. Aaron Rodgers gets a new target in an already loaded Jets offense.
#11 Los Angeles Chargers (VIA MIN): Olymuyiwa Fashanu OT Penn St.
The Chargers won the coaching carousel by hiring Michigan man and former 49’ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, but they had a fire sale off their roster. Now with a fresh canvas on offense to build around QB Justin Herbert, they take one of the best tackles in all of college football. Fashanu was projected a top-5 pick for much of the college football season, and the Chargers get their guy to protect Herbert in their new offense.
#12 Denver Broncos: Jared Verse EDGE Florida St.
After trading Russel Wilson to the Steelers, many assumed the Broncos will be in play for a QB in round one. With all of the top signal callers off the board, the Broncos decide to stay put and take one of the bets defensive players in this year’s draft. Verse racked up 18 sacks over two years for the Seminoles, and can be a day one starter for Denver, as the defense is in desperate need of a game changing edge rusher.
#13 Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fagua OT Oregon St.
The Raiders are in a similar position to their division rivals, and they decide to do the same and fill another need. Fagua found his draft stock rise through the offseason and found himself as a member of the All-American team. Vegas strengthens its offensive line and gets a vital piece for their rebuild.
#14 New Orleans Saints: JC Latham OT Alabama
The Saints where a disappointing team last season, just missing out on the division title. Latham is a presence on the line, standing at 6’6” and 342 lbs. He can be plugged into an offense that desperately needs help upfront, as the Saints finished second to last in the league in yards per carry (3.6).
#15 Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold CB Alabama
Yes, they need receivers, but corner is the bigger need, and with Anthony Richardson coming back, the Colts decide to go defense with their first pick. Arnold has been one of the best Crimson Tide corners in recent years. He finds a home in Indianapolis, where they will be looking to lock up the new look Texans.
#16 Seattle Seahawks: Jackson Powers-Johnson OC Oregon
This offensive line class is one of the most deep and talented in recent drafts, and the Seahawks find themselves to fill a need with one of the best players on the board. Johnson won the Rimington award for the nation’s best center and can be a day one plug in starter for the Seahawks.
#17 Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinyon Mitchell CB Toledo
After trading Jalen Ramsey to the Rams back in 2019, the Jags have yet to find a replacement. Mitchell was the highest graded corner this previous season by Pro Football Focus, (91.5), and for good reason. Mitchell racked up 6 INTs over the past two seasons for the Rockets, and left little to no separation on opposing receivers. The Jags hope the get their next Jalen Ramsey with this pick.
#18 Cincinnati Bengals: Brian Thomas Jr. WR LSU
The Bengals offseason has been defined by one player, star wideout Tee Higgins. The Bengal’s placed him on the franchise tag, then he requested a trade. While he still remains on the team and has expressed his interest in playing this season in Cincinnati, he is one of the prime trade targets for teams around the league, and the Bengals get their safety net with this pick. Thomas didn’t play with Burrow and Chase at LSU but was part of another tandem of star wideouts for the Tigers, racking up nearly 1,200 yards alongside Nabers. He’ll be a great addition to the Bengals offense.
#19 Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu EDGE UCLA
The Rams have a massive hole to fill following the retirement of Aaron Donald. Latu has been one of the most prolific edge rushers in college football over the last 2 years, racking up 23.5 sacks for the Bruins. The Rams get some youth on their roster and hopefully a long-term answer for replacing Aaron Donald.
#20 Pittsburgh Steelers: Armius Mims OT Georgia
Pittsburgh has had an interesting offseason, acquiring both Russel Wilson and Justin Fields, and now they get some protection upfront. Mims, standing at 6’7” and 340lbs, has outstanding footwork and his tremendous pass protection will be a great compliment to Arthur Smith’s offense.
#21 Miami Dolphins: Troy Fatanu OT Washington
Miami has been loading up on weapons over the last two seasons, with offensive line not seeming like their biggest priority. And with a deep OL class, they take a vital piece of the Huskies incredible championship run. Fatanu is one of the strongest linemen in this class, and gets to show it in an already explosive Dolphins offense.
#22 Philadelphia Eagles: Chop Robinson EDGE Penn St.
The Eagle’s defense hasn’t been getting younger in recent years, and now they get the youth they need with the explosive Chop Robinson. Robinson’s draft stock fell a tiny bit over the course of the season but was still productive for the Nittany Lions. The birds get what could be a long-term answer to their aging defensive line.
#23 Los Angeles Chargers (VIA MIN VIA HOU): Keon Coleman WR Florida St.
The bolts offense has become very thin after trading away Keenan Allen to Chicago and releasing Mike Williams. Coleman is a big body receiver who reminds me a lot of Julio Jones. He can get up and grab balls most guys can’t and has incredible physicality on opposing corners. Herbert potentially has his new number one receiver with this pick.
#24 Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton OT Oklahoma
Offensive line was the Cowboys achilleas heal last season, and with their veteran line not getting any younger, they opt for youth with this pick. Guyton has incredible moves to keep the pass rush Infront of him and will be a great piece for the Cowboys.
#25 Green Bay Packers: Graham Barton OG Duke
This is a tremendously deep lineman class, and the Packers get some much-needed help upfront after saying goodbye to David Bakhtiari. Barton only allowed 4 sacks over the last two seasons for the Blue Devils and finds himself in position to protect Jordan Love in a youthful Packers offense.
#26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nate Wiggins CB Clemson
Wiggins was a very productive player for the Tigers over the last two seasons, with 58 tackles in total. He now joins a Bucs squad in desperate need of a number one corner.
#27 Arizona Cardinals: Byron Murphy II DT Texas
The Cardinals filled a need with their first pick here, and they do the same with their second of two first rounders. Arizona allowed the most rushing yards per game last season (143.2). Murphy racked up 5 sacks and 29 total tackles last season for the longhorns. The Cardinals get their answer to the hole on their defensive front.
#28 Buffalo Bills: Xavier Worthy WR Texas
Worthy set the world on fire during the combine, where he ran a 4.21 40-yard dash, which is now the record. He is now in position to use his speed as Josh Allen’s number one receiver, after losing both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis.
#29 Detroit Lions: Cooper DeJean S Iowa
Dejean is one of the bigger question marks of this draft. His 2023 campaign was cut short after fracturing his fibula in a November practice. He’s been rehabbing ever since, and subsequently his draft stock has gone down with it. But regardless, Dejean is a gritty player and can play anywhere in the secondary, a perfect fit for Dan Campbell and the Lions.
#30 Baltimore Ravens: Kool Aid-McKinstry CB Alabama
The Ravens could go receiver here, as they have yet to resign Odell Beckham Jr, but in my eyes, corner is the bigger need for the AFC runner up’s. McKinstry came into Alabama as one of the most exciting prospects and didn’t disappoint. He didn’t get a lot of interceptions in his career, and that’s because few quarterbacks dare to throw the ball his way. The Ravens get a guy that can perfectly compliment Marlon Humphrey’s man to man ability.
#31 San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan OT Arizona
San Francisco has one of the best rosters on paper in the league, and they still have holes to fill, most notably up front. Morgan, a member of the All-Pac 12 team in both 2022 and 2023, has incredible footwork, and might not play right away, but can find himself as a future starter for the 49ers.
#32 Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell WR Texas
It’s no secret the Chiefs are in need of a wide receiver. The signing of Hollywood Brown addressed the need, but many say that’s not enough. Mitchell is coming off an incredible 2023 campaign for the longhorns, going for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. Mahomes gets another weapon in his quest for the NFL’s first 3-peat champion.
Have an opposing viewpoint to this opinion? Let us know. All views are welcome. Send your thoughts to our Editorial Staff – Editor Dylan Hicks dhicks@student.dean.edu or Dean Daily Faculty Advisor, Professor John Rooke jrooke@dean.edu