Welcome back to random guy on the internet gives his thoughts on what 32 NFL teams might do on one random night in April! Did you enjoy this the last time? (You can check that out HERE if you missed it). Now that franchise tags have been placed, combine drills have been done and we can all gush over just how fast Xavier Worthy is (guys…he’s really fast. Just look at that speedy boy!), let’s do another mock! This is mostly just for fun and discussion. You can tell me how wrong I am about your favorite team whenever you deem necessary. As always, I will go over the highlights of the mock and will describe my thoughts on other picks in response to comments below. With that, let's get into the mock!
- Caleb Williams is going to go #1 overall, or so I think. There is more doubt in me now compared to before on the combine on just how certain I am about Williams going #1. I am, however, more certain that the Bears are going to keep this pick and select a QB. We will see how the pro day/team visits go, but for now I am keeping Williams there, even with his non-combine participation/medicals.
- Speaking of QBs, I cannot decide where these guys are going to land. I feel confident that the Bears and Commanders will take a QB in this draft, and after that I have no idea. As of this mock, it sounds like Russell Wilson could be a Steeler (or Giant or Raider according to last minute reporting by Schefter), Baker is going to stay in Tampa, and if you have ever thrown a football, you could be in line for the Atlanta Falcons’ starting job. Fields will be traded to one of these QB needy teams, and someone is going to sign Kirk Cousins, which leaves the needy QB teams pretty well satisfied after pick 2. My best guess right now is Atlanta trades for Fields and Kirk stays with the Vikings, which leaves the Patriots to take Daniels and the Broncos to take McCarthy. The only teams left that could use a QB would be the Giants or Raiders but I don't see them taking one in the first round unless one of those top 3 guys slides. This position group should clear up a lot by the post-free agency mock but that’s my best guess for now.
- Let’s talk about my personal combine movers for the first round. Quinyon Mitchell has moved up to my #1 corner in the class. He showed exactly what he needed to in the combine to be an edge top 10 pick. I thought Rome Odunze did what he needed to do to prove he should be in the conversation to be the best WR behind Marvin Harrison Jr. in this draft (more on him in a second). I thought Brian Thomas Jr. also performed well, but unfortunately for him the draft board just doesn’t see a big jump for him. Texans would be thrilled to get him at 23. And finally, Xavier Worthy. Man, he’s fast. Did I mention he was fast? It happens every time someone flies through the 40 but he is now a first round pick. I don’t know if he goes before KC (which is quite possible), but I'm pretty certain he won’t get past KC.
- Once again, I only have a couple of trades mocked. Again, I find myself having the Eagles trade up to get a corner after last year. It’ll all depend on how comfortable they are at potentially giving up one of their few next year picks, but I think it’s a move that makes sense. I can see a world where the Bears move up from 9 to 5 (what a way to make a livin’) to take Rome Odunze. Caleb is going to need more help than just DJ Moore at WR, and with Mooney hitting free agency (or so it sounds), Odunze can step in and be a better player in that role. I could also see them trading back and hoping Brian Thomas Jr. would fall a few picks. Both players make sense, but I like Odunze more. Finally, and possibly the biggest trade, I think the Lions are going to trade their first-round pick for L’Jarius Sneed. Nate Taylor of The Athletic has reported that there are six teams interested in Sneed (Lions, Patriots, Colts, Vikings, Falcons, and “mystery team”), and Dianni Russini of The Athletic has said that it would take “a first, for sure” with the market currently developing around Sneed. I think someone has offered that or it wouldn’t be out there, and I think the Lions are that team.
- I can’t end this piece without talking about the Buffalo Bills, who have past the Eagles as my most interesting team in this draft. I was fairly certain they would take a WR to replace Gabe Davis, but after Wednesday’s fire sale to try to get under the cap, they are going to need some help defensively. Corner, to me, now becomes their biggest need. Could they trade up to get one of the top 3? Possibly, but I think they are going to need a lot of their picks from this draft to produce next year, so I could see them trying to take as many players as possible.
(Pick 17 is the Eagles via trade, I am unsure why their logo did not load in on this image)
