This is part 1 of a mock draft with part 2 being linked at the end of this article!
- Carolina Panthers. James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee:
James Pearce Jr. is a generational talent at edge rusher and that doesn’t come lightly. I see almost no scenario in which James is not the 1st overall pick come 2025. With Brian Burns being traded, edge rusher is a massive hole on Carolina’s defense and James immediately makes a miserable edge room look like one of the most promising.
- Tennessee Titans. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia:
It’s hard to debate that Beck isn’t currently the front running quarterback in a draft class with more questions than answers. Beck has an extremely high ceiling with decent upside and there is no doubt that Beck will impress more this season being on the powerhouse that is Georgia. Beck has somewhat limited upside but projects to be a very solid quarterback.
- New England Patriots. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri:
Yet again we have a stellar draft class of wide receivers and this list is highlighted by Luther. He is a do it all receiver with no limit to his upside, potentially being the next best star receiver along the likes of Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase, etc. Luther is a surefire star at the next level who will make an immediate impact on an offense, which the Patriots need desperately.
- Denver Broncos. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona:
Tetairoa is right behind Luther on my board and could even jump Luther as the top receiver this year. McMillan is an extremely impressive receiver with strong hands and absurd size at 6’5 212. McMillan is certainly going to continue his dominance from last season as in his first lone game this season he already racked up 10 catches for over 300 yards and 4 touchdowns. He would immediately fill in as the WR1 that Denver is clearly lacking for Bo Nix.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss:
Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are not a desirable quarterback room. Here the Raiders go for a big upside signal caller as Jaxson has remarkable scrambling ability with a cannon of an arm. A decent offensive line and underrated weapons consisting of Davantae Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Brock Bowers would be an ideal spot to develop Dart into a premium gunslinger.
- New York Giants. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas:
Daniel Jones was never the answer and the Giants finally move on getting the strong arm quarterback out of Texas. Ewers is a proven winner, leader, and top tier talent with all of the tools you could ask for. The Giants finally have offensive tools to give young quarterbacks a chance to develop, it’s the right time to find a new signal caller. Ewers has the chance to be great at the next level with his improvisation ability and incredible arm talent.
- Arizona Cardinals. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan:
The Cardinals corner room is very questionable with Sean Murphy-Bunting being their CB1 at the moment. I believe Max Melton will be a very good player for them in the future, however getting a true elite player on their defense would be crucial to the Cardinals success in the future. Will Johnson will be just that as a blue chip prospect sure to succeed at the next level.
- Washington Commanders. Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M:
After losing both Montez Sweat and Chase Young, Washington is desperate for a top tier pass rusher at edge. Scourton has tons of potential with great athleticism, a good tool belt of rush moves, and a nice blend between quickness and strength. Nic had 10 sacks as a sophomore last season and I expect him to only build off that top tier production this year.
- New Orleans Saints. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State:
Derek Carr has not been the same player in New Orleans as he was with the Raiders. It’s time for the Saints to go in a different direction while they still have Carr to be the best mentor a team could ask for. Allar was extremely efficient last year for Penn State, displaying higher upside than arguably anyone else in the class. He has every box I look for in a franchise quarterback and I believe if given a larger role in the offense could SKYROCKET up draft boards!
- Minnesota Vikings. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame:
The Vikings corner room has consistently been one of the worst in the league over recent years and that is largely due to their hesitancy to go after a top tier talent at the position under the age of 30. Morrison is a blue chip, high upside player that I expect to instantly come in and make the Vikings defense better.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State:
The Buccaneers have missed on edge rusher with multiple high picks in recent years. Here they go back to the dart board taking the athletic pass rusher from Penn State. Abdul has all of the upside in the world but is a project prospect in my eyes, Tampa Bay would love taking the time to turn Carter into a star though.
- Seattle Seahawks. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama:
While Geno Smith was a nice story, I’m writing him off. He isn’t a star quarterback, has no upside, and will never take Seattle to the promise land. The Hawks go get Milroe out of Alabama. In the past I haven’t been a fan of Alabama quarterbacks, however Milroe is an exception due to his extreme athleticism, sky high upside, and lack of a team around him to inflate his stock. He has a rocket arm and incomparable athleticism that any coach could develop into something special.
- Indianapolis Colts. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado:
The Colts are lacking a difference maker in their secondary, if they added a guy like Hunter then their defense would go from good to elite. I believe Hunter was the best player available at this pick and is a guy who will bring a spark to a team that needs one in order to get over the hump. Not to mention that he could also be a big time player for their offense out wide as well. Hunter is truly a special player.
- Pittsburgh Steelers. Emeka Egbuka, WR, OSU:
Pittsburgh needs a star outside receiver opposite of George Pickens, and the Steelers clearly agree that they need one as well since they were pursuing Brandon Aiyuk so heavily. Emeka is an extremely similar player to Aiyuk with clean route running and reliable hands and would come in and start opposite of Pickens right away to improve the Steelers offense.
- Los Angeles Chargers. Deone Walker, IDL, Kentucky:
A dominant pass rusher from the interior with incredible size at 6’6 and great athleticism. Deone has 7.5 sacks at defensive tackle for the Wildcats and would make a perfect addition to join a Chargers defense that lacks any difference maker inbetween Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. A great bump to the Chargers defensive line would go a long way in helping them consistently compete and finally put it all together.
- Cleveland Browns. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado:
Shedeur Sanders is a polarizing prospect with some believing he’s a generational player and easily the 1st overall talent in the draft class, to some believing he purposefully takes sacks to help his completion percentage get stat padded. I personally see Shedeur as a very promising prospect with tons of upside, but has a high amount of risk compared to many of the other quarterbacks. His horrific pocket presence, inconsistency throwing deep, and hesitancy to anticipate throws brings him down my board despite his accuracy and athleticism. Cleveland with their stellar defense, elite offensive line, and good cast of weapons would be the perfect landing spot for Shedeur to bloom into a special player.
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