No more waiting, no more speculations, no more rumors. The NFL Draft is officially here. Tonight, 32 different players will hear their names called and will take the step from college to the NFL.
Before we get there, it’s time for one last mock draft. This will be a predictive mock, based on reports and rumors from around the league. Ultimately, these rumors might mean nothing since it’s the time of year teams run smokescreens, but they will be relied upon nonetheless.
With that out of the way, here’s the final guess at how tonight’s program will turn out.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Probably the least dramatic pick tonight, Fernando Mendoza will be making his way to Las Vegas soon. The Heisman winner and national championship quarterback will hopefully become the franchise player the Raiders need.
2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
This pick has flipped between Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese about a thousand times over the last couple weeks. Bailey seems to have the edge at this point, and will be an immediate impact player that can get after the quarterback.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
Talk about Jeremiyah Love is heating up, but Arizona really needs to fix their offensive line. Mauigoa is the most stable offensive lineman in this class, and should be an immediate starter at right tackle, bookending the line with Paris Johnson Jr.
4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Love is the best offensive player in this draft, and Tennessee needs to give Cam Ward all the help he can get. I’m not sure if the value a running back brings is necessarily worth it at pick 4, but Love can give this team immediate juice.
5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
After adding Abdul Carter in last year’s draft, New York helps complete their front seven on defense with Styles. If this is the pick, Styles would be the first off-ball linebacker drafted in the Top 5 since Devin White went fifth to Tampa Bay.
6. Dallas Cowboys (via CLE): Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State
Trade! Dallas sends picks 12 + 20 for picks 6 + 39
It’s been reported that Cleveland wants to move out of the Top 10 and add more picks. Dallas has also been rumored to want to move up for a defensive star. Here, both teams get what they want, and Dallas takes advantage of Arvell Reese’s slide, adding a versatile playmaker to a reworked defense.
7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Jeremiyah Love would’ve been a perfect fit, but Washington settles for the consensus WR1 in the class with Tate. Tate can be a good sidekick to Terry McLaurin early in his career before taking over in a similar role.
8. New Orleans Saints: Mansoor Delane, CB, Louisiana State
GM Mickey Loomis finally decides to grab a player from his backyard with Delane. The overlap in the New Orleans/LSU fanbase is part of the appeal, but Delane is also a sticky corner that can step in and replace Alontae Taylor’s production.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami
My highest-ranked defensive end in this class, Bain is a force of nature that ruins offensive line’s days. Historically shorter arms may cause him to fall down the board, but Bain’s complete game can help him overcome this drawback in the NFL.
10. New York Giants (via CIN): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The best player in this draft, bar none, ends up joining his former teammate in New York. Downs is the perfect finishing piece for a defense that has been reworked over the offseason.
11. Miami Dolphins: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
Miami has a lot of needs to address in their rebuild. Perhaps the most important is the offensive line, which has been an issue for years. Fano is a strong tackle prospect, but is projected to have the potential to play all five positions on the line, something Miami desperately needs.
12. Cleveland Browns (via DAL): Vega Ioane, iOL, Penn State
Cleveland would love to have one of the top two tackles, but after the trade back they settle for the best interior player in this class with Ioane. Ioane should be the plug and play starter at either guard spot that Cleveland feels is weakest.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Makai Lemon is often mocked here, but Tyson has the much higher ceiling as an explosive WR1. LA is uniquely equipped to handle the risk, given their possession of two star receivers already. Tyson can be guided along without much pressure to be an instant producer.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Baltimore could really use a guard, but the only one worth the 14th pick went two spots before to the division-rival Browns. Sadiq can be a tertiary receiving option with the potential to eventually replace Mark Andrews as the primary pass-catcher.
15. Cleveland Browns (via TB): Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
Trade! Cleveland sends picks 20 + 107 for picks 15 + 155
In order to avoid the anticipated run on offensive tackles, Cleveland moves ahead of Detroit and Carolina to add Proctor, the highest upside tackle in this class. Proctor seems to have fans in Cleveland, and will be a project that could have a serious payoff if he hits.
16. New York Jets (via IND): Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal
The Jets have a receiver issue - their leading receiver (Garrett Wilson) had a grand total of 395 yards last season. Lemon isn’t as explosive as other options, but should immediately command a ton of targets. Aaron Glenn could have his version of Amon-Ra St. Brown if this is the pick.
17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Following the exodus of Taylor Decker, Detroit needs more tackle help. Freeling might be the most natural left tackle in the class. At 6’7’’ and 315+ lbs, Freeling’s movement ability is rare. This could allow Detroit to keep Penei Sewell at his natural position, right tackle.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Harrison Smith has held down the back of the Vikings defense for years. With him gone, Minnesota needs another impact player in the secondary. Thieneman is a rangy, versatile safety that can step in from Day 1 and provide stability.
19. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Iheanachor, OL, Arizona State
Trade! Philadelphia sends picks 23 + 98 for pick 19
In order to not miss out on a high-upside tackle, Philly moves up to add Iheanachor. While he hasn’t been playing football very long, Iheanachor’s short resume is already loaded with good tape. Iheanachor can be the heir apparent to franchise legend Lane Johnson.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via CLE, DAL, GB): Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
After losing their grip on the division, Tampa Bay might have shifted into win-now mode. There isn’t a more win-now player in this class than Mesidor. A six-year senior, Mesidor is experienced and will be able to give instant production as a pass rusher, something Tampa desperately needs.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
Even if Pittsburgh did just trade for Michael Pittman, I still can’t get the images of Rodgers throwing to practice squad players towards the end of the season out of my mind. Cooper Jr. will give Rodgers, or whoever suits up at QB, a stable receiver with high YAC upside.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Losing Jesse Minter to Baltimore stings. In order to offset this loss, LA adds a high-upside defender in Faulk. Improving the defensive talent is the best way to overcome losing the defensive coordinator.
23. Carolina Panthers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Dan Morgan loves to wheel and deal, and after picking up another Top 100 pick, Carolina adds the player they’ve been targeting all along, KC Concepcion. The Charlotte native brings juice to an offense that has been sorely lacking in that department.
24. Kansas City Chiefs (via CLE, JAX): Blake Miller, OL, Clemson
Trade! Kansas City sends picks 29 + 148 for pick 24
Kansas City added to one side of the trenches earlier, and in order to secure a player on the other side, they had to move up over some OL-needy teams. Miller can be the starter at right tackle, securing the ends of an offensive line that needed an overhaul over the past few offseasons.
25. Chicago Bears: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Offensive line could be another position Chicago chooses to address, but the edge rusher room is bare outside of Montez Sweat. Parker gives the team a traits-heavy player that has shown he can be a force-multiplier on defense at Clemson.
26. Buffalo Bills: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
Buffalo could use a number of improvements on defense, but here GM Brandon Beane adds McDonald, a stout defensive tackle that exists to stop the run. Pairing McDonald and Ed Oliver together could give the defensive front new life.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Niners have needed offensive line help forever, but have almost refused to address it. Here, San Fran adds Lomu, who played left tackle for Utah. Lomu could swap to the right side while being the eventual replacement plan for Trent Williams.
28. Houston Texans: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
What could the team with the best edge rusher duo need? Another edge rusher. Young isn’t as explosive of a pass rusher as Anderson Jr. and Hunter, but is an excellent run defender. Young could give Hunter some plays off against the run, limiting the amount of time the 31 year old has to see the field.
29. Cleveland Browns (via LAR): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Cleveland did a good job maneuvering to add multiple starters along the offensive line. With their final pick in the first round, the Browns add Boston, a true X receiver that can win with physicality at the catch point.
30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN): Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, Central Florida
Miami addressed the offensive line earlier in the draft. Here, they add a high-upside pick to the defensive line with Lawrence. Lawrence is a bit raw, but has the frame and traits to give the Dolphins a larger edge rusher, something the unit lacks.
31. New England Patriots: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The Super Bowl runner-up Patriots are probably looking heavily at receiver, but I have a feeling that spot will be addressed at or around June 2nd. The best available player on the board at this point is EMW, a versatile safety that can join Christian Gonzalez in making a difficult secondary to pass against.
32. Arizona Cardinals: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Trade! Arizona sends picks 34 + 143 for pick 32
Seattle only has four (4) draft picks currently available for use. GM John Schneider has stated that they want to add more. Here, Arizona moves up two spots to add Simpson, gaining the important 5th year option that only first round picks have. Ty Simpson has been heavily connected to Arizona, and has been spoken about as a first rounder this week. Arizona takes a chance on the Alabama quarterback, knowing that if it doesn’t work out, they might be able to get another guy next year.
To recap, this mock draft contained five draft night trades, with the Cleveland Browns being involved in two of them. The most common position drafted were the edge rushers, with eight coming off of the board. Conversely, only one running back, guard, defensive tackle, and tight end were selected.
For live analysis and reactions to tonight’s NFL Draft, tune in to SportCLT’s Draft Show! Coverage will begin just before 8pm EST and will last throughout the entirety of Round 1.