1 – Jacksonville Jaguars select Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
Jaguars gave out a large contract extension to Trevor Lawrence this offseason, so they likely won’t be players in the QB market even at pick one and a likely change in leadership. Instead, they get to attack two needs in one with Travis Hunter, who will likely play one position more than the other but don’t expect him to be one-dimensional in the pros.
2 – New York Giants select Cameron Ward (QB, Miami)
It’ll be interesting to see which QB goes first in the spring between Ward & Sanders. I could see Sanders potentially turning off the rather uptight front office of the Giants, but also I’m just picking Ward here out of pure bias. He’s a quarterback that never makes you feel like you’re out of a game.
3 – Las Vegas Raiders select Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
With Ward off the board, the Raiders make the no-brainer pick of Sanders official. He brings the energy you want from a Raiders player and he’ll be local to his dad out west still. The retooling of the roster will take plenty more, but they get the biggest need out of the way early.
4 – New England Patriots select Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
Patriots would love to get their hands on Hunter, but will settle for the best purely defensive player here in Carter. The Penn State standout has eight sacks on the season, including two each against the Nittany Lions ranked opponents (Ohio State & Illinois)
5 – Carolina Panthers select Mykel Williams (EDGE, Georgia)
Carolina could potentially be players for a QB here, but Bryce Young has looked better recently and there just isn’t a player worthy of this selection available. Instead, they look to improve the defense with Williams. The former five-star recruit hasn’t produced the sack totals you’d expect, but he tallied two against Texas in the Bulldogs big win last month.
6 – Tennessee Titans select Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
McMillan has been instant offense during his three seasons at Arizona, and at 6’5″ he gives the QB a large catch radius. The Titans moved DeAndre Hopkins at the trade deadline and lack a true number one receiver for Will Levis (or whoever they start next year).
7 – New York Jets select Luther Burden (WR, Missouri)
The Jets will enter this offseason as a giant mess. Aaron Rodgers will likely be gone, which should make QB a priority but they aren’t picking high enough to get a justifiable prospect. Burden is a dynamic playmaker at receiver, and with everything up in the air, I’m just giving them the best player available here.
8 – Cleveland Browns select Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
Another team in a rather abysmal spot. With the Watson albatross strapped around their necks, taking a QB is off the table. Will Johnson has been one of the better defensive players over the past two seasons, and while he’s dealt with injuries late this season, it’s nothing too serious to knock his stock.
9 – New Orleans Saints select Will Campbell (OT, LSU)
The Saints grade near the bottom in almost any offensive line grade. The good news? The major in-state program down in Baton Rouge has two potential first round picks. There is some questions as to where Campbell is best suited at the next level, but the Saints need help wherever they can find it in the position group.
10 – Cincinnati Bengals select Isaiah Bond (WR, Texas)
Bengals could certainly add to a defense that’s kept them from being true contenders, but I’m going off that path a little with Bond. Tee Higgins is a free agent after the season and Ja’Marr Chase has continued to be discontent with his contract situation, which could cause further issues heading into the 2025 season.
11 – Dallas Cowboys select Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
Jeanty has become a household name this season while toppling 2000 yards rushing for the Broncos. Meanwhile, the Cowboys offense has looked rough for most of the season and the clear lack of weapons hasn’t helped. Giving this offense a true bell cow out of the backfield could help elevate some of those issues.
12 – Chicago Bears select James Pearce Jr (EDGE, Tennessee)
The Bears appear to have the future set on offense with Caleb Williams at the helm, and they should look to improve the offense line with plenty of cap space and draft capital, but Pearce is too good of a player to leave sit on the board here. The athletic pass rusher started the season slow but has tallied 5.5 sacks over his past five games and would make a dynamic pairing with Montez Sweat.
13 – Indianapolis Colts select Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
Starks has been a standout player since his freshman season, a safety with high field IQ that played his way into a starting spot for the then defending National Champions and helped lead them to another one in his first year on the team.
14 – Miami Dolphins select Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
Miami hasn’t fully replaced the presence of Christian Wilkins on the defensive line, but there is a plethora of talented interior defenders in this class and the Fins get their hands on the best one available. Graham is a game wrecker and a key component of the Wolverines Championship defense last season.
15 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)
The Buccaneers defense has lacked a true star at cornerback for awhile, and while they’ve have adequate play from many players over time, Morrison is the kind of ballhawk that would be a great compliment to Antoine Winfield Jr in the secondary.
16 – Los Angeles Rams select Shavon Revel (CB, East Carolina)
Revel came into the season as the potential first small school pick of the draft, but a season ending injury may have derailed that possibility. The tall (6’3″) corner plays sticky coverage and his size makes sure he’s rarely beat by opposing receivers.
17 – San Francisco 49ers select Kelvin Banks Jr (OT, Texas)
The 49ers will have an interesting offseason ahead of them. With Brock Purdy needing an extension and plenty of money on the books, it’s time for a retooling. Banks has tons of starting experience in his three seasons at Texas and can be counted on as a building block at a premium position moving forward.
18 – Arizona Cardinals select Shemar Stewart (DT, Texas A&M)
Stewart is a massive player on the defensive line and can line up in multiple spots. The Cardinals have taken a nice leap forward this season, but the roster still needs to fill some positions and the defensive line is near the top of that list.
19 – Atlanta Falcons select Nic Scourton (EDGE, Texas A&M)
The Falcons have been searching for pass rushers seemingly since I’ve been alive. Grady Jarrett has been a monster on the interior for years now but has rarely benefited from an edge rusher that can free him up from double teams.
20 – Seattle Seahawks select Princely Umanmielen (EDGE, Ole Miss)
Similar to the Falcons, the Seahawks have been searching for pass rush help for several years now. The Florida transfer has 10.5 sacks for the Rebels this season while playing along one of the most dominating defensive fronts in the country.
21 – Washington Commanders select Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
Jayden Daniels looks every bit like a future superstar but the Commanders are still plenty of pieces away from contending at the top of the NFC. Pairing Egbuka with fellow Buckeye Terry McLaurin and 2023 selection Luke McCaffrey should give Daniels a formidable trio in the passing game.
22 – Houston Texans select Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
Harmon is another stout interior presence that can continue to help the Texans mold themselves into Super Bowl contenders. With Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson off the edge, getting a true interior disrupter is the next step for DeMeco Ryans defense.
23 – Denver Broncos select Emery Jones (OT, LSU)
The Broncos have been one of the surprise teams of the 2024 season, but similar to Washington, they still have work to do to become true contenders. The team needs offensive line help still and Jones is a three year starter for the Tigers.
24 – Los Angeles Chargers select Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State)
Would Jim Harbaugh draft an Ohio State player? Williams is a big body interior player that could help the Chargers as they gear up to an eventual post-Bosa/Mack world. If a good pass rusher or receiver is on the board here, it could be an option, but Harbaugh loves building the trenches.
25 – Baltimore Ravens select Tyler Booker (OG, Alabama)
The Ravens interior offensive line has suffered a bit in recent years between retirements and free agency, so plugging in an immediate impact player like Booker feels like a no-brainer.
26 – Pittsburgh Steelers select Drew Allar (QB, Penn State)
Russell Wilson isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire but he’s been a steady hand that’s helped Pittsburgh get back to the top of the division. The Steelers could opt to bring him back on a one-year deal next season, but they need to find the future of the position sooner rather than later.
27 – Green Bay Packers select Tacario Davis (CB, Arizona)
The Packers have a solid foundation in the secondary between Jaire Alexander and Xavier McKinney, but they could use another corner on the opposite side of the field. Similar to Shavon Revel, he’s a lengthy cornerback (6’4″) with fluid movement that allows him to stick to opposing receivers.
28 – Minnesota Vikings select Kaleb Johnson (RB, Iowa)
Two first round running backs, in this economy? Johnson would be getting more buzz if it weren’t for Jeanty, as the Hawkeyes back is set to eclipse 1,500 yards on the ground and already has 21 rushing touchdowns. The Vikings, meanwhile, rank near the bottom of the league with just 6 rushing touchdowns. With J.J. McCarthy set to take over next season, the Vikings need to find a running game to compliment the passing side of the offense.
29 – Philadelphia Eagles select Harold Perkins Jr (LB, LSU)
The Eagles love to draft guys that college football fans love which makes this a slam dunk selection. Perkins has had a bit of a downhill slide since his breakout freshman season, and is dealing with a season ending injury, but he’s a tremendous athlete that a good organization like the Eagles can develop how they see fit.
30 – Buffalo Bills select Jalon Walker (EDGE, Georgia)
The Bills have gotten modest production from their young pass rush duo of Greg Rousseau and AJ Epenesa, but could certainly look to add another productive pass rusher like Walker at the tail end of the first round. Walker has 5.5 sacks for the Bulldogs this season.
31 – Kansas City Chiefs select Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
Warren is a rare dynamic tight end who can be played out of variety of different positions on offense, a piece that Andy Reid would love to add as future Hall of Fame Travis Kelce nears retirement.
32 – Detroit Lions select Barrett Carter (LB, Clemson)
The Lions don’t have a ton of needs, but this is a team that has benefited greatly from just drafting the top player on the board. Carter is that player in this scenario, and if linebackers weren’t heavily devalued, would likely be a higher selection.
