Post Free Agency – NFL Mock Draft

By: Preston Cheatwood

With the first few days of Free Agency over, we can now turn back to the NFL Draft as the free agent cycle slows, and now, with a clearer picture, we can have a better guess at to what teams will do heading into the NFL Draft. This is my first official mock draft of the year, but not might my first mock draft of the year

1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams – USC

The Justin Fields era is officially in the past and it’s almost certainly Caleb Williams time in Chicago. The Bears had their contingent at Caleb’s pro day and he’ll likely be having his visit in Chicago soon. After the additions of Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift, and Gerald Everett, the offense is in a really good spot for a rookie QB to step into. Caleb Williams stepping into this Bears offense all of a sudden feels like a phenomenal situation for a rookie, let alone one as talented as Caleb.

2. Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels – LSU

For the first time in this NFL Mock Draft series, I have Jayden Daniels making the jump over Drake Maye to the Commanders. The closer we get to the draft, the more it seems like Daniels is gaining momentum. Their pro days are next week, so we’ll learn more about them then but it seems like momentum has the reigning Heisman Trophy winner gaining some serious steam. Daniels’ dual-threat skillset feels like a perfect fit with new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, the QB mastermind who’s worked alongside guys like Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, and most recently Caleb Williams.

3. New England Patriots: QB Drake Maye – North Carolina

The name changes but the Patriots still end up with their QB of the future. I’m still of the belief that they’ll be actively listening to trade-up offers as they’ve said they’d be willing to move back in order to stockpile picks, but you never know when you’ll get a chance to take a top quarterback again. It all depends on how much they love Maye (or Jayden Daniels if Maye goes #2). We’ll probably find out more after their pro days next week. If they’re sold, they’ll take the QB, but if they’re not all in, it wouldn’t be terribly surprising to see them trade back.

4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr – Ohio State

The Cardinals fall to the fourth overall pick but still end up with arguably the best player in this draft. So Arizona goes with the best player available to get a big-time weapon on the outside for Kyler Murray to throw to. Harrison Jr won’t work out at Ohio State’s pro day but that shouldn’t really change much. Don’t get me wrong, it could and stranger things have affected draft stock, but the Cardinals can’t afford to overthink this one. Marvin Harrison Jr is the best receiver in this draft whether he works out at pro day or not.

5. TRADE Minnesota Vikings (via Chargers): QB J.J. McCarthy – Michigan

Kirk Cousins is out the door and officially an Atlanta Falcon. The Vikings have a really solid roster but still have a big hole at quarterback. I think we could see a real bidding war between the Vikings, Broncos, and Giants for this pick but the Vikings just can’t afford to lose it given where their roster is and how desperate they are for a QB. Minnesota even started to load up on assets by acquiring Houston’s first-round pick at 23rd overall. The Chargers need A LOT of help offensively and they could certainly hold onto this pick, but moving back and picking up assets makes a lot of sense here as they look to repair their shaky offense.

6. New York Giants: WR Malik Nabers – LSU

After missing out on the top four rated quarterbacks in this draft, the Giants have to pivot so they go with the next best thing and draft an electric wide receiver in Malik Nabers. The former LSU Tiger gives New York a number one target on the outside and a playmaker that they desperately need especially after Saquon Barkley left for Philly. They still have holes on offense and need a big bounce back from Daniel Jones, but Nabers is a great start in getting some star power on their offense and could potentially help Jones regain some of his 40 million dollar form.

7. Tennessee Titans: LT Joe Alt – Notre Dame

The Titans need help on both lines of scrimmage. Joe Alt was outstanding at Notre Dame, and he came away as one of the big winners at the NFL Combine. The farther along we get in the draft process, the more momentum Alt seems to gain. While we kind of knew he was a great athlete, his Combine performance confirmed that and then some. Tennessee grabs the former Fighting Irish standout to anchor their OL.

8. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Dallas Turner – Alabama

The Falcons have their quarterback, now it’s time to address the other side of the ball. Kirk Cousins walks into a solid situation in Atlanta with a decent amount of weapons surrounding him. Defense is the pick here for Atlanta and taking the top EDGE rusher on the board makes the most sense. Dallas Turner is likely that guy, and he finds a new home in Atlanta.

9. Chicago Bears: WR Rome Odunze – Washington

After the addition of Keenan Allen, the Bears all of a sudden have a great 1-2 punch at wide receiver. Having said that, Allen is going to be 32 years old in Week 1 and in the last year of his deal. He’s a great player, but a short-term option. If Odunze is still there at the ninth pick, I still think you have to grab him. It makes your wide receiver room one of the best in the NFL, and it gives you a more secure long-term outlook at the position. Trading back will certainly be on the table, but I think the idea of adding Odunze to that offense it too tempting to pass up.

10. New York Jets: TE Brock Bowers – Georgia

The Jets have made a pair of moves adding Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses to be their tackles next season to help protect Aaron Rodgers and his repaired Achilles. This frees them up to go a different route with the 10th overall pick so they pick up one of the more talented players in this draft in Brock Bowers. The Jets have some skill at wide receiver, and adding Bowers should open up that offense quite a bit and give them the potential to be dangerous.

11. Los Angeles Chargers: LT Olu Fashanu – Penn State

The Chargers need a lot of help, and they certainly need help at the skill positions, but with an extra first-round pick after trading back and a lot of those top names off the board, Jim Harbaugh takes his offensive line anchor at 11th overall. Fashanu is the top tackle in the draft on some people’s boards. Harbaugh likes to build his teams from the inside out. He might not get Justin Herbert his go-to target just yet, but he makes a move to try and keep him upright.

12. Denver Broncos: EDGE Jared Verse – Florida State

The Broncos still need a quarterback but instead of reaching for one with the 12th pick, Sean Payton takes the top EDGE defender left on the board to sure up his defense. It’s still uncertain what route they’ll go at quarterback, and they could try and trade back and reach for one here. But with the amount of needs they have, reaching at 12 for a question mark QB doesn’t make sense. Going the safer route with a high-ceiling EDGE does. They can always hope a guy like Bo Nix or Penix fall to them in the second (or they facilitate a trade up). Reaching here doesn’t help the Broncos in their rebuild/retool.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: OT Taliese Fuaga – Oregon State

After bringing in Gardiner Minshew on a two-year deal to be their quarterback and solidifying their defense with the massive Christian Wilkins addition, the Raiders make a pick to strengthen their offensive line which needs some help. Taliese Fuaga is a rock-solid option at right tackle and feels very similar to where Darnell Wright was at last year’s draft. Going that route might not be the flashy pick we’re accustomed to seeing the Raiders make, but it’s probably the right one here as they look to build a team that can hold their own in a dominant AFC and an AFC West featuring the Kansas City Chiefs.

14. New Orleans Saints: OT Amarius Mims – Georgia

The Saints need help on both sides of the line of scrimmage. I think they’ll go offensive line in this spot, given what’s left on the board. Amarius Mims was one of the big winners at the NFL Combine with his 40-yard dash and shuttle times to go along with his massive frame. He’s a bit of a risk in terms of durability, but I think with how he performed in Indy the Saints will grab him here and take that chance.

15. Indianapolis Colts: CB Terrion Arnold – Alabama

While Kool-Aid McKinstry was for most of the year seen as the top cornerback in this year’s NFL Draft, he now might not even be the top CB selected from his own team! Terrion Arnold is rising up draft boards quickly thanks to his tools and incredibly high ceiling. He might be a riskier pick than McKinstry, but the potential is incredibly high for Arnold, and the Colts roll the dice on him here with their ideal prospect Brock Bowers off the board.

16. Seattle Seahawks: OL Troy Fautanu – Washington

Fautanu has been fast-rising up NFL Draft boards so far this offseason, and his fit with the Seahawks seems too perfect. He was a tackle at Washington but probably projects more as an interior lineman at the NFL level. The Seahawks can give him a look at multiple positions and see where he fits best. Fautanu feels like a lock to be a rock-solid NFL offensive lineman, just feels like a matter of where. New Head Coach Mike McDonald will get a valuable swingman on the offensive line as they look to potentially make a playoff push around Geno Smith or Sam Howell.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Nate Wiggins – Clemson

The Jags collapse was a brutal one down the stretch, and it really amplified their NFL Draft needs. They most certainly need a little more help on offense, but defensively, the team struggled mightily in the last few weeks. Taking a true playmaker at the cornerback position can inject some life into a defensive unit that lacked big-play ability and consistency down the stretch. Wiggins, who ran a 4.28 brings some much needed speed to a lackluster secondary and he will be one of the top corners in the draft, despite his seemingly minor injury

18. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Adonai Mitchell – Texas

Mitchell is a highly overlooked WR due to how deep this class is, but I think he’s the perfect fit to replace Tee Higgins in Cincinnati if they do indeed trade him. He’s got a big frame at 6’4 and he’s an elite athlete. He’s great at going up and getting the football, he’s a phenomenal deep threat, and I think he’s a great compliment opposite Ja’Marr Chase. Mitchell has a sky-high ceiling and would be a perfect compliment to Chase as the Bengals look to rebound with a healthy Joe Burrow

19. Los Angeles Rams: EDGE Laiatu Latu – UCLA

With multiple positions they could address at this spot, the Rams make the pick for an impact player at a high-value position. They still need help at cornerback and on the offensive line, but given who is left on the board I think going with Latu at 19th would be the right call. With Aaron Donald announcing his retirement, the Rams really need a playmaker on the defensive line that can be a dominant force that can help fill the shoes of Donald. Latu gives them a chance at one with LAs first first round pick since Jared Goff.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Quinyon Mitchell – Toledo

The cornerback order in this year’s draft seems to be one of the more volatile of the position groups. After his impressive performance at the combine, I think the Steelers select Quinyon Mitchell out of Toledo. Mitchell was one of the top cover corners in college football last year, and now that he excelled at the combine, I think we’ll see him go off the board earlier than expected. It’s not hard to see teams selling themselves on that 4.33 40-yard dash time, plus he’s got a ton of experience and upside that a defensive oriented team like the Steelers would crave.

21. Miami Dolphins: C Jackson Powers-Johnson – Oregon

Miami desperately needs to add help along the offensive line. It’s been a rough offseason for the Dolphins as they’ve seen a lot of talent depart. This might not be the sexiest pick for them in the first round, but it goes a long way in starting to solidify their offensive line which has been a roller coaster over the last few seasons.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Cooper DeJean – Iowa

The Eagles’ collapse down the stretch of the season was certainly something to behold. I still think they have a very talented roster. However, defensively their glaring need for help in the secondary got exposed. Unfortunately, the offseason has seen some shakeups along their defensive line as well. It still feels like the defensive backfield is the bigger need, though. Cooper DeJean can step in on day one and provide consistency as well as versatility to a position group that needs help fast. The Safety/Corner hybrid can fill whatever need the Eagles want him to fill and will provide a valuable defensive chess piece.

23. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Brian Thomas Jr – LSU

After solidifying their offensive line with Olu Fashanu at the 11th overall pick, the Chargers draft a receiver to give Justin Herbert a new number-one target. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Gerald Everett are all gone. Brian Thomas Jr, often overlooked because of how good Malik Nabers was, is a phenomenal draft prospect. He has the size and speed to be an elite vertical threat, he’s become a very good route runner, and he had a knack for finding the endzone at LSU. He will fill a much needed weakness for QB Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense that has seen signifigant downgrades.

24. Dallas Cowboys: OT Jordan Morgan – Arizona

The Cowboys will have a few moving parts on their aging offensive line, so grabbing the versatile Morgan here makes a lot of sense. He can play inside or outside, and given the uncertainty of that unit for Dallas, bringing in Morgan alongside 2022 first-round NFL Draft pick Tyler Smith gives them a solid foundation on the offensive line as they look to go “all in”.

25. Green Bay Packers: WR Keon Coleman – Florida State

Coleman is big, strong, fast, and can go up and get the ball with the best of them. His route tree needs a little bit of time to grow, but his physical frame and his elite ability to go up and get the ball and make the big play is a perfect fit for Green Bay. His playstyle matches perfectly with the WR room the Packers have, but they need someone who has the upside of being an elite #1 guy, as nobody really stepped into that role in the Green Bay Platoon.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – Alabama

The Bucs have their quarterback Baker Mayfield back in the fold. Mike Evans was brought back with a brand new deal as well. Tampa could go with some OL help here, but they need some playmakers defensively as well. McKinstry is dealing with a foot injury, but he should be fine by his pro day. He was at one point the top-rated corner in this draft and he’s got an incredibly high ceiling. He presents some serious value for the Bucs here with the NFL Draft’s 26th overall pick.

27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): DT Byron Murphy II – Texas

The Cardinals need help just about everywhere on defense, and they get a piece they can plug in on the defensive line with Byron Murphy. Sure, it’s not the most premier position, but when you need as much help on the defensive side of the ball as the Cardinals do, it’s never a bad idea to grab the best player available. Murphy could go as high as the middle of the first round if the chips fall in a certain way, so if he makes it to Arizona here I think they grab him.

28. Buffalo Bills: WR Xavier Worthy – Texas

Xavier Worthy’s record-setting 40-yard dash time will more than likely get him picked in the first round, it’s just a matter of where. Stefan Diggs is likely on the way out and Gabe Davis has already signed in Jacksonville. The Bills need to add an explosive playmaker. Xavier Worthy is the definition of that. He clearly has elite speed, he can beat anyone over the top, and he feels like a perfect match for Josh Allen and his cannon of an arm. Worthy will step in and be able to thrive without the pressure of being the immediate #1 WR, a problem for former record holder John Ross when he was drafted by the Bengals.

29. Detroit Lions: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. – Missouri

While the defense flashed at times, ultimately, that side of the ball let the Lions down in the worst way against San Francisco. When they needed stops in the NFC Championship game, they just couldn’t come up with them. The secondary was a major weakness throughout the season and Ennis Rakestraw Jr and his physical style feel like a perfect fit for an aggressive Detroit team that really needs to boost their secondary.

30. Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Chop Robinson – Penn State

Chop Robinson had a great year at Penn State and at certain points was projected to be the first EDGE off the board. While Baltimore probably still wants to add to the OL, Robinson may have too high of a ceiling to pass up on in this spot. The Ravens get some serious value with him at 30th overall and bring the Maryland Native home, filling a need at EDGE that’s growing increasinly bigger by the day.

31. San Francisco 49ers: DL Jer’Zhan Newton – Illinois

I think I’ve had the Niners going with an offensive lineman at this spot in just about every mock draft, but it’s time to pivot. At least for now. Jer’Zhan Newton is slightly undersized, but that never really seemed to affect him at Illinois. He’s incredibly quick and is a very good interior pass rusher. After letting Arik Armstead go, San Francisco needs to add to their defensive line and Newton at the end of the first round would be a steal.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Troy Franklin – Oregon

The Chiefs have already made a move to bolster their wide receiver group with the signing of Marquise Brown, but I think they still would like to add to that position group. Franklin would walk into a perfect situation in KC that would allow him time to develop. His speed and ability to beat press coverage make him a great threat on the outside, and he would open things up for Brown and Travis Kelce. He’s a very good route runner and he’s elite at picking up YAC. Given what KC has, it’s a perfect situation for Franklin to make an impact right away without having to be the top target.

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Preston Cheatwood

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