My objective in this final mock draft is to connect players with teams. I don’t project trades. For instance, I don’t believe Trey Lance will go ahead of Justin Fields, but I do think Fields is likelier to land in Denver, and Detroit is an obvious candidate to trade down, then begin its rebuild with a quarterback pick. And the Lions and Broncos are sensible trade partners. I think Penei Sewell will be drafted before Rashawn Slater. But I’m also buying buzz the Chargers are willing to move up for Sewell.
Ultimately, my goal is to link around ten players to the teams that draft them.
- Jaguars – Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence – Urban Meyer era begins with Andrew Luck-like talent.
- Jets – BYU QB Zach Wilson – Gang Green takes plunge on high-volatility West Coast gunslinger.
- 49ers – Alabama QB Mac Jones – Kyle Shanahan opts for structured distributor over dual threats.
- Falcons – Florida TE Kyle Pitts – Pitts is the consensus No. 1 non-QB talent in this year’s draft.
- Bengals – LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase – Ownership steps in to reunite Chase with QB Joe Burrow.
- Dolphins – Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle – Field-flipping speedster reunites with Tua Tagovailoa.
- Lions – North Dakota State QB Trey Lance – Detroit starts rebuild with game-breaking dual threat.
- Panthers – South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn – Carolina stays local to address massive CB need.
- Broncos – Ohio State QB Justin Fields – Teddy Bridgewater is bridge to Fields’ dynamic talent.
- Cowboys – Alabama CB Patrick Surtain – Ideal scheme fit at big need under new DC Dan Quinn.
- Giants – Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater – Hog Molly helps solidify work-in-progress O-Line.
- Eagles – Alabama WR DeVonta Smith – Albeit undersized, Smith’s production speaks for itself.
- Chargers – Oregon OT Penei Sewell – Likely via trade up, Bolts protect Justin Herbert’s blindside.
- Vikings – Miami (FL) EDGE Jaelan Phillips – Minnesota’s pass rush fell by the wayside last year.
- Patriots – Penn State LB Micah Parsons – Pats solve QB need with trade for Jimmy Garoppolo.
- Cardinals – Tulsa LB Zaven Collins – Plus-sized thumper adds physicality to middle of defense.
- Raiders – USC G/T Alijah Vera-Tucker – Vegas addresses stripped-down line with draft’s No. 3 OL.
- Dolphins – Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw – Moving Robert Hunt inside creates OT need.
- Football Team – Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – Cover maven in middle of field.
- Bears – Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore – Doug Baldwin clone replaces Anthony Miller at slot receiver.
- Colts – Notre Dame LT Liam Eichenberg – Perhaps in trade down, Indy shores up blindside hole.
- Titans – Northwestern CB Greg Newsome – Tennessee stays true to full-on secondary makeover.
- Jets – Clemson RB Travis Etienne – Injects playmaking dynamism into Jets offense that needs it.
- Steelers – Alabama RB Najee Harris – Pittsburgh seems hellbent on jumpstarting running game.
- Jaguars – Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye – Squatty but versatile, bursty inside-outside pass rusher.
- Browns – Washington EDGE Joe Tryon – Checks virtually every box as athletic, high-motor DE.
- Ravens – Oklahoma State OT Teven Jenkins – Ready-made RT replacement for Orlando Brown.
- Saints – Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley – Several signs Farley is Saints desired first-round target.
- Packers – Georgia CB Eric Stokes – Speedy cover man upgrades spot opposite Jaire Alexander.
- Bills – Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr. – Undersized ballhawk bookends Tre’Davious White.
- Ravens – Penn State EDGE Jayson Oweh – Elite athlete can help replace FA loss Matt Judon.
- Bucs – Georgia CB Tyson Campbell – Tampa Bay won’t be able to pay its full glut of young CBs.
