This is The Gridiron Review’s NFL Mock Draft 3.0. This mock will factor in everything that happened during Free Agency Frenzy to date.
Our projected trades are at the bottom of the mock.
1. Carolina Panthers(VIA CHI)- CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Adding vet pass catchers to their room suggests they will want their rookie starting sooner rather than later. This combined with our love for Stroud as the QB1 has us thinking they should be picking him.
2. Indianapolis Colts(Proj. Trade w/ HOU)- Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
It is hard to guess what the Colts are thinking. A recent report came out suggesting they may even trade back to take the quarterback of their future…what? Either way we think Houston has their pick for sale and the Colts will jump on it. With a capable vet in Minshew there, they can afford to take the big swing for Steichan to instill the offense he ran in Philly.
3. Arizona Cardinals- Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
Arizona has a lot of problems, but they need pass rush most of all. Will Anderson is somewhat we like but do not love, however he is a very close fit to Haason Reddick and his role in Gannon’s defense.
4. Houston Texans(Proj. Trade w/ IND)- Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Houston has to be considering quarterback, we know, but we ultimately think they add a day 2 guy as well as look to next year’s draft while they continue building the team the right way. Instead they add a much needed edge presence, and our favorite edge prospect, in Myles Murphy.
5. Seattle Seahawks(VIA Denver Broncos)- Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Seattle could go one of eight or more different ways here. They are very publicly meeting with quarterbacks which suggests smoke screen, but we have a theory. Pete Carrol suggested to Rich Eisen he may go quarterback because he simply has never gotten the opportunity to take one top 5 before. This may seem ridiculous but Carrol is a Hall of Fame coach who may want to run it with a highly touted prospect for the first time in his career. As for Geno, they frontloaded the heck out of his contract so he is expendable.
6. Detroit Lions(VIA Los Angeles Rams)- Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
Much like Seattle, Detroit has a lot of options. They could continue to add to the secondary as they have in free agency, but Jalen Carter may be too good to pass up. Carter has not had a good draft process as everyone knows, and we garner he is possibly struggling mentally from guilt and the whole tragedy that occurred. Answers to that will be found behind closed doors in private meetings with Carter and teams. For now, the interior pass rush could be just what Detroit needs to solidify the defense.
7. Las Vegas Raiders- Paris Johnson Jr., OL, Ohio State
The Raiders have a few different directions they could go with this pick. However, with the Raiders signing Jimmy G to a bigger contract than we thought he’d get, we assume the priority has to be protecting Jimmy G. He is not our OT1, but Johnson is arguably the best offensive tackle in this year’s class and should start at RT or even has the flexibility to kick inside to guard if that’s what they want him to do.
8. Atlanta Falcons- Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Until Atlanta makes a trade or other move to address the wide receiver room, they have to be thinking back to back years of first round receivers. Zay Flowers adds a ton that is missing from the room. Elite after the catch and route running ability could have him devastate the underneath while London and Pitts stretch vertically.
9. Chicago Bears(VIA CAR)- Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
The Bears have done everything to help Justin Fields. They drafted Velus Jones in the 3rd last year, traded for Claypool at the deadline, and somehow walked away with DJ Moore in the trade involving the 1st overall pick. They also added Nate Davis, Foreman, and Tonyan in free agency. After trading down we think this has to be another lineman to protect Fields who got sacked a league high 55 times. Chicago goes with our OT1 in Anton Harrison.
10. Philadelphia Eagles(VIA New Orleans Saints)- Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
The Eagles have shown that they typically draft one of two things in the first round. Offensive line or defensive line. Lane Johnson just signed a massive extension through 2026, which suggests that the retirement rumors around him may be false. However, the Eagles did lose Isaac Seumalo in FA. Some speculate that Cam Jurgens will take over at guard, but we believe they could draft Seumalo’s replacement. We like Skoronski more on the interior than at tackle and think he could step in on day one and give the Eagles solid play at guard while keeping Jurgens as a top reserve at center and guard, and still being the future Kelce replacement.
11. Tennessee Titans- Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
We have no idea what Tennessee is doing. They’ve purged their roster and everything they’ve done so far suggests some level of teardown and rebuild. The Titans did address the offensive line in FA, but we think they could still upgrade. We think they take Broderick Jones out of Georgia. The Titans need help more so on the interior than at tackle, but we think Dillard could kick inside to guard or he could kick to RT with IOL addressed later. Skoronski could make sense for the Titans, but they miss out by one pick.
12. Houston Texans(VIA Cleveland Browns)- Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
DeMeco Ryans and the 49ers won with their defense, specifically the defensive line. They double dip in our opinion with two Clemson guys. Bresee adds a nice combination of run defense and pass rush on the interior while being athletic enough to flex to the outside if desired.
13. New York Jets- Calijah Kancey, DL, Pitt
Besides the glaring hole at quarterback (while the Rodgers trade is in limbo), the Jets have a very good team. They do not have a lot of problems anywhere, expect possibly their second defensive tackle. Kancey adds a lot of pass rushing juice on the inside to help out Quennen and the defensive ends.
14. New England Patriots- Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
The Pats signed Riley Reiff in FA, but he is no more than a backup at this point in his career. We believe they still need an OT replacement for Isaiah Wynn. The Pats for the second straight year in a row go out and take an offensive lineman… in typical Belichick fashion. Wright is the best RT in this year’s class and would slide right in to supply the Pats with great play for years to come.
15. Green Bay Packers- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Oh the irony it would be if Green Bay took a first round pass catcher after dealing Rodgers (it is happening right?). JSN has had a very good draft process, catering to his strengths while not focusing a ton on his weaknesses. His 40 time at his pro day was good enough in our eyes to move him back up our draft rankings. He could be a dependable, high volume receiver out of the slot for future superstar Jordan Love.
16. Washington Commanders- Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Due to earlier teams having different needs or addressing the CB position in FA, we have the CBs falling despite being a talented group. If Gonzalez falls to you at 16 you run that card up to the stand. Gonzalez is our CB1 who is ready to play now, but also has a high ceiling.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers- Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Pittsburgh has done a great job addressing the offensive line in free agency. So much so that we, for the first time, do not have them taking o-line in the first round. Instead they go with a wide receiver. Johnston is big and fast but could not be more different than George Pickens. Johnston is elite after the and so so in jump balls, but should pair greatly with Pickens and Johnson. They do their best to make life easy for Kenny Pickett.
18. Detroit Lions- Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The Lions addressed the CB room in FA which is why we don’t have them taking a CB at 6. However, if you are sitting at 18 and Witherspoon falls into your lap, we don’t know how they pass. Witherspoon is arguably the best man coverage CB in this class, and is a day one starter.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
We will continue to reiterate that Levis is not the first round prospect people think he is. That being said, Tampa signing Baker suggests they do not love Trask. Todd Bowles also did not draft Trask, so we do not consider his job safe. Instead, we have Tampa taking Levis to learn from the player we have him comped to in Baker Mayfield.
20. Seattle Seahawks- Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
This has been our Seahawks pick in all of our mocks so far this year. We think the Seahawks could look to improve on Mike Jackson as the Seahawks are certainly bringing in the pieces to contend in the NFC this year, and we also just love the fit. Ringo in Seattle makes way too much sense to us.
21. Los Angeles Chargers- Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
It is a match made in heaven in our eyes. We have had this every single time and there is nothing that suggests anything different. Hyatt adds the speed and vertical play that Herbert will love.
22. Baltimore Ravens- Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Jordan Addison is a slight faller in our eyes with his disappointing testing. He is still a first round talent and Baltimore takes him. Will they actually do it? Who knows. Instead of going out and getting a vet they get a smaller speed receiver who is unproven. Baltimore would never do that right?
23. Minnesota Vikings- Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
If there is any receiver in the second group that could find his way into the first with teams desperate for receiver help, it is Rashee Rice. With this selection Buffalo throws their clipboards at the wall. Rice is not an insane athlete, but is absolutely wicked after the catch with good route running and elite jump ball play. He would pair well with Jefferson and Osborn.
24. Philadelphia Eagles(Proj. Trade w/ JAX)- Nolan Smith, EDGE/LB, Georgia
Philly somehow got a lot of their guys back, so they do not have a glaring need that needs to be addressed. Nolan Smith is a luxury pick that we could absolutely seeing Philly making. It depends on how they view Milton Williams and Jordan Davis as a tackle duo where on the line they draft, but we are thinking they take the massive upside in smith.
25. New York Giants- Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
The Giants CB room outside of Adoree Jackson is pretty sad, and is pretty hard to ignore; however, Wink loves to bring the pressure. As of right now, Jarrad Davis is slated to start, and we think he could definitely be upgraded. Insert Drew Sanders. Sanders is our LB1 with inside/outside versatility, and an incredible ability to blitz. We think Sanders becomes NY’s LB1 and pairs up with Okereke to give the Giants the best LB play they’ve had in years.
26. Dallas Cowboys- Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
We know a lot of people have Bijan going in the top ten, and we just do not see it. Regardless of his skill, which is elite, running backs in the top ten are incredibly hit or miss. A team could trade up for him, but we do not see where it would happen. This is such a Dallas move though, where they take best player available regardless of need and keep Bijan in Texas.
27. Buffalo Bills- Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
Campbell is our LB3 and one we have projected as an early-mid 2nd rounder. Simpson is our LB2, but we think he fits the mold of what Buffalo already has in Milano. We believe in replacing production over replacing players. Campbell is roughly the same size as Edmunds who they just lost in FA, and we think Campbell mixed with Bernard could be the combo that replaces Edmunds production.
28. Cincinnati Bengals- Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Cincinnati just signed Irv Smith, so this may not be as sure now. That being said, Smith has proven nothing so far at the NFL level, and cannot block. Therefore, we could still see the Bengals drafting a tight end in the first round, and that player for us is Michael Mayer. He is not our tight end 1, but offers the most day one ready potential for a team looking to compete.
29. New Orleans Saints(VIA DEN-VIA MIA-VIA SF)- Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
New Orleans has done well replacing their losses on the defensive line that were plenty. That being said, they are still missing some pass rushing juice. Cam Jordan is not getting any younger, so we have them taking a similar player in Lukas Van Ness. He is the most versatile D-lineman in this draft in our opinion as he played end/edge this year, but was a tackle last year.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars(Proj. Trade w/ PHI)- Brian Branch, NB, Alabama
As explained in the Eagles summary, we believe the Eagles will try to jump the division rival Giants and Cowboys in an effort to take Nolan Smith to add to their D-Line rotation. The Jags happily trade down, and still land the guy we think they could take at 24 in Brian Branch. After starting 13 games at NB for the Jags, Darious Williams was moved back outside. The Jags did just re-sign Tre Herndon although with minimal needs we think they could look to upgrade the NB/S positions with Branch.
31. Kansas City Chiefs- Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Our match made in heaven is back. Washington has shown advanced development at the combine and a great upside in pass catching to match his elite run blocking. Kansas City can add another unguardable red zone option, while he continues to develop behind the best tight end in football.
Trades:
HOU Receives: 2023 1st(Pick 4), 2024 1st, 2023 3rd(Pick 79)
IND Receives: 2023 1st(Pick 2)
PHI Receives: 2023 1st(Pick 24)
JAX Receives: 2023 1st(Pick 30), 2023 3rd (Pick 94)