We are now less than a month away from the NFL Draft kicking off the first round of the event. There are tons of rumors starting to emerge about potential trades that could be in the works to cause movement on the first night of the draft. There are plenty of different situations that could become a reality, especially with the top quarterbacks in this class.
This mock draft saw plenty of trades come through that saw quarterback selections shake up the first round. There will likely be a couple of moves within the first ten picks or so. Expect quarterback-needy teams to get aggressive and try to find different ways to acquire one of the top four players at the position. That is exactly what happened in this mock draft.
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
After the Bears traded away Justin Fields to the Steelers, there is no question anymore about who they'll take. Fields was always going to be dealt, but Chicago wanted to try and find a better trade value. They didn't and moved him to Pittsburgh. Caleb Williams has all the tools that should make him a great quarterback at the next level.
2. Washinton Commanders: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Huge shocker here with pick number two in this mock draft. Rumors have started to swirl that J.J. McCarthy could be the choice for Washington. That seems rather foolish right now when both Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are still on the board. McCarthy is a smart quarterback with limited production. Washington takes him here as they bank on his upside.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
New England would love to have Maye fall to their pick. They could always trade back for a king's ransom if this scenario played out. They decide to stick to their selection and take Maye. He has a lot of great tools that should make him a Josh Allen-type of player. He is a big and physical as a quarterback with a cannon for an arm.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Another team that could be a trade-back candidate is none other than the Arizona Cardinals. They should have plenty of quality options at pick number four. They don't have any trade offers that wow them in this mock draft, so they stay here. They take Marvin Harrison Jr. to help Kyler Murray get his career with the Cardinals back on track.
Daniels slipped ever so slightly in this mock draft, and many NFL teams come calling to the LA Chargers. They are open for business and willing to take on extra picks in this draft and the next. In this scenario, they deal the fifth overall pick and pick 181 to the Vikings. In return, the Chargers get both of the Vikings firsts this year, pick 108, and a 2025 fifth-rounder.
5. Minnesota Vikings: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Minnesota lost Kirk Cousins in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons. We know they desperately need a starting quarterback on their roster. Sam Darnold is a bridge guy at best and the club needs an upgrade. They take the explosive option in Jayden Daniels. He was a monster of production at LSU both by using his arm and his legs.
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
We know that the Giants will be one of the teams potentially looking into trade options to move up for a top quarterback in the draft. They were not successful in accomplishing that here, but they were able to help Daniel Jones by getting a top receiver in the draft. Malik Nabers is rising on draft boards, and some have started to consider the best at his position coming out of college.
7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Joe Alt falls into the laps of the Tennessee Titans. We know that they are going to give Will Levis a whole season to prove he is their starting quarterback of the future. They want to protect him to the best of their ability and that lands Alt here. He has mostly played left side, but the Titans will have him and the other tackles on the roster battle it out.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Could be a receiver going here, but the Falcons need some help on the defensive side of the ball. Bud Dupree remains a free agent, but they need to get stronger on defense. They did a ton of work in free agency to boost the offensive side of the ball. They go with Dallas Turner here who should be an impact player at the NFL level.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
With Williams being the top pick earlier in this mock draft, they look to add talent around him. They could add an offensive lineman, but they decided to add Rome Odunze out of Washington. He is a great playmaking receiver and someone that should mesh well with Williams. Keenan Allen, D.J. Moore, and Odunze should become a dynamic trio.
10. New York Jets: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Mekhi Becton is a free agent still, but it seems like New York is ready to move on from the former first-round pick. They have a top-ten selection and could be another option to trade back in the draft. They sit still in this situation and take a top left tackle in Olumuyiwa Fashanu. He was regarded highly, but for some unknown reason, it seems like his draft stock has slipped recently.
11 (VIA MIN). LA Chargers: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
After getting a nice trade haul earlier in the mock draft, Jim Harbaugh makes his first pick as the Head coach of the LA Chargers. They take Brock Bowers to help upgrade their offense by adding a dynamic weapon. With Mike Williams and Allen gone, a receiver could make a ton of sense here. With the top ones off the board, they go with Bowers.
12. Denver Broncos: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Patrick Surtain II remains one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Denver has a ton of problems across their roster, with quarterback being the main concern. They will be stuck with a tier-two prospect at quarterback if they fail to trade up. They decide to go with their best player available and take Terrion Arnold.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
After the Raiders lost a starting tackle in free agency, they need some help. They add Taliese Fuaga to become their starting right tackle. He has been a dominant tackle since becoming a starter at Oregon State. He should slide onto their roster without any issues and become a reliable starter for the Raiders for years to come.
14. New Orleans Saints: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
New Orleans is in an odd spot as they have plenty of needs, but they will also have cap issues again next year. They could always make more trades or cuts to their roster for cap-related reasons between now and the draft if they want to. They take Jared Verse to join their defense as they need more pass rushers and Verse is one of the best in this draft class.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Kenny Moore II was just re-signed but the Colts could use some help on the outside at cornerback. Quinyon Mitchell is one of the biggest risers in the upcoming draft who has worked his way from a day two prospect to a guaranteed option in round one. The Colts get a great cornerback in the draft and land a day-one starter on defense.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Getting stronger on defense is something Seattle will be prepared to do moving forward under their new Head coach. Byron Murphy II is one of the few quality defensive tackles in this class worthy of a first-round selection. The Seahawks get a player who is the top player at his position according to most experts. He should be able to help their defense in the trenches.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Jacksonville is another team that could go receiver in round one, but plenty of tackles are starting to come off the board. They decide to go with an athletic player with Troy Fauntanu out of Washington with their first-round selection. He might be one of the best movers in the upcoming draft at the tackle position. The Jaguars get a solid starter to protect Trevor Lawrence.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Cincinnati would be thrilled with this selection of Nate Wiggins if it became a reality. He slipped in this mock draft with plenty of offensive star-caliber players coming off the board earlier in the simulation. The Bengals get a starting cornerback on the outside to replace some free agents still out on the market. Wiggins is great value here.
19. LA Rams: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Aaron Donald announced recently that he is retiring from the NFL. That creates a giant void on the Ram's defense. They need someone to pressure the passer. They had some players step up last season, but they could use a boost. They take Laiatu Latu out of UCLA, and it adds a local flare to this selection. He had a great week at the Senior Bowl and should be a quality pass-rush specialist.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Plenty of ways the Steelers could go here, but they end up taking a receiver. They could go either center or offensive tackle, but Brian Thomas Jr. is going to be hard for them to pass up in the first round if he is available. They have a lot of pressing needs still, so many should expect the Steelers to remain aggressive in free agency and on the trade market.
21. Miami Dolphins: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
With JC Latham skipping most of his workouts in the pre-draft process, many should expect his draft stock to sink. he could end up being like Dawand Jones from a couple of years back just because both didn't work out and that caused their draft stocks to fall. Miami still takes Latham here as they need an upgrade at right tackle to protect their franchise quarterback.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Graham Barton, C, Duke
With Jason Kelce now gone due to retirement, the Eagles need a new center to fill that void. Somewhat similar to Landon Dickerson coming out of college, Graham Barton could play at multiple spots on the offensive line at the next level. Many have Barton settling in at center, and that will be where he excels most. He would be a great replacement for Kelce.
23. LA Chargers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
They took Bowers earlier in the first round, but with their extra selection on night one, Harbaugh wants to build in the trenches. He takes the top center in the class with Jackson Powers-Johnson. It would be shocking to see two centers go off the board in road one, as recent history has shown their value sink on draft day. Powers-Johnson would be a great pickup for Harbaugh as he tries to build around Justin Herbert.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Dallas could go in a couple of different directions with this pick, but they end up going with Amarius Mims out of Georgia. He is a talented right tackle coming out of college, but he has limited starting experience due to prior injuries. Despite his potential rawness as a prospect, he has plenty of great tools to become an impact starting tackle in the NFL.
25. Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Another prospect that seems to be falling down mock drafts recently is none other than Cooper DeJean. His injury this past season has not helped his draft cause as it forced him out of plenty of pre-draft events. Green Bay gets quality value here as DeJean can play all over the secondary. A new chess piece on defense for the Packers.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Many thought Kool-Aid McKinstry could have been a top pick in the draft heading into this past college football season. He didn't have a bad year, but others in his position did better to improve their draft stock. Tampa Bay just traded away one of their starting cornerbacks earlier this offseason and now they draft McKinstry to take over that void.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Arizona added Harrison Jr. to add to their offense, so now they want to add a piece to their defense. They could use some help in the trenches, so they spend their second pick in round one on Jer'Zhan Newton out of Illinois. Newton has not been able to get back into a top-pick conversation, but he remains in the first-round conversation one month from the draft.
28. Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Gabe Davis left the Bills in free agency, so Buffalo could use some help at receiver. Stefon Diggs has been a controversial piece with the Bills over the past two offseason. His future in Buffalo could be up in the air soon. Adonai Mitchell is the pick here and his speed should be able to replace Davis pretty well. Similar speed receivers that should complement Allen well.
29. Detroit Lions: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Josh Reynolds just announced that he will be signing with the Denver Broncos in free agency. He was not their best receiver, but the Lions could use some help to take their offense to another level. They draft Keon Coleman in this mock draft. He is a big weapon at receiver and could bring a new dynamic to the Lion's offense this upcoming season.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Not many experts think Tyler Guyton will land in the first round of the draft. It makes sense for the Ravens to presumably reach on Guyton. He is a physical tackle coming out of college that fits the mold that Baltimore looks for in their players. They just traded away Morgan Moses, so drafting Guyton here isn't crazy.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
Another pick in the first round that seems somewhat shocking here with Darius Robinson. The 49ers just lost Arik Armstead due to cap-related issues. San Francisco gets an impact player that can play anywhere on the defensive line. Robinson can play edge, defensive tackle, and defensive end. He is rising draft boards, but it would be a shocking pick.
We have another trade to announce to conclude a very busy night to kick off the draft. New York feels compelled to move up and take a quarterback to battle Jones. They give up a couple of picks this year and flip their fourth for a fifth the following draft. Most of those with the Giants should expect their jobs to be on the line this year, and that'll make them desperate.
32 (VIA KC). New York Giants: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
With that fifth-year option coming from first-round picks, the Giants move back into the first round to take Michael Penix Jr. It's likely that this quarterback prospect will be there in round two, but they want that extra year of control in case he pans out as a long-term answer. They get an accurate passer who should be able to compete with Jones as soon as he hits the field.