We’re two weeks away from the draft. The light at the end of the tunnel has started to become visible. Here are my latest picks:
- Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward – QB – Miami
The only way I change this pick is if some crazy news about Ward drops either a couple of days before or the day of the NFL draft. - Cleveland Browns – Shedeur Sanders – QB – Colorado
There are so many scenarios for Shedeur to go down, whether it’s being a top-three pick, in the top 10, and a mid to late first. I firmly believe he’ll get taken early with the injury to Deshaun Watson and the lack of signal callers in the room for the Browns. - New York Giants – Travis Hunter – CB/WR – Colorado
Travis is such an intriguing prospect, having the ability to play at wide receiver and cornerback. He would complement Malik Nabers so well on offense and be a top boundary corner on defense to help bolster New York’s secondary. - New England Patriots – Abdul Carter – ED – Penn State
Carter may have fallen, but he won’t fall far. The first big move for New England was signing Harold Landry, but Carter is too good to let him fall any farther. - Jacksonville Jaguars – Will Campbell – OT – LSU
The Jags have a new offensive-minded head coach and would want to protect their $50 million a year quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. - Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty – RB – Boise State
Las Vegas needs a running back in the worst way possible. Jeanty projects as a generational-type back and gives someone the Raiders can consistently hand the ball off to. - New York Jets – Mason Graham – IDL – Michigan
My thought for this pick is just taking a good player and imitating what Philly is doing by having two tremendous and young defensive tackles. - Carolina Panthers – Mike Green – ED – Marshall
Edge rusher is the biggest hole Carolina needs to address with their first pick since they didn’t find a reliable replacement for Brian Burns. Green, to me, has the highest ceiling and was very productive in his time with Marshall. - New Orleans Saints – Tyler Warren – TE – Penn State
The Saints pick perplexes me with how the team has been constructed. Warren doesn’t meet the high RAS score threshold that the Saints love, but he’s one of the few top guys left, and you might as well take him and give this offense another weapon to work with. - Chicago Bears – Kenneth Grant – IDL – Michigan
The Bears have heavily addressed the offensive line early and often to begin free agency. Now, Chicago can pivot and improve their defensive line by taking the second Wolverine lineman in the first 10 picks. - San Francisco 49ers – Will Johnson – CB – Michigan
Much of San Fran’s depth was gutted due to setting up their next contract with Brock Purdy and moving on from older guys. Johnson’s injured, but the Niners need to hit on the cornerback position early. - Dallas Cowboys – Tetairoa McMillan – WR – Arizona
I still feel the same about McMillan as I did last time. I think he’ll take a little bit of a dip, and the Cowboys can take him for another dynamic weapon on the outside. - Miami Dolphins – Armand Membou – OT – Missouri
Miami gets an instant replacement for Terron Armstead after he retired the other day. - Indianapolis Colts – Nick Emmanwori – S – South Carolina
I don’t like any of Indy’s safeties, and to further add to that, they barely have any. Emmanwori showed up and showed out at the combine and is an all-around playmaker that can be an impact player for the Colts. - Atlanta Falcons – James Pearce Jr – ED – Tennessee
The Falcons have gone down this road before and have a great chance to do it again since they haven’t found a cornerstone piece on the line in over a decade. Pearce has personality questions but does not have questioned talent. - Arizona Cardinals – Jahdae Barron – CB – Texas
Barron is a versatile corner that the Cardinals can plug into multiple spots and improve a poot secondary. - Cincinnati Bengals – Mykel Williams – ED – Georgia
I don’t love the situation the Bengals are in. Trey Hendrickson isn’t happy with being in Cincy, and Sam Hubbard retired last month. Williams gives them security on the edge. - Seattle Seahawks – Tyler Booker – OG – Alabama
Seattle is always a wildcard for me, and they aren’t afraid to make picks at a non-premium position if need be. The interior of the offensive line needs help and is a priority for a run-heavy scheme like Klint Kubiak’s. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell – LB – Alabama
Not much has changed here, either. Tampa will eventually want to find a replacement for Lavonte David, who is on a one-year deal. - Denver Broncos – Omarion Hampton – RB – North Carolina
Hampton feels like a steal at 20, but it works so well for Denver. They tried and failed with Javonte Williams. This draft has a wealth of good running back prospects, and I believe the former Tar Heel is the second-best back in this class. - Pittsburgh Steelers – Jaxson Dart – QB – Ole Miss
We’re still trying to figure out if Aaron Rodgers will sign with the Steelers or really any team. Whether he lands in Pittsburgh or not, Dart’s gained a lot of traction, and the Steelers need to find a long-term solution at quarterback. - Los Angeles Chargers – Jalon Walker – ED – Georgia
The Chargers need to get a new edge rusher after cutting Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack not getting any younger. Walker’s had talks of being a top-10 pick. Falling to 22 isn’t as bad as you might think, but still a good pickup in the back-half of the first round. - Green Bay Packers – Trey Amos – Ole Miss
Green Bay needs to find a reliable target on the outside for Jordan Love to throw to. The issue is, they rarely use their first-round picks on skill position players and usually opt for defense. - Minnesota Vikings – Malaki Starks – S – Georgia
Harrison Smith is in a similar boat as Lavonte David, even heavily contemplating retirement before deciding to return in 2025. Getting Starks is an insurance policy and a move where you look ahead and get his replacement a year ahead. - Houston Texans – Emeka Egbuka – WR – Ohio State
Egbuka and Stroud have a history together, having played at Ohio State a couple of years ago. The Texans have shown they’ll listen to what their QB wants. - Los Angeles Rams – Colestand Loveland – TE – Michigan
Not much has changed either. Loveland has a great chance of getting into the first round and give Matthew Stafford another weapon at tight end while Tyler Higbee continues to be less and less of a factor. - Baltimore Ravens – Walter Nolen – IDL – Ole Miss
Another retirement situation, much like Hubbard with the Bengals. Nolen can fill Michael Pierce’s role on the defensive and has such immense potential to be a game-wrecker. - Detroit Lions – Donovan Ezeiruaku – ED – Boston College
A clear deficiency for Detroit was getting pressure on the quarterback, and that was on display in the playoffs. Hutchinson is still recovering from his fractured tibia and fibula, and they don’t have any other consistent edge rushers. Ezeiruaku is one of the top prospects at his position that’s left available late in the opening round. - Washington Commanders – Matthew Golden – WR – Texas
The Commanders have made multiple moves to get some veteran receiver, including trading a fifth-round pick for Deebo Samuel and getting Michael Gallup to come out of retirement. That doesn’t matter to me. Just about everyone in that room is 29 years of age and older. It’s time to bring in some youth and explosiveness. - Buffalo Bills – Kelvin Banks Jr – OT – Texas
Buffalo has both of their starting tackles locked up for the next few years. Banks, however, could probably slide to guard and still be successful. - Kansas City Chiefs – Grey Zabel – OT – North Dakota State
It’s obvious to just about everyone that the Chiefs need to find better offensive tackles. Zabel is coming from a smaller school in North Dakota State, but the program has been a dominant program for a while no,w and Zabel was a three-year starter. - Philadelphia Eagles – Shemar Stewart – ED – Texas A&M
If the Eagles don’t trade this pick, I see them trying to replenish their edge rushers after Josh Sweat went to Arizona and other long-time Eagle greats recently hung it up.