For the 2.0 version of this mock draft, I decided to do it live on the air and went through the thought process on RP3 & Meche. There are a few major changes that shook up this mock:
- Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza – QB – Indiana
No further explanation needed. Mendoza is the only player who is a lock to go this early. - New York Jets – Arvell Reese – LB – Ohio St.
My thoughts on a versatile defensive piece who is projected to go top-3 in the draft and was selected second overall haven’t changed. - Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa – OT – Miami
I’m still looking at Mauigoa as a foundational piece to help fix this offense and set themselves up for whichever quarterback they decide to lead the franchise. - Tennessee Titans – David Bailey – ED – Texas Tech
I’m a little iffy on this pick. I still think David Bailey makes a lot of sense for them to add more depth to the defensive line. - New York Giants – Caleb Downs – S – Ohio St.
This pick is where I started to make a few changes. New York and Joe Schoen haven’t addressed the safety position this early before, but Downs is a special talent, and head coach John Harbaugh took some great safeties in his time with the Ravens. - Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate – WR – Ohio St.
I can’t convince myself to go in any other direction. The wide receiver position is just that dreadful to me and severely needs help. It’s pretty crazy that I have three Buckeyes going in the top six and, as you’ll see, four in the top eight. - Washington Commanders – Jeremiyah Love – RB – Notre Dame
Jeremiyah Love still makes a lot of sense here. Other guys like Mansoor Delane could be an option, though, after the Marshon Lattimore trade blew up in Washington’s face. - New Orleans Saints – Sonny Styles – LB – Ohio St.
This would be another slam dunk selection for New Orleans if Styles falls as he does in this mock. He, much like Downs, fits much of what the Saints want in Brandon Staley’s system and in the locker room. - Kansas City Chiefs – Mansoor Delane – CB – LSU
If Mansoor Delane doesn’t get taken beforehand, I’d be shocked to see him go any later after the moves Kansas City made this offseason. It’s hard for me to believe you move on from a star cornerback if you don’t have a replacement in mind. - Cincinnati Bengals – Jermod McCoy – CB – Tennessee
McCoy’s question marks about his health evaporated after his showing at Tennessee’s Pro Day. That should solidify him as the second corner off the board in the early-to-middle part of the first round. - Miami Dolphins – Rueben Bain Jr – ED – Miami
This would be such a cool story, having a local product play ball at the big-time university, only to turn around and get drafted by the local product play ball team. Bain has his concerns with his arm length, but the talent is there to keep him a 1st round talent and selection. - Dallas Cowboys – Akheem Mesidor – ED – Miami
I still feel like Dallas’ intention is to add more quality defensive linemen to the team after trying to put their name in the running for Maxx Crosby. Mesdior going at 12 seems odd, but Dallas isn’t afraid to draft as they see fit. - Los Angeles Rams – Jordyn Tyson – WR – Arizona St.
Los Angeles is all in. Chips pushed to the middle. They obviously want another receiving threat before Matthew Stafford calls it a career. Tyson fits better in this current rendition of the offense than Makai Lemon would, and doesn’t play a similar role to Puka Nacua. - Baltimore Ravens – Kenyon Sadiq – TE – Oregon
This pick could go one of two ways. Either they take an interior offensive lineman to replace what was lost, or they take the exciting, play-making tight end out of Oregon. Shadiq is where I’m going in this mock draft. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CJ Allen – LB – Georgia
Tampa has lost a whole starting unit of linebackers to either free agency or retirement. They also need more players to help in the run game, and Allen was productive in that department at Georgia. - New York Jets – Makai Lemon – WR – USC
The Jets have so many holes on the defensive side after the trades they made last season, but I don’t think they go that direction with so many defensive linemen and top two corners being taken as early as they did. Lemon also just adds another legit pass-catching weapon, something they’ve been lacking. - Detroit Lions – Kadyn Proctor – OT – Alabama
Detroit all of a sudden has a giant hole at tackle, and Proctor fills it promptly. - Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman – S – Oregon
Minnesota needs to find itself a need safety for a multitude of reasons. Thieneman could fit in right away as the key piece in that secondary after a good junior year with the Ducks - Carolina Panthers – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren – S – Toledo
The Panthers aren’t threatening to make the Super Bowl this next season, but also don’t have any specific weak positions. Safety felt like it made the most sense with what was left on the board. - Dallas Cowboys – Avieon Terrell – CB – Clemson
Dallas doubling down on defenders is not only a mouthful but a great approach to trying to get back to the playoffs. Terrell was good at Clemson, much like his older brother, and would bolster a weak cornerback room. - Pittsburgh Steelers – Olaivavega Ioane – OG – Penn St.
This pick feels so much later than it should and probably will be for Vega, but this is how it fell. Pittsburgh would be getting a steal if this is how it plays out. - Los Angeles Chargers – Spencer Fano – OL – Utah
The Chargers are in real need of interior lineman help. They went as far as to trade for Trevor Penning, and that didn’t work. Many believe Fano will drop in the draft, yet he could play at guard. Sounds like the stars would align for this pick to be right. - Philadelphia Eagles – Monroe Freeling – OT – Georgia
I found an avenue to get Howie Roseman and the Eagles another Georgia Bulldog. Freeling is a project, but with the right mentorship, he could be the next starting right tackle once Lane Johnson calls it a career. - Cleveland Browns – Cashius Howell – ED – Texas A&M
Howell was awesome for the Aggies last season, racking up 11.5 sacks in 12 games. It wouldn’t surprise me if he has similar numbers to how much attention Myles Garrett gets and will get next season. - Chicago Bears – Kayden McDonald – IDL – Ohio St.
Grady Garrett is a great player, but he is a little on the older side, and there isn’t much after him on the interior. McDonald takes care of that and would be the fifth Buckeye to get drafted to this point. - Buffalo Bills – Denzel Boston – WR – Washington
I’m still in on Buffalo, taking Boston to be their outside receiver. I don’t believe they see Keon Coleman as that guy for them. - San Francisco 49ers – Zion Young – ED – Mizzou
There’s not much on the edge other than Nick Bosa, who is coming off a major injury. Young is coming off a career year with the Tigers and would play on the opposite side of Bosa. - Houston Texans – Blake Miller – OT – Clemson
It’s been a point of emphasis to fix this offensive line, and the Texans did so with trades and in free agency. Why stop there? Go get you another tackle, especially one that did well in pass protection, so CJ Stroud has time to find his weapons downfield. - Kansas City Chiefs – Keldric Faulk – ED – Auburn
Cam Jordan has been in talks with the Chiefs, yet hasn’t agreed with the Saints legend. Since there likely won’t be a deal done there, the organization can capitalize on the extra draft capital from the Trent McDuffie trade by adding Keldric Faulk to the defensive linemen room. - Miami Dolphins – Max Iheanachor – OT – Arizona St.
These first few round picks should be used to rebuild the trenches. You’ve already got Bain on defense, and now you’ve selected a book-end tackle. Next up would be finding a playmaker on the outside after moving on from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. - New England Patriots – KC Concepcion – WR – Texas A&M
Much like the Rams and other teams trying to trade for high-caliber players from other teams, I’m applying the aggressiveness to acquire talent via a trade to address the position early in the draft. Concepcion is a talented playmaker who could be a missing piece for New England’s offense. - Houston Texans (TRADE) – Peter Woods – IDL – Clemson
These trades are starting to become pretty fun to do, and in this one, I’ve got the Texans getting aggressive to have their pick of what’s left of the interior defensive linemen in this year’s class.