Featured Image: Ty Simpson (15) drops back to pass against Mercer on Saturday Nov. 16 2024 in Bryant-Denny Stadium. (Photo credit/Alabama Athletics)
It is officially draft week in the NFL. The media, prospects and team personnel have begun to arrive in Pittsburgh for the the spectacle that spans over three days and draws millions of people’s attention.
With all that said, this means it is time for my final mock draft of this years cycle. As always, the mock consist of selections for the entire first round, projected trades and some reasoning.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
What the public has known since the college football playoffs becomes reality on draft night. Mendoza is going to walk across the stage and become the number one overall selection.
The signing of Kirk Cousins has no affect on the number one overall pick as the Raiders select Mendoza and allow him to fully develop behind the veteran quarterback.
2. New York Jets: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
The general consensus is the Jets plan to select one of the pass rushers on the board. The debate of college production versus versatility comes to a head with the Jets selecting Bailey second overall.
Bailey is a polished pass rusher with room to grow defending the run. After finishing his collegiate season with high sack totals, his looks for that production to translate at the next
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Cardinals’ head coach Mike LaFleur and the front office are in position to take the best player on their board. If they are unable to move back, the Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, has a high possibility of being the selection.
In a division full of elite RBs, Arizona’s room as currently constructed is full of rotation—average to below average RBs. The team can transform their offense with the selection of Love and I believe that is the pick come draft night.
4. Tennessee Titans: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
New head coach Robert Saleh had a front-row seat to elite linebacker play in his time with the 49ers. Fred Warner is the best off-ball LB in the sport and can be just as valuable as a pass rusher.
Saleh and the Titans brass select Styles, after acquiring help across most other areas during the offseason already. Styles becomes the highest selected linebacker since Roquan Smith in 2018.
5. (Projected Trade): Washington Commanders (From NYG): Arvell Reese, DE/LB, Ohio State
The Commanders adore the versatility of Reese and as he begins to slip in the draft, Dan Quinn takes the opportunity to jump up and get their guy.
Reese can play all over the field and fill numerous holes in the Commanders defense. In this scenario, The Commanders are not only trading up to get of the two in front of them, but other teams are attempting to move up as well.
6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Browns get to keep the number one receiver prospect in the state selecting Ohio State’s Tate at six overall.
The team looked at OTs at this spot, however Tate falling to them is too hard to pass up. The Browns have another first round selection to add an OT and address that need.
7. (Projected Trade): New York Giants (From WAS): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Giants trade back two spots, add additional draft capital and still land the player John Harbaugh would have taken at pick five.
Downs can play all over the field and be the QB of the defense for this new Giants regime. Harbaugh’s history of valuing safeties is well known, and he continues that trend selecting Downs at pick seven.
8. (Projected Trade): Dallas Cowboys (From NO): Reuben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (FL)
Jerry Jones as tried attempting help at DE since they moved off Micah Parsons. Jones gets aggressive and makes a move, trading up into the top ten and adding Bain at pick eight.
The Cowboys made the move to a 3-4 defense this offseason. This allows Bain to play all over the line of scrimmage and get after the passer. The Cowboys can move up four spots and still retain pick 20 from the Packers.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Following the cut of Jawaan Taylor, a huge hole remains for the Chiefs at right tackle. Andy Reid and company land Mauigoa at pick nine and sure-up both OT spots for years to come.
Mauigoa has positional versatility as well. Some around the league believe he is better suited at guard long-term, however Mauigoa gets a first crack at the right tackle spot.
10. (Trade): New York Giants (From CIN): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
After trading Dexter Lawrence II to the Bengals, the Giants now have their second top ten selection in the draft and can now add another weapon to the receiver room.
Tyson injury concerns might scare some teams off, but the Giants interest in the Sun Devil is well known. Giants take Tyson and pair him with Malik Nabers, forming an elite 1-2 punch when healthy.
11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
12. (Projected Trade): New Orleans Saints (From DAL): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
13. (Projected Trade): Detroit Lions (From ATL/LAR): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
14. Baltimore Ravens: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
16. (Trade): New York Jets (From IND): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
17. (Projected Trade): Los Angeles Rams (From DET): Ty Simpson
18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillion Thieneman, S, Oregon
19. (Projected Trade): Cleveland Browns (From CAR): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
20. (Trade): Dallas Cowboys (From GB): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
23. Philadelphia Eagles: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
24. (Projected Trade): Carolina Panthers (From JAX/CLE): Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (FL)
25. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
26. Buffalo Bills: TJ Parker, DE, Clemson
27. San Francisco 49ers: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
28. Houston Texans: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
29. (Trade): Kansas City Chiefs (From LAR): Zion Young, DE, Missouri
30. (Trade): Miami Dolphins (From DEN): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
31. New England Patriots: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
32. Seattle Seahawks: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
