The NFL draft begins tomorrow, and there has been a ton of shifting in the projected order. With the experts completely overanalyzing the picks, it ought to be considered that maybe this draft isn’t so complicated.
Here is how I think the first round should go.
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Ward is the best quarterback in the class, and the Titans need someone to lead their team. Will Levis is not the guy to do that. While they could look at Abdul Carter, I think they ought to go with Ward here.
2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, ATH, Colorado
Hunter is the best prospect in the draft. I don’t know about his ability to play on both sides of the ball at the NFL level, I think he is best suited as a receiver, but he will definitely try. The Browns select their next big offensive weapon here.
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
The Giants need someone to come in and make things happen right away. He may not have the most potential in the draft, but as for how much he’s proven, Carter is the best player in the draft. The Giants would be fools to pass up on Carter unless Hunter falls to pick number three.
4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
A lot of NFL executives are worried about the length of Campbell’s arms, but he was a stud at LSU. He would probably go higher in other years. If for some reason the Patriots are worried about Cambell, they would look at Armand Membou out of Missouri here.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
This pick is hard because the Jaguars are pretty terrible. The run game was bad, the passing game was fine with rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. leading the way. The offensive line was horrendous. Nonetheless, the defense was probably the worst in the league. The Jaguars try to find a solution with Graham here.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Jeanty is a potential superstar. His elusive and run after contact abilities would be some of the best in the league the second he stepped foot on the field. While the Raiders need a true WR1, the idea of Jeanty is too hard to pass up here.
7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
I think Membou is a steal at seven. If Justin Fields is the QB of the future, the Jets need to protect him. Membou is the man for the job.
8. Panthers: Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia
Walker is solid in coverage, good in the run game, and explosive off the edge. The Panthers are another team that needs a receiver, but with a weak receiver class, Walker is the best pick here.
9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Warren is a reliable pass catcher and is utilised as a blocker and a rusher in the run game. He is one of the most exciting prospects in this class, and with the Taysom Hill trade rumors, this pick almost makes too much sense.
10. Chicago Bears: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
I hate the Bears, but Kelvin Banks Jr. is a great pick here. The Bears will likely look for a running back with two picks in the second round, whether that be TreyVeyon Henderson or Kaleb Johnson, so bolstering the offensive line in the first round makes a lot of sense.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
This class is loaded with offensive lineman, and another goes off the board here at number 11. Simmons blocked for two solid running backs at Ohio State, who ran the ball very effectively last season. The Niners could go any direction here, but the offensive line is where I think they should target.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Cowboys really don’t need a receiver, but Jerry Jones is a complete idiot and will probably pick one. They traded for Jonathan Mingo mid-season last year, and he barely made any impact. Golden is a speedster that can make an impact right away, and would look good opposite CeeDee Lamb.
13. Miami Dolphins: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
I personally think the Dolphins should go to uber-athletic Nick Emmanwori here, but I think the fall for Johnson ends. Johnson is a stud, and the Dolphins could use help in the secondary, I just think safety should be a priority. However, Johnson is the best prospect to go here.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Coleston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Ideally, the Colts get Warren here, but they really likely will not. They could look at receivers here as well, but I think Anthony Richardson is on his last straw this year, and the Colts should get him a reliable pass catcher like Loveland.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
Williams could realistically go way higher, but the Falcons grab him here. They would be stupid to go in any other direction besides pass rush. If they improve in that area, they could cause some chaos this season.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Green could go way lower, but I like him to the Cardinals here. Though they signed Josh Sweat this offseason, I think they could still use some help in the pass rush. Green could wreak havoc off the edge in Arizona.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Walter Nolan, DL, Mississippi
Coming from a loaded Ole Miss Defense that could end up seeing three guys go off the board in the first round, Nolan is a solid prospect here. The Bengals just cut Sam Hubbard, and Nolan could fit in Cincinnati. This pick could also go to Oregon DL Derrick Harmon.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
The Seahawks have already made some major offensive moves, trading DK Metcalf, signing Cooper Kupp and signing Sam Darnold. Darnold is not a guy to use his legs, so it would behoove the Seahawks to protect him well, and this offensive line was weak last year.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Buccaneers drafted an edge rusher here, but look for them to draft defense no matter what. Campbell is coming from a program in Tuscaloosa that produces NFL linebackers every year, and he could be the next.
20. Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
I actually don’t love this pick, but I think it could be the right one. Hampton is really solid, and this year’s running back class is pretty good. The Broncos desperately need a running back, and Hampton could fit in with their offense really nicely.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The Steelers already lost Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, and Sanders in my opinion is underrated here. They could go to Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart, but all in all, Sanders is a game changer, and with DK Metcalf and George Pickens, he could make some noise.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
I really don’t like Stewart in this draft, but as a prospect, his athleticism speaks for itself. He may not have been productive in college, but he could be in the NFL. After losing Joey Bosa, maybe Stewart could fill that void for the Chargers. However, don’t be surprised if he falls into the second round.
23. Green Bay Packers: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
I plead the Packers to draft a proven player with this pick. Pass rush has been a tremendous issue, and if they improve, they could be real contenders. Ezeiruaku had 17 sacks last season in the ACC. Those numbers speak for themselves. If they don’t draft a receiver, the Packers need to draft someone to tear up the trenches. Ezeiruaku is a proven guy that could make an immediate impact in Green Bay.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Emmanwori is an absolute stud. Do not be surprised at all if he goes way higher this year. He could go number 13 to the Dolphins and I would not be surprised. If he falls this far, the Vikings ought to draft him to help out their secondary, which has been weak.
25. Houston Texans: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
McMillan is another guy that should not fall this far, but absolutely could. Maybe the Packers will take him at 23, but I doubt it. The Texans have been injury-riddled at wide receiver, and McMillan is a very sure pass catcher.
26. Los Angeles Rams: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Three picks in a row here that could go much higher. I think Barron is the best cornerback in the draft. He is quick and has lots of experience in big games for Texas. I like him more than Will Johnson, but I think he will fall in this draft. The Rams have a below average secondary and Barron could be an impact guy.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Starks was originally projected to go pretty high in this draft. Safety is not usually a position targeted high in the draft, and I can see him falling to Baltimore. Pairing Starks with All-Pro Kyle Hamilton could create the best safety duo in the league.
28. Detroit Lions: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
The Lions really don’t need much, but Hairstom could bolster their cornerback room. He ran the best 40 at the combine. The only problem is he is not a very big guy, weighing in at only 183 pounds with his 6’1 frame.
29. Washington Commanders: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Harmon is a guy I could see either going higher or falling to the end of the first or beginning of the second rounds. He played on a stacked Oregon roster, and is a massive presence in the trenches. The commanders just lost Jonathan Allen, and Harmon could be the guy to replace him.
30. Buffalo Bills: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
I think Burden III and McMillan are the two best receivers in the draft, and Golden is projected to go even higher. Burden III is a steal here. He does play a lot like Bills receiver Khalil Shakir, a smaller guy in the slot, but he could make a big impact for reigning MVP Josh Allen.
31. Kansas City Chiefs, Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State
The Chiefs have lost multiple offensive lineman this offseason, and they are going to need someone to protect Patrick Mahomes. Zabel is a guy that many mock drafts have going higher, and I think he could be a good man to fill the void for the Chiefs on their line.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
Pearce Jr. is perhaps the most explosive edge rusher in this draft and played fantastically at Tennessee. The Eagles getting him at 32 is a steal for the Super Bowl Champs. Pearce Jr. is a great player than could be a great pick for the Eagles to cap off the first round.
