The NFL regular season is close to being over and some of the top slots are almost solidified. The college football regular season has wrapped up and we’ve seen all we can see from most prospects in this class. The draft order is based on current NFL standings and the player pool is based on who is expected to declare this year.
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Houston Texans, Bryce Young QB Alabama
Bryce Young is the clear number one quarterback in this year’s class and the Texans clearly need talent at the QB position. Bryce Young has the best playmaking ability and accuracy in this class, which the Texans do not currently have at the QB position. There’s not much else to be said about this pick, if they are picking here this should not even be a question.
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Chicago Bears, Jalen Carter DL Georgia
The Bears are a team that really needs every position and their play has put them in a position to take the best player on the board. The top player on the board here is really a toss-up between Carter and Will Anderson jr., but the Bears will likely value Carter a bit more over Anderson due to the depth at the Edge position compared to the depth at the DL position. Carter is a big player that eats up a lot of blocks but still manages to stop the run extremely well and still get to the passer when asked to.
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Detroit Lions (Via. LA Rams) Will Anderson Jr. Edge Alabama
You could make an argument for the Lions to take CJ Stroud here, but the questions around his game are too risky to pass up on one of the best edge prospects we’ve seen in a while. Anderson has been playing against NFL-level offensive lines since he stepped on the field at Alabama and he has stayed getting pressure on the QB almost every play. The opportunity to team him up alongside Aidan Hutchinson is too great at this point in the draft.
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Seattle Seahawks (Via. Denver Broncos) Myles Murphy Edge Clemson
Myles Murphy has had a bit of a down year this season, but that doesn’t take away the pure talent that this kid has. The Seahawks have a huge need for any pass-rush help they can get and Murphy brings that and more. Murphy is a great pass rusher and run defender, which is exactly what the Seahawks need at this spot.
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Carolina Panthers CJ Stroud QB Ohio State
The Panther badly need a QB and Stroud falling to them would be a dream come true. Stroud has the ideal QB size and has been able to place balls where few can. If he can keep this up in the NFL then he will be an elite quarterback, which is what Carolina needs.
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Philadelphia Eagles (Via. New Orleans Saints) Bryan Bresee DL Clemson
The Eagles are potentially the Superbowl favorites this season and the Saints are practically gifting them a top pick to fill their only big need. They need to get younger on the defensive line and Bresee brings the talent that they already have, just younger, cheaper, and with a higher ceiling. With his skill and potential Bresee would be the perfect fit for the Eagles.
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Arizona Cardinals, Kelee Ringo CB Georgia
The Cardinals’ secondary has been beyond bad this season and Ringo is the perfect solution for that. Ringo has been a lockdown corner ever since he stepped on the field and has shown no signs of stopping it. He has locked down some of the best in all of college football with ease if that play can carry to the NFL he has Sauce Gardner type potential.
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Greenbay Packers, Quentin Johnston WR TCU
The Packers have lacked receivers to help all year and have never really tried to get a receiver for Aaron Rodgers in the first round, but Johnston’s talent is too much to pass up. Johnston has elite height and jump ball ability, along with exceptional speed. He would fit perfectly as an outside receiver along with Christian Watson and might convince Rodgers to not retire.
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Las Vegas Raiders, Peter Skoronski OT Northwestern
While the Raiders have many needs, they will likely be in a position to take the best player available, and in this case, they solidify their offensive line with in my opinion the best tackle in the class. Skoronski is a great run blocker and an exceptional pass rusher, which the Raiders lack. Getting Skoronski could put them in a position where they are not forced to trade Derek Carr and he plays well under a good Offensive Line.
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Houston Texans (Via. Cleveland Browns) Tyree Wilson DL Texas Tech
Wilson is a Travon Walker type prospect with his insane measurables and athleticism, except he has tape to back up his selection. After the combine, he could end up going way higher, but right now I think the Texans take a swing at his potential. The Texans need a guy on the defensive line and they get that guy here in Wilson.
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Jacksonville Jaguars, Joey Porter Jr. CB Penn State
The Shaquill Griffin signing has been been a bit disappointing for the Jaguars so far. Joey Porter is one of the best all-around corner prospects in this year’s class and could serve as a younger cheaper option in place of Griffin.
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Pittsburgh Steelers, Paris Johns Jr. OT Ohio State
The Steelers have had one of the worst offensive lines in all of football this year and because of that, their former first-round running back Najee Harris is struggling. So with this pick, it would make the most sense to give them the best run-blocking tackle on the board.
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Detroit Lions, Cam Smith CB South Carolina
Cam Smith came out of nowhere this year, producing like one of college football’s best lockdown corners. Now with this pick, the Lions snag him to team up with Jeff Okudah to solidify their outside corners of the future.
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Indianapolis Colts, Will Levis QB Kentucky
The Colts have been looking for an answer at the QB position ever since Andrew Luck retired and none of them really worked out. It’s time they draft someone and Will Levis is the most NFL-ready QB in this class, so he would be a perfect fit for the Colts here.
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Atlanta Falcons, Isaiah Foskey Edge Notre Dame
The Falcons have lacked edge rushers for a while now and it’s been costing them games. Now that they are in a position to take one they take arguably the best right now, but definitely the highest potential guy on the board.
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Seattle Seahawks, Christian Gonzalez CB Oregon
Tariq Woolen has been spectacular for the Seahawks this year and Koby Bryant has been decent as well, now they get a chance to team them up with one of the best corners in this class in Gonzalez.
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Los Angeles Chargers, Michael Mayer TE Notre Dame
The Chargers have been without most of their receiving weapons all year, and this has been a reoccurring theme for Mike Williams. Now they get arguably the best pass catcher on the board to help Justin Herbert even more.
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New England Patriots, Jordan Addison WR USC
The Patriots have lacked any kind of receiver talent for a while and they get their perfect guy here in Jordan Addison. Jordan Addison has elite speed and route running ability and could be the key to unlocking Mac Jones.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nolan Smith Edge Georgia
Smith would’ve gone way earlier than this if not for him tearing his ACL toward the end of the season. Nevertheless, he is a great prospect as a pass rusher and could take over Shaq Barrett’s spot after his contract is up.
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Washington Commanders, Broderick Jones OT Georgia
The Commanders have a historically bad offensive line this season and they really need to fix that. Jones is without a doubt the best all-around tackle prospect on the board right now, this pick should be a no-brainer.
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Baltimore Ravens, Kayshon Boutte WR LSU
The Ravens’ wide receiver core has been depleted of talent for a while, and when they finally get someone talented he has been in and out of the lineup. Boutte is an elite route runner and would elevate the Ravens’ pass game greatly.
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New York Jets, Trenton Simpson LB Clemson
The Jets’ defense has been on point this year with the exception of one position group, the linebacker core. Trenton Simpson, out of the top linebackers, fits the Jets’ defense the best as a run-stopping linebacker who can still drop into coverage when asked.
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Cincinnati Bengals, Clark Phillips III CB Utah
The Bengals Cornerbacks have kind of been exposed this year after Chidobe Awuzie went down and they could really use a second guy alongside him. Phillips provides a great man coverage corner that would fit great alongside Awuzie.
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New York Giants, Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio State
The Giants have made many mistakes in recent memory when trying to fill in the wide receiver position, including the Kenny Golladay signing and drafting Kadarius Toney. Smooth-Njigba has been injured all year, but the promise he showed prior to that made him look like a can’t miss prospect. If he continues that after his injury, the Giants have a steal right here.
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Dever Broncos (Via. San Fransisco 49ers) B.J. Ojulari Edge LSU
The Broncos acquired this pick by trading the last good edge rusher they had left, so they use it to get a young guy with similar potential but on a rookie deal. Ojulari has been one of the better pass rushers in all of college football, and the Broncos seem like the perfect place for him.
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Tennessee Titans, Brian Branch Safety Alabama
The Titans currently don’t have many needs, but safety is definitely one they need to think about for the future. Amani Hooker isn’t going to hold it down past this year, and Byard is getting older. Brach is by far the best safety in this class and would be a steal at this point.
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Dallas Cowboys, Noah Sewell LB Oregon
The Cowboys are at an impasse at the linebacker position because their only good inside linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch, is a free agent this offseason. Sewell is a great pass coverage linebacker, but he can also rush very well. which is all the Cowboys really need,
28. Buffalo Bills, Bijan Robinson RB Texas
The Bills’ run game has been lackluster this season, and Devin Singeltary is a free agent this offseason so the Bills could really look at running back this draft. Bijan Robinson is a generational type running back and should not be passed up by anyone who needs a back, in this case, the Bills snag him up late.
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Minnesota Vikings, Jalin Hyatt WR Tennessee
The Vikings have the Luxury of being able to pick almost any position and Hyatt might be the best player on the board for them. Adam Thielen is getting very old and will likely retire soon, Hyatt’s speed is a great compliment to Justin Jefferson and could make for an amazing duo.
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Kansas City Cheifs, Jared Verse Edge Florida State
Verse has been an exceptional pass rusher for Florida State this year and has really made a name for himself this year. The Chiefs have lacked a good pass rush from edge rushers this year and Verse could solve that problem almost instantly.
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Philadelphia Eagles, Jahmyr Gibbs RB Alabama
While the Eagles do currently have a good run game, Miles Sanders will be a free agent this offseason and it’s unlikely they will resign him. They don’t really have any other needs and Gibbs would be the perfect pick for them here.
