Greatest Mock in the World 1.0
(This is not the greatest mock in the world, no this is just a tribute... couldnt remember the greatest mock in the world)
Also going to put my thoughts on each player, like to go on the record for each pick! Right or wrong. Lets get it down ahead of the draft on friday.
1. Panthers - Bryce Young, QB
Well the books have all moved very strongly in this direction and all the mail around the pick suggests a few days out, to quote Woj in the NBA... "The Panthers are focusing their attentions in on Bryce Young with the pick." I think he's an awesome player, it wont surprise me if he's a really good NFL QB... not a bet i'd make. The more i've thought about it, the more i think his size will be a problem.
2. Texans - Will Anderson Jr, EDGE
All the good reporting is that the Texans are Young or bust and so it's bust and they're going to (not so stunningly at this point) kick the QB can down the road and simply take the best defensive player on the board. Love this player. Dont think he's quite at the top teir of edges in recent drafts. I dont know if he's got consistent 15+ sack season but he should be good for 10+.
3. TRADE Titans - Anthony Richardson, QB
The Titans are rumoured to be looking to move up and they find a willing partner and the Cards move back and collect assets and the Titans begin their rebuild with Anthony Richardson. They can stick with Tannehill for the beginning of this year whilst Richardson gets up to speed. I think Richardson is QB1 in this draft. He's the guy i'd bet on. High risk but i think he'll be really good.
4. Colts - Will Levis, QB
The Colts not only trade up for a QB, but they do it for Levis! For reason unbeknownst to anyone but they do it. And hoo boy, this tracks for me. I reckon Levis is real Isray sort of of guy. I think the Colts are prone to do some Ryan Pacean level nonsense and move up a spot for a QB they almost certainly would get if they stand pat and then draft the wrong guy (Bears passed on Watson and Mahomes for Trubisky). Levis has bad Wentz vibes for me. Im not a big fan.
5. Seahawks - Jalen Carter, DT
This pick hurt to make. But with both the top edge players off the board, and Carroll's culture of sort of embracing people for who they are and backing him to get them to buy in... as long as they are comfortable with the off field issue, i cant see them passing on him if the board falls this way. Sadly. I love him. I think he's the best pure talent in the draft. If the character concerns check out, he should be the first pick for a non QB needy team imo.
6. Lions - Devon Witherspoon, CB
With the Lions moving on from Okudah, i think they'll quickly get back into the CB market with Witherspoon who just strikes me as a real Dan Campbell sort of guy. His attitude and passion he plays with. Dude might actually bite a WRs knee, that's how much he hates them. I love this kid man. Love him. Think he's the CB version of Davonta Smith. Both undersized but both play with no regards for how small they are. My favourite player in the draft. Think he's going to be REALLY good.
7. Raiders - CJ Stroud, QB
I've seen a lot of speculation that both parties have strong interest in each other, and i believe it. I think that's the sort of QB that McDaniels would love to have. Jimmy G contract i dont think precludes them from doing this. I think this would be a good pick. Stroud will be a good NFL starter imo. Sort of guy who if you build it right around him, you can win.
8. Falcons - Tyree Wilson, Edge
The Falcons have needs all over the place. This is the first viable Bijan spot but with how bad that defence is i think they'll take Wilson. Seen it reported that some teams have Wilson over Anderson on their boards, which i dont agree with but it tells me he's going to go pretty high. I'm not a HUGE Wilson guy. Think he'll be good, but not quite what i'd want from from a top 10 pick.
9. Bears - Paris Johnson Jr, OT
The bears get their ideal situation. They trade back, get the picks AND their pick of the litter at OT. I think they'll side with Johnson Jr over Skoronski. One he's played with Fields before and apparently they're pretty tight and 2, he's got ideal size to actually be a tackle, where as Skoronski size has teams worried about OT. I like Paris Johnson Jr, i think he's a pretty high floor/high ceiling sort of guy.
10. TRADE Jets - Peter Skoronski, OT
Jets see the first tackle go off the board and decide to get up to ensure they get their best guy which is Skoronksi. They want to protect Rodgers. Skoronski is a talent who could play either tackle spot or Guard. Ideally he's a Max Mitchell upgrade, but Mitchell was OK last year, so if he ends up playing RT due to a Becton issue, that works. Or if he doesnt look great at LT and Becton is also great, he just slids in at Guard and they're better across the 5 man unit. The jets took AVT 2 years ago and were very excited because of the technical aspects of his game. Think Skoronski will be the same. Think this is a good pick, not convinced he'll be a stud Tackle in the league, think he can be fine, but i do think his floor is a pro bowl level Guard.
11. TRADE Cardinals - Christian Gonzalez, CB
Great result for the Cards who need absolutely everything really. Terribly untalented team, Kyler aside their best players are probably Budda Baker and Dre Hopkins who are both expected to depart via trades. Gonzalez is an elite talent who fell due to QB's and needs of teams ahead. Gonzalez is my CB2 and i think he's awesome. Wouldnt hate the Eagles draft him at all. CB's bust all the time but he's got all the physical traits to be a shut down NFL corner.
12. Texans - Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
The Texans taking JSN is at 12 is my favourite pick to mock right now. Perfect balance of need, value and talent imo. JSN is a very good route runner who will be an immediate safety blanket for Caleb Williams/Drake Maye next year when the Texans hopefully draft one of those guys. For me, JSN is a lot like Olave last year, in that im very sure he wont bust. Not sure how good he'll be but im certain he'll be an asset to an NFL passing game.
13. TRADE Packers - Dalton Kincaid, TE
I love mocking this pick so much. Again, a great blend of value, need and talent. The Packers need to build around Love. It made sense to avoid high picks on offensive weapons with Rodgers, he was good enough to make do without for the most part. The TE room is abhorant in GB right now. Go and get yourself a HB TE who you can move around and can play with Watson and the RB's and create an offensive system that can elevate Love. Kincaid for me is Kyle Pitts lite, not quite his transedent talent but not THAT far off imo. But we've seen even Pitts has had his struggles (which i attribute to the QB, he was lights out as a rookie with M.Ryan).
14. Patriots - Lucas Van Ness, Edge
The pats get banged a little here with getting left behind the tackle run. But they land the sort of player BB likes. He's big, strong, versitile and raw, so they can coach him up without worrying about bad habbits. For me, im not LVN fan, i see the traits and testing numbers and can see why people like him. But he's just not for me. Dont think he'll be a stud pass rusher in the league, and if he does, it's 2 years away.
15. TRADE Steelers - Broderick Jones, OT
The steelers move up to get their tackle of the future. They have invested in Pickett and have the weapons around him to succeed... Johnson, Pickens, Robinson, Najee, Friermuth... that's a good set of weapons. They need to provide Pickett with a line that can keep him upright and stop Najee from getting hit behind the LOS on every carry. Jones is a big athletic tackle who needs some refinement on technique, but might have as much upside as any tackle in the class.
16. Commanders - Brian Branch, S
Convinced that with the sale currently on-going that this will be a very boring pick. I cant see them making a major move without the empowerment of new ownership which is hard to imagine they'll have. I think the feeling will be to take a safe and scheme/system versitile player. A quality safety like Branch who is a little limited athletically but is smart and instictive and can play in any scheme makes sense imo. I like the player, he'll be good, reminds me Devin McCourtey, but this might be a little early.