MOCK DRAFT 3.5 24'

A shoe in pick. Caleb Williams is and has been throughout the whole process, the best player in the class.

I do truly believe that Maye is likely the safer play for the Commanders at 2, who have confirmed that they are not looking to trade. I think there has been some recent conversations about Jayden Daniels draft stock, which I think are pretty bogus, that being said, I feel pretty good about this pick being Maye.

Similarly to my Mock 1.0 thus far, I have the Patriots sticking and picking Daniels. I like Daniels, and I personally don't think they should move off this pick. I'm not concerned with Daniels ability, as I feel like his upside is 100% worth the gamble at number 3.

Lets set the record straight. All last season, the Cardinals were tanking, while also saying they have their franchise QB. Now why would they be tanking? For a franchise WR. I see them recieving phone calls, but already with 2 first round picks and a can't miss prospect on the board, I feel most safe with them sticking here.

Much like my 1.0 again, I have the Vikings giving up a haul to get their franchise QB. Look, they are going to move up for one of the top 4 guys, theres no doubt about it in my mind. They will call every team until one picks up the phone, and in this case, it's the Chargers. I do believe that McCarthy is their favorite prospect of the bunch.

The Giants have stated clearly multiple times, that they don't have any intentions of getting a QB here. And while me and others may question if that is the right decision, I think it is their only decision with no weapons, and the current QB making the money he is making. Nabers would be an instant star in this offense and the focal piece.

Another pick that is a shoe in. I do love the possibility of them drafting Odunze here, but with them giving Ridley a pay-day, I find that less likely than the best Offensive Lineman in the class. There's no telling if Will Levis is the guy unless you got dudes to catch the ball and dudes to block, so Alt would be the cherry on top to a very, very good offseason.

Rumors say that the Jets really want one of the top 3 WR's in the class, and with two of them gone, and the Bears lurking right before them, they jump them and get what would be a WR1 in many other years. The cost of doing so isn't super high, but it is definitely a move that screams 'all in', which has been the Jets gameplan the past few seasons.

After getting jumped by the Jets for Odunze, the Bears have plenty of options at pick 9. They can get one of the top two edge rushers, or go offensive line. The value is pretty close, but getting debatably the best defensive player in the class after you get your franchise QB, is a comfortable decision.

The Falcons are okay with moving back a couple spots in my mind, because if they are thinking EDGE, (which this scenario they are) then they know that at least one if not both edge rushers will still be here at 10, while also gaining some draft capital along the way. Verse is still here, and something about him screams Atlanta to me.

The Chargers moving back is just a move that has made too much sense to me. What did they do this offseason? They clean housed, got a new Head Coach AND General Manager. They are going to want as many picks so they can get as many players that THEY want. Harbaugh's philosophy of protecting Herbert and running the ball is a perfect match with drafting Fuaga at 11.

Potentially concerned over a falling Bowers, the Colts can't wait any longer and want to secure their guy. Quite frankly, I wouldn't blame them, as Bowers is easily a top 5 player in the class period, and would be Richardson's best friend for years in the Colts offense. They might have a more pressing need at corner, but this is a move that the franchise would look back VERY fondly of.

In light of the Raiders wanting to get a QB in this class, they can't potentially pass up the best corner in the class that falls in their lap at 13. With the QB rumors, many mock drafts (including my own) ignore the glaring hole at corner that they have. Arnold is a massive upgrade for the new Head Coach.

I know, I know. I have mocked the Saints getting Fashanu everytime, and everytime it makes sense. This team will need offensive line help, especially at tackle, and Fashanu can slide in and instantly start there. They have other needs such as WR, CB, and EDGE, but luckily enough for them, this class is pretty deep at those positions.

The Broncos and Bo Nix just go together. It feels like it's the best possible landing spot for Nix to maximize his abilities in a Sean Payton offense. The Broncos move back a little bit and still get their guy, but you could be wondering why he is drafted so high. Well, the Broncos don't have much draft capital period, to they wouldn't have the ammo to move up for a QB, and they don't have a 2nd rounder they can fall back on if Nix keeps sliding. They don't really have a choice here if QB is the move for them.

Latu is a big mystery for me on where I think he could go in this class. I think he has the potential to go as early as 8th overall, or slide towards the end of the 1st round. Regardless, his pass rush talent is likely the best out of all the edge rushers, and that has been an issue for the Seahakws for many years. Drafting Latu will provide production for years to come in Seattle.

The Jaguars will likely go corner with their first pick, the only question is who. In this mock draft, I went with my favorite corner in the whole class in McKinstry. There is a lot to love about him, but maybe more importantly here, maybe there's some more smoke around Mitchell and Wiggins than what the public thinks.

Fautanu is maybe my favorite offensive lineman in the class, so it pleases me that he will protect the injury prone Burrow in this scenario. The Bengals have a lot to choose from here, as if they feel Higgins is gone, then they could get Thomas Jr. If they want to beef up the defense, then Murphy II here makes sense. I think after another year where Burrow went down, I think the safest thing they can do is keep Burrow safe.

Since Aaron Donald retired, this pick has made more and more sense to me. Murphy is likely the best interior pass rusher in the class, and he will join an already very young pass rushing core in LA. They added some veterans in the secondary, and an offensive lineman with Murphy still on the table would seem like a reach in my opinion.

The Steelers in this scenario are likely looking at all the guys that fell in their lap, and have to make a tough choice. Get a WR2 in Thomas Jr, help the secondary with Wiggins or Mitchell, or protect your new QB's with Latham. I chose the ladder here, as it feels like a little bit more of a pressing need than the other two, especially in a class that is very deep WR and CB-wise.

The Dolphins had a lot of off-season departures, and most notably on the offensive line. Barton is a guy who can play all 5 positions of the line, so the Dolphins get immediate help to protect their potential big money QB.

The Eagles are going to go corner at this pick, and it will just depend on who is available. I think Wiggins is a safer pick here than Mitchell, as I don't think this is a position they can afford to gamble too much at. Wiggins gives them immediate talent in the secondary.

The fall of Brian Thomas Jr ends here. I genuinely believe he has the talent to be taken at 9th overall, but I think in this mock, teams feel they can get a good WR later in the class and address more pressing needs. Well, for the Chargers, WR is a pressing need, so Herbert has a new WR1 and I don't think he would be any happier with it.

The Cowboys are untrustworthy in the 1st round. However, if I were to trust them with anything, it is drafting talented interior lineman. Potentially the best interior lineman, and for sure the best center is available, and they have a need there. I could see them being tempted by some of the other prospects available, but for their sake I think this pick HAS to be o-line.

This one feels weird I know, but Mitchell would thrive in the scheme in Green Bay. His assignments would simply stick to his strengths, and it would give the Packers a massive improvement in the seondary. They will likely go offensive line on thursday here, but in this scenario, I felt like Mitchell is too much value at 25.

With the top two interior lineman off the board, the Bucs look to the other side of the line of scrimmage and get a very talented edge rusher. Chop Robinson has a highly underrated upside, that even has him slipping out of the first round in a lot of mocks. Not here though, as the Bucs need production in the pass rush game badly.

I think grabbing Newton at 27 is a really nice scenario for the Cardinals. This team has a lot of holes on their roster, and they could easily go DB or an an edge rusher here, but Newton possesses such a high upside that I think it is worth maybe gambling on over say a DeJean who would be safer. Newton would be a center piece of that defense for many years to come.

DeJean to the Bills is perfect. The Bills need a corner, someone who can play safety, and someone who can get inside the box and stuff the run. I just also described DeJean to a tee. After losing Diggs and Davis, many would believe that they go WR here, and while I think that is certainly in play, I think DeJean covers a more pressing need.

Boom! The Raiders come back into the 1st round and grab their franchise QB. I think the Lions are willing to move down here, as their most pressing need, CB, would be a reach here at 29. Instead, the Raiders make the move to secure their guy, without having to use their 13th overall pick on him.

The Ravens always need WR's, and for the last 3 first rounds, that is what they've done with their pick. As good of prospects as Bateman an Flowers were, they don't stand close to what Mitchell is, which is why he's the pick here. Mitchell has as high an upside as any reciever in this class, and would both extend the field and take potentially multiple DB's away from run plays.

Guyton to the Niners is just perfect. They need a tackle on the other side of Trent Williams, who better than a fellow Oklahoma Alumni, Tyler Guyton. It sure's up both tackle spots, and allows them to be more creative with the rest of their draft picks.

McConkey is maybe the best available WR here, and the Chiefs need WR. Well, what a class to need a pass catcher, as getting someone with the upside McConkey has, is truly remarkable. He could be a serious issue for the AFC, as he could be a Travis Kelce that plays WR.