With the NFL draft taking place on April 24 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, I will be giving my predictions of who gets selected and a little outlook on the prospects themselves.
1) Tennessee Titans – Quarterback Cam Ward (Miami)
The Titans seem pretty set on getting a quarterback at first overall and Ward is the best one on the board. He has the natural ability to create plays and add some spice to a non-explosive offense.
Ward can make plays inside and outside the pocket and has plenty of arm strength to make impressive throws.
2) Cleveland Browns – Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
The Browns could either go edge or quarterback here. The team itself has a few good pieces to work with, except for quarterback. With that being said, the Browns should take Sanders.
Sanders has plenty of arm strength and can make things work from within the pocket. He’s the most traditional quarterback that could be taken in the first round.
3) New York Giants – Athlete Travis Hunter (Colorado)
Hunter is the best athlete in this draft.
Period.
Hunter is an elite shutdown cornerback with great length, speed and vision; and can play wide receiver too. If I had to pick which position he’d play it would be corner. You can find a great receiver in the third, fourth, fifth and later rounds but it’s harder to find a corner who can play like Hunter does in those late rounds.
4) New England Patriots – Tackle Will Campbell (LSU)
The Patriots need to get the best player available (BPA). Who they see that as, I don’t know. But I think they should go get their young quarterback some protection. With that being said, the Patriots take Campbell.
Campbell is a tough and stout protector from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) where he faced NFL talents on a weekly basis. Despite his short arms, his frame and size is ideal for taking an elite edge rusher out of the game. He has some power and technical things to work on, as he can let defenders get into his chest at times, but will still be worth a top five selection.
5) Jacksonville Jaguars – Defensive Tackle Mason Graham (Michigan)
The phrase ‘you win in the trenches’ proves time and again to be true. Teams need someone like Graham to set up the interior of the defensive line, stop the run and put the pressure in the face of the quarterback.
Graham is that guy.
6) Las Vegas Raiders – Running Back Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
Simply put, teams should not draft a running back without a solid offensive line. Jeanty doesn’t apply to that.
Stick and pick the next Saquon Barkely. He’s built like a powerback that moves like a slashing zone running back. He offers great pass protection and receiving capabilities.
7) New York Jets – Tackle Armand Membou (Missouri)
Membou is a beast. He is known for his aggressive, punishing demeanor in the run game, effectively driving defenders off the ball. He’s also got interior flexibility making him a dangerous puzzle piece.
After letting some of their offensive lineman go in free agency, this is a great addition to fill the hole and start building a new, young Jets team.
8) Carolina Panthers – Edge Abdul Carter (Penn State)
This is where the Carter slide ends; his medical is a red flag, but he’s the best player in his position group. The Panthers have one of the worst defensive units in the league, so the addition of the best edge in the class will help. It also creates a dangerous defensive front with Derrick Brown also being on there.
He’s pretty new to the position, being recruited as a linebacker, but he’s explosive and violent. He’s a game changer on the field and will be a nightmare for any offensive line to deal with and will only get better with time.
9) New Orleans Saints – Edge Mykel Williams (Georgia)
Williams is an edge that plays like a 5-tech with the skills and build of a 7-tech. He’s got a great bag of pass rushing tools whether that be power or speed. His hands are always active.
He didn’t get a lot of reps at where he was aligned outside the tackle which is why he isn’t as hyped as much as a prospect like the others in his class. But if you give him a chance to learn and develop behind a guy like Cam Jordan, I think he’ll be a terror in the NFC South.
10) Chicago Bears – Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)
Banks is a mix between Membou and Campbell. He’s got interior flexibility which makes him a great addition to this team. He’s got incredible control over his body, making great pass protection reps from awkward angles.
Banks has great balance, not often is he in a spot where the defender can use his body to the advantage of the defense; he’s always in a great position. He’s still a bit raw as a prospect, but has the one of the highest potentials as anyone in the draft.
The Bears need to limit the number of sacks their young quarterback will take. For Caleb Williams to succeed, the Bears will need to give him some peace of mind while he’s in the pocket.
11) San Francisco 49ers – Cornerback Jahdae Barron (Texas)
Barron is being eyed as a slot corner. I say put him outside and give the 49ers something to chant about. At Texas, he was asked to cover slot receivers, tight ends, running backs and even cover guys on the outside.
He’s got speed and what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in awareness. He’s intelligent and will make the defense more secure when the ball is in the air. Barron will put the NFC West on watch.
12) Dallas Cowboys – Wide Receiver Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)
The Cowboys have a need for an X receiver, someone who will win at the catch point against physical defenders. In the past, Dez Bryant and Amari Cooper filled that role.
They have tried to make Ceedee Lamb be that player, which Lamb can do. But getting a guy built for it is better and will free up Lamb to give him more one-on-one opportunities. McMillan can be that guy for Dallas.
McMillan is a fantastic route runner with size and speed to match. He’s got great hands and will be catching those fifty-fifty balls down the field. He’s not as stiff as he should be and that adds to his game. He was a volleyball recruit so his jump ball skills and the ability to play in the air adds to his already elite game. The only thing he doesn’t have is elite speed, so he won’t be separating from defenders much but his physicality makes up for it.
13) Miami Dolphins – Cornerback Will Johnson (Michigan)
Johnson is the best pure corner in this draft. He can definitely be a shutdown No.1 corner on the outside.
Johnson is known for his press coverage skills, physicality at the catch point and a strong understanding of route concepts. He will take risks and try to snag the ball out of the air, but with the right coaching, he’ll be a star in Miami.
14) Indianapolis Colts – Tight End Tyler Warren (Penn State)
Warren looks like a truck playing tight end. He can block, catch and can line up anywhere.
The Colts need a little bit of everything and taking BPA might be the best move for them at this spot. Whether he’s blocking for Jonathan Taylor or catching passes in the red zone, he’s going to be hard to account for.
He’s lined up at center and quarterback for Penn State too, so he’s got incredible versatility to do some amazing things. Drafting him will make the Colts dangerous on offense.
15) Atlanta Falcons – Linebacker Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)
The Falcons need a big draft win after last year where they got quarterback Michael Penix after paying Kirk Cousins $180 million. Fans were not happy and they hardly got any play from their first round guy. Getting a plug-and-play starter in Campbell should not only make fans happy but upgrade a bad Falcons defense.
Campbell is a traditional linebacker with a crazy pass rushing upside. He can cover and then blitz from off the ball and on the line of scrimmage.
16) Arizona Cardinals – Defensive Tackle Kenneth Grant (Michigan)
The Cardinals need a space eating, big body defensive guy to destroy the offensive line. Grant will be that.
He is 335 pounds and will win with power; but he can also win with speed, finesse and a great set of moves. He’s the best pass rushing nose tackle in the draft. He’ll need development as a pass rusher and while this is a deep defensive tackle class, there is no one like Grant in this draft.
17) Cincinnati Bengals – Edge Mike Green (Marshall)
When it comes to pure pass rushers who can only rush, Green might be the best. He can rush both with speed and power and he’ll be one of those players that gets double and triple-teamed on every play.
He will thrive on third downs and long yardage situations. Green needs to improve on his run defense to be on the field all the time but I think he’ll be a fantastic addition in Cincinnati.
18) Seattle Seahawks – Tackle Grey Zabel (North Dakota State)
Zabel can play at guard or tackle, but should be a tackle for Seattle. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 312 pounds, Zabel possesses the ideal physique for an NFL offensive lineman.
He’s played every position on the offensive line, but tackle is where he’s best at. He can move so he’ll fit great into a west coast system like Seattle.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Linebacker Jalon Walker (Georgia)
Walker is listed as a linebacker but he’s primarily an edge defender and plays like one too. He’ll be able to add some pressure to this defense.
When you look at a guy like Walker, he’s a bit of a tweener. He’s not quite an off-ball linebacker but still not quite an edge rusher. But tape doesn’t lie. He’s got violent hands and insane hips. He provides a ton of punch to his moves. Tampa can also use him in different packages; have him be off the ball on first and second downs and then rush on third or have him be a pass rusher in nickel while bringing him off the ball when it’s a more traditional front.
20) Denver Broncos – Wide Receiver Luther Burden III (Missouri)
Burden will get yards after the catch. He can turn a 10-yard pass into a 45-yard touchdown. He’s a gifted athlete when it comes to yards after the catch.
He’s incredibly hard to get down and you can line him up anywhere, whether that’s off the line so he can be in motion or on the line and take on press corners. With a young quarterback in Bo Nix, it’s important to get him someone that can turn plays into chunk plays for his development.
21) Pittsburgh Steelers – Edge Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)
It’s not often you see a guy like Stewart play like he does. He’s 280 pounds and plays like he’s 240. He’s got size and physicality to play in multiple systems whether that be as a 5-tech, head up on a tackle, or in a more traditional 7-tech, outside the tackle. He’s got incredible strength and bend.
This is a great replacement for the Steelers’ aging defensive interior Cam Hayward, who he plays a lot like. The one gripe about Stewart is his production. He has a lot of trouble turning pressures into sacks. Often he rushes without a plan of attack which ends up with him being blocked way too easily; but with the right coaching he’ll be a menace against any team whether they chose to run or pass the ball.
22) Los Angeles Chargers – Tight End Colston Loveland (Michigan)
Justin Herbert needs a big body target desperately and the Chargers Head Coach John Harbaugh loves his Michigan guys.
He makes broken plays work and can win against linebackers, corners and safeties. He’s got great hands and his routes are fantastic; he can use his big frame to box out defenders or misdirect players to create separation.
23) Green Bay Packers – Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
Egbuka has been talked about as a slot guy and while he can play that role, he’s so much more than that. He’s a great route runner with fantastic hands who can also win jump balls and dominate the catch point.
He is often shadowed by others at Ohio State and asked to do the dirty work at receiver like blocking or occupying linebackers for his other teammates; however, he is a capable wide receiver who will add some much needed receiving help to this Packers team.
24) Minnesota Vikings – Safety Malaki Starks (Georgia)
The Vikings draft Harrison Smith’s replacement and get a very good, well-rounded player too. Starks is everything you want in a safety: physical, smart, a ball-hawk and has great awareness. A safety is often the last line of defense against the pass and he is the best at that in this year’s draft.
He tracks passes out of the air and makes plays on them like receivers and can make plays across the field. He’s not a big hitter but can definitely play the run, tackle and be aggressive. He can also be a slot for the Vikings where he’s more than capable of covering slots, tight ends and running backs.
25) Houston Texans – Wide Receiver Matthew Golden (Texas)
Golden has elite speed to take the top off any defense. While his route running is not the best, he can change up his release and shake up his tempo, keeping the best corners on their toes. His speed also allows for a good amount of separation but he does have some of the best hands in the draft.
When it comes to control in the air and coming down with control and ball security, Golden is very good at that. The control he has of his body and the way it moves or the position he puts himself in, puts him in a league of his own.
However, he will need to work on focus to prevent drops.
26) Los Angeles Rams – Tackle Josh Simmons (Ohio State)
Simmons biggest red flag is his medical history. He tore his patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap and tibia together; a very serious injury, especially for an offensive lineman who already has knee issues. However, he is ahead of schedule in his recovery,
The best traits about Simmons make him, or would have made him, the best tackle in this draft. He’s tall and big but has incredible feet and a really good punch to throw off edge rushers. He transferred from San Diego State, a non power five school, to Ohio State, one of the most prestigious football schools in the country, and started for the Buckeyes; that just shows how good he is.
27) Baltimore Ravens – Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)
Ezeiruaka has the biggest, deepest and most nuanced pass rushing bag in America. He’s the most intelligent pass rusher in this draft and one of the smartest in the last 10 years. He sets up his rushes over time which allows him to play with the mind of the offensive lineman in front of him. He can rush inside and outside, with speed or with power.
He is on the small side and ends up on the ground more than you’d like to see, but when it’s late in the fourth quarter and the defense needs to get off the field, he will sack the quarterback. He’s already so polished before coming into the league, it’s hard to see him not being impactful on day one.
28) Detroit Lions – Edge Josaiah Stewart (Michigan)
Stewart is projected to go at the end of the second round or at the top of the third round, mostly due to his size. He’s barely over six feet and isn’t even over 250 pounds. Usually undersized guys will go later in the draft, but Stewart is special.
He plays football like he’s playing in the 70s. Stewart is violent and his short height gives him a natural leverage advantage; he even gave guys from Alabama and USC hell. He doesn’t have the best moves out of everyone in the draft and is still raw as a prospect, but he is special. Pair him up with fellow Michigan edge Aiden Hutchinson and this will be a doomsday pass rush duo for any offense.
29) Washington Commanders – Edge Bradyn Swinson (LSU)
The Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn loves length on his defensive guys and Swinson might be the longest edge in the whole draft. He uses his long arms to create natural separation between him and the tackle which allows him to get the angles he needs to win reps.
Swinson has a deadly swipe move, which he uses to win to the outside against tackles but can turn that into power and rush into the chest of the tackle or swim inside. Washington desperately needs someone to breathe life into this dead edge group and Swinson can be that guy.
30) Buffalo Bills – Cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. (Eastern Carolina)
Revel has one year of experience starting at Eastern Carolina and he’ll be coming off a torn ACL which hurts his stock. But from what was shown on tape, he’s an athletic freak.
He’s a long, press corner and will bully receivers off the line and has great speed. Technically and fundamentally, he needs a lot of work; he tends to let receivers get separation down the field and can have questionable anticipation when the ball is in the air. But his gifts alone make him worthy of a first round pick and will improve a very bad Bills secondary.
31) Kansas City Chiefs – Tackle Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon)
The Chiefs could not protect Patrick Mahomes at all in their Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Getting Conerly gets them a two year starter at Oregon who gave even the best college edge rushers problems.
His hips aren’t the best and needs work, but the Chiefs need a proven tackle that can start opening day and they find their guy at pick 31.
32) Philadelphia Eagles – Defensive Tackle Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)
Nolen is the traditional 3-tech, pass rushing defensive tackle. He won’t blow you away with his physique or size but he’s something special and if he falls this low it might be the steal of the draft.
He can take the blocks and get off of them smoothly. He’s great against both the run and pass and wins with raw athleticism and strength rather than technique. He’ll have no problem developing in Philadelphia and with the Eagles pass rushing defensive tackle, Milton Williams, leaving in free agency, this is the perfect pick up.
Notable players not picked in the first round:
- Edge James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee)
- Edge Nic Scourton (Texas A&M)
- Running back Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
- Cornerback Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame)
- Guard Tyler Booker (Alabama)
- Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (Oregon)
