The NFL combine doesn’t change the stock of draft prospects so much as it helps crystalize it.
Michigan football quarterback J.J. McCarthy, No. 12 in my first mock draft to the Denver Broncos, seems comfortably in the top half of the first round after his solid showing in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. — the man I mocked to the Lions pre-combine — pulled out of drills early due to a lingering groin injury and will look to improve upon his testing at his pro day this month.
I still like Rakestraw as a first-round fit for the Lions. This is a team that values good football players above all else. But you may see him slide in some mock drafts due to injury and/or speed concerns.
I’ll have another updated mock once the first wave of free agency settles and we see where quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield and Russell Wilson land, but for now, there aren’t many changes in my top 10:
1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams, USC
The feeling I got from talking to people in Indy was that the Bears will deal Justin Fields and take Williams with the No. 1 pickbut that’s hardly a consensus. Perhaps we’ll get more clarity on their plans in the coming weeks as well.
2. Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
Daniels turns 24 in December, but still feels like a safe bet to go top two.
3. New England Patriots: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
If they’re not sold on Maye as a future franchise quarterback, the best thing the Patriots can do for their talent-deficient roster is auction this pick off to the highest bidder.
4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Harrison is the best of the non-quarterback prospects, but in a strong receiver draft it’s possible the Cardinals go another direction.
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5. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
The Chargers have decisions to make with the contracts of receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, but Jim Harbaugh taking the draft’s best tackle seems right.
6. New York Giants: WR Malik Nabers, LSU
I’ve got three receivers going in the top 10 and there are probably eight worthy of going in the first round.
7. Tennessee Titans: Edge Dallas Turner, Alabama
I gave Georgia tight end Brock Bowers to the Titans in my first mock, but Turner is the draft’s best pass rusher and too explosive to pass up.
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8. Atlanta Falcons: Edge Jared Verse, Florida State
If the Falcons sign Kirk Cousins, they’ll be out of the first-round quarterback market.
9. Chicago Bears: WR Rome Odunze, Washington
If the Bears take Williams at No. 1, they have to get him help at wide receiver or on the offensive line with their second first-round pick.
10. New York Jets: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
I’m not projecting trades in my mock, but if I were, some team (the Broncos?) would move up to nine or 10 and take McCarthy.
11. Minnesota Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Cousins’ free agent decision is the domino that needs to fall this offseason and could alter the landscape in the NFC North.
12. Denver Broncos: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
Sean Payton badly needs a quarterbackbut there’s not one worthy of taking here in this mock and Bowers is the best prospect on the board.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
I had Mitchell too low in my first mock. He may have passed Alabama’s Terrion Mitchell as the first cornerback off the board.
14. New Orleans Saints: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
If the Saints are serious about trading Marshon Lattimore, they could land a capable replacement in the middle of Round 1.
15. Indianapolis Colts: WR Brian Thomas, LSU
The Colts could use another target for young quarterback Anthony Richardson, whether they re-sign Michael Pittman or not.
16. Seattle Seahawks: DT Byron Murphy, Texas
Murphy is another player I might been too light on in my first mock, and with the Seahawks changing defensive schemes he’d be a Day 1 starter.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Chop Robinson, Penn State
This is probably too early for Robinson given his lack of sack production, but Jaguars GM Trent Baalke is a trait-based guy and Robinson is dripping with tools.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: OT JC Latham, Alabama
I have the second group of linemen behind Alt and Fashanu falling a little in this draft, but the Bengals need to do everything in their power to protect Joe Burrow.
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19. Los Angeles Rams: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Wiggins isn’t the biggest cornerback, but he ran a blazing 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the combine.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
Fuaga could move inside to guard because of his arm length, but the Steelers have enough issues up front they can take the plug-and-play best lineman left on the board.
21. Miami Dolphins: Edge: Laiato Latu, UCLA
Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips are coming off season-ending injuries and Christian Wilkins will be a free agent next week. If Latu’s medicals check out, he’d be ideal insurance for the Dolphins’ pass rush.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: OL Troy Fautanu, Washington
The Eagles need secondary help, but GM Howie Roseman has a clear preference for offensive linemen, defensive linemen or receivers in the first round of the draft.
23. Houston Texans: DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
Newton didn’t work out at the combine, so he’s not generating much buzz, but he’d give the Texans an inside pass rusher to pair with Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson.
24. Dallas Cowboys: DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Whether he stays at cornerback or slides to safety, DeJean would help the Cowboys’ defense.
25. Green Bay Packers: DL Darius Robinson, Missouri
Robinson’s upside and versatility as a pass rusher should help him find a home in the bottom half of Round 1.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
Worthy ran a combine-record 4.21-second 40 and seems like an ideal complement to Mike Evans.
27. Arizona Cardinals: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
Rakestraw doesn’t make it to the Lions in this mock, though there are other corners on the board if they want to go that route.
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28. Buffalo Bills: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
Coleman’s 40 time could push him into Round 2, but he’s one of the best receivers in this draft.
29. Detroit Lions: C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
I had Powers-Johnson going to the Steelers in my first mock, and frankly I didn’t expect him to last till 29 when I sat down to do this one. He’s bigger than your average center at 6 feet 3 and 328 pounds, and as nasty as he was at center last year, winning the Remington Award, he played guard early in his career. With Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow free agents and given Frank Ragnow’s health, he would be a steal for the Lions at 29.
30. Baltimore Ravens: OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
Ronnie Stanley has missed four or more games each of the past four years. It’s time for the Ravens to groom a replacement.
31. San Francisco 49ers: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
Mims has limited starting experience but the tools to develop into a very good player.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Mahomes to McConkey. Get ready to hear it in next year’s Super Bowl.
Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
2024-03-06 11:15:54
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