By: Tyler Vesely, TGIS Prez
Round 1
1. Carolina Panthers
Pick: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Bryce Young cancelled all of his team visits after it was known he was going #1. The Panthers grab the best player in the draft.
2. Houston Texans
Pick: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
The draft gets interesting at #2. Although I would take CJ Stroud, the Texans have reported to be going defense with this pick. The decision apparently is between Anderson and Wilson. I’m going with my gut and projecting them to take the better player. (Although they did go projection over results when they took Stingley over Sauce last year).
3. Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Cardinals want to move out of this pick as they have plenty of weaknesses on their football team. If they can’t move out, I think they go with Wilson’s upside.
4. Indianapolis Colts
Pick: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Colts are going quarterback. Which one do they like? I think Stroud will end up being the pick.
5. Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
Jalen Carter is one of the most talented players in the draft and the slide stops here.
6. Detroit Lions
Pick: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Last year the Lions took a premier pass rusher in Hutchinson, now they get an aggressive, sticky man-to-man corner in Witherspoon.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Pick: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
A little bit of a wildcard pick as the Raiders go for their quarterback of the future with Anthony Richardson. He can wait and develop behind current starter Jimmy Garoppolo (he will need it).
8. Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Bijan is one of the best players in the draft… he just so happens to play a position that has been devalued over the last few years. However, Atlanta currently does not have a dynamic option like Robinson. He comes in and starts right away for the Falcons.
9. Chicago Bears
Pick: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
The Bears desperately need better offensive line play. In this scenario, I believe the decision comes down to Paris Johnson or Peter Skoronski. Both players have the ability to be position flexible by playing either guard or tackle. (Flips coin… we are going with Paris Johnson Jr. for the upside)
10. Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
The Eagles are going to want to continue to boost the defensive line, especially on the edge. Nolan Smith has all the traits the Eagles are looking for.
11. Tennessee Titans
Pick: Peter Skoronski, OG, Northwestern
The Titans identity is the offensive line, but right now there are a few weak links in there. Skoronski can come in and start right away as a great run blocker.
12. Houston Texans
Pick: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The Texans could be in a scenario where all the top QBs are gone. Not here though, Levis is the pick.
13. Green Bay Packers
Pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
I just picture JSN on the inside, with Christian Watson and Romeo Dobbs playing on the outside… and it is beautiful. The Packers get Jordan Love some help in season one as the starter.
14. New England Patriots
Pick: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Gonzalez has all the traits the Patriots look for in a corner. Jonathan Jones, Jack Jones, and Christian Gonzalez is a pretty good trio at corner.
15. New York Jets
Pick: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Aaron Rodgers can’t move like he used to. Jones becomes another added piece to a good Jets offensive line.
16. Washington Commanders
Pick: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
The Commanders defensive line is solid, but the secondary still needs work… Banks has all the tools to be a great, young corner for them.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
The Steelers need a young corner… how do I not mock the legendary linebacker’s son to Pittsburgh?
18. Detroit Lions
Pick: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Aidan Hutchinson on one side and Myles Murphy on the other…. that is a dangerous young duo.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
The Bucs have a major hole at right tackle. Darnell Wright fills that right away.
20. Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
The Seahawks have: an aging Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf with a big contract, and an unproven Dee Eskridge. Seattle needs another WR to this mix and Zay Flowers fits that mold as a small dynamic guy.
21. Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
A little bit of a luxury pick for the Chargers, but this give Herbert another dynamic playmaker. Kincaid runs his routes like a wide receiver and is excellent adjusting his body when the ball is in the air.
22. Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Hey Lamar, the Ravens are getting more help for you! Addison is a great route runner and will be another option outside of Odell Beckham Jr.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
The Vikings took another skinny corner from Mississippi State a few years ago in Cam Dantzler. Forbes is a better player and a major position of need for the Vikings.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
The Jaguars need a nickel corner, Branch is the best playmaking nickel corner in the draft… Easy enough.
25. New York Giants
Pick: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
The Giants have a crowded receiver room of average players. I predict the Giants try to boost the group in round one. Look for Johnston to go here as he is the dynamic type of a receiver the Giants look for. He is also one of the few wide receivers in this draft with size.
26. Dallas Cowboys
Pick: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Defensive line, Offensive tackle, Edge Rusher, and Tight End are all options here. But having Gibbs and Pollard in the same backfield for the Cowboys will be too hard to pass up. For those saying “don’t take a running back in the first round”… the bottom of the first round is excellent value compared to other running backs in the league (Gibbs would average around $3.5 million per year in this slot and make less than Alexander Mattison and Samaje Perine).
27. Buffalo Bills
Pick: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
I’m not as big of a fan of Van Ness and I’m predicting a little bit of a slide for the pass rusher. He is a little bit of a project, but has great upside for the Bills right here who have taken bigger edge rushers before (See Gregory Rousseau).
28. Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The Bengals have Irv Smith Jr. coming in on a one-year prove it deal. I can see the Bengals adding a second tight end and Michael Mayer fits that bill as an all-around player.
29. New Orleans Saints
Pick: Will McDonald, EDGE, Iowa State
The Saints lack a speedy edge rusher on this defense. McDonald fixes that right away as a pass rush specialist.
30. Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Bryan Breese, DL, Clemson
I have the Eagles going defense again, this time focusing on the interior. Fletcher Cox is at the end of his career and the Eagles didn’t bring back Linval Joseph or Ndamukong Suh. This is a chance for the Eagles to get younger and they have that with Breese who has a high ceiling.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Pick: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
The Chiefs love speed and need another receiver. This is more of just a profile match as Hyatt can replace the hole left by Mecole Hardman.
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