We are around one month away from the NFL Draft, the offseason’s most prestigious event where college football stars make the jump from their universities to the league. As is customary in the days leading up to the Draft, NFL experts predict each player’s landing spot and their best fit.
Questions, like the Vikings’ trade-up possibility and the number of first-round quarterbacks selected, will be answered. Also, where do teams in tough spots, such as the Broncos and Falcons, decide to go?
Picks 1-10:
- Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The consensus number one overall player in the class, and the Bears don’t need to look elsewhere. They made it apparent that they would be selecting a first-round quarterback after dealing two-year starter Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Williams, like Fields, is athletic, strong and talented on the ground. But Williams has the decision-making skills a Chicago QB hasn’t had in decades , and he immediately steps into the role as the future of the Bears.
- Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Washington traded 2023 quarterback Sam Howell to Seattle during free agency, and, with only one QB on their roster, new general manager Adam Peters looks to Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as their next man under center. Daniels plays a similar game that offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has been accustomed to in Arizona. I like this fit for the Commanders at two.
- New England Patriots – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Maye’s selection rounds out the top 3 of this draft, and with Mac Jones headed to Jacksonville, New England rolls with UNC’s Drake Maye. Maye is the rawest of the three top quarterbacks, and whether Maye gets the start immediately or the Patriots decide to sit him behind veteran Jacoby Brissett is a front office decision. Either way, Maye has Pro Bowl-caliber talent and a very bright future with a storied franchise in New England.
- Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
There may not be a more talented player in this class than wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. A recognizable name (son of Hall of Fame wideout Marvin Harrison) who shows similar flashes to those of his father. A massive frame, insane ball tracking ability and deceptive speed that allows him to expand his route tree, there is no better young weapon for Kyler Murray than Harrison Jr.
- Minnesota Vikings (via LAC) – J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Minnesota recently made a move with the Texans to trade back into the first round and stockpile a pair of high draft picks in preparation for another move. Right here, the Chargers miss out on Harrison Jr. and move back with the Vikings, allowing another NFC North team to snag their future play caller in McCarthy, a college champion with high-rising draft stock.
- New York Giants – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
It has been a few years since the Giants have had a wide receiver that they can firmly call their number one. Although missing on Harrison Jr. by a couple picks, Nabers is not a consolation prize. Daniels’ number one target at LSU, Nabers is lean, speedy and encapsulates a primo WR1 for a team in dire need of weapons. Fans of Big Blue should expect and covet this selection.
- Tennessee Titans – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
After six consecutive skill position selections, Tennessee still sticks with the trend of offensive players but goes for versatile tackle Joe Alt. Alt, a five-star recruit, is an elite pass blocker with high upside in the run game. Protecting quarterback Will Levis is the Titans’ most important offseason checklist item to address, and this would be ideal in doing so.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (via ATL) – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
I don’t like this spot for the Atlanta Falcons at all, so they trade back with a receiver-needy team in the Jacksonville Jaguars, who give up their 17th pick, along with a third-rounder and a 2025 second-rounder, for the right to take Washington’s Rome Odunze. Odunze is on that upper echelon of wideouts, and is much deserving of a top-10 selection. In Trevor Lawrence’s contract season, it will be interesting to see how much Odunze’s quickness elevates the Jaguars’ offense.
- Chicago Bears – Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
A defensive player! It took nine picks, but the Bears need extensive help on the outside pass rush, and Crimson Tide standout Dallas Turner pairs very well with Montez Sweat in Chicago. A dynamic duo of Sweat and Turner is sure to lead to a future of multi-sack seasons for each of them.
- New York Jets – Tailese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Talking about high-risers, Fuaga has climbed his way up NFL scouts’ big boards for the past two months and, after a complete Combine performance, breaks into the top 10 and gets the Jets some much-needed help in the trenches. If quarterback Aaron Rodgers is truly healthy from his Achilles tear in 2023, there’s no need to not take some extra precautions and keep the future MVP in a clean pocket.
Picks 11-32:
- Los Angeles Chargers (via MIN) – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
- Denver Broncos – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
- Las Vegas Raiders – Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
- New Orleans Saints – Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
- Los Angeles Rams (via IND) – Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
- Seattle Seahawks – Jer’Zhan Newton, IDL, Illinois
- Atlanta Falcons (via JAC) – Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
- Cincinnati Bengals – Byron Murphy, IDL, Texas
- Indianapolis Colys (via LAR) – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Xavier Worhty, WR, Texas
- Miami Dolphins – J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama
- Philadelphia Eagles – Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
- Los Angeles Chargers (via MIN) – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
- Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
- Green Bay Packers – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
- Arizona Cardinals – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
- Buffalo Bills – Calen Bullock, S, USC
- Detroit Lions – Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
- Baltimore Ravens – Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
- San Francisco 49ers – Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
- Kansas City Chiefs – Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Graphic by Lexi Petri.