It’s never to early to start the mock draft process, and much will change between the combine and free agency but let’s start to shape the look of round 1. This will be a team need based mock draft trying to fill the most immediate holes on each roster wherever possible. 

• 1. Las Vegas Raiders- QB Fernando Mendoza

No real question here. This is the only sensible pick for this franchise.

• 2. New York Jets- OLB/Edge Arvell Reese

Jets really need a franchise QB, but Arvell Reese can be a cornerstone piece for Aaron Glenn. In a perfect world they can trade down and draft Caleb Downs, but pick #2 overall is to rich for a safety.

• 3. Arizona Cardinals- OT Spencer Fano

Cardinals can go in a few directions here, but securing the OT opposite Paris Johnson might be a good starting point for first time HC, Mike LaFleur.

• 4. Tennessee Titans- Edge David Bailey

This roster needs help everywhere, including getting Cam Ward some weapons, but Robert Salah will look to build the defense and the cupboard is especially bare at pass rush. 

• 5. New York Giants- WR Jordyn Tyson

Malik Nabers is coming off a significant knee injury and might not be ready for the start of camp and Wandale Robinson is a Free Agent. This team needs to continue to stack weapons for Jaxson Dart.

• 6. Cleveland Browns- Edge Ruben Bain

The Browns could easily look to the offensive line here or even a playmaker for Todd Monken, but strengthening a strength is to tempting to give this team a nasty position group adding Bain to Garrett and Graham. With no real QB, why not build the defense?

• 7. Washington Commanders- WR Carnell Tate

Even when Jayden Daniels was healthy the weapons were limited. Tate gives them a big, explosive weapon to pair with Terry McLaurin.

• 8. New Orleans Saints- RB Jeremiyah Love

The Saints believe in Tyler Shough and Alvin Kamara is on fumes. Love gives them a dynamic player that Kellen Moore will know how to turn into a weapon.

• 9. Kansas City Chiefs- DT Peter Woods

KC fans are clamoring for a RB but with Love off the board, adding in some talent at DL makes the most sense. Chris Jones isn’t getting any younger and Woods is a blue chip talent.

• 10. Cincinnati Bengals- S Caleb Downs

The Cincinnati defense is atrocious, especially the secondary. Just off talent alone, Downs is a top 3 player in the draft. 

• 11. Miami Dolphins- OT Frances Mauigoa

The Dolphins have a ton of free agents on the offensive line. Add in the fact that Patrick Paul was terrible at LT and this pick almost makes itself.

• 12. Dallas Cowboys- CB Mansoor Delane

Cowboys need help at every level of the defense and parted ways with star CB, Treyvon Diggs. Delane is the best CB in the draft. 

• 13. Los Angeles Rams- CB Jermod McCoy

The Rams roster is loaded, but they struggled in the secondary. McCoy is a day one starter.

• 14. Baltimore Ravens- WR Makai Lemon

This Ravens team is set to lose DeAndre Hopkins, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency. The team desperately needs play makers. Pairing another small WR with Zay Flowers isn’t ideal, but based on pure talent, Lemon is the best receiver in the draft.

• 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Edge Keldric Faulk

Logan Hall and Hassan Reddick are free agents and there is nothing else behind them at Edge. Falk is more of an edge setting power rusher than a pure speed pash rusher, but the need for Edge is obvious.

• 16. New York Jets- LB Sonny Styles

Jets would be thrilled to add another blue chip defender in Styles, who is a top five overall talent in this class. Quincy Williams is a free agent and Jamien Sherwood is best suited as a #2 MLB.

• 17. Detroit Lions- OG Olaivavega Ioane

The Lions once feared OL has really taken a hit the last few years with retirements and Dan Campbell knows he needs to be stout up front to make his offense work. Ioane’s style of play fits like a glove here.

• 18. Minnesota Vikings- OT Caleb Lomu

The Vikings line was a sieve last year and very injured. Getting Christian Darrisaw back will help, but right tackle could really use an upgrade and moves RT Brian O’Neill to swing OT, where he is probably best suited.

• 19. Carolina Panthers- CB Avieon Terrell

Mike Jackson was underwhelming playing opposite Jaycee Horn and Damarri Mathis, Robert Rochell and Nick Scott are set to be free agents. Terrell instantly becomes CB2.

• 20. Dallas Cowboys- DT Caleb Banks

The remaking of the Dallas defense continues. Placing Banks next to Quinnen Williams makes this a formidable defensive line.

• 21. Pittsburgh Steelers- WR KC Conception

Assuming Rodgers comes back for one more swan song with McCarthy, the team will need to add some receiving weapons outside of DK Metcalf and a bunch of Tight Ends. He is a perfect compliment to Metcalf as a shifty slot type receiver.

• 22. Los Angeles Chargers- OT Kadyn Proctor

There’s no doubt the interior offensive line of this team needs to be completely rebuilt. With Ioane off the board, Proctor can slide into an OG spot and still give you some OT flex in a pinch. Free agency will go a long way to determining the position group targeted with this pick.

• 23. Philadelphia Eagles- TE Kenyon Sadiq

This pick makes a ton of sense on paper. Dallas Goedert, Kylen Granson and Grant Calcaterra are all free agents. Combine that with the all but eventual departure of AJ Brown and suddenly this offense needs real receiving options. Sadiq is the best TE prospect since Brock Bowers.

• 24. Cleveland Browns- WR Denzel Boston

No matter who the QB is next season, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or Mr Handy, the team needs more playmakers. New HC Todd Monken already used pick #6 on defense so he gets a big X receiver here to start to rebuild the unit.

• 25. Chicago Bears- LB CJ Allen

The defense for this team needs to be the focus of the offseason. Tremaine Edmonds was just OK last season but he is not the explosive sideline to sideline player that CJ Allen is. 

• 26. Buffalo Bills- Edge Akheem Mesidor

Mesidor will be a 25 year old rookie, but Buffalo is in win now mode with Josh Allen in his prime. Mesidor is the most pro ready rusher in the class.

• 27. San Francisco 49ers- OT Monroe Freeling

Kyle Shanahan always prefers skill players over trench players, but this OL is in desperate need of some talent. Trent Williams is 37 and the Right Tackle is Colton McKivitz. Enough said.

• 28. Houston Texans- OT Max Iheanachor

The offensive line must be the focus of the offseason for Houston. RT Trent Brown is a free agent so there is a huge hole opposite Aireontae Ersery. 

• 29. Los Angeles Rams- QB Ty Simpson

The Rams take advantage of their second first round pick to draft Matthew Stafford’s successor. Before he got injured Ty Simpson was arguably the best QB in the country.

• 30. Denver Broncos- CB Brandon Cisse

The Broncos are a tough team to mock. They are pretty set at much of the roster outside RB, but there’s nobody worth taking here. They drafted Jahdae Barron last year, but he has yet to make an impact and I think he is best served in a Brian Branch type Swiss Army role anyway. Riley Moss was the most flagged CB in the league. Cisse would be an upgrade.

• 31. New England Patriots- DT Kayden McDonald

The Patriots need offensive line help, but the DL isn’t getting any younger either. McDonald probably won’t make it this far in April, so it was an easy value selection. I’m sure HC Mike Vrabel won’t be mad about adding premium talent on defense.

• 32. Seattle Seahawks- CB Colton Hood

The Super Bowl Champs have a loaded roster, but will be losing corners Josh Jobe and Tariq Woolen in free agency. Colton Hood will give Mike Macdonald another chess piece in the secondary.

There it is, first mock down. Let me know where you agree, what players might be better fits on teams or anything else you want to discuss. Once the combine is over we roll out mock Draft #2.