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1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
This is a no-brainer and was pretty much set before the college football season even began. Lawrence is the best player in the draft. He will come in and be the franchise quarterback for the Jaguars.
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2. New York Jets: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
Wilson is another quarterback who can be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. Though I have Justin Fields rated slightly higher than him, Wilson is a really good pick for the Jets. They need someone to finally take the reigns and lead their team. |
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3. San Francisco 49ers: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
This is where the draft really begins. The first two selections are pretty much set. The mystery starts here. It looks to be down to Jones and Trey Lance for the 49ers. I think with all the smoke and rumors pointing to Jones, that the Alabama quarterback will be the selection. But, I would not make it. Fields should be the pick with Lance next. Nevertheless, Jones is a prospect who has the talent to start a long time in the NFL. |
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4. Atlanta Falcons: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
If I were the Falcons, I would go with Fields here to take over for Matt Ryan. But, that doesn’t look like it will happen. The Falcons look poised to either trade out or take the third-best player in the draft. Selecting Pitts will not be a bad pick for the Falcons. Far from it. He gives Atlanta an instant mismatch in the middle of the field. |
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5. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
The Bengals should take an offensive tackle here, either Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater. But, it seems to me that they are leaning toward the second-best player in the draft. Chase will give them an instant playmaker for Joe Burrow, but I still worry about protecting Burrow, especially after his season-ending injury. If they can’t protect their potential franchise quarterback, then Chase and the passing game can’t even start. |
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6. Miami Dolphins: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
The Dolphins go with the smart move and protect their young quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. I would prefer Slater rather than Sewell, but Sewell is still a super talented offensive tackle who can start right away and be the pillar on the edges for many years to come. |
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7. Detroit Lions: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
Many evaluators believe Parsons is the best defender in the draft. I do not. But, with Chris Spielman in the organization and a lot of buzz surrounding the Lions and Parsons being a match, I am predicting this selection. He can fly around the defense and make plays versus the run. The Lions need playmakers on defense. |
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8. Carolina Panthers: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
The Panthers get an absolute steal with Fields falling to No. 8. He is the second-best quarterback in the class and a player who can be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. Sam Darnold should not bar Carolina from picking Fields here. I think Fields is a better prospect coming out of college than Darnold was three years ago. |
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9. Denver Broncos: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
I think the trade for Teddy Bridgewater on Wednesday sets this pick up well. Lance has the potential to be a franchise quarterback. He just needs time. Bridgewater can start next season and allow Lance to sit and learn. This would be an ideal spot for the North Dakota State product. |
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10. Dallas Cowboys: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
The Cowboys defense was a trainwreck last season. So, Dallas nabs my top-rated defender in the draft. Surtain has the polish and talent to play right away and be a No. 1 cornerback for a defense. This match seems perfect. |
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11. New York Giants: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami (FL)
The Giants need edge rushers and so they go with one of the best in the draft. Phillips has the talent to be rated right up there with the best of the defensive prospects. The only question is his medicals. If he checks out, he will be a major disruptor in the NFL. |
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12. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
It looks like Waddle will come off the board before his teammate DeVonta Smith, who I have higher on my board. But, it is hard to find the explosive speed that Waddle provides. The Eagles sorely need help at wide receiver and they also need more playmakers on offense. Waddle fits both needs. |
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13. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
The Chargers have to protect their young franchise quarterback, Justin Herbert. And, they hit an absolute home run nabbing my top-rated offensive tackle in the draft. Slater can come in right away and be the starting left tackle for the Chargers. |
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14. Minnesota Vikings: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
The Vikings need help in the trenches on both sides of the ball. So, the Vikings go with the fourth-best offensive tackle in the class. Many evaluators are higher on him than me, I prefer Teven Jenkins, but he still is a first-round talent for me. |
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15. New England Patriots: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
The Patriots would like to get a quarterback, but they stick at No. 15 and get a great value. Smith would be an excellent selection for the Pats. For a team hurting for receiver help and offensive playmakers, Smith would fill both of those needs. He is my second-rated receiver and a top-10 talent in this draft. |
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16. Arizona Cardinals: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
The Cardinals need cornerback help and they address this need with a top-tier corner in Horn. He is my third-rated corner and one of the more physical corners this class has to offer. |
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17. Las Vegas Raiders: S Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
Sometimes picks just feel right and this is one of those times. The Raiders like drafting good athletes and Owusu-Koramoah is a top-tier athlete. He will give Las Vegas a defensive chess piece to utilize in numerous ways. |
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18. Miami Dolphins: S Trevon Moehrig, TCU
The Dolphins have a lot of options to go here, but I have them taking one of the best safeties in the class. Miami needs help in the backend of the defense and Moehrig is a player who they can stick back there and be a playmaker for the defense. |
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19. Washington Football Team: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
The Washington Football Team is supposedly in love with Vera-Tucker and they get a chance to take him as he falls into their laps. He is a versatile offensive lineman who Washington can utilize at numerous spots based on the position they need to fill the most. |
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20. Chicago Bears: WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
The Bears offense has been a struggling unit for the last several years. They would like to get a quarterback, but they are too far out of range to grab one of the top five. So, they go with Moore, a playmaking wide receiver who would fit well next to Allen Robinson. |
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21. Indianapolis Colts: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
Paye is the top edge rusher on my board. The Colts need pass rush help on the edge, so the need and value meet perfectly here. |
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22. Tennessee Titans: WR Terrace Marshall, Jr., LSU
The Titans lost to passing targets this offseason in receiver Corey Davis and tight end Jonnu Smith. So, the Titans add Marshall, a wide receiver I love and believe can be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. Marshall and A.J. Brown would be an awesome duo. |
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23. New York Jets: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
The Jets want to protect their new franchise quarterback, Zach Wilson. So, they pick my third-rated offensive tackle in the class. That is a good value getting the third-best tackle at this spot. Jenkins would fit well at right tackle opposite of last year’s first-round pick, Mekhi Becton. |
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24. Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
This sure seems like the worst kept secret of the draft. There is so much smoke surrounding Harris and the Steelers being a match. The Steelers need a starting running back to take pressure off Ben Roethlisberger. Harris is my second-rated running back in the draft. |
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25. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
The Jaguars need to protect their new franchise quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. Protecting Lawrence should be objective No. 1 for the Jags. Eichenberg is the fifth-rated offensive tackle on my board. |
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26. Cleveland Browns: CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
This would be one of the dream scenarios for the Browns. If Cleveland has one of the top-four cornerbacks on the board when they are on the clock, Andrew Berry will likely run to turn the card into the league. Newsome is my fourth-rated corner, but I believe the Browns would take him over Caleb Farley due to the uncertainty of Farley’s physicals. Newsome has the talent to be a No. 1 corner, but he would fit perfectly as the No. 2 outside corner for the Browns opposite of Denzel Ward. Newsome has the length and athleticism to be a really good corner in the NFL. This would be a home run pick for Cleveland. |
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27. Baltimore Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
The Ravens have to find more receiver help for Lamar Jackson. Baltimore addresses this need with a very talented wide receiver. Bateman will give the Ravens good size and playmaking ability at wide receiver. |
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28. New Orleans Saints: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
The Saints are supposedly looking very hard in getting a corner in the first round, with rumors of them possibly trying to trade up for one. But, the Saints stick here and my second-rated corner in the class. The reason Farley is still here is due to his medical concerns. There are four top-tier corners in the class, so with the three other corners off the board, the Saints roll the dice and take the talented Virginia Tech corner. |
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29. Green Bay Packers: S Elijah Molden, Washington
The Packers need help at cornerback, so they get a versatile safety who many believe can be a cornerback in the NFL. At the very least, Molden can be a very good slot cornerback. |
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30. Buffalo Bills: IDL Christian Barmore, Alabama
The value and fit are almost perfect here for the Bills. Barmore is well worth a first-round pick. The Bills need help on the defensive line. Barmore is a versatile interior defensive lineman who can move across the line depending on the situation. |
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31. Baltimore Ravens: OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State
The Ravens traded Orlando Brown Jr. this offseason. So, they need to find a replacement for Brown. Radunz is a small school offensive tackle with a very high upside. |
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32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
The Bucs do not have a lot of holes on their roster. So, they go with a pick with more risk, but with a higher reward. Melifonwu has elite level size and athleticism. His ceiling is extremely high, but he has work to do to reach it. |