My NFL Mock Draft (Rounds 1+2)

Justin Villarreal

1st pick: Carolina Panthers select Alabama QB Bryce Young

Bryce Young is the top QB prospect in this year’s draft. Carolina needs a QB so Bryce Young is the perfect fit for the Panthers. Carolina gets the franchise QB they are looking for with this selection.

2nd pick: Houston Texans select Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.

There are rumors that Houston will pass on a QB with their first pick in the draft if Bryce Young isn’t on the board. There is a good chance Houston can shock the NFL world by selecting Will Anderson with the 2nd pick in the draft. Will Anderson has the potential to be an elite pass rusher ,but this pick will be the most talked about selection of the draft with Houston passing on a QB that they desperately need.

Trade: Raiders get the 3rd pick in the draft. Cardinals get 7th pick, 38th pick, 2024 1st round pick, 2024 3rd round pick, 2025 2nd round pick.

3rd pick: Las Vegas Raiders select Florida QB Anthony Richardson

The Raiders are in need of a new franchise QB after letting long time starter Derek Carr go. Vegas moves up to get Anthony Richardson ,who has the highest potential out of every player in the draft. Richardson will need to sit and learn the Raiders’ system for at least a year ,so Jimmy G will be the starting QB for Vegas next year ;however, the future will look very bright in Vegas with Richardson on the team.

4th pick: Indianapolis Colts select Ohio State QB CJ Stroud

The Colts will be very happy that CJ Stroud slid to them at four. The Colts need a QB and are getting the 2nd best QB talent wise in the draft with Stroud. This selection is a great fit for the Colts as Stroud can be a day 1 starter in the NFL.

5th pick: Seattle Seahawks select Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson

The Seahawks add an elite pass rusher with Tyree Wilson. Having an elite pass rush is crucial in the NFL and Seattle takes a giant step towards having an elite pass rusher with the addition of Tyree Wilson to their team.

6th pick: Detroit Lions select Georgia DT Jalen Carter

The Lions were so close to being a playoff team last season and will be looking to add the most overall talent to their roster in this draft. Detroit ends up with the most talented player in the entire draft with the sixth pick in Jalen Carter. There has been lots of talk about the racing incident Jalen Carter was involved in at Georgia; however, I don’t think it’ll hurt his draft stock too much as he’s still an extremely talented player. If Carter receives the right mentorship in Detroit then he’ll be a great player for years to come.

7th pick: Arizona Cardinals select Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez

The Cardinals traded back from three to seven to accumulate more draft capital as a QB needy team comes up and takes a QB. The Cardinals lost a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball in free agency this year which means Arizona is very likely to go defense with their first selection this year. Arizona trades back from three to seven in order to stock up on draft capital by taking advantage of QB needy teams’ desperateness to trade up and get a QB.

8th pick: Atlanta Falcons select Illinois cornerback Devon Whiterspoon

Atlanta had one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL last year. The Falcons address their secondary weakness with the selection of one of the best cornerbacks in this draft Devon Witherspoon.

Trade: Texans get the 9th pick. Bears get the 12th pick, 34th pick, and a 2025 1st.

9th pick: Houston Texans select Kentucky QB Will Levis

Houston desperately trades up to secure being able to draft Will Levis. Houston passed on a QB at two in favor for an elite talent of defense in Will Anderson ,but Houston doesn’t pass up on the opportunity to move up the draft with Levis sliding down the board. Chicago is the perfect trade partner due to the Bears being ok with moving down in order to acquire more draft capital. Levis intrigues Houston because he is the last of the 1st round caliber QBs left ;however, they didn’t value him as a potential 2nd overall pick ;thus, Houston trading up to nine.

10th pick: Philadelphia Eagles select Georgia CB Kelee Ringo

The Eagles were an all around great team last year, but lost some talent in the secondary during free agency this year. Philly uses the 10th overall pick proactively to add to their secondary before it becomes an issue.

11th overall pick: Tennessee Titans select Tennessee OT Darnell Wright

The Titans are in need of an offensive tackle after letting long time OT Taylor Lewan go. With all the first round caliber QBs gone, Tennessee goes with the OT that played just down the road in Darnell Wright. The Titans draft Wright because of his size. Wright is the largest of the premier tackles at 6’6 350 pounds. Wright’s measurables aid to his high potential to be a great OT in the NFL.

12th pick: Chicago Bears select Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr.

The Bears traded down a few spots with Houston to acquire more draft capital. The reason why Chicago felt so comfortable doing so is because it is right in range of where the best linemen of the draft is slated to go. Paris Johnson is an elite pass blocker who fits the Bears perfectly due to Chicago most likely wanting to turn into a more pass heavy offense next year with all the talent they have at receiver.

13th pick: Green Bay Packers select Notre Dame TE Micheal Mayer

Green Bay is going to want to build an offense around young QB Jordan Love. Green Bay already has a stellar receiver in Christian Watson and at 15 they add a stellar tight end in Micheal Mayer.

14th pick: New England Patriots select Georgia OT Broderick Jones

An offensive lineman at 14 just feels like something Bill Bellechick and the New England Patriots would do and for that reason I have New England taking Broderick Jones.

15th pick: New York Jets select Northwestern OL Peter Skoronski

I think the Jets will go with an offensive linemen at pick 15 in the wake of the deal for Aaron Rodgers. The Jets will want to protect their future new QB and Skoronski is a good selection if the Jets do want to go with an O-linemen. Skoronski played tackle at Northwestern ,but has been speculated to be a guard in the NFL. This potential versatility is something that will intrigue the Jets.

16th pick: Washington Commanders select Penn State corner Joey Porter Jr.

Corner is arguably Washington’s biggest need this off-season. Washington allowed 221 passing yards per game when they played playoff teams. That is slightly above the league average of 218 passing yards per game this past season. Joey Porter is both fills the need Washington has in the secondary and is a good value pick at 16.

17th pick: Pittsburgh Steelers select Ohio State WR Jackson Smith-Njigba

Pittsburgh jumps at the opportunity to pair George Pickens with JSN. This selection will help Kenny Pickett succeed in Pittsburgh and is a great value pick at 17.

18th pick: Detroit Lions select Texas running back Bijan Robinson

Running back isn’t necessarily a need for Detroit ;however, the Lions simply can’t pass up on arguably the best player in the draft at 18. Bijan can be a playmaker in both the running and passing game which will help Detroit's offense take the next step to being really great next year.

19th pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Stanford QB Tanner McKee

Tampa makes the shock of the draft as they select Stanford QB Tanner McKee. With Tom Brady retired and no good option at QB, Tampa is in dire need for a QB which leads the Bucs into taking McKee well before where he is expected to be drafted.

20th pick: Seattle Seahawks select Florida IOL OCyrus Torrence

The Seahawks need to improve their interior offensive line and OCyrus Torrence is the perfect fit for Seattle to fulfill this need.

21st pick: Miami Dolphins forfeited pick due to tampering

22nd pick: Los Angeles Chargers select Utah TE Dalton Kincaid

The Chargers biggest need on offense is tight end. The Chargers select Dalton Kincaid in order to continue to build a well rounded offense around QB Justin Herbert.

23rd pick: Baltimore Ravens select TCU IOL Steve Avila

The Ravens are likely to get some sort of deal done with Lamar Jackson. The Ravens going with an interior offensive linemen to help protect Lamar and keep him on the field healthy seems like the thing the Ravens are most likely to do with pick 23.

24th pick: Minnesota Vikings select Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell

Minnesota is rebuilding their defense which was one of the worst defenses in recent memory. There is no better player in the draft to anchor a defense with than Jack Campbell. With this selection, Minnesota gets their leader of the defense of the future in Campbell.

25th pick: Jacksonville selects Alabama DB Brian Branch

The secondary is arguably Jacksonville’s biggest need this off-season. The Jaguars ranked 27th in passing yards allowed this past season. The Jaguars address this need with the selection of Alabama safety Brian Branch who is the perfect fit for Jacksonville due to his versatility. Branch played various positions ,mainly in the secondary, throughout his collegiate career at Alabama. Branch can play nickel if needed and also has experience taking some snaps at linebacker.

26th pick: New York Giants select USC WR Jordan Addison

The Giants need a receiver and Jordan Addison fulfills this need for the Giants. This is also a great value selection for the Giants this late into the 1st round of the draft.

27th pick: Dallas Cowboys select Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs

The Cowboys can use a running back after letting go of Ezekiel Elliot. Gibbs fulfills this need and is a great value pick this late into round 1.

28th pick: Buffalo Bills select Iowa EDGE Lukas Van Ness

With the amount of great QBs in the AFC, Buffalo will be pleased to add Lukas Van Ness. This could be considered the steal of the draft with how late into the 1st round it is.

29th pick: Cincinnati Bengals select Clemson DL Myles Murphy

The Bengals are one of the elite teams in the NFL. At this stage of the first round I think the Bengals go best player available, which in this case is Myles Murphy from Clemson.

30th pick: New Orleans Saints select Iowa TE Sam LaPorta

New Orleans needs to rebuild their offense and at this stage of the draft the best offensive player is Iowa’s tight end Sam LaPorta.

31st pick: Philadelphia Eagles select Clemson DL Bryan Breese

Bryan Breese was a top recruit for Clemson a few years ago. His potential as a player is one of the highest out of most players in this draft. Due to not living up to expectations last year, he is falling in the draft ,but Philidelphia is the perfect place for him to refind his talent and live up to his potential. If he is able to do that then the Eagles will end up with one of the biggest steals of the draft.

32nd pick: Kansas City Chiefs select TCU WR Quentin Johnston

The Chiefs lost their WR1 Juju Smith-Schuster in free agency ,but will be able to replace him with Quentin Johnston.

33nd pick: Pittsburgh Steelers select Pitt DT Calijah Kajey

Kajey is an undersized ,but talented defensive tackle. The Steelers have reportedly been interested in Jalen Carter ,but with Carter going well before Pittsburgh’s first selection in the draft the Steelers settle for Kajey with the first selection in round 2. No team knows Kajey better than the Steelers because Pitt and the Steelers share a football facility in Pittsburgh.

34th pick: Chicago Bears select Minnesota C John Micheal Schmitz

The Bears continue to improve their O-line with the selection of the Chicagoland area native John Micheal Schmitz with the pick they got from Houston for trading back with this from 9 to 12. The Bears get someone that can be a day 1 starter for them with this 2nd round selection which makes this a great pick for Chicago.

35th pick: Arizona Cardinals select Clemson LB Trent Simpson

Arizona continues to improve their defense with this selection. Simpson could easily be a 1st round guy ,so being able to get him in round 2 is something the Cardinals can’t pass up on.

36th pick: Indianapolis Colts select Ohio State C Luke Wypler

The Colts pair their new QB up with his center from college. If the Colts get Stroud then they will want to surround him with an O-line he is familiar with.

37th pick: Los Angeles Rams select Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald IV

The Rams need an edge rusher and Will McDonald fills this need for them.

Trade: Colts get 38th pick and Seahawks get TE Mo Allie Cox.

38th pick: Indianapolis Colts select Ohio State OT Dawand Jones

The Colts trade back into the 2nd round to continue to build an O-line of Stroud’s teammates. With Wypler and Jones, the Colts will be feeling great about the O-line they’ve built for Stroud. The Seahawks make this trade because they get a tight end that can contribute to their offense right away.

39th pick: Arizona Cardinals select Michigan center Olusegun Oluwatimi

The Cardinals use the 2nd round pick they got from the Raiders in their trade back from 3 to 7 on a center. Olu came from the best O-line in all of college football last year ,and as a result the Cardinals will feel really good about drafting him. The Cardinals need to add to their O-line to protect franchise QB Kyler Murray.

40th pick: Carolina Panthers select Boston College WR Zay Flowers

The Panthers will look to pair Bryce Young up with a young receiver and Zay Flowers is the best receiver for Carolina to take with this pick due to him having 1st round talent ,but falling into round 2.

41st pick: Saints select Wake Forest WR AT Perry

The Saints continue to add to their offense with the selection of AT Perry. What draws the Saints to make this pick is AT Perry being arguably the best player available.

42nd pick: Tennessee Titans select Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker

The Titans continue the trend of drafting Tennessee players with the selection of Hooker. The Titans are rumored to be one of the teams interested in trading up for a QB ,so if Hooker fell to them in the 2nd round they would jump on the opportunity to draft him.

43rd pick: Green Bay Packers select LSU WR Kayshon Boutte

The Packers will want to build an offense around Jordan Love and this selection of Boutte helps add to their offense

44th pick: New York Jets select Fresno State QB Jake Haener

It is uncertain how many years Aaron Rodgers will play in New York and for that reason the Jets may take a QB relatively high in the draft as someone who can potentially start once Rodgers leaves. Haener is one of the best options available at QB. A few years ago, the Packers took a QB high in the draft due to concerns about how long Rodgers will play and now in his first off-season with the Jets…The Jets take a QB high in the draft because they aren’t sure how long he’ll play.

45th pick: Atlanta Falcons select UCLA QB Dorian Thomas-Robinson

The QB position is uncertain in Atlanta which makes the Falcons a team that could take a QB in this year’s draft. With a talent like DTR still on the board, the Falcons jump on the opportunity to take a guy who has the potential to be a starting QB for them at some point in the future.

46th pick: Green Bay Packers select:

While the Packers want to build around Jordan Love, I think it is likely that Green Bay takes a QB just in case Love doesn’t play well during the season. Max Duggan is the most slept on player in this draft and is the perfect guy for Green Bay to take a chance on as a backup plan for if Love doesn’t work out.

47th pick: New England Patriots select Georgia LB Nolan Smith

Nolan Smith is arguably one of the most athletic players in this year’s draft. If he falls to this point of the draft, there’s no way the Patriots pass on him based on his talent.

48th pick: Washington Commanders select BYU QB Jaren Hall

The Commanders QB position is uncertain which makes the Commanders a team that could be looking for a QB. The Commanders take Hall in the 2nd round after seeing many of the other top names at QB having already been drafted. The Commanders take Hall sooner than they would’ve liked to, but didn’t want to risk one of the last options at QB being taken before they pick again.

49th pick: Detroit Lions select TCU CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson

Detroit needs a corner and luckily for them they get one of the most slept on talents at corner. Tomlinson is likely to fall in the draft due to his size ,but Detroit will be very happy with him on their roster.

50th pick: Pittsburgh Steelers select South Carolina CB Cam Smith

The Steelers draft Cam Smith due to him being the best player available at this point in the draft.

51st pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers select North Carolina WR Josh Downs

The Bucs draft Josh Downs to pair with their young QB they took earlier in the draft.

52nd pick: Miami Dolphins select Notre Dame EDGE/DL Isiah Foskey

The Dolphins take Foskey due to his versatility on the defensive line. He can be both a defensive end and an edge rusher.

53rd pick: Seattle Seahawks select Northwestern EDGE/DL Adetomiwa Adebawore

The Seahawks continue to add to their defensive line with this selection. What draws Seattle to Adetomiwa Adebawore is his versatility on the defensive line.

54th pick: Chicago Bears select LSU EDGE BJ Ojulari

The Bears pass rush last year was arguably the worst in the league. Ojulari is someone who can start for the Bears right away and get to the opposing QB.

55th pick: Los Angeles Chargers select Tulane RB Tajae Spears

The Chargers are likely to move on from running back Austin Ekler and Tajae Spears would be a great replacement.

56th pick: Detroit Lions select Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave

Last year at the trade deadline the Lions traded away tight end TJ Hockenson and with this pick Detroit finally finds Hockenson’s replacement.

57th overall pick: Jacksonville Jaguars select Auburn EDGE Derrick Hall

With the amount of elite QBs in the AFC, the Jaguars will look to improve their pass rush with this pick.

58th overall pick: New York Giants select Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes

The Giants go best available player with this pick.

59th overall pick: Dallas Cowboys select Georgia TE Darnell Washington

The Cowboys go best available player with this pick.

60th overall pick: Buffalo Bills select Georgia Tech DL Keion White

Buffalo continues to add to their pass rush with this pick in hopes that it puts their defense pass rush over the top in talent.

Trade: Bengals get Budda Baker and the Cardinals get the 61st pick.

61st pick: Cardinals select Alabama S Jordan Battle

The Bengals make this trade because they get a proven talent at safety in Budda Baker; meanwhile, the Cardinals get another young defensive player to add to their roster in Jordan Battle.

Trade: Bears get Derek Henry and the Titans get the 62nd pick

62nd pick: Tennessee Titans select Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt

The Titans move on from Derek Henry while they can still get some good value for him; meanwhile, Chicago adds yet another talented offensive player around Justin Fields. The Titans get yet another Tennessee player as they hope Hooker and Hyatt can continue to have the chemistry on the field that they had at Tennessee.

63rd pick: Philadelphia Eagles select

Payne Durham is a versatile tight end that will fit in perfectly into the Eagles offense which is why the Eagles take him.

64th pick: Kansas City Chiefs select Michigan OT Ryan Hayes

The Chiefs lost their best offensive tackle in free agency this year ,but are able to replace him with Ryan Hayes ,who was a part of the best O-line over the past two years at Michigan.