Are you ready for the NFL Draft?

1.    Tennessee Titans – Abdul Carter, Edge, 6’3”, 252lbs, Penn State, Jr.
02/15/25 - Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Brian Callahan took over for Mike Vrabel in Tennessee for the 2024 season but struggled to find any success, finishing the year at 3-14 with three fewer wins.  Callahan is now firmly on the hot seat as new GM Brian Borgonzi steps in for Ran Carthon.  At the top of Borgonzi’s list is making a decision at the QB position, where Will Levis showed flashes but ultimately was benched during the season and does not appear to be the guy to lead the turnaround in Tennessee.  But how will Borgonzi and Co. decide to handle the QB spot?  Do they use the No. 1 overall pick on either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders?  Neither is considered a sure thing, meaning Borgonzi likely won’t force the issue.  The more likely scenario would be for the Titans to move off the top pick, a move that could gain momentum as there are a number of key needs up and down the roster.  Despite having the number two-ranked defense, the Titans were among the league’s worst in scoring defense, sacks and pressure rate while the offense finished 26th in total offense and the O-Line finished 23rd in pressures, 26th in pressure rate and 30th in sack rate, per Pro Football Focus.  Then there’s Borgonzi’s comment that he wouldn’t pass on a generational talent with the No.1 overall pick.  Is that a hint at what the Titans are thinking of doing with this pick?  If that’s the case, then we’re talking about one of two players – Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter.  Hunter’s play at both WR and CB for Colorado surely is the definition of a generational talent.  The Heisman Trophy winner would fit well on both sides of the ball as WRs Tyler Boyd and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are free agents while the Titans could be on the market for a corner opposite L’Jarius Sneed, especially after Chidobe Awuzie had an injury-riddled year.  However, as Spotrac reports, the Titans have $31.2 million tied up between Sneed and Awuzie with the latter carrying a $14.5-million cap hit should he be released meaning unless he’s traded, we can count on Awuzie in Tennessee for the 2025 season.  As for Carter, he could provide the pass rush with some much-needed juice opposite Harold Landry.  While Landry and Arden Key combined for 15.5 sacks last year, the Titans finished with just 32 sacks as a team which tied them with Carolina for 29th in the league.  Carter started his career in Happy Valley as an off-ball linebacker before becoming a full-time edge rusher this past season and has Nittany Lions fans drawing comparisons to Micah Parsons.  If Tennessee stays put, Abdul Carter is the pick. 

2.    Cleveland Browns – Cam Ward, QB, 6’2”, 223lbs, Miami, Fla.
02/15/25 - Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Deshaun Watson has been a distraction both on and off the field since his arrival from Houston in 2021.  The deal saw Cleveland lose substantial draft capital to the Texans and Watson ultimately landed a fully guaranteed deal worth $230 million over five years.  According to Spotrac, Watson’s contract still constitutes 26.5% of Cleveland’s salary cap in 2025.  And now after his second Achilles tear in one year, Cleveland is approaching the 2025 season without the enigmatic QB in their plans.  It would behoove the Browns to re-sign Jameis Winston to be a bridge for Watson’s eventual replacement.  Cam Ward seems like a natural fit for Kevin Stefanski, but that move only happens if Abdul Carter is off the board.  Why?  Well, future Hall of Famer Myles Garrett, whose 14.0 sacks this past season was his seventh straight season with double-digit sacks, has asked for a trade.  Cleveland’s roster was already sorely lacking pass rush help, especially with the trade of ZaDarius Smith to Detroit, a move that left Obo Okoronkwo and Isaiah McGuire to fill the void opposite Garrett and they responded with just a combined 5.5 sacks.  A trade involving Garrett would command a hefty price tag that could give Cleveland a second pick in Round 1 which could still allow the Browns to target both positions at the top of the draft.  That said, if Tennessee does pull the trigger on Carter, Ward is the likely pick.

3.    New York Giants – Shedeur Sanders, QB, 6’2”, 215lbs, Colorado
02/15/25 - Cam Ward, QB, Miami, Fla.
2024 is a year that GM Joe Schoen would like to forget.  It all started by allowing Saquon Barkley to sign with NFC East rival Philadelphia who then went on to rush for over 2,000 yards and played a vital role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl winning season.  Then, after a 2-8 start to the season, New York let their QB Daniel Jones go, ultimately ending their relationship with the former 6th pick of the 2019 draft.  The trio of Drew Lock, Tommy Devito and Tim Boyle finished the season with a 1-6 record with the lone victory over Indianapolis during Week 17 which ultimately dropped their draft position two spots to No. 3 overall.  While a potentially generational talent in Travis Hunter could be on the board here, Schoen has to come away with a top QB from this year’s draft class, especially after missing out on the likes of Michael Pennix Jr., JJ McCarthy and Box Nix a season ago.

4.    New England Patriots – Travis Hunter, CB/WR 6’1”, 185lbs, Colorado
02/15/25 - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Jerod Mayo struggled to move New England forward after the departure of Bill Belichick in his first year as head coach and rather than being given another season, the band-aid was pulled off and Mayo was let go and in steps Mike Vrabel, a proven head coach with a 56-48 record and three playoff appearances during six seasons in Tennessee.  The former New England LB has his work cut out for him with a roster that is in desperate need of playmakers on both sides of the ball.  Offensively, Drake Maye showed why the Pats selected him with the 3rd overall pick, but as a team, New England finished with a league-worst 3,343 yards.  DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte combined for just over 1,200 yards, but the team is lacking a true No. 1 wideout as the team’s leading receiver was actually TE Hunter Henry.  Could Tetairoa McMillan garner attention here?  The O-line finished tied for 26th in the league with 50 sacks given up.  Changes will be made up front which could start with the addition of Will Campbell who played OT at LSU but may be best served inside at OG.  The Patriots finished last in the league with just 28 sacks this past season, with only DE’s Keion White and Deantre Wise Jr. finishing with more than 2.5 sacks on the year (each finished with 5.0 sacks).  The Pats also finished 23rd in the league against the run and while Christian Barmore is entrenched as the starting NT, starting DT Daniel Ekuale is a pending free agent.  Mason Graham can be the playmaker along the interior of the Pats’ defensive line.  What’s more, New England finished the season with the 6th-ranked pass defense, but lacking playmakers on the back end of the defense was evident as the team finished tied for 26th in the league with just 7 Int., with CB’s Christian Gonzalez (2) and Marcus Jones (1) accounting for 3 of those picks.  If Travis Hunter is available at No. 4 overall, you can expect the Patriots to submit the card to Roger Goodell as quickly as possible.  He would not only team with Gonzalez to give New England a pair of young lockdown corners on defense but would also instantly become Maye’s most dynamic weapon in the passing game.

5.    Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT, 6’3”, 320lbs, Michigan, Jr.
02/15/25 - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Doug Pederson had back-to-back nine-win seasons and a playoff berth, but that start in Jacksonville couldn’t save him from an abysmal 4-13 season in 2024.  In steps Liam Coen who should bring an innovative to an offense to hopefully bring Trevor Lawrence along in much the same light as we saw Baker Mayfield shine in Tampa.  The defense, on the other hand, is in desperate need of help, especially after finishing dead last in passing yards given up (4,605) and 26th in sacks (34).  I am expecting the Jags to target a pair of Michigan Wolverines with this pick.  Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen combined for 54.4% of the team’s 34 sacks this past season, but after those two, only rookie DT Maason Smith finished with more than 2.0 sacks.  To make matters worse, the Jags were in the bottom third in the league against the run.  While Jacksonville used a 2nd and a 4th Round pick last year on Smith and Jordan Jefferson, we’ve yet to see a DT make a true impact.  Mason Graham could absolutely be that guy.  When it comes to defending the pass, not only did the Jags give up the most yards, but they also gave up the most plays over 20 yards as well as the big plays over 40 yards.  Not only that, but the Jaguars lacked playmakers on the back end, finishing with the 3rd-fewest Int. with just 6.  Tyson Campbell is entrenched as the starter at one spot, but Jacksonville has struggled to find a corner to line up opposite him.  Montaric Brown and Ronald Darby struggled this past season and are only under contract for one more year, while rookie Jarrian Jones seems to be best suited as the nickel.  Will Johnson is an instinctive lockdown corner with tremendous ball skills and as long as his medicals check out, he could finally bring some stability to the CB position in Jacksonville.  I think when it comes down to it, Graham is the type of disruptive force who can be a quick penetrator to blow up run plays and has the power and quickness off the ball to collapse the pocket in the passing game, giving him the edge over his Wolverine teammate here.

6.    Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB, 5’9”, 215lbs, Boise State, Jr.
02/15/25 - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Las Vegas was the epitome of making lemonade out of the lemons they were served in last year’s draft as they were targeting a QB at No. 13 yet all six of the top-ranked signal callers came off the board in the first 12 picks.  That left the Raiders opting for the best player available and used the pick on Georgia TE Brock Bowers, who set rookie records for receptions (112) and receiving yards for a TE (1,194).  Could lightning strike the Silver and Black twice in back-to-back years?  While the Raiders need a franchise QB to take the reins from bridge QB’s Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, but there’s a good chance Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will be off the board by the time the Raiders are on the clock.  If that happens, the consolation may be to take the top player available, which could very well be Ashton Jeanty, and the pick makes a lot of sense.  Vegas finished last in rushing after managing just 1,357 yards on the ground and the duo of Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah combined for just 731 of those yards.  Granted, the two were a vital part of a passing offense that finished 9th in the league in yards as they finished 4th and 5th on the roster in receptions.  However, Jeanty would bring a completely different dynamic to the Raiders offense with his ability to run with power and speed while also being a factor in the passing game.  And with Pete Carroll at the helm, we could see Russell Wilson return after mending his relationship with his former coach in Seattle and we could also see Carroll opt to take Jaxson Dart on Day 2, especially considering Carroll’s ties to Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin when the latter coached under Carroll at USC. 

7.    New York Jets – Will Johnson, CB, 6’2”, 202lbs, Michigan, Jr.
02/15/25 - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Just two years ago there was a buzz in New York with the signing of Aaron Rodgers who was supposed to return the Jets to the playoffs.  However, a season-ending Achilles injury followed by a disappointing 2024 season unceremoniously ended Rodgers’ time in a Jets uniform.  Now the question for new HC Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey is what’s next?  Do they look to trade up and land one of the draft’s top QB’s?  The roster is set up for success now with a bevy of weapons like RB Breece Hall and WRs Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams along with the league’s third-ranked defense.  Or they could look to line up a veteran in free agency or via a trade, a move that wouldn’t prevent them from drafting a QB on Day 2.  There is a good chance that Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are both gone if the Jets stay at No. 7, meaning the Jets could turn their focus to an impact player on offense.  Olu Fashanu looks to be the long-term answer at LT, but with Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith hitting free agency, the Jets could be on the market for a replacement on the right side.  Will Campbell is seen as the top-ranked OL in this draft and could be the pick should he fall.  Many say he has to move inside, but Campbell has been a dominant LT at LSU and has proven to have the foot speed and hand usage to play OT.  Amand Membou may only be 6’3”, but his play against top SEC edge rushers proved he has the chops to line up at RT at the next level meaning he could be in play.  The other option would be to target a RT either in free agency or on Day 2 of the draft and opt for another weapon in both the running game and through the air.  TE Tyler Conklin was fourth on the team in receptions and receiving yards, but he’s now a free agent and will likely garner a big pay day as a result.  Tyler Warren is a different type of athlete at the TE position as an often-dominant receiving weapon as well as a strong blocker in the running game.  Adding Warren would give the Jets yet another dynamic skill position player, which will only help whoever ends up under center in New York.  However, Glenn utilized a Cover 1 defense in Detroit to take advantage of corners’ ability to play in man coverage.  Sauce Gardner is a bonafide star, but with DJ Reed entering free agency, I would expect the defensive-minded head coach to look to pair Gardner with a top flight cover corner in Johnson to give the Jets a formidable duo on the back end of the defense.

8.    Carolina Panthers – Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, 6’2”, 245lbs, Georgia, Jr.
02/15/25 - Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia
Dave Canales knew he had his work cut out for him after taking over for a team that was just 2-15 the year prior and his Panthers got off to a rocky start winning just one game in their first eight.  However, something clicked with Bryce Young under Canales’ and Carolina closed the season with a 4-5 record.  Canales is hoping to ride the wave of momentum into the offseason, but there are definitely key need areas that need to be sorted out.  Adam Thielen is now 35 years of age and is entering the final year of his deal while last year’s 1st Round pick Xavier Legette finished 2nd on the team in both receptions and receiving yards.  Young still needs a No. 1 wideout, meaning Tetairoa McMillan will get a long look here.  However, the defense will likely get the focus with this pick.  The team really struggled up front when Derrick Brown went down to a season-ending knee injury in Week 1.  In fact, Carolina finished last in rush defense as the only team giving up more than 3,000 yards on the ground and finished the year giving up 653 more yards than the next closest team.  That just won’t get it done.  Adding a physical, violent game wrecker like Mason Graham opposite Brown would give the Panthers a formidable duo up front.  With Graham off the board, expect the Panthers to shift their focus to the pass rush after finishing the season 29th in the league in sacks with OLBs Jadeveon Clowney and DJ Wonnum combining for just 9.5 sacks to lead the team.  Adding a dynamic edge rusher like Jalon Walker or Mykel Williams would be just what the doctor ordered.  Walker seems like a natural fit in Carolina due to his athleticism and versatility.

9.    New Orleans Saints – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, 6’5”, 212lbs, Arizona, Jr.
02/15/25 - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Saints, like many teams in the top 10, have questions about the QB position heading into the offseason.  New head coach Kellen Moore has decisions to make on the offensive side of the ball, especially considering he’s been noncommittal about Derek Carr leading the team in 2025.  However, with a weak QB class this season, Moore may have no choice but to ride things out, especially considering Carr has a dead cap hit over $50 million in each of the next two seasons and has a no-trade clause that he’d need to waive in order to be traded.  If Moore is attached to Carr for the next two seasons, the focus should be on surrounding him with weapons.  Chris Olave was off to a hot start in New Orleans with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career before concussions ended his 2024 campaign after just eight games.  Even still, Olave led all WRs in receptions and receiving yards with a trio of TE’s (Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill) were more productive than the trio of Marques Valdes-Scantling, Rasheed Shaheed and Cedrick Wilson Jr.  The Saints must add a go-to WR to take the pressure off Olave and McMillan is a physical specimen who has drawn comparisons to Drake London, himself a former top 10 pick.

10.    Chicago Bears – Will Campbell, OT/OG, 6’6”, 320lbs, LSU, Jr.
02/15/25 - Will Campbell, OT/OG, LSU
Expectations were high in the Windy City prior to the start of the 2024 season.  The Bears were fresh off of drafting franchise QB Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, surrounded him with a ton of weapons in DJ Moore, Keenan Alen, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet, not to mention a solid RB in D’Angelo Swift.  Plus, Chicago boasted the league’s 12th-ranked defense.  Then reality set in.  After a 4-2 start to the year, the Bears came off their bye week losing ten straight games and finished with a lowly 5-12 record.  The defense that was once formidable finished the season 27th in total defense, thanks in large part because of a sputtering offense.  It’s never a good sign when your punter finishes second in the league in total punts (82).  Sure there were growing pains with Williams, who struggled at times to get rid of the ball quickly, but he still managed to throw for 3,541 yards and 20 TD to just 6 Int. and even went 353 passes without an Int., the fourth-longest streak in NFL history.  What needs to happen is giving Williams time to make plays within the pocket and he can’t do that behind an OL that gave up a whopping 68 sacks to lead the league.  Chicago has a chance to rebuild the interior of the line now that starters Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton and Matt Pryor are all free agents.  Will Campbell was a three-year starter at LT while at LSU, but his lack of ideal arm length makes him a prime candidate to kick inside.  I’d expect the Bears to take Campbell here if he’s still on the board as they’d be landing a plug-and-play OG with Pro Bowl potential.

11.    San Francisco 49ers – Kelvin Banks, OT, 6’4, 320lbs, Texas, Jr.
02/15/25 - Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
One year after suffering a 14-6 overtime loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII the 49ers, decimated by injury, finished last in the NFC West.  John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan hope to put the 2024 season in the rear-view mirror and getting healthy is a good start.  The team could use an edge rusher to team with Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd up front, so don’t count out Mykel Williams here.  The DT position has regressed and with Javon Hargrave a pending free agent, the Niners oud be on the market for a quick penetrator.  If San Fran doesn’t trade up to land Mason Graham, a high-upside talent like Walter Nolen would give a much-needed push along the interior of the D-line.  Then there’s the OL, where future Hall of famer Trent Williams is coming off a season that saw him play in just ten games, but he has said he wants to play beyond his contract, which runs out at the end of next season.  Opposite him is Colton McKivitz, who has given up 21 sacks in his two seasons as the starter on the right side, including 8 of the team’s 36 sacks this past season.  The Niners must pursue an upgrade over McKivitz and Banks Jr. has been consistently one of the top OTs all season long and would not only immediately take over for McKivitz but could be an eventual successor to Williams on the left side.

12.    Dallas Cowboys – Mykel Williams, Edge, 6’5”, 265lbs, Georgia, Jr.
02/15/25 - Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Mike McCarthy had the best three-year span record-wise for the Cowboys since their Super Bowl run in the 1990’s after putting up three straight 12-win seasons.  However, after a 7-10 season in 2024 that saw Dak Prescott go on IR for the season after just eight games, apparently Jerry Jones had seen enough.  In steps Brian Schottenheimer who was the team’s OC last season, a move that feels underwhelming, especially considering the Dallas offense finished in the middle of the pack in total offense.  The Ezekiel Elliott experiment didn’t pan out, but Rico Dowdle surprised in his stead, putting up a 1,000-yard season.  However, the running game could still use a spark, so Ashton Jeanty has been a popular pick in mock drafts.  However, I don’t expect Jeanty to be on the board if Dallas doesn’t move up.  CeeDee Lamb finished 2024 with his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, but Jalen Tolbert is not a No. 2 WR and with Brandin Cooks entering free agency this offseason, the Cowboys could be on the market for a complement to Lamb, but this would be a reach for Luther Burden III.  Then there’s the TE position where Jake Ferguson had his struggles, so Tyler Warren could be the answer should he still be on the board.  Then there’s the OL, where Zack Martin is a free agent.  Alabama’s Tyler Booker could be his replacement along the interior of the O-line.  Then there’s the defensive side of the ball where the Cowboys gave up the 5th-most yards last year.  DT Osa Odighizuwa could be gone in free agency, meaning the explosive Walter Nolen could be the target.  However, there may be a bigger need opposite Micah Parsons getting after the passer.  While Parsons led the team and finished tied for 5th in the league with 12.0 sacks, but fellow DE Demarcus Lawrence only played in four games and is now a free agent, while Chauncey Golston and Carl Lawson, the only other DE’s to finish the year with more than 3,0 sacks, are also UFA’s and could be gone.  Jerry has to be excited at the possibility of pairing Parsons with perennial All-Pro Myles Garrett, so a potential trade that would likely involve this pick could be in the works.  If that happens, I’d expect the outcome to be the same with the Browns also using this pick on an edge rusher.  If Dallas misses out, adding a dynamic playmaker off the edge is a must and Mykel Williams has similar upside to former Georgia Bulldog Travon Walker.

13.    Miami Dolphins – Malaki Starks, CB, 6’1”, 205lbs, Georgia, Jr.
02/15/25 - Nick Emmanwori, S, Soutrh Carolina
The Dolphins came into the 2024 season with high expectations, especially after putting up an eye-popping 5,411 total yards on offense to lead the league.  However, concussions limited Tua Tagovailoa to just 11 games under center and, as a result, the offensive production dropped to 18th in the league.  The O-line may have given up just 21 sacks, but the interior line play suffered, especially as evidenced by an abysmal 4.0 yards-per-carry average in the run game, good for a tie for 29th in the league.  The Fins clearly missed Robert Hunt, who left for Carolina in free agency, and now starters Robert Jones, Liam Eichenberg and Isaiah Wynn are free agents and due to their disappointing play likely won’t be back.  That’s why Tyler Booker, who was a stalwart along the interior of the Bama OL for three seasons, is in the running here.  The other position to keep an eye on would be at safety, where both Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer are free agents and Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori have separated themselves from the rest of the Safety class and should both be 1st Round picks.  I give the nod here to Malaki Starks because of the comparisons to Brian Branch with his ability to wear so many different hats, including his ability to cover receivers in the slot. 

14.    Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE, 6’6”, 257lbs, Penn State
02/15/25 - Armand Membou, OT/OG, Missouri
After two seasons at the helm in Indy, Shane Steichen is right at a .500-win percentage, and he’s largely done so with uncertainty at the QB position.  Anthony Richardson was the primary starter with a 6-5 record in 11 games, but questions remained about his dedication when he was benched in favor of Joe Flacco during the season.  The offense fell just outside the top 10 in total yards but boasted a 1,400-yard runner in Jonathan Taylor and the WR trio of Michael Pittman, Jr., Josh Downs and Alec Pierce each racked up 800 yards receiving.  The defense was a different story, finishing 29th in the league in total yards given up.    Even after landing Laiatu Latu with the 15th pick in last year’s draft, getting more difference makers on the defensive side of the ball is a must and while Nick Cross had a breakout year in 2024 amassing 146 tackles along the way, Julian Blackmon is a free agent and is not expected back which will create a hole on the back end of the defense.  Nick Emmanwori would be a logical pick here.  However, the TE position was nonexistent in the passing game last year with Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox, both of whom are now free agents, finished 9th and 10th on the team in receptions.  That could all change with the addition of Warren, who proved to be an elite receiver as the Mackey Award winner finishing the 2024 campaign with 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and 8 TD.

15.    Atlanta Falcons – Mike Green, Edge, 6’3”, 251lbs, Marshall, RS Soph.
02/15/25 - Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
The Falcons went into win-now mode last offseason with the signing of Kirk Cousins to a 4-year $180-million contract.  Then they doubled down for the future with the selection of Michal Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick.  Drafting Penix Jr. marked the fourth straight year the ATL spent their 1st Round pick on a skill position player, following Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson.  However, Cousins struggled to rebound from a torn Achilles and ultimately gave way to Penix Jr. as the Falcons missed out on the playoffs.  What has been neglected for Atlanta for some time has been the pass rush, especially considering the Falcons have finished in the bottom two in the league in sacks in three of the last four years.  To further the argument that the focus has been heavy on the offensive side over the pass rush, the last time an edge rusher was selected was back in 2017 with the selection of Takkarist McKinley, but in the eight years that followed, Atlanta drafted on the offensive side of the ball in seven of the next eight drafts.  Last season, Arnold Ebiketie led the team with 6.0 sacks, but the only other player with more than 3.0 sacks was Matthew Judon who is now a UFA.  Green is a polished edge rusher who led the FBS in sacks with 17.0 this past season and is one of the more explosive edge rushers in this year’s draft.

16.    Arizona Cardinals – James Pearce, Jr., Edge, 6’5”, 243lbs, Tennessee, Jr.
02/15/25 - James Pearce, Jr., Edge, Tennessee
To say Arizona had an up-and-down 2024 is putting it mildly.  After a 2-4 start to the season, the Cards racked up four straight wins and things were looking up heading into the bye week.  Then the bottom fell out as Arizona finished the season by losing five of their final seven games, finishing with an 8-9 record.  Kyler Murray finished the year in the top ten in QBR and he threw for more yards in 2024 (3,851) since his first Pro Bowl season in 2020 (3,971 while James Conner eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season for an offense that finished 11th in total yards.  Defensively, the Cards are lacking a playmaker who can consistently get to the QB off the edge.  Zaven Collins led the team with just 4 sacks on the year, while 2023 sack leader Dennis Gardeck finished with just 3.0 sacks and is now a UFA.  Arizona attempted to improve their pass rush by trading for Baron Browning in November, but he managed just 2.0 sacks for the Cardinals, and he too is set to hit free agency.  Then there’s last year’s 1st Round pick Darius Robinson, who injured his calf before the season and didn’t see the field until December 1st and managed to get to the QB just once in six games.  Oh, and let’s not forget BJ Ojulari, who was taken in the 2nd Round of the 2023 draft but tore his ACL prior to the start of this past season.  Arizona needs to keep pursuing pass rushers until they get it right and according to Football Insights, Pearce Jr. has been the only edge rusher with back-to-back seasons with a pressure rate of over 20%. 

17.    Cincinnati Bengals – Walter Nolen, DT, 6’4”, 290lbs, Mississippi, Jr.
02/15/25 - Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi
While Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson battled for MVP, it was actually Joe Burrow who led the league in passing yards (4,918) and passing TD (43).  So, what kept Cincy from the playoffs?  A big reason was a defense that ranked 25th in the league in total yards which is why, while potentially losing Tee Higgins in free agency would create a huge hole opposite Ja’Marr Chase, this pick has to be used to improve the defense.  Trey Hendrickson led the league in sacks racking up 17.5 for the second consecutive season.  However, Sam Hubbard, former 1st Round pick Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai, who is now a UFA, failed to provide support for Hutchinson at DE, meaning Cincy could easily look at Mike Green, James Pearce Jr. or even Shemar Stewart with this pick.  However, the DT position appears to be a need, even after selecting Kris Jenkins in the 2nd Round a year ago.  BJ Hill is a free agent, and Sheldon Rankins has yet to pan out and will be a free age.  nt at season’s end.  Nolen is a twitched-up DT with an explosive burst off the ball, tremendous power in his hands and lower body flexibility to bend to make him a top talent against both the pass and the run.

18.   Seattle Seahawks – Armand Membou, OG/OT, 6’4”, 332lbs, Missouri, Jr.
02/15/25 - Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
The Seahawks missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season and their third in four years, but in his first season as head coach Mike MacDonald’s 10 wins were the most in Seattle since 2020.  MacDonald brought in Ryan Grubb from the college ranks at UW as his OC, but inconsistent line play seemed to be what did the offense in this past season.  According to Pro Football Focus, Seattle gave up a 39.4% pressure rate (30th in the league) and an 8.3% sack rate (24th in the league), so you can expect GM John Schneider to target the OL this offseason.  OT’s Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas were drafted in the 1st and 3rd Rounds of the 2022 draft and were each named starters at LT and RT, respectively.  However, fast forward a couple of seasons and while Cross has been a fixture up front starting 48 games over his three seasons in the league, after starting every game his rookie season Lucas battled injuries knee injuries and managed to only see the field in 13 games these past two seasons.  Now Lucas is a free agent at the end of the season and unless the long-term health of his knee improves, the Seahawks may decide to move on from him at RT at season’s end.  Additionally, OG Laken Tomlinson is a free agent and could be on the move this off season.  Drafting a versatile player like Membou would allow Seattle to line him up at LG right away, then move him outside as the RT of the future.  Now, Membou has largely been seen as a candidate to kick inside because there have been concerns about his size, but he has more length than expected measuring in at 6’4” with 34-inch arms and uses his lower center of gravity to his advantage, proof that he can handle OT at the next level.  His body type is reminiscent of Rashawn Slater, who also had doubts about holding up at OT given his lack of size yet has become one of the better young OT’s in the game as a two-time Pro Bowler in four seasons with the Chargers.

19.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell, LB, 6’3”, 244lbs, Alabama, Jr.
02/15/25 - Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Tampa was another team that really experienced a tale of two halves to their season as they were 4-6 heading into their bye on Week 11 before emerging to win six of their last seven games to win the NFC Central before a close loss to the Commanders in the Wild Card game.  Baker Mayfield continued to enjoy a career resurgence finishing 3rd in the league in passing yards (4,500) and tied for second in passing TD (41) while Bucky Irving emerged as a top-flight back after finishing in the top ten in rushing with 1,133 yards on the ground.  Not to mention Mike Evans tied Jerry Rice’s record of 11th straight seasons with at least 1,000-yard receiving yards.  However, a freak ankle injury to Chris Godwin changed the path of the pass offense and now that Godwin is a free agent, you’d expect the Bucs to him a priority this offseason.  If for some reason Godwin gets away, targeting a WR like Luther Burden III to team with Evans and Jalen McMillan could be the move here.  Defensively, the Bucs finished 4th in the league against the run, but their pass defense was a different story.  Tampa was 30th in the league giving up 4,464 yards through the air, something that won’t sit well with HC Todd Bowles, so you can expect a focus on that side of the ball this offseason.  While Tampa finished tied for 6th in the league with 46 sacks, production from the rush OLB position left a lot to be desired.  Yaya Diaby has shown promise as a young edge rusher, and he led the position group with just 4.5 sacks.  Anthony Nelson managed to get to the QB 4 times this past season, but he’s a free agent and you can expect the team to move on from Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, a former 1st Round pick who managed just 15.0 sacks in 4 seasons in a Bucs uniform, including just 2.0 this past season.  Tampa Bay could easily opt to bring in a free agent edge rusher or they could target someone like Nic Scourton or Donovan Ezeiruaku, though a move like that could mean a trade down.  Then there’s the LB position, where Lavonte David, who has been a mainstay since being drafted in the 2nd Round of the 2012 season, is a free agent yet again after signing a one-year deal to remain with the team a season ago.  The 35-year-odl again led the team in tackles with 122 while showing off his range, nose for the football and ball skills that have made him a favorite in Tampa for all these years.  However, the Bucs have to begin thinking about life without David and at some point, you can expect Jason Licht to find his eventual replacement.  This year could be the year as Jihaad Campbell displayed similar playmaking ability as the leader of the Bama defense.

20.    Denver Broncos – Colston Loveland, TE, 6’5”, 245lbs, Michigan, Jr.
02/15/25 - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
After an 8-9 season in his first year in Denver, Sean Payton found a gem to fit his offense as he drafted Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick.  While it was a bit of a surprise that Nix came off the board so high, it was clear that Nix was the perfect QB for Payton’s offense and after starting 61 games at Auburn and Oregon he showed maturity beyond his years under center while taking the Broncos to an 10-7 season and a payoff berth.  Nix also played behind one of the most consistent offensive lines in the country, helped rejuvenate Courtland Sutton who had his first 1,00-yard season since 2019, and the young WR trio of Devaugh Vele, Marvin Mims, Jr. and Troy Franklin emerged as the season went along.  If you look at production across the roster, the one position group that is in desperate need of an upgrade is the TE position, where the trio of Lucas Krull, Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins finished 8th-10th on the team in receptions.  Colston Loveland is a dynamic pass catcher at the TE position and his 56 receptions this past season was 29 more than the next highest total at Michigan.  His ability to get open down the field and his playmaking ability after the catch would make him an instant go-to threat for Nix.  He’s also a competent blocker in the ground game.  I think he’s the favorite to be drafted here.  Defensively, Denver led the league in sacks with both Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper hitting double digits, while Zach Allen contributed another 8.5 in a breakout All-Pro year.  That said, the Broncos did finish 24th in the league against the pass and could be on the market for a corner opposite Pat Surtain II. 

21.    Pittsburgh Steelers – Luther Burden III, WR, 5’11”, 208lbs, Missouri, Jr.
02/15/25 - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
The biggest question surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason is who will be their QB for the 2025 season as both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are free agents.  There could be a situation where neither signs with the Steelers, though I could easily see Mike Tomlin target a veteran via a trade.  One thing you shouldn’t expect is overdrafting a QB with this pick.  Yes, there is buzz about Jaxson Dart, but Pittsburgh fans don’t want to see a repeat of the 2022 draft when Kenny Pickett was taken No. 20 overall.  That should shift attention to the WR position, as the Steelers were so desperate to find a No. 2 option opposite George Pickens that they made a midseason trade for Mike Williams for the final nine games of the season. However, Williams managed just 9 catches for 132 yards and just 1 TD over those final nine games and is now a free agent.  Meanwhile, Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson combined for 60 catches between the two, which still weren’t as many receptions as TE Pat Freiermuth’s 65 which led the team.  Austin III and Jefferson should be WR3 and WR4, meaning the Steelers have to be on the market for a playmaker.  That’s where the electric Luther Burden III comes into play.  Defensively, the Steelers were 25th in the league in passing yards given up and now with Donte Jackson and NB Cameron Sutton entering free agency, the Steelers could be targeting a corner opposite Joey Porter Jr. and Jahdae Barron is incredibly versatile with the ability to play both inside and on the outside.  I could also see the Steelers making s move up front on the defensive side of the ball as All-Pro Cameron Heyward is still playing at an elite level but is now 36 years of age while Larry Ogunjobi is in the final year of his contract, so Kenneth Grant and Shemar Stewart can’t be ruled out here.

22.    Los Angeles Chargers – Kenneth Grant, DT, 6’3”, 339lbs, Michigan, Jr.
02/15/25 - Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
In his first year in LA, Jim Harbaugh had the Chargers looking like a much different team than the one that managed to make the playoffs just once in the previous five seasons.  After a 2-2 start, Harbaugh’s Bolts finished the year with a 9-4 record with all but one of those losses coming by seven points or less.  Justin Herbert threw for 3,870 yards with 23 TD and only 3 Int. while rookie Ladd McConkey became his favorite target and finished the year with a 1,000-yard season.  Harbaugh loves to implement a power running game and JK Dobbins returned from a torn Achilles in Week One of the 2023 season to rush for over 900 yards in 13 games.  Dobbins is now a free agent, so we can expect LA to target a RB at some point in the draft.  Omarion Hampton is a physical runner and a bonafide three-down back while TreVeyon Henderson has a chance to be this year’s Jahmyr Gibbs.  Either could be on Harbaugh’s radar, but would the Chargers take a RB here?  McConkey was a revelation in 2024, but the team is still lacking a true No. 1 wideout, especially with Quentin Johnston still largely a disappointment, so Luther Burden III could be an option if he’s still on the board.  If Harbaugh can get his hands on his former TE at Michigan in Colston Loveland, he’d be the likely pick here, especially with Hayden Hurst entering free agency and Will Dissly better fit as their No. 2 TE.  On the defensive side of the ball, Poona Ford and Teair Tart are both free agents, which creates a huge hole at the NT position.  If Los Angeles doesn’t address the position in free agency, then Kenneth Grant, who played for Harbaugh at Michigan, could be an option.  Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton are both entering free agency, so targeting a CB like Jahdae Barron, Benjamin Morrison, Azareye’h Thomas or even Maxwell Hairston should not be ruled out either.  I think because of the depth of the RB position, the Chargers could land a top-tier RB on Day 2 which means this pick would be used on defense and Harbaugh’s familiarity with Grant tips the scales in his favor and the Bolts get an uber-athletic NT who can be a disruptive force up front, something the Chargers absolutely need.

23.    Green Bay Packers – Jahdae Barron, CB, 5’11”, 200lbs, Texas
02/15/25 - Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
Green Bay was one of the top teams in the NFC all season long and finished the year with both the offense and defense ranked in the top five in total yards.  Josh Jacobs was dominant on the ground in his first year with the Pack while Jordan Love showed flashes, but still of brilliance without a true No. 1 wideout.  The biggest position of need that must be addressed this offseason is at CB as the Packers need to decide what to do with Jaire Alexander, who signed a four-year $80-million deal in 2022 but missed 20 games over the last two seasons.  On top of that, former 1st Round pick Eric Stokes has largely been a disappointment and is now a free agent, as are Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell. Then there’s the play of Keisean Nixon, who started 15 games last season but, according to Pro Football Focus, struggled throughout the season and gave up 464 yards and 3 TD.  Barron is a versatile defender, drawing comparisons to Brian Branch, and can play all across the back end of the defense, is able to come up in run support, can be disruptive on short to intermediate routes driving on the football and displays tremendous ball skills at the catch point.

24.    Minnesota Vikings – Shemar Stewart, Edge, 6’6”, 290lbs, Texas A&M, Jr.
02/15/25 - Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Minnesota Vikings were one of the more dominant teams in the league in 2024 and lost all four of its games to just two teams.  Sam Darnold had a career year, but after he struggled in the Vikes final two games against the Lions and Rams, the Vikes could easily decide to move on and roll with JJ McCarthy, who is coming off a torn ACL in his rookie season, in 2025.  Whether it’s Darnold or McCarthy under center, they’ll need help from the running game and both Aaron Jones, who finished with 1,138 yards this past season, and his backup Cam Akers are both free agents.  Could Minnesota use this pick on someone like TreVeyon Henderson who could be a weapon both on the ground and through the air?  The Vikings secondary could easily look vastly different in 2025 with corners Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy Jr., Shaq Griffin and Fabian Moreau are all free agents.  Expect Minnesota to keep a close eye on Benjamin Morrison, Azareye’h Thomas and Maxwell Hairston.  Up front defensively, both Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery are UFA’s so Kenneth Grant and Shemar Stewart should be on Minnesota’s short list.  Stewart is intriguing because he can not only bring the physicality that Bullard brought to the table, especially against the run, but he also has the explosiveness to get quick penetration into the backfield to be a disruptor on all three downs.  While you can point to his lack of sack production as a concern, Stewart’s ability to play the run is similar to that of Travon Walker, who never consistently got to the QB while at Georgia, but his incremental development with the Jaguars led to 10.5 sacks this past season.  Stewart has a similar skill set and could thrive at the next level, especially in a Brian Flores-led defense.

25.    Houston Texans – Tyler Booker, OG, 6’5”, 325lbs, Alabama, Jr.
02/15/25 - Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The Texans won the AFC Central for the second consecutive season and did so by two full games over the Indianapolis Colts, but not without a regression on the offensive side of the ball.  Houston saw a dip in CJ Stroud’s production, where he saw a drop of 54.7 passing yards per game and threw 7 more picks.  Injuries to Nico Collins and Tank Dell during the season also slowed Stroud’s production.  Now with Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods expected to hit free agency, now may be the time for Houston to target a WR to team with Collins and Dell, whether that’s Luther Burden III, Emeka Egbuka or Matthew Golden.  However, the more pressing need is in pass protection as Stroud was sacked 54 times which tied them for 3rd most in the league and was 16 more than the season prior.  Kenyon Green struggled mightily at LG giving up 5.0 sacks to lead all Ogs prior to going in November.  Gren is now in the final year of his deal with Houston not likely to pick up the option for a fifth year.  Juice Scruggs, who is still developing as a center, was forced to take over for Green at LG but after an ankle injury OT Tytus Howard, who was coming off an injury himself, had to slide inside.  The whole situation just did not work, and you can bet Nick Caserio will put an emphasis on protecting Stroud during this offseason.

26.    Los Angeles Rams – Azareye’h Thomas, 6’2”, 186lbs, Florida State, Jr.
02/15/25 - Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Well, Sean McVay did it again.  For the second consecutive season, the Rams were sub-.500 going into their bye week, only to close the season strong and make it into the playoffs.  2024 was especially impressive as LA started 1-4 before rattling off nine wins in 12 games to win the NFC West then, after a win over Minnesota in the Wild Card game, nearly took down the eventual Super Bowl Champion Eagles in the Divisional Playoff game.  Now the Rams are at a crossroads, with both Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp exploring their value on the trade market.  Puka Nacua played in just 11 games but still managed to rack up 990 yards and is the clear No. 1 weapon.  With Kupp likely out of the picture and with both Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell entering free agency, the Rams will likely be on the market for multiple WRs and both Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden will be on the radar.  However, given the team’s success finding WRs on Days 2 and 3 of the draft (Kupp was taken in Round 3 in 2017, and Nacua was a 5th Round pick in 2023), I’d expect Les Snead and McVay to wait to address the WR position.  LT Alaric Jackson has developed into one of the better young OT’s in the league and though he’s currently a free agent, it would behoove the Rams to re-sign him.  If Jackson signs elsewhere, keep an eye out for both Josh Simmons and Josh Conerly Jr.  Defensively, the Rams have some of the top young talent in the league with the reining Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse teaming with Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner and Byron Young to give LA one of the more formidable groups up front.  On the back end of the defense, rookie safeties Kam Kinchens and Jaylen McCullough each had breakout seasons registering 4 Int. apiece.  However, the CB position is an area of need with Ahkello Witherspoon a pending free agent and Decobie Durant and Derion Kendrick entering the final year of their deals.  Los Angeles could opt to select Azareye’h Thomas, who has emerged as one of the best young press corners in the draft, to start opposite Darious Williams.

27.    Baltimore Ravens – Josh Simmons, OT, 6’5”, 311lbs, Ohio State, Jr.
02/15/25 - Josh Conerly, Jr., OT, Oregon
The Ravens found themselves atop the AFC Central for the fourth time in the past seven seasons but were bounced from the Divisional round of the playoffs by the Bills.  Lamar Jackson had another MVP-caliber season and Derrick Henry nearly eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark on the ground in his first season in Baltimore.  The defense was dominant against the run and finished second in the league in sacks but struggled against the pass.  Would Baltimore really select a corner in back-to-back drafts?  Keep in mind Nate Wiggins went 30th overall to the Ravens a season ago, but with Brandon Stephens, Tre’Davious White and Trayvon Mullen all set to enter free agency, adding a CB like Benjamin Morrison or Maxwell Hairston shouldn’t be ruled out, though I could easily see them targeting a corner on Day 2.  Shemar Stewart’s explosiveness and physicality also make him the perfect fit up front defensively.  And I wouldn’t rule out Nic Scourton or Donovan Ezeiruaku to be the eventual successor to Kyle Van Noy who led the team with 12.0 sacks but is 34 years of age and is entering the final year of his contract.  Even though their O-line tied for the third-fewest sack total last season, would Baltimore really consider a lineman in Round 1?  They will if All-Pro LT Ronnie Stanley decides to move on this offseason.  The Ravens are limited in the amount of cap space and may not be able to retain Stanley, who is expected to garner more than $20 million.  There will be free agent options, but the Ravens may be priced out of the market, meaning there may not be another option than to use this pick on Stanley’s replacement.  Landing Simmons this late in the 1st Round may wind up being a steal as he was largely seen as the most athletically gifted of the OTs in this year’s draft class.  That was until he went down with a torn patellar tendon in October and missed the remainder of the season.  Medicals will be critical for Simmons’ draft stock, which could plummet if he’s not given a clean bill of health. Especially considering the patellar tendon injury is complex and challenging to come back from.  Expect teams to do their due diligence and you can expect Simmons’ agent Drew Rosenhaus to do everything to put him in a position to be healthy for training camp.  If everything checks out, Simmons’ stock may rebound, but if teams ahead of Baltimore are skeptical, he just might still be on the board when they’re on the clock.

28.    Detroit Lions – Nic Scourton, Edge, 6’4”, 280lbs, Texas A&M, Jr.
02/15/25 - Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M
Heading into the 2024 season, the Detroit Lions were one of the favorites to win the NFC and for much of the season they looked like a dominant force.  The Lions’ offense finished second in total yards, Jared Goff had a career year with 4,629 passing yards, just 249 yards from Joe Burrow’s lead, while the WR tandem of Aman-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards while the RB duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery totaled 2,100 yards on the ground.  The defense, on the other hand, just couldn’t catch a break with players going down to injury seemingly every week.  No injury was bigger than Aidan Hutchinson, who suffered a gruesome broken leg five games into the season yet still led the team with 7.5 sacks.  LB Alex Anzalone broke his left forearm in November and missed seven games, CB Terrion Arnold suffered a leg injury that cost him three games, Carlton Davis suffered a broken jaw in Week 15 that ended his season, while rookie Ennis Rakestraw Jr.’s hamstring injury had him out of action until the divisional playoff game.  Perhaps no position saw as many injuries as the DE position where, in addition to Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport suffered a triceps injury in September that ended his season; John Cominsky tore his MCL before the season even began; and Josh Paschal suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of three games.  The Lions were so desperate for pass rush help that they traded for Za’Darius Smith, who finished second on the team in sacks with 4.0 despite only playing in eight games with the team.  Hutchinson will be ready by training camp and Smith is still under contract for the 2025 season, but Detroit needs to target another explosive edge rusher and Scourton fits the bill with 12.0 sacks and 78 pressures over the past two seasons with Purdue and Texas A&M.

29.    Washington Commanders – Emeka Egbuka, WR, 6’1”, 205lbs, Ohio State
02/15/25 - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Jayden Daniels had a rookie season for the ages, throwing for over 3,500 yards and completing 69.0% of his passes with 25 TD and 9 Int. while also leading the team in rushing with 891 yards and 6 TD on the ground while leading Washington to the NFC Championship game.  His favorite target Terry McLaurin racked up his fifth straight 1,000-yard receiving season his 13 TD ranked second in the league.  However, with receivers Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Noah Brown and Jamison Crowder all entering free agency, you can expect a focus to be on adding some firepower to the receiving corps because the Commanders can’t re-sign them all.  Emeka Egbuka is a smooth wideout with precision route running and excellent top end speed who isn’t afraid to work the middle of the field and can also get vertical and would be the perfect complement as a WR2 to Scary Terry.

30.    Buffalo Bills – Nick Emmanwori, S, 6’3”, 227lbs, South Carolina, Jr.
02/15/25 - Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Bills won the AFC East for the 5th consecutive year but still couldn’t find their way back to the Super Bowl.  What has to be frustrating for Sean McDermott is he has a pretty balanced roster without many holes.  A potential hole for Buffalo would be at the safety position, where Damar Hamlin, who finished third on the team in tackles, is a free agent.  Taylor Rapp has the versatility to play either safety position, while Cole Bishop struggled when given the chance to take the field.  Nick Emmanwori has emerged as a versatile playmaker who could provide immediate help on the back end of Buffalo’s defense.  His size, instincts and playmaking ability draw comparisons to All-Pro Kyle Hamilton who himself was the 14th overall pick of the Ravens back in 2022.

31.    Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Conerly, OT, 6’4”, 310lbs, Oregon, Jr.
2/15/25 - Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
The Chiefs were the dominant team throughout the 2024 season, finishing with a 15-2 record and climbed all the way to the Super Bowl in a quest to win a record three straight titles.  In falling short to the Eagles, KC was exposed offensively as the Eagle front put constant pressure on Patrick Mahomes, not allowing him to be the playmaker he’s been his entire career.  Joe Thuney is an All-Pro OG, but it was obvious he was playing out of position, struggling to hold up against the likes of Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt and Brandon Graham.  LG Mike Caliendo also struggled to hold the point against Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Milton Williams.  KC needs to kick Thuney back inside and find a long-term answer at LT.  Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia each tried their hand but were benched due to poor play.  Suamataia may be the eventual replacement for Jawaan Taylor, who led the NFL in penalties for the second consecutive season.  Conerly Jr. has excellent movement skills, showing the requisite lateral agility and change of directions to hold up on the left side and has plenty of length despite his average size for the position.  Adding Conerly Jr. at LT should strengthen two positions in the process.

32.    Philadelphia Eagles – Donovan Ezeiruaku, 6’2”, 247lbs, OLB, Boston College
02/15/25 - Donovan Ezeiruaku, OLB, Boston College

The Eagles dominated Super Bowl LIX behind the efforts of game MVP Jalen Hurts both on the ground and through the air.  Heading into the offseason, the offense is expected to mainly stay intact, with RG Mekhi Becton as the only offensive starter to be a free agent.  That’s why I’m expecting the focus this offseason will be on defense, where DE Milton Williams, OLB’s Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham and ILB Zack Baun are all set to become free agents.  Shemar Stewart would be an ideal fit to replace Williams should he decide to leave, while Jihaad Campbell or Carson Schwesinger have the athleticism and versatility to take over an ILB spot should Baun not be re-signed.  Josh Sweat was dominant at times getting after Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, finishing the game with 2.5 sacks, so you can expect him to be looking for a huge payday.  Then there’s Graham, who at 37 years of age and coming off a biceps injury from which he recovered just enough to play in the final game of the year, could very well retire.  Adding another edge rusher to team with Smith and Hunt appears to be in the cards here and Ezeiruaku is explosive off the ball, has a deep bag of pass rush moves and freakish length for someone his size, all of which allowed him to rack up 16.5 sacks on the year, just 1.0 shy of the FBS lead. 

2025 NFL Draft: First Round
Mock Draft and Analysis By: Gregg Schutze
as of February 23, 2025