Free agency will begin Monday with the two days of legal negotiating with impending free agents. That will impact what teams do in the draft.
Before free agency starts, we have a first-round mock draft in which three quarterbacks do not go with the first three picks. The New England Patriots take a receiver, presumably addressing quarterback in free agency or via trade, while Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, projected by some to go as high as second overall, falls in this mock draft.
Check out each pick below.
This is a no-brainer at this point. Justin Fields will be traded before this point.
The Commanders need a quarterback and go from one North Carolina guy (Sam Howell) to another (Maye) and OC Kliff Kingsbury gets to work with another rookie.
This projects the Patriots will already have their quarterback and so, rather than trading out of the pick, they take the best player in the draft in Harrison, to give their new QB a great young talent to throw the ball to.
Odunze reminds many of Larry Fitzgerald. It would be fitting to have him go to Arizona, where Fitz played his entire career. Odunze’s playmaking down the field and size will be great for QB Kyler Murray.
The Chargers could go with Malike Nabers but instead go with the best tight end in the draft.
The Giants could make a play for a quarterback but instead will either continue to roll with Daniel Jones or acquire another one (perhaps Russell Wilson) before the draft.
The Titans choose protection for Will Levis. Alt is the best of the group.
The Falcons could go with a quarterback with Jayden Daniels on the board still. But perhaps having gotten one in the offseason, new coach Raheem Morris gets a big body to fill the defensive interior.
With a quarterback already selected, they give Williams a young stud who was immovable at the Senior Bowl to protect him.
Mitchell was a stud at the combine and shone at the Senior Bowl. Pair him with Sauce Gardner to make that defense even better? Sure.
The Vikings get a big guy for the defense with thief first pick in the draft.
The Broncos also pass on Daniels so they presumably will have acquired a quarterback already. Instead, they add DeJean to a defensive backfield with Pat Surtain.
Would you be surprised to see three cornerbacks drafted before three quarterbacks? I would, but the Raiders add defense here and get a physical corner.
Daniels’ fall ends and it is a perfect spot. He stays in Louisiana.
Wiggins blew away the combine with a 4.28-second 40.
The Seahawks have two young tackles in Charles Cross and Abe Lucas but Lucas has dealt with injuries and Fautanu could play inside. He gets to stay in Seattle after playing there collegiately.
The first pass rusher comes off the board at No. 17. With Josh Allen on the franchise tag, adding Turner pairs two studs for a year and potentially allows Allen to leave in a year.
A second straight pass rusher comes off the board. The Bengals will pair Verse with Trey Hendrickson. That defense will be scary.
The Rams brought back G Kevin Dotson. They add a tackle now.
The Steelers add protection for whatever quarterback they end up going with.
Powers-Johnson can immediately start at center for the Dolphins.
The Eagles drafted Nolan Smith last year. They are looking to trade Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick. Plug in Latu.
There is no question Wilson is a great talent and he will be great for DeMeco Ryans in Houston if he stays healthy.
Having good tackles is what the Cowboys do. They add a giant one in Mims.
Giving Jordan Love more weapons? Aaron Rodgers probably can’t believe it.
Barton projects as an interior lineman so the Bucs add youth inside to protect Baker Mayfield or whoever ends up as their starting quarterback.
With D.J. Humphries having torn his ACL, the Cardinals need a tackle. Guyton can slide in at right tackle and Paris Johnson can move over to left tackle.
The Bills get a productive, speedy receiver.
Detroit’s defense gets stronger on the back end.
Mark Andrews, Zay Flowers and now Thomas? Another MVP season coming for Lamar Jackson?
With the future of Brandon Aiyuk uncertain, they add a receiver in the first round.
The First round ends with the Chiefs adding a safety.