Tag: mock draft

Oregon Ducks looking to continue streak of 1st-round NFL Draft picks for fifth year

Can the Ducks keep their first-round streak in the NFL draft going?

When it comes to helping players make the jump from college to the NFL, few teams have been better than the Oregon Ducks, particularly with first-round talent.

The Ducks are currently on a four-year streak of having a player drafted in the first round, which started with quarterback Justin Herbert in 2020, selected by the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 6 overall. In 2021, the Detroit Lions took LT Penei Sewell with the No. 7 overall pick, the New York Giants took EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux with the No. 5 overall pick in 2022, and the New England Patriots drafted CB Christian Gonzalez at No. 17 in 2023.

Earlier this offseason, it seemed like a lock that the Ducks would be able to extend that first-round streak, potentially seeing QB Bo Nix, OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, and WR  Troy Franklin go in the first 32 picks. However, over the past few weeks, those three have seen their names slide down mock draft projections a bit. While it’s still common to see various mock drafts project them in the first round, it is at least a question of whether or not Oregon will keep the streak going.

This past week, Circa Sportsbook released their opening lines for NFL Draft positions, which gives an over/under for prominent players.

Bo Nix has his over/under set at 32.5; Jackson Powers-Johnson’s over/under is set at 30.5; Troy Franklin’s over/under is set all the way down at 41.5.

Based on those numbers, it seems like Powers-Johnson has the best chance to be a first-round pick, but he very well could fall into the second round. Of course, some mock drafts have Bo Nix going as high as No. 12 overall to the Denver Broncos, while I’ve seen others that project Franklin to the Buffaloes at No. 28.

We ultimately will see in a couple of weeks where each of these players ends up, but for now, the streak is certainly something to keep an eye on.

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Steelers bring on Washington OL Troy Fautanu for pre-draft visit

Pittsburgh continues to bring in the top offensive linemen for the 2024 NFL draft.

According to ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler and confirmed by the player himself, former Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu is in Pittsburgh for a visit with the Steelers ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Steelers are in the market for one and possibly two starting offensive linemen in this upcoming draft. The team needs a center in the worst way after releasing Mason Cole and many pundits believe Fautanu’s NFL future is kicked inside at either guard or center despite never playing center and only playing a small portion of his college snaps and guard.

Fuatanu checks in at 6-foot-4 and 317 pounds but moves like a man much lighter. His specialty is in pass protection where his heavy hands and agile feel make him nearly impossible to get past. Suppose there’s a downside to Fautanu for the Steelers. In that case, it’s the fact he’s completely unproven at center so if they did draft him, he might not automatically make the switch and his run blocking is not on par with his pass protection which future muddies how he would fit with Pittsburgh at center.

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2024 NFL mock draft: Cletis Cutts

Here’s our latest mock draft release as the real deal draws near.

Cletis Cutts’ first mock draft of 2024 is now out. Sound off on social media and let us know what you think.

We’ll be unveiling several more mock drafts leading up to the real thing, so be sure to check back with our 2024 NFL Draft Central page to keep track of all of our offerings.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1

Pick NFL team Pos Player School
1 Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams USC
2 Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels LSU
3 New England Patriots QB Drake Maye North Carolina
4 Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State
5 Minnesota Vikings (from LAC)* QB J.J. McCarthy Michigan
6 New York Giants WR Malik Nabers LSU
7 Tennessee Titans OT Joe Alt Notre Dame
8 Atlanta Falcons EDGE Dallas Turner Alabama
9 Chicago Bears WR Rome Odunze Washington
10 New York Jets TE Brock Bowers Georgia
11 Los Angeles Chargers (from MIN)* WR Brian Thomas Jr. LSU
12 Denver Broncos CB Terrion Arnold Alabama
13 Las Vegas Raiders QB Michael Penix Jr. Washington
14 New Orleans Saints OT Taliese Fuaga Oregon State
15 Indianapolis Colts CB Quinyon Mitchell Toledo
16 Seattle Seahawks OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu Penn State
17 Jacksonville Jaguars EDGE Jared Verse Florida State
18 Cincinnati Bengals IOL Troy Fautanu Washington
19 Los Angeles Rams DT Byron Murphy II Texas
20 Pittsburgh Steelers OT JC Latham Alabama
21 Miami Dolphins EDGE Chop Robinson Penn State
22 Philadelphia Eagles CB Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama
23 Los Angeles Chargers (from MIN>CLE>HOU)* EDGE Laiatu Latu UCLA
24 Dallas Cowboys IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson Oregon
25 Green Bay Packers OT Amarius Mims Georgia
26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers EDGE Darius Robinson Missouri
27 Arizona Cardinals (from HOU) DT Jer’Zhan Newton Illinois
28 Buffalo Bills WR Adonai Mitchell Texas
29 Detroit Lions CB Nate Wiggins Clemson
30 Baltimore Ravens OT Tyler Guyton Oklahoma
31 Denver Broncos (from SF)* QB Bo Nix Oregon
32 Kansas City Chiefs CB Cooper DeJean Iowa

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Mel Kiper mock draft: Broncos select CB Quinyon Mitchell

In his latest NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Broncos selecting cornerback Quinyon Mitchell at pick No. 12.

In his latest 2024 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Denver Broncos selecting Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell with pick No. 12 in the first round.

Caleb Williams (No. 1), Jayden Daniels (No. 2), Drake Maye (No. 3) and J.J. McCarthy (No. 5) all go off the board early, so instead of reaching for a quarterback at No. 12, the Broncos land Kiper’s top cornerback prospect.

“Mitchell, my top-ranked cornerback, had 46 pass breakups in four seasons at Toledo, and he ripped off an elite 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the combine,” Kiper wrote on ESPN.com. “He’s ready to play early and often as a rookie.”

This is a change from Kiper’s last mock draft which had Denver selecting Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. Before that, Kiper had the Broncos picking UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu in a previous mock.

Kiper seems to be in agreement with our assessment that quarterback, cornerback and pass rusher are Denver’s three biggest draft needs.

After the top five picks, no other QBs go off the board in the first round of Kiper’s latest mock. He has Nix (No. 33) and Michael Penix (No. 37) going early in the second round (where the Broncos do not currently have a pick).

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

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2024 NFL mock draft: Ryan Dodson

The Huddle’s Ryan Dodson releases his first NFL mock draft of 2024.

Ryan Dodson’s first mock draft of 2024 is now out. Sound off on social media and let us know what you think.

We’ll be unveiling several more mock drafts leading up to the real thing, so be sure to check back with our 2024 NFL Draft Central page to keep track of all of our offerings.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1

Pick NFL team Pos Player School
1 Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams USC
2 Washington Commanders QB Drake Maye North Carolina
3 Minnesota Vikings (from NE)* QB J.J. McCarthy Michigan
4 Las Vegas Raiders (from ARI)* QB Jayden Daniels LSU
5 Los Angeles Chargers WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State
6 New York Giants WR Malik Nabers LSU
7 Tennessee Titans OT Joe Alt Notre Dame
8 Atlanta Falcons EDGE Dallas Turner Alabama
9 Chicago Bears OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu Penn State
10 New York Jets TE Brock Bowers Georgia
11 New England Patriots (from MIN)* QB Michael Penix Jr. Washington
12 Denver Broncos WR Rome Odunze Washington
13 Arizona Cardinals (from LV)* EDGE Jared Verse Florida State
14 New Orleans Saints EDGE Laiatu Latu UCLA
15 Indianapolis Colts CB Quinyon Mitchell Toledo
16 Seattle Seahawks OT Taliese Fuaga Oregon State
17 Jacksonville Jaguars DL Byron Murphy II Texas
18 Cincinnati Bengals CB Terrion Arnold Alabama
19 Los Angeles Rams EDGE Chop Robinson Penn State
20 Pittsburgh Steelers OT Amarius Mims Georgia
21 Miami Dolphins OT JC Latham Alabama
22 Philadelphia Eagles IOL Troy Fautanu Washington
23 New England Patriots (from CLE>HOU>MIN)* EDGE Darius Robinson Missouri
24 Dallas Cowboys WR Brian Thomas Jr. LSU
25 Green Bay Packers DL Jer’Zhan Newton Illinois
26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama
27 Arizona Cardinals (from HOU) WR Adonai Mitchell Texas
28 Buffalo Bills CB Nate Wiggins Clemson
29 Detroit Lions CB Cooper DeJean Iowa
30 Baltimore Ravens WR Ladd McConkey Georgia
31 San Francisco 49ers OT Jordan Morgan Arizona
32 Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy Texas

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Texans land pass-rushing DL, ball-hawking DB in Mel Kiper’s new 2-round mock draft

The Houston Texans finalize what could be a top-10 defense thanks to the addition of two Big Ten standouts in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft.

Defensive tackle and cornerback remain the biggest needs for the Houston Texans to address entering draft weekend following a promising free agency period.

According to the latest mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper, both areas are shored up in the second round as long-term staples for the reigning AFC South champs.

Even without a first-round pick, the Texans secure a Day 1 talent at pick No. 42 with the selection of Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton.

This is Houston’s first pick in the draft after it moved out of Round 1 via last month’s trade with the Vikings. It owns the No. 59 pick as well. Newton is one of the best interior pass-rushers in this class. He had 7.5 sacks last season, which was the most in the FBS from a defensive tackle. The Texans signed Folorunso Fatukasi to a one-year deal this offseason, but they also traded away Maliek Collins, creating a void at the position.
Newton entered the year as the top defensive tackle prospect. He lived up to the hype with 7.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss, but he also underwent foot surgery prior to the NFL combine and did not run drills in Indianapolis.
From a pass-rushing standpoint, Newton fits what the Texans covet up the middle. The Texans love defensive tackles with the ability to pass-rush and create pressure. Sheldon Rankins, who inked a one-year deal last offseason, finished with six sacks. Collins finished with five sacks and 13 quarterback hits.
Newton, who finished his Illini career with 18 sacks, was a hot name linked to Houston at pick No. 23 before the Texans traded out of the first round. He should compete with Denico Autry and Fatukasi for pass-rushing reps on third down.
Even after adding two top-10 picks in Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson, Houston could benefit by adding a nickel defender to compete alongside Desmond King. At pick No. 59, the Texans find their long-term slot defender as Kiper has them landing Michigan’s Mike Sainristil.
Sainristil is the best slot cover corner in this draft. He had 6 picks, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles for the national champs last season. Houston signed veteran Desmond King to play as its nickelback, but I don’t think he is guaranteed to make the Week 1 roster. At 5-foot-9, 182 pounds, Sainristil just makes plays. I’d want him on my team.
Sainristil, a converted receiver-turned-cornerback, isn’t positionless, but he’ll make plays wherever lined up. In 2022, he finished second among Wolverines with seven pass breakups along with an interception.
A two-time team captain, Sainristil was the anchor of a top-five secondary that guided Michigan to its first national championship in over two decades. His six interceptions ranked third among FBS players, trailing only Wisconsin’s Ricardo Hallman and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts.

2024 NFL draft: Breaking down the Steelers picks in new ESPN mock draft

The Steelers go offensive line and wide receiver in this new ESPN mock draft.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has a new two-round mock draft out and we always perk up when there is a Kiper mock out. The 2024 NFL draft promises to send a ton of young talent into the league and this draft will be vital for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh has taken great care in rebuilding the roster and if they can land a pair of starters in this draft like they did in 2023, they could be right back in the mix for an AFC North crown.

Kiper’s mock kicks off with the Steelers selecting Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton in the first round. Here’s what Kiper had to say about the pick.

Cornerback, wide receiver, center — I wouldn’t be surprised with any of these positions for Pittsburgh, which has made a few intriguing additions this offseason. The Steelers parted ways with starting pivot Mason Cole in February, and taking Barton, my top-ranked center, might even be an upgrade. Barton played center as a freshman but spent the past three seasons at left tackle for the Blue Devils, and I see his pro future along the interior. He allowed just three sacks over the past two seasons.

Might be an upgrade? Cole was awful last season. Barton is a huge step up and sets up the team for the future at center.

Moving to the second round, Kiper has the Steelers selecting former Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan. As Kiper points out, McMillan is a natural slot receiver in the NFL but I’m not sure that’s the target this early in the draft. After trading away Diontae Johnson, an outside receiver is a higher priority, especially with several veterans on the roster who can line up inside. McMillan’s former teammate, Ja’Lynn Polk who went two picks later might be a better fit.

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Panthers strike another trade with Giants in Mel Kiper’s new 2-round mock draft

Even after trading down, the Panthers manage to pick up a couple of studs in Mel Kiper’s newest two-round mock draft.

Did the game’s greatest draft expert just turn out the greatest 2024 draft projection for the Carolina Panthers to date?

Longtime ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock, one of the two-round variety, on Wednesday. To start the second round, he has the Panthers trading the 33rd overall selection to the New York Giants—who make the jump for Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

So, Carolina begins their picking at No. 39—landing Georgia’s Ladd McConkey. Kiper writes:

McConkey is a versatile and shifty receiver who caught 119 passes and had 18 touchdowns over three college seasons. He can play inside and outside, and he has the speed — he ran a 4.39-second 40 at the combine — to blow by cornerbacks. The Panthers improved their receiving corps with the trade for Diontae Johnson, but they had one of the league’s worst units a year ago and should add more talent.

McConkey, who could go at the end of the first round, is quite the steal for the Panthers here. But the heist only gets better.

Then, at No. 44, Carolina nabs Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson—who is considered the top prospect at his position:

I addressed Carolina’s wide receiver corps at No. 39, and let’s stay on offense with the pick from the projected trade with the Giants. Do the Panthers trust Austin Corbett to be an above-average starter after moving him from guard to center? I’m not so sure. Powers-Johnson might be an immediate upgrade on departed starter Bradley Bozeman. The Rimington Trophy winner allowed just two total pressures last season.

Filling two big needs with two potential first-round talents? Not bad at all.

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Dolphins get edge, offensive line help in Mel Kiper’s latest mock

Mel Kiper Jr. thinks it’d be a “no-brainer” for the Dolphins to add another dynamic pass rusher to the roster with the No. 21 pick.

The Miami Dolphins have a duo of exciting young pass rushers in Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, but it’s possible neither will be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 season. Chubb suffered an ACL tear on New Year’s Eve and Phillips tore his Achilles in November.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. thinks the Dolphins should use the No. 21 overall pick to find a solution to that issue. In his latest mock draft, two weeks ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, Kiper predicted that Florida State’s Jared Verse will be Miami’s selection.

Yes, Miami has Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips as its top edge rushers, but both are coming off serious season-ending injuries. Phillips tore an Achilles in late November, while Chubb tore an ACL in early January. There’s no guarantee either is 100 percent healthy when training camp starts. That’s why the Dolphins could take Verse, who has impressive power in his 254-pound frame. His 50 QB pressures last season were the eighth most in the FBS. Miami has to replace a few starters after offseason subtractions, but Verse would be a no-brainer selection if he’s still on the board.

A round later, Kiper has the Dolphins addressing one of those offseason subtractions: the departure of Robert Hunt in free agency. To fill that void, Kiper thinks UConn’s Christian Haynes could be Miami’s pick:

Miami has faced some upheaval along the offensive line this offseason, creating a hole at guard. The Dolphins ranked 31st in pass block win rate (49.2%), so change could be good. Haynes started 49 games at right guard in college, and he allowed just one sack over his final three seasons. He’s my No. 3-ranked player at the position.

It’s easy to see the logic in both selections, as beefing up the trenches is probably the top priority for the Dolphins after signing more than a dozen free agents to fill roster holes. While Verse may eventually be relegated to rotational duties after Chubb and Phillips get healthy, it never hurts to have a stable of rushers who can generate pressure.

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Rams trade up for a QB in Mel Kiper Jr.’s new mock draft, but not in Round 1

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Rams trading up for a QB in his latest mock draft, but not in the 1st round

It’s very possible the Los Angeles Rams will draft a quarterback with one of their 11 picks this year, potentially even on Day 1 or 2. Matthew Stafford is getting older and his backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, is also a veteran on only a one-year deal. Stetson Bennett’s uncertain future throws a wrench into things, too, because the Rams don’t know if he can be the successor at quarterback.

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN just released his latest mock draft with the big event only two weeks out and he has the Rams trading up for a quarterback. That doesn’t happen from Pick 19, though. He projects them to move up for Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. in the second round, going from No. 52 to 37 in order to land the lefty quarterback.

Kiper’s projected deal involves the Rams sending Nos. 52, 83 and 96 to the Chargers for No. 37. Here’s what Kiper wrote about the Rams’ potential selection of Penix at No. 37 overall.

Yes, the Rams have Matthew Stafford. Yes, they brought in Jimmy Garoppolo. And yes, they drafted Stetson Bennett in Round 4 last year. But Stafford is 36 and has dealt with serious injuries in recent years, while Garoppolo is on a one-year deal and Bennett spent his rookie season on the reserve/non-football illness list. There’s a lot of uncertainty in L.A. past 2024.

Penix could be the future franchise signal-caller for coach Sean McVay and the Rams. He is accurate to every level of the field and is a great decision-maker. He had 67 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions in his two seasons at Washington. I have a Round 2 grade on him, just behind Bo Nix in my rankings.

Penix could be one of six quarterbacks drafted in the first round, but in Kiper’s mock, only four of them go in Round 1. Nix and Penix both slip into the second round after Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy all go in the top five.

The Rams do need a successor behind Stafford and Penix would be afforded the chance to sit and learn for at least a year or two, which would benefit him greatly. There are some injury concerns after he suffered two torn ACLs and two shoulder injuries during his time at Indiana from 2018-2021, but he looks to be past those ailments.

Earlier in Kiper’s mock, the Rams select Laiatu Latu at No. 19 overall in the first round, adding a dynamic pass rusher to a defense that lost Aaron Donald to retirement. Latu is a promising prospect with an excellent pass-rush repertoire, and pairing him with Byron Young would give the Rams a young tandem of outside linebackers to build around for the next few years.

Latu is the best pure edge rusher in this class, and he already has an array of pass-rush moves. He ranked first in the FBS in total pressures (55) and had 13 sacks in 2023. I haven’t heard any recent red flags around his medical reports, as there were some questions last fall because he medically retired from football because of a neck injury he suffered when he was at Washington in 2021.

Some fans may not be on board with the Rams taking a quarterback early in the draft, but with Bennett’s future unclear and Stafford getting older, they need to address the position sooner or later and spending a second-rounder on a talented passer isn’t the worst idea – even if it comes after trading up.