| # |
Player |
Player |
Notes |
| 1 |
Chicago (from Carolina) |
QB Caleb Williams, USC |
Sometimes the draft gods smile on you; sometimes they don’t. The irony here is that in all likelihood the Bears would not be in this position today if they hadn’t traded up in the 2022 draft to take – and whiff on – Justin Fields. Instead, they likely would have stood pat and taken Bryce Young with the #1 pick last year rather than trade that pick to Carolina which netted them the #1 pick this year. And while taking the best player in the draft is always a no-brainer the Bears get the best prospect at the position they have ever had in Williams who still has to prove it on the field, but has been favorably compared to Patrick Mahomes with his ability to make plays off-script. Great pick! |
| 2 |
Washington |
QB Jayden Daniels, LSU |
Another no-brainer, though, Daniels isn’t quite the elite prospect that Williams is, but he’s close and has been talked about as a more accurate, more fluid version of Lamar Jackson. However, he’ll have to learn to pick his spots as he’s not all that thick and likely won’t be able to take the hits he took in college. Still a great pick. |
| 3 |
New England |
Drake Maye, North Carolina |
The Patriots held out for a trade until they got on the clock, but lacking anything that resembled a take-your-breath away offer, but in the end settled on Maye who is not the elite prospect that #s 1 and 2 are, but he’s still very good. Indeed, he may have the best physical tools including prototype size, a big arm and exceptional athleticism of any QB in this year’s draft, but he needs to improve his pocket presence. |
| 4 |
Arizona |
WR Marvin Harrison, Ohio State |
Like the Patriots, the Cardinals dangled the pick in case another QB-hungry team made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. None did so they ‘settled’ for the best non-QB prospect in the draft, and just maybe the best player in the draft period. He’s being talked about as a generational talent who gives their best player since Larry Fitzpatrick. Great pick. |
| 5 |
LA Chargers |
OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame |
First real big surprise here in that the Chargers didn’t trade the pick with JJ McCarthy still on the board. Second, maybe is that they took Alt, a really good player, but there are some real impact players left on the board. |
| 6 |
NY Giants |
WR Malik Nabers, LSU |
Maybe Daniel Jones ain’t quite done yet in NY as the Giants go out and finally get him a legit #1 receiver. Nabers is fast, explosive and dynamic. Oh, and did we mention he’s fast! He’s also versatile in that he can win over the top as well as take a 2-yard pass and turn it into a 60-yard score, although he still needs to polish his intermediate routes. |
| 7 |
Tennessee |
OT JC Latham, Alabama |
Latham fills a huge hole of the right side of the Titans’ OL but we just think there were better players on the board. However, there weren’t many bigger players, though, as Latham is one of those guys that blots out the sun. |
| 8 |
Atlanta |
QB Michael Penix, Washington |
Wow! Don’t think anybody saw that coming. No question Penix was a super college player who led FBS is passing the past couple of years, but most observers considered him to be more of a borderline first rounder. And did we mention the Falcons just signed Kirk Cousins to a huge free agent contract. |
| 9 |
Chicago |
WR Rome Odunze, Washington |
The Bears have only two other picks in this draft they could go home right now and still be one of the draft’s big winners who gives Caleb Williams one more receiving threat to go along with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Scary! |
| 10 |
Minnesota (from NY Jets)
|
QB JJ McCarthy, Minnesota |
The Vikings do trade up for JJ but only one spot which only cost them 4th (#129) and 5th (#157) picks, while they also get a 6th (#203). However, there’s a reason he dropped all the way to the 10th pick and was in fact not the 4th but the 5th QB chosen in the top ten. |
| 11 |
NY Jets (from Minnesota) |
OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State |
Solid pick, just not very exciting |
| 12 |
Denver |
QB Bo Nix, Oregon |
See the write up on Penix above. Outstanding college player who distributes the ball as well as anyone and does remind a little of Drew Brees, although he lacks the latter’s overall arm strength. Like Penix he wasn’t rated quite this high, but he’s a QB and the Broncos don’t have one so it makes sense. |
| 13 |
Las Vegas |
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia |
Great pick by the Raiders who miss out on a QB but get a nice consolation prize in Bowers who would be one of the top prospects period if he played another position. |
| 14 |
New Orleans |
OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State |
Underrated player who fills a huge hole with the Saints with vet OT Ryan Ramzyck experiencing a possible career-ending knee injury. |
| 15 |
Indianapolis |
DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA |
Turns out they do play defence in the NFL as we finally get a pick from that side of the ball. Latu is arguably the best pure pass rusher in college football and probably dropped because of a neck injury that almost derailed his career several years ago. The Colts hope that he’ll give them a chance playing in a division in which teams now have to deal with ROY CJ Stroud over at Houston. |
| 16 |
Seattle |
DT Byron Murphy, Texas |
|
| 17 |
Minnesota (from Jacksonville) |
DE Dallas Turner, Alabama |
The Vikings move up again trading the 23rd pick along with a 5th rounder this year (#167) as well as 3rd and 4th round picks in 2025. Turner is a little undersized for a DE but he’s got a burst and can bend and probably worth the trade up. |
| 18 |
Cincinnati |
OT Amarius Mims, Georgia |
Massive kid who didn’t play all that much for the Bulldogs because of injuries but has as much upside as any OL in this draft. Nice pick. |
| 19 |
LA Rams |
DE Jared Verse, Florida State |
Rams make their 1st opening round pick since selecting Jared Goff way back in 2016. And heading into the round, the Rams probably never thought they’d have a legit shot at a player like Verse. They may try the 1st round thing again next year! |
| 20 |
Pittsburgh |
G/T Troy Fautanu, Washington |
Right now guys coming off the board pretty much by the numbers. Outstanding player who plays in the mode the Steelers, but he’s a little short for an OT at under 6-4, but he’s a warrior with excellent quickness and agility along with a terrific work ethic and motor. |
| 21 |
Miami |
DE Chop Robinson, Penn State |
Didn’t necessarily have a lot of sacks at Penn State but has all the tools to be a better pro than college player if the Dolphins let him lose. |
| 22 |
Philadelphia |
CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo |
Interesting pick in that the first 21 selections were all from big time college football factories. Mitchell, from Toledo of the MAC, is the first exception. Nothing shabby about his skill though as he has great length, speed and quickness along with superior instincts. |
| 23 |
Jacksonville (from Cleveland thru Houston and Minnesota) |
WR Brian Thomas, LSU |
Just another great pick as it appears the QBs picker earlier has pushed other players down the board. Thomas who is big and fast is another player just starting to scratch the surface. |
| 24 |
Detroit (from Dallas)
|
CB Terrion Arnold |
The home-town Lions jump up to get Terrion Arnold, one of the top 1-2 corners this year. Interesting, because the Lions made a lot of noise to trade out of the first round. Instead they move up to get a player some people thought had a decent chance to sneak into the opening round. To make the move the Lions sent Dallas a third round pick (#73), while they get a 2025 7th rounder. |
| 25 |
Green Bay |
OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona |
|
| 26 |
Tampa Bay |
C/T Graham Barton, Duke |
|
| 27 |
Arizona (from Houston) |
DT Darius Robinson, Missouri |
Really nice day for the Cardinals who got Msrvin Harrison earlier tonight, but Robinson, the best player at this year’s Senior Bowl also fills a need. Versatile player who can play DE and can kick inside on pass downs. |
| 28 |
Kansas City (from Buffalo) |
WR Xavier Worthy, Texas |
Little bit shocking that the Bills would help out the team they are chasing in the AFC, especially with the Chiefs taking the fastest guy in the draft. Curious. |
| 29 |
Dallas (from Detroit)
|
OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma |
|
| 30 |
Baltimore |
CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson |
|
| 31 |
San Francisco |
WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida |
|
| 32 |
Carolina (from Kansas City thru Buffalo) |
WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina |
|
