The NFL Draft begins April 25, and it's time to unleash the only first-round mock draft that I'll do over this offseason.
This is it. My 1.0 of 1.0. There will not be any arguing with another mock draft that was done before the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine or free agency periods.
The Steelers hold the 20th overall pick and have many holes to fill. Depending on how the draft shakes out, they could move up or move back in order to get their guy, just like they did last year to get Broderick Jones. This mock draft doesn't include any trades, however, so the picks are made accordingly and with those possibilities in mind:
1. BEARS (from Panthers)
CALEB WILLIAMS, QB, USC
The world will be stunned if it's not Williams. Chicago punted on Justin Fields and poured all of its resources into preparing for Williams as its next franchise guy. Williams is currently an overwhelming minus-10000 to be chosen No. 1 overall on bet365's sportsbook for good reason. He's going to be the pick and Ryan Poles is going to get his franchise on track with a fresh start.
2. COMMANDERS
DRAKE MAYE, QB, NORTH CAROLINA
The Commanders are still trying to start fresh amid the fallout of the Dan Snyder situation. With Dan Quinn in place as the franchise's new head coach also comes a new quarterback in Maye, who is raw but beaming with potential. LSU's Jayden Daniels could also be in play here, but Washington takes the big swing on the next franchise guy.
3. PATRIOTS
JAYDEN DANIELS, QB, LSU
The post-Bill Belichick era begins with Jerod Mayo wiping the slate clean from Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe and giving New England a surefire prospect with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. His play-making ability mixed with his athleticism give the Patriots a dynamic threat who has had seasoning with five years of starting experience in college.
4. CARDINALS
MARVIN HARRISON JR., WR, OHIO STATE
Some argue Harrison is the best player in the draft, and Arizona would be wise to take the best wide receiver in front of them since Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals re-affirmed their commitment to Kyler Murray after he rebounded with a solid second half to his 2023 season, and they give him an instant playmaker.
5. CHARGERS
MALIK NABERS, WR, LSU
This is where the draft begins to get interesting. Many are speculating this is where a team like the Vikings or Broncos, which hold picks 11 and 12, respectively, could get aggressive and trade up for a quarterback.
This mock draft isn't projecting that, so we'll stick with the Chargers giving Justin Herbert a bona fide weapon in Nabers. Their wide receiver depth is thin with 2023 first rounder Quentin Johnston being the top option following the departures of Keenan Allen (Bears) and Mike Williams (Jets). If Harrison is gone before the Chargers' pick, they should make Nabers their guy as the second-best receiver on the board.
6. GIANTS
ROME ODUNZE, WR, WASHINGTON
The Giants are stuck with Daniel Jones for three more seasons with base salaries of $35.5 million, $30 million and $46.5 million. Yikes.
They better give him someone better than Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt to throw to. Odunze is exactly that.
7. TITANS
JOE ALT, OT, NOTRE DAME
After taking guard Peter Skoronski 11th overall last year, Tennessee doubles down by fortifying their offensive line to wrap up their thunderous offseason. With the additions of Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley and Lloyd Cushinberry, the Titans' offense is looking dangerous with Will Levis continuing to develop.
8. FALCONS
DALLAS TURNER, EDGE, ALABAMA
The first defensive player off the board goes to the Falcons and new head coach Raheem Morris. The Falcons paid top dollar for Kirk Cousins and brought in wide receiver Darnell Mooney in free agency to go with Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts, so it makes sense to address the defense here.
9. BEARS
LAIATU LATU, EDGE, UCLA
The Bears could double down with a left tackle to help protect Williams, but helping the pass rush is a logical thing to do here. At the caution of over-extending the comparison, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote a comparison of Latu to T.J. Watt in his pre-draft profile. That's top-of-the-mountain praise for Latu, though he does project as a solid pass rusher at this level because of his hands and strength.
10. JETS
BROCK BOWERS, TE, GEORGIA
The Jets were very active in free agency by adding Williams, Tyron Smith, John Simpson and Morgan Moses on the offensive side of the ball. They could go and get a tackle to learn from the 33-year-olds Smith and Morgan, but giving Aaron Rodgers a weapon such as Bowers, the far and away best tight end available, would give the Jets a well-rounded attack as Rodgers returns from missing 99.9% of the 2023 season.
11. VIKINGS
J.J. MCCARTHY, QB, MICHIGAN
If the Vikings are going to get McCarthy, then they might have to get aggressive to do it. That means the pick likely won't be made here, and they would have to move up. In this mock void of trades, though, Minnesota still gets their guy to kick off the post-Cousins era.
12. BRONCOS
TERRION ARNOLD, CB, ALABAMA
See above. If the Broncos want to upgrade the position in the post-Russell Wilson era, getting aggressive for McCarthy, Maye or Daniels might be their only way. That could spark a fascinating bidding war against Minnesota to get inside of the top 10.
In this mock, though, Denver lands one of the draft's best cornerbacks to anchor the side opposite Pat Surtain II. Arnold is the best athlete within his position and has room to grow, and this would be a prime landing spot for him.
13. RAIDERS
QUINYON MITCHELL, CB, TOLEDO
Mitchell stole the show at the Senior Bowl and followed up with a solid Combine to improve his stock tremendously. He was already going to be a first-round pick -- and is definitively on the Steelers' radar -- but the Raiders address a need with the All-American.
14. SAINTS
OLU FASHANU, OT, PENN STATE
Fashanu's fall, if it can be called that, ends here. The fact of this draft is that teams in need of offensive linemen are not picking until the middle-to-late stages of the first round. As you'll read shortly, this starts a significant run of players from the offensive and defensive lines coming off of the board ...
15. COLTS
COOPER DEJEAN, CB, IOWA
... but, that run does not start just yet. The Colts stand in a fascinating position because any of the teams behind them which are in need of offensive line help could call and inquire on a trade to jump the rest of the pack. If the Colts stand pat, they have many options. DeJean's ability to play multiple positions within a defense makes him a polarizing prospect, and the Colts jump at the opportunity to grab someone to play opposite 2023 second-rounder JuJu Brents here.
16. SEAHAWKS
TALIESE FUAGA, OT, OREGON STATE
Fuaga is probably the best player available by this stage, and Seattle pairs up 2022 first-rounder Charles Cross with a franchise-caliber piece on the opposite side of the offensive line.
17. JAGUARS
JARED VERSE, EDGE, FLORIDA STATE
The Jaguars continue to beef up their pass rush after signing Ronald Darby, Darnell Savage and Arik Armstead in free agency and re-upping Josh Allen to a franchise-record five-year, $141.25 million deal with $76.5 million fully guaranteed.
18. BENGALS
J.C. LATHAM, OT, ALABAMA
The Bengals signed Trent Brown to a one-year deal this offseason but didn't do anything else to address the offensive line. Upgrading the offensive line with a true right tackle makes sense for the Bengals, which added Zack Moss and Mike Gesicki to Joe Burrow's arsenal. A wide receiver could be in play if franchise-tagged receiver Tee Higgins is moved, however.
19. RAMS
BYRON MURPHY, DT, TEXAS
Aaron Donald retired, so the Rams make up for it with the best defensive tackle in the draft.
20. STEELERS
AMARIUS MIMS, OT, GEORGIA
The Steelers have hit the ground hard for Mims. They checked off the trifecta of meeting with him formally at the NFL Combine, visiting him at Georgia's pro day and hosting him for an official visit on the South Side. Omar Khan and the front office have been heavily scouting offensive tackles and it would benefit the Steelers to upgrade the position. This would move 2023 first-rounder Jones back to his natural left side while his former Georgia teammate mans the right side full-time. This also would relegate Dan Moore Jr. to a swing tackle spot, but that would be just fine for someone who was unproductive as a starter and is entering the final year of his contract.
The Steelers could also go for a center, wide receiver, cornerback or defensive lineman in this position. Jackson Powers-Johnson stood out at the Senior Bowl, but teams have raised concerns with his medical history. If Fuaga, Mitchell or DeJean fall, the Steelers could sprint to the podium for either player and it would be fine. The beauty of this draft for the Steelers is the depth at tackle and wide receiver, which don't exactly confine them at taking one with the 20th pick if they want to address something else.
21. DOLPHINS
TROY FAUTANU, OL, WASHINGTON
Though he played tackle in college, his future might be better served at an interior offensive line spot. The Dolphins addressed the defense in free agency and could plug and play Fautanu at right guard on Day 1 and move forward with the rest of the draft.
22. EAGLES
NATE WIGGINS, CB, CLEMSON
The board is somewhat open for the Eagles, but adding the speedy Wiggins to play in the nickel spot would make a ton of sense.
23. VIKINGS (from Browns through Texans)
JER'ZHAN NEWTON, DT, ILLINOIS
If the Vikings don't trade this pick, they would land a needed piece on the defensive line.
24. COWBOYS
GRAHAM BARTON, OL, DUKE
Barton shot up draft boards after the Combine for good reason. He is versatile and athletic and has the size to play anywhere on the offensive line. The Cowboys need to upgrade the interior and Powers-Johnson could be in play for them, but Barton gives Dallas a needed piece who could check in at tackle, guard or center.
25. PACKERS
TYLER GUYTON, OT, OKLAHOMA
Guyton has gathered plenty of looks from the Steelers, but his eventual landing spot is somewhere in front of Jordan Love in Green Bay. Guyton has battled injuries through his college career -- as Mims has -- but oozes potential as a right tackle at 6-foot-8, 322 pounds.
26. BUCCANEERS
CHOP ROBINSON, EDGE, PENN STATE
The Buccaneers hit with Pitt's Calijah Kancey in the first round and Louisville's YaYa Diaby in the third round of last year's draft, and that youth movement along the defensive line continues with Robinson.
27. CARDINALS (from Texans)
KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY, CB, ALABAMA
Though he had a solid showing at his pro day, McKinstry's stock has dropped since doctors discovered a Jones fracture in his right foot during Combine week. The Cardinals capitalize on a piece for their secondary after being aggressive in adding to their defensive line in free agency.
28. BILLS
BRIAN THOMAS JR., WR, LSU
Trading Stefon Diggs to the Texans was ... something. The Bills suddenly are in dire need of a No. 1 receiver. They do their best to remedy that with Thomas.
29. LIONS
ADONAI MITCHELL, WR, TEXAS
The Lions upgraded their defense in free agency, so giving Jared Goff a solid receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown seems logical. This is Dan Campbell's Lions we're talking about. Anything can and will happen with this pick.
30. RAVENS
DARIUS ROBINSON, EDGE, MISSOURI
The Ravens have been relatively quiet this offseason with the exception of adding Derrick Henry. Picking Robinson here would shore up the pass rush with the departures of Tyus Bowser and Jadeveon Clowney.
31. 49ERS
JORDAN MORGAN, OT, ARIZONA
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan could get creative with this pick, but Morgan is a safe option for a loaded roster that's in need of a right tackle.
32. CHIEFS
LADD MCCONKEY, WR, GEORGIA
This is a no-brainer. McConkey is an outstanding play maker and would bring a new weapon to Patrick Mahomes to go with Marquise Brown. The Chiefs are still waiting on Rashee Rice's legal situation stemming from a March 30 vehicle crash in Dallas to play out, so that could affect what the defending Super Bowl champion does here.
That does it. Agree with it, disagree with it, praise it, and/or roast it how you please in the comments.
