A week after they dropped 38 points in a win over the Ravens, reality struck for the Raiders -- they need a long-term answer at quarterback. Not that we expected Gardner Minshew to necessarily be that guy before the start of the season, but the dreadful outing against the previously 0-2 Panthers served as a stark reminder of Las Vegas' ceiling.
The Raiders were rumored to be interested in Jayden Daniels in the 2024 NFL Draft because of his Arizona State connection to current head coach Antonio Pierce. Of course, Las Vegas was unable to jump all the way to the No. 2 spot to select the dynamic quarterback. Therefore, they have Minshew and second-year pro Aidan O'Connell at the game's most vital position.
As for the Jaguars, they have Trevor Lawrence signed through 2030, and although the former No. 1 overall pick needs to play more consistently and much closer to his perceived potential, in Week 3, it wouldn't have mattered how well Lawrence played given how the Bills shredded Jacksonville's defense. Sure, there was no Tyson Campbell nor Darnell Savage for the prime-time game in Orchard Park, but this Jaguars secondary needs more top-tier talent.
And that's precisely where someone like Michigan's Will Johnson could step in. The first-team All-American in 2023 already has a pair of pick-sixes, and he's defended three other passes in the Wolverines' first four games en route to a 3-1 start.
Just like Lawrence and the Jaguars' downward trend began later in the 2023 campaign, the Cowboys have been Swiss cheese against the run for a while now. Against the Ravens at home on Sunday, Baltimore ran for 274 yards at a whopping 6.1 yards per pop. Dallas needs a lot of things, and a top priority is more beef and serious talent on its defensive interior.
Now, let's get to the players who heard their names called in this week's mock draft.
The draft order below was determined using the current SportsLine consensus Super Bowl odds but in reverse order.
For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on "With the First Pick" -- our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find "With the First Pick" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen below!
Round 1 - Pick 1
Carson Beck
QB
Georgia
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
The Panthers have been futile for going on three seasons now, and the steady pocket passer with plenty of SEC experience can help another rebuild in Carolina.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Texas
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
The Titans add another first-round pick to the offensive line with Banks, who's starred at tackle for the No. 1 team in the land to date.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Cam Ward
QB
Miami (FL)
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 223 lbs
The Giants turn the page at quarterback with the multi-faceted Ward. He's been sensational to begin the 2024 campaign at the University of Miami.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
LSU
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 323 lbs
It's been a slowish start for Campbell, yet the traits are there for him to blossom into a lockdown left tackle, which is precisely what the Patriots will be looking for at the outset of Year 2 in the Drake Maye era.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Colorado
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 185 lbs
Sean Payton could manufacture so many unique ways to get Hunter the ball on offense, and in theory, he could add to the depth in the defensive backfield.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Will Johnson
CB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 202 lbs
Johnson looks the part of a lockdown, perimeter cornerback with freaky athleticism and plus ball skills. The Jaguars did extend Tyson Campbell, yet more cornerback talent is needed in the secondary.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Quinn Ewers
QB
Texas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 210 lbs
Ewers has the physical tools to continue to improve in the NFL, like he's done in college. The Raiders desperately need a quarterback to represent the long-term future of the organization.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Mykel Williams
EDGE
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 265 lbs
Williams is too naturally gifted for the Cardinals to pass on at No. 8 overall. He needs pass-rushing refinement, but the ceiling is All-Pro caliber.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Missouri
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 205 lbs
More youthful offensive weaponry for Anthony Richardson with the nifty and explosive Burden.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 212 lbs
Another towering boundary wideout for Caleb Williams with McMillan, who has some of the best ball skills we've seen at the collegiate ranks in a long time.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
James Pearce Jr.
EDGE
Tennessee
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 243 lbs
The Commanders get the most efficient high-volume rusher from the SEC in 2023 in Pearce, who has long limbs, a nasty bend/dip combination, and flashed quality hand work early in his Tennessee career.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Isaiah Bond
WR
Texas
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 180 lbs
Bond is becoming fast riser because of how he's generated big plays at Texas on a weekly basis. A former top recruit, he could ultimately go this high in the draft.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
This is strictly a best-player-available scenario for the Browns. They'd love to go quarterback, but can they given how expensive Deshaun Watson is?
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Nic Scourton
EDGE
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 285 lbs
The Buccaneers could use more youthful talent at the outside pass rusher spot. Scourton is a thick, versatile defender with serious pass-rush abilities.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 245 lbs
The clear-cut No. 1 tight end in the class added to the weaponry for Matthew Stafford.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Deone Walker
DL
Kentucky
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 345 lbs
The Chargers added a premier defensive tackle talent to that side of the ball in Walker, who's equally as stout against the run as he is as a pass rusher.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Colorado
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 215 lbs
Sanders would be the redshirt type behind Geno Smith in Seattle. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald knows this philosophy from his time in Baltimore.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
The Falcons get a running mate for star boundary cornerback A.J. Terrell in the long and athletically gifted Morrison.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Princely Umanmielen
EDGE
Ole Miss
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 255 lbs
The Saints add youth to their outside pass-rushing group with someone with years and years of SEC experience and high-level production. Heir apparent to Cam Jordan.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Emeka Egbuka
WR
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
The Steelers probably need more depth at receiver, and while they typically wait until Round 2 to address this position, Egbuka is too polished of a prospect to pass on here.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Boise State
• Jr
• 5'9"
/ 215 lbs
The Vikings add the premier running back prospect in this class to an already loaded offensive skill-position group.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
T.J. Sanders
DT
South Carolina
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 290 lbs
Sanders is a girthy specimen on the interior with serious upfield pass-rush talent. He'd be a welcomed addition to the Cowboys defense that needs more pop against the run.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Abdul Carter
EDGE
Penn State
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 252 lbs
Carter is the type of outside rusher -- who can handle off-ball linebacker duties if needed -- the Bengals need to add to their defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
LSU
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 225 lbs
The Packers are in prime position to pick the now injured Perkins, and even if he doesn't play Week 1 in 2025, that'd be completely fine. He has All-Pro talent as a do-everything chess piece.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 310 lbs
Harmon has wreaked havoc early in the 2024 season as a upfield pass-rusher from the inside who plays with extreme hustle against the run.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Notre Dame
• Sr
• 6'0"
/ 203 lbs
Given the age of Jimmie Ward, the Texans address the safety position -- after picking Calen Bullock in Round 3 in the 2024 draft -- with the savvy Watts, who's become a leader on the Notre Dame defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Jack Sawyer
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 260 lbs
Sawyer is the oversized defensive end the Ravens have traditionally loved. He's become a quiet superstar on the Buckeyes defense this season.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Minnesota
• Sr
• 6'6"
/ 330 lbs
As they always do, the Eagles plan for the future up front. Ersery is a gargantuan specimen with his best football in front of him.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Jalon Walker
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 245 lbs
The Lions get a physical front-seven player on defense to help Aidan Hutchinson on the edge who can also range to outside runs as an off-ball linebacker if needed.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Mason Graham
DL
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 320 lbs
Given the age of their heavier defensive tackles next to Ed Oliver, the Bills add Graham, who's a run-stopping specialist and flashed tremendous pass-rush juice in 2023.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Ashton Gillotte
EDGE
Louisville
• Sr
• 6'3"
/ 275 lbs
The 49ers are starting to realize they need another true force opposite Nick Bosa on the other edge of their defensive line. Gillotte is sudden and flexible.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 290 lbs
Stewart has the super long and well filled out frame to play inside or outside along the Chiefs defensive front.
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