Five quarterbacks go off the board in the first 12 picks in Mock 3.0, which gives the Giants and Jets elite playmakers for their respective quarterbacks.
The Vikings are hot on the trail of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy — and will have to trade up ahead of the Giants to land him (they have the ammo) but no trades in this mock. We’ll do what we can for the Vikes, however. Skol!
If you need an offensive lineman, you’re in luck this year. There could be as many as nine selected in the first round.
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Keenan Allen was a nice welcome present for the latest savior. GM Ryan Poles did right by Justin Fields dealing him to Steelers and resetting financial clock with this elite playmaker.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Dual-threat Heisman winner might be a better fit for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury than Drake Maye. Could go either way.
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
New coach Jerod Mayo has plenty of holes to fill, and new franchise quarterback is the biggest, with Jacoby Brissett summoned to be the bridge QB. Scuttlebutt has the Vikings plotting a trade of picks 11 and 23 for this prototype or for McCarthy. Kevin O’Connell’s quarterbacks coach Josh McCown coached Maye in high school. … Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Line 1. Joe Schoen on Line 2.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
QB Kyler Murray needs this 6-foot-3 go-to guy now that Rondale Moore is in Atlanta and Marquise “Hooray for Hollywood” Brown will be catching bombs from Patrick Mahomes.
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
QB Justin Herbert is desperate for a dynamic, elite, game-breaking talent now that Keenan Allen is a Bear and Mike Williams is a Jet.
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
QB Daniel Jones has never had the luxury of a physical, can’t-miss, 6-foot-3, 215-pound No. 1 receiver who makes the contested catches and is high-character. A rookie quarterback will come later.
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
QB Will Levis gets a stud, 6-foot-8, 322-pound blindside protector to join free agent C Lloyd Cushenberry and 2023 first-round LG Peter Skoronski, so Levis might be able to find Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins when he isn’t handing off to Tony Pollard.
Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
Can’t keep drafting offensive players in the first round, especially when you’re craving an explosive pass rusher like this. Especially when you now have Kirk Cousins.
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Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
A bookend for Montez Sweat to upgrade a defense with the second-fewest (30) sacks in the league.
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
GM Joe Douglas used free agency to get Aaron Rodgers a host of bodyguards, so now a quarterback-friendly weapon who would be target insurance if WR Mike Williams misses time.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah likely will have to package his 23rd pick to move up to No. 4 or 5 for ex-Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh’s favorite son.
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Coach Sean Payton needs a new quarterback, and he will reach when he discovers this one has intriguing traits while Jarrett Stidham holds the fort.
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Coach Antonio Pierce bolsters the right side void, left by the departure to the Giants of RT Jermaine Eluemunor, with this 6-foot-6, 334-pound bully.
Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Former first-round LT Trevor Penning has disappointed, so here’s a 6-foot-4, 317-pounder with positional versatility.
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley could use a smart, athletic 6-foot, 196-pound thoroughbred to deal with AFC South QBs Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Stroud.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
G Damien Lewis left for Carolina, and this 6-foot-3, 320-pounder can replace him or start at center for the next decade.
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
His stock has soared, especially after that 4.33 40 at the combine, and signing CB Ronald Darby in free agency isn’t sufficient to deal with C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson twice a year.
Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
QB Joe Burrow needs a replacement at RT for Jonah Williams and doesn’t care about this guy’s small hands.
Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
DT Byron Murphy II could be tempted to follow Aaron Donald into retirement, but this is the most NFL-ready pass rusher — as long as the medicals (neck) check out.
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
A 6-foot-6, 360-pound Monster of the Monongahela who can bludgeon defenders at RT and move Broderick Jones to LT. And make life easier for Russell Wilson and Ciara.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
A 6-foot-4 complement to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle with 4.33 speed.
Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
Brandon Graham won’t play forever, and Haason Reddick is on the trade block, so GM Howie Roseman infuses more new blood along with free-agent add Bryce Huff.
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores can use a 6-foot-1, 308-pound enforcer to help stop NFC North RBs Josh Jacobs, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, and D’Andre Swift.
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
A 6-foot-8, 340-pound LT replacement for Tyron Smith. Not a lot of experience, but an 87-inch wingspan. Jerry Jones likes ’em Texas-sized, or have you forgotten Nate Newton and Larry Allen?
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
An athletic, 6-foot-7, 328-pound LT to replace David Bakhtiari and keep Jordan Love — too young to be anybody’s VP candidate — upright.
Graham Barton, OL, Duke
A versatile chess piece to bolster an offensive line in flux to protect the Baker Mayfield investment.
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
A 6-foot-2 corner with 4.28 speed who has bulked up to 182 pounds, joining free-agent signee Sean Murphy-Bunting.
Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
CB Tre’Davious White and S Jordan Poyer are gone, so a 6-foot-1, 207-pound athlete with return-specialist value.
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
“Johnny” is a quick, disruptive force on the interior who would be welcomed by Aidan Hutchinson. Just 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds, but a scrapper.
Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
Shoutout to @NflOgden on Twitter (aka X): “He’s violent, tough and relentless.” And he’s 6-foot-5, 286 pounds with over 34.5-inch arms. Offensive line needs reinforcements, too.
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
New defensive coordinator Nick Sorenson needs a slot corner, and here’s a high-IQ stud who ran a 4.47 with a broken toe at his Pro Day.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
A 6-foot-4 target with 4.35 speed to complement Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown for Mahomes.