Goldy Happens Mock Draft 1.0

Post-Combine/Pre-Free Agency Mock Draft

Mock drafts are stupid, but fun to to read and make. Nobody knows anything, but here’s my first post-combine/pre-free agency mock draft (1.0).

TLDR Round 1:

This mock draft is assuming that the Raiders and Falcons acquire either Fields, Cousins, Baker or Wilson. I feel pretty confident that the Falcons will get one of these 4, Raiders seem to be in on Russell Wilson. Also, I will not be making any “mock trades” this early in the NFL Draft process.

1 - Bears - Caleb Williams - QB - USC

2- Commanders - Drake Maye - QB - UNC

3- Patriots - Jayden Daniels - QB - LSU

The first 3 picks of the draft are going to be QB’s. Caleb 1-1 is obviously a lock, I think Drake Maye is far and away the QB2. I’m not a big Jayden Daniels fan as there’s some Kenny Pickett 5th year breakout as a 23 year old flashback + Jayden Daniels small frame and reckless running may not hold up in the NFL. Patriots have zero weapons and it’s tough spot to play for any QB, which doesn’t bode well for Daniels or JJ McCarthy potentially.

4- Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr - WR - Ohio St

Don’t overthink it.

5- Chargers - Brock Bowers - TE - Georgia

6- Giants - Malik Nabers - WR - LSU

I would personally take the 3 top WR”s over Bowers, but I can see Harbaugh falling in love with Bowers. Chargers need weapons everywhere, Bowers does everything well. Nabers over Rome for me as he’s crazy fast and should be an elite route runner. Jayden Daniels is about the a top 3 pick thanks to Nabers dominance at LSU.

7- Titans - Joe Alt - OT - Notre Dame

The Titans offensive line is in shambles, easily the worst in the NFL. Alt’s my #1 o-lineman, 6’8 monster.

8- Falcons - Dallas Turner - EDGE - Alabama

I’m assuming the Falcons get a vet QB, Raheem Morris will get some much needed help on defense with the pass rusher of their choice at 8. Falcons have taken a skill player 3 years in a row (Pitts, London, Bijan), it’s time to throw the defense a bone.

9- Bears - Rome Odunze - WR - Washington

Odunze is a big physical WR who would pair great with DJ Moore and new QB Caleb Williams.

10- Jets - Olumuyiwa Fashanu - OT - Penn State

Jets badly need tackle + Aaron Rodgers needs all the protection he can get, Fashanu would have been a top 5 pick last year if he entered the draft, Jets should take the best tackle available here.

11 - Vikings - Jared Verse - EDGE - Florida State

Vikings I think get a veteran QB as they’re still definitely a playoff caliber roster. I think the Vikings biggest need is their pass rush.

12- Broncos - J.J. McCarthy - QB - Michigan

The Broncos are eating a $85M cap hit so they could be aggressive in the draft at QB. I could see Sean Payton falling in love with a game manager like J.J. McCarthy.

13- Raiders - Byron Murphy II - DL - Texas

Antonio Pierce gets Maxx Crosby some help on the defensive line. Murphy is undersized but freakishly athletic, and this draft is weaker on the d-line.

14- Saints - Taliese Fuaga - OT - Oregon State

The Saints don’t have a 3rd or 4th round pick this year, so they’re in a prime spot to trade down. Saints need upgrades at offensive tackle and this is a great draft to get that.

15- Colts - Terrion Arnold - CB - Alabama

16- Seahawks - Laiatu Latu - EDGE - UCLA

Colts & Seahawks fill major needs on their defense here.

17- Jaguars - Adonai Mitchell - WR - Texas

While his teammate Xavier Worthy won the combine with a 4.21 40 time, I think Mitchell is still the better WR to pair with Christian Kirk. With Josh Allen getting. the franchise tag Calvin Ridley is a free agent making WR a need for Jacksonville.

18- Bengals - JC Latham - OT - Alabama

Bengals need to shore up both lines, I’d start with protecting Joe Burrow with JC Latham (who probably goes before 18, but an OT at 18 regardless makes sense).

19- Rams - Cooper DeJean - CB - Iowa

Rams need help at corner, DeJean, Wiggins or Mitchell here works.

20- Steelers - Jackson Powers-Johnson - C - Oregon

Cardinals fans- can you believe the Steelers tried to start Mason Cole at center the last 2 seasons? Powers-Johnson starts day 1 at center as the Steelers will look to run the ball like crazy with Arthur Smith + Najee Harris + Jalen Warren + terrible QB play.

21- Dolphins - Troy Fautanu - OG - Washington

Dolphins need help all over their o-line, Fautanu is versatile and can play C or G now.

22- Eagles - Quinyon Mitchell - CB - Toledo

Mitchell killed it at the combine, Eagles defense has plenty of needs starting with corner.

23- Texans - Brian Thomas Jr - WR - LSU

Nico Collins balled with CJ Stroud year 1, but Tank Dell had a major leg injury and may be a tough bet to stay healthy at a small size. Thomas Jr fits the Texans vertical passing game perfectly too.

24- Cowboys - Amarius Mims - OT - Georgia

Cowboys great o-line has gotten old and expensive, I expect them to go o-line at 1-24.

25- Packers - Tyler Nubin - S - Minnesota

Packers top need is safety, so they snag the best one here. GB has 11 picks in the draft and I expect them to grab some depth on the trenches after this.

26- Bucs - Graham Barton - OT/C - Duke

Bucs need interior o-line help as their running game struggled in 2023, Barton played tackle at Duke but there’s a lot of buzz for him moving to center.

27- Cardinals- Kool-Aid McKinstry - CB - Alabama

A fun thing about having a ton of needs is you can truly take best player at any position. It’s a deep o-line, corner, WR draft and the Cardinals needs help at all 3. Kool-Aid McKinstry is a long outside corner who will start day 1 for the Cardinals.

28- Bills - Troy Franklin - WR - Oregon

Gabe Davis is a free agent, Diggs is starting to lose a step, Franklin is 6’3 can play inside and out and will fit the Gabe Davis role at minimum day 1.

29- Lions - Nate Wiggins - CB - Clemson

The Lions defense stinks, corner is probably in worse shape and the Lions should be thrilled to get Wiggins, Kool-Aid or Rakestraw here.

30- Ravens - Jer’Zhan Newton - DL - Illinois

The Ravens just take the best defensive player available and stay dominant, a tale as old as time.

31- 49ers - Tyler Guyton - OT - Oklahoma

49ers need a RT badly next to Trent Williams to keep the perfectly oiled machine running for Brock Purdy.

32- Chiefs - Ladd McConkey - WR - Georgia

Ladd’s combine shocked me as he tested the same as Devonta Smith.

-2nd round-

33- Panthers - Chop Robinson - DL - Penn State

Chop’s killed the combine with an insane 4.48 40, but he did have just 4 sacks last year. Panthers franchise tagged Brian Burns, this duo could be dynamic.

34- Patriots - Jordan Morgan - OT - UofA

Patriots sniped the Cardinals in 2019 1 pick ahead when they took ASU’s N’Keal Harry, I have them striking again with UofA’s Jordan Morgan.

35- Cardinals - Zach Frazier - C - WVU

Wolf’s going to love this pick. With a lot of the tackles off the board, I got the Cardinals taking some much needed interior lineman help with Frazier who can take over right away at center.

-@GoldyHappens