Goldy Happens Mock Draft 2.0

3 weeks until Draft Day!

I know it’s not MLB or Diamondbacks content, but NFL Mock Drafts are fun to make. Here’s the TLDR version of Round 1:

(Mock Draft 1.0 from 3/6 can be viewed here but it’s post NFL Free Agency and pretty out of date)

1 - Bears - Caleb Williams - QB - USC

2- Commanders - Jayden Daniels - QB - LSU

3- Patriots - Drake Maye - QB - UNC

The first 3 picks of the draft are going to be QB’s. Caleb 1-1 is obviously a lock, I now think the Commanders may be leaning Jayden Daniels. I’m not a Jayden Daniels guy by any means, but the Commanders may not want to draft another UNC QB… the Patriots though will be thrilled to take Drake Maye.

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

Don’t overthink it, just take the WR you like the most. If Maye falls to 4, the Vikings or Broncos may pony up a kings ransom though…. I just think that top 3 QB will still be the top 3.

TRADE (LAC 1-5 to MIN for 1-11 & 1-23)

5- Vikings - JJ McCarthy - QB - Michigan

A lot to unpack here, I’ll start with the Cardinals angle. The Cardinals are going to ask for more than this haul for the 4th pick. The Chargers are in year 1 rebuild under Harbaugh and would love to add another 1st round pick. Harbaugh has been hyping up JJ all offseason, and he can cash in here and get his Michigan QB into the top 5. The Vikings recently traded up to 23 with everyone assuming to use it as ammo to trade up for a QB. I’m sure they’ll try and get a top 3 team to budge, but I think they find a partner at 5. Also, the famous NFL draft pick calculator has this as a slight overpay for Minnesota at 2010 points, with Chargers 1-5 worth 1700 points for what thats worth.

6- Giants - Malik Nabers - WR - LSU

If no one trades up to jump the Giants, I think they take McCarthy. In this scenario, 4 QB’s are gone so they take note from the LSU OBJ pick and take a new LSU WR in Malik Nabers. The Giants desperately need talent on offense and I think MHJ, Nabers and Rome are all going to be elite #1 WR’s in the NFL.

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

The Falcons got Kirk Cousins this offseason and he has plenty of weapons since the Falcons have taken a skill player 3 years in a row (Pitts, London, Bijan). Raheem Morris will get some much needed help on defense by addressing a weak pass rush at 8.

9- Bears - Rome Odunze - WR - Washington

The Bears no longer NEED to go WR at 9, but DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze at WR is insane. Caleb Williams will have elite weapons everywhere (I also really like Cole Kmet at TE, Swift/Herbert at RB) plus Keenan Allen is 32 and a free agent next year.

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- Chargers - Brock Bowers - TE - Georgia

I could totally see the Chargers pulling a 2023 Monti and trading back into the top 10 for a much needed WR, but Brock Bowers is such a Jim Harbaugh guy. Atheltic and physical 6’3 245 Bowers is willing to block and will be a great 1st piece to rebuild Herbert’s weaponry.

12 - Broncos - Bo Nix - QB - Oregon

This would be a great spot for the Broncos to trade down a gain some extra draft picks as they’re in cap hell thanks to the $85M Russell Wilson cap hit. Bo Nix has all the tools to be a NFL starter and Sean Payton can start Stidham, develop Nix.

13 - Raiders - Taliese Fuaga - OT - Oregon State

Raiders dropped the bag for Christian Wilkins, so my Murphy pick flips to an offensive tackle. Raiders have long needed help on the o-line, Telesco’s 1st pick addresses it.

14 - Saints - Jared Verse - EDGE -Florida State

This is the most difficult selection of the entire mock draft. Saints need pretty much everything, but don’t have 1 massive glaring need. Cam Jordan is 34, not a whole lot around him, this draft is strong at o-line, WR, CB, so I have them taking one of the best EDGE guys left in Verse.

15 - Colts - Terrion Arnold - CB - Alabama

16 - Seahawks - Laiatu Latu - EDGE - UCLA

Colts & Seahawks fill major needs on their defense here.

17 - Jaguars - Quinyon Mitchell - CB - Toledo

Mitchell killed it at the combine, Jags defense addressed a lot this offseason, but really have just Campbell & Darby at corner. Could way to counter punch the Texans getting Diggs.

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/S - Iowa

Rams need help in the secondary.

20 - Steelers - Brian Thomas Jr - WR - LSU

Steelers badly need a sidekick for George Pickens. Thomas Jr is 6’3 and runs a 4.33 40, the Steelers are great at developing WR’s too.

21 - Dolphins - Byron Murphy II - DT - Texas

Dolphins lost a lot in free agency, but no bigger loss than Christian Wilkins. Dolphins need to replenish both lines, they start on defense with the athletic Murphy.

22 - Eagles - Nate Wiggins - CB - Clemson

Eagles need help improving an aging set of corner in Slay & Bradburry.

23 - Chargers - Troy Fautanu - G/OT - Washington

This is a great get for a Chargers offense that needs help everywhere. Fautanu played LT but also is seen by some as a guard.

24 - Cowboys - Amarius Mims - OT - Georgia

It’s time for the Cowboys to reload their offensive line. Tyron Smith went to the Jets this offseason, so the 6’7 Georgia tackle makes sense here.

25 - Packers - Tyler Guyton - OT - Oklahoma

The OT run continues, Bakhtiari era is over so Jordan Love needs some protection at tackle, Guyton is also 6’7 and scored great at his pro day.

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

More offensive lineman! 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 - Jackson Powers-Johnson - C - Oregon

The Cardinals should be thrilled if the draft breaks this way. With pick 34, the Cardinals should hop on the offensive line run and get a plug and play center in Jackson Powers-Johnson. With Paris & Jonah anchoring the tackle spots, the interior offensive line needs help and I think JPJ will start right away at center.

28 - Bills - Adonai Mitchell - WR - Texas

Good size at 6’2, Mitchell gets a dream landing spot in Buffalo with a major need at WR post Diggs & Davis.

29 - Lions - Kool-Aid McKinstry - CB - Alabama

Lions desperately need help at corner, this is a great draft to need it.

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 - Jordan Morgan - OT - UofA

49ers need a RT badly next to Trent Williams to keep the perfectly oiled machine running for Brock Purdy. Morgan may be a steal here since 2023 was his first year off a torn ACL. I’ve heard nothing but great things about him from UofA fans.

32- Chiefs - Ladd McConkey - WR - Georgia

Ladd’s combine shocked me as he tested the same as Devonta Smith. Even after signing Hollywood, the Chiefs need weapons, Hollywood is on a 1 year deal, Rice has some mysterious legal issues now popping up, Kelce isn’t going to play forever, throw Mahomes a thank you and get him another WR at 32.

-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 - Kingsley Suamataia - OT - BYU

Patriots offense is in shambles, they need OT & WR to help Drake Maye out. They Kingsley Suamataia here who could be their LT of the future.

35 - Cardinals - Darius Robinson - EDGE - Missouri

Cards get Kyler some help with MHJ at 4, a new center at 27, if this was a 7 round mock every Cards pick may be defense… while it’s tempting to pick one of the top corners here, Darius Robinson is a super athletic big defensive lineman who played all over the d-line at Mizzou. The Cardinals have made several signings to the d-line, but they need a high upside young pass rusher like Robinson. 8.5 sacks last year too.

The rest of the 2nd:

The 3rd round:

Cards picks:

66 - Cardinals - Kris Jenkins - DT - Michigan

The Cardinals continue to overhaul their front 7 with Kris Jenkins to anchor the middle of the defense.

71 - Cardinals - Andru Phillips - CB - Kentucky

Cards finally grab a corner, 5’11, dominated at Senior Bowl & Combine posting 99 percentile vertical & broad jump scores with a solid 4.48. Untapped upside here in the 3rd.

90 - Cardinals - Junior Colson - LB - Michigan

Even after adding Marvin Harrison Jr, the Cardinals still need another WR. Dortch can definitely handle the slot, Michael Wilson showed upside, but Kyler needs one more WR. While I’m tempted to give the Cards Devontez Walker (WR, UNC), but I think there’s going to be solid WR options later though. Junior Colson adds some depth to the middle of the field as an extremely athletic inside linebacker who can cover the entire field.

-Goldy Happens