Goldy Happens Mock Draft 5.0

48 hours until the draft starts!!

Mock Draft 4.0 featured a couple trades, including a “what if the Cardinals trade down with Vikings” projection. This mock will feature no trades, just straight up in your spot picks.

1st round TLDR

1 - Bears - Caleb Williams - QB - USC

2- Commanders - Jayden Daniels - QB - LSU

A lot of weirdness around the Commanders pick… they brought in all 5 top QB’s on the same day, supposedly the Jayden Daniels meeting didn’t go well, but they also don’t want to go the UNC QB route again with Drake Maye? As of Tuesday morning Jayden Daniels is -400 to go to WAS, I trust Vegas.

3- Patriots - Drake Maye - QB - UNC

If Drake Maye falls to 3, they should pop champagne and throw a parade the following day. Drake Maye has the size and athleticism to be a Justin Herbert type QB, granted the Patriots are going to have to completely rebuild the offense around Maye. Drake will need to improve his accuracy in the pros, but the talent is off the charts.

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

If the Cardinals stay at 4, the pick will be MHJ.

5- Chargers - Joe Alt - OT - Notre Dame

Jim Harbaugh is going to want to build the trenches first, Joe Alt is the #1 lineman in a strong o-line class. Getting Justin Herbert a franchise tackle will be a huge help as they can attack WR next.

6- Giants - JJ McCarthy - QB - Michigan

The Daniel Jones era is over. Giants could jump to 4 for JJ in order to make sure no one trades ahead of them while the Cardinals still get a top WR at 6.

7- Titans - Olumuyiwa Fashanu - OT - Penn State

I don’t understand why a lot of mock drafts have Fashanu falling into the teens, he was the #1 OT if came out last season, he played in every game and allowed just 10 pressures in 2023. Fashanu is a legit franchise LT and the Titans had the worst o-line in the NFL last year. Alt or Fashanu A+ picks here.

8- Falcons - Dallas Turner - EDGE - Alabama

Turner is emerging as the favorite to be the first EDGE rusher off the board. The Falcons have addressed offense 3 years in a row in the 1st round (Pitts, London, Bijan), it’s time get new defensive minded HC Raheem Morris some pass rush help.

9- Bears - Malik Nabers - WR - LSU

The Bears with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Malik Nabers and Cole Kmet would be an incredible set of weapons for Caleb Williams. With 4 QB’s going early, Chargers & Titans going LT for their young QB’s, Bears hit the jackpot.

10- Jets - Brock Bowers - TE - Georgia

The Jets desperately need offensive line help but have been tied to Brock Bowers, which helps that pass protection too. Aaron Rodgers will love this new addition.

11- Vikings - Bo Nix - QB - Oregon

I’m extremely intrigued by Bo Nix. I’m not sure what the difference is between Bo Nix, a super senior who had everything click his final 2 years in college vs Jayden Daniels, a super senior who had everything click his final 2 years in college. Bo Nix has good size, he won’t be the next Josh Allen or CJ Stroud, but I think he’s closer to Jayden & JJ than people are giving credit for.

12- Broncos - Rome Odunze - WR - Washington

Rome falls to 12 with QB’s being pushed up the board, Sean Payton gets his trio of terrible QB’s a legit #1 WR at least.

13- Raiders - Michael Penix Jr - QB - Washington

The Raiders have been tied to Michael Penix Jr, if they believe in him you need to take him in the 1st. This draft may end up like the 2021 NFL Draft with 5 QB’s in the top 15… and hopefully these QB’s pan out.

14- Saints - Taliese Fuaga - OT - Oregon State

The Saints tackles struggled in 2023, Fuaga can step in and be their LT right away.

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 - Byron Murphy II - DT - Texas

Bengals need to shore up both lines, Byron Murphy is extremely athletic defensive lineman who fits the Bengals front 7.

19- Rams - Jared Verse - EDGE - Florida State

With Aaron Donald retiring, the Rams pass rush and front 7 needs some juice. Jared Verse or Latu would be great gets for the Rams.

20- Steelers - Graham Barton - C - Duke

The Steelers need to find their next great center as using Mason Cole post Maurkice Pouncey hasn’t gone well. Arthur Smith at OC means they’re going to run the ball a ton too.

21- Dolphins - Troy Fautanu - G/OT - Washington

Fautanu played tackle at Washington, should be able to play tackle in the NFL but projects better at guard. Dolphins need help all over the o-line, so this is a great fit.

22- Eagles - Cooper DeJean - CB/S - Iowa

Eagles secondary is bad and getting old, Cooper DeJean is a freak athlete that can slide to corner or safety instantly for the Eagles.

23- Vikings - Jer’Zhan Newton - DT - Illinois

The Vikings struggled against the run last year and have an older d-line, Newton fits.

24- Cowboys - JC Latham - OT - Alabama

It’s time for the Cowboys to reload their offensive line. Tyron Smith went to the Jets this offseason.

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 - Chop Robinson - EDGE - Penn State

Mocked Graham Barton here last draft, but Chop Robinson is extremely athletic, won the combine essentially, and the blitz happy Todd Bowles will get the most out of Chop.

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

The Cardinals get a much need big outside CB to help out a bad secondary.

28- Bills - Brian Thomas Jr - WR - LSU

Thomas fits the Bills perfectly as they lost Diggs & Davis. They need a deep threat as Josh Allen has no one to push the ball down field to.

29- Lions - Adonai Mitchell - WR - Texas

Lions could use a true #2 WR to play the X next to Amon Ra in the slot and Sam LaPorta at TE. Mitchell has great size and fit the Lions receiving core perfectly as another strong red zone threat too.

30- Ravens - Amarius Mims - OT - Georgia

Mims is rumored to be falling a little bit, but he’s extremely talented at 6’7 340. Ravens seem to always get really talented surprise fallers, great landing spot for Mims.

31- 49ers - Jordan Morgan - OT - UofA

UofA’s Jordan Morgan had a great season coming off a torn ACL, which means he could be a steal now 2-3 years removed from surgery and stronger than ever. 49ers need a plug and play RT, great draft to find that.

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 - Darius Robinson - EDGE - Mizzou

Panthers hired Dave Canales from the Bucs in hopes to spark Bryce Young and the offense, but the Panthers are so far away from being good and I believe they should go best player available. It’s a weaker pass rush draft, so if Darius Robinson is here I’d take him. With no 1st rounder, I could see the Panthers trying to trade down here and recoup picks.

34- Patriots - Nate Wiggins - CB - Clemson

Nate Wiggins is small but really athletic and fast, Patriots get great value here at 34.

35- Cardinals - Jackson Powers-Johnson - C - Oregon

The Cardinals should be thrilled if the draft breaks this way. With pick 35, 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. Ilike zach Frazier here too, but have JPJ above him.

-Round 3-

-Goldy Happens