It is time to unveil my first-ever Boston Sports Journal mock draft. There will be several more to follow in alternate forms. But for this one, I'm doing round one with no trades (and the first two picks of round two because I'm one hell of an American). I am picking for every team, considering free agency and short- and long-term needs. Some might call me a little crazy. I wouldn't necessarily disagree.
Without further ado...here's Giardi mock 1.0.
1. Chicago, Caleb Williams, QB, USC - This has been a no-brainer since the Muffins of the Midway locked up the top pick. The Bears have had 29 starting signal callers since 2000, including Shane Matthews, Cade McNown, and parts of eight seasons with Jay Cutler.
2. Washington, Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU - New owner syndrome will come into play here. They want a shiny new toy ready to go quickly, so they will pass on Drake Maye and go for Daniels. Daniels has started 56 games collegiately, first at Arizona State and then at LSU, where he won the Heisman this past season.
3. New England, Drake Maye, QB, UNC - Were Maye the choice in Washington, I believe the Pats would go Daniels, but he's not, and I don't think there'll be any hesitation. Maye has to clean up his footwork, but his mental acuity and the combo of height, weight, arm strength, and athleticism are too tasty to pass up. Alex Van Pelt, it's time to show us just how good you are.
4. Arizona, Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State - The Cardinals are building something around Kyler Murray. If Harrison stays healthy, put him down for 80+ catches and 1300+ yards in his rookie season. He's polished and ready to go.
5. L.A. Chargers, Malik Nabers, WR, LSU - Jim Harbaugh would like to accumulate more picks, but how do you say no to Nabers, whose foot quickness is like that of a man 3 or 4 inches smaller and 20 pounds lighter? A home run threat wherever you're on the field. Justin Herbert will be a happy camper.
6. N.Y. Giants, Rome Odunze, WR, Washington - Considered going tackle here, but the Giants have a lot invested in that unit through recent drafts and free agency and have diddly poo at wideout. They're paying Daniel Jones a good chunk of change, and if he doesn't soar this year, not only will he be looking for a new team, but head coach Brian Daboll will be as good as gone. So Odunze is the pick. In any other season, he'd probably be the top pass catcher.
7. Tennessee, Joe Alt, T, Notre Dame - The Titans have surprised many NFL execs by going hard in free agency, paying big money to Calvin Ridley, Lloyd Cushenberry, and Tony Pollard, among others. They also spirited away great line coach Bill Callahan from Cincy so he could join his son's staff. He has to be drooling at the prospect of coaching Alt, a 21-year-old with over 2200 collegiate snaps.
8. Atlanta, Dallas Turner, DE, Alabama - The Falcons desperately need an edge rusher, and while Turner didn't put up dominating stats in college, he has all the tools.
9. Chicago, Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA - The Bears would love another receiver to pair with Caleb, DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Cole Kmet, but the big dogs are gone in this scenario. So where to? The play is an edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat, assuming Latu's medicals are good. He's not some athletic freak, but he is a freaking technician and the most productive pass rusher in college football the last two seasons.
10. N.Y. Jets, Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia - The Jets are in the Aaron Rodgers window, so they're loading up. Bowers is listed as a tight end, but in reality, he's a big slot and will fit perfectly. I toyed with tackle because, let's face it, Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses aren't going wire-to-wire, but Bowers is George Kittle with the football in his hands.
11. Minnesota, J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan - Would you look at what falls into the Vikings' laps here? McCarthy doesn't fit the definition of a first-rounder. There's a lot of projection involved. But the QB market is almost always overinflated, and the National Championship-winning Wolverine has that "winner" label that NFL execs fall in love with.
12. Denver, Bo Nix, QB, Oregon - I'm not fond of this pick. But in this scenario, with no trades and their next pick not until 76 overall, Sean Payton and the Broncos need someone besides Jarrett Stidham at the quarterback position. A second-rounder has to go in round one. Nix is smart, a creative thrower, and has oodles of experience.
13. Las Vegas, Taliese Fuaga, T, Oregon State - Yes, Michael Penix is sitting there, but like Nix, I don't see the former U.W. star as a first-rounder. Fuaga, on the other hand, is the top tackle on multiple teams' boards. He's strong, mean, and has excellent feet. He'll start at right tackle right away.
14. New Orleans, Olu Fashanu, T, Penn State - He could go QB, W.R., or interior DL. However, Trevor Penning is already entering bust territory, so this team needs a left tackle, and Fashanu is already a pro-level pass protector. As he gets stronger — he's just 21 — the Nittany Lion should anchor the O.L. for years.
15. Indianapolis, Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo - CB1? CB1. Showed out at the Senior Bowl and will be a great fit in Gus Bradley's defense.
16. Seattle, Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington - His arms are long enough to play tackle - a big question going into the combine. But Fautanu can also play inside, and that's where he slots in year one with Charles Cross at LT and Abraham Lucas at RT. The talent is too good to pass up.
17. Jacksonville, Brian Thomas, WR, LSU - I'm working on the assumption that edge rusher Josh Allen remains on the team (he was franchised tagged). In that case, Trevor Lawrence gets his Calvin Ridley replacement. Needs some work vs. press coverage but should open up loads of space for Christian Kirk and Evan Engram.
18. Cincinnati, Byron Murphy, DT, Texas - D.J. Reader took his talents to Detroit. Murphy is an explosive replacement who will play all three downs.
19. L.A. Rams, Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois - There is no replacing the retired Aaron Donald, but that took a strength and made it a weakness for the Rams. Newton is a penetrating, pass-rushing talent at nearly 300 pounds.
20. Pittsburgh, Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon - This dude is a fun player who is still growing. Powers-Johnson is strong and quick, and you're likely to see him on plays 30 or 40 yards down the field.
21. Miami, Amarius Mims, T, Georgia - Terron Armstead can't stay healthy and nearly walked away after this season. Mims is raw, but you can't teach the physical gifts he has. No one that size should move that well.
22. Philadelphia, Cooper Dejean, CB/S, Iowa - Ridiculous athlete who could star at either spot. Also a gifted returner.
23. Minnesota, Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama - Brian Flores blitzes more than any coach ever. Or at least it feels that way. The Vikings added to the front seven but could use some corner help. Arnold was a borderline top-10 guy at the start of this process.
24. Dallas, J.C. Latham, T, Alabama - Another one of these insane talents at the tackle position. He could play either tackle spot or kick inside, and that's where I think he'll start (as a left guard).
25. Green Bay, Jordan Morgan, T, Arizona - David Bakithari is gone, as is the Packer's swing tackle. Morgan's arm length isn't ideal, but he's a damn good athlete and a competitive player.
26. Tampa Bay, Jared Verse, DE, FSU - The former University of Albany standout is more power than speed, but he's an 8- to 10-sack guy and sound against the run.
27. Arizona, Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama - Smart corner who is a better athlete than he gets credit for.
28. Buffalo, Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas - Some of his metrics are pretty terrible (ditto for fellow Texas WR Xavier Worthy), but some of his tape is awesome. Stefon Diggs is not long for Buffalo if he doesn't a) bounce back from the second half of last season and B) stop with his passive-aggressive nonsense. Mitchell's ceiling could allow him to be a #1.
29. Detroit, Chop Robinson, Edge, PSU - Put him opposite Aidan Hutchinson, and with that athleticism, if Chop doesn't explode, then quite frankly, he's wasting his gifts. I think Hutch and Dan Campbell will get it out of him.
30. Baltimore, Tyler Guyton, T, Oklahoma - The Ravens lost three of their five starters from a team with the best record in football. Guyton is raw but has the talent to be a starting tackle for a decade.
31. San Francisco, Graham Barton, IOL, Duke - Whether at guard or center, Barton fits what the 49ers do and should be an upgrade.
32. Kansas City, Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson - His talent is undeniable. He will have to improve as a tackler, but as a cover guy, he's as good as anyone in this draft.
ROUND TWO
33. Carolina, Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia - If anybody needs to weaponize their offense this side of Foxborough, it's the Panthers. McConkey had some injury issues in 2023, but when he did play, he balled out.
34. New England, Kingsley Suamataia, T, BYU - He's 21 years old, already a damn good run blocker, and has the arm length and explosiveness to improve with better coaching at the pro level.