It is time to unveil my second-ever Boston Sports Journal mock draft. There will be more to follow in alternate forms. But for this one, I'm doing two rounds with trades (and there might be a surprise). I am picking for every team, considering free agency and short- and long-term needs.
Also, I'm not picking the same players for the Patriots in every mock. That's boring. I don't like boring. This took a long time. Be nice.
(** indicates traded pick)
1. Chicago, Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2. Washington, Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
3. New England, J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan - The Pats like McCarthy. I know this for a fact. The question then becomes, how much? He is the youngest of the QBs in this draft, and his tape, while somewhat limited because of the type of team Michigan was, is good. He's such a loose athlete and moves better than I had in my mind's eye from watching him during the year. Is he ready to assume the number one chair from day one? Unlikely. But there's no rush. His intelligence is right up at the top of this class, and fundamentally, McCarthy has a better base than Maye.
4. Minnesota, Jayden Daniels**, QB, LSU - The Vikings give up 11, 23, 129, and next year's first (basing this deal on the 49ers' move from 12 to 3 in 2021 to draft Trey Lance).
5. Arizona - Marvin Harrison**, WR, OSU - The Cards trade down from four, then back up, surrendering 11 and 66 for 5 overall.
6. NY Giants, Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
7. Tennessee, Joe Alt, T, Notre Dame - Alt and offensive line coach Bill Callahan is a match mad in football heaven.
8. Atlanta, Dallas Turner, DE, Alabama*
9. Jacksonville, Rome Odunze**, WR, Washington - The Jags trade up from 17 to 9, surrendering their 2nd rounder (48) but getting back 122 to even the deal out. Losing Calvin Ridley hurt. Odunze projects as a better player.
10. NY Jets - Troy Fautanu, T/G, Washington - Top 10 player goes 10th.
11. LA Chargers, Brian Thomas**, WR, LSU - Chargers trade down, getting 11 and 66 from Arizona for 5. Thomas is flirting with the top 10. Based on his tape, he should be.
12. Denver, Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia - The Broncos need a QB, but I've soured on Bo Nix here. Bowers will fly in Sean Payton's offense, a big slot used like Marques Colston or Jimmy Graham.
13. Las Vegas, JC Latham, T/G, Alabama - I was tempted to go quarterback here.
14. New Orleans, Olu Fashanu, T, Penn State - Trevor Penning is a borderline bust.
15. Indy, Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo - GM Chris Ballard loves measurables. Mitchell has all of it.
16. Seattle, Tailese Fuaga, T/G, Oregon State
17. Pittsburgh, Amarius Mims**, T, Georgia - The Steelers trade 20 and 98 for 16 to the Bears, who move back a second time. I could see Mims range being anywhere from middle of the first to middle of the second. He started just eight games in his college career, and was hurt a lot.
18. Cincy, Byron Murphy, DT, Texas - D.J. Reader is gone. Murphy jumps right into that spot.
19. LA Rams, Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA - Best pure pass rusher in the draft.
20. Chicago, Jared Verse**, DE, FSU - Bears get their bookend for Montez Sweat.
21. Miami, Graham Barton, G/C, Duke
22. Green Bay, Tyler Guyton**, T, Oklahoma - Packers trade 25 and 126 to move up three spots and draft their left tackle of the future.
23. Arizona, Terrion Arnold**, CB, Alabama - The Cards pick the 2nd-best corner in the draft with one of the selections acquired from the Vikings in their trade-up to get a QB.
24. Dallas, Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
25. Philadelphia, Nate Wiggins**, CB, Clemson - The Eagles' old corners should be better in Vic Fangio's defensive system, but Wiggins may push one to the bench sooner rather than later.
26. Tampa Bay, Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa
27. New England, Adonai Mitchell**, WR, Texas - Trade 34, 137, and a future 4th and get 27 for the Cards. Here, they select the outside receiver this roster desperately needs. I re-watched Mitchell's tape after a scout told me I was too harsh in my critique of the Texas wideout taking too many plays off. His point was that the Longhorn offense didn't fully utilize Mitchell's skillset and that QB Quinn Ewers (possible 1st rounder next year) rarely read the play through from one through four. In that context, on the re-watch, I mostly agree.
28. Buffalo, Chop Robinson, Edge, PSU - Need a wideout, but rolling the dice for later.
29. Detroit, Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
30. Baltimore, Kingsley Suamataia, T, BYU - My pick to the Pats to open round two in my initial mock draft. Ravens need offensive line help, having lost three of five starters from a year ago.
31. SF, Jordan Morgan, T/G, Arizona
32. KC, Ladd McConkey, WR, Georga - This should scare you. If McConkey stays healthy, he'll feast in that offense.
SECOND ROUND
33. Carolina - Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan - Little rich for the Wolverine, but the Panthers need pass catchers and he's a damn good player. Tough.
34. Arizona, Jer'Zhan Newton**, DT, Illinois
35. Arizona, Darius Robinson, DE, Missouri
36. Washington, Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama
37. LA Chargers, Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, Western Michigan - Joey Bosa and Khahil Mack barely survived this year's purge.
38. Vegas, Michael Penix**, QB, Washington - Raiders trade 44 and 112 to the Titans for 38 and make their move for a signal caller.
39. Indy, Ricky Pearsall**, WR, Florida - Colts trade 46 and 117 to the Panthers.
40. Cincinnati, Troy Franklin**, WR, Oregon - Bengals trade 49, 115, and 237 to the Commanders and select an outside receiver who will assume Tee Higgins' spot definitely next year, but perhaps this. That could heat up trade talks around Higgins, who has yet to sign his franchise tag. A 2025 second-round pick get it done? Hmmmm.
41. Green Bay, Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
42. Tampa Bay, Adisa Isaac**, edge, PSU - The Bucs trade 57 and 89 to Houston, boosting their edge (Shaq Barrett left for Miami).
43. Atlanta, TJ Tampa, CB, Iowa State
44. Tennessee, Ennis Rakestraw**, CB, Missouri
45. New Orleans, Keon Coleman, WR, FSU
46. Carolina, Payton Wilson**, LB, North Carolina - First round talent in round two because of a lengthy injury history
47. NY Giants, Max Melton, CB, Rutgers - I didn't realize they still played football at Rutgers (cheap shot at Bedard). Scouting community loves the way this kid plays.
48. Chicago, Ja'Lynn Polk**, WR, Washington - Quite the overhaul for the Bears offense, drafting Williams, trading for Keenan Allen, and signing tight end Gerald Everett.
49. Washington, Braden Fiske**, DT, FSU
50. Philly, Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia - Double dip at corner for the Eagles. Lassiter doesn't run well as well as a top corner should but fits this system.
51. Pittsburgh, Maason Smith, DT, LSU - I thought Smith had a chance to go higher than most projections, which had him in the low 100s, but the buzz on the lengthy LSU product has gotten very loud.
52. LA Rams, Bo Nix, QB, Oregon - Matthew Stafford replacement?
53. Philadelphia, Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia - Jason Kelce is retired. They have Cam Jurgens moving over from guard, but Frazier being here might change that.
54. Cleveland, Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
55. Baltimore, Xavier Worthy**, WR, Texas - Ravens trade 62 and 130 to the Commanders, snagging the explosive wide receiver to add to a core featuring Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
56. New England, Patrick Paul**, T, Houston - Eliot Wolf isn't messing around. He trades 68 and 103 for 56 and 174, then grabs the monstrous tackle out of Houston. Paul is significantly better as a pass blocker than a run blocker, but with his arm length and solid footwork, he should improve with good coaching and by getting stronger. Not sure he's a day-one starter either, but there's potential to develop into the left tackle of the future.
57. Houston, Christian Haynes**, G, UConn - Good player. Shaq Mason's replacement in a year.
58. Green Bay, Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon
59. Houston, Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
60. Buffalo, Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina - The Bills get their outside receiver. He's not the toughest catch, but he's long and fast.
61. Detroit, Austin Booker, DE, Kansas - Came to NE for a "30" visit. Still raw but has the potential to be an 8-to-10-sack edge rusher.
62. Washington, Ja'Tavion Sanders**, TE, Texas - Commanders trade 67 and 115 for 62 and 130, then select the first tight end off the board. Sanders' athletic testing didn't match up to his tape.
63. SF, Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky - The YAC King goes to the 49ers, as both Deebo Samuel injury insurance and trade insurance.
64. KC, Roger Rosengarten, T, Washington - Toyed with the Pats, taking him at 57. His name has been talked about quite a bit over the last few weeks.