NFL Mock Draft 1.0.0

While watching the play-by-play of the “competitive” “chess match” between Colorado and Oklahoma State earlier this afternoon, it occurred to me that my first mock draft of the cycle hadn’t dropped yet, so here it is. In honor of the Christmas season and Matt Eberflus’ firing, I will be gifting you all with short and sweet breakdowns of each pick and why I made it.

1. NYG - QB Cam Ward, Miami

   
   

   The idea of pairing a young Jameis Winston with Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr. would be tantalizing to say the least, and Cam Ward, one of the nation’s top ball-throwers, can fill into that narrative seamlessly.

   
   

2. JAX - WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

   
   

   Arguably the best prospect in the draft regardless of position (of which he can play at least two), Travis Hunter can take over in Jacksonville as either Trevor Lawrence’s top target or Will Levis’s. Or both.

   
   

3. LV - QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

   
   

   Shedeur Sanders is a talented quarterback prospect, but I personally wouldn’t spend a top-3 pick on him unless absolutely necessary. In this case (for a handful of reasons) it is necessary, as much as I might not enjoy it.

   
   

4. NE - OL Will Campbell, Louisiana State

   
   

   I flirted heavily with the idea of Kelvin Banks Jr. here, but Will Campbell is just a better football player at this point in time.

   
   

5. CAR - CB Will Johnson, Michigan

   
   

   Jaycee Horn needs help. With star DL Derrick Brown coming back from injury and Will Johnson in the fold, he’ll have some.

   
   

6. NYJ - DL Mason Graham, Michigan

   
   

   With Texas legend Quinn Ewers (hook ‘em) likely falling into the second round due to injury and unwarranted public hate, the Jets can wait to address quarterback until later and swing big on an absolute monster on the defensive front to run alongside Quinnen Williams.

   
   

7. TEN - WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

   
   

   Will Levis is too generational of a talent to go to waste, and pairing him with a dominant ball-winner in McMillan should give Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes nightmares for years from getting run out of the stadium year after year in the playoffs.

   
   

8. CLE - OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

   
   

   One of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class, Kelvin Banks can step in really anywhere on the offensive line in Cleveland (especially at left tackle) and start fairly quickly.

   
   

9. CHI - EDGE/LB Abdul Carter, Penn State

   
   

   Not really much question whether Chicago should take an edge-rusher here with the state of the draft board at this point, and any of the top 4 options (all of which will be gone by 20 in this mock) would make sense to me. Carter might not be Micah Parsons, but he could be.

   
   

10. NO - EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

    
    

    I thought about Jalen Milroe here, but the Saints’ defensive front is just bad, and it has very little upside to build on. Williams might need some time to develop into a game-wrecker, but he has every trait you could ask for in an EDGE prospect.

    
    

11. CIN - DL/EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

    
    

    Long-time followers of the blog & podcast might remember my early takes on Stewart as a 5-star recruit out of high school, as he was (and still is) my all-time top-rated HS prospect. Now, almost four years later, I have him mocked in the top 11 picks and ahead of teammate Nic Scourton. He is the ultimate “My Man™️”, and I’m willing to die on this hill.

    
    

12. MIA - OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

    
    

    Tua might need to start going by Tau at this rate, honestly (real ones know). If he’s still clear to play by next season, having a new anchor on the offensive line should at least help a little.

    
    

13. IND - CB Benjamin Morrison, ND

    
    

    A dream scenario for the Colts would be landing Will Johnson, but I don’t expect him to fall outside the top 10. Morrison’s good, though, and would be CB1 in not too long.

    
    

14. DAL - RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

    
    

    The potential draft placement of Ashton Jeanty might become one of the more hotly-debated topics come April, but at the moment he’s a mid-teens guy for me. The Cowboys might pick higher, however, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they take an early swing on him.

    
    

15. TB - EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

    
    

    Man, Malaki Starks would be so fun alongside Antoine Winfield and Tykee Smith in that secondary. Still kicking myself for not making it happen, but James Pearce could have the highest ceiling of any pass-rusher in the draft, and having a potential #1 join that EDGE room could send the Bucs into Super Bowl territory.

    
    

16. LAR - QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama

    
    

    Like with Shedeur, taking Milroe in the top half of round 1 is a bit rich for my liking. But if any team was to take a swing at Milroe’s electrifying athleticism and anti-naysayer mentality, I’d want it to be Sean McVay’s Rams.

    
    

17. SF - DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan

    
    

    Shemar Stewart would’ve been my pick for the Niners in a heartbeat if he were still here. Kenneth Grant is a fine consolation prize, and should still be a fearsome addition to what has been a lackluster defensive front in 2024.

    
    

18. ARI - DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon

    
    

    The Cardinals have heavily out-performed their talent level defensively thanks to HC Jonathan Gannon’s genius, but adding a dominant presence up front in Harmon could elevate the entire unit significantly and prove to be the steal of the draft.

    
    

19. ATL - WR Luther Burden III, Missouri

    
    

    Stop acting like Atlanta’s ever gonna learn to do otherwise; they’ve gone so far at this point that it’s pointless to turn back now. Michael Penix will have no excuse when Kirk Cousins inevitably tears his other Achilles and is forced to retire in week 3 of next season.

    
    

20. SEA - OT Cameron Williams, Texas

    
    

    I really wanted this to be Nic Scourton, but I couldn’t justify passing on a tackle at this spot. Cam Williams should be the long-term placeholder on the right side opposite blossoming blindside blocker Charles Cross.

    
    

21. WAS - EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

    
    

    Scourton could be the next Myles Garrett, as both are powerful, 6’4”, ~280 lb. defensive ends from Texas A&M expected to go to in the first round of the NFL draft. The similarities end there almost completely, but HC Dan Quinn could help change that.

    
    

22. HOU - DB Malaki Starks, Georgia

    
    

    According to Google, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was born July 28, 1984. In this scenario, to celebrate his 41st birthday a few months early, the rest of the NFL gifts him one of the top 5 players on my overall big board (coming soon) to help fill one of the biggest weaknesses this team has faced this year.

    
    

23. DEN - WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

    
    

    Pairing Bo Nix’s lightning-quick release with the top slot weapon in the class in Egbuka could lead to one of the lowest average time-to-throw marks in NFL history.

    
    

24. LAC - TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

    
    

    If Harbaugh can’t land one of his defensive guys from UM in the first round, I can almost guarantee he’ll bring in the top offensive guy from his old team in Loveland, giving QB Justin Herbert a first-round passing option that won’t play like he’s trying to prove he was overdrafted.

    
    

25. BAL - OL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona

    
    

    The Ravens know what they’re looking for on the offensive line: massive, powerful people-movers like Savaiinaea that can give Derrick Henry (or whoever their next lead back is) and Lamar Jackson plenty of room to do what they do best: run wild on opposing defenses.

    
    

26. PIT - DL Walter Nolen, Mississippi

    
    

    The Steelers are a more complete team than most realize, but can still very much look to add some key pieces this offseason on both sides of the ball. Walter Nolen is an incredibly talented prospect that could become one of the better interior defenders in the league over time, and should instantly add even more teeth to arguably the toughest front in the world.

    
    

27. GB - DL/EDGE L.T. Overton, Alabama

    
    

    To avoid the confusion of throwing another “Walker” in the Packers’ front seven, I’m sending a versatile big-bodied defensive end that can rush effectively from almost any alignment to Green Bay, which hasn’t happened before and should be much less confusing.

    
    

28. MIN - DL Deone Walker, Kentucky

    
    

    Although they are not the same player in a handful of ways, Deone Walker reminds me a good amount of Jerry Tillery as a prospect: a tall, long interior defender with unnatural athleticism for his size that struggles with pad level and needs to learn how to use his gifts to his advantage in both phases of the game. With Tillery already in Minnesota, the similar yet complementary duo could work together to unlock some insane potential.

    
    

29. PHI - EDGE/LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

    
    

    This is about as perfect of a match as possible, as the Eagles take yet another dynamic and versatile defender out of Georgia. I could definitely see the Eagles moving up to make this happen if necessary.

    
    

30. BUF - DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

    
    

    Had to get Tyleik in here somehow. Bills could use a young space-eater next to Ed Oliver, and Williams is a dawg.

    
    

31. KC - TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

    
    

    Warren’s been one of my favorite players to watch this season in college football, and pairing him with Mahomes should be a much smoother transition from the aging Travis Kelce than most would think.

    
    

32. DET - EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State

    
    

    I would absolutely consider Shavon Revel Jr. out of East Carolina if I were Campbell & Co. here, but Tuimoloau just seems like such a perfect fit for the kneecap-biting culture in Detroit and could be dominant opposite Aidan Hutchinson for years.

Iowa Football 2024 Season Preview: The Night Before

You know what time it is. With Iowa Football’s season kickoff just a few hours away, the questions around this team seem to be even more uncertain than ever. What if the offense is just as dysfunctional and impotent as last year? What if the defense can’t keep Iowa in the “driver’s seat” of most games? Is Kirk Ferentz a criminal for using unauthorized means to steal talent from the rest of college football? Is that “talent” even worth the starting snaps he has been and inevitably will be given? The questions are endless and impossible to answer with any amount of certainty. I will attempt, however, to provide an “insider’s look” at what this team could be building toward, what they hope to achieve, and what needs to happen for them to get there.

Looking at the defense first, there really isn’t too much to discuss, which leads me to my first major point: Iowa should field a top-3 defensive unit in the Big Ten without question. The other two teams that in my opinion could outperform the Hawks on this side of the ball—Ohio State and Michigan—are perennial Playoff (now Playoff first-round bye) contenders that are absolutely loaded with high-end HS recruits at each position, whereas Iowa really only has one high-profile recruit out of high school (safety Xavier Nwankpa) contributing at a significant level this season. That should not keep the Hawkeyes from squeezing the life out of opposing offenses this season, as they boast arguably the most experienced and cohesive defense in all of college football this season, returning 9 of 11 starters from last season’s top-tier unit and boasting a deep rotation of solid-to-elite contributors at each level of the defense (especially the front four). Under-the-radar names to watch? Outside of the well-known commodities, current CB2 TJ Hall has flashed brilliance in brief moments over the past two seasons, and rotational EDGE Brian Allen Jr. looks poised to have a Lukas Van Ness-like emergence as a stud pass-rusher for devilishly-handsome-and-cunning genius Phil Parker to gameplan around.

On the offensive side of things, I am a bit less certain. However, based on what I’ve heard and seen, I feel confident enough to say this: Iowa’s new offensive scheme should drive the Hawkeyes into the modern era of football in a blaze of (glory?). It all starts up front, as the controversial Iowa offensive line returns seven contributors from last season, including potential standout RT Gennings Dunker. With a pro west coast-style offense, the questions this unit has in pass protection should be (somewhat) masked, and its potential as a sneaky-good run-blocking unit should be given an opportunity to shine through.

At quarterback, the Hawks have a legit trio of potential starters that may all get their opportunity to shine at some point in the season. Watch out for redshirt freshman Marco Lainez to potentially have a Brock Purdy-esque emergence. In terms of weapons, the hidden strength of Iowa’s roster could finally shine through this season, as they boast a handful of potential difference-makers in each position group. RB1 Kamari Moulton reminds OC Tim Lester of a young Aaron Jones, and I’m inclined to agree with him, and the Hawks have no shortage of depth behind him, either. Out wide, young X-receiver Jarriett Buie emerged as one of my favorite players on the entire team this spring (along with former Hawkeye and current Texas A&M Aggie Jake Bostick, R.I.P. that potential duo I guess) and is my top pick as the potential Brandon Aiyuk to Lainez’s Purdy (also of note: WR1 Kaleb Brown should be back one day). And, as always, Iowa’s TE/FB room should be the anchor of this offense, with future top-15 selection Luke Lachey returning to dominate college football one more time.

Record prediction: 12-3, losses to Ohio State in the regular season, Ohio State in the B1G Championship and Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinals.

This Celtics Team Has the Best Two-Way Roster In _____ Years

Jaylen Brown (21 points) and Jrue Holiday (26 points) led the charge on both ends for the Celtics as they took a 2-0 series lead with a 105-98 victory over the Mavericks last night.

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• Jrue Holiday

  • Widely considered one of, if not THE best perimeter defenders of the past five-plus years of basketball. Historically underperforms at the offensive end in the playoffs (due to being asked to do too much), but has flourished in a new role as the schemed fourth/fifth option in Boston and is making a run at Finals MVP. The Portland Trailblazers must pay for allowing the Celtics to add this guy to an already stacked roster for such a mediocre return.

• Derrick White

  • He was underrated for years (and 90% on NBA analysts will still assure he still is despite virtually every engaged fan acknowledging his excellence), but he's a perfect role player-PLUS (not a primary option, but equipped to perform like one when called upon). He can run the point when needed and space the floor at a HIGH level. Still, his best asset is his defense, where his spatial intelligence and ELITE shot contesting from the guard position makes him a formidable on-ball and help defender.

• Jayson Tatum

  • He's firmly entrenched as no better than a second-tier NBA superstar, but you cannot deny his increased value in accentuating the ancillary skills when his scoring isn't going. He's developed more playmaking chops than he flashed in prior playoff runs, and his activity as a help defender and rebounder has salvaged what has otherwise been an extremely underwhelming series from a player with his supposed stature in the league.

• Jaylen Brown

  • I've always been a huge fan of Jaylen's game since he made it to the league, and he has a multi-year track record of stepping up more prominently than Tatum in the most terminal series that the Celtics have made during this current era of Celtics basketball (nearing a decade long at this point). He's so athletic and strong, but he's controlled and calculating in ways he doesn't often get credit for. His Achilles heel remains his lack of dribbling with his left hand, but aside from that, he is a HIGH-level finisher at the rim with a strong overall three-level scoring arsenal. Beyond that, his overall size, athleticism, and basketball intelligence makes him a fearsome defender on the perimeter and at the rim, allowing him to step up and guard the opposing team's best player for extended stretches of game-time if they play any position besides center. The fact that they can rotate him, White, and Holiday on the opposing team's #1 perimeter option for the entirety of the game without ever expending Tatum's energy on such a task is just silly.

• Kristaps Porzingis

  • He's 7'3", has strong mobility, and is a knockdown shooter. He's a legitimately elite deterrent at the rim on defense at this stage of his career, and he is a uniquely challenging mismatch on the offensive end because of his height and high shot release (which makes his jumpers close to unblockable for sub-7-footers). He's always struggled with staying healthy (even during this current playoff run), but the overall depth of two-way prowess on this team has lowered the amount of overall wear and tear Porzingis has undergone this season. Couple that with him undoubtedly leveling up as a player almost comprehensively over the past two seasons from a guy who was already a fringe All-Star, and the Celtics have undoubtedly struck gold with the perfect center to apply the maximal tension to the fabric other teams' defenses while anchoring their very own.

Overall, I think this is the most well-constructed team since the prime Warriors of the mid-late 2010s. I didn't even mention Al Horford, who is a terrific complement at the 5 to Porzingis and provides many of the similar benefits to the Celtics' lineups with an additional layer of true veteran savvy to help overcome his deteriorating athletic abilities (don't take this the wrong way: he is still exceptionally spry for a 38 year-old center). Do I think this is the best team since those teams? Probably not. I think last year's Denver team (and, frankly, their less-formidable team this season also) would have given this iteration of the Celtics plenty of issues. The Celtics do not have a top-five NBA player on their roster, and that would hurt them if they played a more balanced team with a top-tier player (which they hadn't faced until this current series) that individually exceeds the talent of their own best players.

These Mavericks are very comparable but inferior to the Nuggets in a lot of ways. Each team's best players (Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic) are of comparable quality as probably the two best players in the NBA. Their second options (Kyrie Irving and Jamal Murray) are comparable as well, with my personal preference leaning toward Murray due to multi-year consistency. Kyrie has been abominable through the first two games of this series. Denver's third-best and fourth-best players, whichever you choose between Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr., are definitively better than whoever you choose from the Mavericks roster to put against them.

Yes, I know the Nuggets lost to Minnesota, who the Mavericks just beat in five games. I think this is a perfect example of matchups mattering in the playoffs as well as acknowledging that players can have outlier performances over a four to seven game series (see: Porter Jr.'s horrendous series against Minnesota) that can completely swing the entire outcome of a given season's playoffs. This is GOOD. These games aren't played on a computer, and it makes them worth watching. This series isn't over by any means, but these Celtics are pretty darn good, and if they go on to win this championship, I do think it'll be because they have the best team in this current NBA season. I don't personally want the city of Boston to be awarded with another title (yes, I'm being a hater), but I cannot deny how impressive this squad is now that we've seen them play on the biggest stage in the sport.