NFL Mock draft 1.0: Detroit Lions get help for secondary; how high will J.J. McCarthy go?
There have been way too many seasons in Detroit Lions history where we’ve started talking draft in mid-October so it was a nice break this year to not pay much mind to the draft until after the playoffs.
But the offseason is here, and the NFL combine is next week, which means it’s time to turn our attention to the league’s annual selection process again.
The Lions have the No. 29 pick in the first round and general manager Brad Holmes hinted at his end-of-season news conference he might be looking to trade out of Round 1.
Here’s my first mock draft of the spring, one I’ll update in two weeks after I’ve digested what I hear at the combine.
1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams, USC
The Bears should get a decent draft pick haul for Justin Fields and taking Williams allows them to reset the salary at the position on a player with more upside
2. Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
This won’t be a Kliff Kingsbury pick like Kyler Murray was in Arizona, but Daniels is presumably a better fit for Washington’s system than Drake Maye.
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3. New England Patriots: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
Quarterbacks with the first three picks? None of these players are slam dunks, but all three franchises need a fresh start at the position.
4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Harrison is a good enough player that he could push his way into the top three if any of these teams have questions on the QBs.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh taking the best offensive lineman in the draft, even if it’s not his biggest position of need? Yeah, that makes sense.
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6. New York Giants: WR Malik Nabers, LSU
Nabors isn’t that far behind Harrison as the best receiver in the draft in my eyes.
7. Tennessee Titans: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
The Titans need explosive weapons for their passing game. Either Bowers or Washington receiver Rome Odunze fits the bill.
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8. Atlanta Falcons: Edge Dallas Turner, Alabama
The Falcons didn’t have a player with more than 6.5 sacks last season. Turner is the best defensive player in the draft.
9. Chicago Bears: WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Tough call for the Bears, who can get a lineman to protect their new quarterback, or a receiver for their new QB to throw to.
10. New York Jets: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
With four quarterback-needy teams picking 11-14, the Jets could have a prime trade-down opportunity. If not, protection for Aaron Rodgers wouldn't hurt either.
11. Minnesota Vikings: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Presuming, of course, the Vikings bring back Kirk Cousins on a multi-year deal.
12. Denver Broncos: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
One way or another, Sean Payton is coming out of this offseason with a quarterback.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
The Raiders will be quarterback-shopping this offseason, but there may not be one worth taking at No. 13.
14. New Orleans Saints: OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
Andrus Peat is a free agent, and while Guyton played right tackle in college, he could end up on the left side as a pro.
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15. Indianapolis Colts: Edge Jared Verse, Florida State
Verse was considered a potential top-five pick coming into the season and still is one of the three best pass rushers in the draft.
16. Seattle Seahawks: LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
Seattle could lose both starting linebackers in free agency and new coach Mike Macdonald needs a Roquan Smith for his defense.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
Coming off a disappointing season and with an extension for Trevor Lawrence on the horizon, the Jaguars need to do everything they can to protect their young quarterback.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
The Bengals will need a WR2 to pair with Ja’Marr Chase if Tee Higgins leaves in free agency.
19. Los Angeles Rams: OT JC Latham, Alabama
The early word is this year’s draft is deep at offensive tackle and wide receiver. Latham makes five tackles in my top 20.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
The Steelers need to get back to having a mauling offensive line. Powers-Johnson will help.
21. Miami Dolphins: OL Troy Fautanu, Washington
Fautanu has the length to stay at offensive tackle, though most analysts project a move inside to guard.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
Lassiter doesn’t get as much love from draftniks as other cornerback prospects, but he could have a Brian Branch-type impact as a rookie slot defender.
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23. Houston Texans: DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
It’s not a very good year for defensive tackles, so prospects like Newton might come off the board earlier than expected.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Edge: Laiatu Latu, UCLA
The combine should shed light on Latu’s medical concerns after a neck injury nearly ended his career, but he’s coming off two double-digit sack seasons and might be the most talented pass rusher in the draft.
25. Green Bay Packers: DT Byron Murphy II, Texas
See: Newton, Jer'Zhan.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Chop Robinson, Penn State
If the Bucs use the franchise tag on Baker Mayfield, a quarterback like Bo Nix or Michael Penix could be in play. But pass rush is always good too.
27. Arizona Cardinals: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
The Cardinals desperately need cornerback help after giving Starling Thomas, one of the Lions’ final cuts of training camp last year, seven starts last season.
28. Buffalo Bills: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
The former Michigan State receiver should go somewhere in the top 40 picks.
29. Detroit Lions: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
Cornerback is a huge position of need for the Lions, and while they’ll address it on some level in free agency, they need a long-term solution on the outside. Rakestraw doesn’t have huge ball production with one interception in four years, but he’s the type of feisty, physical corner the Lions want on defense.
30. Baltimore Ravens: DL Darius Robinson, Missouri
The Ravens have more pressing needs at cornerback and offensive guard, but Robinson, the Canton product, adds youth and versatility up front.
31. San Francisco 49ers: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
The 49ers have some work to do on their offensive line. Mims is a project worth tackling at the end of Round 1.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
Travis Kelce can’t play forever forever.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL Mock draft 1.0: Detroit Lions get much-needed help for secondary
