Mock Draft 3.0: Post-Super Bowl Edition picks 1-16

Another Super Bowl is in the books, so now every team in the NFL is focusing on the draft. We are just two and a bit months out from one of the biggest nights in the NFL calendar, so let’s take a look at who could go where.

If we were the Chicago Bears we would draft Caleb Williams and look to move on from Justin Fields. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they are currently contemplating drafting Williams and keeping Fields, which would be risky but taking a potentially elite QB at one makes the most sense to us regardless of what happens to Fields.

The tide may be turning on Drake Maye as the consensus number-two QB in the draft with Draft-Guru Lance Zierlein selecting Jayden Daniels with this pick for NFL Media. For now, we don’t see it, Maye looks a better prospect to us despite Daniels’ obvious talents.

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The Pats desperately need a QB and Daniels is the next best available, sometimes it really is that simple.

As it stands, the top four picks in the draft look relatively set, with the Cardinals grabbing, “the best wideout in the class”, per Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports.

New head coach Jim Harbaugh is going to rebuild the Chargers from the trenches outwards and there may be no more talented player on either side of the line than Alt in the draft. He’s super young, a lean, giant of a man with an edge that Harbaugh will love.

There is some debate around WR2 in the 2024 draft, with Malik Nabers projected by some to go ahead of Odunze. Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus says it well, “Malik Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze — flip a coin. I lean toward Odunze here due to the size advantage.” We agree and can see Brian Daboll et al loving Odunze’s physicality.

Fuaga is a rising star in this draft class with reports from the Senior Bowl suggesting he was one of the best players during the biggest NFL draft showcase. According to Justin Melo of NFL Draft Network, he was, “mauling defenders in Mobile, both in pass protection and as a run blocker.”

The Falcons could go for a pass rusher with this pick, but given the opportunity, we can see them going all in on their offense by taking Nabers here. With Nabers on board, the Falcons would be blessed with explosive offensive weapons all over the field, now there’s a big question remaining at QB, but this is a tough spot to pick one.

The Bears already have a WR1 in DJ Moore, they’ve just drafted the best QB prospect in the draft, and now they can select a possibly generational talent at tight end in Bowers. PFF’s Trevor Sikkema describes him as, “one of the best receiving tight ends we’ve seen come through,” sounds about right.

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The Jets need to go all in on protecting Aaron Rodgers next year and Olumuyiwa Fashanu can help do just that. Fashanu has been projected as high as five overall by CBS Sports while others have him falling into the late teens suggesting there is some confusion over his draft stock, but we think he looks like a potentially dominant LT at the next level.

Turner projects as a top-10 pick in most mocks, but we’ve seen things fall a little differently this time round as he slips to the Vikings at 11. The Vikings need an injection of youth in their pass rush and Turner offers just that.

Previously we’ve had JJ McCarthy in this spot but all reports seem to suggest Nix is the favored option by the Broncos organization. Sports Illustrated has reported he is the odds-on favorite to be selected with this pick. As a selection, it does make sense, Nix is young, tough, and smart, suggesting he could hit the ground running in the NFL.

Jared Verse the Raiders need someone to partner Maxx Crosby on their defensive line and Verse could be exactly that guy. Tyree Wilson looks like an early bust but fortunately, they have a chance to correct their mistake quickly.

Arnold looks like an immediate starter at CB, offering good size at 6’, 196 lbs, and great man-to-man coverage ability. The Saints already have a formidable defense, ranked 7th by Pro Football Network, but could use an upgrade at corner.

“Mitchell is long, fluid and was a pass-breakup machine at Toledo,” at least that’s according to Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports. It fits what we have seen from him too, especially at the Senior Bowl where there was clip after clip of him dominating wide receivers.

This is a real ‘swing for the fences’ type selection, both were it real life or in the context of this mock. McCarthy’s competitiveness and talent is unquestioned, but his ability to transition to the NFL given how little he was asked to throw the ball in college remains a question mark. Someone will take a gamble on him, and we happen to think it’s the Seahawks. 

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