Mock Draft 3.0

It's pretty boring again off the top, but of the reading I’m doing so far, a couple of things are still apparent. There are about 10 surefire first-round talents, and there are about 50 guys that could fit into those next 22 spots. ESPN’s Matt Miller has only 12 players graded as first-round prospects this year. This should be a fun two weeks with the news cycle starting to ramp up a bit. The Combine invites are out and Daniel Jeremiah’s conference call is scheduled for later in the week.

I did throw in some curveballs and took plenty of heat in the Discord for mocking Jeanty to a Panthers team that already has running backs. He’s one of the unanswered questions for sure as we whittle this down over the next eight weeks. Depending on who you ask, he’s either the best RB prospect since Saquon or “you can’t draft running backs that high”

Also on the list:

1. figuring out who 95% of mock drafts will agree on for the Steelers’ pick

2. With the Bengals tagging Higgins I have to assume a trade, right?

3. Are there actual serious offers to Tennessee for the top pick?

Anyways, here’s where I started and a link to the whole shebang. As always, feel free to yell at me on Twitter for being wrong, but don’t be too mean, I’m still working on player evaluation stuff..

1. Tennessee Titans

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

For all the talk about this QB class being poor (it is compared to other years), Ward is still a big, sturdy QB with a big arm and a grasp of the offense, both pre-snap and in his reads. He’s a playmaker, and it seems like most of his weaknesses can be ironed out by the right coaching staff. There are good cases here to go after Abdul Carter or Mason Graham, but sometimes the allure of a quarterback is too much.

2. Cleveland Browns

Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

Maybe the next game wrecker coming into the league; he certainly should be favored to win defensive rookie of the year once the odds are set this summer. With the possible loss of Myles Garrett, this seems to fit perfectly.

3. New York Giants

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

He’s another young defensive lineman who could step in immediately and make a big difference for whoever drafts him this April. Somehow huge and powerful, but agile as hell. With Carter and Hunter in the market, I’m already getting excited to bet this kid for DROY.

4. New England Patriots

Will Campbell, OT, LSU

A few ways to go with this pick, but considering the promise that young Drake Maye has shown, the Patriots should be rebuilding this line via free agency AND the draft. Keeping their signal caller upright and on the right trajectory in his learning curve will be massive for this ongoing rebuild in New England.

…. and the rest:

Aaron Rodgers

Somehow, it is still a topic of discussion in 2025.

He was on a list of things I jotted down the other day regarding free agents and other players that may matter to how teams approach the draft. I saved this tweet from the 11th and found (with some help) the updated prices, which are probably also meaningless.

Best Fit: The Raiders, I guess? He could be a nice bridge if they draft Milroe or Dart later on. I’m not sure what he wants at this point in his career, but if he wants to play, there aren’t a ton of teams that it actually makes sense for. I’m not sure who would have the final say in something like this.

Funniest Fit: Steelers, for sure. I don’t know exactly how it’d go down, but him and Tomlin interacting would be electric. High probability of some top-notch press conference soundbites.

Dumb bit the internet is running with: Yes, we get it. Favre went to the Jets and then the Vikings, and Rodgers could do the same.

Stupid one that might have legs: The Rams? Stafford move would have to happen first and with McVay on constant retirement watch, stranger things have happened.

My ideal spot for him: retire and go away, never to be seen again

I'm not sure where this fits, but I had to drop it in with the Rodgers stuff cause it’s sorta blowing my mind. I had to go fact-check it (it’s true).