Here is the final mock draft at Essentially Sports, version 5.0, as the start of the event is less than 24 hours away. Unlike previous years, I’ve stepped out of character and inserted hypothetical trades into the first round. The fun starts early this year, as one veteran insider told me, “It’s a day away from the draft, and we still don’t know who the second pick will be.” So let’s get at it!
I’ve projected three trades in this two-round mock draft, all occurring in the first round. They include:
Kansas City is moving from pick No. 9 to pick No. 6, presently owned by the Cleveland Browns.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving from pick No. 21 to pick No. 16, presently owned by the New York Jets.
The Arizona Cardinals are moving from pick No. 34 to pick No. 28, presently owned by the Houston Texans.
In return, the teams moving up will surrender a third-round pick as part of the trade.
This is a natural fit for a variety of reasons. The Raiders need a quarterback, Tom Brady will fall in love with Mendoza, Klint Kubiak has a young signal caller to mold, and the Hoosiers ‘ underclassmen can be the franchise’s signal caller in the future.
There’s definitely a chance the team takes Arvell Reese with this pick, who I believe is the better long-term player and ranks higher on the ES Big Board. Yet as of Wednesday, people around the league that I speak with believe Bailey, who will offer the instant results head coach Aaron Glenn needs, is the choice.
For the longest time, I believed Love was the perfect fit for the Cardinals when you look at need and BPA. They could take Bailey if he’s available, yet recent word is that owner Michael Bidwill is pushing for Love. I mentioned last week that the Cardinals are open to moving this pick and trading down, so keep an eye on that.
With both Ohio State linebackers available, it will be a tough but good debate in the Titans’ war room. Excuse the pun, but Styles fits the style of linebacker new head coach, Robert Saleh, has had success with, and as someone told me, “The way to rebuild your defense is with a fast Mike.”
The Giants can’t go wrong with this pick, and any way the top four breaks, they will get a highly rated player to help their defense when they are called to the clock. The run defense needed a lot of help even before they traded Dexter Lawrence, and Reese begins to fill the void.
6- Kansas City Chiefs (via Cleveland): Rueben Bain Jr./Edge/Miami
I’m told that Kansas City prefers to hold onto both first-round picks, and moving up just three slots allows them to do just that and fill their need at edge rusher. If they hold onto the ninth selection, I project them to draft Francis Mauigoa, whom I’ve had the team selecting in every mock draft since the Super Bowl.
I’m contradicting myself, as just last week I reported the Commanders would not take Downs. But I also said they love Love, and others reported head coach Dan Quinn was in favor of Styles. I could very well see this pick being Downs’ teammate Carnell Tate or cornerback Mansoor Delane, but Downs is too good a value to pass up; he’s no ordinary safety.
With Bain off the board, the Saints fill another pressing need at cornerback with a hometown player. Based on what I’ve heard, the team will wait until Day 2 before drafting a receiver.
9- Cleveland Browns (via Kansas City): Spencer Fano/T/Utah
The Browns will have the option to trade with the Chiefs or the Cowboys. They will pick up an extra first-round choice if they make the trade with Dallas, but they could get locked out of the top left tackle, which is what they need and want. As I’ve previously reported, the team is comfortable moving Fano to the blind side.
Tate’s the top-rated receiver in the draft and fits a big need for the Giants, plus he doesn’t have an injury history.
The Dolphins can sit and wait for the best player available to fall into their laps. Short of Love inconceivably falling to this spot, any highly rated prospect fills a hole on the depth chart.
As I reported on Wednesday, Dallas will be locked out of the top defenders in the draft if it can’t swing a trade with Cleveland, and the Cowboys need a lot of help on that side of the ball. With the George Pickens situation up in the air, Tyson gives them stability at receiver. The surprise pick here could be safety Dillon Thieneman.