The National Football League (NFL) season is almost over, and teams are gearing up to scout prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft in late April. With the college football season complete, it is time for the sport’s best players to go to the next level. In a collaboration between McCreven’s Mashup and Sam’s Section, staff writers Jake McCreven and Sam Calhoun take turns (beginning with Jake) crafting the perfect NFL Mock Draft for the first round.
First Round NFL Mock Draft
1. Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The semi-new regime in Tennessee will look to start anew with the Draft’s number one selection. Ward is a high-upside playmaker with the tools necessary to thrive in the NFL, and Tennessee is in search of its newest quarterback – it’s a match made in heaven.
2. Browns: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
There are a lot of holes to fill for the Browns, but with the Deshaun Watson experiment becoming a fiasco, Cleveland needs to find their next quarterback.
3. Giants: Travis Hunter, ATH, Colorado
New York rushes this pick to the podium following the selection of two quarterbacks at one and two. Hunter adds a never-before-seen element to the roster, with the capability to play either (or both) sides of the ball.
4. Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
It is not an argument that the Patriots need to fix their offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), New England’s offensive line finished dead-last in the NFL. It was a miracle that Drake Maye was able to get up after every time he was knocked down.
5. Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Jacksonville takes aim at secondary improvement by selecting Johnson ahead of Michigan teammate Mason Graham. This class is much deeper at defensive tackle than it is at cornerback – get the premium player while you can.
6. Raiders: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Raiders need a quarterback, but they will not get one here with Ward and Sanders gone. For their next quarterback to succeed next season, they will need to surround him with talent. McMillan was a stud at Arizona, earning consensus All-American honors in the fall.
7. Jets: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Graham pairs up with Quinnen Williams to establish a formidable duo on the inside, as New York looks to build from the trenches up under defensive-minded head coach Aaron Glenn.
8. Panthers: Abdul Carter, ED, Penn State
The Panthers would be thanking all seven teams in front of them for passing up on Carter. Carter is NFL-ready and is considered the best player in the class. With one of the worst defenses in the league, this is a no-brainer for the Panthers.
9. Saints: Mykel Williams, ED, Georgia
The lanky Bulldog edge rusher has been steadily creeping up draft boards following a stellar – yet injury-plagued – junior season. Williams has the tools to become an elite sack artist at the next level.
10. Bears: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Caleb Williams took a ton of sacks last season. Some were his fault, but there are glaring needs at left tackle and right guard. The Bears get one of the best tackles in the class with Banks.
11. 49ers: James Pearce Jr., ED, Tennessee
San Francisco has continuously struggled to produce pressure when Nick Bosa is not on the field. Grabbing the quickest edge rusher in the class at eleven is ideal for a rebuilding defense.
12. Cowboys: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Heisman Trophy runner-up will be a Dallas Cowboy. It seems like a match made in heaven with a poor run game last season after releasing Ezekiel Elliot late in the season.
13. Dolphins: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
With Jevon Holland’s free agent status in limbo, Miami looks to replace a rangy, instinctual free safety with another. Starks is a fantastic athlete and plays with inordinate tenacity.
14. Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Anthony Richardson can have another weapon as well as more pass blocking in the John Mackey Award winner in Warren.
15. Falcons: Shemar Stewart, ED, Texas A&M
Atlanta has proven to like a certain type of defensive linemen; multi-faced pass rushers with high-upside – Grady Jarrett. Stewart fits that exactly.
16. Cardinals: Nic Scourton, ED, Texas A&M
If the Falcons take Stewart, Scourton seems like an easy choice as the two Texas A&M edge rushers are the best fits for these mid-first round teams looking to get to the playoffs again.
17. Bengals: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
18. Seahawks: Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
19. Buccaneers: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
20. Broncos: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
21. Steelers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
22. Chargers: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
23. Packers: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
24. Vikings: Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
25. Texans: Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
26. Rams: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
27. Ravens: Mike Green, ED, Marshall
28. Lions: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
29. Commanders: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
30. Bills: Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
31. Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
32. Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon