NFL Mock Draft 4.0: New Face in the Top-10
The big part of Free Agency has come and gone, and we’re back to mock drafting. Mock 4.0 is here; 1-round, no trades. Some fallers, some big risers, and some names that have a big case to make the 1st round miss it entirely. This draft in particular is a tough one to mock for because talent wise a lot of players are similar all throughout and it’ll be fun to see how they’re viewed league-wide come draft night. But without further ado, let’s dig in to the Andy Mock 4.0.
Pick 1: Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward · QB · Miami
The Titans land their franchise guy. Rumored trade talks surrounding #1 have died out over the past few weeks, as the Titans view Cam Ward as a perennial franchise QB.
Pick 2: Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders · QB · Colorado
Cleveland needs a QB to find a way back to relevance, and they cash in on one of the most accurate QBs in CFB history, beginning a new era in Cleveland.
Pick 3: New York Giants: Travis Hunter · WR/CB · Colorado
As the Giants miss out on the Top-2 QBs, they add the generational unicorn that is Travis Hunter, who's versatility and superstar ability will spark a fire in the Big Apple.
Pick 4: New England Patriots: Armand Membou · OT · Missouri
While the Patriots could select Abdul Carter here, they opt for need and get my personal OL1 of the class. New England's made some moves to improve the O-Line, but drafting Membou here is a tone-setter for the next decade.
Pick 5: Jacksonville Jaguars: Abdul Carter · EDGE · Penn State
Jacksonville could reportedly begin to take offers for Travon Walker and with that, with Carter falling to 5, the Jaguars cash in and draft possibly the best prospect in the draft.
Pick 6: Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty · RB · Boise State
Between need and fit, Jeanty to the Raiders is currently one of my favorite pairings of the class. The Raiders got their QB in Geno Smith, and here add a generational RB prospect to the offense.
Pick 7: New York Jets: Mason Graham · DT · Michigan
Graham usually doesn't fall to 7 for me, but here the Jets cash in and get the most consistent prospect in the class to pair with Quinnen Williams.
Pick 8: Carolina Panthers: Matthew Golden · WR · Texas
It's time to build around Bryce in Carolina, with the #1 overall pick showing promise this past season, the Panthers get their future WR1 who fits exactly what Carolina needs between consistent press man beating, excellent route runner/separator, and a guy who pushes defenses vertically. If anyone views Golden as highly as I do, it'll be the Panthers.
Pick 9: New Orleans Saints: Jalon Walker · LB/EDGE · Georgia
One of my personal favorites, Walker lands with the Saints in an attempt to upgrade the defense as a whole, Walker has versatility to play both ILB and EDGE and has displayed incredible leadership in his time at Georgia.
Pick 10: Chicago Bears: Shemar Stewart · EDGE · Texas A&M
Chicago needs to upgrade their defensive front, especially EDGE opposite Montez Sweat. Landing Shemar Stewart who opened a ton of eyes at the combine could be a massive pickup if they can reach his ceiling.
Pick 11: San Francisco 49ers: Will Campbell · OL · LSU
San Francisco's offensive line as a whole needs a lot of work, especially at the Guard spots. Campbell would be a massive plug & play upgrade at Guard instantly for the 49ers.
Pick 12: Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan · WR · Arizona
Dallas needs to give their $240M quarterback a legitimate #2 weapon, and Tetairoa McMillan would be a great fit next to CeeDee Lamb with the Cowboys, a fun piece for Prescott.
Pick 13: Miami Dolphins: Kelvin Banks · OL · Texas
Miami's offensive line as a whole is questionable. Terron Armstead is aging, and their Guard spots are lackluster to say the absolute least. Banks would give the Dolphins options with his solid versatility and ceiling.
Pick 14: Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren · TE · Penn State
Indianapolis addressed their secondary needs in free agency which makes it clear to me, they're all in on Tyler Warren at 14. Regardless of who wins the Colts QB competition, Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, they just got a star TE to throw to.
Pick 15: Atlanta Falcons: Jihaad Campbell · LB · Alabama
A borderline Top-10 prospect for me, Campbell is a complete sideline-to-sideline LB who converted from EDGE to LB at Alabama, all-around a Falcons squad who needs upgrades on defense cashes in on one of the most complete prospects.
Pick 16: Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson · CB · Michigan
Johnson's stock has taken a slight hit lately but he finds a nice landing spot with the Cardinals. Arizona dumped nearly $50M into the DL and their big move was bringing in EDGE Josh Sweat, to round out their defensive adds they add Will Johnson here to be their shutdown CB.
Pick 17: Cincinnati Bengals: Kenneth Grant · DT · Michigan
Cincinnati desperately needs to get defensive upgrades and hit on draft picks following giving Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins MASSIVE extensions. They'll be tasked with getting the most out of Grant who could become their foundation eventually.
Pick 18: Seattle Seahawks: Nick Emmanwori · SAF · South Carolina
Emmanwori is the exact player a Mike Macdonald defense favors. He's gifted athletically, and has the ability to move between LB and Safety, Seattle would be a great fit for his talents.
Pick 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Green · EDGE · Marshall
Tampa could use some more explosiveness on the defensive side and picking up the 2024 FBS leader in sacks would help in a massive way, Green dominated opponents at Marshall.
Pick 20: Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton · RB · North Carolina
Without a doubt the Broncos biggest need is finding a stable run game, they have the O-Line in place, and now they add an elite RB prospect to get that run game. Hampton has a perfect blend of size, balance, and athleticism to be a Top-15 guy on my board.
Pick 21: Pittsburgh Steelers: Jahdae Barron · DB · Texas
After adding DK Metcalf the Steelers look to the defensive side for this pick, and add Barron who is a versatile playmaker who would compliment Joey Porter Jr. perfectly.
Pick 22: Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland · TE · Michigan
I could see Loveland go a lot earlier than this, and he has the talent to warrant it. But with how the board plays out here Jim Harbaugh gets his guy back and adds a big-time weapon for Justin Herbert.
Pick 23: Green Bay Packers: Mykel Williams · EDGE · Georgia
Williams is a very solid athlete with a really good bend and great tools who has a freakishly high ceiling, pair him with a Packers unit who was starved for more pressures, he can be a huge add.
Pick 24: Minnesota Vikings: Malaki Starks · SAF · Georgia
One of my favorites this year, Malaki Starks lands with the Vikings to be the Cam Bynum replacement. Starks is a plug & play starter with a high ceiling, a pick that would be hard for the Vikings to pass up.
Pick 25: Houston Texans: Josh Simmons · OT · Ohio State
Houston completely shook up their offensive line this offseason and in a quick OL rebuild, they land Josh Simmons who has the talent to go way higher than this, but has some injury concern.
Pick 26: Los Angeles Rams: Emeka Egbuka · WR · Ohio State
Despite adding Davante Adams, the Rams could still use a slot WR and Egbuka is the best power slot in the class. He'll come in Day 1 and be a high-profile contributor. Puka Nacua - Davante Adams - Emeka Egbuka, secondaries tremble.
Pick 27: Baltimore Ravens: James Pearce Jr. · EDGE · Tennessee
With character concerns in the air, Pearce could fall even lower than 27, but the Ravens love athletic, versatile defenders and cash in on Pearce here before some other contender would swoop him up.
Pick 28: Detroit Lions: Tyler Booker · IOL · Alabama
The Lions don't have many needs, but with Christian Mahogany being a grey area within the offense, they snag Tyler Booker who's a very reliable Guard with great leadership traits to be their anchor. I could see myself calling this a huge steal if it happens to turn out like this in April.
Pick 29: Washington Commanders: Luther Burden III · WR · Missouri
The fall on Burden ends! There was talk at the combine that GMs don't view Burden as highly as the general public does, and while that might be prospect fatigue I like Burden a lot and LOVE him in this spot to Washington. A versatile weapon who Kliff Kingsbury would have a lot of fun with.
Pick 30: Buffalo Bills: Derrick Harmon · DT · Oregon
Harmon is one of my favorite IDLs this year and he'd be an incredible fit in Buffalo. He's an athletic, productive DT who finds his way into the backfield consistently.
Pick 31: Kansas City Chiefs: Walter Nolen · DT · Ole Miss
Another guy who’s had some rumblings of a potential fall come draft night, the Chiefs snag Walter Nolen who has some elite traits and a very high upside, he'll be great to ease in next to Chris Jones and one day have him take over.
Pick 32: Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan Ezeiruaku · EDGE · Boston College
The Eagles take BPA and need in 1 pick. With Josh Sweat leaving and going to Arizona, Donovan Ezeiruaku is an instant replacement who put up great numbers at Boston College and has some very solid traits.
That’s all for Mock Draft 4.0! Stay tuned for more to come all throughout draft season!