Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 209 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: With the top three quarterbacks off the board, the Arizona Cardinals probably lack the necessary trade suitors to execute the same "slide down, then jump back up" strategy they had in the 2023 draft. Still, walking out of the top five with the best overall prospect in this class is enough consolation.

Since midway through the season, people have been poking at whether other wide receivers deserve the top spot. The tape makes it clear, though, that nobody but Marvin Harrison Jr. wins how he does from the perimeter. Giving Kyler Murray an A.J. Green type of threat outside speeds up the process for this retool.

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 212 pounds

Class: Senior

Fit: This feels like an easy trade pairing to make. While I’m certain everyone in the Los Angeles Chargers’ brain trust is aware of its big need at wide receiver, stacking up draft capital gives them the option to bring in more foundational pieces – and there will be plenty of opportunities to bring in young talent to replace Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

Chicago could flip a coin here on left tackle and wide receiver, but Rome Odunze is too perfect a fit at the X not to take here. Not only can he win as a bona fide outside receiver, but you can move him and DJ Moore around to manufacture touches on screens and with quick game.

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 200 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: Like Chicago, the New York Giants can flip a coin on tackle or receiver — and Malik Nabers is the best prospect available at the two positions. Nabers can tear the top off of any defense, and he’s the most dynamic player in the draft once the ball is in his hands. This gives New York a true No. 1 option and helps set up this offense for life after Daniel Jones.

Height: 6-foot-9

Weight: 321 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: The Tennessee Titans taking the best tackle available feels as telegraphed as a pick could be. Joe Alt was one of the fastest risers throughout the year, and the combination of size and movement skills makes it evident. He can still improve his play strength, but he will step into the league as one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in this class, and his tape as a pass protector sets a very high ceiling.

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 247 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: The Atlanta Falcons have to bring in impact players on the defensive side, and Dallas Turner is exactly that. His speed and explosive scores popped in the pre-draft process, and the tape shows that this isn’t just a one-dimensional player. His motor and physicality as an edge rusher make him a well-rounded defender, and his youth suggests growth potential, physically and on-field.

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 243 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: The New York Jets recognize that they have a one-year window to compete in the AFC and attacked this offseason by adding veterans on the offensive line and at wide receiver. Still, Mike Williams hasn’t been durable enough to count on for a season of such high stakes, and this offense needs another option who can create after the catch.

Brock Bowers is one of, if not the best YAC threats in this class, and having him in this offense would allow Aaron Rodgers to get back to playing offense the way he prefers — having specific mismatches that he can attack down-to-down. Bowers can line up in the slot or at the X and win, opening up the offense significantly.

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 210 pounds

Class: Senior

Fit: I recognize that this is more of a me thing than reading any tea leaves from the league, but I still have a difficult time grasping that Jayden Daniels is in serious consideration as a top-five pick given the issues in his game. If there’s a place where it would make sense, it would be playing for Kliff Kingsbury’s spread offense with the Washington Commanders — after trading down and accumulating more draft capital for the rebuild.

Daniels is reminiscent of Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields, Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III – in the sense that he has two modes of play. As a runner, he’s dynamic and brings elite speed and creativity that defenses must be prepared for. As a passer, though, those quick twitch muscles don’t translate to pocket navigation — and there are accuracy and anticipation issues that limit how much you can put on his plate. At least in Washington, Kingsbury can use his quarterback run game and stripped-down passing game to maximize Daniels better than in other situations.

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 195 pounds

Class: Senior

Fit: Quinyon Mitchell checks all the boxes for an ideal No. 2 cornerback. He has the linear speed to stay in phase with any receiver and the ball skills to produce at the catch point. He’s a bit of a gambler in zone and as a tackler, so there is some boom or bust in his game.

Still, he’s playing opposite Patrick Surtain II, so his play style fits the guy who would see a large share of coverage targets for the Denver Broncos.

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 312 pounds

Class: RS Junior

Fit: Olu Fashanu has seen his draft stock wane in recent months, but nothing on his tape should remove him from the top tier with Alt and Latham. He still has some work to do as a run blocker, but the footwork and feel as a pass protector is pure. There’s some risk involved in flipping him from left tackle to right, but you can’t let a prospect this good pass by a need this dire.

There’s no doubt the Las Vegas Raiders would like to bring in a quarterback, but they’ll have to settle with a Day 2 guy in this mock.

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 254 pounds

Class: Senior

Fit: This is an easy fit for the New Orleans Saints, who need a succession plan for Cam Jordan's eventual retirement. Jared Verse wasn’t as flashy a pass rusher as I wanted to see this season, but he’s a monster as an edge-setter in the run game and a high-motor pocket pusher in the passing game.

This is more of a high-floor pick for New Orleans, but this franchise needs consistent production from guys on rookie contracts to finally pivot this roster.

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 173 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: This is another easy fit based on body type and athletic profile. Nate Wiggins delivered sub-4.3 speed at the combine at 6-foot-2. He’s a little light, so I understand if there are concerns similar to Emmanuel Forbes in 2023, but Wiggins is much more consistent as a coverage player. He has the potential to be a star cornerback in this league, which takes some pressure off of Julius Brents and allows him to fit in more naturally as CB2 with the Indianapolis Colts.

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 189 pounds

Class: RS Sophomore

Fit: This would be a coup for the Jacksonville Jaguars to bring in a corner as consistent across all phases of the position. Terrion Arnold is great at the line of scrimmage, understands how to stay tight to routes as they break downfield and was the most productive in the class at the catch point in 2023. He can tackle, he’s comfortable moving around and you can use him as a slot/blitzer if the game plan calls for it.

Almost any projection of his game lands him as a solid starter, and Jacksonville needs better coverage to get the most out of its pass rushers.

Height: 6-foot-8

Weight: 340 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: It feels like this pick can go in a dozen different directions as the Cincinnati Bengals approach a team-building pivot point. Because so many options are still on the board at skill positions, it feels wiser to prioritize the trenches early and move around in the draft to address other needs on the perimeter.

Amarius Mims doesn’t have the same amount of tape as the top three tackles in this class but arguably has the highest ceiling. He brings a combination of speed and power that translates into the run game and pass protection. His athleticism makes it possible to fast track his development by executing the finer details. 

Either Mims or Trent Brown can move inside to help fortify the interior and keep Joe Burrow upright, which is the only way the Bengals can remain a contender in the AFC going forward.

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 259 pounds

Class: 5Y Junior

Fit: There’s no replacement for the loss of Aaron Donald, and it would be foolish to try to find another defensive tackle who could impact the game that way. The Los Angeles Rams should double down on retooling this defense with picks at premium positions, and Laiatu Latu is the best bet for keeping consistent edge rush play in the building.

Latu’s medical history is a wonder right now, but if he’s healthy, he has a full toolkit of rush moves and the high motor to manipulate the pocket when he doesn’t get clear wins. Across from Byron Young, the Rams would have two young pass rushers with a high floor.

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 340 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: The Pittsburgh Steelers need to keep taking swings at building up this offensive line, especially if the goal is to make the most of Arthur Smith’s offense.

Talese Fuaga is a great run blocker with the quick feet to run outside zone and the power to run gap schemes if needed. Like Broderick Jones in last year’s class, some growth needs to happen as a pass protector, but the baseline is high.

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 317 pounds

Class: Senior

Fit: The Miami Dolphins are trying to thread a difficult needle between staying competitive and correcting the team-building failures of past regimes. Building up quality depth and contingencies on the offensive line is a must, and Troy Fautanu is arguably the most versatile offensive lineman in the draft.

Fautanu moves like a tight end, and he’s a clean and consistent pass protector. Not only would he be a good successor to Terron Armstead, he can give high level value on the interior or at right tackle if it were needed.

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 199 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: The Philadelphia Eagles need to bring in defensive playmakers, but they aren’t in a position to control what’s available without mortgaging future capital and making a major leap. If the Eagles stand pat, it makes the most sense to bolster the defensive backfield instead of bringing in a young edge with the 22nd pick.

Kool-Aid McKinstry's 2023 tape didn’t pop, and that’s why he slipped into late first- or early second-round consideration, but teams weren’t targeting him for a reason — he doesn’t allow much separation. Like his college teammate Terrion Arnold, McKinstry is a well-rounded prospect who can fill several roles in the defensive backfield. He can compete with James Bradberry for the second corner spot right out of the gate and even play in the slot if need be.

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 254 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: I’m not sure Commanders fans would see it the same way, but if you left the first round with a (lesser) quarterback and edge rusher to help usher in the next era, I see that as a victory in the rebuilding process. Chop Robinson is the kind of edge that Dan Quinn loves.

A pure speed rusher off the edge, Robinson can step right into the league and affect the game on passing downs in a way that suggests he has star potential. There are obvious issues in run defense, but Quinn is good about liberating guys to take chances at TFLs, and it may suit his playstyle best to gamble than trying to win the edge on every snap.

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 313 pounds

Class: 4Y Junior

Fit: Similar to Miami, the Dallas Cowboys need to address the trenches on both sides of the ball if they are to contend in their conference long-term. Graham Barton has been penciled in as a guard, but he has versatility across the entire line, giving Dallas some options for handling Tyron Smith’s departure.

Barton is technically proficient and meets the athletic baseline to fit any scheme. He’s best as a guard, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see a team give him a chance at tackle before kicking him inside.

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 328 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could use a bona fide edge rusher, but enough early draft capital has been spent on that side of the ball. Ryan Jensen retired, and Jackson Powers-Johnson is an easy early-round pick that gives the Bucs a long-term answer at the position.

Jensen is powerful and quick coming out of his stance. He wants to get attached and move bodies on double teams, and he can pull into space and find work. His mobility and physicality would be a big addition to this offensive line.

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 186 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: Arizona needs to leave the first round with a playmaker on both sides of the ball, and CB Kamari Lassiter would deliver the kind of dependable down-to-down play that this defense needs on the perimeter.

Lassiter’s 40 time at the pro day was hotly debated, but his play speed seems to lean more toward 4.5 than 4.6. He’s good at the line of scrimmage, denies receivers at the catch point, and he’s a good tackler. We’re out of potential No. 1 cornerbacks in this range, but it would be a help to bring in a quality starter like Lassiter.

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 209 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are out the door, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Buffalo Bills spend their early picks on offense. Brian Thomas Jr. would give them a big-bodied speed threat to push the ball downfield with.

Thomas’ speed and ball tracking make him an interesting development project, but I don’t know if he will walk right into the league with a carved-out role in an NFL offense. Josh Allen’s arm talent means the Bills can use him vertically and open up space for Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid to work underneath. This roster pivot will take two offseasons to complete, so it’s OK to take a long view in Round 1.

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 304 pounds

Class: Senior

Fit: The Detroit Lions’ run defense needs some help up the spine, and nobody is more disruptive on the interior than Jer’Zhan Newton. His lower body explosiveness and agility are impressive at his size, and there’s a lot to like with his motor and hand placement as an interior pass rusher.

Detroit has invested so much into its front four, and I can imagine some fan exhaustion here, but the trenches must be built to sustain the Lions long-term.

Height: 6-foot-8

Weight: 322 pounds

Class: RS Junior

Fit: The Baltimore Ravens are more likely to take the best player available than to draft according to team needs. Still, the offensive line has been aging and regressing in a way that needs more immediate attention.

Tyler Guyton is a little raw and incomplete, but he’s a phenomenal athlete with a high ceiling if he hits. Baltimore embraces bringing in guys with high-level movement skills and a framework to build upon, and Guyton can move around if needed. If his play strength improves, a high-level tackle will be developed here.

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 326 pounds

Class: RS Sophomore

Fit: The San Francisco 49ers need to bring in young talent on the offensive line, and Kingsley Suamataia is a nasty blocker with a great burst out of his stance. He will need to reign in his tendency to play for knockout blows, but an outside zone scheme makes the most of his skillset.

There’s no such thing as replacing Trent Williams, but this franchise needs an answer if his body declines as he ages.

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 205 pounds

Class: Junior

Fit: Bringing in Marquise Brown was a start, but the Kansas City Chiefs aren't done filling out this wide receiver room. Adonai Mitchell can serve several roles in this offense with his size and speed — taking the top off a defense to allow Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce to create underneath or winning jump balls and contested catches out on the perimeter.

Mitchell has never dominated in a way that his physical profile suggests he could, and that’s why he’s available in this range. However, giving him a clear role walking into the league can fast track his ability to impact a game.