NFL Draft Preview and Predictions
Every year, hundreds of young men enter the NFL Draft. Years of hard work, sweat, and tears culminate in three days, during which the fate of their professional careers is decided. This year, the draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and will begin on April 24th and conclude on April 26th. Round one will take place on the 24th, rounds 2 and 3 on the 25th, and the remaining four rounds will take place on the 26th. All thirty-two teams, if they do well in the draft, have the opportunity to set up their franchise for success for years to come. On the other hand, many franchises will hamper their organization's development with the poor usage of their draft resources, setting them back years in the process. Thirty-two teams, two hundred fifty-seven selections, and three days deciding the futures of franchises and players alike, the NFL Draft is one of the biggest weekends in sports. Here are who we think will be the most important talking points from that weekend.
1. Tennessee Titans - QB (Miami) Cam Ward
This pick is obvious. The Titans address their biggest need by taking the best quarterback in this year’s class, Cam Ward, out of the University of Miami. After trying and failing with about thirty quarterbacks last season, second-year coach Brian Callahan finally gets a quarterback who can throw the ball. Last season at Miami, Ward threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns while throwing only 7 interceptions. Despite not making it to the College Football Playoffs, many fans and teams alike fell in love with Ward, leading to him being named a finalist for the most prestigious award in all of college football, the Heisman trophy. While he did not win the trophy, the Titans have remained in love with his ability to drop balls to receivers eighty yards down the field, even having their private training day with Ward in late March. It is all set up for Ward to be the first major domino to fall before the draft chaos ensues over the following hours.
Player Comparison: Kyler Murray
2. Cleveland Browns - Edge (Penn State) Abdul Carter
The next major domino to fall will be the Cleveland Browns not taking a quarterback. Instead, they will take the best non-QB prospect in this draft class, Penn State’s defensive end Abdul Carter. Registering twelve sacks this season, Carter helped lead the Nittany Lions to the Semi-Finals of the College Football Playoffs, where they were eventually knocked out by Notre Dame. While a quarterback is a need for the Browns, the difference between the player they could get there at two versus the one they could get in the second or third round is simply not sizable enough for them to reasonably take a quarterback here. Instead, they get a blue-chip prospect who will terrify defenses for the next five years alongside the former defensive player of the year, Myles Garrett.
Player Comparison: Micah Parsons
3. New York Giants - QB (Colorado) Shedeur Sanders
The New York Giants are the most desperate team in this draft by far. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll need to make a statement in this draft, particularly at the quarterback position. With the best quarterback in the draft, Cameron Ward, gone already, they go with the next best option in Shedeur Sanders. Son of former NFL superstar Deion Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback has the potential to do well in the NFL when put in the right system. However, number three overall is a significant overestimation of his value and abilities. Sanders is a good game manager, if that, a type of player the Giants could find in later rounds. However, with desperation seeping into the minds of Daboll and Schoen, the Giants’ judgment could be significantly clouded, focusing more on publicity than actual talent.
Player Comparison: Andy Dalton
4. New England Patriots - CB (Colorado) Travis Hunter
The player that everyone has been waiting for is Mr. Heisman, Travis Hunter. The New England Patriots will select Colorado's two-way phenom, Travis Hunter. The Patriots will look to add a dynamic playmaker to their roster that is in desperate need of young and explosive talent. Hunter recorded 35 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 11 pass breakups on defense while adding 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, bringing a rare versatility that we haven't seen in decades. Though the Patriots could go offensive line here, they've already hinted at a long-term rebuild under new leadership, and Hunter gives the Patriots that foundation on both sides of the ball. His fluid hips, elite ball tracking, and competitive fire make him a future lockdown corner, while his route running and hands make him a nightmare in the slot. New England is desperately looking to revive the once-dynasty, and Travis Hunter is the exact athlete Foxborough needs.
Player Comparison: Deion Sanders
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - DT (Michigan) Mason Graham
After arriving in Duvaal country, the new Jacksonville Jaguars general manager, James Gladstone, made it clear his intentions for the upcoming draft were in the trenches. New head coach, Lion Coen, supports this even further after building a great offense off a strong offensive line in Tampa Bay. This all points towards the Jaguars taking the best lineman, on either side of the ball, in this year’s class in Michigan’s Mason Graham. Adding Graham’s youth and pace to this aging defensive line could reshape the Jaguars' future, giving them a crucial building block for years to come.
Player Comparison: Christian Wilkins
6. Las Vegas Raiders - WR (Arizona) Tetairoa McMillan
While a lot of mock drafts and experts have Ashton Jeanty going here, I just feel it is too much of a luxury pick for the Raiders at the moment. Even with their great offensive line, new quarterback, Geno Smith, and new head coach, Pete Carroll, there is still a huge list of needs for new General Manager John Spytek to address. One of those areas is wide receiver, and how better to address that need than to select the best receiver in this year’s class, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan is a dominating physical presence who can get down the field at will, as shown by his stat line of over 2,700 yards receiving in the past two seasons alone. Coupling him with last year’s star rookie, Brock Bowers, the new tight end and receiver combo could help out Geno Smith and any future quarterback for the Raiders for a very long time.
Player Comparison: Mike Evans
7. New York Jets - OT (Missouri) Armand Membou
I love this pick. The New York Jets have been notorious for their shocking front office decisions, the most recent example being the Aaron Rodgers experiment, but their drafting has remained a strong point despite their failures on the field. After taking left tackle Olu Fashanu out of Penn State last year, they addressed the right tackle position with this pick, taking Missouri’s Armand Membou. Membou is an athletic freak and can partner with Fashanu for the next decade, allowing the Jets to focus on more pressing areas, such as the quarterback position.
Player Comparison: Orlando Brown Jr.
8. Chicago Bears - RB (Boise State) Ashton Jeanty (Projected trade with Carolina Panthers)
As Steven A. Smith once said, “Don’t get me salivating.” That is exactly how I feel about this pick. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty has been the best running back in college football over the past year, running through defenders twice his size while carrying his team to the College Football Playoff. His stats are something similar to what you would see on a video game: 2,600 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns! If you put this beast behind the newly formed Chicago O-Line, which I talk about in the article linked here, Chicago could be set to dominate defenses for the next decade.
Player Comparison: Marshawn Lynch
When the football world falls silent, with all eyes turning to Green Bay, Wisconsin, every single football fan will hold their collective breath. Will teams make the right decision that could put their team back in competition at the very top? Or will they make the wrong decision, putting their job and team in jeopardy? No one will know until Roger Goodell walks out on the stage and the draft bell chimes, signaling the bright beginning, or the dire demise, of every NFL organization.