Midseason Mock Draft: Surprise QB Enters Top Five
We're already halfway through the midseason point of NFL action, which means we're only getting closer to the official start of draft season.
In this midseason mock, there's no surprise as to who goes No. 1 - but there's a new name creeping up draft boards:
1. Arizona Cardinals
The pick: Caleb Williams, Quarterback, USC
We finally get to see what Kyler Murray can do this weekend coming off an ACL tear. How he plays the rest of the season will directly influence the future of the NFL, let alone the Cardinals. Should he play poorly and the Cards possess the number one pick, Williams is the guy. Should he play well, perhaps the Cards don't have the number one pick. But in a mock where they do and we aren't ready yet for trades, Arizona would be foolish to pass up the generational talent that Williams is.
2. Chicago Bears (via Carolina)
The pick: Drake Maye, Quarterback, North Carolina
Missing out on Williams means the Bears must take the "consultation prize" that is Maye. This is equivalent to not getting a Ferrari and settling for a Bugatti instead. Maye is every bit of an elite-level talent we've seen in past drafts and is a franchise-altering player.
Bears fans will have unfortunate flashbacks to Mitch Trubisky by taking another UNC quarterback, but Maye is on another plane of existence as a prospect than Trubisky ever was.
3. Chicago Bears
The pick: Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver, Ohio State
How do you make the transition from rookie to pro easy on a quarterback? You get him an elite pass catcher and MHJ is precisely that. There have been several elite wide receiver prospects to enter the draft over the last decade, but MHJ presents himself as not only an elite player but also an elite athlete. We're talking about a 6'4" 205 lbs receiver with legit 4.4 maybe even 4.3 speed that can dominate at all three levels. He's as close to generational at the position as we've seen.
Matching MHJ with D.J. Moore is precisely how you get an offense back on track and Maye to reach his ceiling quickly.
4. New York Giants
The pick: Bo Nix, Quarterback, Oregon
Nix is QB3 in this class and I'm tired of pretending that he isn't. The transformation we've seen from Nix in his two seasons at Oregon is something the likes we've never seen before. We're talking about a borderline bust of a 5-star player at Auburn who transferred to Oregon and became a Heisman heavyweight in both his seasons there with a legit chance to win it this year.
He's a slam dunk franchise-altering quarterback and that's what the Giants desperately need. They undoubtedly have buyer's remorse for Daniel Jones, so right the ship and get a perfect quarterback for Brian Daboll's offense.
5. New England Patriots
The pick: J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback, Michigan
Four quarterbacks in the top-five picks?! I know this may be crazy, but the reality is a lot of these teams need quarterbacks and the draft is rich with talent.
The Mac Jones experiment in New England and it's time they move off him. McCarthy is a precision passer with great touch and good athleticism to be a quality runner, as well. McCarthy will be in the running to be QB3 in this class and the Pats should have no issue picking him inside the top-5 picks.
6. Los Angeles Rams
The pick: Olu Fashanu, Offensive Tackle, Penn State
The Rams could use a quarterback upgrade, but taking the fifth quarterback off the board when this team has plenty of other needs seems like a tough sell. Besides, they still have Matthew Stafford under contract through 2026, and cutting him isn't reasonable until after the 2025 season.
So, until then, they'd be wise to keep him upright and Fashanu is as good a tackle prospect as we've had the last couple of years. Fashanu has refined his craft after electing to return for his redshirt junior season. He's young (turning 21 at the end of December) and his athletic profile gives him a ceiling through the roof.
7. Green Bay Packers
The pick: Joe Alt Jr., Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame
No matter what ends up happening with David Bahktiari, who cannot stay healthy at this point in his career, the Packers need a successor waiting and someone who can be a day-one starter no matter what happens. Alt Jr. is an outstanding prospect who can immediately be a plug-and-play left tackle. No matter who is the quarterback for the Pack in 2024, he'll be much happier with a franchise left tackle blocking for him.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The pick: Laiatu Latu, Edge Rusher, UCLA
The conversation for the top edge rusher in this class will be fascinating between Latu, Dallas Turner, and Jared Verse. Although I am a big Turner fan, I am falling deeper in love with Latu, whose production matches his unreal upside. The Bucs should entertain quarterback options, but Baker Mayfield has proven solid enough to earn another deal with the team and in turn, build up the rest of this roster. Latu is a game-changing pass rusher and will challenge as the team's best defender from day one.
9. Denver Broncos
The pick: Malik Nabers, Wide Receiver, LSU
The Broncos under Sean Payton are going through massive changes offensively. The team is in a pickle at the wide receiver spot, where contracts are off-balance based on production and the unit just flat-out needs an upgrade. Nabers is nearing elite status as a prospect and looks to be the next in a long line of great LSU wide receiver prospects. Nabers is a certified X-receiver and will make life easier for his fellow receivers and become the best friend of Russell Wilson.
10. Tennessee Titans
The pick: Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia
Bowers is every bit the generational tight end that MHJ is at wide receiver. In his three seasons at Georgia, Bowers has a chance to break tight end records across all of college football on top of being a two-time national champion and possessing a John Mackey Award for the nation's top tight end. When it's all said and done, few players at the position will be as accomplished as Bowers, but he's an elite player entirely.
The Titans need to add the best players possible for Will Levis, who has shown some promise in two starts. Bowers is a game-changing tight end who can be a focal point of any offense.
11. Atlanta Falcons
The pick: Michael Penix Jr., Quarterback, Washington
The Desmond Ridder experiment is a failure and quite frankly the Arthur Smith experiment needs to end. No matter who is coaching this team next year, the offense is in dire need of an upgrade, and plugging a guy in with Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London would make this offense a juggernaut from day one. Penix Jr. is perhaps the best passer in the country and someone who can finally help the Falcons realize the potential of their offense.
12. Washington Commanders
The pick: Amarius Mims, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
The Commanders are on pace to allow 83 sacks this season, which means they have no excuse to go any position except offensive line for the majority of this draft as well as through free agency next offseason. Mims is a top athlete at the position and a plug-and-play player at left tackle. The upside is high for Mims and is a drastic upgrade over anything the Commanders have currently.
13. Indianapolis Colts
The pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback, Alabama
The Colts have a roster that is playing above where many including myself would believe them to be. Still, they could stand for upgrades at some valuable positions, and one of the draft's top defenders has fallen onto their laps. McKinstry is a fantastic cover man who is only dropped this far because of needs ahead of him. A corner of McKinstry's stature is what the Colts need to stay ahead of the game in an AFC South that looks to be loaded at the quarterback position.
14. Las Vegas Raiders
The pick: Quinn Ewers, Quarterback, Texas
It's well-documented that I am a big Ewers fan, but I fear some teams will be scared off by some injuries in back-to-back seasons. If teams are smart enough to move past this then they'll find a quarterback with tons of intangibles to be a day one starter for a team. The Raiders are plagued with poor quarterbacking play and are facing a rebuild with a new regime destined to come in. The best way to start a rebuild is with a franchise quarterback and Ewers at this point in the draft is a freaking steal.
15. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston)
The pick: Keon Coleman, Wide Receiver, Florida State
The Cardinals have all sorts of different directions to go with this pick, but getting a true number-one receiver for their new quarterback should be near the top of their list of needs. Coleman has exploded onto the scene this year and is one of the best receivers when it comes to contested throws. Coleman's size, physicality, and my-ball mentality are a welcomed addition to this Cardinals offense.
16. New York Jets
The pick: JC Latham, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
The fact that Aaron Rodgers is gearing up to return by the end of the season is absurd, to say the least. However, the Jets need to beef up their front five to keep Rodgers upright. Latham has shown promise to be a franchise tackle and slide in as Rodgers' blindside protector.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
The pick: Cooper DeJean, Cornerback, Iowa
The Chargers traded former free agent darling JC Jackson just over a year into his deal with the team and now LA is back in the market for a cover man across from Asante Samuel Jr. They could have that guy in DeJean, who is one of the draft's most overlooked players as of now. Between his elite cover abilities and his even better return man prowess, DeJean will be a standout for the Chargers from day one.
18. Buffalo Bills
The pick: Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Washington
Another mock draft results in another first-round receiver for the Bills. With the Bills picking higher than they usually do, they get to land Odunze whom I have taken upon myself to nickname "Doomsday". Odunze is an aggressive receiver who makes big plays happen seemingly every time he touches the ball. I see Odunze as the receiver they have hoped Gabe Davis would become. He's a great fit across from Stefon Diggs.
19. New Orleans Saints
The pick: Dallas Turner, Edge Rusher, Alabama
And so ends the slide of my beloved Turner and he ends with a team that has made big-time investments along their defensive line. Turner is a high-upside pass rusher who has flourished this season and he's doing so without Will Anderson Jr. across from him. Cameron Jordan isn't getting any younger and needs a buddy across from him. Turner is yet another steal thanks to so many team needs ahead of him pushing him down the board. Speaking of which...
20. Minnesota Vikings
The pick: Jared Verse, Edge Rusher, Florida State
Verse was once penned as a top-five lock and now he is just inside the top 20? Again, Verse is simply a victim of team needs and it's in no way indicative of his talent level. Verse's production hasn't taken the massive boost in production that he was expected to, but he's still playing at a high level. The Vikings are currently playing themselves out of a quarterback, so the next best thing they can do is build their defense back up. Matching Verse across from Danielle Hunter is nightmare fuel for opposing offenses.
21. Dallas Cowboys
The pick: Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
CeeDee Lamb is a great receiver, but the Cowboys' search for his running mate has continued despite a trade for Brandin Cooks. Michael Gallup isn't getting it done either. Egbuka has been a terrific Robin to Marvin Harrison Jr.'s Batman when he's been healthy, so lining him up across from Lamb is a perfect situation for him. Dak Prescott will appreciate another high-upside weapon added to his arsenal.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
The pick: Kalen King, Cornerback, Penn State
The Steelers appear to have one of their cornerback spots figured out with Joey Porter Jr., but Patrick Peterson isn't to be relied on past this season. Why not reunite JPJ with his former teammate at Penn State? Some believe King to be the better of the two, but the Steelers will just be happy to have their one-two punch at cornerback that they've been trying to find for years.
23. Houston Texans (via Cleveland)
The pick: Xavier Legette, Wide Receiver, South Carolina
The Texans have had some rock-solid receiver play this year between Nico Collins and Tank Dell, but the need for a true number-one guy persists. Legette has had perhaps the biggest breakout of any player in college football this year. Before this season, Legette had 423 career yards and he's 27 away from 1,000 this year alone. He's a big body and a player who has aged into a great player. A trio of Legette, Collins, and Dell is dynamic for C.J. Stroud.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
The pick: Jer'Zhan Newton, Interior Defensive Line, Iowa State
The Bengals are rebounding the way we expected them to and nobody should be surprised by it. They are a Super Bowl contender for as long as Joe Burrow is under center, but they'll need their defense to keep up. The Bengals can go a plethora of ways here, but why not enjoy taking the top defensive lineman who's tumbled in the draft to no fault of his own?
Newton is a game-wrecking defensive lineman who finds himself picked late because of team needs ahead of him. The Bengals certainly won't mind ending his slide and adding him to their rotation.
25. Seattle Seahawks
The pick: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Linebacker, Clemson
Both Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner are free agents after this season and even if the team decided to bring one of them back, the Seahawks are lacking the difference-making linebacker that made their defenses elite in the early 2010s. Trotter Jr. has NFL bloodlines, as his dad was a Pro Bowl linebacker for the Eagles, but he has made his own brand as a tough-nosed, instinctive linebacker. This just feels like a Seahawks pick, and it will surely get this defense back to the elite status that they aren't too far off from reaching.
26. San Francisco 49ers
The pick: Xavier Worthy, Wide Receiver, Texas
What do you get for the team that has everything? Another pass catcher. The 49ers have no shortage of receiver talent with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, but getting another guy to make the unit deeper and more talented shouldn't be something for them to scoff at, especially one of Worthy's caliber. Worthy is another speed demon who can create after the catch. In other words, he's exactly what Kyle Shanahan likes in his receivers.
27. Miami Dolphins
The pick: Taliese Fuaga, Offensive Tackle, Oregon State
The Dolphins' offensive line could stand for some upgrades, especially at right tackle where Austin Johnson has been a liability. Insert Fuaga, who has been one of the best right tackles in all of college football. The 6'6" 334 lbs behemoth has been impossible to get passed and is the blindside protector that left quarterback Tua Tagovailoa needs.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
The pick: Kamren Kinchens, Safety, Miami FL
The Jaguars could use a top receiver if they elect not to re-sign Calvin Ridley, but until they decide not to the team should focus on improving its defense. Kinchens has found a way to stand out in a very opinionated safety class with 10 interceptions and counting over the last two seasons. Kinchens has the ball skills to be a true centerfielder for a rock-solid Jaguars defense and perhaps take them to the next level with his turnover prowess.
29. Detroit Lions
The pick: Chop Robinson, Edge Rusher, Penn State
Aidan Hutchinson is all that and a bag of chips, but he needs a running mate across from him. Insert Robinson, who has a ridiculous amount of upside between his pure athleticism and his play on the field. A player of Robinson's caliber tends to be picked much earlier than this, but once again, a run on quarterbacks, offensive tackles, and wide receivers has pushed a lot of great players down the board. The Lions are happy to find their bookend edge rushers.
30. Baltimore Ravens
The pick: Bralen Trice, Edge Rusher, Washington
The Ravens' defense is playing at a historic level, so why not continue to make a good thing great? Part of their massive success defensively has been the play of Jadeveon Clowney, who will be a free agent after this season. Unfortunately, the Ravens have a lot of tough decisions to make financially and Clowney is unlikely to be in the folds for 2024.
Trice is a terrific pass rusher whose box score numbers don't illustrate how great of a player he is. Trice in a Mike Macdonald defense that rotates its top pass-rushing options would be an instant-impact guy.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
The pick: Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver, Oregon
Yes, I am well aware that the Chiefs won a Super Bowl with a patchwork wide receiver room, but we're seeing that even Patrick Mahomes needs a top guy to throw to. Franklin is another one of my draft darlings with his size and speed, which feels right up the Chiefs' alley. Franklin would come into this offense as one of the top receivers outside of Rashee Rice and give more life to this receivers room.
32. Philadelphia Eagles
The pick: Nate Wiggins, Cornerback, Clemson
Darius Slay and James Bradberry are good players in their 30s, but behind them, there is a need for better depth. Wiggins is quickly playing his way up draft boards and is another name to watch in a deep cornerback draft. The Eagles would have the luxury of being able to stash and develop Wiggins to be the eventual replacement for one of Slay or Bradberry, but he is also more than good enough to see the field regardless.
He may not be a Georgia defender, but he's a damn good one that the Eagles shouldn't hesitate to add.
