Piece on how scouts think the top 10 will play out:
Projected pick from an AFC East area scout: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Our designated scout for the Titans' pick didn't shake things up and make a non-quarterback selection. This mock draft starts chalky, as Ward is the
clear favorite to be the No. 1 pick on April 24.
When asked why Ward was the choice -- even over blue-chip prospects such as Colorado wide receiver/cornerback
Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher
Abdul Carter -- the scout said, "He's the best QB in the class and is the best player at the most important position of need."
Ward had a dominant 2024 season, leading the FBS with 39 touchdown passes, throwing for 4,313 yards and completing 67.2% of his passes. He moves well in the pocket and can dial up fastballs with his strong arm. Ward is the No. 14 prospect on
my board, and he edges Colorado's
Shedeur Sanders as the clear QB1. The Titans' lack of significant quarterback moves in the free agency window indicates that Ward will be the No. 1 pick and the likely starter, with incumbent
Will Levis moving to a backup role.
Projected pick from an AFC South area scout: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The Browns don't have a franchise quarterback.
Deshaun Watson is dealing with a
torn Achilles suffered in Week 7 last season and
reinjured this offseason. He was a big disappointment even before that, considering the
massive guaranteed contract he was given in 2022. The Browns' QB room currently includes 40-year-old
Joe Flacco and
twice-traded 2022 first-round pick
Kenny Pickett.
But despite the lack of a long-term QB answer, the AFC South scout chose to bypass Shedeur Sanders or even Ole Miss'
Jaxson Dart at No. 2, instead going with Hunter.
"Hunter is the cleanest playmaker in the draft. It was between him and Abdul [Carter]," the scout said. "With the
shoulder and foot injury concerns with Carter, give me Travis."
The scout doubled down when asked if QB was even a consideration at this spot: "Nope. Don't reach for a quarterback when the guys that will be available at No. 33 are just as talented."
Hunter won the
Heisman Trophy last season thanks to his excellent play on
both sides of the ball. He posted 96 catches, 1,258 receiving yards and 15 receiving TDs on offense, and he had 10 pass breakups and four interceptions on defense. I love his agility, speed, toughness and sure-handedness, and I ranked him No. 2 overall on
my final board.
Asked where he'd play Hunter in Cleveland, the scout loved the idea of using him on both sides of the ball, saying, "Give him the opportunity to do both [wide receiver and cornerback] with an emphasis on offense with the lack of a WR1 in Cleveland.
Hunter would immediately become a primary target in the passing game, as the Browns' receiver room is pretty thin behind
Jerry Jeudy. The need help there. The Browns are stronger at cornerback -- with
Denzel Ward,
Martin Emerson Jr. and
Greg Newsome II manning the three starting spots -- but Hunter could make an impact in dime packages, especially in man coverage in the red zone.
Projected pick from an AFC North area scout: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
The assigned scout for the Giants made the quickest pick of this exercise -- and was extremely happy to pick Carter.
"Easy decision," the scout said. "Sure, in a perfect world we'd wish this would align a little better with a more immediate and glaring need on the roster, but we'll take the blue-chip talent and rest easier for it.
"The only other real consideration would be a trade down if the right opportunity presented itself on draft night, given how many pieces [away] this team is."
Even after signing
Russell Wilson and
Jameis Winston, the Giants need a quarterback. But the scout felt pretty good about New York getting one with its second-round pick (No. 34 overall). Jaxson Dart, Louisville's
Tyler Shough and Alabama's
Jalen Milroe could all be available in that range. The Giants could also use offensive line reinforcements, ranking 26th in pass block win rate last season (56.2%). But Carter is No. 1 overall on my board, and this roster needs difference-makers.
Carter was a devastating force for Penn State last season, collecting 93 tackles, 12 sacks, 61 pressures and 23.5 tackles for loss. He has great burst and power. Adding his potential to an edge group that already features two-time Pro Bowler
Brian Burns, youngster
Kayvon Thibodeaux and free agent pickup
Chauncey Golston would make the Giants' pass rush one of the league's finest. Burns could serve as the ace, with Carter as the closer as he develops in the NFL.
Projected pick from an NFC South area scout: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
With the two blue-chip prospects -- Hunter and Carter -- off the board and the Patriots set at quarterback with
Drake Maye, this was the pivot point of this exercise. There is no consensus top prospect for the Patriots, and I don't have an offensive lineman ranked in the top five on
my board. But sometimes it's OK to draft for need, and the Patriots
really need offensive line help after surrendering 52 sacks last season. They were also 31st in pass block win rate at 50.9%.
Campbell, a three-year starter at left tackle, is battle-tested and technically savvy. He allowed only two sacks in 11 games last season despite seeing future NFL talent opposite him on a weekly basis. The biggest concern comes from his arm length; he measured at 32⅝ inches
at the combine and 33 inches at LSU's pro day. NFL teams generally prefer 34 inches for offensive tackles, and Campbell is well below that threshold. But the NFC South scout still thinks he can be Maye's blindside protector.
"He's a high-floor prospect. I trust his feet and hand use to succeed at tackle, but if the length ever becomes that problematic, we think he's got All Pro potential as a guard," the scout said.
Projected pick from an AFC North area scout: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Graham to the Jaguars has been a popular pick across
mock drafts, and for good reason. New
general manager James Gladstone was previously with the Rams and had influence over their back-to-back picks of
Jared Verse and
Braden Fiske to start the 2024 draft. So it wasn't surprising that our scout was ready to pounce on this pick.
"There's no need to hem and haw. Jacksonville needs interior defensive line help," the evaluator said.
Graham is seen as a top-five player in the class (fourth on
my board) after a season in which he had 52 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 26 pressures and 14 run stops as Michigan's defensive anchor. I've called him my favorite trench player in the class to watch on tape, and he combines quickness, physical hands and a great motor. He's a reliable player who would help a Jacksonville defense that ranked 31st in yards allowed per play (5.9) and last in pass defense (257.4 yards per game) last season.
"This is hitting a double versus swinging for a home run and reaching for a
Shemar Stewart or
Walter Nolen," the scout said. "They did that with
Travon Walker over
Aidan Hutchinson in 2022, and we're not doing that again."
Projected pick from an NFC West national scout: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Raiders
traded a third-round selection to Seattle for quarterback
Geno Smith in March, resolving the biggest need on the roster. Now they must build a better offense around Smith.
"I seriously considered going wide receiver here because of the needs, but I can't ignore the value of Jeanty," the scout said. "He might be the best player in the class, and you know exactly what you're getting with him."
Jeanty was a magician last season, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 TDs. He shows contact balance and breakaway speed. But he's also a capable receiver out of the backfield and would open up the Raiders' passing game. The Raiders' rushing attack was
bad last year -- dead last in yards per carry (3.6) and rushing yards per game (79.8). New coach
Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator
Chip Kelly want to run the ball, and the Raiders need more than 32-year-old free agent pickup
Raheem Mostert to accomplish that.
"This is Pete Carroll getting his
Marshawn Lynch," added the scout on Jeanty.
We asked scouts to make draft picks for NFL teams, assigning one to each top-10 slot. Here's how it played out.
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