Let's update this bad boy.
Every sign and report points to this as a near lock. I believe it. Ward will be my 1st overall player on my upcoming Top 100 big board, and the Titans don't have a QB. Pretty simple.
Back on May 25th, I had Hunter here despite him being +600 to go 2nd overall at the time. Here's what I wrote: "The luxury of picking 2nd overall this year are choosing between two blue chip talents: EDGE Abdul Carter and WR/CB Travis Hunter. Both are worthwhile. I believe analytics-based GM Andrew Berry is trying to create a powerful offense, not defense. Take the Deshaun Watson (L), Elijah Moore (L), and Jerry Jeudy (W) trades as evidence. Hunter is viewed by Berry to be a WR first, and they certainly have a need for playmakers in Cleveland. Despite his rawness as a receiver, Hunter dazzled underneath and downfield. As a bonus, he can play situational corner and bring great vibes to a locker room lacking them. If you want to really take it a step further, Hunter's upside is that they are drafting two difference makers for the price of one if Hunter hits. His upside is just higher than Carter's can be." Since then, Browns GM Andrew Berry has talked glowingly about Hunter as a WR and Browns owner went to his Pro Day. Even Adam Schefter has said Hunter is the favorite after changing his mind from QB to Carter to now Hunter. He's a rightful favorite to go 2nd overall.
Shedeur Sanders is going to fall based on his low-ceiling tape, and there isn't another prospect on Carter's level. The real options are Carter or a trade down. New York has Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux at edge rusher already, but the Giants do have history of a deep edge group carrying them to Super Bowls and Thibodeaux has a tradable contract if they want to move around resources. The simplest answer is best player available, while hoping Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston can do enough on offense to push them into the Wild Card mix. I think a Day 2 or Day 3 pick on a QB is still likely.
My confidence in this being right has already plummeted. Assuming this is offense after unloading the free agency clip on defense, the realistic options are X WR Tetairoa McMillan, thinly-built T/G Will Campbell, thickly-built T/G Kelvin Banks, or Combine star RT Membou. There are holes to poke in all of them, but Membou has the fewest of them aside from switching from right to left tackle. Like the Titans did with JC Latham, they can try him at left tackle as a rookie and then slide him back to his natural position once they move on from veteran RT Morgan Moses. I thought his upside was clearly the highest of the available options. He's +450 to go 4th overall. The sickest longshot play is Kelvin Banks, who some realistically could have as the LT1.
Fixing the interior OL was a priority in free agency--C Robert Hainsley replaces retired Mitch Morse and OG Patrick Mekari replaces Brandon Scherff--but defensive tackle remains a relative weakness. Graham doesn't look the part of a top-5 overall DT, which could result in a mini slide. The Jaguars might have more faith after seeing what undersized DT Braden Fiske did as a rookie with the Rams, where new GM James Gladstone came from.
It's a major position of need as 4th-rounder Decamerion Richardson is a projected starter right now. Johnson before an injury-filled 2024 season was considered a top-5 prospect, and all it takes is one team who plays a lot of zone coverage to still believe. The Raiders have the underrated connection among the top teams, too, as Tom Brady and GM John Spytek are both Michigan alums. The potential 1st rounders with official vists are Johnson, Ashton Jeanty, and Jalon Walker. I'd say Walker is the least likely given the edge depth they have. Johnson is +650 to go 6th overall. That's interesting!!!
Fun fact: Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard are penciled in starters at receiver. McMillan's presence gives Justin Fields a jump ball option and puts Garrett Wilson into better situations as a move receiver. I'm pretty confused why TE Tyler Warren (77 YPG on manufactured touches) is remotely as good of a receiver as McMillan (110 YPG). The Jets don't need another guy to work around the line of scrimmage with Fields' rushing, Wilson's YAC, and Breece Hall's screen abilities. They need a ball winner. Am I nuts??? Apparently so because he's +1500 to go 7th overall.
GM Dan Morgan was an NFL linebacker, where Walker can occasionally play in the pros. He's a chess piece edge rusher who can move across the defensive line pre-snap to attack mismatches. The Panthers No. 32 defense added pieces this offseason, but many where at DT, not edge.
I've watched every 2024 snap of Dart's, and then went back and watched his non-play action, non-RPO, and non-screen work. His decision-making very late in games was problematic, but the rest of it was pretty impressive. He ultimately only had a 2% turnover worthy play rate, so maybe a stretch of forcing a few untimely plays. The Saints are prime to take the risk of Dart's gunslinger profile, and they have the luxury of not forcing him out there immediately with bridge QB Derek Carr under contract. He's actually the perfect stylistic mentor to Dart as a passer, but Dart's athleticism is multiple tiers above. At some point, the Saints need to find a rookie QB contract to get them out of cap hell. I can see new HC Kellen Moore seeing some young Dak Prescott and young Jalen Hurts in Dart's game. That's who he has been coaching recently.
Real investments into RB must be cherries on top, and while it's early into the Caleb Williams rebuild, the roster does look pretty complete following trades for offensive guards. (And don't sleep on developmental LT Kiran Amegadjie behind Braxton Jones) Ben Johnson could use Jeanty as the most souped-up David Montgomery you can imagine. We just watched him have success with a 12th overall RB in Jahmyr Gibbs. They've had him in for an official visit.
Evaluators are split between tackle and guard. He's only played LT and has the arm length and broadness to stay out there to me, but the 49ers are in an interesting spot. They need a guard to replace Aaron Banks this offseason and then they'll eventually need a LT Trent Williams successor. I think Banks is an ideal candidate for that. If the 49ers rebound with better health in 2025 and beyond, it'll be hard to find a LT. This is their best chance. They had Banks in for an official visit already.
Dallas has an open spot at RG and potentially at RT long term, and that's likely where Campbell ends up in the pros based on his lackluster density and length. This front office has been OL-based for decades, and many would consider this to be a best player available pick.
A lot of his production was within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage (screens, rub routes, wildcat carries, etc.), and there are only so many play callers who have shown they're willing to do such a thing with a damn tight end. Well, Mike McDaniel just did so with Jonnu Smith, who is a smaller version of Warren.
A shoulder injury complicates things, but if that's cleared, Campbell is a top-15 player and profiles as a potential All Pro off-ball linebacker. The Colts' depth chart is mediocre there, and new DC Lou Anarumo deserves another piece to work with. The offense has had plenty of resources thrown at it.
This has to be edge rusher, right? Williams is the safest of them all because he's physical, versatile, and has high character. Will this front office feel comfortable with Mike Green's off-field or Shemar Stewart's lack of production? I can see them taking a double after lighting nearly $100M on fire last offseason. For what it's worth, the Falcons have had Steward and James Pearce in for visits. Williams and Green haven't been brought in to our knowledge.
They've brought in 11 defensive linemen who are projected top-100 overall players for official visits already. Furthermore, swinging and missing on 3-tech Milton Williams in free agency and then signing 39-year-old Calais Campbell are signs that his front office is looking for help at 3-technique specifically. Harmon checks every prospect box I look for. Size, production, Power 5 pedigree, athleticism. He'll end up going higher than currently projected. I have him just inside my top 10 players.
Would you trust Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, and Cody Ford as the interior blockers for Joe Burrow? It's also on my radar that they've brought in top-50 overall LT prospects in for official visits (Conerly, Ersery, Grant) in addition to some guard prospects.
This will be a 2-TE team under OC Klint Kubiak, and Loveland has monster upside as the receiving option in those looks. He lined up in the slot and out wide, and he cooked corners as a route runner. It doesn't look like he's 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds when he's running routes (complementary). And any run blocking knocks on him are overblown, especially considering he was battling a shoulder injury. He's just fine as an inline blocker. He certainly has the size for it.
Todd Bowles throws a lot of coverages and pressure looks and having a versatile nickel adds to the experience. Barron was best as a nickel where he made a ton of tackles, but he did run 4.39 in the forty and handled himself well as an outside corner this past season. They've brought in multiple corners in for official visits already.
This is best player available at a premium position. He's similar to Nic Bonitto, and they could use another body like that after looking at their depth chart. I believe they can find someone they feel comfortable with at RB in the Sean Payton committee on Day 2 or even Day 3 of the draft. They've brought in RBs DJ Giddens and Jaydon Blue for visits, and both could be joker types on passing downs.
Well, he is faster than Najee Harris! All jokes aside, this easily could be a QB spot as well, especially if play-action Jaxson is available (he's not here). I just don't see Shedeur Sanders as a scheme fit with Arthur Smith, DK Metcalf, and George Pickens, and it's probably just too early for Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough. It's on my radar that they've brought in 8 RBs for visits, too, though most are in the Round 3-4 conversation instead of the Hampton tier.
Los Angeles happens to have one of the worst defensive line in the NFL, and this is a trenches first front office. Investments will be made. Grant just happens to be a perfect scheme fit and one of Jim Harbaugh's all time favorite recruits. I believe he'll be a better pass rusher than almost all nose tackles in a few years. We know he'll be an asset against the run in the meantime.
Christian Watson (ACL) is unlikely to play meaningful snaps in 2024, and Golden is a more reliable asset long term in a very similar role. Golden isn't the No. 1 ball winner type this team does need, but he's a great fit with Jordan Love's gunslinger style and the Packers' play-action offense.
The flashes of pass-rush juice from Nolen give him top-12 potential, but he's an inconsistent player with some character concerns. This is his sweet spot, and the Vikings could use depth next to Javon Hargrave, who is on a 2-year deal. As much as DC Brian Flores loves blitzing, I'm sure he'd love to dial that back eventually if he actually had 1-on-1 pass rushers. Nolen could be that if he hits. They've brought in fellow 1st-round DT Derrick Harmon for a visit, highlighting the interest in this position.
New OC Nick Caley comes from the Rams, who pivoted towards girth on the OL in recent offseasons. That's exactly Booker, who won't be for everyone based on scheme fit (needs gap schemes, not wide zone). There's also an Alabama connection with HC DeMeco Ryans. This OL room has been looking for better character, and Booker was a leader for the Tide. Don't be surprised if they look for interior players this draft even though the headline move was trading away LT Laremy Tunsil.
Surprise! The Rams are unconventional in their draft approach, and Schwesinger is a high IQ coverage linebacker for a team that's really, really struggled at that position. The former walk on identifies route concepts in zone and has the speed to play man coverage, even with just one season of starting experience. He just seems like a Ram, and the moving fees for him would be low coming from UCLA.
This may seem like an odd fit at first, but it's really great imo. Egbuka is physical in the run game and reliable in the pass game. (Trade candidate) Mark Andrews is no longer either of those, and the Ohio State career receptions leader would essentially slide into that role as the Ravens turn into a more 3-WR set based team. Egbuka would also take pressure off Zay Flowers as a higher-volume guy where he's not at his best and also puts Rashod Bateman as a vertical-based No. 3 where he's at his best. If you squint, Egbuka did have some nice man coverage routes from the boundary in spurts, too. I'm a big fan.
He's the only potential 1st-rounder with an official visit that we know about, and it makes sense. The NDSU left tackle projects as a guard (or maybe center) in the pros, and the Lions have an open spot there for the first time in a bit. It's been a priority position for this regime.
They lost do-everything S Jeremy Chinn this offseason, and Emmanwori is a bigger and more athletic version of that role if he hits.
They had him in for a visit, and he checks a lot of boxes. His best work is in zone coverage, which is what the Bills play a ton of. The depth chart is barren, and Amos' size makes him a nice tackler, too.
They've already had 7 visits on offensive linemen, and I'm not convinced the Jaylon Smith contract from this offseason is enough to ignore LT in the draft. Conerly is very athletic but needs another year or two to get stronger. If he does, he's Mahomes' long-term blindside protector. That's very valuable.
They had him in for a visit, as he'd be apart of the Josh Sweat replacement plan. He's a high floor player in a draft lacking those, so he seems more likely than not as a Round 1 player.
Just missed: QB Shedeur Sanders, QB Jalen Milroe, QB Tyler Shough, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Luther Burden, WR Jaylin Noel, WR Jayden Higgins, TE Mason Taylor, OT Josh Simmons, OT Aireontae Ersery, OG Grey Zabel, EDGE James Pearce Jr., CB Maxwell Hairston, CB Shavon Revel, S Malaki Starks.