Doing a mock draft before free agency is a dumb exercise, so let's have some fun and try to link the latest NFL news with some potential trades. You'll see Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford being traded, Aaron Rodgers hitting retirement, and other things sprinkled in. You'll also see team needs, which I have laid out in a lot more detail here.

Titans - Trade!

• Titans team needs: QB, WR, RG, RT, EDGE, SLOT, DT, LB

• There are so many holes to plug, and newly-hired GM Mike Borgonzi isn't feeling the pressure to take a QB he's not fully confident in. Borgonzi said his goal is "to get as many picks in the top 100" and that "draft picks are our biggest form of currency." I believe him. He was in-house for the 2nd-round pick for Alex Smith trade with the Chiefs, who took LT Erik Fisher with the 1st overall pick instead of starting the rebuild with a QB. The phone may not ring because the top of the board, especially at QB, is weak, but if it does, I expect an answer. Titans reporter Easton Freeze agrees.

• So who are some trade up teams? Giants (3) to leap frog the Browns (2). Raiders (6), if shot-caller Tom Brady likes either QB. Jets (7) if they move on from Aaron Rodgers as expected. Saints (9) if they can find a Derek Carr trade partner. Of them, only the Saints can promise an "answer" to QB in 2025 and maybe 2026, and it doesn't hurt that Brian Callahan was Carr's QB coach with the Raiders not so long ago.

• The trade compensation I came up with was 1st overall for 9th, 40th, Derek Carr, and a 2026 1st-round pick. For reference, Carr is generally worth a 3rd- or 4th-round pick (see: Matt Ryan, Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo trades).

1. Saints - QB1 Cam Ward

• Saints team needs: CB, EDGE, QB, WR, LG, RT, TE, LB

• Over the past 17 drafts, the Saints have traded up 27 times and traded down 0. It's the same front office calling the shots, and the only way out of their long-term cap hell is to take their Derek Carr dead money medicine now and find a rookie contract at the highest-paid position. Mission accomplished. Ward has all the arm strength needed to throw bombs to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, and he's a good enough athlete to dance behind a suspect OL.

2. Browns - EDGE1 Abdul Carter

• Browns team needs: QB, LT, SLOT, RB, EDGE

• When Myles Garrett asked for a trade, the Browns' company line was they are still competing with this roster. Delusional? Perhaps, but the rest of the roster does have talent if they can improve at QB without any money to spend in free agency. Their only starting-caliber free option is if Kirk Cousins is actually released by the Falcons. If so, he'd sign the "free" deal that Russell Wilson had last offseason. Kevin Stefanski coached Cousins in Minnesota to connect another dot. We'll learn Cousins' future well before the draft. If he's a Brown, then Carter and Travis Hunter are the clear top choices per the consensus big boards. Garrett should be happy if they upgrade QB and give him an EDGE running mate to increase his odds of getting single-teamed.

3. Giants - CB1 Travis Hunter

• Giants team needs: QB, WR, CB, RG, FS, LB

• I've watched enough Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders to believe the NFL will put them in different tiers, where Ward has legitimate upside and Sanders is capped as a league-average distributor. Meanwhile, there are two blue chip talents at EDGE and CB, both premium positions. If one is there, it'll be difficult to pass up, even with the positional value (I get it). Hunter fills a need in a suspect Giants secondary, plus he can chip in on offense where the Giants were somehow even worse. So what do they do at QB?

• How about this? Sean McVay presses reset after feeling the youth movement, trading Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford away. Stafford won't be overly expensive (Day 2 pick), and the Giants have the cap space to easily extend him. A move like this extends GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll's leash. And us in fantasy land can go nuts with Malik Nabers hype.

4. Patriots - DT1 Mason Graham

• Patriots team needs: LT, RT, WR, DT, CB, EDGE, IOL

• New England's defense fell apart. They were 31st in pressure rate and 20th in rushing EPA. Trading Matthew Judon pre-season and then losing DT Christian Barmore (4 games) due to blood clots were partially to blame. We know Mike Vrabel will want to win the trenches, and Graham is the consensus No. 3 prospect with no clear candidate for 4th. New England will be sweating if a QB goes ahead to make sure they land a blue chipper.

5. Jaguars - CB2 Will Johnson

• Jaguars team needs: RG, CB, FS, DT, C

• The Jaguars have only seen CB1 Tyson Campbell play in 23 games over the last two seasons, and they are weak behind him. In fact, Jacksonville was 32nd in passing EPA. Johnson has CB1 potential if he can rebound from last year's injury, and his size is a nice complement to Campbell's speed.

6. Raiders - RB1 Ashton Jeanty

• Raiders team needs: QB, LB, SS, FS, SLOT CB, RB, RT, WR, EDGE

• In other words, Vegas needs everything besides TE. Jeanty is extremely loved by the consensus rankings, and he'd be a hit with the new coaching staff. Pete Carroll? Marshawn Lynch. OC Chip Kelly? Lesean McCoy. After the seasons Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry had, I believe teams will be more willing to invest into the position again. Bijan Robinson and Jahymr Gibbs have also helped the case.

7. Jets - TE1 Tyler Warren

• Jets team needs: QB, CB, RT, WR, SS, FS, SLOT CB, TE, EDGE

• I don't see Aaron Glenn signing up for Aaron Rodgers, and Davante Adams is an obvious cut candidate if they head for the rebuild as expected. It's underrated how bad the Jets' WR room is beyond Adams and Garrett Wilson, but is there a WR worth taking this highly? Or is the next best option to find a freaky TE who can actually block?

8. Panthers - EDGE2 Jalon Walker

• Panthers team needs: CB, EDGE, FS, DT, WR, TE, C, LT

• After trading Brian Burns for salary relief and draft capital, the Panthers were 32nd in pressure rate without a blitz (23%). Oh, and they were 32nd against the run, too. It just comes down to which prospect is most likely, as there is no EDGE2 consensus behind Carter and the Panthers will likely to take their favorite of the bench based on the team needs ahead of them. Walker's versatility is a nice tie-breaker in his favor.

9. Titans - OL1 Armand Membou

• Titans team needs: QB, WR, RG, RT, EDGE, SLOT, DT, LB

• After adding draft capital and Derek Carr to please GM Mike Borgonzi and HC Brian Callahan respectively, the Titans go with best player available at a premium position. That just happens to be another stud OL prospect for coach Bill Callahan to develop while he's still on staff. That's LG Peter Skoronski, LT JC Latham, and now RT Membou to work with up front during their rebuilding years.

10. Bears - OL2 Will Campbell

• Bears team needs: LG, RG, C, WR, LT, RB, EDGE

• It's no mystery that Caleb Williams' sack rate needs fixing. Hence, Ben Johnson's arrival. The Bears have free agents at LG, C, and RG, and LT Braxton Jones broke his ankle last year. Campbell can be LT insurance and start at guard as a rookie. I'd be surprised if Johnson didn't take OL very seriously after his stint with the Lions.

11. 49ers - DT2 Kenneth Grant

• 49ers team needs: DT, CB, LG, LB, SS, RT, C

• The 49ers have invested into this position countless times under this regime, and yet they've run out of bodies on the interior with DT Javon Hargrave hitting free agency. Last year's No. 28 rushing EPA defense will not fly, so they make a slight reach versus the consensus boards to fill a position of need.

12. Cowboys - WR1 Tetairoa McMillan

• Cowboys team needs: DT, EDGE, WR, RB, LB, RG, CB

• CeeDee Lamb is an excellent slot WR, but this offense needs massive support on the boundary and in the red zone. McMillan would slide into the X receiver role, and they'll still need to find a Brandin Cooks replacement as the speedy outside option. McMillan's size is a nice complement to everything Lamb does.

13. Dolphins - OL3 Tyler Booker

• Dolphins team needs: LG, RG, FS, SS, DT, LB

• Miami has 3 interior OL free agents, including both starting guards. Even if retained, the Dolphins can use more OL talent after finishing 31st in rushing EPA despite having De'Von Achane at RB. Booker would be their long-term LG as an early declare from Alabama.

14. Colts - CB3 Jahdae Barron

• Colts team needs: RG, FS, CB, LB, TE

• They were 21st in pass EPA allowed, and they exchanged defensive coordinators this offseason. DC Lou Anaromou needs dependability from his CB room to run his complicated defense. Barron played just about every spot in the secondary and could learn from stud nickel Kenny Moore.

15. Falcons - EDGE3 Shemar Stewart

• Falcons team needs: EDGE, CB, FS, NT, C

• They were 30th in pressure rate, as usual. Until Atlanta finds a pass rusher, we have to keep mocking them one. Even Matthew Judon is a free agent this time around.

16. Cardinals - EDGE4 Mykel Williams

• Cardinals team needs: 3-4 OLB, 3-4 DE, LG, NT, LB, SLOT WR, RG

• Arizona was 27th in pressure rate and 24th in rushing EPA because their defensive line was underwhelming. There are many options for them to choose from in this range, but defensive line is on their mind most likely.

17. Bengals - S1 Malaki Starks

• Bengals team needs: WR, SLOT CB, DT, SS, TE, LB

• Cincy's secondary was a train wreck aside from slot CB Mike Hilton, who is a free agent. If he leaves, Starks is an even bigger priority for the Bengals, as the Georgia product can play nickel or strong safety.

18. Seahawks - OL4 Kelvin Banks

• Seahawks team needs: LG, LB, DT, RG, C, CB, WR, QB

• It's hard to find obvious needs for a LT in the teens, so Banks is at risk of sliding a tiny bit. If some teams have concerns about his speed, then Banks could be viewed as a guard prospect. That's what I have here. The Seahawks are desperate for interior help after finishing 25th in rushing EPA and 32nd in pressure rate last year.

19. Buccaneers - EDGE5 Mike Green

• Buccaneers team needs: 3-4 OLB, LB, LG, WR

• Tampa Bay didn't have the edge rush they've had in years past, and they have two rotational members in Anthony Nelson and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka hitting free agency. Todd Bowles can't have that, and this sharp front office understands the value of stacking premium positions in Round 1. Green was considered a winner of the Senior Bowl, and he'd fit as an OLB in this scheme.

20. Broncos - TE2 Colston Loveland

• Broncos team needs: TE, RB, LB, SS, NT, WR

• Sean Payton explicitly said he's looking for "a joker" to take advantage of mismatches over the middle. That can be a receiving RB or a receiving TE. Well, he's in luck. Loveland averaged 5.6 grabs per game in Michigan's run-based system as a true junior. I believe he'll go top 20 and potentially way before this (NO, IND, CIN, etc.).

21. Steelers - QB2 Shedeur Sanders

• Steelers team needs: QB, CB, SLOT CB, WR, RB, RG

• I don't even think opinions are mixed on his tape evaluation. He has nice accuracy and usually plays on time. He just doesn't have a difference-making physical trait, and some of his sacks are concerning often times because he's too small or not quick enough. To me, that's not worthy of a top-5 selection (think Mac Jones, Kenny Pickett, Teddy Bridgewater, Derek Carr, etc.), and the consensus rankings point the same picture. That said, Sanders will have 1st-round suitors because there aren't 32 starters if Aaron Rodgers retires, Kirk Cousins remains a backup, or if JJ McCarthy sits behind Sam Darnold again. We'll see how open seats there are by the time the draft rolls around.

• Quickly, here is the QB draft history since 2000 to show that the narrative of teams having to fall in love with a QB to take them high is not true. There are plenty of teams who only "like" a QB in the mid-to-late Round 1 range, and still take the risk on or live with the lack of a ceiling because the cap hits are so low.

  • 1st overall pick: 18 times out of 25 drafts

  • 2nd-5th overall: 18 times

  • 6th-10th overall: 12 times

  • 11th-20th overall: 14 times

  • 21st-32nd overall: 14 times

22. Chargers - EDGE6 James Pearce

• Chargers team needs: CB, EDGE, DT, C, WR, RB

• Khalil Mack is a free agent, and Joey Bosa is a cut or trade candidate with an exploding cap hit. That's not going to be enough for Jim Harbaugh. Luckily, there are plenty of defensive linemen in this range. In fact, I have 11 of them going in Round 1 if we including defensive tackles.

23. Packers - WR2 Matthew Golden

• Packers team needs: CB, IOL, EDGE, WR

• Josh Jacobs said the quiet part out loud. The Packers have WR depth but don't have a reliable No. 1 receiver, especially with Christian Watson likely to miss a chunk of next year with a multi-ligament knee tear. Golden is a steadier option than Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks on the outside, while Jayden Reed can feast as a gadget option out of the slot.

24. Vikings - OL5 Donovan Jackson

• Vikings team needs: RG, CB, FS, RB, C, LG

• Kevin O'Connell partially blamed the interior line play as why they were embarrassed in their final two games, and I'd have to agree. Whether it's with big-play hunter Sam Darnold or inexperienced JJ McCarthy at QB, the pocket can't collapse as it did in 2024. RG Dalton Risner is a free agent, and both LG and C positions are ripe for upgrades. Jackson looks like a guard but did swing out to left tackle for the Buckeyes when Josh Simmons missed time.

25. Texans - WR3 Emeka Egbuka

• Texans team needs: WR, SLOT WR, DT, LB, DB

• CJ Stroud reunites with his Buckeye teammate. But it goes far beyond that. Stefon Diggs is a free agent with a torn ACL. Tank Dell's dislocated knee puts him out for 2025 and a dog to be a difference maker for the rest of his career. There's no one behind Nico Collins right now, and the new OC will want weapons after they finished 21st in passing EPA.

26. Rams - LB1 Jihaad Campbell

• Rams team needs: LT, WR, LB, CB, SLOT CB, QB

• This typically isn't a position of value, but Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom are free agents, and Campbell is such an athletic upgrade even if they return. The Rams were 25th in rush EPA despite a decent defensive line. In this division (SF, ARI, SEA), that's unacceptable.

27. Ravens - OL6 Josh Simmons

• Ravens team needs: LT, LG, CB, WR

• Before his injury, Simmons was getting top-10 love, so this would be a great long-term play if he can rebound. The Ravens are often trenches first, and they'll potentially be looking to fill long-term LT Ronnie Stanley's shoes as he hits free agency.

28. Lions - DT3 Derrick Harmon

• Lions team needs: LG, DT, WR, CB

• The Lions made things work in a pinch, but the volume of injuries on the interior was staggering last year and Levi Onwuzurike is headed for free agency. With so few holes on the roster, I'll be keeping close tabs on which free agents they let walk next month.

29. Commanders - WR4 Luther Burden

• Commanders team needs: EDGE, WR, LG, SLOT WR,

• The depth beyond Terry McLaurin was notable in the elimination game when 34-year-old Zach Ertz led the team in receptions. Burden won't be for everyone as a slot, but his explosiveness on manufactured touches makes him a great fit for OC Kliff Kingsbury and Jayden Daniels. Those bubble screens and quick hits off RPOs would be taken to another level with Burden's talent.

30. Bills - S2 Nick Emmanwori

• Bills team needs: CB, FS, WR, LG, EDGE, DT

• The Bills had Hicah Hyde retire and will have Damar Hamlin test free agency. The secondary wasn't good enough against the best offenses last year, and they need some takeaways moving forward, as their vanilla zone defense isn't enough against the big boys. Emmanwori is more of a big-play thumper that would spice up this secondary.

31. Chiefs - DT4 Walter Nolen

• Chiefs team needs: RG, EDGE, FS, LB, WR, LT

• Chris Jones moves around the formation enough to warrant real investment at DT, especially with Tershawn Wharton headed for free agency. If Nolen's upside traits hit, that would provide the Chiefs with a much-needed 3rd pass rusher behind Jones and EDGE George Karlaftis.

32. Eagles - EDGE7 Donovan Ezeiruaku

• Eagles team needs: EDGE, LB, RG, WR

• EDGE Josh Sweat and DT Milton Williams are free agents, and likely ready to really cash in. When that happens, the Eagles replenish. It's a great draft to be needing edge help.

Just missed the cut: QB Jaxson Dart, RB Omarion Hampton, TE Elijah Arroyo, TE Mason Taylor, OL Josh Conerly, EDGE Nic Scourton, EDGE Jack Sawyer, DT T.J. Sanders, CB Shavon Revel, CB Benjamin Morrison, CB Azareye'h Thomas, CB Maxwell Hairston.