Dave BirkettDetroit Free Press
The first wave of free agency is in the books, which means it's time for another mock draft. Several teams have gained clarity on their quarterback situations — the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers no longer need signal callers, though the Minnesota Vikings do — while others have left themselves big holes elsewhere to fill.
Here's mock draft 3.0:
1. Chicago Bears: QB Caleb Williams, USC
The Bears must believe Williams is a future star to give away Justin Fields so early in the draft process for such little return.
2. Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
The Sam Howell trade all but assures Washington is going quarterback, too.
3. New England Patriots: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
By trading for an extra first-round pick, the Vikings have enough draft capital to move into the top three — if the Patriots don’t like the third quarterback and are willing to move down.
4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
No changes in the top four for a third straight mock draft.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Malik Nabers, LSU
The Chargers cut Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen. A trade down makes sense, but there’s a fair chance they take a receiver if they stay put at five.
6. New York Giants: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
The Giants are as quarterback-needy as anyone. Daniel Jones isn’t the answer.
FOR STARTERS: J.J. McCarthy should be every NFL GM's 'dream quarterback'
7. Tennessee Titans: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Tennessee added skill talent in free agency, but the Titans still need someone to protect Will Levis.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Edge Dallas Turner, Alabama
With Kirk Cousins under contract to complete the offense, the Falcons can get to work on the defensive side of the ball.
9. Chicago Bears: WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Lot of options here for the Bears, but Odunze is the best player left on the board.
10. New York Jets: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
I know they added two new tackles in Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, but Fashanu still makes sense as the Jets’ future at left tackle.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Edge Jared Verse, Florida State
Maybe I’ll project trades in my next mock, but it would be a disaster if the Vikings traded for an extra first-round pick and still missed out on the top four quarterbacks.
12. Denver Broncos: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
There’s not a quarterback worth taking here, so the Broncos take the draft’s best cornerback to pair with arguably the NFL’s best cornerback in Pat Surtain.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: OL Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
Fuaga can play right tackle or guard and has the perfect demeanor for the Raiders and new coach Antonio Pierce.
14. New Orleans Saints: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
Bowers is too talented to slide out of the top half of the first round.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Edge Laiatu Latu, UCLA
I have no idea how teams view Latu’s medical history, but I do know he’s one of the best pass rushers in the draft.
16. Seattle Seahawks: DT Byron Murphy, Texas
Murphy makes too much sense for new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald’s defense.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Brian Thomas, LSU
Trevor Lawrence lost one of his favorite targets to free agency in Calvin Ridley. The Jaguars could do worse than giving him one of the fastest receivers in the draft.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: OT JC Latham, Alabama
Latham would be a plug-and-play starter at right tackle, and the Bengals need to do a better job protecting Joe Burrow.
19. Los Angeles Rams: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
This is close to uncharted territory for the Rams, whose last first-round pick was a guy named Jared Goff in 2016.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: OL Troy Fautanu, UCLA
Fautanu can play left tackle or guard and would pair nicely up front with last year’s first-round pick, Broderick Jones.
21. Miami Dolphins: DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
The Dolphins need help on their defensive front after losing Christian Wilkins in free agency.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Under Howie Roseman, the Eagles have spent 10 of their 13 first-round picks on offensive or defensive linemen.
ONCE UPON A MOCK: Why Oregon OL Jackson Powers-Johnson makes sense for Lions if he makes it to 29
23. Minnesota Vikings: QB Bo Nix, Oregon
I didn’t put Nix or Washington’s Michael Penix in the first round of either of my first two mock drafts, but the Vikings need someone to play quarterback if they miss out on McCarthy.
24. Dallas Cowboys: OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
If the Cowboys don’t want to move guard Tyler Smith to left tackle, Guyton has as much potential as any lineman in this draft.
25. Green Bay Packers: DL Darius Robinson, Missouri
I can see the Packers falling in love with Robinson’s size and versatility up front.
'I JUST LINE UP AND HIT': Why Canton great, Missouri DL Darius Robinson could go Round 1
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
The Bucs get a replacement for new Lions CB Carlton Davis III.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Edge Chop Robinson, Penn State
Robinson didn’t have great production at Penn State, but his upside is undeniable as a pass rusher.
28. Buffalo Bills: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Salary cap issues are starting to catch up with the Bills, who need to go best player available.
29. Detroit Lions: OL Graham Barton, Duke
Brad Holmes has built a pretty complete roster, with depth at every position. But the Lions are aging on their offensive line and Barton is the type of multi-positional player who could play a valuable backup role as a rookie and step into a starting job in Year 2.
30. Baltimore Ravens: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
Rakestraw could slide because of his testing numbers, but he’s the same physical, hard-nosed cornerback he was in college who’ll be a good football player in the NFL.
31. San Francisco 49ers: DL Braden Fiske, Florida State
Fiske started his college career at Western Michigan before exploding at Florida State last year. His measurables might keep him out of Round 1, but like Rakestraw he’s just a good football player.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
The defending champs can roll the dice on a high-upside developmental prospect with the last pick of the first round.
Contact Dave Birkett atdbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@davebirkett.
