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Our final pre-free-agency NFL Mock Draft dropped Monday morning. Predictably, not long after the NFL’s legal tampering window opened a few hours later, a lot of pieces started to shift.
Arguably the most impactful: Kirk Cousins’ decision to sign with the Atlanta Falcons. With the Falcons and Cousins’ former team, the Minnesota Vikings, at the heart of plenty of quarterback draft conversations, how might that move affect the top of Round 1 in April? Here’s an updated look at how picks 1-11 — Minnesota holds that No. 11 spot — could play out:
(Note: An asterisk indicates a proposed trade for the purposes of this mock.)
The Falcons’ addition of Cousins means Chicago will have to find someone else who wants Justin Fields, a trade process that’ll need to pick up speed soon. There wasn’t much buzz at the combine earlier this month about Fields’ market, but the Bears are pretty clearly headed in the QB direction in the draft. You don’t drag your feet on a decision about someone like Fields this long if he’s your guy — and that reality is probably affecting the trade market, as well.
Either way, it’ll be a new era for the Bears. Williams has everything the franchise needs and, most importantly, the roster’s ready for him.
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We shouldn’t rule out Jayden Daniels here. But I’m still a believer in Maye and, frankly, I struggle to understand why some believe he’s sliding. A big-framed, big-time athlete with a thunderbolt of an arm, Maye is the type of QB around which a young franchise can build. He’s confident driving the ball between the numbers, and though his general consistency versus pressure can be cleaned up, his ceiling is undeniable.
A trade is also possible here, but it sure feels like this opportunity is too good for Washington to pass up.
I would draft Marvin Harrison Jr. or trade this pick. However, I’m not sure that’s what the new regime in New England will do, especially after it just traded Mac Jones for scraps. It sure feels like QB is the Patriots’ preference, even if it can’t be marked down as a certainty.
New England could find multiple trade markets at No. 3 — we shouldn’t eliminate the notion of someone wanting to move up for Harrison, in addition to those teams eyeing QB3. I’m skeptical about how many of those teams will be willing to sell the farm for Daniels, though, as I slot him closer to J.J. McCarthy on my board than to Maye or Williams.
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The Cardinals will have offers to move, but they’re already pretty loaded with picks — and the roster needs a wide receiver. Arizona is closer to being competitive than many realize, and a player this good could be what turns this team into next year’s version of the 2023 Texans.
Harrison is arguably the best player in this draft, regardless of position. Getting him at No. 4 would be theft.
I doubt the Giants, who hold pick No. 6, are going to take a quarterback that high this year. But it’s not impossible, meaning the Vikings might not feel like they can sit and wait for a quarterback — even after the Falcons took themselves out of the mix. Better safe than sorry, though. The Vikings would be wise to pair McCarthy with a veteran bridge quarterback for at least a year (and they’ve reportedly landed on Sam Darnold as that option), but they also shouldn’t rule out the possibility that McCarthy wins the job in camp. His arm talent, athleticism and downfield aggressiveness could be a great fit with Kevin O’Connell.
The league-wide QB thirst is real. Daniels isn’t a top-five prospect in this class; McCarthy’s not a top-10 prospect. But if it’s not Minnesota climbing the board to take the Michigan star, it’ll be someone else.
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6. Chicago Bears (from NYG)*: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Giants need a receiver, too, but they’re in the market for a few upgrades. It’s not impossible New York — a team still trying to figure out whether it has buyer’s remorse on QB Daniel Jones — would make a move to acquire Fields. For our mock-draft purposes, at least, let’s say he’d be included in the package Chicago offers to move up from No. 9.
Odunze or LSU’s Malik Nabers will be WR2, and it’ll likely come down to team preference. For me, Odunze’s size and ability to win in the air against just about anybody is the separator.
Tennessee easily could grab Nabers here, but the responsible thing for the franchise’s long-term health is taking a new anchor tackle. QB Will Levis needs more people to throw to, but he also has to be kept upright. Alt, who can play either side, is the best of an outstanding OT class. It wouldn’t be a shock to hear his name called in the top five when it’s over.
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Jackpot. The Falcons’ decision to bypass the QB draft derby by paying Cousins allows them to more or less go all in with this young core. How’s a playmking group of Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Nabers sound? If Cousins can’t figure it out with that group, then … well, we’re not going to go there.
This also could wind up being a great trade-back spot for Atlanta, which suddenly has a lot of draft flexibility.
Giants fans might be shouting that there’s no way their team passes on one of those wide receivers. Some might even be shouting the same about the quarterbacks. But, like Tennessee, New York needs help up front. Be it Jones or someone else, a team that’s suddenly facing life without Saquon Barkley has to be able to block better than it has. Fashanu would fit just fine.
There’s a tight end from Georgia sitting on the board who might have a lot of fun running routes for Aaron Rodgers. But, no. The Jets have a chance to strengthen an area of need, even though we’re already down to OT3 in the tackle stack. Be it Fuaga or Alabama’s JC Latham, the Jets should be able to leave the first round with a very good player at that position.
RT Taliese Fuaga held his own vs. Adisa Isaac today.
This is one of his favorite moves – show outside hand before taking it away, leaving the rusher chopping air. Great finish from Fuaga. pic.twitter.com/C1B9IK87ku
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 31, 2024
The Chargers also need a tackle, but Bowers looks like the perfect Jim Harbaugh prospect — a player who never has to leave the field and can have an impact on all areas of the offense. Los Angeles reportedly has been open for business this week, from a cap-shedding standpoint. This roster is going to be getting younger, and Bowers would be a terrific foundational piece in a Harbaugh offense.
(Photo of J.J. McCarthy: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
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