The Carolina Panthers appear to have zeroed in on their choice with the No. 1 pick in this week’s NFL draft, but the rest of the first round remains murky
I gave Texas Tech pass rusher Tyree Wilson to the Detroit Lions in two of my previous three mocks (while the fourth explored trade-down scenarios), but I have Wilson going inside the top five this time around. That means a new name for the Lions at No. 6, though it’s someone who’s been mentioned as fallback option before.
1. Carolina Panthers: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Seems like the entire industry has come around to thinking that Young is the first player off the board.
MORE ON THE QBS: Time for Lions to make backup QB decision beyond Jared Goff
2. Houston Texans: Edge Will Anderson, Alabama
I tweeted two weeks that I was having doubts the Texans would take a quarterback at No. 2. As badly as they need one, the question now seems to be, which pass rusher do they prefer?
3. Arizona Cardinals: Edge Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
With Anderson off the board, the Cardinals might be willing to take a discount on a trade down given how many holes they have on their talent-deficient roster.
4. Indianapolis Colts: QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
This draft has a 2020 feel, when the Miami Dolphins (Tua Tagovailoa) and Los Angeles Chargers (Justin Herbert) were able to sit still and draft quarterbacks the league felt were flawed.
5. Seattle Seahawks: DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
If Carter slips past the Seahawks, he could make it to the Chicago Bears at No. 9.
FROM MARCH: Lions drafting Jalen Carter one of the few teams where it could be a home run
6. Detroit Lions: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
My sense is the Lions prefer a pass rusher, but with the top three linemen off the board they pivot to a player who is the cornerback version of Aidan Hutchinson, someone Dan Campbell said last year deserved to be coached by his staff because of the personality fit.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Anthony Richardson, Florida
Josh McDaniels drafted and won with a running quarterback in Tim Tebow while he was in Denver. Think what he’ll be able to do with Richardson.
8. Atlanta Falcons: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Some evaluators favor Gonzalez over Witherspoon as best cornerback in the draft because of his elite athletic traits.
9. Chicago Bears: OL Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
The Bears are taking an offensive linemen here, and Skoronski is the best of the bunch.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
With Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce on their last legs, Howie Roseman can use his bonus pick to get future help for his offensive line.
11. Tennessee Titans: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
The Titans might have to move up to get their quarterback on draft day.
12. Houston Texans: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Rookie quarterback or not, the Texans need an upgrade at receiver.
13. New York Jets: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
Whenever that trade goes through, the Jets will need someone to block for Aaron Rodgers.
14. New England Patriots: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Just because you never know what Bill Belichick will do.
MORE ON THE BACKS: Lions have enticing RB options to complement David Montgomery
15. Green Bay Packers: TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
If the Packers want to support new starting quarterback Jordan Love, they’ll get him a player like Mayer who can contribute as a run blocker and in the pass game.
16. Washington Commanders: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
The run on offensive tackles is complete.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Edge Nolan Smith, Georgia
The Steelers pluck a pass rusher to pair with T.J. Watt.
18. Detroit Lions: DE Myles Murphy, Clemson
I keep coming back to Murphy as a fit for the Lions if they miss out on the top linemen on six. He’s a long, stout run defender who has the athletic traits to get better rushing the quarterback. The Lions need interior pass rush help, but Brad Holmes’ comments this week about having a baseline arm length at some positions could take Calijah Kancey out of the mix.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DL Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
GM Jason Licht has taken a defensive front seven player with his first pick in four of the past five drafts.
20. Seattle Seahawks: CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
At nearly 6 feet 3 and with defensive lineman-like 34-inch arms, Porter fits the mold of a Seahawks cornerback.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
The Chargers are about to make Justin Herbert the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, which means they need a cost-controlled receiver for him to throw to.
22. Baltimore Ravens: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Forbes has big-time ball production and the Ravens need cornerback help in a big way.
23. Minnesota Vikings: QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
If Hooker gets past the Vikings, he could go late in Round 1 to a team trading up to secure his fifth-year option.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
Trevor Lawrence had some of his best success last year throwing to tight end Evan Engram, who is slated to play this fall on the franchise tag.
25. New York Giants: DB Brian Branch, Alabama
Branch could start at slot cornerback or safety in the Giants’ no-name secondary.
26. Dallas Cowboys: DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson
As long as everything checks out with Bresee’s medical reports, he could sneak into the end of Round 1.
27. Buffalo Bills: DL Keion White, Georgia Tech
Bills GM Brandon Beane has gone defensive line or cornerback with every top pick except he’s had except for the Josh Allen draft.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
The Bengals finished near the bottom of the NFL with 30 sacks last season. They could use Kancey’s interior pass rush.
29. New Orleans Saints: WR Jordan Addison, USC
Chris Olave had a nice rookie season, but the Saints can’t count on Mike Thomas as their No. 2 receiver.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
When in doubt, take the best player on the board.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Some deep speed for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.