This is Matty Kiwoom’s NFL Mock Draft 1.0!
1.01 Chicago Bears (via CAR)
Pick: Caleb Williams QB, USC
The right move is to kick the can down the road and trade back for another win-fall of draft picks. But the Bears don’t pass up on the “generational” talent with the 1.01.
1.02 Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Marvin Harrison Jr. WR, Ohio State
Kyler Murray gets paid way too much to move on and gamble on a rookie QB. Marquise Brown is a free agent, and Murray gets his WR 1 for the next decade.
1.03 Washington Commanders
Pick: Drake Maye QB, UNC
Sam Howell is not doing a good job displaying why he should remain QB 1 in Washington.
The new regime will want a new franchise QB.
1.04 New England Patriots
Pick: Jayden Daniels QB, LSU
Mac Jones AND Bill Belichick will be OUT of New England. The new era of Patriot football begins with a Heisman Trophy winner!
1.05 Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Malik Nabers WR, LSU
After making the wrong pick at WR in 2023, the Chargers get another shot and they take a STUD.
1.06 Tennessee Titans
Pick: Joe Alt OT, Notre Dame
Tennessee is more than happy to walk away with the best left tackle in the class. Alt immediately gives the O-line a massive boost.
1.07 New York Giants
Pick: Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT, Penn State
The Giants have arguably the WORST offensive line in the league. Getting Fashanu would be fantastic for the franchise.
1.08 Chicago Bears
Pick: Taliese Fuaga OT, Oregon State
Franchise quarterback…check! Now the Bears go back to the well and draft a very solid tackle.
Wright and Fuaga give Chicago two really promising young tackles.
1.09 New York Jets
Pick: Brock Bowers TE, Georgia
In for a penny, in for a pound. The Jets use their top 10 pick giving Rodgers one of the most talented tight end prospects we have ever seen.
1.10 Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Laiatu Latu ED, UCLA
Atlanta’s pass rush has been one of the worst in the league in 2023. Latu falling to the Falcons is a gift that Terry Fontenot can’t pass up.
1.11 New Orleans Saints
Pick: Bralen Trice ED, Washington
Trice is big and has been a constant producer at Washington. Foskey and Trice would be the pass rush pairing for the Saints present and future.
1.12 Green Bay Packers
Pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry CB, Alabama
Green Bay traded Rasul Douglas. Jaire Alexander is having trouble staying healthy. McKinstry falling to the Packers’ pick is too good to pass up.
1.13 Las Vegas Raiders
Pick: Bo Nix QB, Oregon
Las Vegas brings in a new franchise QB with the new regime.
Reports have surfaced that Josh McDaniels blocked the Raiders from getting Stroud, but he’s gone. The Raiders get their next franchise QB who is a Heisman Trophy finalist!
1.14 Denver Broncos
Pick: Jer’Zhan Newton DI, Illinois
Denver has needs all over their defense, and Newton is a much-needed upgrade to the middle of the defensive line. He can disrupt the QB (eight sacks in 2023), and he is also a plus in stopping the run.
1.15 Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Jared Verse ED, Florida State
A QB would be interesting here, but I see Cousins resigning with Minnesota. The Vikings have an atrocious pass rush and Verse helps from day one.
1.16 Arizona Cardinals (via HST)
Pick: Nate Wiggins CB, Clemson
Wiggins has the size and the resume to go in the first round. Arizona upgrades their secondary that is in desperate need of an upgrade.
1.17 Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: JC Latham OT, Alabama
The Steelers take an offensive lineman in the first round in back-to-back years. Latham is a monster, and now Pittsburgh has two really promising young tackles.
1.18 Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Keon Coleman WR, Florida State
With the premiere tackles off the board and Tee Higgins poised to hit free agency, Cincinati drafts his replacement with the 18th pick.
I prefer other players, but the opportunity to bring in Higgins 2.0 is too juicy to pass up.
1.19 Indianapolis Colts
Picks: Chop Robinson ED, Penn State
If Michael Pittman walks, WR is very much in play here. However, I think Indianapolis does whatever it takes to make him stay. Chop Robinson falling to the Colts at 19 makes the Colts very happy.
1.20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Cooper DeJean CB, Iowa
Tampa Bay has many needs they can cover in the NFL Draft, but upgrading a swiss cheese defensive secondary is the way to go. DeJean has size and multiple interceptions each of the last two seasons at Iowa.
1.21 Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Michael Penix Jr. QB, Washington
Geno Smith has made statements that he is comfortable mentoring a young signal caller. The Seahawks keep Penix in state and start building the next iteration of the Seattle offense.
1.22 Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Dallas Turner ED, Alabama
Josh Allen is set to hit free agency, and the Jaguars decide to replace him through the NFL Draft and take Turner who is coming off of a double-digit sack season in the SEC.
1.23 Los Angeles Rams
Pick: Amarius Mims OT, Georgia
Los Angeles’s offensive line isn’t getting any younger, so the Rams select the last tackle with a first round grade.
1.24 Buffalo Bills
Pick: Rome Odunze WR, Washington
Gabriel Davis out, Odunze in, and the Bills are beyond happy.
The Washington WR brings big play ability and WR 1 upside.
1.25 Kansas City Chiefs
Pick: Troy Franklin WR, Oregon
The Kansas City offense desperately needs a down field threat because Marques Valdez-Scantling isn’t it. Franklin paired with Rice, Kelce, and Mahomes is an immediate difference maker.
1.26 Dallas Cowboys
Pick: Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB, Clemson
Dallas lacks a thumper in their linebacker group and Trotter helps with that. Bill Belichick (muahahaha) makes his first pick as Cowboys’ head coach.
1.27 Houston Texans (via CLV)
Pick: T’Vondre Sweat DI, Texas
Houston is looking to upgrade in the trenches, and they do not let Sweat leave the state of Texas. The big man had a fantastic 2023 season.
1.28 Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Jackson Powers-Johnson C, Oregon
Hall of Famer (and Matty Kiwoom doppelganger), Jason Kelce retires, and Philadelphia gets the best center in the NFL Draft to continue the “Tush Push.”
1.29 Miami Dolphins
Pick: Ja’Tavion Sanders TE, Texas
Sanders is a blue-chip prospect and has been his entire career. Miami loves speed and athleticism, and they need a tight end. This is a puzzle piece fit.
1.30 Detroit Lions
Pick: Leonard Taylor III
Taylor provides a big-time upgrade in the middle of the Lions defensive line.
1.31 San Francisco 49ers
Pick: Troy Fautanu OT, Washington
The Niners will have their choice of Fautanu, Barton, Morgan or Paul.
Here they decide to take the tackle with very good pass blocking grades to help Purdy and company.
1.32 Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Tyler Nubin S, Minnesota
In my opinion, Baltimore selects the most well-rounded safety. Nubin has put together a dynamite 2023 campaign. With Kyle Hamilton playing in the slot, the addition of Nubin would improve an already elite defensive unit.
