Which top-tier talents could your team look to add come draft night?
As most of the college and pro football seasons have played out so far, we have a much better view of what the draft order could look like, as well as which prospects are starting to cement themselves as first-round talents. For some teams, this draft marks a new beginning to lock down franchise cornerstones to build their teams around- while for others, the goal is to lock down early contributors who will help them chase down Kansas City for their own Lombardi dreams.
-draft order from projections following Week 11
-no trades
Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
With Jacksonville having regressed dramatically from previous years and HC Doug Pederson likely out the door as well, their roster needs an overhaul in every way. They could obviously trade down in the real draft, but with their biggest need being CB help to pair with Tyson Campbell, the Jags grab a cant-miss CB1 in the ultra-smooth Johnson to immediately raise the floor of their defense.
Tennessee Titans: Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
The Will Levis era in Tennessee is officially over, and the Titans appear to be on the path of a long rebuild in the future. A QB could be the pick here, but with the high-end talent in the class being subpar in my opinion, I project them to sign a bridge QB in free agency and to take a potential game-wrecker on the other side of the ball in Carter.
Cleveland Browns: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Browns are also in need of a signal caller following the disaster the Deshaun Watson signing was for them, but their offense as a whole has been in turmoil this season. They elect to go after a a legit blue-chip pass catcher in McMillan to be the perfect big-bodied target for whichever QB they either bring in later on in the draft or in 2026.
New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Daniel Jones was benched this Monday, effectively ending his career in Gotham as the Giants look toward the future at the position, after trying to land a QB in the 2024 draft as well. They have a decent roster, especially on the defensive line with Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, so Sanders should be to stay afloat under the bright lights in his rookie year and grow from there.
Las Vegas Raiders: Cam Ward, QB, Miami(FL)
The Browns went with the more polished prospect in Shedeur, leaving Sin City to take the...well, gamble. Pretty much everything on offense minus TE is a glaring need for Vegas, but if Ward hits, the unbelievable physical tools he flashes should elevate everyone around him as well.
New England Patriots: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Drake Maye looks every bit the real deal up in Foxboro, but he can't do it alone on this offense. The receiver worth taking here in McMillan has already gone, but Banks is no consolation prize, with his excellent strength and football IQ helping him win reps in both the run and pass game.
New York Jets: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The Jets could move in a different direction after firing both HC Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas, but they still have little choice but to try and contend with the talent their roster has. Aaron Rodgers may not be the answer the Big Apple needs, but adding another offensive weapon as well as a CB2 to replace impending FA DJ Reed with one pick seems like the best way to maximize his chances.
Carolina Panthers: Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M
The jury's still out on Bryce Young in my opinion, as the offense has improved some from the year before, but the defense is in rough shape after losing their top DE in Brian Burns. Here, the Panthers give Young another year and improve their situation instantly on the other side of the football, giving Derrick Brown a polished running mate in Scourton.
Dallas Cowboys: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Mazi Smith has been a massive letdown after being drafted in the first round in 2023, and it has shown this year when Micah Parsons went down. RB is also a major need, but the overall depth of the class lets Dallas wait and select a different blue-chip talent here in Graham.
New Orleans Saints: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
My Saints have been hit with a plethora of injuries this year, leading to the firing of HC Dennis Allen. Our weakest position is on the defensive line, so we take Walker here, who can be productive as a run-stuffer on Day 1 and grow as a pass-rusher as well from there.
Cincinnati Bengals: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
The run of defensive linemen ends here, with the Bengals on the clock following another disappointing season. Morrison was neck and neck with Johnson for the CB1 spot in my rankings at the beginning of the year, so while his season-ending injury does drop him slightly, he still figures to recover fully and instantly boost their secondary, ranked 8th worst leaguewide.
Miami Dolphins: Airontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
Miami has arguably the best players at the skill positions in the league, but lacks the talent on their lines to give them time to thrive. Terron Armstead isn't getting any younger, so Ersery is another young, toolsy tackle prospect to learn from him and eventually take the reins on Tua's blind side.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
I think CB is a bigger need for the Bucs after trading away Carlton Davis to the Lions before the season, but the value here doesn't work out well. They elect to add to their pass-rush crew instead, taking an excellent disruptor all over the field in Walker.
Chicago Bears: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Caleb Williams has played well in flashes, but he won't have the chance to truly succeed without help. His receivers are set after taking Rome Odunze in the top 10 last year, so they take Campbell, who I think could land at tackle or guard at the league but play either one well.
Indianapolis Colts: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
I've seen this team fit for Starks a lot recently, but the reason for that is because it is nearly perfect. Starks can be the cherry on top of the cake that is the Colt's defense, using his unreal instincts and playmaking ability to nab plenty of INTs.
Seattle Seahawks: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
The Seahawks addressed their defensive line in the first last year, so here they pivot back to OT. Charles Cross has been great since they drafted him in 2022, so Miller is another athletic talent to man the other side for Geno Smith.
Los Angeles Rams: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
LA has a talented offense on paper, but many of their core pieces are slowly aging out after their 2021 Super Bowl run. Ewers is still raw as a prospect, but his arm talent and cool under pressure makes him perfect to sit and learn from Stafford while offensive guru Sean McVay helps work out the kinks in his processing.
San Francisco 49ers: James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee
The Niners, perennial contenders for a Lombardi, will likely fall short this season due to a myriad of unfortunate injuries coming their way. With everyone hopefully back for 2025, they can add one final piece to their roster in a talented running mate for Nick Bosa here.
Denver Broncos: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Denver has FINALLY hit on a young QB in Bo Nix, so it is time to build the roster around him. The defense is playing very well currently, so they instead look to get him a playmaking target in Egbuka who can get open anywhere on the field.
Atlanta Falcons: Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
After postponing for so many years, the Falcons pick up a talented DE to give them a formidable defensive line for the long term.
Arizona Cardinals: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
Who would've thought the Cardinals would be punching their ticket to the postseason, especially with how talented their division looked before the season? They ensure their success continues for the future by getting another future bookend for Kyler Murray here in Conerly.
Washington Commanders: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Jayden Daniels has proven he can be the same electrifying presence in the NFL that he was at LSU, so the Commanders are ready to mark their position near the top of the NFC East. Their offensive line has overperformed their expectations before 2024, so they add another dynamic freak of nature in Burden to pair with WR Terry McLaurin.
Houston Texans: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Joe Mixon has been balling out this year, but age was always a concern when the Texans traded for him. Houston couldn't pass up another blue-chip talent here, so Jeanty can split the backfield early on much like in Detroit, then fulfill his potential as an elite every-down RB in the Texans offense after that.
Baltimore Ravens: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Lamar Jackson is putting together another MVP-caliber season in Baltimore, but his WR room is relatively unproven outside of Zay Flowers. Harris has produced at an unbelievable rate this season and would be a consistent WR2 for them.
Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
After an excellent first year for Harbaugh as he returns to coach in California, he still comes back to his roots in the draft, picking his former player in Grant, a run-stuffing DT with excellent athleticism.
Green Bay Packers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
GM Brian Gutekunst has built out this roster expertly through the draft, leaving them with few real needs. One final checkmark on his list, however, is a CB with elite playmaking skills to work in tandem with standout Jaire Alexander.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Justin Fields and Russell Wilson have both played well this season for the Steelers, but neither really feel like the long-term answer after Big Ben. Milroe is raw as a passer, but his ability as a runner should elevate a Steelers offense that is sometimes painfully stagnant.
Minnesota Vikings: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
The Vikings have solid play at their tackle spots, especially with LT Christian Darrisaw, but their interior could use some work. Tyler Booker has excellent power and smarts for the position, helping him protect whichever QB is under center in 2025.
Philadelphia Eagles: Wyatt Milum, T, West Virginia
RT Lane Johnson won't be around forever, so GM Howie Roseman sticks to his M.O of taking replacements for the future in the first round, especially in the trenches.
Buffalo Bills: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
After two consecutive top picks spent on pass-catchers, Josh Allen's offense has been humming away this year on their way to a 9-2 record thus far, so they grab a promising pass-rusher to bolster their defensive line instead.
Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Unfortunately, Travis Kelce probably doesn't have many years left in the league (possibly depending on Taylor Swift as well) so the Chiefs take a do-it-all TE here who can come closer than most to filling his shoes.
Detroit Lions: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Whether or not the Lions win the Super Bowl this season, their roster is built for multiple in the future. This could be a bit high for Ayomanor, but since the Lions have a slot guy in Amon-Ra St.Brown and a speed threat in Jameson Williams, he would complete their WR core beautifully.
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