Tony Pauline’s NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter land with NFC South contenders, AFC West team swoops Carson Beck
Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season is finished, and believe it or not, some fans have thrown in the towel already and are preparing for next year’s draft! The order for next April’s draft is a long way from being determined, but let’s roll the dice as we head towards the 2025 draft.
Tony Pauline’s NFL Mock Draft 1.0
1] Carolina Panthers - Shedeur Sanders/QB/Colorado
As I reported last month, there is a lot of concern in the Carolina franchise over Bryce Young, and his performance during Week 1 won’t ease any of those concerns.
The only way the team stays with Young is if he somehow does a turnabout the rest of the season, which is unlikely, or owner David Tepper demands the team sticks with him another season, which is very possible.
2] Tennessee Titans - Tetairoa McMillan/WR/Arizona
The Titans’ starting receivers are a bunch of aged veterans signed this offseason with no heir apparent. McMillan is a dominant, No. 1 wideout who will remind people of Calvin Johnson, minus the deep speed.
3] Las Vegas Raiders – Carson Beck/QB/Georgia
The Raiders were left on the outside in April when a half-dozen quarterbacks were selected before they were even called to the clock. The team desperately needs a passer, as we’ve witnessed all summer.
4] Denver Broncos - Abdul Carter/Edge/Penn State
I expect the Broncos to be very competitive this season and believe they will lose a lot of close games. Carter is a sensational prospect who is a great fit for their system.
5] NY Giants – Drew Allar/QB/Penn State
I’m not giving up on Big Blue just yet, but more performances by Daniel Jones such as the one witnessed against the Vikings and it’s clear the team will move on from the 2019 first-round pick.
6] New England Patriots - Will Campbell/T/LSU
The Patriots need to protect Drake Maye with a dominant pass blocker. Campbell has that potential.
7] Washington Commanders - Kelvin Banks Jr./T/Texas
Like the Broncos, I believe the Commanders will be competitive this season but lose a lot of close games. And like the Patriots, Washington needs a dominant left to protect its young quarterback. Regardless of the outcome of the 2024 season, the franchise is heading in the right direction.
8] Minnesota Vikings - Benjamin Morrison/CB/Notre Dame
The Vikings are seemingly always in the market for a cornerback. In Morrison, they get a dominant player at the position.
9] Seattle Seahawks - Jalen Milroe/QB/Alabama
I see nothing but upside on Milroe, who has shown a lot of progress in his game.
10] Arizona Cardinals - James Pearce Jr./Edge/Tennessee
I like what the Cardinals are doing and feel they have a good future ahead of them. Pearce adds some badly needed pass rush.
11] New Orleans Saints - Travis Hunter/WR-CB/Colorado
Hunter is more polished at receiver, but he offers upside at cornerback. The Saints take Hunter to pair him with Chris Olave.
12] Indianapolis Colts - Will Johnson/CB/Michigan
This is a natural fit, as the Colts never addressed the need at cornerback this past offseason and Johnson is a dynamic player at the position.
13] Chicago Bears - Deone Walker/DT/Kentucky
The Bears will be significantly better this season and nick an upset on occasion. They need to address the center position, but that will come later in the draft. For now, Walker is a perfect fit in the middle of the defensive line.
14] Atlanta Falcons - Harold Perkins Jr./LB/LSU
Perkins is more than just the “edge rusher” people paint him as; he’s a three-down defender who can also rush the passer, and he’s a terrific fit for the Falcons defense.
15] Pittsburgh Steelers - Luther Burden III/WR/Missouri
Burden gives the team a lethal big-play threat who can stretch the field for whoever is playing quarterback in Pittsburgh next year.
16] Cleveland Browns - JT Tuimoloau/DE/Ohio State
Veteran Za’Darius Smith will be 33 years old moving into the 2025 season, and his production dropped off significantly last season.
17] Jacksonville Jaguars - Emery Jones Jr./T/LSU
Left tackle Cam Robinson is in the final year of his contract, and right tackle Anton Harrison was always better on the blind side. Jones, a natural right tackle, allows Harrison to move back to the left side.
18] NY Jets - Tyleik Williams/DT/Ohio State
The Jets could be in the market for a DT after the season if they void Javon Kinlaw’s contract. A wide receiver or cornerback would also receive consideration at this spot.
19] Los Angeles Chargers – Kenneth Grant/DT/Michigan
The Chargers will likely be a much better team during the second half of the season, yet they still need a few pieces. Grant is a big, athletic nose tackle type who, oh by the way, won a national title with Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.
20] Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tacario Davis/CB/Arizona
Davis is a multi-scheme cornerback, which is perfect for Todd Bowles.
21] Philadelphia Eagles - Josh Conerly Jr./OL/Oregon
Howie Roseman loves drafting offensive linemen, even when he seemingly doesn’t need them. Conerly offers the versatility to play guard or tackle.
22] Dallas Cowboys - Ashton Jeanty/RB/Boise State
The Cowboys need help at running back. Jeanty is a powerful inside ball carrier with incredible versatility in his game.
23] Cincinnati Bengals - Mason Graham/DT/Michigan
Graham will be an immediate upgrade on the interior of the Bengals’ defensive line and brings a lot of skill and intensity to the field.
24] Buffalo Bills - Trevor Etienne/RB/Georgia
The window for the Bills is closing fast. Etienne is a playmaker at running back who beats opponents carrying the ball or catching it out of the backfield.
25] Los Angeles Rams Quinn Ewers/QB/Texas
At some point, in time the Rams must prepare for life after Matthew Stafford.
26] Miami Dolphins - Denzel Burke/CB/Ohio State
An offensive lineman would have been preferable at this spot, yet Burke has starting potential and would make a great duo with Jalen Ramsey.
27] Green Bay Packers - Davison Igbinosun/CB/Ohio State
Cornerback was one of the few areas of need the Packers did not address in this year’s draft despite many believing they would.
28] Houston Texans - Walter Nolen/DT/Mississippi
An athletic, quick man on the inside, Nolen helps round out the Texans defense.
29] Detroit Lions - Jordan Burch/DE/Oregon
Burch has amazing upside, but he has also shown a lot of inconsistency the past two years. He’s insanely athletic and can play standing over tackle or with his hand in the dirt.
30] Baltimore Ravens - Isaiah Bond/WR/Texas
As of now, the Ravens don’t have a lot of needs. Bond is a true deep threat who can slot in for the aging Nelson Agholor.
31] Kansas City Chiefs - Mansoor Delane/CB/Virginia Tech
Little known outside the scouting community, Delane is already getting high grades inside the league; and they are well justified.
32] San Francisco 49ers - Jahdae Barron/CB/Texas
A bigtime cornerback is needed. And while Barron is not “bigtime”, he’s a scheme-versatile player at the position who can line up as a nickel.