NFL mock draft: Two-round projections with trades as team needs come into focus
Published in Football
With Ryan Ramczyk’s outlook murky because of a knee injury, the Saints have question marks at both tackle spots. Latham might be the best tackle prospect in this draft because of his size and strength.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The return of slot corner Kenny Moore II helps, but the Colts need another defender on the outside to fix a leaky secondary. Arnold has the traits to be the team’s top cover man from the get-go.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, OT/G, Washington
You’ll see this pairing a lot considering the Seahawks have a glaring need at guard and Fautanu played for offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at Washington. The former Huskies star could even take over at right tackle if Abraham Lucas continues to struggle.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
What Wiggins lacks in size (173 pounds at the combine), he more than makes up for with speed (4.28-second 40-yard dash) and athleticism. The Jaguars still need a long-term solution at cornerback after bringing in Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage this offseason.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
After losing defensive tackle DJ Reader to the Lions, the Bengals draft his replacement in Murphy, an explosive gap-shooter who can wreak havoc in the middle of the front seven.
19. TRADE: Denver Broncos (from L.A. Rams): Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
After trading down, the Broncos land a player they might have selected earlier anyway. Latu, who led the nation with 21 1/2 tackles for loss last season, adds some juice to a budding group of young pass rushers in Denver.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton, OT/C, Duke
The Steelers need a center and potentially a left tackle. Graham can play both, though he projects inside because of his shorter-than-average arms. He should help anchor an offensive line that paved the way for one of the league’s best rushing attacks down the stretch last season.
21. Miami Dolphins: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Newton would have big shoes to fill replacing Christian Wilkins in Miami, but he’s disruptive and offers the pass-rushing potential the Dolphins lack in the interior.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
The Eagles taking a rare athlete with limited experience and molding him to eventually take over for Lane Johnson at right tackle just makes sense considering which positions and athletic profiles they value early in the draft.
23. TRADE: Los Angeles Chargers (from Minnesota): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
The Chargers’ depth behind top cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is uninspiring. McKinstry is a versatile, smart defender who would be a great fit for former Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Cowboys stop a mini-slide for Fashanu, who needs more refinement and is not as physically imposing as some of the other top tackles in this class. Still, he has the potential to be a star and would fill a big position of need for Dallas after the departure of longtime starting left tackle Tyron Smith.
25. Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa
After signing former Giants standout Xavier McKinney, the Packers shore up their safety pairing with DeJean, an explosive athlete who could also line up at outside corner.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
The Buccaneers have talent at pass rusher but they don’t have anyone as explosive as Robinson, a Gaithersburg native and Maryland transfer. His first step is special, and he could be a game-changing presence as a rotational piece for coach Todd Bowles.
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri
Relying on defensive linemen Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols is a scary proposition for an NFL defense. Robinson is a versatile player with the strength to rush from the interior or set the edge against the run.
28. Buffalo Bills: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
This is probably the furthest Thomas could fall after running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and scoring 17 touchdowns last season, but the Bills won’t complain. The former LSU star would give Josh Allen a more explosive and reliable deep threat than Gabe Davis, who signed with Jacksonville.
29. Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
The Lions needed cornerback help even before Cameron Sutton was released. Rakestraw is smart, tough and plays with an edge, which makes him a perfect fit for Detroit.
30. Ravens: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
There’s always potential for the Ravens to trade down and accumulate more picks, but having a top prospect fall into their laps makes this an easy decision. Guyton is a rare athlete with room to grow who could start at right tackle as a rookie before eventually taking over for Ronnie Stanley on the left side.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan, OT/G, Arizona
There’s been a lot of speculation about the 49ers moving on from one or both of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, which might make drafting a wide receiver a higher priority. But to keep winning this season, the 49ers solidify their offensive line with the smooth-moving Morgan.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
McConkey doesn’t have the enticing height-weight-speed combination of some other receivers in this class, but he’s quick and knows how to get open. He could be the reliable target quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been looking for to complement tight end Travis Kelce.
Round 2
33. Carolina Panthers: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
The Panthers added some much-needed talent at receiver by trading for the Steelers’ Diontae Johnson, but they shouldn’t stop there. Mitchell looks the part of a No. 1 target with his size, speed and leaping ability.
34. New England Patriots: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
35. Arizona Cardinals: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
36. Washington Commanders: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
37. Los Angeles Chargers: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
38. Tennessee Titans: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
39. Carolina Panthers (from N.Y. Giants): Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
40. Washington Commanders (from Chicago): T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
41. Green Bay Packers (from N.Y. Jets): Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
42. Houston Texans (from Minnesota): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Giving star quarterback C.J. Stroud a wide receiver who ran the 40-yard dash in an NFL scouting combine-record 4.21 seconds would make Houston an even more popular pick to win the Super Bowl next season.
43. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
44. Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
The Raiders have some fallback options at quarterback in Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, but they should be thinking more aggressively. Although Penix comes with plenty of concerns over his injury history and lack of mobility, his arm strength and character are worth betting on.
45. New Orleans Saints (from Denver): Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas
46. Indianapolis Colts: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
47. New York Giants (from Seattle): Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
49. Cincinnati Bengals: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
50. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
52. TRADE: Denver Broncos (from L.A. Rams): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
It’s hard to believe the Broncos will head into a new season with Jarrett Stidham as their top quarterback. Nix is already 24 and doesn’t have the profile of a high-end NFL starter, but his experience and mobility give him a chance to exceed expectations.
53. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
54. Cleveland Browns: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Playing in a division that prides itself on running the football, the Browns could use another big body on the defensive line. The 6-4, 366-pound Sweat won’t be an every-down player, but offenses are going to have to double-team him when he’s on the field.
55. Miami Dolphins: Christian Haynes, G, UConn
56. Dallas Cowboys: Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach Frazier, C/G, West Virginia
58. Green Bay Packers: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
59. Houston Texans: Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
60. Buffalo Bills: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
61. Detroit Lions: Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
62. Ravens: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
The Ravens said goodbye to Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman is entering the final year of his rookie deal, which means receiver is once again a draft priority. The 6-1, 221-pound Legette is not a smooth route runner, but he’s fast, competitive and makes tough catches (only two drops in 2023). He could also return kicks, a bonus after the departure of Devin Duvernay.
63. San Francisco 49ers: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
64. Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
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