Mike's Hard Takes

As somebody loves the draft, doesn’t overthink things too much, and takes more of a “what they should do” over a “what they will do” approach with teams’ picks.

🚨Before we start🚨

1. I don’t see any elite receivers in this draft, a lot of future starters but I’m unsure if there’s any #1’s
2. A lot of the top players in this draft are at non-premium positions and I put an emphasis on getting elite talent over positional value.
3. One of my core principles with my imaginary NFL executive career and team is not drafting a QB in the first round that doesn’t have a ridiculous ceiling.

The Mikes Hard Takes NFL DRAFT Big Board:

1. Cam Ward
2. Abdul Carter
3. Travis Hunter
4. Ashton Jeanty
5. Tyler Warren
6. Coleston Loveland
7. Jahdae Barron
8. Armand Membou
9. Shemar Stewart
10. Mason Graham
11. Omarion Hampton
12. Will Johnson
13. Kelvin Banks Jr
14. Will Campbell
15. Mike Green

MOCK DRAFT

1. Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
2. Browns – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn St
3. Giants – Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
4. Patriots – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn St

The Patriots have a myriad of holes on their team, but if I see a chance to grab somebody who when I squint looks like Rob Gronkowski for my young QB, I jump at it. Warren has the potential to be the best offensive player in this draft.

5. Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

6. Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise St

7. Jets – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

8. Panthers – Coleston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Young QB + Athletic do-it-all TE is a recipe that works more often than not. While the Panthers need defensive help, if they can build their offense up they could stand a chance in a division full of bad defenses.

9. Saints – Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

10. Bears – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

11. 49ers – Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas

Trent Williams can’t play forever, the 49ers can stick Banks at right tackle until the Hall of Famer retires and then make the transition to the left side.

12. Cowboys – Will Campbell, OG, LSU

With Zack Martin retiring there is a chasm on the Dallas offensive line, luckily Campbell is the best guard in this draft by a mile and the Cowboys can shore up the interior of their OL with a Tyler Smith-Cooper Beebe-Will Campbell guard, center, guard combo that could be lethal.

13. Dolphins – Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

14. Colts – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

15. Falcons – Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia

16. Cardinals – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

It might be malpractice here not to draft somebody for the defensive front, but the Arizona offense is in desperate need of an infusion of speed, and Matthew Golden will bring that with his addition.

17. Bengals – Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

18. Seahawks – Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

19. Buccaneers – Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, BC

20. Broncos – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

21. Steelers – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

The Steelers need a quarterback in the worst way, however I’m sorry, but I don’t believe Jaxon Dart or Sheduer Sanders are worth a first round pick.

22. Chargers – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Jim Harbaugh and co. get Herbert and McConkey some much needed help. If Hampton falls here I could see that being the pick as well.

23. Packers – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

With the writing on the wall with Jaire Alexander, the Packers are going to be in the need of secondary help, and Will Johnson has elite, top corner potential.

24. Vikings – Malachi Starks, S, Georgia

25. Texans – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio St

26. Rams – Jahdae Barron, CB/S, Texas

As a Rams fan, this is my dream scenario. This secondary needs help, and Jahdae Barron more likely than not is not an outside corner, however I see a Cooper DeJean type player here who can be all over the field making plays.

27. Ravens – Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida St

28. Lions – James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee

29. Commanders – Gray Zabel, OL, NDSU

30. Bills – Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

31. Chiefs – Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon

I see the Chiefs as a trade up candidate in a draft filled with teams wanting to trade back, but for the purposes of the mock draft I didn’t do trades. In this scenario I see the Chiefs scooping up Conerly who flashed at Oregon and has plenty of room to grow.

32. Eagles – Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

One of my more controversial picks here, but after losing some key depth pieces from their Super Bowl team, the Eagles get a specimen of a DT (6’6”, 330lbs) in Alfred Collins who is disruptive and can continue the pipeline of developmental talents amongst the defensive front in Philadelphia.

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