Post-Super Bowl Mock 1.0, better known as Mock 2.0, won’t give you trades, but it will give you surprises.
Our Giants and Jets yet again find themselves with top-10 picks, and both need another Sauce Gardner or Garrett Wilson or Kayvon Thibodeaux … as opposed to another, say, another Zach Wilson or Ereck Flowers or Eli Apple, or perhaps Evan Neal.
The Giants are one of the teams who will be exploring a trade for one of the top three quarterback prospects — along with the Falcons, Vikings, Broncos and Raiders.
In this mock, Big Blue lands their most exciting receiver since Odell Beckham Jr., and the Jets identify a blocker who will only let Pat McAfee anywhere near their 40-year-old quarterback.
Would Caleb Williams make a stink about preferring to play in his D.C. hometown? Does he have Eli Manning’s cell? Archie Manning’s cell?
Picks 1-18 in Mock 1.0, Picks 1-20 in Mock 2.0:
1. Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Reset the quarterback financial clock with this elite playmaker and trade Justin Fields for a Day 2 pick plus.
Williams’ upside is too tantalizing to pass on for GM Ryan Poles. The Patriots, Falcons and Steelers should consider making a play for Fields.
2. Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Is the slender dual-threat Heisman winner a better fit than Drake Maye for new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury?
That’s a better question for Kliff Kingsbury.
3. New England Patriots
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
New coach Jerod Mayo gets the 6-foot-4, 230-pound prototype that the former HC of the NEP would have loved in order to chase that elusive seventh Lombardi Trophy.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
A 6-foot-4, 205-pound target (31 touchdowns in 38 games) will make Kyler Murray forget about losing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Pretty nice bloodlines.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Jim Harbaugh lands a blue-chip bookend for left tackle Rashawn Slater to protect franchise QB Justin Herbert with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.
6. New York Giants
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The kind of weapon Daniel Jones has never had.
Joe Schoen’s need for speed hasn’t stopped.
Antonio Brown with his head on straight?
A better prospect than Zay Flowers.
Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka can battle over calling plays for this game-breaker.
7. Tennessee Titans
Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Will Levis is in desperate need of a blindside protector, and this is a 6-foot-6, 321-pound team captain.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
New coach Raheem Morris doesn’t inherit a double-digit sacker, and Calais Campbell will be 38 if he returns.
9. Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Let Caleb Williams and new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron cook with the ideal 6-foot-3, 215-pound complement for DJ Moore.
NFL Network guru Daniel Jeremiah’s college comp: Larry Fitzgerald.
10. New York Jets
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Aaron Rodgers will run the card up, assuming he can.
Breece Hall will enjoy running behind this 6-foot-6, 334-pound masher, who can quickly make Joe Benigno forget Mekhi Becton or can be a plug-and-play right tackle.
11. Minnesota Vikings
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Coach Kevin O’Connell loves featuring the tight end, and T.J. Hockenson (ACL and MCL surgery) won’t be ready when the 2024 season starts. Why not go “best player available anyway”? Especially if Kirk Cousins is re-signed.
12. Denver Broncos
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Sean Payton is well aware he won’t be a Super Bowl threat with Russell Wilson or Jarrett Stidham, and if anyone doesn’t care about critics shouting that this is a reach, it’s him.
He’ll try to haunt Jim Harbaugh with his old quarterback.
13. Las Vegas Raiders
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Coach Antonio Pierce needs a quarterback, but he also needs a No. 1 corner, with Patrick Mahomes and Herbert in the division.
14. New Orleans Saints
Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Coach Dennis Allen needs to upgrade his pass rush (34 sacks), providing help for defensive end Carl Granderson.
15. Indianapolis Colts
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
A 6-foot-4, 205-pound target to pair with franchise-tag candidate Michael Pittman Jr. to make life easier for Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor.
16. Seattle Seahawks
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
New coach Mike Macdonald inherits the 31st-ranked run defense and eyes a 6-foot-1, 308-pound interior disruptor to help or replace Leonard Williams if he’s too pricey.
G Troy Fautanu is the popular pick, but allow me to watch a little more film on him.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Darious Williams and Tyson Campbell will be free agents in 2025 so new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen gets to develop a 6-foot, 196-pounder with 4.35 speed.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
A 6-foot-6, 360-pounder to replace free agent RT Jonah Williams for Joe Burrow’s health and well-being.
19. Los Angeles Rams
Bo Nix, QB Rams
Coach Sean McVay gets a head start on life after Matthew Stafford, which could begin in 2025.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
A 6-foot-7, 328-pound easy mover bookend for last year’s No. 1 pick Broderick Jones.
