Curt Popejoy
June 5, 2024 6:00 am ET
Last week we offered up a two-round computer simulation for the 2025 NFL draft but this time we are back with our own one-round mock draft. The college football season is just a couple of months away and we cannot wait to see so many of these top prospects on the field. Many of the top players in the country find themselves on new teams this year thanks to the wacky transfer portal so sometimes it is complicated in projecting how these guys will play in new environments.
This time around we see the Carolina Panthers give up on Bryce Young but reach for another quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick. Four more quarterbacks come off the board in the first round but make no mistake, this class doesn’t appear to be as top-heavy as the 2024 class.
We also have three running backs come off the board in the first round as teams understand it is cheaper to add running back talent in the draft rather than pay for veterans in free agency.
1
Carolina Panthers – QB Carson Beck – Georgia
Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) drops back to pass against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
2
New England Patriots – OT Will Campbell – LSU
Oct 15, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; LSU Tigers offensive lineman Will Campbell (66) against the Florida Gators prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
3
Denver Broncos – WR Luther Burden III – Missouri
Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) runs upfield during the fourth quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium.
4
Tennessee Titans – EDGE James Pearce Jr. – Tennessee
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) points at a flag thrown against Texas A&M during a football game between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
5
New York Giants - QB Jalen Milroe - Alabama
Nov 25, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) drops back to pass against the Auburn Tigers during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
6
Washington Commanders - CB Will Johnson - Michigan
Michigan defensive back Will Johnson prays before kickoff against Washington in the national championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.
7
Arizona Cardinals - EDGE Nic Scourton - Texas A&M
Nov 25, 2023; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers linebacker Nic Scourton (5) reacts after bringing down Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Brendan Sorsby (15) during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
8
Minnesota Vikings - CB Ben Morrison - Notre Dame
Oct 29, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II (19) catches a touchdown pass in front of Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Benjamin Morrison (20) in the first quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
9
Las Vegas Raiders - WR Tetairoa McMillan - Arizona
Dec 28, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) gets ready for a play in the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
10
Seattle Seahawks - QB Quinn Ewers - Texas
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) warms up ahead of the Longhorn’s Orange and White spring football game in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Saturday, April 15, 2023.
Texas Longhorns Orange And White Spring Game Sed 205
11
New Orleans Saints - QB Cam Ward - Miami
Nov 17, 2023; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback Cameron Ward (1) takes a snap during a game against the Colorado Buffaloes in the second half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Washington State won 56-14. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
12
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Travis Hunter - Colorado
Sep 2, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) runs after catching a ball in the first half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
13
Indianapolis Colts - S Malaki Starks - Georgia
Dec 2, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Amari Niblack (84) makes a catch against Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Malaki Starks (24) during the first half in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
14
Pittsburgh Steelers - DL Mason Graham - Michigan
Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham celebrates a tackle against Ohio State during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.
15
Los Angeles Rams - WR Emeka Egbuka - Ohio State
Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) scores a touchdown after a catch against Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the second quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium.
16
Jacksonville Jaguars - OT Kelvin Banks Jr. - Texas
Nov 18, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) plays against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
17
Cleveland Browns - RB Ollie Gordon II - Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II (0) walks of the field following the Big 12 Football Championship game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.
18
Chicago Bears - DT Deone Walker - Kentucky
Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) is sacked by Kentucky Wildcats defensive lineman Deone Walker (0) during the third quarter of an NCAA football matchup in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Clemson Tigers edged the Kentucky Wildcats 38-35. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
19
Los Angeles Chargers - CB Tacario Davis - Arizona
Nov 25, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; An Arizona State Sun Devils player reflects in the helmet visor of Arizona Wildcats cornerback Tacario Davis (23) in the first half of the Territorial Cup at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
20
Houston Texans - LB Harold Perkins - LSU
Oct 21, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Army Black Knights running back Kanye Udoh (26) is hit by LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (4) on a run during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
21
New York Jets - QB Shedeur Sanders - Colorado
Oct 28, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) throws the ball against the UCLA Bruins in the first half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
22
Atlanta Falcons - EDGE Jack Sawyer - Ohio State
Nov 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) picks up a fumble during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. The play was called an incomplete pass and the Michigan Wolverines kept possession. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
Ncaa Football Michigan Wolverines At Ohio State Buckeyes
23
Miami Dolphins - TE Colston Loveland - Michigan
Michigan tight end Colston Loveland celebrates a play against Washington during the second half of U-M’s 34-13 win in the College Football Playoff national championship game in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.
24
Green Bay Packers - LB Abdul Carter - Penn State
Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter (11) motions to the crowd during a White Out game against Iowa Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in State College, Pa. Carter, a sophom*ore, has recorded 11 total tackles, one sack and one interception through the first four games of the season.
25
Dallas Cowboys - RB Quinshon Judkins - Ohio State
Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Quinshon Judkins (4) is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Abdul Carter (11) in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
26
Philadelphia Eagles - EDGE JT Tuimoloau - Ohio State
Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) sacks Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 20-12.
27
Detroit Lions - EDGE Princely Umanmielen - Ole Miss
Florida Gators defensive end Princely Umanmielen (1) sacks Florida State Seminoles quarterback Tate Rodemaker (18) during first half action as Florida takes on Florida State at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]
28
Cincinnati Bengals - EDGE Ashton Gillotte - Louisville
Louisville Cardinals defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte (9) brings down Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Devin Leary (13) for a sack in the first half Saturday. Nov. 25, 2023.
29
Buffalo Bills - EDGE Landon Jackson - Arkansas
Oct 7, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks defensive linemen Landon Jackson (40) reacts after a made field goal during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
30
Baltimore Ravens - RB Omarion Hampton - North Carolina
Sep 30, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Omarion Miller (14) runs the ball past USC Trojans defenders at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Chet Strange-USA TODAY Sports
31
San Francisco 49ers - DL Kenneth Grant - Michigan
Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant (78) reaches out to sack Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff national championship game against Washington at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Monday, January 8, 2024.
32
Kansas City Chiefs - CB Jabbar Muhammad - Washington
Sep 2, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies cornerback Jabbar Muhammad (1) breaks up a pass intended for Boise State Broncos wide receiver Eric McAlister (80) during the third quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
