No one of course nails it all the time but Schrager is one of the more plugged in ones. He doesn't have Ezeirukau even going in the first round. The mocks tend to be closer to on the money this week. That also dovetails as I mentioned weeks back when I saw the scouts who McGinn interviewed put Ezeiruaku in the 2nd round. My point is I think there is more than a fighting chance (in spite of what Jeremy Greene said) that he's available at 29.
Will Johnson dropping this far has occured to me of late. He seems to be slipping with some. Some seem bothered that he didn't run at his pro day.
I recall the year we got Jonathan Allen saying early that college season wouldn't it be great if we could get him but alas it won't happen, he's going too early. I said something similar on a board last year early in the college season about Johnson. Maybe karma, fate?
It's been eons since I watched him, I'll try to watch him today.
Peter Schrager's debut piece for ESPN is a Round 1 mock draft based on what he's hearing from his sources around the NFL.
www.espn.com
Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
Booker, a bully of a guard, could help add some much-needed beef to the Cowboys' line. Having had
Zack Martin retire
this offseason, there's going to be a desire to fill the interior with a plug-and-play lineman.
Everyone will be clamoring for the Cowboys to take a running back or receiver. Let's go guard, though. That's how I see it.
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Thorpe Award winner is the top corner in this class not named
Travis Hunter. The Cardinals have been quietly adding premier talent through the draft the past few years. Remember: Head coach Jonathan Gannon is a defensive backs coach by trade. This one makes a lot of sense.
Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
The pass rusher who led the FBS with 17 sacks last season could go even higher than this. The unfortunate truth is that whichever defender Cincinnati takes here will be pitted against veteran
Trey Hendrickson, who hasn't been happy with
contract negotiations and has
requested a trade. It wouldn't be fair to Green, who is a great prospect and fit for the Bengals.
Grey Zabel, C/G, North Dakota State
I've heard some buzz that Zabel could go as high as No. 12. That's a little too rich, but I do think top 20 could happen. The
Senior Bowl star turned heads and has been as consistent through the draft process as anyone.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The all-world athlete would be the perfect addition to a wide receiver room with a mix of veterans and young players. The Bucs love
Mike Evans and
Chris Godwin, and
Jalen McMillan is coming off a solid rookie year. McMillan would be the perfect student for the veterans to teach.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Bar none, Egbuka is the most universally well-liked prospect in this draft. He is smart, reliable and sure-handed. He could be a 10-year captain somewhere and is most often compared to fellow Buckeyes legend
Terry McLaurin.
Coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton hit a home run with
Bo Nix a year ago. This could be another no-brainer.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
I know Sanders had a good meeting in Pittsburgh when
he visited a few weeks back. I also know the Steelers still don't have a QB1 on
their roster. This might be viewed as a "slip" down the board for Sanders. He could go anywhere from No. 3 to the Giants to the second round.
Going to Pittsburgh here as the second quarterback in the class wouldn't be so bad.
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz went big-school prospect with their
first four picks a year ago and ended up with an outstanding class.
Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter know Grant well from their time at Michigan. They'll be able to get the best out of the 331-pounder inside.
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
I know it's out of character for Green Bay to take a receiver in Round 1 -- they haven't done it since 2002 -- but in this scenario, Golden could slide right to them. And I can't see him sliding much more.
Green Bay could go in several directions. I doubt anyone thought the Packers could get the consensus
top wideout on many boards, though.
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The Vikings have needs elsewhere and wouldn't list running back as a clear hole on their roster. But if Hampton is on the board, he'd be a wonderful addition to a young core that the organization hopes can grow old together.
Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
The Texans could look to their offensive line and add a guard who has the potential to kick outside to tackle. They're
rebuilding their protection in front of quarterback
C.J. Stroud. This isn't an attention-grabbing pick, but it's a sensible one in this draft.
Projected trade: NYG makes a move up
It's time for another trade, this one with the third quarterback coming off the board.
In this deal, the Giants would send pick Nos. 34 and 99 to the Rams to move up to No. 26. And crucially, New York would keep its original
third-round pick -- No. 65 -- to continue to add talent to its roster.
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
If the draft falls this way, I think the Rams would be OK with this. They don't currently have a second-round pick, but if they agreed to this deal, they'd have four picks on Day 2.
I think the Giants would pounce on Dart. I just am not 100% certain.
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Simmons could slip because of an injury -- he sustained a torn patellar tendon in October -- but he might be the best of the bunch in the offensive linemen class. The Ravens could add another potential star, and watch -- he'll be a difference-maker in no time.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Johnson's stock has slipped a bit. He had a
foot injury last season and was inconsistent for the Wolverines. He also sat out Michigan's pro day because of a
hamstring injury.
He's a top-level talent, though, and he'd be the perfect corner to complement
Terrion Arnold.
Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
Stewart slipping this far? It could happen. He'd make a lot of sense for the Commanders given how their run defense performed in the
NFC Championship Game.
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