This is your obligatory SEO sentence that contains NFL Draft. This entire thing is going to get destroyed by the combine and then again by free agency but here’s a pulse check before the March fireworks.
#1 Tennessee Titans – Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State
This one is hard. We all know the four candidates; Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Abdul Carter, and Travis Hunter. The public facing comments cast a wide net. Tennessee has said it’s open for business at 1 and also that it won’t pass on a generational talent with the first pick. When you look at what Brian Callahan and Mike Borgonzi have said they value in a quarterback, it would appear they might prefer different options at the top of the draft. Callahan likes “decision-making, timing, and accuracy,” which could lead him toward Sanders. Meanwhile Borgonzi says “you have to have the physical arm talent,” along with “having mobility, not just [being] a pocket passer.” Such comments would seem to indicate he would rank Ward higher.
So, essentially, we can’t rule out anything at this point. It’s clear that as of this writing the Titans haven’t decided what they’re going to do, and honestly, they don’t need to know in February. They’re publicly stating all options are on the table because that should be how they’re vetting their options at this point. Therefore, let’s dissect, beginning of course with the quarterbacks.
For what it’s worth, Tony Pauline reported from the Shrine Bowl that on site all the buzz is that the rest of the league believes the Titans will ultimately take Cam Ward #1. Now however much gravity you want to put into the musing of those outside Nashville is up to you. However, it makes a lot of sense. The need is there, Ward has the physical traits that get quarterbacks drafted high (including some overlap with Patrick Mahomes who Borgonzi scouted and loved during his tenure with the Chiefs), Tennessee has no way of knowing the next time they’ll be in a position like this again, and new regimes mean new quarterbacks and you’re looking at a first year general manager and a second year head coach.
Sanders also fits the “we should just take our favorite quarterback here” philosophy since it’s a new regime with a need at the position that doesn’t know if they’ll ever be drafting this highly again. Borgonzi has preached patience as they build over time through the draft, but the Tennessee can’t bank on drafting in the top 3 again.
The problem is the league doesn’t seem to be overly keen on these two quarterbacks. Now all that matters is what the Titans think, but consider this from The Athletic:
Over the past month, numerous front office sources echoed a common refrain to The Athletic: They would not rank any of the draft prospects ahead of the six quarterbacks who were selected in the first round last year.
“I would guess 90% of the people here (at the Senior Bowl) would feel that way,” one executive said this week.
Agree or disagree, the idea that QB1 this year would have been QB7 last year is out there. Considering QB6 went 12th overall in 2024 that doesn’t mean Ward and/or Sanders will plummet out of the top 15 (they could), but this isn’t Bryce Young and CJ Stroud.
The 2026 QB class already has hype, lead by Arch Manning and another three prospects that may join him in the top 15. If Tennessee does play the long game and forgo a quarterback here, barring a trade down, that leaves us with Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter.
The two-way Heisman winning freak, Travis Hunter, is being listed as a DB for the combine, which is a tell of how scouts view him. Maybe the Titans think he is a WR, or have two-way plans for him, but either way, him going #1 will be rare/unprecedented. Perhaps his two-value changes this, but no receiver has gone first since 1996. I won’t debate with you just how good Hunter is as a receiver prospect, but even if you believe his NFL home is at receiver, there have been better receiver prospects over the last 29 years than Hunter and none of them went #1. Even Calvin Johnson topped out at #2.
If you believe he is an elite corner prospect (fair) know that no corner has ever been draft first. None. It would be uncharted territory for the Titans to do this. Deion Sanders, Champ Bailey, and Patrick Peterson couldn’t make it happen, but the 185lb Hunter will? Maybe, but it just seems to make more sense that if Tennessee doesn’t go quarterback they’ll…
..take Abdul Carter. When quarterbacks don’t go first, it’s only edge rushers and offensive tackles that do, and more so edge rushers. Carter is a freak and the Micah Parson comps are lofty but worthy. Carter would be a true defensive cornerstone to build around while the Titans wait to take their big swing at quarterback in the 2026 draft.
**Trade**
Cleveland Receives: #3, #65, 2026 3rd Rounder, 2026 4th Rounder
New York Giants Receive: #2
#2 New York Giants (F/CLE) – QB Cam Ward, Miami
The Giants desperation for a quarterback may over rule this being a lackluster class. Or they genuinely think Ward is worthy. Either way, if the Titans pass on a quarterback we could very well see a Mitch Trubisky-esk trade with teams slotted #2 and #3 swapping places in a non-highly-touted QB class so that the team moving up can secure their preference. In this scenario, the Giants send the exact package the Bears sent to the 9ers to ensure they get the #1 QB on their board.
#3 Cleveland Browns (F/NYG) – CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
This has to be the dream scenario for the Browns, assuming they don’t want to take a quarterback. For what it’s worth, Tony Pauline has also reported that Cleveland won’t pass on Ward at #2. It makes sense for the Browns to take this opportunity to reset at quarterback, but Stefanski and Berry may prefer a veteran-win-now route if they feel their jobs are on the line. Cleveland, already having let it be known they’re willing to move down, adds a few picks but still lands Travis Hunter.
**Trade**
New England Receives: #6, #68, 2026 4th Rounder
Las Vegas Receives: #4
#4 Las Vegas Raiders (F/NE) – QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
The Sanders-Tom Brady connection and relationship is well documented and real. Considering the fact Tom Brady just waxed poetic on Colin Cowherd for 10 minutes on how quarterback evaluation has devalued processing and processing speed, how that was his own super power, and how Sanders’ number one trait is his processing, I believe the odds are high Las Vegas will be fairly aggressive in drafting Shedeur. Will Brady’s old connections in Foxborough help facilitate this deal? Perhaps, but it also makes sense for New England to trade down if both Carter and Hunter are off the board in the top 3 and a QB needy team comes calling.
#5 Jacksonville Jaguars – DT Mason Graham, Michigan
Assuming Carter and Hunter don’t get to 5, at this point, I feel like Graham is a lock. He’s the third best player in the draft, the Jags hired an offensive coach (teams tend to draft the other side of the ball when they’ve hired a new coach), and James Gladstone just watched the impact Aaron Donald had during the prime of his career.
#6 New England Patriots (F/LV) – OL Will Campbell, LSU
I fully expect New England to go on a spending spree when free agency opens and buy Tee Higgins and at least 60% of a starting offensive line. If they do that, stick at 4, and Carter and Hunter are off the board I really wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up just taking Graham.
Anyway, Eliot Wolf spent 2004-2017 in the Packers organization. Green Bay famously never spent a first round pick on a receiver during Aaron Rodgers’ tenure. They spent a second rounder on a few (Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams), but never a first. And last year in his initial season running the Patriots what did Wolf do? He spent a second round pick on a receiver. Now you can call this circumstantial since they took Drake Maye at three last year, but I’m dubious New England is going to take a receiver in the top 10.
While they Packers were bypassing every first round receiver prospect they typically either drafted and offensive tackle, defensive lineman, or a defensive back. My point is, if the Patriots view Will Campbell as a guard because of his arm length, I’m not sold that Wolf will spend a top 6 pick on him. Of course, they may think he can stick at tackle and none of this matters.
On the other hand, Vrabel’s final first round act in Tennessee saw the team draft a college offensive tackle with questionable length with the intent from day one to kick him inside to guard. Even if New England buys two offensive tackles in free agency they could take Campbell here with the Skoronski path as the plan.
#7 New York Jets – WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
I don’t know how much of an explanation this needs. Adams is on his way out of town and the Jets desperately need more fire power.
#8 Carolina Panthers – Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
The Panthers finished 29th in sacks las year.
#9 New Orleans Saints – WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
Mickey Loomis has somehow been the Saints general manager for nearly 25 years despite being an abject failure. Anyway, he doesn’t often spend premium picks on receivers but when he does they tend to have juice (Dante Stallworth, Robert Meachem, Brandin Cooks, Chris Olave). Even if Olave is healthy and plays for many years to come New Orleans needs more on this offense.
#10 Chicago Bears – CB Will Johnson, Michigan
Most people just pencil in an offensive tackle here but the problem is, despite the offensive line woes, it’s not really a tackle issue. Darnell Wright played well last year and while Braxton Jones has never been amazing but he’s entire career has been quality play. Perhaps the Bears still draft a tackle and let Jones walk in 2026 free agency but it’s the interior of the line that’s a nightmare.
That said, in Poles’ tenure he has demonstrated that he spends his premium picks on premium positions. His first pick of 2022 was a corner (they didn’t have a first rounder), in 2023 he traded down, bypassing an opportunity to take Jalen Carter, and selected an offensive tackle, and then last year he took a quarterback and wide receiver in the top 10. Now both Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were chalk selections, but he has also traded away a second round pick for a wide receiver (Claypool) and another for a pass rusher (Sweat). I just have a hard time believe Ryan Poles is going to draft a guard or center at 10.
Adding Will Johnson to this defense (who I think will rise after the combine in Stingley like fashion (not in the sense he ends up going 3rd but the fact he was dominant early in his career then put out bad film and sustaining injury prior to leaving college but ultimately rising back up to where his good/healthy film dictates) would give Chicago two lockdown corners in a division that has the Vikings and Lions.
#11 San Francisco 49ers – Edge Mike Green, Marshall
We will see how these unearhted allegations ultimately affect Green (I think he will drop) but for now I’m leaving him where he was prior to this morning.
#12 Dallas Cowboys – RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
This is the first of three chalk picks that annoy me I have but there is *no way* Dallas passes on this.
#13 Miami Dolphins – OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
I mean, come on.
#14 Indianapolis Colts – TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
Second chalk pick that bothers me and as much as I want to put Warren higher it’s hard to find a spot.
#15 Atlanta Falcons – LB Jalon Walker, Georgia
One of these years Atlanta will draft a pass rusher in the first round.
#16 Arizona Cardinals – DL Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Stewart is another guy I think will rise after the combine because I think he is going to light up the athletic testing and the NFL will won’t pass on his size/athleticism combo for long.
#17 Cincinnati Bengals – DL Mykel Williams, Georgia
The Bengals have numerous free agents at both edge and defensive tackle and this defense already needed a lot of help.
#18 Seattle Seahawks – OT Armand Membou, Missouri
Having come from Baltimore where the offensive line is designed to blow people off the ball I can see McDonald wanting Membou.
#19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – S Malaki Starks, Georgia
You can make the case for a lot of different guys here but ultimately a coach-on-the-field safety would be a great addition.
#20 Denver Broncos – TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
*Louis Griffin “9/11” voice* Jimmy Graham.
#21 Pittsburgh Steelers – OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
The Steelers need help everywhere on offense. If they took Egbuka here it would make a lot of sense. I wouldn’t be surprised if they took Hampton since they are the ones that took Najee in the first. But at their core they want to be a smash mouth team that plays elite defense.
#22 Los Angeles Chargers – LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
A position of need and a super smart player, I think Harbaugh will love Campbell.
#23 Green Bay Packers – WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
They did it! They finally did it! Green Bay took a receiver in the first!
#24 Minnesota Vikings – OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
Do I need to explain the Vikings offensive line?
#25 Houston Texans – DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
I forgot just how loaded this roster is. If Stroud goes back his rookie form or is even better in 2025 this is a legit Super Bowl contender. In the meantime they could use reinforcements on the defensive interior.
#26 Los Angeles Rams – CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
Barron has some positional versatility and the Rams really need to just get as much talent as they can back there.
#27 Baltimore Ravens – OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
I expect the Ravens to lose Ronnie Stanley in free agency so they’re going to need a replacement.
#28 Detroit Lions – Edge Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Even with Hutchinson’s return the Lions could use more upfront.
#29 Washington Commanders – CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
Dan Quinn, formerly of the Legion of Boom, will love Revel’s length.
#30 Buffalo Bills – DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Best defensive player available. It’s that simple.
#31 Kansas City Chiefs – OL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
Best offensive lineman available, it’s that simple.
#32 Philadelphia Eagles – Edge Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
The Eagles will probably lose both Josh Sweat and Milton Williams to free agency so bet your house Howie drafts a defensive lineman here.
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