Two-time Huddle Report Top 100 board scoring champion Xavier Cromartie has released his first (of many) 1st-round mock drafts.
Xavier’s mock drafts are based upon his draft research and what his sources are communicating to him at this time -- and are not based on his personal scouting preferences. Xavier will have several Mock Drafts throughout the draft season as he works his way to the final mock draft submission for the national competition of mock draft analysts right before the 2024 NFL Draft.
1) Chicago Bears (via CAR): QB Caleb Williams (Southern Cal)*
Top needs: QB, DE, WR, DT, C
The pick: The top QBs will be debated, and then Williams will be taken like everyone expects.
2) Washington: QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)
Top needs: QB, DE, WR, LB, TE
The pick: Caleb Williams and Drake Maye had been penciled in as the top-2 QBs, but Daniels had an elite final season.
3) New England Patriots: QB Drake Maye (North Carolina)*
Top needs: QB, WR, DT, S
The pick: This team could quickly get back on track with competent QB play.
4) Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison (Ohio State)*
Top needs: WR, CB, DT, LB, G
The pick: Marvin Harrison's dad is Marvin Harrison.
5) Los Angeles Chargers: TE Brock Bowers (Georgia)*
Top needs: CB, DT, LB, TE, RB, C
The pick: All of the elite NFL teams have elite TEs. Bowers is a rare TE prospect.
6) New York Giants: WR Malik Nabers (LSU)*
Top needs: DE, WR, CB, DT, G
The pick: The Giants still lack a clear top receiving target despite recent early draft picks used on the position.
7) Tennessee Titans: OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame)*
Top needs: OLB, WR, CB, OT, DT, TE
The pick: Predictably, the Titans' plan at OT didn't work, and they have a QB who needs a lot of protection.
8) Atlanta Falcons: OLB Dallas Turner (Alabama)*
Top needs: QB, OLB, WR, CB, S
The pick: The Falcons are not in position to draft a top QB, but they have a chance to take the first defensive player.
9) Chicago Bears: DE Laiatu Latu (UCLA)
Top needs: QB, DE, WR, DT, C
The pick: The only concern with Latu is his injury history, but his play is outstanding.
10) New York Jets: OT JC Latham (Alabama)*
Top needs: WR, OT, DT, G
The pick: This team's only chance at success is a healthy Aaron Rodgers, and so they should invest in protecting him.
11) Minnesota Vikings: CB Nate Wiggins (Clemson)*
Top needs: OLB, CB, DT, RB, G
The pick: This team has had a problem at CB forever. Time to take another swing at fixing it.
12) Denver Broncos: CB/S Cooper DeJean (Iowa)*
Top needs: QB, OLB, WR, CB, DT, S
The pick: You know teams have already mentally moved DeJean to safety, but this same team drafted Riley Moss last year.
13) Las Vegas Raiders: WR Rome Odunze (Washington)
Top needs: QB, WR, DT, LB
The pick: This team won at Kansas City with AOC at QB. Unfortunately there is no QB worth taking here, so they get a WR instead.
14) New Orleans Saints: WR Brian Thomas (LSU)*
Top needs: WR, OT, DT, LB, TE
The pick: The Saints need a long-term complement to Chris Olave at WR with Michael Thomas in decline.
15) Indianapolis Colts: CB Terrion Arnold (Alabama)*
Top needs: CB, DT, LB, S, TE
The pick: Although the Colts drafted Julius Brents last year, they could use another young starting CB.
16) Seattle Seahawks: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State)
Top needs: OT, LB, S, G
The pick: Charles Cross is a solid starter, but the OT on the other side is unsettled.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Keon Coleman (Florida State)*
Top needs: OLB, WR, DT, C
The pick: Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk are solid but not dominant WRs, and so Trevor Lawrence could use another option.
18) Cincinnati Bengals: OT Amarius Mims (Georgia)*
Top needs: WR, OT, LB, S, TE, RB
The pick: Lack of protection has been an issue throughout Joe Burrow's career.
19) Los Angeles Rams: CB Kamari Lassiter (Georgia)*
Top needs: OLB, CB, LB, S, TE
The pick: The Rams surprised this season, but it wasn't because of their CB play. They have nothing there.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Bo Nix (Oregon)
Top needs: QB, WR, CB, LB, S, C
The pick: The Steelers typically draft for need, and they had Kenny Pickett on the bench for their playoff game.
21) Miami Dolphins: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama)*
Top needs: WR, CB, OT, LB, TE, G
The pick: The Dolphins need youth at CB. The big names are washed up.
22) Philadelphia Eagles: DE Jared Verse (Florida State)
Top needs: DE, WR, CB, LB, RB
The pick: The Eagles are always deep at edge rusher, and Verse will be able to develop.
23) Houston Texans (via CLE): DT Kris Jenkins (Michigan)
Top needs: OT, DT, LB, S, RB, G
The pick: The Texans need to muscle up on the defensive front.
24) Dallas Cowboys: OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma)
Top needs: WR, OT, LB, RB
The pick: The Cowboys believe in keeping the o-line strong, and Guyton gives them insurance and a future starter.
25) Green Bay Packers: CB Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo)
Top needs: CB, LB, G, C
The pick: The Packers have surprisingly few weaknesses for a young team, but CB stands out. Mitchell impressed on tape, albeit in the MAC.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OLB Chris Braswell (Alabama)
Top needs: OLB, WR, CB, LB, RB, G
The pick: The Bucs are still hoping their young pass rushers will develop and need to keep adding to the position.
27) Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): WR Xavier Legette (South Carolina)
Top needs: WR, CB, DT, LB, G
The pick: No more tiny WRs in Glendale. The Cardinals need a WR with size.
28) Buffalo Bills: S Kamren Kinchens (Miami FL)
Top needs: OLB, WR, DT, S, RB
The pick: The Bills' safety duo of Poyer and Hyde played well for many years, but it's about time for new blood.
29) Detroit Lions: DT Byron Murphy (Texas)
Top needs: DE, CB, DT, S
The pick: The Lions have many needs on defense and should select the best player who fits. Murphy improves their d-line rotation.
30) Baltimore Ravens: OLB Chop Robinson (Penn State)*
Top needs: OLB, WR, CB, RB, G
The pick: The Ravens have multiple early-round edge rushers, but they could use another.
31) San Francisco 49ers: OT/G Jordan Morgan (Arizona)
Top needs: OT, DT, G
The pick: The only really weak point of this team is the need for a versatile OT/G, preferably starting at Guard right away.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: WR Xavier Worthy (Texas)
Top needs: WR, OT, DT, S, RB
The pick: This team should cut every WR not named Rashee Rice. Mahomes is missing a speedy downfield threat.
Mock draft scoring:
5-YR AVG (Huddle Report) 41.6
2023 = 35
2022 = 41
2021 = 52
2020 = 43
2019 = 37
2018 = 40
2017 = 37
2016 = 37
2015 = 48
