Jeff Kirby’s Post NFL Combine Mock Draft 2.0

by Jeff Kirby

The NFL Combine has passed, and the new league year is approaching, which means we are inching closer to the NFL Draft. After watching four days of practice, drills and interviews, here’s my second projection for the NFL’s first round: 

Tennessee Titans - Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

As we get closer to the draft, the more it seems like it will happen. The potential with Carter is off the charts based on his pure athletic ability. He will continue to get better with experience 

Cleveland Browns - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

In my mock draft 1.0, I had the Browns taking Sanders’ teammate Travis Hunter. As time has gone by, I am starting to think that there isn’t a scenario that the Browns pass on a QB here. Browns GM Andrew Berry’s seat has to be on fire, and this may be his last hope.

New York Giants - Cam Ward, QB, Miami

With the announcement that Matthew Stafford is staying with the Rams, drafting Ward is probably the best case for the future of the franchise. The other free agent options do not sound appealing for what this team needs. They get what they hope is their QB of the future in Ward. 

New England Patriots - Will Campbell, OT, LSU

The first OL to come off the board and for good reason. The Pats need to help protect the blindside of their franchise QB Drake Maye. 

Jacksonville Jaguars - Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado 

The Jaguars were awful on defense in 2024 posting a dismal 28th in points allowed, 25th against the run, dead last against the pass, and 31st in total defense. They can go with whoever is the highest defensive player on their board, which I believe is Hunter here. They could also go with Mason Graham of Michigan to plug holes on the DL, but instead, they grab Hunter, who starts at corner and provides valuable snaps on offense too. 

Las Vegas Raiders - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Free agency starts next week, and I do think they go after one of the options at quarterback, freeing this pick for the incomparable Jeanty. The Raiders add a dynamic offensive piece to pair along with their first-round pick in 2024 (Brock Bowers) and start to grow their young, dynamic offense. Pete Carroll knows what having a great running back means. Well unless you are on the one-yard line in the Super Bowl…

New York Jets - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Aaron Glenn knows what it’s like to have guys on that DL that can be disruptive, and they get that here in Graham. The Jets get a guy who is stout against the run and, I believe, has high upside as a pass rusher too. 

Carolina Panthers - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

At the combine, conversations started about the Panthers using this selection on defense. I still believe they need to add to the WR core and help Bryce Young by giving him a weapon with an area code as his catch radius. 

New Orleans Saints - Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia

The Saints were 20th in sacks in 2024 and declined their fifth-year option on Payton Turner. Cameron Jordan will be 36 years old next season, and the Saints need help here. Williams will fit in perfectly for this team and offers versatility on where they play him on the DL. 

Chicago Bears - Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas

The Bears must work on their offensive line. Caleb Williams was sacked a ton last year and I expect OL will be the priority here. Banks can play outside and inside and will be a day-one starter for this team. 

San Francisco 49ers - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

The return of Robert Saleh as the team’s defensive coordinator, coupled with two expiring contracts in the secondary screams for DB help here. Saleh drafted Sauce Gardner in New York, and he will try to repeat that pick that lockdown corner again in Will Johnson.

Dallas Cowboys - Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

With the retirement of Zach Martin, the Cowboys have a huge hole in the offensive line. Membou can kick inside and be an immediate starter for new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. 

Miami Dolphins - Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

The Dolphins need to make upgrades to their offensive line if they want to keep Tua upright. Booker will be a plug-and-play guard and can immediately fill that RG spot. 

Indianapolis Colts - Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

The upside of Tyler Warren is unlimited. The Colts can’t pass on a player that can be a top three to top five TE in the NFL and give QB Anthony Richardson another weapon. 

Atlanta Falcons - Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

When you were 31st in the league last year at getting to the QB, it’s pretty obvious what hole needs to be filled for the Falcons. They get a player in Green that can get to the QB and blew away scouts at the Combine and Senior Bowl. 

Arizona Cardinals - Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

This team needs to become stouter at the point of attack and Grant can stop the run. He fits exactly that kind of player the Cards need and has upside as a pass rusher.  

Cincinnati Bengals - Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

The Bengals were awful on defense last year. They also have 3 defensive tackles heading to free agency, so this becomes an instant plug-and-play scenario for Cincinnati. 

Seattle Seahawks - Grey Zabel, OG, North Dakota State

The Seahawks have a major need for a guard, and they get that and then some in the versatile Zabel. Zabel had an impressive Senior Bowl and Combine that vaulted his stock to being a sure-fire first-round pick. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jihaad Campbell, ILB, Alabama

Lavante David and K.J. Britt are scheduled to become free agents this March, leaving a glaring hole in the middle of the Bucs’ defense. Campbell is a rangy and instinctual linebacker who is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Denver Broncos - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

The Broncos need to add another pass catcher to help Bo Nix, and they get exactly that in Loveland. The Michigan product can line up all over the place as a flex tight end and reminds me of a poor man’s Travis Kelce. Denver has felt Kelce’s wrath for many years so why not try and get your own version of that here. 

Pittsburgh Steelers - Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State

The Steelers haven’t drafted a WR in the first round in 19 years, and that ends this year. There is a glaring need for a pass catcher for whoever will be throwing that ball in Pittsburgh outside of George Pickens, and that’s with his future in question after 2025. Egbuka is in my opinion “bust proof” because of his ability to get open and do the dirty work.

Los Angeles Chargers - Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

Khalil Mack is 34 years old. Joey Bosa and Bud Dupree will also be over 30 when the season starts. They need to get younger at the position and Stewart will have a good room of guys to learn from. 

Green Bay Packers - Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

The Packers have a major hole at corner with Jaire Alexander seemingly out the door. They get the best corner available off the board. 

Minnesota Vikings - Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Ahhh yes, what feels like the yearly or every other year game of the Vikings taking a corner in the first round is back. Brian Flores runs a complex defensive scheme and needs very smart corners. That is what you get with Barron, and he gives the Vikings versatility in a shaky defensive backfield.

Houston Texans - Luther Burden, WR, Missouri

Tank Dell won’t be the same in 2025 after a gruesome late-season injury and Stefon Diggs is going to free agency this year and is recovering from a season-ending knee injury. Signal caller C.J. Stroud will need a new weapon opposite of WR Nico Collins. 

Los Angeles Rams -Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon

There are question marks around the future of Matthew Stafford, many of which were settled earlier in the week with the news of his re-signing with the Rams. But one thing that shouldn’t be a question mark is getting a tackle to protect him and any successor to him when he eventually retires.

Baltimore Ravens - Josh Simmons, OT, OSU

OL Ronnie Stanley is about to hit the open market which leaves a major hole in this offensive line. Simmons is coming off a knee injury, but I believe he can be the best tackle in this draft.

Detroit Lions - Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

The Lions were 30th against the pass last year and for a Superbowl contender, this simply is not going to cut it. New defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard will enjoy having a long, lengthy corner who can play press-man. 

Washington Commanders -OG/OT, Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

I think the Commanders consider going with an edge rusher here with someone like James Pearce. But why not invest high capital in protecting your rookie of the year QB? Jackson offers versatility, too, in that he has guard and tackle experience. 

Buffalo Bills = Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

The Bills have three defensive tackles pending in free agency, and all three are over 30. That smells like a position of need, and they get their guy to anchor the interior of their line. Harmon is a run stuffer who would be the perfect complement to Ed Oliver and his pass-rush abilities. 

Kansas City Chiefs - Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

We saw what happened to this team in the Super Bowl. This offensive line got manhandled in every way imaginable. They have to address that immediately, and they do with Ersery. 

Philadelphia Eagles - James Pearce, Edge, Tennessee

Josh Sweat is pending a free agent and we know Philly invests heavily in their defensive line. Pearce will feast on this defensive line.