It’s draft week!

Look for multiple Mock Drafts here every day until Thursday.

In the two we have today – QB BO NIX goes off the board in the first round, while QB MICHAEL PENIX, Jr. does not.

Both of today’s Mockers – Chad Reuter of NFL.com and Jordan Reid of ESPN.com – have Penix going to the Raiders in the 2^nd round.  Reuter has Las Vegas trading up to #33 to get him.

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com on Bears President Kevin Warren at this critical time in team history with QB CALEB WILLIAMS incoming and Warren doing his thing with a new stadium:

– It was early March, and Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was having dinner with team president Kevin Warren. It was one of several dinners they would share during a critical two-week span, and among the main topics of conversation was what to do about quarterback Justin Fields.

The Bears have the No. 1 pick in the draft on Thursday and they’re expected to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams. That meant Fields was going to be traded.

“I could tell it was one of those situations in which I needed to be close to him, and he needed to be close to me, just to be able to talk through this issue,” Warren said of Poles.

Warren just completed his first full year on the job Wednesday, and there have been plenty of critical issues to talk through. From deciding on the next steps in the Bears’ stadium venture, to navigating a team rebuild, to restructuring the upper levels of the front office, Warren’s first year has presented challenges he said were enticing in luring him from his job as Big Ten commissioner.

The Fields decision presented a unique challenge. Former Bears GM Ryan Pace traded up to draft Fields with the No. 11 pick in 2021, but the Bears finished 6-11 and Pace was fired. Poles was hired on Jan. 25, 2022, and one of his top priorities was to determine if Fields could develop into a franchise quarterback.

There were flashes, but the lack of consistency and the opportunity to draft someone many consider a generational talent sealed Fields’ fate.

Warren approached those dinners as more of a confidant than executive, and he could see the decision weighed on his GM. Poles said he wanted to “do right” by Fields by sending him to a team that didn’t have a young star quarterback. After the Steelers signed veteran Russell Wilson to a one-year deal, Pittsburgh was a good fit.

Fields was traded on March 18 for a conditional sixth-round pick, which converts to a fourth-rounder if Fields plays 51% of the offensive snaps this season.

Many thought the Bears would be able to get more in return.

“I thought [Poles] did a fantastic job,” Warren said. “First and foremost, it’s one thing to say that you care about players and then it’s another thing to show that you care about players, especially when it’s a stressful time.”

Warren described the past two months as “one of the most treacherous stretches” he’s experienced. The draft preparations, stadium negotiations and restructuring of his staff — nine new hires or promotions at the VP level — conspired to turn his first year on the job into a chaotic blur.

“If the Bears were a perennial playoff team and if their stadium project was done, I would not have accepted the job,” Warren said. “Probably the No. 1 reason why I came here is that we were coming off of a three-win season and we had a complex stadium project to figure out.

“We needed to infuse some energy into our culture. When I looked across the board, I felt that we needed to move in a positive direction in every area. And I just love the challenge.”

WARREN WAS AT the annual league meetings in late March in Orlando, Florida, when an article was published in the Sports Business Journal that listed the top 25 sports business cities in the country. The survey analyzed which cities do the best job of attracting and hosting events.

Warren found it “shocking” that Chicago wasn’t included.

“I think this sends a message,” he said. “I know it sent a message to me. We need to decide who we want to be. Does Chicago want to be a major sports city that hosts events?”

Warren joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2005 and was the chief operating officer from 2015 to 2019. He was instrumental in the conceptualization and development of U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in 2016 as the home of the Vikings and hosted Super Bowl LII after the 2017 season.

Bears chairman George McCaskey said he was impressed when Warren said the Vikings project was done on time and under budget.

“I know how difficult these projects are,” Warren said. “And that’s why you do them once every 30 to 40 years. And so we just have to be very focused. We have to be very intentional. You have to be diligent.”

The Bears have played in Soldier Field since 1971, but it has the smallest capacity — 61,500 — of any NFL stadium. The franchise had purchased land in 2021 to build a fixed-roof stadium in nearby Arlington Heights for $197.2 million. But the challenges of working through a tax settlement with the city reached an impasse soon after Warren was hired.

Warren said the Bears subsequently looked at “12 stadium sites,” and the most preferred location was always Chicago, south of Soldier Field.

The Bears are expected to deliver their formal presentation this month. The team has already announced its plans for a $2 billion private investment that will aid in construction of the publicly owned stadium. Once the Bears are able to break ground, Warren believes the stadium will be open in 36 months.

“I think [the new site in Chicago] will be the best site for an NFL team in the United States,” Warren said. “It’ll put us in a position to have mega events to be able to bid for the Super Bowl, to be able to bid on Final Fours. It will be the most unique environment in all of the United States.”

THE BEARS HIRED Warren on Jan. 12, 2023, but he worked two jobs for several months and didn’t leave his role as Big Ten commissioner until April 17.

On March 10, Warren was overseeing the Big Ten men’s basketball quarterfinals, but he was on the phone throughout the day with Poles. Again, Warren helped guide Poles through a major decision as the Bears traded the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers for a package that included wide receiver DJ Moore and the Panthers’ No. 1 pick in 2024.

The trade was a foundational element of the Bears’ rebuild. Moore had 1,364 receiving yards, the fourth-most in franchise history, and helped the Bears improve from a three-win team to 7-10 last season.

The Panthers, meanwhile, had the worst record in the NFL (2-15), which meant the Bears would be picking first this year.

“In everything that I do, we both sit down and kind of go through it together,” Poles said. “It’s a good part of the process for me to make sure that I’ve accounted for all of these different things, and making sure that our processes are well thought out. And then wherever we have a difference, we can work through those things.

“I’ve felt nothing but trust from his side, and also take his point of view really, really seriously. We’ll do extra work to make sure that we are seeing things the right way.”

The next step will be the draft. The Bears only have four picks, but they have two in the first round, including No. 9.

Warren will be on hand in the draft room, offering whatever guidance he can as the Bears try to rebuild on the field.

Off the field, the prospect of the stadium project will continue to be at the top of Warren’s mind. The football and business elements of the franchise’s evolution have provided for a new burst of excitement around the organization.

“There’s no wait till next year anymore,” said Karen Murphy, the Bears chief operating officer and executive vice president of stadium development. She has been with the Bears for 25 years and was Warren’s first major promotion this offseason. “Everything is about — we’re doing it,” she said. “We’re doing it this year.”

McCaskey said it was hard to recall a time of such momentum for the Bears. The bar was set back in 1985, when the franchise won its only Super Bowl. One of Warren’s goals is to elevate the Bears to a level where appreciating excellence doesn’t require such long walks down memory lane.

“I want really talented people here,” Warren said. “I want us to be exceptional.”

DETROIT

In today’s Mock Drafts, Jordan Reid of ESPN.com is the first the DB has seen to put CB COOPER DeJEAN with the Lions.  The DB has been thinking what Reid writes here:

Physical, passionate and an all-around good football player. That sounds like a prospect GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell might like, right? Secondary is still a hole in Detroit, and DeJean checks all of the boxes. He can wear multiple hats for the defense — I project him at safety, but he can absolutely start at corner in the NFL — and even provides value as a return man on special teams. The Lions have focused on building up their secondary with Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Carlton Davis III and Amik Robertson, and DeJean would take it to another level. He had seven interceptions over the past two seasons.

The DB’s actually thinking Detroit will trade up a few spots to be sure to nab him.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

Does RB JOE MIXON have enough left in the tank to elevate the Texans?  Christian Gonzales of NFL.com:

Joe Mixon will be getting a fresh start with his new squad.

After he was expected to be released by the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio made a call. As the voluntary offseason workout programs for 25 teams began earlier in the week, Caserio detailed how the Texans were able to trade for Mixon.

“Joe was set to be released. He was a player that we evaluated, and we thought could help our team in some capacity,” Caserio said this week, via team transcript, when asked about acquiring Mixon. “So, to the earlier question, you get on the phone, talk to the team. ‘Hey, we’d be interested. Would you guys be willing to give up a pick, or if we gave up a pick would you be interested?’ That’s kind of how the trade was consummated. Just relative to the commitment we made to Joe, Joe has been a productive player, pretty consistent player, and we think he can help our team. We’re glad he’s here hopefully for a few more years. That’s how that all sort of came together.”

Caserio and Houston seem confident Mixon can reach new heights in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s scheme. Mixon’s play style fits the Texans well, and with Devin Singletary heading to the New York Giants in free agency, adding a veteran like Mixon made sense for both sides.

The 27-year-old RB joins Houston’s rushing attack that ranked 22nd in the league last season.

Since 2021, Mixon has had 29 rushing touchdowns, which ranks third among RBs in that span, according to NFL Research.

Mixon, who’s coming off his fourth 1,000-yard rushing season, joins a Texans squad that surprised many by clinching the AFC South with C.J. Stroud at the helm. Stroud’s play led Houston to a 10-7 campaign and the Texans’ first playoff appearance since 2019.

This offseason has been a historic one for the Texans. By signing pass rusher Danielle Hunter and acquiring wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Mixon in trades, Houston became the first team in history to add players who respectively had 10-plus sacks, 100-plus receptions and 1,000-plus rushing yards the previous year, per NFL Research.

While the Texans look to add new talent around their young core in next week’s draft, Houston hopes it can see Mixon flourish with a change of scenery in 2024.

AFC EAST

NEW YORK JETS

Katherin Rosman and Ken Belson of The New York Times invest a lot of time in the off-field activities and non-football thoughts of QB AARON RODGERS:

Aaron Rodgers, perhaps the most gifted N.F.L. quarterback of his generation, spent a week last month in Costa Rica with a handful of fellow pro football players in search of transformation.

At a mountain retreat with views of the Pacific Ocean, they drank a psychedelic brew under the watchful eyes of a Yawanawa shaman and a documentary film crew.

Soon a news flash from back home — and then another — pierced the vibe. First, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate for president, said that he was considering making Mr. Rodgers his running mate, a partnership that did not ultimately materialize.

The next day, CNN reported that Mr. Rodgers had suggested in 2013 that the massacre of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., was a hoax or an inside government job. Mr. Rodgers responded on social media, saying that he had “never been of the opinion that the events did not take place.”

These are not the circumstances in which you expect to find an N.F.L. champion — sipping the brew, ayahuasca, in Central America while flirting with a run for vice president and batting away accusations of conspiracy mongering. It is certainly not what the team’s fans were imagining when Mr. Rodgers arrived last year as the would-be savior of the moribund Jets.

Football fans generally want low-complexity heroism from their standout players, and in many ways they get that from Mr. Rodgers: He led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl victory and has been named league M.V.P. four times. He has had a string of famous girlfriends (the former racecar driver Danica Patrick and the actresses Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley) and endorsement deals with mainstream-American brands, like State Farm Insurance.

Under normal circumstances, a star quarterback resurrecting an iconic franchise in the country’s biggest media market would be just the sort of story line that has helped make the N.F.L. the biggest league in American sports.

But since joining the Jets, Mr. Rodgers has mostly distinguished himself by supercharging a bewildering off-field persona as an anti-establishment ideologue. If, at age 40, he is among the most well-known stars in American football, he may also be the most eccentric.

On podcasts both popular and obscure, Mr. Rodgers trumpets Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy, rails against the Covid-19 vaccine and extols the virtues of psychedelic experiences. He has vilified celebrities and urged listeners to question the motives of those who control the government and media, tossing around his suspicion that the ruling establishment is in cahoots with “Big Pharma.”

“We have a captured media system, we have a captured medicine system, we have a captured education system,” he recently told the commentator Joe Rogan on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” the most popular podcast on Spotify.

Just this week, Mr. Rodgers’s arrival for the Jets’ first voluntary offseason workouts sent fans into spasms of glee. But the next day, “Aaron Rodgers” was trending on social media for other reasons: A video in which he shared a theory that the government had manufactured the H.I.V. epidemic had gone viral.

“The blueprint, the game plan was made in the ’80s,” he said. “Create a pandemic, you know, with a virus that’s going wild.”

Outwardly, the Jets give no indication that his off-field endeavors are creating a headache, and a spokesman declined to comment. For them, Mr. Rodgers represents the team’s hope for success, even after he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon just four plays into his first game last fall and sat out the whole season.

“We’re kind of focused on football,” Woody Johnson, the Jets owner, said at the N.F.L.’s annual meeting of owners and league executives in Orlando, Fla., last month. “It’s football, football, football.”

Fans will tolerate a certain amount of unusual behavior — but they have limits, especially when their stars become the subject of ridicule from rival fans and TV personalities.

At least some Jets fans wish Mr. Rodgers would just shut up and play.

John Marchese, who lives in Florham Park, N.J., wonders if he might be setting up a post-N.F.L. political career. “Being extremely vocal on divisive issues is one way to do that,” he said. “But as a football fan, I just want to focus on football, and I want Aaron Rodgers to focus on football since his talent is undeniable.”

Yet Mr. Rodgers, who did not respond to a request for comment, increasingly does the opposite. Last week, his fourth lengthy audio interview in just over two months was aired (this, in addition to his regular appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show,” a podcast licensed to ESPN).

His more recent avocation is taking part in “plant medicine” ceremonies — Mr. Rodgers bristles at the use of the term “drugs” to describe psychedelic substances taken with the intent of having emotional and spiritual experiences. He credits ayahuasca, which he refers to by a nickname, “grandmother,” for helping him overcome fears that he traces back to the 1990s.

“I had this irrational fear of death that kind of stuck with me for a long time,” he said on “I Can Fly,” a podcast. “And in this first ceremony, grandmother just took it away.”

His use of ayahuasca won’t keep him off the field: It is not banned under the N.F.L.’s collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union.

To some observers, Mr. Rodgers’s behavior is head-scratching. “Athletes tend to go from famous to infamous by accident, not by choice, and quarterbacks in particular are as careful with their speech and public actions as any position in any sport,” said Dan Le Batard, a podcast host. “I don’t think we’ve ever heard a starting pro quarterback espouse anything like conspiracy theories, never mind choosing that route after having arrived at the gold mine of finally being safe enough to sell us State Farm insurance on television.”

For most professional athletes, focusing on their game is a full-time occupation. Mr. Rodgers, who is paid more than $35 million a year, has intense outside passions.

He loves the television show “The Office” and appeared as himself in a 2013 episode. He has watched “Jeopardy!” since he was a child and in 2021 auditioned to become its host. He trained for his two-week on-air stint by watching more than 50 episodes of the show, he said in an Instagram video.

No other guest host matched his preparation, said Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer at the time. “That’s why he’s Aaron Rodgers,” Mr. Richards said.

The only special request he made to producers was to tour the set of “Wheel of Fortune.”

Mr. Rodgers said he solves about a dozen crossword puzzles each week, in part to stave off the impact of head injuries. “I’ve had a number of concussions, and you worry about your future brain functions,” he said in a March 2020 podcast.

At his 40th birthday party in December in New York, his cake featured a “Jeopardy” board, a desk in homage to “The Office” and the action movie character John Wick (whom he dressed as for Halloween) — in addition to a Jets jersey and a Super Bowl ring.

Not featured was the U.F.O. that he has told podcasters he spotted in New Jersey several years ago.

Mr. Rodgers grew up in Chico, Calif., participating in Young Life, an evangelical ministry, and attending a nondenominational church with his family. He told a podcast interviewer that Y2K represented a significant source of anxiety. “There was a lot of people in our sphere who thought that the world was going to end in 2000,” he said.

Even after the world did not end, Mr. Rodgers said he suffered from worry for years until he found ayahuasca.

Mr. Rodgers is also an avid reader. He has hosted a book club for Mr. McAfee, the podcast host who is a former N.F.L. punter. It included books like “Be Here Now,” by Ram Dass, and Jon Krakauer’s “Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman.”

Dominique Dafney, a former tight end with the Packers, recalled asking Mr. Rodgers for a book recommendation. The next day the quarterback he grew up watching on T.V. brought him an inscribed copy of “The Alchemist,” a fable by Paulo Coelho about pursuing your dreams.

Mr. Dafney said that Mr. Rodgers had been the Packers’ undisputed leader, and teammates were both loyal and accepting of all kinds of views, including his.

“The guys who spent the most time with him speak highly of him, and it’s not by accident,” Mr. Dafney said. “He wants you to shine and get your opportunities. His thing was, like that book, enjoy finding that path and who you are as a person.”

But Mr. Rodgers has also gone out of his way to pick fights with public figures, maligning Anthony Fauci, the government’s former top doctor for infectious diseases, and George Soros, the billionaire funder of liberal causes. Last October, Mr. Rodgers publicly challenged the Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce — the star of a drug company commercial whom Mr. Rodgers refers to as “Mr. Pfizer” — to a debate about the safety of Covid-19 vaccines.

And in January, on the McAfee podcast, he casually suggested without evidence that the television host Jimmy Kimmel had ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.

The blowback was swift. Mr. Kimmel tweeted that Mr. Rodgers fit in with “soft-brained wackos” and followed up with a monologue stating that Mr. Rodgers “thinks he knows what the government is up to because he’s a quarterback doing research on YouTube and listening to podcasts.”

Mr. Kimmel declined to comment.

Of all Mr. Rodgers’s outspoken beliefs, his distrust of vaccines has drawn the most attention.

In the summer of 2021, Mr. Rodgers reported to training camp in Green Bay and was asked whether he was vaccinated. “Yeah, I’ve been immunized,” he told reporters.

Three months later, Mr. Rodgers contracted the virus and acknowledged that he had not been vaccinated. Instead, he said he had undergone an alternative immunization process that the league did not approve.

The N.F.L. fined him, prompting Mr. Rodgers to lash out.

“I’m not some sort of anti-vax, flat-earther,” Mr. Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I believe strongly in bodily autonomy and the ability to make choices for your body, not to have to acquiesce to some sort of woke culture or crazed individuals who say you have to do something.”

More than two years later, Mr. Rodgers was still miffed. “I was watching the playoff game the other day and it said, ‘N.F.L. football, brought to you by Pfizer.’ I was like, yeah, I knew that,” he told Mr. Rogan in February.

Given Mr. Rodgers’s reach, his rhetoric about the Covid-19 vaccine can leave an entire community vulnerable, said Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

“Individuals can have their own personal beliefs, but they also have to think about the public when they have a platform as he does,” she said. “Individual decisions can have major societal consequences.”

Though State Farm declined to extend its 12-year partner deal with Mr. Rodgers in 2023, a company spokesman said, “This decision was not based on the personal views of Mr. Rodgers.”

Mr. Rodgers’s skepticism dates back to high school when he studied the life and death of John F. Kennedy, he explained this winter on “Look Into It with Eddie Bravo,” a podcast hosted by a self-proclaimed conspiracy theorist. It did not make sense to Mr. Rodgers that Lee Harvey Oswald was the sole assassin of the president, and it “got me into questioning things,” he said.

“‘Conspiracy’ is a term which gets slighted,” Mr. Rodgers said. “Conspiracy theories have been right about a lot of things in the last couple of years.”

It’s unclear how many players are sympathetic to Mr. Rodgers’s views. Few players express these kinds of opinions publicly. Those who do often pivot back toward silence.

In 2015, the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady left a MAGA hat in his locker and voiced his support for Donald Trump. When reporters grilled him, Mr. Brady ditched the hat and later deflected questions about Mr. Trump.

Mr. Rodgers has defended himself for taking a different path.

“You stand courageously for what you believe in, or the opposite side of that is either saying nothing or being a coward,” Mr. Rodgers told Mr. Rogan. “I’m going to continue talking about this stuff, because it’s important to me.”

Many fans say that their favorite teams are cursed, but the Jets faithful have a legitimate claim. The team has the dubious distinction of owning the longest playoff drought in major league sports. Their only appearance in the Super Bowl was in 1969, before men walked on the moon.

All of which makes it unsurprising that the Jets, a sports radio laughingstock, were more focused on Mr. Rodgers’s exceptional talents than his politics.

Few N.F.L. players are still in uniform at 40, but except for last season’s injury, Mr. Rodgers has been durable, with more passing yards and touchdowns than any active quarterback.

New York players and fans had upbeat expectations for Mr. Rodgers’s move to the big city, and he initially embraced his new hometown with gusto.

At Knicks and Rangers playoff games last year, he was cheered when he appeared on the jumbotron at Madison Square Garden. He attended the Tony Awards. He went to a Taylor Swift concert at MetLife Stadium.

But his dreams of leading the Jets to a Super Bowl title were at least temporarily derailed last September when he had to be helped off the field.

Experts said returning quickly from an Achilles’ tear was a long shot. Mr. Rodgers told Mr. Rogan he tried to hasten his recovery with hyperbaric chamber therapy, regenerative stem-cell treatments and bone broth slurped to boost collagen.

Amid his eight-hour daily rehab sessions, Mr. Rodgers began talking with Mr. Kennedy about his presidential campaign. The candidate’s philosophy, particularly on the Covid vaccine, aligns with his own.

“If there is a way that R.F.K. could get elected, to me, that’s where the hope starts,” Mr. Rodgers told Mr. Rogan this winter.

Less than two months later, Mr. Kennedy named him as a possible vice-presidential partner, jolting Jets fans who feared they had mistakenly placed their hopes on a player who was aging, injured and a would-be politician.

Some of those on the Costa Rican retreat were aware of the news but mostly ignored the distractions, said Jeramy Poyer, the brother of the Miami Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer.

There, Mr. Rodgers and his fellow searchers spent two hours in an airless tepee that was heated to more than 100 degrees to induce feelings of enlightenment.

The last night, according to New York Times interviews with two participants and a podcast appearance by Mr. Rodgers, they gathered in a large room overlooking the natural foliage of the retreat to drink ayahuasca, which is meant to bring on euphoria, hallucinations and a processing of depression and trauma that can lead to long-term peace.

Adrian Colbert, a safety for the Bears, said the ceremonies helped him understand that “emotional healing is looked down upon, especially for men. But vulnerability is power.” He added, “I felt my heart explode, and I felt so much love. I couldn’t help but cry.”

Some people were playing bongos and guitar as the group ventured into the grass and gazed at the stars. “I just fell in love with the Yawanawa, the medicine they served,” Mr. Rodgers said on the “I Can Fly” podcast.

Mr. Poyer said that Mr. Rodgers told him it was “one of the best nights of his life.”

The Times article leads off with the Sandy Hook story promulgated by CNN, but delves no deeper.  There was plenty of contemporaneous evidence that Rodgers did not think the shooting was a plot.

But the Times story has Mike Florio, not a fan of Rodgers, salivating as he calls for the New York media corps to go into a frenzy.

When Aaron Rodgers met the supposedly merciless New York media for the first time as a member of the Jets, he saw more softballs than Fireman Ed’s family picnic.

This year, whenever Rodgers meets with reporters for the first time in 2024 campaign, it could get interesting.

The last time he spoke to New York reporters, he explained the importance of having no distractions in 2024. That nothing about other than winning should be part of the building.

Then came the sudden, silly, and short-lived connection to the presidential ticket of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Rodgers was never running, but he allowed the story to both give Kennedy’s snowball’s chance campaign a boost — and to make Rodgers’s eventual, inevitable pivot to politics less jarring when it happens.

Along the way, his propensity to embrace conspiracy theories became more obvious, with CNN reporting that he has questioned whether the Sandy Hook shootings were a government job and Rodgers himself suggesting that HIV was a government-created pandemic.

The New York Times recently took a deep dive into his tinfoil-hat habits. Whether that causes those who will question Rodgers during press conferences to shed the kid gloves remains to be seen.

Maybe they will. The honeymoon is over. Rodgers, who loves to play the victim, has been insulated from direct scrutiny, so far.

He usually speaks only in safe spaces. What will happen when reporters covering the Jets get their next chance to talk to him? League rules require it during Phase Three of the offseason program.

Will he be pressed on his apparent belief that everything is a conspiracy? Will he be asked whether he thinks Sandy Hook was an inside job? Whether he thinks 9/11 was an inside job? Whether he thinks Joe Biden isn’t really Joe Biden? Why he thinks it’s a “weird coincidence” that John F. Kennedy Jr. died in a plane crash when he was running for the Senate against Hillary Clinton, even if Kennedy apparently wasn’t running?

Will Rodgers face aggressive questions if/when he spews more nonsense? Because so much of it is nonsense. And it’s potentially dangerous nonsense.

While some things that happen might not be what they seem, it’s impossible for EVERYTHING to be part of some grand plan to hide some sinister truth from an unsuspecting public. Having Rodgers pushing that crap on major platforms without any pushback feeds the delusions of vulnerable people.

Rodgers has every right to think whatever he wants to think. He doesn’t have a right to spew it without anyone ever questioning him, if he’s going to work in an industry that requires periodic exposure to the media. The next time he’s exposed to the media, hopefully someone from the media will try to expose with a little more clarity some of the outlandish things Rodgers apparently believes.

THIS AND THAT

ROMAN GABRIEL

The veterans committee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame never warmed to the candidacy of Roman Gabriel – and if he is to be enshrined, it will now be posthumously.  Only in his obit written today, do we learn the important fact that this native of Wilmington, South Carolina was of Filipino heritage.

Roman Gabriel had big size and a big arm when he was the No. 2 draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1962. Even while playing in an era of grinding it out on the ground, he still holds the Rams’ team record with 154 touchdown passes.

Gabriel, the first Filipino American quarterback in the NFL and the league MVP in 1969, died Saturday. He was 83.

His son, Roman Gabriel III, announced his father’s death on social media, saying he died peacefully at home of natural causes.

In 2021, the elder Gabriel told the Los Angeles Times, “I am retired with heart problems and arthritis but happy.” He said he split time between Wilmington, North Carolina, and Little River, South Carolina.

“We mourn the loss of Rams legend and football pioneer, Roman Gabriel,” the Rams said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Gabriel, who played at NC State and was a two-time player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

He was 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, big for a quarterback in that era. Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi once described him as “a big telephone pole,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

Gabriel played 11 years for the Rams and five years with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was traded after the Rams acquired John Hadl.

“Gabe was an amazing player and an even better mentor. Words can’t explain my thanks for what a great teammate he was,” retired quarterback Ron Jaworski, whom Gabriel backed up on the Eagles in his final season, posted on X. “A special player and a better man!”

Gabriel was such a hot prospect that the Rams made him the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, and the Oakland Raiders of the rival AFL selected him No. 1. Gabriel wound up signing with the Rams, though it took until George Allen was hired as coach in 1966 for Gabriel to start leaving a mark.

From 1967 to 1970, Gabriel led the Rams to a 41-14-4 record and two division titles, though never a playoff game. He was voted MVP in 1969 after throwing for 2,549 yards with 24 touchdown passes and five rushing scores.

Allen left for Washington after the 1970, and Gabriel was shipped to the Eagles in 1973. He was the NFL comeback player of the year, leading the league with 23 touchdown passes and 3,219 yards, as he tried to help revive the Eagles’ offense.

After retiring, Gabriel worked briefly for CBS, calling NFL games.

He went into coaching, with stints at Cal Poly Pomona, the Boston Breakers of the USFL and Raleigh-Durham in the World League of American Football.

Gabriel also dabbled in acting. His movie credits included “Skidoo” starring Jackie Gleason in 1968, and 1969’s “The Undefeated” starring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. He appeared in such TV shows as “Gilligan’s Island,” “Perry Mason,” “Ironside” and “Wonder Woman.” He also joined Bob Hope on a USO tour of Vietnam.

KIPER’S FAVORITES

A baker’s dozen of players that Mel Kiper, Jr. says he likes more than most:

Every April, as the NFL draft gets closer and I lock in my final Big Board rankings, I like to pick my favorite prospects at every position for the class. It has become a tradition, highlighting players I like more than the consensus, regardless of where they get drafted and where I have them ranked at their position.

What follows below is not a list of the best overall prospects in the 2024 class nor is it a list of the guys I consider the best at each position. I try not to take the obvious prospects; only one player is in my top 25 rankings. These are the prospects I’ve:

Quarterback

Michael Pratt, Tulane

Last year, I picked former Houston signal-caller Clayton Tune as my guy here. He went on to start a game for the Cardinals after being drafted in Round 5. Once again, I’m going to go with a quarterback likely to be picked on Day 3.

Pratt has flown under the radar in a deep class, but I love his game. He’s just solid in all areas. He started 45 games over four college seasons, improving every year. He completed 55.1% of his passes as a freshman in 2020 and went all the way up to 65.4% in 2023. He threw 49 touchdown passes and just 10 interceptions over his final two seasons while adding 15 more rushing scores. He went 22-3 as the starter over that time frame, elevating the Tulane program.

Is Pratt going to step in and be Brock Purdy for a team in 2024? No. But on Day 3, teams are looking for traits, and they’re looking for passers who won’t lose a game for the team. Pratt could be a longtime No. 2 QB at the next level.

Projection: The 6-foot-2 Pratt, my eighth-ranked quarterback in the class, should go off the board in Round 4 or 5.

Running back

Jaylen Wright, Tennessee

Wright made my list of risers after the combine, where he put up a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, an 11-foot-2 broad jump and a 38-inch vertical leap, all of which ranked close to the top at his position. He is a supreme athlete, and his tape matches that too. In 2023, he averaged 7.4 yards per carry, which ranked third in the FBS, and 4.1 yards after contact per carry, which ranked ninth. How did he have only four touchdowns?

Wright hits the hole decisively, but I also love that he is a stellar pass-blocker. He can handle blitzers and play on third downs in the NFL. He caught only 30 passes in three seasons for the Vols, but he has the tools to develop as a pass-catcher.

Projection: Wright is my second-ranked running back, but I projected only one back (Texas’ Jonathon Brooks) in the first two rounds of my latest mock draft, just based on the value of the position. I see Wright being picked early in Round 3 and making an impact as a rookie.

Wide receiver

Bub Means, Pitt

Means had an interesting college career, as he played cornerback at Tennessee then transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he averaged 19.5 yards on 22 catches in 2021. He finished his career at Pitt, catching 68 passes for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons.

At 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, Means has an intriguing blend of size, strength and speed. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the combine and had a 39.5-inch vertical leap. He put up solid numbers even with some rough quarterback play. And he has huge hands and long arms. There’s a lot to like here for wide receiver coaches.

Projection: Means is likely to be drafted in Round 3, though he might need a little bit of development time before he reaches his potential.

Tight end

Cade Stover, Ohio State

Stover is going under the radar a little bit, but he’s a heckuva player. He started his Buckeyes career on defense, and he made a couple of spot starts at linebacker at the end of the 2021 campaign. He has been a full-time tight end since 2022, though, and he had 77 catches for 982 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Stover understands how to get open against zone coverage, finding soft spots and showing his hands to his quarterback. He’s aggressive and tough. He is still inconsistent as a blocker, but he has the strength and movement skills to be really solid in the run game. He also didn’t drop any of his 52 targets last season.

Projection: The 6-foot-4, 247-pound Stover is my third-ranked tight end, and I see him going in Round 3 and making an impact as a rookie.

Offensive tackle

Roger Rosengarten, Washington

Rosengarten might have been a top-10 pick in next year’s draft if he had stayed in school for another season. That’s how highly I think of him. The 6-foot-5 308-pounder started at right tackle for the Huskies over the past two seasons, and he did not allow a single sack on 1,158 pass-blocking plays in that time frame. He locked down the blind side for left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Rosengarten was overshadowed at times because he played on the other side of Troy Fautanu, who might be a top-10 pick in this draft. But Rosengarten is a great player in his own right. He also impressed at the combine, where he ran a 4.92-second 40-yard dash, which was the fastest of any 300-pound player — on offense and defense — in attendance.

Projection: I’ve connected him with the 49ers at No. 31 overall in a couple of my recent mock drafts — as they need a right tackle — and I don’t think he’ll get out of the top 40 picks.

Guard

Troy Fautanu, Washington

I’m going back-to-back with Huskies because Fautanu has been one of my favorites for the past year. He simply dominated on the left side of the line. He played left tackle the past two seasons, but I envision his highest ceiling as a guard, where he started two games in college. I see an All-Pro guard when I watch him move, in the vein of Zack Martin, who played tackle at Notre Dame before moving to guard for the Cowboys.

In his career, Fautanu allowed two pressures on passes thrown in 2.5 seconds or less, according to ESPN Stats & Information tracking. Not sacks — pressures. He was extremely consistent on a snap-to-snap basis.

Projection: There are some NFL teams that believe the 6-foot-4 Fautanu will stick at tackle, which means we shouldn’t rule him out of going in the top 10. Right now, I have my top-ranked guard going off the board at No. 16 overall to Seahawks, who desperately need a day one starter at the position.

Center

Zach Frazier, West Virginia

Frazier is on this list because he broke his leg in late November and already has made his way back to be able to work out for NFL teams. He is one tough and fierce guy. A four-time heavyweight wrestling state champion in West Virginia, he played guard, tackle and center for the Mountaineers. He settled in at center over the past three seasons and developed into one of the best in the country.

Projection: Frazier is my second-ranked center, and I expect him to be picked in the top 50.

Defensive tackle

Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson

Orhorhoro went from not playing football until his junior year of high school to a three-year starter for the Tigers. That’s remarkable, and you can see on tape that he is still learning the nuances of the game. The 6-foot-4, 294-pound lineman has some upside as an interior penetrator; he had 11.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss since 2021.

Orhorhoro can play as a 5- or 3-technique, which ups his value at the next level. He is strong at the point of attack and can move guards and centers off the ball. He’s great against the run. I really like his upside.

Projection: Orhorhoro has had a great pre-draft process, rising all the way to being my No. 3 defensive tackle. I see a fit for him in Round 2.

Defensive end

Brennan Jackson, Washington State

Jackson is another player who made my list of post-combine risers. We know teams place a premium value on defenders who can get after quarterbacks, and in an edge rusher class in which there’s not much consensus, he’s an intriguing player. He had 19.5 sacks over the past three seasons, but what I love about his tape is that he never takes plays off. He flies around the field. He’s extremely quick off the ball. And his workout in Indianapolis was better than I expected.

Projection: I have a Round 3 grade on Jackson, my fourth-ranked defensive end, but he could slip into Round 4.

Outside linebacker

Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian

Die-hard draft fans should know this name by now because he has emerged as a potential Day 2 pick. Hunt has really impressive tape, and he has grown into his 6-foot-4, 252-pound frame. He began his college career at Cornell, where he played safety. He had 26 tackles in 2021. He transferred the following year and moved to outside linebacker, and he racked up 13.5 sacks and was credited with 133 tackles over the past two seasons.

Hunt is fast to the ball in pursuit, and he started to develop some pass-rush counters last season. He also tested well at the combine, running a 4.64-second 40-yard dash and putting up a 10-foot-8 broad jump, which are tremendous numbers for his size. He is an impressive talent.

Projection: Hunt is very raw, but we know NFL teams covet edge rushers, and he has intriguing traits. So, while I have a Round 3 grade on him, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go in Round 2.

Off-ball linebacker

Bookie Watson, Mississippi State

I could have gone with Edgerrin Cooper of Texas A&M here, but that’s too easy. Cooper is my top-ranked off-ball linebacker. Let’s instead look to Watson, a defender who stuffed the stat sheet in the SEC. Watson had 244 tackles, 24 total tackles for loss, 16 sacks and 3 forced fumbles over the past two seasons. He did all that while taking the majority of his snaps as a middle linebacker.

Watson isn’t the fastest player, but his long arms allow him to be a menace in passing lanes. He might not end up being a three-down player in the NFL, but he can be productive on run downs.

Projection: Watson, my No. 6 off-ball linebacker, likely will be a Round 4 or 5 pick.

Cornerback

T.J. Tampa, Iowa State

I really think Tampa is being underrated. I would take him in Round 1 if I were the general manager of a corner-needy team drafting in the late 20s. Tampa checks every single box for me: He is fast, physical and long, has great instincts and gets his hands on passes. I really like how he leveled up last season, playing 378 coverage snaps while allowing just one touchdown as the nearest defender. He got better every single game in his career.

Tampa had two interceptions last season and just three total in his career, but I like his ball skills. He’ll get up and knock receivers around in press coverage. He’ll also tackle in the run game.

Projection: If Tampa were a little bit faster — he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at his pro day — I think he’d be a no-brainer first-rounder. At this point, though, I see him as a top-50 pick who could sneak into the top 35. He is my sixth-ranked corner.

Safety

Javon Bullard, Georgia

As I wrote in my two-round mock draft, Bullard’s value comes in his versatility, as he played as a slot corner, center fielder and up near the line of scrimmage for the Bulldogs. He had four picks over the past two campaigns, and he was stellar in coverage last season. He allowed just 54 passing yards as the nearest defender in coverage in 2023, and that came on 20 attempts.

Bullard is a little undersized at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds, but I love his all-around game and instincts in coverage.

Projection: In a safety class with no consensus No. 1 guy, Bullard is at the top of my board. He should be drafted in Round 2.

Has there ever been an NFL player whose name was also on the front of his jersey?  If the Buccaneers drafted Tampa it would be pretty close.

He was born in Norristown, New Jersey, lived in Georgia and then ended up across the bay from Tampa for high school at Lakewood HS in St. Petersburg.

His name is Marques Tampa, Jr. with TJ standing for Tampa, Junior.  So his name is sort of Tampa Junior Tampa, Jr.

His father is from St. Pete, and moved back with TJ in his sophomore year in high school from Alpharetta, Georgia.  We would love to know the origin of the family name, but could not find a story that explored it.

2024 DRAFT

Chad Reuter of NFL.com offers us a seven-round draft here.  His first round, below, is full of trades after the first three QBs go off the board.  The biggest differential from most other Mocks is QB BO NIX going off the board at #11 to Minnesota, while MICHAEL PENIX, Jr. waits until later:

1  Chicago Bears (via CAR)

Caleb Williams                              USC · QB · Junior

This pick has seemed like a lock since the moment Williams was granted special eligibility for the 2024 NFL Draft. He has a rare ability to make plays from inside and outside the pocket, and as his game matures, I expect him to become one of the top five quarterbacks in the league — something this franchise hasn’t had since the AFL-NFL merger.

2  Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels                                LSU · QB · Senior

Daniels’ maturation as a quarterback this past year should land him in Washington. His performance with the Tigers in 2023 provided a tremendous boost to his draft stock, helping him to separate from the pack and project as a future starter. While his electric running style definitely turned heads last season, it was his improvement operating within the pocket — especially over the second half of the season — that really impressed. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will love working with Daniels.

3  New England Patriots

Drake Maye                                  North Carolina · QB · Sophomore (RS)

The Patriots have taken a back seat to Josh Allen and the Bills in the AFC East since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020. So you can’t blame New England if it might want a physical, strong-armed passer like Maye, who can emulate the game of Buffalo’s Pro Bowl passer. Like Allen coming out of Wyoming, one of the biggest knocks on Maye is his inconsistency. I think offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt would embrace an opportunity to help the young man maximize his talents.

4 New York Giants                      PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA CARDINALS

J.J. McCarthy                               Michigan · QB · Junior

The Daniel Jones Era could be coming to a close in New York. Remember, he wasn’t this administration’s pick, and the Giants signed Drew Lock in March to the sort of deal a team often gives a veteran before selecting a first-round quarterback. McCarthy wasn’t required to throw the ball 40 times per game at Michigan thanks to the team’s effective ground game, but he showed himself capable of threading passes into tight windows, moving effectively within the pocket and running for big gains when given the chance. The Giants trade a second-round pick this year and next (while possibly receiving a 2024 Day 3 selection in return) to jump up two slots, out-offering other potential suitors looking to leap into the Cardinals’ spot.

5  Los Angeles Chargers

Marvin Harrison Jr.                       Ohio State · WR · Junior

Harrison’s ability to stretch defenses vertically will make the Chargers’ run game (and the team’s other receivers) more effective. He’ll be a downfield factor who will thrive on play action, as well as a strong target in the middle of the field who can take the ball the distance.

6  Arizona Cardinals                       PROJECTED TRADE WITH NEW YORK GIANTS

Rome Odunze                                Washington · WR · Senior

The Cardinals would likely love to swing a trade like this because they would receive additional draft capital and only have to drop two spots, putting them in position to still land an elite receiver or edge rusher. Dallas Turner could be the pick here, but I’m running with Odunze, who will bulk up a severely lacking group of pass catchers. His game reminds me of Charger-turned-Jet Mike Williams’, but he has more strength and explosion after the catch. I expect him to be a dynamic playmaker for years to come.

7  Tennessee Titans

 Joe Alt                                            Notre Dame · OT · Junior

Tennessee tried filling Taylor Lewan’s left tackle spot with multiple players last season, but no one was able to lock down the starting job for 2024. Alt’s strength, size, technique and athleticism solidifies the position for at least the next five years (and hopefully more).

8  Atlanta Falcons

Quinyon Mitchell                             Toledo · CB · Senior

Atlanta could select an edge rusher like Dallas Turner or Jared Verse here, but look out for a surprise pick in Mitchell, whose athletic profile and production may entice the Falcons. New head coach Raheem Morris, a former safety at Hofstra with years of NFL experience coaching secondaries, knows defensive backs. It would be easy to see him taking a liking to the lockdown performer.

9  Indianapolis Colts                      PROJECTED TRADE WITH CHICAGO BEARS

Brock Bowers                                 Georgia · TE · Junior

Colts GM Chris Ballard and Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, who spent several years together in Indy, work together again on a deal that benefits both sides. Ballard gets one of the draft’s best offensive weapons (and a third-round pick) in exchange for No. 15 overall, as well as second- and fourth-round selections.

10  New York Jets

JC Latham                                     Alabama · OT · Junior

Yes, the Jets signed veteran left tackle Tyron Smith and traded for right tackle Morgan Moses this offseason. But both are 33 years old, coming off injuries and only under contract through next season. Latham’s ability to get movement in the run game, and widen his base against edge rushers in pass pro, could make him the top lineman from this class three years down the line.

11  Minnesota Vikings

Bo Nix                                           Oregon · QB · Senior

Nix’s ability to find targets at all three levels, move in and outside the pocket, and direct an offense are quite reminiscent of former Vikings starter Kirk Cousins.

12  Denver Broncos

Dallas Turner                                      Alabama · Edge · Junior

Instead of taking a QB here, such as Michael Penix Jr., Denver opts to lock up a top defender. Turner’s speed and length instantly upgrade a mediocre Broncos pass rush. I could see Denver using him as a designated pass rusher in Year 1, at least until he gets stronger and his body matures. But the sky’s the limit for the former Alabama star.

13  Las Vegas Raiders

Malik Nabers                                       LSU · WR · Junior

Nabers’ quickness in his routes, strong hands and speed make him a top-10 talent and he reminds me a lot of former LSU receiver Odell Beckham Jr. — who was selected 12th overall by the Giants 10 years ago. I have the Raiders trading up for Michael Penix Jr. in Round 2 to compete with Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew for the starting QB job, but Vegas could sneak into the back end of the first to snag a QB whose rookie contract would include the team-friendly fifth-year option.

14  New Orleans Saints

Taliese Fuaga                                        Oregon State · OT · Senior

Ryan Ramcyzk’s future is unclear given his serious knee issues, so bringing in Fuaga to handle bookend duties makes sense. If the veteran is able to go, Fuaga could move inside or get his shot at left tackle, like former Saints starter Andrus Peat.

15  Chicago Bears                         PROJECTED TRADE WITH INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Byron Murphy II                                    Texas · DT · Junior

GM Ryan Poles could’ve selected Murphy at No. 9 if the Bears had stayed put, but he still manages to land the defensive talent six spots later while replenishing the team’s draft assets (currently hold just four picks). The former Longhorn will be a welcome addition to the Bears’ front because of his strength holding the line and ability to work through interior linemen’s shoulders to create havoc in the backfield.

16  Philadelphia Eagles                     PROJECTED TRADE WITH SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Jared Verse                                           Florida State · Edge · Senior

One year after moving up a slot to draft Jalen Carter, the Eagles once again climb the board for a top defensive prospect. They swap one of their second-round picks (No. 50) for the first of Seattle’s two fourth-rounders (No. 102) to move up six spots for Verse, who has a bright future as a power rusher and stout run defender on the edge.

17  Jacksonville Jaguars

Terrion Arnold                                 Alabama · CB · Sophomore (RS)

Arnold’s a tough-minded corner who played multiple spots in the Alabama secondary. With Darious Williams no longer in Jacksonville, Arnold should win a job outside and move into the slot when matchups require.

18  Cincinnati Bengals

Brian Thomas Jr.                              LSU · WR · Junior

Tee Higgins recently told reporters that he expects to play in Cincinnati this season after all, seemingly squashing the trade request he issued in March shortly after receiving the franchise tag. If he and the Bengals are unable to work out a long-term deal before July’s deadline for tagged players, which could be tough to manage with Cincinnati also needing to pay Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins could be on a new team by this time next year. Adding yet another dynamic LSU playmaker to this offense could therefore pay dividends in the short- and long-term.

19  Kansas City Chiefs                          PROJECTED TRADE WITH LOS ANGELES RAMS

Xavier Worthy                                      Texas · WR · Junior

I won’t count out the Chiefs packaging multiple picks to move up even higher for Brock Bowers, but in this scenario, they send their second-round selection (No. 64) to the Rams to jump into the top 20 for Worthy, whose speed is made for the Chiefs’ offense.

20  Pittsburgh Steelers

Troy Fautanu                                         Washington · OT · Senior

Fautanu’s lateral quickness and bend should allow him to have success at left tackle, but he could also line up at left guard (where he played a few games for the Huskines) thanks to his strength and nasty attitude.

21  Miami Dolphins

Olumuyiwa Fashanu                                 Penn State · OT · Junior (RS)

If there’s a run on quarterbacks and receivers with the first 20 selections, one of the top offensive tackles could still be available for Miami at No. 21. Fashanu is similar to Christian Darrisaw (No. 23 overall in 2021) and Andre Dillard (No. 22 in 2019) when they were entering the league in that he’s a bit raw in his technique and did not dominate in his final collegiate season as expected. Fashanu has the upside, though, to become an excellent starter.

22  Seattle Seahawks                           PROJECTED TRADE WITH PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Graham Barton                                        Duke · C · Senior

Barton will likely start inside (starting at guard or center) for the Seahawks early in his career (like he did as a true freshman) before moving out to left tackle. He’ll be a decade-long starter in the league.

23  Minnesota Vikings     (via CLE through HOU)

Laiatu Latu                                            UCLA · Edge · Senior

Latu was an ultra-productive player for the Bruins the last two seasons and would add another piece to a revamped Vikings defensive front. His relentless nature and quickness in space make him an ideal NFL starter on the edge, but his injury history could keep him on the board until late in the first round.

24  Dallas Cowboys

Junior Colson                                     Michigan · LB · Junior

The Cowboys appreciate Colson’s toughness (played through much of Michigan’s season with a broken hand), physicality and three-down skill set. They make him the newest addition to their defense.

25  San Francisco 49ers                      PROJECTED TRADE WITH GREEN BAY PACKERS

Kool-Aid McKinstry                               Alabama · CB · Junior

Whether it’s for a cornerback like McKinstry, an offensive lineman or a receiver, the 49ers could very well give up a mid-round pick to acquire one of the few missing pieces on an otherwise potent roster.

26  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chop Robinson                                       Penn State · Edge · Junior

Robinson’s speed and bend off the edge will help fill the void created by Shaq Barrett’s departure. Although he recorded just 9.5 sacks over the past two seasons at Penn State, he has the skills to hit that total on an annual basis in the pros.

27  Arizona Cardinals  (via HOU)

Cooper DeJean                                        Iowa · DB · Junior

DeJean’s rock-solid workout earlier this month, where he displayed very good athleticism for a player five months removed from a fractured leg, likely cemented him as a first-rounder. DeJean can line up outside and at nickel, and could even play safety if needed.

28  Buffalo Bills

Marshawn Kneeland                                  Western Michigan · Edge · Senior

The two most recent times two MAC players were selected in the first round: Ben Roethlisberger and Jason Babin in 2004; Khalil Mack and Jimmie Ward in 2014. And now 2024, as Kneeland joins Quinyon Mitchell as a Day 1 pick. In Kneeland, Buffalo adds a productive, athletic edge defender to chase the top AFC quarterbacks.

29  Detroit Lions

Darius Robinson                                          Missouri · Edge · Senior

The long-time Lions fan joins his hometown team to give Aidan Hutchinson some help on the edge. Robinson lined up in multiple places during his career at Missouri, showcasing a versatility you can expect defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to utilize, as well.

30  Baltimore Ravens

Tyler Guyton                                              Oklahoma · OT · Junior (RS)

Baltimore traded starting right tackle Morgan Moses to the Jets in March, so bringing in Guyton to compete with Daniel Faalele makes a ton of sense. Guyton also played a bit of left tackle at Oklahoma, so he could back up 2025 free agent Ronnie Stanley if the veteran loses time to injury again.

31  Green Bay Packers                      PROJECTED TRADE WITH SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Roger Rosengarten                                      Washington · OT · Junior (RS)

The Packers gain a third-round pick from San Francisco in this deal and still add an important piece to the offensive line.

32 Los Angeles Rams                           PROJECTED TRADE WITH KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Nate Wiggins                                   Clemson · CB · Junior

Wiggins’ closing speed is rare, and despite his thin build, he is willing to fight for the ball through the catch. The Rams may not be able to ignore the corner’s value at the bottom of the first round, even after signing Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White, who’s coming off an Achilles injury. I wouldn’t be surprised if GM Les Snead were to trade back again, adding to the team’s seven-year streak without making a first-round pick.

– – –

Let us see what Jordan Reid of ESPN.com has going. He too has Bo Nix in the first (to DENVER after a drop down) and no Penix.  He also has a full seven rounds, all of which are here.

1. Chicago Bears (via CAR)

Caleb Williams, QB, USC

The presumed No. 1 pick, Williams would enter a favorable situation for a rookie QB. Chicago has a solid pass-catching trio in DJ Moore, Cole Kmet and Keenan Allen, and the offensive line has two reliable tackles in Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones. Williams displays all the traits you want in a franchise quarterback, and he truly excels outside of structure — he had a 31-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio outside the pocket over three years in college. Easy pick.

2. Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

This pick will likely come down to Daniels and UNC’s Drake Maye. But considering the Commanders’ veteran additions this offseason, they seem to believe they can win right now while still establishing a foundation for the future. Daniels is the guy who gives them the best chance for early success, showing excellent deep-ball passing and rushing ability. He averaged 11.7 yards per pass attempt last season and threw 40 TDs.

3. New England Patriots

Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

The Patriots are likely to receive calls from multiple QB-needy teams that are outside the top five, but they should stay put and pick their next franchise QB here. With Jacoby Brissett already on the roster, this would be an ideal landing spot for Maye. The Patriots could be patient and let him develop as they continue to build up the offense. Maye’s tools are intriguing, and he’s my QB2 in this class, but his footwork and decision-making will need to improve.

4. Arizona Cardinals

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Getting the best player in the draft with the No. 4 pick would be a win. Arizona will likely have options to move off this pick, and GM Monti Ossenfort loves to move around the board, but I don’t see the Cardinals passing on such an elite wideout. Consider that the Cardinals’ top receiver last season (Marquise Brown, now in Kansas City) had 574 receiving yards. There were 56 wideouts in the NFL who had more than that. Harrison, with his great body control and hands, could immediately become Kyler Murray’s No. 1 receiver.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

“The offensive line has always been the hub of the offense with [new coach Jim] Harbaugh,” said an AFC director of college scouting while discussing the Chargers a few weeks ago. “He didn’t even have that many highly recruited wideouts at Michigan, and now that thought process is supposed to change?” Wide receiver is a reasonable way to go here with both Washington’s Rome Odunze and LSU’s Malik Nabers on the board, but Harbaugh likes to build up the trenches, and he could pair Alt with Rashawn Slater to do just that. Alt is versatile as a blocker and really difficult to get around.

6. New York Giants

Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

QB is certainly a possibility here, but the Giants still lack a true No. 1 receiver. Would the quarterback they’d draft at this spot definitely be better than Daniel Jones? It’s a risky proposition, and I think the Giants will opt to build up the roster with the best player available. Nabers is an electrifying target who would immediately be the go-to target in New York. He finished last season with 1,569 yards and 14 scores, dominating with his route running.

7. Tennessee Titans

Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Offensive tackle has been a common projection at this spot, and it’s without question the weakest position on the Titans’ roster. But Alt is off the board, and taking the best player available instead of reaching for a need makes sense. Tennessee signed Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal, but DeAndre Hopkins is entering the final year of his contract. Odunze could make an immediate impact for QB Will Levis, making plays on vertical routes or over the middle.

Projected trade: Vikings move up for a QB

Vikings get: No. 8

Falcons get: Nos. 11, 108 and 129

Minnesota doesn’t have to move into the top five for a QB here, based on how the board is falling, but it might not want to risk waiting any longer. I’ve heard Atlanta is interested in moving back from No. 8, so this fits from both sides.

8. Minnesota Vikings (via mock trade with ATL)

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

McCarthy is a great fit with the Vikings considering his skill set — he’s accurate and mobile — and the infrastructure in place in Minnesota. The Vikings have Sam Darnold, so there’s no pressure to start a rookie QB in Week 1. McCarthy’s 88.2 QBR was third in the nation last season, and he has a ton of upside — he just might need some time to adjust to the pro game.

9. Chicago Bears

Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

Considering the Bears have four total picks, trading back for more draft capital is certainly a possibility. However, defensive end hasn’t really been addressed by GM Ryan Poles, outside of last season’s trade for Montez Sweat, and Chicago had 30 sacks in 2023, second fewest in the NFL. Turner is explosive in getting to the QB. After a 10-sack final season at Alabama, he’d join Sweat to form a really good edge rush.

10. New York Jets

Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

It’s a tough call between an offensive tackle and an offensive playmaker. New signee Tyron Smith has been injury prone over the past two seasons, leaving the door open to take an OT here. But the pressure to win next season is at an all-time high in New York, as Aaron Rodgers returns from an Achilles injury at age 40. Bowers would give him an immediate top-tier option in the passing game behind Garrett Wilson, and the Jets would love his after-the-catch ability.

11. Atlanta Falcons (via mock trade with MIN)

Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

A strong argument could be made that Latu is the best pure pass-rusher in the class. The Falcons haven’t had a defensive end reach double-digit sacks since Vic Beasley (15.5 in 2016), so they could certainly use someone with upside off the edge. Latu is a perfect fit in new defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake’s system; they were actually together at Washington for two years before Latu transferred to UCLA, where he posted 23.5 sacks over two seasons.

Projected trade: Eagles address their defense

Eagles get: No. 12

Broncos get: Nos. 22, 50 and 161

In conversations with sources, it sounds like the Eagles want to trade up in Round 1 or Round 2 to target either a cornerback or an offensive tackle. And Denver might decide it can move down, add more picks and still get a quarterback.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (via mock trade with DEN)

Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

The Eagles are good at forecasting future needs and getting ahead of them. They haven’t drafted a cornerback in the first round since 2002 (Lito Sheppard), but after a defensive collapse in the second half of last season, that might change. Darius Slay and James Bradberry are the projected starters, but they will be 33 and 31 years old at the start of next season, respectively. Arnold is an effortless mover with versatility and ball skills; he had five interceptions last season.

13. Las Vegas Raiders

Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Last season’s starter at right tackle — Jermaine Eluemunor — left in free agency, creating a void on the right side of the offensive line. But Fuaga would be a plug-and-play option opposite left tackle Kolton Miller. Fuaga’s strength and physical temperament would be an asset to the Raiders’ front, as he gave up only one sack over his last two college seasons.

14. New Orleans Saints

Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

New Orleans offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s status is unclear as he deals with a knee injury, and the development of Trevor Penning hasn’t gone to plan. So without an answer at left tackle, New Orleans taking advantage of a potentially historic class at the position makes sense. And an argument can be made that Fashanu is the most consistent pass-protector of this group, though his run-blocking must continue to get better. Protecting Derek Carr is essential, and Fashanu has the potential to be a long-term building block on the line — he allowed one sack over 21 career starts.

15. Indianapolis Colts

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Wide receiver or cornerback seem to be the two positions in consideration, and Thomas would bring a downfield dynamic that the offense has lacked. Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs were a solid 1-2 punch last season, but when you have Anthony Richardson’s huge arm under center, you need vertical threats. Alec Pierce has struggled, so I could see Indy looking to Thomas to create more explosive plays. Thomas led the FBS in touchdown receptions last season (17), and 10 of those came on vertical patterns.

Projected trade: Steelers get in on OT run

Steelers get: No. 16

Seahawks get: Nos. 20 and 84

Pittsburgh traded up three spots in the first round in 2023 to land offensive tackle Broderick Jones. Now I have it trading up four spots to get another one, focusing on building up that offensive line in front of the team’s two newly acquired quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (via mock trade with SEA)

JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Jones showed plenty of promise after taking over the starting right tackle role in Week 9, but his best projection might be on the left side. Upgrading from Dan Moore Jr., flipping Jones to LT and drafting Latham would give the Steelers two really good bookends on their offensive line. Latham fits the profile of the Pittsburgh offense, too; he’s a bruising and physical blocker who generates movement with ease at the point of attack.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars

Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

As the Jaguars transition to more man-to-man coverage under new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, they really need another top-tier cornerback to play opposite Tyson Campbell. Mitchell is an ideal fit. An explosive and ascending prospect, he can get his hands on the ball (15 pass breakups in 2023) and stick on receivers. Mitchell also has the versatility to move around the defense.

18. Cincinnati Bengals

Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

Losing DJ Reader hurts the middle of the Bengals’ defense, but Murphy is an explosive wrecking ball on the interior. He’s a stout and high-effort run defender, and he’s actually even more disruptive as a pass-rusher, where his sudden movements help him quickly beat blockers. Murphy is an easy selection at this spot after the Bengals allowed a league-high 6.0 yards per play last season.

19. Los Angeles Rams

Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

For the first time since 2016, the Rams have a first-round pick! Edge rusher is a major need, and Verse has a high floor and projects well to the L.A. defense. He has heavy hands and enough bend to turn the corner and get to the quarterback, and he is coming off back-to-back nine-sack seasons at FSU.

20. Seattle Seahawks (via mock trade with PIT)

Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

This is a great outcome for the Seahawks, who trade down four spots and still get one of their targets. Fautanu projects as a tackle, but he could also play guard — and that’s where Seattle needs help right now. He’d join Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas to form an exciting young nucleus up front. Coming from the nearby University of Washington, Fautanu is an agile and aggressive blocker. His awareness, physical hands and active feet help him stay in position.

21. Miami Dolphins

Amarius Mims, OT Georgia

Terron Armstead will return for the 2024 season, but Miami could start planning ahead at offensive tackle, especially because it lost key players off the O-line in free agency. Mims arguably has the most upside of any offensive tackle in this class. The problem is he has only eight starts to his name, so the sample is small. Even so, Mims’ movement skills, lower-body quickness and power are all off the charts. Ability isn’t the question; it’s durability. If Mims is able to stay healthy, he’s more than capable of playing on the left side in the NFL and giving the Dolphins a successor to Armstead.

22. Denver Broncos (via mock trade with PHI)

Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

The correlation between Nix’s skill set and that of QBs who have played under Denver coach Sean Payton is impossible to ignore. Nix is accurate, poised and decisive — all traits Payton covets. I would be shocked if Denver enters next season with just Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci at the position, and it’s clear neither is the long-term answer under center. After the trade back, this a more reasonable range for Nix, and it’s a big win for the Broncos. They can land a great scheme fit at QB and add a pick in Round 2, where they currently don’t have any selections.

Projected trade: Not the ARI-MIN move we’ve all been expecting …

Cardinals get: No. 23

Vikings get: Nos. 27 and 90

We’ve seen a lot of projections for the Vikings to use pick Nos. 11 and 23 to help move up to No. 4 for a QB. But in this mock draft, Minnesota instead got its passer at No. 8, meaning the Vikings have some options now with their second first-round selection. Arizona has 11 picks and a bunch of needs, so moving up to check one box makes sense.

23. Arizona Cardinals (via CLE/HOU and mock trade with MIN)

Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

After securing Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4, the Cardinals can get aggressive to address their cornerback situation. Wiggins’ technique and reactive quickness are among the best in this class, and with his unique speed and suddenness, he can turn and run with anyone. Some teams might be concerned with his 173-pound frame, but there is no denying Wiggins’ talent. The Cardinals can start him right away opposite Sean Murphy-Bunting. None of their cornerbacks had more than one interception in 2023, so this unit has to improve at the draft.

Projected trade: Chiefs skip the line for a WR

Chiefs get: No. 24

Cowboys get: Nos. 32, 95 and 159

Kansas City GM Brett Veach isn’t shy about moving up for prospects that he likes in Round 1. We’ve seen it in past years, with K.C. trading up for players such as Patrick Mahomes and Trent McDuffie. So why not do it again for a reliable pass-catcher? And Dallas would likely be game for this considering it has seven picks and could use the draft capital to tackle some needs.

24. Kansas City Chiefs (via mock trade with DAL)

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Mitchell is a perfect fit in the Chiefs’ scheme and can play inside or outside for them. He’s one of the most efficient receivers in this class, as 82% of his catches last season went for either a first down or a touchdown. I was impressed with his combine performance, too. He’d be a dynamic downfield option for Mahomes. Plus, after the Chiefs had 38 drops in 2023, Mitchell’s sure hands would be welcomed. He had just five drops over his 35-game college career.

25. Green Bay Packers

Graham Barton, C, Duke

One of the most impressive non-QB prospects that I saw out on the pro-day circuit was Barton. He’s an easy mover at 6-foot-5, 313 pounds. Barton spent last season at tackle, but he’s projected to move inside at the next level, and he’s my top-ranked center. Barton would be a gritty plug-and-play option for a Packers team that has had a lot of success drafting offensive linemen over the past decade.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

There’s a real chance that Robinson isn’t still on the board at No. 26, as scouts tell me he’s getting mid-Round 1 love. But he’s here in this scenario, and the Bucs have to replace Shaquil Barrett on the edge. Robinson is explosive with terrific first-step quickness. The overall production isn’t eye-popping (four sacks in 2023), but his 18% pressure rate would have been fourth best in the FBS had it qualified. Robinson is a pressure-over-sacks prospect right now and likely will need to be in a rotation for a bit as he develops, but he could make things tough on Tampa Bay’s opponents off the edge. The Bucs were 24th in pressure rate last season at 27.3%.

27. Minnesota Vikings (via HOU and mock trade with ARI)

Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Minnesota doesn’t have a true penetrator in the middle of its defense, but that’s exactly what Newton can be for this team. He was an unblockable force at Illinois, posting 7.5 sacks last season. Few defensive linemen in this class have his level of versatility, and his endurance is super impressive — his 715 snaps were seventh most among all FBS defensive linemen last season.

28. Buffalo Bills

Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Worthy is one of the most explosive receivers in this class, and you might have heard he ran a 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the combine (the best in our records since at least 2003). Even before they dealt Stefon Diggs to Houston, the Bills were connected to the young receiver talent in this draft. Now it’s critical they land someone who can make an impact. Worthy’s downfield ability pairs well with Josh Allen’s arm, and Worthy is also underrated after the catch; 579 of his 1,014 yards last season came once the ball was in his hands.

29. Detroit Lions

Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa

Physical, passionate and an all-around good football player. That sounds like a prospect GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell might like, right? Secondary is still a hole in Detroit, and DeJean checks all of the boxes. He can wear multiple hats for the defense — I project him at safety, but he can absolutely start at corner in the NFL — and even provides value as a return man on special teams. The Lions have focused on building up their secondary with Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Carlton Davis III and Amik Robertson, and DeJean would take it to another level. He had seven interceptions over the past two seasons.

Projected trade: Washington jumps back into Round 1

Commanders get: No. 30

Ravens get: Nos. 36 and 78

Keep an eye on Washington late on Thursday night. I’m hearing the Commanders might consider trading back into the first round for an offensive tackle. And because I have five off the board, this might be a good spot to jump on one of the final two OTs in my top 32 rankings. Baltimore, meanwhile, can slide back six spots and add a Day 2 selection for its troubles.

30. Washington Commanders (via mock trade with BAL)

Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

The Commanders have a hole at left tackle after releasing Charles Leno Jr., and new GM Adam Peters might not want to wait until Round 2 to fix it. That’s especially true after we had Washington take a new franchise QB (Jayden Daniels) at No. 2 overall — it has to protect him now. Remember, Washington allowed 65 sacks last season, tied for the second most. Yes, Guyton has played only right tackle during his career, but he has the movement skills and upside to transition to the other side. Guyton thrives in space with really good footwork and quickness.

31. San Francisco 49ers

Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Finding a right tackle is high on the 49ers’ to-do list, but the “best player available” approach fits here, too. Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir are both set to become free agents in 2025, so cornerback is a sneaky need in San Francisco. A severely underrated player throughout the pre-draft process, McKinstry has pro-ready technique. He allowed only nine receptions on throws into his coverage last season. McKinstry had surgery for a Jones fracture in his right foot this offseason, but he’s expected to be ready for training camp.

32. Dallas Cowboys (via mock trade with KC)

Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

Dallas needs multiple starters on both sides of the ball after a quiet free agency period, but the extra draft picks from our simulated trade would help. The Cowboys can start by getting Morgan, a dependable blocker who has the ability to play tackle or guard. That gives Dallas options with Tyler Smith, who can also play tackle or guard. Morgan has power to his game and can start from Day 1 in the NFL.