The NFL is in search of a new senior vice president of officiating.

Ben Austro of Football Zebras reports that Walt Anderson is stepping down from the job effective May 1. Anderson is expected to remain in the officiating department overseeing replay operations, though his new role is not finalized.

Anderson spent 24 seasons as an NFL official, including 17 as a referee, before moving upstairs at the end of the 2019 season. He was hired to be the league’s senior vice president of officiating development under Al Riveron and Perry Fewell.

Riveron retired after the 2020 season, while Fewell remains as the senior vice president of officiating administration.

Anderson, 71, was not expected to hold the job long term, but now the NFL will hire its sixth primary officiating head since 2010. Art McNally oversaw the officiating department from 1968-90 before Jerry Seeman held the job for 10 years and Mike Pereira for nine years.

No one has headed the officiating department for more than four years since.

Anderson’s departure clears the way for the NFL to hire his son, Big 12 referee Derek Anderson, as an on-field official, a move that Football Zebras reports was disallowed by the league’s human resources office last offseason.

– – –

Colorado coach Deion Sanders has a list of teams which he would let his two top players (one his son) play for.  It’s higher than six and less than 32.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.

Several weeks ago, Colorado coach Deion Sanders said he knows where he wants his son, Shedeur, and teammate Travis Hunter to play in the NFL. Deion also said there are specific places he doesn’t want them to go.

Today, Sanders was asked about it by Romi Bean of CBS Colorado.

The clip starts with Bean asking this question: “Everybody’s saying, right, you’re only letting Shedeur and Travis go to only six teams. Is this true? Can we get some insight?”

Responded Deion: “Who said that and did you see me say that? . . . The thing about a lie, a lie is so fast. It can outrun the truth any day. That’s a bold-faced lie. That’s a stupid lie. I have more than six owners that are friends. I have more than six G.M.’s that are friends. You gotta understand I played fourteen and I worked another seventeen I believe in the NFL, NFL Network and . . . CBS. I know a lot of people. Come on. So I would never do that. Before I would disclose — if I was that stupid, I wouldn’t disclose the teams I would want them to play for, I would disclose the several that I wouldn’t.”

Here’s the clip from last month.

“I know where I want them to go,” Deion said. “So, it’s certain cities that ain’t gonna happen. , , , It’s going to be an Eli.”

Before that, Deion said he doesn’t want Shedeur to play in a cold-weather city.

While the list might not be six, he said “I know where I want them to go.” He also said that in “certain cities” it “ain’t gonna happen.”

Whatever the number of places he’ll approve, the fact remains that he’s planning a power play, the likes of which we haven’t seen since Eli Manning in 2004 and, before that, John Elway in 1983.

And to that we say, “It’s about time someone else does it.”

DETROIT

A legal update on CB CAMERON SUTTON.

Former Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton has entered a pretrial diversion program to resolve his domestic violence case, according to court records.

Sutton entered the batterers’ intervention program April 8, according to the Hillsborough County (Florida) records, which show he isn’t allowed to have weapons or firearms and will have to undergo a mental health evaluation.

He also is subject to a probationary period and isn’t allowed contact with the victim, according to the records.

Sutton was charged with misdemeanor battery after he turned himself in to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on March 31 after being wanted for weeks by police.

Police had been unable to locate Sutton since March 7, when an arrest warrant was issued for him. They had responded to a call early that morning at a house in Lutz, Florida.

The Lions released Sutton on March 21, the day after the team found out about the warrant for his arrest.

MINNESOTA

The Vikings continue to sniff around QBs who will be long gone should they draft at their current first round spot (#11).  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Wednesday was the final day that NFL teams could host draft prospects for visits to their facilities, but meetings can still take place elsewhere and the Vikings will take advantage of that on Thursday.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels’ agent Ron Butler told Tom Pelissero of NFL Media that his client will be having dinner with members of the Vikings organization in Baton Rouge on Thursday night. Daniels spent Wednesday with the Commanders, who have the second overall pick next week.

Should the Commanders settle on Daniels, the Vikings won’t have more time with Daniels than Thursday’s dinner but another choice by Washington could put Daniels in play via a trade up by Minnesota. They own the 11th and 23rd picks in the first round and have long been seen as a candidate to move up in order to nab a quarterback.

Whether that happens or not is one of many storylines that will unfold between now and the end of the first round next Thursday night.

BALTIMORE

Las Vegas?  Denver?  Would the Ravens slide down to let a QB-needy team move up into the first round.  Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com:

Six years ago, the Baltimore Ravens pulled off one of the best moves of their draft history: The team made a draft-night trade with the Philadelphia Eagles and jumped up from the second round to take Lamar Jackson with the No. 32 pick.

Even though no team has traded up into the first round to take a quarterback since then, the Ravens could help another team make a Jackson-like draft move this year. With quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix likely available near the bottom of the first round, the Ravens could be in position to benefit from a team seeking a franchise quarterback like Baltimore did in 2018.

This has the potential to be a win-win scenario. Baltimore, which has the No. 30 overall pick, might be open to acquiring more picks because it needs to build through the draft after giving a big-money deal to Jackson. Then, there are the teams like the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 44 pick), New York Giants (No. 47) and Los Angeles Rams (No. 52), who could covet a young quarterback and might want to leap into the bottom of the first round to get their targeted passer.

The Ravens understand the incentive of getting a quarterback in the first round instead of the second is gaining that fifth-year option, which allows the team to have additional season of contractual control over the player.

“All things being equal, if you trade out of the first round, I think that you should get a premium if you’re going to do that to give up that additional year,” DeCosta said at the team’s pre-draft press conference.

The expectation is the top three quarterbacks in this year’s draft — USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye — will go in the first three picks. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, the consensus No. 4 quarterback prospect, could get selected in the top five.

There is a drop-off at the position after that, but there’s a chance that six quarterbacks get taken in the first round, tying the NFL record set back in 1983. Nix was selected as high as No. 12 in ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum’s mock draft, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said Penix is a “first-round caliber quarterback” if a team is comfortable with his past knee and shoulder injuries.

If Penix and Nix are available late in the first round, it doesn’t mean that a team will move up for them. Last year, quarterback Will Levis fell out of the first round and to the Tennessee Titans at the second pick of the second round. ESPN insider Field Yates and Kiper’s latest mock draft have both quarterbacks as early second-rounders.

But, if a team wants to trade up for Penix or Nix, it would likely cost an additional pick this year and another one in next year’s draft. When the Ravens moved up 20 spots to get Jackson in 2018, Baltimore sent three picks to the Eagles — a second-rounder (No. 52 overall) and fourth-rounder (No. 125) in 2018 and a 2019 second-round pick — in exchange for the Eagles’ first-round pick (No. 32) and fourth-rounder (No. 132) in 2018.

The Ravens have continually used the drafts as their primary source to improve their team, but there’s an increased emphasis since signing Jackson to a five-year, $260 million deal last year. DeCosta has pointed out how Baltimore will have limited salary cap space to spend in free agency.

After losing 15 players this offseason, Baltimore has work to do to fill out their 90-player roster. According to Spotrac, the Ravens have 59 players under contract, the second-fewest in the NFL.

The Ravens currently have nine picks in this year’s draft, including five in the first four rounds. But, as DeCosta mentioned, it’s more than accumulating selections.

“You could have 15 picks, and sometimes you’re there at the end of the draft, and you’re looking at the [draft] board, and you have no idea who you want to pick,” DeCosta said. “You just don’t see anybody that you really covet. I always think about it as, ‘What picks do you need to get the players that you want to take?’ You can have some great picks, but if the board doesn’t fall the right way, and you’re looking at a bunch of players that aren’t any better than the players you have on your roster, those picks don’t really help you very much.

“I like the idea of having more picks, but I want to have more picks in a specific range in the draft. If we can get that done, then I could see us being in a good position to really maximize our chances to find good players.”

DeCosta’s belief is, the more picks you have, the better chance you have on hitting on quality players. The Ravens’ 91 picks over the last 10 drafts are tied for the fourth-most in that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Baltimore has used that high number of selections to draft 14 Pro Bowl players since 2014, the third-most in the league. The Ravens trail the Detroit Lions (16) and Dallas Cowboys (15).

“We see this year’s draft and next year’s draft as real opportunities for us to begin build that depth up again,” DeCosta said.

THIS AND THAT

RANKING THE ROSTERS

Austin Mock of The Athletic assures us there is a scientific model that values each of the 1500+ players to rank each team’s roster.  Although it looks a lot like what someone might come up with just reading The Daily Briefing every day.

The NFL Draft is just one week away, which means teams are preparing to infuse their rosters with some young, exciting talent.

Some rosters (Washington, Carolina) desperately need such an infusion, while others (Kansas City, San Francisco) are seeking players who can help them return to the Super Bowl. But what about all of the teams in between?

I’ve used my NFL Projection Model to rank each roster ahead of next week’s draft. The model takes into account an array of metrics and tries to put a “value” on every player. This value is essentially how many points above average a player brings to his team in a typical NFL game. Positional value weighs heavily when calculating that total. So the best running back or linebacker in the league will not be worth as much as the best wide receiver or edge rusher. After summing up all the values, each team was ranked 1-32. Here’s how the rosters stack up entering the draft.

1. San Francisco 49ers

Last year’s Super Bowl runner-up sits atop the list due to having a good quarterback, incredible offensive skill talent — though it remains to be seen what happens with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk — and one of the most talented defenses in the NFL. If there is one blemish, it’s the interior on the offensive and defensive lines, but the 49ers are stacked everywhere else to make up for it. They remain the team to beat in the NFC.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

And now last year’s Super Bowl-winning team. The Chiefs have cemented themselves as a dynasty, and that starts with Patrick Mahomes. If you roster the best QB in the NFL, and one who seems to be on his way to becoming an all-time great, your roster will almost always be in good shape. But don’t sleep on this defense. Even after trading cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, my model ranks the Chiefs above average at every position group except for edge and safety.

3. Baltimore Ravens

Despite their lofty ranking, the Ravens have some holes on their roster, and you could argue they need to improve at three premier positions. The easy answer is receiver, but they’re not too deep at CB, either. A big concern of mine is OT. Ronnie Stanley is good, but he’s missed a lot of time over the last few years and is on the wrong side of 30. The Ravens are set up at just about every other position group, but if they want to take the next step, WR, CB and OT must be addressed.

4. Buffalo Bills

This one makes me a little uneasy, but like Mahomes and the Chiefs, an elite QB (Josh Allen) erases a lot of roster issues. The Bills have had to part with some quality players this offseason, but there are enough solid pieces still around to not panic. The Bills should be mimicking the Chiefs’ plan of the last few years while building around Mahomes and focusing on drafting the best available player at a premier position in the first round. They also have traded away their top wide receiver (Stefon Diggs), similar to what the Chiefs did a few years ago with Tyreek Hill.

5. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles lost center Jason Kelce and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox to retirement, but that doesn’t stop my model from rating them as a top-five roster. The Eagles are still stacked. They rank in the top six at QB, WR, TE, OT and interior DL. Oh, and their edges rank 11th. Their back seven is where I’d be looking to upgrade in the draft, but adding Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator should ease the burden a bit.

6. Detroit Lions

The Lions have risen to the top of the NFL by solidifying their offensive and defensive lines. All four groups in the trenches rank seventh or better in the league. They’re thin in the back seven on defense, however, and I expect that to be an area they focus on in the draft. However, the question is whether it will be an early-round focus because as last year showed us, the Lions will draft players in the first round at the top of their board regardless of positional value.

7. Dallas Cowboys

I have a hard time agreeing with this one, but I understand why the model ranks the Cowboys here. They have a good QB in Dak Prescott, an elite WR in CeeDee Lamb, an elite edge rusher in Micah Parsons and quality safety play. The rest of the positions leave a lot to be desired, however. It’s just a bunch of position groups that don’t move the needle much. If I’m the Cowboys, I’m bolstering the offensive line early in the draft.

8. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins might have the most boom-or-bust roster in the NFL. They rank second at RB and CB, first at WR, and fifth at safety. Their QBs graded out at 13th, so even that’s not too bad. The problem, however, is they fail to rank above average at any other position group outside of edge rusher (10th), and there are significant health concerns there. Offensive line will be an area targeted in the draft, but they could use upgrades and depth just about everywhere.

9. New York Jets

Admittedly, I had a hard time with the Jets’ projection as LT Tyron Smith will be a huge “if” player for them this year. If you get a healthy Smith, this could be a solid offensive line. If not, things go south quickly, and I’m not sure I like the idea of a porous offensive line with QB Aaron Rodgers coming off an Achilles injury. Betting on a healthy Smith probably allows them to go elsewhere at No. 10 in the draft, which might mean adding tight end Brock Bowers as another weapon for Rodgers.

10. Cincinnati Bengals

This ranking includes Tee Higgins, but I don’t have a crystal ball to know if he’s still with the team in 2024. Regardless of what comes of the Higgins situation, the Bengals have a top-10 QB and an overall solid roster. They don’t rank inside the top 10 at any position group, other than WR, but they manage to rank 18th or better at every other spot, save for RB and TE. QB Joe Burrow can erase many issues when he’s on the field, and the Bengals continue to build a sound roster around him.

11. Houston Texans

QB C.J. Stroud looks like a bona fide star, and the Texans have compiled a bunch of playmakers around him on his rookie contract. They have some issues on defense, as no position other than edge ranks better than 14th, while three of those groups rank 24th or worse. I’d be shocked if they don’t focus on defense early in the draft.

12. Atlanta Falcons

What a difference a QB can make. Signing Kirk Cousins in the offseason has catapulted the Falcons into an NFC playoff contender and depending on how things break with new head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, the Falcons could be one of the most fun teams to watch in 2024. They’ll need an edge rusher early in the draft but outside of that, they won’t be tied to any position when selecting four times inside the top 100.

13. Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford is still here, so you’re going to get a boost from top-10 QB play, but the Rams are looking decent at most positions right now. Sure, losing a future hall of famer in Aaron Donald to retirement will sting, but I still have the interior defensive line grading out around average. Defense is the need as no offensive position group outside of TE ranks worse than 11th.

14. Cleveland Browns

The Browns would be Super Bowl contenders if they had a reliable quarterback. Honestly, if they had even average QB play, I think they’d have a top-10 roster. Unfortunately, Deshaun Watson has not been good in Cleveland, nor has he been healthy. Outside of that, the Browns could probably use another wide receiver and maybe some offensive line depth, but they’re solid or better across the board. The Browns only have two picks inside the top 150, though.

15. Green Bay Packers

This seems a bit low at first glance, but after some digging, I think I’m OK with it. Both OT and the interior O-line grade out below average. Everywhere else grades out around average, and I think I’m fine with that with how young this roster is.

16. Los Angeles Chargers

QB Justin Herbert is doing A LOT of work here. The Chargers rank bottom-10 in the league at RB, WR, TE, interior DL and CB. That’s a lot of bad position groups. Trading down from No. 5 in the draft almost seems like a necessity for new coach Jim Harbaugh.

17. Seattle Seahawks

Despite having killer offensive skill position players, the Seahawks rank in the middle of the pack because they’re 21st or lower on the offensive line and at edge rusher. They look great everywhere else (outside of safety), but you can’t be that weak in the trenches and rank in the top half of the league.

18. Jacksonville Jaguars

I don’t know what to make of this team. I think QB Trevor Lawrence is better than he’s shown, but things just haven’t gone right for him so far. Maybe it’s because the OL is bottom-10 in the league? I’m not sure. Outside of Lawrence’s high ceiling, the rest of the roster needs a lot of work, as they don’t have a single position group that ranks inside the top 10.

19. Las Vegas Raiders

WR Davante Adams, OT Kolton Miller, and DE Maxx Crosby are carrying a lot of the load here. They’re some of the top players at their positions, and they’ll raise the potential of any roster. But neither Aidan O’Connell nor Gardner Minshew is the answer at QB, so that’s the first question that needs to be answered (maybe in the draft?). On defense, every position group outside of edge is ranked 22nd or worse.

20. New England Patriots

I should preface this by saying I’m a Jacoby Brissett stan and so is my model. He’s not going to win you a Super Bowl, but he’s a better QB than what a lot of teams were trotting out last season (hello, Jets). The offense needs a huge injection of talent, but the defense is in decent shape. I would target the defensive line at some point, but the back seven should be good this season.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs are in a weird spot. Baker Mayfield was solid last year, but is he really the answer at QB? He doesn’t grade particularly well, per my model, so maybe they should be a little higher. Still, they’re going to be weak in the trenches. The interior OL isn’t great, and I’m not excited about much on the DL, either. The secondary should be awesome, though.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers

Offense, offense, offense. The Steelers currently rank 31st and 32nd at offensive tackle and wide receiver, respectively, per my model. You won’t score many points in the NFL with that level of production at those spots. Neither QB (Russell Wilson or Justin Fields) will succeed with the current talent around them. Even prime Ben Roethlisberger would struggle with this group.

23. Minnesota Vikings

We all know the Vikings are looking to upgrade at QB after losing Cousins to Atlanta, but the rest of the offense is in great shape. The defense needs some work, especially on the interior DL and CB. DC Brian Flores is a great defensive-mind but the Vikings can make his job easier by acquiring more talent on defense.

24. New Orleans Saints

The Saints need a lot of help. They find themselves with good LB and safety groups, but outside of that, things are bleak. Every other position group ranks outside the top third in the NFL. The main focus should be obtaining draft capital, drafting talented players and getting out of cap hell because this roster isn’t winning anything.

25. Chicago Bears

I think this is a tad low and the future looks bright in Chicago. The offensive skill positions are good, and the offensive line has potential despite not ranking too high in my model. The defense turned things around in the second half of last year, and if they can upgrade the edge rushers and interior DL, their linebackers and safeties are strong enough to make this a very good defense.

26. Indianapolis Colts

QB Anthony Richardson showed promise, but the sample was too small for me to lean one way or the other at this point. The rest of the roster is split: The trenches are great on both sides of the ball, but the skill positions and back seven on defense are not.

27. Tennessee Titans

We are firmly into the teams that just need to draft good football players. The Titans will have a good CB group after acquiring Chidobe Awuzie and Sneed this offseason. Outside of that, most of the premier positions are not talented. OT seems like the no-brainer choice in the first round but adding quality players on the defensive line also is a must.

28. Denver Broncos

The OL and CB groups should be average or slightly above, but everything else is in rough shape. They’re similar to the Titans, but there is one difference: The Titans already have a young, highly drafted QB, and the Broncos, at No. 12, would need to mortgage their future to get one of the top QB prospects.

29. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals need a ton of defensive talent. I’m not sure what they’ll do at No. 4, but it seems like their second first-rounder (No. 27) should be spent on defense. The Cardinals were a frisky team last year under first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon, and with seven picks in the first 104, the Cardinals will have a chance to upgrade their roster quickly.

30. New York Giants

Two teams rank worse for 2024, but I think the Giants might be in the worst shape for the future. The Giants have paid a QB, who isn’t the answer, a ton of money, and they don’t have a pick to draft one of the top prospects in this year’s draft. They could move up to get one, but if they don’t, I suppose wide receiver makes the most sense.

31. Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young had a poor rookie season, but neither the roster nor the coaching staff provided much help. The Panthers beefed up their offensive line this offseason and while they still need skill position players, Young should have a much easier time this year. They’re without a first-round pick this season after moving up to draft Young last year, but they should continue to try and build around him with the picks they do have.

32. Washington Commanders

There isn’t much to say about the worst roster in the NFL. The Commanders will very likely be drafting their QB of the future, and with the rest of their picks, they’ll simply be looking to acquire talent. A couple of bright spots: My model is a big Frankie Luvu fan, so I think the linebackers should be solid and so, too, should the interior OL.

2024 DRAFT

Danny Kelly of The Ringer has never seen anyone like QB CALEB WILLIAMS:

SCOUTING REPORT BY DANNY KELLY

You ever had one of those moments when you see someone do something new and weird and even though you’re not sure what exactly it is you’re watching, you know it’s awesome? That you might be witnessing a savant at work? That’s how I felt the first time I stumbled upon this video of Alexander Hrustevich playing Vivaldi’s “Winter” on the bayan accordion. That’s also how I felt the first time I watched Caleb Williams play quarterback.

Williams is one of the most exciting quarterback prospects in recent memory. It’s not just because of his high-end physical traits or his top-shelf production over the past three seasons or because of his list of awards and accolades. He’s exciting because of the unorthodox style in which he plays: an off-beat, dazzling riff on quarterbacking that’s defined by out-of-structure brilliance and impossible-arm-angle throws that make you sit up in your chair. It’s a style that can make him very difficult to defend and one that could make him the next NFL superstar. But it’s also a style that comes with plenty of big question marks.

Williams has below-average height but a thick, muscular build and a rocket launcher for an arm. His arm talent is one of his defining features: He can throw frozen ropes to all three levels of the field; he flashes touch on deep shots; and he can get the ball where he wants it to go from pretty much any platform—whether he’s off-balance, falling away, getting tackled, or even jumping up in the air, he’s able to whip the ball downfield with velocity. Williams’s other defining feature is his sandlot improvisational skills when pressure arrives or when the play breaks down. He’s drawn comparisons to Patrick Mahomes for his ability to keep plays alive, buy himself an extra beat, then make ludicrously difficult throws into impossibly small windows. Those plays also highlight Williams’s rare field vision and his talent at throwing on the move; the former Heisman winner brings extraordinary upper-body torque to make throws while running outside the pocket. Williams seems to be most comfortable when structure breaks down—and while he’s always first looking to throw downfield, he’s also a twitchy scrambler with very good balance and body control to make defenders miss in the open field. He turns what look to be sure sacks into positive gains. The style in which he plays—and the way he can turn nothing into something, evading a gaggle of oncoming pass rushers to find a man downfield—reminds me a lot of Kyler Murray.

It’s not that Williams can’t or won’t play in structure (and on straight dropback throws of less than 2.5 seconds, he notched a PFF passing grade of 89.7 over the past two seasons, fourth best in the Power Five). He shows good accuracy and anticipation as a thrower when he hits his back foot and gets the ball out. And he flashes the ability to navigate the pocket to avoid pressure to keep designed plays alive. But his penchant—and maybe even preference—for holding onto the ball and trying to make out-of-structure miracles happen will be a huge double-edged sword that could get him into trouble in the NFL. Those plays are fun to watch, but there were times when I found myself getting frustrated that he wasn’t getting the ball to open receivers. He plays with very little semblance of rhythm. He holds the ball for far, far too long (his average time to throw was 3.16 seconds, sixth-longest among quarterbacks with 200 pass attempts in 2023, according to PFF), and the biggest challenge he’ll face in the pros will undoubtedly be balancing that out-of-structure talent with a bigger focus on playing on time and avoiding sacks (he took 35 of those in 2023, 11th most in the FBS). Williams is almost surely going to have to speed up his process—his 21.9 percent pressure to sack rate (per PFF) is concerning, and points to the fact that he often tries Houdini escapes to try to make something out of nothing.

Williams showed some erratic accuracy on deep shots this year and seemed to press at times and to try to do it all himself, which led to bad decisions and bad throws (particularly in USC’s loss to Notre Dame). He’ll need to improve his discipline in taking what the defense gives him, checking down and living to see another play.

– – –

Dean Brugler of The Athletic has published a seven-round Mock Draft.  His first round is below:

(Note: An asterisk indicates a trade for the purposes of this mock.)

1. Chicago Bears (from CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Nothing is official until commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the podium in Detroit and announces the selection, but Williams will be a Bear in a little more than a week.

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

The draft winds will continue to swirl in unpredictable directions up until draft night. Right now, though, the buzz is pointing towards Daniels being the pick at No. 2. Truth is, new Washington general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn aren’t tipping their hands, so everyone is still guessing at this point.

3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Listening to trade offers is the responsible move for de facto general manager Eliot Wolf. But it is tough to imagine the Patriots passing on a quarterback here, especially if Maye makes it to No. 3. Owner Robert Kraft is not interested in another offensive season like last year in New England.

4. Minnesota Vikings (from ARI)*: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

(Projected trade: Vikings trade picks Nos. 11 and 23 and a 2025 third-round pick to the Cardinals for No. 4.)

It is no secret that the Vikings are quarterback shopping in the NFL Draft, but how high can they trade up to secure their guy? In this scenario, Minnesota jumps to No. 4 for McCarthy, which would mark the first time in NFL Draft history we see quarterbacks drafted 1-2-3-4 overall.

5. Arizona Cardinals (from LAC)*: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

(Projected trade: Cardinals trade picks Nos. 11 and 35 to the Chargers for No. 5.)

Just like last year, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort works the phones to trade out of the top five … but then jumps right back up to grab an Ohio State stud. In 2023, it was Paris Johnson Jr.; this year it’s Harrison. The smooth maneuvering costs Arizona the No. 35 pick here, but it adds No. 23 and a 2025 third-rounder for essentially moving back one spot.

6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

I think the Giants will examine their trade-up options for a quarterback, but in this scenario, they stay put and add the true premier weapon they have been missing. Nabers would have been my No. 1 overall prospect in each of the last two draft classes.

7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

For the sake of being different, I could throw another name in here — but why go away from what makes sense? Alt fills a clear hole and (along with 2023 first-round left guard Peter Skoronski) would give the Titans one of the more promising left sides of an offensive line in the league.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

There is a good chance we see something this year that has happened just once (2021) in the Super Bowl era: no defensive players selected in the first seven picks of the draft. If that comes to fruition, the Falcons will have their choice of the top defensive player on their board at No. 8 — and I don’t think many people will be surprised if that is Turner.

9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

With only four draft picks this year, general manager Ryan Poles will be enticed by trade-back opportunities here to recoup draft capital. But when the Bears are feeling left out in the second round, they can throw on Odunze highlights and feel just fine about this decision. Adding Keenan Allen was a no-brainer, but he might only be a one-year rental.

10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

If you focus only on the “TE” positional designation here, you might not love this pick. But if you pay attention to the dynamic impact Bowers can bring to an offense, this isn’t a hard sell. The Napa, Calif., native is as much a tight end as he is a slot receiver who can also block inline or line up outside. The Jets are in a win-now mindset, and Bowers makes the offense better from day one.

11. Los Angeles Chargers (from MIN)*: JC Latham, G/T, Alabama

Trading back for an offensive lineman would be an unsurprising move for the Chargers. The bigger mystery might be which offensive lineman they prefer. Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga is a devastating run blocker and Washington’s Troy Fautanu has legitimate position versatility, but I’ll go with Latham, who is arguably the strongest player in the draft and was recruited out of high school not too long ago by Jim Harbaugh.

12. Denver Broncos: Taliese Fuaga, G/T, Oregon State

With Garett Bolles entering the final year of his deal, the Broncos have done plenty of homework on the tackles in this draft class. Fuaga can compete for a spot at guard as a rookie while being the long-term plan at tackle.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

The Raiders will certainly consider several offensive and defensive linemen at this spot. With two worthy cornerback prospects on the board, though, both Arnold and Quinyon Mitchell will be part of the conversation. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either corner here, but Arnold has the dog mentality that speaks directly to Antonio Pierce.

14. New Orleans Saints: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Considering the Saints’ depth chart and the players expected to be drafted in this range, offensive tackle makes too much sense. And Fashanu might be the best-case scenario for New Orleans.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Colts go with a dynamic pass catcher at 15, especially if Bowers is still available. But Mitchell is an ideal fit, too, considering his tape, on-ball production and traits.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, G/T, Washington

The safe bet might be a trade down by the Seahawks, but it would be tough to move away from Fautanu if he falls here. Though the Huskies’ left tackle can stay on the outside if needed, his skill set could be maximized inside and would give the Seahawks appealing versatility across the offensive line.

17. Buffalo Bills (from JAX)*: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

(Projected trade: Bills trade picks Nos. 28, 133, 144 and a 2025 second-rounder to the Jaguars for No. 17.)

The Bills need their draft picks to remodel the roster with young, low-priced depth, but general manager Brandon Beane is an aggressive drafter and has never shied away from moving up in the first round to get his guy. Thomas is an outstanding size/speed athlete with better route-running skill than given he’s credit for, and he’d give Josh Allen a new WR1 on offense.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

With his explosive twitch and natural leverage, Murphy moves differently than any other defensive tackle in this draft class. He is equally disruptive versus the run and when rushing the passer — something the Bengals are looking to add to the roster.

19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

Since Sean McVay became head coach, the Rams have picked in the top 60 six times — all six have been offensive players. But it feels like that will change this year with the Rams back in the first round and needing so many upgrades on defense, including at edge rusher. Verse brings all-day power and disruption with a motor that doesn’t quit.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton, C, Duke

The Steelers have multiple needs on the offensive line, and Barton offers the five-position versatility that would allow Pittsburgh to get its best five on the field. In the long term, he’ll lock down the center position for the Steelers’ offense.

21. Miami Dolphins: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

The Dolphins weren’t scared off by Jaelan Phillips’ injury past, and I don’t think they will shy away from Latu’s either. With Bradley Chubb and Phillips working their way back from injury, Latu and his savvy pass-rush skills can contribute immediately in Miami.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

This would be an ideal landing spot for the inexperienced Mims. After making just eight starts at Georgia, he can earn his graduate degree from “Stoutland University” (under the watchful eye of Eagles O-line coach Jeff Stoutland) before taking over for Lane Johnson as the right tackle of the future. The Athens-to-Philadelphia pipeline remains fruitful.

23. Arizona Cardinals (from MIN)*: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Head coach Jonathan Gannon will be targeting savvy, high-character players in the draft. DeJean — and his versatility in the secondary — fits the bill.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

Ideally, the Cowboys would love to keep Tyler Smith at left guard, but it might depend on how this draft plays out. In this scenario, they add the raw but toolsy tackle, who they hope will be the next Tyron Smith.

25. Green Bay Packers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, G/C, Oregon

There are several ways the Packers can attack the offensive line in the draft. One of those is to select Powers-Johnson, who can provide an upgrade at center and allow Green Bay to keep Zach Tom at tackle while moving Josh Myers to guard.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

The Buccaneers have more questions than established answers on their cornerback depth chart, especially after the Carlton Davis trade. Although his marginal play strength is a red flag, Wiggins is a high-level athlete with cover awareness that will appeal to coach Todd Bowles.

27. Arizona Cardinals (from HOU): Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

With Harrison, DeJean and Robinson, this is an All-Big Ten first round for Arizona. Robinson doesn’t have the body of work (15 tackles, four sacks over 10 games in 2023) that teams ideally target this early, but his first-step explosion is different than any other pass rusher in this class.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (from BUF)*: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

In this scenario, the Jaguars are able to move down in the first round and still address the cornerback position with a strong option. McKinstry might not have elite speed, but he’s confident, controlled and smart, which will get him on the field as a rookie.

29. Las Vegas Raiders (from DET)*: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

(Projected trade: Raiders trade picks Nos. 44 and 77 to the Lions for No. 29.)

According to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, “the whispers are getting louder” that the Raiders might draft Penix at No. 13. But this scenario feels like the better option, even if it means parting with a pair of Day 2 draft picks. A polarizing player among NFL front offices, Penix is an aggressive downfield passer with the mental toughness that will certainly stand out for Pierce and his staff.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

Considered a tackle by some teams and a guard by others, Morgan would provide immediate depth at both spots for the Ravens. He is well schooled as both a run blocker and pass protector and has the athletic balance to match up well against NFL defensive linemen.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Regardless of their perceived top needs, the 49ers are always looking for upgrades on the defensive line. Newton doesn’t have ideal size for what San Francisco wants (similar to how he fits in most schemes), but his disruptive nature and relentless play personality are qualities that help him overcome average measurements.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

This is a fun pairing of player and team. Mitchell is a loose, limber pass catcher and has the ingredients to be the top weapon for an NFL offense.