For this mock draft, I used the PFN Mock Draft Simulator. I did incorporate trades in the draft, but I only accepted trades, and never offered any. So the team had to offer me a trade package in order for me to accept. Also, even though I am a Dolphins fan, I tried to be as unbiased as possible and drafted with a mix of who I think the team should take, and what the team's front office was likely to do. With all that said, let's jump into this.
Round 1 - Patriots trade back, select Quinyon Mitchell and Laiatu Latu
The Patriots traded the 3rd pick in the draft for number 11, 23, and future picks from the Vikings. This seems to be a realistic outcome. New England has holes all over the team, and in a deep QB class, it makes sense to trade down and get more picks to help out.
I know what Pats fans might say, this is too defense heavy when our offense stinks. I get that, we'll get to it. The truth is, offense is deeper in this class than defense. So I took the best CB fit in Quinyon Mitchell with 11. He is really smart and experienced, something new HC Jerod Mayo will covet. He also is ultra athletic with great collegiate production. He will be a great addition beside Christian Gonzalez.
At 23 I selected Laiatu Latu because he was the best player on the board. I wagered that I could get my QB later, so took a disruptive edge rusher who is very technically sound. He has great hands and intelligence. He also is versatile with his coverage ability. Two great day 1 starters for New England.
Next: Round 1 Jets, Dolphins, Bills:
Round 1 - Jets select Jared Verse
Angry Jets fans aside, Robert Saleh wants a defender here. Whether or not the Jets front office allows it, is another story. I think they cave and let him select Jared Verse if he is still around at 10. The offensive line has been upgraded, and with Bryce Huff leaving, they need someone to pick up where he left off. Verse has great quickness of the ball and a great tool set to get to the QB. He is not as good against the run, but he is a great prospect to rush the passer, and the Jets could use his production.
Round 1 - Bills stick at 28, select Keon Coleman
This may be the first pick an opposing fan base would be happy with. Coleman is a physical freak, and someone I think the Bills will target to replace Gabe Davis if they go WR in the first round. At this point, it could be best WR available, and Brian Thomas Jr. had been selected. Coleman, however, is no consolation prize. He is elite at plucking down high point balls and hauling in contested catches. Joe Brady and Josh Allen will appreciate having a guy who can fight through coverage to go get the football.
Round 1 - Miami trades back to 29, selects Graham Barton
Barton has quickly become one of my draft favorites this offseason, and Miami was able to trade back and select him. The Dolphins traded 21 and a 7th-rounder for 29 and 61. Miami trading back is a possibility, and I would be thrilled with this result. If Barton was gone, I like Jordan Morgan from Arizona or Kingsley Suamataia from BYU in the late first. Barton played at an All-American level for Duke at LT, but projects as a G/C due to having shorter arms. He is a guy who can start right away at LG or RG, and fill in for Armstead if he misses more time. Barton is intelligent, has good footwork, and has great hand placement. He is able to get to the second level and offers much of what Miami looks for in an offensive lineman. Grier should sprint to the podium if we can trade back to get him. Expect a full scouting report on Barton soon.
Next: Round 2
Round 2 - Patriots select Michael Penix Jr.
If New England were smart, they would try to trade for 32 to get the 5th-year option on a new QB, but I wasn't trading up in this mock, so they stick and pick their QB of the future. Penix has all of the talent in the world. He also has all of the injury concerns in the world. He consistently fell to season-ending injuries in college until last season when he pulled it all together and led his team to the National Championship game against Michigan. He has an electric arm and good mobility inside the pocket. Questions about his injury history will continue, but I like Penix as a fit for the Pats. He's an older rookie at 24, but at QB that doesn't bother me much. This could be Bo Nix here, depending on personal preference.
Round 2 - Miami selects Ja'Tavion Sanders and Ruke Orhorhoro
With the ammo from trading back, Miami hits two positions of need in round 2. Ja'Tavion Sanders is a smooth, large, in-line TE with great hands. He had zero drops in 2023 on nearly 70 targets and produced well with nearly 700 yards. He is great after the catch and is adept at finding the soft spot in zone coverages, similar to Travis Kelce in that regard. He had a disappointing combine, but while I was scouting Xavier Worthy, this is the guy that caught my eye for Miami. He will be a top 10 TE in this league.
With the pick the Dolphins acquired from trading back, they selected Ruke Orhorhoro. Now I'll be honest, the games I've watched of his, and I'm still working through his film, I was not super impressed. He is explosive but lacks any type of finesse in his game. He plays with speed and power, and that is about it. However, he has only been playing football since his Jr. year of high school. Now I'm intrigued. He has positional versatility and athleticism to play in a 3 tech or a big end. He needs some work and needs to develop, but the Dolphins have a hole at DT, and Orhorhoro is great against the run with a potential pass-rush upside. In round 2, if the Dolphins were able to acquire another pick, I'd be happy with him.
Round 2 - Bills select Braden Fiske
Fiske is a strange prospect. He is tall, but not very long. He is explosive, but that's because he lacks mass. He plays a 3 tech but is probably better suited for outside work. The issue is that he is not quick enough to be a true edge. Fiske is a lot like a taller version of Ed Oliver, so pairing the two together may not work, but he is the best player available across the defensive front. He is quick and fast, making him a handful for offensive linemen. However, his shorter arms hinder his ability when engaged with a blocker. I think he would excel in Buffalo learning from Ed Oliver.
Next: Round 3
Round 3 - Patriots select Jalen McMillan
If you're reading this, your love for football knows no bounds. If you care about a rival's or your own 3rd round pick as much as I do, you are in a hallowed hall. Anyway, I told you I would get some offense, and I did. Jalen McMillan is a horribly underrated prospect who seems to be flying under everyone's radar. He is a jack-of-all-trades type of receiver. He is good in contested catch situations, he ran a 4.47 which is not blazing fast, but not slow, and he is good with the ball in his hands, but not electric. He is prime WR2 territory in the NFL when the Pats need a WR1, but his familiarity with Penix, his impressive route tree, and his consistency make him a great pickup for the Pats offense.
Round 3: Jets select Johnny Wilson - WR Florida State
So the Jets added Mike Williams to their WR room this offseason, but I think grabbing Johnny Wilson in round 3 is good value. He is freakishly tall with a crazy wingspan for a receiver, and on top of that, he ran a 4.52 at the combine, which is absolutely not slow. for reference, Javon Baker, who is another good 3rd round prospect ran a 4.54 and he's only 6'1". Wilson, while not as elite in contested catch situations as you'd like, still has the ability to go up and pluck balls out of the air that some defenders may not even reach. He had great production in 2022, and saw it dip slightly this year, which could be due, in part, to his QB breaking his leg midway through the season. With proper coaching and usage, Wilson could be a dangerous addition to most offenses in the league.
For those of you that stuck around, I hope you found the mock insightful. We know teams will make selections that seem outrageous or make no sense, but that is the fun and magic of the draft! Check back in for my Graham Barton and Ja'Tavion Sanders deep dives coming soon as well as more mock drafts as we steam forward towards the draft!