TO TENNESSE: Shedeur Sanders going No. 1 overall is far from out of the realm of possibilities. He's arguably the most accurate passer in the class, and there's every chance the Tennessee Titans aim for consistency over flash -- especially coming off the Will Levis experiment.
Heck, head coach Brian Callahan even compared Sanders to Joe Burrow, who he coached as the OC of the Bengals.
TO CLEVELAND:
Will the real QB1 stand up? The Cleveland Browns need a new face of the franchise and one who can handle the pressures that come with the label. Not only is Cam Ward built for the task, but he should thrive -- on and off the field. With the confidence to rip passes all over the yard and the arm talent to back it up, a new era begins in Cleveland.
TO NEW YORK GIANTS:
Travis Hunter has long been seen as the Shohei Ohtani of the football field, but according to the two-way superstar himself, he may be even more impressive.
Yes, the Giants miss out on finally addressing their QB woes, but Hunter is one heck of a consolation prize at No. 3 overall.
TO NEW ENGLAND:
Abdul Carter was already set to skip drills at the Combine due to a lingering shoulder injury from the Fiesta Bowl, but midweek tests showed he had a "stress reaction in his right foot" that could require surgery."
Carter is already prepared for the comeback, and although NFL decision-makers will do their due diligence on the injury, there's no world in which the game-wrecking EDGE falls past Mike Vrabel's New England Patriots on draft night.
TO JACKSONVILLE:
Short arms be damned -- Will Campbell has the tape and mental makeup of a franchise left tackle.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have done well building around Trevor Lawrence, but providing him with protection could be the key between another disappointing season and a deep playoff run.
TO LAS VEGAS:
A left heel bruise kept Mason Graham from performing anything other than the bench press a the Combine, but his tape speaks for itself. The Michigan Wolverines DT is one of the most impactful defenders in the class, able to disrupt the ground and pass attacks with his power generation and movement skills from the interior.
TO NEW YORK JETS:
Derwin James ... I mean Nick Emmanwori ... should not be able to move the way he does at 6'3" and 220 pounds. Just look at his Combine numbers:
4.38 40-yard dash
43" vertical jump
11'6" broad jump
Yeah, that's top-10 worthy all day, every day. It's not as if Emmanwori's tape doesn't back up his testing, either, as he snatched four picks with two defensive touchdowns in 2024.
TO CAROLINA:
Yet another SEC defender who blew up the Combine, Shemar Stewart has solidified his first-round status with a 10'11" broad, 40" vertical, and 4.59 40-yard dash at 6'5" and 281 pounds -- talk about freakish!
Stewart is already an elite run defender who can control gaps, which should lead to playing time early. However, thanks to his obvious length, raw strength, and athleticism, he also has immense potential as a pass rusher -- potential a team will be willing to bank on early.
TO NEW ORLEANS:
Derek Carr + Kellen Moore could be a match made in Heaven for the Saints, but they'll need far more weapons on the outside. Even if Chris Olave can stay healthy, New Orleans would be wise to bring Tetairoa McMillan to the Bayou.
The 6’5″, 210-pound skywalker obviously has contested-catch appeal due to his size and length, but he is actually quite flexible as a route runner — watch McMillan’s Week 1 tape vs. New Mexico to glimpse his ceiling (10-304-4 line).
TO CHICAGO:
Did James Pearce Jr. dominate as much as he did last season for the Tennessee Volunteers? No, but it’s not like he completely fell off, either. He still generated 13 TFLs and 7.5 sacks at 6'5" and 245 pounds!
He has all the tools to produce from Day 1, using his length (near-33" arms) and explosiveness (4.47 40-yard dash and 10'3" broad jump) to devastating effect.
