NFL mock draft 4.0: Post combine edition
With the NFL combine festivities now behind us, I decided to input my instant reactions into my mock draft 4.0!
Welcome to my mock draft 4.0! With the draft just 45 days away and most of the dominos falling (outside of some free agency transactions and offseason trades), now’s the time where I really try to lock in and get more predictive in my mocks. With only 2-3 more to post before draft night, I’m absorbing every bit of information to try to bring you guys the most accurate mock draft possible, which includes not only combine testing numbers, but also player meetings as well. Enjoy!
1. Titans: Abdul Carter, EDGE
Ideally in a perfect world, Tennessee trades down with a team like the Giants and is still able to select Carter third overall. However, I’m under the assumption that a trade partner is still murky at this current juncture and the Titans new front office has already made it clear they won’t pass up on a “generational” talent.
2. Browns: Cam Ward, QB
I have long been under the assumption that Cleveland wasn’t in the situation to select a quarterback in this years draft, but the odds are looking more and more likely that the team selects a QB second overall AND signs a veteran free agent (Looking at you, Kirk Cousins). It appears as if Ward has separated himself from Shedeur Sanders and the rest of the pack as the consensus QB1.
3. Giants: Travis Hunter, CB
I understand I’m in the minority here, but I don’t see how a head coach and front office who’s in a make it or break it season can willingly select a rookie Quarterback early and go down with him if things go wrong. Not every rookie can do what Jayden Daniels did this past season. The team tried (and failed) to acquire Matthew Stafford before he decided to return to LA, which has me believing that the team is more so targeting a veteran option at QB (Aaron Rodgers?). Travis Hunter is a best player available selection, as he and Malik Nabers are great building blocks for the future.
4. Patriots: Mason Graham, DL
I’ve said that New England needs to use their first round selection with Drake Maye in mind. However, you can’t draft outliers this high in the draft and that’s exactly what LSU’s Will Campbell is (His arm length). Mason Graham (who met with the team at the combine) fills a team need, is the safer prospect and is a best player available selection for the Patriots.
5. Jets (Jaguars): Shedeur Sanders, QB
I’m under the belief that this Sanders downward spiral in mock drafts is a giant manufactured smoke screen by many teams (including the Jets), that allows them to be in a better position to move up and select the talented Quarterback. Jacksonville has a young new General Manager who wants to start his career off on the right track (adding more draft capital is a great way to do so) and teams like the Jets or Raiders can likely use that to their advantage. The Jets however, (Sanchez & Darnold) have more of a track record of being aggressive and moving up for a QB in the draft compared to the Raiders, who haven’t made such a move since Todd Marinovich in 1991. Being Deion Sanders son, Shedeur has proven he can handle the New York market pressure wise and has shown the ability to still make plays behind a sub par offensive line as well.
6. Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB
With Las Vegas recently trading for Geno Smith and New York moving ahead of them in the draft for Sanders, I’m projecting the Raiders to pivot to selecting Ashton Jeanty sixth overall. Not only is Jeanty a top ten overall prospect, but Pete Carroll loves setting the tone on the ground and has selected a RB in the first round before from the Mountain West (Rashaad Penny). With Smith, Jeanty and last year’s first round pick of Brock Bowers, Pete Carroll has solid foundational pieces in place for his new era Raiders team.
7. Jaguars (Jets): Shemar Stewart, DL
Although Jacksonville missed out on Mason Graham who appears to be the team’s top target, trading down and pivoting to Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart isn’t a bad consolation. In my mock draft 1.0 I had a bold prediction of Stewart dominating the combine and becoming a top ten overall selection and that’s exactly what he did. He and Travon Walker are athletic specimens who could create an exciting duo defensively, if they reach their ceiling.
8. Panthers: Jalon Walker, LB
Much like Marvin Harrison Jr and Arizona in last year’s draft cycle, Jalon Walker and Carolina is a draft pairing that I believe we’ve talked about for months that’ll ultimately come to fruition on draft day. Carolina has multiple needs along their league worst defensive unit, so it makes sense for them to target Walkers versitality here. Not only can he find success as a pass rusher, but can also be successful in coverage as an off ball Linebacker as well.
9. 49ers (Saints): Armand Membou, OL
There hasn’t been an offensive lineman selected quite yet, so San Francisco makes an aggressive move to get ahead of the Chicago Bears and prevent a team like the Miami Dolphins from moving ahead of them for their top OL prospect. Membou is one of four O-Lineman in combine history since 2003 who weighs over 315 pounds, running a sub 5 second forty time, while also registering over a 30” vertical jump. Joining TRENT WILLIAMS, Tristan Wirfs and fellow 2025 draft prospect, Will Campbell. His 9.87 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) ranks 17th out of 1395 OT from 1987 to 2025.
10. Bears: Will Campbell, OL
Even after recent trades for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, Chicago could still target the OL position 10th overall, in my opinion. Braxton Jones isn’t exactly a franchise cornerstone player at the position and he’s recovering from a fractured left ankle. Chicago not only met with Campbell at the combine, but he’s the best player available at this point in the draft, in my opinion.
11. Saints (49ers): Quinn Ewers, QB
New Orleans met with every top QB (Including Ewers) at the combine, which leads me to believe that they’re considering giving new head coach, Kellen Moore a shiny new franchise Quarterback to work with. Ewers had a strong showing at the combine, having some teams believing where he’s currently sitting in most draft boards as a value. In fact, I can see some QB needy teams feeling comfortable with reaching on him a little in the first round at this point and that’s exactly what I have mocked here at pick 11 overall.
12. Cowboys: Omarion Hampton, RB
The Cowboys are obviously heavy favorites to select Ashton Jeanty with their first round selection, due to their recent head coaching hire of Brian Schottenheimer and his run heavy scheme. However since he’s off the board, I still have Dallas addressing the position and selecting North Carolina’s Hampton who had a meeting with Dallas & had an impressive combine. Out of 1909 RB’s from 1897 to 2025, Hampton ranks 14th all time with a 9.93 RAS score. His collegiate production and athletic testing has me really doubting he makes it out of the first round.
13. Dolphins: Jahdae Barron, DB
Jahdae Barron didn’t necessarily win the measurable aspect of the combine with his height and wingspan being slightly below average, but his production at multiple different positions in college (Jim Thorpe award winner) and combine testing numbers has himself drawing comparisons to Brian Branch. Outside of Jalen Ramsey, Barron could become Miami’s other boundary corner, but could also thrive as a Safety in Miami’s Cover 3 heavy defensive system.
14. Colts: Tyler Warren, TE
Tyler Warren has garnered a lot of steam since the combine, as many people believe he will be selected before or around where Brock Bowers went in last year’s draft. Warren’s versatility to split out wide, move in-line and show success after the catch has caught the attention of the Indianapolis Colts, who met with him at the combine. He will prove to be a reliable safety valve for their young franchise Quarterback, in Anthony Richardson.
15. Falcons: Will Johnson, CB
Atlanta sent NO offensive assistants to the combine, as it’s blatantly obvious that the teams focus is on the defensive side of the ball in the draft. They likely would select a pass rusher in most scenarios, but with Will Johnson dropping to them (Similar to my mock draft 3.0), I don’t see them passing on him here. Scouts worry about Johnson’s long speed at the position and not working out at the combine OR his pro day definitely won’t do him any favors.
16. Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DL
Arizona interviewed multiple defensive lineman at the combine, including Mason Graham. Although Graham will be long gone, the Cardinals also met with Nolen, who arguably has a higher pass rushing upside than the top five overall selection.
17. Bengals: Jihaad Campbell, LB
Not only did Cincinnati Bengals director of personnel Duke Tobin mention that the team needs linebacker unit “help”, but the team also could beef up their pass rush with the future of Defensive End Trey Hendrickson in doubt. I had Campbell in my mock 1.0 and decided to put him back into the first round after his strong showing at the combine. He very well could go before this on draft day, as there’s really not much of a difference between him and Jalon Walker, who I had going in the top ten.
18. Chargers (Seahawks): Colston Loveland, TE
Harbaugh and company was aggressive in their pursuit of Ladd McConkey last year and takes advantage of an apparent rebuild in Seattle, by giving them draft capital in order to get ahead of division rivals to be able to select a dynamic Tight End that Harbaugh knows how to utilize within his offense.
19. Buccaneers: Matthew Golden, WR
I don’t know if I necessarily agree with it, but there’s a LOT of smoke towards Golden becoming the WR1 off the board after his combine performance and 4.29 40 time. Although Chris Godwin is back next season, Tampa Bay would be wise to capitalize on being able to have their choice of which prospect they want at the WR position in the draft, as both he and Mike Evans are getting up there in age.
20. Broncos: Tetairoa McMillan, WR
There’s concerns by GM’s on the lack of elite speed by McMillan and him not running at the combine didn’t put any of those doubts to bed, allowing him to fall here to Denver. Broncos GM, George Paton extended Garrett Bolles to ensure Bo Nix is protected, but should continue to have his QB in mind in the first round of the draft and select him a weapon to utilize within the offense.
21. Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DL
After the D.K. Metcalf trade, I wouldn’t necessarily write off Pittsburgh targeting the WR position in round one, but have them shifting their focus to the defensive line and targeting a player they’ve met with in Derrick Harmon. Not only did he have the most pressures by a DT in 2024, but Harmon also ran under a 5.00 second forty time at 6’4” 313 lbs at the combine, all but guaranteeing himself to be selected in the first round.
22. Seahawks (Chargers): Nick Emmanwori, S
After registering the best combine performance in NFL history and a perfect 10.00 RAS score at multiple positions (would’ve been the second best ever combine performance for a WR, behind Calvin Johnson), I don’t see a way that Emmanwori isn’t the top Saftey off the board and a first round lock. He’s a comparable prospect to Kyle Hamilton, a player that Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald had the pleasure of coaching during his time in Baltimore.
23. Packers: Shavon Revel Jr, CB
IF he was healthy and could compete at the senior bowl or combine, the long and rangy Revel would’ve been in contention to be CB1 and have a Sauce Gardner like meteoric rise of his draft stock heading into draft night. That’s how highly I view him and consider this to be a fantastic value for the Packers. With the future of Jaire Alexander in a Packers uniform in question, it makes sense to draft his replacement and Revel matches the prototype of athlete they’ve targeted in the past.
24. Chiefs (Vikings): Josh Simmons, OT
With Minnesota only having two top 100 draft picks and just TWO offensive tackles selected so far in the draft, Kansas City makes an aggressive move up for Josh Simmons, who would most certainly already be off the board by now, if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s recovering from an ACL injury.
25. Texans: Tyler Booker, G
This years draft has a bunch of Tackle/Guard hybrids, but I’m under the impression that as far as pure Guard play goes, that Alabama’s Tyler Booker is the safest in the class and the most ready to step in and play from day one of mini camp at the position. After acquiring Christian Kirk, the Texans front office needs to turn their attention to protecting their franchise Quarterback.
26. Rams: Kelvin Banks Jr, OL
We see positional runs happen all the time in the draft and that’s exactly what I’m projecting to happen in this mock, as I have Kelvin Banks draft day slide stopping here. Banks should be able to start day one at guard, but has the potential to develop into becoming the Rams franchise Left Tackle.
27. Ravens: Malaki Starks, S
Speaking of draft day slides, Baltimore goes the best player available approach here and takes Malaki Starks, pairing him with Kyle Hamilton in the backend of their defense. When playing AFC studs like Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, having the most talented and versatile safety pairing in the league will definitely help.
28. Lions: Mike Green, EDGE
These last two draft picks have been best player available selections and I’m continuing that trend with Green here at pick 28 overall. Not only is he an immense value, but the EDGE out of Marshall also fills a draft need for Detroit as well.
29. Commanders: Landon Jackson, EDGE
Washington met with Landon Jackson at not only the Senior Bowl, but also the Draft Combine, where he DOMINATED with a 40.5” vertical and 4.68 second forty time at 6’6” 262 pounds. He was half an inch away from tying the combine record for a defensive lineman, set my Myles Garrett in 2017 and tied Mario Williams number in 2006. Both of those names became first overall picks in their respective draft classes.
30. Bills: Kenneth Grant, DL
Buffalo is going defense here at pick 30. The tricky question is deciding whether or not they’re going to address their leaky secondary or defensive line. However, Kenneth Grant not only fills a massive need, but also is my top ranked available player at this point in the draft.
31. Raiders (Chiefs): Mykel Williams, EDGE
I’d expect Minnesota to be a name you hear a lot in the first night of the NFL draft and I’m projecting them to not even make a selection! That’s right, I have the Vikings moving down not once, but TWICE and the second time out of the first round altogether to collect some much needed draft capital (Collects pick 37 from the Raiders). Being aggressive in year one under Pete Carroll, Las Vegas makes the “sexy” selection 6th overall and then gets back into the end of the first round and stops Mykel Williams draft day tumble. They met with him at the combine, with Williams calling Carroll a “Legendary Coach” after the exchange.
32. Seahawks: Jaxson Dart, QB
In 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles moved out of the first round after winning it all, giving the Baltimore Ravens the rights to their 5th year option for a Quarterback, named Lamar Jackson. Sound familiar? Seattle has two second round selections in this year’s draft and should use one of them to find their next franchise Quarterback, after trading away Geno Smith (Sam Darnold is just a bridge). They’ve met with him at the combine and now they just have to hope he turns out to be as successful as Jackson.
Nice work love you!