Here’s the weird thing about the pre-draft process: the closer you get to the
actual event, the more you wonder how it will actually unfold.
It’s information overload, and not all intelligence is created equal. Because it is
lying season, darling! Smokescreens abound!
So that explains why I lost my mind and predicted five deals in this first-round
simulation. I’m grabbing at straws here, people, just trying to get through the
long march to draft day. Give me some grace, dammit!
The pre-draft process is fertile ground for conflicting perspectives and
hypothetical fever dreams, so Williams’ isolation from the rest of a touted
quarterback class is reflected in his continued ranking as the No. 1 pick across
the mockosphere. Caleb’s inevitability is a cold shower for hot takes.
New general manager Adam Peters has kept Washington’s ambitions under
wraps, creating an information vacuum that MUST BE FILLED BY OUTSIDE
SPECULATION. Inherently, we’ve spent the last few months spinning our
wheels on this option, considering Jayden Daniels and even J.J. McCarthy as
potential candidates. What if the basic hypothesis was correct all along? What
if the tape munchers are overly critical of Maye’s throw-to-throw accuracy?
What if the Commanders are quietly captivated by the raw potential of a 21-
year-old with prototypical size, athleticism, and arm power? Remember how
many people overanalyzed C.J. Stroud in the run-up to last year’s draft? Could
it be déjà vu at No. 2?
New England could probably trade this pick for a bounty, but to what end?
What is this team’s identity? Bill Belichick isn’t walking through that door.
Tom Brady hasn’t done so for years. The most successful American sports
franchise of the 21st century just bottomed out, and it felt shockingly
unshocking. Time to jump-start the Patriots with a new breed of quarterback,
one who can provide microwave offense to a roster that sorely lacks firepower.
McCarthy gets Jim Harbaugh’s new squad two first-round picks for the price
of one after guiding his old team to a national championship. Minnesota is also
a good fit for J.J., with the coach, pass catchers, offensive line, and possibly
even the patience — depending on how the Vikings see Sam Darnold — to help
the 21-year-old develop at a reasonable pace. Everyone wins!
The general manager shot down outsiders’ perceptions of Big Blue being in the
quarterback market, but in our defense, it felt like the call came from inside
the house, with open QB conversation from the head coach and top honcho. Of
course, all of the talk about the position could be a Giant trick to incentivize a
deal that will bring a highly sought-after non-QB to New York.
After significantly upgrading the roster through free agency and a pair of
trades, the Jets are clearly going for it in Aaron Rodgers’ second season. So,
with few obvious needs left, what is preventing Joe Douglas from channeling
this energy into the draft? By trading the rebuilding Titans Pick No. 72, New
York plugs the third-round hole on Tennessee’s draft board, allowing the Jets
to jump the Bears and land the last of the Big Three wideouts. Remember that
Mike Williams is a) coming off a torn ACL and b) on a one-year contract. Thus,
Odunze provides Gang Green with a) important insurance in 2024 and b) a
dynamic complement to Garrett Wilson for years to come.
Want to know why this combo appears so frequently in mocks throughout the
internet? Since John Abraham’s release in the 2013 offseason, just one Falcon
has recorded double-digit sacks: Vic Beasley participated in the 2016 Super
Bowl season. Turner’s explosive juice and incredible wingspan are unique
characteristics.
