By Scott Salomon
This is the first of a three-part series. I will preview the first 10 selections here with 11-21 and 22-32 over the following days.
1. Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams, QB, Southern California
Caleb Williams is the consensus first pick of the draft after Justin Fields being jettisoned out of town to join the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bears did Fields dirty and one day, he will make them pay. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, I think Williams comes into the Windy City and stinks up the joint once the cold weather sets in and he proves Coach Prime correct, when he said that a warm-weather quarterback cannot play in Chicago.
2. Washington Commanders – J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
McCarthy has set the world ablaze with his combine workout and his performance at his pro day last month. He is rocketing up the charts and Washington and Dan Quinn break some hearts in Minnesota and Denver as they take the defending College Football Playoff Champion quarterback.
3. Minnesota Vikings (Trade with New England) – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The Vikings are in desperate need of a quarterback and they fill the position with the most cerebral quarterback in the draft.
4. Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR, Ohio State University
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the number one receiver in the country, no doubt about it. This is as much of a no-brainer as Williams to the Bears. With Kyler Murray at quarterback, ‘Zona is out of the quarterback game and gets Murray another pass-catcher.
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5. Los Angeles Chargers – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Chargers released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen to Chicago so you know they need help at the X and Z positions. Rome Odunze has a quick first step off the line and is big enough to get off the jam and the speed to get downfield in a hurry.
6. New York Giants – Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU
The Giants are drooling for Daniels and thought that they would watch him go off the board by now, but he is sitting pretty at six and the Giants pull the trigger. I thought Daniels might go to the G-Men at the top of the round after they traded with the Bears, but I was wrong and they still get their man.
7. Tennessee Titans – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
It is no shock that the Titans need to improve their futility at the offensive line positions. They signed Lloyd Cushenberry in free agency to replace Aaron Brewer who left Tennessee to snap the ball to Tua Tagovailoa in Miami. Joe Alt is plug and play and will protect Will Levis’ blindside for many years to come.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Dallas Turner, EDGE/OLB, Alabama
Falcons go with the best player available and they take the top edge rusher in Dallas Turner. I have him being a candidate for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the Defensive Rookie of the Year this season.
9. Chicago Bears – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Williams is getting all the toys that he can and he will become best friends with Brock Bowers. He will be his key third-down receiver and will also block the edge rusher. Bowers always gets open and is a key red-zone target. He’s the best tight end in the draft and Williams will thank his general manager for the gift.
10. New York Jets – Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
The Jets need more help blocking for Aaron Rodgers so they go out and grab the second best tackle in the draft. Olu Fashanu does not like when the quarterback has a dirty uniform and does not yield QB pressures or hits on his teammates.
