PICK #1
TENNESSEE TITANS
Despite doubts, this appears the consensus pick at this point and Ward’s arrival will at least signify the start of a new era in Tennessee.
Biggest Needs: QB, WR, LB, EDGE, CB
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: CAM WARD, QB, Miami

 

 

PICK #2
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Cleveland are usually good identifiers of talent, but find it difficult to piece them together. Travis Hunter might be the best football player on the board and is a guaranteed hit here.
Biggest Needs: QB, WR, OL, CB, EDGE
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: TRAVIS HUNTER, WR/CB, Colorado

 

 

PICK #3
NEW YORK GIANTS
Giants ignore the allure of strengthening their O-Line and take the most dynamic rusher in the class, looking to spark excitement into an offense that is yet to get a long-term QB.
Biggest Needs: QB, OG, EDGE, DT, WR
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: ASHTON JEANTY, RB, Boise State

 

 

PICK #4
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Having made big offensive moves in the off-season, Mike Vrabel gets to work on his defense here and adds a pass rushing machine in Carter.
Biggest Needs: OT, WR, EDGE, OG, RB
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: ABDUL CARTER, EDGE, Penn State

 

 

PICK #5
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Jacksonville take the best offensive linemen in the class to try and keep helping Trevor Lawrence. Membou is an explosive star and will be a huge success be it at guard or tackle.
Biggest Needs: DT, TE, CB, S, WR
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: ARMAND MEMBOU, OT, Missouri

 

 

PICK #6
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Campbell can be a leader in what is a Raiders team going through a transition. He’s also an excellent blocker for right now.
Biggest Needs: CB, LB, WR, RB, OG
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: WILL CAMPBELL, OT, LSU

 

 

PICK #7
NEW YORK JETS
This is my wildcard pick. Nobody is seeing it coming but, after moving on from Aaron Rodgers, there is a need for a long-term QB. Given the noise around Shedeur, it might be hugely beneficial to give him a year sitting in a huge NY market and be ready in 2026.
Biggest Needs: OT, WR, TE, CB, DT
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: SHEDEUR SANDERS, QB, Colorado

 

 

PICK #8
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Jalon Walker is a quick pass-rusher and will only get better from here. The Panthers take a punt on the future at #8.
Biggest Needs: EDGE, S, LB, WR, OT
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: JALON WALKER, LB, Georgia

 

 

PICK #9
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
We may see a trade here, especially if the Jets do move for Sanders. New Orleans are desperate for QB help and Dart could be their safe bet, even if his ceiling is much lower.
Biggest Needs: DT, CB, OT, LB, QB
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: JAXSON DART, QB, Ole Miss

 

 

PICK #10
CHICAGO BEARS
Chicago need help on defense and Mason Graham is a forceful defender. The Bears snap him up as he slides.
Biggest Needs: RB, EDGE, S, OT, LB
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: MASON GRAHAM, DT, Michigan

 

 

PICK #11
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
49ers fans will feel their Super Bowl window is still open… just about. Banks is a pick to protect Christian McCaffrey as much as Brock Purdy, as he was a huge miss last year.
Biggest Needs: EDGE, DT, OG, LB, OT
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: KELVIN BANKS Jr, OT, Texas

 

 

PICK #12
DALLAS COWBOYS
Predicting Dallas’ draft strategy under the Jones’ is usually impossible. They do love a physical tight end, and Warren is the best at his position in the class. Could open up new avenues for an offense looking to reload under Brian Schottenheimer.
Biggest Needs: WR, DT, RB, EDGE, LB
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: TYLER WARREN, TE, Penn State

 

 

PICK #13
MIAMI DOLPHINS
There’s no other position the Dolphins could go here given the Jalen Ramsey situation, and Barron is a plug-in for now player at corner.
Biggest Needs: CB, OT, DT, S, TE
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: JAHDAE BARRON, CB, Texas

 

 

PICK #14
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Indianapolis have their own issues at QB, so will look to provide whoever ends up as QB1 with a serious offensive weapon in McMillan.
Biggest Needs: TE, LB, EDGE, OG, OC
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: TETAIROA McMILLAN, WR, Arizona

 

 

PICK #15
ATLANTA FALCONS
Medical concerns aside, Campbell is the most explosive defender in this class and is exactly what the Falcons need to make their defense feared once more.
Biggest Needs: EDGE, OC, S, DT, LB
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: JIHAAD CAMPBELL, LB, Alabama

 

 

PICK #16
ARIZONA CARDINALS
This is a coin-flip. Arizona could easily make a defensive selection here, but I think the chance to add a player of Matthew Golden’s quality is too big to pass on for an offense that has struggled.
Biggest Needs: CB, LB, EDGE, DT, OT
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: MATTHEW GOLDEN, WR, Texas

 

 

PICK #17
CINCINNATI BENGALS
With the offense addressed, Cincinnati turns to defense here and, need edge help desperately, look to Mykel Williams to provide it.
Biggest Needs: EDGE, OG, S, DT, CB
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: MYKEL WILLIAMS, EDGE, Georgia

 

 

PICK #18
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seattle could trade up to grab Armand Membou given their need on the line, although doing so would be expensive. Instead, they grab Zabel out of North Dakota State, who is a physical match for their new scheme.
Biggest Needs: OG, WR, OT, CB, DT
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: GREY ZABEL, OL, North Dakota State

 

 

PICK #19
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
The best Buccaneers teams have been built on strong defensive play up front, and Harmon is as versatile as he is powerful. Expect him to also get snaps from the edge.
Biggest Needs: LB, EDGE, CB, S, OL
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: DERRICK HARMON, DL, Oregon

 

 

PICK #20
DENVER BRONCOS
Denver had a far better season last year than anyone thought and confidence in Sean Payton’s offensive mind could be described as ‘mile-high’. Whilst needing RB help, Loveland is too good a tight end to miss on and will give the offense even more receiving weapons.
Biggest Needs: RB, WR, LB, DT, TE
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: COLSTON LOVELAND, TE, Michigan

 

 

PICK #21
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Steelers fans will say leaving this draft without a QB is a dereliction of duty from their front office. However, Aaron Rodgers will play in black and yellow next year. You’ll get one year out of him, so he needs protecting. Tyler Booker is easily a top-10 talent and will do that job before growing into a locker-room leader with time.
Biggest Needs: QB, DT, RB, CB, OL
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: TYLER BOOKER, OG, Alabama

 

 

PICK #22
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Grant is the replacement for Poona Ford and adds strength up front. It helps that he’s also known well by their coaching staff. This is a safe pick.
Biggest Needs: DT, EDGE, CB, TE, WR
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: KENNETH GRANT, DT, Michigan

 

 

PICK #23
GREEN BAY PACKERS
It always feels like the Packers are perennially short on corners, but they will look to address that with Will Johnson out of Michigan.
Biggest Needs: EDGE, CB, DT, LB, WR
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: WILL JOHNSON, CB, Michigan

 

 

PICK #24
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Minnesota need draft picks more than players in truth, and this is a possible trade spot for the New York Giants, given their pick depth in later rounds. If the Vikings do make a selection, however, the most athletic corner left on the board is Hairston.
Biggest Needs: CB, S, DT, OG, OT
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: MAXWELL HAIRSTON, CB, Kentucky

 

 

PICK #25
HOUSTON TEXANS
It’s time for the Texans to provide C.J. Stroud with some better help, especially after Stefon Diggs departed. Egbuka is a talent hovering on the second round, but has an interesting skillset to develop.
Biggest Needs: OT, OG, DT, WR, S
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: EMEKA EGBUKA, WR, Ohio State

 

 

PICK #26
LOS ANGELES RAMS
The Rams like defensive players that can make a difference and Nick Emmanwori in the secondary is a really interesting prospect. His natural athleticism is fantastic, but there are concerns surrounding his focus in games.
Biggest Needs: CB, LB, OT, S, TE
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: NICK EMMANWORI, S, South Carolina

 

 

PICK #27
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Starks shouldn’t fall this far, but the hype about his potential is minimal. This is a selection that goes under the radar and adds a day-one starter to a weak Ravens secondary.
Biggest Needs: OG, CB, DT, EDGE, LB
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: MALAKI STARKS, S, Georgia

 

 

PICK #28
DETROIT LIONS
Everything the Detroit Lions have touched in the last couple of years has turned to gold. They will look at how teams around the league have built and try and take from that. Walter Nolen is a player that would be a perfect fit in Philadelphia… so it makes sense to take him. His potential is scarily high beyond 2026.
Biggest Needs: EDGE, OG, WR, S, DT
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: WALTER NOLEN, DT, Ole Miss

 

 

PICK #29
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Washington were the feel-good story of last season. Their rise from the doldrums was joyful to watch, but expectations come with that and they need to continue to develop their roster. Dan Quinn’s defenses have also been focused on explosive pass rushing, and that is exactly what Ezeiruaku brings.
Biggest Needs: EDGE, CB, WR, RB, OT
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: DONOVAN EZEIRUAKU, EDGE, Boston College

 

 

PICK #30
BUFFALO BILLS
Amos is a better defender than others in this position, but a relative lack of speed lets him down. This doesn’t bother the Bills, who will happily take another playmaker on defense as they look to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC.
Biggest Needs: CB, DT, LB, RB, WR
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: TREY AMOS, CB, Ole Miss

 

 

PICK #31
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Chiefs lost the Super Bowl because their O-Line wasn’t good enough. Andy Reid can’t risk that happening again, especially with perhaps only having one more year with Mahomes and Kelce. Josh Simmons is a smart bet to sit behind Jaylon Moore and deputise if he gets hurt.
Biggest Needs: DT, OG, OT, TE, CB
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: JOSH SIMMONS, OT, Ohio State

 

 

PICK #32
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Philadelphia will try and strengthen their defense with the final pick of the round. Shemar Stewart is a player that divides opinion. His potential has him in the top-10 on some boards, but I don’t see teams taking him that high. Philly are already stacked so they can afford a gamble on someone who could grow into a franchise defender. It’s hard to see a downside.
Biggest Needs: S, DT, EDGE, CB, TE
WINTERBURN’S MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection: SHEMAR STEWART, EDGE, Texas A&M