Nicholas McGee: “I just generally went max chaos, with QBs flying off and the Titans making a surprising pick.”

PICK #1
CHICAGO BEARS
There’s no surprise at the top of the draft, as Chicago formalises the selection of the quarterback with whom they have been inextricably linked since the end of the 2023 season.
Biggest Needs
QB, WR, CB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
CALEB WILLIAMS, QB, USC

PICK #2
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
If the Bears’ pick was expected, the Commanders were clearly stringing the rest of the league along as they deliberated over their own quarterback of the future. In the end, the new regime in Washington plumps for the safe option.
Biggest Needs
QB, OL, DL
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
DRAKE MAYE, QB, North Carolina

PICK #3
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Patriots top brass would be turning cartwheels on hearing Roger Goodell read out Washington’s selection, and swoop in to nab perhaps the most exciting QB prospect in the entire draft.
Biggest Needs
QB, WR, OL
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
JAYDEN DANIELS, QB, LSU

PICK #4
ARIZONA CARDINALS
With three QBs going with the first three picks, the draft effectively starts at four and, with a bevy of selections already in their pocket, the Cards fill their biggest need with perhaps the best all-round talent available this year.
Biggest Needs
WR, DL, CB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
MARVIN HARRISON, WR, Ohio State

PICK #5
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
In this mock, without the option to trade down and acquire more picks, Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers address their own glaring need by grabbing the cream of a deep O-line crop.
Biggest Needs
OL, WR, Edge
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
JOE ALT, OT, Notre Dame

PICK #6
NEW YORK GIANTS
Like New England, Giants eyes will be wide after hearing the names taken off the board immediately ahead of their pick, leaving them with the chance to land a long-term replacement for Daniel Jones.
Biggest Needs
QB, OL, WR
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
J.J. McCARTHY, QB, Michigan

PICK #7
TENNESSEE TITANS
With their expected target already gone just six picks into the draft, the Titans throw caution to the wind and grab a once-in-a-generation player, believing they can address other needs from deeper draft groups later in the weekend.
Biggest Needs
OL, DL, WR
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
BROCK BOWERS, TE, Georgia

PICK #8
ATLANTA FALCONS
No real surprise at eight, as the Falcons take the first defensive player off the board, immediately satisfying a major need without having to think too hard about the pick.
Biggest Needs
Edge, CB, LB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
DALLAS TURNER, EDGE, Alabama

PICK #9
CHICAGO BEARS
In another mock, this may be a possible trade option, but the Bears get the chance to bolster another position of need with two of the top three options still on the board.
Biggest Needs
QB, WR, CB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
MALIK NABERS, WR, LSU

PICK #10
NEW YORK JETS
With the fantasy pick of other mock drafts already squashed here, Gang Green takes the sensible route and adds another piece to the offensive wall that will be charged with ensuring the returning Aaron Rodgers lasts longer than four snaps in 2024.
Biggest Needs
OL, Edge, CB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
TALIESE FUAGA, OT, Oregon State

PICK #11
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Having been unable to move up and take the presumed QB4 in this draft, Minnesota ensures the continuation of quarterback chaos by taking possibly the best thrower of a ball in the entire class.
Biggest Needs
QB, DB, DL
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
MICHAEL PENIX Jr, QB, Washington

PICK #12
DENVER BRONCOS
Perhaps all to aware of the similar needs of the team immediately behind them in the selection order, Denver also opts to fill its need under center, giving HC Sean Payton a new project to go with his recently-enlarged QB contingent.
Biggest Needs
QB, DB, OL
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
BO NIX, QB, Oregon

PICK #13
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Without wanting to reach too far to fill their own QB need, the Raiders opt for the best player available approach at #13, snapping up a flawless character to pair with Davante Adams.
Biggest Needs
QB, OL, DL
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
ROME ODUNZE, WR, Washington

PICK #14
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
With the picks ahead of them eschewing substance in favour of style, the Saints can sit and pick for their biggest need, taking the third Washington prospect off the board in the past four selections.
Biggest Needs
OL, WR, Edge
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
TROY FAUTANU, OT, Washington

PICK #15
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Like New Orleans, the Colts can also rest easy knowing that their biggest hole can be filled without a hitch, with the entire spectrum of defensive backs still on offer.
Biggest Needs
CB, Edge, OL
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
QUINYON MITCHELL, CB, Toledo

PICK #16
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Despite options on the board to address their three biggest needs, the Seahawks choose to bring a former Washington Husky back to the Pacific Northwest, putting latent talent ahead of potential injury concerns.
Biggest Needs
OL, DL, DB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
LAIATU LATU, EDGE, UCLA

PICK #17
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Another team with plenty of options in areas of need, Jacksonville instead plumps for one of the biggest talents still available for selection, believing that there will still be enough choice at other positions in ensuing rounds.
Biggest Needs
WR, OL, DL
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
TERRION ARNOLD, CB, Alabama

PICK #18
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Faced with deciding between bolstering either side of the line of scrimmage, Cincy goes defense with its first pick, opting for a young talent that developed throughout the 2023 campaign.
Biggest Needs
OL, DL, DB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
BYRON MURPHY II, DI, Texas

PICK #19
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Although the need to address the retirement of Aaron Donald headlines the Rams’ biggest concerns heading into the draft, Sean McVay and Co instead opt to add protection for their quarterback with the franchise’s first opening night selection since trading up for Jared Goff back in 2016.
Biggest Needs
DL, DB, WR
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
OLUMUYIWA FASHANU, OT, Penn State

PICK #20
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The Steelers could look to bolster their own offensive line with this pick, but instead opt to add a replacement for Diontae Johnson, who was traded to Carolina in return for CB Donte Jackson.
Biggest Needs
OL, WR, DB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
ADONAI MITCHELL, WR, Texas

PICK #21
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Pittsburgh’s decision to add a skill position player leaves the runway clear for Miami to take its pick of interior linemen, and the Fins go for one of the safest — and most versatile — picks in the entire draft class.
Biggest Needs
OL, DL, DB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
GRAHAM BARTON, OT, Duke

PICK #22
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Philly’s defensive backfield was something of a mess in 2023, despite the presence of big names like Darius Slay, James Bradberry and, latterly, Kevin Byard. Despite the return of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Howie Roseman doesn’t hesitate to snap up a player who can potentially fill all secondary positions.
Biggest Needs
DB, LB, Edge
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
COOPER DEJEAN, CB, Iowa

PICK #23
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
With their replacement for Kirk Cousins safely stashed with pick #11, the Vikings address the next biggest need of their board, bolstering an ageing secondary from an extremely talented pool of players.
Biggest Needs
QB, DB, DL
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
NATE WIGGINS, CB, Clemson

PICK #24
DALLAS COWBOYS
The first piece of Jerry Jones’ ‘all-in’ draft strategy soothes some nerves in Cowboys country after an off-season that saw critical losses on both sides of the ball. There may have been some debate about the actual position of greatest need, but Dallas nevertheless fills a big hole.
Biggest Needs
OL, WR, RB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
J.C. LATHAM, OT, Alabama

PICK #25
GREEN BAY PACKERS
The Cowboys’ selection leaves Green Bay with a similar decision tree as it looks to replace veteran David Bakhtiari and, despite the possibility of going center with their first pick, the Pack instead opt to replace like with like.
Biggest Needs
OL, DB, LB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
AMARIUS MIMS, OT, Georgia

PICK #26
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Although edge rushers remain on the board, the Buccaneers spy the opportunity to replace the recently-retired Ryan Jensen and grab the new Rimington Trophy winner to team with quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Biggest Needs
Edge, OL, DB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON, OC, Oregon

PICK #27
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Having already added the best player in the draft, the Cardinals make further use of their abundant picks to shore up the secondary with a player whose name alone should make him an instant fan favourite.
Biggest Needs
WR, DL, CB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
KOOL-AID McKINSTRY, CB, Alabama

PICK #28
BUFFALO BILLS
Although the losses of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis leave a gaping hole in Josh Allen’s receiving arsenal, the Bills go best player available in a long-term move to protect against the inevitble ageing of Von Miller.
Biggest Needs
WR, DB, OL
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
JARED VERSE, EDGE, Florida State

PICK #29
DETROIT LIONS
Having landed Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson in free agency, the Lions move away from bolstering the secondary in favour of adding potentially the best defensive end in the draft.
Biggest Needs
DB, Edge, WR
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
DARIUS ROBINSON, EDGE, Missouri 

PICK #30
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Ravens fans are constantly crying out for receiving talent, giving the team’s front office little choice but to ignore other needs and snaffle the next best wideout to line up opposite sophomore Zay Flowers.
Biggest Needs
OL, LB, DB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
BRIAN THOMAS Jr, WR, LSU

PICK #31
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
Despite bringing in a host of fresh line talent during free agency, the 49ers will no doubt be delighted to land the player most closely comp’d to a young Aaron Donald who, of course, made life miserable for them as a divisional rival with the Los Angeles Rams.
Biggest Needs
OL, DL, DB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
JER’ZHAN NEWTON, DI, Illinois

PICK #32
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
With the final pick of the first round, the reigning champions address the position most claim is their biggest weakness — but the name to be called by commissioner Goodell is not necessarily one of those the fanbase will be expecting.
Biggest Needs
OL, WR, CB
McGEE’s MOCK DRAFT 1st Round Selection
LADD McCONKEY, WR, Georgia