Last year I finally did something I’d been meaning to do for years, putting together the WORST MOCK DRAFT EVER. The purpose? To troll every single NFL fan base (or at least as many as possible) with the worst possible pick for their team.

A funny thing happened along the way, though … I kind of got a few things right. By accident naturally, of course. But by giving the Panthers Will Levis with the No. 1 overall pick, I trolled Texans fans by passing on Bryce Young for C.J. Stroud. Which looks genius now … or stupid.

Regardless, we’re back this year to make terrible picks for every single team. But the point of the mock is they have to be realistic picks as well.

Lest you think this is an outrageous exercise, let’s remember the Raiders once took JaMarcus Russell with the first overall pick in a draft that featured Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas, two can’t-miss prospects who are now Hall of Famers. Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert were drafted right in front of JJ Watt (and Locker was taken in front of Tyron Smith too).

The Eagles drafted Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson … and still went to a Super Bowl in spite of themselves. Even Bill Belichick took N’Keal Harry instead of Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown or DK Metcalf.

Stop pretending your favorite NFL team makes the right decisions on draft night. NFL teams do stupid things all the time. Come join me on a voyage of bad decisions!

For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on “With the First Pick” — our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find “With the First Pick” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc.

NFL MOCK DRAFT
Round 1

   From Carolina Panthers
Round 1 – Pick 1

Caleb Williams QB
USC • JR • 6’1″ / 215 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

1st

POSITION RNK

1st

PAYDS

3633

RUYDS

121

INTS

5

TDS

41

OK … someone has to take Caleb Williams. And the only things I could come up with would be the Cardinals trading up to No. 1 and sending Chicago Kyler Murray or the Packers trading up to No. 1 and giving up Jordan Love. But none of those are actually realistic. Congrats Bears fans, you are untrollable for the next several months and maybe much longer if Williams is actually as good as advertised.

Round 1 – Pick 2

J.J. McCarthy QB
MICHIGAN • JR • 6’3″ / 202 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

20th

POSITION RNK

4th

PAYDS

2991

RUYDS

202

INTS

4

TDS

25

There was legitimate buzz about McCarthy going second overall, based largely on the premise he’s a higher-end version of Brock Purdy, who Commanders GM Adam Peters helped acquire in San Francisco.

Round 1 – Pick 3

Marvin Harrison Jr. WR
OHIO STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

New England

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

1st

REC

67

REYDS

1211

YDS/REC

18.1

TDS

15

There’s nothing wrong with grabbing a generational WR talent but passing on both Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye would make people pretty mad.

   Mock Trade from Arizona Cardinals
Round 1 – Pick 4

Drake Maye QB
NORTH CAROLINA • SOPH • 6’4″ / 230 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

N.Y. Giants

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PAYDS

3608

RUYDS

449

INTS

9

TDS

33

This might be enjoyable for Giants fans but unfortunately in this case they gave up a future first-round draft pick to move just two spots up and grab another ACC quarterback, with multiple quarterbacks sitting there ahead of them at No. 6.

Round 1 – Pick 5

Joe Alt OT
NOTRE DAME • JR • 6’7″ / 322 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

L.A. Chargers

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

2nd

If the Chargers stand pat and don’t take one of the top wide receivers here, you can expect their fans to be pretty upset.

   Mock Trade from New York Giants
Round 1 – Pick 6

Jared Verse EDGE
FLORIDA STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 260 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Arizona

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

2nd

The entire world has penciled the Cardinals in for a wide receiver and that’s fair, but they still need a ton of help on defense and could decide to address WR in the second round if they miss on MHJ.

Round 1 – Pick 7

Jayden Daniels QB
LSU • SR • 6’4″ / 210 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Tennessee

PROSPECT RNK

6th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PAYDS

3812

RUYDS

1134

INTS

4

TDS

50

The Titans have hyped up Will Levis a lot this offseason but he’s a second-round pick. There’s no guarantee a new coaching regime wouldn’t draft over him if the reigning Heisman Trophy winner fell in their laps.

Round 1 – Pick 8

Malik Nabers WR
LSU • JR • 6’0″ / 200 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

3rd

POSITION RNK

2nd

REC

89

REYDS

1569

YDS/REC

17.6

TDS

14

The Falcons have Drake London and signed Darnell Mooney but they could arguably still use help and depth and top-tier talent at WR if they believe in these prospects.

Round 1 – Pick 9

Byron Murphy II DL
TEXAS • JR • 6’1″ / 308 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

15th

POSITION RNK

1st

It’s kind of difficult to troll the Bears, but passing on Rome Odunze to pair with Caleb Williams or grabbing an OL to protect the QB at nine is probably the closest thing.

Round 1 – Pick 10

Dallas Turner EDGE
ALABAMA • JR • 6’4″ / 252 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

N.Y. Jets

PROSPECT RNK

10th

POSITION RNK

1st

The Jets adding another pass rusher wouldn’t even be that shocking for this regime but people (aka Aaron Rodgers and all Jets fans) might not be thrilled!

Round 1 – Pick 1

Rome Odunze WR
WASHINGTON • JR • 6’3″ / 215 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Minnesota

PROSPECT RNK

9th

POSITION RNK

3rd

REC

92

REYDS

1640

YDS/REC

17.8

TDS

15

Anytime you can get another weapon for SAM DARNOLD you HAVE TO DO IT.

Round 1 – Pick 12

Michael Penix Jr. QB
WASHINGTON • SR • 6’3″ / 213 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Denver

PROSPECT RNK

30th

POSITION RNK

5th

PAYDS

4903

RUYDS

8

INTS

11

TDS

39

The Broncos NEED a quarterback but taking Penix here would qualify as a reach and probably rile up some Denver fans.

Round 1 – Pick 13

Brock Bowers TE
GEORGIA • JR • 6’4″ / 240 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Las Vegas

PROSPECT RNK

14th

POSITION RNK

1st

REC

56

REYDS

714

YDS/REC

12.8

TDS

7

Nothing wrong with Bowers! But it has to feel like a luxury pick for the Raiders here.

Round 1 – Pick 14

Laiatu Latu EDGE
UCLA • SR • 6’5″ / 265 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

New Orleans

PROSPECT RNK

16th

POSITION RNK

3rd

Again, nothing wrong with the player but the Saints not improving the offensive line in this draft would be a pretty aggressive mistake.

Round 1 – Pick 15

JC Latham OT
ALABAMA • JR • 6’6″ / 360 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Indianapolis

PROSPECT RNK

19th

POSITION RNK

5th

Hey buddy that offensive line is getting older in Indy.

Round 1 – Pick 16

Payton Wilson LB
NC STATE • SR • 6’4″ / 238 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Seattle

PROSPECT RNK

62nd

POSITION RNK

2nd

Seahawks fans badly want linebacking help?!?! You got linebacking help!!!! (I actually think this is a sneaky real-life option for Thursday, fwiw.)

Round 1 – Pick 17

Chop Robinson EDGE
PENN STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 254 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Jacksonville

PROSPECT RNK

22nd

POSITION RNK

4th

Jags fans really want a wide receiver but they’re probably more likely to be disappointed in Round 1 based on Trent Baalke’s history in the NFL Draft.

Round 1 – Pick 18

Brian Thomas Jr. WR
LSU • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Cincinnati

PROSPECT RNK

17th

POSITION RNK

4th

REC

68

REYDS

1177

YDS/REC

17.3

TDS

17

This might end up being a legit/good pick but Bengals fans can’t be thrilled about simply “drafting Tee Higgins replacement” a la Jessie Bates.

   Mock Trade from Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 – Pick 19

Adonai Mitchell WR
TEXAS • JR • 6’4″ / 196 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Carolina

PROSPECT RNK

27th

POSITION RNK

6th

REC

55

REYDS

845

YDS/REC

15.4

TDS

11

With Thomas coming off the board, David Tepper panics and trades both of his second-round picks to the Rams to move up into the first round and guarantee he gets a wide receiver. So the Rams still haven’t used a first-round pick since 2016 (Jared Goff!) and Carolina is giving up tons of draft picks to get the back end of a wide receiver run. EVERYONE LOSES!

Round 1 – Pick 20

Quinyon Mitchell CB
TOLEDO • JR • 6’0″ / 196 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Pittsburgh

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

1st

The most troll thing would be taking a QB, but I don’t think they’ll realistically do that in the first round … this is actually a pretty good pick maybe? Sometimes you run out of troll steam halfway through the troll draft.

Round 1 – Pick 2

Xavier Worthy WR
TEXAS • JR • 6’1″ / 172 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

31st

POSITION RNK

7th

REC

75

REYDS

1014

YDS/REC

13.5

TDS

6

Dolphins fans probably wouldn’t be thrilled with the team adding MORE TINY SPEED at wide receiver.

Round 1 – Pick 22

Amarius Mims OT
GEORGIA • JR • 6’7″ / 340 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Philadelphia

PROSPECT RNK

18th

POSITION RNK

4th

This might be a realistic pick! Howie Roseman drafting a Georgia player to eventually replace Lane Johnson?!

   From Houston Texans
Round 1 – Pick 23

Nate Wiggins CB
CLEMSON • JR • 6’2″ / 185 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Minnesota

PROSPECT RNK

21st

POSITION RNK

3rd

Vikings fans would lose their MIND if they stood pat and went WR and CB in this draft after expecting a massive move up to get a QB.

Round 1 – Pick 24

Bo Nix QB
OREGON • SR • 6’2″ / 217 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

38th

POSITION RNK

6th

PAYDS

4508

RUYDS

234

INTS

3

TDS

51

Jerry Jones is ALL IN … on leveraging Dak Prescott in contract negotiations next year.

Round 1 – Pick 25

Malachi Corley WR
WESTERN KENTUCKY • JR • 5’11” / 210 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Green Bay

PROSPECT RNK

60th

POSITION RNK

14th

REC

79

REYDS

984

YDS/REC

12.5

TDS

11

Packers fans probably believe they’re set at WR and even if this is a pick they don’t hate, it always manages to troll Aaron Rodgers! (Twice this draft, sorry Aaron.)

Round 1 – Pick 26

Troy Fautanu IOL
WASHINGTON • JR • 6’4″ / 317 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Tampa Bay

PROSPECT RNK

23rd

POSITION RNK

1st

A very good player in a spot where maybe the Bucs don’t need him? IDK

   From Houston Texans
Round 1 – Pick 27

Terrion Arnold CB
ALABAMA • SOPH • 6’0″ / 196 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Arizona

PROSPECT RNK

13th

POSITION RNK

2nd

The Cardinals coming out of the first round with two defensive players would be objectively hilarious.

Round 1 – Pick 28

Taliese Fuaga OT
OREGON STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 334 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Buffalo

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

3rd

A very good player … but not a wide receiver!!! Bills fans would be apoplectic.

Round 1 – Pick 29

Tyler Guyton OT
OKLAHOMA • JR • 6’7″ / 328 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Detroit

PROSPECT RNK

36th

POSITION RNK

7th

The Lions are grabbing an offensive lineman for the future guys.

Round 1 – Pick 30

Kool-Aid McKinstry CB
ALABAMA • JR • 6’1″ / 195 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Baltimore

PROSPECT RNK

29th

POSITION RNK

5th

An Alabama prospect who doesn’t help the offensive line or get Lamar Jackson another weapon.

Round 1 – Pick 31

Ladd McConkey WR
GEORGIA • JR • 6’0″ / 185 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

San Francisco

PROSPECT RNK

24th

POSITION RNK

5th

REC

30

REYDS

478

YDS/REC

15.9

TDS

3

I love the idea of Ladd on a Kyle Shanahan team but it’s probably extraneous!

Round 1 – Pick 32

Cooper DeJean CB
IOWA • JR • 6’1″ / 207 LBS

PROJECTED TEAM

Kansas City

PROSPECT RNK

25th

POSITION RNK

4th

Another fan base that would be fairly miffed without a WR being selected in the first round.