After months of mock drafts and mind-numbing hypothesis, the NFL Draft is upon us.
The primary spherical is Thursday (8 p.m. ET on NFL Community, ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes), adopted by rounds 2 and three on Friday (7 p.m. ET on NFL Community, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes). The draft will conclude with the ultimate 4 rounds on Saturday (midday ET on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL Community).
Forward of the primary choose in Inexperienced Bay, Yardbarker NFL writers determine one of the best wager within the first spherical for every AFC group. (First-round draft place is in parentheses.)
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS (30) | DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan | A participant with Grant’s upside and athleticism would match the Payments completely, particularly as a result of defensive sort out Larry Ogunjobi, a free-agent signee, obtained a six-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug coverage. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound nostril sort out placed on a present at Michigan’s professional day with a 5.11 40-yard sprint, a 31-inch vertical and an 8-foot-9-inch broad leap. He’d be counted on closely if the group fails to re-sign veteran tackles Jordan Phillips and Quinton Jefferson.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (13) | OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas | Defending Tua Tagovailoa needs to be the highest precedence after their 27-year-old QB missed six video games with head and hip accidents final season. Banks earned unanimous All-American honors in 2024 and received the Lombardi Award as school soccer’s finest offensive lineman. At 6-foot-5 and 315 kilos, he’d deliver much more measurement to a line that added 6-foot-7, 331-pound lineman Patrick Paul within the second spherical of final yr’s draft.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4) | OT Will Campbell, LSU | Usually thought-about one of the best offensive lineman within the draft, the 6-foot-6, 323-pound sort out gave up simply two sacks in 994 pass-blocking snaps over the previous two seasons and completed 2024 as a first-team All-American. Pro Football Focus ranks Campbell as one of the best sort out within the draft, calling him an “offensive lineman’s offensive lineman.” Whereas there’s been loads of discuss his arm size (33 inches at his pro day), he shouldn’t have any downside defending second-year QB Drake Maye from both guard or sort out.
NEW YORK JETS (7) | RT Armand Membou, Missouri | After spending the previous 4 years with Detroit, new head coach Aaron Glenn understands the significance of offensive linemen and received’t be bothered that the Jets took left sort out Olumuyiwa Fashanu within the first spherical of final yr’s draft. Likewise, a one-year, $1.3M contract for proper sort out Chukwuma Okorafor shouldn’t deter the group from including Membou, a flexible, 6-foot-3, 325-pound prospect who didn’t permit a sack on 411 pass-blocking snaps in 2024. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS (20) | RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina | Denver should discover one other RB to enhance its floor recreation, which completed sixteenth within the league in speeding yards (112.2) final season. It might be a wise transfer to take a strong again in Hampton (6-foot, 221 kilos), who rushed for 1,660 yards on 281 carries in 12 video games final season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (31) | Offensive sort out Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon | With this choose, the Chiefs ought to substitute guard/sort out Joe Thuney after trading the two-time first-team All-Professional to the Chicago Bears in March. Conerly (6-foot-5, 311 kilos) allowed one sack in 14 video games in 2024, per Pro Football Focus.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (6) | RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State | Groups have just lately prevented taking RBs with first-round picks, however that shouldn’t cease Vegas from deciding on Jeanty (5-foot-9, 211 kilos) with choose No. 6. Jeanty rushed for two,601 yards in 14 video games final season and would give Vegas’ Thirty second-ranked speeding assault (79.8 YPG) a significant enhance.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (22) | TE Colston Loveland, Michigan | Chargers QB Justin Herbert clearly wants extra firepower after averaging a career-low 227.6 passing yards per recreation in 17 regular-season begins in 2024. Loveland (6-foot-6, 248 kilos) had 117 receptions for 1,466 yards and 11 landing catches in three seasons with the Wolverines and needs to be obtainable for the Chargers at this spot. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS (27) | Security Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina | The Ravens want a working mate within the again finish for Kyle Hamilton, and so they don’t have any downside concentrating on defensive backs early within the draft. Baltimore will love the power of Emmanwori (6-foot-3, 220 kilos) to play close to the road of scrimmage and make performs within the backfield.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (17) | EDGE Mike Inexperienced, Marshall | The Bengals could be smart to seize one of many prime pass-rushers within the draft, with Sam Hubbard retiring and Trey Hendrickson nonetheless looking for a commerce. Inexperienced (6-foot-3, 251 kilos) led school soccer in sacks (17) final season, so he’s able to contribute to a group that wants extra manufacturing from the D-line.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (2) | CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado | The Browns want blue-chip expertise on each side of the ball, so Hunter (6-foot-0, 188 kilos) could be the perfect first-round choose as probably the most dynamic athlete on this class. Hunter will enhance two place teams without delay and inject pleasure right into a fan base that desperately wants it.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (21) | QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado | Rumors and reviews point out some groups have proven curiosity in buying and selling up in entrance of Pittsburgh to snag Sanders (6-foot-1, 212 kilos). If the Steelers get their subsequent franchise QB with out having to maneuver up within the first spherical, it could be an A+ night time for them. — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS (25) | Guard Tyler Booker, Alabama | The Texans want a left sort out after they traded Laremy Tunsil, however they’ve additionally parted methods with beginning guards Kenyon Inexperienced and Shaq Mason. With the entire prime tackles doubtlessly off the board by the twenty fifth choose, Booker (6-foot-5, 321 kilos), who confronted elite defensive position competitors within the SEC, is the most suitable choice.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (14) | TE Tyler Warren, Penn State | The Colts haven’t had an important receiving risk at tight finish in years, an issue Warren (6-foot-5, 256 kilos) may clear up. Warren, who had 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight landing catches final season, frequently makes contested catches and fights for further yardage, which might make him the right security valve for QBs Daniel Jones and/or Anthony Richardson.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5) | DL Mason Graham, Michigan | An argument may be made that the Jaguars ought to commerce again, and so they is perhaps tempted to take Jeanty at this spot. However they need to preserve it easy by going with Graham (6-foot-3, 296 kilos), one of the best inside defensive lineman within the draft and a participant who will tackle a obtrusive want. Graham has maybe one of the best motor within the draft and an elite mixture of measurement and quickness.
TENNESSEE TITANS (1) | QB Cam Ward, Miami | Typically the obvious alternative within the draft seems to be one of the best one, and the Titans are hoping that would be the case after they choose Ward with the primary total choose. Ward (6-foot-2, 219 kilos) threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and 7 interceptions with the Hurricanes final season. He’s considered by many as the one positive factor at QB on this yr’s draft, and Tennessee desperately must get that place proper. — Steve DelVecchio
