Lance's 2025 Acting GM Mock Draft

This will be very similar to last year, except I'll be using Seattle as my fourth team instead of Washington, so if you read last year's article and remember the requirements, you can skip down to the actual picks. If you don't remember the requirements or didn't read last year's article you can skip down too, but don't blame me if you have no idea what's going on. In this one I wanted to take four teams, play their GM, and make their picks through the first three rounds. But in order to do that I needed a way to "auto-draft" for the remaining 28 teams. So what I did was I looked at 9 mock drafts, 4 of which were multi-round mocks, and then I used the consensus on what position to pick for each of the other teams, and a general consensus on what pick range each player was going in to slot a player in for those picks. For example, all 9 mock drafts had the Titans taking Cam Ward at 1, so I wasn't allowed to say, "well I like Ward at 2 for Cleveland, so I'll just give Tennessee Sanders or Carter instead." The mock is below. The four teams I selected were Minnesota (my favorite team), Jacksonville (my wife's favorite team), New Orleans (Bryar's favorite team), and Seattle because they have the most picks in the first three rounds and I wanted to have some fun. You will only see an analysis written for each of those team's picks. Oh, and also, no trades because there isn't a counterpart to keep me in check.

ROUND 1

1) Tennessee Titans: QB Cam Ward (Miami)

2) Cleveland Browns: CB/WR Travis Hunter (Colorado)

3) New York Giants: Edge Abdul Carter (Penn State)

4) New England Patriots: OL Will Campbell (LSU)

5) Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Armand Membou (Missouri)

The general consensus seems to be Mason Graham here, with a few random one-off picks in-between. Walker Little is not the answer at Left Tackle, and for that reason, this is the biggest need to me. Personally, I have a higher grade on Membou, but Kelvin Banks would also be a good pick here.

6) Las Vegas Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

7) New York Jets: OT Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)

8) Carolina Panthers: Edge Jalon Walker (Georgia)

9) New Orleans Saints: Edge Mike Green (Marshall)

I don't feel Edge is their top need, but it is a need and considering the best players left on my board compared to their projected draft ranges, Green is the best pick at this point.

10) Chicago Bears: TE Tyler Warren (Penn State)

11) San Francisco 49ers: CB Jahdae Barron (Texas)

12) Dallas Cowboys: WR Matthew Golden (Texas)

13) Miami Dolphins: DL Mason Graham (Michigan)

14) Indianapolis Colts: OG Tyler Booker (Alabama)

15) Atlanta Falcons: Edge Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)

16) Arizona Cardinals: OT Josh Simmons (Ohio State)

17) Cincinnati Bengals: Edge Mykel Williams (Georgia)

18) Seattle Seahawks: S Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)

My highest graded Guard is projected to go in the third round, and that would be the biggest need for Seattle. So, I pivot and take Emmanwori, a slight need, and the only player at Safety to receive a first round grade on my board.

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)

20) Denver Broncos: RB Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)

21) Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)

22) Los Angeles Chargers: TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)

23) Green Bay Packers: CB Will Johnson (Michigan)

24) Minnesota Vikings: WR Luther Burden III (Missouri)

This one is going to get some eyebrow raises, but hear me out. In my opinion, if the Vikings stick and pick, they're drafting for next year. What I mean by that is, they have a pretty well rounded team. If they go Guard or Corner here, they'll likely be given a chance to win the starting job, but there's no blatantly obvious hole at either spot. Plus, my top Guard is a projected third round pick, and while I could go Trey Amos at Corner, I'd rather select Burden. Addison is heading into his third season, which means the negotiation door opens after the year ends. And seeing what some WR2's just got this offseason, that's money I wouldn't feel comfortable throwing at Addison who's been spotty. I would rather draft his eventual replacement, and look to move Addison after the season, or maybe around the trade deadline if Burden is showing he's ready to take over. Oh, and I know McMillan technically has a higher grade on my board, but after the film study remarks he made, I'll pass and take my very close second instead.

25) Houston Texans: OT Josh Conerly (Oregon)

26) Los Angeles Rams: WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)

27) Baltimore Ravens: S Malaki Starks (Georgia)

28) Detroit Lions: Edge James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee)

29) Washington Commanders: WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)

30) Buffalo Bills: DL Derrick Harmon (Oregon)

31) Kansas City Chiefs: OT Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota)

32) Philadelphia Eagles: Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)

ROUND 2

33) Cleveland Browns: QB Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss)

34) New York Giants: OG Grey Zabel (North Dakota State)

35) Tennessee Titans: WR Isaiah Bond (Texas)

36) Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Trey Amos (Ole Miss)

Corner is a bigger need than Interior D-Line in my eyes, and this is the range for Amos who has a Day 2 grade on both my CB and Slot Corner boards.

37) Las Vegas Raiders: CB Shavon Revel Jr. (ECU)

38) New England Patriots: OG Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)

39) Chicago Bears (via Carolina): RB TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)

40) New Orleans Saints: WR Jayden Higgins (Iowa State)

This is what I view as their biggest need. Some might say Quarterback, but it's a new regime, they don't have to risk it on a QB in this class. Instead, add some talent to give Carr a fighting chance this season, and build for next year's Quarterback class which is a much better looking group right now. Olave hasn't turned into the definitive WR1 they were hoping, he needs help. Shaheed brings the speed to open things up, but they need that something extra, and it's not a 31-year-old Brandin Cooks who is coming off three straight seasons under 700 yards. Higgins offers size, and surprising explosiveness.

41) Chicago Bears: Edge Landon Jackson (Arkansas)

42) New York Jets: DL Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)

43) San Francisco 49ers: DL Kenneth Grant (Michigan)

44) Dallas Cowboys: RB Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)

45) Indianapolis Colts: TE Mason Taylor (LSU)

46) Atlanta Falcons: C Jared Wilson (Georgia)

47) Arizona Cardinals: DL Darius Alexander (Toledo)

48) Miami Dolphins: S Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)

49) Cincinnati Bengals: DL Alfred Collins (Texas)

50) Seattle Seahawks: WR Tre Harris (Ole Miss)

Given the projected draft ranges of the players out there and what direction Denver is likely to go, it would be a smart move to take a Receiver here. Tre Harris has a first round grade on my board. And from a playstyle perspective, he's a good fit with JSN and Kupp.

51) Denver Broncos: WR Elic Ayomanor (Stanford)

52) Seattle Seahawks (via Pittsburgh): OG Wyatt Milum (West Virginia)

The range for Milum (my #1 Guard that I have a first round grade on) doesn't start for another 25 picks. However, Seattle's next pick is after that starting point, and I like Milum too much to risk losing him before that pick comes around.

53) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Nic Scourton (Texas A&M)

54) Green Bay Packers: Edge Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss)

55) Los Angeles Chargers: WR Jaylin Noel (Iowa State)

56) Buffalo Bills (via Minnesota): Edge JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State)

57) Carolina Panthers (via LA Rams): S Kevin Winston Jr. (Penn State)

58) Houston Texans: WR Jack Bech (TCU)

59) Baltimore Ravens: Edge Jordan Burch (Oregon)

60) Detroit Lions: OL Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona)

61) Washington Commanders: CB Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky)

62) Buffalo Bills: CB Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State)

63) Kansas City Chiefs: DL Tyleik Williams (Ohio State)

64) Philadelphia Eagles: DL Shemar Turner (Texas A&M)

ROUND 3

65) New York Giants: RB Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)

66) Kansas City Chiefs (via Tennessee): Edge Oluwafemi Oladejo (UCLA)

67) Cleveland Browns: RB Jaydon Blue (Texas)

68) Las Vegas Raiders: QB Jalen Milroe (Alabama)

69) New England Patriots: Edge Bradyn Swinson (LSU)

70) Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Kyle Williams (Washington State)

My sleeper Receiver. His skillset opposite of BTJ would be a thing of beauty. In a different light you could say Coen gets his Godwin to go with his existing Evans.

71) New Orleans Saints: OG Marcus Mbow (Purdue)

A continuation of what I said with their second round pick, in that they need to build that offense up to help Carr immediately and to prepare for their future QB. Mbow is my top remaining Guard, and I've seen a lot of love for him in the analyst community. Landing him here certainly seems like it would be viewed as steal.

72) Chicago Bears: LB Carson Schwesinger (UCLA)

73) New York Jets: WR Tai Felton (Maryland)

74) Carolina Panthers: WR Jalen Royals (Utah State)

75) San Francisco 49ers: Edge Jack Sawyer (Ohio State)

76) Dallas Cowboys: OL Anthony Belton (NC State)

77) New England Patriots (via Atlanta): OT Charles Grant (William & Mary)

78) Arizona Cardinals: LB Demetrius Knight (South Carolina)

79) Houston Texans (via Miami): DL TJ Sanders (South Carolina)

80) Indianapolis Colts: OT Cameron Williams (Texas)

81) Cincinnati Bengals: S Andrew Mukuba (Texas)

82) Seattle Seahawks: CB Nohl Williams (California)

From a value vs my board standpoint Williams is the best available that also fills a need. Macdonald needs a few more pieces on that defense to be able to turn it into into a top 5 unit, and between Emmanwori in round 1 and Williams here, that needs list is getting smaller.

83) Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)

84) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OG Tate Ratledge (Georgia)

85) Denver Broncos: LB Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma)

86) Los Angeles Chargers: OL Ozzy Trapilo (Boston College)

87) Green Bay Packers: DL Joshua Farmer (Florida State)

88) Jacksonville Jaguars (via Minnesota): TE Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green)

My highest rated remaining Defensive Lineman (Elijah Roberts and Jared Harrison-Hunte) aren't supposed to get drafted until day 3. I was tempted to take one here anyways, but decided to target another area of need with a player that's expected to be gone before the end of round 3. Just put as much talent around Lawrence as you can and hope that + Coen's coaching can turn him into the superstar you're paying him to be.

89) Houston Texans: CB Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame)

90) Los Angeles Rams: TE Elijah Arroyo (Miami)

91) Baltimore Ravens: OT Emery Jones Jr. (LSU)

92) Seattle Seahawks (via Detroit): OG Garrett Dellinger (LSU)

None of the mocks have Dellinger going in the first three rounds, but he's my highest rated remaining Guard, and the last one that carries a Day 1 or Day 2 grade, so I'd rather not risk it. Especially since it would greatly benefit Seattle to add multiple competitors for both Guard spots.

93) New Orleans Saints (via Washington): CB Quincy Riley (Louisville)

He's the last Corner that's projected to go in the first three rounds, that I also have a Day 2 grade on. After the Lattimore trade last season, and losing Adebo in free agency, the Saints need help at Corner. Alontae Taylor is likely going to play predominantly out of the Slot, so they should be targeting outside guys, and Riley fits that.

94) Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo): Edge Josaiah Stewart (Michigan)

95) Kansas City Chiefs: TE Terrance Ferguson (Oregon)

96) Philadelphia Eagles: WR Savion Williams (TCU)

97) Minnesota Vikings: CB Zah Frazier (UTSA)

Frazier has a Day 2 grade as an outside Corner on my board, but he has a Day 1 grade in the Slot. His addition would add some competition for Mekhi Blackmon and give the Vikings a possible rotation between those two, Byron Murphy, and the newly added Isaiah Rodgers.

98) Miami Dolphins: CB Darien Porter (Iowa State)

99) New York Giants: CB Jacob Parrish (Kansas State)

100) San Francisco 49ers: RB Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)

101) Los Angeles Rams: CB Denzel Burke (Ohio State)

102) Detroit Lions: DL Deone Walker (Kentucky)