The NFL draft is just around the corner, and teams are gearing up for another year of talent acquisition.
Let's take a closer look at which 15 players could potentially go in the top picks and the probable matchups given the order of pick for Round 1.
Caleb Williams, QB, USC. He is the No. 1 pick for Round 1. Chicago Bears get to pick first so they could very well snatch him. However, the Bears may always decide to trade out of No. 1.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU. He is projected to land with the Washington Commanders, who has a need for QB. Kliff Kingsbury may have worked with Williams but he should be able to tap into Daniels, who is a stellar prospect in his own right.
Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR, Ohio State. He is likely to end with the New England Patriots, who get to pick third. Although the Bears also need a WR, they are projected to use their advantage to secure the draft's No. 1 pick.
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington. He is perfect for the Arizona Cardinals, who is desperate for a quarterback-friendly boundary receiver.
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina. He is deemed as the third best QB in the lot, and the New York Giants need one. To get him, they are projected to trade up one spot.
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State. He could be an instant plus starter at right tackle. The Los Angeles Chargers could very well take him to support their build-the-trenches-early philosophy.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State. He is No. 7 pick for Round 1 and the Tennessee Titans would have good use for him as left tackle for Will Levis.
Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA. He would be perfect for the Atlanta Falcons, who have need of this NFL-ready outside rusher.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the NFL season is seeing which teams rise to the top of the league and which fall short over the course of the year.
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Malik Nabers, WR, LSU. He is No. 9 pick and the Chicago Bears get a perfect match - to fill a team need and the perfect partner for Williams.
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame. Although he is all set technically, Joe needs to get stronger. He will most likely end with the New York Jets, who gets 10th pick.
No Lack of Talent for Those Who Come Next
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan. He has the athleticism and plus arm talent that is needed for the QB spot requirement of the Minnesota Vikings.
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia. He is a quality route-runner who is at his best on slide routs in the flat, crossing routes, and anything that gets him moving across the field. Such an electric TE would have a significant impact on offense that Sean Payton would probably not pass on.
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama. At 13th pick, he is perfect for the Las Vegas Raiders. He is a fluid athlete who, in his final season with Alabama, became a ball-hawking corner. He would be a huge boost for the Raiders secondary.
JC Latham, OT, Alabama. He has an SEC pedigree at multiple positions so he'd be a smart selection for the New Orleans Saints.
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson. In 2023, he was around the football often in the air and is quite a sleek athlete on the perimeter. He is perfect for filling a current need of the Indianapolis Colts.
There are 32 spots for Round 1 but we only took a peak of the top 15.
It is also worth noting that the Cleveland Browns and the Carolina Panthers do not get to have a first round pick.
