The Serby Mock 3.0 has four quarterbacks in the top six and a small fall for beleaguered problem child Jalen Carter, a surprise Eagles pick, a new offensive tackle for the Jets and a much-needed center for Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.
Picks 1-20, plus Big Blue’s selection at 25:
1. Carolina Panthers (from Bears)
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Owner David Tepper has turned to Frank Reich to develop a franchise quarterback who can threaten in the weak NFC South. Does Tepper prefer Young who checked in at the combine at a Kyler Murrayesque 5-foot-10 ¹/₈, 204 pounds? Does Reich prefer C.J. Stroud, partly because he’s 6-foot-3? Reich knows quarterbacks. Tepper’s net worth exceeds $16.7 billion. He wasn’t sitting at No. 9 waiting to solve his quarterback eyesore. Whoever it is, get him some weapons, fellas.
2. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
New coach Demeco Ryans gets himself a leader and an accurate passer, and 41 touchdowns against six interceptions is 41 TDs against six INTs wherever you play.
Bryce YoungGetty Images3. Indianapolis Colts (from Cardinals)*
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Jim Irsay and new coach Shane Steichen should be quite wary of the Seahawks, Lions, Raiders and Falcons, all of whom could be desperate for a young franchise quarterback. So they move up one spot for a rifle-armed gunslinger with size for a coach who helped develop Jalen Hurts.
4. Arizona Cardinals (from Colts)*
Will Anderson, OLB, Alabama
New coach Jonathan Gannon is happy to do business with Steichen, his former Eagles brother, and land a high-character predator with double-digit sack promise with J.J. Watt gone but not forgotten.
5. Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Coach Pete Carroll doesn’t need Boy Scouts to make life miserable for San Francisco RB Christian McCaffrey. If he can get through to the best player in the draft and whip him into shape, the reward will be worth the risk.
6. Detroit Lions
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell have upgraded their secondary and added RB David Montgomery to replace Jamaal Williams, and can afford to plan for life after Jared Goff with this 6-foot-4, 244-pound specimen.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Jimmy Garoppolo is no Eli Manning when it comes to showing up on game day, so don’t worry about this versatile stud’s short arms.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Tyree Wilson, DE/OLB, Texas Tech
A 6-foot-6, 276-pounder with an 86-inch wingspan for a team that hasn’t reached 30 sacks four years running. Gotta scare Derek Carr, right?
Jaxon Smith-NjibaAP9. Chicago Bears
Jaxon Smith-Njiba, WR, Ohio State
GM Ryan Poles is the leader in the clubhouse for Executive of the Year for the haul he received for the first-overall pick, which included WR D.J. Moore. Don’t stop there, give Justin Fields a dynamic Buckeye to target.
10. Philadelphia Eagles
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
No one expects GM Howie Roseman to pull the trigger on a running back. And maybe the predraft visit means nothing. But this gifted 6-foot, 220-pounder would sure help Jalen Hurts more than Rashaad Penny, wouldn’t he?
11. Tennessee Titans
Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
A power player to battle newly signed LT Andre Dillard to replace Taylor Lewan, and Derrick Henry hasn’t been traded, right?
12. Houston Texans
Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa
A new toy for his new quarterback will be considered because new WRs Robert Woods and Noah Brown joining Nico Collins doesn’t move the needle, but DE Jerry Hughes turns 35 in August, and Ryans has to find a way to hound Trevor Lawrence.
Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright.AP13. New York Jets
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
A 6-foot-6, 335-pound mountain with 5.01 speed who can block out the sun, which can make a certain 39-year-old quarterback who enjoys darkness feel right at home. A RT bookend for Mekhi Becton, if the light goes on for him and he can reclaim LT.
14. New England Patriots
Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
Newly signed journeyman RT Riley Reiff is 34. Bill Belichick has gotten Mac Jones new playmakers (WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and TE Mike Gesicki), now he should get him a young protector.
15. Green Bay Packers
Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
GM Brian Gutekunst should do everything in his power to aid and abet Jordan Love. The Pack have a ground game to take some heat off Rodgers’ successor with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, and here is a complete 6-foot-4, 265-pounder to replace Robert Tonyan’s 53 receptions.
Devin Witherspoon looks to make a play against MichiganAP16. Washington Commanders
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The run on corners starts later than expected with a physical 5-foot-11, 180-pound baller who should have a shot at beating out Cameron Dantzler Sr., who was cut by the Vikings and will be a free agent following the season. Ron Rivera needs help covering A.J. Brown and DaVonta Smith and CeeDee Lamb, right?
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Terrible Towel loyalists could be disappointed the pick wasn’t CB Joey Porter Jr., son of their former linebacker, but this is an athletic, 6-foot-2, 201-pounder with 4.38 speed who can be tutored by Patrick Peterson, and match up with Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase and Amari Cooper.
18. Detroit Lions
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
Holmes upgraded the secondary in free agency for defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Campbell figures to love this bowling ball of butcher knives who isn’t Aaron Donald, but who is? A 6-foot, 280-pound partner in crime with 4.67 speed for Aidan Hutchinson.
Minnesota offensive lineman John Michael Schmitz Jr.AP19. Tampa Buccaneers
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Jamel Dean stayed, but Sean Murphy-Bunting left for Tennessee, so Todd Bowles gets a long 6-foot-2, 194-pounder to replace him.
20. Seattle Seahawks
Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Comeback Player of Year Geno Smith got a new contract, and now he gets a new weapon to join DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
25. New York Giants
John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
He’s a former wrestler who can be a plug-and-play starter with Jon Feliciano and Nick Gates gone. A Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll culture fit. No change from Mock 2.0.
* projected trade
