The NFL Draft is an event held by the NFL (National Football League) every year. This is where all players from the college level are eligible to be drafted into the highest level of football. The draft is seven rounds and this year it will be held in Kansas City from April 27-29. Here is LHStoday’s mock draft of what each team may pick in the first round. 

1. CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Team: Carolina Panthers

Needs: (QB, WR, OL)

CJ Stroud will be the first pick in the NFL Draft as he has all attributes needed for the highest potential QB in the draft. He has good height, weight, and has some of the best athleticism out of the QB’s in the draft. He will also provide a player type similar to former QB Cam Newton with his athleticism and throw power.

2. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Team: Houston Texans

Needs: (QB, WR, EDGE)

Bryce Young will be the second pick in the NFL Draft as he might be the most overall complete QB in the draft. He provides an escability in the pocket and also high accuracy as well. However, some teams are concerned his height and ability to throw over big defensive backs.

3. Will Anderson Jr, EDGE, Alabama

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Needs: (EDGE, CB, WR)

Will Anderson Jr. will be the 3rd pick in the NFL Draft as he’s the most complete EDGE rusher and has very few flukes. He has good speed and acceleration, as well as good IQ on the line. The only weakness he’s believed to have is possible size issues with his weight.

4. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Needs: (QB, CB, OT)

Anthony Richardson will be the 4th pick in the NFL Draft as he’s the most athletic QB in the draft. He provides good throw power and escapability and speed in the pocket. This is exactly what the Colts have been lacking for years and will look to capitalize in the draft with Richardson. The only concerns are his accuracy and throw making abilities.

5. Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Needs: (QB, EDGE, DL)

Tyree Wilson will be the 5th pick in the NFL Draft as he’s one of the most complete EDGE’s in the draft. He provides speed, strength and good IQ on the line and can identify OL callouts. His weaknesses are accuracy on his arm chops and initial reaction off the snap.

6. Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

Team: Detroit Lions

Needs: (CB, EDGE, DL)

Lukas Van Ness will be the 6th pick in the NFL Draft as he’s one of the most physical and strongest EDGE’s in the draft. His size allows him to be very physical on the line and get a push as he stands 6ft 5in and 275LB. His weaknesses are that he has not proved to be able to handle a full game workload.

7. Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State

Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Needs: (OT, EDGE, TE)

Paris Johnson Jr will be the 7th pick in the NFL Draft because he has proved at Ohio State that he’s the best OL there and one of the best in the league. He provides good IQ and blocking identification on the OL. His weakness is that he struggles using some different moves.

8. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

Team: Atlanta Falcons

Needs: (QB, EDGE, WR)

Will Levis will be the 8th pick in the NFL Draft as the Falcons are in desperate need of finding their franchise guy. WIll Levis provides a very accurate football and good throw power. His Weaknesses are his athleticism and play making abilities.

9. Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

Team: Chicago Bears

Needs: (OT, EDGE, DL)

Peter Skoronski will be the 9th pick in the NFL Draft as the Bears will be looking to protect Justin Fields. Skoronski is agile, fast, and physical and will provide a nice bolster as the last great OT in the draft. His only weakness is marginal arm length and being over aggressive.

10. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Needs: (CB, EDGE, DL)

Devon Witherspoon will be the 10th pick in the NFL Draft as the Eagles make a surprising move to take one of the best players left, rather than taking DL. Devon Witherspoon provides great speed, ball watching and will fill some of the gaps of the Eagles. His weaknesses are physicality and ball watching.

11. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Team: Tennessee Titans

Needs: (OT, QB, WR)

Jaxon Smith will be the 11th pick in the NFL Draft because of his speed, catching and route running. The Titans will choose Jaxon Smith because they have been lacking WR talent ever since losing AJ Brown. This will provide them with hopefully a second weapon to Derrick Henry. His weaknesses are difficult catches and IQ.

12. Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia

Team: Houston Texans

Needs: (EDGE, QB, WR)

Jalen Carter will be the 12th pick in the NFL Draft because of his strength, finesse moves and speed. The Texans will add onto their QB with possibly one of the best DL in the draft. His only weakness is possible repetitive and singular moves.

13. Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

Team: New York Jets

Needs: (OT, OL, CB)

Broderick Jones will be the 13th pick in the NFL Draft, as that is their main need that they need to fill. As one of the teams that made the most moves during the offseason, they arguably are only missing OL fixes. Jones comes in as a very physical OL from Georgia and should provide a bolster to their strength on the OL.

14. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Team: New England Patriots

Needs: (DL, WR, CB)

Christian Gonzalez will be the 14th pick in the NFL Draft, as he’s one of the main best talents left in the draft. He has the athleticism they will be looking for along with length and height. His weakness is that he has only had one year of tough competition compared to some of the other cornerbacks in the draft.

15. Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU

Team: Green Bay Packers

Needs: (WR, TE, EDGE)

Quentin Johnson will be the 15th pick in the NFL Draft, and will help fill the Packers void on the WR side of the ball. He has good height, speed and is a good runner. His weaknesses are contested catches and his blocking abilities.

16. Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State

Team: Washington Commanders

Needs: (CB, TE, OT)

Joey Porter will be the 16th pick in the NFL Draft, and will help the commanders secondary in a massive way. He’s a very good cover slot corner and has good speed and strength. He struggles with back peddling and aggressiveness on runs.

17. Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Needs: (CB, LB, OT)

Anton Harrison will be the 17th pick in the NFL Draft as the Steelers look to protect their new QB Kenny Pickett and help the run game for the upcoming season. He has showed tremendous strengths in pass blocking and good length on the line. His weaknesses are hand placement and his leverage on rushes.

18. Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Team: Detroit Lions

Needs: (EDGE, DL, TE)

Dalton Kincaid will be the 18th pick in the NFL Draft as the Lions will need to fill a gap as they lost T.J. Hockenson during the season. Dalton is probably the best TE in the draft and has lots of speed, explosiveness and is a very talented prospect. His weakness is his blocking abilities on runs.

19. Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Needs: (EDGE, QB, CB)

Nolan Smith will be the 19th pick in the NFL Draft as he’ll provide a good rush to the Bucs defense. He has all the physical attributes you could want and also is one of the most physical in college football this year. However, he needs to work on more experience and better hand to hand combat.

20. Calijah Kancey, DL, Pittsburgh

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Needs: (EDGE, DL, QB)

Calijah Kancey will be the 20th pick in the NFL Draft and will help bulk up the seahawks DL. Calijah provides strength and flexibility to add to a developing line. He does lack mass and length as he’s 281 and only 6ft 1in.

21. Bijan Robinson, HB, Texas

Team: Los Angeles Chargers

Needs: (TE, DL, RB)

Bijan Robinson will be the 21st pick in the NFL Draft because he is the best RB in the draft and with Austin Ekeler requesting a trade. Bijan Robinson provides athleticism and good receiving abilities. His main weakness is running with power.

22. Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Needs: (WR, CB, EDGE)

Jordan Addison will be the 22nd pick in the NFL Draft as the Ravens have no clear WR1 and weapons for WR. He provides good route running and separation consistently. He does lack explosiveness and there is concern about his explosiveness after the catch.

23. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Team: Minnesota Vikings

Needs: (WR, CB, QB)

Zay Flowers will be the 23rd pick in the NFL Draft because after losing KJ Osborn the Vikings will look to add one of the last best WRs in the draft. Zay Flowers has tremendous speed and run after catch abilities. His weaknesses are his height and weight.

24. Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Needs: (EDGE, OT, TE)

Darnell Wright will be the 24th pick in the NFL Draft because the Jaguars will look to protect their “franchise” quarterback. He has good length and size as well as lots of experience as an OT. His weaknesses are he needs improvements on footwork.

25. Broederick Jones, OL, Georgia

Team: New York Giants

Needs: (WR, OL, CB)

Broederick Jones will be the 25th pick in the NFL Draft as the Giants will look to protect Daniel Jones. Broederick provides tremendous athleticism and has a high ceiling. However, there are concerns about limited experience at the position.

26. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Needs: (TE, OL, DL)

Michael Mayer will be the 26th pick in the NFL Draft because of the loss of Dalton Schultz in the offseason. Michael Mayer provides good catching and good blocking skills as well. His weaknesses are he lacks tremendous speed and he’s more of a possession catch receiver.

27. Bryan Breese, DL, Clemson

Team: Buffalo Bills

Needs: (DL, OL, LB)

Bryan Breese will be the 27th pick in the NFL Draft because they are looking to fill a small gap they lacked in the playoffs of getting to the QB. He provides lots of speed,quickness, and athleticism. His weakness is injuries as he has suffered lots of significant injuries over the last couple years.

28. Brian Branch, S, Alabama

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Needs: (TE, OL, S)

Brian Branch will be the 28th pick in the NFL Draft as the Bengals will look to address OL or TE but the picks they will look to get will be gone and they will instead have to take one of the best safeties in the draft. He will provide versatility and high IQ for a complex Lou Anarumo defense. His weaknesses so far is on ball coverage in man to man coverage.

29. Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

Team: New Orleans Saints

Needs: (EDGE, DL, WR)

Myles Murphy will be the 29th pick in the NFL Draft as the Saints will look to help Cam Jordan on the other side of the defensive line. He also provides them with versatility and unique finesse on the EDGE. His weakness is finishing after failed finesse moves and having secondary moves.

30. Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Needs: (EDGE, CB, S)

Emmanuel Forbes will be the 30th pick in the NFL Draft as the Eagles will be searching for a safety but if Brian Branch is gone they will look to Emmanuel Forbes. Emmanuel Forbes will also give them good depth at CB and because of Forbes versatility they will be able to shift him to S or CB depending on the situation. His weaknesses are his over aggressive plays and can cause him to blow coverage.

31. Mazi Smith, DL, Michigan

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Needs: (WR, OT, DL)

Mazi Smith will be the 31st pick in the NFL Draft because the Chiefs will look to bolster and add to the DL and rush. The Chiefs have Chris Jones but outside of him they do lack other rush in the pass and run game. Mazi provides extreme strength on the line and is an outstanding run stopper. He does however lack hand counters and late off the snap count.