Welcome to Glass Slipper! The Atlanta Braves’ 0-162 Challenge is underway; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

**NOTICE: Glass Slipper will arrive on Wednesday and Friday next week.

We’re only 20 days away. It’s time to submit my preliminary mock NFL draft; I’ll only focus on the top 10 picks for now. Keep in mind, this isn’t necessarily what I think the teams should do. I’m simply predicting what will actually happen. Here we go.

Pick No. 1 (Titans): Cam Ward, Miami (FL) QB

Roger Goodell will be getting booed at that podium in less than three weeks, and Tennessee taking Ward still feels like the only absolute lock. In other words, we’re in for a really fun draft. Let’s keep it moving.

Pick No. 2 (Browns): Abdul Carter, Penn State EDGE

I firmly believe that Kirk Cousins is going to jog out as Cleveland’s Week 1 starter. Are you telling me he visited Northeast Ohio last week just for a pulled pork sandwich?

Kirk logged his only career playoff victory with Kevin Stefanski as his offensive coordinator, and those two will be happy to reunite. With a bridge quarterback in place, the Browns opt to create the league’s most lethal edge rusher duo. I wouldn’t be shocked if the front office has already begun scouting the 2026 class of signal-callers, which should be incredibly deep.

Pick No. 3 (Giants): Mason Graham, Michigan DT

Audible sighs of relief could be heard throughout Columbus when this man declared. I certainly let one out myself. He’s a fantastic, havoc-wreaking football player.

Imitation is the name of the game for struggling professional sports franchises; look at what the reigning champions are doing, and try to emulate it. Philadelphia built a juggernaut through stockpiling talent on its defensive line. Throw Graham into the mix with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, and Brian Burns, and the Giants suddenly own the nastiest front four in the NFL. Shane Bowen needs to abandon his beloved 3-4 base alignment to make it work, but I’d guess that he’s perfectly willing to accommodate the second-best prospect in the draft.

Pick No. 4 (Patriots): Travis Hunter, Colorado WR/CB

Admittedly, the Stefon Diggs and Carlton Davis signings make Hunter a little bit less of a necessity. With how boring these past few New England campaigns have been, I just can’t see the decision-makers letting a mesmerizing talent like Hunter slip past. 

Yes, keeping Drake Maye upright should be a priority. Mike Vrabel selected four offensive linemen in the top 70 during his Titans tenure, and none of them are particularly good. He should address the protection issues through trades this time around.

Pick No. 5 (Jaguars): Will Johnson, Michigan CB

It’s easy to forget that Jacksonville was a play away from a Super Bowl berth in January of 2018. Blake Bortles - who had a touchdown-to-interception ratio below 2.0 in every season of his career - was the quarterback, believe it or not.

How did this modern miracle occur? Quite simply, no one could catch a pass on Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye. The Jags start to try and recapture that magic in the secondary by taking Johnson, though I personally don’t believe he’s the premier corner in the class.

Pick No. 6 (Raiders): Ashton Jeanty, Boise State RB

This is fairly self-explanatory. Pete Carroll loves smash-mouth football, and Jeanty is one of the five best running back prospects of my lifetime.

Las Vegas might call this one into the league with nine minutes left on the clock.

Pick No. 7 (Jets): Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas OT

I think we get too cute when evaluating offensive linemen sometimes. I’m seeing a ton of buzz for Armand Membou in this spot, and I can’t say I quite understand. Banks was a far superior recruit, dominated on a better college team, and held up extremely well against a white-hot Ohio State pass rush to close his career. Let’s not overthink things here, New York.

Pick No. 8 (Panthers): Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona WR

Another logical one. Tet was at his best when Noah Fifita scrambled, and the hurry-up-and-get-open instincts took control. That aspect of McMillan’s game will continue to be on full display when he shares the huddle with my nifty prince Bryce Young.

Pick No. 9 (Saints): Shedeur Sanders, Colorado QB

I am so unbelievably sick of watching Derek Carr play this sport, and I trust that you feel the same way. 11 years, zero playoff victories. I’d love for someone to explain what he’s done to deserve a starting job in 2025.

You guys already know my opinion on Sanders. He’s QB1 on my board, regardless of how many anonymous sources try to sink his stock.

Kellen Moore will be jumping for joy in the war room if Shedeur is still available. New Orleans finally finds its franchise quarterback.

Pick No. 10 (Bears): Jalon Walker, Georgia EDGE

Whenever I watched Chicago last season, there was an alarming lack of speed on the field. Walker is an absolute freak; he’ll instantly provide some extra juice to a roster looking to hang tough in a historically-good NFC North.

Ryan Poles’ draft history is more brutal every time you look at it. He better nail this pick.

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