Welcome to Glass Slipper! Woke up thinking about Will Howard to Jeremiah Smith; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

The evaluation process is coming to an end, and so is the relentless stream of rumors and speculation. Tonight, the smoke finally clears.

It’s time to submit my official mock draft for Round 1. Remember, I’m not telling you what the organizations should do. I’m simply predicting what will actually unfold in a few hours. Here we go.

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

It’s impossible not to feel happy for the kid. From zero stars to the first pick in the draft; that’s Hollywood stuff.

Pick No. 2 (Browns): Travis Hunter, Colorado WR/CB

The cute early-season battles against Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi are over, pal. Now you’re covering Justin Jefferson and trying to beat Jaire Alexander. Time to prove it one more time.

Pick No. 3 (Giants): Abdul Carter, Penn State EDGE

This is probably the most sensible selection, but it won’t be the one that rescues Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen from unemployment.

Pick No. 4 (Patriots): Will Campbell, LSU OT

I don’t really like this at all. It’s been 15 years since a New England offensive tackle made the Pro Bowl, and I’m not confident that Campbell is going to end the drought.

Pick No. 5 (Jaguars): Mason Graham, Michigan DT

When in doubt, fortify things in the trenches. I lost several hours of sleep worrying about Graham throughout his collegiate career.

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

Not even kidding, I think Pete Carroll accepted the Raiders job because he knew that they were picking in Jeanty range.

A dream fit.

Pick No. 7 (Jets): Tyler Warren, Penn State TE

Those who don’t watch Big Ten football will say that it’s too early for Warren, and they’re wrong. Justin Fields gets a big target with soft hands.

Pick No. 8 (Panthers): Jalon Walker, Georgia EDGE

It’s a borderline lock at this point. His instincts are awesome.

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

After Deion spent the 90s putting New Orleans in a torture chamber, his son gets tasked with rejuvenating the franchise. Irony is a beautiful thing.

Pick No. 10 (Bears): Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas OT

Chicago nabs the best tackle in the class, and completes its massive overhaul on the offensive line. No excuses for Caleb Williams.

Pick No. 11 (Niners): Will Johnson, Michigan CB

Robert Saleh is back in town, and the man loves himself a tall corner. He developed a special bond with Richard Sherman during his first stint as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator, then did the same thing with Sauce Gardner in New York; Saleh is probably drooling over Johnson’s tape as we speak.

Pick No. 12 (Cowboys): Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona WR

Because Dallas gets so many primetime games, things are more fun when its offense is electric. Let’s get CeeDee Lamb a little help.

Pick No. 13 (Dolphins): Armand Membou, Missouri OT

Name two offensive linemen employed by Miami. Yeah. No further explanation necessary.

Pick No. 14 (Colts): Jihaad Campbell, Alabama LB

Campbell kept growing on me throughout 2024, partly because there were moments where he seemed like the only Tide defender who actually cared.

He’ll be around for the next decade.

Pick No. 15 (Falcons): Mykel Williams, Georgia EDGE

He was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, and went to school in Athens. With Atlanta in need of an edge rusher, I see no reason to move Mykel out of his home state now.

Pick No. 16 (Cardinals): Walter Nolen, Ole Miss DT

I would venture to guess that 52-year-old Calais Campbell is not the long-term answer on the interior. Arizona continues to bulk up its roster with sheer mass.

Pick No. 17 (Bengals): Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College EDGE

Cincinnati has gotten burned repeatedly by prioritizing measurables on defense. The front office finally pays attention to production here, and takes the man who led the Power Four in sacks last season.

Pick No. 18 (Seahawks): Colston Loveland, Michigan TE

Mike Macdonald obviously has a link to the Wolverines, but this is more about how pedestrian Noah Fant is as a player. Seattle desperately needs to upgrade the receiving corps, especially after DK Metcalf whined his way out of town.

Pick No. 19 (Buccaneers): Mike Green, Marshall EDGE

Tampa Bay has seemingly been eyeing Ezeiruaku throughout this entire draft process. Cincy steals him, and Jason Licht has no choice but to settle for Green.

Pick No. 20 (Broncos): Omarion Hampton, North Carolina RB

No NFL team needs a running back more than Denver. Hampton will walk into the building as the unquestioned starter.

Pick No. 21 (Steelers): Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss QB

This has to be a quarterback. Right? Cam Heyward is 35 and TJ Watt is 30; there is absolutely no more time to waste.

Pick No. 22 (Chargers): Matthew Golden, Texas WR

Giving the best wideout in the draft to Jim Harbaugh makes me want to vomit, but Justin Herbert deserves a true No. 1 option.

I think Golden is a superstar.

Pick No. 23 (Packers): Nic Scourton, Texas A&M EDGE

Let’s all just stop pretending that Lukas Van Ness is good at this sport. Deal? Even positive-thinking Green Bay folks know deep down that he’s going to be in the UFL before his 28th birthday. I love how hard Scourton competes.

Pick No. 24 (Vikings): Jahdae Barron, Texas CB

Barron was - without question - the nation’s top corner this past year. Brian Flores will be prancing around his house in celebration tonight.

Pick No. 25 (Texans): Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State WR

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith. Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle. Reuniting a young quarterback with a beloved college target works; Houston immediately grabs its Stefon Diggs replacement.

Pick No. 26 (Rams): Josh Simmons, Ohio State OT

I bumped into Josh on Ohio State’s campus over the summer, and he’s quite a lovely kid. His natural athleticism should translate well to the league.

Pick No. 27 (Ravens): Kenneth Grant, Michigan DT

Baltimore doesn’t really have any holes, so it’s prudent to build depth on the defensive front. Bothering Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen in January requires a fleet of talented dudes.

Pick No. 28 (Lions): Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M EDGE

Few general managers have accrued enough goodwill with their fan base to spend a first-round pick on an edge rusher with 4.5 sacks in 37 career games and not receive criticism. Fortunately, Brad Holmes has more than earned the benefit of the doubt in Detroit.

Pick No. 29 (Commanders): Malaki Starks, Georgia S

A safety finally comes off the board, and the collective groan from Philadelphia is audible throughout the country.

Starks will contribute right away.

Pick No. 30 (Bills): James Pearce Jr., Tennessee EDGE

There are apparently some significant character concerns with Pearce, so I like the idea of inserting him into a rigid, established, winning culture. Joey Bosa missed 23 of his final 48 regular season games with the Chargers; Buffalo has to be prepared in case he gets hurt again.

Pick No. 31 (Chiefs): Donovan Jackson, Ohio State OG

This would make me awfully sad, but the fit is perfect. Take it easy on my Bengals, sir.

Pick No. 32 (Eagles): Tyler Booker, Alabama OG

Howie Roseman could literally draft Thanasis Antetokounmpo here, and we would have no choice but to talk ourselves into it. His draft history is that good. Instead of getting cocky, he’ll just usher another stud into Jeff Stoutland’s room.

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