Another NFL mock draft update

Lot of action with Kirk Cousins leaving MIN to go to ATL (my hometown team and given that Cousins just seems to be a genuinely good person and solid QB, I can't hate on him), MIN signing Sam Darnold to a 1-year deal (portending a QB in the draft), Jacoby Brisset to NE (another bridge with QB in the draft), Russell Wilson to PIT, and Justin Fields maybe missing out on the last spot in musical chairs (although maybe DEN, unless they ALSO trade up for a QB). 

With that said, a number of mocks were updated recently and here is a roundup of a few of them.

Long story short, JJ is mocked as high as #3 (!) and not lasting past the 11th pick (MIN currently, pending any trades). Of the 9 mocks I pulled, JJ's average position is #6. Five of the mocks have him going to MIN, two to NYG, one to NE, one to DEN.  It should be noted that all the ones updated on 3/11 or later peg him as a future Viking. 

As for DET, DE and DB are the popular first round picks, with one pick for an OL and one for a WR. 

Only one mock I pulled had a 2nd round, with 3 more Wolverines picked. 

USA Today (3/12)

• 1 CHI Caleb Williams
• 2 WAS Jayden Daniels
• 3 NE Drake Maye
• 4 ARI Marvin Harrison Jr
• 5 MIN (via LAC) JJ McCarthy
• Would Minnesota be content to trade to this spot knowing it might have to settle for its fourth choice to replace Kirk Cousins? Maybe a move wouldn't be reasonable until draft day, when general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Co. could see how the top few picks panned out. But going with Sam Darnold as a bridge option to start off 2024 while sitting and developing McCarthy seems like a relatively sound strategy for an organization that suddenly has had change behind center thrust upon it.
• 29 DET Darius Robinson (DE, Mizzou)
• The native of Southfield, Michigan, said at the NFL scouting combine it would be a "dream come true" to be taken by his hometown team. With the Lions adding Marcus Davenport opposite Aidan Hutchinson, Robinson could begin his career as part of a pass-rush rotation and hone his considerable physical tools at a moderate pace. 

CBS Sports has 5 different guys with mock drafts, so just putting in the landing spots for JJ and the DET picks. 

Ryan Wilson (3/5)

• 1 CHI Caleb Williams
• 2 WAS Jayden Daniels
• 3 NE JJ McCarthy (!!!)
• 4 ARI MHJr
• 5 MIN Drake Maye
• 29 DET Chop Robinson

Chris Trapasso (3/6)

• 1 CHI Caleb Williams
• 2 WAS Jayden Daniels
• 3 NE MHJr
• 4 ARI Rome Odunze
• 5 LAC Taliese Fuaga
• 6 NYG JJ McCarthy (in this mock, Drake Maye falls to 11 MIN)
• 29 DET Darius Robinson (DE, Mizzou)

Josh Edwards (3/7)

• 1 CHI Caleb Williams
• 2 WAS Drake Maye
• 3 NE Jayden Daniels
• 4 ARI MHJr
• 5 LAC Malik Nabors
• 8 DEN (from ATL) JJ McCarthy 
• 29 DET Jordan Morgan (NTJM - OT, Arizona)

Tom Fornelli (3/9)

• 1 CHI Caleb Williams
• 2 WAS Jayden Daniels
• 3 NE Drake Maye
• 4 ARI MHJr
• 5 MIN (from LAC) JJ McCarthy
• 29 DET Tyler Nubin (S, Minnesota)

Kyle Stackpole (3/4)

• 1 CHI Caleb Williams
• 2 WAS Drake Maye
• 3 NE Jayden Daniels
• 4 NYG (from ARI) JJ McCarthy
• 5 LAC MHJr
• 29 DET Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB, Alabama)

The Athletic (3/11)

• 1 CHI Caleb Williams
• 2 WAS Drake Maye
• 3 NE Jayden Daniels
• 4 ARI MHJr
• 5 CHI (from LAC) Rome Odunze
• 6 MIN (from NYG) JJ McCarthy

• It seems inevitable that a QB-needy team will leapfrog Atlanta (or which team ultimately holds the eighth pick) to ensure the next best prospect is still there.

  I have my qualms with the passer McCarthy is right now, relative to his draft stock, but he has some enticing tools — and he’s still early on his developmental curve. He would walk into a healthy offensive situation, and it’s possible Minnesota will have a bridge QB he can sit behind until he’s ready. After Chicago, this would be the best landing spot for a rookie QB.

• 29 DET Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB, Alabama)
• Detroit has a tight window of opportunity to stay at the top of the NFC, so don’t be surprised if GM Brad Holmes trades for L’Jarius Sneed and uses this pick on the best player available. Until free agency shakes out, though, cornerback is the biggest need on this roster. McKinstry doesn’t have eye-popping measurables or speed scores, but the SEC decided he wasn’t worth throwing at in 2023, because of how smooth and sticky he is in coverage.

The Draft Network (3/11)

 

• 1 CHI Caleb Williams
• 2 WAS Jayden Daniels
• 3 NE Drake Maye
• 4 ARI MHJr
• 5 MIN (from LAC) JJ McCarthy
• The Vikings should focus on resetting the QB position. Trading up to select a toolsy J.J. McCarthy to fit within Kevin O'Connell's offense with a great WR duo sounds like the move to make!
• 29 DET Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama)
• Dan Campbell has needed CBs for long enough. Terrion Arnold is the answer to their questions in the secondary. He fits the culture of toughness and grit. He is arguably the best mover in the class. Whether in pass coverage or run support, Arnold will bring everything to the fight.
• 42 LAC (from MIN) Blake Corum (totally something Harbaugh would do)
• 56 DAL Kris Jenkins
• 61 Detroit Mason McCormick (IOL, S Dakota St)
• 64 KC Mike Sainristil

PFF (3/11)

• 1 CHI Caleb Williams
• 2 WAS Jayden Daniels
• 3 NE Drake Maye
• 4 ARI MHJr
• 5 LAC Malik Nabers
• 11 MIN JJ McCarthy

• Minnesota’s quarterback situation is in serious flux if recent rumors of Kirk Cousins’ departure are true. McCarthy lands in an ideal situation with a team that finished 2023 in the top eight in pass-blocking and receiving grades. The Vikings also have an elite play caller in Kevin O’Connell who would use McCarthy’s athleticism to his advantage.

• 29 DET Adonia Mitchell (WR, Texas)

• The Lions have needs on defense, but this mock hasn’t fallen their way on that front. Instead, they opt to upgrade an outside receiver spot with Josh Reynolds possibly leaving in free agency. Nobody throws in routes better than Jared Goff. And nobody in this draft class runs in routes better than Adonai Mitchell. While it isn’t quite that simple, Mitchell would bring a size-speed element that the Lions don’t currently possess.