This is part three of the sports staff’s mock draft. Read part one here and part two here.
** These picks were made on the night of April 8 and reflect the state of the league at that time**
22. Los Angeles Chargers — Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Los Angeles’ passing needs and the Jim Harbaugh connection make Michigan tight end Colston Loveland a straight-forward pick. Harbaugh, the Chargers’ head coach, led the Wolverines and Loveland through the 2023 season. Besides the Michigan connection, Los Angeles needed a dynamic young presence in its passing zones.
The Chargers acquired TE Tyler Conklin over the offseason and can pair him with TE Will Dissly, but they need a spirited addition to their offense. Loveland is just that. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, he is a strong, tall option for QB Justin Herbert to go to.
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With 56 catches, 582 yards and five touchdowns, Loveland was Michigan’s heartbeat last season. The Chargers should hope he will be theirs as well.
23. Green Bay Packers — Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Despite having gone over 20 years since choosing a wide receiver as their first pick, the Packers should do just that. Green Bay’s performance last season highlights just what they are missing.
Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins can make a splash for the Packers. Higgins split his collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky and Iowa State. This prepared him for the harsh winters one can expect in Green Bay.
At the combine, Higgins ranked as the No. 6 wide receiver, making him a viable option for the Packers with this pick. Higgins’ build will prove to be an asset to the Packers in the coming years with additional training and experience.
The wide receiver will aid the team offensively and hopefully have good chemistry with Jordan Love to create a new dynamic duo.
24. Minnesota Vikings — Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
Kenneth Grant, at 6-foot-3 and 339 pounds, has an excellent build for an interior defensive lineman. Signing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave is a good start to solving the interior defensive line problem for the Vikings. Still, with Allen being 30 and Hargrave 32, they could use some youth on the defensive line.
The defensive line is a position where teams need plenty of depth options, so adding some youth would be beneficial. Interior defensive linemen tend to be safer picks, so at 24, this is about as safe as it gets.
Finding a player who could develop under the two veterans and eventually take over would be perfect for Brian Flores’ defense.
25. Houston Texans — Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The offensive line was Houston’s biggest problem last season, with incessant pressure visibly affecting star quarterback C.J. Stroud during key moments.
The first round seems like a perfect time to address the issue. However, after losing Stefon Diggs in free agency and expecting Tank Dell to miss most of the season, the Texans need another wide receiver.
A better way to reinvigorate Stroud may be pairing him up with a former teammate, Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, in round one. Houston could work on revamping the offensive line with its three picks on day two (58, 79, 89).
26. Los Angeles Rams — Josh Simmons, T, Ohio State
While the Rams just re-signed tackle Alaric Jackson to a three-year contract extension, they still need more depth in their offensive line. Los Angeles also needs to start looking for a replacement for Rob Havenstein, whose contract ends after this season.
Selecting Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons would add an elite prospect to the Rams’ roster. Despite having his senior season cut short due to a knee injury in October, the tackle’s stats prior to injury set him apart as a top-15 pick. Even after his draft stock fell, Simmons remains a smart choice.
The senior has the right size for an outside player, measuring up at 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds with a 33-inch arm length. He is explosive and constantly improving. His athleticism will fit well with the Rams’ gap-scheme runs.
Simmons is equally effective at both right and left tackle, which will provide the Rams with versatility in their offensive lineup. He is also both a strong run and pass blocker. Prior to the senior’s injury, Simmons allowed no hits, no sacks and only one hurry over 158 pass-blocking snaps in his six games.
27. Baltimore Ravens — Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Illinois fans may remember this star safety from South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl, and Illinois is fortunate that Nick Emmanwori only played in one half. Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has had plenty of good picks over the years and would be ecstatic if the tremendously athletic Emmanwori fell to 27.
Baltimore loves athletes, and Emmanwori fits the bill. The safety stands at 6-foot-3 and still ran a speedy 4.38 40-yard dash with a 99th percentile vertical jump at the combine. Emmanwori is probably the best tackling defensive back in the draft, and pairing him with All-Pro Kyle Hamilton immediately gives Baltimore a top safety room in the league.
His ability to cover receivers also frees up the rest of the Ravensʼ secondary, making him an easy pick.
28. Detroit Lions — Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE, Boston
Going so late in the draft, Detroit should pick up the best possible choice remaining. At this point, Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku is just that. He ranked second in the FBS with 16.5 sacks and fourth with 21 tackles-for-loss.
The Eagle would help the Lions improve their pass rushing game. Detroit is solid when starter Aidan Hutchinson is active, but after suffering an injury, the talent gap between him and the backups was very noticeable. The franchise needs a player to pair with Hutchinson and bolster their defensive line.
Ezeiruaku has an athletic, flexible build paired with on-field intuition, which he leverages well. He creates good separation in the run game but is considered more of a pass-rush specialist.
At the combine, Ezeiruaku showcased his speed, having top times in the three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. This makes the graduating senior beneficial to the Lions’ high-blitzing defense.
29. Washington Commanders — James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee
The Commanders need more defense, specifically an edge rusher, to try and get to the opposing quarterback. Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr. will be the key first-round pick for the Commanders to fill their defensive need. In his three seasons as a Volunteer, Pearce Jr. has 19 sacks to his name.
With his 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, Pearce Jr. is quick on his feet. This makes him an asset to the Commanders’ defense in the upcoming years after the team’s recent struggles on outside defense.
30. Buffalo Bills — Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
The trade of cornerback Kaiir Elam to Dallas was a huge loss for Buffalo. The Bills need to fill that position quickly, and selecting Maxwell Hairston would do just that. Despite missing five games with a shoulder injury in 2024, Hairston remains as tough as they come.
He can play all forms of coverage, whether zone or man, is very agile and has the raw talent to become a starter in the NFL. An area he struggles with is his ability to locate the ball downfield consistently, but this can improve during training camp.
Most of the Bills’ biggest needs are on defense, and this pick would be a good start to the reload.
31. Kansas City Chiefs — Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Kansas City’s dramatic loss in Super Bowl LIX showed that it had more issues than its 15-2 regular season record let on. Aging stars across the board paired with trading All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thuney further illustrate that the Chiefs need fresh talent.
Jihaad Campbell’s draft profile has steadily risen in the months leading up to the draft. The linebacker now ranks as the 19th best prospect. As the team is on the board at No. 31, Campbell would be a steal despite the Chiefs not drastically needing the position.
32. Philadelphia Eagles — Walter Nolen, DL, Mississippi
If Walter Nolen slides to the Eagles, it would be an absolute steal. The 6-foot-3 defensive tackle had 14 tackles for loss and six-and-a-half sacks last season for Ole Miss. He has an extremely high motor and also has very high potential as a pass rusher.
Nolen would be a much-needed replacement on the defensive line for Philadelphia. The Eagles lost defensive end Milton Williams in free agency after his breakout 2024 season. Williams signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the New England Patriots.
Nolen would help shore up the defensive line, providing another young talent that could help the Eagles build for the future while simultaneously winning now.
