by Welcome to the Friday edition of the With the First Pick newsletter, and I hope you’re not intermittently fasting because this newsletter will overload you with content calories to feed your voracious NFL Draft appetite.
If you ever hear Kirk Cousins use this amazing new-age dad joke, all I ask is that you remember where you first heard it.
As for the newsletter, if you missed last week’s launch, we’re rebranding the Pick Six newsletter until the end of April. And I, Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports NFL Draft Analyst, will be with you every step of the way. The sole purpose of this daily newsletter is to follow everything that happens in the NFL and turn it into a draft angle. I’m telling you: this is the place to get the latest information on all things draft.
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Today’s mock NFL draft 🔮: Colts trade, still get a QB!
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Tom Fornelli, in his wealth of college football expertise, has released yet another sim, and it’s a blast. Pete Carroll and John Schneider get mildly aggressive to land Geno Smith’s heir apparent, Colts trade – not up! – and still lands a quarterback, and Quentin Johnston swaps his cowboy boots for flip flops after being drafted by the Chargers – a very sensible and fun landing spot that I haven’t seen in many sims for the TCU star.
Also, the Bengals go 2-for-1 on the offensive line with Ohio State’s Dawand Jones, as Jones is about the size of two offensive linemen. OK, I’ve already said too much. Read Tom’s Outstanding Mockup Here.
‘With the First Pick’ Podcast 🎧: Live Simulation with Josh Edwards
The latest episode features a live draft with a guest appearance from CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Josh Edwards. Ryan Wilson, Rick Spielman and Josh went through the 31 picks in the first round, and after a few early chalk picks, there was something of a curve with the Lions pick at No. 6 overall. And where does Bijan Robinson land?! Everyone always wants to know where they were chosen. In this three-way simulation, it’s Baltimore with the Ravens. GOOD MORNING! Listen to the full episode here.
Prospect of the day 📈: Clayton Tune, QB, Houston
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- Notable combination results: 4.64 in 40 yard dash, 37.5 in vertical, 10 ft 2 in wide, 6.89 tri cone
- Combine measures: 6 feet 2 5/8″ and 220 pounds
- Current CBS Sports Prospect Rankings: No. 175
The only quarterbacks you’ve heard of in the last three months are Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis and, most recently, Hendon Hooker. But there are more quarterback prospects in this class, I promise! Time to point out Mr. Tune, who happens to be my QB5 – over Hooker – in this class.
Tune can really spin it and somehow flies well under the radar as an athlete despite a litany of awesome scrambles and designed-on-film runs plus combined training that led to a relative athletic score of 9.79 (out of 10) at quarterback. Tune doesn’t have a mammoth arm, but that’s good enough, and he’s very comfortable breaking out of the pocket to use his legs or make precise throws while running.
At nearly 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Tune attempted nearly 1,500 passes during his college career with a 63.9% completion rate, an average of 8.0 yards per attempt and 104 touchdowns for 41. interceptions. To me, Tune is the midrange quarterback you want your team to grab because he has the tools and the experience to outplay his draft position. Read Tune’s full football scouting report here. We compared him to Marcus Mariota!
Bears seven-round mock draft: Chicago charges for Fields 👀
I have to end this week with another team-centric seven-round simulation. Let’s descend on the Windy City for a critical draft for GM Ryan Pace and QB Justin Fields. THE first three selections in Bryan Deardo’s Bears simulation would you have thought Chicago doesn’t prioritize guns enough around Fields — although DJ Moore was added this offseason. But from Round 3 through the rest of the draft, Bryan sends four skill position players to Chicago with two total offensive linemen.
News and notes 📝
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- Are the bills eyeing up? According to an ESPN report, the Bills ‘express interest’ in rising trade from their place in the first round to No. 27 overall. What position would they target? Must be offensive, right? A wide receiver? Or maybe a blocker like Darnell Wright of Tennessee or O’Cyrus Torrence of Florida?
- Veteran defensemen sign with Jets and Panthers. Later Thursday, the The Jets have signed veteran defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson and the Panthers continued their rebuilding with longtime security/corner Eric Rowe. Naturally, these additions mitigate the need for these positions for New York and Carolina in the draft.
- Ex-Cardinals GM talks about DeAndre Hopkins. Former Arizona general manager Steve Keim, the man who traded for DeAndre Hopkins in 2020, says “The problem is his current contract” when discussing why the star receiver was not traded. Maybe something is happening on that front closer or during the draft?
- Packers, Dolphins were nearly traded for Darren Waller last offseason. On the “Pat McAfee Show”, Waller’s agent Drew Rosenhaus said “Darren was almost traded last offseason. I think the Packers and Dolphins were very interested.” Okay then. Maybe a tight end early for those clubs in the draft?
