Post-free agency Top-10 NFL Mock Draft: Titans and Giants go quarterback, top pass-rusher slides

New head coach Ben Johnson loves to load up his offense with playmakers. He maximized the NFL’s best backfield duo with the Detroit Lions and will try to emulate that success with the Chicago Bears. Ashton Jeanty is the pick here, joining D’Andre Swift and creating a dynamic rushing attack to take pressure off QB Caleb Williams.

The New Orleans Saints are perpetually cap strapped, so they were unable to make any major additions in free agency. They did, however, add some talent in the secondary, somewhat negating their need to add to the defensive backfield in the draft. Instead, they plan for the future, drafting an absolute mauler in Missouri OT Armand Membou who could be a long-term solution for them at right tackle as they plan for life after Ryan Ramczyk.

The Carolina Panthers need help all over the place and are still trying to fill the void they opened up when they traded away Brian Burns last offseason. Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. is a pass-rusher of a similar vein, possessing freakish speed and athleticism to get after quarterbacks in a hurry.

TE Tyler Conklin doesn’t seem like he’s going to re-sign with the New York Jets and they could afford to upgrade the position either way. Tyler Warren is a rare talent that the Jets could plug into their offense to give new QB Justin Fields a dynamic group of playmakers that can attack the defense at all three levels. They would hope he has a Brock Bowers-level impact in year one.

The Las Vegas Raiders have more pressing needs, but with Abdul Carter somehow slipping down the board they simply can’t pass him up. The Raiders truly have needs everywhere and can use wholesale upgrades. They just signed star EDGE Maxx Crosby to a long-term extension, somewhat negating their need to add a premier pass-rusher. But what’s better than one star pass-rusher? Two star pass-rushers. Opposing offenses would have fits trying to gameplan to slow down both Crosby and Carter.

This is a case where talent meets need for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They need more talent in the trenches and, even though he’s undersized, Mason Graham is an absolute unit on the interior. The Jaguars’ run defense and pass rushing would be boosted with the addition of Graham.

The New England Patriots didn’t get to make the splash for a playmaker in free agency that they planned. Instead, they hold off and land one of the NFL Draft’s top wide receivers in Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. The 6-foot-5 wideout gives QB Drake Maye a big body to target in the passing game.

At the time of writing this, Aaron Rodgers still has not yet made his decision, but the Giants are reportedly “begging” him to sign. But what happens if he doesn’t? Do they sign Russell Wilson? Joe Flacco? Regardless of who they sign, all of their options are aging and nearing the twilight of their respective careers. They need to plan for the future. Shedeur Sanders gives them a potential long-term option at quarterback and, if they do sign one of these veterans, there will be no rush to shove him into the starting lineup.

The Cleveland Browns signed Myles Garrett to a mega-extension and, while that doesn’t necessarily take them out of the running to draft Abdul Carter, it could shift their focus more toward Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter. Whether they want to upgrade their secondary or add another playmaker alongside Jerry Jeudy, Hunter has the ability to make a rare impact wherever he is needed.

The biggest move in free agency was a lack of movement from the Tennessee Titans. They did frighteningly little to upgrade at quarterback, indicating that they could be planning on taking a signal-caller with the first-overall pick. Miami’s Cam Ward is the best QB in the draft class and could be a franchise changer for Tennessee.