For the second year in a row, the NFL draft is loaded with QB prospects expected to go very early in the first round. Of note, most mock drafts have USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, and UNC’s Drake Maye going with the first three picks. Furthermore, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy is not expected to drop below#6. The draft seems to be equally loaded with elite receivers as Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers, and Washington’s Rome Odunze are expected to go in the top 10. Over time, QBs and WRs taken early in the draft have proven to be booms or busts. If history repeats itself, there will be at least two busts among this group. As of now, I’m going with the LSU duo of Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers as the most likely potential Top 10 Busts.
Projections
2023 T10B Mock NFL Draft
In a return to normalcy, the 2023 NFL Draft should be front-end loaded with up to four QBs going as a top ten overall pick. In contrast, the 4th QB didn’t go off the board until late in the 3rd round last year. With stellar college careers, the most likely top two picks include Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis didn’t have the same success on the field, but their raw talent has been cited when including them high in the draft. In addition to these four prospects, I have rounded out the 2023 Mock NFL Draft with DE Will Anderson Jr., DL Jalen Carter, DE Tyree Wilson, CB Devon Witherspoon, OL Peter Skoronski, and RB Bijon Robinson. So who are the potential busts? Don’t worry, that’ll come later.
2021 T10B MOCK NFL DRAFT
Prior to the 2018 NFL Draft, I predicted that four quarterbacks would go with the 1st four picks. The first four teams on the board didn’t need a new QB so I assumed some trades would occur. Apparently, I overestimated the desire/desperation for teams to trade-up because the 4th signal caller “only” went off the board with the 10th pick. I won’t make the same bold prediction this year, but I do believe that the 2021 NFL Draft will set a new standard with five QBs going with the first eight overall picks. Using history as a guide, I predict that one will be great, one will be good/very good, 1-2 will be OK, and 1-2 will bust. Let the fun begin!
2020 T10B MOCK NFL DRAFT
After a month-long shutdown of live sporting events due to COVID-19, the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft finally offers a “sporting event” worth watching live. This year’s draft coverage will either satiate our pent-up appetite for anything new or confirm that our lives remain on hold. The proverbial show must go on, so I offer my 2020 T10B Mock NFL Draft. As of now, the top 2 picks seem to be locks with LSU QB Joe Burrow going to the Cincinnati Bengals and OSU DE Chase Young going to the team based in our nation’s capital. After that, opinions differ depending on the perception of Alabama QB Tua Tagovailova’s health. At this point, I don’t care whether I’m right or wrong. I just want to return to some normalcy.
2019 NFL Draft – T10B Projections
I had finished writing most of this article prior to the start of the 2019 NFL season, but never posted it. Based on my prediction that 2019 #1 overall pick Kyler Murray has/had the best chance of being a bust, I presume you’ll trust me that I didn’t change my initial assessments. Even after watching Murray’s strong start to his career, which resulted in him being named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, I just don’t see him as another sub-6′ QB who can beat the odds.
2019 T10B MOCK NFL DRAFT
In the T10B 2018 Mock NFL Draft, I boldly predicted that four quarterbacks would go with the first four picks. I missed the mark with my prediction, but QBs still dominated the early part of the draft. Of note, teams selected four quarterbacks with top 10 picks for the first time in history. I believe that defensive players similarly will dominate the early part of the 2019 NFL Draft with at least five defensive linemen going in the top 10. At the same time, I predict that the draft will be remembered for a quarterback (i.e. Kyler Murray) who doesn’t live up to expectations.
2018 NFL DRAFT – FIRST IMPRESSIONS
In the 2018 NFL Draft, quarterbacks went with four of the top 10 overall picks for the first time in history. As a result, draft pundits will evaluate this year’s draft class based on the success or failure of QBs Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen. Running back Shaquon Barkley certainly will be part of the conversation, but likely in reference to how he performs relative to the three QBs taken after him. Hopefully, linebacker Shaquem Griffin is not just a footnote and gets remembered for having a successful NFL career despite missing his left hand. It’ll be at least five years before I can definitively declare any Top 10 Busts. In the meantime, I’ll offer my assessment of the early favorites.
2018 T10B MOCK NFL DRAFT
With respect to quarterbacks, the 1983 and 1999 draft classes stand out among the rest. Of note, a record six QBs went in the 1st round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Furthermore, teams took QBs with the first three and five of the top 12 overall picks in the 1999 NFL Draft. I believe the 2018 draft class will join these others in the record books based on the fervor surrounding this year’s crop of signal callers. Specifically, I predict that teams will use the top four 2018 draft picks on quarterbacks. Let the games begin!
2017 Potential Bust: Mitch Trubisky
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2017 NFL Draft, I offered my initial impressions of the first 10 overall picks. At that time, I commented that seven of those players raised red flags as potential underperformers. Out of those seven, I identified three as the most likely busts. Out of those three, I identified one as the most likely Top 10 Bust. Without further ado, I offer you Mitch “My Mom calls me Mitchell” Trubisky.
2017 NFL Draft: First Impressions
As a follow-up to the first ever T10B Mock Draft, I offer my initial assessment of the top 10 overall picks from the 2017 NFL Draft. After all, these players are the only ones drafted high enough to become Top 10 Busts. As of now, I predict that the top of this draft has the potential to be one of the worst ever. At the same time, this might be one of the deepest drafts ever. Don’t be surprised if many later-round picks surpass the careers of the players highlighted in this post.