Cote: Our NFL Draft analysis, Dolphins’ weird pick & Cote vs. Kiper final Mock Draft scorecard
OUR FULL 34TH ANNUAL OFFICIAL MIAMI HERALD MOCK DRAFT
Welcome to our online-only NFL Draft-night analysis, live and as it-happens, updated within seconds of every pick in the first round of Thursday night’s talent show in Green Bay.
You heard it talked about on today’s Dan Le Batard Show and discussed by The Athletic’s NFL insider Diana Russini -- now experience it for yourself.
We’ll have a reaction to every selection and give you an ongoing MDRC (Mock Draft Report Card) on how my 34th annual Miami Herald mock is faring (just for laughs) vs. the last mock I have seen from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., arguably the king of mock drafts ... or at least the most noted.
Last year I scored a whopping nine Exactos a.k.a. Zagacktos a.k.a perfect bull’s-eye picks: Exact player to exact team or in exact draft order. That beat Kiper. Can I do it again? We differ on 22 of 32 1R picks, so it’s anybody’s game.
Couple of quick notes: I do one and only one mock draft per year, first round only, do not attempt to predict 1R-related trades, and do not change what first appears online. I have a personal disdain for mockers who do multiple drafts, (Mock 7.0!), pick all seven rounds or try to predict trades. It’s asinine.
The past eight years my mock drafts have totaled 49 Exactos. Overall last year I correctly had 26 of 32 first-round selections.
Explaining the three designations you’ll see below tonight:
EXACTO! -- A bull’s-eye, a perfect pick: Right player to right team or in exact position.
GREEN CHECK -- A correct first-round player, but not to the right team.
‘X’ MARK -- A player drafted who was not in my first round.
(I wanted to have little illustrations of those three but I’m a Luddite and couldn’t figure out how to insert a photo that wasn’t so improperly pixilated the Exacto bull’s-eye was the size of a toaster.)
Below is our Mock Draft heading in. I’ll be on the clock all night and hope you’ll join us for the fun ride or check back in frequently. Almost time... is time ...
WE’RE LIVE!!
Roger Goodell gets booed by Green Bay and tourist-fans even while riding a bicycle on stage. Delicious.
Big question: How far will Shedeur Sanders tumble? Out of the first round entirely? Love to be a fly on the wall wherever Deion is right now.
Four first-round trades avoided tying the low of three, last in 1971.
▪ 1. EXACTO! Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami — OH WOW! Kidding. Most everybody had this. Ward is Miami Hurricanes’ third-ever overall No. 1 selection, joining QB Vinny Testaverde in 1987 and DT Russell Maryland in 1991. Ward also will be TLMOTFOTE (The Luckiest Man On The Face Of The Earth) -- the best QB in a bad QB-draft. Woulda been fourth or fifth at the position one year ago. Timing, baby!
Scoreboard: Cote: 1-1, 1 Exacto. Kiper, same pick: 1-1, 1 Exacto.
▪ 2. EXACTO! TRADE: Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado — Blockbuster move up from 5 to take the two-way star. Bold move for Jax. Logic says Hunter will settle primarily on one side of ball and dabble on the other. Love the shocking-pink suit, Trav.
Scoreboard: Cote: 2-2, 2 Exactos. Kiper, same pick: 2-2, 2 Exactos.
▪ 3. EXACTO! New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State — Another expected, smart pick. Never bought the speculation NYG was considering Shedeur Sanders this high, especially after signing Russell Wilson as a stop-gap. Carter grew up cheering for Eagles. I think Giants fans will forgive him.
Scoreboard: Cote: 3-3, 3 Exactos. Kiper, same pick: 3-3, 3 Exactos.
▪ 4. EXACTO! New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU — First pick with at least some doubt around it, but we’re 4-for-4 on Zagackis, baby. Drake Maye will sleep well tonight and fall asleep smiling.
Scoreboard: Cote: 4-4, 4 Exactos. Kiper, same pick: 4-4, 4 Exactos. (Mel and I have same guys for first nine picks but then we wildly differ. Buckle up.)
▪ 5. EXACTO! TRADE: Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan — Moved down from 2 but gave Greg another bull’s-eye. Smart trade down. And yet another QB-needy team passes on Sanders.
Scoreboard: Cote: 5-5, 5 Exactos. Kiper, same pick: 5-5, 5 Exactos.
▪ 6. EXACTO! Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State — Vegas scores a quick fix for what was worst run-game in NFL last year. And me and Mel ares smokin’ early.
Scoreboard: Cote: 6-6, 6 Exactos. Kiper, same pick: 6-6, 6 Exactos.
▪ 7. EXACTO! New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri — The picks get harder. Felt good about this one, but not quite as confident as the first six. Still got it. Justin Fields is high-fiving somebody.
Scoreboard: Cote: 7-7, 7 Exactos. Kiper, same pick: 7-7, 7 Exactos.
▪ 8. GREEN CHECK Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona -- Picks coming in fast. Love it. First misstep. Had Georgia edge Jalon Walker going here (so’d Kiper) and McMillan at 12 to Dallas. Kiper had McMillan going 20. He’s the guy who says he doesn’t love football or film study that much. (McMillan, not Kiper.)
Scoreboard: Cote: 8-8, 7 Exactos. Kiper: 8-8, 7 Exactos.
▪ 9. GREEN CHECK New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT/G, Texas: I had Saints taking QB Sanders here, although that pick didn’t age real well. Kiper did, too. I had Banks going 11; Kiper had him going 18. Banks was a guy Dolphins were considering at 13.
Scoreboard: Cote: 9-9, 7 Exactos. Kiper: 9-9, 7 Exactos.
▪ 10. EXACTO! Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan — Nailed it. Kiper did not; he had a fellow TE, Tyler Warren. I have taken the night’s first Mock lead!
Scoreboard: Cote: 10-10, 8 Exactos. Kiper: 10-10, 7 Exactos.
▪ 11. GREEN CHECK San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia .Kelvin Banks Jr., OT/G, Texas — I had Banks here; he went at 9. Kiper had Will Johnson, not yet taken. I had Williams going; Mel had him 23.
Scoreboard: Cote: 11-11, 8 Exactos. Kiper: 11-11, 7 Exactos.
▪ 12. GREEN CHECK Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama -- I had McMillan here, who went at 8; Kiper had Omarian Hampton, not yet taken. I had Booker going 18, Mel had him undrafted in first round -- the first X mark of the night!
Scoreboard: Cote: 12-12, 8 Exactos. Kiper: 11-12, 7 Exactos.
▪ 13. ‘X’ MARK MIAMI DOLPHINS: KENNETH GRANT, DT, MICHIGAN -- A real surprise. I had Fins taking Michigan CB Will Johnson here (at least I got the school right). Kiper had Miami taking Texas CB Jahdae Barron. Neither of us had Grant going in the first round (!). A supposed knee issue scared teams off Johnson, apparently. I’d mentioned other possibilities if they were available and if Fins stayed at No. 13 as: Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Alabama OG Tyler Booker, South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori, Texas CB Jahdae Barron and Ole Miss D-lineman Walter Nolen. Liked Nolen as the position pick much more than Grant, as did most draft rankings. A trade-down loomed possible as Miami used more time to pick than any team thus far, and for this!? Miami needed a CB or OG more. First “reach” of the draft. Said Kiper: “The Dolphins could have had Will Johnson. They could have had Jahdae Barron. If they do trade Jalen Ramsey, their cornerback room would include Kader Kohou, Storm Duck, Cam Smith and Ethan Bonner. That’s a problem, and Miami opted to skip the position to draft a nose tackle.” Fins surely will tackle CB and OG/T in second or third rounds today. They’d better.
Scoreboard: Cote: 12-13, 8 Exactos. Kiper: 11-13, 7 Exactos.
▪ 14. EXACTO! Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State — My 9th perfect pi for a 9-7 Exactos lead over Kiper! He had Loveland here, same position, who went at 10.
Scoreboard: Cote: 13-14, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 12-14, 7 Exactos.
▪ 15. GREEN CHECK Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia -- Walker fell; Kiper and I both had him going at 8. And both of us had Marshall edge Mike Green here.
Scoreboard: Cote: 14-15, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 13-15, 7 Exactos.
▪ 16. GREEN CHECK Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss -- This guy was rated higher in most mocks than the DT Miami took. I had Texas CB Jahdae Barron here; Kiper had Texas WR Matthew Golden. I had Nolen going at 30. Kiper had him undrafted in 1R as my lead over Mel inches bigger.
Scoreboard: Cote: 15-16, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 13-16, 7 Exactos.
▪ 17. GREEN CHECK Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M -- Bengals get an underachiever. I had Georgia edge Mykel Williams here Kiper had Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell. I had Stewart going 28 and Kiper slotted him 29.
Scoreboard: Cote: 16-17, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 14-17, 7 Exactos.
▪ 18. ‘X’ MARK Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State -- An outright 1R miss for me, only my second. I had Alabama OG Tyler Booker here; right position, at least. Booker went at 12. Kiper had Banks here (he went at 9), but did have Zabel, at 22.
Scoreboard: Cote: 16-18, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 15-18, 7 Exactos.
▪ 19. ‘X’ MARK Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State -- I had Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell here (still undrafted) and Kiper had South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori (also not yet taken). Neither of us had Egbuka as first rounder.
Scoreboard: Cote: 16-19, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 15-19, 7 Exactos.
▪ 20. GREEN CHECK Denver Broncos: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas -- I had North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton here, still undrafted; Kiper had McMillan, who went at 8. I had Barron going at 16 and Kiper 13.
Scoreboard: Cote: 17-20, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 16-20, 7 Exactos.
▪ 21. ‘X’ MARK Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon -- I had Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart here, and did not have Harmon in my first round. Kiper scored an Exacto with Harmon. Score gettin’ tight!
Scoreboard: Cote: 17-21, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 17-21, 8 Exactos.
▪ 22. GREEN CHECK Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina -- I had Texas WR Matthew Golden here and Hampton going 20. Kiper had Zabel here (he went 18) and Hampton 12.
Scoreboard: Cote: 18-22, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 18-22, 8 Exactos.
▪ 23. GREEN CHECK Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas -- Good pick. I had Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. here and Golden going one higher at 22. Kiper had Williams here (he went 11), and had Golden going 16.
Scoreboard: Cote: 19-23, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 19-23, 8 Exactos.
▪ 24. ‘X’ MARK Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State -- I had Ole Miss CB Trey Amos here, yet undrafted. Kiper hit a bull’s-eye with Jackson to tie us on Exactos.
Scoreboard: Cote: 19-24, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 20-24, 9 Exactos.
▪ 25. GREEN CHECK TRADE New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss -- Giants traded back into first round as Houston traded out. I had Ohio State OT Josh Simmons here; Kiper had Oregon OT Josh Conerly. Neither Josh has yet been taken. I had Dart going at 20 and Kiper had him 26. Dart going here likely means no first round for Shedeur Sanders. Wow.
Scoreboard: Cote: 20-25, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 21-25, 9 Exactos.
▪ 26. GREEN CHECK TRADE Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee -- Atlanta traded back in as Los Angeles Rams bowed out of 1R. I had Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston going here and Kiper had Dart. I had Pearce going 23 and Kiper had him 32.
Scoreboard: Cote: 21-26, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 22-26, 9 Exactos.
▪ 27. GREEN CHECK Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia -- Ouch. I had a different safey, Nick Emmanwori of South Carolina, going here and Starks going at 32. Kiper nailed the Starks pick here. I need a strong finish!
Scoreboard: Cote: 22-27, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 23-27, 10 Exactos.
▪ 28. ‘X’ MARK Detroit Lions: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State -- A surprise niether Kiper nor I had in 1R. I had Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart here; her went 17. Kiper had Boston College LB Donovan Ezeiruaku here; he remains unpicked.
Scoreboard: Cote: 22-28, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 23-28, 10 Exactos.
▪ 29. ‘X’ MARK Washington Commanders: Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon -- I had Texas A&M edge Nic Scourton here and Conerly not in my first round. Kiper had Stewart here (he went 17) and Conerly at 25.
Scoreboard: Cote: 22-29, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 24-29, 10 Exactos.
▪ 30. ‘X’ MARK Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky -- I had Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen here (he went 16) and did not have Hairston in my 1R. Kiper nailed it with Hairston here. I am conceding the night to Junior. I did really well with nine Exactos. Kiper did better.
Scoreboard: Cote: 22-30, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 25-30, 11 Exactos.
▪ 31. GREEN CHECK TRADE Philadelphia Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama -- Birds traded up one spot from 32. I had Missouri WR Luther Burden III here and Campbell going 19. Kiper had Ohio State T Josh Simmons here (he is undrafted) and Campbell going 17.
Scoreboard: Cote: 23-31, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 26-31, 11 Exactos.
▪ 32. GREEN CHECK TRADE Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State -- Chiefs move down one spot in the trade. I had Georgia S Malaki Starks here; he went 27. Kiper had Tennessee LB James Pearce here; he went 26. I had Simmons 25 and Mel had him 31.
Final scoreboard after a Friday morning double-check:
Cote: 25-32, 9 Exactos. Kiper: 27-32, 11 Exactos.
Thank you all for joining us Thursday night! Props to the Mock G.O.A.T. Kiper. I had a good night. Not good enough. Plus Mel’s hair is still better than mine.
This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM.
