Jonathan Jones reiterated that most teams grade Shedeur Sanders as a second‑round talent despite recent Steelers hype. He explained that Sanders did not work out at the Combine, relied solely on interviews, and reportedly 'sandbagged' by trying to steer his landing spot—behavior that rubbed decision‑makers wrong. Jones’s conversations suggest only Cam Ward is a lock for Round 1, with Sanders sliding unless a club like the Giants, Browns, or Saints trades back into the late first. Draft bettors should fade Sanders’s first‑round odds unless significant market steam emerges.

Jonathan Jones predicted LSU left tackle Will Campbell will be the first offensive lineman taken, slotted to the Patriots at pick 4. He highlighted New England’s desperate need to protect a new quarterback and noted that several league evaluators have Campbell graded a full tier above other tackles. Bettors eyeing first‑OL markets or exact‑match props can ride Jones’s intel that the Pats lock Campbell in early.

Jonathan Jones pushed back on the late buzz tying Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty to Jacksonville at No. 5. He reminded listeners that first‑year GM James Gladstone, age 34, has no public track record and may prefer to accumulate picks rather than burn a premium slot on a non‑McCaffrey, non‑Barkley‑caliber back. Jones added that league contacts view Jeanty as the clear RB1, yet remain 'dubious' the Jaguars will use a top‑five asset on the position. All scenarios—from trading down to taking a lineman or WR—are on the table, but Jones would not be surprised if Jeanty is passed over. Draft‑prop bettors should be cautious about wagering on Jeanty at 5.

Jonathan Jones warned that league chatter now pegs Shedeur Sanders with a true second‑round grade, making a night‑one fall entirely plausible. Jones said multiple front‑office contacts whose teams are already set at quarterback have Sanders in the 30‑40 range on their big boards. He added that, despite the annual media mantra about clubs trading back into Round 1 for the fifth‑year option, that maneuver has not happened since Baltimore did it for Lamar Jackson in 2018. Jones mapped out Sanders’ most realistic landing spots as No. 33 Cleveland, No. 35 New Orleans or No. 36 Pittsburgh rather than any team between picks 10‑20, all of whom are focused on other positions in his intel‑driven mock. Bettors can still find Over 32.5 draft‑slot props at even money; Jones called that "a strong value" given the historical reluctance to burn extra capital on fringe first‑round quarterbacks.

Jonathan Jones predicted Las Vegas will send pick 44 and a 2025 fourth to Philadelphia for No. 32 to snag Ohio State wideout Emeka Egbuka. Despite an injury‑marred 2024, Egbuka still owns a 2.96 YPRR slot season and an elite 9.84 RAS at 201 lbs. GM Tom Telesco covets separators to pair with Jakobi Meyers while Davante Adams’ deal winds down, and OC Kliff Kingsbury loves Egbuka’s 78 % contested‑catch rate on in‑breakers. The first‑round slot secures a fifth‑year option—big for cap planning after drafting RB Ashton Genti at 6. Jones called the current 34.5 over/under on Egbuka’s draft slot “a gift” and told bettors to take the under because several teams view him as WR4 in this class.

Jonathan Jones said the Chargers are zeroed in on Texas A&M edge Shamar Stewart at pick 22. Stewart is 6‑6/280 with 34.5‑inch arms, an 82‑inch wingspan, a 1.62 ten‑yard split and a 35‑inch vert—prototype numbers for Jim Harbaugh’s first draft in L.A. The concern is production: he never logged more than two sacks in a season, yet his 13 % pressure rate and consistent pocket collapse pop on tape. With Joey Bosa released and Khalil Mack turning 33, Los Angeles finished 27th in pressure rate over the final eight games of 2024; Jones believes DC Jesse Minter will bet on finishing moves developing quickly. He likened the swing to the 49ers’ Aldon Smith pick in 2011 and advised bettors to play Stewart Under 26.5 draft slot since the Chargers have him as EDGE2 and do not plan to wait until Round 2.

Jonathan Jones said every league source he trusts believes Denver will not gamble on the depth of this running‑back class; instead they will secure Tar Heel bell‑cow Omarion Hampton, even if it means moving up from No. 20. Hampton crushed 2024 with 1,689 rushing yards and 52 broken tackles while adding 24 catches—a profile HC Sean Payton typically covets. The entire NFL knows Denver’s interest, so Jones warns a team in the teens could dangle the pick for a modest haul and snipe the Broncos. He puts the probability of a Denver trade into the 14‑17 range at "north of 60 %". Draft‑prop bettors still seeing Hampton First RB off the board at –140 should treat that as a value hold, per Jones.

Jonathan Jones reported Tennessee will jump from 35 to 29 (via Washington) to secure Missouri star Luther Burden III. Burden averaged 7.6 YAC per catch and turned 40 % of his 2023 touches into first downs/TDs, giving rookie QB Cam Ward the explosive target the current room—Calvin Ridley, Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson—lacks. Jones said HC Brian Callahan’s hour‑long Combine interview eased character concerns and that the Titans view Burden’s inside/outside versatility as their Deebo Samuel blueprint. Ryan Wilson agreed, calling him a “day‑one weapon.” Betting note: both touts advised hitting Burden Under 31.5 (‑120) and sprinkling ‘First WR selected outside top‑15’ at +350 because league buzz has Tennessee locked on him.

Jonathan Jones projected Chicago packaging pick 36 and a Day‑3 sweetener to Minnesota for No. 24 to nab South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. The 6‑3/218 defender ran 4.46 and leapt 39 inches, measurables the Bears’ analytics staff flags as ‘rare safety traits.’ Emmanwori played 320 box, 210 deep and 120 slot snaps last year while producing a 12.4 % forced‑incompletion rate—perfect for DC Eric Washington’s matchup‑heavy sub packages. With Jaquan Brisker missing five games and Eddie Jackson gone, Jones says Chicago won’t risk waiting. He urged bettors to grab Emmanwori as first safety drafted (+150) and smash his draft‑slot Under 28.5 before the Bears’ aggression is fully priced in.

Jonathan Jones predicted Seattle will jump from pick 18 to 16—sending a modest day‑three package to Arizona—to secure Arizona wideout Tet McMillan. With DK Metcalf shipped out and Cooper Kupp on what Jones called a “one‑and‑a‑half‑year rental,” the Seahawks want a long‑term X receiver. McMillan checks every box: 6‑4, 208, 4.41 forty, and a Pac‑12‑leading 36 % contested‑catch win rate. Jones emphasized that GM John Schneider views this class as light on true blue‑chip players, so paying a small premium to move up two spots is strategic protection against another club jumping the queue. Fantasy angle: McMillan would slide into immediate three‑wide sets with Kupp in the slot and Tyler Lockett outside, giving the rookie a clear 90‑plus target path in 2025. Jones urged bettors to hit McMillan Under 18.5 draft slot at any number better than –125 before this trade buzz hardens.

Jonathan Jones slotted Michigan tight end Colston Loveland to the Colts at pick 14 and said the fit is almost a meme inside league circles. Chris Ballard has fielded one of the NFL’s three tallest opening‑day rosters in seven of the last nine seasons, and Loveland’s 6‑foot‑5 frame keeps that trend alive. The GM just lost Kylen Granson in free agency and has no red‑zone matchup piece for Anthony Richardson. Jones noted that Tyler Warren—whom he ranks as TE1—should be gone by No. 10, leaving Indy as the first true tight‑end landing spot on most boards. Loveland ran a 4.62 forty at 251 lbs and posted a 79th‑percentile broad jump, metrics the Colts’ analytics staff weighs heavily. Betting takeaway: Jones believes Indianapolis will draft “pass catcher” as its first position and recommends the +200 market still hanging at several books.

Jones has Miami snagging Oregon left tackle Josh Simmons at No. 13, banking on clean medicals from February surgery to repair a patellar issue rather than an ACL. Ryan Wilson noted teams view Simmons as a mid‑first talent when healthy—he allowed just one sack on 397 pass‑block snaps after transferring from San Diego State and pairs 35‑inch arms with elite 3‑cone agility. Mike McDaniel’s offense surrendered 63 QB hits in 2024, second‑most among playoff teams, and Terron Armstead’s age/health makes tackle the roster’s top priority. Jones expects Simmons to be fully cleared for training camp and suggested taking the under on his 18.5 draft slot before medical skepticism fades closer to April.

Jonathan Jones predicted the Cowboys will keep it in‑state and draft Texas wideout Matthew Golden at No. 12. Golden clocked a 4.29 forty and racked up 316 yards and 4 TDs in the SEC title game plus CFP, performances that convinced Dallas he can thrive opposite CeeDee Lamb as an explosive WR2. Jones said team scouts have followed Golden since his Houston days, grading him higher than fellow speedster Ted McMillan because of better contested‑catch tape (68% win rate). Brian Schottenheimer’s offense lacks vertical juice, and Jones believes adding Golden pushes Brandin Cooks into a situational role. Draft prop bettors can still find Golden 25‑1 to be the first WR taken—Jones calls that a live longshot if someone leaps ahead of Cleveland at 2.

Jones projected Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolan to San Francisco at No. 11 despite whispers about maturity concerns. Ryan Wilson compared Nolan’s first‑step explosiveness to current 49er Javon Hargrave and said the tape justifies a mid‑Round‑1 grade: a 14.3% pressure rate and 8 run‑stops per game last season. The Niners fielded the league’s 29th best pass‑rush win rate from interior defenders in 2024, so Nolan’s ability to collapse pockets immediately fills a glaring roster gap. Jones believes the locker‑room culture can handle a young personality and noted that teams picking 12‑16 all brought Nolan in for 30 visits, so his draft prop of 17.5 is too high.

Jonathan Jones slotted Penn State tight end Tyler Warren to the Bears at No. 10, noting multiple teams now grade Warren as TE1 ahead of Colston Loveland. Chicago has been ultra‑aggressive on offense under Ben Johnson and wants more 12‑personnel flexibility. Jones said the front office loves Warren’s red‑zone dominance (11 TDs on just 54 college catches) and 88th‑percentile agility testing. Cole Kmet is safe for 2024, but a cost‑controlled rookie gives the club leverage on his future cap hits—mirroring how the Eagles transitioned from Zach Ertz to Dallas Goddard. Jones added that Warren is firmly in play for the Jets at 7, so bettors should grab the 9.5 draft slot over while it is still minus money.

Jones mocked Kelvin Banks Jr. to New Orleans at No. 9 and argued the organization will pass on Shedeur Sanders because the offensive line is in crisis mode. Trevor Penning has struggled, Ryan Ramczyk just retired, and Derek Carr absorbed 55 sacks last season. Banks graded as the cleanest pass‑pro tackle on several NFC scouting boards and is viewed as a plug‑and‑play left tackle with 36‑inch reach and SEC tape versus first‑round edges. Ryan Wilson echoed the sentiment, saying the Saints can circle back for a quarterback on Day 2 or via a late Round‑1 trade‑up. Jones advised bettors to smash the +125 price on "Saints first drafted position: Offensive Line" before that market moves.

Jonathan Jones predicted Carolina will grab Georgia hybrid defender Jalen Walker at No. 8, calling the pass‑rush need "screamingly obvious" after the club traded away Brian Burns and whiffed in free agency. Jones said Walker used to be labelled a tweener, but modern coordinators crave that kind of position‑flex and Walker blew teams away in interviews, scoring "high‑character" marks on every visit. The Panthers' analytics department reportedly flagged Walker’s 18.6% pressure rate and 4.48 forty at 245 lbs as elite outliers. Jones believes Ejiro Evero will deploy him off the edge on early downs and slide him into a rover role on sub‑packages, giving Walker a pathway to Defensive Rookie of the Year buzz. Draft bettors can still find Walker +175 to be the first defensive player selected, a number Jones thinks is mis‑priced if Carolina stays put.

Jonathan Jones projected that the Jets will select Missouri right tackle Armand Mimbu at No. 7 to finish the offensive‑line rebuild they have been chasing for three off‑seasons. Jones said New York’s front office views Mimbu as the second‑best tackle in the class and loves that he is only 20 years old yet already carries 34‑inch arms and NFL‑ready core strength. He would slide in on the right side next to Elijah Vera‑Tucker while last year’s first‑rounder Olu Fashanu holds down the left, giving new quarterback Justin Fields two bookend pillars. Jones acknowledged some buzz that Aaron Glenn might bang the table for a Branch‑style safety, but he emphasized every Jets source he spoke with ranked trench help above secondary toys. Bettors looking at draft position props should treat Mimbu’s over/under of 8.5 as a strong under.

Jones mocked Boise State star Ashton jeanty to Las Vegas at No. 6, arguing the Raiders ‘desperately need home‑run hitters’ and see jeanty as the draft’s most explosive skill player. The back led college football in 50‑plus‑yard runs last season—doubling the next‑closest runner—while handling a full three‑down workload. Although Jones personally dislikes drafting RBs this high, he says people inside the organization believe Genti’s combination of burst and receiving chops is exactly what new OC Kliff Kingsbury wants. Wide receiver is also a need, but Jones’ intel suggests Vegas would pounce on Genti if this board scenario materializes.

Jones predicted New England will take LSU left tackle Will Campbell at No. 4 regardless of whether Abdul Carter somehow slips. He called last year’s Pats roster “one of the worst in football,” with left tackle their biggest void. Inside the building, Campbell grades higher than Mimbu and the club is unconcerned about his 33‑inch (give or take) arms after watching him dominate SEC edge rushers. Jones added that Bill Belichick’s free‑agency binge shows a win‑now mindset, and plugging Campbell in as a day‑one starter fits that plan.

Jones slotted Michigan’s Mason Graham to Jacksonville at No. 5, citing league buzz that the Jags have prioritized interior defensive line help for weeks. Former GM Trent Baalke favored long‑armed trench players, but new decision‑makers are less tied to strict measurables and love Graham’s explosiveness and hand usage. Wilson agreed Graham would not fall past the early teens, so taking him here covers the need now and lets Jacksonville target wide receiver or running back at the top of Round 2. Jones framed Graham as the draft’s safest defensive tackle, a player who fits next to Josh Allen and Travon Walker immediately.

Jones projected Cleveland to take Travis Hunter second overall and deploy him primarily at wide receiver with a sprinkle of cornerback snaps. GM Andrew Berry publicly compared Hunter’s two‑way ability to Shohei Ohtani and, per Jones, has told colleagues the club values Hunter first as an offensive weapon. Money matters, too—wideouts now command $40‑plus million per year while top corners top out around $30 million, so Hunter himself prefers the WR label. Jones emphasized Hunter’s elite stamina (he played far more snaps than any FBS player last year) but said league sources expect only situational defensive usage in the pros.

Jonathan Jones said the Titans will make Cam Ward the first‑overall pick on Thursday. Jones has spoken with multiple front–office sources who all have Ward as the clear QB1 in this class and noted Tennessee has fielded only cursory calls—no serious trade offers—so they are comfortable sitting tight. Quarterback is the roster’s obvious hole, and Ward’s dual‑threat skill set lines up with Brian Callahan’s scheme. Jones did add that the organization will probably run the full 10‑minute clock, and Ward himself has not yet been told he is the selection, but Jones is adamant the decision is done.

Jonathan Jones projected that if any club jumps back into the late first round for Sanders, it will be the New York Giants. General manager Joe Schoen, according to Jones, has had the most face‑time with Colorado this cycle and views Sanders as a long‑term contingency for Derek Carr’s uncertain post‑surgery status. The scenario Jones outlined: New York bypasses Sanders at No. 3 to take elite EDGE Abdul Carter, then packages its early‑second (pick 33) with mid‑round ammo to leapfrog Pittsburgh at 21, targeting the 19‑20 zone where trade partners traditionally emerge. Jones stressed that the fifth‑year option attached to a first‑round contract is the fuel behind such a move, giving the front office an extra season of control during what is expected to be a multi‑year rebuild. Bettors looking at "Team to Draft Shedeur Sanders" markets should give the Giants short‑odds consideration and monitor any late buzz about New York shopping pick 33.

Jonathan Jones said Sanders is more probable to be selected in the 33‑40 range than anywhere in Round 1. Jones mapped the board and counted only two franchises – Tennessee at No. 1 and Pittsburgh at No. 21 – that still need a Week‑1 starter, and the Titans are locked in on Cam Ward. Every other club either signed bridge veterans to two‑year deals last offseason or already spent premium capital at quarterback, specifically to avoid reaching in what scouts view as a weak QB class. Jones added that multiple teams with no QB need have stamped a strict second‑round grade on Sanders, confirming league‑wide concern about pocket consistency and immediate readiness. He concluded that the absolute floor is pick 40 (Saints’ second‑rounder) but the betting favorite should be an early Day‑2 slide, making any "First‑Round QB: Yes" prop on Sanders a fade.