Success in the NFL draft is nearly as much about avoiding taking the wrong player as it is avoiding the wrong fit.

Teams that consistently find players who fit their system and can contribute throughout their rookie contract typically tend to do well. Those who whiff on picks more often than not typically find it reflected in the win-loss column.

Every time a team goes on the clock, it has an opportunity to make its roster better by avoiding a player who would be the wrong choice at that draft slot. Here, we'll spotlight one prospect who is the wrong choice for each team in the league based on scheme fit, roster needs, bust potential and/or injury risk.

Arizona Cardinals: WR Malik Nabers, LSU

The Arizona Cardinals don't need to overcomplicate things. At No. 4 overall, they'll likely have their pick of the top non-quarterback prospect in this year's draft.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is hands-down the best player on our scouting department's big board. The Cardinals have a dire need for a No. 1 receiver to pair with Kyler Murray, and they already have the league's best arsenal of draft picks this year, per Tankathon. That should curb the impetus to trade down and collect more picks.

Malik Nabers is a talented prospect, but the rumblings that some teams view him as the draft's top receiver is taking things too far.

There are no sure things in the draft, but Harrison is as close as it gets. B/R scout Derrik Klassen called him a "slam-dunk" prospect in his scouting report, noting his elite athleticism, route-running and ball skills.

There's a good chance that Nabers winds up having a good career as well, but Harrison could be an all-time great. Trading down isn't worth missing out on that kind of talent.

Atlanta Falcons: WR Rome Odunze, Washington

The Atlanta Falcons finally have some stability at quarterback after signing Kirk Cousins in free agency. The veteran quarterback should help them get the most out of their talented young core of skill-position players.

Depending on how the board falls, Rome Odunze could wind up being available with the eighth pick. He is the sixth-ranked overall player on our big board and the No. 2 receiver behind Marvin Harrison Jr.

On paper, Odunze, Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson would be one of the most talented and exciting skill-position groups in the league. However, there's a lot of potential overlap between Odunze, London and Pitts. At 6'3" and 212 pounds, Odunze is another big-bodied pass-catcher who wins with a huge catch radius and the ability to track and pluck the ball in the air.

The biggest problem with taking Odunze would be the opportunity cost of passing on a pass-rusher. Atlanta has been missing an alpha pass-rusher for a long time. Either Dallas Turner or Jared Verse would make a lot of sense here.

There's a good chance the Falcons will have their pick of top defensive talents in the draft. They need to take advantage of that.

Baltimore Ravens: OT Patrick Paul, Houston

The Baltimore Ravens need to come away from the draft with at least one starting-caliber offensive lineman. They lost three starters in free agency this offseason in Morgan Moses, John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, and they didn't bring in anyone of similar value in free agency.

Fortunately, offensive line is one of the strengths of this draft class. There should be multiple options for them at No. 30 overall. Houston tackle Patrick Paul is likely to be among them, but he might not be the best one.

Paul has the look of a starting NFL tackle. At 6'8" and 331 pounds with 36¼" arms, he has ideal length for the position. However, B/R scout Brandon Thorn is concerned about his overall technique, which is disconcerting for a four-year collegiate starter.

"Paul still needs significant technique work to play with better leverage, control and sustain skills," Thorn wrote in his scouting report. "But he has ideal length with starter-level athletic ability, play strength and a nasty demeanor that can be harnessed into a starting role within his first few seasons."

The Ravens need an immediate starter, and Paul would be better suited going to a team that can afford to sit him for a while.

Buffalo Bills: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas

The Buffalo Bills are a near-lock to select a receiver at No. 28. That felt true before they traded Stefon Diggs, and it's only become a bigger necessity since that move.

It's fun to visualize Xavier Worthy and his 4.21-second 40-yard-dash speed chasing bombs from Josh Allen. But if the Bills were to draft Worthy, they would have one of the smallest receivers rooms in the league.

The Bills already have plenty of shifty, small receivers including Khalil Shakir (6'0", 190 pounds), Curtis Samuel (5'11", 195 pounds) and KJ Hamler (5'9", 178 pounds). Worthy (5'11", 165 pounds) would be the smallest of them all.

While Hamler's speed could be an equalizer, the Bills need some diversity in their receiver room. Right now, Mack Hollins (6'4", 221 pounds) is their best big receiver. Worthy's teammate, Adonai Mitchell, could offer blazing speed in a bigger frame (6'2", 205 pounds).

Keon Coleman and Ja'Lynn Polk would fit that mold, too. All of them would be easier to slot into the offense than Worthy.

Carolina Panthers: CB Nate Wiggins

The Carolina Panthers' top objective this season has to be getting quarterback Bryce Young back on track. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick struggled as a rookie, but the Panthers didn't do him any favors with a shaky offensive line, questionable coaching and a lack of weapons.

The Panthers should be looking to add to their offense with the 33rd overall pick. Their trade for Young last year left them without a first-round pick in this year's draft, which puts them under pressure to find an immediate contributor in the second round.

The Panthers also need a cornerback, so Nate Wiggins could be an option for them at No. 33. He's ranked 34th on our big board and he has a lot of potential as a 6'1" corner with 4.28-second 40-yard dash speed.

However, there are concerns about his size. He's only 173 pounds, and it could take a while for him to raise his play strength to NFL standards.

If the Panthers are going to target a project to fill a long-term need on defense, they'd be better off waiting. They have to come out of this draft with more talent on offense, which means taking a wide receiver or offensive lineman with their first pick.

Chicago Bears: OT JC Latham, Alabama

At that point, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Bears are taking Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. The real intrigue with them starts at No. 9.

They will have plenty of options to choose between at that spot. Any one of the top three receivers—Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers—would make sense. Either of our top edge-rushers, Dallas Turner and Jared Verse, should also be in play. The Bears don't pick again until the 75th selection, so they could explore trading back, too.

Offensive linemen Joe Alt or Olumuyiwa Fashanu would be viable options as well. The Bears could use another tackle to pair with Darnell Wright, giving them two first-round pass-protectors to keep Williams clean.

However, pairing JC Latham with Wright could spell problems for the Bears. Wright is a physical tackle, but he struggled as a pass-blocker as a rookie. According to Sports Info Solutions, he had only four blown run blocks, but he had 31 blown pass blocks, eight sacks allowed and six holding penalties.

Latham is a similarly built prospect with a kindred skill set. He's a bulldozer of a run-blocker, but he has some deficiencies in his pass protection including feet that "can get frozen out of position against rushers with well-timed stutters and hesitations," per Thorn's scouting report.

Latham also spent his collegiate career at right tackle, so either he or Wright would have to flip to the left side. That would make this pairing an even more questionable fit.

Cincinnati Bengals: DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois

In the right situation, Jer'Zhan Newton has the potential to be a star defensive tackle in the NFL. His excellent hand-fighting skills and high-motor playing style could help him put up flashy stats as an interior pass-rusher.

The Cincinnati Bengals need that, so it's easy to see why he's a popular selection for them in mock drafts. However, there's more than one reason to be dubious that this pairing would work out.

For one, the Bengals' run defense was a problem last season. They gave up 4.7 yards per carry and were bullied on the inside.

Newton isn't likely to help in that department. His Pro Football Focus run defense grade was in the 38th percentile, and B/R scout Matt Holder wrote that his "size can cause him issues versus double-teams."

Newton's 6'2", 304-pound frame is an issue that shouldn't be overlooked, either. According to Mockdraftable, his height ranks in the 17th percentile and his arm length ranks in the 6th percentile for a defensive tackle.

There are outliers such as Aaron Donald who overcome their size limitations to have success in the league. But Newton missed the scouting combine and most of the predraft process with a Jones fracture in his foot, so teams didn't get to see if his athletic testing could assuage some of the concerns about his size.

Overall, drafting Newton at No. 18 would come with a lot of risk.

Cleveland Browns: DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan

The Cleveland Browns don't have a first-round pick, so they must make the most of their second-round pick at No. 54 overall.

The Browns front office has an analytical bent, so it should understand the positional value that comes with finding a wide receiver, edge-rusher or cornerback in the second round. Cleveland could target any of those three premium positions.

Kris Jenkins is a good run-stuffing defensive tackle prospect. As B/R scout Matt Holder noted, he has a high ceiling as a pass-rusher due to his athleticism, but he hasn't demonstrated that on the field much.

The Browns proved how well they can play defensively with veterans manning the interior last season. They were No. 1 in EPA allowed per play while playing with a cast of veteran defensive tackles that they mostly signed in free agency.

If the Browns feel like they can't pay to keep the cornerback trio of Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson and Greg Newsome II together, they might want to target a corner at No. 54. Finding a long-term replacement for edge-rusher Za'Darius Smith could also be an objective.

Adding to their defensive interior depth should be a project for later on Day 2 or Day 3.

Dallas Cowboys: C Jackson Powers-Johnson

The Dallas Cowboys might already regret spending a first-round pick on Mazi Smith last year. The defensive tackle isn't an elite pass-rusher, and he ended up playing only 28 percent of the Cowboys' defensive snaps as a rookie.

That wouldn't be a concern with Jackson Powers-Johnson. He's the best center in the draft class, and he would likely be an immediate starter there for the Cowboys. After Dallas let Tyler Biadasz walk in free agency, it needs to find another center.

But it goes back to the question of value and triaging needs.

The Cowboys also have a need at either guard or tackle. Tyler Smith has shown the ability to play both, so they can slot him in at either position, but losing Tyron Smith means they need two starters on the offensive line.

Other options who could start at center will be available later in the draft. In our scouting department's latest mock draft, the Cowboys took Amarius Mims in the first round and were able to land Zach Frazier in the second round.

By the time Dallas' second-round pick came along in that mock draft, the best tackle on the board was Blake Fisher. As good as Powers-Johnson is, the drop-off between Mims and Fisher is much more pronounced than the one between Powers-Johnson and Frazier.

Powers-Johnson would have to become one of the best centers in the league early in his career for the Cowboy to pass on a tackle or guard with their first pick.

Denver Broncos: QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington

After cutting their losses with Russell Wilson this offeason, the Denver Nuggets figure to add a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft. However, they aren't in a great position to do so, as they have only the Nos. 12 and 76 picks in the top 100.

Positional fit still matters, and it's hard to see a partnership between Sean Payton and Michael Penix Jr. working out. B/R scout Derrik Klassen is much lower on the Washington quarterback than the consensus. Penix is 89th on our penultimate big board, and his strengths aren't aligned with a Payton offense.

"For teams that want to chuck it down the field with a heavy dose of play action, Penix is an interesting dice roll. His live arm, aggressiveness and moments of progression passing give him a shot to stick in the NFL," Klassen wrote in his scouting report.

Payton's offense is not known for taking a lot of vertical shots. The Broncos were 25th in intended air yards per attempt last season. The coach's best days came when he was coaching Drew Brees and utilizing his incredible short to intermediate accuracy and timing.

Penix would be a square peg in a round hole if paired with Payton and the Broncos.

Detroit Lions: CB Ennis Rakestraw III, Missouri

Ennis Rakestraw III is one of the more divisive cornerback prospects in this year's class. The Missouri Tiger is in nearly a quarter of mock drafts as a first-round pick, per NFL Mock Draft Database, but he's ranked 97th overall on our big board.

In our three-round mock draft, Rakestraw went 95th overall to the Kansas City Chiefs. Of the mock drafts that have Rakestraw going in the first, the Detroit Lions are the primary landing spot.

On the surface, that would make sense. The Lions' secondary held them back last season, and there are things to like about Rakestraw.

In Rakestraw's scouting report, B/R scout Cory Giddings praised his "quick feet to transition and smooth hips." He added that Rakestraw is a fluid mover and has the flexibility to play zone or man coverage.

But there are concerns, too. For one, Giddings noted that Rakestraw has a tendency to "get too handsy," which can lead to pass interference calls. That could be even more pronounced in the NFL, where he's going to face bigger receivers on a regular basis.

Overall, Rakestraw eventually might be limited to the slot only. That's not a great outcome for a first-round pick.

The Lions would be better off picking a bigger prospect at the position like Khyree Jackson or T.J. Tampa. Both are ranked in the top 50 on our big board.

Green Bay Packers: LB Payton Wilson, NC State

It's no secret that the Green Bay Packers covet elite athleticism. It's also not a secret that they should be looking for an off-ball linebacker to replace De'Vondre Campbell and play beside Quay Walker.

With that in mind, Payton Wilson would make a lot of sense as a Packers prospect. Wilson was electric at the combine, posting a 9.81 relative athletic score with a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at 6'3" and 233 pounds.

Wilson certainly looks the part, and the Packers' need at linebacker is legitimate. They should go another direction to address that need, though.

Wilson comes with significant injury risk. He missed his first season at NC State while he recovered from a knee injury that he suffered in high school. In 2021, he only played two games because of a shoulder injury and missed spring practices. He also missed two games in 2022 with a shoulder and upper-body injury.

Nothing derails a prospect's potential in the NFL quicker than injuries. While the Packer can afford to take risks with some of their 11 picks, there are other athletic linebacker prospects throughout the draft who don't have the same injury baggage.

Houston Texans: DT T'Vondre Sweat

The Houston Texans have done a good job this offseason of building off the momentum from their surprising 2023 campaign. They addressed their biggest needs in free agency and can now focus on selecting the best available players in the draft.

Defensive tackle is a popular position for Houston in mock drafts. The Texans had the fifth-best run defense by EPA allowed per play last season, but they lost Sheldon Rankins and Maliek Collins this offseason.

Based on film alone, T'Vondre Sweat is the best pure nose tackle in the class. There's more to picking prospects than what happens on the field, though.

Sweat brought the wrong kind of attention to himself during the predraft process, as he was arrested earlier this month and charged with driving while intoxicated. Dane Brugler of The Athletic also reported that scouts have expressed concerns about his maturity level, with one calling him a "class clown" and questioning "his commitment to football."

Big nose tackles who have a questionable commitment to football are a bad combination. The Texans are a relatively young team looking to break through in 2024. Spending an early-round pick on someone who might not be all-in on that mission would be a mistake.

Indianapolis Colts: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

It would make sense for the Indianapolis Colts to go after a receiver, especially in the second round. They need to continue adding support for second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Re-signing Michael Pittman Jr. was a huge step in the right direction, and Josh Downs showed a lot of promise last season. Bringing in a third receiver would take the offensive personnel to another level.

However, the Colts value predraft testing and athleticism. They have typically targeted players with elite relative athletic scores.

Keon Coleman posted a relative athletic score of 8.1, which isn't bad. But it's also not in the 90th percentile, which has been a rough cutoff for the Colts.

Coleman is able to go up and get the ball in contested-catch situations, and his on-field speed looks better than the 4.61-second 40-yard dash that he ran during the predraft process. However, there would be a lot of overlap between Pittman and Coleman. Both are bigger receivers who do some of their best work as physical deep threats and red-zone targets.

If the Colts are going to invest in a receiver, it should be one who brings more diversity in terms of skill set.

Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Is Cooper DeJean a cornerback or a safety? That's the main question about him heading into the draft.

Regardless of what DeJean becomes in the NFL, he's a good player. He lost some of his final season at Iowa to a broken leg and had to wait to run until his pro day. When he did, he showed off the athleticism to stick at corner with an elite relative athletic score of 9.89.

When DeJean was healthy, he was one of the most productive defensive backs in college football. He had five interceptions, three pick-sixes and eight pass breakup in 2022, and he followed that up with two more interceptions and five passes defended in 2023. As an added bonus, he was a highly effective punt returner.

However, it's going to take the right fit for DeJean to reach his potential in the NFL as a corner. He's at his best when he's able to get eyes on the quarterback and break on the ball. The Hawkeyes were primarily a zone-coverage team, so it would behoove him to go to a zone-heavy system.

That doesn't figure to be the Jacksonville Jaguars. New defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen got his first crack at calling a defense last season with the Atlanta Falcons, and they ran with man coverage a league-high 40 percent of the time, per 33rd Team.

The Nielsen-DeJean pairing would be disappointing for all involved, as DeJean would likely end up at safety.

Kansas City Chiefs: WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina

It's a wide receiver's dream to be drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. Getting to play with the NFL's best quarterback-head coach combo is an ideal scenario, especially when that team needs a wide receiver.

But it's important to remember why the Chiefs need a receiver. Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney were both young, exciting prospects who haven't reached their potential as projects. Even in the Chiefs' explosive offense, it takes the right receivers to make things work.

Xavier Legette would be a good addition to the Kansas City offense in theory. At 6'1" and 221 pounds, he has a running back build and could be a yards-after-the-catch weapon if he can figure out how to get open in the NFL.

That's where there's some concern, though.

"Many of Legette's pain points come down to refinement," B/R scout Derrik Klassen wrote in his scouting report for Legette. "He is not skilled at battling at the line of scrimmage, nor is he a developed route-runner who can mix up his approach to keep defensive backs guessing," he noted.

If the Chiefs are looking to add a receiver at the end of the first round, someone with a little more polish like Ladd McConkey might make more sense. An even better option would be someone who can compete with Wanya Morris at left tackle. The Chiefs have learned how important it is to keep Patrick Mahomes protected.

Las Vegas Raiders: QB Bo Nix, Oregon

The Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders could all conceivably take a quarterback in the first round. Barring any trades, the Raiders are behind all of them in the draft order.

If the Raiders want one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's class, they might have to get aggressive to make that happen. It'd be hard to justify doing so for Bo Nix, though.

Nix brings some good qualities to the table. He ran Oregon's offense with ruthless efficiency, completing a single-season record 77.4 percent of his passes with 45 touchdowns and three interceptions. But that should be an expectation of a five-year starter in college football.

Nix had plenty of bad film before he exploded in Oregon's offense. He completed 61.0 percent of his passes in his final season at Auburn, and that was his highest completion percentage during his three years with the Tigers.

In his scouting report for Nix, B/R scout Derrik Klassen noted concerns about his "ability to find answers within structure when (his) first read is taken away."

Nix is already 24 years old, so it's fair to wonder if he's reached the peak of his development. His accuracy is nice, but his ceiling isn't as high as some of the other quarterback prospects in this year's draft.

The Raiders are the quarterback-needy team that's best suited to take a patient approach. They would be better off riding out a year of Gardner Minshew at quarterback than reaching on Nix at No. 13.

Los Angeles Chargers: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State

The Los Angeles Chargers have a critical decision to make with the No. 5 overall pick. They need both a starting right tackle and at least one wide receiver.

This draft class has a lot of options at both positions, which opens the possibility of trading down and letting another team come up to draft a quarterback. That would give the Chargers more picks to replenish a roster that was hit hard by its cap situation in free agency.

With new head coach Jim Harbaugh taking over, it's not hard to envision the Chargers taking care of their need at tackle first. However, Olumuyiwa Fashanu should be off their board at No. 5.

Fashanu is a talented prospect. He's the seventh overall player on our big board, and B/R scout Brandon Thorn compared him to D'Brickashaw Ferguson. However, Thorn also noted that he "struggles to consistently sustain his balance and finish blocks in the run game" and has "good-not-great physicality and aggressiveness as a finisher."

Harbaugh's offense is built on physicality and the ability to pound the rock. Fashanu's concerns as a run-blocker and the fact that he only played on the left side in college makes him a dubious fit with the Chargers.

Los Angeles Rams: EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State

Chop Robinson is a baffling combination of tools, traits and production.

At 6'2" and 254 pounds with good bend and the athleticism to earn a 9.72 relative athletic score, he should have been a college tackle's nightmare at Penn State. However, he had only 9.5 sacks across his two seasons with the Nittany Lions.

B/R scout Matt Holder sees the upside. He put Robinson in our top 20 overall prospects and fourth among all edge defenders.

But there are bound to be better options for the Los Angeles Rams at No. 19. In the wake of Aaron Donald's retirement, their pass rush needs help right now.

Interior defensive linemen Byron Murphy II and Jer'Zhan Newton would make sense for the Rams. They are both disruptive defensive tackles. While they aren't Donald, they could play a similar role, allowing Kobie Turner to build on his rookie campaign.

There's also a chance that UCLA edge-rusher Laiatu Latu could still be around at No. 19. His injury history will scare some teams off, but he is a much more polished pass-rusher than Robinson and could be a threat to NFL linemen right now.

Robinson has to put on some weight and add play strength to become a three-down edge-rusher. The Rams should opt for someone who can help them sooner.

Miami Dolphins: IOL Cooper Beebe, Kansas State

The Kyle Shanahan coaching tree might be starting to lean more toward gap schemes and hulking guards, but Mike McDaniel's Miami Dolphins were one of the teams that leaned on zone schemes the most. They were fourth in the league in zone-run usage last season, per 33rd Team.

The Dolphins struggled to find a consistent starting left guard all season, and they lost right guard Robert Hunt in free agency. They now have a glaring need on the interior of the offensive line, but Cooper Beebe is not a good fit.

Beebe is a 6'3", 322-pound behemoth who is a perfect fit for a physical offense that wants to utilize his ability to displace defenders in a multiple, gap scheme. The Dolphins offense is built on speed and still features a heavy dose of outside and inside zone concepts.

Beebe is a bit concerning as a pass protector with no potential ever to play on the outside. Even as a guard, he has 2nd percentile arm length, per MockDraftable.

If the Dolphins target an offensive lineman in the first or second round, they need to go after a philosophical fit. Ideally, they'd find someone with the potential to eventually replace Terron Armstead at left tackle.

That isn't Beebe.

Minnesota Vikings: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU

The Minnesota Vikings positioned themselves to make a move up the draft board when they acquired the No. 23 overall pick in a trade with the Houston Texans. They could package the Nos. 11 and 23 picks to jump up for a quarterback.

If they make that kind of aggressive move, it'll add more pressure to get the pick right. Rolling the dice on Jayden Daniels would not be a risk worth taking for Minnesota.

Daniels is an undeniably exciting prospect. His athleticism and willingness to hang tough in the pocket when needed gives him a high ceiling. But he's far from a sure thing.

His arm talent could be his undoing. B/R scout Derrik Klassen described Daniels' arm talent and accuracy as a "mixed bag".

"He regularly drops it in the bucket without needing his receivers to break stride," Klassen wrote in his scouting report for Daniels. "However, Daniels' arm strength and accuracy are less dangerous to other parts of the field. He doesn't always have the velocity to fit tight windows, and his accuracy in the 1-20 yard range comes and goes."

The Vikings need a quarterback who can deliver the ball to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson in the intermediate areas of the field. If they're going to give up a bounty of picks to get into the top four, it should be for someone who's capable of taking full advantage of their pass-catching corps.

New England Patriots: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

Marvin Harrison Jr. is the No. 1 overall prospect on our big board. The New England Patriots haven't had a receiver like him since Randy Moss.

However, they shouldn't use the third overall pick on Harrison. The opportunity to take a potential franchise quarterback in a class full of promising prospects is too good to pass up.

The Chicago Bears appear likely to take Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels was the odds-on favorite to go to the Washington Commanders with the No. 2 pick until recently.

If the Commanders do take Daniels, that would give the Patriots a chance to draft our No. 1-ranked quarterback, Drake Maye.

The Patriots will have more opportunities to add receivers. Just this offseason, we've seen Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen and Calvin Ridley switch teams. However, the Pats might not get another shot as good as this at a potential franchise quarterback.

The Patriots are starting a new era with Jerod Mayo taking over for longtime head coach Bill Belichick. They've already moved on from Mac Jones. It's the right time for them to draft a quarterback, and they'll have their choice between two of Daniels, Maye or J.J. McCarthy at No. 3.

New Orleans Saints: WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida

The New Orleans Saints are well-positioned to grab an offensive lineman at No. 14 overall. There aren't many who would be considered a bad fit. They have multiple positions that need to be filled over the next two seasons.

The Saints' second-round pick could be ripe for a mistake, though.

In a recent mock draft from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates, the Saints took Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall at No. 45 overall. Kiper correctly noted that the Saints could use additional receiving help after moving on from Michael Thomas this offseason, but it's fair to question how Pearsall would fit with the Saints' current wideout room.

At 6'1" and 189 pounds, Pearsall is not a big receiver. His below-average play strength would make him an ideal fit as a slot threat who can win on vertical routes against slower linebackers and safeties.

The problem is that Chris Olave (6'0", 187 pounds) and Rasheed Shaheed (6'0", 180 pounds) are even smaller. Both operate out of the slot at least part-time.

Someone who more closely resembles the 6'3", 212-pound Thomas would make more sense for the Saints if they want to add to their receiver room.

New York Giants: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

Earlier this offseason, Rich Eisen said the New York Giants were "absolutely done" with quarterback Daniel Jones and have "buyer's remorse" after giving him a four-year, $160 million contract extension last offseason. They've since hosted multiple quarterback prospects for visits, including a meeting with Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

While the Giants might be ready to move on from Jones, spending the No. 6 pick on McCarthy—or trading up for him—would be ill-advised.

For one, it makes more financial sense for the Giants to wait until 2025 to part ways with Jones. They'd save $19.4 million by releasing him and would only be left with a $22.2 million dead cap charge.

The bigger issue is that the Giants still aren't in a good position to accommodate a rookie quarterback. The 21-year-old had only 654 pass attempts during his two-year stint as a starter, so he's likely going to require some behind-the-scenes development. Giving him a receiving corps highlighted by 31-year-old tight end Darren Waller and wideouts Jalin Hyatt, Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson would be asking for trouble.

The Giants would be better off making their roster more quarterback-friendly with one of the top receivers before focusing on finding a quarterback next offseason.

New York Jets: IOL Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

The New York Jets have to protect 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers and build the best offense they can around him. That suggests they'll target either a lineman or a pass-catcher with the 10th overall pick.

However, spending that pick on Taliese Fuaga would be a mistake. Our scouting department rated Fuaga as an interior offensive lineman, although others view him as a tackle in NFL.

At 6'6" and 324 pounds with 33⅛" arms, Fuaga has the length to at least get a shot at playing on the outside, but it doesn't necessarily suit his strengths. B/R scout Brandon Thorn noted his technical weaknesses when pass-protecting on an island.

"Fuaga does drift and overset against wide rush alignments and rushers who know how weaponize stutters and hesitations, leaving him vulnerable to losing across his face," Thorn wrote. "He also has a bad habit of striking down the middle of high-side rushers, creating a short corner that the cross-chop technique can exploit."

The Jets technically don't need a tackle right away since Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses will go into the season as the starters. They would be better off drafting another offensive weapon if they aren't going to target a true tackle.

Philadelphia Eagles: S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota

The Philadelphia Eagles partially addressed their need at safety by bringing back C.J. Gardner-Johnson after he spent last season with the Detroit Lions. However, Reed Blankenship is projected to be their other starting safety after he gave up six touchdowns in coverage last season.

The Eagles could reasonably target safety help early in the draft. There's even a chance they will have their pick of the class when they get on the clock with the 50th and 53rd picks.

Tyler Nubin is our scouting department's top-ranked safety, but he comes with risk. He has tremendous ball skills and picked off five passes in his final season with the Gophers, but B/R scout Cory Giddings believes he's best suited playing as a box safety.

Nubin's athletic testing backs up that stance, as he registered a dismal 3.72 relative athletic score. As Peter Bukowski of Locked on Packers noted, only three safeties with a RAS below five have become Pro Bowlers since 2011.

If the Eagles are going to target a safety with one of their first three picks, they need to get more athleticism at the position.

Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Kool-Aid McKinstry is the third cornerback on our scouting department's big board, and B/R scout Cory Giddings sees him as a Year 1 starter. The Pittsburgh Steelers may be tempted to pair the Alabama product with Joey Porter Jr. if he's still on the board at No. 20.

However, the Steelers were 10th in passer rating allowed last season with a combination of Porter, Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace manning the cornerback spots. Meanwhile, the offense was 28th in scoring and 23rd in EPA per play, in part because their offensive line wasn't up to snuff.

The Steelers could stand to add upgrades at both left tackle and center. Given the quality of this draft class at both positions, it would be bad resource management to pass on someone like Amarius Mims or even Jackson Powers-Johnson in favor of McKinstry.

Pittsburgh has attempted to fix its offense via several bargains this offseason. The Steelers got quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields for discounted prices.

They should pay up by spending a premium pick on protection for their new signal-callers.

San Francisco 49ers: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas

George Kittle is 30 years old and has suffered numerous injuries throughout the years. He's still one of the best tight ends in the NFL, but it's fair to wonder if he'll be showing signs of wear and tear when his current contract expires after the 2025 season.

That might cause the San Francisco 49ers to look at tight end prospects after the first round. However, Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders shouldn't be on their radar.

Sanders is an interesting prospect as a 6'4", 245-pound move tight end who can create some mismatches as a vertical threat. But B/R scout Derrik Klassen is concerned with his run-blocking, which is a major red flag for a potential Niners pick. Kyle Shanahan's offense frequently evolves, but being able to run the ball is always at the heart of it.

Klassen believes Sanders' best role with an NFL team would be similar to Evan Engram or Isaiah Likely. While the Niners could figure out how to use that kind of player, he wouldn't be a direct replacement for Kittle.

An investment in someone like Penn State's Theo Johnson, who has shown some flashes as a run-blocker, would make much more sense.

Seattle Seahawks: DT Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State

If the Seattle Seahawks don't trade down from No. 16 or trade up from No. 81, they'll have to wait a long time between their first and second picks. That limits their opportunity to draft prospects who could move the needle right away, but it should also make them more risk-averse when it comes to making that second pick.

In other words, it should rule out someone like Ohio State defensive lineman Michael Hall Jr.

The Seahawks are often mocked to draft an interior defensive lineman. ESPN's Field Yates notably projected them to take Byron Murphy II in his most recent mock.

If they miss out on Murphy, they shouldn't go for the bargain version of him in the third round. Hall has similar selling points as an undersized penetrating defensive tackle, but he's even smaller than Murphy.

Hall is in the 36th percentile for height and 13th for weight at defensive tackle. Some tackles are successful in the NFL despite being undersized, but they usually have elite hand usage or block recognition. B/R scout Matt Holder identified both of those as weaknesses for Hall.

Ultimately, Hall is too much of a project for a Seahawks team that doesn't have the draft capital to take too many gambles.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Jonathan Brooks, Texas

This is not the year to be in the market for a running back during the draft. One look at the free-agent market for running backs could tell you that.

Last offseason, running backs had a hard time even finding teams in free agency. Only two backs signed contracts worth more than $15 million. Six running backs crossed that threshold this cycle, and 12 got multi-year contracts.

This year's free-agent class was more loaded at running back, but that spending spree also suggested that teams didn't want to wait until the draft to fill their backfields.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't splurge on a tailback in free agency. They only re-signed Chase Edmonds to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. That makes them one of the few teams that might be looking at taking a running back relatively early in the draft.

The Bucs hosted Jonathan Brooks for a top-30 visit earlier this month, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He's the only running back they've hosted thus far, according to Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report.

Rachaad White was second in the NFL in total touches last season, so the Buccaneers should be on the hunt for a back who can lighten the burden on him. However, Brooks might not be that guy, as he's coming off a torn ACL that he suffered in November.

B/R scout Derrik Klassen also noted that Brooks has "below-average balance and power" and "regularly goes down on first contact." Adding another quick and shifty back wouldn't make life easier for White.

The Bucs should target a more complementary back who could make an impact in the offense.

Tennessee Titans: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

Brock Bowers is one of the biggest wild cards of the draft. Depending on how the board falls, his first realistic landing spot might be the Tennessee Titans at No. 7.

The Titans have a need at tight end, and Bowers is the second-ranked player on our big board. However, it would be a mistake for Tennessee to take him that early.

Positional value matters, and the market has repeatedly spoken on tight ends. Darren Waller is the highest-paid tight end by annual average value at $17 million per year. There are 21 wide receivers over that mark and 17 offensive tackles.

This draft class is stocked with quarterbacks, receivers and offensive tackles. The Titans don't need a quarterback after spending a second-round pick on Will Levis last year, but they'd likely regret passing on one of the top three receivers or tackles in this draft to take Bowers.

The Titans do have Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins, so it's unlikely that they'll take a receiver at No. 7, although Hopkins is 31 and has only one year left on his contract. Drafting one of the top three receivers would give them an elite trio for year before potentially moving on from Hopkins.

But the best bet is that they take Joe Alt or Olumuyiwa Fashanu and rest easy knowing Levis will have much better protection in 2024.

Washington Commanders: DL Darius Robinson, Missouri

The Washington Commanders have already done a lot to shake up their roster, but the draft is where they can truly build a new foundation under new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. They appear destined to take a quarterback at No. 2, but that overshadows the options they have at Nos. 36 and 40 as well.

One of those options is Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson, who has been paired with them in some mock drafts. Robinson was a riser at the Senior Bowl and put up impressive testing numbers at the combine.

After trading Chase Young and Montez Sweat last season, the Commanders are rebuilding their defensive line. There are a lot of unknowns as to what kind of pro Robinson will be, though. At 6'5" and 285 pounds, he has a bit of a tweener build.

In his scouting report for Robinson, B/R scout Matt Holder noted that he has "below-average bend" and struggles to "effectively turn speed to power." His skill set is better suited for an interior defensive lineman, but he would need to put on some weight to be a 3-tech.

It's unclear whether Robinson's upside is worth taking at the top of the second round. The Commanders could opt for a defensive lineman with a more easily projectable future within their scheme.