ESPN’s new NFL mock draft has 6 shocking selections rising and falling

There’s a new mock draft out, and this is one of the most fascinating yet. At ESPN Pete Schrager used information he’s hearing from around the league to put together a mock, and it has some jaw-droppers that change everything we thought we knew.

From trades nobody saw coming, to players plummeting down the board — here are the biggest surprises based on what Schrager is hearing.

A long-time lock to the Jaguars at No. 5, Michigan DT Mason Graham is falling to the Dolphins with the 13th pick in this mock. There have been some murmurs that there could be underlying knee issues scaring teams off one of the most dominant defensive players in the draft, but it’s still staggering to see a fall like this.

Schrager’s sourcing feels in line with things we’ve heard privately. A lot of teams love Mason Graham, but there are both injury worries and scheme-fit issues that make it tough for him to find a home. Miami landing him would be a major steal.

Another move that’s a surprise, but probably shouldn’t be. The modern NFL is all about interior line play and running the football, which is difficult to imagine when your lead back is Travis Etienne.

Jeanty would open up the pass game for Liam Coen, who showed the importance of establishing the run with Baker Mayfield in Tampa. It’s all about making life easier for Trevor Lawrence so he can shine, and that starts with a high-level three-down back.

We’ve also heard whispers that the Jags could trade out of this pick to another team aiming to get Jeanty, presumably so they could move back and add to their offense with a receiver like Tetairoa McMillan. For now Jeanty seems like a likely pick at No. 5.

The margin between Sanders and Cam Ward is razor thin, so it’s wild to see Ward go No. 1 overall and Sanders fall to the Steelers at No. 21.

There are issues here, no doubt about it. NFL teams have concerns about Sanders’ arm strength, and his reliance on running a shotgun offense at Colorado. It’s yet to be determined if he can truly operate under center, and Deion is a wild card in all this who could make life a headache for a team that drafts his son.

Nevertheless, if the Steelers are able to get Shedeur at No. 21 without needing to make any trades it would be a MASSIVE win.

The idea of New Orleans taking a quarterback didn’t hit the stratosphere until Derek Carr’s shoulder injury was revealed, but that doesn’t mean the team is freaking out. Instead of forcing a back pick at No. 9 it seems the Saints are happy to stick to their draft plan, and look for a QB in a future draft.

Schrager has the Saints taking EDGE Mykel Williams at No. 9, which is a massive need for them. An offensive lineman could be in play as well. It really might be the best move for this team to play Jake Haener, take the lumps, and come back to address QB later.

Don’t rule out Jaxson Dart though. There’s a chance the Saints are putting out a lot of smoke that they don’t want a QB in order to prevent a team trading up ahead of them.

A lot of the buzz around Dallas has been that the team will look at either running back or receiver with the No. 12 pick, but Schrager has them making a more sensible, less-flashy move of solidifying their line with OG Tyler Booker.

A big interior force is something the team needs with Zack Martin retiring, so this makes a lot of sense. The problem with projecting a Cowboys’ draft pick is they rarely do things that make a lot of sense.

Similar to the Mason Graham fall, Schrager has the Lions nabbing Michigan cornerback Will Johnson all the way down at No. 28. It’s been a horrible pre-draft process for Johnson, who was once favored as a Top 10 pick, but injuries forced him to miss his pro day and there are lingering issues about his foot injury last season in Ann Arbor.

This would be a huge get for the Lions. Johnson is simply too good to fall out of the first round, and this would be an absolute home run for them to pair Terrion Arnold with Will Johnson to be the future of the Detroit secondary.