SportMap's Cody Stoots takes a look at the draft before free agency gets started

Cody Stoots' NFL mock draft 1.0

Kyler Murray
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My first go at a mock draft this year. This is a pre-free agency look and some of this picks will be rendered obsolete with the players added via free agency. That isn't going to stop me because after a little while in free agency we will do another one of these.

1. Arizona Cardinals - Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

Can't see this playing out any other way right now.

2. San Francisco 49ers - Nick Bosa, Edge, Ohio State

Ditto.

3. New York Jets - Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama

Ditto again.

4. Oakland Raiders - D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

Let's get wild Gruden. Metcalf was a monster at the combine and though Gruden is calling the shots there is still Davis blood at the top. There is almost no talent on the offense and this helps in that category. With two other picks in the first round there is room for error here. High risk, high reward.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Devin White, LB, LSU

The Buccaneers missed the chance to have a field general and tone setter at safety last year by passing on Derwin James. Different position but the missed result gets righted here. White can ball and Tampa needs ballers on the defense.

6. New York Giants - Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

I wanted to put a tackle here to protect Eli Manning since they're set on him being the quarterback but making sure the future is buttoned up is a necessity at this point.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars - T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa

A new toy for Nick Foles and hopefully a player to help their rushing attack as well. They have invested heavily in the offense and the quarterback has held them back. It will be Nick Foles' job to make sure the quarterback isn't a huge negative for Jacksonville.

8. Detroit Lions - Josh Allen, Edge, Kentucky

The Lions have to be jumping for joy this guy is still here.

9. Buffalo Bills - Rashan Gary, Edge, Michigan

Too much investment at defensive tackle to put Ed Oliver here. I almost thought about a tackle here but surely they can piece the spot together for another year to make sure they have a pass rusher for years to come.

10. Denver Broncos - Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

John Elway has disappointed a ton for the Broncos in the draft. The idea of pairing Greedy Williams with veteran cornerback Chris Harris seems like a situation even Elway can't mess up.

11. Cincinnati Bengals - Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan

There needs to be a makeover on defense getting away from the dirty and poor linebacker play they have been known for in recent years. Bush is freak and will earn back respect with thump after thump patrolling the middle for the Bengals.

12. Green Bay Packers - Brian Burns, Edge, Florida State

There is an intense need to get better on defense and Burns' impressive combine has him flying up draft boards.

13. Miami Dolphins - Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

Miami very well could be getting another Ryan Tannehill level quarterback but they have to start turning the page at the position.

14. Atlanta Falcons - Ed Oliver, DL, Houston

Biggest steal of the draft if this happens.

15. Washington Redskins - Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

Williams' potential versatility helps with playing now and the age of their tackles makes his future secure protecting the unsure quarterback position going forward.

16. Carolina Panthers - Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

This helps Cam Newton stay durable and Christian McCaffrey get even better.

17. Cleveland Browns - Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia

This has the potential to be a nasty tandem pairing Baker with last year's selection Denzel Ward.

18. Minnesota Vikings - Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

A nasty defensive lineman to help ease the pain of any potential cuts and a hole at defensive tackle.

19. Tennessee Titans - Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

I am sure Mike Vrabel can find a way to use him on his defense.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State

Bud Dupree 2.0 is a potential outcome but pairing him with T.J. Watt could mean the Steelers are a formidable pass rushing team.

21. Seattle Seahawks - Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame

Plug and play another good player on defense for Seattle. Seems like they consistently get good players dropping into their laps.

22. Baltimore Ravens - N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State

There is no talent at the wideout position and Harry solves that.

23. Houston Texans - Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State

Likely a dream scenario. I am betting on teams getting scared off from his lack of experience blocking in the run game allowing him to fall this far. The Texans couldn't get the card up there fast enough.

24. Oakland Raiders - Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

A safer selection than Metcalf but another talented player to assist in the rebuild.

25. Philadelphia Eagles - Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina

This was one of the harder teams to peg. Alshon Jeffery has worked out just fine for the Eagles why not another South Carolina pass catcher.

26. Indianapolis Colts - Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

Adding talent to the secondary is never a bad option especially when money spent on cornerbacks rarely works out so drafting one is a better option.

27. Oakland Raiders - Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida

Two offensive players in the books so the Raiders have to go defense here. They've failed at safety in recent years so they try to right the ship in the secondary.

28. Los Angeles Chargers - Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson

A nice player in a nice spot for the Chargers who keep adding to a nice defense.

29. Kansas City Chiefs - Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State

They have to add defense and Layne has tremendous potential and size in a division loaded with impressive wideouts.

30. Green Bay Packers - Cody Ford, OL, Oklahoma

Versatility gets him on the field early.

31. Los Angeles Rams - Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

Safety help with the safety turnover will be a popular thought for the Rams.

32. New England Patriots - Jachai Polite, Edge, Florida

Before the combine he was a high pick and he will still be in the first round when he falls right into the lap of the Patriots.

54. Houston Texans - Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame

There has to be more talent in the cornerback room for the Texans and Love is a dynamic player. He was a huge key for the Irish and could start being a key for the Texans.

55. Houston Texans - Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M

There is no reason Nick Martin shouldn't be pushed. While Garrett Bradbury would be the ideal selection he will be long gone before this spot. The next center off the board should be McCoy. I don't know if he could usurp Martin right away but push him and maybe the other guards from the start of camp would be a welcome sight.

86. Houston Texans - Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois

I would love to say Michigan defensive lineman Chase Winovich is here and the Texans snatched him up to be a versatile defensive weapon but I believe he will be gone. Adding beef to the middle making the linebacker's job a bit easier and maybe even stealing some pass rush from the middle of the defensive line.

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The Astros are cooking! Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.

In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.

It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.

Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?

Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.

Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.

If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.

As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.

And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.

There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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