War room: This or That

By: Josh Frey-Sam

This has become one of my favourite exercises in the draft process.

I heard for the first time on the Mina Kimes Podcast and was baffled how I hadn’t heard it before — or thought about it myself.

I’ve called it This or That.

The exercise is simple. It’s a mock draft in which each team is presented with just two options. The choices can get tough, and this one includes trades.

I’ve altered the options here and there, as the picks I made were different from what they made on the podcast. But I followed Mina’s options the best I could.

Of course, this isn’t an official mock draft. Some players didn’t get drafted here that will go in the first round, because I couldn’t find a spot for them in this exercise.

Let’s get to it.

No. 1 Tennessee (Cam Ward or trade with the Giants)

In this scenario, the Titans receive the 34th overall pick and next year’s first-round pick to drop two spots. This is extremely difficult to pass up, but the Titans need a new face of the franchise. Cam Ward is the pick.

No. 2 Cleveland (Shedeur Sanders or Abdul Carter)

I think there are QB options with even greater upside in this draft. Give me Carter to make a dynamic pass-rush tandem with Myles Garrett.

No. 3 New York Giants (Shedeur Sanders or Travis Hunter)

I don’t agree with any talk of Shedeur to the Giants after they signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. I’ll take the best player in the draft — Hunter.

No. 4 New England (Will Campbell or trade with the Saints)

The offer is No. 9 overall, a 2nd rounder, a 3rd rounder and a 2nd rounder in 2026. This is a no-brainer for me, and a dream if you’re the Patriots, who need to add as much talent as possible. They can still get a really good player and fill a need at No. 9. The Saints would take Sanders here.

No. 5 Jacksonville (Mason Graham or Will Johnson)

I’d love to not go chalk here, but Graham makes too much sense here.

No. 6 Las Vegas (Ashton Jeanty or Tet McMillan)

Interesting pick-em’. Raiders want to run the ball, though, and Jeanty is the better player.

No. 7 New York Jets (Will Campbell or Armand Membou)

Membou is arguably the best offensive lineman in this class and played his entire career at right tackle. He’s a draft n’ play that’s fill a huge need on the Jets’ line.

No. 8 Carolina (Jalon Walker or Tet McMillan)

This pick needs to be defence if you’re Carolina. You can find a receiver in the second round— go get a pass-rusher. Walker is the easy pick.

No. 9 New England (Will Campbell or Tyler Warren)

The Pats would love to add another weapon, but they can do that later. Protect Drake Maye (!!!!). Campbell.

No. 10 Chicago (Tyler Warren or Mykel Williams)

The Bears could use another edge rusher, but the prospect of adding Warren and the Bears rocking out in 12 personnel (one RB, two TE) is too good. Gimme Warren, one of the best weapons in this class.

No. 11 San Francisco (Will Johnson or Mike Green)

It’s been a tough offseason for the Niners. They could use another playmaker on the backend. Give me the traits with Johnson, the cornerback out of Michigan.

No. 12 Dallas (Matthew Golden or Colston Loveland)

Golden is the easy pick between these two. Feels like a perfect compliment to CeeDee Lamb.

No. 13 Miami (Jahdae Barron or Kelvin Banks Jr.)

Protect Tua. Banks can start at LT and slide inside in a pinch.

No. 14 Indianapolis (Colston Loveland or Jihaad Campbell)

Tough call. Honestly don’t love either pick. Could be fun to see Campbell and Zaire Franklin patrol the middle for the Colts, though.

No. 15 Atlanta (Shemar Stewart or Mike Green)

Edge or edge? Stewart has a freaky physical makeup but lacks production — I’m gonna bank on the more proven commodity in Green.

No. 16 Arizona (Trade with Seahawks or Shemar Stewart)

The Seahawks are attempting to trade up two spots for guard Grey Zabel — they’re offering a fourth-round pick. We accept, seeing as how we can fill whatever need we have two spots later.

No. 17 Cincinnati (Tyler Booker or Shemar Stewart)

The Bengals still have Trey Hendrickson, and Joe Burrow remains the most valuable asset in the organization. Take Booker, the Alabama guard.

No. 18 Arizona (Donovan Ezeiruaku or Trey Amos)

The Cardinals passed on Stewart, but go with Ezeiruaku here in an effort to boost their pass rush.

No. 19 Tampa Bay (James Pearce Jr. or Trey Amos)

I sent Pearce Jr. to the Bucs in my latest mock draft, so I won’t change that pick here.

No. 20 Denver (Omarion Hampton or Emeka Egbuka)

This might be the toughest decision of this exercise, but I’ve loved Hampton to the Broncos for weeks now. Let’s keep him there.

No. 21 Pittsburgh (Jaxson Dart or Malaki Starks)

The Steelers can figure out their QB of the future next year, after Rodgers retires. Starks bolsters this backend immediately.

No. 22 Los Angeles Chargers (Colston Loveland or Tet McMillan)

Tough. I like the floor and the upside of Loveland.

No. 23 Green Bay (Shemar Stewart or Derrick Harmon)

Can’t say I love either of these picks for where the Packers are at, but I’ll bank on the traits with Stewart here.

No. 24 Minnesota (Walter Nolen or Nick Emmanwori)

The Vikings added to their front-four this offseason, but they need someone young to serve as the future. Nolen has everything you want.

No. 25 Houston (Josh Conerly or Tet McMillan)

The Texans must put this offensive line back together. Cornerly is the pick.

No. 26 Los Angeles Rams (Kenneth Grant or Josh Simmons)

The Rams keep an eye on the future while adding offensive line depth by taking Simmons here.

No. 27 Baltimore (Tet McMillan or Kenneth Grant)

Nice situation for the Ravens here. Grant can play in that 3-technique spot or shade inside. This is a late steal for the Ravens, who continue to invest in the trenches.

No. 28 Detroit (Trade with Bengals for Trey Hendrickson or Tet McMillan)

Don’t like how much that would cost. The slide stops for Tet, and the Lions gain a massive weapon.

No. 29 Washington (Nic Scourton or Maxwell Hairston)

Had Hairston here in my last mock draft, and we’ll keep the speedster to the Commanders.

No. 30 Buffalo (Nic Scourton or Derrick Harmon)

I think the Bills need a young body on the interior that can also bolster their depth. Harmon is a nice pick here.

No. 31 Kansas City (Aireontae Ersey or TreVeyon Henderson)

The Chiefs go talent over need here. Henderson provides juice that they haven’t had at the RB position in years.

No. 32 Philadelphia (Darius Alexander or Trey Amos)

Trey Amos gives them a starter and a potential top-end cornerback.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh