Many NFL teams have picked up key pieces in free agency over the last week, and those same teams are now beginning to turn their focus on the upcoming draft in less than 40 days.

While some players are still expected to be signed to active rosters within the coming days, the majority of teams now clearly understand their roster needs.

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As a result, these teams could completely shift their strategy heading into one of the most important times of the NFL year.

The post-free agency mock draft by The Dallas Express has officially arrived:

  1. Tennessee Titans
    • Cam Ward, Quarterback, Miami
      • Tennessee chooses to hold onto the top pick in this draft and select Ward in an attempt to solidify the quarterback position for the future. Ward is the clear top quarterback in this draft and has the mental and physical abilities to succeed early in his NFL career in the right circumstances.
  2. Cleveland Browns
    • Travis Hunter, Cornerback/Wide Receiver, Colorado
      • Cleveland needs help on both sides of the ball, which is exactly what Hunter will bring to this franchise. While he may end up playing the majority of his snaps as a cornerback, Hunter can spend time as a wide receiver and make a major impact whenever he is on the field.
  3. New York Giants
    • Shedeur Sanders, Quarterback, Colorado
      • In this scenario, New York is choosing to draft a quarterback after striking out on Aaron Rodgers in free agency, who is reportedly deciding between the Giants and Steelers while also hoping to sign with the Vikings. Sanders is an accurate passer who could struggle at times in the NFL due to the number of sacks he takes, though he could become an incredibly solid pocket passer behind a good offensive line. However, New York must bet on the young quarterback in an attempt to save many of the jobs that are on the hot seat.
  4. New England Patriots
    • Will Campbell, Offensive Tackle, LSU
      • The Patriots would prefer to draft the best player available with the fourth overall selection, but the franchise spent a lot of money on defense in free agency and must invest in the offense to find success next season. Campbell is the best offensive lineman in this class and could become an immediate starter at left tackle for this team moving forward.
  5. Jacksonville Jaguars
    • Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
      • Jacksonville manages to remain at the fifth pick and could draft a player who many believe is the best in the draft. The fit could be difficult to manage at first, with Carter needing to slide in next to Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, but Jacksonville cannot pass on the best player available in this instance. While the potential foot surgery could be concerning for Carter, his ceiling as an edge rusher is higher than almost every player in this draft.
  6. Las Vegas Raiders
    • Jahdae Barron, Cornerback, Texas
      • Cornerback has always been an important position for a Pete Carroll-led defense, with Barron standing out as a player who could fill a major need for the Raiders next season. Barron has the versatility to play anywhere on the field, though he will likely end up as an outside cornerback due to his combination of ball skills and physical abilities.
  7. New York Jets
    • Mason Graham, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
      • The Jets are another team looking to add the best player available with the seventh pick. Graham is one of the best-run defenders in the draft and has the potential to become a game-wrecker in passing sets as well. While he may need to add some weight to compete against interior offensive linemen in the NFL, he has all the tools necessary to become a star early in his career. 
  8. Carolina Panthers
    • Tetairoa McMillan, Wide Receiver, Arizona
      • Carolina will look to continue adding to the offense by selecting a receiver who can immediately become the best pass catcher on the roster. McMillan clocked a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and is a player who can make contested catches while adding yards after the catch. Panthers’ quarterback Bryce Young desperately needs a consistent receiver to look toward, and McMillan can quickly fill that role.
  9. New Orleans Saints
    • Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
      • New Orleans is in an odd spot due to the consistent cap space issues the franchise is undergoing, resulting in a draft selection that tightropes the line between a high-ceiling player and an instant contributor. Williams is a fantastic run defender and can impact the team early in his career during early downs, though he struggles at times due to a lack of pass-rush moves that allow him to beat tackles. Luckily, Williams is still young and has a high ceiling due to his athletic traits.
  10. Chicago Bears
    • Tyler Warren, Tight End, Penn State
      • Chicago debated heavily in this mock draft whether to select Warren or Ashton Jeanty with the 12th overall pick, though another receiving option for Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams was too good to pass up. Johnson consistently utilized the tight end position during his time in Detroit and will look to develop his passing offense in Chicago similarly. Warren has a large catch radius and is a good blocker who will see a lot of snaps during his rookie season with the Bears.
  11. San Francisco 49ers
    • Armand Membou, Offensive Tackle, Missouri
      • The 49ers need to begin making plans for the future with left tackle Trent Williams likely coming to the end of his career. Membou is 325 pounds and moves well for his size, though he will likely need to add strength to succeed against strong edge rushers in the NFL. Adding Membou to this roster and allowing him to learn for a season behind Williams could result in San Francisco having one of the best left tackles in the league for the next 15 years.
  12. Dallas Cowboys
    • Ashton Jeanty, Running Back, Boise State
      • Dallas is desperate for another offensive skill position after adding very few major players during free agency. The Cowboys added multiple running backs to the roster but are still expected to add another player early in the draft. Jeanty is a player who will immediately command the most snaps of any running back on the team. Jeanty’s contact balance and explosiveness could make him one of the best running backs in the league within his first season.
  13. Miami Dolphins
    • Kenneth Grant, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
      • The Dolphins need help in the trenches, and obtaining a player who is one of the largest in the draft could help improve the defensive line. Grant is 6-foot-3 inches and weighs almost 340 pounds, yet he is one of the most athletic players in the draft and has the lower body speed needed to be successful in run defense. Grant will have to develop more pass-rush moves to consistently make an impact on clear passing plays, but the potential is incredibly high with this selection.
  14. Indianapolis Colts
    • Jihaad Campbell, Linebacker, Alabama
      • The biggest concern Indianapolis had entering free agency came in the cornerback room, but the Colts addressed this concern by signing Charvarius Ward away from the 49ers. Now, the Colts will look to address multiple other concerns by drafting Campbell, who could play either linebacker or edge for this team next season. Campbell is a versatile player who has shown the ability to compete at either position against the top teams in the country, which are the two biggest needs for the Colts heading into next season.
  15. Atlanta Falcons
    • Luther Burden III, Wide Receiver, Missouri
      • Atlanta will look to continue adding to an incredibly young offense by adding Burden with the 15th pick in the draft. Burden will add a different type of receiver to this team, as he has been successful in running deep routes and gaining yards after the catch. While players such as Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud put together solid seasons last year, the Falcons must add a more explosive element to this receiving corps.
  16. Arizona Cardinals
    • Will Johnson, Cornerback, Michigan
      • Johnson presents concerns due to his injury history at Michigan, but the game tape when he is healthy is some of the best in the entire draft. Arizona will look to improve its secondary with a player who many expect to be selected in the top 10, with the franchise betting on the injuries being a non-issue throughout his professional career.
  17. Cincinnati Bengals
    • Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
      • The Bengals recently signed Jamarr Chazse and Tee Higgins to massive contract extensions and must now focus on improving the defense. While the franchise is looking into ways to re-sign Trey Hendrickson to a new contract, the most likely outcome is that he is sent away in a trade. As a result, the team must fill a hole along the edge and draft Ezeiruaku with the 17th selection. Ezeiruaku is an incredible athlete and already has many of the moves needed to beat tackles off the edge, meaning he can step right into the league and should find a way to make an impact.
  18. Seattle Seahawks
    • Grey Zabel, Offensive Line, NDSU
      • Seattle needs help on the interior offensive line. The good news is that Zabel could become a player who plays all five positions along the offensive line and should be available at this point in the draft. Zabel’s draft stock has skyrocketed in recent months and could continue rising as more teams begin to consider him for various positions along the line.
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • Malaki Starks, Safety, Georgia
      • Starks did not test well during the combine but has shown some of the best ball skills of any defensive back in the draft, making him a perfect fit for the Buccaneers with this selection. Tampa Bay needs help in the secondary, and Starks can play both free safety and in the slot effectively as a rookie.
  20. Denver Broncos
    • Omarion Hampton, Running Back, UNC
      • Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton has spent much of the offseason discussing the running back position and the need for an impact player out of the backfield. Hampton is one of the most athletic running backs in the draft and could immediately become Denver’s top option if selected for this spot.
  21. Pittsburgh Steelers
    • Josh Simmons, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
      • Pittsburgh is reportedly considering Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback for next season, meaning the team must find a way to set up a competent offensive line. Rodgers is no longer a mobile quarterback, and the Steelers have struggled to select offensive linemen in recent seasons. Simmons was widely considered one of the best offensive linemen in college football before an injury and should see a smooth transition into the NFL.
  22. Los Angeles Chargers
    • Jayden Higgins, Wide Receiver, Iowa State
      • Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has had very few great pass-catching options during his career, which is something Los Angeles will look to add by selecting Higgins in the first round. Higgins is among the most athletic receivers in the draft class and should be selected in the first round. He has some of the best hands of any pass catcher available and has the speed and size needed to create separation in the open field. While Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh would likely prefer to add a running back with this selection, the organization selects a receiver with the highest ceiling in the draft.
  23. Green Bay Packers
    • Derrick Harmon, Defensive Tackle, Oregon
      • Green Bay needs help along the defensive line and chooses to draft a player who fits many of the tendencies of this team. Harmon is from a West Coast school and competed against top talent during his collegiate career, which is two of the characteristics the Packers seek when selecting players. The Packers’ defensive line struggled for large portions of the season last year and the franchise did not add any players at these spots in free agency, indicating that the team could select a defensive lineman with their first draft pick.
  24. Minnesota Vikings
    • Walter Nolen, Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss
      • Minnesota signed Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen in free agency and will look to add another defensive tackle to manage the position in the future. Nolen is an incredibly strong player but often struggles with his hand placement on pass sets. Sitting for one season behind multiple skilled defensive tackles is the best option for Nolen as he looks to gain even more skills before stepping into a starting role. This growth will also be important for Minnesota, as the team continues to add depth along the defensive line while also potentially securing the spot for the future.
  25. Houston Texans
    • Kelvin Banks Jr., Offensive Tackle, Texas
      • Houston is desperate for help along the offensive line. Banks is a stout lineman who keeps his weight low while also having the ability to be successful as a pulling blocker. Although long-armed defensive linemen can get the best of Banks at times, he is able to use his athleticism to recover and avoid disastrous situations. Houston needs help protecting C.J. Stroud, and Banks is the clear choice for this selection.
  26. Los Angeles Rams
    • Colston Loveland, Tight End, Michigan
      • The Rams have multiple positions that must be filled but choose to select Loveland with this pick to provide Matthew Stafford with another receiving option. Loveland still has a lot of room to grow as both a pass catcher and blocker, but his size and effort are both in line with players who have been successful at the tight end position. Stafford has always been fond of his tight-end options in the receiving game, and Loveland can become a solid player in his rookie season.
  27. Baltimore Ravens
    • Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
      • Stewart slips in the draft due to the lack of production during his collegiate career, but the incredible athletic profile convinces the Ravens to take a chance on the young pass rusher. Baltimore needs more juice along the defensive line and Stewart could develop quickly into a game-wrecker off the edge. Although Baltimore would have to commit to the development of Stewart next season, the risk is worth it for a player who many believe could go inside the top 15.
  28. Detroit Lions
    • Jalon Walker, Linebacker, Georgia
      • Detroit will add one of the most athletic players in the draft and look to teach technique as his career goes. Walker has the versatility to play either linebacker or edge and could become the perfect player for this Lions’ defense. At just 21 years old, Walker has the potential to develop into one of the best linebackers in the league.
  29. Washington Commanders
    • James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
      • Washington takes a chance on Pearce after his fall from the top of the draft due to concerns about his character. Despite these concerns, Pearce was arguably the most effective pass rusher in this draft during his time at Tennessee and could transition well into the NFL next year. Pearce struggles in run defense, but his array of pass-rush moves will allow him to be an immediate starter for a team looking to compete in a Super Bowl.
  30. Buffalo Bills
    • Trey Amos, Cornerback Ole Miss
      • Buffalo is in need of an impact player on defense and Amos will bring immediate juice to a group that has struggled in recent postseasons. Amos has shown to be most successful when in press-man coverage, which allows him to use his physicality against receivers to create time for the pass rush. As a multi-year starter for Alabama and Ole Miss, Amos competed at the highest level of college football and should be prepared to see the field in his rookie season.
  31. Kansas City Chiefs
    • Josh Conerly Jr., Offensive Tackle, Oregon
      • Kansas City signed offensive lineman Jalyon Moore during free agency to manage concerns about the offensive line; however, this contract was only two years and indicates that the team could still look to improve that group in the draft. Conerly is not the most polished offensive lineman available but has many of the physical tools required to be a successful left tackle in the NFL. Conerly would likely be expected to sit and watch during his rookie season, which could be the best option for both him and the Chiefs next season.
  32. Philadelphia Eagles
    • Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
      • Green falls in this draft due to a combination of character concerns, fit with other teams, and his lack of game tape against bigger schools. However, Green has all the physical tools needed to become a consistent player in the NFL, and the Eagles have shown little issue with drafting players who are labeled as having character concerns. Philadelphia could walk away with the biggest steal in the draft for yet another season with the selection of Green.