Top Players to Go 1-5 in the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is upon us. The big event takes place in Detroit, Michigan, from April 25 through 27, and it’s free to attend. With the Draft just weeks away, everyone is talking about the top players that will likely be drafted first. So, which hot and top players will meet their fate early in the NFL Draft?

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

There is little doubt that quarterback Caleb Williams of USC will end up being the No. 1 draft pick. He has all of the pieces to become a winning, long-term franchise quarterback. Williams could also vastly help the team on which he's drafted. His arm strength and precision is unrivaled. He is more than deserving of a No. 1 overall selection in the NFL Draft.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Here's another no-brainer. Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State is a superstar. The Buckeye is one of the best players in his class, and although it's rare to see a receiver picked in the first three selections, it appears Harrison Jr. could break that trend. The last receiver who was picked in the top three was actually Calvin Johnson in 2007, by the way. But, Harrison is an incredible athlete, and the first three teams to make picks would be foolish not to look at him.

3. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Things start to get more subjective here. Several players are worthy of a No. 3 overall selection. But, Drake Maye is likely the strongest candidate. The quarterback from North Carolina is a force when it comes to his build, strength and accuracy. He's not quite as pristine as Williams, but he's close and certainly one of the top players this year.

4. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Malik Nabers has some unique gifts as a player, including his agile nature and quick capability to change direction while accelerating. He's an overall strong athlete, which you need in the WR position. He'll likely go No. 4 in the NFL Draft.

5. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Jayden Daniels is a Heisman Trophy winner, but some mock drafts have him being picked in the 20s. Still, he has an incredible rushing potential and can really play tricks on the defense. He's up against some other very strong quarterbacks in the draft, though, which is why he could be picked later than one would expect in the NFL Draft this year.

Other top players that will get picked up early include Joe Alt, OT, of Notre Dame; Rome Odunze, WR, of Washington; Brock Bowers, TE, of Georgia; and Troy Fautanu, OT, of Washington.

I know it's probably early to talk about the Super Bowl for next season, but really, is it? I actually don't think it's ever too early to start speculating and wishing for your team to make it all the way next year. This year was so very close for my team, the Detroit Lions. But, no cigar. So, maybe next year will be our year. But, aside from the Lions, there are other teams that are on target to be major contenders next season. Some of them didn't even make the playoffs this year. So, what are some early Super Bowl contenders for next season?

Before we get into those contenders, let's look at why next season is already shaping up to be so exciting. For me, the main reason is because a whopping seven teams have new head coaches. That's really going to change the makeup of those teams. The Atlanta Falcons have brought on Raheem Morris. The Carolina Panthers have Dave Canales. The Las Vegas Raiders have knabbed Antonio Pierce. The Los Angeles Chargers have Jim Harbaugh. The New England Patriots have promoted Jerod Mayo. The Seattle Seahawks have brought on Mike Macdonald. The Tennessee Titans have hired Brian Callahan. Finally, The Washington Commanders have hired Dan Quinn.

Of those new coaches, the most interesting to me is Harbaugh for the Chargers. For Harbaugh, this is his final shot at the Vince Lombardi trophy. He just won a national championship with the Michigan Wolverines, and now, he wants a Super Bowl victory. He has a chance with the Chargers' stellar quarterback Justin Herbert. But, it will take time, in my opinion. I mean, it could take time with any of these teams with new coaches. That said, the Houston Texans had a rookie coach this year in DeMeco Ryans, and they almost went all the way, so all things are possible.

Let's get into seven early Super Bowl contenders for next season with my commentary.

One thing I like about this list is that I'm not necessarily even picking teams that made it to the playoffs this year. I'm picking teams that I think could be strong enough next season. The Seattle Seahawks are one of those teams. Their new coach, Mike Macdonald, is the former defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. Enough said. This guy is golden. Seattle's defense is going to improve drastically with him at the helm, and they could go all the way very soon.

The Buffalo Bills missed the playoffs by a hair. They played so well against the Kansas City Chiefs, but it just wasn't enough. Josh Allen is a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback, but he hasn't taken them there. Will next year be the year? Maybe.

The Houston Texans will be the team to beat very soon. They pulled off an incredible season with a rookie coach and quarterback. They're just getting started. The team got first place in AFC South this season but lost in the divisional round to the Baltimore Ravens.

Speaking of the Baltimore Ravens, I'm still shocked that they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game. I think pretty much everyone was at least a little surprised. But, Lamar Jackson is back next year, and he's not going to let it slip away again. Next year could be their year.

It was a massive decline for the Philadelphia Eagles towards the end of last season. Everything fell apart at the seams. But, the Eagles have legacy, and they have Jalen Hurts. As long as he's healthy, the Eagles will be back next year ready to fight.

Yikes. Can the Green Bay Packers really be this good already? They almost upset the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs this year. Jordan Love is the real deal. Watch out for this young team next year.

Okay, yes, I'm a Detroit Lions fan, born and raised. But, I think there's reason to believe that the Detroit Lions can and will be back next year. They've had a taste of victory, and they liked it. Plus, golden guy Ben Johnson is coming back to Detroit, and he wants to take the Lions all the way. Jared Goff is playing fantastic football, too. The Lions could really make it to their first Super Bowl next season. What do you think? Let me know here.