It looks as if Hutchinson’s separating himself to be the clear first overall pick in this draft. The Jaguars have options along the offensive line, leaving pass rushing as a clear hole in their roster. Hutchinson recorded 14 sacks with 16.5 tackles for a loss as a senior at Michigan. He’s also one of the safest prospects in this draft, giving Jacksonville’s defense a potential All-Pro player without adding much risk because of his motor.

Previous Pick - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

2. Detroit Lions - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

This is one of the most difficult picks of the entire draft. On one hand, this feels extremely aggressive for Detroit. On the other hand, it makes far too much sense. They stated that they’ll create their offense to the strength of their quarterback, which suggests the Lions are at least considering Willis. This would be an ideal landing spot, as he could start his career behind Jared Goff before taking over. Willis would give Detroit an elite quarterback prospect, and we’ve consistently seen the position overdrafted in the past. I do feel this is a bit aggressive, but he’s the type of player that could turn around a franchise if he hits his ceiling.

Previous Pick - Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

3. Houston Texans - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

New head coach Lovie Smith heaped praise on Davis Mills, calling him their quarterback heading into the season. This is far too early in this particular draft to select his replacement, meaning they’ll have to shift their focus elsewhere. Although the Texans have several holes, they should be focused on giving Mills every opportunity to find success early in his career. Houston could look to further their rebuild by trading Laremy Tunsil, opening a massive hole at tackle. Ekwonu could immediately step in and fill that hole. He could be the top overall pick in this draft, and he’d be a top player for the Texans for years to come.

Previous Pick - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

4. New York Jets - Travon Walker, DE, Georgia

The Jets could go a few different ways with this pick, although some of the prospects seem to be trending in different directions. Kyle Hamilton was a popular pick here, but he’s falling down the draft board a bit. They could also take Ahmad Gardner, who could go higher than most expect. I’m leaning toward Walker taking a massive leap from my first mock. He’s making waves in the draft community, and New York would benefit from a pass rusher as much as they would with help in the secondary. Walker could end up in the top-5, and the Jets could use the help along their defensive front.

Previous Pick - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

5. New York Giants - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

Neal is losing a bit of momentum at this point in the process, but there’s very little reason to believe he falls too far. Head coach Brian Daboll already said he’s studying old film of Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney to get the most out of them this season. With Neal being the clear best tackle at this point in the draft, they can help Daniel Jones out a bit more in what should be a make-or-break season for the quarterback. Regardless of his success, Neal with Andrew Thomas would set New York’s line for the future.

Previous Pick - Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon

6. Carolina Panthers - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

The Panthers are in an extremely interesting position. They need a quarterback, but there have been reports that they have made calls about Kirk Cousins. This is a bit too high to select another quarterback in this draft, so Carolina can either acquire a veteran or trade down if they want a QB. Since I’m not projecting trades here, I’m shifting my focus elsewhere. Instead of taking a quarterback, they can get an outstanding pass-blocking left tackle. Once Carolina gets their quarterback of the future, they’ll have his blindside protected for years to come with Cross.

Previous Pick - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

7. New York Giants - Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon

“The Giants could luck their way into an elite pass rusher with this pick. They struggled to consistently get pressure on the quarterback last season, ranking in the bottom third of the NFL in sacks, hurry rate, and pressure rate. Thibodeaux was seen as the clear favorite for the first overall pick before the season. He returned to form in 2021, posting 49 tackles, 12 for a loss, and 7 sacks for the Oregon Ducks. Thibodeaux comes with as much upside as any pass rusher in this draft class and he’ll pair well with Azeez Ojulari, who enjoyed a solid rookie season. Although there are some concerns with Thibodeaux’s overall ability, he’s going to be an elite pass rusher from early in his career, which is exactly what the Giants need.”

“The Jets could go with several players here, and a safety could be a bit of a reach (at four, not 10). With that being said, Hamilton comes with elite versatility and has the potential to become one of the best play-making safeties in the NFL. He boasts plenty of range, tremendous ball skills, and can play around the line of scrimmage. In only seven games at Notre Dame last season, Hamilton recorded 34 tackles, including 2 for a loss, with 3 interceptions and 4 pass deflections. Generally, safeties aren’t selected this high in the draft, but there are very few players at the position that can change the game the way Hamilton can.”