1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
It’s taken until my final mock draft, but I’ve moved
off of Aidan Hutchinson as the first overall pick. The odds have
shifted in Vegas to Walker, and I’m siding with the odds.
Jacksonville needs an edge rusher, and Walker and Hutchinson have
seemingly separated themselves from the rest of the players in
this draft. Jaguars GM Trent Baalke consistently favored athleticism
in his draft picks, and Walker shines over Hutchinson in that
aspect. It seems a Georgia Bulldog will be the first overall pick
once again.
Previous Pick - Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
2. Detroit Lions - Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
Regardless of Hutchinson falling to this pick, I was moving off
of Malik Willis for Detroit. Although I believe they may want
to draft him, I can’t reasonably expect them to select him
with this pick. Hutchinson makes this pick all that much easier.
He’s coming out of Michigan, and it will be a short move
to Detroit. He’s a high-motor, high-floor defensive prospect
that should have plenty of success throughout his career. He’s
arguably the safest prospect in this draft, although he doesn’t
have the same ceiling as some other players. Regardless, he’s
an elite option with this pick.
Previous Pick - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
3. Houston Texans - Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The problem with Houston is that they could go several different
ways with this pick. They currently have Laremy Tunsil and Tytus
Howard at offensive tackle, and the other option I’m considering
here is Ikem Ekwonu. They have a massive hole at cornerback though,
and some believe Gardner could be the best overall player in the
draft. He’ll immediately step into the starting lineup for
Houston, and Gardner has a chance to become one of the best defensive
backs in the NFL.
Previous Pick - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
4. New York Jets - Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
The Jets are in an elite position with this pick. They need help
on the edge, in the secondary, and along the offensive line. There’s
an elite option at each of those three positions here. Thibodeaux
was a tremendous talent early in his career at Oregon before falling
off a bit. Still, he’s an elite talent, and there was a
time when he was seen as the potential number one overall pick.
There have been reports that Thibodeaux is moving back up draft
boards, and New York will likely have to select him here if they
want him.
Previous Pick - Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
5. New York Giants - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
I’ve held firm on Ekwonu being the first offensive tackle selected
in this draft, and that’s the case once again. The Giants need
help along the offensive line, and Ekwonu can step in on day one.
If the new coaching staff is going to give Daniel
Jones a real chance, they’ll need to protect him throughout
the season. Ekwonu falling to this pick would be a gift, as he
is generally seen as a tier higher than everyone left on the board.
This is the most difficult part of the draft to predict at this
point. I don’t believe Kenny Pickett is good enough to be considered
this high, but quarterbacks in this round are likely to be drafted
earlier than they should be. I also believe that the majority
of teams have Malik Willis graded higher, and he is expected to
be the first quarterback selected. With that being said, I’m not
predicting trades, meaning Carolina has to make the pick here.
They have a massive hole at the position, and Pickett could be
the most NFL-ready option on the board. The Panthers' coaching
staff doesn’t have the luxury of developing someone over the next
few years and Pickett gives them the best shot at winning this
season.
Previous Pick - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
7. New York Giants - Jermaine Johnson, Edge, Florida State
The Giants already drafted an offensive tackle, and they need
to address the pass rush. This feels slightly high for Johnson
at this point, but there’s a relatively large drop-off after him.
He climbed quite a bit throughout the offseason, and Johnson comes
with tremendous upside. There’s a chance that New York could opt
for Kyle Hamilton here, although I expect them to take a shot
on a high-upside pass rusher early in this draft.
Previous Pick - Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
8. Atlanta Falcons - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Falcons have as many holes as any team in the NFL. Calvin
Ridley is suspended for the season, and their wide receiver
room consists of Olamide
Zaccheaus, Damiere
Byrd, and Auden
Tate. They drastically need to get better at the position,
and they can select any receiver in this draft. Wilson, Drake
London, and Jameson Williams are all options here. I’m banking
on Wilson, who comes with the ability to turn into a WR1 at the
NFL level.
Previous Pick - Jermaine Johnson, Edge, Florida State
9. Seattle Seahawks - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
The Seahawks are another team with several holes to fill after
trading away Russell
Wilson this offseason. They need help along the offensive
line, and there was a time when Neal was seen as the potential
first overall pick in this draft. Instead, offensive tackles have
fallen a bit, and Neal would become an outstanding pick for Seattle.
He could immediately slide into either tackle position, and he’ll
be a cornerstone for the Seahawks' offensive line for years to
come.
Previous Pick - Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
10. New York Jets - Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
The Jets continue to help their defense early in the draft. They
selected a high-upside edge rusher as their first pick, and they
can solidify their secondary with this pick. Stingley always boasted
tremendous upside, although there were questions about his production
later in his collegiate career. He impressed with his metrics
at his Pro Day, and Stingley was given a clean bill of health.
There’s an outside chance that Gardner and Stingley could
both be selected in the top 5, although that isn’t the case
with this mock draft. Instead, they’re both selected in
the backend of the top 10.
Previous Pick - Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
11. Washington Commanders - Drake London, WR, USC
For whatever reason, Washington was willing to trade for Carson
Wentz, solidifying their quarterback for this season. It’s
a bit too early to take a shot on anyone left, specifically after
giving up picks for Wentz. Instead, they can add another great
receiving option to pair with Terry
McLaurin. London boasts elite range as a receiver, and he’d
be an outstanding complement to the way McLaurin plays. He’d add
a new dimension to the Washington offense that they didn’t have
last season.
The Vikings have holes throughout their secondary along with their
interior defensive line. With Gardner and Stingley off the board,
they can shift away from cornerback, as Trent McDuffie is likely
a tier below them. Hamilton and Jordan Davis are both solid options
here, as they’re the top options at each of their respective
positions. Hamilton is seemingly falling a bit at this point in
the process, but there was a time when he was seen as a top 5
pick. He has the higher ceiling and can impact the game in a way
that Davis can’t. For that reason, the Vikings will add
a young potential star to the backend of their defense.
Previous Pick - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
13. Houston Texans - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
In my first few mocks, I had Houston selecting a tackle with their
first pick followed by a cornerback with their second selection.
I’m flipping it this time with Gardner third overall and
Cross falling here. He’s a player that can slide into either
tackle position, although he’ll likely end up at left tackle
long-term. I still don’t trust that the Texans are going
to keep Tunsil after this season, allowing Cross to take over
in the near future.
Previous Pick - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
14. Baltimore Ravens - Jordan Davis, DT, Georiga
I mocked Tyler Linderbaum to the Ravens in each of my first two
drafts, but I’m switching from the interior offensive line
to the interior defensive line. Davis is the best defensive tackle
in the draft, and he continues to fly up draft boards. He has
the ability to take on multiple blockers, which will free up other
positions for one-on-one matchups. Davis has the potential to
be a top run-stuffer in the NFL, and he’ll make all of Baltimore’s
pass-rushers around him better. He’s the type of player
that will immediately help any defense he’s playing for.
Previous Pick - Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
15. Philadelphia Eagles - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Williams is flying up the draft boards as he continues to look
healthier as the draft closes in. He would’ve arguably been the
first wide receiver off the board if he didn’t suffer a major
knee injury. Quite frankly, there is a chance that he could still
be the first receiver selected. That isn’t the case in this draft,
though. The Eagles need a player to pair with DeVonta
Smith after Jalen
Reagor continued to struggle and JJ Arcega-Whitside shifted
to tight end. Smith, Williams, and Hurts are all Alabama products,
and they would make quite an offensive trio along with Miles
Sanders and Dallas
Goedert.
Previous Pick - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
16. New Orleans Saints - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
The Saints traded for this pick, specifically ahead of the Chargers.
They both have similar holes, making this pick relatively difficult.
I expect the Eagles wanted to stay ahead of New Orleans to have
their pick of the wide receivers. With that being said, the class
is so deep that the Saints can make that move without worrying
about who will be left. Olave is an outstanding prospect that
has the ability to stretch the field, which will pair nicely with
Michael Thomas.
He’ll add a high-upside option that the Saints haven’t
had in recent seasons.
Previous Pick - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
17. Los Angeles Chargers - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The Chargers are in a position where they could select an offensive
tackle, edge rusher, linebacker, or defensive tackle. Luckily
at this point, all of those positions have high-end talent available.
It’s a great problem to have, although I’m penciling in Lloyd,
who has the potential to be taken in the top-10 depending on how
the draft shakes out. He’s a sideline-to-sideline linebacker with
the ability to rush the passer. Lloyd will add tremendous versatility
to the Chargers defense, making them that much more dangerous.
Previous Pick - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
18. Philadelphia Eagles - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
McDuffie is a tier below the top two cornerbacks in this draft,
but some would suggest he’s closer to them than anyone else
is to him. It’s an interesting position with a lot of depth,
but McDuffie is the clear third option. He boasts the potential
to become a shadow corner in the NFL, as he’s coming off
of an elite career at Washington. The Eagles can use help in their
secondary, and McDuffie is a player that can help them early in
his career.
Previous Pick - Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
19. New Orleans Saints - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Quarterback is the clear position that turns this draft on its
head. Do I truly believe the Saints are going to draft Willis?
Not particularly. But I also don’t believe Kenny Pickett is drafted
before him either. Yet that’s how it worked in this draft. The
Saints signed Jameis
Winston, but they were slightly reluctant in doing so. It’s
clear that Willis is likely the top quarterback in this draft,
and he’s well above everyone outside of Pickett. That’s why he’s
the pick here, as New Orleans picks up their signal-caller for
the future.
The Steelers have several holes to fill throughout their roster.
In the offseason, they signed Mitchell
Trubisky to take over as their starting quarterback. With
that being said, he feels like a bridge option. There have been
plenty of rumors that Pittsburgh is searching for their next quarterback
of the future. Ridder’s been a name connected to them, specifically
with Willis already gone. Quarterbacks tend to fly up the draft
boards on draft night, and I’m expecting that to be the case once
again this year.
Previous Pick - Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
21. New England Patriots - Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
Initially, I was relatively set on New England drafting a defensive
player, but that may not be the case if Johnson is available here.
The Patriots could use help on the interior offensive line, and
Johnson comes with the ability to immediately start for them.
Mac Jones flashed
throughout his rookie season and the Patriots could give him extra
help to continue to grow. They added DeVante Parker in the offseason
and adding Johnson would be another step in the right direction
for their offense.
Previous Pick - Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
22. Green Bay Packers - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The Packers received this pick from the Las Vegas Raiders in the
Davante Adams
trade. It only makes sense that they use it on his replacement.
Granted, Green Bay doesn’t draft wide receivers in the first,
but they may not have a choice this season. Burks has game-changing
potential that he flashed at Arkansas, and Aaron
Rodgers could potentially mold him into a high-end wide receiver
in the NFL. The Packers could look for a safer player here, but
they need to replace arguably the best receiver in the league.
Upside is one of the only ways to do that.
Previous Pick - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
23. Arizona Cardinals - George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue
The Cardinals have a clear need at edge, and Karlaftis is pulling
away from players like Boye Mafe at the position. He performed
well, consistently getting pressure at Purdue. Karlaftis isn’t
the flashiest player in the draft, but he’ll benefit from playing
behind J.J. Watt
for at least a season. He’s a player that can add a bit more consistently
to their pass rush.
Previous Picks - Boye Mafe, Edge Minnesota
24. Dallas Cowboys - Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
The Cowboys need help along their offensive line, specifically
in the interior. Green is expected to play guard in the NFL, and
he could be a day one starter for Dallas. With that being said,
he boasts the upside to move out to tackle if need be. Green played
four different positions throughout his college career, and we’ve
seen versatile linemen be drafted at a premium in the past. I
expect that to be the case once again for Green during the draft.
Previous Pick - Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
25. Buffalo Bills - Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
The Bills are one of the most complete teams in the NFL, and they
don’t truly need to reach at any position. I could see them
grabbing a cornerback here, but Linderbaum is a significantly
better prospect than any corner available. He has the potential
to become one of the best centers in the NFL later in his career,
and he can immediately add depth to the Bills interior offensive
line. He’s the type of player that can be groomed for the
future while giving Buffalo an outstanding option if they’re
dealing with injuries around playoff time.
Previous Pick - Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
26. Tennessee Titans - Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
It’s difficult to write Corral for the Titans here because I don’t
believe the majority of quarterbacks in this class should be first-round
picks. With that being said, the Titans could be nearing the end
of Ryan Tannehill’s
time with the team. He’s looked outstanding in Tennessee, but
people are specifically questioning him in the playoffs. Corral
boasts plenty of upside out of Ole Miss and could be drafted earlier
than expected because of his position.
Previous Pick - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
Tampa Bay quietly has plenty of holes to fill, and they could
look to add to their defensive front with this pick. Wyatt comes
with elite size, and he can immediately take the pressure off
of the other pass rushers. Last season, Wyatt posted 39 tackles,
7 for a loss, and 2.5 sacks for Georgia. He could immediately
help Tampa Bay’s defensive line impact games in the way they could
need this season.
Previous Pick - Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
28. Green Bay Packers - Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Oddly enough, it feels as if the Packers could take two first-round
wide receivers in this draft. They already grabbed one with their
first pick, and I don’t believe they go that deep into the position
at this point, though. Instead, they need help along their offensive
line, specifically right tackle. Penning could be drafted significantly
higher than this depending on how this draft shakes out, but he
can immediately help Green Bay’s offensive line.
Previous Pick - Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
29. Kansas City Chiefs - Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
This could be the biggest shock in the entire draft, and I could
be looking way too into things. The Chiefs got rid of Tyreek
Hill in the offseason, and that is quite a player to replace.
Thornton is known for his elite speed, similar to Hill. If they
want to get a similar player on a team-friendly contract, Thornton
makes sense. This could be a reach for him but we should also
remember that Kansas City selected Mecole
Hardman over DK
Metcalf only a few years ago.
Previous Pick - George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue
30. Kansas City Chiefs - Dax Hill, S, Michigan
It’s clear the Chiefs need help in the secondary. Hill ended last
season with 69 tackles including 4.5 for a loss and 0.5 sacks.
He also ended last season with 2 interceptions, 8 pass deflections,
and 1 fumble recovery over 14 games. Hill can fill the void at
safety or he can shift over to their slot corner position. His
versatility can help Kansas City’s defense immediately.
Previous Pick - Dax Hill, S, Michigan
31. Cincinnati Bengals - Tyler Smith, OL, Tulsa
The Bengals have gotten significantly better along the offensive
line, although there is still room for improvement. Smith’s a
player that is gaining steam heading into draft night. He has
the ability to play tackle in the NFL, but he can also shift inside
to guard. The Bengals could use extra depth along the offensive
line, and there’s a chance that Smith could start on the interior
if he performs well through camp.
Previous Pick - Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
32. Detroit Lions - Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
TThe Lions skipped on Malik Willis with the second overall pick,
but they get one of their guys at the back end of the round. Howell
looked elite as a freshman at North Carolina before tailing off
a bit, specifically after he lost NFL talent at wide receiver.
He’s a player that seemingly didn’t have a chance to go in the
first round at one point, but there’s now smoke that he could
be one of five first-round quarterbacks selected. He’d benefit
from sitting behind Jared
Goff for a season before taking over in Detroit.
