The Draft "Expert" - 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 - https://www.theloganblackmanshow.com/post/the-draft-expert-2022-nfl-mock-draft-1-0
Welcome one and all to the officially official Draft "Expert" 2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0! This is truly an exciting time during the draft window as the NFL combine has just wrapped up, and people have made grave changes to their prospect rankings and mock drafts off of how players did running around in their underwear. Hope that doesn't come back to bite anyone too hard!
Either way, this is the best time of the sporting year! Nothing gets people on social media more riled up then seeing a mock draft where their team takes someone they don't necessarily want. Around this time of year, everyone is an expert, given why I am the Draft "Expert," cause I'm not really an expert, I can just make good predictions, from time to time.
In this mock though, much like the last one, there will be no trades! Though there won't be any trades once again, that doesn't mean this draft still won't be an exciting one! In this mock, there are two quarterbacks, six wide receives, five offensive tackles, three interior offensive linemen, two interior defensive linemen, seven edge rushers, two linebackers, three corners, and two safeties taken with these 32 picks!
So, without any further delay, here is the officially official Draft "Expert" 202 NFL Mock Draft 2.0! Enjoy!
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Pictured: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame; Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon; Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first pick of the draft, one of the least surprising selections in draft history. Much like last year, the Jaguars hold the number one pick, again, yet this time there is no real consensus number one player in the draft. Depending on who you ask, you'll get probably four to five different players. Through my research, people have gone on record and said players like Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson, Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux, Alabama's Evan Neal, NC State's Ikem Ekwonu, and even Mississippi State's Charles Cross deserve to be the first overall pick in the draft. Now, looking at the Jaguars as a whole, they currently only have two tackles on the active roster in the form of two former second round picks in Jawaan Taylor ('20) and Walker Little ('21). Not only do they only have two tackles, their starting left tackle, Cam Robinson, is entering free agency this offseason and is expecting a pretty decent pay day. So, with Robinson's pay day incoming, and the lack of any other real options in free agency, the Jaguars should look to add the top tackle in this class. To me, that is between Alabama's Evan Neal and NC State's Ikem Ekwonu, and if you have the ability to read the big letters up above, you would know that I think the Jaguars should look to add Bama's Evan Neal. Now, I'm not saying this is a slam dunk or anything, I think Neal and Ekwonu are very close in regards to how I view them as prospects. Both have played multiple positions across the offensive line but I think most people out there know Neal will be a tackle at the next level, whereas some are still trying to figure out if Ekwonu is a guard or a tackle (he's a tackle to me, but that's besides the point). Neal has everything you're looking for in a franchise tackle. The thing that makes Neal special is his rare combination of size, athleticism, and versatility. While at Alabama, Neal has played all across the offensive line. Lining up at left guard, right tackle, and then, finally, left tackle this season. For being as big as he is, 6'7" 350 lbs., you have to be an insane athlete to be able to move and play every line position at a high level, and Neal is just that. I think Neal's size mixed with his athleticism and versatility make him the early odds on favorite to be the first player picked in the 2022 Draft. Whether you want him at left or right tackle Neal will do a job, and do it well. The main priority this offseason for Jacksonville should be getting players around Trevor Lawrence on the offensive side of the ball, and like all things on a football field, you start with the offensive line. Neal would give Lawrence a bookend tackle, keeping him alive and well for hopefully the next 10-15 years.
2. Detroit Lions - Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
The Detroit Lions will go down in history as the greatest team ever to have the second overall pick. Yes, I am aware the Lions finished with a pretty appalling 3-13-1, but they were 11-6 against the spread this year and as the old adage states, good teams win, great teams cover. Even though they finished with three wins they had some very impressive performances against some pretty solid teams. They were one score away from beating the 49ers, Ravens (would've won if not for a 66-yard field goal), Vikings (should've beat them twice), Steelers (tied), Browns, Bears, and Falcons while also dismantling the Cardinals 30-12 in Detroit. All in all, given the expectations, I don't think this season was all too bad. They have two first round picks, plus an early second round pick, an underrated offensive line (when healthy), a very good running back in D'Andre Swift, and a coach that has really galvanized the team (we'll see if he can improve this team this season), things could look up here soon. The real issues for the Detroit Lions lies on the defensive side of the ball. As a unit, the Lions ranked in the bottom four in yards allowed per game, bottom half in pass defense, bottom five in rush defense, and bottom two in points allowed per game, not to mention they ranked in the bottom three in sacks this season, totaling a measly 30, just one above Philadelphia. When you have a pick in the top three, these are usually areas for quarterbacks, offensive tackles, and edge rushers. With the Lions offensive line being, as we said earlier, decently underrated (when healthy), and this spot being a little too rich for a quarterback, the Lions should definitely look to add one of the top edge rushers in this class. With the Jaguars taking former Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal with the first pick, that gives the Lions the pick of the litter in regards to closing who they want to come off the edge and hopefully help transform their defense. To me, I don't think the Lions need to look too far to find their guy. Just travel 43 minutes west to Ann Arbor and take the former Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson. There's no doubt, Aidan Hutchinson had one of the greatest seasons coming off the edge in recent college football memory. A combination of size, speed, and power, Hutchinson bullied his way to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, finishing second behind Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. This season at Michigan, after coming off a fractured ankle last season, Hutchinson went out and broke the Michigan single season sack record, totaling 14 with three of them coming against Michigan's biggest rival Ohio State. In his final three regular season games at Michigan, Hutchinson totaled six sacks to go along with 21 total tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass defended. Once he locks eyes on the opposing quarterback, there's very few players in the country that can stop him. Hutchinson's aforementioned power mixed with his will power makes him a very tough match-up for opposing offenses. If the Lions want to turn their fortunes around, they'd be smart by looking to Plymouth's Aidan Hutchinson. He may not have grown up a Lions fan, but he'll create some by being a local kid playing for his local team. A match made in Heaven.
3. Houston Texans - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Much like we mentioned with the Lions before, even though the Texans finished the season with four wins, they exceeded everyones expectations. Before the season started, I was under the impression that the Texans would become the first 0-17 team in NFL history. That was quickly proven wrong after week one after they dismantled Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars 37-21. Even after that, we saw Houston beat the number one seed in the AFC, the Jaguars again, and basically derail the Chargers season. I know the AFC South is seen generally as the worst division in the NFL, but to think of the Jaguars finishing with a .500 record while also almost sweeping the aforementioned Titans was seen as crazy, at least to me, before the season started, especially given everything that was going on off the field for the Texans. So, with this pick I think the Texans will try to do something to improve their defense, especially after hiring former Bears head coach and former d-coordinator Lovie Smith as their new head coach. I know their may be some people out there that say the Texans hold draft a quarterback given Deshaun Watson's current predicament, but Davis Mills showed out this past season, arguably being the second best rookie quarterback this past season behind Mac Jones. Given how raw he was coming in, I think they did some good stuff with Mills and think he could be the answer for Houston going forward, especially if Deshaun's situation doesn't get sorted out. Even so, no quarterback really should go in the top three, so that kind of eliminated itself even if Mills didn't flash some potential. This past season, defensively, the Texans ranked in the bottom two in yards allowed, bottom 10 in pass defense, bottom two in rush defense, and bottom six in points allowed per game. Again, the Texans have to use this pick to strengthen their defense, and two players instantly come to mind here. They are Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux and Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton. Coming from New England, GM Nick Caserio knows how important it is to build a strong secondary, so picking Kyle Hamilton should easily be on the cards, especially with free safety Justin Reid entering free agency this offseason. Now typically, safeties don't go this high in the draft. Looking at every draft since 2000, only one safety has been selected with a top five pick, with Sean Taylor going fifth overall to Washington in 2004. Since then, safeties draft stock has kind of gone down, with the past two drafts seeing no safeties drafted in the first round, with the earliest one selected 36th overall, Xavier McKinney in 2020 and Jevon Holland in 2021. That being said, those safeties don't compare to Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton. The thing is with Hamilton is that you're not getting a typical safety, you are getting a football player. Hamilton combines the size of a linebacker, with the speed of a receiver, and the coverage skills of a corner into one player. Whether you want him playing as a center fielder, up against the line of scrimmage, or even outwide covering a wide receiver, Hamilton will always get the job done. The thing I like the most about Hamilton is his range. His ability to cover insane amounts of ground in a short amount of time makes him a very fun player to watch on the defensive side of the ball. Throughout his Notre Dame career, Hamilton made eight interceptions and 138 total tackles. This past season Hamilton missed a portion of the season due to a knee injury he sustained during a game against USC back in October, but still managed to get three interceptions, with two very impressive ones coming in week one vs Florida State. I am well aware this pick may not move the needle with the Texans fans who probably want Kayvon Thibodeaux here, but Hamilton is a truly special player on the defensive side of the ball and would be a perfect replacement for Justin Reid should he leave in free agency. To me, Hamilton the type player that would instantly improve the Texans secondary, giving them a Swiss Army knife that would be able to rip apart opposing offenses. Remember, Hamilton is not a safety, Hamilton is a football player. (the questions regarding Thibodeaux's work ethic mixed with Caserio likely throwing up a curve ball makes me go with Hamilton over Thibs) (Ikem Ekwonu is also an option here, with Laremy Tunsil possibly being traded)
4. New York Jets - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
The Jets are going to be one of the teams to watch in the 2022 NFL Draft. With two picks in the top 10, the Jets could really improve some problem areas of their team, whether they keep the said picks or trade out of them to acquire more picks to improve their roster even more. One of two New Jersey based teams with multiple top 10 picks, I think the needs are generally straight forward when it comes to the Jets. They have to improve their offensive line and they have to improve their secondary. According to some reports, the Jets really like Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. Though I think he's a very special player, the Jets offensive line really needs some work, and with two of the top three guys still available, I would imagine GM Joe Douglas would move in favor of protecting Zack Wilson. This past season, rookie quarterback Zach Wilson was running for his life behind a pretty make shift o-line that was without it's starting left tackle for almost the entire season due to a dislocated knee cap. Now, according to some reports, the Jets are "fed up" with Mekhi Becton, with "battle lines between coaching staff and front office could be drawn over this." Rumors are swirling that they'll move George Fant from right to left tackle, freeing up a spot on the offensive line. To me, after Evan Neal, they don't really get that much better than NC State's Ikem Ekwonu. A guard tackle hybrid, who should stay at tackle at the next level, Ekwonu is one of the meanest lineman in this draft class. Nicknamed the "Pancake King," Ekwonu drives his opponents back with relative ease and absolutely dominates edge rushers and linebackers in the run game, which is something head coach Robert Saleh will be looking to establish this upcoming season with Michael Carter starting to get the bulk of the carries. Though he's probably more dominant in the run game, Ekwonu doesn't let anything get past him in the pass game either, allowing only 13 pressures all season and has led the nation in big time blocks, according to PFF. Though Ekwonu may not have the prototypical size for a franchise left tackle (6'4" 320 lbs.), I have no real doubts that he'll be a beast at the next level. Whether or not Becton is back next season, Ekwonu would still be an insane piece to add for Zach Wilson to the offensive line. In the past two drafts the Jets have used first round picks on offensive lineman, with the aforementioned Becton going 11th in 2020 and guard/tackle hybrid Alijah Vera-Tucker going 14th in 2021. The Jets could have the makings of a solid o-line if they develop this unit right. Drafting Ikem Ekwonu here would help improve a massive problem area for the Jets while also keeping Zach Wilson upright and opening holes in the run game. I think Ekwonu will be an absolute monster at the next level and honestly, could be taken with the first overall pick. (I went back and fourth between Ekwonu and Thibodeaux here, I just think GM Joe Douglas, as a former o-lineman, would opt for Ekwonu here, though Saleh probably wants Thibodeaux)
5. New York Giants - Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Now, this may come as a shock to some people, but according to some reports, expect Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux to be one of the surprise "fallers," or "sliders," during the 2022 NFL Draft. The main thing in question for Thibodeaux is his work ethic. In a recent quote from ESPN draft "expert" Todd McShay, he stated that, “I heard a lot about Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, including concerns that he just doesn’t play with the same fire as some other top prospects. His ceiling is high, but the floor is lower than what you want for a top-five pick. And based on a handful of conversations, it wouldn’t shock me if Thibodeaux fell out of the top five. Speaking of which, it was very apparent this week that the top of the draft isn’t nearly as set as it normally is at this point. Picks at the top of the first round might be a little more based on team flavor than recent years.” Now, though all that may be true, I feel the same things have been said about other Oregon prospects such as Justin Herbert and Penei Sewell, and they've turned out quite alright at the next level. Of course, we are still very early in the Draft process so this could be complete bull shite by the time April 28th roles around. That being said, it is something worth noting, as I've also heard NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah state that he wouldn't be shocked if Thibodeaux slid a little in the draft. There's always one player that does, and this year, that may be Thibs. Though this could happen, I don't think he'll fall past seven, where the New York Giants pick. After getting a potential franchise saving left tackle to not only keep Daniel Jones upright but also open up holes in the run game, I think it'd be smart for the Giants to look to the defensive side of the ball with their second top 10 pick. Now, the Giants could go a couple of different directions to address the defense with this pick. Arguably, the two biggest needs for the G-Men lie in the secondary and on the edges in getting after the quarterback. During the last draft, the Giants stole Georgia's Azeez Ojulari with the 50th pick in the second round. This past season Ojulari led the Giants in sacks with eight while also totaling 49 tackles and one forced fumble. With Ojulari becoming one of the better young edge rushers in the league, I think it may be wise for the Giants to find him a partner coming off the opposite edge. With the Giants bringing in former Ravens d-coordinator Wink Martindale, one would expect them to stick with their 3-4 defensive front. One thing I like about Thibodeaux is the fact that he can play across multiple fronts on the defensive side of the ball. While at Oregon, we saw Thibs play as a stand-up outside linebacker while also playing as a hand in the dirt 4-3 defensive end. So whatever defense the Giants end up rolling with, Thibodeuax should be able to slot right in. I think, if he's available, Thibodeaux is a no brainer. Dude is an insane athlete coming off the edge. After coming off an ankle injury early in the season, Thibodeaux came back and flashed his athletic prowess, registering a season high nine total tackles against UCLA (eight solo) with two sacks and a forced fumble. Throughout the rest of the season, Thibodeaux finished with seven sacks (half as much as Aidan Hutchinson) and two forced fumbles. He also registered the second-best pressure rate in the country (17.8%), per ESPN. Thibodeaux can really do in all for your defense, mixing a nice combo of athleticism, bend, and power to not only get after the passer but also make key plays in the run game. If available, Thibodeaux would be an excellent defensive cornerstone for the Giants defense. Let's hope those rumors are just that, rumors, because Thibodeaux's talent should make him a top three, pick in the draft. That being said, I don't think the Giants will do much complaining if he falls to them, at either the five or seven spot.
6. Carolina Panthers - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
The Carolina Panthers have a couple of glaring needs on their roster, both coming on the offensive side of the ball in the former of the offensive line and the quarterback position. Last offseason, the Panthers thought they may have solved their quarterback dilemma by trading for former third overall pick Sam Darnold from the New York Jets. Though he started off fine, once leading the league in rushing touchdowns, he was found out shortly after and eventually benched/rotated with former Panthers and Patriots quarterback Cam Newton. As the season went on, the more Matt Rhule toyed with the quarterback position, with both Cam Newton and Sam Darnold throwing more interceptions than touchdowns, and each completing sub 60% of their passes. Just not good enough, and with Panthers owner David Tepper saying, "unless you have that guy that for sure gets you to playoffs and Super Bowls, you have to keep reevaluating that because that’s the only thing that matters is Super Bowls. And until you have that guy, you’re evaluating, evaluating, evaluating every year," I think it'd be wise for the Panthers to look in another direction. That being said, the Panthers stupidly accepted Sam Darnold's fifth year option before he came to Carolina, so I think trading for a quarterback or signing one in free agency is out of the question, at least for now. So, I think the Panthers turn their attention to the NFL Draft, and specifically a quarterback that Matt Rhule knows fairly well, in the form of Pitt's Kenny Pickett. For those of you who are unaware, Rhule recruited Pickett, and go him to commit, while he was the coach at Temple. That being said, Rhule took the Baylor job shortly after, which saw Pickett wind up at Pittsburgh. To me, this is kind of like the Kliff Kingsbury - Kyler Murray situation. Not so much that Pickett is like/as good as Murray, but the situation itself. The head coach knows the quarterback in question well, and though they may have more needs on the roster, i.e. offensive line, the connection between Pickett and Rhule should see the former Pitt Panther wind up in Carolina. Remember, it's not always about what you know, but rather, who you know. Now, though the connection is apart of it, Pickett is, as of right now, seen as the number one quarterback in this class. After putting up monster numbers in his fifth and final season at Pitt, Pickett has shot up the draft boards, much like a certain Bengals quarterback who is now playing in the Super Bowl. During his aforementioned last season, Pickett threw for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns, which ranked fifth and third in the nation respectfully. Prior to this season, Pickett had never thrown for more than 3,100 yards and if you combined every touchdown he threw in his career prior to this season, it's less than what he did this time around. Through his first four seasons, combined, Pickett threw 39 touchdowns which, for those who can't do math good or just don't know numbers, is three less than what he threw in one season, which is pretty ridiculous. Not only are the numbers themselves impressive, they're also record breakers. In the game against Syracuse back on November 27th, Pickett broke Dan Marino's 40-year-old record for passing touchdowns in a season, setting the new record at 40 before breaking another Marino record, this time for Pitt's all time leader in passing touchdowns, throwing two against Wake Forest to bring his grand total to 80, passing Marino by a singular touchdown. Also in that game against Wake Forest, Pickett led the Panthers to their first ever ACC title and first conference title in general since 2010 while also securing a plane ticket to New York City, becoming Pitt's first Heisman finalist since Larry Fitzgerald in 2003, where he finished second to Oklahoma's Jason White. Like I said before, I'm not saying it's a slam dunk guarentee that Pickett ends up in Carolina, but don't be surprised if it does happen. Though he has tiny hands, this could be a match made in football heaven. (important to note that owner David Tepper is from Pittsburgh and is a grad from there as well, too many connections for this not to happen imo)
7. New York Giants (via Chicago) - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The second New Jersey based team with multiple top 10 picks, the Giants second one comes in here at number seven, after selecting Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux with their first pick. Though their have been some people out there saying that the G-Men should move on from Daniel Jones, I think the hiring of former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll says that the Giants will try and develop Daniel Jones into a franchise quarterback. To me, Jones has all the tools to become a nice quarterback in the NFL, we just need to see if he can put it all together. Now, if this is the route the Giants end up going, the first thing they need to do is address the offensive line. Ever since Daniel Jones has been in the league, the Giants have had one of the worst offensive lines in the entire NFL. Though they did try and fix it by drafting Andrew Thomas (4) and Matt Peart (99) in 2020 and trading for Billy Price, but nothing has seemed to work. Not to mention Price, Nate Solder, and Will Hernandez are all impending free agents this offseason, with Solder Turing 34 in April. The Giants have to address the offensive line with at least one of their first round picks and to me, after Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu, Mississippi State's Charles Cross is the next best tackle on the board. To me, Cross is a very polarizing prospect. On one hand, he is easily the best pass blocking lineman in the '22 draft class, playing 719 pass blocking snaps and only allowing 16 pressures. Let me repeat that, just 16 pressures allowed in 719 pass blocking snaps, that's just stupid. Not to mention that he's a great athlete for the tackle position (6'5" 310 lbs.) and has great use of hands, being able to brush off edge rush moves from opposing d-ends and linebackers. The only real "issue" I guess is that Mississippi State is a very, and I mean very, pass first team. This past season, Mississippi State, statistically, were the worst run team in college football, ranking dead last in yards (821), yards per game (63.2), and rush attempts (270). They even ranked last in longest rush attempt, with their longest run coming in at just 32 yards. Now, this isn't saying Cross can't run block, it's just saying he's not as experienced in that department as some of the other tackles in this class (think of someone like Andre Dillard, another Mike Leach o-lineman). What I think helps Cross out a lot is his potential. His size/frame and athleticism are a rare combination, and if given the right environment, he could develop into a very good tackle at the next level. Coming out of the first round with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Charles Cross would be an absolute win for the G-Men.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
The Atlanta Falcons could go a couple of directions with this pick. Firstly, they could try and fix some of the problem areas on the offensive side of the ball, namely getting a wide receiver to replace the potentially outgoing Calvin Ridley, possibly getting some more help for the offensive line, and, probably least importantly, getting a young quarterback to learn from Matt Ryan, who'll be 37 in May and will be on the last year of his deal this upcoming season. All those issues being said, the Falcons defense has been something of a problem for the team for the better part of four to five years. Whether it be in the secondary or getting after the passer, the Falcons can't seem to stop anybody. This past season the Falcons ranked in the bottom four in points allowed per game, bottom six in rush defense, and bottom seven in total defense. The only area the Falcons were decent at defensively was in their pass defense, with AJ Terrell transforming into one of the best/young shut down corners in the NFL. All that being said, by far the biggest area of concern for the Falcons is getting after the quarterback. This past season the Falcons ranked dead last in total sacks with 18, 11 behind the Philadelphia Eagles, who, for those who can't do math, had 29. Not only that, the Falcons leading sack getter from last season, Dante Fowler (4.5), was released back on February 16th, leaving Deion Jones (2) as the only player on the active roster who registered two or more sacks last season. Safe to say, the Falcons need to look for someone to get after the quarterback, and if recent reports are to be believed, the player who is building the most steam coming up to the draft is Georgia's Travon Walker. Though I think Walker has a very high ceiling compared to the other edge rushers in this class, you wouldn't necessarily think that if you just solely looked at his numbers. This past season for Georgia, Walker totaled just four sacks with 32 total tackles. The main reason Walker's numbers won't stand out to you is because this was his first year starting at d-end, playing mostly interior d-line while at Georgia. That's the main thing I like about Walker though, dude can play anywhere along the defensive line, whether that be in a 3-4 defense or a 4-3. This past season at Georgia, Walker came out weight 275 lbs., slimming down from his 290 lbs. frame from the season prior. At 6'5", Walker's body can handle the weight gain, or weight loss, that some coaches will be looking for, whether they want him to play inside or outside. At whatever size, Walker shows off his insane athleticism, making a ton of plays in Georgia's insane defense. Best against the run, Walker's athletic ceiling says that he should turn into a fine pass rusher at the next level, and could develop into a very nice 3-4 outside linebacker given his athletic talents. After testing extremely well at the combine, Walker has, arguably, catapulted himself into the top 10 of the draft, and I think the Falcons, who need help in getting after the passer and stopping the run, Walker could be the perfect player for their defense. The Falcons would be smart in keeping Walker in the state of Georgia.
9. Denver Broncos - Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
The Broncos will be an interesting team to watch with the ninth overall pick. Looking at the Broncos roster as a whole, you could truly say that Denver is a "quarterback away" from being a legit threat in the AFC West. Over the past couple years, they have built a nice/solid foundation for future success. They have a very underrated running back room, three to four very talented wide receivers, a solid offensive line, and a solid defense with a very good secondary. The issue is that this is the weakest quarterback class since the 2013 NFL Draft, where we saw one QB go in the first round, EJ Manuel to Buffalo at 16. So, with that being said, would it be the wisest decision for the Broncos to move for a quarterback in this draft, rather than move for one in the trade market and/or free agency? Probably not. Let's not forget the Broncos did just hire former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to be their new head coach. Something tells me one of the main reasons they hired Hackett was to get a certain quarterback to Colorado, but that's all just speculation at this point. Let's also not forget that Denver passed on both Justin Fields and Mac Jones with the ninth pick last year, and again, with this QB class being so much weaker at first glance, I don't know if the Broncos would move for one this year when they should've probably done it last year. So, with quarterback kind of out the window for me, I think the Broncos should look to strengthen another position of need, either linebacker or edge rusher. After trading Von Miller to Los Angeles and Bradley Chubb consistently injured, the Broncos are in need of some more depth along the edges, especially with Jonathan Cooper being the leading sack getter from a season ago that's on the active roster, and he only registered 2.5, so they need some reinforcements (Malik Reed is a restricted FA, so he could come still back, he resisted five last season). So, with his stock just continuing to rise, I think the Broncos could look to add Florida State's Jermaine Johnson. Throughout Senior Bowl week, Johnson was one of the standout candidates. After impressing during his first and final season at Florida State (transferred from Georgia), where he totaled 12 sacks, which was good for seventh nationally, 70 total tackles, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles, Johnson showed off his nature speed and get off at the Senior Bowl. Every day during practice Johnson's name would pop up somewhere in regards to the "best players" during the week, causing some kind of mayhem every day. Much like, again, at Florida State, Johnson led the ACC in pressures in 2021, registering 46 this season. His combination of speed, burst, power, and hand movement makes him a really fun player to watch and his willingness to not only get after the quarterback, but to make huge plays in the running game, is a huge boost to his stock to go along with his dominating week. Johnson went from a potential first rounder to a potential top 10 pick, given, of course, how the rest of his workouts go before the draft. Yes, the Broncos could look to add a QB here, but I think given how people are viewing this quarterback class, I think it's more likely they move for one in free agency or via trade, which allows them to take a player like Johnson here at number nine. (Malik Willis is a real option here)
10. New York Jets (via Seattle) - Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Like we stated before, the Jets are one of two New Jersey based teams with two top 10 picks, using their first one on NC State's Ikem Ekwonu. Also, like we said with the Ekwonu pick, Jets head coach Robert Saleh will definitely want to add a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball with one of their first round picks. Out of all the needs on the Jets, their biggest one(s) lie in the secondary. This past season, the Jets ranked in the bottom five in interceptions, totaling just seven all season, with only five of those coming from members of the secondary. Not to mention the Jets first interception of the season didn't come until week eight against the Cincinnati Bengals. The problem was that that was done by d-end Shaq Lawson, the first member of the Jets secondary to register an interception was Sharrod Neasman in week 10 against the Buffalo Bills. Not to mention the Jets ranked in the bottom five in total passing yards allowed, yards per game, yards per completion, completion percentage allowed, and passer rating. All in all, the Jets secondary is, for lack of a better term, booty cheeks. So, to hopefully rectify their issues in the secondary, the Jets should definitely move for one of the top corners in the draft. In a recent quote, Robert Saleh stated that, “there was a minute there where we were giving up 40 points a game, 30, 40 points. If you’re having to play a shootout, that’s a lot of pressure on a quarterback. I don’t care which quarterback you are, to wake up on Sunday morning knowing that you’re about to go into a shootout and you have to keep pace because you can’t get enough stops." With that being said, I have the Jets moving for Cincinnati's Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner. A big bodied corner, standing at 6'3" and weighing 200 lbs., Gardner combines insane ball skills with great physicality and length that makes him a match-up nightmare for opposing offenses. In his three years at Cincinnati, Gardner posted 99 tackles, 16 passes defended and nine interceptions. Gardner had more pick-sixes (two) than receiving touchdowns allowed (zero) and allowed just 712 total receiving yards on 138 career targets. In 2021, Gardner became the first Cincinnati player in history to be honored as a consensus All-American. This season, Gardner allowed just .1 yards per coverage snap, that is absolutely ridiculous. For Saleh, who worked with Richard Sherman while the d-coordinator in San Francisco, Gardner could be perfect for his defense. Gardner's natural skills are things defensive coaches dream about, and for a team who has a less than good secondary, Gardner would definitely help fix at least some of the issues for the Jets. If the Jets come out of the first round with Ikem Ekwonu and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Jets fans should start rejoicing, cause this is as close to a perfect draft as you can get right here.
11. Washington Commanders - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Well, here we go. The team that was previously known as the Washington Football Team are now called the Washington Commanders. Though I would've liked to see them stick with the nickname "Football Team," they could've done a lot worse than choosing "Commanders" as their team name (I think "Foreskins" would've been funny, but I digress). With the team finally done with their rebrand, they should try and find a new "face of the franchise," being the first player ever selected by the Washington Commanders. Though Taylor Heinicke is a fun quarterback to watch, and seemingly has the backing of the locker room, he's very limited in what he can do, and I think it'd be smart for Washington to look for a new quarterback either in the draft or in free agency. But like I said before, with this being a whole new franchise, in sorts, I think they should look at one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. With the number one quarterback off the board already, Washington, to me, should move for either Ole Miss' Matt Corral or Liberty's Malik Willis. Though Heinicke is limited in what he can do, again, I do believe the Commanders will continue to play for him, kind of like Jimmy Garoppolo in San Francisco. So, with that being said, I think Washington should look to the quarterback with the highest upside in the 2022 NFL Draft. To me, that quarterback is Liberty's Malik Willis. When I look at Willis as a prospect, he reminds me a whole lot of current Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Like Allen, Willis has an insanely live arm, but that can cause him some problems every now and again. For example, at the Senior Bowl, Joe Marino of the Draft Network said that "the best way I can sum up Liberty QB Malik Willis’ performance today during Senior Bowl practices is that he had the five best throws of the day and the five worst throws of the day." If he can develop properly, Willis will become the best quarterback in this class but like Allen, he'll need some time. While at Liberty, Willis flashed his God given abilities, but also showed that he's still very raw. This season, statistically, Willis threw for 2,626 yards with 24 touchdowns but with 12 interceptions. He also totaled 820 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground on 189 carries. Though he may not have elite size, he possesses elite tools that could take him far at the next level. The fact of the matter is Willis is better than what his stats show. If you're looking for a quarterback with elite arm talent, elite athleticism, and elite leadership qualities with a will to win, Willis is your guy. I know I kind of bashed Heinicke earlier, but I do think he could be a perfect bridge quarterback for Washington before ushering in the Malik Willis era. I think Willis' upside will make him a very hard quarterback to pass up in the '22 NFL Draft and with Washington in need of a quarterback for the future, Willis could be their guy. Again, if they develop him right, they could have a very special player on their hands. (there is a very strong chance Willis is gone by this point, going somewhere like Denver)
12. Minnesota Vikings - Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
This pick honestly may surprise some people. Maybe not with the position that was drafted but with the player that was taken. If you told me back in 2019, when LSU eased their way to a National Championship that Stingley not only wouldn't be the first corner taken, but would also fall outside the top 10, I would've called you crazy. That season for Stingley was one for the ages. During that season, Stingley intercepted the ball six times and defended 15 passes en-route to a National Championship, which also saw Stingley be named a Conscious All-American and First Team All-SEC recipient (an honor he got in 2020 as well). So, with that season in mind, how does Stingley fall to 12? If we're talking upside, I don't know if there's a lot of defenders that have a higher upside than former LSU corner Derek Stingley. Now, though I think Stingley may have the highest upside out of the top corners in the draft, there are some areas of concern that could be brought up here. The main concern for Stingley is that he hasn't really played a whole lot since his insane freshman season. Though that season was ridiculous, a season that saw Stingley intercept the ball six times and defend 15 passes en-route to a National Championship, while also seeing Stingley named a Conscious All-American and First Team All-SEC recipient (an honor he got in 2020 as well). Like we said before though, that was two years ago. Since then, Stingley has played, playing just three games in 2021 and seven times in 2020. From what it sounds like, scouts and coaches are questioning Stingley's willingness to play, especially after he opted out this past season due to an ankle injury. There's no questioning Stingley's natural abilities, it's just a matter of if he can stick it out for a full season that has some out there worried. There's no questioning Stingley's natural abilities, it's just a matter of if he can stick it out for a full season that has some out there worried. For the Vikings though, who need secondary help, badly, I think they'll be fine with taking Stingley here at number 12. Looking forward to the next offseason, the Vikings are set to lose corners Patrick Peterson and Bashaud Breeland, leaving Cameron Dantzler and Mackensie Alexander as the number one and two corners on the roster, and that just cannot happen. Again, talent wise, there's no corner in this draft that compares to Derek Stingley. At 6'1" 195 lbs., Stingley possesses ideal size, speed, and ball skills to be a truly elite corner at the next level. If everything pans out like it should, the Vikings will have gotten themselves an absolute steal at number 12. If Stingley can stay healthy and apply himself for a full season, he may become one of the best corners in the NFL. We could look back in a few years and see this as an absolute steal for the Vikings, if this happens of course. (Stingley did not participate at the combine, so we shall see how that effects his stock)
13. Cleveland Browns - Drake London, WR, USC
The Cleveland Browns were one of the bigger disappointments during the '21 season. Yes, I am aware that they battled some injuries throughout the season, but from what expected from them this year, 8-9 should be considered a failure, again, given the aforementioned expectations. Now, the Browns could do a couple of things with this pick, whether that be look to the defensive line to add another edge rusher or interior d-lineman to help out Myles Garrett, possibly draft a quarterback to replace the limited Baker Mayfield, or draft a wide receiver to help Baker out. Now, though I think Baker is holding the Browns back, to a certain extent, I think the Browns would look for a trade or someone in free agency rather than draft his replacement, especially in the first round. So, rather than doing that, I think the next most logical step is to get him a true number one wide receiver. The Odell Beckham Jr. experiment barely even left the ground and his former LSU teammate Jarvis Landry has regressed a decent amount to where he's now barely seen as a number two option. This past season, second-year Michigan wide out Donovan Peoples-Jones led the team in receiving with 597 yards to go along with three touchdowns. Though I do kind of like Peoples-Jones, I don't think he should be Baker's main target going forward. Instead, the Browns should look at someone here at 13, and to me, one of the most athletic wide outs in this draft is USC's Drake London. Though he's coming off an ankle injury (Oct. 30 vs Arizona), London is just simply too freakish to pass up for wide receiver needy teams. London, a former basketball player, is again, an insane athlete out wide. At 6'5" 210 lbs., London out jumps every single defender that challenges him. Not only can he out jump defenders, his insane wing span sees him high point the ball with ease and has seen him make many circus catches while at USC. This past season, before his injury, London totaled 88 catches for 1,084 yards, and seven touchdowns, with only two games seeing him have less than 100 yards receiving (one of those games was the game he got hurt, and he had 81 yards before halftime). Again, London is a fantastic athlete and would give Baker Mayfield a reliable target on the outside. I think London would be a great addition to the Browns wide receiver core. The Browns could really use an athlete on the outside, and London is that, making Baker Mayfield's life a whole hell of a lot easier. (the Browns' 59.0% completion percentage when targeting wide receivers is 28th in the NFL, per ESPN, that'd improve immensely by adding London, who'll catch everything thrown his way)
14. Baltimore Ravens - David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
The Baltimore Ravens were an odd team throughout the 2021-22 NFL season. At points, this team looked to be one of the best in the NFL, staging come from behind wins against the Chiefs and Colts while also blowing out the LA Chargers to start the season 5-1. Then, at other times, they looked lost. Finishing the season on a six game losing streak and getting dick stomped by the Bengals by a combined score of 82-38. Now, a lot of that can come down to the fact that the Ravens were without Lamar Jackson for a good portion of the year and their offensive line and running backs were being depleted more and more as the season went on. Overall, just a very weird season for the Ravens, who finished 8-9, which was their first sub .500 season since 2015, where they finished 5-11 and, coincidentally, lost to the Bengals twice. Now, to help rectify some of their issues, the Ravens could do a couple of things. Firstly, they could look to re-strengthen their offensive line, after trading right tackle Orlando Brown to the Kansas City Chiefs, they went out and signed former Steeler Alejandro Villanueva (33) to a two-year deal. Sadly for Baltimore, Villanueva didn't really provide a whole lot more than "look out" blocks, which isn't the most ideal. Not to mention perennial All-Pro Ronnie Stanley rarely staying healthy, playing just seven games across the past two seasons, and last seasons starting center Bradley Bozeman is entering free agency this offseason. Secondly, they could look to re-strengthen their defense, as they could be losing some key pieces across their defensive line and linebacking core, with Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams, Justin Houston, Justin Ellis, and Pernell McPhee all impending free agents. Not only that, every player just mentioned is over the age of 31, with Campbell turning 36 in September. We haven't even gone over how banged up their secondary was last season, resembling something out of the movie The Replacements, giving up 278.9 yards per game through the air, by far the worst in the league. So, with all these needs on the table, it could be hard to pin point what they should address with their first pick. Though it could be hard to predict, one thing that isn't too difficult to get is that the Ravens have always gone by their draft board, meaning whoever is on top, that's who they're going to take. To me, the next best player available is Michigan's David Ojabo. After watching Ojabo this season, you probably wouldn't assume that this is only his fifth year of playing American football, would you? Dude has been dominant this season and, along with Aidan Hutchinson, has formed one of the most feared edge rushing duos in all of college football. Though Hutchinson gets most of the plaudits, Ojabo ain't no slouch, registering 11 sacks (10th nationally) to go along with 35 total tackles (24 solo), three passes defended, and five forced fumbles. His speed is what really sets him apart from some of the other edge rushers, with him being able to blow the doors off opposing offensive linemen while also showing off some very nice pass rush moves in the process. For not being as big as Hutchinson, Thibodeaux, and Karlaftis, Ojabo still always gets the job done, and it doesn't matter if you have him playing as a standup 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end. This offseason, the Ravens brought in Mike Macdonald to be their new defensive coordinator, who'll be replacing the New Jersey bound Wink Martindale. Macdonald is an interesting choice because not only has he coached on the Ravens staff before, but he's coming back after a season as Michigan's d-coordinator, where he turned Ojabo from just an athletic linebacker to a potential top 10 pick. With Ojabo on the board, I think the Ravens would find it hard to pass him up here at 14, even given their other needs, namely on the offensive line. Ojabo would come in and create one of the best young edge rushing duos with 2021 first round pick Odafe Oweh, and would help improve their sack numbers from a year ago, generating just 34 sacks last season. Ojabo just feels like a future Raven and could be an absolute steal if he does in fact fall this far.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami) - George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Like we said before with the Lions, Jets, and Giants, the Eagles are another team with multiple first round draft picks. The only difference between those teams and the Eagles is that Philly holds three first round picks, thanks to the Carson Wentz trade and the trade that saw the Dolphins move back into the top 10 after trading down to 12 in the 2021 NFL Draft, seeing them take Jaylen Waddle. Speaking of the Dolphins, this is the one the 'Phins possessed before the aforementioned trade. Now, with three first round picks the Eagles can really make themselves a legit threat in the NFC. Though they made the Playoffs this past season, most people didn't think the Eagles were "for real." That being said, the Eagles can feel really good about some of the things they did in '21-'22, the main thing finding out that Jalen Hurts would be their "franchise quarterback," so that takes out one of the possible picks for the birds. For me, the biggest need on this team is re-strengthening the edge rushers, especially with 2017 first rounder Derek Barnett and former Washington Football Team d-end Ryan Kerrigan entering free agency, and team legend Brandon Graham turning 34 in April, while also coming off a torn achilles. Even if the Eagles bring back Barnett, Kerrigan, or both, they should still look to address the edge rusher position. So, with their first pick in the first round, I think the Eagles should look towards Purdue's George Karlaftis. Compared to the two edge rushers taken before him, though he may not have the numbers, Karlaftis has the size (6'4" 275 lbs.) and the ability to get after the quarterback or stop the run from either the inside or the outside. This season, Karlaftis has only registered four and a half sacks, but does have two forced fumbles and two passes defended to his name this year as well. With Purdue not having a lot of other "threats" to deal with on the defensive side of things, Karlaftis gets double teamed almost every single time he goes after the quarterback, yet still has registered some nice pressure numbers, coming in at 13.7%, per ESPN. Karlaftis would be perfect for the Vikings 4-3 defense, with his size and power causing real problems for opposing offensive linemen, again, whether that's outside as a d-end or inside as a d-tackle. I think if the Eagles want to get back to the top of the NFC East they've got to re-strengthen their defensive line and Karlaftis could be the perfect candidate for the Eagles new look d-line.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis) - Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
With their first pick in the draft, the Eagles went out to address their need for an edge rusher, drafting Jermaine Johnson from Florida State. With their second pick, to me, the Eagles could go in a few directions. Sticking on the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles could look to add a corner to partner Darius Slay, could add a linebacker as their core isn't that great (though they haven't drafted a linebacker in the first round in years), or they could double down on the defensive line and add some more beef inside, especially with longtime Eagle Fletcher Cox being linked with a move away from Philadelphia, whether that be via cut or via trade. Last season the Eagles ranked in the top 10 in rush yards allowed per game, but losing someone like Cox, without replacing him, could see those numbers change for the worst. So, to me, to potentially replace Cox, I think the Eagles should look to add someone like Georgia's Jordan Davis. There aren't a lot of players in college football that resemble Jordan Davis. At 6'6" 340 lbs., Davis moves very well (running a 4.78 40 at the combine), and though he doesn't register a whole lot of sacks, he does take on as many blockers as possible, allowing players such as Travon Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Nakobe Dean, and others to make plays in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage. Davis was a key member of the Bulldogs insane defense, with him being the main cog in their run defense. A run defense that again, allowed just 81.7 yards per game this past season while also allowing only three touchdowns on the ground to boot. There are not a lot of people that want to block him at the college level, I feel even at the next level he'll be a threat as well. Though there are some concerns with Davis in regards to the amount of snaps he can play a game, I think his overall ability to wreck the line of scrimmage over trumps that, as he will be able to clog up rush lanes while also allowing his teammates to get after the quarterback, which new Eagle George Karlaftis would certainly appreciate. If the Eagles do in fact cut or trade Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis would be the perfect replacement for him, helping re-solidify the Eagles defensive line, along with Karlaftis, while also helping them possibly retake the division from Dallas.
17. Los Angeles Chargers - Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
The LA Chargers are one of the more interesting teams in the entire NFL. On the face of it, the Chargers have one of the most talented rosters in the league featuring a, now, top five quarterback in Justin Herbert, a versatile running back in Austin Ekeler, a borderline elite wide out in Keenan Allen, a vastly improved offensive line (on the left side), and a defense that features the likes of Joey Bosa and Derwin James. Overall, an insanely talented roster. The issue is though that they can't ever seem to just get out of their own way, whether that would be refusing to settle for field goals, constantly going for it on fourth down, even if they were in their own territory, or just not showing up against teams like the Broncos and Texans, games they got outscored in 69-42. Now, most of the problems for the Chargers stem from the defensive side of the ball, where they rank in the bottom half in total yards allowed per game, bottom four in points allowed per game, and bottom three in rush yards allowed per game while allowing the third most rushing touchdowns with 22. For a team that has playoff aspirations, they should not be posting similar numbers to three teams that are picking in the top four, something needs to change on that defensive line. Coming from the Rams, head coach Brandon Staley should know how important it is to build a solid defensive front, whether that's along the line of scrimmage or coming off the edge. If the Chargers want to get to that next level as a team, they have to improve their run defense and strengthen their d-line. One player that I think could definitely help resolve things is Georgia's Devonte Wyatt. So far this offseason, Devonte Wyatt has been one of the players who's stock has been on the rise. At 6'3" 315 lbs., Wyatt is an extremely explosive lineman who moves very well for being as big as he is, rarely getting beaten off the ball by anyone, whether that's his own teammates or the opposing offensive line. Though his individual numbers won't necessarily stand out to you, totaling 39 tackles, two and half sacks in 2021, and two forced fumbles, it's his work athleticism that sees him developing into a nice interior pass rusher at the next level. Like we have already said with Travon Walker, Wyatt was apart of one of the greatest defenses in college football history, ranking in the top three for total defense, pass defense, run defense, and points allowed per game. Georgia's defense also allowed just three touchdowns on the ground as opposed to 12 forced fumbles, posting one of the best ratios in the country. Now, I wouldn't be too surprised if Wyatt went a little sooner than 17 as he is one of the players who tore up the NFL combine, running a 4.77 40, which was the fastest out of the d-tackles. Wyatt's athletic ability would make him too hard to pass up for a team that needs some help along the defensive line. Wyatt would be an excellent pick for the LA Chargers.
18. New Orleans Saints - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Saints are in a really bad spot going into the '22-'23 NFL season. Not only are they almost $76 million over the cap, but their head coach just stepped down after 16-seasons at the helm of the organization. With new coach Dennis Allen, a new era is about to start down in New Orleans. For their sake, I hope it starts off fine, but, from the looks of it, it probably won't. As of right now, the Saints are struggling for players, with some of their biggest names, on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, entering free agency. Players like Kwon Alexander, Terron Armstead, Tre'Quan Smith, Marcus Williams, Jameis Winston, and even Trevor Siemian could all leave this offseason. The two position groups to watch for the Saints in the draft is quarterback and wide receiver. As of right now, each position group has two players currently active. At quarterback we see the legend that is Taysom Hill and second year player Ian Book, while at wide receiver we have Michael Thomas and, this past season leading receiver, Marquez Calloway. Though I think there is a good argument to be made about the Saints taking a quarterback here at 18, I just think it's a tad more realistic that they take a wide receiver here and look to add a quarterback either in the later rounds or via a trade/free agency. So, with this pick, I'm going to send former Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson down to the Bayou to be the new main cog on the offense. Though he may not be the deep threat that Jameson Williams or Chris Olave are, Wilson may be a better all around wide receiver. When you talk about the "complete" wide receivers in the country, Garrett Wilson should be at the top of your list, arguably. He may not be the fastest wide out in this class (he is very fast, just not the fastest), but his versatility really sets him apart when comparing him to the other wide receivers in this class. Before this season, Wilson had done most of his work from the slot, averaging just under 17 yards per catch (16.8) and totaling 723 yards on the season. This year, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba taking the most of the reps form the slot, Wilson has been a real threat from the outside, recently surpassing 1,000 yards on the season with 12 touchdowns, averaging 15.1 yards per reception. In Ohio State's insane three headed monster out wide, Wilson is the dawg, the main man in the wide receiver room at Ohio State. Wherever you line him up, Wilson will make a play, kind of like Justin Jefferson at LSU, where he excelled in the slot but worked wonders out wider as well. I think Wilson would be a great addition to the Saints wide receiver core. Regardless of who the quarterback is this season for the Saints, they should be happy that they've got a dawg in Garrett Wilson on the outside. Wilson will make whoever the quarterback is life a whole lot easier.
19. Philadelphia Eagles - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Like we said with the last pick, one of the biggest things the Eagles can take out of the '21-'22 season is that they have figured out that Jalen Hurts is their franchise quarterback. So, with that big question basically out of the way, the Eagles have to surround Hurts with some good weapons on the outside. Now, I am aware that the Eagles have drafted a wide receiver with their past two first round picks, taking DeVonta Smith 10th overall in '21 and famously taking Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson in the '20 NFL Draft. Now, Smith played well during this pst season, totaling over 900 yards and five touchdowns, but Rigor has been a major liability out wide since getting drafted, probably dropping more balls than he's caught since coming into the league. Again, if the Eagles truly believe in Jalen Hurts, they have to get him some reliable targets outside. So, with their second first round pick, the Eagles should look to Arkansas' Treylon Burks. Now, I know the Eagles usually go for speed more than anything, i.e. Reagor over Jefferson, but I think someone like Burks would be too good to pass up here. Again, out of every receiver in this draft, I don't think a single one can match Burks' combination a size, speed, and power from the position (though he didn't necessarily wow at the combine). At 6'3" 225 lbs., Burks totaled 1,104 yards with 11 touchdowns on 66 receptions, averaging 16.7 yards per reception, while also totaling 112 yards on the ground with one touchdown to boot. Pretty much, Burks was Arkansas' entire offense, doing a little bit of everything while clearly (and smarty) being quarterback KJ Jefferson's favorite receiver. Another thing that I think would work with Burks in Detroit is his abilities as a run blocker. With Arkansas being a predominantly run first team, Burks has had to use his size and strength to straight up bully corners and safeties, and with the Eagles dedicating most of their offense to the run game (number one rushing team from this past season), Burks would not only open up the passing game, but give the Eagles another stud blocker in the run game. Burks can outmuscle, out jump, and nearly out run every single defensive back in college, could that change it the pros? Probably, but if Burks keeps getting better and keeps refining his craft, the Eagles may have one of the best up and coming wide outs in the league. Burks easily replaces Reagor and Arcega-Whiteside in the lineup, giving the Eagles a nice core of Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, and Treylon Burks. That could be very fun to watch.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
The Ben Roethlisberger era in Pittsburgh has finally reached it's conclusion. After 18 years as the Steelers starting quarterback, many believe Ben will soon be hanging it up, which makes this pick very interesting. The reason this is interesting is because of the question of who his replacement will be. Personally, there is no way Mike Tomlin trusts either Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins to be the number one guy in Pittsburgh, so the Steelers will either look to free agency, to a possible trade, or to the draft to find their new starting quarterback. That being said, the Steelers, as of right now, hold the 20th pick in the draft, which is a little bit rich for the rest of the quarterbacks in this draft. So, with this pick, the Steelers should probably look to address another problem position, and outside of quarterback, to me, the most questions lie on the offensive line. After parting ways with four of their five starters from the season prior, the Steelers made little to no effort in replacing those they had lost. If the Steelers do look to the direction of an offensive lineman, it should be someone in the form of UNI Panther left tackle Trevor Penning. To me, Penning just seems like a perfect fit on the Steelers o-line. A massive human, standing at 6'7" and weighing 322 lbs., Penning is very athletic and a true s.o.b. if there ever was one. Much like Ekwonu before, Penning mauls opposing defenders. His strength and athleticism mixed with his competitive nature rarely sees him get beaten around the edge. Though he spent most of his time at left tackle, Penning played both right and left tackle throughout his time at UNI, possessing some of that positional versatility that many teams are looking for nowadays, especially on the offensive line. For the Steelers, who will likely be implementing a "run first mentality" with Najee Harris as their featured back, Penning would open up massive run lanes for the Steelers, which will make them a hard team to stop once the postseason roles around. Being a graduate from UNI, I am a little biased towards former Panthers, but even so, Penning is a truly special prospect and should be considered one of the top tackles in the draft. I don't care if he didn't play top level FBS football, Penning dominated everyone he went against, and will be a beast at the next level.
21. New England Patriots - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The New England Patriots are in a very weird spot right now, a spot they have not been in for the better part of 20 or so years. Right now, they are second fiddle in their division, to a team that they have dismantled for, again, the better part of 20 years. Ever since Tom Brady left the Boston area, the Patriots have beaten the Buffalo Bills once in five attempts and have been outscored by Josh Allen and co. 152-82 during those games. Even though the Bills have beaten the Pats three of the past four times they've played them in the regular season, it was the Wild Card game in Buffalo this past year that really turned the tide in the division. A 47-17 drumming to the Bills in Buffalo, with Josh Allen playing a near perfect game which saw the Bills score a touchdown on every single drive, the first "perfect game" in postseason history. Not only that, the Bills scored more touchdowns than they had third downs in the game. All in all, it was a devastating blow for the big bad wolf, in a game that signaled that the AFC East now goes through Buffalo, New York. So, how do the Patriots keep up with the Bills? Well, for starters, they could get some more speed on the outside. With there only being three receivers currently on the Patriots active roster, I think that could be an area they look at here at 21. That being said, since becoming the Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick has drafted one receiver in the first round, drafting N'Keal Harry 32nd in 2019, so, just based off trends, I may rule out receiver here. Instead, I think the Patriots should look to add a lock down corner to partner JC Jackson, if they bring him back of course, which could make this need even greater if he doesn't come back. With Josh Allen at the helm, the Patriots need to do everything they can to try and stop him, rather than try and keep up with him. So, with this pick, I'm going to have the Patriots take a "do everything" defender in Utah's Devin Lloyd. Now, do I think Lloyd should be available by the time the Patriots pick? No, I think he should go much higher than 21. That being said, Lloyd did not test as well as everyone thought he would at the combine, which could see him slide a little bit, not that the Patriots would care, because Lloyd would be a perfect player for Belichick's defense, especially if they lose Dont'a Hightower in free agency. To me, Devin Lloyd is the most complete linebacker in this draft. Again, in a somewhat similar mold to that of Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, Lloyd possesses great natural size and athleticism that make him damn near impossible to stop for opposing offenses. At 6'3" 235 lbs., Lloyd has the perfect frame for being a stud linebacker at the next level. That being said, it's not all about size, and Lloyd has showed why he should be the number one linebacker with his play this season. For the PAC-12 Champions, Lloyd totaled a career high 111 tackles, with 66 of those being solo tackles. Not only that, Lloyd has showed off his prowess as a pass rusher, totaling eight sacks (which is more than Kayvon Thibodeaux), one forced fumble/fumble recovery, four interceptions, six passes defended, with two of those pics being returned for touchdowns. Again, dude has insane speed to combine with his size, which makes him such a match-up nightmare for opposing offenses. Every Utah game you tune in to, Lloyd makes his presence known. The Patriots love versatility from their linebackers, and whether Lloyd lines up on the outside or through the middle, he'll make an impact for the Patriots defense. Though I'd hate it, Devin Lloyd would be a fantastic pick for the Patriots here at 21.
22. Las Vegas Raiders - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
The Las Vegas Raiders had the most "Vegas" season of all time. It seemed like every single week there was something new popping up with the Raiders, very much living in to Vegas' "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" slogan. Whether it involved Jon Gruden's emails, Henry Ruggs' drunk driving accident, Damon Arnette's death threats, Nate Hobbs' speeding ticket or whatever, there was just a lot of drama circulating the Raiders this season. That being said, amidst all of that, they were still able to right the ship and make it to the Playoffs. Though they went out after the first round, it's still insanely impressive that they made it even that far, and a lot of that has to go down to the work interim head coach Rich Bisaccia did after he took over midseason for Gruden, as the Raiders became the first team in NFL history to make the Playoffs after making a coaching change midseason. Sadly, Bisaccia won't be able to run it back as the Raiders full time coach, as they went out and hired former Broncos head coach and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to be their new head coach. With McDaniels at the helm, one would imagine the Raiders put an emphasis on the offensive side of the ball, especially with the Raiders receiving core pretty much being non-existent outside of Hunter Renfrow. As of right now, the Raiders only have three receivers, including Renfrow, on the active roster. Though Bryan Edwards posted decent numbers last season, the other active wide out, Tyron Johnson, just got elevated the Raiders active roster in early January, so I think receiver should be either number one or two priority for the silver and black going into next season. After Ruggs was arrested and eventually cut, the Raiders lost a lot of speed on the outside, forcing them to bring in a now 35-year old DeSean Jackson. Now, though they could bring Jackson back, I would really be surprised. So, to replace the speed on the outside the Raiders should look to either Alabama's Jameson Williams or Ohio State's Chris Olave, but with Williams coming off the board a pick earlier, the Raiders should look to Chris Olave, so I'll have the Raiders select him here at 22. Dude is one of the best deep threats in the draft, and though I wouldn't put him on the same level as Jameson Williams in regards to being a deep threat (though he's not far off), I do think Olave is a very special player outside who just always finds the end zone. Throughout his career, Olave totaled a pretty astonishing 35 touchdowns, which is 12 more than his Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson and 10 more than Penn State wide out Jahan Dotson, with no other receiver in the first round posting over 20 touchdowns throughout their college careers. This past season with the Buckeyes, though his numbers may not blow you away, as apart of their three headed monster out wide, Olave posted 936 yards on 65 catches this season with 13 touchdowns, which is good for fifth in the nation and second among first round wide receivers in this class. Like I said before, Olave is a great deep threat with a nose for the end zone. With Derek Carr seemingly coming back as the starter, I think it'd be smart to add someone like Olave. His speed would add a much needed element to the Raiders offense while also giving them a nice one-two punch on the outside between him and Renfrow.
23. Arizona Cardinals - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The Cardinals season can be broken up into two segments. The first segment saw the Cardinals catch a lot of people off guard, starting the season off 7-0 while beating the Titans, Rams, and Browns by double digits, all on the road. Even after the 7-0 start the Cardinals continued playing well, becoming the first team to reach 10 wins this season while not losing a single game on the road during that span. Then, everything kind of changed. After becoming the first team to win 10 games, the Cardinals proceeded to lose four of their last five games, including an embarrassing double digit loss to the Detroit Lions and a loss to a Colts team that had four of their five starters out on their offensive line and didn't have linebacker Darius Leonard. Not to mention they lost a division deciding game to the Seattle Seahawks during week 18. After that horrific end to the season, they Cardinals got ass blasted by the LA Rams 34-11. Basically, the Cardinals were this years version of the '20 Pittsburgh Steelers, starting strong and then plummeting back down to earth. With that being said, the Cardinals have a few glaring needs on their roster. Most notably in the secondary, across the d-line, and on the offensive line. With the top top d-linemen off the board, for the most part, and with no o-linemen available that'd fill a need for the Cardinals, I think they should add someone to improve their secondary, especially since Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson are the only two corners on the Cardinals active roster. If we're talking about athletes at the corner position, there are arguably none better than Washington's Trent McDuffie. For what he lacks in "elite size" (only 5'11" 195 lbs.) he makes up for with insane athleticism and excellent timing and ball skills. Though he's not the biggest, according to PFF, McDuffie is one of the top corners when it comes to red zone defense, just behind his Washington teammate Kyler Gordon in regards to red zone grade. He also has allowed just 44.4% passes thrown his way to be completed this season, which is the lowest among Pac-12 corners, per PFF. Throughout his Washington career, McDuffie totaled 94 tackles (only 14 in 2020 due to COVID), eight passes defended, one sack, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Again, though he may not be the biggest or most physically imposing corners in this draft, McDuffie may be the most athletic and, possibly, the best tackler out of all the corners in this draft. The Cardinals have dipped their hand into the Washington cookie jar before and pulled out a stud in Budda Baker, so I don't think it'd take too much convincing to get them to do it again. With Byron Murphy occupying more of a slot corner role, McDuffie could slot in perfectly as their number one guy on the outside. If the Cardinals want to add some speed and athleticism to their secondary, McDuffie may just be their guy. Remember, Jaire Alexander isn't the biggest either, look how he turned out.
24. Dallas Cowboys - Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The Dallas Cowboys came in to this season off the back of one of the worst defensive seasons in team history. Last season the 'Boys ranked in the bottom 10 in total defense, while being the second worst rush defense in the league and allowing 473 total points (or 29.6 per game) last season. Once the season ended, the Cowboys looked to change their fortunes on defense by hiring former Falcons head coach and Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new DC. They also drafted highly touted linebacker Micah Parsons 12th overall and drafted five further defensive players in a row after that, finishing up the 2021 draft with eight new pieces on defense. Safe to say that's paid off to some extent as the Cowboys are now only giving up 21.1 points per game and have seen Micah Parsons become the runaway favorite for defensive rookie of the year. That being said, though it is slightly better, it's still not very good, as the Cowboys still rank in the bottom half of the league in total defense. Like, even with a defensive player of the year candidate in Trevon Diggs, their still in the bottom half in passing defense, giving up 238.2 yards per game (though they do lead the league in interceptions with 26). I'm not saying it'll solve everything, but adding a player to free up Micah Parsons even more would make their defense even better. To me, the perfect player in the draft to free Parsons up is Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean. Though he may not be as big or as athletically gifted as Utah's Devin Lloyd, but Dean was the quarterback of one of the greatest defenses in college football history. This season, Georgia gave up just 253.9 yards per game (4 yards per play) while being really stout in the run game, giving up just 81.7 yards per game and giving up just 9.5 points per game. For a Cowboys team who's secondary, apart from Trevon Diggs, has been suspect at times, Dean would help take some of the pressure off. Even after Bryce Young put on a show in the SEC Championship game, opposing quarterbacks still only managed to post a 117.3 QBR, which was the worst in college football. That loss aside, Georgia's defense was special. Why were they so dominant? One reason is because of Dean's leadership. His leadership really makes him stand out, not just with the other linebackers, but with almost everyone in the draft. This season, Dean post 61 total tackles with five sacks, one forced fumbles, five passes defended, and two interceptions, one of them being returned for a touchdown. Again, Dean may not be the athlete Lloyd is, but Dean works his ass off. Leading vocally and by example, he'll make a play wherever he is needed and will rarely miss a tackle. Dean could be perfect for the Cowboys defense, a defense that currently has two linebackers on the active roster. Though I don't like them, this would be a great pick for the Dallas Cowboys.
25. Buffalo Bills - Kenyon Green, iOL/OT, Texas A&M
Man. The Buffalo Bills. My team. In all the picks throughout this mock draft, this one is the hardest to write. In my heart of hearts I wished the Bills were picking 32nd in this year's draft, as opposed to 25th, but sadly that's not the case. In case you were unaware, someone always has to win, and someone always has to lose in postseason football, and though Josh Allen played one of the greatest games in playoff history, the Bills came out on the wrong side of one of the greatest football games ever played, losing in the Divisional Round to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime 42-36. With that old sob story now out of the way, let's get into the pick. Now, as a Bills fan, you would think that I have somewhat of a basic understanding of what this team needs to make it past the Chiefs in the playoffs, a team that has bested them the past two seasons, and I kind of do. To me, when looking at the roster, there are three key areas that need addressing, those areas are on the offensive line (mainly on the interior), the secondary (finding a partner for Tre'Davious White), and the defensive line (adding some more beef to the front). Though Ryan Bates slotted in nicely at guard after Ike Boettger's injury, the Bills should still look to possible upgrade the interior offensive line. There were multiple times this season where Josh Allen was running for his life behind some of the worst guard play I've seen in a while. If Josh Allen wasn't Josh Allen, he would've taken 50+ sacks this past season, but since he's 6'5" 237 lbs. and athletic as hell, he escaped a lot of sacks this season. Though he can run away from and stiff arm d-linemen, it's doesn't mean the Bills should bank on that all the time. Josh Allen is a top two quarterback in the league, the Bills should do everything to try and protect him. To me, looking at the available interior o-linemen, none are better than Texas A&M's Kenyon Green. During his time at A&M, Green started 13 games at right guard during his freshman season and then moved to left guard during his sophomore season, where he started nine games while also being named to the All-SEC Second Team and named a Consensus All-American. Then during his junior season, though he started off at left tackle, Green played in every single position across the o-line (apart from center). In all, Green logged snaps at four positions. He totaled 241 snaps at left guard, 142 at right tackle, 106 at right guard, and 81 at left tackle, per The Athletic, not to mention he was also named First Team All-SEC and named a First Team All-American. That's pretty damn impressive if you ask me. With Buffalo having a lot of questions in regards to their rushing attack, Green would allow the likes of Devin Singletary and Zack Moss a lot more holes to work with, as he led the way for two 1,000+ yard rushing seasons for running back Isaiah Spiller (would've been three, but came up 64 yards short his freshman season). I think Green would be an excellent addition to the Bills, being able to fill in at either guard or tackle. Not only does Josh Allen need to be protected, but the Bills need to establish a rushing attack, adding someone like Green would instantly improve their run game. I think Green may be a perfect pick for the Bills, if he's available.
26. Tennessee Titans - Tyler Linderbaum, iOL, Iowa
Like the Arizona Cardinals before, the Tennessee Titans were one of the weirder teams this past season. Though they finished the regular season with a 12-5 record and the number one overall seed in the AFC, they battled a crap ton of injuries and lost games to some very interesting teams. This season, the Titans lost to the New York Jets and the Houston Texans, two teams with who are picking top four in the draft, while also getting ass blasted by the Cardinals in week one and the Patriots later in the season. They also had close encounters with the Seahawks, Colts, Saints, and the aforementioned Texans during the last week of the regular season. Now, like we said before, some of those losses could be traced back to their injury history this season, as they were without Derrick Henry, AJ Brown, Julio Jones, and pretty much their entire secondary for most of the season. Aside from injuries, the Titans do have some other problem areas as well, mainly out wide and on the offensive line. Now, if they can stay healthy, and that's a big if, I think AJ Brown and Julio Jones are good enough to carry the receiving core, so maybe they could look for someone like Trey McBride from Colorado State to fill that Jonnu Smith sized hole at the tight end position. If not, the Titans should look to restrengthen their interior offensive line. According to some reports out there, certain people around the league believe that left guard Rodger Saffold could be a casualty this offseason. Though he just made the Pro Bowl, he does turn 34 in June and will be owed a bit of money during the last year of his deal. Another key member of the offensive line the Titans could lose is center Nick Jones, who is hitting free agency this offseason. So, with two possible holes on the o-line, the Titans should really look to add one of the top ones available with this pick, so enter in former Iowa Hawkeye Tyler Linderbaum. Now, there's no questioning Linderbaum's quality, the problem is that he is a center, a position that usually goes later in the draft as it's not seen as a "glamorous" position. Technically speaking, the last center drafted in the top 10 was the Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews back in 1983, but even then Matthews played all across the line, so one may not classify him as just a center. Since 2000, the earliest pick used on a center was pick 18, which was used on Garrett Bradbury (2019), Ryan Kelly (2016), and Maurkice Pouncey (2010), so this would be a historic pick, if it were to be made. Whatever you need Lindy to do, he'll do it and dominate in doing it. A former d-tackle, Linderbaum flashes his athleticism while pulling when run blocking, where he opposes his will on the opposing team. With the Titans having one of the most physically imposing running backs in the NFL, when healthy, they would only be getting better by adding someone like Linderbaum. Not only does he dominate in the run game, but he is a more than capable pass blocker. Since becoming Iowa's starter, he has allowed just three sacks. Combined, in 2019 and 2020, Linderbaum allowed just one sack and has allowed two during the 2021 season, which should make Ryan Tannehill very happy. Though I'd assume most people would be surprised to see Linderbaum go this late, there are some out there saying he's a little "undersized." That mixed with the fact that he's a center could cause him to go a little later than expected. That being said, that shouldn't matter, cause Linderbaum is a special talent at the center position and if he does in fact fall this far, the Titans would be getting an absolute steal.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
A new era is upon us in Tampa Bay. Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, finally hung up his cleats after 22-years in the NFL. The thing is, it's not only Tom who will/could be missed down in Tampa next season as the Bucs have a lot of impending free agents at very important positions. Players like Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, OJ Howard, Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones II, Giovanni Bernard, Alex Cappa, Ryan Jensen, Ndomukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul, William Gholston, Richard Sherman, and Carlton Davis are all going to be looking for new contracts this upcoming offseason (guard Ali Marpet retired as well). Even Tom's back-up, Blaine Gabbert, is an impending free agent. Thankfully for them though, they did draft former Florida quarterback Kyle Trask in the second round in 2021, so they should be good there, for now. For the rest of their roster though, safe to say they're going to have to do some fine tuning to get them back to where they were with Brady. Sadly, that's probably not going to happen this upcoming season, but with the NFC South in shambles right now, I wouldn't put it past Arians and co. to retain top spot in the division. So, with all those aforementioned players upcoming free agents, I think the Bucs should just apply the tactic of taking the best player available, at a position of need of course. To me, I think the best player here is Alabama's Jameson Williams. Barring an ACL injury that he sustained in the National Championship game against Georgia, Williams would be going a hell of a lot sooner than 27th overall. When healthy, Williams is the best receiver in the draft. An insane deep threat that can also do a job in the run game and special teams, Williams possesses great size and instincts for how fast he is, which is kind of rare. The issue surrounding Williams going into the offseason is the fact that he is coming off of a torn ACL, which he suffered against Georgia in the National Championship back on January 10th. Now, reports said that he'd have surgery 10 days after the Naty, and doctors believe that after said surgery, Williams will retain his sub 4.3 speed, expected to make a full recovery, per Adam Schefter. It's no secret, at least to me, that Williams is the best receiver in the draft when healthy, and if he does in fact come back at full strength, he'd be an absolute steal if he does fall into this range. This past season, before his injury, Williams ranked fifth in the nation in receiving yards, 1,572, touchdowns, 15, and finished seventh in yards per reception, 19.9. Standing at 6'2" and weighing around 189 lbs., Williams can not only run past defenders, but he stands over most corners that'll be covering him, which again, is kind of rare for someone that fast. Like we said before, if he wasn't coming off a torn ACL, Williams would be the first receiver taken in the draft. His size and speed is a rare combo and could be a blessing for the Bucs, who would've never been able to pick Williams if the former Bama wide out was 100% healthy. A combo of Williams and Trask could be fun to watch down in Tampa.
28. Green Bay Packers - Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
The Green Bay Packers are in something of pickle when it comes to this upcoming offseason, with the main thing on everyones mind is whether or not reigning back-to-back time MVP Aaron Rodgers will be playing in the green and yellow next season. Now, unless you've been living under a rock, this really is nothing new, as Rodgers and the Packers relationship has always been something of a "problem" ever since he replaced Brett Favre in 2008. Whether or not Rodgers is playing in Green Bay or somewhere like Denver next season, the Packers still need to figure out of to restrengthen a team that could lose significant players like Davante Adams, De'Vondre Campbell, midseason wonder Rasul Douglas, Kevin King, Robert Tonyan, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and again, Aaron Rodgers. One of the issues for the Packers is that they don't really have the funds to bring back some of those players, as they are about $48 million over the cap, bested by the New Orleans Saints, who we mentioned before. So basically, this could be a very interesting season for the Green Bay Packers, who may have less than 13 wins for the first time since LaFleur took over back in 2019. Out of all those key players mentioned above, the hardest one, outside of Rodgers, to replace is wide receiver Davante Adams. Though it may be the smart decision to look for a possible replacement, or just add another wide out to the roster, here, history shows that the Packers will not do that, as the last wide receiver they took in the first round was Javon Walker back in 2002, and this isn't the first time they've needed wide outs. So, with that being said, I think the Packers will look to either address the offensive line or somewhere along the defensive front. With Za'Darius Smith expected to be a "cap casualty," while also missing all but one game last season, the Packers may look to add some more athleticism on the outside (not to mention Preston Smith will be on the last year of his deal this season). Now, we've mentioned some names before of who's been rising up the draft boards, but none have arguably risen higher than Minnesota's Boye Mafe. Though the likes of Travon Walker, Jermaine Johnson, and Trevor Penning have been rising up draft boards, they were all pretty much seen as, at least, late first round draft picks. None of them went from being a day three pick to a potential first rounder, which is exactly what Boye Mafe has done. One thing that helps Mafe stand out is that he is an absolute freak of an athlete, and when you look at some of the Packers most recent first round draft picks, Eric Stokes (2021), Rashan Gary (2019), Jaire Alexander (2018), and even Jordan Love (2020) to a certain extent, all of them are great athletes who are extremely explosive, which is exactly what Mafe is. During the Senior Bowl, Mafe registered two sacks, a forced fumble, and three tackles for losses, which sprung his name right into first round conversations. At 6'4" and weighing 260 pounds, Mafe possesses great get off and strength to absolutely blow past, or even run over, opposing offensive tackles, i.e. reps against Bernhard Raimann during Senior Bowl practices, which would make him perfect for the Packers 3-4 defense. While at Minnesota, over a four year career, Mafe totaled 87 tackles (59 solo) to go along with 15 sacks and three forced fumbles, which aren't necessarily numbers that'll blow you away, but when you watch him, you see there's a great player in there. His athletic ability mixed with a motor that seemingly never stops makes him a very enticing prospect to watch come draft day. Mafe is raw, and siting behind Preston Smith could be the best thing for him, before combining with Rashan Gary to make one of the most athletic pass rushing duos in the NFL.
29. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco) - Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
Out of all the moves made this offseason from around the NFL, none were more surprising than the firing of head coach Brian Flores. During his time in Miami, the Dolphins finished with back-to-back plus .500 seasons for the first time since 2002 and 2003. Though they didn't make the Playoffs either of those seasons, the fact he turned a team that had a what was seen as an "immortal tank" to a potential playoff team in a year is pretty damn impressive. That being said, it has been well documented that Flores was not particularly close with GM Chris Greer, and his relationship with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been sour from the start, with it also being reported that Flores wanted now Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert instead of the then injured Alabama quarterback. With Flores now out of the picture, the Dolphins are going to attempt to move forward with former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who was basically brought in to improve the relationship with Tua, while also develop him, while also establish some sort of rushing attack, a area that's been a problem for the Dolphins during Flores' tenure with the team. With that in mind, I think the Dolphins should look to add some more pieces to the offensive line. Now, I know Dolphins fans are probably tired of drafting offensive lineman, as they've drafted three linemen during the first two rounds of the past two drafts, taking Austin Jackson (18, 2020), Robert Hunt (39, 2020), and Liam Eichenberg (42, 2021). The thing is, though they've taken all these linemen, they haven't really panned out, especially former first round pick Austin Jackson. Now, to be fair to Jackson, when he was drafted, I believe he was the youngest player in the class, so the Dolphins went for his upside and athletic ability. The problem is that he hasn't come close to realizing that potential, as he's already been kicked inside to guard, which is a pretty damning indictment on him as a tackle. Whether it's establishing some sort of run game or keeping Tua upright, the Dolphins, again, should look to add a tackle with this pick. To me, after UNI's Trevor Penning, the next best tackle in the draft in Central Michigan's Bernhard Raimann. The former Chippewa is one of the more intriguing prospects in the '22 NFL Draft. A former tight end, as far back as two years ago, Raimann went from 6'7" 245 lbs. tight end his sophomore year to a 6'7" 305 lbs. offensive tackle his final year (COVID year). As a former tight end, I think it should come to the surprise of no one that Raimann is an excellent run blocker. He uses his tight end athleticism to get to every point of attack in the run game while also using his size to out muscle opposing defenders. Though Raimann is an extremely raw prospect, which could see some Dolphins fans want to stray away from him, throughout his career at Central Michigan, Raimann allowed just one sack in 774 pass blocking snaps. Raimann is a competitive s.o.b., coming from Austria with no real offensive tackle background, Raimann has shot up draft boards due to his aforementioned athleticism and potential. If developed right, he could become a very good tackle at the next level. To me, he's exactly what the Dolphins could use, a tackle that is equally adept in the run game as well as the pass game.
30. Kansas City Chiefs - Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
I think it's pretty safe to assume the Chiefs will be picking somewhere in the 30s as long as Patrick Mahomes is their quarterback. That being said, I don't think there were a lot of Chiefs fans that thought they'd be picking right at number 30, especially after hosting their fourth straight AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. After playing in the greatest game of all time against the Bills, many expected the Chiefs to breeze past a Bengals team that was not only making it's first AFC Championship appearance since 1989, but was also coming off their second Playoff win in 31 years. Thankfully, for America, the Chiefs lost to the Bengals in overtime of the AFC Championship game, failing to make it to their third straight Super Bowl. For the Chiefs to make it back to the big dance, they have to improve in a few areas, which is kind of weird to say since they've been so dominant over recent years. To me, the Chiefs could look to add another weapon for Patrick Mahomes, get an edge rusher to possibly replace Melvin Ingram, or add some pieces in the secondary. If you were to pick out the weakest area for the Chiefs since they've been on this run, it's been their secondary, and mainly at the safety position. I'm sorry, I'm sure he's a nice guy, but Daniel Sorenson reeks, and should not be consistently starting for a team that is as good as the Kansas City Chiefs. Thankfully for Chiefs fans Sorenson will be entering free agency this offseason, so that's the good news. On the other hand, Tyrann Mathieu is also entering free agency, and will probably be expecting another massive contract this offseason, so there's a chance the Chiefs lose both of their starting safeties this offseason and, as of right now, Zayne Anderson and Juan Thornhill are the only safeties on the active roster. If the right receiver isn't available, I think the Chiefs should take the best safety available and to me, that safety is Michigan's Daxton Hill. Now, this is kind of odd to be honest, it's not too often nowadays where one safety is drafted in the first round, let alone two of them, but that's the reality we live in right now. I know we've said Kyle Hamilton is clear compared to the other safeties in this draft, but if we're talking about pure cover safeties, Daxton Hill stands out above the rest. As a natural center fielder, who can also flash covering in the slot, Hill possesses great size, length, and athleticism for the safety spot. With great combination of burst and natural speed, at 6'0" 192 lbs., Hill is able to over a vast array of ground in a very short amount of time, with not a lot of receivers able to break away from Hill's coverage circle. While at Michigan, Hill totaled 150 tackles (92 solo), 15 passes defended, and four interceptions over a three year career. This past season, the Chiefs ranked in the bottom six in pass defense, giving up 251.4 yards per game. Adding someone like Hill would certainly improve the Chiefs pass defense and would provide an upgrade at free safety, replacing Daniel Sorenson. Again, if the right receiver isn't available, the Chiefs should definitely look towards Daxton Hill with this pick.
31. Cincinnati Bengals - Zion Johnson, iOL, Boston College
Against all the odds, the Cincinnati Bengals made the Super Bowl. After everyone was clowning them for drafting Ja'Marr Chase over Penei Sewell, both Chase and Burrow led this seemingly doomed team to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1989. Not only did they make the Super Bowl, but Burrow and Chase had some historic moments this past season, with Chase breaking every single rookie receiving record in both the regular season and postseason, just ridiculous. For Burrow, who was coming off a torn ACL, many people expected him to die behind a "terrible" offensive line. Now, to be fair, though the Bengals did improve their offensive line during the free agency period last offseason, they're probably going to want to address the line with their first pick in this draft. During the regular season, Burrow was sacked a league high 51 times. Even in the postseason, Joe Burrow leads the league in sacks, getting sacked 12 times, with a ridiculous nine coming against the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round. So yeah, addressing the offensive line should be the first order of business for the Bengals with this pick. When looking at the Bengals offensive line, the biggest area of concern comes from the center over to the right tackle, with starting center Trey Hopkins, right guard Jackson Carman, and right tackle Isiah Prince (Riley Reiff is on IR) making up, arguably, the worst right side in the NFL. Whether it's at center, guard, or tackle the Bengals have to upgrade those positions, and when looking at the next best available linemen, none are better than Boston College's Zion Johnson. Out of everyone that was present at the Senior Bowl, I don't know if there was anyone who had a better week of practice than Zion Johnson. Whether it was at guard or at center, Johnson bullied his opponents into submission, making for some very fun videos surrounding his play on social media. It's not just his Senior Bowl week that I like about him though, Johnson is a friggin battler. A former zero star recruit, Johnson first started his college career at FCS non-scholarship school Davidson. There, he developed into one of the best run blockers in the country as apart of Davidson's triple option attack, playing both guard and tackle throughout his time there. After impressing for two seasons at Davidson, Johnson transferred to Boston College, where he kept up the same dominance in the run game as a key member of the Eagles run first mentality. From being a zero star recruit to a First Team All-American at the FBS level is something to be very proud of. At 6'3" 316 lbs., Johnson possesses great athleticism/high motor and technique to become a very good guard at the next level. Johnson is a very easy player to root for in this draft, much like their quarterback. I think Johnson would be an excellent addition to the Bengals, being able to fill in at either center or guard. Johnson would help open up runs lanes for Mixon while also, and most importantly, keep Joe Burrow upright.
32. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles) - Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
The fourth and final team with multiple first round picks. The Detroit Lions have picked the earliest and the latest out of those teams, picking Aidan Hutchinson second overall. With their second first round pick, the Lions have a decision to make. On one hand, they could go after a quarterback. Quarterback is a very interesting one for me because I don't necessarily think Jared Goff is that bad. I'm not saying he's great or anything I just think he gets a little more hate than what he deserves given the fact he is on a terrible football team with no weapons out wide. Again, though I think Jared Goff is an alright quarterback, the Lions will want to get a "quarterback of the future" at some point in the near future, which could be with this pick, but I think the Lions would look to add their choice of receiver here first, especially given that Jacksonville picks next at 33 and could also use a wide receiver. So, with this pick, I think the Lions should take the number one receiver on their board, and to me, that comes in the form of Penn State's Jahan Dotson. The past offseason, the Lions lost Kenny Golladay to the Giants and Marvin Jones to the Jaguars, and yet didn't really do anything to replace them. Outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end TJ Hockenson, the Lions are truly lacking in the receiver department. Again, quarterback could be addressed with their second round pick, I think they have to come away with a top tier wide out with their final first round pick. Out of the remaining wide receivers, none are better than Penn State's Jahan Dotson. This past season at Penn State, Dotson posted 1,182 yards on 91 catches with 12 touchdowns, with six coming in his last four games. Thew thing that is very nice about Dotson is that he can kill you from either the slot or out wide, wide his speed/acceleration after the catch and "ball finding" abilities making him almost impossible to defend. Something else Dotson brings to the table is that he does not drop passes, or when he does it's rare. This season, Dotson has just two drops to his name and has never dropped a pass of 20+ yards. Dotson may not be the biggest receiver, 5'11" 184 lbs., but for what he lacks in size he makes up for in play making ability. Again, whoever the quarterback is in 2022, Goff or a rookie, they would love to have a receiver like Jahan Dotson making plays for the out wide. I'm not saying they'll be great, but the Lions offense is starting to look kinda nice. D'Andre Swift, TJ Hockenson, Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Penei Sewell, and now Jahan Dotson? Not too shabby.
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