The Draft "Expert" - 2022 Final NFL Draft Prospect Rankings - https://www.theloganblackmanshow.com/post/the-draft-expert-2022-nfl-draft-final-prospect-rankings
The day is finally here! Welcome one and all the to FINAL mock draft of the 2022 NFL Draft season! Yes, I know, it's an incredibly sad time for you, as you don't get to read my opinions on things I truly know nothing about. I think that can be said for everyone who does mock drafts though, right? None of us really have any clue what's going to happen. You're just making predictions based on what you hear, and one thing we know about the NFL Draft, no one ever lies.
This year's draft is supposed to be one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory. With the top two picks seemingly common knowledge at this point, the draft will take a really weird turn by the time the third pick comes around. I cannot stress this enough, I am not confident with any pick I made throughout this entire draft, especially when it comes to the third pick, which was the most stressful pick last year, if you remember.
In this mock draft there are two quarterbacks, one running back, seven wide receivers, five offensive tackles, one interior offensive lineman, two interior defensive linemen, five edge rushers, two linebackers, four corners, and three safeties. You read that right, three safeties. Far cry from what we've been used to the past couple years. I would like to apologize though to the tight end community, as none of you were selected throughout this entire process. My condolences to you and your loved ones because I know how much that hurt that I didn't pick you. For that, I am sorry.
So, with any further delays, I am kind of proud to present to you the FINAL mock draft for the 2022 NFL Draft! Welcome one and all to Mock Draft 5.0! Please enjoy!
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Pictured: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia; Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan; Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
For the second time in as many years, the Jaguars hold the number one overall pick. That being said, unlike the last time they held the number one overall pick, no one, and I mean no one, knows what direction they're going to go, which should make this draft very interesting. At the beginning of this offseason, it looked as if the Jaguars were going to select one of Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu to possibly replace the free agency bound Cam Robinson. Though Robinson's been solid since coming into the league, most people believed Jacksonville would move on from the second round pick, but like most things the Jaguars have done this offseason, they surprised everyone by franchise tagging Robinson back in early March. That would inevitably set off a chain reaction of weird moves for the Jaguars. Yes, Trevor Lawrence needed some help on the offensive side of the ball, but the Jaguars pissed off every receiver in the league by signing Christian Kirk, who's never really been anything more than a wide receiver three throughout his career, to a massive four-year $72 million contract. I may be wrong, and I'm open to being wrong, but this is giving me massive Alvin Harper vibes, when he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after playing second fiddle to Michael Irvin while the pair were in Dallas. Let's just say it didn't really work. Not only did they sign Kirk to a weird contract, but the other receiver they signed, Zay Jones, was also signed to a strength contract with the Jags signing him to a three-year $24 million contract. Now, they did manage to bring in Brandan Scherff to solidify their guard spot, which is a nice signing, to be fair. But with Kirk, Jones, and even Evan Engram coming in, it's just a very unpredictable offseason for the Jaguars. With all the moves they made on the offensive side of the ball, one would think they'll take an edge rusher with the number one overall pick. Now, though we don't really know who they'll take, it seems to have been narrowed down between Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson and Georgia's Travon Walker. If you were just looking at numbers, the pick should be obvious, as Hutchinson had eight more sacks, 25 more tackles, and two more forced fumbles than Walker. Hell, Hutchinson had 36 solo tackles last season, which is just one less than Walker had in total, 37, with just 19 of those being solo tackles. So, why is Walker in consideration for the number one pick? Well, for starters, Walker is a much better athlete than Hutchinson, and that's not just from the combine, you can see that on film. To Trent Baalke, the Jaguars GM, athletic traits are extremely important, and that is something extremely important to note, as Walker is one of the best athletes at the position in a very long time. 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. The second thing to note is that Walker's numbers, or lack there of, are not indicative to what type of players he is. 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. I know a lot of people won't like this pick because at this point, Walker is just a projection. The traits are there, we just need to hope he can develop those. If he can, he could be one of the best edge rushers in the league. Again, Baalke loves athletic freaks, Walker is exactly that.
In his pre-draft press conference, about Walker and Hutchinson, Trent Baalke stated, "I think when you look at both those players, they’re both productive in their own way. (They’re) used differently, totally different schemes, used differently within those schemes. Again, you’re looking at them, you’re looking at how they made their plays, how they were used, and then you have a vision for how you can use them. All of that plays a part, but traits are important, production is important. You weigh it all." I could be reading way too much into this, but doesn't this seen like he's trying to convince people about Walker? Not seeing his "lack of production" as an issue? I don't know, cause again, I could be reading way too much into that quote.
Also, it sounds like Doug Pederson wants NC State's Ikem Ekwonu, as he won a Super Bowl with an elite offensive line. But like Ryan Pace with Mitchell Trubisky, and John Lynch with Trey Lance, it doesn't really matter if the coach wants Jamal Adams or Mac Jones, the team is usually drafting who the GM wants. To me, I think Baalke wants Walker.
The Jaguars just signed Cam Robinson to a long term deal, it kind of seems like Walker or bust to me now.
IF NOT THEN - Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan or Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
2. Detroit Lions - Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
This would be a dream scenario for the Detroit Lions. With the Jaguars taking Travon Walker with the number one overall pick, due to his athleticism, the Lions get the chance to take an instate product in the form of Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson. If you watched the Lions for even a second last season, you would see that they are clearly a team that plays with a lot of heart and are a team that'll never give up. Yes, the Lions finished the season with three wins, but if you look closer, they were in a lot of their games, which is more than what most people thought going into the season. Last season, the Lions were 11-6 against the spread, 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, and is made even better if they're able to select Hutchinson here at two. 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. Hutchinson looks like a guy that would fit into the Lions culture under Dan Campbell. He never takes a play off and will do whatever it takes to get after the quarterback. 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 likely create some fans by being a local kid playing for his local team. Hutchinson could be the perfect poster boy for the Lions moving forward. If this scenario plays out, the Lions should be celebrating because this is a match made in football heaven.
IF NOT THEN - Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia or Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
3. Houston Texans - Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
The Houston Texans have truly been one of the biggest mystery teams throughout this whole offseason when it comes to the upcoming draft, with many people not really having a firm grasp on what they want to do. Second year GM Nick Caserio has kept his cards very close to his chest, and fair play to him for doing that, I just don't like it because it makes my life extremely stressful since I want to get as many picks as I can right. Regardless, there have been a few players that have been linked with the Texans over the past couple months, namely the top two tackles, Alabama's Evan Neal and NC State's Ikem Ekownu, and the top two corners, Cincinnati's Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and LSU's Derek Stingley Jr.. Sure they've been linked with some edge rushers here and there with the third overall pick, namely Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux and, most recently, Florida State's Jermaine Johnson II, but edge rusher seems like a pick they'd address at 13 rather than three, at least that's how it seems, I could of course be completely wrong. Now, I don't know if this is just a massive smoke screen or not, but recent reports have been heavily linking the Texans to the aforementioned LSU Tiger Derek Stingley Jr.. If this were the 2020 NFL Draft, no one would really be that surprised, as Stingley was the best player on defense for a National Championship winning side, as a freshman. That season saw Stingley intercept the ball six times and defend 15 passes while also seeing Stingley named a Conscious All-American and First Team All-SEC recipient (an honor he got in 2020 as well). If he were able to, he could've been the top corner taken in the 2020 NFL Draft, above Ohio State's Jeff Okudah and Florida's CJ Henderson, both who went top 10, with Okudah being taken third overall by Detroit. Stingley's season was that special. But now, two years later, there's mostly a different feel around Stingley, as he's barely played any football over these past two years due to injuries, 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, as he looked disinterested at times, and 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. At 6'1" 195 lbs., Stingley possesses ideal size, speed, and ball skills to be a truly elite corner at the next level. If the Texans think they can recapture Stingley's 2019 form, they may have the best corner prospect in years on there hands. This could be a massive ass smoke screen, but if you just look at Stingley's natural ability, there's no question that he should be a top pick in this draft. Let's just hope, for his and Houston's sake, that he stays healthy because if he does, he could become truly special.
Per the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo via Twitter, "supposedly the Texans have done as much, if not more, work on LSU CB Derek Stingley as anybody. But as always, take that for what it’s worth…"
IF NOT THEN - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State or Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
4. New York Jets - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
I'm very intrigued to see which direction the New York Jets go with their first pick in the draft, because in a recent quote I read, a source close to the team said that the Jets pre-draft plan is to leak names of numerous prospects they might draft at picks four and 10 to intentionally confuse other NFL teams regarding their true intentions. Furthermore, they said that "if we do this right, by Thursday, we'll have them all believing we're drafting a kicker a four." Though it would be pretty amusing to see the Jets pick a kicker at four, I think it's alright if we rule that out, for now at least. That being said, though the Jets are trying to leak as many names as possible, I do think most people can see that the biggest needs on the Jets roster lie on the offensive line, out wide at wide receiver, along the defensive line, mainly the edges, and in the secondary. Now, the closer and closer we get closer the draft, I will admit, a lot of names have been circling around this pick. As of yesterday, Wednesday April 27th, the Jets have been linked to NC State guard/tackle hybrid Ikem Ekwonu, Cincinnati corner Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, and, most interestingly, Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II, and not Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux. With all these players getting thrown around, one thing I'm going to predict is that this pick is between Ekwonu and Gardner, for the simple reason that Joe Douglas is the GM and loves offensive linemen, and that the Jets secondary is atrocious. Ground breaking stuff there I know. Though I think there's a very good chance "Sauce" Gardner goes here at number four, reports, dating back to earlier this offseason, have said that the Jets "love" Ikem Ekwonu, with recent reports even saying that if he's there, it will be very hard for Joe Douglas to pass up on the versatile NC State lineman, especially given the recent reports surrounding former first round pick Mekhi Becton, with those reports saying that he's already played his last game for the Jets, as many in the NFL believe that Becton will "never put on a Jets jersey again." Regardless of if you believe Becton is 'surplus to requirements' or not, I do think there's some truth in Douglas' love for Ekwonu. A former offensive lineman himself, Douglas has used two of his three first round picks on offensive linemen, drafting Becton in 2020 and Alijah Vera-Tucker in 2021. Though he's primarily a left tackle, Ekwonu also possesses a lot of positional versatility, meaning he could almost play anywhere across the offensive line, and after watching Zach Wilson get sacked eight times by the Buffalo Bills, of all teams, during the last game of the regular season, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this was the pick. 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 the Giants would like a lot given their best player is their running back. 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. Like we said before, Ekwonu is stout in the run game. With Robert Saleh wanting to establish some sort of run game, Ekwonu would be a perfect road grader for Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman, or whoever the Jets deploy at running back. So even though they're linked with "Sauce" Gardner and Jermaine Johnson, I believe that Joe Douglas wants to take a tackle, and if his guy is there, I think he'll pounce and make Ikem Ekwonu the fourth pick in the draft.
IF NOT THEN - Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati or Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
5. New York Giants - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Ever since he was drafted sixth overall in 2019, the jury has been out on former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones. Though he has the traits to develop into a nice quarterback in the NFL, he has really flattered to deceive at this point. That being said, I think the hiring of Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is a big statement in regards to them keeping their faith in Jones, at least for this season, as Daboll was instrumental in the development in Josh Allen's development. Now, I'm definitely not saying Jones will become the next Josh Allen, or anything close, but I do think Jones has the ability to become a nice quarterback in the NFL, but again, he just hasn't really put it all together. Some of his lack of progression does come down to him making some very odd plays, yes, but a lot of it can go down to the fact the Giants have done nothing for him in regards to 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, and may actually hold top spot for that category, depending on who you ask. 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 the aforementioned Price and tackle Nate Solder are still free agents, and with Solder Turing 34 in April, I highly doubt the Giants will look to bring him back. To me, the Giants have to address the offensive line with at least one of their first round picks and to me, with edge rushers going in three of the first four picks, the Giants have their chance to select one of the top guys here at number five. Now, though myself, and many others, have Alabama's Evan Neal rated higher than Charles Cross, recent reports have suggested that the Giants really like the Mississippi State tackle, and could take him with one of their two top 10 picks. If this had come out a week ago, I may not read too much into it, but the Giants admiration for Cross has been reported since the Combine, so he could very well be the pick here. To me, Charles 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. 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. This may be a surprise come draft night, but Cross could develop into the best tackle in this class, at least that's the hope.
Reports are saying the Giants love how polished he is in pass coverage and think that there will not be a huge learning curve coming to the NFL. Could be a smoke screen, but there's no denying Cross is the best pass blocking lineman in the class, something the Giants certainly need.
IF NOT THEN - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State or Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
6. Carolina Panthers - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
The Carolina Panthers are going to be a very interesting team to watch come draft night. As of right now, the Panthers have only one pick in the first three rounds, with their being 131 picks between their first two picks, so a trade should definitely be on the cards for Carolina, whether it be with this pick or if it involves trading someone like the often injured Christian McCaffrey. Another thing to look out for is the quarterback position, as the Panthers, barring a trade, are really the first realistic option for a quarterback, whether that'd be Liberty's Malik Willis or Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett. It's no secret the Panthers are in the quarterback market, as they have been linked with a trade for a quarterback for the better part of three years. That's what makes this pick interesting, do the Panthers rank players like Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield higher than the likes of Willis and Pickett? I'm not sure. I think if we're talking about re-building the franchise, drafting a tackle and trading for a quarterback may be their best option at this point, especially if one of the top three tackles falls right into your lap. Before last season started, the Panthers traded former 2020 second round pick Greg Little to the Miami Dolphins. With Little gone, the Panthers left tackle spot went to Cameron Erving, a center, guard, tackle hybrid who has not found success at any of those aforementioned positions throughout his time in the league. Not to mention, their starting left guard is former Viking Pat Elflein, so I think it may be smart for the Panthers to upgrade the left side of their line. With the Panthers ranking in the bottom five in sacks allowed (52), I think it'd be wise to look for a tackle who has the potential to be an elite pass blocker, so look no further than Alabama's Evan Neal. Now, this would be one of the more surprising things to happen in the first round, as Neal has widely been considered to be the best, or one of the best, tackle(s) in this draft, even being in the conversation for the number one overall pick. So him falling to six would be an absolute steal for the Panthers. 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. His versatility will be nice for the Panthers who have holes not just at tackle, but pretty much everywhere on their offensive line. For being as big as he is, 6'7" 337 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. Whether you play Neal at guard or tackle he'll make his presence known. Neal would certainly sure up the Panthers offensive line, giving whoever their quarterback is more time to work, and could be a nice kick starter for the Panthers turnaround.
My guess is Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield get traded to Carolina, allowing them to not "over pick" a quarterback. People will want to say "franchise quarterback over franchise tackle," but, if I take you back to the 2007 Draft, do you think the Browns should've taken Brady Quinn at three or were they right in taking Joe Thomas? Just a thought.
Neal apparently has some medical flags that could see him be the third tackle taken. I wouldn't read too much into it though, Neal's missed only one game throughout his collegiate career and it was because of COVID.
IF NOT THEN - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt or Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
7. New York Giants (via Chicago) - Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
We have now reached the second of the Giants two top 10 selections. With their first pick, we saw the Giants address the offensive line by getting Mississippi State's Charles Cross, which was by far the biggest need on the G-Men's roster for this upcoming season. Now, with their second pick, they could go in a couple of different directions. That being said, those directions are all on the defensive side of things. I think the first thing many will point out is the Giants need for some more help in getting after the quarterback, as the Giants ranked in the bottom half of the league in total sacks, registering 34, with last years second round pick, Azeez Ojulari leading the way with eight. After Ojulari though, the Giants next pure edge rusher with the most sacks was Quincy Roche, who only registered two and a half last season. Others like Leonard Williams, Lorenzo Carter, Austin Johnson, and Dexter Lawrence ranked above Roche, but Carter left for Atlanta in free agency and Williams, Johnson, and Lawrence all play on the d-line. All that being said, yes, the Giants should look for an edge rusher in this draft, but it doesn't necessarily have to be here. This class, as per usual these days, is littered with very good edge rushers. Hell, the aforementioned Azeez Ojulari wasn't taken until the 50th pick in 2021, and with the Giants holding the 37th pick in the second round of this draft, that could be the perfect spot to select a very talented edge rusher. To me, instead of going after a pass rusher, they should look to add a pure lock down corner, especially now, given how James Bradberry has been linked with a move away from New Jersey this entire offseason. With Bradberry's future in question, and reports going around stating that your stadium partners love this guy, I think the Giants should look to add Cincinnati's Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner here with the seventh overall pick. 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. If the Giants want to get to the top of the NFC East again they've got to improve their defense, and adding a pure lock down corner like Gardner would be a very good place to start. If the Giants left the first round with a potential franchise saving left tackle and a lock down corner, Giants fans should be throwing a party in the streets, cause this would be an awesome scenario.
Reports are saying the Giants are looking for longer corners, Gardner definitely fits that mold.
IF NOT THEN - Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State or Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
8. Atlanta Falcons - Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
The Atlanta Falcons may have one of the, if not the, worst roster(s) in the NFL. Like, with this pick, the Falcons could go in a multitude of directions. Throughout the entire offseason it has been reported that the Falcons could look to add one of the top receivers with this pick, given the fact that Calvin Ridley is suspended for the season and Russell Gage left for Tampa in free agency. So, outside of tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Cordarrelle Patterson, that leaves Olamide Zaccheaus as the team's number one wide receiver. Though Zaccheaus could develop into a very nice wide receiver this season, I really have my doubts, as he totaled only 406 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season. Again, he could go absolutely insane this season, but also again, I doubt it, so drafting a wide receiver should be a top, or near the top, or the Falcons draft board this season, especially since it's been revealed they 'love' USC wide receiver Drake London as he'd fill that big bodied receiver role that Arthur Smith had success with in Tennessee. Though wide receiver is a big need for Atlanta, given who's available, I don't know if they'd actually be able to pull the trigger. Other than wide receiver, the Falcons need to re-strengthen their pass rush. Last season, the Falcons ranked dead last in the NFL in sacks with just 18, 11 sacks behind the next worst team in the league. Not only did they rank last in that department, but they also cut their leading sack getter, Dante Fowler, back in mid-March, and even he only registered four and a half sacks for the team last season. As of right now, the leader in the sack department for the Falcons, that is still on the team, is inside linebacker Deion Jones, who registered a measly two sacks last season. Yes, wide receiver is a massive need, but the need for an edge rusher is arguably greater. With Jermaine Johnson rising up draft boards, I think he may very well be the pick for the Falcons here at eight. It's pretty crazy to see Johnson's meteoric rise up draft boards, as he went from a potential first rounder, to a potential top 10 pick, to now a 'lock' to go top 10? I can't say it's not warranted given how this offseason has gone for him. Though this may be surprising to some people, I can tell you this isn't just hyperbole, Johnson can ball. 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. It's been a fun rise for Johnson, and for the Falcons, they'll be getting a multi dimensional edge rusher that would fit perfectly in their defense.
I think Thibodeux is the better player, but I can remember from a few weeks ago people talking about how the Falcons really liked Jermaine Johnson. I could be wrong, but Johnson feels like the pick here.
IF NOT THEN - Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon or Drake London, WR, USC
9. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver) - Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
A new era is upon us in the Emerald City, as long time quarterback Russell Wilson was traded to Denver for a whole pack of picks, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, and d-linemen Shelby Harris. Even after the Russell Wilson trade, Seattle could still be involved in even more offseason moves with them linked with Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and with both wide receivers, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, seemingly on the trade block as well. This season will be a weird one to watch if all these moves end up happening. When we made our last mock draft, we had the Seahawks taking Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross to replace the free agent Duane Brown. Though that would seen as a smart choice by most, given how the Seahawks have treated their offensive line over the past few seasons, I think they will probably ignore that need and go for something on the defensive side of the ball. Now, though I think left tackle is the biggest need for the Seahawks going into this draft, it's definitely not the only need. Outside of tackle, the other two areas you could look at are in the secondary and along the defensive line, most notably improving their ability to get after the quarterback. As far as corner, or defensive back, goes, last season, the Seahawks ranked second from bottom in passing defense. Giving up 265.5 yards per game through the air, while allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete around 68% of their passes against them. Then for defensive end, or edge rusher, as of right now, the Seahawks have two defensive ends on their active roster in the form of Shelby Harris, who we mentioned earlier, and LJ Collier, a former first round pick who's only registered a sack in one of his three years in the NFL. Both corner and edge rusher are positions of need, but with both Stingley and Gardner off the board to the Texans and Giants respectively, edge rusher takes the cake here, so I think they should select former Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeuax here at pick number nine. As everyone should know by this point, Kayvon Thibodeaux is expected to slide a little bit in the upcoming draft. Whether that be off the field concerns with his character or some on the field issues, though he could fall, I highly doubt he'll slip out of the top 10, with Atlanta and Seattle being the top two destinations for him in the latter stages of the top 10. Regardless what you think of Thibodeaux as a person, he did put forth some great displays while at Oregon. The former number one high school recruit in the nation, Thibodeaux registered 122 total tackles (82 solo), 19 sacks, 10 passes defended, and three forced fumbles throughout a three year career at Oregon. With Thibodeuax, one thing I like about him 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 and power to not only get after the passer but also make key plays in the run game. His character and demeanor may have rubbed some teams the wrong way, but I don't know if he'd make it past the Seahawks at eight. The team is in desperate need of edge rushers, so adding someone like Thibodeaux would be an excellent step in the right direction in regards to turning their fortunes around.
IF NOT THEN - Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State or Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
10. New York Jets (via Seattle) - Drake London, WR, USC
Though people may still be trying to figure out who the Jets will take at pick number four, I think everyone, generally, knows what position the Jets are targeting with the 10th pick. Regardless on whether or not they trade this pick, the 10th pick in the draft will, more than likely, be used on a wide receiver. Now, I know I shouldn't be sitting here acting like I know, with 100% certainty, that the Jets will take a wide receiver here, but it sure as hell seems that way. This offseason, it has felt like the Jets have been trying to make a move for some of the NFL's top receivers. Players like Tyreek Hill, DK Metcalf, and most recently Deebo Samuel have all been linked with the New Jersey based team, leading me to think that they're either going to trade this pick to someone like San Francisco for Deebo, or keep it, and select the top receiver on their board, whoever that is. To me, the one that would be the most interesting for the Jets is former USC wide out Drake London. Now, I don't really have an issue with the Jets current crop of receivers, but I definitely think it could be improved, especially given how Corey Davis and Elijah Moore battled injuries last season. I think London would be an excellent compliment to those two, plus Braxton Berrios, giving Wilson a lot of options on the outside. Now, hough 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 Zach Wilson a reliable target on the outside. I think London would be a great addition to the Jets wide receiver core. The Jets could really use an athlete on the outside, and London is that, making Zach Wilson's life a whole hell of a lot easier. Again, I could be reading too much into the Jets attempted offseason moves, but either way, coming out of the first round with an absolute beast on the offensive line in Ikem Ekwonu and a big bodied wide receiver in Drake London would be great for the Jets moving forward. For their sake, they hopefully solved one of the problem areas on defense and got their young quarterback a true number one option. I like this draft for the two New Jersey based teams. Just think, with Wilson at quarterback, Elijah Moore and Corey Davis on the outside with Drake London in the slot, could make for a pretty scary wide receiver trio if everything turns out like we expect it to.
This pick could really belong to San Francisco come draft night.
IF NOT THEN - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State or Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
11. Washington Commanders - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
The Washington Commanders are sitting pretty nicely here at the 11th spot in the draft. Why? I hear you ask. Well, to me, Washington has a couple of directions they could go with this pick. First off, they could take the best player available, who is clearly Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. Though Hamilton is the best available, the second best prospect in the draft in my eyes, the Commanders may not view that as their top priority. Like, I know Washington cut Landon Collins after three seasons with the team, and as a whole, their defense mightily disappointed, with their passing defense ranking near the bottom of the league in yards allowed per game and ranked dead last in touchdowns allowed. All that being said, though I would lean more that direction, reports are saying Washington is in the receiver market, with USC's Drake London and Ohio State's Chris Olave as their top two guys. Though I personally rate the other Ohio State receiver, Garrett Wilson, higher than Olave, his relationship with current Commander Terry McLaurin could see the speedster end up in the nation's capitol. 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. Again, Olave is a fantastic athlete with great speed who would give Carson Wentz another reliable target on the outside to go along with McLaurin, if he sticks around. I think Olave would be a great addition to the Commanders wide receiver core. Personally, I think Hamilton would be a smart pick here given their defensive struggles last season, but it just really seems like the Commanders will be leaning the direction of wide receiver come draft night.
IF NOT THEN - Drake London, WR, USC or Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
12. Minnesota Vikings - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
As per usual, this past season for the Vikings was met with pretty decent preseason expectations, only to be met by another disappointing 8-9 season, which saw them miss the Playoffs for the second consecutive season. On paper, the Vikings really do have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Say what you want about Kirk Cousins, but he is no where near the biggest problem for the Minnesota Vikings. For the past couple seasons, two things have really let the team down, those being the offensive line and the defense as a whole. During last years draft, the Vikings used two picks in the first three rounds to address the offensive line. After trading back in round one, the Vikings selected Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw with the 23rd pick, who made 10 starts during his rookie season. Then in the third round, the Vikings took Ohio State's Wyatt Davis, who was coming off a knee injury that he sustained in the National Championship game against Alabama. Though Davis only appeared in six games last season, with no starts, the Vikings o-line was improved from the season prior, which isn't saying a whole lot, but it was improved. Defensively is where the Vikings really have struggled the past two season. Though a lot of it can come down to injuries of key players, with a defensive minded head coach, they shouldn't be as bad as what they were, especially in the pass defense. Last season, the Vikings ranked in the bottom three in total defense and bottom five in pass defense, with their secondary coming under scrutiny for most of the season. To me, the Vikings have to address the secondary with this pick. Now, I know a lot of people out there are saying the Vikings biggest need is at corner, and I agree with you, but with Stingley and Gardner off the board, I don't think they'll make a move for one of the other ones, unless they trade back, which is likely. Besides corner, safety could be an interesting proposition for the Vikings who, yes, have a perennial Pro Bowler in Harrison Smith, but the dude turned 33 in February and though he is very good, he could use some help along the back end of the Vikings defense. Apart from Smith, the Vikings safety depth is pretty weak. So, with this pick, I'm going to give them Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton. Now, to me, Kyle Hamilton is a top five player in the draft, but given his position and his poor 40 times at the combine and at his pro day could see him slip outside the top 10, but Washington shouldn't complain. 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. To me, Hamilton the type player that would instantly improve the Vikings secondary, giving them a Swiss Army knife that would be able to rip apart opposing offenses. Remember, Hamilton is not a safety, he's a football player.
IF NOT THEN - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington or Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
13. Houston Texans (via Cleveland) - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Like we said before, the Houston Texans are the biggest mystery team when it comes to the 2022 NFL Draft. Like, every year before the Draft, it always feels like there's that one team that no one has a read on, but maybe a day or two before the draft, we kind of start to figure them out. I don't know if I can say that about the Texans, who have kept their cards extremely close to their chest throughout this entire offseason, making this mock draft extremely stressful for me and a whole bunch of "mock drafters" out there. Regardless, the recent rumor swirling around the Houston Texans involves LSU corner Derek Stingley, who we ended up taking with the third overall pick. When looking at some of the other needs on the Texans roster, there are a few that stand out. The two that I can think of off the top of my head are at wide receiver and edge rusher. Though those are the two biggest areas of concern for Houston, edge rusher may actually not be an option for the Texans here at 13, forcing them to possibly wait until day two to find an edge rusher to partner Jonathan Greenard. So, with all that being said, Houston has stated numerous times about how they believe in Davis Mills and want to give him every chance to succeed at the next level. Like we said before, getting you quarterback a wide receiver he can trust is massive in his development. Though I'm very skeptical about him falling this far, I think the receiver the Texans covet the most is Ohio State's Garrett Wilson. To me, out of the all the receivers in the draft, none really have the same "dawg" mentality as Ohio State's Garrett Wilson, which is why I have the Jets moving for him here with the 10th overall pick. 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 Jets wide receiver core. I'm sure Mills would love to have someone like Garrett Wilson on the outside, as he will make everyones life so much easier. If the Texans came away with Derek Stingley and Garrett Wilson, Houston should rejoice, because what a hell of a draft this is so far.
IF NOT THEN - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama or Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
14. Baltimore Ravens - Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
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 should look to restrengthen their defense. This offseason, the Ravens could be losing some key pieces across their defensive line and linebacking core, with 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. Not to mention their secondary resembled 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 Georgia's Jordan Davis, and he just feels like a future Baltimore Raven. Throughout the Ravens short history, they have always loved having uber athletic big men on their roster, and Davis certainty hits that bill. 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. Last season, the Ravens posted the leagues best run defense. That would only get better by adding someone like Jordan Davis. In a division with running backs like Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Joe Mixon, and Najee Harris, it'd be wise for the Ravens to keep fortifying their defensive front. I love this pick for Baltimore.
IF NOT THEN - Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa or Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami) - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
For the next few years, the Philadelphia Eagles are sitting in a pretty good spot when it comes to draft picks. During the '21 draft, the Eagles got a nice haul from the Miami Dolphins, who traded out of the top 10 with San Francisco, before making the jump back up to six with the Eagles to take Alabama wide out Jaylen Waddle. During that same offseason, the birds somehow managed to get what eventually turned into a first rounder for Carson Wentz. So, for this draft, the Eagles were set up with three first round picks, which is very nice. Then, a week or so ago, the Eagles struck up another trade, this time with the New Orleans Saints. Giving up the 16th and 19th pick, plus a sixth rounder, for the 18th pick in this draft, a '23 first rounder, and a '24 second rounder, plus a third and a seventh in this year's draft. All in all, the Eagles have been very busy when it comes to the draft, and time will tell if these picks actually turn into anything, whether that be a trade for an established star, a big move up the draft, or just standing pat and taking who's available. In a draft with no trades, I'm sorry, but if Eagles fans wanted a trade, whether that was up or down, it won't be happening here. That being said, maybe that's a good thing, as I have them selecting former Alabama and Ohio State speedster Jameson Williams here with the 15th pick in the draft. Now, I know this may be somewhat depressing for Eagles fans, as this would be the third straight draft they've drafted a wide receiver in the first round, famously drafting Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson in 2020, and then trading up to select Heisman winner DeVonta Smith last year. The only other time I can really remember this scenario happening was with the Detroit Lions in the early 2000s, when they drafted Charles Rodgers (2003), Roy Williams (2004), and Mike Williams (2005) back-to-back-back. Sadly for the Lions, it did not really pan out, so hopefully this one does for Philly. Though Reagor has had his struggles so far in the NFL, seemingly dropping more balls than he's caught, DeVonta Smith did have himself a decent first season in the NFL, registering 916 yards and five touchdowns, leading the team in both categories. Whereas the other two top drafted wide receivers, Reagor and JJ Arcega-Whiteside, combined for 335 yards and two touchdowns (Arcega-Whiteside is moving to tight end). All in all, I don't care if the Eagles have spent two straight first round picks on wide receivers, if Jameson Williams is available, you absolutely have to take him. 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 Eagles, who would've probably never been able to pick Williams if the former Bama wide out was 100% healthy. If/when he fully recovers, the Eagles will have an absolute stud on their hands. An elite deep threat who possesses great size and a willingness to get down and dirty in the run game, I think Williams would be a great addition to the Eagles wide receiver core and would easily replace the likes of Reagor and Arcega-Whiteside on the outside. The Eagles could really use a wide out with Williams all around game. Adding him would make Jalen Hurts life a whole hell of a lot easier.
IF NOT THEN - Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia or Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
16. New Orleans Saints (via Philadelphia) - Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
As we said before with the Eagles pick, Saints and the birds struck a pretty big trade recently, which saw the Saints absorb one of the Eagles three first round picks while also swapping another and giving up a fair few picks in the future. To me, there are two reasons why the Saints made this move. On one hand, the Saints could be trying to build up draft capital to move up for one of the top quarterbacks, as recent reports are saying that they do have some interest in either Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis. Though that could be an option, the Saints are pretty famous at throwing out smoke screens in regards to quarterbacks, having not drafted one in the first round since 1971 when they drafted Archie Manning second overall. The more likely of the two scenarios would be the second one, which is trying to build their roster to challenge for a Playoff spot in a relatively weak conference. Looking at their roster, the Saints have two glaring needs, both on the offensive side of the ball. Those needs are at left tackle and wide receiver. Starting with tackle, the Saints lost their longtime left tackle Terron Armstead in free agency, who headed over to the Miami Dolphins this offseason. Over the past few drafts, Mickey Loomis has not been shy about addressing the offensive line, as the Saints have drafted all of their current starters on the offensive line with either first or early second round picks, with all of them getting drafted over the course of five years. I think the main strategy for the Saints with this recent trade with the Eagles is to jump the Los Angeles Chargers, who could be looking to add a starting offensive tackle themselves with their first round pick. Jumping the Chargers almost guarantees the Saints can get their man, which in this case, is former UNI Panther Trevor Penning. 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, and even played right guard at the Senior Bowl, possessing some of that positional versatility that many teams are looking for nowadays, especially along the offensive line. Penning would not only help keep recently resigned Jameis Winston upright, but would also open up massive run lanes for them as well, which will make them a hard team to stop once the postseason roles around, especially if Alvin Kamara is available to play. 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. Terron Armstead's absence will be magnified if the Saints don't move for a tackle, and again, if he's available, Trevor Penning would be very hard to pass up.
IF NOT THEN - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State or Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
17. Los Angeles Chargers - Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Before we start, I just wanted to say that I completely stole this pick from NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah. Now I feel better. Let's get into the pick. The Chargers may have missed the playoffs this past season, but good Lordy, I don't think we'll be saying that again for this upcoming season. In an insanely stacked AFC West, the Chargers, honestly may have the most complete team out of the lot. This offseason, the Chargers went out to make sure their defense was up to scrap to keep up with their division, trading for Khalil Mack, for next to nothing, and adding 'Mr. Int" himself, JC Jackson in free agency. They also went out and added to the d-line, bringing in Sebastian Jospeh-Day and Austin Jackson from the Rams and Giants, respectively. We don't even really need to mention their offense, but with Justin Herbert at quarterback, and weapons such as Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams around him, not to mention his very nice offensive line, the Chargers should be one of the most feared teams in the division, if they can get out of their own way of course. So with the Chargers having the looks of a very complete football team, their first pick in the draft can be some what of a luxury pick, meaning they could just use it to strengthen a strength, which can always be fun. When I look at the Chargers here at 17, two or three positions come to mind. Those are wide receiver, corner, and defensive tackle. Whoever the Chargers pick here, really, it's going to be seen as a luxury pick, as they don't have a ton of glaring needs at any of those three positions. But with Brandon Staley in as the head coach, and the Chargers massive investment in the offensive last year, I would imagine he'd want to address some needs on the defensive side of the ball with their first pick. Coming from the other Los Angeles based team, Staley worked with some incredibly talented players, with only a few being more talented than corner Jalen Ramsey. At 6'1" 194 lbs., Ramsey possesses a lot of speed and length from the corner back position, making him a match-up nightmare for opposing offenses. A player that has similar-ish size and length in this draft is Florida's Kaiir Elam. At 6'2" 196 lbs., Elam is nearly the exact same size as the former Florida State defensive back. He, obviously, has the size, but also is tough in a tackle and has track like speed, mixed with a long stride, to keep up with the fastest receivers in the country. A former basketball player, Elam also possesses great leaping ability, which allows him to rarely get beaten in jump ball situations, if his height already didn't help there. A three-year starter at Florida, Elam totaled 78 tackles (53 solo), 20 passes defended, and five interceptions. Elam's size and speed mixed with ball skills and great football IQ make for an insane prospect on the outside. This is the first time I've had him in a mock, if I'm remembering right, and I'm kind of surprised. His traits should make him a very desirable target for corner "needy" teams. Pairing Elam with JC Jackson on the outside would allow the Chargers to keep last year's second round pick, Asante Samuel Jr., in the slot, which is where he played most of last season. Recent reports are saying Elam will go a lot sooner than originally expected, and I think the Chargers may be the perfect team for him.
IF NOT THEN - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State or Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
18. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans) - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Like we said with the Eagles first pick, that was used to select Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, the Eagles are set up pretty nicely for the future. Though they are set up nicely for the future, they need to make sure to hit on their picks in this draft. To I think the surprise of most people out there, the Eagles rode a fairly easy schedule into the playoffs, before getting absolutely shit stomped by Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Though they did make the Playoffs, they have some holes they'll need to fill if they want to make it back to the postseason, most notably on the defensive side of the ball. Again, with most of the Eagles "problems" coming from the defensive side of things, I would be surprised if their first selection wasn't either in the secondary or across the defensive line, maybe even linebacker, but here, we're going to the secondary and selecting Washington's Trent McDuffie here with the 18th pick. Now, this may come as surprise to some people out there, as Darius Slay is coming off a Pro Bowl season, his first with the Eagles, and Avonte Maddox just signed a three-year extension back in November. The thing is, Darius Slay just turned 31, Avonte Maddox is more of a slot corner that has only ever started 28 of the 51 games he's appeared in, and, most importantly, the let NFL vet Steven Nelson leave in free agency, freeing up that corner position opposite that of Slay. Now, with someone like 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. When you're a team like the Eagles who could use some corner help, you can't really go wrong with the top three guys in this class. Though McDuffie was the third one taken, he'll still provide the Eagles with great ball skills and athleticism to try and keep the Eagles in the Playoffs. Coming out of the first round with Jameson Williams and Trent McDuffie would be an excellent haul for the Eagles, and could possibly help them try and catch Dallas for the division crown.
IF NOT THEN - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah or Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
19. New Orleans Saints (via Philadelphia) - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
After drafting Trevor Penning to hopefully sure up the offensive line, filling the hole left by Terron Armstead, the Saints really could go two directions with their next pick. The first thing that comes to mind is wide receiver. With Michael Thomas missing all of last season due to a neck injury, the Saints receiving core was spear headed by Marquez Calloway, Deonte Harty, and Tre'Quan Smith, none of who registered over 700 yards receiving. That being said, the top top guys in the draft are already off the board, and I don't know why, but I can't see them moving for either Treylon Burks or Jahan Dotson. I could totally be wrong, but I just can't see it at this point. Apart from wide receiver, the fun pick for the Saints would be to draft a quarterback. I know what you're thinking, yes, the Saints brought back Jameis Winston on a two-year deal and signed Andy Dalton in free agency, but are either guys people you look at and have 100% confidence in? I don't think so. I know Jameis had a good start to the season before he tore his ACL, but apart from a few games last year, I don't really see Jameis being the long term answer in New Orleans. So, instead of going after a wide out, I'm going to send former Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett down to New Orleans. 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. I don't care about Pickett's tiny hands, I don't care that he may only be a "one season wonder," but the dude has an elite mentality and is tough as nails, two things that correlate with Joe Burrow, who a lot of people are extremely high on after he took the Bengals to the Super Bowl after tearing his ACL the season prior. I think it's clear the Saints have at least some interest in Pickett, maybe not enough to end up drafting him, but interest none the less. Pickett would be perfect for the Saints offense and would write a new page in Saints history as he'd be the first quarterback selected in the first round by the organization since Archie Manning in 1971. I love the fit and think Pickett will do well if he is in fact drafted by the Saints.
IF NOT THEN - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty or Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The Ben Roethlisberger era in Pittsburgh has finally reached it's conclusion. After 18 years as the Steelers starting quarterback, Big Ben has retired, and since has ushered in the Mitchell Trubisky era in Pittsburgh. Now, I'm not saying Trubisky is the greatest quarterback of all time or anything, but I do think he has received far too much criticism for his time in Chicago, and deserves a chance to be the number one guy for an NFL team again. That being said, he's obviously not the long term answer in Pittsburgh, coming in on a two-year deal after being Josh Allen's back-up in Buffalo last season. I think he could really turn his career around, but I think the Steelers have done a really bad job at not telling us who they want in this draft. Much like last year, after the combine, it was pretty well documented Mike Tomlin and co. wanted former Alabama running back Najee Harris. To the shock of everyone, they took Harris with he 24th pick. This year, it is blatantly obvious they really like Liberty's Malik Willis, so whether it's via a trade or just standing pat here at 20, I just feel like Willis will be a Pittsburgh Steeler, one way or another. 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." Even during the actual Senior Bowl game, Willis had moments that made your jaw drop, both good and bad, but you can really see the potential that's there. 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. At the combine, reports were saying that most scouts and coaches thought Willis needed one to two years to develop. With Mitchell Trubisky in as the starter, Willis can develop behind him before taking over in a year or two, depending on how ready he is. I think Willis' upside will make him a very hard quarterback to pass up in the '22 NFL Draft and with Pittsburgh 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.
IF NOT THEN - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt or Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
21. New England Patriots - Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
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. This offseason, they went out and traded for former Dolphin wide out DeVante Parker. Though he'll fill one of the biggest holes on the Pats roster and give Mac Jones a true number one option, the simple fact of the matter is that he's only played 16 games once throughout his seven year career up to this point, making 24 appearances out of a possible 33 games over the past two seasons while only 'starting' 19 of those. If he can stay healthy, Parker will be an excellent weapon for the receiver needy Pats, but if the Patriots have reservations about that, I wouldn't be surprised if they moved for one of the top receivers in this class. The other "major" positions of need for the Patriots lie on defense, namely in the secondary and at linebacker. This offseason the Patriots lost Mr. Int himself, JC Jackson, in free agency, as he headed west to Los Angeles. Though the Patriots are kind of lacking in the corner back department, I don't think they'd reach for one here at 21. Maybe they could move for someone like Daxton Hill from Michigan, but unless it's him, I can't see them going to the secondary. So, with longtime linebacker D'onta Hightower a free agent, and him not looking like he's going to resign, I think Belichick would love to move for one of the top linebackers in this class. Though he's only really been brought up recently, a name linked pretty heavily to the Patriots organization has been former Georgia linebacker Quay Walker, which is who we're going to select here at pick 21. I think this goes without saying, but Walker comes in that similar mold to most other Georgia defenders, the dude is an absolute dawg. At 6'4" 245 lbs., Walker fits the Belichick mold for linebacker, as his size, versatility, and speed can cause real problems for opposing offenses. A natural inside linebacker, so in the league believe Walker's skillset could be used to get after the passer as well along the outside. Walker's long arms and quick feet allow him to shed past blockers and make plays, whether that's in the run or pass game. His size, again, allows him to match up extremely well against tight ends and his speed allows him to keep up with running backs out of the backfield or even some receivers in the slot. Like we said before, Walker's name has been rising up draft boards a hell of a lot recently, with some reports even saying that he won't make it past the Patriots here at 21, and it's clear to see why. Walker perfectly fits the mold for a Bill Belichick still linebacker and would be the perfect replacement for Hightower in the middle of their defense
IF NOT THEN - Daxton Hill, S/CB, Michigan or Zion Johnson, iOL, Boston College
22. Green Bay Packers (via Las Vegas) - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The Packers will certainly be one of the teams to watch during this upcoming draft. This all pretty much stems from the fact that the team has not drafted a wide receiver in the first round since they took Javon Walker 20th overall in 2002. Over the past couple drafts, it has seemed like all of cheese head nation has been clamoring for is another wide receiver for Aaron Rodgers, the two time reigning and defending NFL MVP. Though there were some solid cases made in previous years, I think this year, more than any, is the year they have to come away with a wide receiver in the first round. This offseason, not only did the Packers lose super star wide receiver Davante Adams, but they also lost speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling, both heading to the AFC West to Vegas and Kansas City respectively. Let's just call that not ideal. What is also not incredibly ideal is the current state of the Packers receiving core, that reads Allen Lazard, an aging Randall Cobb, second year receiver Amari Rodgers, and the often injured Sammy Watkins. Now, I can almost guarantee Sammy Watkins will have an insane week one, but after that, it'll be injury after injury. Though there is that fear that the Packers may actually not go with a wide receiver in the first round, I think there's no way they don't come away with someone here in the first round, whether that's here at 22 or later at pick 28. They have to get a wide receiver in the first round. Though they could definitely move for one at 28, I think with the Cardinals, Cowboys, Bills, and Titans all sitting behind them, team's that may not necessarily need wide receivers, but teams that could definitely take wide receivers. So, with this pick, Packers fans can celebrate, because I think they should move for Arkansas' version of Deebo Samuel, Treylon Burks. Now, I know I just said Burks was Arkansas' "version of Deebo Samuel," I'm speaking more from what he did for their offense. I'm not trying to say that he is as good as Deebo or will ever reach that level, but the dude literally did a little bit of everything for the Razorbacks last season. 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 Arizona 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, which could work perfectly with how often the Packers like to run the ball with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Burks would not only open up the passing game, but give the Packers stud blocker in the run game as well. Burks can outmuscle, out jump, and nearly out run every single defensive back in college, could that change it the pros? Possibly. But if Burks keeps getting better and keeps refining his craft, the Packers may have one of the best up and coming wide outs in the league.
IF NOT THEN - Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State or George Pickens, WR, Georgia
23. Arizona Cardinals - Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
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 and across the d-line and o-line. That being said, one need that I don't think gets talked about enough is their need for weapons on the outside. Yes, the do still have DeAndre Hopkins, who, on his day, is one of the best receivers in the NFL. Outside of Hopkins though, who battled injures all last season, the Cardinals receiving core isn't anything spectacular. For starters, they just lost slot receiver Christian Kirk to the Jaguars, which, for that kind of money, I would've let him go too. Second, AJ Green is also a free agent and turns 34 in July, so I think it may be smart for the Cardinals to get Kyler another weapon on the outside, especially now, given how pissed off Murray seemed this offseason, may want to calm that down and get him another toy. With Hopkins on one side and second year receiver Rondale Moore in the slot, adding someone like Jahan Dotson would be very fun to watch down in the desert. 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 past season, Dotson had just two drops to his name, and has never dropped a pass of 20+ yards down the field. 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. I wouldn't be too surprised if the Cardinals went in the direction of offensive line here, as Murray was fed to the wolves in the games they played against the Rams last season. That being said, given what we kind of know with this current regime, wide receiver is probably the more likely option. Dotson would give the Cardinals an excellent threat on the outside and would pair perfectly with DeAndre Hopkins.
IF NOT THEN - Zion Johnson, iOL, Boston College or Logan Hall, Dl, Houston
24. Dallas Cowboys - Tyler Smith, iOL/OT, Tulsa
When the Cowboys were the most dominant team in the early to mid '90s, winning three Super Bowls over the span of four years, what was one thing everyone knew them for? Yes, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin, the triplets as they were called, were the stars of the show, but the offensive line is what really made the Cowboys go. Players like Nate Newton, Nate Stepnoski, Mark Tuinei, Erik Williams, and the great Larry Allen were the men that kept the Cowboys moving. That tradition of a dominant offensive line even carried into the 2010s, with the Cowboys using premium picks on the likes of Tyler Frederick, Zack Martin, and Tyron Smith, all, at one point, the best in their respective positions. Now, they're getting older, with Frederick already retiring and Martin and Smith rarely able to stay healthy. If the Cowboys truly want to get back to the promise land, they've got to re-strengthen their offensive line, especially now given that both La'el Collins and Conor Williams left for Cincinnati and Miami in free agency this offseason, respectfully. I'm not saying they were the best, but they do have two pretty big holes to now fill along the offensive line. So, with potential needs at both guard and tackle, I think the Cowboys should look to take an athletic and versatile lineman here with their first round pick. To me, someone who'd fit that bill perfectly for the Cowboys is Tulsa tackle Tyler Smith. As of right now, Tyler Smith is no where near the finished product, but he is a great athlete at the tackle position and is one of the best run blockers in this entire draft. At 6'4" 324 lbs., Smith is a very powerful and physical lineman who is, again, dominant in the run game, but has some things to clean up in the passing game. His physicality sees him bully smaller defenders in the run game whereas his quick feet and power make him strong in the pass game, allowing him to keep defenders away from his body, in turn, keeping them off the quarterback. That being said, he needs to cut down on the penalties, getting flagged 16 times in 2021 alone, which of course, has some teams concerned. Like we stated before, Tyler Smith is an extremely raw prospect in regards to his technique, which can be a turn off for some, but a turn on for others. Though he's tough in both the run and pass game, Smith will need to reign in everything to become a true monster at the next level. If he does, his athleticism sees him becoming a top tackle, or even guard, at the next level. With the Cowboys having one of the better one-two punches at running back in the league in the form of Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard, adding Smith would help open even more gaps for the pair moving forward, given his run blocking prowess. I think Smith would be an excellent addition to the Cowboys, being able to fill in at either guard or tackle. Smith would help open up runs lanes for the aforementioned backs while also keeping Dak Prescott upright. I'm excited to see how Tyler Smith gets on in the next level.
IF NOT THEN - Zion Johnson, iOL, Boston College or Kenyon Green, iOL/OT, Texas A&M
25. Buffalo Bills - Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
If you are a Buffalo Bills fan, this offseason may have seemed like it was sent from the heavens. After losing in heart breaking fashion to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Playoffs, the Bills made sure that they would have the strongest roster going into next season. So far, they've added Pro Bowl guard and former Tennessee Titan Rodger Saffold on a one-year deal, brought back guard Ryan Bates, who almost signed with the Bears, and recently signed the Titans other starting guard, David Quessenberry, to re-strengthen the offensive line. They brought in Jameson Crowder to replace the aging Cole Beasley in the slot. They signed former Dolphin Duke Johnson, replacing the originally signed JD McKissic, who went back to Washington after signing with Buffalo. Then, on the same day, they brought in former first round pick OJ Howard, to tag team at tight end with Dawson Knox, and two time Super Bowl champ, one time Super Bowl MVP, and one of the greatest edge rushers of all time, Von Miller on a six-year deal. Even with all these signings, the main reason the Bills have a chance at winning the Super Bowl is because of who they have at quarterback, Josh Allen, who has cemented himself as a top two quarterback in the NFL, and he ain't two. Before all these signings were made, Bills general manager Brandon Beane made one thing clear, the main goal is to protect Josh Allen, so the signings of Rodger Saffold, Ryan Bates, and David Quessenberry were very good places to start. So, with the line seemingly "fixed," at least for now, another way to project Josh Allen is to give him a rushing attack, something the Bills haven't had since Josh has been the starter. The last time the Bills had a 1,000 yard rusher was back in 2017, when Shady McCoy rushed for 1,138 yards and six touchdowns. Recently, Bills head coach Sean McDermott said he wishes Josh wouldn't run as much, but when you have literally zero rushing attack, Josh's hand is forced, causing him to take a lot more hits than he probably should. So, after making those additions to the offensive line, I think the Bills could look in the direction of a running back with this pick, and to me, know one in this draft is as good as Iowa State's Breece Hall. One of the most consistent backs in all of college football, Hall posted back-to-back 1,400+ yard and 20+ touchdown seasons in his final two years at Iowa State, rushing for 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns his sophomore year and 1,472 yards and 20 touchdowns his junior year, and that was without playing in Iowa State's bowl game against Clemson. Though the rushing numbers are fantastic, one thing a lot of NFL teams are looking for in todays running backs is their ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, and Hall showed off his abilities this past season, setting new career highs in catches, yards, and touchdowns, catching 13 more passes from the season prior. I think before the combine, Hall had a somewhat outside shot at getting selected in the first round, but after seeing a guy as big as he is 6'1" 220 lbs., run a 4.39 40 with a 40" vertical, teams have to be thinking of the possibilities with Hall in their offense. For a team like the Bills who, outside of Josh Allen, have no semblance of a running game, Hall would be a perfect fit. His combination of tough running and broken tackles mixed with his newly refined pass catching ability makes him almost perfect for the Bills offense. I know a lot of people out there say you shouldn't draft a running back in the first round, but I think Hall could be special if put in the right situation. Right now, to slow down the Bills, all you need to do is get to Josh Allen, which is easier said than done but they need to establish some sort of running game if they want to get to where they want to be. Breece Hall gives the Bills a legit threat in the run game, as well as the pass game, while also, most importantly, taking hits off of Josh Allen.
IF NOT THEN - Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington or Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
26. Tennessee Titans - Zion Johnson, iOL, Boston College
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 the recently acquired Robert Woods, who's coming off his own injury, 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. Then again, they did add Austin Hooper, so maybe not as big of a need as originally thought. If not any of those positions, the Titans should look to restrengthen their interior offensive line. Though they did manage to bring back center Ben Jones, they did lose both starting guards in free agency this offseason, with Rodger Saffold and David Quessenberry making their way up to Buffalo. So, in order to fill at least one of the holes left by the recently departed guards, the Titans should probably look to select on of the top ones, or at least someone versatile enough to play those positions, here with this pick. If we're talking about athletic tackles, who could also move inside to guard if necessary, look no further 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. With the Titans run first approach, Johnson would be an excellent replacement for Saffold and Quessenberry as he may be the best pure run blocker in this class. Though I don't like the Titans, I'll be cheering for Johnson to be a success at the next level.
IF NOT THEN - Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa or Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
Welcome one and all to the Todd Bowles era in Tampa! Though we're going to get a new philosophy with Bowles in as head coach, as he's a defensive minded guy, as opposed to Arians' offensive approach, I don't think a whole lot will change in regards to expectations for the team. With the NFC South easily being the worst division in football, the Bucs should have no real issues retaining their 2021 title. And with the NFC, as a whole, becoming a little weaker, with Russell Wilson, Davante Adams, Khalil Mack, among others, moving to the AFC, the Bucs are essentially in a two to three horse race for the top of the mountain in the NFC. That being said, though the Bucs should still be at the top of the NFC, there are some holes on their roster, most notably along the offensive line (mainly guard) and the defensive line. Starting with the offensive line, though the Bucs did manage to trade for former Patriot guard Shaq Mason, that only fills in one of the guard spots, as Ali Marpet retried after just six seasons in the NFL. But, with the top two guards already off the board, with Johnson going to New England and Green going to Dallas, attention should be turned to either the defensive line or in the secondary. Look, I know they're in talks to bring back Ndamukong Suh, and I know he turned 35 in January, but this past season the Bucs secondary was riddled with injuries. They also lost starting safety Jordan Whitehead to the Jets in free agency. I know they brought Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal in this offseason, but Ryan turned 31 in February and Neal was more of a rotational piece down in Dallas. With Todd Bowles being a former safety himself, and a secondary coach before becoming a defensive coordinator, I don't think he'd have any problem adding more to their secondary. A secondary that, again, battled a ton of injuries throughout all of last season. With all that being said, I think Georgia's Lewis Cine could be exactly what Todd Bowles is looking for in a safety. At 6'2" 199 lbs., Cine is a heat seeking missile that'll blow you up if you're not careful. His speed and pursuit make him a very dangerous weapon on the back end of any defense. The thing is though, Cine has played the most snaps, out of the top safeties in the draft, as a deep lying safety, making 1,008 appearances in center field for the Bulldogs as they won the National Championship. Speaking of the National Championship win over Alabama, Cine absolutely dominated. Registering seven tackles (six solo), one and a half tackles for loss, and one pass defended. With that performance, Cine was awarded the Defensive MVP award. This offseason, Cine has crushed everything in front of him, much like he does on the field. A seemingly quiet and reserved person, Cine has reportedly dominated the interviews and put on shows at the combine posting a 4.37 in the 40 and a 11'1" broad jump, which was the best out of the safeties. Like we said before, with the injuries they had in the secondary last season, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Bucs took a run at Lewis Cine, especially since Todd Bowles is a former safety himself. Cine would bring a nastiness to the Bucs defense and give them some more depth to their secondary. I really like this pick for Tampa Bay.
IF NOT THEN - Logan Hall, DL, Houston or Kenyon Green, iOL/OT, Texas A&M
28. Green Bay Packers - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The Green Bay Packers should have one thing on their mind coming into this draft, not pissing off Aaron Rodgers. Look, I know Rodgers is somewhat of an acquired taste these days, but the fact of the matter is that he's the reigning two time MVP, who went from wanting out of Green Bay as soon as possible to signing a new three-year contract with the team. Now, I don't know if he was privy to the situation regarding Davante Adams before hand, but I can imagine, regardless, he wasn't too happy with his partner in crime getting traded to Las Vegas, after refusing the franchise tag. With Adams gone, like we said with the Olave pick, the Packers are finally going to have to use a first round pick on a wide receiver, if not for anything but to appease Aaron Rodgers. Now, do I think they could double down on wide receivers in the first round? Not likely, but it is possible, I guess. Like, the Packers go however many years without drafting a wide receiver in the first round and then take two in the same draft? Again, I guess it could happen, but I don't think it's very likely. So, instead of drafting someone like Jahan George Pickens or Christian Watson with this pick, I think I'm going to address the defensive side of the things for the Packers. Though they don't really have any massive needs on defense, since 2012, the Packers have drafted a player on the defensive side in the first round in every draft apart from one, I think you can guess which draft that was. With that being said, I think the Packers will move for a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball at some point in the first round, whether that's here at 28 or earlier at 22. Like we said though, there isn't really any glaring needs on their defense, but they could do with strengthening their linebacker position. With Joe Berry as the defensive coordinator, top linebacker play is crucially important to the success of their defense. So, given some concerns surrounding his knee, Utah's Devin Lloyd has fallen right into the Packers lap here at 28. 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. Like I said before, he comes in a similar mold to that of Micah Parsons, and certainly think Berry would love to have a Micah Parsons esq. player on his defense. Pairing Lloyd up with De'Vondre Campbell would be very fun to see for the Packers. If Lloyd does in fact slide due to health concerns, he should stop here at 28.
IF NOT THEN - Logan Hall, DL, Houston or Daxton Hill, S/CB, Michigan
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Miami) - Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
I'm going to say something pretty crazy here, so I hope you're ready for it. The Kansas City Chiefs are still a very good team, even after trading the cheetah, Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins. Yes, I know, in this economy? I just think people are starting to underrate the Chiefs a little bit, and most of that isn't even because of stuff they're doing, but rather what their division, and the AFC in general is doing. Like, in the AFC West alone, we have seen Russell Wilson, Davante Adams, Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack, and JC Jackson all come into the division. Who have the Chiefs signed in retaliation to all these moves? JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Ok, I'll admit, they're not necessarily the signings that'll move the needle in Kansas City but c'mon, this is a team that has hosted the AFC Championship game four straight years, and I've seen recent power ranking having them as low as 12th, which is kind weird to me. The Chiefs are already going to be pissed off coming into the season given how the last one ended, I don't want people to give them any more. As long as they have Patrick Mahomes at the helm, they'll be in contention for the Super Bowl, regardless of how everyone else is around them. Now, I'm not saying the Chiefs aren't without their holes, especially on the defensive side of things, but let's not get crazy here. Two areas of concern for me are edge rusher and the safety position. Starting with the latter, both starting safeties from a season ago, Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorenson, are either still free agents or signed with another team, as Sorenson has signed with the Saints this offseason. Though the loss of Sorenson doesn't really matter, losing Mathieu could be big for the Chiefs. Now, the team did go out and pick up former Texan Justin Reid, which fills one spot in the secondary, but there's still that opening on the other side. With Reid more than likely going to line up as the teams new free safety, the Chiefs should be looking for a strong safety with this pick and to me, it's a little too early to look at someone like Lewis Cine or Jaquan Brisker. So, instead of safety, I'm going to look to sure up the defensive line. Before the season started last year, the Chiefs tried to kick All Pro d-tackle Chris Jones out to d-end, which unsurprisingly, didn't really work, as he's not a d-end. But after the team traded for Melvin Ingram from Pittsburgh, the defense started turning a new leaf. With the Chiefs in a division with decently mobile quarterbacks, I think it'd be smart to try and replace Ingram with one of their first round picks, as again, he was pretty instrumental in the Chiefs defensive turnaround midway through the season. To me, out of all the healthy edge rushers available, none seem like more Chiefs picks than Minnesota's Boye Mafe. Though he's a little bigger, Mafe possesses that same quickness coming off the edge that Ingram has, which makes him a scary threat for opposing quarterbacks. 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. 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. 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. If the Chiefs want to keep improving their defense, they've got to retool their pass rush. Last season the Chiefs ranked fourth from the bottom in total sacks last season, with just 31. Adding someone like Mafe would instantly help improve their pass rush, keeping them right near the top of the AFC.
IF NOT THEN - Lewis Cine, S, Georgia or George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
30. Kansas City Chiefs - George Pickens, WR, Georgia
In one of the strangest moves in recent league history, the Kansas City Chiefs traded star wide receiver, Tyreek Hill, for a shite ton of picks, including the pick before, pick 29. Like seriously, it felt like it was reported the Chiefs were going to allow Hill to seek a trade after being unable to restructure his contract and then bam! He's traded to Miami. I think the whole thing took like five minutes or something, at least that's what it felt like. Now, even though the Chiefs brought in former Steelers JuJu Smith-Schuster and former Packer Marquez Valdes-Scantling, they should still look to add a wide receiver with one of their first round picks. Especially since, even with Hill, the Chiefs wide receiver core really wasn't anything that special. Outside of Hill and tight end Travis Kelce, the options weren't that great. Nothing against Smith-Schuster and Valdes-Scantling, but they themselves are not enough to fill the hole left by Tyreek Hill, which is why I think the Chiefs should go after someone like Georgia's George Pickens here at pick 30. Like we said before with Jameson Williams, if it weren't for a knee injury, Pickens may be considered one of the top receivers in this draft class. At 6'3" 195 lbs., Pickens possesses a lot of length and power at the position while also being able to track the deep ball extremely well, just watch his catch in the National Championship against Alabama. Now, he may not have the same speed as someone like Jameson Williams, but he still does possess really good speed while also possessing great body control, which sees him able to make some ridiculous catches, which are always fun to see. What's also pretty fun to watch is that Pickens has a real mean streak to him. He won't take getting pushed around by defensive backs and will make it very well known how he feels about you a few seconds after the play is over, whether that be flexing in your face or just straight up punching you. Pickens, like most players from Georgia, has a really nice dawg mentality about him that the Chiefs don't currently have in their wide receiver room. Like we said before, if Pickens wasn't coming off a knee injury he may be one of the first receivers off the board, but because of his said knee injury, his production was really lacking, as he's totaled only 1,347 yards over a three year collegiate career, with his career high being 727 yard during his freshman year. People may be afraid to draft Pickens because of his injuries and mean streak, but if anyone was not going to be scared off by that, it'd be the Chiefs and Andy Reid. Pickens would give Mahomes a really nice number one option and, if he bounces back to full strength, could very well be the best receiver in this class. Who knows?
IF NOT THEN - Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State or Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
31. Cincinnati Bengals - Logan Hall, DL, Houston
This offseason the mission was clear, protect Joe Burrow at all costs. Though they didn't pull in any super stars along the offensive line, or bring in Laremy Tunsil from Houston, they did manage to bring in some solid pieces to maybe solidify the offensive line. Players like La'el Collins, Alex Cappa, and Ted Karras are all pretty established starters in the league and should fill in nicely at tackle, guard, and center respectfully. Though the other guard spot is a bit of a question mark for the Bengals, I think Cincinnati wants to address the defensive side of the ball with their first round selection this year. If you look at the Bengals roster, of the defensive side of things, there are two possible areas of concern, those are at corner and along the defensive line. Though the Bengals corner are very fun and easy to make fun of, from everything I've seen, it looks like they're going to address the defensive line with this pick. Though nothing is officially official yet, it seems the Bengals are going to let d-tackle Larry Ogunjobi go in free agency, even though he failed his medical resulting in him not signing for the Chicago Bears. To fill the hole left by Ogunjobi, I think the Bengals could look to someone like Houston's Logan Hall here with their first round pick. This past season for Houston, while in their 4-2-5 defense, Hall registered 47 total tackles (24 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks, with almost all of his production starting from the inside. His length and quick first step make him somewhat of a match-up nightmare for opposing offensive lines. Not to mention his heavy hands and flexibility make him an even tougher match-up when adding that to his natural size and athleticism. In a conference with a bunch of athletic quarterbacks, adding more pass rushers would be a very wise thing to do for the Bengals. They shocked everyone by not only winning the division, but going to the Super Bowl last season, so there will be people out there that expect them to come crashing back down to reality in an absolutely loaded AFC. If the Bengals want to remain on top though, they have to re-strengthen some areas, and defensive line is one of them. Adding Logan Hall to a defensive line that already has Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard would be a good piece of business for the Bengals. Whether you want to play him on the inside or the outside, Hall will make his presence known for Cincinnati.
IF NOT THEN - Tyler Linderbaum, iOL, Iowa or Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
32. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles) - Daxton Hill, S/CB, Michigan
The final pick in the first round, and the final team with multiple first round draft picks. Now, I could be wrong here, but this has to be a record, there are five teams, currently, in the first round that have multiple first round draft picks. I could look that up, but it doesn't really matter to me, but it has to be a record, or at least close to it, right? Well, with the Lions, they were the first team that picked out of the five teams with multiple first round picks, and now they are the last, with Detroit somehow managing to get Aidan Hutchinson with their first pick. Now, with their second pick, the Lions could go a few different directions. Starting with the obvious one, quarterback. There is a whole lot of smoke surrounding the Lions and Liberty quarterback Malik Willis, and rightfully so. Like we said before, if you've listened to the Logan Blackman Show long enough, you know how I feel about Malik Willis. Though he can be a little out of control at times, his potential is through the roof, with his athleticism and arm strength topping every other quarterback in this draft. Though I think there's a solid chance he does in fact go second overall, the emergence of Hutchinson at number two changes the Lions draft strategy, just a little bit, as I feel those are the top two guys on their board. For here though, I think another quarterback they coached in the Senior Bowl, Sam Howell, and Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral are the top two options here, but I still think they'll go somewhere else. The second option for the Lions is at wide receiver. Last offseason the Lions lost Kenny Golladay to the Giants and Marvin Jones to the Jaguars, not really replacing either of them, at face value. To me, Amon-Ra St. Brown was one of the steals of the draft, getting taken with the 112th pick. St. Brown had a very nice season last time out, leading the Lions in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. To partner him, the Lions went out and signed DJ Chark from Jacksonville, who, when healthy, is a very nice receiver in the NFL. So, though they could go after a quarterback or receiver here, I think they'll stick on the defensive side of things with this pick. Since they got one stud from the state of Michigan already, why not dip your hand back into the proverbial Michigan cookie jar and take safety/corner hybrid Daxton Hill here with the last pick in the first round? 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 Lions pass defense and would provide an upgrade at free safety. Wherever you play Daxton Hill, he's going to make plays. For a Lions team that ranked in the bottom half in passing defense last season, adding Hill would be an excellent step in improving their defense. If the Lions somehow could come away with two Michigan guys, I would imagine they'd be very happy.
IF NOT THEN - Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati or Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
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