1. Jacksonville Jaguars – EDGE – Aiden Hutchinson, Michigan
The Jaguars have voiced how much they love Hutchinson. Lucky for them, there is really no way they can go wrong with the top five prospects. It is sort of a “pick your poison” type of pick for them.
2. Detroit Lions – EDGE – Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
The Lions are getting a new, gritty face lift under head coach Dan Campbell. Thibodeaux embodies a non-stop motor and a physical presence in the trenches. He is just the kind of guy that Detroit can build around.
3. Houston Texans – OL – Evan Neal, Alabama
An absolute house of a human being, Evan Neal can be the foundation (literally) for the future of the Houston offense. Whether the Deshaun Watson situation resolves itself or Davis Mills is the future starter, Neal will help to keep them clean.
4. New York Jets – S – Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
This is simply a matter of the best guy left on the board being selected. Hamilton will make an immediate impact for the New York defense and will bring the Jamal Adams trade full circle.
5. New York Giants – OL – Ikem Ekwonu, NC State
I absolutely love this pick for the Giants. They are getting what might be the most athletic pound-for-pound player in the whole draft and are filling a massive team need while doing so. Perhaps getting a big time tackle like Ekwonu will be enough to make the Giants pull the trigger on a blockbuster QB trade.
6. Carolina Panthers – OL – Charles Cross, Mississippi State
Fortunately for the Panthers, they are getting a top three tackle. Unfortunately for the Panthers, there are two other teams getting the top two tackles ahead of them! I could also see the Panthers taking QB Kenny Pickett here too.
7. New York Giants (via CHI) – EDGE – George Karlaftis, Purdue
The Giants have always shown a hesitancy to draft heavily at one position. While it may seem like the obvious pick to just load up on offensive linemen, I expect the Giants to diversify and select the huge Karlaftis who can be a defensive difference maker.
8. Atlanta Falcons – WR – Jameson Williams, Alabama
I will not hear any arguments other than Jameson Williams being the best wide receiver in this class. I understand that the torn ACL will scare some teams away, but for the Falcons who are in a semi-rebuild, Williams is a steal of an asset that will pay off in the long run.
9. Denver Broncos – CB – Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
Sauce Gardner is that dude. Pairing him with Pat Surtain II? Yes please.
10. New York Jets (via SEA) – WR – Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
The Jets need some help on offense. Garrett Wilson will almost certainly provide Zach Wilson with a viable target that can get open at every level of the field. It is also just now hitting me that this will mean Wilson to Wilson touchdowns for the next 4 years. Sign me up.
11. Washington Commanders – QB – Malik Willis, Liberty
Malik Willis’ draft stock has been on the rise ever since the Senior Bowl. He has that Lamar Jackson-like swagger that you like to see in a quarterback as well as a chip on his shoulder after hearing about how he “won’t ever succeed at the next level.”
12. Minnesota Vikings – CB – Derek Stingley, Jr., LSU
Derek Stingley, Jr. is actually one of the better prospects in this draft class. He only drops to 12th overall because there is not much need at the cornerback position for the teams ahead of Minnesota.
13. Cleveland Browns – WR – Chris Olave, Ohio State
Many people thought that Chris Olave would leave after the 2020 season. Instead, he returned and put up even more impressive numbers. One of the best deep-ball threats in recent memory, the hometown Browns will love to pair Olave with Jarvis Landry.
14. Baltimore Ravens – C – Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
This is pretty simple, Tyler Linderbaum will be a rock-solid line piece to help protect Lamar Jackson, the future of the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens will be taking a page out of the Chiefs book a-la Creed Humphrey.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) – WR – Treylon Burks, Arkansas
It was obviously apparent that the Philadelphia Eagles needed more weapons in their receiving corps. Jalen Hurts tried his best, but did not have the tools to get the job done. Burks is a physical freak who will immediately make his presence known.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via IND) – EDGE – David Ojabo, Michigan
With Derek Barnett slated to become a free agency this offseason, Ojabo will provide a nice replacement. Ojabo is a raw talent, but can certainly find himself pass rushing next to the disruptive Fletcher Cox.
17. Los Angeles Chargers – OL – Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
Trevor Penning had perhaps THE highlight of Senior Bowl week when he tossed a pass rushing defender to the side with ease. Penning will join last year’s first-round pick Rashawn Slater in the duty of keeping Herbert clean.
18. New Orleans Saints – QB – Matt Corral, Ole Miss
The Saints are most likely going to enter a rebuilding phase after losing their coach, seeing their star running back face a potentially lengthy suspension, and losing their best quarterback option to free agency. Matt Corral showed flashes of brilliance this season and will provide the necessary swagger to play in New Orleans.
19. Philadelphia Eagles – LB – Devin Lloyd, Utah
The Eagles could be looking to make up for missing out on Micah Parsons in 2021. Lloyd profiles as a similar-style linebacker with the versatility to fill several different roles.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – QB – Kenny Pickett, Pitt
I’ll admit it, this is my pipe dream pick. But, I do think that everything lines up for Pickett to be a home run for the Steelers. Also, what’s not to love about a hometown hero? Pickett provides the arm and IQ to immediately put Pittsburgh back into the AFC North title conversation.
21. New England Patriots – CB – Andrew Booth, Jr., Clemson
J.C. Jackson already feels disrespected at the lack of effort on New England’s end to get a contract done. New England may lose their guy, so Booth Jr. could step in as the perfect replacement piece.
22. Las Vegas Raiders – DT – Jordan Davis, Georgia
I am so fascinated with Jordan Davis. It feels like it should not be legal for someone as big as he is to move as fast as he does. Not to mention he can plug up the middle of the line by himself, leaving plenty of room for the Raiders to stunt Maxx Williams and Ngakoue on the outside.
23. Arizona Cardinals – CB – Trent McDuffie, Washington
Arizona has already had success with Washington defensive backs in Budda Baker and Byron Murphy. Why not add another one into the mix and go for the old Husky trifecta?
24. Dallas Cowboys – EDGE – Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
Jermaine Johnson has freakish athleticism and can pull opposing offensive tackles away from the line of scrimmage leaving plenty of room for Parsons and Vander Esch to blitz up the middle. I see the Dallas defense getting immediately better with this addition.
25. Buffalo Bills – DE – Travon Walker, Georgia
Travon Walker provides something that not many other players do. He has the perfect combination of size and speed to play both defensive tackle and defensive end… something that is sure to make defensive-minded head coach Sean McDermott and DC Leslie Frazier drool.
26. Tennessee Titans – WR – Jahan Dotson, Penn State
The Titans tried the experiment with two huge wide receivers and it just hasn’t worked out to this point. First Corey Davis and AJ Brown, now Julio Jones and AJ Brown. Dotson could provide that underneath threat to create a true thunder and lightning combo alongside AJ Brown.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – QB – Sam Howell, North Carolina
Man this pick could go a million ways. As it stands right now though, there is no one behind center for the Buccaneers after Tom Brady’s retirement. They will need to fill the position and at pick 27, Sam Howell seems like the best option to do so.
28. Green Bay Packers – OL – Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State
One way that the Packers can sweeten the deal for Aaron Rodgers to make a return is by adding more protection on the offensive line. Petit-Frere is versatile nad has well-rounded attributes.
29. Miami Dolphins (via SF) – WR – Drake London, USC
The Dolphins could really use some protection for Tua, and if the right guy slides, they no doubt will draft some. However, as I have it mocked out currently, there are no tackles remaining that I give a first round grade to. London, however, is a huge wide receiver with a massive catch radius that would immediately help Tua, especially pushing the ball downfield. The Dolphins could take a page out of the Bengals book with this pick and simply shoot for having too much talent to fail.
30. Kansas City Chiefs – S – Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
There are few things that infuriate me as much as watching Daniel Sorenson play. Jaquan Brisker is a hard-hitting safety that would pair extremely well with Tyrann Mathieu and would (hopefully) replace Sorenson.
31. Cincinnati Bengals – OL – Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
As mentioned above, the Bengals went with the no-line-uber-skill-talent theory this season and it almost got them to the promised land. Ironically, the lack of line was also their major downfall. If Green is still available at this pick it is a no-brainer for Cincy.
32. Detroit Lions (via LAR) – LB – Nakobe Dean, Georgia
Nakobe Dean would immediately make an impact for the Detroit Lions. If the Lions could manage to land Thibodeaux and Dean in the same draft… all I can say is watch out opposing quarterbacks! Dean is a natural leader on the field and could be one of the next great linebackers in the league.
