A shake up inside the top 10!

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson EDGE Michigan

Well the last two mocks I had had Evan Neal in this spot. However the Jags have franchise tagged Cam Robinson, still have Jawaan Taylor though he’s struggled at times, and they still have Walker Little the 2021 2nd round pick. So I feel the pendulum swinging back to Hutchinson. Probably the safest pick in the draft and will bring leadership and work ethic to a pathetic defense.

  1. Detroit Lions: Travon Walker EDGE Georgia

While I could still see them taking Malik Willis and swinging for the fences I think it makes more sense for them to roll with Jared Goff for another season while they find their long term solution. No one has risen faster or more furious than Walker. He’s got everything you look for in an EDGE. 6’5 272 and ran a 4.5 40. Absolutely nuts. Lions continue to improve their trenches and get what could be a star in Walker.

  1. Houston Texans: Evan Neal OT Alabama

Houston has so many holes to fill. So they start at one of the most important positions…LT. Evan Neal is a house and will completely protect Davis Mills blindside. Mills showed some promise in his rookie season and it sure looks like they want to build around him. Giving him time to throw will help him grow.

  1. New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr CB LSU

BOOM. Things get a little interesting here at #4. The Jets secondary is very weak. They need a shutdown corner in the worst way. One of the concerns with Stingley has been his lisfranc injury. Those concerns were put to rest when he ran a 4.44 40 at his LSU Pro Day. After his freshman year he was a lock as a top 3 pick but had a bad sophomore season during COVID. The Jets believe they’re getting the freshman version of DSJ and they take him at #4.

  1. New York Football Giants: Ickey Ekwonu OT NC State

Daniel Jones has one last chance at being the answer for the Giants. Gotta give him some time to operate. There are a lot of people who have Ekwonu as their #1 OL and even #1 overall player in this draft. He gives the Giants some OL flexibility as he has experience at both tackles and can even kick inside at G if there was a need. However they select him at #5 to be a RT opposite of 2020 1st round pick Andrew Thomas.

  1. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett QB Pittsburgh

I don’t believe Matt Rhule and company will make it through the season with Sam Darnold. The pressure is on for Rhule to find a QB that will help them win games. Though Malik Willis is the more talented QB he’s still probably 2 years away from being a starter. Rhule can’t wait. Pickett is developed enough where he can start right away. It’s a panic pick.

  1. New York Football Giants: Jermaine Johnson EDGE FSU

Giants get one of my favorite players in this draft. They need another edge rusher opposite of last years 2nd round pick Azeez Ojulari and they get it in Johnson. Long, athletic, and vicious. High motor and just doesn’t stop. Absolutely dominated ACC OLs in his single season at Florida St and has shot up draft boards.

TRADE ALERT!: Pittsburgh Steelers have traded #20, #84, 2023 1st rd pick, and 2023 4th rd pick

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malik Willis QB Liberty

It’s been no secret that Mike Tomlin has been intrigued by Malik Willis. The Steelers aren’t obviously sold on Mitchell Trubisky for more than this season so they pay up and get the QB that has the highest ceiling. Willis just oozes potential and the Steelers are just banking on being able to tap into that potential. There are few better landing spots for a rookie QB than going to a great franchise like the Pittsburgh Steelers.

  1. Seattle Seahawks: Sauce Gardner CB Cincinnati 

Well, the pick would’ve been Malik Willis here had the Steelers not moved heaven and earth to move ahead of the Seahawks and Commies to snag him. Seattle can’t be too upset, Sauce has shut down just about every WR he’s ever lined up against. Gardner is a huge CB that can run with anyone. Set him on a side of the field and he’ll shut it down. Easy pick. 

  1. New York Jay’s Jets: Jameson Williams WR Alabama

Before tearing his ACL in the Nation Championship game vs Georgia, Williams was looked at as a surefire top 10 pick and WR1. His stock fell into the back half of the draft. But as the draft gets closer and closer his stock is starting to even out. ACL’s are not the career killer they used to be and the Jets bet on him being the best WR of the class and a great weapon for Zach Wilson.

  1. Washington Commies:Kayvon Thibodeaux EDGE Oregon

Thibodeaux was once thought of as a sure thing top 3 pick, he may still be a top 3 pick, but there have been some question marks about his passion for winning games. His comments about going to Oregon to build a brand rather than Alabama and winning championships have been blown up recently. However the talent is there to take the risk. Washington’s DL could be one of the most talented of all time.

  1. Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Hamilton S Notre Dame

Kyle Hamilton is one of my favorite players. He ran a 4.57 at the NFL Combine and then followed it up with a 4.75 at his pro day. He doesn’t look slow on tape but teams could be scared by those numbers. Minnesota gets another Golden Domer to be the eventual replacement for future HOF and ROH Harrison Smith.

  1. Houston Texans: Jordan Davis DT Georgia

With the 3rd pick Houston selected one of the biggest offensive lineman in the draft and now with pick 13 they select the biggest defensive lineman. Houston has alot of holes and could go in any direction, but they choose to address the run defense considering they play Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor 4 times a year. Davis singlehandedly clogs up the middle and should help slow down opponents rushing attacks.

TRADE ALERT!: Los Angeles Chargers have traded #17 and #79 to the Baltimore Ravens for #14

  1. Los Angeles Chargers: Charles Cross OT Miss St

The Chargers continue to improve their OL and keep Justin Herbert upright so he can keep up with the other offenses in the AFC West. Put Cross on the other side of last years slam dunk pick Rashawn Slater and all of a sudden their OL is starting to look like a strength.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles: Drake London WR USC

For the 3rd year in a row (who are they the Lions?) the Eagles select a WR in the 1st round. After appearing to whiff on the Jalen Reagor pick (did you know they passed on Justin Jefferson?) in 2020, Philly made a good pick in Devonta Smith in last years draft. However they still need receiving weapons for Jalen Hurts. London gives Hurts a different style of receiver and a big red zone target.

  1. New Orleans Saints: Garrett Wilson WR Ohio St

The board falls perfectly for the ain’ts. New Orleans lacks offensive firepower. There are major question marks and concerns about their two top offensive players in Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. Garrett Wilson is a great route runner and has elite speed. Reminds me of Justin Jefferson. Unfortunately he’ll suck with the aints.

  1. Baltimore Ravens: Trevor Penning OT Northern Iowa

Baltimore has always had this reputation for being a mean, nasty, and tough team. Penning fits just that. He’s a huge body and plays at 100%. He’s a grinder and finishes his blocks. So much that his coaches at the Senior Bowl told him to cool down a little. He’s a little unproven given the competition he faced at UNI but the Ravens are happy to trade down, collect a pick, and still get a player at a premium position.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles: George Karlaftis EDGE Purdue

Philly’s DL is starting to age. Long time veterans Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox are 34 and 32 respectively and their best days are behind them. They need to start bringing in the next generation. Insert the Greek Freek. Karlaftis is a power pass rusher with a high motor. Will quickly be a fan favorite due to his never ending play.

  1. New Orleans Saints: Matt Corral QB Ole Miss

I’m starting to like Matt Corral more and more as this process continues. He’s got good zip on his throws and is a very good athlete. Really put Ole Miss on his shoulders. The only concern is his size and style of play. Can he hold up? New Orleans isn’t set on Jameis Winston as the future QB so they roll the dice with Corral.

  1. Atlanta Falcons: Devonte Wyatt DT Georgia

The other Georgia DT. Wyatt might end up being the better of the two between him and Jordan Davis. He’s not quite as big obviously but he’s just as athletic and he can play all three downs. Wyatt plays with really good quickness, a high motor, and good strength as well. Atlanta has so many needs but they decide to improve on the defensive line. 

  1. New England Patriots: Kaiir Elam CB Florida

It’s never easy trying to figure out what the Patriots will do in the draft. They kind of do their own thing. But conventional wisdom would be a CB here. They lost JC Jackson to FA, Malcolm Butler is 32, and the rest of the CB room isn’t much to be afraid of. On top of all this the AFC East is loading up with WR talent. Stefon Diggs was traded to Buffalo in 2020, Tyreek Hill was traded to Miami this off season, and in this draft the Jets selected Jameson Williams. New England needs bodies in the defensive backfield. Elam has that rare combination of size (6’2) and speed (4.39). 

  1. Green Bay Packers: Chris Olave WR Ohio St

It’s been 20 years since the Packers selected a WR in the first round and that will finally end here at pick 22. Green Bay gets a clean route runner and big play threat in Chris Olave. Rodgers FINALLY gets a WR in the 1st round.

  1. Arizona Cardinals: Trent McDuffie CB Washington

After looking like a Super Bowl contender early on last season, Arizona has a lot of needs all of a sudden. They could go WR, DE, or CB in this spot. They decide on the best cover corner left on the board. The Cardinals face Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Allen Robinson, Cooper Kupp, and Deebo Samuel each twice a year. They need tough, hard nosed CBs to handle those names. McDuffie is as tough as they come.

  1. Dallas Cowboys: Kenyon Green iOL Texas A&M

The Dallas Cowboys OL is not what it used to be. It’s aging. They need help at RT and LG. Kenyon Green can play either. Plug him in and he’ll be a starter at one of the two spots on day one!

  1. Buffalo Bills: Andrew Booth Jr CB Clemson 

As we discussed earlier the AFC East is getting scary good at the WR position. The Bills have plenty of pass rushers, solid LB core, and possibly the best offense in the league. The only other place to improve would be the backend of the defense. Booth’s stock is falling due to an injury, but that shouldn’t scare Buffalo from selecting him. He’s probably the best tackling CB in the league and a pretty good cover corner as well.

  1. Tennessee Titans: Devin Lloyd LB Utah

Tennessee has two glaring needs. WR and LB. They can address the WR position later but they won’t find another LB like Devin Lloyd later. Lloyd is a ball hawk. All he does is make plays. Sacks, fumbles, or picks…he does everything. He’ll be the leader on that defense right away. Great value at 26.

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zion Johnson iOL Boston College

Well, Brady is back for another season after taking a couple months off. If they’re gonna roll it back with Brady the most important thing is to keep him upright. They’ve got a need at LG and Zion fills that need.

  1. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Linderbaum C Who Hates Iowa?

Will there be an easier player to hate than a Hawkeye drafted by the Packers? The only thing more pathetic than Green Bays WR is their iOL. Linderbaum can slide in at C right away over last years 2nd round pick Josh Myers. Linderbaum is widely looked at as the best center prospect in years. But quite frankly I hope he’s worse than Bradbury.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs: Travis Jones DT UCONN

So far this offseason the Chiefs have two of their biggest names. Tyreek Hill and Tyrann Mathieu. While it would be a popular move to replace one of them with this pick the defensive line just has too many holes. Travis Jones is a favorite among scouts lately. He’s climbed from maybe being a 3rd round pick to possibly a 1st.

TRADE ALERT!: Seattle trades #40, #109, and #153 to Kansas City for #30

  1. Seattle Seahawks: Desmond Ridder QB Cincinnati 

Seattle missed out on Malik Willis earlier but they move back up into the 1st round to select Desmond Ridder. Ridder has great leadership abilities, a great athlete (4.52), and a good arm. Only issue is his accuracy. Can sit behind Drew Lock until he’s ready.

TRADE ALERT!: Chicago sends #39 and #71 to Cincinnati for #31 and #95

  1. Chicago Bears: Treylon Burks WR Arkansas

Chicago desperately needs receiver help. All Justin Fields has is Darnell Mooney. Chicago trades up and selects the physical, big play receiver in Burks. 

  1. Detroit Lions: David Ojabo EDGE Michigan

Many think that the Lions might take a QB in this pick but instead double down on EDGE and get David Ojabo. Ojabo was a consensus top 15 pick before injuring his achilles during his pro day. By selecting Ojabo in the 1st it gives the Lions a 5th year option on his contract. This essentially gives him a redshirt season. A pass rushing duo of Travon Walker and a healthy Ojabo is well worth the risk.