The Final Mock Draft
We’ve almost made it to the draft. After months of speculation with everything heightening up the past couple weeks, we are in the final days before the 2022 NFL draft. With that, comes one final mock draft. In this mock, I’ll be discussing the picks I would make for each team as well as notes on what I think the team will actually do and whether I think a trade may occur. Note that I am not an NFL scout by any means. The opinions stated here are formed as a result of me being a draft obsessive where I’ve read, watched and listened to countless opinions over the course of the past couple months (including having memorised the entire draft position board). With that said, let’s dive into it.
Pick 1: Jacksonville Jaguars
Who they should pick: Aiden Hutchinson
This is a pretty simple one. I don’t buy into the recent Travon Walker hype as while he has shot up in sportsbook odds to be the first overall pick, the lack of production leads me to believe this is just lying season chatter. Hutch is the simple choice to make here and it is the correct one. He isn’t a perfect pass rushing prospect. In 2020 he was hurt and only played 3 games and his final game against Georgia this season was far from impressive. He’s reliant on inside rushes and has TRex arms, leading to some worry about his ability to win outside. Despite this, he put fantastic numbers this past season, has an extremely high motor and has all the intangibles you’d want from a first overall pick. It’s not a home run pick for the Jags by any means. They need Oline help, they still aren’t totally set at WR or DB, edge isn’t their biggest position of need. Despite this, it’s the safest pick to make given the question marks surrounding other prospects and it’s the choice that’s least likely to backfire on a new regime. Not an inspired choice, but the right one.
Pick 2: Detroit Lions
Who they should pick: Kayvon Thibodeaux
Whereas the first pick was a simple choice, this is a far more complicated and unclear choice. On paper, Kayvon is the second best prospect in this draft, He has 3 years of high level production with his most productive season coming this past season. His measurables are fantastic and your able to place him inside or outside on the edge in alignment. In this regard, he’s a far better prospect than Hutchinson. It’s a real possibility that Kayvon winds up becoming the best player in this draft and eclipses Hutchinson immediately. The reason he may fall in this draft is his perceived lack of a high motor and his apparent lack of love for football. Whether it’s true or not, these concerns are real for teams and it’s likely come draft day that Kayvon falls. In terms of a pure edge rushing presence though, there is no better prospect on paper in this draft and it would be stupid for teams to pass up on him here, especially for Detroit who need edge rushing presence. While I think they’ll take Travon (more on him later) Detroit do have other pressing needs. They’re in search for another WR to pair with Amon, they need DB help, they need some help at Guard, QB and LB. Plenty of needs and if Kayvon wasn’t here, I’d be attempting to trade down, even if it means not getting the proper value for it.
Pick 3: Houston Texans
Who they should pick: Ikem Ekwonu
Another hard choice to make, ultimately i’ve come around a bit on Ikem. He’s far from a perfect prospect as the hesitation for Houston has to be that he may end up at guard. He isn’t a great pass blocker currently and plays like a guard playing tackle. Why it’s the pick to make is simple. The Texans may have their QB of the future in Mills and while they’re okay at tackle, they could very easily place Ikem at RT while keeping Tunsil at LT and protect their young QB. At worst, Ikem will likely become a run blocking guard where length and ungodly quick feet set him up for pull and swing sets that allows him to carve a path for a run heavy attack. Were Ikem set to play Guard, this would be a no brainer pick. Instead, the risk of drafting a tackle who winds up playing guard at 3 is a little worrisome but despite that, it’s the right choice to make for Houston, especially after the recent news regarding Evan Neal.
Pick 4: New York Jets (huge trade down candidate)
Who they should pick: Ahmad Gardner
A pick the Jets are going to hate having to make (assuming they are unable to trade down), the Jets take one of the two top CB’s in this draft class. Gardner is a fantastic prospect, having never allowed a TD in his 3 year CFB career and allowed just 122 yards in 14 games in 2022. That’s about as much as you can ask from a CB prospect with the only critique levelled at him being a lack of zone coverage played. This isn’t something that should worry the Jets as Gardner has the measurables to play zone comfortably, with only his lack of burner speed being the only cause for concern there. As a press corner, he’s the best CB of the class as he’s incredibly physical at the LOS being both long and strong. Likewise, his technique is great, with only a slight tendency to play tall being his one drawback. The only reason this isn’t a slam dunk pick for the Jets is that they have other pressing needs. Certainly WR is on their mind, they could use some more edge presence as well as addressing LB and DB needs. I’m sure they’d love to parlay this pick into a future first but will likely be unable to receive the proper value unless a QB needy team gets desperate. Despite all this, Gardner is the best scheme fit for them and is one of the top prospects of this class where he should be a plug and play starter.
Pick 5: New York Giants (prime trade down candidate)
Who they should take: Charles Cross/Evan Neal
This pick is split due to the latest news about Evan Neal’s medicals. Apparently there is cause for concern regarding his knee health and two teams have taken him off their board entirely. Prior to this news, Neal seemed like the obvious pick for a team perpetually stuck trying to fix their Oline. Assuming those reports are correct, Neal is off the board here for the Giants and instead, Charles Cross takes his place. This isn’t an ideal scenario as Cross wasn’t good his junior season before really piecing it together this past senior year. There’s real cause for concern regarding his ability to run block and he wasn’t perfect in pass protection despite playing a pretty comfortable schedule of teams for Mississippi State. He does however project to fill the Giants need of a true LT with Andrews playing on the right side of the line. His measurables are great as he has the typical length and size you’d want in a starting LT. If Neal is healthy, I’d still pick him instead of Cross as the consistent production and measurables are there for him. But if that’s not the case, then Cross should do the trick (for lack of a better option) for the Giants first pick.
Pick 6: Carolina Panthers
Who they should take: Evan Neal
Stating the obvious here but the Panthers are desperate for a QB. The lack of draft capital is a killer and while there are no true first round QB prospects in this class, they will be forced into taking one instead of trying to rebuild the Oline and focusing on solving their play caller issues the following year. As such, they will likely reach and take either Pickett or Willis though they should likely roll the dice here and take Neal. As stated above, Neal (assuming he's healthy) is a quality LT prospect. He’s played a top tier D1 schedule, has played at multiple positions along the Oline and will absolutely move people in the run game. The one drawback with him is that his knees may be shot and if that’s the case, then I’d be looking at trading down, gathering more draft capital and perhaps look at addressing guard later in the first round or start of the second round as a piece for the future. If they make the desperation play and take Pickett, they’ll be throwing in a prospect who may surpass Darnold but won’t likely attain a career resembling a top 10 player at the position and run the risk of being attached to someone who’ll likely be gone from the team after 3 or 4 years.
Pick 7: New York Giants
Who they should take: Travon Walker
The Giants would love to trade out here assuming the board has fallen this way as while Travon is still on the board here, I don’t believe the Giants love the idea of taking a project edge who’s likely going to need 2-3 seasons of development time. Despite this, Travon is the pick as while Stingley could be a player that replaces Bradbury after next year, edge is a more valuable position and Travon offers the upside Rashan Gary did a couple seasons ago. As an athlete, Walker is a rare breed of athlete as he’s a long 275 pounds who has top tier speed and explosiveness who could make for a powerful inside edge rusher. That’s about the start and end of the compliments for Walker. For the Giants, your drafting an athlete if you take him and hoping he blossoms into a football player as his production isn’t anything memorable despite playing on an elite Georgia defence. Compared to the numbers Kayvon and Hutchinson put up, Walker’s stats are pedestrian and he did little his past two seasons prior. This pick speaks more to the lack of overall talent in this class rather than the talent of Walker himself as there are few other sensible picks to make with who’s on the board. Hamilton is incredibly talented for instance but a safety that high is dicey. Realistically, the smartest pick here may be Jordan Davis but again, picking a DL here so high just isn’t feasible for someone outside of a prospect like Suh. As such, why not roll the dice on Walker here and hope your able to churn out a prospect that would cost you an incredible amount of money in free agency.
Pick 8: Atlanta Falcons (they absolutely have to trade down here)
Who they should take: Garett Wilson
The first WR goes off the board and it’s not Drake London, what a surprise. It’s almost essential that the Falcons trade out of this pick and accumulate any assets they can. There isn’t a single position that they don’t need to address with the most pressing being QB, Oline, CB and WR. Playing by the rules of no trades, I’ve chosen instead for the Falcons to take a WR here and hope that Mariotta is capable of keeping them afloat, at least for a season. While someone like Stingley or Hamilton would be a tempting choice, I’d be looking at Oline first and if the top tackle prospects are gone, moving on to WR and hoping to help your QB of the future (be that a trade for Baker or Jimmy or a rookie QB the following draft). That’s why its Wilson off the board first as he’s an incredibly versatile receiver, capable of playing any position they need him to. Given how they used Patterson last year, there’s no reason to think that the Falcons aren’t capable of using Wilson in a similar manner, albeit in a more WR friendly manner. As a receiver, he’s incredibly quick and nimble with some great route running to pair with a great catch radius. His flaws are shown in his lack of size. At 6 foot and 183 pounds, he lacks the ability to beat press coverage when jammed and if he’s going to be a consistent starter at the X spot, he’s going to need to be better at beating press coverage. Still, under the right team, he projects to be a versatile weapon that ATL would love to pair with Kyle Pitts.
Pick 9: Seattle Seahawks:
Who they should pick: Derek Stingley Jr
An incredibly risky pick, Stingley has all the makings of a boom or bust prospect. When we last saw him on that great 2019 LSU team, he was a ball hawking corner who although he allowed some yards, also snatched a bunch of picks. The guy is an incredible athlete who could be used in some unconventional ways in special teams or even some rare offensive sets if a team is so inclined. He’s also someone you can leave in man coverage and let the rest of your team sort itself out. The risk is the lack of production the past two years. That LSU team has been garbage but Stingley put up some uninspired performances in the select few games we saw him play (just 10 games the past two years). This is a risky pick that once again speaks to what this draft class is showing us. For a team like Seattle however, this could be the pick that helps them fix the disasters of the previous trade decisions by getting a potential superstar CB who they’ll set and forget about for the next 5 or 6 years. There also isn’t anyone left on the board they should be dying to grab.
Pick 10: New York Jets
Who they should take: Drake London
I have been opposed to making this pick for the past month and here I am making it, go figure. The Jets having already addressed CB in their previous pick, now add a pure X receiver threat to help out their young QB. London is a big bodied receiver who can make any and every catch in contested coverage. While an inability to consistently get separation can spell doom for WR’s (see Harry, Nkeal), London lead all of CFB this past season with contested catches and has premier route running ability. He’s also a strong bodied receiver who isn’t going to fear any press corners and will likely demolish them in run blocking. The only real fault in his game is the lack of speed. For a first round receiver, your expecting someone who can take the top off a defence on occasion and that just isn’t London’s game. Most passes going his way are going to be contested and Zack Wilson may throw some errant interceptions by putting up some prayer balls, just hoping London can come down with it. If they scheme correctly however, London can be a powerful receiving force and is likely the best possession receiver of the class. The Jets clearly want someone more established given all the trade rumours but if they aren’t able to get a deal done, they could do a whole lot worse than London.
Pick 11: Washington Commanders
Who they should take: Jameson Williams
An unconventional pick here for Washington, the consensus seems to be that they should take Kyle Hamilton if he’s available or maybe even chance it with Willis and have him on the bench while Wentz runs the squad for a season. Although neither of these are bad selections as Hamilton would fit that team perfectly and contribute straight away, getting a safety here when there’s other needs on the board isn’t making the most of their draft position. Likewise, although Willis is perhaps the best QB prospect of this class, in any other year, Willis wouldn’t even be a first-round selection and I wouldn’t spend a first on him when there’s options like Jimmy or Baker available. Instead, I’m opting to get Mclaurin a great dance partner and make that WR corps something to be feared. Jameson Williams is a awesome WR prospect who has insane burner speed and has the versatility to line up anywhere on the field. While he best projects as a hybrid slot receiver instead of a pure X or Y, I think Williams has the ability to develop and thrive if he isn’t the focus of the offence. Due to the danger Mclaurin brings, Williams will receive plenty of single coverage looks where a motion heavy offence can have him wreaking havoc in the middle of the field as he stretches out safeties and nickel corners. Washington certainly have other needs and I wouldn’t blame them for addressing those instead of reinforcing an already solid position group. But you can never have enough receiving threats and the stress Williams is going to impose on opposing defences is just too much to turn down here.
Pick 12: Minnesota Vikings
Who they should take: Trent McDuffie
Every man and their dog has McDuffie going here and it isn’t changing here. Playing a zone heavy scheme, McDuffie is just a perfect fit for that defence as Peterson shouldn’t be viewed as a reliable CB for the future and they need someone who can start at nickel before taking over as a proper no2 corner. Mcduffie is coming off a fantastic season, allowing just 111 off of 36 targets and hasn’t given up a TD his past two seasons. While he can’t really win as a press corner due to his size and lack of strength, his speed and agility allow him to play zone coverage anywhere on the field, be that outside, nickel corner or if they’re in need, at FS. This isn’t an exciting pick, and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see Sota take someone like Jermain Johnson or Hamilton but McDuffie just appears to be too good a fit for them to pass up.
Pick 13: Houston Texans
Who they should take: Kyle Hamilton
Finally Hamilton goes off the board. Once projected as a top 5 pick, Hamilton has dropped off everyone’s board as the excitement of his playmaking ability has dropped off and the fear of taking a safety within the top 10 sets in. While it isn’t an incredibly valuable position, we’ve seen what a dominant safety can do in the league and there’s the potential for Hamilton to become an all pro safety as his game speed is remarkable. At 6’4 and 220 pounds, he also isn’t a small bodied safety either. He’s a guy who’s able to cover top TE’s whilst also being a ball hawking DB all while almost never missing a tackle. Yes he head hunts and yeah, he’s never going to sweep in and stuff the run game. But in a pass heavy era, Hamilton is someone who can help shore up a lot of the Texans weaknesses in the secondary. Ideally, I think the Texans would love for someone like Kayvon to fall here or maybe even one of the top WR prospects. But assuming those guys go, I think the Texans look for best available and Hamilton is the best on the board.
Pick 14: Baltimore Ravens
Who they should take: Jordan Davis
Another chalk pick that everyone is mocking, Davis is an absolute monster on the defensive line and is a perfect fit for how the ravens like to play defence. He isn’t an every down player, at least not at the moment but on the snaps he does play, he inhales opposing guards and is probably the best interior defender of this class. And it’s no wonder why given his 6’3 and 341 pound frame. This isn’t a sexy pick and the ravens could look at someone like Booth Jr or Pitre given depth concerns they have at CB though Davis is likely to have a far greater impact on the game than either of those two for Baltimore.
Pick 15: Philadelphia Eagles
Who they should pick: Jermaine Johnson 2nd
Recent reports about the health of Devin Lloyd has led to a switch of this pick. Previously, it seemed obvious that Philly would use one of their 3 picks on Lloyd given the need for a LB and he’s the best one of the class without question. However, with the recent reports that some teams are taking him off their boards. As such, the Eagles pivot and take Johnson instead. A nobody on a quality defence prior to this year, Johnson is the guy who’s stock we’ve seen skyrocket after an impressive senior bowl performance. Whilst the prior lack of production would appear to be a huge red flag, being able to dominate other NFL ready prospects does bode well for his future in the league and we can’t ignore his 14 sacks this past season. Technique wise, he’s fantastic with a wide variety of edge setting moves that he uses to make up for overall unimpressive athletic numbers. Edge isn’t a pressing need for Philly, and maybe they clear Lloyd’s medicals but assuming that’s a real concern, they’re better off reinforcing the edge and adding depth as they so often do. Other picks they might consider here are Nakobe Dean and Karlaftis however Dean doesn’t present any threat in penetrating the defensive line and Karlaftis lacks the upside most teams are chasing after in an edge.
Pick 16: New Orleans Saints
Who they should pick: Bernhard Raimann.
Realistically, if Willis falls this far, you’d expect the Saints to jump on him. But given the Chargers are picking next, I would be shocked to see the Saints pass up on Raimann before revisiting Willis at 19. The Saints have made it known they after a tackle and WR to help Jaemis out. With Rainmann, they get their LT spot with Ramzchyk solidifying the right side and perhaps Jaemis winds up performing well enough to keep the starter job. Raimann is a decent tackle prospect. He’s inexperienced at the position, a bit undersized both in strength and arm length but he’s a quick moving tackle who uses his smaller frame to his advantage in getting the first hit on opposing edge rushers. There’s also the feeling that where he’s at now is just his floor given he’s only been an OT for two seasons. It isn’t a sure fire pick as while some teams may perceive his current ability to be his floor, there’s every chance he just isn’t ready for the leap in competition playing pro bowl edge rushers instead of non SEC CFB competition. Still, they need a LT and Rainmann is the best on the board. They can address WR in the later rounds and although someone like Wyatt is still on the board, the lack of tackle prospects after Rainmann makes this an obvious choice.
Pick 17: Los Angeles Chargers (still San Diedgo to me dammit)
Who they should pick: Devonte Wyatt
If the top 4 tackle prospects are the board come pick 18, the Chargers are going to be fuming. By far and away their most pressing need is a LT to pair with Slater but with all of them gone, they address their next biggest need in DL. Wyatt is an imposing force on the defensive line as he generated 17 pressures this past season while notching up 4 sacks. His explosiveness is second to none for a DL and he’s capable of lining up just about anywhere. The knock on Wyatt is that he just isn’t physical at the line of scrimmage despite having the size to be a force. The chargers may want a more imposing DL like Travis Jones who’s a traditional run stuffer as opposed to a hybrid DL that may never develop into the black hole between the guards they may want. Given the health concerns around Penning (as well as inability to consistently pass protect), there are few better options for the Chargers here than Wyatt. Booth Jr is another option for them but given the division they’re in, a need for an instant playmaker is required if they have any hope to win out what’s become a shark tank of a division.
Pick 18: Philadelphia Eagles
Who they should pick: Treylon Burks/ Devin Lloyd
For the third straight season, Philly take a WR in the first round. As stated previously, Philly have other pressing needs, especially at LB. But Lloyd’s medicals are a major red flag and if he isn’t cleared then Burks is the pick to make here. This is certainly a risky pick for Philly given they aren’t unfamiliar to bad WR choices but if this is the year they decide on Hurts, a combination of Burks and Devonta Smith will certainly go a long away in figuring out if Hurts is the future for them or just a stop gap before trading up with all their draft picks the following year for a QB. As for Burks, he’s the WR everyone is sleeping on. As guys like Pickens and Sky Moore continue to skyrocket up people’s boards, Burks is the steady WR that’s being slept on. He’s played a proper D1 schedule and has 3 straight seasons of solid production with an 1100, 11 TD season just submitted. He’s a hefty 6’2, 225 pounds with burner speed and an ability to gain YAC like nobody’s business. The reason he’s being slept on is because despite possesing prototypical X receiver frame, he played primarily out of the slot for Arkansas. This is likely because he doesn’t have ideal route running as he isn’t good at sitting down on his routes. Still, these are things that can be taught as opposed to the combination of size and speed that few others in this class possess. With Smith being an unconventional shifty receiver, Burks adds a deep threat dynamism that Philly are missing and although they need a LB, Burks may be the safer pick here.
Pick 19: New Orleans Saints
Who they should pick: Malik Willis
Finally a QB goes off the board as the Saints see Willis fall into their lap just before the Steelers get a chance at him. As stated earlier in this piece, Willis is far from a perfect prospect. In a weak QB class, he’s seen as a developmental prospect with tremendous upside that could be a potential starter after a year of learning. Given however that the Saints have haemorrhaged their future to compete now, getting a QB in case Jaemis doesn’t work out is the safe thing to do. An uber athletic player, Willis has a rocket for an arm and the motor to go with it. He’s capable of launching 40 yard bombs whilst scrambling for his life as his pocket breaks down. His accuracy although a little hit and miss, is solid when he sets his feet and trusts himself to throw. His throwing motion isn’t slow or technically incorrect and he can dash downfield in an instant when required. Where Willis comes up short in his judgement. So often he threw ill advised throws that lead to incompletions or interceptions when he had an open receiver he could have thrown to for an easy completion. His pocket presence is also pretty awful as while he didn’t have a good offensive line, he made it so much worse by bailing from clean pockets and rarely stepped up in the pocket and made the tough throws. Willis is a developmental prospect who needs to sit for a year and learn from a veteran like Jaemis while the team does everything they can to refine his game and iron out his decision making. In that respect, the Saints are a perfect fit for him as they’re current starter was also known for his terrible thought process. They still a WR as who knows what the situation with Michael Thomas anymore but with no first round pick next year, the Saints would be crazy to pass up on the potential future of the franchise with their second first rounder this year.
Pick 20: Pittsburgh Steelers
Who they should pick: Trevor Penning
With Willis being snatched out of their grasp, the Steelers move onto addressing the issue of fixing their Oline. Penning is a hard nosed run heavy tackle prospect who’s raw on the pass protection. He’s an absolute monster in pushing around opposing edge rushers though he did so against subpar competition. Still, this should translate to the pro’s as he has a giant frame and the incredible size to go along with that frame. The major concern with penning is that he plays high in pass pro and has faced next to none in future NFL prospects. Still, with no tempting QB prospects left on the board, the Steelers do the wise thing here and address their biggest concern with the best available tackle prospect left on the board, even if that’s just bulldozing RT who may ultimately end up at guard.
Pick 21: New England Patriots
Who they should pick: George Karlaftis
This is another controversial pick for NE fans as they’re in dire need of both WR and CB. With the top prospects off the board in both those spots, NE settle for a plug and play edge. This past season, Karlaftis was a monster, producing 5 sacks, 14 hits and 35 hurreis which is more than some other edge rushers who’ve been picked before him. He’s incredibly strong and is able to line up anywhere along the edge, something I’m sure Bellicheck will love. His downside however is quite obvious and glaring. He is far from a premier athlete, something the NFL loves in R1. He carries below average length and isn’t quick off the jump. As such, his ceiling appears to be rather low for a first round pick and this is hindering his draft status despite producing some really fantastic numbers for Purdue. The ability to play him in a suite of roles is something Bellicheck will love with Karlaftis and although there’s players such as Booth jr, Lloyd or Pickens left on the board, the patriots will love a guy who’s able to contribute immediately and doesn’t carry as many question marks as some others left on the board. If not George, I could see NE going for Lloyd though again, the medicals may wipe him off the board here.
Pick 22: Green Bay Packers
Who they should pick: Sky Moore
Finally GB takes a weapon for Rodgers in the first round though in far from ideal circumstances. If the WR board resembles this come pick 22, it’s likely that GB trades out of this pick as they can quite easily grab another receiver with their 2nd first round pick. Still, given they are unable to trade in this mock, it’s Sky Moore who goes off the board here. Moore comes from the school of an incredibly shifty receiver who used his ability to force 26 missed tackles, tied for the best this past CFB season. Yes he played subpar competition but he isn’t a pure slot receiver either. He played the majority of his snaps at the X spot and posted 1291 yards for 10 scores this past season. Rodgers likely won’t be thrilled with this pick as I’m sure he’d prefer a receiver with a bigger catch radius who can play downfield with more regularity but this is the next best option for who’s left on the board. His ability elusiveness really is the best in the class and Rodgers shouldn’t have much trouble getting him the ball on short and intermediate routes where Moore will threaten to take it to the house after the catch. Other picks for GB here could be Olave or Pickens but neither offer the versatility that Moore has and he should be the pick if they don’t trade out.
Pick 23: Arizona Cardinals
Who they should take: Zion Johnson
We get our first pure guard board here at 23 as Zona look to protect their maybe face of the franchise in Muarry. Zion is a battle tested prospect, having 3 full years of starting at Guard for Boston college and improved significantly this past season, allowing just one pressure against that great Clemson defence. There’s next to no knocks on Zion’s game as he’s just as good at pass blocking as he is at run blocking. If you were to level a critique at his game, it’s that he doesn’t project an all pro guard. He’s set to be a day one starter who gets the job done but isn’t posting Quinton Nelson levels of highlights. This won’t be a popular pick for the Cardinals. They need help along the defensive line and could use another CB to shore up that shaky secondary. Still, with some concerns over Linderbaums arm size, Zion is as a safe a pick as you can get here with contributing immediately to a team looking to contend in a weaker NFC.
Pick 24: Dallas Cowboys
Who the should take: Tyler Linderbaum
Dallas get who I’ve wanted for them since the beginning in a plug and play C/G to fix the position that’s plagued Dallas since Leary/Fredrick left all those years ago. Whether he lines up at LG or takes over from Biadaz at C is largely irrelevant as he should be a significant upgrade at either spot. His arms are indeed quite short and he may struggle against some more defensive savvy teams as if Dallas do shift him to guard, he may face the same issues Connor Williams has had. Despite this, Linderbaum has 3 great years of production, never giving up more than a single sack his past 3 seasons. He’s a solid pass blocker and a fantastic run blocker, especially in the zone blocking scheme Iowa ran. Not so coincidentally, this is what Dallas run and given the investment in Zeke and the lack of run blocking that troubled the Cowboys last season, Linderbaum offers something so few other prospects available offer in an ability to be a day one starter that will thrive under the current Oline system. This is a no brainer pick should he fall this far and I’d be surprised if Dallas pick anyone else if he’s available to them here.
Pick 25: Buffalo Bills
Who they should pick: David Ojabo
It’s a shame Ojabo snapped his achilles during his pro day as he was on pace to be one of the fastest rising prospects of this class. Possessing some top-notch feet, length and flexibility, Ojabo is a prospect who if he didn’t get injured, likely goes 10 picks higher in this class. He only has one year of production but in that single season, he posted 11 sacks and 24 hurries, better than Walker, his contemporary. All the traits you’d want in a first round edge rusher is here for Ojabo, there isn’t any glaring concerns regarding his athleticism. The concerns beyond the injury, is his lack of experience. He’s brand new to the sport and cannot do anything at the moment beyond play as an edge rusher who’s sole responsibility is to fly to the QB. That’s a significant drawback, no question but for the Bills who continue to be SB contenders, the ability to grab someone who could potentially become an upper tier edge rusher this late in the draft could be a steal. They don’t need him to be a day one starter, he likely won’t be contributing player for them till the middle of the season but if he’s able to get healthy and learn from that stacked Bills Dline, he’s going to be a problem for opposing QB’s come playoff time. There are other needs for the Bills, certainly they could take Booth jr here and shore up that other side of the field. They could also look at Lewis Cine and add a safety capable of playing in and out of the box. But in top tier QB conference, having an extra edge rusher who would’ve been a top 15 pick prior to the injury feels like it’s too good to pass up.
Pick 26: Tennessee Titans
Who they should pick: Chris Olave
Another WR off the board in a first round just filled to the brim with WR talent, Olave could potentially be one of the bigger steals of this draft if he falls this far down the board. A fantastic route runner, Olave is as reliable as they come, posting just 5 drops off 101 targets. He’s also had steady production for 3 straight seasons, posting double digit TD’s in two of those seasons. AJ Brown unfortunately wasn’t healthy for them last year and there would be some concerns that Olave plays too similar a style to him but they need WR help and there’s nothing wrong with doubling down on a guy who’d thrive opposite someone who takes the pressure off him. In a lot of respects, Olave is the opposite of Sky Moore as he cannot elude tackles to save his life as he instead relies on his route running and great catch radius to come down with balls. This shouldn’t be a concern for the Titans as with Henry in the backfield and a WR duo of Olave and Brown, teams will be forced to single cover far more often than they’d like, allowing Olave to go up and get some contested one on one catches with ease. The downsides for this pick is the aforementioned lack of dynamism. Tanehill is going to have to thrown him the ball in coverage and he can’t rely on YAC to help move the ball downfield. In some respects, this may make the titans offence predictable and is a legitimate cause for concern. With Henry in the backfield however, it makes life far more difficult for opposing defences to double cover either receiver and if Tanehill can make some throws, Olave should thrive in this offence.
Pick 27: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Who they should pick: Kenyon Green
Brady is back for another season and with that comes some protection on the offensive line. Another unsexy pick as no one loves to draft a guard in R1, Green isn’t the best guard prospect in this draft and nor is he the second one. He’s not great at utilising his hands and his footwork leaves something to be desired. However, as a bulldozing guard who’s able to play every position, Tampa gains a guy who you can plug in play in any number of spots when injuries arise along the offensive line. He isn’t a game changer that will propel Tampa to another SB but he is a solid contributor that Tampa needs in order to protect their 43 year old QB. Certainly they could look at someone like Booth jr given the lack of depth in their secondary. They could also get Travis Jones as someone to pair up with Vea in that 4-3 defence. But Brady is this offence and their hope and dreams rest on being able to protect him, thus making Green the pick here.
Pick 28: Green Bay Packers
Who they should pick: Andrew Booth Jr
Booth finally comes off the board here as he slides a bit more than most people would probably project. There’s a reason for this as he got targeted a lot more than you’d like for a R1 CB prospect, giving up 326 yards and a couple TD’s. This was also his first year starting and it showed, missing 11 tackles as he launched himself with reckless abandon far too often. Where Booth thrives is as an athlete. He’s a solid 6’0 CB who is about as agile as any corner in this class. This matches his length and explosiveness as he was able to close down on receivers with his top tier footwork. Some might argue GB don’t need the secondary help with Jaire Alexander already playing CB1, they’d be better served slotting Booth over in the second corner spot and moving Stokes into the slot. They could also simply use the depth at the position as they struggled at times last year once Alexander got hurt. At pick 28, Booth is a great pickup for them and although they have other needs, sometimes depth is what’s needed to make that extra postseason push.
Pick 29: Kansas City Chiefs
Who they should take: Christian Watson
This is another nightmare scenario for a team with 6 WR’s going off the board before KC can finally choose their Tyreek Hill replacement. As such, this pick is a bit more of a “best of the rest”. While some football circles are hyping Watson up, he’s anonymous as a R1 prospect with most seeing him going to somewhere like Chicago early in day 2. The reason for this is pretty clear when examining him. He’s an incredibly raw prospect with a high drop rate and an inability to win contested catch situations, he’s the definition of a prospect as opposed to day one starter. Which if that’s the case, why not take Pickens some may ask. There’s two big reasons Watson would be the better pick than Pickens for KC. The first is health. Pickens across the past 2 seasons has barley played any football, logging less than a full season combined. The second is speed as if KC need a burner to replace Hill, Watson will do some that straight away. WR’s shouldn’t able to be this fast at 6’4 as he’s top both end quick and has an immediate burst off the snap. This will make him a nightmare against some zone coverages as you just cannot afford to give him an inch of room. All his measurables are sky high and if KC are willing to patient, might very well get a guy who can replace some of what they lost in Hill, even if it doesn’t come in his rookie year. It’s not an ideal pick, certainly KC will be hoping some of the other top WR talent fall to them and they may even risk it on Pickens as opposed to Watson. But they need someone to replace Hill and Watson is the best fit for how they play offence.
Pick 30: Kansas City Chiefs
Who they should take: Travis Jones
Once again, a far from ideal pick for the chiefs as they’d have loved for Booth to fall here. Instead, they opt to fixing their Dline and taking the next best prospect after the two Georgia players in that of Jones. An absolute unit of a prospect, Jones is your prototypical strength is king type nose tackle. He’s far from a refined player as he stays tall far too often leading him to be more ineffective than you’d expect from a guy his size. He doesn’t offer KC much more than as a space filling DT but that’s exactly what the chiefs need besides a CB. If they can teach him how to get lower on a more regular basis, he’s going to be a productive player for many a year as it’s not every day you get someone with Jones’s size and strength this late on the board. Chiefs fans won’t love this pick but this is a thin Dline class and if they pass on Jones here, they may not get another chance to address it properly.
Pick 31: Cincinnati Bengals
Who they should pick: Tyler Smith
Playing as a starting LT for Tulsa, Smith projects to end up playing guard in the NFL as he just isn’t good enough at pass blocking to ever trust him on an island. Playing a soft schedule, Smith only gave up 2 sacks on the season and just 5 hurries. Although this quite good, he struggled against the only difficult teams he played in that of Oklahoma State and Ohio State. Where Smith thrives and why Cincy should be excited to get him is that he’s a fantastic run blocker. Although not as nimble as some of the other Oline prospects in this class, few possess the sheer power he has and his ability to move guys off the ball in run blocking sets is second to none. He may not be a day one starter for Cincy. He’s certainly more of a project than you’d like out of a first round pick but that’s just how this draft class is shaping up. For a team with not many holes to plug, adding an extra piece to help protect burrow is a necessity and although Smith isn’t a great prospect, he’s one who should be able to come in and make an impact.
Pick 32: Detroit Lions
Who they should pick: Devin Lloyd
After a dramatic free fall, Lloyd finally comes off the board here at the final pick of the first round. Even if his medicals are somewhat concerning, Lloyd is good enough to take a risk here as he’s by far and away the best and most complete LB on the board. Although he doesn’t excel in anyone one area, he’s capable of playing in any scheme a team could ask from him. He’s able to beat blocks better than Nkobe Dean, he’s able to cover almost as well as Dean, can rush the passer as well as Leo Chenal and has the ability to light up opposing players like Christain Harris. His sole weakness, if you can call it that, is a few missed tackle, charting in at around a 12% missed tackle rate. This isn’t a cause for concern however as this is around what most other top LB prospects in this class hit with the exception of Quay Walker. Detroit could look at other positions such as WR with Pickens or QB with whoever among the class you like but these are far riskier picks than Lloyd who’s a plug and play starting LB. Another boring pick to tail end the first round but given he’s only slipped this far due to some injury concerns, Detroit would be adding a top 20 prospect with the last pick of the round, a great value grab.
That does it. Thanks for reading however much of this as you did. I wrote all of this in the span of two days so if some of it comes across as a bit hurried, it’s because it is. Still, I hope you get something out of reading this and learn something you might not have otherwise known. Cheers