1. Jacksonville Jaguars –Travon Walker, 6’5”, 272lbs, DE, Georgia, Jr.
4/7/22 - Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
2/6/22 - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
The Jags find themselves with the No. 1 overall pick again following the disaster left behind by Urban Meyer. In steps Doug Pederson, who along with GM Trent Baalke have been quite active this offseason in an attempt to quickly change the identity in Jacksonville. Getting Trevor Lawrence help was clearly a priority as we saw the team put big money into the additions of WR’s Christian Kirk and Zay Jones along with TE Evan Engram to team with Laviska Shenault and Marvin Jones in the passing game. Protecting their franchise QB was equally important as the Jags signed Brandon Scherff and Tyler Shatley to upgrade the interior of the OL and also decided to franchise tag LT Cam Robinson. All the activity up front offensively seems to signal Jacksonville will be turning to the defensive side of the football. But before we get there, think about the possibility of Ikem Ekwonu. “Ickey” could come in right away and play LG alongside Robinson and then take over at LT when Robinson moves on at season’s end because, you know they won’t franchise tag Robinson or re-sign him to a long-term deal. OK, back to the defensive side of the ball. While the Jags brought in DT Foley Fatukasi, LB Foye Oluokun and CB Darious Williams, the lackluster pass rush has yet to garner the serious attention it needs. The Jaguars were among the league’s worst in getting after the passer with just 32 sacks and struggled to contain the league’s mobile passers a season ago and while they have a star in Josh Allen, he needs help getting after the QB as only he and Dawuane Smoot finished with more than 3.0 sacks on the year. Enter Aidan Hutchinson, who has the highest floor among defensive prospects in this year’s draft whose dominant play earned him a second-place finish in the Heisman voting. Now some feel that Hutchinson’s tape lacked much bend coming off the edge and his shorter arm length is a major concern. Because of these red flags, Baalke may be looking for a player with a bit more length who can be a pass rusher as a five-technique similar to Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, both of whom he drafted during his time in San Francisco, and Georgia’s Travon Walker definitely fits the bill. Walker may not be the pass rusher Hutchinson is, but he’s an equally ferocious run defender and was impressive dropping into coverage, something Hutchinson wasn’t asked to do. So the question becomes whether Baalke wants the player with the higher ceiling, whose talent appears endless but is more of a projection at this point, or the sure thing in Hutchinson as you know exactly what you’re getting with the pass rush production and passion for the game. At the end of the day, all signs appear to point toward Walker and it does make sense since he does fit the mold of a Trent Baalke DL and his physicality and athleticism would complement the speed rush of Josh Allen well. It’s hard to stand out on a Dawgs defense loaded with NFL talent, but Walker’s physicality and athleticism jumped off the game film. Then there’s the Combine performance, where Walker turned heads with a 4.51 40 at 6’5” and 272 pounds, which Pro Football Focus reported was the fastest 40 time among players weighing at least 270 pounds since 1999. To put that time in context, Walker ran faster than 12 WR’s and 13 RB’s at the Combine. Walker’s explosiveness extended to the vertical leap (35.5 inches) and three cone drill (6.89). On tape, you’ll find a player still developing as a pass rusher, having only posted 9.5 sacks in his career, but he was often lined up inside where he mostly applied pressure by converting speed to power to drive his man back into the backfield. That and the trio of Walker, Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, all poised to be 1st Round picks, weren’t really expected to get to the QB when they had explosive LB’s like Nakobe Dean, Channing Tindall, Quay Walker, Adam Anderson and Nolan Smith constantly applying pressure on the outside. The defense was more predicated on causing confusion up front with twists and stunts to allow the edge rushers to clean up. Instead, Walker was asked to do a lot of the little things and he did them very well. You saw Walker set a hard edge with tremendous strength and a strong anchor. He used his tremendous length to easily stack and shed blockers to then get after the ball carrier. What was so impressive about Walker was he could set a hard edge on one play, show lateral quickness down the line in pursuit of the ball carrier on the next and then drop into coverage on third down. Walker is an imposing and physical presence along the defensive front, has heavy hands and is extremely strong at the point of attack. What was staggering though was a player his size dropping into coverage. Against Auburn, you saw him run with Tank Bigsby on a wheel route and against Florida you watched him drop, read the QB’s eyes and nearly pick off a pass thrown over the middle. While Walker is still a work in progress as a pass rusher, he can do so many other things that other edge rushers simply cannot do.
2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson, 6'7", 260lbs, DE, Michigan
04/07/22 - Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
02/06/22 - Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
Detroit had to face life without Matthew Stafford and while it began the 2021 season 0-8. coming off the bye week we saw a different fire in this team. Week 10 saw a tie against Pittsburgh and then the Lions seemingly played with much more confidence and while they did finish 3-5 in their final eight games, three of those losses were by four points or less. Jared Goff has been widely talked about as a bridge QB for whoever Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes decide is their guy. That said, Goff posted the highest completion percentage of his NFL career (67.2%) and he cut down on the mistakes, posting his fewest Int. total (8) since 2017. Goff isn’t going anywhere as he represents $41.1 million in dead cap per Spotrac.com, but next year that number drops to $10 million. While the 2022 QB draft class is not on par with recent draft classes, there is a school of thought that Malik Willis could be the guy here. Willis is the QB with the most upside in this year’s draft, showing off an impressive arm and explosive athleticism that fits the new mold of QB in the league. Now Willis needs time to develop, so this feels like a perfect fit sitting behind Goff for a year before taking over the reins in 2023. Is this too big of a risk considering Willis’ inconsistent play in 2021? Keep in mind we are just one year removed from witnessing the 49ers trade up to No. 3 overall to go all-in on Trey Lance, who dominated the FCS as a freshman in 2019, but only played in one game during the Covid-shortened 2020 season. Like Lance, Willis is the most physically gifted of the QB’s in this year’s draft and if he’s truly the guy Campbell and Holmes covet, he’ll have to be taken here as there are plenty of QB-needy teams who are rumored to be interested in trading up for his services. Detroit isn’t getting out of this draft without a QB, but they won’t be able to target one with Willis’ upside if he’s not targeted here. That said, any possible speculation goes out the window if local product Aidan Hutchinson is available at No. 2 as he’d have a chance to stay put in the state of Michigan and help galvanize a fan base that is desperate for success. Hutchinson’s passion for the game is infectious and is exactly what Campbell is looking for in a defensive leader. It almost seems like he’s destined to play for the Lions after bleeding Maize and Blue having gown up in the shadow of his father Chris, a Wolverine legend himself. Hutchinson would bring much-needed fire to an organization desperately needing an identity. Not only does this make sense from a sentimental perspective, it also makes sense on the field as the Lions struggled mightily putting pressure on the QB last year, finishing ahead of just two teams with a dismal 30 sacks. What’s worse, the trio of Charles Harris, Julian Okwara and Austin Bryant combined to rack up 17 of those sacks, but no other player finished the season with more than 2.0 sacks. The Lions were equally woeful against the run, finishing 28th in yards against a season ago, so finding a player who can force the issue in both areas is a must. If the hype surrounding Travon Walker is just that and Hutchinson does go No. 1 overal, expect Walker to be the pick here as he’d be a logical replacement for Trey Flowers. Kayvon Thibodeaux came into the season as the top prospect for this year’s draft, but after an injury-riddled 2021, other edge rushers closed the gap on him. One in particular was Travon Walker, who Detroit is rumored to really like and, if he’s available here, would be a logical replacement for the departed Trey Flowers. Production was never an issue with Hutchinson, who in 2021 posted 16 TFL and 14.0 sacks and always seemed to live in opposing backfields, as evidenced by his 74 pressures, which finished 3rd in the FBS to Will Anderson, Jr. and Cameron Thomas. Hutchinson has a tremendous blend of strength and explosiveness that will allow him to play in either even or odd man fronts. While Hutchinson doesn’t have the burst that some of the other speed rushers have, he’s a tireless worker who is always looking for a way to get to the QB. Hutchinson has explosive speed to power, getting into the chest of the OT and able to get underneath the pad level to walk his man back into the backfield. He also has tremendous hands that are always working, showing precision striking with a violent punch at the point of attack, a lethal two-hand swipe on the outside and seems to always keep his feet and hands working in unison to quickly escape a block. What’s equally impressive is his football IQ in that he’ll set up his man by attacking the outside, only to put up a jab step and then cross the face of the OT and get to the QB with a quick inside rush after he catches the OT oversetting to the outside. Hutchinson plays with his hair on fire and is always looking for counter moves, so OT’s never get a chance to breathe. His swim move back to the inside on oversetting OT’s is absolutely lethal. I mentioned the lack of bend shown on tape, but his agility drills, especially the 6.73 three-cone drill, suggest there may actually be more bend to his game than he’s shown to this point. Hutchinson plays with good knee bend and a low pad level which allow him to anchor and set a hard edge against the run. You’ll see him force his man up the field into the running lane to blow up one run play, then has the bend to get outside and chase down the ball carrier. Hutchinson’s hand work, leverage and relentlessness all help him mitigate any issues with a lack of length. Many in the Draft Twitter community feel Hutchinson lacks sufficient power to be a force at the next level, yet virtually every game Hutchinson was getting under an OT’s pad level and walked them back. There were also several instances where his explosive speed to power off the ball allowed him to simply run over the OT. Hutchinson would provide a spark to an anemic pass rush and let’s be honest, he would make a great one-two combination with Harris. GM Brad Holmes is looking for a player who can come in and make an instant impact and Hutchinson can do that on and off the field. You can also guarantee that Baalke made Holmes' Christmas Card list.
3. Houston Texans - Ikem Ekwonu, 6’4”, 310lbs, OT, NC State
04/07/22 - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
02/04/22 - Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
2021 was a rough year for the Houston Texans. There was of course the Deshaun Watson saga that seemingly put a dark cloud over the organization all season long. They lost 12 of their first 14 games, were 30th in the league in points scored and 27th in points against and ended with the 31st-ranked rush defense. All of that led to the Texans finishing with just four wins, which ultimately cost David Culley his job after just one season at the helm. But not everything was for naught as the Texans did boast a top-10 passing attack with rookie Davis Mills under center. His emergence makes the eventual trade of Watson to Cleveland an easier pill to swallow. Now with Lovie Smith taking over the team, you have to imagine it will be tempting to use this pick to improve the defense, whether it’s a pass rusher like Kayvon Thibodeaux to improve upon a pass rush that finished tied for 27th in sacks or a do-everything safety like Kyle Hamilton to patrol the back end of his defense. However, Smith and GM Nick Caserio could still address the defense with the 13th pick they obtained from the Browns. I think this pick will be used on the O-line, which will continue to be overhauled. The Texans couldn’t open any holes on the ground, finishing with the league’s worst rushing attack, and struggled to protect the QB after giving up 44 sacks. Laremy Tunsil was a Pro Bowl LT in 2019 after he arrived via trade from Miami and was signed to a four-year deal that made him the highest paid OL. Tunsil again made the Pro Bowl in 2020, but after thumb surgery put him on IR in 2021, there may be cause for concern that he can return to form. Former 1st Round pick Tytus Howard started his career at RT, but he was moved inside to OG for the 2021 season. We could see Howard moving back outside for the upcoming season if Ekwonu is the pick here as he has the ability to kick inside to OG and play alongside Tunsil right away. Is this too high to draft a player you’re looking to play at OG? Not when you have the physical prowess Ekwonu possesses as the pancake machine. His power and intensity in the ground game combined with his footwork and lateral agility as a pass protector make him a versatile piece who could start his career and play at a Pro Bowl level at LG then move outside to take over for Tunsil who becomes a free agent after the 2023 season.
4. New York Jets –Kayvon Thibodeaux, 6’4”, 254lbs, DE, Oregon, Jr.
04/07/22 - Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
02/06/22 - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Robert Saleh knew when he took the HC position it would take time to turn the Jets franchise around and after a dismal 2021 season that saw Zach Wilson struggle in his rookie season and the defense finished in the bottom four of the league against both the pass and the run, he and Joe Douglas went to work. New York added TE’s CJ Uzomah and Tyler Conklin to add weapons for Wilson and signed OG Laken Tomlinson to solidify the interior O-line. Defensively, DE Jacob Martin, CB DJ Reed and S Jordan Whitehead all are expected to be starters. However, there are still plenty of holes that need to be addressed with the Jets’ two top-10 picks. Corey Davis was solid when he was healthy, Elijah Moore showed he’s a keeper as a rookie and Braxton Berrios was a breakout star late, but the team is lacking a true No 1 wideout. Garrett Wilson and Drake London are at the top of a deep WR draft class this year, but it might be a little early to target a wideout. OT is another premium position that could be an area of focus if Douglas is troubled by Mekhi Becton’s inability to stay on the field or George Fant’s ability to play RT. Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu are certainly in play here. Defensively, the pass defense gave up the 3rd-most yards through the air while also giving up 73 pass plays of at least 20 yards. Reed joins a young group that includes Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols and Michael Carter II, but having the opportunity to draft the top corner in Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner to take on the top wideouts in the AFC East that just added Tyreek Hill to the list that also includes Stefon Diggs may be too good to pass up. At the same time, the pass rush was among the league’s worst and Douglas and Saleh need to come out of this draft with at least one edge rusher. Let’s not overthink this; Carl Lawson needs help putting pressure on the QB and Kayvon Thibodeaux is the most dynamic edge rusher in this year’s draft. Thibodeaux has largely been considered the top prospect for this draft since he signed with Oregon as the nation’s top five-star prospect out of high school. From there, Thibodeaux racked up 19.0 sacks and 35.5 TFL in his three-year career with the Ducks, solidifying his status as the most dynamic pass rusher off the edge. Thibodeaux has a tremendous burst off the ball and provides constant stress on the outside shoulder of the OT coming off the edge. He does a tremendous job dipping his inside shoulder and leaning into the arc to get under the OT’s pad level, but also has power in his hands to strike and rip through before flattening out. Once Thibodeaux gets to the edge, he has a tremendous burst to close on the football. What is so impressive is how quickly he shoots his hands in on the OT, which then allows him to create early separation by extending which then allows him to go to work. His bull rush is also impressive, as his speed to power will overpower OT’s. He looks to beat up blockers on the edge on his way to the QB. Against the run, Thibodeaux is at his best in pursuit, as he uses his speed, relentlessness and all-out motor to chase down the ball carrier and blow up the run play. Now he’s far from a finished product. He lacks typical bend of an explosive pass rusher and has to develop counter moves, rather than simply take a straight path to the QB. He also needs to do a better job setting the edge against run plays run at him. One thing’s for sure, any discussion about Thibodeaux’s drive for the game is totally off base. This is an intelligent young man who does have interests outside of football, but his motor and passion for the game are apparent when he steps onto the football field.
5. New York Giants –Evan Neal, 6’7”, 337lbs, OT, Alabama, Jr.
04/07/22 - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
02/06/22 - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
It’s a new era for the G-Men with new HC Brian Daboll in command and the team has a chance to make some real headway with two of the draft’s top 10 selections. There’s no question the Giants had one of the worst offensive lines in 2021 and clearly new GM Joe Schoen has spent quite a bit of time in free agency looking to solidify the interior of the line. OG’s Mark Glowinski and Jamil Douglas, OC Jon Feliciano and versatile OL Max Garcia have all been brought in, so the offensive front will look a lot different in 2022. Andrew Thomas is the lone carryover expected to start at one OT spot, but the other position is up in the air as Nate Solder is a free agent and not expected back. Evan Neal seems to be the ideal selection for the Giants, especially with Daboll’s ties to Nick Saban and Alabama having been the team’s OC in 2017.
6. Carolina Panthers – Charles Cross, 6'5", 307lbs, OT, Mississippi State, RS Soph.
04/07/22 - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
02/06/22 - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Trouble seems to be brewing in Carolina as Matt Rhule, who was known for his quick turnarounds at the collegiate level at both Temple and Baylor, is finding the transition to the NFL a much more difficult transition. Sam Darnold has proven not to be the answer for the Panthers but he’s still under contract for one more year while questions continue to circulate regarding the future of Cam Newton in Carolina. That, of course, is after the Panthers failed to land a veteran QB in free agency or via a trade, most notably the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes. Does that mean Scott Fitterer’s next move is to draft a QB at No. 6? Rumors swirled at the Combine that the team was very interested in Kenny Pickett, while Malik Willis has the athletic skillset that would remind Panther fans of a smaller Newton. Unless Carolina can target Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo, there may be no other choice than to land one of the top QB’s in this year’s draft. The one other position I could see the Panthers targeting here could be an OT to take over the left side of the line as Cameron Erving is not a long-term option and Brady Christensen is better suited inside at LG. We saw Fitterer target the OL this offseason, landing OG Austin Corbett and OC Bradley Bozeman to team with RT stalwart Taylor Moton. Adding Charles Cross here would address a key need up front and while determining who’s going to be under center in 2022 is a huge priority, landing an elite LT prospect to finally solidify the line has to be the play here. If Pickett is the move, then expect the Panthers to trade out of this pick. Cross came to Mississippi State as a highly decorated recruit and as a redshirt freshman, he lived up to those lofty expectations as a top-tier LT. His consistency as a pass protector is obvious, as he’s quick out of his stance and into his kick slide and is such an easy mover laterally. Cross’ hands are very precise and he offers a powerful punch that nearly always hits its mark inside and once he gets hands on the DE, he’s able to easily shut down the rush. His hand placement then allows him to use his length to his advantage by locking out, which then allows him to further control his man. Cross has the strength and agility to mirror defenders easily and is also able to pick up an edge rusher and ride him away from the pocket. You also see his awareness to easily read and pick up stunts and twists, blocking down and passing off his man to the inside before quickly getting back outside to pick up the defender looping around. And even if he’s beaten, he has the ability to recover and get back into the play. Now Cross does tend to lunge a bit against elite speed rushers, but he typically plays upright and keeps his core tight and strong. Cross wasn’t asked to run block a lot with the Bulldogs, so the limited reps will expose him at times. However, Cross’ ability to protect whoever is under center for the Panthers coupled with the work Fitterer already put in up front this offseason and the Panthers would finally be able to move on from Jordan Gross, a Panthers legend who retired eight years ago and Carolina has had more than ten OT try to fill the void.
7. New York Giants (from Chicago) –Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, 6’3”, 190lbs, CB, Cincinnati, Jr.
04/07/22 - Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
02/06/22 - George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
The Giants use their first pick in the top 10 to address the OL, which means this pick has to be used on defense. Azeez Ojulari was a gem of a pickup in the 2nd Round of last year’s draft after leading the team with 8.0 sacks. However, now that Lorenzo Carter moved on to Atlanta, Leonard Williams is the only player on the roster with more than 5.0 sacks. Adding an edge rusher has to be a priority, so you know Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jermaine Johnson II will garner consideration. The depth of this year’s class of edge rushers could give New York an opportunity to target the secondary. All signs are pointing to James Bradberry being traded before the draft, likely to KC, and DC Wink Martindale’s defense needs playmakers on the back end and we know that GM Joe Schoen was at Cincinnati’s Pro Day to watch the premier corner in this draft. Targeting Sauce Gardner would address the starting spot opposite Adoree Jackson and give the defense the impact starter in the secondary it sorely needs. Gardner has great size, tremendous length (33.5-inch arms) and good speed (4.41 40) for his size. His instincts are off the charts, his ability to play both press man and zone is evident and he dominated the competition while at Cincinnati, having posted 9 Int. and 16 pass breakups while not surrendering a single TD in three seasons with the Bearcats.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Garrett Wilson, 6’0”, 183lbs, WR, Ohio State, Jr.
04/07/22 - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
02/06/22 - David Ojabo, 6'5", 265lbs, OLB, Michigan
After a deal with Indy, the Matt Ryan era has come to an end in Atlanta after 14 years in a Falcon uniform. Ryan leaves as the team’s all-time passing leader, a four-time Pro Bowler and was named the MVP of the 2016 season where he captained the Dirty Birds to a Super Bowl appearance. The Falcons icon and arguably the best player in franchise history became a salary cap casualty. Finding his replacement will be difficult to and while Arthur Smith was quick to sign a familiar face in Marcus Mariota, who was in Tennessee with Smith, is he really the long-term answer at QB? Mariota feels like a comfortable bridge option under center until Smith and Co. can find their franchise QB. GM Terry Fontenot joined Smith, OC Dave Ragone and QB coach Charles London in attending the Pro days of all of the top QB’s – Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral and Desmond Ridder. Mariota finds himself in a QB room with Feleipe Franks and nobody else as AJ McCarron and Josh Rosen are both free agents. However, the cupboard is not only bare at QB, but also at the WR position, where Calvin Ridley is suspended for at least the 2022 season for betting on games while Russell Gage is now in Tampa, leaving Olamide Zaccheaus as the lone WR on the roster with at least 30 receptions, and he was fifth on the list behind TE Kyle Pitts, Gage and RB’s Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Davis. And of course there’s the anemic pass rush where the Falcons yet again finished at the bottom of the league with just 18 sacks. Lorenzo Carter was brought in to replace Dante Fowler, Jr. who is off to Dallas, but I expect Atlanta to find edge rushers in the first two days of the draft and Jermaine Johnson II would have to be enticing. At the end of the day, despite all the draft buzz, drafting Willis in the top 10 would be too big of a risk. Get a top wideout for Mariota here and address the QB position and pass rush on Day 2 of the draft. Wilson is the vertical threat the Falcons have needed for some time. He’s sudden and strong off the line of scrimmage, shows quick acceleration vertically and is able to sink his hips and generate separation with quick cuts out of his breaks. Wilson also has incredible hands with the ability to go up and extend for the football away from his body while in traffic. Wilson is a 1,000-yard receiver with 4.38 speed, is a savvy route runner, can climb the ladder and attack the ball to make the contested catch, will stretch defenses both vertically and horizontally and is such a reliable target. Pair Wilson with Pitts to give Mariota a one-two punch to immediately upgrade the passing attack.
9. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) – Derek Stingley, 6’0”, 190lbs, CB, LSU, Jr.
04/07/22 - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
02/06/22 (Denver) - Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah
It’s hard to believe Russell Wilson will no longer be in a Seahawks uniform, but the disgruntled QB ultimately ended up in Denver this offseason, which should be an indication that Seattle is in full rebuild mode. However, it’s hard to picture Pete Carroll, who might be 70 years of age but is showing no signs of slowing down, would rather get the Hawks back into contention sooner rather than later. The first question mark that has to be addressed is the QB position. Drew Lock was a part of the Wilson trade, but he’s largely been a disappointment during his time in Denver. Can we expect Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis here? Maybe not, especially with Geno Smith back in the fold and expected to challenge for the starting spot. Duane Brown and Brandon Shell are still unsigned, but there is a good chance both could be brought back. If the Hawks want to move on from the 36-year-old Brown, it’s possible they look to draft Charles Cross if he’s available. However, with Cross off the board, it’s a bit of a reach to go after Trevor Penning here, so Seattle turns to the defensive side of the ball. The Legion of Boom is long gone, but Derek Stingley would bring length and skill reminiscent of the old LOB. Stingley is one of the more polarizing players in this draft. He was a Freshman All-American in 2019 after putting together one of the more dominant debut performances at the FBS level in quite some time after picking off 6 passes and breaking up another 15. He was sticky in man-to-man, smothering his receiver on the outside and was instinctive in off coverage, driving on the ball without any wasted movement to undercut the route and make a play on the football. However, injuries cut short each of Stingley’s next two seasons and his play was inconsistent when he did step onto the field. The question is whether Stingley can put his injuries behind him and return to his freshman form. It’s possible he quieted those doubters after running a 4.37 40 and showcased fluidity, burst, change of direction and ball skills in drills at his pro day.
10. New York Jets (from Seattle) – Drake London, 6’4”, 219lbs, WR, USC, Jr.
04/07/22 - Drake London, WR, USC
02/06/22 - Drake London, WR, USC
The Jets are sitting in a great position to come away with two impact starters in the top 10 of the draft. After going defense with the first pick, whether it’s a pass rusher or a corner, I expect this pick to be used to find Zach Wilson another weapon in the passing attack. That said, with Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner still on the board, a potential option for them at No. 4, he could be the pick to pair with DJ Reed. When you look at the WR position, Corey Davis was solid when he was on the field after battling injuries in 2021, Elijah Moore showed he could be a vertical threat as a rookie while Braxton Berrios was the cult hero down the stretch to earn him a contract extension this offseason. Joe Douglas also got Wilson a pair of starting-caliber TE’s in CJ Uzomah and Tyler Conklin. What’s missing is a WR1, a true go-to weapon for Wilson. London was once a two-sport star at USC, having also seen time on the hardwood with the Trojan basketball team, and his b-ball skills are on display on the football field as he attacks the ball in the air as if he were going after a rebound. You see the body control, the ability to keep the DB on his hip and then extending for the ball while showing tremendous hands to secure the pass. It’s easy to see that London is at the top in terms of the contested catch. While London did double duty his first two seasons, he decided to focus on football full time his junior season and the leap in his play was staggering. Through just eight games, London hauled in 88 passes for 1,084 yards and 7 TD before a broken ankle on a TD against Arizona on Halloween ended his season. Teams knew that London was USC’s offense, yet nobody was able to slow down # 15. Now I’ve heard the comparisons already to big-bodied Pac-12 WR’s who have underperformed at the next level in N’Keal Harry and JJ Arcega-Whiteside, but London is not the same type of player. Harry and Arcega-Whiteside are strictly straight-line players. which doesn’t bode well in terms of separation. However, London’s play on the court again is seen in his route running as London is able to stop and start to create space against his man. There’s more nuance to his route running than people give him credit for and once he gets the ball in his hands, London is a physical presence who is difficult to bring down. London has been known to run through tacklers and will drag defenders for extra yards. London was the target Kedon Slovis looked to on nearly every play at SC and I would imagine Wilson will be doing much of the same once London is in New York.
11. Washington Commanders – Kyle Hamilton, 6’4”, 220lbs, S, Notre Dame, Jr.
04/07/22 - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
02/06/22 - Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
The Commanders came into the offseason with the QB position in desperate need of an upgrade, but after trading for Carson Wentz, it allows Washington to focus on other holes on either side of the ball. After posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Terry McLaurin has proven to be one of the more underrated WR’s in the league, but the rest of the receiving corps is lacking any depth, so Drake London could be a running mate for “Scary” Terry. Defensively, the Commanders gave up the most passing TD and the fourth-most passing yards a season ago, despite solid campaigns from Kendall Fuller and Bobby McCain. Derek Stingley would absolutely be a plug-and-play option to team with Fuller in the slot and William Jackson III on the outside to give the Commanders a solid trio at corner. The Commanders also need a physical presence on the back end of their defense, someone who can fill the position played in recent years by Landon Collins. There’s a chance Hamilton would fall out of the top 10 and with his selection, Washington could team him with Kamren Curl to form one of the top safety duos in the league. Plus, it’ll allow McCain to move into the slot. You just don’t see players like Kyle Hamilton come along very often. He’s 6’4” and 220 pounds, but he has the ability to line up wherever you need him, whether it’s in the box, the slot or as a centerfielder. He can play in single-high and two-high schemes, can be a robber in the middle of the field and some may point to the 4.59 40 at the Combine, but he plays so much faster which speaks to his instincts and overall intelligence. That said, he then posted a 4.7 40 at his Pro Day, which furthered questions about his long speed which, coupled with some inconsistency with the angles he takes to the ball, could be problematic enough to push him out of the top 10. At the same time, Hamilton is a heat-seeking missile against the run, showing an ability to read the play and drive downhill with no wasted movement. He has the length to quickly shed blocks and arrives at the football with bad intentions. He’s much more controlled as a tackler and does a great job wrapping up in space. Hamilton is equally dangerous patrolling the middle of the field, looking to make an impact whenever receivers come into his area over the middle, which often makes wideouts hear footsteps when he’s in the vicinity. He may actually be at his best over the top where he seems to cover an insane amount of ground while taking the proper angle to make a play on the ball. Hamilton put this on display against Florida State where he was lined up on the far hash and as RB Jashaun Corbin ran a wheel route up the sideline, he tracked the play and made it to the near hash when the ball was released, then made it all the way to the sideline to haul in the pick before going out of bounds. He also arrives over the top using his length to be disruptive at the catch point. Hamilton is a virtual TE eraser in coverage with the size to press TE’s at the line of scrimmage and has the fluidity to flip his hips and run stride for stride in coverage. When TE’s are able to get inside position, Hamilton is able to quickly recover and uses his length to make a play on the football. Hamilton’s ball skills are impressive, racking up 8 Int. and 16 pass breakups in his three years with the Irish. For all the physical gifts he possesses, it’s the intangibles, the ability to always put himself in the right position to make a play and his leadership that make Hamilton worthy of a pick in the top 10. Washington would be ecstatic to land him with this pick.
12. Minnesota Vikings –Jordan Davis, 6’6”, 31lbs, DT, Georgia, Jr.
04/07/22 - Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
02/06/22 - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Mike Zimmer is out and Kevin O’Connell is in at HC in Minnesota, but one thing is staying the same as Kirk Cousins returns as QB1, especially after signing an extension that keeps him under center for the Vikes through the 2023 season. That security on the offensive side of the ball has allowed Minnesota to focus on upgrading the defense this offseason as OLB Za’Darius Smith was brought in to team with Danielle Hunter to give the Vikes a formidable pass rush combo, ILB Jordan Hicks is expected to start alongside Eric Kendricks, while DT Harrison Phillips will man a spot up front in Ed Donatell’s 34 defense. The focus of this pick could easily shift to a secondary that was 28th against the pass after giving up 4,300 yards through the air a season ago. Patrick Peterson was brought back on a one-year deal and Cam Dantzler has shown promise, but Derek Stingley would be the missing piece the Vikings need to solidify the back end of the defense and if there’s anyone who would know, it’s his DC from a season ago Daronte Jones, who is now the DB coach in Minnesota. With Stingley off the board, I’m expecting the Vikes to address the defensive front. Think about the possibility. O’Connell saw firsthand with the Rams how a dominant front led by Aaron Donald and Von Miller could take over a game in the 4th quarter. Minnesota already has a formidable pass rush duo in Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith, but what they could use is someone who can collapse the pocket from within. It’s not easy to miss Davis’ size which he uses along with his sheer strength to take on multiple blockers and anchor at the point of attack, which frees up space for the LB’s behind him to make plays. However, once he’s able to get off blocks, Davis has incredible agility to get up the field in a hurry to disrupt the play in a hurry and can also chase down the ball carrier. And his insane workouts match the game tape. Davis’ 4.78 40 at the Combine may be the fastest we’ve seen for a DT weighing over 315 pounds in recent memory, but you also see the footwork and the bend that he displayed. His workouts may have been even more impressive than what we saw from Dontari Poe before he came the 11th overall pick by the Chiefs in 2012. Davis could be the missing link for Minnesota’s front seven.
13. Houston Texans (from Cleveland) –Jermaine Johnson II, 6’5”, 254lbs, DE/OLB, Florida State
04/07/22 - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
02/06/22 (Cleveland) - Garrett Wilson, 6'0", 195lbs, WR, Ohio State, Jr.
This is the first of three 1st Round picks the Texans secured from Cleveland over the next three years in a nice haul by Nick Caserio. I expect Houston to go BPA with this pick and it’s likely going to come down to either an edge rusher or a safety to replace Justin Reid. Houston finished the 2021 season tied for 27th in the league with just 32 sacks. Jonathan Greenard led the team with 8.0 sacks but the only player to rack up more than 3.0 sacks, Jacob Martin, is no longer on the roster. A dynamic pass rusher is a must for Lovie Smith and Jermaine Johnson II feels like the pick here if he’s still on the board. Johnson II emerged as a potential 1st Round pick after transferring from Georgia to Florida State for his senior season and racking up 11.5 sacks in the process. Then Johnson II dominated the Senior Bowl where he was virtually unblockable and followed that performance up with a stellar Combine, running a 4.58 40 in the process. Johnson II is a long-limbed power rusher who works hard coming off the edge and rarely stays blocked. He uses his long levers to create separation from his man and has quick hands to chop down then rip through to get the edge on the OT. He keeps working to the QB, so you’ll see second and third efforts from him before he gets home. For as relentless as he is as a pass rusher, he can be a more dominant run defender. He uses his tremendous strength (he put up 27 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press at his Pro Day) to anchor and set a hard edge, then he uses his length to get under the blocker’s pad level so he can quickly disengage and get after the ball carrier. Once Johnson is around the ball, he’s proven to be a physical and reliable tackler.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Trent McDuffie, 5’11”, 193lbs, CB, Washington, Jr.
04/07/22 - Jermaine Johnson II, DE/OLB, Florida State
02/06/22 - Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
2021 was definitely a season Ravens fans would like to forget. The RB room was decimated before the season even began with JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards both tearing their ACL and Justice Hill rupturing his Achilles tendon, forcing the team to scramble to put the pieces together, bringing in Le’Veon Bell, Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman and UDFA Ty’Son Williams to fill the void. Then there was Lamar Jackson’s health, who suffered an ankle injury Week 14, which resulted in Tyler Huntley taking over under center for the remainder of the season. The result was Baltimore finishing with an 8-9 record, which put them at the bottom of the AFC North for the first time since 2007. Protecting Jackson was an obvious priority following the season and early mock drafts saw the Ravens selecting Trevor Penning with this pick, which was until Morgan Moses was signed in free agency. The focus is said to be turning to the center position now that Bradley Bozeman left for Carolina and Tyler Linderbaum’s name has popped up quite often in more recent mock drafts with this pick. However, Linderbaum’s projection at the next level depends on fit and the Ravens just don’t run a zone-heavy scheme that would take advantage of his elite athleticism for the position. That shifts the focus to the defensive side of the ball and cornerback has become a need with Jimmy Smith a free agent, so Trent McDuffie is in play as he has the versatility to play inside and out in both man and zone schemes and would solidify the unit with Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters. McDuffie doesn’t have ideal size or length, which could cause him problems in trail technique, but he’s an aggressive corner who loves to get physical. He fits well in press man as he likes to get his hands on the WR early off the ball and does a decent job rerouting off the line. From there, you’ll see fluidity in his hips to turn and run with the WR and has the COD skills to easily mirror his man down the field. McDuffie also does a good job reading the QB in zone coverage, trusts his eyes and takes the proper angle to the football. Once he arrives at the ball, McDuffie is very physical at the catch point and is always looking to make a play on the ball. What really has to get a DC excited is his tenacity in the running game as he’s looking to come down and not just wrap up the ball carrier but deliver a punishing blow in the process. You’ll see him not only come downhill to support the run but will also track the ball carrier across the field and takes the proper angle to arrive in a hurry. Honestly, if McDuffie were a couple of inches taller, we may be talking about him as a potential top-10 pick, but Baltimore should jump at the chance to land an impact starter in the middle of Round One.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami) –Jameson Williams, 6’1”, 179lbs, WR, Alabama, Jr.
04/07/22 - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
02/06/22 - Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Philly began the pre-draft process with three picks in the middle of Round 1, the first of which at No. 15 which was obtained from Miami as part of last year’s deal where Miami traded up to get Jaylen Waddle. It’s telling that Philly was willing to trade the No. 16 pick to New Orleans this season despite having a number of holes to address as it says the Eagles are prepared to roll with Jalen Hurts this season, but now with two 1st Round picks next year, they could be all in on a passer if Hurts falters. Philly finished 28th in the league in passing with 3,585 yards and the team received virtually no production from the WR corps. Yes, the Eagles used the No. 12 overall pick a season ago on DeVonta Smith, who led the team both in receptions (64) and receiving yards (916). The only other WR to finish with over 35 receptions and 300 yards was Quez Watkins. Former 1st Round pick Jalen Reagor has been a disappointment while JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward failed to make much of an impact. Now Philly did sign Zach Pascal, who is a solid option as a bigger possession receiver, but they need to get Jalen Hurts another weapon on the outside. This is a copycat league and you know teams will be looking for the next Deebo Samuel, a bigger version of a RB playing the WR position, and Burks is that type of player. The Eagles seem to be interested in having their own Samuel as they not only met with Burks at the Combine but also sent WR coach Aaron Moorehead to Arkansas’ Pro Day to watch him work out. Burks is the vertical threat the Eagles need to team with Smith. He’s tremendous at tracking the ball down the field and his body control allows him to go up and win 50-50 balls at such a high rate. There will be concern about his long speed after the 4.55 40 at the Combine, but while he’s not as explosive as Samuel, he has more size that he uses to his advantage with body position and physicality going up to get the ball and his 10.75-inch hands are massive, which allows him to easily pluck the ball out of the air. What Burks’ can do after the catch with his ability to run through tackles, fight off defenders and deliver a blow whenever he can be very reminiscent of Samuel. If Burks can emerge as a legitimate No. 2 option for Hurts, he’ll not only take pressure off his young QB, but also Smith and TE Dallas Goedert.
16. New Orleans Saints (from Indianapolis through Philadelphia) – Trevor Penning, 6’7”, 325lbs, OT, Northern Iowa
04/07/22 - Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
02/06/22 (Philadelphia) - Jermaine Johnson II, 6'5", 262lbs, DE, Florida State
The Saints held just the No. 18 pick in the draft yet they had two major needs that had to be addressed early in the draft – OT and WR. It was apparent New Orleans knew that the Chargers also need an OT, so they needed to get ahead of the Bolts at all costs. The move costs them a 1st Round pick in 2023, but it allows them to draft an OT to replace the departed Terron Armstead. While the Saints would be ecstatic if Charles Cross were to fall to this spot, they would be equally excited to secure Penning, who brings some attitude and aggression to the offensive front. Penning was clearly a man among boys at Northern Iowa whose game tape seems to be a highlight reel of him manhandling his opponents. Penning is the latest mammoth OT to come out of NIU,, following in the footsteps of Spencer Brown, a 3rd Round pick of the Bills a season ago. Penning looks to physically dominate whoever happens to line up in front of him, which usually ends in either a judo toss or driving his man into the ground. his violent nature is definitely reminiscent of an old school O-lineman looking to break your spirit. He also delivers a strong, violent punch to the chest of the edge rusher that stuns and slows the rush. Yet for all the brute force and physicality, Penning is surprisingly nimble. He plays with good bend and manages to get good depth in his kick slide. His quickness was further on display at the Combine, where he ran an impressive 4.87 40. Penning was able to add size at Northern Iowa as a result of tremendous weight work, but the added weight to the frame didn’t impact his agility. Penning posted a 385-pound bench press despite having nearly an 84-inch wingspan and a 625-pound squat, so he’s definitely put in the work to be a force at OT. Now Penning is far from a finished product. His hands are inconsistent and he struggles to maintain the outside hand at times. You’ll also see him struggle with secondary moves and that pad level needs to stay down or he’ll get walked back to the QB. He also needs to do a better job closing down the space on the rusher so they can’t make a move to get by. However, Penning has all the tools and the fire necessary to be a starting OT at the next level, so if he can put it all together, he could make the Saints look smart moving up to get him.
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Chris Olave, 6’0”, 187lbs, WR, Ohio State, Jr.
04/07/22 - Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
02/06/22 - Trevor Penning, 6'7", 310lbs, OT, Northern Iowa
The Chargers came ever so close to a playoff berth in 2021, but the Raiders had something to say about it, knocking the Bolts out of postseason contention with an OT win to close out the regular season. Now that we’re in the offseason, you have to imagine LA will be targeting two areas early – a RT and a run stuffer up the middle. One position that hasn’t gotten any attention is the RT spot, where Storm Norton struggled mightily, giving up 9 sacks while also committing 6 penalties per PFF. The Chargers have their All-Pro technician protecting Justin Herbert’s blind side in Rashawn Slater and they were hoping to get a physical mauler at RT in Trevor Penning. The only problem is the Saints understood this and are also in need of an OT, so they secured one pick ahead to put them in position to get the OT. DT is also a key need as the run defense was the league’s worst and the additions of Austin Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day is already proof the Bolts understand this is had to be an area of focus this offseason. Jordan Davis would garner serious attention here if he’s still on the board and the top three-technique Devonte Wyatt is also a strong option here, but with reports of character concerns emerging, expect LA to look elsewhere with this pick. I think at the end of the day. if the Chargers can't land Penning, they'll be smart about it and not reach to fill a need, but rather just go with BPA, who could be Chris Olave. Justin Herbert is an emerging star at QB and he has big-play wideouts in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but Olave would bring much-needed vertical speed to the WR corps as a perfect complement to Allen and Williams. Olave is one of the best pure vertical threats in this year’s draft. We were blown away when Olave ran the unofficial 4.26 40 time at the Combine, and the official time of 4.39 is still very impressive. Olave’s game is all about getting separation with his vertical routes – he’s sudden off the line, does a great job at the stem to create separation and has the speed to keep the defender in his rear-view mirror. He’s exceptional at tracking the ball and has the body control to contort his body to haul in the pass and the awareness to always know where he is on the field as his footwork along the sideline is some of the best in this draft. His ability to stretch the defense vertically will be a nice complement to the existing group of WR’s.
18. New Orleans Saints – Kenny Pickett, 6’3”, 217lbs, QB, Pittsburgh
04/07/22 - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
02/06/22 - Treylon Burks, 6'3", 225lbs, WR, Arkansas, Jr.
Losing Michael Thomas before the season began was devastating for the New Orleans passing attack which saw Alvin Kamara lead the team in receiving. The trio of Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris and Tre’Quan Smith proved to be key role pieces for the passing game, but another vertical threat to team with Thomas is a must. Jameson Williams, Chris Olave and Treylon Burks could all be targets. However, the saints made it known the QB position is still a position of need after entering itself in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes before losing out to Cleveland. Jameis Winston was re-signed to a two-year deal and Andy Dalton was brought in to be his backup, but there are concerns that neither is a long-term option, especially with Winston coming off an ACL tear. I expect New Orleans to target a QB at some point in the draft and Pickett is the league’s most NFL-ready of the QB’s in this year’s draft class. Many have thought Pickett, who passed Dan Marino as the Panthers’ all-time leading passer and Alex Van Pelt for most career TD passes at Pitt, worked to prove his arm strength is plenty strong enough for the next level. The biggest concern has seemingly been his 8 5/8-inch hands, which is a likely contributor to his 26 career fumbles. Pickett decided to return to Pittsburgh for a fifth season and really emerged as a top prospect under Mark Whipple’s pro-style offense. He showed the ability to throw WR’s open down the field with good anticipation and his ball placement on vertical throws put the ball over the outside shoulder in stride. He does a good job quickly working through his progressions and is able to see the entire field. Pickett is able to manipulate the pocket and extend the play while keeping his eyes down the field. Pickett is also a better athlete than most give him credit for as he proved to be elusive as a runner and can scramble for extra yards. We saw his speed and creativity in the ACC Championship game where he faked a slide on a 58-yard TD run where he got to show off his 4.73 speed. But Pickett is also equally comfortable lowering his shoulder and running over defenders. Now Pickett has limitations. He struggles to drive the ball if his feet aren’t set under him. Too often, his anticipation was lacking on intermediate throws and defenders were able to jump routes in the process. And for his ability to manipulate the pocket, Pickett also gets happy feet too often and will look to vacate the pocket even when its not needed. And while he’s effective when he can drive the football, his touch throws definitely need work. That said, the growth in Pickett’s game his senior year has to generate excitement that he can continue his development path and take the reins as a starter early in his career.
19. Philadelphia Eagles – George Karlaftis, 6’4”, 266lbs, DE, Purdue, Jr.
04/07/2 - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
02/06/22 - Tyler Linderbaum, 6'2", 289lbs OC, Iowa, Jr.
If you look at the pass defense on paper, you would see they gave up the 11th fewest passing yards in the league a season ago. However, the only 3 CB’s to make an impact were Darius Slay, Steven Nelson and Avonte Maddox. Nelson is gone in free agency and Maddox truly belongs in the slot, opening a key need at the starting corner spot on the outside opposite Slay. Philly could target Trent McDuffie here if he’s available and I wouldn’t rule out Andrew Booth, Jr. either, but I envision the Eagles will prefer to use this pick to continue to address a pass rush that managed a dismal 29 sacks, which finished 31st in the league last season. Adding Haason Reddick, who racked up 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons with Arizona and Carolina, is a great start, but I don’t think they’re finished. Former 1st Round pick Derek Barnett has largely been a disappointment after amassing just 21.5 sacks in his five seasons with the Eagles, but he was brought back on a two-year deal. The good news is if Barnett has another subpar season, there’s only $1.5 million in dead cap at season’s end. Then there’s Brandon Graham, who is 34 years of age and is coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon. He was re-signed to a one-year deal and could also be released after the season. Adding an edge rusher like Karlaftis to team with Reddick and Josh Sweat certainly makes a lot of sense. It’s clear Philly is interested in Karlaftis as they ran his positional drills at Purdue’s pro day and even put him through a private workout after. Karlaftis, a native of Greece, was a world-class water polo player, having played for the Greek National Team. That ability has given him tremendous core and leg strength that come in handy with his speed-to-power moves to the QB. He has tremendous hand usage with precise placement and will look for counter moves to keep working to the QB. Karlaftis amassed 14.0 sacks in his three years with the Boilermakers, including 7.5 in a breakout true freshman season in 2019, but he racked up countless pressures as he kept working to get to the QB and would flash in the backfield late. Karlaftis doesn’t have tremendous bend and has rather short arms, which can pose an issue coming off the edge. However, he won’t be asked to shoulder a ton of the load in 2022 with Barnett and Graham still on the roster. Karlaftis can come in and be a rotational piece early on and continue to work on his game before taking on a more prominent role in 2023.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Malik Willis, 6’0”, 219lbs, QB, Liberty
04/07/22 - Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
02/06/22 - Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
The Big Ben Era has finally come to an end in Pittsburgh. The 11th pick of the 2004 NFL Draft played all 18 seasons in the yellow and black, winning two Super Bowls and finished with the fifth-most passing yards in NFL history. Now that the future 1st ballot Hall of Famer has decided to retire, Steelers fans couldn’t help but ask what’s next? Mason Rudolph was given his opportunity to audition for the starting spot and failed rose to the occasion. This uncertainty led to the signing of Mitchell Trubisky, who instantly becomes the likely starter given his prior starting experience. But Mike Tomlin has already come out and said he will likely target a QB in the draft and Trubisky feels like more of a bridge QB at this point. The Steelers brass visited the Pro Day of every top QB in the draft. Malik Willis seems to be the best fit for the Steelers, but there’s a chance they may need to trade up to get him, which might very well happen, especially since Mike Tomlin wants to be more athletic at the QB position. Willis has been called “the right-handed Michael Vick” with his elusiveness in the pocket, dynamic playmaking ability with his legs and a cannon of an arm. Look, from Josh Allen to Lamar Jackson to Justin Herbert, we’ve seen athletic QB’s whose talent is undeniable. It's easy to pick apart his play, but he was playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the FBS. What you see is effortless delivery of the football, especially down the football field. You also see his ability to quickly process defenses, coming off his first and sometimes second options before firing a strike to a wide open WR. Outside the pocket, Willis is dynamic with his feet against unblocked defenders, often making a downfield pass on a line look easy, even without setting his feet. He can improvise off schedule and can change his arm angle at will. As a runner, Willis has the blend of speed, elusiveness and power to run by, around and through defenders. He reminds me a bit of Jalen Hurts with the way he carries the football. His 878 rushing yards were good for second among FBS QB’s this past season. You could tell Willis was pressing the second half of the season and he did struggle to process the play quick enough in front of him while he was under duress. You’ll also see him drop his eyes to the rush rather than keep his eyes down the field, so his pocket presence needs work. Willis will need time to develop, but he’s clearly the biggest difference maker at the QB position in this draft, so he should be the pick here.
21. New England Patriots –Devin Lloyd, 6’3”, 237lbs, ILB, Utah
04/07/22 - Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah
02/06/22 - Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
The Patriots made a run to the playoffs with rookie Mac Jones under center after finishing 2nd in the AFC East with a 10-7 record. Offensively, Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne were solid role players a season ago, but Nelson Agholor and N’Keal Harry were largely disappointments. The Pats did trade for Devante Parker, but the receiving corps is still lacking a No. 1 WR. Jameson Williams seems to garner a ton of attention here. Trading Shaq Mason to Tampa opens a hole at RG, meaning Zion Johnson, arguably the best OG in the draft, would be a potential pick here. Defensively, New England boasted a top-five defense and actually was 2nd versus the pass. Losing JC Jackson definitely hurts at CB but adding Malcolm Butler to the group to team with the underrated Jalen Mills on the outside with Jonathan Jones returning from injury to man the slot, the Pats made the move to pivot and focus elsewhere with this pick. The focus really should be on the run defense, which really struggled down the stretch. After starting the season 9-4, including a seven-game win streak going into the bye week on Week 14, the Patriots closed out the season losing three of their final four games, giving up over four yards per carry in each of those games to Indianapolis, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Miami. To make matters worse, they struggled in the middle of the field against Buffalo in the Wild Card Game, ultimately getting blitzed 47-17 in that game. New England is desperate for speed at the LB position, an off-ball linebacker who can play sideline-to-sideline against the run and also drop in coverage, something that was also lacking against the Bills. Devin Lloyd, a converted safety, showed his versatility while at Utah, filling the stat sheet in 2021 with 111 tackles, 22 behind the line, 7.0 sacks, 4 Int., 2 of which were returned for TD, and 6 PBU. Lloyd has the range to cover the field sideline to sideline but is also effective slipping blocks and coming downhill to disrupt the run. He can blitz through the A gap, bend off the edge as a stand-up defender and will even put his hand in the dirt. Lloyd also showed the ability to drop in coverage and handle TE duties, something the Patriots absolutely need.
22. Green Bay Packers (from Las Vegas) – Treylon Burks, 6’2”, 225lbs, WR, Arkansas, Jr.
04/07/22 - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
02/06/22 (from Las Vegas) - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
The Packers find themselves in a position not many expected – Aaron Rodgers is back without Davante Adams. After dealing Adams to the Raiders and securing this pick in the process, Green Bay is in dire need of WR help, especially with Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown leaving in free agency. That leaves Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Juwann Winfree as the top returning WR and the trio combined for 946 yards on 76 receptions and 13 TD, which pales in comparison to the 123 catches for 1,553 yards and 11 TD Adams put up by himself. After not drafting a WR in the 1st Round since Javon Walker in 2002, it may be finally time for the Packers to invest in a WR early and I expect them to go with the top available WR on the board and Burks would give Rodgers a legit vertical threat. He’s tremendous at tracking the ball down the field and his body control allows him to go up and win 50-50 balls at such a high rate. This is a copycat league and you know teams will be looking for the next Deebo Samuel, a bigger version of a RB playing the WR position and Burks is that type of player. There will be concern about his long speed after the 4.55 40 at the Combine, but while he’s not as explosive as Samuel, he has more size that he uses to his advantage with body position and physicality going up to get the ball and his 10.75-inch hands are massive, which allows him to easily pluck the ball out of the air. What Burks’ can do after the catch with his ability to run through tackles, fight off defenders and deliver a blow whenever he can be is very reminiscent of Samuel.
23. Arizona Cardinals – Zion Johnson, 6’3”, 312lbs, OG, Boston College
04/07/22 - George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
02/06/22 - Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
2021 was really a tale of two seasons for the Cardinals, who started the season 9-2, but lost 4 of their final 6 games after the bye week before getting trounced by the Rams in the Playoffs. Kyler Murray appears to be back on the same page with the franchise after clearing his social media of any mention of the Cardinals, which allows the organization to put all its focus on the draft going forward. Now the Cards boasted a top-10 offense and the 11th-ranked defense, but there are still areas that can be addressed here. Max Garcia left in free agency and while Will Hernandez was signed to fill his spot at RG, he feels more like a depth piece, so don’t rule out Zion Johnson here. Johnson has five-position versatility and could fill an immediate need at RG and could then kick over to the pivot after the aging Rodney Hudson’s contract runs out at the end of the 2023 season. Defensively, the CB position appears to be in good hands with the duo of Byron Murphy, who led the team with 4 Int. and 12 pass breakups, and 4th Round gem Marco Wilson. However, even after bringing in Jeff Gladney, the Cardinals could still use another corner on the outside to allow Murphy to play in the slot. Trent McDuffie would be in play if he were to fall, but don’t rule out Kaiir Elam, Andrew Booth, Jr. and even Kyler Gordon with this pick. Arizona finished the season with 39 sacks and 21.5 of those were racked up by just two players, Markus Golden and Chandler Jones, but no other player finished with more than 4.0 sacks. Now with Chandler Jones off to Vegas, which leaves Golden without a running mate coming off the edge. Devon Kennard is slated to start, but he wasn’t a factor last season and failed to register a single sack. If George Karlaftis were to fall here, if I’m Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury, I don’t think twice and get the card to the commissioner right away. But with him off the board, I think protecting Murray becomes the top priority, making Johnson the pick. After transferring to BC from Davidson, Johnson started at LG in 2020 before moving outside to LT for his senior season. At the Senior Bowl, coaches took advantage of his intelligence and high football IQ to move him inside to the center position, where he excelled. His future will be along the interior of the line and should be an immediate starter opposite Justin Pugh at OG and should take over for Hudson at center in a couple years.
24. Dallas Cowboys – Kenyon Green, 6’4”, 323lbs, OG, Texas A&M, Jr.
04/07/22 - Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
02/06/22 - Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M, Jr.
Some things change and some just stay the same. We saw Dallas finish the 2021 season with a 12-5 record to win the NFC East but failed to make it past the Wild Card round of the Playoffs. As a result, the attention going into the offseason needs to be in the trenches. We saw Dallas lose out on Randy Gregory, but the signing of Dante Fowler, Jr. to team with Demarcus Lawrence, which tempers the need for another edge rusher. On the other side of the ball, the Dallas O-line has been one of the premier groups in the league, but after Connor Williams left for Miami and La’el Collins was released, we can expect it to look quite different in 2022. Connor McGovern and Terence Steele step into starting roles, but both need to elevate their game and will be free agents at the end of the season. Plus, there’s the long-term health of Tyron Smith that has to be considered. Smith is a four-time All-Pro and was named to his 8th Pro Bowl this past season even though he played in just 11 games, the sixth straight season he hasn’t played a full season. Kenyon Green is one of the more physical, mauling OL in this year’s draft and is poised to be a Week One starter. Green began his career with the Aggies at OG but moved out to OT for his junior season and showed better-than-expected movement skills. However, he’s at his best when he gets his huge hands on the defender and can use his powerful lower body to drive his man off the ball. He’s a definite road grader who looks to manhandle and maul his opponent in front of him. His nastiness along the interior of the OL would be a perfect fit for Dallas.
25. Buffalo Bills – Breece Hall, 5’11”, 217lbs, RB, Iowa State, Jr.
04/07/22 - Andrew Booth, Jr., CB, Clemson
02/06/22 - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The Bills have become one of the top teams in the AFC but exited the Playoffs at the hands of Kansas City for the second consecutive year. Looking at needs, this is a pretty deep roster that was only improved upon with the signings of DE Von Miller, DT’s Daquan Jones and Tim Settle, OG Rodger Saffold, RB Duke Johnson and WR Jamison Crowder. One position that didn’t receive any attention was the CB spot following the departure of Levi Wallace. Dane Jackson will get the first crack at the starting spot opposite Tre’Davious White with Taron Johnson in the slot, but I could see Buffalo to target a corner with this pick to compete with Jackson. However, while the addition of Johnson gives Buffalo a versatile back, he’s more of a No. 3 back than a true backup, meaning the Bills will be on the lookout for a back to compete with Zack Moss right away. And before you say the RB position has been devalued and there’s no way a RB will be taken in Round 1, consider this: at least one RB has been drafted in the 1st Round in each of the last seven years, with two coming off the board in Round 1 as recent as last year. Buffalo has a deep roster and is ready to win now, so adding an explosive piece to the offense like Breece Hall seems like the way to go. He has a great blend of size, contact balance and breakaway speed that franchises covet at the next level. His vision to see cutback lanes, puts his foot in the ground and is able to change directions in a hurry, but also has the ability to stop and start once he’s in the hole to make a defender miss if need be. Hall followed up a productive freshman campaign with back-to-back seasons with over 1,400 yards on the ground, which not only earned him All-American honors but also finished in the top 10 of the Heisman voting in each of the last two seasons. As a ball carrier, his nose for the end zone was obvious, having racked up 50 on the ground in just three seasons with the Cyclones. However, what sets Hall apart is his ability to catch the football out of the backfield, having also hauled in 82 passes in his career at ISU. His hands are spectacular, showing excellent concentration and body control. He does a great job adjusting to the poorly-thrown ball and has a flair for the acrobatic, one-handed catch. Hall could become a favorite target of Josh Allen in the passing game.
26. Tennessee Titans – Jahan Dotson, 5’11”, 178lbs, WR, Penn State, Jr.
04/07/22- Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
02/06/22 - Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia
The Titans were among the league’s top teams throughout the 2021 season and ultimately finished the season as the AFC’s top seed heading into the playoffs. Much of the success was due to a dominant performance by Derrick Henry, who had 937 yards and 10 TD on the ground through eight games before suffering a Jones fracture in his right foot against the Colts. Tennessee finished the season winning six of its final nine games with Ryan Tannehill under center. Tannehill did a good job managing those games, completing 68.7% of his passes, but he averaged just 192.4 passing yards per game and threw 11 TD to 7 Int. during that span. However, it was the playoff performance against Cincinnati in the Divisional Playoff that sealed his fate as the Titans QB. Tannehill’s game was exposed, as he struggled mightily against the Bengal defense, throwing for 220 yards with just 1 TD to 3 Int. that proved costly. Now looking at needs coming into the draft, securing an ILB to take the place of Jayon Brown and Rashaan Evans makes a lot of sense, especially considering Zach Cunningham could be a cap casualty. Adding Nakobe Dean to pair with David Long, Jr. makes some sense. However, the Titans appear to be a QB away from making a serious run at an AFC Championship. According to Spotrac.com, Tannehill’s $29 million base this year is fully guaranteed with a $38.6 million cap hit and has $27 million on the books with a $36.6 million cap hit in 2023, though none of it is guaranteed and if he’s released after June 1st, 2023, would carry a $9.6 million dead cap figure. Adding a QB through the draft who could sit behind Tannehill this year before potentially taking over the following year if the Titans decide to move on could be the surprise move here. Keep an eye on Desmond Ridder here. The WR position will also need attention to take some pressure off Tannehill, Henry and AJ Brown, who’s looking for a new contract himself. Tennessee already traded for Robert Woods, but what the offense needs is an infusion of speed to stretch defenses vertically and Jahan Dotson seems to be the right pick here. Dotson provided the Penn State offense with instant juice with his ability to accelerate to his top-end 4.34 speed in a matter of steps. His breakout season was in 2020 where he racked up 884 yards on 52 receptions and 8 TD, but it was the catch against Ohio State that really put him on the map. He went up along the sideline and made a one-handed catch over Shaun Wade that turned heads. Everyone wants to point to the speed and acceleration, and rightfully so, but it’s Dotson’s hands that will make him a favorite target at the next level as he attacks the ball and plucks it out of the air with strong hands. If you watched him in the drills at the Combine, you saw a WR supremely confident in his hands. Those hands were especially on display in 2021, where he finished with 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 TD. His route running is smooth and crisp and offers up a lot of changing speeds which allows him to create separation at all three levels. Dotson’s leaping ability and body control while in the air to make a play on the ball are phenomenal as well. He also has quite a bit of wiggle to his game that is often on display as a punt returner, where he averaged 13.5 yards per return while also taking one punt back to the house. However, Dotson is very much a finesse WR as he struggles with physical corners and can be re-routed off the line against press coverage. His lack of physicality limits his effectiveness over the middle. That said, I don’t see Dotson being asked to cover the middle of the field because that’s an area where both Brown and Woods excel. Let Dotson go to work on the outside, where he can be a nightmare with his explosiveness.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Lewis Cine, 6’2”, 199lbs, S, Georgia, Jr.
04/07/22 - Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
02/06/22 - Andrew Booth, Jr., CB, Clemson
Tampa has had quite the offseason. First Tom Brady retired, then he unretired, only to have Bruce Arians decide to retire, meaning Todd Bowles steps in as HC. The “Tom Brady effect” saw Carlton Davis, Ryan Jensen, Leonard Fournette and Giovanni Bernard all re-sign with the Bucs. The focus could shift to the interior of the offensive line, where Ali Marpet retired and Alex Cappa left in free agency. The Buccaneers traded for Shaq Mason to address one of the OG spots, but Aaron Stinnie is more of a depth piece, so Zion Johnson or Kenyon Green would make a lot of sense here. We could still see a scenario where free agents Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul and Rob Gronkowski all return to Tampa. That said, if Suh doesn’t return, Devonte Wyatt is an intriguing prospect, though off-field character concerns are tanking his draft stock with teams even removing him from their boards altogether. Now Tampa did sign both Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal to address the void at safety left with the departure of Jordan Whitehead next to Antoine Winfield, Jr. However, neither is a true safety as Ryan can line up in the slot, while Neal could play around the LOS as another LB. Then there’s Mike Edwards, who’s in the final year of his rookie deal. A player like Lewis Cine with the range on the back end to fly around to the football would give them a pure safety on the back end. Cine is aggressive coming downhill, runs the alley well and arrives with bad intentions. He also has good speed on tape, which was confirmed by the 4.37 40 time he ran at the Combine, that allows him to cover a lot of ground over the top. Cine does a good job getting to the receiver over the top to attack the ball at its catch point or deliver a blow to force the football free. Now his aggressiveness will get him in trouble. I think his most famous hit came during his sophomore season as he laid out Kyle Pitts up the seam and was ejected for targeting on the play. However, that aggressive nature is something Tampa needs on the back end of the defense. I think pairing Cine with Winfield, Jr. will give Todd Bowles flexibility on the back end of his defense, which will allow him to use Ryan and Neal in a multitude of ways.
28. Green Bay Packers – Arnold Ebiketie, 6’2”, 250lbs, DE/OLB, Penn State
04/07/22 - Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
02/06/22 - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
The Packers lost OG Lucas Patrick and OT Billy Turner in free agency, leaving Jon Runyan and Royce Newman at OG with Elgton Jenkins, who has started all across the line in Green Bay, the likely candidate at RT. Zion Johnson and Kenyon Green would be likely targets at OG, but both will be gone by the time the Packers draft here, but Sean Rhyan, Jamaree Salyer, Darian Kinnard and Chris Paul are all options after Round One. And with Trevor Penning off the board, Green Bay would be reaching if they targeted Tyler Smith, Daniel Faalele or Bernhard Raimann with this pick, but could be targets on Day 2, along with Abraham Lucas and Nick Petit-Frere. The focus of this pick could then shift to the DL. The Packers have need to get Kenny Clark some help and they did sign Jarran Reed, who played with the Chiefs this past season, but that shouldn’t be the only move up front, especially with Dean Lowry entering the final year of his contract. Devonte Wyatt seemed like a perfect fit, but now it all depends on how the front office and coaching staff feel about the off-field issues that have surfaced. If they’re not sold on Wyatt, then adding an edge rusher to replace Za’Darius Smith to team with Rashan Gary and Preston Smith would be the next move. For three seasons, Arnold Ebiketie showed potential as a skilled edge rusher at Temple, but he blossomed into a legit Round One possibility as a grad transfer to Penn State this past season, finishing the season with 9.5 sacks while also earning a 90.5 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus. Ebiketie is skilled with his hands, using his burst off the ball to then quickly strike with power and precision to get his man off balance. He has a good burst coming off the ball and is able to convert speed to power to drive the OT into the backfield. And when the OT oversets, expect Ebiketie to attack the OT’s inner half to get him off balance en route to the QB. He’s not overly bendy on tape, but I thought he looked more natural dipping as he was turning the corner at the Combine, but Ebiketie does a tremendous job flattening out and then is relentless in his pursuit of the ball. He also has long limbs with arms over 34 inches in length and has tremendous lower body flexibility, having posted a 38-inch vertical leap at the Combine. Against the run expect Ebiketie to slip blocks and get early penetration, but will also stay at home not only at the mesh point, but also on the backside. He lacks the size to put his hand in the dirt, but his effectiveness as a pass rusher will get him on the field early in a 3-4 defense where he can be a stand-up rusher so he can begin teeing off on the QB.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from San Francisco through Miami) – Andrew Booth, Jr., 6’0”, 194lbs, CB, Clemson, Jr.
04/07/22 - Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
02/06/22 (Miami) - Bernhard Raimann, 6'6", 305lbs, OT, Central Michigan
Kansas City received this pick as part of the trade that sent Tyreek Hill to Miami and it’s expected the Chiefs will use this pick to target his replacement. There’s no doubt the WR corps in KC will look a lot different after veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdez-Scantling were signed in free agency to team with Mecole Hardman and TE Travis Kelce. Adding Jahan Dotson to the mix would immediately solidify the WR room and would give Patrick Mahomes another vertical threat. However, with Dotson off the board, KC likely looks elsewhere with this pick as the likes of Christian Watson and George Pickens carry 2nd Round grades. Plus, the Chiefs have ten additional picks, two of those in the 2nd Round, so they could easily use either of those picks or package picks together to trade up to land a WR with WR1 potential. I actually see this pick being used on the secondary as the Chiefs finished with the 27th-ranked pass defense a season ago. Tyrann Mathieu won’t be on the roster in 2022, but Justin Reid was brought in as his replacement to team with Juan Thornhill and Deon Bush has cover skills at the safety position At corner, Charvarius Ward left in free agency, leaving Rashad Fenton to team with L’Jarius Sneed at corner. Then there’s Deandre Baker, who returned from a broken femur to play in eight games, starting one, in 2021. However, the Chiefs could use another CB who can push Baker and Fenton for playing time. Booth is an athletic corner with good size who can play both press man and zone. After being inserted into the starting line up a season ago, Booth has recorded 5 Int. and 9 pass breakups while at Clemson. He can get physical with his man at the line of scrimmage, but he struggles with top route runners, meaning his home at the next level will likely be in off coverage, which will take advantage of his ability to track the ball and burst to close. Once he arrives at the football, Booth’s ball skills resemble that of a WR as he looks to attack it in the air. He’s also physical and willing coming up in run support, which will be a must for the Chiefs. Booth was not able to participate at the Combine after undergoing sports hernia surgery, but that won’t affect his draft stock and the film shows an instinctive ballhawk worthy of a selection in the 1st Round.
30. Kansas City Chiefs – Boye Mafe, 6’4”, 261lbs, DE/OLB, Minnesota
04/07/22 - Boye Mafe, DE/OLB, Minnesota
02/06/22 - Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
The Chiefs have one of the premier D-linemen in Chris Jones, but they were really lacking a spark defensively. That was until Melvin Ingram was acquired via a trade with Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. Adding Ingram had not only a positive impact on Jones, Jarran Reed and Frank Clark, but his motor and relentlessness coming off the edge brought life to the pass rush. Now, with Reed gone and Ingram still a free agent, adding a pass rusher to the mix who can provide that extra juice is a must. Boye Mafe is still a raw edge rusher, but his explosiveness is undeniable. Mafe finished the 2021 season with 7.0 sacks for the Golden Gophers, then we saw the get-off, the bend and the closing burst at the Senior Bowl against top OT’s. From there, the explosiveness was further on display at the Combine, where he ran a 4.53 40 and posted a 38-inch vertical leap at 6’4” and 261pounds. He’s so powerful and has a really effective chop on the outside hand of the OT. Watch out for Mafe’s jab step as he’ll look to cross you over like he’s on the basketball court and get him coming downhill and he’s difficult to slow down. Mafe also covers a lot of ground laterally against the run, often taking away cutback lanes to the inside. He’s still dialing in his instincts as his hands are a bit off, there are false steps in his rush and he struggles at times to locate the football. However, the traits are there to be a dynamic edge rusher and given time with an NFL DL coach, Mafe could easily develop into one of the better rushers in this draft.
31. Cincinnati Bengals – Tyler Linderbaum, 6’2”, 296lbs, OC, Iowa, Jr.
04/07/22 - Tyler Linderbaum, OC, Iowa
02/06/22 - Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
The Bengals’ Cinderella season saw Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase emerge as one of the league’s best combos while the defense proved to be quite opportunistic. Cincinnati came into the offseason knowing they had to protect Burrow if they want to return to the Super Bowl, which is why they were so active in addressing the OL. OC/OG Ted Karras, OG Alex Cappa and finally OT La’el Collins emerge to join LT Jonah Williams and LG Jackson Carman up front. The complete overhaul on the O-line allows Cincy to focus on a secondary that was exposed against the Rams as Matthew Stafford had a field day with Odell Beckham, Jr. early and Cooper Kupp down the stretch. Chidobe Awuzie is likely CB1, but while Eli Apple was brought back, he needs to be pushed on the outside. Andrew Booth, Jr. or Kaiir Elam could be the target here if either is still on the board. However, if the Bengals get a chance to draft the best center to come along in some time, they need to think long and hard about bringing him in. In fact, selecting Linderbaum is right along with the theme form the offseason. Plus, Karras can also play OG, meaning Carman wouldn’t need to be thrusted into a permanent starting role just yet. Few players offer as much upside in this draft than the reigning Rimington Trophy winner. However, while Linderbaum was once seen as a sure-fire lock to be a top-15 pick, his shorter arm length (31 1/8 inches) and need to be in a move-based offense has caused his stock to take a turn. Just a year ago we saw an elite center in Creed Humphrey fall to the 2nd Round and now he's already seen as one of the league’s best. Linderbaum is a former champion wrestler and he brings his understanding of leverage and core strength to the center position. He does a tremendous job maintaining control to keep the hole open and does a tremendous job always seemingly staying on top of the block. His hands are so quick off the ball that he easily wins after the snap and is ridiculously accurate with his punch to the chest plate, plus his hands and feet always work in unison to sustain the block. However, Linderbaum is at his best on the move, showing fluidity to climb to the second level, locates his target and breaks down in space to pick off his man on the move. His understanding of angles is also top notch. That said, his lack of ideal size and length makes it difficult for him to finish blocks, so he’s not much of a fit in a gap-heavy scheme. In the right system, Linderbaum will be a perennial Pro Bowler.
32. Detroit Lions (from LA Rams) – Desmond Ridder, 6’3, 211lbs, QB, Cincinnati
04/07/22 - Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
02/06/22 - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
The Lions have three selections in the draft’s first 34 picks as a result of the Matthew Stafford trade, which allows Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell to continue to move the needle in changing the makeup of the roster. Adding a dynamic WR to team with Amon-Ra St. Brown was a key need which was tempered with the addition of DJ Chark, who is coming off a fractured ankle he suffered after playing in just four games a season ago. Chark is two years removed from a 1,000-yard season, but his biggest struggle is staying on the field. If Jahan Dotson or Jameson Williams were to somehow fall to this spot, I would anticipate the Lions would seriously consider their selection, but a deep WR class allows Detroit to focus elsewhere. The focus of this pick chould be on adding speed to the LB position or selecting a playmaker at safety to team with Tracy Walker. Jalen Reeves-Maybin was the unit’s best player a season ago after he stepped in to fill the void left by Jamie Collins. With Reeves-Maybin moving on in free agency, the team has to search for a replacement. Alex Anzalone showed flashes and his intensity fits well with what Campbell wants to do. Rookie Derrick Barnes showed promise in an up-and-down season. And Jarrad Davis is back in Detroit, but his play has been inconsistent over the last few years. Nakobe Dean would absolutely be on Detroit’s radar, but with depth in the middle rounds of the draft, I am thinking the Lions use this pick on the back end of the defense. Daxton Hill is a versatile chess piece because of his explosiveness on the back end and his cover skills both on the outside and in the slot. But if Detroit is on the market for a QB, doing so with one of their two 1st Round picks makes a ton of sense because it would give them a fifth year of a rookie deal. One QB who has continued to climb up draft boards has been Desmond Ridder, a four-year starter and Cincinnati’s all-time passing leader who led the Bearcats to improve each season he was there culminating in a CFP berth. Bearcat fans were able to watch the maturation process unfold in front of them, a raw QB with physical skills who worked hard at his craft to be a more precise passer with pocket awareness and an ability to make plays with his legs. Ridder is very much a rhythm QB, so his footwork and mechanics are typically in sync. His ability to see the entire field improved each year, but Bama proved he still has a ways to go in this area as he struggled to process the Tide defense in the playoff game. Some say he doesn’t have a tremendous arm, but there is plenty of tape that says otherwise as he has the ability to put throws on a line outside the numbers and can fit the ball into a tight window down the middle of the field. His problem is that his feet don’t always match the upper body, which causes his passes to be off target. Accuracy and ball placement are his biggest struggles, which can absolutely be exploited at the next level. That said, Ridder has been willing to learn and continue to develop. What I like about him is the growth from 2020 to 2021, which reminds me a lot of what Dak Prescott put together in his senor season at Mississippi State in 2015. Prescott had by far his best year as a passer as a senior, completing 66.2% of his passes while throwing for 3,793 yards and 29 TD to just 5 Int., numbers that were by far his best. For Ridder, is completion percentage was down a couple of points to 64.9%, but he threw for 3,334 yards and 30 TD to just 8 Int. The jump in production is a clear sign of progression in his game. Now Ridder wasn’t a dynamic runner, but he sure was effective, rushing for 2,180 career yards, which was just 341 yards less than Prescott. Ridder’s a long strider, very reminiscent of Marcus Mariota, who didn’t seem to be running all that fast, but next thing you knew he was 30 yard down the field. And then there’s the 4.52 400 time Ridder posted at the Combine that really got everyone talking. Ridder is also very mature, a family man, and will be a great locker room guy. It’s just all about consistency for him. His windup delivery can get him into trouble as Pro Football Focus charted 22 passes that were batted down. His arm strength is strong on intermediate throws, but his deep ball allows safeties to come over the top to disrupt the WR at the catch point. The processing, while improved, does need to speed up so he can make it through his progressions. Ridder also needs to play with more anticipation as he doesn’t always throw his WR’s open. However, Ridder is not expected to start right away. He can come in and sit behind Goff and not only learn the NFL game, but also clean up his game before taking over as the starter, which is also critical to take him here at No. 32 overall to take advantage of that fifth year under contract.
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