The combine is over, and free agency has fizzled out, which means...its mock draft season.
For the first mock of the season, we assume no trades, and are merely trying to project what each team thinks their biggest weakness is. Enough of a priority to spend a first round pick on at least, and then we break down which available player is the best fit for them at that position of need.
Check out the recently updated Top Prospects article for more info on the players.
1. Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson
-DE, Michigan
Jacksonville franchise tagged left tackle Cam Robinson for the second time, freeing up their first overall selection for a generational pass rusher to put opposite Josh Allen (not that Josh Allen). The Jags would prefer to trade out of the first pick but without an elite QB class, they don’t have anyone to trade down with, and thus Hutchinson is the obvious pick here. They could potentially double down and select one of the premier offensive lineman, but when you have the pick of the litter, Hutchinson is the choice.
2. Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux
-DE, Oregon
Thibodeaux quickly became one of the most polarizing players of the draft, with many evaluators cooling on him as the combine approached. As result we have seen him tumble down draft boards, but as one analyst relayed from a GM in the league, “maybe we are over-thinking this”. Thibodeaux has the pedigree and athleticism to make an immediate impact on the Detroit defensive line, and any concerns about whether he “loves football” should be put to rest quickly. He’s the real deal, and a guy like Dan Campbell knows it. He’s got those knee-biting genes.
3. Texans: Evan Neal
-OT, Alabama
Neal likely would have been the first overall pick until Jacksonville tagged Cam Robinson. At 6' 7" and 337lbs, Neal is hulk of a human being who started every game for Alabama at the highest level for three years, including two national championships. Neal didn't participate in drills at the combine, but that won't stop Houston from taking a cornerstone of their future who will protect Davis Mills and whoever follows for the next decade.
4. NY Jets: Ahmad Gardner
-CB, Cincinnati
"Sauce" Gardner distanced himself as the best corner in the class after a ridiculous showing at the combine. He is a lengthy corner with 4.41 speed and incredible ball skills, able to play in both zone and man schemes. Garner was the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and draws pro comparisons to Richard Sherman, per Bleacher Report.
5. NY Giants: Ikem Ekwonu
-OT, NC State
“Ickey“ Ekwonu had an excellent combine showing to back up a stellar senior campaign at NC State. "A gentleman in class and killer on the grass", per NFL.com's Lance Zuerlein, many analysts think Ekwonu did enough to be the first tackle off the board. The big man does have some issues in pass protection stemming from uncontrolled aggression in certain instances, an easy thing to fix but enough to drop him behind Neal. The Giants need a generational left tackle to provide some protection for Saquan Barkley and Daniel Jones, and having two top ten picks gives them flexibility to take the best available player at 5. Welcome to New York, Ickey.
6. Panthers: Kenny Pickett
-QB, Pitt
The Sam Darnold experiment is over, and Matt Rhule is ready to develop a starting quarterback under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Pickett is the only prospect ready to start week 1 of the 2022 season, and that's what Carolina needs after losing out on the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes. There is an off-chance Rhule and Co. divert from the QB position after their final pro-day evaluations, in which case Charles Cross or Kyle Hamilton could be in play here. But the Panthers need a quarterback, and they are in the driver's seat for this class, so I expect them to take advantage of it.
7. NY Giants: Travon Walker
-DE, Georgia
Travon Walker sprinted up draft boards after putting on a show at the combine, running a 4.51 40-yard dash despite being 6' 5" and 272lbs. The Giants secured their left tackle of the future with the fifth pick, and address their defensive line needs with this one. Honestly after Hutchinson there is a wide debate about who is #2 in the class, thus Walker could well be taken by this point. If not, I believe the Giants can't pass up on the specimen that is Travon Walker.
8. Falcons: Kyle Hamilton
-S, Notre Dame
After trading Matt Ryan and securing Marcus Mariota to helm the team for 2022, Atlanta could use their 8th overall pick for a quarterback. Their defense needs help however, and the generational talent of Hamilton slipping to them might be too tempting. Unless Atlanta wants Pickett or Willis, it's likely they can draft their QB in the second round.
9. Seahawks: Devin Lloyd
-LB, Utah
Could the Seahawks go Malik Willis here? Sure they could, but in the wake of the Russell Wilson trade I see Seattle focusing on roster building before over-drafting a project QB. Plus, they already have one of those in Drew Lock. Lloyd is the premier interior linebacker of this class with the ability to play both mike and will positions. At 6' 2" 240lbs, Lloyd is a former receiver and safety with a nose for the ball that can immediately fill the hole left by Bobby Wagner.
10. NY Jets: Jermaine Johnson II
-DE, Florida St
The Jets already added the best cornerback in the draft with the fourth overall pick, and they back it up with Johnson II to close out the top ten. Johnson was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year last year after transferring to Florida State from Georgia, where he wasn't seeing the field enough behind the Bulldogs elite pas rushers ahead of him. His explosive showing at the Senior Bowl was followed up by impressive combine numbers, causing him to fly up draft boards. He doesn't have a lot of starting experience and is definitely the rawest edge talent at the top of the draft, but the eye test has him drawing pro comparisons to Maxx Crosby with a little polishing.
11. Washington: Drake London
-WR, USC
Washington could move on a quarterback here, but after trading for Carson Wentz they likely use this prime pick to continue building up a woefully underperforming offense. London is the true superstar of this class and fits excellently alongside speed demon Terry McLaurin. "A man among boys in college", writes Bleacher Report, a skill that likely translates well into an NFL full of undersized cornerbacks. Pro comparison? Bucs explosive star Mike Evans.
12. Vikings: Andrew Booth Jr
-CB, Clemson
Initially I had Derek Stingley Jr mocked here to the Vikings, and it's kind of a toss-up as to who they would take between the two. Ultimately, I think Minnesota goes with the slick Booth over Stingley, mainly because of injury concerns for Stingley. Booth lacks the starting experience of other top corners in the class, but his measurable are off the charts and he profiles as a Jenoris Jenkins-style zone corner who can shut down a lot of field on his own, something that will fit well into new DC Ed Donatell's scheme.
13. Texans: Nakobe Dean
-LB, Georgia
Dean provides the Texans with a much-needed field general to run their defense, with effectiveness in both the run and pass game. Dean is a slightly under-sized linebacker at 5' 11", but his wingspan of 6' 4" hides a lot of those issues in coverage other smaller backers have. Dean did not participate in the combine, but impressed NFL staffs at the Georgia pro day enough to secure him as a first-round pick.
14. Ravens: Devonte Wyatt
-DT, Georgia
Wyatt is a hulk of a man who just feels like a Raven. He will hold down the middle of the defensive line from day one for Baltimore, giving them immediate run-stuffing ability combined with a developing skill for pass rushing from the interior, ala Aaron Donald.
15. Eagles: Charles Cross
-OT, Miss St
Some had Cross valued as the best tackle in the class, but Neal and Ekwonu go off the board early and we see Cross fall to the middle of the round. Philly gets an absolute steal here. The biggest reason Cross falls behind Neal and Ekwonu is his less-than-ideal lateral speed and ability to engage, meaning he matches poorly with speedy edge rushers. He is a day-one starter however, and immediately helps shore up an offensive line that has kept Jalen Hurts running for his life over the last several seasons.
16. Eagles: George Karlaftis
-DE, Purdue
Karlaftis has been all over draft boards, mocked as high as top five and as low as...second round. Karlaftis is ready to start day one and is by my estimation the third-best all-around defensive end in the class behind Hutchinson and Thibodeaux. There is room for refinement concerning his run stopping, but his relentless stamina makes him an every-down defender that will wear down opposing tackles over four quarters of football.
17. Chargers: Trevor Penning
-OT, N. Iowa
The Chargers need to protect Justin Herbert, plain and simple. They spent a lot of free agency money on the defense (and wideout Mike Williams), so it's up to the draft to shore up the pass protection. Trevor Penning is an absolute monster, with his college 99.9 run-blocking grade the highest ever charted by Pro Football Focus.
18. Saints: Desmond Ridder
-QB, Cincinnati
New Orleans signed Jameis Winston to a two-year deal, but it's clear he won't be the franchise plan. Ridder is perhaps the smoothest of the quarterback prospects this year and will benefit from sitting behind Winston before taking snaps under center himself. At Cincinnati he increased his passer rating each year he played and has drawn college comparisons (based on his numbers) to Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen. Ridder can move the ball with his feet, but showed in 2021 he is also a prolific passer, throwing for 3300 yards and a 30/8 TD/INT ratio in 14 games.
19. Eagles: Derek Stingley Jr
-CB, LSU
Stingley Jr was a top ten prospect until the combine, where he did not participate. Stingley excelled against the toughest competition at LSU, but a foot injury kept him out of all but three games in 2021 which has him sliding a little. I have the Vikings passing on him at 12 in favor of Clemson's Andrew Booth, but the Eagles won't let the elite talent fall past 19 as they need some serious help in the coverage game.
20. Steelers: Malik Willis
-QB, Liberty
The Steelers could trade up for Malik Willis, or snag the raw QB if he were to fall this far, but it's doubtful Mike Tomlin will spend a first round pick on a QB other than Pickett or Willis. With Pickett off the board, the Steelers grab their favorite prospect who doesn't have small hands. The general consensus here is, Willis has the raw talent to be a unique threat at the next level, but he still is still tripping over his own feet in the pocket. Pittsburgh by all indications loves the kid though, and developing him at their own pace behind Mitchell Trubiskey isn't the best plan in the world (think Trey Lance/Jimmy G).
21. Patriots: Kenyon Green
-OG, Texas A&M
Does Bill take a wide receiver here? It's possible, and the Pats need receiving help. This draft is deep with wideouts however, and it's not the Patriot way to overdraft a dependent position when the need can be filled for less capital. Either way, I think Belichick is still gun shy from the N'Keal Harry debacle and will opt to fix another need on the depth chart: guard. Shaq Mason is gone, Joe Thuney is gone, and James Ferentz/Mike Onwenu aren't the answer for protecting their young quarterback. Green was an absolute road grader for A&M at 6' 3" 325lbs and has the athleticism to pass block and also target-seek linebackers for impactful downfield run blocks as well.
22. Packers: Garrett Wilson
-WR, Ohio State
Wilson could be a top ten pick, but I think we see a lot of the receivers slide in favor of other key positions. The Packers need receiver help after losing star receiver Davante Adams and utility guy Marquez Valdez-Scantling, and Wilson has the skills to immediately start on the outside. He is slightly under-sized at just 6' 0" 180lbs but makes up for it with clean route running and blazing 4.38 speed. I fully expect Green Bay to take more receivers in later rounds as well but snagging arguably the best receiver in the class at 22 is a good start.
23. Cardinals: Boye Mafe
-DE, Minnesota
Boye Mafe has been on the edges of first-round scouting reports all offseason. He put up great combine numbers, and at 6' 3" 260lbs he is large but agile with a 4.53 40 time to boot. Mafe is certainly raw but has the pass-rush tools that can be refined at the next level. After losing Chandler Jones to free agency, the Cardinals need another anchor opposite JJ Watt to pressure the elite offenses of their NFC West division.
24. Cowboys: Tyler Linderbaum
-Center, Iowa
Linderbaum is the best interior lineman prospect of the draft, with clean snaps and the ability to get off the ball and drive interior defensive lineman deep downfield in the run game. Dallas has been lacking at center play as of late, and despite losing tackle La'el Collins a few weeks ago to Cincinnati, Linderbaum is the best lineman available. He is slightly undersized for an offensive lineman, coming in at 6' 2" 292lbs, but he doesn't look undersized on tape. Pro comparison? Jason Kelce. I think Dallas would take a young version of Jason Kelce.
25. Bills: Kyler Gordon
-CB, Washington
The Bills could go any number of ways with this pick, but where they need the most help is pass coverage, and some of the best players left on the board are...defensive backs. Kyler Gordon has the athleticism to hang with speedy slot receivers, and the ball skills to break up passes on the outside. His 4.52 combine speed wasn't impressive, but he makes up for it with field awareness and an acute ability to read receivers to know where the ball is. With a little shine, Gordon will be a key part of the Bills future.
26. Titans: Bernhard Raimann
-OL, C. Michigan
The Titans need depth on their defense, but if they want to compete on offense consistently, they need help on the offensive line. Raimann is a converted tight end who seamlessly transitioned to tackle despite being slightly undersized for the position (undersized is becoming such a common trend in the NFL, maybe it's the new normal). Though he primarily played tackle for Central Michigan, the Titans could employ Raimann at guard and eventually transfer him to right tackle opposite Taylor Lewan.
27. Tampa Bay: Tyler Smith
-OL, Tulsa
Tyler Smith has been rocketing up boards during the pre-draft process. Initially thought to be entering the draft too early (Smith turns 21 next month, with essentially only one season starting fully at tackle), his combine and pro day numbers have laid a lot of that concern to rest. 6' 6" and 330lbs, he has the athleticism and fluidity of a much smaller man and slides laterally with ease to counter even the fastest speed rushers. He is still a raw prospect with "lots of bad habits" according to Pro Football Network's breakdown on the tackle, but after the retirement of Ali Marpet the Bucs need some line help to protect the returning Tom Brady and Smith represents the highest upside left on the board.
28. Packers: David Ojabo
-Edge, Michigan
I had seen Ojabo mocked as high as 7th overall to the Giants, and as low as second round, all before he tore his Achilles at the Michigan pro day a week ago. Ojabo has unique pass rushing skills anchored by precise hand and foot movements that you can't really teach a prospect. He lacks a little in run stopping, and perhaps takes a hit in the scouting department because his best tape was opposite generational prospect Aidan Hutchinson at Michigan. Ojabo is an elite talent with the potential to secure Green Bay's line for years to come opposite Preston Smith, who0m the Packers gave a big extension to. Though Ojabo tore his Achilles recently, which means he will miss training camp and a chunk of the early season, I believe his upside will be too hard to let slip for a team like Green Bay. If they don't snag him here, he isn't making it out of the first round.
29. Chiefs: Daxton Hill
-S, Michigan
Kansas City let Tyrann Mathieu walk in free agency (so far) and despite signing Justin Reid, the Chiefs need more help in coverage. Hill is climbing up draft boards as one of the sleepers of the class after his combine numbers wowed viewers and NFL coaching staffs alike. At 6' 0" 190lbs with a scorching 4.38 40-yard dash, Hill has the potential to be a generational safety and a steal of the draft, drawing pro comparisons to New England's Devin McCourty.
30. Chiefs: Jameson Williams
-WR, Alabama
Williams going before Chris Olave may sound unrealistic to some, but the Chiefs just lost Tyreek Hill and the speediest guy on the board (unofficially) is Jameson Williams. Williams actually transfered to Alabama from Ohio State to get out from under the Olave/Wilson duo clogging his path, and it paid off with a National Championship victory in 2021. That victory also came with a torn ACL in the big game, meaning Williams missed out on any combine or Pro days to showcase his burning speed. According to the receiver himself, he would have run a faster 40 at the combine than Baylor’s Tyquan Thorton (4.28) and if the unofficial Alabama 40 time counts for anything, he’s right: he’s listed at 4.25. Andy Reid gives Pat Mahomes a shiny new toy, but one that will miss a few games rehabbing his ACL before getting in the field in 2022.
31. Bengals: Christian Harris
-LB, Alabama
The Bengals went about free agency with a reckless abandon, signing their home-grown safety Jessie Bates III to a major deal, and acquiring tackle La'el Collins form Dallas. The Bengals could certainly trade down out of this pick, but if they stay here, I see Zac Taylor filling a gap in his roster that could use an upgrade: middle linebacker. The interior backers on the Bengals roster are guys you probably haven't heard of, which is odd for a team that just went to the super bowl. Christian Harris has the pedigree to control the middle of the field at the NFL level and immediately gives Cincinnati a hard-hitting presence with a nose for the ball in both the run and pass game. Harris is slightly undersized at 6' 0" and 226lbs, but then again so was Ray Lewis.
32. Lions: Trent McDuffie
-CB, Washington
McDuffie is slightly undersized but possesses a rare ability to shadow his assignments with crisp accuracy, mirroring routes and breaking up plays with a mixture of physicality and his 4.4 speed. The Lions could go any number of ways here (mostly I'm seeing receivers mocked to them here) but sometimes when a talent like McDuffie falls to the end of the round...you take him. McDuffie will fit well in the aggressive zone scheme Detroit employs, opposite young star Jeff Okudah.
Stay tuned for the SportsLeaf Mock #2, which will include expected first round trades and deep dives on each team to narrow the possibilities at each pick.
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