POST COMBINE MOCK DRAFT
JAX: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Yeah, Jacksonville just franchise tagged Cam Robinson but Evan Neal can play either tackle spot and you need two. Jawaan Taylor hasn’t improved since his rookie year, I expect the Jaguars would still be fine using the first overall pick to upgrade there.
DET: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
It seems the closer we get to the draft, the more distance Hutchinson is putting between himself and Kayvon Thibodeaux (Not that I agree but that seems to be the way its going. The Lions defense lacks adequate NFL talent at all three levels really, and Hutchinson could be their best defensive player right away.
HOU: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Kyle Hamilton is a Myles Garrett caliber prospect at safety. Despite the perceived low positional value, I think teams are willing to take guys like Hamilton early. Houston had a bottom three defense last season, they don’t have any impact guys in the secondary. Take Hamilton and sleep well.
NYJ: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
The Jets’ coaching staff comes from San Francisco, and Ikem Ekwonu reminds me a bit of the 49ers stalwart LT Trent Williams. He’s an absolute mauler in the run game. I saw him pancake at least 5 dudes a game in college. The Jets are going to covet his skillset I think.
NYG: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Kayvon in Wink Martindales blitz heavy scheme is a fit I really like. In cover 0 looks he’ll get unblocked looks and RBs picking him up, which he will absolutely destroy with his explosive first step and strength. He also has the athleticism to drop back into a zone in a simulated coverage. He needs to develop more counter moves but New York would be a great place for him to be productive right away while he develops.
CAR: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
It’s a miracle that anyone in Carolina still has a job after trading what they did for Sam Darnold. I think they might not be so willing to trade even more draft picks now for another mid, risky QB just because they need someone. Taking someone in the draft is probably better for the job security of everyone there. Rhule recruited Pickett at Temple, and Pickett is coming off the best season of all the 2022 draft QBs.
NYG: Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
Thibodeax and Stingley have a very strong chance to be the best two defensive players in this draft, in my opinion, and if I were the Giants and had the opportunity to take them both, I’d do that. They may have bigger needs on the O-Line but with Ekwonu and Neal gone plan B is just to swing for the fences with these defensive prospects.
ATL: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Malik Willis is talented but I just don’t see him being good his rookie year. He’s a long ways away. In Atlanta he wouldn’t have to, but he also wouldn’t have to wait too too long because I can’t imagine Matt Ryan is in the long-term plans of the Falcons. Willis is also from the area, I think this would be a good fit for both parties.
SEA ->BAL*: Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinatti
Baltimore has always coveted badass press coverage corners, which Gardner is. The Seahawks also really like these, but they also love trading back so Baltimore tempts them with this to ensure they can get him instead.
NYJ: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Burks may fall after his disappointing combine performance, but I think the Jets will like him for the same reasons they’d like Ekwonu. I see a 49er in their game. A lot of fans want their favorite WR to be used in a Deebo Samuel role, but most recievers can’t realistically do that. Burks can, and Mike Lafleur might want a Samuel of his very own.
WAS: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
The Washington secondary sabotaged what was supposed to be an elite defense in 2021. Elam has all the tools teams look for: He’s big, he’s fast, he’s a fluid mover, he has good change of direction ability. He’s not the hottest name right now but I think teams will really love Elam and that he’ll go earlier than expected.
MIN: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Walker hype is at an all-time high after he obliterated the combine. Personally I don’t think the top 10 hype is warrented and I’d be uneasy taking him here, but I think the Vikings could use a run defender like him as they convert to more of a Fangio type defense. He’s a really raw and frantic pass rusher right now, but his run defense is elite and that’s going to have a lot of value for teams that run a lot of 2 hi.
CLE: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Jadaveon Clowney is a free agent, and the Browns defensive line outside of Garrett is looking sparce. I think Karlaftis is one of the best prospects in this class honestly. He’s an expert hand-fighter with great size and explosiveness. His array of pass rushing moves is so impressive. The Browns got their WR1 in Amari Cooper, now they make that pass rushing duo really scary.
BAL -> SEA: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
The Seahawks have been getting abused through the middle of their offensive line for a long, long time now. Linderbaum is a little light for a center but he’s and A+ athlete so you hope he can make up for it and become more of a Jason Kelce than a Garrett Bradberry. Kenyon Green and especially Zion Johnson are also options here. Seattle always seems to take someone random though.
PHI: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The Eagles linebackers were a liability last year, Nakobe Dean was the leader of maybe the best college defense of all time. Dean is a bit undersized but he’s really well rounded with special instincts and ability in tight spaces around the line of scrimmage. He’d be an instant upgrade
PHI: Drake London, WR, USC
I think Philly is the best place for London to end up. I always like WR rooms have diverse skillsets. London and Devonta Smith win in very different ways, with Smith being one of the cleanest route runners we’ve seen coming out and London being one of the most dominant contested catch artists we’ve seen. The two of them would at the very least be an aesthetically pleasing pairing.
LAC: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
Davis is, in my opinion, the next Vince Wilfork and the perfect fit for Staley’s scheme. He won’t ever have good sack numbers, but he’ll let you put out light boxes and that’ll let you get coverage sacks, so his impact will be felt in the passing game. Davis, along with Khalil Mack, who might be the best run-defending EDGE in football, give the Chargers super bowl potential imo. Imagine those two on a stunt with Bosa off the other side lmfao.
NO: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi St.
With Terron Armstead likely leaving in free agency, the Saints would be thrilled to replace him with Cross. I’m not sure where NFL teams will be on Cross because he really doesn’t have a lot of run blocking snaps under his belt. Will teams like the Eagles and Ravens have him high on their board? I’m not sure where he goes, but if he falls to the Saints they’d be crazy not to take him.
PHI -> KC: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio St.
With WRs falling down the board a bit here, the aggressive Kansas City Chiefs move up to finally grab a solid WR2 to put alongside Tyreek Hill, something they really haven’t had since Sammy Watkins left (They won the Super Bowl that year). Wilson runs routes I’d describe as frantic and unconventional but they work. He has soft hands, a wide catch radius, great YAC ability, ran a fast 40, and creates seperation.
PIT: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
The Pittsburgh offensive line was pretty pitiful last year, and derailed their planned return to glory as a running team that they were talking about after they drafted Najee Harris. Johnson has had a great pre-draft process, and will probably be the first guard drafted when it’s all said and done
NE: George Pickins, WR, Georgia
I think Pickins is going to go earlier than people think. Explosive passing plays are the most valuable thing for an offense, and huge fast WRs with great hands and ball tracking abilities are good at creating them. The Patriots could use a guy who can consistently do that to stretch their offense vertically. N’Keal Harry was supposed to be that guy, but at this point it’s pretty clear that isn’t happening.
LV: Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
The Raiders edge rushers are solid, Maxx Crosby had a breakout year, Yannick Ngakoue isn’t well-rounded but he’s been a useful speed rusher for a while now. The middle of the D-Line has been a different story for the Raiders though. Wyatt could complete that unit, though.
ARI: Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson
Byron Murphy had a nice season last year, but overall the depth in Carolina’s cornerback room is underwhelming. Outside of Murphy, they’re rocking with Marco Wilson, Antonio Hamilton, and Robert Alford. Tough scene.
DAL: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
It’s no secret that Dallas was looking to add a CB in the first round of last year’s draft, but when Horn and Surtain were off the board, they had to “settle” for Micah Parsons. Although their CB room was actually pretty good this year, I wonder if they trust that to be sustained. McDuffie projects a bit like Jaire Alexander did, and like Alexander I expect him to start his career as the slot corner, where I feel like he’ll excell.
BUF: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
The BIlls pass rush was actually pretty good last season despite the fact that I don’t think they have a pass rusher with a lot of juice off the edge. I think Ojabo gives them that. He’s not stout in run support but they have guys who are. They could rotate in and out depending on the situation while he develops that part of his game.
TEN: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Tennessee SHOULD have the best receiver duo in the league in AJ Brown and Julio Jones, but that didn’t materialize at all last season. The Titans have no depth there right now and if Julio really has fallen off it’s looking really rough. Williams might now be ready week 1 but the Titans can survive that. Play action with Derrick Henry, hit Jameson Williams on the deep shot or AJ Brown on the crossing route. I’m sure that sounds pretty good to Ryan Tannehill
TB: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
Ali Marpet retired, Alex Cappa and Ryan Jenson are free agents. The Bucs interior offensive line is toast at the moment. Kenyon Green is a good guard. They pick Kenyon Green.
GB: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
At the moment I’m optimistic that the Packers will resign Devondre Cambell but he is a free agent and free agency starts very, very soon so maybe my hope is misplaced. If they don’t resign him they’d really need a LB, and if they do resign him this would still be a good pick and one of the more intimidating linebacker duo’s in the NFL.
MIA: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
I think Breece Hall’s combine vaults him into the first round here. I expect Miami to go heavy on linemen in free agency and then spend this pick on the nearly flawless Hall. He has elite elite vision, elite contact balance, home run speed, good hands, elusiveness, and size. His blocking isn’t great but I think both Hall and MSU’s Kenneth Walker are top tier RB prospects.
KC -> PHI: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
The Eagles grab another Georgia defender here. Cine is safety that plays like a linebacker, his run support is great and he’s super physical. He also is a freak athlete and has crazy speed and range as a high safety. The Eagles and their three first round picks can gamble on his athleticism and upside even though he’s not a very hyped up prospect right now.
CIN: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Penning had a great senior bowl and now is on everyone’s radar in the first round. The Bengals would probably be fortunate to actually see him fall this far. Jonah Williams is actually a decent tackle but the thing is you need two of those. Put Penning on the other side and you start to feel a lot better.
DET: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Amon-Ra St. Brown showed some good WR1 traits last season. I don’t know if Olave has really high, dominant NFL wideout upside but I think he’ll be good right away and will always be a nice piece in a reciever room. The Lions are sorely lacking there but St. Brown and Olave could develop into a high level 1–2 punch.