So after sleeping on it I have some more thoughts on the first round of the NFL Draft so I thought I’d write them down.

• The Jaguars taking Travon Walker is still just a massive swing for the fences. He has no real pass rush moves and they don’t have a great track record of developing players. They also traded up back into the end of round one to take Devin Lloyd. I love Lloyd as a player but they paid a steep price to move up a few spots when there were a number of good LBs that could have still been there at pick 33. This first round once again proved the Jaguars still don’t really get it and having Trent Baalke as your GM is a bad idea.
• The Lions set a land speed record in turning in the card to pick Aidan Hutchinson, hey, when you know, you know. Trading up from 32 to 12 for WR Jameson Williams is a ballsy move. It’s great for them, they need playmakers, and it’s great for Williams. The Lions won’t rush his recovery. They don’t care if he plays this year at all. He’s an investment in the future. They may have paid a lot to move up, but when you have sucked as long as they have sucked, a bold move is often needed.
• I love Derek Stingley Jr and I’m glad he didn’t fall in the draft but I think that choice has a deeper meaning. Texans GM Nick Caserio took a CB that doesn’t really fit Lovie Smith’s preferred scheme, I think that says a lot about Caserio’s plans for the future and means Lovie is a short term coaching solution. Caserio just took the best player to improve the team roster, not the guy who fits the current coach. I think Caserio settled for Lovie during the coaching search and he’ll get his guy once he has a better roster to sell to a potential coach.
• The Jets took a cornerstone corner in Ahmad Gardner, a perfect fit WR Garrett Wilson, and then traded back into the first round to grab the biggest steal DE Jermaine Johnson. Gardner gives them a legit #1 CB and makes free agent DJ Reed a #2, like he should be. Wilson is the perfect Z receiver to complement Corey Davis (the big X) and their slot guy Elijah Moore. Jermaine Johnson is going to be a menace under the tutelage of Robert Saleh. As a Patriots fan, I couldn’t hate this draft more. That’s a good sign for the Jets.
• The Giants got an elite pass rusher in Kayvon Thibodeaux and a legit OT in Even Neal. Thibodeaux can be a star as long as he doesn’t let the glitz and glamour of New York consume him. I don’t like Neal as much as others but he’s a real starting NFL OT and he solves their RT problem for good. He’s not always as dominant of a run blocker as you might want but he will make Daniel Jones’ life a lot safer.
• Carolina and Seattle did the smart thing by both grabbing starting LTs. The Panthers got Ekwonu, he’s a rising star and he’ll start for them from day one and probably for the next decade. He’s a running game beast so if they can keep Christian McCaffrey healthy, the run game can improve. Charles Cross goes to Seattle and he’s the best LT they have had since…Walter Jones? Maybe I’m not giving Russell Okung and Duane Brown enough credit but it’s been a while. Cross wasn’t asked to run block much in college but he’s a pass blocking savant.
• There were six WRs drafted between picks 8-18, and they all went to places were they can excel. I’m not a Drake London fan but he’s immediately the #1 WR in Atlanta and Marcus Mariota can’t throw every pass to Kyle Pitts, so London will get plenty of chances. Garrett Wilson is perfect for the Jets’ needs. The Saints traded up for Chris Olave, he’s a great complement to Michael Thomas and his precision in being where he is supposed to be will give Jameis Winston his best chance to be successful. Jameson Williams needs time to heal and the Lions don’t need to rush him. Jahan Dotson was probably over drafted at 16 overall but there was a run happening and Washington didn’t want to miss out. He would be miscast as a true #1 immediately but with Terry McLaurin there he can ease in. He’s also a potential replacement if McLaurin becomes too expensive and Washington decides to move on. Finally, the Titans traded AJ Brown for a pick and then immediately drafted his exact replacement in Treylon Burks. Burks is a raw version of Brown and needs some work but the Titans will find ways to get the ball to him and let him make plays in mean time.
• Speaking of WRs. There were two big WR trades that went down. The first, AJ Brown going to the Eagles is huge. The Eagles have drafted a number of WRs over the past few years who haven’t worked out (Jalen Reagor, JJ Arcega-Whitside, etc.) so they just traded for a very good 24 year old guy. Also, Brown is a great complement to Devonta Smith, the one WR they actually may have hit on. Brown is big, physical and thick as opposed to Smith who is a string bean. The Titans went for the cheaper option, the Eagles are trying to win. I’m not sure this helps Jalen Hurts. Brown is a master of playing the game over the middle of the field and Hurts is pretty bad at throwing over the middle, it may be the thing that exposed Hurts as not the guy moving forward.
• The second WR trade was the head scratcher. The Cardinals traded the 23rd pick to the Ravens for Marquis “Hollywood” Brown. Hollywood is a small stature, one-trick pony. He’s fast, that’s it. The one thing he has going for him in Arizona is he is close friends with Kyler Murray. Once again, Steve Keim has no idea what he’s doing. The Ravens dumped Brown because they don’t want to pay him in another year and don’t care to pick up his fifth year option. Smart decision. Keim gave up a premium pick for on one dimensional WR he’s going to have to pay up for in a couple of years. WR wasn’t really a glaring need for the Cardinals and they gave up a pick that ended up being Kaiir Elam, a guy they could have really used, or Jermaine Johnson, George Karlaftis, Devonte Wyatt, or Daxton Hill, all guys they could have used. I’m not a Hollywood Brown fan so Steve Keim liking him is not a surprise. Brown is the third best WR on the Cardinals, at best.
• The Ravens ended up with the best safety in the draft Kyle Hamilton, and the best center in draft Tyler Linderbaum. The lesson, as always, draft like you’re the Ravens, it usually goes well. They turned Hollywood Brown into Tyler Linderbaum and an extra pick from Buffalo.
• The Chargers got one of the best offensive lineman in Zion Johnson, they may have to sign a veteran RT since Johnson is best at OG but they could even consider moving Matt Feiler from LG to RT and put Johnson at LG. Either way, he upgrades the line protecting Justin Herbert, win.
• The Saints not only got Chris Olave but they got Trevor Penning to fill their LT need. He’s not as polished as the first three guys (Ekwonu, Neal and Cross) but he’s starter worthy and he has a high upside.
• The Steelers took Kenny Pickett. The Rooney family has never gotten over passing on Dan Marino out of Pitt almost 40 years ago, they just couldn’t help themselves this time.
• The Packers took two Georgia defenders. That will improve their defense but how did they not move up for a WR or trade for one of the Browns (AJ and Marquise, not the Cleveland kind). That’s a whiff.
• The Patriots spent a first-round pick on a guy who was a third-team All-American guard…in the FCS. If they had picked him with their 2nd round pick (54th overall), I would have been fine with it, that would have been a small reach for a potential starter. They didn’t have to take him here, even if he would have been gone before 54th, I can name five interior offensive linemen they could probably get at 54th that could start (Sean Rhyan, Dylan Parham, Ed Ingram, Darrian Kinnard, and Jamaree Salyer, I said I could name five). I’m starting to think Belichick got lucky with last year’s draft because this has been his usual for the past several years. With Nick Caserio and now Dave Ziegler gone, they need someone to challenge Belichick a bit when it comes to the draft. Matt Groh took over as Director of Player Personnel after Ziegler left but he came up in the Patriots organization. I wish they would empower someone with at least some outside perspective, like Eliot Wolf, to challenge the draft decisions of Belichick. Cole Strange may end up being a good player but he would still end up a good player if he had been drafted in round two or three and the Patriots could have him and a LB like Nakobe Dean, a pass rusher like George Karlaftis, a CB like Andrew Booth Jr or Roger McCreary, I could go on. I already hate this draft for the Patriots, if he takes WR Christian Watson at 54, I’m going to lose my mind.
• The Chiefs kind of killed it. They moved up to grab a CB they need in Trent McDuffie, he’s really good and he can start for them either outside or in the slot. He upgrades the secondary a lot. Then they stayed put at 30 and had DE George Karlaftis fall in their laps. He’s an excellent pass rusher, he’s strong as an ox and if he outplays Frank Clark next year, I won’t be even a little shocked. They really improved their defense in round one. A good organization making smart picks because they have a smart GM they listen to who isn’t their head coach, novel approach.
• Finally, the two safeties that went at the end of the round. Daxton Hill is more than a safety and Bengals defense is going to love having him around. He can do a lot of things well and they need that in back end. Lewis Cine is the type of modern safety the NFL loves and now the Vikings have a guy who can play with Harrison Smith now and be his replacement eventually.

I’m going to do a running Live Draft Diary again like I did last year. We will see how it goes, hopefully everyone enjoys. Draft starts at 7pm (central time). See you then.

This draft has been roundly criticized for being pretty weak overall. I would agree with that assessment overall. I think once you get past the top 50 (or so) players, the quality starts to drop off. With that said, there are guys I like and guys I don’t. Here’s a quick list.

Guys I like. QB Desmond Ridder, WRs Garrett Wilson, Jahan Dotson, Treylon Burks, David Bell, RB Breece Hall (begrudgingly). Offensive Linemen, Tyler Linderbaum (he’s going to be an All-Pro on the right team), Ickey Ekwonu, Zion Johnson. On defense, DEs Aidan Hutchinson, Jermaine Johnson, LBs Nakobe Dean, Devin Lloyd, Christian Harris. Safeties, Kyle Hamilton, Daxton Hill, Dane Belton (that’s not just a homer pick). CBs Derek Stingley Jr., Ahmad Gardner, Roger McCreary and Tariq Woolen (not sure why).

Guys I don’t like so much. All the other QBs (my second favorite to Ridder is probably Sam Howell). WRs Drake London (I’m just not feeling it). The rest of the RBs but maybe James Cook pretty late. All the TEs. Offensive Lineman, Evan Neal (he’s better than Cam Robinson and Alex Leatherwood but I’m avoiding him). DEs Travon Walker (if he’s a top two pick). LB Quay Walker (I just know Belichick’s going to take him in round one. CB Andrew Booth Jr (he grabs a lot), Kyler Gordon (if he’s a 1st round pick).

Here we go!

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker DE Georgia

This is the Trent Baalke crazy train taking off. Taking an edge rusher who doesn’t have any pass rushing moves is quite scary. The Jaguars take an athletic freak but I really think he could be a huge bust with this organization. It’s Doug Pederson’s job now to not only fix Trevor Lawrence but make sure Walker doesn’t turn into the usual Jaguars pick.

2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson DE Michigan

The Lions took a whole nanosecond to take Hutchinson. They win this. He’s far more athletic than he is getting credit for. He’s a stud, they love him and he’s a perfect fit, they need him.

3. Houston Texans: Derek Stingley Jr CB LSU

My favorite CB. He had quite the yo-yo draft season. He was up, he was down, now he’s back up. He’s an elite CB, great instincts, he’s fantastic. Hopefully the Texans don’t screw him up. Don’t blow this Lovie.

I think this is Kayvon Thibodeaux at 4.

4. New York Jets: Ahmad Gardner CB Cincinnati

They go with Gardner. They definitely need a CB. DJ Reed can only cover one side. I like Gardner for sure. I like this pick over Thibodeaux I just didn’t think they would actually go CB over the defensive line.

5. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux DE Oregon

The Giants have to have pass rusher and there’s a drop off after Thibodeaux. He will pair well with Azeez Ojulari and now they have some edge rushing.

Just an FYI, for the first time ever I’m not watching the draft on ESPN or the NFL Network. I’m watching The Athletic Football show on YouTube. It’s basically three guys talking about the players and not all the fluff. The best draft evaluators aren’t at ESPN or the NFL Network. It’s the guys at The Athletic and the guys at The Ringer. Dane Brugler, Nate Tice, Ben Solak and Danny Kelly are my favorites.

6. Carolina Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu OT North Carolina St.

I would have passed on a QB too. Ekwonu is the best OT in this class and they just got him at 6. They actually need a LT more than they need a QB. Sam Darnold is a better QB than Cam Irving is a LT. He’s a beast. Love the pick.

7. New York Giants: Evan Neal OT Alabama

The Giants got themselves a new RT. Sorry, Matt Peart but you never took the job. No more excuses for Daniel Jones.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Drake London WR USC

Not my favorite guy but I can’t fault the Falcons. They NEED a WR more than anyone. Big WRs without great speed like London can either turn into Michael Thomas or N’Keal Harry, I have Harry PTSD so that’s probably why I don’t like him so much. It’s probably not going to help him that his QB will likely be Marcus Mariota this year.

9. Seattle Seahawks: Charles Cross OT Mississippi St.

Hey, the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson and now they finally get a LT. He’s the starter right now, and he’s the best offensive lineman on the team. This was a no brainer.

10. New York Jets: Garrett Wilson WR Ohio St.

Good WR and now they have the Wilson to Wilson connection. He’s better than Corey Davis and he could help unlock Elijah Moore a bit. Wilson, Davis and Moore are actually good complementary players at receiver.

11. New Orleans Saints (TRADE): Chris Olave WR Ohio St.

The Saints make a move up to get the WR to play opposite Michael Thomas. Olave runs routes like a seasoned pro and he starts on day one. He has speed too. Trading up for a WR is a little strange but they have needed another WR for years.

12. Detroit Lions (TRADE): Jameson Williams WR Alabama

Major move for the Lions. They get the best deep speed WR in this draft. Now they just have to get a QB who can throw to him. That’s an aggressive more. Good for them.

TRADES GALORE. Philly is moving up here. It’s getting Crazy!

13. Philadelphia Eagles (TRADE): Jordan Davis DT Georgia

The scariest human on the planet. He’s gigantic, fast, and he’s a freak at his size/athleticism combo. They need to get younger at DT, good call and they didn’t pay too high of a price to move up.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton S Notre Dame

Great value. They took the best player on the board. He isn’t a natural fit after they just signed Marcus Williams and they have Chuck Clark but Eric DeCosta doesn’t go against his board.

15. Houston Texans: Kenyon Green OL Texas A&M

They need help up front and Green could be an OG or he could start at RT. He’s good but this might be a little high.

16. Washington Commanders: Jahan Dotson WR Penn St.

Wow, the WR run is taking over. I like Dotson but at 16 seems high. He’s a little small but I do love what he does. He’s a playmaker, unfortunately now he plays with Carson Wentz.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Johnson OL Boston College

Johnson is a beast. He starts immediately at RG but maybe he’s a RT if needed, he’s better inside. They still need a real RT but Johnson is great.

18. Tennessee Titans (TRADE): Treylon Burks WR Arkansas

The Titans traded AJ Brown to Philly for this pick, that’s a huge move. Brown and DeVonta Smith in Philly is awesome together. Then the Titans took their AJ Brown replacement in Burks. I like Burks and he’s perfect for their offense, clearly, since he’s just like Brown.

19. New Orleans Saints: Trevor Penning OT Northern Iowa

The Saints got their LT. Penning is a small school guy but he’s 6’7 325 lbs. and he’s got a nasty demeanor. They once turned Terron Armstead into a stud quite quickly, now it’s Penning’s turn.

Is this the QB? Which QB if it is? Willis? Ridder? If it’s not a QB here, one may not go in round one.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett QB Pittsburgh

Well, I guess Mike Tomlin’s love affair with Malik Willis didn’t win out. Mitchell Trubisky may not be the starter in Pittsburgh right away. Pickett literally gets to stay at the same stadium and same workout facility. He can start right away but his ceiling is limited. Solid choice, not great.

Now the Patriots get to disappoint me. Yep, just traded back.

21. Kansas City (TRADE): Trent McDuffie CB Washington

They needed a CB so they moved up and got the 3rd best guy in the draft. He can play any scheme and he can start right away. Like the pick, love the value.

22. Green Bay Packers: Quay Walker LB Georgia

Thank you Green Bay for taking Walker, he’s good but I didn’t want the Patriots trading back to wait for him. The WRs are gone so they get a LB they need.

23. Buffalo Bills (TRADE): Kaiir Elam CB Florida

They needed a CB and now they have one. Elam is a top-notch athlete and he completes that defense. He’s big, physical and he won’t back down from anyone. Like his fit here.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Smith OL Tulsa

This guy is a project. They wanted Zion Johnson, Kenyon Green or WR Treylon Burks and all of them were gone. Smith can start at LG this year and they can hope he either excels there and then he progresses to be a LT to replace Tyron Smith eventually. It’s going to be a process but he has raw talent.

25. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum C Iowa

The Ravens need a center and Linderbaum will step in as a starter immediately. It seems like a weird fit scheme wise but they will find a way to use him and he will be a stud. The Ravens last Iowa interior was Marshall Yanda, that worked out.

26. New York Jets (TRADE): Jermaine Johnson DE Florida St.

I can’t believe Johnson fell this far and the Jets moved back in to the first round and got him. Three first round picks for the Jets and all three are good. As a Patriots fan, I hate this.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (TRADE): Devin Lloyd LB Utah

Damn it Jags. They move up and take Lloyd, the guy I would have loved for the Patriots to take. They definitely need another LB so this makes a ton of sense. Lloyd is a three-down LB and he’ll start right away in Jacksonville.

The Patriots are probably going to trade back again now. The least shocking thing that could happen in a minute.

28. Green Bay Packers: Devonte Wyatt DL Georgia

So that’s two Georgia defenders for the Packers and no WRs for Aaron Rodgers. There isn’t a WR worth taking after the run came so early but it’s just funny to see. He has the versatility to really help the defensive line and give Kenny Clark some help.

29. New England Patriots: Cole Strange OL Tennessee-Chattanooga

Oh seriously? They reach for an interior offensive lineman. Nakobe Dean would have been a far better choice. They need an OG but they could get one later. I hate this pick. He can start next year but really?

30. Kansas City: George Karlaftis DE Purdue

Great choice by the Chiefs. Karlaftis can really help them next season and fills a huge need. He’s a power rusher so he’s a complement to Frank Clark.

31. Cincinnati Bengals: Daxton Hill S Michigan

Really like Hill, he can play in the slot and he could play outside at CB if they need him. They don’t have any long-term guys at safety with Jessie Bates on the franchise tag.

32. Minnesota Vikings: Lewis Cine S Georgia

The Vikings need help in the secondary. He can play with Harrison Smith and really upgrade the backend of the defense. Good choice.

I’m going to start drinking again because of the Patriots reaching for an OG. Damn it Belichick.

            The draft starts on Thursday and at this point, it’s a crapshoot.  We don’t really know who’s going first overall, couldn’t tell you who goes second unless you tell me Aidan Hutchinson isn’t going first, and no one has a clue where the QBs are going except that they will probably go too high, unless they don’t.  Is Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett the top QB? Yes, maybe, unless it’s Desmond Ridder, it’s probably not Sam Howell or Matt Corral, or is it? Yeah, it’s making my head hurt too.  Everyone loves the edge rushers and the offensive tackles in this class, except everyone loves a different one.  Two of the best prospects in the draft are safety Kyle Hamilton and center Tyler Linderbaum, they are head and shoulders above their peers at their positions but teams don’t value safeties and centers all that highly.  Hamilton ran a slow 40 time at his pro day while Linderbaum had unusually short arms, neither of those things will prevent these two from being future Pro Bowlers.  It will almost assuredly make teams pass on them when they really shouldn’t pass on them. 

            I have guys I really like that some may not; Derek Stingley Jr, Linderbaum, Treylon Burks, Jermaine Johnson, Nakobe Dean, and David Bell.  There are some guys I would avoid like the plague; Malik Willis, Matt Corral, DeMarvin Leal, and Boye Mafe.  I’m intrigued by and simultaneously scared to death of Travon Walker, Drake London, Jameson Williams, and Trent McDuffie.  I’ve come to the conclusion that if I were to take a shot on a QB in this draft it would be Desmond Ridder.  He has a great combination of size and talent and I think his areas of weakness are coachable problems.  I wouldn’t take him or any of the QBs in round one but I’m guessing at least three go in the first round.  I’m going to take one last stab at this mock draft and I’m going to go with some of the things I think will happen and some of what I’ve heard teams are interested in doing.  I’m also hoping I get this posted before the 49ers trade Deebo Samuel for picks that will complete render this moot.  Here goes my last stab at this draft before it gets started later this week. 

Round 1

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14):  Travon Walker      DE      Georgia

            If anyone is going to throw us a curveball to start off the draft it’s going to be Trent Baalke.  The Jaguars have had a rough go of it in the first round of the draft and it’s because they often gamble.  This is a gamble.  Walker is a freakish athlete at 6’5 275 lbs. and can run a 4.51 40-yard dash.  His athletic testing numbers were really impressive.  It’s easy to chalk up his lack of stats at Georgia to fact that he was playing on such a great defense that he had to share the stats or that he just wasn’t asked to rush the passer.  However, you would think a guy that big and athletic would make a few more plays that add up in the stat sheet.  The truth is that he just doesn’t have any advanced pass rushing skills at this point.

              The Jaguars history of first round picks is littered with draft busts, actually it’s made up almost entirely of draft busts.  That has stayed true regardless of the front office making the picks and once again, the franchise shoots for the moon.  I feel bad for Walker because he’s going to have to overcome a pretty serious curse to be any good.  Luckily for him, they have an actual NFL coaching staff to work with.  Walker is a lottery ticket, unfortunately the Jaguars have been terrible at picking the lotto numbers. 

2. Detroit Lions (3-13-1):  Aidan Hutchinson      DE      Michigan

            If Walker (or anyone not named Aidan Hutchinson) goes first overall the sonic boom-like sound you hear coming from Detroit will be all the champaign corks popping all at once.  Hutchinson is from Michigan, he played at Michigan and he would fill a major need for the Lions, pass rush.  He isn’t an absolute lock to be a superstar like Nick Bosa, and he’s not the overwhelming, physically dominating player JJ Watt was, but he’s rock solid all around.  The Lions need a tone-setter on defense and Hutchinson would be that for Dan Campbell.  Hard working, not flashy, and his motor never stops, he’s Campbell’s favorite type of player. 

            The Lions don’t want to have to go in a different direction but if Hutchinson goes first, they may have to pivot to either Walker, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Kyle Hamilton, or God forbid a QB.  I find it hard to believe they haven’t made at least a cursory offer of a late round pick to Jacksonville to move up to first so they can guarantee they get Hutchinson.  The other move if Hutchinson goes first is to just take any offer to move down and pick up extra draft capital.  They are in a long rebuild so the more picks, the better. 

3. Houston Texans (4-13):  Evan Neal      OT      Alabama

            The Texans need everything so they just have to take the guy they like the most.  One thing they are looking to do this year is evaluate Davis Mills, their second-year QB, who looked pretty good at times last season even with a less than stellar offense to work with.  Keeping Mills clean in the pocket would help them evaluate him and Neal would help a lot.  Neal is a giant human being with excellent athleticism and length for the OT position.  In Houston he would start immediately at RT opposite Laremy Tunsil and give the Texans some nice bookend OTs.  He could also eventually slide over to LT if the Texans decide to trade Tunsil for some draft capital in the future.  Neal played both tackles spots and guard at Alabama so he’s good either way. 

4. New York Jets (4-13):  Kayvon Thibodeaux      DE       Oregon

            The Jets need pass rush help, secondary help, and offensive line help.  With two DEs going in the first two picks they don’t want to wait until their next pick and chance losing out on a pass rusher they like.  The thoughts on Thibodeaux are all over the place.  He’s either a generational talent (probably unlikely) or he’s a bust because he likes things other than football (also probably unlikely).  He falls somewhere in between and I think he has a good career.  Robert Saleh knows how to coach up a pass rusher and Thibodeaux and the returning Carl Lawson (from injury) should juice the Jets’ pass rush enough to help their secondary out.  They could take Ahmad Gardner or Kyle Hamilton here but there should be some good defensive backs and offensive linemen to choose from at 10. 

5. New York Giants (4-13):  Ikem Ekwonu      OT      North Carolina St.

            The Giants don’t have the chance to get the edge rusher they want here but their consolation prize is the best offensive tackle in this class.  I love Ekwonu. He has elite traits and a nasty attitude.  The Giants plan to take this season to see if Brian Daboll can make Daniel Jones into a legitimate NFL starting QB and Ekwonu would go along way to help that.  They need a new RT with Matt Peart failing to seize the job. 

            With some new blood on the interior and Andrew Thomas establishing himself at LT the line might actually be NFL caliber.  Also, with Mark Glowinski signed to be their new RG, inserting Ekwonu at RT would make the right side of the line much improved at run blocking.  Glowinski played in Indianapolis where they used Jonathan Taylor quite effectively and Ekwonu excels at run blocking.  The best thing the Giants can do for Jones is get Saquon Barkley and the running game going, it would really take some pressure off him 

6. Carolina Panthers (5-12):  Kenny Pickett      QB      Pittsburgh

            I can’t come off this pick.  The Panthers can’t go into next season with Sam Darnold set to be their QB.  Owner David Tepper couldn’t strike a deal for a high-level veteran and unless he pulls a Kyler Murray sized rabbit out of his hat, they need to take a QB.  The Panthers also don’t have time to wait for Malik Willis to come along and Pickett is the most prepared QB in this class to start right away.  He gives he team hope, he keeps them from having to trade for Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo and he is probably an upgrade over Darnold.  Pickett isn’t the next Tom Brady, he’s probably Kirk Cousins on a good day.  That’s faint praise but at least he isn’t Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, or Cam Newton. 

7. New York Giants (from Chicago):  Ahmad Gardner      CB      Cincinnati

            There have been near constant rumors about the Giants trading James Bradberry since the off season began.  New GM Joe Schoen is trying to clear up the Giants’ cap space and dumping Bradberry would certainly help.  The problem is that he’s still their best CB and they would be left short handed in the secondary without him.  “Sauce” Gardner, as he is known, would be a nice replacement if he’s still here for the taking.  He’s clearly taken over as the top CB in this class and he has great length and cover skills.  He’s a guy who developed from a 3-star athlete into an elite CB in his time at Cincinnati, and there’s no reason to think he’s done getting better. 

8. Atlanta Falcons (7-10):  Garrett Wilson      WR      Ohio St.

            The Falcons traded Matt Ryan and while they won’t actually admit they’re rebuilding, they’re rebuilding.  They need help almost everywhere; the roster isn’t a complete disaster but it’s not great and WR is one position where it might actually be a complete disaster.  Olamide Zaccheaus is their best WR and that’s a problem.  Marcus Mariota was signed as a stop-gap at QB but he stands no chance of success with this group of WRs.  Wilson isn’t physically imposing, he’s only 6’0 tall and about 185 lbs. but he has speed to burn and he knows how to get open.  He can play just about anywhere and he would be nice complement to Kyle Pitts, their TE who isn’t exactly a TE. Pitts is just as effective outside as he is inside (probably more effective) and Wilson and play in the slot or outside so they can mix and match the two of them.  It’s quite possible the Falcons grab Malik Willis here but I just think they are more likely to go for a guy later in the draft to develop behind Mariota for a year or two, or wait until next year for a QB. 

9. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver):  Charles Cross      OT      Mississippi St.

            I have had the Seahawks taking Malik Willis since they traded Russell Wilson and picked up this pick.  I’m going against it now because while it makes sense to take a QB when Drew Lock is set to be your starter, Willis doesn’t really make sense.  Pete Carroll is the oldest coach in the NFL, edging out Bill Belichick by about six months.  I don’t think Carroll actually plans on having Drew Lock as his starter this year but I just don’t know if he’s looking to wait a couple of years for Willis to develop. 

            Maybe Carroll gets Baker Mayfield during or shortly after the draft.  Or maybe he goes for a second or third round QB like he once did with Russell Wilson.  Or maybe he trades for Jordan Love, stranger things have happened.  It won’t matter who lines up at QB if the Seahawks don’t get a LT, they can’t seriously think Stone Forsythe is the guy.  That would be a worse idea than starting Drew Lock at QB. Cross is the third OT in this class, he’s an excellent pass blocker and he’s an excellent athlete who just needs some coaching in the run game.

10. New York Jets (from Seattle):  Kyle Hamilton      S      Notre Dame

            The Jets secondary leaves a lot to be desired and they need help at both CB and safety.  They signed CB DJ Reed and safety Jordan Whitehead in free agency but they still need help. Ashtyn Davis is set to start opposite Whitehead but he’s not great.  They could go CB here with Derek Stingley Jr but Hamilton offers great value.  He’s a playmaker and a stud against he run.  Hamilton is big, strong, and athletic even if his 40 time wasn’t great, he has plenty of field speed.  Robert Saleh knows defense and Hamilton could be a huge piece to the puzzle moving forward.  I also just don’t think Saleh will prioritize CB like some other teams, the 49ers never did when he was there and those defenses were fine.    

11. Washington Commanders (7-10):  Derek Stingley Jr      CB      LSU

            The Commanders have a couple of clear needs, the secondary and the offensive line.  An interior offensive lineman might be a reach here unless they really like Tyler Linderbaum, and he’s probably not the best fit for them.  Stingley has fallen a bit but I don’t think he falls as far as some think he might.  He’s still a great physical talent and he showed it at his pro day.  William Jackson III is going to be 30 and he’s pretty expensive after next season.  They need depth for now and Stingley will be a starter pretty quickly.  This team is counting on Carson Wentz to fix their offense (a dubious choice) but if their defense can live up to its talent level and add a guy like Stingley in the back end, they will be a better team. 

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (PROJECTED TRADE):  Malik Willis      QB      Liberty

            This would be a very un-Steelers-like thing to do but GM Kevin Colbert is retiring after the draft and he goes out with a bang.  They get this pick from Minnesota by giving up a first rounder next year (probably some other picks too) and the Vikings figure with Gardner, Stingley and Hamilton off the board they can move down to 20^th overall, pick up a future first round pick and still get a good CB or safety later. 

            It’s no secret Mike Tomlin loves Willis and the Steelers do need a QB of the future.  It’s the perfect situation for Willis too because they signed Mitchell Trubisky for two years so there is no pressure for him to play right away.  The Steelers are also an organization that won’t feel pressured to play him because they will have a plan and stick to it.  Willis has some elite physical tools but he is nowhere near ready to start in the NFL.  They can take their time and figure out the best offense for him to fit into when it’s time.  Trubisky isn’t the athlete Willis is but he is actually a good runner and so some of the things they want to do with Willis, they can try out with Trubisky first. 

13. Houston Texans (from Cleveland):  Drake London      WR      USC

            I’ve had the Texans taking a DE before and they still could take Jermaine Johnson or even a DT like Jordan Davis or Devonte Wyatt.  However, I did say they want to get a good look at Davis Mills to see if he’s a legitimate QB of the future for him.  They got him blocking before and now they get him a big WR.  They have Brandin Cooks, he’s the small, speedy type who loves to go deep.  London is the big-bodied, high point catcher who should dominate on third down and in the red zone.  They have guys like Nico Collins, Chris Conley, and DaeSean Hamilton but none of those guys are in London’s league. He would be a perfect complement to Cooks deep speed and we all saw what a great receiver group meant to Joe Burrow. 

14. Baltimore Ravens (8-9):  Jermaine Johnson      OLB      Florida St.

            The Ravens tried to bring back Za’Darius Smith this off season but the deal fell through and he ended up in Minnesota.  They know that while Odafe Oweh showed some flashes as a pass rusher last season, Tyus Bowser and Jaylon Ferguson aren’t enough on the other side.  Johnson can be an elite edge rusher weather he’s got his hand down or standing up and the Ravens like to play it both ways.  They could look for an offensive or defensive lineman here or go for a CB to give them some depth but Johnson is too good to pass up and fills a pretty big need on their defense. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami):  Trent McDuffie      CB      Washington

            The Eagles’ secondary is a problem they need to address.  Darius Slay is on the wrong side of 30, Avonte Maddux is best left inside as a nickel back and their safeties leave a lot to be desired.  I could see them making a move up to grab Kyle Hamilton if he slips and they think the price isn’t too steep.  Daxton Hill is also a possibility here but if they go secondary, I think it’s McDuffie.  He’s scheme versatile and he and Maddux can both play inside or out so that gives them flexibility.  He’s not the biggest CB but I don’t think that disqualifies him for the Eagles.  The Eagles could do the one thing their fans have been asking for, draft a talented LB like Devin Lloyd or Nakobe Dean (probably Lloyd in this instance). 

16. New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia):  Desmond Ridder      QB      Cincinnati

            The strangest trade in this draft was New Orleans trading a future first round pick and more to get this pick and then flip flop the 18^th and 19^th picks with Philadelphia.  If they traded up for a QB it’s either Matt Corral or Desmond Ridder because they would have to get higher to guarantee Willis or Pickett.  If they moved up for a LT, they paid too high of a price, and they would have to settle for Trevor Penning (not a guy you want to trade a future first rounder for). I’m giving them Ridder here because he’s the better prospect and I think if they don’t get one of the top three OTs, they go QB here.  They have Jameis Winston to hold down the fort until Ridder is ready but that shouldn’t be too long.  He needs some polish; his accuracy is lacking but he has all the tools to be a starting NFL QB.  QBs always get over drafted and this would be a clear case of need pushing a guy a little too high. I like Ridder but not this much.   

17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-8):  Trevor Penning      OT      Northern Iowa

            The Chargers filled most of their needs on defense through free agency and one big trade.  They signed CB JC Jackson, DT Austin Johnson, and DT Sebastian Joseph-Day and then traded for DE Khalil Mack to top it all off.  The re-signed WR Mike Williams leaving the one gaping hole at RT.  They would be wise to take Penning if he is available because he might be the last offensive tackle who can come in and start right away, he’s definitely the best one left.  They need to keep Justin Herbert safe and LT Rashawn Slater proved to be fantastic as a rookie, they could strike gold again.  Penning is big and agile and while he played LT at UNI, he should transition to the right side just fine.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans):  Devonte Wyatt      DT      Georgia

            I’ve changed my mind on which Georgia defensive lineman the Eagles will draft.  Jordan Davis got a lot of hype from his very impressive combine workout but Wyatt is the better prospect and the better fit.  Philly generally doesn’t go for the big nose tackle types and more the Fletcher Cox body style.  Cox is more the long and lean type and so is recent draftee Milton Williams.  Wyatt isn’t small by normal human standards but he’s not 350 lbs., he’s about 6’3 307 lbs. He has quickness and burst and can penetrate like Cox did at his peak.  Again, Philly fans are going to have to wait for an upgrade at LB in the draft. 

19. New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia):  Chris Olave      WR      Ohio St.

            The Saints need a WR to play opposite Michael Thomas so I’m going with Olave here.  Olave is a speedy WR who’s an excellent route runner.  He has the deep speed this team needs to take the top off of a defense.  Olave and Thomas would be a nice duo for Jameis Winston to work with and he can develop right alongside Desmond Ridder.  They still need an OT but after reaching a bit for a QB at 16 they probably shouldn’t reach for an OT here. 

20. Minnesota Vikings (PROJECTED TRADE):  Andrew Booth Jr.      CB      Clemson

            The Vikings take advantage of the Steelers infatuation with Malik Willis, they move down to 20 and pick up first round pick next year.  The bonus is that they still end up with one of the best CBs in the draft.  Booth was a five-star recruit and he’s a great athlete.  He needs to become a better tackler but he’s really good in coverage and he fits in any scheme.  The Vikings need to prepare for life after Patrick Peterson and Booth would give them a great young prospect to pair with Cam Dantzler.  They could possibly go for a safety like Daxton Hill but I think CB makes more sense. 

21. New England Patriots (10-7):  Devin Lloyd      LB      Utah

            The Patriots need a CB but with the top four off the board Devin Lloyd is far more valuable than the next CB.  Last season the Patriots LB corps was exposed or not having the speed and athleticism needed to compete in today’s game.  Lloyd proved last year he’s a three down LB and that’s exactly what the Patriots need.  He can cover, he’s great against the run and he can even blitz and get to the QB.  It’s time for Bill Belichick to modernize his LB corps and Lloyd would be a step in the right direction.  It’s possible they like CB Kaiir Elam or S Daxton Hill and I wouldn’t put it past Belichick to take a guy in the secondary but Lloyd is the better value pick, he shouldn’t still be on the board at 21.

22. Green Bay Packers (from Las Vegas):  Jahan Dotson      WR      Penn St.

            Everyone knows the Packers need to draft a WR, they traded Devante Adams away and Aaron Rodgers needs someone better to throw to than what he has right now.  The team signed Sammy Watkins, that will help for about six games until he gets hurt.  Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb return and they can still hope Amani Rodgers steps forward but what they need is a deep threat.  Watkins and Lazard bring plenty of size, Dotson brings the deep speed.  Dotson is a playmaker who Aaron Rodgers will love.  He runs good routes and he’s a natural pass catcher. 

23. Arizona Cardinals (11-6):  Jordan Davis      DT      Georgia

            There’s always a team that goes a little off the board when it comes to what everyone expects them to do.  The Cardinals have much bigger needs at CB, edge rusher, and on the offensive line but Davis is too good to pass up.  He would give them great depth on their three-man front, he can play in the middle at NT or even give JJ Watt some rest playing some end.  I’m often perplexed by Steve Keim’s drafts and while this wouldn’t fill a big need, I could understand what he’s doing.  Watt is 33, the d-line isn’t deep and it’s not overwhelming.  One thing that could help the secondary is to create longer down and distance by stopping the run and then getting some pressure.  Davis is a stud against the run and could be a better pass rusher than he even showed at Georgia.

24. Dallas Cowboys (12-5):  Treylon Burks      WR     Arkansas

            For this mock draft I’m giving the win to Jerry Jones over his son Stephen.  Jerry wants Treylon Burks, the awesome WR from Arkansas, his alma mater.  The smart choice would be an OG like Zion Johnson or Kenyon Green but I’m going with Jerry here.  Lately, Stephen wins these arguments, he’s the reason they took Zack Martin and not Johnny Manziel a few years ago.  They will probably take the guard but I like Burks too, he’s going to be fantastic.  They still have CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup but Gallup is coming off and injury and they have no depth.  The Burks pick probably isn’t the best move but it’s not a bad move. 

25. Buffalo Bills (11-6):  Kaiir Elam      CB      Florida

            The Bills lost Levi Wallace in free agency and Tre’Davious White is coming off an injury.  They weren’t exactly stacked at the CB position to begin with so it’s time to restock a bit.  Last year they took DEs with their first two picks, don’t be surprised if they take at least a couple of CBs early in this draft.  I won’t be surprised if they grab a third one late to develop or maybe a safety because Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde can’t play forever.  Their pass rush should be better with Von Miller joining the young guys but someone is still going to have to cover a little bit in the secondary.  Elam is a big CB with great cover skills and he can fit any scheme. 

26. Tennessee Titans (12-5):  Kenyon Green      OG      Texas A&M

            The Titans let Roger Saffold go because he’s getting a bit older and more expensive.  That leaves a big hole at OG.  The Titans also like to run the ball and Green is a road grader on the interior.  He’s also versatile enough to give them an option of playing him at RT if Dillon Radunz doesn’t pan out there.  He’s probably best suited on the interior at guard but he could hold his own at RT especially on a team that likes the power running game.  He makes life a bit easier on Derrick Henry either way. 

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4):  Zion Johnson      OG      Boston College

            Bruce Arians retired, Tom Brady unretired, and Todd Bowles needs Brady and Byron Leftwich to keep the offense humming while he keeps the defense stout.  That will be a lot easier with the protection up front for Brady being top notch.  Alex Cappa left for big money in Cincinnati and Ali Marpet retired early.  They traded for Shaq Mason from New England but they need one more guard.  Zion Johnson is a rock.  He’ll be a beast at LG and Brady won’t have to worry about his blindside on the interior.  Johnson has played some OT but he’s going to be a fantastic OG. 

28. Green Bay Packers (13-4):  Arnold Ebiketie      OLB      Penn St.

            I’m moving Ebiketie up a bit here because I think he offers more pass rush than some of the other edge guys and he’s more of a speed rusher off the edge.  Preston Smith will be 30 this year and the Packers already lost Za’Darius Smith in free agency and they have no depth.  Ebiketie needs a little development physically as he could fill out a bit more but he has some pass rush moves, he plays the run, and he can even drop into coverage.  I think he fits their scheme a little better than George Karlaftis and he may be moving up late in the process. 

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from San Francisco):  George Karlaftis      DE      Purdue

            The Chiefs rely pretty heavily on Frank Clark and Chris Jones to bring the pass rush and Clark wasn’t very good last year.  Jones started the year playing end because they didn’t have much to work with but he’s better inside.  He moved back inside once they acquired Melvin Ingram  but Ingram left in the off season.  Karlaftis is a power rusher above all else and would be a great addition opposite Clark.  A better pass rush would also help out the Chiefs overmatched secondary. 

30. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5):  Jameson Williams      WR      Alabama

            Williams tore his ACL in the National Championship game and probably won’t be ready at the start of the season but that shouldn’t deter the Chiefs.  They signed JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdez-Scantling but both of them are on short-term deals.  Mecole Hardman needs to take a step up but even if he does, Williams would be an excellent addition.  If he hadn’t hurt his knee, he might have been the best WR in this draft.  He would be an excellent deep threat for Patrick Mahomes in the future.

31. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7):  Tyler Linderbaum      C      Iowa

            The Bengals have spent the off season overhauling their offensive line with Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La’el Collins.  Karras can play center but if the team drafts Linderbaum they can move Karras to LG and Jackson Carman can be the top backup along the line.  Linderbaum would complete the massive overhaul of the biggest weakness the Bengals had last year.  He’s the best center prospect in the draft and he can pair with Joe Burrow for the next decade.  Linderbaum only falls this far because teams generally don’t value centers and he measured in with short arms at his pro day.  I plan to remind everyone he has short arms every time he makes the Pro Bowl for the next 10-15 years. 

32. Detroit Lions (from LA Rams):  Nakobe Dean      LB      Georgia

            It’s been a while since the Lions had a playmaking LB and Nakobe Dean is a playmaking savant.  He runs sideline to sideline, he hits everything that moves, he covers in space, and it generally feels like there’s three of him on the field.  The Lions’ defense could use some of that.  If they get Aidan Hutchinson and Nakobe Dean in their front seven, we could be looking at quite a turnaround for the defense.  Dean should probably go higher than this but he’s a bit undersized and not everyone wants an undersized LB, Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn will make it work. 

Round 2

33. Jacksonville:  Tyler Smith      OL      Tulsa

            The Jaguars need help up front and Smith seems to be a late riser in the draft process.  He’s a versatile player who lined up at OT in college but likely projects to OG in the pros.  Some teams do see him as a developmental tackle, either way, the Jaguars can find a place for him on their offensive line. 

34. Detroit:  Daxton Hill       S      Michigan

            If the Lions pass on a QB at 32 there is no reason to think they would then take one here, it makes no sense to pass up the potential fifth-year option if they want a QB.  Instead, the complete the defensive trifecta; defensive lineman Hutchinson, linebacker Dean and now secondary player Hill.  Hill is an excellent safety who can also play slot corner and he would upgrade the back end of their defense immensely. 

35. New York Jets:  Roger McCreary      CB      Auburn

            The Jets need more CB help even if Robert Saleh doesn’t put as much emphasis on it as others.  McCreary is an exceptional athlete and a willing tackler.  He’s excellent in coverage and while he isn’t the longest corner, he makes up for it in his ability to always stick close to his man. 

36. New York Giants:  Nik Bonitto      OLB      Oklahoma

            The Giants need some pass rushing help for their 3-4 defense.  I like Bonitto better than Boye Mafe and he’s a better fit than David Ojabo (plus Ojabo is injured).  He hasn’t received a ton of hype in a class filled with edge defenders, that might be because he isn’t the freak athlete so many of them seem to be.  However, he is a better football player than most of them. 

37. Houston:  Kyler Gordon      CB      Washington

            Gordon is also rising late in the process as teams dig deeper on prospects.  He has the skills to play inside or outside and the Texans need plenty of help in the secondary.  He’s one of the better defenders left on the board and they need help everywhere on defense. 

38. New York Jets:  Bernhard Raimann      OT      Central Michigan

            Raimann is a work in progress because he hasn’t been playing football that long and he hasn’t even been an offensive lineman the whole time.  He has all the measurables to be a starter and his ceiling is pretty high, it just might take some time.  The Jets have the time to develop him.

39. Chicago Bears (6-11):  George Pickens      WR      Georgia

            The Bears off season has been a reset of the coaching staff and for the roster with a look towards clearing up the salary cap.  They have Justin Fields and they are looking to build around him on offense.  The need to address the offensive line, the only addition is Lucas Patrick who’s expected to step in at center.  They added Byron Pringle at WR, probably a low impact addition overall.  Darnell Mooney played well last year but they need more help.  Pickens missed most of last season with an injury but was back just at the end of the year.  He should be fully healed and he has the size and speed of a #1 WR.  He would be a great playmaker to bring in to grow alongside Fields. 

40. Seattle:  Matt Corral      QB      Ole Miss

            I haven’t seen Corral mocked to Seattle but he could be a solid replacement for Russell Wilson.  Corral is a guy who has improved over the last two years when it comes to his accuracy and he really cut down on his turnovers.  He’s a tough guy with good leadership skills and he’d unseat Drew Lock from the starting job pretty quickly. 

41. Seattle:  David Ojabo      DE      Michigan

            The Seahawks defense needs an infusion of playmaking up front.  Ojabo might not be ready at the start of the season but betting on his talent is worth the risk.  Shelby Harris, LJ Collier, and Darrell Taylor aren’t scaring anyone, Ojabo is raw but he has double digit sack potential. 

42. Indianapolis Colts (from Washington):  David Bell      WR      Purdue

            I’m not coming off this one.  Bell is an Indianapolis high school legend and he’s a great fit for Matt Ryan.  Ryan is a precision passer and Bell is a route-running master.  Teams may be more enamored with Christian Watson’s size and speed, or Skyy Moore’s elusiveness, but Bell is a pure receiver.  He knows how to come off the line, he can set up a DB however he wants, and he can make spectacular catches.  The Colts don’t have a first-round pick and they do need a LT and some more defensive help but Bell is too good to pass up.  He and Michael Pittman Jr. would be a great pair for Matt Ryan’s first year in Indy. 

43. Atlanta:  Travis Jones      DT      UConn

            The Falcons defense has plenty of holes to fill and why not start up front.  Dean Pees defense needs a big man at NT and Jones is a 6’4 325 lbs. unmovable beast.  He really played well during Senior Bowl week and he would be a great foundation for a rebuilt Atlanta defense. 

44. Cleveland Browns (8-9):  Perrion Winfrey      DT      Oklahoma

            The Browns made their big move this off season at QB by trading for Deshaun Watson and now it’s really time to go for it.  They haven’t dumped Baker Mayfield yet but that’s coming.  On offense, they could use an upgrade at WR to pair with newly acquired Amari Cooper but for some reason they have confidence in Donovan Peoples-Jones and maybe Anthony Schwartz.  They also need defensive line help.  They traded for DE Chase Winovich but they could still re-sign Jadeveon Clowney too.  The DT spot needs real help.  Malik Jackson is still a free agent but he’s 32.  Malik McDowell had another off-the-field incident and his career may be done.  Winfrey had a great year at Oklahoma and then went to the Senior Bowl and looked even better.  He’s a penetrating DT who could help pull at least some focus away from Myles Garrett so he’s not working alone up front. 

45. Baltimore:  Daniel Faalele      OT      Minnesota

            The Ravens signed Morgan Moses to address their RT problem, that was a smart move.  However, Moses is 31 and didn’t have his best year last year.  Add in the fact that LT Ronnie Stanley has had injury issues for a couple of years now and the team isn’t very deep at OT and Faalele would be a solid pickup.  He may need a little seasoning given his inexperience and if Stanley and Moses are healthy and effective, he’ll get it.  If not, he’s a better alternative than the rest of the depth chart. 

46. Minnesota:  Lewis Cine      S      Georgia

            The Vikings have Harrison Smith and not much else at safety, and Smith is 33.  Cine was actually a standout on the very impressive Georgia defense and he would be an excellent addition.  He’s scheme versatile and he could be a strong safety or a free safety which makes him perfect for the modern NFL. 

47. Washington:  Jaquan Brisker      S      Penn St.

            The Commanders have to get better in the backend of their defense.  Stingley improves them at CB in the first round, now Brisker elevates the safety position.  He’s another versatile safety who is built for the modern NFL defense and he’s a talent upgrade all around. 

48. Chicago:  Darrian Kinnard      OL      Kentucky

            The Bears need to help Justin Fields as much as possible.  WR George Pickens was a start but they need help on the offensive line.  Kinnard played OT at Kentucky but he projects inside at OG.  Cody Whitehair will be 30 this year, as will Dakota Dozier and Dozier isn’t any good.  Kinnard is also some insurance at OT as Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom aren’t exactly established starters. 

49. New Orleans:  Abraham Lucas      OT      Washington St.

            The Saints went QB and WR in round one leaving one gaping hole on the offense, OT.  Lucas isn’t necessarily a for sure, day one starter, he may need to be coached up.  He’s big, and long and there’s plenty to work with.  James Hurst can hold down the LT spot until he’s ready, which they have to hope isn’t too far away. 

50. Kansas City:  Quay Walker      LB      Georgia

            The Chiefs have Nick Bolton and Willie Gay Jr. at LB but not much else.  Walker probably won’t actually last this long, he’s a talented guy.  The three of these guys together would really up the athleticism on the Chiefs defense. 

51. Philadelphia:  Cole Strange      OL      Tennessee-Chattanooga

            The Eagles have always liked drafting offensive linemen.  Strange is likely an OG but he has the potential to be a center too.  He could play behind Isaac Seumalo for now or potentially replace him and he gives them some interior depth on the line. 

52. Pittsburgh:  Jalen Pitre      S      Baylor

            The Steelers made a big play for a QB in the first round, now they have to make a move to help right now.  They re-signed Terrell Edmunds on a one-year deal but he’s mostly been a disappointment.  Pitre would be a solid choice to pair long-term with Minkah Fitzpatrick. 

53. Green Bay:  Logan Hall      DE      Houston

            The Packers signed Jarran Reed to take over one of the DE spots but he’s a short-term fix and they need more help.  Hall is best suited to play DE in a 3-4 which is exactly what Green Bay needs.  He would give them a more dynamic player next to Kenny Clark. 

54. New England:  Jamaree Salyer      OG      Georgia

            The Patriots need to address the OG position after trading Shaq Mason and losing Ted Karras in free agency.  Salyer played OT at Georgia but projects inside as a mauling guard.  He would really work well in the Patriots power running game. 

55. Arizona:  Boye Mafe      OLB      Minnesota

            The team lost Chandler Jones in free agency and while Markus Golden had 11 sacks last year, he’s 31 years old.  This team doesn’t have any other proven pass rushers except JJ Watt and he’s 33 and probably not reliable at this point for QB pressure.  Mafe is raw but he’s athletic and could be turned into a solid pass rusher with some coaching.  I’m not a Mafe fan but that probably means Steve Keim loves him.

56. Dallas:  Tariq Woolen      CB      UT-San Antonio

            Woolen is an outlier as a CB because he’s 6’3.  That’s elite size and he’s an excellent athlete.  The Cowboys have Trevon Diggs but the rest of the CB group is underwhelming.  Woolen would also fit the profile of a Dan Quinn CB being very tall and long. 

57. Buffalo:  Breece Hall      RB      Iowa St.

            Devin Singletary played well at the end of last year but it’s hard to believe that’s sustainable.  He hasn’t been the picture of consistency.  Zack Moss fell off a cliff last year too so the Bills offense could use a good RB.  Hall is a fantastic prospect who could become RB1 pretty quickly.  He’s big, he’s fast, and he has great patience as a runner. 

58. Atlanta:  Christian Watson      WR      North Dakota St.

            Watson is a physical freak at 6’4 208 lbs. with elite speed and leaping ability.  However, he is a bit raw and wasn’t as dominant as you would expect given his physical gifts.  The Falcons double up at WR after taking the more polished and ready Garrett Wilson in round one.  They need multiple starters at WR and Watson is a gamble that is well worth the risk. 

59. Green Bay:  Trey McBride      TE      Colorado St.

            Robert Tonyan is coming off a knee injury, Mercedes Lewis will be 38 years old and the team doesn’t have much beyond them.  They also don’t have a fullback and McBride could be used in many different ways and lineup all over.  He’s another weapon in the passing game for Aaron Rodgers and he’s the best TE in the draft. 

60. Tampa Bay:  Phidarian Mathis      DE      Alabama

            The Buccaneers need to fill the DE spot Ndamukong Suh has anchored for several years.  Suh is a free agent who hasn’t been brought back and even if he is he’s 35 and William Gholston is also aging.  Mathis comes from the Alabama school of multiple front defenses and he can step in immediately and hold his own. 

61. San Francisco 49ers (10-7):  Dylan Parham      OL      Memphis

            This is the 49ers first pick of the draft after trading their first rounder in the Trey Lance deal last year.  They somewhat addressed their CB need with Charvarius Ward but they could still use some help there and at safety.  One big free agent loss they had was OG Laken Tomlinson and they weren’t exactly stacked at the position to begin with.  Daniel Brunskill isn’t great and Colton McKivitz and Aaron Banks are the other options.  C Alex Mack will also be 37 this next season. 

            Given the needs on the interior offensive line Dylan Parham would be a solid addition.  He probably comes in as a guard for now but a lot of teams see him as a developmental center.  He could learn a lot from a veteran like Mack.  Parham isn’t the biggest or most powerful guy and he wins with his movement skills and athleticism.  That’s perfect for the Shanahan blocking scheme.  It’s not a flashy choice but he can help this team now and into the future. 

62. Kansas City:  Cameron Thomas      DE      San Diego St.

            GM Brett Veach talked about needing to address the defensive line after the team lost in the playoffs.  They redid Frank Clark’s deal but he’s coming off a disappointing season.  After taking Karlaftis in round one they go back to DE here because they need the help and Cameron Thomas is great value.  Thomas is a long, athletic end who can rush from the outside or slide down inside on passing downs.  Doubling up at DE would be a smart move. 

63. Cincinnati:  Christian Harris      LB      Alabama

            The Bengals defense probably needs help up front more than at LB but they aren’t exactly stacked at LB and Harris is too good to pass up.  He’s a three-down player and Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson are not enough at LB.  Plus, it’s never a bad idea to draft an Alabama defender. 

64. Denver Broncos (7-10):  Chad Muma      LB      Wyoming

            The Broncos traded their first two picks in the Russell Wilson trade and this pick they got from the Rams is their first one.  Wilson is supposed to fix their offensive issues and while they could use some depth on the offensive line and maybe a TE, those aren’t great value here.  The defense will be in flux with Vic Fangio leaving and a new system taking over.  They re-signed Josey Jewell at LB and signed Alex Singleton from Philly but they could use some more help at LB.  Muma is a good athlete with coverage skills that can be useful in sub packages right away.  He also has long-term potential as a starter. 

            There are a couple of players I struggled with leaving out of this mock draft.  QB Sam Howell and WR Skyy Moore are guys that could sneak into the first round or fall to the third.  Clearly, I have them falling here.  Howell is as polarizing as the rest of the QBs so maybe it’s him going to New Orleans at 15 or he falls to round three.  I like Moore but he’s undersized and the WR depth may work against him.  There are a lot of impressive physical players at WR and depending on what you’re looking for you may like Pickens and Watson more than Moore.  In a vacuum, I like Moore over Watson but if you want an outside guy, it’s Watson’s size/speed combo that wins out.  Sam Howell is a gun slinger who likes to run but he makes some bad decisions and probably trusts himself a little too much.

            This draft is chalk full of polarizing players including top guys like Aidan Hutchinson, he apparently has short arms like Linderbaum.  Kyle Hamilton is slow in the 40.  Trevon Walker has no real pass rushing moves.  Some teams think Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal are guards, not tackles.  Derek Stingley Jr opinions are all over the place.  The QBs are a jumbled mess and all of this means it’s going to be a hell of ride starting Thursday night.  I wonder who’s going to be the first pick of the 2023 draft?  Sorry, too soon. 

            While the Senior Bowl and the combine can have some effect on the NFL draft, neither has the effect that free agency does.  And this year it was a combination of free agency and the massive trades that have happened to start the off season.  Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz, Devante Adams and Tyreek Hill have all been traded and each one of those trades can have repercussions early in the draft.  We still have two teams that could make QB trades, Seattle and Carolina, otherwise they become major players for QBs early in the draft.  Denver, Cleveland, Miami and Las Vegas all gave up picks in the first round of this draft and Washington’s trade for Carson Wentz probably takes them out of the early QB market.  On the other side, the Falcons traded away Matt Ryan (he’s filling Wentz’s spot in Indy now) and while they didn’t get a high draft pick for him, they may have to spend their own high pick to find his long-term replacement.

             I’m going to attempt this mock draft for about the 14^th time since free agency started and hope that nothing major happens before I’m done (the Saints and Eagles did their weird trade when I was almost finished with this two rounder).  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, some guy named Tom Brady unretired, Amari Cooper got traded to Cleveland, Von Miller signed in Buffalo, and the Rams signed Allen Robinson.  I may have forgotten a free agent signing or two.

            Finally, I don’t think I remember a draft that was more unsettled just a few weeks before.  It’s still not settled who goes first, maybe Hutchinson, maybe an OT, I’m not convinced Jacksonville knows yet.  Second overall is even a bigger crapshoot if Hutchinson does go first.  Even the “consensus” top players have no consensus with the teams.  Kyle Hamilton is either the best safety prospect since Sean Taylor or he falls like Derwin James to the middle teens.  Kayvon Thibodeaux is either the next Khalil Mack or he doesn’t care about football and no one should take him.  This QB class might have four guys go in the first round (spoiler alert…I have four in this first round mock draft) but none of them should even be first round picks (in my actual opinion).  Well let’s get started before the Jaguars trade the first pick to the Cowboys for Tyron Smith and Ezekiel Elliott (that’s not an actual thing but given this off season, nothing is off the table).   

Round 1

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14):  Aidan Hutchinson      DE      Michigan

            There’s this idea that when you’re as bad as Jacksonville is as a franchise you may have to overspend to entice free agents.  It’s a bad idea and Jacksonville went for it, with gusto.  They overspent on WR Christian Kirk, LB Foyesade Oluokun and probably on Brandon Scherff (he’s an excellent player but he hasn’t played a full season in five years).  They went the drunken sailor route and that’s going to change their draft needs.  The one big one was franchise tagging LT Cam Robinson again.  Bringing back Robinson and Jawaan Taylor at RT, along with having Walker Little around probably takes them out of the OT market at #1 (although none of those guys should preclude them from taking an OT).  That means Aidan Hutchinson is the most likely player for this spot.  They do need a pass rusher opposite Josh Allen and Hutchinson would be a good complementary piece.  He’s not going to lead the league in sacks but he’s solid as a rock and Jacksonville could use a little of that.  The team will be better under Doug Pederson and getting a guy with the work ethic and skill of Hutchinson can only help them on defense. 

2. Detroit Lions (3-13-1):  Kyle Hamilton      SS      Notre Dame

            The Lions have been the quietest team in free agency with their only pickup of note being WR DJ Chark on a one-year deal.  They cut Trey Flowers at DE and while they could use some help at DE it’s not a crying need.  Certainly, if they could, the team would trade down and pick up more draft capital as they are at the start of a long rebuild.  There are rumbling that they may take a QB, most likely Malik Willis, but that seems like a rumor designed to elicit trade offers and not something they will actually do.  The team needs don’t necessarily matchup well with the top of this draft.  They have Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell at OT and the DE’s not named Aidan Hutchinson aren’t necessarily their type of guys.  Kyle Hamilton might be the best prospect in this draft overall even if the reports of his slower 40 time at his pro day are true.  Just watch him play and you can see the major playmaker he’s going to be.  The Lions need a talent upgrade almost everywhere on defense and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn would have a nice piece to build the secondary around in Hamilton. When your team needs almost everything, just take the best player on the board, that’s Hamilton.   

3. Houston Texans (4-12):  Evan Neal      OT     Alabama

            The Texans haven’t been overly active in free agency other than adding a slew of RBs and a couple of fringe players here and there.  They signed Marlon Mack, Royce Freeman and Dare Ogunbowale to add to Rex Burkhead at RB, Mack would be my pick to win that job but it will be a competition.  The team needs help almost everywhere and they picked up more draft capital when they dealt Deshaun Watson to Cleveland.  They have a long rebuild ahead and for now it looks like they want to give QB Davis Mills a real chance to be their guy at least for this year.  He had a solid second half of the season last year as a rookie but he needs more help, especially up front.  Laremy Tunsil is set at LT and they have some bodies on the inside but they need an upgrade at RT.  Neal played all over the line at Alabama including RT and he would be a massive upgrade.  He can be a road grader for the running game and help keep Mills upright and give him time to look downfield to Brandin Cooks (they actually gave Cooks an extension so I don’t think they will trade him, although I could be wrong about that).  Also, if the Texans decide to trade Tunsil because his trade value is too high to pass up, Neal can slide over and be their LT. 

4. New York Jets (4-13):  Travon Walker      DE     Georgia

            The Jets made some nice moves to improve the offensive line (Laken Tomlinson), get a lot better at TE (CJ Uzomah, Tyler Conklin) and improve the secondary (S Jordan Whitehead, CB DJ Reed).  They still need plenty of help and my guess is Robert Saleh would like to start up front on defense.  He should get Carl Lawson back from injury at DE and that will help but it’s just a start.  Kayvon Thibodeaux is a consideration here but Lawson is already an undersized DE, the Jets don’t need another smaller speed rusher.  Walker is 6’5 275 lbs. and can play all over the line.  His versatility would give Saleh someone more like DeForest Buckner or Arik Armstead, two guys who excelled in his defense in San Francisco.  Walker has been climbing the draft boards since teams have gotten a better look at him, and his impressive showing at the combine solidified his rapid ascension.  He was a bit overlooked on a stacked Georgia defense but teams are really figuring him out now. 

5. New York Giants (4-13):  Ikem Ekwonu      OT      North Carolina St.

            The Giants hired Brian Daboll with the hopes he can fix their offense, more specifically QB Daniel Jones.  The team has used free agency to upgrade the interior of the offensive line with Jon Feliciano, Max Garcia, and Mark Glowinski.  With Andrew Thomas at LT that leaves only the RT spot where Matt Peart has failed to seize the job.  Ekwonu is an excellent prospect and while he may be more of a LT prospect, so was Penei Sewell last year and he figured out the transition eventually.  Ekwonu is an excellent prospect and if they lined him up with Glowinski on the right side it might really improve the running lanes and make Saquon Barkley a lot better player.  Ekwonu is a mauler in the run game and Glowinski cleared holes for Jonathan Taylor in Indy last season.  The Giants have talent at WR if they can stay healthy (Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard) and get their head on straight (Kadarius Toney).  They signed Ricky Seals-Jones at TE, maybe he’ll at least be more available than Evan Engram, and the team has to give Saquon Barkley another shot before they give up on him.  All of this, including evaluating Daniel Jones, would be much easier if the offensive line was finally fixed. 

6. Carolina Panthers (5-12):  Kenny Pickett      QB      Pittsburgh

            The Panthers struck out on the QB front this off season when Deshaun Watson chose Cleveland and Russell Wilson went to Denver and Matt Ryan when to Indianapolis and, well you get the picture.  Right now, Sam Darnold is still the starter and I have a really hard time believing Matt Rhule, and more importantly owner David Tepper, is okay with that idea.  Tepper wanted a star but short of that at the very least he wants hope.  Darnold doesn’t inspire much hope and at least a new shiny first-round pick brings hope.  Pickett is more likely to be the next Kirk Cousins and not the next Tom Brady but you can win with a Cousins-like QB.  Pickett is the QB most ready to step in as a starter in year-one and he would quickly relegate Darnold to either the backup role or out the door.  The team needs a lot of help on the offensive line and while Charles Cross would solve their LT problem, he doesn’t buy Matt Rhule extra time and some good will like Pickett would.  Rhule and Pickett do have a history together too.  Once upon a time when Matt Rhule was coaching Temple, Kenny Pickett committed to him as a high school recruit.  Rhule moved on to Baylor and Pickett ended up at Pitt but they do know each other from way back. 

7. New York Giants (from Chicago):  Kayvon Thibodeaux     DE/OLB      Oregon

            The Giants brought in Don “Wink” Martindale to run their defense under Brian Daboll.  Martindale has been running the Ravens defense and they use a multitude of looks.  One common denominator is that Martindale likes to be aggressive rushing the passer.  Azeez Ojulari had a good rookie year last year and Quincy Roche is a good rotational OLB but Thibodeaux would seriously juice up their pass rush.  He’s perfectly suited for Martindale’s defense and he while he was initially thought to be a top 2 or 3 pick, he’s slipped a little.  There are some who question his desire but I think that’s overblown.  He is a guy who cares about more than just football but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about football.  He’s an elite athlete at pass rusher and yes, he sometimes takes plays off, plenty of DEs do from time to time. What he brings from a pass rushing standpoint far out weights the bad plays.  He and Ojulari in Martindale’s defense is a frightening thought for opposing offenses. 

8. Atlanta Falcons (7-10):  Garrett Wilson      WR      Ohio St.

            The Falcons moved on from Matt Ryan and it would make sense to take a QB I’m not sure this team sees it that way.  This QB class isn’t great and while Malik Willis has upside, I don’t see them wanting to wait for his development.  They signed Marcus Mariota to a very reasonable contract and I think they wait for a QB.  Right now, if they lined up on offense their top three WRs are Olamide Zaccheaus, Auden Tate, and Damiere Byrd, that’s awful.  If you ask five scouts who the best WR in this class is you will probably get at least four different answers but one of them will be Garrett Wilson.  He’s not a physically imposing guy like a Drake London and he’s not the vertical threat you would think he would be with his speed.  However, what he is, is an excellent inside guy who is dynamite with the ball in his hands after the catch.  You can use him across the middle and as a gadget play guy.  It seems counterintuitive but the Falcons already have their big bodied, physical receiver in Kyle Pitts, the TE they took last year.  Pitts isn’t your typical interior guy, he’s better off the line.  Wilson would be a nice inside complement to Pitts outside for whomever the Falcons eventually settle on at QB (I doubt it’s Mariota long-term).

9. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver):  Malik Willis     QB      Liberty

            This is the first pick the Seahawks picked up in the Russell Wilson trade and they use it to get their QB of the future, and by future, I mean two or three years from now.  Willis has tantalizing skills like fantastic arm strength and elite running skills, however, he’s nowhere near ready to start in the NFL.  The team has Drew Lock but I have a feeling after (or during) the draft both Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo will find new homes, either through trades or finally being released.  Seattle will find a better stop-gap than Lock and Willis can sit and develop.  I doubt John Schneider and Pete Carroll plan on drafting this high again any time soon so they grab a QB now and try to compete with a veteran next year (my money would be on Mayfield).  I will say, I would pass on Willis this high and if I were the Seahawks, I would take Charles Cross.  The LT spot is a problem even if they re-sign Duane Brown, which looks less and less likely to happen.  Brown wasn’t good last year and he’s 36.  Cross would be good long-term solution to their LT issue. 

10. New York Jets (from Seattle): Charles Cross      OT      Mississippi St.

            The Jets could very easily take a WR or CB here and that would be completely justified.  They did sign DJ Reed at CB and re-signed Braxton Berrios at WR to go with Corey Davis and Elijah Moore.  I don’t think they will give up on Denzel Mims just yet either.  They have Mekhi Becton at LT, which is Cross’ natural position but Mike LaFleur comes from the Shanahan coaching style and they love athletic linemen on offense.  Cross is a fantastic athlete who is a great pass protector already because he played in a pass happy offense in college.  He’s excellent against edge rushers.  There’s a perception he isn’t a strong run blocker but he was never really asked to do it in two years as a starter at Mississippi St.  The Jets could take his athleticism and mold him as a run blocker at RT, at least they know he doesn’t have any bad habits, you can’t form bad habits when you never do it in the first place. 

11. Washington Commanders (7-10):  Ahmad Gardner      CB      Cincinnati

            The Commanders are the next team to see if they can fix Carson Wentz, at least they didn’t trade a first-round pick for him.  That means they won’t be looking for a QB here and they can fill another need.  Their defense should be better than it was last year but it would help if they get some help in the secondary instead of putting it all on the front four.  William Jackson III will be 30 and he’s overpaid so he won’t be around forever.  Gardner is a self-made star who went from a lightly recruited athlete to an elite CB in his time at Cincinnati.  He’s long, wiry and tough as nails.  He doesn’t back down and he has a short memory, all great traits for a CB.  He seems to have moved ahead of Derek Stingley as the best CB on the board (I slightly disagree with this assessment).  The Commanders also need a safety and would love to see Kyle Hamilton fall this far but that doesn’t look like it’s happening.  They are putting a lot on the Carson Wentz thing working out and it would help if their defense could give him a short field whenever possible. 

12. Minnesota Vikings (8-9):  Derek Stingley Jr.      CB      LSU

            The Vikings have plenty of talent on the offensive side for new head coach Kevin O’Connell to work with and they signed Za’Darius Smith to help the pass rush.  That leaves CB and maybe safety as the biggest needs on this team.  They re-signed Patrick Peterson to team with Cam Dantzler but Peterson will be 32 next season.  Stingley has been a top draft prospect since he stepped on the field as a true freshman at LSU three years ago.  He’s had a tough couple of years the last two but he’s still an excellent prospect.  LSU was a bit of a trainwreck the last two seasons after winning the national title Stingley’s freshman year.  He is still an elite athlete with great size and perhaps putting him in Minnesota with another former LSU star, Peterson, will help Stingley find his footing again.  He could be a massive steal even at 12^th overall. 

13. Houston Texans (from Cleveland):  Jermaine Johnson      DE      Florida St

            The Texans have a second first-round pick from Cleveland from the Deshaun Watson trade and they really just need to look to the best player available.  This team needs as much talent as possible and Johnson is a fantastic talent.  He’s an elite edge rusher and this team definitely could use one.  Jonathan Greenard led the team last season with eight sacks, the next leading guy returning to the team had three.  Lovie Smith knows he needs to get to the QB and Johnson does that quite well.  He also happens to be a good all-around defender so he will play the run too.  Get talent, that has to be the aim of the Texans with all the extra draft capital they got from the Watson trade.  They need help everywhere. 

14. Baltimore Ravens (8-9):  Tyler Linderbaum      C      Iowa

            The Ravens are a team that doesn’t reach and usually goes with their board.  Here I think it’s possible their board might just fill a major need for them.  The offensive line wasn’t good last year and they lost C Bradley Bozeman in free agency.  The have to get better up front to help Lamar Jackson and re-establish their running game.  Linderbaum is an undersized center but he doesn’t play like one.  He’s strong as an ox, physical on the interior, and quick as can be.  He’s arguably the best center prospect in the last decade (maybe longer) and the Ravens did pretty good with the last interior lineman they had from Iowa, Marshall Yanda.  Linderbaum is a day-one starter for whatever team drafts him.  The only concern has been a foot injury from the bowl game that has kept him from working out.  If the foot injury concerns come out fine, he may not even be here at this point. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami):  Trent McDuffie      CB     Washington

            Darius Slay had a resurgent season last year but he’s 31 and the team doesn’t have much behind him at CB.  McDuffie is a versatile guy who can play in any system and he can play inside and out.  He can play outside and allow Avonte Maddux to stay in the slot or he can move inside when needed.  The Eagles have a chance to really enhance their roster with their two first-round picks and McDuffie would fill a huge need in the secondary.  They made a trade with the Saints and sent one of their first-round picks to New Orleans and got back a pick next year.  They are going to give Jalen Hurts the year to prove he’s their QB of the future but if he stumbles, they are set up to make a move for a QB in next year’s draft.  

16. New Orleans Saints (from Philly/Indy):  Matt Corral       QB      Ole Miss

            The Saints made a deal to pick up two of the Eagles first round picks in this draft for one of theirs this year, a first rounder next year and some other picks.  It seems like a strange pickup unless they have a few things they really want since they only moved up two spots and then also got another pick in the same area.  The Saints have two really big needs, LT and QB.  They could now package 16 and 19 in this draft to move up for one of those or grab who they want here.  Unless they are sure Trevor Penning is their guy at LT they are out of luck at OT, but they might like Matt Corral enough to take him.  He’s a gamer.  He can throw it around and they didn’t commit long-term to Jameis Winston.  Winston buys them time to develop Corral if he needs it but he’s not an impediment to Corral taking the job as soon as he’s ready.  They made this move with something in mind and I don’t think you give up a first rounder next year for just anyone.  Although, it is the Saints and they once traded a future first round pick to move up for Marcus Davenport, so I can’t count them out of anything.  I wouldn’t have traded a future first rounder to move up for Matt Corral but I have spent a week trying to figure out the Saints thinking on this and I still have no idea.            

17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-8):  Trevor Penning      OT      Northern Iowa

            If Penning, or any other good OT, makes it to the Chargers at 17, they will send their fastest player sprinting to the podium with the name on the card.  The team signed DTs Austin Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day to address their interior defensive line needs.  They signed JC Jackson to fill a major hole at CB and they traded for Khalil Mack to be the edge rusher they need opposite Joey Bosa.  That leaves the offensive line as the giant glaring weakness of the team.  Bryan Bulaga wasn’t the answer last season at RT because he was hurt.  Storm Norton filled in and he’s not the answer either.  The team has to either draft a guy or move Matt Feiler to RT from LG and that weakens the left side of the line.  Justin Herbert is ready to emerge as a force but he can’t do it laying on the ground.  Penning is a gigantic human at 6’7 320+ lbs.  He comes from a small school but he doesn’t have to be great, he just needs to not be awful to be a major upgrade.  Spencer Brown came from Northern Iowa last season and ended up the starter in Buffalo at RT, he was solid and that’s all the Chargers need.  Penning also shouldn’t be the last offensive lineman this team drafts, they can upgrade at RG too. 

18. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans):  Jordan Davis      DT      Georgia

            There are a lot of mock drafts calling for the Eagles to draft a WR or a LB in round one.  I think after signing Zach Pascal and drafting WRs in the first round the last two years they might want to give Pascal, Devonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins and some others a chance before replacing them with a third first round WR.  The team also signed Hassan Reddick and Kyzir White at LB.  If they want their LBs to be better, get them some help up front.  Fletcher Cox was released and re-signed to a one-year deal because he was overpaid and he’ll be 32 next season.  Javon Hargrave is pushing 30 and the team lost Hassan Ridgeway in free agency.  Davis blew the doors off the combine with his ridiculous athletic showing.  A man that big shouldn’t move the way he does.  A lot of drafts have him skyrocketing towards the top ten, I’m not buying it.  Davis lost about 20 lbs. from his playing weight during the season to really show off at the combine.  The problem is can he be effective at that weight?   The answer is probably not.  He is a major run-stuffing force when he’s at 360 lbs. but he can’t play as many snaps.  If he plays at 340, he might be able to play more but can he be effective?  I think those questions keep him around this range in the draft.  He can be excellent as a rotational player early and hopefully find his best physical shape for his NFL career. 

19. New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia):  Chris Olave      WR      Ohio St.

            The Saints need to replace Terron Armstead at LT after he signed with Miami as a free agent but they passed on Penning and there’s a drop off after him.  They could count on James Hurst full-time but that seems like a bad idea.  They could sign a stopgap guy like Eric Fisher and grab a developmental guy later in the draft (probably a better idea than reaching for one here).  What they can get is a legit WR to play opposite Michael Thomas, assuming he actually plays this season.  The Saints have spent far too much time trying to develop guys like Tre’Quan Smith or Marquez Calloway, it’s time to take the most polished guy in the draft.  Chris Olave broke WR records at Ohio St, that’s impressive.  He’s the best route-runner in the class and he would bring something to the table Michael Thomas doesn’t, speed.  Jameis Winston is likely the starter next year and he can throw a nice deep ball but he needs a guy he can count on.  Olave is nothing if not reliable.  He would also give Matt Corral a guy to develop with for next few years. 

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1):  Devonte Wyatt      DT      Georgia

            There’s a possibility that Wyatt and his Georgia teammate Davis swap spots here, the Eagles could like Wyatt better as a Fletcher Cox replacement.  Many mock drafts have the Steelers taking a QB or a CB but I’m not sold on that move.  They signed Mitchell Trubisky so they don’t have to reach for a QB and unless Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis falls this far, I think they pass at QB.  They could use a CB but I think Wyatt is a better prospect than Andrew Booth Jr or Kaiir Elam at this point.  Cameron Heyward will be 33, Tyson Alualu is 34, and even Stephon Tuitt is 29.  They need new blood up front and Wyatt would be a great fit for them.  He can play anywhere along their three-man front and excel at any of the spots.  He’s a dynamic player who could learn a lot from their veteran guys while spelling them this year and then taking over. 

21. New England Patriots (10-7):  Andrew Booth Jr.      CB      Clemson

            The Patriots have two glaring needs after free agency, offensive guard and CB.  For now, the top three CBs are Malcolm Butler, Jalen Mills, and Jonathan Jones. Jones is coming off an injury, Butler is coming out of retirement and Mills is terrible.  Booth is a man-to-man CB and the Patriots know how to play to their guys’ strengths.  Booth would be the most talented CB on the roster from day one and I think he starts almost immediately (I have zero confidence in Butler or Mills).  The team could opt for an OG like Zion Johnson out of Boston College or Kenyon Green from Texas A&M, and either would immediately start too but you can find starting offensive guards later in the draft.  I like Booth as a top four CB in this draft and I think there’s a drop off after him.  The Patriots traded for Devante Parker from the Dolphins so he comes in as the big WR they need, he’s not great but he’s better than N’Keal Harry. 

22. Green Bay Packers (from Las Vegas):  Drake London      WR      USC

            This is the first-round pick the Packers picked up in the Adams trade so it’s only fitting they go get a guy to replace him as their #1 WR.  He won’t be Adams but London brings a ton of talent to Green Bay and he’s an upgrade over Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb.  London has elite size and contested-catch ability.  He is 6’4 220 lbs. and he’s a great athlete.  He’s not going to be a deep threat or take the top off the defense with speed but Aaron Rodgers can throw it up to him and he’ll go get it. He’ll be a menace in the red zone and while he shouldn’t be the only WR they take in the draft; he’ll be an immediate starter for the Packers. 

23. Arizona Cardinals (11-6):  Zion Johnson      OG      Boston College

            The Cardinals have a young QB in Kyler Murray but they don’t have an offensive line that will age with him.  This season LG Justin Pugh will be 32, C Rodney Hudson will be 33, RT Kelvin Beachem will also be 33, LT DJ Humphries will be 29 by the end of the season and even top back up Justin Murray will be 29 this year.  That leaves the newly signed RG Will Hernandez at 26 as the only young guy and he’s been mostly a disappointment the last few years which is why he was available.  Zion Johnson is a beast and has Pro Bowl potential at OG.  He has played OT and he even tried out center during Senior Bowl week but his best position is guard.  This team needs an infusion of youth on the line and Johnson can be that guy.  That said, Steve Keim probably screws this up and drafts a WR to replace Christian Kirk and placate Kyler Murray. 

24. Dallas Cowboys (12-5):  Devin Lloyd      LB      Utah

            If one of the top DTs falls here, I can see the Cowboys jumping on it but they are gone at this point.  It’s possible they take George Karlaftis at DE but I like the Lloyd fit better.  This team has been through the ringer at LB.  Jaylon Smith fell out of favor quickly after signing a big extension and was cut last season.  Leighton Vander Esch has tons of talent but he has a persistent back injury.  Micah Parsons was a steal in last year’s draft but he’s so talented as a pass rusher it’s a waste to just consistently line him up at LB.  The great thing about Lloyd is that he’s a multi-talented guy too and they could mix and match him with Parsons.  Lloyd has some pass rushing skills while also being a great run defender.  He proved this last season he can stay on the field for all three downs and that’s the type of player that would help the Cowboys defense in so many ways. 

25. Buffalo Bills (11-6):  Kaiir Elam      CB      Florida

            The Bills look like a juggernaut.  They added Jamison Crowder to replace Cole Beasley as their slot receiver.  They signed Von Miller to replace Jerry Hughes as their top pass rusher and they still have Josh Allen leading the way.  Tre’Davious White is coming back from an injury and the team lost Levi Wallace in free agency so they need some help at CB.  Elam is a bit of a forgotten man and while there is a bit of a drop off from the top four CBs to the next tier, Elam has legit starter potential.  I put him here because he’s a better scheme fit for the Bills than Roger McCreary.  Elam has elite size and he’s a really good zone coverage CB.  He would be a huge upgrade opposite White and could be the final piece to the puzzle on Buffalo’s defense. 

26. Tennessee Titans (12-5):  Nakobe Dean      LB      Georgia

            The Titans cut Janoris Jenkins at CB but they drafted Caleb Farley last year and now they have to hope he can come back from his injury and become the starter they need.  They traded for Robert Woods as the replacement for Julio Jones and they re-signed Harold Landry at OLB.  They signed Austin Hooper to fill the hole at TE too.  That leaves OG as a weakness but they would have to really love Kenyon Green to pass on Dean and he is way too good to pass up.  The team needs some help at ILB because David Long Jr isn’t overly productive and I’m not sure what they have in Zach Cunningham, who they got from Houston last year.  Dean is a playmaking freak that could help solidify the defense in the middle.  He also happens to be the best player available at this point. 

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4):  Kenyon Green      OG      Texas A&M

            This would be a dream come true for Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.  They have one major hole on offense and it’s at LG.  Green is a beast and he’s played everywhere on the line except center and he would immediately slot in at LG in place of the retired Ali Marpet.  There are some that rate him as the best interior offensive lineman in this draft (I would disagree with that assessment) but either way, he’s a day one starter filling a major need.  He also offers some versatility to swing out to OT in a pinch since the team doesn’t have a ton of depth on the line.  The Buccaneers will need to look for some help on the defensive line if they don’t want to have to bring back Ndamukong Suh again.  Green played everywhere but center in college so he can be a backup in case of injury at OT, something this team doesn’t have much of right now.    

28. Green Bay Packers (13-4): George Karlaftis      DE/OLB      Purdue

            The Packers go with the best available player here even though he might be an odd fit.  They run a 3-4 defense and Karlaftis is a 4-3 end but he can play standing up and he would add some pass rush they desperately need.  Preston Smith and Rashan Gary are set to be their edge guys but they lost Za’Darius Smith and they have no depth.  Karlaftis is a power rusher so he brings different set of skills but the Packers defense needs more pass rushing help and Karlaftis is the best guy available. 

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Miami/SF):  Treylon Burks      WR      Arkansas

            The Chiefs traded away Tyreek Hill and while they did sign Marquez Valdez-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster there’s a lot of production to be replaced.  Valdez-Scantling is a speedy deep threat and Smith-Schuster is a good slot receiver, but their passing game approach is going to have to evolve and Burks would bring the run-after-the-catch skills the others don’t have.  He’s a big WR who is built like Deebo Samuel or AJ Brown and that is something the Chiefs don’t have. The team does still have Mecole Hardman but relying on him seems like a gamble.  The team hasn’t been very active in free agency so the need to take advantage of the extra draft capital they have. 

30. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5):  David Ojabo       DE      Michigan

            With an extra first-round pick the Chiefs can take a bit of a gamble here on a guy with enormous upside who also might not play next season.  Ojabo is an elite athlete with great pass rushing potential but he was always going to be developmental guy early and likely only a pass rushing specialist in year one. Then he tore his Achilles during his pro day and his draft stock has taken a tumble.  He is almost assuredly going to sit out next season rehabbing, although Cam Akers came back to the Rams in six months.  It looks like Ojabo will fall out of round one but I’m not so sure.  A team like the Chiefs, with two first-round picks can take a chance he gets back for the end of the season or simply wait it out and give him the year to heal.  The advantage to taking him at the end of the first round instead of in the second or third is a first-round contract comes with a fifth-year option so if you lose his first year, you still have four more years of control.  He has the talent; you may just have to wait a while to see it.   

31. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7):  Roger McCreary      CB      Auburn

            The Bengals used free agency to attack their biggest weakness and they did it quite well.  They signed OG Alex Cappa, C Ted Karras and most importantly RT La’el Collins.  They could still use one more upgrade inside (Karras could play guard if they find another center) but they also have Jackson Carman who could be fine at OG.  Either way, their offensive line is much improved.  Now on to their second biggest issue, cornerback.  Chidobe Awuzie isn’t great but he’s not terrible and Mike Hilton is a good slot corner but Eli Apple should only be the stopgap on the other side.  McCreary is a fantastic athlete with great skills and the temperament to be a top-flight CB.  He isn’t going to back down and even though he isn’t the biggest guy, he doesn’t shy away from competing for the ball.  He also happens to be one of the best prospects left on the board. The Bengals should seriously consider taking multiple CBs in this draft and hoping they hit on a few, they need more than just one.    

32. Detroit Lions (from LA Rams):  Sam Howell      QB      North Carolina

            I just feel like the Lions will take a shot at a QB here because they will get an extra year on the contract for a 1^st round pick.  It’s hard to decipher who the QB they might like actually is but it could be Desmond Ridder or it could be Howell. Howell seems to be a Dan Campbell sort of guy.  He’s undersized but gritty, never backs down, and plays with an all-out aggressive style.  Howell is not afraid to take chances down the field and he would bring a different dynamic than Jared Goff.  Goff won’t roll over and let him take the job without a fight, which is good, because Howell may not be ready immediately.  He isn’t the biggest guy, he’s not the fastest guy, and he’s not the flashiest guy but he’s tough and that will go a long way with Campbell. 

Round 2

33. Jacksonville: Daxton Hill      S      Michigan

            Jacksonville needs to just keep adding talent and they find it again at Michigan.  Hill is a playmaking safety with great coverage skills and he can play in slot.  They have some nice pieces in the secondary but you can never have too many cover guys.

34. Detroit: Jameson Williams      WR      Alabama

            Williams would have gone much sooner except he tore his ACL in the National Championship game in January.  That’s a tough injury for a skinny WR who relies heavily on his elite speed.  It’s that elite speed the Lions need.  DJ Chark is coming back from an injury, Josh Reynolds has bounced around for a reason, and Amon-Ra St. Brown needs some help.  St. Brown can dominate underneath; they need someone to take the top off the defense for Sam Howell or whomever they get at QB.

35. New York Jets:  Tariq Woolen      CB      UT-San Antonio

            The Jets needs CB help but they missed out on the top guys.  They go for the guy with incredible upside in Woolen.  He’s only played CB for two years after starting his career as a WR and brings elite size and athleticism to the position.  He’s 6’3 205 lbs., you can’t teach that.

36. New York Giants:  Travis Jones      NT      UConn

            The Giants need to be better up front on defense.  They signed Justin Ellis as a free agent but he’ll be 32 by the end of the year.  They need a younger NT and Jones is perfectly suited for the job.  He’s big, 6’4 325 lbs., and he can really clog up the middle. 

37. Houston:  Lewis Cine      S      Georgia

            The Texans lost their best player in their secondary, Justin Reid, and they are pretty thin at the position.  Cine played on an elite defense at Georgia, this will be a step down for him but he’s an upgrade for them.

38. New York Jets:  Jahan Dotson      WR      Penn St.

            The Jets have Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, and Braxton Berrios as their top WR.  They need a true #1.  Davis has never proven to be one and I would like Moore playing inside with Berrios coming off the bench.  Dotson is an elite route-runner with the speed and separation to be a true #1 for Zach Wilson. 

39. Chicago Bears (6-11):  Bernhard Raimann      OT       Central Michigan

            The Bears could go a number of different ways here.  They could grab a WR like David Bell, a defensive lineman like Perrion Winfrey or Arnold Ebiketie, or even a safety like Jaquan Brisker but I think they go up front.  They need to get better protection for Justin Fields and while Raimann is a bit of a project, he would still be one of their better offensive linemen pretty quickly.  Raimann has LT potential which would allow Teven Jenkins to slide back over to RT.  Raimann is fairly new to football but he’s got prototypical size, the athleticism to play the left side and he’s just scratching the surface of his potential.  In the right environment, he could be a high-level LT for years to come.

40. Seattle:  Daniel Faalele      OT      Minnesota

            The Seahawks have the worst OT situation in the NFL.  Stone Forsythe, Jake Curhan, and Greg Eiland are the names on the depth chart right now.  It doesn’t look like Duane Brown will be re-signing which wouldn’t be much of a loss considering how he played last year. Then you look at what they have and it’s no wonder Russell Wilson wanted out so bad.  Faalele is going to take some time to develop but he’ll be better than what they have right now. 

41. Seattle:  Darrian Kinnard      OL      Kentucky

            Kinnard played OT at Kentucky but he’s seen as a guy who will move inside.  He might have to stay outside at OT for a year if he goes to Seattle.  After that he could move inside to guard, Gabe Jackson is on the wrong side of 30.  If there was a pure OT worth taking here, I would absolutely give Seattle two OTs in a row, they need them that bad.  Instead, they just take the two best linemen left.

42. Indianapolis Colts (9-8):  David Bell      WR      Purdue

            The Colts traded Carson Wentz after one year and went out and traded for Matt Ryan to replace him.  You don’t do that unless you plan to compete and this team can compete with a few tweaks here and there.  They need a LT but they will probably go the veteran stopgap at this point.  They made some moves on defense to sure up a few things so that leaves WR as a major area of need.  TY Hilton is a free agent (and they shouldn’t bring him back) and Parris Campbell has never stayed healthy leaving Michael Pittman Jr as the only reliable WR.  Bell is an Indianapolis high school legend and would be very comfortable coming home.  He’s a brilliant technician, he has a variety of moves and he would make Matt Ryan’s life easier.  Ryan has always been a precision passer with a high IQ and having a great route-runner like Bell would be a perfect match.  The Colts can compete with the Titans for the division if they hit on a few key rookies with their draft picks.  If Bell ends up in a situation like this, he would be my dark horse pick for Rookie of the Year. 

43. Atlanta:  Logan Hall      DE      Houston

            Hall is a beast at 6’6 283 lbs. and he’s perfectly built to be an end in a 3-4 defense, and that’s what Dean Pees runs for Atlanta.  It’s about time they get Grady Jarrett some legit help up front and Hall is an underrated player.  He mostly played inside at Houston and he’s really better suited for the 5-technique spot.  He’s a good one.

44. Cleveland Browns (8-9):  Perrion Winfrey      DT      Oklahoma

            The Browns gave up a lot to go get Deshaun Watson and they believe he’s the missing piece to put this team over the top.  I think they need more help at WR and they certainly need more help on the defensive line.  There are some veterans they could bring in at each position but it looks like they will wait until after the draft to give another look at Jadeveon Clowney, Odell Beckham Jr, or even someone like Ndamukong Suh.  Winfrey has been a bit overshadowed given the depth of the defensive line prospects in this draft and that’s just the Georgia guys.  Winfrey had a great year at Oklahoma and then he went to the Senior Bowl and was a complete menace.  He’s a gap penetrating tackle who would truly enjoy playing with a guy like Myles Garrett who takes a bunch of the offensive linemen’s attention.  He would thrive in this situation. 

45. Baltimore:  Kyler Gordon      CB      Washington

            The Ravens were pretty beat up at CB last year with both Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters dealing with injuries.  The team has no real depth to speak of and Peters is 29 and has bounced around plenty.  Gordon is affectionately known as “the other Washington CB” since he’s not Trent McDuffie, but he’s a good player too.  He’s a good athlete and has starter potential in the NFL.

46. Minnesota:  Jaquan Brisker      S      Penn St.

            The Vikings double up with picks for their secondary.  As much as they need a CB, they probably need a safety just as much.  Harrison Smith is 33 and he can’t play forever and beyond Smith and Camryn Bynum there is no depth at all.  Brisker could play either safety spot and gives them flexibility moving forward.  For now, he’s just an excellent back-end player, something they need more of. 

47. Washington:  Chad Muma      LB      Wyoming

            The Commanders could go a number of directions but I think they continue to focus on their underachieving defense from last season.  They added Jamin Davis last year and this year they give him Chad Muma as a running mate.  Muma is a three-down backer who can cover and play the run.  He has versatility to play multiple positions at LB so he’s a nice fit next to Davis. 

48. Chicago: Skyy Moore      WR      Western Michigan

            Moore is the underrated guy at WR coming out of a smaller school.  He’s been extremely productive and he is a perfectly built slot receiver.  He’s quick as can be and he would be a fantastic addition to the offense for Justin Fields.  His ability to get open over the middle would make it much easier for the young QB. 

49. New Orleans:  Braxton Jones      OT      Southern Utah

            This is my shot in the dark pick.  The Saints needs a LT of the future and this is the team that once took a shot on a skinny LT out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff named Terron Armstead.  Armstead just left in free agency because he’s really good and priced himself out of New Orleans.  Jones is long, lean and underdeveloped but he has many traits you look for in a LT.  This is early for him but I’m taking a shot (mostly because I don’t really like Nicolas Petit-Frere from OSU that much). 

50. Kansas City:  Jalen Pitre      S      Baylor

            Kansas City decided to sign Justin Reid at safety and let Tyrann Mathieu leave in free agency.  Juan Thornhill is the other safety but he’s in the last year of his deal.  Pitre is a versatile defender who would make a great third safety and give the Chiefs some protection against losing Thornhill next year. 

51. Philadelphia:  Tyler Smith      OG      Tulsa

            Brandon Brooks retired, Isaac Seumalo shouldn’t be a starter, and eventually Landon Dickerson will have to move to center to replace Jason Kelce who’s 35 years old.  They need help inside.  Smith is a beast and he brings a nasty demeanor, he should fit right in. 

52. Pittsburgh:  Boye Mafe      OLB      Minnesota

            The Steelers really like Alex Highsmith and he does a nice job but they need more juice opposite TJ Watt and Mafe is raw but he has loads of potential.  He’s highly athletic and with some refinement, he will be a really good pass rusher. 

53. Green Bay:  Trey McBride      TE      Colorado St.

            Green Bay needs as many new options in the passing game as possible with Devante Adams in Vegas.  Robert Tonyan is coming off an injury and Mercedes Lewis is going to be 38.  McBride is great in the passing game and he can line up all over. 

54. New England:  Jamaree Salyer      OG      Georgia

            The Patriots traded away Shaq Mason because they didn’t want to pay him and that was a year after they let Joe Thuney walk in free agency.  They don’t want to spend a lot at OG and there’s nothing cheaper than a rookie.  Salyer is a mauler inside and he would be huge in the running game. 

55. Arizona:  George Pickens      WR      Georgia

            AJ Green is gone, Christian Kirk is gone, and they need someone to play opposite DeAndre Hopkins on the outside so Rondale Moore can play inside.  Pickens barely played last year due to an ACL tear but he looked just fine running at the combine.  He has size and speed. 

56. Dallas:  DeMarvin Leal      DT      Texas A&M

            Leal came into the year as a top prospect but had an uneven season.  He’s a bit of a tweener not really being DT size but not quick enough for DE.  He should play inside and Dallas needs plenty of help there.  This might be high for him; he seems to be falling. 

57. Buffalo:  Breece Hall      RB      Iowa St

            It took until the 57^th pick for me to have a RB go but here it is.  The Bills have almost everything they need but as good as Devin Singletary was down the stretch last year, he’s not a work horse back.  Hall has the size and skill to be a full-time guy but also works just fine in a duo.  Zack Moss fell off a cliff last year and the Bills need someone to step in.  Hall should be the first RB off the board.

58. Atlanta:  Desmond Ridder      QB      Cincinnati

            It’s tough to think Ridder won’t go before this but for now this is where I’m slotting him.  There are a few teams that could take a chance on him (Washington, Philly) but they don’t pull the trigger.  Atlanta would be wise to take a shot and they may do it with their earlier 2^nd round pick but for now it’s here. Ridder was a four-year starter and he’s a superior athlete but he has some issues with accuracy and decision making, that holds him back.  Maybe Arthur Smith can fix him. 

59. Green Bay:  Christian Harris     LB      Alabama

            De’Vondre Campbell broke out last year at ILB and they re-signed him but Krys Barnes is the other ILB and I don’t think he’s quite as established.  Harris is a multi-talented guy from Alabama so you know he knows how to play.  He can help in the middle and on special teams.

60. Tampa Bay:  Phidarian Mathis      DL      Alabama

            The team needs to replace Ndamukong Suh and Mathis is a versatile defensive lineman who can play anywhere up front.  His time at Alabama will serve him well as they generally cross-train their lineman.  Tampa needs to get younger at DE for sure.

61. San Francisco 49ers (10-7):  Cole Strange      OL      Chattanooga

            The 49ers lost Laken Tomlinson in free agency and Daniel Brunskill is one of those guys who plays just well enough you want to replace him all the time.  They can hope Aaron Banks steps up at one OG position but C Alex Mack will be 37 in November too.  Strange is from a small school but he showed great versatility throughout his career and looked good at the Senior Bowl.  He will likely start out as a guard but the 49ers could develop him as Mack’s eventual replacement too.  He fits the profile of a guy Kyle Shanahan would like because he’s long, lean and athletic, the perfect zone scheme lineman.  The 49ers could also go with a WR like Christian Watson to give them a deep threat on the outside but Shanahan will likely prioritize the line.

62. Kansas City:  Cameron Thomas      DE      San Diego St.

            The Chiefs double up at DE after taking Ojabo in round one.  Ojabo was about potential, Thomas should help right away.  He isn’t quite as dynamic of an athlete but he understands the position better.  He can help right away because he can play on the end, set an edge in the run game, and even rush from the inside if the team wants to play a game with him and Chris Jones.  Also, Frank Clark is getting awfully expensive, two DEs isn’t a bad draft strategy. 

63. Cincinnati:  Arnold Ebiketie      DE      Penn St.

            Trey Hendrickson balled out with 14 sacks last year and Sam Hubbard had a respectable 7.5.  The defense was good but it can be better with more pressure.  The secondary got their guy in round one, here’s the guy to rev up the pass rush.  Ebiketie needs to be a designated pass rusher to start his career and that’s perfect, it’s exactly what the Bengals need him to do. 

64. Denver Broncos (7-10):  Nik Bonitto      OLB      Oklahoma

            The Broncos are taking their first pick here because they traded away a bunch of draft picks for Russell Wilson.  The offense should be pretty solid if they can get their offensive line to play fairly well, there’s talent there to work with.  Wilson should like his WRs just fine and while they traded away Noah Fant in the Wilson trade, they still have Albert O who is probably the best pass catching TE Wilson has had since Jimmy Graham.  Javonte Williams should be a star at RB.  The defense should see some changes in scheme as the coaching staff transitions.  Randy Gregory is probably better suited for a four-man front as is new DT DJ Jones.  Bonitto is a good edge rusher who can be more of an OLB but play in multiple fronts.  They need some depth there and he’s good value here.  Gregory and Bradley Chubb have had their issues staying on the field so hedging their bets a bit with Bonitto isn’t a bad idea for this defense.