Chicago Bears

(10) Darnell Wright OT Tennessee
(53) Gervon Dexter DT Florida
(56) Tyrique Stevenson CB Miami
(64) Zacch Pickens DT South Carolina
(115) Roschon Johnson RB Texas
(133) Tyler Scott WR Cincinnati
(148) Noah Sewell LB Oregon
(165) Terell Smith CB Minnesota
(218) Travis Bell DT Kennesaw St
(258) Kendall Williamson S Stanford

Immediate Impact: RT Darnell Wright, DT Gervon Dexter

Darnell Wright walks in as the starting RT on day one. The RT position is fixed and Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom are going to have to find other spots to play or a different team. I’m not the biggest Dexter fan, he’s seriously inconsistent but the Bears DT depth chart is not good. His talent will allow him to get plenty of playing time, now if the coaches can just get him to actually play hard all the time, they will have something.

Best Value: WR Tyler Scott

Scott isn’t the biggest guy but he’s fast, he’s fluid, and he’s a really good athlete. If his hands were better and he was a little crisper in his routes he goes much higher. I think he can work on those things and the Bears got a guy who should have been a day two pick on day three. This guy is either the replacement for Darnell Mooney if he leaves next year in free agency, or he’s the reason the team doesn’t want Mooney back.

Sleeper: CB Terell Smith

I’m not a fan of the Tyrique Stevenson pick in the second round but I like this pick quite a bit. Stevenson is a flashy athlete; Smith is a good CB. Smith will give you steady play and be where he’s supposed to be on defense. He’s a good athlete who plays a bit stiff but he has years of experience and understands how to cover. Stevenson is either a homerun or a strikeout, Smith is a solid double down the line. If you made me bet who’s still on the roster in three years, I’ll take Smith.

Overall Analysis

The Bears wanted a RT and they got the best pure RT in the draft. I do question the wisdom of trading down one spot and giving up Jalen Carter, especially after they drafted three DTs, but I like Wright. I didn’t like the Dexter or Stevenson picks because there’s too much volatility in their outcomes. Dexter could be Jalen Carter, or he’s out of the league in three years. Stevenson can be a starter for the next decade, I’m just not sure if it’s in the NFL or XFL. DT Zacch Pickens is the opposite of Dexter, he’s as steady as they come but he’s not going to dominate. He is to Dexter what Smith is to Stevenson.
RB Rochon Johnson is a great complementary back and he’ll give them a lot of flexibility and he’ll help in so many ways. He could actually prove to be better than Herbert or Foreman by the end of the year. WR Tyler Scott is insurance against Darnell Mooney getting hurt or Chase Claypool sucking. Scott can play and he’ll make plays when he does. LB Noah Sewell is an interesting pick. He’s an old school big LB and he’ll be perfect backing up Tremaine Edmunds and he allows them the chance to use Edmunds in different ways if they want. The Smith pick was a hedge on Stevenson, just like Pickens was on Dexter. While normally I wouldn’t give much credence to a small school DT who’s undersized and got picked in round seven, I’ve seen the Bears DT depth chart, Travis Bell can make this roster. S Kendall Williamson will have to make this team on special teams.

Detroit Lions

(12) Jahmyr Gibbs RB Alabama
(18) Jack Campbell LB Iowa
(34) Sam LaPorta TE Iowa
(45) Brian Branch S Alabama
(68) Hendon Hooker QB Tennessee
(96) Brodric Martin DL Western Kentucky
(152) Colby Sorsdal OL William & Mary
(219) Antoine Green WR North Carolina

Immediate Impact: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, TE Sam LaPorta, S Brian Branch

The 12th pick was too high for Gibbs but that doesn’t mean he won’t be an awesome player. They traded D’Andre Swift after getting Gibbs so now he’s the complement to David Montgomery, and he’ll be great at it. Apologies to one of the starting LBs from last year but you just got replaced. Jack Campbell will be the starting MLB in Detroit and either Alex Anzalone goes to the bench or he moves to one of the other spots and someone else goes to the bench. Either way, Campbell is the new MLB and he’ll be a star. LaPorta is the new TJ Hockenson, he starts and with Jameson Williams suspended to start the season, he’ll get plenty of targets. Brian Branch may not start right away, but he will play and he will be excellent.

Best Value: S Brian Branch

This guy is an absolute steal half way through round two. He’s the best slot cover guy in the draft, he can play safety either in coverage or coming up to tackle. He’s not the biggest guy and he didn’t have great athletic testing numbers, he’s just football player. If I were Tracy Walker, I would be worried about my cap number increasing so much next year, they just drafted his replacement.

Sleeper: WR Antoine Green

No one has heard of this guy because Josh Downs sucked up all the targets in North Carolina’s offense. Green is a bigger WR with straight line speed and great size. The reason I’m calling him the sleeper is Jameson Williams is suspended to start the season which leaves, Marvin Jones Jr and Josh Reynolds as the only WR not named Amon-Ra St. Brown. It is completely possible Greene looks good when he gets a chance and sticks around.

Overall Analysis

You can quibble with the order in which the Lions took the players they got because a RB and LB in round one doesn’t feel like great value, but you can’ t argue with the guys they got. Gibbs is a major playmaker for the offense. Jack Campbell is the best LB they have had since…Chris Spielman? He sets the tone for how they want to play. TE Sam LaPorta and S Brian Branch were actually guys who could have gone in round one so they overpaid in round one and got value in round two. Then they got QB Hendon Hooker in round three. Hooker had some first round buzz but that was just noise. He’s a solid developmental prospect and if he recovers from his knee injury and they like what they see next year, he gives them something to think about in 2024 when they could move on from Jared Goff but they don’t have to.

DT Brodric Martin is a solid bet on a gigantic human being who can give them some real heft on the interior defensive line. OL Colby Sorsdal is a small school prospect they can try to develop into a future piece, they don’t need him now. Antoine Greene is just betting on a guy with traits late in the draft, not a terrible idea.

Green Bay Packers

(13) Lukas Van Ness Edge Iowa
(42) Luke Musgrave TE Oregon St.
(50) Jayden Reed WR Michigan St.
(78) Tucker Kraft TE South Dakota St.
(116) Colby Wooden DL Auburn
(149) Sean Clifford QB Penn St.
(159) Dontayvion Wicks WR Virginia
(179) Karl Brooks DL Bowling Green
(207) Anders Carlson K Auburn
(232) Carrington Valentine CB Kentucky
(235) Lew Nichols III RB Central Michigan
(242) Anthony Johnson Jr. S Iowa St.
(256) Grant DuBose WR Charlotte

Immediate Impact: Edge Lukas Van Ness, TE Luke Musgrave, TE Tucker Kraft, WR Jayden Reed

The Packers’ defense was not very good last year and they didn’t draft Lukas Van Ness to sit around and watch. It’s going to be a transition for him to play on the edge in their 3-4 defense but he’s the type of athlete who can do it. They have big pass rushing OLBs right now with Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, they can make Van Ness into one.
The TE spot was devoid of any difference makers so they drafted Luke Musgrave and then they couldn’t pass up the value of Tucker Kraft when he slipped to round three. Those two become the top two TEs and Jordan Love is going to enjoy both, I see some two TE sets in Green Bay’s future. The Packers don’t usually draft smaller WRs but they made an exception for Jayden Reed. Reed will be the perfect complement in the slot to Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. They don’t have a real slot receiver right now so it’s his job to lose.

Best Value: TE Tucker Kraft

There were some who really liked Kraft as a prospect and he definitely had higher grades than 78th overall. It was a deep TE class so teams waited a bit and he was way too good to fall any farther and the Packers remade their TE depth chart with this draft on day two.

Sleeper: S Anthony Johnson Jr.

I hate to give credit to a Cyclone but this guy could end up really being a player for the Packers. Johnson played safety, nickel, and CB while at Iowa St (it feels like he was there for 12 years). His experience will help him find a role and the Packers need some safety help or Darnell Savage is going to feel lonely back there. At worst he’s a versatile backup, at best he could end up starting at safety opposite Savage.

Overall Analysis

Van Ness gives them another 1st rounder on defense, at some point they have to realize they have plenty of talent, they need a new coach there. Musgrave and Kraft have a chance to really help this team as a really good TE duo, they should complement each other well. Reed could be a huge addition; he can make Jordan Love’s life easier. This team made 13 picks, I like the first four, it gets a little off kilter after that.

They needed some depth on the defensive front and they got Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks. Neither one is a needle mover but they can be nice backups. QB Sean Clifford in round five was a head-scratcher. They could certainly use quarterback depth beyond Danny Etling but Clifford isn’t it. Jaren Hall, Tanner McKee, and Max Duggan were all still on the board, I would have rather had any of the three. Dontayvion Wicks and Grant DuBose were depth picks at WR, neither one feels like they will really help but I like DuBose more than Wicks. I’m not a big proponent of drafting a kicker but when you have 13 picks and it’s in the sixth round, I’m fine with it. They need a kicker to replace Mason Crosby and Anders Carlson has a better chance of making an impact than another late round position player. CB Carrington Valentine, RB Lew Nichols III, and Anthony Johnson Jr. will join to two WRs trying to make this team as special teamers and backups with the hope to find a spot in the future.

Minnesota Vikings

(23) Jordan Addison WR USC
(102) Mekhi Blackmon CB USC
(134) Jay Ward CB LSU
(141) Jaquelin Roy DL LSU
(164) Jaren Hall QB BYU
(222) DeWayne McBride RB UAB

Immediate Impact: WR Jordan Addison

The Vikings didn’t have a lot of draft capital and they filled a major hole on offense with their first pick. Jordan Addison steps into the spot vacated by Adam Thielen and he’s a great complement to Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is a true #1 WR and Addison can be a fantastic #2. He’s fast, he’s a great route runner, and he’s a reliable target, Kevin O’Connell will find ways to get him the ball.

Best Value: QB Jaren Hall

Hall might be a bit underrated because he’s an older prospect who lacks ideal size. He has plenty of arm strength and mobility which make up for his lack of height and he has a chance to develop into a starter down the road. For a team that might be looking to move on from Kirk Cousins in a year and only has Nick Mullens as a backup, Hall in round five was well worth the pick.

Sleeper: CB Mekhi Blackmon

The Vikings have Andrew Booth Jr and Byron Murphy at CB, Booth is coming off an injury riddled rookie year and Murphy is better in the slot. They need a lot of help at CB and Blackmon wasn’t one of the big-name CBs but he played a lot at USC. He’s not a big guy and he’s not a great athlete but he doesn’t care and he competes on every rep. On a team in need of an outside CB, I’m not betting against Blackmon. They may end up with a starting CB from round three.

Overall Analysis

For a team that had a lot of holes on defense, they didn’t have a lot of draft capital to use and they used their first pick on offense. Addison will keep the offense humming right along but with only six picks I question the wisdom of using three on offense and three on defense. CB Jay Ward is also tough to figure out, he’s basically a CB/S tweener who isn’t that good at any one thing in particular. He might be a solid slot corner but they should be playing Murphy there. DT Jaquelin Roy is a big boy at DT and adds some beef but I’m not sure he breaks through enough to actually play. Hall is a nice shot at a backup QB and maybe a starter in a couple of years but he’s not helping right now. DeWayne McBride looks the part of an NFL running back but unless they trade Dalvin Cook it’s going to be hard to find playing time behind Cook, Alexander Mattison, and Kene Nwangwu. He has to beat out Ty Chandler to just make the 53-man roster. I would have gone all defense after drafting Addison, or drafted a defender in round one and taken a different WR in round two.

2023 Iowa Hawkeyes Spring Review

I have been avoiding writing about the 2023 Iowa Hawkeyes because I still have some trauma to work through after watching last year’s offense redefine the word putrid.  I started to get a little hope when the transfer portal opened last December and the Hawkeyes landed several impact players, not the least of which was Cade McNamara, the former Michigan QB.  Then the bowl game came and went and my hopes felt dashed when there were no staff changes (okay it was really just Brian Ferentz I wanted gone with a new offensive coordinator from anywhere but here). 

Brian Ferentz remains the offensive coordinator and I have little faith he can make any meaningful changes.  It’s still Kirk Ferentz’s offense but Brian is the play caller and he proved last year, he has almost no imagination.  With a month to prepare for the bowl game it seems he came up with four new plays, ran them to start the game against Kentucky, and then when they all worked, he never used them again.  All of this led to the embarrassment that is Brian’s new contract he struck with Gary Barta.  Standards set so low for the offense it’s ridiculous that they wasted the paper to write them down.  Barta showed he has no power over Brian Ferentz even though Brian “reports” to Barta to circumvent the University’s nepotism rules.  The only thing more embarrassing than Brian’s new contract was last year’s offense.

The hope was that the new transfers would help Iowa overcome its antiquated offense and that Cade McNamara’s influence might open things up a bit.  That hope took a serious hit when spring practice opened and a bunch of injuries stalled any possible progress from being made. Cade McNamara was only able to partially participate (we knew this was going to happen before spring started). New WR Seth Anderson missed all of camp with a soft tissue injury, new RT hopeful Daijon Parker was injured almost immediately and missed all of spring along with a slew of injuries that took out most of the starting offensive line for some or all of spring.  The offensive line was terrible last year and needed the practice.  It was tough to see any progress being made when only one scholarship WR was healthy for spring practice too. 

It was clear from very early on that Iowa needed more depth and more talent at the WR position and it needed to come from the transfer portal.  The portal hadn’t been as fruitful when it came to WR as many had hoped with only Anderson joining during the initial portal window.  It’s hard to blame the higher ranked WRs for wanting to play in a better offense.  Then a funny thing happened just as the spring transfer portal window was closing, Kaleb Brown from Ohio St. entered.  The realist in me never thought for a second that Brown would seriously consider Iowa, then he scheduled a visit, and it came very quickly.  Even more improbably, he quickly cancelled his other planned visits and committed to Iowa after being hosted by Cade McNamara and connecting with Xavier Nwankpa and getting a deal with the Iowa Swarm collective.  Hope comes once again. 

This is the experience of being a Hawkeye fan in 2023.  The ebbs and flows, the ups and downs, the twists and turns, it’s like being on the world’s worst roller coaster…I hate roller coasters.  Watch a video of Cade McNamara simply speaking about playing at Iowa and you’re in on the Hawkeyes competing for the Big Ten Championship.  Remember that Iowa’s offensive line was terrible and the two new comers are Daijon Parker, a guy who missed spring practice with an injury and Rusty Feth, a guard who hasn’t stepped on campus yet.  Then look at TEs Luke Lachey and Eric All and you see visions of TJ Hockenson and Noah Fant destroying defenses before going on to the NFL.  Then you realize Brian Ferentz is still the play caller.  You hear whispers that Jon Budmayr is working hands on with the QBs and his finger prints might be all over this offense due to his connection with Cade McNamara.  Then you realize his only play calling experience was with a bad Colorado St. team a couple of years ago (it wasn’t his fault; his head coach was awful). The roller coaster is nearly out of control.  

While the offensive line didn’t have time to work together during the spring, the injuries did afford some extra practice time for some young guys and there appears to be progress.  Beau Stephens and Gennings Dunker seemed to be holding their own against Iowa’s defense by the end of spring practice and that’s a good development.  If those two can be better the offensive line has a chance to be better and deeper.  Logan Jones was the only constant on the line during the spring and hopefully he’s making progress too. 

There’s potential for Iowa to opens next season with six new transfer starters on offense; QB Cade McNamara, WRs Kaleb Brown and Seth Anderson, TE Erick All (Iowa will almost assuredly use a two-TE set), RT Daijon Parker and RG Rusty Feth.  What does this all mean? It means there are no more talent excuses for Brian and Kirk.  They can’t blame any poor offensive showings on the talent on the team.  They never explicitly said it last year but Brian implied it when he talked about how he did the best he could with what he had.  Should I avoid pointing out that a lack of talent on the team falls on the coaches who recruit the players?  This offense has the pieces it needs to be good.  I said it before, Iowa’s elite defense just needs a functional offense.  Imagine what Iowa could have accomplished the last two years if the offense hadn’t been a complete trainwreck.  Last year’s defense was an elite unit, the good news is this year’s defense could be just as good.  Let’s take a closer look at the team.

Quarterback

Starter: Cade McNamara (Sr)

Backup: Deacon Hill (Soph)

The fact that these two are at the top of the depth chart is an indication that Jon Budmayr’s influence will be felt on the offense.  Both of these QBs are transfers who came to Iowa largely due to their connection to Budmayr and are already ahead of Joe Labas, the bowl game starter.  McNamara was a given, he didn’t transfer to Iowa to sit on the bench or even to compete, he’s here to start.  Hill is a different story.  The fact that he has already moved ahead of Labas (Kirk confirmed this at his post spring practice press conference) means that the Iowa offense that has always been so difficult for QBs to understand, is changing in some ways. 

The understanding has always been that Iowa’s offense is so hard to understand it takes years for QBs to get it (the joke being that it only takes opposing defensive coordinators a week to understand it).  Well Cade McNamara hasn’t even needed to fully practice to have won the starting job and Deacon Hill knows it well enough that he passed Labas as the backup.  Clearly, there are some changes to make the offense simpler and less cumbersome, that would be a welcome change. 

Running Back

Starter: Kaleb Johnson (Soph)

Backups: Leshon Williams (Jr), Jaziun Patterson (RS Fr)

Not much to report on here.  Kaleb Johnson took over the job last season and if the offensive line can open some holes, he’s going to be a star.  Iowa is always going to run the ball; they just need to be more effective.  Johnson has superstar potential, it’s just harder to see when there’s 11 defenders within seven yards of the line of scrimmage.  Williams is a more than capable backup but I like him in the backup role more than I did as a starter.  Patterson showed some flashes in limited action last year and I really like his potential as a complement to Johnson.  Iowa’s running game will undergo a pretty significant change as it looks like the fullback position will, at the very least, change into more of an H-back type.  Iowa doesn’t have a traditional fullback so we will likely see some others positions used.  More two-TE sets with one maybe lining up in the backfield when needed.   

Wide Receiver

Starters: Kaleb Brown (RS Fr), Nico Ragaini (Sr), Seth Anderson (Soph)

Backups: Diante Vines (Jr), Jacob Bostick (RS Fr), The true freshmen

This isn’t what the depth chart looks like coming out of spring and I’m sure it’s not what Kirk or Brian would tell you it is.  They will give Vines and Ragaini the respect of being guys who have been here, however, if Iowa’s offense wants to be good, Brown and Anderson are the keys.  Ragaini is going to be a perfectly fine slot receiver but he would be far more useful if Brown and Anderson can be threats outside. Vines might finally develop now that he has a good QB throwing to him but the team needs difference makers and those are Brown and Anderson. 

Kaleb Brown is a thought piece right now, he’s a projection, so is Anderson to a certain extent.  The issue is talent and skill set.  Brown has the speed and skill that made him a 4-star prospect that Ohio St. signed last year and he had offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, and so many other top programs.  That type of skill is non-existent in Iowa’s WR corps.  No one Iowa has threatens the defense down the field like Brown can.  He isn’t the tallest WR being only 5’10 but he has legit deep speed.  He is also a solidly built 198 lbs. so he looks pretty stout for a guy who was a freshman last season.  Brown’s speed changes the math on defense, teams have to respect the deep part of the field.  It opens things up underneath for the TEs and backs the safeties off to make the box lighter for the running game.    

Anderson wasn’t a highly recruited guy out of high school but he was a productive player at Charleston Southern.  He had 42 catches which doesn’t sound like a lot but other than Nico Ragaini Iowa doesn’t have a guy with any real college football playing experience at WR.  Diante Vines has 10 career receptions, that’s not all on him but it’s hard to say he should automatically be considered a starter.  I think Vines can be a useful WR but Anderson has shone more proof that he’s a functional WR.  Either way, Iowa’s WR group is in much better shape with Anderson and Brown towards the top.  It allows Vines, Bostick, and the three true freshmen to find their footing, not be pressed into roles too big for them.  A staring group of Brown, the deep threat, Anderson, the complementary outside guy, and Ragaini in the slot, looks a lot better than last year’s disaster.  Now, they all just have to stay healthy. 

Tight End

Starters: Luke Lachey (Jr), Erick All (Sr)

Backups: Addison Ostrenga (Soph), Steven Stilianos (Sr)

The Erick All transfer keeps the Iowa TE group towards the top of the position in college football.  Luke Lachey is ready to break out and All looks to be healthy after missing most of last year.  Both guys can be difference makers and that would be a lot easier if the WR group can help them out by taking some of the coverage away.  Lachey and All can be matchup nightmares with their size and athleticism and they can make plays, move the chains, and if all goes well, they will be nearly impossible to stop in the red zone. 

The backups aren’t too shabby either.  Ostrenga is a young guy who is still filling out physically but you can see the makings of a very good player.  Stilianos was a small school transfer last year who hopefully has adjusted to big time college football and can provide depth. 

Offensive Line

Starters: LT Mason Richman (Jr), LG Connor Colby (Jr), C Logan Jones (Jr), RG Rusty Feth (Sr), RT Daijon Parker (Sr)O

Backups: OT Jack Dotzler (RS Fr), G/T Nick DeJong (Sr), G/T Gennings Dunker (Soph), OG Beau Stephens (Soph), OG Tyler Elsbury (Jr), C Mike Myslinski (Soph)

This is where things get very interesting.  Again, I’m making an assumption on the offensive line the same way I made one at WR.  Rusty Feth and Daijon Parker didn’t transfer to Iowa to sit on the bench.  Parker was out during spring after having surgery and that meant that Nick DeJong got a chance to play RT and so did Gennings Dunker.  Kirk Ferentz is always complementary towards a former walk-on senior like DeJong but I’ve watched him for too many years and he needs to be a backup.  Dunker is an ascending player who has versatility but the reason Iowa recruited Parker in the portal was to buy time for guys like Dunker and Dotzler at OT because they are young and aren’t ready just yet.  They are the type of developmental guys that could really ascend but hopefully it isn’t necessary until 2024. 

Mason Richman is locked in at LT and he played much better in second half of last season after Connor Colby moved to LG next to him.  Colby was miscast as a RT out of necessity to start last year and was finally benched during the Ohio St. game.  The good news was after being pulled at RT they eventually put him at LG and left side of the line stabilized.  Richman was better because he had Colby playing at a position he’s really good at.  Colby is a guard not a tackle, and he’s a really good guard.  Both guys missed time in spring with injuries but they should be locked in on that side. 

Logan Jones struggled a lot at center last year.  It was everything from the line calls to simply snapping the ball.  When your offense can’t pull off the most basic thing, the QB/center exchange, you’re working from a deficit.  The good news is you could see Jones get better at the shotgun snap from the beginning of the season to the end, it makes me think he can get better at all of it.  Hopefully with a year of playing time and potentially an offense that won’t ask as much of him, he can concentrate on just playing football.  Jones is a physical freak and if they can harness that, he’ll be fine. 

Like I said, Feth and Parker didn’t come here to sit and once Feth arrives this summer and Parker is healed up, I expect those two to form the right side of the line.  Both are seniors with one year of eligibility to use, they were brought in to give the young guys time to develop and that’s what they will do.  Feth has the flexibility to play center if Jones stumbles but more importantly, he should be a stabilizer next to him to make him more comfortable with the calls.  With talented guards like Colby and Feth flanking him Jones should feel more comfortable with everything.  Parker has flexibility to move inside to guard or over to LT if injuries strike and that gives the Hawkeyes more depth, that was something they were sorely lacking last year.  But if all goes well, Parker takes the RT job and excels at it, and he and Feth have a great year.   

The young guys like Jack Dotzler, Gennings Dunker, and Beau Stephens are guys who just need time to develop physically and mentally, once they do, the talent is there.  Nick DeJong is a break-in-case-of-emergency offensive lineman.  He should only play if injury necessitates it.  Mike Myslinski has to find a way to stay healthy if he ever wants to play football.  He never had the opportunity to compete with Jones for the center job because he just can’t stay on the field. 

The Defense

Phil Parker is the best defensive coordinator in college football and that’s just a fact.  His defense isn’t stacked with four- and five-star recruits like Georgia or Alabama and yet they are a dominant force.  Iowa lost two first-round NFL draft picks (Lukas Van Ness and Jack Campbell), and a long-time starting CB who was a third-rounder (Riley Moss), and I’m not sure they miss a beat.  Let’s have a look.

Defensive Line

Starters: DE Deontae Craig (Jr), DE Joe Evans (Sr), DT Logan Lee (Sr), DT Noah Shannon

Backups: DE Max Llewellyn (Soph), DE Ethan Hurkett (Jr), DT Yahya Black (Jr), DT Aaron Graves (Soph)

Depth: DT Anterio Thompson (Soph), DT Jeremiah Pittman (Soph), DE Chris Reames (Sr), DE Brian Allen (RS Fr)

This unit is frightening if you’re an opponent because they are potentially three deep at all positions, they could realistically play 12 or 13 players on the defensive line.  The second unit is arguably more talented at DT than the starters it’s just the starters are seniors and they are excellent too.  The team lost Lukas Van Ness at DE a year early to the NFL, he didn’t start a game at Iowa and this type of depth is why.  Now that Van Ness isn’t here to be the breakout star of the defensive line, I’m nominating Deontae Craig.  He tied for the team lead in sacks last year and he was nowhere near the lead in snaps played.  He’ll play more as a starter and he’s only getting better.  Joe Evans and Noah Shannon are returning for their sixth years using their Covid year to do so.  Evans isn’t the biggest guy but he’s a proven DE starter and he’s very steady.  Shannon is the undersized DT but with the depth inside they can put him situations where he can excel.  Logan Lee isn’t big either but he’s a rock inside.  

The good news for Shannon and Lee is that they don’t have to be the big guys inside because Yahya Black and Aaron Graves are power players on the inside.  The rotation of those four keeps them all fresh and Iowa added to that rotation.  Junior college transfer Anterio Thompson should find some playing time and Jeremiah Pittman took the opportunity this spring to stand out.  Lee and Shannon were out after surgeries for spring practice and Pittman showed he can handle playing.  That’s six DTs to play and that doesn’t include a guy like Jeff Bowie, a redshirt sophomore we haven’t seen do anything yet. 

At DE, Craig is the breakout star while Evans is the steady senior.  Behind them Ethan Hurkett and Max Llewellyn are looking to stay healthy and prove they are ready to be big contributors.  There’s also a chance Aaron Graves gets some time at DE just to get him on the field, he will be one giant DE.  Chris Reames is a senior who’s never really played but was mentioned by the coaches as a guy who looked good this spring, always have to cheer for a guy who has stuck it out this long without getting meaningful playing time.  Brian Allen was a highly touted prospect who redshirted last year, he should be itching to prove he deserves some snaps. 

This defensive line should scare the hell out of the Big Ten, the Next Man Up mantra might mean an even better player is stepping in for the guy going out.  This line should make the linebackers’ lives much easier too. 

Linebackers

Starters: Nick Jackson (Sr), Jay Higgins (Sr), Karson Sharar (Soph), CASH Sebastian Castro (Sr)

Backups: Kyler Fisher (Sr), Jaden Harrell (Soph), Zach Twedt (Soph)

Someone has to replace Jack Campbell and Seth Benson and that unenviable task falls to Nick Jackson and Jay Higgins.  Iowa will spend a lot of time playing only two LBs with Castro at the Cash position and it will mostly be Jackson and Higgins.  Jackson is a transfer who will step in immediately as the playmaker.  He was a tackling machine at Virginia and was an All-ACC player multiple years.  Higgins got playing time last year when Jestin Jacobs got hurt.  He didn’t play all the time because Jacobs was the third LB but it was valuable experience. 

Sharar is going to get that third LB role this year, he’ll play when the team goes away from the Cash lineup.  Castro stepped into the Cash position last year when Cooper DeJean had to move to CB after the injuries to Terry Roberts and Jermari Harris.  He played quite well there and got better as the season progressed.  With DeJean taking over as the top CB the Cash job is Castro’s. 

The backups really come down to Kyler Fisher, a senior with tons of special teams work and some LB snaps.  He’s the only guy who has actual playing time on defense.  As Iowa has used more two LB lineups it’s harder to get young guys on the field.  Harrell and Twedt are the next men up but there are some good young LBs on the team. 

Defensive Backs

Starters: CB Cooper DeJean (Jr), CB Jermari Harris (Sr), SS Xavier Nwankpa (Soph), FS Quinn Schulte (Sr)

Backups: CB TJ Hall (Soph), CB Deshaun Lee (RS Fr), SS Koen Entringer (RS Fr), FS Kael Kolarik (RS Fr)

It’s Cooper DeJean’s world and we’re all just living in it.  DeJean was the breakout player of last year and he’s only going to get better from here.  He’s one of the most versatile players in football, he plays CB, he can be the Cash, he could be an excellent safety, and he’s a devastating punt returner.  If Iowa hadn’t landed Kaleb Brown at WR I would have been begging for him to get some time on offense, instead I’ll just ask politely to give him a few plays a game on that side.  Jermari Harris missed last season with an injury which played a part in DeJean becoming a CB full-time, we can thank Harris for that later.  He had ended the 2021 season playing quite well and I expect him to be pretty good this year.  It’s never easy replacing a long-time starter like Riley Moss and DeJean and Harris will be a good CB pairing.   

Xavier Nwankpa is the outlier for the Hawkeyes, he actually was a five-star recruit and he looks like the real deal.  He didn’t start last year until the bowl game when he stepped in for Kaevon Merriweather but he didn’t miss a beat.  Nwankpa is a superstar in the making, especially being a safety under the tutelage of Phil Parker.  That much talent with Parker’s coaching, look out.  Quinn Schulte is another one of Parker’s creations.  He took a walk-on safety and turned him into a multi-year starter and team leader, I’ve heard that story before and it’s always great.  This defensive backfield will be excellent in the starting unit. 

The backups have talent but lack experience.  TJ Hall struggled last year when pressed in to duty against Nebraska as a true freshman, getting benched in that game.  He has talent, he needs time.  Deshaun Lee redshirted last year and he needs time too.  There’s a reason Iowa is looking for an experienced CB in the transfer portal.  Koen Entringer was a coaches’ favorite by the end of last season and he’s really the third safety.  Kael Kolarik is probably Phil Parker’s next great safety find.  I’m not going to doubt it.   

Final Thoughts

The Iowa defense will do what the Iowa defense does, it will dominate.  If the transfers on the offensive side of the ball can raise the play on that side, the team can be good.  If there are some changes to the offensive scheme to better utilize the new talent on offense, the team could be really good.  If they would have found a new offensive coordinator to bring Iowa’s offense into this decade, Iowa could be great.  We’ll have to settle for small steps.  The Big Ten West is going through some big changes with new coaches at Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Purdue.  Illinois has some major changes at QB, RB, and especially the secondary to deal with.  Minnesota is still coached by PJ Fleck so they will still struggle to win big games.  Northwestern was a tire fire last year and Fitz has his work cut out for him.  The last Big Ten West crown is there for Iowa’s taking.  The defense is good enough to win it, the offense just has to be good enough to not lose it.  25 points a game is Brian Ferentz’s benchmark to getting his contract renewed.  If he doesn’t get there, he should be fired, and his father should show enough respect to the program to do it himself.  I’m going to remain cautious in my optimism until I see how the offense comes together during training camp with the line getting healthy, Cade getting healthy, and the WR corps coming into form.  Also, where do I go to start the Phil Parker for the Broyles Award (college football’s Assistant of the Year award) campaign?  He’s long overdue. 

I have some thoughts to share about Day Two (aka rounds 2 &3) of the NFL draft. This is generally the day I like the best because you really see what teams are doing to improve their roster. This is where teams can really move the needle for their upcoming season. Round one gets all the hype but it’s tough for one player to really change the fortunes of a team, so here is where they get guys who can contribute early and really affect some change.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers are killing it so far. Somehow they got their new starting LT in round one and then came back in round two and got the CB they needed and wanted. Joey Porter Jr was popular 1st round guy for them and they get him at the top of round two. He starts day one opposite Patrick Peterson and the son of a Steelers great gets to try to become a Steelers great himself. Then they added Keeanu Benton, a big nose tackle from Wisconsin who fills a huge need and then somehow TE Darnell Washington inexplicably falls to round three and the Steelers continue to kill it in this draft. The AFC North is no joke.
• Tennessee stops Will Levis’ slide with the second pick in round two. They trade up and get the QB I thought they would trade up and get in round one. He could allow them to kick Ryan Tannehill to the curb but if his foot is the problem people are talking about, they can keep Tannehill around to let Levis work in slowly. BTW if you have a pack of gum you can trade for Malik Willis, clearly the Titans are over their third-round pick from last year. And now when Tannehill gets hurt they won’t have to start a street free agent they picked up an hour before the game.
• Nate Tice from the Athletic made the joke that Sam LaPorta was everyone’s second favorite TE, everyone had a different favorite TE in this class but everyone loved LaPorta as their second guy. Apparently he was right. LaPorta was the second TE off the board, ahead of Michael Mayer, Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft and Darnell Washington, to name a few. He goes to Detroit who clearly watched a lot of Iowa film this year and loved some Hawkeyes.
• Michael Mayer being the third TE off the board was surprise. The Raiders taking a TE was maybe a bit surprising after signing Austin Hooper and OJ Howard in the off season and having far bigger needs. Michael Mayer starting in week one and being way better than Hooper and Howard, won’t be surprising at all, he’s really good and Jimmy G is going to love him.
• The Rams first pick was G/C Steve Avila. Matthew Stafford says thank you. That o-line was mess last year.
• I was a little surprised Carolina took Jonathan Mingo with some of the WRs that were still left on the board, however, Mingo is a 6’2 power slot, that means he’s a big WR who plays inside. With DJ Chark and Adam Theilen outside they need a slot and a 6’2 guy will be easier for Bryce Young to see.
• I got two picks in the second round of my mock draft exactly correct, that never happens. At 42 the Packers took TE Luke Musgrave and at 43 the Jets took C Joe Tippmann, I can’t believe that actually happened. Two guys who fill huge needs for those two teams.
• Speaking of Luke Musgrave, he wasn’t the only pass catcher the Packers took on day two. They also took WR Jayden Reed from Michigan St and TE Tucker Kraft from South Dakota St. Reed will complement Watson and Doubs and Kraft was incredible value in round three. Their TE depth chart was pretty ugly, now it’s really good. They gave Jordan Love some real help at the skill positions.
• The Colts took CB Julius Brents from Kansas St. I’m cheering for him, he’s a former Hawkeye who transferred and actually was good somewhere else (that’s rare, usually the guys who transfer out of Iowa don’t do much). Anyway, GM Chris Ballard likes big people and he just got a 6’3 CB who will start for them day one.
• The Lions have a type. They don’t care about measurable or position value, they want high character, tough football players. They took Brian Branch, a guy who is way better than his measurables. He isn’t big, he isn’t fast, but he’s a stud. He’s the only guy who was invited to round one of the draft, didn’t get drafted night one, and came back on night two so he could walk on stage and have his draft moment. He wasn’t embarrassed, he wasn’t mad, he was genuinely appreciative of the moment. He joins a strangely crowded secondary in Detroit but I’m cheering for this kid. It’s weird, I’m going to have to actually like the Lions this year.
• For the first time in a long time I’m actually loving the Patriots draft. The Christian Gonzalez pick in round one was truly awesome. Then in round two DE Keion White from Georgia Tech fell to the Patriots. I wasn’t a fan of White as a first round guy but as a second round pick, he’s a steal. He can play the edge, kick inside if needed, and gives the Pats the the youth and versatility up front they need. Then in round three they took a flyer on a guy coming off an injury, LB/S Marte Mapu. They announced him as a LB and I hope they play him there. He’s undersized but he’s fast and can cover, the Patriots need faster LBs who can cover, I’m glad to see Belichick realize that.
• Everyone came into the draft thinking the Commanders needed help in the secondary, they drafted CB Emmanuel Forbes in round one and S Jartavius “Quan” Martin in round two, clearly they agreed. C Ricky Stromberg in round three is a good pickup too, they need help at interior o-line.
• Cody Mauch should start at RG immediately in Tampa Bay. Mauch and Ryan Jenson starting next to each other would be awesome, they have to be long-lost brothers.
• Dolphins took CB Cam Smith, is Xavien Howard headed for the exit? Vic Fangio and Jalen Ramsey need to teach Cam Smith how to cover without holding and Ramsey should convince him that tackling is fun, then Smith will be an excellent player. And of course Miami got Devon Achane. The dude with Olympic-level speed goes to the team with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Raheem Mostert.
• The Seahawks took a big RB, Zach Charbonnet, I can’t believe I didn’t have that in my mock draft. That’s like a four inch putt and I missed it.
• The Bears drafted three defenders on day two. In round two they took a big swing on DT Gervon Dexter, then grabbed CB Tyrique Stevenson. In round three they went back to DT and took Zacch Pickens. Dexter is big dude and has flash plays that make you think he’s Jalen Carter, then he disappears for half the game. He needs to give consistent effort or he’ll be playing in the XFL in three years. Pickens is the guy who does give consistent effort, he just lacks Dexter’s physical gifts. The Bears needed bodies inside, they took one guy they can count on and one guy they hope is a superstar. I’m not a Stevenson fan and I’m really not a Stevenson in round two fan. He has lapses in coverage and misses too many tackles. There are CBs still on the board I like better than him. He has great physical tools but he doesn’t use them to do the things you need him to do. Not a fan of round two for the Bears.
• I’ll generally give the Chiefs the benefit of the doubt but Rashee Rice at WR in round two? I like a lot of guys who went after him a lot more. Marvin Mims, Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, Josh Downs, and some guys still on the board. He’ll be fine with Mahomes throwing to him but give me Tillman or Hyatt, that would be fun. Also, a little surprised on Wayna Morris being their OT pick in round three. Dawand Jones and Jaelyn Duncan both available and Morris is injured. Not sure he’s helping anytime soon.
• The Giants took C John Michael Schmitz in round two. I had him going there in round one, I missed it by a round but he’s starting at center immediately. Really good pick. They also took Jalin Hyatt in round three. He gives them the deep threat they have wanted to complement all of their underneath guys. Hyatt is basically the upgraded version of Darius Slayton, a guy they have wanted to be better than he is.
• The Cowboys took a TE, not the one anyone thought but Luke Schoonmaker is basically Dalton Schultz 2.0.
• Houston picked 2nd and 3rd and then had to wait until pick 62. They got a new starting center, Juice Scruggs, I did not make up that name. He’s a perfect fit for their new offense and he starts day one. Then they drafted WR Tank Dell at 69. “Tank” is a funny nickname for a guy 5’8 165 lbs. He’s really small but he’s fast and he can make plays. CJ Stroud will love these guys.
• Sean Payton traded up into the end of round two to take WR Marvin Mims. Hey Patriots, call Sean and see what he wants for Jerry Jeudy, it can’t be that much, he just replaced him. Then Payton got a steal in round three with LB Drew Sanders. At one point Sanders looked like a top 15 pick, he went 67th overall. He’s a good player but they really have to take advantage of his pass rush ability to make the most of him. They finish off their day two with Iowa CB Riley Moss, what a great situation to walk into. Patrick Surtain II is one of the best CBs in the NFL already but the Broncos don’t have much on the outside opposite him. Damarri Mathis was a fourth round pick last year (not a Sean Payton pick). Moss is going to have a shot to play and maybe start in Denver, it’s trial by fire if you start opposite Surtain, no one throws his way. Moss won’t back down from the challenge.
• At 68 the Lions moved up to take Hendon Hooker. This is where Hooker needed to go, not just to Detroit but in the third round. He’s 25, coming off an ACL tear and he will need time to adjust to an NFL offense. Jared Goff has this job locked down this year. Hooker doesn’t have to rush back from his knee injury, he can get great coaching from Ben Johnson to understand an NFL offense and then they can see where he is. Also, it’s not like they can’t pivot from him if they don’t think he’s the guy, it’s a third round pick, the Titans just did it with Malik Willis after a year.
• The Browns took WR Cedric Tillman in round three. This is a steal and if Deshaun Watson can get his career back on track, he has the weapons around him. Tillman is a true X WR and that means Amari Cooper can play the Z where he can move all over the place like he should. It also means Donovan Peoples-Jones can move down the depth chart because Tillman is a legit downfield threat, not a pretend one. If Elijah Moore becomes the slot receiver he should be, wow is this WR so much better. Peoples-Jones and David Bell as the 4th and 5th guys? Really good.
• The Colts got WR Josh Downs, the perfect inside complement to Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce outside. Sorry Isaiah McKenzie, you may have been replaced before you even get started in Indy.
• San Francisco with a confounding draft. Penn St. DB Ji’Ayir Brown was a solid choice for team that lost Jimmy Ward and Emmanuel Moseley in the secondary, he adds nice depth and playmaking, then it goes off the rails. K Jake Moody might be the best kicker in the draft but with pick 99? Really? Then they took Alabama TE Cameron Latu, there were better TEs on the board. Strange draft for them.
• The Jaguars second day was a little off. TE Brenton Strange wasn’t my favorite TE on the board when they took him but I can see the fit with Evan Engram a little. RB Tank Bigsby in round three, yikes, I’m not a fan. There are plenty of RBs I like better and I would have actually taken someone who could make more of a difference for you. The Jaguars can compete in the AFC with a little help, OT Anton Harrison in round one was a good choice. but they could have had some more help with better players on day two. They could have had a big WR like Cedric Tillman in round two or taken a CB like Riley Moss or Kelee Ringo in round three. RB could wait.
• There are some guys I’m truly surprised made it to day three. Northwestern DL Adetomiwu Adebawore isn’t my favorite guy but he’s really athletic and productive, someone is getting a good player on day three. Kelee Ringo needs discipline on the field but he’s a freaky athlete who could be a top CB or move to safety, I would gladly take that risk early on day three. OT Blake Freeland, OT Jaelyn Duncan, OG Nick Saldiveri are big guys who need some time but I would be glad to have them as third day developmental offensive linemen. RT Dawand Jones isn’t even a guy you have to develop all that much, he may not have any positional flexibility but he can start at RT right away. S Antonio Johnson, CB Clark Phillips III, and CB Darius Rush are all guys who have starting potential early in their NFL careers. Phillips is a slot corner only but he’ll be great at it.
• I have my fingers crossed for S Kaevon Merriweather from Iowa, I think he gets drafted late but he’s going to make a team as backup safety and special teams guy and eventually he’ll start for someone. Iowa defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Phil Parker is the best in the business and his guys are smart and well coached. Merriweather is just the latest in a long line of solid defensive backs from Iowa who stick around the NFL for quite a long time.

I’ll be reacting to the NFL draft live, right here as it happens. Here we go!

Congrats to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens for finally figuring out what we all knew they were going to do. And to Aaron Rodgers, remember, you’re with the Jets now, feel free to be terrible.

Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young QB Alabama

I’m not sold on Bryce Young as a long-term starter, his size is going to be an issue eventually. I think of RGIII and how his career started really well and then he got beat up and it ended quickly as a starter. Good luck Bryce, at least Carolina has a nice offensive line for him.

Houston Texans – CJ Stroud QB Ohio St

Well, there goes all that overthinking. Stroud is good, Stroud is a huge upgrade, sorry Davis Mills. Time to finally move that franchise forward.

So I missed on the teams switching spots but I got the first two picks right. Now here comes Arizona, at least it’s not Steve Keim screwing up this pick for them.

Houston – Will Anderson Jr. Edge Alabama

Wow Houston. Well done. Using the extra draft capital from the Watson trade and getting two of the top three picks. Anderson is a stud. DeMeco Ryans is going to love coaching Will Anderson. Their defense needed this guy. He sets the tone.

Smart move by the Cardinals. They just gave themselves more capital and an extra 1st round pick next year so they can go after a QB to replace Kyler Murray after this season. Their new GM Monti Ossenfort is already doing better than Keim ever did.

Indianapolis Colts – Anthony Richardson QB Florida

I really don’t think Richardson is good enough right now to be the 4th pick but the Colts are taking a shot. He’s a physical freak and Shane Steichen can mold him. He can create an offense for him that will work right now.

I’m 4 for 4 in my mock on the players but I’m only 1 for 4 on the teams. I’ll take it. Here’s where things go off the rails.

Seattle Seahawks – Devon Witherspoon CB Illinois

Yep. John and Pete hate me and went with Witherspoon. They generally don’t draft CBs this early but they have to love his attitude and temperament. He can play and he’ll be deadly opposite Tariq Woolen and lets Coby Bryant play in the slot.

Arizona Cardinals – Paris Johnson Jr. OT Ohio St

Making a trade back up, bold. Taking Paris Johnson, not so bold, but smart. Their offensive line is not great and their OTs are both over 30. He can block for Caleb Williams or Drake Maye after next year.

Las Vegas Raiders – Tyree Wilson DE Texas Tech

This is the first of the replacements for all the Gruden/Mayock draft misses. Wilson replaces Clelin Ferrell. He could start if they cut or trade Chandler Jones. Wilson is huge and would look good opposite Maxx Crosby. Solid choice. I would have taken Gonzalez or an offensive lineman but Wilson is solid value.

Atlanta Falcons – Bijan Robinson RB Texas

Holy crap. A top 10 RB. Robinson was the second best player in the draft for me (Jalen Carter was my #1). Robinson seriously upgrades the position for the Falcons, now Arthur Smith has to unlock Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Robinson. Big move for the Falcons.

Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Carter DT Georgia

Trade up. Eagles wanted Carter bad enough to move up a pick. He is a special talent and going to Philly with his former teammates Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean there is great for him. He needs to prove he can be a good guy, he needs to mature as a person. He’s a great player on the field, get him straight off the field, the sky is the limit.

Chicago Bears – Darnell Wright OT Tennessee

There’s the new RT for the Bears. Braxton Jones stays at LT and Wright becomes the starting RT right away. I had him in my mock draft to Chicago, he fits. He’s a huge dude who can move. No more Larry Borom, Teven Jenkins, this guy, that guy, it’s Wright, it’s his job. It’s not a sexy pick but he makes Justin Fields better, he makes the running game better, he solidifies the line.

Tennessee Titans – Peter Skoronski OL Northwestern

Skoronski could start at any of the five spots on the line and be an upgrade for the Titans. Good pick up

Detroit Lions – Jahmyr Gibbs RB Alabama

Holy shit Lions. Gibbs is a stud and I have to assume this means they are going to move D’Andre Swift. Swift can’t stay healthy and Gibbs can complement David Montgomery. This is truly shocking this high but Detroit traded down and picked up extra picks so they are reaching here. Here’s the first truly holy shit moment.

Please, please, please Green Bay, don’t take Gonzalez, they shouldn’t but please leave him for New England.

Green Bay Packers – Lukas Van Ness DE Iowa

There he is. Go Hawks. Van Ness has plenty of physical gifts and he needs some refinement. He has enormous potential.

Damn it Belichick, just take Gonzalez

Pittsburgh Steelers – Broderick Jones OT Georgia

Jones was my favorite OT, I wish the Patriots didn’t have 6 middling OTs and they would have taken him. Jones is light years ahead of Dan Moore, he makes the offensive line way better.

New York Jets – Will McDonald IV Edge Iowa St.

There’s the second holy shit pick. Great athlete with a deadly spin move but it’s his only move too. This is a reach. I love a Cyclone going to the Jets, I can just feel fine continuing to hate him. He and Breece Hall, Cyclones to the Jets, yep, can’t stand them. They panicked after the Steelers moved up to get the last good tackle, New England made that trade just to screw the Jets over? Now I don’t hate it so much.

Washington Commanders – Emmanuel Forbes CB Miss St.

Yikes. The Commanders need CBs but Forbes is 166 lbs. Really surprised he went a head of Christian Gonzalez and Joey Porter Jr. He can get his hands on the ball but someone might break him in half. He can cover Davonta Smith but if he has to line up against AJ Brown, good luck.

New England Patriots – Christian Gonzalez CB Oregon

Wooohooo!!! The Patriots got the guy. He’s a bigger CB they need and the trade down worked out because the Jets and Commanders screwed up. Belichick got lucky but that works some times. No WR and my favorite CB, awesome.

I’ve been thinking about this for a few minutes since Detroit’s first pick. The Patriots need a complement to Rhamondre Stevenson and the D’Andre Swift would be an excellent guy to do that and be the James White replacement they haven’t found. Belichick, call up Brad Holmes and make it happen.

Detroit Lions – Jack Campbell LB Iowa

Wow, just wow. I didn’t think he was going in round one and he goes 18th? This is a huge need for them and he fits with Malcolm Rodriguez, who is a small LB, Jack is a big dude. They will love him. Their fans will love him. He will set a tone.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Calijah Kancey DT Pittsburgh

This draft is drunk. Kancey is so small, short arms, this is a reach. How did they pass on Levis with only Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask at QB. Teams must really hate Levis, it’s weird. Kancey is a subpackage pass rusher, that’s it.

Seattle Seahawks – Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio St.

Gee, I wonder if he can beat out Dwayne Eskridge at slot receiver? Oh wait, he just did. He’s the slot guy, getting a hell of a lot balls thrown his way with Lockett and Metcalf taking all the real coverage. He’s amazing in the slot, could be the offensive rookie of the year.

Los Angeles Chargers – Quentin Johnston WR TCU

I like other WRs better and I like other WRs better for what they need. Johnston can play but he plays a very specific way. He is really good yards after the catch (YAC). They need guys who can make plays but I would have really liked a true deep threat. He can develop into something more but they have to use him right. Your move Kellen Moore.

Baltimore Ravens – Zay Flowers WR Boston College

Hey, Lamar gets a new contract and actual WRs to play with. Odell Beckham Jr, Nelson Agholor, Rashod Bateman, and now Zay Flowers in the slot. That’s the best WR group Lamar has ever had in his professional career. Zay is a playmaker, I guess it won’t be Mark Andrews, Mark Andrews and more Mark Andrews.

If the Vikings don’t take Will Levis he’s falling into the second round unless someone comes back into the end of round one for him. Maybe, maybe the Saints think he’s too good to pass on with Derek Carr’s contract not that long.

Minnesota Vikings – Jordan Addison WR USC

So it’s the WR portion of the draft. Addison is a good WR, he’s a bit light but he only has to be the second guy with Justin Jefferson as the true #1 WR. The Levis tumble continues. Addison can be a playmaker.

New York Giants – Deonte Banks CB Maryland

Well, they needed a CB with size. Banks has size and he’s a really good athlete. He can start on the outside right away opposite Adoree’ Jackson if Jackson sticks around.

Buffalo Bills – Dalton Kincaid TE Utah

They wanted to get another weapon for Josh Allen, Kincaid is a really impressive offensive player. He can improve their offense by giving them another dimension.

Dallas Cowboys – Mazi Smith DT Michigan

Here’s another surprise. Smith is a nose tackle and this isn’t where I thought they were going. Smith is a plugger, he’s a rugged run stuffer in the middle who can wreck an offense.

Jacksonville Jaguars – Anton Harrison OT Oklahoma

The Jaguars make a smart play here. Cam Robinson is suspended for PEDs to start the year and Harrison could replace him now and for the future. Harrison is an athletic guy who just needs some more reps to get better. The Chiefs might be disappointed here, they may have to change their plans.

Cincinnati Bengals – Myles Murphy DE Clemson

He fell a lot farther than many thought, including me, but he is a guy who needs some development. He doesn’t finish his pass rushes with sacks as much as you might like. Talented guy, not a big producer.

New Orleans Saints – Bryan Bresee DT Clemson

Hey, I got this one right. He fills a huge hole for them. He’s good, he might be great if he isn’t dealing with all the personal issues he had last year with his sick sister passing away. Good for him, you have to root for this guy.

Philadelphia Eagles – Nolan Smith LB Georgia

The Eagles are just drafting Georgia’s defense from 2021. They have four Georgia defenders. I’m marking it down now, CB Kelee Ringo in round two.

There are going to be some good players in Round 2…tomorrow should be fun.

Kansas City Chiefs – Felix Anudike-Uzomah DE Kansas St.

They need an edge rusher who really gets around the edge. This might be slightly high but he fills a huge need and he will play a lot for him.

Thanks for hanging around all night. This was as crazy as I thought it would be. Two Hawkeyes in round one is always great. Tomorrow, Will Levis, Hendon Hooker, Brian Branch, Michael Mayer, all tomorrow night. Love the draft, good night.

2023 NFL Mock Draft-Final One 2.0

So, I had this mock draft all done, all I had to do was finish the editing and post it.  Then the Jets and Packers decided to get their shit together and actually make the Rodgers trade.  I had a trade in mind for it but the Jets gave up WAY more than I thought they would for Rodgers.  So here is my Final Mock Draft…the 2.0 version of the final draft. 

I really don’t like this draft class.  It’s full of outliers who are really small like Bryce Young at QB, Nolan Smith as an edge rusher, almost all of the WRs, safety/nickel corner Brian Branch and Peter Skoronski’s arms.  Or guys who are simply limited where they play; Darnell Wright and Dawand Jones are right tackles only, the LB group isn’t overly versatile outside maybe Drew Sanders and the WRs are mostly slot guys (yes, that’s two shots at the WR class).  There are also positions that are limited; the defensive tackle group is Jalen Carter and not much else towards the top, the safety group is Brian Branch and then wait until round three if you’re smart, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are difference makers at RB but then there’s a group of about 5-7 guys you could choose from.  There are four QBs, Jalen Carter, Will Anderson, and CBs Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon, that teams might actually want to draft, after those eight no one really inspires confidence (and confidence in Anthony Richardson and Will Levis at QB could be problematic). 

The general consensus right now is that the Carolina Panthers are settling in on Bryce Young at #1 overall, I just can’t get there.  I smell a smoke screen.  I think they are hyping up their interest in Young to get Houston to make an offer to move up from #2 to #1 and so far, Houston isn’t biting.  I’m sure they don’t believe Carolina right now either.  It gets weird if Young goes first and Houston passes on a QB at #2 so I have a solution for that, let’s get to it. 

(Just a quick note, I went a little trade crazy with this mock, it just seemed to make more sense that way.)

1. Houston Texans (TRADE with Carolina): Bryce Young     QB     Alabama

Houston bites the bullet and Carolina doesn’t get overly greedy and they find a solution where Houston gives up a less than premium pick to move up one spot and Carolina will still get their QB at #2.  The Texans are said to be sold on Young and Young alone at QB and considering the culture change they are trying to pull off, that’s understandable.  Young is a great teammate and he has talent but I struggle with taking him as my franchise QB.  His size scares me, not that he can’t play at his size but that he just won’t last.  If you take a QB at #1 you want him to be your guy for 10-12 years at least, I’m not sure Young sees year six.  Smaller QBs are outliers and Young is the smallest of the small.  The NFL protects QBs as much as possible but they still get hit and the hits will add up faster on him than on others.  If he helps DeMeco Ryans set a new culture in Houston moving forward, then maybe he’s worth it even if they are looking for a new QB in five years.  It feels awfully risky.

2. Carolina Panthers (TRADE with Houston):  CJ Stroud     QB     Ohio St.

I may be completely wrong and Carolina may actually love Young so much they just take him first but he just doesn’t feel like a Frank Reich type of QB.  On the other hand, Stroud is straight off the Reich assembly line.  He’s a big, strong pocket passer with elite throwing mechanics and impeccable accuracy.  Putting him in Carolina behind and pretty solid offensive line with some veteran WRs like Adam Thielen and DJ Chark, Stroud could do some damage.  He has mobility no one seems to want to give him credit for and he can adjust his game to do what is necessary.  Everyone points to the Georgia game where he showed off his running ability but also watch the Northwestern game last year when they were playing against 70 mph winds all day.  He made the offense work when throwing the ball was almost impossible.  I think Stroud would be very good, very quickly in Carolina and that is what the owner wants. 

3. Arizona Cardinals (4-13):  Will Anderson     Edge     Alabama

The Cardinals should be fielding every call waiting for the best offer from a team looking to move up for a QB.  They need players, many, many new players.  They are essentially going to punt this season because Kyler Murray will not play for a lot of it coming off a torn ACL.  If they can’t get a solid package of picks, taking Will Anderson is a good consolation prize.  They desperately need an edge rusher and Anderson is the best in the draft.  New head coach Jonathan Gannon is coming over from Philly where he had Hassan Reddick.  Reddick isn’t a traditional DE or a traditional pass rushing OLB.  Anderson can fit a similar profile, Gannon can find the most effective ways to use him, and he’s would be a foundational piece to build the defense around. 

4. Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1):  Anthony Richardson     QB     Florida

This draft is a crapshoot and if the Colts don’t make a major move for Lamar Jackson before the draft, then the likelihood is they will draft a QB.  Richardson isn’t a total project but he’s got some work to do.  He gets what he’s supposed to do with the football he just can’t always pull it off.  New Colts coach Shane Steichen had Jalen Hurts for the last two years and he made him a much better passer and Philly got to the Super Bowl.  Richardson wouldn’t have AJ Brown and Devonta Smith to throw to but Michael Pittman Jr is a solid start at WR and with a new coach and Richardson, the expectations for the Colts would be low.  Richardson should be able to make an offense effective simply by being a great athlete, if Steichen can harness all his potential, he can be an elite QB in the NFL. 

5. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver):  Jalen Carter     DT     Georgia

The character concerns with Carter are the only thing that could stop him from being a top five pick.  He’s simply too good of a player and a unique talent to drop unless teams think he can’t mature and become a better version of himself.  The criminal case against him from a fatal auto accident earlier this year has been settled with a plea bargain and he faces no jail time.  If he has convinced teams it was an isolated incident, that he sincerely regrets his actions, and it won’t happen again, he’s fine, if not, he could tumble down the board.  Carter is far and away the best DT in this draft and he has the scheme versatility to fit any style.  The Seahawks could really remake their d-line with Carter and free agent Dre’Mont Jones up front.  I don’t think Pete Carroll and John Schneider will be scared off by Carter’s issues, they will take the chance on him. 

6. Detroit Lions (from LA Rams):  Christian Gonzalez     CB     Oregon

The Lions are in a great position here because they can go in a lot of directions but they don’t have to fill any specific needs.  This pick is from the Matthew Stafford trade and they can get a real difference maker here.  Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon are the top two CBs and while it has been said that the Lions like Witherspoon a lot, I have Gonzalez here.  The Lions signed Emmanuel Moseley and Cam Sutton in free agency and they also have Jerry Jacobs at CB and one thing those guys all have in common, they are under 6’0 tall.  Witherspoon measured in at 6’0 exactly but he’s under 190 lbs. which makes him a very slim CB.  Gonzalez is 6’2 and has size, length, and athleticism and I think the Lions would be better off supplementing their shorter CBs with a guy who can matchup with some of the bigger, taller WRs in the league. 

7. Tennessee Titans (TRADE with Las Vegas):  Will Levis     QB     Kentucky

The Raiders could take Levis if they really like him but Josh McDaniels knows he has to win now and a first-round QB isn’t helping that cause.  McDaniels is going to war with Jimmy G at QB and he needs multiple picks to help fix his o-line and defense, he trades down and gets extra picks.  The Titans have Ryan Tannehill making a boatload of money and they could save half of his salary off the cap by cutting him.  They can reset their cap and their timetable with a rookie QB and Levis might be just the guy to convince Mike Vrabel to go with a rookie QB.  Vrabel is an old-school football guy and Levis is the same type.  Tennessee needs a reset and Levis could be the key.  If they drop Tannehill, they could also drop Derrick Henry and really reset or they can afford to keep Henry for the year and let him carry the offense while the rookie QB figures it out.  They may be some other teams looking to trade up here but Tennessee would give them a solid return and the Raiders would only have to drop down to 11^th overall, they still get a good player.

8. Atlanta Falcons (7-10):  Tyree Wilson     DE     Texas Tech

The Falcons need help on the front line which is why they signed Calais Campbell and David Onyemata.  However, Campbell will be 37 next season and Onyemata is 30.  Grady Jarrett, their best holdover up front will also be 30 and their backups leave a lot to be desired.  Wilson is a long, angular pass rusher with size and leverage and the versatility to play multiple fronts which makes he a great match with these guys.  He can spend the year learning from Campbell and Jarrett on the outside and being a subpackage guy and eventually take over as a starter.  He can learn a lot from those two and give them the rest they need as a rotational guy so they stay fresh.  The Falcons have addressed other needs like the secondary with the Jeff Okudah trade and signing Jessie Bates III.  They signed LBs like Kaden Ellis and Bud Dupree but they still need help up front if they want their defense to be better, and they need their defense to be better.  This is also the first spot where RB Bijan Robinson becomes an actual possibility, they could use a playmaker at RB, Robinson is a stud. 

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (TRADE with Chicago): Paris Johnson Jr.    OT    Ohio St.

 It may seem strange for the Bears to trade out of this spot to allow the Steelers to move up and take an OT the Bears could use but the Steelers need help on the offensive line if they want to protect Kenny Pickett and give him any chance to succeed at QB.  Dan Moore just isn’t cutting it and while they have spent money on interior offensive linemen in free agency the last couple of years, they are still pretty bad at OT.  Johnson is generally considered the top LT prospect in the draft, but there is no actual consensus.  I don’t think Johnson is going to be some regular Pro Bowl type of player, but he’s a legitimate NFL starter for the next decade and that puts him light years ahead of what they have now.  The Bears may try to extract a premium pick for moving down so far.    

10. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans):  Lukas Van Ness     DL     Iowa

The Eagles have one of the better rosters in the league but they have some aging players and GM Howie Roseman loves linemen.  He could take an OT to hedge against Lane Johnson’s age but the defensive line is a more pressing need.  Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox are aging players and Derek Barnett is coming off an ACL injury.  Josh Sweat could use some help off the edge and Van Ness can be that guy without the pressure of having to be the guy.  Van Ness can also play inside with Cox on passing downs or give him some rest and play next to Jordan Davis on running downs.  Van Ness needs to learn some pass rushing moves and the Eagles have the veterans and coaching to get the best out of him. 

11. Las Vegas Raiders (TRADE from Tennessee):  Devon Witherspoon     CB     Illinois

The Raiders have to fix the right side of their offensive line and they have to fix their secondary.  If they move down and still end up getting Witherspoon here, that’s a gigantic win.  In a division that has Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Sean Payton (see what I did there), they have to get better on the back end.  Witherspoon has a shot to be a top 10 pick but I’m just not finding a spot for him.  It’s completely possible he goes to Detroit at six and Gonzalez falls here.  Witherspoon isn’t the biggest CB out there but don’t tell him that.  He plays with the recklessness and intensity of a guy 20 lbs. bigger.  He can set the tone for the Raiders underwhelming secondary, they could use some of that. 

12. Houston Texans (from Cleveland):  Myles Murphy      DE      Clemson

Their edge players are a little rough at the moment, Jerry Hughes will be 35 next season, Jonathan Greenard missed half of last year with an injury, and they signed Chase Winovich in free agency, he has 12 whole sacks in his four-year career.  Murphy isn’t a finished product, he’s only 21 years old, but he’s 6’5 270 lbs. and a really good athlete.  He needs to work on finishing his pass rush and getting the QB down but that is something Jerry Hughes has been good at for a long time and he could teach him a few things.  The Texans aren’t looking to be great next season, they just want to take a step forward, they can wait for Murphy to get better.

13. Green Bay Packers (from NY Jets):  Jaxon Smith-Njigba     WR     Ohio St.

It would be fitting for the Packers to finally trade Aaron Rodgers and then promptly draft a WR in round one.  One has nothing to do with the other except for the fact that without Rodgers to elevate the play of the WRs on the team, the Packers need better WRs to elevate Jordan Love at QB.  Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are a solid duo on the outside but this team needs a legit slot receiver who can make Love’s job easier.  Smith-Njigba is almost exclusively a slot guy and that’s fine because he’s excellent at it.  He has the change of direction skills and route running mastery to be a devastating inside receiver.  Smith-Njigba doesn’t win on the outside because he lacks speed and he’s not an overwhelming athlete, but he gets how to set his defender up and roast him inside.  The Packers could take a TE here but Smith-Njigba is the best WR in this draft and he’s too perfect of a fit for what they need. 

 14. New England Patriots (8-9):  Deonte Banks     CB     Maryland

My sincere hope is that the Patriots don’t draft a WR here, I just don’t like anyone outside of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and he’s gone and they don’t need another slot receiver who can’t help them outside anyway.  Also, Belichick is a WR jinx, if he drafts Quentin Johnston I’ll throw up.   I would love for them to draft Broderick Jones at OT, he’s my favorite OT in the draft.  However, they have Trent Brown, they re-signed Yodny Cajuste and Conor McDermott, and brought in Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson, that’s a lot of bodies at tackle.  At CB, they re-signed Jonathan Jones to a two-year deal but he’s going to be 30.  They drafted Marcus Jones and Jack Jones last year and Jack is already in Belichick’s doghouse.  Marcus should replace Myles Bryant as the nickel corner after Bryant had a rough year.  Also, all of these guys are short, smaller CBs.  Banks is 6’1 and over 200 lbs. so he would give them a bigger CB to match up on some of the bigger WRs in the league.  He has scheme versatility so he can play however the Patriots want to line up in coverage.  He would allow Jonathan Jones to take on the smaller, shiftier WRs and not have to be the CB1.  Banks has been moving up the board after missing a lot of last season with an injury. 

15. New York Jets (from Green Bay):  Broderick Jones     OT     Georgia

The Jets move down two spots but finally get their QB in Aaron Rodgers.  They picked up some pieces at WR to go with Garrett Wilson (Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman, Randall Cobb should be along shortly).  If they want Rodgers at his best, they need to give him better protection up front and it’s hard to rely on Mekhi Becton and Duane Brown.  Becton has been injury prone and Brown is 38 years old.  Broderick Jones has started for Georgia’s back-to-back national championship teams, and while he’s still a little raw, he’s got everything you want in a LT.  He is probably the most physically gifted tackle in this draft and this one hurts me because he’s my favorite tackle and I wish the Patriots would draft him, instead he goes to their hated rival. 

16. Washington Commanders (8-8-1):  Joey Porter Jr.     CB     Penn St.

The Commanders are on their way to a total reset as they are in the process of being sold.  Once Josh Harris and his group take charge things could change dramatically.  The franchise needs new blood and that could mean a new GM, head coach, and almost certainly a new QB, but that won’t happen in 2023 so here we go.  This team has players to build around; a really good d-line, some new blood on the offensive line, a good WR group, and a good RB.  They aren’t in a position to get a new QB so it’s Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett this year.  One place they have to address for this year and moving forward is CB.  Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste, and Cam Dantzler aren’t scaring anyone.  Porter Jr is the son of former Steelers great Joey Porter and he is a big, physical CB, with long arms and bloodlines to play in the NFL for a long time.  This defense could be good if they get better play in the secondary and Porter gets them moving in that direction.

17. Chicago Bears (TRADE with Pittsburgh):  Darnell Wright     OT     Tennessee

The Bears drafted Braxton Jones last year and gave him the LT spot, he had his issues, but he showed enough that I think they stick with him on the left side.  They have options at RT, Teven Jenkins, Larry Borom, and even Alex Leatherwood, but none of them have proven to be great options.  Wright is seen as a RT only prospect but he’s going to be a hell of a RT.  He’s big, powerful, and he would lock down the position for the next 7-10 years at a high level.  Fixing the o-line should be a priority and Wright would do that as he would allow Jenkins and Borom to compete at OG or become trade bait.  If the Bears aren’t convinced Braxton Jones is truly a LT and want to move him to the right side, they could draft Peter Skoronski and let him try to win the LT job instead. 

18. Detroit Lions (9-8):  Michael Mayer     TE     Notre Dame

The Lions got their CB with the sixth pick, now they fill the only real hole on the offense (unless you count QB, and they don’t count QB).  They traded TJ Hockenson last year because they didn’t want to have to pay him next year as a free agent.  Dan Campbell is the type of coach to like a guy who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and that’s Mayer.  Dalton Kincaid is the more productive pass catcher but Mayer is the all-around guy.  He can run routes and he’s a contested catch monster, but he’s also not afraid to stick his nose in for a block.  He’s not the devastating blocker some would have you believe (despite the nickname, he’s not baby Gronk), but he is a functional and willing blocker.  He can be a major red zone weapon for Jared Goff and he would complement Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, just as soon as Williams gets back from his gambling suspension.  Mayer feels like a Dan Campbell player.

19. Los Angeles Chargers (TRADE with Tampa Bay):   Bijan Robinson     RB     Texas

Trading up for a RB seems like a weird thing to do but the Chargers are in a unique position.  The team is built to compete now; however, Austin Ekeler (their most effective playmaker) wants a new contract but they don’t want to pay him.  They have a gigantic Justin Herbert extension on the horizon and paying a RB would not be wise.  Robinson is the ultimate Ekeler replacement.  He’s the all-everything back Ekeler is except he’s bigger and more athletic.  The Chargers pay the price in draft capital to move up a few spots because other teams may be ready to pounce if they don’t.  There is a lot of talk in the NFL about resetting your QB spot with a rookie QB contract and while the savings isn’t as much, paying a rookie RB at this spot is a whole lot cheaper than paying Ekeler his market value.  Robinson is the total package at RB and he would be a fantastic addition as Herbert’s backfield partner for the next five years. 

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (TRADE with Seattle):  Dalton Kincaid     TE      Utah

The Jaguars have Evan Engram at TE but he’s the only real TE they have and he’s on a one-year deal.  Also, their WR group has quite a few small guys and the only taller WR is Zay Jones and he doesn’t play like a big guy.  Engram could be even more deadly if he had a two-TE set with Dalton Kincaid as the other TE.  Kincaid is really just a big WR, he’s not a blocker, he’s a pass catcher.  He can line up at different positions inside or out and he would be a deadly weapon down the seam for Trevor Lawrence.  Adding him to Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk and Evan Engram would give Lawrence a real chance to shine.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TRADE with LA Chargers):  Peter Skoronski     OT     Northwestern

The Buccaneers cut Donovan Smith for salary cap purposes and now they are need of another tackle.  The thought has been that they might move RT Tristan Wirfs to LT and find a new guy on the right side.  If Skoronski is still here, they could draft him and see where he works best for them.  He could compete at LT or he could end up being a good guard replacement after they traded Shaq Mason in the off season.  Either way, Skoronski is an immediate starter somewhere (it could even be RT with Wirfs still moving to the left side) and he’s great value here.  The Buccaneers are in a weird place, they have Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask at QB but they aren’t in a position to get a replacement.  Taking Hendon Hooker is possible but it seems unlikely. 

22. Baltimore Ravens (10-7):  Nolan Smith     OLB     Georgia

Assuming the Ravens get the Lamar Jackson situation handled they can move forward trying to be a contender in the AFC.  They are trying to address their WR situation with signing Odell Beckham Jr and Nelson Agholor to go with a healthy Rashod Bateman, that’s the best WR corps they have had in Jackson’s career.  On the defensive side of the ball, they have lost several edge players; Calais Campbell, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Justin Houston.  All of those guys are aging so it makes sense to pivot.  Nolan Smith is a very athletic edge player they can use in a lot of different ways and he gives them some extra pass rushing to go with Tyus Bowser, Odafe Oweh and they hope David Ojabo. If one of the top CBs falls here, they should jump on them but for now they can wait until day two to grab a CB. 

23. Minnesota Vikings (13-4):  Drew Sanders      LB      Arkansas

Generally, it seems like the Vikings need a CB or a WR here but I just don’t see the value here.  They don’t need a small WR who plays the slot, they already have KJ Osborn, Jalen Reagor, and Justin Jefferson can play inside too.  Quentin Johnston doesn’t feel like the big WR fit here.  They can wait on CB because the value is in rounds 2-4.  Drew Sanders played LB at Arkansas last year after being an edge rusher at Alabama previously.  That makes for an interesting set of skills in a guy who is 6’5 235 lbs. and very athletic.  That’s exactly the type of guy I think new defensive coordinator Brian Flores would love to work with.  Flores came up under Bill Belichick who loves big LBs who do a lot of different things in their defense.  Sanders could step in immediately at ILB and be used in a pass rusher role when appropriate. 

24. Seattle Seahawks (TRADE with Jacksonville):  Steve Avila     C/G     TCU

Well, there always has to be that one guy who gets drafted in round one that no one is talking about as first round guy and the Seahawks are a good bet to be the team that takes that guy.  They need interior offensive line help and while Avila isn’t the first name people usually talk about at guard or center, he’s a really good player.  He played guard this last year but he actually has more starts at center in his career.  The Seahawks need a new center and Avila is the type of big, mauling player they love inside.  He’s 6’4 and over 330 lbs. and he’s not exactly a smooth mover but on the inside, he is a dominant force.  Once he locks on, the play is over.  If the Seahawks plan to rely on the run game and not ask too much of Geno Smith, Avila would be a massive upgrade at either center or RG.  My guess is he’s their starting center in week one. 

25. New York Giants (9-7-1):  John Michael Schmitz     C     Minnesota

The Giants need help at WR and CB but the value really isn’t there right now.  So many of the WRs are the smaller, shifty guys; Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison, Jalin Hyatt, or Josh Downs, they already have that covered, and then some.  They could go with Kelee Ringo or Cam Smith at CB but there is good depth there too.  Building up the line in front of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley isn’t a sexy thing to do but it’s probably the right thing to do. They have their tackles but the inside of the line is a problem.  Ben Bredeson is penciled in at center with either Joshua Ezeudu or Shane Lemieux at LG, that’s not ideal.  Schmitz is a beast at center, he has years of experience, and he’s an immediate starter.  He makes life easier on Jones because he won’t be overwhelmed with playing center and he’ll open running lanes for Barkley.  He also creates competition by kicking Bredeson back out to compete at guard. 

26. Dallas Cowboys (12-5):  Brian Branch     S     Alabama

The Cowboys have addressed some of their needs in free agency with re-signing guys or trading for WR Brandin Cooks and CB Stephon Gilmore.  They could look to address the interior of the offensive line, especially the center position.  If Steve Avila or John Michael Schmitz make it this far, those would be smart additions. Since they don’t make it in this mock draft, and Drew Sanders (a Cowboys mock draft favorite) is also gone, I’m going with Branch.  He’s not your typical safety prospect, he’s probably best as a nickel corner but he has versatility.  The Cowboys have Jourdan Lewis coming off an injury and DaRon Bland played well last year but Branch is an upgrade.  Also, their safety spots aren’t settled long-term so Branch could be used there.  Dan Quinn is an excellent defensive mind and he would find smart ways to deploy a guy like Branch. 

27. Buffalo Bills (13-3):  Jordan Addison     WR     USC

The Bills are trying to make sure the offense is stacked for Josh Allen which is why they went after Odell Beckham Jr and other WRs in the off season.  Stefon Diggs is a true #1 WR and they still like Gabe Davis at this point, but they let Isaiah McKenzie walk in free agency and Cole Beasley should retire again and stay that way.  They have Khalil Shakir but if they really trusted Shakir to be the slot guy they probably wouldn’t have dusted off Beasley last season when McKenzie wasn’t working out.  Addison is undersized and he can play in the slot to start his career, it’s probably best for him.  Addison does have the potential to be even more, if he reaches his full potential, he could actually be a Diggs-like WR.  Diggs is an undersized guy who is a true WR1.  Diggs will also turn 30 this next season and he’s been complaining about his contract.  They could go for a RB but the only RB worth taking here is Jahmyr Gibbs and he’s redundant with James Cook and Naheim Hines on the roster. 

28. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4):  Jahmyr Gibbs     RB     Alabama

There has been a lot of smoke coming from Cincinnati about moving on from Joe Mixon.  He’s been a big part of the offense but the team can’t pay all their offensive stars and Mixon comes in behind Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins for sure and they would probably rather spend money to keep Tyler Boyd over paying a RB too much.  Gibbs is a good all-around back who can excel in the pass game, gives them plenty in the run game and will come quite cheap for the next five years as a late first-round player.  If they get Gibbs here, they may look to deal Mixon for a late draft pick just to see if they can get any value from him instead of cutting him.  The popular mock draft pick is a TE but they can get a very good TE on day two. 

29. New Orleans (from Denver/Mia/SF): Bryan Bresee     DT     Clemson

The Saints have this pick from trading Sean Payton to the Broncos.  They should be looking at best player available and that might just be Bresee.  They signed Khalen Saunders and Nathan Sheppard at DT to replace guys they lost in free agency but neither of those two has ever been great.  Bresee has the potential to be a beast up front.  He had a tough year personally this last year at Clemson and it clearly affected his play but he’s a talented guy.  The Saints could look to an edge player if they like Derick Hall or Keion White more than Bresee but they need help on the defensive line and they have to hope former first rounder Payton Turner can give them something at DE. They could go WR but as I’ve said before, the value isn’t there right now. 

30. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3):  Emmanuel Forbes     CB     Mississippi St.

The consensus is the top four CBs are Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon, Deonte Banks, and Joey Porter Jr, there is no consensus on the fifth CB.  Forbes is a playmaking machine, he gets interceptions at a high rate and he had three pick sixes this last season, he knows what to do once he has them.  The knock on Forbes is he is super skinny.  He’s 6’1 and came in at 166 lbs. at the combine, that’s incredibly thin.  Keep in mind the Eagles are the team that drafted Devonta Smith in the top 10 and he was super skinny and he’s been just fine.  Forbes will have the opportunity in Philly to try to fill out a bit before he’s thrown in the fire.  Darius Slay, James Bradberry, and Avonte Maddux are established as the top three CBs.  Forbes is never going to be a big CB, but he doesn’t let that stop him.  He plays with the confidence you want in a CB and while he’s really light, he’s never let that stop him from coming up to tackle a guy. 

31. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3):  Anton Harrison     OT     Oklahoma

The Chiefs let both Orlando Brown Jr and Andrew Wylie, their starting OTs last year, walk in free agency.  They signed Jawaan Taylor to be their LT after he started his entire career in Jacksonville at RT.  I’m not totally convinced Taylor is a LT and Harrison would be a hedge against that.  Harrison has moved up into the fifth OT spot on the board and tackles get moved up the draft board regularly.  He has the physical tools and the length and athleticism of a LT.  Harrison has some work to do on his technique but with Andy Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck around to develop him, he could be the best OT out of this class.  The Chiefs need to protect Patrick Mahomes and relying on Lucas Niang to finally step up as a starting tackle would be a foolish mistake. 

Round 2

32. Chicago:  Will McDonald IV     Edge     Iowa St.

I think if Pittsburgh wants to move up to get the Bears 9^th pick, the Bears are going to insist on getting this pick back after they traded it for Chase Claypool.  With an OT on board, they look to the defensive side.  They need pass rushers badly.  McDonald is small but he’s fast off the edge with a killer spin move. 

33. Houston:  Keion White     DL    Georgia Tech

Houston needs help on defense and DeMeco Ryans comes from San Francisco where they built their defense around their elite line.  They could easily double up with White joining Myles Murphy on the edge.  White also has the versatility to kick inside when needed and Ryans will like that. 

34. Arizona:  Cam Smith     CB     South Carolina

Marco Wilson, Rashad Fenton, Antonio Hamilton Sr, Nate Hairston, Christian Matthew; those are the top five CBs on the Cardinals roster.  Cam Smith would be the CB1 from day one and they shouldn’t stop with him.  Smith gets a bit handsy and could be a penalty monster in the NFL but hopefully Jonathan Gannon and his defensive staff can coach that out of him. 

35. Indianapolis: Kelee Ringo     CB     Georgia

The Colts best CB is Kenny Moore and he’s a slot guy.  They need outside CBs badly.  Gus Bradley has evolved to use a cover-3 scheme and Ringo fits that style.  Ringo is a fantastic athlete with elite size but doesn’t change direction well.  The Colts defense would allow him to do what he does well and they get a big CB who can match up with big, physical WRs. 

36. Los Angeles Rams (5-12):  Adetomiwa Adebawore     DL     Northwestern 

The Rams were a mess last season.  The offense could at least be functional if they get guys healthy.  Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp are the biggest names they need back but their offensive line was a total disaster and they need them all back.  That said, at least the offense has guys if they are healthy.  The defense is Aaron Donald and ten guys you’re never heard of.  Their pass rush is non-existent and they have to start somewhere.  Adebawore is a unique player who is shorter and lighter than you expect out of a guy who lined up inside a lot but also doesn’t really have the length like a DE prospect should.  However, he’s extremely effective as a pass rusher and gives you everything he’s got.  If anyone knows how to use a small interior rusher, it’s the Rams.  To be clear, nothing is off the table.  Stafford is 35 and coming off a missed season due to a serious injury, Cooper Kupp will be 30 next year and also coming off an injury, and Aaron Donald could retire any time.  Kupp and Donald also simply need more help at the positions they play.  The Rams won a Super Bowl by going all-in, this roster is the price they are paying for it. 

37. Seattle:  Zay Flowers     WR     Boston College

Many people think Flowers will be first round pick, maybe he will, but he falls here.  The Seahawks have DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett at WR and not much else.  Flowers would be an instant starter in the slot and give them a guy to mix and match with Lockett because Flowers can move outside when needed.

38. Las Vegas:  Dawand Jones     OT     Ohio St.

After getting a much-needed CB in round one the Raiders can address their offensive line in round two.  Jones is a RT only player but they have Kolten Miller at LT and they desperately need a legitimate RT.  Jones comes in as one of the biggest players in the league, and he’s actually pretty good. 

39. Carolina:  BJ Ojulari     OLB     LSU

Ojulari is an undersized pass rusher who would be best used rushing from space.  New defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will likely be using a 3-4 defense and he needs someone to take some pressure off of Brian Burns.  Ojulari isn’t a finished product but he’s got potential. 

40. New Orleans: Quentin Johnston     WR     TCU

This would seem like a fall for Johnston but this is where he should go.  He’s a big-bodied WR who doesn’t play to his size with the ball in the air.  He’s a monster once he has it but he isn’t the contested catch guy you want.  He could learn some tricks of the trade from Michael Thomas while complementing Thomas and Chris Olave, assuming Thomas plays.

41. Tennessee:  Darnell Washington     TE     Georgia

This is a team that likes to run the ball and here they get the best blocking TE in the draft.  Washington’s blocking has been so hyped up it might be a little overkill but he’s really good.  He also has the possibility of becoming a much more useful pass catcher without Brock Bowers sucking up all the TE targets.  A rookie QB would like a target Washington’s size.

42. Green Bay: Luke Musgrave     TE     Oregon St.

Brian Gutekunst uses the Packers second straight pick on another pass catcher and it’s another one he gets for Aaron Rodgers (that’s like two thumbs up to Rodgers on his way out the door except those aren’t thumbs).  Musgrave is a 6’6 253 lbs. freak athlete who needs to stay healthy.  If he does, he’s a great pick up for a first year QB like Jordan Love, the ultimate safety valve. 

43. New York Jets: Joe Tippmann     C     Wisconsin

One offensive lineman is not enough.  They need center help as much as they need OT help unless they really think Wes Schweitzer can handle it (he’s better as the backup interior guy).  Tippman would solidify the line in front of Rodgers and give the offense a chance.

44. Atlanta: Calijah Kancey     DL     Pittsburgh

The Falcons pass rush has been bad for quite some time and this is just taking a shot on a guy who can add some juice there.  Kancey is an extreme outlier because he’s such a small DT with short arms.  He needs to be used in specific ways and Atlanta is so desperate for pass rush help maybe they can find creative ways to use him with big DEs like Calais Campbell and first rounder Tyree Wilson.

45. Green Bay:  Felix Anudike-Uzomah     DE     Kansas St.

Preston Smith will be 31 this year and Rashan Gary is heading towards free agency next year.  They don’t have much else at pass rusher. Anudike-Uzomah is the best pass rusher left on the board.  He’s one of the most natural edge rushers in the class and he paired it with actually being productive in his college career (19.5 sacks in the last two years). 

46. New England:  Jack Campbell     LB     Iowa

There is no one who loves a big ass LB with questionable coverage skills like Bill Belichick.  Campbell’s not terrible in coverage it’s just not where he excels.  Coming downhill, running down the play is him at his best, Belichick will love this guy.  As a Patriots fan, anyone replacing Bentley at ILB would be great.  I would love to see them consider taking WR Cedric Tillman here, they need a true X receiver, DeVante Parker has been impersonating one for years.    

47. Washington:  Tucker Craft     TE     South Dakota St.

The fifth TE off the board is a fight between Tucker Craft and Sam LaPorta and I’m giving Washington Craft because he’s slightly bigger and I think he fits their profile to replace Logan Thomas eventually.  Craft will take a minute to adjust from playing at the FCS level to the NFL but the Commanders aren’t poised to be all that competitive with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett at QB.

48. Detroit:  Hendon Hooker      QB     Tennessee

Detroit waits around and Hooker falls in their lap.  I think the talk around Hooker in round one is just noise.  He’s already 25 years old and he’s coming off an ACL injury.  He will need this next year to rehab and get used to an NFL offense.  The Lions have Jared Goff, they can wait. 

49. Houston: Trenton Simpson     LB     Clemson

The Texans have some aging LBs and DeMeco Ryans knows the value of a great LB.  For one, he was one when he played, and he witnessed numerous ones during his time coaching the 49ers, including Fred Warner.  Simpson is a very good coverage LB which is where Warner separates himself too.  Simpson isn’t Warner but I’m sure Ryan can find useful ways to use him. 

50. Tampa Bay:  Sam LaPorta     TE     Iowa

They still have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Russell Gage at WR but their top TEs are Cade Otten and Ko Kieft, not ideal.  LaPorta would give them a weapon they can use down the seam and he can block.  He helps whichever terrible QB they pick to start to be a little less terrible. 

51. Miami Dolphins (9-8):  Cody Mauch     C/G     North Dakota St.

The Dolphins have spent money on the offensive line (Terron Armstead, Connor Williams) and many draft picks (Liam Eichenberg, Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt) and yet their line still leaves a lot to be desired.  Mauch was a LT at North Dakota St. but he lacks the length to play tackle in the NFL and will move inside.  He worked at both guard and center at the Senior Bowl and held up just fine.  He isn’t the biggest or most powerful player but he’s athletic and agile which is perfect for the Dolphins offense.  He should come in and work at guard and he can challenge Eichenberg and Hunt but it’s also possible he gets a shot at center and they move Connor Williams to guard.  Either way, he’s an upgrade and a great fit for the Dolphins. 

52. Seattle:  O’Cyrus Torrence     OG     Florida

Seattle could really set up their offensive line for long-term success if they get Avila to play center and Torrence to play guard.  Added to second-year OTs Charles Cross and Abe Lucas and their “grizzled veteran” fourth-year guard Damien Lewis, that’s a good starting five.  Torrence shouldn’t fall this far but guards have to fit or have versatility for teams to really take them higher, Torrence is only a guard.  He’s a road grader that Ken Walker will love to run behind.

53. Chicago:  Julius Brents     CB     Kansas St.

Ryan Poles proved last year he’ll go for the guys he likes regardless of need and even though he drafted defensive backs last year, he could do it again.  Jaylon Johnson could be headed towards free agency and the Bears have a bunch of smaller CBs.  Brents is legitimately 6’3 and could be a great addition on the outside.   

54. Los Angeles Chargers:  Jalin Hyatt     WR     Tennessee

Even after moving up for Bijan Robinson in round one, they should double down on offense and take Hyatt.  I mocked him a few times in round one to the Chargers because he just makes sense.  They have the two big, tough WRs, they need the speed guy.  Hyatt is all speed.  He needs a team that can make use of what he does exceptionally well, go deep, and can let him develop the rest of his game over the next few years.  It’s a perfect match and Justin Herbert has the arm to use him.

55. Detroit: Matt Bergeron     OL     Syracuse

Surprisingly Detroit’s roster is in a place where they aren’t looking to fill a ton of holes.  If they get a CB and TE early, they can look for value.  Bergeron played LT at Syracuse and can develop into one if needed but he could also slide inside.  They had some injuries at RG last year and Jonah Jackson is heading towards free agency at LG.  Bergeron is a pick for depth now and development moving forward.

56. Jacksonville:  DJ Turner     CB     Michigan

The Jaguars cut Shaq Griffin and they could use an outside CB to start opposite Tyson Campbell so Darious Williams can be the nickel corner and Tre Herndon is a bench guy.  Turner is a speed demon and he could step in right away.

57. New York Giants:  Kyu Blu Kelly     CB     Stanford

The Giants need some size at CB, they have entirely too many CBs under 6’0.  Adoree’ Jackson, Darnay Holmes, and Aaron Robinson, and of those three only Jackson can really play outside. Kelly has played a lot of games at Stanford and even though he has had struggles at times, he has the size, athleticism, and experience worth betting on. 

58. Dallas:  Zach Charbonnet     RB     UCLA

Dallas finally cut the cord on Ezekiel Elliott after they franchise tagged Tony Pollard.  Pollard is coming off an injury and really isn’t the guy you want running head first into a wall trying to break through, that was Zeke’s job.  Charbonnet can be that guy now.  He’s a big back who isn’t flashy he’s just effective.  He can take the beating so Pollard can be the homerun hitter. 

59. Buffalo:  Jaelyn Duncan     OT     Maryland

Duncan doesn’t rate as high as many linemen in this draft but he’s long, athletic and a gifted pass blocker.  The Bills don’t need an OT right now but LT Dion Dawkins is 29, he only really has two years left on his deal and if they don’t want to pay him when he’s in his 30s, here’s a guy who might step in.  When you’re as good as the Bills has been, you can make this move.

60. Cincinnati: Antonio Johnson     S     Texas A&M

The Bengals lost both starting safeties off of last year’s team.  They drafted Dax Hill last year in anticipation of that and signed Nick Scott in free agency, but both those guys are smaller safeties.  Johnson has size at 6’2 and yet he’s a good athlete who can cover a little.  This isn’t a great safety class but Johnson is a guy worth having.

61. Chicago:  Devon Achane     RB     Texas A&M

The Bears are trying to build out their offense to give Justin Fields a chance to develop.  DJ Moore at WR was a nice start and getting a new RT in round one helps a lot.  D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert are good backs, but they’re grinders.  The offense needs more gamebreakers.  Achane is a gamebreaker, he’s a blur on the field.  He gives them a dimension they don’t have and Foreman and Herbert insure he won’t be used to grind out yards, just bust big runs.

62. Philadelphia:  Nick Saldiveri     OL     Old Dominion  

I can’t let the Eagles get out of round two without an offensive lineman.  Howie Roseman loves big guys and he’s always trying to be a step ahead on the line.  Saldiveri played RT at Old Dominion and dominated and then went to the Senior Bowl, moved inside to guard and played quite well.  He wouldn’t start this year unless there’s an injury but Jason Kelce is year-to-year for retirement now, Cam Jurgens will play RG until he moves inside to replace Kelce.  Saldiveri is also a hedge against Lane Johnson’s age and injury history at RT. 

63. Kansas City: Cedric Tillman     WR     Tennessee

If there was a true pass rushing threat here on the board I would go with him, but there isn’t.  Tillman is the one true X receiver in this class, he plays the position the way it should be played and uses his size to his advantage.  Tillman isn’t a true burner but he’s fast enough and just knows how to play WR.  The Chiefs only size at WR is Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Justin Watson, Tillman can be better than both.