Disclaimer: There is something everyone needs to know about this draft. Somewhere around the middle of round five this draft took a serious dive in quality. There were somewhere around 150-160 good prospects in this draft and then there was a cliff. Some teams reached before the 150th pick so the depth goes a little farther but by the time rounds six and seven came around, it got pretty bleak. There were a few contributing factors. One is the covid year has given players the opportunity to stay in college for an extra year and plenty of guys are taking that opportunity. Second is the name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for guys to make money in college. Being a late round pick isn’t as attractive if you can get paid to be a good player in college. Finally, the transfer portal (coupled with NIL) means guys don’t have to go pro to cash in. If another school wants you more than the one you’re at (this is especially true for small school guys), just transfer somewhere and take the payday. There are usually between 100-130 early entry candidates for the draft, this year, there were less than 60 and it showed.

Baltimore Ravens

(30) Nate Wiggins CB Clemson
(62) Roger Rosengarter OT Washington
(93) Adisa Isaac Edge Penn St.
(113) Devontez Walker WR North Carolina
(130) TJ Tampa CB Iowa St.
(165) Rasheen Ali RB Marshall
(218) Devin Leary QB Kentucky
(228) Nick Samac OL Michigan St.
(250) Sanoussi Kane S Purdue

Immediate Impact: CB Nate Wiggins, OT Roger Rosengarten

The Ravens have Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens at CB but their depth isn’t great and everybody uses a third CB plenty. Humphrey and Stephens both have versatility so Wiggins can come in and play the outside CB spot while Humphrey moves to the slot or Stephens plays more like a safety. He will be used a lot and he’s an excellent outside cover guy even if he isn’t great against the run game. Rosengarten is pretty light for a RT at 6’6 300 lbs. so that’s a change from Morgan Moses who was over 330 lbs. He was a good player at Washington who was overshadowed by higher profile teammates but he’s a worthy day one starter with this team.

Best Value: OT Roger Rosengarten

He wasn’t just overshadowed at Washington; he was also underappreciated in this draft class including by me. He’s not flashy but he’s a solid starting RT and to get him at 62nd overall was huge for this team. The Ravens offensive line was decimated in the off season and they needed to find help in the draft. Getting a starting RT late in round two was a steal.

Sleepers: WR Devontez Walker, CB TJ Tampa

Walker has some deficiencies, he’s a little stiff and not real fluid in his movements and he prefers to cradle the catch instead of snatching out of the air with his hands, which leads to drops. That said, he’s got electric downfield ability and knows how to beat guys deep. He’s a younger and slightly upgraded version of Nelson Agholor, Lamar Jackson may find him useful. I almost went with Tampa as my Best Value but there’s a few guys ahead of him and he’s going to have to fight his way onto the field. However, if you told me four years from now the team was re-signing Tampa as one of their starting CBs and letting Wiggins walk, I won’t be surprised. He brings all the physicality to the position the Ravens like and Wiggins lacks. Wiggins has the speed and coverage ability; Tampa is the tougher player.

Overall Analysis
The Ravens always do very well in the draft overall. Their lack of getting some help at interior offensive line (only took one late on day 3) was a little concerning but good overall. Wiggins and Rosengarten are a good start and were value picks. Adisa Isaac is another athletic pass rusher with an underdeveloped game and I guess the Ravens are just going to keep picking guys like this until one finally hits. He was a solid value in round three so I can’t complain. Walker and Tampa were amazing value as fourth round picks, I have no idea how they both feel that far.
RB Rasheen Ali and QB Devin Leary were the fifth and sixth round picks and they are both talented guys who are just depth pieces. The Ravens lost Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins in free agency and added Derrick Henry. That still leaves them with Henry, Keaton Mitchell, and Justice Hill but injuries have ravaged their RB room before so Ali is a good pick. Leary is a better bet than you might think to make this team. Josh Johnson is the backup at the moment and he’s going to be 38 and has played on 157 different teams (that number might be off slightly). Malik Cunningham is the other QB and he couldn’t make the Patriots active roster last year at QB, that doesn’t bode well for him. Leary had a rough year at Kentucky last season but if he’s healthy he’s the most talented backup QB they have. Nick Samac might make the roster because their interior o-line is pretty weak. I don’t think Kane makes the roster.

Cincinnati Bengals

(18) Amarius Mims OT Georgia
(49) Kris Jenkins DT Michigan
(80) Jermaine Burton WR Alabama
(97) McKinnley Jackson DT Texas A&M
(115) Erick All TE Iowa
(149) Josh Newton CB TCU
(194) Tanner McLachlan TE Arizona
(214) Cedric Johnson Edge Mississippi
(224) Daijahn Anthony S Mississippi
(237) Matt Lee OL Miami

Immediate Impact: OT Amarius Mims

The roster doesn’t have major holes but if anyone thinks Trent Brown is going to hold up at RT, you haven’t been paying attention. As a guy who watched Brown go in and out of the Patriots lineup the last few years, I know Mims will end up the starter. He’s a massive human being and he’s inexperienced, but he’s truly talented. I think he starts pretty quickly at RT and he may be the eventual replacement for Orlando Brown Jr. at LT.

Best Value: DT Kris Jenkins

Jenkins isn’t a pass rushing DT but the Bengals got Sheldon Rankins to do that. Rankins is 30 and BJ Hill is 29 and this team needs depth. Jenkins is also arguably the best run stuffing DT in this draft class, something this team sorely needs after losing DJ Reader. They got him at 49th overall and while he may not technically be a starter, he’s going to play starting level snaps at a premium position.

Sleeper: OL Matt Lee

I could have picked WR Jermaine Burton, TEs Erick All or Tanner McLachlan, or CB Josh Newton but I’m going with the seventh rounder Matt Lee. Lee played center at Miami and Ted Karras is 31. They also have Trey Hill backing up Karras but I think Lee has a chance to be Karras’ eventually replacement. Lee is a little taller for a center at 6’4 and he needs some refinement but there’s talent there and give him a few years of NFL coaching, I think he has starter quality traits.

Overall Analysis
This is quietly one of the better drafts that is getting overlooked a bit because there were a couple of dice rolls that could kill it. Mims is a special physical talent but he played eight games in college and needs plenty of reps if he’s going to fulfill his potential. The Jenkins picks was as solid as they come, he’s a starting NFL DT for 7-10 years. The Jermain Burton pick is another massive dice roll. Burton is one of the truly gifted WRs in the draft but he also might be a total headcase. He has a reputation as being un-coachable both from his time at Georgia and at Alabama. If they can get him to buy-in, he’s a legitimate talent who could replace Tee Higgins when he leaves. DT McKinney Jackson is the big body type more so than Jenkins and can replace DJ Reader as the nose tackle.

They took TEs Erick All and Tanner McLachlan in rounds four and six because they basically only have Mike Gesicki at the position. All has every tool you want as a three-down TE but he has an injury history that is concerning. McLachlan is an older player who looks like he can threaten defenses over the middle. These two should actually work well together moving forward and this team needed TE help. Sandwiched between them was CB Josh Newton. He’s not the most fluid or explosive CB but he’s a competitor and he’s a tough press man cover guy. Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner haven’t exactly established themselves as unquestioned starters so Newton can compete. Johnson and Anthony are depth pieces at edge and safety.

Cleveland Browns

(54) Michael Hall Jr. DT Ohio St.
(85) Zak Zinter OL Michigan
(156) Jamari Thrash WR Louisville
(206) Nathaniel Watson LB Mississippi St.
(227) Myles Harden CB South Dakota
(243) Jowon Briggs DL Cincinnati

Immediate Impact: None

The Browns’ lineup is pretty stacked with veterans and what they need is for those veterans to get healthy and stay healthy. RB Nick Chubb has to come back from his knee injury and the offensive line needs to get better. Of course, none of this will matters at all unless Deshaun Watson gets healthy and actually starts to play like he once did in Houston. That proposition becomes less and less likely the farther away from that time we get.

Best Value: DT Michael Hall Jr.

Hall has a lot of fans in the scouting world. He’s an undersized penetrating tackle with great athleticism who isn’t as great against the run. He’s going to play in the tackle rotation because he brings a different skillset than most of the other players they have. He can be the eventual replacement for Shelby Harris but since the team is trying to win now, they will still rely on the veteran.

Sleeper: OG Zak Zinter

He’s not really a sleeper as most teams like him but I don’t like the rest of the class so I’ll spotlight Zinter. He’s very experienced and he was the leader of Michigan’s offensive line and a major team leader. He’s coming off a late season leg injury that’s going to set his timeline back but the Browns have Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller so he’s not needed right away if they’re healthy. Zinter is the future at the position though, Bitonio and Teller will be 33 and 30 respectively this next season.

Overall Analysis
This is the least consequential draft class this year. They traded away picks for veterans like Jerry Jeudy and they are still paying off the Watson trade, that’s finally done. This is a make-or-break year for them and they won’t be counting on rookies to get them where they want to be. Hall will help as a rotational DT and Zinter will basically take a redshirt year. The other guys will be lucky to make this roster. WR Jamari Thrash might have a chance to make the roster behind Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and Jeudy but he’s going to have to beat out guys like Cedric Tillman, David Bell, and James Proche II. It’s a tough road ahead. Watson, Harden, and Briggs face even longer odds.

Pittsburgh Steelers

(20) Troy Fautanu OT Washington
(51) Zach Frazier C West Virginia
(84) Roman Wilson WR Michigan
(98) Payton Wilson WR North Carolina St.
(119) Mason McCormick OL South Dakota St.
(178) Logan Lee DT Iowa
(195) Ryan Watts CB Texas

Immediate Impact: OT Troy Fautanu, C Zach Frazier, WR Roman Wilson

The Steelers needed to address their offensive line and they did that quite well. Fautanu has versatility and could end up at either OT spot. For now, I think he takes the left side and they leave Broderick Jones on the right where he started to play better by the end of last season. They may feel otherwise during training camp and flip Jones to the left but Fautanu gives them options. Zach Frazier steps in immediately as the starting center and he continues the legacy of Steelers centers like Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, and Maurkice Pouncey. WR Roman Wilson gets to step into the role vacated by the trade of Diontae Johnson. No offense to the other guys on the roster but Wilson is immediately the second-best weapon behind George Pickens and he’s a natural fit in Johnson’s old role. Imagine having a Johnson-like weapon without the headaches.

Best Value: WR Roman Wilson

This guy is going to get lots of targets next year assuming one of the QBs is remotely adequate. He’s a high character guy with a great work ethic and he’s going to slot right into the offense. The Steelers are going to be a run heavy team but they will need someone to move the sticks and Wilson will excel at that.

Sleeper: OG Mason McCormick

The Steelers didn’t just address their offensive line needs in the present. Isaac Seumalo will be 31 this year and he offers a chance for some cap savings next off season. McCormick is a small school player with a lot of playing experience who may need little time to adjust to the NFL and if he’s ready in a year, he could be a readymade replacement at LG.

Overall Analysis
This is a really good class overall as they addressed current needs and found some solid developmental pieces. Fautanu, Frazier, and Roman Wilson will start immediately but that’s not all the help they got. LB Payton Wilson was a star in college who played a lot of football and had a lot of injuries. He may have a short career but it may still make an impact. He’s very fast, very smart, and an excellent coverage LB. The team signed Patrick Queen to increase their team speed at ILB and Wilson does the same. Also, Queen was better in Baltimore once Roquan Smith showed up and became the play caller on defense. Wilson has enough experience that he could be that same type of partner for Queen.
Mason McCormick, DT Logan Lee, and CB Ryan Watts are all picks for the future. Okay, Watts might find playing time sooner. McCormick can be the future at one guard spot but that isn’t the only aging position on this team. The defensive line has Cameron Heyward, he’s 35, Larry Ogunjobi, he’ll be 30, and Dean Lowry, he’ll also be 30. They need some youth and Logan Lee can play DE in their 3-man front. He’s a better athlete than he gets credit for and he has the size to hold up at that spot. Watts is a tall CB with length and might give the secondary another option over Darius Rush. He could play outside, opposite Joey Porter Jr. and let Donte Jackson play inside the slot.

Disclaimer: There is something everyone needs to know about this draft. Somewhere around the middle of round five this draft took a serious dive in quality. There were somewhere around 150-160 good prospects in this draft and then there was a cliff. Some teams reached before the 150th pick so the depth goes a little farther but by the time rounds six and seven came around, it got pretty bleak. There were a few contributing factors. One is the covid year has given players the opportunity to stay in college for an extra year and plenty of guys are taking that opportunity. Second is the name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for guys to make money in college. Being a late round pick isn’t as attractive if you can get paid to be a good player in college. Finally, the transfer portal (coupled with NIL) means guys don’t have to go pro to cash in. If another school wants you more than the one you’re at (this is especially true for small school guys), just transfer somewhere and take the payday. There are usually between 100-130 early entry candidates for the draft, this year, there were less than 60 and it showed.

Denver Broncos

(12) Bo Nix QB Oregon
(76) Jonah Elliss Edge Utah
(102) Troy Franklin WR Oregon
(145) Kris Abrams-Draine CB Missouri
(147) Audric Estime RB Notre Dame
(235) Devaughn Vele WR Utah
(256) Nick Gargiulo OL South Carolina

Immediate Impact: QB Bo Nix, WR Troy Franklin

For better or for worse Bo Nix is going to have an immediate impact in Denver. They may have Jarrett Stidham on the roster but you don’t take Nix 12th overall to sit him behind Stidham. Sean Payton clearly believes Nix is a starter and he’s going with him. Grabbing Troy Franklin in round four was smart choice. They need WR help and he and Nix were a dynamic pair at Oregon. Franklin isn’t a perfect prospect but he can play and he gives this Broncos’ offense a nice deep threat, he’s going to play.

Best Value: CB Kris Abrams-Draine

I’m not a huge fan of Abrams-Draine but the Broncos need CB help. He may not earn a starting job but he can earn playing time and finding a useful CB in round five, that’s pretty good. He’s a bit undersized but he plays tough and that will help him.

Sleeper: RB Audric Estime

The team had Samaje Perine backing up Javonte Williams last year but they barely used him. Estime isn’t fast by any means but the man is 225 lbs. of pure power. He will be reliable backup they can count on to give Williams some rest he will punish defenses with his downhill running.

Overall Analysis
This draft will be defined by the success or failure of Bo Nix, that’s just what happens when you draft a QB 12th overall and most people think you reached for him. Nix might be the next Drew Brees but there’s probably a better chance he’s the next Christian Ponder. DE Jonah Elliss is a solid pick up in round three and they definitely need some pass rush help but he’s a third pass rusher at best this year. I like the Franklin pick but I was a bit higher on him than most. I see his limitations but he’s a playmaker and this team needs more of those.
Abrams-Draine has a chance to help a secondary that isn’t teeming with talent beyond Patrick Surtain II. Estime also has a chance to be a useful piece on the offense. Devaughn Vele is a big WR at 6’5 210 lbs. but even with a less than great WR corps here, he’s going to struggle to make this roster. The interior of the Broncos offensive line probably needed more help than late seventh rounder Nick Gargiulo.

Kansas City Chiefs

(28) Xavier Worthy WR Texas
(63) Kingsley Suamataia OT BYU
(131) Jared Wiley TE TCU
(133) Jaden Hicks S Washington St.
(159) Hunter Nourzad OL Penn St.
(211) Kamal Hadden CB Tennessee
(248) CJ Hanson OL Holy Cross

Immediate Impact: WR Xavier Worthy, OT Kingsley Suamataia

It feels like Worthy is redundant after they signed Marquis Brown but the Chiefs traded up to get him so Andy Reid has a plan to use him. He has elite speed but the rest of his receiver skills need some work. Suamataia is a raw prospect too but he has less competition to take the LT spot. The Chiefs might like Wayna Morris a little but they also traded up to get Suamataia, that says something.

Best Value: S Jaden Hicks

Hicks has starter ability and Chiefs have been excellent at taking mid to late round draft picks in the secondary and getting the best out of them, Hicks is next. Justin Reid and Bryan Cook are the starters but Cook got banged up a bit last year and Hicks will be ready to go if they need a guy. His skillset will also be useful as a third safety if they want to use that scheme a bit.

Sleeper: TE Jared Wiley

Wiley is a big target at TE at 6’7 and he’s got a huge catch radius. He’s a smooth athlete and he’s more pass catcher than blocker, that shouldn’t be an issue in KC. He’s not going to step in right away and take snaps from Travis Kelce or Noah Gray but he’s a nice investment in the future of the position.

Overall Analysis
I’m not a fan of the Worthy pick, I’ve made that clear, but Andy Reid must see something he thinks he can use. The idea that Worthy is going to be the next Tyreek Hill seems like fantasy to me because he’s not the same type of player. Suamataia is worth the gamble that he could be the future LT the team needs. They will give him every chance to win the job next season and hold it down for the foreseeable future. He has all the physical skills and measurables you like for the spot and he can’t be worse than Donovan Smith was last year.
TE Jared Wiley and S Jaden Hicks were great fourth round picks and the Chiefs have been good at getting value in the middle rounds of the draft. These guys are investments in the future for when Kelce retires and when they don’t want to pay Justin Reid at safety anymore. I like the Hunter Nourzad pick too. He’s also an investment in the future. He can play any of the interior spots of the o-line and Joe Thuney is getting older and is expensive and the team might have to choose between C Creed Humphrey and RG Trey Smith about which one to pay. Nourzad might be a starter in a year or two. The last two picks aren’t guys they will count on but add depth at CB and o-line.

Las Vegas Raiders

(13) Brock Bowers TE Georgia
(44) Jackson Powers-Johnson OL Oregon
(77) Delmar Glaze OT Maryland
(112) Decamerion Richardson CB Mississippi St.
(148) Tommy Eichenberg LB Ohio St.
(208) Dylan Laube RB New Hampshire
(223) Trey Taylor S Air Force
(229) MJ Devonshire CB Pittsburgh

Immediate Impact: TE Brock Bowers, G Jackson Powers-Johnson

The Raiders are being criticized a bit for drafting Brock Bowers in round one a year after drafting Michael Mayer in round two at TE. That’s an uninformed opinion of Bowers. Certainly, they had bigger needs than TE but Bowers isn’t you’re typical TE and he was the best player on the board. He’s essentially going to replace Hunter Renfrow as their slot receiver and do even more in the offense. Jackson Powers-Johnson is going to fill a huge hole at guard since they just re-signed Andre James at center and he was a steal in round two.

Best Value: OG Jackson Powers-Johnson

He’s not your typical center prospect where he’s a guy who’s too small to play guard so he plays center, he’s 6’3 323 lbs., he’s plenty big. The Raiders were looking at starting Cody Whitehair at one guard spot because they had no one else. Powers-Johnson is the perfect guy to start out at guard and let him get reps, he hasn’t been an offensive lineman all that long.

Sleeper: OT Delmar Glaze

Glaze was a guy who gave up some pressures regularly at Maryland but it mostly has to do with his technique, that what coaching is for. He only measured 6’4 at the combine but he has 35-inch arms with a wingspan of nearly seven feet. That means he has the length to stay at OT and the Raiders need a RT. If Glaze beats out Thayer Mumford for the starting RT job, it won’t be all that surprising. If he doesn’t work out at OT he can move inside to guard and that’s not a bad thing for them either.

Overall Analysis
The Raiders didn’t get a QB in this draft so they did the next best thing, they tried to set up the offense in a better place to get one next year. Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell will hold the spot down for the year and I applaud them for not making a Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix move considering where those two went in the draft. Bowers, Powers-Johnson, and Glaze give them three guys who can start on the offense and actual upgrade the talent. I hope Luke Getsy and the new offensive staff in Las Vegas can come up with creative ways to use Bowers. They also took a shot on a small school back, Dylan Laube, who brings some juice to the backfield. He’s basically the newer version of Ameer Abdullah and Abdullah is 30 so Laube comes at the right time.
They didn’t do anything early to help their defense and that might haunt them a little. They took CB Decamerion Richardson in round four and I usually won’t give a tall, skinny CB that late much credence but this secondary is rough so Richardson could find playing time. LB Tommy Eichenberg was taken in round five, he’s not a dynamic player but he’s a steady one and I’m not betting against a guy who played LB at Ohio St. as effectively as he did. The last two picks were S Trey Taylor and CB MJ Devonshire, I’m not writing them off either, like I said, this secondary is bad. Both guys have shot to make the roster and Devonshire has potential at nickel corner.

Los Angeles Chargers

(5) Joe Alt OT Notre Dame
(34) Ladd McConkey WR Georgia
(69) Junior Colson LB Michigan
(105) Justin Eboigbe DL Alabama
(137) Tarheeb Still CB Maryland
(140) Cam Hart CB Notre Dame
(181) Kimani Vidal RB Troy
(225) Brenden Rice WR USC
(253) Cornelius Johnson WR Michigan

Immediate Impact: RT Joe Alt, WR Ladd McConkey, LB Junior Colson

The long national nightmare of the Chargers trying to make Trey Pipkins their RT is finally over, welcome Joe Alt. Alt will make the move from LT to RT but he’s a good athlete who shouldn’t have a problem doing so. The team needed a replacement for Keenan Allen who was a Justin Herbert favorite because he was a route running savant and was always where he was supposed to be, welcome Ladd McConkey. McConkey is the best route running WR in this class can he steps right in. The defense has been trying to find a good MLB for years, welcome Junior Colson. He’s a tackling machine and he comes with the added bonus that he played for Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter at Michigan and can call this defense in his sleep. First three picks, three instant starters and guys who can be difference makers.

Best Value: LB Junior Colson

Getting Colson in round three is highway robbery. He’s the best LB in the class and he’s going to the perfect situation where he steps in and will actually be ahead of his teammates in knowing the defense. That’s a rarity for a rookie and for the MLB to be able to come in as a rookie and help the new defensive coordinator install his defense is invaluable. I don’t know how the rest of the league let this happen.

Sleeper: WR Brenden Rice

It’s weird to call the son of the greatest WR ever a sleeper but Brenden Rice has never made anyone really think of his father with his play. He’s been a good WR but he’s never been great and he has a different game than Jerry had. In this case, it’s a good thing. He’s a big bodied WR at 6’3 210 lbs. and he play physical football. He doesn’t have great speed but he’s a deep ball guy who somehow gets open and Herbert has the arm to use him down the field. This offense is trying to also replace Mike Williams who was another big downfield guy without great speed. Rice looks like a more natural replacement in that role than Joshua Palmer has proven to be and Quentin Johnston isn’t that guy at all, that’s just not his game. Rice might be that guy.

Overall Analysis
The top three picks were right on point and fill three big holes immediately, that’s how you do it. They took DT Justin Eboigbe after that and while he doesn’t solve a problem on the defensive line, if you’re taking a shot on a defensive lineman, take one that played at Alabama for Nick Saban. In round five they took two CBs, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart. These two probably aren’t the answer to the issues at CB but they took two swings on solid prospects, maybe one of them hits.
Harbaugh clearly wants to run the ball and was clearly unhappy with the RB room he had so he added Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins from Baltimore. You can’t rely on those guys to stay healthy all year so they took Kamani Vidal a RB out of Troy. Interesting prospect who can run between the tackles and doesn’t have elite speed, he’s perfect for Harbaugh’s offense. The last two picks were Rice, who I really like as a seventh-round pick. Then Harbaugh had to have one more Wolverine so he took WR Cornelius Johnson. Johnson isn’t spectacular but he’ll know the offense. With McConkey, Rice, and Johnson around, I wouldn’t feel all that comfortable if I were the incumbent WR group. Even Quentin Johnston, last year’s first-round pick should be feeling the heat, he needs to be a lot better than he was last year.

Disclaimer: There is something everyone needs to know about this draft. Somewhere around the middle of round five this draft took a serious dive in quality. There were somewhere around 150-160 good prospects in this draft and then there was a cliff. Some teams reached before the 150th pick so the depth goes a little farther but by the time rounds six and seven came around, it got pretty bleak. There were a few contributing factors. One is the covid year has given players the opportunity to stay in college for an extra year and plenty of guys are taking that opportunity. Second is the name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for guys to make money in college. Being a late round pick isn’t as attractive if you can get paid to be a good player in college. Finally, the transfer portal (coupled with NIL) means guys don’t have to go pro to cash in. If another school wants you more than the one you’re at (this is especially true for small school guys), just transfer somewhere and take the payday. There are usually between 100-130 early entry candidates for the draft, this year, there were less than 60 and it showed.

Chicago Bears

(1) Caleb Williams QB USC
(9) Rome Odunze WR Washington
(75) Kiran Amegadjie OT Yale
(122) Tory Taylor P Iowa
(144) Austin Booker DE Kansas

Immediate Impact: QB Caleb Williams, WR Rome Odunze, P Tory Taylor
I don’t think I have to explain the fact that Williams will have an immediate impact. The Bears have built a readymade offense for him to step into and this franchise wants to win now, they have been waiting awhile. Odunze might only be the third WR with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen bringing more experience but Odunze will make his mark. Taylor steps in as the starting punter and just like he did for Iowa’s defense, he’ll make the Bears defense better by pinning their opponents deep. I’m not sure if the Bears will have a gunner like Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, who had a unique connection with Taylor, but for their sake, they should hope he finds one.

Best Value: WR Rome Odunze

He may have been the ninth overall pick but his ceiling is being one of the top five WRs in the NFL. He’s not likely to get there in the next year or two while Moore and Allen are around but he will eventually be one of the elite receivers in the league.

Sleeper: DE Austin Booker

The Bears were out of picks after the Taylor pick in round four and then they traded picks in next year’s draft to get into the fifth round to take Booker as he fell. Booker has great length for a DE at 6’6 but he’s a bit light and plays too upright. Teams are intrigued by his physical profile and athleticism. Booker isn’t going to come in and start and probably isn’t going to play much initially, at best he’s a situational rusher. However, with some time in the weight room and some real coaching of his technique, he has a chance to be a good DE.

Overall Analysis

This draft class was small and it will be judged by Caleb Williams’ career, there’s no getting around that. Odunze is going to be great, not good, great. Taking a chance on Yale OT Kiran Amegadjie was a solid choice. He has all the measurables of a starting LT, he just isn’t ready for NFL competition. With Braxton Jones at LT, Amegadjie is an investment in the future. I’m a fan of Jones but if he doesn’t work out in a year or two, Amegadjie might be an option to replace him. Most people don’t like teams taking a punter in round four but Taylor is the exception, the Bears defense just got better, he’s a field position weapon. Booker is raw but moldable, he’s a solid choice in round five.

Detroit Lions

(24) Terrion Arnold CB Alabama
(61) Ennis Rakestraw CB Missouri
(126) Giovanni Manu OT British Columbia
(132) Sione Vaki S/RB Utah
(189) Mekhi Wingo DT LSU
(210) Christian Mahogany OG Boston College

Immediate Impact: CB Terrion Arnold

The Lions roster is in pretty good shape except for in the secondary. Arnold was a gift at 24th overall after defensive players got pushed down by the run of offensive players to start the draft. Arnold should start opposite Carlton Davis III as the other outside CB. He’s the perfect fit for the Detroit defense and he’s the exact personality Dan Campbell wants on his team. Arnold should ascend to be the CB1 over Davis pretty quickly in Detroit.

Best Value: CB Terrion Arnold

The offensive player run to start the draft pushed really good defensive players down the board and Arnold was one of many defenders who ended up as great value picks towards the end of round one.

Sleeper: OG Christian Mahogany

Mahogany was probably a higher rated prospect going into the year and then his play was a little up and down this season. He’s still a talented interior blocker and has starter potential. The Lions re-signed Graham Glasgow and signed Kevin Zeitler to fill the holes at OG so Mahogany will be a backup this season. Zeitler is already 34 and Glasgow will be 32 so Mahogany won’t have to sit too long before he has a chance to take a job and I think he can be a long-term starter in the league.

Overall Analysis
Arnold was a huge pick for a team in desperate need to overhaul its CB group this off season. Between that pick and the Davis trade, they made some serious upgrades. I haven’t been a big Ennis Rakestraw fan but as a guy who will only be asked to be the fourth or fifth CB on this roster (depending on Emmanual Mosely’s health), that’s a good place for him. He upgrades the overall talent in the secondary. OT Giovanni Manu was a bit of a reach even in round four. He’s an international prospect that is going to take a while to become anything. However, he is 6’8 350 lbs. so there is something there to work with. The Lions just lost Matt Nelson, a guy who played DT at Iowa who they developed over several years into a legitimate swing tackle so they should have a plan for Manu.

Sione Vaki is an interesting prospect because he played both ways at Utah. He is a safety who’s a bit limited overall but he also played RB and was actually pretty good. The Lions have plenty of depth at RB so he’s probably going to have a better shot at safety but I think initially he’s on special teams and just a versatile player they can use anywhere. DT Mekhi Wingo is a slightly undersized penetrating tackle who will be a deep backup they hope to develop behind Alim McNeil.

Green Bay Packers

(25) Jordan Morgan OT Arizona
(45) Edgerrin Cooper LB Texas A&M
(58) Javon Bullard S Georgia
(88) MarShawn Lloyd RB USC
(91) Ty’Ron Hopper LB Missouri
(111) Evan Williams S Oregon
(163) Jacob Monk OL Duke
(169) Kitan Oladapo CB Oregon St.
(202) Travis Glover OT Georgia St.
(245) Michael Pratt QB Tulane
(255) Kalen King CB Penn St.

Immediate Impact: OT Jordan Morgan, S Javon Bullard

Morgan was a multiple year starter at LT at Arizona and while most teams had him pegged to be a guard, in Green Bay’s offense he could play tackle. I think it’s more likely he plays RT and they move Zach Tom inside but Morgan could replace Rasheed Wallace at LT potentially. The good thing about Morgan is he could play four different positions so he will allow the Packers to find their best combination of five blockers up front. Bullard is a bit undersized and was a late second-round pick but he’s a stud safety. He can team with Xavier McKinney and be the starter immediately given the competition at the position.

Best Value: S Javon Bullard, RB MarShawn Lloyd

Bullard may be a bit small but he’s just a tough football player and he’s going to be a starter. Lloyd is a very talented RB and if Josh Jacobs gets injured or just nicked up, it could be Lloyd and not AJ Dillon who ends up as the replacement back. He has some nice long-term potential as the starter once Jacobs is gone.

Sleeper: QB Michael Pratt

Pratt isn’t a threat to Jordan Love but if I’m Sean Clifford I’m not feeling so great. I’ve never understood what Green Bay sees in Clifford but Pratt is a good player. I can see Pratt replacing Clifford and if for any reason the Packers need someone to stand in for Love, Pratt could show he’s a pretty good. I think he could also do that in the preseason and eventually be a guy a team takes a chance on.

Overall Analysis
The Packers have a big draft class with 11 players and there is no way that many guys are making the roster. Morgan will be a starter somewhere on the line. Edgerrin Cooper is a plus athlete but he’s raw and undisciplined and needs some coaching. They can find a place to use him but he’ll take a little time. Bullard can start and excel. Lloyd will prove to be a valuable RB for the team. LB Ty’Ron Hopper gives the Packers some depth and I would guess he’ll be a special teams player.
The end of the draft wasn’t great for anyone so the Packers just took players at positions where they need help. S Evan Williams, CB Kitan Oladapo, and CB Kalen King are dice rolls. King was a guy who was highly thought of early in his career and then fell off a cliff with his play. Jacob Monk and Travis Glover are offensive linemen who should be competition for depth on the roster but probably not guys you want to count on. I like Pratt, he has a chance.

Minnesota Vikings

(10) JJ McCarthy QB Michigan
(17) Dallas Turner Edge Alabama
(108) Khyree Jackson CB Oregon
(177) Walter Rouse OT Oklahoma
(203) Will Reichard K Alabama
(230) Michael Jurgens OL Wake Forest
(232) Levi Drake Rodriguez DL Texas A&M Commerce

Immediate Impact: QB JJ McCarthy, Edge Dallas Turner

They can talk all they want about Sam Darnold but they took McCarthy 10th overall, he’s not backing up Sam Darnold. McCarthy is in an elite situation for a rookie QB with arguably the best WR in football, a really good WR2, and one of the best TEs in the game. His offensive line is solid and his head coach’s offensive system is built for his skillset. Turner may not initially start with the team signing Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel but he’s going to play a lot. Turner has the versatility Brian Flores loves and he’ll be a big part of the defense.

Best Value: Edge Dallas Turner

Turner might be the best pass rusher in this draft and because of how it fell he went 17th overall. He’s a perfect fit for the scheme and he’s going to outplay being the 17th overall player in this draft.

Sleeper: CB Khyree Jackson

He may have been a fourth-round pick but this guy is a player. He’s a long CB at 6’4 with excellent speed for a guy his size (4.5 in the 40). His size works against his technique because he doesn’t sink his hips as well and isn’t smooth turning and maintaining coverage. That said, this CB group in Minnesota isn’t great so he can earn some playing time. He needs reps and with a defensive mind like Brian Flores coaching him, he’ll get the best out of him.

Overall Analysis
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did some wheeling and dealing to end up with his QB at ten and then an awesome edge rusher at 17. McCarthy fits this offense well and he’ll be pretty good. Turner is going to shine in this defense. They waited a long time after the first round to pick but I like Jackson and he can fill a need for this team. OT Walter Rouse was a solid investment for team that could use a good backup OT. Drafting kickers can be tricky but Will Reichard steps in immediately and he’s kicked in big games for Alabama, I expect him to be solid. Jurgens and Rodriguez are late round flyers on guys who might add depth on the line, never bad idea.

Just my thoughts from day two (rounds 2 &3). 

• The Bills traded from the last pick of round one (#32) to the first pick of round two (#33) and stole the WR I wanted for the Patriots, Keon Coleman.  Coleman was the guy I mocked to the Bills in my early mock drafts in round one, apparently, they did like him.  He’s going to be good.
• Once Coleman was gone the Patriots moved down from 34 to 37 giving the Chargers a chance to move up to get the WR they wanted, Ladd McConkey.  He’s the perfect Jim Harbaugh WR, he’s tough but not flashy.  McConkey is a good player but I’m glad the Patriots passed, I think he might be redundant with Demario Douglas already in the slot. 
• The Falcons continue to boggle the mind by trading up in round two to take a DT but instead of taking Jer’Zhan Newton, they took Ruke Orhorhoro.  Newton is a plug-and-play guy and Orhorhoro is a project, also, this team has bigger needs than DT depth.  The Falcons are confounding. 
• Washington isn’t a team with a dire need at DT either with Jonathan Allen and DaRon Payne but at least they took Newton is was just too good to pass up.  Allen is also going to be 29 and is pretty expensive so Newton was great value and this team just needs talent. 
• The Patriots come around at 37 and take WR Ja’Lynn Polk, one of My Guys.  I love this pick.  There were a lot of WRs still available but I love Polk for Drake Maye’s sake.  Polk is a ball winner, he catches everything.  Maye won’t have to be perfect with his placement because Polk has a huge catch radius.  He’s not the biggest, or the fastest guy, he’s just a pure receiver.  He’s going to be a better pro than some of the WRs from round one. 
• The Titans took DT T’Vondre Sweat.  A guy who admitted he “used to” party too much but he was over that, and then got a DUI three weeks ago.  This isn’t going to end well.
• The Rams must have loved the Florida St. defensive line film because they took Jared Verse in round one and then traded up to take his teammate DT Braden Fiske.  He’s not great but he’s solid. 
• Finally, the Eagles ended the nightmare when they traded up and took Cooper DeJean with the 40^th pick overall.  They took CB Quinyon Mitchell in round one and moved up to get DeJean, clearly Howie Roseman wasn’t going to let the team endure the terrible secondary they had last season again.  DeJean is going to play all over Vic Fangio’s defensive backfield and Fangio is going to love DeJean’s football IQ.  Amazing value for the Eagles and I think a very good landing spot for DeJean.
• That pick started a run on CBs.  Kool-Aid McKinstry goes to the Saints, Kamari Lassiter to the Texans, and Max Melton to the Cardinals.  McKinstry gets a good situation with Marshon Lattimore as the #1 CB with Paulson Adebo entering the last year of his contract.  Lassiter is a small CB with slow timed speed but he’s a smart football player going to play for DeMeco Ryans.  If anyone gets the best out of Lassiter, it’s Ryans.  Melton looks the part of a good CB and he will get every chance to start because Arizona’s secondary is terrible.
• The Raiders steal Jackson Powers-Johnson and he’s an immediate starting guard for them. They followed that up with taking OT Delmar Glaze from Maryland in round three.  Glaze can compete to start at RT for them so they did a very nice job adding to the offensive line. 
• The Packers took uber-athlete Edgerrin Cooper to go with Quay Walker at LB, he’s raw but talented.  The also took S Javon Bullard from Georgia who can also help Xavier McKinney in the middle of the field.  Their choice of RB Marshawn Lloyd from USC in round three was great.  I like Lloyd as a better backup to Josh Jacobs than even AJ Dillon.  Lloyd does everything well. 
• The Panthers traded up to get RB Jonathan Brooks from Texas.  Brooks tore his ACL in November so it’s no guarantee he’s ready to go to start the season.  Once he’s healthy, he’s a great back but I’m not sure how much he helps this year.  They also took LB Trevin Wallace in round three, he’s going to have to sit and learn, he’s a great athlete with not great instincts. 
• The Giants took S Tyler Nubin in round two and CB Andru Phillips in round three, awesome job.  Those two will really help a secondary that needs it. 
• I gave Trent Baalke credit for getting Brian Thomas Jr. in round one, he was a steal.  Apparently, Baalke wanted to get back into my bad graces because he took DT Maason Smith, a good athlete but not a great player in round two and then CB Jarrian Jones in round three.  Jones is another athlete without any refined skills.  These guys aren’t difference makers. 
• The Bengals took DT Kris Jenkins from Michigan, he’s a going to be a more productive pro than he was at Michigan.  He’s good.  They also took NT McKinley Jackson, a true nose tackle to replace DJ Reader.  He’s a nice complement to Jenkins.  Between those picks they took a flyer on WR Jermain Burton. Burton is a supremely talented WR who has serious character issues.  The Bengals have never shied away from those guys but Burton can be a headcase on the field.  He’s been referred to as “uncoachable” by several different coaches. 
• Washington was a team with a ton of second day picks and they followed the Jer’Zhan Newton pick up with some really good football players.  CB Mike Sanristil is going to be one of the best nickel backs in the league.  The took TE Ben Sinnott who is just a tough, athletic guys who can play all over and will a tone setter.  OT Brandon Coleman is a big dude who moves well and has a legitimate shot at the LT job.  They finished off day two with WR Luke McCaffrey, Christian’s little brother.  He hasn’t been a WR very long so he’s still learning but he could fill the Curtis Samuel role on this offense and maybe even stay healthy long enough to play in actual games. 
• The Steelers might just be acing this draft.  After taking Troy Fautanu in round one they got C Zach Frazier in round two.  Now Fautanu is clearly staying at OT because Frazier is going to be a day one starter at center and he’s going to be the perfect Steelers’ center.  WR Roman Wilson in round three is highway robbery.  This team regularly drafts day two WRs who are awesome, Wilson will continue the trend.  Finally, they took LB Payton Wilson, an incredibly athletic LB with great speed and a questionable medical history.  He may not have long career but he’ll be a good ILB for the Steelers and they need more than just Patrick Queen there. 
• The Colts took the risk on Adonai Mitchell who fell to 52^nd overall.  It’s a risk worth taking for a guy whose skillset complements Michael Pittman and Josh Downs.  If he hits, he can be a true #1 WR, if not, they still have Alec Pierce.
• The Dolphins followed up the Chop Robinson pick in round one with a raw OT prospect Patrick Paul from Houston.  He could replace Terron Armstead someday. 
• Dallas took Tyler Guyton late in round one, a worthy choice.  In round two they took DE Marshawn Kneeland at 56 and he could be a steal, even if he isn’t a star someday, he’s a nice pickup.  Then they got Cooper Beebe in round three.  Beebe mostly played guard but I think there is a good chance he wins the center job next season and if he does, they just got two starting offensive lineman, that’s really good for them.  The choice of LB Marist Liufau was terrible, that was a massive reach, he’s more like a 6^th round pick. 
• Tampa Bay took DE Chris Braswell, he fits their scheme well.  S Tykee Smith is a solid nickel back for their defense.  Then they took one of my other favorite guys WR Jalen McMillen.  It’s a little unfortunate for him because they have Chris Godwin in the slot so McMillen won’t get a lot of playing time right away but if they have to move off of Godwin for salary purposes at some point, they have a great replacement. 
• The Texans were part of the run on CBs earlier with Kamari Lassiter but they followed up with OT Blake Fisher and then S Calen Bullock in round three.  Fisher has some talent and with RT Titus Howard hurt so often Fisher is a nice addition, he could take Howard’s job if Howard misses too much time.  Bullock missed a lot of tackles at USC but USC’s defense was atrocious and he has a ton of physical skill.  Maybe DeMeco Ryans teaches him how to take the correct angle and actually wrap a guy up and Bullock becomes a much better player. 
• The Lions followed up their great Terrion Arnold pick in round one with another CB Ennis Rakestraw in round two.  I’m not a big Rakestraw fan but he’s a scrappy player who plays with an attitude and he just went to the perfect team for him.  He won’t have to be a starter in Detroit and his mentality fits right in.  If Rakestraw is going to be a good pro, it’s because he’s going to the right place. 
• The Ravens came back around in round two and found their starting RT.  Roger Rosengarten wasn’t talked about much because he was overshadowed on an amazing Washington offense in college but he’s a good RT.  He protected Michael Penix’s blindside since Penix is a lefty.  Rosengarten will be fine starting immediately.  They also took edge rusher Adisa Isaac, the Penn St. pass rusher who was actually a good pass rusher, imagine that.  I expect Isaac to have more sacks in Baltimore next season than Chop Robinson has in Miami. 
• I hated the Chiefs trade up for WR Xavier Worthy in round one.  I love their trade up for Kingsley Suiamataia in round two.  He’s not a finished product but playing for Andy Reid and playing with Patrick Mahomes will be the best thing for him. 
• The Jets started off round three with WR Malachi Corley.  He’s the perfect complementary piece to Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams, the question is; will Aaron Rodgers ever look to him?  He’s a really good run after the catch player, that offense could use that. 
• The Cardinals had a crapload of picks after their two first rounders.  After CB Max Melton, who came in the run of CBs, they took; RB Trey Benson, G Isaiah Adams, TE Tip Reiman, and CB Elijah Jones. I love the Benson pick.  He’s a perfect pairing with James Connor.  Benson isn’t an every down back but he has the speed and burst to take any carry to the house, unlike Connor who’s a grinder.  Isaiah Adams can start immediately at guard and he makes their line better.  TE Tip Reiman is a big, physical blocking TE, the perfect player opposite Trey McBride.  Jones isn’t a guy I would think could start for a team but this is the Cardinals secondary we’re talking about, he’s at least going to play. 
• The Chargers finally fulfilled the Jim Harbaugh connection by drafting LB Junior Colson in round three.  Colson is a steal in round three because he’s an immediate starter at LB and he’s almost assuredly the play caller on defense.  He already knows the defense after being the MLB for Jesse Minter’s defense at Michigan last year.  He’s the best LB on the team and they need his tackling to sure up their weak run defense.  Outstanding pick and he might be my early frontrunner for defensive rookie of the year. 

That’s my wrap up of day two.  The third day of the draft will bring some fun players into the NFL and some good stories.  I expect P Tory Taylor, DT Logan Lee, and TE Erick All to be drafted from the Hawkeyes.  I wouldn’t mind seeing the Patriots double up at WR by drafting Troy Franklin or Devontez Walker to get some deep speed on the team and then they can cut Tyquan Thornton and JuJu Smith-Schuster to make room. They can also grab another OT like Christian Jones and I wouldn’t complain. They should take a TE to backup Hunter Henry because he gets banged up and I don’t trust Austin Hooper.  Ja’Tavion Sanders has slipped or Erick All would be a nice pickup late. 

Some of the guys I’m watching to see where they go today because they are good or interesting players.  CB TJ Tampa, TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, QB Spencer Rattler, QB Michael Pratt, WR Malik Washington, WR Brenden Rice, and RB Cody Schrader.  I’ll get to my team break downs as soon as possible after the draft concludes.    

Well, you can’t say that wasn’t interesting.  Six QBs in the top 12, a stunning pick at eight overall, and 14 straight offensive players to start the draft.  After my five mock draft and the billions of other mocks people did across the internet, we all got the top four right, we should have known the fifth pick, and then at eight, it got weird.  Let’s take a look.

1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams     QB     USC

The Bears just drafted the best QB in franchise history (I know, I said the same thing about Justin Fields three years ago, it was true then too).  The difference is Williams is about to lead the best Bears offense ever because he has help and his coordinator is an actual coordinator and not Luke Getsy. 

2. Washington Commanders:  Jayden Daniels     QB    LSU

The Heisman trophy winner becomes the face of the franchise for the new and improved Washington team.  He’s going to be running for his life if they don’t draft some lineman but he won’t be boring.  Thank you, Adam Peters, for this next pick.

3. New England Patriots:  Drake Maye     QB     North Carolina

I was so bummed when the Patriots ended up with the third pick because I thought they had blown their chance at getting Maye, instead they get the steal of the draft.  He’s everything Mac Jones wasn’t.  He’s a leader, he has all the physical tools to be a star, and I can’t wait to watch him.  Now, go get him some help.

4. Arizona Cardinals:  Marvin Harrison Jr.     WR     Ohio St.

Monti Ossenfort didn’t get cute and he got a superstar.  Harrison is going to be awesome.  He walks in on day one as WR1 and he’ll catch 100 passes this year. 

5. Los Angeles Chargers:  Joe Alt     OT     Notre Dame

How did we all miss this one?  We knew Jim Harbaugh wanted to build in the trenches and we knew it would be really expensive for team to trade up.  So, Harbaugh stays here and picks the best offensive tackle in the draft.  It made so much sense, no one saw it coming. 

6. New York Giants:  Malik Nabers     WR     LSU

I had the Giants picking Odunze so I had the right position but my Odunze love colored my judgement.  They went with the guy so many people had as the second best WR and it makes sense.  Now, if they only had a QB who could throw it to him. 

7. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham     OT     Alabama

Latham was always hard to project because he’s a specific type of mauler who only played RT.  Turns out he ends up going to a team with one of the best offensive line coaching in the game, Bill Callahan, who loves those guys.  I’m a little skeptical that Latham can play LT but Callahan turned Jedrick Wills Jr. into a solid LT in Cleveland, if he can do that, I’m not counting out Latham. 

8. Atlanta Falcons:  Michael Penix Jr.     QB    Washington

The stupidest pick in draft history? Possibly.  This one shocked everyone but Falcons GM Terry Fontenot.  He just spent $100 million guaranteed to sign Kirk Cousins and then he takes a QB with the eighth pick, WTF?  This isn’t even a developmental player who needs to sit for a couple of years, Penix is about to turn 24.  I’m fairly certain the Falcons, who plan to try to win right now, could have used a difference maker here at #8 overall.  I’m not a Penix fan anyway but this is incredibly bad team building.  Your defense needed help and every defensive player is still on the board and there are at least 12 defenders who would have an immediate impact on the defense. 

9. Chicago Bears:  Rome Odunze     WR     Washington

Yeah, about that “best Bears offense ever” I mentioned earlier.  Here’s the guy to put it over the top.  He’s the perfect fit in an offense with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, and D’Andre Swift.  He’s the big, physical downfield receiver who will dominate in the red zone and he’s always available whenever Caleb wants to scramble around and make a play. 

10. Minnesota Vikings:  JJ McCarthy     QB     Michigan

The Vikings didn’t have to make a major move up (they flipped spots with the Jets) to get their QB.  McCarthy is the more athletic version of Brock Purdy and in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, that will be perfect.  He’s set up to succeed with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and a solid offensive line. 

11. New York Jets:  Olu Fashanu     OT     Penn St.

The Jets did the smart thing after signing two 33-year-old OTs in free agency, they drafted a great OT prospect.  Fashanu is going to be excellent and he isn’t even going to be thrown into the starting lineup until Tyron Smith gets hurt, so around week 5 probably. 

12. Denver Broncos:  Bo Nix     QB     Oregon

Can you smell that?  That’s desperation.  Sean Payton traded for Zack Wilson last week and now he drafts Bo Nix at 12, he’s grasping at straws.  I don’t think either of those guys beats out Jarrett Stidham in a fair fight but now that Nix was taken 12^th overall, I think the fight is fixed.  Payton hopes Nix is his new Brees, the problem is Nix is Drew Brees his last two years when he wasn’t very good.  

13. Las Vegas Raiders:  Brock Bowers     TE     Georgia

I get going best player available and Bowers’ skillset fits in nicely with Devante Adams and Jokobi Meyers at WR and Michael Mayer as the traditional TE.  However, the QBs are Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell and you probably need two starters on the offensive line.  Bowers may languish in an offense that doesn’t have the ability to use his gifts.  

14.  New Orleans Saints:  Taliese Fuaga     OT     Oregon St.

He’s a day one starter, I’m just not sure if it’s at LT, RT, or LG.  Either way, he’s a quality starting offensive lineman and they should probably draft more of these in this draft.  Fuaga will be good, he may never be a perennial Pro Bowler but he’s solid. 

15. Indianapolis Colts:  Laiatu Latu     DE     UCLA

The first defender off the board is Latu.  He’s a great technical pass rusher who probably tops out as a 10-12 sack guy but he’ll get those 10-12 sacks every year for the next 8-10 years if stays healthy.  I’m a little shocked they didn’t take a CB with the massive need they have there and every defender still on the board. 

16. Seattle Seahawks:  Byron Muphy II     DT     Texas

I can’t say I’m surprised because Murphy fits what Mike Macdonald, the new head coach likes to do.  Macdonald had Justin Madubuike in Baltimore last year and he was awesome, Murphy can be that guy.  This makes Seattle’s defense much better up front. 

17. Minnesota Vikings: Dallas Turner     Edge     Alabama

The Vikings move up again, this time six spots, and take a guy who shouldn’t still be available and is a perfect fit in Brian Flores’ defense.  Flores comes from the Belichick school of defense where he likes defenders who can do multiple things.  Turner is a really good pass rusher who can also drop in coverage and hold his own.  He gives Flores the ability to disguise any and all looks and that should scare people. 

18. Cincinnati Bengals:  Amarius Mims     OT    Georgia

The Bengals continue a trend of drafting guys a year before they will likely need them.  Trent Brown is on a one-year deal at RT and Mims needs some time to develop.  He will likely have to play 8-9 games this year when Trent Brown gets hurt because that’s inevitable, but he should be good by then.  Also, the Bengals’ OTs are Olando Brown Jr. who is 6’8 345 lbs., Trent Brown who is 6’8 355 lbs., and Mims who is 6’8 340 lbs., that’s insane.  This was literally the only place Mims could go where he’d be the little guy at OT. 

19. Los Angeles Rams:  Jared Verse     DE     Florida St.

The Rams needed help on their defense and Verse is a guy who steps in immediately and gives them actual help.  He’s a pocket pusher as a rusher and he’s very good against the run.  Verse makes this defense better. 

20. Pittsburgh Steelers:  Troy Fautanu     OL     Washington

Fautanu is a good player and it will be interesting to see where they play him.  Most teams had him rated as a guard but that’s the one place the Steelers are good on the line.  He can play LT but he doesn’t have prototypical length for it.  The question that brings up is whether he is a better option at OT than Dan Moore Jr.  They also have Broderick Jones at RT and could move him to LT.  The other thought is could he move to center, another spot where the Steelers need help. 

21. Miami Dolphins:  Chop Robinson     Edge     Penn St.

Famous quote from Brad Pitt in Moneyball “if he’s a good hitter, why doesn’t he hit good,” that’s what I think of when I watch Robinson.  If he’s such a good pass rusher, why did he only have four sacks last year at Penn St.  He has a electric first step, but it takes more than one step to get the QB. I’ve never seen an edge rusher take one step and sack a QB on his second step.  It doesn’t get easier to rush the passer in the NFL, I’ve seen too many of these guys fail to believe he’ll be any different. 

22. Philadelphia Eagles:  Quinyon Mitchell     CB    Toledo

This is a frickin steal for the Eagles.  Mitchell is the best CB in this draft and they just got him at 22.  James Bradberry’s days are numbered in Philly.  Mitchell comes in and he can start immediately opposite Darius Slay and he eventually replaces Slay as CB1. 

23. Jacksonville Jaguars:  Brian Thomas Jr.     WR     LSU

I have to admit, well played by Trent Baalke.  He traded down six spots and got a potential #1 WR in Thomas.  Thomas needs a little time to hone his skills but I like him better than every WR they have, especially Gabe Davis. 

24. Detroit Lions:  Terrion Arnold     CB     Alabama

This is another ridiculous steal.  Arnold is the perfect Detroit CB.  He is an absolute dawg and Dan Campbell is going to love this guy.  He can play inside or outside and he’ll work perfectly in Aaron Glenn’s defense.  This could not have fallen better for a team desperate for a starting CB. The NFC North is going to be a dog fight.  

25. Green Bay Packers:  Jordan Morgan     OT     Arizona

A lot of scouts have Morgan pegged as a guard but I think they will give him a shot to win the RT job so they can move Zach Tom inside to center.  If not, Morgan replaces Jon Runyan Jr. at OG and he’ll be very good.  This was the first place where I wondered about Cooper DeJean not going in round one because he would have been an excellent fit in Green Bay and the Packers tend to love Hawkeyes. 

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Graham Barton     OL     Duke

Robert Hainsey was okay at center last year but I think Barton takes the job and kicks Hainsey out to LG which might be a better spot for him anyway.  If they team wants to keep Hainsey at center because he has some experience than Barton plays LG and he and Tristan Wirfs form a Pro Bowl left side in Tampa for the next half decade. 

27.  Arizona Cardinals:  Darius Robinson     DL     Missouri

Arizona’s defensive line is made up of a bunch of guys nobody else wanted so this isn’t surprising.  I am a little surprised they didn’t grab DeJean because they need CB help just as much as they need d-line help and I think DeJean is a better player. 

28. Kansas City Chiefs:  Xavier Worthy     WR     Texas

The Chiefs traded up to make a pick I hate.  Did the Chiefs forget they already signed Marquise Brown?  Brown is 5’9 170 lbs. and only known for his speed.  Worthy is 5’11 165 lbs. and is only known for his 4.21 forty at the combine.  I understand the thought that Patrick Mahomes can make any WR better but that didn’t work for Mecole Hardman and to me I’m not sure Worthy is more than just a skinny, faster version of Hardman.  They needed a guy with some size to give them a complement to Brown’s speed.  This feels like the WR version of the Clyde Edwards-Helaire pick after their first Super Bowl, the just went for the shiny object.   

29. Dallas Cowboys:  Tyler Guyton     OT     Oklahoma

The Cowboys move down and still get the OT they need.  Guyton is pretty raw but he has skill and beggars can’t be choosers.  It will be interesting how they bring him along.  They can throw him out there immediately and let him take his lumps or let Tyler Smith start at LT and give Guyton some time. 

30. Baltimore Ravens:  Nate Wiggins     CB     Clemson

I don’t like to question Baltimore’s first round picks; they are historically very good at these things.  However, they lost three starting offensive linemen in the off season and LT Ronnie Stanley hasn’t been the picture of health.  Lamar Jackson is going to be running for his life if the start Daniel Faalele at RT and Ben Cleveland at RG.  They know what they’re doing when they draft DBs but o-line is such a glaring need. 

31. San Francisco 49ers:  Ricky Pearsall     WR     Florida

Clearly, they are planning or life after either Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk.  Kyle Shanahan knows what he needs to keep his offense humming and Pearsall feels like a good fit.  There are WRs I like better but this pick is understandable.

32. Carolina Panthers:  Xavier Leggett     WR     South Carolina

The Panthers got antsy and moved up one spot so they could get the WR they like in Leggett.  I’m not sure how Leggett is much different than Jonathan Mingo, who they drafted in the second-round last year but they must see something.  I’m not Leggett’s biggest fan, he was a fifth-year senior breakout player who hadn’t done much of anything for four years.  There are a number of WRs I like a lot better and I certainly didn’t see the need to move up into round one to get Leggett when you had the next pick.  

Second Round thoughts

I’m stunned Cooper DeJean didn’t get picked in round one and not just because I’m a Hawkeye fan.  I think the thing that conspired against him was no defensive players off the board in the first 14 picks and then no CBs until pick 22.  Teams over drafted two QBs and four edge rushers went before any of the top CBs.  It’s a tough beat for DeJean considering he could have returned to Iowa to be a part of their elite defense again.  The good news is the first five teams that pick in round two could all use a CB so I hope his wait isn’t too long.   

Other guys who I thought were first round guys were C Jackson Powers-Johnson and DT Jer’Zhan Newton but their falls are a little more understandable.  Powers-Johnson only has one year of experience at center. Newton is coming off foot surgery that certainly could have given some teams some pause.  Kool-Aid McKinstry is also a little surprising but he hasn’t been as highly rated as he once was and the CB position fall hurt him too. 

At WR, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I like Ladd McConkey, Keon Coleman, Adonai Mitchell, Troy Franklin and even Ja’Lynn Polk more than Worthy, Pearsall, and Leggett but WR is a position where teams take guys they think fit their scheme and style the best.  I may disagree with them but at this point WR is a crapshoot. 

There are still some offensive linemen on the board I like.  OT Kinsley Suamataia, C Jackson Powers-Johnson, C Zach Frazier could all be day one starters on the right team.  At CB you have DeJean, McKinstry, and TJ Tampa who all look like starters to me. Throw in Newton all the WRs I just listed and you can understand why Day 2 of the NFL draft is my favorite.