This division should be interesting. The Lions might be the one complete team. The Vikings should have a good offense but their defense is suspect. The Packers offense is loaded with young guys led by an unknown quantity at QB, Jordan Love. And their defense tends to underachieve. The Bears may have finally built a good offense around Justin Fields and we may see just how good he can be. The problem there is they’re going to have to score five TDs a game to overcome a terrible defense. Let’s take a look.

Detroit Lions

            The Lions’ hype train is in full force and it’s hard to argue against after they way they finished last season.  They went on a great second half run and they should be better this year. There are a few question marks but that probably still puts them ahead of everyone else in their division.  The offense returns most of their key guys and where they lost some people, they may have upgraded. 

            I can’t believe I’m saying this but Jared Goff was pretty good last year and there’s no reason to think he can’t lead this team to the playoffs.  One critical factor on offense is the return of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who passed on head coaching opportunities last year to come back to Detroit.  He’s a genius for figuring out how to run this offense to fit Goff’s skills and make due without a true outside receiving threat (the one major question on offense is the WR position overall).  Jameson Williams is supposed to be that guy this year but he’s out six games with a gambling related suspension.  If Williams can give them a legitimate outside threat, he makes this offense much better.  Amon-Ra St. Brown is a superstar slot receiver and rookie TE Sam LaPorta will give them a nice third receiving option.  They don’t have any great receivers otherwise and it’s the one thing that could be a problem on offense. 

            The running game gets a total facelift with Jamaal Williams leaving for New Orleans and D’Andre Swift traded to Philadelphia.  The team signed David Montgomery in free agency and drafted Jahmyr Gibbs 12^th overall.  Montgomery becomes the traditional power back grinding out yardage and being the short-yardage guy, a.k.a. the new Williams.  Gibbs is the replacement for Swift as the pass catcher/playmaker out of the backfield. The hope is that Gibbs is healthier and even more explosive than Swift, given his electric playmaking ability. Detroit’s offense has been at it’s best with Ben Johnson calling plays but a lot of their success can be traced to them having one the best offensive lines in football.  LT Taylor Decker, LG Jonah Jackson, C Frank Ragnow and RT Penei Sewell are all fantastic.  Sewell is quickly rising to the top of the OT position in the league while the other three are outstanding at their positions.  The RG spot had some issues last year but the team picked up veteran Graham Glasgow as insurance incase Halapoulivaati Vaitai isn’t healthy again. 

            The Detroit defense is where the question marks mostly come for this team. The defensive line is led by Aidan Hutchinson going into his second season.  He had a good first year with 9.5 sacks but I wouldn’t expect him to get more than maybe 12 in a season. The good news is the team has depth at DE and got good production from guys like James Houston and John Cominsky and they have some other guys who could contribute like Romeo Okwara, Josh Pascall and Charles Harris.  They are more than the sum of their parts. 

            At LB, the team needs rookie Jack Campbell to live up to his first-round status and there’s no reason to think he won’t.  Campbell has the size, the athleticism, and the instincts to be a legitimate starting LB.  He’s the most talented LB on the team.  I love Malcolm Rodriguez but he’s undersized and needs to be used in a way that mitigates his disadvantages.  Alex Anzalone is a nice veteran to have around but he’s not the guy you build a defense around.  Derrick Barnes is a young guy they really like and he should start outside.   

            The secondary was overhauled in the off season I’m just not sure it was enough.  This is the one area that could still kill Detroit’s chances at their division and limits their upside in the playoffs.  Emmanuel Moseley and Cameron Sutton were signed in free agency to be the new CBs, and they needed new CBs.  However, Moseley began training camp on the PUP list and remains there, they need Sutton outside at CB and he’s probably still better suited for the slot.  Speaking of the slot, they have that covered. They signed CJ Gardner-Johnson, he’s a safety/nickel hybrid who does his best work in the slot, and drafted Brian Branch, who’s also a safety/nickel hybrid who does his best work in the slot.  All this probably means the team leans on Jerry Jacobs at outside CB quite a bit again, they like him but he’s a limited player physically. 

            If I were a betting man I’m taking the Lions in this division but that’s because I like the answers the Lions have to their questions better than the other three teams in this division.  That’s not a ringing endorsement and I probably wouldn’t take the Lions in the playoffs except for the fact that the NFC isn’t stacked with great teams. 

Minnesota Vikings

            One reason I’m picking the Lions in this division is that I have many questions about the other three teams.  When that’s the case, go with the team with the known quantity at QB.  I may not like Kirk Cousins but the guy is consistent, that should go a long way in this division.  The Vikings had 11 wins by one score or less last year, that’s not sustainable, but nine or ten wins probably means second in the NFC North. 

            Kirk Cousins is the steady veteran QB who’s good enough to make you a playoff contender but not enough to make you a viable Super Bowl team.  He will be playing on a very talented offense.  Justin Jefferson is in the conversation for the best WR in the NFL (if he had an elite QB, it might not be a question).  The team replaced veteran Adam Thielen with rookie Jordan Addison.  It’s going to take Addison some time to adjust, but he’s a really talented player.  The trade for TE TJ Hockenson last year from Detroit was key.  Hockenson is one of the more talented TEs in the NFL and he’s a real threat over the middle and down the seam. 

            The offensive line is pretty good.  LT Christian Darrisaw is really coming on as one of the better LTs in the league.  RT Brian O’Neill is an underrated veteran who’s steady but unspectacular.  The interior is LG Ezra Cleveland, C Garrett Bradbury, and RG Ed Ingram.  They aren’t a flashy group but they are all still young and play well as a unit.  The running game gets a new look this year with Alexander Mattison ascending to the top spot after the team cut Dalvin Cook.  Cook has been the mainstay of this offense for a while but Mattison has proven to be an affective replacement when he has been called upon.  This offense should continue to produce in Kevin O’Connell’s second year. 

            While the offense should be good the defense could be another story.  They struggled last year and the biggest addition is bringing in Brian Flores to overhaul the defense. He brings a different philosophy and style and they hope he gets more out of the guys he has.  Danielle Hunter will play on the edge in more of a LB role than a DE and he’ll have free agent addition Marcus Davenport on the opposite side.  They have three pretty non-descript linemen upfront in Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry, and Khyiris Tonga.  There’s going to be a lot of pressure on Hunter and Davenport because there aren’t a lot of playmakers in this front seven.

            The two inside LBs should be Brian Asamoah II and Jordan Hicks, they are the definition of average.  Average would be on the high end of outcomes for the secondary.  Harrison Smith returns at safety and he’s been a good player for a long time but he’s 34, he can’t be the guy who fixes everything any more.  Cam Bynum starts opposite him, he’s fine, he’s still young.  It would help a lot if last year’s first-round pick, Lewis Cine, can come back healthy from a devastating injury that ruined his rookie year. 

            The CB position is in a major transition.  They signed Byron Murphy Jr. as the major free agent addition but they may need him to play outside when he’s best suited to the slot.  Andrew Booth Jr. is another guy who missed a ton of time last year as a rookie but unlike Lewis Cine, they need him.  Cine can ease back in, Booth can’t.  The rest of the depth chart is even more question marks.  Akayleb Evans, Mekhi Blackmon, and Joejuan Williams are not top of the line guys.  Brian Flores has his work cut out for him. 

Green Bay Packers

            Most people’s questions regarding the Packers are about Jordan Love taking over the offense from Aaron Rodgers.  I have less questions about that and more questions about why this defense isn’t better and will the youth around Love really step up.  Matt LaFleur has proven he’s a good coach and I think he’ll put Jordan Love in positions to succeed.  Love has spent three years learning on the sidelines and I think he can step in and run the offense. 

            The pass catchers on this team are really young.  WRs Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are second-year players while slot receiver Jayden Reed is a rookie.  If Reed doesn’t win the slot job it’s probably second-year man Samori Toure winning it.  The top two TEs are rookies Luke Musgrave and Tucker Craft.  Jordan Love is entering year four and he’s the elder statesman of the passing offense.  Lucky for him, he has very good RBs and a good offensive line.

            Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are a very talented RB duo.  Dillon went through a bit of a sophomore slump last year but he should bounce back.  Either way, Jones is still one of the most well-rounded RBs in the league.  He’s a top-notch runner and a fantastic pass catcher and any time Jordan Love gets in trouble, he can look to dump it off to Jones.  The offensive line can be one of the better ones in the league if everyone is healthy, and by everyone I mean LT David Bakhtiari and LG Elgton Jenkins.  Bakhtari is one of the best LTs in football when he’s healthy and Jenkins could make the Pro Bowl at multiple positions if he stays on the field.  C Josh Myers, RG Jon Runyan, and RT Zach Tom are solid players. 

            The Packers defense shouldn’t be the problem but for some reason, they are (hint: it’s probably the coordinator).  Matt LaFleur decided to stick with Joe Barry as his defensive coordinator, he does less with more than anyone in the league.  When healthy, this defense should have seven starters who were first-round picks (DL Kenny Clark, DL Devonte Wyatt, LB Quay Walker, LB Rashan Gary, CB Jaire Alexander, CB Eric Stokes, and S Darnell Savage), that doesn’t include this year’s first rounder Lukas Van Ness.  It also doesn’t include two very good starting veteran LBs, De’Vondre Campbell and Preston Smith. 

            The defense is stacked.  The front seven includes Kenny Clark, one of the best defensive linemen in the game.  OLBs Rashan Gary and Preston Smith are a very good pass rushing duo off the edge, and now they have Lukas Van Ness as depth.  Campbell and Walker are very good at ILB.  They need Wyatt and NT TJ Slaton to play well up front to keep the LBs clean, but that’s not too much to ask when Kenny Clark is taking a lot of the focus up front. 

            The secondary has one of the best CB in the NFL in Alexander.  He can be truly special.  They need Eric Stokes to get healthy and stay that way but Rasul Douglas has done a good job stepping in.  Darnell Savage is a talented player who had his struggles last year, he needs to turn it around.  The other safety spot is a question after Adrian Amos wasn’t re-signed. Rudy Ford won the starting job there but I’m guessing they will be looking for safety help after cutdown day.

            If the Packers defense gets off to a bad start LaFleur is going to have to make the move to replace Barry.  He needs to be proactive because it’s always better to make the move yourself instead of letting the front office dictate it.  There isn’t an obvious choice on staff to replace Barry considering no one else has prior play calling experience but defensive line coach/run game coordinator Jerry Montgomery has been around awhile.  The looming shadow of former Wisconsin Badger defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is also hanging over Barry’s head. 

Chicago Bears

            I’m picking the Bears last in this division for one reason and one reason only, this defense is going to be terrible.  I think the offense has a chance to be pretty solid but I’m not sure they can average 35 points a game so the record is going to suffer.  It took Luke Getsy a hot minute last year (okay, it was like seven games) to finally figure out how to use Justin Fields, but once he did, Fields was electric.  He has a better offensive line and actual real receivers this year. 

            Fields is one of the best athletes in the NFL, not just one of the most athletic QBs, one of the best athletes.  This leads the general football fan to think he’s just a runner at QB, that’s not true, he’s got the arm to be an elite passer.  This year he should have more time behind an improved line, DJ Moore gives him a legitimate deep threat WR1, and his receiving corps is upgraded.  Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool are better suited to be a #2 and #3 WR which is where they line up now.  Also, don’t sleep on rookie Tyler Scott, if Mooney or Claypool faulter, Scott can step up.  TE Cole Kmet is never going to be Rob Gronkowski but if he was late-career Jason Witten catching 70 passes a year for 800 yards, that’s a good TE. 

            The offensive line got a major new piece in rookie RT Darnell Wright.  The best thing about Wright is he’s an excellent RT and there’s no wondering where he will play, he’s a RT and only a RT.  That’s actual a good thing because it clears up a few things.  Braxton Jones is staying at LT.  He had his ups and downs as a rookie last year but he’s going to be a pretty good LT, he has all the tools to do so. It also means Teven Jenkins can concentrate on being the best guard he can be.  He moves to LG with newly signed Nate Davis at RG and that also solidifies things.  Cody Whitehair is making the move back to center, he’s better than what they had there.  Late camp injuries are making the team shuffle the interior a bit but hopefully guys get back sooner rather than later.  Putting five guys in set spots and letting them gel together is a good thing.  D’Onta Foreman joins Khalil Herbert in the backfield.  It’s not the most inspiring RB duo but they can get the job done.  Herbert has ascended to the top spot but they will use Foreman.  Also, look out for rookie Rochon Johnson, he’s the do-everything RB who could steal the job eventually. 

            This defense is going to be a problem, just not for their opponents.  The defensive line is uninspiring to say the least.  They signed DeMarcus Walker at DE, he’s a nice player but he’s not scaring anyone.  They signed Yannick Ngakoue just after camp got started and he’s easily their most accomplished pass rusher.  Rasheem Green and Dominique Robinson are the other options at DE.  Justin Jones and Andrew Billings are veteran DTs but they are just guys. The two rookie DTs, Zadch Pickens and Gervon Dexter Sr., should get more and more time as the season goes on. 

            The linebacker corps is far more talented but they may get washed out a lot if the defensive line can’t hold up.  They spent a boatload of money to sign Tremaine Edmunds at MLB to replace Roquan Smith, who they traded last year.  Edmunds is a very different player, he’s long, tall, and rangy.  The Bears need him to be a steady superstar to build around.  They also signed TJ Edwards away from Philly and he’ll join Jack Sanborn flanking Edmunds.  These two aren’t the flashy guys, they do all the dirty work and they’re solid players. 

            The secondary has the most potential but at this point it’s far more potential than production.  Safety Eddie Jackson is the one guy who’s a truly accomplished NFL player, he’s good and he’s the leader of the unit.  He’s joined at safety by Jaquan Brisker who’s a very good young player.  Brisker has a high ceiling and he could have a breakout sophomore year.  CB Jaylon Johnson has been a steady but not spectacular presence for the past several years.  Still waiting for him to really step into a lead role.  The team drafted Kyler Gordon last year and then followed that up with Tyrique Stevenson this year.  Gordon has his rookie issues but he’s a talented player.  I’m not a huge Stevenson fan but he’s an elite athlete who could be very good if his head is on strait and they coach him up.  I have a feeling this defense is going to get this team into many shootouts and while the offense will be much improved, I’m not sure they will be enough to really make difference.   The offense is going to be much improved I’m just not sure how much better the team will be overall with a weak defense.   

The Iowa Hawkeye football season could go a few different directions and they all depend on how the offense performs. The defense is going to be elite; they have the talent and depth to be one of the best defenses in the country. The offense is going to depend on three things; the health of QB Cade McNamara, the play of the offensive line, and the play calling of Brian Ferentz (and Kirk Ferentz’s insistence on sticking with the same old same old). Iowa addressed the talent deficiencies on the offensive side of the ball when it comes to personnel. They added two QBs, two WRs, a TE, a fullback (who was a TE) and two offensive linemen. For good measure they grabbed a new starting LB just the defense didn’t feel neglected. Let’s look at the new and hopefully improved offense and the amazing defense.

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks
Starter: Cade McNamara
Backups: Deacon Hill, Joe Labas

It’s clear that this offense is going to rely on Cade McNamara if it wants to be at its best. He’s the clear leader of the team, he commands the offense like no one else and his skill set is important. McNamara isn’t a running QB but he has mobility to escape the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield and making plays. His rollout game is light years ahead of where last year’s QBs were. McNamara seems to have recovered from a quad strain from a camp and is practicing leading up to week 1. Hill and Labas are still competing for the backup job but if McNamara goes down, this offense really suffers.

Running Backs/Fullback
Starters: Kaleb Johnson, Hayden Large
Backups: Leshon Williams, Jaziun Patterson

Kaleb Johnson has the skills and ability to be the best RB at Iowa since Shonn Greene. He’s an electric runner with balance and vision. He has the size to finish runs falling forward when he needs the tough yards and the speed to pull away if he gets some daylight. Johnson earned every yard he got last year behind an offensive line that was mostly terrible. His talent is undeniable, now it’s up to the line to give him a chance to showcase it.

Leshon Williams will be the backup who gets some carries to take some of the wear and tear off Johnson. Williams a talented back who runs hard and will get the tough yards too. Jaziun Patterson is the smaller pass catching back who can be a game breaker. He looked good in very limited action last year and he brings a different skill set than Johnson and Williams. Hayden Large is the one fullback for now. He came to Iowa as a walk-on TE from Dordt College but the TE position is more than full and the team needed a fullback. Large moved to the position and while Iowa might not use the position very much this season, they have an option.

Wide Receivers
Starters: Nico Ragaini, Diante Vines, Seth Anderson
Backups: Kaleb Brown, Jarriett Buie, Dayton Howard

Iowa is not usually a three-receiver set type of team and they are more likely to start the game with two WRs and two TEs than three WRs and one TE but I’m listing three because which two start may depend on the play. Ragaini is the most experienced receiver which makes sense since he’s a sixth-year senior. He’s also best in the slot and as long as Iowa has options on the outside, they should leave Nico there. Diante Vines has talent but he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy enough to get a lot of playing time. He seems to be healthy now and he has an actual QB so we may get to see exactly what he is. Anderson is a transfer who had a great year at Charleston Southern last year and has looked good in camp. He was an important addition to the unit because he has a complementary skill set to Vines and Ragaini and he has actual college experience.

The three guys backing up at WR are three guys who are young but have lots of potential and bring different skills this team may need. Everyone was excited when Kaleb Brown transferred from Ohio St. and it’s easy to see why. He has elite speed and the ability to add a vertical threat this team hasn’t had. He may end up a starter and he probably has more raw talent than any other WR on the roster. He’s underdeveloped and inexperienced at the moment and that will matter to Kirk. Buie and Howard are big receiver who can play as the tradition big, physical outside receivers who can win with their size. Iowa hasn’t had that in a while either.

Tight Ends
Starters: Luke Lachey, Eric All
Backups: Addison Ostrenga, Steven Stilianos

Luke Lachey returns after having a pretty good year playing complementary football with Sam LaPorta. Now that LaPorta is off to Detroit, Lachey gets a new running mate in Michigan transfer Erick All. Lachey and All are both big, athletic freaks who are matchup problems for every team they face. Lachey knows the offense well but All has a previous on-field connection to Cade McNamara. If there is one thing Iowa has proven over the years it’s that two TEs can both flourish in this offense. Lachey and All both have All-Conference talent and NFL futures.

Addison Ostrenga is the next guy in line and he should be an excellent third TE this season. Steven Stilianos was a transfer last year who took some time to get up to speed with Big Ten football but he’s had a good camp and give the team great depth.

Offensive Line
Starters: LT Mason Richman, LG Connor Colby, C Logan Jones, RG Nick DeJong, RT Daijon Parker/Gennings Dunker
Backups: OT Jack Dotzler, G Beau Stephens, C/G Rusty Feth, G Tyler Elsbury, OT Parker/Dunker

I’m going off my gut a bit here and not what we’ve been told through depth chart updates and what was seen at practice. The only sure things are LT Mason Richman and C Logan Jones are starting and starting at those positions. After watching the second half of last season I have a hard time believing Connor Colby won’t be the LG, he really stabilized the left side when he moved there mid-season. If someone is better than he was last year, Iowa is in good shape there. The right guard spot was a problem all last season which is why the staff took Rusty Feth as a transfer. Feth could get the job but Kirk Ferentz has been praising fifth-year senior Nick DeJong a lot. Now, DeJong has not been good the past few years when he has had to play and I’ve been very tough on him. The one thing he has going for him is Ferentz has a history of taking guys who have struggled and turning them into solid players their fifth year, DeJong could be that guy. He also has T/G versatility so he could end up the backup at multiple spots. Gennings Dunker is a young guy who has all the tools to be an OT but he looks inconsistent because he hasn’t played much due to injury. Parker has been battling injury since he showed up as a transfer in the spring. If Dunker can’t find consistency and Parker gets healthy, he could take the job. He transferred from Saginaw Valley St but he has a lot of playing time under his belt. If Parker was healthy, I think his experience would give him an advantage over Dunker’s inconsistency. For now, I’m expecting them both to play once Parker can get out there.

The backups are mostly going to be whoever doesn’t start at guard between Colby, Feth, DeJong, and Beau Stephens. Stephens was in over his head last season but he could take a leap and compete for a starting spot. The problem is the other three have more experience. Tyler Elsbury is versatile but so far that has meant he just hasn’t found one spot to excel. Feth was also brought in incase Logan Jones continued to struggle at center but he looks better. Feth will back up the spot just incase of emergency. Jack Dotzler is still a young guy trying to get physically ready to play at OT but he’s there if needed. DeJong or Parker can swing over to LT if Richman goes out. This unit must play better or nothing else will matter on offense.

DEFENSE

Defensive Line
Starters: DE Deonte Craig, DT Logan Lee, DT Yahya Black, DE Joe Evans
Backups: DE Max Llewellyn, DE Ethan Hurkett, DT Aaron Graves, DE Chris Reames, DE Brian Allen, DT Jeremiah Pittman, DT Anterio Thompson

Even without Noah Shannon this is the deepest position on the team and probably the most talented. Shannon being suspended for the year sucks for the Hawkeyes but they will be fine. DE Deonte Craig is a major breakout candidate after he had 6.5 sacks last year as backup, rotational player. He is a talented player and with more opportunities he’ll be even more productive. Joe Evans starts at the other DE spot after coming back for his sixth season. He’s always been a bit undersized but there is no quit in his pass rush. Iowa will rotate in plenty of guys at both DE and DT so there’s always fresh legs up front.

The DT rotation got a little thinner without Shannon but I’m not sure anyone will notice. It means more snaps for Yahya Black as he becomes the starter next to Logan Lee. Black is a huge man and gives Iowa a massive player at DT. Lee isn’t a big guy but he wins with leverage and technique and he never quits either. These guys are talented and impressive but they won’t be alone up front.

The backup DEs are Ethan Hurkett and Max Llewellyn. They haven’t played a ton because of injury and because Iowa has been stacked at the position. They are well built players with years in the system and are very good athletes. Chris Reames has barely played but he’s a senior who’s stuck it out so he might get some snaps. Brian Allen is a talented redshirt freshman who could surprise by earning some playing time.

At DT, Aaron Graves is more than a backup, he could start and he’ll be used heavily in the rotation with Lee and Black. Graves could also log time at DE but that seems unnecessary. Junior college transfer Anterio Thompson probably benefits the most from Shannon being out because he will get a little more time. The coaching staff also likes Jeremiah Pittman. Both Thompson and Pittman can play but they may have to wait their turn with Lee, Black, and Graves ahead of them.

Linebackers
Starters: MLB Jay Higgins, WLB Nick Jackson, Cash Sebastian Castro
Backups: Kyler Fisher, Karson Sharar, Jaxon Rexroth

Jay Higgins gets the unenviable task of replacing Jack Campbell at MLB for the Hawkeyes while Virginia transfer Nick Jackson gets Seth Benson’s old spot. Those are big shoes to fill but Higgins and Jackson look ready to do it. If you think it’s not possible to replace a legend like Campbell, just remember, Campbell replaced Josey Jewell who was also a legend. That’s setting the bar pretty high for Higgins but he doesn’t have to be a legend, he just has to be good, and he’ll be good. Jackson was extremely productive at Virginia and I would say he’ll fill Benson’s shoes quite well. Sebastian Castro took over the Cash role last season when Cooper DeJean had to move to CB and he was quite good. He found his spot and I think he’ll only get better at it.

Kyler Fisher is a former walk-on the coaches trust quite a bit. Karson Sharar is a young guy the coaches like a lot, he just needs to stay healthy. Jaxon Rexroth is an athletic guy who was a safety at one point but grew into a LB, he has plenty of athleticism to compete. Higgins and Jackson will get most of the playing time and the team will probably use the Cash plenty because it gets their best defensive players on the field together.

Defensive Backs
Starters: CB Cooper DeJean, CB Jermari Harris, SS Xavier Nwankpa, FS Quinn Schulte
Backups: CB Deshaun Lee, CB TJ Hall, S Koen Entringer

The starting group is really good and has one transcendent talent in Cooper DeJean, he was chosen as preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and he’s a likely first-round draft pick next year, assuming he leaves early. Jermari Harris finished the 2021 season very strong when he was pressed into starting duty, then he missed last year with an injury, which is one of the reasons DeJean moved to CB full-time. Now Harris is back and looking to have a great year. There are some rumblings that Harris might miss some time to start the year and that would hurt because the backup CBs don’t have much experience.

Xavier Nwankpa was a five-star recruit who spent most of last year as a backup to Kaevon Merriweather and as a special team’s guy, then he finally got to start in the bowl game. He was excellent and he’s only going to get better with experience. Phil Parker normally takes walk-ons at safety and turns them into All-Conference guys, imagine what he can do with a guy with Nwankpa’s talent. Speaking of former walk-ons Parker has turned into top players, Quinn Schulte should quarterback this secondary from his FS spot and he’s really good. Parker loves a safety who knows what he’s supposed to do, where he’s supposed to be, and where everyone else should line up, that’s Schulte.

The backups are a little thin, the team’s depth will be tested if there are any injuries or if Harris misses significant time. Deshaun Lee has really shown up in camp and might be the third corner after overtaking TJ Hall. Hall played some last year when injuries struck and he struggled a lot in the Nebraska game. He’s a talented guy he just lacks experience. He should be fine eventually but this team just isn’t deep in the secondary unless some true freshmen really step up. Koen Entringer is the third safety and Sebastian Castro can also line up at SS if needed. Entringer is a guy the coaches like but Castro has more experience. Nwankpa has the versatility to move to FS if needed too. Also, DeJean can probably play any position on defense except maybe DT, I say maybe because I don’t want to underestimate him.

Specialists
Kicker: Drew Stevens
Punter: Tory Taylor
Punt Returner: Cooper DeJean
Kick Returner: Kaleb Johnson

Stevens was really good as a freshman and he should only get better. Tory Taylor is the best punter in the country and was our best offensive player last year (only slightly kidding). DeJean is a terror as a punt returner, no team wants to let him get his hands on the ball, ever. Johnson might not be the full-time kick returner considering he’s the starting RB but he wouldn’t be the first starter to return kickoffs for the Hawkeyes. That’s all I know about special teams, luckily LeVar Woods knows far more than most.

Arizona Cardinals
(6) Paris Johnson Jr. OT Ohio St.
(41) BJ Ojulari Edge LSU
(72) Garrett Williams CB Syracuse
(94) Michael Wilson WR Stanford
(122) Jon Gaines II OL UCLA
(139) Clayton Tune QB Houston
(168) Owen Pappoe LB Auburn
(180) Kei’Trel Clark CB Louisville
(213) Dante Stills DL West Virginia

Immediate Impact: OT Paris Johnson Jr, CB Garrett Williams

Johnson is going to start somewhere on this line. He has the versatility to play guard if they want. They have DJ Humphries at LT, he’s fine but Johnson will be better and will take that job eventually. For now, maybe he plays RT, Kelvin Beachem is 34, maybe he plays LG, they aren’t stacked at guard. It’s too bad he’s not a center, they still need one of those. Williams is a projection by me. He’s coming off an ACL tear from last October, that would be the only thing that could stop him from taking a starting CB job on this defense. When healthy, he’s better than every corner they have.

Best Value: OT Paris Johnson Jr.

This one takes a little explaining. The Cardinals traded back from three to twelve and picked up extra picks from Houston including the Texans’ first-round pick next year and a second-round pick this year (plus more). They took the twelfth pick and the extra second round pick and traded back up to get Johnson, they guy they wanted all along. That’s a smart move by new GM Monti Ossenfort. In one draft, with two moves, he proved he’s better at this than Steve Keim ever was. That extra first-round pick gives them a ton of options moving forward and Johnson gives them a new LT for the next decade. Well played Mr. Ossenfort.

Sleeper: CB Kei’Trel Clark

There’s a decent chance they don’t have to wait long to see this “sleeper” pay off. Clark could be their slot corner from day one. They use Isaiah Simmons as a nickel guy but Clark is your more traditional nickel corner. He’s good enough to be their third corner immediately. If their top three corners next season are rookies Garrett Williams and Kei’Trel Clark with Marco Wilson, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.

Overall Analysis

Monti Ossenfort did a solid job overall by getting solid players and grabbing more picks for next season. The Cardinals are probably not going to be very good next year with Kyler Murray missing a lot of the season with his knee injury. If things go really bad the team will have the option to draft a new QB, send Kyler on his way, and start over, not a terrible idea. Johnson will be a solid starting LT, he many never be Trent Williams, but he’s at least as good as DJ Humphries. Edge rusher BJ Ojulari is a solid pass rushing prospect who probably needs a little time to get better, this team can give him that time.

If Williams gets back from his knee injury, he’s got starter potential. WR Michael Wilson is a guy who was injured a lot at Stanford. He looks the part of a big, physical WR but he just didn’t stay on the field. He could also be a core special team’s guy if he stays healthy. I almost picked Jon Gaines II as my sleeper, he played all five positions at UCLA and he might just compete for the center job if they let him. I really like the Clayton Tune pick at QB. With Murray injured it looks like Colt McCoy will be the starter and Tune might be the backup. With McCoy’s injury history, Tune might get a shot at some point.

The last three picks were used on defensive players. Often, players taken this late are for depth or just training camp bodies but these guys might make a difference on this bad Cardinals defense. I think Clark can win the nickel job. LB Owen Pappoe is a gamer. He can compete with Zaven Collins and Kyzir White at ILB, he has some skills they can use. DL Dante Stills might not start but he’s built to play end on their three-man front line and they don’t have much depth.

Los Angeles Rams

(36) Steve Avila G/C TCU
(77) Byron Young Edge Tennessee
(89) Kobie Turner DL Wake Forest
(128) Stetson Bennett QB Georgia
(161) Nick Hampton Edge Appalachian St.
(174) Warren McClendon OT Georgia
(175) Davis Allen TE Clemson
(177) Puka Nacua WR BYU
(182) Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson CB TCU
(189) Ochaun Mathis Edge Nebraska
(215) Zach Evans RB Mississippi
(223) Ethan Evans P Wingate
(234) Jason Taylor II S Oklahoma St.
(259) Desjuan Johnson DL Toledo

Immediate Impact: G/C Steve Avila, Edge Byron Young, P Ethan Evans

The Rams roster is decimated, especially on defense, so there are going to be rookies playing all over. If you go look at their depth chart, the second team is just rookies everywhere. Avila has a chance to start at guard but with Brian Allen’s injury history, Avila might be needed at center. He seems like a strange scheme fit but he’s a mauler and this team needs some toughness on the line. Young is an underdeveloped pass rusher who’s really athletic but doesn’t finish plays all that well. That won’t matter in LA, this team needs pass rushers badly. If the Rams offense is anywhere near as beat up as it was last season, they are going to need a good punter. Evans is a big dude from a small school, I hope his leg has stamina.

Best Value: DL Kobie Turner

Turner isn’t a household name because he played defensive line at Wake Forest, however, this team’s defensive line outside Aaron Donald is horrid. There’s an outside shot Turner ends up starting on the line with Donald. He has the size and is a scheme fit on their front and there isn’t much in front of him. Turner was a late third-round pick and he might end up a starter, good value.

Sleeper: RB Zach Evans

The Rams top two RBs are Cam Akers and Kyren Williams. Williams was banged up last year and Akers nearly quite football because he didn’t want to play for Sean McVay anymore. McVay eventually needed Akers so he ended up playing but Evans is a great fit for the Rams offense. He’s a one cut and go runner. Evans was a major recruit coming in to college and just never found the right fit at TCU or Mississippi. If McVay can harness some of that natural running ability, Evans will certainly outplay his draft slot.

Overall Analysis

This is a huge class which is strange for a team that was saying “Fuck them picks” just a couple of years ago. This roster is in bad shape and its paper thin, usually I would say a team with 14 draft picks is dumb because there’s no way 14 rookies make a roster, that’s not true here. I’m not saying all 14 will make the opening 53-man roster, but 11 or 12 isn’t inconceivable. Avila, Young, Turner, and Evans could be day one starters. I’m not a big fan of Stetson Bennett but he’s a friend of Matt Stafford and his competition for the backup job is Brett Rypien, I’m not betting against him as the backup QB.

Edge rusher Nick Hampton might struggle to make other teams’ rosters but this team has no edge rushers worth mentioning so he’s in. OL Warren McClendon was a solid starter at Georgia, this team has zero depth on the o-line, as everyone who watched them last year can attest to, he’s on the roster. TE Davis Allen might not make the roster but only because they picked up Hunter Long in the Jalen Ramsey trade and they will feel dumb is he’s not at least their third TE behind Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins. Allen ends up on the practice squad.

Puka Nacua is an unspectacular WR, he’s going to fit right in behind Cooper Kupp with guys like Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, and Tutu Atwell. Tre Tomlinson (aka Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson) might end up the starting slot corner. He’s really small but he’s LaDainian’s nephew so I’m not betting against him, oh and his competition is some dude named Cobie Durant. Ochaun Mathis is an edge rusher, I already covered this, all new edge rushers are making the team. Zach Evans is coming for Cam Akers’ job and Ethan Evans (no relation) is the new punter.

CB Jason Taylor II isn’t related to the former Dolphin’s great but that doesn’t matter, this defense can’t turn down any help. DL Desjuan Johnson is a defensive end from Toledo who may only be a pass rush specialist, he would be the fifth rookie as an edge/defensive end player. He still has a chance to make the roster, it’s that rough.

San Francisco 49ers

(87) Ji’Ayir Brown CB Penn St
(99) Jake Moody K Michigan
(101) Cameron Latu TE Alabama
(155) Darrell Luter Jr CB South Alabama
(173) Robert Beal Edge Georgia
(216) Dee Winters LB TCU
(247) Brayden Willis TE Oklahoma
(253) Ronnie Bell WR Michigan
(255) Jalen Graham LB Purdue

Immediate Impact: K Jake Moody

The 49ers didn’t have a first or second round pick and this is a pretty good roster so finding guys to contribute immediately is tough. That said, they used one of their third-round picks on a kicker and they don’t have a kicker so it’s Moody’s job. He’s a good, consistent kicker who isn’t going to set any distance records but he’s going to be pretty automatic inside 50 yards.

Best Value: None

There really wasn’t a great value pick. They have multiple sleepers but no one who went way lower than they should.

Sleepers: CB Darrell Luter Jr, WR Ronnie Bell

Luter is a small school guy from South Alabama who has plus athleticism and good size for a boundary corner. The 49ers are good at uncovering these lesser-known corners and getting the best out of them. Luter has a chance to become one of those guys. Bell had some injury issues at Michigan that may have sapped his explosiveness a bit but he’s a yards-after-the-catch type of WR and that’s what San Francisco majors in. They love a guy who gets the YAC and Bell could stick on the end of the depth chart initially and then when others get older and more expensive, he’s in place to get some playing time.

Overall Analysis

The 49ers traded away their first and second round picks so they were starting from behind, however, they had three third-round picks, that’s not nothing. One problem, they had a glaring hole at RT (for now it’s Colton McKivitz’s job) and they didn’t address RT. They used three picks on a DB, a kicker, and a TE, no RT. Here’s the OTs that went in round four they could have had; Nick Saldiveri, Blake Freeland, Dawand Jones, Sidy Sow, Braeden Daniels, and Carter Warren. Not all of those guys are scheme fits, but all of those guys could beat out McKivitz.

As for the guys they took in round three. Ji’Ayir Brown is a versatile DB who could replace Jimmy Ward, solid choice. Jake Moody is a kicker; I would have waited. TE Cameron Latu was probably a reach and you could have had a comparable TE later in the draft, oh wait, you did with Brayden Willis in round seven. In the fifth round they bet on some good athletes. Luter has some promise and Robert Beal was an underutilized guy at Georgia (it’s Georgia, the other guys were better but that doesn’t mean he’s bad).

Dee Winters and Jalen Graham aren’t world beaters but they give them some young depth at LB, they should also help on special teams. TE Brayden Willis and WR Ronnie Bell are just depth pieces on offense and may never really pan out but they could be useful in limited roles for now.

Seattle Seahawks

(5) Devon Witherspoon CB Illinois
(20) Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio St
(37) Derick Hall Edge Auburn
(52) Zach Charbonnet RB UCLA
(108) Anthony Bradford OG LSU
(123) Cameron Young DL Mississippi St.
(151) Mike Morris Edge Michigan
(154) Olusegun Oluwatimi C Michigan
(198) Jerrick Reed II S New Mexico
(237) Kenny McIntosh RB Georgia

Immediate Impact: CB Devon Witherspoon, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Edge Derick Hall, RB Zach Charbonnet

The Seahawks had a great draft last year and this one has a chance to be just as good if not better. Witherspoon isn’t the physical profile we are used to seeing in Seattle but he’s more than his physical profile. Witherspoon brings the attitude the Seahawks are looking for on defense in addition to his considerable coverage skills. He starts opposite Tariq Woolen and it’s Woolen who will be the CB2. Smith-Njigba is the perfect complement to Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. JSN is the quintessential slot receiver and that’s exactly what this offense needs. He plays the inside better than most and he completes the passing offense for Geno Smith.

I wasn’t the biggest Derick Hall guy, but he’s a player for this team. They need some juice on the outside of their pass rush and he can give them that. Charbonnet doesn’t look like a huge impact guy at first glance with Kenneth Walker being the starter. However, Walker is a boom or bust type of runner while Charbonnet is a more consistent player who almost always gets positive yards.

Best Value: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

This might be a questionable pick considering JSN was a first rounder but it’s the value he brings to the offense as a whole. He’s the missing piece of the passing game. The Seahawks have been trying to find the third guy in the passing game for years. They tried Dee Eskridge, he wasn’t it, they tried TE Noah Fant, he’s not it either. JSN is the slot receiver they need to take coverage away from DK Metcalf going deep and Tyler Lockett in the intermediate area.

Sleeper: OG Anthony Bradford

An offensive guard drafted in the fourth round would definitely be a sleeper. The interior of the Seahawks offensive line leaves a bit to be desired and Bradford is a pretty solid guard prospect. He could win the right guard job pretty early. He’s a mauler and he would be an improvement over Phil Haynes and could really help solidify the offensive line.

Overall Analysis

The first four picks were exceptional, all of them will contribute in a big way. Bradford was the fifth choice and I think he has a chance to start too. DT Cameron Young isn’t a flashy player but you rarely get that in a big-bodied nose tackle. He has the beef this team needs inside on the defensive line. DE Mike Morris is built to be an end in a 3-4 defense because he too has the beef they need up front. Morris is never going to be a pass rush star but he’s a tough guy up front.

Center Olu Oluwatimi isn’t my favorite center prospect; I think he’s athletically limited and isn’t as great as he gets credit for. That said, he could win the center job in Seattle as they aren’t stacked at that position. Evan Brown doesn’t present a big roadblock as the penciled in starter right now. Jerrick Reed II might stick around as a nickel corner. RB Kenny McIntosh is a nice depth piece. After losing both Rashad Penny and Travis Homer in the backfield, they needed to replenish their depth. McIntosh played at Georgia and while he was never the bell cow back, he can be a useful player.

Atlanta Falcons

(8) Bijan Robinson RB Texas
(38) Matthew Bergeron OL Syracuse
(75) Zach Harrison Edge Ohio St.
(113) Clark Phillips III CB Utah
(224) DeMarcco Hellams S Alabama
(225) Jovaughn Gwyn OG South Carolina

Immediate Impact: RB Bijan Robinson, OL Matthew Bergeron

The Falcons are trying to build an offense of interchangeable parts. It started with Kyle Pitts, then it was Drake London, and now it’s Bijan Robinson. Robinson is an exceptional back and while taking a back in the top ten is a gamble, Robinson is worth it. He has the chance to be one of the top five RBs in the NFL. Bergeron was drafted to help make that happen. The Falcons had four offensive line spots settled but they need a LG. Bergeron played LT at Syracuse and while he might eventually be Jake Matthews replacement at LT, he’ll start his career next to him inside at LG.

Best Value: CB Clark Phillips III

Mike Hughes is set to be the Falcons nickel corner this year with AJ Terrell and Jeff Okudah on the outside but watch out for Phillips. He’s a natural slot corner and he’s feisty as hell. He doesn’t back down and if Hughes stumbles at all, Phillips will take his job. He has long-term potential as a top nickel corner and somehow, they got him in round four.

Sleeper: Edge Zach Harrison

Harrison is a long, powerful edge rusher who started at Ohio St. but never really blossomed as an elite pass rusher. He doesn’t have one elite skill like an incredible first step or elite bend, he’s a try hard guy who gets by on his high motor. There are worse things than being a guy who just never quits. Harrison can last a long time in the NFL and even though he may never be a star, he’s a valuable player on any team.

Overall Analysis

Robinson and Bergeron were picks meant to fill specific roles to try to complete the offense Arthur Smith is trying to build. They will help the team determine if Desmond Ridder is a worthwhile QB or whether they need to move on. Robinson is an elite playmaker and he makes their offense better no matter what. Bergeron completes the offensive line starting group.

Harrison and Phillips are great depth players for a defense that made some veteran additions they hope change their fortunes on that side. I like both players as rotational guys now and guys who can help in the future. DeMarcco Hellams is an Alabama trained safety, there are worse things than to take a defensive back who learned from Nick Saban. Gwyn is a developmental interior offensive lineman, probably a practice squad guy.

Carolina Panthers

(1) Bryce Young QB Alabama
(39) Jonathan Mingo WR Mississippi
(80) DJ Johnson Edge Oregon
(114) Chandler Zavala OG North Carolina St.
(145) Jammie Robinson S Florida St.

Immediate Impact: QB Bryce Young

This team has been searching for a QB since the Cam Newton heyday came to an end. Young is the ultimate outlier, he’s incredibly small and it’s a concern. What isn’t a concern is when he starts, it’s day one. He’s a truly talented player, especially when the play breaks down, but the question is how long will he hold up? Young gives the Panthers hope, and they have an offensive line to protect him, so that should help.

Best Value: OG Chandler Zavala

The Panthers offensive line played well last season and part of that was RG Austin Corbett. Unfortunately, Corbett tore his ACL in the regular season finale and it seems unlikely he’ll be ready to start the season. Zavala is an older prospect who played along side LT Ikem Ekwonu in college and he has NFL starter ability. He’s not the best at anything but he’s solid all around and I think he ends up a starter at guard to start the season unless Corbett makes a miraculous recovery.

Sleeper: OG Chandler Zavala

A fourth round OG is the definition of a sleeper, a prospect not too many people know. He can be a long-term starter.

Overall Analysis

The Panthers were swinging for the fences with this draft. First, they traded a whole lot of draft capital and DJ Moore to move up to the first pick, then they took the biggest swing they could, on the smallest QB. Young is the new face of the franchise; the question is can last long enough to get a second contract? Then they grabbed Jonathan Mingo as the fifth WR off the board. There was very little consensus on the WRs but Mingo wasn’t a highly regarded prospect by a ton of teams. He could be a star but he has bust potential too.

Then they traded even more capital to move up and take DJ Johnson, an edge rusher from Oregon, no one had going in round three. Johnson doesn’t look like a classic 3-4 edge rusher at 270 lbs., he does have athleticism but it feels like he’s not going to help right away. Zavala was a good pick in round four and he can start. Jammie Robinson is an undersized safety who should give them a different skill set look than Vonn Bell and Jeremy Chinn.

New Orleans Saints

(29) Bryan Bresee DT Clemson
(40) Isaiah Foskey DE Notre Dame
(71) Kendre Miller RB TCU
(103) Nick Saldiveri G/T Old Dominion
(127) Jake Haener QB Fresno St.
(146) Jordan Howden S Minnesota
(195) AT Perry WR Wake Forest

Immediate Impact: DT Bryan Bresee

Bresee is a guy I want to cheer for and while I’m not sold on him being some superstar interior defensive lineman, he’s a day one starter in New Orleans. They took some hits on the defensive line and the guys they signed in free agency as replacements, are not as good as Bresee can be. He went through a lot at Clemson and if he can get back to a place of playing and loving football, he’s going to be a good player.

Best Value: WR AT Perry

I’m not sure what it was that caused Perry to drop to round six but I’m absolutely certain it wasn’t his talent. At 6’5 205 lbs. Perry is a tall, skinny receiver who can win on the outside with his length and add to a team’s passing game. When Michael Thomas gets hurt next season, Perry is a better player to put in than running Tre’Quan Smith out there again.

Sleeper: G/T Nick Saldiveri

Saldiveri is a big, nasty RT out of Old Dominion who was somehow available in round four. The Saints don’t need a starting offensive lineman right now but some of their guys are going to start getting expensive and are older (I’m looking at Andrus Peat). For now, Saldiveri is a very versatile backup guard/tackle who could fill in at many spots. Next year, he might just be starting at guard. He has the size and demeanor to excel in the NFL.

Overall Analysis

The Saints didn’t take a lot of major swings, they basically just looked to get some solid players. Bresee has immense talent and if he can tap back into it, he can be a really good interior defensive lineman. I’m less sold on Isaiah Foskey. Foskey is the classic “looks good getting of the bus guy” but he doesn’t look as great on the field. He has athleticism and size but he doesn’t play up to it on the field. There were guys with higher upside that I would have preferred that early in round two.

RB Kendre Miller was the fourth RB off the board, that was a little rich. He’s a solid player and I understand the fit next to Alvin Kamara but the third round was high. Miller is a power back type the Saints want to take pressure off of Kamara but there were others available later. With Kamara and Jamaal Williams at RB, a RB in round three seemed like a luxury. I love the Saldiveri pick, he was well worth his draft slot.

QB Jake Haener might be a career backup but if you want to bet on a QB in the middle to late rounds of this draft, Haener is a solid choice. He’s the type of personality you want on your team as a leader and a guy who’s willing to fill his role. S Jordan Howden wasn’t household name but he’s a player. In a draft without great safety talent, he was worth the pick. The Saints starting safeties are Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye, they are 31 and 30 respectively. The only other backup safety of note is Jonathan Abram, the former first round bust from the Raiders. Howden will get playing time. I like the AT Perry pick late, he’s good value.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(19) Calijah Kancey DT Pittsburgh
(48) Cody Mauch OL North Dakota St.
(82) YaYa Diaby Edge Louisville
(153) SirVocea Dennis LB Pittsburgh
(171) Payne Durham TE Purdue
(181) Josh Hayes S Kansas St.
(191) Trey Palmer WR Nebraska
(196) Jose Ramirez Edge Eastern Michigan

Immediate Impact: DT Calijah Kancey, OL Cody Mauch

I wasn’t on the Calijah Kancey bandwagon but if he’s going to succeed in the NFL, he needs to play on a line with a huge DT next to him to eat up blockers, hello Vita Vea. He’s going to be playing next to the biggest and best nose tackle possible, if he can’t succeed here, he’s not going to stick in the NFL. Mauch is a small school offensive lineman but he’s ready to compete. He has versatility but for now he probably steps in at RG to replace Shaq Mason. The Bucs offensive line will be in flux going into training camp and Mauch gives them options, that’s all they can ask for.

Best Value: OL Cody Mauch

Mauch played LT at North Dakota St. and then went to the Senior Bowl and acquitted himself quite well playing both center and guard. He could end up playing RT with Tristan Wirfs most likely being moved to LT to replace Donovan Smith. Mauch isn’t really long enough or strong enough at this point to be an NFL tackle but he could be the best option. More likely he starts at RG and they just let him find his way at that spot.

Sleeper: TE Payne Durham

Durham has excellent hands, he knows how to find the open space on the field, and he’s pretty good after the catch. The Bucs top TEs right now are Cade Otten and Ko Kieft, Durham is a more impressive target than either of those guys in the passing game.

Overall Analysis

This team is in a weird spot. They have veteran talent that makes you think they should be playing to win now but their QBs are Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. This draft class clearly sets them up for building for the future, Kancey and Mauch (the top two picks), are going to need time to adjust to the NFL. Edge rusher YaYa Diaby also is nowhere near helping his team win now. The Bucs love themselves a undersized LB who can run which is why they drafted SirVocea Dennis, he’s not starting any time soon.

Payne Durham can contribute quickly and whichever QB plays will be happy to have him around. Josh Hayes is an undersized safety who might only be a slot guy. Todd Bowles loves a good defensive back project but if this team is terrible, Bowles won’t be around long enough for it to matter. Trey Palmer looks the part of a good WR, he just isn’t all that good. He will be fine running go routes that neither Mayfield or Trask can hit, when Mike Evans needs a rest. Ramirez might be able to contribute at edge faster than Diaby, he just has less upside.

Houston Texans

(2) CJ Stroud QB Ohio St.
(3) Will Anderson Jr. Edge Alabama
(62) Juice Scruggs C/G Penn St.
(69) Nathaniel “Tank” Dell WR Houston
(109) Dylan Horton Edge TCU
(167) Henry To’o To’o LB Alabama
(201) Jarrett Patterson G/C Notre Dame
(205) Xavier Hutchinson WR Iowa St.
(248) Brandon Hill S Pittsburgh

Immediate Impact: QB CJ Stroud, Edge Will Anderson Jr., C Juice Scruggs

Two years of Davis Mills was enough and the Texans simply took the best QB left on the board at #2, CJ Stroud. He’s the day one starter and I think he’ll be pretty good. It’s going to take some time and he needs better weapons, however, these guys aren’t as terrible on offense as you might think. If new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik can bring a little Shanahan offensive magic with him, Stroud is the guy who can thrive in it. Anderson isn’t a Von Miller level pass rusher but he’s an amazing all-around defensive edge player. He’ll set the tone on defense and give this team an identity. Scruggs probably went a little high but he has no competition in front of him for the center job. He and Stroud can find some early chemistry and that will help the offense as a whole.

Best Value: None

It’s tough to find a good value pick. I like plenty of their choices but they all were either where they should go or a little higher than they should have gone. For example, I like Tank Dell, but there were other WRs left I like better and he may have gone a round early given his size.

Sleeper: WR Xavier Hutchinson

We’re going to forgive Hutchinson for going to Iowa St for just a minute and look at the player. He’s an athletic 6’2 210 lbs. WR who’s really good after the catch and he has played with a target on his back as the Cyclones top receiver for a while. This team’s outside WRs are guys like Nico Collins, Noah Brown, and John Metchie or Robert Woods, depending on who plays the slot. Hutchinson can be better than those guys and he will have all the same opportunities to create chemistry with Stroud.

Overall Analysis

The Texans are taking it on the chin pretty hard for everything they gave up to move up to three to take Will Anderson after taking Stroud second. Its’ a fair point, especially giving up a potential top five pick in next year’s draft. However, let me argue the other side for just a second. This team has been wandering in the wilderness for too long and they need direction. DeMeco Ryans is a start at head coach but he needs cornerstone players. They took Stroud to finally give their offense an identity, Anderson does the same for the defense. Anderson sets the tone Ryans wants with his talent, his work ethic, and his character. This franchise needs these two guys in ways that go way beyond the field.

After that, they got some good guys who can contribute. Scruggs was a bit of a reach but this team needed a center and Bobby Slowik’s offense needed a guy to pull the rest of this line together. If Scruggs is just an average center, he’s a huge upgrade and he makes this a pretty decent line. Tank Dell is tiny but he’s got speed and playmaking ability this WR corps is lacking. I actually really like him and Hutchinson as pass catchers and if two years from now Hutchinson, Dell, and John Metchie are three of the top four WRs on this team, I won’t be shocked.

Dylan Horton isn’t setting the world on fire but for a team as devoid as this one on the edge, he can make this team and at least add depth. Henry To’o To’o is an undersized LB with some flaws but he’s a LB from Alabama, at worst he’s a special team’s demon. I like the starting offensive line if Scruggs is solid but the backup group is rough. Jarrett Patterson started on the inside at Notre Dame, he adds some nice depth and versatility there. Normally seventh round safeties who aren’t that good at anything in particular don’t feel like threats to make the roster but this is the Texans roster so Brandon Hill has a shot.

Indianapolis Colts

(4) Anthony Richardson QB Florida
(44) Julius Brents CB Kansas St.
(79) Josh Downs WR North Carolina
(106) Blake Freeland OT BYU
(110) Adetomiwa Adebawore DL Northwestern
(138) Darius Rush CB South Carolina
(158) Daniel Scott S California
(162) Will Mallory TE Miami
(176) Evan Hull RB Northwestern
(211) Titus Leo LB Wagner
(221) Jaylon Jones CB Texas A&M
(236) Jake Witt OT Northern Michigan

Immediate Impact: QB Anthony Richardson, CB Julius Brents, WR Josh Downs

The Colts might act like Anthony Richardson is going to have to win the QB job but let’s be realistic, Gardner Minshew isn’t standing in his way. Richardson needs reps to get better and he has the ability to run a Shane Steichen offense right away. Brents immediately steps in as the top outside CB. He has the size and athleticism they don’t have at the position. Downs gives them a player unlike anyone they have at WR. They have two big outside guys in Michael Pittman Jr and Alec Pierce, Downs is the smaller slot receiver who should become a favorite target of Richardson’s. He’s a great route runner and he catches everything you throw to him, unlike Richardson’s targets at Florida.

Best Value: WR Josh Downs

He’s not the biggest WR but he’s a gamer. Downs is a contested catch monster which is surprising given his size. His hands are like glue and Richardson will use him a lot.

Sleeper: CB Darius Rush

Cam Smith was the South Carolina CB who got all the pub but Rush is a player. He has great size at 6’2 200 lbs. and he’s a great athlete. I was surprised he lasted until the fifth round after the pre-draft workouts he put up and his Senior Bowl week. Rush has starter potential and on this Colts team, he could be starting opposite Brents on the outside very quickly. He might end up being a sleeper and their best value pick.

Overall Analysis

The Colts might have more hits in this class than any draft class this year but it will all come down to Richardson. He has an incredible ceiling if he can reach it, he’s the most athletic person to ever play QB. If he hits, he sets this franchise up for the next fifteen years. Brents is going to be a really good CB with the potential to be an elite player if he keeps progressing. He’s had his ups and downs but he never lets the bad plays keep him down. Downs is an elite slot receiver. He completes the starting WR group quite nicely, he should give Richardson a chance to succeed.

The Colts didn’t address offensive tackle early but they did take Blake Freeland and he’s a long, athletic tackle who has some potential. He needs to get stronger and learn how to get lower, his height can be used against him. However, those are things that can be addressed and he has starter potential. They took another athletic specimen in Adetomiwa Adebawore, an undersized defensive tackle from Northwestern who can also play outside. He has a strange body type for an interior player but he should help this defensive line. Love the Darius Rush pick, he’s a keeper.

They drafted a couple of more big, athletic defensive backs in S Daniel Scott and CB Jaylon Jones, the team has a type. These guys have a shot to stick because the Colts secondary leaves a lot to be desired. They also drafted two offensive players who might fill roles. TE Will Mallory is an athlete you can really like at the position. RB Evan Hull doesn’t wow you but he’s a player and he has a really nice skill set to complement Jonathan Taylor. LB Titus Leo will have to be special team’s guy. OT Jake Witt is a project with the type of size and athleticism that’s worth taking seventh round flyer on.

Jacksonville Jaguars

(27) Anton Harrison OT Oklahoma
(61) Brenton Strange TE Penn St.
(88) Tank Bigsby RB Auburn
(121) Ventrell Miller LB Florida
(130) Tyler Lacy DL Oklahoma St.
(136) Yasir Abdullah LB Louisville
(160) Antonio Johnson S Texas A&M
(185) Parker Washington WR Penn St.
(202) Christian Braswell CB Rutgers
(208) Erick Hallett II DB Pittsburgh
(226) Cooper Hodges OT Appalachian St.
(227) Raymond Vohasek DL North Carolina
(240) Derek Parish Edge Houston

Immediate Impact: OT Anton Harrison, TE Brenton Strange

Cam Robinson is suspended to start the season and that likely means Walker Little will start the year at LT. Harrison will be first in line at RT and if it seems to be working out when Robinson gets back, not sure Robinson gets his job back. The Strange pick seemed odd (I just couldn’t the Strange pick is strange), there were TEs I liked better, that said, they will use him. Evan Engram isn’t signed long-term and Strange step in as the backup and give them the ability to use two-TE sets.

Best Value: S Antonio Johnson

Johnson has his limitations in coverage down the field but he’s a great athlete, who can cover TEs, and come up in the box and play going towards the line of scrimmage. He has coverage skills even if he’s not the best against the smaller, shiftier receivers. Considering this was not a great safety draft, getting Johnson in round five is pretty good. With some coaching and improved technique, he has the skills to be a starting SS in the NFL.

Sleeper: WR Parker Washington

Washington isn’t tall a 5’10 but he’s got a thick build at 207 lbs., he’s basically Christian Kirk. He has great hands, average speed, and he’s tough to take down. His contact balance is exceptional which makes him great over the middle and catching balls in traffic. Washington is tough after the catch and he will add something to the Jaguars offense. The team has it’s three starting WRs (Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones, Christian Kirk), but they have no real depth behind them. Washington will earn playing time.

Overall Analysis

This is a huge draft class and despite years of this team not being great, they have actually turned their roster into a pretty solid one in the past couple of years. Harrison is a day one starter and I don’t think he gives the job up when Robinson comes back, he’s that good. I didn’t like the Strange pick because I liked other TEs better but he can be a useful player. RB Tank Bigsby was never a guy I liked all that much and there were better backs on the board. With Travis Etienne as the starter Bigsby is battling for backup snaps and I’m not sure he overtakes JaMychal Hasty or D’Ernest Johnson.

LB Ventrell Miller is a small ILB who they took too high. He doesn’t do anything particularly well and he’s stiff and not good in coverage. DL Tyler Lacy gives them a body at DE for depth. LB Yasir Abdullah is an undersized pass rusher with some twitch. They have Travon Walker and Josh Allen starting at OLB but Abdullah could be a subpackage pass rusher, he can’t be worse than K’Lavon Chaisson and at least he was only a fifth-round pick, not a first-round pick. I like the Johnson and Washington picks, that’s taking shots on guys who have actual skills that can translate to the NFL.

CB Christian Braswell gives them a guy to compete at the slot position and Erick Hallett II is a versatile defensive back who gives them depth. Their three seventh round picks aren’t making this roster, that’s just too many rookies for a roster that isn’t in bad shape. They had a ton of picks because they did a lot of trading, I would have preferred they use some of those later round picks to move up in earlier rounds and get more quality players. The draft didn’t fall well for them after taking Harrison in round one. They could have passed on Strange in round two and taken a CB but there weren’t a lot of good ones left. I have never been a fan of GM Trent Baalke and this draft isn’t going to change that opinion.

Tennessee Titans

(11) Peter Skoronski OL Northwestern
(33) Will Levis QB Kentucky
(81) Tyjae Spears RB Tulane
(147) Josh Whyle TE Cincinnati
(186) Jaelyn Duncan OT Maryland
(228) Colton Dowell WR Tenn-Martin

Immediate Impact: OL Peter Skoronski

The Titans offensive line was terrible last year and while they signed Andre Dillard and Daniel Brunskill in free agency, that’s not solving all the problems. Skoronski will be the best offensive lineman on the team this year and he’s arguably the best option to start at each of the five positions, and he’s only ever been a LT at Northwestern. He probably starts out at LG next to Dillard at LT but we’ll see how everything goes.

Best Value: QB Will Levis

I’m definitely not a huge Levis fan but he does have skills to work with. This also happens to be the perfect situation for him. As a second-round pick there is no urgency to start him right away but it’s clear he’s Ryan Tannehill’s eventual replacement. When you can get your future starting QB in round two (even if you had to trade up for him), that’s value. There were rumors the Titans could take Levis in round one, round two is a steal.

Sleeper: OT Jaelyn Duncan

I don’t know what I’m missing here. How did Duncan fall to round six, that’s crazy. He has future starting LT written all over him. I have to assume there were either medical questions or character questions, however, if both of those things are fine moving forward, Duncan is a starting LT at some point. He’s massive, he’s athletic, he’s got great hands, and great feet. There is a real possibility the future starting left side of the Titans offensive line is Duncan at LT and Skoronski at LG. Andre Dillard did nothing in Philadelphia to make me think he’s going to finally be some great LT; he also was beaten out there by Jordan Mailata who was a former seventh round pick. At least this time it might be a sixth rounder who takes his job.

Overall Analysis

For a small class, only being six players, all of them have a chance to do something here. Skoronski’s floor is being a perennial Pro Bowl guard. Levis is the future at QB, they hope. There is a legitimate chance Levis is a bust but he was well worth the move up in round two to get a guy who can run your offense much like Tannehill has since he arrived. Levis is also the perfect QB for Mike Vrabel and Vrabel is the perfect head coach for Levis. Vrabel is never going to have an offense based around his QB, he wants to be a tough, physical run-first team with a QB who can make a play here and there. That’s what Levis needs, don’t ask him to carry the team, just do the job.

RB Tyjae Spears is a great all-around player who runs hard, catches passes, and generally does good things on the field. He’s probably not cut out to carry the load Derrick Henry has for so long (no one is). The one issue is Spears has some medical issues with his knees, that could be a problem, but he’s a talented guy who’s worth a shot. Josh Whyle isn’t a flashy guy at TE and he’s not going transform your offense by any means. However, Tennessee is in need of warm bodies at TE and Whyle can do some things to help the offense, like block. He can catch some passes too but he’s not a high-volume pass catcher.

The Duncan pick is fantastic, unless there is some underlying issue, he’s going to be a good offensive tackle in the NFL. Normally, I wouldn’t give a small school WR in round seven much of a chance to make a team unless he’s a special team’s demon, but have you seen the Titans WR depth chart? Colton Dowell from Tennessee-Martin? I’m not counting him out.