It's the most wonderful time of the year: Draft Week! Yes, the NFL Draft begins this Thursday, and this is one of the weirder drafts we have had. There is no true consensus top pick, the QB ranks are all over the place, and 8 teams currently have multiple first round picks. So, I have tried my best to bring you my thoughts on what every team should do, based on their needs. I also don't project trades, though there are most certainly going to be some. Anyway, here we go! The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock:
1) Jacksonville Jaguars- Aiden Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
Apparently the Jags are down to 4 players on their board for the #1 pick. While I think they should go OL to protect Trevor Lawrence, the signing of Brandon Scherff and tagging Cam Robinson mean that they are able to address the DL first. Aiden Hutchinson is possibly the safest pick in the draft off the edge. He has the talent and the production, and will immediately help the Jags poor defense.
2) Detroit Lions- Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
Detroit is angry, because they wanted Hutchinson. They decide to stick to their guns of taking an edge rusher, and draft the high-ceiling Walker instead. While the tape is not nearly as impressive as Hutchinson, Walker has the measurables and potential to be an even better player. It is a bit of a risk, but the Lions decide to go for the potential... or consider trading up to make sure they get Hutchinson.
3) Houston Texans- Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
The Texans need absolutely everything, so having the best all-around OL prospect fall to them at 3 is not a bad thing at all. Neal was a SEC All-Freshman player at right guard. He won a National Championship as the Tide's starting right tackle his sophomore. This past season, he was a first team All-SEC second team All-American at left tackle. he is a plug-and-play starter Day 1, likely at right guard, joining Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard as the tackles, suddenly giving the Texans a very solid O-Line.
4) New York Jets- Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Can I interest you in a 6'3 CB who runs a 4.4 40 and didn't allow a single TD in his 3 years in college, and was a first-team All American? I think the Jets would be sprinting up to give the card in when Sauce is available. His comp is Richard Sherman, and would give the Jets their first true lock down corner since Revis Island roamed the Meadowlands.
5) New York Giants- Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
Now it is the Giants' turn to sprint up to the podium. They find their bookend with Andrew Thomas and solidify their OL for years to come with first team All American Ekwonu. He will immediately start at right tackle, and will help keep Daniel Jones (or whoever the next QB in NY is) upright.
6) Carolina Panthers- Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
The first QB is off the board. I don't think it is any secret that Matt Rhule recruited Pickett in college, and made all the googly eyes at Pickett's pro day. Plus, if he wants to keep his job, Rhule needs better QB play. Enter Pickett, the most NFL-ready QB in the draft. Jokes about his hand size aside, he can come in Day 1, beat out Sam Darnold for the job, and make the franchise his own.
7) New York Giants (from Chicago Bears)- Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE Oregon
For most of the season, it was Hutchinson and Thibodeaux as the potential #1 pick. Some scouts seem to have cooled on Thibodeaux a bit, but the Giants would be well on their way to an A+ draft grabbing him here at 7. Their defense was 31st in the league last year in yards per play, so an immediate impact player like Thibodeaux should help immensely.
8) Atlanta Falcons- Garret Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Matt Ryan era is over. The Julio Jones era is over. The... Russell Gage era is over? Anyway, Marcus Mariota needs some weapons to throw to, and he currently just has Kyle Pitts and some no-name WRs. Wilson immediately becomes WR1, with the big play ability to make the Falcons offense at least slightly scary. Look for them to address their long term QB plans later in the draft/in 2023.
9) Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos)- Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The Seahawks traded Russell Wilson, and then finally decide to draft OL once he is gone! I think they will give whoever their starting QB is the best chance to win by protecting him with Charles Cross. Cross may be the best pass-protecting tackle in the draft, coming out of that spread Mike Leach offense. He will be able to plug in and play at either tackle spots on Day 1.
10) New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks)- Drake London, WR, USC
The Jets already got Sauced. Now they get a go-to WR for their young QB to grow with. Drake London has amazing ball skills, elite size (6'4 220), and put up insane production even though he only played 8 games before breaking his ankle (88 catches, 1,084 yards, 7 TDs). The Jets have nailed their first two picks.
11) Washington Commanders- Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
As a Commanders fan, I am torn. I know that they will want to trade back, and they likely will/should. That said, if Kyle Hamilton is here, it would be damn near impossible not to draft him. Hamilton is the top player on many experts' boards, and would be able to fit in immediately to sure up a shoddy pass defense. He is a special player who made special plays at Notre Dame. If he is still available at 11, the Commanders should pull the trigger and draft him.
12) Minnesota Vikings- Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
The Vikings need secondary help, and they are able to get one of the top corners in the draft. While I am not a big fan of Stingley's lack of production the past two years, everyone is still in love with the potential that he could be the player he was his freshman year. The Vikings also get to grow their LSU contingency, as Stingley would join Patrick Peterson, Justin Jefferson, Danielle Hunter, and Darone Jones, who was LSU's defensive coordinator and secondary coach last year.
13) Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)- Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
Remember when the Texans had a terrifying front seven? JJ Watt, Jadeeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus. This was what helped them compete for the playoffs every year. All 3 of those players are gone. Again, this is a team that needs help everywhere, so why not take the best pass rusher available. Johnson was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, with 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 12 starts, and he is still getting better.
14) Baltimore Ravens- Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
If the Ravens could just draft health, then they would be a playoff team. However, as it is, they have a couple holes to fill. They need OL depth, likely an edge rusher, but I have them taking McDuffie, the best CB available. He can cover the slot, is a great open field tackler, and will help in the run game as well. Plus, he is insurance for when Humphrey or Peters almost inevitably gets hurt.
15) Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins)- Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah
Rich Eisen had a young Eagles fan in the booth during the Combine, and when asked what he would tell their GM to do in the draft, the kid said something along the lines of "For the love of God, draft some linebackers!" Well young man, you get your wish. The Eagles land the #1 ILB in the draft in Lloyd, who has sideline-to-sideline range, is an awesome blitzer, and can immediately bring life into a defense that needs it.
16) New Orleans Saints (from Indianapolis Colts through Philadelphia Eagles)- Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
The Saints lost Terron Armstead to the Dolphins in free agency, so their biggest need is finding a new left tackle. Penning is the best available, and plays angry. He will immediately start for the Saints, who will work on keeping Jameis Winston healthy this year.
17) Los Angeles Chargers- Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
The Chargers are not happy that Penning is gone, as they need to protect Justin Herbert. However, with the insane amount of talent now in the AFC West, they also need to be able to get to opposing QBs. Enter Davis, a Haloti Ngata-esque DT that will demand double teams on the inside, allowing better matchups for Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack on the edge and blitzers up the middle.
18) Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints)- Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Another year, another WR to the Eagles in Round 1. Only this time, it is to pair with the successful pick in DeVonta Smith from 2021. Olave is a crisp route runner with top end speed and the production to match. He can work in the slot or the outside, allowing options as the scheme dictates.
19) New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia Eagles)- Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Another team that needs depth at WR, the Saints take a chance on the Williams, who may have been the #1 WR taken if he hadn't torn his ACL in the National Championship game. He was first team All-American and All-SEC. He was insane speed and playmaking ability, and can stretch the field. His presence will allow a healthy Michael Thomas to thrive as well.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers- Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
In an ideal world, the Steelers would trade up to 11 to take Willis, and the Commanders would be picking here. However, since I don't project trades, I can say I see the Steelers still ending up with Willis at the end of Day 1. Signing Mitch Trubisky allows Mike Tomlin time to sit Willis and get him adjusted to the NFL game. He has a ton of ability and a cannon of an arm. He just needs to be able to put them together and up to NFL speed to become a top NFL QB.
21) New England Patriots- Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia
In 5 years, every other team will wonder how Nakobe Dean fell to the Patriots. The heart and soul of the incredible 2021 Georgia defense, Dean's tape is off the charts. The only reason he has fallen is because of measurables, which don't tell the whole story. He is a Devin Bush-type defender, who will make Pats fans think of McGinest, Bruschi, and Vrabel with his production. Plus, he is an amazing person off the field, as a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, awarded for community service, and the captain of the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team for his community service efforts.
22) Green Bay Packers (from Las Vegas Raiders)- George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
No first round WRs for Aaron Rodgers!!! HAHAHAHA! I mean, why buck the trend with this pick. Instead, the Packers take the best player available in Karlaftis, an edge rusher I have seen as high as the Top 10 in some mocks. He can play numerous spots along the line, and can replace the pass rush production lost by Za'Darius Smith leaving.
23) Arizona Cardinals- Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Let's face it- the Cardinals offense didn't look the same when DeAndre Hopkins was hurt last year. Yes, Rondale Moore was a bright spot in his rookie year, but AJ Green isn't the same player he used to be, and Christian Kirk left for Jacksonville. Treylon Burks has elite size and strength with solid speed. He was a multi-sport athlete, and has natural shiftiness. He could develop into an AJ Brown-esque WR.
24) Dallas Cowboys- Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
The Cowboys used to have easily the best offensive line in football. That has started to deteriorate, and now they have a hole at guard where Connor Williams once was. Sure, guard is not a sexy pick, but Green immediately fills a need and takes a starting job on the OL. He also has experience at OT, so he provides depth for an oft-injured line.
25) Buffalo Bills- Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
The Bills have one of the best rosters in the entire NFL, but they do have a hole at CB. Andrew Booth Jr is the best available, with the potential to grow into a true shutdown corner. He has great ball skills and is also excellent against the run. The rich get richer. Will in translate into winning the AFC?
26) Tennessee Titans- Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
The Julio Jones experiment failed, and we aren't sure how long it will take Robert Woods to get back to 100% as he recovers from his ACL tear. Watson is 6'4 and also runs a 4.36 40. He can stretch the field for Woods and AJ Brown, and open up the defense more for Derrick Henry. It is a great landing spot for Watson.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
I was extremely surprised when Ali Marpet announced his retirement following the 2021 season. With Tom Brady coming back, the #1 need for the Bucs is to protect him and let him do his thing. Zion Johnson takes over where Marpet left off, alongside Shaq Mason at the other guard spot. He can also play tackle in a pinch if needed.
28) Green Bay Packers- Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Ok, the Packers have two 1st round picks, so one HAS to be a WR, right? They have no weapons for Aaron Rodgers anymore (which makes me chuckle), so they really need to draft one. Dotson has top end speed for a WR, and can contribute in the return game. Sure, he isn't Davante Adams, but it is a start.
29) Kansas City Chiefs (from San Francisco 49ers through Miami Dolphins)- Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
The Chiefs' defense has a few holes in it, and Wyatt would be an excellent way to start fixing them. Plugging him in next to Chris Jones could give the Chiefs a nightmare matchup for most interior OLs. Wyatt is an excellent run defender, with the tools to develop into a solid pass rushing DT like Jones.
30) Kansas City Chiefs- Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
The Honey Badger won't be returning to KC, so they have a massive hole at safety. Yes, they added Justin Reid, but he is more of a strong safety in the box. Daxton Hill is a nickle corner/free safety hybrid that can roam the secondary. He has top tier speed and athleticism. He would be a great addition to a defense that now has to deal with Russell Wilson in its division as well.
31) Cincinnati Bengals- Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
The Bengals are a few offensive linemen away from being right back in the Super Bowl. Tyler Linderbaum is the best available, and the top center in the draft. He is an excellent blocker for both the passing and rushing attack. He will be able to protect Joe Burrow up the middle. It is a pick that has to be made to keep the future of the franchise bright.
32) Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)- Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Another QB! While I don't think the Lions want to address this position with a first round pick, taking Ridder here instead of at 34 gives the Lions a 5th year option on the young QB. Ridder has ton of experience and ability, as well as good size in a class full of shorter QBs. He can produce with his feet, but prefers to work in the pocket. He was outstanding for Cincinnati this season, leading them to the CFB Playoffs. He can be immediate competition for Jared Goff.
Will your team be happy when Night 1 of the Draft is over? Who do I think you will take on Night 2? Come back and find out!
