We are in the final stretch here as we’ve passed the combine and the new calendar year in the NFL has begun. This time of year completely throws you off because NFL depth charts are ever changing. Without a doubt, this is the craziest NFL offseason I’ve ever seen. I mean Tom Brady retired and came back within the window of the Super Bowl until the NFL new calendar year. Plus we have to mention the massive QB movement of players like Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, soon to be traded guys in Baker Mayfield, and Jimmy Garoppolo.
In the span of maybe 2 weeks, Tom Brady unretired, Aaron Rodgers got a massive contract resetting the market, and resulting in his top target in Davante Adams getting traded to Las Vegas to be reunited with his college QB in Derek Carr. Deshaun Watson was finally traded and ended up in Cleveland getting an extension yet again resetting the market. Matt Ryan got traded to the Colts, Khalil Mack traded to the Chargers, and Amari Cooper got traded to the Browns. I had this mock draft completely set in stone before my trip to Florida, but then Tyreek Hill got traded to Miami out of the damn clouds.
The NFL draft is the last key piece here and we know enough in terms of draft analysis and free agency that there is a pretty good indicator of how draft boards are going to fall. Greg would say “BPA NO MATTER WHAT” where I’m more of a “BPA based off of needs” kind of guy. If I need a WR but it’s not the best player on the board, I’m not reaching. Here’s some notes regarding my 2 round mock though:
- Trades really helped shape where the QBs will end up. Even in a weak class, there will be QB’s taken high. I also think that Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett are the clear 2 guys in this class. I do believe in Matt Corral, but situation will dictate how good he can be.
- This WR class really has potential to be an all-time class and the teams who traded away elite WRs realize this. I feel like we say that every year, but the show that was displayed in the combine caught my eye. A guy I think can help a team in John Metchie III could go as late as the 3rd.
- OL is also another deep position in this class that the potential of franchise cornerstones on the offensive front can be found in rounds 2-3 as well.
- I’m very sad about David Ojabo getting hurt at the Michigan pro day. Whoever snags him could get a steal. He’s the latest example of injuries dictating draft position along with Corral and Jameson Williams.
- I still don’t know what the Steelers will do and that’s very ok. Even with the plethora of FA moves made to fill holes (and extremely well might I add), all of the contracts issued aren’t more than 3 years in length. Because of the lack of long-term commitments there, they could take anyone including QB.
| 1. Jacksonville Jaguars | Evan Neal – OT Alabama |
| 2. Detroit Lions | Aiden Hutchinson – DE Michigan |
| 3. Houston Texans | Kyle Hamilton – S Notre Dame |
| 4. New York Jets | Kavon Thibodeaux – DE Oregon |
| 5. New York Giants | Travon Walker – DE Georgia |
| 6. Carolina Panthers | Ikem Ekwonu – OT NC State |
| 7. NYG (from Chi) | Devin Lloyd – ILB Utah |
| 8. Atlanta Falcons | Malik Willis – QB Liberty |
| 9. Seattle Seahawks (from Den) | Kenny Pickett – QB Pittsburgh |
| 10. NYJ (from Sea) | Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner – CB Cincinnati |
| 11. Washington Commanders | Charles Cross – OT Mississippi State |
| 12. Minnesota Vikings | Trent McDuffie – CB Washington |
| 13. Houston Texans (from CLE) | Jordan Davis – DT Georgia |
| 14. Baltimore Ravens | Trevor Penning – OT Northern Iowa |
| 15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Mia) | Drake London – WR USC |
| 16. Phi (from Indy) | Jermaine Johnson Jr. – DE Florida State |
| 17. Los Angeles Chargers | Devonte Wyatt – DT Georgia |
| 18. New Orleans Saints | Garrett Wilson – WR OSU |
| 19. Philadelphia Eagles | Nakobe Dean – ILB Georgia |
| 20. Pittsburgh Steelers | Derek Stingley Jr. – CB LSU |
| 21. New England Patriots | Jameson Williams – WR Alabama |
| 22. Green Bay Packers (from LV) | Treylon Burks – WR Arkansas |
| 23. Arizona Cardinals | Andrew Booth Jr. – CB Clemson |
| 24. Dallas Cowboys | Bernhard Raimann – OT Central Michigan |
| 25. Buffalo Bills | Breece Hall – RB Iowa State |
| 26. Tennessee Titans | Zion Johnson – G Boston College |
| 27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Jahan Dotson – WR Penn State |
| 28. Green Bay Packers | George Karlaftis – DE Purdue |
| 29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Miami from SF) | Chris Olave – WR OSU |
| 30. KC Chiefs | Lewis Cine – S Georgia |
| 31. Cincinnati Bengals | Tyler Linderbaum – C Iowa |
| 32. Det (from LAR) | Matt Corral – QB |
| 33. Jax | David Ojabo – OLB Michigan |
| 34. Det | Roger McCreary – CB Auburn |
| 35. NYJ | Leo Chenal – ILB Wisconsin |
| 36. NYG | Jaquan Brisker – S Penn State |
| 37. Hou | Kenyon Green – Texas A&M |
| 38. NYJ (from Car) | Daxton Hill – S Michigan |
| 39. Chi | Travis Jones – DT UConn |
| 40. Sea (from Den) | Kyler Gordon – CB Washington |
| 41. Sea | Nik Bonito – EDGE Oklahoma |
| 42. Indy (from Wsh) | Tyler Smith – OT Tulsa |
| 43. Atl | Kaiir Elam – CB Florida |
| 44. Cle | Skyy Moore – WR Central Michigan |
| 45. Bal | Jalen Pitre – S Baylor |
| 46. Min | DeMarvin Leal – DT Texas A&M |
| 47. Wsh (from Indy) | Desmond Ridder – QB Cincinnati |
| 48. Chi (from LAC) | Darian Kinnard – IOL Kentucky |
| 49. NO | Arnold Ebiketie – EDGE – Penn State |
| 50. KC (from Miami) | Kenneth Walker – RB Michigan State |
| 51. Phi | Boye Mafe – EDGE Minnesota |
| 52. Pit | George Pickens – WR Georgia |
| 53. GB (from LV) | Christian Harris – ILB Alabama |
| 54. NE | Perrion Winfrey – DL Oklahoma |
| 55. Ari | Drake Jackson – EDGE USC |
| 56. Dal | Daniel Faalele – OT Minnesota |
| 57. Buf | Damone Clark – ILB LSU |
| 58. Atl (from Ten) | Christian Watson – WR North Dakota State |
| 59. GB | Martin Emerson – CB Mississippi State |
| 60. TB | Kingsley Enagbare – EDGE South Carolina |
| 61. SF | Jamaree Salyer – OF Georgia |
| 62. KC | Channing Tindall – ILB Georgia |
| 63. Cin | Nick Cross – S |
| 64. Den (from LAR) | Quay Walker – LB Georgia |
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