Arguably the most memorable off-season in NFL history comes to a close this week with the NFL Draft rolling into Las Vegas. Originally slated to host the 2020 draft, the Las Vegas draft party will surely rival the 2019 event held in Nashville – still the highlight of NFL’s now touring job fair.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs head into the weekend with twelve picks apiece. While tied for the most selections, the clubs couldn’t be further apart. The Jaguars, led by new head coach Doug Pederson, have a wonderful opportunity to expedite the organization’s latest rebuild. The Chiefs, on the other hand, will try to bolster their roster and keep ahead of the pack in the talent loaded AFC.
The Miami Dolphins, who shipped a bounty of draft picks to Kansas City in the blockbuster trade for Tyreek Hill, have the fewest number of picks with four. Their pick not coming until Round 3.
With the stage set for a wild weekend in Sin City, here is mock draft for Round 1.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
When your starting from scratch you simply take the best player. Hutchinson, a Heisman Trophy finalist, racked up 14 sacks last year for Big Blue, but GM Trent Baalke could over think things and select Travon Walker. Remember this is t he guy who drafted Aldon Smith over JJ Watt, Robert Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan, Cam Jordan, and Cameron Heyward.
2. Detroit Lions: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
Walker is an emerging talent who is leaving Georgia with a career best six sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Not exactly the production you would expect of the No. 2 overall pick, but the talent is there is to develop into an opposing quarterback’s nightmare.
3. Houston Texans: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Houston’s selection will be very interesting. The team is finally out from under the cloud of Deshaun Watson, but they still need a complete roster overhaul. The team tried to move on from left tackle Laremy Tunsil, but ended up keeping him. The Houston’s GM Nick Caserio’s time in New England has surely created deep ties with Alabama.
4. New York Jets: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The AFC saw an incredible influx of talent and the Jets had the third worst pass defense last year. Gardner is regarded as the best cornerback in the class and for good reason. The Bearcats legend didn’t give up a single catch in the red zone during the regular season last year. The Jets need that talent and the swagger Gardner brings.
5. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
The G-Men have lacked a pass rush threat for years now. They seem to be onto something with last year’s second-rounder Azeez Ojulari. Adding Thibodeaux to Wink Martindale’s defensive would be a massive upgrade. The former Duck racked up 19 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss in three years.
6. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
The Panthers have made their search for a franchise quarterback abundantly clear. Willis offers, arguably, the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this class, but Pickett is the most NFL ready. We have been back and forth on this, but in the end we have Pickett for our mock draft.
7. New York Giants: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi St.
The Giants had the second worst passing attack in the league last year and Daniel Jones is in a make or break year. They have the weapons in Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Kadarius Toney (if he doesn’t get traded). Now they need to protect Jones. Cross would be a solid bookend to former first-rounder Andrew Thomas.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The easy pick here is wide receiver. The Falcons currently have Olamide Zaccheaus as their No. 1 option, but with the trade of Matt Ryan, now is the time for Arthur Smith to really put his stamp on the organization. Marcus Mariota, who played under Smith at Tennessee, can man the ship for 2022. Whoever doesn’t go to Carolina, goes here.
9. Seattle Seahawks: Ickey Ekwonu, OT, NC State
A dream scenario for Seattle. The team has had longstanding trouble along the offensive line. They addressed their dire need for a left tackle in 2017 by trading for Pro Bowler Duane Brown, however Brown’s time seems to be up in Seattle. Landing arguably the best tackle prospect is a great building block for the start of the post-Russell Wilson era.
10. New York Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio St.
The Jets could stick with defense here, but when arguably the best wide receiver in the draft is still on the board and your WR1 only made it through nine games last year you need to upgrade. Especially with a potential franchise quarterback in the building, you need to give Zach Wilson weapons. Just look at Cincinnati’s success with bolstering the receiver room.
11. Washington Commanders: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Don’t tell anybody, but Washington has a sneaky good roster. The trade for Carson Wentz provides them their most stable quarterback option since 2017, and with the talent vacuum in the NFC they could find themselves back in the playoffs. They’re only a few pieces away. One piece that’s needed? A commanding presence in the secondary is just what Ron Rivera needs to fix his 29th ranked pass defense.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU
For a team to have spent as much draft capital on cornerbacks as the Vikings have, and still need to address the position in Round 1 tells you why they have moved onto a new head coach (Kevin O’ Connell) and GM (Kwesi Adofo-Mensah). Adding Stingley to the ranks gives them a successor to Patrick Peterson.
13. Houston Texans: Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida St.
Houston needs help at literally every position. Rule number one of a real build is start in the trenches. First Neal, now Johnson. Johnson transferred from Georgia due to a lack of playing time and finished the season with 11.5 sacks. With a sparse pass rush and a talent influx like never before seen in the AFC, Johnson could be a Day One starter.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
Davis to Baltimore is a perfect match. The colossus would help the team move on from long time anchor Brandon Williams. While he has the mold of a classic nose tackle, Davis has the terrifying athleticism of a five-technique.
15. Philadelphia Eagles: George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
Josh Sweat led the team with 7.5 sacks in 2021. Second on the team? Derek Barnett with two. Much more is needed. While Karlaftis’ sack production went down after his impressive freshman season he was still disruptive, ending his collegiate career with 10 tackles-for-loss.
16. New Orleans Saints: Drake London, WR, USC
The Saints wide receiver corps is bare-bones. Michael Thomas missed the entire season and neither Tre’Quan Smith or Marquez Callaway rose to occasion. London exploded onto the scene with 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns after posting back-to-back 500 yard seasons.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
The Bolts have built a serious contender and are now only a few pieces away from being serious Super Bowl contenders. They have the weapons in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but who is behind them? Allen is starting to get up there in age and Williams has the speed to stress defenses. This trio would be dangerous.
18. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
Philly continues to bolster their defense in our mock draft, adding Pitre with their second selection in Round 1. Rodney McLeod signed with Indianapolis and only resigned Anthony Harris to a one year deal. Behind them there isn’t much. Pitre is a disruptive playmaker, racking up 29.5 tackles-for-loss, six sacks, and four interceptions over the past two years.
19.New Orleans Saints: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
After losing Pro Bowler Terron Armstead in free agency tackle became the Saints’ biggest need. Raimann has big shoes to fill and is very raw, but he could grow into a premier left tackle.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
Ben Roethlisberger retired and Mason Rudolph has proved not to be the heir apparent the Steelers were hoping he would develop into. The team signed Mitch Trubisky, but he is just a seat warmer while the Steelers look for their next franchise quarterback, i.e. Corral. Back-to-back 3,000 yard seasons and nearly 50 touchdowns over the past two years turned heads. It also helped that his interceptions dropped from 14 in 2020 to 5 last year.
21. New England Patriots: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
A lot of mock drafts have the Patriots scooping up one of the top linebackers, Dean or Lloyd. While it certainly is in play, Penning and McDuffie are particularly interesting here. Penning gets the nod in our mock draft. While the Pats did sign some pieces for their secondary, their already thin line got thinner. Penning is the type of player who flourishes in New England.
22. Green Bay Packers: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio St.
The team was in desperate need of a wide receiver before trading away Davante Adams, now their receiving corps is at threat level midnight. Olave never topped 1,000 yards, but he did rack up 35 touchdowns in his time at OSU. Living up alongside Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb should given Aaron Rodgers a serviceable trio.
23. Arizona Cardinals: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The Cardinals have had a surprisingly tumultuous offseason for a team that made the playoffs last season. If they want to keep Kyler Murray happy, and in Arizona, they need to stack the arsenal. A receiver room with DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore, and Burks would be dangerous.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
After years of having the best offensive line in the NFL, the Cowboys are now having to deal with restocking the trenches. The team moved on from Connor Williams and La’el Collins and they will need to find an heir for future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith. Green has experience playing across the line and could be Day One starter.
25. Buffalo Bills: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The Bills are ready for a Super Bowl right now. What few question marks the team had were shored up in free agency, which affords them the ability draft for the long term. McDuffie, however, could play a big part of rookie if he lands in Buffalo. The Bills had the best pass defense in the league last year and then lost Levi Wallace in free agenct. McDuffie could make his way into the starting lineup in year one, like former first-rounder Tre’davious White.
26. Tennessee Titans: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
The Titans offense runs through Derrick Henry. How do you make things easy for Henry? Provide bulldozers. Johnson, who has experience at tackle too, can hopefully end the Titans offensive line woes. Ever since former first-rounder Jack Conklin left, holes have sprung up all over the line.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Logan Hall, DT, Houston
The depth along the Bucs defensive line is starting to show. Ndamukong Suh and Steve McLendon are free agents, leaving only Vita Vea and William Gholston. Hall would be the perfect five-technique for the Bucs scheme.
28. Green Bay Packers: David Ojabo, OLB, Michigan
After years of suffering a lackluster pass rush, the Packers went out and signed Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith. The duo proved to be a dynamic threat at first, but Preston Smith’s play has dipped and the team moved on from Za’Darius Smith during free agency. Ojabo was anticipated to be a Top 10 pick before suffering an Achilles injury during a pre-draft workout. His talent is not worth passing over at No. 28. The fifth-year option comes into play here.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: DeVonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
The Chiefs have been looking for a tag team partner to pair with Christ Jones for some time now. Jarran Reed departed in free agency and Derrick Nandi was resigned, but more is needed. Wyatt is a disruptive force that should instantly help boost the Chiefs lackluster rush defense.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
With their second pick KC goes back to Athens. The team traded away Tyreek Hill and signed Juju Smith-Schuster, but more is needed. Pickens is a tremendous talent, but had virtually all of last season scratched due to a knee injury. If healthy by the end of the summer this could prove to be one of the first round steals.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson
Cincy lost the Super Bowl because of their offensive line and defensive secondary. They bolstered the line in free agency, now the team needs to add the cornerback position. Booth is an aggressive corner with a high ceiling. With Cincy’s starters coming back, Booth will get the opportunity to develop.
32. Detroit Lions: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
A back-to-back Butkus Award finalist, Lloyd has all the playmaking ability the Lions desperately need at the second level. In his three years as a starter Lloyd racked up 250 tackles, 43 for loss, and 15.5 sacks. Not to mention his ability to play inside and out will be beneficial in the Lions new defensive scheme.
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