1 – Jacksonville Jaguars select Aidan Hutchinson (EDGE, Michigan) – Hutchinson may have taken over the torch as the number one prospect and pick in the Draft after his performances against Ohio State and Iowa.
2 – Detroit Lions select Kayvon Thibodeaux (EDGE, Oregon) – Long considered the top pick, Thibodeaux dealt with nagging injuries during the 2021 campaign. His elite talent and athleticism off the edge will keep him within the top 3 picks comes Draft night.
3 – Houston Texans select Kyle Hamilton (S, Notre Dame) – Davis Mills has come on strong down the stretch, including a huge performance against the Los Angeles Chargers. With no real strong QB prospects in this Draft, the Texans can look to take the best available player here. Hamilton is a safety, and the positional value is low, but Hamilton is the dynamic defensive player a team like Houston can build a foundation around.
4 – New York Jets select Derek Stingley Jr. (CB, LSU) – New York Jets HC Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas spent plenty of resources building the offensive side of the ball in their first draft together. This year, it’ll be imperative to get some impressive, young defensive building blocks, especially on the back end. Stingley brings elite ball skills and the ability to mirror most receiver types.
5 – New York Giants select Ikem Ekwonu (OT, NC State) – Moving a tackle prospect from side to side isn’t a move that is as easy as we might think, but Ekwonu is too good of an offensive line prospect to pass up for the Giants. After drafting Andrew Thomas in 2020, the Giants could opt to try one of these massive men to the right side in an effort to sure up both ends of the line.
6 – New York Jets (via SEA) select George Karlaftis (EDGE, Purdue) – This is a little high for my liking when it comes to Karlaftis, but pass rushers are a vital necessity and the Jets could use some push from the edge to go with Quinnen Williams in the center. Karlaftis is your prototypical, old school big body rusher with enough power to beat NFL tackles with some regularity.
7 – Carolina Panthers select Evan Neal (OT, Alabama) – I thought about giving the Panthers a much needed QB here, but then I thought back to 2021 when they could have had either Justin Fields or Mac Jones and opted to go with a corner. I have Pickett on the level with Jones, and a step below Justin Fields last season, so I went with a premier athlete (and Bruce Feldman Freaks List headliner) at the tackle position. Prove me wrong, Matt Rhule. Draft a damn QB.
8 – New York Giants (via CHI) select Kenny Pickett (QB, Pittsburgh) – Can we stop this delusion that Daniel Jones is the guy? He’s not. He’s a worthy QB to be making rosters for the foreseeable future as a spot starting backup, but I believe Kenny Pickett has a much higher ceiling. If Daniel Jones goes into 2022 the unquestioned starter, I fear the Giants are looking and another regime change.
9 – Washington Football Team select Matt Corral (QB, Ole Miss) – Much like the Giants position, I think its crucial to Washington to find a true franchise signal caller. Taylor Heinicke has plenty of Fitzpatrick-esc qualities, one of them being that he’s not the future. Corral brings a cannon arm and winning attitude that could uplift a Washington offense that already has plenty of capable weapons.
10 – Atlanta Falcons select Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia) – Depending on the status of Calvin Ridley, the Falcons could certainly go the direction of wide receiver here. Davis is the local interior juggernaut of the Georgia Bulldogs, and would provide a massive plug to allow Grady Jarrett more pass rushing opportunities.
11 – Denver Broncos select Charles Cross (OT, Mississippi State) – Cross isn’t the most ideal tackle prospect for the Broncos, as they want to run the ball and Cross comes from a pass heavy Bulldog offense, where he dominated in pass sets. Cross shows all the capabilities of improving his run blocking and I think has a chance to end up the best tackle prospect in this draft class.
12 – Minnesota Vikings select Andrew Booth Jr. (CB, Clemson) – Vikings are in need of help on the back end of their defense, and they get a sticky man corner in Andrew Booth out of Clemson, who draws comparisons to rival Packers corner Jaire Alexander by The Draft Network.
13 – New Orleans Saints select Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State) – I debated about sending Sam Howell here, but I’m not confident enough that he’s a true step up from Jameis Winston. The Saints have had a serious lack of receiving options with Michael Thomas missing most of the last two seasons, so I’m giving them another Ohio State wide out. Jameson Williams has risen up draft boards, but I still believe Chris Olave is the best receiver in this class.
14 – Cleveland Browns select DeMarvin Leal (DT, Texas A&M) – The Browns will have a big decision to make when it comes to Baker Mayfield this offseason, and with Sam Howell garnering some comparisons to Mayfield, I opted to move away from that selection. The Browns could use some interior help on defense, and they get a top ten prospect in Leal who’s fallen down the board.
15 – Pittsburgh Steelers select Kenyon Green (IOL, Texas A&M) – All indicators in the media suggest the Steelers are going to want a veteran QB to replace Big Ben this offseason, so I went the direction of fixing their atrocious offensive line. Green provides positional versatility with plug and play ability. Pittsburgh went with Najee Harris last year, but the lack of offensive line ability has limited his rookie season.
16 – Los Angeles Chargers select David Ojabo (EDGE, Michigan) – Ojabo has shot up draft boards with his pass rush ability, even while playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson. In LA, Ojabo would get the chance to play opposite Joey Bosa, and would give the Chargers defense a deadly pass rush combo that could be pivotal to unseating the Kansas City Chiefs in the West.
17 – Las Vegas Raiders select Jameson Williams (WR, Alabama) – Derek Carr absolute loves throwing deep passes, and with the Henry Ruggs fiasco now in the rearview mirror, the Raiders should look to finding Carr a new number one wide receiver to pair with slot specialist Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller.
18 – Baltimore Ravens select Tyler Linderbaum (IOL, Iowa) – The Hawkeyes offense has been ugly this season, but Linderbaum is always a highlight reel on the offensive line. Slighty undersized, Linderbaum uses his strength to bully defensive lineman and linebackers in the run game, providing a big help for a Ravens offense that prefers to run.
19 – Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) select Sam Howell (QB, North Carolina) – I am not sold on Jalen Hurts as a franchise quarterback, and the Philadelphia Eagles have three first round picks. I’m giving them Sam Howell with the first selection, providing the Eagles with a true quarterback competition. If Jalen Hurts proves to be ‘the guy’, the Eagles can hang on to Howell as a development backup option and look to acquire more Draft assets down the line via trade. Win-win in my opinion.
20 – Philadelphia Eagles select Ahmad Gardner (CB, Cincinnati) – The Eagles should look at crafting a youth movement on defense this offseason. Gardner gives the Eagles a lengthy cover corner with a remarkable college football career to pair with Darius Slay.
21 – Miami Dolphins (via SF) select Garrett Wilson (WR, Ohio State) – The Dolphins biggest need is along the offensive line, but they’ve invested heavily via past draft classes and should look at using free agency to boost that position group. Chris Grier and Brian Flores should use early draft assets this season for loading up the offensive skill group for Tua Tagovailoa with another talented receiver in a top loaded class.
22 – New England Patriots select Treylon Burks (WR, Arkansas) – Part of helping Mac Jones continue to progress his game comes from adding better receiving talent. The Patriots spent plenty of money at the tight end position last offseason, and Kendrick Bourne has been a surprise this season, but Treylon Burks presents a unique asset with size and elusiveness.
23 – Philadelphia Eagles (via IND) select Travon Walker (EDGE, Georgia) – Walker is a thicker pass rusher who offers scheme versatility along the defensive front, playing a range of techniques for the Georgia Bulldogs.
24 – Arizona Cardinals select Roger McCreary (CB, Auburn) – The Cardinals defense could use more help along the back end, and McCreary brings a sticky cover game that can help prevent splash plays from an intimidating array of NFC West receivers.
25 – Buffalo Bills select Jahan Dotson (WR, Penn State) – The Bills offense has been topsy turvy all season, and could really use a boost in the run game. With no adequate first round running backs, I’m sending them Jahan Dotson. Dotson is a vertical threat nightmare for defenses, especially paired with the cannon on Josh Allen.
26 – Cincinnati Bengals select Nicholas Petit-Frere (OT, Ohio State) – The Bengals opted to pass on Penei Sewell last offseason in favor of giving Joe Burrow his favorite weapon from LSU in Ja’Marr Chase. The move was criticized, but ended up working out for the most part. This time, I think Cincinnati is in prime position to get a strong tackle value in a good class on the back end of the first round.
27 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Darian Kinnard (IOL, Kentucky) – The Buccaneers brought back the entire starting lineup for 2021, but may not be as lucky this upcoming offseason. With a few offensive lineman currently slated to hit the open market, I’m giving them Darian Kinnard. Kinnard is a bulky interior prospect with the ability to plug and play right away if Tampa has to replace a starter.
28 – Detroit Lions (via LAR) select Devin Lloyd (LB, Utah) – The Lions certainly need a franchise quarterback, but with them projected to pick at 34, I think they can grab a developmental QB there. Devin Lloyd is the exact kind of player Dan Campbell wants to build his team around, and gives the Lions two tremendous defensive talents in the first round.
29 – Tennessee Titans select Nakobe Dean (LB, Georgia) – Dean is about as rangy a linebacker as you’ll see in any Draft. A bit undersized, but Dean has the skill set to create turnovers and sacks at the next level.
30 – Dallas Cowboys select Jaquan Brisker (S, Penn State) – Brisker is a freakish athlete in the secondary who continues to improve his game with more and more playing time. He brings a useful skill set that the Cowboys can use in the center of their young secondary that features Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs.
31 – Kansas City Chiefs select Daxton Hill (S, LSU) – The Chiefs defense has improved greatly as the season has gone on, but they should continue to add some more youthful, high potential players on that side of the ball. Hill has the potential to play well above his draft position, bringing a skill set that boasts strong run defense from the safety spot as well as bright instincts in the passing game.
32 – Green Bay Packers select Trevor Penning (OT, Northern Iowa) – Penning is a strong, 6’7″ tackle prospect out of the FCS. This offseason is setting up to be a huge one for Green Bay, but until Rodgers is in another uniform, I am operating under the assumption he’ll be there. With that, Penning gives the Packers a future bookend on either side of the line.
