I don't know anything about what is going to happen and I literally just started draft prep this past weekend so this is going to be insanely wrong but figured what the hell, may as well give it a go here. Mock drafts 5 months before the date are irresponsible and so horribly wrong, but they're fun to look at and give people something to do during Q3 of the NFL season. So, here we go.
1. Detroit Lions - DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
This could certainly be Aiden Hutchinson, but in my humble opinion, it's one of those two guys and nobody else should be considered. The Lions desperately need more talent and Thibs upside is perhaps the best in the class at a premium position and a position of need. Could it be Hutchinson, absolutely, but in this scenario they go with the preseason consensus number one, and someone who is an absolute stud.
2. Houston Texans - DE Aiden Hutchinson, Michigan
Did you guys watch what Hutchinson did against Ohio State this past weekend? If I had a Heisman vote, it'd go to this guy because you can't tell me there's been a better player in college football than him this season. He's athletically gifted, strong, physical, and a wonderful football player. This pick is easy if I'm Nick Caserio, whichever player Detroit doesn't take, I go take.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - OT Evan Neal, Alabama
This isn't a what I would do mock, because if it's me, I don't take Neal here as I think he's a bit overrated and don't have him as an elite prospect. That said, the Jags HAVE to help out Trevor Lawrence because that poor guy has had exactly zero chance to be productive this year. Neal is highly regarded, athletic, and huge, and with Cam Robinson set to be a free agent, they have to fill this whole.
4. New York Jets - CB Derek Stingley, LSU
The Jets are ecstatic and run this up to the podium. Stingley is a superstar in the making and despite one horrible game against Alabama, and some injury issues, he's talent wise perhaps the best corner to come out in years. The Jets have the worst secondary in the NFL, and adding Stingley and a free agent corner this offseason could flip that around in one offseason.
5. New York Jets - OT Ikem Ekwonu, NC State
I'm not sure if he's an elite guard, or a really good tackle but honestly who cares. The Jets desperately need offensive line help and this kid is crazy athletic and physical. He's still a tiny bit raw in what I've watched, which is admittedly not much, but they need an infusion of talent on their OL and he's absurdly talented.
6. New York Giants - QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Again not what I'd do but there's going to be a new GM and there's no way the new guy wants to roll with Daniel Jones. Corral is the consensus top QB in this draft, not by me, but by most NFL execs and so the Giants roll the dice.
7. New York Giants - G Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
Would I spend a pick this high on a guard, no but I'm hedging my bets here a bit. If Gettleman does stay, unlikely, he would probably pull the trigger on this. The Giants have a bottom three IOL in the league, and this guy could really help them immediately at that spot.
8. Washington Football Team - QB Kenny Pickett, Pitt
WFT is desperate to find their long term solution at quarterback. Pickett has completely leveled up this offseason and in the games I've watched he reminds me of a more mobile Mac Jones. He has tiny oompa loompa hands but it hasn't bothered him at Pitt and I think that's one of the most ridiculous things that scouts look at anyway.
9. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
I think the Eagles are going to be in on the Watson, Rodgers, Wilson train but we're going to assume they miss out here. The Eagles may commit to Hurts in this situation but they have to improve their passing game, so they go after a free agent WR and get the draft's consensus WR1 here to pair with Smith.
10. Philadelphia Eagles - S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
Hamilton may be the best pure football player in this class, so to get him at 10 is an absolute steal. He's the best safety to come out since Derwin James and that's the type of athlete and player you'd be getting here. He's a major upgrade to that unit and gives the Eagles a potentially really good secondary.
11. Carolina Panthers - OL Charles Cross, Mississippi State
The Panthers offensive line is absolute garbage so we know they're going in this direction, plus probably adding a member of the front 5 in free agency, or two. Cross is athletic and could probably play guard or tackle.
12. Atlanta Falcons - DL DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
The Falcons have just a god awful pass rush, and yes they could certainly look for Ryans' replacement here, and I probably would, they have to address what is the worst pass rush unit in the NFL. With no help coming via free agency because of the mess Dmitroff left there cap wise, they go out and get someone who can rush inside and out, and would be a nightmare for IOL's when they pair him with Garrett on pass rushing downs.
13. New Orleans Saints - QB Sam Howell, North Carolina
Howell is a dynamic runner and physical in that capacity and he played well this season considering the lack of talent around him. Yes this could certainly be a wide receiver, as they desperately need one, but Sean Payton could do a lot with Howell and they take their shot here at finding the next legit signal caller in the Big Easy.
14. Philadelphia Eagles - DE George Karlaftis, Purdue
Roseman will draft defensive linemen and this team has really started to get older and less talented up front. Barnett is a free agent, Cox is getting older by the minute, Graham is injured and aging rapdily. This one makes a ton of sense.
15. Cleveland Browns - WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
A crazy impressive route runner, Olave could help this team move the chains more often. I don't think people are sold on the quarterback there at all, but with OBJ being a serious disappointment, and them being able to save around $12-13m by cutting Jarvis Landry, the Browns are in serious need of weaponry on the outside.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Carson Strong, Nevada
They are going to really need help at the QB position, and while yes their OL is awful, and they certainly need help at LB and to get younger on the DL, Strong is exceptional from the pocket and has a howitzer for an arm. It'll be an adjustment but the scheme fit and size, arm strength, is a big time plus.
17. Denver Broncos - QB Malik Willis, Liberty
He has a lot of growing to do, so in this situaiton, the Broncos maybe let Teddy play "Bridge-water" quarterback for another season while Willis matures. Again assuming neither of the Big 3 comes to Denver. I think one of them does, but at this point they haven't. Willis is absurdly talented, but has poor pocket awareness, and makes rough throws under duress. He also can make absolutely every throw and is a plus-plus runner. He's a project but his ceiling is insane.
18. Las Vegas Raiders - C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
In my opinion the best offensive lineman in the class, Linderbaum lasts until pick 18, and the Raiders snatch him up. They'll probably take some dude ranked 88th overall from a big time SEC program, but they have to improve their OL. I know they like their current center but this is a great value.
19. Minnesota Vikings - CB Sauce Gardner, Cincinnati
He is the best pure corner tape wise in this draft. Stingley is the most talented by far but Sauce is incredibly productive and physical and would give the Vikings a clear CB1 at a serious position of need.
20. LA Chargers - LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia
He's one of the best all around players in this class and reminds me a ton of Roquon Smith coming out of school. He's got sideline to sideline speed and this Chargers team desperately needs to get better on run defense. He'll help immediately with that.
21. Miami Dolphins - OT Jaxson Kirkland, Washington
Austin Jackson has been a disaster at tackle, but he can maybe kick inside to guard, Eichenberg has been rough playing on the outside, so the team goes 3 tackles in 3 years and drafts the long talented Kirkland to try his hand on the left side. Their line is atrocious, so they go for an upgrade.
22. Buffalo Bills - OL Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
A dominant powerful interior player, this guy will probably help the run game in Buffalo as much as any. Their line hasn't played super well this season and a free agent or two may end up being needed. They have struggled in both pass protection and traditional running play this year and he's a mauler who can help create an identity of downhill running in upstate New York.
23. Detroit Lions - QB Desmond Ritter, Cincinnati
The Lions didn't take a QB 1 overall but they get a gritty, tough, athletic guy who could really help continue on the culture that Dan Campbell wants to instill. He's inconsistent with his accuracy but he's an experienced winner who could help bring about positive change to that organization.
24. Cincinnati Bengals - CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
This certainly should be an interior lineman, but the position of need at corner is big for Cincy. Also Adeniji has played really well for Cincy and you have to assume Carman will improve. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see them be a big time player for a center in free agency as well. Elam is a good player and the Waynes signing hasn't worked out, he's a viable potential CB1.
25. Dallas Cowboys - EDGE Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
He's a good player and he's extremely productive and disruptive on the edge. Micah Pasrsons is an absolute stud, and in my opinion he's the DPOY so far, not just the DROY. But you have to add more layers to that defense that really needs a pass rush infusion of talent, add in the lengthy technician here who could give them another dimension of pass rush.
26. Kansas City Chiefs - EDGE David Ojabo, Michigan
He should be gone before this but who knows how the hell this is going to go. The Chiefs have an exceptional interior rusher, but they need more juice on the outside. With a team likely to be ahead frequently in the coming decade, you have to build around pass rush. Ojabo is twitchy and talented and while he's not experienced, that means his upside is even higher.
27. Tennessee Titans - WR Drake London, USC
The Titans Julio Jones experiment has not gone well, insert London, an exceptional contested catch guy, who could help move chains and score touchdowns in the red zone. London was arguably the best player in college football this year before his injury.
28. Tampa Bay Bucs - CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
He's not huge, but he could certainly play nickel, third safety, dime backer, whatever you want. He's good at outside corner, but I think he could be damn good anywhere on the back end. With Carlton Davis a free agent and a plethora of injuries this year showing how important DB depth is, this guy makes a lot of sense for TB.
29. New England Patriots - CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
The Pats already traded Gilmore, and it sounds like JC Jackson may only be in New England for one more season so they go here with a super consistent outside guy. McCreary could develop for a year before stepping into the JC Jackson shoes.
30. Green Bay Packers - WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
He's rising up boards super fast, so the odds of him lasting this long are super slim. He's put up crazy numbers this year and looks like he's a serious downfield threat. The Packers at SOME point need to add weapons so this is an easy pick. Odds are he goes top 15 though come draft time.
31. Baltimore Ravens - DT Jordan Davis, Georgia
Perhaps a top 3 defensive player in college football this year, Davis is a monster of a man inside. He's not a pass rusher but Baltimore is getting really old on their defensive front and Davis can help stop the run with tremendous power.
32. Arizona Cardinals - WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
A crazy good deep threat, with the Cardinals relying on AJ Green, whoof, and Christian Kirk who will likely go get a good free agent deal elsewhere, the Cardinals need another good outside weapon. Burks is extremely difficult to guard and can make plays over the top on a consistent basis. He's got WR1 type juice.
Comments
Post a Comment