With the NFL draft tomorrow, I put together my predictions for what will happen, barring any trades.
1: Jacksonville Jaguars -Trevor Lawrence | QB | Clemson
What more needs to be said? Everything makes sense for this pick. The Jaguars need a star quarterback, Urban Meyer is excellent with young quarterbacks, and Trevor Lawrence is one of the great quarterback prospects of all time. Everyone has known that Lawrence would be the first overall pick in this draft since 2018, when he, as a freshman, led his Clemson Tigers to a National Championship over Nick Saban’s Alabama. He has everything you could want out of a quarterback prospect: a powerful and accurate arm, great size, but yet he can still run, he’s young but can expeditiously go through his progressions, all the while buying time in the prospect to avoid sacks. This guy is the real deal, and I can’t wait to see him light up the NFL. However, the question remains to see if Meyer can do what so many fantastic coaches before have failed at: successfully transitioning from college to the NFL. While I do believe Meyer has a good shot at being the first, it is far from certain. Luckily he can start his NFL career with someone of Lawrence’s caliber plus another first-round pick. He also made some additions in free agency. But I really really hope that Lawrence doesn’t have a career like Andrew Luck or Matthew Stafford (before his trade to LA, that is), all of the talent in the world, but with a consistently weak roster around him. We can’t lose another great quarterback to organizational issues. The Jaguars already sent Lawrence their playbook. He will be a Jaguar when he goes to sleep on April 29.
2: New York Jets – Zach Wilson | QB | BYU
The Jets had a rough year. It looked almost certain that they would get Lawrence until they suddenly won games towards the end of the year, against playoff teams, no less. But things are starting to look up. The Robert Saleh hire was fantastic, and he will bring the passion that Adam Gase never had. He will rally this team and motivate them to play harder than they ever had before in their lives. And while Wilson is not Lawrence, he is still an elite prospect in his own right. He would go first overall in most drafts. But, thanks to Lawrence, he’ll fall to number two. There are even people who would draft him over Lawrence. And while I wouldn’t go that far, it does show the caliber of Wilson. He is a playmaker, simple as that. So fun to watch. He can make any throw accurately without even setting his feet. He can manipulate the pocket to buy time and then make a throw that very few people in this world could make. I genuinely believe that the Jets will build around him well. They have plenty of draft capital because of the Jamal Adams and Sam Darnold trade and a lot of cap space. However, all of these resources don’t mean anything if they aren’t utilized well. However, I am a huge fan of Joe Douglass, so I am not afraid of that happening. I think Wilson will walk into an extraordinary situation around him and will love playing for Saleh. Don’t sleep on the Jets this year and for years to come.
3: San Francisco 49ers – Trey Lance | QB | North Dakota St.
The 49ers’ trade to this pick means that there are three guys in this class that they LOVE. The first two seem axiomatic: Lawrence and Wilson. The third one is where the questions are raised. Justin Fields seems like the “obvious” choice, but what is interesting about that is that the 9ers made this deal before Fields’ pro day. It would be odd for them to give up three first-round picks to draft someone before seeing him throw in person. Not only that, but John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan didn’t even go to Ohio St.’s pro day when it did happen. All of this makes me think that it isn’t Fields. This leaves two suspects: Trey Lance and Mac Jones. There are many rumors about Shanahan loving Mac Jones, and I admit that Jones is a great quarterback for the Shanahan system. But what doesn’t make sense to me about drafting Jones here is that they seem determined to keep Garoppolo this year, even though Jones is ready to start right away, at a level similar to or higher than Garoppolo. It just doesn’t make sense to trade three first-round picks for a guy that is at best marginally better than their current starter. I have more faith in Lynch and Shanahan than that. It just wouldn’t make sense. On the other hand, Lance is a project quarterback who could use a year as a backup before becoming the starter. And I am sure that Shanahan sees how fantastic Lance can be. He just needs to refine his play. But Lance has so much potential. A year in the Shanahan school will do wonders for him. In the 2022 season, he will have great success.
4: Atlanta Falcons – Kyle Pitts | TE | Florida
The Falcons don’t need a quarterback. There are too many people who believe that somehow drafting a quarterback is the right move for the Falcons. Their problem last year was not Matt Ryan, and they clearly realize that as they restructured his deal so that they are paying him more money later. Ryan still has some good years left, so instead of figuring out what will happen after that, they should try to capitalize on Ryan’s good play. (Because of this, there is an excellent chance they trade down with a quarterback-needy team.) One way to build a title-contending team would be to give him the best assortment of weapons outside Kansas City. Drafting Pitts would do that. One trend I have noticed in years past is that head coaches tend to draft players that play on the side of the ball they are familiar with in the first round. Last year, Stefanski (a former offensive coordinator) drafted Jedrick Wills, an offensive tackle, Ron Rivera (a former defensive coordinator) drafted Chase Young, a defensive end, and Mike McCarthey (a former offensive coordinator) drafted Ceedee Lamb, a wide receiver. I think Arthur Smith, the Titans former offensive coordinator, continues this trend to select the best non-quarterback in this class. Pitts would transform this offense into quite the formidable force. He is a nightmare for anyone covering him in man coverage with his incredible speed combined with his catch radius and body control. Pitts is the guy you design in Madden. He will carve up NFL defenses.
5: Cincinnati Bengals – Ja’Marr Chase | WR | LSU
This is a tough one. I have gone back and forth on this pick for weeks. It looks like the Bengals will have a really tough choice with this pick, and I am so intrigued to see what they do. Here is their situation: they have to choose between two future pro-bowlers who are some of the most talented players to come out of the draft from their prospective positions in years in wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and offensive tackle Penei Sewell. Do they ensure that their quarterback, Joe Burrow, has plenty of time to throw or great people to throw to? If I were in their shoes, I would pick Sewell, as I value an offensive lineman a lot more than a receiver. But this mock draft isn’t about what I would do, but rather what will happen. I think they become entranced with what Chase can do and run in the card. Plus, there is a rumor that Burrow wants to reunite with his former top target when they won the national championship, and he won the Heisman. And there is certainly a lot to like in Chase’s game. He is phenomenal after the catch, has plenty of speed, and can go up and get those 50/50 balls. And if there is a draft class where you would pass on Sewell, it is this one. There is so much depth in this class. And the Bengals could address their line with their second-round pick (which I assume they will turn into a first-round pick on draft night), as there are so many fantastic offensive linemen.
6: Miami Dolphins – Penei Sewell | OT | Oregon
I think we should all take a moment to appreciate the genius of Dolphins general manager Chris Grier. He somehow turned Laremy Tunsil into FOUR first-round picks. He is a magician. He is a realistic version of Sonny Weaver from Draft Day. Now, they are in a great spot at the sixth pick to get one of three offensive potential all-pros (Pitts, Chase, or Sewell). And I expect that they take whichever of those three aren’t taken yet. However, the Bengals or Falcons may trade down with a quarterback-needy team to draft Justin Fields, and then they suddenly get a choice between two of them. What I love about this scenario, where they draft Sewell, is that Tunsil, the left tackle that they traded to get this pick, isn’t as good as him. So, in summary, Grier got three more first-round picks (and more) to get a younger, cheaper, better left tackle. How? Sewell is a large, strong lineman and has a very high floor. They should slide Austin Jackson over to right tackle and put Jesse Davis in competition for a guard spot. Suddenly, Tua may get some time to throw. Sure, they may reunite Tua with his former receiver and take Devonta Smith, but Sewell is a much better prospect at a position of greater need.
7: Detroit Lions – Devonta Smith | WR | Alabama
Dan Campbell. Interesting guy. His first press conference was very confusing and did not inspire much confidence. I certainly don’t understand why they gave him a six-year contract. It is very possible that his team rallies around his fervor, but it will be a rough six years in Detroit if they don’t. However, Brad Holmes seems like a great GM, and I have more faith in him. This roster has more holes than fortified positions, so it will be interesting to see how Holmes fills them. (They are the front runner for the top pick in next year’s draft in my mind.) Sure, they could draft a quarterback here. However, their most enormous hole is certainly receiver. They lost their three top receivers in Kenny Golliday, Marvin Jones Jr., and Mohamed Sanu. They signed Tyrell Williams and some more, but that is far from a potent receiving corps for the NFL. Luckily, this is the draft class for them. There are plenty of great receivers available, including the first receiver to win the Heisman since 1991. Devonta Smith looks like he will be a great playmaker in the NFL and will instantly become Jared Goff’s best friend. He is slight, which is worrying for sure, but he can still go up and get throws if needed. He will be a step in the right direction for this Lions offense.
8: Carolina Panthers – Rashawn Slater | OT | Northwestern
In last year’s draft, the Panthers invested in defense heavily. And it looks like they found some great players. Now, they should work on their offense. They started this work by getting their quarterback, Sam Darnold. I originally had Fields in this spot. But as soon as I saw that they would pick up Darnold’s fifth-year option, I gave up on that dream. With quarterback taken care of, they can address their offensive line. (Although I think this is Kyle Pitts’ floor, if he is here with this pick, the Panthers will get the fastest guy in the building to sprint this pick in.) They franchise tagged Taylor Moton, but beyond him, there is minimal certainty on this O-line. They cannot go into the season with Cam Erving as left tackle and just hope Sam Darnold has a good year. They have to help him out. Many people believe that Slater is the top tackle in this draft, even over Sewell. He is a bright, athletic tackle/guard prospect with great feet. The value of Slater is that he doesn’t stop them from drafting a tackle in the second round if a great one falls to them. Should that happen, they can slide him over to guard, where he will likely play at an elite level. But, if they get great value elsewhere in the second round, they can leave Slater at left tackle, and he will have success there too. They could go corner here to get someone to complement Donte Jackson, who was fantastic last year, but I think Slater is a better player than Surtain, the top cornerback prospect in my mind. (Look for teams like the Patriots, Bears, or Washington to trade up if Fields is available here.)
9: Denver Broncos – Justin Fields | QB | Ohio St.
If you look at the Broncos roster, there aren’t too many holes. If Von Miller comes back strong and Lloyd Cushenberry progresses, this isn’t a bad team. Except for one position, quarterback. Drew Lock has done very little to inspire confidence since he was drafted. He has a lot of potential, but potential is not enough. Maybe the Broncos take Parsons here and fortify that defense while trusting Lock will pull it together this year, but I don’t think they can take that chance. I could see them trading up for Fields, but he falls to them at nine in this draft. Fields has all of the talent you could want from a quarterback, a strong arm that has tremendous accuracy, speed that can make men miss in the open field, and he is by all accounts a great kid to be around and a great leader. However, there are two significant concerns about Fields that caused him to fall to nine: his speed through progressions and ability to recognize the blitz. If he doesn’t clean these up when he gets in the league, he will undoubtedly be a bust. But, if he can work with Pat Shurmur and Mike Shula and address both of those concerns, he will flourish in the NFL. The duo of Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy can be lethal, Noah Fant has the talent to be a top-five tight end, and Melvin Gordon is a great running back. Fields would have the opportunity to be the general of this offense, and he could very well march them to victory.
10: Dallas Cowboys – Patrick Surtain | CB | Alabama
Mike McCarthey is not a bad coach, but he has some work to do. One year in, and most Cowboys fans have been requesting his firing. However, there is optimism in Dallas as they locked up their franchise quarterback. The constant discussions about Dak Prescott’s contract have finally ended. (At least for the next four years.) Franchise quarterbacks are hard to find, so locking one up long-term is always a cause for celebration. However, the Cowboys don’t have much money to spend in free agency because of the deal, which puts more pressure on them drafting studs regularly. Dallas got to have the fun pick last year with Ceedee Lamb, but now they have to draft for necessity. Their offense is a pretty good unit, but their defense is depleted. Outside of a few stars in their front seven, they don’t have that many playmakers. I know Jerry Jones sees Micah Parsons on the board and is licking his lips, but they have to draft a cornerback here. They have to. They lost their top CB in free agency when Chidobe Awuzie left and now need to replace him. With the Giants signing Kenny Golliday to team up with Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton and Washington signing Curtis Samuel to team up with Terry McLaurin, their top division rivals will have a field day against this weak secondary. Patrick Surtain will help stop them. He will reunite with his former Alabama teammate in Trevon Diggs in their secondary. I had Caleb Farley in this spot. But with his injury, Surtain is the top cornerback available. Surtain has terrific size and plenty of technique. He will match up well against Golliday and McLaurin when he plays one of them four times a year.
11: New York Giants – Micah Parsons | LB | Penn St.
Joe Judge seems like the real deal. He is running his team the right way, and now free agents want to come to New York because of him. The Giants had a terrific free agency where they addressed most of their most glaring needs, including a true number one receiver and a cornerback to complement James Bradberry. However, the need they almost ignored completely in free agency was edge rusher. So for a GM like Dave Gettlman, who loves his big men, he may fall in “full bloom love” with Rousseau here. I also think that Jalean Phillips, Rousseau’s teammate from Miami, is a REAL possibility here. Azeez Ojulari has been getting a lot of recognition too. And, if they trade down, they are almost certainly getting one of these edge rushers. However, the talent of Micah Parsons is too great to pass up. He will do wonders for this defense. He is a versatile, fast, big, strong playmaker who can play edge rusher or be a standard middle linebacker. Giants’ defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will have a field day with him. This is an ideal fit for both sides, Parsons will help the Giants win games, and the Giants will help him become the best player he can be. This would be fantastic. If they end up passing on Parsons for an edge rusher (a definite possibility), that would be a mistake.
12: Philadelphia Eagles – Jaycee Horn | CB | North Carolina
The Eagles need a defensive back. Simple as that. They can not afford to get the best player available since they have so many needs. Many people have them taking a receiver, but I don’t think that would be the best move. There is so much depth at receiver already. The other teams in their division now have some serious firepower on offense. They need someone to guard against Kenny Golliday, Ceedee Lamb, Amari Cooper, Terry McLaurin, and Sterling Shepard six games a year. They have no real lockdown corner since Darius Slay is not what they hoped and now on the wrong side of thirty. Horn is a tough, big playmaker on the outside who can match up well with NFL receivers, especially in man coverage. He is also just a fantastic competitor.
13: Los Angeles Chargers – Jaylen Waddle | WR | Alabama
The Chargers did it. They got their franchise quarterback. I am a huge Justin Herbert fan, and he will walk into the 2021 NFL season as one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in football. He makes every Chargers game worth watching. I don’t know quite why they hired a defensive head coach, as I would have loved to see him form a relationship with an offensive head coach that will last his whole career, kind of like the Reid-Mahomes duo. But there are plenty of great defensive head coaches out there, so I am not too critical of the move. However, the time to build around Herbert is now. I think this pick will either be an offensive lineman or a receiver, and I bet that whichever one they don’t take in the first round, they will take in the second. And luckily for them, those are the two positions with the most depth in this class. While Christian Darrisaw and Alijah Vera-Tucker are definite possibilities here, I have them addressing the offensive line in the second round and drafting the electric Jaylen Waddle. Waddle outplayed Heisman winner Devonta Smith whenever they were on the field together at Alabama. If he didn’t get injured last year, he would have likely secured a top ten pick. But instead, the Chargers get great value at pick 13. He also provides the versatility to either play in the slot or outside, although they would likely put him outside and slide Keenan Allen into the slot.
14: Minnesota Vikings – Greggory Rousseau | EDGE | Miami
There are several directions the Vikings could go with this pick, and they all have merit. Cornerback is obviously a significant need, and if Horn or Surtain are available, one of them would be a likely pick. Maybe they try to replace Riley Reiff at tackle or move Ezra Cleveland there and draft a guard. But Rousseau is more talented than any other player on the board and would work well in Minnesota’s 4-3 system. He would help make up for inadequacy in the secondary because he would force the quarterback to throw earlier, and thus, the DBs would have to guard their guys for longer. He would make that whole defense much better. They also know how vital an edge rusher is, as they traded for Yannik Ngakoue last year. So I think they take another swing at that position early in the draft. And they can get most people’s top edge rusher at this pick. I think they take a chance with Rousseau.
15: New England Patriots – Mac Jones | QB | Alabama
That was quite an offseason for the Patriots. Bill Belichick hated seeing Brady win a Super Bowl without him, so he wanted to follow suit. He just gave out big money contracts like they were candy, all to improve his team. Because of those moves, there aren’t too many holes to fill. Sure they need a good cornerback, maybe a contingency plan in case their best offensive linemen leave in free agency next year. But we all know Belichick is better than anybody else in the league at working with what he has in front of him. This means they are in a decent position to draft a quarterback. It is very possible that they move up for someone. But, even if they don’t, Mac Jones falls right into their laps. Jones should really be hoping that the rumors about the 49ers trading up for him are true because if they take Lance (as I think they should), it might be a long night for him. Although, I think it would be virtually impossible for him to get past 20 (Chicago’s pick), even if Belichick doesn’t take him at 15. Jones would fit New England very well. He is, by all accounts, a grinder and a hard worker. He understands how to run an offense and has a deadly accurate short passing game. This could work well with the type of offense Belichick has had success with in the past. Don’t get me wrong, Jones is no Tom Brady, but he is the closest thing to him in the draft. I know they re-signed Newton, but he is on a one-year deal and should by no means stop them from drafting another QB early. Jones works well here.
16: Arizona Cardinals – Christian Barmore | DL | Alabama
I am very intrigued to see how the Cardinals do this year. This is head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s last shot to prove he can coach a winning team before he is fired. Let’s see. They were very underwhelming last year and need to address the defense to turn it around. Sure, they could use another receiver and likely will take one early. But their defense needs work. They added/retained pressure off the edge, but they need a true force on the interior of that defensive line. They don’t really have a good, pure defensive tackle on the roster. And Barmore can step right in and be that guy. They are perceived to be a stronger team than they are. They could draft almost any position (other than quarterback and, maybe, edge rusher or offensive tackle), and it would address a position of need. Kingsbury will have to rally his guys to play better than they ever have before if they want to stand a chance in an increasingly competitive NFC West.
17: Las Vegas Raiders – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | LB | Notre Dame
Do you remember the hope the Raiders had when they hired Jon Gruden? Those were good times. He hasn’t even come close to being worth his $100 million contract. Luckily there are still plenty of years left on that deal to turn things around. Most likely, everyone will get this pick wrong, as Mike Mayock and Gruden tend to draft people in places they don’t belong. But there are plenty of positions of need for this Raiders team. I could see them taking an offensive lineman here (since, for some reason, they took a sledgehammer to that unit this offseason), and that would be a good pick. Tevin Jenkins and Christian Darrisaw are both very much in play, and I could see Jenkins really catch Mayock and Gruden’s eye. However, as I have said, this is a very deep lineman class, and the Raiders’ defense couldn’t stop anyone. JOK fits here like a glove for a team with a lot of offensive firepower in their division with Patrick Mahomes & Co., Justin Herbert, and a Broncos offense that is a quarterback away from being scary. He is very versatile and will really help this defense try to contain the units they consistently face.
18: Miami Dolphins – Kwity Paye | EDGE | Michigan
I don’t think Brian Flores could go through this first round and not draft a defensive player. They got a fantastic tackle with their first pick, and he will really help Tua perform, but they also need to address their defense. It isn’t because their defense is terrible (it certainly isn’t), but it could be improved. Flores has a defense background, and getting Paye here is excellent value. He is explosive and would help turn this front seven defensive line into one of the best in the league. I could see a linebacker like Zaven Collins being the pick here, but Paye is a better prospect and has terrific technique, size, and athleticism. He is also a very polished rusher and will immediately step in and improve this defense. I am also sure he will like the weather change from Michigan to Miami.
19: Washington Football Team – Christian Darrisaw | OT | Virginia Tech
This is a very talented Football Team. They have a defense with plenty of stars. And an offense that is a quarterback away from being a decent unit. I would not be surprised if they traded up to get one of the top five quarterbacks, as Ryan Fitzpatrick can’t be their long-term answer, and Taylor Heinicke is unproven. But since I don’t do trades in my mock drafts and no quarterback falls, they have to pick someone else. They could choose someone in the secondary as most of their defensive stars are on the defensive line. Caleb Farley is a candidate for this pick. But with the questions about his health and Christian Darrisaw on the board, I think he falls one more pick. Darrisaw would team up with Morgan Moses to form quite the tackle duo. It would allow Cornellius Lucas to be a swing tackle in case there is an injury. Darrisaw also has some of the same physicality as former Washington left tackle Trent Williams. He is big and powerful, he could use a little more development, but he could be elite at that position.
20: Chicago Bears – Caleb Farley | CB | Virginia Tech
I don’t know what is going on in Chicago. I have no idea why they would give Andy Dalton so much money to be a starter. Then, because of that signing, they had to release Kyle Fuller in the middle of his prime. There is a lot of dysfunction here, and fans are fed up with it. Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace are both on the hot seat this year, and most folks think that they already should have been fired. The Bears are another candidate to trade up to get a quarterback. This pick right here is the absolute floor for any of the top five quarterbacks. However, since they are all gone on this list, they could draft David Mills (whom many scouts believe will go in the first round) or address another need, such as the suddenly large hole at cornerback. The team gets fortunate here because, although Farley has the talent to go in the top ten, they could get him thanks to some injury concerns. But there are so many holes on this Bears team, they could draft any number of different prospects, and it would be addressing a need.
21: Indianapolis Colts – Jalean Philips | EDGE | Miami
The Colts have a good roster with a great coach. However, if they can navigate this draft well, they could have a fantastic roster. Their two most significant weak spots are at edge rusher and left tackle, and they could go either way with this pick. I would not be surprised if they trade up with their second-round pick to ensure they get both. Alijah Vera-Tucker is a definite possibility, as well as whichever left tackle they like the most, maybe Teven Jenkins. However, Phillips has too much talent and will make too much of an impact on this team to ignore. He, like Farley, would be a top ten pick if there weren’t so many questions about his durability. But, Phillips is a fantastic football player and would make this defense (coached by Matt Eberflus) into a formidable unit. He is large, powerful, quick with incredible moves, and gives tremendous value to be selected at pick 21.
22: Tennessee Titans – Rashod Bateman | WR | Minnesota
So it doesn’t look like Corey Davis was the right selection when they drafted him fifth overall in the 2017 draft. They declined his fifth-year option and let him walk in free agency. However, they made up for that lousy pick with a great value pick in getting AJ Brown in the second round. He has done nothing but produce since he arrived in Tennessee. However, it will be harder for him to put up similar stats if he is double-covered on every play, which is precisely what will happen if they don’t get another receiver. Josh Reynolds is not good enough to prevent this, but Rashod Bateman is. He isn’t the fastest, but he can still make plays with the ball in his hand and can play either in the slot or outside. He is an excellent complement to Brown and will quickly become great friends with Ryan Tannehil.
23: New York Jets – Travis Etienne | RB | Clemson
The Jets got their quarterback already, so why not give him a backfield friend. They could go in different directions with this pick, maybe get another tackle to form a duo with Becton. And I think they definitely will draft a tackle either here or with their second-round pick. But, above all, they need a running back. They can’t go into the season relying on Tevin Coleman to fill this role, so Etienne makes great sense here. He makes plays with the ball in his hand. He has great balance and can be a weapon in the passing game. He isn’t really a goal-line back, but he would undoubtedly do wonders for this Jets offense. Pro Football Focus refers to him as a “home run waiting to happen,” which is very accurate and very enticing. Also, recently hired head coach (Robert Saleh) and offensive coordinator (Mike Lafleur) are from San Francisco, where the offense is built around a running game with home run hitters like Etienne.
24: Pittsburgh Steelers – Najee Harris | RB | Alabama
It was a fun ride when the Steelers were 11-0; however, when that winning streak stopped, so did the luck in Pittsburgh. The remainder of the season showed how much of an outlier those first few games were. However, Mike Tomlin is a great motivator and knows how to coach a winning team. And I don’t expect him to stop anytime soon. It looks like they are going to stick with Ben Roethlisberger for at least another year. Whether or not that is the right choice, only time will tell. I was incredibly tempted to give them Tevin Jenkins here, as he fits the Pittsburgh mentality, and they need a new tackle with Alejandro Villanueva still a free agent. And I still think Jenkins is likely. However, I love this pick too much to not put it here. The Steelers can’t go into the season with Benny Snell at RB1. Especially since Art Rooney has committed to improving the running game. Najee Harris would fit in very well. I don’t know if his TikTok game is up to the Steelers’ standards, but his playing style sure is. He can catch balls out of the backfield and has great hands. He isn’t the fastest, but he is a big and strong runner.
25: Jacksonville Jaguars – Teven Jenkins | OT | Oklahoma St.
The Jaguars got their franchise quarterback with their first pick; now it is time to make sure he stays off the turf. Jenkins is everything you could want in a tackle prospect. He has size, power, and good technique and plays with so much passion. I loved how Brett Kollmann described him as having “borderline hatred for the defensive lineman.” That sure is what it looks like, that lineman just insulted him right before the play. But his technique is far better than people give him credit for. He is the guy in this class that I would least like to line up against. I know that they have Jawaan Taylor, but these coaches didn’t draft him. So they don’t have much invested in him and should have no problem pulling the trigger to get Jenkins here. He will step in at right tackle for the Jaguars on day one and protect his quarterback every game. He will also help James Robinson continue on his impressive rookie campaign.
26: Cleveland Browns – Zaven Collins | LB | Tulsa
The Browns did it, they made the playoffs. And they are set up for success again this year. They have a great general manager in Andrew Berry, and Keven Stefanski has done nothing but produce since arriving in Cleveland. Their roster is looking very good. They are also going to get Greedy Williams, Grant Delpit, and Odell Beckham back from injury. (Now the question is how much they give Baker Mayfield in an extension. But, I digress.) One of the few holes the team does have is at linebacker, and Collins would be a great addition. I fully expect them to add at least one more receiver at some point in the draft, and if they get good value, they might draft one here. But now, Collins is a great player at a position of need, so I think this would work well. He could step in at Will or Sam and take this defense to another level. He can cover and blitz and has all the size you could want at linebacker. He destroys running backs if they dare try to block him. He will take this defense to another level.
27: Baltimore Ravens – Terrance Marshall | WR | LSU
I think Marshall fits in Baltimore like a glove. They have a great slot receiver in Hollywood Brown and a great complementary weapon in Sammy Watkins. But they need that #1 receiver and know it. They were in on almost every receiver on the market, but for some reason, very few people wanted to go to Baltimore. As always, the Ravens have a great roster and very few needs other than a receiver. This gives them the opportunity to go all-in on a receiver this year. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see them move up to get one of the top receiver prospects. But I like Marshall going here. He fits the need for that true top target. He has great size and speed and can run any route. I can see him being the receiver that falls in the draft for some reason, making every team that passed look silly (see DK Metcalf, Chase Claypool, Michael Thomas, etc.). But I have him in the first round here, which will put him in a great situation.
28: New Orleans Saints – Greg Newsome | CB | Northwestern
We will all miss Drew Brees. He was a fantastic football player both on and off the field. Now, we see if Jameis Winston can play. The Saints had many opportunities to address the quarterback position in drafts past, but they put it off. I know that they also have Taysom Hill on the roster, but Winston has to be the quarterback. He has to be. The games with Hill were fun, but Winston is the better player. It would be very interesting if they drafted another QB here. But I don’t think they do. Instead, they will draft the best player available, which in this case is Greg Newsome. He is a smooth, big corner who knows his assignments and would slide in next to Marshon Lattimore to form an impressive tandem. The Saints have the ability to simply draft the best player available because of all the talent on their roster. However, drafting a cornerback gives Lattimore less leverage when he hits the open market and they are better covered if he goes somewhere else — something that is definitely possible with the Saints’ yearly cap issues. But if New Orleans wants to be competitive in the same division as the Buccaneers, they have to be able to cover all of the weapons in Tampa, which they are not well-equipped to do as their roster stands now.
29: Green Bay Packers – Nick Bolton | LB | Missouri
They shouldn’t have kicked the field goal. Anyway, let us all hope that the Packers don’t completely mess up their draft for the second year in a row. They could certainly address the offensive line to try to make up for the loss of Corey Linsley, or maybe they finally address the receiver position. But I have no reason to believe that they suddenly see the value of drafting receivers. There are plenty of ways to upgrade the team with this pick, but who knows what they will do. However, I have them upgrading at linebacker. Their offense will always be great with Aaron Rodgers, but he can’t help them on the other side of the ball. Bolton is not that physically gifted: he is not big or fast. However, he is a very hard worker and does everything he can to make plays despite his physical shortcomings. He simply understands the position and is a very smart player. He will help this Green Bay defense significantly. I can’t wait to see Bolton in the league. He is easy to route for. Jamin Davis is also a possibility here. But with most of the other teams in their division being very run-heavy, I think they pick someone better against the run with Bolton.
30: Buffalo Bills – Azeez Ojulari | EDGE | Georgia
Let’s go! Bills Mafia! You guys deserved this year. I love it when the Bills have a good team, and they finally do. Sean McDermott is one of the best coaches in the league, and Brandon Beane is a top general manager. I expect the Bills to be great for a long time. There is no reason to believe that they will go downhill anytime soon. Their offense is firing on all cylinders, but their defense could use a bit of work. Rumor is that they were in on the JJ Watt sweepstakes, but they didn’t end up signing anyone to help them on the edge. However, they have a great secondary, which made up for some problems they had rushing the passer. If they maintain their great secondary and can get a pass rush, too, their entire team will be borderline unstoppable. They need someone who can complement Jerry Hughes, and Ojulari can do that. They clearly like the “project” pass rushers as they drafted Ed Oliver. Ojulari is a nightmare to line up against. He needs to grow into his body a little bit, but he has a lot of potential to be a homewrecker for Buffalo.
31: Kansas City Chiefs – Alijah Vera-Tucker | OT | USC
So close, yet so far. The Chiefs had a fantastic year, but it is likely viewed as a failure because the Lombardi Trophy didn’t end up in Kansas City. Luckily, their Super Bowl window is wide open and will remain so for as long as Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback. The Chiefs are another team that could draft many different positions. Their defense always needs work, especially the front seven. But, for some reason, regardless of how many holes they have, the Chiefs defense seems to play well. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo deserves much credit for that. And we all know how Andy Reid loves to draft offensive players, so that is what I think they will do. There are two offensive positions they could address: offensive tackle and wide receiver. I think the latter is a definite possibility, especially with Sammy Watkins leaving in free agency. But they need to draft a tackle. They just have to. The main reason they lost the Super Bowl is their inability to protect the quarterback. It was horrible to see. In every play, Mahomes had Buccaneers in his face. And they just released both of their starting left tackles. They cannot go into the year with Mike Remmers and Andrew Wylie as their only tackles. Alijah Vera-Tucker likely won’t be available with this pick, but if he is, Andy Reid should be doing heel tap jumps. He would be a great addition for this line. Vera-Tucker can play both left tackle and guard at a very high level. As a left tackle, he would allow Remmers to go back to right tackle, and Wylie can slide inside to play guard. He is very smart and has great technique. While not the best athlete, he is a great football player.
32: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Levi Onwuzurike | DT | Washington
The Buccaneers have no needs. Not one. They had the best team in the league last year, and they retained every single starter from that Super Bowl. They could literally take any position, and it would be a good pick. They have such a luxury with that. Because Tom Brady is willing to play for relatively cheap, they can use the money they would have spent on him to help the rest of the team. Many quarterbacks sign big-money contracts and then get mad when they don’t have a great team around them as if they are not the problem. Not Brady, he is always willing to take pay cuts if it helps the team. (Granted, he does have a big brand and a really rich wife.) But now they have a loaded roster with no holes. They will either trade down or just take the best player available regardless of position. I have them taking Onwuzurike here as he is a great scheme fit and one of the best players available. He is explosive and strong and can give Ndamukong Suh some rest.
