Mock Draft 2.0: Adjusting the board with new intel

We are officially in pro day season. NFL Draft prospects are working out for scouts throughout the country as the NFL Draft quickly approaches.

KSR will be on hand for Kentucky’s Pro Day on April 1 as some Wildcats look to lock in a draft spot. Before we get there, our draft department has decided to put together another mock draft after our first edition was issued during the NFL Scouting Combine.

Thanks to a crazy free agency period a lot has changed, but the doubts remain regarding this season’s quarterback crop.

1.) Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson (EDGE, Michigan)

Well, this is no longer a battle between Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal. With the Jaguars giving left tackle Cam Robinson the franchise tag, that signals that Jacksonville is not focused on an offensive tackle. Therefore, we go to defense. An edge rusher gets the focus, and Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson is the guy thanks to an elite motor and great speed-to-power moves. The testing and tape are off the charts for Hutchinson. Josh Allen could be looking for a new home soon.

2.) Detroit Lions: Kyle Hamilton (S, Notre Dame)

After an expected down season, the Detroit Lions remain very much in best player available (BPA) mode. That should be the case throughout this draft. Thanks to a wide variance in this class, this player could be anyone’s guess. For my money, it’s Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton who can thrive in a split safety scheme but can also play some nickel snaps, cover tight ends in insolation, and be a valuable blitz player. Hamilton has All-Pro potential.

3.) Houston Texans: Kayvon Thibodeaux (EDGE, Oregon)

Right now, it appears that the Texans are keeping left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Therefore, Houston will look at defense first and Kayvon Thibodeaux is the best player on the board. The former five-star recruit is an elite edge rusher that checks a lot of boxes and should be able to succeed in any scheme.

4.) New York Jets: Travon Walker (DL, Georgia)

The biggest winner of the draft circuit has been the former five-star recruit that was often the forgotten man on a loaded Georgia defense. Travon Walker has great measurables to go along with elite athleticism and the ability to be a versatile rusher that has All-Pro potential. The fast riser is a touch raw but all the tools are there to be a dominant force.

Travon Walker is a DE prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.99 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 3 out of 1428 DE from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/CzmPz8MWg5 #RAS pic.twitter.com/ZEisW2Otiy

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 25, 2022

5.) New York Giants: Ikem Ekwonu (T, NC State)

The Giants appear committed to running it back with Daniel Jones at quarterback. Therefore, new general manager Joe Schoen needs to address the offensive line. Andrew Thomas has solidified a tackle spot, and Ikem Ekwonu could lock up another. Due to the total need at offensive line, Ekwonu makes more sense here since he could play both guard or tackle for the Giants as Brian Daboll starts a rebuild in the NFC East.

6.) Carolina Panthers: Evan Neal (T, Alabama)

Perhaps the best player in the class will fall all the way to the Panthers at No. 6. Evan Neal is a former five-star recruit with great measurements (6-7, 337) and has the look of a prototypical left tackle. After building the offensive line in free agency, the Panthers double down with Neal.

7.) New York Giants: Jermaine Johnson II (EDGE, Florida State)

The first real stretch of the draft comes from the Giants. After addressing the offensive line, New York takes a chance on Jermaine Johnson II. The former junior college transfer spent time at Georgia and Florida State in college. He was the star of the Senior Bowl that measured in at 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds. There is big-time potential, and Johnson has the skill set to be a day one starter with a great combo of twitch, power, and speed.

8.) Atlanta Falcons: Garrett Wilson (WR, Ohio State)

With Calvin Ridley now suspended for the season, the Falcons need a true No. 1 at wide receiver. Atlanta lands that with Garrett Wilson. The Ohio State product is small (5-11.6, 183), but the former five-star recruit plays bigger than that with a 6-foot-4 wingspan and a sub 4.4 forty-yard dash. Wilson can beat press man, has great run after the catch skills, and can be used in the slot. The Austin (Texas) Lake Travis alum is WR1 and will be an instant starter in the NFC South.

9.) Seattle Seahawks: Sauce Gardner (CB, Cincinnati)

Thanks to other needs, the cornerback position will get slept on early. That will be good for teams who need a corner. Sauce Gardner locked up CB1 honors at the NFL Combine and will be an instant starter in Seattle that will choose to rebuild their roster while giving Drew Lock a one-year tryout following the Russell Wilson trade with Denver.

10.) New York Jets: Drake London (WR, USC)

After addressing defense, the Jets now must support Zach Wilson by finding a true No. 1 threat that can play outside the numbers. It comes down to Drake London and Jameson Williams with the former winning out. London is a big X receiver with tremendous 50/50 catchability. Wilson gets a young weapon to team up with Elijah Moore on the outside.

11.) Washington Commanders: Derek Stingley Jr. (CB, LSU)

Washington decided to roll the dice with Carson Wentz. Now the NFC East organization must address other needs. With the top wideouts off the board, the Commanders move to defense to addresse cornerback. Derek Stingley Jr. is a former five-star recruit was one of the best players in college football as a true freshman before battling injuries and putting subpar play on tape over the last two years. However, the upside is extremely high as Stingley has all the tools to turn into a lockdown corner.

12.) Minnesota Vikings: Trent McDuffie (CB, Washington)

The Vikings have to address cornerback and with Kirk Cousins returning to play quarterback, the defense gets the attention in Minnesota. The NFC North franchise goes with Trent McDuffie who many believe is the best cornerback in this draft.

13.) Houston Texans: Charles Cross (T, Mississippi State)

The Texans are in BPA mode and with Charles Cross falling this is an easy decision. The prototypical left tackle is the best pass blocker in this haul and underrated in the run game after playing in an Air Raid offense. Houston now has a succession plan for Laremy Tunsil.

14.) Baltimore Ravens: George Karlaftis (EDGE, Purdue)

George Karlaftis is a 4-3 defensive end who logged elite explosive scores at the combine. That likely means positional versatility. After missing out on Za’Darius Smith in free agency, the Ravens address pass rush early in the draft by landing a prospect with a great motor and the potential to play multiple positions.

15.) Philadelphia Eagles: Jameson Williams (WR, Alabama)

To team up with DeVonta Smith, the Eagles go wide receiver with their first pick of three in the first road and land a speedster who can be the the ultimate vertical target. Jameson Williams is recovering from an ACL injury, but will give the Philadelphia offense a different element in the passing game.

Jameson Williams is the type of vertical threat that warrants so much respect from the defense

Steelers Mike Wallace vibes when watching him – similar speed, explosiveness and body type pic.twitter.com/XqUiHSaOE0

— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) March 25, 2022

16.) Philadelphia Eagles: Nakobe Dean (LB, Georgia)

The measurements aren’t great, but the tape is just too good to pass up. Nakobe Dean is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker with pop that is an absurd pass rusher as a blitzer. The former five-star recruit can succeed in multiple schemes and has a very similar game to Devin Bush Jr. who was a previous top-10 pick. Eagles add an instant starter.

17.) Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)

The Chargers must fix the run defense this offseason. Landing the top run defender in the first round will help them do that. Jordan Davis is a two-gapper who can come in immediately and be an elite run stuffer. With some strong athletic scores, there may be more there than expected as a pass rusher from the large nose tackle.

18.) New Orleans Saints: Malik Willis (QB, Liberty)

The Saints dive first and take the first quarterback of the draft. After signing Jameis Winston to a two-year deal, New Orleans has its succession plan at quarterback. Malik Willis is an athletic playmaker with a bazooka arm and a very high ceiling. His skills will need to be refined and that will happen in the NFC South where he’ll get a redshirt year as Winston tries to lead the Saints backs to the playoffs.

19.) Philadelphia Eagles: David Ojabo (EDGE, Michigan)

David Ojabo had big-time production as an edge rusher and showed some elite athleticism at the NFL Combine. The Eagles jump at the chance to enhance their pass rush with this toolsy high-ceiling rusher but Ojabo could be a developmental player. The Achilles injury won’t scary Philadelphia away after the Eagles just re-signed Derek Barnett on a short-term deal.

20.) Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett (QB, Pittsburgh)

The Steelers signed Mitch Trubisky, but need to start building for the future. The storied franchise will roll the dice with Kenny Pickett who just spent five years playing quarterback at Heinz Field. The small hands combined with four middling years are a concern, but Pickett looked like a pro in his final year at Pitt and has playmaking ability as an off-platform passer that sees the whole field and can throw the ball with accuracy at all three levels.

21.) New England Patriots: Andrew Booth Jr. (CB, Clemson)

The Pats need to get Mac Jones a true No. 1 receiver, but this is not the place to do it in the draft. Meanwhile, the defense fell apart down the stretch and is losing star cornerback J.C. Jackson to free agency. Therefore, Bill Belichick gets the top corner available in the first round. Andrew Booth Jr. has high positional athleticism with some big tackling moments on tape. He just needs to become more consistent.

22.) Green Bay Packers: Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State)

After losing Davante Adams, the Packers have to get Aaron Rodgers a wide receiver. Chris Olave is a versatile wideout that is the best route-runner in the class with big-time speed. The ceiling isn’t as high as the other prospects thanks to a lack of physicality, but Olave can do just about everything else on the field. Don’t be surprised if he leads the Packers in receiving as a rookie.

23.) Arizona Cardinals: Treylon Burks (WR, Arkansas)

Kyler Murray is not happy with the Cardinals franchise. How do you make QB1 happy? Pay him or give him more weapons. After a lackluster NFL Combine performance, Treylon Burks will on day one and fall to Arizona. The big slot receiver is at his best as a gadget player getting the ball in schemed-up designs — handoffs, screens, isolation reads. Burks could serve as a nice replacement if Arizona loses Christian Kirk.

24.) Dallas Cowboys: Trevor Penning (T, Northern Iowa)

The Cowboys lost starters Connor Williams (Dolphins) and La’El Collins (Bengals) to free agency. Dallas must now rebuild the offensive line to protect Dak Prescott. Trevor Penning is a mauler with great positional size that could step in and start day one as a right tackle. The length and athleticism will give Penning a chance to develop into a high-end tackle thanks to the pass protection potential.

25.) Buffalo Bills: Kaiir Elam (CB, Florida)

The Bills have a huge need at cornerback and should address it in the first round. Taking Kaiir Elam will be a stretch, but the Florida product has terrific size and speed. When in the lineup, teams schemed away from the former top-50 recruit in Todd Grantham’s complex scheme.

26.) Tennessee Titans: Zion Johnson (iOL, Boston College)

The Titans are running it back with Ryan Tannehill, but have done a good job getting him weapons in free agency adding wide receiver Robert Woods and tight end Austin Hooper. However, the offensive line is getting old and a replacement plan must be made now. Zion Johnson balled out at the Senior Bowl and had a great week in Indianapolis at the combine. The former Davidson transfer should be a day one starter in the AFC South thanks to his ability to anchor in pass protection along with the skill set to succeed in multiple run blocking schemes.

27.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DeVonte Wyatt (iDL, Georgia)

Tom Brady has returned and the Bucs have given him an assortment of weapons on offense. Now Tampa Bay must build the defense through the draft. DeVonte Wyatt is a bull at the line of scrimmage with underrated short-area burst/wiggle. The Georgia defensive tackle has a good blend of pass rush and run-stopping ability. Exactly what every defense is looking for from interior players. Wyatt is another athletic freak.

Devonte Wyatt is a DT prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.56 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 62 out of 1378 DT from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/bjyfDxhOm7 #RAS pic.twitter.com/NoudTHBonR

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 25, 2022

28.) Green Bay Packers: Devin Lloyd (LB, Utah)

After addressing wide receiver, the Packers will shift over the defense. Green Bay just paid De’Vondre Campbell in free agency, but still has needs at linebacker. At No. 28, Devin Lloyd is the top prospect on the board who can play three downs at both Mike and Will. The perennial NFC North favorites get a steal at the end of the first round.

29.) Kansas City Chiefs: Boye Mafe (EDGE, Minnesota)

Kansas City is also in the market who another wide receiver, but that will have to come later. The pass rush needs improvement, and Boye Mafe could be the long-term answer at defensive end. At 6-foot-4 and 261 pounds, Mafe had excellent athletic scores and recorded 11.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

30.) Kansas City Chiefs: Jahan Dotson (WR, Penn State)

Tyreek Hill is out and Patrick Mahomes needs a deep threat. Kansas City grabs Jahan Dotson as the Penn State product is a 5-foot-11 speedster with great ball skills in the vertical passing game. The Big Ten receiver will be a field stretcher on both go routes and deep crossers to open up the intermediate game for Andy Reid’s offense.

31.) Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Linderbaum (C, Iowa)

Cincinnati loaded up on offensive line in free agency and they’ll do the same in the first round when the best center falls to them. Tyler Linderbaum is a scheme fit for Zac Taylor’s wide zone offense and could be a long-time starter for Joe Burrow as the Bengals could have a top-10 offensive line overnight.

32.) Detroit Lions: Arnold Ebiketie (EDGE, Penn State)

To start the draft, the Lions miss our on an edge rusher as the Jaguars scoop up Aidan Hutchinson, but Detroit addresses the spot at the end of the first round. Arnold Ebikeite is a twitchy speed rusher who can turn the corner thanks to lean and burst off the snap.