Mock Draft 1.0: Filling the board after a week at the NFL Combine

KSR made the trip up I-65 and spent three days in downtown Indiananpolis as the best players in college football were meeting with representatives from all 32 NFL franchises last week. The mega event at the Indiana Convention Center completed phase two of the draft season.

Thanks to meetings and athletic testing scores, movement was made on all draft boards. Things in the draft world will simmer down over the next couple of weeks as free agency begins later this month in the NFL. The start of pro days later will mark the beginning of phase three.

However, that doesn’t mean a mock draft cannot be thrown out. After absorbing the buzz and seeing some of the numbers, we’re going to jump into the mock draft community to issue our own mock draft as we move forward into the football offseason.

We even adjusted our first-round mock after some franchise tags were placed, and Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos as the Seattle Seahawks are in blow-it-up mode.

No Kentucky Wildcats are coming off the board in the first round, but there are plenty of familiar names in the first 32 selections.

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 end in insolation, and be a valuable blitz player. Hamilton has All-Pro potential.

3.) Houston Texans: Evan Neal (T, Alabama)

The Texans need a lot of upgrades on the roster, and Laremy Tunsil could be on his way out. Therefore, Houston gets a potential franchise left tackle at No. 3, and Evan Neal wins out over Ikem Ekwonu. Neal is a former top-five recruit with great measurements (6-7, 337) and is the best true left tackle in this draft.

4.) New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux (EDGE, Oregon)

Outside of the top three, the Jets could get the steal of the draft. Kayvon Thibodeaux will fall to them here and the Oregon pass rusher as the highest ceiling in this year’s draft. There are questions about effort and disappearing in games, but at his best, Thibodeaux might be the best player in this class. He’s exactly the type of talent at edge rusher that a 4-3, Cover 3 defense needs. That’s what head coach Robert Saleh excelled at running in San Francisco.

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 than Charles Cross here as the ACC star could easily slide to offensive guard at any point. Positional versatility is one of Ekwonu’s biggest strengths.

6.) Carolina Panthers: Charles Cross (T, Mississippi State)

The Panthers are very much a candidate to take a quarterback, but for now, we’ll go with offensive line since this organization has a huge hole at left tackle. Charles Cross is just too good of a player to pass up as the SEC product in the best pass protector in this class.

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: Kenny Pickett (QB, Pittsburgh)

It’s no secret that the NFC East franchise needs a quarterback, and the organization is not hiding from that. A lot of pieces are available in Washington. Expect the Commanders to heavily pursue trade targets. For now, we give them the top QB on the board, but that could change if something wild happens before the draft arrives. Kenny Pickett had major production as a super senior and flashed pocket mobility with some secondary reaction plays on tape.

12.) Minnesota Vikings: Derek Stingley Jr. (CB, LSU)

The Vikings need a starting cornerback. With Derek Stingley Jr. dropping, the LSU prospect will be too good to pass up. The 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.

13.) Cleveland Browns: Travon Walker (DL, Georgia)

Like the Jets, the Browns need to find a true No. 1 receiver, but the knee injury to Jameson Williams will be enough to keep them away. Meanwhile, Travon Walker is a versatile piece who can play multiple spots on the defensive line and will bring great run defense value to a physical division. Cleveland enhances a nasty front with a prospect who possesses major size and explosiveness traits

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. With the new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald moving over from Michigan, the Ravens will have a versatile front, and Karlaftis can be a chess piece who has an effective pass rush plan.

15.) 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.

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

One year after adding DeVonta Smith, the Eagles turn right around and grab Alabama’s top wideout again. Jameson Williams is coming off a knee injury, but the Ohio State transfer is the top vertical threat in this draft with big-time run-after-catch ability. Philadelphia is quickly turning into Alabama East with Jalen Hurts at quarterback and Landon Dickerson on the offensive line.

17.) Los Angeles Chargers: Trent McDuffie (CB, Washington)

Whispers around Indianapolis were that many in the NFL believe Trent McDuffie was the best cornerback in the class. While I have my doubts about that, the Pac-12 prospect is a first-round talent, and the Chargers will jump at the chance to land him at No. 17 overall.

18.) New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State)

Saints could very easily go quarterback, but this is a roster that has some holes to fill. Assuming New Orleans decides to run things back with Jameis Winston, the best thing to do will be load up on young skill talent. Chris Olave is a versatile wide receiver 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. The Ohio State product can be a great No. 2 wide receiver in a top NFL offense.

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.

20.) Pittsburgh Steelers: Malik Willis (QB, Liberty)

Last season, the Steelers reached a bit by taking Najee Harris in the first round, and they’ll do the same in 2022. Malik Willis is a raw quarterback prospect with major traits and a big arm, but he needs some time to season. Pittsburgh will move forward with Mason Rudolph in the short term as the franchise attempts to develop Willis.

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.) Las Vegas Raiders: Trevor Penning (T, Northern Iowa)

Last season, the Raiders took Alex Leatherwood in the first round to play tackle and had to immediately move him to guard. With general manager Nick Caserio and head coach Josh McDaniels coming in, Vegas will fix that mistake this year by taking the top available true tackle. Trevor Penning is a mauler with great positional size that could play either tackle spot. The length and athleticism will give him a chance to develop into a high-end tackle thanks to the pass protection potential.

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: DeVonte Wyatt (DT, Georgia)

The Cowboys made huge strides on defense in 2021, but the interior was still lacking. Dallas addresses this by landing the best true 3-technique in the class. 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.

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 have their biggest needs at tight end and slot receiver, but those can be addressed later in the draft. Meanwhile, the offensive line is getting old quickly. Zion Johnson is the best guard in the draft who balled out at the Senior Bowl and had a great week in Indianapolis. The former Davidson transfer should be a day one starter in the AFC South.

27.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Green (iOL, Texas A&M)

After the surprise retirement of Ali Marpet, the Bucs offensive line is in danger. Starting center Ryan Jensen could leave in free agency leaving the interior wide open. Tampa Bay addresses this in round one by selecting Kenyon Green. The former five-star recruit has positional versatility and is a mauler at the point of attack with solid pass protection production at guard.

28.) Green Bay Packers: Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia)

Getting Aaron Rodgers a first-round wideout one day would be nice, but a guy just isn’t there at No. 28. Instead, NFL Combine MVP Jordan Davis is available, and the two-gapper can come in immediately and be an elite run stuffer for the Super Bowl contenders.

29.) Miami Dolphins: Tyler Linderbaum (C, Iowa)

Michael Deiter is heading into the final year of his contract, and new head coach Mike McDaniel has to begin building out a wide zone offensive line. Well, an elite outside zone center is available as the Dolphins scoop up Tyler Linderbaum at No. 29. The Dolphins will be just fine with the short measurements due to Linderbaum’s wrestling background and elite tape in an outside zone offense at Iowa.

30.) 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.

31.) Cincinnati Bengals: Perrion Winfrey (iDL, Oklahoma)

The Bengals will address offensive line in free agency leaving them a chance to help out defense in the first-round. It comes down to cornerback and defensive tackle. Here, Cincinnati will select Senior Bowl star Perrion Winfrey who is explosive as a 3-technique and can bring legitimate pass rushing value to the AFC North.

32.) Detroit Lions: Devin Lloyd (LB, Utah)

The biggest dropper is here as an off-ball linebacker is just not a huge need for most teams in the back half of the first round. That’s great news for the Lions who are searching for BPA and add a high floor inside linebacker that can make plays on all three downs. Devin Lloyd has a chance to be a top-10 player out of this draft class and would be an absolute steal at the end of the first round.