Mike Anania’s 3 Round Mock Draft with Trades

The NFL draft is less than 1 week away. For some of us, this is better than Christmas. We spend countless hours analyzing players, teams, schemes, and every little detail that may provide some insight as to where the best draft-eligible collegiate players will end up and how teams will shape their rosters. In this article, we will analyze team needs and the best prospect fits for teams picking in round 1. 1. Jacksonville Jaguars – TEAM NEEDS: OT, EDGE, WR BEST FITS 1) Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan – The player most likely to go #1 overall, Hutchinson has everything you want in an edge rusher at the next level. He can win with athleticism and/or strength. He’s a smart player and holds up well against the run. He also possesses a relentless motor and has been a very productive player throughout his career at Michigan. 2) Evan Neal, OT, Alabama – Neal is a mountain of a man, standing 6’7” and nearly 360 pounds. He also has plenty of mobility for a man of his size and should hold up well against speed rushers off the edge. He possesses the desired arm length and feet for an elite NFL tackle. 3) Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon – Thibodeaux may have the highest ceiling of any player in this draft. But, some questions about his character may cause him to fall on draft day. Either way, Thibodeaux is an athletic specimen, the freakish athletic ability. He was constantly double-teamed during his college career, yet still found away to live in opponents’ backfields. If teams are satisfied with the character issues, he won’t fall very far. THE PICK: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan – This pick makes way too much sense. The Jags certainly could try to protect last year’s #1 overall pick, Trevor Lawrence, but Hutchinson could be a decade-long anchor for a rebuilding defense. 2. Detroit Lions – TEAM NEEDS: QB, WR, EDGE BEST FITS 1) Hutchinson 2) Thibodeaux 3) Malik Willis, QB, Liberty – Willis is a polarizing prospect at the most important position in football. He is extremely athletic with a huge arm. Questions are present about his ability to decipher defenses and pull the trigger on tight window throws. He will most likely redshirt during his rookie season, regardless of landing spot, but there is so much upside present that most QB-needy teams will consider pulling the trigger on Willis. THE PICK: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon – By the time the draft rolls around, I expect the rumors surrounding Thibodeaux’s character to have settled down. The talent is far too great to not take a swing on a player with franchise-altering upside. The Lions may fall in love with the idea of taking Willis and letting him sit behind incumbent Jared Goff, but I’m not convinced he is their guy. 3. Houston Texans – TEAM NEEDS: EDGE, CB, S BEST FITS 1) Kyle Hamilton – Hamilton didn’t test as well as most would have liked or anticipated. But the play speed is faster than his practice times would indicate. He’s a big, physical safety that can play around the line of scrimmage or drop and play centerfield. Questions are there about his ability to match up with athletic TEs in space, but he should be able to use his strength to jam anyone at the line and hold up in coverage. 2) Thibodeaux 3) Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati – “Sauce” Gardner has just about everything you would look for in a shutdown corner. He’s tall, he’s long, he’s athletic, and he can run. The next touchdown he allows in coverage will be the first touchdown he has ever allowed. The biggest knock on Gardner is how handsy he can be. If he can refine his technique, he could become a truly elite player and an extremely important position. THE PICK: Trade down! The Carolina Panthers will jump from #6 to #3 to land QB Malik Willis. The Panthers know they need to take a swing at a long-term starting quarterback and they believe Willis possesses the traits to become a true franchise cornerstone. He is a work in progress, but they can tread water with Sam Darnold and/or PJ Walker until Willis is ready. 4. New York Jets – TEAM NEEDS: CB, WR, EDGE BEST FITS 1) Gardner 2) Thibodeaux 3) Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida St – Johnson has drastically improved his draft stock over the last year. He’s an outstanding pass rusher, whether he is standing up or with his hand in the ground. He can move around the defensive formation and create havoc off either edge or through the A-gap. Johnson is a bit of a chess piece that will hear his name called very early on day 1. THE PICK: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati – “Sauce” has a New York personality. He oozes confidence and backs it up. With Josh Allen in the division, the Jets know they need help on the back end and there may not be a better player/team match than this. 5. New York Giants – TEAM NEEDS: OT, WR, CB BEST FITS 1) Gardner 2) Neal 3) Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina St – Ekwonu is a mean, mean football player. He plays with a nasty streak that should be a requisite for every offensive lineman. Some teams may view him as more of a guard, but I believe he has more than enough ability to stick on the edge. THE PICK: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama – The Giants need to add talent to their offensive line. Current LT Andrew Thomas improved mightily during the 2021 season, but that isn’t nearly enough for the Giants. Neal is the best offensive lineman in this class and the Giants will find a way to fit both Thomas and Neal in the same lineup moving forward. 6. Carolina Panthers – TEAM NEEDS: QB, OT, CB BEST FITS 1) Willis 2) Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt – Pickett may be the most NFL-ready QB in the class. He’s accurate with the ball and has plenty of mobility. He has impressed during the draft process and could find himself as the top signal caller selected. However, many scouts are very concerned about his small hands and ability to grip the ball, especially in bad weather. While I don’t think it will cause him to fall on draft day, it is something worth monitoring. 3) Ekwonu THE PICK: TRADE! As noted earlier, the Panthers move up to #3 to secure Willis’ services. After trading down, the Texans still land Kyle Hamilton, the safety from Notre Dame, and one of the top overall players on their draft board. Hamilton projects as an immediate impact player at a position of need and helps give the Texans a key piece to build around. 7. New York Giants – TEAM NEEDS: OT, WR, CB BEST FITS 1) Gardner 2) Derek Stingley, Jr, CB, LSU – Stingley’s freshman season at LSU was one of the most impressive seasons you’ll ever see from a freshman corner. He showcased elite playmaking ability, speed, quickness, and shadow ability. However, he has been plagued by injuries ever since. He recently was medically cleared for full participation during the offseason program and performed so well at his pro day that scouts can’t help but be reminded about how much upside Stingley truly possesses. 3) Pickett THE PICK: Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU – After landing Evan Neal just two picks earlier, the Giants look to the other side of the ball. James Bradberry is likely to be traded during the draft due to his huge salary, so the Giants need to find someone that can fill Bradberry’s big shoes. Stingley is ready from both an athletic and a technical standpoint and would be a tremendous pick. 8. Atlanta Falcons – TEAM NEEDS: EDGE, WR, QB BEST FITS 1) Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia – A meteoric rise during the draft process, Walker is huge for an edge rusher with athleticism to spare. Teams are clearly enamored with his natural gifts, but his on-field production is spotty at best. Among the edge rushers with a 1st round grade, Walker is last in pass rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus. Coming in around 10%, he falls well shy of the 25% number that Hutchinson and Thibodeaux surpass. To me, he’s the risky pick, but one with an enormous ceiling. 2) Pickett 3) Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio St – Wilson may be the most complete WR in this class. He possesses elite athleticism and can win at all three levels. He may not be the biggest, standing 6 foot even, but he shows strength at the catch point and physicality at the line of scrimmage. Running a sub-4.4 40 at the combine secured Wilson’s place among the best WR prospects in the class and I expect him to come off the board in the top half of round 1. THE PICK: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia – The Falcons are in a rebuild and could look to draft their future signal caller, but with Willis off the board, they take the defensive player with the highest ceiling. Cornerback AJ Terrell has proven to be one of the best corners in football, so now they attack the pass rush, a position they desperately need to upgrade. 9. Seattle Seahawks – TEAM NEEDS: QB, OT, CB BEST FITS 1) Ekwonu 2) Pickett 3) Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi St – Cross is an athletic mover of bodies along the offensive line. His footwork is excellent and he shows outstanding awareness when the defenses blitz and/or stunt. He may not be the biggest or strongest tackle in the draft, but he’s more than capable of holding up against power rushers. THE PICK: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt – Seattle has a tough decision to make here. Pickett is widely viewed as the most NFL-ready QB in the draft, but rumors say that Seattle does like newly-acquired QB Drew Lock and is ready to give him a chance to win the job. It never hurts to have competition at the most important position on the field, however. And, with Pickett, Seattle gets a smart, mobile QB, that won’t be afraid to take chances to big play WR DK Metcalf. 10. New York Jets – TEAM NEEDS: CB, WR, EDGE BEST FITS 1) Jermaine Johnson 2) Wilson 3) Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama – Williams is the most explosive WR in the draft, but he is coming off a torn ACL. If doctors are pleased with how his rehab is coming, there is still a legitimate chance he is the top WR taken on draft day. Without the injury, teams would be salivating over the chance to take a true game-changing threat that can be moved all over the formation to create mismatches. THE PICK: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio St – While the Jets are tempted to take either Johnson or Williams, they settle on Wilson, the complete WR who should fit really well with Corey Davis and Elijah Moore to give 2nd year starting QB Zach Wilson a nice set of weapons with which to work. 11. Washington Commanders – TEAM NEEDS: WR, IOL, CB BEST FITS 1) Ekwonu 2) Williams 3) Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington – McDuffie may not possess the ideal size for NFL teams, but he is a truly incredible athlete. He has elite short area quickness, explosiveness, and long speed. He may be the best true shadow corner in this draft, and would be a lock for the top 10 if he were 6’1” instead of 5’11”. THE PICK: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina St – In this scenario, Ekwonu falls much farther than anyone would expect leading into the draft. The Commanders need to improve up front, especially after the loss of long-time guard Brandon Scherff, and Ekwonu can fit where needed, whether at guard or tackle. His mean streak is exactly what teams covet when picking the big boys up front. 12. Minnesota Vikings – TEAM NEEDS: CB, LB, WR BEST FITS 1) McDuffie 2) Williams 3) Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson – Booth has good size for a perimeter CB and has showcased an ability to shadow opposing receivers. He uses his length extremely well to avoid penalties and break up passes. He has excellent feet and change-of-direction ability which should afford him the opportunity to be extremely aggressive at jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. THE PICK: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington – The Vikings really need help in the secondary. Patrick Peterson is back, but is getting older. Cameron Dantzler has flashed at times, but the Vikings need to find someone that can shadow receivers. They have an excellent bookend duo of pass rushers wit Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter, but the defense must fill holes on the back end. McDuffie does just that and gives new GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah his first ever draft pick. 13. Houston Texans – TEAM NEEDS: EDGE, CB, S BEST FITS 1) Johnson 2) George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue – A very big man, Karlaftis is not lacking for athleticism, posting a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.2. He can win with speed, power, or quickness. Karlaftis would fit any scheme and his versatility would be a great fit for almost any defense. 3) Williams THE PICK: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida St – Johnson’s versatility will be a huge boost for Lovie Smith and the Texans. He can rush from a variety of positions, giving a new look to a defense that needs an overhaul. With S Kyle Hamilton also becoming a Texan, Smith has a couple of building blocks with which to work. 14. Baltimore Ravens – TEAM NEEDS: OT, CB, DT BEST FITS 1) Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia – The behemoth from Georgia impressed at the combine running in the 4.8 range for the 40-yard dash. He possesses unlimited strength and cannot be moved in the run game. He wasn’t asked to rush the passer all that much during his college career, but many scouts think he has a lot of untapped potential in that area. 2) Cross 3) Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa – Penning is another huge offensive tackle with plenty of athleticism. He is a true road grader and has the ability to overpower defenders on the edge and at the second level. He has the adequate footwork to handle power rushers, but he will be a cornerstone blind side blocker for whichever team takes the mid-major product. THE PICK: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia – The Ravens love to have an immovable object anchoring their defensive line, and that is just what Davis is. He will be the latest in a long line of elite nose tackles, with the upside for so much more. If the Ravens can tap into the pass rush potential, they will have a steal in the middle of round 1. 15. Philadelphia Eagles – TEAM NEEDS: CB, WR, S BEST FITS 1) Williams 2) Booth 3) Drake London, WR, USC – London is an elite WR prospect in the mold of Mike Evans. He is huge, standing roughly 6’4” and 220 pounds. He is tremendous at using his physicality, both at the line of scrimmage and at the catch point. He uses his body well to shield defenders and make difficult catches look routine. Some question his ability to separate, but he understands the finer points of route running to create enough separation for any QB to utilize his massive catch radius. THE PICK: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama – The Eagles have an up-and-coming star in WR DeVonta Smith, but they need someone else to open the field. Williams is a dynamic playmaker with truly elite speed. He fits really well with Smith and TE Dallas Goedert to give QB Jalen Hurts a fantastic trio of playmakers. Williams is coming off an ACL injury, so the Eagles will need to make sure the medicals check out before sprinting to the podium with this pick. 16. New Orleans Saints – TEAM NEEDS: QB, OT, S BEST FITS: 1) Cross 2) Penning 3) Chris Olave, WR, Ohio St – Olave is a route-running savant, creating separation with ease. He understands leverage and uses his elite quickness to create space at any level of the defense. He isn’t the biggest receiver in the draft, standing only 6’, but he can be utilized as an asset in the red zone because of his short area quickness and his recognition of coverages. THE PICK: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi St – With long time LT Terron Armstead bolting for Miami, the Saints opt for their next decade-long starter. They certainly could opt for a receiver, such as Olave or London, but the Saints have always been a team that values protecting the quarterback and building in the trenches. Cross fits perfectly and can be penciled into the lineup from day 1. 17. Los Angeles Chargers – TEAM NEEDS: DT, G, EDGE BEST FITS 1) Davis 2) Karlaftis 3) Zion Johnson, G, Boston College – Johnson has had a pretty incredible rise throughout the draft process. Many saw him as a mid-2nd round pick early on, but he has passed every test with flying colors. He can fit any scheme due to his elite combination of strength, footwork, athleticism, and anchor ability. In a class deep with offensive tackles and lacking a ton of interior line prospects, Johnson should find his way into the back half of round 1. THE PICK: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue – The Chargers have had one heck of an offseason, adding Khalil Mack and JC Jackson to a team littered with pro bowl talent. Mack, however, is getting older and the Chargers know they need as many pass rushers as possible. Teaming Karlaftis with Mack and Joey Bosa, among others, gives this team a scary pass rush, capable of disrupting the passing game of almost any team in football. 18. Philadelphia Eagles – TEAM NEEDS: CB, WR, S BEST FITS 1) Booth 2) Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah – Lloyd has solid size for a modern linebacker, but his athleticism is his calling card. He is a true sideline-to-sideline defender, using his speed, but also his intelligence, to make plays all over the field. He also has excellent timing on blitzes and has a knack for beating blocks to make plays in the backfield. 3) Daxton Hill, CB/S, Michigan – Hill is listed as a safety, but has the ability to line up at any spot in the defensive backfield. He is an excellent athlete, possessing incredible explosion. Coupled with his footwork and change-of-direction skills, Hill can absolutely shadow receivers both on the perimeter and in the slot. Using him as a chess piece, defenses will be able to create mismatches and confusion for opposing QBs. THE PICK: Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan – The Eagles could certainly use another pure cover-corner opposite Darius Slay, but here, they opt for Hill who gives them the desired versatility they covet. Hill will be a day one starter at safety, but his ability to move around will give the Eagles an opportunity to match personnel on their terms. This is an outstanding player that deserves a ton of round 1 love. 19. New Orleans Saints – TEAM NEEDS: QB, OT, S BEST FITS 1) Olave 2) London 3) Booth THE PICK: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio St – After securing their left tackle with Charles Cross, the Saints double up on offense and take the playmaker they desperately need in Olave. Michael Thomas has been injured for the better part of two seasons, so the Saints know they need someone reliable for QB Jameis Winston. Olave can win at all three levels, making him a perfect fit for the gunslinging Winston. If defenses key on Thomas and Alvin Kamara, Olave has a chance to produce big numbers early on. 20. Pittsburgh Steelers – TEAM NEEDS: QB, OT, CB BEST FITS 1) Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina – Howell throws the best deep ball of any QB in this class. While not having the strongest arm, he throws the deep ball with precision and touch. He also has enough mobility to create when the pocket breaks down, and has the ability to throw on the move. He needs to improve with his ball placement in the short to intermediate areas of the field, but teams love his moxie. 2) Penning 3) Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss – Corral is another dual-threat QB that possesses plenty of upside. He’s “only” 6’1” and 210 pounds, so teams may be concerned with how he’ll hold up at the next level. He has plenty of arm strength and can make all the throws. He does need to improve on his decision making, both as a thrower and as a scrambler. If teams can refine certain parts of his game, he has a chance to be an above average NFL starting QB. THE PICK: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina – The Steelers signed Mitchell Trubisky this offseason to be their starting QB. But his track record is not great and the Steelers know they still need to address the position, sooner or later. In this scenario, they failed in their efforts to trade up for Malik Willis, so they take Howell, a college-tested QB that has plenty of talent to take advantage of the outstanding weapons the Steelers possess. Offensive line may be a bigger short-term need, but they feel they can continue to address the line on day 2. 21. New England Patriots – TEAM NEEDS: CB, WR, DT BEST FITS 1) Booth 2) London 3) Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas – Entering the draft cycle, many pundits perceived Burks as the top receiver in the draft. After all, he has excellent size and showed plenty of playmaking skills during his collegiate days. However, his athletic testing at the combine is causing teams to re-think their stance on Burks. Even with a bit of a fall, I don’t expect Burks to fall out of round 1. THE PICK: Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson – The Patriots lost Stephon Gilmore to a trade last year, and let JC Jackson walk this offseason. There is a clear need on the back end of the defense in order for the Patriots to compete in an extremely difficult AFC. In Booth, they get a star in the making. There is an argument to be made for him being the best corner in the draft and he could be a huge steal at pick #21. 22. Green Bay Packers – TEAM NEEDS: WR, LB, OT BEST FITS 1) London 2) Burks 3) Lloyd THE PICK: Drake London, WR, USC – The Packers traded away superstar WR Davante Adams, leaving reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers without a clear-cut #1 receiver. They do have 2 picks in the first round and could be tempted to make a trade up in the draft for a receiver like Wilson or Olave, but the let the draft fall to them and take another big bodied receiver with playmaking ability. London doesn’t have the elite quickness that Adams possessed, but he can win in other ways and become a primary option for Rodgers. 23. Arizona Cardinals – TEAM NEEDS: CB, EDGE, OT BEST FITS 1) Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington – Gordon doesn’t have elite size for an outside CB, but he is an absolute freak of an athlete. He registered a 9.69 out of 10 RAS, highlighted by his 42.5-inch vertical leap. He is extremely sticky in coverage and uses his elite athleticism to make plays at the catch point. A lot of scouts seem to think he’s a Day 2 prospect, but an invite to the NFL Draft has many people taking a deeper look. 2) Penning 3) Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota – Mafe is another elite athlete that can win in a variety of ways. His tape shows a player that has the quickness to win on the perimeter, split double teams, and get home on twists and stunts. This is all while having enough size and strength to set the edge in the run game. THE PICK: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington – The biggest surprise of the draft thus far, Gordon is picked to become the lockdown corner the Cardinals have needed for a few years. His athleticism gives him a chance to become a star, in a very similar fashion to longtime Cardinal Patrick Peterson. 24. Dallas Cowboys – TEAM NEEDS: S, DT, LB BEST FITS 1) Lewis Cine, S, Georgia – Cine has everything you look for in a safety prospect. He has the size, length, athleticism, and recognition skills to become a star. He is extremely physical and loves to come downhill and make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. Many teams could use a player on the back end that can impact a game like Cine can. 2) Lloyd 3) Zion Johnson THE PICK: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah – Last year’s top pick Micah Parsons proved to be an absolute stud. He’s a linebacker by trade who just happens to be one of the best pass rushers in the league. By pairing Parsons with another elite linebacker with blitzing skills, the Cowboys can create all kinds of mismatches up front. Off-ball linebacker is a position that has been de-valued over the last couple of seasons, but the Cowboys will buck the trend and create the best duo in football. 25. Buffalo Bills – TEAM NEEDS: CB, DT, EDGE BEST FITS 1) Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida – Elam has excellent size and length for a perimeter corner. He also showed to be an excellent athlete, complete with fluid hips and a closing burst. In coverage, there are very few question marks about how Elam translates to the next level. However, questions are ever present about his ability and willingness to get his nose dirty in run support. If he can improve, he could prove to be a huge steal near the end of round one. 2) Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma – Winfrey profiles as a true 3-technique defensive tackle. He has an outstanding burst off the snap and makes his living beating guards and centers into the backfield. But, despite this proficiency, he does have enough strength to move around the formation and hold up against the run. Teams would be wise mix up his assignments and take advantage of his versatility. 3) Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia – Wyatt played along one of the best defensive lines college football has ever seen. Because of that, he may be overlooked a bit. He possesses excellent size, but his quickness is his calling card. You won’t find many men his size that possess more athleticism, and wherever he goes, he’ll find his way on the field early. He can disrupt the run game, but he can also get after the quarterback. THE PICK: TRADE! The Jags make a move back into round 1 to secure a much-needed playmaker. WR Treylon Burks gives young QB Trevor Lawrence another weapon. Burks has the size and playmaking skills that match perfectly with new acquisition Christian Kirk. The Jags are making every attempt to rebuild an offense that has been underwhelming for years. 26. Tennessee Titans – TEAM NEEDS: LB, C, CB BEST FITS 1) Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia – An undersized linebacker with elite athleticism, Dean fits the modern NFL. He uses his speed and instincts to make plays in the run game, but also uses those traits in coverage. His route recognition was spotty, but he uses his speed to cover any deficiencies. He has the potential to have an elite NFL career. 2) Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa – Linderbaum is a little undersized as a center prospect, but he is a tremendous athlete. The only question mark will be his ability to anchor against bigger, stronger defensive tackles. If he answers those questions by bulking up a bit, he could become the best center in the football. Not many guys at the pivot possess his ability to pull and lead around the edge. 3) Elam THE PICK: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida – While the temptation will be to pull the trigger on Linderbaum, the Titans choose to address their defense. Elam is an elite prospect with the ability to shadow receivers all over the field. In a conference with so many great offenses, the Titans know they must improve on the defensive side of the ball. 27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TEAM NEEDS: G, DT, CB BEST FITS 1) Zion Johnson 2) Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M – Green plays with excellent pad level and leverage. He is usually the lowest man on the line, not allowing anyone to beat him with power. Additionally, he has excellent athleticism and can win with quickness. He profiles as an excellent player and immediate starter. 3) Wyatt THE PICK: Zion Johnson, G, Boston College – The Bucs lost a couple of starters along the offensive line and they know they must protect Tom Brady in order to compete for a Super Bowl. Johnson is the best interior lineman in this draft and it is a gift that he falls this far. A+ selection here. 28. Green Bay Packers – TEAM NEEDS: WR, LB, OT BEST FITS 1) Penning 2) Dean 3) Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota St – Watson is another player who has had an incredible rise through the draft process. An absolutely elite size/speed specimen, Watson is raw, but talented. At 6’4” and 210 pounds, Watson ran an official 4.44 in the 40. He was seemingly always open at the college level, which wouldn’t be unexpected given the lower level of competition, but teams may feel he can replicate his success based purely on those traits. If he can refine parts of his technical game, he could become a legitimate star. THE PICK: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia – The Packers very well could double-up on receiver with this pick, but, instead, they opt for Dean. Dean will give them a dynamite duo with last year’s breakout performer, De’Vondre Campbell. With these two guys patrolling the middle of the field, it gives edge rushers Rashan Gary and Preston Smith the freedom to get after the quarterback. 29. Kansas City Chiefs – TEAM NEEDS: WR, CB, EDGE BEST FITS 1) Mafe 2) Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn St – Dotson’s game speed is a lot faster than his testing would indicate. He also has the ability to create space and shows outstanding YAC ability. He definitely understands coverages and routinely finds holes in zones. 3) George Pickens, WR, Georgia – Pickens has excellent size for the position, and he tested very well as an overall athlete. His freshman season at Georgia was outstanding, showcasing ability to win all over the field. But his college career has been marred by injuries ever since. If teams are comfortable with the medicals, he’ll find his way into round 1. THE PICK: George Pickens, WR, Georgia – The Chiefs have a huge hole to fill after the trade of star WR Tyreek Hill. Pickens is a vastly different player and will certainly be asked to play a much different role than Hill did. However, he has shown the ability to win downfield using his size and high-point ability. It’s a bold pick for a team considered among the AFC favorites, but one that could pan out in a big way. 30. Kansas City Chiefs – TEAM NEEDS: WR, CB, EDGE BEST FITS 1) Mafe 2) Dotson 3) Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn St – Ebiketie is yet another athletic freak coming off the edge. While he doesn’t have the size most teams love, he’s physical and violent. He can win with agility and also use a bull rush to beat offensive tackles. He is a technician when it comes to using his hands to shed blocks. There isn’t a lot of first round buzz on Ebiketie, but his traits will tempt teams into taking him earlier than expected. THE PICK: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota – Mafe is a little bit of an older prospect at age 23, but he has all the traits you look for in an edge rusher. He can win in a variety of ways and is ready to make an impact in year 1. The Chiefs play in the toughest division in football and need as many pass rushers as possible to keep up. Mafe is an excellent fit. 31. Cincinnati Bengals – TEAM NEEDS: OT, S, DT BEST FITS 1) Penning 2) Cine 3) Wyatt THE PICK: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia – The rich get richer. Cine will team with Jesse Bates to give the Bengals an elite duo on the back end. There is still a need to keep improving the offensive line, and Penning, Green, and Linderbaum will all be considered, but the Bengals look for a playmaker in the defensive backfield and take a future star in Cine. 32. Detroit Lions – TEAM NEEDS: QB, WR, EDGE BEST FITS 1) Corral 2) Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati – Ridder has every trait you look for in a potential franchise QB. He’s an elite athlete with a big arm. However, his accuracy is a question mark. He’s shown glimpses of being a star, but can he do it on a consistent basis. If teams think he can, he will be an absolute steal. 3) Watson THE PICK: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati – The Lions are locked in on QB at the end of round one, knowing they will secure the ever-important 5th year option. The question is, however, which one do they take. Ridder is the choice here, as his tools are tantalizing. With Jared Goff still under contract, Ridder can sit and learn for a season, which won’t hurt the rebuilding Lions. This pick is a swing for the fences, but a risk well worth taking. ROUND 2 33. Buffalo Bills (via trade with Jacksonville) – Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M 34. Detroit Lions – Jaquon Brisker, S, Penn St 35. New York Jets – Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn St 36. New York Giants – Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa 37. Houston Texans – Breece Hall, RB, Iowa St 38. New York Jets – Quay Walker, LB, Georgia 39. San Francisco 49ers (via trade with Chicago Bears for WR Deebo Samuel) – Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa 40. Seattle Seahawks – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa 41. Seattle Seahawks – Troy Andersen, LB, Montana St 42. Indianapolis Colts – Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota St 43. Atlanta Falcons – Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi 44. Cleveland Browns – Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia 45. Baltimore Ravens – Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan 46. Minnesota Vikings – Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut 47. Washington Commanders – Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn St 48. Chicago Bears – Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma 49. New Orleans Saints – Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor 50. Kansas City Chiefs – Tariq Woolen, CB, UT-San Antonio 51. Philadelphia Eagles – Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin 52. Pittsburgh Steelers – David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan 53. Green Bay Packers – Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego St 54. New England Patriots – Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina 55. Arizona Cardinals – Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati 56. Dallas Cowboys – DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M 57. Buffalo Bills – Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi St 58. Atlanta Falcons – Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati 59. Green Bay Packers – Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington St 60. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Logan Hall, DT, Houston 61. San Francisco 49ers – Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn 62. Kansas City Chiefs – John Metchie III, WR, Alabama 63. Cincinnati Bengals – Sean Rhyan, G, UCLA 64. Denver Broncos – Nik Bonnito, EDGE, Oklahoma 3RD ROUND 65. Buffalo Bills (via trade with Jacksonville) – Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama 66. Detroit Lions – Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan St 67. New York Giants – Trey McBride, TE, Colorado St 68. Houston Texans – Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan 69. New York Jets – Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC 70. Jacksonville Jaguars – Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota 71. San Francisco 49ers (via trade with Chicago) – Ed Ingram, G, LSU 72. Seattle Seahawks – Sam Williams, EDGE, Mississippi 73. Indianapolis Colts – Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois 74. Atlanta Falcons – Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M 75. Denver Broncos – Christian Harris, LB, Alabama 76. Baltimore Ravens – Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati 77. Minnesota Vikings – Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming 78. Cleveland Browns – Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada 79. Los Angeles Chargers – Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga 80. Houston Texans – Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA 81. New York Giants – David Bell, WR, Purdue 82. Atlanta Falcons – Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson 83. Philadelphia Eagles – Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska 84. Pittsburgh Steelers – Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio St 85. New England Patriots – Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama 86. Las Vegas Raiders – Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee 87. Arizona Cardinals – James Cook, RB, Georgia 88. Dallas Cowboys – Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis 89. Buffalo Bills – Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU 90. Tennessee Titans – Brandon Smith, LB, Penn St 91. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Isaiah Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma 92. Green Bay Packers – Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina 93. San Francisco 49ers – Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise St 94. Kansas City Chiefs – Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia 95. Cincinnati Bengals – Rachaad White, RB, Arizona St 96. Denver Broncos – Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota 97. Detroit Lions – Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky 98. New Orleans Saints – Carson Strong, QB, Nevada 99. Cleveland Browns, Nick Cross, S, Maryland 100. Baltimore Ravens – Lecitus Smith, G, Virginia Tech 101. Philadelphia Eagles – Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska 102. Miami Dolphins – Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati 103. Kansas City Chiefs – Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky 104. Los Angeles Rams – Marquis Hayes, G, Oklahoma 105. San Francisco 49ers – Zachary Carter, DT, Florida