Welcome to the 2022 Saloon Takes NFL Mock Draft. We are just about a half hour to go until the draft! I know, this is late for a mock draft, but narratives change so quickly on draft day that I wanted to be sure to give you my honest opinions and factor in real time rumors to my picks. This draft is a mix of me weeding out the true rumors from the false, as well as my opinions on who each team would be crazy to take (and not to take!). So, as you sit down and get ready to watch this year’s draft, take a look at mine, scroll to see what your team should be thinking, and buckle up for an incredible night! Best of luck to all your teams!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Pick: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
The Jaguars are in shambles after Urban Meyer delivered one of the worst coached seasons in NFL history. Morale throughout the organization is low, and the team is in need of someone with energy and loyalty that will excite both the fans and the players. Enter Aidan Hutchinson. After his team went 2-4 in the 2020 season, he decided to forego the NFL Draft and return for one more season in the Maize and Blue, and boy, did it pay off. Hutchinson set the Michigan single-season sack record with 14, including 3 in the biggest game of his career against Ohio State. The Heisman runner-up believed in his team and his coach when almost nobody else did, and he is poised to bring that loyalty to the next level.
There has been a lot of talk about Georgia EDGE Travon Walker beating out Hutchinson for the #1 pick, but I just don’t think it makes sense for the franchise. Walker is an outstanding prospect with an incredibly high ceiling, but he only had 9.5 sacks in his career. Hutchinson had 14 last season alone. After the year the Jaguars just had, they can’t bank on an increase of production from Walker. They should go with the safer option in Hutchinson. General Manager Trent Baalke is known for being particular with his defensive linemen, but I just don’t think this is a risk he can take. If I’m the Jaguars, I’m running to the podium to land a solid player opposite franchise cornerstone Josh Allen.
2. Detroit Lions
The Pick: EDGE Travon Walker, Georgia
After the Jaguars go with the safer of the top 2 options in Hutchinson, the Lions are able to swoop in and grab Walker. There is always a prospect who finds himself flying up draft boards in the month before the draft, and this year that guy is Walker. A 5-star coming out of high school, Walker struggled to find real production in Georgia as he was sometimes buried in a very talented depth chart. Nonetheless, his physical traits and the flashes he has shown on tape are enough to make scouts drool. I’m hearing the Lions definitely have Walker ahead of Thibodeaux on their board, so this is really the only pick I see for them. After addressing the defense here, look for the Lions to go with a quarterback with their next pick at 32.
3. Houston Texans
The Pick: CB Derek Stingley, LSU
For the second year in a row, the draft gets interesting at pick 3. Some will say the Texans need a quarterback, but I think they actually let it ride with Davis Mills. The rookie out of Stanford finished the season with a higher QBR than Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence, Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson, and Justin Fields. He torched an excellent Patriots defense to the tune of 312 yards and 3 TDs with 0 INTs, a feat made even more impressive when you consider Belichick is 25-6 against rookie quarterbacks in New England. At the very least, this is a kid who deserves a shot. This draft does not have a quarterback who is even close to a sure thing, so why not ride with the guy you have?
Instead of focusing on quarterback here, the Texans should bolster a pass defensive that finished last in the league in passing yards allowed per attempt. When people think of that great 2019 LSU National Championship team, they’ll remember Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase, but cornerback Derek Stingley was simply unstoppable. Since then, he has only played in 10 games due to injury, which is definitely a concern, but his talent is still there. He is an athletic freak who combines his athletic gifts with great instincts to make plays on the ball. He reminds me a lot of Stephon Gilmore in both his size and frame as well as his awareness of where he needs to be on the field to make a play. I actually have Sauce Gardner out of Cincinnati as the better cornerback on my board, but everything I’m hearing is the Texans are higher on Stingley, so I’ll trust the reports. For the record though, I am hearing Garrett Wilson is a real possibility here. It is a crazy reach, but they are very high on him and don’t think he lasts until 13. I couldn’t do it in this mock, but keep an eye out for that chaos to ensue.
4. New York Jets
The Pick: OT Evan Neal, Alabama
The Texans shook things up with Stingley at 3, and it really benefits the Jets. They could go in a number of different directions here, including the next best corner in Sauce Gardner, but I think they use this pick to bolster their line. At 6’7” and 350 pounds, Neal is an absolute monster, and has been one of the best lineman Alabama has seen in years. The 5-star recruit from IMG Academy played left guard in 2019 before taking over for Jedrick Wills at right tackle in 2020 and then replacing Alex Leatherwood at left tackle in 2021. His versatility on the line is extremely appealing for a team who might have to move some players around due to their lack of depth. He is best at left tackle, but his run blocking as a guard is fantastic. He and Mekhi Becton will be an incredible duo that will give sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson plenty of time in the pocket, something he did not have last year. In 2021 Wilson was sacked an average of 3.1 times a game, 4th worst in the NFL. On December 20th, Robert Saleh said he had “no update” on Becton’s injury. That is less than optimistic. This isn’t the sexiest pick, but it’s the right one.
5. New York Giants
The Pick: OT Ikem Ekwonu, NC State
I’m not sure how Giants fans will feel about this. Andrew Thomas has not been bad by any means, but I don’t think anybody will disagree that they did not pick the right tackle in his draft (see Tristan Wirfs). Regardless, the Giants need more help on the right side of the line. Ikem Ekwonu is extremely versatile, so I don’t think there will be a problem moving him from the left to the right. This is a kid who loves to hit and does not shy away from initiating contact right at the line of scrimmage. Ekwonu is ahead of Neal on multiple draft boards, and apparently the Jaguars even flirted with him at 1, so the Giants are getting a steal here. With the Panthers definitely looking at tackle at 6, the Giants should be taking one at 5 and looking at defense with their next pick at 7.
6. Carolina Panthers
The Pick: OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
The Panthers are reportedly not looking for a quarterback here. According to Todd McShay, head coach Matt Rhule is pushing for a signal caller, but there is uncertainty in the organization about how long he will stay with the team, and Carolina is not looking to take draft advice from someone who may be on their way out. The whole situation sounds pretty toxic to me, but regardless, if the Panthers are not looking at quarterback, they must be taking an offensive lineman. Charles Cross is a great tackle prospect out of Mississippi State. He has a lightning quick first step that helps him get position on the edge. He needs some improvement, but he’s been phenomenal in two years in the SEC and will be a force in the NFL. Cross is the last lineman in the top tier at his position for this draft, and after him comes a pretty steep drop in talent to the 4th OT, Trevor Penning. Look for some teams to make moves to get one of these three guys before they’re gone.
7. New York Giants
The Pick: CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
This couldn’t have gone better for the Jets. They are apparently enamored with Sauce, and there is good reason why. Despite going undefeated and being the first Group of 5 team to make the CFP, people underrate Cincinnati and their players way too much. Sauce is an incredible athlete, and I think he could be the best defensive player overall this year. Gardner excels in press-man coverage, leading all of college football in snaps taken in that scheme. In 598 coverage snaps, Sauce allowed 0 touchdowns. That is the definition of lockdown. He is exactly what every NFL coach looks for in a corner, with a perfect mix of speed, athleticism, length, and ball skills. His one knock might be his tackling, but I’m not too worried about that. Gardner is an elite playmaker and deserves to be drafted this high. The Jets get an absolute steal here.
8. Atlanta Falcons
The Pick: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
The Falcons roster needs a lot of work. Marcus Mariota is their QB1, they lack a solid offensive line, Calvin Ridley likely won’t play in Atlanta again, and the defense has holes all across the board. I think this is a “best available” position for the Falcons, and the answer in this draft is Jameson Williams. The Alabama receiver turned heads all season as some said he looked even more talented than last year’s Heisman winner and Williams’ former teammate, Devonta Smith. Unfortunately, Williams tore his ACL in the championship game against Georgia in January. While this is a setback, his camp is claiming he is progressing nicely and hopes to be back for camp. In that case, he is the perfect fit to come in for the Falcons. Atlanta still needs to address their quarterback situation, but I’m hearing they don’t value anybody high enough to take here. I expect the Falcons to be in the mix for Sam Howell in the second round.
9. Seattle Seahawks
The Pick: EDGE Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State
The Seahawks are in a very similar situation as the Falcons, with their future at quarterback very shaky and holes all across the roster. Seattle seems to be in a big rebuilding phase, and I think it has to start with their awful defense. The Seahawks ranked 23rd in sacks last season, which was a big reason why they got burned in the passing game. With no pressure to worry about, opposing quarterbacks took their time to methodically pick through the Seattle secondary. Pete Carroll is no stranger to elite defenses, and I think he knows that has to be a priority in the NFC West. Jermaine Johnson might come as a surprise over Kayvon Thibodeaux, but Johnson has been flying up draft boards. Originally enrolled at Georgia, Johnson transferred to Florida State, where he was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year last season. He led his team with 70 tackles and 12 sacks and showed a high motor that impressed scouts. He also benefitted from an incredible senior bowl week where he put on a clinic against top offensive linemen. I think Pete Carroll will be turned off by Thibodeaux’s side business and will take the guy he sees as more dedicated to the game.
10. New York Jets
The Pick: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
If you’re going to invest in a quarterback with the 2nd overall pick, you better be prepared to surround him with the tools he needs to succeed. It sounds obvious, but the Jets failed to do so with Sam Darnold, often leaving him out to dry in pass protection and in offensive weapons. They won’t make the same mistake. After getting some protection earlier in the draft, the Jets get Wilson his #1 receiver in Garrett Wilson. Ohio State has produced some serious talent at the receiver position recently, and Wilson looks poised to be next in line. Wilson’s best trait is his acceleration and shiftiness. He can take a screen or a short slant to the house in the blink of an eye, but that’s not all he’s good for. On film he often looks much taller than just 6’0, as he is capable of going up and making some impressive contested catches. He’s going to be a favorite of Zach Wilson.
11. Washington Football Team
The Pick: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
Back-to-back Ohio State wideouts come off the board here as Chris Olave heads to DC. The Commanders believe Carson Wentz can be their guy under center. Whether or not that is true remains to be seen, but if he is going to succeed, he needs to have weapons around him. Current Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin is close friends with Chris Olave, and I think he can convince them to address this key need on the roster and get his guy. Olave has been a standout player at Ohio State for the past three years and is probably the best route runner in the draft. He creates separation easily from his quick, sharp moves and is explosive after the catch. Olave is built very similar to DeVonta Smith and will benefit from his success in the league. Some people thought Smith was too small to be a top receiver, but he has proved the doubters wrong this season, and I think Olave will benefit from that. With this addition the Commanders’ offense is looking very strong.
12. Minnesota Vikings
The Pick: EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
The Vikings defense was awful this season. Once one of the most feared defenses in the league, this unit just didn’t bring it together this year. The underwhelming performance on that side of the ball is one of the biggest reasons Mike Zimmer was let go, so look for the new head coach to push for some much-needed defensive help, especially in the pass rush. Kayvon Thibodeaux could certainly be the guy to help. Once thought to be the top prospect in this draft class, Thibodeaux has fallen has a result of his lack of effort on the field and his interest in business off the field. Despite all those concerns, this is the latest he should fall. Thibodeaux is an athletic freak, a perfect mix of size, strength, and quickness. He was often doubled at Oregon, which limited his production, but that certainy will not be a problem in the NFL. The Vikings will think they are being punked if he falls to them here, but I just am not as high on him as others.
13. Houston Texans
The Pick: S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
I know, the Texans just drafted a cornerback, but they need upgrades at every position, and they can’t let the best player in the draft fall by them. That’s right, the best player in the draft is slipping to 13. This has nothing to do with his mediocre showing at the combine, but rather the fact that safety just isn’t a valuable position. That being said, this an absolute steal. Hamilton is a guy who can take pressure off of his teammates and step up when he needs to. He has excelled at Notre Dame, and is considered one of the best safety prospects to come out of college football in years. He is fast, physical, and has one of the highest football IQ’s in the entire draft. He excels at picking up pre-snap motion and anticipating where the ball will be. He can be lined up deep in a tradition safety role, cover the slot, and push into the backfield to defend the run. Hamilton always seems a step ahead of everyone else on the field and is able to snuff out a run or a screen from way back in his safety spot. His tape is one of the best I’ve seen from a defensive back, and he is a steal here at 13. The Texans should be thrilled with this.
14. Baltimore Ravens
The Pick: DB Daxton Hill, Michigan
This might be my favorite match of the entire draft, and its one that is not getting a lot of attention (which only makes me like it more). The Ravens were ravaged by injuries last season, especially in the defensive secondary. Those guys will be back and healthy this year, but I still think the Ravens would like to add depth to their defensive backs. Enter Dax Hill. The cornerback/safety combo is the perfect player for Baltimore. He can play as a free safety, a nickel cornerback, or even fill in on an island in man coverage in case of injury. Did I mention the Ravens defensive coordinator is Hill’s old coordinator at Michigan? Mike MacDonald used Hill perfectly at Michigan last season, lining him up in all sorts of different looks. Hill is one of the best screen defenders I’ve ever seen and is also elite on a DB blitz. I think MacDonald would have fun with his former player in the NFL, and I’m sure Jim will give Hill a glowing recommendation to his brother John. This is a gret scheme fit.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
The Pick: WR Drake London, USC
Yes, this would be the third year in a row the Eagles draft a receiver in the first round, but it is necessary. Jalen Reagor was one of the worst picks I’ve ever seen. It was incredibly clear that Justin Jefferson was the best receiver in his class, and he has done more than enough to prove it. The Vikings front office actually laughed at the Eagles for passing on him. But even if Reagor bounces back, he is only 5’11”. Their top wideout, Devonta Smith is only 6’0”. Meanwhile, Drake London stands at 6’5, and is a dual-athlete who played on the basketball team at USC as well. He excels at going up and making contested catches while also having the body control to come down in bounds. He has great speed that allows him to get downfield quickly but is also a tremendous blocker in the run game due to his size. He’d be a great compliment to Devonta Smith and would elevate this offense to great new heights.
16. New Orleans Saints
The Pick: OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
I know I said there was a dropoff at the position after Cross, but the Saints are pretty desperate. They lost stud left tackle Terron Armstead to the Dolphins and really don’t have a backup. Penning is 6’7”, 325 pound monster who can plug in at left tackle right away. Not much more to say about this one. If Penning is here, the Saints will pounce.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
The Pick: IDL Jordan Davis, Georgia
The Chargers were 30th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game, and their season ended due to their inability to stop Josh Jacobs (and because of that timeout. Staley got too greedy!). This is the biggest need on a very good roster, and Jordan Davis is absolutely the guy to fill it. At 6’6” and 340 pounds, Davis is an immovable force on the defensive line. He is elite in run defense, as he is able to effortlessly close gaps due to his massive frame. He is also incredibly powerful in pass rushing situations, as he is too big to block with just one lineman. Having Davis in the middle will take some pressure off Joey Bosa in the pass rush as well as close holes for opposing offenses in the run game. I absolutely love this fit.
18. Philadelphia Eagles
The Pick: LB Devin Lloyd, Utah
There’s nothing better than a team with back-to-back picks in the 1st round. The Eagles have been busy making trades these past couple years, which has led them to three 1st round picks this year. I actually the Eagles are a great team. Many people will come after Jalen Hurts this offseason, but I don’t think he’s the problem. In fact, if you compare the stats of his first 15 starts vs Lamar Jackson’s, they are almost identical. I’m not saying they are the same player, but Hurts has been very efficient. The defense, however, has been a problem. Linebacker Devin Lloyd could be the answer. The Utah linebacker is an excellent run defender, pass rusher, and has improved his coverage skills greatly this season. This is an area the Eagles need to upgrade, and Lloyd looks like he can start day one and be a very effective off ball linebacker.
19. New Orleans Saints
The Pick: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
The Saints have a very interesting situation at wide receiver. Michael Thomas didn’t play at all last season, and the guys behind him really didn’t step up the way many predicted. To be fair, starting quarterback Jameis Winston went down with an injury early in the year, but still, there is room for improvement. Burks is a utility receiver. You can put him just about anywhere in the offense and he will be successful. He has had many comparisons to Deebo Samuel in the sense that they can be used very similarly as a multi-dimensional player. We already know Sean Payton loves to do that with Taysom Hill, so the addition of Burks just gives him another playmaker to run his unique style of offense.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pick: QB Malik Willis, Liberty
Finally, the first QB comes off the board. I think Willis should go at 9 to the Seahawks, but if they pass (as I have them doing here) the Steelers are the next best place for him. After the retirement of Big Ben and the tragic death of Dwayne Haskins, the Steelers find themselves in desperate need of a legitimate signal-caller. Willis is an experienced quarterback with a strong arm, poise in the pocket, and a true ability to scramble out of the pocket and pick up yards with his legs. He is inconsistent at times, and his doubters will note that he didn’t exactly play against juggernaut defenses at Liberty, but he has all the traits of an elite quarterback. I really like this fit with Tomlin in Pittsburgh. If anybody can get the most out of a player with Willis’ intangibles, it’s Tomlin. I think the Steelers benefit from a weak QB market in this draft and find their guy under center for the foreseeable future.
21. New England Patriots
The Pick: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
According to all reports, McDuffie interviewed better than anyone in this class. Almost every team said his understanding of the game is off the charts. He is a very versatile player in terms of his athleticism and seems to be exactly the player Belichick looks for on his defenses. High IQ players who love the game and will line up wherever you tell them to are a perfect fit for what they try to do in New England. He won’t impress in terms of his size or length, but he’s just one of those guys who is so intelligent about the game of football that any physical negatives are almost negated. This is a weird spot for the Patriots, and they could definitely go with a receiver, but I think McDuffie is exactly what Belichick dreams of in a prospect It’s hard to see him passing on a guy with this high of a football IQ.
22. Green Bay Packers
The Pick: EDGE George Karlaftis, Purdue
The Packers really need a receiver, but they can’t let a defensive line prospect like Karlaftis drop much lower. The former Boilermaker is nearly flawless from a fundamental standpoint. You are going to hear a lot about his length, as he does not have the long arms that are usually coveted by defensive coordinators, but he more than makes up for that with his hand movement. He generates so much power in his hands and always knows where to place them to get by his blocker. He has a wide array of pass rushing moves, and is equally good in run defense, where his ability to shed blocks and make a play is incredibly impressive. Karlaftis is an extremely safe pick, as he does not have a long history of injuries and his power is NFL caliber. I don’t understand why he is falling so much, but it ends here. He has one of the highest floors of any prospect in the draft, and his ceiling is among some of the best league. This is a huge addition for the defensive line depth on the Packers.
23. Arizona Cardinals
The Pick: C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
The Cardinals desperately need help on their offensive line, and they address that here with the best interior lineman in the draft. He is slipping down draft boards due to his lack of flexibility (he really can only play center), but he will be a perennial Pro Bowl player for years to come. Linderbaum was ranked the #1 center by PFF in both 2020 and 2021, where he tied the highest single-season PFF grade by a center at 94.4. He also won the Rimington Trophy this season, awarded to the nation’s best center. The Cardinals should make the easy choice and go into the second round with the center of their line set in stone for the next decade.
24. Dallas Cowboys
The Pick: IOL Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
A couple years ago you could’ve put my grandfather in at running back for the Cowboys and he would’ve gotten you 3 yards every play. Now, not so much. The once stalwart offensive line in Dallas is aging rapidly, and they have had to move a lot of pieces around to make up for a plethora of injuries to their big men. Kenyon Green is a tough young lineman from Texas A&M that can play every position outside of center, a real bonus for a team that has had to be flexible in their line combinations. He is probably suited best at left guard next to All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith, but in case of injuries he will be ready to slide anywhere. It’s not the sexiest pick for Jerry Jones here, especially since the Cowboys have a lot of needs, but he is the best available overall at this point in the draft. Look for Jones to potentially move up for a wide receiver if he doesn’t stay here.
25. Buffalo Bills
The Pick: IDL Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
This pick could very well be a running back, but I just don’t see any value for Buffalo taking one here. Instead, they make one of the best defenses in the league even better with the addition of Devonte Wyatt on the interior. Don’t even think about running on Buffalo with Ed Oliver and Wyatt stuffing opposing offensive lines in the middle. This pick also takes some pressure off Shaq Lawson and Greg Rousseau on the ends, making this one of the most impressive young defensive lines in the league. It’s not necessarily a top need for Buffalo, but Wyatt is certainly is a big upgrade for the defense.
26. Tennessee Titans
The Pick: IOL Zion Johnson, Boston College
While the rest of their division was out making splashes in free agency, the Titans have been relatively quiet this off-season. The acquisition of Robert Woods was a nice pickup for the offense, but they didn’t really address their line as much as many had thought they would. They have some glaring holes upfront that need to be addressed before the season starts, and Zion Johnson seems like the best guy to do it. He played all 5 positions on the offensive line at Boston College on his way to 3 All-ACC nods. And did I mention he was college roommates with Mike Vrabel’s son? If anybody knows how good this kid is, it’s the man at the helm in Tennessee. This feels like a perfect fit.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Pick: CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson
With the return of Tom Brady, the Bucs don’t have many glaring needs on the roster. They would’ve liked to have had more options at offensive line here, but I think they’ll be just as happy to find Booth sitting here at 27. New head coach Todd Bowles loves athletic playmakers on defense, and that is Andrew Booth Jr. to a tee. He has great size and length to excel at the next level, and he also played for the best defensive coordinator in all of college football in Brent Venables. This kid has all the intangibles and really understands the game. Todd Bowles will be salivating over the card when the Bucs send in their pick id Booth is still on the board.
28. Green Bay Packers
The Pick: WR George Pickens, Georgia
Could this finally be the year the Packers get Aaron Rodgers a 1st round receiver? I think so. You have to think this was discussed during an offseason that was filled with uncertainty for the long-time Green Bay signal-caller. After trading away elite wideout Davante Adams, the receiving room is looking awfully bleak. Pickens is a top talent receiver who finds himself still in the green room after concerns about his off the field activities. The best solution to a guy with too many extracurriculares? Handing him the keys to a house in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers will bank on his talent outweighing any character concerns, and with veteran receiving leaders Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb, Pickens will be surrounded with strong leadership to help him out. The Packers have reportedly done thorough research on Pickens, and I think they take him here instead of gambling on him being around in round 2.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
The Pick: EDGE David Ojabo, Michigan
Ojabo is one of the most interesting prospects in the draft this year. Had he not torn his achilles at his pro day, he would be viewed as a consensus top 15 pick. It says a lot about his talent and motivation that he is still being projected to the 1st round despite such a crushing injury. Ojabo has an incredible story that led him here, and I highly recommend looking up the College Gameday story on him and his family (they’ll do the story better justice than me). Ojabo only started playing football in high school, so he is a little raw, but the Chiefs can afford to take a little time to let him recover and develop. This is a guy who has 1st round talent with an extremely high ceiling if he can put it all together, which is exactly what you want in the late 1st round.
30. Kansas City Chiefs
The Pick: WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
The Tyreek Hill trade reminded me a lot of the 49ers sending DeForest Buckner to the Colts a couple years back. An elite player surprisingly traded in the weeks leading up to the draft in order to save cap space. This could very well be a common theme in the next couple years with the Chiefs, as Patrick Mahomes’ contract is not very team friendly. The 49ers used the pick they got in their trade for Buckner on his replacement in Javon Kinlaw. I expect the Chiefs to do the same here in picking Jahan Dotson out of Penn State. Dotson is flying under the radar in a deep receiver class, but I don’t think he makes it out of the 1st round. While he only stands at 5’11, he is incredible at making space both as a slot receiver and lined up on the outside. He is a serious deep ball threat and constantly burned defensive backs in college. Really his only negative is his size, but he is actually an inch taller than Tyreek Hill (5’11 vs 5’10), so I don’t see the Chiefs being concerned with that. This is a solid pick for the Chiefs as they replace Hill with a much cheaper rookie who will soon become one of Mahomes’ favorite targets.
31. Cincinnati Bengals
The Pick: OT Tyler Smith, Tulsa
The Super Bowl runners-up are in a position to take any number of different players here at 31. They could address the defense, but I still don’t think they’ve done enough in free agency to bolster their offensive line. Tyler Smith is an incredible prospect, one of my favorites in the draft. He doesn’t get the respect the top 3 linemen in the class get, but he is gritty, strong, and loves to hit defenders. This is a guy who can be played inside as a strong guard or as a tackle. That versatility in such a strong prospect is really valuable this late in the 1st round. No-brainer pick for Cincy.
32. Detroit Lions
The Pick: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
If Pickett is still here it’s a no brainer for the Lions. He is a fierce competitor with a big chip on his shoulder, exactly what Dan Campbell is looking for. Jared Goff is still the guy in Detroit, but taking Pickett in the 1st round gives the Lions an extra year of control with that 5th option, making it easier for them to justify him sitting for a year or two. Pickett slides mainly because there isn’t a huge market for quarterbacks, not because he can’t be a legitimate starter in the league. This is a very smart pick for the Lions to start to build a future around a franchise quarterback.
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