| 1 | |  | Travon WalkerGeorgia | DL | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Travon Walker We've said it for months, if we're the Jags we're taking an offensive lineman here. We love Ikem Ekwonu, but if Evan Neal or Charles Cross is rated higher on their board, take one of them. The point is to protect Trevor Lawrence. Recent history in Jacksonville has shown that drafting really good edge rushers in the first round doesn't immediately translate to winning football games. Keeping your franchise QB upright does, however. But we get it, GM Trent Baalke has a history of drafting traits, including long arms, and Walker could be special. We'd just point out that the same year Baalke took Aldon Smith because of traits, he also passed on J.J. Watt and Cam Jordan. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 90.06 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Arik Armstead Strengths: Tall, long, well-built EDGE who uses his long arms to his advantage on nearly every snap. Sturdy edge-setting and can disengage because blockers rarely get into his frame. Thickness stands out on film and against the run. Not easily moved whatsoever. Tweener type who will probably be best inside in obvious passing scenarios. Strength will help him quickly acclimate to the NFL. Weaknesses: Good burst for his size, but not a suddenness specimen. Lacks pass-rush moves. Really just tries to bull his way into the QB/backfield. Minimal bend around the corner. Accolades: - 2021: Career-highs in TFL (7.5) and sacks (6.0)
- 2021: Started all 15 games at DT for CFP national champ
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 14 | — | — | — | |
| 2 | |  | Aidan HutchinsonMichigan | EDGE | | |
| Hutchinson has been the No. 1 player on our Big Board for a while and he feels like the safest pick in this class, both on and off the field. He loves football, was dominant during the 2022 season, and at 21 years old, he's nowhere near his ceiling. He feels like a Dan Campbell knee-biter. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 93.23 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Jared Allen Strengths: Edge rusher with great combination of size, speed and strength. Capable of winning with speed and power. Displays fast, effective hands. Constantly working towards the quarterback without getting too deep. High football IQ to exploit opponent's weaknesses. Developed inside moves to pair with corner rush. Weaknesses: Average closing speed and change of direction. Shorter arms that could lead to difficulty against offensive tackles with longer arms to re-route him. Lacks elite top-end speed. Strictly hand-in-the-dirt player, not going to drop back into coverage. Accolades: - 2021: Ted Hendricks Award winner (best defensive end)
- 2021: Big Ten DPOY (led conference with 14.0 sacks)
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 14 | — | — | — | |
| 3 | |  | Derek Stingley Jr.LSU | CB | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Derek Stingley Jr. We heard from several league sources that Stingley could find his way into the top 5 and, honestly, we were surprised. But this isn't what we'd do, it's what we think will happen, and the Texans have two first-rounders and needs up and down the roster. And if they're getting the 2022 version of Stingley, this is a grand slam, even with Gardner still on the board. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 92.81 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: A.J. Terrell Strengths: Prototypical size, speed and athleticism to excel in man coverage. Willing to play downhill and make tackles in the backfield. Fights through blocks. Great hip fluidity to change directions across the field. Gets up to speed quickly. Great stop-start speed. Weaknesses: Injury history over the past two years is a concern. Below-average arm length. Inconsistent in run support. Tackling form is an issue. Accolades: - 2019: Led SEC with six interceptions and 15 passes defended as freshman
- 2020: First-team All-SEC
2022 College Stats |
| 4 | |  | Jermaine Johnson IIFlorida St. | EDGE | | |
| We love Johnson's story -- transferred from Georgia to Florida State, racked up 12 sacks last season, then blew up the Senior Bowl and the combine and earned his way into the first round. That said, if we were making this pick solely on on-field production, Kayvon Thibodeaux would be it. But the nebulous away-from-football concerns continue to swirl around Thibodeaux who, fair or not, could slide a little bit. He's a top-5 talent for us all day long but we think the Jets could go with Johnson here instead. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 88.87 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Montez Sweat Strengths: Tall, long, active rusher with demonstrations of his best power when he can use his length to his advantage. Nasty one-arm bull rush. Moments of nice, efficient hand work but not a strength. Nasty edge setter/block defeater against the run. Flashed an occassional inside-out that's effective. Same with his spin. Weaknesses: Rushes are almost always high. Stalls out at the blocker more frequently than you'd like. Counter rushes aren't there yet. His inside move is great but doesn't use it often enough. Athleticism/bend are good, not great. Burst is there but won't consistently threaten NFL OTs with it. Accolades: - 2021: ACC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2021: Led ACC in TFL (18) and sacks (12)
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 12 | — | — | 0 | |
| 5 | |  | Ahmad GardnerCincinnati | CB | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner The Giants could go offensive line here -- all three of the top tackles are still on the board -- but with the understanding that they also have the No. 7 pick they instead get Sauce Gardner, our CB1. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 92.87 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Richard Sherman Strengths: Physical cornerback with a willingness to play downhill and make a tackle in the backfield. Tall with long arms. True man coverage cornerback. Not afraid to mix it up with opponents. Able to stay in-phase while simultaneously playing the ball. Extensive track record of production dating back to his freshman season. Very confident player. Weaknesses: Handsy downfield and that can lead to penalties at the second level. Needs to do a better job of coming to balance in space and making a form tackle. How will he respond in the NFL when he is tested or gives up his first touchdown. Carries a slim frame. Accolades: - 2021: AAC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2019-2021: 0 pass TDs allowed in 1,059 career coverage snaps
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 13 | — | — | 3 | |
| 6 | |  | Evan NealAlabama | OL | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Evan Neal We just don't think the Panthers would take a QB here, in part because you could put any of them behind the Carolina's offensive line as currently constituted, and they'll all look like the 2022 version of Sam Darnold. Ideally, the Panthers could trade down, pick up some Day 2 picks (of which they currently have none), and get a QB later in the round. Here we have them doing the same thing and taking offensive tackle. Ekwonu, a Charlotte native, would be our pick, but Carolina had all three of the top tackles in for 30 visits and Neal offers a little more position versatility. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 92.93 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Bigger Andrew Thomas Strengths: Insanely large, impossibly twitched up for his size. Carries his weight extremely well. Loose-hipped blocker with effortless power, which makes him a tremendous asset at the second level. High-end recovery skills because of his suddenness. Creates huge arc for rushers to run around to the QB. Balance could use some work. All-Pro upside and is mostly NFL ready. Weaknesses: Can get a little overanxious at the second level and lunge, and the same is true in pass protection. Anchor isn't quite as sturdy as expected given his size. Occasionally, small speed rushers get the best of him. Accolades: - 2021: Consensus All-America (two sacks allowed in 15 starts)
- 40 career starts (2020 CFP national champion)
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| 7 | | | Charles CrossMiss. State | OL | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Charles Cross Traded from: CHI The Giants have been linked to Cross in recent weeks and he's arguably the best pass blocker in this class. We'd lean Ekwonu here (he's the best run blocker), but Cross is the pick. Something to keep in mind (and this made this pick even tougher): It sounds like New York wants to keep former first-rounder Andrew Thomas at left tackle, which is where Cross played exclusively at Mississippi State. So Thomas, who has experience at right tackle too, may have to move to facilitate this pick. (These are the "Good Will Hunting"-level permutations that go through your mind trying to put this final mock draft together .. and we're only seven picks in.) Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 91.57 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Bryan Bulaga Strengths: Long arms with great top-end speed. Good core strength. Good variance in his punch timing. Does a nice job allowing edge rushers to work too wide. Does a nice job adjusting his hands once engaged. Weaknesses: Abandons technique when challenged inside with counters. Struggles locking onto defenders in space. Has to avoid oversetting and allowing defenders on his hip. Balance questions derived by leaning, reaching. Accolades: - 2021: All-SEC first team
- 2021: Three sacks allowed on 682 pass-blocking snaps
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| 8 | |  | Malik WillisLiberty | QB | | |
| We all know about this QB class and how, realistically, none stack up against recent groups that included Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow or even Kyler Murray. That doesn't mean some of these players won't have successful NFL careers, just that their college tape didn't compare with the aforementioned classes. Knowing that, we'd target a wide receiver here, or even Thibodeaux if he were still on the board. But owner Arthur Blank just traded the face of the franchise to Indianapolis, and the current QB, Marcus Mariota, last started an NFL game in 2019. Plus, Willis has the most upside of anyone in this class, plays a similar style to Mariota, and also happens to be from Atlanta. Second-year coach Arthur Smith has a track record of developing young quarterbacks, which also makes Willis an intriguing option here. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 88.37 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Mike Vick Strengths: Rifle arm and can make throws few other quarterbacks would even attempt. Can be special with off-platform throws while on the move and he's a high-end athlete who becomes a running back with ball in his hands. Huge high-upside prospect who shows the ability to do things elite NFL quarterbacks do every week -- throwing accurately on the run, throwing with anticipation, make tight-window throws, and keeping his eyes downfield when the pocket gets muddy. Weaknesses: Despite his arm strength, Willis can sometimes throw himself into turnovers because of general inaccuracy. Throws only fastballs and doesn't show much feathering of passes over second-level defenders, and more times than not, he'll run at the first sign of trouble. Needs to do a better job of pre-snap recognition and then taking what the defense gives him. Shows glimpses of it but needs to do it more consistently. Accolades: - Past two seasons: Most total TDs in FBS (74)
- 17-6 career record as Liberty starting QB
2022 College Stats | GP | PYDS | PCT | TDS | INT | | 13 | 2857 | 61.1 | 27 | 12 | |
| 9 | |  | Ikem EkwonuNC State | OL | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Ikem Ekwonu Traded from: DEN It's incredibly difficult, perhaps more than any other team, to get a sense for what the Seahawks will do in the first round. After all, this was the same outfit that took L.J. Collier and Rashaad Penny previously in Round 1. QB is an obvious need, of course, but so too is offensive line (it's part of the reason Russell Wilson grew frustrated) and if Ekwonu is here, it's an easy choice. He's the best run-blocker in this class, he's insanely athletic -- and strong -- and he'll perhaps give Drew Lock a fighting chance in 2022. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 91.03 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Laremy Tunsil Strengths: Masher with serious twitch/striking ability. Mobility pops on film, and he creates a lot of torque to move defenders, even when on the move. Power is apparent. Very capable on reach blocks. Sustains them well, too. Possesses above-average recovery skills. As a compact blocker, he naturally is well balanced. Tackle first but has elite upside as OG. Weaknesses: Kick slide is short and well-balanced but could stand to cover more ground. Susceptible to inside moves as a pass blocker. Has some problems with longer rushers who get into his frame first. Accolades: - 2021: Unanimous All-America (third in N.C. State history)
- 2021: Three sacks allowed on 476 pass-blocking snaps
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| 10 | | | Garrett WilsonOhio St. | WR | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Garrett Wilson Traded from: SEA The Jets desperately need to get Zach Wilson some weapons and while offensive line could be a need, the hope is that Mekhi Becton returns to the form that made him a first-round pick and the offensive line will have some stability next season. Wilson is our WR1 (full disclosure: it would be Jameson Williams if he was 100 percent healthy) and he reminds us a lot of Odell Beckham III. Wilson has compared himself to Diontae Johnson -- either player is a win for the Jets and their young QB with this pick. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 91.75 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Chad Ochocinco Strengths: Springy, creative receiver with high-end speed and flashes of brilliant full-extension grabs. More of a juke-based yards-after-the-catch asset than one who'll break tackles or bounce off defenders. Leaping ability stands out. Glides on the field. Will run past many corners. Good, not great releases. Athleticism is there for him to consistently win off the line in time. Impressive route runner because of his athleticism. Should have quick transition to the NFL and become a star down the road. Weaknesses: Smaller size but fits the modern-day NFL. Some concentration drops on film. Not a physical marvel in jump-ball scenarios; won't dominate when a corner is in the vicinity and it's a 50-50 situation. Accolades: - 2021: All-Big Ten second team (70 rec, 1,058 yards, 12 TDs)
- 2020: All-Big Ten first team (723 rec yards, six TDs in eight games)
2022 College Stats | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TDS | | 11 | 70 | 1058 | 15.1 | 12 | |
| 11 | |  | Drake LondonUSC | WR | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Drake London We've heard that Washington would be interested in a cornerback here, but both Sauce and Stingley are gone, so instead they refocus their efforts on a pass catcher. Coach Ron Rivera has hinted that he likes the Ohio State wideouts but Wilson's off the board and this feels too high for Olave. Which brings us to London, a former basketball player who brings those high-point skills to the field. He'd be a big target for Carson Wentz, and we feel like London, who played at USC with Michael Pittman, is a similar type player with more upside. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 90.3 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Tee Higgins with better YAC skills Strengths: Tall above-the-rim player with deceptive separation skills who's a menace after the catch. Doesn't have frame that would indicate he'd star after the catch, but he plays with high-end power and contact balance. Refuses to go down to the turf on first contact. Insane body control and sideline awareness. Makes catches well outside his frame with ease. Still a vertical threat because of his size, leaping ability and ball skills. Ready to be a WR1 in the NFL, and will get even better with more weight and power in his upper half. Weaknesses: Had occasional concentration drops in 2021. Not a dazzling separator but don't confuse his height with an inability to create space. Downfield speed may be an issue; doesn't look overly fast on film against Pac-12 cornerbacks. Accolades: - 2021: Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year
- 2021: Led Pac-12 in rec (88) and rec yards (1,084) in eight games
2022 College Stats | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TDS | | 8 | 88 | 1084 | 12.3 | 7 | |
| 12 | |  | Jordan DavisGeorgia | DL | | |
| You do enough mock drafts and you reflexively start pencilling in cornerback here. And Trent McDuffie would be worth the No. 12 pick but, man, Jordan Davis is a special talent. Mike Zimmer is gone but that doesn't mean defense won't be an early focus for the Vikings, and this feels like the range Davis could go off the board. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 89.07 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Brandon Williams Strengths: Classic oversized nose tackle who will make big defensive tackles look small on the field. Absolutely mammoth individual with length that matches his immense girth. Great athlete for his size. Has enough athleticism to get lateral on stretch runs. Block disengaging is, of course, a strength. Supreme pop on contact. Impressive closing speed in space on running backs. High floor, lower ceiling DT. Weaknesses: Not someone who'll win many battles with burst or quickness at the NFL level. Only good, not great against double teams because he can get a little high in those scenarios. Average pass-rush move arsenal. but does have a nice arm-over. Conditioning is good for his size, but he's unlikely to be an every-down defensive tackle. Accolades: - 2021: Chuck Bednarik Award winner (best defensive player)
- 2021: John Outland Trophy winner (best interior lineman)
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 14 | — | — | — | |
| 13 | | | Jameson WilliamsAlabama | WR | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Jameson Williams Traded from: CLE Davis Mills is the quarterback so we can't imagine they target one here (again, if Mills was in this draft class he's QB1) but they will consider getting him a weapon. Williams tore his ACL in January and should be on track to play by November. He's one of the fastest wideouts in this class and showed the ability to beat coverage at all three levels last season for Alabama. The Texans had him in for a visit and he'd be a welcome addition to their WR room. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 90.63 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Jerry Jeudy Strengths: Sleek, fast, spindly wideout with a bouncy, flexible game. Changes gears in his route and has high-end downfield speed. Above-average separator because of his ultra-light feet. Was used in the jet sweep/screen game often, and was typically productive there. All that is a testament to his dynamic athletic traits. Showcased the ability to track the ball away from his frame. Won on the outside and in the slot. Nice releases off the line. Can be a WR1 eventually but should start as deep threat who gets some jet sweep action. Weaknesses: Occasionally body catches the football. Can get outphysicaled at times against press coverage. Tore his ACL in the national title game in January. Only one year of big-time production. Accolades: - 2021: Led SEC in rec yards (1,572) and rec TDs (15)
- 2021: Led country in 30-plus-yard TDs (11) and 70-plus-yard TDs (four)
2022 College Stats | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TDS | | 15 | 79 | 1572 | 19.9 | 15 | |
| 14 | |  | Kayvon ThibodeauxOregon | EDGE | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Kayvon Thibodeaux Look, we can't imagine the parallel universe where this seems reasonable. But based on things we've heard -- with the full understanding that this is peak smokescreen season -- there's a chance Thibodeaux slides. All the way to No. 14? That feels like a bit much but here we are. The Ravens have been linked to Trevor Penning, the Northern Iowa offensive tackle who fills a need, but Baltimore needs pass rushers too. Should this play out, it's going to be one of those situations where we all wonder how Thibodeaux lasted this long. One last time: If we're the Jets, we're taking him at No. 4. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 92.8 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Myles Garrett Strengths: Explosive, twitchy, powerfully built with strong hands and a quick first step. He explodes off the snap and if he gets a half-step on offensive tackle it's over. Quickly gets into body of offensive tackle and then uses speed-to-power -- plus hand usage -- to consistently create problems on the edge. Can flip his hips like a cornerback, open up and drop into coverage, then has the athleticism and leaping ability to clog throwing lanes on short and intermediate routes. Non-stop motor and freakish strength that can wear out offensive tackles. Weaknesses: Occasionally gives up the edge in run support, and can sometimes play outside of responsibilities while trying to make splash plays. Sometimes disappears for stretches -- he doesn't lose off the line of scrimmage but he could be more consistently dominant at times. That said, there's a lot to love about his game. Accolades: - 2021: Unanimous All-America (7.0 sacks, 12.0 TFL in 10 games)
- Career: 19.0 sacks, 35.5 TFL in 31 games
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 10 | — | — | — | |
| 15 | |  | Devonte WyattGeorgia | DL | | |
| Traded from: MIA The Eagles would love Jordan Davis here but Wyatt could end up being the better player (not that it matters, other than to marvel at the physics involved, but Wyatt, at 304 pounds, ran a 4.77 40 at the combine, best among all defensive lineman, and a 0.01 seconds faster than Davis). He's incredibly quick, has great hands, moves well laterally, and routinely shows off the strength to whip interior offensive linemen. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 87.89 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Smaller Marcell Dareus Strengths: Large, wide-bodied dancing bear who wins with power, decently deceptive quicks, and some pass-rushing moves. Plays with astounding pop on first contact. Can play 1T if needed. Good bull rush but actually his hand work is more impressive. Occasionally will win through the line with his first step. Weaknesses: Not a tremendous run defender, and while he can get lateral across the line, his pursuit speed is only slightly above-average. Not a pass-rush move master. Mostly won with first-step quickness in college. He'll have to diversify his rushes in the NFL. Accolades: - 2021: CFP national champion
- 2021: All-America second team
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 13 | — | — | — | |
| 16 | |  | Trevor PenningNorthern Iowa | OL | | |
| Traded from: PHI The Saints could package these picks to move up for a quarterback, top-3 offensive lineman, or even a wide receiver. Instead, we have them taking Penning, the offensive tackle out of Northern Iowa. Terron Armstead is gone to the Dolphins and Jameis Winston is coming off ACL surgery, so protecting him will be a priority. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 87.52 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Riley Reiff Strengths: Large, long, physical blocker with an NFL offensive tackle body today. Mashed the lesser competition in college. Twitch at around 330 pounds is impressive. Likes finishing his blocks with authority. Anchor/back bend are solid. As is his hand work. Typically fires on time and on the inside. Walls-off defenders well at the second level. Because of his size, short-area quickness and inherent power, he has some upside and should be able to withstand NFL DEs for the most part early in his career. Weaknesses: His first start against a Power 5 school (Iowa State) at the beginning of the year was rough. Not a supreme athlete with high-level lateral agility to quickly slide against inside moves or recover if he's initially beaten. Moments of off-balance plays pop up somewhat often, especially when climbing to the second level. Decently susceptible to counters if a rusher really works to soften his edge with speed. Accolades: - 2021: Only OL to be selected as Payton Award finalist
- 2021: FCS All-America first team
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| 17 | |  | Trent McDuffieWashington | CB | | |
| Interior offensive line would be an obvious choice here, as would the defensive line, but instead the Chargers bolster a secondary that already includes Asante Samuel Jr. and recently signed J.C. Jackson. McDuffie played outside at Washington but he can line up anywhere, and in a division where every quarterback is elite, you can never have enough high-caliber corners. And some teams have McDuffie as CB2 on their boards. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 88.43 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Jaire Alexander Strengths: Zone-heavy CB with high-level quicks and good closing speed on the football. Aggressive defeating blocks at the second level. Tackling reliability is good but not a super-active run defender. Twitchy with good ball skills. Speed is great. The heavy-zone scheme makes it difficult to pinpoint what he does really well in man coverage. Versatile. Can moved into the slot with ease. Awareness is quality, too. Seems like a high-floor prospect but is a bit of an enigma. Weaknesses: The overall athletic profile is very good but not elite. Minimal ball production relative to how much football he played in college. Accolades: - 2021: All-Pac-12 first team
- 2021: Did not allow a pass TD on 287 coverage snaps
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 11 | — | — | — | |
| 18 | | | Kyle HamiltonNotre Dame | S | | |
| Traded from: NO Does this feel really low for Hamilton? Yeah, absolutely, but the reality is that he's closer to a mid-first-rounder than top-5, and most of that has to do with teams valuing edge rushers, cornerbacks, offensive linemen and even wide receivers more. But don't get it twisted, Hamilton is a special talent and in the right system he can have early success. The Eagles could be on the lookout for a wideout or cornerback here too but Hamilton might be too good to pass up. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 92.84 (All-Pro) Pro Comparison: Ed Reed Strengths: Ran in the 4.5s at the combine and then ran in the 4.7s at his pro day. On the surface, these numbers get your attention, but he's an example of playing faster in the game than in shorts and a t-shirt. Great in space, comes downhill with purpose, is a wrap-up tackler who will put the ball carrier on the ground. Can patrol deep center field with sideline-to-sideline speed, play in the box, and blitz from the slot and get to the quarterback in just a few long strides. Has a huge wingspan, which means if he doesn't get to the QB, he can get his hands up in passing lanes and be disruptive that way. High-level change-of-direction skills in short areas, which makes him hard to shake in coverage, and he can smother tight ends out in coverage and has the physicality to contest the football at the catch point. Weaknesses: Some NFL teams will have concerns about the slow 40 times, but the tape tells a different story. Needs to do a better job of fighting through WR blocks, and can sometimes lose his coverage responsibilities when playing out of the slot and be susceptible to big plays. Accolades: - 2021: Consensus All-America despite missing final six games
- Career: 140 tackles, 8 interceptions in 31 games
2022 College Stats |
| 19 | | | Kenny PickettPittsburgh | QB | | |
| Traded from: PHI The Saints get their offensive lineman at No. 16 and land a quarterback here. Malik Willis feels like a better fit in the sense that he won't have to be rushed onto the field with Jameis Winston ahead of him and he's more Taysom Hill than, say, Drew Brees. But with Willis gone, Pickett's the choice. Playing in a dome, and in the NFC South mitigates the hand-size concerns, and Pickett is athletic enough to do some Taysom Hill-type things with the ball in his hands. He doesn't have the best arm in this class but neither did Brees. Then there's Pickett's age. He'll be 24 years old in June, which makes him exactly 3.5 years younger than Winston, who is entering his eighth NFL season. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 87.80 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Derek Carr Strengths: Made huge strides during 2022 after being considered a Day 3 pick after his 2022 season. Consistently shows great touch on mid-range passes, and the ball comes out quickly and on time. Maximizes yards-after-catch possibility for his targets on short and intermediate routes. Good athlete who, when needed, can consistently win with his legs outside the pocket. Plays with confidence in the face of pressure while keeping his eyes downfield, and he'll stand in the pocket and deliver a strike. While he doesn't have an elite arm, he showed throughout the season that he has the ability to throw deep outs, and the ball had both velocity and accuracy. Weaknesses: His hand size -- the smallest among QBs since Michael Vick was drafted more than two decades ago -- will be an issue for some teams and not for others. Doesn't have an elite arm but can make every NFL throw. Sometimes has tunnel vision and misses open targets downfield and instead opts for checkdowns or looks to run. Sometimes his ball can lose steam on deep outs. Averaged more than 3.1 seconds per dropback at Pitt, and he'll lock onto a read even with other WRs coming open. Won't have that kind of time at the next level. Accolades: - 2021: 42 pass TDs (ACC single-season record)
- Pitt all-time leader in pass yards (12,303) and pass TDs (81)
2022 College Stats | GP | PYDS | PCT | TDS | INT | | 13 | 4319 | 67.2 | 42 | 7 | |
| 20 | |  | Chris OlaveOhio St. | WR | | |
| This was one of the toughest picks in our final mock draft. The Steelers have had top-30 visits with top QB prospects, and with two already off the board, who knows if they might go in another direction here and perhaps trying to move up in Round 2 for one. Needs include offensive and defensive line, edge rusher and cornerback but the top four OTs are gone, Pittsburgh may feel good about its interior OL depth after free agency, and two of the top DLs are gone too. We're down to EDGE5 so here the Steelers go wide receiver. Treylon Burks was a consideration because his game mirrors that of JuJu Smith-Schuster, but Olave is a fantastic route runner who ran a 4.39 at the combine. And while he didn't always play that fast, he's an experienced difference-maker who can be a Day 1 contributor. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 87.85 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Chris Godwin Strengths: Great top-end speed. Great route runner who does not tip off his break at the stem. Quick feet at the snap, which allows him to create good leverage. Does a great job tracking the ball over his shoulder and has been very productive for the Buckeyes in the red zone. Weaknesses: Thin-framed boundary receiver who needs to be more physical through his routes. Explosive testing was average to below average. Can do a better job of creating yards after the catch. Accolades: - Two-time All-Big Ten first team (2020 and 2021)
- Ohio St. all-time rec TDs leader (35)
2022 College Stats | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TDS | | 12 | 65 | 936 | 14.4 | 13 | |
| 21 | |  | Devin LloydUtah | LB | | |
| The Patriots have needs at cornerback and defensive line and those could be the targets here, but Lloyd (and Nakobe Dean) is a special player who could go higher than this. He's the next iteration of the linebacker position and in some ways feels like a natural progression from Dont'a Hightower, who played at 260, some 25 pounds heavier than Lloyd. A Pats defense that includes Lloyd and Kyle Dugger feels like a step in the right direction to combat Josh Allen at least twice a season. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 88.60 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Fred Warner Strengths: Does a great job of using his hands to shed blocks. Has shown improvement in pass coverage. Good enough speed allowing him to play sideline to sideline. Physical player. Eyes trained on the ball. Weaknesses: Still a work in progress in coverage. Has room for improvement at identifying gap responsibilities. Has to get his feet moving quicker, be more proactive at times. Accolades: - 2021: Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
- 2021: 22.0 TFL (second-most in FBS behind Will Anderson Jr.)
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 14 | — | — | 4 | |
| 22 | |  | Treylon BurksArkansas | WR | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Treylon Burks Traded from: LV You've no doubt heard the number by now: 20. As in, 20 years since the Packers used a first-round pick on a wide receiver, and that was Javon Walker. The oversight obviously includes the 2022 draft, the deepest wideout class in human history, where the Packers drafted exactly zero receivers, didn't even sign one as an undrafted free agent, and even traded up in the first round for QB Jordan Love! That changes here with Burks, who reminds us of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Anquan Boldin, Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown. Seems like someone Aaron Rodgers would love to throw to 15 times a game in a post-Davante Adams world. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 89.88 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: A.J. Brown Strengths: Great combination of size and speed. Size allows him to bully smaller cornerbacks trying to press him at the line. Speed allows him to get around cornerbacks playing off. Does a great job of creating yardage after the catch. Great body control down the field. Soft hands. Uses his body to create separation like a power forward boxing out. Good foot quickness. Capable of throwing deep on a trick play. Great production over the past two years. Weaknesses: Primarily used in short-to-intermediate routes, so that limited his exposure to jump-ball opportunities. Average burst. Can improve his footwork into breaks. Disappointing combine testing. Accolades: - 2021: All-SEC first team (66 rec, 1,104 rec yards, 11 rec TDs)
- Career: 2,399 rec yards; second in SEC in span (DeVonta Smith)
2022 College Stats | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TDS | | 12 | 66 | 1104 | 16.7 | 11 | |
| 23 | |  | George KarlaftisPurdue | EDGE | | |
| The Cardinals had top-30 visits with offensive lineman Kenyon Green, and he's still on the board here, but they also met with Karlaftis, which also makes sense after Chandler Jones signed with the Raiders. We like Karlaftis more in the second round, and we know some teams feel the same, but other teams like him in Round 1 and it wouldn't surprise us to see him go off the board in this range. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 87.9 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Ryan Kerrigan Strengths: Big, well-built, powerful, athletic rusher who loves the arm-over/swim and is decently effective with it. Has very close to an NFL defensive end body right now and could easily get more powerful. Doesn't have much else in his arsenal besides the swim. Best way to describe his lower half is sudden, relative to his thickness. Decently bendy, too. Very talented, great size, high-floor prospect with decent amount of upside. Very young. Weaknesses: Bull rush could be a lot better relative to his size and girth. Doesn't have much else in his arsenal besides the swim. Feels like he should be more productive given his gifts. A touch up and down. Some games dominant; others nearly invisible. Accolades: - 2021: First-team All-Big Ten (50 pressures, third in Big Ten)
- Career: 14.5 sacks, 29 TFL, 106 pressures in 27 games
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 12 | — | — | 0 | |
| 24 | |  | Zion JohnsonBoston College | OL | | |
| Top-30 visits aren't definitive proof of a team's draft plans but they do sometimes offer insights into what the general draft-weekend roadmap might look like. Johnson played left tackle at Boston College in 2022 and more than held his own, but his NFL future is at guard or center, and he's likely a Day 1 starter. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 87.60 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Rodney Hudson Strengths: Grappler who wants to battle in the run game and has the strength to move people in it. Plays with high-end torque through the whistle. Could stand to add more weight to his frame. Very fundamentally sound in pass pro. Knee bend and hand work are very solid. Gives it his all to recover, although he's not flat-out beaten very often. Higher-floor type on the interior with some upside. Instant high-caliber starter. Weaknesses: Good, not great athlete when blocking on the move or when having to deal with a pass-rushing counter. Accolades: - 2021: All-America first team
- 2021: First-team All-ACC
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| 25 | |  | Kyler GordonWashington | CB | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Kyler Gordon The Bills don't have a ton of needs, and while there's been some media speculation of a running back here, that would a stretch. Instead, linebacker or defensive back feels more likely, and here we're going with Gordon, a freakish athlete who can play in the slot or outside, is a terror in run support and fantastic in coverage. Keep an eye on Christian Harris as a possible target here if the Bills decide to target the linebacker position. He's considered an early Day 2 pick, but there's a chance he finds his way into the back end of Round 1. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 87.09 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Trevon Diggs Strengths: Long arms, long legs, loose hips, and the ability to run vertically with any wide receiver. Can play either outside or in the slot, Gets out of breaks quickly, stays in phase on vertical routes, and is comfortable playing press man at the line of scrimmage. Has size and strength to match up with tight ends out of the slot. Physical enough to play in box and not look out of place, and shows the ability to make wrap-up tackles in space. Weaknesses: Sometimes struggles to get off wide receiver blocks vs. the run, and while he's efficient at getting out of breaks and staying in phase, he can give up separation on a receiver's second move. May end up being a better slot corner at the next level. Accolades: - 2021: All-Pac-12 first team (two interceptions, six breakups)
- 2021: 0 pass TD allowed on 345 coverage snaps
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 12 | — | — | 2 | |
| 26 | |  | Kenyon GreenTexas A&M | OL | | |
| We like Bernhard Raimann in the first round and toyed with the idea of putting him here, but he's considered more a finesse player at this early stage of his career (he's only been playing left tackle for two seasons) and that doesn't really fit what the Titans do up front. So instead we're going with Green, who plays with a decided edge, has some tackle flexibility, and made a top-30 visit to Nashville. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 87.89 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Dalton Risner Strengths: Excelled at tackle in college but could move inside in the NFL. Has long arms, athletic lower half and can dig out defensive ends to seal the edge in run support where he consistently sustains blocks. Patient and well-balanced in his pass sets, where he has a good anchor and is rarely pushed off his spot. Once he locks on it's hard for pass rushers to disengage, and he's a smooth combo-blocker who can drive defensive linemen off ball. Weaknesses: Sometimes can toe the line of holding in the run game, usually when trying to reach block. Can also get grabby when he's about to be beat in pass protection. Sometimes struggles to maintain blocks vs. strong and quick edge rushers, but that's not uncommon for any offensive tackle, though Green's NFL future is likely inside. Accolades: - 2021: AP All-America first team
- 2021: Two sacks allowed on 385 pass-blocking snaps
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| 27 | |  | Logan HallHouston | DL | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Logan Hall We've been a Logan Hall fan since the fall and that hasn't changed. The Bucs have Vita Vea and not much else and Hall is quick, strong, athletic and consistently in the backfield. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 86.98 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Charles Omenihu Strengths: Frenetic hand fighter who possesses raw power and that equates to a nightmare for interior offensive linemen. Regularly double-teamed and regularly found ways to split them. Devastating push-pull that can destroy interior offensive linemen who can't match his strength. Explosive get off as 4i and 5 technique, and with an added swim move he can give offensive linemen all sorts of trouble as a pass rusher. Weaknesses: Occasionally gets too upright as a pass rusher and get stymied, which can sometimes manifest itself as struggling to anchor, though Hall consistently showed the ability to quickly make in-game adjustments. Doesn't currently have an array of pass-rush moves because typically he wins with power and strong hands. Accolades: - 2021: First-team all-AAC (6.0 sacks, 13.0 TFL)
- 2021: Highest PFF grade (89.2) among AAC DL
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 12 | — | — | — | |
| 28 | | | Daxton HillMichigan | S | | |
| There's a pretty good chance the Packers package some picks and move up -- perhaps even for a WR! -- but here we have them bolstering the secondary with Dax Hill. He's listed as a safety but he can line up anywhere, and even though the team used a first-rounder on CB Eric Stokes a season ago, there's room for Hill here. He'd make life easier for Darnell Savage, the Packers' former first-rounder heading into Year 4 of his rookie deal. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 88.87 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Devin McCourty Strengths: Five-star athleticism with versatility to play safety or cornerback. Great top-end speed. Does a good job of sorting through traffic. Not afraid to play downhill and deliver a big hit. Change of direction is seamless. Anticipates throws well. Weaknesses: Involvement in run support can improve. Limited ball production traced back to his ability playing the ball in the air. Below-average arm length. Explosive testing was below average. Can do a better job of getting off blocks. Accolades: - 2021: All-Big Ten first team
- 2021: Career highs in tackles (69) and pass breakups (eight)
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 14 | — | — | 2 | |
| 29 | |  | Boye MafeMinnesota | DL | | |
| Traded from: MIA Who knows what the Chiefs do here, but Mafe has been on their radar for a while and even though he'll turn 24 in November, he's an athletic marvel who had a strong '21 season before blowing up the combine. There's a feeling he's just scratching the surface and the Chiefs need pass rushers. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 88.05 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Bud Dupree Strengths: Well-built, thick athlete who does a great job of using his hands to soften the edge. Shows an above-average ability to bend at the waist around the corner. Great top-end speed and explosion. Does a good job of containing the edge or dropping into coverage. Has some power in his hands to stack and shed in the run game. Weaknesses: Needs to develop more counter moves and show an ability to pressure linemen inside. Average-to-below-average length. Rotational player who will have to shoulder a larger workload at the next level. Balance was an issue at times this season. Accolades: - 2021: Second-team All-Big Ten
- 2021: Led team in TFL (10) and sacks (seven)
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 12 | — | — | — | |
| 30 | | | Jahan DotsonPenn St. | WR | | |
| We've had Dotson as a second-rounder throughout the draft process and we still feel that way. But we're willing to make a concession for an undersized, explosive playmaker with great hands landing in an Andy Reid system where Patrick Mahomes is the QB. Reid did mention getting bigger at WR, and maybe Treylon Burks would be an option here, but the team also signed 6-foot-1 JuJu Smith-Schuster and 6-foot-4 Marquez Valdes-Scantling this offseason. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 86.52 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Diontae Johnson Strengths: Smaller, slippery, deceptively good ball skills/catch radius wideout with sneaky speed. Body control is high end. Loose hips. Hands catches with ease. Runs super-sharp routes. Can make multiple cuts in a route to separate; that part of his game is NFL-ready. Weaknesses: Despite the looseness in his midsection and lower half, he's not a YAC specialist. His tiny frame will leave him susceptible against bigger, more physical corners. Faster than he is quick. Accolades: - 2021: All-Big Ten second team (91 rec, 1,182 yards, 12 TDs)
- PSU all-time ranks: 2,757 rec yards (fourth), 25 rec TDs (T-second)
2022 College Stats | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TDS | | 12 | 91 | 1182 | 13 | 12 | |
| 31 | |  | Andrew Booth Jr.Clemson | CB | | |
| Andrew Booth Jr. would be well off the board -- and he could end up in, say, New England -- but some pre-draft injuries could see him slide a bit; he didn't run at the combine or his pro day because of a quadriceps injury, and he underwent hernia surgery earlier this year as well. Still, the Bengals need help in the secondary and Booth is expected to be ready to go by the summer, in which case this pick makes too much sense not to happen. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 89.13 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Drayton Florence Strengths: Significant exposure to zone concepts and appears to have flexilibility to play in man coverage. Great ball production. Good size and length. Physical. Not afraid to play downhill and make plays in the backfield. Great closing speed and acceleration. Great top-end speed. Vocal and fiery. Weaknesses: Known to gamble. Gets caught leaning at the stem and his transition to the field can be compromised by loose breaks. Tackling form can improve. Accolades: - 2021: All-ACC first team
- Past two seasons: Five interceptions (T-most in ACC)
2022 College Stats | GP | TKL | SACKS | INT | | 10 | — | — | 3 | |
| 32 | | | Sam HowellNorth Carolina | QB | | |
Top 150 Draft Pro Comparisons: Sam Howell Traded from: LAR There's been some media chitchat about the Lions targeting Malik Willis at No. 2 and that feels a little too rich. Instead, they're more likely to trade up from here (Detroit also has the 2nd pick in Round 2) for a passer. Who that passer might be is another matter. It could be Desmond Ridder, or Matt Corral, but we're going with Sam Howell, who has flown under the draft-media-hype-train radar for much of the last two months but he's our QB2. We'd love the pick here and he has some Matthew Stafford gunslinger in him but he's a better athlete. Draft Scouting Report: Rating: 85.62 (Long-term starter) Pro Comparison: Baker Mayfield Strengths: Smaller, thickish aggressive QB with a gritty and frentic playing style. Arm strength pops when kept clean. Super-tough runner who will fight through contact to get extra yardage. Big-time throw ability and willingness definitely there when protected well. Huge producer early in his collegiate career. Weaknesses: Not an arm-talent specimen who'll rip big-time throws when on the run or off balance. Bounces around in the pocket but is often too antsy and pulls it down to run too quickly. Athleticism is respectable but he won't be a designed-running threat in the NFL like was in college. Accuracy is very hit or miss. Not a liability nor a strength right now. A little raw at reading coverages/making the correct decision. Willingness to stretch it vertically more impressive than his downfield touch right now. Accolades: - Second in ACC history in career pass efficiency (164.2)
- Third in ACC history in career pass TDs (92)
2022 College Stats | GP | PYDS | PCT | TDS | INT | | 12 | 3056 | 62.5 | 24 | 9 | |
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