It’s the time of year where the world falls and love and every song you hear seems to say Merry Mockmas. We hope you and yours enjoyed a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday. Dan and I are back with another mock draft. We are getting closer and closer to a final draft order and this draft looks like it’s going to be real fun. Without further ado, the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
Matt: Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson are the two best players in this class. Jacksonville gets to choose which guy they want. We all love Hutchinson, he’s fantastic, but I think we’ve forgotten that Thibodeaux is also fantastic, something NFL executives haven’t forgotten. The Oregon edge rusher is still the favorite to go first overall, so that’s where he’s going here.
- Detroit Lions: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
Dan: One of two things is going to happen with the quarterbacks this year: Teams will either talk themselves into taking subpar guys due to the position OR teams will completely fade them and wait until next year. Aidan Hutchinson is too good to risk losing him for a quarterback that isn’t going to deliver.
- Houston Texans: LT Evan Neal, Alabama
Matt: I don’t think Houston to reach for a QB just because it’s a need this offseason. Caserio signed a 6 year contract to build Houston the right way. Neal is the best player available with Hutchinson and Thibodeaux off the board. Houston can continue to build in the trenches and let Davis Mills get a shot at the starting job in 2022.
- New York Jets: CB Derek Stingley, LSU
Dan: The Jets, who need everything, may as well take the best player available at a premium position.
- New York Giants: Edge George Karlaftis, Purdue
Matt: The New York Giants have desperately needed an edge rusher since Dave Gettelman traded away Jason Pierre-Paul in 2018. That stops this offseason. Karlaftis is a great athlete that can rush from both inside and outside. He has the size and strength to immediately step in and be great against the run while offering elite pass rushing upside with his 54 pressures in 2021 at Purdue.
- New York Jets (via Seattle): OL Ikem Ekwonu, NC State
Dan: Once again, the Jets who need everything may as well take the best player available at a premium position. Their offensive line will be set up nicely moving forward if the draft falls like this for them.
- Carolina Panthers: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
Matt: Matt Rhule seems desperate to get a QB in Carolina and it’s going to take a desperate team to pick one of these QBs early in the draft. Pickett is the best of the bunch. Pickett is a good athlete with a solid arm. NFL teams are going to like that Pickett has 5 years of college experience, which means he should be able to step in and play right away.
- New York Giants (via Chicago): IOL Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
Dan: People will not like that this isn’t a flashy pick as Linderbaum is a center but the Giants offensive line has plagued them for years. Taking a guy like Linderbaum to come in and be a stabilizing force on the line is much needed.
- Washington Football Team: S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
Matt: Kyle Hamilton might be the 3rd best player in this entire draft class. Teams just don’t value the safety position above other key positions (EDGE, OT, QB, CB). Hamilton is huge at 6-foot-4, 221lbs and insanely athletic. He would fit in nicely in Ron Rivera’s defense and provide some support to a secondary that struggled all season.
- Atlanta Falcons: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
Dan: The Falcons sure do love their Alabama wide receivers and they add another one here. Williams will either be a great compliment to Calvin Ridley or a good replacement for him if Ridley decides to leave the game forever.
- Denver Broncos: OT Charlie Cross, Mississippi State
Matt: We expect Denver to solve their QB problems via trade or free agency this offseason, however, if they don’t a QB is in play. With that being said, Cross is a 2 year starter at LT with great athleticism. He can immediately step in opposite Garrett Bolles and help ensure the offensive edges.
- Minnesota Vikings: QB Malik Willis
Dan: This isn’t the pick that you were expecting but it’s not as far fetched as you may think. One would have to think that Mike Zimmer gets fired this offseason and the Vikings are going to enter somewhat of a retooling. Kirk Cousins will enter next season on the last year of his contract and they’re free to let him walk after that. Going through a rebuild with a 34 year old quarterback isn’t a smart decision. Willis can sit behind Cousins next season.
- New Orleans Saints: Edge David Ojabo
Dan: The Saints could very well be in the quarterback market but with this class being so weak they continue to build their defense and try to win that way.
- Cleveland Browns: WR Garrett Wilson, OSU
Matt: After Baker Mayfield got Odell Beckham Jr. cut this season for something Odell’s dad posted on social media, the Browns are in need of a number one WR. Wilson is a really good route runner and is excellent with the ball in his hands. He’ll be a nice weapon for whoever ends up playing QB for the Browns next season.
- Pittsburgh Steelers:DT DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
Matt: It’s no secret that Pittsburgh needs a QB but I don’t think they’ll reach for one in the draft. Leal provides some power and youth to the Steelers’ defensive line that isn’t what it used to be.
- Los Angeles Chargers: CB Andrew Booth, Clemson
Dan: The Chargers offense is insane but the defense leaves a lot to be desired. Getting a guy like Booth at a premium position will help the defense become less porous.
- Las Vegas Raiders: WR Chris Olave, OSU
Matt: The Raiders need to get Derek Carr some help, whether it’s some lineman or another weapon. Let’s be honest with ourselves though, is Mark Davis going to be able to resist a 4.3 WR? I don’t think so.
- Baltimore Ravens:Edge, Jermaine Johnson, FSU
Dan: Over the next few months you’re going to see Jermaine Johnson shoot up draft boards due to his elite size and the fact that he’s had 11.5 sacks this year for the Seminoles. The Ravens could use another edge rusher and he would be a good fit.
- Philadelphia Eagles: QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Matt: While the Eagles have outperformed their expectations this season I think one thing is become abundantly clear, Jalen Hurts just doesn’t have the arm talent to be a NFL QB. Corral has all the athletic upside of Hurts with a far superior arm, which is something I don’t think the Eagles will be able to pass up on.
- Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA): WR Drake London, USC
Dan: The Eagles have dropped the ball taking first round wide receivers in recent years aside from Devonta Smith and London would be a guy who they can pair with him. He would compliment Smith well and he’s a lot bigger than Smith at 6’5” and 210 pounds.
- Miami Dolphins (via SF): OG Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
Matt: The Dolphins desperately need to add to their offensive line to protect Tua (or Watson) next season. Kenyon Green is the best offensive lineman available at this point in the draft and can step in and start immediately.
- New England Patriots: CB Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati
Dan: There’s a chance that the Patriots don’t re-sign JC Jackson and even if they do, they’re a team that values corners above all else in their defensive scheme.
- Philadelphia Eagles (via IND): LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia
Matt: Nakobe Dean is one of the best athletes in the entire draft. He’s explosive from the ILB spot and is a very smart person (Mechanical Engineering major). He’s has all the tools to anchor a defense for the next decade.
- Arizona Cardinals: DL Jordan Davis, Georgia
Dan: The Cardinals love taking pointless positions in the first round on defense so you can add this one to the list.
- Buffalo Bills: CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
Matt: McCreary plays feisty on the outside and is a good run defender as well. The Bills needs to add another CB opposite Tre’davious White and McCreary can step in and be that guy.
- Cincinnati Bengals: OT Darian Kinnard
Dan: Protect Joe Burrow at all costs. Kinnard can slide into right tackle next season for the Bengals.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
Matt: Elam has put together 3 really good years at UF and has done a great job of totally shutting down WRs in his junior season. The stats aren’t flashy for Elam but that’s because teams just aren’t throwing the ball near him. The Bucs need to add to their struggling secondary and Elam does just that.
- Detroit Lions (via Los Angels Rams): LB Devin Lloyd, Utah
Dan: The Lions want to have a “bite your kneecaps off” identity and in order to do that their defense is going to need a leader. Lloyd can quarterback the defense for years to come and is a solid pick at this juncture of the draft.
- Tennessee Titans: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
Matt: Simply put, the Julio Jones experiment hasn’t yielded great results. Burks is a very good receiver who they can play opposite AJ Brown.
- Dallas Cowboys: Edge Drake Jackson, USC
Dan: The Cowboys can easily get even better on defense if they take Drake Jackson and add him to an already talented pool of edge rushers on their team.
- Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
Matt: The Chiefs haven’t been able to find a consistent receiving option behind Kelce and Hill. Dotson is a home-run threat WR that is electric on all 3 levels of the field.
- Green Bay Packers: WR David Bell, Purdue
Dan: I still think that the Packers lose Davonte Adams and Aaron Rodgers this offseason so in order to get Jordan Love some weapons, they take David Bell who is a solid wide receiver.