Folks, it’s a bittersweet time as it’s the final joint mock draft for 366 Sports this year featuring myself and Matt. It’s sad because we’re about to enter a three month void of nothingness but happy because draft night is always tops. Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.
For this draft, I made the odd picks and Matt made the even picks. I provided the analysis for each pick in here. This is my last mock of the year but Matt has one more coming out Wednesday so stay tuned for it.
For one last time, let’s get it!
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Travon Walker, Georgia
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And the Jags really like Travon Walker. It makes zero sense to me that they would pass up Aidan Hutchinson but all signs point to that happening.
2. Detroit Lions: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
The Lions would run to the podium if the draft falls like this.
3. Houston Texans: CB Sauce Gardner, Cincinnati
The Texans literally need everything and there’s quiet rumblings that Sauce Gardner is one of the top players on their board. The draft truly starts at three if the board falls like this.
4. New York Jets: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
Robert Saleh’s defense needs edge rushers and Kayvon is the best one left here. The Jets seem to really like him, too.
5. New York Giants: T Evan Neal, Alabama
The Giants get a great scheme fit tackle that they can play at right tackle to start and potentially left tackle down the line.
6. Carolina Panthers: T Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State
The Panthers are in a miserable position. Everyone knows that they want to trade back but they probably won’t be able to so they take one of the best tackles in this class.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (via New York Giants): QB Malik Willis, Liberty
Giants Receive: 2022 1st round pick (20), 2023 1st round pick, 2023 2nd round pick, 2022 4th round pick (138)
Steelers Receive: 2022 1st round pick (7th), 2022 5th round pick (178)
This is the big trade that Giants fans are hoping (or dreading depending on who you ask) happens. The Steelers fans will probably be equally as divided on this pick as Malik Willis is a polarizing quarterback prospect.
8. Atlanta Falcons: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
The Falcons are a total dumpster fire and they literally have no wide receivers on their roster anymore with Calvin Ridley suspended for a year for gambling on games. Taking Garrett Wilson here will be a safe bet for them.
9. Seattle Seahawks: CB Derek Stingley, LSU
After a great freshman season in 2019, Stingley played 10 games in 2 seasons. The tape isn’t nearly as good in 2020 or 2021 but he played hurt the entire time. Someone is going to bite on the potential skillset Stingley offers. For the rebuilding Seahawks, Stingley fits like a glove in their secondary.
10. New York Jets: T Charles Cross, Mississippi State
This is excellent value for Charles Cross and it solidifies an offensive line that has some question marks.
11. Washington DC NFL Franchise Commanders: S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
The Football Team Commanders have shown throughout their history that they sure do love the safety position. Kyle Hamilton will draw comparisons for Sean Taylor if they make this pick here.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Edge Jermaine Johnson, Florida State University
The Vikings won’t be able to turn down Jermaine Johnson at this spot. He could come in and be a franchise player on defense for years to come.
13. Houston Texans: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
Once again, the Texans need everything. There’s no reason not to get a franchise wide receiver right here.
14. Baltimore Ravens: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
The Ravens secondary is aging so let’s inject some youth into it. McDuffie is a really good player who plays with high intelligence that will fit in with what the Ravens do.
15. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
The Eagles go to the receiver well for the third straight year and add another weapon to offense. We can guarantee that this is a better pick than Jalen Reagor.
16. New Orleans Saints: WR Drake London, USC
The Saints believe that they can win with Jameis Winston. Or do they? More on that later. Either way, they’ve gotta get some more weapons at wide receiver.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: DT Jordan Davis, Georgia
There’s a lot of smoke that the Chargers are interested in Davis. This is fine value for him.
18. Philadelphia Eagles: ILB Devin Lloyd, Utah
Lloyd is a prototype linebacker who probably will not end up sliding this far. If he does then the Eagles got a steal.
19. New Orleans Saints: T Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
The Saints need to bolster the offensive line and Penning is great value at this slot.
20. New York Giants (via Pittsburgh): OG Zion Johnson, Boston College
Many Giants fans may not like this pick but it’s a smart move to build this offensive line up. Johnson can come in and start on day 1 inside and this team can have a middle-of-the-road offensive line to start that will hopefully improve.
21. New England Patriots: Edge George Karlaftis, Purdue
This just seems like a Bill Belichick pick. He is likely to slide due to his short arms and lack of bend but Belichick will find a way to turn him into a productive player.
22. Green Bay Packers: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
If the Packers pass on Burks here than Aaron Rodgers may end up retiring.
23. Arizona Cardinals: C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
This is appropriate value for Linderbaum who would do well in the Cardinals system.
24. Dallas Cowboys: OG Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
Nobody has seemed to notice it but the Cowboys offensive line has really fallen off. They are a team built to run the ball and that all starts with the offensive line.
25. Buffalo Bills: S Daxton Hill, Michigan
The Bills don’t have any glaring holes so they can simply sit back and take the best player available. Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer aren’t getting any younger, either.
26. Tennessee Titans: WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
The Titans need to hedge their bets at wide receiver (and no I’m not talking about trading for Calvin Ridley) in case AJ Brown ends up forcing his way out of town. Dotson is going to be really good.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
This is a best-player-available pick for the Bucs.
28. Green Bay Packers: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
Florida cornerbacks have a bad reputation but Elam is a decent player. The Packers get good value for him here.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Kyler Gordon, Washington
With the rest of the AFC West getting better and the Chiefs getting worse on paper, they are going to have to at least try on defense next season.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
If you close your eyes really hard then you see Tyreek Hill. It’s just the Great Value version.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Tyler Smith, Tulsa
This is a reach but the Bengals have to improve in the trenches. They could legitimately return to the Super Bowl and win it if Burrow stays healthy and protected.
32. Detroit Lions: ILB Nakobe Dean, Georgia
The Lions get a potential steal here. The truth is that we don’t know where Dean is going to fall because of his size. I’ve heard selection windows of 10-40.
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