This might be the most confusing NFL draft of the last decade. There aren't any quarterbacks anyone up top wants and/or needs to take. Everyone on the front end of the draft has the same needs and everyone on the back end of the draft has the same needs as well.
Green Bay and Kansas City are going to potentially be fighting for wide receivers and everyone up top is looking for offensive line and defensive line help.
There are guys who could go 15th overall or just drop out of the first round. It's going to be a wild ride. Let's try and figure out how it might look, with the Packers and Ravens pulling off a trade.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
There's still some thought the Jags could go Ickey Ekwonu or Evan Neal here and there's also some buzz building about Travon Walker possibly going first overall. I think we could see Shad Khan get involved and push the front office to take an OL, but right now Hutchinson still seems like he's the guy at the top.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Maybe the Lions consider a quarterback, but with Jared Goff remaining a fave of the front office it seems more likely to me they continue building depth and talent in the trenches.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
This pick could showcase the Texans' future intentions with Laremy Tunsil, although Neal/Ikwonu could easily play the right side of the line.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
The Giants are in a great spot at five knowing their needs match up with the top players in this draft class. There's a lot of chatter about Joe Schoen wanting to trade down and get future draft picks and it might require moving from this pick if people want to get ahead of Carolina for a QB or OL. Moving off seven would obviously be their preference.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Reportedly the "mutual disinterest" between the Panthers and Baker Mayfield is cooling off. If that's the case, then maybe a deal goes down and Carolina takes an OL instead. For now I'll have them sticking with Pickett at six thanks to the connections between the Pitt QB and Matt Rhule/David Tepper.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 7
It's possible Johnson is gone before this -- the Jets have been rumored to be talking with him -- but either way a pass rusher with the Giants' second pick would have New York fans fired up about this draft.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Malik Willis would be spicy here but the Matt Ryan trade really signals Atlanta's need to do a full-blown rebuild. What makes Williams particularly interesting is the Falcons could get Calvin Ridley back after his suspension and suddenly have a loaded WR room once again as Williams moves further away from his ACL injury (ACLs aren't problems for NFL teams anymore, either).
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From
Denver Broncos
Round 1 - Pick 9
The Seahawks found Russell Wilson in the third round which is why I think it would surprise me if they pulled on one here in a thin class. It would be hilarious if they drafted an OL with one of the picks they got for Russell Wilson after all his complaints about being sacked in the last few years.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 10
Some Jets reporters have suggested they won't take a cornerback but I think they'd have to take a long, hard look at "Sauce" with the 10th pick if he fell this far.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
There's a clear need at the position, a strong desire to make Carson Wentz look good and a major OSU connection at the position group with Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
There are multiple connections with Stingley, LSU and the Vikings, specifically with Patrick Peterson potentially serving as a CB mentor and Justin Jefferson having played with Stingley on the Tigers championship team. The Vikings need a corner and Stingley should be here.
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From
Cleveland Browns
Round 1 - Pick 13
Sure is easy to make the comparison between Vince Wilfork with the Patriots and Jordan Davis if he lands here with the. Texans. Adding Davis and a pass rusher would immediately make the Texans a much better team just by virtue of their defensive line improvements.
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Mock Trade from
Baltimore Ravens
Round 1 - Pick 14
The Ravens are the toughest pick in the whole draft to predict. Eric DeCosta's talked about moving both up and down during the first round (and it doesn't sound like typical GM talk either). With lots of WR-needy teams in the back end of the draft, this makes a lot of sense as a spot for someone to move up and grab someone. The Packers do just that and get Aaron Rodgers some needed help. They give Baltimore the 22nd pick along with some late picks.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 15
We're going to look back at this Georgia defense the same way we look back on that Joe Burrow LSU offense when it's all said and done, especially with how many guys get drafted early. With a ton of picks, the Eagles can ditch their usual avoidance of drafting linebackers early.
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From
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1 - Pick 16
Moving up in early April to snipe the Chargers on an OL is pretty absurd, but here we are. Losing Terron Armstead means the Saints need to reload at the position.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
And the Chargers promptly take a different offensive lineman anyway.
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From
New Orleans Saints
Round 1 - Pick 18
Precipitous drop for Hamilton but perhaps indicative of the positional value here. But the Eagles are squatting on two firsts next year and two potentially transformational defenders.
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From
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1 - Pick 19
Matt Corral is super popular in terms of mocks to the Saints. But with Jameis Winston set for 2022, Willis can be the guy of the future for the Saints.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Even with a lack of teams who need QBs there are still tons of teams willing to reach for them. Maybe the Steelers prefer Willis, but Corral has a hose and Matt Canada loves some RPOs.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
The Patriots are likely trading down because that's what the Patriots do, but with J.C. Jackson leaving it would make a lot of sense for New England to add another secondary piece.
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Mock Trade from
Green Bay Packers
Round 1 - Pick 22
Bradley Bozeman bounced to Carolina in the offseason leaving a hole at center for Baltimore, and they get some picks out of the exchange as well.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
The Cardinals going WR again feels like a surprise, but losing Christian Kirk this offseason puts a dent into the depth chart. Grabbing Burks would be a nice fit with the combo of DeAndre Hopkins and Rondale Moore.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
The Cowboys love drafting offensive linemen in the first round and quietly need to reload this unit after some serious attrition the last few years.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
The Bills are in win-now mode so they could be more interested in drafting an impact player not coming off a workout injury. But they have the depth to grab Ojabo here, especially right in front of the noted injured-player-loving Titans.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
This would be a pretty shocking pick but Ryan Tannehill isn't exactly young and Ridder's style of play could absolutely work in this offensive system.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Give Aaron Rodgers every reason to be excited about coming back on his giant new contract despite Davante Adams not being back.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 29
The Chiefs need WR help but not as much as people generally think. I'd bet they draft one with these picks but will potentially let the draft come to them.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Again, WR help is needed but the Chiefs also have a bad defense and added some guys at the position this offseason. They're not going to win the Super Bowl without more impact defensive players.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Even with the OL adds this offseason, the Bengals could use more help on the line.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 32
Everyone assumes the Lions will pivot off the trenches but I'm not sure they're going to do that for at least another year.
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