Last week's three-round mock draft was a fool's errand. We know that now (we knew it then too but, well, you gotta give the people what they want). In the 168 hours since it was published, we've seen Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson change teams, the Steelers add Mitchell Trubisky and Baker Mayfield request that he never ever play another down for the Browns.
And there's still the matter of sorting out the futures of Jameis Winston and Jimmy Garoppolo, and perhaps even Matt Ryan, who would've been out of a job in Atlanta had Watson chosen to play for the Falcons.
This is another way of saying the league has spoken and we have yet more proof that this quarterback draft class isn't an elite one. That's OK, of course, teams will still target 2-3 of them in the first round, and it also means we're likely to see a run on edge rushers, offensive and defensive linemen, wide receivers and defensive backs early.
This week -- for the first time since late January -- we have the Jaguars again targeting an edge rusher over an offensive lineman, based solely on last week's free agency moves. All told, six edge rushers are among the first 32 picks to go, along with seven offensive linemen. Five wideouts go in Round 1 and only three quarterbacks hear their names called.
But this is a two-round mock draft, so if your team didn't adequately address a need the first time through (or didn't even have a selection), perhaps they did later. Seven teams have at least three picks in these two rounds (the Jets, Eagles and Packers have four!), which means seven teams could get a lot better over a 48-hour period when the actual draft is underway.
For now, keep reading to see how all 64 picks play out.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
For the longest time we've had the Jags targeting an offensive lineman here, but the team used the first week of free agency to beef up the O-line so we're back to where we were during the season: Aidan Hutchinson is the No. 1 pick, even though the team has used a first-rounder on an edge rusher in two of the last three drafts. Josh Allen has been as good as advertised while K'Lavon Chaisson is still looking to put it altogether in the NFL. Hutchinson is probably the safest pick in this entire class.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
The talk that Thibodeaux doesn't love football is just that. He proved it during his Oregon career, plus, as one team put it to us: "Maybe we're overthinking this one." Bottom line: Thibodeaux has game-changing talents and should be among the first players drafted. Charles Harris was a pleasant surprise in Detroit last season but there's always room for a game-changing edge rusher like Thibodeaux.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
The Texans have five of the first 80 picks in the draft and with Deshaun Watson now in Cleveland, it certainly seems like Davis Mills is the QB of the future (for the time being, anyway). And if so, Houston will need to protect him. Ekwonu is our OT1 and had the Jags not addressed their OL needs in free agency, Ekwonu would remain our first-overall selection.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
The Jets may look to address defense here, especially with the Laken Tomlinson signing in free agency further shoring up their offensive line. Gardner is a long, physical corner who can run with any WR he goes up against. He didn't give up a single TD during his career and in '21 he was as close to shutdown as you're going to see, which will come in handy in the AFC East.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Yes, the Giants signed guards Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano in free agency but there is still a need to upgrade the unit. Tackle Andrew Thomas has improved each season but if Daniel Jones is going to have any chance at success, taking Evan Neal here might be the quickest path. He'll be a Day 1 starter and an offensive line that was a liability a season ago could suddenly become a strength.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
QB is the easy choice here, after the Panthers missed out on Watson, but any passer selected here would be overdrafted. There are reports that owner David Tepper is high on Kenny Pickett but he's our QB4, and the reality is that Patrick Mahomes could be Carolina's QB and he'd struggle because the offensive line is in shambles. Which brings us to who we think best helps this team. Cross plays in Mike Leach's Air Raid offense, which means he's not asked to do a lot of run blocking. And he'll tell you that's one of the things he wants to improve, even though he was very good in that area last season (and prior to Leach's arrival). Either way, Cross' athleticism shines through and that, coupled with his strength, makes him a top-10 draft-day target.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 7
Walker is something of a tweener, which is odd to say about someone who stands 6-foot-5, and weighs 275 pounds. But he can line up as a 3, 4 or 5-tech and that versatility, coupled with his non-stop motor and consistent playmaking ability, makes him an attractive option for several teams in this range looking to bolster their defensive line. He's just scratching the surface on how could he can be and his combine performance -- a 4.51 40, a vertical of 35.5 inches and a mind-boggling 3-cone of 6.89 seconds -- certainly doesn't hurt.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Man, this team could really use a wide receiver -- in a big way -- but there's also an easy case to be made that the secondary needs some help too. And while this class has some safety prospects, there's only one Kyle Hamilton, who is somehow still on the board. He has Ed Reed-type instincts in center field -- but in a 6-foot-4 body -- and he has the ability to line up anywhere.
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From
Denver Broncos
Round 1 - Pick 9
We've been upfront about Wills: we have a second-round grade on him based on his body of work in college, but that doesn't mean teams looking for a quarterback won't take one a round or so before they should. Willis had a great week at the Senior Bowl and reports are that he interviewed well in Indy. He's built like Russell Wilson but obviously in much rawer form. Unfortunately, he won't get time to grow into the job in Seattle (unless Drew Lock is in the plans for '22) but he has the physical tools to be the best passer in this class, all he needs is experience.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 10
The Jets could target edge rusher here but Lloyd is a special talent. We were impressed by him during the '21 season and nothing changed at the combine. He's the prototypical off-ball linebacker in today's NFL (pay no attention to his 4.7-something 40 times -- he plays immeasurably faster), and it's like he was built in a lab. This may seem high but, well, it's not.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
We know what Ron Rivera said but trading for Carson Wentz was underwhelming. But what's done is done and now the team has to build around him. Terry McLaurin is one of the best young players in the league but he's also in the final year of his rookie deal. And while Curtis Samuel is entering Year 2, he didn't exactly set the world on fire in '21. Wilson, meanwhile, is one of the the most dynamic players in college football and his game in many ways reminds us of Odell Beckham Jr.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Stingley didn't work out at the combine as he recovers from a foot injury, and he only played three games in '21, but it's hard to forget just how dominant he was in '19 as a freshman, when he spent practices going up against Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall and Racey McMath. He's a ball hawk, not to mention an asset in the return game, and he'll only last this long because hasn't played a lot of football in the last 12 months.
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From
Cleveland Browns
Round 1 - Pick 13
After transferring from Georgia, Johnson had a fantastic season at Florida State. And he told us at the combine that he felt like he had something to prove going from the SEC to the ACC. Well, he did that and then some, then he dominated the Senior Bowl, and followed that up with an electric workout in Indy. The Texans beefed up the O-line with their first first-rounder, and now add some edge rush help with their 13th pick, acquired in the Deshaun Watson deal.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Even though McDuffie balled out on the outside for the Huskies this season, we get Tyrann Matthieu vibes when we watch him. He has the athleticism to line up anywhere -- and he told us at the combine that he can do just that at the next level.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 15
The Eagles have used first-rounders on wide receivers the last two years, but they still lack depth at the position. At 6-foot-5, London was a high-point-catch machine before his '21 season ended prematurely with an ankle injury. He has all the tools to be WR1.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 16
This continues to be a popular pairing in our weekly mocks, partly because the Eagles could use Dean in the middle of their D (even if, historically, they don't draft off-ball linebackers in Round 1), and in part because Dean was so dominant during the '21 season. And while he played on the best defense in the country, don't be fooled -- he didn't ride on the coattails of a dominant Georgia defensive line, Dean was a huge reason for their success. There are questions about his size and how that translates to the NFL but his tape tells a different story.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Green can play outside or inside and at Texas A&M he lined up against some of the best defensive linemen and edge rushers in the country. The Chargers need to protect all-world QB Justin Herbert and Green would be an obvious choice in the middle of the round.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Corral is our QB1 but we know he's not for everybody. Now that Deshaun Watson chose Cleveland over New Orleans, it feels like Jameis Winston could re-up with the Saints, and even if that happens, Corral could be the long-term answer at quarterback. He fits the profile of what former coach Sean Payton loved about Taysom Hill, but he's younger, healthier and, frankly, better in every area at the QB position.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
 
Daxton Hill
S
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 192 lbs
Hill is part of a Wolverines defense that could end up seeing three players go in Round 1 next spring. He's underrated nationally, but watch him play and it becomes clear pretty quickly that he's in the running for one of the best defensive backs in this class. He's listed as a safety but he can line up anywhere.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Davis dropped some weight, showed up at the combine and at 6-foot-6, 341 pounds, ran the 40 in 4.78 seconds, had a 32-inch vertical, and a broad jump of 10 feet, 3 inches -- and oh, by the way, he was a one-man wrecking crew in the SEC. It's easy to say Davis is a two-down player but his obvious strength and surprising speed make a legit three-down threat who just needs to refine his pass-rush arsenal beyond the bull rush. The biggest question is if he can keep his weight down, which directly correlates to his stamina, and his ability to stay on the field.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Andrew Booth had a strong '21 season for Clemson and he's only going to get better with experience. The Patriots lost J.C. Jackson to the Chargers and they'll need to upgrade their secondary this offseason, something they didn't do during the first week of free agency.
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From
Las Vegas Raiders
Round 1 - Pick 22
Davante Adams is gone to Las Vegas and the Packers are using the pick they acquired in the deal to begin the process of replacing all that productivity. Olave is probably the best route runner in this class but he alone won't be able to account for all of Adams' offense. Not-so-fun fact for Aaron Rodgers and/or Packers fans: This would be the first time since 2002 that Green Bay used a first-round pick on a wideout.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
It appears Kyler Murray and the Cards will patch up whatever social-media-manufactured issues remain between them, and patching up the OL should be No. 2 on the to-do list. Zion Johnson is another player who went to the Senior Bowl and proved he was worthy of first-round consideration. He played left tackle at Boston College and worked at guard and center in Mobile. He's a Day 1 starter at several positions.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Tyler Biadasz was good at times last season but there's certainly room for upgrading the interior OL. And if Tyler Linderbaum is still on the board, this is a layup for the front office. Linderbaum is one of the best offensive linemen, even at center, and he could certainly go much higher than this.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Williams tore his ACL in the national title game but he's still one of the best players in this draft class and should be ready to contribute next October. If not for the injury he's likely the first wideout off the board. The Bills don't have a lot of needs and with four CBs off the board, they instead target a receiver here.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Burks is a contested and high-point catch machine. Don't be fooled by his 4.55 40 at the combine -- he regularly outran defensive backs to the end zone in the SEC and that won't change in the NFL. The scariest part of his game is that he's not even close to his ceiling yet. Even though the Titans traded for Robert Woods, he's coming off an ACL injury so receiver is still a need.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Wyatt is another player who changed some minds with his Senior Bowl week and he continued to convince folks of his first-round talents by putting on a show at the combine. Incredibly quick off the snap and powerful once he gets going, he can be unstoppable when he's on his game.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Faalele measured 6-foot-8, 387 pounds at the Senior Bowl, and depending on which scout you speak to, he's anywhere from a high-upside first-rounder to a late-Day 2 project. His physical tools are undeniable and he's new to the position (and football), and once he puts it altogether he could be special.
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From
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 29
Karlaftis looks the part, and flashed at times last season for Purdue, and if he can play with more consistency he could end up as a steal at this point in the draft process.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Mafe had 7 sacks, 9 hits and 26 hurries in '21, and his mix of speed, bend and power was often overwhelming for opposing offensive tackles. That extended to the Senior Bowl where he dominated 1v1 and team drills, and then Mafe busted out a 4.53 40 at the combine. He may ultimately end up in Round 2 but it wouldn't be a surprise if he's among the first 32 picks.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
The Bengals addressed their O-line early in free agency and they could continue to do that here, but they also need to plug some holes in the secondary. McCreary may not wow you physically but he was a standout for the Tigers against some of the best wide receivers in the country. There's no reason to believe that won't translate to the next level.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 32
The more we watch Howell the more we like. He carried the Tar Heels in '21, after losing his two best WRs and two best RBs to the NFL. It wasn't pretty at times, but he has the arm strength and the athleticism we see on Sundays from the league's best young passers, and in Detroit he can sit for a year behind Jared Goff.
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ROUND 2
33. Jacksonville: Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky
34. Detroit: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
35. NY Jets: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
36. NY Giants: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
37. Houston: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
38. NY Jets (via CAR): Bernard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
39. Chicago: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
40. Seattle (via DEN): Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
41. Seattle: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
42. Indianapolis (via WSH): Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
43. Atlanta: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
44. Cleveland: Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
45. Baltimore: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
46. Minnesota: Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
47. Washington (via IND): Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
48. Chicago (via LAC): Logan Hall, DT, Houston
49. New Orleans: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota St.
50. Miami: Travis Jones, DT, UConn
51. Philadelphia: Cole Strange, OG, UT-Chattanooga
52. Pittsburgh: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
53. Green Bay (via LV): Lewis Cine, S, Chicago
54. New England: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
55. Arizona: Ken Walker, RB, Michigan State
56. Dallas: Cam Thomas, EDGE, San Diego St.
57. Buffalo: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
58. Atlanta (via TEN): Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
59. Green Bay: John Metchie, WR, Alabama
60. Tampa Bay: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
61. San Francisco: Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
62. Kansas City: Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
63. Cincinnati: Luke Goedeke, OT, Central Michigan
64. Denver (via LAR): Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
