1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Travon Walker (EDGE/Georgia)
I can’t believe I am writing this. Walker wasn’t even considered a first-round prospect until the combine. Adrian Hutchinson seems like the obvious choice, but Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke compared Walker to Aldon Smith, who he drafted in San Francisco and Walker emerged as the odds-on favorite to be taken first overall yesterday. This is the first time since 2013 that the No. 1 pick was really up in the air.
2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson (EDGE/Michigan)
If the Jaguars take Walker, I can’t imagine anything but Detroit sprinting to the podium to take Hutchinson, a local product who would fill a big need for the Lions.
3. Houston Texans – Kayvon Thibodeaux (EDGE/Oregon)
This is where the draft gets interesting. Thibodeaux has the talent, but he is a polarizing candidate as some teams are seemingly looking for a reason to not draft him. Houston is absolutely his ceiling, but his floor could be out of the top 10.
4. New York Jets – Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (CB/Cincinnati)
The Jets have worked out just about every top 10 prospect so they really are up in the air with this selection, but I think Gardner makes the most sense for them as they have needed a shutdown cornerback since Darrelle Revis departed the first time.
5. New York Giants – Evan Neal (OT/Alabama)
The Giants land the top tackle in the draft, something that didn’t seem possible a month ago. Now they have to figure out who will play on the right side, him or Andrew Thomas.
6. Carolina Panthers – Kenny Pickett (QB/Pittsburgh)
Carolina has brought any and every viable quarterback in for a top 30 visit and they have been tied to Baker Mayfield, so the writing is on the wall for Sam Darnold. Pickett has been the one connected to Carolina the most and he is the most pro-ready of all quarterback prospects, so he could be named the starting quarterback ahead of Week One.
7. New York Giants – Derek Stingley Jr. (CB/LSU)
A bit of a surprise, but the Giants brought him in for a top 30 visit and he is the only remaining player to be brought in that makes sense at this juncture. Stingley has a high ceiling, but comes with some medical concerns.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Garrett Wilson (WR/Ohio State)
I wouldn’t rule out Malik Willis here either, but Atlanta could be in a position to take a quarterback in a better class next season. With Calvin Ridley out of the year after being suspended for gambling, the Falcons wide receiver room is completely devoid of talent.
9. Seattle Seahawks – Ikem Ekwonu (OT/N.C. State)
It’s Seattle, so I fully expect a third-round prospect to go here, but Ekwonu is the top player available and would fill a need. Malik Willis is also in discussion here too.
10. New York Jets – Drake London (WR/USC)
The Jets were all in on Tyreek Hill before he decided to go to Miami, so all signs are pointing to them taking a wide receiver with their second pick. London is talented, however, if they were looking for a Hill-esque player, I think Jameson Williams makes more sense.
11. Washington Commanders – Kyle Hamilton (S/Notre Dame)
Hamilton is an elite talent in this draft class who slips due to positional value. Quarterback is also rumored for Washington.
12. Minnesota Vikings – Trent McDuffie (CB/Washington)
Derek Stingley Jr. has been a popular pick here, but with him off the board, McDuffie becomes the favortie for what is seemingly cornerback or bust for the Vikings.
13. Houston Texans – Charles Cross (OT/Mississippi State)
Houston has been tied to Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu with their top pick, but I am skeptical they use a top three pick on a tackle when they have Laremy Tunsil. Instead, they pivot here and land a talented right tackle at 13.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Jordan Davis (DT/Georgia)
Baltimore needs to get younger up front and the team has always had an affinity for big bodies like Davis. His athleticism would certainly be appealing for them too.
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Jermaine Johnson (EDGE/Florida State)
Edge isn’t the Eagles biggest need, but Johnson is the top available player and the Eagles have two first round picks, so they can afford to not address a need immediately.
16. New Orleans Saints – Trevor Penning (OT/Northern Iowa)
The cash-strapped Saints lost Terron Armstead and now have to picks in the first that can be used to find his replacement. Penning has been compared to Riley Reiff.
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Jameson Williams (WR/Alabama)
Yes, the Chargers have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but you can never give Justin Herbert enough pass catchers. Williams would have likely been the top receiver taken had he not torn his ACL in the National Championship. Trevor Penning would make sense here too.
18. Philadelphia Eagles – Devin Lloyd (LB/Utah)
Lloyd is a team leader who produced well for Utah, plus he has the versatility to play any linebacker position. Lloyd would likely begin his career as the Sam linebacker in Philadelphia.
19. New Orleans Saints – Chris Olave (WR/Ohio State)
New Orleans brought in Matt Corral and Sam Howell in for top 30 visits, which makes me think they may be looking to spend a day two pick on a quarterback. They didn’t work out Olave, but it’s hard to imagine that they take Treylon Burks or Skyy Moore over him.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Malik Willis (QB/Liberty)
I think this is the floor for Willis, who is the most talented signal caller in a weak class. Pittsburgh signed Mitchell Trubisky, but he in no way should stand in the way of the Steelers drafting a quarterback early.
21. New England Patriots – Andrew Booth Jr. (CB/Clemson)
New England has worked out a lot of cornerbacks, which makes sense for a team that has lost J.C. Jackson and Stephon Gilmore over the past year. Bill Belichick rarely stays put, so I also expect New England to move down and snag someone like Kaiir Elam.
22. Green Bay Packers – Treylon Burks (WR/Arkansas)
Green Bay has two first-round picks this year and I can’t imagine a scenario where one of them is not spent on a wide receiver, despite the Packers penchant for not drafting one in the first round. Aaron Rodgers needs a receiver.
23. Arizona Cardinals – George Karlaftis (EDGE/Purdue)
Arizona watched Chandler Jones sign with Las Vegas this offseason, so Karlaftis fits a need. It is hard to peg just where he will end up. I have seen him go as high as seventh overall.
24. Dallas Cowboys – Kenyon Green (G/Texas A&M)
Dallas could trade up and take Kayvon Thibodeaux if he starts to slide, but if they stand pat, I think they are going interior offensive line. But does Dallas like Green, Zion Johnson or Tyler Linderbaum?
25. Buffalo Bills – Breece Hall (RB/Iowa State)
Buffalo has hinted at taking a running back in the first round and Hall is the only one worth taking in the opening frame. Buffalo has not had a 1,000 yard rusher since 2017 and adding some stability at running back could allow Josh Allen to focus more on passing.
26. Tennessee Titans – Nakobe Dean (LB/Georgia)
Athletic enough to keep up with NFL tight ends and running backs in coverage, Dean could be an immediate contributor and three-down player. The Titans can go in a number of directions, including offensive line and wide receiver (they’re even a dark horse to draft a quarterback), but Dean fits Jon Robinson’s draft profile at this spot.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devonte Wyatt (DT/Georgia)
Tampa could go in a few directions here, including secondary, wide receiver and guard, but we’re sticking with Wyatt, who would serve as a replacement to free agent Ndamuking Suh.
28. Green Bay Packers – Boye Mafe (EDGE/Minnesota)
Green Bay got a new weapon for Aaron Rodgers, now they can pivot to bringing in another pass rusher after releasing Za’Darius Smith.
29. Kansas City Chiefs – Kaiir Elam (CB/Florida)
Elam should excel in the NFL in press coverage, but the big knock on his game is that he can struggle with more vertical threats. Either way, he serves as an upgrade for the Chiefs.
30. Kansas City Chiefs – Jahan Dotson (WR/Penn State)
Kansas City lost Tyreek Hill and are suddenly talent-thin at wide receiver. Dotson has the talent to be successful, but he is unpolished.
31. Cincinnati Bengals – Tyler Linderbaum (C/G/Iowa)
The Bengals had two significant issues entering this offseason: their offensive line and secondary. They addressed the offensive line by signing La’El Collins, but cornerback is still an issue (Eli Apple is penciled in as a starter), but at this point every available cornerback is a reach. Instead, the Bengals can land Linderbaum, who would slide in at left guard.
32. Detroit Lions – Matt Corral (QB/Ole Miss)
I think this draft works out well in the end for Detroit, especially if they don’t see a big difference in talent at quarterback overall. I think this is between Corral and Desmond Ridder and I keep going back and forth with both, but Detroit could ultimately land the best player in the draft and a successor to Jared Goff who is under team control for five years and at a cheaper price point.