As we progress toward the Super Bowl, the draft order has crystalized. Thirty teams are now looking towards April when they add essential additions that will help them take the step that awaits the Bengals and Rams. With that, it is time for another cut at NFL Mock Draft 2.0. Round one lays the groundwork, but shallow mocks can leave fans of teams like the Bears, Seahawks, or 49ers wanting. So here are two rounds!
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Round 1
#1 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Evan Neal (OT, Alabama 6’7″ 351)
2019 2nd round pick RT Jawaan Taylor struggled badly and has reached a crossroads. Rumors have this pick trending hard towards an OT to build the line and protect the investment in Trevor Lawrence. A hot story in several circles has the team married to Ikem Ekwonu at this pick, but I will avoid the keyboard warriors here. The left side of the line was passable, with LT Cam Robinson and LG Andrew Norwell (impending FA) ranking about league average on PFF. Neal buys the team versatility with a history of starting at both G and T; the team can use him to immediately upgrade a guard position while figuring out the future with both Robinson and Taylor.
Outside of one of the OTs, the only realistic direction would be an edge. Both Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux would serve as intriguing bookends with the teams’ one actual superstar piece, edge Josh Allen.
#2 – Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson (Edge, Michigan 6’6″ 265)
This pick is the best marriage of player, fanbase, and franchise in the entire draft. The massive contract Trey Flowers signed embodies the failed Bob Quinn – Matt Patricia regime. The team has an out on his contract; they can release him and bite the bullet on a $12.85 mil cap hit and save $35 million over the next two years. Hutchinson presents the opportunity for Brad Holmes to tap his Rams history add his own Aaron Donald disruptor on the defensive line. The overlap between University of Michigan fans and the Lion fanbase is a cherry on top after Hutchinson aided in changing that culture, no longer losing to both Michigan St and Ohio St and making the college football playoff.
The pivots are not many, as the Lions possess one of the best offensive lines in the league following the selection of Penei Sewell in the 2021 NFL draft. Still, S Will Harris was one of the worst in the league at his position, and Kyle Hamilton would be a transformative player in the back half of this rebuilding defense.
#3 – Houston Texans – Kayvon Thibodeaux (Edge, Oregon 6’5″ 258)
After Bill O’Brien treated draft capital like a teenager left home alone with a week’s worth of meal money, the team finds itself in need of young talent throughout the roster. Luckily for them, the opportunity to add perhaps the best talent in the draft presents itself. Edge Jonathan Greenard was a revelation in 2021, and Thibodeaux gives the team a long-time pairing in the same vein they once imagined with JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. The Jaguars and the Texans find themselves both needing an infusion of young talent throughout the roster and have to be hoping a team falls in love with a quarterback at the top to fetch a franchise-shifting trade package.
The team has invested heavily in T Laremy Tunsil, but their entire offensive line needs an overhaul outside of him. At this point, the top three in the draft seem to be Neal, Hutchinson, and Thibodeaux in some order, and the Texans will happily sit and select whoever falls to them.
#4 – New York Jets – Ikem Ekwonu (OT, NC State 6’4″ 320)
The Jets find themselves victims of a potential tier drop in this situation. The team can take multiple different directions with their two first-rounders with them all off the board. Here they grab a potential bookend tackle to an offensive line they have invested in heavily recently after spending first-round picks on Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Morgan Moses was a one-year patch, and he performed well in 2021, given the investment, but Ekwonu gives another young foundational piece to compliment Zach Wilson and Elijah Moore. The team would surely love to grab one of the top three players with this pick.
At this spot, the board is wide open. The Jets were competitive in 2021, upsetting Cincinnati and Tennessee and losing five other games by one score. The team has talent through the roster but could also go in any direction. Kyle Hamilton or Derek Stingley is likely on tap with their second first in the secondary, but either could go here.
#5 – New York Giants – Charles Cross (OT, Miss St 6’5″ 310)
Giants fans long national nightmare is over, and Nate Soldier’s contract is off the books. New GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll have expressed commitment to Daniel Jones as the quarterback, and Cross helps give them the best chance at success. Cross may be the most natural LT in the draft and opens up the opportunity to flip with 2020 1st rounder Andrew Thomas to give the Giants the best combination.
First, there is an important note on Schoen’s history and rebuilding of the Bills. In the first year Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane took over the team, they essentially punted and rolled everything forward, picking up future draft capital from picks and players like Sammy Watkins. It should not surprise to see a similar path taken with the Giants. The offensive line is a need, but a foundational defensive piece like George Karlaftis could end up the pick.
#6 – Carolina Panthers – Kyle Hamilton (S, ND 6’4″ 224)
The Panthers would surely love one of the young offensive linemen in this spot but see them all off the board. The team has invested heavily in the defense lately and possesses one of the best collections of young defensive talent in the league. With all that investment, the team still has patchwork at one safety. Selecting Hamilton to pair with Jeremy Chinn would blend team need and the best player available.
The team could select the first quarterback off the board with a need at the position and a stated commitment to finding a long-term answer. Kenny Pickett, Sam Howell, or Matt Corral could be that guy.
#7 – New York Giants – Tyler Linderbaum (C, Iowa 6’3″ 291)
The idea of selecting a center in the top ten is wild given the history of valuation at the position. It speaks to Linderbaum as a prospect, the value within this class, and the Giants’ glaring need at the position. One of the first moves the Bills made in committing to Josh Allen’s development was signing Mitch Morse in free agency, and selecting Linderbaum as a lynchpin could be the parallel move.
Adding pieces to the defense is the only feasible pivot off addressing the offensive line. The team could select a corner like Derek Stingley as James Bradberry, and Adoree Jackson is on the backside of their primes.
#8 – Atlanta Falcons – Nakobe Dean (LB, Georgia 6’0″ 225)
The Falcons were last in the league in pressure rate (16.7%, far behind the second-worst Colts at 18.1%) and ranked in the bottom ten yards per play. Despite having a true star in CB AJ Terrell, the defense lacks any identity. Dean answers those concerns in one move. He immediately gives the Falcons identity and flexibility within their defensive scheme and would hope to replicate the immediate impact of Micah Parsons in transforming the Dallas defense. One of the best blitzing linebackers in college football, he was the lynchpin for the national championship Georgia defense.
The team could address the corner position opposite Terrell, with Stingley Jr. and Andrew Booth, the best players on the board.
#9 – Denver Broncos – David Ojabo (Edge, Michigan 6’5″ 250)
As I said in version one, this pick feels earmarked for an Aaron Rodgers trade package. If they stay in this spot, the team needs to address the departure of Von Miller. Baron Browning played well as a rookie, but Bradley Chubb has never quite lived up to the promise of the former fifth overall pick in the draft. Ojabo is raw but the type of twitchy pass rusher teams place in high regard.
If Ojabo is not the pick, taking Stingley or Booth to compliment 2021 1st rounder Patrick Surtain could be on top.
#10 – New York Jets – Derek Stingley Jr. (CB, LSU 6’1″ 190)
Stingley Jr. has felt it destined to be a top 10 pick since he was staring as a freshman on LSU’s 2019 national championship team. He is the type of long corner similar to Ahkello Witherspoon that Robert Saleh has featured in his defenses. The Jets used variations of four rookie corners last year, but this pick would give them a true #1 to help the rest of the depth chart shuffle into natural roles.
A wide receiver like Garrett Wilson or Treylon Burks could be the pivot in this spot; the Jets would like to get their pick to line up opposite Elijah Moore.
#11 – Washington Commanders – Malik Willis (QB, Liberty 6’0″ 225)
Washington has to address the quarterback position, which stands as the natural breaking point for one to come off the board finally. Which quarterback will remain an open question? Wills has been the buzz of Senior Bowl and he presents the mobile package teams crave in a modern NFL QB.
Andrew Booth remaining on the board as a compliment to Kendall Fuller will present a tempting option if the team decides to lean into the lack of a clear top quarterback choice.
#12 – Minnesota Vikings – Andrew Booth Jr (CB, Clemson 6’0″ 200)
The Vikings found a gem when they drafted Cameron Dantzler in the third round of the 2020 draft. His compliments open questions. Patrick Peterson played well after joining the team but is 32. Meanwhile, Mackensie Alexander ranked 120 out of 120 corners. Booth Jr would instantly upgrade a defense that ranked 5th in most passing yards allowed.
Wide receivers are a strength in this draft, and we have entered the range where they are about to start going off the board; Burks offers a skillset absent in the Vikings WR rotation.
#13 – Cleveland Browns – Treylon Burks (WR, Arkansas 6’3″ 225)
The Browns have the worst WR room in the league. Entering a make or break season with Baker Mayfield, the team has to give him the tools necessary to succeed. Each of the top WRs falls into different skill sets, but Burks stands as a true “X,” a high volume physical player teams have featured in offenses.
Mayfield’s injury and a string of hard breaks saw a very talented team slip to this draft position. The roster does not have clear holes, but with Malik McDowell‘s recent legal trouble, taking a DT like Jordan Davis would blend talent and need.
#14 – Baltimore Ravens – Kenyon Green (G, Texas A&M, 6’4″ 325)
The Ravens have lacked a dominant interior offensive line presence since the retirement of Marshall Yanda. Free-agent Kevin Zeitler played well, but at 32, he is a straightforward short-term replacement, while his counterparts Ben Cleveland and Ben Powers have performed at league average. Green gives the Ravens a plus-line presence who has worked both inside and outside in his career, potentially offering flexibility to work players in later. To get back to the dominant run team that took the league by storm in 2019, they must get stronger from the inside out.
If the team looks instead to address the defensive side of the ball, NT Jordan Davis fits their historical model of a productive player from a premier college program.
#15 – Philadelphia Eagles – Drake London (WR, USC 6’5″ 210)
Matt Millen’s watch is on full alert, with the Eagles selecting a wide receiver in the first round for the third consecutive season. His target area benefits Jalen Hurts accuracy concerns, and the luxury of three first-round picks allows the team to revisit this position in this manner. Jalen Reagor did not work out, and the team needs to step up to the plate again. London gives them a big-bodied X receiver to compliment DeVonta Smith and Quez Watkins, rounding out one of the better young WR cores.
#16 – Philadelphia Eagles – George Karlaftis (Edge, Purdue, 6’4″ 275)
The Eagles return to the clock immediately and dip into the deep edge pool in the class. Karlaftis is a step towards returning the team to the deep defensive line rotation key in their 2018 Super Bowl championship. Both Ryan Kerrigan and Derek Barnett are hitting free agency, and both are question marks, Kerrigan due to hitting his age 34 season. Barnett has yet to stand out consistently after his selection at 14 overall in the 2017 NFL draft. Karlaftis is in the same mold as Kerrigan.
It is a true luxury that a team that made the playoffs would pick three times in the first round. That luxury lets the Eagles explore areas they may typically pass over, such as linebacker Devin Lloyd as a defensive cornerstone.
#17 – Los Angeles Chargers – Garrett Wilson (WR, Ohio St 6’0″ 192)
Fantasy gold. Wilson can be considered the top WR in the class, and landing with the Chargers, connected to Justin Herbert, would be a big fantasy football win. Keenan Allen is still productive but hitting his age 30 season; while Mike Williams is an impending free agent, his status will be known before this pick. However, the team still needs to begin addressing the position long-term. Wilson would be a great fit given his ability to work throughout the formation and potentially follow in Allen’s footsteps.
The team needs help in the defensive backfield, and there are talented corners on the board in this range. Kaiir Elam or Ahmed Gardner are players who fit in their scheme and present value.
#18 – New Orleans Saints – Sam Howell (QB, North Carolina 6’0″ 220)
Sean Payton’s retirement has forced the team to look deeply at their identity. $76 million in the hole on the salary cap accelerates that. Jameis Winston performed well in taking over the team, but with Payton gone and UFA status, the reality is he could find a better situation and payday in free agency. Sam Howell allows the team to begin towards a reset. His rookie contract creates flexibility within the salary cap to give the team a rookie contract to reset over the next couple of seasons. His play style can invoke visions of Drew Brees, a highly accurate QB with plus arm talent. The Saints take this pick and look towards the future.
A wide receiver remains a need for the team, and despite his injury, Jameson Williams could set up as a long-term piece in the WR room.
#19 – Philadelphia Eagles – Daxton Hill (S, Michigan 6’0″ 192)
The Eagles gave most of their safety and nickel snaps to Rodney McLead, Anthony Harris, and Steven Nelson, a trio of players who will be 30 or older after next season. All three players are entering this offseason as unrestricted free agents. Hill gives them a versatile piece who can work in any of the three positions, allowing a natural fit for him as they begin to transition the back half of their defense.
The team could look instead to rebuild the interior of their defensive line, with Jordan Davis beginning to stand out as a value.
#20 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Kenny Pickett (QB, Pitt 6’3″ 220)
The Steelers find themselves stuck. Their plan A seems to be addressing the offensive line and rebuilding infrastructure that has crumbled, giving Mason Rudolph and a veteran acquisition a chance to provide a safe answer at the quarterback position. But with five offensive linemen off the board, the team would be swaying heavily away from value towards simply filling a need. This exercise takes the plunge and selects a spiritual successor for Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers watched QBs heavily at the Senior Bowl and may move up to get Malik Willis. But Pickett gives them an athletic QB option and using a first-round pick on him buys the fifth-year rookie option to allow the team to pivot and address the offensive line later.
If the team locks into the offensive line, Trevor Penning is likely the best available choice, though he profiles more as a long-term RT.
#21 – New England Patriots – Jameson Williams (WR, Alabama 6’2″ 189)
The Patriots have to get more dynamic at wide receiver, and Williams answers that in a big way. His actual long speed may be lost on Mac Jones‘ arm strength, but the team could use him like Jaylen Waddle with the Dolphins. Nelson Agholor was a disappointment as a free agent signing, and none of the outside weapons strike fear in a defense. Williams is rehabbing a torn ACL, putting his draft stock in question, but GPS testing data placed him as one of the most explosive players in the class.
With Stephon Gilmore departing and JC Jackson a free agent, a corner is a need, and Ahmad Gardner or Kaiir Elam would be strong picks in this spot.
#22 – Las Vegas Raiders – DeMarvin Leal (DT, Texas A&M, 6’4″ 290)
The Raiders struggled to get any consistent production out of the interior of their defensive line. Jonathan Hankins, Solomon Thomas, and Quinton Jefferson are what they are at this point in their careers. Leal gives a disruptive interior player to put next to star Max Crosby on the defensive line. He could find himself off the board much earlier but would be of great value if he fell to this position. There are concerns about his effort level, but he still presents a premier package of tools for an interior pass rusher.
The wide receiver remains an issue for the team, and they can address it later, but Chris Olave or George Pickens would present the best value at the position now.
#23 – Arizona Cardinals – Trent McDuffie (CB, Washington 5’11” 190)
Corner stands as the glaring need for the Cardinals as the team never replaced long-time standout Patrick Peterson. McDuffie is the best pure cover corner after Stingley and Booth and gives the Cardinals a shot on a guy who can develop to play the type of press coverage DC Vance Joseph prefers.
The team could also add to their pass-rush with Chandler Jones hitting free agency. Edge Jermaine Johnson has become a riser during the post-draft period.
#24 – Dallas Cowboys – Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia 6’6″ 340)
The Cowboys made giant steps defensively in 2021, but the unit is still weak concerning their offense. The interior defensive line play, in particular, left plenty to be desired. Davis in this spot may be slightly aggressive has he may be more of a situational piece. Still, he was a star for Georgia’s national title team and is the type of interior presence that can impact the running game while keeping linebackers like Micah Parsons and Leighton Vander Esch clean on the next level.
Safety is a clear need for the team, and a player like Jaquon Brisker could fit the bill if the team followed Jerry Jones’ history of a flashier pick.
#25 – Buffalo Bills – Jermaine Johnson (Edge, Florida St 6’5″ 260)
The team has invested heavily at the Edge over the last couple of classes. That said, they are still looking to replace the production provided by Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes, both north of 33 years old. The reality is the team needs to not match well with the talent on the board, and Johnson would represent a value pick as the team continues to build depth along the defensive line.
The team needs to decide on Levi Wallace. If they choose to let him walk, you can likely pencil a corner like Gardner or Elam in this selection.
#26 – Tennessee Titans – George Pickens (WR, Georgia 6’3″ 200)
The team made an aggressive move for Julio Jones in the offseason, but receiver remains a need. Pickens gives the team a big-bodied player who can stretch the field and help keep defenses honest against packed boxes meant to stop Derrick Henry. Pickens had an ACL injury that cost him most of the season but flashed when given the opportunity in the national championship game.
The Titans are another team that could put Devin Lloyd into the middle of their defensive scheme.
#27 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Chris Olave (WR, Ohio St 6’1″ 187)
No team in the league may be headed for as dramatic a different direction as the Buccaneers following the retirement of Tom Brady. Chris Godwin stands as a UFA, and the abrupt departure of Antonio Brown has left a crater in the wide receiver room if Godwin were to go. If the team can retain Godwin, they likely look elsewhere, but Olave is the type of player who is flexible enough to work well in a room that was to include Mike Evans and Godwin.
The corners will start coming off the board soon, and the Buccaneers stand as another team who could invest in the position.
#28 – Green Bay Packers – Trevor Penning (OT, Northern Iowa, 6’7″ 322)
The Packers are another team in flux and either need to push in on Aaron Rodgers remaining years or hit the reset to support Jordan Love. David Bakhtiari missed most of the season, and both Elgton Jenkins and Yosh Nijman filled in admirably, but the unit as a whole saw a downtick. RT Bill Turner is a UFA, and typically that means a new team with the Packers’ business model. Penning comes in as a player who can solidify the RT position, allowing Jenkins to kick back inside to guard, where he excelled in 2020.
The team would likely love to participate in the WR run they saw move previously, with David Bell standing as potentially the best option left.
#29 – Miami Dolphins – Devin Lloyd (LB, Utah, 6’3″ 236)
The Dolphins’ scheme is an open question without a coach in place, but outside of Jerome Baker, the team’s production at linebacker was lacking. Lloyd is the versatile piece who would center the defense and provide a solid young compliment in both 3-4 or 4-3 defenses.
This spot could be the first running back, with Isaiah Spiller and Breece Hall still available.
#30 – Kansas City Chiefs – Drake Jackson (Edge, USC 6’4″ 249)
The Chiefs were in desperate need of edge help and had to bring Melvin Ingram mid-season. The move paid off well, but the team has to continue to restock the position. Jackson is the versatile defender who has played both OLB and DE in situational packages and grants that help off the Edge.
The team could continue to add receiving talent to eventually take over for Tyreek Hill and utilize Patrick Mahomes‘ strengths. Jahan Dotson or Wan’dale Robinson could be in play on those scenarios.
#31 / #32 – Cincinnati Bengals / Detroit Lions – Ahmad Gardner (CB, Cincinnati 6’2″ 188) / Matt Corral (QB, Ole Miss 6’2″ 205)
During their playoff run, the Bengals have gotten inspired play out of a trio of corners, but none of Eli Apple, Mike Hilton, or Chidobe Awuzie project as long-term starters. Gardner allows the team an opportunity to dip into the backyard and add a talented corner who can immediately fit into the rotation and solidify the position.
Meanwhile, the Lions have an additional first that could present the opportunity to dip their toe into the quarterback market with the bonus of the fifth-year option. Corral is a player difficult to peg, but he offers physical tools for the position and can sit behind Jared Goff as he grows in comfort.
Round 2
#33 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Kaiir Elam (CB, Florida, 6’2″ 193)
The Jaguars are in talent accumulation mode. They went offensive line in round one, and receiver should be addressed, but Elam is one of the best on the board and pairs with Tyson Campbell to give the team a couple of young long corners.
#34 – Detroit Lions – Jaquan Brisker (S, Penn St, 6’1″ 200)
The Lions received abysmal safety play in 2021 and did not have any young developing players at the position. Brisker is a versatile athlete who could find the spot that suits in best and move around the field. The Lions badly need a presence in the back half of their unit.
#35 – New York Jets – Trey McBride (TE, Colorado St, 6’4″ 260)
The Jets are importing elements of the 49ers offense but badly lack at tight end. McBride is the best natural receiver at the position in this draft. He will give Zach Wilson a safety blanket as the Jets equivalent of George Kittle in their offense.
#36 – New York Giants – Perrion Winfrey (DT, Oklahoma 6’4″ 292)
Winfrey was a star at the Senior Bowl, taking home MVP honors as a gap penetrating pass rushing DT. The Giants are stocked well at the position, with Leonard Williams next to Dexter Lawrence, and this is not a glaring need. But a good value on a guy who will help strengthen their defensive line rotation.
#37 – Houston Texans – Arnold Ebiketie (Edge, Penn St 6’3″ 256)
After starting the draft with Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Texans double up at the edge position with Ebitketie. The team could address needs elsewhere, but these two picks would pair with Jonathan Greenard and make the situation a true strength on the roster.
#38 – New York Jets – Zion Johnson (G, Boston College 6’3″ 316)
The team took Ekwonu in round one to solidify their RT spot, and they followed it up with Johnson to solidify their offensive line. These two picks give the Jets one of the most promising young picks in the league, and the team can focus on building the defense and skill positions through the rest of the draft.
#39 – Chicago Bears – Nicholas Petit-Frere (OT, Ohio St, 6’5″ 315)
The Bears’ new front office has hinted at a full-blown rebuild, but if Justin Fields is still the quarterback, the team needs to get him help and fast. The team brought in 40-year-old Jason Peters in August to play LT, and he was one of the best performers. Here they reunite Fields with a college teammate. Petit-Frere performed well at LT in 2021 and was a 5* highly sought recruit who has the tools to play the position.
#40 – Denver Broncos – Carson Strong (QB, Nevada, 6’3″ 220)
The team will likely seek a major veteran upgrade at QB during the winter and spring, but they need to address the position if they miss it. Strong raised some attitude concerns at the Senior Bowl, and there are reasons for him to fall down the board, chiefly his knee injury and G5 status. But Denver has to bring competition in if Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock are the only QBs on the roster entering the draft.
#41 – Seattle Seahawks – Cameron Thomas (Edge, San Diego St, 6’5″ 270)
The Seahawks need help along both offensive and defensive lines. At this draft spot, edge stands as the better value, and the team’s pass rush struggled with a 22.1% pressure rate. Thomas is not a twitchy player, but he projects as a solid starting NFL edge and would be a hit based on the team’s needs.
#42 – Washington Commanders – Roger McCreary (CB, Auburn, 6’0″ 190)
Washington struggled with pass defense, allowing the fourth-most passing yards. The team has recently invested heavily on the defensive line but the secondary outside of Kendall Fuller. McCreary is not the twitchiest corner, but he is deep on starting experience and is a savvy corner that can function between multiple defensive schemes.
#43 – Atlanta Falcons – Christian Watson (WR, North Dakota St, 6’4″ 208)
Watson drew eyes at the Senior Bowl as the biggest and arguably fasted WR at the end. He has the speed to stretch the field but was used in situations to create run after catch opportunities quickly. Even if Calvin Ridley returns, the team could desperately use this type of WR.
#44 – Cleveland Browns – Devonte Wyatt (DT, Georgia, 6’3″ 315)
The Browns got some of the worst DT to play in the entire league, and that was before Malik McDowell found himself in an offseason legal situation. Wyatt is the type of tackle who can play the run while also penetrating to create pressure. A good mesh of need and value for the Browns.
#45 – Baltimore Ravens – Breece Hall (RB, Iowa St, 6’1″ 220)
This pick will be the one to burn fantasy Twitter down. Injuries decimated the Ravens’ RB room in 2021, and it showed the importance of the position within the team’s offense. Hall is arguably the top back in the draft and could find his way to the back of the first round, but this is a classic case of the Ravens stepping in to stop a guy from sliding any further. Both JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards should be returned from injury, but Hall is insurance for both or could end up working as the top back while Dobbins serves as a change of pace.
#46 – Minnesota Vikings – David Bell (WR, Purdue, 6’2″ 205)
With Adam Theilen slowing down, the team got good play out of K.J. Osborne. Outside of those two, secondary WRs are a need. Bell isn’t flashy, but he is the type of solid WR to work with Justin Jefferson and serve as the Robert Woods / Van Jefferson as new coach Kevin O’Connell will likely run-heavy three WR sets.
#47 – Indianapolis Colts – Lewis Cine (S, Georgia 6’1″ 200)
Cine is the type of box safety to bring back Colts’ great Bob Sanders memories. This pick would cover where the team played Andrew Sendejo and allow Khari Willis to blossom as a more versatile piece on the back end.
#48 – Los Angeles Chargers – Isaiah Spiller (RB, Texas A&M, 6’1″ 216)
The fantasy Twitter torch pick, 2.0. The Chargers have used decent draft capital on Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree the past two drafts as a powerful complement to Austin Ekeler, but neither looks like hits. Spiller gives them a versatile piece to help preserve Ekeler while also growing into a feature-back role.
#49 – New Orleans Saints – Coby Bryant (CB, Cincinnati, 6’1″ 191)
Given the cap situation and the team’s competitive standing, cleaning out the salaries for a young player at the position is an easy yes. P.J. Williams is a pending free agent, and the team can drop out of Bradley Roby‘s contract to save $10.1 million of the cap. Bryant was another Senior Bowl star, and he has the tools to work opposite Marshon Lattimore as a cover corner.
#50 – Miami Dolphins – Lecitus Smith (G, Virginia Tech, 6’3″ 320)
In round one, the Dolphins took a leader for their defense at LB with Devin Lloyd; now, they need to focus on building the offensive line. Smith is the type to serve as a long-term starter at guard. The team tried to find use out of 2020 1st Austin Jackson, but he looks like a miss. Mike McDaniel will likely look to implement the 49ers punishing run game elements, and solidifying a guard spot with Smith is a good start.
#51 – Philadelphia Eagles – Christian Harris (LB, Alabama, 6’2″ 232)
Harris is a very raw prospect, but the Eagles’ type of athlete does not have at the position. Howie Roseman has had an aversion to spending high picks on linebackers, but with three areas already addressed, the team can move out of their comfort zone.
#52 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Bernhard Raimann (OT, Central Michigan, 6’7″ 304)
The Steelers opted to throw a dart at QB in round one, but they must address the offensive line. Raimann, a converted TE, is the type of athlete that often finds himself going in round one. The Steelers need bodies, and he is the type they could develop to fit wherever needed throughout the line.
#53 – Las Vegas Raiders – Darian Kinnard (OT, Kentucky 6’5″ 345)
The Raiders used their first-round pick in 2021 on Alex Leatherwood to take the RT job, and he promptly proved himself more suited for a guard position. The team circles back to square away the spot opposite Kolton Miller. Kennard is a physically imposing prospect and has excelled against SEC competition throughout his career.
#54 – New England Patriots – Kyler Gordon (CB, Washington, 6’0″ 200)
After giving Mac Jones a WR in round one, the team circles back to their other pressing need, a corner as a long-term replacement for Stephon Gilmore and potentially J.C. Jackson. Gordon is the type of athlete to impress at the combine and quickly move up the board, but this feels like a natural spot for the time being.
#55 – Arizona Cardinals – Kenneth Walker (RB, Michigan St, 5’10” 210)
The team found success cobbling together a backfield between James Conner and Chase Edmonds in 2021, but both sit as pending free agents. Walker can give them a big-play element they lack with Conner and Edmonds and would serve as a strong complement to whoever they decide to retain.
#56 – Dallas Cowboys – Jalen Wydermyer (TE, Texas A&M, 6’5″ 255)
Dalton Schultz emerged for the Cowboys, heading towards free agency. With the team already spending on Blake Jarwin, doubling down to sign both are unlikely. Still, Jarwin’s injury history means the team needs to address options. Wydermyer is an imposing physical presence with a higher ceiling than either current Cowboy TE option.
#57 – Buffalo Bills – Jalen Pitre (S, Baylor, 6’0″ 197)
Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer have been among the best safety combos in the league since they arrived in Buffalo. But both will play 2021 at age 31, and the team has no natural successor on the roster. Pitre is in the mold of Hyde, a safety/nickel/LB Swiss Army knife with a violent demeanor. His flexibility fits well with the Bills defensive approach.
#58 – Atlanta Falcons – Desmond Ridder (QB, Cincinnati, 6’3″ 209)
Already addressing their WR need and an explosive defensive leader, the team takes a chance on a potential successor to Matt Ryan. Ridder has struggled with accuracy and consistency, but he has the tools to be Arthur Smith’s new “Ryan Tannehill” within the Falcons offense. Ryan allows him to sit and develop, and this QB class is murky enough he could emerge as the best of the bunch.
#59 – Green Bay Packers –Kingsley Enagbare (Edge, South Carolina 6’4″ 265)
The team uncharacteristically dipped into free agency for Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith and has been rewarded. But both will be free agents after 2022, and their long-term status with the team is questionable. Rashon Gary popped in 2021, but there is no other young player on the roster to step into one of these roles.
#60 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Phidarian Mathis (DT, Alabama 6’4″ 312)
Vita Vea is a star on the defensive line, but the team has relied on veteran stopgaps next to him. With Tom Brady’s retirement, the team will look to get younger through the roster, and this stands as a prominent spot to add a player. Mathis can provide an inside penetrating presence and leadership as the franchise transitions.
#61 – San Francisco 49ers – Sean Rhyan (OT, UCLA 6’5″ 320)
Rhyan is an excellent athlete for the position and the type of player a team can work with to find his natural spot on the line. The team needs to add pieces and get younger on the offensive line, and while an immediate need is unclear, Rhyan is the type to grow and upgrade a position as the need arises.
#62 – Kansas City Chiefs – Wan’dale Robinson (WR, Kentucky, 5’11” 185)
A difficult player to peg, his listed height of 5’11” is likely very generous. The Chiefs have struggled for consistent compliments to Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. Robinson is the type to make plays with the ball in his hands and showed growth in this receiving game in 2021. He would be an immediate contributor to the Chiefs’ offense with the ability to grow into a significant role.
#63 – Cincinnati Bengals – Travis Jones (DT, Connecticut, 6’5″ 330)
Another Senior Bowl standout, Jones dominated inside all week. The Bengals have received tremendous play from DJ Reader on their playoff run, but the team lacks a young presence inside to develop. Jones has the build of a classic run-stuffing NT, but he has an explosion to collapse the pocket and could go much higher.
#64 – Denver Broncos – Daniel Faalele (OT, Minnesota, 6’9″ 380)
Faalele is a project with the size you can not teach. Bobby Massie did a respectable job at RT, but at 33, the team can start building in-depth to replace him eventually.
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Jeff Bell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. To read more from Jeff, check out his archive and follow him @4WhomJBellTolls.
