“NFL Mock Draft”

It’s NFL Draft Week…

A closeup look at the first round from Our Lads Draft Guide.

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1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Evan Neal
OT , Alabama
HT:  |  WT:  |  40:
Priority number one for this franchise is seeing to the best effort and allocation of assets to protect their #1 overall pick from 2021, quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Neal played three positions in three seasons at Alabama and will project to anywhere the new coaching staff sees fit.

2. Detroit Lions
Aiden Hutchinson
DE , Michigan
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The culture being built in Detroit did not produce many wins in 2021, but nearly half of their losses were by one score. The biggest margin they need to make up resides on defense against the pass, where Hutchinson fits in like a block both with that blue collar culture and impact on the edge.

3. Houston Texans
Derek Stingley Jr.
CB , LSU
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Quarterback Davis Mills proved enough as a rookie on a poor team that he can be the guy moving forward, leaving the door open for a true best player available approach by Nick Caserio and his staff. Stingley, a prototype for the cornerback position, will need to prove he is healthy to warrant this spot.

4. New York Jets
Kavon Thibodeaux
DE , Oregon
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No team in the league allowed more points and yards than the Jets. Defensive Head Coach Robert Saleh knows the best way to turn that around starts with the pass rush and knowing his history in San Francisco, they will pump as many resources into their line as possible starting with a premiere talent in Thibodeaux.

5. New York Giants
Charles Cross
OT , Mississippi State
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There is no point in trying to fix anything else until the holes are filled up front with credible talent that can be ready to compete at a high level over the next year or two. Cross can shift to right tackle and appears pro-ready right now with plus size and body control.

6. Carolina Panthers
Matt Corral
QB , Mississippi
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The Matt Rhule era has not gotten off to a quality start both in the win column (10 in 2 years) and when it comes to building the offense. Their quarterback situation needs a solution and Corral fits the mold with arm and athletic talent.

7. New York Giants
Ikem Ekwonu
OG , North Carolina St
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Two picks in the top seven can go one of two directions, spread out the assets or double dip. I choose the latter to help shorten the gap between their offensive line and everything else on the roster with Ekwonu, a tackle-guard hybrid that brings elite talent to the table even though he may not be ready right away.

8. Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Hamilton
S , Notre Dame
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It has been 5 years since Atlanta has put out a top-10 defense when it comes to points and yards allowed respectively and they’ve never done it in consecutive years within the Super Bowl era. Hamilton is the kind of the difference maker that can wear multiple hats, all of them at a high level.

9. Denver Broncos
Malik Willis
QB , Liberty
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The lack of success Denver has had in the draft at quarterback should not deter them from going after another first round talent. Willis can do it all but simply needs to be seasoned for a year while Drew Lock gets his final shot in his contract year.

10. New York Jets
Ahmad Gardner
CB , Cincinnati
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The Jets double dip on defense to bring in a corner that has credible shut-down ability. Gardner is a tall and long cover man with the speed and acceleration to run with anyone down the field. He did not allow a single touchdown in college.

11. Washington Commanders
Sam Howell
QB , North Carolina
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The pieces are in place on both sides of the ball as Ron Rivera enters year three at the wheel. Although Tyler Heinicke put forth an admirable effort in relief of Ryan Fitzpatrick this past fall, the entire upside of this team is limited by moderate ceiling. Time for them to make their aggressive move at the most important position in the game rather than shopping at the dollar store.

12. Minnesota Vikings
Andrew Booth
CB , Clemson
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The Vikings have pumped a lot of resources into the defensive backfield but the past two years have been horrid against the pass. It is time for them to go out and swing for the fences, using a top-12 selection on an aggressive corner that is dripping with tools.

13. Cleveland Browns
Jameson Williams
WR , Alabama
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Another year, another first round Alabama receiver that will be ready to contribute right away despite a torn ACL suffered in early January. The Cleveland receivers have a lot of question marks and in order for them to offset and maximize their strong running game, they need a true number one threat.

14. Baltimore Ravens
George Karlaftis III
DE , Purdue
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With how often the Ravens’ defense gets multiple, Karlaftis’ versatility as an outside defender fits in like a glove. They’ve lost some of their personality up front and this heavy-handed, developing edge threat will produce equally against the run and pass alike.

15. Philadelphia Eagles
Devin Lloyd
LB , Utah
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The Eagles’ defense lacks a true general in the middle of the field and this is the area of the first round where you will see the off-ball linebackers come off the board. Lloyd brings the size, speed, and tenacity to go along with his high-IQ that will get him on the field right away.

16. Philadelphia Eagles
Garrett Wilson
WR , Ohio State
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Jalen Reagor won’t have many lives left after two disappointing seasons and this front office needs to keep feeding weapons to Jalen Hurts if they want their passing game to catch up to their league-best performance on the ground. Wilson is a natural pass catcher with elite movement skills that can create before and after the catch.

17. Los Angeles Chargers
Kenyon Green
OG , Texas A&M
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The Chargers hit a home run with their selection of tackle Rashawn Slater last year. With a blossoming quarterback on a rookie contract for at least another two seasons, maximizing the protection up front with a versatile mauler like Green would be wise.

18. New Orleans Saints
Daxton Hill
S , Michigan
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Hill could realistically project to safety or cornerback at the next level. His speed and reaction time excels in more zone-based roles, but the versatility here could further elevate the Saints defense to a truly elite unit as they try to piece together their offense again.

19. Philadelphia Eagles
Lewis Cine
S , Georgia
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If the back end of this Eagles defense can stay up to par with what they produce up front, watch out. Cine blossomed toward the back half of 2021 on the nation’s best defense. He is all over the place and can thrive in an interchangeable safety role.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Pickett
QB , Pittsburgh
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Almost seems like a situation that is too good to be true, a story perfect for sports. The Steelers do not have their long time answer at quarterback on the current roster and Pickett surged at the right time as a senior, earning a first round grade.

21. New England Patriots
Chris Olave
WR , Ohio State
HT:  |  WT:  |  40:
Mac Jones did not have a lot of success and consistency throwing the ball downfield as a rookie and part of that reasoning was the lack of true downfield threats. Olave is pro ready right now and will pose as a threat on all levels of the route tree with his quickness, route proficiency, and ball tracking.

22. Las Vegas Raiders
Tyler Linderbaum
OC , Iowa
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A lot is changing with the Raiders but do not forget that this was a playoff team despite numerous serious distractions. Their culture of leadership made the difference and Linderbaum can be the next piece to that puzzle at a spot that needs an upgrade.

23. Arizona Cardinals
Trey McBride
TE , Colorado State
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The Cardinals know how important a true threat at tight end is to their offense, as seen with the in-season trade for Zach Ertz who is a free agent this spring. McBride brings the credible every down impact to this offense with an incredibly high ceiling as a pass catcher.

24. Dallas Cowboys
Trevor Penning
OT , Northern Iowa
HT:  |  WT:  |  40:
A lot needs to be done with this Cowboys offense that averaged 39 points per game over a four-game stretch toward the first half of the year and 37.5 points per game over a four-game stretch toward the end of the year. Inconsistency was found up front and Penning could realistically project to tackle or guard at the next level.

25. Cincinnati Bengals
Travon Walker
DE , Georgia
HT:  |  WT:  |  40:
Listed at defensive end, Walker can live inside on passing downs to give an already-strong group of Bengals pass rushers a truly elite ceiling. The identity of this defense can complement an offense that appears to be on the brink of the league’s next high-scoring attack.

26. Miami Dolphins
Nakobe Dean
LB , Georgia
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The speed at the second level of this defense could use one more upgrade and there is no better option in that department than Dean, a natural leader to any defense he becomes a part of. He and Jerome Baker will give them a 1-2 punch that can make a true difference week to week.

27. Buffalo Bills
Treylon Burks
WR , Arkansas
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Innovative minds that are willing to keep an open mind to new ways on offense will love what Burks brings to the table. Similar to what we saw out of Deebo Samuel and Cordarrelle Patterson in 2021, Burks can evolve into a versatile threat that feeds off a system that already produces yards and points.

28. Detroit Lions
Drake London
WR , USC
HT:  |  WT:  |  40:
Even though this front office and coaching staff are on the same page with building this franchise through the trenches, every credible passing game has multiple credible options in the passing game. London was heading toward a record-setting season prior to a foot injury in 2021 and appears to be an ideal complement to Amon-Ra St.Brown in the slot.

29. Kansas City Chiefs
David Ojabo
OB , Michigan
HT:  |  WT:  |  40:
The Chiefs have been trying to piece together production from the edge, but the results have been very inconsistent. Bringing in Ojabo, a raw but tools-rich presence should keep that progression track on the way up in coming years.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
David Bell
WR , Purdue
HT:  |  WT:  |  40:
The system will continue to put weapons around Tom Brady, plain and simple. With Chris Godwin heading toward free agency on a bad wheel and Antonio Brown gone for good, Bell brings in an NFL-ready skill set and intelligence that will suit the passing game well.

31. Tennessee Titans
Jahan Dotson
WR , Penn State
HT:  |  WT:  |  40:
It was clear this receiver room lacked depth when AJ Brown and Julio Jones were off the field. Jones long-term status with the club is not known and it further opens the door for Dotson, an inside-out threat with the best pair of hands in the class and a route running skill set that is already better than most pro receivers.

32. Green Bay Packers
DeMarvin Leal
DT , Texas A&M
HT:  |  WT:  |  40:
Leal is a versatile threat that moved all over the defensive front in college. While Green Bay appears set along the starting defensive line, they could use one more moveable chess piece to add more consistency to their pass ru

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