NFL Mock Draft 2.0
Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
Note: Draft order is based on The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Simulator following the conclusion of Thursday night’s game.
1) Detroit Lions: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson - Michigan
In a dominant senior season that has seen him lead Michigan to the College Football Playoff and a Heisman runner-up finish, Hutchinson has put himself in a position to be the first name called on draft night. Hutchinson’s combination of flexibility and power, along with an endless motor, would give the Lions another building block in the trenches to center their rebuild around.
2) Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Evan Neal - Alabama
Thibodeaux is a better prospect on my draft board; however, priority #1 in Jacksonville this offseason should be to find protection for Trevor Lawrence. Evan Neal is an athletic marvel at 6’7 360 lbs who has shown the versatility to play every position on the line at an elite level. He will immediately slide in as Lawrence’s blind-side protector from Day 1.
3) Houston Texans: EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux - Oregon
While this could be a potential quarterback landing spot, Davis Mills has shown enough flashes to warrant an opportunity to be the full-time starter next season. Houston would be ecstatic to get a talent of Thibodeaux’s caliber at #3, given that he is very much in the conversation to be the first pick in the draft. Thibodeaux is an explosive pass rusher who has shown the versatility to play multiple positions on the line. In addition, he has demonstrated the ability to be a game-wrecker who is dominant against the pass and the run when fully engaged.
4) New York Jets: OT Ikem Ekwonu - NC State
With the two elite edge prospects off the board, the Jets look to bolster their offensive line with this pick. Ekwonu is an elite run-blocker who has soared up draft boards due to his impressive improvements in the passing game. In addition, Ekwonu has experience playing inside and could provide an immediate impact at guard before sliding outside when George Fant’s contract expires at the end of next season.
5) New York Giants (via CHI): OT Charles Cross - Mississippi State
The Giants’ offensive line play outside of Andrew Thomas has been dreadful this season and has struggled to keep the pocket clean and open holes in the run game. Coming from Mike Leach’s Air Raid offensive scheme, Cross has advanced pass-pro skills that translate well to the NFL game. He would pair with Thomas to create one of the better young tackle duos in the league.
6) New York Giants: S Kyle Hamilton - Notre Dame
Hamilton is a top-3 prospect in this class who offers rare size and versatility at the safety position. Xavier McKinney has blossomed into a Pro Bowl-caliber safety in his second season, and here, the Giants select Kyle Hamilton to form a duo that has the potential to be one of the best safety tandems in the league eventually.
7) New York Jets (via SEA): CB Derek Stingley Jr. - LSU
The Jets could look to trade down from this spot and grab a receiver, but in this no-trade mock, the Jets select a shutdown corner in Stingley to help their struggling secondary. While Stingley has struggled with injuries and hasn’t played up to the talent he showed in his All-American freshman season, he has an undeniable skillset and the makeup of a shutdown corner when healthy.
8) Carolina Panthers: QB Matt Corral - Ole Miss
The Sam Darnold experiment hasn’t worked out, and while Cam Newton’s return to Carolina is a great story, he isn’t their quarterback of the future. Corral is a bit raw and may need to sit for a year to polish his game, but he has the elite arm strength and athleticism that teams covet in today’s game. As a result, he is my QB1 in this draft class.
9) Atlanta Falcons: EDGE David Ojabo - Michigan
The Falcons could go in several directions here, including quarterback. Still, with Matt Ryan’s contract situation and a defense barren of talent to build around, the Falcons look to provide some juice off of the edge with the selection of Ojabo. Ojabo is a twitchy athlete at 6’5 250 lbs who would bring energy and positional versatility to Atlanta’s defense.
10) Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA): CB Andrew Booth - Clemson
Booth has prototypical traits for the cornerback position and has displayed elite cover skills on a Clemson defense that has had to mask a mediocre offense all season. His two-interception performance against South Carolina will have front offices salivating over his ceiling if he starts making plays on the ball more consistently.
11) Philadelphia Eagles: LB Nakobe Dean - Georgia
The Eagles could use an athletic sideline to sideline tackler to anchor their defense from the linebacker position. Dean has been the center of a ferocious Georgia defense that has terrorized opposing offenses all season. He is one of the biggest risers in this year’s class.
12) Minnesota Vikings: EDGE George Karlaftis - Purdue
The Vikings have struggled on the back-end of their defense for the last couple of seasons, but instead of selecting a corner, they choose an elite edge prospect who will speed up opposing quarterbacks’ internal clocks. Karlaftis isn’t the best athlete in this deep class of edge rushers, but he might have the most extensive arsenal of pass-rushing moves.
13) New Orleans Saints: WR Garrett Wilson - Ohio State
There’s no denying uncertainty about the Saints’ quarterback room. However, the lack of receiving options has been evident with Michael Thomas’s absence and the lack of explosive plays that go back to Drew Brees’s tenure. Wilson has high-level ball skills and is a dangerous receiver after the catch that will help bring an explosive element that New Orleans hasn’t had in quite some time.
14) Las Vegas Raiders: DL Jordan Davis - Georgia
While he needs to continue to work on his body to stay on the field, Davis is an enormous athlete who is dominant in the run game and would give Las Vegas a much-needed boost in the middle of their defensive line to complement their edge rushers.
15) Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Kenny Pickett - Pittsburgh
This could be longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s final season, and Mason Rudolph has shown that he doesn’t have the skill set of a worthy successor. Pickett doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but his mobility, accuracy, and quick processing have served as catalysts for his improved draft stock throughout the season.
16) Denver Broncos: QB Malik Willis - Liberty
The Broncos have struggled to find stable quarterback play in the post-Peyton Manning era, and it has become evident that Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater are not long-term solutions. While still raw, Willis has made strides this season and has a tantalizing skillset with enormous potential if appropriately developed.
17) Cincinnati Bengals - IOL Tyler Linderbaum - Iowa
The Bengals have made strides as a team and are in contention for a playoff birth; however, it’s alarming how many hits Joe Burrow continues to take. While a tad undersized, Linderbaum is a plug-and-play prospect, who will help neutralize pressure from defensive linemen.
18) Cleveland Browns: WR Jameson Williams - Alabama
With the departure of Odell Beckham Jr. and the contract situation for Jarvis Landry, the Browns need to add talent to their receiving room. Williams has exploded on the scene to lead the SEC in both receiving yards and touchdowns. In addition, his lethal speed would bring a big-play element on the outside that the Browns have been lacking.
19) Washington Football Team: WR Chris Olave - Ohio State
Washington needs to add another playmaker on the outside to compliment Terry McLaurin. While not as explosive as his Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson, Olave is an elite route runner who is also one of the best deep ball trackers in the class.
20) Buffalo Bills: IOL Kenyon Green - Texas A&M
The Bills haven’t played to their talent level on offense this season and could use a premier talent to bolster their offensive line. Green has logged significant snaps at all offensive line positions other than the center and would provide Buffalo with an elite offensive lineman prospect with perennial Pro Bowl potential.
21) Philadelphia Eagles (via IND) - WR Treylon Burks - Arkansas
Devonta Smith has looked great in his rookie season, but the Eagles would be wise to pair him and Dallas Goedert with a more consistent outside option. Treylon Burks has a unique frame for a receiver (6’3’ 230 lbs) and uses it to shield defenders at the catch-point and make plays after the catch. In addition, he can operate as a safety valve for Jalen Hurts with the potential to take any play to the house.
22) Miami Dolphins (via SF): OT Trevor Penning - Northern Iowa
The entire Dolphins offensive line needs a makeover, and 2020 first-round pick Austin Jackson has not lived up to expectations as a franchise left tackle. Coming from a small school, Penning is a big tackle who plays with a non-stop motor and pissed-off mentality that will bring some stability to Miami’s offensive line.
23) Los Angeles Chargers: WR Drake London - USC
While the Chargers need to add bodies on the defensive side to improve their run defense, giving Justin Herbert another big-play threat on the outside might be too tempting. London is a former basketball player who is only scratching the surface of his potential. So with Mike Williams primed to receive a big payday, the Chargers replace him with another big-body who is also elite at the catch point.
24) Detroit Lions (via LAR): WR Jahan Dotson - Penn State
There may not be a position group with less depth in the league than the Lions’ receiver room. While his slender frame (5’11” 175 lbs) might worry some teams, Dotson is an explosive athlete with an enormous catch radius for his frame. He would provide an immediate boost to an offense that lacks explosiveness.
25) Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Drake Jackson - USC
Jackson hasn’t put up the production expected from a player of his talent level, but he has an elite motor and uses his frame well to disrupt opposing offenses. Adding Jackson would give Baltimore another high-ceiling pass rusher to pair with last year’s first-round pick Odafe Oweh to create a dynamic young edge duo.
26) Dallas Cowboys: CB Roger McCreary - Auburn
While Trevon Diggs has developed into one of the NFL’s premier ballhawks, Dallas could use another corner to add more versatility to their secondary. McCreary is a twitchy athlete who would bring elite cover skills and shutdown corner potential to their defense.
27) Tennessee Titans: LB Devin Lloyd - Utah
Llyod is a physical run defender who has improved in coverage this season. In addition, he has the size and athleticism to play in the middle of a Tennessee defense that could use more versatility and athleticism at the linebacker position.
28) Arizona Cardinals: CB Kaiir Elam - Florida
With Byron Murphy Jr. scheduled to hit free agency after next season and inconsistent play from rookie Marco Wilson, the Cardinals would be wise to add more talent to their secondary. Elam hasn’t been targeted much this season, but he has the build (6’2” 200 lbs) and fluid movement to be a #1 corner on a team with championship aspirations.
29. New England Patriots: S Jordan Battle - Alabama
Another year, another top-end safety talent coming out of Alabama. Battle is the latest in the line of elite safety prospects out of Alabama and should be an instant impact player in his rookie season. Longtime Patriots safety Devin McCourty is getting up there in age, and Battle would provide the size and versatility to become his eventual successor.
30) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Ahmad Gardner - Cincinnati
Tampa Bay’s defense has struggled to reach their 2020 heights due to injuries and inconsistency in the secondary. Gardner gives Tampa Bay an elite cover corner who has yet to allow a touchdown in his three seasons at Cincinnati and will shore up some of their issues in the secondary.
31) Kansas City Chiefs: S Daxton Hill - Michigan
The Chiefs’ defense has improved in recent weeks, but they would be wise to infuse more talent into their secondary to relieve some pressure off Patrick Mahomes and the offense. Hill has the athleticism to play multiple positions in the secondary and give the Chiefs another aggressive player on the back end.
32) Green Bay Packers: DT DeMarvin Leal - Texas A&M
Green Bay could go in many directions with this pick, but they select a defensive lineman who has the talent to outplay his draft slot in this mock. Leal possesses a rare blend of size and athleticism that allows him to overpower offensive linemen with speed in power. In addition, heHe would give Green Bay another piece in the trenches to build around.
