NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Post Free-Agency Edition
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After a wild opening to free agency that saw an exodus of player movement across the league, teams will now focus on April’s draft. In addition, the blockbuster trades involving Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, and Davante Adams have caused some changes in the draft. As a result, Seattle (No. 9), Houston (No. 13), and Green Bay (No. 22) will now replace Denver, Cleveland, and Las Vegas in their draft slots as part of their compensation for the star players.
Now, with added clarity to what positions each team needs to address in the draft, let’s get into my first post-free agency mock draft.
Note: I will not be incorporating hypothetical trades until we are two weeks out from the draft.
2022 NFL Round 1 Mock Draft
1) Jacksonville Jaguars: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson - Michigan
With Cam Robinson receiving the franchise tag, Jacksonville can wait to add to their offensive line. By selecting Hutchinson, the Jaguars will add an explosive athlete whose effort matches his talent and would form a scary pass-rushing duo with Josh Allen.
2) Detroit Lions: QB Malik Willis - Liberty
Willis is an electric athlete with a cannon of an arm that will rank among the league's strongest. Concerns regarding inconsistent play and the complexity of his offense at Liberty might make some teams hesitant, but Willis’s physical potential warrants his selection as a first-round pick. With Jared Goff under contract, Detroit can be patient with Willis’s development until he’s ready to become the full-time starter.
3) Houston Texans: EDGE Travon Walker - Georgia
While he didn’t receive many opportunities to showcase his talent, Walker’s athletic traits at his size give him the potential to be one of the best players in this draft class. Houston is not ready to compete, giving Walker ample time to develop his pass-rush repertoire to become the player his talent level insists he can become.
4) New York Jets: EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux - Oregon
A productive free agency period saw the Jets fill multiple holes on their roster, giving them the flexibility to take the best player available approach with their early picks. Thibodeaux has an impressive mix of speed and power that make him a nightmare to block one on one. Adding Thibodeaux would give the Jets two explosive pass rushers for Robert Saleh’s defensive scheme with Carl Lawson returning from injury.
5) New York Giants: OT Ikem Ekwonu - North Carolina State
After a strong performance at the combine, Ekwonu can expect to hear his name called early. Ekwonu’s athleticism pops up on his tape, and he has the positional versatility to play multiple positions on the line. With Andrew Thomas coming off of an improved second campaign, the selection of Ekwonu would give the Giants one of the better young bookend duos in the NFL.
6) Carolina Panthers: OT Charles Cross - Mississippi State
While Carolina has the resources to explore all possible upgrades at the quarterback position, the team needs to build a viable infrastructure for a quarterback to succeed in. The best pass-protecting tackle in the draft, Cross’s experience in an Air Raid offense should help lessen the learning curve of the transition to the NFL and give Carolina another tackle to pair with Taylor Moton.
7) New York Giants (from CHI): Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner - Cincinnati
Although James Bradberry and Adoree Jackson are under contract, new general manager Joe Schoen could look to address the position as both could be on their way out by next season. With fluid hips and the straight-line speed (4.41-second forty-yard dash) to keep up with the twitchiest receivers in the NFL, Gardner has the make-up to be a true shutdown corner at the next level.
8) Atlanta Falcons: WR Garrett Wilson - Ohio State
With All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s future in question after being handed an indefinite suspension, Atlanta’s playmaking options outside of Kyle Pitts are barren. Wilson has the elite body control and athleticism to be a dangerous weapon in the NFL from day one. With Marcus Mariota in the fold as a placeholder, the Falcons can continue to rebuild their roster before finding their long-term solution at quarterback.
9) Seattle Seahawks (from DEN): OT Evan Neal - Alabama
With Russell Wilson’s departure, Seattle should look to improve the offensive line before finding their long-term quarterback solution. Neal is an athletic marvel at 6’7 360 lbs and has shown the versatility to play every position on the line at an elite level.
10) New York Jets (from SEA): S Kyle Hamilton - Notre Dame
A potential trade-up landing spot for a quarterback-needy team, the Jets could go in multiple directions if they do not trade down. Here, they select Hamilton, who may be the best safety prospect to enter the NFL in quite some time. With elite range and size (6-foot-4), Hamilton would pair with free-agent signing Jordan Whitehead to become one of the premier young safety tandems in the league.
11) Washington Commanders: CB Trent McDuffie - Washington
The Carson Wentz trade likely eliminates Washington from the list of potential quarterback landing spots. Instead, Ron Rivera adds another chess piece to his defense with McDuffie. McDuffie’s strong showing at the combine confirmed the athletic traits that have helped him develop into possibly the best corner in the class.
12) Minnesota Vikings: CB Derek Stingley Jr. - Louisiana State
Plagued with poor play in the secondary over the last few years, Minnesota will be ecstatic to see a player of Stingley’s caliber available at 12. Injuries and inconsistent play have clouded his draft outlook, but when engaged, Stingley has the makeup of a shutdown corner, an invaluable asset in today’s game.
13) Houston Texans (from CLE): WR Jameson Williams - Alabama
Despite suffering a torn ACL in January, a healthy Williams would provide a much-needed boost to a receiver room that lacks viable depth behind Brandin Cooks. Williams is an explosive athlete who has the vertical speed to stretch defenses and create big plays. With the Texans being all-in on Davis Mills this season, they must surround him with playmakers to know if he is their long-term solution at quarterback.
14) Baltimore Ravens: IDL Jordan Davis - Georgia
After perhaps the most impressive combine performance ever, Davis secured his position as a top-20 selection. Davis would come in to replace Calais Campbell at the nose tackle position, giving Baltimore yet another massive body to control the center of their front.
15) Philadelphia Eagles (from MIA): EDGE Jermaine Johnson
Despite signing Haason Reddick in free agency, Philadelphia should still look to add youth to their aging defensive front. After beginning his college career in Athens, Johnson transferred to Florida State. He then led the ACC in sacks this past season, putting the talent hidden in the Georgia defensive line rotation at the forefront.
16) Philadelphia Eagles (from IND): LB Devin Lloyd - Utah
To succeed with their physical and time-draining style of play, Philadelphia needs to find more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Lloyd is an athletic, physical linebacker who would immediately be a tone-setter for the Eagles’ defense. While he still needs to improve his processing, Lloyd has the necessary tools to be an impactful three-down linebacker.
17) Los Angeles Chargers: IDL Devonte Wyatt - Georgia
In an AFC West division that houses arguably four top-15 quarterbacks, the Chargers must address their defense to take pressure off Justin Herbert and the offense. Yet another member of the Georgia defensive line in the first round, Wyatt to Los Angeles, is a match made in heaven. With elite lateral quickness and an initial punch that has some pop, Wyatt has cemented his status as a first-rounder and will helo improve the Chargers’ run defense.
18) New Orleans Saints: WR Chris Olave - Ohio State
Mike Thomas’s extended absence has exposed New Orleans’ lack of depth at the receiver position. While not as dynamic after the catch 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. With Jameis Winston back in the fold, I would expect Olave to receive plenty of opportunities to show his skillset at the next level.
19) Philadelphia Eagles: WR Treylon Burks - Arkansas
Blessed with a linebacker’s frame (6-foot-3 and 225 pounds), Burks is a physical phenomenon that will run through and away from defenders on the field. In addition, Burks would complement Devonta Smith on the outside and provide Jalen Hurts with another weapon to throw to.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: IOL Tyler Linderbaum - Iowa
By signing Mitchell Trubisky to a two-year deal, the Steelers should look to improve the offensive line rather than reach for a quarterback. While a tad undersized, Linderbaum is a plug-and-play prospect who will help neutralize pressure from defensive linemen.
21) New England Patriots: LB Nakobe Dean - Georgia
With longtime linebacker Dont’a Hightower showing signs of slowing down, Belichick and co. could use an injection of young talent at the position. While a bit undersized (measured at 5-foot-11 at the combine), Dean is an elite athlete who can cover in space and wreck havoc in the backfield on schemed blitzes.
22) Green Bay Packers (from LV): WR Drake London - Southern California
Davante Adams’ departure to Las Vegas has suddenly left a massive void at the receiver position for Green Bay. In London, they would get a big-bodied receiver (6-foot-4) who is elite at the catch point and an underrated athlete after the catch. While nobody should expect him to replicate Adams’ production, London would make the transition much smoother for the Packers’ offense.
23) Arizona Cardinals: EDGE George Karlaftis - Purdue
After fading down the stretch in two consecutive seasons, Arizona needs to infuse more depth and talent into their roster. With Chandler Jones set to hit free agency, Karlaftis would slide in as an instant impact performer at the edge position with the potential to develop into a plus starter at the position in time.
24) Dallas Cowboys: IOL ZIon Johnson - Boston College
With so much money invested in their playmakers, Dallas needs to add more depth to its once-vaunted offensive line to help create more explosive plays for the offense. With the positional flexibility to play guard or center, Johnson is a plug-and-play offensive lineman who will help keep the star attractions in Dallas upright.
25) Buffalo Bills: CB Andrew Booth - Clemson
Tre’Davious White’s injury and Levi Wallace’s departure to Pittsburgh have left Buffalo thin at cornerback. Booth is a physical corner who has the size and length to be a plus starter at the corner position. With the AFC suddenly filled with high-octane offenses, Buffalo cannot afford to ignore a chance to upgrade at the position.
26) Tennessee Titans: IOL Kenyon Green - Texas A&M
Lackluster testing may lower Green’s stock, but the versatile lineman would be at home in Tennessee. Green has logged significant snaps at all offensive line positions other than the center and would provide Tennessee with another mauler to pave the way for Derrick Henry and their vaunted rushing attack.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Perrion Winfrey - Oklahoma
With no pressing needs to address, Tampa Bay could look to add depth to their defensive front to keep their interior defenders fresh. While inconsistent, Winfrey is an explosive athlete who packs a punch and has shown flashes that he could develop into an above-average starter in time.
28) Green Bay Packers: EDGE Boye Mafe - Minnesota
Undoubtedly one of the biggest winners of the draft process, Mafe has soared up draft boards due to his rare explosiveness and athleticism at the position. While he could stand to polish his skillset, Mafe has all of the tools to develop into a productive pass rusher in the NFL.
29) Miami Dolphins: WR Jahan Dotson - Penn State
After a partial overhaul of their offensive line, Miami can afford to address other needs at this spot. Dotson would provide an immediate boost to an offense lacking explosiveness. With Devante Parker potentially on the way out after the season, Dotson gives them an excellent successor plan.
30) Kansas City Chiefs: S Daxton Hill - Michigan
After the departures of Tyrann Mathieu and Charvarius Ward, Kansas City would be wise to infuse more talent into their secondary. Hill has the athleticism to play multiple positions in the secondary and give the Chiefs another aggressive player on the back end.
31) Cincinnati Bengals: CB Kaiir Elam - Florida
Cincinnati opted to bring back Eli Apple on a one-year deal, but that shouldn’t stop them from looking for his eventual replacement. Elam is a smooth corner who has the tools to become an above-average corner if given the time to develop and polish his skill set.
32) Detroit Lions: S Lewis Cine - Georgia
After grabbing their quarterback earlier in the round, Detroit should look to improve their porous secondary. Cine plays with an aggressive demeanor and is a willing tackler in the run game, two traits that Dan Campbell and co. will appreciate in the Motor City.
