We are now at the halfway point of the NFL season. In just a couple of months, 14 teams will be playing in a fight for the Lombardi Trophy while the other 18 look ahead to the offseason. The holes of every team are getting more evident as the weeks move along and teams will be looking at the draft to build their team. The draft order is based on the website Tankathon, which uses the strength of schedule (SOS) and up to date records to determine the draft order.
1. New York Jets – Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
While Lawrence suggested that he may return to school, entering the draft would be in his best interest. The Jets look like they will hold the first pick on draft day and will select him unless they believe that much in Sam Darnold. Whether they select him or trade the pick, Lawrence will be the first overall selection.
2. New York Giants – Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Daniel Jones just isn’t the answer; he has had capable talent around him but just hasn’t been able to do much with it. Fields has been rated as QB2 by many. If the Giants have the second pick, Fields would be the smart selection. With several solid offensive weapons, he would be the perfect match to make them look even better.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Whoever the Jaguars elect to go with under center will need to have more around him. They have an awful offensive line and Sewell is the obvious number one tackle, so if they end up picking third this will be a pretty easy decision.
4. Miami Dolphins (via Houston) – Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The Dolphins need help everywhere and with a few more pieces they could be on the brink of contending. Miami has a solid linebacking group but could use a versatile do-it-all linebacker like Parsons to really give them a boost. He would fit very well with head coach Brian Flores the way he likes to use linebackers in a variety of ways.
5. Dallas Cowboys – Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
The Cowboys have everything they need on offense to contend but their defense would have done them in even with a healthy Dak Prescott. After letting Byron Jones walk, their cornerbacks have been horrid. Trevon Diggs has plenty of upside and his former teammate in Surtain would compliment him very well.
6. Atlanta Falcons – Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
The Falcons have had horrid play from their defense and could look anywhere to build it. Rousseau is the top edge rusher in this draft class who has a bright future. Picking him would be a key first step in the Falcons rebuilding their defense.
7. Washington Football Team – Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Terry McLaurin has solidified himself as a stud receiver and the top option in the Redskins’ offense. After 919 receiving yards in his rookie year last season, he is on pace for 1,000 this season. Outside of him, Washington doesn’t have much else offensive help. Complimenting McLaurin with Chase would certainly help whoever starts under center next season.
8. Los Angeles Chargers – Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
If Justin Herbert is going to have long-term. success, the Chargers are going to need to protect him. The interior of their offensive line is what needs the most help. Leatherwood is one of the top tackles in this class and while he plays right tackle for Alabama, he could make the move inside for Los Angeles to help protect Herbert.
9. New England Patriots – Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
The Patriots have been desperately missing explosiveness on offense this season. Waddle would give them that and more with his all-around ability at the receiver position. While he broke his ankle a few weeks ago, he should be ready to go for training camp.
10. Minnesota Vikings – Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
The Kirk Cousins experiment is clearly not working out for Minnesota. The Vikings have plenty of weapons to work with, but Cousins has not been on the same page as the likes of Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, and Irv Smith Jr. The bright side of their horrid play is that they are in line for a top 10 pick. With that pick, they draft a top tier quarterback in Lance to replace Cousins. Lance has thrown just one interception the last two seasons and would elevate the offense.
11. Cincinnati Bengals – Wyatt Davis, IOL, Ohio State
The Bengals really need to address the trenches to protect their franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. Davis is one of the top offensive linemen in this draft and would make an immediate impact for the Bengals. He would be one of their top linemen and fit into their blocking scheme.
12. Carolina Panthers – Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
A quarterback is an option for the Panthers in this draft, but with the top three already gone, they go the defensive route. Finding a replacement for Luke Kuechly is a big need and Moses would become the face of the Panthers’ defense for years to come.
13. Detroit Lions – Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Lions could go several routes with their first pick. It really depends on where they are selecting. They could see a lot of turnover to their receiving corps this offseason. The one guy they should retain is Kenny Golladay and Smith would be a great choice to pair with him.
14. Denver Broncos – Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
Drew Lock needs a new blindside blocker as Garett Bolles isn’t cutting it. Cosmi is one of the best tackles available and would give the Broncos and Lock the protection they need.
15. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
The 49ers have almost every cornerback on their roster as impending free agents, including the veteran Richard Sherman and Jason Verrett. Farley falls to them as they grab a solid replacement for those they lose at the position.
16. Miami Dolphins – Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
The Dolphins move to the offensive side and give Tua Tagovailoa another weapon. Bateman would pair well with Devante Parker and Preston Williams and give Tagovailoa a great trio of receivers along with tight end Mike Gesicki. Bateman has great route running ability and would create a lot of opportunities on their offense.
17. Las Vegas Raiders – Creed Humphrey, IOL, Oklahoma
Another offensive lineman goes off the board in a stacked class. Humphrey is one of the top interior offensive linemen in the class. Gabe Jackson and Rodney Hudson are getting up in age, while Humphrey could sit behind them before eventually lining up with John Simpson.
18. Chicago Bears – Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Quarterback will be a need for the Bears this offseason. They could maximize whoever that ends up being by adding the best available weapon and addressing quarterback elsewhere.
19. Philadelphia Eagles – Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
The Eagles will likely either go with a receiver or cornerback with their first pick. They really need a second man to play opposite Darius Slay and Wade is another cornerback in the run on Ohio State defensive backs in recent years. He would fit right in and hopefully fare as well as former Buckeye Malcolm Jenkins did while in Philadelphia.
20. Cleveland Browns – Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
The Browns need help in the secondary and Holland is a solid coverage safety who would help shore up their ability to cover tight ends and running backs.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles) – Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State
The Jaguars need help all over and could just go with the best available. Wilson is one of the top defensive tackles and could start returning the Jaguars to pass rushing dominance of their past.
22. Indianapolis Colts – Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest
The Colts would benefit from adding an edge rusher to complement Justin Houston and the rest of their defensive line. Basham is a very strong hitter and athletic edge rusher. He would help reinforce the Colts’ pass rush that is already a formidable force. It never hurts to add more young talent to the group.
23. Arizona Cardinals – Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
The Cardinals need help along the offensive line to help Kyler Murray get enough time in the pocket. Lance gets all the attention at North Dakota State, but his protector Radunz is also a stud. He would be a great addition to Arizona’s offensive line.
24. Baltimore Ravens – Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
The Ravens added to their pass rush by acquiring Yannick Ngakoue from the Vikings a couple of weeks ago, but could still add to that. Paye is a very raw edge rusher with plenty of potential. He could develop nicely behind Ngakoue.
25. Green Bay Packers – Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Adding a receiver could be an option for the Packers, but with the top five already off the board, they go for another big need in a cornerback. Kevin King is currently playing in the final year of his contract, and adding Horn would create a solid duo of him and Jaire Alexander.
26. Tennesse Titans – Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
The Titans shipped out Jurrell Casey this past offseason and need to add some reinforcements along their defensive line. Barmore has plenty of potential and has all physicality, length, strength, and quickness off the ball next to play next to Jeffery Simmons.
27. New Orleans Saints – Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
The Saints have to start thinking of finding a replacement for Drew Brees. Wilson is one of the top quarterbacks in this class and would be a perfect selection to be the heir apparent of Brees. He has a big arm and scrambling ability and would electrify the Saints offense with the solid weapons they have.
28. Buffalo Bills – Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
The Bills need a second option next to Tre’Darvious White and could look to add someone with elite talent. Campbell is Georgia’s best cornerback and has shown great flashes of being a shutdown corner in the NFL.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Trey Smith, IOL, Tennessee
Tampa Bay needs to add some more young promising protection for whoever their future quarterback is. Smith is one of the elite interior offensive linemen in this class and could make an immediate impact.
30. Kansas City Chiefs – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
The Chiefs could use some more weapons in the passing game to go along with Tyreek Hill. Kansas City could look to replace Demarcus Robinson and Sammy Watkins. Olave doesn’t have burner speed but he has enough to be successful in the NFL. He isn’t the biggest receiver but plays well in contested catch situations.
31. New York Jets (via Seattle) – Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Why not pair Lawrence with his Clemson teammate Etienne? The Clemson running back has great speed and would really benefit from staying with his current quarterback.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
The Steelers are in need of a solid tight end and could target that in the first round. Freiermuth and Pittsburgh’s Kyle Pitts are the top two tight ends in this class. Freiermuth has been called “Baby Gronk” and stays in his home state. If he is available at their pick, Pitts might make even more sense given his name and the school he currently plays for. Either way, the Steelers can’t go wrong with either one.
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