With the NFL season over and the draft order set, it is officially the offseason. With a little more than two months until the NFL Draft, now is a perfect time to do a two-round mock draft before free agency as well. As of now, this is the least confident many draft analysts are, starting with the number one pick in recent years. The mock draft below features nine trades in the 64 picks listed below, including six in the first round. Without further ado, here is the mock, and always remember, yes, I hate your favorite team.
1) Jacksonville Jaguars – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
For the second year in a row, the Jaguars are picking first overall. While a trade down would be beneficial, that is doubtful in this class. The trend is now seeing the Jaguars take Neal with the first pick. With Cam Robinson an impending free agent, selecting Neal is an excellent decision. There is also the chance that Jacksonville decides to re-sign or potentially franchise tag the veteran and move him inside with the drafting of Neal. The closer we get to draft day, hopefully, this pick will become more clear.
For more on Neal, check out our scouting report on him.
2) Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
Unless the Jaguars take Hutchinson with the first overall pick, this seems about as set in stone as you can get for the draft this year. Hutchinson exploded onto the scene this year after he returned for his senior season, and it would be a great story for him to stay in Michigan to start his professional career. The Lions finished with 30 sacks, which was the third-lowest sack total in the league. Trey Flowers has been a bust since signing in free agency during the Matt Patricia era, and the sack-leader for Detroit last year was Charles Harris, a former first-round bust. Adding Hutchinson immediately gives Detroit a number one pass-rusher and a player to build around for years to come.
For more on Hutchinson, check out our scouting report on him.
3) Houston Texans – Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Like Detroit, the Texans struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks, only securing 32 sacks on the season. The leading sack artist for Houston was Jonathan Greenard, who had eight. Thankfully, the Texans have the opportunity to snag one of the top players in the class with Thibodeaux. There have been rumors recently that the Oregon product might slip out of the top five due to character concerns, but the Texans don’t overthink it in this situation and take one of the top talents in the draft.
For more on Thibodeaux, check out our scouting report on him.
4) New York Jets – Kyle Hamilton, SAF, Notre Dame
The Jets could go in a variety of different ways with this selection. The offensive line is still a worry, along with getting more weapons around Zach Wilson. Unfortunately, there are plenty of issues on the defensive side too, which includes pass-rusher and the secondary as a whole. Marcus Maye is an impending free agent, and while the team drafted Ashtyn Davis in the third round in 2020, a player of Hamilton’s caliber doesn’t come around often. New York has reportedly been high on Hamilton, so it would make sense for them to take him here or potentially look to trade down to snag him a few spots later.
For more on Hamilton, check out our scouting report on him.
5) New York Giants – Ikem Ekwonu, OL, NC State
Thankfully for the Giants, with the Jets taking Hamilton, they have the opportunity to get Ekwonu, who many have had as the potential number one overall selection in the class. New York’s offensive line has been horrendous during the Daniel Jones era, and they did get a good start on fixing it with the selection of Andrew Thomas, but it still needs retooling outside of that. Plugging in Ekwonu on the offensive line, whether it be at one of the tackle spots or a guard spot, is an excellent idea for the Giants. Ekwonu has been pegged as one of the best run blockers to come out in recent memory, and with Saquon Barkley in the backfield, that’s exactly what the Giants are trying to do.
For more on Ekwonu, check out our scouting report on him.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Washington Commanders send picks 11 and 42 to the Carolina Panthers for picks 6 and 144
6) Washington Commanders (via Carolina) – Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Carolina is a lot further from being ready than many expect them to be. On paper, the Panthers had a good roster to start the 2021 season, but the Sam Darnold trade faltered. With only one selection in the top 100 picks, trading down has to be in the cards for Matt Rhule and company in the first round. Thankfully, Ron Rivera calls his old team and gives them a second-round selection in return for a fifth-rounder to move up five spots.
Washington desperately needs a quarterback. While they might not be the same team they were in the 2020 season that led them to the playoffs, Washington still is primed and ready for a dangerous playoff run. Whether that be from trading for a proven quarterback or drafting one is yet to be seen. In this scenario, the Commanders go get Pickett. The presumed top quarterback in the class didn’t pull away from the rest of the competition in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, but he fits exactly what Washington has looked for at the quarterback position.
For more on Pickett, check out our scouting report on him.
7) New York Giants (via Chicago) – David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
After acquiring a new offensive lineman to protect Jones, the Giants turn to the defensive side of the ball. The Giants did draft Azeez Ojulari in the second round last year, who led the team with eight sacks. Outside of him, there are major question marks. Leonard Williams and Lorenzo Carter are both free agents and combined for 11.5 of the team’s 34 sacks last year. So, adding another pass-rusher to pair with Ojulari is a must.
New defensive coordinator Wink Martindale had Odafe Oweh in Baltimore and now gets Ojabo, who looked up to Oweh when he first started playing football, and models his game after the Baltimore pass-rusher. Ojabo and Ojulari would terrorize opposing quarterbacks for years to come, so the Giants would be wise to make this move.
For more on Ojabo, check out our scouting report on him.
8) Atlanta Falcons – Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The Falcons could go in a lot of different directions with this selection. They have needs at edge rusher and cornerback, as well as wide receiver with the impending Calvin Ridley situation. Of course, the Falcons desperately need help defensively. Here is where the first cornerback comes off the board. Pairing Gardner, who was one of the best defenders in the country over his collegiate career, with AJ Terrell is a dynamic duo for at least the next five years.
For more on Gardner, check out our scouting report on him.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Denver Broncos send picks 9, 64, 2023 1st, 2023 3rd, and Albert Okwuegbunam to the Green Bay Packers for Aaron Rodgers
9) Green Bay Packers (via Denver) – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
There’s a lot to decipher here, so let’s take it one at a time. Green Bay is strapped for cap, and the ongoing saga between the front office and Rodgers comes to an end soon. With Nathaniel Hackett accepting the head coaching job in Denver, this makes a ton of sense. The Broncos immediately become one of the top teams in a loaded AFC, with one of the best receiving cores, albeit minus Okwuegbunam now, and an outstanding defense.
For Green Bay, this gives them a chance to get under the cap, along with reloading for the next few seasons by adding a ton of draft capital. Adding a tight end is a must in either this trade or in the draft is also a tremendous idea with Robert Tonyan an impending free agent.
With the pick, the Packers get a new top receiver, as Davante Adams is likely heading to free agency. Burks is the first receiver off the board here and gives the Packers what they could’ve had with a Deebo Samuel-type player.
For more on Burks, check out our scouting report on him.
10) New York Jets (via Seattle) – Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU
With another pick in the top 10, the Jets continue building up their secondary by taking one of the best cornerbacks in the draft. While Stingley takes a bit of a fall from what many expected him to be at this draft, he lands in a perfect situation to become a team’s number one corner. While Bryce Hall is a good number two corner, he shouldn’t be used as a number one. The Jets have some good depth pieces in Brandin Echols, Javelin Guidry, and Michael Carter II, but adding Stingley gives them a much better cornerback room.
For more on Stingley, check out our scouting report on him.
11) Carolina Panthers (via Washington) – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
After trading down and adding an extra top 100 pick, the Panthers pick the player they would’ve originally taken anyway. While Carolina does have a gaping hole at the quarterback spot, a left tackle may be a bigger need. Cameron Erving and Brady Christensen are fine players, but Cross is a better player than both right now and could develop into something much more in a few years. With Cross at left tackle, Christensen could move into one of the guard spots to improve another spot on the starting five.
For more on Cross, check out our scouting report on him.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Pittsburgh Steelers send picks 20, 138, and 2023 1st to the Minnesota Vikings for picks 12 and 156
12) Pittsburgh Steelers (via Minnesota) – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Last year, seemingly everyone knew what the Steelers would do, and it happened. This year, the Steelers seem to have pegged Willis as the quarterback they want after Senior Bowl week. While trading for a veteran like Jimmy Garoppolo or signing someone like Jameis Winston or Mitchell Trubisky are options, trading up and getting a player like Willis to pair with one of those veterans is the best idea. The Liberty quarterback has the highest ceiling in the class and offers a skill set that will make the Steelers even more of a dynamic rushing attack.
For more on Willis, check out our scouting report on him.
13) Cleveland Browns – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Browns desperately need to get Baker Mayfield some help at the receiver position. So, they take the second one off the board in Wilson, who could’ve gone much earlier than this. Wilson would immediately align as the number one receiver in Cleveland, pairing nicely with Donovan Peoples-Jones for the foreseeable future.
For more on Wilson, check out our scouting report on him.
14) Baltimore Ravens – George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Ravens get a steal in the first round. For what seems like the third year in a row, the Ravens get a steal, this time with a pass-rusher. Karlaftis would be a top pick in any other pass-rush class, but due to the upside of Ojabo, Karlaftis goes as the fourth pass-rusher. Pairing the Purdue product with Odafe Oweh gives the Ravens a young dynamic pass-rushing duo.
For more on Karlaftis, check out our scouting report on him.
15) Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami) – Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
With the first of their three picks, the Eagles decide to go with the pass-rusher that dominated the competition in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. The Eagles had the second-lowest sack total in the league last year with only 29. Derek Barnett is an impending free agent, so Philadelphia needs to find a running mate to pair with Josh Sweat, who led the team with 7.5 sacks last season. Adding Johnson to the fold gives the Eagles a potential dominant pass-rush duo.
For more on Johnson, check out our scouting report on him.
16) Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis) – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
With their second choice in the first round, the Eagles, for the third year in a row, select a receiver in the first. The Jalen Reagor experience looks to be souring in the front office, and getting another receiver to pair with DeVonta Smith is much needed. While Jameson may not be ready for the season with the torn ACL he suffered in the National Championship game, he offers what the Eagles are missing at the receiver spot.
For more on Williams, check out our scouting report on him.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Minnesota Vikings trade picks 20 and 77 to the Los Angeles Chargers for picks 17 and 194
17) Minnesota Vikings (via LA Chargers) – Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson
After trading down and securing an extra first-round pick in next year’s draft, the Vikings jump up three spots ahead of a few cornerback needy teams to secure their guy. This move is reminiscent of what the Packers did to secure Jaire Alexander in the 2018 draft. Minnesota desperately needs help in their cornerback room. Patrick Peterson and Mackensie Alexander are both impending free agents, which leaves only Cameron Dantzler, Kris Boyd, Harrison Hand, and Parry Nickerson as the only cornerbacks on the roster.
Adding a player like Booth, who many have proclaimed is the top cornerback in the class, at pick 17 is a bargain for the Vikings, and they got an extra first-round selection to pair with him. If this were to happen, the Vikings will have won the first round of the draft.
For more on Booth, check out our scouting report on him.
18) New Orleans Saints – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Earlier this weekend, the Saints restructured the contract for Michael Thomas, making it clear that they had no plans to trade the star receiver. With that said, outside of Thomas, they need to find whoever is playing quarterback some help. What better way to get Thomas some help than another Ohio State receiver? Olave is the perfect number two receiver in the NFL and would be a perfect fit in New Orleans.
For more on Olave, check out our scouting report on him.
19) Philadelphia Eagles – Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa
The Eagles may try to find a partner to trade down with here, but it didn’t come to fruition. Instead, they look toward the future on the offensive line. Jason Kelce isn’t going to play forever, and while Philadelphia did draft Landon Dickerson last year, they could keep him at one of the guard spots and continue their reign of dominant players in the middle of their offensive line. Linderbaum is a top-five talent in the class, regardless of position, so getting him with the 19th pick is a steal for the Eagles.
For more on Linderbaum, check out our scouting report on him.
20) Los Angeles Chargers (via Pittsburgh thru Minnesota) – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
After moving down three spots with the Vikings, the Chargers still get the player they wanted all along. Chris Harris is a free agent, and Los Angeles needs to find a cornerback to go along with Asante Samuel on the boundary. Enter McDuffie, who is a perfect fit for Brandon Staley’s system, while also moving up into the third round for another selection on day two.
21) New England Patriots – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The Patriots could run into some issues at the linebacker position next year if they aren’t careful. Dont’a Hightower, Ja’Whaun Bentley, and Jamie Collins are all impending free agents, so adding one of the top linebackers in the class would be a brilliant idea. Dean would be a great fit for the Patriots, and seems like a player Bill Belichick would love, so that’s the pick here.
For more on Dean, check out our scouting report on him.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Green Bay Packers send picks 28 and 92 to the Las Vegas Raiders for pick 22
22) Green Bay Packers (via Las Vegas) – Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
With a new number one receiver, the Packers turn to the defense for some attention now and trade up to grab a versatile defender that can play anywhere along the defensive line. Walker was an underrated part of Georgia’s dominant defense that led them to a National Championship, and pairing him with Rashan Gary would give opposing offensive line’s nightmares. Whether or not Green Bay can retain one of Preston Smith or Za’Darius Smith is yet to be seen, and while they would like to get one of them back, adding to the pass-rush group is never a bad idea.
For more on Walker, check out our scouting report on him.
23) Arizona Cardinals – Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Is this maybe the earliest Gordon has gone in mock drafts? Maybe. Either way, Arizona needs help in their cornerback room, as they can’t rely on Byron Murphy to be the only viable option there. Marco Wilson has been fine, but adding a player like Gordon, who may be the most athletic player in the draft and see a significant uptick in his draft price, is a fantastic decision here with the 23rd pick.
For more on Gordon, check out our scouting report on him.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Cincinnati Bengals send picks 31, 95, and 174 to the Dallas Cowboys for pick 24
24) Cincinnati Bengals (via Dallas) – Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College
Cincinnati desperately needs help along the offensive line and has for years. Here, they trade up seven spots to get a versatile offensive lineman that can fill any of the interior spots they so choose. Johnson could potentially go earlier than this, and his stock has soared following his excellent week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. The Bengals need to get help along the offensive line for Joe Burrow. That may be from both the open market and the first few rounds of the draft.
25) Buffalo Bills – Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
The Bills have a hole at their left guard spot with Ike Boettger going to free agency. While they have some other options in-house, they find a value option here as Green falls to them. He could potentially play right tackle as well, but it seemed like Spencer Brown improved as the season wore on at that spot.
For more on Green, check out our scouting report on him.
26) Tennessee Titans – Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
The Titans are in an interesting position right now. While they got the number one seed in the AFC playoffs, they have holes along their defense. Harold Landry and Rashaan Evans are free agents. With that said, they have seen the high-powered offenses of Kansas City, Buffalo, and Cincinnati get past them in the playoffs in the past, and instead of going defense here, they add to their arsenal on offense by taking Dotson. Julio Jones wasn’t on the field as much as Tennessee would’ve liked last year, but if he’s able to stay healthy next year, a trio of A.J. Brown, Jones, and Dotson would give defensive coordinators nightmares.
For more on Dotson, check out our scouting report on him.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
Like Tennessee, Tampa Bay could go in a variety of different directions with this selection. With McCreary dropping to them, the Bucs don’t take any chances and take one of the top cornerbacks in the class. While there are some length concerns with his arms, the play isn’t a concern. Carlton Davis is scheduled to become a free agent, so adding another corner to the fold is needed.
For more on McCreary, check out our scouting report on him.
28) Las Vegas Raiders (via Green Bay) – Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
After trading down with the Packers and moving down six spots, the Raiders get one of the biggest, literally, names in the draft. Las Vegas has Johnathan Hankins, Quinton Jefferson, and Solomon Thomas as impending free agents, so adding a mauler like Davis would be in their best interest.
For more on Davis, check out our scouting report on him.
29) Miami Dolphins – Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Like the Bengals, the Dolphins have one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Miami completely whiffed on the Austin Jackson selection a few years ago, and while they do have a massive amount of cap space to work with in free agency, following the Kansas City approach from last year would be a route they should go with. Penning slips to Miami in this scenario, and he would be an excellent fit at either of the tackle spots.
For more on Penning, check out our scouting report on him.
30) Kansas City Chiefs – Daxton Hill, SAF, Michigan
Kansas City has plenty of needs on the roster, including one at safety, and that’s before seeing that Tyrann Mathieu is an impending free agent. Adding Hill would give Kansas City a dynamic defender that can play multiple roles, similar to how Mathieu has done during his time in Kansas City.
For more on Hill, check out our scouting report on him.
31) Dallas Cowboys (via Cincinnati) – Demarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
After moving down seven spots, the Cowboys get one of the most versatile prospects in the class. Leal can line up on the defensive line or rush the passer off the edge, and with that versatility, paired with what they already have in Micah Parsons, the two would form a nice young duo in the front seven for years to come.
32) Detroit Lions (via LA Rams) – Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
With the final pick in the first round, the Lions give a bit of a surprise. Watson is one of the players that has significantly gained a ton of steam since his week at the Senior Bowl and could form a fantastic duo with last year’s fourth-round steal, Amon-Ra St. Brown. This may be slightly early for Watson right now on most mock drafts, but he is, by no means, a bad player.
For more on Watson, check out our scouting report on him.
33) Jacksonville Jaguars – George Pickens, WR, Georgia
To kick off round two, the Jaguars add to their receiver room by taking one of the most talented ones in the class. Jacksonville desperately needs reinforcements in the room, as they don’t necessarily have a reliable option with the inconsistencies of Laviska Shenault and Marvin Jones.
For more on Pickens, check out our scouting report on him.
34) Detroit Lions – Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
After taking care of potentially their two biggest needs on the roster, the Lions see the quarterbacks slipping down the board and take one of the best ones available in Corral. The Ole Miss product would likely sit behind Jared Goff for a year or two before taking the reigns for the Lions. Detroit should not take a quarterback in round one, and taking one here allows them to get better at other spots on the roster in the first round.
For more on Corral, check out our scouting report on him.
35) New York Jets – Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State
New York’s pass-rush desperately needs help, as they only secured 33 sacks on the season. After not selecting one in the first round, taking one here should be their priority. Thomas has seen a significant rise in his stock and could go in the first round.
36) New York Giants – Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
Similar to the Lions, the Giants have a potential problem at their quarterback spot. Jones has struggled with turnovers, and with the quarterbacks dropping into the second round, the Giants opt to take one to compete with Jones in Howell. He will likely be the backup while Jones is on a short leash this season.
For more on Howell, check out our scouting report on him.
37) Houston Texans – Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
The Texans are at a point where they need to pick the best player available at a position of need. The cornerback position needs to be addressed, and seeing Elam still on the board, Houston sends the card in right away to get the Florida cornerback.
For more on Elam, check out our scouting report on him.
38) New York Jets (via Carolina) – Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
With the New York coaching staff at Mobile, they coached experience the tight end class that was at the Senior Bowl. McBride is the best tight end in the class according to most outlets, and they finally get Zach Wilson a tight end that can be his safety valve in the passing game.
For more on McBride, check out our scouting report on him.
39) Chicago Bears – Drake London, WR, USC
After not having a first-round selection, the Bears find a steal at one of their biggest needs. Allen Robinson is a free agent, and Darnell Mooney most likely isn’t capable of being a number one receiver in an offense. Enter London, who has some early first-round hype on some outlets, and that receiver position looks much better on paper.
For more on London, check out our scouting report on him.
40) Denver Broncos – Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
With Denver’s first pick of the draft, they tackle one of their biggest needs with the top player on the draft board. Lloyd falls due to teams taking bigger weaknesses, and Denver takes advantage of it by snagging him in the middle of the second round to fill a spot in the middle of the defense.
For more on Lloyd, check out our scouting report on him.
41) Seattle Seahawks – Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
The Seattle offensive line, like Cincinnati and Miami’s, is another that needs help. Faalele drops to the second round due to how raw he currently is but would be a perfect fit in Seattle, even if they are without Duane Brown, who is set to hit free agency.
42) Carolina Panthers (via Washington) – Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky
After adding Cross in the first round to start at left tackle, the Panthers add a versatile chess-piece in Kinnard, who can play at either guard spot for the Panthers. Along with that, if Cross or Taylor Moton were to get hurt, he could fill in at one of those tackle spots as well.
43) Atlanta Falcons – David Bell, WR, Purdue
With Ridley as a potential trade piece, the Falcons don’t have many options in their receiver room right now. Russell Gage and Tajae Sharpe are both free agents as well, so adding a piece like Bell would give them a trustworthy weapon for Matt Ryan in what could be his final season in Atlanta.
For more on Bell, check out our scouting report on him.
44) Cleveland Browns – Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
One of the biggest weaknesses on the Cleveland defense is an interior pass-rusher. Malik McDowell had a career resurgence last year when he came to the Browns, but adding Wyatt to the fold gives Cleveland a dominant defensive lineman that can pair with Myles Garrett on the front of the defense.
For more on Wyatt, check out our scouting report on him.
45) Baltimore Ravens – Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma
The Ravens could run into some issues on the interior of their defensive line this offseason. Brandon Williams and Calais Campbell are both free agents, so if one were to leave, Baltimore could use an early selection on the defensive line. Winfrey is a favorite of many and would be an excellent addition for the Ravens.
46) Minnesota Vikings – Jaquan Brisker, SAF, Penn State
Day two features many players that shouldn’t have fallen down the draft but unfortunately do. Brisker is one of those cases here. Fortunately for him, he finds a fantastic landing spot in Minnesota, who will need a new free safety with Xavier Woods an impending free agent.
For more on Brisker, check out our scouting report on him.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Philadelphia Eagles trade picks 51 and 123 to the Indianapolis Colts for pick 47
47) Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis) – Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
The Eagles and Colts once again partner up as trade partners, this time with the Eagles moving up to secure a new linebacker. For years, Philadelphia has had a hole in the middle of their defense, but with Harris falling and a few linebacker-needy teams in front of them, the Eagles jump up and snag him.
For more on Harris, check out our scouting report on him.
48) Los Angeles Chargers – Travis Jones, DL, UConn
The Chargers struggled against the run defensively all season. It showed in the Week 18 loss to the Raiders. Justin Jones, Linval Joseph, and Christian Covington are all impending free agents, and Los Angeles desperately needs to stop the run in a division with Josh Jacobs and Javonte Williams. Enter Jones, who will be a starter right from the jump during his rookie season.
49) New Orleans Saints – Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
It is a mystery who the Saints will have at quarterback by the time the draft comes around. While they could take one in the first round, their best bet is to re-sign Jameis Winston and take a shot at one if they slide on day two. Ridder has been one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the country during his collegiate career but slides to the Saints in the second round due to accuracy concerns.
For more on Ridder, check out our scouting report on him.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
New England Patriots trade picks 54 and 125 to the Miami Dolphins for pick 50
50) New England Patriots (via Miami) – John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
It isn’t as rare now to see divisional opponents trade with each other outside of the first round. Here, the Dolphins move down a few spots and gain an extra fourth-round selection. For New England, Belichick goes back to the Alabama well to find himself a new receiver that can start and be a familiar friend for Mac Jones.
For more on Metchie, check out our scouting report on him.
51) Indianapolis Colts (via Philadelphia) – Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
After moving down, the Colts address their biggest weakness on the roster, which is a future left tackle. Eric Fisher is an impending free agent, and they could sign him to a short deal for the 2022 season, but they need to look ahead and get one of the top tackles in the class with their first selection. Raimann was dominant at Central Michigan and would be a great fit in Indianapolis with the Colts.
For more on Raimann, check out our scouting report on him.
52) Pittsburgh Steelers – Tyler Smith, OL, Tulsa
Perhaps a bigger need for Pittsburgh, more than a quarterback, is along the offensive line. Both starters on the right side of the offensive line are free agents, and the other starters aren’t fantastic as is. Adding a versatile prospect like Smith would give Pittsburgh an automatic starter, regardless of the position he plays.
53) Las Vegas Raiders – Jamaree Salyer, OL, Georgia
Similar to Pittsburgh, Las Vegas has issues across their offensive line. Salyer would likely fight for a spot on the interior of the offensive line or battle with Alex Leatherwood for the right tackle spot if they both fit better as a tackle with Brandon Parker an impending free agent.
54) Miami Dolphins (via New England) – Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
After moving down a few spots, the Dolphins are on the clock and take the first running back off the board. While Williams isn’t considered in the top three by most outlets, he is a perfect fit for the Miami backfield and is similar to what new head coach Mike McDaniel looked for during his time in San Francisco.
55) Arizona Cardinals – Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
The Cardinals have Chandler Jones and Dennis Gardeck as impending free agents, while Markus Golden could be a cap casualty. A player gaining steam in the scouting community with some potential to go in the first round is Senior Bowl standout, Mafe. The Minnesota product would likely start during his rookie season and form a nice tandem with J.J. Watt.
For more on Mafe, check out our scouting report on him.
56) Dallas Cowboys – Lewis Cine, SAF, Georgia
For years, it’s seemed like the Cowboys have needed a safety. Finally, they take one here by adding Cine, another standout on the dominant Georgia defense. Damontae Kazee, Malik Hooker, and Jayron Kearse are all free agents, so adding a safety or two is almost a given for this offseason.
57) Buffalo Bills – Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
The Bills have been looking for a viable option opposite Tre’Davious White for a while now. With Levi Wallace set to hit free agency, adding another option in the cornerback room with an early selection is a fantastic idea. Woolen is another Senior Bowl standout and could see his name called earlier than this.
58) Atlanta Falcons (via Tennessee) – Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
After taking a receiver, the Falcons add potentially the top running back in the class with Walker. Cordarrelle Patterson is a fine scatback, but the Falcons should try and find an every-down back this offseason, and Walker is just that. Along with that, Patterson is a free agent, so who knows if he’ll even be back for 2022. If he is, then the two would make an excellent pairing in Atlanta.
59) Green Bay Packers – Jalen Pitre, SAF, Baylor
With the first of their two second-round selections, the Packers continue on the defensive side of the ball. A position that the Packers need to think about addressing is the STAR position. Eric Stokes and Alexander are two fantastic young corners, and Darnell Savage is coming into his own. Chandon Sullivan and Rasul Douglas are free agents, while Adrian Amos could be cut due to cap restraints. Plus, the Packers need depth at the safety position. Enter Pitre, who can play multiple different roles, and Green Bay keeps one of the best secondaries in the league.
For more on Pitre, check out our scouting report on him.
60) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
With Tom Brady retiring, the Buccaneers are left with Kyle Trask and Blaine Gabbert at the quarterback spot. While that isn’t necessarily great, Bruce Arians has full confidence in both of them. Strong seems to be the best of the three, with an elite arm and solid accuracy. Unfortunately, his mobility is lacking, which thankfully isn’t needed as much in a Bruce Arians system. If Strong were still here with this selection, there is no doubt they would wind up selecting him.
For more on Strong, check out our scouting report on him.
61) San Francisco 49ers – Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
San Francisco needed help at cornerback last year and waited to do so. Now, without a first-round selection, they must use their first pick on a corner. Josh Norman and K’Wuan Williams are free agents, so adding a player like Taylor-Britt, who has gotten a lot of love on Twitter over the last few weeks, would be a great addition.
62) Kansas City Chiefs – Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
Kansas City needs help defensively, so what do they do? They cause chaos by taking another speedy receiver. Robinson looks shorter than the 5-foot-11 tag that the Kentucky website has him at, but pairing him with Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman will cause chaos for opposing defenses.
*** TRADE ALERT ***
Atlanta Falcons trade picks 74 and 150 to the Cincinnati Bengals for pick 63
63) Atlanta Falcons (via Cincinnati Bengals) – Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
With the offensive line looking depleted, Cincinnati opts to trade down and add another pick. For Atlanta, they get their third pick of the second round and finally use it on a pass-rusher. The Falcons finished with the lowest sack total in the league last year, and with Ebiketie still on the board, they move up 11 spots and take him to hopefully help their lack of a pass-rush.
For more on Ebiketie, check out our scouting report on him.
64) Green Bay Packers (via LA Rams thru Denver) – Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
The Packers finish their first two rounds by picking a third defensive player and adding to their linebacker room. It is unsure if De’Vondre Campbell will be back following his All-Pro season, but if he isn’t, adding a fantastic linebacker prospect like Chenal and keeping him in Wisconsin could be an option for the Packers.
For more on Chenal, check out our scouting report on him.
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