Post-Combine 2 Round NFL Mock Draft

 It’s officially one of the most interesting times of year, that month of speculation between the combine and draft. As we await the 2022 season rosters will begin to take shape with resignings, FA deals, and trades. That being said, the upcoming draft looms as the key to the future of every NFL team.

This will be the first of a 4 part series of mocks I’ll be doing on this page, followed by: a post free agency 3 rounder, a full 7 rounder that will release one week before the draft, and a final 1 round mock the night before the draft. This mock draft will have NO trades as it’s pointless to speculate on that until we see how free agency changes the drafts landscape, all following mocks will have them. This mock is mostly analyze  who to expect in the early rounds and where they make sense IF the draft happened today. Let’s get rippin’:

Round 1:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - OT Evan Neal Alabama: 

Jacksonville knows they have to add some building blocks on offense for TLaw or they’ll have this pick for a third consecutive year and ruined young QB. I see the allure with Ekwonu’s athleticism and honestly his ceiling is probably as high as Neal’s, but Neal is a massive mauler. His size, strength, and power has the potential for Jonathan Ogden like production at the next level and the Jags need that physical tone. Not to mention, Doug Pederson won his super 100% on the back of a great OLine.

2. Detroit Lions - DE/Edge Aidan Hutchinson Michigan:

This is the biggest no brainer in the draft, for a team that needs EVERYTHING. Detroit takes the best player available but will have to decide how to use him. I see DC Aaron Glenn being really creative with Hutchinson using him as a 3-4 end in base sets but flexing him to the Edge on passing downs/nickel sets.

3. Houston Texans - Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux Oregon:

This is not only the toughest pick for me to make but it’s also the most pivotal point early in the draft, this pick will effect every defensive selection going forward. Who does Houston love Thibodeaux or Kyle Hamilton, that’s the question. In this case, I have them going pass rush as pass rush is king in today’s NFL. They can grab great safeties in the second and third but while pass rush is deeper it’s also a position picked early and often.

4. New York Jets - CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner Cinncinati:

I’ve been picking this for months and Gardner’s Combine performance cemented it even more for me. He has amazing production and moves super well for a big, physical corner. I believe he’ll be lockdown at the next level and this is something the Jets have been in search of since Revis. Sauce is the key piece for a defense poised to take a leap forward in year two of Robert Saleh.

5. New York Giants - OT Ickey Ekwonu N.C. State:

If the Giants really do believe Daniel Jones is still the guy, something has to be wrong with his supporting cast. I see them bringing in a replacement for Engram through Free Agency (OJ Howard?), I’m sure they expect big production jumps from Golladay and Toney, and if Barkley is healthy who’s better? That leaves a clearly spot for upgrade on the OLine. Ekwonu will play RT in New York which I believe is the ideal spot for him professionally and Danny Dimes will have some real talented tackles on the ends.

6. Carolina Panthers - QB Kenny Pickett Pitt:

Carolina has signed starters and traded for starters, but nothing’s worked. Matt Rhule needs to be worried about his job at this point as he has a roster loaded with talent that’s been let down by subpar QB play yet again. What they need to do is find a way to acquire Wilson or Watson by moving McCaffrey, that’s probably not going to happen. They got burnt too bad on Darnold to make a trade for anyone mid tier. I expect them to retain Newton and Darnold (no trade value) and probably bring in a vet (Mariota??). These QBs will buy him time but he needs a true answer, Pickett is the safest QB in the draft and still has upside. It’s a reach but a fit, and does Rhule really have any other options?

7. New York Giants - S Kyle Hamilton Notre Dame:

Another nice way to help out your offense is having a stellar defense. At this point, I view this as a best available pick but Safety value is really difficult to estimate in the draft (Ex: Derwin James at 17 in 2018). I really don’t see this as a slide for Hamilton and wouldn’t be shocked to see him in that 10-15 range. Edge is more of a need but is also a lot deeper, so we’re seeing a bit of an opposite philosophy here at pick 7 compared to Houston’s pick at 3. Daboll is also used to great Safety play and more of a committee rush in Buffalo.

8. Atlanta Falcons - Edge Jermaine Johnson Florida State:

Oh the options… Atlanta has a lot of needs and is picking really high for a team with a trusty veteran QB. Last year they grabbed a huge offensive weapon in Kyle Pitts and a lot of people expect them to go that route again in lieu of Calvin Ridley’s suspension. While receiver will still be a need, I expect them to grab at least one vet in free agency. This means Atlanta will be freed up to start the 2nd tier edge rusher run and select a player that crushed the combine and who’s stock will continue to soar in Johnson. 

9. Seattle Seahawks - OT Charles Cross Mississippi State:

Wow… So Russ is out of Seattle. The 12th man is going to be pounding the table for Malik Willis here but I can tell you that would be a big mistake. This is a bad situation for a QB in need of some patience and development. Seattle got a bounty for Russ but they also have a bounty of problems to fix. Cross is a very safe Tackle prospect and will provide the building blocks for Seattles future starter to develop as well as address a position that was key in Wilson’s eventual departure. I believe Seattle is happy to build up the rest of the roster and give Lock a year to show what he has. 

10. New York Jets - DE/Edge Travon Walker Georgia:

The Jets do what their New York counterpart didn’t and select a pass rusher with their second Top 10 pick. Georgia stars Walker, Wyatt, and Jordan Davis will all see their stock soar after huge combine performances. I love Walker as a fit in Saleh’s defense, he’ll be used similar to how Arik Armstead was in San Fran. He has a very versatile skill set and that’s what allows him to jump Karlaftis and Ojabo in the Edge pecking order.

11. Washington Commanders - QB Malik Willis Liberty:

There’s a lot of mouths to feed with free agent QBs this year but no matter who Washington grabs they’ll still be in search of that long term answer come draft day (UPDATE: Washington trades for Carson Wentz). Willis is exactly what Ron Rivera would like for his franchise QB and will bring an exciting storyline for The Commanders to build around with their new brand. Let’s just hope the team is patient with him and gives him the time he needs to succeed.

12. Minnesota Vikings - LB Devin Lloyd Utah:

Minnesota is a very good team with a lot of holes, especially on defense. I so badly wanted to see Stingley here but it just doesn’t feel like Minnesota will take a chance like that on a Corner in the first with their recent misfires. Edge is a need, Karlaftis would be a good fit but that feels like a reach with Ojabo there. Minnesota’s linebacking core has been crucial to their success for years, and they’re entering a pivotal year with Barr potentially set to walk in free agency. Therefore, Lloyd makes a lot of sense on the outside in Minnesota’s 4-3 scheme and will pair well with Kendricks. This fit would play well to Lloyd’s playmaking style and help The Vikings get back to their roots.

13. Cleveland Browns - WR Garrett Wilson Ohio State:

This being a stacked defensive class paired with the QB run will allow Cleveland to get their guy in Garrett Wilson. This is one of those situations where you sprint that card up. Wilson checks all the boxes for Cleveland they desperately need receiver help, he can make plays that make up for Baker’s shortcomings, He had a huge combine, He’s a BUCKEYE, and honestly a top 10 talent. This is a big steal.

14. Baltimore Ravens - DT Jordan Davis Georgia:

As a Steeler fan this really pains me, I love Jordan Davis. Again, his combine was ridiculous and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him rise even higher. The Ravens have a glaring need at RT but I believe that can be addressed later. Brandon Williams and Calais Campbell are both slated for free agency and Davis is a great fit for their scheme. Baltimore won’t be able to pass up the athletic run defender allowing them to fortify a defensive front that’s been in need for a while.

15. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Derek Stingley Jr. LSU:

16. Philadelphia Eagles - Edge David Ojabo Michigan:

The Eagles will get an opportunity to address defense with back to back picks and continue to build a new culture on that side of the ball. Although Linebacker is potentially their biggest need, Philly uses their luxury of 3 first round picks to end the slide of two potential defensive stars. Stingley will be a great addition to this defensive back end opposite Darius Slay, and if he shows up like he did as a freshman he’ll be the steal of the draft. Ojabo on the other hand is a very athletic Edge Rusher that will add some spark to a unit that’s really thinned out in recent years. I expect Steve Nelson and Derek Barnett to depart Philly in free agency leaving space for these two additions to start week 1.

17. Los Angeles Chargers - DT Devonte Wyatt Georgia:

I know there’s a lot of interest in the Chargers adding another piece to the OLine, and I do like the idea, but that’s not what stopped them from reaching the playoffs in 2021. This is a team that should be planning for the now, most pieces are already in place. Wyatt is going to be a big riser with his fantastic combine performance and his versatility in the interior is something L.A. is severely lacking. With Linval Joseph and Justin Jones headed to free agency, Wyatt not only fills an open spot in the starting lineup but he likely provides a day 1 upgrade as well.

18. New Orleans Saints - WR Chris Olave Ohio State:

There’s a few directions New Orleans could go here: DT is a big need and Devonte Wyatt could help bolster a young line. On the other hand, The Saints are very thin at linebacker and if Kwon Alexander walks in free agency Nakobe Dean would be a day 1 starter and form a nice tandem with Pete Werner down the line. In this mock however, NOLA opts to go offense and can’t resist putting the speedy Olave opposite of Michael Thomas. Olave is a great fit for Winston’s style of play if he returns in 2022, and will help take this efficient offense over the top.

19. Philadelphia Eagles - LB Nakobe Dean Georgia:

It’s a defensive three-peat for Philadelphia with their three 2022 first round picks. Linebacker is once again the biggest need for The Eagles, Philly used their luxury of three 1sts to select the top two players on the board at 15 & 16 and lucks out having Dean still available for their last pick of the round.  Dean slides a bit due to his lack of size and falls right into Nick Sirianni’s lap.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers - C Tyler Linderbaum Iowa:

This is THE pick at this spot, I can see the allure of trading up for Malik Willis but the Steelers would greatly benefit from staying put and taking what falls their way. The team has needs at QB, CB, NT, ILB, and C. That being said, chances are that at least one of Nakobe Dean, Jordan Davis, Derek Stingley, or Linderbaum slides into their lap in round 1. This scenario plays out perfectly for Pittsburgh and they get themselves a sprint the card up type of pick in Tyler Linderbaum. Center is a very important piece of the team’s  style traditionally and this pick will allow 2021 2nd rounder Kendrick Green to return to G where he’s best suited. Addressing the interior OLine would be huge for Pittsburgh’s run game and future QB.

21. New England Patriots - WR Jameson Williams Alabama:

This is another pick with steal of the draft potential. Following Cincy’s 2021 formula, The Pats are able to bolster their receiving corp with a target who comes from a system Mac Jones is familiar with in Williams. Although they weren’t teammates at Bama the style and background Williams developed in his time their will allow him to quickly mesh with Jones. I see a 0% chance that Williams is sitting here at 21 if he didn’t suffer his ACL tear.

22. Las Vegas Raiders - CB Trent McDuffie Washington:

The Raiders score one of the bigger steals of the round with McDuffie at 22. The Corner position is very deep this year and not as flashy as other positions, causing some really great corners to slide. McDuffie is a great talent and a day one starter in Vegas, he’s also a good fit for the new regime. That all being said it’s really tough not to go Kenyon Green here as well.

23. Arizona Cardinals - S/Nickel Daxton Hill Michigan:

Hill is a great fit in Arizona, a team that covets hybrid style players who can wear a lot of hats. He also fills a big need, The Cards are very weak in the defensive backfield and there’s no shortage of spots where Hill can help out. That being said, this is a bit early for him and I’d look for Arizona to move back 5 to 10 spots if this is their guy. This would be an ideal spot for a team to nab a sliding star like Karlaftis or Kenyon Green.

24. Dallas Cowboys - G Kenyon Green Texas A&M:

Connor Williams is set to depart Dallas in free agency, but in this situation the Cowboys find an instant upgrade in Kenyon Green at #24. One of the biggest issues facing Mike McCarthy’s crew are the costly penalties that have mounted against them, especially in the playoffs. Williams was responsible for 11 holding calls and 14 total OLine penalties last season, proving to be one of the biggest contributors to the problem. Green should be a day 1 starter and hopefully offer a more cautious approach when it comes to holding calls.

25. Buffalo Bills - CB Andrew Booth Clemson:

I could see Booth or Kyler Gordon at this point, I think they’re the logical next two CBs but they both need some time before they’re really ready to contribute. The Bills are in need of a Corner across from Tre White, especially to compete with the AFCs pass heavy offenses in KC, Cincy, etc. Booth has the strength, toughness, and playmaking ability that the Bills covet, he’ll just need some time to put it together at the next level but he has superstar potential.

26. Tennessee Titans - QB Matt Corral Ole Miss:

Let’s face it, The Titans just don’t have a lot of needs and they’ve been setup well for years. Yeah RT is a legitimate concern Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning could be a fit here, but I expect 2021 2nd rounder Dillon Radunz to take that leap in year 2. The truth is Tennessee has to find that weak link that’s just barely holding them back and it might be Tannehill. Either way, Vrabel projects to be at the helm for quite sometime and he needs a plan for the future. Corral’s a hard worker that puts it all on the line each week, and has an arm that can really impress you at times. His style is what causes this slide, but it may be the exact thing that makes a coach like Vrabel fall inlove with him.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - HB Kenneth Walker Michigan State: 

I know, I didn’t expect a 1st round RB either… but I think this is a smart pick and something Arians would do to take the pressure off of his next QB. The Bucs suddenly have lots of needs and BA must do something to accelerate this rebuild late in his career. The Bucs haven’t had a real answer, or consistent production, in the backfield since Doug Martin and their top 3 backs from 2021 are all set for free agency. Walker had huge production for Michigan State and a fantastic combine, all signs point to him being a big riser and, in this case, hearing his name called on Day 1. This would also be great for Kyle Trask’s development if he is their guy.

28. Green Bay Packers - OT Trevor Penning Northern Iowa:

The Packers are now committed to Rodgers for a little while longer, so why not build around him? This is a team without any major needs (Maybe DE) and Billy Turner is a weak spot on that line. If Penning isn’t ready to be a force on the outside in year one RG is a spot that could use improving as well. There will be plenty of DLineman later in the draft, but Penning will set a physical tone on the end of Green Bay’s OLine opposite of Bakhtiari.

29. Miami Dolphins - WR Treylon Burks Arkansas:

Mike McDaniel is an offensive wiz, and I’m confident he believes he’ll win with Tua. While there’s other, more pressing needs for the Phins, I can’t see McDaniel passing on one of these sliding big body receivers. He’ll be able to put another tool around Tua and make this offense very explosive. If Tua doesn’t crush it with Burks, Parker, Waddle, and Gesicki, he never will.

30. Kansas City Chiefs - Edge George Karlaftis Purdue:

Oh do the rich get richer… Karlaftis’ slide is a product of a few things: While he’s very versatile across the DLine he’s not super athletic compared to the risers in this draft. That means he’ll likely need to operate in a 4-3 to fully utilize that versatility. In a 3-4 system I see Karlaftis playing on the interior as an end and bouncing out on passing downs, he’s not best suited to do either. In this mock, he slides until there’s a team with a need and a system where he fits (He fits KC perfectly). The skinny is: Karlaftis is a top 10 talent right now but he won’t wow you athletically and he needs the right fit. That’s the perfect concoction for a draft day slide.

31. Cincinnati Bengals - OT Bernhard Raimann Central Michigan:

It’s absolutely no secret what Cincy has to do here, protect your QB! I often wonder if Chase was truly a better pick than Sewell with how good they’ve both looked and how bad Burrow has been slaughtered. He needs an OLine or his career could be very quick. The Bengals are in a position to reach for the right OLineman here, but they luck out with Raimann lasting to pick 31. This will give them two solid young tackles and allow their 2021 2nd round reach Jackson Carman to stay inside where he’s better suited.

32. Detroit Lions - QB Desmond Ridder Cincinnati: 

I used to be a Desmond Ridder hater, but he continued to improve in 2021 and has won me over. I believe his fantastic combine coupled with his innate winning ability is enough to thrust him into that 1st round QB conversation. I do believe that Dan Campbell feels fine with Goff at QB but I think he’d absolutely love to get his hands on a player with the tools Ridder possesses. Goff would still open the year but I’d give it 6 weeks until Ridder takes over. All of the sudden, Detroit has some fantastic young building blocks with Ridder, St. Brown, Hockenson, Sewell, Okudah, and Hutchinson to name a few.

Round 2:

33. Jacksonville Jaguars - WR Drake London USC

34. Detroit Lions - S Jaquan Brisker Penn State

35. New York Jets - OT Daniel Faalele Minnesota 

36. New York Giants - Edge Boye Mafe Minnesota 

37. Houston Texans - LB Damone Clark LSU

38. New York Jets - DL DeMarvin Leal Texas A&M

39. Chicago Bears - WR Jahan Dotson Penn State

40. Seattle Seahawks - CB Kaiir Elam Florida

41. Seattle Seahawks - Edge Sam Williams Ole Miss

42. Indianapolis Colts - QB Sam Howell UNC

43. Atlanta Falcons - WR David Bell Purdue

44. Cleveland Browns - Edge Arnold Ebiketie Penn State

45. Baltimore Ravens - OT Tyler Smith Tulsa

46. Minnesota Vikings - CB Kyler Gordon Washington

47. Washington Commanders - S Lewis Cine Georgia

48. Los Angeles Chargers - G Zion Johnson Boston College

49. New Orleans Saints - LB Christian Harris Alabama

50. Miami Dolphins - HB Breece Hall Iowa State

51. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Jalen Tolbert South Alabama

52. Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Roger McCreary Auburn

53. Las Vegas Raiders - DT Travis Jones UConn

54. New England Patriots - CB Coby Bryant Cincinnati 

55. Arizona Cardinals - TE Trey McBride Colorado State

56. Dallas Cowboys - S Jalen Pitre Baylor

57. Buffalo Bills - LB Channing Tindall Georgia

58. Atlanta Falcons - S Bryan Cook Cincinnati 

59. Green Bay Packers - DL Joshua Paschal Kentucky

60. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - G Cole Strange Tennessee-Chattanooga

61. San Francisco 49ers - CB Tariq Woolen UTSA

62. Kansas City Chiefs - WR George Pickens Georgia

63. Cincinnati Bengals - CB Alontae Taylor Tennessee 

64. Denver Broncos - DT Phidarian Mathis Alabama