Projection of the 32 first-round picks
NFL reporters from across the US TODAY Sports Network collaborated on a mock draft ahead of Thursday night’s first round. Here are their picks.
1.JACKSONVILLE
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan: Hutchinson is a safe pick with the potential to become a cornerstone of the Jaguars defense with Josh Allen. Hutchinson having that kind of potential is too good for the Jaguars to pass up.
-John Reid
2. DETROIT
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon: The Lions have emphasized adaptive culture in their latest rebuild, and for that reason some are wondering if Thibodeaux is a game. If the Lions can get to grips with Thibodeaux’s personality, they could have the best passing thrower in the draft.
–Dave Birkett
3.HOUSTON
Travon Walker, DE, Georgia: With needs spanning almost the entire roster and the team’s only star, Laremy Tunsil, entrenched at left tackle, the Texans bet on the upper hand, taking Walker’s athletic potential and hoping he can be the next superstar in the game. a long line of franchisees. Houston.
-Joel Erickson
4.NY JETS
Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State: The Jets need a top rusher more than anything, but with the best off the board, they go with the best player available in Ekwonu. He gives them insurance if Mekhi Becton is slowed down by injury again. Ekwonu is a potential long-term starter.
–Andy Vasquez
5. NY GIANTS
Ahmad Gardner, BC, Cincinnati: The Giants are in a rare place to pick again at No. 1. 7, with only Carolina between them, so they wait for an attacking tackle – their greatest need – and opt instead for a locking corner that will fit perfectly into DC Wink Martindale’s new system. “Sauce” has all the tools to take special to the next level.
–Art Stapleton
6. CAROLINA
Evan Neal, Occupational Therapist, Alabama: The Panthers see Evan Neal on the board and think back to when Neal was considered a favorite to be number one. 1 overall pick earlier in the draft process. Neal has the potential to be a cornerstone of the franchise and will protect the Panthers’ next quarterback whenever that decision is made in Carolina.
–Safid Deen
7. NY GIANTS
Charles Cross, OT, State of Mississippi: I believe the Giants would take Evan Neal from Alabama if he was there, but he went to Carolina. Cross is the best pass protector in the class, and the Giants love him enough to rely on his development both as a right tackle – he played on the left – and in the running game following a successful attack on the university.
–Art Stapleton
8. ATLANTA
Jermaine Johnson, DE, State of Florida: Atlanta hopes to have more pass rusher options this early in the draft, but it continues a first run with Johnson. He’s cementing perhaps the NFL’s worst passing rush in 21, and it’s too early for value at quarterback.
— Chase Goodbread
9. SEATTLE
Derek Stingley Jr., BC, LSU: Seattle could be in play for one of the quarterbacks here, but assuming the Seahawks don’t have one that high, they can start rebuilding their old ‘Legion of Boom’ by adding a fierce and competitive cornerback to Stingley Jr. .
10. New York Jets
Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame: The wide receiver would have made a lot of sense here, but Hamilton is just too good to pass if he drops to No. 1. 10. The Jets had all sorts of problems on defense last year and Hamilton’s ability to reducing his coverage and playing close to the line would help immediately.
–Andy Vasquez
NFL Draft Rankings:Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux in tight race for No. 1
Draft advice for the 32 teams:How should everyone maximize their choices?
11.Washington
Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State: Given the uncertainty of Terry McLaurin’s long-term contract situation and the lack of viable wide receiver options outside of him at DC, Wilson is providing help on two fronts. Washington also needs to know quickly if Carson Wentz is the answer at QB, and providing him with the best receiver in this draft gives him and this offense the best chance of success.
— Collin Brennan
12. Minnesota
Trent McDuffie, BC, Washington: The Vikings would love Stingley here, but he’s gone, so McDuffie fills Minnesota’s needs. He has not given up a TD in his last two years.
–Sal Maiorana
13.Houston
Trevor Penning, Occupational Therapist, Northern Iowa: Laremy Tunsil has Davis Mills’ blindside locked down, but the Texans need help on the other side, where NFL teams deploy their best passers more often. Penning is a powerful, mean blocker who can give Houston the protection it needs.
-Joel Erickson
14. Baltimore
Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia: A huge and excruciatingly athletic defensive tackle, Davis seems to fit the profile of an ideal Baltimore defender. The AFC North is known for its brutal football, especially when fall turns to winter in the division’s chilly towns, and running Davis isn’t expected to be easy for the Ravens’ opponents.
-Nate Ulrich
15. Philadelphia
Drake London, WR, USC: The Eagles crave a big wide receiver who can get up for 50-50 balls and take some of the pressure off DeVonta Smith. As a former basketball player, even at Southern Cal his freshman year, London knows how to use his 6-foot-4 height, just like Alshon Jeffery did.
— Martin Franck
16. New Orleans
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama: He’s big and quick and one of the best point guards in a deep receiving class who arrives from Tuscaloosa with plenty of production on his resume.
–Carlos Monarrez
17. LA Chargers
Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia: With top offensive tackles and defensive tackle Jordan Davis off the board, the Chargers identify another position of need – inside linebacker. Dean is a bit undersized but he has great instincts, good football IQ and he’s a tackle machine. Dean would give the Chargers a much-needed point guard at inside linebacker.
-Dragon Tyler
18. Philadelphia
Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia: Both defensive tackles Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave are in the final year of their contracts. Wyatt, along with 2021 third-round pick Milton Williams, can form a formidable duo for years to come.
— Martin Franck
19. New Orleans
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt: Trying to replace Drew Brees with Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton is like trying to replace Secretariat with a donkey and an older donkey. Pickett gives the Saints a big arm and mobility, and the Saints give him time to grow.
–Carlos Monarrez
20. Pittsburgh
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty: Other AFC North starting quarterbacks are Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson, so the Steelers should try to move to Mitchell Trubisky on the heels of the Ben Roethlisberger era.
-Nate Ulrich
21. New England
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: The Patriots defense is currently without Kyle Van Noy, Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins from last season. With Lloyd, the Pats provide immediate post help and much-needed athleticism.
-Marc Daniels
22. Green Bay
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State: The Packers are rebuilding their receiving corps from the bottom up after trading Davante Adams. Hard to see them passing on Olave unless they prefer the bigger Treylon Burks.
–Pete Dougherty
23.Arizona
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas: Arizona could go with a rusher here like George Karlavtis or Boye Mafe, but Burks could do wonders in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Kyler Murray gets another intriguing target.
–Bob McManaman
24.Dallas
Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M: Green’s versatility and enforcer mentality sells the Cowboys at 24. He will be their Day 1 favorite at left guard and will soon replace aging Pro Bowl LT Tyron Smith.
–Jori Epstein
“We should be against the grain”:Five takeaways from the Dallas Cowboys pre-draft press conference
25. Buffalo
Andrew Booth, BC, Clemson: The cornerback is the Bills’ only real need with Tre’Davious White having just had ACL surgery and Levi Wallace moving to the Steelers.
–Sal Maiorana
26. Tennessee
Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College: The Titans need to replace Rodger Saffold at left guard and Johnson should be a plug-and-play starter in place, with the versatility to provide depth at multiple positions on an offensive line that needs improving in 2022.
–Ben Arthur
27. Tampa Bay
Travis Jones, DT, UConn: With Green and Johnson off the board, the Bucs turn to their defense. With Jones, Tampa gets a replacement for Ndamukong Suh and a good fit next to Vita Vea for the foreseeable future.
-Marc Daniels
28. Green Bay
George Karlavtis, DE, Purdue: You can never have too many pass runners, and he’s surprisingly available. WR George Pickens might be another player they would strongly consider.
–Pete Dougherty
Fall?:Five players who could be eliminated from the first round
29. Kansas City
Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State: A player with soft hands and silky explosive ways – plus the ability to change a game as a returner – he could (eventually) soften the loss of Tyreek Hill. Current KC players Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster will also be free agents in 2023, when Dotson should be ready to step up a gear.
-Nate Davis
30.Kansas City
Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan: He could also replace a key loss to the Chiefs, Hill perhaps a slightly larger version of free agent Tyrann Mathieu. Hill may not have the Honey Badger’s penchant for the big game, but he can operate deep, in the box or cover in the slot.
-Nate Davis
31.Cincinnati
Kaiir Elam, BC, Florida: The Bengals don’t have to select a starter for Day 1, but they can select a rookie who could challenge for a starting spot. Elam fits the Bengals’ long-term plan as a cornerback and has the size, speed and physique to compete with Eli Apple in training camp for a starting role immediately.
–Charlie Goldsmith
32. Detroit
Lewis Cine, S, Georgia: The Lions passed on a Georgian defensive star at No. 1. 2, but they won’t do the same at No. 32. The cine should have an early impact on a major position the Lions need.
–Dave Birkett
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