One of the most anticipated parts of the NFL season year in and year out is the draft. It is definitely the most talked about non-game event of the season and there will be hundreds of mock drafts done between now and Thursday, April 28th when the first card is read. Before all of the college bowl games and the NFL playoffs heat up, here is the first half of my first-round mock draft.
Detroit Lions - Oregon Defensive End Kayvon Thibodeaux - This could be an interesting trade spot for Detroit seeing as no singular player can right the ship in what looks like a long, painful, rebuild, but as there are no trades in this mock draft, Thibodeaux is still the undisputed pick here.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Alabama Offensive Tackle Evan Neal - Nearly every position is a position of need for this struggling team, but keeping their potential franchise quarterback clean in the pocket has to be a priority.
New York Jets - Notre Dame Safety Kyle Hamilton - Much like the Jaguars and every other team picking this high, almost anywhere is a position of need for the Jets. That being said, the Jets can really go with the best player available here and to me, that’s Kyle Hamilton. Arguments could be made for multiple other players, but his athleticism, technical skill, and the positional value he can bring to the Jets as a run support, tight end eraser, or off-ball safety make him the right choice here.
Houston Texans - Mississippi Quarterback Matt Corrall - Deshaun Watson has taken his last snap as a Texan, and as well as Tyrod Taylor has performed when healthy, he is not the long-term answer for this struggling team. After a solid enough 2020, Matt Corrall has blossomed into the best quarterback in this draft class and the obvious target for the three quarterback-needy teams (Texans, Falcons, Washington) currently in the top ten.
New York Giants - Michigan Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson - The Giants currently have three defensive ends rostered and Hutchinson is a player who can come in and make an immediate impact as an edge rusher. He has improved every year that he’s been at Michigan and during his senior year he has exploded and become one of the best overall players in this draft class.
New York Giants (Via Chicago Bears) - NC State Offensive Lineman Ikem Ekwonu - Despite expressing so much confidence in their young offensive line, with two picks in the top ten it would just be ridiculous not to address the offensive trenches. With Ekwonu’s versatility as a guard or a tackle, he is the perfect choice in this spot.
New York Jets (Via Seattle Seahawks) - Ohio State Wide Receiver Garret Wilson - In my mind, there are four receivers that are deserving of this draft pick and they are Wilson, Chris Olave, Jahan Dotson, and Drake London. Wilson may not have the top end speed of Olave and Dotson or the ability to make aggressive catches like London, but his ability to be a three-level threat and run a full route tree make him the ideal choice for a Jets team whose best playmaker is currently Cory Davis.
Philadelphia Eagles (Via Miami Dolphins) - LSU Cornerback Derek Stingley - Stingley is a player who certainly has the potential to go higher than this, but the positional value just isn’t there for the teams picking in the top five. It’s not really there for the Eagles either, but at eight, with Darius Slay aging, they just can’t afford to pass on an elite player and the consensus CB1 like Derek Stingley.
Atlanta Falcons - Texas A&M Offensive Lineman Kenyon Green - Without a doubt, the Falcons need to acquire a long-term plan behind Matt Ryan, but that can probably wait until the second round as the keywords there are “long-term.” What they need immediately is help on the offensive line. Kenyon Green would be the ideal player here because of his ability to come in and be an immediate starter at either tackle or guard.
Washington Football Team - Liberty Quarterback Malik Willis - There is no bigger need for Washington than at quarterback. While Taylor Heinicke has played well recently, Willis would be a much better option in both the long and short term.
Carolina Panthers - Mississippi State Offensive Tackle Charles Cross - The Panthers are in an interesting position to trade up for a quarterback, but without that possibility, they should really take the opportunity to strengthen their offensive line.
Philadelphia Eagles - Purdue Defensive End George Karlaftis - The Philadelphia front office can’t think that just drafting Stingley gives them the green light to switch to offense, the defense needs all the help they can get. Karlaftis is a guy who can give them a lot of help. Their front seven doesn’t have a bona fide edge rusher and he was nearly unstoppable in 2019, recording 7.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
Denver Broncos - Georgia Middle Linebacker Nakobe Dean - The Broncos just traded a future Hall of Fame linebacker in Von Miller and while Dean doesn’t play the exact same position, he could develop into a replacement for Miller in both his on-field production and locker room leadership. It is impossible for a rookie to come in and have the same impact as one of the best players in franchise history, but he certainly has the athleticism and experience to eventually fill that role as the team icon.
Miami Dolphins (Via San Francisco 49ers) - Iowa Center Tyler Linderbaum - They need to be very effective with this pick as it is their only first-round pick and I think Tyler Linderbaum is someone who can come in and quickly help out this offensive line. He has been considered one of the best offensive linemen in the country since the beginning of the season and has not disappointed.
Las Vegas Raiders - Utah Linebacker Devin Lloyd - Linebacker isn’t the biggest need for this 6-5 Raiders team, but it’s certainly near the top of the list. Lloyd is a sideline to sideline player with great block shedding who can fly around the field to make plays. A couple of concerns for him are his pass rush skills which are vital for linebackers in some defensive situations, and his footwork in open space. Overall, this is a high-quality player with great NFL potential.
Philadelphia Eagles (Via Indianapolis Colts) - Ohio State Offensive Lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere - Philadelphia has already spent two first-round picks on defense making this an ideal spot to help out their offense. The line would then be their biggest need with Lane Johnson quickly aging and the rest of the line both sub-par and constantly injured.