As the NFL Draft hurtles into view, we come to the end of “Mock Draft SZN”, as thousands of draft analysts, TV personalities, content creators and fans alike frantically pen their final predictions. They’re great to read, especially at the start of the offseason, to help you become acquainted with certain players and likely targets for your team. They’ve been particularly interesting this year with such uncertainty around the opening picks in the first round and the lack of superstar quarterback prospects.

However, I imagine that you’ve read PLENTY of mock drafts by this stage in the process and gone through a number of your own on *insert mock draft simulator here* so you’re probably thinking “NOT ANOTHER ONE”.

Despite this, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to open myself up post-draft ridicule when none of my predicted picks land or to upset entire fanbases by suggesting a player at the wrong position so here is the Erimus Sports 2022 1st Round Mock Draft. It’s version 1 of 1. No re-dos, no rewriting to fit into the latest smokescreen comment by a GM, this is it. We’ve got every team covered even those currently without a 1st round pick.

This also isn’t meant to be entirely predictive or suggestive. If I was able to accurately predict or reccomend players for every team in the first round, I wouldn’t be sat on my dinner break writing this in an office in England. I’d be in a scouting department in the US thumping the table for my preferred player. Instead, I will be doing that in my pajamas come Draft Night.

Enjoy, criticise, ridicule away.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

Aidan Hutchinson is the best player in this draft class. It should really be that simple for the Jaguars, despite the rumours that GM Trent Baalke prefers the physical traits and projected potential of Georgia’s Travon Walker.

The Heisman Trophy runner-up and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Hutchinson’s 14 sacks in 2021 was the 4th highest in the country, with his propensity for violence at the line of scrimmage and terrifying agility for a 6ft 7″ hunk of man meat ticking all of the boxes you want from a pass-rusher.

“Hutch” will be a consistent double digit sack supplier at the pro level and importantly, for a franchise reeling from the Urban Meyer fiasco, will offer real leadership to contribute to building a true culture in Jacksonville.

I’d go as far as saying passing up on Hutchinson might, in part, lead to Baalke being out of a job by this time next year.

2. Detroit Lions – Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

The Lions did a solid job in last year’s draft of building their trenches on both sides of the ball with the additions of Penei Sewell, Levi Onwuzirike and Alim McNeil in the initial stage of Dan Campbell’s campaign to rebuild one of the league’s most historic franchises.

Now, they need to add some star power at the skill positions to create a buzz amongst supporters. The man to do that is Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Concerns around the Oregon pass-rusher’s attitude have reportedly been dispelled during Thibodeaux’s meetings with teams this offseason, which was the lead factor in the player falling down draft boards over the past few months.

On the field, Thibodeaux wins with the traditional pass-rush holy trinity of explosiveness, length and bend while possessing an unbelievable first step at the snap to catch Olinemen cold.

With All-Pro potential, Thibodeaux would immediately improve a Detroit pass-rush that ranked 30th in the league for total sacks in 2021 (30).

3. Houston Texans – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

The benefit of being in the position the Houston Texans find themselves in, with the consensus being that their team needs are EVERYTHING, is that they really can’t go wrong with this pick. Any of the likely candidates to go #3 overall would make the Texans better. They may even look to trade down to claim additional ammo in later rounds.

However, if they stick at #3, Evan Neal feels like an incredibly sensible choice to make especially if the franchise is genuinely looking to evaluate Davis Mills. The Alabama tackle, who stands at 6ft 7″ and weighed 337lbs at the Combine, is insanely athletic for a man of his build which makes him an irresistible force at the position.

Having played extremely well at both left and right tackle for ‘Bama, Neal could slide in at right tackle for the Texans opposite to Laremy Tunsil at LT to provide Mills with top-tier protection while also providing a backup plan for the organisation if they decide to move on from Tunsil’s sizeable contract in the future.

4. New York Jets – Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

The hot topic of conversation this week is whether the Jaguars will take Walker at #1. While I don’t think his current ability level warrants that over the likes of Hutchinson and even Thibodeaux, he stands out amongst the rest of this year’s EDGE class.

With his rare traits – 4.51 in the 40 yard dash at 272 lbs, 6.89s in the 3-cone drill which is in the top 10% of drafted edge rushers and 36 inch arms – Walker screams prototypical San Francisco 49ers edge defender and with former 9ers DC Robert Saleh in charge of the Jets, Walker would be in the right environment to knit those traits together.

The Jets, who also hold the tenth pick, would then have a spicy combination of Walker and the returning Carl Lawson on the edge.

5. New York Giants – Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State

The Giants quite simply have to improve their offensive line. Ranked 30th amongst all Olines by PFF, only LT Andrew Thomas came away with any credit last season and while Daniel Jones clearly needs to improve in his own play, it does not help when he is being constantly hit, sacked and pressured.

While the Giants also hold the seventh pick, they need to go offensive line at #5, especially if two of the top three OTs go before this pick on draft night. Carolina are right behind them, also in drastic need of reinforcement on the offensive line.

Here, the Giants are able to add Ickey Ekwonu, arguably the most fun to watch prospect in this years’ class, a left tackle who wakes up every morning and chooses violence. If Evan Neal is the irresistible force, then Ekwonu is the proverbial immovable object, giving up just 3 sacks in 819 snaps in 2021 and further improving his blocking skills.

Ekwonu would give the Giants the possibility of having two first-round picks at the tackle spots or, as some experts have predicted, they may move Ekwonu to guard initially creating a fearsome left hand side of the offensive line with Thomas. The arrival of Ekwonu would also be a major boost to Saquon Barkley with the NC State standout able create huge lanes in the running game.

6. Carolina Panthers – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

Somehow, the Carolina Panthers offensive line was even worse than the Giants line, at least according to PFF who had the Panthers at 31 overall.

While many will expect the Panthers to go for a QB here given the poor performances of Sam Darnold and the heat increasing on Matt Rhule, I don’t buy them passing on Charles Cross especially with more proven options at Quarterback still available for trade in Baker Mayfield and Jimmy G.

Cross, the best pure pass-protector in this year’s OT crew, would give an additional layer of protection to whoever slings the rock for Carolina next season while also giving the Panthers a Plan B at left tackle if contract extension talks with Cam Robinson stall.

7. New York Giants – Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

Back on the clock and with a desire to trade corner James Bradberry, selecting Cincinnati’s Sauce Gardner would address a major need for the Giants who will only have Adoree Jackson as a senior CB of note should Bradberry be moved on.

Gardner, at 6ft 3″, was dominant in man coverage for Luke Fickell’s Bearcats in college. The 21-year-old was the cornerstone of the Cincy defence as they made an unexpected journey to the CFB play-offs in 2021, only allowing 131 yards through the campaign.

With arm length (33.5 inches) that ranks in the 98th percentile for the position and having clocked a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine, Gardner has the physical traits to become an immediate fixture in an NFL defence. Oh, he didn’t give up a touchdown in his entire college career either.

8. Atlanta Falcons – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

The Atlanta Falcons find themselves in a similar position to the Houston Texans – they can’t mess up this pick because their team is really, really bad so any addition will improve them. They could go Quarterback with Marcus Mariota currently set to start, they could take take a premier Wide Receiver to fill in for the suspended Calvin Ridley or they could take a corner to team up with AJ Terrell.

However, with Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees moving to a 3-4 defence and Grady Jarrett being a possible trade candidate, the most intriguing pick the Falcons could make here is the behemoth defensive tackle Jordan Davis.

No human being should stand at 6ft 6″, weight over 24 stone (336 lbs) and be able to run a 40 yard dash in 4.82 seconds but that’s exactly what Jordan Davis did at the NFL Combine.

The Deontay Wilder of college football last season, Davis is very much a one-trick pony, offering little as a pass-rusher currently, though that one trick is devastating. Though there is some concern about his limited snap count at Georgia (378 snaps in 2021), he’ll automatically elevate any team’s run defence.

Coming from National Champions Georgia, Davis would be staying in state with Atlanta, while the Falcons would be getting a destructive force to anchor their defence for at least the next 4 years as they continue to rebuild after the departures of Julio Jones and Matt Ryan.

9. Seattle Seahawks – Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

The pick here *should* be a quarterback as there is no way the Seahawks can justify going into training camp with Geno Smith and Drew Lock competing for the starting job. Yet, there seems to be some potential for the ‘Hawks to try and trade back into the back end of the first round and still land a QB, while using this pick at #9 to address a different positional issue.

Should the board fall this way, it’s hard to imagine Pete Carroll and his team passing on Derek Stingley Jr. to play across from the recently re-signed Sidney Jones.

Stingley, a highly talented corner from LSU, put together the most impressive freshman year at the position in 2019 as part of the Tigers historic National Championship drive. He would’ve been the #1 pick in this draft if he’d played at a similar level this past season, but his performances have waned as LSU’s overall play has declined since the championship win.

However, the talent did not disappear overnight and Stingley has all of he tools to be an elite CB in the NFL with ideal size (6ft 1″), speed and fluidity.

10. New York Jets – Drake London, WR, USC

Having addressed their need at pass-rush, The Jets use this pick to bolster their options on offence and give Zach Wilson a legitimate WR1.

While Corey Davis, Elijah Moore and Braxton Barrios are all effective receivers capable of producing, the Jets don’t currently have an elite receiver that can give Wilson a constant option at every level of the field. London would be that.

A former basketball prospect, the USC receiver destroys defenders at the catch point, possesses a gigantic catch radius and still has room to improve on an already excellent game.

In a deep, exciting wide receiver class London has the best chance of being a constant 100-catch a year kind of guy.

11. Washington Commanders – Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Kyle Hamilton is one of the best players in this draft (he ranked #2 on our big board) and his slide down the board, due to positional value, ends at 11 with the newly-christened Washington Commanders.

With Chase Young coming back from injury, Washington should see an improvement from their much-hyped front seven and adding a star in the secondary would make their defence even more formidable.

While the Commanders could add an additional layer to their offence with a receiver (while also preparing for life after McClaurin should they be unable to tie Scary Terry to a new deal), Hamilton feels like a prototypical Ron Rivera player.

Intelligent, athletic and productive throughout his time at Notre Dame (8 INTs in 3 years), Hamilton would give the Commanders an immediate equaliser against modern offences.

12. Minnesota Vikings – Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

While the Vikings have more pressing needs at cornerback and plumping for a centre with a former first-round centre pick already on the roster in Garrett Bradbury may piss off the Skol Army, Tyler Linderbaum is too damn good to pass up on.

The best centre prospect in a generation, Linderbaum’s play in college eclipsed even the stellar work of Creed Humphrey and Landon Dickerson who’ve both taken to the NFL like ducks to water. The 2021 All-American has a noted background in wrestling (he had a high school rivalry with Tristan Wirfs) which has translated well into his football while he only allowed 1 sack in over 900 offensive snaps last year.

Adding Linderbaum would further enhance the Vikings running game with Dalvin Cook as well as giving Kirk Cousins extra time to find Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen downfield.

13. Houston Texans – George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

After taking Evan Neal at #3, the Texans are back on the board and strengthen their defence with the addition of Purdue’s Greek God George Karlaftis.

A Ted Hendricks award finalist as one of the top defensive ends in 2021, Karlaftis led Purdue in tackles for loss last year with 11.5, scored 5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. As one of the younger prospects in this draft class, having just turned 21, Karlaftis wins through power and and explosive hand techniques.

With the ability to play as either a DE in an even front or inside in an odd front, Karlaftis would provide the Texans with a replacement for the JJ-Watt size hole in both their defence and as poster boy of the franchise.

14. Baltimore Ravens – Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State

Jermaine Johnson led the ACC with 18 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks after transferring from Georgia, production that would be most welcome to a Ravens outfit that is trying to get younger at pass-rusher.

With 35-year-old Calais Campbell and 32-year-old Derek Wolfe slated to start at defensive end for the Ravens this year, adding Johnson to play outside linebacker opposite Odafe Oweh would give John Harbaugh’s defence a more youthful outlook to fall back on if and when those veterans move on.

Johnson, who featured on the Netflix series “Last Chance U” while at Independence Community College, is an ascending quarterback hunter who could be even better at the pro level than he was for the Seminoles last year.

15. Philadelphia Eagles – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Though they added Zach Paschal to their wide receiver room in free agency, Philadelphia are in dire need of weapons for 3rd year Quarterback Jalen Hurts to conclusively evaluate Hurts and to compete in the NFC.

The first of two Ohio State receivers who will be drafted in the first round, Garrett Wilson provides the Eagles with a reliable compliment alongside DeVonta Smith. A super smooth route runner with genuine YAC ability that will provide Hurts with an open target on every down, WIlson would fit nicely into Philly’s pass game, giving Offensive Coordinator Shane Steichen a player that he can utilise in jet motions and screens.

Coming off a 1058 yard, 12 TD season at Ohio, Wilson would be a Day 1 starter and the immediate #2 receiving option in the “City of Brotherly Love”>

16. New Orleans Saints – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

If Williams falls this far, Saints GM Mickey Loomis will spend 30 seconds screaming with glee before confirming the pick of a wide receiver that numerous franchises have pegged as a “cornerstone” offensive superstar.

The super-speedy Williams broke out last season at ‘Bama after transferring from Ohio State, where he was unable to displace fellow ’22 draftees Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. After arriving at Nick Saban’s CFB powerhouse, Williams posted 1572 yards and 15 touchdowns, with an average catch length of 19.9 yards.

Though he is recovering from an ACL injury sustained in the National Championship game, Williams is rehabbing ahead of schedule and the potential for him missing parts of the offseason preparation should not scare any team off selecting a player that could set the league on fire.

17. Los Angeles Chargers – Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

It would be very fun to drop Chris Olave or Treylon Burks into the Charger’s offence alongside Keenan Allen and Mike Williams to give Justin Herbert ALL OF THE WEAPONS, but they have a glaring need at right tackle with Storm Norton currently set to start.

Trevor Penning may have some notable blemishes to his game – there are some poor lapses in concentration on his tape and he does tend to get carried away when blocking which lead to penalties – but the uber-aggressive nature and monstrous presence Penning has towards defensive linemen make him a franchise dream when it comes to protecting a franchise quarterback like Herbert.

Penning will need to iron out the creases in his game but the thought of he and Rashawn Slater being first off the bus and guarding Justin Herbert for the next ten years will have Chargers fans buzzing.

18. Philadelphia Eagles – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

After giving Jalen Hurts an extra weapon on offence with the Wilson pick at #15, Philly replenish their defensive ranks with the selection of Washington’s Trent McDuffie.

That might irk some Eagles fans who’re desperate for linebackers but Howie never drafts linebackers in the first round (LOL). The Eagles also hold 3 picks on Day 2 of the draft where there will be plenty of good LB options in the form of Leo Chenal, Chad Muma, Channing Tindall and Quay Walker of similar potential to those available at this point.

Comparatively, they will struggle to find a corner of the level of McDuffie on Day 2 and they need to make some quality additions to the secondary to help Darius Slay.

McDuffie, although limited in size (5ft 11″) and length (29.75″ arms), is a football scout favourite. An intelligent reader of the game who’ll be an immediate contributor on the field and in the locker room, the 21-year-old is a football fanatic which has become a hallmark of Washington draftees.

19. New Orleans Saints – Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

Despite being on the older side (Raimann will turn 25 in September), the Austrian exchange student is the best tackle remaining at this point, with the Saints needing to plug the hole left by Terron Armstead’s move to the Dolphins.

A former tight end, Raimann has only played at left tackle for two years in college but achieved a PFF grade of 94.6 last year while only allowing one sack. It makes you think about just how good he could be when surrounded by world-class coaches and colleagues at the next level.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

At some point a quarterback will come off the board in the first round and Pittsburgh feels like a likely destination for one of this year’s class to land in.

According to Pro Football Network insider Tony Pauline, the Steelers are a “sure bet” to land Willis while neither Head Coach Mike Tomlin or GM Kevin Colbert have shied away from their interest in the mobile, toolsy quarterback.

If the Steeelers take on Willis, they will need to do so on the understanding that the Liberty signal-caller will need significant time out of the spotlight to tighten his game which they can afford to do with the signing of Mitch Trubisky.

21. New England Patriots – Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

The Patriots have several needs they must address in this draft – notably at receiver, cornerback and linebacker – and they could go a number of routes at this pick. Devin Lloyd, the standout linebacker in this class, graded well in all aspects of the game in 2021 and would be a factor as a pass-rusher, run defender and in coverage for the Pats.

Lloyd created the 6th most QB pressures amongst linebackers with 31, forcing 4 incompletions (4th amongst LBs) and making 90 tackles, meaning he could begin to fill the shoes of Dont’a Hightower who remains a free agent.

22. Green Bay Packers – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

I understand that the Packers don’t normally draft receivers in the first round, the last time being Javon Walker in 2002, but that will definitely change if Chris Olave is still here at #22. They’d probably trade up to secure him in this situation, to be honest.

Ohio State’s all-time leader in touchdown catches (35), Olave combines his elite route-running ability with speed (running a 4.39 40) and reliable hands (dropped just 4.9% of all career targets) to consistenly win at the intermediate and deep level of the field.

To put it simply, there are established NFL receivers who can’t hold a candle to Olave’s route-running ability, which makes up for his lack of YAC ability (just 9 broken tackles in career).

23. Arizona Cardinals – Zion Johnson, G, Boston College

Sorry fellow Cards fans, there’s no surprise receiver or EDGE falling here. This is the chalkiest of chalky picks.

That’s not to say if the Cardinals were to pick Zion Johnson that it would be a bad thing. Director of Player Personnel Dru Grigson recently spoke to Paul Calvisi and Ron Wolfley on the Big Red Rage podcast about the upcoming draft, highlighting the benefit of picking at #23 rules out some of the toolsy, physical traits players who’ve scored well at the Combine and streamlines the field to “guys who’re just really good football players”.

That sums Zion Johnson up. The guard is one of the most NFL-ready prospects in the entire class and will be an immediate “plug and play” guy at the pro level with no glaring weakness on his tape.

With the Arizona Republic reporting that the Cards will pick up the 5th year option on Kyler Murray’s contract to increase his salary to $28m this year before getting extension talks rolling, providing their start QB with top quality interior protection would be incredibly sensible.

24. Dallas Cowboys – Kenyon Green, G, Texas A+M

Following Connor Williams’s free agency departure to the Dolphins, the Cowboys will be looking to upgrade the guard positions during this draft. They can do so early on by keeping a Texas star in-state by selecting the Aggie’s Kenyon Green.

A versatile and agile linemen, Green lined up at every spot on the Oline except centre during his time in college, particularly excelling at Left Guard. Far more athletic when the pads come on during gametime than when the stopwatch comes out on the track, Green floats across the field when plays break down, something that Dak Prescott would welcome.

25. Buffalo Bills – Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

Stop trying to make Breece Hall to Buffalo happen, guys.

Though the thought of adding arguably the top RB in this years’ class into this Bills offence as the cherry on top of the cake is exciting, after the AFC arms race that saw Russell Wilson, Davante Adams and Deshaun Watson join the conference, Tyreek Hill move within the division and with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow already being a thing, the Bills have to make a move to counteract that defensively.

Beyond the currently injured Tre White, the Bills don’t posses a starting-calibre cornerback, so adding the physically imposing Andrew Booth will give the Bills secondary a desperately needed CB2 to go against the array of AFC attacking talent.

26. Tennessee Titans – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

With uncertainty around AJ Brown’s future and Julio Jones currently a free agent, Mike Vrabel’s Titan’s select the best receiver available in Treylon Burks.

The focal point of the Razorbacks offence, Burks notched 11 touchdowns and 1110 yards in 2021, bullying defenders at the catch point and burning past the opposition with the ball in his hands.

Despite his somewhat disappointing 40-yard time at the Combine (4.55), Burks plays a lot quicker once the pads are on. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more intriguing receiver in this class.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

As Ndamukong Suh remains quiet about his future in the game, Tampa give Vita Vea a running mate as the Bucs aim to get back to the mountaintop of football, in the form of Devonte Wyatt.

Like others in the Georgia defence, Wyatt benefited immensely from the pre-draft process, where he was able to showcase more of his skills when freed from the shackles of Georgia’s effective but strict scheme at the Senior Bowl.

Georgia’s scheme heavily utilises blitzing linebackers, so Wyatt only scored 4 sacks + 6 TFLs in 2021, but he was unblockable during Bowl drills. He should be a more impactful player at the pro level.

28. Green Bay Packers – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa

Green Bay had one of the deepest offensive line departments last season. However since crashing out of the play-offs they have: released starting RT Billy Turner, lost starting guard Lucas Patrick to the Bears and seem to have closed the book on key reserve Dennis Kelly who remains a free agent.

Having recently hosted Smith, the steam is building on Green Bay replenishing the Oline with the 21-year old who plays in a violent manner that will go down a treat with Packers fans. An athletic tackle who ran a 5.02 40 at the Combine, Smith is a mauler in pass-pro and run-blocking, Smith could also kick into guard with his skillset.

That would give Green Bay options with current starting right tackle Elgton Jenkins also an incredibly capable guard.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota

Those Chiefs have back-to-back picks at the end of the first round, making them potential candidates to trade up if a top-end receiver falls but in this draft they stay in place and make an investment in the defence.

Selecting an EDGE defender here would allow Chris Jones to return to the interior of the defensive line and take some of the weight off the shoulders of Frank Clark to get to the quarterback, in a division and conference rich in QB talent.

Mafe possesses the speed, agility and explosiveness to wreak havoc in the backfield. The 23-year old is a real “finisher” once he locks onto the QB and he could be a major steal if he keeps improving at the rate he’s currently going.

30. Kansas City Chiefs – Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

In the same way that the Bills need to counteract the offensive additions made by other teams in the AFC, Kansas supplement their secondary here with the most underrated of the top-tier corners in Florida’s Kaiir Elam.

After a superb sophomore season for the Gators in 2020 where Elam only allowed a 42.6% completion rate, QBs targeted the 6ft 2″ corner 50% less in 2021, highlighting Elam’s incredible physicality and knack for completely shutting down receivers.

He will need to tone down some of his play to avoid becoming a flag magnet in the NFL, but Elam is a dominant corner that can flatten receivers at the line of scrimmage.

31. Cincinnati Bengals – Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

The Bengals need reinforcements at corner and could also do with adding a rookie safety with Jessie Bates unlikely to remain on the team beyond his franchise tag. With the way this particular mock has fallen, the Super Bowl runners-up attempt to kill two birds with one stone by taking Daxton Hill.

The unsung hero of Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverine defence, Hill is brilliant at hunting down ball carriers in space which would be a helpful tool in a division that includes Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Najee Harris and Lamar Jackson. Hill is also able to play as a slot corner to good effect, giving the Bengals some much needed flexibility within their secondary.

32. Detroit Lions – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

There will be chatter on draft night about the Lions using their second pick in the first round to take a “flyer” on one of the QB prospects which would give them the desirable 5th year option if the move works out. However, the Lions feel like a sensible team at the moment and the sensible move, in my opinon, is to take a core player here while postponing QB talks until next year when the QB class is much more impressive.

Dean may be undersized yet he was the glue that held Georgia’s historic defence together in 2021 and that level of leadership teamed with his ability as a blitzer, game reading skills and a balls-to-the-wall style of playing will endear him to Dan Campbell and the Lions.

FIRST PICKS FOR OTHER TEAMS OUTSIDE OF THE FIRST ROUND

39. Chicago Bears – Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama (SECOND ROUND)

With Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace out of the picture, Bears fans will probably be looking at this draft with a significant level of excitement.

With a number of holes in their current roster, the Bears could go a number of ways as they enter Year 2 of their rebuild, with QB Justin Fields at the helm. Fields, who flashed glimpses of his potential last year, needs weapons and South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert would give the young signal caller a major target to hit regularly.

At 6ft 3″ and with a 4.49 40 time, Tolbert has a fascinating blend of size and speed, though there will be some concerns over the level of competition he faced at South Alabama. Finishing the 2021 season with 1474 yards and 8 touchdowns, Tolbert has the speed to be a genuine vertical threat in the NFL.

42. Indianapolis Colts – Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State (SECOND ROUND)

On an otherwise star-studded roster, the Colts lack a real WR1 for the latest incumbent of the Indy QB carousel Matt Ryan to target as Frank Reich and co. look to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Lucas Oil Stadium.

Watson has scintillating speed, clocking 4.36 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine, that will equate to separation in the NFL. Watson’s tape is amusing to watch as he repeatedly left opposition corners in the dust, with nobody else within frame when he brought catches down.

That comes with the major asterisk on Watson’s potential to be a top receiver at the NFL – he simply hasn’t faced any real competition at college.

44. Cleveland Browns – Logan Hall, DT, Houston (SECOND ROUND)

Logan Hall was built to play over offensive linemen, walk them backwards and smack them into their own quarterback – something he’d be able to do as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

A 6ft 6″ nuisance to defend against in one on one situations, Hall has a multitude of manoeuvres to create pressure including a nasty clubbing swim move and with teams having to double team Myles Garrett, Hall could have a free run at the quarterback.

With the skillset to also move outside on occasion, Logan Hall would be a very popular pick for Browns fans. versatility.

61. San Francisco 49ers – Dylan Parham, G, Memphis (SECOND ROUND)

Having lost Laken Tomlinson in free agency, Kyle Shanahan will be eager to add a guard in the draft and Memphis’s Dylan Parham stands out as a very 9ers-type of interior offensive linemen.

Incredibly athletic for the position (he lettered in track at high school), Parham was a four year starter at Memphis, playing left guard, left tackle and right guard. His slender build may see him become a center.

64. Denver Broncos – Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska (SECOND ROUND)

After a relatively quiet offseason (haha), the Broncos are set to address the small number of needs remaining on their roster in relative comfort.

They decided against re-signing Kyle Fuller after a disappointing season, so Patrick Surtain II needs support within the secondary, with the prospect of going against Davante Adams, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams twice a season on the horizon.

Nebraska’s Taylor-Britt is a feisty corner who captained the Huskies for three years, making 5 interceptions and leaving a lasting impression on the culture within the Nebraska locker room who performed well against fellow ’22 draftees David Bell and Jahan Dotson.

Taylor-Britt also has extensive experience on special teams as both a receiver and in coverage.

86. Las Vegas Raiders – Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota (THIRD ROUND)

As anyone who pays attention to the draft process knows, it’s almost impossible to predict what the Raiders will do but without an established right tackle, it feels as safe a bet as possible when it comes to the Raiders that they will be in the market for a tackle.

At 6ft 9″, 380lbs Daniel Faalele has unparralled size at the tackle position with the Minnesota graduate fully aware of his size and how to use it. He doesn’t get pushed back. Having only played the game for five years, Faalele has improved considerably each year so if the Raiders could further enhance his understanding of the game, the big man could be a complete steal.

102. Miami Dolphins – Dominique Robinson, EDGE, Miami (THIRD ROUND)

The Dolphins find themselves able to draft best player available in this mock after heavy investment in free agency and that player was Miami’s Dominique Robinson.

An exciting prospect with the toolsy combination of physical attributes and speed off the line of scrimmage, Robinson was recruited as a dual-threat quarterback before transitioning to defence and it shows. While he will need significant work to properly package his skillset, there have been enough flashes in pass-rush situations to be worthy of a gamble at the end of the third round.

104. LA Rams – Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama (THIRD ROUND)

The reigning Super Bowl champs have a star-studded “first team” of starters but the level of depth is starting to creak under the weight of the “fuck them picks” attitude, with the corner position particularly affected.

The Rams need a legitimate starter to play opposite of Jalen Ramsey and Armour-Davis is a player whose best football is in front of him after finally cracking the starting lineup at Alabama in 2021. In doing so, Armour-Davis garnered second-team All-SEC honours after tying for the team lead in interceptions (3) and adding 32 tackles with four pass breakups