2022 Halftime Snack Mock Draft
Welcome back to the very best event of the year my friends! The Bengals proved that just a couple years of draft luck can totally change the outlook of a franchise, and hope springs eternal for fans of all 32 teams praying that the draft gods will bring them similar good fortune this year. We’ve got storylines and intrigue galore, so let’s start with a few big picture thoughts before we dive into picks:
There is a ton of uncertainty in this year’s draft, starting at pick #1 where we still aren’t certain who Jacksonville is going to pick. There is very little consensus about what the teams in the top 10 are planning to do or where the top quarterbacks will be selected, so expect a lot of surprises on draft night (and for this mock to be very very wrong).
With all the big trades this offseason, a large chunk of teams will be absent from the first round discourse this year. A quarter of the league won’t have a first round selection this year, while a number of other franchises have stockpiled multiple first rounders. This could provide a lot of ammo for teams with abundant draft capital such as the Jets, Giants, Chiefs, and Eagles to make trades and maneuver around the draft board.
The fact that so many teams traded away their first round picks is reflective of the Rams’ “F them picks” philosophy, where they were more than willing to trade away draft picks to acquire star players en route to their Super Bowl win. We’ve seen other teams fully embrace this philosophy this offseason as well with the big trades involving Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, Devante Adams and Tyreek Hill. It will be interesting to continue to monitor this trend, and see if team building philosophies continue to devalue first round draft picks in lieu of being able to obtain established stars.
The Chiefs and Packers being willing to let go of their star wide receivers is particularly interesting, because we have seen rookie contract wide receivers have so much success in recent years with guys like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Jaylen Waddle, and Deebo Samuel bursting onto the scene. Some teams clearly value paying big money for established stars at the position, while teams like Kansas City and Green Bay must believe that they can find replicable wide receiver production in the draft. This wide receiver class is particularly deep, and I project that a draft record of eight WRs will go in the first round.
This quarterback class is considered to be quite weak, and there is very little consensus amongst scouts about who the best prospect in this class even is. I’ve seen Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder and Matt Corrall all listed as the top quarterback in this class by different evaluators, with ranges of opinions on each being all across the board. This quarterback class is very much in the eye of the beholder, and Malik Willis and Desmond Ridder are my personal favorites.
Evaluating future quarterback classes a full year in advance is always a dubious proposition (remember when Tua was considered a generational prospect worth tanking for, or when Spencer Rattler was viewed as the clearcut QB1 last offseason?). But most evaluators do consider 2023 to be a much stronger quarterback class, with Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s JT Stroud, and Kentucky’s Will Levis all being viewed as having star potential. For teams like Atlanta, Detroit, and Houston who are still in the early stages of their rebuild, waiting until 2023 to find their QB of the future may be prudent.
This draft class is considered to be very deep and talented at edge rusher, cornerback, offensive tackle, and wide receiver. Meanwhile, the talent at running back, quarterback, and interior defensive line is lacking.
The historically great 2021 Georgia defense will be very well-represented on draft day, and I’d expect at least six players from Georgia’s defense to be selected within the first 45 picks. The amount of talent on Georgia’s defense has actually made evaluating their prospects somewhat more difficult, as no individual guy really put up eye-popping stats with the wealth being spread amongst the crazy amount of talent on their roster.
Punter prospects are rarely remarked upon, but San Diego State’s Matt Araiza is not your typical punter. Araiza routinely bombs 70+ yard punts (and even booted a couple 80+ yarders) while also nailing 50+ yard field goals with ease. With his ability to change field position in addition to his aptitude as a kickoff specialist, Araiza may just become the highest drafted punter in NFL draft history, surpassing Bryan Anger who was picked in the 3rd round 70th overall in 2012.
And lastly, our award for the esteemed Zane Beadles Stinky Offensive Linemen of the Year, celebrating our favorite big boys bringing the most pungent aromas in this year’s class:
Bronze medal – Kyler Schott, Iowa
Silver medal – Josh Sills, Oklahoma State
Gold medal – Liam Fornadel, James Madison
Without further ado, let’s do this damn thing and make some picks.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Travon Walker, Edge Rusher, Georgia
The Jags invested a ton of money into their offense in free agency, shoring up their offensive line and receiving group. They may still consider an offensive tackle like Ikem Ekwonu with this pick, but I’d expect them to target one of the top edge rushers here. While I’m a bit flabbergasted that they would choose Travon Walker over Hutchinson or Thibideaux, the tea leaves seem to indicate that they’re planning on doing so. Walker has been the fastest riser in the draft process after flying somewhat under the radar at Georgia amongst all the talent on their defense. Walker wasn’t super productive with the Bulldogs, logging only 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his entire college career. That lack of pass rushing production is concerning, but is also somewhat a product of Georgia’s defensive scheme which requires its defensive ends to hold blocks and control gaps rather than rush off the edge, and constantly rotates guys in and out of the lineup. But most of all, it’s Walker’s physical traits that have him skyrocketing up draft boards. At 6’5” and 272 lbs, he ran a 4.51 second 40 at the combine with a 35.5 vertical leap. Those numbers are truly rare, and his relative athletic score was the 3rd highest of any prospect in the last forty years, right there with guys like Jadaveon Clowney and Myles Garrett. Walker is still a bit of a risky pick, as his viability as a true sack producing edge rusher is still a theoretical projection at this point. But GM Trent Baalke is known to value athletic ceiling above all else, and they’re gambling that Walker reaches his lofty potential and becomes a dominant pass rusher at the next level.
2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson, Edge Rusher, Michigan
The Lions would be ecstatic to keep the local boy Hutchinson home in Michigan. Hutchinson is not quite the level of physical specimen as a Myles Garrett or the Bosa brothers, but he is still extremely athletic with short burst numbers in the short-shuttle and three-cone drill that aren’t all that far off from freaks like Von Miller. Hutchinson is also known to have an incredible work ethic, and plays with an extremely high motor on every snap. The main criticisms with Hutchinson are that he’s not super bendy coming off the edge, and he has below-average arm length for an edge rusher. These traits may somewhat limit his ceiling, but head coach Dan Campbell will love the tenacity and work ethic that Hutchinson will bring to their defense. The Lions may be tempted by QB Malik Willis, but their defense desperately needs elite playmakers, and I think Hutchinson will almost certainly be the pick if he’s on the board here.
3. Houston Texans – Derek Stingley, Cornerback, LSU
The Texans are still in the early stage of their rebuild with a ton of draft capital after the Deshaun Waston trade, so they should be focused on taking the most talented player available at a premium position like cornerback. Stingley is one of the more interesting prospects in the draft, as his 2019 season at LSU was the stuff of legends. He put together one of the greatest true freshman seasons of all time during the Tigers’ national championship run, and was known for consistently shutting down teammates Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase in practice. Stingley was being talked about as a future #1 overall pick after that season, but unfortunately the next two seasons did not go very well for him. His 2020 and 2021 were marred by COVID, injuries, and dysfunction at LSU, and when he was on the field he never quite reached the heights of his freshman season. But teams are betting that Stingley will return to form and be able to showcase his elite talent at the NFL level. He tested well and demonstrated elite athleticism at his pro-day, showing that he’s fully recovered from his Lisfranc injury. The Texans need a shutdown corner, and would be thrilled to grab a talent like Stingley here.
4. New York Jets – Ikem Ekwonu, Offensive Tackle, North Carolina State
There is buzz that the Jets are not pleased with current left tackle Mekhi Becton who has struggled to stay healthy and hasn’t demonstrated a strong work ethic thus far in his career, so the Jets may be looking to find a new anchor for their offensive line. Ickey plays with incredible foot speed, balance, and strength, and is a truly elite run blocker known for his nasty demeanor and penchant for earth-shattering pancake blocks. Ickey still has some room to grow as a pass blocker, but he has all the tools to be an elite tackle in the league for many years to come. The Jets are fully committed to doing everything they can to help Zach Wilson succeed, and Ickey would be a perfect building block for their offense.
5. New York Giants – Charles Cross, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi State
The Giants are looking for a right tackle to solidify their offensive line, and Cross may be the best pass blocker in the draft. He excelled in pass protection in Mike Leach’s pass-heavy offense while showcasing incredible size, balance, and footspeed. His performance against Alabama last season was particularly impressive, where he didn’t allow a single quarterback pressure against their vaunted group of edge rushers. Scouts sometimes criticize tackles coming out of Air Raid offenses as being too soft and not strong enough to excel in the NFL, but Cross was originally recruited into Joe Moorhead’s run-heavy scheme, and he has plenty of strength to grow into a great run blocker over time. The Giants will be ecstatic to place Cross at right tackle opposite LT Andrew Thomas and hopefully have their tackle position solidified for the next decade.
6. Carolina Panthers – Evan Neal, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Throughout most of the pre-draft season I have expected the Panthers to almost certainly pick a quarterback here, especially considering coach Matt Rhule’s connection to Kenny Pickett having originally recruited him to Temple. That may still happen, but the closer we get to the draft it’s beginning to seem more and more unlikely that they pick a quarterback here. The Panthers coaching staff and front office are desperate to win now, and I think obtaining a veteran like Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield is now the more likely solution for Carolina’s QB woes. Offensive tackle has been a major position of need for the Panthers for years now, so Evan Neal would be a great pick for them here. Neal is an incredible physical specimen, playing the tackle position at a massive size of 6’7” and 337 pounds with great athleticism. His footwork and balance isn’t always pristine, but he offers all the physical traits you could ever want in a tackle. He also has experience playing right tackle and guard, so offers great positional versatility as well. Neal will be a great asset for whoever ends up starting under center for the Panthers next year.
7. New York Giants – Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cornerback, Cincinnati
The Giants need help in the secondary (especially if they trade away James Bradberry as expected), so would be thrilled to grab a blue-chip cornerback talent here. Gardner has great size at 6’3”, with 4.41 speed and plenty of strength. His college career was about as flawless as you could possibly imagine for a cornerback – he played over a thousand coverage snaps in his career with the Bearcats without giving up a single touchdown. He's also an extremely confident dude with a ton of swagger, and plays with an alpha mentality. Sauce has been compared to Richard Sherman, and could provide the Giants with a similar anchor for the back end of their defense.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (*via projected trade w/ Atlanta) – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The Falcons probably have the weakest roster in the league and are extremely limited financially this season with the huge dead cap hit on their ledger from the Matt Ryan trade, and are now facing a significant rebuild. So Atlanta will be happy to trade down here and gain some additional draft capital. Meanwhile, it is widely known throughout the league that the Steelers are enamored with Willis, and are targeting him as their quarterback of the future. Willis is one of the more interesting QB prospects in recent memory, and his boom-or-bust potential is through the roof. He has an incredibly strong arm and a highlight reel of amazing throws on film, while also having the build and 4.3 speed of an elite running back. He would come into the league and probably immediately be the second best running QB behind Lamar Jackson. However, there are very significant red flags and concerns about Willis as a passer. He is prone to making bad decisions, and threw some really ugly interceptions throughout his career. He also ran a really simplified offense at Liberty where he was essentially never asked to read defenses or work through progressions. He’s going to need time to develop, and there is definitely the possibility that he turns out to be a total bust. But he legitimately has the talent to become a top-tier NFL quarterback if everything breaks right, and he is worth the gamble here. People also gush about his personality and demeanor, and coaches have fallen in love with him throughout the draft process. Other teams like the Saints may be targeting Willis as well, so the Steelers are willing to get aggressive and trade up to secure their QB of the future in the post Ben Roethlisberger era.
9. Seattle Seahawks – Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge Rusher, Oregon
Seattle is also firmly in rebuilding mode after Russell Wilson’s departure, and should be focused on taking the most talented player available here. There has been a lot of pre-draft chatter about Thibodeaux dropping down draft boards because teams are worried about his personality and character and whether he really loves football. I think these criticisms are mostly overblown, and his talent is just too enticing to pass up. At 6’4” 254 lbs with 4.5 speed, long arms, and great bend coming off the edge, Thibodeaux is everything teams look for in a prototypical elite pass rusher. He was productive when he was on the field at Oregon and flashed his great potential, though his motor was inconsistent and he was caught taking plays off at times. While the Seahawks may also consider offensive tackle here, the allure of Thibodeaux’s tantalizing potential will ultimately win out.
10. New York Jets – Garrett Wilson, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
The Jets have been desperately working to acquire more weapons for Zach Wilson in the passing game, and the speedy Garrett Wilson would be a very welcome addition to their receiver group. Wilson is a human highlight reel and an absolute dynamo with the ball in his hands. He has 4.3 speed with great hands and footwork, and excels at making plays in the open field. He’s not super strong or physical, but has the potential to become a Stefon Diggs style weapon capable of making game-breaking plays with the ball in his hands. He would compliment Elijah Moore and Corey Davis very well, and give this Jets offense some real juice.
11. Washington Commanders – Drake London, Wide Receiver, USC
The Commanders need a receiving weapon opposite Terry McLaurin, and I’d expect them to take the top WR on their board here. London brings great size at 6’5”, and excels at snatching jump balls and coming down with contested catches. He’s not super quick off the line and struggles creating separation, and there are some injury concerns with him as well. But he proved to be an incredible playmaker during his time at USC, and Washington is hoping that he can become a Mike Evans or Tee Higgins sort of weapon for them.
12. Minnesota Vikings – Trent McDuffie, Cornerback, Washington
The Vikings are paper-thin in the secondary, and will jump to pick the best CB on their board here. McDuffie is one of the most fun cornerbacks to watch in this draft, as he flies all over the field making plays on the ball in a way that is reminiscent of Tyrann Mathieu. He’s plenty fast and is a very capable tackler, and plays the game with great competitiveness. The concern with McDuffie, however, is his lack of length. He’s only 5’11”, and his 30” inch arms are very short for the position. But McDuffie makes up for his lack of length with his speed and instincts, and the Vikings will love his competitiveness and playmaking ability.
13. Houston Texans – Jameson Williams, Wide Receiver, Alabama
Williams is probably the most talented and dynamic wide receiver in this draft, with true game-breaking speed and big play ability that is reminiscent of Tyreek Hill. It was feared that Williams may drop significantly in the draft after tearing his ACL in the national title game, but it is now looking like he will be a very high pick even despite the ACL tear. Reports indicate that Williams is making a miraculously fast recovery from his injury, and may even be ready for the start of the season. Davis Mills was one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2021 season for the Texans, flashing the potential to become a really good NFL quarterback. The Texans have committed to giving Mills a shot to be their quarterback of the future, and Williams would be a really exciting weapon to help him develop.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Jermaine Johnson II, Edge Rusher, Florida State
The Ravens’ pass rush still needs some additional juice even after hitting on Odafe Oweh in last year’s draft, so they would be eager to grab another edge rusher here. Johnson only had one year as a starter after transferring from Georgia to the Noles, but he was fantastic in 2021 where he logged 12 sacks and was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He doesn’t have the truly elite dynamic burst of a top-tier pass rusher, but he has the traits and strength to be a great run defender with solid pass rushing production.
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame
Hamilton is a dynamic playmaker with 6’4” size and amazing football IQ. He consistently made plays all over the field for Notre Dame, flashing a Derwin James sort of impact. He excels both in coverage and against the run, and is known for being a great leader and locker room presence. But there are some concerns about Hamilton’s speed and athleticism after he ran a disappointing 4.7 second 40 at his pro day, which is concerningly slow for a safety prospect. Top end speed isn’t always a prerequisite for a good safety however, and his game film shows that he is a special football player. The Eagles need help in their secondary, and Hamilton can anchor their defense for years to come.
16. New Orleans Saints – Trevor Penning, Offensive Tackle, Northern Iowa
New Orleans made a very aggressive trade with the Eagles to get an additional first round pick in this year’s draft, and I think they did so in order to ensure they could grab one of the top offensive tackles in this class. Penning is a behemoth of a man, at 6’7” and 325 lbs with a super long wingspan. He has plenty of athleticism and quickness in space, and plays with a nasty demeanor and strength in the running game. His footwork and technique are still a bit raw, and he can get beat by quick edge rushers who can bend beneath him at times. But he has all the traits to develop into a top tier tackle, and the Saints will love his tough demeanor and what he can bring to their run game.
17. L.A. Chargers – Chris Olave, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
The Chargers have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on a cheap rookie contract, so they are looking to take advantage of this window and add the final pieces to try to win now. They already have a relatively good receiver group in L.A., but an additional speed threat could really make this offense dangerous. Olave has 4.3 speed and incredibly quick feet to allow him to create separation, and is also a very good route runner with fantastic hands and a knack for finding the endzone. He lacks strength so doesn’t offer much ability after the catch, but he has the potential to be a dynamic and reliable playmaking weapon for Herbert and this offense.
18. Philadelphia Eagles – Jordan Davis, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
Jordan Davis’ historically great combine performance is the stuff of legends, where showcased an incredible 4.78 second 40 and 32 inch vertical jump at 6’6” and 340 lbs. The athletic talent is clearly off the charts, and unlike anything we’ve ever seen before at his size. However, Davis was really only a two-down player at Georgia, and never offered much production as a pass rusher. His conditioning is also a concern, as Davis’ weight often ballooned up to around 360-370 lbs during his time at Georgia, and he rarely played more than about 20 snaps per game. But if Davis can keep his weight down and continue to develop as an interior pass rusher, he could have a Vita Vea or Haloti Ngata sort of impact for the Eagles’ defense.
19. New Orleans Saints – Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
After addressing the left tackle position, New Orleans can now use its second 1st round pick to grab their quarterback of the future. Personally, I’m not a big Pickett fan. He can certainly be a starting QB in the NFL, but he has a pretty limited ceiling in my mind. He will be 24 years old by the time the season starts (just a year younger than Sam Darnold), and doesn’t offer much upside. The historically small hands are definitely a concern, but I’m more turned off by Pickett’s lack of composure under pressure and his propensity to hold on to the ball for way too long. His senior season at Pitt was undeniably great, however, where he threw for over 4,000 yards and 42 touchdowns. He is a very accurate thrower and has adequate arm strength, and flashes athleticism and playmaking ability outside the pocket. I think Pickett will max out as an Andy Dalton level quarterback in the NFL at best, but the Saints will view him as an immediately capable starter ready to take the reins from Jameis Winston.
20. Atlanta Falcons (*via projected trade w/ Steelers) – Treylon Burks, Wide Receiver, Arkansas
The Falcons have holes all over their roster, so they could really go any direction here. Their cupboard is almost totally bare at the wide receiver position after the Calvin Ridley suspension, so they might be eager to target the top WR on their board here. Burks is electric with the ball in his hands, with strength and running ability that is reminiscent of Deebo Samuel or current Falcon Cordarrelle Patterson. He doesn’t have super dynamic short-area quickness, and his route running could use some polishing. But his speed and physicality once he has the ball in his hands has coaches drooling, as he can become a truly dynamic weapon in the screen game and on designed WR run plays. He’s known for his love for hunting feral hogs with his bare hands – who wouldn’t want that sort of toughness in their locker room?
21. New England Patriots – Kaiir Elam, Cornerback, Florida
The Patriots need help in the secondary after losing J.C. Jackson in free agency, and Elam would give them a talented piece to build around. Elam has the size and strength to excel in press coverage, and scouts were pleasantly surprised by his 4.39 40 time showing that he can match up well against speedy receivers. His technique needs work and he can get grabby at times, but he has all the tools to be a very good NFL cornerback. Elam held up very well against all the great receivers in the SEC, and Bill Belichick loves to draft elite athletes from top-tier college programs.
22. Green Bay Packers – Tyler Smith, Offensive Tackle, Tulsa
The Packers dealt with constant injuries along their offensive line last season, and would love to solidify their right tackle position to allow Elgton Jenkins to move back to guard where he is at his best. Tyler Smith is a raw but extremely talented tackle prospect, with elite size and athleticism for the position. He needs time to develop as he refines his footwork and technique, but he has very high upside and has the tools and work ethic to develop into a top-end tackle at the NFL level. Keeping Aaron Rodgers upright and happy is always a good thing, so Smith would be a great pick for the Packers here.
23. Arizona Cardinals – Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver, Penn State
Dotson is a smaller receiver at 5’11”, but has 4.4 speed, great hands, and silky smooth route running abilities. He has often been compared to Emmanuel Sanders and Tyler Lockett, and would bring a similar sort of reliable and dynamic weapon for Kyler Murray and this offense. The Cardinals need an explosive slot receiver to replace Christian Kirk who departed in free agency, and Dotson would be a perfect fit for their scheme.
24. Dallas Cowboys – Zion Johnson, Offensive Guard, Boston College
The Cowboys’ formerly great offensive line has faltered in recent years, and is in need of an injection of talent to keep the offense humming. Zion has been a fast riser in the pre-draft process after dominating at the Senior Bowl and putting up great testing numbers at the combine. He doesn’t necessarily have elite athleticism, but he plays with great power, motor, and has a long wingspan to hold off rushers. He has experience at tackle so offers positional versatility and plays with a high level of intelligence at the position, and should excel as plug-and-play guard on day one. He’d be a great addition to help solidify the Cowboys’ line, protect Dak, and open holes for Ezekiel Elliott in the run game.
25. Buffalo Bills – Andrew Booth Jr., Cornerback, Clemson
The Bills have almost no holes on their roster, but could use more depth in the secondary. Booth may be a steal here, as he likely would have been a much higher pick if not for injury concerns that limited his ability to workout in the pre-draft process. A former five-star prospect, Booth has elite size and speed for the position, and plays with great competitiveness. If he can stay healthy, Booth has the potential to become a team’s number one shutdown corner.
26. Tennessee Titans – Kenyon Green, Offensive Guard, Texas A&M
The Titans lost guard Rodger Saffold and tackle David Quessenberry in free agency, so will be searching for offensive line reinforcements in the draft. A former five-star recruit, Green has the frame and athletic traits to be a great offensive lineman at the next level. He played both tackle and guard for the Aggies, but projects as an elite guard prospect in the NFL. He is a rock solid run blocker with ample footspeed in space, and would be a great asset to open holes for Derrick Henry in the run game. Keep an eye on the Titans as a potential landing spot for one of the quarterbacks as well – there are rumors that they have been quietly sniffing around the QBs and eyeing a potential Ryan Tannehill replacement.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devonte Wyatt, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
New head coach Todd Bowles loves to have a deep rotation of defensive linemen, and Wyatt would bring an infusion of athleticism and talent to their group. Wyatt often flashed as one of the best players on Georgia’s talent-laden defense, and brings elite quickness and size as an interior pass rusher. There are some character concerns with Wyatt and he is an older prospect at 24 years old, but he plays with great effort and his athleticism is undeniable. The Bucs may also consider wide receiver or offensive line here, but I think the allure of Wyatt as a potential Ndamukong Suh replacement would be too enticing to pass up.
28. Green Bay Packers – George Pickens, Wide Receiver, Georgia
The Packers are in desperate need for contributors at wide receiver after losing Devante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling this offseason. Pickens likely would have been a much higher pick if not for some injury red flags. He tore his ACL last season, but showed incredible toughness coming back to play the final games of Georgia’s national championship run even though he clearly wasn’t 100% healthy. Pickens has great size at 6’3”, and ran an impressive 4.47 at his pro day. If he can stay healthy and get a little bit stronger, he has the potential to become Aaron Rodgers’ next great wide receiver for the Packers.
29. Kansas City Chiefs – Christian Watson, Wide Receiver, North Dakota State
Tyreek Hill is a true unicorn, and no prospect available here will be able to replicate his explosiveness and level of production. But the Chiefs will still be looking to add a speedy wide receiver in this draft to bring that over-the-top threat to their offense. They might consider Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore or George Pickens if he’s available, but I think the Chiefs would favor Christian Watson here. Watson brings game-breaking speed with a 4.36 40 time, and averaged over 20 yards per reception in his college career. That dynamic big play ability would compliment the Chiefs' other receivers like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling very well, and would help keep the offense humming at a high level even without Tyreek Hill.
30. Kansas City Chiefs – Arnold Ebiketie, Edge Rusher, Penn State
The Chiefs’ defense needs some pass rushing juice, and Ebiketie brings great pass rushing upside for a prospect available at the end of the first round. Ebiketie has long arms, a quick burst, and great technique, and had a very productive senior season for the Nittany Lions. He doesn’t offer much in the run game with his relatively slight frame, but the Chiefs can line him up on the edge and expect him to be a situational pass rushing threat from day one.
31. Cincinnati Bengals – George Karlaftis, Edge Rusher, Purdue
Karlaftis faced constant double teams as by far the best player on Purdue’s defense, and still managed to be a very productive pass rusher during his career with the Boilermakers. He doesn’t have the elite athletic traits of other edge rushers in this class, and plays upright and stiff in a way that somewhat limits his ceiling. But Karlaftis has great size and power, and plays with a relentless effort level on every single snap. The Bengals may be targeting a cornerback here, but the allure of grabbing a talent like Karlaftis to add to their pass rush rotation will be too enticing to pass up.
32. Detroit Lions – Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
The Lions may be tempted by Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, who offers some real upside with his athleticism, accuracy, and lightning quick release. But ultimately, I think the Lions would favor Ridder here. Ridder is a very experienced, mature, and intelligent quarterback, who helped elevate Cincinnati to become a national title contender. He demonstrated surprising athleticism at the combine with 4.52 speed, and has really good size and arm strength as well. His footwork and accuracy can be a bit dicey at times, but he’s already shown progress in correcting those issues in the pre-draft process. He’s also known for being a highly competitive leader and great locker room guy, and the Lions will be happy to hand him the reins as their QB of the future after developing behind Jared Goff for a little while.
Some additional guys to keep an eye on for the top of the 2nd round:
Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss (I think he would be a great fit for Seattle)
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina (similar build and playing style as Baker Mayfield, but with a very strong arm. Could be a good fit for the Commanders).
Tyler Linderbaum, Center, Iowa (one of the best center prospects in recent years, but teams are turned off by his short little T-Rex arms).
David Ojabo, Edge Rusher, Michigan (probably would have been taken within the first 15 picks if he hadn’t torn his achilles in a pre-draft workout)
Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Lewis Cine, Safety, Georgia
Daxton Hill, Safety, Michigan
Bernhard Raimann, Offensive Tackle, Central Michigan
Breece Hall, Running Back, Iowa State
Kenneth Walker II, Running Back, Michigan State
Logan Hall, Defensive Tackle, Houston
Travis Jones, Defensive Tackle, UConn
Skyy Moore, Wide Receiver, Western Michigan
Boye Mafe, Edge Rusher, Minnesota
Trey McBride, Tight End, Colorado State
Jalen Pitre, Safety, Baylor
