90.9 The Light Mock Draft: Joey Palermo

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1. Jaguars — Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

· Best graded tackle in this draft

· Jags need to protect Lawrence

· Can be converted to guard, maybe center over time

· Concern: Is he the pick Coughlin wants?

2. Lions — Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan

· Best athlete in this draft

· Detroit needs a defensive identity

· Could thrive against other NFC North teams (perhaps not Green Bay if Bakhtiari is healthy)

· Concern: Michigan D-Lineman recently have been hit or miss such as: Rashaan Gary, Maurice Hurst, and Frank Clark

3. Texans — Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame

· Ed Reed hit power + Earl Thomas intelligence + 6’4” = $$$$$

· Hybrid defender — can play everywhere

· Houston needs help in multiple positions — Hamilton fills that need

· Has shown ability to tackle in open space, key for any safety

· Concern: Are people underselling his knee injury?

4. Jets — Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

· 6’1 corner with speed is hard to find

· Jets want their new Revis

· Great presser

· Has shown ability to close distance with the fastest players

· Concern: Is it a reach given his injury and the Jets’ needs?

5. Giants — Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

· Consensus #1 heading into previous college football season

· Giants excel in developing and finding edge rushers

· Fluid DE; linemen will find it difficult to truly stop him

· Concern: Lack of awareness

· Jets and Giants picks will go to war over these picks

· 9 of the last 12 Giants first round picks have been on offense, and only two are currently with team (Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones)

6. Panthers — Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

· Violent and forceful lineman

· Like Neal, can fit into guard position over time

· Doesn’t matter who Carolina’s QB is if they can’t protect him

· Is long and athletic

· Concern: Does a lineman pick show the Panthers are committed to a rebuild?

7. Giants — Tyler Lindbaum, C, Iowa

· Helps protect Jones

· Primarily run blocking center can help run-first Giants offense

· Quick to help block second wave of defenders on big plays

· Concern: Would this be the pick the Giants fanbase would expect?

8. Falcons — Drake London, USC

· #1 receiver potential

· Gives Mariota someone other than Pitts to throw the ball to

· Solid route runner; normally finds ways to make himself open

· Concern: Do the Falcons trust Mariota enough to give him a weapon this high?

9. Seahawks — Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner — CB, Cincinnati

· Provides swagger and ferocity that Seattle could use after entire Legion of Boom has officially been dismantled

· Seattle secondary could use a jolt with Stafford, Murray, Jimmy G in division

· Outstanding press could lead to shutdown results

· Concern: Could his temper cause a rift between himself and Pete Carroll?

· Concern 2: Loses technique, commits penalties when things aren’t breaking his way

10. Jets — Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

· Experience as WR, PR can add versatility to a thin Jets roster

· Has all the tools; just needs polish, NFL reps

· Can catch any pass; screens, 50–50s, and post routes, and everywhere in between

· Concern: Do the Jets trust Zac Wilson enough to take a WR at 10?

11. Commanders — Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

· Commanders need a WR2 alongside McLaurin

· If healthy, would be first receiver off the board

· Commanders trust Wentz

· Release is top-tier

· Record breaking hurdler

· Dangerous kick returner

· Concern: Too high for Williams given his ACL tear?

12. Vikings — Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

· This is Cousins’ last chance

· Protection for Cook and the high powered Offense

· Is well versed in both pass and run blocking

· He is consistent enough to where you can stick him in there Week 1 and expect him to do well

· Concern: He gets beat off swim and spin moves at times; can he tune up his skills against the elite edge rushers of the NFC?

13. Texans — Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida State

· Hopeful replacement for JJ Watt

· Standout of a dismal FSU team

· Uses sheer power and block shedding ability to force his way to the ball carrier

· Concern: Texans want to build around Davis Mills; will they go offense-centric?

14. Ravens — Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M

· Protect Lamar

· O-line took a beating last year

· Bulldozer at the guard position; can pancake defenders with ease

· Concern: Is this the splashy move for Baltimore?

15. Eagles — Travon Walker, DL, Georgia

· Helps Cox, others at the D-line

· Can eventually slide into DT when Fletcher is gone

· Philly needs to retool their defense

· Power rusher with unlimited high motor

· Concern: Does Philly need to draft offense to keep up with the high powered NFC East?

16. Saints — Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

· Number one receiver for the Buckeyes

· Big game receiver; can slide into WR2 assuming Thomas comes back

· A quiet plug and play receiver, exactly what the Saints are looking for

· Concern: Enough trust in Winston, receiving core to avoid Olave here?

17. Chargers — Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

· Best corner left available

· Comparisons to Jaire Alexander

· Aggressive competitor with run stuffing tendencies and a knack for the football

· Concern: Would the Chargers go somewhere else?

18. Eagles — Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia

· Two Georgia picks in the first round

· Growth of Walker, Davis combined with experience of Cox makes for a fearsome D-line

· Can have more opportunities to shine in 4–3 defense

· Can fill the A and B gaps easily

· Concern: Could the Eagles trade down if they see the board like this?

19. Saints — Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

· Jameis isn’t the answer

· Pickett can help bridge that gap between Russ and the future

· Tall, lanky QB with sneaky good athleticism

· Concern: Are the Saints committed to Winston?

20. Steelers — Malik Willis, Liberty

· Most potential out of any QB in this draft

· Panthers need a playmaking QB immediately

· Can recognize blitzes and sling it with the best QBs out there

· Concern: Is he a project QB more than a Week one QB like Pittsburgh may prefer?

21. Patriots — Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

· Belichick loves his Alabama players

· May have flaws on the outset, but Bill drafts these kinds of guys

· Blitzing linebacker

· Open field tackler

· 5 of 10 career sacks came in SEC and national championship

· Concern: Is this too far a reach?

22. Packers — Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

· Freakish speed

· Will have addressed both sides of the ball

· Best LB in draft

· Explosive athlete; expect a lot of big games

· Concern: Is linebacker the actual need for Green Bay management given the Aaron Rodgers situation?

23. Cardinals — Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

· Christian Kirk replacement

· Give Kyler more weapons

· AJ Brown potential

· Size and speed

· Hard cuts, aggressive route running

· Concern: True need for Arizona at WR?

24. Cowboys — Trevor Penning, OL, Northern Iowa

· Best lineman remaining

· Fills massive need

· Consistent, gritty, throwback

· Concern: Could he be rushed too quickly?

25. Bills — Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson

· CB2 alongside Tre’Davious White

· Best of what was an underwhelming year in Clemson

· Bills need to bolster their secondary

· Aggressive, tall, and experienced in big games

· Concern: Is this an immediate need for BUF?

26. Titans — Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

· Protection for Tannehill

· Former tight end

o Converted to tackle

· Quick learner

· Already solid skill set

· Concern: Is this the right move for TEN?

27. Bucs — Zion Johnson, T, Boston College

· Protect Tom

· Easiest position fill in this draft

· 6’3, 312

· Stout base will make it difficult to get around

· Concern: Chances Bucs trade the pick?

28. Packers — Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

· Best linebacker available

· Stats are through the roof

· Surprisingly physical

· Concern: Consistency an issue?

29. Chiefs — George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

· Falls right into their laps

· Plays like a pro D-lineman already

· Solves a bigger need

· Opens B-gaps

· Can consistently pressure the QB, something KC could use more of

· Concern: How great is the potential he won’t even be available?

30. Chiefs — Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

· Tall CB2 potential

· Expected to do a lot? He’s done it in Florida

· Press man specialist, with size, length, and strength to boot

· Concern: A reach for KC?

31. Bengals — Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State

· Can develop nicely with the receiving core in CIN

· Will have to develop run blocking quickly

· RAC potential and consistent hands

· Concern: Should the Bengals defer to more protecting of Burrow?

32. Lions — Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

· Competition for Goff

· Not necessarily picked to be the starter here, hence the pick at 32

· Best QB left

· Can make any throw

· Quick game is suited for him

· Lions will rely on short game to St. Brown, Hockenson early in the season

· Concern: Is this a gamble for Detroit?