90.9 The Light Mock Draft: Joshua Lipowski
1. Jaguars: Even Neal (OT) Alabama
The first pick is far from a slam dunk this year. A good rule of thumb to follow is that a young quarterback always needs a solid offensive line. Jacksonville has already done some good work to shore up the o-line this offseason, but an offensive minded Doug Peterson will not be satisifed with just a couple of guys. Neal’s ridiculous size makes him hard to pass up with the first pick.
2. Lions: Aidan Hutchinson (Edge) Michigan
This is a no-brainer for Detroit. Hutchinson was born in Plymouth, just outside of Detroit, and went to high school in Dearborn, even closer to Detroit. Hutchinson is easily the best defensive player in this year’s draft. With a deep OL and WR class this season, there is no need for Detroit to reach and pass up on the hometown kid.
3. Texans: Kyle Hamilton (S) Notre Dame
The Texans are a team that is full of holes on both sides of the ball. It is only natural that a defensive-minded Lovie Smith goes with someone in the secondary with this pick. Hamilton is a hybird-defender who stands at an impressive 6'4". That size will help him at the pro level, and should make him able to match up with almost anyone.
4. Jets: Kavon Thibodeaux (Edge) Oregon
Thibodeaux may seem like a bit of a reach at four. However, the Jets have two top ten picks. With their NFC neighbor Giants eyeing Thibodeaux closely, the Jets know they can wait a few more picks to get that receiving help they need. Here, they steal Thibodeaux, setting them up to get one of the prized receiving targets with the 10th pick.
5. Giants: Charles Cross (OT) Mississippi State
With Thibodeaux off the board, the Giants need to look elsewhere for their fifth pick. With their next pick being number seven, the Giants need to see that the Panthers will more likely take a lineman than a defensive end. Cross provides good pass protection for Daniel Jones, but his youth may mean some growing pains are to come for him in his early years.
6. Panthers: Kenny Pickett (QB) Pitt
The Panthers are likely the only team to take a quarterback in the top ten. They have two likely choices in Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett. While Willis may have more upside, Pickett seems to be more NFL-ready and can jump into an offense more quickly. The Panthers offense is not the worst in the league, and if McCaffrey comes back healthy, it can take some pressure off Pickett in year one.
7. Giants (via CHI): George Karlaftis (Edge) Purdue
Karlaftis may feel like consolation at number seven for the Giants, but his durability makes him a solid choice. While he may lack the size that Thibodeaux, Hutchinson, and others may have, Karlaftis is a versatile player who has shown he can stay on the field. The greatest ability in the NFL is availability after all.
8. Falcons: Garrett Wilson (WR) Ohio State
This is where the solid crop of wide receivers starts leaving the board in droves. Wilson is not everyone’s WR1 in this draft, but he stayed healthy. Drake London suffered a broke ankle and Jameson Williams suffered a torn ACL. While the size and speed is not as spectacular as the other two, Wilson is a safer pick for Atlanta.
9. Seahawks: Trent McDuffie (CB) Washington
This might seem like a stretch as number nine, but the Seahawks need a lot of help on the defensive side of the football. McDuffie went to school in Seattle at the University of Washington. His size is a question, but he played at a power-five level giving up only 16 catches and no touchdowns according to Pro Football Focus. Derek Stingley Jr has an injury history and Ahmad Gardner did not play for a power-five school.
10. Jets (via SEA): Drake London (WR) USC
The broke ankle is definitely a concern, but a team desperate for a WR1 simply cannot pass up 6'4" 219 lbs. London had over 1,000 receiving yards in only eight games last season according to Pro Football Focus. Zack Wilson should enjoy having this target provided London stays healthy and heals properly.
11. Commanders: Jameson Williams (WR) Alabama
Carson Wentz needs a target in D.C. Jameson Williams could provide that target with a blazing estimated 4.25 40-time according to NFL Draft Buzz. If Williams maintains most of that speed after his torn ACL, he could be an interesting pickup.
12. Vikings: Derek Stingley Jr (CB) LSU
The Vikings need a lot of help on the defensive side of the football, and a guy with as much upside as Stingley falling to them at 12 makes this a no-brainer. Stingley provided lockdown coverage on a national championship team a couple of years ago. If he stays healthy, he can do the same in the NFL.
13. Texans: Devonte Wyatt (DT) Georgia
It took until number 13 for a Georgia Bulldog to come off the board, and this will not be the last one. Some may look for Houston to go offensive for their second pick, but Wyatt at 6'3" 304 lbs according to Pro Football Focus will be a good run stopper. That is needed when having to face Derrick Henry twice a year.
14. Ravens: Travon Walker (Edge) Georgia
Another Bulldog goes off the board at number 14. The Ravens desperately need edge rushers, and Walker stands at 6'5" 272 lbs according to Pro Football Focus, pretty big for an edge rusher. Despite the size, Walker has shown speed with a 4.51 40-time at the combine. The guy is a pure athlete, and will fill a need nicely in that Ravens defense.
15. Eagles (Via NOR): Ahmad Gardner (CB) Cincinnati
This is the part of the draft where I feel a trade could happen, but the Eagles will likely trade their lower first round pick rather than this one. With Darius Slay on one side, the Eagles need a solid CB2. Ahmad Gardner has good size, and should fit into that slot nicely.
16. Saints (via PHI): Ikem Ekwonu (OT) NC State
With the departure of Terron Armstead, the Saints have a glaring hole at LT. Ekwonu could very well go earlier in the draft, but a deep offensive line class causes him to fall to 16. The Saints will feel very pleased to get this guy this late in the first round.
17. Chargers: Andrew Booth Jr (CB) Clemson
This is a place in the draft where I feel a trade could happen. However, with the Chargers having only one first round pick, I feel they will hold on to this one. Andrew Booth is not the most talented corner in this draft, but he will not be asked to carry that Chargers secondary. The Chargers already have a couple of decent cornerbacks anyway, allowing Booth to settle in a bit smoother as a rookie.
18. Packers (via draft day trade with PHI): Chris Olave (WR) Ohio State
This is where the first round trade happens. The Packers are desperate for cheap wide receiver help, and, with Chris Olave falling this far, expect the Packers to reach a bit to grab someone. I am curious to see how Olave reacts to being the main target on the field as he will not have Garrett Wilson demanding attention on the other side of the field.
19. Saints (via PHI): Treylon Burks (WR) Arkansas
With Olave now off the board, the Saints turn to the next best receiving prospect available in Treylon Burks. Burks could slot in nicely as a WR2 behind Michael Thomas. Burks’ 6'3" frame according to Pro Football Focus should make him an inviting target for Jameis Winston.
20. Steelers: Malik Willis (QB) Liberty
It is obvious that Mitchell Trubisky is not the long-term answer at QB. However, Trubisky has experience being a first round quarterback with the pressure on to be the savior of a franchise. Mike Tomlin also took a liking to Willis after his pro-day, and the two have constantly been associated since. Willis probably needs a year to sit and learn before he is ready to play in the NFL, and Trubisky could provide some interesting mentorship if he is willing to do so.
21. Patriots: Kaiir Elam (CB) Florida
Malcolm Butler returned to New England on a two-year contract, but he is not the same player he once was. Elam has good length and size, and he can also learn a lot from being in the same room as Malcolm Butler. A typical not-so-flashy Patriot move here in round one.
22. Eagles (via GB): Devin Lloyd (LB) Utah
The Eagles are able to trade down some and likely gain some more assets from a deperate Green Bay squad. Now, with their new pick, they add some much needed depth at the linebacker position with Devin Lloyd. It’s between Lloyd and Nakobe Dean for the top linebacker in this class, but Lloyd’s 6'3" frame (Pro Football Focus) puts him over Dean.
23. Cardinals: Jordan Davis (DT) Georgia
The Cardinals defensive ends are solid, but they need some help in the middle. At 6'6" and 341 pounds according to Pro Football Focus, Davis will be that run stopper the Cardinals need to become an elite defense. Adding Davis in the middle should make for a heck of a time for opposing offensive lines.
24. Cowboys: Trevor Penning (OT) Northern Iowa
The Cowboys offensive line has been a problem for a while now, and this seems like as good of a draft as any to fix it. Penning is a small-school guy, but he stands at 6'7" according to Pro Football Focus. He is not an immediate quick fix for a struggling o-line, but he sure will help.
25. Bills: Roger McCreary (CB) Auburn
Former NFL defensive back Leslie Frazier was none too pleased with how his defensive backfield played in the final minutes against Kansas City in the divisional round. Roger McCreary does present some size issues, but he knows how to play in high-leverage situations. These are just the situations Buffalo expects to be playing in come January.
26. Titans: Johann Dotson (WR) Penn State
The Titans need more help on the offensive side of the football, particularly in the passing game. Ryan Tannehill is far from a great quarterback, but is far from a terrible one as well. Dotson does lack size, which attributes to his fall to 26, but he still was a sure thing catching 91 of his 93 targets last season according to Pro Football Focus.
27. Bucs: Kenyon Green (G) Texas A&M
Tom Brady is coming out of retirement, which means the Buccaneers will need to protect him at all costs. Brady is far from a mobile quarterback, and the Bucs need as solid of an offensive line as they can get. According to Pro Football Focus, Green played every line position except center last season. Green’s versatility makes him potentially an earlier target than some might have initially thought.
28. Packers: Jermaine Johnson (Edge) Florida State
The Packers found their receiver, so now it is time to solidify the defensive side of the football. Jermaine Johnson is slightly bigger than the other likely candidate David Ojabo, which is why Green Bay takes Johnson.
29. Chiefs: Daxton Hill (S) Michigan
The Chiefs have a glaring hole in the secondary with Tyrann Mathieu leaving. Hill played some corner in college, but he will likely be playing safety at the NFL level. The Chiefs fill a need with this pick.
30. Chiefs: Bernard Reimann (OT) Central Michigan
Another not-so-flashy pick that fills a need. Raimann is another smaller school guy similar to Penning, but is slightly smaller with a 6'6" frame according to Pro Football Focus. Raimann could be a sneaky first rounder, and the Chiefs need some offensive line help.
31. Bengals: Tyler Linderbaum (Center) Iowa
It did not take much last season to understand that the biggest need for the Bengals was at offensive line. Linderbaum is a guy with the talent to go higher than this, but the Bengals nab him her with the 31st pick.
32. Lions: Nakobe Dean (LB) Georgia
Dean is another guy who could go earlier if someone really wants him. The Lions need help on defense, and having a front seven featuring Hutchinson and Dean makes the future potentially very bright in Detroit.
