IT’S DRAFT DAY! The best day of the year. As our final piece of content before the Draft kicks off, we welcome you to the “What We Would Do Mock” where Lou and Kelley tell you what they would do at each pick if they were the GMs. We sat down Tuesday night and alternated back and forth selecting for each team. Kelley was GM for all the odd picks, and Lou was GM for all the even picks. We both wrote quick blurbs explaining our selections. Let’s jump right in.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
   • Although it seems likely that Walker will be the pick on Thursday, Ickey would be the pick for me. He is my top ranked player in this class and has the upside to be the next Trent Williams. Their focus should be on getting Trevor Lawrence all the help he can get and that starts now with Ekwonu. 

2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
   • My number one prospect in this year’s draft. Some people have questions about his ceiling (I don’t), but for this draft I’d rather have the player with the better floor. To me, there might not be another player with a higher floor than Aidan Hutchinson. Michigan through and through give him to Dan Campbell and let Lions fans see the best EDGE they’ve had seen chronic pink eye Kyle Vanden Bosch. Don’t overthink this. 

3. Houston Texans – Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
   • The Texans need good players at premium positions, and Thibs has been my EDGE1 throughout this process. He has been elite since his freshman year and would be a great first building block in the Lovie Smith era.

4. New York Jets – Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
   • The Jets aren’t a very good team, but they’re a team with some home run potential. I struggled thinking about Sauce here, but I go with Travon Walker. Him with Quinnen Williams deems for an exciting DL. 

5. New York Giants – Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
   • With the Giants hiring Wink Martindale as their new Defensive Coordinator, they need CBs that can hold up in press man coverage to cover for their heavy blitz packages. No one fits the bill better than Gardner who is long and athletic and *takes a drink* never gave up a TD in college. 

6. Carolina Panthers – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
   • The Panthers NEED a QB. Here is too high for any of these options, so whoever the future is at QB will need protection. Pair Neal with Moton and OL may go from a weakness to a strength almost instantly. 

7. New York Giants – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
   • Giants fans will scratch their head over not taking an OT with either of these picks, but to me Jameson Williams edges out the alternative. The Giants have the most expensive WR room in the league and their WRs combined for just 5 TDs in 2021. They apparently already want to trade Kadarius Toney who they reached for last year. Whether it’s Danny Dimes or a 2023 QB, they better get a good WR room in place ASAP if they want to compete in today’s league.

8. Atlanta Falcons – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
   • Last time this year the Falcons had Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and newly picked Kyle Pitts for long-time franchise QB Matt Ryan to throw to. Well, a lot can change in a year… Marcus Mariota to Cordaralle Patterson and Auden Tate doesn’t have the same ring to it. Go get that WR1 again. 

9. Seattle Seahawks – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
   • The Seahawks stink. Sure they could have gone Malik Willis here, but their OL rivals Liberty’s so I do not think that’s a wise decision. Their current projected OTs are Greg Eiland and Stone Forsythe. Cross, who is the best pass protecting OT in this class, is the easy pick here.

10. New York Jets – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
    • Almost took a WR at 4 for the Jets too. Elijah Moore is a STUD, but lacks height. Corey Davis is a good second option, but would be a GREAT third option with the addition of Olave. What a core that would be for Zach Wilson (not to mention Michael Carter – STUD). 

11. Washington Commanders – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
    • Terry McLaurin is on his hands and knees begging for another WR to take the pressure off him. Washington finally does it and takes Treylon Burks, the most raw but most dynamic WR in the top of this class, to fill that void. Burks can play as a big slot and get manufactured touches until they feel confident enough in his route tree to move him outside.

12. Minnesota Vikings – Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
    • They need a CB1, and I feel like there is a connection with the Vikings’ defensive staff and Stingley which I cannot remember. Regardless, they get their CB1 and they need it with all the unreal WR Corps in the NFC North. 

13. Houston Texans – Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
    • I hope the Texans tap a sign like Notre Dame when they walk into the war room that says “Draft Good Players”. They do just that again here as they take a top 5 talent in the class in Kyle Hamilton. Thibs and Hamilton can shape the core of this defense for years to come. 

14. Baltimore Ravens – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
    • Such a Ravens pick. Derek Wolfe, Michael Pierce, and Calais Campbell on the Interior. All very good to great (CC’s a HOFer) vet’s but that’s what they are. Aging, with a lot of guidance for a player who may need it to reach his sky high ceiling. Love this player here.

15. Philadelphia Eagles – Drake London, WR, USC
    • Philly breathes a sigh of relief here as the final of the top 5 WRs just makes it to them at 15. Can you tell that the massive WR contracts have pushed up the value of top WR prospects in this mock? London, the tallest and best contested catcher in this class, reminds me of Tee Higgins and fits perfectly next to the slippery route runner Devonta Smith. 

16. New Orleans Saints – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
    • Here it is. The first QB. I had to do it. The value just makes sense, I don’t know if the saints are the best fit for him, but if Jameis could be the clear cut 17 game starter then great pick for New Orleans.

17. Los Angeles Chargers – Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
    • This board did NOT fall well for the Chargers. I wanted a top 3 OT or top 5 WR for them and they are all gone. Maybe they trade up on Thursday, but for our own sanity, we did not do trades in this mock. They instead go with my CB3 Kaiir Elam. A long, athletic CB who can press and play zone equally well. Elam allows Asante Samuel Jr. to move into the slot, with Kaiir and JC Jackson locking down the outside and Derwin James roving. Did I mention they have Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack? University of Dayton’s finest statistics nerd, Brandon Staley, has built one of the scariest defenses in the NFL.

18. Philadelphia Eagles – George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
    • What a draft for Philly if they get out of day one with London and Karlaftis. Both are fridge top 10 prospects in this year’s draft and they get both in the mid to late teens. Absolute animal here at 18, whoever gets this Monster is getting a day one starter.

19. New Orleans Saints – Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
    • The Saints, who took Willis earlier, would have loved to pair him with a WR, but the value just is not there. They instead opt for Trevor Penning. I’m not a huge fan of Penning or his fake tough guy act at the Senior Bowl, but the FCS product is extremely athletic (9.96 RAS). Who is he replacing you ask? Terron Armstead, who the Saints drafted on day 2 several years ago. Armstead also hailed from the FCS and posted a 9.58 RAS. The Saints trust their OL development and hope lightning strikes twice. 

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
    • Went against the grain here. Everyone is thinking they go QB, but looking at how the Steelers have been competing with an incompetent Big Ben I think they go elsewhere. They have needs at WR, CB, and OL. I think they beef things up front for the Offense. 

21. New England Patriots – Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
    • The green room slide ends for Jermaine Johnson with Bill Belichick letting out a chuckle. Johnson was an uber productive EDGE at Florida State this year and tested like a freak at the combine with a 9.86 RAS. He is a little on the older side and has just the one year of elite production, but it feels like his floor is too high to fall any further. The Patriots need guys to get after the elite QBs of the AFC if they want to compete and Johnson offers exactly that.

22. Green Bay Packers – Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
    • I hate this as a Bears fan, but if I’m a team who could use a Center in the 20s then I am taking Linderbaum in a heartbeat. He is my best value for pick in this draft because of position. Give me all the former wrestlers in the trenches those dudes are animals. 

23. Arizona Cardinals – Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
    • This may feel like a slight reach for Arizona, but Ebiketie has been climbing up draft boards as of late. His first step is incredible and he has a wide range of moves to beat OTs. He is not the biggest, but he makes up for it with his speed and bend. The Cardinals desperately need pass rush help with the loss of Chandler Jones, and Ebiketie is the best on the board at that.

24. Dallas Cowboys – Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
    • Such a Jerry Jones pick in my opinion. They need more help all along the DL, and Wyatt will be an immediate impact. I think this is as early as I would take him who at 24 is at the older side of rookies in this draft, but the production was there at Georgia no doubt. 

25. Buffalo Bills – Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
    • Buffalo has the most complete roster in the league, and the only worrisome position group I see is Corner. Tre White is one of the league’s best but is coming off an ACL tear. Levi Wallace left for greener pastures this offseason, so they need to add a body to this room. My CB4, Kyler Gordon, feels like a perfect fit. The quick twitch CB is great in the run game and has great ball skills. He will only get better as he gets more playing experience on the outside.

26. Tennessee Titans – Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
    • BOOM! Desmond Ridder compared himself to Ryan Tannehill and now gets to be his inevitable replacement. I am not convinced of Desmond Ridder’s ability, but the kid is a winner that is undeniable. It is rumored that teams are in love with him as a person and as a leader of a franchise. In my opinion, if you are taking a QB (especially in this draft) you need the right leader first, ability second. 

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Logan Hall, DT, Houston
    • With the likely departure of Ndamukong Suh, the Bucs find their next disruptive, pass-rushing 3-Tech in Logan Hall. Hall had a breakout 2021 campaign at Houston and led all DTs in this class in pass-rush win rate. Hall has shot up boards and is now +100 to go Round 1. The Bucs and Bengals seem like the best candidates to take him.

28. Green Bay Packers – Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
    • Packers continue to Beef up the OL. With 2 picks in the Second Round they can address WR there, but protecting AR and his loving backup is priority one for me. Get this line settled with two pillars for the next 5 years then go get weapons for the MVP.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
    • *Whispers* Skyy Moore is my favorite WR outside the “Big 5” in this class. The compact Moore led all WRs in broken tackles last year with 26 (per PFF) and can be lined up all over the field. He is a perfect fit in KC where they can get him the ball in space and watch him rack up YAC. 

30. Kansas City Chiefs – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
    • Not the biggest fan of his, but the value here is fine. The Chiefs are in dire need of CB and WR help, and with Kelley going WR at 29 – CB at 30 it is. Not a bad haul here in a pivotal draft for the Chiefs going forward.

31. Cincinnati Bengals – Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
    • Finally, we get to my Cincinnati Bengals. With the top IOL and IDL off the board and no trades available, this pick was pretty straight forward. The Bengals take Andrew Booth Jr. to complement Chidobe Awuzie on the outside and push Eli Apple to CB4. Booth is the last of the top 6 CBs left in this Draft, and there is a significant drop-off after those 6 are gone. He was unable to test because of a quad injury, but the Bengals got him in for a Top 30 visit and let their doctors evaluate him. Assuming he cleared it, the Bengals jump at the chance to take their 3rd Clemson Tiger in the Top 64 in as many years.

32. Detroit Lions – David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
    • Keep the Michigan rushers in Michigan! Let’s go – I absolutely would love this for the Lions. Get Ojabo healthy, have him play part of the season and get that fifth year option. I think whoever gets this kid it will be late 1st to mid 2nd and it will be a steal. He was in talks of going top 5 before the tragic injury at his pro day, but man with medical advances he should be fine and HIGHWAY ROBBERY for whatever team gets him.