Essential The Official ESPN Insider Thread (ESPN+)

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

You've heard by now how bad the Chargers' run defense was in 2021, and they've already taken steps to improve it, bringing in two defensive tackles via free agency in Sebastian Joseph-Day, whom coach Brandon Staley is familiar with from his time with the Rams, and Austin Johnson. That probably takes defensive tackle off the list of holes to fill in the draft.

So let's turn the attention over to right tackle where Bryan Bulaga was just released. I don't see Storm Norton as the answer there, but Penning can be. He's fantastic as a run blocker, and offensive line coaches love him because he's just plain mean and plays through the whistle. This would make back-to-back drafts with first-round tackles for the Chargers, and left tackle Rashawn Slater looked like a star as a rookie.



18. New Orleans Saints
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

The Saints tried and failed to add Deshaun Watson, so are they definitely committed to Jameis Winston now? I don't think so. If the board shakes out this way -- with all of the passers available -- why shouldn't they take Pickett? He's the most NFL-ready of the bunch, leveling up last season with 42 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. He is super accurate. He understands how to run an offense and lead a team. He could be the Saints' future.

This is a strange quarterback class, and the range on when Pickett and Malik Willis come off the board varies from everyone I talk to in the league. No one knows for sure. I would not be shocked if either of them fell into New Orleans' lap here.




19. Philadelphia Eagles
Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah

Here's a spot to fill Philadelphia's void at off-ball linebacker. Lloyd was one of the best all-around defenders in college football last season, racking up 111 total tackles, eight sacks, 20 tackles for loss, four interceptions and a forced fumble. He has some juice as a blitzer and can cover tight ends and running backs in the passing game. Lloyd's 4.66 40-yard dash at the combine means he doesn't have the straight-line speed of former top-five pick Devin White (a linebacker I've compared him to), but I don't think he should drop past the Eagles.

That's three early starters for the Eagles here, with Lloyd, Chris Olave and Jermaine Johnson II.



20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

The structure of Mitch Trubisky's new contract with Pittsburgh -- just $5.25 million guaranteed over two years -- means this organization absolutely could draft a quarterback here. Trubisky could be a bridge to Willis, who is raw but supremely talented. As I said when I projected him to the Steelers in my previous mock, he is the most talented quarterback in this class. Willis could compete with Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins in training camp, but he wouldn't be under immediate pressure to start in Week 1. That would be crucial for him.

If the Steelers go a different direction, they still have holes to plug along the offensive line and in the secondary.



21. New England Patriots
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

Unlike last year, the Patriots have been quiet in free agency, notably losing star cornerback J.C. Jackson to a huge-money deal while not adding any surefire starters. I see holes at right tackle, off-ball linebacker, defensive end, cornerback and wide receiver. They've also lost several coaches this offseason, including offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. And yet, Bill Belichick's Patriots team won 10 games last season and still has a lot of really good players.

I projected Williams here in my debut mock in mid-January, and it is a nice fit. Williams, who tore his ACL in the national title game, had a tremendous season for the Crimson Tide, with 1,572 yards and 15 scores. He said at the combine that he's ahead of his schedule in his recovery, but it's possible he misses a chunk of the season while rehabbing. New England could afford to wait for a receiver with true No. 1 upside who could be a star for years to come. And we know Belichick has a history of taking Alabama stars.



22. Green Bay Packers (via LV)
Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M

OK, so this isn't the sexy pick that Packers fans will love after acquiring this selection in the Davante Adams trade, but check out Green Bay's other pick at No. 28 before you yell at me. Green could step into the right guard spot vacated by Lucas Patrick's signing with the Bears in free agency. Josh Myers, a second-round pick last year, looked solid at center, but adding another O-lineman is important, too. Green also has some versatility, as he played both guard and tackle for the Aggies.





23. Arizona Cardinals
Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

Arizona let edge rusher Chandler Jones and wide receiver Christian Kirk leave for big deals in free agency, and it hasn't added many external free agents so far. It could go a few different ways with this pick, including at wide receiver, which suddenly looks barren, and offensive line.

The Cardinals could be a fit for Jordan Davis if he makes it here, but his former Georgia teammate, Wyatt, could be a nice pick, too. The 305-pound tackle had a great workout at the combine, and he impressed impressed NFL scouts at the Senior Bowl. He had only five sacks in four seasons, but I think he could put up better numbers in the right pro scheme. He'll help take some pressure off J.J. Watt.



24. Dallas Cowboys
Tyler Smith, OT/G, Tulsa

The Cowboys will look different in 2022, with Amari Cooper, Randy Gregory, Connor Williams, Cedrick Wilson and La'el Collins among the notable departures. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll be worse, but they do have to plug a couple of holes. I'm not sure an edge rusher makes sense if this is the way the board shakes out -- could Dallas take a flier on David Ojabo, who tore an Achilles at his pro day last week? -- but there are a couple of offensive linemen who could play immediately. And with Tyron Smith and Zack Martin both over 30, the Cowboys should reprioritize the line.

Smith could play guard or tackle, and in this scenario he'd slot in to Williams' left guard spot. Zion Johnson is the other possibility, and he could even play some center.



25. Buffalo Bills
Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

Buffalo released Cole Beasley and brought in Jamison Crowder as an option out of the slot, but Crowder isn't likely to be part of the Bills' long-term plans. Dotson would be. Where would he help most? The Bills ranked last in the league in average yards after the catch (4.3) last season. Dotson is an explosive playmaker who is a threat to score on every touch. He had 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021.

The Bills have had a great offseason so far, so this is a luxury pick. Dotson, though, could help as a rookie.

 

26. Tennessee Titans
Zion Johnson, G/C, Boston College

If Tennessee wants to continue to pound the ball in the run game with Derrick Henry, it has to have a great offensive line. The Titans could upgrade at guard with Johnson, who spent time at multiple positions in college. He didn't allow any quarterback pressures while playing guard in 2021, and he's stout as a run blocker.

Even after adding Robert Woods, I wouldn't be surprised if the Titans picked a wideout here. Treylon Burks and Jahan Dotson could be in play.





27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

I made this pick before the Bucs re-signed Leonard Fournette on Tuesday morning, but I'm not going to change it. Their running back depth chart is still barren, and Hall could really help. I don't love taking backs in Round 1, but Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht and coach Bruce Arians could ensure that they get their choice of the entire running back class here.

Hall had 3,044 rushing yards and 41 rushing scores over the past two seasons, adding 59 catches. His 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine answered a lot of questions about his straight-line speed. He is the clear No. 1 back in this class. If Zion Johnson is available, he could be the pick, too, because the Bucs have a need at left guard.



28. Green Bay Packers
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Is this better, Packers fans? Burks will almost certainly have to get a ton of early snaps, helping to fill the void left by the stunning trade of Davante Adams. Burks is a bigger receiver (6-foot-2) who has some run-after-the-catch ability; he can break tackles and run past defensive backs, though he doesn't have blazing speed. He put up 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

For Green Bay's sake, it will have to hope Burks develops faster than Adams, who began his career with two up-and-down seasons before breaking out in Year 3. Aaron Rodgers needs help now. And I think the Packers could take multiple receivers with their picks in this draft.




29. Miami Dolphins (via SF)
Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia

This was a tough pick for me. It's definitely a spot to watch for an offensive tackle, but if Miami pays up to sign free agent Terron Armstead (update -- it did) it doesn't have to take one here. I also thought about wide receiver Skyy Moore, who is rising after his performance at the combine and could sneak into Round 1. Ultimately, I see a hole in the middle of the Dolphins' defense that could be filled by a really good every-down linebacker.

Dean was the leader of the national champs' defense, racking up 72 tackles with six sacks, two forced fumbles and two picks. He has the ability to cover tight ends, and he can blow up backs in the run game. He's tough. Dean could be a steal for an already solid defense.

Note: The Dolphins on Wednesday traded this pick (and more) to the Chiefs for wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Kansas City now has a big need at wide receiver and two first-round picks to fill it. Of the wideouts I don't have in Round 1 in this mock, Skyy Moore, whom I mentioned above, and Calvin Austin III could fit for the Chiefs.



30. Kansas City Chiefs
George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue

If the Chiefs want to keep Chris Jones at defensive tackle where he can wreck game plans from the interior, they have to add capable edge rushers. They ranked 29th in total sacks (31) last season and also 31st in rushing yards allowed per carry (4.8), even though they improved down the stretch. Karlaftis is an all-around defensive end who has some pass-rushing traits and can anchor down in the run game. He had only 4.5 sacks last season, but the tools are there.

You might have noticed that I haven't projected David Ojabo, who tore his Achilles at the Michigan pro day last week, in Round 1. I love him as a prospect, but I think he's more likely to go in the second round now. That's a tough injury, and he might have to miss the entire 2022 season. The Chiefs need help right away.



31. Cincinnati Bengals
Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut

The Bengals have significantly retooled their offensive line this offseason, adding four new starters in free agency. That takes some of the pressure off Joe Burrow (literally) in Year 3, as he was battered in his first two seasons. The Super Bowl runners-up can now afford to fill a different need with this pick, and I see Jones as a replacement for Larry Ogunjobi, who had a great 2021 season.

Jones is a 325-pound nose tackle with extremely long arms who can controls gaps with his strength. He was impressive at the Senior Bowl in January, boosting his stock into the top 50 picks. He could make sense for a Bengals team that is poised to compete for another AFC North title.



32. Detroit Lions (via LAR)
Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

I'm going to stick with Corral to the Lions, but I keep hearing it's not out of the question that he is the first quarterback off the board. He didn't work out at the combine, so teams haven't gotten a look at him since his ankle injury in early January. He's going to throw for scouts at his pro day Wednesday, and he could create some buzz there. He throws a ball with some zip and is extremely tough, though he doesn't have a huge frame (6-foot-2, 212 pounds). The biggest question revolves around the offense he ran in college; his coaches didn't ask him to make many reads. There will be an adjustment in the NFL.

For the Lions, I just don't see Jared Goff as the future. This allows them to get a potential quarterback of the future on a team-friendly five-year contract.

 

Whitehead>>>>>>>>>>>>*

 

Can someone post the content of these two articles? Daps + rep await


Ranking college football's 100 best running backs of the past 60 years

NBA 25 under 25 rankings: Why the future of the league is in good hands

 

You can go to " archive.ph " and post the link and it'll bypass the paywall. This works for theathletic as well and probably every other website with a paywall. If someone has archived it before you, which is very likely, you won't have to wait and can just view the article without updating it.

 

@JMurder

Convert PDF to HTML Online Free.

Convert PDF to HTML Online Free.

 

Kiper's NFL draft grades: Which teams crushed it, and which teams struggled in a strange year

@Skooby

 

Convert PDF to HTML Online Free.

 

Bumping the thread for this post. I just read 3 articles using this site

 

Bookmarked

Thanks

 

The preview got deleted...I'll upload again.

 

I've used this

archive.ph