November’s mock is here! As with all my mock drafts, they are a combination of what I think will happen combined with my own player rankings.
*This mock was done before the 11/22 Monday Night Football game between the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.*
1. Detroit Lions- Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE Oregon
While Jared Goff is neither good nor their long-term answer at quarterback, it makes no sense to reach for a signal-caller here when the clear-cut best player available also fills a huge position of need. Thibodeaux can have a Chase Young-like impact as a rookie for this defense.
2. New York Jets- Derek Stingley, Jr., CB LSU
The whole Jets defense could use an upgrade, so there are multiple players they could target here. I think based on value and skill, Stingley Jr. is the potential lockdown corner they need. With Josh Allen being one of the best quarterbacks in the league and Mac Jones looking promising, they’ll need a corner or two to help slow those guys down within their own division.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Kyle Hamilton, S Notre Dame
If Hamilton is on the board for the Jaguars here, they should sprint to the podium. While their defense is quietly improving week over week, getting a playmaker at safety could really speed up their rebuild.
4. Houston Texans- Malik Willis, QB Liberty
The Texans have more issues than a magazine stand. Deshaun Watson will never play for them again and they don’t have much young talent. I’m not too high on Willis, but he has the most upside of any quarterback in this class and Houston will give him the time to develop.
5. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks)- Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE Michian
The Jets got their corner earlier and now they get a versatile pass rusher. Robert Saleh found a lot of his success in San Francisco once the team got Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. He needs to find those defensive linemen who can get to the quarterback in order to succeed in New York
6. New York Giants (via Chicago Bears)- George Karlaftis, EDGE Purdue
Azeez Ojulari looks like a solid pass rusher in the making for the Giants, but they still need another one or two guys who can get to the quarterback. Karlaftis is a man among boys and would bring the toughness to the defense.
7.New York Giants- Evan Neal, OT Alabama
Yes, the Giants just drafted Andrew Thomas two years ago. That shouldn’t stop the Giants from continuing to build their offensive line. Put Thomas (if he can figure out how to live up to his draft position) on the right side and let Neal dominate the left side.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins)- DeMarvin Leal, DL Texas A&M
The Eagles run the 2022 draft. They could trade some picks to get a star like Deshaun Watson, or sit back and build something special with these draft picks. Leal can play anywhere on the defensive line, making him a valuable commodity due to his versatility and skills as a pass rusher.
9. Atlanta Falcons- Sauce Gardner, CB Cincinnati
The Falcons should look for an heir apparent to Matt Ryan, but they could find that person in the second round as the team still has a lot of holes on the roster. Fabian Moreau is not a NFL-caliber starting cornerback and Gardner has the best ball skills of any secondary player in this class.
10. Washington Football Team- Matt Corral, QB Ole Miss
People who liked Zach Wilson will also like Corral a lot. He’s not a huge guy, but he has the arm strength and mobility to excel when things around him break down. Quarterbacks always get over-drafted because there are always teams that need a younger and cheaper upgrade.
11. Philadelphia Eagles- Kaiir Elam, CB Florida
I know the Eagles have Darius Slay and just re-signed Avonte Maddox, but it shouldn’t stop them from continuing to strengthen the secondary. Slay is on the wrong side of 30 and Maddox handles the slot, meaning this would give Elam the chance to get some meaningful snaps around veterans.
12. Carolina Panthers- Ikem Ekwonu, OT NC State
The Panthers have done a great job of rebuilding their roster and have been very aggressive in the trade market. However, the one thing they lack is a left tackle of the future. Ekwonu is rising quickly and there’s a very good chance he cracks the top-ten by the time the draft comes around.
13. Denver Broncos- David Ojabo, EDGE Michigan
Trade away one pass rusher rusher and replace him with a younger option. Ojabo is still very raw, but is incredibly quick off of the line and has the potential to be a major contributor in the NFL.
14. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers)- Charles Cross, OT Mississippi State
There aren’t many worse offensive lines right now than what the Dolphins have. Austin Jackson has been a bust and the unit can neither run nor pass block. Cross is still pretty raw, particularly as a run blocker, but has the tools needed to be a left tackle.
15. Las Vegas Raiders- Darian Kinnard, OL Kentucky
For years, the strength of the Raiders was their offensive line. It was a shock last year when they moved on from a few veteran starters. As a whole, the unit has struggled to create holes for Josh Jacobs and the run game. Luckily, Kinnard is the best pure run-blocker in this class and could start at either guard or tackle.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis Colts)- Devin Lloyd, LB Utah
In this mock draft, we are turning the Eagles into a defensive juggernaut. At this spot they get Lloyd, a jack of all trades linebacker that’s equally good in coverage as he is rushing the quarterback. All three levels get upgraded here in the first round.
17. Cleveland Browns- Drake London, WR USC
After moving on from Odell Beckham Jr., the Browns need more pass catchers for Baker Mayfield. Landry and Peoples-Jones are nice players, but neither are elite options. London, on the other hand, is an alpha male built in the mold of Mike Evans. He can come in immediately and become their top option.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kenny Pickett, QB Pittsburgh
Big Ben is a shell of his former self and at 39 years old it seems like he’ll retire after the season. Kenny Pickett has had a Joe Burrow-esque jump in production as a senior and it doesn’t hurt that he played his college ball at Pittsburgh. The story writes itself on this one.
19. New Orleans Saints- Chris Olave, WR Ohio State
The injury to Michael Thomas has really shown how thin the Saints wide receiver depth chart is. Assuming that Thomas returns, the New Orleans could use a consistent and steady receiver.
20. Minnesota Vikings- Jordan Davis, DL Georgia
If there is one team that I expect to make a playoff push down the stretch, it’s the Vikings. In this situation, they luck out and get someone they desperately need. They need some size in the middle of their defensive line and they don’t get much bigger than Jordan Davis, who stands at 6’6″ and 340 pounds.
21. Buffalo Bills- Jaxson Kirkland, OL Washington
This was the hardest pick of the mock by a mile. What do the Bills need? I think they could use some depth at the offensive line. Ideally he starts at left guard and then either moves to tackle or stays on the interior.
22. Los Angeles Chargers- Kenyon Green, OL Texas A&M
Justin Herbert is the heart and soul of the Chargers now and the organization is doing a good job of building around him. They still need some upgrades at the guard position and acquiring a powerful guard like Green would turn this offensive line into one of the best in the league.
23. Cincinnati Bengals- Tyler Linderbaum, C Iowa
We were all surprised last year when the Bengals didn’t draft Penei Sewell and went with Ja’Marr Chase. While the Bengals look like the smart ones, they still need to find a way to protect Joe Burrow. Linderbaum is a plug-and-play starter at center and could develop into a multiple-time All-Pro selection.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Trent McDuffie, CB Washington
It’s been a rough go for the Buccaneers as they try to figure out their cornerback situation. They tried bringing in Richard Sherman, but he’s been battling injuries ever since he signed. McDuffie isn’t the flashiest name, but his ability to play right away helps Tampa Bay while their Super Bowl window is still open.
25. Kansas City Chiefs- Andrew Booth, CB Clemson
The Chiefs defense needs a LOT of work. Sneed hasn’t been bad for them, but the rest of their corners don’t inspire much confidence. Booth is a first-year starter for the Clemson Tigers but has the athleticism and skill to eventually work his way into becoming CB1.
26. New England Patriots- Roger McCreary, CB Auburn
J.C. Jackson has become one of the better cornerbacks in the league, but the Patriots could still use some youth and talent in their secondary. With safety Devin McCourty nearing retirement and Jalen Mills not being that good, an experienced rookie like McCreary could play valuable snaps as a rookie.
27. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams)- Carson Strong, QB Nevada
As the Founder/President/CEO of the Carson Strong fan club, this is a match made in heaven. Strong is a big-armed quarterback who is accurate on all three levels but lacks the mobility that other quarterbacks have. He’s already better than Jared Goff and would be able to develop as a passer without the pressure of having to win games as a rookie.
28. Dallas Cowboys- Jaquan Brisker, S Penn State
Trevon Diggs has been a star and the rest of the Cowboys cornerbacks have been solid, but the safeties on this team are very bad. They’re lucky they’ve been covered up until this point because they can become a major liability. Brisker is raw, but he is a strong athlete who’s looked like an All-American for the Nittany Lions.
29. Baltimore Ravens- Trevor Penning, OT Northern Iowa
When Orlando Brown was traded last offseason, I’m sure that the Ravens thought replacing him would be a lot easier than it has been. Instead, it’s been a revolving door at the position. Penning is a small-school guy but would be an above-average starter as a rookie.
30. Green Bay Packers- Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio State
Do I think the Packers will do the right thing and draft a receiver? No, but I’m doing it anyway. Wilson has unreal speed and will likely go much higher than this, but due to the high amount of receivers drafted early the past two years, some talented players will fall. Wilson would pair nicely with Davante Adams, assuming he re-signs.
31. Tennessee Titans- Nakobe Dean, LB Georgia
Mike Vrabel has done a fantastic job with the Titans to get them atop the AFC South. Their defense has played well, but they still need an influx of talent. With Raasahn Evans being a free agent after the season, the team could look to bring in some youth with Dean, an undersized but skilled three-down linebacker.
32. Arizona Cardinals- Derion Kendrick, CB Georgia
I was puzzled by the Cardinals not replacing Patrick Peterson this offseason. So far it’s worked for them as they have one of the best pass defenses in the league. That still doesn’t mean that they should ignore the position. Kendrick is a battle-tested defensive back who brings a lot of big-game experience.