After months of speculation and debate about how things will unfold, the 2022 NFL Draft is now just one day away. The following two-round mock draft is based on what I would do as the GM of each franchise. I hope you enjoy!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Evan Neal | OT, Alabama
Aidan Hutchinson appears to have become the consensus at this spot, but Neal is the pick in this mock draft for one simple reason. This deep and talented edge class means the Jags can get a quality starting edge rusher with their next pick. They won’t be able to get a player close to Neal’s calibre at tackle that far down in the draft. Neal has the dream combination of size and athleticism and proven ability at multiple spots on a talented Alabama line.
2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson | EDGE, Michigan
This would be the dream scenario for the Lions. Their pass rush was a problem last season, with Charles Harris finishing as their only player with more than 25 pressures. Romeo Okwara should be back to full fitness in 2022, but the Lions will want another big name opposite him, and there’s none better in this class than Hutchinson. The former Wolverine was one of just five players in college football with 70+ pressures last season.
3. Houston Texans – Kayvon Thibodeaux | EDGE, Oregon
The Texans had major issues getting to opposing quarterbacks last season, with a 20.7% pressure rate that ranked 28th in the NFL. As things stand, their starting edge rushers for 2022 are Jonathan Greenard and Kingsley Keke. Thibodeaux would be an immediate upgrade and his combination of length and quickness will cause problems for opposing tackles. He has all of the tools to become one of the premier edge rushers in the NFL.
4. New York Jets – Ikem Ekwonu | OT, NC State
With the two top pass rushers off the board, the Jets can use this pick to address their other big need at offensive tackle. George Fant is already 30 and hits free agency next summer. Ekwonu thrived in a zone-heavy scheme at NC State and would be a natural fit with the Jets. He can be the long term answer at right tackle and would partner with Mekhi Becton to give the Jets one of the league’s meanest pairings.
5. New York Giants – Travon Walker | EDGE, Georgia
The Giants need talent in the trenches and Walker would give them that. He has some of the freakiest tools in the class, running a 4.51 in the 40 at 272 lbs. His impact as a pass rusher was limited by virtue of his role on Kirby Smart’s defense, but he has already shown himself to be an impact player against the run. His combination of size, strength, and quickness makes him a hugely exciting prospect.
6. Carolina Panthers – Malik Willis | QB, Liberty
With the top tier tackles off the board, the Panthers might be best to trade down here, but I can’t see any other team being willing to make the move up the board. In that scenario, with a big need at quarterback, you might as well gamble on the upside of a player like Willis. He’s not a polished prospect and doesn’t warrant being picked as highly as this, but the Panthers only have themselves to blame for being in this position.
7. Washington Commanders – Garrett Wilson | WR, Ohio State
Trade: Commanders get No. 7 overall, Giants get No. 11 overall and a 2023 2nd round pick
Divisional trades aren’t all that common, but the Giants are in the midst of a rebuild and need all the draft capital they can get. Washington also get to jump ahead of receiver-needy teams in the Falcons and the Jets and get the best receiver in the draft class. Wilson is a nuanced route runner with outstanding hands and dynamism after the catch. He and Terry McLaurin would make one of the game’s best young duos.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Drake London | WR, USC
Right now the Falcons’ starting receiver room consists of Olamide Zaccheaus, Damiere Byrd, and KhaDarel Hodge. They are in desperate need of someone to replace Calvin Ridley and London can be their X receiver for years to come. He might not have elite speed, but his combination of route running and physicality saw him dominate at the college level. London averaged 11 catches and 135 yards per game in his final season at USC.
9. Seattle Seahawks – Ahmad Gardner | CB, Cincinnati
With Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner gone, the Seahawks have pressed the reset button and are in need of new franchise stars to build their team around. Fits don’t get much better than this one. With great length and physicality at the line, Gardner fits the mould of what Seattle look for at cornerback. He allowed a passer rating of just 31.8 throughout his college career. For context, the passer rating for throwing the ball away on every play would be 39.6.
10. New York Jets – Derek Stingley Jr. | CB, LSU
Robert Saleh might also be a Seattle Cover 3 disciple, but his move to the Jets has seen them play a lot more zone and quarters coverage. His defense needs cornerbacks who can do it all and right now they have one of the worst cornerback rooms in the NFL. Stingley has had issues with injuries, but his college tape is amongst the best of any cornerback prospect in the last decade.
11. New York Giants – Kyle Hamilton | S, Notre Dame
The Giants luck out here, trading down and still picking up one of the few blue chip talents in this draft class. Much has been made of Hamilton’s 40 time, but he’s consistently shown himself to have the size and athleticism to be a versatile defensive piece. His ability to contribute around the box and as a blitzer would also be the perfect fit in new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s scheme.
12. Minnesota Vikings – Jermaine Johnson | EDGE, Florida State
The Vikings have a talented edge duo with Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith, but both have had issues staying healthy. Smith will also turn 30 ahead of the 2022 season and is not the long term option in Minnesota. Johnson is one of the more technically refined pass rushers in the 2022 class and would represent a strong succession plan.
13. Houston Texans – Trent McDuffie | CB, Washington
Houston also need help in their secondary, with a noticeably weak cornerback room. They are currently projected to start converted safety Lonnie Johnson in 2022, who has allowed an astronomical passer rating of 121.4 since he was drafted in 2019. McDuffie would be a huge upgrade and his outstanding instincts and reliable tackling ability make him the perfect fit for Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 defense.
14. Baltimore Ravens – George Karlaftis | EDGE, Purdue
The Ravens could go in a number of different directions with this pick, but Karlaftis feels too good to pass up. Baltimore look to have struck gold with Odafe Oweh last year, but they don’t have much else in terms of pass rushing prowess surrounding him. Karlaftis produced 117 pressures on just 834 career pass rushing snaps and has the versatility to be utilised from a variety of alignments.
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Andrew Booth Jr. | CB, Clemson
Outside of an ageing Darius Slay, this is a cornerback room thin on talent. Booth would slot into this defense nicely and give the Eagles a talented star to build their secondary around. He is an incredibly fluid athlete who also offers a physical and competitive playstyle. His ball skills are amongst the best in this class, with 13 forced incompletions on his 79 career targets.
16. New Orleans Saints – Trevor Penning | OT, Northern Iowa
With Terron Armstead now in Miami, the Saints are in need of a new offensive tackle who can be Jameis Winston’s blindside protector. Some may prefer Charles Cross at this spot, but this Saints team is going to want to run the ball, and that makes Penning the perfect fit. He offers the ideal combination of size and athleticism with a mean streak to bully opponents in the trenches.
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Charles Cross | OT, Mississippi State
The Chargers got their franchise left tackle in last year’s draft with Rashawn Slater and they lock down the right side of their line with Cross. There isn’t a more battle-tested pass protector in this class than Cross, who has logged 1,293 pass blocking snaps over the last two seasons in Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense. There will be some concerns about the translatability of his college scheme, but he’s the type of technician who succeeds at the NFL level.
18. Philadelphia Eagles – Nakobe Dean | LB, Georgia
The Eagles haven’t historically valued linebackers in the draft, but there is good reason to reconsider that stance this season. For starters, their starting duo for 2022 is Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards. There is also the fact that Nakobe Dean is still on the board. Dean might not be the biggest or fastest linebacker, but his football instincts and field vision are exceptional. He is the most well-rounded linebacker in the class.
19. New Orleans Saints – Jameson Williams | WR, Alabama
The Saints should finally have Michael Thomas back in 2022, but there is little else in their receiving corps to get excited about. With Jameis under center they will also want to make sure they have some speed on the roster to work the deep ball. They get that with Williams, who offers outstanding long speed and the quick twitch ability to create easy separation.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jaquan Brisker | S, Penn State
The Steelers have re-signed Terrell Edmunds on a one-year deal, but he clearly isn’t the long term answer at strong safety. Brisker would be a huge upgrade and give the Steelers a dynamic safety pairing with Minkah Fitzpatrick. He has the physicality to take on blocks and be a force against the run, whilst also showcasing some nice ball skills, with 16 career forced incompletions.
21. New England Patriots – Jahan Dotson | WR, Penn State
The Patriots invested heavily at wide receiver last offseason, but one thing they all lacked was the dynamic speed to create separation. If they are to get the best out of Mac Jones they need to invest in better weapons and Dotson would be just that. He is a smooth route runner with the quickness to threaten at every level of the field. He also boasts some of the best hands in the class, with a career drop rate of just 5.2%
22. Green Bay Packers – Treylon Burks | WR, Arkansas
With Davante Adams now in Las Vegas, the Packers are in dire need of a receiver. As things stand, Allan Lazard is their WR1 for 2022 and their only receiver under contract in 2023 is Amari Rodgers. Burks has the ideal combination of size and speed and his versatility makes him perfect for Matt LaFleur’s offense. His 3.57 yards per route run in 2021 led all draft-eligible receivers.
23. Arizona Cardinals – Tyler Linderbaum | IOL, Iowa
The Cardinals could go in a number of directions with this pick, but it is difficult to pass up a blue chip talent when they fall this far. If you take positional value out of the equation, Linderbaum might well be the best player in this entire class. He is an outstanding technician, with elite athletic tools and very good core strength. Arizona do still have Rodney Hudson on the books, but he will soon turn 33 and carries a cap hit of over $10m per season.
24. Dallas Cowboys – Kenyon Green | IOL, Texas A&M
The Cowboys’ offensive line has been the bedrock of their offense for years. With La’el Collins gone and Tyron Smith and Zack Martin getting older, it is time they re-invested and inject some youth. Green gives them a hugely talented prospect with the ability to play both guard and tackle spots. He is a good athlete with outstanding strength to displace defenders in the running game.
25. Buffalo Bills – Daxton Hill | S, Michigan
The Bills are in the fortunate position of not having any glaring needs on either side of the ball. With that in mind it would be sensible to look ahead to the future with a player like Hill. He played primarily as a slot corner in college and could help to replace the departed Levi Wallace. Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde will both be 31 by the start of next season too, and Hill would be an excellent succession plan at safety.
26. Tennessee Titans – Zion Johnson | IOL, Boston College
Mike Vrabel’s offense revolves around their running game and deep shots off play action. If they want their success to continue, they need to invest in their offensive line, which ranked just 16th in adjusted line yards in 2021. Johnson brings the mean streak that the Titans crave in their linemen and he has the strength to create wide open running lanes for Derrick Henry.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devonte Wyatt | IDL, Georgia
The Bucs have Brady returning for 2022, but one of their biggest departures was Ndamukong Suh. As a fixture along their defensive line for the last three seasons he will need to be replaced. Wyatt boasts ideal defensive tackle size and pairs this with impressive short area quickness. He has shown himself to be an impactful pass rusher and he would be a nice complementary piece alongside Vita Vea.
28. Green Bay Packers – Lewis Cine | S, Georgia
Safety might not seem like the biggest need for Green Bay right now, but this would be a really savvy pick. The Packers love to employ three safeties and need a more reliable option alongside Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage. Amos and Savage are also both entering the final year of their contracts. Cine is an excellent athlete who has shown himself to be a quality contributor in every phase of the game.
29. Kansas City Chiefs – Chris Olave | WR, Ohio State
With Tyreek Hill now in Miami, the Chiefs can select his replacement with the pick they got in that trade. Olave can slot right into this Chiefs offense alongside Kelce and Smith-Schuster, giving Andy Reid a trio of players with alignment versatility. Olave thrived as a deep threat at Ohio State, leading the team in touchdowns for three straight seasons. He is also one of the most refined route runners in this year’s class.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars – David Ojabo | EDGE, Michigan
Trade: Jaguars get No. 30 and No. 121, Chiefs get No. 33, No. 106 and No. 157
The Jaguars get their much-needed edge with this pick, trading back into the first to secure the fifth year option. Ojabo will likely need to sit for the majority of his rookie season as a result of his pre-draft injury and issues against the run, but the Jaguars can afford to wait. Ojabo is a quality pass rusher with the potential to develop into a top tier speed rusher in the NFL.
31. Cincinnati Bengals – Kaiir Elam | CB, Florida
The Bengals came so close to winning it all last season, but hopes were dashed in the Super Bowl in part due to a shocking game from Eli Apple. With their other big need along the offensive line addressed, their top priority now has to be adding another player to compete with Apple for the starting role opposite Chidobe Awuzie. Elam is a long and smooth corner ideally suited to the Bengals’ Cover 3 heavy scheme.
32. Detroit Lions – Carson Strong | QB, Nevada
The Lions still have Jared Goff under center, but he obviously is not the long term solution. They can get out of the contract in 2023, so taking their quarterback of the future at this spot feels like the prudent move. I am certainly higher on Strong than most, but he has consistently shown he has the accuracy, arm strength, and processing skills to be an NFL starter. The injuries need vetting, but he can be Detroit’s QB1.
33. Kansas City Chiefs – Logan Hall | IDL, Houston
The trade down works out nicely for the Chiefs. They need reinforcements along the defensive line and get a very talented prospect in Hall. At 6’6″ and 283 lbs, he played primarily on the interior at Houston, but his combination of length and quicks give him the versatility to align across the defensive front. He can be the long term successor to Frank Clark, who looks like a cut candidate after 2022 season.
34. Detroit Lions – Leo Chenal | LB, Wisconsin
The Lions are in real need of added quality at linebacker, with Alex Anzalone and last year’s fifth round pick Derrick Barnes as their projected starters. Dan Campbell has said that he wants tough tone-setters on his team and there’s nobody that fits that mould better than Chenal. An outstanding athlete with elite play strength, he is great against the run and offers versatility as a blitzer.
35. New York Jets – Arnold Ebiketie | EDGE, Penn State
Pass rush has been a perennial issue for the Jets and is something they need to address in this draft class. Robert Saleh’s defense relies on generating pressure with the front four and they need additional options outside of Carl Lawson. Ebiketie is an outstanding technician who was hugely productive in his one season at Penn State. He finished the season with 52 pressures on 374 pass rushing snaps.
36. New York Giants – Bernhard Raimann | OT, Central Michigan
The Giants saw second-year offensive tackle Andrew Thomas take a big leap in 2021, but there are still question marks on the other side of the line. Matt Gono, a former undrafted player with just 376 career snaps to his name is currently slated to start. The Giants can instead take Raimann, who offers great athletic traits and refined hand usage. He needs to improve his core strength, but he can be a solid starter from day one.
37. Houston Texans – Jordan Davis | IDL, Georgia
This is shaping up to be the dream draft for the Texans. Lovie Smith’s defense revolves around light boxes and stopping the pass. For that to work effectively, you need big brutes up front who can stand up to double teams and wreak havoc on the offensive line. Davis comes with motor concerns and remains limited as a pass rusher, but he’s an elite run stopper who would seriously improve Houston’s defense.
38. New York Jets – Devin Lloyd | LB, Utah
The Jets will be acutely aware of the need to reset at linebacker. C.J. Mosley is still on the team but carries a $17m+ cap hit for each of the next three years, making him a cut candidate after 2022. There is little depth behind him, so developing a player like Lloyd would be the smart move. Lloyd might not be an elite athlete, but he is a cerebral player with no glaring holes to his game.
39. Chicago Bears – Skyy Moore | WR, Western Michigan
The new front office in Chicago will make building around Justin Fields their top priority. That starts at the wide receiver position where they need to add more options around Darnell Mooney. Moore might not have ideal size, but he has everything else you want in a receiver, including athleticism and the ability to beat press coverage. He also led all FBS receivers with 26 forced missed tackles in 2021.
40. Seattle Seahawks – Desmond Ridder | QB, Cincinnati
Seattle have both Drew Lock and Geno Smith in their quarterback room, but neither of them are players to build the franchise around. Ridder offers exciting upside, with the arm strength and mobility to suit the modern NFL. He has had issues with accuracy, but he is a confident processor with the arm talent to get the best out of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
41. Seattle Seahawks – Nik Bonitto | EDGE, Oklahoma
Seattle’s defense has always relied on getting pressure with their front four, but that won’t be easy with a starting edge duo of L.J. Collier and Shelby Harris. Bonitto would provide an immediate upgrade to their pass rushing potential. He needs to get stronger, but his explosiveness and refined hand usage saw him have a tonne of success in college. Bonitto led all draft-eligible tackles in pass rush win rate in both 2020 and 2021.
42. Indianapolis Colts – Trey McBride | TE, Colorado State
With Jack Doyle retired, the Colts’ tight end room currently consists of Mo Alie Cox and Kylen Granson. Hopes are apparently high for Granson’s development in his second year, but there is still a tonne of sense in adding a player like McBride. The Colts love to run two tight end sets and McBride offers the dream combination of soft hands and blocking prowess.
43. Atlanta Falcons – Kenny Pickett | QB, Pittsburgh
There was no quarterback that warranted selection at No. 8 overall, but by this point in the draft it makes sense for the Falcons to invest at the position. Mariota is obviously not the long term answer and Pickett can come in and challenge him for the starting role from day one. His pocket presence needs to improve, but he’s a confident processor with great accuracy at all three levels of the field.
44. Cleveland Browns – Travis Jones | IDL, UConn
The Browns have their edge rushers locked down with Myles Garrett and Chase Winovich, but they could do with some reinforcements along the interior. Malcolm McDowell’s off-field issues are well documented and it is unclear whether he will be on the team in 2022. Jones would provide them with a day one starter. He is an outstanding run defender with exceptional play strength, whilst also offering upside as a pass rusher.
45. Baltimore Ravens – Jalen Pitre | S, Baylor
The Ravens were reportedly interested in acquiring Tyrann Mathieu this offseason, indicating a desire to continue adding to their secondary. In Pitre they can add a player that projects very similarly to the former Chief. Pitre played primarily as a slot corner at Baylor and like Mathieu he is a sound tackler with versatility as a blitzer. His record in coverage is also outstanding, allowing a passer rating of just 60.2 in his career.
46. Minnesota Vikings – Quay Walker | LB, Georgia
With Anthony Barr gone and their two starting linebackers turning 30 ahead of the 2022 season, the Vikings will want to add some youth in the middle of their defense. Walker would be great value at this spot and brings the combination of mental processing and athletic ability you need to succeed as a linebacker in the NFL. He is also amongst the best open field tacklers in the class, with just seven misses on 138 career attempts.
47. Washington Commanders – Matt Corral | QB, Ole Miss
The Commanders have Carson Wentz for this season, but he has no guaranteed money left on his deal after 2022 and they would save $26m by cutting him next summer. This would also be a great spot for Corral, who can sit behind him and learn an NFL offense in his rookie season. Corral needs work as a processor, but has the arm talent and athleticism to develop into a plus starter.
48. Chicago Bears – Darian Kinnard | IOL, Kentucky
If Justin Fields is to have any chance at success in 2022 the Bears will need to improve their offensive line. Right guard is a notable weak spot, with Dakota Dozier as the projected starter. The last time we saw him play was 2020, when he led all guards in allowing 46 pressures. Kinnard played tackle in college but his combination of size and incredible play strength makes him a natural fit along the interior.
49. New Orleans Saints – Sam Howell | QB, North Carolina
This would be the ideal situation for the Saints to find themselves in. They added some offensive cornerstones in the first round and with this pick they can get a developmental quarterback. Howell is raw and will need to sit for at least his rookie season, but he has the arm talent and out of structure ability teams want in their quarterbacks these days. He’s worth the gamble at this point in the draft.
50. Kansas City Chiefs – Roger McCreary | CB, Auburn
The Chiefs love playing press man coverage and there weren’t many college corners that looked as good doing it as Roger McCreary. He allowed a completion rate of just 45.3% in 2021 and held his own against the best the SEC had to offer. He also offers tremendous ball skills, with a 19.1% forced incompletion rate through his career. McCreary is likely best suited to a slot role in the NFL, allowing L’Jarius Sneed to move out and play the boundary.
51. Philadelphia Eagles – Breece Hall | RB, Iowa State
This Eagles offense with Jalen Hurts is built around the running game. That, plus the fact that Miles Sanders is a free agent next summer, means it makes a tonne of sense to add the best running back in this year’s class. Hall put up almost 4,000 yards in his three seasons at Iowa State and boasts outstanding vision and patience. His 196 forced missed tackles since 2019 are the most of any collegiate back.
52. Pittsburgh Steelers – Tyler Smith | OT, Tulsa
With all of the realistic quarterback targets off the board, the Steelers can focus instead on protecting Mitchell Trubisky. Their line was atrocious in 2022 and placed a huge limitation on the effectiveness of the rushing attack they are keen to build around. Smith would help improve things immediately. He needs some refinement as a pass protector, but he is a mean run blocker who led the FBS in big-time blocks in 2021.
53. Green Bay Packers – Drake Jackson | EDGE, USC
The Packers have a very strong starting edge duo in Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, but the quality tails off noticeably after that. This is a team that likes to rotate its edge pairings and getting a third option in Jackson would be a smart move. USC didn’t use him to the best of his abilities, but he produced very well when asked to rush the passer, with 26 pressures on 179 snaps in 2021.
54. New England Patriots – Cameron Thomas | EDGE, San Diego State
The Patriots still have Matthew Judon, but they could do with an upgrade over Deatrich Wise. Adding some depth now that Chase Winovich is in Cleveland would also be a smart move. Thomas is a classic Patriots player, with the alignment versatility that Bill Belichick loves from his defensive linemen. He is a refined technician with a high motor and led all draft-eligible edge rushers with 77 pressures in 2021.
55. Arizona Cardinals – Perrion Winfrey | IDL, Oklahoma
The Cardinals have J.J. Watt, but he is 33 years old and continues to miss time with injury. Adding some interior pass rushing pressure would be a smart move and they get that with Winfrey. He is an outstanding athlete with rare quickness for an interior lineman and this saw him to rack up 29 pressures on just 285 pass rushing snaps in 2021.
56. Dallas Cowboys – Alec Pierce | WR, Cincinnati
With Amari Cooper and Cedric Wilson gone, the Cowboys receiving corps is in need of some added reinforcement. Neither CeeDee Lamb or Michael Gallup have the speed to consistently stretch the field so Pierce would be an excellent complementary option in their passing attack. The former Bearcat averaged 17.4 yards per reception on his 106 career catches.
57. Buffalo Bills – Christian Watson | WR, North Dakota State
Many will be clamouring for the Bills to add a running back at this spot, but this offense is built around their explosive passing attack. With that in mind, there isn’t a better way to help Josh Allen than by adding a big-bodied deep threat with sub 4.4 speed. Watson’s game is certainly in need of refinement, but he offers a rare combination of traits that a quarterback like Allen can take full advantage of.
58. Atlanta Falcons – Kenneth Walker III | RB, Michigan State
Arthur Smith’s offensive success with the Titans came from building an offense around a bell-cow running back in Derrick Henry. If he is to do the same in Atlanta they need to add talent in the backfield and Walker is the best pure runner in this draft class. He led all FBS running backs with 89 forced missed tackles in 2021 and averaged an impressive 6.2 yards per carry.
59. Green Bay Packers – John Metchie | WR, Alabama
The Packers got their X receiver in Treylon Burks at No. 22 and they can now get their Z receiver of the future with Metchie. Whilst he might not boast elite athletic traits, he does everything else so well. His varied release package and nuanced route running saw him have a tonne of success at Alabama, with 2,058 yards and 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He is also the kind of dynamic YAC threat this Packers offense would love.
60. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Greg Dulcich | TE, UCLA
There is still no clarity on Rob Gronkowski’s situation and whether he plans to return. Even if he does, he isn’t their long term option. Neither is Cameron Brate, who turns 31 this summer and who is only under contract through 2023. Dulcich would give Brady and this offense another dynamic pass catcher. The former walk-on wide receiver convert earned a reputation as a big play threat in college, averaging 17.6 yards per reception.
61. San Francisco 49ers – Kyler Gordon | CB, Washington
The 49ers may well have one of the weakest cornerback rooms in the NFL and are in desperate need of some added depth. Gordon can come in and be an immediate starter on their defense. He offers excellent athletic traits, with the fluid hips and long speed to be sticky in single coverage. He would also be a natural fit in DeMeco Ryans’ Cover 3 heavy defense.
62. Kansas City Chiefs – George Pickens | WR, Georgia
The Chiefs have added Juju Smith-Schuster to help fill the void left by Tyreek Hill, but one player won’t be enough. With Pickens they get a player who has the potential to develop into a legitimate X receiver at the NFL level. He still needs to develop from a technical perspective and tone down some of his aggressiveness on the field, but he has the size and hands to be a reliable option for Mahomes for years to come.
63. Cincinnati Bengals – Cade Otton | TE, Washington
The Bengals signed Hayden Hurst to a one-year deal to replace C.J. Uzomah, but he isn’t going to be the long term option for this option. Otton might not be the most dynamic receiver, but he’s a smart route runner with reliable hands. The Bengals’ offense also needs tight ends who can put in a shift in the running game, and Otton is the best run blocker at the position in this year’s class.
64. Denver Broncos – Troy Andersen | LB, Montana State
The Broncos don’t have many major areas of need on their roster and targeting linebacker at this spot would be a very smart investment. They are projected to start Alex Singleton and Josey Jewell in 2022, with the former only under contract for one season. Andersen has prototypical size and elite athletic traits, running a 4.42 40 at 243 lbs. He needs to develop as a processor, but can in time become a plus starter.
