# | Team | Player | Pos | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
C.J. Stroud Ohio State, Jr
|
QB | ||||
C.J. Stroud had a great pro day (we were there -- check the video above to watch our recap!) and it further solidified his case as one of the top-two QBs in this draft class. We've heard that the Panthers are high on Stroud -- and for now, we have him going No. 1 because it's easy to envision him transitioning from Ohio State to a Carolina staff that includes Frank Reich and Jim Caldwell. |
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2 |
Bryce Young Alabama, Jr
|
QB | ||||
Young came in at 5-10 1/8 and weighed 204 pounds at the combine and didn't take part in the drills. But last week he threw at his pro day (we were there for that, too -- see above!) and, like Stroud, showed off the traits that make him so special. He's our QB1 but it's not hard to imagine why, for example, the Panthers might prefer Stroud. If so, the Texans will jump at the chance to land Young here. |
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3 |
Will Anderson Jr. Alabama, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
J.J. Watt retired, and Zach Allen and Trysten Hill left in free agency. And with a new coaching staff and GM, the team goes with arguably the safest pick in the draft: pass rusher Will Anderson. |
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4 |
Anthony Richardson Florida, Soph
|
QB | ||||
Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger remain from last season's team while Matt Ryan is now a free agent. The Colts also signed Gardner Minshew, which means the team now has ... three backup quarterbacks on the roster. Put another way: They're still targeting a QB in the draft and the question becomes, which one falls to them if they stay at No. 4, and if it comes down to, say, Anthony Richardson or Will Levis, who will get the nod? We're still sorting through who will be our QB3 and QB4, but given what new coach Shane Steichen and Jalen Hurts were able to do together in Philly, it's not hard to imagine the new staff falling in love with Richardson. |
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5 |
Tyree Wilson Texas Tech, Sr
|
EDGE | ||||
The more you watch of Wilson the more you love his game. Not only what he put on tape at Texas Tech but his upside 2-3 years down the road. He's long, has the frame to add weight if needed, and he's a dominant, high-motor pass rusher who can take over games. |
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6 |
Lukas Van Ness Iowa, Soph
|
EDGE | ||||
The Lions had a need at cornerback ... and promptly addressed it to start free agency, adding Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. And while there is depth at defensive end, Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris are entering the final year of their deals and the opportunity to pair Lucas Van Ness with Aidan Hutchinson is too good to pass up. |
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7 |
Myles Murphy Clemson, Jr
|
DL | ||||
Murphy turned 21 in early January, and while we'd like to see him play with more consistency, his best football is in front of him, for sure. He has all the physical tools you look for in an elite edge defenders and it's easy to see him in a few years being dominant. And that, in large part, is what makes him such an interesting prospect. |
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8 |
Jalen Carter Georgia, Jr
|
DL | ||||
Jalen Carter, who was arguably the best defender on a '21 Georgia defense that had five first-round picks, would be an easy pick for the Falcons here. He left the combine only to return less than 24 hours later after meeting with Athens police. And then showed last week at his pro day nine pounds heavier, and by several accounts, winded after his workout. Where he is ultimately drafted remains an unknown, but he is a special talent. |
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9 |
Paris Johnson Jr. Ohio State, Jr
|
OT | ||||
No team has been busier this offseason than the Bears, who added talent on both sides of the ball, including guard Nate Davis, tight end Robert Tonyan, defensive end DeMarcus Walker (7.0 sacks with the Titans in '22) and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. There's still a need at right tackle and edge rusher but with many of the top free-agent offensive lineman already signed elsewhere, and since this draft class is deeper at EDGE than OT, Chicago takes Paris Johnson Jr. here. He played left tackle last season at Ohio State and was the right guard during the '21 season. Protecting Justin Fields is Priority No. 1, and they can circle back at pick No. 53 (or even 61) to get that pass rusher. |
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10 |
Christian Gonzalez Oregon, Soph
|
CB | ||||
Gonzalez, a Colorado transfer, is a big-time athlete who is still growing into the position. He has the size, strength and speed -- he ran a 4.38 40 at the combine -- to line up against NFL wide receivers; he just needs to improve in run support. |
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11 |
Peter Skoronski Northwestern, Jr
|
OT | ||||
The Titans added Andre Dillard and Daniel Brunskill in free agency to bolster the O-line but there's still room for improvement. Skoronski is solid and consistent, which are two of the best things you can say about an offensive lineman. The biggest issue he'll face during the pre-draft process will be arm length and whether his NFL future is at tackle or guard. But like he told us at the combine, there are plenty of NFL offensive tackles who have long arms and struggle too. That's not the final determinant of success. In Tennessee he can play inside on Day 1. |
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12 |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Ohio State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
The Texans got their QB with the No. 2 pick, and now they give him a legit Day 1 playmaker. Smith-Njigba, who barely saw the field during the 2022 season because of injuries, is still one of the top wideouts in the class. Before he shined at the Ohio State pro day, it was easy to forget that JSN led the 2021 Buckeyes in receptions and that corps included first-rounders Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, and future first-rounder Marvin Harrison Jr. |
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13 |
Broderick Jones Georgia, Soph
|
OT | ||||
The Jets added depth along the interior offensive line with Wes Schweitzer and Trystan Colon-Castillo, but questions remain about former first-rounder Mekhi Becton. It's a matter of if, not when, Aaron Rodgers arrives, and protecting him will be priority No. 1 given how good this defense was in 2022. Broderick Jones, meanwhile, had a strong '22 campaign for the Bulldogs, where he has faced some of the best defensive players in the country every day at practice for the last two years. He's not yet a finished product but he has the athleticism and strength to be a difference-maker when he puts it all together. |
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14 |
Devon Witherspoon Illinois, Jr
|
CB | ||||
The Patriots were busy the first week of free agency, beefing up the offense for Mac Jones. The team added tackle Riley Reiff, tight end Mike Gesicki, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back James Robinson. And even though the team re-upped cornerback Jonathan Jones, there isn't much depth at the position. Witherspoon had a great season for the Illini and while there will be questions about his 180-pound frame, you wouldn't know it to watch him play. |
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15 |
Jordan Addison USC, Jr
|
WR | ||||
Wide receiver Allen Lazard signed with the Jets and Randall Cobb might not be far behind, and the same could be true for tight end Marcedes Lewis. The other tight end, Robert Tonyan, already signed with the Bears. Put another way: even though the Packers have not historically used first-round picks on wide receivers, this might be the year. And with this tight end class being so deep, Green Bay can address that need with their 45th selection. Addison isn't a big target, but he's one of the most dynamic players in the country who can line up anywhere. He "only" managed a 4.49 40 at the combine but the tape is the tape -- and it consistently showed that he was regularly the best player on the field who can win at all three levels, playing either outside or in the slot. |
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16 |
Joey Porter Jr. Penn State, Jr
|
CB | ||||
Washington added guard Nick Gates and tackle Andrew Wylie in free agency so the urgency to upgrade the offensive line early in the draft is no longer what it once was. Instead, the team targets cornerback; Kendall Fuller is entering the final year of his contract and Benjamin St-Juste has been replacement level. Joey Porter Jr. is the prototypical big, physical cornerback who looks like he belongs in the NFL. He can sometimes get a little too handsy downfield but that doesn't mean he can't be dominant at the next level. |
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17 |
Brian Branch Alabama, Jr
|
S | ||||
The Steelers got interior offensive line help with Nate Herbig, Isaac Seumalo and others, and made some defensive moves with linebackers Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb and cornerback Patrick Peterson. Still, offensive tackle and edge rusher could be the play here, but with a run on both positions in the first half of the round, Pittsburgh instead targets S1, especially after losing Terrell Edmunds to the Eagles. Brian Branch is special; he can play in the slot, near the line of scrimmage or deep centerfield. And if Nick Saban trusted him at Alabama, that's all you need to know about his NFL prospects. He ran a 4.58 at the combine but he plays much faster than that. |
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18 |
Will Levis Kentucky, SrMOCK TRADE from DET
|
QB | ||||
Mock Trade from: DET We rounded out last week's pro day travels with a stop in Lexington, Kentucky to see Will Levis in person. He's built like a linebacker and watching him throw the ball in person is something to behold -- you can actually hear the passes whistle -- but questions remain about his ability to layer the ball to all three levels, and some inconsistencies when he rolls to his left. There's talk that he could slip on draft day and depending on how long he lasts, maybe a team like the Rams would make a move to get him. Because if anyone can get the most out of Levis' ability, it's Sean McVay. (In this mock trade, the Rams get pick No. 18 and the Lions get picks 36, 77, and a 2024 2nd-rounder.) |
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19 |
Anton Harrison Oklahoma, Jr
|
OT | ||||
There was some thought that Harrison might return to Oklahoma for an NIL deal that was too good to pass up but he's instead opted for the NFL. He's one of the top tackles in the class and now the question is whether he finds his way into Round 1 or goes early on Day 2. |
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20 |
O'Cyrus Torrence Florida, Jr
|
IOL | ||||
The Seahawks re-upped guard Phil Haynes on a one-year deal, but he and Damien Lewis will be out of contract after the '24 season, and while there's a need at center too, the team has the 37th (thanks, Denver!) and 52nd picks in Round 2 and there will be starting centers available in that range. Instead, the team goes with O'Cyrus Torrence, who transferred from Louisiana and didn't miss a beat in the SEC. He was dominant for Florida last fall, he was dominant during Senior Bowl practices, and if history is any guide, he'll be dominant in the NFL, too. |
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21 |
Bijan Robinson Texas, Jr
|
RB | ||||
Robinson is special, and while he is probably one of the best players in this class, he could still be around late in Round 1 because he's a running back. |
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22 |
Quentin Johnston TCU, Jr
|
WR | ||||
This is all contingent on Lamar Jackson returning to Baltimore, of course. But assuming this happens, the team has to get him some downfield weapons and they've been quiet in free agency through the first week. Here they get player who could end up WR1 on draft night. Johnston's an above-the-rim playmaker whose athleticism and contested-catch abilities were all over his tape at TCU. |
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23 |
Bryan Bresee Clemson, Soph
|
DL | ||||
The Vikings have four defensive tackles on the roster who will be free agents after the '23 season. And while Bresee's tape was uneven in '22, he suffered a family tragedy and was sick for much of the season. And the year before, he suffered an ACL injury. When he's healthy and locked in, Bresee is a special talent whose best football is ahead of him. |
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24 |
Darnell Wright Tennessee, Sr
|
OT | ||||
The Jags lost Jawaan Taylor in free agency and while Walker Little would seem to be next man up, the 2021 second-round pick wasn't able to beat out Taylor for the job last August. He fared well in fill-in duty at left tackle late last season but as Jacksonville looks to take the next step, protecting Trevor Lawrence is job No. 1. Wright is a first-round talent all day long and don't be surprised if he's RT1 -- and maybe even one of the first offensive linemen off the board. |
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25 |
Deonte Banks Maryland, Jr
|
CB | ||||
Maryland teammate and fellow cornerback Jakorian Bennett got much of the buzz in the fall but Banks put together the type of season that will land him in the first-round conversation. He's a fluid athlete who is also a big, physical corner who can match up with NFL wide receivers. |
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26 |
Luke Musgrave Oregon State, Jr
|
TE | ||||
Dalton Schultz signed with the Texans, and now the Cowboys have Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot and Sean McKeon at tight end, a group that combined for 32 receptions a season ago. Perhaps Dallas feels good about this group; Ferguson was a '22 fourth-rounder, and Hendershot and McKeon were both undrafted free agents. But none were as athletic as Schultz ... and that's where Musgrave comes in. He was getting some late-first/early Day-2 buzz down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, and while he didn't have a great week, it was certainly easy to see why teams like him. Musgrave missed most of '22 with an injury but he's well built, long, and has the athleticism to consistently separate from both safeties and linebackers. His blocking is a work in progress but he'll be a contributor in the passing game from Day 1. |
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27 |
Drew Sanders Arkansas, Jr
|
LB | ||||
Sanders is a former five-star who transferred from Alabama after the 2021 season and all he did was show out for the Razorbacks. He was an edge rusher for the Crimson Tide but he lined up all over the defense for Arkansas and he's been a one-man wrecking crew when he's on the field. |
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28 |
Michael Mayer Notre Dame, Jr
|
TE | ||||
The Notre Dame standout told us at the combine that he loves the way Travis Kelce plays the position, and while he may not be quite that athletic, Mayer is already a better blocker. He's also a legit downfield threat who it's easy to imagine quickly becoming another one of Joe Burrow's favorite targets. |
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29 |
Keion White Georgia Tech, Sr
|
DL | ||||
White was another player who had a great week at the Senior Bowl, and NFL teams love his size (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) and his motor. He consistently wins at the line of scrimmage and is good against both the run and getting after the quarterback. He may eventually end up going early on Day 2 but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him slip into the first round. |
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30 |
Nolan Smith Georgia, Sr
|
EDGE | ||||
Nolan Smith missed part of the 2022 season with a pectoral injury but he's is an electric pass rusher when healthy. He's also a freakish athlete -- he ripped off a 4.39 40 at the combine (and was mad about running too slow!). That motor is all over his tape and he'd fill a huge need in Philly. |
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31 |
Dawand Jones Ohio State, Sr
|
OT | ||||
The Chiefs lost left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency and signed Jawaan Taylor, the former Jaguars right tackle. The plan is to move Taylor to the left side, which means there's a need on the right, even if Lucas Niang is currently penciled in there on the depth chart. Dawand Jones had a great season and it was hard to overlook just how dominant he was in one day of practice at the Senior Bowl. Yes, his footwork needs some fine-tuning but his huge frame, long arms and enormous wingspan more than make up for what he lacks in quickness. He's block-out-the-sun big, even when standing next to his offensive linemates. |
# | Team | Player | Pos | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
C.J. Stroud Ohio State, Jr
|
QB | ||||
Traded from: CHI While I still like Anthony Richardson going No. 1 overall more than anything else, it's time to explore a different avenue to observe the ripple effect on the first round. Stroud would also be a fantastic selection for the Panthers here. |
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2 |
Bryce Young Alabama, Jr
|
QB | ||||
The Texans upgrade the quarterback position in a big way with Young, who has all the improvisational brilliance to succeed in today's NFL. This feels like it's becoming more and more accepted as to where Young will land if he's not the first pick. |
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3 |
Will Anderson Jr. Alabama, Jr
|
EDGE | ||||
Maybe the Cardinals don't trade down at all, instead giving their young defensive-minded head coach a blue chip edge-rushing prospect in Anderson. |
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4 |
Anthony Richardson Florida, Soph
|
QB | ||||
Glorious development for the Colts. They don't have to move up to land Richardson and get a big, ultra-athletic quarterback for Shane Steichen. |
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5 |
Tyree Wilson Texas Tech, Sr
|
EDGE | ||||
The Seahawks landed stud interior pass-rusher Dre'Mont Jones in free agency and pair him with the long, bendy, athletic edge-rusher Wilson at No. 5 overall. |
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6 |
Will Levis Kentucky, SrMOCK TRADE from DET
|
QB | ||||
Mock Trade from: DET The Commanders see a Levis fall materializing and trade with the Lions. Current Washington GM Martin Mayhew was the Lions GM from 2008 to 2015. |
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7 |
Christian Gonzalez Oregon, Soph
|
CB | ||||
The Raiders still have to add pieces to the secondary and Gonzalez has the length, burst and speed to be the first corner off the board. |
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8 |
Devon Witherspoon Illinois, Jr
|
CB | ||||
Witherspoon is ultra feisty at the line and plays the ball fantastically in the air. The Falcons have to tighten things up in their defensive backfield. |
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9 |
Lukas Van Ness Iowa, Soph
|
EDGE | ||||
Traded from: ARI Van Ness is a young, long and athletic outside pass rusher with plenty of size. Perfect addition to the Bears defense. |
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10 |
Jalen Carter Georgia, Jr
|
DL | ||||
This isn't a massive need for the Eagles -- or one at all. But with Carter's teammates Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean already on the roster, they could feel more comfortable with picking Carter at the tail end of the top 10. |
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11 |
Broderick Jones Georgia, Soph
|
OT | ||||
Jones is super strong and athletic with his best football in front of him. After his combine workout, he probably solidified himself as OT1 in this class. |
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12 |
Nolan Smith Georgia, Sr
|
EDGE | ||||
The Texans go with Smith here because of the immense upside he possesses due to his ridiculous athletic profile. |
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13 |
Paris Johnson Jr. Ohio State, JrMOCK TRADE from NYJ
|
OT | ||||
Mock Trade from: NYJ Kincaid can instantly connect with Jordan Love as a trusty, YAC specialist over the middle. |
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14 |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Ohio State, Jr
|
WR | ||||
The Patriots have to get more dynamic at receiver and Smith-Njigba is exactly that type of wideout, particularly in space. Bill Belichick will love his short-area quickness and how well he tested in the agility drills at the combine. |
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15 |
Peter Skoronski Northwestern, Jr
|
OT | ||||
Skoronski's likely positional versatility at the next level makes him a priority for the Packers, who like to move their blockers all around the line. |
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16 |
Quentin Johnston TCU, JrMOCK TRADE from WAS
|
WR | ||||
Mock Trade from: WAS The Lions get their outside, go-up-and-get-it receiver after a trade back and net Washington's third-round pick (No. 97) plus a 2024 first-round selection in the move. Win! |
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17 |
Calijah Kancey Pittsburgh, Jr
|
DL | ||||
Kancey is the Javon Hargrave replacement the Steelers have missed for the past few seasons. |
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18 |
Bijan Robinson Texas, Jr
|
RB | ||||
The Lions are the club that snags Robinson in Round 1, and they can accentuate his early prime years with the awesome blocking unit they have in Detroit. |
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19 |
Darnell Wright Tennessee, Sr
|
OT | ||||
With this selection, the Buccaneers can flip Tristan Wirfs to left tackle and stay very good at the right tackle spot with the strong and advanced Wright. |
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20 |
Zay Flowers Boston College, Sr
|
WR | ||||
How about a Tyler Lockett-type wideout to learn from ... Tyler Lockett in Seattle? |
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21 |
Deonte Banks Maryland, Jr
|
CB | ||||
The Chargers add a long, springy, ultra-athletic cornerback to the secondary in Banks. Good value here, too. |
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22 |
Joey Porter Jr. Penn State, Jr
|
CB | ||||
Porter's length and man-coverage capabilities are too tantalizing for the Ravens to pass on the Penn State product at this juncture of Round 1. |
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23 |
Hendon Hooker Tennessee, Sr
|
QB | ||||
The Vikings have other needs, but instead of hoping to bottom out or attempt to a glut of extra picks to move up in next year's draft to pick a quarterback, they pick Hooker and get him with the fifth-year option. |
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24 |
Adetomiwa Adebawore Northwestern, Sr
|
DL | ||||
More supreme athleticism up front for the Jaguars with Adebawore, who ran 4.49 at 282 pounds in Indianapolis. He can win as an edge rusher or inside. |
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25 |
Joe Tippmann Wisconsin, Jr
|
IOL | ||||
The Giants are figuratively thin on the interior of their offensive line, and Tippmann is a highly athletic blocker from Wisconsin with big-time upside. |
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26 |
Darnell Washington Georgia, Jr
|
TE | ||||
Washington is a sixth offensive lineman every time he's on the field and has monster upside as a receiver at this size and with his athleticism. |
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27 |
Jack Campbell Iowa, Sr
|
LB | ||||
Campbell has Tremaine Edmunds size and awesome coverage chops. Immediate Edmunds replacement for Buffalo. |
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28 |
Michael Mayer Notre Dame, Jr
|
TE | ||||
Another well-rounded weapon for Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. Targeting this position early came into focus after the loss of Hayden Hurst in free agency. |
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29 |
Jahmyr Gibbs Alabama, Jr
|
RB | ||||
Gibbs has Alvin Kamara-like explosiveness and receiving capabilities, and while maybe not the best allocation of a first-round draft pick from a long-term perspective, it helps the Saints offense right now. |
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30 |
Brian Branch Alabama, Jr
|
S |