By: Jake Rajala

Entering the 2022 NFL season, it seemed more probable that the New York Giants would start 1-6 than 6-1. Yet, the GMEN stand proud at 6-1 — which is a more potent record than every team in the gutsy AFC West & NFC West. Nonetheless, it must be noted that the not-so-little Giants are second in their division (behind the 6-0 Philadelphia Eagles). The Giants still need to keep the gas on the pedal & stride to win the NFC East for the first time since 2011. Hence, I’m going to untwine a few reasons why the Giants can legitimately win the NFC East.

• Saquon Barkley

The biggest asset to the Giants squad is undoubtedly the former Penn State football & weight room legend, Saquon Barkley. The Giants RB1 is second in the league in rushing yards and he has more carries than any other half-back this season. The re-birth from Barkley is also a monster reason why the Giants offense ranks fifth in the time of possession (TOP). The Giants lean on Barkley to erase opponents by a thousand cuts.

• Battle-tested

The Giants have won six games this season, but it should be noted that the Giants victories have been against playoff-caliber teams. The Giants beat the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens two weeks ago & the mighty Aaron Rodgers-led Packers three weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Eagles have only played one brutal opponent: the Minnesota Vikings. The Eagles did play against the Boys, but let’s not forget that Jerry’s team was led by none other than Cooper Rush.

• Kavyon Thibodeaux

The Giants rookie pass rusher Kavyon Thibodeaux didn’t notch a sack last week, but he didn’t stop pressuring Trevor Lawrence. Thibodeaux unequivocally has the makeup to be an All-Pro in this league. It’s completely okay if the Giants pass-rusher doesn’t play like Lawrence Taylor in his rookie season — as J.J. Watt and Khalil Mack combined for 9.5 sacks in their rookie campaigns. I expect the Giants DE that missed the first couple of contests to improve his craft & be unstoppable as the season progresses.

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By: Jake Rajala

The New York Giants are more complex than the INTJ personality type and it’s unclear in which direction they will move next season. The new head coach & offensive guru Brian Daboll and a healthy Saquon Barkley can certainly benefit from breakout studs next season. With that said, I’m going to simply untwine three breakout candidates on the NY Giants.

Kadarius Toney

The polarizing, second-year WR Kadarius Toney should excel under Daboll in the Big Apple. Toney may be nursing an injury in OTAs, but Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com nicely points out how Toney was MIA at this portion of OTAs in the last off-season. Daboll will be happy to get Toney involved, as the Giants HC has a knack for making slot weapons very productive. The former Bills WR Cole Beasley was second-team All-Pro in 2020 and he also had 105+ targets in each of his three seasons in New York. All in all, Toney has underperformed given his gifted ability, and I expect a hungry in a better situation to explode in 2022.

Kavyon Thibodeaux

The Giants rookie pass rusher may be a very high draft pick, but there have been too many highly-anticipated rookie edge rushers that unveiled modest performances in their careers. I love Thibodeaux’s ceiling, but I am also a big fan of the Giants DC Don Martindale and his aggressive, creative approach to football. He should cook up plenty of exciting match-ups for the rook next to the versatile Leonard Williams.

Daniel Jones

It may feel like the worn-down Daniel Jones has been in the league for several seasons, but Jones is still riding on his rookie contract. Danny Dimes hasn’t quite lived up to his rookie season (24 passing TDs, including superb deep-throwing ability). I trust that Jones has the best opportunity in his career with the former Josh Allen coach, a highly motivated Barkley, and Evan Neal at RT. I believe he can throw around 30 passing touchdowns and make splash plays in the underrated offense.

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By: Jake Rajala

The New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is creating an old-school, high-tempo defense in the Big Apple. Martindale will want his young defense featuring fifth overall pick Kavyon Thibodeaux to live and die by the sword moving forward. Per the New York Post, the Ravens defensive unit under Martindale had the highest pressure rate in 2018, 2019, and 2020. It’s safe to say that Martindale, aka the wiser version of former blitzaholic and NFL DC Gregg Williams, will keep brainstorming next-level, bad-ass schematics to harass Dak Prescott until the game clock hits :00.

As previously stated, the Giants focal piece on their defense will be the rookie Kavyon Thibodeaux. Per Big Blue View, the Giants outside linebackers coach Dean Wilkins feels strongly about the rook and stated, “He was just a great fit for us and Wink’s defense. If Wink were to create an outside linebacker in a lab this would be Kavyon Thibodeaux. He’s got all the skillsets that we look for. He can be a dominant edge setter, explosive, violent, relentless pass rusher, and then everything else you see required in the package. Really all those things combined it’s just a good fit for us.”

Kavyon is praised as a DROY candidate and he would be the first Giant to win DROY since Lawrence Taylor.

The Giants pass rush and front seven should reap benefits from numerous, new faces. Yet, it’s important to not forget about the NYG secondary. Per Giants Wire, The Giants shiny and bold DC expressed that Jerome Henderson is the best DB coach in the NFL. Henderson will be tasked with improving a Giants pass defense that will have a few third-year or younger starters.

It’s hard to foresee if the Giants can have an elite defense as early as 2022. It’s also unclear if Henderson is the number one DB coach in the league. Although, it’s a fact that the Giants energy and confidence is very high between the players and coaches at this point in time.

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By; Jake Rajala

The New York Giants are a tough team to crack. The NYG could play spoilers in 2022 with a healthy Saquon Barkley, a wiser Daniel Jones, and a talented WR group, or they could continue to struggle to find consistency on offense for a variety of reasons. With that said, I’m going to aim to diagnose three of their biggest concerns in 2022.

OL performance

The Giants talent at RB, WR, and QB strongly revolves around the consistent success of OL. The Giants don’t have the same offensive firepower as Cincy, as the Bengals were able to escape their lack of quality pass protection (until the last play of the SB). The Giants will ask a lot out of their rookie RT Evan Neal, who was once a favorite to be picked first overall. Mark Glowinski will likely be a new, above-average run blocker at RG for the GMEN, as well.

Kadarius Toney

The Giants appear to be keeping Kadarius Toney (who is recovering from minor knee surgery), but the Giants 2021 first-round pick will still need to steal the show in his sophomore season. The Giants lost Evan Engram and Toney really needs to be a quality WR2 option at the very least. If the Giants want to be a wild-card team and capitalize on the expected production from a healthy 25-year-old Barkley, they need to be Toney to be on par with the Dolphins second-year WR Jaylen Waddle.

Giants pass rush

It will be near impossible for the Giants to be a force in the NFC without an above-average pass-rush. Thankfully, the Giants have Leonard Williams and a potential DROY candidate in Kavyon Thibodeaux. Per Sports Illustrated, the former Oregon Duck stands with Aidan Hutchinson as DROY favorites. If the Giants display a lethal pass-rushing duo with an offense featuring Jones as an “Alex Smith-like QB” and Barkley returning back from the dead, the Giants could have noticeable growth from their 4-13 record in 2021.

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By: Jake Rajala

The New York Giants have a new energy with Brian Daboll and a healthy Saquon Barkley in 2022. The Giants witnessed their ex-CB James Bradberry sign with Philly, but they nicely inked a new CB yesterday: Maurice Canaday. The Giants new CB started six games for the Dallas Cowboys last and he could be a contributor on the outside for NY.

Outside of NFC East CBs playing musical chairs, the Giants will really anticipate a star developing from their edge rusher spot in Kavyon Thibodeaux. The Giants rookie is projected to have an excellent rookie season by Pro Football Focus. In fact, there is only one rookie defender primed to be more productive than the former Oregon Duck: Aidan Hutchinson. Assuming Thibodeaux has a head full of steam after countless scouts criticized his lack of effort, he could even have a higher ceiling than Hutch in his first season.

The Giants will anticipate Kavyon becoming the next “Justin Tuck”, but the team still revolves around the explosion of Saquon Barkley. He can be their most productive player and it would be very difficult for NYG to be a potent team without an excellent Barkley.

It appears that Barkley is off to a good start at this moment. He looks fresh and healthy in OTAs, according to Giants Wire. I honestly don’t expect Barkley to follow Todd Gurley’s path by falling off a cliff, as the 25-year-old hasn’t suffered too many unfortunate injuries. Although, he will need his friend Evan Neal to help him in 2022. He was once considered a strong candidate to land first overall, but the Giants were fortunate to land him at seventh overall.

Shaun O’Hara stated the following on Giants.com about the Giants rookie tackle, “versatile, also very powerful”. He also expressed that Neal’s ability to change direction is impressive for his size.

It may seem like the new horses on Philadelphia and Washington overshadow the new talent on the Giants this off-season. Yet, the Giants could still be a secret challenger in the NFC with a healthy Barkley, a DROY-caliber player in Thibodeaux, and an improved Daniel Jones. The Eagles were a surprise team in 2021 and it may be time for the Giants beat the NFL world’s expectations in 2022.

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By: Andy Davies

The first round of the NFL Draft is complete, with trades galore and plenty of wide receivers taken. It is the first Draft since 2013 to have no quarterback selected in the first five picks and the first time since 1994 that the first four picks have all been defensive players.

The New York Giants had the fifth and seventh overall selections and they hit a home run on the deaf, taking Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal with those picks. Unless some trades take place, the Giants will have the 36th overall pick.

In the past 24 hours, news broke that the Giants were not exercising the fifth-year option on quarterback Daniel Jones. There was only one quarterback taken in the first round, with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking Kenny Pickett 20th overall. One quarterback who is in Vegas is Liberty QB, Malik Willis.

Here is why you should not rule out the Giants taking Willis.

The option to decline the fifth-year option is a big indication that the organization does not feel you are the answer moving forward. Willis was projected to go as high as second overall to the Detroit Lions in some mock drafts, with the other highly predicted destination was with the Carolina Panthers at number six. Instead, the Lions took edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and the Panthers took Ikem Ekwonu with those picks.

The first three teams to select in the second round are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans. None of these teams are desperate for a quarterback. Tampa Bay has Tom Brady, the Vikings have given Kirk Cousins an extension, and the Titans have Tannehill. People felt Jones was a reach as soon as he was taken sixth overall in 2019, causing various fan reactions to be placed on Youtube that could make a turkey at Christmas laugh.

He has not delivered, despite the nickname ”˜Danny Dimes’. Across his three seasons in the Big Apple, he has thrown for 8,398 yards as well as 45 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He has never had a quarterback rating above 56 and 3,027 yards is the most he has thrown in an NFL season. His three seasons in the league go as follows: 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2019, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2020 and 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 2021.

With Tannehill not attending voluntary OTA’s, this has led to some believing he wants out but head coach Mike Vrabel also didn’t attend. However, he did throw costly interceptions in the Divisional Round that cost his Titans team a place in the AFC Championship game despite sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow nine times.

The Titans and the Buccaneers could be teams that go for him with Brady not guaranteed to be there next season and Tannehill’s big game potential has been questioned all offseason. These teams have more addressing needs, which may mean they look at the likes of Desmond Ridder, Matt Corral, and Sam Howell with later picks. This would open up the door for the Giants to take Willis with the 36th overall pick. Whilst they also have more addressing needs, “a major need is the QB position” and they may feel he has too high a ceiling to pass on him for the third time.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Pittsburgh Steelers featured the 2021 Defensive Player of The Year T.J. Watt. What if the Steelers brought in Kavyon Thibodeaux, who recently clocked a 4.65, to play next to Watt and Cameron Heyward? I believe the AFC conference that features so many prominent quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Josh Allen, would be scared at that sight.

The draft pick of Kavyon wouldn’t only be exciting because he has an elite grade and he could play next to Watt, but the Steelers could also cut Stephon Tuitt, who carries a $13.9 million cap hit. The Steelers led the league in sacks last season, but the expensive Tuitt played a mere zero games. Kavyon would be a monster replacement for Tuitt.

I also would like to see the Steelers priorize signing a QB like Marcus Mariota or even Tyrod Taylor to compete with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins. Mariota can certainly be an upgrade over the 2021 version of Ben Roethlisberger, especially with the weapons he will have in Chase Claypool, Dionate Johnson, and Najee Harris. Tomlin has also stated that he wants an athletic QB.

The Steelers have been favored to trade up to select a QB like Sam Howell or Malik Willis. Instead, they should trade up to select a defensive player that can shake the NFL in a way that Micah Parsons did in 2021. Kavyon is a gifted DE that can chase down RBs and beat pass blockers with strength. He would have incredible matchups with Watt and Heyward on the defensive front, too. We witnessed the LA Rams win the Super Bowl largely because of Aaron Donald and Von Miller demolishing offenses side by side.

Kavyon reminds me a lot of Marcus Davenport of the New Orleans Saints. Davenport was one of the best edge rushers per snap in 2021, but injuries haunted him. Kavyon also has the rare power that Myles Garrett displays on the Browns. If Kavyon has the production of Garrett early in his career, they could unleash a defense similar to the Legion of Boom or the Von Miller-led defense in 2015.

It might be dreamy to imagine a QB like Malik Willis as the next Lamar Jackson or Russell Wilson, but it not be the best choice for the Steelers. I believe that a rookie QB will also take more time to develop at the pro level than Kavyon. The Steelers might have lost Big Ben, but that shouldn’t disguise the fact that the Steelers are built to “win now”. They can get the gold with their defense leading the charge. The Bucs defense stifled Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LV and the Rams lit up Joe Burrow in Super Bowl LVI.

Watt and Heyward in their prime, while their offense has many weapons content together at the moment. They should add a talented QB that can take care of the football like Mariota in free agency, while they address a “need” position by inking a profile that’s listed as the fourth best overall draft profile by Pro Football Focus and best overall prospect by CBS Sports.

The post Why the Steelers should really trade up for Kavyon Thibodeaux appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Tom Rodriguez

The NFL season is coming to a close and most franchises will begin looking towards the players that they need to lead their franchise to future prominence. The 2022 NFL draft is unlike one we have seen in quite some time. It has gotten much less talk than in past classes. The main reason for that is the quarterbacks. They’re bad. We have been spoiled by talented passers for years and now it’s time for a much less “sexy” draft. This is an overwhelming “eat your vegetables” draft. Many of the better players play in the trenches, which is where many teams believe you should start building your roster from. On the outside, there are a nice crop of defensive backs and wide receivers as well. It may be weak at quarterback and running back, but the 2022 class featured plenty of elite prospects. With that being said, the top five of this draft is sure to be exciting. Here’s a quick mock of the top five!

Disclaimer

This order is the current NFL draft order (before the final week of the regular season has been played). Also, this mock draft is predictive, not what I would do.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

As stated previously, this mock is predictive, not opinionated. Aidan Hutchinson would not be my “EDGE1” as of right now (Hell, he may not even be my EDGE2 right now). However, the NFL seems to be big fans of the Wolverines’ pass rusher. With fourteen sacks and two forced fumbles in 2021, Hutchinson was one of the most dominant players in the country. Jacksonville already has Josh Allen coming off the edge, but have yet to find him a true partner. With a big swing and a miss on 2020 first round pick K’Lavon Chaisson so far.

Detroit Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

Billed as the consensus best player in the class back in the Summer, Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux did not have the dominant season that many expected him to. Most of that was because of an early season injury that caused him to miss some time. With the best traits of the entire EDGE class, he’s the perfect pick for a rebuilding team that is looking to add some high level talent on defense. Detroit showed some signs of life this season, and Thibodeaux turning into the player we all expect him to be would go a long way in expediting their timeline.

Houston Texans: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

The wisest thing for the Houston Texans to do with Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal is to do what was done to Laremy Tunsil as a rookie. Who better to help Neal come along than Tunsil himself. With the Miami Dolphins in 2016, Tunsil played guard while Miami was waiting for Brandon Albert’s contract to finish. In 2017, Tunsil was then moved back to his natural position of left tackle. Neal has guard experience and can form a formidable left side in 2022 with Tunsil. The Texans may be heading into full rebuild mode and move off of some veterans soon. Deshaun Watson will be traded soon for a cavalcade of draft picks. The high priced Tunsil may be on the move after that. Neal, a towering mauler at left tackle brings more natural strength to this franchise than they currently have. A little raw in pass protection, Neal is not a perfect prospect. However, he has the traits and position versatility to warrant a top three selection.

New York Jets: Derek Stingley, CB, LSU

It’s high time to address the cornerback room in the Big Apple. The Jets corner room is about as uninspiring as any in the league. There are some encouraging youngsters in Bryce Hall and Brandon Echols. However, the AFC East currently runs through Buffalo and that means two things: 1. You have to deal with Stefon Diggs and 2. You have to deal with as many four and five wide receiver sets as anyone else. Derek Stingley, a high caliber athlete and potential lockdown corner is the best option to deal with those realities. Stingley burst onto the scene in the Tigers undefeated 2019 season with six interceptions as a true freshman. However, injuries and game cancellations limited him to just ten starts in the last two years. Stingley has been on the NFL radar for some time and should expect to be picked rather high.

New York Giants: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Pick good football players. Many people will have Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton as their top rated player in the class. That billing would be entirely justified. Hamilton does it all and that isn’t hyperbole. Coverage, run fits, tackling, athleticism; there’s nothing he can’t do. Now, would current Giants general manager Dave Gettleman make this pick? Unlikely. However, the Giants are likely to have a new man in charge very soon! If that’s the case, you would hope it is someone young whose football mind is adapting with the times, or in simpler terms, the antithesis of Gettleman. How likely is that hire to be made? From the owner who is in heavy support of the new taunting rule, it also feels unlikely. We can always dream.

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By: Jacob Keppen

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, OT Alabama

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a mess. They look like a team lost without direction, and without a leader. There is only one position you can count on heading into next year, and that’s rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence has had an up and down rookie year, but has definitely shown great flashes for the future. Evan Neal has the makings of a franchise left tackle who will keep Lawrence safe, and really bolster the Jags run game. Neal is massive at 6’7 350 and moves like a man half his size.

2. Detroit Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE Oregon

For as bad as the Lions record is through five games — which is currently winless under new coach Dan Campbell, the record is a tad bit deceiving. Unlike the Jags and Dolphins who have been completely outmatched in most contests this year, the Lions have been able to keep most games generally close. Three of the Lions games this year have come within a possession, including their latest against the Vikings where it looked like they would win. Kayvon Thibodeaux is the best player in the class and can hopefully help the Lions turn competitive contests into actual wins. Thibodeaux is an elite defensive end prospect who can possibly transform a defense. The Lions hold out from picking a QB and grab a decade talent with Kavyon.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami): Kyle Hamilton, S Notre Dame

What a surprise! The Eagles are picking in the top three”¦ but it’s not with their own pick! With their Miami pick they acquired via trade during this past offseason, the Eagles decide to get a true playmaker on defense. As a whole, the Eagles lack talent outside of the defensive line. Kyle Hamilton has game changing ability at safety, and will give coordinator Jonathan Gannon a true playmaker in the secondary.

4. New York Jets: Derek Stingley, CB LSU

The biggest need on the Jets has to be at cornerback. The options for New York in the secondary are; 6th round pick Brandin Echols, second year player Bryce Hall, and 5th round rookie Michael Carter. There have been flashes, but ultimately not enough to pass up on Stingley. Draft fans have been waiting for Stingley to be draft eligible since his freshman year. Stingley has the build of a lockdown corner in the NFL.

5. Houston Texans: Demarvin Leal, DL Texas A&M

The Houston Texans pretty much need help everywhere. Quarterback is an intriguing option, but the Texans did just take Davis Mills in the third round last year, and this quarterback class doesn’t look great early on. Demarvin Leal has been dominant the past two years, providing great versatility as a guy who can truly line up anywhere on the defensive line. The Texans need talent wherever they can get it, and Leal can be a potential big part of the next era of Texans football.

6. New York Giants: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE Michigan

Azeez Ojulari has been a hit so far for the Giants in his rookie year. The second round pick out of Georgia is already showing the pass rushing ability that made so many excited about him during the offseason. The giants defensive line is trending in the right direction with Ojulari and Leonard Williams, and Aidan Hutchinson can be the star edge rusher they’ve been looking to add to the mix. Hutchinson has been on a tear so far this season, living in the backfield with six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks through six games. The tape has been phenomenal, Hutchinson looking like one of the best players in football this season.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis): Andrew Booth, CB Clemson

Philadelphia’s second selection this year, and it again isn’t their own. While the Colts may not play Wentz the required 75% of snaps for the pick to convert from a second rounder if they’re looking at a bottom ten finish, in this scenario the Eagles take advantage. The Eagles need help on defense, especially at cornerback (we’ve been saying this for nearly a decade now.) Andrew Booth has all the athleticism and man coverage ability that you look for in a potential standout corner. He can learn a ton from Slay and eventually be Philly’s lockdown corner.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Malik Willis, QB Liberty

Atlanta needs a quarterback for the future. They needed a quarterback for the future last year, but opted for Florida tight end Kyle Pitts instead. This year, even if the class is a bit of a step back from last year, the Falcons cannot afford to do so again. Matt Ryan is 36. Malik Willis has possibly the highest ceiling in the 2022 quarterback class, but is definitely a bit more raw of a prospect than you’d hope for. He has phenomenal athleticism and arm strength, and hopefully can learn a lot sitting behind an extremely experienced and successful quarterback in Ryan.

9. New England Patriots: Kaiir Elam, CB Florida

There is such a temptation for New England to take a wide receiver here. They have a good line and just need to get Mac Jones some weapons. With the amount of money they dealt out to receiving options over the offseason, and the recent trading of Stephon Gilmore I’d be surprised to see them go wide receiver over a secondary option. Kaiir Elam is a big aggressive corner who can be another star corner in New England.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: Tyler Linderbaum, IOL Iowa.

The final of the three top 10 picks owned by the Eagles is their own. After addressing the dire needs in the secondary, the Eagles opt for one of the best overall players in the draft in Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum. Though the Eagles drafted Landon Dickerson in the second round last year, Dickerson easily could just stay at guard and be Brandon Brooks’ future replacement. Linderbaum is nearly a Jason Kelce clone and has all-pro potential. Philly builds through their lines and they do so again with a terrific center in Linderbaum.

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By: Chris Thomas

There are exactly seven months until the 2022 NFL Draft. But it is never too early to speculate on which prospect can be drafted early and which teams they could fit well with. The first three weeks of the NFL season have shown some surprising potential contenders and a few teams who could take a step back this season. While in the first four weeks of college football some prospects have confirmed their preseason hype that they could be early selections of the upcoming draft. Other prospects have not lived up to their preseason hype.

The draft order was created using NFL Playoff Predictor. Here is a brand new 2022 mock draft.

1. New York Jets (1-16): Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

Regardless of who lands the first overall pick, unless the team desperately needs a quarterback Kayvon Thibodeaux should be the first overall pick. Robert Saleh could build a defensive line rotation similarly to how he built his in San Fransisco with Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, Shaq Lawson, Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, Folorunso Fatukasi, and Thibodeaux. 

2. Atlanta Falcons (2-15): Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

The Atlanta Falcons were wildly criticized for passing on a potential franchise quarterback prospect in Justin Fields this past year. They could select this year’s QB1 Malik Willis whose mobility adds a dynamic to this offense that Matt Ryan lacks. 

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-15): Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

Pittsburgh desperately needs offensive line help and a replacement for Ben Roethlisberger. At the top of the draft, they could take Matt Corral who many believe has been the best quarterback in college football this season. 

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

Both Trevor Lawerence and Urban Meyer have struggled to transition to the NFL. Giving Trevor a new blindside protector in Evan Neal would help him feel a lot more comfortable in the pocket.

5. Houston Texans (3-14): Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

After taking Davis Mills in the third round this past draft the Houston Texans may opt to go with the best player available in the first round. Derek Stingley Jr. is both the best player available and fills a need at cornerback which they have had since they were a playoff team. 

6. New York Giants (3-14): George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

Outside of a few players, it seems the New York Giants could replace anyone on the roster. Adding an edge rusher like George Karlaftis would give New York a legitimate pass rusher to play opposite 2021 second-round pick Azeez Ojulari. 

7. New York Giants (via Chicago Bears (3-14)): Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M

After how the Chicago Bears have looked during the first three weeks the New York Giants could likely land a top-10 pick from the Justin Fields trade. The offensive line must be a priority for the Giants and Kenyon Green would be a massive help to what many believe is the worst unit in the league. 

8. Indianapolis Colts (4-13): Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

If Carson Wentz plays less than 70% of the teams and the team makes the playoffs snaps or 75% of the snaps and doesn’t make the playoffs the Colts could retain their first-round pick. Indianapolis could add the best receiver in the draft Chris Olave to replace T.Y. Hilton and be Wentz’s number one receiver.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11): DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M

This past offseason the Cincinnati Bengals said goodbye to an all-time franchise great Geno Atkins. They could fill the void left by Atkins with a talented prospect like DeMarvin Leal whose addition would potentially put the Bengals defensive line into elite territory. 

10. Detriot Lions (6-11): Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

The Detriot Lions have lost three heartbreaking games at the beginning of the year that were each in reach of winning. For the second straight season, Detriot could elect to go with the best player available and take safety Kyle Hamilton to help this struggling young secondary. 

11. Washington Football Team (6-11): Sean Rhyan, OT, UCLA

A quarterback could be tempting to take in the first round for Washington, but they may want to give Taylor Heinicke a chance to be the team’s starting quarterback without anyone breathing down his neck. Washington can look at Sean Rhyan as their Trent Williams replacement since 2021 second-round pick Samuel Cosmi is playing right tackle. 

12. Minnesota Vikings (6-11): Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

Minnesota has holes across their defense that need to be filled. Since this draft is so deep at cornerback they could address their needs at pass rusher by adding Aidan Hutchinson to play opposite Danielle Hunter. 

13. New England Patriots (8-9): Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

It seems very clear that the New England Patriots and Stephon Gilmore will part ways this offseason. Taking a productive cornerback like Ahmad Gardner in the first round could help fill the void of the former defensive player of the year. 

14. Baltimore Ravens (8-9): Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

Marcus Peters will miss the entire season with a torn ACL and could be a cap casualty because the Ravens need to give Lamar Jackson an extension. Andrew Booth Jr. is a raw cornerback with a lot of talent that could be coached up well by Baltimore’s coaching staff. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-9): Darian Kinnard, IOL, Kentucky

Philadelphia has dealt with a lot of injury issues over the last couple of seasons across their roster, especially along the offensive line. Offensive lineman Darian Kennard could replace Brandon Brooks who the Eagles tried to trade away last offseason and potentially take over for Lane Johnson who is also often injured. 

16. New Orleans Saints (9-8): Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

There is no receiving core in the league with less depth than the New Orleans Saints. Since Michael Thomas’ long-term status with the team is in question, taking a player like Treylon Burks would give New Orleans a potential number one receiver or great number two to give Jameis Winston. 

17. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins (10-7)): Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern

Somehow this offseason the Philadelphia Eagles managed to sign Anthony Harris to a contract for one year $5 million. The Eagles could take ballhawk Brandon Joseph to replace him next year and going forward. 

18. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks (11-6)): Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

The New York Jets cornerback group may be the least talented position group in the entire league. They could take Kaiir Elam in the first round with Seattle’s first-round pick to give them a legitimate cornerback to cover the talented receivers in their division.

19. Denver Broncos (10-7): Carson Strong, QB, Nevada

The Denver Broncos appear to be the favorite to land Aaron Rodgers in the offseason, but cannot bank on it until the trade is official. Strong arm quarterback Carson Strong would be a perfect fit for Denver as their franchise going forward. 

20. Dallas Cowboys (10-7): Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati

After addressing defense early and often in last year’s draft Dallas’ defensive rebuild isn’t entirely over. Dallas could take edge rusher Myjai Sanders to give DeMarcus Lawerence some help rushing the quarterback. 

21. Arizona Cardinals (11-6): Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia

The combination of Patrick Peterson leaving in free agency and the sudden retirement of Malcolm Butler has opened up a gaping hole on this roster at cornerback. Derion Kendrick’s skillset feels like a perfect fit in Arizona and his addition would move Byron Murphy back to the slot where he is a lot more comfortable. 

22. Miami Dolphins (via San Fransisco 49ers (11-6)): Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

A shocking cut Miami made this year was linebacker Bernardrick McKinney who they acquired from Houston in a trade with the Houston Texans for Shaq Lawson. Miami could take their third former Alabama Crimson Tide player in the first round in three years in linebacker Christian Hill to fortify their front seven and run defense.

23. Las Vegas Raiders (13-4): Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa

Since Mike Mayock has taken over as the general manager for the Las Vegas Raiders they have become completely unpredictable in the first round. Tyler Linderbaum would be a safe pick to help improve this offensive line that had three starters from last season traded away. 

24. Los Angeles Chargers (13-4): Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC

Through three weeks it appears that Los Angeles is ready to compete in AFC. Since both Uchenna Nwosu and Kyler Fackrell are free agents this offseason the Chargers could take local prospect Drake Jackson in the first round to fill their void opposite Joey Bosa. 

25. Tennessee Titans (11-6): Jaxson Kirkland, OT, Washington

The Tennessee Titans’ secondary and offensive line has been exposed early as the team’s biggest weaknesses on their roster. Jaxson Kirkland is a nasty offensive lineman who is versatile to play either right tackle or guard wherever they don’t play 2021 second-round pick Dillon Radunz. 

26. Carolina Panthers (12-5): Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

Carolina appears to be a playoff contender after going undefeated after the first three weeks. One glaring need on this roster is at the offensive line which could be addressed with small school prospect Trevor Penning who has been shooting up draft boards in recent weeks. 

27. Green Bay Packers (13-4): Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

This offseason has the potential to have some major roster changes this offseason including trading away 2020-21 MVP Aaron Rodgers and figuring out what to do with Davante Adams. If the Packers trade away Adams (on a franchise tag) or let him walk in free agency they could add wide receiver Garrett Wilson to try to fill the void against who many believe is the best receiver in the NFL. 

28. Cleveland Browns (15-2): Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina

The Cleveland Browns have one of the most complete teams in the league and could contend for a Super Bowl this year. They may have to take an edge rusher early in next year’s draft to replace Jadeveon Clowney if they cannot afford him after Baker Mayfield’s extension. 

29. Detriot Lions (via Los Angeles Rams (14-3)): Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State

Even though the Lions are thin at wide receiver, it doesn’t seem like a position Dan Campbell and this new regime would address early in the draft. They could add linebacker-hybrid Brandon Smith who could develop into one of the best defensive players on their roster. 

30. Buffalo Bills (14-3): Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

The Buffalo Bills have invested three top-61 picks on defensive lineman over the last two seasons. They can potentially spend another one on their defensive front in Jordan Davis to improve the interior of their defensive line and to give them insurance in case Ed Oliver extension talks get uncomfortable.

31. Kansas City Chiefs (13-4): Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

Over the first few weeks, Kansas City has played sloppy at times which has made them look mortal. They could address a need they have had at cornerback by taking Trent McDuffie in the first round. 

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4): Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma

Even after a Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay should still be considered Super Bowl favorites. They may take raw defensive tackle prospect Perrion Winfrey in the first round to replace veteran Ndamukong Suh who will be a free agent this offseason. 

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