Injuries decimated the Baltimore roster in 2021, but center Bradley Bozeman had a solid season. The problem? He's now a free agent and could get more money on the open market. The Ravens could turn to the draft for his replacement, and if Linderbaum is on the board at No. 14, they would upgrade. Linderbaum is pro-ready right now -- he already has great technique and is already a great run and pass-blocker. This one makes a ton of sense.
Barring significant injuries again, Baltimore is well-positioned for another playoff run in 2022. It needs to keep Lamar Jackson clean in the pocket, and Linderbaum will certainly help there.
Good players just seem to fall to the Ravens in the draft, right? That is the case here because it wouldn't surprise me if Walker ends up being one of the best defensive players from this draft class. With players like Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams set to hit free agency, the Ravens' defensive line could look very different in 2022.
What McDuffie lacks in size -- 5-foot-11, 195 pounds -- he makes up for in short-area quicks and polish. On 296 coverage snaps in 2021, he allowed just 16 catches from 36 targets for 111 yards and zero touchdowns, earning an impressive 88.7 PFF coverage grade in the process.
With aging veterans Justin Houston and Pernell McPhee hitting free agency and Tyus Bowser expected to miss significant time with an Achilles injury, the Ravens need a pass rusher. Like rookie Odafe Oweh, his former teammate at New Jersey's Blair Academy, the 6-5, 250-pound Ojabo is a raw prospect with outstanding athleticism and speed. He racked up 11 sacks and a program-record five forced fumbles this season.
Keeping Lamar Jackson upright remains a priority and the way the Ravens' offensive line got hit with injuries this season makes bringing in somebody like Green with five-tool versatility a priority.
You might want to constantly replenish the talent on your offensive line if running the football is your team's identity. Cross is a powerful blocker who can do damage at the second level in the run game with premium athleticism and his target-lock awareness. He developed into a dominant pass protector this season and could end up cracking the top-10 in April.
A singularly calamitous spate of injuries this past season makes the Ravens particularly difficult to read. But even after Lamar Jackson missed five games, it's readily evident that the team's protection is in disarray after the line allowed 57 sacks, the second-highest total in the NFL. Though true centers seldom earn this consideration -- the last to be taken in the top 15 picks was Steve Everitt to the Browns in 1993 -- Linderbaum is a uniquely talented blocker who can unlock even more possibilities in the Ravens' diverse run game.
The Ravens could a number of directions with this pick, but nothing can be more meaningful than adding to the offensive line with the return of a healthy Lamar Jackson and J.K. Dobbins in 2022. They need an answer at right tackle and Trevor Penning is a perfect fit.
A massive, road-grading blocker, Penning is the type of offensive lineman we've seen Baltimore gravitate toward in the past. He could help stabilize the tackle spot, especially if Ronnie Stanley returns to form after his latest injury.
This is an easy call based on Carolina's biggest weakness: It has to get a better left tackle. The Panthers ranked last in the league in yards per play (4.6) and 28th in sacks allowed (52). They went into the season with journeyman Cameron Erving manning the spot and finished with rookie third-rounder Brady Christensen filling in. Taylor Moton is a really solid right tackle, but they can upgrade the left side with this pick.
Cross took a big leap in 2021, allowing just a single sack while playing in a pass-happy Mike Leach offense. He can be a big-time NFL left tackle. This isn't a reach pick. The Panthers need to hit here because they don't have second- or third-round picks due to trades for quarterback Sam Darnold and cornerback CJ Henderson. This is a massive draft for coach Matt Rhule, who fired his offensive coordinator and might have to make the playoffs in 2022 to keep his job.
If the Panthers strike out on their quarterback options in free agency and on the trade market, this could be the spot where we see the first quarterback drafted. This is Carolina's only draft pick in the top 100, putting even more pressure on Matt Rhule and the organization to get this selection right.
Cross is talented enough to be OT1 on some team's draft boards. He has the athleticism and movement patterns to be comfortable pass-blocking on an island, and his hands are well-timed and precise. Cross should be able to start from day one as a rookie.
Safety isn't a premium position, and it is relatively low on the positional value chart because of it, but Kyle Hamilton is different. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, the Notre Dame star legitimately has all of the sideline-to-sideline range, size and ball skills to be a game-changer, regardless of scheme or role at the next level.
If coach Matt Rhule wants to stick around in Carolina, he needs a better quarterback than Sam Darnold or Cam Newton. The 6-3, 220-pound Pickett is far from a sure-thing after breaking out in his fifth college season, but his experience and poise in the pocket could be just what the Panthers need to get the most out of a talented offense.
As much as ownership would love to sort out the QB position or head coach Matt Rhule would love to shore up the offensive line, London can turbo-charge the offense given his size, catch radius and ability to post up in the end zone. The team has lacked that true No. 1 since Steve Smith left and Sam Darnold's fellow Trojan can assume the mantle almost right away as a rookie.
Matt Rhule recruited Pickett while he was head coach of Temple and actually got him to commit before a bigger program was able to lure him away. This time the Heisman finalist won't have the final say if the Panthers can't land Deshaun Watson or Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
Pickett is most dangerous outside of the pocket when he goes off script. He has good size, overall athleticism and solid arm talent, but needs to work on his anticipation throws and his comfort within the pocket.
After the failed Sam Darnold experiment and Cam Newton's flameout as a substitute starter, Carolina seems like a strong candidate to be the first team to select a quarterback in the draft. But owner David Tepper's sense of urgency for finding a franchise signal-caller might point the Panthers toward an answer in the trade market instead. Whoever takes over behind center will need a significant upgrade in blind-side protection, and Cross is an alluring candidate. The redshirt sophomore has showcased considerable tools as a pass blocker while still signaling substantial room for growth.
The Panthers are in a challenging position with the need to find multiple starters along the offensive line and secure a worthwhile direction at quarterback. Finding the answer to both where cap space is tight and the draft capital is limited is nearly impossible. A trade back makes a lot of sense, but if Carolina believes in Kenny Pickett then he has to be the pick.
As will be said numerous times this draft season, Pickett once committed to play for Matt Rhule at Temple and owner David Tepper is a Pittsburgh native and Pitt alum. Pickett just delivered arguably the best quarterback season in ACC history and has elevated himself to the first-round conversation. He is a very logical projection to Carolina in the top 10 at this point in the process.
I really liked Caleb Farley in the 2021 class, but a torn ACL ended his season after just two games, and that was after a back injury dropped him to the Titans in Round 1. That injury history is a little scary, which is why the Titans could go with back-to-back first-round corners.
Like his college teammate Trent McDuffie, Gordon has some scheme versatility and the ability to play in the slot as well as outside. He improved a lot in 2021, picking off two passes and breaking up seven throws. He can also tackle, and I think he'll test well at the combine.
With his twitchy athleticism and route-running skills, Dotson consistently puts cornerbacks in conflict. Although he is undersized and won't break many tackles, he has the dynamic speed and ball skills that will give the Titans another dimension on offense.
One of my favorite late first-round picks in 2022, Cincinnati edge defender Myjai Sanders will draw scouts in with his performance at the combine at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds. He recorded 40-plus pressures in back-to-back seasons (2020 and 2021) to close out his Bearcats career.
With Harold Landry hitting free agency and big-ticket signing Bud Dupree putting together a disappointing first season, the Titans could use some fresh blood at edge rusher. The 6-5, 262-pound Johnson racked up 14 sacks for the Seminoles after transferring from Georgia and proved to be a strong run defender.
The Titans have built their identity around running the ball and that just so happens to be what Penning can do better than just about anybody in this draft class with his bulk and movement skills.
The Titans will likely address wide receiver and the tight end position this offseason, but their leaky secondary has to be a priority as well. McDuffie plays bigger than his 5-11 frame. He's one of the surest tacklers at the position in this draft class and his instincts are elite.
Never a bad idea to equip Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill with more support, especially following a season in which Tennessee's offensive line depth was put to the test by injuries and COVID-19. Raimann, a fast riser and converted tight end from Austria, could provide some much-needed flexibility for a front that needs closer evaluation after allowing 47 sacks.
The Steelers get an interior upgrade for an offensive line that sorely needs it. Najee Harris and the Steelers' next quarterback would benefit from this.
The lack of depth when it came to offensive weapons hurt the Titans in 2021 given the injuries to Julio Jones and A.J. Brown. The Titans would be wise to change that going into next season to improve the depth and add to the mix of options for Ryan Tannehill.
Drake London is coming off an injury, which makes him the perfect target for Tennessee in the first round given their recent gambles. But the skill set London offers is perfect for this Tennessee offense where his size, ball skills, and route-running prowess can elevate the unit.
Buffalo doesn't have many holes on its roster, but Tre'Davious White's season-ending knee injury in November put the focus on its cornerback depth. This late in the first round, teams are hoping for rookie starters, but they'll also take high-upside prospects who could grow into starters in time. McDuffie can cover wideouts outside or from in the slot, so the versatility is a plus. He was very good in man coverage for the Huskies. I also thought about a guard here, and the Bills' running backs were disappointing again in 2021, even though Devin Singletary had a couple of good games to end the season. This is a little too high for a back on my board, but we could see risers after the combine, so keep an eye out.
Giving a weapon like Williams to Josh Allen and the Bills' offense hardly seems fair. Wide receiver isn't at the top of the Bills' needs, but it would be tough to pass on Williams' talent if he were to fall this far due to his recent torn ACL. Teams will have more information about his knee and surgery at the scouting combine.
Jordan Davis could very well go higher in the actual draft come April, but the 6-foot-6, 340-pounder's lack of pass-rushing prowess ultimately drops him to the back end of the first round in this mock. He's only managed 30 career pressures and totaled just 14 in the 2021 season. Of course, his ability to two-gap and positively affect the run game every time he takes the field should ultimately draw interest in the first round.
Linebacker Matt Milano is a star, but former first-round pick Tremaine Edmunds has been a disappointment for the Bills. The 6-3, 235-pound Lloyd, who was named the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year after recording 110 tackles this season, grades well in run defense, pass coverage and as a blitzer.
Sean McDermott is going to need some reinforcements in the front seven this offseason and Thomas' ability to wreak havoc will turn him into a draft darling. He's got the size to move around the front and would slot in nicely next to the pieces already on the Bills' roster.
The Bills will look to reinforce both lines this offseason. Johnson is capable of being three-down player as a potentially elite run defender and an underrated pass rusher.
Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane built the NFL's top-ranked defense by finding value across the board, which is what they could do here with Booth. Aggressive both when finding the ball in the air and against the run, he would make a worthy counterpart to Tre'Davious White.
The Bills get a running back to add a physical element to their offense. Kenneth Walker kind of plays like a diet version of Marshawn Lynch, which would help Buffalo be less reliant on Josh Allen's legs to convert short yardage for them.
The guard situation in Buffalo has been a revolving door over the last two seasons and that's not ideal when you have so much invested in Josh Allen as the franchise quarterback.
Zion Johnson fits the Bills perfectly. Starting off as a non-scholarship football player at Davidson, Johnson transferred to Boston College and quickly became an impact starter and continued to improve across three seasons. He's a physical blocker with excellent technique that could immediately stabilize the left guard position while offering positional flexibility.
Surprise! McBride is an athletic, pass-catching monster at the tight end position who'd be a welcomed addition in Green Bay, regardless of who the team's quarterback is next year.
Is Aaron Rodgers staying in Green Bay or not? That's the ominous cloud that will hang over the team's offseason. Either way, I don't see it letting superstar wideout Davante Adams leave in free agency, so let's move to the other top need on offense. Robert Tonyan snagged 11 touchdowns in 2020, but he tore his ACL in October and is a free agent in the offseason. The Packers could bring him back on a short-term deal, or they could find a long-term solution with McBride, the draft's best tight end. He caught 90 passes for 1,121 yards in 2021, and he's also a good blocker.
The Packers love toolsy front-seven defenders, and Leal is exactly that. He isn't yet the sum of his parts, which is why he could still be available at this point in the first round. But at 6-4 and 290 pounds, Leal can line up anywhere on the defensive line and has the traits to develop into a productive starter.
Green Bay is the current betting favorite to win the Super Bowl, and that's only because Aaron Rodgers decided to look past his relationship with the front office and chase a ring with Davante Adams & Co. General manager Brian Gutekunst should double down on keeping Rodgers happy and attack the wide receiver position at the back end of Round 1.
Penn State's Jahan Dotson can win on the outside and from the slot. He earned 75.0-plus PFF grades in 2020 and 2021 and currently ranks 30th on PFF's draft board.
Depending on what happens with Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, there aren't a ton of holes on the Packers' roster. The 6-3, 256-pound Ebiketie, who recorded eight sacks and 52 pressures this season after transferring from Temple, would provide solid depth if Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith don't stick around in Green Bay.
Assuming he's still around, Aaron Rodgers finally gets some first-round draft help in the form of the playmaking Bell. His ability to make incredible catches and haul in difficult throws make him a nice insurance policy as much as a potential complement to Davante Adams should the latter return in 2022.
It's very likely Davante Adams doesn't stick around if Aaron Rodgers is elsewhere. Bell has gotten lost in the shuffle with the top available wide receivers, but his route-running is advanced and his YAC ability should make him an impact player early in his career. He definitely deserves first-round consideration.
If Green Bay is able to complete its reconciliation with Aaron Rodgers, what better way to celebrate the repaired relationship than by granting him his long-awaited first-round receiver? With his go-up-and-get-it play style and strong hands, Burks could endear himself quickly to Rodgers as a jump-ball target and complement to Davante Adams, who also has to address his future in Green Bay amid his expiring contract.
The depth of the Packers' offensive line has been stressed across the last few seasons and the team has had to say goodbye to a few long-term fixtures. The need to replenish the group remains, regardless of who is under center in 2022 and beyond.
Daniel Faalele is a massive man with rare mobility for his size. He could immediately stabilize the right tackle position and strengthen the nucleus of young blockers in the mix for the Packers to improve the starting unit--and while doing so, make the group deeper.
There's no way the Bengals would take back their choice of wideout Ja'Marr Chase over offensive tackle Penei Sewell in last year's draft, but you saw this season why so many of us thought they would take Sewell. Joe Burrow was sacked 55 times -- third most in the league -- and the offense averaged 4.0 yards per rush, which ranked 26th. It ranked 30th in ESPN's pass block win rate metric. This is a below-average offensive line. Luckily for the Bengals, this is a deep tackle class at the top.
The 6-foot-7 Penning towered over defenders at the FCS level, and he was rarely challenged. He makes things look easy. Yes, it's a big leap to the NFL, but I think he has the traits to be an early starter. If Cincinnati wants to keep 2019 first-rounder Jonah Williams on the left side, Penning could easily slot in at right tackle, where free-agent-to-be Riley Reiff played for most of 2021.
Maybe this is an overreaction to watching Vernon Hargreaves trying to cover the Raiders, but with Eli Apple a pending free agent, cornerback could be in the mix here. McDuffie doesn't have great ball production, but there weren't many opportunities because he prevents throws by blanketing his side of the field.
One of the biggest risers following the 2021 college football season, the 6-foot-7, 305-pound Raimann earned a 94.6 overall grade, 88.7 pass-blocking grade and 94.6 run-blocking grade with Central Michigan this year. He didn't earn a PFF grade above 75.1 in any season prior. Expect his 2021 campaign and a strong Senior Bowl to vault him into the first round.
The Bengals surrounded quarterback Joe Burrow with plenty of weapons. Now it's time to protect him. With Riley Reiff hitting free agency and the right side of the line playing poorly, Cincinnati needs an upgrade at right tackle. The 6-7, 321-pound Penning allowed just one sack in 436 pass-blocking snaps this season, according to PFF.
The Bengals haven't been afraid of taking players who others might knock for being a tad short so McDuffie becomes a seamless fit with that Bengals defense that continues to make quality moves to plug holes on the depth chart.
The Bengals' offensive line has improved with a healthy Jonah Williams at left tackle, but the interior still needs to be addressed. Drafting the Rimington Trophy winner and unanimous All-American is a steal here and would help Joe Burrow (and Who-Dey Nation) rest easier at night. Linderbaum was a multisport athlete in high school who earned multiple letters in wrestling, track, baseball and football.
The Ja'Marr Chase-Penei Sewell debate was at least temporarily settled by the Bengals wide receiver when he embarked on his record-setting rookie year. Still, Cincinnati must have been on edge when Joe Burrow was dinged up after taking four sacks and 10 hits in the penultimate game of the regular season. No one will confuse Kinnard's pass protection skills with those of Sewell, but the Southeastern Conference standout is a stable option at either right tackle or guard.
The Bengals get a nice value here with Devin Lloyd falling into their laps. Lloyd would add a huge boost of speed and playmaking to a defense that has to play against Nick Chubb and Lamar Jackson four times a year.
Joe Burrow has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and is still facing his share of pressure. While the weapons around Burrow are deep, the offensive line still needs help and Charles Cross is a steal at this point in the draft.
Cross is an athletic tackle that should be an exceptional pass blocker in the NFL and has grown as a pass blocker. He could pair with Jonah Williams to solidify the offensive tackle pairing and protect Burrow from the elite pass rushers in the AFC North.
Is it Mason Rudolph? A first-round rookie? Dare I say, Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson? With the wealth of issues to fix on the offensive line for next season, it probably isn't the latter, but the Steelers have to figure something out. With Roethlisberger prolonging his career, the Steelers have procrastinated on the quarterback succession plan, but the assignment is due. The run game also enters the offseason needing significant help for the third year in a row, but all of that starts with determining the next signal-caller. -- Brooke Pryor
Ben Roethlisberger was the story on Monday night at Heinz Field, but it was the Steelers' stars of today and tomorrow who kept the team's playoff hopes alive. Najee Harris ran for 188 yards and the game-sealing score, while T.J. Watt closed in on NFL history with four sacks (he has 21.5 for the season) in a 26-14 win over the Browns. That's a season sweep of Cleveland, the team that ended Pittsburgh's 2020 season in embarrassing fashion last January. Big Ben's chances of extending his career beyond Sunday ride on a win over the Ravens coupled with a Colts loss to the Jaguars.
They are still alive in the playoff chase. If they beat the Ravens this week and the Jaguars beat the Colts, they are in. It's a long shot, but it's possible.
OLB T.J. Watt doesn't get enough love. A half-dozen games with multiple sacks and 21 1/2 total in just 14 games? Reggie White-esque, the ultimate compliment.
Future MVP: Outside linebacker T.J. Watt may be about to win Defensive Player of the Year -- his performance Monday night against Cleveland, when he sacked Baker Mayfield FOUR times, might have sealed it. In 2022, he'll be the face of the Steelers as Pittsburgh moves into the post-Ben Roethlisberger era.
James is by far the defensive MVP for this team. He didn't play in Sunday's loss to Houston and missed the end of the Week 15 overtime loss to the Chiefs due to a hamstring issue -- highlighting how much the Chargers' defense relies on him. Until then, he had 103 tackles, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. And even while injured, he stood on the sideline and helped with the playcalling. Coaches say there's nobody like him in the NFL, and the Chargers need him back for their final two regular-season games if they are going to make a serious playoff push. -- Shelley Smith
COVID-19 came for the Chargers hard in Week 16, sending the team into Houston without star running back Austin Ekeler, No. 2 wideout Mike Williams and Pro Bowl defensive end Joey Bosa. Even so, the results of Sunday's action -- a 41-29 loss to the previously 3-11 Texans -- is hard to qualify as anything other than bitter disappointment. Run defense continues to be a major issue: Los Angeles surrendered 189 yards on the ground, while three turnovers -- two picks by Justin Herbert and a killer fumble by Justin Jackson -- acted as the recipe for an upset. The season is on the line on Sunday against the Broncos.
If their season is ultimately ruined by Davis Mills and Rex Burkhead -- or generally by a defense that's given up more points than anyone else aside from the Jets -- it's worth asking how much progress Bolts have really made.
Is he The Guy? I don't know how you lose to the Texans, but I guess we can put that on the Chargers defense and not young Justin Herbert. So, yes. Herbert looks great at times, though not as often as one would think given all the attention he receives. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler are an elite core, and the ceiling is definitely sky high for the strong-armed Herbert.
Man, it is bad when your kicker is the only real option for team MVP. But it's reality, as Gano has accounted for 40% of the team's points this season and has made 88% of his field goal attempts. This includes 7 of 10 kicks from 50-plus yards. Safety Logan Ryan was an option, but he missed two games after testing positive for COVID-19, and defensive end Leonard Williams (5.5 sacks) has been too inconsistent. -- Jordan Raanan
The Giants have reached the stage of a bad season when hope ceases to exist. Losing becomes inevitable -- simply avoiding embarrassment becomes the primary goal. A sleepy Eagles team allowed New York to hang around for two quarters on Sunday, but Philly pulled away with ease to tag Big Blue with its fourth consecutive loss. Jake Fromm's NFL starting debut went so poorly -- 6-of-17 passing for 25 yards and an interception -- that Joe Judge felt compelled to pull the second-year pro in favor of Mike Glennon in the third quarter. There has been entirely too much Mike Glennon on tri-state area televisions this year.
Truly a commercial tragedy that a Jake from State Fromm ad campaign will apparently not come to fruition. (Yes, credit for this quip goes to a friend of the program.)
Is he The Guy? Maybe. The Giants have until early May to decide if they want to execute Daniel Jones' fifth-year option and commit to him beyond 2022. If Dave Gettleman isn't retained after this season, the new Giants general manager will have a lot to consider. Jones was a slightly more accurate quarterback in Year 3 and he cut down on his turnovers before suffering a season-ending neck injury in late November. Jones also played behind a shaky offensive line while running back Saquon Barkley dealt with injuries for much of the past two seasons.
The first-time Pro Bowler might not have eye-popping stats -- six sacks in 15 games -- but he is more than affecting games as the spiritual leader of a reimagined and much-improved defense. Plus, Crosby is a Pro Football Focus favorite, ranking in its top two among all edge rushers in pressures and pass rush grade for most of the season. As interim coach Rich Bisaccia said, Crosby, who was in rehab for alcoholism in 2020, is bringing the "power of example" both on and off the field to his teammates. -- Paul Gutierrez
The Raiders aren't winning pretty, but who cares? Posting back-to-back victories over AFC playoff contenders has kept Las Vegas in postseason contention and saved the organization from another season being defined by a December collapse. The 17-13 final on Sunday doesn't tell the story of a mostly dominant performance by the Raiders, who had three turnovers but outgained the Broncos 342-158 and allowed just eight first downs all day. The defense has been much-improved down the stretch, holding three of its last four opponents to 17 or fewer points. Building on that streak will be a challenge with Jonathan Taylor and the surging Colts on deck.
Beating the Broncos keeps their playoff hopes alive. The defense came up big in that one, which will be needed this week against the Colts on the road.
Is he The Guy? Maybe. See the Baker Mayfield blurb below, with the understanding that Derek Carr is better than Mayfield. The Raiders have made a lot of mistakes in the draft and in free agency in Carr's eight years, and they have only one winning season in that span. For every comeback win Carr has led, there also has been an ugly fumble. It really seems like, in addition to general manager Mike Mayock and interim coach Rich Bisaccia, Carr's future is also riding on whether the Raiders make the playoffs.
