Walker's sack totals (six over 15 games in 2021) don't jump off the page, but he led the Bulldogs with 36 QB hurries and his best football is ahead of him. Walker has some inside-outside versatility, and he's even dropped some in coverage despite weighing 275 pounds. Not only is Chandler Jones an impending free agent, but J.J. Watt has averaged only 9.2 games over his past six seasons and will be 33 in March.
With a run on cornerbacks here right ahead of their pick, the Cardinals must be prepared to pivot. And if Chandler Jones moves on, there will be a major need for pass-rush help. This might feel high for Ebiketie, but he's ascending post-Senior Bowl and could provide quality third-down snaps early on.
The Cardinals need another talented edge rusher to pair with Chandler Jones, and this year's deep class gives them the perfect opportunity. Walker has the size and versatility to play anywhere up front, regardless of scheme, and was dominant against SEC competition.
Arizona's roster has impact players headed toward free agency all over the place, but one of the biggest is edge rusher Chandler Jones. Coupled with the fact that soon-to-be 33-year-old J.J. Watt is coming off a shoulder surgery, this pass rush -- which produced 41 sacks last season, tied for 13th most -- could take a step back in 2022. Johnson had 12 sacks and 45 pressures at Florida State in 2021 and then put on a show at the Senior Bowl. Even if the Cardinals lose Jones this March, Johnson could join Markus Golden and Watt to form a solid pass-rush group.
It's noteworthy that the team's top-two running backs -- James Conner and Chase Edmonds -- are also free agents. That said, I don't see a running back worth even considering in Round 1 this year. Texas A&M's Isaiah Spiller is my top-rated back, way back at No. 55 on my board. We've seen only two first rounds without a running back (2013 and 2014), but this is shaping up to be one of those years.
Despite what the naysayers might say, at least one running back has been selected in the first round of the past seven NFL drafts, as the position typically offers immediate impact potential.
The Cardinals enjoyed just such an impact a year ago, with free-agent addition James Conner, but he could see big dollars if allowed back on the open market after his one-year, prove-it deal with Arizona. With Kyler Murray and the Cardinals fizzling out the past two years, Arizona could see a finisher such as Walker as the missing piece.
Wouldn't be a surprise if somebody jumps on this smooth pass catcher much earlier. Wilson isn't the biggest guy (6-0, 192) or necessarily a blazer, but he gets open and finds the paint (12 TDs in 2021). Maybe he eventually supplants DeAndre Hopkins as the Cards' WR1, but he'd more immediately plug a gap given A.J. Green and Christian Kirk are unsigned.
The Cardinals' lack of receiver depth showed up in a big way after DeAndre Hopkins went down to a knee injury in Week 14, and now Christian Kirk is headed to free agency. If Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray want to avoid a late-season meltdown again in 2022, Williams will help. He may miss a few games to start the year as he rehabs from a torn ACL, but long term, he can be the field-tiling X factor that this offense needs.
Despite reports of unhappiness from both Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, the expectation is that he'll return in 2022. With that in mind, the Cardinals must do a better job protecting their investment. Kenyon Green can play anywhere on the offensive line but should slide in as a high-impact rookie guard.
McDuffie might not be the biggest or fastest corner in this class, but his physicality and sound coverage technique could land him in the top 20. If McDuffie's still available here, the Cardinals should snap him up.
Booth is scheme-versatile and possesses some of the best feet at the position in the draft class. He ended his college career with three picks and two pass breakups in his final two games.
Levi Wallace led Buffalo's corners in snaps played and will be an unrestricted free agent next month. Meanwhile, the team's top cornerback (Tre'Davious White) is recovering from a torn ACL. While you can never have too many talented cornerbacks, McDuffie could be off the board much earlier than this and would be a wise choice for the Bills.
There will be debates in draft rooms across America, trying to figure out the sweet spot for Davis. Back in the day, he might have been a top-10 pick. But how much value is there now for a massive, space-devouring nose tackle who averaged 25 snaps per game? The Bills have a decent nucleus up front but could unleash Ed Oliver more as a three-technique and let the 6-foot-6, 365-pound Davis occupy blockers and shut down the run game.
The Bills have a surprising amount of needs for a perennial playoff contender, so this pick will be about maximizing value at any number of positions. This scenario gives them the chance to add an athletic, versatile playmaker for the interior of their defensive line in Leal, who has limitless upside.
The Bills' depth issues at cornerback were made very clear once Tre'Davious White got injured. Things aren't about to get better, either, with Levi Wallace hitting the open market. If Buffalo can find a solid CB2 opposite White, with Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde patrolling at safety, the secondary would be downright scary. Booth is a press corner with a smooth backpedal and great ball skills, but he can play off-man and zone, too. He picked off three passes in 2021 for the Tigers and would fit in nicely with a team ready to win a Super Bowl.
The Bills surrendered 19 touchdowns on the ground last season. To put that in perspective, the four teams that allowed more -- the Lions, Chargers, Jaguars and Jets -- lost an average of 12 games.
Defensive-minded coach Sean McDermott might appreciate a monster in the middle, such as the massive Davis to help shore up one of the few glaring holes for this Super Bowl contender.
He had eight sacks among 52 QB pressures in 2021. Buffalo's aging D-line is poised to be stripped of its depth in free agency, but Ebiketie and 2021 rookies Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham could form a next-gen nucleus up front.
With 32-year old Cole Beasley getting a bit old for the position and 34-year old Emmanuel Sanders slated for free agency (and also getting old), the Bills opt here to upgrade their already strong pass catcher corps. Dotson can play all over the formation, runs sharp routes, and perfectly complements the team's Stefon Diggs–Gabriel Davis duo. Getting more playmakers for Josh Allen can't be a bad thing.
A potential top 10 pick before an ACL injury in the national championship game, Jameson Williams falls into a great situation with the Bills. His speed--before and after the catch--will open this offense up and allow the team to move on from pending free agents at the receiver position.
Levi Wallace is a pending free agent and Tre'Davious White is coming off an injury, so grabbing an athletic, NFL-sized corner like Booth is an easy projection.
McDuffie is the best pure zone corner in the class and one heck of a tackler. That would fit in perfectly with the Bills. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound corner missed only six of 101 tackle attempts in his career.
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.
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.
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.
From a pure talent perspective, Kendrick is one of the best cornerback prospects in the draft. He has some red flags but Arizona has gone all in on its title hopes this year so it is reasonable to think that strategy might continue.
The Cardinals have an electrifying offense and are currently the fourth highest scoring team in the NFL (28.2 points per game). Unfortunately, Arizona's uber-talented signal caller, Kyler Murray has been sidelined for several weeks because of an ankle injury. If there is an area of concern for Arizona's offense it may be the team's interior pass blocking. Should the Cardinals draft Ekwonu, they'll acquire a stabilizing force who plays with an unapologetic attitude when blocking his opponents. Standing at 6'4" and 320 pounds, Ekwonu moves grown men out of the way, they don't move him.
Spiller seems like a Derrick Henry type, a wrecking ball-style runner averaging nearly six yards a carry for the Aggies. Also picks up blitzes very well. A bit of an issue with his sizable workload already; he's had more than 600 touches over the past three seasons in College Station.
Over the past two drafts, the Arizona Cardinals have valued defensive players who have versatile skill sets to play multiple positions (Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins). Daxton Hill fits that mold as a player that plays safety but has the fluid hips and explosiveness to play nickel. Hill be a great young addition to a talented defensive back group.
Ebiketie had a mini-breakout campaign in 2020 with the Temple Owls and has since become one of the premier pass-rushers in the Power Five at Penn State. He's been the model of consistency along the edge for the Nittany Lions, recording at least three pressures in every game that he's faced a Power Five offensive line. Ebiketie is fantastic with his hands and has stepped up in Shaka Toney and Odafe Oweh‘s absence (both are in the NFL). He has earned a 90.6 pass-rush grade this season.
Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson are promising pieces in the Cardinals' secondary, but they need an outside corner who could take over for veteran Robert Alford. As Arizona did with Murphy in Round 2 in 2019, it could go back to the Washington well with the selection of McDuffie. He has experience in both man and zone coverage and is a consistent tackler in run support. He has also played snaps in the slot, which adds to his value.
The idea of tossing Burks into an offense with Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce is tantalizing. Kansas City has explored adding another wide receiver and even signed Josh Gordon but that experiment has not played out well.
The Chiefs' struggles scoring this year may indicate opposing teams have finally discovered methods of slowing down their juggernaut of an offense. Drafting the 6'5", 210 pound London could provide Kansas City with a solid possession receiver, whose size instantly makes him an end zone option for the Chiefs. Another upside to potentially drafting London, is his willingness to block downfield and help expand Kansas City's running game.
Washington boasts a fine legacy of defensive backs in the NFL, and McDuffie will likely add to that. A bit undersized (5-11, 190) for his position, McDuffie more than makes up for it with his quickness and explosive athleticism.
The Kansas City Chiefs offense has been inconsistent at best due to the lack of a run game. With this pick, they draft OL Kenyon Green, an athletic run blocker who will help open running lanes for their running backs.
Enagbare's outstanding motor has helped him earn a 92.5 pass-rush grade this season. Even against solely SEC opponents, the 6-foot-4, 265-pound edge defender is still producing at an elite level, recording an 89.7 pass-rush grade against SEC opponents.
After attempting to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster in the offseason and adding Josh Gordon to the roster in September, it's clear that the Chiefs want to add a specific type of receiver to play alongside Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, one with size and the physicality to do the dirty work. At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, London fits that profile. He can win easily at the catch point, is a versatile route runner and isn't shy as a run blocker. Before breaking his ankle last month, London had 88 catches for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Everson Griffen situation is heartbreaking but it only magnified Minnesota's immediate need at edge rusher. Drake Jackson is the best prospect at the position on the board.
McDuffie is a patient cornerback who avoids panicking in coverage, displaying unflappable confidence and an elite awareness on the gridiron. He is adept in man or zone schemes and supports the run better than most cornerbacks. A versatile athlete, he consistently demonstrates adequate NFL range when dropping into coverage downfield. Minnesota experiences some lapses in coverage and if they acquire a talent like McDuffie, those miscues should lessen and increase accountability within the defensive secondary.
Everything you read about Leal talks about his versatility. You can put him anywhere along the D-line and he can help you. Already with 7.5 sacks and 11.5 TFL this season, the 6-4, 290-pound Leal can get what he wants, when he wants it.
Jordan Davis is a dominant interior defensive lineman that plays with brute strength. In college, he has shown the ability to bull rush offensive linemen and collapse the pocket. He will immediately help a Minnesota Vikings defense that has failed to slow down opposing offenses' rushing attacks.
Elam dominated so much as an underclassman -- 89.8 and 81.0 coverage grades as a true freshman and sophomore in 2019 and 2020 -- that opposing offenses have largely avoided him in 2021. This year, Elam has been targeted 27 times in seven games, 18 of which came in just two games (Alabama and Samford). In addition, he has allowed only one explosive reception over 15-plus yards while making six plays on the ball. Elam is fantastic at the line of scrimmage in press-man coverage, but he can thrive in multiple schemes.
With Patrick Peterson and Bashaud Breeland on expiring contracts and 2020 third-rounder Cameron Dantzler still developing, Minnesota's long-term outlook at cornerback looks bleak. In past early-round selections at the position, the Vikings' front office has valued versatile cornerbacks who are also consistent run-defenders. Booth is one of the best in this class at both of those, and so he'd check the boxes that the regime has coveted.
I am lacking creativity at this point because I tend to always give the Eagles Kyle Hamilton and Booth. Both thrive in heavy zone concepts and that could be exciting to watch them develop with Darius Slay.
After using two picks on defense, Philadelphia starts adding some offensive foundational pieces in the event that they move forward with Jalen Hurts, which it appears they will.
Philadelphia has four defensive ends that are unrestricted free agents, with two of them being 33 years in age. One of the 33 year-olds (Brandon Graham) will be returning from a season ending ruptured Achilles tendon, and the other defensive ends aren't producing enough game changing plays. The need for player like Drake Jackson is evident considering his ability to explode past offensive lineman and disrupt offensive schemes. His athleticism and versatility should diversify Philly's pedestrian pass rush and make him a viable draft option.
11. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner is an intractable defender that offensive coaches and quarterbacks struggle to defeat. Gardner is a lean 6'2", 188 pound cover corner, whose long limbs make every potential reception a contested challenge. A strong inside coverage playmaker, Gardner will lay off and bait quarterbacks into throwing potential interceptions. The Eagles are possibly one corner back away from having a top ten secondary, that could limit offenses and elevate the entire defense to a playoff level.
16. Jalen Catalon, S, Arkansas
Catalon plays like a cross between NFL safeties Budda Baker (Cardinals) and Tyrann "Honeybadger" Mathieu (Chiefs). An aggressive downhill tackler with closing speed, Catalon hits ball carriers with a compacted force that belies his size (5-10, 195 lbs). Extremely versatile, Catalon is effective playing close to the line of scrimmage, within the slot or as a single high free safety. The Eagles would definitely increase their ability to confuse offenses by lining up Catalon in various defensive schemes.
With Derek Barnett all but gone after 2021 and the future of Brandon Graham up in the air, Karlaftis fits an immediate area of need for a team with a sporadic pass rush. The Boilermaker big man has an elite combination of raw strength and athleticism that the Eagles can tap into out of the gate. A heck of a second prize with Hutchinson off the board.
The Eagles stay defense for the most complete corner in the draft in Booth. The 6-foot, 200-pound Booth anchors a secondary that ranks among the top 10 in FBS in fewest TD passes allowed (9) and fewest yards per pass attempt (6.04). Plugging him in opposite Darius Slay will allow Jonathan Gannon to go deeper into his defensive playbook.
16. Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
It hasn't happened since 1979, but the Eagles get a steal at this spot with the selection of the playmaking Utah linebacker. A force against the run and the pass, Lloyd gives the Eagles a three-down stalwart they have lacked for years.
The Jalen Hurts project looks like it is working in Philadelphia. In order to continue to help his progression, they draft the most complete WR in this year's draft in Chris Olave. In college, we've seen the best versions of Hurts when he was surrounded by elite WR talents and the Eagles need to replicate that to get the most out of their young QB.
The Eagles need team speed on both sides of the ball. With this pick, they go with Andrew Booth, a quick-twitch explosive athlete that plays with a passion for the game that jumps out to you on film. Booth combined with veteran Darius Slay will give the Eagles one of the most athletic CB tandems in the league.
With this pick, the Eagles select Darian Kinnard, a multi-year starter that has played against some of the best edge rushers college football has to offer. Kinnard has great feet and plays with physicality to help continue the Eagles' dominance in the run game.
Wilson is a route-running savant. He's sudden, fluid and getting open at an extraordinary rate at the collegiate level when going up against single coverage. Wilson has generated a step or more of separation on 78% of his targets against single coverage this season -- the highest in the Power Five among receivers with at least 30 such targets. He has sustained last year's success when working primarily from the slot this year while working on the outside (3.00-plus yards per route run each year).
McDuffie is one of the most underrated players in college football. He is on pace to earn an 80.0-plus grade as a true freshman, sophomore and junior. This year, McDuffie is playing at historic levels, allowing just 92 yards in 260 coverage snaps this season.
McDuffie is a fantastic zone cover corner. His awareness, athleticism, physicality and tackling ability make him an issue for any underneath passing offense.
16. Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Lloyd -- a fifth-year senior -- has three years of starting experience and has steadily improved in each one. The Utah off-ball linebacker has graded above 79.0 against the run, as a tackler, as a pass-rusher and when in coverage en route to an 88.0 overall mark. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker has the size, length and athleticism teams covet in the first round.
The last time the Eagles drafted a defensive back in Round 1? It was 2002, when they took cornerback Lito Sheppard at No. 26. They've also never drafted a safety in the first round. They could break that streak with the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Hamilton, a do-it-all player who had three interceptions before suffering a knee injury last month. Hamilton would be a huge boost to a Philadelphia secondary that is allowing quarterbacks to complete 74% of their passes this season, which ranks last in the league.
After taking safety Kyle Hamilton with their first Round 1 pick, the Eagles could continue to remake their secondary here. Thanks to extra picks from the Dolphins and 49ers, they have a chance to take the top safety and corner in this class. Elam, who has six career interceptions, would give Philadelphia an option to pair alongside Darius Slay in 2022.
15. Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa
With one more first-round pick in this draft -- this selection is based on Carson Wentz playing 75% of the Colts' offensive snaps, and he's at 99.3% -- the Eagles could fortify the offensive line. Linderbaum could be the heir apparent to oft-injured guard Brandon Brooks or veteran center Jason Kelce. They used a second-round pick in April on Landon Dickerson, who also has experience at center, but they still need a young influx of depth in the interior offensive line.
