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.
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.
Starting at guard in each of his first two seasons, Green earned second-team AP All-American honors in 2020 on one of college football's best offensive lines. Green will kick outside to left tackle as a junior and has the athleticism to remain there at the next level.
There was a thought that the Dallas Cowboys could bolster their offensive line early in the 2021 NFL draft, particularly if a player like Rashawn Slater was available when they were first on the clock. Instead Dallas added to their defensive front, drafting Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.
Could they add another Penn State product early in next year's draft, and bolster their offensive line at the same time? Rasheed Walker could have tested the 2021 draft waters, but decided to return to campus for another season. He has ideal size and solid technique to play tackle in the NFL, and could be the heir apparent to Tyron Smith on the left side of the Cowboys offensive line.
Green made massive strides from his freshman year when he allowed 28 pressures at right guard. He allowed only 10 at left guard as a sophomore. He'll kick out to tackle this upcoming season, and he has the athleticism to stay there in the NFL.
There was some talk of the Cowboys wanting to move up the board for Kyle Pitts heading into this year's draft, but it would have taken a massive trade package to get it done. Tight end remains the missing piece on offense for Dallas, and after it dedicated its first six picks to defense last week, it will now be able to look back to offense next year. Wydermyer has a great 6-foot-5, 255-pound frame and is productive. The Texas native has six TDs in each of his two seasons with the Aggies and has averaged 12.2 yards per catch over his career.
Hutchinson suffered season-ending ankle surgery in 2020, but he was disruptive as a sophomore in 2019. He produced 4.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, six pass deflections and two forced fumbles.
A college right tackle who will likely move inside to guard in the NFL, Kinnard is an ass-kicker in the run game and surprised NFL scouts when he decided to pass up a spot in the top 100 to return to school. With improved consistency in pass protection, he might be able to break into the first round.
The Cowboys really tried their best to fix the defense with the 2021 draft class. However, literally every position group needed work, and safety was the one that got skipped over in 2021. Hamilton is a fall, long safety who plays like a menace downhill, both vs the run and when driving on routes. It's possible the Cowboys may want more of a true post safety, which Hamilton is not, but his range and man coverage skills versus tight ends and slot receivers is valuable.
