Elam followed up a strong true freshman season as a reserve with two interceptions and 11 passes defended in his first season as a starter in 2020. With continued development, Elam (6-2, 193) has the potential to hear his name called on Day 1 in 2022 like his uncle Matt was several years ago.
With the addition of Kyle Pitts in this past draft class, the Atlanta Falcons added a dynamic weapon to their passing game. But with recent news that the organization could be looking to move Julio Jones, the receiver spot could be a need next spring.
That could open the door for a player like Justyn Ross from Clemson. Ross missed the past season due to a congenial fusion in his spine which required surgery, but it is believed that he will be cleared to play this fall. He racked up over 1,000 yards as a freshman in 2018 and led the Tigers with 66 receptions in 2019, and provided he is healthy his play-making ability puts him in position to be the first receiver selected next spring.
Hamilton is a long and rangy safety, but he is also one of the most versatile safeties in the country. At 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, Hamilton is like an Isaiah Simmons clone who can stay on the back end in the NFL.
Olave explodes off the line and shows soft hands. And he is incredible at creating separation vertically, thanks to solid speed and always having a plan as a route runner. I had him among the top receivers in the 2021 class before he decided to go back to Ohio State for another season. If the Falcons are indeed considering moving Julio Jones to save cap space, Olave could step into a starting role to keep the passing game strong alongside Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts.
While watching the 2020 Florida tape, I was trying to study Bobby Brown. But Leal kept drawing my eye with his agility, especially for a 290-pounder. The second Aggie in this mock draft, he has true inside-outside versatility and the dominant traits to make plays in the backfield.
Jackson had a standout freshman campaign, flashed in the shortened Pac-12 season in '20, and is looking for a breakout campaign in '21. At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, he looks the part.
Atlanta needs a pass-rusher. Again. The Falcons could also use, well, every other defensive position aside from IDL, but pass-rushers tend to come first in the pecking order when ranking premium positions. Jackson sports a thick 6-foot-4, 255-pound build, and plays with the violence and explosion desired of a defensive end. Jackson is a bit raw in his approach as a rusher, but the tools are there and he could rise once the PAC-12 gets to play a normal schedule again.
A number of Minnesota's cornerbacks -- Patrick Peterson, Mike Hughes and Mackensie Alexander -- will be UFAs after the 2021 season and last year's first-round pick -- Jeff Gladney -- had a disappointing rookie campaign (PFF's 102nd-graded corner). In addition, safeties Harrison Smith and Xavier Woods are scheduled to become free agents in 2022 as well. The Vikings allowed the third-most 20-yard pass plays (63) and tied for allowing the most 40-yard pass plays (12) in 2020. In other words, there's a good chance they use their first-round pick on the secondary and Mike Zimmer gets a versatile safety prospect with Bolden here.
In the 2021 NFL draft we did not see an interior defensive lineman until the top of the second round. Could that change in 2022? If so, Perrion Winfrey is one of the leading contenders to force that issue. In 2020, his first season with the Oklahoma Sooners after playing junior college football at Iowa Western, Winfrey was named a Second-Team All-Big-12 selection by the conference's coaches. He played in all 11 games with eight starts, notching 19 tackles, including six for a loss.
The Minnesota Vikings added nose tackle Jaylen Twyman in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft, but could add Winfrey into the mix as another interior defender early in 2022.
McDuffie heads into his junior season having earned coverage grades of 83.7 and 77.6 in his first two years for the Huskies. He's also one of the best tackling corners in the country, with only two misses on 64 career attempts.
Karlaftis dominated in 2019 with 17 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 54 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. But the 6-foot-4, 275-pound edge rusher was limited to three games in 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19. Patrick Jones II, the Vikings' fourth third-round choice on Friday night, provides depth on the edge but isn't likely to be a high-impact starter opposite Danielle Hunter. Karlaftis can be that. After being among the top five teams in sacks in 2018 and 2019, Minnesota ranked in the bottom five in 2020, with 23.
Over the last six years, Florida has produced 11 defensive back draft picks, including several first-rounders, and Elam is next in the pipeline. He needs to cut down on the penalties and improve his tackling, but his length and ball skills help him shut down passing windows.
Olave had some 1st/2nd-round buzz after a stellar 2020 season, but he decided to return to school where he'll be one of the top receivers heading into the fall.
The Vikings could use someone like Pickens on the outside. Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen are a nasty 1-2 combo at WR, but Minnesota would benefit from having a stud who can consistently win on the perimeter. Pickens is 6-foot-3, 200-pounds with some sudden explosiveness and speed. Pickens also has an absurd catch radius and a real knack for playing with strong awareness near the sideline. Assuming the ACL injury he suffered this offseason does not ruin him, Pickens is going to be a star.
Offseason trade demands and ongoing legal issues make Deshaun Watson's future with the Houston Texans anything but certain. If Houston is picking first in the 2022 NFL Draft, the organization could use this opportunity to draft a quarterback.
Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux will top my initial 2022 big board, but Howard is my QB1 a little less than a year out and a potential top-five pick. Like Watson, Howell has the ability to elevate the play of those around him and he's been one of the best deep passers in college football since his freshman season.
Certainly if the Houston Texans indeed select first-overall in the 2022 NFL draft, there is a chance that the quarterback situation -- or more specifically the Deshaun Watson legal situation -- necessitates that Nick Caserio address the quarterback position.
Assuming that is not the case, and the involved parties are all entitled to their day in court, then Caserio likely goes in a different direction. Things can certainly change, but Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux looks like the real deal with his technical skills and explosiveness off the edge.
The Oklahoma quarterback factory continues to churn. Rattler earned a scintillating 92.5 passing grade in his first season as the starter last year, and he is a plus athlete for the position. The biggest question will be size for the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder.
At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Thibodeaux is an extraordinary pass-rusher off the edge. Over 21 career games, he has 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss, and the 2019 No. 1 recruit generated pressure on 13.5% of his pass-rush snaps over the past two seasons, the 18th-best rate in the country. Following J.J. Watt's exit, the Texans could use a player with Thibodeaux's high-end traits to jump-start their defense in their rebuild.
It appears the Texans are already preparing for life after Deshaun Watson, considering their first pick of the 2021 draft was Stanford quarterback Davis Mills in the third round. Mills won't keep them from drafting a quarterback here if Watson gets traded. Two of Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley's last three quarterbacks went No. 1 overall. Rattler is a Heisman favorite headed into next season.
The future in Houston for Deshaun Watson is uncertain, which could put the Texans in the quarterback market next offseason, especially if they own the No. 1 pick. In his first season as a starter last year, Rattler made plenty of mistakes, but he got better as the campaign progressed. He should continue that development under coach Lincoln Riley.
The only reason a QB doesn't go here is because the Texans used their first pick in the 2021 draft -- a third-rounder -- on quarterback Davis Mills. Instead they get Thibodeaux, who has been dominant in his first two seasons at Oregon.
The Deshaun Watson saga is still technically unresolved, but the Texans have already made plenty of moves to suggest he is in trouble, notably signing Tyrod Taylor and drafting Davis Mills in the third-round of 2021. Taylor is not a long-term option, and Mills was not a particularly good prospect. Rattler's combination of arm talent, mobility, and creativity gives him the best chance to rise as the best QB in the class, assuming he can rein himself in just a little bit.
The Eagles didn't add any competition via the draft for Jalen Hurts, but they will have three first-rounders in 2022 assuming that Carson Wentz plays a minimum of 75% of offensive snaps for the Colts in 2021. If they are picking this high based on their own performance (i.e., their original pick), the Eagles brass will likely add competition next year. A transfer from Auburn, Willis is arguably the most physically-gifted quarterback in this year's draft class with a chance to put himself in the mix for the top pick come next April.
Per The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, Coastal Carolina's DC Chad Staggs said the following about Willis: "We were undefeated, we had beat BYU, I thought we were pretty good on defense. And I felt like [Willis] single-handedly beat us. We couldn't tackle him. He's got a cannon. From a true physical ability thing, he was special."
Not only is Brandon Graham 33 years old, but Derek Barnett is scheduled to play the 2021 season on the fifth-year option. If the former five-star recruit is able to take a major step forward in his third season, he has the tools and athleticism to follow in the footsteps of recent Buckeye edge defenders to become a high draft pick.
The conditional 2022 second-round pick sent to the Eagles becomes a first-rounder as long as Carson Wentz plays at least 75% of the offensive snaps in 2021. Barring an injury, it's a near lock that the Eagles will own Indy's pick in 2022.
Both Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II were off the board before the Eagles were on the clock in 2021 and the team drafted Zech McPhearson in the fourth round, but I could see the team using one of their first-rounders on the position in 2022. A five-star recruit, Booth has outstanding ball skills (see below) and if he plays with more consistency, he should hear his name called on Day 1.
???? MUST-SEE!!! ????
Andrew Booth with an unbelievable one-handed interception!
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler stepped into the starting lineup after Jalen Hurts moved on to the NFL. Could a similar situation play out in Philadelphia? The Eagles made moves to build around Hurts in this past draft, trading up for wide receiver DeVonta Smith. But if the Eagles are picking this early, it might mean that the organization will be in the QB market next spring. Rattler needs to calm his feet in the pocket and not play so frenetically, but with a step forward this season he might challenge for that QB1 spot in the draft.
16. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner burst onto the national stage as a true freshman in 2019, securing a Pick-Six in Cincinnati's upset win over UCF, and it was Gardner's touchdown that was the different. He added a second Pick-Six later that year against ECU. He earned a starting job by the end of the season, and held down that role for the Bearcats in 2020. Last season he ranked second in the ACC with nine pass breakups, and tied teammate Coby Bryant for fourth in the conference with three interceptions. He might be a dark-horse candidate for the first round at this point, but he is certainly someone that could play himself into the mix with a solid junior season.
This one is obviously a massive projection, as he's only taken 95 career dropbacks. Jones is one of the best dual threats in the country, though, and he earned an 86.1 rushing grade on 35 carries last season.
Jackson is still only scratching the surface of what he could be for the Trojans after recording a 66.6 pass-rushing grade last season. His high-end flashes are as impressive as anyone's in this class.
20. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Gardner broke onto the scene with a massive true freshman campaign that saw him earn a 90.2 coverage grade and allow only 39.7% of his targets to be completed. He followed it up by allowing only 17 catches on 40 targets for 221 yards as a sophomore in 2020. He's a touch skinny but has first-round ability if he can fill out his frame.
This is another spot where the pick could go a lot of different directions based on this season. If Jalen Hurts proves he's the guy, then don't expect the Eagles to look QB. If he provides doubt, then Howell would be an excellent pick. Howell followed up his 38-TD 2019 season -- an FBS record for true freshmen -- with 30 more in 2020, and he improved his completion percentage and yards per attempt along the way.
Cornerback continues to be an issue for the Eagles, as they lack depth behind Darius Slay, especially with Avonte Maddox on an expiring contract this season. Philadelphia used a Day 3 pick on Zech McPhearson but has not invested a first-round pick in the position since drafting Lito Sheppard in 2002. Taylor-Stuart has 6-foot-2 size and speed, and I think he will have a big year in 2021. He has a lot of talent.
This pick isn't Philadelphia's just yet, but since we are projecting the Colts to make the playoffs, we'll say Carson Wentz plays 70% of the snaps this season and the Colts' second-rounder involved in the offseason trade becomes this first-round pick. After getting a cornerback a few spots earlier, the Eagles can add a big, experienced safety here. Both starters -- Anthony Harris and Rodney McLeod -- could come off the books next spring. Bolden transferred to Miami from USC two years ago, and he had a big 2020 season, making 74 tackles and tying for second in the nation with four forced fumbles.
*This conditional second-round pick -- part of the Wentz trade -- becomes a first-rounder for 2022 for the Eagles if Wentz plays 75% of the Colts' offensive snaps in 2021 or if Wentz plays 70% of the offensive snaps and the Colts make the playoffs.
Elam took a step back after an impressive freshman campaign in 2019. He'll be hard to pass on as a 6-foot-2 corner with elite ball skills if he can fine-tune his technique and become a more reliable tackler.
Jalen Hurts has a "prove it" season coming up, and if he doesn't take command of QB1, then the Eagles will likely be in position to draft a different quarterback in the top 10. If the draft were tomorrow, Willis probably isn't a first-round pick. But if he makes key improvements, scouts believe he could climb this high. Check out Bruce Feldman's recent article on his exciting talent.
19. George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Although he was injured during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Karlaftis was dominant as a freshman in 2019, leading the team with 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. His heavy-handed attack and GPS for the football should translate well to the next level.
Unless there are glaring needs at, say, quarterback heading into the season it's hard to predict what those needs will be by next January. But the Eagles have had injuries along the O-line torpedo their chances in recent years so it's never a bad idea to upgrade the unit. Neal played guard early in his Alabama career, kicked out to right tackle last season and he'll move to left tackle in 2021.
Harrison looks the part, without question, but he'll need his production and consistency to match that to work his way into the first-round conversation.
Philly's LB situation is embarrassing. They did sign Eric Wilson this offseason, but he is really more of a coverage specialist than a legit three-down player. Harris is a former four-star recruit who earned a starting job as a freshman at Alabama. At 6-foot-2 and 232-pounds, Harris could use a couple more cheeseburgers to fill out the frame, but the speed, processing, and understanding of how to take on blockers is fantastic.
There is still a chance Andre Dillard turns things around in 2021. However, his play to this point has been poor and it's fair to think the Eagles could be thinking about replacing him. Nelson, a former three-star recruit, will have three years of starting experience in as many seasons at Miami by the time he comes out. Nelson is not the strongest or most violent OT, but the movement skills are just wonderful.
A former five-star recruit, Leal (6-4, 290) has elite athleticism for his size and inside/outside versatility. Stout against the run and disruptive as a pass-rusher, Leal had a team-high eight pressures, seven TFLs, 2.5 sacks, an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery in 2020.
After drafting Alex Leatherwood in the first round, there were rumblings of tension in the Las Vegas Raiders' front office. Who knows what the future has in store for the organization, but as we peek ahead to 2022 defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal from Texas A&M might be someone for Raiders fans to keep an eye on. Leal can both rush off the end in even fronts and even kick inside or align as a defensive tackle in odd fronts, and last season he led Aggies defensive lineman with 37 tackles, and also notched eight quarterback pressures, most on Texas A&M. His ability to play inside and outside might push him even higher come next spring.
Elam earned a coverage grade of 89.8 in a part-time role as a freshman in 2019 and then improved that grade to 81.0 this past season. For his career, he's allowed only 33 catches from 77 targets for 434 yards. At 6-foot-2, 193 pounds, the Florida product is built to play in the league.
Elam is a 6-foot-2 speedy ball hawk -- he played wide receiver and ran track in high school -- who has picked off five passes over two seasons with the Gators. His 13 passes defended in 2020 tied for the fourth most in the country. The Raiders took corners inside the first three rounds in 2019 (Trayvon Mullen, Round 2) and 2020 (Damon Arnette, Round 1), but Elam would help shore up a unit that has struggled. Las Vegas tied for the fifth-fewest interceptions in 2020 with just 10.
Elam's uncle, Matt Elam, played safety at Florida and was a first-round pick of the Ravens in 2013.
Leal is already one of the most physically imposing players in the SEC and he's still growing. He features inside-outside versatility and is an asset against the run or pass.
When I was studying USC's tape during the 2019 season, I thought I found a sleeper prospect when No. 99 kept popping on film. Turns out Jackson was only a true freshman, and he quickly announced himself to the world as a future top pick.
The Raiders need a lot of things -- and maybe the '21 draft class will solve some of those issues -- but it's only a matter of time before Jon Gruden succumbs to the allure of a new QB.
Yes, this is in part because this Raiders' regime seemingly only picks players from top-10 programs. The Raiders do need a wide receiver who can win from the outside, though. Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards, and Hunter Renfrow are all decent players, but none of them quite offer true No.1 WR qualities. The major issue with Ross is his neck injury that kept him out of 2020, but he was one of the best WRs in the nation before then and should return to that status in 2021.
Based on contract values from Spotrac, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. have the second and third biggest cap hit on the team after Baker Mayfield for the 2022 NFL season. Burks (6-3, 225) is a big-bodied wide receiver and led Arkansas in receiving with 51 catches for 820 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore last season.
Don't look now but the Cleveland Browns are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. After making a run into the playoffs last year, the additions Cleveland has made this off-season have put them firmly in the mix for the playoffs next season.
Looking ahead to the next draft cycle, wide receiver could be a quiet need for the team a year from now. They did add Auburn wideout Anthony Schwartz in the third round of the 2021 draft, but if Garrett Wilson is available next year, he could be a solid addition. Wilson caught 43 passes for 723 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games last year, and a big junior season could see him as one of the top receiver options in the next draft cycle.
Olave is one heck of a route-runner and is consistently productive down the field. It was quite the surprise to see him return for his senior season with the Buckeyes, as he would have been a second-rounder this year at worst.
The Browns still need a pass-rushing boost opposite Myles Garrett, especially since Jadeveon Clowney is on a one-year deal. Jackson already has eight career sacks and 17 tackles for loss, and he is versatile off the edge.
With his initial first step, Sanders is quick to introduce himself on tape. He was a potential top-50 pick if he declared for this year's draft, but he returned to Cincinnati to continue to get stronger and become a better finisher in hope of becoming a first-round pick.
We were glad Hutchinson returned to school because we thought he needs to continue to improve his game before declaring for the draft. He has the size and bulk for the part; now he just needs to play with more consistency.
I'm not sold that Cleveland figured out their LB position this offseason. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will probably struggle in the box, while their other potential starting linebackers (Mack Wilson, Jacob Phillips, Sione Takitaki, Anthony Walker) all leave something to be desired in terms of firepower. Miller is a fast, physical linebacker who has shown he can be a menace in the box and take on blocks, even if his tackling technique can be ... unconventional, at times.
A former five-star recruit out of IMG Academy, Neal has started at left guard (2019) and right tackle (2020) for the Crimson Tide and is expected to replace Alex Leatherwood at left tackle in 2021. The Panthers drafted Brady Christensen and Deonte Brown in the third and sixth round, respectively, but their best offensive lineman (right tackle Taylor Moton) will play 2021 on the franchise tag absent a new deal.
Safety Kyle Hamilton could potentially be a top five player in the next draft class, and his ultimate draft slot could come down to positional value. He was a First-Team All-American according to multiple outlets last season, and has the size and explosiveness to be a weapon against the pass.
Of course, whether the Carolina Panthers would draft him in this spot will come down to how another player wearing #14 fares in 2021: Quarterback Sam Darnold. If Darnold takes a big step forward under Joe Brady, then certainly Hamilton will be in play. If not, however, the Panthers likely look to the quarterback position.
Neal is a gargantuan tackle at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds. He played left guard as a freshman and then right tackle last year, where he earned an 86.4 run-blocking grade and a 73.1 pass-blocking grade.
Imagine Hamilton -- a 6-foot-4 safety with good ball skills and tackling ability -- lined up next to Jeremy Chinn at safety for the Panthers? Carolina just added an impact starter at corner in Jaycee Horn, and now it can continue building up the secondary. Hamilton has five interceptions, 12 pass breakups and 104 tackles over two seasons.
One other thing to watch: If Sam Darnold doesn't impress this season, Carolina could select UNC quarterback Sam Howell. He grew up in North Carolina and plays college ball there, so he'd be an immediate fan favorite.
The massive Neal -- he's 6-foot-7, 360 pounds -- played right guard as a freshman for the Crimson Tide before moving to right tackle in 2020. He'll replace first-round pick Alex Leatherwood at left tackle next season.
After playing primarily right guard as a freshman, Neal moved out to right tackle last season and was one of the better run blockers in the country while also holding his own in pass protection. At 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds, he might transition to left tackle in the fall as the Tide look to replace a first-round pick, Alex Leatherwood.
Willis is going to be fun to watch -- he has a rocket arm, threw for more than 2,200 yards and rushed for 940 more. And if the Panthers aren't sold on Sam Darnold, they too could be back in the QB business.
Sam Darnold is probably not the answer. Granted, I'm not sold that Howell can be the answer for the Panthers either, but he's a top-two QB on every board right now and would make for a good fit in Carolina. Howell throws a pretty deep ball and the Panthers have an abundance of vertical threats. Howell playing college ball in the same state may help the Panthers sell themselves and the fan base on the pick, too.
It wouldn't surprise me if Wilson is off the board before teammate Chris Olave and/or if he's the first receiver drafted in 2022. That said, the Patriots were big spenders in free agency, but they will go into the 2021 season with Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne atop the depth chart at wide receiver. Adding better weapons for Mac Jones starts here with Wilson.
There are a few different directions the New England Patriots could look to travel early in the 2022 NFL draft. Wide receiver might be a position that Bill Belichick addresses, as is cornerback depending on the status of both Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson. Then there is linebacker. While New England is getting veteran Dont'a Hightower back after opting-out in 2020 -- and there will be no Hightower slander from this author, as the veteran should have at least one Super Bowl MVP trophy on his mantle -- Belichick could look to draft his replacement. Ventrell Miller has been a mainstay in the middle of the Florida Gators defense the past two seasons, and could be the kind of linebacker that Belichick covets.
Through four games in 2020, Daniels was shutting down his side of the field in his first year as a starter before getting injured. He allowed only six catches from 18 targets for 100 yards with five pass breakups. He's an explosive dude who can hang clean 400 pounds despite weighing only 193 pounds.
The Patriots got their franchise QB in Mac Jones, but they curiously did not pick a wide receiver until pick No. 242 (Tre Nixon). With Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne occupying the top spots on the depth chart at the moment, receiver will likely be on the team's 2022 offseason wish list. Wilson finished second on the Buckeyes in receiving yards by 6 yards (723) and in touchdowns by one (six), both to Chris Olave. With both Wilson and Olave projected here, this would mark the third straight year that there has been a school with two Day 1 receivers (Alabama in 2020 and 2021).
The Mission Hills product shunned millions of dollars to come back for his senior season in Columbus and will likely be a top-three prospect at the position in 2022.
While I studied Feleipe Franks' tape last season, Burks made himself impossible to overlook with a number of highlight-worthy plays each week. A good-sized athlete at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he has a huge catch radius and makes even the most difficult grabs appear routine.
We can use the Sevyn Banks template above for Alabama wideouts: "Metchie is the next in a long line of Crimson Tide wide receivers who end up in the NFL after impressive college careers."
Stephon Gilmore's contract expires after 2021 and it's hard to imagine Bill Belichick is going to be okay with losing cornerback talent, assuming Gilmore walks. Jobe is a former four-star with a good build (6'1/192), long arms, and exciting press-coverage qualities. Throw on top the fact that he's a Nick Saban guy and it just feels like such a natural fit with the Patriots.
Washington missed out on the top five quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft and quarterback will be a very common position mocked to WFT in 2022 mocks, especially if they are picking inside the top 10. Ryan Fitzpatrick will start for Washington in his age-39 season, but he signed a one-year deal and there is no long-term answer currently on the roster.
One of college football's most accurate passers (70.0% career completion rate), Slovis had a bit of an up-and-down season in 2020 after a stellar freshman season, but he still led the Pac 12 in passing yards per game (320.2) last year.
There was a time when UNC's Sam Howell was the consensus "first overall pick of the future." That was after a freshman season that saw Howell throw for 38 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. But last year while his numbers improved in a few respects (his completion percentage jumped from 61.4% to 68.1%, and his yards per attempt leapt from 8.6 to 10.3) there is a case to be made that the offensive system is responsible just as much as Howell is for that increase in production.
Still, if he puts together a third-straight solid year, he will be in the mix for the QB1 spot. In this scenario he slides to Washington who, if they are picking this early in the draft, will be looking to finally lock down the quarterback position.
In three years as a starter, Kirkland has seen his pass-blocking grade go from 77.1 to 79.0 to 86.6. He allowed all of two pressures on 124 pass-blocking snaps in 2020.
Willis transferred to Liberty from Auburn and threw 20 touchdowns to six interceptions in 2020 after sitting out the 2019 season. He adds a dual-threat factor, too, considering he rushed for 944 yards and 14 more scores on the ground last season. Washington opted not to draft a quarterback, but current starter Ryan Fitzpatrick is turning 39 during this coming season. If the team wants to continue to be a playoff contender out of the NFC East, it needs a franchise starter.
Ridder's size (6-4, 215), accuracy and dual-threat capabilities make him an intriguing prospect. He's already 30-5 as a starter and if he levels up, he could be in considered for the top overall pick.
Georgia's inconsistencies last season can be tied to its issues at quarterback. But over the final few games with Daniels as the starter, the Bulldogs looked like a different team. If he continues to make positive strides, he could put himself in the top half of Round 1.
Rattler is undersized at 6-foot-1, but that's less of an issue in today's NFL. Either way, he can sling it -- he completed 67 percent of his throws last season with 28 touchdowns and he's only going to improve.
Ryan Fitzpatrick only has so many years left in him. None of the other options on Washington's roster are realistic long-term starters, either. It's got to be a quarterback. The 2022 QB class is seemingly weak, but Willis' size, speed, and arm talent make him one of the best candidates to rise through the process. If Willis can clean up the accuracy a bit and shave a tick off some of his processing, he may well be the first or second QB off the board when it's all said and done.
With 22 career starts at left tackle already under his belt, Walker has the length and athleticism to excel at left tackle at the next level. With David Bakhtiari manning Aaron Rodgers' (?!) blind side, however, Walker could start initially at right tackle and then eventually replace the 30-year-old (in September) Bakhtiari down the line when it's time to pass the torch.
Of course, the storylines around Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers are dominating headlines right now, but as we start thinking about the next draft cycle, wide receiver is a position the organization could look to address in 2022. Right now three of Green Bay's top receivers are set to be free agents: Davante Adams, Equanimeous St. Brown and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, which could proper receiver to the top of Green Bay's needs.
George Pickens will be a fascinating point of discussion this draft cycle. Over two seasons for the Georgia Bulldogs the WR has caught 85 passes for 1,240 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he was expected to put up huge numbers in 2021. Those expectations took a big hit when he tore the ACL in his right knee during spring practice, and while there are hopes he could still return to the field in 2021, such a goal is a long ways off. Whether he returns to the field or not, he would still be a potential first-round pick if he enters the 2022 draft.
Blaylock is a big projection at this point, as he put up only 310 yards as a freshman before tearing his ACL as a sophomore. He's an agile slot receiver at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, with terrific ball skills.
The Packers again did not draft an offensive playmaker in Round 1, this time amid reports that QB Aaron Rodgers does not want to return. If they weren't going to target a receiver at that point, I don't know that it will ever be a priority, so I won't force it in my projections. But Green Bay still lands an impact player here, albeit on the other side of the ball. Harris started at Will linebacker last season and is a former high school wide receiver and safety. Over two seasons, he has 142 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
At 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, Harrison is straight out of central casting and will light up stopwatches at next year's scouting combine. He didn't take as big of a jump between his freshman and sophomore seasons as expected, but with another offseason working under Larry Johnson, Harrison could be a breakout star this fall.
Green started as a true freshman and has only gotten better each year. He consistently moves defensive tackles off the line of scrimmage, a trait which translates to any level.
Who knows what will happen with Green Bay's QB situation. The team needs guard help regardless, though. Green is a wide-bodied, aggressive guard for the Aggies. Green has all the movement skills, power, and violent mentality to be one of the league's better guards right away. His efforts in leading the Texas A&M line earned him second-team All-America honors. Even if Green plays tackle in 2021, which he may, that should not stop the Packers from kicking him back to guard in the pros.
