Posted at 8:00 a.m.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Travon Walker (defensive end): According to rumors and betting odds, the Jaguars will go for Walker at the top of the draft. The fact that they struck a long-term deal with left tackle Cam Robinson in the final hours all but confirms they’ll go for a quarterback rusher.
2. Detroit Lions
Aidan Hutchinson (defensive end): Hutchinson played his college football in the Lions backyard with the Michigan Wolverines. His arrival would fill an obvious weakness in the formation of Dan Campbell.
3. Houston Texans
Ikem Ekwonu (blocker): Ekwonu could turn out to be the best player in this draft. He’s not terribly tall for a left tackle (6’4″), but worst-case scenario, he should become one of the NFL’s best guards for the next 10 years.
4. New York Jets
Kayvon Thibodeaux (defensive end): The Jets need help in multiple positions. Since they also hold the 10and first-round picks, they could secure a good quarterback rusher first following the selections of Hutchinson and Walker.
5. New York Giants
Kyle Hamilton (safety half): Like their New York cousins, the Giants have two picks in the top 10 and could take several avenues with this selection. Best safety in the draft, Hamilton would improve a tertiary who lacks talent.
6. Carolina Panthers
Kenny Pickett (quarterback): Despite rumors that the Panthers are eyeing the best blockers available, they’ll likely select a quarterback. Which ? Pickett seems to be the safest bet.
7. New York Giants
Evan Neal (blocker): If Neal is still free at the seventh pick, it will be very difficult for the Giants to ignore him. The former Crimson Tide would form a very good pair of young blockers with Andrew Thomas.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Malik Willis (quarterback): The Falcons currently only have two quarterbacks under contract: Marcus Mariota and Feleipe Franks. Willis could spend his first season in a backup role behind Mariota and his style of play is reminiscent of Michael Vick, who was the Falcons’ first pick and first in the 2001 draft.
9. Seattle Seahawks
Jordan Davis (Tackling): Selecting a quarterback is possible, but the Seahawks could also choose a mainstay for their defense in Davis or a top cornerback like Ahmad Gardner or Derek Stingley Jr.
10. New York Jets
Ahmad Sauce Gardner (cornerback): Some pundits believe the Jets will draft Gardner with the 4and choice, then if it is still available at the 10and rank, the Jets probably won’t hesitate to choose him.
11. Washington Commanders
Drake London (wide end): The Commanders need to improve their receiving group and London is said to be in their sights.
12. Minnesota Vikings
Derek Stingley Jr. (cornerback): Stingley Jr. would probably have been selected higher than 12and rank if he hadn’t injured his foot at the start of last season. He has the talent to become a superstar.
13. Houston Texans
Garrett Wilson (wide end): The Texans want to give quarterback Davis Mills a legitimate chance to establish himself as the long-term starter. Adding a talented receiver like Wilson would certainly make his job easier.
14. Baltimore Ravens
Charles Cross (blocker): Along with the uncertainty with tackle Ronnie Stanley, who’s missed nearly every two seasons, the Ravens need help on their offensive line. Cross is a hole card in the draft and could be picked much faster than at 14and rank.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
Jameson Williams (wide end): For the second year in a row, the Eagles will choose an explosive wide end from the University of Alabama. Williams and DeVonta Smith would give opposing secondary all sorts of trouble when the former recovers from his knee injury.
16. New Orleans Saints
Matt Corral (quarterback): In order to get that pick from the Eagles, the Saints, among other things, sacrificed their first pick of 2023 and their third of this year. As the Saints hold the 16and and the 19and selection, so it would be pretty amazing if they didn’t pick a quarterback.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
Trevor Penning (blocker): A year after drafting left tackle Rashawn Slater in the first round, the Chargers will find their right tackle this time around. They would thus make sure to protect Justin Herbert well for the next 5 to 10 years.
18. Philadelphia Eagles
Jermaine Johnson (defensive end): Brandon Graham is at the end of his career and Derek Barnett is not a top quarterback hunter. Johnson’s arrival could elevate a respectable defensive front to the ranks of the National’s good.
19. New Orleans Saints
Treylon Burks (wide end): Corral is particularly adept at passing for 20 yards and under and Burks could wreak havoc in the short and middle areas thanks to his 6’3″, 230lb size.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Desmond Ridder (quarterback): If Pickett, Willis and Corral have already been drafted, the Steelers’ decision will be easier to make. What seems very likely is that Kevin Colbert will choose a quarterback in his last draft before retirement, having held the position of GM for more than two decades.
21. New England Patriots
Andrew Booth Jr. (cornerback): Bill Belichick has always been good at finding good defensive backs. After the departures of Stephon Gilmore and JC Jackson, the selection of a cornerback in the first round would make sense.
22. Green Bay Packers
Chris Olave (wide end): With the Raiders’ first-round pick in return for Davante Adams, the Packers will get their hands on a talented receiver in Aaron Rodgers. And Olave should contribute quickly thanks to the quality of his passing routes.
23. Arizona Cardinals
Jahan Dotson (wide end): The Cardinals could very well opt for a quarterback chaser, but Dotson would give another weapon to Kyler Murray, who will have to raise his level of play another notch in order for the Cards to win in the playoffs.
24. Dallas Cowboys
Daniel Faalele (blocker): The Cowboys offensive line needs to be refreshed, and Jerry Jones’ team generally likes its offensive linemen to be big. Faalele is 6’8” and weighs 387 lbs… He could replace La’el Collins as right tackle.
25. Buffalo Bills
Kenyon Green (guard): Green is considered the best guard in the class of 2022 and the Bills absolutely need to improve at this position.
26. Tennessee Titans
Trey McBride (tight end): Despite their hiring of veteran Austin Hooper, the Titans would surely like to add a complete player like McBride to their offense. The tight end could have as big an impact on the aerial game as on the ground game, a huge factor when you can count on a carrier like Derrick Henry.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zion Johnson (guard): A tackle with the Boston College Eagles, Johnson will likely move to guard in the NFL as he’s only 6’3”. The Bucs have secured Shaq Mason of the Patriots to replace Alex Cappa (Bengals), but must also find a successor to Ali Marpet, who has retired.
28. Green Bay Packers
Devonte Wyatt (Tackling): The Packers could choose to bail out their offensive line, but since they often manage to do so by finding pearls in the late rounds, Wyatt would be an interesting candidate if he is still available. He would improve the Packers defensive front with his versatility.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
George Pickens (wide end): If they keep their two first-round picks, it would be a big surprise if the Chiefs didn’t select a receiver to replace some of the contribution Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Dolphins a few weeks ago. Pickens is very talented, but suffered a few injuries in the NCAA.
30. Kansas City Chiefs
Trent McDuffie (cornerback): Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr are all part of the Chiefs division, so adding another good cornerback would be no luxury for a team that notably lost the services of Charvarius Ward ( 49ers) during the offseason.
31. Cincinnati Bengals
Kair Elam (cornerback): After improving their offensive line in the free agent market, the Bengals could very well decide to add an important piece to a secondary that lacks a bit of depth.
32. Detroit Lions
Carson Strong (quarterback): The Lions will take a risk with a quarterback who could turn out to be the best pure passer in the auction. Strong would be picked much sooner if he was more mobile. Sam Howell could be another option if the Lions do choose to draft a quarterback with that pick.