Two QBs, Eight Receivers, and a Complete RD1 NFL Mock Draft: VT & PTSD Writers Weigh In
K. Joudry
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NFL mock draft season is in full swing.
Before free agency arrived, the fine folks who write for Purple PTSD and Vikings Territory put forth a collected round 1 draft. Given the focus of our sites – the Minnesota Vikings – our mocks generally focus on the purple & gold. Every so often, though, we like to offer our two cents for the rest of the NFL. After all, the decisions of the other teams will impact the Vikings insofar as the rest of the picks determine who is and isn’t available.
All together, we have eleven people participating in this mock: Josh Frey, Noah Moore, Kirby O’Connor, Will Woodford, Henrique Gucciardi, Janik Eckardt, LeeAnn Lowman, Adam New, Nate Powalie, and Steven DeLuca. Their work can be found on VT and/or Purple PTSD.
Without further ado, the complete post-free agency mock draft (or, at least, opening wave of FA).
A Round 1 NFL Mock Draft
1) Jacksonville Jaguars – Josh Frey
Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
The Jaguars seem committed to their current offensive line after franchise-tagging their left tackle Cam Robinson. With that, Jacksonville turns to the other side of the trenches and takes the top EDGE in the class with the first overall pick.
2) Detroit Lions – K. Joudry
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Look, I don’t know if Willis should go so high. What I do know is that the Lions need a solution at QB, and Willis may be this year’s best shot. The kid will get the chance to sit behind Jared Goff for the year before taking over heading in 2023.
3) Houston Texans – Kirby O’Connor
Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Houston wants a long-term answer under center, but it isn’t coming in 2022. So, they hop on the second best pass rusher in the class to try to lock in a defensive cornerstone for the foreseeable future.
4) New York Jets – Will Woodford
Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
I know his speed testing numbers don’t necessarily excite scouts, but you can’t deny the tape that Hamilton has put out in his time at Notre Dame. Don’t overthink this one: Hamilton will be one of the best players in this class when it’s all said and done. They just signed Jordan Whitehead in free agency, but a strong back end of a defense is critical in today’s NFL.
5) New York Giants – Nate Powalie
Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
This is a steal at number 5. Evan Neal is a sturdy offensive tackle, and the Giants need a guy like him to help shore up their offensive line and protect developing quarterback Daniel Jones.
6) New York Jets – Adam New (Trade: New York Jets trade picks 10, 38 & 117 to Carolina Panthers for picks 6 & 137)
Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The Jets get aggressive and trade up. Robert Saleh is putting a mean defense together here adding the two best defensive backs in the draft to his roster. Sauce Gardner joins Kyle Hamilton and new signings DJ Reed and Jordan Whitehead to give the Jets secondary a major boost.
7) New York Giants – Steven DeLucca
Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
The Giants need help everywhere. Walker is quickly gaining momentum in the various mock drafts. He’ll give the Giants a chance at an impact EDGE.
8) Atlanta Falcons – Noah Moore
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
After losing quarterback Matt Ryan this offseason, the Falcons are in the market for a quarterback for the first time in a long time. The most NFL-ready quarterback in this draft is Desmond Ridder, in my opinion. Ridder is accurate, goes through his progressions consistently, and takes care of the ball. The Falcons could draft their next franchise QB with the #8 overall selection.
9) Baltimore Ravens- Kirby O’Connor (Baltimore trades 14, 76, and 2023 2nd round pick for Seattle 9).
Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU
The Ravens were going to target either Gardner or Stingley, but with the Sauce being gone early, they needed to hop Minnesota to get one of the top two corners. Now the defense gets a boost from an excellent man coverage guy.
10) Carolina Panthers – Henrique Gucciardi (via trade with NYJ)
Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
If Evan was a steal at 5, Ekwonu may be a bigger one being the 10th overall pick. The Panthers are building a solid young team, and with Ekwonu they have a very good offensive tackle going forward. Whoever the Panthers see as their next franchise QB will be well protected.
11) Washington Commanders – LeeAnn Lowman
Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
After picking Carson Wentz as a stop gap, the Commanders need to focus on targets for him and someone to complement Terry McLaurin. Wilson isn’t huge but he has great speed & agility. In a one-on-one with a defender he’s going to run away with the ball.
12) Minnesota Vikings – Josh Frey
Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
This board is the worst-case scenario for the Minnesota Vikings. Both targets at CB go off the board early, and with the majority of the QBs available, there is no pressure from teams like the Steelers to trade up. The Vikings opt to take a talented defensive lineman to truly beef up in the trenches.
13) Houston Texans – K. Joudry
Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
There are no positions on the Texans roster that are set. True, they have some talent along the edge – Greenard and Okoronkwo – but there’s no such thing as too many pass rushers. The Texans opt for a player whom many believe is a Top 10 talent.
14) Seattle Seahawks- Janik Eckardt (via trade with BAL)
Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The 36 year-old LT Duane Brown is not getting any younger and Charles Cross is the best player on the board. Therefore, he is a logical pick. The Seahawks are finally getting some much needed help on the offensive line.
15) Philadelphia Eagles – Will Woodford
Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Instead of opting to take a receiver for the third year in a row, Philly decides to take a corner in the first round to complement Darius Slay on the back end of their defense. Drake London also makes sense here but Howie Roseman and Co. value McDuffie just a little bit higher.
16) New Orleans Saints – Nate Powalie
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Sure, Williams may still be rehabbing from his injury, but he’s one of the top wideouts in this class. And the Saints need a guy who can partner with Michael Thomas on the outside and provide an explosive deep threat.
17) Los Angeles Chargers – Henrique Gucciardi
Drake London, WR, USC
The Chargers already have a good WR duo with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, but it’s never a bad idea to give Justin Herbert another target to throw to. A former basketball player, London possesses the frame to catch almost anything thrown at him.
18) Philadelphia Eagles – Steven DeLuca
Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The Eagles use one of their high draft picks to snag a strong linebacker. Improving that defense will help the team find its way back in the playoffs.
19) New Orleans Saints – Noah Moore
Bernhard Raimann, T, Central Michigan
The Saints are looking for a new left tackle after they were forced to let Terron Armstead walk in free agency. The 6’7, 305 lbs tackle out of Central Michigan, Bernhard Raimann, earned a 94.3 PFF grade last year and should be able to contribute right away.
20) Dallas Cowboys – K. Joudry (The Steelers receive Dallas’ 24th and 88th pick in exchange for the 20th pick)
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
After moving on from Amari Cooper, Jerry Jones wants WR help. Dallas needed to hop in front of the Pats and Packers to get their man, especially after seeing three other receivers get snagged. The speedster from Ohio will partner with CeeDee Lamb.
21) New England Patriots – Adam New
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The Patriots need a stud linebacker and with Devin Lloyd still on the board at 21 they sprint to the podium to get their man. His combination of strength, long-striding speed from sideline to sideline, and solid ball skills in coverage is just what New England needs.
22) Green Bay Packers – LeeAnn Lowman
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
It’s no secret GB needs a lot of help but a WR is at the top of the list; Burks being available might be a steal. Burks has great size to speed ratio. GB fans will love him. He is a humble outdoorsman off the field and a strong team player on the field.
23) Arizona Cardinals – Josh Frey
Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
The Cardinals could go WR here, but a number of the big names have already come off the board. So, Arizona opts to take a defensive tackle that could change the landscape of their defense for years to come.
24) Pittsburgh Steelers – Janik Eckardt
George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Edge rusher is not a need, but the Steelers had to select a top-10 talent with the 24th pick. Karlaftis is a powerful rusher who is going to benefit from the attention T.J. Watt gets.
25) Buffalo Bills – Kirby O’Connor
George Pickens, WR, Georgia
Yet another weapon for the Bills. There aren’t many needs in Buffalo, but adding another weapon for Josh Allen can only be a good thing.
26) Tennessee Titans – Will Woodford
Andrew Booth JR, CB, Clemson
Caleb Farley and Kristian Fulton are far too unproven for my liking, so I send Booth to Tennessee here. Playing at a big school in big games is something I look for and like in prospects, and Booth has had plenty of that experience coming from Clemson.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Nate Powalie
Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
With Ali Marpet suddenly retiring, the guard position is now a question mark for the Bucs. They did acquire Shaq Mason from New England. A guy like Zion Johnson should partner well with Mason and Ryan Jensen in the interior O-line to help protect Tom Brady.
28) Green Bay Packers – Henrique Gucciardi
Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
As said before, the Packers really need to upgrade their wide receiver room. Dotson gives them speed and explosiveness, something they’ll need with the departure of Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
29) Kansas City Chiefs – Steven DeLuca
Boye Mafe, Edge, Minnesota
Kansas City certainly needs help at receiver, but having back-to-back picks takes the pressure off. For their first first-rounder, the Chiefs opt for someone whom they believe can make their defense more dangerous.
30) Kansas City Chiefs – Noah Moore
Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
The Chiefs will want a wide receiver to fill the void left behind by Tyreek Hill. To replace him, they could take Skyy Moore out of Western Michigan, a converted cornerback with excellent run-after-the-catch abilities.
31) Cincinnati Bengals – Janik Eckardt
Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Keeping Joe Burrow upright should be the top priority for the Bengals. Tyler Linderbaum is the best center in the draft and will provide protection for the franchise quarterback.
32) Detroit Lions – Adam New
Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
Some much needed help at safety for the Lions. Daxton Hill can play slot corner. However, it is safety where he can have the biggest impact and where Detroit needs the most help. A perfect fit.
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