Harris 100 | Mock Draft 2.0

Apr 27, 2022 at 05:11 PM

John Harris

Texans Analyst

It's time for Mock Draft version 2.0. A few things…I didn't look back at my last mock draft, didn't even open the dadgum file. No cut and paste or anything, just started from scratch. Also, NO trades, which was ultra-difficult for me to even consider, but I did it. And, I extended this mock draft to No. 37 to consider the Texans second round pick, as well. Let's roll and see who the Texans, and 23 other teams, snatch up in the first round…and beyond.

Round 1

Table inside Article
Pick	Team	Pick	Reasoning
1	Jacksonville Jaguars	DE Travon Walker, Georgia	Walker’s traits are off the charts and I’m rolling the dice that GM Trent Baalke is telling his draft room that “traits win out”. That doesn’t mean that Walker can’t play, quite the contrary, but this guy is an uber-athlete who could be a versatile piece up and down the defensive line.
2	Detroit Lions	DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michiga	When Walker’s name is called, the Lions draft room will all run the card to Las Vegas for Hutchinson. Michigan man. Detroit pro.
3	Houston Texans	OL Ikem Ekwonu, NC State	I’ve thought about this one, as most of you know, for days and days but I keep coming back to one thought I’ve had since I first saw Ekwonu. He’s the most significant, most impactful game changer in the trenches in this draft. I can go to sleep well at night knowing the Texans have him on the offensive line with Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard, Justin Britt and others.
4	New York Jets	DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon	I still think there’s a lot of flash to Thibodeaux that’s a bit maddening, but I think there’s a ton there to feel GREAT about. So, if the Texans pulled the trigger at number three on Thiboeaux, I would feel great about his prospects…and his radio interviews with us, of course. But, the Texans went Ekwonu in this mock, so the Jets call Thibodeaux’s name and will team him with Carl Lawson, Quinnen Williams and John Franklin-Myers which is shaping up to be a solid defensive line conglomerate.
5	New York Giants	OT/OG Evan Neal, Alabama	The Giants have LT Andrew Thomas. The Giants have no other high caliber players on that unit. Until now. Thomas and Neal could be bookend tackles for a long time in the Big Apple.
6	Carolina Panthers	OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State	The QB situation isn’t a great one. The options are as follows. 1. Sam Darnold 2. A potential trade for Baker Mayfield. 3 A rookie and not much else. Not great, but the Panthers can’t pass up on a bona fide, best pass protector in this draft LT. Cross is exactly that and should effectively protect whoever steps under center in 2022 and beyond.
7	New York Giants	CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU	The Giants cornerback situation is far from outstanding with James Bradberry trade rumors flying around and not a ton else at the position. So, Stingley joins Neal in New Jersey to help turn Big Blue into an NFC East power again.
8	Atlanta Falcons	WR Chris Olave, Ohio State	Too much draft time on my hands got in my head with this one. I had talked myself into the Falcons selecting Liberty QB Malik Willis in my previous mock draft, but the more I ruminated on the situation, I just don’t think teams are going to sink top ten picks on this group of QB prospects. Not this year. As such, the next biggest need in Atlanta is WR and Olave is my WR1, so let’s do it - Olave to the ATL.
9	Seattle Seahawks	CB Sauce Gardner, Cincinnati	With the three top OL off the board and a need at the cornerback position, Sauce and Seattle sound like a great marriage. The Seahawks have seen his ilk before and were ultra-successful with corners like Sauce. So, it felt right for Seattle to pull the trigger, even though CB hasn’t historically been a first-round target under the Pete Carroll/John Schneider regime.
10	New York Jets	WR Jameson Williams, Alabama	The Jets bolstered the offensive line around QB Zach Wilson, drafting OG Alijah Vera-Tucker one year after drafting LT Mekhi Becton and signing OG Laken Tomlinson this offseason. On the flip side, they signed receiver Corey Davis in free agency last year but more is needed, and Williams fits the bill. This cat can fly and provides Wilson with an explosive weapon alongside Davis, Braxton Berrios and last year’s stud draft pick Elijah Moore.
11	Washington Commanders	S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame	Break my heart, Washington, but it makes too much sense. The Commanders badly need a back four game changer and Hamilton fits that bill.
12	Minnesota Vikings	CB Trent McDuffie, Washington	I’m a huge fan of McDuffie and wouldn’t mind one bit if the Vikings passed to allow the Texans a shot at the former Husky cornerback. But, the Minnesota CB situation is fairly dire at this point and McDuffie can help fill one opening long-term.
13	Houston Texans	DT Jordan Davis, Georgia	Big, athletic and football violent, he’s the exact type of player that’ll bring back that interior dominance that the Texans need when facing stud run games and running backs Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor and James Robinson six times a year. Plus, Davis does a great Rock imitation and I’m down with that for sure.
14	Baltimore Ravens	DE/OLB Jermaine Johnson, Florida State	Although I really wanted Davis in Houston, and made that pick one spot prior, I thought long and hard about Johnson’s impact in Houston as well. Looooong and hard. Davis filled a different need for the Texans even though Johnson’s presence as an all-around edge player was highly attractive. So much so that the Ravens will call his name with the very next pick.
15	Philadelphia Eagles	DE George Karlaftis, Purdue	As I mentioned earlier, I did this mock without looking back at my last one. One thing that I do remember saying about this pick was that the Eagles would eventually replace long-time star Brandon Graham with the new Brandon Graham. So, no change to the pick - Karlaftis to the Eagles. If it works out that way for Karlaftis and the Eagles, this will be an A+ pick at No. 15.
16	New Orleans Saints	RT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa	This is a bit high for Penning, in all honesty, but he’s the next best tackle on my board and it’s the second most significant need on this roster. The first we’ll get to in a little bit. The reason two may come before one is that Chargers could easily snag the FCS star pass protector with the very next pick. Penning is a heck of an athlete but has a WWE mentality and those two don’t always go hand in hand. We saw that down at the Senior Bowl. But, the Saints need someone on the edge to protect the QB they’ll select at #19. I’ll take a shot on an athlete like Penning to do just that.
17	Los Angeles Chargers	OG Kenyon Green, Texas A&M	The Chargers need to do two major things over the next three years. Give Justin Herbert all the weapons. Protect the third-year star QB. Do those two things and the sky’s the limit for the Chargers. Enter Green. He’ll play guard instead of tackle but he’ll be the second or third best OL on the team the very second he walks on the LA campus. Rashawn Slater, Corey Linsley and Green? Not a bad trio to start the OL construction process for Herbert.
18	Philadelphia Eagles	LB Devin Lloyd, Utah	Long and athletic, Lloyd has the traits that teams crave in a first round off the ball backer. He’s still a work in progress as all are, but his first step, IQ and ability to get his hands on the ball carrier are nearly without peer in this draft class.
19	New Orleans Saints	QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati	CURVE. BALL! With Malik Willis and every other QB still on the board, the Saints snatch the guy they fell in love with that precipitated a trade with the Eagles back in March. I’ve always felt like Ridder was New Orleans’ guy for some reason. Defensive minded head coach Dennis Allen will love having a mature, gym rat leader on offense.
20	Pittsburgh Steelers	QB Malik Willis, Liberty	The rumor at the Senior Bowl that made its way throughout Hancock Whitney Stadium was that the Steelers didn’t love hometown boy Kenny Pickett as much as they did Willis. This team is loaded with DUDES and stars, with one major exception. As such, Willis should bring some star power to the Steel City in due time.
21	New England Patriots	CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson	After losing J.C Jackson and Stephon Gilmore over the past couple of seasons, the Patriots need to replenish the cornerback position. Booth feels like a Patriot in so many ways and it’s the right fit.
22	Green Bay Packers	WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State	The Deebo Samuel news broke about halfway through this mock draft’s completion and that could have an impact in Green Bay. The Packers lost Davante Adams, which was the biggest loss, but they also lost Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Receiver is a major issue and Wilson is a relative steal at No. 22. But, if the Packers make the 49ers an offer for Deebo…things could get really interesting.
23	Arizona Cardinals	C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa	C Rodney Hudson still has some football left in his tank, but I don’t love much else on an offensive line that MUST do a better job protecting Kyler Mu…well, if, you know, Murray is still in Arizona. Linderbaum will find a home on the interior in some way, shape or form on a line that needs help.
24	Dallas Cowboys	OG Zion Johnson, Boston College	Johnson will solidify either the center or guard spot for the next decade, health permitting. He’s as safe a pick as there is in this draft class and would be a tremendous get for the Cowboys at No. 24.
25	Buffalo Bills	RB Breece Hall, Iowa State	I don’t know that I could/would pull the trigger on a running back in the first round, but I would if it’s a special dude and I felt like I was one player away from winning a ring. Hall is special and the Bills are nearly one player away from winning its first ring. Soooo, let’s drop in my RB1 in Buffalo.
26	Tennessee Titans	OLB Boye Mafe, Minnesota	OLB Harold Landry re-upped in a big way with the Titans and OLB Bud Dupree signed one last offseason. Landry played at THAT level but Dupree didn’t throughout the 2021 season. If things go south, for some reason, with one or both of the two veteran rushers, Mafe is one heck of an athlete who could use a year to grow, learn and selectively rush on third down. This could be a great spot for him to get drafted.
27	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia	I don’t know if he’s the perfect fit in a 3-4 but he’s needed in Tampa Bay on the interior. There might be some past issues for Tampa Bay to work through on Wyatt, but he’s wildly talented and that should sway the Buccaneers late in the 1st round.
28	Green Bay Packers	LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia	I felt great about a Georgia linebacker here, but Dean v. Quay Walker was much more competitive, if you will, than at first glance. I see Dean as the next alpha on that defense and much needed in Green Bay.
29	Kansas City Chiefs	WR Drake London, USC	London is all over the place on mocks and had he been fully healthy for the last half of 2021, perhaps, I’d feel more confident about him being a top 12 pick at worst. I really like London and think this could be a great marriage in Kansas City.
30	Kansas City Chiefs	Edge Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State	I’ve studied Ebiketie a ton in the process and believe he can fit in a number of different defenses, doing all kinds of different things out on the edge. He’s powerful and long but has a different gear off the edge. He could bolster Kansas City’s edge depth chart in a hurry. In fact, in a year or two, he might be the only guy left, honestly. But, he’s not a bad starting point for this defense.
31	Cincinnati Bengals	OL Tyler Smith, Tulsa	Smith is an unpolished masher with insane athleticism and power. His technique at tackle was all over the map as a starter the past two seasons. But, my goodness, this guy is talented and can jump in at guard right away. Ted Karras, La’el Collins, Alex Cappa and now Smith. The Great Cincinnati Burrow Wall is nearly complete.
32	Detroit Lions	S Daxton Hill, Michigan	I just can’t see Hill NOT in the first round and the Lions could use a piece like Hill next to Tracy Walker, who they re-upped with this offseason. He’s one of my favorite players, regardless of position in this draft and the Lions keep adding former Michigan stars. Hey, David Ojabo and Haasan Haskins are still out there for the Lions to keep adding #GoBlue stars.

Round 2

Table inside Article
Pick	Team	Selection	1st Round Selections
33	Jacksonville Jaguars	S Lewis Cine, Georgia	DE Travon Walker, Georgia
34	Detroit Lions	QB Kenny Pickett, Pitt	DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan and S Daxton Hill, Michigan
35	New York Jets	CB Kyler Gordon, Washington	DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon and WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
36	New York Giants	QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss	OT Evan Neal, Alabama and CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
37	Houston Texans	CB Kaiir Elam, Florida	OL Ikem Ekwonu, NC State and DT Jordan Davis, Georgia