The first season of the PML has come and gone, but more importantly, the very first draft of the cycle is near and a lot of teams are hoping to turn last year’s misery into a new beginning. This is going to be a three part mock draft where we will break down each team’s needs, the best player fit for them, and the potential of the prospect. We have already seen a trade for the first overall pick that has shaken up the draft a bit, but going forward this mock draft will assume all remaining picks stay with the teams that currently own the pick.
1. New York Jets – Kayvon Thibodeaux, RE, Oregon
The New York Jets traded 1.5, 1.12, and a future second round pick to leap frog everyone in the draft to the number one overall selection. The Jets had a war chest full of draft picks and even with this trade, they still have 8 selections in this draft. The Jets only have two defensive ends on the team at the moment and by giving up so much already, it’s almost a must to select the best player in the draft, right? Thibodeaux is a physical freak. He has elite speed off the edge, is 6’5”, 258 pounds, and had a 33.6” vertical. He is going to get to the quarterback on almost every play and on the plays that he doesn’t, he has the elite ability to jump and get his hands up to knock the ball down.
2. Carolina Panthers – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The attempt to reignite the glory days in Carolina was a failure this season. The Panthers had hopes that Cam Newton would be able to have the same success that he did when he led them to the Superbowl against the Broncos a few seasons ago. The Panthers released Sam Darnold into free agency in the off-season and they are sitting in the perfect spot to take the best QB in this draft. Liberty is a smaller school compared to the bigger names, but Malik Willis appears to be one of the best prospects coming out of the draft since Andrew Luck. Willis possesses quickness, a fast throwing motion, pinpoint accuracy, and elite arm strength as displayed in his Pro Day. Malik Willis will instantly make this team better, but ultimately it is up to Coach JT to make the correct reads if he wants to develop Willis into the Superstar that on paper he looks to already be.
3. New York Giants – Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU
The New York Giants have negative cap space heading into the draft but they are in a perfect position to clear some of that space and take the best cornerback in the draft. If the Giants traded or released James Bradberry, they would net $13.5M in cap space. They have a lot of depth at CB, but outside of Adoree’ Jackson, they don’t have elite players at the position. Stingley doesn’t have blazing speed but he does have elite agility and quickness. His gameplay speed allows him to break up passes even when he doesn’t look to be in a position to break on the ball. Stingley is a physical in your face press corner that can play on the outside and man up in the slot. The New York Giants could trade out of this selection if there’s a needy team willing to pay up to draft Stingley, but it would behoove the Giants to climb out of the debt they’re currently in and draft the best corner in the draft.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers – Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in desperate need of a new signal caller after parting ways with longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Desmond Ridder led his team to a victory over Ole Miss in the National Championship. Ridder was calculated and precise with his throws in the championship game, but his throwing motion is slower than you might like. He doesn’t have elite throw power, but he does have elite quickness and agility. His pocket presence is among the best of the rookie class and surrounding him with a solid running game can help his transition into the NFL be all the smoother. Pittsburgh’s offensive line is aging and low rated, which strikes a concern in pass protection, but Ridder has the speed to get outside of the pocket and the ability to make a throw downfield on the run.
5. Washington Football Team – Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
The Washington Football team traded out of the first overall selection and picked up an extra first and future pick for next season. They were able to make a playoff run with Jared Goff this past season, but Goff was released, and the Washington Football team has an opportunity to select one of the best quarterbacks in the draft. Matt Corral led his team to the Nation Championship, but fell just short of winning. He wasn’t explosive in the championship game, but Corral is a solid quarterback with a fast, prototypical throwing motion that is coveted by most scouts. Corral isn’t as athletically gifted as some of the other quarterbacks in the class, but he has one of the highest ceilings of the bunch, especially in a system like the one that Washington has going on.
6. Cleveland Browns – Kyle Hamilton, FS, Notre Dame
The Cleveland Browns have been flirting with the idea of trading former first overall selection Baker mayfield but at the time of this mock draft, he is still on the team, so we are going to assume that he will be Cleveland’s QB1 for next season. If Cleveland manages to trade Mayfield, then they will most assuredly draft one, but for now I think they will go with the best player available for their team in Kyle Hamilton. The Notre Dame product is the best safety in the class and he’s an all around player that could be an opposing offense’s nightmare. Hamilton is 227 pounds with a known tenacity to come up into the box and make a big hit. His hitpower is expected to give him the ability to play in the sub linebacker position in PML. Hamilton ran a 4.5 40 and had the best 3 cone time of 6.67 of the class. He has world class speed and coverage ability that will take over the middle of the field for the Browns. The Browns don’t have a true middle linebacker on the team currently, so outside of base packages, Hamilton will be able to fill that role for them.
7. Atlanta Falcons – Evan Neal, LT, Alabama
The Atlanta Falcons have spent multiple first round picks trying to address their offensive line the past few seasons and they are making headway at putting together an elite group of guys. Matt Ryan was sacked 22 times last season and it’s possible that the Falcons look for his replacement in this draft, but this isn’t the spot to reach for one with as we’ve seen the top 3 go within the first five selections. Alabama didn’t have the season that they are usually accustomed to having but Evan Neal was an elite tackle for them during his tenure. Neal is a vicious mauler who showcases his skill in the run game. The Atlanta Falcons leaned heavily on the pass last season, but with a more balanced approach, they could see their team out up more points. Jake Matthews is the team’s current left tackle, but he just turned 30 years old and is already regressing. The Atlanta Falcons will be set for the cycle with the selection of Evan Neal and he will become their next franchise quarterback’s most trusted friend.
8. Houston Texans – Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
The Houston Texans are in full rebuild mode and they have the assets to make a turnaround this season, but they only have 36 players on their roster currently. The Texans only have two cornerbacks on their roster, but Kaiir Elam has elite coverage abilities and his football awareness is off of the charts. Elam is a rangy corner that has a knack for forcing the ball out of the hands of the offense. Elam ran 4.43 40 at his pro day but his athleticism has been knocked on as an opportunity for him. His aggressiveness is part of his charm, but he was known to attract flags in college. He is a in your face press corner that uses his short range speed to knock the ball away. He is an asset in the run game and had the most reps (21) for all corners in the draft at his pro day. Elam would be an instant starter for the Texans and they need impactful players if they plan to compete in their division.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Drake Jackson, LOLB, USC
The Cincinnati Bengals had their chances early on in the season to take over their division, but after losing 5 of their last 8 games, they quickly moved into off-season mode. The Bengals have a balanced roster, but a lot of their talented players lack speed. They have one of the most athletically gifted linebacker groups in the league but they are all very low rated. Drake Jackson is one of the most gifted linebackers in this draft class. He is a very smart player that can rush the passer and play in coverage. His ability to shed blockers was his biggest asset in college. He is also one of the strongest outside linebackers in the draft. He put up 30 reps on the bench press in his pro day and he ran a 4.57 40 yard dash. The Bengals weren’t able to get much pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season, but Jackson will be an improvement to their pass rush.
10. Houston Texans – Kenyon Green, RG, Texas A&M
The Houston Texans are on the clock again and they benefit the most from the earlier selections being quarterback heavy. It’s a wonder how the best offensive linemen fell all the way to pick 10, but the Texans only have four offensive linemen on their roster. Kenyon Green is an athletic behemoth who was expected to be drafted in the top 5. He ran a 4.96 40 yard dash at his pro day and that made him the fastest offensive guard in the class. He is an elite athlete that is a monster in the run game. He was witnessed in college pancaking an average of 5 players a game. Kenyon Green does have some opportunity to improve when protecting the passer, however, his prowess and awareness will help him quickly become the team’s best offensive linemen.
