Pick 16: Chicago Bears select David Bailey Edge Rusher from Texas Tech. Posting great numbers in the combine and at his Pro day, Bailey joins a Bears team desperate for talent in the trenches. With numerous departures on both sides of the ball over this offseason the Bears choose Bailey as their first step in rebuilding.
Pick 17: Houston Texans select Christen Miller DT from Georgia. After missing the playoffs last season, the only place where this Texans team lacks talent in at the DT position. Coming out of Georgia, Miller is another in a long line of stud front 7 players that Kirby Smart has sent to the league. At 6’4 305 he looks to plug the middle of a defense anchored on either side by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.
Pick 18: Detroit Lions select Olaivavega Ioane LG from Penn State. With their 2nd pick in the first round the Lions look to sure up their offensive line. Ioane is a welcome addition to the tackles protecting the edges from defenders.
Pick 19: New York Jets select D’Angelo Ponds CB from Indiana. From his performance during his final season as a college athlete Ponds was already a highly touted prospect. His showings at the combine solidified his place among first round draftees. With this pick the Jets establish a no fly zone in NY alongside their SS CB Sauce Gardner.
Pick 20: Seattle Seahwaks select Jordyn Tyson WR from Arizona State. After their season ended in the wild card round of the playoffs, the Seahawks entered the off season confident in their defense. With the retirement of Kooper Kupp the hawks turn to Tyson to step into the role of WR 2 opposite of emerging stat Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Pick 21: Los Angeles Rams select Devonte Ross WR from Penn State. With contract negotiations falling apart between the front office and future HOF ‘er Devante Adams, the Rams look to pair the highly skilled, route running deep threat of Ross alongside their SS Puka Nacua. With more picks down the road to address their other needs, the Rams first pick goes towards helping newly acquired Bryce Young.
Pick 22: Las Vegas Raiders select Eli Stowers TE Vanderbilt. After trading away Brock Bowers to the Patriots, the Raiders use their 2nd pick in the first round on his replacement. After a stellar season that led to him winning the Mackey award, Stowers posted monster numbers at his workouts. Posting a 4.48 40 at his pro day and putting up 21 reps on the bench at the combine, Stowers is the right mix of size, strength and speed for the TE position.
Pick 23: Indianapolis Colts select De’Zhaun Stribling WR from Ole Miss. After numerous trade deals during the offseason to sure up their offensive line, the Colts draft Stribling for his size and speed showcased at the combine. At 6’2, 200, running a 4.41 and benching a class best 22 for his position, the Colts get their big receiving threat here in the 1st round.
Pick 24: Washington Commanders select Keldric Faulk Edge Rusher from Auburn. One of the top defensive lineman in college last season, Faulk joins a Commanders defense reeling from the departure of two aging greats. Faulk was projected to go top 5 in the draft but slipped seemingly due to his poor showing at the combine.
Pick 25: Atlanta Falcons select Noah Thomas WR from Georgia. With a frame reminiscent of Julio Jones, the Falcons add Thomas to play alongside Drake London and Kyle Pitts. Towering over secondaries and also blowing past them Noah becomes the deep threat the Falcons need to unpack the box for Bijan Robinson to do his thing.
Pick 26: Denver Broncos select Barion Brown WR from LSU. After acquiring the Baltimore Ravens 1st round pick for all of their mid round picks the Broncos take the fastest WR available in Brown. A product of WR-University B dub as his teammates call him follows in the steps of Justin Jefferson, Odell Beckham Jr, Ja’marr Chase, and many others who’ve risen to the top of the league as explosive wideouts.
Pick 27: Dallas Cowboys select Jeremiyah Love RB from Notre Dame. With their 2nd pick in the first round the Cowboys address their depth at the RB position. With Jayden Blue entering his 2nd year the Cowboys allowed Javonte Williams to walk in free agency. Love comes highly recognized as the best runner in college and posted a flabbergasting 4.29 40 yard dash at the combine.
Pick 28: Denver Broncos select Xavier Nwankpa FS from Iowa. After posting a 4.39 40 at his pro day, Nwankpa’s draft stock increased tremendously. Known for his hard hitting, ball lurking play in the box, he’s the perfect fit for a Broncos defense that boasts lock down defenders on the outside but will greatly benefit from the versatility Xavier brings with his game.
Pick 29: Arizona Cardinals select Kenyon Sadiq TE from Oregon. Fresh off a national championship, Sadiq posted some brow raising numbers at both his pro day and the combine. Running a 4.52 40, putting up 21 reps, and displaying his skill running routes, he will pair greatly in this Cardinal offense behind Trey McBride.
Pick 30: Cleveland Browns select Peter Woods DT from Clemson. After coming up short in the Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Browns look to bolster their front seven after being gashed by Saquon Barkley. Woods will join Mason Graham, Myles Garrett, and Joey Bosa to create a front 4 that only exists in offensive coordinators nightmares.
Pick 31: Cleveland Browns select Domani Jackson CB Alabama. With the size and speed to play any position in the secondary, Cleveland is adds talent to the back end of their defense to strengthen their ability to cover against teams that like to throw the deep ball.
Pick 32: Philadelphia Eagles select Spencer Fano RT from Utah. After Lane Johnson decided to call it a career after their Super Bowl 56 victory, the Eagles bring in Fano to hopefully fill his shoes. Playing alongside pro bowlers and all pro talent, with the best skilled players in the league around him, Fano should be a great addition to the Super Bowl champs.
