Hello, NFL combine week. What a glorious time on the NFL calendar. And because it's combine week, this mock draft will do its best to predict the impact that individual performances will have on selections in the first round on April 28. Because the combine absolutely still matters.
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OK, let's get to it. Keep reading to see who's the first quarterback off the board, and a surprise with the first receiver picked.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Ikem Ekwonu
OL
NC State
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
Ekwonu should be a rather large riser after the combine given Evan Neal's absence and the simple fact that Ekwonu looks like a tremendous athlete on film, and he has the opportunity to surprise people with his stature and length.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Aidan Hutchinson
EDGE
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 268 lbs
If Hutchinson's tests match the hype, he very well could all but officially lock himself into the No. 2 overall spot here to the Detroit Fighting Dan Campbells.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
Hamilton is going to test like a Derwin James type athlete, and he's a James-type prospect at the safety spot. He should be a top 5 pick.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Mississippi State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 311 lbs
Cross is a special athlete with a nice blend of balance and power on the outside.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Pittsburgh
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 220 lbs
Matt Rhule loves adding players with whom he already has a relationship. The former Temple recruit lands in Carolina and will be primed to start Week 1. Giddy up.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 7
Kayvon Thibodeaux
EDGE
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 258 lbs
The Giants jump at the opportunity to add Thibodeaux to their defensive front.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Malik Willis
QB
Liberty
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 219 lbs
The Falcons are looking long-term with their rebuild, and Willis provides the brightest future on that front.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 190 lbs
Gardner glides around the field and plays the ball outstandingly in the air. Lockdown tandem in Denver.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 10
LSU
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
Stingley falls slightly, but the Jets are happy to select such a long, smooth ball-hawking outside cornerback here.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Chris Olave
WR
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 187 lbs
Olave as the first receiver off the board? Yep. If he runs as many believe he will -- high 4.3s -- that will be in play.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 183 lbs
Wilson has a lot of Stefon Diggs to his game, and the Vikings wouldn't mind having that type of player back in the offense for Kirk Cousins.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Jermaine Johnson II
EDGE
Florida State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 254 lbs
Johnson and Myles Garrett would formulate one lengthy and explosive edge-rusher duo in Cleveland.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 272 lbs
Walker feels like a Ravens selection. Big, long, athletic. Wins with his movement skills at close to 280 pounds.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 15
Iowa
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 305 lbs
Let's get Linderbaum on the Eagles to replace Jason Kelce. How it was meant to be.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 16
David Ojabo
EDGE
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 265 lbs
Ojabo should crush his workout, which would solidify him as a top 20 selection, and the Eagles have to address their edge-rusher spot.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Arkansas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
Burks is an oversized version of the Deebo Samuel / A.J. Brown type at receiver who thrives after the catch because of how strong is he when contact arrives.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Drake London
WR
USC
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 213 lbs
London may not be the fastest wideout in this class -- which would sink him on draft night -- but the rest of his game is that of a No. 1 wideout in the NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Kyler Gordon
CB
Washington
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 200 lbs
Gordon is a freaky specimen. Long, fluid player who attacks against the run and has high-level ball skills.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Matt Corral
QB
Ole Miss
• Soph
• 6'2"
/ 205 lbs
Corral is a little raw but has the arm talent and improvisation aspects to his game that we've seen in most of the game's young quarterback stars.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Devin Lloyd
LB
Utah
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 235 lbs
Lloyd is a rocket to the football who projects wonderfully to the SAM position in Bill Belichick's defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Washington
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 193 lbs
McDuffie is a high-floor cornerback on a team that desperately needs stability at that position.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Zion Johnson
OL
Boston College
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 316 lbs
The Cardinals could use a stronger front to keep Kyler Murray more clean in 2022. Johnson is one of the safer blockers in this class.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
George Karlaftis
EDGE
Purdue
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 263 lbs
Kalfatis would help alleviate the negative impact if Randy Gregory signs elsewhere in free agency.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Clemson
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 194 lbs
Booth bounces around like his feet have springs attached to them and has big-time ball skills, perfect in Buffalo's zone-based scheme.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Central Michigan
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 303 lbs
The Titans have to improve their blocking unit, and although he's an older prospect, he has the athletic gifts to become a star in Tennessee.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Nakobe Dean
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 231 lbs
The Buccaneers will look for a Ali Marpet replacement on Day 2 but can't pass on the uber-talented Dean here.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 180 lbs
A receiver for the Packers! I don't expect Williams to boost his stock, obviously, due to his knee injury, but at this point the Packers may realize it's too good of a scenario to pass on.
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From
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 29
Northern Iowa
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 325 lbs
Penning has NFL offensive tackle size and power at the point of attack. The Dolphins have to get sturdier up front.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Boye Mafe
DL
Minnesota
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 261 lbs
Mafe looks like a first-round athlete, and he understands how to use his hands to beat blockers.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 304 lbs
Wyatt is the best three-technique in this class, and quietly, the Bengals have to add quality interior rushers to their defense.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 32
Hill can play anywhere in the secondary and find the football thanks to his lightning quickness.
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