Zach and Jack are here to bring you our mock draft 4.0. This continues to be one of the craziest off-seasons ever with plenty of potential moves still to be made pre-draft. 

1. Jacksonville Jaguars- Ickey Ekwonu, OL, NCST

Although Hutchinson has been our #1 pick in previous mocks, we took a little more time to discuss this pick and we just don’t think Hutchinson’s skill set fits the Jacksonville defense. The Jaguars sit in a super winnable AFC South. Trevor Lawrence was talked about amongst the likes of Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning; keep him upright and you may just see it. They gave Lawrence weapons, now it’s time to continue to build the o-line. Unless something happens with Cam Robinson I see Ickey most likely playing guard for the Jags.

2. Detroit Lions- Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

Hutchinson screams Dan Campbell. He is a high-motor player who is fiery and not afraid to get in your face. Detroit needs a few different positions, but they address the pass rush here with Hutch who should play the end with his hand in the dirt and maybe even rotate in on passing downs.

3. Houston Texans- Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

It seems like the Texans are committed to Davis Mills right now. I mean you could point at any position on this team and it’s a noticeable issue. We think they prioritize the offense for their young QB. Neal is the best pure tackle coming out this year and should make a nice bookend tackle with Laremy Tunsil.

4. New York Jets- Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

With Ickey and Neal off the board we think they wait until pick 10 to boost the offensive line. The Jets are in a wild AFC arms race and their CBs are subpar given the conference. We think they go get arguably the best CB in this year’s class.

5. New York Giants- Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

For a team who had 3 starting safeties on their roster last year they are in dire need of one now. Martindale likes to prioritize the secondary because he can “find guys who want to hit the QB”. Hamilton will slide right in next to McKinney and create arguably the best safety duo in the league.

6. Carolina Panthers- Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

The Panthers very clearly need a QB, but after talking we believe they try to address QB through a different route. The Panthers are young and the roster is ready to win now. We think they take the second best pure tackle to help out the line for whoever the QB may be next season. It’s about building the best roster you can and dropping the QB in later.

7. Green Bay Packers(From New York Giants, Originally Chicago Bears)- Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

Projected Trade:

NYG: Jordan Love, 1.22, 2023 1st

GB: 1.7, 4th rounder

You may think this is a big jump for Green Bay, and it is. However, they just traded away Rodgers’s favorite target and have awful depth on the team. This trade allows them to get their pick of the wide receivers and they go with Olave. This may be viewed negatively, but it is not often you can replace an all pro with a player of an eerily similar skill set and play style. Olave is the best route runner in the class with elite hands and sneaky speed that is not so secret anymore. The Giants are our dark horse team to take a QB at five, but they also may want to see what Daniel Jones actually can do. This trade gets them a young QB, Jordan Love, that Brian Daboll may see shades of Josh Allen in (with some more development) that could pay off huge dividends based on how his value has gone down this offseason. Both teams win in this scenario. New York gets their trade out and a first next year, while also being compensated generously for their drastic move back from 7 to 22. Green Bay gets their pick of the receivers and also keeps their other first this year to add another if the board falls right.

8. Atlanta Falcons- Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Atlanta probably looks to trade out, and they very well may succeed in doing so, but trying to find a trade partner is difficult. Some teams, like the Saints, have already made their move you would think. Others, like the Steelers, may want to move up, but may not have the ammunition to do so. If they are unable to find a partner, we think Atlanta goes with Burks. Anything other than a wide receiver would be a massive mistake, as they are so far away that a quarterback here would push the rebuild back even further. Atlanta may see traces of Julio in Burks’s physical build and potential, so they go with his size and speed over any of the other receivers on the board.

9. Seattle Seahawks(Originally Denver Broncos)- Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

It is hard to tell if Seattle actually has a plan. We at The Gridiron Review are believers in Drew Lock, but Seattle is gonna Seattle. They could take the quarterback with immense upside, but not get anyone to help him develop and therefore who knows how it will turnout. The only doubts we have here are whether or not Pete Carrol is willing to go through developing another QB, or if he wants to try to win now in what may be his last season.

10. New York Jets(Originally Seattle Seahawks)- Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M

Green was a prospect who fell heavily down my board after a pretty horrendous combine. However, after doing my film study, I can’t overlook what I saw on tape. There are prospects who’s tape will override testing and he is one of them. The Jets are a team who could use an upgrade at almost every spot on the o-line and Green has 5 spot versatility. The Jets take the prospect that gives them top notch play and extreme versatility. 

11. Washington Commanders- Drake London, WR, USC

This one seems so obvious. There are reports that Washington is in love with Chris Olave, but with him and Burks gone, we think they go with the big target in Drake London. He is a perfect pairing with McLaurin, and offers a huge catch radius for Wentz to throw to. Those two along with Samuel, the running backs, and Logan Thomas form a nice offense in a very winnable division.

12. Minnesota Vikings-  Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: when healthy Stingley is arguably the best prospect coming out this year. However, he has not been able to stay healthy since his stellar freshman season. Minnesota’s CB room is either old or unproven. Stingley would be a steal here to bolster up the secondary.

13. Houston Texans(Originally Cleveland Browns)- Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

Houston has their pick of premier pass rushers here, but we think they double up on offensive line. Their line is in pretty rough shape, and reports say Linderbaum could be an all-pro player starting his rookie year. Adding Linderbaum and Neal would be a huge deal for Davis Mills.

14. Baltimore Ravens- Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia

Jordan Davis is one of the safest prospects in this draft, while also having one of the highest upsides. He is an elite run defender, but as an athletic freak, he offers a whole lot of potential as a pass rusher. In a heavy running division, Baltimore gives their defensive line anchor that can make contributions immediately.

15. Philadelphia Eagles(Originally Miami Dolphins)- Sam Howell, QB, UNC

We know we know, Philly traded and played their hand already, or did they? We think that the Eagles may have multiple plans and contingencies and are still prepared to take the right quarterback if the board falls right. In this scenario it does. Howell can operate the offense in the same way Hurts does, but is a much better thrower. This is not as certain as we once thought after the Saints trade, but they used a top 30 visit on a QB even after the trade so they may have just decided to make the trade they could not ignore and also not need to pay three first rounders at once a couple years down the road.

16. New Orleans Saints(From Philadelphia Eagles, Originally Indianapolis Colts)- Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

The Saints made headlines by doing a big trade with the Eagles to get an extra first this year. Curiously enough, they did not go after a top ten pick. Because of this, they may have a quarterback in mind that they are confident will be there. Our bet is Desmond Ridder. While he still needs a lot of development, he has the size, athleticism, and personality to win over a team who has a lot of cap issues and desperately could use a starting QB on a rookie deal. He also can sit behind Winston who offers the Saints a lot of upside as a starter in the meantime.

17. Los Angeles Chargers- Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

The Chargers approached the arms race of the AFC West by beefing up the defense instead of the offense. Now, a receiver falls right into their lap that complements their other two starters perfectly. Wilson adds a new wrinkle with a different set of skills to their offense and helps LA become perhaps the favorites in the west.

18. Philadelphia Eagles(Originally New Orleans Saints)- George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

Karlaftis and the Eagles feels like an amazing match. The Eagles always look to add pass rushing help in the draft, and Karlaftis gives them flexibility on the line that they always seem to gravitate towards as he can stand up, play end, or kick inside. Could this be a wide receiver? Absolutely, but with the bigger receivers, Burks and London, gone we think they look wide receiver in the second round.

19. New Orleans Saints(Originally Philadelphia Eagles)- Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

The Saints addressed their QB first, now they get a much needed offensive weapon. Beyond Michael Thomas, the group is thin, and Jameson Williams adds route running and speed to a team that really is lacking. This pick could also be a tackle, but we do not think the value is there.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

Pittsburgh wanting a quarterback has to be a real rumor. While they have many other issues that need to be addressed and are bigger needs than people want to admit Pickett here makes too much sense to pass up. He is a local kid, who can compete with Trubisky right away for the starting job, and ease the transition of life after Ben. Pickett is a good athlete and does not do anything poorly. His upside is definitely not as high as others (hence why he is here for the Steelers in this mock), but he can be a good pro and get the ball to the Steelers playmakers.

21. New England Patriots- Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

Our second mock in a row with this pick. Thib continues to interact on social media and say questionable things in interviews that begs the question of maturity and coachability. While he was misquoted by the GMFB crew, his actual quote is not much better. It sounds like he is the type of player to say “I know” whenever he is critiqued, and we doubt coaches like hearing that. His athletic upside is still high, but he needs more development than people seem to realize. New England is the perfect location to develop him both on the field and in the media.

22. New York Giants(From Green Bay Packers, Originally Las Vegas Raiders)- Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

Martindale likes his versatile pass rushers, and Johnson fits the mold. He can be an elite run defender right away while he develops more as a pass rusher. He also worked out with the linebackers at the combine, but also can play on the line if asked. 

23. Arizona Cardinals- Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan 

We were initially skeptical of Moore due to the NFL crew talking about him as much as they did at the combine. However, he is the real deal. He is a great route runner with good hands and is very good after the catch. They have other needs, but with Hopkins being hurt more and more, they need another weapon. Skyy would fit in really well with Hopkins and Rondale in Arizona, and be the legitimate number two with Kirk gone.

24. Dallas Cowboys- Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

I’m not high on Booth, I don’t think he’s the prospect everyone thinks he is. The one thing I do like about Booth is his athleticism and upside. Some of the plays he makes on his highlight reel are absurd. This isn’t the best CB you could take with McDuffie on the board, but we think this is a Cowboys pick where you take a chance on athleticism. 

25. Buffalo Bills- Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

McDuffie would be a steal of a pick here. McDuffie may be the best zone CB in the class, and based on the Swiss cheese defense they showed in the divisional round McDuffie will fit right into this zone heavy Bills defense. I didn’t see much of McDuffie playing man on tape but I’m sure he’s more than capable of playing man and learning from Tre White would be a huge plus. 

26. Tennessee Titans- Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia

Tennessee could certainly think QB here, as Corral can run their offense in a similar manner to the incumbent. However, they have to pay Tannehill regardless. This could also just as easily be wide receiver as well, but the value here is the DT, Devonte Wyatt. They really do not have much at the position and Wyatt immediately offers a blend of rushing and run defense to sure up the defensive line.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

We believe the hype of Walker has gotten a little out of hand. For a player that some have mocked going as high as one, he has very little, if any, development as a pass rusher. He needs time, and lots of it, to develop the moves to pair with his elite athleticism. Think of how Rashan Gary sat behind Zadarius and Preston and learned for pretty much two whole seasons. The wait will be long, but the payoff can be massive.

28. Green Bay Packers- George Pickens, WR, Georgia

The Packers do end up double dipping here, as they go get George Pickens to pair with Olave. We have mocked this many times, because it just makes so much sense. He can be the true deep threat, as he has great size and speed and also very good at tracking deep throws. He also is the best run blocker in this class, and will be able to do this a lot as the Packers utilize both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.

29. Kansas City Chiefs(From Miami Dolphins, Originally San Francisco 49ERS)- Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

The Chiefs secondary is below average and lacks a top notch CB. With the top 4 CBs off the board we need to believe the Chiefs take a different defensive approach heading into the war that is the AFC West and AFC as a whole conference. Lloyd has the versatility to play all 3 LB spots as well as a rushing end, much like Micah Parsons. Lloyd’s versatility amongst the front will help create different looks to help bring the pressure and take the pressure off their secondary. However I saw effort concerns from Lloyd on tape, if he is going to be the impact player I think he can be he needs to be high effort all the time. I think Andy Reid takes a chance on the upside and will help get the most out of him. 

30. Kansas City Chiefs- Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

Although we think the Chiefs go for a more front seven and pressure based approach on defense they still need corner help. McCreary doesn’t have the upside that some of the other CBs have but he is one of the more ready to play CBs which the Chiefs need now more than anything.

31. Cincinnati Bengals- Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

The Bengals have done a great job addressing the offensive line this off-season, but could still use an upgrade at LG. Jackson Carman is still young and could improve heading into this season, but a little competition never hurts. We think the Bengals bring in Johnson to compete for the LG spot, and if he loses the competition then your 6th man off the bench has the versatility to play inside or outside. By picking Johnson they hopefully will not need a starting lineman for at least a couple years.

32. Detroit Lions(Originally Los Angeles Rams)- Dax Hill, CB/S, Michigan

When I hear the term “playmaker” I think of Dax Hill. Although regarded by most a safety who can play the box, I see Hill as a CB who can play safety. Hill was a force for the Wolverines as a slot CB, he played the run, blitzed, and looked like a quality coverage CB. Lions resigned Tracy Walker, so their safeties are set with Willis and Walker, but Hill can roll back and be a backup for either safety spot in case of injury. The Lions are missing a big time playmaker in the secondary and Dax will be that guy. Dax will be a nice CB3 and slot guy, and will be good as a CB2 when Okudah inevitably gets hurt again.