The Daily Briefing Tuesday, March 8, 2022

The salary cap for the 2022 season has been set, and the number signifies a return to normalcy.

The NFL’s salary cap has risen to $208.2 million per team for the 2022 season, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Monday.

It’s an increase of $25.7 million from last year’s cap of $182.5 million and right on line with earlier projections from December. The large increase stems from a lowered 2021 cap due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced teams to get creative with contracts while many of last year’s free agents accepted one-year deals with the hope of returning to an expanded cap ahead of 2022.

Until the pandemic, the NFL salary cap had seen steady annual increases of about $10-12 million per year. Now that the pandemic is in the rearview, teams will have more flexibility heading into the 2022 season and free agents will have the opportunity to earn bigger contracts.

In addition to this upcoming season’s salary cap number, franchise tag values and fifth-year option values for the 2022 season were confirmed. Teams have until May 2 to exercise fifth-year options on players drafted in 2019 and have until March 8 to designate franchise tag players.

GREEN BAY

The decision for QB AARON RODGERS is not as simple as stay or go.  His compensation is a factor – and the Packers have apparently gone all in.  Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com:

The Green Bay Packers have made a significant long-term contract offer to Aaron Rodgers that would alter the quarterback market, a source told ESPN.

Terms of a potential new contract could always change, but a three- or four-year deal would help Green Bay’s salary-cap situation while giving Rodgers, 38, contractual clarity well into his 40s.

Green Bay is more than $27 million over the cap just nine days before the start of the new league year. The Packers were expected to offer Rodgers a new deal at some point this offseason, with the dual intention of getting under the salary cap and also providing market-level compensation for the two-time reigning league MVP.

The Broncos also are lurking as a potential contender to land Rodgers, with a source telling ESPN that Denver is willing to compete to acquire him either through a new contract or draft-pick compensation.

Rodgers is weighing his options but is expected to make a decision soon about his future in the NFL. He previously hinted on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he’d like to make his decision by the franchise tender deadline Tuesday, when the Packers need to decide whether to use the tag on star wide receiver Davante Adams.

Whatever Rodgers decides will create additional cap space. If he doesn’t play in Green Bay, the Packers would get between $19.3 million and $26.9 million in salary-cap savings, depending on the timing of the decision.

Rodgers has one year left on his deal and would count $46.1 million against the cap, a number that will no doubt be lowered by an extension should he decide to return. To that end, Packers vice president of football operations Russ Ball has been engaged in contract talks with Rodgers’ agent, David Dunn.

Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes currently is the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback, with a $450 million deal that has an average annual value of $45 million. Buffalo’s Josh Allen is the league’s second-highest-paid quarterback, both in terms of total value (over $258 million) and average annual value ($43.006 million).

Atlanta’s Matt Ryan is the league’s only player with a cap hit larger than Rodgers’. His current deal with the Falcons counts $48.7 million against the cap.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said last week that Green Bay has not received any trade offers for Rodgers, emphasizing that “not a single person” has called to inquire about the star quarterback’s availability.

One source stressed to ESPN that the Packers would want so much in compensation — top draft picks and key young players — that a trade could be difficult for the team acquiring Rodgers to execute.

League sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter last week that the Packers had not engaged in any trade scenarios regarding Rodgers and were awaiting his decision.

Multiple league executives believe the Steelers have at least inquired on Rodgers, but their level of involvement is still unclear.

The Packers began the offseason nearly $50 million over the salary cap, and that doesn’t include the contracts of Adams, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and cornerback Rasul Douglas.

Thanks to renegotiations with left tackle David Bakhtiari, defensive tackle Kenny Clark and running back Aaron Jones, they’re now $27.5 million over the cap, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

The Packers almost certainly will use the franchise tag on Adams if a long-term deal isn’t completed by the 4 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday. Green Bay wants to retain Adams whether Rodgers returns or not.

This from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Rodgers has specific deals lined up with other teams — and those teams have trade compensation lined up with the Packers. The potential moves have been arranged, essentially, with the permission of the Packers.

The destinations are believed to be exclusively in the AFC. To little surprise, the Broncos are one of them. Other viable possibilities are, we’re told, the Titans and Steelers.

To be clear, if Rodgers chooses Denver or Tennesseee or Pittsburgh, the deals will fall into place quickly, both as to the trade terms and as to the contract Rodgers would sign.

Thus, as we understand it, the current question isn’t simply Packers vs. Not the Packers. It’s Green Bay or Denver or Tennessee or Pittsburgh, with the final move hinging on whatever Rodgers decides to do.

Three weeks and one day ago, Rodgers said that he’d take a couple of weeks to contemplate his future, and that his decision would come pretty quickly. He’s now at the point where a decision soon needs to be made. He’s the first domino for the quarterback movement that will occur in the 2022 offseason. And he needs to decide whether he wants to stay with Green Bay in a  division that, with him, the Packers can easily control, or whether he wants to jump to the AFC West with the Broncos, the AFC North with the Steelers, or the AFC South with the Titans.

The clock continues to tick. Rodgers continues to mull over his choices. Time (but not much) will tell what he decides.

ATLANTA

Falcons WR CALVIN RIDLEY, who spent much of 2021 sidelined by mental health issues, will miss all of 2022 after he is caught betting on NFL games.  Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com:

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for at least the 2022 season after gambling on games in 2021.

The NFL released a statement Monday announcing his suspension, saying Ridley gambled on games over a five-day stretch in November 2021 when he was on the non-football injury list to address his mental health.

Ridley stepped away from football on Halloween, saying he needed to get his personal life in order.

In a series of tweets Monday after the suspension was announced, Ridley said he bet $1,500 total and that “I don’t have a gambling problem.” He also tweeted that he couldn’t even watch football at the time he made the bets. He added that he’s just going to “be more healthy when I come back” and that “I know I was wrong But I’m getting 1 year lol.”

The NFL determined that Ridley placed multilegged parlay bets involving three, five and eight games that included the Falcons to win via his mobile device out of state, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The NFL learned of Ridley’s betting activity through its relationships within the legal sports betting industry, a source told ESPN’s David Purdum.

“There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL’s success — and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league — than upholding the integrity of the game,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to Ridley notifying him of his suspension. “This is the responsibility of every player, coach, owner, game official, and anyone else employed in the league. Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL.

“For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction. In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions.”

The NFL said its investigation uncovered no evidence that Ridley used inside information or “that any game was compromised in any way.” There also was no evidence that any of the Falcons’ coaches, staff or players were aware of his betting activity.

“Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL.”

Roger Goodell, in letter to Calvin Ridley

The earliest Ridley can apply for reinstatement is Feb. 15, 2023, the NFL said.

He also can appeal the suspension by filing notice within three days, per the collective bargaining agreement. It is not known if he has appealed the punishment.

Multiple NFL teams reached out to the Falcons in recent weeks to inquire about trading for Ridley, and each time, Atlanta declined to enter into talks out of good faith, knowing the issues in store for their standout wide receiver, sources told Schefter.

The Falcons said they are preparing for the 2022 season as if Ridley will not be with them.

“We were first made aware of the league’s investigation on Feb. 9. We have cooperated fully with the investigation since receiving notice and support the league’s findings and actions,” the team said in a statement. “We are moving forward in the 2022 season with the decision that was made. With the decision that was made by the NFL, any further questions on the investigation should be directed to the league office.”

Ridley is the second player to be suspended for betting on NFL games since 2018, when a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court opened a path for all states to authorize sports betting. Then-Arizona Cardinals defensive back Josh Shaw was suspended in 2019 after the NFL learned he had bet on league games while on injured reserve.

Since the Supreme Court ruling, 30 states and the District of Columbia have launched legal sports betting markets.

With Ridley now unavailable, Atlanta has one receiver from the 53-man roster last season under contract — rookie Frank Darby.

Ridley’s contract will toll until 2023 and come off the books for 2022, opening up $11.1 million in salary-cap room for the Falcons.

If a season suspension is the standard, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com sees troubles ahead.

The final section of Playmakers, out in eight days, focuses on the challenges the NFL faces in the immediate future. Most of those challenges come from gambling.

The news that Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for a full year, minimum, for betting on NFL games is the tip of a gigantic iceberg into which the RMS NFL may be inevitably careening.

Gambling is now saturating the game, with the league having SEVEN (a fitting number, I suppose) gambling sponsorships. Gambling ads are everything. It’s accepted. It’s normal. It’s permitted. For everyone except those who are connected to the game, that is.

In the days of illegal gambling, players had to have a bookie, or a connection to one. It took work, effort. They knew they were crossing a line. They knew they possibly would get caught.

Today, all you need is a phone. That’s what Ridley reportedly did. He downloaded the app, and he placed bets.

Are we sufficiently naive to think he’s the only one? He’s simply the first one to be caught.

And for every player foolish enough to bet on his own phone in his own name, there will be others who work through a straw man, a friend or a family member who places the action and funnels the winnings (if there are any) to the player. It will take much more work to catch them.

Already, we’re hearing scattered rumors about other high-profile players who may be gambling on games, too. It definitely becomes a key part of the homework that teams must do when considering the acquisition of a given player, via free agency, trade, or draft.

Players, coaches, and other team and league employees engaging in the very activity that the league is selling to millions of fans — gambling on games — is just part of the problem. Legalized gambling brings many other potential concerns. In Playmakers, I tried to identify as many of them as possible, based on conversations with people in position to be thinking about these issues and potentially solving them.

The stakes are very high for the NFL. If the league fails, Congress inevitably will establish a federal agency that regulates the NFL. While that may be the last thing the NFL wants, it may also be exactly what the NFL needs.

More from Florio:

On Twitter, Ridley acknowledged that he bet $1,500. He made the admission to prove that, as he put it, he doesn’t have a gambling problem.

He may not think he has a gambling problem, but he currently has a major problem from his gambling. The rules don’t allow players to gamble responsibly. The rules prohibit it altogether.

And, yes, it’s odd. It’s unfair. It’s a double standard. The league is currently making millions from its seven gambling partnerships, pushing to consumers something its players cannot consume.

But those are the rules. Even if it’s no different than the league having an official steroids sponsor. Or an official marijuana sponsor. We’ll profit from persuading people to make these purchases, but don’t you think about letting the advertising work on you personally.

Albert Breer of SI.com is an absolutist:

@ AlbertBreer

I see people painting Calvin Ridley as the victim here … and I mean, come on, we all understand why a sports league can’t allow its players to bet on its games, right? And why it has to come down on a player if it happens?

I swear, it’s not that complicated.

Former player Ben Leber is stunned at the size of the punishment.

@nacholeber

So Ridley fully cooperated, didn’t use insider information, didn’t influence games and only participated in a 5 day period of time while on leave from the team… a 1yr suspension??

TAMPA BAY

WR CHRIS GODWIN is a surprise as a likely recipient of a franchise tag. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

One of the biggest surprises on Monday regarding an NFC South receiver not named Calvin Ridley came from Tampa Bay, where the Buccaneers reportedly plan to use the franchise tag for the second year on receiver Chris Godwin. Although being on the wrong end of the franchise tag is always bad news for a player, this specific development carries a few shreds of good news for Godwin.

First, the Buccaneers apparently believe his torn ACL and MCL, suffered in Week 15 and repaired in early January, are healing well. Why else would the Bucs offer him a 20-percent raise over last year’s franchise tender, committing $19.18 million in cash and cap space to him for 2022?

Second (related to the first), the Buccaneers apparently must think there’s significant demand for Godwin’s services elsewhere, that he’d be able to leave Tampa Bay and make more on a long-term deal elsewhere.

Third (related to the second), Godwin should be ready to refuse to sign any long-term deal with the Bucs because he’s one year away from fully unrestricted free agency. Yes, he’d be assuming the risk of injury in 2022, but the Buccaneers won’t give him quarterback money for 2023, the required amount of a third franchise tag. If franchise-tagged again this year, Godwin will never be franchise-tagged again, in 2023 or at any other point in his career. Even if he ends up with another team and his contract there expires, a third franchise tag will always result in quarterback money or a 44-percent increase on his cap number, whichever is greater.

All in all, it’s bad news for Godwin to be tagged. The rules allow the Buccaneers to do it, and teams routinely do. Specific to Godwin, however, the fact that the Bucs are supposedly ready to do it and the reality that they can’t, as a practical matter, do it again in 2023, becomes a very good development at an otherwise bad time for Godwin.

CLEVELAND

The Browns have laid the franchise tag on TE DAVID NJOKU.  Jake Trotter of NFL.com:

The Cleveland Browns placed the franchise tag on tight end David Njoku on Monday, the team announced.

The deadline for teams to designate franchise players is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The Browns and Njoku now have until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract or he will play the 2022 season on his franchise tender, which is worth $10.931 million, per a memo obtained by ESPN.

Njoku, 25, has totaled 148 receptions in five seasons with the Browns, including 36 for 475 yards and four touchdowns last season.

His best season came during quarterback Baker Mayfield’s rookie year in 2018, when he hauled in a career-best 56 catches for 639 yards. After being targeted 88 times that season, Njoku’s production has rapidly decreased over the past three seasons.

In the summer of 2020, Njoku changed agents and requested a trade from Cleveland. But after the beginning of training camp, he rescinded the request.

Njoku, who was selected with the 29th overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Browns, was paid $6.01 million last season after the team exercised his fifth-year option.

INDIANAPOLIS

TE JACK DOYLE has called it a career after nine seasons:

Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle has retired after nine NFL seasons.

“Growing up in Indianapolis in the late 90’s/2000’s it was impossible to not be a diehard Colts fan,” Doyle wrote in a letter. “Getting the chance to play 9 seasons for the team I have always and will always cheer for has been a dream come true. It is something that is hard to describe. I now go back to being the fan I have always been and retiring from the great game of football…I took pride in playing the game the right way and always leaving everything I had on the field…At this time, my body is telling me that is a sacrifice I can no longer make.”

The Colts claimed Doyle, who was drafted out of Western Kentucky, off waivers from Tennessee in September 2013. While never a flashy player, Doyle was one of the most dependable tight ends on the Colts’ roster during his career with the franchise.

“We had ultimate trust in Jack to perform and execute at the highest level in any situation both offensively and on special teams,” Colts coach Frank Reich said. “He was one of our most dependable players. Jack’s value to this organization will be hard to replace.”

Doyle, 31, a reliable receiver underneath in the passing game, finishes with 295 receptions for 2,729 yards and 24 touchdowns while been selected twice to the Pro Bowl. His best season was in 2017, when he had a career high in receptions (80) and yards (690).

“After I was hired by the Colts in 2017, one of the first roster moves we made was re-signing Jack,” Colts general manager Chris Ballard said. “It was very apparent what type of player and leader he was and the impact he made as a teammate. He is a player we wanted our rookies to emulate. Jack’s love for the game was strong. You could sense that in every area from practice, to the weight room, to game days.”

MIAMI

So WR CALVIN RIDLEY loses a year for betting $1,500 on some parlays while away from the team.  Literally, no possible effect of even the tiniest increment on the competition.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says, what about an allegation that directly goes to the heart of the competition.

The NFL has hammered Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley for betting on football while away from the team and on the non-football injury list in 2021. That’s the league’s prerogative.

Nevertheless, the situation places even greater pressure on the NFL to properly handle the still-lingering controversy regarding the allegation made by former Dolphins coach Brian Flores that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered Flores $100,000 for each loss in 2019.

Compare the two situations. Ridley made a variety of parlay wagers. In so doing, he bet on his team to win, not lose. He wasn’t even playing in the games, so there was no direct connection between bettor and player. Also, he wasn’t even with the team when he placed the bets. (And did we mention that he actually bet on the Falcon? The Falcons?)

Ross, in contrast, is accused of encouraging his head coach to blow games in the hopes of enhancing draft status in 2020. Ross allegedly wanted his team to lose, necessarily compromising the integrity of all wagers placed on the Dolphins in 2019.

It’s a far more serious infraction. It’s a far more troubling situation. And to the extent that owners are held to a higher standard than players (as explained in Playmakers, they’re supposed to be — but they’re not), Ross will be facing far greater consequences than Ridley, if the allegations are proven to be true.

For the NFL, that’s the real challenge. Will it aggressively pursue the situation, given the practical consequences for Ross? Will the league want to admit to the world that such an egregious affront to the integrity of the game occurred, at the behest of one of the stewards of the league’s 32 franchises?

Ross ultimately may push the idea that he was joking. Will the league buy that one? Can the league afford not to?

The Commissioner’s constituents are the owners. No one else. He doesn’t answer to the players. They don’t hire him. They don’t pay him. Ross and his partners do.

That’s the way it is. The way it goes. But if the league is going to kick Ridley out of the sport for a year because he decided to download an app and place a few bets that had no direct impact on the integrity of the game, it can’t mince words or pull punches with Ross, who wanted his team to lose.

Let’s see whether the league applies the same standard to Ross that it applied to Ridley.

NEW ENGLAND

LB KYLE VAN NOY is a Pats cap cut.  Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

The New England Patriots released veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy on Monday, the team announced.

The move creates about $4.1 million in salary-cap space, nearly doubling the Patriots’ total cap space to about $9 million.

Van Noy was scheduled to count $7.3 million against the team’s cap, which was the ninth-highest figure among players.

Van Noy, who turns 31 on March 26, had signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Patriots in March 2021 (with $6 million guaranteed). It marked his second stint with the franchise after he’d been part of two Super Bowl championship teams from 2016 to 2019 before signing with the Miami Dolphins in 2020.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Van Noy played in 16 regular-season games last season in New England, totaling 66 tackles to rank fourth on the team. He also had five sacks (second on the team) and 10 passes defended in addition to a forced fumble and interception returned for a touchdown.

Van Noy’s versatility to play both on and off the line of scrimmage added to his value in the Patriots’ multiple scheme. The defense sputtered down the stretch, ending with a 47-17 playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills in which the unit didn’t force a punt.

He had acknowledged the possibility he wouldn’t return in an interview on sports radio WEEI on March 2 when he said: “There are a lot of decisions to be made … I’m under contract for one more year, but you never know.”

THIS AND THAT

2022 DRAFT

A post-Combine Mock Draft from Ryan Wilson of CBSSports.com:

Here’s the little talk we have with ourselves before the start of every combine: “Do not overreact to other-worldly 40 times or 3-cone drills or vertical leaps — this is football, it’s not middle school field day.” And every time, without fail, I overreact.

And can you not?

Jordan Davis, all 6-foot-7, 341 pounds, ran a 4.78 40 — that’s faster than four tight ends, 0.04 seconds slower than Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and 0.12 seconds slower than Alabama slot receiver Slade Bolden. That’s insane.

So, yeah, Davis is again among our top 32 selections.

There are other surprises this week too — the Titans draft a quarterback (less shocking: so too do the Falcons and Steelers); the Panthers, with needs along the O-line and at QB, address the secondary and the Raiders land a pass rusher making his debut in our weekly mock drafts.

OK, let’s get to it.

1 – JACKSONVILLE

Ikem Ekwonu OL

NC STATE • SOPH • 6’4″ / 320 LBS

Ekwonu was our OT1 coming into the combine and nothing’s changed. His workout in Indy matched what he showed on the field during the college football season, and imagine how good he’ll be when he refines his technique and doesn’t have to rely so much on his sheer physical talents.

2 – DETROIT

Aidan Hutchinson EDGE

MICHIGAN • SR • 6’6″ / 265 LBS

Hutchinson told us at the combine that the folks who think he’s reached his ceiling are, to put it politely, grossly misinformed. He’s 21, is coming off a monster ’21 campaign, and also tested through the roof. He’s the safest pick in this class.

3 – HOUSTON

Evan Neal OL

ALABAMA • JR • 6’7″ / 350 LBS

If Ekwonu is our OT1, Neal is OT1A and it’s really close. He’s 6-foot-7, 337 pounds, but standing next to him he looks more like a svelte 265; he carries the weight well and that balance, power and athleticism showed up all the time in his game, which came against some of the best edge rushers in the country.

4 – NY JETS

Kayvon Thibodeaux EDGE

OREGON • SOPH • 6’5″ / 258 LBS

The talk that Thibodeaux doesn’t love football is just that. He proved it during his Oregon career, and competed at the combine too. Plus, as one team put it to us: “Maybe we’re overthinking this one.” Bottom line: Thibodeaux has game-changing talents and should be among the first players drafted.

5 – NY GIANTS

Charles Cross OL

MISSISSIPPI STATE • SOPH • 6’5″ / 310 LBS

Cross plays in Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, which means he’s not asked to do a lot of run blocking. And he’ll tell you that’s one of the things he wants to improve, even though he was very good in that area last season. Either way, Cross’ athleticism shines through and that, coupled with his strength, makes him a top-10 draft-day target.

6 – CAROLINA

Kyle Hamilton S

NOTRE DAME • JR • 6’4″ / 220 LBS

Carolina would love an offensive linemen here but with three off the board they’ll have to redirect their efforts. QB makes the most sense, and this could be the pick here if they address the O-line in free agency. For now, though, they’re taking Kyle Hamilton, who has Ed Reed-type instincts in center field, though he can line up anywhere.

7 – NY GIANTS (from Chicago)

Jermaine Johnson II EDGE

FLORIDA STATE • SR • 6’5″ / 260 LBS

After transferring from Georgia, Johnson had a fantastic season at Florida State. And he told us at the combine that he felt like he had something to prove going from the SEC to the ACC. Well, he did that and then some, then he dominated the Senior Bowl, and followed that up with an electric workout in Indy.

8 – ATLANTA

Malik Willis QB

LIBERTY • JR • 6’1″ / 215 LBS

We’ve been upfront about Wills: we have a second-round grade on him based on his body of work in college, but that doesn’t mean teams looking for a quarterback won’t take one a round or so before they should. Willis had a great week at the Senior Bowl and reports are that he interviewed well in Indy. In Atlanta, it’s best-case scenario for Willis because he’ll spend the year sitting behind Matt Ryan, and in 2023, Arthur Smith will have his next franchise QB, one who does just about everything you want in a modern-day signal caller.

9 – DENVER

Ahmad Gardner CB

CINCINNATI • JR • 6’2″ / 188 LBS

A year ago the Broncos took Patrick Surtain in this range and now they double down with Sauce Gardner, who is coming off a great showing for the Bearcats. Drafting CBs with back-to-back first-round picks might seem like overkill, but Denver will lose some members of its secondary to free agency, and more than that, they also play in a division that includes Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.

10 – NY JETS (from Seattle)

Devin Lloyd LB

UTAH • JR • 6’3″ / 235 LBS

The Jets could target edge rusher here but Lloyd is a special talent. We were impressed by him during the ’21 season and nothing changed at the combine. He’s the prototypical off-ball linebacker in today’s NFL (pay no attention to his 4.7-something 40 times — he plays immeasurably faster), and it’s like he was built in a lab. This may seem high but, well, it’s not.

11 – WASHINGTON

Garrett Wilson WR

OHIO STATE • JR • 6’0″ / 192 LBS

We’ll see if Washington makes any moves in free agency to address the QB position because, ultimately, that will inform who they’ll target in the draft. For now, we have them beefing up the wide receiver corps; Terry McLaurin is one of the best young players in the league but he’s also in the final year of his rookie deal. And while Curtis Samuel is entering Year 2, he didn’t exactly set the world on fire in ’21. Wilson, meanwhile, is one of the the most dynamic players in college football and his game in many ways reminds us of Odell Beckham Jr.

12 – MINNESOTA

Derek Stingley Jr. CB

LSU • JR • 6’1″ / 195 LBS

Stingley didn’t work out at the combine as he recovers from a foot injury, and he only played three games in ’21, but it’s hard to forget just how dominant he was in ’19 as a freshman, where he spent practices going up against Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall and Racey McMath. He’s a ball hawk, not to mention an asset in the return game and he’ll only last this long because hasn’t played a lot of football in the last 12 months.

13 – CLEVELAND

Jordan Davis DL

GEORGIA • SR • 6’6″ / 340 LBS

Is this an overreaction to Davis’ out-of-this-galaxy performance at the combine. Hell and yes. That’s a slight exaggeration; Davis made frequent appearances in previous mock drafts but had been pushed out in recent weeks by other names. Well, when you’re 6-foot-6, 341 pounds and run the 40 in 4.78 seconds, have a 32-inch vertical and a broad jump of 10 feet, 3 inches — and oh, by the way, you were a one-man wrecking crew in the SEC — perhaps it’s time to reevaluate. It’s easy to say Davis is a two-down player but his obvious strength and surprising speed make a legit three-down threat who just needs to refine his pass-rush arsenal beyond the bull rush. And he will.

14 – BALTIMORE

Travon Walker DL

GEORGIA • JR • 6’5″ / 275 LBS

Walker is something of a tweener, which is odd to say about someone who stands 6-foot-5, and weighs 275 pounds. But he can line up as a 3, 4 or 5-tech and that versatility, coupled with his non-stop motor and consistent playmaking ability, makes him an attractive option for several teams in this range looking to bolster their defensive line. He. could continue to make his way north in subsequent mock drafts after running a 4.51 40, a vertical of 35.5 inches and a mind-boggling 3-cone of 6.89 seconds.

15 – PHILADELPHIA (from Miami)

Nakobe Dean LB

GEORGIA • JR • 6’0″ / 225 LBS

This continues to be a popular pairing in our weekly mocks, partly because the Eagles could use Dean in the middle of their D (even if, historically, they don’t draft off-ball linebackers in Round 1), and in part because Dean was so dominant during the ’21 season. And while he played on the best defense in the country, don’t be fooled — he didn’t ride on the coattails of a dominant Georgia defensive line, Dean was a huge reason for their success. There are questions about his size and how that translates to the NFL, but his tape tells a different story.

16 – PHILADELPHIA (from Indianapolis)

David Ojabo EDGE

MICHIGAN • JR • 6’5″ / 250 LBS

David Ojabo isn’t a finished product — he didn’t come to the States until 2015 — and that’s what makes him so exciting. He was incredibly disruptive for Michigan last season and he’s only going to get better once he understands what he’s supposed to be doing, which won’t take long for the Academic All-American.

17 – LA CHARGERS

Kenyon Green OL

TEXAS A&M • JR • 6’4″ / 325 LBS

Green can plays outside or inside and at Texas A&M he lined up against some of the best defensive linemen and edge rushers in the country. The Chargers need to protect all-world QB Justin Herbert and Green would be an obvious choice in the middle of the round.

18 – NEW ORLEANS

Drake London WR

USC • JR • 6’5″ / 210 LBS

At 6-foot-5, London was a high-point-catch machine before his ’21 season ended prematurely with an ankle injury. He has all the tools to be WR1, and in New Orleans, where it feels like Jameis Winston could return, London could line up alongside Michael Thomas — or be next in line to replace him should he end up elsewhere next season.

19 – PHILADELPHIA

Jameson Williams WR

ALABAMA • JR • 6’2″ / 189 LBS

The Eagles have used first-rounders on wide receivers the last two years, but they’ll only have four wideouts under contract after the season, and that includes J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Williams tore his ACL in the national title game but he’s still one of the best players in this draft class and should be ready to contribute next October.

20 – PITTSBURGH

Kenny Pickett QB

PITTSBURGH • SR • 6’3″ / 220 LBS

Admittedly, we’ve been all over the board with where Pickett might end up. And the truth is that we love what he accomplished last season, and Pittsburgh sometimes feels too obvious. But there is an obvious need, Pickett is a leader, he’s coming off an impressive ’21 season for the Panthers, and he ripped off a 4.73 40 at the combine, which betters Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes’ times. In the meantime, the Steelers need to spend some free-agent dollars on fixing that O-line.

21 – NEW ENGLAND

Trent McDuffie CB

WASHINGTON • SOPH • 5’11” / 195 LBS

Even though McDuffie balled out on the outside for the Huskies this season, we get Tyrann Matthieu vibes when we watch him. He has the athleticism to line up anywhere — and he told us at the combine that he can do just that at the next level. In New England, where there are reports that J.C. Jackson may be headed for free agency, McDuffie would make a lot of sense at No. 21.

22 – LAS VEGAS

Boye Mafe DL

MINNESOTA • SR • 6’4″ / 265 LBS

Mafe had 7 sacks, 9 hits and 26 hurries in ’21, and his mix of speed, bend and power was often overwhelming for opposing offensive tackles. That extended to the Senior Bowl where he dominated 1v1 and team drills, and then Mafe busted out a 4.53 40 at the combine. He may ultimately end up in Round 2 but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s among the first 32 picks.

23 – ARIZONA

Devonte Wyatt DL

GEORGIA • SR • 6’3″ / 315 LBS

Wyatt is another player who changed some minds with his Senior Bowl week and he continued to convince folks of his first-round talents by putting on a show at the combine. Incredibly quick off the snap and powerful once he gets going, he can be unstoppable when he’s on his game.

24 – DALLAS

Tyler Linderbaum OL

IOWA • JR • 6’3″ / 290 LBS

Tyler Biadasz was good at times last season but there’s certainly room for upgrading the interior OL. And if Tyler Linderbaum is still on the board, this is a layup for the front office. Linderbaum is one of the best offensive linemen, even at center, and he could certainly go much higher than this.

25 – BUFFALO

Daxton Hill S

MICHIGAN • JR • 6’0″ / 192 LBS

Hill is part of a Wolverines defense that could end up seeing three players go in Round 1 next spring. He’s underrated nationally but watch him play and it becomes clear pretty quickly that he’s in the running for one of the best defensive backs in this class. He’s listed as a safety but he can line up anywhere.

26 – TENNESSEE

Matt Corral QB

OLE MISS • JR • 6’2″ / 205 LBS

Pretty sure this is the first time in 27 mock drafts that we’ve had a QB going to the Titans. That’s mostly because the offensive line is priority No. 1, and partly due to Ryan Tannehill being pretty good at times. Things hit a rough patch down the stretch, and the Bengals playoff loss was a huge exclamation point. So if Corral is here, Tennessee could give it some thought.

27 – TAMPA BAY

Zion Johnson OL

BOSTON COLLEGE • SR • 6’3″ / 316 LBS

Zion Johnson is another player who went to the Senior Bowl and proved he was worthy of first-round consideration. He played left tackle at Boston College in ’20, left guard in ’21, and worked at guard and center in Mobile. He’s a Day 1 starter at several positions.

28 – GREEN BAY

Andrew Booth Jr. CB

CLEMSON • JR • 6’0″ / 200 LBS

Andrew Booth had a strong ’21 season for Clemson and he’s only going to get better with experience. In Green Bay, Jaire Alexander is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and while Eric Stokes had a strong rookie campaign, you can never have enough good young cornerbacks.

29 – MIAMI (from San Francisco)

Trevor Penning OL

NORTHERN IOWA • JR • 6’7″ / 321 LBS

Penning continues to grow on us as we make our way through the pre-draft process. The man plays with an edge and the sole intent is to prove any remaining doubters wrong. He had a strong season and a dominant-at-times Senior Bowl week. And he plays with an edge, something the Dolphins O-line could use as the embark on the Mike McDaniel era.

30 – KANSAS CITY

Chris Olave WR

OHIO STATE • SR • 6’1″ / 188 LBS

It looks like the Chiefs are going to soon re-up Tyreek Hill, but Byron Pringle and DeMarcus Robinson are soon-to-be free agents. Which means that, as crazy as it seems, K.C. could be in the market for more offensive weapons. Which brings us to Olave, who might be the best route runner in this group. He isn’t as explosive as former teammate Garrett Wilson (though Wilson told us that he thought Olave was faster — turns out, Wilson had the better 40 time) but he does a lot of things well and would be an immediate contributor on the Chiefs.

31 – CINCINNATI

Daniel Faalele OL

MINNESOTA • SR • 6’9″ / 380 LBS

Faalele measured 6-foot-8, 387 pounds at the Senior Bowl, and depending on which scout you speak to, he’s anywhere from a high-upside first-rounder to a late-Day 2 project. His physical tools are undeniable and he’s new to the position (and football), and once he puts it all together he could be special.

32 – DETROIT (from LA Rams)

Treylon Burks WR

ARKANSAS • JR • 6’3″ / 225 LBS

Burks is a contested and high-point catch machine. Don’t be fooled by his 4.55 40 at the combine — he regularly outran defensive backs to the end zone in the SEC and that won’t change in the NFL. The scariest part of his game is that he’s not even close to his ceiling yet.