The Daily Briefing Wednesday, April 13, 2022

NFC NORTH

DETROIT

Chris Burke of The Athletic makes a pick in a beat writer Mock Draft which draws a critique from Dane Brugler:

2. Detroit Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon

Chris Burke: There are a bunch of other options here: Kyle Hamilton, Travon Walker, a trade down (we tried; no one wanted to come up). In the end, though, the Lions landed back where the draft conversation started for them once they locked into this No. 2 spot. It was a Hutchinson-versus-Thibodeaux debate, and Hutchinson’s off the table.

Is Thibodeaux a “sure thing” at the next level? No, but who in this class is? And the reason he jumped off the page for Detroit in the first place is that this Lions defense badly needs a dynamic, game-changing pass rusher. Thibodeaux has the skill set to be that from Day 1. And if he keeps developing as an all-around defender, he could be the type of piece Detroit hasn’t had in a long time.

Brugler: If the Jaguars go offensive line at No. 1, there isn’t much mystery here. But with Hutchinson likely gone, the Lions could go in a number of different directions (and they will be hoping the phone rings). Based on talent, Thibodeaux belongs in the conversation here, but is he a fit for Detroit’s culture and what Dan Campbell is looking to build? Maybe, maybe not. Most around the league believe Travon Walker will be drafted ahead of Thibodeaux, and my guess is that is the direction the Lions would go, but it is easy to understand Chris’ pick.

GREEN BAY

Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com with this on the offseason program of the Packers:

Word this week has been that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not be taking part in the voluntary portion of the team’s offseason program and that’s led to questions about how things will come together for a Packers offense that’s in the midst of a major transition at wide receiver.

The departures of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling leaves the Packers with Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, and an expectation of further additions to the receiving corps in the weeks to come. The draft is one avenue the team can take to add receiving options and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich spent some time talking about integrating rookies into an offense with Rodgers at the helm.

 “There may be some things that you know you can’t do with some younger guys that Davante, just through experience, him and Aaron’s connection, there may be some things that are going to take some time to develop,” Stenavich said, via Bill Huber of SI.com. “But I think for the most part, we’re looking for the pieces that are going to allow us to run the offense that we want to run.”

The draft isn’t the only route available to the Packers and a trade or free agent signing could make for less of a learning curve for a newcomer to Green Bay, but any path they follow is going to leave the offense as a work in progress heading into Stenavich’s first regular season in his new job.

– – –

QB coach Tom Clements explains why he is back in Green Bay.  Rob Demovsky ofESPN.com:

Tom Clements hasn’t lost his deadpan delivery. When asked what brought him back to Green Bay, the once-retired quarterbacks coach gave a one-word answer. “Delta,” he said, referring to one of the airlines that services Austin Straubel International Airport.

In fact, the real answer was two words: Aaron Rodgers.

When the Packers lost quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy, who became the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator this offseason, Rodgers began his efforts to talk his old coach out of retirement and eventually connected him with coach Matt LaFleur.

“It was after the season that Aaron contacted me,” said Clements, whose first stint with the Packers was 2006-16. “He had talked to Matt, [who] wanted to gauge my interest in coming back.

“I said, ‘Yeah, I’d talk about it’ and then talked with Matt a couple times. We got together, talked, talked a little bit more with Aaron and it just worked out.”

All the while, Rodgers had not made public his decision on whether he would return to the Packers for the 2022 season. That didn’t come until nearly three weeks later.

“That was my first question to him, ‘What are you thinking?'” Clements said Tuesday. “And we just talked about it and I felt good, fairly confident that he was coming back. The team and he have had some great years and still [have] a good chance to contend for the Super Bowl.”

Clements said he knows why Rodgers came back.

“I know that’s what he wants: He wants another Super Bowl,” Clements said. “And that was one of the things that intrigued me also.”

Clements last coached in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, then spent last season in semi-retirement. He had no plans to return.

“I didn’t have the itch to come back,” the 68-year-old said. “It was because of coming back to Green Bay, with Aaron, [and a] chance to win a Super Bowl. Those were the primary considerations.”

Clements’ charge now will be to help Rodgers adjust to life without his favorite receiver, Davante Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. With or without Adams, Clements likes the way Rodgers has played since LaFleur took over three years ago.

“Looking at it from afar, I thought he was playing a style more like when he was younger because he’s playing more under center, play-action passes,” Clements said. “In the later years that we were here, it was more of a not-too-much-under-center [offense], exclusively shotgun, more of a spread offense. And in the early years, we relied on the running game and the play-action pass and got in the shotgun more on third-down situations like that, and that’s more the style that I saw. When you can run the ball, it opens up a lot of things, and there’s been a lot of explosive passes over the years off the play-action pass game, and hopefully we can continue to do that.”

Clements was one of nine members of the coaching staff who were either hired this offseason or promoted to new positions who spoke with reporters Tuesday. The group also included special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, who came to Green Bay after spending last season as the interim head coach of the Raiders.

While Bisaccia deflected questions about whether he should have gotten the full-time job in Las Vegas, he had his reasons for taking over one of last season’s worst special teams units in the NFL.

“It’s the Green Bay Packers,” Bisaccia said. “For me, personally, the opportunity to be at one of the marquee National Football League teams that sets a standard and has an expectation to play to that standard every day, along with my excitement and my new energy after meeting and visiting with Coach LaFleur, what he’s done here in a very short period of time, it’s unprecedented. He’s all football, and to be back with [defensive coordinator] Joe Barry, who I’ve been with before at two different places, and again to be part of a franchise that expects to win and the standard is winning it all, and to be a part of something like that to me is energizing.”

MINNESOTA

Chad Graff of The Athletic checks in with WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON:

Justin Jefferson smiled but remained diplomatic. Yeah, he admitted, he noticed the wide receiver market balloon this offseason as players at his position cashed in on record-breaking deals. And, yeah, he knows that’s a big boost to him even if he’s only two years into his rookie contract, which comes with a fifth-year option.

But the point stands: It’s a good time to be Jefferson. Not that there has been a bad time for Jefferson since he entered the league, promptly dominating from Week 3 of his rookie season, averaging 95 receiving yards per game since then. But while his focus now, he said, is on an ever bigger Year 3, there’s no escaping what lies ahead if he continues to play like he has the last two years.

Jefferson’s next contract could break the league’s record for guaranteed money and money per year for a wide receiver. That would continue a trend that began this offseason as teams in the increasingly pass-heavy league invested in the position like never before. Christian Kirk got $18 million per year. Mike Williams got $20 million per year. Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill were traded to new teams in part because of their contract demands, then both signed record-breaking deals. Adams nabbed $28 million per year from the Raiders before Hill topped that with $30 million per year from the Dolphins.

There’s no telling what Jefferson, still just 22, could command in two years when his rookie contract is nearing an end. For the Vikings, that’s a problem for another day (and, of course, a good problem to have considering the success that has resulted from Jefferson’s selection in the 2020 draft).

“(I’m) excited for them and excited for what I have in store,” Jefferson said when asked about the receivers who signed new deals this offseason. “Just knowing some of the players that got signed and just knowing that I can have some more great years here with this team, so (I have) definitely been looking into that and been keeping sight on that.”

The question of Jefferson’s contract will exist until his next deal is signed, partly because his could be a record-breaking one and partly because of the way things ended in Minnesota with Stefon Diggs. The latter part of that probably isn’t worth revisiting (especially since the result was acquiring Jefferson), but the scars remain in the psyche of a fan base that doesn’t want to see Jefferson leave the Vikings.

So the wait begins for Jefferson’s next deal with the purple faithful hopeful for minimum drama.

“I mean, I ain’t been waiting since I got into the league,” Jefferson said, alluding to his quick start as a pro. “Everything has been straight off the jump. … You’ve just got to do your own thing and follow your own path, follow your own process when it comes to contracts.”

A year ago, Jefferson made his goals clear. He wanted to prove that his mesmerizing rookie season, which included breaking some of Randy Moss’ records, wasn’t a fluke.

So now what? Jefferson’s sophomore season showed he’s one of the best wide receivers in the game. How does a player already so dominant set goals for what’s to come?

“I have so many goals in store,” Jefferson said. “I don’t really want to say my personal goals right now, but I have set a lot of stuff I have in store. I’m over the rookie year, I’m over the second year, it’s onto Year 3 now. There’s a target on my back at this point. I’m planning on keeping on going up. They’re always going to have players in the league that are going to try and stop me and what we’ve got going on.”

Last year, it was already clear that teams were game-planning around slowing down Jefferson. Even with Adam Thielen on the other side of the field, Jefferson was commanding the type of attention that top receivers get.

That’s why it will be interesting to see how new coach Kevin O’Connell can scheme up ways to get Jefferson open. With O’Connell as offensive coordinator in Los Angeles, the Rams were able to find space for Cooper Kupp, who recorded one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in recent memory.

“Seeing what Cooper Kupp did last year, him getting close to the record, him being so open so many times, there’s a lot of things on film that I watched and looked at and I’m excited about this year,” Jefferson said. “Even being in the meetings with (O’Connell) and him talking over schemes and different things he did with the Rams and things he’s planning on doing with us, it’s very exciting. I’m definitely excited to start the season — right now.”

He also knows what’s in store with another productive season and the lucrative contract that would follow. But that’s a concern for another day.

For now, Jefferson wants to ensure that the success of his first two seasons continues. He knows teams will be even more focused on slowing him down and understands much will be expected of him with a new, offensive-minded head coach. So the contract discussions will wait a bit longer.

“That comes with the process,” Jefferson said. “I’m really just focused on what I can do right now leading the team, being the captain of the team and just going out there and performing the best I can. That’s all I can do at this point, just going out there and doing the best of my ability.”

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA

Does S KYLE HAMILTON make sense for the Falcons at #8?  This from Josh Kendall and draft guru Dane Brugler in the Beat Writer Mock Draft at The Athletic:

8. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Josh Kendall: Atlanta is going to be tempted to take Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett here, but the Falcons (should) know they can’t afford a miss given the state of their roster. What they are not tempted to do is trade down, given that they already have six picks in the top 106. “You don’t need 15 picks in the draft,” head coach Arthur Smith said. “All those guys aren’t going to make your team.” That leaves Hamilton as the best fit. He has a high floor, will immediately give Atlanta more defensive versatility and should be a roster mainstay for a decade.

Brugler: The Falcons roster is in flux, and there are a number of different directions they could go. But Hamilton makes as much sense as any of them because of his skill level and impact potential. Not every franchise would be on board with drafting a hybrid safety in the top 10, so it is important for Atlanta to have a clear plan for Hamilton. In a lot of ways, he is the defensive version of Kyle Pitts last year — maybe not the greatest need for Atlanta, but too talented to pass up.

CAROLINA

Albert Breer on the Panthers and their QB situation.

The Panthers have an important three-day stretch ahead. Six quarterbacks—Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, Liberty’s Malik Willis, Ole Miss’s Matt Corral, North Carolina’s Sam Howell, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder and Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe—are scheduled to come in on a staggered schedule between Monday morning and Wednesday to meet with coach Matt Rhule, GM Scott Fitterer and the rest of the Carolina braintrust in Charlotte. And by just about any account you’ll get, taking one of them sixth, where the Panthers are picking, sets up to be a little bit of a reach. Which is just the first part of the predicament that Carolina finds itself in …

• The decision after last year’s draft to execute Sam Darnold’s $18.858 million option for this year has hung over the Panthers’ brass this offseason. It makes it, without question, more difficult to take on a Baker Mayfield (trading for him would be similar to trading for Darnold, and the financial cost is the same) or a Jimmy Garoppolo (at $24.6 million).

• The Darnold trade itself, in addition to the trade for C.J. Henderson, left the Panthers with a gap in picks that runs from the top of the first round (No. 6) to the late stages of the fourth (137). So using the sixth pick on a nonquarterback would likely mean, absent a major trade, punting on the top five QBs all together.

• The draft-pick deficit also makes trading for someone like Garoppolo even more difficult.

• The Panthers last made the playoffs in 2017, and are 22–43 since, which was enough to drive away two available franchise quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, who grew up within a four-hour drive of Charlotte.

• Their still relatively new owner, David Tepper, has been completely silent on football matters this offseason, leaving the status of those leading the football operation up to the imagination of big-name veteran players and their agents—creating at least an appearance of instability that has hurt their standing in the eyes of those people.

Add together then the financial complications of Darnold, the inability to attract a proven star at the position and the hot-seat element, and you have a team that’s been driven into a corner where, outside of a swallow-hard trade for Garoppolo (and his injury timetable is relevant, given that the Panthers have Ben McAdoo introducing a new offense), it feels like using the sixth pick on a quarterback is the only way out, which isn’t where you want to be. Do I think Rhule and Fitterer are married to the idea? No, I do not, especially when you consider the history of those guys. And to be clear, I still think those two absolutely can be the right guys for the organization. But if they’re going to prove it, how they manage draft weekend, and the quarterback position as part of it, will be important.

A similar discussion at The Athletic as Joseph Person makes a pick in the Beat Writers Mock Draft with a critique from Dane Brugler:

6. Carolina Panthers: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Joe Person: The Panthers had a large contingent at Willis’ pro day and had to be impressed with his arm strength and the way his teammates responded to him. It was part of Carolina’s quarterback pro day circuit that also included stops at Pittsburgh and Mississippi to watch Kenny Pickett and Matt Corral, respectively. The Panthers’ very public interest in quarterbacks almost feels too over the top and could be smoke to get someone to trade up in front of them (potentially pushing Ekwonu or Neal down) or to trade with them, which would allow the Panthers to recoup some draft capital and still potentially get a tackle like Trevor Penning or Tyler Smith.

Brugler: On one hand, I’ll be surprised if Willis is the pick for Carolina. On the other, it would be easy to understand. The Panthers are a quarterback-desperate franchise, and Willis is extremely talented with the character that will endear him to coaches and fan bases. But the opinion from most around the league is he will need at least a year to sit and learn before he is ready to help win football games. Can Matt Rhule afford to be patient with a young quarterback who requires time?

If the Panthers are set on drafting a quarterback, they will be trying to trade back from this pick. I think offensive tackle is still the favorite to be the pick here with Mississippi State’s Charles Cross and Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning still available.

NFC WEST

LOS ANGELES RAMS

S TYRANN MATHIEU could soon be a Ram.  Larry Brown Sports:

Tyrann Mathieu has been pursued by a number of teams in recent weeks, and the defending Super Bowl champions sound like they are squarely in the mix for the All-Pro safety.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported over the weekend that there is “mutual interest” between Mathieu and the Rams.

“I’m told to watch the Los Angeles Rams here. There’s some mutual interest there,” Graziano said, via Riley Gates of 247 Sports. “Obviously Tyrann Mathieu is a player that would fit with that the Rams like to do in terms of veterans in the locker room, in terms of a player who’s won a Super Bowl before. It could take a little bit to try and work this out financially, and maybe after the draft. But Tyrann Mathieu’s still a player of interest for a number of contending teams, including the defending Super Bowl champions.”

Mathieu is one of the top players still available. The Rams lost Von Miller to the Buffalo Bills in free agency, but they then signed Bobby Wagner to a five-year, $50 million deal. They also signed Allen Robinson, who was the top wide receiver on the free agent market.

We know of one other NFC team (Philadelphia) that has been viewed as a logical fit for Mathieu. Many fans would probably rather see him go anywhere but the Rams.

Mathieu, 29, had 76 tackles, a sack and three interceptions in 16 games with the Kansas City Chiefs last season.

AFC WEST

DENVER

The RUSSELL WILSON Era is underway in Denver.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Broncos have started their offseason program and that’s giving their players a chance to feel what life is like with quarterback Russell Wilson as a teammate.

Wilson’s arrival in a March trade with the Seahawks shook up the outlook for the Broncos in new head coach Nathaniel Hackett’s first season on the job. The team has been searching for a high-level quarterback since Peyton Manning retired and landing Wilson ratchets up the expectations in Denver.

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton said at a Tuesday press conference that it has already become clear that “we have to operate at a different standard” now that Wilson is in town.

“You all can feel it, we all can feel it,” Sutton said. “The juice is just different. . . . Knowing that we have a guy that has been at the top of that mountain before, has won a Super Bowl before, does know what it’s like to be at the highest level and lead his team to the Super Bowl.”

Sutton returned from a torn ACL to catch 58 passes for 776 yards and two touchdowns last season. An offseason free of rehab and an upgrade at quarterback bode well for his chances of reaching the raised bar in Denver.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

How S JABRIL PEPPERS got to New England.  Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

Many New England Patriots players, including two-time Super Bowl-winning safety Rodney Harrison and current center David Andrews, have said playing for coach Bill Belichick is like getting a high-level education in football that forever changes the way they view the game.

It’s precisely why free-agent safety Jabrill Peppers signed a one-year contract with the team late last month.

“Playing for Bill, his understanding of the game, what he’s done for the game, the moment I had an opportunity to come learn from him I definitely wanted to jump at it,” Peppers said Tuesday from his new football home, Gillette Stadium.

“He’s seen a lot of ball. He’s coached in a lot of eras. So I’m just more so excited to pick his brain, see things how he sees it, curious to see how he watches film or breaks down opposing offenses.”

Furthermore, Peppers said of the Belichick-led Patriots: “They like a three-safety look. They know how to use multiples. I’m already familiar with the system. I thought it was a no-brainer.”

The 5-foot-11, 213-pound Peppers joins returning starters Devin McCourty (5-10, 195), Adrian Phillips (5-11, 210) and Kyle Dugger (6-2, 220) on the safety depth chart. Joshuah Bledsoe (Missouri), a 2021 sixth-round draft choice, is also in the mix assuming his previously injured wrist doesn’t become an issue.

To Peppers’ point, the Patriots’ base defense usually has three safeties on the field, with McCourty playing 94.7% of the snaps last season, followed by Phillips’ 81.1% and Dugger’s 68.6%.

“I just want to go into that safety room and be another asset they can move around and disguise looks and different things. It’s great having guys with similar skill sets because you can confuse opposing coaches and quarterbacks,” Peppers said. “I want to add to that, compete with those guys and make it hard on the coaches to put the best guys on the field.”

Before Peppers can get to that point, and also possibly take over for the departed Gunner Olszewski (Steelers) as the top punt returner, he needs full medical clearance.

Peppers said he suffered a partial tear of his right ACL in a late October game last season, and since the ACL doesn’t regenerate, it required surgery. He described his recovery as “going well” and added: “I feel great. I haven’t had any setbacks. Hopefully we can keep this going.”

He has spent the past week and a half in New England, where he will reunite with former New York Giants head coach Joe Judge, who has returned to the Patriots as an offensive assistant. Peppers had been a captain under Judge, and would have been a strong candidate to return to the Giants in 2022 if Judge hadn’t been fired.

“Pep’s a guy that when you come in on Wednesdays, he wears his heart on his sleeve,” Judge said in October. “He puts so much into the team, puts the team first, does everything you ask him to do to the best of his ability, brings so much juice. [He] is a productive player on the field, wears so many hats.”

Judge’s presence is another reason Peppers was excited to join the Patriots.

“I love Joe. He came back to New England and I wanted to come join him,” Peppers said. “Now we’re here, and I’m just excited to learn from some of the best coaches in the game and be implemented wherever they need me.

“I’ve always had a high regard for the Patriots. I came in knowing the expectations are going to be high, knowing you’re going to have to work hard, … I think I’m tough, hard-nosed, a hard worker. I still think my best ball is ahead of me.”

THIS AND THAT

OFFICIATING UPDATE

Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:

NFL officials Gary Cavaletto and Rich Hall recently retired, leaving the NFL with nine retirements of on-field officials, Mark Schultz of footballzebras.com reports. Cavaletto was a veteran deep wing, who officiated in the NFL for 19 seasons; Hall served as an umpire for 18 seasons.

The league currently has 11 total openings for officials, including two replay officials. John McGrath retired, and Carl Madsen died during the 2021 season.

The NFL intends to hire eight new on-field officials, leaving one swing official to rotate. The hirings should happen quicky as May 15 is the date when the NFL officials’ season begins.

Schultz reports that the 2022 rookie class of NFL officials could work this spring calling USFL games.

– – –

This from the XFL.  Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com:

The XFL has rehired Dean Blandino in an expanded role as vice president of officiating and playing rules innovation, the league announced Tuesday.

Blandino had previously served as the XFL’s officiating chief in 2020, following a stint in a similar role with the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019. He was the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating from 2013 to 2017. The XFL is under new ownership following a bankruptcy filing in 2020 and is currently operated by entrepreneur Dany Garcia, actor Dwayne Johnson and RedBird Capital Partners.

The league is expected to follow the 2020 version’s commitment to reimagining the rules of football, a project Blandino will supervise in his new role.

“We have the rare opportunity to develop new, innovative rules for this league and Dean’s unique perspective and expert experience are integral to achieving that before we hit the field in 2023,” XFL president Russ Brandon said in a statement.

The NFL recruited Blandino to return to the league in 2020, but ultimately he decided to remain in his job as a Fox Sports analyst and officiating consultant.

In a statement, he said: “Football is a dynamic and ever evolving sport with increasing global appeal. From my time in the NFL through to the XFL, my focus has always been on bringing forward ideas and structure that can continue to support the game we love and allow it to grow into the future. Football is my passion and it’s an exciting time to be a part of the XFL as they build a dynamic game that will appeal to fans and players.”

In February, the XFL announced it will collaborate with the NFL on rules, equipment and officiating development player safety.

2022 DRAFT

Draft comparisons – who do 2022 prospects compare to?  That was the question atESPN.com:

We asked 10 of our NFL draft analysts for their favorite comp in this year’s class. Some you’ve probably already heard, but others might offer a new way to look at a particular prospect and what we can expect to see from him each Sunday going forward. We start with one of the top quarterbacks in the class.

Kenny Pickett to Tony Romo

Pickett has an unsettled, backyard style of play. The Pittsburgh QB consistently gets himself out of bad situations with his quickness and creativity. And when he is in rhythm, Pickett is highly operational. That likens him to the way Romo, the longtime Dallas Cowboys quarterback, played the game. — Dan Orlovsky, NFL analyst

Garrett Wilson to Stefon Diggs

A dynamic prospect with playmaking traits, Wilson can stretch defenses vertically or create after the catch. And with the high-level ball skills he shows on the tape, the Ohio State receiver can win isolation matchups. In a pro offense, look for Wilson to be deployed like Diggs (Buffalo Bills) as a three-level target with inside/outside flexibility. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst

Devin Lloyd to Fred Warner

Lloyd is a complete player at inside linebacker, much like Warner has been for the San Francisco 49ers. And their college production and measurables are nearly identical.

During his Utah career, Lloyd had 256 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, five interceptions, eight pass breakups and three touchdowns. And during his four seasons at BYU, Warner recorded 264 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, seven interceptions, 13 pass breakups and two touchdowns.

At the combine this year, Lloyd measured 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds with 33-inch length and 4.66-second speed in the 40-yard dash. Meanwhile, Warner measured 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds with 32-inch length and 4.64 speed during the 2018 combine workouts.

Lloyd can stop the run, make plays on the ball in coverage and get after the quarterback. And the ability to impact the pass defense as an inside linebacker makes Lloyd an easy comp to Warner for me. — Todd McShay, NFL draft analyst

Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner to Antonio Cromartie

Gardner is a long and sudden cornerback, and he didn’t give up a single touchdown this season at Cincinnati. We had Cromartie on the New York Jets when I was their GM, and these two cornerbacks’ builds and physical traits are nearly identical. Gardner should be an elite man-to-man cover corner in the NFL, just like Cro. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst

Alec Pierce to Jordy Nelson

Nelson was a really good receiver for the Green Bay Packers, and Pierce has similar physical traits. He wowed with a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and 40.5-inch vertical at the combine, and the Cincinnati pass-catcher can also run every route — and break tackles after the catch. Maybe Green Bay could steal Pierce with one of its two second-round picks. — Mel Kiper Jr., NFL draft analyst

Ikem Ekwonu to Tristan Wirfs

NC State’s Ekwonu is a stout player with awesome ability in the run game. Like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Wirfs did when coming out of Iowa, he projects as a fantastic Day 1 offensive tackle who will likely be better early in the run game than the pass game. Ekwonu’s upside — thanks to traits like quickness, balance and strength — makes him arguably the best tackle in this class. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst

Derek Stingley Jr. to Marshon Lattimore

Both of these cornerbacks were known for their ball production in college. Stingley had a standout true freshman season at LSU that included six interceptions, while Lattimore had four picks in his final college season before the New Orleans Saints took him in the first round in 2017. Stingley has squeaky clean technique as a man corner but is also savvy with his eyes and instincts in zone coverage. The ability isn’t the knock with him. It’s his availability — he has missed 13 games over the past two seasons. If Stingley can recapture his pre-injury form, he has the talent to become a top-five corner in the NFL. — Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst

Jordan Davis to Vita Vea

Both of these defensive tackles are massive — Georgia’s Davis weighs 341 pounds, and Vea (Buccaneers) weighed 347 pounds when he entered the draft in 2018 — interior run stuffers with the strength to dominate one-on-one matchups and occupy double-teams. I don’t think either will ever be high-volume sack manufacturers, but sacks can be overrated. Their ability to push the pocket makes it tough for quarterbacks to step up, and it can cause teams to double them, effectively creating one-on-one matchups for others. — Steve Muench, NFL draft analyst

Trevor Penning to Jon Runyan

I was covering the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans) in 1996 when they selected Runyan, a powerful offensive tackle with a get-after-it nasty streak, in the fourth round (109th overall). He went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL. Penning, at 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, has the same physical profile as Runyan, and his play-to-play toughness and willingness to finish plays with an edge were noticeable traits in each and every game he played at Northern Iowa. But Penning won’t have to wait until the fourth round to hear his name called. — Jeff Legwold, NFL Nation reporter

Chigoziem Okonkwo to Jonnu Smith

Both of these tight ends have dangerous run-after-the-catch ability. Their versatile skill sets show in how offensive coordinators have used them, with each catching passes out of the backfield and even taking handoffs. Like the New England Patriots’ Smith, Maryland’s Okonkwo will present matchup problems in the NFL with his size against defensive backs and speed against linebackers. — Turron Davenport, NFL Nation reporter

– – –

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com offers us this Mock Draft with TRAVON WALKER moving all the way to the top.  Before we get to that, here’s a report from Dane Brugler of The Athletic who still has AIDEN HUTCHINSON at #1:

But don’t count out Georgia’s Travon Walker as a realistic possibility here. Talking to sources around the league, they believe the toolsy Georgia defensive lineman has the rare traits that Trent Baalke will strongly consider at No. 1.

Now, on to Zierlein’s draft:

Since my last mock draft in March, the Saints and Eagles exchanged a bevy of picks — setting New Orleans up to select a QB-WR combo for the future in my newest mock draft below.

With the 2022 NFL Draft drawing closer, here is how I see things playing out. And as always, I am projecting where I believe players will go, not necessarily where I think they should go.

1  Jacksonville Jaguars

Travon Walker     Georgia · DE · Junior

In a draft without a clear-cut top dog, this Dawg offers outstanding measurables and explosiveness, with high-end upside to cultivate.

2  Detroit Lions

Aidan Hutchinson     Michigan · DE · Senior

Dan Campbell’s squad fought hard all year in 2021. Adding Hutchinson at a position of need does nothing but bolster the culture the Lions are building.

3  Houston Texans

Evan Neal     Alabama · OT · Junior

Neal is big (6-foot-7, 350 pounds), athletic and technically sound. He can play both tackle or guard spots and would be the eventual starting left tackle if Laremy Tunsil were to move on.

4  New York Jets

Sauce Gardner     Cincinnati · CB · Junior

Taking Gardner here gives the Jets the top CB in the class while allowing them to search for a talented pass rusher at No. 10 overall.

5  New York Giants

Kayvon Thibodeaux     Oregon · Edge · Junior

The Giants need more pass rush, and they’ll hope to find just that with this two-way defender who boasts untapped rush potential.

6  Carolina Panthers

Charles Cross     Mississippi State · OT · Sophomore (RS)

The Panthers choose to add immediate help rather than draft a developmental quarterback. Cross may be more game-ready as a left tackle than Ickey Ekwonu would be.

7  New York Giants (from Chicago)

Ickey Ekwonu    N.C. State · OT · Junior

Ekwonu is a guard/tackle prospect with a healthy mean streak and exciting upside, if he can learn to play with more consistency in pass protection.

8  Atlanta Falcons

Garrett Wilson    Ohio State · WR · Junior

The Falcons will likely shop this pick, as they have an abundance of needs, but they must come away with a wideout either way — and the earlier, the better.

9  Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)

Derek Stingley Jr.    LSU · CB · Junior

Seattle has needs at cornerback, tackle and quarterback. After his strong pro day, Stingley is likely to carry the highest grade of the remaining talent at those positions.

10  New York Jets (from Seattle)

Jermaine Johnson II     Florida State · DE · Senior (RS)

Johnson is a plus run defender who flashed exciting upside as a pass-rusher at the Senior Bowl.

11  Washington Commanders

Drake London     USC · WR · Junior

London gives Carson Wentz a big (6-5, 210) possession target to throw to while also taking some defensive attention away from Terry McLaurin.

12  Minnesota Vikings

Kyle Hamilton     Notre Dame · S · Junior

Hamilton’s pedestrian 40 time causes a mini-slide and allows the Vikings to scoop him up and pair him with Harrison Smith on the back end.

13  Houston Texans (from Cleveland)

Devonte Wyatt

Georgia · DT · Senior

This could be a trade-in spot for a team looking to add QB. But if the Texans stand pat here, they could roll with Wyatt, a three-down talent with gap-winning quickness who has the run-stopping ability to play along with Maliek Collins.

14  Baltimore Ravens

George Karlaftis     Purdue · Edge · Junior

Karlaftis is a rugged edge defender who can play with a hand down or standing up. He’d fit the Ravens’ culture and has underrated power rushing talent.

15  Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami)

Trent McDuffie     Washington · CB · Junior

Philadelphia has an obvious void at one cornerback spot, and McDuffie gives the Eagles one of the stickiest, toughest man corners in the draft.

16  New Orleans Saints (Indianapolis thru Philadelphia)

Malik Willis     Liberty · QB · Senior (RS)

I’m sure New Orleans came into the draft expecting to take a left tackle or receiver with this choice, acquired in a trade earlier this month with the Eagles, but passing on Willis will likely be too difficult if he’s there.

17  Los Angeles Chargers

Trevor Penning     Northern Iowa · OT · Senior (RS)

This could be a trade-in spot for someone else if tackles fly off the board at a quicker rate than projected. Otherwise, Penning is an easy plug-and-play option for the Chargers.

18  Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans)

Treylon Burks     Arkansas · WR · Junior

Jalen Hurts needs another weapon on offense, and Burks is one of the most well-rounded in the draft, combining size (6-3, 225), athletic ability, play strength and run-after-the-catch capability.

19  New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia)

Jameson Williams     Alabama · WR · Junior

If New Orleans takes Willis at No. 16, it would only make sense to pair him with a speedy home-run hitter he could grow with over the long haul.

20  Pittsburgh Steelers

Kenny Pickett     Pittsburgh · QB · Senior (RS)

Outgoing general manager Kevin Colbert might be salivating over the prospects of adding Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis here, but Pickett is an ascending talent who could compete for a starting spot this season.

21  New England Patriots

Kenyon Green     Texas A&M · G · Junior

Total Patriots pick right here. Green is big (6-4, 325), tough and reliable, with multi-position flexibility if needed. He’s an early starter with Pro Bowl potential.

22  Green Bay Packers (from Las Vegas)

Jordan Davis     Georgia · DT · Senior

Green Bay needs a receiver, but the Packers won’t reach for one if they see a better player on their board. Davis has rare traits, and his best football may be in front of him.

23  Kansas City Chiefs         PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA

Chris Olave     Ohio State · WR · Senior

You didn’t think GM Brett Veach was going to just sit and wait at the back of the draft with all that capital (12 total picks, including Nos. 29 and 30 and six within the first 103), did you?

24  Dallas Cowboys

Bernhard Raimann     Central Michigan · OT · Senior

The choice here could come down to Zion Johnson or Raimann. The latter is the better athlete and can play left guard or tackle, which gets him the nod.

25  Buffalo Bills

Kaiir Elam     Florida · CB · Junior

What pick do you give the team that has the fewest holes to fill in the draft? It’s not an easy call, but Elam is a quality corner with outstanding football IQ.

26  Tennessee Titans

Devin Lloyd     Utah · LB · Senior (RS)

Lloyd could be targeted well before this, but if he’s still on the board, he’s a better option than what the Titans have currently. He’s a Mike Vrabel-level tough guy.

27  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Travis Jones      Connecticut · DT · Senior

The big (6-5, 333), long and disruptive Jones should step quickly into the void left by Ndamukong Suh’s departure to help Tampa maintain its defensive standards.

28  Green Bay Packers

Christian Watson     North Dakota State · WR · Senior (RS)

Doesn’t Watson just feel like a Packer? He’s a little raw but ridiculously athletic, with the type of size (6-5, 208) that Aaron Rodgers seems to do well with vertically.

29  Arizona Cardinals (SF thru Miami) PROJECTED TRADE WITH KANSAS CITY

Breece Hall      Iowa State · RB · Junior

Trading back with the Chiefs give Arizona additional draft capital — and the Cardinals still get to add a full-package runner with the ability to impact the game on all three downs.

30  Kansas City Chiefs

Boye Mafe     Minnesota · Edge · Senior (RS)

With receiver out of the way, the Chiefs turn to bolstering the edge. Mafe’s explosiveness and power are exciting traits for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to mold.

31  Cincinnati Bengals

Kyler Gordon     Washington · CB · Junior (RS)

With offensive line addressed via free agency, the Bengals add a talented but inconsistent cornerback with tremendous upside to help slow down the quarterbacks of the AFC.

32  Detroit Lions (from LA Rams)

Matt Corral     Mississippi · QB · Junior (RS)

I have a funny feeling that the Lions may get frisky and jump up the board for a QB at some point, but if they sit tight, Corral has plenty of talent to become their future starter.