Mike Florio on where the salary cap is going to finally land:

From the moment the minimum salary cap for 2021 increased from $175 million to $180 million, we’d heard that the final number will be in the range of $182 million to $183 million. Although the final number still hasn’t been set, it likely ill land right in the middle of that range.

As one source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT, the cap “almost definitely” will be $182.5 million.

That would represent a drop of $15.7 million from last year’s cap of $198.2 million. The reduction arises directly from the financial losses incurred during the pandemic.

As noted on Tuesday, the players received full pay in 2020, undiminished by the pandemic and unlimited by the escrow obligations that other sports leagues utilized. The league and the NFL Players Association agreed to spread the money lost due to the pandemic, which saw total attendance plunge from more than 17 million to roughly one million, over three years.

Full (or at least significantly increased) attendance in 2021 will help bump up the 2022 cap, as will the new TV deals, which are expected to be announced sooner than later.

The new cap takes effect on Wednesday, March 17, at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Here are ProFootballTalk.com’s top 53 free agents, all the way down to the lowest ranked player to get a tag:

The following are PFT’s top 100 free agents for the start of the 2021 league year. The rankings include prospective unrestricted free agents, as well as released players. The list will be updated as events warrant, with signings, tags and re-signings denoted when announced and/or reported.

1. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (The Cowboys announced a new deal with Prescott on March 8, and reports indicate it’s a four-year, $160 million deal with $126 million guaranteed.)

2. Bears receiver Allen Robinson (The Bears used the franchise tag on Robinson on March 9.)

3. Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams (The Giants used the franchise tag on Williams on March 9.)

4. Broncos safety Justin Simmons (The Broncos used the franchise tag on Simmons on March 5.)

5. Buccaneers edge Shaq Barrett

6. Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin (The Buccaneers used the franchise tag on Godwin on March 9.)

7. Lions receiver Kenny Golladay

8. 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams

9. Panthers offensive tackle Taylor Moton (The Panthers used the franchise tag on Moton on March 9.)

10. Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (The Bucs agreed with David on a two-year, $25 million extension with $20 million guaranteed on March 9.)

11. Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (The Cardinals signed Watt to a two-year, $31 million deal on March 1.)

12. Vikings safety Anthony Harris

13. Washington guard Brandon Scherff (Washington announced March 8 that it will apply the franchise tag to Scherff for a second consecutive year.)

14. Chargers tight end Hunter Henry

15. Ravens edge Matthew Judon

16. Bengals edge Carl Lawson

17. Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster

18. Saints safety Marcus Williams (The Saints used the franchise tag on Williams on March 9.)

19. Cardinals edge Haason Reddick

20. Packers center Corey Linsley

21. Patriots guard Joe Thuney

22. Saints edge Trey Hendrickson

23 Rams edge Leonard Floyd

24. Steelers edge Bud Dupree

25. Bills linebacker Matt Milano

26. Packers running back Aaron Jones

27. Rams safety John Johnson

28. Jets safety Marcus Maye (The Jets used the franchise tag on Maye on March 8.)

29. Saints quarterback Jameis Winston

30. Titans receiver Corey Davis

31. Bengals cornerback William Jackson III

32. Rams cornerback Troy Hill

33. Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin

34. Ravens edge Yannick Ngakoue

35. Titans tight end Jonnu Smith

36. Chargers cornerback Michael Davis

37. Bills offensive tackle Daryl Williams

38. Texans receiver Will Fuller

39. Lions edge Romeo Okwara

40. Lions receiver Marvin Jones

41. Patriots quarterback Cam Newton

42. Seahawks edge Carlos Dunlap

43. Giants defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson

44. Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye

45. Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky

46. Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton

47. Patriots center David Andrews

48. Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson

49. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick

50. Titans edge Jadeveon Clowney

51. Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel

52. Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva

53. Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson (The Jaguars used the franchise tag on Robinson on March 8.)

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

G KYLE LONG is unretiring.  Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com:

Former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long plans to unretire and play in the NFL in 2021, ESPN confirmed Tuesday.

Long announced in January 2020 that he would retire after seven NFL seasons, all in Chicago.

Drafted at No. 20 by the Bears in 2013, Long missed just one game over his first three seasons but appeared in just 30 regular-season contests over his last four years.

Long, who is 32, suffered a gruesome ankle injury in 2016 that cost him the final eight games that year and the first two games of the 2017 season. Long ended up missing six games in 2017 with a variety of ailments, undergoing neck, shoulder and elbow surgeries in the offseason.

He is not a Bear any longer per Alex Shapiro of NBCSports.com:

For those wondering if the Bears still have rights to Kyle since he retired with one year left on his contract, Brad Spielberger from PFF says that’s not the case.

@PFF_Brad

Kyle Long did retire, but procedurally was released by Chicago. He’s not under contract with the Bears, and there’s approximately a -1,000% chance he considers signing there if I had to guess

For those wondering why Spielberger is so doubtful that Long would want to return to the Bears, just take it from Kyle, himself.

Kyle

I have supported this staff and the roster in the media since being released. Believe in the team and the coaches. But that doesn’t mean I would want to play for them

@Ky1eLong

They did, always. But my point was if I wanted to play again for the bears it@would need to be under a new staff. The current one released me and had every right to. It’s not that complicated. I appreciate you Ale

DETROIT

The Lions are going to allow WR KENNY GOLLADAY to walk.  Michael Rothstein ofESPN.com:

The Detroit Lions have informed wide receiver Kenny Golladay that they will not use their franchise tag on him, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, clearing the way for Golladay to enter free agency.

Golladay heading to the open market means the Lions will likely completely overhaul their receiver corps. Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola and Jamal Agnew are also scheduled to be free agents, taking the majority of the team’s receiver reps from a season ago. Detroit officially signed Tyrell Williams on Tuesday to help remake its receiver room.

Last week, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes called Golladay a player who has shown he can be a top receiver.

“I don’t think there’s any debate that Kenny has shown the ability to be a No. 1 receiver in this league,” Holmes said. “With that skill set that everybody knows that he has, we all know that he has, and being where we’re at from a roster standpoint, there’s also been no debate that Kenny has been at the forefront of our minds in terms of making sure that we make the best possible decision for not only the Lions but for Kenny.”

Golladay emerged as the Lions’ top receiving option the past three seasons, including a Pro Bowl berth in 2019, when he amassed 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had hoped to improve on that in 2020, but hamstring and hip injuries limited him to five games and just 20 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns.

– – –

GM Brad Holmes won’t commit that the Lions are out of the QB market now that QB JARED GOFF is present on the roster.  Adam Maya of NFL.com:

The Lions trading away Matthew Stafford made it clear they were ready to rebuild. That the deal involved Jared Goff, whose contract exceeded Stafford’s, gave the impression they were settled at the quarterback position for at least a few years.

Their commitment to the 26-year-old former Ram could be shorter lived.

Detroit owns the No. 7 pick in the upcoming QB-rich draft, something new general manager Brad Holmes noted last week was on his radar. This week, on the Huddle & Flow podcast with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche and Jim Trotter, Holmes rejected the notion he’s out of the QB market.

“No, absolutely not,” Holmes said. “I don’t think when you’re picking this high that you can be out on any position. But obviously quarterback is such an important position. And I just think it’s good drafting business always to be very, very thorough on that quarterback class regardless of what your situation is. When I was with the Rams, I always said that regardless of what you had at quarterback, and even especially now, it’s the same approach.

“It is a good crop coming out this year. It’s definitely not a position that will be ignored by us by any means.”

If you think Holmes is bluffing, look no further than the Lions’ books. Goff carries a dead cap hit of $43.3 million this year. He’ll be on the 2021 roster. But that figure freefalls to $15.5 million next year and then zero after that.

It’s not out of the question that the Lions would draft Goff’s successor next month. If they fall in love with one of the top prospects not named Trevor Lawrence, who will presumably go first to the Jaguars, Holmes is in prime position to select the future face of the franchise.

NFC SOUTH

CAROLINA

The Panthers have played tag with T TAYLOR MORTON.  David Newton of ESPN.com:

The Carolina Panthers on Tuesday used the franchise tag to lock down right tackle Taylor Moton, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The offensive tackle franchise number is expected to be between $13.5 million and $14 million in 2021, and applying the tag allows Carolina to continue to negotiate a long-term deal, which was a priority heading into the offseason.

“He’s an excellent player,” coach Matt Rhule said late last season. “He’s an excellent professional. He’s an even better person. When we talk about the brand, he’s all of that.”

This is the eighth time the Panthers have used the franchise tag since the team began playing in 1995. They’ve had mixed success.

Among the successes were left tackle Jordan Gross (2008), defensive end Julius Peppers (2009), center Ryan Kalil (2011) and defensive tackle Kawann Short (2017).

The times it didn’t work out so well were with punter Todd Sauerbrun (2003), defensive end Greg Hardy (2014) and cornerback Josh Norman (2016).

Sauerbrun was named in an investigation into steroids in 2004 and traded to Denver in 2005. Hardy played only one game after being tagged, going on the commissioner’s exempt list while a domestic violence case proceeded.

Then-general manager Dave Gettleman rescinded Norman’s tag after the 2015 Pro Bowl selection delayed signing it as leverage in discussions for a long-term deal.

The Panthers selected 6-foot-5, 325-pound Moton in the second round of the 2017 draft out of Western Michigan. He was ranked as the fourth-best tackle in the draft by then-NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, who is currently the Las Vegas Raiders’ general manager.

Moton, 26, became the Panthers’ starting right tackle in 2018 and has started every game the past three seasons while being Carolina’s most consistent offensive lineman. He hasn’t missed a game in his four NFL seasons.

TAMPA BAY

WR CHRIS GODWIN is tagged and will make $15.8 million in 2021 with the defending champs.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

Chris Godwin saw it coming, and it came true on Tuesday.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are placing the franchise tag on the receiver, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported.

Godwin will stick around in Tampa with the defending Super Bowl champion Bucs in a move that made the most sense to try to keep the team’s top targets intact for quarterback Tom Brady. Tampa can still strike a long-term deal with Godwin, one that could end up backloaded to remove some financial pressure from the team’s immediate situation, but the tag ensures Godwin won’t land somewhere else in 2021.

As he said last month, Godwin is fine with such an outcome, because winning makes him happy — and a projected tag number of $15.808 million doesn’t hurt, either.

“I’m not going to put myself in a situation where I’m going to be miserable for some years to come just for a couple extra dollars,” Godwin said. “I think my happiness is paramount in all of this and part of that happiness is winning.”

AFC WEST

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

TE HUNTER HENRY will hit the market.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Chargers used the franchise tag on tight end Hunter Henry last year and didn’t sign him to a long-term contract, so they faced the same decision again this year.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the team has reached a different decision this time. The Chargers have informed Henry that they will not be using a tag again this time around.

Henry had 60 catches for 613 yards and four touchdowns for the Chargers during the 2020 season. The 2016 second-round pick missed the 2018 season and has 196 career catches for 2,322 yards, and 21 touchdowns.

That productivity made Henry the top tight end in PFT’s ranking of this year’s free agents and should make him a popular guy once teams can open conversations with free agents on Monday.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

After acquiring T TRENT BROWN from the Raiders, the Patriots will not tag G JOE THUNEY.  Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

The New England Patriots will be acquiring offensive tackle Trent Brown from the Las Vegas Raiders in a trade after agreeing to a restructured one-year contract worth up to $11 million with him, sources tell ESPN’s Field Yates.

A swap of late-round 2022 picks is involved in the trade, a source told ESPN.

The Patriots are not expected to use their franchise tag on starting left guard Joe Thuney, as they did last year, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Thuney is now likely headed to the free-agent market.

Brown, 27, previously played for the Patriots in 2018, starting every game in the team’s Super Bowl championship season. His excellent season set the stage for the Raiders to sign him to a four-year, $66 million contract as an unrestricted free agent in March 2019.

But Brown (6-foot-8, 380 pounds) has appeared in just 16 games over the past two seasons for the Raiders.

“Trent’s whole thing is when he’s healthy, in shape and ready to go, he’s as dominant as any tackle in football, and he proved that early in the 2019 season. Since then, it’s kind of been a roller coaster,” Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said last week.

“So really what he needs to do more than anything is get himself in the best shape of his life and come out and prove that he is a dominant tackle in the National Football League, and really that’s all it takes. If Trent gets in shape and stays committed, there’s not a better talent out there.”

Finances were a factor for both teams, as Brown was scheduled to earn $13.7 million in base salary in 2021 and $15 million in 2022.

Thuney, 28, has spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Patriots after being selected in the third round out of NC State in 2016. He played the 2020 season under the franchise tag, earning a salary of $14.7 million. A second tag this year would have been $17.7 million, which made it a long shot.

The Patriots and Thuney had all of 2019 and up until July 2020 to reach a long-term extension, but the sides never seemed close.

Thuney has registered the second-most offensive snaps since he entered the league, with 5,474. Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (5,492) has the most. Thuney also filled in at center and right tackle in emergency situations, with his versatility being one of his many assets.

Moving on from Brown clears about $14 million from the salary cap for the Raiders, who before the trade had about $3 million in space, according to OverTheCap.com.

The Patriots, with approximately $66 million in cap space, can easily absorb Brown’s adjusted contract that will make Brown a free agent after the 2021 season.

“Money don’t mean s— if you ain’t happy I swear to GOD!!” Brown tweeted Tuesday.

Brown, who can play both left and right tackle, could make veteran tight tackle Marcus Cannon expendable in New England. Releasing Cannon, who had opted out of the 2020 season, would save the Patriots about $6.3 million on the cap.

Also, starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn has battled injuries in each of his first three seasons, so Brown adds another layer of protection to the team at the position. With starting left guard Thuney also expected to head to free agency, the addition of Brown gives the Patriots an option to move Wynn to guard.

The Patriots had initially acquired Brown from the San Francisco 49ers in April 2018, landing him along with a fifth-round pick in exchange for a third-round pick. He entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the 49ers in 2015.

The trade won’t become official until the start of the league year March 17.

NEW YORK JETS

Rich Cimini of ESPN.com with lots of thoughts from and about the task faced by GM Joe Douglas.

Joe Douglas guarded the New York Jets’ checkbook last season a lot better than his rebuilt offensive line protected the quarterback.

The general manager finished his first full year on the job with nearly $27 million in unused salary-cap dollars, the second-highest total in the NFL — money rolled into the 2021 cap. That was part of the plan. Instead of spending lavishly on a mediocre free-agent class, Douglas decided to save for a rainy day.

Well, the green and white umbrellas are out. Actually, they have been out for several months.

Coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, a 2-14 disaster, Douglas is gearing up for his second foray into NFL free agency. Last year’s free-agency returns were lackluster, increasing the pressure on the popular GM to repair the roster ASAP. His political cover is gone (see: coach Adam Gase, fired) and the honeymoon is over.

It’s time to turn up the aggressiveness a notch or two and build on the positive momentum from the well-received hiring of coach Robert Saleh. While half the league is struggling to get under the reduced cap, the Jets are sitting on a pile of money — $77 million in cap room, second to the Jacksonville Jaguars, per OverTheCap.com. In what figures to be a buyer’s market, the Jets have the ability to clean up.

And yet Douglas doesn’t sound like an executive who is planning a spending spree.

“We’re better positioned than we were this time last year. I would say that our philosophy, and stance, has not changed, however,” he said. “Our goal and our plan is to be … a team that really builds this through the draft and hitting on draft picks, obviously using free agency to supplement our roster.”

One caveat: Douglas said the Jets will be aggressive if “the opportunity and the value meet.” In GM-speak, that means the Jets will pursue a top free agent if they don’t have to overspend too much.

Free agency, at its core, is all about overspending. Douglas’ predecessors could write a book on that subject, but he has demonstrated fiscal restraint. In 21 months on the job, he has handed out one free-agent contract that included two years of fully guaranteed money — center Connor McGovern ($18 million guaranteed at signing).

They will attempt a splurge or two in the upcoming market — the “legal tampering” period begins Monday — but the likelihood is they will look for value among midlevel free agents. There are several holes to fill on both sides of the ball, so this could be a volume approach. Douglas tried that last offseason, and it didn’t work too well.

Instead of chasing tackle Jack Conklin, who signed with the Cleveland Browns for $30 million in guarantees, the Jets signed McGovern, tackle George Fant ($8.9 million), guard Greg Van Roten ($3.3 million) and re-signed guard Alex Lewis ($5.6 million) — a total of $35.8 million.

Conklin made the Pro Bowl for the rejuvenated Browns. The Jets, with the addition of the four veterans, fielded one of the worst offensive lines — 29th in sack percentage, 31st in pressure percentage and 29th in pass block win rate, per ESPN Stats & Information.

Douglas might have to reinvest in the offensive line, as Lewis and Van Roten are possible cap casualties. McGovern underachieved — he was 33rd out 35 centers in PBWR — but he’s not going anywhere, because his $8 million salary is guaranteed.

The offensive line is supposed to be Douglas’ area of expertise. While he drafted a gem in tackle Mekhi Becton, his performance in free agency was mediocre. The upside is he didn’t compromise his 2021 cap situation, as the Lewis, Van Roten and Fant contracts have easy escapes.

He also whiffed on cornerback Pierre Desir ($3.25 million) and wide receiver Breshad Perriman ($6 million), but at least there were no future cap ramifications, because they both had one-year deals. Perriman was the response to losing wide receiver Robby Anderson to the Carolina Panthers, a mistake Douglas later acknowledged.

To use a baseball analogy, Douglas’ free-agent class of 2020 yielded plenty of innings eaters — six players who played at least 55% of the snaps. Those six ate up $31 million in cap room — cost-efficient, but devoid of impact.

Some in the agent community are curious to see how the Jets approach the coming weeks. The salary cap, $198.2 million in 2020, is expected to drop and will have a floor of $180 million. This will affect the way every team does business, even those flush with cap space. Teams such as the Jets and Jaguars should have the ability to frontload contracts, which could provide an edge in competitive bidding.

The Jets also have flexibility because quarterback Sam Darnold is on his rookie contract, but that benefit ends in 2022 (assuming the Jets decline his fifth-year option, an estimated $18.7 million). In theory, this should affect their free-agent plans. If New York is planning to trade Darnold in the coming weeks and draft a replacement with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Jets can extend the rookie contract luxury through 2024 — a perk that should allow them to be ultra-aggressive in the upcoming market.

They have needs at guard, running back and wide receiver on offense, although it would be a surprise if they spend heavily on a wide receiver. Once again, the draft is loaded with them.

With three picks in the top 34, the Jets are in prime position to grab a top pass-catcher. One free-agent exception could the Panthers’ Curtis Samuel, a multi-dimensional threat who would be a nice fit in the offense. Coordinator Mike LaFleur is bringing the San Francisco 49ers’ scheme to the team, and Samuel — a threat on “jet” sweeps — could fill the Deebo Samuel role. (No relation, but that would be quite a coincidence.)

There are a handful of edge rushers who could intrigue the Jets, most notably the Cincinnati Bengals’ Carl Lawson and the Baltimore Ravens’ Yannick Ngakoue — both only 26. If you’re going to splurge, do it for a proven pass-rusher.

This could be a watershed offseason for Douglas, who walked into a difficult situation in 2019 (good thing he got a six-year contract) but created a treasure map by collecting draft capital and creating cap room. Now they have to find it. No one is more optimistic than Saleh, who has worked alongside Douglas for less than two months.

“Joe and his staff have done an awesome job with regards to setting the organization up,” Saleh said. “Now it’s just a matter of making sure that we do a great job in communication, working our tails off and evaluating, not only with regards to scheme, but player evaluations, and putting these guys in position to be very successful.

“We’re going to get better. We’re going to win championships here.”

THIS AND THAT

2021 DRAFT

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com offers us a Mock Draft.

My second mock draft this year includes one trade — and it’s near the top.

I have the New York Jets moving down from the second spot in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. The Jets would get the eighth overall pick, a first-rounder next year and a third this year to move down six spots.

Carolina would make the move to go up and get BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, who would seem to be a great fit in their system with Joe Brady. In this scenario, I have the Jets taking Justin Fields with the eighth pick, while they also could keep Sam Darnold. They would play Darnold for the year and then let Fields take over. Or they could trade Darnold and get extra picks.

The Jets have options. I would play Darnold and not draft a quarterback with the eighth pick, but this is a mock — not something I would do. So, for now, I have the Jets taking Fields with the eighth pick. The move up would be a bold move for Carolina, but if Wilson is who many scouts think he is as a quarterback, it would make sense.

One thing that didn’t change in my mock, and won’t going forward, is the emphasis on offensive players at the top. I will be shocked if more than two defensive players are among the first 10 players drafted.

So expect an early emphasis on offense, with offensive players going 1-8 in this mock. That won’t change either.

My next mock will be after free agency, so there should be a better picture of what teams need. Until then, get angry about this one.

I know you will.

1 – JACKSONVILLE

Trevor Lawrence QB

CLEMSON • JR • 6’6″ / 220 LBS

The talk that he isn’t the best quarterback in this class is laughable. He’s a clear No. 1. The Jaguars should have him signed before the draft.

2 – CAROLINA (mock trade from NY JETS)

Zach Wilson QB

BYU • JR • 6’3″ / 210 LBS

The Panthers make a bold move here to go up and get a quarterback. The Jets will stockpile picks and stick with Sam Darnold in this scenario.

3 – MIAMI (from Houston)

Ja’Marr Chase WR

LSU • JR • 6’0″ / 208 LBS

They have to get weapons outside to help Tua Tagovailoa in his growth. Chase is the best receiver in this class. They could also consider offensive line here.

4 – ATLANTA

Kyle Pitts TE

FLORIDA • JR • 6’6″ / 240 LBS

We know new coach Arthur Smith likes double-tight-end sets, so it works with Hayden Hurst and Pitts. Plus, Pitts is more like a receiver who will help create matchup problems for a defense.

5 – CINCINNATI

Penei Sewell OL

OREGON • JR • 6’6″ / 330 LBS

They need to upgrade the offensive line, so they opt for the player considered to be the best in this class. Sewell would allow them to move Jonah Williams to right tackle. He is athletic as they come.

6 – PHILADELPHIA

Jaylen Waddle WR

ALABAMA • JR • 5’10” / 182 LBS

They add a big-play weapon to an offense that needs it. Team him with Jalen Reagor, last year’s top pick, and Jalen Hurts will be one happy dude — if he’s the quarterback.

7 – DETROIT

Devonta Smith WR

ALABAMA • JR • 6’1″ / 175 LBS

Even if Kenny Golladay does come back, they need help outside. Smith is a big-time playmaker. The major concern is his size, but he can fly.

8 – NEW YORK JETS (mock trade from Carolina)

Justin Fields QB

OHIO STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 228 LBS

They trade down, add extra picks, and still end up with a quarterback. That would be a wise move for Joe Douglas.

9 – DENVER

Patrick Surtain II CB

ALABAMA • JR • 6’2″ / 203 LBS

They let A.J. Bouye go, so they clearly need help there in a division with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. Surtain is the best of this corner class in my mind.

10 – DALLAS

Caleb Farley CB

VIRGINIA TECH • JR • 6’2″ / 207 LBS

The Cowboys are another team in need of corner help. Farley opted out last year, but his skills are top-notch. He might have the highest ceiling of the corners in this class.

11 – NEW YORK GIANTS

Kwity Paye DL

MICHIGAN • SR • 6’4″ / 272 LBS

They need help at a lot of spots, but edge-rusher is one of the biggest needs. When in doubt, pencil in big people for Dave Gettleman. Paye is raw, but he is intriguing with all his skills.

12 – SAN FRANCISCO

Trey Lance QB

NORTH DAKOTA STATE • SOPH • 6’4″ / 226 LBS

They could play Jimmy Garoppolo one more year if need be. If they let him go, Lance could be their starter. He has the ability to move, which would be outstanding in their offense.

13 – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Christian Darrisaw OL

VIRGINIA TECH • JR • 6’5″ / 314 LBS

If you have a young quarterback, you need to protect him. Darrisaw is a player scouts and personnel people seem to like a lot more than the draft analysts do.

14 – MINNESOTA

Rashawn Slater OL

NORTHWESTERN • JR • 6’3″ / 305 LBS

They need to upgrade at left tackle and Riley Reiff could be gone for cap reasons. Slater opted out last year, but he has the skills to be an immediate starter on the left side, which would mean keeping Ezra Cleveland at right guard.

15 – NEW ENGLAND

Gregory Rousseau EDGE

MIAMI (FL) • SOPH • 6’7″ / 265 LBS

Rousseau was considered a potential top-five pick last spring, but he opted out in 2020. The Patriots have a big-time need in terms of pass-rush help. Rousseau is big and has speed off the edge.

16 – ARIZONA

Jaycee Horn CB

SOUTH CAROLINA • JR • 6’1″ / 205 LBS

Getting J.J. Watt to help the front will create more pressure, but they need coverage help on the back end. Horn plays with the swagger and coverage skills Vance Joseph will love in his defense.

17 – LAS VEGAS

Micah Parsons LB

PENN STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 244 LBS

They tried to fix their linebacker issues in free agency last year and it didn’t work. Parsons is an off-the-ball linebacker who can run. He opted out last year, and he does have some off-field issues.

18 – MIAMI

Zaven Collins LB

TULSA • JR • 6’4″ / 260 LBS

Collins is one of my favorite players in the draft. He can do a lot of things, which we know Brian Flores likes in his defensive players. Some teams see him as an outside rusher, but he can also play other spots.

19 – WASHINGTON

Rondale Moore WR

PURDUE • SOPH • 5’9″ / 180 LBS

They need to get more explosive on offense, and this kid can provide that. Moore didn’t play a lot of games at Purdue, but he is the real deal. Think a lesser Tyreek Hill.

20 – CHICAGO

Teven Jenkins OL

OKLAHOMA STATE • SR • 6’6″ / 320 LBS

They need to upgrade the offensive line, and this kid could step in at right tackle when Bobby Massie is let go. They could also consider adding help on their defensive line.

21 – INDIANAPOLIS

Kadarius Toney WR

FLORIDA • SR • 6’0″ / 193 LBS

They need to get more explosive outside in the passing game. T.Y. Hilton is a free agent. Even if he were to come back, they need hep. Toney is a tough, inside playmaker.

22 – TENNESSEE

Azeez Ojulari LB

GEORGIA • FR • 6’3″ / 240 LBS

He’s a guy who would be an immediate upgrade to a front that needs it. They had just 19 sacks last season, which is downright awful for a playoff team.

23 – NEW YORK JETS (from Seattle)

Jaelan Phillips DL

MIAMI (FL) • JR • 6’5″ / 266 LBS

They have to improve their outside rush. Phillips played well last season for Miami after transferring from UCLA. He does have some medical concerns, but he sure has the physical tools.

24 – PITTSBURGH

Mac Jones QB

ALABAMA • JR • 6’3″ / 214 LBS

Yes, Ben Roethlisberger is back for another season, but they need to find his long-term replacement. Jones has the ability to sit for a year and then become the starter.

25 JACKSONVILLE (from LA Rams)

Christian Barmore DL

ALABAMA • SOPH • 6’5″ / 310 LBS

They have to get better in terms of being able to push the pocket. They are moving to a 3-4 scheme, so Barmore would step in as one of the down players with ability to create pressure.

26 – CLEVELAND

Joe Tryon EDGE

WASHINGTON • JR • 6’5″ / 262 LBS

He’s another player who opted to sit out last season. But he has the size and tools needed to be an effective edge rusher. They could pair him with Myles Garrett.

27 – BALTIMORE

Joseph Ossai LB

TEXAS • JR • 6’4″ / 253 LBS

This is a team that could lose both Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency. Landing some edge help really makes sense. They could also look at Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks.

28 – NEW ORLEANS

Jayson Oweh EDGE

PENN STATE • SOPH • 6’5″ / 253 LBS

They will almost certainly lose Trey Hendrickson in free agency, so adding another edge player would make sense to go with Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport. They could also look for secondary help here.

29 – GREEN BAY

Rashod Bateman WR

MINNESOTA • SOPH • 6’2″ / 210 LBS

They have to get more help for Aaron Rodgers in the passing game. Bateman didn’t play last year, but he has the size and he’s faster than some might think.

30 – BUFFALO

Aaron Banks OL

NOTRE DAME • JR • 6’5″ / 330 LBS

They could be losing their guards to free agency, which means they need an upgrade. They do have Cody Ford to play there when he comes back from injury if they sign Daryl Williams back. If not, they need a power guard to amp up the run game.

31 – KANSAS CITY

Alijah Vera-Tucker OL

USC • JR • 6’4″ / 315 LBS

He could provide insurance at tackle in case one of their two starters isn’t back from injury to open the season. If they are, he could start at guard, a position he has played well in his career.

32 – TAMPA BAY

Travis Etienne RB

CLEMSON • SR • 5’10” / 205 LBS

If they were to add an explosive “air” back to their offense, it would be scary. Etienne is a game-changer every time he touches the ball.