DeAndre Hopkins is unquestionably a superstar wide receiver. But the Cardinals need a No. 2 receiver, even if Larry Fitzgerald comes back for one more season. Now, you might be saying, "but Pitts is a tight end." And that is true. But in reality, he's only a tight end by name only.
The Dolphins badly need a player who can consistently get to the quarterback. Emmanuel Ogbah and Kyle Van Noy are decent, but they need more of a sure thing pass rush threat. Ojulari would be at home a Miami system that would allow him to stand up on the edge and win with his speed.
Chicago seems to be in quarterback purgatory. They weren't players for Carson Wentz. Deshaun Watson might exercise a no-trade clause if the Bears come calling. And, honestly, the Bears don't really have the type of good draft picks to get him anyway. We've already seen five quarterbacks get taken in this mock draft. It's not a good situation for Chicago. Unless something drastic happens, get ready for more Nick Foles.
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Maybe the Bears can wait for the 2022 draft for a quarterback. Hello, Sam Howell. If that's the case, they could prepare for that scenario now by building up the roster. Chicago's offensive line play is suspect, and a player like Jenkins could work into the starting mix straightaway.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Head coach Frank Reich has his fourth starting quarterback in four years with the acquisition of Carson Wentz. Hopefully for Reich this will provide some stability at the position. With that in mind, the Colts can build around Wentz and hope he turns his career around. Waddle would give the Colts another weapon at wide receiver besides T.Y. Hilton, a free agent who could be back with the team.
22. Tennessee Titans: Jayson Oweh, edge, Penn State After making the AFC title game two years ago, the Titans regressed a little bit this season, thanks in part to an awful draft class. NFL.com ranked Tennessee dead last for their 2020 draft class.
More: Titans counting on more from 2020 draft class in 2021
If Tennessee wants to get back into Super Bowl contention, finding a pass rusher this offseason is a priority. Oweh is loaded with impressive traits that Tennessee can utilize.
23. New York Jets (via Seattle): Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
If the Jets do end up using the No. 2 pick on a quarterback, it would behoove them to give him weapons. After Toney, there is a drop off at wide receiver with players like Rashod Bateman of Minnesota and Terrace Marshall of LSU being fringe first rounders. Toney gets the top 32 nod because of his ability to get off the line and his speed after the catch. If his route running can be cleaned up, he could develop into a No. 1 receiver for whoever is throwing him the football.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa Perhaps no team in the NFL faces more major question marks this offseason than the Steelers. What is the future of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger? Are the Steelers the favorites for free agent defensive end J.J. Watt? Who will be the running back? What happens to free agent edge rusher Bud Dupree? Will the team bring back left tackle Alejnadro Villanueva? How does center Maurkice Pouncey get replaced?
That is a lot for general manager Kevin Colbert to figure out. That's what makes a potential trade down attractive for Pittsburgh. The problem there is that Pittsburgh never trades down in the first round. Standing pat at No. 24, the Steelers will need a player who can make an instant impact. That player could be Collins. He's a legitimate three-down linebacker who can help the pass rush, but also fill in if Vince Williams is a salary cap casualty.
25. Jacksonville Jagurs (via LA Rams): Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame In selecting Lawrence with the first overall pick, it is incumbent on the Jaguars to give him ample protection. We saw last year with Joe Burrow of the Bengals what happens when a team doesn't protect their franchise quarterback. Eichenberg is a fringe first-round pick, but he's an attractive option because he should be able to step into a starting lineup immediately. He may never be a superstar blocker, but function has value.
26. Cleveland Browns: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
The pick for the Browns this week was down to Horn, Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and lanky Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau. Sense a trend here? Yes, the Browns need help at all levels of the defense this offseason.
More: Browns' Andrew Billings awaiting COVID vaccine on comeback trail after opting out of 2020 season
Horn is loaded with skill and has good size at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds to match up with bigger receivers. That makes him ideal cornerback opposite Denzel Ward or Greedy Williams.
J .J. Watt sweepstakes : Browns reportedly among about a dozen suitors
27. Baltimore Ravens: Gregory Rousseau, edge, Miami
An argument can be made that Rousseau is the best pass rusher in the draft this year. There just aren't that many 6-foot-7 pass rushers with athleticism. Rousseau will need to be coached up. But if there's one player in this draft to take an upside gamble on, it's him.
28. New Orleans Saints: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
On paper, the Saints look great at cornerback with star Marshon Lattimore, second-year man C.J. Gardner-Johnson and veterans Janoris Jenkins and Malcolm Jenkins. But scratch the surface a little and things look rough. Lattimore is entering a contract year and could command more money than the cap-strapped Saints can afford. Janoris Jenkins is 32 and Malcolm Jenkins is 33, and the latter could shift to safety. That leaves some questions for the Saints that Newsome can answer.
29. Green Bay Packers: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
When the Packers cut linebacker Christian Kirksey last week, it opened up a hole on the roster. A player like Owusu-Koramoah — a speedy, playmaking linebacker — can fill it adequately.
30. Buffalo Bills: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama This is a pick I continue to be stuck on for the Bills. Their running game is so ... ordinary with Zack Moss and Devin Singletary. Neither player is the star-type of running back Harris can be in the NFL.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
The Chiefs should have offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz and guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif back next season. But left tackle Eric Fisher could be a question mark after tearing his Achilles late in the playoffs. Even if he is back, the Chiefs might be so shook by the Super Bowl that they just take the best offensive lineman available when they pick.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joseph Ossai, edge, Texas The Buccaneers seem to have more big-name free agents than they can re-sign this offseason. Who do you prioritize? Linebacker Lavonte David and pass rusher Shaq Barrett are the team’s most pressing issues. In this week’s scenario, Barrett is the one who exits out of those two. In steps Ossai, a high-effort pass rusher who wins on the edge with speed.
