Yesterday I released my final first round mock draft, but it’s pretty safe.
I’ve never liked mock drafts because I like to be right, and one surprise pick just messed everything up.
So I decided this year I’ll also create a semi-chaos mock draft, where I don’t necessarily expect to get any picks correct other than maybe the first few.
Some picks in the first half of the draft will be pretty standard, but then the trades will really start to mess things up.
This is the equivalent of trying to predict 100% of the upsets in March Madness, I’ll probably end up getting basically no picks correct. But that’s just part of the fun.
Remember that this is just for some fun, no need to rip me apart too much if you don’t like your team’s pick or trade.
Chaos NFL Mock Draft
1 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Walker wins out over Hutchinson for the #1 picks. Fans aren’t happy about it, but we’ll see if it works out.
2 – Detroit Lions
Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
Detroit considers going QB, but they can’t betray the Michigan hero. They’re happy to grab him without any surprises.
3 – Houston Texans
Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
Stingley has been a very hot name, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was the top of Houston’s board here, even though most people have them taking a tackle or edge rusher.
4 – New York Jets
Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Another pretty easy, no-nonsense pick. There won’t be many more of these I promise.
5 – *TRADE* Seattle Seahawks (via NYG)
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The Seahawks trade the 9th pick, one of their 2nd round picks, and an early 2023 pick to the Giants for the 5th pick
There are four teams who might be looking QB from pick 6 to pick 11. That starts with Carolina at the next pick. Seattle decides to trade up 4 spot to take their preferred QB. The Giants are willing to do this since they have the 7th pick as well.
6 – Carolina Panthers
Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
With the top QB off the board, Carolina decides to go with the high-ceiling tackle. They try to trade back to acquire more picks (don’t have a 2nd or 3rd round pick this year) but can’t find a trade partner. I guess Darnold is the QB this year.
7 – New York Giants
Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
New York traded their 5th pick, and were considering either Thibodeaux or Cross at that spot. Thibodeaux is still available at 7, and the Giants would gladly bolster their pass rush.
8 – Atlanta Falcons
Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
No nonsense here, the Falcons get a wide receiver they desperately need and hope they can get lucky at QB later on.
9 – New York Giants (via SEA)
Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
This is the pick received in the earlier Seattle trade.
New York would’ve gladly taken Cross at pick #5, and they wound up with him here. Quite a good first round for the Giants.
10 – *TRADE* New Orleans Saints (via NYJ)
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
The Saints trade the 16th and 19th picks to the Jets for the 10th pick and a 5th round pick.
Another New York team trading back, and another team trading up to get their QB. New Orleans wants to grab a QB to make sure Washington doesn’t steal their guy, and Ridder is the guy going earlier than expected. The Saints give up both first rounders to do so.
11 – Washington Commanders
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Washington doesn’t surprise too much with a wide receiver pick, but selecting Olave is a minor surprise. ESPN and NFL Network spend the leadup to the pick assuming they’d go with Kyle Hamilton.
12 – *TRADE* Los Angeles Chargers (via MIN)
Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
The Chargers trade the 17th pick, their 3rd round pick, and a 7th round pick to the Vikings for 12th pick and a 6th round pick.
The Vikings had a lot of decent choices here, but no great choices. They reluctantly accept a trade with the Chargers, who move up to secure a top-10 caliber offensive tackle who has fallen a bit.
13 – Houston Texans
Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
The Texans saw Kyle Hamilton sitting there at #13, but don’t take him since they took a DB (albeit a different position) with the 3rd overall pick. The NFL is very high on Johnson, and pick 13 is considered very good value for him. Edge is also a desperate need for Houston.
14 – Baltimore Ravens
Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The Ravens consider Jordan Davis here, but McDuffie is so versatile at another position of need in corner. The Ravens really liked Michael Pierce when he was here before, and they just resigned him. They feel confident in McDuffie.
15 – Philadelphia Eagles
Drake London, WR, USC
The Eagles take a wide receiver who is an interesting compliment to the lean-cut Devonta Smith. Putting pieces together to help Jalen Hurts.
16 – New York Jets (via NO)
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
This pick was acquired in the earlier trade with New Orleans.
Sensing a potential run on wide receivers after London goes at 15, the Jets take Jameson Williams. They know he won’t be available for most if not all of the upcoming season, but they’re still in the rebuilding process and don’t mid that.
17 – Minnesota Vikings (via LAC)
Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
This pick was acquired in the previous trade with the Chargers.
Safety isn’t the biggest need for the Vikings, but it’s still a spot they could look to improve. He’s the best available at this point, and can play all over the defense.
18 – Philadelphia Eagles
Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
The Eagles look to trade down, but can’t find a trade partner. They take the top linebacker on their board, even though media scouts disagree with their rankings.
19 – New York Jets (via NO)
George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
This pick was acquired in the earlier trade with New Orleans.
The Jets need help at defensive end, and grab an intriguing prospect with a non-stop motor who can contribute right away.
20 – *TRADE* Dallas Cowboys (via PIT)
Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
The Cowboys trade the 24th pick and a 4th round pick to Pittsburgh for the 20th pick.
The Steelers have a surprisingly large amount of needs, and any QB they take here will fail behind their offensive line. They decided to trade back a few spots to pick up an extra mid round pick while they know they’ll still be able to get their guy.
Dallas improves their nose tackle position in the biggest way possible, and might finally be a solid defense against the run.
21 – New England Patriots
Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
The Patriots need a corner, but they are apparently higher on Gordon than they are on Elam or Booth. They consider linebacker as well, but are worried about a medical red flag on Devin Lloyd’s knees.
22 – Green Bay Packers
Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
The Packers surprise with this pick, but they view Wyatt as a dynamic 3-4 defensive end who can be an immediate contributor. They’ll look to address WR later.
23 – *TRADE* Detroit Lions (via ARZ)
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
The Lions trade pick 32 and a 3rd round pick to Arizona for the 23rd pick and a 7th round pick.
The Lions trade up from the 32nd spot to get their quarterback before the Steelers pick at 24.
24 – Pittsburgh Steelers (via DAL)
Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
This pick was acquired in the previous trade with the Cowboys.
Pittsburgh was never planning to go QB here, they want to secure the offensive line and let it ride for a year with Trubisky if they don’t like their options later on. Offensive line should be concern #1 for the Steelers if they want any young QB to succeed.
25 – Buffalo Bills
Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson
The Bills were considering trading way up in the draft for one of the top 3 corners, but never pulled the trigger. They’re content taking Booth here.
26 – Tennessee Titans
Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Nothing too crazy here, Linderbaum is a good fit for the system, fills a need, and is a solid value here.
27 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma
The Bucs have an interesting situation here, and if they don’t make a trade I could see them making a few surprise picks. They are old and weakening at the 3-4 defensive end position, and Winfrey has upside with his elite first step and length.
28 – Green Bay Packers
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Nothing too surprising here. The Packers didn’t take him at 22, but now they do. Burks is a legitimate deep threat with the play strength to be much more than that.
29 – Kansas City Chiefs
Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
The Chiefs need a wide receiver after trading Hill, and don’t want to risk hurting their elite offense too much. Dotson can contribute immediately.
30 – *TRADE* Chicago Bears (via KC)
Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
The Bears trade the 37th pick in and a 3rd round pick to the Chiefs for the 30th pick.
Chicago desperately needs help at right guard, so they trade into the first round to get their guy. They move up ahead of the Bengals and Cardinals who both could be considering interior offensive linemen. Kansas City has plenty of decent picks left available and are content moving down a handful of spots.
31 – Cincinnati Bengals
Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
The Bengals wanted an interior offensive lineman, but the Bears stole him away. They go with their second biggest need, corner, instead.
32 – Arizona Cardinals (via DET)
Nick Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
This pick was acquired in the previous trade with the Lions.
The Cardinals need another edge rusher, and Bonitto would be a great fit for their system. He’s experienced, athletic, and is productive both as a pass rusher and a run stopper.
