The role of matchmaker, how nice. Have you ever been set up with someone before? I have, and let me tell you, it is terrible. Now, we switch roles from being set up to the one who is setting up the lovely, happy, couples. Only in this relationship, millions of dollars are being exchanged and ideally won’t end up in a nasty divorce battle with kids involved. How lovely.
Finding the ideal home for NFL Draft prospects is crucial. Get a player in the perfect situation to grow both personally and professionally, you have yourself a potential star. Take a player and put him in a bad situation, it won’t end well. Ideally, teams want to marry themselves to one partner and have a lifelong commitment with them. That is all ideal, but we know in the NFL that is normally never how it works.
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10. Kenny Pickett to the Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers desperately need to find themselves a starting quarterback, and will have the opportunity (barring any trades) to get one at 6 overall Thursday night. Sources tell me Pickett is the frontrunner to be selected at 6, even though Malik Willis is still being heavily considered by the Panthers front office.
Pickett makes so much sense for Carolina given their need for a player that can come in and start right off the jump. It is a make or break season for HC Matt Rhule, and rolling with Sam Darnold won’t be the way he keeps his job. Pickett is the most NFL-ready quarterback in this draft, and while Willis may present the higher ceiling he will need time. Pickett doesn’t need that time, making him an ideal fit.
Sources also tell me that teams behind Carolina are doing their due diligence to trade over Carolina to have their first crack at a quarterback. The New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers have been actively trying to find trade partners to get into the top 5. The price will be extraordinary, but finding that next franchise quarterback does come at a cost.
9. Zion Johnson to the Dallas Cowboys
The ultimate safety pick in this draft. Johnson will be a day one starter in the NFL, and offers position versatility that all teams desperately seek. Able to play both guard and tackle Johnson projects more as a guard for me at the next level, and scouts I have talked to agree.
The Cowboys need offensive line help in the worst way. The Cowboys lost starting left guard Connor Williams in free agency to the Dolphins, and cut right tackle La’El Collins who subsequently signed with the Bengals. Johnson could be the long term answer at right tackle or left guard for Dallas.
Sources tell me Johnson is a name Dallas are considering for their selection at 24. He is not the only name on their list, but he is one that is worth monitoring given Dallas’ need at offensive line.
8. Ikem Ekwonu to the New York Giants
The Giants need help in a lot of areas, and the rebuild they are about to undertake will be a long one. In order to get the Giants back they have to start by laying the foundation of this team down, starting with the offensive line. Andrew Thomas has been solid for them, and can now further improve it with my number one ranked prospect Ekwonu.
Ekwonu is a flat-out monster in the run game. The Giants have invested a ton into Saquon Barkley, who is due for a contract extension at the end of the 2022 season. Barkley has got to stay healthy, no question, but even when healthy Barkley has lacked the spark that we saw out of him in 2018. Bringing in Ekwonu to aid in a possible Barkley resurgence would help tremendously in that endeavor.
Ekwonu can play both tackle and guard. Because of his physicality in the running game, I would put him at guard next to Thomas and secure the left side of that offensive line for the next few seasons. Eventually, Ekwonu could become the next left tackle for the Giants or they could move him to right tackle. The possibilities are endless with Ekwonu.
7. Kayvon Thibodeaux to the New York Jets
As I wrote in yesterday’s column, I am not the biggest Thibodeaux fan in the world. He will however be taken with a high draft choice given the immense potential he possesses. The Jets need pass-rushers and Thibodeaux looks to be the guy they are “praying” falls to them at 4, according to a source.
Thibodeaux is a perfect fit for the Jets. He needs to go to a place with an established defensive line already in place, and the Jets have that. Carl Lawson will return after missing all of 2021, giving Thibodeaux an experienced pass-rushing partner that he can learn from.
The Jets need to get more production from their edge rushers, and they might get two new faces in 2022. Lawson with Thibodeaux could prove to be a very efficient duo, especially in a division where getting to the quarterback will be vitally important this season.
6. Kyle Hamilton to the Baltimore Ravens
I love the player, and I love the fit. The Ravens employ the “best player available” strategy to every single draft, and this one will be no different. If Hamilton gets to them at 14, I expect this to be the quickest pick of the night.
Hamilton is a do-it-all defensive player. He can play absolutely anywhere, minus defensive tackle, and be terrific. Given the speed and power he brings to the table, Hamilton could project as a linebacker that is constantly close to the line of scrimmage. He will cause havoc at the next level, regardless of where he ends up playing.
The Ravens may never pick this high again with Lamar Jackson at quarterback, so it is absolutely crucial they get this pick right. Getting a player like Hamilton to add to a defense that was uncharacteristically burned a year ago will go a long way towards keeping Baltimore competitive in what is now a loaded AFC.
5. Devin Lloyd to the Philadelphia Eagles
Gosh, this one will make me sad if it happens but the fit makes so much sense. The Eagles desperately need a linebacker, and Lloyd is the best out-and-out linebacker in the class. Need plus talent does in fact equal a match made in heaven.
Lloyd is the textbook definition of complete linebacker. He reads the game so well, possesses elite athleticism and is good on the ball. His tackling could use some improvement, but that is only because he has the tools to be an elite tackler. Lloyd’s tape was some of my favorite to dissect, and if he wasn’t a linebacker he would be a top 10 selection easily.
Philadelphia has two first round choices, and the team could go numerous directions with the two picks. Out of all the possible scenarios, Lloyd figures to be the guy that offers the most upside while filling a glaring need for the Eagles.
4. Chris Olave to the Green Bay Packers
In case you haven’t heard, the Packers need wide receivers. They also have two first round picks in this draft, and smart money says they use one (if not both?) on the wide receiver position. Aaron Rodgers cannot do it all on his own, and the Packers have to emphasize getting him help.
Olave is such a smooth receiver, carrying great hands, great after the catch ability, and a solid route runner. He could stand to improve on the route running, but Rodgers will make him a better route runner just by being who he is.
You can make the case that every receiver to Green Bay makes sense, but Olave to me makes the most sense. Also aiding Olave in what could appeal to Rodgers is the fact that he was a four year starter at Ohio State, and has the pedigree that appeals to Rodgers.
3. Sam Howell to the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have two first round picks in this draft, and stand to get a crack at a potential franchise cornerstone at 2nd overall. Yet at 32nd overall, there will be several avenues the Lions could potentially explore. One of them is trying to get their next franchise quarterback.
Coming into 2021, Howell was projected as a potential top 5 pick in this draft. A lackluster Tar Heels team, to go along with inconsistent play, halted that dead in its tracks. The Lions are rolling into 2022 with Jared Goff as their starter, and are able to get out of the contract Goff signed with the Rams at the end of the season if they wish with less salary cap ramifications. Howell would give the Lions a clear succession plan at the position.
Lions HC Dan Campbell wants to put out a competitive product now while having an eye out for the long term future of the franchise. By taking Howell at 32, he is doing both of those things in one swoop. The Lions could draft Howell, and let him sit for a year behind Goff to learn the ins and outs of the position before potentially becoming the full time starter in 2023.
2. Tyler Linderbaum to the Cincinnati Bengals
This one makes so much sense, it hurts. The Bengals have had the priority this offseason of protecting franchise quarterback Joe Burrow no matter what. They may be able to get the chance to do that late in round 1 with the best offensive line prospect I have ever scouted, period.
Linderbaum gives you everything you want in an offensive lineman. Physicality, toughness, outstanding athleticism for an offensive lineman, I could rave about Linderbaum and his potential to be a consistent all-pro at the next level. He is that level of talent.
The Bengals drafting Linderbaum would give Cincy another high-end building block on offense for the next 10 years. They have that guy with Burrow at quarterback, with Ja’Marr Chase at receiver, and now they could add to that with Linderbaum on their offensive line.
1. Desmond Ridder to the Pittsburgh Steelers
A lot of you were waiting for a name such as Malik Willis, Matt Corral, or even Kenny Pickett to be the fit for Pittsburgh. And while all could be, none jump off the page quite like Ridder does. Ridder is one of the fastest risers in the entire draft at any position. If the Steelers are in fact interested in trading up in this draft, like sources have told me, Ridder will not be the guy they trade up for.
Yet Ridder screams Pittsburgh Steelers material. Ridder wowed teams in the interviews with his maturity and football intelligence, while on the field dazzling for the Cincinnati Bearcats en route to a magical College Football Playoff appearance. His athleticism is top tier as well, but will need a gap year to learn the position.
The Steelers signed Mitchell Trubisky to a two year contract this offseason. He looks set to be the starter for Pittsburgh in week 1 of 2022, but could have a young rookie hot on his heels wanting to take the starting job. Now does that sound oddly familiar? Take Ridder, let him sit a year, and have your next franchise guy ready to take the reins in 2023.
