There is an increasing belief that Stingley will be the pick here, with the Texans holding off on its offensive line need until it goes back on the clock at #13.
It makes sense that Houston would go with a corner here and potentially look for a versatile OL prospect at #13.
4. New York Jets - Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati (6-3 190)
I've read nothing to dissuade me that the man they call Sauce will be selected by the Jets. But there has been late talk of Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux here, enough to where it wouldn't outright surprise me if it happens.
5. New York Giants - Charles Cross, OT, Miss. St. (6-5 310)
There are a number of possibilities here for the Giants, who pick again at #7. But there has been a lot of chatter connecting Cross with this spot, specifically at #5 and not #7 knowing that Carolina looms in-between.
It's entirely possible that Ekwonu will be gone by this point. But Carolina looks to be in line to go with an offensive lineman here, in a draft that is rather deep at the position.
7. New York Giants (from Chicago) - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame (6-4 220)
Hamilton is a uniquely-skilled safety with his unusual size/speed combo. If Stingley and Gardner are gone in the top six, targeting a unique talent like Hamilton at #7 is a viable possibility.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Drake London, WR, Southern Cal (6-4 220)
There is a prevailing thought that the Falcons will draft a wide receiver at this spot. If so, they'd have their pick from a very good receiver class.
During the Pete Carroll era, the Seahawks have been one of the more difficult teams to predict in the NFL. But there's no questioning Neal's talent, and while injury concerns might have caused him to fade late, he's talented enough to warrant Top 10 consideration.
10. New York Jets (from Seattle) - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio St. (6-0 185)
This is a strong draft at wide receiver, and it wouldn't surprise me to see a run on receivers pick up at this point. Wilson seems most likely to go here, but there are a number of similarly-talented WRs in this draft.
11. Washington Commanders - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama (6-1 180)
Washington FT has a new team nickname. It seems most probable that the Commanders will go with a wide receiver as this spot. Plenty of possibilities to that end, including Williams.
12. Minnesota Vikings - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington (5-11 195)
There has been a lot of smoke about a possible Vikings/Chargers trade, with the idea that the Chargers would move up to either go with Georgia DL Jordan Davis or an offensive lineman, possibly Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning.
It's reasonable to think that McDuffie is likely to still be on the board at #17, though not a sure thing by any means.
It's a slide for Thibodeaux in this mock, and he would be quite the bargain for Houston it he drops to this point. But there is high demand for the top offensive tackles and wide receivers in this draft.
While this mock has Wyatt off the board before his UGA teammate Jordan Davis, it's with the thought that the Chargers would trade up to nab Davis.
There is an explosiveness to Wyatt at the snap that makes even double-teaming him challenging, like a real-life version of Tecmo Super Bowl for the NES when you predicted your opponent's play.
16. New Orleans Saints (from Indy via Philly) - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt (6-3 215)
The Saints also hold the #19 pick, but if Pickett is who they see as the next franchise quarterback in New Orleans, they likely will take him with this selection.
17. Los Angeles Chargers - Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia (6-6 340)
There is talk that the Chargers are looking to trade up, possibly for Davis or an offensive lineman at #12. Davis is a freakish athlete who will command a double-team on most plays.
Run-stuffing nose tackles tend to slide to day two given how important most teams see pass rushing, but Davis is a special talent with the potential to be among the best at the position in the entire league.
18. Philadelphia Eagles - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio St. (6-1 190)
The depth at wide receiver works to the Eagles' advantage in this scenario. If Olave goes before this spot, there will inevitably be other wide receivers worthy of selection here.
After filling their need at QB at #16, the Saints go back on the clock and select a late-riser in Smith here. More often than not, when a late riser is connected to a team in that mid-late first-round range, there's some validity to it.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty (6-1 215)
The Steelers are a leaky team when it comes to draft info getting out, and it's no secret that at least some in that organization are quite bullish on Willis.
But with Ben Roethlisberger now retired, the Steelers have to look elsewhere at quarterback going forward.
21. New England Patriots - Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah (6-3 235)
Lloyd is an exceptional prospect at inside linebacker, and he'd be a good fit on a Patriots team that has proven adept through the years at identifying players who fit their system well.
22. Green Bay Packers (from Raiders) - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas (6-2 225)
There is a rather logical line of thought that the Packers would target a wide receiver in round one, in large part because of the Davante Adams trade which sent this pick from the Las Vegas Raiders to Green Bay.
If Burks is gone by this spot, the Packers should have several other viable options, or alternately change plans and wait until #28 to select a receiver.
23. Arizona Cardinals - Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida St. (6-5 255)
The Cardinals could use a boost at the EDGE rusher position, which makes a large playmaker like Johnson a good match if he's on the board.
Interior offensive line help is a logical possibility here for the Titans. Green was a two-time consensus All-American with the Aggies.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan (6-0 190)
Hill is another late riser who seems primed to come off the board either late in round one or early on day two.
28. Green Bay Packers - Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia (6-0 225)
If the Packers address their wide receiver need at #22, it provides some latitude here. Dean was a unanimous 2021 All-American and the 2021 Butkus Award winner.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from 49ers via Miami) - Christian Watson, WR, ND State (6-4 210)
The Chiefs pick back-to-back here, the start of their 12 total picks in this year's draft. Watson was a Top-30 visit with Kansas City, and his great size/speed combo should make him a consideration late in round one.
30. Kansas City Chiefs - Lewis Cine, DB, Georgia (6-2 200)
Another late riser, Cine has shot up draft boards and would fill a need at safety for Kansas City.
31. Cincinnati Bengals - George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue (6-4 265)
Karlaftis looked at one point to be a likely first-round selection. That's more unclear at this stage, but Karlaftis is an excellent pass rusher with a great motor.
Whether it's Detroit keeping this pick or trading back into round two, Ridder going at #32 if he's still on the board would appear to be a viable possibility.
