BUF – 35 Overall
TJ Parker – Clemson EDGE
In all honesty a big part of this pick and why I’m a fan of it is due to how high I am on Parker as a prospect. Parker is heavy handed EDGE that has a great power profile as a pass rusher and gives great effort when setting edges and even finishing plays in the run game. Along with that he’s a really smart and disciplined player that will be able to have an impact on stunts and games up front in this new look Bills’ defense coached by Jim Leonard. While Parker is still developing as a pass rusher when it comes to counters and the nuances of the position the power and effort in the run game are a great base that should get him on the field and allow him to be productive immediately. But aside from just the fact that I loved Parker as a prospect the Bills trading down and adding capital when they were more than likely taking Parker at their original pick in the 1st Round was icing on the cake. The Bills got back picks that allowed them to maneuver up the board later on in the draft and while you’d love to have the 5th Year Option on Parker I think the value they got back was worth, especially considering the work they’ve done getting deals done with guys in house early and at appropriate value.
HOU – 36 Overall
Kayden McDonald – Ohio State NT
The best part of the McDonald pick for the Texans is that he fills the “missing piece” for this already outstanding defense. This pick should terrify the rest of the league as Houston already has two elite pass rushers off the edge in Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter and their defense was already the best in the league by a fairly significant margin last season. While adding McDonald may not boost this already elite pass rushing group (although I think he’ll have an impact on stunts and games along the DL to help free up space for the rest of the group) he brings a skillset they’ve been missing and that’s elite play as a run stuffing NT. McDonald will own the middle of the LOS for Houston on early downs which will free up even more lanes for their LBs to shoot gaps and make explosive plays in the backfield and in turn create more obvious passing downs for their elite EDGEs to take advantage of. This very well could be the pick that puts this team over the top especially when you consider the improvements they’ve made this offseason along the OL and the assumed improvement of the offense with that.
PIT – 47 Overall
Germie Bernard – Alabama WR
Bernard is a really well rounded and sound WR that would have found a role in just about any WR room but I think he fits especially well within this group in Pittsburgh. With DK being purely an X that slot is taken and Michael Pittman Jr being best as a power slot type Bernard will fit right into that Z role in this offense along with providing some unique versatility and flexibility just as he did at Alabama. Aside from just alignment Bernard’s steady play and well rounded game overall will allow him to be yet another steady pair of hands in this Pittsburgh offense that will certainly need plenty of considering the question mark at QB right now. While this may not be a huge difference making pick I think Bernard will be a very solid player for a long in Pittsburgh along fitting in perfectly his rookie season with the current WR room in Pittsburgh.
CAR – 49 Overall
Lee Hunter – Texas Tech NT
While on paper this may look like the Panthers are just adding another guy at one of the few positions they’re solidified at (NT) I think adding Hunter to this defense and pairing him along side their star NT Derrick Brown will only unlock more from Brown and in turn this defense as a whole. Hunter is an outstanding NT with heavy hands and play strength that allows him to two gap with a tremendous amount of success along the interior of the DL. While that very same role has been Brown’s expertise for years now I think adding Hunter will allow Brown to become more aggressive getting up field and utilize the strength he has a pass rusher even more than he’s been able to. Along with freeing up Derrick Brown and allowing him to become more of an attacking player along the IDL Hunter’s ability to two gap and own the middle of the LOS will drastically change how this defense is able to play and it continues the remodeling that the Panthers have done this offseason by bringing in multiple players along the front seven including ILB Devin Lloyd and EDGE Jalen Phillips. By eating up as much space as Hunter can along the LOS that will allow Brown and Lloyd to create negative plays and/or stagnate offenses on early downs where their draft picks from last season at EDGE, Nic Scorton and Princley Umanmielen, and this years FA addition, Jalen Phillips, will hopefully pay off by creating pressures and sacks in obvious passing situations. Carolina desperately needed help along the front seven last season and while Hunter may not directly fix the pass rush issues I think his dominance in the middle of the defense will round out and be the missing piece for a team that has drastically improved this offseason season.
NYJ – 50 Overall
D’Angelo Ponds – Indiana CB
In all honesty Ponds regardless of landing spot/pick slot was going to be on this list due to just how much I love him as a player. If you’re looking for me to deep dive into him as a player I have a write up on him on this website that you’re welcome to check out! As for why I specifically love him for the Jets is in large part due to his mentality and character as a player but also their Head Coach, Aaron Glenn. While there’s plenty of speculation as to how secure Glenn’s job may be headed into and throughout this season Ponds plays very much like his Head Coach did as a player and I think that Glenn was ecstatic to get this guy on his team so that he could work with him. Along with him getting to train and learn with Glenn Ponds’ effort and character as player are going to be incredibly refreshing for a Jets team that has lacked an edge and frankly has been mentally weak for some years now. The past few seasons the malaise that has floated over the Jets organization and their players has been incredibly apparent as they let games get out of hand and look to be nonchalant about losing at this point. Glenn has to change that feeling and culture within the building and you could argue outside of the guys that went in the Top 10 of this draft that there was no one more suited to be a culture changer than Ponds. Whether you want to talk about him as a player and finding a role in this CB room (Which I believe he will no matter if it’s outside or in the nickel) or his impact on and off the field as a leader for this team despite being a rookie I believe this was a home run pick for the Jets and had Ponds just been gifted with a bigger frame he would have never sniffed the 2nd Round let alone falling to 50.
CLE – 58 Overall
Emmanuel McNeil Warren – Toledo S
While I can’t sit here and talk about McNeil-Warren being a perfect scheme fit for the Browns defense or necessarily unlocking something for them that they didn’t have last year this pick was just too good value wise not to bring up. McNeil-Warren may have his doubters as he didn’t test out of this world at the combine along with playing at a lower level of competition in college but watching his film he had no business being here in my opinion. McNeil-Warren standing at 6’3 200-215 pounds you’re first instinct is to put him in the box/as a big nickel and while I absolutely think he could play there (Finding success in that role as well) I believe he’s at his best playing as deep safety where he can showcase his length and phenomenal range just as he did at Toledo. He’s got a great ability to play safe and sound on the back end but yet finding ways to create turnovers and take calculated risks when the opportunity presents itself. While McNeil-Warren may be a rotational player his rookie for this Browns as they have a solid secondary in place already it won’t be long before you see him stealing reps from guy like Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman due to his knack for finding the ball and taking it away when he does.
PHI – 68 Overall
Markell Bell – Miami T
While former OL Coach Jeff Stoutland is no longer in the building with Philadelphia and that certainly would have made me feel better about the pick… Markell Bell having the opportunity to learn and work along side Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and the rest of that Eagles OL room is going to be crucial for him and his chance at being a quality lineman in the league. Bell is a mountain of a human standing at 6’9, 346 lbs, and possessing 36 3/8 inch arms and he’s got some sneaky athleticism for a guy his size. While Bell needs some work in terms of his refinement of technique and he needs to fill out his lower body a bit that’s why I love this fit so much. Not only does Bell not have to play right away in this satiation he gets to learn from those guys I mentioned earlier which will be crucial to him rounding his game out and utilizing the unique traits he possesses with his size and frame. These type of picks are what keep Philly competitive year in and year as they always stay ahead of need at important positions.
JAX – 88 Overall
Emanuel Pregnon – Oregon G
Now I wasn’t the biggest fan of what the Jaguars did in this draft.. which is not a conversation I’m going to dive into but getting Pregnon all the way down at 88 made up for a lot. I thought Pregnon was closer to a Top 50 guy than not and I think you’ll see him starting along an already solid Jacksonville OL sooner rather than later. Whether it was an unknown medical or simply that he’s an older prospect I just don’t see how he slipped to 88. There’s really not a lot to dive into here other than adding wha I view as a starting level Guard at 88 is just outstanding value.
MIA – 94th Overall
Chris Bell – Louisville WR
Bell was expected to fall as he’s coming off an ACL injury that he suffered in November of last year but with that being said I think this was a perfect pick for the Dolphins. Following the Jalen Waddle trade this WR room was left barren and flat out unacceptable for group heading into a season. While Bell has plenty of questions surrounding him as a prospect as he was already more of an athlete projection and less polished as a WR and even more so him suffering the ACL injury taking those risks as a team desperate for help are much easier to get past, especially at Pick 94. If Bell gets healthy and gets to a good spot with his knee this coming season he very well might be the number one WR for the Dolphins. ON top of it all when you can get a guy this physically talented at 94 the value can’t be overstated.
