Mock drafts are better with friends. For my second mock draft, I asked 25 NFL reporters to help me make the picks, from beat reporters to national columnists to podcast hosts. With eight teams holding multiple first-round picks, some beat writers were assigned picks for teams they don’t normally cover, but that’s OK, it’s supposed to be a strange draft with no clear favorite for the No. 1 overall pick. All right, let’s get to it before the 49ers trade Deebo Samuel and blow up this mock draft:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan
Pick by Daniel Popper, The Athletic
Manzano’s take: Popper was itching to start this mock draft with a surprise, but he decided to play it safe. He made the right call. A passing-rushing duo of Hutchinson and Josh Allen would be fun to watch.
2. Detroit Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
Pick by Kaelen Jones, the Ringer
Manzano’s take: Kaelen told me at the scouting combine how high he is on Thibodeaux, so no surprise here. The Lions get a future game-wrecker.
3. Houston Texans: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Pick by Aaron Reiss, The Athletic
Manzano’s take: The Texans are a wildcard because they have many needs. But they keep saying they believe in quarterback Davis Mills. He would be well protected with Neal and Laremy Tunsil.
4. New York Jets: Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia
Pick by Dan Hanzus, NFL.com
Manzano’s take: Jets coach Robert Saleh needs playmakers on defense. Dan provides that with Walker, who is receiving No. 1 overall pick consideration from the draft experts.
5. New York Giants: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, N.C. State
Pick by Adam Hill, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Manzano’s take: Adam once told me he would do anything to protect Tyrod Taylor. He sort of did that here. Some say Ekwonu is the best prospect in this draft. He’ll protect quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Taylor in New York.
6. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Pick by Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times
Manzano’s take: Emmanuel, the North Carolina native, is tired of seeing subpar quarterback play from the Panthers. Pickett is ready to start now.
7. New York Giants: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Pick by Adam Hill, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Manzano’s take: Adam ends his stellar draft as the Giants’ GM by selecting the best coverage corner in the draft.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Pick by Fernando Ramirez, South Bend Tribune
Manzano’s take: Fernando was at Hamilton’s Pro Day. He knows why he’s receiving Derwin James comparisons.
9. Seattle Seahawks: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Pick by Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic
Manzano’s take: MSD doesn’t reach for a quarterback. He goes with the polished pass-protector Cross.
10. New York Jets: Drake London, WR, USC
Pick by Dan Hanzus, NFL.com
Manzano’s take: Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson needs playmakers. London would make life easier for him because he tends to catch every ball in his vicinity.
11. Washington Commanders: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Pick by Sam Fortier, Washington Post
Manzano’s take: Pairing Wilson with fellow Buckeye Terry McLaurin would give Carson Wentz a dynamic wide receiver duo.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Pick by Joe Reedy, Associated Press
Manzano’s take: Reedy is a fiery reporter, so of course he goes with the fireball McDuffie, an ultra-competitive and versatile cornerback.
13. Houston Texans: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
Pick by Aaron Reiss, The Athletic
Manzano’s take: If Stingley stays healthy, he could turn out to be the best cornerback in this draft.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
Pick by Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com
Manzano’s take: Gregg’s top two favorite quarterbacks right now might be Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert. So this wasn’t easy for him to take Davis with the Chargers a few picks behind. But the Ravens rarely pass on big, physical defensive linemen.
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Pick by Cam Inman, Bay Area News Group
Manzano’s take: It was a team effort with Cam, the star 49ers beat reporter. He said forget wide receiver, give them a linebacker. Lloyd is the best prospect at that position.
16. New Orleans Saints: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Pick by Amie Just, NOLA.com
Manzano’s take: Amie takes the last tackle with a first-round grade from most draft experts. The Saints’ decision to trade up one spot ahead of the Chargers, who are in need of a right tackle, paid off in this mock draft.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Pick by me
My take: I also had Williams in my first mock draft. It’s meant to be. The world needs Herbert-to-Williams touchdown bombs.
18. Philadelphia Eagles: Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State
Pick by Josh Tolentino, Philadelphia Inquirer
Manzano’s take: Josh was hoping Williams would be available for the Eagles’ second first-round pick, but it all worked out. Johnson has the athleticism and size to become a productive pass rusher.
19. New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Pick by Amie Just, NOLA.com
Manzano’s take: The Saints have quarterback issues, but whether it’s Jameis Winston or Andy Dalton, they’re set up to succeed with Amie’s picks of Penning and Olave.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Pick by Marc Sessler, NFL.com
Manzano’s take: Sessler isn’t buying that Mitchell Trubisky will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2022. He goes with the intriguing Willis.
21. New England Patriots: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
Pick by Doug Kyed, Pro Football Focus
Manzano’s take: Doug said the Patriots’ biggest need is guard, so he couldn’t pass on the local product who is regarded as the best interior offensive lineman in the draft.
22. Green Bay Packers: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
Pick by Matt Schneidman, The Athletic
Manzano’s take: Schneidman didn’t go the obvious route by finding Davante Adams’ replacement. He went with Wyatt, who’s capable of contributing as a run stopper and pass rusher.
23. Arizona Cardinals: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Pick by Tyler Dragon, USA Today
Manzano’s take: Dragon wants to see Kyler Murray happy. A do-it-all receiver like Burks would make most quarterbacks happy.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Pick by Michael Gehlken, Dallas Morning News
Manzano’s take: Linderbaum excels as a run blocker. Michael’s pick would benefit Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
25. Buffalo Bills: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Pick by Eric Williams, FoxSports.com
Manzano’s take: Eric shows love to the running backs and fills a need for the Bills. Hall would take pressure off quarterback Josh Allen.
26. Tennessee Titans: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
Pick by Heidi Fang, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Manzano’s take: Heidi is a grinder, so no surprise she goes with the rugged Green to protect Ryan Tannehill and block for Derrick Henry.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
Pick by Jeff Miller, L.A. Times
Manzano’s take: Jeff was once a Florida man. So why not make him Tom Brady’s GM for this mock draft? He goes with Booth, one of the best man-coverage corners in this draft.
28. Green Bay Packers: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue
Pick by Matt Schneidman, The Athletic
Manzano’s take: Schneidman goes all defense for the Packers’ first-round picks. Karlaftis would fill the void left by Za’Darius Smith.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Arnold Ebiketie, Edge, Penn State
Pick by Nate Taylor, The Athletic
Manzano’s take: Nate sees the upside in Ebiketie as an athletic pass rusher with a high motor. Not many have him in the first round, but he could end up being the steal of the draft.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
Pick by Nate Taylor, The Athletic
Manzano’s take: The Chiefs couldn’t make it work with Tyrann Mathieu. Hill could be the safety of the future for the Chiefs.
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31. Cincinnati Bengals: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Pick by James Rapien, Sports Illustrated
Manzano’s take: The Bengals addressed the offensive line in free agency. James goes defense by giving the AFC champs a physical corner.
32. Detroit Lions: Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
Pick by Kevin Modesti, Southern California News Group
Manzano’s take: Kevin knows mock drafts with friends are supposed to be fun and he did that by ending this exercise with a quarterback.
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