Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
This is the last week of what I call the mock preseason — or pre-free agency.
Nothing affects mock drafts more than veteran player releases, free agency, and trades. That time of year is upon us.
Several releases are occurring on a daily basis, and those will heat up through the weekend. Three major trades were reported this week; they don’t become official until Wednesday. That’s also the day teams can begin signing free agents.
In truth, many deals will be consummated on Monday and Tuesday in the so-called “legal tampering” period. Reports of the biggest deals of the transaction season inevitably will leak out before Wednesday.
Teams jumpstart the signing period to fill their most urgent needs. Those that do the best job of that then can use the draft as icing on the cake. But the fact is most teams still have major roster needs in April and they must earmark players early in the draft to those remaining needs.
The days of picking “best player available” regardless of need are long gone.
With that in mind, here is our last mock draft of the mock preseason. Things will change after the first week of free agency.
Mock draft 2.0.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Evan Neal, Alabama
Bit of a surprise that they franchise tagged tackle Cam Robinson for the second year in a row, but building a wall of protection for Trevor Lawrence makes a lot of sense.
2. Detroit Lions: DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
Jacksonville will do everything possible to coerce the Lions to move up to the top spot to insure nobody poaches Hutchinson ahead of them.
3. Houston Texans: DE Travon Walker, Georgia
His tremendous Combine resulted in a leapfrog to the DE2 spot. Now we’ll see if he holds on during the pro day season.
4. New York Jets: OT Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State
They’re assured of OT2, whomever it is, making it three linemen in the first round three years in a row.
5. New York Giants: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
With a second pick coming up, they have a chance to significantly upgrade their defense.
6. Carolina Panthers: OT Charles Cross, Mississippi
LT1 on their current depth chart is Cam Erving. This isn’t brain surgery.
7. New York Giants (via Chicago): CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
A 6-3 cornerback who clocked a 4.41 40? Can’t pass that up.
8. Atlanta Falcons: FS Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
Best defensive player on the board works nicely.
9. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver): QB Malik Willis, Liberty
Even before the Russell Wilson trade, somebody close to Seahawks told me, “This kid reminds me of Russ.” Well, without the college resume.
10. New York Jets (via Seattle): WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
More help for QB Zach Wilson, who needs a lot of it.
11.Washington Commanders: WR Drake London, USC
The 6-5 “power forward” would give new QB Carson Wentz a fairly easy “throw-it-up” target.
12. Minnesota Vikings: DE Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
Close call over the next best cornerback.
13. Cleveland Browns: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
Burks’ “underwhelming” 4.55 40 time at the Combine actually helped Browns from losing him.
14. Baltimore Ravens: DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
Close call over Georgia teammate and Combine sensation Jordan Davis.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
An impressive Combine moved him ahead of Kenny “Tiny Hands” Pickett.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: OG Zion Johnson, Boston College
The Burrow family might storm the Bengals draft room if a lineman isn’t the choice.