ZAWACKI: Lions make trade, get running back upgrade
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Last year at this time, I was in Sin City watching the 2022 NFL Draft live from Las Vegas along with taking in the entire NFL Draft experience with a few buddies, one of which is my counterpart in this Mock Draft segment in today's edition of The Alpena News.
I remember the 2022 NFL Draft vividly, getting to meet former Detroit Lions quarterback and Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford and then current Lion and Michigan Wolverine legend Aidan Hutchinson the night before the draft.
More fun came after the draft's opening night at the NFL Draft experience when I was able to showcase my ability to kick a field goal like Justin Tucker, run a 40--yard dash like Tyreek Hill and throw a football like Patrick Mahomes…well…maybe that's what I'd like to think, but I was indeed, 3-for-3 in dime dropping and there is video evidence. No deflated footballs needed.
My counterpart in this mock draft also competed in the above-mentioned challenges, which provided plenty of laughs and was extremely comical. But, I won't make fun of him too much as I have always been taught to respect my elders and I know he is well past his prime.
With all that said. I wish him the best of luck with his mock draft. He will certainly need it.
Pick 1: Carolina Panthers
∫ Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Carolina Panthers traded away quite a haul to the Chicago Bears for this number one pick. In an NFC South that is certainly up for grabs, the Panthers get what they hope will be their franchise quarterback in former Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young.
Pick 2: Houston Texans
∫ Will Anderson Jr, OLB, Alabama
Houston Texans first--year head coach DeMeco Ryans, former defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers is also a former Alabama linebacker. The Texans take the top defensive player in the draft in my opinion in Anderson Jr. from Ryans' alma mater.
Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals
∫ Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
A team may jump up to this spot with quarterbacks still on the board, but with J.J. Watt retired and Zach Allen having left in free agency, Arizona goes defense and selects Wilson.
Pick 4: Indianapolis Colts
∫ Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Indianapolis is thrilled that three quarterbacks are still on the board. The Colts hired Shane Steichen as its new head coach who was brought in from Philadelphia due to his work with Jalen Hurts. Anthony Richardson to the Colts makes a ton of sense, but Indy seems to be in love with Levis.
Pick 5: Seattle Seahawks
∫ Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Seattle just re-signed Geno Smith who was named 2022 comeback player of the year last season, but with Seattle owning pick No. 20, the Seahawks take Richardson to backup Smith to begin his career before trying to untap all of Richardson's potential.
Pick 6: Philadelphia Eagles (trade with Detroit Lions)
∫ Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
Eagles GM Howie Roseman is high on Carter and it's been rumored that if Carter hangs around, Philadelphia may move up to take him and they do just that by sending pick No. 10 and other picks to Detroit to move up and grab Carter who was once viewed as the overall No. 1 pick.
Pick 7: Las Vegas Raiders
∫ Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illnois
Witherspoon would be a Day 1 starter in Vegas, which ranked last in the league in takeaways a year ago and are in need of a CB, especially playing in a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and now Russell Wilson in a Sean Payton-coached passing attack.
Pick 8: Tennessee Titans (trade with Atlanta Falcons)
∫ C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Tennessee trades up to No. 8 to draft C.J. Stroud with this pick. Stroud struggled with the S2 Test and teams put a lot of stock into it. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has plenty of power within the organization and goes back to his Ohio State roots as he's very tight with Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day to get everything he needs to know about Stroud.
Pick 9: Chicago Bears
∫ Paris Johnson, OL, Ohio State
Chicago needs to keep QB Justin Fields upright and selecting Johnson to reunite with Fields who were former teammates at Ohio State.
Pick 10: Detroit Lions (trade with Philadelphia Eagles)
∫ Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The Lions end up with the best RB in the class in Robinson. Detroit lost Jamaal Williams in free agency, signed former Bears RB David Montgomery and D'Andre Swift is on the final year of his contract and has had trouble staying healthy.
Pick 11: Atlanta Falcons (trade with Tennessee Titans)
∫ Nolan Smith, OLB, Georgia
After moving down, acquiring this pick and more capital from Tennessee, Atlanta goes defense with an edge rusher. The Falcons were second-to-last in the league last year in sacks, so they take Smith from Georgia's national championship defense.
Pick 12: Houston Texans
∫ Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
The first WR off the board is the best one in the class as Houston lands Smith-Njigba. The Texans end up with arguably the best defensive player and best WR in this class.
Pick 13: Green Bay Packers
∫ Peter Skoronski, OT/G, Northwestern
Aaron Rodgers is gone, so it's the Jordan Love era in Green Bay. The Packers will likely use this pick to protect Love by taking Skoronski, who is the grandson of Bob Skoronski, who won five championships as a Packers tackle.
Pick 14: New England Patriots
∫ Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The Patriots would be thrilled if Gonzalez, one of the top defensive backs in the class, made it to them at No. 14. If he does, Gonzalez to the Patriots is the pick here.
Pick 15: New York Jets
∫ Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The J-E-T-S need a right tackle. Jones played on two national championship title teams at Georgia and could be a Day 1 starter on the right side of the offensive line and protect Rodgers.
Pick 16: Washington Commanders
∫ Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State
CB is a top priority for the Commanders, leading to this pick of Joey Porter Jr. who has all the tools and genetics to be a great cover man and overall defensive star.
Pick 17: Pittsburgh Steelers
∫ Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
The Steelers need help on the offensive line and take Wright who has soared up draft boards after allowing just eight pressures during a brilliant final season at Tennessee.
Pick 18: Detroit Lions
∫ Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
There's rumors Detroit may trade out of this spot to acquire future draft picks. The Lions stay put here to select one of the premier edge rushers in this draft class to play opposite of Aidan Hutchinson.
Pick 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
∫ O'Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Tampa Bay has a lot of needs, one being the offensive line and selects Torrence, who looked dominant at the Senior Bowl to establish himself as a premium OL prospect in this draft.
Pick 20: Seattle Seahawks
∫ Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
After taking Anthony Richardson with the No. 5 pick, Seattle goes defense and improves its secondary by selecting Banks.
Pick 21: Los Angeles Chargers
∫ Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Kincaid had 16 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Utah and can stretch the field. One of the top TE's in the class could be a difference maker in a Justin Herbert led offense.
Pick 22: Baltimore Ravens
∫ Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Baltimore has ranked in the bottom half of the league in interceptions over the past three years. Forbes intercepted six balls himself last year at Mississippi State and 14 over the past three seasons, including six for touchdowns.
Pick 23: Minnesota Vikings
∫ Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Minnesota needs to fill a void at WR and replace Adam Theilen. Johnson would be a perfect fit here for the Vikings to play opposite of Justin Jefferson.
Pick 24: Jacksonville Jaguars
∫ Lukas Van Ness, DL, Iowa
Jacksonville takes another step toward improving its front seven. The Jaguars selected Travon Walker with the number one overall pick in last year's draft. This year they take Van Ness who has position flexibility along the defensive line.
Pick 25: New York Giants
∫ Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The Giants are in desperate need of a WR and Addison is a versatile pass--catcher, arguably the best route--runner in the class and would fit in as an outside threat or a slot receiver.
Pick 26: Dallas Cowboys
∫ Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
A Jason Witten clone? With a serious need for an upgrade at the tight end position, Dallas gets one of the best in the draft in Mayer who will likely see plenty of targets right away from Dak Prescott who values his tight ends.
Pick 27: Buffalo Bills
∫ Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
Buffalo really likes Downs and he is a true slot receiver. In an offense that surprisingly fizzled at times late in the year, The Bills pair Downs with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis to give QB Josh Allen another weapon.
Pick 28: Cincinnati Bengals
∫ Brian Branch, S, Alabama
There is help needed in Cincinnati's defensive backfield. Branch was a beast in his final season at Alabama. The First Team All-American recorded 14 tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, three sacks and a pair of interceptions for the Crimson Tide.
Pick 29: New Orleans Saints
∫ Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
The Saints have to get better up front. New Orleans will be looking to replace Trey Hendrickson's pass--rush production, so the Saints take Kancey.
Pick 30: Philadelphia Eagles
∫ Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Philadelphia lost both C.J. Gardner Johnson and Marcus Epps to free agency, so secondary help is one the biggest needs for the Eagles.
Pick 31: Kansas City Chiefs
∫ Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Kansas City needs an edge rusher to replace Frank Clark and a LB. Luckily for the Chiefs they can fill both needs by selecting Sanders who started his collegiate career as defensive end at Alabama before transferring to Arkansas and becoming an off-ball linebacker.