Thursday night, the NFL draft will take off. In the meantime, Le Journal offers you its mock draft, in which the goal is not to rank the hopes, but to try to guess at what rank and in which team they will end up. The exercise is particularly perilous this year because of the high number of prospects who put an end to the last season. As a result, the ratings on each of them diverge. Have a good mock draft!
• Read also: Towards a record Canadian vintage
• Read also: Enigmatic defensive hopes
• Read also: A solid offensive vintage
1. Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence
- Quarterback, Clemson
We quickly go to the next choice! If there is one and only absolute certainty and cast in concrete with this draft, it’s that the Jaguars will elect Lawrence and his long blonde hair to save their dying franchise. Everything has been said about him.
- Listen to the NFL Draft Special from The paying zone below:
2. Jets
Zach Wilson
- Quarterback, BYU
The Jets traded young pivot Sam Darnold to the Panthers, confirming they will look to another quarterback from the future in the draft. Everything indicates that Zach Wilson will be their man. His talents as an improviser will have to extricate him from this cemetery of quarterbacks.
3. 49ers
Justin Fields
- Quarterback, Ohio State
It will for sure be another quarterback and the consensus seems to be Mac Jones. In this mock draft, we stubbornly refuse to believe it! By giving the panoply of choices they have given the Dolphins to move from rank 12 to 3, they must aim for the quarterback with the highest potential in Fields.
4. Falcons
Kyle Pitts
- Tight end, Florida
This is where the real suspense begins! The Falcons rarely draft this high and might be tempted to find relief from their quarterback Matt Ryan. Or exchange their choice. Or take the best player available in Pitts, who will give Ryan wings.
5. Bengals
Penei Sewell
It will be tempting for the Bengals to reunite their quarterback Joe Burrow with his former prime target at LSU, Ja’Marr Chase. Except that with their dangerously bad offensive line from last year, Sewell can’t be overridden. Yeah, even though we hired Riley Reiff.
6. Dolphins
Ja’Marr Chase
- Receiver, LSU
The Dolphins had their fill of choices falling to 12th, only to pay the Eagles a reasonable ransom to move closer to sixth. Their plan must be to give maximum ammunition to their young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Chase will help his cause.
7. Lions
Devonta Smith
- Receiver, Alabama
Dan Campbell’s new regime is keen to bring a badass mentality to Detroit and in that sense, a defensive player or tackle like Rashawn Slater might be more suitable for them. However, it is difficult to ignore an electrifying receiver like Smith.
8. Panthers
Rashawn Slater
- Blocker, Northwestern
Some go so far as to say that Slater, who has received less attention than Sewell, may turn out to be a better lineman than him. He could evolve as much as a blocker as a guard, and the Panthers must give Sam Darnold a real chance to stop seeing ghosts …
9. Broncos
Mac Jones
- Quarterback, Alabama
Will the Broncos pull the plogue this quickly on third-year quarterback Drew Lock? This is the bet that we take since this club is going through a rare period of drought and is betting on an alignment capable of winning. Jones would inherit a good line and good receivers.
10. Cowboys
Patrick Surtain II
- Cornerback, Alabama
It’s hard to imagine the Cowboys betting on any other position than that of a cornerback. Besides Trevon Diggs (chosen last year in the second round), it is rather thin to cover the opposing receivers. The defense cannot afford another disaster like last year.
11. Giants
Micah Parsons
- Linebacker, Penn State
The rush to quarterbacks and other outstanding offensive players threatens to drag Parsons down to the Giants, perhaps even further. In the G-Men, Blake Martinez is alone in the middle of the field and again, Parsons has infinitely more potential.
12. Eagles
Jaylen Waddle
- Receiver, Alabama
After Jalen Reagor last year, another receiver in the first round? It’s far from being far-fetched, especially since Reagor hasn’t broken anything so far. You won’t have to skimp on surrounding young quarterback Jalen Hurts, and Waddle is the most explosive of the year. A big potential hit with every game.
13. Chargers
Christian Darrisaw
- Bloqueur, Virginia Tech
The Chargers have taken steps to improve their offensive line and thus give themselves flexibility in the draft. The work of rebuilding this unit is not finished and remains the priority. A tandem of Christian Darrisaw and Bryan Bulaga to protect Justin Herbert? Sold!
14. Vikings
Jaelen Phillips
- Linebacker, Miami
The Vikings need reinforcement on both fronts. In Phillips, they would take a considerable risk due to his history of concussions and other injuries, but the reward potential is endless. With Danielle Hunter, it would be a bomb.
15. Patriots
Trey Lance
- Quarterback, North Dakota State
In this drill, we don’t project the hypothetical trades, but it’s a safe bet that the Patriots will need to be active to get their hands on a quarterback, if that is their plan. Lance is an extraordinary athlete who could learn for a year behind Cam Newton.
16. Cardinals
Jaycee Horn
- Demi de coin, South Carolina
The Cardinals may have hired Malcolm Butler, but that’s only for one season and there’s no depth to the cornerback position in Arizona. Horn will bring attitude, and a cornerback is no luxury in a division teeming with good receivers.
- Listen to sports journalist Stéphane Cadorette with Jean-François Baril in l’Avantage Numériq on QUB Radio:
17. Raiders
Alijah Vera-Tucker
- Garde, USC
There is no lack of holes in the alignment, but the total overhaul of the offensive line leaves craters. Vera-Tucker has done well in the varsity ranks, both as a guard in her early days and as a left tackle last season. A great versatility.
18. Dolphins
Zaven Collins
- Linebacker, Tulsa
Too early ? Too impossible? Probably, but Collins is a heavy-hitting linebacker, capable of attacking ground play as well as shining on cover. It’s the versatility with which head coach Brian Flores learned to work in New England under Belichick.
19. Washington
Jeremiah O.-Koramoah
- Linebacker, Notre Dame
Most mock drafts send a catcher to Washington. With Terry McLaurin on board, besides the arrival of Curtis Samuel, not sure the need is so dire. Owusu-Koramoah is a small linebacker who has wings on the field for coverage.
20. Bears
Caleb Farley
- Demi de coin, Virginia Tech
For the Bears, that would be a potential theft. If it weren’t for a back injury that is likely to worry teams, Farley would come out in the top 12. He is an exceptional athlete and with Jaylon Johnson and Desmond Trufant, the Bears tertiary would not be a gap. .
21. Colts
Jayson Oweh
- Winger / Linebacker, Penn State
The Colts have a big dilemma. Make up for the loss of Anthony Castonzo on the offensive line or improve their defensive line? Jayson Oweh is a true athletic beast. This fits well with the Colts’ defensive philosophy, which focuses more on speed than power.
22. Titans
Elijah Moore
- Receiver, Ole Miss
Who’s going to pick up passes in Nashville besides AJ Brown now that Corey Davis, Adam Humphries and Jonnu Smith have gone under different skies? Moore would fill the role of inserted winger wonderfully, leaving the ends of the field to Brown and Josh Reynolds.
23. Jets
Greg Newsome II
- Cornerback, Northwestern
Just looking at the cornerback position in the Jets lineup hurts the eyes. It’s unthinkable that they wouldn’t use one of their two first-round picks to improve that position. Newsome gave nothing but crumbs in a loud (Big Ten) conference.
24. Steelers
Teven Jenkins
- Blocker, Oklahoma State
There are a few shortcomings for the Steelers to fill, most notably the cornerback position. The offensive line, however, is no longer a shadow of what it used to be. The Steelers want to improve their ground game, but before opting for a carrier, we must fortify the unit in front of him.
25. Jaguars
Trevon Moehrig
- Marauder, TCU
The Jaguars tertiary, despite the addition of Shaquill Griffin and Rayshawn Jenkins, lacks impact players. Moehrig will bring an intimidating presence and fill in obvious gaps on the cover. There are six more rounds to bring aid to Trevor Lawrence.
26. Browns
Christian Barmore
- Tackler, Alabama
If Barmore drops that low, the Browns will simply come close to collective orgasm! The big tackle takes up space, but also moves very well and can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The scenario would be too good to be true.
27. Ravens
Paye receipts
- Winger / Linebacker, Michigan
The Ravens have let Matt Judon slip away and when a defense is so built on pressure on the quarterback, it calls for action. Paye didn’t produce up to par in Michigan, but it was often used indoors. The Ravens would maximize his potential.
28. Saints
Asante Samuel Jr
- Demi de coin, Florida State
The Saints don’t have a truly credible cornerback unlike Marshon Lattimore. Many fear Samuel’s small build, but he plays bigger than his physical stature. He has a lot of experience and has improved in each of his college seasons.
29. Packers
Consumption Bateman
- Receiver, Minnesota
It would be amazing for Bateman to slide at this point, but if he does, the Packers are likely to jump on it. Although, it must be 10 years that they predicted a receiver in the first round, which ultimately never happens. The whole of Bateman’s play is solid.
30. Bills
Azeez Ojulari
- Winger / linebacker, Georgia
To move to the next level in a Chiefs-dominated conference, the Bills need to be able to apply more pressure. Ojulari was made in a relatively small mold (under 250 lbs) for his stance, but he is explosive to perfection.
31. Ravens
Terrace Marshall Jr
- Receiver, LSU
The Ravens traded their massive tackle Orlando Brown to the Chiefs in return for that choice. Another lineman to replace? They picked one in the second round last year for the relief. With Marshall, they would get a receiver who can play anywhere and of good size.
32. Buccaneers
Landon Dickerson
- Centre, Alabama
Buccaneers do not have an urgent need and therefore can afford a choice of luxury with the near future in mind. Their center Ryan Jensen will become a free agent at the end of the season, as will guard Alex Cappa. Dickerson can evolve anywhere inside.
