9. Atlanta Falcons (from Jacksonville Jaguars): CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
Heavy rumors surround the Falcons and their desire to trade up for an impact defensive player. Here, they rise seven spots in a trade with the Jaguars and take Henderson, who’s the second-best cover cornerback in this class behind Jeff Okudah. Henderson isn’t as physical, but given the current status of Atlanta’s secondary, he’ll be the top defender right away.
10. Cleveland Browns: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
The Browns were smart to acquire former Falcons tight end Austin Hooper in free agency; they can pair him with David Njoku in new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s preferred two-tight end sets. Now, it’s time to give Baker Mayfield a reliable blind-side blocker. Becton is a massive lineman with the agility to follow edge-rushers through the arc, and the kind of power that allows him to throw defenders around in ways that are almost cartoomish.
11. New York Jets: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Jets general manager Joe Douglas made a bunch of smaller moves in free agency to subtly improve one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Now, it’s time for the big splash. Wills has the ability to plug in right away as a pure demolisher in the run game, and has the nascent agility to be an asset in pass protection, as well.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Outside of tight end Darren Waller, the Raiders are short on impact receivers; it’s more situational guys like Hunter Renfrow, Tyrell Williams, and Zay Jones. More is required in Jon Gruden’s terminology-heavy West Coast-based offense, in which route precision is a must. Jeudy is not only the best and most nuanced route-runner in this class; he also has the breakaway and separation speed to make fools of college defenders most of the time. The Raiders would be happy to bet that Jeudy will do the same to NFL DBs.
13. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis Colts): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is the NFL’s best offensive play designer, which is how he created a top-tier passing attack last season without an alpha receiver. Yes, George Kittle is the game’s premier tight end and Deebo Samuel is a most impressive package player, but if Shanahan were able to add Lamb to his offense, Jimmy Garoppolo just might look as good as the 49ers seem to think he is. Lamb brings DeAndre Hopkins to mind with his quickness, toughness, and route understanding.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa
The hits just keep on coming! Now that Rob Gronkowski has reunited with Tom Brady in a Tampa Bay offense that also includes receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, not to mention tight ends O.J. Howard (for now) and red-zone weapon Cameron Brate, it’s time to improve that offensive line. Wirfs is the strongest offensive lineman in this class, which will be a boon to the Buccaneers’ underfunded run game. And the fact that he might be able to kick inside to guard as Ali Marpet’s bookend could be huge for Brady, whose Kryptonite has always been pressure up the middle.
15. Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
In limited action last season, rookie quarterback Drew Lock threw 11 passes of 20 or more air yards, completing just three for 96 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Part of that has to do with Lock’s combination of velocity and iffy accuracy; part of the negative equation was the fact that the Broncos didn’t have a real deep threat. If Denver is going to push in all its chips on Lock’s future as a deep passer, it would behoove John Elway and his staff to give Lock a guy who can torch enemy defenses downfield. There’s nobody better than Ruggs in this class when it comes to that — last season, Ruggs caught just four deep passes, but they went for 169 yards and three touchdowns. He has the potential to bring Tyreek Hill-level explosiveness to any passing game.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Atlanta Falcons): Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
With Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye both out the door as part of Jacksonville’s mysterious defense-destroying roster purge, it’s time to load up on cornerbacks. Fulton has occasional issues in coverage and leverage when he comes off the ball too high, but he also has outstanding recovery quickness and can be a force multiplier in zone coverage. He will allow the occasional big play, but he’ll prevent far more.