I did a three round mock, to make sure each team got to make at least one pick. I’ll analyze team by team:

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Round 1, Pick #1: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

Round 2, Pick #33: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan

Round 3, Pick #65: Darian Kinnard, IOL, Kentucky

Round 3, Pick #70: Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma

Conventional wisdom has the Jaguars taking Aidan Hutchinson with the first overall pick, provided they don’t trade it to a QB hungry team. I disagree. New HC, Doug Pedersen is an offensive guy, he was hired to make Trevor Lawrence the generational talent everyone expects him to be. Neal & Kinnard would make Jacksonville’s OL formidable & potentially one of the better units in the NFL. Ojabo is a risk after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon, but he was quite possibly a top ten pick before that. Jacksonville is not in win now mode, they can afford to wait on Ojabo, who could be one of the biggest steals of the draft.

DETROIT LIONS

Round 1, Pick #2: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Round 1, Pick #32: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota

Round 2, Pick #34: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State

Round 3, Pick #66: David Bell, WR, Purdue

Round 3, Pick #97: Mykael Wright, CB, Oregon

Willis wowed at his pro day, and he has the highest ceiling of any QB in this class. Jared Goff is not the answer for the Lions, but I believe they found one. Early focus on their pass defense, well needed. Bell is a great value pick in the third and at a position of need for Detroit.

HOUSTON TEXANS

Round 1, Pick #3: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

Round 1, Pick #13: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

Round 2, Pick #37: Perrion Winfrey, IDL, Oklahoma

Round 3, Pick #68: Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis

Round 3, Pick #80: Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia

Texans have Hutchinson fall into their laps, and use one of the picks acquired in the Deshaun Watson trade for one of my favorite OTs in the draft. All their picks could make significant contributions to a team with needs everywhere,

NEW YORK JETS

Round 1, Pick #4: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Round 1, Pick #10: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

Round 2, Pick #35: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan

Round 2, Pick #38: Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State

Round 3, Pick #69: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State

Jets would absolutely hit a home run with this haul. Hamilton may be the best overall player in the draft. “Sauce” Gardner is the top CB. Getting a potential franchise LT in the third round is huge.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Round 1, Pick #5: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

Round 1, Pick #7: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

Round 2, Pick #36: Tyler Smith, IOL, Tulsa

Round 3, Pick #67: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Round 3, Pick #81: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

Great draft haul for the Giants, especially their two top ten selections, but Big Blue fans will focus on those third rounders. Giants need a back up plan at QB, Howell could make it easier to part ways with Daniel Jones. There has been chatter about the Giants shopping Saquon Barkley, Hall’s addition would make that chatter louder.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Round 1, Pick #6: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

Personally, I think it would be somewhat foolish to use their only pick in the first three rounds on a QB that probably won’t contribute much as a rookie. Panthers HC Matt Rhule may or may not be on the hot seat this season, but there is certainly an argument to be made that QB play has limited Carolina’s growth under his command.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Round 1, Pick #8: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Round 2, Pick #38: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

Round 2, Pick #58: Logan Hall, EDGE, Houston

Round 3, Pick #74: Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati

Round 3, Pick #82: Ed Ingram, IOL, LSU

The Falcons first two picks are influenced by Calvin Ridley’s suspension and the trade of franchise legend Matt Ryan.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Round 1, Pick #9: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

Round 2, Pick #40: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

Round 2, Pick #41: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

Round 3, Pick #72: Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina

Seahawks are a potential landing spot for Baker Mayfield, I think they’re the front runners, which may or may not preclude them from drafting Ridder. Cross could be an anchor on what’s been a consistently mediocre OL. Dean represents the replacement for Seattle legend Bobby Wagner.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Round 1, Pick #11: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

Round 2, Pick #47: Sean Rhyan, IOL, UCLA

Pairing Williams with Terry McLaurin would give new QB, Carson Wentz, the best set of receivers he’s ever had.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Round 1, Pick #12: Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU

Round 2, Pick #46: Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor

Round 3, Pick #77: Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia

The Vikings going defense on all three picks is a bit surprising, but their biggest needs are on that side of the ball.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Round 1, Pick #14: Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia

Round 2, Pick #35: Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA

Round 3, Pick #76: Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC

Round 3, Pick #100: Spencer Burford, IOL, UTSA

The Ravens continue the defensive make over they started last year.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Round 1, Pick #15: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Round 1, Pick #16: Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson

Round 1, Pick #19: Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College

Round 2, Pick #51: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia

Round 3, Pick #83: Jalen Torbert, WR, South Alabama

Eagles get slam dunks with their first four picks, and Torbert has the upside to make it five for five.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Round 1, Pick #17: Devonte Wyatt, IDL, Georgia

Round 3, Pick #79: Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina

Chargers gave up their second rounder to acquire Khalil Mack, so that needs to factor into the evaluation. Wyatt adds to an already upgraded D.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Round 1, Pick #18: Drake London, WR, USC

Round 2, Pick #49: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

Round 3, Pick #98: James Cook, RB, Georgia

Round 3, Pick #101: Damarri Mathis, S, Pittsburgh

Saints don’t draft a QB after publicly flirting with, but ultimately failing to land Deshaun Watson. That’s fine, Jameis Winston was good last season before his injury. Cook will help lighten the load on Alvin Kamara and soften the blow on his possible suspension.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Round 1, Pick #20: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

Round 2, Pick #52: Jamaree Salyer, IOL, Georgia

Round 3, Pick #84: Mario Goodrich, CB, Clemson

How quickly Pittsburgh moved to sign Mitchell Trubisky tells you all you need to know about how the Steelers view the QBs in this draft. They aren’t taking one. Johnson gives TJ Watt the running mate on the edge that he didn’t have last season.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Round 1, Pick #21: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

Round 2, Pick #54: Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

Round 3, Pick #85: Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State

Patriots draft a replacement for JC Jackson in McDuffie & keep the Belichick-Saban pipeline open with the Harris selection.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Round 1, Pick #22: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

Round 1, Pick #28: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Round 2, Pick #53: Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota

Round 2, Pick #59: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming

Round 3, Pick #92: Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State

Packers get their replacements for Za’Darius Smith & Davante Adams, respectively, in the first round. Their other three picks could also make significant contributions as rookies. Good haul, dammit.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Round 1, Pick #23: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

Round 2, Pick #55: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

Round 3, Pick #87: Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State

Cardinals land another dynamic weapon for Kyler Murray and a potential starting CB.

DALLAS COWBOYS

Round 1, Pick #24: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

Round 2, Pick #56: Travis Jones, IDL, UConn

Round 3, Pick #88: Alontae Taylor, CB, Tennessee

On the surface, there doesn’t appear to be much for Cowboys fans to get excited about, but this a solid haul.

BUFFALO BILLS

Round 1, Pick #25: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

Round 2, Pick #57: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State

Round 3, Pick #89: Marcus Jones, CB, Houston

Olave is too good for Buffalo to pass up, Walker gives them the bell cow RB the Bills have lacked. Opposing defensive coaches will have plenty of sleepless nights.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Round 1, Pick #26: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

Round 3, Pick #90: Cade Otton, TE, Washington

Lloyd seems like a Mike Vrabel type of player.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Round 1, Pick #27: Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M

Round 2, Pick #60: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M

Round 3, Pick #91: Phidarian Mathis, IDL, Alabama

The Bucs’ off season was made when the GOAT, Tom Brady un-retired. Green fills a need, while Spiller and Mathis inject youth into important areas.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Round 1, Pick #29: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

Round 1, Pick #30: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

Round 2, Pick #50: Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State

Round 2, Pick #62: John Metchie III, WR, Alabama

Round 3, Pick #94: JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska

Round 3, Pick #103: Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State

After trading away Tyreek Hill, it would be surprising if the Chiefs wait until their fourth pick to take a WR, and one coming off an ACL injury, but Metchie’s skill set comes as close to Hill’s unique talents as one can hope. Cine will replace the likely departed Tyrann Mathieu.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Round 1, Pick #31: Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa

Round 2, Pick #63: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State

Round 3, Pick #95: Josh Williams, CB, Fayetteville State

Bengals have already significantly upgraded their OL in free agency, but Linderbaum is too good to pass up.

CHICAGO BEARS

Round 2, Pick #39: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington

Round 2, Pick #48: George Pickens, WR, Georgia

Round 3, Pick #71: Cole Strange, IOL, Chattanooga

Without a first round pick, used to acquire Justin Fields last year, the Bears address their biggest needs with their first three picks. Albeit, not in the order most would expect. Gordon’s availability at #39 changes their priority.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Round 2, Pick #42: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

Round 3, Pick #73: Carson Strong, QB, Nevada

Colts, regrettably, sacrificed their first round pick in the ill-fated Carson Wentz acquisition. This team is built to win now, and new QB, Matt Ryan, gives them the best chance. Ryan’s age does mean Indy should consider a succession plan, hence the pick of Strong.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Round 2, Pick #44: DeMarvin Leal, IDL, Texas A&M

Round 3, Pick #78: Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma

Round 3, Pick #99: Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois

Browns traded their first rounder to land QB Deshaun Watson, consider that when judging their draft.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Round 2, Pick #61: Dylan Parham, IOL, Memphis

Round 3, Pick #93: Sam Williams, EDGE, Ole Miss

Round 3, Pick #105: Kyle Phillips, WR, UCLA

Niners gave up their first rounder to pick Trey Lance last year. San Fran nearly made the Super Bowl last season, and go best player available with their picks.

DENVER BRONCOS

Round 2, Pick #64: Josh Paschal, EDGE, Kentucky

Round 3, Pick #75: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin

Round 3, Pick #96: Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska

Broncos traded their first rounder to acquire Russell Wilson. Paschal fills the void left by Von Miller’s trade last season,

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Round 3, Pick #86: Zachary Carter, IDL, Florida

Raiders used their first and second round picks to acquire Davante Adams. Carter figures into their defensive line rotation.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Round 3, Pick #102: Tyreke Smith, EDGE, Ohio State

Miami’s first and second rounders went to KC for Tyreek Hill. They use their lone pick in the first three rounds to bolster their pass rush.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Round 3, Pick #104: Jesse Luketa, LB, Penn State

Rams just don’t care about early round picks, shipping them off for key pieces regularly. Hard to argue with a Super Bowl championship. Luketa was best player available.

Every time I start to write this another bomb goes off in the NFL. I’ve never seen an off-season like this.

Russell Wilson in Denver. Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. Davante Adams in Vegas. Matt Ryan in Indy. Khalil Mack in LA. And now, Tyreek Hill in Miami.

This is just scratching the surface. The NFL landscape looks completely different from 2 short months ago.

Here’s my first post free agency mock draft, it may only be relevant for a couple hours, if I even get it written up before another bomb drops.

1. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama- Not buying the hype about Hutchinson to Jacksonville. I think if the Jaguars stay here, they’ll solidify the O-Line despite already paying for Cam Robinson & Brandon Scherff.

2. DETROIT LIONS: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty- Didn’t have Detroit taking a QB here until Willis wowed at his pro day. Lions might get jumped for him, but if he’s here, they’ll take him.

3. HOUSTON TEXANS: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan- Texans have needs everywhere, taking the top rated player on the board is smart.

4. NEW YORK JETS: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame- Hamilton may be the best overall player in the draft.

5. NEW YORK GIANTS: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State- Giants could try to move up for Willis and move on from Daniel Jones. If not, fixing the offensive line is paramount.

6. CAROLINA PANTHERS: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State- Like the Giants, Panthers are in play for Willis, if they decide to move on from Sam Darnold. Solidifying the line is a good plan B.

7. NEW YORK GIANTS (from Chicago): Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon- Assuming they keep their 2 top ten picks, this is the prudent pick.

8. ATLANTA FALCONS: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State- Marcus Mariota is merely a bridge QB, Falcons are in play for Willis, but will settle for filling the huge void created by Calvin Ridley’s suspension.

9. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (from Denver): Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa- I think Seattle is the team most likely to make a move for Willis, if they fail they’ll go offensive line.

10. NEW YORK JETS (from Seattle): Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati- Jets went secondary with their first pick, but I love the fit of ‘Sauce’ in the Big Apple.

11. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama- Williams & Terry McLaurin would be the best receiver tandem Carson Wentz has ever had.

12. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU- Minnesota’s biggest needs are on defense, Vikings grab the best defensive player on the board.

13. HOUSTON TEXANS (from Cleveland): Drake London, WR, USC- Houston acquired this pick for Deshaun Watson, they’ll use it to get Davis Mills a weapon.

14. BALTIMORE RAVENS: Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia- Ravens continue to remake their D with the top IDL in the draft.

15. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (from Miami): Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia- Philly should be ecstatic if Walker is still on the board here.

16. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (from Indianapolis): Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson- Eagles go defense again, getting a corner to play opposite Darius Slay.

17. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Devonte Wyatt, IDL, Georgia- Chargers continue to beef up their D after acquiring Khalil Mack and JC Jackson.

18. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh- Saints tried hard to land Deshaun Watson before bringing back Jameis Winston. They obviously want an upgrade, and New Orleans has experience with quarterbacks with less than ideal physical dimensions.

19. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah- Would Philly actually use all three of their first rounders on defense? I love the fit of Lloyd on Gang Green, though.

20. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa- Steelers might have a plan B at QB beyond Mitchell Trubisky, but landing the best IOL in the draft is a great move.

21. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington- Patriots replace the departed JC Jackson.

22. GREEN BAY PACKERS (from Las Vegas): Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State- Packers replace Za’Darius Smith.

23. ARIZONA CARDINALS: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue- Cardinals replace the departed Chandler Jones.

24. DALLAS COWBOYS: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan- I feel like Hill is the kind of player Cowboys DC Dan Quinn loves.

25. BUFFALO BILLS: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida- Bills need another corner in the AFC arms race.

26. TENNESSEE TITANS: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia- Dean seems like a Mike Vrabel type of player.

27. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College- The GOAT, Tom Brady, un-retired, but his offensive line needs some revamping.

28. GREEN BAY PACKERS: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State- Packers have a huge void at WR after trading Davante Adams.

29. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (from Miami via San Francisco): Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State: Tyreek Hill is irreplaceable but Olave is a pretty good consolation prize.

30. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia- Chiefs draft a replacement for Tyrann Mathieu.

31. CINCINNATI BENGALS: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota- Bengals totally remade their offensive line in free agency, which allows them to bolster their pass rush.

32. DETROIT LIONS (from LA Rams): Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas- Lions landed their franchise QB earlier, now they give him another weapon.

The way this off-season is going, I’ll probably do another mock sooner than later. Thanks for reading.

I was doing one final mock draft before the start of free agency, after the Russell Wilson trade, and as I’m writing it up Washington acquires Carson Wentz, making me start all over.

First round mocks usually hinge on QBs, but this a rather underwhelming class. I only see six worthy of being picked in the first two rounds and none that would have gone ahead of any of the five first rounders from last year.

Of course, there’s no shortage of QB needy teams. Detroit, Carolina, Seattle, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Houston, Cleveland, Indianapolis and even Minnesota could be in the market.

Of those, I think Houston, Tampa Bay and Minnesota won’t make a big splash and draft a QB early, since they just did so last year. I don’t see Cleveland picking a QB in the first round with Baker Mayfield still under contract. I think Carolina rolls with Sam Darnold for one more season, while New Orleans will bring back Jameis Winston. Indianapolis, meanwhile, lacks a first round pick and will probably try to find a bridge QB in free agency.

I don’t envision any team falling in love with any QB enough to make a major move. Now, without further ado, my last pre-free agency mock draft:

1. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Evan Neal, OT, Alabama: Offensive tackle makes the most sense for the Jags.

2. DETROIT LIONS- Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan: WR is a bigger need, but home stater Hutchinson fills a need, too, and is better value.

3. HOUSTON TEXANS- Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon: Texans need help just about everywhere, Lovie Smith will start on defense.

4. NEW YORK JETS- Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame: Positional value aside, Hamilton may be the best player in the draft.

5. NEW YORK GIANTS- Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State: Giants have been trying to solve the tackle issue for years, have they?

6. CAROLINA PANTHERS- Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State: As I said in the intro, I think Carolina will roll with Darnold for another season. Protection for him becomes priority,

7. NEW YORK GIANTS- Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia: Giants use the pick acquired from Chicago to bolster the pass rush.

8. ATLANTA FALCONS- Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama: Calvin Ridley’s suspension creates a major need at WR.

9. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS- Malik Willis, QB, Liberty: Seattle has to go QB here, Willis has tremendous upside.

10. NEW YORK JETS- Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati: Jets address the defensive secondary with both first round picks. ‘Sauce’ is a dynamic shut down corner.

11. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS- Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU: Washington’s acquisition of Carson Wentz shouldn’t preclude them from drafting a QB, but it probably will in the first round. Stingley was a top 5 prospect not that long ago.

12. MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia: With Stingley off the board, Vikings go defensive line and land an absolute beast.

13. CLEVELAND BROWNS- Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State: Jarvis Landry will likely depart, Cleveland replaces him with an in state prospect.

14. BALTIMORE RAVENS- David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan: Pairing Ojabo with last year’s first rounder, Odafe Oweh, will make a fearsome pass rushing duo.

15. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State: Eagles use the first of their three first rounders to bolster their pass rush.

16. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington: Eagles second straight pick adds a CB opposite Darius Slay.

17. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS- Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa: Penning and last year’s first rounder, Rashawn Slater, gives Justin Herbert solid bookend protection.

18. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- Drake London, WR, USC: I do think New Orleans will bring back Winston at QB, upgrading his receivers becomes a priority.

19. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa: Eagles final first round pick lands them the best interior offensive lineman in the draft.

20. PITTSBURGH STEELERS- Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh: Steelers may address QB in free agency, if not I like hometown kid, Pickett, as Big Ben’s replacement.

21. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson: Pats are likely to lose JC Jackson in free agency, they draft his replacement.

22. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS- Devonte Wyatt, IDL, Georgia: Raiders go best player available and land a force on the defensive line.

23. ARIZONA CARDINALS- George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue: Cardinals draft possible replacement for Chandler Jones.

24. DALLAS COWBOYS- Perrion Winfrey, IDL, Oklahoma: Depending on what happens in free agency, Dallas could be in the WR market, for now they continue to build up their defense.

25. BUFFALO BILLS- Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas: Cole Beasley wants out, and Emmanuel Sanders is no spring chicken, Burks would give Josh Allen another dynamic weapon.

26. TENNESSEE TITANS- Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia: Tennessee is a sleeper team in the QB market. Totally wouldn’t surprise me if they snatch one here, but for now Mike Vrabel goes defense.

27. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS- Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College: Tampa’s interior offensive line is in flux, Johnson is quickly rising up draft boards.

28. GREEN BAY PACKERS- Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State: I really don’t think Olave falls this far, but Aaron Rodgers would be ecstatic.

29. MIAMI DOLPHINS- Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State: Dotson and last year’s first round pick, Jaylen Waddle, would give Tua some serious weapons on the outside.

30. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS- Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: KC takes the best defensive player on the board.

31. CINCINNATI BENGALS- Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M: Cincy needs to better protect Joe Burrow, Green is a start.

32. DETROIT LIONS- Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati: Lions use their second first rounder to nab their QB of the future, giving them an extra year of team control.

Free Agency starts next week, I’ll put out another mock draft after the dust settles.

It’s mock draft season, and I’m an addict. Along with periodic first round mocks, I’ll also do full seven round mocks for my Chicago Bears. When I do these Bears mocks, I’ll also do seven rounders for some other teams. I decided to go by division and start with the Bears’ own NFC North.

CHICAGO BEARS

Round Two, Pick #39- David Bell, WR, Purdue: This is a popular pick for the Bears, the computer simulations in the other three mocks I ran all landed Bell in Chicago, for good reason. Allen Robinson is likely moving on and Bell would be a nice replacement.

Round Three, Pick #71- Damone Clark, LB, LSU: I wanted to land a CB or OL here, but none were the right value. Bears are switching to a 4-3 defense and need linebackers. Clark is an great athlete with a high motor that fits new HC Matt Eberflus’ HITS philosophy.

Round Four, Pick #147- Dohnovan West, IOL, Arizona State: Bears’ offensive line needs work. West can play center or guard.

Round Four, Pick #149- Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri: Chicago needs a corner opposite Jaylon Johnson, I would have liked to nab one earlier, but the opportunity never presented itself. Evans is a bit raw, but with a lot of good traits.

Round Six, Pick #184- Dare Rosenthal, OT, Kentucky: Rosenthal is a raw but physically gifted tackle prospect that shouldn’t be expected to start right away, but could develop into a bookend tackle.

DETROIT LIONS

Round One, Pick #2- Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan: Lions have more pressing needs, but keeping Hutchinson in the state of Michigan is a smart and likely popular move.

Round One, Pick #32- Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State: Detroit’s receiving corps was one of the worst in the NFL last season. Olave will improve that.

Round Two, Pick #34- Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati: I thought about taking Ridder with the Lions pick at the end of the first round, to give them that extra year of team control, but ultimately I didn’t want to risk losing Olave. Ridder needs some NFL seasoning but the Lions have Jared Goff so there’s no need to rush him into the starting role.

Round Three, Pick #66- Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming: Lions need help at all three levels of their defense. Muma could be a very productive outside LB for them.

Round Three, Pick #97- Quay Walker, LB, Georgia: Doubling down on LBs in the third round for Detroit. Could do worse than grabbing one from the National Championship Georgia Bulldog’s defense.

Round Five, Pick #176- Thayer Munford, IOL, Ohio State: Munford could be a steal in round five. Lions need to bolster their offensive line.

Round Six, Pick #179- Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State: Lucas is more of a slot or nickel corner but is fine value in round six.

Round Six, Pick #217- Yusuf Corker, S, Kentucky: Corker should contribute immediately on special teams and could develop into a rotational piece on the back end of the Lions’ defense.

Round Seven, Pick #231- Isaiah Pola-Mao, S, USC: Very similar outlook to the safety Detroit picked 14 slots earlier.

Round Seven, Pick #239- Michael Woods II, WR, Oklahoma: Lions add another receiver with some upside.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Round One, Pick #28- Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia: I went best player available for Green Bay, and Davis fills a need.

Round Two, Pick #59- Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota: Packers need to bolster their offensive line and get younger and cheaper.

Round Three, Pick #92- Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State: At least one of Green Bay’s edge rushers is likely to be a cap casualty. Ebiketie can get after QBs.

Round Four, Pick #130- Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State: Smith is a gifted athlete from linebacker U, with time and patience can develop into a good one.

Round Four, Pick #139- Tyrese Robinson, IOL, Oklahoma: Packers getting younger and cheaper on the offensive line.

Round Five, Pick #170- Dominique Robinson, EDGE, Miami-Ohio: Green Bay can stand to get younger and cheaper on the edge too.

Round Seven, Pick #225- Leon O’Neal Jr, S, Texas A&M: O’Neal is a run stuffing, big hitting safety. A real thumper and a player I really like, getting him in the seventh round is a steal.

Round Seven, Pick #246- Tre Turner, WR, Virginia Tech: Aaron Rodgers would probably prefer Green Bay to take a WR earlier, but Turner has some upside.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Round One, Pick #12- Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson: Most of Minnesota’s most pressing issues are on the defensive side. Booth is the top corner and top defensive player on the board.

Round Two, Pick #46- Lewis Cine, S, Georgia: Could do worse than adding a big hitter from a stout Georgia defense.

Round Three, Pick #77- Josh Paschal, EDGE, Kentucky: Paschal is good third round value and should help Minnesota’s front seven on defense.

Round Five, Pick #155- Gerrit Prince, TE, UAB: Prince would give Kirk Cousins a reliable pass catching TE.

Round Six, Pick #182- D’Marco Jackson, LB, Appalachian State: Minnesota could use a run stuffing linebacker.

Round Six, Pick #190- Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada: WR isn’t a pressing need for the Vikings, but Doubs is good value in the sixth round.

Round Six, Pick #206- Juanyeh Thomas, S, Georgia Tech: Should be a core special teamer and hybrid LB/S.

Round Seven, Pick #229- James Empey, IOL, BYU: Vikings add offensive line depth.

Stay tuned for further mock drafts and, as always, thanks for reading.

The NFL season is over. The Rams are Super Bowl Champs and 31 other teams are focused on dethroning them.

Early mock drafts are tough, and somewhat futile. Predicting what any team may do in the draft before free agency is an exercise bound to end in frustration. This year is even tougher because there is no clear cut number one pick. The QB class is less than stellar, and no player currently stands out as the best in the class.

All that being said, I still do it because it’s fun and I share it with you because some may value my opinion. Without further ado, my first mock of 2022:

1. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama- Many directions the Jags and new HC Doug Pedersen could go here, but protecting franchise QB, Trevor Lawrence, with the best tackle in the class seems like the best move.

2. DETROIT LIONS: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan- QB & WR may be bigger needs, but none are worthy of the number two pick. Keeping Hutchinson in the state of Michigan would be a very popular and wise move.

3. HOUSTON TEXANS: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon- Texans are still a mess and will be until the Deshaun Watson situation is cleared up. New HC Lovie Smith is a defensive guy and Thibodeaux was the consensus number one guy not too long ago.

4. NEW YORK JETS: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State- Jets could use some pass catchers for Zach Wilson, but this is a little high for one, bolstering the franchise QB’s protection is the right play.

5. NEW YORK GIANTS: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State- Giants fans might prefer a QB here, but Daniel Jones will have at least one more year to prove himself. NY has tried to fix the offensive line for years, Cross is their latest attempt.

6. CAROLINA PANTHERS: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh- Panthers may regret passing on a QB last year. HC Matt Rhule starts the season on the hot seat and he can’t be comfortable with Sam Darnold. Pickett is the most accomplished of an underwhelming class.

7. NEW YORK GIANTS (via Chicago): David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan- Giants fans are not going to like this pick when it happens, but will grow to love it. Ojabo may end up being even better than his Michigan teammate Aidan Hutchinson.

8. ATLANTA FALCONS: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame- Falcons have questions at WR, and there’s always the question of when they’ll draft Matt Ryan’s successor, but defense has been Atlanta’s Achilles heel for years. Hamilton is the best defender on the board.

9. DENVER BRONCOS: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty- Another team that may regret passing on a QB last year. New HC Nathaniel Hackett will want his guy. Willis may have the most raw talent and upside of this class of QBs.

10. NEW YORK JETS (via Seattle): Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU- This could be a spot for the first WR off the board, but Jets take the top corner instead.

11. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati- Washington could go QB, but I get the sense they’re content on giving Heinecke another year and waiting on a better class next year. Shoring up the pass defense is a wise move.

12. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia- New Vikings HC, Kevin O’Connell is an offensive guy, but the Vikings issues are mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Davis is the best IDL in the draft.

13. CLEVELAND BROWNS: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas- Browns need to give Baker Mayfield some more weapons.

14. BALTIMORE RAVENS: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State- Ravens continue to bolster their pass rush.

15. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (via Miami): Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson- Eagles solidify the corner opposite Darius Slay.

16. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (via Indianapolis): Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M- Eagles established their identity as a running team last season, adding another mauler to the trenches makes sense.

17. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia- Pairing Walker with Joey Bosa will give opposing QBs nightmares.

18. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss- This pick hinges on Jameis Winston’s availability, but the Saints are in cap hell, so a cheaper option at QB might be the way to go.

19. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue- Eagles use their third first rounder on an Edge rusher many see as a top ten pick.

20. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa- Steelers are certainly in the QB market after Big Ben’s retirement, but the best center in the draft is too good to pass up.

21. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Lloyd just feels like a Belichick type defender.

22. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College- New HC Josh McDaniels may opt for a WR, but I think offensive line is the top priority.

23. ARIZONA CARDINALS: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington- Cardinals mantra for this draft should be defense, defense, defense.

24. DALLAS COWBOYS: Devante Wyatt, IDL, Georgia- Cowboys do need to consider re-tooling the offensive line, but adding a guy like Wyatt could help raise the Dallas D to elite levels.

25. BUFFALO BILLS: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn- Bills are on the cusp of title contention, bolstering the pass defense is the smart move.

26. TENNESSEE TITANS: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia- This just feels like a Mike Vrabel type of pick.

27. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama- Tom Brady retired, but I don’t feel like the Bucs will try to draft his replacement here. Instead, they’ll take a WR to replace the likely to depart Chris Godwin.

28. GREEN BAY PACKERS: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa- What the Packers do here depends on what happens with Aaron Rodgers. Assuming Rodgers stays in GB, and Davante Adams does too, pass protection seems like a good bet.

29. MIAMI DOLPHINS (via San Francisco): Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State – Pairing Wilson with last year’s first rounder Jaylen Waddle will give Tua some serious weapons.

30. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State- As if the Chiefs offense wasn’t scary enough, Olave may be the perfect running mate for Tyreek Hill.

31. CINCINNATI BENGALS: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan- Bengals offensive line is bad, but it got them close to a Super Bowl championship, Cincy opts for best player available instead.

32. DETROIT LIONS (via Los Angeles Rams): Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati- Lions use their second first rounder on a possible starting QB, giving them that fifth year of team control as he develops.

We’re down to two. If you had Cincinnati versus the LA Rams in your preseason picks, stop reading now, you obviously know more than I do.

This is shaping up to be a crazy offseason. Tom Brady retired. Ben Roethlisberger retired. Nine coaching vacancies. Uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers’ future, which has the domino effect on all of free agency as the top WR on the market, Davante Adams, is undoubtedly tied to Rodgers.

I’ll address all these possible moves in future writings, for now I’ll focus on the two teams whose offseasons have begun.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: On the one hand, this is still the Kansas City Chiefs and they still have Patrick Mahomes and it’s hard to pinpoint an exact reason for why they fell short, unlike last season where the offensive line was a point of focus.

On the other hand, the Chiefs and Mahomes never really felt the same this year. Sure, there were stretches where it looked like they were ascending back to the mountain top, but unlike years past, there were also a lot of moments where they didn’t come close to resembling the dominant unit of the past 3 years.

The AFC is loaded with young and coming teams, Cincinnati & Buffalo are on the cusp. Tennessee, Indianapolis, New England, Los Angeles, Baltimore and even Cleveland are a couple of tweaks away. Even the rest of the AFC, outside of Houston and Jacksonville, could be next year’s Bengals.

This is all to say, the road doesn’t get any easier for the Kansas City Chiefs. They’re still the big dog in the AFC, but they’ll be in a fight for that supremacy.

Defensive secondary and another WR should be top priorities for the Chiefs this offseason.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: The Niners had a great run in the post season, one that fell short because of their biggest weakness. Jimmy Garrapolo is a fine QB, but he’ll never carry a team over the hump. He won’t make the big play when his team absolutely needs it. Maybe, just maybe, San Francisco has that in Trey Lance, we’ll see.

The Niners have everything else, a great defense, strong running game, good pass catchers. If Lance’s learning curve was sufficiently flattened by his year of apprenticeship, San Francisco could very well find themselves in the Super Bowl next year, especially in a weakened NFC.

All eyes are on Trey Lance.

I went 1-1 on Championship Sunday, putting me at 8-4 for the playoffs. On paper, everything tells me to pick the Rams, but I’m officially on the Bengals train. I will not pick against Joe Burrow and company.

Super Bowl Pick: BENGALS 30 Rams 27

I’ll go a step further and make a bold MVP prediction, Evan McPherson will be the first kicker to raise the trophy after hitting a 50+ yard walk off.

Now that we’re two weeks into the Chicago Bears coaching search, and now that they’ve got a General Manager in place, the list has narrowed and so have my preferences.

As far as we know, there’s 3 finalists. I tend to believe there may be more that we haven’t heard about, at least I hope so.

Here’s my thoughts:

DAN QUINN- One of the three known finalists. Of the three, he’s my preference of the three. Two weeks ago, I wanted no part of Quinn, but I’ve warmed to him.

He got Atlanta to a Super Bowl in his second season, and should have won it if not for that epic meltdown. His run with the Falcons was never the same after that. There has to be hope that he learned from the mistakes made.

He did a phenomenal job with Dallas’ defense this year and it’s said he already has a killer staff lined up. Other than one other candidate, I am leaning toward a defensive minded head coach. One that won’t insist on calling offensive plays. One that will be more likely to focus on the big picture.

Right now, that guy is Quinn.

MATT EBERFLUS- Another of the known finalists. I know little of Eberflus, except he’s had really good defenses in Indianapolis.

I wouldn’t be completely opposed to hiring Eberflus, but it would all hinge on who he brings in to run the offense.

Based solely on the individual, I prefer Quinn to Eberflus because of experience as a head coach.

JIM CALDWELL- The third of the 3 known finalists, and the only one with an offensive background.

I like Caldwell, and I think he got railroaded by Detroit. I believe he would be a steady hand, and wouldn’t stubbornly stick to his offensive plans when they don’t work out. His ego won’t get in the way of progress.

However, I’m not wild about his age and the fact he’s been out of football for a few years. I don’t like the idea of Bill Polian pushing him on the Bears because of past relationships.

I don’t hate Caldwell, but I wouldn’t be terribly excited by his hiring. Feels like John Fox 2.0 to me.

BRIAN DABOLL- While he’s not one of the known finalists, Daboll is at the top of my wish list.

I stated earlier that I prefer a defensive minded head coach because they’re less likely to micromanage the offense, Daboll is the exception to that preference.

Watching Buffalo’s offense and the growth of Josh Allen makes me dreamy about what he could do for Justin Fields.

To be honest, Justin Fields is not Josh Allen. There is only one Josh Allen, but I remember Allen’s first two years. He was a good runner, with a live arm, that showed flashes but nobody, and I mean nobody saw his ascendance to superstardom in his third year. Fields has the same traits, he may never reach Allen’s heights, but Daboll may give him the best chance.

BRIAN FLORES- When Miami unexpectedly fired Flores, he immediately became my favorite. I’ve cooled on him significantly, but I still wouldn’t be adverse to his hiring.

I think Flores is a good head coach, he turned Miami into a playoff contender and they were miles further away than Chicago is now.

There are two strikes against him, in my opinion. One is the inconsistencies of his offensive staff, in three years Miami’s offense always seemed to be in flux. The second, and most damning, is his reported handling of Tua Tagovailoa.

His lack of confidence in Tua may have been justified, but it’s concerning that he would belittle and undermine the young franchise QB because he wasn’t his choice. It gives me pause to wonder how he would handle Justin Fields and his development.

BYRON LEFTWICH- Not one of the reported finalists, and I’ve been lukewarm on his candidacy. It’s fair to wonder how much of his success as an OC is due to having Tom Brady and stellar core of weapons at his disposal. How well can he build an offense from scratch?

Leftwich impressed me in a losing effort against the Rams. Down 27-3, he never panicked, he kept a steady hand the wheel and Tampa nearly pulled off the miracle come back.

Leftwich is reportedly at the top of Jacksonville’s list.

TODD BOWLES- Number one on my list two weeks ago, I’ve cooled significantly on Bowles.

Bowles did the opposite of Leftwich against the Rams, meaning he did not impress me. To be fair, the Bucs defense had a big hand in the comeback, but it’s that Cooper Kupp play that sticks out.

I understand that there was a miscommunication on the defensive call, but that’s simply inexcusable in that situation. Under no circumstances should they have been single covering Kupp in that situation.

Bowles is rumored to be high on the Vikings list.

Here’s my current predictions for the 9 open head coaching jobs:

BEARS: Dan Quinn

BRONCOS: Nathaniel Hackett

DOLPHINS: Brian Daboll

GIANTS: Brian Flores

JAGUARS: Byron Leftwich

RAIDERS: Rich Bisaccia

SAINTS: Dennis Allen

TEXANS: Absolutely clueless on this one, if they’re smart… Demeco Ryans

VIKINGS: Todd Bowles

Four more teams had their seasons end this weekend, so I’ll take a look at each and what to expect moving forward.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: The Packers seemed to have the clearest path to the Super Bowl. Every game would have to be played in frigid Lambeau Field and Aaron Rodgers was playing at an MVP level and seemed intent on thumbing his nose at all the detractors and the media.

Then they laid an egg in the postseason once again. The special teams were as bad as we’ve ever witnessed, but the vaunted offense was pretty pathetic too. Rodgers looked nothing like an MVP. Only the defense showed up, but when it mattered they couldn’t stop the run, giving up a first down on third and seven, which effectively won the game for San Francisco.

Where do the Packers go from here? First, the obvious, they’ll have a new special teams coordinator next season.

Then there’s the Aaron Rodgers situation. Will he return? Will he force a trade? Will he retire? One thing is for certain, the drama won’t last the entire off season this year.

Maybe even more concerning is the salary cap situation. Green Bay is way, way over the cap for next year and Davante Adams is a free agent. I think the Adams situation and the Rodgers situation are closely linked. Neither will return without the other, can the Packers front office get it done?

TENNESSEE TITANS: I really like how the Titans are built. They’re an old school, smash mouth football team. Play great defense, run the football. They had a QB that didn’t make mistakes, key word is had. Ryan Tannehill was quite simply awful against Cincinnati, no other way to put it. Tennessee lost because of his mistakes.

The Titans have a championship caliber roster, only some minor tweaks needed, except for QB. There’s not much they can do, they could explore a trade for an Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. Maybe sign a younger QB with a little upside, Mitch Trubisky, perhaps? Jameis Winston?

Tennessee should be the favorite to win the AFC South next season, but can they make the next step with Tannehill as the QB?

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Was this Brady’s last dance? I doubt it, but you never know. Tampa Bay was decimated by key injuries and other issues (Antonio Brown), yet they still nearly pulled off a miracle.

Brady is ageless. He doesn’t appear to have lost a thing, I don’t see a reason for him to call it quits now. The question is, can they build around him? Chris Godwin is coming off an ACL injury and is a free agent. The secondary was an issue all season and the offensive line was shaky against the Rams.

The Bucs are also likely to lose at least one of their coordinators.

If Brady returns, just some minor tweaks are needed, if not, full rebuild mode.

BUFFALO BILLS: As I’m writing this I’m still catching my breath from that epic clash with the Chiefs. I feel crushed for the Bills and their fans. Josh Allen was everything he was supposed to be, and Patrick Mahomes denied him, again.

It will take awhile to get over this loss, but Buffalo can be secure in a bright future. Allen is a superstar. They’re always going to have a chance if he’s on the field.

They’ll lose OC Brian Daboll, for sure, maybe even DC Leslie Frazier. They need some upgrades along the O-Line, and on defense to try to slow down the Chiefs, but this is a team on the verge of greatness.

After going 6-0 in Wildcard weekend, I fell back to earth in the Divisional Round, going 1-3. Oddly, my only win was the biggest upset of the weekend, San Francisco over Green Bay.

All my Super Bowl picks are now eliminated, so I get to start fresh.

CINCINNATI @ KANSAS CITY

I love the Bengals story, and the Burrow/Chase connection is fun to watch, but NINE SACKS! They’re extremely lucky to be here, and we’re talking Patrick Mahomes and the juggernaut Chiefs.

I wasn’t picking Cincy in this one, even if Buffalo had one. No way. Great story, but they’re just not ready yet.

CHIEFS 38 Bengals 20

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS @ LOS ANGELES RAMS

I want, with all my heart, to pick the Niners. I love George Kittle. I love Robbie Gould. I even love Jimmy Garrapolo, but sheesh, he was pretty bad for most of Saturday night.

I had questions about Matthew Stafford and his ability to make plays when it mattered. He answered those against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. LA nearly gave it away by continually shooting themselves in the foot, but in the end Stafford, and Cooper Kupp, made the play.

Niners have owned the Rams. Kyle Shanahan has had McVay’s number, but I really think LA gets over that hump this time.

RAMS 24 49ers 16

Now that Wild Card Weekend is over and six more teams have seen their seasons end, I’ll assess those teams and where they go from here.

ARIZONA CARDINALS- The Cardinals are Kyler Murray. When he’s one hundred percent healthy and he has his full complement of weapons, the Arizona offense is virtually unstoppable. The problem is, Murray doesn’t seem to be able to stay completely healthy.

It’s a combination of factors, including his style of play and his smaller stature, but we’ve seen over the last 2 seasons, when Kyler isn’t fully healthy he just doesn’t have the magic.

The Cardinals do need to upgrade the offensive line, maybe that would help keep Murray from taking so many dangerous risks with his body? Another go to WR wouldn’t hurt either.

Upgrades at every level of the defense are also in order.

DALLAS COWBOYS- A promising season goes down in flames, once again.

The biggest problem in Dallas, besides Jerry Jones’ ego, is head coach Mike McCarthy. I’ve been critical of McCarthy for years, I feel he’s been the most overrated coach in the NFL for years. He made, and won, one Super Bowl in all his years in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers.

Yes, he was at the helm of a good turnaround this year, but that was mainly due to the healthy return of Dak Prescott and Dan Quinn improving the defense.

Almost all of Dallas’ losses this season had a head scratching coaching decision and the loss to SF was no different. Calling a QB draw with 14 seconds on the clock and no timeouts is baffling. Kicking a 51 yard field goal, which is no guarantee, instead of going for it on a manageable fourth down while down 16 in the fourth quarter, was also questionable.

The Cowboys were in a position to possibly take a Hail Mary shot not because of McCarthy’s coaching but because of Kyle Shanahan’s penchant for getting overly conservative with a sizable lead.

Bottom line, Jones should strongly consider moving on from McCarthy but he probably won’t. It could cost him one or both of his coordinators, who have more to do with Dallas’ success than the HC.

The Cowboys actually have a pretty sound team that should be a contender next season. Ezekiel Elliot is probably washed up and they should focus their running game more on Tony Pollard. The offensive line is aging and could stand an injection of youth. The defense was much improved but could always use some more pieces.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS- The Raiders have already relieved their GM of his duties and all signs point to a coaching change. That would be a shame. Rich Bisaccia did a magnificent job navigating a sea of adversity to get the Raiders to the playoffs, he deserves a full season at the helm.

I think we can finally put to bed the whispers of whether Vegas will move on from QB Derek Carr. The guy is a winner and just needs more help.

I expect LV to be players for high profile WRs, O-Lineman and defense in free agency.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- I’ve never witnessed a Bill Belichick defense get as thoroughly dominated as it was by Buffalo. You can believe that will be addressed in the off-season.

It was a pretty remarkable run for the Patriots this season. Mac Jones had his growing pains down the stretch, but NE has found their next franchise QB.

The Patriots were uncharacteristically major spenders in free agency last year, I expect them to revert to form this year and merely nibble at the edges, shopping for hidden gems.

A true number one WR wouldn’t be out of the question. Nor would a tinkering of the defense to counteract Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Philly had to be feeling pretty good about their season heading into their Wildcard game, then they played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now, they have to question whether Jalen Hurts is the future at QB. They can seriously consider moving on because they’re equipped with THREE first round draft picks. They can leverage those picks to upgrade at QB, either by moving up in the draft, though the QB class is rather underwhelming, or perhaps by prying a disgruntled veteran away from his current team.

Obviously, it would be ideal if Hurts could be the Eagles franchise QB and they could use those picks to add talent to other areas of the team. Hurts’ performance against Tampa, however, opens the door for questions.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS- While not yet official, it sure seems like Ben Roethlisberger has taken his last NFL snap. That leaves Pittsburgh with a huge void to fill.

The Steelers have Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins under contract, but neither inspires much confidence. This QB draft class is quite underwhelming, and it’s doubtful that any clear upgrades on Rudolph/Haskins will be available on the free agent market.

Elsewhere, Pittsburgh could still use upgrades along the offensive line and on defense. They’re also likely to lose WR Juju Smith-Schuster in free agency.

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem poised for a rebuilding year, for the first time in two decades.

I went 6-0 with my Wild Card weekend picks, which leaves me in a bit of a quandary for the Divisional Round. Buffalo-Kansas City is an absolute toss up for me, and even though it’s in KC, I was incredibly impressed with Josh Allen and the Bills offense.

In the NFC, SF is one of those teams capable of going into Lambeau and winning, but I don’t wholly trust Kyle Shanahan to win a big game. I seriously reconsidered my Super Bowl pick because of how impressive the Rams looked, but I absolutely do not trust Matthew Stafford in a big game.

Thus, my picks for the Divisional Round Playoffs:

TITANS 24 Bengals 17

49ERS 27 Packers 24

BUCCANEERS 24 Rams 17

BILLS 38 Chiefs 31

With the regular season over, I thought I’d take a quick look at the teams that didn’t make the playoffs, where I think they are, what I think they need to do, in some cases who they should target.

I’ll go division by division starting with the AFC East:

MIAMI DOLPHINS- Totally surprised by the firing of Brian Flores as head coach. Apparently he lost a power struggle with the GM, in my opinion Dolphins ownership made the wrong call.

I’m wondering whether the rift had anything to do with their pursuit of Deshaun Watson? I think it would be a mistake to trade for Watson and all his baggage, especially since Tua showed some impressive growth down the stretch.

The roster is decent, capable of being a playoff team next year with a few tweaks. I like Miami to target one of the higher end RBs in free agency, as well as a second tier WR.

Top Free Agent Target: James Conner, RB

NEW YORK JETS- Rough first year for head coach Robert Saleh and QB Zach Wilson, but I think the Jets are on the right track.

They need to be patient and not do the totally Jets thing of overpaying in free agency for what are essentially luxury items for a rebuilding team.

Allen Robinson would be a reasonably priced WR that would help Wilson’s development, unless, of course, he’d prefer a more immediate contender.

BALTIMORE RAVENS- If John Harbaugh wasn’t the safest head coach south of New England, he might be on the hot seat for his decision to go for 2 instead of a tie against both Pittsburgh and Green Bay, both games they ultimately lost which ultimately cost them a playoff berth. Personally, I loved the move, especially against Pittsburgh, but a coach is always second guessed when a risk fails.

Honestly, this season might have been one of Harbaugh’s best coaching jobs. The Ravens lost their top 2 RBs before the season even started, and also Marcus Peters. Lamar Jackson missed the last month plus and Baltimore still came within a whisper of the playoffs.

As long as at least one of the RBs are ready to go for the start of next season, I don’t think Baltimore needs to make any major moves.

Top Free Agent Target: Akiem Hicks, DL

CLEVELAND BROWNS- The Browns were this season’s biggest disappointment, for me anyway, since I picked them to make the Super Bowl.

They need to make a decision on an extension for Baker Mayfield. I wouldn’t pay him franchise QB money, which is what it would take to retain him. I don’t think he’s worth it, but he’s a starting caliber QB and that’s the price of doing business in the NFL. Cleveland would be better served in the long run by letting him walk, kicking the tires on possible trades and keeping a sharp eye on the college ranks.

For next season, I like the Browns to target a top tier WR, Davante Adams might not be available, Chris Godwin is coming off an ACL tear and likely will miss half the season, but Allen Robinson would be a nice fit too.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS- The Colts are a very good team with a very big problem. Carson Wentz is a bottom tier starter, at best.

This is a playoff team with a better QB, a Super Bowl contender with the right one. Can they find one?

Top Free Agent Target: Mike Williams, WR

HOUSTON TEXANS- The 2021 season started as a dumpster fire in Houston, it ended as something not quite that bad. The Deshaun Watson situation is still a mess and needs to be resolved one way or another. They need to figure out if Davis Mills is the future and if so, give him the reins.

This is maybe the least talented roster in the NFL. They should only be bargain shopping in free agency and stockpiling younger players and draft picks. The playoffs are still out of the question next season.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- The Jags were a clown show most of the season, but a lot of that relates to Urban Meyer. He’s gone, but Jacksonville needs to get this right this time. I like Doug Pedersen or Brian Daboll. Both have a track record of helping a young QB grow.

The Jaguars should be all about Trevor Lawrence and giving him everything he needs to succeed. They have cap space, so a couple splash moves in free agency isn’t out of the question.

Top Free Agent Target: Re-signing Cam Robinson, OT

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS- LA challenges Cleveland for most disappointing, at least LA had a shot at the playoffs in Week 18. I’m scratching my head trying to figure out how they even found themselves in that position.

In my view, the Chargers have everything needed to be a contender, what went wrong I have no idea.

Top Free Agent Target: Nate Solder, OT

DENVER BRONCOS- Broncos are in a similar situation as Indianapolis, a roster close to contention, held back by subpar QB play.

First things first, though, they have to find a new coach. Denver has always had different parameters for a head coach than most teams, so it’s difficult to predict where they might turn. I like the idea of Nathaniel Hackett if they want to try to pry Aaron Rodgers out of Green Bay.

I could see them bringing back Von Miller in free agency, especially if they’re able to land Rodgers.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM- Well, I guess they’ll have a new name come February. Beyond that, not sure what they’ll do.

They could use help everywhere, but they don’t have any gaping holes. A QB upgrade would be nice, but I’m not sure it’s available on the open market. I see them being minor players in free agency, picking up bits and pieces at discount prices.

Top Free Agent Target: Re-signing Brandon Scherff, OT

NEW YORK GIANTS- The Giants cleaned house with the firing of Joe Judge and Dave Gettleman’s retirement. They also need to make a decision on QB Daniel Jones.

I have an interesting idea for NY, bringing in Brian Daboll as head coach and signing Mitchell Trubisky to compete with Jones. Daboll worked with Trubisky this year, he knows his offense and he’d not only push Jones, but likely supplant him as starter.

Added bonus, after four years in Chicago, Trubisky knows how to handle a hostile press and fan base.

CHICAGO BEARS- Da’ Bears also cleaned house in the front office and head coach. They need a GM in place before making a final decision on coach.

Chicago has some attractiveness with Justin Fields in place as QB. As a fan, I really like the idea of Brian Flores or Todd Bowles as head coach.

Top Free Agent Target: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR

DETROIT LIONS- The Lions flirted with being the first 0-17 team in NFL history, they ultimately showed some fight and improvement under first year coach Dan Campbell.

Outside Houston, Detroit has one of the least talented rosters in the NFL. Jared Goff is no franchise QB, but they may be able to remedy that in the draft.

I normally mock lesser teams for making a big splash in free agency, but I think Detroit is one team that can afford to pay Chris Godwin and have him miss half the season recovering from his torn ACL.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- Sean Payton did one of his better coaching jobs this season, having to use 4 starting QBs, not having Michael Thomas all season and Alvin Kamara missing some time.

The defense is top notch, they have pieces on offense, they need to decide if Jameis Winston will recover fully from his torn ACL for next season. If so, they can do worse than bringing him back.

Top Free Agent Target: Re-signing Terron Armstead, if possible.

ATLANTA FALCONS- The Falcons are a team in limbo, not quite good enough to contend, not bad enough to tear it down and rebuild.

They’re bringing back Matt Ryan at QB, he’s a better than average option at this point in his career. The biggest question mark is the status of Calvin Ridley. Should he return and return to form, Ryan should have sufficient weapons to work with.

The defensive side of the ball should still be Atlanta’s focus.

Top Free Agent Target: Haason Reddick, EDGE

CAROLINA PANTHERS- 2022 will be a make or break season for head coach Matt Rhule. I don’t think he’s a bad coach, but his offense has underwhelmed. The fragility of Christian McCaffery hasn’t helped. Nor has subpar QB play. They gave up assets for Sam Darnold so they might be stuck with him for next season.

In desperation, I can see Carolina overpaying for a WR like Zay Jones.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS- As of now, Pete Carroll is still head coach and Russell Wilson is still their QB, I don’t see this lasting into next season.

Seattle is about to embark on a rebuild, with or without both Carroll and Wilson. As the oldest coach in the league, does Carroll have it in him? Does Russ have the patience to waste his prime on a rebuild?

The defense could use some work, but most importantly they need to better protect Wilson.

Top Free Agent Target: Terron Armstead, OT

Now, for my playoff predictions. I picked Cleveland to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, that’s obviously out. Until beaten, the AFC still runs through Kansas City, but I like Tennessee to rise up with the return of Derrick Henry.

In the NFC, I picked Tampa Bay, I’ll stick with that only because Brady is the only QB I trust to win in Green Bay and I cannot pick the Packers.

I’ll pick Tampa Bay to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

As for this weekend’s Wild Card games:

BENGALS 31 RAIDERS 27

BILLS 19 PATRIOTS 14

BUCCANEERS 27 EAGLES 17

49ERS 24 COWBOYS 20

CHIEFS 42 STEELERS 17

RAMS 38 CARDINALS 35