Free Agency Mock, Version 4.0

Mendoza will be happy that his first NFL center will be Tyler Linderbaum.

Though the Jets have made several free agent signings on defense, Reese still makes sense for this pick.

Arizona can go for its top-rated OL or its top-rated defender here. I'll slot Fano in, who would likely be asked to start out at RT.

I noted on my last mock that there have been rumblings of Love landing with the Titans. Well, after several moves in free agency addressed to the defense, including a big signing of John Franklin-Myers, perhaps the team wants to give a jolt to its offense in the form of Love after all. However, picking Bain would complete the DL with Jermaine Johnson as a fellow edge player, with Jeffery Simmons and JFM as a powerful inside duo. I will opt for Bain over Love.

Do the Giants take Styles after signing Tremaine Edmunds in free agency? I suppose it does make it slightly less likely, and I will say that I now think that this is Love's floor. (The Saints signing Travis Etienne in free agency tells us that they didn't think Love was going to be available at #8.) The G-Men obviously didn't get Linderbaum, but they did re-sign Jermaine Eleumanor, their RT. I think John Harbaugh will want to run the ball more often than the Brian Daboll offense did, and with Cam Skattebo coming off a fairly serious injury and with durability question marks as it is even before that happened, maybe they see Love and Skattebo as a thunder-and-lightning duo. To be clear, I think it's an overdraft for sure, but we're predicting picks, after all.

I'll stick with Freeling in this spot, as the new LT for this team.

Styles and Downs, the two Buckeyes, could make the most sense for this pick, and I will guess that Styles gets the edge.

The Saints have shored up the OL with the signing of guard David Edwards. They've signed Etienne, which was a clear indication that they didn't believe that Love would be available with this pick. A WR makes obvious sense because there's almost nothing behind Chris Olave. Bailey or Bain could make sense, as Cam Jordan is a free agent. A CB would make sense too, as Alontae Taylor signed with the Titans. It's a difficult call, but another Buckeye WR to join Olave is the pick.

Any thought of Love lasting to this pick were put to rest when the Saints signed Travis Etienne; the Chiefs plucked Kenneth Walker to fill the RB need as well. The team has lost its top 2 CB's (both to the Rams, ironically) as well as safety Bryan Cook in free agency. So this could be a spot for Downs (if available) or Delane for sure. We know about the WR need, but I have a suspicion that a Tyreek Hill reunion could be on the horizon. Given the secondary need and given Downs' motor (a bit thing for Brett Veach), he makes sense here.

Boye Mafe essentially replaces Trey Hendrickson in free agency, and it was at a reasonable cost. Bryan Cook has helped the secondary at one safety spot. How about Delane to add to the CB room?

This is a new Packers-Miami regime, and the Packers are RAS drafters. Well, Sadiq is a freak, and Tampa Bay re-signing Cade Otton suggests to me that the Bucs didn't think that Sadiq would be available at #15.

Bailey has fallen into Dallas' laps here. Along with the trade for Rashan Gary, this is an infusion of young edge talent.

The Rams have taken care of the CB need in a big way, trading for Trent McDuffie and signing his former KC teammate Jaylen Watson. With the way this mock has fallen, the team has its pick of a WR (likely Lemon or Tyson) or Kenyon Sadiq. I think the WR preference may be Tyson, who profiles as the best candidate to be an alpha #1 X type on the outside. And I think that's what the Rams are looking for, long term, to pair with Puka Nacua. He reminds me of Tet McMillan a bit.

This would seem like a spot to add to Mendoza's iOL protection. With Mauigoa available, it's a no-brainer. Heck, if he's gone, Ioane makes a lot of sense.

The pass rush need has become obvious, so Faulk, a riser, is slotted here.

With the Jets' splurge on defenders in free agency, there's still a clear need for CB talent. If McCoy looks all the way back from his injuries at his Pro Day, there's certainly a chance that he could go higher than this.