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| Wednesday, April 13, 2022 |
| Howdy, everyone, and welcome to Wednesday. We've only got a few more Wednesdays until the start of the 2022 NFL Draft, so fittingly, our newsletter is chock-full of draft-preview material. John Breech is taking the day off to buy extra Bengals gear for his draft-night CBS Sports HQ hits, so you've got me, Cody Benjamin, to deliver all the latest from around the NFL. |
| This is the Pick Six Newsletter. Now let's get to it. (And please, do yourself a favor and make sure you're signed up to receive this newsletter every day! You don't want to miss our daily offerings of everything you need to know around the NFL.) |
| We've got predictions for top-prospect landing spots, big Derek Carr news, debate over first-round QBs and much more: |
| Today's show: Best landing spots for top 2022 draft prospects |
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| Ryan Wilson and John Breech led Wednesday's "Pick Six NFL Podcast" to discuss ideal destinations for some of the top draft prospects in the 2022 class. Some highlights: |
| Wilson sees any of his top three tackles -- Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, Charles Cross -- as better fits for the Panthers at No. 6 than quarterback Kenny Pickett, who may or may not be an athletic upgrade on de facto starter Sam Darnold.Breech likes Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth as a logical target for the Patriots at No. 21, with New England in need of versatile long-term pieces for a secondary that lost J.C. Jackson in free agency. Purdue's George Karlaftis is a perfect fit for the Jaguars either early in the second round or via a trade back into the first, according to Wilson, giving Jacksonville a high-motor pass rusher. |
| Catch the entire episode (and subscribe for all kinds of daily NFL talk) right here. |
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| 2. Prisco's Better-Than Team: Top-20 underrated draft prospects |
| Every year, Pete Prisco identifies 20 draft prospects he likes more than NFL scouts do. Some of his past gems: QB Dak Prescott, WR Stefon Diggs, TE George Kittle, TE Travis Kelce and LB Lavonte David. This year, Oklahoma linebacker Brian Asamoah is the captain of his 2022 Better-Than Team, flashing similarities to David as a potentially dynamic off-ball starter. Here's a peek at some other names on his list: |
Nevada QB Carson Strong: When you watch his tape, his arm pops off the screen ... For a team in need, a third-round pick could end up paying big dividends if the knee holds up.Georgia RB James Cook: He isn't as good as his brother, Dalvin Cook of the Vikings, but he will be a productive NFL back.Baylor S Jalen Pitre: I think he is a lot like Tyrann Mathieu, who has become an All-Pro safety after playing corner in college.
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| 3. Raiders extend Derek Carr on new $120M deal |
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| Las Vegas has not been shy about spending money this offseason, and that remained the case Wednesday, with Carr agreeing to a new three-year, $121.5 million deal that'll keep him tied to the Raiders through 2025. Both sides expressed interest in sticking together for the long haul even after the introduction of a new regime, and now it's official. Carr will now enter 2022 as one of the top-10 highest-paid QBs in terms of average annual value over the remainder of his contract. |
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| 4. Trapasso mock: Jaguars go Walker at No. 1, Commanders take QB |
| Chris Trapasso dropped his latest 2022 projection, a three-round mock draft, and he's got a few surprises early on, including the Jaguars passing on Aidan Hutchinson at No. 1 and Washington spending a first-rounder on a signal-caller despite trading for Carson Wentz. Here's a look at the first 15 picks of his mock: |
| Jaguars: DL Travon Walker (Georgia)Lions: DE Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)Texans: OT Evan Neal (Alabama)Jets: S Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame)Giants: OT Ikem Ekwonu (North Carolina State)Panthers: QB Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh) Giants: CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (Cincinnati) Falcons: WR Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)Seahawks: QB Malik Willis (Liberty)Jets: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon)Commanders: QB Matt Corral (Ole Miss)Cardinals (projected trade): DE Jermaine Johnson II (Florida State)Texans: WR Jameson Williams (Alabama)Ravens: DT Jordan Davis (Georgia)Eagles: CB Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU) |
| 5. Which top QB prospect deserves to go first? |
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| Still struggling to get a handle on this year's QB class, which may offer as many as five first-round picks but doesn't have a consensus can't-miss target? Let our draft experts make the case for four of the top signal-callers, and why they should come off the board first when the draft begins: |
| Garrett Podell on Malik Willis: Elite tools -- namely a rocket arm and elite athleticism -- give him star potentialChris Trapasso on Kenny Pickett : What he lacks in "mega traits" he makes up for with experience and polished passingRyan Wilson on Matt Corral: Despite smaller size, he has both a strong, quick-firing arm and aggressive legsJosh Edwards on Desmond Ridder : Heralded leadership and athletic potential make him a high-upside project |
| 6. Rapid-fire roundup: Snyder under fire, XFL coaches, more |
| Hungry for more headlines? We've got 'em right here: |
| Congress says Daniel Snyder may have broken laws: The Commanders are still under fireXFL announces eight new head coaches: Wade Phillips and Jim Haslett are among the hires Dalvin Cook switching jersey numbers: The Vikings star is returning to his rootsPro Bowl pass rusher visiting Dolphins: Melvin Ingram is in Miami for a visit Rams in contact with Stephon Gilmore: The veteran corner is still unsignedCelebrity Steelers fan pushing for first-round QB: And he's got a specific QB in mind Russell Wilson bringing 'juice' to Denver: Veterans are hyping up the team's new QB |
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