NFL mock draft season has already begun (if you haven’t seen it yet, check out our latest mock from Christian D’Andrea).
And that means the ESPN crew will start rolling out its mocks. We got our first from Todd McShay on Tuesday, and there’s not a huge surprise at the top with the Houston Texans taking Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the top pick.
But as for some of the other top QBs? He has the Detroit Lions taking C.J. Stroud out of Ohio State, which is great news for fans out there … and then the Atlanta Falcons could take Kentucky’s Will Levis despite the fact that they took Desmond Ridder in the third round last year.
Here’s his take on the Lions’ pick:
Everything fell perfectly for the Lions here, allowing them to draft their signal-caller of the future without moving up. Stroud has thrown 37 touchdown passes this season — and still has as many as two games left — and is third in the nation in QBR (87.7). Jared Goff has played well under center of late, but he’s not the long-term answer. Stroud — who makes good decisions with the football, displays great touch and has a big arm — could learn behind Goff for a season before Detroit moves on and builds around a talented passer on a rookie deal. Detroit has a top-five offense right now (26.2 points per game), and a very good supporting cast is already in place.
And on Levis to Atlanta:
The Falcons are yet another team that needs an upgrade at QB. Marcus Mariota flashed this season but ultimately hasn’t been a solution, and we’ll see what they get out of Desmond Ridder, who is set to start in Week 15. I’m envisioning Levis — who probably has the strongest arm in this class — driving the ball on a rope to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, or using his mobility and sturdy 232-pound frame to extend plays and contribute to Atlanta’s strong run game. Levis still needs some developing, especially when it comes to decision-making, but the traits are outstanding.
With the rest of the NFC South all scrambling for answers under center after this season, Atlanta could be primed to emerge from the pack once Levis settles into the pro game and cleans up his mistakes.
