NFL Mock Draft: Jets, Steelers & Bills trade up

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson -- Edge Rusher, Michigan
2. Detroit Lions: Travon Walker -- Edge Rusher, Georgia
3. Houston Texans: Kayvon Thibodeaux -- Edge Rusher, Oregon
4. New York Jets: Ikem Ekwonu -- Offensive Tackle, N.C. State
5. New York Giants: Evan Neal -- Offensive Tackle, Alabama

Eight years after the Texans used the No. 1 overall pick on edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, they manage to land a similar talent who has already compared himself to one of the best defensive players in the franchise's brief history. Thibodeaux -- who recorded 19 sacks and 35 1/2 tackles for a loss during three seasons at Oregon -- called himself "Jadeveon Clowney 2.0" during his media session at the NFL Combine.

6. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett -- Quarterback, Pitt
7. New York Jets (trade up with New York Giants): Sauce Gardner -- Cornerback, Cincinnati
8. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Hamilton -- Safety, Notre Dame
9. Seattle Seahawks: Jermaine Johnson -- Edge Rusher, Florida State
10. New York Giants (trade down with New York Jets): Garrett Wilson -- Wide Receiver, Ohio State

While the Giants probably wouldn't mind taking the draft's top cornerback at No. 7, their focus should be on giving Daniel Jones whatever he needs to succeed, and setting up his potential successor if things don't work out in the final year of his rookie contract. At No. 5, the Giants select Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal, a monster talent capable of improving any offensive line he joins. Here, the Giants trade down with the Jets -- who are said to have interest in cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner -- and still land arguably the top receiver in this year's class. NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah has Wilson ranked as his No. 5 overall prospect, comparing him to former All-Pro Stefon Diggs.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (trade up with Washington Commanders): Malik Willis -- Quarterback, Liberty
12. Minnesota Vikings: Derek Stingley -- Cornerback, LSU
13. Houston Texans: Charles Cross -- Offensive Tackle, Mississippi State
14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis -- Defensive Tackle, Georgia
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Drake London -- Wide Receiver, USC

While Mitchell Trubisky might be a nice bridge option, the Steelers run the risk of being left in the dust both in their own division and the AFC as a whole if they don't find a quarterback with a high ceiling. Just within their own division, they'll now face Deshaun Watson, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson twice a year. If the Steelers hope to win their seventh Super Bowl at any point in the next decade, they need to develop a quarterback that can go blow-for-blow with some of the very best the sport has ever seen. Willis is not certain to be that guy, but he is believed to have the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this year's class. Last month, a report surfaced the Steelers were "smitten" with Willis. Even after trading up, Willis might still benefit from sitting behind Trubisky for at least part of 2022.

16. Buffalo Bills (trade up with Philadelphia Eagles): Jameson Williams -- Wide Receiver, Alabama
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Devin Lloyd -- Linebacker, Utah
18. New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave -- Wide Receiver, Ohio State
19. Green Bay Packers (trade up with Philadelphia Eagles): Treylon Burks -- Wide Receiver, Arkansas
20. Washington Commanders (trade down with Pittsburgh Steelers): Kenyon Green -- Guard, Texas A&M

The Eagles have three first-round picks, but without being certain if Jalen Hurts is their long-term answer at quarterback, it would behoove Howie Roseman to keep the cupboard stocked for the next few years in case they decide to trade for an established star at that position.

Enter, the Bills and Packers.

While his status for Week 1 is unclear after tearing his ACL in the National Championship, Jameson Williams totaled 79 catches for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns in his junior year at Alabama. The prospect of adding Williams to a loaded Bills receiving corps featuring Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis and Jamison Crowder makes this a risk worth taking.

The Packers, meanwhile, have two first-round picks at their disposal after trading All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this month. There's a case to be made for using both picks on wide receivers, especially when you consider their top two pass-catchers right now are Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. The Draft Network compares Treylon Burks to former Chicago Bears and Eagles star Alshon Jeffrey, which is a good place for the Packers to start in rebuilding their receiving corps.

21. New England Patriots: Andrew Booth Jr. -- Cornerback, Clemson
22. Seattle Seahawks (trade back into first round round, Philadelphia Eagles trade out): Nakobe Dean -- Linebacker, Georgia
23. Arizona Cardinals: Skyy Moore -- Wide Receiver, Western Michigan
24. Dallas Cowboys: Trevor Penning -- Offensive Tackle, Northern Iowa
25. Philadelphia Eagles (trade down with Buffalo Bills): Tyler Linderbaum -- Center, Iowa
26. Tennessee Titans: David Bell -- Wide Receiver, Purdue

All-Pro center Jason Kelce is returning for his 12th season in 2022, but he turns 35 in November and has weighed retirement the past few offseasons. Eventually, he's going to walk away, and the Eagles don't want to be left empty-handed.

While you typically want your first-rounders to see the field immediately, the Eagles have enough picks -- and also aren't likely to compete for a Super Bowl in 2022 -- to take a flyer on Tyler Linderbaum, who may end up having a redshirt rookie season. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Linderbaum ranked as his No. 11 overall player and calls him "one of the best center prospects in recent memory."