New England adds a stud pass-rusher for an already impressive defense
29. New England Patriots: Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
The New England Patriots went from an afterthought to a team that may challenge for the No. 1 seed in the entire AFC. They’re currently on a six-game winning streak as they await their first of two matches with Buffalo — who is just a half-game behind them.
Rookie quarterback Mac Jones has been one of the biggest reasons for their turnaround this season as he’s been playing like a seasoned pro with 2,850 passing and a 16-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Another reason is their strong defensive performance. Look for that to be even better in 2022 should they add a potential premier pass-rusher such as Drake Jackson from USC. Jackson offers great length and athleticism, which Bill Belichick will know how to employ as well as any other coach in the league.
30. Green Bay Packers: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
The Green Bay Packers have several ways they could go with this pick and while wide receiver makes a lot of sense, they seem determined not to use an early pick on a weapon for Aaron Rodgers. With that being said, they again skip on a pass-catcher and go with Travon Walker from Georgia.
Walker is a 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive lineman who can play in a couple of different positions. He comes from the best defense in the nation and will help the Packers continue to field one of the better defenses in the NFL.