5. DE Arik Armstead (Jaguars)
The versatile nine-year veteran is expected to team to give Doug Pederson’s club a strong presence up front. He figures to make Jaguars’ standout pass-rusher Josh Allen, who is coming off a 17.5 sack campaign, even more dangerous. Jacksonville did finish a respectable ninth in the NFL vs. the run in 2023.
Armstead will create problems for an offensive line that ranked last in the NFL via Pro Football Focus. The Tennessee Titans new-look offensive line with Lloyd Cushenberry and presumably a first-round offensive tackle will have a tough task dealing with the combination of Armstead and Allen.
Armstead totaled five sacks in 12 regular-season games in 2023, and also dropped Patrick Mahomes once in Super Bowl LVIII.
4. RB Joe Mixon (Texans)
The Cincinnati Bengals were on the verge of cutting loose their standout running back but then wound up dealing him to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round draft choice this month. The reigning AFC South champions finished tied for 22nd in the league this past season in rushing yards per game (96.9 average).
In seven seasons, the 2017 second-round pick has amassed an impressive 8,551 yards from scrimmage and 62 total touchdowns. Mixon has run for 1,000-plus yards in four of those seven campaigns and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2021. He also threw a TD pass to Tee Higgins in the 23-20 loss in Super Bowl LVI.