Jordan Katz NFL Mock Draft 4.0- Post Free Agency
We’re officially one month away from the NFL Draft. Free agency has come and gone (for the most part) making the draft the last chance for teams to improve their roster before OTA’s start. Team needs have shuffled around a bit, and my player grades have changed as well. This mock draft will give you more of a feel of what I think teams should do to make themselves better.
1) Tennessee Titans- Laremy Tunsil, OT Ole Miss- Some have started to mock Jalen Ramsey going first overall, but I still think the Titans should go with Tunsil. Even though Ramsey is my top player in the draft, Tennessee shouldn’t pass on the opportunity to fortify their offensive line for years to come.
2) Jacksonville Jaguars via Cleveland Browns- Jalen Ramsey, CB/S Florida State- I have been mocking a quarterback here because I thought it was a no brainer the Browns would do it. Having said that, I never believed a quarterback was worth drafting here.
Apparently, the Browns might agree with me. They signed Robert Griffin III and don’t appear to be locked into a quarterback at this selection.
So If the Browns don’t go QB at the number two, then it seems like an obvious spot to trade down and get extra draft picks. Jacksonville trades up to land a game changer in the secondary.
3) Atlanta Falcons via San Diego Chargers- Joey Bosa, DE Ohio State- If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m going to continue to have Atlanta trade up for Joey Bosa. In a weak draft class, I feel like it is a risk worth taking for a team that almost made the postseason last year. San Diego trades out to help them rebuild.
4) Dallas Cowboys- Myles Jack, OLB UCLA- In the last mock draft I tried to have Dallas trade down here because Bosa was gone, but they stayed here and took Jack. Now I think he’s too much of a talent to consider trading out.
5) Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville Jaguars- DeForest Buckner, DE Oregon- Cleveland could still take a quarterback here (another reason why they should actively pursue a trade), but Buckner is a game changing 3-4 defensive end. None of these quarterbacks have game changing ability right away.
6) Baltimore Ravens- Ronnie Stanley, OT Notre Dame- Ozzie Newsome is known for going best available player without hesitation. In this scenario, I can’t see him passing on a bookend tackle.
7) San Francisco 49ers- Carson Wentz, QB North Dakota State- While I still have Jared Goff as my top quarterback, Carson Wentz is more of a scheme fit for Chip Kelly. He’s a better athlete, and he has a bigger arm. One of the things the Eagles missed to perfect Kelly’s offense was a quarterback to take the top of the defense. Wentz can do that.
8) Philadelphia Eagles via Miami Dolphins- Vernon Hargreaves, CB Florida- The Eagles managed to dump almost every bad contract on their roster, and they even got some value back. Now the Eagles are in position to take a number one cornerback. Hargreaves has the ability to be a number one corner, which is something the Eagles are desperate for.
9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Kevin Dodd, DE Clemson- The Buccaneers had a great free agency, but they still need an edge rusher. Dodd has the versatility to be a dominating defensive end, something the Bucs haven’t had since Simeon Rice.
10) New York Giants- Josh Doctson, WR TCU- The Giants overhauled their defense in free agency, which gives them some flexibility to take whoever they want at this pick. I think the Giants next big need is a true number two wide receiver next to Odell Beckham Jr.
Doctson’s ability to high point the ball makes him an ideal deep threat and red zone target in the NFL, two things that would help alleviate double teams from ODB.
11) Chicago Bears- Mackensie Alexander, CB Clemson- I think the Bears could be a surprise team next year. They made solid acquisitions in free agency to help their defense, but they still need cornerback help. Alexander may not have the ball skills, but he’s got the technique to be a very good player.
12) New Orleans Saints- Shaq Lawson, DE Clemson- If new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wants to switch to a 4-3, he needs an edge rusher opposite Cameron Jordan. Lawson has natural ability as a five tech defensive end. He should fit right in with Allen’s new defensive philosophy.
13) Miami Dolphins via Philadelphia Eagles- Ezekiel Elliott, RB Ohio State- The Dolphins made big splashes on defense, but they lost Lamar Miller in a bidding war with the Texans. Ryan Tannehill has proven time and time again that he needs a successful running game to help him operate. So why not select the best running back in the draft class?
14) Oakland Raiders- Reggie Ragland, ILB Alabama- Until I hear news that Jaylon Smith is back on track with his recovery, Ragland is the pick for Oakland. He can make an immediate impact in 2016, and that alone catapults him ahead of Smith.
15) Los Angeles Rams- Jared Goff, QB California- Jeff Fisher and company would have a serious conundrum on their hands if this scenario played out. Do they draft the QB without having real weapons, or do they draft the wide receiver (Treadwell) without having a quarterback to get him the ball?
I think Goff has a better chance of making sub par weapons better than Treadwell does of impacting the game with a sub par quarterback.
16) Detroit Lions- Laquon Treadwell, WR Ole Miss- Speaking of Treadwell, he would be a perfect fit in Detroit. He’s a big body target for Stafford and could be a very good red zone threat.
17) San Diego Chargers via Atlanta Falcons- Jason Spriggs, OT Indiana- This trade remains the same from the top down. The Falcons move up for Bosa, the Chargers slide down and grab an athletic offensive tackle.
18) Indianapolis Colts- Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE Oklahoma State- Ogbah’s athleticism makes him a prospect that many are attracted to. He needs to polish his move set, but if he develops one, he could be a premier defensive player.
19) Buffalo Bills- Noah Spence, EDGE Western Kentucky- Rex Ryan doesn’t fear character issues if they have talent. There’s no doubt that Spence has talent, so I doubt Ryan will be deterred from selecting him.
20) New York Jets- Jaylon Smith, OLB/ILB Notre Dame- If you’re wondering why this isn’t a quarterback, I still am very confident the Jets bring back Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Jets are desperate for youth and talent at the linebacker position. Smith might miss eight weeks, maybe the year. However, he has top five talent and is one of the few true game changers in this draft.
21) Washington Redskins- A’Shawn Robinson, NT Alabama- The Redskins in need of a stopper in the middle of their defense. Robinson’s freakish athleticism and ability to stop the run make him a perfect scheme fit.
22) Houston Texans- Sheldon Rankins, DE/DT Louisville- In my opinion Rankins is better served as a 4-3 defensive tackle, but his quickness and athleticism should make his transition to 3-4 defensive end very easy.
23) Minnesota Vikings- Corey Coleman, WR Baylor- I think one of the reasons the Vikings were eager to let Mike Wallace depart was because this draft has multiple first round receivers with significantly more talent than Wallace has right now. Coleman’s route running ability will allow him to succeed in Norv Turner’s offense.
24) Cincinnati Bengals- Sterling Shepard, WR Oklahoma- I think the Bengals have lacked a “move the chains,” receiver during Andy Dalton’s tenure at quarterback in Cincy. Shepard doesn’t come without risk (he drops some passes and isn’t a jump ball receiver), but in terms of route running ability, there are few better in this draft.
25) Pittsburgh Steelers- Kenny Clark, NT UCLA- Having lost Steve McLendon to the Jets, the Steelers appear to be locked into a nose tackle at the 25. Clark remains this selection because of his ability to stop and gap the run effectively.
26) Seattle Seahawks- Robert Nkemdiche, DT Ole Miss- I almost gave the Texans Nkemdiche to play defensive end, but I’m not sure that team has the personnel to handle someone like him. The Seahawks certainly do.
27) Green Bay Packers- Austin Johnson, DT/NT Penn State- The defensive tackles continue to fly off the board in round one. Johnson has the quickness and technical ability to be an impactful defensive player for years to come.
28) Kansas City Chiefs- Cody Whitehair, OG Kansas State- Whitehair wasn’t on the board in my last mock draft, so the Chiefs were unable to select him. His athleticism and ability to gain leverage at the point of attack make him a no brainer for Kansas City.
29) Arizona Cardinals- Christian Hackenburg, QB Penn State- The Cardinals are a complete team on paper, which gives them two options; draft depth for other positions, or draft a future need. Hackenburg could serve to be both. The Cardinals don’t have a true backup quarterback behind Carson Palmer, and Palmer and Head Coach Bruce Arians could groom him into the quarterback of the future.
30) Carolina Panthers- Kamalei Correa, EDGE Boise State- Charles Johnson was the steal of free agency, but he’s only back on a one year deal. They still need rotational depth, and a future edge rusher. Correa has very good speed off the edge, and can develop in the Panthers defense.
31) Denver Broncos- Connor Cook, QB Michigan State- Four quarterbacks in round one seems incredibly unlikely, but I think this is Cook’s ideal situation. He gets to be a game manager right out of the gate, and he will have very good weapons around him that can make him better. This may be a reach, but it seems worth it.
TRADES
1) Jacksonville Jaguars trade the #5 and the #39 to the Cleveland Browns for the #2.
2) Atlanta Falcons trade the #17, #50, a 2017 1st and a 2017 3rd to the San Diego Chargers for the #3 overall pick.
ROUND TWO
32) Cleveland Browns- Taylor Decker, OT Ohio State
33) Tennessee Titans- Andrew Billings, NT Baylor
34) Dallas Cowboys- Jonathan Bullard, DE Florida
35) San Diego Chargers- Jarran Reed, DE Alabama
36) Baltimore Ravens- William Jackson III, CB Houston
37) San Francisco 49ers- Vernon Butler, DT/NT Louisiana Tech
38) Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville Jaguars- Will Fuller, WR Notre Dame
39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- KeiVarae Russell, CB Notre Dame
40) New York Giants- Joshua Garnett, OG Stanford
41) Chicago Bears- Alex Collins, RB Arkansas
42) Miami Dolphins- Artie Burns, CB Miami Florida
43) *Los Angeles Rams via Philadelphia Eagles- Leonte Carroo, WR Rutgers
44) Oakland Raiders- Justin Simmons, FS Boston College
45) Los Angeles Rams- Landon Turner, OG North Carolina
46) Detroit Lions- Shilique Calhoun, EDGE Michigan State
47) New Orleans Saints- Michael Thomas, WR Ohio State
48) Indianapolis Colts- Devontae Booker, RB Utah
49) Buffalo Bills- Jihad Ward, DE Illinois
50) San Diego Chargers via Atlanta Falcons- Darian Thompson, FS/SS Boise State
51) New York Jets- Sebastian Tretola, OG Arkansas
52) Houston Texans- Nick Martin, OC/OG Notre Dame
53) Washington Redskins- Derrick Henry, RB Alabama
54) Minnesota Vikings- Darron Lee, OLB Ohio State
55) Cincinnati Bengals- Su’a Cravens, OLB/SS USC
56) Seattle Seahawks- Shon Coleman, OT Auburn
57) Green Bay Packers- Joe Haeg, OT/OG North Dakota State
58) Pittsburgh Steelers- Hunter Henry, TE Arkansas
59) Kansas City Chiefs- Adolphus Washington, DL Ohio State
60) New England Patriots- Tyler Boyd, WR Pittsburgh
61) New England Patriots via Arizona Cardinals- Kyler Fackrell, ILB/OLB Utah State
62) Carolina Panthers- Jeremy Cash, SS Duke
63) Denver Broncos- Maliek Collins, DE Nebraska
*- Eagles traded pick to Rams in Sam Bradford trade.
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