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Jordan Katz- 2018 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Two Rounds

Posted on January 4, 2018 Updated on January 12, 2018

Finally… Jordan Katz HAS COME BACK to the land of Mock Drafts! Now that the regular season has finished, it’s officially the offseason for 20 NFL teams. This year’s offseason packs more of a punch than normal years because of the amount of quarterbacks on the market. Not only will guys like Kirk Cousins and Alex Smith most likely be free agents, but there’s a ton of quarterbacks worthy of high selections. Quarterback play dictates the success of each team and this year will be full of quarterback changes.

This year’s draft has a ton of talent elsewhere too. Offensive line is loaded, the playmakers on offense and defense are better than people think, and there are some explosive edge rushers.

As always with my mock drafts, this is my personal opinion of what each team should do at each selection. Unlike other mock drafts you may see online, I like to include potential trades. Mock Drafts should be your own evaluation of the players and team needs. If that’s the case, why not throw in a trade if it makes sense?

A few notes before getting started. For the sake of the mock draft, I assumed Kirk Cousins returned to Washington. The entire offseason will change the minute Cousins signs somewhere. However, without any information as to where he could wind up, I had him re-sign.

The second note of importance is that Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are not in my first two rounds (I currently have a 3rd round grade on both). While some in the mock draft community love these two, I think they both have a lot of technical work that they need to improve on. Neither are particularly accurate either.

The best time of the year is upon us: Mock Draft season. Let’s get to it!

ROUND ONE

1) Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB UCLA- In my opinion, Rosen is the top quarterback in the draft right now. Rosen, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are very close on my personal board, but what separates Rosen from the other two is his physical attributes. He’s got NFL size and mobility, he’s the best pure passer in the draft, and he did it all with very little talent around him. If the Browns don’t grab a quarterback this year, I think Roger Goodell has to make them fold as a franchise.

2) Denver Broncos via New York Giants: Sam Darnold, QB USC- The Giants are in the same position the Dallas Cowboys were in a few years ago. They’re a talented team that underachieved, and now they sit with a top five pick. Just like Dallas, that gives you two options; take the best player available or trade down. While the Cowboys wound up with their quarterback of the future in that draft, many people forget the plan was for Tony Romo to play a few more seasons, not for Dak Prescott to start day one.

That year I suggested it was in the Cowboys best interest to trade down. It’s very rare that you get a free opportunity to acquire draft assets. So, with the Giants content on playing Eli for a few more seasons, I would have the Giants trade down.

With plenty of offers to choose from, the Giants trade down to the Broncos pick. This keeps them in the top five, and gets the Broncos their franchise quarterback on a cheap contract.

Editor’s Note: Despite his down year, Darnold still translates well for the NFL. He’s got an NFL arm, good size, mobility and he can make any throw. I believe the kinks will get worked out and he will become a quality NFL quarterback.

3) New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts: Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma- Once again, the Jets enter a draft not having a franchise quarterback. Mayfield is tailor-made for a west coast system. He’s got a bigger arm than people think, he’s incredibly accurate, and most importantly for the Jets, he’s a true leader. The Heisman Trophy winner would thrive under the bright lights of the “Big Apple.”

Editor’s Note: Regardless of how much their owner wants Saquon Barkley, the Colts need so much that they have to trade down and acquire assets.

4) Cleveland Browns via Houston Texans: Saquon Barkley, RB Penn State- Let’s make this simple; Saquon Barkley is the best prospect in this draft. He’s the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson. He’s a better pro prospect than Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, and Christian McCaffrey. If the Browns can land him at four, that could go a long way towards expediting their rebuild that’s been going on since 1999.

5) New York Giants via Denver Broncos: Quenton Nelson, OG Notre Dame- The Giants have to find an offensive line this year if they want any chance of competing next season. Nelson is the top offensive lineman in the draft. His game is complete and he’s a team captain, something the Giants organization loves.

6) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: Connor Williams, OT Texas- Hey Indy, quick thought on the future of your franchise. If you want Andrew Luck to succeed, then maybe it’s time to GET HIM AN OFFENSIVE LINE!

7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bradley Chubb, DE NC State- The Buccaneers need a number of things this offseason, and at the top of that list is an edge rusher. Chubb is a fluid athlete with the ability to dip and bend effortlessly around the edge. His instincts and ability to win at the point of attack make him a three down player, something the Bucs desperately need up front.

8) Chicago Bears: Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/FS/SS Alabama- Jamal Adams 2.0 this year will be Minkah Fitzpatrick. He’s got the talent to go higher, but because of needs he may fall into some team’s lap. Fitzpatrick has the ball skills to play safety and the press cover ability to line up at corner. Easy pick for a team that needs a game changer in their secondary.

9) San Francisco 49ers: Arden Key, EDGE LSU- Arden Key came out of the gate slow this year. However, when he got back to his normal playing weight, scouts were able to see the athleticism and move-set that made Key a top pick preseason.

The Niners have to get Jimmy Garoppolo some targets this offseason, but in my opinion, there are no top ten caliber receivers in this class just yet. Having failed to trade down, the Niners take the best player at a position of need.

10) Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, ILB Georgia- Smith plays downhill with aggression, he’s a terrific tackler, and he’s a rangy linebacker. The Raiders need an anchor in the middle of their defense. Smith would have an immediate impact on a team that allowed the second most yards per game on the ground.

11) Miami Dolphins: Tremaine Edmunds, OLB/EDGE Virginia Tech- Edmunds is an athletic freak with the ability to play in off coverage as well as rush the passer. His tape is impressive for someone that is still developing. Edmunds could dominate as a LEO linebacker at the next level.

12) Cincinnati Bengals: Mike McGlinchey, OT Notre Dame- The Bengals offensive line struggled during the 2017 season. McGlinchey is a plug and play right tackle from day one. He is great at attacking defensive lineman on running downs, getting his hands on quickly and gaining leverage to dictate where the lineman goes.

13) Green Bay Packers: Braden Smith, OT/OG Auburn- Just like the Colts, the Packers are desperate for a solid offensive line. Yes, some of the Packers issues are more about injuries than a lack of talent, but there’s still work to be done. Smith is a terrific run blocker, and his athleticism will make him a successful guard at the next level.

14) Washington Redskins: Derwin James, FS/SS Florida State- James might be the enigma of the first round. He has got a ton of talent, but his effort was nowhere to be found in 2017. If that’s a concern for GM’s, he could fall out of round one with a bad combine. If he has a good combine, it should put the effort rumors to bed, seeing as half of Florida State’s squad was injured this year.

15) Arizona Cardinals: Orlando Brown, OT Oklahoma- Brown had a really strong 2017 campaign where he showed all the traits of a pro bowl left tackle. He’s more athletic after cutting weight, which has improved his footwork drastically. The Cardinals are desperate for a quarterback of the future, but with the big three off the board (and me not being a fan of Josh Allen) it’s better to take talent at a different position than reaching for a quarterback.

16) Baltimore Ravens: Anthony Miller, WR Memphis- Allow me to introduce you to the best receiver in this draft and the one no one is talking about. Miller runs picturesque routes; he is one of the quickest receivers in the draft. He makes catches with his hands first, he can high point the ball extremely well, and he makes a ton of contested catches. The All American from Memphis would give Joe Flacco a legitimate target, something the Ravens desperately need.

17) Atlanta Falcons via Los Angeles Chargers: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- It’s a crime shame that Wilkins fell this far. His hands are incredibly fast, he’s terrific at gaining leverage and controlling gaps, and in case you thought his game had weaknesses, he’s got the move-set and athleticism to dominate as an interior pass rusher. Atlanta will be in need of a defensive tackle after Dontari Poe leaves, so they trade up to land a game changer in the middle.

18) Seattle Seahawks: Derrius Guice, RB LSU- I know the Seahawks need offensive line, but one of the reasons their offense stalled at times this year was a lack of a true running game. Guice is an incredibly talented back with the ability to change the dynamic of the Seahawks offense.

19) Dallas Cowboys: Dante Pettis, WR Washington- With the rapid decline of Dez Bryant, pass catcher has become priority number one for the ‘Boys. Pettis’ deep threat ability could provide a true home run threat to the Cowboys passing game. It would also help alleviate coverage from 88, which could help him bounce back in 2018.

20) Detroit Lions: Marcus Davenport, EDGE UTSA- Credit to former Draftstock contributor Mike Reynolds for this call. Back in late October, Mike told me to look out for Davenport as a first rounder, and boy was he right. Davenport is long and athletic with the move-set to match. He dips and bends around the edge with ease as well. He would be an immediate upgrade to a team that has to rush the passer better in 2018.

21) Buffalo Bills: Christian Kirk, WR Texas A&M- What a tremendous job Sean McDermott and his staff did this year in Buffalo. Despite an offense that doesn’t scare you on paper and a young defensive unit, McDermott has the Bills back in the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. If the Bills want to make it back to back appearances in 2018, then they will need to get more weapons for Tyrod Taylor.

Kirk is an explosive route runner with good hands and a quick release. His presence would give the Bills a chain mover on the outside.

22) Los Angeles Chargers via Atlanta Falcons- Chukwuma Okorafor, OT Western Michigan- Priority number one for the Chargers this offseason is upgrading the offensive tackle position. In a year with plenty of offensive line prospects to go around, this puts them in an excellent position to trade down, acquire assets, and still select a quality lineman.

Okorafor “checks all the boxes,” in terms of his measurements and athletic ability, but he’s still fairly raw in terms of his technique. What makes him an attractive prospect, in my opinion, is the fact that he’s already played both tackle positions despite picking up the game of football at a later age. That shows a knowledge and passion for the game that you can’t teach.

23) Tennessee Titans: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson- Tennessee needs to get younger and more athletic up front in 2018. Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo are both free agents after next season, and the Titans need to start saving money to re-sign Marcus Mariota. Ferrell has a quick first step and terrific athletic ability off the edge. I like him better in a 4-3, but he’s got the versatility to play both systems in the NFL at a high level.

24) Carolina Panthers: Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State- Do not sleep on this cornerback class. As a group, they may not have the size and athleticism of years past, but there are plenty of guys with the technique to succeed at the next level. Ward has good ball skills and he is terrific when trailing receivers. He’s one of the best athletes in the entire draft class as well. Pairing him with James Bradberry would make for an underrated secondary tandem in Carolina.

25) Buffalo Bills via Kansas City Chiefs: Vita Vea, NT Washington- The Bills were 29th in the NFL in rushing defense. They have to clean that up if they want to take the next step defensively in 2018. Vea is a space eating monster with the athleticism to rush the passer if left isolated. He would have an immediate impact on the middle of the Bills defense.

26) New Orleans Saints: Ronnie Harrison, SS Alabama- It’s hard for Alabama defenders to be “under the radar,” during draft season, yet this year they all are going unnoticed. Harrison is a hard hitting safety with freaky athleticism. He also shows enough knowledge and ball skills in coverage to be a multi-dimensional safety at the next level. Kenny Vaccaro is a free agent this year, so finding a cheap option to replace him makes sense for a team that needs to re-sign Drew Brees.

27) Jacksonville Jaguars: Billy Price, OG/OC Ohio State- Price translates well at guard and center at the next level. He’s intelligent, good at the point of attack, and he sees the second level well in the running game. Price would add more stability to an improving offensive line in Jacksonville.

28) Los Angeles Rams: Jaire Alexander, CB Louisville- Even if the Rams sign Trumaine Johnson to an extension, they still need a number two corner in the offseason. Alexander is my top cover corner in the draft, but his size (he will most likely measure in at 5’10) and his health concerns put him below Davis and Ward on my big board. Despite these concerns, if Alexander opts to enter the 2018 NFL Draft, his ball skills and technique should make him a top 40 selection with ease.

29) Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans, ILB Alabama- This is a bit of a reach for me, but the Steelers are so desperate for an inside linebacker. With the uncertainty of whether Ryan Shazier will ever play in the NFL again, the Steelers need a run stopping signal caller in the middle of their defense. Evans can be just that.

30) Minnesota Vikings: Da’Ron Payne, DT Alabama- Payne’s athleticism and quickness off the ball would allow him to thrive next to a space eater like Linval Joseph. After the loss of Sharrif Floyd, the Vikings need to find someone to play next to Joseph in order to keep their defense “tip top,” in 2018.

31) Philadelphia Eagles: Martinas Rankin, OT Mississippi State- Philadelphia needs to bolster their offensive line this offseason. Jason Peters is an aging veteran coming off of an injury and Halapoulivaati Vaitai didn’t show the ability to be his replacement.

I’m a big fan of offensive lineman that possess good technique and have played multiple positions because it shows the knowledge needed to play the game at the next level. That is Martinas Rankin.

32) New England Patriots: Josh Jackson, CB Iowa- Whatever we collectively thought New England’s secondary was going to be this year, it surely was not. Now the Patriots are set to lose Malcolm Butler to free agency, with Eric Rowe and Jonathan Jones set to be free agents the year after. Jackson is a lengthy corner with great ball skills and a really good understanding of technique in tight coverage as well as off coverage. He’s a perfect fit in New England.

TRADES IN ROUND ONE

1) Denver Broncos trade the #5, #37 a 2019 1st and a 2019 3rd to the New York Giants for the #2 overall pick.

2) New York Jets trade the #6, #50 and a 2019 1st round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for the #3 and a 2019 3rd round pick.

3) Atlanta Falcons trade the #22, #86 and a 2019 3rd round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for the #17 and the #161

ROUND TWO

33) Cleveland Browns: Isaiah Oliver, CB Colorado

34) New York Giants: Brian O’Neill, OT Pittsburgh

35) Indianapolis Colts: Hercules Mata’Afa, EDGE Washington State

36) Cleveland Browns via Houston Texans: DeShon Elliott, FS Texas

37) New York Giants via Denver Broncos: Ronald Jones II, RB USC

38) New York Jets: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB Oklahoma

39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Reid, FS Stanford

40) Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR Alabama

41) New England Patriots via San Francisco 49ers: Ryan Finley, QB NC State

42) Oakland Raiders: Holton Hill, CB Texas

43) Miami Dolphins: Will Hernandez, OG UTEP

44) Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Edwards, FS/SS Kentucky

45) Green Bay Packers: Frank Ragnow, OG/OC Arkansas

46) Washington Redskins: Tegray Scales, OLB/ILB Indiana

47) Arizona Cardinals: Jarrett Stidham, QB Auburn

48) Baltimore Ravens: Dallas Goedert, TE South Dakota State

49) Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Jefferson, ILB Texas

50) Indianapolis Colts from New York Giants via Seattle Seahawks: Kendall Joseph, ILB Clemson

51) Dallas Cowboys: Josh Allen, OLB Kentucky

52) Detroit Lions: Wyatt Teller, OG Virginia Tech

53) Buffalo Bills: Mitch Hyatt, OT Clemson

54) Atlanta Falcons: Michael Gallup, WR Colorado State

55) Tennessee Titans: Harrison Phillips, DL Stanford

56) Carolina Panthers: Sam Hubbard, EDGE Ohio State

57) Kansas City Chiefs: Mason Cole, OL Michigan

58) San Francisco 49ers via New Orleans Saints: Quenton Meeks, CB Stanford

59) Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Andrews, TE Oklahoma

60) Buffalo Bills via Los Angeles Rams: Jamarco Jones, OT Ohio State

61) Pittsburgh Steelers: Bryce Love, RB Stanford

62) Minnesota Vikings: Uchenna Nwosu, OLB USC

63) Cleveland Browns via Philadelphia Eagles: DJ Moore, WR Maryland

64) New England Patriots: Dorance Armstrong Jr., EDGE Kansas

This entry was posted in Mock Drafts, NFL Draft Articles and tagged 2018 NFL Mock Draft, Arden Key, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baker Mayfield, Baltimore Ravens, Bradley Chubb, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Connor Williams, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL Mock Draft, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Quenton Nelson, Roquan Smith, Sam Darnold, San Francisco 49ers, Saquon Barkley, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins.

Jordan Katz 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Final

Posted on April 26, 2017 Updated on April 26, 2017

The Draft has finally arrived! In just a few hours we will officially begin the 2017 NFL season. Most teams started forming their rosters for 2017 during free agency, but the draft is where teams rebuild and reload. The draft is where every team, regardless of their record from the previous season, is renewed with a sense of hope. Hope that the the players added will help their team take massive strides in the upcoming season. Hope that the players they draft will help them achieve the ultimate goal; winning a championship.

This mock draft is my final one for 2017. Each pick is based on what I would do at each spot. A trade is only made if I felt it was a good deal for both sides. These selections are based on my personal rankings and my personal evaluation of team needs. I didn’t analyze every selection because, if you’ve followed my mock drafts thus far, you know the players I like as well as the players I don’t. Thanks to those who kept up with my content, I really appreciate it.

*If you’re looking for my predictions mock draft, click on the link (https://draftstock.net/2017/04/19/2017-nfl-media-mock-draft/)

ROUND ONE

1- Cleveland Browns- Myles Garrett, EDGE Texas A&M

2- San Francisco 49ers- Mitchell Trubisky, QB North Carolina

3- Chicago Bears- Marshon Lattimore, CB Ohio State

4- Jacksonville Jaguars- Solomon Thomas, DE Stanford

5- Tennessee Titans from Los Angeles Rams- Jamal Adams, FS/SS LSU

6- New York Jets- Ryan Ramczyk, OT Wisconsin

7- Los Angeles Chargers- Malik Hooker, FS Ohio State

8- Carolina Panthers- Leonard Fournette, RB LSU

9- Cincinnati Bengals- Reuben Foster, ILB Alabama

10- Buffalo Bills- Corey Davis, WR Western Michigan

11- New Orleans Saints- Taco Charlton, DE Michigan

12- Cleveland Browns via Philadelphia Eagles- Jonathan Allen, DE/DT Alabama

13- Miami Dolphins via Arizona Cardinals- Forrest Lamp, OG Western Kentucky

14- Denver Broncos from Philadelphia Eagles via Minnesota Vikings- OJ Howard, TE Alabama

15- Indianapolis Colts- Zach Cunningham, OLB/ILB Vanderbilt

16- New York Giants via Baltimore Ravens- David Njoku, TE Miami Florida

17- Washington Redskins- Montravius Adams, DE/DT Auburn

18- Tennessee Titans- Evan Engram, WR/TE Ole Miss

19- Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Budda Baker, FS Washington

20- Philadelphia Eagles via Denver Broncos- Gareon Conley, CB Ohio State

21- Detroit Lions- Haason Reddick, OLB/ILB Temple

22- Arizona Cardinals via Miami Dolphins- Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson

23- Baltimore Ravens via New York Giants- TJ Watt, OLB Wisconsin

24- Oakland Raiders- Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State

25- Houston Texans- Obi Melifonwu, FS/SS UCONN

26- Seattle Seahawks- Marlon Humphrey, CB Alabama

27- Kansas City Chiefs- Jarrad Davis, OLB/ILB Florida

28- Dallas Cowboys- Adoree Jackson, CB/FS USC

29- Green Bay Packers- Derek Barnett, EDGE Tennessee

30- Pittsburgh Steelers- Tre’Davious White, CB LSU

31- Atlanta Falcons- Carl Lawson, EDGE Auburn

32- Los Angeles Rams via New England Patriots from New Orleans Saints via New England Patriots- Mike Williams, WR Clemson

TRADES IN ROUND ONE

1- Miami Dolphins trade the #22, the #54 and the #206 to the Arizona Cardinals for the #13.

2- Denver Broncos trade the #20, #82 and a 2018 3rd to the Philadelphia Eagles for the #14 and a 2018 5th.

3- New York Giants trade the #23 the #87 and a 2018 3rd to the Baltimore Ravens for the #16.

4- New England Patriots trade Malcolm Butler and a 2018 3rd to the New Orleans Saints for the #32. The Patriots then trade the #32 to the Los Angeles Rams for the #37 and the #112.

ROUND TWO

33- Cleveland Browns- Sidney Jones, CB Washington

34- San Francisco 49ers- Zay Jones, WR East Carolina

35- Houston Texans via Jacksonville Jaguars- Patrick Mahomes II, QB Texas Tech

36- Chicago Bears- Cam Robinson, OT Alabama

37- New England Patriots via Los Angeles Rams- Derek Rivers, EDGE Youngstown State

38- Los Angeles Chargers- Jordan Willis, EDGE Kansas State

39- New York Jets- Fabian Moreau, CB UCLA

40- Carolina Panthers- Tarell Basham, DE Ohio

41- Cincinnati Bengals- Alvin Kamara, RB Tennessee

42- New Orleans Saints- DeShone Kizer, QB Notre Dame

43- Philadelphia Eagles- Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford

44- Buffalo Bills- Rasul Douglas, CB West Virginia

45- Arizona Cardinals- Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Colorado

46- Indianapolis Colts- Marcus Maye, FS Florida

47- Baltimore Ravens- Chris Godwin, WR Penn State

48- Minnesota Vikings- Pat Elflein, G/C Ohio State

49- Washington Redskins- Jabrill Peppers, SS/LB/RB Michigan

50- Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Garett Bolles, OT Utah

51- Denver Broncos- Dion Dawkins, OT/OG Temple

52- Cleveland Browns via Tennessee Titans- DeShone Kizer, QB Notre Dame

53- Detroit Lions- Chidobe Awuzie, CB/FS Colorado

54- Arizona Cardinals via Miami Dolphins- John Ross III, WR Washington

55- New York Giants- D’Onta Foreman, RB Texas

56- Oakland Raiders- Jaleel Johnson, DT Iowa

57- Jacksonville Jaguars via Houston Texans- Dan Feeney, OG Indiana

58- Seattle Seahawks- Taylor Moton, OT/OG Western Michigan

59- Kansas City Chiefs- Damontae Kazee, CB San Diego State

60- Dallas Cowboys- Charles Harris, EDGE Missouri

61- Green Bay Packers- Malik McDowell, DE/DT Michigan State

62- Pittsburgh Steelers- Tim Williams, EDGE Alabama

63- San Francisco 49ers via Atlanta Falcons- Quincy Wilson, CB Florida

64- Carolina Panthers via New England Patriots- Amara Darboh, WR Michigan

TRADES IN ROUND TWO

1- Houston Texans trade #57 and a 2018 2nd to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #35.

2- San Francisco 49ers trade the #66 and the #198 to the Atlanta Falcons for the #63.

ROUND THREE

65- Cleveland Browns- Marcus Williams, FS Utah

66- Atlanta Falcons via San Francisco 49ers- Josh Jones, FS/SS NC State

67- Chicago Bears- Alex Anzalone, OLB/ILB Florida

68- Jacksonville Jaguars- Ryan Anderson, OLB Alabama

69- Los Angeles Rams- Chris Wormley, DE/DT Michigan

70- New York Jets- Jake Butt, TE Michigan

71- Los Angeles Chargers- Chad Hansen, WR California

72- New England Patriots via Carolina Panthers- Desmond King, CB/FS Iowa

73- Cincinnati Bengals- Elijah Qualls, NT Washington

74- Philadelphia Eagles- Teez Tabor, CB/FS Florida

75- Buffalo Bills- Delano Hill, FS Michigan

76- New Orleans Saints- Raekwon McMillian, ILB Ohio State

77- Arizona Cardinals- Tyler Orlosky, G/C West Virginia

78- Baltimore Ravens- Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE Villanova

79- Minnesota Vikings- Eddie Jackson, SS Alabama

80- Indianapolis Colts- Trey Hendrickson, EDGE Florida Atlantic

81- Washington Redskins- Anthony Walker, ILB Northwestern

82- Philadelphia Eagles via Denver Broncos- Ryan Switzer, WR North Carolina

83- Tennessee Titans- Cameron Sutton, CB/FS Tennessee

84- Pittsburgh Steelers via Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jordan Leggett, TE Clemson

85- Detroit Lions- Bucky Hodges, TE Virginia Tech

86- Minnesota Vikings from Miami Dolphins- Eddie Vanderdoes, DT UCLA

87- Baltimore Ravens via New York Giants- Jourdan Lewis, CB Michigan

88- Oakland Raiders- Duke Riley, OLB LSU

89- Houston Texans- Adam Shaheen, TE Ashland

90- Seattle Seahawks- Daeshon Hall, EDGE Texas A&M

91- Kansas City Chiefs- Davis Webb, QB California

92- Dallas Cowboys- Tyus Bowser, OLB Houston

93- Green Bay Packers- Semaje Perine, RB Oklahoma

94- Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Pittsburgh Steelers- Vince Beigel, OLB Wisconsin

95- Atlanta Falcons- Dorian Johnson, OG Pittsburgh

96- New England Patriots- Larry Ogunjobi, DT Charlotte

97- Miami Dolphins (Compensatory Selection)- Bryan Cox Jr., DE Florida

98- Carolina Panthers (Compensatory Selection)- George Kittle, TE Iowa

99- Baltimore Ravens (Compensatory Selection)- Will Holden, OT Vanderbilt

100- Chicago Bears via Tennessee Titans from Los Angeles Rams (Compensatory Selection)- Kenny Golladay, WR Northern Illinois

101- Denver Broncos (Compensatory Selection)- Demarcus Walker, DE Florida State

102- Seattle Seahawks (Compensatory Selection)- Ar’Darius Stewart, WR Alabama

103- New England Patriots from Cleveland Browns (Compensatory Selection)- Lorenzo Jerome, SS St. Francis PA

104- Kansas City Chiefs (Compensatory Selection)- Wayne Gallman, RB Clemson

105- Pittsburgh Steelers (Compensatory Selection)- Nathan Peterman, QB Pittsburgh

106- Seattle Seahawks (Compensatory Selection)- Jarron Jones, DT/NT Notre Dame

107- New York Jets (Compensatory Selection)- Takkarist McKinnley, EDGE UCLA

TRADES IN ROUND THREE

1- Pittsburgh Steelers trade the #94 and the #135 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the #84.

2- Chicago Bears trade the #111 and the #147 to the Tennessee Titans for the #100 and the #214.

This entry was posted in Mock Drafts, NFL Draft Articles and tagged Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Corey Davis, Dallas Cowboys, David Njoku, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Forrest Lamp, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jamal Adams, John Ross, Jonathan Allen, Kansas City Chiefs, Leonard Fournette, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore, Miami Dolphins, Mike Williams, Minnesota Vikings, Mitch Trubisky, Montravius Adams, Myles Garrett, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL Mock Draft, Oakland Raiders, OJ Howard, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Ryan Ramczyk, San Fracisco 49ers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Solomon Thomas, Taco Charlton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins, Zach Cunningham.

2017 NFL Media Mock Draft

Posted on April 19, 2017 Updated on April 19, 2017

Welcome to the only edition of my Media Mock Draft for 2017. This will be more of a conventional mock draft. In this one, I try to predict what every team will do in each spot. If a team is looking to trade out of their pick, I tried to make a trade happen with the teams that are interested in players on the board, not the teams that I felt should move up. For example, if a quarterback needy team had to move up to ensure they got their guy, they attempted to do so, regardless of what I thought of the quarterback. In short, this is not based on my individual analysis on players. Each selection is based on pre-draft visits and reports among scouts and reporters on what they think teams should take. I also take into account the fans perspective, because sometimes they can play a role (even though they never should).

Now every player does not have to have visited with the team they get drafted by. Plenty of players are drafted without having visited privately with the team that picks them. However, visits can be a good indication as to which way a team is leaning come draft day.

For those curious as to where the information comes from, teams release their visits with players during the draft process. After gathering the information, we have to determine which rumors are true, and which are smoke screens. I won’t get every pick right, but hopefully I will squash some of the rumors that make no sense. Let’s get started.

Round One

1) Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, EDGE Texas A&M- We squash the first smoke screen of the draft with this pick. I believe that the Browns are very high on Mitchell Trubisky. I believe that they want him bad.

However, there is… cue Vince McMahon’s music… “NO CHANCE,” the Browns take him over Myles Garrett.

2) San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas, DE Stanford- I think the Niners hold the keys to this draft. If they decide to trade this pick, the domino effect will be massive, regardless of what team trades up and who they select.

If they choose to stay put, then the player they select will create the same domino effect. Whether that’s Marshon Lattimore, insert quarterback here, or Solomon Thomas (I think they go Thomas to complete their transition to 4-3), the Niners will determine the outcome of this draft.

3) Chicago Bears: Jonathan Allen, DE/DT Alabama- Allen and the Bears have been matched up for a while now. The Bears used a pre-draft visit on Allen and they met with him at the combine as well. Based on the Bears infatuation with DeShone Kizer, I sense they’ll draft their quarterback of the future on day two, and address a different need in round one.

4) Cincinnati Bengals via Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette, RB LSU- This is a weird call, but let’s play this out. The Jags could definitely stay here and take Fournette. However, I have a feeling they are one of the few teams with Joe Mixon at the top of their running back boards. If that’s the case, then the Fournette rumors are a smoke screen.

It’s no secret the Bengals would love to pick Fournette and stabilize their running game. Jeremy Hill can be a UFA after the upcoming season, and he’s under-performed as of late. Therefore, the Jags use Fournette to swap places with the Bengals and add some draft capital.

5) Tennessee Titans from Los Angeles Rams: Marshon Lattimore, CB Ohio State- This is an easy fit. The Titans added Logan Ryan, but they still need a corner to play on the other side.

Where this pick could become interesting is if the 49ers take Lattimore at the two. In that case, I would expect Tennessee to take Malik Hooker.

6) Cleveland Browns via New York Jets: Mitchell Trubisky, QB North Carolina- It’s time to squash the second rumor of this draft; the Jets selecting a quarterback in round one.

I think the Jets are talking up Trubisky and Deshaun Watson to get one of the Browns, Cardinals or Texans to come up and take this spot. The Jets have a ton of roster holes and they need more assets in this draft to help address those needs.

7) Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, FS Ohio State- The Chargers haven’t met with Malik Hooker, but he’s one of the best players in the draft at a position of need for the Chargers. I’ll take my chances on this one.

8) Washington Redskins via Carolina Panthers: Jamal Adams, FS/SS LSU- Jamal Adams recently visited with the Panthers, and they could easily draft him here. The more likely alternative option is that the Panthers are using Adams’ recent fall on draft boards as leverage to move down and gain a few assets in a very talented draft.

Enter the Washington Redskins. Washington needs a second playmaker in their secondary, and it’s no secret that Adams is still an extremely good prospect. Washington trades up to land a game-changer in the secondary, while Carolina slides down and still lands a player they covet.

9) Jacksonville Jaguars via Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster, ILB Alabama- Foster can anchor the middle of the Jaguars defense from day one. They can save money by cutting Paul Posluszny and improve their front seven, all in one selection.

10) Buffalo Bills: Cam Robinson, OT Alabama- Third rumor of the draft going by the wayside here. Get ready for an offensive lineman to go in the first ten picks. Even though this year’s offensive line class isn’t good, every team needs offensive line in excess. If there’s anyone who can be an everyday starter, you better believe they’ll be drafted highly this year.

11) New Orleans Saints: Takkarist McKinnley, EDGE UCLA- I think the “Vic Beasley,” LEO pass rusher is going to become a lot more common among NFL defenses, and that’s the rational behind this pick. For the Saints, Takk McKinnley will serve that role and attempt to cause havoc opposite Cameron Jordan.

12) New York Jets from Cleveland Browns via Philadelphia Eagles: Kevin King, CB Washington- After trading backwards, the Jets land one of the fastest risers in the draft. King is a fourth rounder on my personal board because I think his technique is average at best.

Despite this, many think he has the size, length and athleticism to dominant in the NFL.

13) Arizona Cardinals: Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson- The Cardinals have to get a quarterback of the future in this draft. This QB class has actually become underrated by the media as time has gone on. Most will still be over-drafted, but the talent level among them is solid. If Watson makes it out of the top ten, the Cardinals would be wise to scoop him up at 13.

14) Denver Broncos from Philadelphia Eagles via Minnesota Vikings: Garett Bolles, OT Utah- Once we hit the middle of the draft, trades become more about teams jumping others to get players they covet. The Broncos need help at both tackle spots, so they jump a few teams to ensure they land Bolles.

15) Indianapolis Colts: Gareon Conley, CB Ohio State- Unless there’s a tackle on the board that the Colts love, they should go defense with this pick. Conley’s slight dip in draft value makes him the perfect selection at 15.

16) Baltimore Ravens: John Ross, WR Washington- Following his 4.22 at the combine, many felt that John Ross would be the first wide out off the board. This is a rumor I actually agree with. The Ravens have met with him on a number of occasions, therefore they choose him over Corey Davis and prove the experts correct.

17) Carolina Panthers via Washington Redskins: OJ Howard, TE Alabama- This is a bold call on my part, but I don’t buy the rumors that OJ Howard will be a top 15 pick. He’s a terrific prospect, but I think NFL teams know that he has a lower ceiling than the top tier tight ends in the NFL.

Having said that, Howard is a terrific prospect and a perfect fit for the Panthers.

18) Tennessee Titans: Corey Davis, WR Western Michigan- The Titans are in a terrific position to grab two game changers in round one, a pass catcher and a defensive back. Those opportunities don’t come often, so expect Tennessee to capitalize on it.

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Haason Reddick, OLB/ILB Temple- Reddick’s versatility will have him a highly coveted prospect in the middle of round one. If he makes it to Tampa Bay, a team that needs a strong side pass rusher, he should come off the board.

20) Philadelphia Eagles via Denver Broncos: Chidobe Awuzie, CB Colorado- Awuzie is going to surprise on draft day. Scouts love his versatility and aggressiveness. Having traded down a few spots, the Eagles land the player they probably would’ve selected at 14.

21) Seattle Seahawks via Detroit Lions: Forrest Lamp, OG Western Kentucky- The Seahawks are going to have to move past the Dolphins and Giants in order to get one of the top offensive lineman in this draft. Fortunately, Detroit can trade out of the 21 and still get the player at the top of their board.

22) Dallas Cowboys via Miami Dolphins: Obi Melifonwu, FS/SS UCONN- Having just watched the top guard, and the Dolphins top target, go off the board, the Dolphins sell this pick to the highest bidder (their next target is a bit further down the board).

The Cowboys need secondary help desperately, and someone they love is bound to fall. In this case, it’s Melifonwu.

23) New York Giants: Ryan Ramczyk, OT Wisconsin- The Giants pick is simple. If OJ Howard is off the board, then insert the best available offensive lineman here.

24) Oakland Raiders: Zach Cunningham, LB Vanderbilt- For those wondering why this isn’t a running back, the Raiders love DeAndre Washington. He showed flashes of feature back potential last year. Combine that with the impending addition of Marshawn Lynch, and the Raiders choose to address middle linebacker instead.

25) Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, QB Texas Tech- The Texans are currently starting Tom Savage. “But Jordan, Patrick Mahomes in round one?” The Texans are currently starting Tom Savage. “But Jordan, what about their need for a safety like Jabrill Peppers or Budda Baker?” The Texans are currently starting Tom Savage.

The only way the Texans don’t pick a quarterback in round one is if they’ve traded out of round one (cough, Jimmy Garoppolo, cough).

26) Detroit Lions via Seattle Seahawks: Taco Charlton, DE Michigan- Taco Charlton, like Jonathan Allen, is another enigma in this draft. I can see Charlton going anywhere from 11 to 31. If he winds up in the back end of round one, he becomes the steal of day one.

27) Kansas City Chiefs: Tre’Davious White, CB LSU- The Chiefs need to solidify their number two cornerback, but they also need to upgrade at the nickel cornerback position. Fortunately for them, Tre White accomplishes both goals.

28) Miami Dolphins via Dallas Cowboys: Jarrad Davis, LB Florida- Outside of Kiko Alonso, the Dolphins linebacking core is a mess. Davis gets to stay in Florida and provide stability to the Dolphins linebacker unit.

29) Green Bay Packers: Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford- Okay, so there’s a very good chance that McCaffrey is a top 20 pick. However, here’s the counter argument. Running backs don’t have the same value they used to. While McCaffrey is a better runner between the tackles than he’s ever been given credit for, he’s still at his best in the pass game. Scheme is as important for him as anything else, and that’s why he could fall on draft day… but he probably won’t.

30) Pittsburgh Steelers: TJ Watt, EDGE/OLB Wisconsin- Watt was a fast riser the past few months, and now he’s almost assured a top 40 selection. The Steelers did piece together a decent pass rushing unit last year. However, in order for this defense to take the next step, they need an edge rusher that can change games.

31) Atlanta Falcons: Derek Barnett, EDGE Tennessee- The Falcons could go a number of different ways with this selection. If they opt to keep the pick, expect them to go best player available, regardless of need.

32) Philadelphia Eagles via New England Patriots from New Orleans Saints via New England Patriots- Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State- All the talk surrounding the New England Patriots is them trading Jimmy Garoppolo to get themselves into round one. However, they have a second trade chip that is much more likely to move; Malcolm Butler.

The Saints still need a number one cornerback, and they still have interest in Malcolm Butler. I think that when push comes to shove, the two sides will find a way to get a deal done involving the 32nd pick.

Having jumped back into the first round, the Patriots then proceed to do the most Patriots thing ever; trade down. Dalvin Cook will fall on draft day, but his tape is too good for him to fall out of round one. I expect a team like Philadelphia to try to scoop him up in the back end of round one.

TRADES IN ROUND ONE

1- Cincinnati Bengals trade the #9 and the #41 to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #4 and the #148.

2- Cleveland Browns trade the #12, #52 and the #108 to the New York Jets for the #6, a 2018 6th round pick and Sheldon Richardson.

3- Washington Redskins trade the #17 and the #49 to the Carolina Panthers for the #8 and a 2018 6th round pick.

4- Denver Broncos trade the #20, #82 and the #101 to the Philadelphia Eagles for the #14,

5- Seattle Seahawks trade the #26 and the #102 to the Detroit Lions for the #21.

6- Dallas Cowboys trade the #28, #92, and a 2018 6th round pick to the Miami Dolphins for the #22 and the #178

7- New Orleans Saints acquire Malcolm Butler and a 2018 3rd round pick from the New England Patriots for the #32. The Patriots then trade the #32 to the Philadelphia Eagles for the #47 and a 2018 3rd round pick.

Round Two

33) Cleveland Browns: Marcus Maye, FS Florida- Maye has the tools to be a day one pick. Cleveland takes him at the top of round two to boost their secondary.

34) San Francisco 49ers: Adoree Jackson, CB/S USC- Adoree Jackson will be in the green room at the NFL draft, which means his camp expects him to be picked either on day one, or very early on day two.

35) Jacksonville Jaguars: Taylor Moton, OT Western Michigan- Eat, sleep, overdraft offensive lineman, repeat. That will be the theme of the first two days.

36) Chicago Bears: DeShone Kizer, QB Notre Dame- Kizer appears to be very high on the Bears board. It would surprise me if Chicago didn’t take him on day two.

37) Los Angeles Rams: Evan Engram, WR/TE Ole Miss- The Rams have to get another playmaker on offense in this draft.

38) Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Willis, EDGE Kansas State- Willis had a phenomenal showing at the combine, and his draft stock has only risen since.

39) New York Jets: Carl Lawson, EDGE Auburn- The Jets could do a number of different things with this second round pick, especially if they added more assets along the way. However, if an edge rusher falls, like Lawson, I expect them to go in that direction.

40) Carolina Panthers: Tarell Basham, DE Ohio- This might be a little too high for Basham, but he’s a perfect scheme fit with the Panthers.

41) Jacksonville Jaguars via Cincinnati Bengals: Malik McDowell, DT Michigan State- I think the question about McDowell’s motor will keep him out of round one.

42) New Orleans Saints: Davis Webb, QB California- In my opinion, Davis Webb is the most interesting developmental quarterback in the draft. Sit him behind Drew Brees for two years and reap the benefits.

43) New England Patriots via Philadelphia Eagles: Derek Rivers, EDGE Youngstown State- If the Patriots can get into the top 50 this year, I think they’ll try to take an edge rusher. New England doesn’t have many weaknesses, but they need to pressure the QB better in 2017.

44) Buffalo Bills: Mike Williams, WR Clemson- It wouldn’t shock me if Mike Williams fell out of the top 50, but I think the Williams supporters saw enough at his pro day to still make him a valuable second round pick.

45) Arizona Cardinals: Marlon Humphrey, CB Alabama- Because the DB class is so good, there are bound to be several that fall into the second and third round. In this case, the Cardinals steal Marlon Humphrey.

46) Indianapolis Colts: Tyus Bowser, OLB Houston- Many draft experts and scouts love Tyus Bowser’s athleticism. I think his tape is inconsistent but he’ll be a day two pick for sure.

47) New York Giants via Baltimore Ravens: David Njoku, TE Miami Florida- I think the tight ends could fall in this draft because there’s so many that are good. If that happens, the Giants will fly up the draft board for whomever they covet.

48) Minnesota Vikings: Alvin Kamara, RB Tennessee- Despite signing Latavius Murray, the Vikings need a running back of the future.

49) Carolina Panthers via Washington Redskins: Chris Godwin, WR Penn State- The Panthers need a deep threat to replace Tedd Ginn. Godwin has tremendous upside and he could be the steal of the draft among offensive weapons.

50) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jabrill Peppers, SS/LB Michigan- Peppers is another draft enigma. He could be a top 20 pick, or he could fall into the third round. Regardless of where in the draft he winds up, Tampa Bay is a team I expect to covet the Michigan product.

51) Denver Broncos: Bucky Hodges, TE Virginia Tech- Hodges isn’t a great blocker, but as a “move Tight End,” he should excel in the NFL.

52) New York Jets from Cleveland Browns via Tennessee Titans: Budda Baker, FS Washington- In a loaded secondary class, it would behoove the Jets to come out of this draft with multiple starters in the secondary.

53) Detroit Lions: Duke Riley, OLB LSU- Riley is quite similar to his former teammate Deion Jones. As a 4-3 weakside ‘backer, many feel he will be a solid pro.

54) Miami Dolphins: Dan Feeney, OG Indiana- Feeney is the forgotten man among this offensive line class. He should be a plug in play right guard from day one.

55) Baltimore Ravens via New York Giants: Charles Harris, EDGE Missouri- I think Harris is better served in a 4-3, but many think he can play in any situation.

56) Oakland Raiders: Chris Wormley, DT Michigan- Wormley gives the Raiders an athletic pass rusher next to the space-eater Dan Williams.

57) Chicago Bears via Houston Texans: Quincy Wilson, CB Florida- The Bears move up to land a potential number one cornerback.

58) Seattle Seahawks: Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Colorado- Witherspoon has the height and length that the Seahawks look for in their corners. Many feel that this a layup in round two.

59) Kansas City Chiefs: Raekwon McMillian, ILB Ohio State- If the Chiefs go into the season starting Ramik Wilson, they’re asking for disaster.

60) Dallas Cowboys: Fabian Moreau, CB UCLA- Had Moreau not torn his pectoral at his pro day, he would’ve been a first round selection.

61) Green Bay Packers: Elijah Qualls, NT Washington- Qualls is the space eater that the Packers defense is desperately missing.

62) Pittsburgh Steelers: Rasul Douglas, CB West Virginia- The Steelers defense still needs help in the secondary. In my opinion, Douglas has number one cornerback potential, and he would be a great scheme fit in Pittsburgh.

63) Atlanta Falcons: Dion Dawkins, OG/OT Temple- Atlanta still needs a right guard to solidify their offensive line as one of the best in football.

64) Carolina Panthers via New England Patriots: Josh Jones, FS/SS NC State- Josh Jones has the versatility to play both safety spots, which should help him go early in this draft.

TRADES IN ROUND TWO

1- New York Giants trade the #55, #140 and #167 to the Baltimore Ravens for the #47.

2- Chicago Bears trade the #67 and the #111 to the Houston Texans for the #57.

Round Three

65) Cleveland Browns: Sidney Jones, CB Washington

66) San Francisco 49ers: Zay Jones, WR East Carolina

67) Houston Texans via Chicago Bears: Tim Williams, EDGE Alabama

68) Jacksonville Jaguars: Joe Mixon, RB Oklahoma

69) Los Angeles Rams: Will Holden, OT Vanderbilt

70) New York Jets: Pat Elflein, OG/OC Ohio State

71) Los Angeles Chargers: Ethan Pocic, OL LSU

72) New England Patriots via Carolina Panthers: D’Onta Foreman, RB Texas

73) Cincinnati Bengals: Desmond King, CB/FS Iowa

74) Philadelphia Eagles: Damontae Kazee, CB San Diego State

75) Buffalo Bills: Alex Anzalone, OLB/ILB Florida

76) New Orleans Saints: Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE Villanova

77) Arizona Cardinals: Amara Darboh, WR Michigan

78) Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Orlosky, C West Virginia

79) Minnesota Vikings: Xavier Woods, SS Louisiana Tech

80) Indianapolis Colts: Antonio Garcia, OT Troy

81) Washington Redskins: Anthony Walker, ILB Northwestern

82) Philadelphia Eagles via Denver Broncos: Isaac Asiata, OG Utah

83) Tennessee Titans: Jake Butt, TE Michigan

84) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marlon Mack, RB South Florida

85) Detroit Lions: Delano Hill, FS Michigan

86) Minnesota Vikings from Miami Dolphins: Jaleel Johnson, DT Iowa

87) New York Giants: Caleb Brantley, DT Florida

88) Oakland Raiders: Howard Wilson, CB Houston

89) Houston Texans: Justin Evans, SS Texas A&M

90) Detroit Lions via Seattle Seahawks: Kennay Golladay, WR Northern Illinois

91) Kansas City Chiefs: Nathan Peterman, QB Pittsburgh

92) Miami Dolphins via Dallas Cowboys: Teez Tabor, CB/FS Florida

93) Green Bay Packers: Trey Hendrickson, EDGE Florida Atlantic

94) Pittsburgh Steelers: Josh Reynolds, WR Texas A&M

95) Atlanta Falcons: Cameron Sutton, CB/FS Tennessee

96) New England Patriots: Roderick Johnson, OT Florida State

97) Miami Dolphins (Compensatory Selection): Vince Biegel, OLB Wisconsin

98) Carolina Panthers (Compensatory Selection): Julie’n Davenport, OT Bucknell

99) Philadelphia Eagles from Baltimore Ravens (Compensatory Selection): Ryan Anderson, OLB Alabama

100) Tennessee Titans via Los Angeles Rams (Compensatory Selection): Jourdan Lewis, CB Michigan

101) Denver Broncos (Compensatory Selection): Wayne Gallman, RB Clemson

102) Seattle Seahawks (Compensatory Selection): Aviante Collins, OT/OG TCU

103) Los Angeles Chargers via New Orleans Saints from New England Patriots via Cleveland Browns (Compensatory Selection): Chad Hansen, WR California

104) Kansas City Chiefs (Compensatory Selection): Danny Isidora, OG Miami Florida

105) Pittsburgh Steelers (Compensatory Selection): Nico Siragusa, OG San Diego State

106) Seattle Seahawks (Compensatory Selection): Demarcus Walker, DE Florida State

107) New York Jets (Compensatory Selection): Adam Shaheen, TE Ashland

TRADES IN ROUND THREE

1- Los Angeles Chargers trade the #113 and the #151 to the New Orleans Saints for the #103 and #196.

This entry was posted in Mock Drafts, NFL Draft Articles and tagged Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jamal Adams, John Ross, Jonathan Allen, Kansas City Chiefs, Leonard Fournette, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore, Miami Dolphins, Mitchell Trubisky, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL Mock Draft, Oakland Raiders, Patrick Mahomes, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Reuben Foster, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Solomon Thomas, Takk McKinnley, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins.

Jordan Katz 2017 NFL Mock Draft 3.0- Post NFL Combine

Posted on March 7, 2017 Updated on March 8, 2017

The 2017 NFL Combine was one of the most impressive combines I’ve seen during my time covering the NFL Draft. So many ridiculous performances, and only about half of those were from the Defensive Backs.

The combine often causes scouts and mock draft experts to re-arrange their big board as well as their mock drafts. The reason is not because the combine outweighs game tape. It’s because the combine can expose players weaknesses, as well as reiterate players strengths. Therefore, it’s time for my third mock draft of the year.

While I’ve made a lot of changes when it comes to players and their grades since my last mock draft, the rules of the draft remain the same. This is my evaluation of what I would do if I was in control of all 32 teams. I only made a trade if it made sense for both teams to make the move. Also, if you’re team was desperate for offensive line help, I caved and gave it to them. My condolences in advance.

Round 1

1) Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, EDGE Texas A&M- Garrett demonstrated this weekend why he’s the clear cut number one overall selection. He’s an athletic specimen and a star at the next level.

2) San Francisco 49ers: Mitchell Trubisky, QB North Carolina- There’s a lot of talk over the combine that Deshaun Watson had, but I think day two of the combine is easily the most overrated day in Indianapolis. Outside of footwork, there’s not much you learn from guys throwing and catching in workout clothes. Trubisky’s tape is worthy of a first round grade, so he remains my top quarterback off the board.

3) Jacksonville Jaguars via Chicago Bears: Jamal Adams, FS/SS LSU- A rare one spot trade down, but it makes sense. Chicago is desperate for more picks in a very talented draft class, and Jacksonville will address a lot of their needs in free agency. Jacksonville needs a second game changer in their secondary and trading up to ensure they land Jamal Adams is worth it.

4) Chicago Bears via Jacksonville Jaguars: Malik Hooker, FS Ohio State- I’m not as concerned about Hooker’s injuries as some are. I also don’t care that safeties are often not top ten picks. Both Hooker and Adams have incredible range, and Hooker’s ability to play “centerfield,” is unlike anyone I’ve scouted.

5) Tennessee Titans from Los Angeles Rams: Marshon Lattimore, CB Ohio State- The Titans are most likely getting a big name wide receiver before the draft, so their number one need becomes cornerback. Fortunately for them, Lattimore is one of the most technically sound corners in recent memory.

6) New York Jets: Ryan Ramczyk, OT Wisconsin- First off, I tried to trade out of this pick for Gang Green, but the asking price was too high for teams to move up. If I was in charge of the Jets, I would execute a rebuild instead of a reload. Based on this, the Jets select the top offensive tackle in the draft, even with the injury concerns.

7) Philadelphia Eagles via Los Angeles Chargers: Leonard Fournette, RB LSU- Fournette won’t play at the 240 pounds he weighed in at over the weekend. However, he proved just how athletic he truly is. The Eagles wow the Chargers with value to move up and select a game changing running back to compliment Carson Wentz.

8) Carolina Panthers: Solomon Thomas, DE Stanford- The Panthers took a massive step backwards in 2016 because they lacked the pass rush they had the year before. Solomon Thomas has unique athleticism for someone his size, and his game tape is impressive for someone playing out of position a lot (Stanford used him often as a 3-4 DE). He’s a perfect fit for the Panthers defensive front.

9) Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Allen, DE/DT Alabama- Allen has a few medical concerns, but according to a few doctors I spoke to, their belief is that Allen can still have a strong NFL career. If that’s the case, Cincinnati would hit a home run if they put his disruptive game style next to Geno Atkins.

10) Buffalo Bills: Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson- Watson may not be worthy of a top ten selection for me, but quarterbacks are a tricky analysis. You have to judge when to take a chance on a quarterback based on your team and the player’s skill set. Buffalo should be able to retain Stephon Gilmore, which means their top need is at quarterback. Watson would thrive with the Bills offense, so while this is a bit of a reach, I love the fit.

11) New Orleans Saints: Taco Charlton, DE Michigan- Still love this fit. Taco Charlton is one of my favorite guys in this draft because of his ability to gain leverage on opposing offensive lineman. He’d be a great compliment to Cameron Jordan.

12) Cleveland Browns via Philadelphia Eagles: Sidney Jones, CB Washington- With the top two quarterbacks off the board, Cleveland continues to address other needs. Jones’ ability to press, along with his length and his athleticism, will allow him to succeed in the NFL for a long time.

13) Arizona Cardinals: Reuben Foster, ILB Alabama- Foster will have some questions to answer about the incident in Indianapolis, but it shouldn’t affect him too much. When you put the game tape on, there’s no way this guy isn’t one of the top ten players in this draft. His range is incredible, and he’s got a great motor on the field. Arizona is in a best player available situation, and Foster also happens to be a scheme fit.

14) Los Angeles Chargers from Philadelphia Eagles via Minnesota Vikings- Derek Barnett, EDGE Tennessee- The Chargers are able to slide backward, add a second rounder, and still land the edge rusher they desperately need. Barnett is as fundamentally sound as any edge rusher in this draft. This is a perfect match.

15) Indianapolis Colts: Zach Cunningham, ILB/OLB Vanderbilt- The Colts need anything on defense you can think of, but a signal caller would go a long way towards helping them immediately. Cunningham has great length and athleticism, and can immediately help the back seven of the Colts defense.

16) Baltimore Ravens: Corey Davis, WR Western Michigan– Ozzie Newsome goes offense in the first round again? Don’t scoff at it. Davis has elite jump ball ability to go along with his terrific route running. He’d be an excellent compliment to Breshad Perriman.

17) Washington Redskins: Malik McDowell, DE/DT Michigan State- As long as a team can get McDowell to compete on ever down, he’s well worth a top 20 selection. McDowell has length, athleticism, and the ability to gain consistent leverage when he wants. If Jay Gruden tamed Desean Jackson, he should be able to do the same with McDowell.

18) Tennessee Titans: OJ Howard, TE Alabama- Marcus Mariota definitely needs a big time target, but based on the type of quarterback he is, it might help him more if that top target is a tight end. Howard paired with Delanie Walker would add a different dimension to a team poised to break out in 2017.

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State- Cook had a terrible combine, and it has made a lot of scouts question his value in the NFL. The tape is still incredible, so I think he’s still worthy of a top tier selection. However, if his pro day is another struggle, that may raise more red flags.

20) Denver Broncos: Forrest Lamp, OG Western Kentucky- Forrest Lamp is going to be an all pro guard in the NFL. I love his athleticism and his ability to control the point of attack. He may go higher than this on my final mock draft, but for now he’s a still at 20 for the Broncos.

21) Detroit Lions: Adoree Jackson, CB/FS USC- Jackson is one of my favorite players in this draft. He may not have the most technically sound footwork, but he’s a ball-hawk extraordinaire. I’ll ride with Jackson as a first round talent until the end this year.

22) Miami Dolphins: Carl Lawson, EDGE Auburn- What makes so many of the edge rushers so good in this draft class is how good they are technically. They may not all have Myles Garrett’s athleticism, but they have a good move set and their technique allows them to gain leverage on opposing tackles. Lawson isn’t the best athlete, but his ability to use his hands to direct O-Lineman is excellent. He’s an NFL player on tape.

23) New York Giants: Cam Robinson, OT/OG Alabama- The Giants need offensive line help so badly, that they overdraft Cam Robinson. A lot of people would love this value pick, but I think Robinson is a day two right tackle or a day two guard.

24) Oakland Raiders: Montravius Adams, DT Auburn- Adams is so disruptive on the interior. Putting him with Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin might honestly be illegal in most states. A great way to take pressure of a secondary is to develop a dominant pass rush. The Raiders have done that with this selection.

25) Houston Texans: Obi Melifonwu, FS/SS UCONN- Shoutout to my fellow DraftStock contributor (Mike Reynolds) on this one. Obi Melifonwu was on his radar as a top two round selection way back in October. After the combine Melifonwu had, if he’s not a round one guy I’d be stunned.

26) Cleveland Browns via Seattle Seahawks: Budda Baker, CB/FS/SS Washington- Seattle is desperate for offensive line. Because the big three are gone, they can easily move down and get the player they desire. Cleveland shouldn’t overdraft a quarterback just because it’s a quarterback driven league, but they should use their extra picks to get back into the first round for a player they covet.

Baker is going to be a big time player at the next level. He doesn’t possess the best ball skills just yet, but he flies to the football and makes impact plays defensively. With Jones at the 12 and Baker at the 26, the Browns have rebuilt their secondary.

27) Kansas City Chiefs: Jarrad Davis, OLB/ILB Florida- Davis is much higher on my personal board than most. I think he’s a complete linebacker and can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4. The Chiefs start Ramik Wilson. Any questions?

28) Dallas Cowboys: Mike Williams, WR Clemson- Williams’ decision to not run the 40 brings his ability to separate from defenders at the next level into question. I think he’ll be okay because of the way he uses his size, but until he proves his speed, he falls a bit in this draft.

29) Green Bay Packers: Tim Williams, EDGE Alabama- Tim Williams didn’t have a good combine, but I still believe in the player I saw on film. Putting him opposite a premier edge rusher like Clay Matthews will allow him to flourish in the NFL.

30) Pittsburgh Steelers: TJ Watt, EDGE/OLB Wisconsin- The Steelers are in need of a second edge rusher, but they also need linebacker depth in general. Watt is incredibly versatile. He can be a 4-3 outside linebacker, a 3-4 weak-side linebacker, or a straight edge rusher. Pittsburgh will use his versatility well.

31) Atlanta Falcons: Jabril Peppers, ATH Michigan- Dan Quinn loves players that compete on every down, and Jabril Peppers does just that. I still believe in Peppers’ ability to be a SS in the NFL, but his offensive ability will also be valuable to a lot of NFL teams.

32) New England Patriots: Hasson Reddick, OLB/ILB Temple- Reddick can rush the passer off the edge, but in the NFL he will be asked to be a complete linebacker. Fortunately for him, there’s no greater teacher than “The Hoodie,” in New England.

Trades in Round One

1- Jacksonville Jaguars trade the #4, #68, #110 and a 2018 4th to the Chicago Bears for the #3, #221 and a 2018 6th round pick

2- Philadelphia Eagles trade the #14 and the #43 to the Los Angeles Chargers for the #7 and the #113

3- Cleveland Browns trade the #33, #53 and the #108 to the Seattle Seahawks for the #26 and the #58

Round 2

33) Seattle Seahawks via Cleveland Browns: Garett Bolles, OT Utah- Bolles isn’t polished yet but he’s a good athlete with solid upside.

34) San Francisco 49ers: John Ross III, WR Washington- 4.22?! He might have some focus drops but you can’t teach that speed.

35) Jacksonville Jaguars: Tre’Davious White, CB LSU- Tre White is a steal here for a team well on their way towards a dominant secondary.

36) Chicago Bears: DeShone Kizer, QB Notre Dame- Kizer could benefit from sitting a year, and hopefully Chicago will do that if they pick him.

37) Los Angeles Rams: Dion Dawkins, OT/OG Temple- Dawkins had a very good combine. He showed athleticism that I didn’t think he had based on his tape.

38) Los Angeles Chargers: Desmond King, CB/FS Iowa- I still think King can be an NFL corner. If he does convert to safety, he’s a smart enough player to make a smooth transition.

39) New York Jets: Gareon Conley, CB Ohio State- Conley has great length and athleticism. If his technique catches up to his physical traits, lookout.

40) Carolina Panthers: Alvin Kamara, RB Tennessee- Kamara is a terrific runner in space, but he’s better between the tackles than people think.

41) Cincinnati Bengals: Quincy Wilson, CB Florida- Wilson will need a solid pro day after a bad combine. Despite this, his tape still has him as a top tier player in this draft.

42) New Orleans Saints: Marlon Humphrey, CB Alabama- Humphrey has a tendency to gamble too much. He’s much better when he mirrors receivers and stays disciplined. New Orleans needs a turnover guy though, and Humphrey has that ability.

43) Los Angeles Chargers via Philadelphia Eagles: Zay Jones, WR East Carolina- Zay Jones is the big winner this draft season. He’d fit right in with the Chargers offense and help take pressure off of Keenan Allen.

44) Denver Broncos via Buffalo Bills: David Njoku, TE Miami Florida- Denver moves up to land a game changing tight end in Njoku.

45) Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Mahomes, QB Texas Tech- As someone who loves to play backyard football, you can’t help but root for the “backyard artist,” himself.

46) Indianapolis Colts: Teez Tabor, CB Florida- Teez Tabor had a horrendous combine. He looked slow footed during every test. However, his technique shined during the drills, so he has become a very tough evaluation moving forward.

47) Baltimore Ravens: Jourdan Lewis, CB Michigan- Lewis will excel as a nickel corner in the NFL. Fortunately for Baltimore, that’s what they need.

48) Minnesota Vikings: Pat Elflein, OG/OC Ohio State- Elflein would be a third round guy for me in a normal offensive line year. However, this isn’t that year.

49) Washington Redskins: Elijah Qualls, NT Washington– Qualls eats blockers as well as anyone in this draft, a necessity for a strong nose tackle.

50) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marcus Williams, FS Utah- I think a lot of people are sleeping on Marcus Williams this year. I love his ability to hawk the ball on tape.

51) Buffalo Bills via Denver Broncos: Chris Godwin, WR Penn State- Buffalo trades down and still gets the receiver they would’ve taken in their original spot.

52) Seattle Seahawks from Cleveland Browns via Tennessee Titans- Taylor Moton, OG/OT Western Michigan- Moton is a mixed bag. He has good athleticism and a strong frame, but his footwork is often clunky. I think Seattle should be able to utilize his strengths and make him a solid pro.

53) Detroit Lions: Tarell Basham, DE Ohio- Basham showed elite athleticism in Indy. This guy could become an elite pass rusher in a few years.

54) Miami Dolphins: Evan Engram, TE Ole Miss- Engram is a game changer in the pass game. If a team uses him as a hybrid between a receiver and a tight end, the sky is the limit.

55) New York Giants: Caleb Brantley, DT Florida- Brantley is disruptive as a one tech or a three tech. His versatility will compliment Snack Harrison in the middle of the Giants defense.

56) Oakland Raiders: D’Onta Foreman, RB Texas- Foreman is a mammoth and a skilled runner between the tackles. He’d be a great fit in Oakland.

57) New England Patriots via Houston Texans: Jordan Willis, EDGE Kansas State- Jordan Willis could be the winner from the weekend in Indy. New England trades up to land the pass rusher they need.

58) Cleveland Browns via Seattle Seahawks: Davis Webb, QB California- Webb is another developmental quarterback. Much like Mahomes and Kizer, if the Browns are patient with Webb, he can turn into an NFL starter.

59) Kansas City Chiefs: Damontae Kazee, CB San Diego State- Kazee needs to improve his footwork, but he’s a beast when the ball is in his vicinity.

60) Dallas Cowboys: Cordrea Tankersley, CB Clemson- Tankersley is a solid corner in all forms of coverage. Dallas needs stability in the back end of their defense.

61) Green Bay Packers: Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford- McCaffrey in the Packers offense is a match made in heaven.

62) Pittsburgh Steelers: Curtis Samuel, WR/RB Ohio State- Samuel’s speed and ability to space will make him a matchup problem in the NFL.

63) Atlanta Falcons: Jaleel Johnson, DT Iowa- Johnson fell down my board a bit, but that’s not a reflection on his talent. He eats space and gets good leverage on opposing lineman.

64) Houston Texans via New England Patriots: Jarron Jones, NT Notre Dame- Jones is the only other nose tackle with a day two grade or better for me, so Houston slides down and still gets their guy.

Trades in Round Two

1- Denver Broncos trade #51 and #101 to the Buffalo Bills for the #44

2- New England Patriots trade the #64, #137 and #163 to the Houston Texans for the #57 and the #243.

Round 3

65) Cleveland Browns: Antonio Garcia, OT Troy

66) San Francisco 49ers: Rasul Douglas, CB West Virginia

67) Chicago Bears: Julie’n Davenport, OT Bucknell

68) Chicago Bears via Jacksonville Jaguars: Jake Butt, TE Michigan

69) Los Angeles Rams: Malachi Dupre, WR LSU

70) New York Jets: Jordan Leggett, TE Clemson

71) Los Angeles Chargers: Eddie Jackson, SS Alabama

72) Carolina Panthers: Chidobe Awuzie, CB/FS Colorado

73) Cincinnati Bengals: Dan Feeney, OG Indiana

74) Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Wormley, DT Michigan

75) Buffalo Bills: Cameron Sutton, CB/FS Tennessee

76) New Orleans Saints: Raekwon McMillian, ILB Ohio State

77) Arizona Cardinals: Fabian Moreau, CB UCLA

78) Baltimore Ravens: Takkarist McKinnley, EDGE UCLA

79) Minnesota Vikings: Alex Anzalone, OLB/ILB Florida

80) Indianapolis Colts: Lorenzo Jerome, SS St. Francis PA

81) Washington Redskins: Justin Evans, SS Texas A&M

82) Denver Broncos: Carlos Watkins, DE/DT Clemson

83) Tennessee Titans: Dawuane Smoot, EDGE Illinois

84) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ryan Anderson, OLB Alabama

85) Detroit Lions: Bucky Hodges, TE Virginia Tech

86) Minnesota Vikings from Miami Dolphins: Bryan Cox Jr., DE Florida

87) New York Giants: Nathan Peterman, QB Pittsburgh

88) Oakland Raiders: Marcus Maye, FS Florida

89) Houston Texans: Gerald Everett, TE South Alabama

90) Seattle Seahawks: Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Colorado

91) Kansas City Chiefs: DJ Jones, NT Ole Miss

92) Dallas Cowboys: Adam Shaheen, TE Ashland

93) Green Bay Packers: Dorian Johnson, OG Pittsburgh

94) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jalen Myrick, CB Minnesota

95) Atlanta Falcons: Daeshon Hall, EDGE Texas A&M

96) New England Patriots: John Johnson, FS Boston College

97) Miami Dolphins (Compensatory Selection): Ethan Pocic, OG LSU

98) Carolina Panthers (Compensatory Selection): Ar’Darius Stewart, WR Alabama

99) Baltimore Ravens (Compensatory Selection): Demarcus Walker, DE Florida State

100) Tennessee Titans from Los Angeles Rams (Compensatory Selection): Eddie Vanderdoes, DE/DT UCLA

101) Buffalo Bills via Denver Broncos (Compensatory Selection)- Aviante Collins, OT TCU

102) Seattle Seahawks (Compensatory Selection): Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE Villanova

103) New England Patriots from Cleveland Browns (Compensatory Selection): George Kittle, TE Iowa

104) Kansas City Chiefs (Compensatory Selection): Brad Kaaya, QB Miami Florida

105) Pittsburgh Steelers (Compensatory Selection): Josh Jones, FS/SS NC State

106) Seattle Seahawks (Compensatory Selection): Cooper Kupp, WR Eastern Washington

107) New York Jets (Compensatory Selection): Jeremy McNichols, RB Boise State

This entry was posted in Mock Drafts, NFL Draft Articles and tagged 2017 NFL Mock Draft, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Dalvin Cook, Denver Broncos, Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jamal Adams, Jonathan Allen, Kansas City Chiefs, Leonard Fournette, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore, Miami Dolphins, Mitchell Trubisky, Myles Garrett, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL Mock Draft, Oakland Raiders, Patrick Mahomes, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Reuben Foster, Ryan Ramczyk, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Solomon Thomas, Taco Charlton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins.

Jordan Katz NFL Mock Draft 4.0- Post Free Agency

Posted on March 28, 2016 Updated on March 28, 2016

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 1^st and a 2017 3^rd 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.

This entry was posted in Mock Drafts and tagged Atlanta Falcons, Carson Wentz, Christian Hackenburg, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Deforest Buckner, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jalen Ramsey, Jared Goff, Joey Bosa, Josh Doctson, Laremy Tunsil, Myles Jack, NFL Draft, Ronnie Stanley, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans.

Jordan Katz: NFL Mock Draft 2.0-Post Super Bowl Mock Draft

Posted on February 9, 2016 Updated on February 9, 2016

The NFL offseason has officially begun, which means the Tennessee Titans are on the clock, more or less. Now it is true that the NFL Combine, and most major free agency moves, will occur before the Titans are actually on the clock.

However, that doesn’t mean that things haven’t changed since our last mock draft. Not only is the draft order finalized, but also Senior Bowl week had a major impact on many players’ draft stock.

Plenty of things will change in the coming months, but for now, this is the way I think the first round of the draft should go down.

ROUND ONE
1) Tennessee Titans- Ronnie Stanley, OT Notre Dame- I think the Titans will listen to trade offers leading up to the draft, but if they stay put, Stanley or Laremy Tunsil seem like the only viable options.

2) Cleveland Browns- Jared Goff, QB California- Even though I wouldn’t take any of the quarterbacks this high, the Browns are going to. Personally, I would trade down if I was in charge. I don’t believe their franchise quarterback is in this draft class. Even if he is, the Browns have so many needs that their quarterback might turn into David Carr due to a lack of pieces around him.

3) San Diego Chargers- Laremy Tunsil, OT Ole Miss- Eventually the Chargers will figure out that in order for Philip Rivers to be successful, he needs to be protected in the pocket. Hopefully it’s this draft, considering there are two talented tackles at the top of the board.

4) Atlanta Falcons via Dallas Cowboys- Joey Bosa, DE Ohio State- I think the Dallas Cowboys are in an ideal position to trade down. They can acquire future draft picks for a top five selection that they don’t need to use. This is how the good franchises stay good.

The Falcons will have to give multiple early selections to move up this high, but it might be worth it. Atlanta’s defense really struggled to get to the quarterback last season, mostly because they didn’t have anyone opposite Vic Beasley. Bosa is an unbelievable talent and he would make a major impact on Atlanta’s defense from day one.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars- Jalen Ramsey, CB/S Florida State- Unless a team trades up past the Jaguars to select Ramsey, then this is probably the easiest selection in 2016. The Jaguars need secondary in the worst way, and Ramsey is a star in the making.

6) Baltimore Ravens- Vernon Hargreaves, CB Florida- I think the Ravens are a sneaky “trade down,” candidate, but the versatility that Hargreaves brings to the cornerback position is too much for them to pass up on.

7) Detroit Lions via San Francisco 49ers- Laquon Treadwell, WR Ole Miss- The Niners have more than one big need, and the positions they need would be a reach here.

Fortunately for them, the Lions just lost Calvin Johnson, and must replace him with a number one receiver if they want to get back to where they were in 2014.

Treadwell would become Stafford’s favorite target in a hurry because of his ability to be physical and his ability to high point the football.

8) Miami Dolphins- Myles Jack, OLB UCLA- This is another pick that seems like a match made in heaven. Jack’s athletic ability would allow him to shine behind an underrated front four.

9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Kevin Dodd, DE Clemson- In my opnion, Dodd is the most complete defensive end in this draft class not named Joey Bosa. He seems like the pick for the Bucs, who are in desperate need of a true pass rushing threat.

10) New York Giants- Shaq Lawson, DE Clemson- The Clemson boys go back-to-back in this mock draft. Lawson might have a more complete move set than his counterpart, which makes him a hot commodity in the 2016 draft.

11) Chicago Bears- DeForest Buckner, DE Oregon- Bucker has moved up my personal big board since my last mock draft because of his athleticism and ability to gap the run.

However, he remains at 11 because the teams that need defensive ends at the top of the draft are 4-3 teams.

12) New Orleans Saints- Mackensie Alexander, CB Clemson- Despite solid play from Delvin Breaux last season, the Saints don’t have a true number two corner. Alexander has the versatility to play on the outside as well as in the slot, a skill that the Saints could desperately use.

13) Seattle Seahawks via Philadelphia Eagles- Robert Nkemdiche, DT Ole Miss- I still think this deal is a perfect match. The Eagles add extra draft picks; the Seahawks get a pass-rushing monster to replace Brandon Mebane.

14) Oakland Raiders-Reggie Ragland, ILB Alabama- It’s hard to know whether a Nick Saban defensive product is one that looks good, or one that is good. Ragland appears to be the latter based on his range and ability to read and react in coverage.

15) Los Angeles Rams- Josh Doctson, WR TCU- In the last mock draft I had the Rams jump up to ensure that they landed Doctson, who’s home run threat ability makes him a bona-fide number one receiver. In this mock draft, they don’t have to move up to get him.

16) San Francisco 49ers via Detroit Lions- Carson Wentz, QB North Dakota State- I know Wentz isn’t going to make it this far on draft day, and he might soon surpass Jared Goff on my personal board.

However, based on my evaluations, no quarterback in this class deserves to go in the top 15 (I excluded the Browns from this because they’re going to go quarterback at the second overall pick regardless of logic).

17) Dallas Cowboys via Atlanta Falcons- Ezekiel Elliott, RB Ohio State- One of the reasons that I think the Cowboys are a great candidate to trade down is because their top need is number one running back, which is not something you draft at four. Trading down allows them to pick up assets and select a game changing running back.

18) Indianapolis Colts- Kevin Peterson, CB Oklahoma State- Peterson is a technician at the cornerback position, which allows him to stay with receivers that are bigger than him. He may not be a first rounder in the eyes of most right now, but I think it’s only a matter of time until the National media puts him there.

19) Buffalo Bills-Noah Spence, EDGE Western Kentucky- Noah Spence is the “flavor of the day,” after a phenomenal showing at the Senior Bowl. He flies off the edge and has a very good move set for a 3-4 edge rusher.

20) New York Jets- Jaylon Smith, OLB/ILB Notre Dame- If ‘Zeke is off the board, I think the Jets become the most difficult team to decipher in this draft. They could look to grab an edge rusher like Emmanuel Ogbah, Heisman trophy winner Derrick Henry, or maybe a quarterback to sit behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.

However, I think the most likely option, assuming he’s on the board, is Jaylon Smith. Demario Davis didn’t have a great season, and David Harris isn’t getting any younger. So why not get the third best player in the draft at the 20^th overall pick?

21) Washington Redskins- Kenny Clark, NT UCLA- I know Terrance Knighton has said he wants to resign with the Redskins, but I would let him walk. The depth at defensive tackle in this draft is too great to ignore, and they can easily find a space eater to replace him (like Kenny Clark).

22) Houston Texans- Derrick Henry, RB Alabama- If Arian Foster doesn’t return, then the Texans are in desperate need of a number one running back. Assuming Henry’s 40 time in Indianapolis is solid, his power and vision make him worthy of a first round selection.

23) Minnesota Vikings- Landon Turner, OG North Carolina- Turner isn’t a great athlete on tape, but he’s a smart player and shows great strength at the point of attack. For a team that runs the ball a lot, he seems like a good fit.

24) Cincinnati Bengals- A’Shawn Robinson, NT Alabama- Robinson could go anywhere from 12-24, in my opinion. In this draft, the rise of Alexander and Peterson force him to fall a bit. I’ll bet Bengals fans won’t be complaining.

25) Pittsburgh Steelers- Austin Johnson, DT/NT Penn State- The Steelers are never going to take a first round cornerback. Therefore, even though I think they should trade up for one, we’ll move past that.

One of the Steelers more pressing needs is someone in the middle of their 3-4 defense. Steve McLendon was below average last season, and is an impending free agent.

Austin Johnson’s a great athlete for a nose tackle with very good pass-rushing ability. I think his versatility will help strengthen the Steelers front seven.

26) Philadelphia Eagles via Seattle Seahawks- Corey Coleman, WR Baylor- New Head Coach Doug Pederson is almost surely going to bring the west coast offense to Philadelphia, which means route running technicians are a necessity. Coleman’s biggest weapons are his quickness out of cuts and his ability with the ball in his hands. Both are key in a west coast system.

27) Green Bay Packers- Andrew Billings, NT Baylor- I have Billings slightly higher than Austin Johnson on my own personal board (for now), but Billings seems more limited in terms of his potential. I get the sense he’s strictly a space eater where as Johnson has star potential.

Having said that, the Packers need a run stuffer in the middle of their defense. That is Andrew Billings in a nutshell.

28) Kansas City Chiefs- Taylor Decker, OT Ohio State- I’m not a huge fan of Taylor Decker, but he’s a solid option as a right tackle. The Chiefs are desperate for some stability at that position.

29) New England Patriots- (Forefeit)

30) Arizona Cardinals- Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE Oklahoma State- The Cardinals still lack a dominant edge rusher that can get to the quarterback at will. Ogbah has to become more consistent against the run, but he can have an immediate impact in Arizona on third down plays.

31) Dallas Cowboys via Carolina Panthers- Christian Hackenburg, QB Penn State- Having picked up extra assets, the Cowboys have the luxury of moving back into the first round for a quarterback of the future.

Many are going to argue that they should just take a quarterback at four, but if you’re going to roll the dice, why not try to roll a natural seven?

Once upon a time Christian Hackenburg was a lock to be the number one overall pick of this class. He still has the size and arm strength of an NFL quarterback; Penn State’s system just didn’t fit him well. If he gets the opportunity to sit and learn behind Tony Romo, maybe he becomes the star we all thought he would be two years ago.

32) Denver Broncos- Darian Thompson, FS Boise State- This is definitely a luxury pick, but when you’re the defending Super Bowl champions, you can afford to make such a pick.

Thompson is a ball hawk in every sense of the word. The only weakness on the Broncos defense was Darian Stewart, who didn’t even play that poorly. Imagine what someone with 19 career collegiate interceptions could do on a defense where he can afford to constantly take risks.

TRADES

1) Atlanta Falcons trade the #17, #50 and a 2017 2^nd round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the #4 pick.

2) Detroit Lions trade the #16, #46 and the #139 to the San Francisco 49ers for the #7 pick.

3) Seattle Seahawks trade the #23, #55 and a 2017 4^th rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles for the #13.

4) Dallas Cowboys trade the #34 and a 2017 4^th rounder to the Carolina Panthers for the #31.

This entry was posted in Mock Drafts, Uncategorized and tagged Atlanta Falcons, Carson Wentz, Chicago Bears, Christian Hackenburg, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Deforest Buckner, Ezekiel Elliott, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jalen Ramsey, Jared Goff, Joey Bosa, Kevin Dodd, Laremy Tunsil, Myles Jack, New York Giants, NFL, NFL Draft, Ronnie Stanley, Shaq Lawson, Tennessee Titans, Vernon Hargreaves.

2015 NFL Draft Grades: NFC

Posted on May 11, 2015

One of the best sports weekends ever has come and went, and with it, the NFL Draft has been completed. The NFL Draft has become a spectacle in recent years, and while some fans may not know every player their favorite team selected, every fan has the same question after the draft ends. “How did my team do?” Well, here are my 2015 NFL Draft Grades for the NFC teams.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (C)

Picks: CB Byron Jones (27^th), DE Randy Gregory (60^th), OG Chaz Green (91^st), LB Damien Wilson (127^th), DE Ryan Russell (163^rd), LB Mark Nzeocha (236^th), OL Laurence Gibson (243^rd), TE Goeff Swain (246^th)- The Cowboys messed up this draft by not addressing their need for a number one running back. This draft class was incredibly deep at running back and they managed to not get one. Now, Byron Jones and Randy Gregory are both good value picks and good fits in the Cowboys scheme. Other than that, this draft had no value, and failed to address their biggest need.

New York Giants (B-)

Picks: OT Ereck Flowers (9^th), S Landon Collins (33^rd), DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (74^th), S Mykkele Thompson (144^th), WR Geremy Davis (186^th), OL Bobby Hart (226^th)- The Giants draft was really hot and cold for me. They got two impact defensive players in Digi and Landon Collins. However, I had Ereck Flowers with a second round grade, and the Giants drafted him in the top ten. They also didn’t get any day three value picks. Despite this, Collins and Digi keep this draft at a decent grade.

Washington Redskins (C-)

Picks: OT Brandon Scherff (5^th), DE/OLB Preston Smith (38^th), RB Matt Jones (95^th), WR Jamison Crowder (105^th), OG Arie Kouandijo (112^th), LB Martell Spaight (141^st), S Kyshoen Jarrett (181^st), CB Tevin Mitchel (182^nd), WR Evan Spencer (187^th), C Austin Reiter (222^nd)- Everyone has debated Brandon Scherff over Leonard Williams for over a week now, and I can’t help but agree. Scherff is better suited as a guard, and I have a hard time justifying a guard in the top five. Preston Smith rated well for me as a 3-4 defensive end, assuming he bulks up, so I have no problem with that pick. After that though, I have a problem with the whole draft. Matt Jones was beyond a reach, Jamison Crowder had an incredibly poor day at the combine, and there were no value picks in rounds four through seven.

Philadelphia Eagles (B-)

Picks: WR Nelson Agholor (20^th), CB/S Eric Rowe (47^th), LB Jordan Hicks (84^th), CB JaCorey Sheperd (191^st), CB Randall Evans (196^th), DE Brian Mihalik (237^th)- The Eagles hit a home run with Nelson Agholor, who will be dynamic in Chip Kelly’s offense. I did have Jaelen Strong slightly higher than Agholor, but the margin was so close that I have no objection to the Eagles taking Agholor. Eric Rowe may have been a bit of a reach, but the Eagles desperately need secondary help. Rowe can play both corner and safety, and the Eagles need both. Again, not a lot of value late, but the Eagles had two big needs, and addressed them both. I’ll also be the first to say, it’s a good thing they didn’t give the farm for Marcus Mariota. It would’ve been way too much and they might need those picks if the Chip Kelly experiment fails.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers (B-)

Picks: S Damarious Randall (30^th), CB Quinten Rollins (62^nd), WR Ty Montgomery (94^th), OLB Jake Ryan (129^th), QB Brett Hundley (147^th), FB Aaron Ripkowski (206^th), DE Christian Ringo (210^th), TE Kennard Backman (213^th)- The Packers draft kind of puzzled me. They needed someone in the middle of their defense to help stop the run, and the failed to address that. Their first round selection was a free ranging cover safety who can play both cover one and cover two. What’s odd about it is that I’m not talking about last year’s selection of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. I think Damarious Randall is a solid fit in the Packers scheme because they play double high, but I think it limits Clinton-Dix’s ability to roam the field. Quinten Rollins was a great pick. I think he has great upside and he can immediately be a nickel cornerback. The Packers draft will hinge on their third and fourth round picks. Montgomery was a highly touted prospect, but he struggled in his last year at Stanford. Ryan is a fiery player who plays hard on every down and can get to the passer. If both pan out, this could prove to be a big draft class. If not, this draft will hinge upon Randall’s success (and potentially Hundley’s).

Minnesota Vikings (A-)

Picks: CB Trae Waynes (11^th), ILB Eric Kendricks (45^th), DE Danielle Hunter (88^th), OT T.J Clemmings (110^th), TE MyCole Pruitt (143^rd), WR Stefon Diggs (146^th), OL Tyrus Thompson (185^th), DE B.J Dubose (193^rd), OL Austin Shepherd (228^th), LB Edmond Robinson (232^nd)- If I could give a draft an “A” in this draft class, this would be one of the ones I would give it to. Unfortunately, this draft class didn’t have enough talent for me to give an “A.” Waynes is a necessity opposite Xavier Rhodes, and even though he was a bit of a reach for me, it was a need. Eric Kendricks is an impact linebacker, something the Vikings have needed for a while. Danielle Hunter was better served in a 3-4, but he’s a good edge rusher and needs some time to develop anyway (in that time he can bulk up). Clemmings fell in the draft, but the Vikings were the beneficiaries of that when they scooped him in the fourth round. MyCole Pruitt had a great combine and shows some serious upside, and Stefon Diggs has a ton of upside as well, despite the fact he didn’t produce at Maryland. This was an incredible draft.

Chicago Bears (A-)

Picks: WR Kevin White (7^th), NT Eddie Goldman (39^th), C Hroniss Grasu (71^st), RB Jeremy Langford (106^th) S Adrian Amos (142^nd), OL Tayo Fabuluje (183^rd)- This is another draft I would give an “A” to, but as I previously stated I don’t think there was enough talent in the draft class to give anyone an “A.” The Bears got their impact wide receiver and their starting nose tackle of the future in the first two rounds. They added a starting center and a power back to compliment Matt Forte. The only place they may have missed is not having enough picks to find all the talent in this draft. New General Manager Ryan Pace is off to a great start in the windy city.

Detroit Lions (B)

Picks: OG Laken Tomlinson (28^th), RB Ameer Abdullah (54^th), CB Alex Carter (80^th), DT Gabe Wright (113^th), FB Michael Burton (168^th), CB Quandre Diggs (200^th), OL Corey Robinson (240^th)- The Lions had an interesting draft. They addressed their big needs (guard, running back, cornerback, defensive tackle), however some of their picks were reaches. Tomlinson is a solid player, but he was a reach. Alex Carter is a decent cover corner, but, he was a reach as well. Still, it was a solid draft class for Detroit.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons (B+)

Picks: OLB Vic Beasley (8^th), CB Jalen Collins (42^nd), RB Tevin Coleman (73^rd), WR Justin Hardy (107^th), DT/NT Grady Jarrett (137^th), OL Jake Rodgers (225^th), DB Akeem King (249^th)- The Falcons had a great draft, minus Jalen Collins. Their first round pick, Vic Beasley, is the impact pass rusher they have needed for years. Tevin Coleman will compete for the starting job as early as day one. Justin Hardy will immediately replace Harry Douglas in the slot, and Grady Jarrett is good rotational depth for Paul Soliai in the middle of the Falcons defense. Jalen Collins is the only thing that prevents this draft from being an “A-minus.”

Carolina Panthers (C-)

Picks: OLB Shaq Thompson (25^th), WR Devin Funchess (41^st), OL Daryl Williams (102^nd), LB David Mayo (169^th), RB Cameron Artis-Payne (174^th)- The Panthers draft started off great. Many people think that Shaq Thompson was a reach, but I love his versatility. He can cover a tight end one on one, and stops the run well. It may not have been a true need, but he will replace A.J Klein from day one. After that, the draft takes a nosedive. Funchess was not only a reach, but he’s a project because of his drops and incomplete route tree. Daryl Williams is a positional need, but I don’t think he has great value, and David Mayo was just unnecessary. Overall, this was a sub par draft.

New Orleans Saints (B)

Picks: OT Andrus Peat (13^th), ILB Stephone Anthony (31^st), OLB Hau’oli Kikaha (44^th), QB Garrett Grayson (75^th), CB P.J Williams (78^th), ILB Davis Tull (148^th), NT Tyeler Davidson (154^th), CB Damian Swann (167^th), RB Marcus Murphy (230^th)- I thought the Saints had a solid draft. Their first four picks were exactly what they needed. Peat will allow Zach Strief to go to guard, where he will presumably be more effective. Anthony was one of my favorite players in the draft, and he will be well worth the first round selection. Kikaha is a solid edge rusher and Grayson could be the quarterback of the future. Grayson was one of two quarterbacks in this draft that I thought could become a starter after sitting a few years. After that, the draft was below average. P.J Williams has upside, but throughout his career at Florida State I saw a corner who wouldn’t produce in the NFL. There weren’t any late round value picks either, but I still thought this was a solid draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (B)

Picks: QB Jameis Winston (1^st), OT/OG Donovan Smith (34^th), OG Ali Marpet (61^st), ILB Kwon Alexander (124^th), WR Kenny Bell (162^nd), WR Kaelin Clay (184^th), RB Joey Iosefa (231^st)- The Buccaneers draft after Jameis Winston may not have sparkled, but it was affective. Donovan Smith could prove to be a good right tackle, and if nothing else he should make a smooth transition to guard. Ali Marpet will probably be the offensive tackle that transitions to guard, and I expect him to do it well. The Bucs also added Kwon Alexander, who has the potential to shine in Lovie Smith’s defense. I think the Buccaneers did a good job of getting better this offseason.

NFC West

St. Louis Rams (D)

Picks: RB Todd Gurley (10^th), OT Rob Havenstein (57^th), OL Jamon Brown (72^nd), QB Sean Mannion (89^th), OL Andrew Donnal (119^th), WR Bud Sasser (201^st), OL Cody Wichmann (215^th), LB Bryce Hager (224^th), DE Martin Ifedi (227^th)- This draft is pathetic minus Gurley and Havenstein, and amazingly their two good picks were reaches. I’m just moving on to the next team.

San Francisco 49ers (B)

Picks: DE Arik Armstead (17^th), SS Jaquiski Tartt (46^th), OLB Eli Harold (79^th), TE Blake Bell (117^th), RB Mike Davis (126^th), WR DeAndre Smelter (132^nd), P Bradley Pinion (165^th), OL Ian Silberman (190^th), OL Trenton Brown (244^th), TE Busta Anderson (254^th)- Like the Saints, the Niners first four picks were solid. Armstead has a lot of upside, and despite the fact he is raw, I had him at a first round grade. Tartt and Harold will also be impact defensive players, especially Eli Harold, who was a steal in round three. I even like the Niners drafting the quarterback turned tight end in Blake Bell. There wasn’t a lot of value late, but the Niners draft was solid.

Arizona Cardinals (B)

Picks: OT D.J Humphries (24^th), OLB Markus Golden (58^th), RB David Johnson (86^th), OL Rodney Gunter (116^th), OLB Shaquille Riddick (158^th), WR J.J Nelson (159^th), TE Gerald Christian (256^th)- Many people love the Cardinals draft, but I’m not as impressed as most. I like D.J Humphries, but I still think he’s a right tackle, and not the best tackle in the draft. Markus Golden is absolutely useless. I don’t see what everyone else does in him. David Johnson was a great pick, however. Johnson could wind up be the starting guard as early as this season. I actually really liked the J.J Nelson selection as well, even if the Cardinals don’t need a receiver right now. Don’t get me wrong, the Cardinals draft is good, but I don’t think it was great.

Seattle Seahawks (C-)

Picks: DE Frank Clark (63^rd), WR Tyler Lockett (69^th), OL Terry Poole (130^th), OL Mark Glowsinki (134^th), CB Tye Smith (170^th), DE Obum Gwacham (209^th), DT Kristjan Sokoli (214^th) S Ryan Murphy (248^th)- Like the St. Louis Rams, this draft isn’t worth talking about it, minus Tyler Lockett. Having said that, I can’t give this worse than a “C-minus” because they did turn one of their picks in a horrifically weak draft class into Jimmy Graham.

This entry was posted in NFL Draft Articles and tagged Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins.

Jordan Katz NFL Mock Draft 4.0- Final Mock Draft (3 Rounds)

Posted on April 28, 2015 Updated on April 30, 2015

The NFL Draft is upon us, which means it’s time for one final mock draft from yours truly. Unlike most mock draft analysts, I’m not going to overreact to things teams are reporting to try to “be right.” This mock draft is more about my opinion of what teams should do based on the way the draft fell in front of them. It’s also based on team needs as well as my own evaluation of player.

To sum up, this is not your average mock draft around this time of year. I am giving you the selections and trades I would make if I were running the draft for all 32 teams. Also, I provided a little less analysis in this mock draft, because most of my analysis of players is well documented by now.

Round One

1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jameis Winston, QB Florida State- Eat. Sleep. Draft Jameis Winston. Repeat.

2) Tennessee Titans- Leonard Williams, DT Southern California- I don’t think the Titans will get anyone to trade with them, because I don’t think they genuinely want Marcus Mariota. Teams can dare Tennessee to take Mariota, rather than “giving the farm,” to move up.

3) New York Jets via Jacksonville Jaguars- Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon- Tennessee not trading down puts Jacksonville in a perfect position to do so. In terms of the Jets moving up, I still believe the Jets will win the Mariota sweepstakes.

4) Oakland Raiders- Amari Cooper, WR Alabama- After four months of evaluations, Cooper over Kevin White is my final answer.

5) Cleveland Browns via Washington Redskins- Kevin White, WR West Virginia- Washington wants to trade down, and Cleveland needs a number one wide receiver. This seems like a perfect match.

6) Jacksonville Jaguars via New York Jets- Dante Fowler Jr., DE Florida- Where does Jacksonville sign for this draft outcome? The Jags manage to land Fowler, despite trading down.

7) New Orleans Saints via Chicago Bears- Vic Beasley, OLB Clemson- I think this is an out of the box trade that could happen on Thursday. New Orleans has an extra first rounder, so they can afford to give a couple of later picks to move up and get an impact defensive player.

8) Atlanta Falcons- Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE/OLB Kentucky- Bud Dupree is a great fit, but I would imagine it would be difficult for Thomas Dimitroff and company to watch their NFC South rival trade up past them and take Beasley.

9) New York Giants- Brandon Scherff, OG Iowa- The Giants drafting a first round offensive lineman with versatility and high character? Oh, unknowable universe.

10) St. Louis Rams- DeVante Parker, WR Louisville- The Rams desperately need a top tier wide receiver for newly acquired quarterback Nick Foles.

11) Minnesota Vikings- Trae Waynes, CB Michigan State- The Vikings could go a number of different directions on draft day, but based on the way this draft played out (Scherff and Parker off the board), Waynes seems like the obvious pick.

12) Washington Redskins via Cleveland Browns- Eli Harold, OLB Virginia- The Redskins could have gone edge rusher at the five, but I think they recognize the need to get more picks in the early portions of this draft.

13) Chicago Bears via New Orleans Saints- Jordan Phillips, NT Oklahoma- This is great value for the Bears. They trade down, grab an extra pick, and get an impactful nose tackle.

14) Miami Dolphins- Shaq Thompson, OLB Washington- This may be a bit of a luxury pick, but it’s a perfect fit. Thompson’s coverage ability will take pressure off the rest of the linebacking core.

15) San Francisco 49ers- Eric Kendricks, ILB UCLA- The 49ers have a lot of needs, but after losing Pat Willis and Chris Borland, inside linebacker is a must early in this draft.

16) Houston Texans- Marcus Peters, CB Washington- Jonathan Joseph is looking more and more like a cap casualty cut next year, which means the Texans need his replacement now.

17) San Diego Chargers- Danny Shelton, NT Washington- The Chargers need a nose tackle above everything else. With Shelton on the board, I suspect they’ll race to the podium in this scenario.

18) Kansas City Chiefs- T.J. Clemmings, OT Pittsburgh- Eric Fisher doesn’t have the support of management in Kansas City, which means they could draft the best tackle on the board at the 18. In this scenario, that’s Clemmings.

19) Washington Redskins via Cleveland Browns from Buffalo Bills- Stephone Anthony, ILB Clemson- Stephone Anthony is one of my favorite players in the draft. He’s a well-rounded inside linebacker, something the Redskins definitely need. Anthony will improve the middle of the Redskins front seven.

20) Philadelphia Eagles- Landon Collins, SS Alabama- The Eagles need any kind of secondary help they can get.

21) Cincinnati Bengals- Eddie Goldman, DT/NT Florida State- Domata Peko struggled last season. Adding an impact player next to Geno Atkins could make this the best front four in the league.

22) Pittsburgh Steelers- Byron Jones, CB Connecticut- The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t selected a first round cornerback since 1997. It’s time to change that.

23) Detroit Lions- Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE UCLA- With this pick, the Lions would have Odighizuwa opposite Ziggy Ansah and next to Haloti Ngata. That’s one heck of a front four.

24) Arizona Cardinals- Malcom Brown, NT Texas- Malcom Brown has the versatility to play a 3-4 defensive end and a 3-4 nose tackle. His ability to play multiple techniques in different schemes will make him an attractive pick on draft day.

25) Carolina Panthers- Andrus Peat, OT Stanford- I think many are overthinking this pick for the Panthers. Yes, they signed Michael Oher. However, they still need a left tackle.

26) Baltimore Ravens- Jaelen Strong, WR Arizona State- Despite Joe Flacco’s reported trust in his receivers, I doubt a great football mind like Ozzie Newsome is going to feel the same way.

27) Dallas Cowboys- Todd Gurley, RB Georgia- Even though I have a sneaky suspicion Gurley goes higher than this, I can’t put a running back higher than the 20^th overall in the modern NFL.

28) Oakland Raiders via Denver Broncos- Preston Smith, DE Mississippi State- Preston Smith has great versatility, something Oakland has lacked in their front four for a long time.

29) Indianapolis Colts- Carl Davis, NT Iowa- By virtue of a glaring need I have Carl Davis here. I personally have Davis at a second round grade, but he has a lot of upside.

30) Green Bay Packers- Arik Armstead, DE Oregon- Armstead is arguably the biggest risk/reward pick in the draft. Green Bay can afford to take the risk.

31) New Orleans Saints via Seattle Seahawks- Jake Fisher, OT/OG Oregon– After losing Ben Grubbs, guard is a must in this draft for the Saints. While I think Fisher is a fine tackle, he could be a terrific left guard in the Saints offense.

32) Minnesota Vikings via New England Patriots- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR Oklahoma- New England may shock people on draft day and try to move up, but the one thing I think is certain is that they don’t select at the 32nd overall.

In terms of the trade from the Vikings perspective, I don’t think Mike Zimmer will fear DGB’s character issues. He’s a no nonsense coach, and sometimes that’s exactly what a guy with “character issues,” needs.

Trades

– New York Jets trade the #6 and the #37 to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #3

– Cleveland Browns trade the #12 and the #19 to the Washington Redskins for the #5 and the #69

– New Orleans Saints trade the #13 and the #44 to the Chicago Bears for the #7

– Oakland Raiders trade the #35 and the #99 to the Denver Broncos for the #28.

– Minnesota Vikings trade the #45 and the #76 to the New England Patriots for the #32 and the #131

Round Two

33) Tennessee Titans- D.J Humphries, OT Florida

34) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Nate Orchard, DE Utah

35) Denver Broncos via Oakland Raiders- Ty Sambrailo, OG Colorado State

36) Jacksonville Jaguars- Cedric Ogbuehi, OT Texas A&M

37) Jacksonville Jaguars via New York Jets- Duke Johnson, RB Miami Florida

38) Washington Redskins- Ali Marpet, OG Hobart

39) Chicago Bears- Nelson Agholor, WR Southern California

40) New York Giants- Cameron Erving, C Florida State

41) St. Louis Rams- La’El Collins, OT/OG LSU

42) Atlanta Falcons- Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin

43) Cleveland Browns- Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota

44) Chicago Bears via New Orleans Saints- Ereck Flowers, OT Miami Florida

45) New England Patriots via Minnesota Vikings- Kevin Johnson, CB Wake Forest

46) San Francisco 49ers- Ronald Darby, CB Florida State

47) Miami Dolphins- Quentin Rollins, CB Miami (Ohio)

48) San Diego Chargers- Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana

49) Kansas City Chiefs- Rashad Greene, WR Florida State

50) Buffalo Bills- Benadrick McKinney, ILB Mississippi State

51) New England Patriots via Houston Texans- Laken Tomlinson, OG Duke

52) Philadelphia Eagles- Breshad Perriman, WR UCF

53) Carolina Panthers via Cincinnati Bengals- Devin Smith, WR Ohio State

54) Detroit Lions- Jay Ajayi, RB Boise State

55) Arizona Cardinals- Danielle Hunter, OLB LSU

56) Pittsburgh Steelers- Randy Gregory, OLB Nebraska

57) Cincinnati Bengals via Carolina Panthers- A.J Cann, OG South Carolina

58) Baltimore Ravens- Mario Edwards Jr., DE Florida State

59) Denver Broncos- Xavier Cooper, DT Washington State

60) Jacksonville Jaguars via Dallas Cowboys- Phillip Dorsett, WR Miami Florida

61) Indianapolis Colts- Damarious Randall, FS Arizona State

62) New York Giants via Green Bay Packers- Derron Smith, FS Fresno State

63) Seattle Seahawks- Michael Bennett, DT Ohio State

64) Houston Texans via New England Patriots- Cody Prewitt, FS Ole Miss

Trades in Round Two

– New England Patriots trade the #64 and the #96 to the Houston Texans for the #51

– Carolina Panthers trade the #57 and a 2016 5^th round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for the #53.

– Jacksonville Jaguars trade the #67, #139 and a 2016 7^th round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the #60.

– New York Giants trade the #74 and the #108 to the Green Bay Packers for the #62 and the #166

Round Three

65) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Anthony Harris, SS Virginia

66) Tennessee Titans- Shane Ray, OLB Missouri

67) Dallas Cowboys via Jacksonville Jaguars- Gabe Wright, DT/NT Auburn

68) Oakland Raiders- David Cobb, RB Minnesota

69) Cleveland Browns via Washington Redskins- Grady Jarrett, DT/NT Clemson

70) New York Jets- Tyler Lockett, WR Kansas State

71) Chicago Bears- Gerod Holliman, FS Louisville

72) St. Louis Rams- Rob Havenstein, OT Wisconsin

73) Atlanta Falcons- Clive Walford, TE Miami Florida

74) Green Bay Packers via New York Giants- Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB Washington

75) New Orleans Saints- Garrett Grayson, QB Colorado State

76) New England Patriots via Minnesota Vikings- Justin Hardy, WR East Carolina

77) Cleveland Browns- Donovan Smith, OG Penn State

78) New Orleans Saints via Miami Dolphins- Josh Harper, WR Fresno State

79) San Francisco 49ers- Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB Lousiville

80) Kansas City Chiefs- Hroniss Grassu, C Oregon

81) Buffalo Bills- Brett Hundley, QB UCLA

82) Houston Texans- Paul Dawson, ILB TCU

83) San Diego Chargers- Trey Flowers, DE/OLB Arkansas

84) Philadelphia Eagles- Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB Oregon

85) Cincinnati Bengals- Jake Ryan, OLB Michigan

86) Arizona Cardinals- David Johnson, RB Northern Iowa

87) Pittsburgh Steelers- Jaquiski Tartt, SS Samford

88) Detroit Lions- Kevin White, CB TCU

89) Carolina Panthers- Za’Darius Smith, DE Kentucky

90) Baltimore Ravens- Steven Nelson, CB Oregon State

91) Dallas Cowboys- Chris Hackett, S TCU

92) Denver Broncos- Eric Rowe, CB/S Utah

93) Indianapolis Colts- Charles Gaines, CB Louisville

94) Green Bay Packers- Kwon Alexander, ILB LSU

95) Seattle Seahawks- Tre Jackson, OG Florida State

96) Houston Texans via New England Patriots- B.J Finney, C Kansas State

97) New England Patriots (compensatory)- Denzel Perryman, ILB Miami Florida

98) Kansas City Chiefs (compensatory)- Henry Anderson, DE Stanford

99) Cincinnati Bengals (compensatory)- Devin Funchess, WR/TE Michigan

This entry was posted in Mock Drafts, NFL Draft Articles and tagged Amari Cooper, Atlanta Falcons, Brandon Scherff, Brett Hundley, Bud Dupree, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Dante Fowler Jr, DeVante Parker, Dorial Green-Beckham, Eddie Goldman, Eli Harold, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jameis Winston, Jordan Phillips, Kevin White, Leonard Williams, Marcus Mariota, Melvin Gordon, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL Mock Draft, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Randy Gregory, Shane Ray, Shaq Thompson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Todd Gurley, Vic Beasley, Washington Redskins.

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