Los Angeles Rams
Jordan Katz 2017 NFL Mock Draft 3.0- Post NFL Combine
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
Jordan Katz 2017 NFL Mock Draft 2.0- Post Super Bowl
Following an incredible Super Bowl comeback, it’s time for my second Mock Draft of the 2017 Draft season. For this Mock Draft, I’ve gone three rounds with my opinions of what I think each team should do at each selection. As far as trades are concerned, I only did trades in round one, and I only made trades when the team could get appropriate value according to the Trade Value Chart.
This draft is still based on my rankings and my value of players. It’s also based on my team needs for each team. This doesn’t mean that each team took their top need in the first round. Team needs give General Managers a “road map,” of what they need, but it’s not always the route they take. Sometimes the best player on the board is one you can’t pass on. Balancing when to draft based on team need and when to draft based on best player available is what separates the average General Managers from the great General Managers. I tried to find that balance for every team.
ROUND ONE
1) Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE/OLB Texas A&M- Myles Garrett remains the top selection simply because he’s the best player in this draft. I can’t see Cleveland passing on his talent for any reason.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Mitch Trubisky, QB North Carolina- I’m concerned about the rumors that Trubisky is going to measure in at 6’1. The lack of size could make him fall a bit in my rankings.
However, Trubisky still has franchise quarterback material. He’s accurate, he’s athletic, and he’s got a bigger arm than people realize.
The combine matters more than it should, and unfortunately for Trubisky, it will make or break his draft stock.
3) Chicago Bears: Jonathan Allen, DE Alabama- The Bears are in an interesting draft spot because of how much they need. They can create buzz around Deshaun Watson in order to trade down and acquire more assets. Unfortunately for them, I still don’t have a first round grade on Watson, so they’re stuck selecting at the third spot.
Fortunately for them, Jonathan Allen is worthy of a top selection because of his ability to use his hands and be disruptive in all facets of the game.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars: Jamal Adams, FS/SS LSU- Adams is one of my top three players in this draft. I think his technique is great and he’s a complete safety with the ability to play in every coverage. Putting Adams with Ramsey has the makings of a great secondary in the future.
5) Tennessee Titans via LA Rams: Marshon Lattimore, CB Ohio State- The Titans need secondary help at this selection. Between Adams, Lattimore and Malik Hooker, they’re going to get it. Lattimore has number one cornerback written all over him. His technique is flawless. Lattimore’s backpedal is strong, his hips swivel quickly and fluidly, and he can trail with the best of them.
6) New Orleans Saints via New York Jets: Reuben Foster, ILB Alabama- If Marshon Lattimore and Mitch Trubisky are off the board, I would trade down if I were the Jets. There are plenty of valuable players at the top of this draft, and the Jets can create enough buzz in order to be able to move this pick.
New Orleans needs defensive help desperately. To ensure they get a game changing defensive player, they move up a few spots to land Reuben Foster.
7) Los Angeles Chargers: Tim Williams, EDGE Alabama- If the Chargers lose Melvin Ingram to free agency, edge rusher becomes their top priority. Tim Williams needs to improve versus the run, but his ability to rush the passer is as good as anyone in this draft.
8) Carolina Panthers: Leonard Fournette, RB LSU- Something tells me the Panthers are going to do something weird in this draft. If it were me, I’d draft the best player available and not think twice. On my board, that best player is Fournette. Fournette’s ability to run through the tackles would gel nicely with the Panthers offensive strategies.
9) Cincinnati Bengals: Teez Tabor, CB Florida- Some may be off the bandwagon, but I’m still a huge Teez Tabor fan. He’s aggressive in man to man coverage, and he’s a ball hawk extraordinaire. Somehow the Bengals need secondary help yet again (assuming they lose Dre Kirkpatrick to free agency), so Tabor makes sense for Cincinnati at this pick.
10) Buffalo Bills: Corey Davis, WR Western Michigan- The Bills need another playmaker opposite Sammy Watkins, regardless of who their quarterback is. Davis might be the best route runner in the draft, which is impressive because his route running is not his best quality. He’s a game changer with he ball in his hands, and his speed along with his size make him a match-up problem for opposing defenses. Davis would change the dynamic of the Bills offense from day one.
11) New York Jets via New Orleans Saints: Ryan Ramczyk, OT Wisconsin- The Jets cannot come out of this draft without a tackle of the future. Ramczyk might have torn his labrum during Wisconsin’s bowl game, but he’s still the best offensive lineman in the draft by far.
12) Cleveland Browns via Philadelphia Eagles: Malik Hooker, FS Ohio State- Malik Hooker’s comparison to Ed Reed is very real and not at all overblown. While he’s still very raw, there’s no one in this draft that has his zone coverage potential. He can roam in cover one with the best of them, and can help the Browns force more turnovers (30th in the NFL in takeaways), a stat they need to be better at in 2017.
13) Arizona Cardinals: Sidney Jones, CB Washington- The Cardinals draft depends on what they decide to do at quarterback. If they determine they must have a young quarterback with their first pick, you could see the Cardinals trading out of this pick to acquire future assets and still get that quarterback.
If I were in charge, I wouldn’t neglect the need for a number two cornerback. Not having solid coverage opposite Patrick Peterson drastically changed the dynamic of their defense. Jones is a terrific scheme fit for the Cardinals because his technique is solid and he trails receivers well.
14) Indianapolis Colts: Zach Cunningham, ILB Vanderbilt- As long as the Colts take defense at this pick, their selection is fine by me. Cunningham has good coverage ability and can be a signal caller in the middle of the Colts defense.
15) Philadelphia Eagles via Minnesota Vikings: Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State- Like I said in my first mock draft, the Eagles rebuild is complete with the drafting of Dalvin Cook.
16) Baltimore Ravens: Quincy Wilson, CB Florida- Wilson has ideal size and length for a corner, and his skill set is incredibly solid. Wilson has good technique, solid ball skills, and the makings of a very good press cover corner. He might not have the wow factor of Lattimore or Tabor, but the Ravens would love a player of his talent at this selection.
17) Detroit Lions via Washington Redskins: Taco Charlton, DE Michigan- Taco Charlton has no business being on the board right now. He’s a complete 4-3 defensive end with a terrific pass rushing move set. Detroit is in desperate need of an edge rusher opposite Ziggy Ansah, and because Washington can move down and still get the player they covet, this trade makes sense.
18) Tennessee Titans: Mike Williams, WR Clemson- The Titans need to get Marcus Mariota some true weapons in order to take the next step. Williams is 1A to Corey Davis in this draft. He uses his body well, he’s the best jump ball player in the draft, and while he doesn’t run the cleanest routes, he’s a savvy route runner. He knows how to use his size when he cuts out of his break.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jabril Peppers, ATH Michigan- Peppers is falling on most draft boards because of his size, or lack thereof. However, Jabril Peppers is a football player, and I think there is something to be said for that. If you don’t think he’s a great safety because of his coverage ability, he can play more of a big nickel role. If you doubt his ability to shed blockers, he can be a running back. He’s a football player, and that has a ton of NFL value.
20) Denver Broncos: OJ Howard, TE Alabama- OJ Howard is the big winner of the Senior Bowl because he somehow managed to distance himself from a loaded tight end class. Whoever wins the job this year between Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian needs a safety valve in the middle of the field.
21) Washington Redskins via Detroit Lions: Malik McDowell, DE/DT Michigan State- Washington executes sliding down and still getting Malik McDowell to sure up their defensive front. McDowell has the character concerns, but he will dominate the combine in Indianapolis. His length and quickness can make him a mismatch nightmare in the NFL.
22) Miami Dolphins: David Njoku, TE Miami Florida- The Dolphins are losing both tight ends to free agency. Rather than re-signing one of them, it makes more sense for Miami to draft one of the star tight ends in this draft. Njoku is more of a complete tight end than people think. He would become a valuable weapon for Ryan Tannehill.
23) New York Giants: Solomon Thomas, EDGE Stanford- It’s no secret that the Giants need offensive line help, but there’s not an offensive lineman worth selecting here. I tried to trade down for the Giants, but they couldn’t receive enough value to move the pick.
However, Solomon Thomas is a good consolation prize. He might not be the most explosive athlete, but he gets good leverage on opposing linemen, and he excels as a finesse rusher versus bigger lineman. Thomas sets up linemen with his hands and directs them to where he wants them to go. Jason Pierre-Paul is most likely leaving in free agency, so Thomas could fill a necessary void at defensive end.
24) Cleveland Browns via Oakland Raiders: Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson- I love the idea of the QB needy teams trading back into the first round for Kizer or Watson. Teams want that fifth year option on their rookie quarterbacks, so trading back in rather than selecting one too high makes sense if you’re willing to take the gamble that you can pull it off.
Watson is on the rise on my personal board, and he could be a top 15 pick later on in draft season. If his deep ball accuracy continues to improve, he could find himself in my top ten come April.
25) Houston Texans: Cam Robinson, OT Alabama- This is the only selection I made that isn’t based on my own ratings. Robinson would be a reach pick, but Houston is so desperate for offensive line help that they make the reach.
26) Seattle Seahawks: Forrest Lamp, OG Western Kentucky- Forrest Lamp is another guy who could be a top 15 pick in a few months. I love his athleticism and footwork for a guard. I think he’s got the potential to turn into a Pro Bowl guard at the next level.
27) Kansas City Chiefs: Budda Baker, CB/FS/SS Washington- The Chiefs should be able to re-sign Eric Berry, but they still need secondary pieces to keep their defense at an elite level. Budda Baker has the technique to play at every spot in the secondary (fluid hips, quick feet, exc), and the ball hawk ability to be a difference maker. Defensive Coordinator Bob Sutton would love a chess piece like Baker in his defense.
28) Dallas Cowboys: Derek Barnett, EDGE Tennessee- The Cowboys had a very successful 2016 campaign, but they need defensive pieces if they want to make it to the next level. I’m not as high on Barnett as others, but I do think his speed around the edge and his instincts will make him a very good pro.
29) Green Bay Packers: Carl Lawson, EDGE Auburn- Lawson’s ability to get pressure with his hand in the dirt or standing up will have him coveted by teams in the back end of the first round. The Packers need all the defensive help they can get, so this pick seems obvious.
30) Pittsburgh Steelers: Charles Harris, EDGE Missouri- I’m not a huge fan of Charles Harris, but he’s easily the best of the “second tier,” of edge rushers in this draft. I’m not sure his move set will translate to the NFL level, but there are plenty who disagree with me on that. Time will tell.
31) Atlanta Falcons: Montravius Adams, DT Auburn- Montravius Adams remains one of my favorite players in this draft. His versatility and athleticism would make him a perfect fit in the middle of Dan Quinn’s defense.
32) New England Patriots: TJ Watt, OLB Wisconsin- TJ Watt is the prototypical Patriot. He doesn’t do anything spectacular, but he’s a play making, run stopping linebacker with great football instincts. Even if Dont’a Hightower gets a long term extension, the Patriots still need play-makers in their linebacking core.
TRADES
1- New Orleans Saints trade the #11 and the #42 to the New York Jets for the #6 and a 2017 4th round pick
2- Detroit Lions trade the #21 and #85 to the Washington Redskins for the #17 and the #183
3- Cleveland Browns trade the #33, #97 and a 2018 3rd round pick to the Oakland Raiders for the #24 and a 2018 5th round pick
ROUND TWO
33) Oakland Raiders via Cleveland Browns- D’Onta Foreman, RB Texas
34) San Francisco 49ers- Malachi Dupre, WR LSU
35) Jacksonville Jaguars- Dan Feeney, OG Indiana
36) Chicago Bears- Jarrod Davis, OLB//ILB Florida
37) Los Angeles Rams- Obi Melifonwu, FS/SS UCONN
38) Los Angeles Chargers- Pat Elflein, OG/OC Ohio State
39) New York Jets- DeShone Kizer, QB Notre Dame
40) Carolina Panthers- Marlon Humphrey, CB Alabama
41) Cincinnati Bengals- Caleb Brantley, DT Florida
42) New York Jets via New Orleans Saints- Adoree Jackson, CB/FS USC
43) Philadelphia Eagles- Desmond King, CB/FS Iowa
44) Buffalo Bills- Patrick Mahomes, QB Texas Tech
45) Arizona Cardinals- Davis Webb, QB California
46) Minnesota Vikings- Garett Bolles, OT Utah
47) Baltimore Ravens- Cooper Kupp, WR Eastern Washington
48) Indianapolis Colts- Takkarist McKinnley, EDGE UCLA
49) Washington Redskins- Anthony Walker, ILB Northwestern
50) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- John Ross III, WR Washington
51) Denver Broncos- Chris Wormley, DE/DT Michigan
52) Cleveland Browns via Tennessee Titans- Jourdan Lewis, CB Michigan
53) Detroit Lions- Ryan Anderson, OLB Alabama
54) Miami Dolphins- Deatrich Wise Jr, EDGE Arkansas
55) New York Giants- Dion Dawkins, OG Temple
56) Oakland Raiders- Haason Reddick, OLB/ILB Temple
57) Houston Texans- Jarron Jones, NT Notre Dame
58) Seattle Seahawks- Tre’Davious White, CB LSU
59) Kansas City Chiefs- Taylor Moton, OT Western Michigan
60) Dallas Cowboys- Cordrea Tankersley, CB Clemson
61) Green Bay Packers- Elijah Qualls, NT Washington
62) Pittsburgh Steelers- Zay Jones, WR East Carolina
63) Atlanta Falcons- Dorian Johnson, OG Pittsburgh
64) New England Patriots- Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford
ROUND THREE
65) Cleveland Browns- Curtis Samuel, WR/RB Ohio State
66) San Francisco 49ers- Rasul Douglas, CB West Virginia
67) Chicago Bears- Gareon Conley, CB Ohio State
68) Jacksonville Jaguars- Demarcus Walker, DE Florida State
69) Tennessee Titans via Los Angeles Rams- Marcus Williams, FS Utah
70) New York Jets- Jake Butt, TE Michigan
71) San Diego Chargers- Justin Evans, SS Texas A&M
72) Carolina Panthers- Tarrell Basham, DE Ohio
73) Cincinnati Bengals- Raekwon McMillian, ILB Ohio State
74) Philadelphia Eagles- Amba Etta-Tawo, WR Syracuse
75) Buffalo Bills- Antonio Garcia, OT Troy
76) New Orleans Saints- Dawuane Smoot, EDGE Illinois
77) Arizona Cardinals- Amara Darboh, WR Michigan
78) Baltimore Ravens- Derek Rivers, EDGE Youngstown State
79) Indianapolis Colts- Cameron Sutton, CB/FS Tennessee
80) Minnesota Vikings- Roedrick Johnson, OT Florida State
81) Washington Redskins- Carlos Watkins, DE/DT/NT Clemson
82) Denver Broncos- Ethan Pocic, OG/OC LSU
83) Tennessee Titans- Jordan Leggett, TE Clemson
84) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Daeshon Hall, EDGE Texas A&M
85) Washington Redskins via Detroit Lions- Eddie Jackson, SS Alabama
86) Minnesota Vikings via Miami Dolphins- Alvin Kamara, RB Tennessee
87) New York Giants- Gerald Everett, TE South Alabama
88) Oakland Raiders- Jaleel Johnson, DT Iowa
89) Houston Texans- Lorenzo Jerome, SS St. Francis PA
90) Seattle Seahawks- Julie’n Davenport, OT Bucknell
91) Kansas City Chiefs- Nathan Peterman, QB Pittsburgh
92) Dallas Cowboys- DeDe Westbrook, WR Oklahoma
93) Green Bay Packers- Wayne Gallman, RB Clemson
94) Pittsburgh Steelers- Damontae Kazee, CB San Diego State
95) Atlanta Falcons- Bryan Cox Jr, DE Florida
96) New England Patriots- Evan Engram, TE Ole Miss
Jordan Katz- Media Mock Draft: Final Predictions
The NFL Draft is finally upon us. For many fans, this is the official start of the new season. Regardless of what your team did or did not do in free agency, the draft is where everyone has a chance to improve their team and set up success in the future.
For mock draft pundits, however, this is the culmination of the draft process. From the hours of scouting, to the evaluation of the combines and pro days, to deciphering which rumors have merit, and which ones have been facilitated to the media to create buzz, the NFL Draft is our chance to see where our predictions and evaluations stacked up.
In this year’s draft, there isn’t as much talent as in the last couple of years. There are significantly more question marks surrounding the top picks, and there might not be a true “can’t miss,” prospect in the draft.
In my opinion, that’s when the draft is the most fun. It becomes harder to find the true gems, harder to predict, and typically you see a lot of chaos in round one. We have already seen the top two picks in the draft get traded.
In this final “media mock draft,” I tried to get all the picks correctly. I based my selections on the rumors I’ve read, teams pre-draft workouts and visits, and team needs. I did not use my personal evaluations, this is strictly a predictions mock draft. There’s not as much analysis in this one, as my views on players and team needs have bee well documented. Let’s hope I get a few right.
ROUND ONE
1) Los Angeles Rams via Tennessee Titans- Jared Goff, QB California- Goff being more NFL ready than Carson Wentz will be the deciding factor.
2) Philadelphia Eagles via Cleveland Browns- Carson Wentz, QB North Dakota State– I think the Eagles decision to “redshirt,” Wentz will benefit him greatly.
3) San Diego Chargers- DeForest Buckner, DE Oregon- It’s hard to decipher which rumors are true and which are smoke screens at this stage in the draft. One thing is for sure though; the Chargers decision between Buckner, Laremy Tunsil and Jalen Ramsey will have a domino effect on the rest of the draft.
4) Dallas Cowboys- Jalen Ramsey, CB/S Florida State- If Ramsey is available, I believe he will be the pick. If he’s not, I think the Cowboys take ‘Zeke Eliiott.
5) Jacksonville Jaguars- Myles Jack, OLB UCLA- The Jaguars have loved Myles Jack throughout the process. If his knee checks out, he’ll be the pick.
6) Baltimore Ravens- Laremy Tunsil, OT Ole Miss- General Manager Ozzie Newsome takes what many feel is the best player in the draft.
7) Tennessee Titans via San Francisco 49ers- Ronnie Stanley, OT Notre Dame- I think the Niners are talking up the idea of them going offensive line to get Tennessee to trade up for the pick. The Titans trade back into the top ten for their right tackle; the Niners get extra draft picks.
8) Miami Dolphins via Cleveland Browns from Philadelphia Eagles via Miami Dolphins- Ezekiel Elliott, RB Ohio State- The rumors around the Dolphins are that they’d love to jump the Bears for Ezekiel Elliott. The Browns have so many options here, so they can slide down a few spots and pick up the player they want while adding a day two pick.
9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Joey Bosa, DE Ohio State- I think Bosa could slide on draft day, and it wouldn’t shock me if the Bucs were given a gift at this pick.
10) New York Giants- Vernon Hargreaves, CB Florida- The Giants didn’t get good play out of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie last year. Based on their massive spending this offseason, he could be a cap cut next year. This means the Giants would need a replacement.
11) Chicago Bears- Leonard Floyd, EDGE Georgia- The Bears need a dominant pass rusher and many feel Floyd is that.
12) New Orleans Saints- Sheldon Rankins, DT Louisville- The Saints are enamored with Rankins, but they’ve also had internal discussions about Robert Nkemdiche. My guess is that one of the two will be the pick.
13) Cleveland Browns from Miami Dolphins via Philadelphia Eagles- Jack Conklin, OT Michigan State- The Browns slide down and still get the right tackle they want.
14) Oakland Raiders- Robert Nkemdiche, DT Ole Miss- I’ve read that we should expect Nkemdiche off the board somewhere in the top 20. Rumor has it that the Raiders are one of the teams connected with taking him.
15) San Francisco 49ers from Tennessee Titans via Los Angeles Rams- Paxton Lynch, QB Memphis- I think the Niners are still heavily interested in Paxton Lynch, and they can easily trade down and select him.
16) Indianapolis Colts via Detroit Lions- Ryan Kelly, C Alabama- The Lions are being linked to Ryan Kelly, a player whom the Colts desire. I think the Lions can finagle extra value out of this pick if they choose to.
17) Atlanta Falcons- Darron Lee, OLB Ohio State- I have a second round grade on Lee, but I think this is a very good scheme fit.
18) Detroit Lions via Indianapolis Colts- Taylor Decker, OT Ohio State- The Lions need a tackle to start next year and move to the left side once Riley Reiff departs.
19) Buffalo Bills- Jarran Reed, DE/DT Alabama- There are two edge rushers from Clemson on the board for Rex Ryan, but I hear the Bills like Jarran Reed. Don’t be surprised if this is Christian Hackenburg either.
20) New York Jets- Shaq Lawson, EDGE Clemson- The Jets ideal scenario is to go edge rusher at this pick. Lawson could fall on draft day, but that’s not a reflection on the player he is.
21) Washington Redskins- A’Shawn Robinson, NT Alabama- The Redskins need someone in the middle of the defense to replace Terrance Knighton.
22) Houston Texans- Corey Coleman, WR Baylor- The Texans are going to look to give Brock Osweiler a new weapon on draft day. Coleman’s speed and route running will make him an attractive player to Head Coach Bill O’Brien.
23) Minnesota Vikings- Josh Doctson, WR TCU- The Vikings cut Mike Wallace to make room for a wide receiver in this draft, and many think it will be Doctson.
24) Cincinnati Bengals- Will Fuller, WR Notre Dame- I think the Bengals will pass on Laquon Treadwell for a deep threat like Fuller.
25) Pittsburgh Steelers- Karl Joseph, FS/SS West Virginia- I’ll believe the Steelers selecting a first round cornerback when I see it.
26) New York Giants via Seattle Seahawks- Reggie Ragland, ILB Alabama- Seattle is being incredibly quiet on their draft plans. I think that’s because they’d like to get a few extra picks.
It would be very anti-Giants to trade back into the first round. However, word from Giants camp is that this could be an unorthodox draft for the G-Men. They move back up to get the quarterback of their defense that they need.
27) Green Bay Packers- Chris Jones, DE/DT Mississippi State- Jones is getting a lot of buzz in the back end of round one. The Packers need defensive line help, so they could be Jones’ ultimate destination.
28) Kansas City Chiefs- William Jackson III, CB Houston- The Chiefs need to replace Sean Smith, and rumor is they want a cornerback in round one rather than on day two.
29) Dallas Cowboys via Arizona Cardinals- Kevin Dodd, DE Clemson- I think the Cardinals will trade out of round one on draft day. In this case, the Cowboys come up to get an edge rusher they desperately need.
30) Carolina Panthers- Mackensie Alexander, CB Clemson- Cornerback is now priority number one for the defending NFC Champs after the departure of Josh Norman.
31) Denver Broncos- Nick Martin, C/OG Notre Dame- There’s always a surprise in round one where a team takes a player at a need over best available player. I think Nick Martin could be that guy.
TRADES IN ROUND ONE
1) Tennessee Titans trade the #15 and the #43 to the San Francisco 49ers for the #7 and the #178.
2) Miami Dolphins trade the #13, #42 and the #147 to the Cleveland Browns for the #8 and the #77.
3) Indianapolis Colts trade the #18 and the #82 to the Detroit Lions for the #16 and the #151.
4) New York Giants trade the #40, #71 and the #184 to the Seattle Seahawks for the #26 and the #124.
5) Dallas Cowboys trade the #34 and the #101 to the Arizona Cardinals for the #29 and the #167.
ROUND TWO
32) Cleveland Browns- Laquon Treadwell, WR Ole Miss
33) Tennessee Titans- Eli Apple, CB Ohio State
34) Arizona Cardinals via Dallas Cowboys- TJ Green, CB/FS/SS Clemson
35) San Diego Chargers- Jason Spriggs, OT Indiana
36) Baltimore Ravens- Noah Spence, EDGE Western Kentucky
37) San Francisco 49ers- Cody Whitehair, OG Kansas State
38) Jacksonville Jaguars- Shon Coleman, OT Auburn
39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Sean Davis, CB/FS/SS Maryland
40) Seattle Seahawks via New York Giants- Germain Ifedi, OT Texas A&M
41) Chicago Bears- Derrick Henry, RB Alabama
42) Cleveland Browns via Miami Dolphins- Kamalei Correa, EDGE Boise State
43) San Francisco 49ers via Tennessee Titans from Los Angeles Rams via Philadelphia Eagles- Michael Thomas, WR Ohio State
44) Oakland Raiders- Su’a Cravens, OLB/SS Southern California
45) Tennessee Titans via Los Angeles Rams- Kenny Clark, NT UCLA
46) Detroit Lions- Vernon Butler, DL Louisiana Tech
47) New Orleans Saints- Artie Burns, CB Miami Florida
48) Indianapolis Colts- Justin Simmons, FS/SS Boston College
49) Buffalo Bills- Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE Oklahoma State
50) Atlanta Falcons- Keanu Neal, SS Florida
51) New York Jets- Christian Hackenburg, QB Penn State
52) Houston Texans- Austin Johnson, DT/NT Penn State
53) New England Patriots via Washington Redskins- Leonte Carroo, WR Rutgers
54) Minnesota Vikings- Vonn Bell, SS Ohio State
55) Cincinnati Bengals- Javon Hargrave, DT South Carolina State
56) Seattle Seahawks- Joshua Garnett, OG Stanford
57) Green Bay Packers- Jaylon Smith, ILB/OLB Notre Dame
58) Pittsburgh Steelers- Andrew Billings, NT Baylor
59) Kansas City Chiefs- Sterling Shepard, WR Oklahoma
60) Washington Redskins via New England Patriots- CJ Prosise, RB Notre Dame
61) New England Patriots via Arizona Cardinals- Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE Maryland
62) Chicago Bears via Carolina Panthers- Jonathan Bullard, DE Florida
63) Denver Broncos- Hunter Henry, TE Arkansas
TRADES IN ROUND TWO
1) New England Patriots trade the #60 and a 2017 4th to the Washington Redskins for the #53.
2) Chicago Bears trade #72 and a 2017 4th to the Carolina Panthers for the #62.
ROUND THREE
64) Tennessee Titans- Chris Moore, WR Cincinnati
65) Cleveland Browns- Nick Kwiatkoski, OLB/ILB West Virginia
66) San Diego Chargers- Darian Thompson, FS/SS Boise State
67) Dallas Cowboys- Connor Cook, QB Michigan State
68) San Francisco 49ers- Shilique Calhoun, EDGE Michigan State
69) Jacksonville Jaguars- Jordan Jenkins, EDGE Georgia
70) Baltimore Ravens- Alex Collins, RB Arkansas
71) Seattle Seahawks via New York Giants- Jihad Ward, DE/DT Illinois
72) Carolina Panthers via Chicago Bears- Tyler Boyd, WR Pittsburgh
73) Miami Dolphins- Kendall Fuller, CB Virginia Tech
74) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Darian Thompson, FS/SS Boise State
75) Oakland Raiders- Paul Perkins, RB UCLA
76) Tennessee Titans via Los Angeles Rams- Christian Westerman, OG Arizona State
77) Miami Dolphins via Cleveland Browns from Philadelphia Eagles via Detroit Lions- Austin Hooper, TE Stanford
78) New Orleans Saints- Deion Jones, OLB LSU
79) Philadelphia Eagles- Jalen Mills, CB/S LSU
80) Buffalo Bills- Cardale Jones, QB Ohio State
81) Atlanta Falcons- Nick Vannett, TE Ohio State
82) Detroit Lions via Indianapolis Colts- KeiVarae Russell, CB Notre Dame
83) New York Jets- Le’Raven Clark, OT Texas Tech
84) Washington Redskins- Kyler Fackrell, EDGE BYU
85) Houston Texans- Joe Schoebert, OLB Wisconsin
86) Minnesota Vikings- Hassan Ridgeway, DT Texas
87) Cincinnati Bengals- Connor McGovern, OG Missouri
88) Green Bay Packers- Caleb Beneroch, OT UCLA
89) Pittsburgh Steelers- Xavien Howard, CB Baylor
90) Seattle Seahawks- Kenneth Dixon, RB Louisiana Tech
91) New England Patriots- Joshua Perry, OLB Ohio State
92) Arizona Cardinals- De’Vondre Campbell, OLB Minnesota
93) Carolina Panthers- Carl Nassib, DE Penn State
94) San Francisco 49ers via Denver Broncos- Harlan Miller, CB Sotheastern Louisiana State
95) Detroit Lions (compensatory)- Braxton Miller, WR Ohio State
96) New England Patriots (compensatory)- Jerald Hawkins, OT LSU
97) Seattle Seahawks (compensatory)- Bronson Kaufusi, EDGE BYU
98) Denver Broncos (compensatory)- BJ Goodson, ILB Clemson
TRADES IN ROUND THREE
1) Denver Broncos trade the #94 to the San Francisco 49ers for Colin Kaepernick.
Enjoy the Draft everyone.
Jordan Katz-NFL Media Mock Draft
Here at Draftstock.net we believe in giving you the best content that we can give you. Our mock draft motto is always to mock what we would do in each scenario if we were in the war rooms with the 32 NFL teams.
However, I’ve come to realize that some of you may be wondering what your team are most likely to do on draft day. It’s hard to know which media rumors are true, and which are smoke screens. Since the major media outlets report all the information they’re given, it’s very easy for teams to manipulate smoke screens around draft time.
For those that don’t know, a “smoke screen” is a rumor that teams will feed the media to see if they can get a team to trade up for a certain player. For example, a few years ago there was a rumor that a team in the top ten was going to select Ryan Nassib. Many mock draft experts proceeded to put Nassib in their top tens, but alas he fell to round four, like he should’ve.
Upon request from some readers, I’ve decided to do a media based mock drafts. These will be more like the traditional mock drafts you see on NFL.com or ESPN. The one difference is that I will include trades, because those are rumors as well.
I will try to decipher which rumors hold merit, and which ones won’t happen. Hopefully I can help each of you get a better grasp for what your team might do on draft day.
ROUND ONE
1) Tennessee Titans- Laremy Tunsil, OT Ole Miss- Our first smokescreen rumor is Jalen Ramsey to the Titans at the first overall selection. In the post merger era, there has never been a defensive back selected with the top pick. The Titans are kicking this around to see if a team like the Jaguars will overpay to move up a few spots for their top player. I think the Titans are forced to stay here, and in that case they will take Tunsil.
2) Cleveland Browns- Deforest Buckner, DE Oregon- Paul DePodesta is from the “moneyball” mantra, which means at every draft spot you select your best player available. The signing of Robert Griffin III signaled to me that the Browns aren’t fans of the quarterbacks in this draft.
Buckner has a ton of talent, and the Browns are desperate for defensive line help. They also could use about 40 more guys on their roster that can play in the NFL.
3) Jacksonville Jaguars via San Diego Chargers- Jalen Ramsey, CB/FS Florida State- In my personal mock draft I had the Chargers trade down because I think it’s in their best interest, and apparently they agree. The Chargers have been trying to pawn off the third overall pick for a while. With Ramsey, Carson Wentz, and Jared Goff on the board, the offers will be pouring in.
My guess is Jacksonville will be the most lucrative option. The Chargers stay in the top five, and get a top second round pick. The Jaguars get a game changer in Ramsey.
4) Dallas Cowboys- Joey Bosa, DE Ohio State- I know the rumor is that Bosa’s stock has fallen and he might wind up outside the top ten, but I just don’t see Dallas passing on him. Randy Gregory failed a drug test and Greg Hardy isn’t coming back. They need someone opposite Demarcus Lawrence and Bosa’s tape is phenomenal.
5) St. Louis Rams from San Diego Chargers via Jacksonville Jaguars- Jared Goff, QB California- It’s been a few years since we’ve seen a team trade down twice, but the Chargers are in a perfect position to do so. They slide down a little for a team to come up and take Ramsey, and then slide down again for a team that wants to make a major move for a quarterback.
The Rams are a quarterback away from becoming a potential playoff team. I think they’ll look to be aggressive in this draft if one of the top two QB’s slide a bit.
6) Baltimore Ravens- Ronnie Stanley, OT Notre Dame- I think Ozzie Newsome will be flooded with trade offers from teams that are looking to jump the Niners and Eagles to take a quarterback, but Newsome rarely trades down. He believes in taking the best player available.
Stanley is a starting tackle from day one, making him an immediate contributor to the Ravens offense.
7) San Francisco 49ers- Carson Wentz, QB North Dakota State- Wentz could thrive in Chip Kelly’s system if given the opportunity. If he got the chance to sit the first year as well, he could turn into something really special.
8) Philadelphia Eagles via Miami Dolphins- Vernon Hargreaves, CB Florida- The Eagles have to take a cornerback or a quarterback with this selection. Both QB’s are off the board, so they go with the top cornerback available in Hargreaves.
9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Myles Jack, OLB UCLA- Conventional wisdom would say that the Buccaneers need an edge rusher, but I doubt they pass on Jack if he falls this far. The Panthers recent success has been predicated on the strength of their linebacking core. Jack’s athleticism playing opposite Lavonte David would make for a nasty duo.
10) New York Giants- Taylor Decker, OT Ohio State- The Giants are the ultimate wild card team after their big splashes in free agency. There are rumors of them still taking an edge rusher, and rumors that their pick will be on the offensive side of the ball.
I think whatever the Giants do will catch some people off guard. They do need a right tackle, and many think Taylor Decker is worthy of a top 10-15 selection. Therefore, maybe the Giants reach a couple of spots to fortify their offensive line.
11) Chicago Bears- Shaq Lawson, EDGE Clemson- I believe Lawson is better served as a 4-3 defensive end, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a 3-4 edge rusher. He’s equally as talented when he rushes standing up as he is with his hand in the dirt. The Bears defense really needs someone that can consistently get to the quarterback, so Lawson makes sense here.
12) New Orleans Saints- Mackensie Alexander, CB Clemson- The Saints need just about everything on the defensive side of the ball. I think Alexander is very high on their board because of his ability to play nickel corner. The Saints like Delvin Breaux, so if they don’t need Alexander out wide right away, he can be a nickel corner right away.
13) Washington Redskins from Miami Dolphins via Philadelphia Eagles-Ezekiel Elliott, RB Ohio State- If they made a handbook on how to properly draft running backs in the modern NFL, trading up for one would be what not to do.
However, Washington needs a franchise back to alleviate pressure from Kirk Cousins. It’s also not every day that a running back like ‘Zeke Elliott comes along.
Miami is in a great position to trade down here because they could use some depth players later on in this draft. I could definitely see ‘Zeke falling on draft day and if he does, look for Washington to move up.
14) Oakland Raiders- Reggie Ragland, ILB Alabama- Based on what I’ve seen from media reports as well as individual workouts and interviews, this pick seems like a slam-dunk. Ragland would help the Raiders run defense immediately.
15) San Diego Chargers via St. Louis Rams- Sheldon Rankins, DE/DT Louisville- In weak draft class teams tend to gawk at athleticism. Rankins is a definitive athlete, but he also has the tape to back up this selection.
16) Detroit Lions- Jack Conklin, OT Michigan State- The Lions need to protect Matt Stafford better in 2016. Conklin is low on my personal board, but a lot of scouts and mock draft experts have him as a top 30 selection.
17) Atlanta Falcons- Darron Lee, OLB Ohio State- Dan Quinn’s motto since arriving in Atlanta has been “eat, sleep, compete, repeat.” To that effect, Darron Lee is a leo linebacker that hustles (ran a 4.43 at the combine), and competes every day.
18) Indianapolis Colts- Noah Spence, EDGE Western Kentucky- The Colts have to do a better job of getting to the passer in 2016. Spence has a lot of talent on tape, but his dismissal from Ohio State will have teams concerned. His draft slot on draft day will be determined by the amount of edge rushers that go early.
19) Buffalo Bills- Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE Oklahoma State- Rex Ryan needs an edge rusher to replace Mario Williams and take double teams away from Jerry Hughes. Ogbah’s speed off the edge would make him a very solid player in this defense.
20) Cleveland Browns via New York Jets- Laquon Treadwell, WR Ole Miss- The Browns haven’t had a number one receiver since Braylon Edwards. If any quarterback is to succeed in Cleveland in the near future, the Browns must get that QB some weapons.
The Jets are a team that not many will expect to move down, but based on their cap situation, they could use to move out of round one. This, of course, is assuming they can still get the player they desire.
21) Miami Dolphins via Washington Redskins- William Jackson III, CB Houston- There’s always a surprise move in the first round that mock draft pendants don’t see coming. He might not go this high, but I think that surprise player is William Jackson. He had a great combine, he shows terrific ball skills on tape, and his length will allow him to jam smaller receivers without losing a step.
22) Houston Texans- A’Shawn Robinson, NT Alabama- Vince Wilfork is over the hill and Christian Covington is a rotational player, not a starter. This pick seems like a layup.
23) Minnesota Vikings- Josh Doctson, WR TCU- Minnesota has visited with Doctson on a number of occasions. I don’t take too much stock into visits with a team, but when it’s at a position of need it needs to be a factor.
24) Cincinnati Bengals- Corey Colmean, WR Baylor- Coleman is the kind of receiver that flourishes in Cincy’s offense. He’s talented with the ball in his hands and he can stretch the field. What he could add to the offense is a third down target. His route running could help take double teams away from Tyler Eifert in the middle of the field.
25) Pittsburgh Steelers- Andrew Billings, NT Baylor- The Steelers never select a first round corner, which means their next pressing need would be to address the nose tackle position. Billings is a huge presence in the middle of a defense, and eats blockers as well as anyone in the draft.
26) Seattle Seahawks- Robert Nkemdiche, DT Ole Miss- Pete Carroll doesn’t shy away from character issues. Don’t expect draft day to be any different if he’s staring at a top five talent with this selection.
27) Green Bay Packers- Jarran Reed, DE/DT Alabama- Reed is very good at getting leverage at the point of attack. He’s a solid run stopper, something the Packers need.
28) Kansas City Chiefs- Cody Whitehair, OT/OG Kansas State- As I said in my personal mock draft, this pick makes too much sense. The Chiefs need offensive line and Whitehair is a prototypical zone blocking guard.
29) Arizona Cardinals- Jaylon Smith, OLB/ILB Notre Dame- I think the Cardinals will either take a quarterback here on draft day, or the best available player if someone slides farther than they should. Smith has top five talent, but the questions regarding his rehab force him to fall into Arizona’s lap.
30) Carolina Panthers- Justin Simmons, FS Boston College- Simmons is the big riser after a phenomenal stretch of workouts during the draft process. The Panthers need to be more consistent in the secondary in 2016, so this seems like a natural fit.
31) Dallas Cowboys via Denver Broncos- Christian Hackenburg, QB Penn State- Based on the Jets sliding out of the first round, and being in the market for the quarterback, Dallas has to jump up for their back up/future starter.
It’s anyone’s guess as to which quarterback of the “next tier,” they prefer, but I think Hackenburg stands the most to gain from sitting multiple seasons.
TRADES
1) Jacksonville Jaguars trade the #5 and the #38 to the San Diego Chargers for the #3 and the #179.
2) Los Angeles Rams trade the #15, #43 and a 2017 2nd round pick to the San Diego Chargers for the #5 and the #102.
3) Washington Redskins trade the #21 and the #53 to the Miami Dolphins for the #13 and the #186.
4) Cleveland Browns trade the #32 and the #65 to the New York Jets for the #20 and a 2017 5th round pick.
5) Dallas Cowboys trade the #34 and a 2017 5th to the Denver Broncos for the #31.
ROUND TWO
32) New York Jets via Cleveland Browns- Paxton Lynch, QB Memphis- Based on the uncertainty still surrounding Ryan Fitzpatrick, I think the Jets are leaning towards trading down for a QB.
33) Tennessee Titans- Eli Apple, CB Ohio State- The Titans need secondary in this draft, and many feel Apple is a day one starter.
34) Denver Broncos via Dallas Cowboys- Joshua Garnett, OG Stanford- I think that the Broncos will eventually work out the contract situation with Colin Kaepernick. Therefore they slide out of the first round and grab Garnett to play right guard.
35) San Diego Chargers- Jason Spriggs, OT Indiana- Spriggs is an athlete and the Chargers need to get younger and quicker on the offensive line.
36) Baltimore Ravens- Leonard Floyd, EDGE Georgia- When in doubt, give the Ravens the best player available. On many people’s board, Floyd is the best player available.
37) San Francisco 49ers- Kamalei Correa, EDGE Boise State- The Niners need a defensive overhaul, so they take the best defensive player available.
38) San Diego Chargers via Jacksonville Jaguars- Keanu Neal, SS Florida- Neal is probably the most complete in the box safety in the draft. The Chargers snag him with the extra pick they acquired from trading down.
39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Kevin Dodd, DE Clemson- The Buccaneers continue their dominant offseason by grabbing two of my top 10 players with their first two picks.
40) New York Giants- Braxton Miller, WR Ohio State- The Giants love receivers that move the sticks on third down, which is what Miller will be at the next level.
41) Chicago Bears- Jonathan Bullard, DE Florida- Bullard has the strength and ability to be a 3-4 defensive end. Combine that with his solid move set from the interior and you get a perfect fit for the Bears.
42) Miami Dolphins- Shilique Calhoun, EDGE Michigan State- The Dolphins do have Cameron Wake and Mario Williams, but they need some youth up front for the future. Calhoun could replace Wake as early as next season (Wake is a free agent).
43) Minnesota Vikings via San Diego Chargers from Los Angeles Rams via Philadelphia Eagles- Vonn Bell, SS Ohio State- Many project Bell to be a starting strong safety, so the Vikings come up a few picks to get a future replacement for Andrew Sendejo.
44) Oakland Raiders- Karl Joseph, FS/SS West Virginia- The Raiders signed Reggie Nelson, but they still need someone to play opposite him. Joseph is popular amongst draft pundits because of his elite athleticism.
45) Los Angeles Rams- Will Fuller, WR Notre Dame- I know there’s a lot of buzz around Fuller right now, but I don’t see him as a day one pick just yet. Having said that, he’s a steal for the Rams in round two because of his deep threat ability.
46) Detroit Lions- Vernon Butler, DL Louisiana Tech- Butler has the versatility to play 4-3 defensive tackle with ease. His run stopping ability would be the attraction for the Lions at this selection.
47) New Orleans Saints- Chris Jones, DE/DT Mississippi State- Jones has great athleticism and gets good leverage at the point of attack. He should help the Saints run defense immediately.
48) Indianapolis Colts- Artie Burns, CB Miami Florida- I’m assuming at some point the Colts will opt to address their horrendous secondary. Maybe its this year?
49) Buffalo Bills- Su’a Cravens, OLB/SS USC- Cravens’ versatility and toughness would be a weapon in Rex Ryan’s defense.
50) Atlanta Falcons- Hunter Henry, TE Arkansas- The Falcons need a target in the middle of the field for Matt Ryan. The offense flowed much better when Ryan had Tony Gonzalez as his safety valve. Henry might not be a great blocker, but he has very good hands and runs solid routes.
51) New York Jets- Germain Ifedi, OT Texas A&M- Many believe the Jets will take Ifedi at 20, but he’s very raw. Because of this, I feel that he will be someone who falls to the second round on draft day.
52) Houston Texans- Ryan Kelly, C Alabama- The Texans lost Ben Jones to free agency, which puts them in the market for a center come draft day.
53) Miami Dolphins via Washington Redskins- Shon Coleman, OT Auburn- The Dolphins should continue to acquire offensive line depth during the draft. Coleman has the length to be a starting tackle in the future.
54) San Diego Chargers via Minnesota Vikings- Landon Turner, OG North Carolina- The Chargers continue to bolster their offensive line from the extra picks that they have acquired in this mock draft.
55) Cincinnati Bengals- Austin Johnson, DT/NT Penn State- Johnson would wreak havoc next to Geno Atkins in the middle of the Bengals defense. His ability to win one-on-one matchups would prohibit teams from doubling Atkins on every down.
56) Seattle Seahawks- Jerald Hawkins, OT LSU- The Seahawks have significantly more needs than people realize, and offensive line is a major one. Hawkins has the length and strength to be a solid right tackle one day.
57) Philadelphia Eagles via Green Bay Packers- Connor Cook, QB Michigan State- Cook seems like a prototypical west coast quarterback at the next level. The Eagles jump back into the second round to grab their quarterback of the future.
58) Pittsburgh Steelers- Cyrus Jones, CB Alabama- Jones is a smart, instinctive corner with decent technique. He has to develop a bit, but his upside is very good for someone who is undersized.
59) Kansas City Chiefs- Sterling Shepard, WR Oklahoma- Shepard is a guy who would thrive in a west coast system. He’s quick, and his route running ability is tremendous.
60) New England Patriots- Nick Kwiatkoski, ILB West Virginia- Kwiatkoski is a three year starter who is fundamentally sound in the middle and was a leader for the Mountaineers in college. Sounds like a classic Patriots pick, right?
61) Chicago Bears from New England Patriots via Arizona Cardinals- Derrick Henry, RB Alabama- The Bears might think highly of Jeremy Langford, but he’s not an every down feature back. Henry would provide an immediate punch on short yardage situations, and he could become the every down back of the future.
62) Carolina Panthers- Harlan Miller, CB Southeastern Louisiana- Regardless of whether or not the Panthers are able to bring back Josh Norman after this season, they still need depth at the cornerback position. Miller is a guy that many feel, with time, could turn into a true number two cornerback.
63) Denver Broncos- Nick Martin, OG/OC Notre Dame- Martin has the versatility to play multiple spots on the offensive line, which is something Head Coach Gary Kubiak looks for.
TRADES IN ROUND TWO
1) Minnesota Vikings trade the #54, #160 and a 2017 3rd to the San Diego Chargers for #43 and a 2017 7th round pick.
2) Philadelphia Eagles trade the #77 and a 2017 3rd to the Green Bay Packers for the #57.
3) Chicago Bears trade the #72 and the #106 to the New England Patriots for the #61 and the #204.
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