NFL Mock Draft
Jordan Katz- NFL Mock Draft 5.0 (Three Rounds)
Less than two weeks until the big day and the Titans and Rams have shook up the landscape of the NFL Draft. The trade will almost ensure that a quarterback is taken with the first overall pick, which has a domino affect on the rest of the board. It impacts what the Browns will decide to do with the second overall pick, how far Laremy Tunsil now falls, which teams now look to trade up, and so on and so forth.
Unlike the media mock draft, this is my personal mock draft. This means that I went back to my personal evaluations, and what I would do if I were the teams in each spot (with the exception of the 49ers, as you will see). There’s a little less analysis to this one, as my personal opinions of players have been well documented by now.
ROUND ONE
1) Los Angeles Rams via Tennessee Titans- Carson Wentz, QB North Dakota State- The Rams are reportedly torn between Wentz and Jared Goff, and will continue to do their due diligence right up until draft day. I think Goff is more NFL ready, but Wentz will be the pick because of his upside.
2) San Francisco 49ers via Cleveland Browns- Jared Goff, QB California- It’s so weird to me that these two QBs appear to be destined for the top two picks, but that’s where were at. I think the challenge the Browns have will be to build enough buzz around them taking Goff to get the Niners or Eagles to move up.
3) San Diego Chargers- Deforest Buckner, DE Oregon- The move here by mock draft pundits will be to give the Chargers Laremy Tunsil. However, San Diego just extended King Dunlap and Joe Barksdale. Neither of them are cap cut options for a few years.
If I were running the Chargers, I would take Buckner to add to an improving front seven.
4) Dallas Cowboys- Joey Bosa, DE Ohio State- As much as I would love to give the Cowboys Jalen Ramsey and have him play safety, Bosa is a must have. The Cowboys are in desperate need of a pass rusher opposite Demarcus Lawrence.
5) Jacksonville Jaguars- Laremy Tunsil, OT Ole Miss- The Jaguars have been looking to replace Luke Joeckel, and they’ve been gift wrapped the best offensive player in the draft. Easy pick here.
6) Baltimore Ravens- Myles Jack, OLB/ILB UCLA- CJ Mosley, Terrell Suggs, and Myles Jack in a linebacking core? This is too good of a scenario for Ozzie Newsome to pass on.
7) Cleveland Browns via San Francisco 49ers- Jalen Ramsey, CB/S Florida State- Hi, were the Browns, and we need talent.
8) Philadelphia Eagles via Miami Dolphins- Vernon Hargreaves, CB Florida- The Eagles must grab a cornerback early in this draft. Hargreaves may be undersized, but he’s worth this selection.
9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Shaq Lawson, DE Clemson- Lawson slightly edged out Dodd after further evaluation. Therefore, he becomes the pick for Tampa Bay.
10) New York Giants- Kevin Dodd, DE Clemson- I don’t trust JPP to bounce back this season, which means unless I become magically correct on Owamagbe Odighizuwa (safe to say I missed that evaluation), the Giants will need a starting defensive end for this year and beyond.
11) Chicago Bears- Ezekiel Elliott, RB Ohio State- I wouldn’t go into this season starting Jeremy Langford if I ran the Bears. I would take Elliott here because all the top tier pass rushers are off the board.
12) New Orleans Saints- Sheldon Rankins, DE/DT Louisville- I struggled to find a trade partner for the Saints, so they stay put at the 12.
I think Rankins would give the Saints true multiple defense personnel, similar to what Todd Bowles has in New York right now.
13) Washington Redskins from Miami Dolphins via Philadelphia Eagles- A’Shawn Robinson, NT Alabama- Interestingly enough, I stole a trade from my media mock draft. However, with Elliott off the board, the Redskins address nose tackle and jump up for A’Shawn Robinson.
14) Oakland Raiders- Reggie Ragland, ILB Alabama- Eat. Sleep. Ragland. Repeat.
15) Tennessee Titans via Los Angeles Rams- Ronnie Stanley, OT Notre Dame- I tweeted on Thursday that the big loser of the Rams trade is going to be Ronnie Stanley. I think he’s a top 10 talent, but he’s going to fall because Laremy Tunsil falls outside the top three.
16) Detroit Lions- Jason Spriggs, OT Indiana- I think Spriggs is a perfect fit at right tackle from day one, and the Lions need a right tackle in the worst way.
17) Atlanta Falcons- Robert Nkemdiche, DT Ole Miss- Dan Quinn has the staff and the personality to get the best out of a player with character issues. Nkemdiche’s talent is well documented, as are his character issues.
18) Indianapolis Colts- Mackensie Alexander, CB Clemson- I still have Alexander slightly ahead of William Jackson III, so the Colts get a multi-dimensional cornerback rather than one that is more suited top play on the outside.
19) Buffalo Bills- Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE Oklahoma State- I’m sticking with the Bills taking a pass rusher to play opposite Jerry Hughes. I think it’s what’s best for business.
20) Tennessee Titans via New York Jets- Josh Doctson, WR TCU- General Manager Jon Robinson said that he doesn’t feel that his team is done making moves in this draft. With the top wide out falling to 20, he moves up to get Marcus Mariota a second target out wide.
21) Miami Dolphins via Washington Redskins- William Jackson III, CB Houston- Jackson flew up my personal board since a few weeks ago, making this pick the exact same as the media mock draft.
22) Houston Texans- Austin Johnson, DT/NT Penn State- I still can’t believe a guy that looks as athletic as Austin Johnson does on tape isn’t getting more buzz in a weak draft class. He would help free up rushers for the Texans defense.
23) Minnesota Vikings- Laquon Treadwell, WR Ole Miss- In my opinion, the Vikings cut Mike Wallace in preparation to take a wide out in this draft. Treadwell’s big frame will make him an easy target for Teddy Bridgewater.
24) Cincinnati Bengals- Corey Coleman, WR Baylor- The Bengals offense is going to open up the minute they get a true possession receiver. Coleman will help alleviate pressure from Tyler Eifert in the middle of the field.
25) Pittsburgh Steelers- Kenny Clark, NT UCLA- I believe Clark is a better space eater than Andrew Billings, and possesses a more complete game. That’s why he’s here instead of Billings.
26) Seattle Seahawks- Taylor Decker, OT Ohio State- For the first time in the 2016 version of my mock drafts, the Seahawks don’t draft Robert Nkemdiche… because he’s not available.
Decker would be a necessity for the Seahawks because their offensive line went from good to horrendous in a little over a year.
27) Green Bay Packers- Jonathan Bullard, DE Florida- Bullard is a guy that I have wanted to put in my first round for a long time. His versatility and ability to penetrate are as good as any of the “second tier,” defensive lineman in the draft.
28) Kansas City Chiefs- Sterling Shepard, WR Oklahoma- Shepard would be a dream come true for any west coast offense. His sharp cuts in and out of routes would make him one of Alex Smith’s favorite targets in a hurry.
29) Arizona Cardinals- Christian Hackenburg, QB Penn State- I still believe the best long-term investment for the Arizona Cardinals is to select Hackenburg and sit him a year or two.
30) Carolina Panthers- Jusitn Simmons, FS/SS Boston College- Simmons is a perfect match for the Panthers secondary. He’s a terrific athlete and a very solid tackler in the back end. He’s got some playmaking ability as well.
31) Denver Broncos- Connor Cook, QB Michigan State- In my last mock draft I said that Cook’s ideal fit is to be the Broncos game managing quarterback next season. It’s a reach, but I think the fit is too good to pass on.
TRADES
1) San Francisco 49ers trade the #7, #37 a 2017 1st and a 2017 4th to the Cleveland Browns for the #2, #99 and the #223
2) Washington Redskins trade the #21 and the #52 to the Miami Dolphins for the #13 and the #186.
3) Tennessee Titans trade the #33 and the #64 to the New York Jets for the #20.
ROUND TWO
32) Indianapolis Colts via Cleveland Browns- Noah Spence, EDGE Western Kentucky
33) New York Jets via Tennessee Titans- Jaylon Smith, ILB/OLB Notre Dame
34) Dallas Cowboys- Alex Collins, RB Arkansas
35) Atlanta Falcons via San Diego Chargers- Kamalei Correa, EDGE Boise State
36) Baltimore Ravens- Cody Whitehair, OG/OT Kansas State
37) Cleveland Browns via San Francisco 49ers- Will Fuller, WR Notre Dame
38) Jacksonville Jaguars- Darron Lee, OLB Ohio State
39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Su’a Cravens, OLB/SS USC
40) New York Giants- Joshua Garnett, OG Stanford
41) Chicago Bears- Vernon Butler, DL Louisiana Tech
42) Miami Dolphins- Derrick Henry, RB Alabama
43) Tennessee Titans from Los Angeles Rams via Philadelphia Eagles- Kendall Fuller, CB Virginia Tech
44) Seattle Seahawks via Oakland Raiders- Jarran Reed, DE/DT Alabama
45) Tennessee Titans via Los Angeles Rams- Andrew Billings, NT Baylor
46) Detroit Lions- Shilique Calhoun, EDGE Michigan State
47) New Orleans Saints- Will Redmond, CB Mississippi State
48) Cleveland Browns via Indianapolis Colts- Jihad Ward, DE Illinois
49) Buffalo Bills- Germain Ifedi, OT Texas A&M
50) San Diego Chargers via Atlanta Falcons- Keanu Neal, SS Florida
51) New York Jets- Paxton Lynch, QB Memphis
52) Houston Texans- Ryan Kelly, C Alabama
53) Miami Dolphins via Washington Redskins- Chris Jones, DE/DT Mississippi State
54) Minnesota Vikings- Jerald Hawkins, OT LSU
55) Cincinnati Bengals- Darian Thompson, FS Boise State
56) Seattle Seahawks- Nick Martin, C/OG Notre Dame
57) Green Bay Packers- Landon Turner, OG North Carolina
58) Pittsburgh Steelers- Artie Burns, CB Miami Florida
59) Kansas City Chiefs- Hassan Ridgeway, DE/DT Texas
60) New England Patriots- Nick Kwiatkoski, ILB West Virginia
61) New England Patriots via Arizona Cardinals- Braxton Miller, WR Ohio State
62) Chicago Bears via Carolina Panthers- Joe Haeg, OT North Dakota State
63) Denver Broncos- Devontae Booker, RB Utah
TRADES IN ROUND TWO
1) Indianapolis Colts trade the #48, #82 and a 2017 5th to the Cleveland Browns for the #32 and a 2017 6th.
2) Atlanta Falcons trade the #50, #81 and a 2017 6th to the San Diego Chargers for the #35 and a 2017 4th
3) Seattle Seahawks trade the #90 and a 2017 2nd to the Oakland Raiders for the #44 and the #194.
4) Chicago Bears trade the #72 and the #150 to the Carolina Panthers for the #62
ROUND THREE
64) New York Jets via Tennessee Titans- Jack Conklin, OT Michigan State
65) Cleveland Browns- Shon Coleman, OT Auburn
66) San Diego Chargers- Leonard Floyd, EDGE Georgia
67) Dallas Cowboys- Cardale Jones, QB Ohio State
68) San Francisco 49ers- Christian Westerman, OG Arizona State
69) Jacksonville Jaguars- Adolphus Washington, DT Ohio State
70) Baltimore Ravens- Tyler Boyd, WR Pittsburgh
71) New York Giants- Michael Thomas, WR Ohio State
72) Carolina Panthers via Chicago Bears- KeiVarae Russell, CB Notre Dame
73) Pittsburgh Steelers via Miami Dolphins- Hunter Henry, TE Arkansas
74) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Leonte Carroo, WR Rutgers
75) Oakland Raiders- Harlan Miller, CB Southeastern Louisiana State
76) Tennessee Titans- Joshua Perry, OLB Ohio State
77) Philadelphia Eagles- CJ Prosise, RB Notre Dame
78) New Orleans Saints- Sebastian Tretola, OG Arkansas
79) Philadelphia Eagles- Dak Prescott, QB Mississippi State
80) Buffalo Bills- Maliek Collins, DE Nebraska
81) San Diego Chargers via Atlanta Falcons- Le’Raven Clark, OT Texas Tech
82) Cleveland Browns via Indianapolis Colts- Kentrell Brothers, ILB Missouri
83) New York Jets- Austin Hooper, TE Stanford
84) Washington Redskins- Jeremy Cash, SS Duke
85) Houston Texans- Kenny Lawler, WR California
86) Minnesota Vikings- Jordan Jenkins, EDGE Georgia
87) Cincinnati Bengals- Bronson Kaufusi, DT BYU
88) Green Bay Packers- Jordan Howard, RB Indiana
89) Pittsburgh Steelers- Connor McGovern, OG Missouri
90) Oakland Raiders via Seattle Seahawks- Nick Vannett, TE Ohio State
91) New England Patriots- Cyrus Jones, CB Alabama
92) Arizona Cardinals- Kyle Murphy, OT Stanford
93) Carolina Panthers- Carl Nassib, DE Penn State
94) Denver Broncos- Deion Jones, ILB LSU
95) Detroit Lions- Von Bell, SS Ohio State
96) New England Patriots- Kyler Fackrell, OLB Utah State
97) Seattle Seahawks- Paul Perkins, RB UCLA
98) Denver Broncos- Max Tuerk, C USC
TRADES IN ROUND THREE
1) Pittsburgh Steelers trade a 2017 3rd, a 2017 5th and the #123 to the Miami Dolphins for the #73.
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.
Jordan Katz NFL Mock Draft 4.0- Final Mock Draft (3 Rounds)
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 20th 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 5th round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for the #53.
– Jacksonville Jaguars trade the #67, #139 and a 2016 7th 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
Jordan Katz NFL Mock Draft 3.0- Post NFL Free Agency
The first wave of free agency has been completed. Many teams have made key additions that they feel will make them better in the upcoming season. Plenty of teams have also lost key pieces to their team, and are now left searching for answers.
With all the moves that have been made, each teams top priorities have changed. Using the New York Jets as an example, it’s safe to say that they addressed their secondary need in free agency. This is the time of year when mock draft become less about how one personally evaluates players, and more about matching one’s personal evaluation of players with team needs.
As was the case last time, I’ve included trades in this mock draft once again. The trades have changed though. This is because of the way the draft played out, as well as new teams emerging with good scenarios to trade up and trade down.
There are some surprises in this draft compared to my last few mock drafts, as well as some unexpected teams trading down. However, like I’ve said before, this is not only about the teams needs, but it’s also about what I would do if I were the general manager of the team.
Round One
1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)- Jameis Winston, QB Florida State- At this point, you all get the picture on this one.
2) Tennessee Titans (2-14)- Leonard Williams, DT Southern California- This is the same deal as the last pick. Yes, trade rumors and Marcus Mariota rumors are swirling around the Titans camp. Despite this, Leonard Williams is still too good to pass up on, in my opinion.
3) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)- Dante Fowler Jr., DE Florida- This is one of the times in this mock draft where I went more for team need then my own evaluation of who is the best. I believe Vic Beasley is the best pass rusher in this draft. I believe that the Jaguars could use Beasley in the Leo linebacker role and have it work really well.
However, Dante Fowler is just too good of a fit. He’s a prototypical 4-3 defensive end, and Gus Bradley won’t have to change his system to fit Fowler, where as he would have to tweak it to add Vic Beasley.
4) Oakland Raiders (3-13)- Kevin White, WR West Virginia- I continue to flip flop on who is the top wide out in this draft, and this is another case where I let the team decide. Oakland has always had an infatuation with big wide receivers that run fast (Darrius Heyward-Bey). That alone will keep Kevin White here for me, but Amari Cooper is equally as good and wouldn’t be a surprise on draft day.
5) Washington Redskins (4-12)- Vic Beasley, OLB Clemson- The Redskins are talking about trading down, and it makes a lot of sense for them. However, with Beasley on the board, I can’t pull the trigger on this one.
6) New York Jets (4-12)- Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon- I still believe Marcus Mariota is the Jets week one starter, no matter what comes out in the media over the next month. I think there’s some validity to the Jets going with the best player available, but with the top three defensive players off the board, they should take Mariota.
7) Chicago Bears (5-11)- Jordan Phillips, DT/NT Oklahoma- The Bears are amazingly one nose tackle away from having completely revamped their front seven to be one that is actually good. Phillips is my top nose tackle in this draft, so this seems like a great match.
8) Cleveland Browns via Atlanta Falcons (6-10)- Amari Cooper, WR Alabama- Trade number one here, and from an unlikely team. Atlanta appears to be in prime position to take a number of defensive players that can help their team. This is the exact reason why I have the Falcons trading down.
There are so many defensive options for Atlanta that they can easily slide down, get a player at the top or near the top of their draft board, and come away with an extra draft pick.
The Browns did add Dwayne Bowe, but they still need another wide out. Cooper would be an immediate impact player for Cleveland.
9) Houston Texans via New York Giants (6-10)- Trae Waynes, CB Michigan State- Once again, another trade from another unlikely team. The Giants are another team with a number of defensive needs, and can address them while moving backward and picking up extra picks in the process.
Houston has had a really good free agency. They added Cecil Shorts as a compliment to Nuk Hopkins, and added Vince Wilfork to be a space eater in the middle of a really good front seven.
Their top need now is a corner opposite Kareem Jackson. Jonathan Joseph is most likely a cap casualty cut next year, and they need to find his replacement. The Texans jump the Vikings here to land that replacement in Trae Waynes (I still don’t have any of the corners in this draft in my personal top 15, but team needs rule all).
10) St. Louis Rams (6-10)- DeVante Parker, WR Louisville- The Rams still need a playmaker, so this is still DeVante Parker.
11) Minnesota Vikings (7-9)- Brandon Scherff, OG Iowa- I tried to find a way for Minnesota to move backward here and scoop up Marcus Peters, but I couldn’t find a way to do so.
Rather than give them Peters here, which I feel would be way too high, I gave the Vikings Brandon Scherff to bolster their offensive line.
12) Atlanta Falcons via Cleveland Browns (7-9)- Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE/OLB Kentucky- Bud Dupree continues to impress scouts through the combine and his pro day, and as more go back to watch his tape, they’ll see a guy that has been in my top 15 players for a long time.
13) New Orleans Saints (7-9)- Eddie Goldman, DT/NT Florida State- The Saints desperately need help on defense. Eddie Goldman is a versatile nose tackle that can do it all. I think this pick speaks for itself.
14) Miami Dolphins (8-8)- Marcus Peters, CB Washington- I still think this is a little too high for Peters, if you factor in the risk that comes with drafting him.
However, if the Dolphins get his mind right, they will have a big time corner to play opposite Brent Grimes.
15) San Francisco 49ers (8-8)- Eric Kendricks, ILB UCLA- Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retiring shocked many in the football world. The 49ers went from having the best inside linebacker core in the NFL, to needing one to play along side NaVorro Bowman.
Kendricks is a do it all linebacker, and is particularly good in coverage. He would be a great compliment to Bowman’s run stopping ability.
16) New York Giants via Houston Texans (9-7)- Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE UCLA- Interestingly enough, the Giants trade down here and get the same guy I gave them at the ninth overall in the last draft. Odighizuwa is a perfect fit in a 4-3 and he will add some much needed pass rushing ability opposite Jason Pierre-Paul.
17) San Diego Chargers (9-7)- Danny Shelton, NT Washington- Many people have Shelton in their top ten, but I’ve always felt he was the third best nose tackle in this draft. San Diego would be a perfect fit for Shelton, because he can eat blockers and free up pass rushers for one-on-one matchups.
18) Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)- T.J. Clemmings, OT Pittsburgh- The Chiefs haven’t been impressed with former top pick Eric Fisher, and are considering moving him to right tackle. This means that they need a left tackle. Clemmings is the top tackle in the draft. You do the math.
19) Cleveland from Buffalo (9-7)- Malcom Brown, NT Texas- The Browns lost Ahtyba Rubin to the Seahawks in free agency, which means they need to find his replacement in this drat. Brown is far and away the next best defensive tackle, so this pick is pretty easy.
20) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)- Jaelen Strong, WR Arizona State- Here is an out of the box pick for an out of the box coach. The Eagles are in prime position to draft Landon Collins, and they desperately need a safety.
Despite this, Jaelen Strong is just too good to pass up on. Strong fell a bit in this draft based on the Niners need for an inside linebacker and their signing of Torrey Smith, not because my opinion of him changed.
Chip Kelly and company lost Jeremy Maclin to free agency, so they need a number one wide receiver.
21) Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1)- Shaq Thompson, OLB Washington- This is a bit of a luxury pick, but I love the idea of having Thompson and Vontaze Burfict in the same linebacking core.
22) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)- Landon Collins, SS Alabama- Easy pick here. The Steelers need safety help and Collins is the best, and arguably the only, safety in the draft.
23) Detroit Lions (11-5)- Preston Smith, DE Mississippi State- Preston Smith’s versatility makes him such an ideal fit for the Lions. He could bulk up a bit and move inside next to Haloti Ngata. He could stay at his weight and play opposite Ziggy Ansah. Most importantly, he has the technique and ability to do both.
24) New York Jets via Arizona Cardinals (11-5)- Eli Harold, OLB Virginia- Many may wonder why I have the Cardinals trading here when they do need a pass rusher. Well, the Cardinals signed Lamarr Woodley to be an immediate fix at that position, and they don’t really base their defense around the edge rushers. The Jets in this deal also give up a lot (second and third round pick), which usually help sway teams that are on the fence about trading down.
This may be an out of the box trade, but I think it makes sense based on the amount the Jets give, plus the Cardinals need for a running back, which is something they can address by moving backward.
25) Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)- Andrus Peat, OT Stanford- The Panthers are still searching for a left tackle, and Peat is my best tackle on the board.
26) Baltimore Ravens (10-6)- Arik Armstead, DE/DT Oregon- I said in the last mock draft that this pick would be Ozzie Newsome 101. Newsome drafts a big time athlete with potential to be a star.
27) Dallas Cowboys (12-4)- Todd Gurley, RB Georgia- I don’t believe in taking running backs in the first round in the modern NFL… Unless they have undeniable talent and the ability to be something special. Todd Gurley has that talent.
28) Oakland Raiders via Denver Broncos (12-4)- Nate Orchard, DE Utah- Yes, this is an inter-division trade. However, it’s a trade that fits both teams, and those kinds of deals aren’t that uncommon on draft day. Just last year, the Cowboys moved up in the draft with the Redskins to get Demarcus Lawrence.
The Raiders move up here because they need an edge rusher in their defense. Orchard is one of my personal favorites in this draft, and I think the Raiders will benefit from his all-around ability.
29) Indianapolis Colts (11-5)- Danielle Hunter, OLB LSU- The Colts signed Trent Cole to play opposite Robert Mathis, however, both are on the other side of 30 and the Colts have nothing behind them. Hunter could be a great spell to those guys during his first two years, and then become an elite pass rusher later in his career.
30) Green Bay Packers (12-4)- Carl Davis, DT/NT Iowa- The Packers need someone in the middle of their defense that can gap the run. It’s something they’ve lacked the past few seasons. Carl Davis is very good at that, and his stock continues to rise after both the Senior Bowl and the Combine.
31) New Orleans Saints from Seattle Seahawks (12-4)- Shane Ray, OLB Missouri- Unfortunately, the Saints need for an edge rusher makes me have to put Shane Ray in this first round, but I’m not happy about it.
32) New England Patriots (12-4)- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR Oklahoma- The Pats do need a cornerback, but Belichick prides himself on being able to take any player and make him fit into his defense, so he won’t be overaggressive on a weak secondary class.
DGB has the talent to be in the top ten of this draft, and Belichick has not shied away from character issues in the past.
TRADE DETAILS IN ROUND ONE
– Cleveland Browns trade the #12 and the #77 to the Atlanta Falcons for the #8.
– Houston Texans trade the #16 and the #51 to the New York Giants for the #9 and the #136.
– New York Jets trade the #37 and the #70 to the Arizona Cardinals for the #24
– Oakland Raiders trade the #35 and the #99 to the Denver Broncos for the #28.
– Buffalo gives pick to Cleveland: Sammy Watkins
– Seattle gives pick to New Orleans: Jimmy Graham
Round Two
33) Tennessee Titans (2-14)- D.J Humphries, OT Florida- The Titans need a tackle next to Taylor Lewan. Humphries is a good run blocker with good size and length.
34) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)- Trey Flowers, DE/OLB Arkansas- Flowers has some developing to do in the run game, but he’s a better system fit here than Hau’oli Kikaha.
35) Denver Broncos via Oakland Raiders (3-13)- Ty Sambrailo, OG/OT Colorado State- Sambrailo has great athleticism and I’m a fan of the balance he shows in the passing game. He should make the transition from tackle to guard nicely.
36) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)- Duke Johnson, RB Miami Florida- Duke Johnson is the second best back in this draft on my personal board, and the Jags have what seems like nineteen below average running backs.
37) Arizona Cardinals via New York Jets (4-12)- Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin- The Cardinals moved down and picked up some picks, but they still hit on a playmaker at one of their biggest need positions.
38) Washington Redskins (4-12)- Stephone Anthony, ILB Clemson- Stephone Anthony is a beast and he only falls this far because of team needs. He’s a do it all 3-4 inside linebacker and the Redskins have bolstered their linebacking core with him and Beasley.
39) Chicago Bears (5-11)- Rashad Greene, WR Florida State- Greene is a route-running technician and would be a great compliment to Alshon Jeffery.
40) New York Giants (6-10)- Laken Tomlinson, OG Duke- The Giants need to bolster their offensive line. Tomlinson is a good one-on-one blocker and will be an immediate impact in the run game.
41) St. Louis Rams (6-10)- A.J Cann, OG South Carolina- Cann is a big time run blocker and would be an instant upgrade to Jeff Fisher’s offensive line.
42) Atlanta Falcons (6-10)- Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana- Devonta Freeman is a third down back. The Falcons need someone that can tote the rock 200 plus times for a season. Coleman is one of the four backs in this draft that I gave a top 40 grade to.
43) Cleveland Browns (7-9)- Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota- The Browns lost Jordan Cameron in free agency to the Dolphins and need a starting tight end. Maxx Williams is a terrific blocker and a red zone threat. This is a good fit.
44) New Orleans Saints (7-9)- Nelson Agholor, WR Southern California- Agholor makes big plays with the ball in his hands and is a terrific route-runner. Drew Brees would love having him opposite Brandin Cooks.
45) Minnesota Vikings (7-9)- Quinten Rollins, CB Miami (Ohio)- Rollins needs some technical work, but he has terrific ball skills and a lot of upside.
46) San Francisco 49ers (8-8)- Ronald Darby, CB Florida State- Darby is a tough nosed corner, something the 49ers typically look for. He’s overaggressive sometimes, but he’s got the talent.
47) Miami Dolphins (8-8)- Paul Dawson, OLB/ILB TCU- Dawson had an absolutely horrendous combine, but I saw a really good cover linebacker on tape with good sideline-to-sideline speed. Only time will tell which was a more accurate representation of him.
48) San Diego Chargers (9-7)- Ali Marpet, OG Hobart- Ali Marpet’s stock ballooned after the Senior Bowl and the Combine when he not only showed he could play with the big boys, but that he was one of the better guards in the draft.
49) Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)- Devin Smith, WR Ohio State- Smith can take the top off of a defense, and the Chiefs still need another playmaker, despite signing Jeremy Maclin.
50) Buffalo Bills (9-7)- Benadrick McKinney, ILB Mississippi State- This is one of the cases where I’m attempting to be right. I’m not a fan of McKinney, but the Bills traded Kiko Alonso and, call me crazy, but I don’t think Nigel Bradham is the answer.
51) New York Giants via Houston Texans (9-7)- Derron Smith, FS Fresno State- Smith has good ball skills, but has a tendency to be overaggressive when reading the quarterback. The Giants should calm that down and make him a good replacement for Antrel Rolle.
52) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)- Gerrod Holliman, S Louisville- Holliman is a mixed bag. He’s a ball hawk, but has a tendency to be baited by quarterbacks. His hips are fluid, but his man coverage is average. He’s also not a tackler in the slightest. Either way, he’s the best safety left on my board, and the Eagles need a safety.
53) Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1)- Mario Edwards Jr., DE/DT Florida State- Edwards is probably better at a 3-4 defensive end, but I love the thought of putting his ability to rush the passer next to Geno Atkins.
54) Detroit Lions (11-5)- Byron Jones, CB Connecticut- Byron Jones set world records at the combine, but it’s his smarts and speed that has him moving up my board in this mock draft.
55) Arizona Cardinals (11-5)- Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB Washington- Because of the amount of talent on the University of Washington’s defense, Kikaha may not be the pass rusher people expect at the next level. However, he’s still an upgrade at outside linebacker for the Cardinals.
56) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)- Kevin Johnson, CB Wake Forest- Johnson is getting a lot of first round buzz, but my personal evaluation is that he’s a second round corner. The Steelers desperately need a number two corner next to Cortez Allen.
57) Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)- Phillip Dorsett WR Miami- The Panthers are in a “best available,” situation for me, and that is Philip Dorsett. His ability to stretch the defense and make plays would be a big boost for the Panthers offense.
58) Baltimore Ravens (10-6)- Breshad Perriman, WR UCF- Perriman has blazing speed and would be an instant replacement for Torrey Smith.
59) Denver Broncos (12-4)- Xavier Cooper, DT Washington State- The Broncos need to replace Terrance Knighton in this draft. Cooper is an athletic defensive tackle and would add some versatility to the Broncos defensive line.
60) Dallas Cowboys (12-4)- Michael Bennett, DT Ohio State- This is me going for being correct again, more than abiding by my personal rankings. I’m not a huge fan of Bennett, but the Cowboys need a defensive tackle
61) Indianapolis Colts (11-5)- Anthony Harris, S Virginia- I like Harris’s toughness and upside. Even though I think this is a big high for him, I think the Colts could use his playmaking ability in the secondary.
62) Green Bay Packers (12-4)- Clive Walford, TE Miami- Walford is the only other tight end not named Maxx Williams worth taking in the first 100 picks of this draft.
63) Seattle Seahawks (12-4)- Cedric Ogbuehi, OT Texas A&M- This is a draft and stash pick. Great teams stay great by constantly bolstering their team in the trenches. While Ogbuehi is hurt, his talent is worth of a first round pick.
64) New England Patriots (12-4)- Kevin White, CB TCU- Many people think Kevin White is strictly a nickel corner, but I think his technique and ball skills are good enough to play against the other teams X and Z receivers.
Jordan Katz NFL Mock Draft 2.0
After a very eventful combine, it’s time for Mock Draft 2.0. Some things have changed since my first mock draft, including my individual grades on players and where I have certain players going.
Another thing that will be different in this mock draft is that I’ve predicted a couple of first round trades. Unlike some other mock drafts, Mike and I believe in putting trades in our mocks. It not only depicts who we think could trade up or trade down, but it’s more realistic, since there are always trades throughout the draft. It’s hard to predict past round one, but in that first round, we like to put trades in.
Now not every team that could trade down did, and my trades may differ from one mock draft to another. The trades in this mock draft, and future mock drafts, are based on team needs and what happened up until that team’s pick. So if your favorite team is trading up or trading down, it doesn’t mean that they are leaning that way necessarily. It means that I believe there is a trade that benefits them based on the way my mock draft happened.
One thing remained the same though. Shane Ray and Randy Gregory are still not in my first round.
Round 1
1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)- Jameis Winston, QB Florida State- This pick probably won’t change… ever.
2) Tennessee Titans (2-14)- Leonard Williams, DT Southern California- Tennessee is going to tempt any team that wants Marcus Mariota to move up here, particularly the New York Jets. If they don’t get a team to move up, then this is Leonard Williams for two reasons. One, he’s the best player in the draft. More importantly, I don’t see the Titans moving on from Zach Mettenberger that quickly.
3) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)- Vic Beasley, OLB Clemson- Vic Beasley went absolutely bananas at this year’s NFL Combine. Normally I don’t weigh the combine that heavily, but when a player bulks up and still runs incredibly fast times, showing that even at his new weight he can be as fast as he was on his college game tape, he has to get recognition.
I said on Twitter that after his combine, Vic Beasley became my top edge rusher in the draft. While he’s not a 4-3 defensive end, he can be a LEO linebacker like Von Miller, or a strong side edge-rushing linebacker like Anthony Barr.
4) Oakland Raiders (3-13)- Kevin White, WR West Virginia- I wrote in my great debate article that if Kevin White ran a great 40-yard dash, based on his tape and his upside he would overtake Amari Cooper as this year’s top wide receiver. Well, 4.35 seconds later, and Cooper’s time is up. White’s time is now.
5) Washington Redskins (4-12)- Eli Harold, OLB Virginia- Harold was another member of the edge rushing class that tested off the charts in Indianapolis. Since Vic Beasley moved up, and Dante Fowler is best served as a 4-3 defensive end, Eli Harold jumps all the way to number five for me.
6) New York Jets (4-12)- Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon- I personally believe that the Jets will draft Marcus Mariota on draft day. Whether that’s by trading up, or Mariota falling to them at the sixth overall selection, I believe Mariota will be the Jets starting quarterback in 2015.
7) Cleveland Browns from Chicago Bears (5-11)- Amari Cooper, WR Alabama- Here’s the first trade of this mock draft. I think that Chicago is in a luxury position here. They could use a number of different things, and by Cooper being here, they could use that to their advantage and tempt a team that needs a wide receiver to move up.
Enter the Cleveland Browns. They need a number one target with the Josh Gordon suspension looming and the increased likelihood of Jordan Cameron not returning. They also have a first round draft pick to “play with,” because of the Sammy Watkins trade in last year’s draft. Cleveland moves up to take their top tier wide receiver, and the Bears get a few more picks.
8) Atlanta Falcons (6-10)- Dante Fowler Jr., DE Florida- The most NFL ready pass rusher “falls,” to the Falcons because of the rise of Beasley and Harold. I doubt Falcons fans will be complaining.
9) New York Giants (6-10)- Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE UCLA- Here’s another player on the rise. Digi is probably my favorite player in the draft because of his upside, and because I have had him pegged as a top tier player in this draft for a while.
The Giants need linebackers, but we all know they won’t go there. They do need offensive line as well. However, they also need a defensive end, as either a replacement for Jason Pierre-Paul or along side him.
Digi does it all, and his combine will have his stock rising.
10) St. Louis Rams (6-10)- DeVante Parker, WR Louisville- While I wish the Vikings could land Parker to have the Louisville connection between him and Teddy Bridgewater, this pick makes too much sense for the Rams. They need a number one target and Parker is that guy.
11) Minnesota Vikings (7-9)- T.J Clemmings, OT Pittsburgh- I still believe Clemmings is a right tackle immediately, but after further studying him on tape, I think he can one day become a big time left tackle. Fortunately for Minnesota, they need a big time right tackle, and Clemmings is already that.
12) Chicago Bears from Cleveland Browns (7-9)- Jordan Phillips, NT Oklahoma- Here’s why I felt that Chicago would move down. If they want to address defensive tackle, defensive backs, or even interior offensive line, they can afford to move back and do so. That makes them a good trade partner for another team.
Phillips would be a terrific fit in John Fox’s defense as a zero technique 4-3 defensive tackle, much like Kris Jenkins from Fox’s Carolina Panthers defense in the early 2000’s.
13) New Orleans Saints (7-9)- Danny Shelton, NT Washington- Shelton ran a slow 40-time, but that doesn’t bother me. He eats blockers and stops the run as well as any defensive tackle in this draft. Rob Ryan and company will love having him in the middle of their defense.
14) Miami Dolphins (8-8)- Eddie Goldman, DT Florida State- This pick stays as is. Goldman and Miami are still a perfect match.
15) San Francisco 49ers (8-8)- Jaelen Strong, WR Arizona State- Jaelen Strong had a great 40-time and vertical leap at the combine, furthering my opinion that he’s easily the number four wide out in this draft class.
16) Houston Texans (9-7)- Trae Waynes, CB Michigan State- Waynes may wind up going higher than this on draft day, but I still don’t believe that there is a top 15 corner, talent wise, in this draft.
17) San Diego Chargers (9-7)- Brandon Scherff, OG Iowa- While I have Scherff as my best offensive lineman in the draft, Clemmings upside and his ability to play tackle puts him higher on my list than a guard.
Having said that, Scherff still deserves to go top 20, just like Zack Martin did last year, and the Chargers could use interior lineman.
18) Arizona Cardinals from Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)- Alvin “Bud” Dupree, OLB Kentucky- Trade number two. Kansas City is another team in a luxury situation. There are a number of teams that need an edge rusher below them, and Bud Dupree showed his freakish athleticism at the combine, to go along with an impressive college tape. I think they can get one of Pittsburgh, Detroit or Arizona to move up a couple of spots for a big time edge rusher.
19) Cleveland Browns from Buffalo Bills (9-7)- Malcom Brown, DT/NT Texas- The Browns grabbed their wide out, they now need a nose tackle. I like Malcom Brown a lot. He’s a great pass rusher from the interior, and I think he can eat blockers as a nose tackle as well.
20) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)- Landon Collins, SS Alabama- Collins is a hard hitting, in the box safety. Like I said in my first mock draft, that makes him actually fall a bit in the draft.
However, there is no way he makes it past a team desperate for a safety.
21) Cincinnati Bengals* (10-5-1)- Nate Orchard, DE Utah- Orchard fell a bit for me because of his 40-time. It wasn’t bad, it just locked him in to a 4-3 defensive end.
The Bengals need an edge rusher opposite Carlos Dunlap, and Nate Orchard’s tape still speaks volumes for him, in my opinion. I think this is a very good fit.
22) Pittsburgh Steelers* (11-5)- Marcus Peters, CB Washington- This is probably my least confident pick in this mock draft. It’s not because the Steelers don’t need a cornerback, they absolutely do. It’s because of the player.
Yes, Peters has the talent to go even higher than this, but he has a lot of off-the-field issues. I don’t doubt that Mike Tomlin will draft Peters, despite his character issues. I doubt that the Steelers organization will be on board.
Nevertheless, the Steelers need a corner and this is a good scheme fit.
23) Detroit Lions* (11-5)- Preston Smith, DE Mississippi State- I remember when Mike first watched Preston Smith and immediately told me how much I would like him. Low and behold, he was right.
Smith is a good athlete for a 4-3 defensive end, but his strength is in his technique. He has a bevy of pass rushing moves and a motor that doesn’t turn off during games. Preston Smith and Ziggy Ansah will reek havoc in the post Ndamukong Suh era in Detroit.
24) Kansas City Chiefs from Arizona Cardinals * (11-5)- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR Oklahoma- Despite trading down, the Chiefs still get their game changing wide receiver. Make no mistake about it, despite his character issues, DGB is a game changing wide out. There weren’t teams behind them that were going to take a wide out. This is why I felt they could move down in the first place.
25) Carolina Panthers* (7-8-1)- Andrus Peat, OT Stanford- Peat basically swapped spots with T.J Clemmings from my last mock draft. After further evaluation, I think Clemmings has more upside.
That doesn’t mean that Peat won’t be a good tackle at the next level, and if there’s a team that can use his one-on-one blocking well, it’s the Panthers.
26) Baltimore Ravens* (10-6)- Arik Armstead, DE Oregon- This pick might as well be labeled “The Ozzie Newsome Special.” The Ravens draft a guy with top ten potential that falls in the draft because of his lack of college production statistically.
27) Dallas Cowboys* (12-4)- Shaq Thompson, OLB Washington- Thompson is like Vontae Mack from the movie “Draft Day.” If he doesn’t go to the Giants at nine, he’s going to fall hard, just like Mack said if the Browns didn’t take him at seven, he was projected to fall.
Once again, that doesn’t mean that my personal evaluation of Thompson changes. I still think he’s a game changing cover linebacker, and I think he would thrive in Dallas.
28) St. Louis Rams via Denver Broncos* (12-4)- Brett Hundley, QB UCLA- Final trade of round one here. I think one team will move back into the first round for one of Brett Hundley, Garrett Grayson or Bryce Petty. Denver could use to trade out of round one, because I believe they have a few more needs than people may realize.
I think the Rams do want to take a quarterback in the first two rounds, even though they may seem loyal to Sam Bradford. Jeff Fisher has succeeded with mobile quarterbacks in the past, and maybe he’ll find that success with Brett Hundley down the road.
For right now, Hundley’s inability to go to a second read and inconsistent accuracy make him just like every other quarterback in this draft not named Winston or Mariota: a project.
29) Indianapolis Colts* (11-5)- Eric Kendricks, ILB UCLA- Just like the last mock draft, the Colts still take a game changing linebacker in Eric Kendricks.
30) Green Bay Packers* (12-4)- Stephone Anthony, ILB Clemson- Stephone Anthony has elevated to a top ten player on my personal board. The reason why he’s here and not higher is because of the teams that are drafting linebackers above, and how they fit schematically. Thompson is a cover linebacker, a good fit for Dallas. Kendricks is an all-around linebacker, something Indy desperately needs. Anthony is more of a 3-4 thumper, if you will. His ability to play the run will be welcomed in Green Bay.
31) Seattle Seahawks* (12-4)- Nelson Agholor, WR Southern California- Agholor is a playmaking wide receiver. He is a terrific route runner and high points the ball very well. He will be a great target for Russell Wilson.
32) New England Patriots* (12-4)- Ty Sambrailo, OT/OG Colorado State- Ty Sambrailo has really good footwork, and with his athletic ability to pull, I think he could be a terrific guard at the next level. That means he has versatility as an offensive lineman (listed as a tackle on some board), which makes him a prototypical New England Patriot.
TRADES:
1) Cleveland Browns trade the #12, #76 and a 2016 3rd to the Chicago Bears for the #7 and a 2016 5th.
2) Arizona Cardinals trade the #24, #86 and a 2016 5th to the Kansas City Chiefs for the #18.
3) Cleveland From Buffalo: Sammy Watkins Trade
4) St. Louis Rams trade the #41, #72 and the #202 to the Denver Broncos for the #28, #124 and the #156
Round 2
33) Tennessee Titans (2-14)- Devin Smith, WR Ohio State
34) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)- Jake Fisher, OT Oregon
35) Oakland Raiders (3-13)- Randy Gregory, DE Nebraska
36) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)- Rashad Greene, WR Florida State
37) New York Jets (4-12)- Breshad Perriman, WR UCF
38) Washington Redskins (4-12)- Carl Davis, DT/NT Iowa
39) Chicago Bears (5-11)- D.J Humphries, OT Florida
40) New York Giants (6-10)- La’el Collins, OT LSU
41) Denver Broncos via St. Louis Rams (6-10)- Laken Tomlinson, OG Duke
42) Atlanta Falcons (6-10)- Todd Gurley, RB Georgia
43) Cleveland Browns (7-9)- Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota
44) New Orleans Saints (7-9)- Shane Ray, OLB Missouri
45) Minnesota Vikings (7-9)- Phillip Dorsett, WR Miami
46) San Francisco 49ers (8-8)- Quinten Rollins, CB Miami (OH)
47) Miami Dolphins (8-8)- Ronald Darby, CB Florida State
48) San Diego Chargers (9-7)- A.J Cann, OG South Carolina
49) Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)- Mario Edwards Jr., DE Florida State
50) Buffalo Bills (9-7)- Garrett Grayson, QB Colorado State
51) Houston Texans (9-7)- Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB Washington
52) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)- Kevin Johnson, CB Wake Forest
53) Cincinnati Bengals* (10-5-1)- Benadrick McKinney, ILB Mississippi State
54) Detroit Lions* (11-5)- Duke Johnson, RB Miami
55) Arizona Cardinals* (11-5)- Clive Walford, TE Miami
56) Pittsburgh Steelers* (11-5)- Danielle Hunter, OLB LSU
57) Carolina Panthers* (7-8-1)- Tyler Lockett, WR Kansas State
58) Baltimore Ravens* (10-6)- Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin
59) Denver Broncos* (12-4)- Hroniss Grassu, C Oregon
60) Dallas Cowboys* (12-4)- Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana
61) Indianapolis Colts* (11-5)- Derron Smith, FS Fresno State
62) Green Bay Packers* (12-4)- Ellis McCarthy, NT UCLA
63) Seattle Seahawks* (12-4)- Cedric Ogbuehi, OT Texas A&M
64) New England Patriots* (12-4)- Devin Funchess, WR/TE Michigan
Mike Reynolds’ Five Tips for Making a Mock Draft
The Senior Bowl has already come and gone, which means we are officially in mock draft season. Many people will attempt to make a mock draft, because quite frankly anyone can. Mock drafts are a fun way to explore what you would do if you were the GM of a team, and also learn quite a bit about the upcoming draft class before they ever hit an NFL field. However, just because anyone can make a mock draft doesn’t mean they are worth your time to read. Here are five tips to consider when making your mock draft for 2015.
1. Decide what kind of mock draft you want to make.
Wait, there is more than one kind of mock draft? Most people might not realize it but the kind of mock draft you do depends on the type of thing you are trying to predict. In my opinion, mock drafters fall into two groups.
- Those who want to accurately predict where a player falls in a round
Very self-explanatory. These mock drafters go into the draft and try to have the perfect mock draft. Their success when it comes to a mock draft comes solely from how many picks they get correct. It does feel pretty nice when you make a bold call that nobody was expecting and it comes to life.
- Those who want to accurately predict a player’s success in the NFL.
This is much different from the first type. This kind of person could doesn’t really care if their mock draft is accurate in the moment. They are in it for the long haul. I consider this strategy to be more difficult to stick with, but more rewarding in the end if you are right.
As an example, someone who predicts NFL success might have said that Aaron Curry would be a bust and at the time that would have been laughed at. Many experts said that Aaron Curry might be the best player in the 2009 draft class and eventually go to the Hall of Fame. He ended up being picked 4th overall that year. We know now that he never lived up to that standard and is now out of the league. That guy who predicted he would be a bust in 2009 can now sit smugly in 2014 knowing that he called that before Curry was even drafted.
2. Stick to your guns.
Anyone can use someone else’s ranking when they make a mock draft. I view different mock drafts because I want to see an opinion that is different from the one that everyone decided to copy from experts. The so-called “experts” can never claim that they have even been 50% accurate with their predictions, and you might have spotted something about a player that nobody else picked up on yet.
I get it. Nobody wants to be made fun of for being wrong, or have to explain their dissenting opinion to a group of angry people who want to tear them apart, but here is the thing: You are going to be wrong. Those people who are trying to correct you? They are going to be wrong too. The expert whose sources told him that the Bears would take player X? You bet he is probably going to be wrong also. There is no such thing as being 100% accurate when it comes to the NFL draft. Embrace being incorrect.
3. Know what you’re talking about.
This is important. I am a big proponent of the fact that basically anything can happen when it comes to the NFL draft, but if you are predicting the Packers to take a QB in the first round, you may want to take a step back and reconsider.
Take the time to research what position a team needs, and what position a team is set at. Make sure you know what each team drafted last year. If Team A drafted a cornerback in each of the past two drafts, chances are they won’t be going back for a third.
Also, people may not want to believe it, but position scarcity does drive where and when a player might go. Know what positions are prioritized and which ones are not. If you do these things, you might just see a lot less angry fans calling for your head when you put out your first mock of the season.
4. Remember: Teams don’t always make the smart decision.
I think this is one of the most important things to remember. If you are trying to create the most accurate mock draft you can, why are you giving every team what you consider to be their optimal choice. Everyone can most likely agree that there is going to be one pick that we consider “stupid” come draft day. So keeping this in mind, the only way to accurately predict how the draft will unfold is to try decipher which team is going to make that not so clever decision this year.
I admit, this one is kind of hard and not many people are going to go for it. Despite this, you can bet that I will be purposely including an out there selection in my mock draft in the hopes that I accurately predict which team took a swing and missed.
5. Have fun with it.
No matter your reason for making a mock draft, this is your opportunity to be the GM. If you think The Panthers would be better off trading away Cam Newton and drafting a new QB, go ahead and mock it. Anyone can look at a list of players and mock them in the same way thousands of others did.
Go crazy with it. Mock as many trades as you want. Put that third round projected player in the first round. Make decisions for your team that would drive fans absolutely crazy. Or be as accurate as you can and take solace in the fact that you nailed that one call nobody else did. It’s your mock draft. Do whatever makes you happy and be proud of it no matter the result.
Jordan Katz NFL Mock Draft 1.0
The wonderful NFL Mock Draft season is upon us. It is the start of the hope that comes with every offseason. For the teams that don’t make the playoffs, it’s a chance to rebuild, and a way to get back to the postseason. For those that made the playoffs, it’s chance to further your chances of making it back next season..
This season there are a lot of talented prospects. There are risk/reward players, a loaded wide receiver class, and one Jameis Winston. In reality, the debate of Winston or Marcus Mariota could determine the way the entire draft plays out. Which player do the Tampa Bay Buccaneers give the keys to their franchise to? Or do they opt to build their team further before taking a quarterback, and draft an elite prospect like Leonard Williams or Amari Cooper?
This is just the first of my mock drafts before the NFL Draft, which has now become a spectacle to behold. Since this is the first one, there are no trades, because not every spot has been set in stone yet. As the draft gets closer and closer, I’ll start mapping out trades based on which teams I think are most likely to move up or down.
ROUND ONE
1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)- Jameis Winston, QB Florida State
The worst kept secret in the world is that Tampa Bay is taking a quarterback, if they stay with the first overall pick. In my opinion, Winston is actually the safer of the two quarterbacks, despite his off the field issues, because he has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback at the next level.
2) Tennessee Titans (2-14)- Leonard Williams, DT USC
Tennessee obviously needs a quarterback, but something tells me they would opt to trade down rather than drafting Marcus Mariota. Williams is my top prospect in the draft. He’s disruptive in the run game, he has elite pass rushing moves, and his versatility makes him a perfect fit opposite a zero technique in Jurrell Casey.
3) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)- Dante Fowler Jr., DE Florida
Fowler is my top pass rusher in the draft, and for a team that needs an edge rusher this makes the most sense.
4) Oakland Raiders (3-13)- Amari Cooper, WR Alabama
Oakland is in desperate need of a number one target for Derek Carr, and Cooper is surely that guy. Cooper is an Antonio Brown clone. He excels at route running, he’s explosive out of his break and he has phenomenal hands. This is a no brainer.
5) Washington Redskins (4-12)- Vic Beasley, OLB Clemson
While Beasley isn’t my second best edge player, he’s my best 3-4 outside linebacker, which is what Washington plays. Beasley is a pass rushing extraordinaire and can rush with his hand in the dirt or standing up, which is an underrated asset for edge rushers.
6) New York Jets (4-12)- Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon
Jets fans get the benefit of the Titans passing on Mariota, but is it a positive? The possibility of Mariota not translating to the pros because of Oregon’s system quarterback has been well documented. Also his lack of an inventory of throws could hurt him on draft day.
However, I believe that Mariota’s accuracy, underrated arm strength, and intelligence will allow him to overcome the “system,” critiques.
7) Chicago Bears (5-11)- Brandon Scherff, OG/OT Iowa
In my opinion, Brandon Scherff is the best offensive lineman in the draft, but he is a guard, not a tackle. This could lead the Bears to pass and go for Landon Collins, even though an in the box safety might not go that high.
If they go for offensive line, I think Scherff is so good as a guard that he should be the first offensive lineman off the board.
8) Atlanta Falcons (6-10)- Nate Orchard, DE Utah
Falcons fans, I know what your thinking. Where is Randy Gregory? I’m not as high on Gregory as others. I think he takes plays off, relies too much on his athleticism, and doesn’t set the edge well versus the run. I see Vernon Gholston 2.0.
Nate Orchard, however, is going to start flying up draft boards. He isn’t as gifted as some of the other pass rushers, but he’s smart, he has a nose for the ball and good pass rushing moves.
9) New York Giants (6-10)- Shaq Thompson, OLB Washington
Here’s my thought process with this one. Eventually the Giants are going to draft a first round linebacker. Shaq Thompson has the makings of a stud. Yes, he doesn’t have ideal size and build. Despite this he’s a beast in coverage, he ranges from sideline to sideline incredibly well, and he has a great football I.Q, something the Giants really value. This could be the time the Giants finally go linebacker because of that.
10) St. Louis Rams (6-10)- Kevin White, WR West Virginia
If Amari Cooper is the best wide receiver in this draft, then Kevin White is 1A. White has the ability to be a home run threat, as well as a red zone target. He has lethal quickness out of his cuts and is a beast in the air. If he can sure up his drops and become a more complete route runner, he could be better than Amari Cooper.
11) Minnesota Vikings (7-9)- Andrus Peat, OT Stanford
Minnesota needs a wide receiver, but there are lots of wide outs in this draft. They also need a tackle, and there are not nearly enough of those.
Peat could be a strong tackle at the next level. He has the athleticism and one-on-one blocking ability to be great in pass protection. Even though his balance is off sometimes, Peat has the makings of a solid pro.
12) Cleveland Browns (7-9)- DeVante Parker, WR Louisville
Parker looks like an unpolished A.J Green to me. He’s not as good of a route runner as Green was out of college, but he’s equally as explosive, and equally as good with the ball in the air. Parker will prove to be a great target for whomever Cleveland decides to start at quarterback in 2015.
13) New Orleans Saints (7-9)- Jordan Phillips, NT Oklahoma
Jordan Phillips is my fourth best prospect in this draft. Why? Phillips has everything I look for in a nose tackle. He eats blockers, he’s disruptive in the run game, and you can’t block him one-on-one. He’s a perfect fit for the Saints defense.
14) Miami Dolphins (8-8)- Eddie Goldman, DT Florida State
Right behind Jordan Phillips in my rankings is Eddie Goldman. He’s so disruptive in both the run and the pass game, and constantly makes big plays. The Dolphins need a 4-3 defensive tackle, and putting Goldman with Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon may make the Dolphins front four one of the best in the league.
15) San Francisco 49ers (8-8)- Jaelen Strong, WR Arizona State
San Francisco could go cornerback here, but I think the need to replace Michael Crabtree is too great to ignore. Strong is one of my favorite players in this draft. Some may question his release and the fact his route tree isn’t complete, but I love the upside. He’s great with the ball in his hands, he has the speed to burn defenders, and he is really good with the ball in the air.
16) Houston Texans (9-7)- Trae Waynes, CB Michigan State
Waynes is an interesting case for me. He has the man coverage ability to be a shutdown corner. He seems to often be in the wide receivers pocket regardless of whether he’s off the line or in press coverage.
However, teams just seemed to avoid him in favor of better matchups. Can Waynes go from being seldom targeted to becoming frequently targeted, and remain as productive?
17) San Diego Chargers (9-7)- Landon Collins, SS Alabama
Collins would be higher if he wasn’t an in the box safety. He rarely misses a tackle, and while he is not a ball hawk, his instincts are terrific. Putting him opposite Eric Weddle could prove to be one of the best safety tandems in the league.
18) Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)- Dorial Green-Beckham, WR Oklahoma
If there is a team that is going to draft DGB’s talent despite his character issues, it’s going to be Andy Reid and the Chiefs. DGB’s massive size (6’6) and explosive speed make him an incredibly difficult guard for any defensive back. If he gets his off the field issues in order, he could be the steal of the draft at 18.
19) Cleveland Browns via Buffalo Bills* (9-7)- Danny Shelton, NT Washington
Shelton is very comparable to Jordan Phillips, in fact they are almost the same player. He eats blockers incredibly well, and is great in the run game. He explodes off the line and sheds blockers with his strong hands.
The difference between him and Phillips, in my opinion, is I think Phillips is dominant in the pass game as well, where as I feel Shelton has some work to do there. Shelton’s pad level is also occasionally too high.
*- Browns acquired pick in Sammy Watkins Trade
20) Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)- Marcus Peters, CB Washington
Marcus Peters has off the field issues, but he also has a ton of tools. He’s got the size to man up taller receivers, the athleticism to guard the shifty wide outs, and he hawks the ball.
Peters needs to become more consistent, and could improve in press coverage, but the talent is there.
21) Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1)- Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE UCLA
Someone I have very high on my personal board is Owamgbe Odighizuwa. He does have an injury history, which could keep him out of the first round, but if a team is willing to overlook that, they could get a steal.
Odighizuwa has a great first step, he gaps the run well, and has the pass rushing ability equivalent of the top guys in this draft.
22) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)- Eli Harold, OLB Virginia
Still no Randy Gregory? That’s right. Still no Shane Ray? Right again.
Harold might have the most potential of the edge players in this draft. After watching Harold, I saw a number of chances for sacks where he failed to bring down the quarterback. Despite this, he still had a really productive season.
Harold has explosive speed and really good pass rushing moves. He’s also deceptively strong. If he becomes more consistent, watch out.
23) Detroit Lions (11-5)- Arik Armstead, DT Oregon- The talent is there for Arik Armstead, but he needs to become more consistent. Even though the production isn’t there, I think Armstead’s talent, along with his size and power, makes him a great replacement for Ndamukong Suh (assuming he walks in free agency).
24) Arizona Cardinals (11-5)- Shane Ray, OLB Missouri
Shane Ray is only here because I think Bud Dupree is better served as a 4-3 defensive end than a 3-4 outside linebacker. Ray is wildly inconsistent, particularly as a tackler and a run stopper. He does have great athleticism and a quick first step, but he needs to become more consistent.
25) Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)- TJ Clemmings, OT Pittsburgh
I’m not sure Clemmings is the dominant tackle that other mock draft enthusiasts believe he is, but Clemmings is a behemoth in the run game. He’s strong and he does a great job of getting to the second level. I think a team that runs the ball frequently can make great use of him, and the Panthers do just that.
26) Baltimore Ravens (10-6)- Malcolm Brown, DT/NT Texas
Brown doesn’t have long arms, which could make fall on draft day. That doesn’t bother me though. I love his ability to pass rush and eat blockers. He’s strong as an ox too.
27) Dallas Cowboys (12-4)- Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE Kentucky
Yep, you guessed it. Still no Randy Gregory.
Bud Dupree is actually one of my favorite players in the draft, despite him being in the back end of the first round. He uses his hands incredibly well as a pass rusher, and seems to have a high I.Q for a defensive lineman. Dupree gets really good leverage and he’s fast around the edge as well. There’s big upside here for Dallas with Bud Dupree.
28) Denver Broncos (12-4)- Gerrod Holliman, FS Louisville
Maybe the riskiest first round selection I have in this mock draft is Gerrod Holliman. Holliman is a ball hawk and showed the ability to read the quarterback very well at Louisville.
The negative is that Holliman is an inconsistent tackler and doesn’t put his, “hat in the ring,” versus the run.
With T.J Ward as his counterpart, I think the Broncos system sets Holliman up to succeed at the next level, making him worthy of the selection and the risk.
29) Indianapolis Colts (11-5)- Eric Kendricks, ILB UCLA
Kendricks is incredibly high on my personal board, but team needs finds him falling to the Colts at the 29. I think he’s easily the best middle linebacker in the draft, because there’s nothing Kendricks doesn’t do well. He’s equally as good versus the run as he is in coverage. The Colts would be really happy with this selection.
30) Green Bay Packers (12-4)- Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota
Williams looks a lot like Dwayne Allen to me. I don’t think he’ll ever be the game changer that Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski are, but his ability to block and his soft hands will make him a great weapon in a dynamic Packers offense, particularly in the red zone.
31) New England Patriots (12-4)- Derron Smith, FS Fresno State
Derron Smith needs to improve in his angles to ball carriers, but he is a terrific tackler, he plays the run well, and he is a ball hawk. Should the Patriots lose Devin McCourty to free agency, Bill Belichick will probably be all over Smith’s upside in round one.
32) Seattle Seahawks (12-4)- La’el Collins, OT LSU- Had this been two weeks ago, I would’ve told you that the Seahawks selection at tackle was Cedric Ogbuehi. However, after his injury, he may fall in the draft. This elevates La’el Collins to this position.
Collins is unpolished in pass protection, but he’s a good run blocker and has ideal size for the position. He also does a good job of getting to the second level.
Mike Reynolds Mock Draft 1.0
1. Tampa Bay (2-14): Jameis Winston, QB FSU
- The Bucs haven’t had consistent QB Play in years. Winston is a head case, but he’s the best in the class.
2. Tennessee (2-14): Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon
- Many believe Tennessee is content with Mettenberger, but I’m not so sure Wisenhunt would risk his job on a 6th round pick.
3. Jacksonville (3-13): Leonard Williams, DE/DT USC
- Possibly the best player in the class falls to number three. Gus Bradley would love to add the versatile defensive linemen to help build up his defense.
4. Oakland (3-13): Amari Cooper, WR Alabama
- The Raiders drafted their franchise QB, it’s time to start giving him some weapons.
5. Washington (4-12): Eli Harold, EDGE Virginia
- A possible surprise at number five. The Redskins were bottom 10 in total sacks in 2014 and Brian Orakpo’s future in Washington is unclear.
6. New York Jets (4-12): Devante Parker, WR Louisville
- With the top two QB’s off the board, the Jets attempt to give what they have a dynamic option.
7. Chicago (5-11): Shaq Thompson, OLB Washington
- The Bears just didn’t have a good defense in 2014. The most versatile player in the draft can help them in coverage, and in run defense.
8. Atlanta (6-10): Vic Beasley, EDGE Clemson
- In a quarterback league, it’s inexcusable to only have 22 sacks in a season. An edge rusher is Atlanta’s number one need.
9. New York Giants (6-10): T.J Clemmings, OT Pittsburgh
- Justin Pugh is more suited to play inside, and T.J Clemmings may have the highest upside of any OT in the draft.
10. St. Louis (6-10): Kevin White, WR West Virginia
- The Rams needed to turn to Kenny Britt in the regular season due to poor receiver play, and he will be a free agent.
11. Minnesota (7-9): Brandon Scherff OG/OT Iowa
- Minnesota’s interior line has not been too great. They need to add anything they can to the line to protect Teddy Bridgewater,
12. Cleveland (7-9): Danny Shelton, NT Washington
- Ahtyba Rubin is a free agent this offseason. Shelton not only provides a replacement, but a potential upgrade from day one.
13. New Orleans (7-9): Shane Ray, EDGE Missouri
- The Saints could be dealing with Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, and Winston in 2015. Pressuring them is very important if they want to have a chance at another Super Bowl before Drew Brees retires.
14. Miami (8-8): Eddie Goldman, DT FSU
- Miami’s interior defensive line has been very underwhelming. Adding Goldman will take pressure off Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon.
15. San Francisco (8-8): Trae Waynes, CB Michigan State
- The 49ers always have a lot of draft picks. Depth at CB couldn’t hurt.
16. Houston (9-7): Jaelen Strong, WR Arizona State
- Andre Johnson had his worst healthy season since… Well, ever. It’s time to start looking for his replacement.
17. San Diego (9-7): Dante Fowler, EDGE Florida
- San Diego’s pass rush is pitiful. Fowler might not have the upside of some rushers this year, but he’s the most NFL ready.
18. Kansas City (9-7): Eric Kendricks, ILB UCLA
- WR is a bigger need, but the top four are already gone. Putting Kendricks next to a healthy Derrick Johnson will instantly fix the Chiefs run stopping woes.
19. Cleveland from Buffalo (9-7): Randy Gregory, EDGE Nebraska
- You can never have enough pass rushers, and Cleveland can’t pass up on Randy Gregory’s potential. The Browns can let him sit behind Barkevious Mingo and Paul Kruger for a year or two.
20. Philadelphia (10-6): Landon Collins, SS Alabama
- Nate Allen’s contract is up, and frankly he just wasn’t that good anyway. The Eagles enjoy his replacement falling right into their lap.
21. Cincinnati (10-5-1): Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE UCLA
- Losing Michael Johnson affected this pass rush a lot more than anybody thought. Odighizuwa’s quick first step and non stop motor are a good step toward fixing that.
22. Pittsburgh (11-5): Jordan Phillips, NT Oklahoma
- The Steelers haven’t had an effective Nose Tackle since Casey Hampton. Phillips 6’6” 324 pound frame will eat up blockers.
23. Detroit (11-5): La’El Collins, OT LSU
- Matt Stafford was sacked 45 times in 2014. The Lions need to buy him more time for Johnson and Tate to get open.
24. Arizona (11-5): Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota
- Maxx Williams is a matchup nightmare, and might prove deadly alongside Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd.
25. Carolina (7-8-1): Andrus Peat, OT Stanford
- The Panthers have one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Cam can buy time with his legs, but I doubt he would complain about having more time in the pocket.
26. Baltimore (10-6): Marcus Peters, CB Washington
- The injury bug destroyed the Raven secondary in 2014. Depth is a primary concern.
27. Dallas (12-4): Nate Orchard, DE Utah
- A lot went right for Dallas this year, but their pass rush was still below average. Demarcus Lawrence and Nate Orchard could be a dynamic duo for years to come.
28. Denver (12-4): Malcolm Brown, DT Texas
- Jack Del Rio is out in Denver and it looks like Knighton might be gone with him. Malcolm Brown can come in and start right away.
29. Indianapolis (11-5): Arik Armstead, DE Oregon
- The Colts need a lot. Armstead has athleticism and physique that scouts drool over.
30. Green Bay (12-4): Anthony Harris, SS Virginia
- Green Bay fans are getting tired of Morgan Burnett’s inconsistent performances. Anthony Harris can push him for the starting job.
31. New England (12-4): A.J Cann, OG South Carolina
- They could use a WR, but Bill will never take one in round one. Look for him to go back to the trenches on the first day.
32. Seattle (12-4): Ereck Flowers, OT Miami
- Elite teams stay great by stocking up in the trenches. The Seahawks might make Russell Wilson the richest man in the NFL, so they should use a high pick to protect that investment.
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