This is the mock draft i did about a week ago:
I'd change a few things but for the most part this is how i see it going if everyone stays put... which will be terribly wrong because i think we're going to get a LOT of trade action
1. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff , California , QB
Im not as sold on Goff as i am on Wentz, but i do think Goff will be the Rams pick now. You dont move to a new city, give up the earth and then sit the QB for a year the way Wentz needs to. Goff is more pro ready right now, and hes going to be the face of the LA Rams.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz , North Dakota State , QB
The Eagles covet Wentz, hard to imagine they are moving up unless they are fairly sure hes going to be there for them. They can afford to sit him for a year, maybe even 2 which is what Wentz needs, but his upside is incredible.
3. San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil , Ole Miss , OT
Fantastic situation for the Chargers. The QBs go and let them have the pick of the litter @ #3. They have needs all over the place but none more than OL. Rivers needs to be kept upright and Tunsil projects as a 12+ year starter as a LT
4. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Ramsey , Florida State , FS
This is a little interesting, because the Cowboys kind of already have this guy in Byron Jones, just not as good. Do they need 2 of them? Not sure but its hard to imagine Jerry passing up the sexy pick like this. They can play him at safety or corner and he should be a play maker. I like him more at FS for this team.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack , UCLA , OLB
This is the exact type of player the Jags need. Their offence looks good, theyll get Fowler back as a pass rusher on defence, and now they get a versatile play maker in a Luke Kuechly style at the 2nd level, this is a team on the rise.
6. Baltimore Ravens: DeForest Buckner , Oregon , DE
Classic Ravens, they sit and wait and get an absolute steal. Buckner is a perfect fit for their 3-4 scheme, hes going to get in on that DL and dominate the line of scrimmage and let Suggs, Dumervil and Mosley make plays.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Vernon Hargreaves III , Florida , CB
Tough spot for San Fran, i think a trade back is on the cards here, but since Im not going to project trades, theyve just got to take the best player available. Vernon Hargraves is an absolute stud and should improve a defence thats lost a lot of talent.
8. Cleveland Browns: Ronnie Stanley , Notre Dame , OT
This team seems to know they have a lot of holes and are committed to build in the right way. To me thats inside to out, so they need to address the OL. Stanley can play at RT for a year or two before transitioning to LT to replace future HOFer Joe Thomas.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joey Bosa , Ohio State , DE
Good result here for Tampa, Bosa manages to fall all the way down to them, and boy do they need it. A good pass rusher and run stuffer to pair with Gerald McCoy and try to create some dominance at the LOS.
10. New York Giants: Shaq Lawson , Clemson , DE
The pick should be Conklin, but i think they have probably invested too much in the OL lately to go back to that well again. Theyve got Vernon Olivier and now they can pair him with Shaq Lawson and get back to a ferocious pass rush that helped deliver 2 rings for this franchise recently.
11. Chicago Bears: Jack Conklin , Michigan State , OT
Cocklin manages find his way to the Bears who have an immediate need on the OL. They could kick Long to the left side or just chuck Conklin in at LT where currently Bobby Massie is masquerading as pass protector.
12. New Orleans Saints: A'Shawn Robinson , Alabama , DT
The Saints desperately need to improve their defence and in particular their run defence. Robinson can play as a 4-3 DT or a 3-4 DE, and is a force against the run. Thats what will interest the Saints, versatility in scheme.
13. Miami Dolphins: Ezekiel Elliott , Ohio State , RB
I think hes going to find his way to Miami but i think it might involve a trade up. Hard to imagine Elliott falling out to #13 but i just cant justify putting him higher. Maybe the Bears @ 11. The Dolphins need a workhorse back, they tried to buy one to no avail. They get Zek to tote the rock.
14. Oakland Raiders: Darron Lee , Ohio State , OLB
Boy do i love this for an ascending team like the Raiders. They get to pair him with Mack and youve got two very good play makers who can get to the passer. Lee also gives you the ability to line him up over the tight end and expect he can cover him.
15. Tennessee Titans: Laquon Treadwell , Ole Miss , WR
Theyve got the franchise QB, theyve got an RB, their line needs some help but the value just isnt there now, i expect the Titans will trade up into the top 10 to get Stanley/Conklin but this is where they sit and the best pick in this situation is Treadwell, which will give Mariota a nice safety blanket who can go over the middle and make contested catches to move the chains.
16. Detroit Lions: Sheldon Rankins , Louisville , DT
The Lions have Ngata, but hes aging and they are still trying to find a long term replacement for Suh. Hes a little undersized but so was Aaron Donald. Rankins can hold up in the run game and excels at getting interior pressure with speed, footwork and a great bullrush. Hes a good pick for this team.
17. Atlanta Falcons: Taylor Decker , Ohio State , OT
The Falcons need to improve both trenches, but they can come back later and address DL. They can get a really good starting RT right now with Decker. Paired with Matthews, thats hopefully your bookend tackles for the next decade sorted.
18. Indianapolis Colts: Leonard Floyd , Georgia , OLB
The Colts need to start finding a way to get to the passer. They cant keep trying to outscore everyone, they occasionally need to find ways to get stops, and that usually means a guy who can get home on 3rd down. Floyd can do that as an OLB replacing my beloved but aging Trent Cole.
19. Buffalo Bills: Jason Spriggs , Indiana , OT
The Bills have a good defence, some play makers on offence, but the Line needs help. Spriggs is rising up draft boards right now and could wind up being a good middle round pick. Probably not going to be a LT, but theyve got Cordy Glen. Will start day 1 as a good NFL RT with the upside of a pro bowl RT.
20. New York Jets: William Jackson III , Houston , CB
Buster Skrine is currently slated to start on the outside, hes much better as a slot corner. Bowless scheme needs good man corners and William Jackson III gives him a tall, long and fast young player to mould into a future Revis replacement.
21. Washington Redskins: Ryan Kelly , Alabama , C
This is a good spot for Ryan Kelly. The best center in the class, should be a day 1 starter and a good one at that. Centers are fairly safe as prospects and McCloughan likes to build with the lines. Hell stay safe here and fill a need.
22. Houston Texans: Josh Doctson , TCU , WR
Theyve got the QB or so they think (Im not convinced), theyve got the defence, theyve got a decent line. The thing they need most is a guy opposite Nuk Hopkins who can make plays. Josh Doctson is a speedy big play threat, who can make contested catches and attacks the ball in the air. Perfect complement to Hopkins and gives the Texans a legit shot at making another leap in the AFC.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Cody Whitehair , Kansas State , OG
I love Cody Whitehair. I think this guy is the next Zach Martin, i think he can come in and be a pro bowl Guard in his rookie year. The Vikings need to solidify their interior line and Whitehair is a great fit and great value at this point of the draft. Corey Coleman could be the pick here too.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Corey Coleman , Baylor , WR
The Bengals lost a lot of talent at WR this off season, more importantly they lost Hue Jackson. I think they could come back to the pack a little bit this year, especially with Baltimore and Pittsburgh in their division. Coleman is the highest upside WR in the draft and he should give Dalton a good weapon
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mackensie Alexander , Clemson , CB
The Steelers need to get better on the back end. They may look at WR here given the Martavis Bryant situation but they cant expect to add to their trophy cabinet unless they find a way to cover opposition WRs. I like Alexander here. Hes a savy, smart player. A little undersized but plays above that. Has a Steeler mentality.
26. Seattle Seahawks: Eli Apple , Ohio State , CB
Back to back corners, the Seahawks are always looking to add long, corners. Theyre defence and success is centred around the LOB. And Cary Williams absolutely killed them last year. OL is a desperate need but there isnt anything there that makes sense. I think Apple is a guy that will shock people with how far he falls. Some have him as high as #13.
27. Green Bay Packers: Reggie Ragland , Alabama , ILB
Its kind of hard to imagine Ragland falling here but ILBs arent considered a high priority position. They always fall unless its a talent like Kuechly. The Packers need an inside backer to allow them to get Clay Matthews back outside where he can wreck game plans. The packers would be over the moon to land Ragland.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: Will Fuller, Notre Dame, WR
The Chiefs have built nicely and are ready for a run. Their defence looks really strong, theyll get Charles back and the OL looks solid, with Kelce and Maclin, what Andy Reid needs is his DeSean Jackson, hes got his Maclin, but Fuller runs a 4.32 and can take the top off the way Jackson did. A big play waiting to happen. Should open things up for Maclin and Kelce in the middle.
29. Arizona Cardinals: Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky, OLB
The Cards are a team that could and should take a chance on Spence. This is the right spot for him too, late first, early second. This team needs a pass rush to allow it to take the next step. This makes so much sense and given how Arians has handled Tyrann Mathieu, they can feel comfortable taking the risk on Spence.
30. Carolina Panthers: Kevin Dodd , Alabama , DE
Man this team doesnt have a lot of hole, theyve got Johnson whos really good and Ealy whos come on VERY strong late last year, but Denver beat them in the SB mostly because they had a relentless pass rush. Panthers could try and make a strength a strength and really go for the throat on defence. Corner is obviously a need now given the situation with Norman.
31. Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch , Memphis , QB
The current SB champions have Mark Sanchez atop their depth chart. And that maybe ok for a year, they wont win the SB but they just got one, theyll be fine. Taking a guy with the size, athleticism and talent of Lynch makes sense for Elway. He can sit behind a vet for a year or two whilst Elway keeps the team kicking along and theyll be poised to deliver more rings into the future
