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1. Cleveland Browns – DE Myles
Garrett, Texas A&M
The Browns could opt to take their
pick of the litter with the quarterbacks, but Garrett is the most
likely option. Adam Schefter reported that the Browns are extremely
high on Garrett, who is the most gifted defensive lineman in the
draft. He recently put on a show during the NFL Combine and the
Browns could use a difference maker on defense. It would be shocking
if Cleveland passes on Garrett, who most people see as the best
player in the draft.
Previous Pick: DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
2. San Francisco 49ers – Solomon
Thomas, DE, Stanford
The 49ers have plenty of needs, but Thomas is the fastest rising
prospect in the NFL Draft right now. He’s an athletic defensive
lineman, who will be able to play multiple positions if needed
but will likely end up playing the role of a 4-3 defensive end
for the majority of his career. He’s a great pass rusher,
which is a position the 49ers desperately need to upgrade. It
isn’t out of the question that they select a cornerback,
quarterback or any other position here, but Thomas is the odds
on favorite at this time.
Previous Pick: CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
3. Chicago Bears – Jonathan Allen,
DE/DT, Alabama
Allen was the favorite for the second overall pick before struggling
at the NFL Combine. That should be enough to knock him below Solomon
Thomas, but it likely won’t knock him too far. He’ll
climb back up the draft boards once teams begin looking more at
film rather than Combine results. He’s another versatile
player, who will be able to find success both inside and outside
on the defensive line. He also found plenty of success against
both the run and pass during his time at Alabama. He’ll
be an immediate upgrade to the Chicago defense.
Previous Pick: QB Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina
The Jags could shift their offense away
from turnover prone Blake Bortles to a power ground attack.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Leonard
Fournette, RB, LSU
I’m extremely skeptical about the Jaguars using this pick
on Fournette, but it does make sense in theory. The Jaguars have
expressed interest in adding talent around Blake Bortles, and
Fournette would be a massive upgrade over T.J. Yeldon and Chris Ivory. This would allow the Jaguars to rely more on controlling
the clock and an emerging defense rather than Bortles’ arm.
Normally it would be difficult to mock a running back this high,
but the success that the Cowboys found with Zeke Elliott will
cause other teams to try to replicate that game plan.
Previous Pick: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
5. Tennessee Titans – Jamal Adams,
S, LSU
The Titans have a huge hole at cornerback, but they will have
to settle for a safety here. Adams and Malik Hooker are neck and
neck for the first safety off the board, but Hooker is dealing
with injuries right now. Tennessee’s biggest hole is currently
in their secondary, and Adams is arguably the best player available
here. They could reach on a cornerback, but it’s more likely
they use this pick on arguably the best safety in the draft.
Previous Pick: Jamal Adams, S, LSU
6. New York Jets – Marshon Lattimore,
CB, Ohio State
It seems criminal to have Lattimore go this late in the draft,
but that is the way the cards fell. The Jets are currently relying
on Morris Claiborne and Buster Skrine, which is extremely dangerous.
Lattimore would immediately step in and contribute on the Jets
defense. He comes with tremendous upside, and this could be the
first time the Jets have a true shut down cornerback since the
earlier years of Revis Island.
Previous Pick: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
7. Los Angeles Chargers – Malik Hooker,
S, Ohio State
Hooker is expected to miss a few months due to recent surgeries
or else he would likely be the first safety off the board. The
Chargers reportedly love him though, and he would fill a big void
in the defense. Jahleel Addae is going to be a free agent, and
the Chargers desperately missed Eric Weddle in the secondary last
season. Hooker is a ball-hawking safety who also has good skills
with the ball in his hands. He lacks experience, but he is the
type of turnover machine that teams are looking for at the backend
of their defenses.
It’s no secret that the Panthers need help at cornerback.
They could go with a multitude of players here, though, as cornerback
rankings are all over the board at this point. Humphrey is a great
option as he is a big corner with great speed as well. He isn’t
quite NFL ready, but he has the potential to immediately step
into a role for the Panthers. They will need to find a replacement
for Josh Norman or they will continue to struggle defensively.
Previous Pick: Jonathan Allen, DE/DT, Alabama
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Derek Barnett,
DE, Tennessee
Barnett is a top notch defensive end, but gets somewhat lost
in the shuffle in a draft filled with elite pass rushers. The
Bengals are in need of another pass-rushing defensive end, and
Barnett could make an immediate impact. He was the all-time sack
leader at Tennessee, and Barnett makes a ton of sense as a high-upside
selection for Cincinnati.
Previous Pick: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
10. Buffalo Bills – O.J. Howard,
TE, Alabama
The Bills recently stated that their number two wide receiver
is currently on their team, and while I don’t believe that
to be true, I do think that drafting Howard here makes more sense
than drafting someone like Mike Williams. There are plenty of
questions surrounding Williams while there are very few surrounding
Howard. He struggled to post elite production at Alabama, but
he is an elite blocker, who has the potential to develop into
an elite receiving tight end. He could immediately take pressure
off of Sammy Watkins by working the middle of the field and Howard
is a more likely option than a wide receiver here.
Previous Pick: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
11. New Orleans Saints – Taco Charlton,
DE, Michigan
The Saints need to address their pass rush in this draft and
they likely will do that in the first round. Charlton is a bit
of a wildcard as he does not have much production in college,
but his size and athleticism will force teams to fall in love
with him. He has the potential to become one of the premier pass
rushers in the NFL, which is something the Saints will be looking
for at this pick.
Previous Pick: Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
12. Cleveland Browns – Mitchell Trubisky,
QB, North Carolina
It wouldn’t be surprising to see teams trade up for quarterbacks,
as that is a position that always tends to be over-drafted. The
Browns are a team that desperately needs to find a franchise quarterback.
There have been reports that they are in love with Trubisky, but
there are other reports stating that they like Deshaun Watson
more. They are a team that needs the most talented player and
Trubisky simply has more upside than Watson. He’s a young
player that the Browns could build around for the next decade.
Previous Pick: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
13. Arizona Cardinals – Corey Davis,
WR, Western Michigan
Larry Fitzgerald is on his last legs, and Michael Floyd is out
of Arizona. That means they are going to need someone to step
in as the top receiver after Fitzgerald retires, but John Brown
and J.J. Nelson don’t fit the mold. Corey Davis does, boasting
great size with good routes and strong hands. He’ll make
a great red-zone option for Arizona this season, while learning
behind Fitzgerald. He will make an outstanding replacement that
can take over as soon as Fitz announces he’s done.
Previous Pick: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
14. Philadelphia Eagles – Gareon
Conley, CB, Ohio State
The Eagles upgraded the wide receiver position in free agency,
which will allow them to focus on their secondary with this pick.
Conley was overshadowed by Marshon Lattimore at Ohio State, but
he displayed elite upside during his time as a starter. He struggles
to provide run support, but he is an extremely versatile cornerback
as he can play both left and right corner. He can also play in
man or zone coverage and he’s a high upside player that
is flying up draft boards.
Previous Pick: John Ross, WR, Washington
15. Indianapolis Colts – Cam Robinson,
OT, Alabama
The Colts must hate the idea of keeping Andrew Luck healthy,
which makes me question this pick. Robinson is a player that is
projected to become a right tackle or guard, but some teams believe
he’ll be able to handle himself at left tackle. That type
of versatility will help Indianapolis, who absolutely need to
find someone who can protect their franchise quarterback. Robinson
is a three-year starter in the SEC, which means he has been playing
against great pass rushers throughout college. There are a few
concerns about his inconsistencies, but the Colts do not have
much of a choice here.
Previous Pick: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
16. Baltimore Ravens – Dalvin Cook,
RB, Florida State
Cook underperformed at the NFL Combine, but he has such elite
tape and production in college that teams are likely to overlook
that. The Ravens recently stated that they need help at running
back and Cook is an elite prospect. He could step into the starting
role and be a workhorse running back. He’s the type of player
that teams can build their offense around, and he would solve
the Ravens running back issues for quite some time.
Previous Pick: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
17. Washington Redskins – Reuben
Foster, ILB, Alabama
Foster is an elite prospect, but there are a ton of question
marks surrounding him, which has caused his value to fall. He
has suffered multiple concussions during his time at Alabama.
He also recently had rotator cuff surgery and was kicked out of
the NFL Combine after getting into an argument with a hospital
worker. There are no questions about his talent though, and the
Redskins need major help in their front seven. Foster would immediately
help their run defense, which was lacking last season. If the
Redskins can get over his question marks, Foster is an elite value
pick here.
Previous Pick: Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
18. Tennessee Titans – Mike Williams,
WR, Clemson
The Titans missed out on Brandin Cooks earlier this off-season,
but they will get their more traditional receiver here. Williams
is sliding down the draft boards because of questions about his
speed, but he isn’t a receiver that relies heavily on speed.
He’s a massive receiver, who uses his size well. He has
the ability to work each of the levels of the field and he uses
his size to come down with contested catches. He has the potential
to develop into a WR1 that the Titans are in need of.
Previous Pick: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Christian
McCaffrey, RB/WR, Stanford
McCaffrey is the type of Swiss army knife the Bucs need in their
offense. In the season-ending news conference, Coach Dirk Koetter
stated that the Bucs need players with catch and run ability in
their offense. McCaffrey isn’t exactly a wide receiver,
but he has more than enough receiving potential to play in the
slot. He’s a big play waiting to happen, and he’s
also a matchup nightmare for defenses. He tested well at the Combine,
which should certify that he’s selected in the first round
this April.
Previous Pick: Christian McCaffrey, RB/WR, Stanford
20. Denver Broncos – Ryan Ramczyk,
OT, Wisconsin
The Broncos badly need an offensive tackle. Ramczyk is the best
tackle on the board, and he has the potential to become a solid
left tackle for a long time. He has looked good in both run and
pass blocking during his time at Wisconsin. He’s a fairly
athletic player, and he should immediately help the Broncos offensive
line. He’ll likely start at right tackle as a rookie before
moving to left tackle later in his career.
Previous Pick: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
21. Detroit Lions – Takkarist McKinley,
OLB, UCLA
The Lions need quite a bit of help in the front seven and McKinley
is an interesting option. He isn’t an ideal fit, but he’s
an athletic player that could be taught to play multiple positions.
He’s raw, which means it could be easier to mold him into
a 4-3 outside linebacker or defensive end. This is a big of a
risky pick, but the Lions were rewarded when taking a raw player
in Ziggy Ansah and they will be looking to hit the lottery again
here.
Previous Pick: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
22. Miami Dolphins – Haason Reddick,
LB, Temple
Reddick flew under the radar before dominating at the NFL Combine.
He displayed elite athleticism, but there are plenty of question
marks surrounding him. His position is a bit unknown, as some
teams peg him as a defensive end, while some believe he’s
an outside linebacker, and others see him as an inside linebacker.
The Dolphins need help at defensive end and outside linebacker,
and Reddick would give them a bit of versatility for the future.
Previous Pick: Takkarist McKinley, OLB, UCLA
23. New York Giants – Garett Bolles,
OT, Utah
The Giants offensive line continues to be one of their biggest
weaknesses. Bolles isn’t a prospect that is completely ready
to step into the offense right now, but he comes with plenty of
upside. He has the potential to move inside if needed and he could
immediately compete as the Giants swing lineman. He also has the
potential to turn into a starting left tackle, which would allow
New York to move Ereck Flowers to another position after struggling
early in his career at left tackle.
Previous Pick: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
24. Oakland Raiders – Malik McDowell,
DT/DE, Michigan State
Coach Jack Del Rio stated that it is critical for the Raiders
to get an interior pass rush working next season and McDowell
is the best option plug the hole. He struggled last season for
Michigan State with only 1.5 sacks, but that was because of an
injury, as he had 4.5 sacks the year before. He’s a high
upside pick that does come with some risk, but McDowell has the
potential to play multiple positions, which only increases his
upside. This is a matchup made in heaven for the Raiders.
Previous Pick: Malik McDowell, DT/DE, Michigan State
25. Houston Texans – Patrick Mahomes,
QB, Texas Tech
The Texans are still holding out hope that they can sign Tony Romo, but their current quarterbacks are Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden. There have been rumors swirling that Mahomes is the Texans
preferred choice at quarterback, and he likely won’t be
available in the second round. He has been labeled a gunslinger
because of the type of offense he played in during his time at
Texas Tech, but he was able to control his turnovers. He also
has a big arm and isn’t afraid to pick up first downs with
his legs. Even if the Texans are able to sign Romo, Mahomes could
ultimately end up being their quarterback of the future.
Previous Pick: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
26. Seattle Seahawks – Roderick Johnson,
OT, Florida State
The Seahawks never seem to take offensive linemen in the first
round, but they don’t have much of a choice this offseason.
Russell Wilson was sacked 41 times in 2016, and they need to keep
their franchise quarterback upright in the future. Johnson is
the best tackle available, even though he is more known for his
run blocking. He has the potential to play both left and right
tackle as well. He isn’t the safest player in the draft,
but he fills a hole in a solid Seahawks roster.
Previous Pick: Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State
27. Kansas City Chiefs – DeShone
Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
Quarterbacks always go higher than they should, and that will
likely be the case again this season. Teams will likely trade
up, but Kizer makes a lot of sense for the Chiefs. Alex Smith
is aging, and it’s questionable whether a game manager is
going to be able to lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl. Kizer has
all the tools to become a great quarterback, but he needs to improve
his decision-making and accuracy, which he could work on while
waiting behind Smith. Keep in mind, Andy Reid isn’t afraid
to groom a young quarterback behind an aging starter.
Previous Pick: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
28. Dallas Cowboys – Evan Engram,
TE, Ole Miss
Engram ahead of David Njoku is not going to be a popular option
but it makes sense in this situation. Engram is essentially a
huge slot receiver that is going to cause problems for anyone
that guards him. Linebackers are not fast enough to keep up with
him while cornerbacks are too small to cover him. He will add
another wrinkle in an elite Cowboys offense after taking over
for Jason Witten.
Previous Pick: Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State
29. Green Bay Packers – Jabrill Peppers,
S/LB, Michigan
Peppers looked outstanding at the NFL Combine, which should help
his stock during the draft. He’s a player that can play
multiple positions, as he has been labeled a safety, cornerback,
linebacker, running back, and wide receiver throughout the draft
process. The Packers could use him to replace Micah Hyde, who
played a hybrid role in their defense. Peppers could be a steal
for a team this late as long as they have a plan in place for
him.
James Harrison is aging to say the least, although he may not
be playing like it. Regardless, he’s likely to hang up his
cleats soon, and the Steelers will need a replacement. Cunningham
is a linebacker that has good range which can be seen by his elite
production at Vanderbilt. He’ll be able to take a year to
put on extra muscle with the Steelers as well.
Previous Pick: Zach Cunningham, OLB, Vanderbilt
31. Atlanta Falcons – Forrest Lamp,
OG/C, Western Kentucky
Lamp is a player that has been gaining steam throughout the process.
He tested well at the Combine, and he’s a player that has
the potential to play tackle, guard, or center. He’s coming
from a small school, but he’s a four year starter, who has
plenty of tape to study. The Falcons have a need in the interior
line and Lamp is a player that can fill multiple holes as a sixth
lineman.
Previous Pick: Forrest Lamp, OG/C, Western Kentucky
32. New Orleans Saints – Tre’Davious White,
CB, LSU
The Saints are currently trying to work out a deal for Malcolm Butler, which shows they understand they need help in the secondary.
If they are able to land Butler, they will likely use this on
another position. White offers a high upside player, who has the
ability to turn into an every down cornerback for New Orleans.
Editor's note:
