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Quarterbacks are expected to go 1-2 with
the first two picks now in the hands of the Rams and Eagles.
1. Los Angeles Rams (from TEN) –
Jared Goff, QB, California
The Los Angeles Rams gave up quite the
package to get to this pick. It’s essentially a guarantee
that they select a quarterback, either Jared Goff or Carson Wentz.
Goff is seen as the most NFL ready in the draft, and he’s
a bit safer than Wentz. The Rams have a ton of question marks
surrounding the quarterback position, and taking a franchise(?)
signal caller in this draft would be a great way to kickoff off
their era in LA.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (from CLE) –
Carson Wentz, QB, N. Dakota St.
The Eagles also traded up in the draft, and they stated it was
for a quarterback. Wentz is the obvious pick, as he and Goff have
separated themselves from the rest of the quarterbacks since the
NFL Combine. This is a bit surprising because the Eagles recently
invested quite a bit of money in Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel,
but there are reports that the Eagles are enamored with Wentz.
If Philadelphia opts to go in a different direction than quarterback,
Ezekiel Elliott is in play, but ultimately Wentz is the logical
pick.
Previous Pick: Cleveland - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota
State
3. San Diego Chargers – Jalen Ramsey,
CB, Florida State
Ramsey’s chances of going No.1 are virtually non-existent,
but he shouldn’t fall far. He’s a big cornerback with
good speed and incredible athleticism, which could allow him to
become a playmaker in the NFL for years to come. The Chargers
don’t have a huge need at cornerback, but they do have a
major need at safety, which is a position Ramsey can also play.
He is the type of player that has the potential to shut down elite
wide receivers or he can provide run support. He also dominated
at the Combine, which has solidified his spot among the top-five
picks in the draft.
Previous Pick: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
4. Dallas Cowboys – Joey Bosa, DE,
Ohio State
There has been plenty of talk about Ezekiel Elloitt jumping into
the top-5, and the Cowboys would be the likeliest destination.
With that being said, it’s tough to imagine they would pass
on someone as talented as Joey Bosa. Reports are saying Bosa is
currently sliding down draft boards, but I wouldn’t be surprised
if Dallas stopped his fall. Bosa is an NFL ready player, and with
the clock ticking on Tony Romo, the Cowboys are looking to make
a Super Bowl run now. Dallas is likely going to completely part
ways with Greg Hardy, while Randy Gregory has also been a troubled
player. Bosa would fill a need and upgrade the Cowboys defense
immediately in their hopes to win a Super Bowl in the Romo era.
Previous Pick: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Myles Jack,
OLB, UCLA
Gus Bradley is a head coach that enjoys upgrading his defense
any time he can, which will be the case with this pick. There
are reports that Jack recently went through a private work out
for the Jags and Bradley believes he fits their scheme extremely
well. It is important to take reports with a grain of salt, but
Jack should be going around this pick and he is athletic enough
to fit any scheme. He played running back and linebacker at an
elite level for UCLA, and Jack will be a key piece to the Jags
up and coming defense for the next 10 years.
Tunsil is seen as the best prospect in the draft, but he’s
set for a free fall on draft day because of the recent trades
at the top of the draft. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone
traded up for Tunsil either. He would be a major upgrade for the
Ravens at tackle, as their offensive line struggled at times last
season. Tunsil possesses a great combination of finesse and power
and he would be one of the biggest steals in the draft at this
pick.
Previous Pick: Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
7. San Francisco 49ers – DeForest
Buckner, DE/DT, Oregon
The 49ers have holes all over their team, and they may opt to
use the “best player available” strategy with this
pick. It also wouldn’t be surprising if they trade down,
as they are in rebuild mode. Buckner is the best player available
here, as he can play multiple positions for San Francisco. He
has the speed to play defensive end, but he also has the power
to play defensive tackle. He also plays with a ton of emotion
and hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface of his true
potential.
Previous Pick: Jared Goff, QB, California
8. Cleveland Browns (from PHI)– Ronnie
Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
The Browns are one of the hardest teams to project in this draft,
as there are a few options that would make a lot of sense here.
Ultimately, I chose Stanely, who is the second best tackle in
the draft. He has the ability to excel at both pass and run blocking,
which is a rare trait for rookies. The Browns have a need at tackle,
as Austin Pasztor is far from a reliable option. Stanley will
benefit from playing right tackle for the Browns, as he adjusts
to the speed of the NFL and will take over as the Browns starting
left tackle later in his career.
Previous Pick: Philadelphia - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Vernon
Hargreaves, CB, Florida
The Bucs recently signed Brent
Grimes, but they still have a below average secondary. On
top of that, a few of their corners are aging and on the decline.
They face three elite passing offenses twice a season, and cornerback
is one of the most important positions in the NFC South. Hargreaves
posted a less than ideal 40-yard dash time, but he has an elite
vertical jump, which helps him make plays on contested balls.
He has the ability to play press, off, or zone coverage, and he
also isn’t afraid to help in the run game. He should immediately
help the Bucs secondary.
Previous Pick: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
10. New York Giants – Leonard Floyd,
OLB, Georgia
The Giants have a major need at linebacker and Floyd could fill
that void. He’s an extremely athletic edge rusher that blew
up the NFL Combine. Floyd isn’t quite an NFL ready prospect,
as he needs to put on weight, but he could be one of the best
players in this draft five years down the road. He has tremendous
upside and he has the ability to be a premier pass rusher for
the next 10 years. The Giants won their two most recent Super
Bowls because of their defense, and Floyd would be a great addition
if they are trying to get back to that formula.
Previous Pick: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
11. Chicago Bears – Shaq Lawson,
DE, Clemson
Lawson’s stock was dropping in recent weeks, but he received
great medical news and it appears he’s likely to climb his
way back up to the top-15 picks. He was an extremely talented
run stopper at Clemson, but he also flashed a consistent pass
rush ability. The Bears need help along their defensive line,
and Lawson would make a great fit. He could be a role player this
season before becoming a starter next year.
Previous Pick: Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
12. New Orleans Saints – Sheldon
Rankins, DT, Louisville
The Saints need help along the defensive line, and I believe
that they will address that weakness early in the draft. Rankins
has loads of upside, but he may take a few years to blossom into
the Pro Bowler he has the potential to become. He’s an explosive
athlete, who has elite quickness for his position. He could add
weight to his frame, which will help him in the run game. Even
though the Saints only have a few years left with Drew Brees,
Rankins has shown enough potential for the Saints to take a chance
on him here.
Previous Pick: A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
13. Miami Dolphins – Ezekiel Elliott,
RB, Ohio State
The Dolphins have struck out this offseason on their attempt
to sign quality running backs. They claim to be comfortable with
Jay
Ajayi as their starter, but it’s hard to believe they would
pass up on Elliott if he is available here. Elliott is one of
the best running back prospects in recent years, and he’s the
type of player that can lead a team to the playoffs by himself.
It wouldn’t be shocking if he were taken in the top-10 or if the
Dolphins opted to trade up for him. This would be a place that
Elliott could immediately contribute and the Dolphins are certainly
in the running back market.
Previous Pick: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
14. Oakland Raiders – Jarran Reed,
DT, Alabama
Reed is working his way up draft boards at the right time. The
Raiders are in need of help on the defensive line, and Reed could
help Oakland immediately. He was a part of the best defense in
the NCAA last season, and the SEC tends to produce more NFL ready
players than other conferences. As a big body, Reed is a run specialist,
and he will be hard for interior linemen to move. Oakland could
go with a few different players here, but Reed makes the most
sense.
Previous Pick: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
15. Tennessee Titans (from LA) –
Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
The Titans were expected to draft a tackle with the first overall
pick, and that will likely be the case here. They need to protect
their franchise quarterback, and Conklin would make a great pair
with Taylor Lewan. Conklin plays to the whistle and has great
technique, which is a great combination for a right tackle. If
the Titans can land their tackle for the future here, they made
a great trade as they compiled quite a few picks trading out of
the No.1 spot.
Previous Pick: Los Angeles - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi
16. Detroit Lions – Darron Lee, OLB,
Ohio State
The Lions have a few needs, and linebacker is certainly one of
them. They could use a middle linebacker and Lee is the type of
player that could play in the middle or the outside depending
on the situation. He’s an exceptional athlete, and his potential
is out of this world. In a few years, Lee has the chance to be
one of the best players coming out of this draft, which could
be great for a Lions team that is stuck in the middle of the NFC
North.
Previous Pick: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
17. Atlanta Falcons – Reggie Ragland,
ILB, Alabama
The Falcons clearly need to focus on defense in this draft, and
inside linebacker is one of the biggest needs. Ragland solidified
his spot in the first round, as he led an elite Alabama defense
and won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year this last season.
He is a tremendous run stopper, and the Falcons allowed the most
rushing touchdowns in the NFL last season. Ragland would immediately
be an upgrade to their linebackers, and he could eventually become
the leader of the Atlanta defense.
Previous Pick: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
18. Indianapolis Colts – Taylor Decker,
OT, Ohio State
This might be a bit high for Decker, but the Colts need to address
their offensive line and he’s the best available lineman
on the board. Indianapolis has their franchise quarterback in
Andrew Luck, but it’s impossible for him to win the game
if he’s consistently being hit, which causes injuries. Decker
is talented enough to start at right tackle from day one, and
he has shown a great ability to pass block in college. He was
a leader for one of the best teams in the nation last season,
and he plays with a team mentality, as he returned for his senior
year even though he would have been a first round pick in last
years draft.
Previous Pick: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
19. Buffalo Bills – A’Shawn
Robinson, DT, Alabama
The Bills need serious help along the front seven and Robinson
is the best player available in that aspect. He’s an NFL
ready prospect, as he was one of the leaders on the best defense
in the NCAA last season. He’s an extremely powerful lineman,
who will be able to impact the run game at an elite level from
day one. He also has the ability to get after the quarterback
on passing downs. Robinson is an extremely safe pick this late
in the draft.
Previous Pick: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
20. New York Jets – Jason Spriggs,
OT, Indiana
The top tier tackles have already been selected, and it’s
very possible that the Jets trade up for one of them. With that
being said, Jason Spriggs’ stock is on the rise, and there
is word buzzing that the Jets love him. Spriggs displayed great
athleticism at the Combine, as he tested well in essentially every
category he participated in. This likely isn’t the ideal
pick for the Jets, but they are in desperate need of an offensive
tackle and Spriggs is high on potential.
Previous Pick: Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
21. Washington Redskins – Laquan
Treadwell, WR, Mississippi
Treadwell is likely to fall a bit after the trades at the top
of the draft, and the Redskins would absolutely love if he were
available here. He’s a talented wide receiver, who would
likely be a top-10 pick is he were a bit faster. The Redskins
have lacked a true number one receiver for quite some time, and
Treadwell would give them a top target for the next 10 years.
Previous Pick: William Jackson III, CB, Houston
22. Houston Texans – Will Fuller,
WR, Notre Dame
The Texans are in desperate need of a quarterback but this may
be a bit high for Paxton Lynch. Instead, Houston will need to
look at finding a speedy wide receiver to stretch the field opposite
DeAndre Hopkins. Will Fuller is the exact type of wide receiver
to do that, as he may have worked his way into the first round
with a ridiculous 4.32 40-yard dash at the Combine. He has the
ability to take the top off of defenses, but he also can turn
screens and short passes into huge gains. Fuller would be a lock
for the top-20 if he didn’t struggle with drops, which is
what caused him to fall to the Texans.
Previous Pick: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
23. Minnesota Vikings – Josh Doctson,
WR, TCU
Minnesota is another team that is in need of a second receiver
to pair opposite of Stefon Diggs. Doctson is big (6-2, 202 lbs)
with unbelievably strong hands. He can high point the ball as
well as anyone in this draft, and he’s the type of receiver
that could easily develop into the number one option on a team
for the next ten years. He’s coming off a tremendous performance
at the Combine, in which he was the top performer in the vertical
jump, broad jump, 20-yard shuttle, and 60-yard shuttle. He also
ran a respectable 4.50 40-yard dash. He fell a little because
of the system he played for in college, but he has more than enough
talent to be a dominant force in the NFL.
The Bengals don’t have a major hole on their team, but they did
see Mohamed
Sanu and Marvin
Jones leave via free agency. That means they will be in need
of a wide receiver to take the pressure off of A.J.
Green. Corey Coleman was a dominant force at Baylor, and he
rarely saw single coverage on any given play. He has more than
enough speed to take the top off of a defense, but he’s also quick
enough to dominate on short and intermediate routes. He’s an electric
player that would add another dimension to the Bengals offense.
Previous Pick: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
25. Pittsburgh Steelers – Eli Apple,
CB, Ohio State
This pick came down to Eli Apple and William Jackson III, as
the Steelers are in desperate need of help in their secondary.
I like Apple slightly more than Jackson III, and he’ll make
a great fit for the Steelers defense. Apple is an extremely fast
cornerback, who continued to progress through each of his years
at Ohio State. He has tremendous potential, as he likely hasn’t
even scratched the surface of his talents yet. He’ll be
a great young piece for a weak secondary in Pittsburgh.
Previous Pick: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
26. Seattle Seahawks – Andrew Billings,
DT, Baylor
The Seahawks love upgrading their defense in the draft, and this
is a great class to do so. They need help along the defensive
line, and Billings would make a great rotational player early
in his career before taking on an every down role in a few years.
He’s one of the most powerful players in the draft, which
translates to a tremendous bull rush move. He is an NFL ready
run defender, and has been improving his pass rush over the last
couple of years.
Previous Pick: Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
27. Green Bay Packers – William Jackson
III, CB, Houston
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Green Bay trade out of
this pick, but if they don’t, Jackson III could be the option.
He isn’t a major need, as the Packers drafted two defensive
backs in the first two rounds last year, but they tend to stick
to the “best player available” strategy, and WJ3 is
the best player here. This pick would allow Green Bay to work
Quinten Rollins more at safety, which is a more natural position
for him. Green Bay believes that a team can never have too many
defensive backs, especially when someone with the talent of Jackson
III falls this far in the draft.
Previous Pick: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
28. Kansas City Chiefs – Robert Nkemdiche,
DT, Ole Miss
There could be an argument made for Nkemdiche being the best
player in this draft. He’s likely going to fall on draft
day because of off the field issues. If you don’t know the
story, Google search Nkemdiche and synthetic marijuana. The Chiefs
are a team that don’t seem to care as much about off the
field issues as some other teams in the NFL. He would fill a need
while giving them essentially a top-five talent late in the draft.
If he cleans up his act off the field, Nkemdiche will be one of
the best defensive linemen in the NFL in a few years.
Previous Pick: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
29. Arizona Cardinals – Ryan Kelly,
C, Alabama
Arizona has a major need at center, which could result in Ryan
Kelly being drafted in the first round. A.Q. Shipley is currently
penciled in as the starter, and Kelly could immediately take over
the starting job. He’s an extremely smart player, and he’ll
be NFL ready, as he was a leader of the Alabama team last season.
The last time we saw a center taken in the first round it worked
out well for Dallas (C Travis Frederick), and he would certainly
fill one of the Cardinals biggest needs.
Previous Pick: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
30. Carolina Panthers – Cody Whitehair,
OG, Kansas State
Whitehair will likely move to guard in the NFL, but he played
his last two season at Kansas State at left tackle. He’s
a versatile player, which will give the Panthers a little flexibility
with their o-line. He was a hard worker in college, and he’ll
likely bring that mentality to the NFL. The Panthers don’t
need to play him right away, so they can groom him into his position,
or they could multi-train him at different positions as a sixth
lineman until he’s ready to be a full time starter.
Previous Pick: Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
31. Denver Broncos – Paxton Lynch,
QB, Memphis
The Broncos are in need of a quarterback, as Mark Sanchez is
currently sitting atop their depth chart. They are trying to acquire
Colin Kaepernick, but he is refusing to renegotiate his contract,
and that trade looks unlikely. Paxton Lynch was recently in talks
with Wentz and Goff as the best quarterback in the draft, but
has since fallen out of that conversation. He has a powerful arm,
but he tends to struggle with accuracy on occasion. He’s
athletic and has the potential to be a future franchise player
at the position.
Previous Pick: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Note: The Patriots do not have a first-round pick in the
2016 draft (or a third-round pick in the 2017 draft) thanks to
Deflategate.