Cleveland has many holes to fill including
the QB position but Myles Garrett is the consensus No.1 pick.
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.
2. San Francisco 49ers – CB Marshon
Lattimore, Ohio State
The 49ers could go with nearly anyone with this pick. They have
needs all over the roster, but Lattimore makes quite a bit of
sense. He’s gaining a lot of momentum in draft circles,
and he fills a need. Jimmie Ward is the only reliable cornerback
on the roster, but there is talk that they want to move him to
safety this season. If that’s the case, Lattimore would
step in as San Fran’s top corner. If Ward stays at corner,
he would make an elite pairing with Lattimore for years to come.
3. Chicago Bears – QB Mitchell Trubisky,
North Carolina
I don’t personally believe there are any quarterbacks worthy
of being drafted this high, but quarterbacks always seem to go
higher than they should. The Bears are without a true answer at
quarterback right now, and while Trubisky is not the clear-cut
best quarterback in the draft, he does come with serious talent.
If the Bears are comfortable with taking a “one year wonder”
at the position, Trubisky is their best option.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Solomon
Thomas, DE, Stanford
The Jaguars are in need of a pass rusher, and this draft class
is loaded with them. Jonathan Allen struggled a bit at the Combine,
which may cause him to fall below Solomon Thomas. Thomas is coming
off an elite season, and a dominant bowl game against North Carolina.
He is an athletic defensive lineman that will be able to lineup
at multiple positions along the defense. Thomas would be an immediate
upgrade to their defense, which finished 19th in total sacks last
year.
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.
6. New York Jets – Leonard Fournette,
RB, LSU
Fournette to the Jets is the sexy pick at this point in time,
and it makes quite a bit of sense. The Jets are shifting through
a rebuild and having a stud running back would make it much easier.
Fournette solidified himself as the top running back with a ridiculous
4.51 40-yard dash at the Combine. Some scouts have suggested that
Fournette is better than both Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott,
who are two elite young running backs in the NFL. Fournette will
be able to shoulder the load and having a potentially dominant
running back to rely on should make it much easier for a young
quarterback and defense.
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.
8. Carolina Panthers – Jonathan Allen,
DE/DT, Alabama
Allen is one of the biggest question marks coming into the draft.
He has produced at an elite level for Alabama, but he struggled
a bit at the Combine and there are questions surrounding his shoulder
arthritis. This would be great value for the Panthers, who are
always looking to add to their defense. Allen would be able to
play on either the inside or outside, and he is a player that
has looked great against both the pass and run during his time
at Alabama. If his shoulder checks out before the draft, he’ll
likely shoot back up team’s draft boards.
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.
10. Buffalo Bills – Mike Williams,
WR, Clemson
The Bills could select a quarterback here, but the coaching staff
and front office are split on whether or not to keep Tyrod Taylor.
If they opt to keep Taylor, the Bills will need to focus on weapons.
Sammy Watkins is an elite wide receiver, but can’t seem
to stay healthy. The Bills don’t have any great receivers
behind him which is a cause for concern. Williams is a massive
receiver, who uses his size well. He isn’t overly fast,
but he can work each of the levels of the field, and uses his
size to come down with the ball. Williams can learn behind Watkins
for a while, but he has the look of a WR1 if Watkins does get
injured at any point in time.
11. New Orleans Saints – Tim Williams,
OLB, Alabama
Simply put, the Saints need a pass rusher. They struggled to
reach the quarterback last season (27th in sacks), which hurt
the value of their secondary. Tim Williams is the type of player
that can get to the quarterback in the hurry causing the secondary
to have to cover for less time. Williams is as explosive as they
come, and his pass rushing skills were on full display with nine
sacks last season. He has the potential to become a full-time
linebacker, but he will make an immediate difference on a defense
that needs to find a way to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The Browns will add another first-round defender to their team
with this pick. Their secondary struggled mightily last season,
and it may be time to move on from Joe Haden. Humphrey has the
potential to become a number one cornerback, as he comes with
great size and speed. He isn’t quite ready to step in and
shut down his opponents, but the Browns aren’t a team that
is looking to make a playoff push this season. Humphrey could
learn behind the Browns’ current corners before taking over
once he’s ready.
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.
14. Philadelphia Eagles – John Ross,
WR, Washington
The Eagles have multiple positions of need, but they need to
find Carson Wentz weapons this season. Ross helped his stock at
the Combine when he blazed a ridiculous 4.22 40-yard dash, while
potentially running with a cramp in his calf. He certainly comes
with injury questions (shoulder), but he is a player that can
take the top off of the defense and provide an immediate spark
to the Eagles’ offense.
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.
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.
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.
18. Tennessee Titans – Sidney Jones,
CB, Washington
As mentioned earlier, the Titans have a huge hole at cornerback,
which they will be looking to fill with this pick. Jones is a
high-upside player, who has elite ball skills with the desire
to get better. He has the look of a cornerback, who can shut down
number one wide receivers, but he’ll need to add muscle
to his frame. If he’s able to do this, he should have no
problems being a starter in the NFL for years to come.
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.
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.
21. Detroit Lions – Taco Charlton,
DE, Michigan
The Lions need help along the defensive line, and Charlton is
a player who is quickly rising up draft boards. He doesn’t
have elite production at Michigan to show, but his size and athleticism
more than make up for it. Charlton is a player that coaches tend
to say, “he can be as good as he wants.” The only
problem is that some coaches do not believe he has the passion
needed. He could step in and immediately help the Lions, who desperately
need help along the defensive line.
McKinley isn’t exactly the ideal fit for the Dolphins,
as he’s best suited as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but Miami
runs a 4-3. They have a serious need at outside linebacker though,
and McKinley is the best available. They could overlook the fit
because of McKinley’s athleticism and rawness. That could
set him up to have an easier transition to a new position. The
Dolphins could also try to move him to a 4-3 pass rushing end,
but that is much less likely.
23. New York Giants – O.J. Howard,
TE, Alabama
The Giants have a serious need at tight end and Howard is an
elite option to fill that void. He didn’t produce at an
elite level during his time at Alabama, but he tore apart the
Combine and he has all the tools to be successful in the NFL.
Some scouts have pegged Howard as an All Pro waiting to happen,
while others have stated that he will be drafted in the top 10.
That certainly could be the case, but tight ends are rarely selected
that high. The Giants won’t be a team that passes on him
here.
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.
25. Houston Texans – Garett Bolles,
OT, Utah
It’s difficult not placing a quarterback here, but the
Texans are paying Brock Osweiler so much money that it seems more
likely that they try to add pieces around him this season than
adding a first round quarterback. This doesn’t mean they
won’t draft one, but it’s more likely to be in the
second or third round. Bolles is a high upside player, who fits
with the Texans offense. They need a swing tackle in case of an
injury again this season, and Bolles would be just that as the
Texans groom him into a starting caliber player.
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.
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.
28. Dallas Cowboys – Chris Godwin,
WR, Penn State
The Cowboys have other needs, but they’re a team that loves
to draft the flashy player. Godwin recently tore up the Combine
after there were a few questions about his athleticism. He is
a wide receiver that could sneak in to the first round because
of these numbers. He also has displayed great hands; consistently
catching contested balls at Penn State. Godwin doesn’t get
all the recognition as the other wide receivers in the class,
but he could end up as the best value a few years down the road.
29. Green Bay Packers – Teez Tabor,
CB, Florida
The Packers continue to stockpile cornerbacks, as they add Tabor
to a promising trio of Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins, and
Ladarius Gunter. Green Bay struggled in the playoffs with inconsistent
play from these corners. It isn’t surprising, as the Packers
tried to man up Gunter on players like Dez Bryant and Julio Jones.
Tabor is the big, physical type of corner that can guard these
players one-on-one. He would add a physical presence to the Packers
secondary and he has the potential to become a shutdown press
corner.
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.
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.
32. New England Patriots – Jabrill
Peppers, S/LB, Michigan
Peppers is in an interesting position. Some scouts believe he’s
a top 5 talent in this draft, but he doesn’t have a defined
position. Some teams see him as a safety, while others see him
as a linebacker. He was even asked if he would workout as a running
back and wide receiver. The Patriots are the type of team that
love using athletes. He’s great value at this point in the
draft if the Patriots find a way to utilize his interesting skill
set.
