I'm still tempted to put Bortles here and still believe it's a realistic option. However this QB class is not that good and O'Brien may feel more comfortable taking Clowney here and seeing who falls to them at 33. In this scenario they get Bridgewater.
2. St. Louis Rams: Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M
Greg Robinson is the favorite for this pick by many, but Matthews is far more developed as a pass blocker than Robinson. Add in that HC Jeff Fisher has ties to the Matthews family and has been raving about him makes this pick more likely.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack OLB Buffalo
Jacksonville made it clear last draft that they are taking the best player regardless of position. QB is a position of need, but they'll likely pass and add a difference maker. Mack fits perfectly as the SLB in their 4-3 Under defense where he'll be able to match up with TEs and still rush the passer frequently.
4. Cleveland Browns: Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
I've long put Derek Carr here and still think that could be the choice. However the Browns may feel they can wait till 26 and with Watkins still here it's easier to pass. The duo of Watkins and Gordon would help any QB and the running game as you cannot commit a safety to the box.
5. Oakland Raiders: Greg Robinson OT Auburn
Oakland is clearly in win now mode and if they don't Allen and McKenzie are out. That means they won't be going QB and will take the best player. Robinson would give them the LT they needed when Veldheer left. Robinson immediately helps the run game of MJD and McFadden.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Taylor Lewan OT Michigan
They need a pass rusher and a left tackle desperately but with Mack and Clowney both gone they'll have to get a tackle here. Luckily there are three good tackles in this class and the Falcons should have a shot at all three. Lewan is a better pass blocker than run which helps as this team moves more towards Matt Ryan throwing the ball.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans WR Texas A&M
It's a copy cat league and the vogue thing is getting big receivers. Evans is massive and has good size which he uses to his advantage. Pairing him up with Vincent Jackson and you have a duo that will make it easy for Josh McNown to move the ball.
8. Minnesota Vikings: Derek Carr QB Fresno State
This pick may not take place here, but Carr and the Vikings are a perfect match. With Norv Turner in as the OC the Vikings will look to go vertical. Carr has a strong arm to go with his quick release and can make all the throws in that offense.
9. Buffalo Bills: Eric Ebron TE North Carolina
Even though Doug Marrone wants to pound the rock, they still need weapons for EJ Manuel. Getting Mike Williams will help the receiving core, but adding a dynamic tight end like Ebron will make it even better. Ebron will work the underneath routes and stretch the seam which should help free up Stevie Johnson and the running game.
10. Detroit Lions: Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix S Alabama
Finding the next good safety will be a higher priority, especially one that can play both positions. That is what you have with Clinton-Dix. He'll take over Louis Delmas' spot at the SS position where he can thrive. The ability for him and Glover Quinn to play both positions makes disguising their coverage even easier.
11. Tennessee Titans: Blake Bortels QB UCF
I really don't see Bortles falling past the Titans here. With Ken Wisenhunt now the head coach and the Titans not picking up Locker's option it shows that they don't have complete trust in him. Add in that Bortles fits the type of QB that Wisnehunt has had success with in the past and it makes this all the more likely.
12. New York Giants: Kony Ealy DE Missouri
In letting Justin Tuck leave via free agency, the Giants have a hole opposite of Jason Pierre-Paul. Even if Damontre Moore steps up, they need more depth. Kony Ealy may never be the same player as Tuck, but his style is so similar. Ealy can play both DE spots and even move inside to DT on passing downs. That fits the Giants desire to have multiple DEs on the field on passing downs.
13. St. Louis Rams: Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
Where St. Louis goes with this pick will be a mystery. They could target a safety or a receiver, but don't count out Donald here. Michael Brockers is a very good NT in the Rams 4-3 defense. But they lack a true playmaker at the 3 technique. Getting a penetrating player like Donald would really allow Robert Quinn to get more single teams which can make this defensive one of the elite.
14. Chicago Bears: Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma State
The common thought is the Bears will take a DT here. And they could. However they already address their front four quite a bit in free agency while the cornerbacks have stayed status quo. Their three top corners are on the wrong side of 30 and finding a future cover corner is a must. Getting Gilbert would also be quite the value here.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Odell Beckham Jr WR LSU
Corner corner could be a possibility, but with the departure of Emmanuel Sanders and not really having anybody to step up the Steelers' hand my be forced. But that's not a bad thing when you getting Odell Beckum. Beckham may lack the size of some receivers, but he's an elite route runner and good after the catch.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Dee Ford DE Auburn
The transition to the Tampa 2 is getting closer and closer. Getting DT Henry Melton to play the 3 technique is the start, now finding a dynamic edge rusher is next. Dee Ford gives Dallas a DE with good athletic ability to bend the edge and pin his ears back and go get the quarterback. He isn't very big, but in the Tampa 2 that isn't a huge necessity.
17. Baltimore Ravens: Tim Jernigan DT Florida State
Baltimore has a habit of getting good players to fall right into their lap. So much so it makes mocking a pick to the very difficult. Jernigan may not seem like a logical pick at first, but the more you look at it the more sense it makes. Jernigan is a stout defender who can take on blocks and still make plays. He'll step right into Arthur Jones spot and have the defense not lose a beat.
18. New York Jets: Brandin Cooks WR Oregon State
Get Geno some weapons. Last year he had nothing to work will and actually played better than most thought he would. They added Eric Decker who will help as a #2 receiver. But they need somebody to go out and make plays. Cooks is in the Desean Jackson type of mold, but he's much more refined. He has elite speed, but remarkably he can go up and get the ball. This move would drastically help.
19. Miami Dolphins: Zach Martin OL Notre Dame
Martin could be the best possible solution because he has the skill set to play tackle, but projects best to guard. Either way he's good enough to play anywhere on their line. With Brandon Albert starting at LT, the Dolphins still need to find a guard and right tackle. Martin likely starts at RT but could be moved inside where he has All Pro written all over him.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Barr OLB UCLA
Two months ago if you had Anthony Barr outside of the top 10 you were crazy. Now some have him going in the second round. I still think Barr has a ton of talent, but he's still learning and isn't a very aggressive player. But he fits perfectly in a 3-4 defense and the Cardinals need somebody to rush the passer. Could be a match made in heaven.
21.Green Bay Packers: Calvin Pryor S Louisville
Safety play is becoming all the more important in the NFL and the Packers have some of the worst safeties in the NFL. MD Jennings was let walk to division rival Chicago which tells you how they felt about him. If they have a shot at Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix or Calvin Pryor they'll jump.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech
The common pick most people mock to the Eagles is a WR. However if you remember Chip Kelly’s offenses at Oregon, they were built around the running backs not the receivers. Kelly got a ton of production out of Riley Cooper, so he likely won’t use a high pick to get another one. Kelly wants to get long and athletic and and Kyle Fuller can help him do that. Fuller has good size, but also uses his athletic ability to stick with receivers. Adding him to Cary Williams only makes their defense better.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Marqise Lee WR USC
The Chiefs are really in a good position here because they should be able to address their three main needs with a quality player here. Jace Amaro could be their choice, but they can get a quality tight end in the third round and instead look to boolster the WR spot opposite of Bowe. Don't let this past season or Lee's numbers at the combine fool you. He's the playmaker the Chiefs need.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: CJ Mosley LB Alabama
It should be interesting to see what the Bengals will do. They’d love for a LT or Safety to fall to them, but that is unlikely being at the 24th pick. Instead the Bengals could look to shore up their linebacker core with Mosley. They great thing about Mosley is he is very good in coverage and running and tackling. He could play either MLB or WLB in the Bengals defense. Paring him up with Vontaze Burfict who could also play the MLB and WLB spots would allow the Bengals to disguise and be creative with their play calling.
25. San Diego Chargers: Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan State
San Diego use to have one of the best cornerback tandems in the league, not its one of the worst. They need a number one guy and they might have that with Dennard. Dennard is a fluid cornerback who has the speed and quickness to stick with any receiver. He would go higher if he had more height and length. Regardless it's a great get for the Chargers.
26. Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
With all the love the national media is giving Manziel it may be a shock to some to see him here. Manziel has some serious questions about his game that should cause him to fall. Cleveland passed on a QB at 4 but needs to take somebody with their first three picks. Manziel brings excitement and Cleveland needs it.
27. New Orleans Saints: Kyle Van Noy OLB BYU
Rex Ryan's aggressive defense worked wonders last year without a good pass rusher off the edge. Gallette played well but they need help opposite of him. Van Noy is starting to pick up steam but he should have been this high all along. He's a versatile pass rusher who'd thrive in this defense.
28. Carolina Panthers: Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida State
The Panthers don't need a receiver, they realistically need two. But picking at the end of the first round they could be on the short end of a WR run. Luckily for them in this situation they'd have Kelvin Benjamin fall into their laps. Benjamin has some issues with work ethic and top end speed. But he fits well into the Panthers offense and would give Newton a big receiver to throw the ball up to.
29. New England Patriots: Louis Nix DT Notre Dame
Louis Nix isn't your typical nose tackle, he possess quickness and explosion you normally see out of sub 300 pound tackles. For the Patriots they'll see a lot of Vince Wilfork who won't be around forever. Nix's versatility will allow him to fit right in with the Patriots who love to play a hybrid 4-3, 3-4 defense.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Stanley Jean-Baptiste CB Nebraska
Big corners are in vogue and that should only help Jean-Baptiste whose talent has him up here anyways. The 49ers have a huge need at corner where only Eric Wright and Chris Culliver are the starters. Add in that Culliver could be cut any day and this should be their top priority. Also don't forget that Seattle could take SJB at 32 and the 49ers would love to steal him away.
31. Denver Broncos: Bradley Roby CB Ohio State
Even with the signing of Aqib Talib, the Broncos can't stand pat at cornerback. Especially with opposite starter Chris Harris tore his ACL and may have to start the season on the PUP list. Even if Harris is back for the start they need a third corner badly. Roby didn't have a great junior season, but the talent is there and would be worth the selection.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Xavier Su'a-Filo G UCLA
Who Seattle goes with will be a mystery since they go for fit more than value. Even with them winning the Super Bowl, their offensive line was an issue. They could really use a tackle and guard in this offseason. Su'a-Filo has been shooting up the draft boards and his ability to play in a zone blocking scheme makes him a fit.
2nd Round
33. Houston Texans: Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville34. Washington Redskins: Stephon Tuitt DE Notre Dame
35. Cleveland Browns: Deone Buccannon S Washington State
36. Oakland Raiders: Ryan Shazier LB Ohio State
37. Atlanta Falcons: Demarcus Lawrence OLB Boise State
38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morgan Moses OT Virginia
39. Jacksonville Jaguars: Keith McGill CB Utah
40. Minnesota Vikings: Chris Borland MLB Wisconsin
41. Buffalo Bills: Joel Bitonio T/G Nevada
42. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiah Attaochu OLB Georgia Tech
43. New York Giants: Ra'Shede Hageman DT Minnesota
44. St. Louis Rams: Jimmie Ward S Northern Illinois
45. Detroit Lions: Paul Richardson WR Colorado
46. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jason Verrett CB TCU
47. Dallas Cowboys: Gabe Jackson G Mississippi State
48. Baltimore Ravens: Allen Robinson WR Penn State
49. New York Jets: Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech
50. Miami Dolphins: Lamarcus Joyner CB/S Florida State
51. Chicago Bears: Will Sutton DT Arizona State
52. Arizona Cardinals: Zach Mettenberger QB LSU
53. Green Bay Packers: Jarvis Landry WR LSU
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Trent Murphy OLB Stanford
55. Cincinnati Bengals: Kareem Martin DE North Carolina
56. San Francisco 49ers: Pierre Desir CB Lindenwood
57. San Diego Chargers: Scott Critchon OLB Oregon State
58. New Orleans Saints: Jaylen Watkins CB Florida
59. Indianapolis Colts: Marcus Martin C USC
60. Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama
61. San Francisco 49ers: Corey Lattimer WR Indiana
62. New England Patriots: Carlos Hyde RB Ohio State
63: Denver Broncos: Marcus Smith DE Louisville
64. Seattle Seahawks: Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Washington
No comments:
Post a Comment