I like to wait until the dust settles from free agency before doing mock drafts. Well, it would seem that time has come.
A couple of things you should know before you start reading:
- Please comment with your thoughts on my picks. If you're a fan of another team I really value your insider perspective and will use it to make my next mocks better.
- These are predictions of what teams WILL do and not necessarily what they SHOULD.
- I don't get into predicting trades. It's too much of a crapshoot to spend mental energy on.
| [get_helmet team=”ten” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
1. Titans |
Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss |
| It's not often that a pick is this easy when it doesn't involve a quarterback, but Tennessee and Tunsil are a virtual lock. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”cle” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
2. Browns |
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota St. |
| The Browns signed RG3 but are still likely to bring in a rookie for competition and their long-term prospects. Wentz has more upside than Jared Goff. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”sd” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
3. Chargers |
Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida St. |
| Ramsey is the consensus as the best overall defensive player in the draft and fills a big need for San Diego. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”dal” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
4. Cowboys |
Myles Jack, LB, UCLA |
| The Jason Garrett/Stephen Jones era is all about acquiring the best talent over filling needs. Despite their issues at DE, Dallas takes Jack with the long term in view. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”jax” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
5. Jaguars |
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio St. |
| Jacksonville pairs Bosa with last year's pick, Dante Fowler, for a hopefully dynamic duo. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”bal” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
6. Ravens |
DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon |
| Buckner has the potential to be a freak as a 3-4 DE, which Baltimore just so happens to play. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”sf” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
7. 49ers |
Jared Goff, QB, California |
| Colin Kaepernick is still there but the situation seems too toxic to last. The Niners will be happy to land Goff and move on. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”phi” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
8. Eagles |
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio St. |
| To the chagrin of Cowboys fans everywhere, Philly takes the elusive Elliott to help them chase that elusive Super Bowl win. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”tb” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
9. Bucs |
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma St. |
| Tampa's front office seems to like numbers and Ogbah has them where it counts; 22.5 sacks the last two years and a 4.63 40-yard dash. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”nyg” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
10. Giants |
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame |
| New York has an older quarterback to protect and an average group of running backs to work with. They follow the Cowboys' example and take their third offensive lineman in four years. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”chi” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
11. Bears |
Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida |
| Chicago will be thrilled to have Hargreaves slide to them at this pick. He's better than many people think and fills their biggest need. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”no” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
12. Saints |
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss |
| New Orleans' receivers have plenty of speed already but no size, which makes Treadwell a good counterbalance. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”mia” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
13. Dolphins |
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson |
| Miami replaces Olivier Vernon with a kid who will probably be far more productive than Vernon ever was. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”oak” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
14. Raiders |
Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State |
| Liking bigger and more physical corners, Oakland takes Apple and tries to teach him how to avoid penalties. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”la” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
15. Rams |
Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama |
| I'm not sold on Paxton Lynch and I don't think Jeff Fisher will be, either. Ragland fills the void left by James Laurinaitis' departure. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”det” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
16. Lions |
A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama |
| Having lost their top two defensive tackles to free agency over the last few years, Detroit gets some big help with Robinson. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”atl” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
17. Falcons |
Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State |
| Needing help all over their defense, Atlanta takes the linebacker who who had the fastest 40 at the combine. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”ind” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
18. Colts |
Jack Conklin, OL, Michigan St. |
| After a miserable 2015 season, Indy gets back to basics and builds around Andrew Luck in the most fundamental way possible. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”buf” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
19. Bills |
Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss |
| The Ryan boys are desperate and don't mind taking chances on suspect characters. Nkemdiche is this year's Randy Gregory but doesn't have to wait as long to hear his name. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”nyj” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
20. Jets |
Leonard Floyd, DE/OLB, Georgia |
| They will be ecstatic in New York to land Floyd this far down the board. Some have him going in the #8-12 range. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”was” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
21. Washington |
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville |
| Aaron Donald has helped lift the stigma a little on smallish defensive tackles, helping a guy like Rankins get taken this high. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”hou” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
22. Texans |
Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State |
| After putting up a reported 4.38 40-yard time at his pro day, the 6'3″ Thomas zooms past the other receivers on the board. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”min” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
23. Vikings |
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU |
| Minnesota seems sure to take a receiver and will have good ones to pick from. Doctson has the best upside of the remaining options. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”cin” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
24. Bengals |
Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson |
| The knock on Dodd is that he benefited from playing opposite Shaq Lawson in college. Teaming him up with Carlos Dunlap should alleviate that concern. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”pit” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
25. Steelers |
William Jackson, CB, Houston |
| Cornerback is clearly their biggest need and Jackson provides good value for Pittsburgh at this spot. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”sea” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
26. Seahawks |
Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State |
| Jason Spriggs may have more upside but Seattle needs someone ready to help right away. Decker is a strong run blocker and that's the key to Seattle's offense. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”gb” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
27. Packers |
Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech |
| They love ballhawks in Green Bay and Fuller is that. He could be a steal this far down the board coming off an injury year. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”kc” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
28. Chiefs |
Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson |
| This is a little high for Alexander for KC needs a corner badly and would be waiting too long for their next pick. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”ari” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
29. Cardinals |
Keanu Neal, S, Florida |
| There's a steep drop off from Neal to the next best safety, so Arizona covers a big need here. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”car” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
30. Panthers |
Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana |
| Good upside for the 30th pick. Michael Oher was their worst offensive lineman last year and an upgrade is needed. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”den” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
31. Broncos |
Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis |
| Until Denver makes some other move at quarterback this offseason you have to go with Lynch. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”cle” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
32. Browns |
Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame |
| Combining Fuller's speed with the hopeful return of Josh Gordon could do wonders for their offense. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”ten” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
33. Titans |
Noah Spence, DE, Eastern KY |
| After helping their own QB in the first round, Tennessee looks to attack opposing QBs with their next pick. | ||
| [get_helmet team=”dal” face=”r” align=”center” size=”sm”] |
34. Cowboys |
Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State |
| Nassib's leadership and work ethic are things that tickle Jason Garrett's fancy. Leading the nation in sacks last year doesn't hurt, either. Nassib's size gives him inside-outside flexibility, which Dallas also likes. | ||
And there you have it! I'll be looking at the Cowboys picks in more detail over the next few days, going in depth as to why I made the decisions that I did. Be on the lookout for those articles.
