We are just about a month away from one of the most exciting days in the NFL year: The Draft. The three-day event is both filled with excitement and nervousness. A team could find a franchise-altering player, or that team could select the next JaMarcus Russell. This year will be no different than any other, as fans will cheer some selections, boo others, and maybe even just shrug their shoulders because they’ve never heard of the selected prospect.
Mocking the draft is an impossible task in itself, but where is the fun in that? Heck, guys get paid a lot of money to scout players and put together big boards and multiple mocks (cough…I’m looking at you Mel Kiper) and seem to only get a few picks correct. No one can predict a trade. No one knows what happens in team war-rooms and no one really knows if any part of the movie “Draft Day” starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner is remotely true (Just kidding. The Browns doing something right? Costner has a better shot at becoming an NFL GM).
I digress, so let’s get to it.
1. Tennessee Titans: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
The Titans have their franchise quarterback and a highly-paid running back. The best thing for that two would be to put a big body in front of them to make sure that Marcus Mariota doesn’t get hit more than he has to, and so that DeMarco Murray has lanes to run through.
2. Cleveland Browns: Jared Goff, QB, California
It seems like every year the Browns are in the top-5 picks and are taking a quarterback. This year is no different for new head coach Hue Jackson and company. Jackson gets his franchise QB and Goff will earn the starting position simply by being the only quarterback on the team that has any talent.
3. San Diego Chargers: Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State
The Chargers get arguably the best prospect in this year’s draft class, and who better to replace Eric Weddle with than Ramsey? There are a few other needs on the team’s roster, but going with the “best-player-available mindset” works out for the Bolts.
4. Dallas Cowboys: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Greg Hardy is no longer with the team. Randy Gregory can’t lay off the weed. That combination means that Jerry Jones’ squad needs some help when it comes to rushing the passer. Bosa’s raw power will be difficult to defend.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Miles Jack, OLB, UCLA
Gus Bradley’s offense seems to be coming together, but the defensive-minded head coach hasn’t been able to bring a shred of The Legion of Doom down south. Jack is the first piece to building the formidable defenses Bradley is known for from Seattle.
6. Baltimore Ravens: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Sorry, Chip Kelly, you’re Duck isn’t going to fall to you. Baltimore has missed Haloti Ngata since he left for Detroit. Buckner is that big body on the line to wreak havoc on offensive lineman.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
If anyone knows Chip Kelly, they know he’s stubborn. They also know that he thinks he can bring a QB back from the metaphorical graveyard. That’s what he is trying to do with wither Blaine Gabbert of Colin Kaepernick. In Chip’s first year with the Birds, he took Lane Johnson. He goes OT in the first year by the bay.
8. Philadelphia Eagles: Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
Howie Roseman moved up to the eighth spot in the draft for a reason. Hargreaves is that reason. He wouldn’t have been around at 13 and has all the makings of becoming the shut-down corner that Eagles fans have longed for since the days of Lito Sheppard and Bobby Taylor.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
The Bucs have enough weapons on offense and took care of their offensive line needs last year and in free agency a few weeks ago. Adding Lawson with recently-signed Robert Ayers should help to make the defense better than it was in 2015.
10. New York Giants: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Rashad Jennings isn’t good enough to be the every-down back, and Andre Williams hasn’t shown enough to prove that he deserves many touches. The Giants get a back they can rely on instead of throwing to Odell Beckham all of the time.
11. Chicago Bears: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
The Bears will look to build up their defense and hope Jay Cutler doesn’t play too horribly. Dodd should be able to compete for a starting role right away, and the addition of Danny Trevathon will draw away some of the spotlight on the 11th overall pick.
12. New Orleans Saints: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
The third Buckeye taken in the first 12 picks could very well become the best player out of all three. Lee has enough talent to play all three downs and could step up to become the defensive leader for Sean Payton’s team.
13. Miami Dolphins: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
Back-to-back Buckeyes. The Fish have spent enough money elsewhere and moved down to 13 in a deal with the Eagles. Decker will come in and block for Ryan Tannehill who will look to continue his upward trend.
14. Oakland Raiders: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
For the first time since I can remember, the Raiders are actually a pretty decent team, well on their way to putting together a playoff contender. Adding Alexander to the secondary with recently signed Sean Smith should make for a competitive pass-defense.
15. St. Louis Rams: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Case Keenum will be the starter, but don’t be surprised if Wentz gets thrown into the fire earlier rather than later, much like the Jaguars ended up doing with Blake Bortles.
16. Detroit Lions: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
He’s not Calvin Johnson, but the Lions will have a nice receiving corps without Megatron with Treadwell and Marvin Jones catching passes from Matt Stafford.
17. Atlanta Falcons: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
The Falcons could go defense with this pick, but they elect to take a bookend for their line, so Matt Ryan has more time to find Julio Jones and Mohammed Sanu downfield.
18. Indianapolis Colts: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
The Colts have needed a stud on defense ever since Dwight Freeney left. Ragland has the ability to step in and become the leader on the defensive side of the ball.
19. Buffalo Bills: A’Shawn Robinson. DT, Alabama
Rex Ryan loved his defense, and although he already has an All-Pro in Marcell Darius at the tackle position, he has a history of stockpiling great D-lineman from his days in New York.
20. New York Jets: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
Even if they don’t get a deal done with Ryan Fitzpatrick, which it appears they might not, Connor Cook has enough experience to be able to start right away.
21. Washington Redskins: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
They have a few young guys on the roster at the position, but none posses the ceiling that Apple does.
22. Houston Texans: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Bill O’Brien gets a solid receiver to put across the field from De’Andre Hopkins, and gives new QB Brock Osweiler another target to throw to.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Much like the pick prior, the Vikings take a guy who can help out their young QB. With Mike Wallace leaving for Baltimore, Mike Zimmer’s team is thin when it comes to receivers.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Alabama
The Bengals look to keep building on their strong defense, taking Rankins over a wide receiver, which is one of the team’s biggest needs.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State
Keeping Ben Roethlisberger upright this year is even more important this season. Whitehair is by far the best guard in this year’s class, and the Steelers continue to build up the trenches.
26. Seattle Seahawks: Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Thomas Rawls showed that he could play last year, but Henry can play, too. Going with the two-headed monster is the best bet.
27. Green Bay Packers: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
His behavioral problems aside, Nkemdiche is a very good player. The Packers’ strong leadership and no-nonsense attitude will help to keep him in check.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
Andy Reid has a history of interacting well with players that are a little much to handle. Spence hasn’t had any problems since being banned from the Big Ten, and his talent is too hard to ignore.
29. Arizona Cardinals: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
The Cardinals could possible get the steal of the draft here. Smith easily would have been a top-10 pick had he not injured his knee. Taking him is a big chance, but the payoff could be the jackpot.
30. Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
They wanted to find the next Brock Osweiler. Lynch is just that. Putting him on the bench to sit for a while would be the best for the raw QB, but he could develop into someone who can command the offense in a few years.
31. Carolina Panthers: Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware made this decision easy. Cam Newton was constantly under pressure in the Super Bowl, so inserting a new blocker is a smart move.
Trevor is a news anchor/jack-of-all-trades for 1490 WBCB. Find him on twitter at @Trevor_Newcomb.
