DJ’s Final Mock Draft
Alright alright…Time to unleash my first and final mock draft. After reading expert analysis, watching game highlights, tape, and listening to all your feedback this is how I see the cookie crumbling.
1. Houston Texans – Jadeveon Clowney – DE – South Carolin
I don’t believe the hype that ATL will jump up and make a trade, especially if the rumours are true and the Texans are requesting a similar offer to what the Redskins sent to the Rams. Clowney is good, but I am not sure you pay that many picks for a prospect that has a tendency to take plays off.
2. Saint Louis Rams – Sammy Watkins – WR – Clemson
The Rams needs to see if Bradford is the solution. They need to provide him with a solid skill set. Austin is great, and signing Britt helps. Add in a player like Watkins, now Bradford has no excuse.
3. TRADE – Atlanta Falcons – Khalil Mack – DE/OLB – Buffalo
The Falcons make a trade, but don’t give up the future picks. They might have missed out on Clowney, but they get a player that some say might even be better. Mack would line up day one and create chaos in Nolan scheme
Trade
Jax receives 6th overall, 37th and 103rd
ATL receives 3rd overall pick
4. Cleveland Browns – Jake Mathews – OT – Texas A&M
It’s scary to think how good the Browns Oline will be. They have a star quality LT (Thomas), a Pro Ball center (Mack) and now add a bookend Right tackle.
5. Oakland Raiders – Anthony Barr – DE/OLB – UCLA
I can’t believe that come opening day that the Raiders will line up with two aging DE as their starters. They need youth and Barr is the best player available. I can’t believe they let Houston leave, but Barr will come and match his production.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mike Evans – WR –Texas A&M
The Jags will most definitely lose out on Blackmon and they didn’t really address the WR in free agency. They need someone to command attention on the outside and Evans would be the clear cut alpha receiver.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bradley Roby – CB – Ohio
The Bucs let Revis go, and they don’t have a legit shut down corner. Roby has been creeping up draft boards very quietly and based on the game tape I have seen, he looks like the best corner back in this draft. Lovie Smith, addressed the QB spot with a veteran presence.
8. Minnesota Vikings – Aaron Donald – DT – Pittsburgh
Don’t believe the hype. The Vikings will not draft a QB at the 6th position. The Viking lost what they use to have, and that was the Williams Square. The Vikes use to have the best two DL in the game eating up the middle of the field. They draft Floyd last year and will put Donald right next to them and anchor the Dline for the four to five years
9. TRADE – San Francisco 49ers – Odelll Beckham – WR – LSU
49ers need to get in front of the Lions to ensure they get the player maker they need. Beckham is the 3rd best WR in the draft and lining him up with Crabtree, Boldin and Davis, you are just adding to the fire.
Trade
i. 49ers get the 9th overall selection
ii. Bills get the 30th overall, 56th , 61st and 94th
10. TRADE – New York Giants- Greg Robinson – OT – Auburn
This pick makes sense for some many reasons. Beside Ryan Tannenhill, Eli Manning was sacked to often last year and the main reason was due to the OLine. The Giants get a steal with this pick and solidify the right or left side of their line for the next few years
Trade
i. Giants get the 10th overall
ii. Detroit gets the 12th overall and 74th
11. Tennessee Titans – Justin Gilbert – CB – Oklahoma
The Titans lost Verner in free agency. I don’t think they did a great job addressing that spot in free agency and the reason why is due to the draft. I think Gilbert fits into the Titans scheme nicely
12. Detroit Lions – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – S Alabama
The Lions left Delmas leave and want a play maker on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions wanted a WR, but trade back and get the best Free Safety playmakers
13. Saint Louis Rams – Zach Martin – OT/G – Notre Dame
Basically the same reasoning I had with the Watkins pick. The Rams will look to keep Bradford up and healthy. The Rams lost a guard during the free agency and get a versatile tackle/guard that they can plug and play into their line.
14. Chicago Bears – Kyle Fuller – CB – Virginia Tech
Peanut is getting old and the Bears need to start thinking about the potential move for him to Safety. Fuller can play either safety or cornerback and would add some much needed youth to an again secondary.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Eric Ebron – TE – North Carolina
Heath Miller is getting old. He is on the wrong side of 30 and in the NFL that is like being 50. Ebron would come in and work with Big Ben and be a focal point of their offence. I like this match up and would double down that if Ebron is still on the board, Pitt will make this call.
16. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Lewan – OL – Notre Dame
The Cowboys made a serious investment in Tony Romo and regardless of the speculation I don’t believe Manziel would fit here. The Cowboys need to protect Romo and the best fit here is Lewan.
17. Baltimore Ravens – Calvin Pryor – S – Louisville
The Ravens wanted one of the top 4 Oline men to fall to them, but the draft did not unfold to their liking. Based on their board Pryor is the ideal fit. With Pryor, the Ravens now have a suitable replacement for Ed Reed.
18. New York Jets – Darqueze Dennard – CB – Michigan State
Rex Ryan made a play for almost every single cornerback that was a free agent. He had to settle for Patterson. Based on his draft board Dennard is the best cornerback available and would pair with Millner come opening day.
19. TRADE – Cleveland Browns – Johnny Manziel – QB – Texas A&M
The Browns drafted Jake Mathews at 4th overall, and now they pair him with his collegiate quarterback. I believe that any team that wants to trade up to get a quarterback needs to get ahead of Arizona.
Trade
i. Cleveland get the 19th overall
ii. Miami get the 26th overall and 71st
20. Arizona Cardinals – Blake Borrtles – QB – Central Florida
Palmer is on the wrong side of 30, and if your name is not Brady, Manning or Brees this would be a cause for a concern. I believe the Cardinals will be the second team to select a QB in the first round
21. Green Bay Packers – Louis Nix- NT – Notre Dame
The Packer offence is set. I don’t think they need to draft a WR to replace James Jones. What they need to do is build their Dline. I can’t see any player on the board that would fit better than Nix. Nix would come in and spell BJ and I believe will eventually replace him as well. He’s a cheaper, younger version.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – Marqise Lee – WR – USC
Kelly traded away Desean and they need to find a player just in case Maclin doesn’t come back strong from his ACL tear. Lee provides another weapon for Nick Foles to use and might lead the WR rookie class in terms of yardage.
23. Kansas City Chiefs – Xavier Su’a-Filo – G – UCLA
The Chiefs had the Oline purged this offseason, and I am not sure why the Chiefs left them walk. Charles had one of his best years and it was due to the spacing that the Oline created. I believe Reid will try and replace that depth in the draft and that starts with this selection.
24. Cincinnati Bengals – Kony Ealy – DE Missouri
I really like what I have seen from Ealy. He has a high motor and might be a steal this late in the draft. The Bengals lost MJ this offseason and replacing him with Ealy, I doubt there will be any slack.
25. San Diego Chargers – Jason Verrett – CB – TCU
The Chargers thought they had a lock down corner when they signed Cox a few years ago….umm, ya that really didn’t work out. In a division where they place the Broncos twice, it makes sense to take the best CB available.
26. Miami Dolphins – C.J Mosley – ILB – Alabama
Based on my board this works out perfectly. The Dolphins were able to trade back and still get the player they wanted. Of course they didn’t get one of the top tackles they wanted, but with an extra 3rd round pick, I believe they double down in the 2nd and 3rd round (based on the depth of this year’s draft). Mosley will come in and start being a player we thought we had when we signed Karlos Dansby.
27. New Orleans Saints – Brandin Cooks – WR – Oregon State
Brees era will soon be coming to an end and the Saints are in a win now mentality. They have to put playmakers on the field. They lost Lance Moore and need another player that can put up is production. I like Cooks…I think he will be an immediate starter for this team.
28. Carolina Panther – Cody Latimer – WR – Indiana
I think either of these two picks can be swapped. Saints going with Latimer then the Panthers select Cooks. Either way both teams need WR help.
29. New England Patriots – Timmy Jernigan – DT – Florida State
Timmy was a top 10 talent. What is interesting is his free fall is based on attitude. Enter the Evil Empire. The Pats are known for taking risk on problematic players and getting the best out of them. This scares me…as a Dolphins fan. Jernigan might be the eventual replacement for Vilfork.
30. Buffalo Bills – Morgan Moses – OT – Virginia
The Bill traded back and get a whole lot richer in the draft in terms of picks. They still are able to address their most glaring need, which is the OLine. I believe Moses starts at Left Tackle come opening day for the Bills.
31. Denver Broncos – Ryan Shazier – LB – Ohio State
The Broncos D got real scary this offseason. They need it after getting pounced by the Hawks. With Woodyard leaving for greener pastures the only available spot on the Broncos roster is Linebacker. They use their first-round pick to address this concern.
32. Seattle Seahawks – Austin Seferian-Jenkins
The Hawks flirted with the idea of signing Finley this offseason and the only position on offence that doesn’t dictate attention is their tight end. Enter a home town talent in ASJ…this would make a scary team, even more scarier.
Let me know what you think or what you would do different.