PhinPhanatic first round staff Mock Draft

Pick #11 New Orleans Saints:  Haasan Reddick, DE/LB, Temple

Analysis:  CBS has him rated as the top outside linebacker in the draft. He had the best combine forty at his position with 4.52 and has played DB so he should be able to stay with and cover his defender. Also having played on special teams makes him even more versatile. A knock on him is being undersized however he did have 21.5 tackles for losses in the 2016 season. (JA)

Pick #12 Cleveland Browns:  Deshuan Watson, QB, Clemson

Analysis:  The Browns need a quarterback and I would not be the least bit surprised if they don’t swing a trade and move up for Trubisky. But we are not allowing trades here. The pick of Watson makes sense but the Browns would be much smarter to draft Derek Barnett and jump back into round one later and take a guy like Pat Mahome instead. Again since trades are not allowed, we will stick with Watson.

Pick #13 Arizona Cardinals:  Derek Barnett. DE, Tennessee

Analysis:  The Cardinals are only a year removed from being one game away from a Super Bowl birth. The Cardinals defense is strong but they have a hole to fill at defensive end. Barnett is a tough edge rusher who can hold the outside and make good run/pass reads.

Pick #14 Philadelphia Eagles:  Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

Analysis:  I have heard many in the media liking Cook over Leonard Fournette who is rated one to Cook as two. The Eagles are getting a back that can be used under most any schemes they want him to run as he has flourished in them all. At the combine his best and only top performance was the bench press with 22 reps so if they wanted him to add extra bulk for power running he probably could. And with scouting comparisons to Edgerrin James and Marshall Faulk that might be a good idea to do so. (JA)

Pick #15  Indianapolis Colts:  Forrest Lamp, G, W Kentucky

Analysis:  The Colts need help at almost every position under the sun. They certainly would have loved to have taken a skilled player like Dalvin Cook, but it was probably a blessing for them that he was taken one spot ahead. Protecting Andrew Luck should be priority number one at this point. Leonard Fournette is still an option, but the Colts play it smart here and take, arguably, the best offensive lineman in the draft. (EF)

Pick #16 Baltimore Ravens:  John Ross, WR, Washington

Analysis:  At 5’11” John Ross – the 40 yard dash record holder – is brought in to Baltimore’s offense replacing all-time great Steve Smith. Right now he’d have to beat out guys like Michael Campanaro and Breshad Perriman at training camp. It’s a no brainer to team him up with Joe Flacco, a quarterback that loves chucking the ball deep to fast receivers. (TO)

Pick #17 Washington Redskins:  Jabrill Peppers, LB/S, Michigan

Analysis:  The ‘Skins are a team that always seems to be right on the playoff bubble.  All up and down the roster, they are a solid team, except in the linebacker and safety positions on defense.  After the free agent signing of linebacker Zach Brown, it seems apparent that Washington will go with a safety, and assuming that Malik Hooker is not available, they’ll happily ride with Jabrill Peppers. NFL.com compares him to Eric Weddle, a guy who can handle the slot, and run support, which would give Washington some flexibility up the middle on defense.  Peppers is a certain starter, and could end up being a hall-of-famer. (CR)

Pick #18 Tennessee Titans – O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

If the draft board truly falls this way, expect to see the Titans sprint up to the podium with their pick. Howard is the most complete TE in the draft. He was used mainly as an in-line/blocking TE at Alabama but Howard showed what he can do in the National Title Game as a receiver (4 catches for 106 yards and 1 TD). The Titans already have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL to go along with two very good running backs. The addition of Howard allows Tennessee to focus on defense for the rest of the draft. (MS)

Pick #19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

While Fournette is expected to go much earlier than this, the Bucs aren’t complaining with this scenario. Fournette is considered the top back in the draft. Head coach Dirk Koetter wants a physical running game to take some pressure off QB Jameis Winston and Fournette is the perfect back for the task. He’s a physical running with great speed and underrated hands out of the backfield. (MS)

Pick #20 Denver Broncos:  Ryan Ramczyk, T, Wisconsin

Analysis:  Everyone knows that Denver can dominate on defense, as evidenced by their super bowl win a couple of years ago, where they basically played without much contribution from the offense.  However, general manager John Elway is unlikely to continue to let his offense languish, especially with play-makers at wide receiver and running back, and two promising young quarterbacks.  The offense’s problems in pass protection are holding back the offense and the team as a whole.  Look for Elway to pick up an offensive lineman, and if he does, the Broncos could do worse than Ryan Ramczyk.  Ramczyk is athletic and nimble for a big guy, and should be a great addition for the Broncos. (CR)

Pick #21 Detroit Lions:  Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

Analysis:  The Detroit Lions have a hole on the left side of their defensive line. They signed Cornelius Washington this offseason but he’s not the answer opposite Ziggy Ansah in Detroit. Taco Charlton is a big end (6’6″, 277 lbs) that continued to improve each and every season at the University of Michigan. An AFC Executive compared him to Chandler Jones who just signed a monster contract with the Arizona Cardinals this offseason. (TO)