1 – Los Angeles Rams – Jared Goff, QB – University of California
The Rams have a new home, and now they need a new quarterback to build their future around. Goff is very polarizing. Some love, and some hate him as the #1 pick. The Rams gave up a small fortune to move up to the first pick in the draft so there must be something there that they like. The Rams have a strong defense and need to put some points on the board, QB is the natural selection here.
2 – Philadelphia Eagles – Carson Wentz, QB – North Dakota State University
Just like the Rams, the Eagles gave up a ton to move to the first part of the draft to find their franchise quarterback. Wentz is a guy with a high upside but some questions surrounding him. He played at a small school, playing a different level of football than we have seen quarterbacks play that have been traditionally drafted this high. Wentz has good feet, great arm strength, and great size. The new regime in Philly will see what they can do with a rookie QB.
3 – San Diego Chargers – Laremy Tunsil, OT – Ole Miss
Tunsil was seen as one of the best prospects in the entire draft, however the closer that we have gotten to the draft, there have been some rumors that he may be sliding. I think that is a lot of the smokescreens that surround such a dominant event as the NFL Draft. Phillip Rivers is towards to end of his career and needs to be protected. Tunsil will slide in as a day-one starter and will be a Pro Bowler in the first 3 years of his career.
4 – Dallas Cowboys – Ezekiel Elliott, RB – Ohio State University
The Cowboys are an interesting team at the top of this draft. What they do will determine a lot of the rest of the draft. There were early rumors that they could draft a quarterback to lay in wait to replace Tony Romo. With the Los Angeles and Philadelphia trades, that is looking unlikely. When it comes down to it, Jerry Jones is going to fall in love with the shiny object and draft Elliott. He will make an instant impact on this team and help them return to their 2014 form when DeMarco Murray was dominant.
5 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Jalen Ramsey, DB – Florida State University
Rumor has it that the Jaguars are in discussions with the Chargers to move up to Pick 3 so they can draft Ramsey and keep him out of the hands of the Cowboys. In my opinion, Jerry is going to pick Elliott. Ramsey lands with the team that values him the most. Is he a corner? Is he a safety? It doesn’t matter whatsoever. He is a rare defensive playmaker that will be on the field a ton for the Jaguars.
6 – Baltimore Ravens – Ronnie Stanley, OT – Notre Dame
The Ravens are known as a team that drafts Pro Bowlers. They will find another one here with the 6th pick of the draft. Leading up to the draft, Stanley’s stock has been risings. So much so, that some people are calling him a better tackle than Tunsil. I think Stanley has good enough feet and is versatile enough to play in multiple positions on the offensive line. He will make an immediate impact for the Ravens, which is just what they need.
7 – San Francisco 49ers – DeForest Buckner, DL – University of Oregon
This pick almost makes too much sense. It is no secret that Chip Kelly loves his Oregon guys. This is the perfect reunion. Buckner is one of the most talented players in the entire drafts. Put him on the defensive line with his old buddy Arik Armstead and those two will do some damage. Buckner’s size alone is enough to turn heads, his strength and motor make him a can’t-miss pick.
8 – Cleveland Browns – Paxton Lynch, QB – University of Memphis
Here is my first surprise of the round. I fully believe that the Browns are trying to trade out of this draft pick. They want to accumulate as many picks as they can because they have more holes than almost any other team in the league. However, if they are unable to trade out of this pick, they will draft a quarterback. Lynch has a high upside and good size. He has the chance to be one of the stars of this draft.
9 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Vernon Hargreaves, CB – University of Florida
Keep the Florida kid, in Florida. This has become such a pass-first league that cornerbacks are one of the most sought after positions. Josh Norman just signed a $75 million contract. You are going to see the trickle-down of that in the draft when cornerbacks get drafted early, and often. Hargreaves has all the tools and will be a pillar in Tampa’s secondary.
10 – New York Giants – Myles Jack, LB – UCLA
Jack is one of the most interesting prospects of the entire draft. At UCLA he was one of the most prolific playmakers in the Pac-12. He played running back and linebacker. He was so much fun to watch. Then he hurt his knee. Someone is going to take a risk on him towards the top of the draft. New York would be a great fit. Jack is versatile enough to play in any defense and will be just the playmaker that this underachieving defense needs.
11 – Chicago Bears – Taylor Decker, OT – Ohio State University
With names on the board like Bosa, Lawson, and Rankins, the Bears opt to bolster their offensive line. Sitting here at 11 the Bears are a little hopeless. They are hoping that one of the top tackles falls to them but I don’t think that will happen. The rumor on Monday was that they love Ezekiel Elliott, he won’t be there. So they opt to reach a little bit on the 3rd offensive tackle to be drafted in the first 11 picks. Chicago needs to improve their offensive line, that’s no secret. Is Decker the answer?
12 – New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Rankins, DL – University of Louisville
Rankins stock is sky-rocketing as we get closer to the draft. He was once seen as a late-1st, early-2nd round pick. He may sneak into the top 10. Rankins can play all of the defensive line. New Orleans has been plagued by defensive injuries and terrible defensive coaching. Putting a guy like Rankins on their defensive line may help them over the hump. There was talk that the Saints were eye-balling a 1st round quarterback but after the L.A. and Philly trades, I think they go with best player available.
13 – Miami Dolphins – Shaq Lawson, DE – University of Clemson
After losing Olivier Vernon in Free Agency, the Dolphins need an edge rusher. Lawson fits that description to a T. Lawson believes that he is one of the best players in the draft and should be a top-10 pick. He will enter that league with a chip on his shoulder and help the Dolphins immediately. Him and Ndamukong Suh will be a handful for opposing teams for years.
14 – Oakland Raiders – Eli Apple, CB – Ohio State University
The Raiders are going to make the playoffs this year. Seriously. This team has had a phenomenal off-season. Another year of development for Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, along with the impressive free agency period will put this team in the conversation to win their division. Adding a player like Apple will help keep the pressure off of the young offense. There is a weird rumor going around about Apple’s lack of cooking skills, but I think the Raiders can overlook that.
15 – Tennessee Titans – Joey Bosa, DE – Ohio State University
Bosa’s free-fall was bound to end sometime, right? Of any player in the draft, I can see Bosa falling the furthest. If the Cowboys don’t draft him at #4, I don’t know how far he can fall. There are rumblings of off-field issues and work ethics. He has been billed as the next J.J. Watt and he has been billed as the next defensive lineman to bust. The Titans want an offensive tackle. With the top 3 off the board, they opt to take a chance on Bosa, one of the highest upside players in the draft.
16 – Detroit Lions – Karl Joseph, FS – West Virginia University
Joseph is an undersized safety coming off of an injury. He may not be worth the 16th pick of the draft, but the Lions need a safety to help shore up the secondary. In my opinion, aside from Ramsey, Joseph is the best safety in this draft. We have seen some intriguing safety/line backer hybrids over the last few years and I think Joseph can fill the same need. He is quick and has great instincts.
17 – Atlanta Falcons – Leonard Floyd, OLB – University of Georgia
The Falcons badly need a pass-rusher. Last year they had a measly 19 sacks as a team. In the NFL, a defense can’t survive only sacking the quarterback a little over once per week. Floyd had 17 sacks in his 3-year career at Georgia. He needs to gain a little bulk, but he could develop into a good pass-rusher in the NFL.
18 – Indianapolis Colts – Ryan Kelly, C – University of Alabama
Seen far and away as the best center in this draft class, Kelly will come into Indianapolis and anchor their offensive line. This was one of the worst lines in football last year as they continually had a hard time keeping Andrew Luck upright. It is a rare thing to have such a franchise quarterback. The franchise better start protecting him, it they want him to have any type of longevity in the league.
19 – Buffalo Bills – Noah Spence, DE – Eastern Kentucky University
On Wednesday, leading up to the draft, Spence sent all 32 NFL teams copies of his last 20 drug tests. Now this is an interesting strategy but it is bound to get someone’s attention. Spence is seen by many as the best pass-rushing defensive player in the draft. However, after failing multiple drug tests in his collegiate career some people are scared to take the chance. If he has truly cleaned up his act, and can stay clean, he will be just the playmaker that Rex Ryan and company need in Buffalo.
20 – New York Jets – Jack Conklin, OT – Michigan State University
After the retirement of D’Brickashaw Ferguson, the Jets really need a replacement at Left Tackle. With the top 3 tackles off the board, the Jets will go with Conklin. Conklin is a nice player and will be a solid tackle in the league. The question is whether he can play left tackle or if he is a right tackle. Either way, the Jets get an immediate starter to help them figure out how to replace the veteran.
21 – Washington Redskins – Darron Lee, LB – University of Alabama
Lee is a very talented linebacker that I think could go anywhere in the first two rounds. It is hard to get a read on his stock. The Redskins are going into this draft without any glaring holes to fill and are in a place of being able to draft the best player available. They look to the Alabama linebacker to help solidify the middle of their defense. They could go in a few different directions with this pick, but ultimately I think they draft the best defensive player on the board.
22 – Houston Texans – Josh Doctson, WR – Texas Christian University
There aren’t any wide receivers picked until the 22nd pick? Is that indicative of the overall talent level of this year’s wide receiver class or just the need for wide receivers? I think it is both. I think that this draft is full of talent at a bunch of positions. The wide receiver class is deep with talent but doesn’t have anyone star that is pointed to as a can’t-miss guy. Doctson will be the first off the board and stay in Texas.
23 – Minnesota Vikings – Laquon Treadwell, WR – Ole Miss
Give Teddy Bridgewater another target in the passing game and great things will happen. Treadwell is a pretty polarizing figure. A lot of analysts love his game, some analysts think his game is smoke and mirrors. I think he will turn into the best and most productive receiver from this class. He has the size to be a great possession receiver. Put him down as a 1000 reception yard receiver as a rookie.
24 – Cincinnati Bengals – Corey Coleman, WR – Baylor University
The run on wide receivers continues. If anyone in this draft needs to take a wide receiver, it is the Bengals. They were gutted in free agency when Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones left. Coleman is a great addition to this team and will be a great complementary piece to A.J. Green. Andy Dalton loves to get the secondary receivers involved so this will be a great situation for Coleman.
25 – Pittsburgh Steelers – William Jackson, CB – University of Houston
Cornerback is the big hole in the Steelers secondary. I went back and forth between Jackson and Mackensie Alexander. Ultimately, I think that Jackson is the better player and the better fit in the Steelers’ scheme. But for the Steelers to have multiple choices at their biggest position of need is a good luxury to have this deep into the first round.
26 – Seattle Seahawks – Robert Nkmdiche, DL – Ole Miss
Pete Carroll has shown that he isn’t worried about taking a guy with some character questions. The Seahawks as an organization have been good at helping questionable character guys in the past and will take another chance here with Nkemdiche. He is one of the most explosive players in the draft and has the potential to be a complete game changer for whatever team that drafts him. He also has the potential to get caught back up in drugs and be out of the league in a couple years.
27 – Green Bay Packers – Andrew Billings, DT – Baylor University
After the retirement of B.J. Raji, the Packers find the perfect replacement in Billings. It is tough to find a guy that is ready to come in Week 1 of his rookie year and play nose tackle. With good size, 6’ and 311 lbs, Billings should be able to be a two-gap player for the Packers. Joining a franchise like Green Bay is a dream come true for rookies. Billings could have a long career with the Packers.
28 – Kansas City Chiefs – Mackensie Alexander, CB – Clemson University
Sean Smith left the Chiefs in free agency and signed with the Raiders. The Chiefs definitely need help in the secondary, specifically at the cornerback position. A lot of people have Alexander going higher but I think this is a perfect spot for him. The big knock on Alexander is that he is a product of the defensive scheme at Clemson and not an over skilled player. We will see at the next level if that theory holds any water.
29 – Arizona Cardinals – Emmanuel Ogbah, DE – Oklahoma State University
A lot of analysts have Ogbah as a 2nd round pick. I think he sneaks into the 1st round and shows just how important the defensive end position is for teams. The Cardinals would love to add a skilled end like Ogbah. The question is, are they willing to give up their first round pick for him?
30 – Carolina Panthers – Michael Thomas, WR – Ohio State University
In my opinion, Thomas is the best receiver in this draft. Add Thomas, and a healthy Kelvin Benjamin this year and the Panthers will have an even more dangerous offense. There are a few other positions of need but to grab the best receiver in the draft with the 30th pick would be a coup for the Panthers. Cam Newton would certainly love another target on this outside.
31 – Denver Broncos – Connor Cook, QB – Michigan State University
Cook may just be the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft, and that is exactly what the reigning Super Bowl champions need. After the departure of Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, there is a gaping hole at quarterback. I do not think that Cook is the answer to all of their quarterback problems, but he gives them a cheap, 5-year insurance plan until they figure out who they want under center.
Best Players Available Heading Into Round 2:
Jaylon Smith, LB – Notre Dame; Chris Jones, DL – Mississippi State University; Reggie Ragland, LB – University of Alabama; Jarran Reed, DL – University of Alabama; A’Shawn Robinson, DL – University of Alabama; Kevin Dodd, DL – Clemson University; Germain Ifedi, OT – Texas A&M University; Hunter Henry, TE – University of Arkansas; Keanu Neal, S – University of Florida; Maliek Collins, DL – University of Nebraska; Will Fuller, WR – Notre Dame; Joshua Garnett, OG – University of Stanford; Cody Whitehair, C – Kansas State University; Kenneth Dixon, RB – Louisiana Tech University; Sterling Shepard, WR – Oklahoma University; Su’a Cravens, LB – University or Southern California; Braxton Miller, WR – Ohio State University
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