Hopefully the Saints brass has a grand ol’ time in Vegas while I was busy working myself ragged scouting in an effort to compile this final mock draft. We’re in the final turn staring down the finish line, folks. This is the week. The question remains who will be left available for the Saints to pick at 27 (if they don’t trade up), and who they will select. Here’s how I predict it will play out below. Keep in mind I’m not predicting trades, which will undoubtedly happen.
1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – A no brainer for the Texans. He figures to make the most significant impact in the league based on the information currently available. Is he a sure fire Pro Bowler? Maybe not. But he’s distinguished himself as clearly the best prospect of this class.
2. St. Louis Rams: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson – Most people have the Rams taking Greg Robinson of Auburn, but coach Jeff Fisher has never selected on offensive lineman in the 1st round in his career. This is a crossroads year for the franchise. Do they arm quarterback Sam Bradford with a playmaker to give him one final chance before his final year? Do they go ahead and take Johnny Manziel as his future replacement now? Or do they take Robinson like everyone thinks they will? I’m taking the maybe unpopular position that they’re going to give Bradford one final chance to prove himself with a real weapon at his disposal. Yes they took Tavon Austin last year in the 1st round, but he’s a gadget playmaker type and not a #1 receiver.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas – The Jags are locked and loaded on Watkins according to most, but with him gone I think they’ll take the risk with Manziel. He’ll infuse some excitement into the fan base and sell tickets as they try to rebuild. Even if Watkins is available at 3, don’t rule out the Jags taking Johnny Football.
4. Cleveland Browns: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo – The Browns wanted Manziel, but take the best player left on their board. Watkins is a possibility too if he drops this far.
5. Oakland Raiders: Greg Robinson, T, Auburn – The Raiders need help on the offensive line and they’d be thrilled if Robinson dropped this far. They’re high on Mack and Watkins if either drops, though.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, T, Texas A&M – If the Falcons want their massive investment in Matt Ryan to survive another season, they better protect him.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M – Pretty crazy to think that A&M might have three of the first seven picks. Makes you wonder how much they’ll regress next year. Most people think Evans is the pick here to help out Josh McCown in his new environment and give some punch to what was an anemic 2013 offense.
8. Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida – The Vikings need a quarterback of the future and many think Bortles will have a longer and more successful career than Manziel.
9. Buffalo Bills: Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan – Second year quarterback EJ Manuel is already having a lot of trouble staying healthy, so this is a no brainer investment to protect him.
10. Detroit Lions: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State – If the Lions don’t do something about their pass defense, they’re going to hold back that explosive offense once again. Dennard gets to stay close to where he went to school.
11. Tennessee Titans: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh – With the lose of Alterraun Verner the Titans would have loved to get Dennard but Donald will shore up their run defense.
12. New York Giants: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina – I think the Giants will be between protecting Eli Manning and giving him a weapon to get rid of the ball faster. Ebron would be a perfect fit for them down the seam to help take some heat off Manning. The Giants will keep an eye on Lewan if he falls, though.
13. St. Louis Rams: Zack Martin, T, Notre Dame – The Rams are all in on protecting Bradford and giving him a chance to succeed. Their defense is already fantastic, so they take Martin. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is another option. With Jake Long at left tackle they feel good about starting Martin out on the right side, which he might be better suited for anyway.
14. Chicago Bears: –Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama – No matter who the Bears pick, I think it will be defense. It just hasn’t been the same since Brian Urlacher left and it was a disaster last year. They’ll boost their pass defense here and Clinton-Dix is a tackling machine. Louis Nix and Justin Gilbert are other possibilities here.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State – Corner is a big need and this is a good fit at this spot.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville – What don’t they need on defense? Take your pick with any prospect. They get a ballhawk last line of defense.
17. Baltimore Ravens: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU – The Ravens will be between an offensive tackle (no great value here) and a receiver to help out Joe Flacco. A corner is possible here too. Ultimately Beckham is the best guy on their board.
18. New York Jets: Marqise Lee, WR, USC – If Eric Ebron falls this far I think he’s the pick for the Jets. Pryor is another option. Since neither is available they go with a receiver. They could also take Brandin Cooks, but the thinking behind the Lee selection if they just feel Cooks is too small to be a #1.
19. Miami Dolphins: Cyrus Kouandjio, T, Alabama – The Dolphins want tackle help and they could reach for Morgan Moses here. Cyrus Kouandjio is a gamble due to his knee concerns but the Dolphins need to rebuild their line and his ceiling is higher than Moses if he’s healthy. If not they take the best player available.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State – This will crush Brian Pavek, I know, but Shazier is a stud linebacker that can do it all.
21. Green Bay Packers: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA – The Packers wanted Shazier but settle for the next best guy.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State – It’s my turn to be disappointed. I really want this guy on the Saints, but the Eagles need to replace DeSean Jackson and Chip Kelly knows Cooks well.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State – This mock is turning into a nightmare for the Saints. Hopefully more quarterbacks go than my mock. But the Chiefs need a receiver.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech – I think the Bengals take a corner and it’s between Fuller, Bradley Roby and Jason Verrett here.
25. San Diego Chargers: C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama – The value is just too good here, even though the Chargers would prefer a pass rusher.
26. Cleveland Browns: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State – The Browns really wanted Manziel at 4 and because they didn’t come away with a QB in the top 5 they take one here.
27. New Orleans Saints: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU – This mock didn’t turn out great for the Saints. The top two guys I’d want, Cooks and Beckham, are gone. Other hopefuls Mosley, Gilbert and Shazier didn’t make it this far either. The Saints could reach for good fit receivers like Davante Adams, Cody Latimer or Bruce Ellington, or they could look at corners like Jason Verrett/Bradley Roby who present better value with this pick. I don’t like the possibility of a pass rusher like Kyle Van Noy, Dee Ford or Kony Ealy but you can’t rule it out. Chris Borland is an intriguing surprise pick here, too, but he compares too similarly with Curtis Lofton. I’d love to see the Saints trade up for Cooks, but I settle for the guy that I think is the best available. Some will tell you they don’t like Verrett due to his size, but he plays like Jabari Greer and actually has hands.
28. Carolina Panthers: Morgan Moses, T, Virginia – Like the Saints the Panthers are desperate for a receiver but the value just isn’t there. So they take the best tackle left to help protect Cam Newton. Don’t rule out Adam or Latimer here, though.
29. New England Patriots: Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota – Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly are both on the wrong side of 30 and the Pats need a guy that can spell them and eventually replace them.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana – I’m between Adams and Latimer here, and went with the latter because the 49ers like guys with size.
31. Denver Broncos: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State – The Aqib Talib replacement of Champ Bailey is a win, but the Broncos need to get younger at corner.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame – Great value here, Seattle goes BPA.
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