Well this is my final mock draft for this draft and this is going to be one of the most unpredictable drafts we have had in many years. There is no consensus anywhere in the 1st round and doing these mocks have become total crapshoots but it’s always fun and if I get at least 5 right then I will be happy.
1. Houston Texans = Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina
This is right now a simple case of where the Texans will pick not who they will pick but I think if they are staying at #1 then I think they pull the trigger on Clowney. I’ve been predicting Blake Bortles for a while now mainly due to all the connections he has to their coaching staff but it seems that Owner Bob McNair wants to go with the name value of either a Johnny Manziel or Clowney. If the Texans trade out say with the Atlanta Falcons then Clowney will be the pick and the Texans slide to #6 where they could take Bortles or Manziel if he is still available.
2. St. Louis Rams (through Washington) = Greg Robinson OT Auburn
If the Falcons don’t trade up to #1 then I think there is a significant chance they will trade up to this pick which will be fairly easy to do considering the relationship between GM’s Thomas Dimitroff & Les Snead plus it won’t cost as much for the Falcons to move into this pick. Robinson will be the pick I think if the Rams stay here as they definitely need help on their offensive front to help keep Sam Bradford healthy.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars = Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
I think the only way the Jags take a QB in the 1st round is if they either trade down from this pick or trade back up into the 1st from the 2nd so if that is the case then they will go with either Sammy Watkins or Mack here. Justin Blackmon may not be back and the rumblings from the Duval seem to be if Clowney/Robinson goes ahead of them then they would go with the playmaker. If the Jags move down though don’t be shocked if they don’t jump on Blake Bortles.
4. Cleveland Browns = Khalil Mack OLB Buffalo
All the QB’s are available here but I think the Browns will roll the dice on the fact that the QB they want whoever it is will be around when they pick again at #26 or at a reasonable enough position for them to trade up. New HC Mike Pettine in his heart of hearts doesn’t want to go QB here and would love to add a player like Mack to his rebuilt defense. Sure they took Barkevious Mingo last year and have Paul Kruger & Jabaal Sheard in the fold but if the draft falls like I have it then I think Mack is the guy.
5. Oakland Raiders = Taylor Lewan OT Michigan
The Raiders are quite the enigma here because they could go in so many directions whether it’s a QB, OT, WR, or whatever and Reggie McKenzie is a tough GM to project because he has his own way of doing things. Oakland likes all the QB’s and they could easily go that route here but they are currently trending towards taking a QB later in the draft because they seem pretty content with Matt Schaub/Matt McGloin as the top 2. This could come down to either Lewan or Mike Evans if they stay with the pick and as of the last few days Lewan has been trending to them.
6. Atlanta Falcons = Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M
If the Falcons stay here they will definitely take an offensive lineman and I think if the Rams trade down to this pick then they will take an offensive lineman as well. The Falcons are in a great spot here as all of their needs could be met either direction they go.
7. Tampa Bay Bucs = Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
The most interesting man in this year’s NFL Draft and a polarizing figure in general is Manziel but he is a great talent with tremendous upside especially if he goes to the right system. It just so happens that Tampa now has Jeff Tedford as their OC and he values more mobile QB’s who can play action and throw on the run which Manziel can do in spades. Lovie Smith has gone on record praising Manziel and even though they brought in Josh McCown as well as the returning Mike Glennon, I think in this scenario they would take the QB here instead of waiting but Aaron Donald is someone that Lovie Smith is really high on.
8. Minnesota Vikings = Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
This is the big mover of the past week as Donald who has been slotted to the Bears at #14 for months has risen greatly recently and it really looks like HC Mike Zimmer will win out and get his guy not a QB. Donald has the potential to be the Vikings version of Geno Atkins in Zimmer’s defense and even though they took Sharrif Floyd last year that was a different regime. It also doesn’t hurt that Donald has been compared to former Vikings great John Randle.
9. Buffalo Bills = Mike Evans WR Texas A&M
Buffalo wants to trade up in the worst way to get either Clowney or Watkins so this pick is definitely on the shopping block and if they stay here then I think they will grab Evans because if they want Watkins so bad then Evans would make a ton of sense if he fell here. Buffalo needs a playmaker on offense to help Stevie Johnson & Robert Woods in the receiving corps plus give E.J. Manuel a big weapon.
10. Detroit Lions = Eric Ebron TE North Carolina
The Lions have been rumored lately to be infatuated with Sammy Watkins and they along with Buffalo have been rumored to be salivating at the chance to move up into the top 5. If the Lions stand pat here then I think they will take Ebron even with Brandon Pettigrew on their roster because Ebron is a Jimmy Graham type who could lineup on the outside just as easily as on the line. If Evans slides past Tampa then I can easily see them trying to move into #8 to get Evans.
11. Tennessee Titans = Anthony Barr OLB UCLA
The Titans have two top needs right now and they are edge pass rusher and running back and the days of taking a running back this high are extinct. Barr is very raw and he reminds me a lot of Barkevious Mingo who new DC Ray Horton coached last year in Cleveland. Titans are a definite wild card here though as they could go with various people.
12. New York Giants = Zack Martin OT Notre Dame
Word on the street is that the Giants are very high on Martin and have him rated higher than Taylor Lewan & Jake Matthews so if he is there when they pick then it shouldn’t take very long to pull the trigger. Martin brings great versatility as he can project inside as well as outside.
13. St. Louis Rams = Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan State
The Rams need help in the secondary and like the Lions ahead of them they could go any direction here so I’m slotting Dennard here who they definitely have interest in especially after letting Courtland Finnegan walk in free agency.
14. Chicago Bears = Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix FS Alabama
The Bears are praying to God that Aaron Donald falls to them but I just don’t see it happening right now so in this scenario I think they will go with a playmaking safety and here it comes down to who they prefer the most which is either Ha-Ha or Calvin Pryor. I think they should go with Ha-Ha as he has the best value plus has the potential to be their next Mark Carrier or Mike Brown.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers = Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech
It seems like the CB position has been a glaring need for the Steelers for the last 10 years and while they have had decent play at the position they haven’t had that lockdown type of player in the position. Fuller definitely has that quality and would be a great addition to their rebuilding defense and if Dennard goes ahead of them then I think they will take Fuller over Justin Gilbert.
16. Dallas Cowboys = Odell Beckham Jr. WR LSU
Now time for the curveball of the draft and that’s the Cowboys who everyone since January has pegged them to take defense but the Cowboys have become the new Oakland Raiders lately in their unpredictability in drafting players with this one being no different. Odell is the hottest player in the draft right now possibly with teams like the 49ers wanting to move up in the worst way to get him so I can see Dallas moving down to get a defensive player they like such as Ryan Shazier or Demarcus Lawrence. They do like Beckham though and the Cowboys could use another top playmaker opposite Dez Bryant.
17. Baltimore Ravens = C.J. Mosley ILB Alabama
This feels like such a natural pick here with the Ozzie Newsome connection to Alabama, Ozzie’s love for taking the best player available but the Ravens are another team that would like to trade down if the guy they covet isn’t there.
18. New York Jets = Calvin Pryor SS Louisville
Like the Cowboys ahead of them the Jets have been pegged to draft a certain way since January but there is a lot of belief that the Jets believe that they can get quality at WR in the 2nd round and the position is very deep this year so why not add a playmaker to the back end of your defense that almost gave up 4,000 passing yards last year.
19. Miami Dolphins = Marqise Lee WR USC
There are rumors floating out of Miami that Mike Wallace has rubbed HC Joe Philbin the wrong way lately and considering the injuries they had in their receiving corps last year, adding a weapon like Lee would give Ryan Tannehill another big time option.
20. Arizona Cardinals = Blake Bortles QB Central Florida
Now this would be one of the most interesting picks in the draft if it fell this way as the Cardinals have some minor needs but they most definitely need someone to groom behind Carson Palmer who has had his injury issues in the past. Bortles would be great value here as well and there has been late buzz that they might even move up to get Bortles.
21. Green Bay Packers = Ryan Shazier ILB Ohio State
Green Bay needs help across their defense and would be ecstatic if Shazier fell to them because they could use a speedy linebacker on the inside to counter Clay Matthews on the outside.
22. Philadelphia Eagles = Brandin Cooks WR Oregon State
Philly dumped DeSean Jackson so they desperately need to add a playmaker to their receiving corps and Cooks would be great value for this position not to mention his playmaking skills. Chip Kelly knows Cooks well also from his days of coaching against him in the Civil War series at Oregon.
23. Kansas City Chiefs = RaShede Hageman DT Minnesota
This may be the ultimate wildcard pick in the draft as I think that HC Andy Reid and the Chiefs brass would love to move out of this pick for a team that would want to trade back into the 1st round to get a QB especially ahead of Cleveland. I’m slotting Hageman here because he is the type of defensive lineman that Andy likes but ultimately I see this pick being moved.
24. Cincinnati Bengals = Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma State
Cincy’s two biggest needs right now are pass rushers and cornerbacks and they have some options here so they could go with a few guys. Bradley Roby seemed like the logical pick before his legal issue last week and with the Bengals past with those issues they may want to steer clear of him. Dee Ford is definitely someone who is in play also and they may take a long like at Teddy Bridgewater.
25. San Diego Chargers = Jason Verrett CB TCU
Shareece Wright is the only cornerback on their roster that has started a game in the NFL so the Chargers definitely need to find someone who can step in and become an impact player for them. It would not shock me though if they traded down or went with someone like Louis Nix.
26. Cleveland Browns (through Indianapolis) = Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville
There has been talk for a while that Derek Carr was the guy that Cleveland wanted the most to be their QB of the future but as of the last couple of days it has come out that GM Ray Farmer is in love with Bridgewater instead and he is the guy they are targetting with their 2nd 1st rounder.
27. New Orleans Saints = Marcus Martin OC USC
The Saints are another one of the wildcards in the draft as they could go anywhere but I think they really want to move down with a team coming up to go for a QB. NO would love to add more help to their defense but they have been interested in drafting a Center this year especially Martin so this is one to watch for.
28. Carolina Panthers = Joel Bitonio OT Nevada
Jordan Gross has retired and the Panthers need a new anchor for their offensive line to help Cam Newton off the injured reserve list and there is talk that HC Ron Rivera is smitten with Bitonio so the odds of him going here are pretty high.
29. New England Patriots = Stephon Tuitt DE Notre Dame
Pats are yet another team that would love to trade out of the round but if they stay here then I think they will take Tuitt if this scenario falls this way as he has the measurables they like in their DLinemen.
30. San Francisco 49ers = Bradley Roby CB Ohio State
The Niners want to move up but if they stay here then I think they will address their defense now Roby has had some legal issues which a few of the 49ers have been dealing with lately so they may shy away from Roby but they do like him and if they stay here then I think he will be their pick.
31. Denver Broncos = Xavier Su’a-Filo OG UCLA
Zane Beadles left for Jacksonville in free agency so there is a hole in the inside of Denver’s offensive line and Xavier would be a solid addition to the list of Peyton Manning’s bodyguards.
32. Seattle Seahawks = Demarcus Lawrence DE Boise State
Seattle loves their pass rushers and Lawrence guy who could easily fit their system so this is a pick that makes sense. Pete Carroll & John Schneider have their own way of doing things so they could go with just about anyone or trade down.
Round 2
33. Houston Texans = Derek Carr QB Fresno State
34. Washington Redskins = Morgan Moses OT Virginia
35. Cleveland Browns = Dominique Easley DE Florida
36. Oakland Raiders = Cody Latimer WR Indiana
37. Atlanta Falcons = Dee Ford DE Auburn
38. Tampa Bay Bucs = Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama
39. Jacksonville Jaguars = Kyle Van Noy OLB BYU
40. Minnesota Vikings = Jimmie Ward SS Northern Illinois
41. Buffalo Bills = Scott Crichton DE Oregon State
42. Tennessee Titans = Carlos Hyde HB Ohio State
43. New York Giants = Deone Bucannon SS Washington State
44. St. Louis Rams = Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida State
45. Detroit Lions = Stanley Jean-Baptiste CB Nebraska
46. Pittsburgh Steelers = Louis Nix NT Notre Dame
47. Dallas Cowboys = Kony Ealy DE Missouri
48. Baltimore Ravens = Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech
49. New York Jets = Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Washington
50. Miami Dolphins = Ja’Wuan James OT Tennessee
51. Chicago Bears = Timmy Jernigan DT Florida State
52. Arizona Cardinals = Weston Richburg OC Colorado State
53. Green Bay Packers = Lamarcus Joyner DB Florida State
54. Philadelphia Eagles = Marcus Smith OLB Louisville
55. Cincinnati Bengals = Jeremy Hill HB LSU
56. San Francisco 49ers (through Kansas City) = Trent Murphy OLB Stanford
57. San Diego Chargers = Jeremiah Attaochu OLB Georgia Tech
58. New Orleans Saints = Jordan Matthews WR Vanderbilt
59. Indianapolis Colts = Allen Robinson WR Penn State
60. Carolina Panthers = Davante Adams WR Fresno State
61. San Francisco 49ers = Paul Richardson WR Colorado
62. New England Patriots = Troy Niklas TE Notre Dame
63. Denver Broncos = Donte Moncrief WR Ole Miss
64. Seattle Seahawks = Bishop Sankey HB Washington
Round 3
65. Houston Texans = Antonio Richardson OT Tennessee
66. Washington Redskins = Keith McGill CB Utah
67. Oakland Raiders = Tom Savage QB Pittsburgh
68. Atlanta Falcons = Devonta Freeman HB Florida State
69. Tampa Bay Bucs = Telvin Smith OLB Florida State
70. Jacksonville Jaguars = Jimmy Garoppolo QB Eastern Illinois
71. Cleveland Browns = Jack Mewhort OT Ohio State
72. Minnesota Vikings = Kareem Martin DE North Carolina
73. Buffalo Bills = Bashaud Breeland CB Clemson
74. New York Giants = Andre Williams HB Boston College
75. St. Louis Rams = Tre Mason HB Auburn
76. Detroit Lions = Trai Turner OG LSU
77. San Francisco 49ers (through Tennessee) = C.J. Fiedorowicz TE Iowa
78. Dallas Cowboys = Gabe Jackson OG Mississippi State
79. Baltimore Ravens = Jarvis Landry WR LSU
80. New York Jets = Martavis Bryant WR Clemson
81. Miami Dolphins = Phillip Gaines CB Rice
82. Chicago Bears = Will Sutton DE Arizona State
83. Cleveland Browns (through Pittsburgh) = Robert Herron WR Wyoming
84. Arizona Cardinals = Bruce Ellington WR South Carolina
85. Green Bay Packers = Ego Ferguson DT LSU
86. Philadelphia Eagles = Will Clarke DE West Virginia
87. Kansas City Chiefs = Chris Borland MLB Wisconsin
88. Cincinnati Bengals = A.J. McCarron QB Alabama
89. San Diego Chargers = Carl Bradford ILB Arizona State
90. Indianapolis Colts = Jackson Jeffcoat OLB Texas
91. New Orleans Saints = Zach Mettenberger QB LSU
92. Carolina Panthers = Pierre Desir CB Lindenwood
93. New England Patriots = Marcus Roberson CB Florida
94. San Francisco 49ers = Charles Sims HB West Virginia
95. Denver Broncos = Terrence Brooks FS Florida State
96. Minnesota Vikings (through Seattle) = Billy Turner OT North Dakota State
97. Pittsburgh Steelers = Brock Vereen SS Minnesota
98. Green Bay Packers = Jared Abbredaris WR Wisconsin
99. Baltimore Ravens = Caraun Reid DT Princeton
100. San Francisco 49ers = Preston Brown ILB Louisville
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