With mere hours on the clock until the 2016 NFL Draft begins, the Saints Nation staff (4/5 of them) decided to have a go at the first round and see how it shook out. Four writers took on the first four picks, and then repeated the order throughout round 1. No trades were permitted (hard to agree on imaginary later round compensation when we’re not going past round 1) and each pick has a few words about why. MP is Marijn Pessers, BP is Brian Pavek, BB is Brian Bauer, AJ is Andrew Juge.
[MP] #1 LA Rams, Jared Goff, QB, California.The Rams did not trade away their future for anything else but the #1 QB prospect in this draft. [BP] #2 Philadelphia Eagles, Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State.
The Eagles traded up to try and get their QB of the future, and with Bradford in toe they have the option to give Wentz the time he needs to develop. [BB] #3 San Diego Chargers, Laremy Tunsil, LT, Ole Miss.
I actually think San Diego trades this pick, but if they don’t, they get the next Anthony Munoz at pick three thanks to trades for quarterbacks. [AJ] #4 Dallas Cowboys, Jalen Ramsey, CB, FSU.
Cowboys are elated guy they think was best player in he draft falls to them. [MP] #5 Jacksonville Jaguars, Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The Jaguars are going to rebuild their defense. The only choice was between Bosa and Myles Jack. Since Bosa might be the more sure thing and fans love Sacks, they go for this guy. [BP] #6 Baltimore Ravens, Ronnie Stanley, Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame
The Raven’s lost their 100 million dollar QB to an injury last season, and just lost their best lineman to FA, protecting Flacco will be a priority and Stanley is the best available. [BB] #7 San Francisco 49ers, DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Gonna ruin a lot of Saints loyalist’s day with this one, but there’s no way the best DE in the country (and possibly best all around player in the draft) falls out of the top five AND past San Fran, who love a bargain and love drafting defense. [AJ] #8 Cleveland Browns, Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
So tempted by Paxton Lynch here because it replaced Manziel AND it prevents the Saints from taking him. But the Browns have to be a little gun shy about taking ANOTHER QB in the 1st round. Buckner was the pick if he fell. I think the Browns are rolling w/ McCown and RG3 as their guys this year and they need to give they playmaking help. [MP] #9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
Tampa needs a CB and were in the running for Josh Norman but did not want to invest this much on a CB since they have a sure thing in the draft. [BP] #10 New York Giants, Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
The Giants went all in on a massive defensive spending spree in free agency, and while Rankins was a tempting pick they simply couldn’t resist the chance to get the best offensive player in the draft to pair with OBJ. Elliot could be the piece that puts their offense over the top as he’s not only explosive, but also a complete back. [BB] #11 Chicago Bears, Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
The Bears are delighted that the Jack injury rumors have allowed him to fall this far and they’re not about to allow him to fall any further. Bears take the gamble and draft Jack right here. [AJ] #12 New Orleans Saints, Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
I keep flipping between he and Rankins. Ask me in 10 minutes and I’ll change my mind. Saints need pass rush either way. [MP] #13 Miami Dolphins, Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
They need about everything. Their offense is crap and their defense wasn’t much better and they lost Olivier Vernon. CB or offense would be a reach here. They will go with the best front 7 guy available. With Shaq Lawson gone they will pick a versitile OLB to cover all of their holes. [BP] #14 Oakland Raiders, Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
The raiders are beginning to build a very formidable defense, and the best way to complement a top tier pass rusher like Khalil Mack is with an interior penetrator like Rankins. [BB] #15 Tennessee Titans, William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Tennessee’s trade nets them the first in what is likely to be a haul on both sides of the ball as the versatile Jackson falls to them at 14. Jackson gives them a nasty presence in the secondary and plenty of picks to go to put more weapons around Marcus Mariota. [AJ] #16 Detroit Lions, A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
Tyrunn Walker is coming back from injury, Ngata isn’t getting any younger, and the Lions have lost Fairley and Suh in recent years. [MP] #17 Atlanta Falcons, Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
Falcons have the worst defense and need a transformation. They will get a QB of the defense after Kueckly and Anthony they copycat their devision rivals and go LB. [BP] #18 Indianapolis Colts, Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
The Colts offensive line is well…offensive. They might have one of the best young QB’s in the game, but their attempts to kill him last season won’t be appreciated by Luck or the higher ups so they try to take the best Tackle available. [BB] #19 Buffalo Bills, , Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Mississippi
Rex Ryan loves a project and overlooks Nkemdiche’s character flaws for a guy who should start right away. Slam dunk pick here, but one loaded with peril. [AJ] #20 New York Jets, Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
With just Geno Smith and Bryce Petty on the roster, the Jets get their QB of the future. [MP] #21 Washington Redskins, Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
Redskins have some positions to fill across the board but taking anything but defensive line would be reach right here. DL just fills the need and Reed is the highest rated guy left on the position. [BP] #22 Houston Texans, Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
The Texans just made a major investment in Brock Osweiler, Deandre Hopkins is one of the best in the game today, but he needs help and Doctson might be the best receiver in this draft. [BB] #23 Minnesota Vikings, Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
Minnesota’s GM is likely throwing things after Houston takes their likely pick with Doctson, and elect to go corner with Apple, himself a find this late. Apple is a key pickup in a pass happy division. [AJ] #24 Cincinetti Bengals, Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor
They’ve wanted a receiver so it hurts them that Doctson is gone too. This is down to Corey Coleman, Michael Thomas and Andrew Billings. Ultimately the raw power and enormous potential of Billings is too good to pass up. [MP] #25 Pittsburgh Steelers, Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
Pittsburgh need a CB the most. They have nothing there. Luckily for them there are a couple if CB Round 1 prospects this year and so far 4 have gone already. If they do not fix that position now they can write the playoffs goodbye. It was between him and Artie Burns, I personally like Clemson. [BP] #26 Seattle Seahawks, Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State
Seattle had major protection issues last year, and they look to fix that with the physical and versatile Whitehair. [BB] #27 Green Bay Packers, Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
Green Bay finds the perfect replacement for the retiring BJ Raji with Butler, a physical specimen at 6-3½, 323. [AJ] #28 Kansas City Chiefs, Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia
The Chiefs boost their secondary more which is a major need. Joseph is one of the most NFL ready prospects in the draft. [MP] #29 Arizona Cardinals, Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
Everyone expert has Arizona picking a secondary player… For DEPTH! True they are a complete team and they have no real needs, but with so many CBs and S gone already I do not see that happening. Instead they will get the top rated player left in this draft and possibly see which one of their Tackles will be a replacement Guard for Mathis next year. [BP] #30 Carolina Panthers, Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Cam Newton might be the MVP, but Carolina is still a run first team, and with an aging stable of backs they stock up on the best back left who also happens to fit them quite well. [BB] #31 Denver Broncos, Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
The rich get richer and Denver takes advantage of being at the bottom of the frame to see what everyone forgot. Jones bolsters an already nasty defense. If Jones is truly available by the way I could see a team (the Saints?!) moving up to grab Jones, allowing Denver to take a qb early in round 2.
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