We are now less than a month away from the draft and the teams are getting to know the prospects more and more as the free agency frenzy has quieted down with the teams focusing heavily on the draft.
1. Houston Texans = Blake Bortles QB Central Florida
Houston seems to be set on taking a QB with the #1 pick and it would come down to their preference which in this case favors Bortles immensely due to the connections between Bill O’Brien & George Godsey to George O’Leary. Bortles is in Houston this week for a private visit and Johnny Manziel is in next week so I think right now it’s between those two and I’m giving Bortles the edge.
2. St. Louis Rams (through Washington) = Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina
The Rams really want to trade this pick and I think whoever uses this pick will take Clowney. The Falcons are the obvious trade partner if the Rams move out as Les Snead was once Thomas Dimitroff’s understudy in the ATL. If the Rams stay here then I fully expect them to take Jake Matthews.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars = Khalil Mack OLB Buffalo
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 and I think for them Mack makes the most sense.
4. Cleveland Browns = Greg Robinson OT Auburn
Cleveland is in a good spot here for them as if they want to go QB here they have options and if they want to address their porous offensive line they have their pick of the litter which right now is Robinson in my eyes. Also don’t count out Sammy Watkins here either.
5. Oakland Raiders = Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
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 really likes Teddy Bridgewater & Johnny Manziel and those could easily be the picks here but Oakland is currently trending towards taking a QB later in the draft because they seem pretty content with Matt Schaub/Matt McGloin as the top 2. Watkins is the best playmaker on the offensive side of the ball in the draft and he would be greatly needed in Oakland.
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 which could easily be a smoke screen but the more and more the draft nears and even though they brought in Josh McCown as well as the returning Mike Glennon, I think Tampa in this scenario would take the QB here instead of waiting.
8. Minnesota Vikings = Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville
Minnesota has two big needs to address right now in QB and OLB and they could just as easily go with Anthony Barr here but I think with Norv Turner coming in as the OC, Bridgewater or any of the other top QB’s would enamor him. I have Teddy personally ranked as my top QB in the draft but I have him mocked as the 3rd one coming off the board which goes to show you that it’s not always the best player that goes but who the teams prefer for their systems.
9. Buffalo Bills = Taylor Lewan OT Michigan
Buffalo needs an OT, WR, & TE mainly right now and all three are well represented here but I think Buffalo should go OT here because the value is better here now than it would be in the 2nd or 3rd rounds mainly because the WR position is very deep this year and the TE position can also be addressed later.
10. Detroit Lions = Mike Evans WR Texas A&M
The Lions have been rumored lately to be infatuated with Sammy Watkins and the chances of moving up to get him but I think for them right now it would be safer to wait it out and have the chance to possibly land Evans here at #10 without having to trade any picks. Sure the Lions have Megatron and brought in Golden Tate in free agency but they want to add another weapon to their high powered offense.
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 would be really good value here as well as he could easily go 5 picks earlier.
12. New York Giants = Eric Ebron TE North Carolina
Ebron is the best player on the board and he fits a big need here for the Giants as they need another weapon for the currently ailing Eli Manning and new OC Ben McAdoo to play with. I do think though if Taylor Lewan is here at this spot then he could easily be the pick because the Giants desperately need more help on the offensive front.
13. St. Louis Rams = Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma 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 Gilbert here who they definitely have interest in.
14. Chicago Bears = Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
Henry Melton just signed with Dallas on Monday and the Bears definitely need to find a replacement which Donald who has risen up the draft boards the last month would make perfect sense here. This could be the most automatic pick in the draft.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers = Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan State
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. Dennard definitely has that quality and would be a great addition to their rebuilding defense.
16. Dallas Cowboys = Ryan Shazier OLB Ohio State
Shazier is the best pure 4-3 OLB in this draft and with the Cowboys going with Rod Marinelli as their new DC and keeping the Monte Kiffin ways of doing business on the field, Shazier would be a solid addition to a defense that was downright horrible last season.
17. Baltimore Ravens = Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix FS 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, and the fact that the Ravens need a new Ed Reed and Ha-Ha has that potential of being that type of player.
18. New York Jets = Brandin Cooks WR Oregon State
Sure the Jets signed Eric Decker but they still have a huge need at this position and they have been intrigued with Cooks for a while. The Jets also like Marqise Lee, Odell Beckham, & Kelvin Benjamin so they have the pick of the litter.
19. Miami Dolphins = Zack Martin OT Notre Dame
Miami has totally retooled their offensive line during the offseason adding Branden Albert, Shelley Smith, & Jason Fox but they still need a RT and Zack Martin would be a great pick here. Martin is someone who could go way higher as well as teams value his versatility.
20. Arizona Cardinals = Calvin Pryor SS Louisville
Arizona defintely needs a big-time SS to go along with the rest of their stout defense and Pryor is a perfect player to fill that need.
21. Green Bay Packers = Louis Nix DT Notre Dame
The Pack brought back B.J. Raji for another year but they need more beef on that defensive line and Nix brings that in bunches plus he fits that best player available spot that Ted Thompson loves.
22. Philadelphia Eagles = Marqise Lee WR USC
Philly dumped DeSean Jackson so they desperately need to add a playmaker to their receiving corps and Marqise would be great value for this position not to mention his playmaking skills. Chip Kelly knows Marqise well also from his days of coaching against him at Oregon.
23. Kansas City Chiefs = Odell Beckham Jr. WR LSU
KC has lost quite a few players in free agency this offseason and losing Dexter McCluster was a big blow in their speed department not to mention him being a threat as a WR which was already a position of need itself. The Chiefs could go defensive line here as well if they don’t like their options at WR.
24. Cincinnati Bengals = Dee Ford DE Auburn
Michael Johnson leaving for Tampa Bay in free agency opened up a huge void in their edge pass rushing department and Ford would be a great fit for what they do on defense. Ford also brings more speed to the position over some of his counterparts. Bradley Roby is also someone to watch here as well.
25. San Diego Chargers = Bradley Roby CB Ohio State
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. The Chargers are also interested in Jason Verrett as well so if Roby is gone by their pick then I can easily see him here.
26. Cleveland Browns (through Indianapolis) = Derek Carr QB Fresno State
The Browns get the QB they want here in Carr as there has been a lot of buzz that they prefer Carr over any of the other QB’s in the draft. They may have to move up for him though because Carr is becoming a hot name.
27. New Orleans Saints = C.J. Mosley ILB Alabama
This is a simple case of the best player available as I have Mosley in my Top 10 but the scuttlebutt is he will fall on draft day and with the Saints looking to add more firepower to their defense, Mosley would be a great compliment to Curtis Lofton at this position.
28. Carolina Panthers = Jason Verrett CB TCU
Last month I had the Panthers pegged for a WR here but all of the guys they like are gone right now so I don’t see them reaching here to fill that need right now but will wait till the next round. Verrett is someone the Panthers definitely need to shore up their backside of their defense in a division where they play the Falcons & Saints four times a year.
29. New England Patriots = Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech
Brandon LaFell has been brought in to give Tom Brady another threat from the outside to go along with the re-signed Julian Edelman but they still need inside help and with the uncertainty of Rob Gronkowski and the loss of Aaron Hernandez to the federal pen, Amaro would be a great fit here.
30. San Francisco 49ers = Ra’Shede Hageman DT Minnesota
The Niners love having a plethora of defensive linemen and Hageman would be another big body to go along the front and also has great value here.
31. Denver Broncos = Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech
Sure the Broncos signed Aqib Talib but they lost both Champ Bailey & Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie leaving Kanyon Webster as the likely starter on the other side so I think Denver will still look to find another corner either here or the next round.
32. Seattle Seahawks = Xavier Su’a-Filo OG UCLA
Seattle benefits from not having a really glaring need to address but it is safe to say that their offensive line was their weakest unit on the field last year and adding a player like Xavier would be pivotal in keeping Russell Wilson healthy.
Round 2
33. Houston Texans = Lamarcus Joyner FS Florida State
34. Washington Redskins = Scott Crichton DE Oregon State
35. Cleveland Browns = Jack Mewhort OT Ohio State
36. Oakland Raiders = Kareem Martin DE North Carolina
37. Atlanta Falcons = Carl Bradford OLB Arizona State
38. Tampa Bay Bucs = Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama
39. Jacksonville Jaguars = Jimmy Garoppolo QB Eastern Illinois
40. Minnesota Vikings = Timmy Jernigan DT Florida State
41. Buffalo Bills = Carlos Hyde HB Ohio State
42. Tennessee Titans = Bishop Sankey HB Washington
43. New York Giants = Joel Bitonio OT Nevada
44. St. Louis Rams = Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida State
45. Detroit Lions = Jimmie Ward SS Northern Illinois
46. Pittsburgh Steelers = Allen Robinson WR Penn State
47. Dallas Cowboys = Demarcus Lawrence DE Boise State
48. Baltimore Ravens = Morgan Moses OT Virginia
49. New York Jets = Pierre Desir CB Lindenwood
50. Miami Dolphins = Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Washington
51. Chicago Bears = Deone Bucannon SS Washington State
52. Arizona Cardinals = Tre Mason HB Auburn
53. Green Bay Packers = Trent Murphy OLB Stanford
54. Philadelphia Eagles = Kyle Van Noy OLB BYU
55. Cincinnati Bengals = Jaylen Watkins CB Florida
56. San Francisco 49ers (through Kansas City) = Dominique Easley DE Florida
57. San Diego Chargers = Jeremiah Attaochu OLB Georgia Tech
58. New Orleans Saints = Gabe Jackson OG Mississippi State
59. Indianapolis Colts = Davante Adams WR Fresno State
60. Carolina Panthers = Troy Niklas TE Notre Dame
61. San Francisco 49ers = Stanley Jean-Baptiste CB Nebraska
62. New England Patriots = Stephon Tuitt DE Notre Dame
63. Denver Broncos = Donte Moncrief WR Ole Miss
64. Seattle Seahawks = Jordan Matthews WR Vanderbilt
Round 3
65. Houston Texans = Jordan Tripp OLB Montana
66. Washington Redskins = Keith McGill CB Utah
67. Oakland Raiders = Zach Mettenberger QB LSU
68. Atlanta Falcons = Charles Sims HB West Virginia
69. Tampa Bay Bucs = Martavis Bryant WR Clemson
70. Jacksonville Jaguars = CJ Fiedorowicz TE Iowa
71. Cleveland Browns = Ka’Deem Carey HB Arizona
72. Minnesota Vikings = Telvin Smith OLB Florida State
73. Buffalo Bills = Bashaud Breeland CB Clemson
74. New York Giants = David Yankey OG Stanford
75. St. Louis Rams = Chris Borland ILB Wisconsin
76. Detroit Lions = Marcus Roberson CB Florida
77. San Francisco 49ers (through Tennessee) = Jeremy Hill HB LSU
78. Dallas Cowboys = Kelcy Quarles DT South Carolina
79. Baltimore Ravens = Jarvis Landry WR LSU
80. New York Jets = Dakota Dozier OG Furman
81. Miami Dolphins = Loucheiz Purifoy CB Florida
82. Chicago Bears = Antonio Richardson OT Tennessee
83. Cleveland Browns (through Pittsburgh) = Robert Herron WR Wyoming
84. Arizona Cardinals = AJ McCarron QB Alabama
85. Green Bay Packers = Ja’Wuan James OT Tennessee
86. Philadelphia Eagles = Marcus Martin OC USC
87. Kansas City Chiefs = Chris Smith DE Arkansas
88. Cincinnati Bengals = Ego Ferguson DT LSU
89. San Diego Chargers = Cyril Richardson OG Baylor
90. Indianapolis Colts = Marcus Smith DE Louisville
91. New Orleans Saints = DaQuan Jones DT Penn State
92. Carolina Panthers = Paul Richardson WR Colorado
93. New England Patriots = Weston Richburg OC Colorado State
94. San Francisco 49ers = Jackson Jeffcoat OLB Texas
95. Denver Broncos = Lache Seastrunk HB Baylor
96. Seattle Seahawks = Will Sutton DT Arizona State
97. Pittsburgh Steelers = Bruce Ellington WR South Carolina
98. Green Bay Packers = Terrence Brooks FS Florida State
99. Baltimore Ravens = Andre Williams HB Boston College
100. San Francisco 49ers = Billy Turner OT North Dakota State
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