Earlier this year I tried to be fancy and try to predict some trades. I have some in mind but decided to hold off until a later date. After more film and more pro day’s, here’s how I see the first round falling. Enjoy!
1. Houston Texans – DE from South Carolina – Jadeveon Clowney – I’ve been sold on Clowney since the combine. His numbers are there, his athletic ability is there at 6’5 and 265 Ibs, it’s going to be extremely hard to pass him up especially with no sure things at quarterback. Even though he’s done with doing private workouts, the proof is there of what kind of player you’re getting. I still can’t get the thought of J.J. Watt and Clowney coming off the ends. Just nasty.
2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) – OT from Auburn – Greg Robinson – Rodger Saffold is a right tackle at best but is best fitted inside the offensive line while Jake Long is an injury away from retirement. As tempting as Sammy Watkins is as well as a trade, the Rams will take their offensive tackle here.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – QB from UCF – Blake Bortles – Bortles falls to them and there’s no way they can pass on him. I don’t know where they have him or Manziel on their board but I have Bortles as my number one quarterback. This pick is insurance for Chad Henne who is going to struggle. The only alternate in my mind outside of the quarterbacks is Khalil Mack.
4. Cleveland Browns – WR from Clemson – Sammy Watkins – They’re going to get Alex Mack back and have added small pieces to the puzzle defensively. They need a quarterback and another threat at receiver to be considered any kind of threat in the AFC North. Watkins and Josh Gordon could be the most dangerous duo in the NFL.
5. Oakland Raiders – OT from Texas A&M – Jake Matthews – As tempting as Manziel or any other quarterback would be, you need to get protected up front. Matthews is a sure thing on the right side but should transition nicely to the left side for the Raiders who have nothing there.
6. Atlanta Falcons – OLB from Buffalo – Khalil Mack – At this point you can’t take anything but Mack. He’s the best player on the board and would really be an upgrade for the Falcons on defense.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WR from Texas A&M – Mike Evans – I’m starting to believe it’s a certainty that the Buc’s want a wide out with this pick. Evans will be on the rise with Watkins off the board. I don’t see the point in two 6’5″ WR’s but the Buc’s are going to need weapons if they want their QB situation to workout successfully.
8. Minnesota Vikings – QB from Texas A&M – Johnny Manziel – The football god’s allow the Vikings to have ’The House That Johnny Built’ be in Minnesota. This would be a great fit given the fact that Adrian Peterson is a weapon, Greg Jennings had a good year with two quarterbacks, Cordarrelle Patterson is going to be a nice pro and they do have Kyle Rudolph at tight end who’s coming off an injury. The pieces are there offensively and if the Vikings get their defense together they have a playoff team.
9. Buffalo Bills – FS from Alabama – Hasean Clinton-Dix – They brought back Aaron Williams but they don’t have Jarius Byrd. Filling that need is on top of their list despite not having a sure offensive line. Clinton-Dix would come in and start right away.
10. Detroit Lions – OLB from UCLA – Anthony Barr – With the signing of cornerback Cassius Vaughn, the re-signing of Rasean Mathis and the expressed interest in other cornerbacks around the league, the Lions I think have become highly interested in either one, Sammy Watkins or a pass rushing outside linebacker. Barr apparently ran a 4.44 at the UCLA Pro Day and I think would be a great fit for the Lions’ new defense.
11. Tennessee Titans – CB from Oklahoma State – Justin Gilbert – New head coach Ken Whisenhunt has said they won’t be targeting a CB or a RB in the first round which I find that hard to believe since they just lost their best player on defense in Alteraun Verner. Gilbert is the best CB in the draft and could be a day one impact player for the Titans.
12. New York Giants – TE from North Carolina – Eric Ebron – The Giants will look at wide receiver in this draft but not in the first round. Upgrading at the tight end position should be a priority for the Giants and Ebron is too athletic to pass up. He would help Eli Manning, immediately.
13. St. Louis Rams – WR from LSU – Odell Beckham Jr. – The Rams pass on Watkins, get their offensive lineman and now they get another weapon for Sam Bradford. ODJ would be a great fit and some are considering him the player who will become the most elite out of this first round.
14. Chicago Bears – DT from Pittsburgh – Aaron Donald – They’ve upgraded their defensive line but they need help on their interior defensive line. Aaron Donald is the best defensive tackle after a poor showing from Timmy Jernigan at his pro day. Donald is dominant inside and is going to fit well with Lamarr Houston to bolster their defense.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers – DE/OLB from Missouri – Kony Ealy – With the loss of Woodley, I find there being a big need of upgrading at linebacker for Pittsburgh. The Steelers have shown interest in hybrid players in the past and Ealy would be just that.
16. Dallas Cowboys – FS from Louisville – Calvin Pryor – With Ealy off the board they have some players for their defensive line they could use to upgrade it but essentially they need help in their secondary and Calvin Pryor is going to be hard to pass up.
17. Baltimore Ravens – OT from Michigan – Taylor Lewan – Recent off the field issues have hurt his stock and Lewan will drop come draft day. The Ravens will need him at RT and there’s no way they let him pass at this point in the draft.
18. New York Jets – CB from Michigan State – Darqueze Dennard – Outside of Kyle Wilson, I can’t name another corner on the Jets roster. Besides, Dennard does look good in green and white.
19. Miami Dolphins – OT from Notre Dame – Zack Martin – Adding depth up front should still be on top of their list and if it’s not finding some help for Tannehill should be second. Martin is too good to pass up.
20. Arizona Cardinals – QB from Louisville – Teddy Bridgewater – How long can Carson Palmer keep playing? And honestly, is he playing at a high level? Not really. Finding a replacement for him and getting that player ready for the future would be the smartest thing to do for the Cardinals. I do like Bridgewater and I’ve been high on him since he’s declared but his pro day and combine have hurt his stock. I won’t deny that. I think he could fall into the second round but I just see it becoming unlikely.
21. Green Bay Packers – ILB from Alabama – CJ Mosley – The Packers are always going to draft smart and they tend to take the best player available. At this point, that player would be CJ Mosley. He’d be an upgrade and compete for their second ILB spot outside of AJ Hawk.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – WR from Oregon State – Brandin Cooks – He claims he can do this better than DeSean Jackson…ok well Chip Kelly put your money where your mouth is. Nothing against Cooks, I just don’t like when players claim they’re better than another player and have yet to play on a Sunday.
23. Kansas City Chiefs – WR from USC – Marqise Lee – Dwayne Bowe and company. Literally, just company. Don’t know who’s on the roster at receiver but Lee would be a great compliment to Bowe. Oh, and it would help your franchise of Charles and Alex Smith.
24. Cincinnati Bengals – DE from Auburn – Dee Ford – Michael Johnson fled to Tampa and they need help on their defensive line. This makes perfect sense.
25. San Diego Chargers – DT from Florida State – Timmy Jernigan – Cam Thomas is gone and now they don’t have a starting nose tackle. Timmy Jernigan takes a fall for me but he’s still a solid selection here for the Chargers.
26. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis) – CB from Virginia Tech – Kyle Fuller – You got a wide out, the next round you’ll get your quarterback but for now you grab Fuller who fills a huge need next to Joe Haden. He can’t cover everyone by himself.
27. New Orleans Saints – OLB from Ohio State – Ryan Shazier – Slowly I’ve become a fan of this kid. His off the field issues will hurt him but not past day one. The Saints upgrade an area of need and should get a day one starter.
28. Carolina Panthers – WR from Florida State – Kelvin Benjamin – There have been question marks on Benjamin’s work ethic, weight, speed and route running. However, there are question marks on the Panthers’ wide outs as well. Benjamin is an instant upgrade despite some of the red flags.
29. New England Patriots – TE from Texas Tech – Jace Amaro – Gronk is another injury away from being let go. They need to be prepared for the worst and Amaro would be a good fit next to Gronk or to replace him.
30. San Francisco 49ers – OLB from BYU – Kyle Van Noy – Aldon Smith has to go. He’s bringing fake bombs to airports and I’m sure has a weapons arsenal bigger than the Columbian catel. If the Eagles let go of a player for “gang signs”, the 49ers have to let Smith go right? Either way a suspension should at least be handed out. Van Noy is a workhorse and will be a great replacement for Smith.
31. Denver Broncos – OG from UCLA – Xavier Su’a Filo – Zane Beadles is gone and we all act like it’s not important. Grabbing the best OG in the draft should be important for the Bronco’s and John Elway has proven that he’s capable of drafting smart in the past. Su’a Filo is an upgrade and keeps your aging quarterback upright. At least, sometimes.
32. Seattle Seahawks – CB from TCU – Jason Verrett – Brandon Browner is gone and getting some kind of an upgrade should be important to this defense. I think Verrett is best fitted as a nickel but he’s still an upgrade. I question his man on man skills as well as his speed but either way he should be a first rounder.
