1. Tampa Bay (2-14)
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
HT: 6’4″ WT: 231 lbs 40: 4.97
The Buccaneers have to take a quarterback don’t they? I personally would give it one legitimate shot with Mike “The Human Q-Tip” Glennon, but it is clear the franchise has given up on him without giving him a fair shake. Jameis Winston has a high ceiling, but also has a rock bottom floor making him a very risky selection. The Bucs need a QB, so that is the kind of risk they have to take.
Pro Comparison: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
2. Tennessee (2-14)
Leonard Williams, DE/DT, USC
HT: 6’5″ WT: 302 lbs 40: 4.97
According to many media reports, the Titans’ brass is going to give Zach Mettenberger a one year shot as their starting Quarterback, freeing up the second overall pick to be spent on one of their other needs. Leonard Williams is the most talented player in this draft class, but won’t go first overall because the Buccaneers/a potential trade partner will take a QB with the pick. Williams will slide right in as the strong side end in the 3-4 defense, where he should be a powerhouse for years to come.
Pro Comparison: Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy
3. Jacksonville (3-13)
Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
HT: 6’3″ WT: 261 lbs 40: 4.60 BENCH: 19 reps
The Jaguars desperately need someone that can get to the QB. Defensive Tackle Sen’Derrick Marks lead the Jags with 8.5 sacks and Defensive End Chris Clemons chipped in with 8.0. Marks is a very good player but he can’t do it by himself. Clemons is going to be 34 years old before the end of next season and he can’t keep this up forever. That means top pass rusher Dante Fowler should be the selection.
Pro Comparison: Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs
4. Oakland (3-13)
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
HT: 6’3″ WT: 215 lbs 40: 4.35 VERT: 36 1/2″
Oakland seems to have their Franchise QB with Derek Carr, so now it’s time to give him someone to throw too. Kevin White has flown up draft boards everywhere because of an excellent scouting combine. He has elite measurables and great speed, but is still raw as a football player. He is another one of those classic “high risk, high reward” types that could be a home-run or an absolute bust.
Pro Comparison: A very raw Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald
5. Washington (4-12)
Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
HT: 6’5″ WT: 235 lbs 40: 4.64 BENCH: 24 reps
If Gregory wasn’t so skinny, he might be in consideration to go first overall, however his athleticism is something that will make teams look past his lack of bulk. He will have to bulk up to be a elite NFL player but will find a home as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the league. The Redskins have lost Brian Orakpo to free agency so Gregory will be his direct replacement.
Pro Comparison: Seahawks OLB Bruce Irvin
6. New York Jets (4-12)
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
HT: 6’4″ WT: 222 lbs 40: 4.52
The Jets are an absolute disaster at quarterback. Geno Smith is a dunce and will likely be out of the league in the next two seasons. Newly acquired Ryan Fitzpatrick will keep the seat warm for a season for Mariota to develop. New York drafting Mariota is the perfect scenario for Marcus, as he won’t have to play much in his first season so he will have a chance to learn from a veteran who has done it for many years without the elite physical talent that Mariota is blessed with. Fitzpatrick will teach Mariota the right way to do things, making his chances of success that much higher.
Pro Comparison: 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick
7. Chicago (5-11)
Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
HT: 6’2″ WT: 339 lbs 40: 5.64 BENCH: 34 reps
Shelton is an absolute mountain of a man. He won’t provide much pass rush at the NFL level, but good luck running the ball in his area code. The Bears had a weak Defensive Tackle core to begin with and lost the one bright piece Stephen Paea to free agency, so drafting Danny Shelton will help them stuff the run for a good long time.
Pro Comparison: Free Agent DT B.J. Raji
8. Atlanta (6-10)
Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
HT: 6’3″ WT: 245 lbs 40: DNP BENCH: 21 reps
Shane Ray is one of the most polarizing prospects in this years NFL draft. You either love his pro potential or hate it. I personally like him as a pass rusher, but he leaves something to be desired as a run defender. He is much like Junior Galette of the Saints. He is an elite pass rusher but struggles when you run right at him. Galette has gotten much better over the last couple of seasons, and Ray should be able to do the same. Atlanta needs help getting to the QB badly and Ray will be the best pass rusher left on the board for them.
Pro Comparison: Saints DE Junior Galette
9. New York Giants (6-10)
Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
HT: 6’3″ WT: 246 lbs 40: 4.53 BENCH: 35 reps
Beasley is very strong for his size and also very fast. He is great at getting to the passer but because he lacks the mass of a true 4-3 defensive end he will likely make his home in the league as a 3-4 outside linebacker. That will not be the case if he ends up as a member of the Giants. He will play opposite of Jason Pierre-Paul and potentially could serve as his replacement if JPP leaves in free agency after his Franchise Tag expires. Beasley doesn’t currently possess the size to be an every down 4-3 DE, but could put on the weight necessary to be a dominate pass rusher for a long time.
Pro Comparison: Broncos LB Von Miller
10. St. Louis (6-10)
Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
HT: 6’0″ WT: 186 lbs 40: 4.31 VERT: 38″
I personally am in love with Trae Waynes, mostly because I’ve seen him play every game of his career as a die-hard Michigan State fan. His main criticism is his lack of bulk because of his wiry frame. I’ve watched him play a lot, and he’s never been beaten up by bigger, physical receivers and is no stranger to press coverage, because that’s what MSU plays almost every snap. I’m not worried about him, and pairing him with Janoris Jenkins should make St. Louis’s secondary a force to be reckoned with for a long time.
11. Minnesota (7-9)
Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
HT: 6’5″ WT: 319 lbs 40: 5.05 BENCH: 23 reps
I’m not sold on Scherff as an offensive tackle. He like his predecessors at Iowa Bryan Bulaga and Riley Rieff have been heralded as elite Offensive Tackles coming out, but have left something to be desired. Bulaga has been a very good Right Tackle on the very rare occasion that he is healthy and Riley Rieff has been very meh as the Left Tackle for the Lions over the last two seasons. Scherff should be stronger than he tested at the combine and has bust written all over him. He could be a very solid guard, but I don’t take guards with the number eleven pick in the draft. He could very well be a good player still, just won’t be worthy of the place he is selected.
Pro Comparison: Bills LT Cordy Glenn
12. Cleveland (7-9)
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
HT: 6’1″ WT: 211 lbs 40: 4.42 VERT: 33″
Amari Cooper is the best football playing receiver coming out in this years draft, but will be the second receiver off the board because Kevin White won the combine. Cooper is a very average sized and average physically talented receiver, but just knows how to play the game like a 10 year veteran. Cooper is in the upper half of NFL receivers with speed but his average size and average hops will bring him back down a bit. With that being said, he still should be very successful and should provide Cleveland an offensive weapon to replace Josh Gordon’s production.
Pro Comparison: Free Agent WR Reggie Wayne
13. New Orleans (7-9)
Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
HT: 6’4″ WT: 269 lbs 40: 4.56 VERT: 42″
The Saints need a lot of pass rushing help at outside linebacker. Junior Galette is a very good player, but he can’t do it by himself off the edge. Dupree should be a day one starter and a force off the edge. He’s crazy athletic and should keep offensive coordinators up at night trying to figure out how to block Dupree and Galette together.
Pro Comparison: 49ers OLB Aldon Smith
14. Miami (8-8)
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
HT: 6’3″ WT: 209 lbs 40: 4.45 VERT: 36 1/2″
Parker is very big but is also very raw as a professional receiver. He has a very high ceiling as a NFL player and has drawn many comparisons to A.J. Green. However, I think that comparison is crazy, because Green is the second best receiver in the league behind Calvin Johnson and Parker is an unproven commodity. With that being said, Miami needs a new toy for Ryan Tannehill to play with and Parker fits the bill.
Pro Comparison: Free Agent WR Michael Crabtree
15. San Francisco (8-8)
Arik Armstead, DE/DT, Oregon
HT: 6’7″ WT: 292 lbs 40: 5.10 BENCH: 24 reps
San Francisco has lost so much off their defense this off-season due to unexpected retirements. They have to restart replenishing their defensive talent. They have a bigger need at inside linebacker, but there isn’t one worthy of drafting this high, so they should select Arik Armstead. He has experience in a 3-4 scheme at Oregon and should be a plug and play option at strong side defensive end.
Pro Comparison: Cardinals DE Calais Campbell
16. Houston (9-7)
Jalen Strong, WR, Arizona State
HT: 6’2″ WT: 217 lbs 40: 4.44 VERT: 42″
Houston has lost franchise cornerstone Andre Johnson and they need to give their Quarterback, whomever it is, a viable option opposite of DeAndre Hopkins. Cecil Shorts was a nice add in free agency, but they still need more offensive weapons.
Pro Comparison: Saints WR Marques Colston
Here is the link to Part 2 of the Mock Draft containing picks 17-32.
