Welcome to the first week of the 7 week NFL Mock Draft Special! With the NFL Draft being just about eight weeks away, I’m going to post a FULL seven round mock draft which will include predicting trades to having teams reach on a bunch of players while just generally making a fool of myself. Maybe I’m just losing my mind but either way, let’s have some fun! Remember, tweet any questions and/or comments to me on Twitter @DowntownTMSNX
1. Tennessee Titans — OT from Ole Miss — Laremy Tunsil — I had the Tunsil pick written in sharpie a few months ago. I saw multiple analysts with Joey Bosa as the potential pick but I explained why it should be Tunsil. You essentially, draft two positions with one pick. Moving Taylor Lewan to right tackle and Tunsil slides in at left tackle. Protecting your most important product, quarterback, is key to success. Mariota should get better due to this pick, alone.
2. Cleveland Browns — QB from North Dakota State — Carson Wentz — Wait…what?!! Yep, I’ve been on the Jared Goff train since the start of the season. However, after having his hands measured out to be the smallest for any QB in the draft, he could slip. It’s a statistical fact that small handed quarterbacks don’t thrive at the next level and with the Browns taking a more analytical approach to their team, they could push Wentz to the top spot on their board. The Browns need a franchise quarterback and I’m officially, all in with Carson Wentz. He looks more comfortable under center and is a natural born leader. He might not be able to make the same throws as Jared Goff but he can read a defense as good as anyone. I know he didn’t play Division I but if you’re reading defenses, you’re already a step ahead of the curve. Wentz for the win.
3. San Diego Chargers — FS/CB from Florida State — Jalen Ramsey — The Chargers do have needs at DL, WR and OL but San Diego is going to have a huge hole in their secondary if they let Eric Weddle go. The Chargers play in a division where there are some very good receivers. If they want anything to get better on offense, well you’ve got to start stopping people on defense. Go grab the best defensive back in the draft.
4. Dallas Cowboys — DE from Ohio State — Joey Bosa — They’ve already stated that they’re going to move on from Greg Hardy and now Randy Gregory has been suspended because of a failed drug test. Getting a defensive end is the biggest need on their board and with the best defensive end still available this is a no-brainer.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars — OLB from UCLA — Myles Jack — Jacksonville front office officials have already indicated they’re going to be going defense heavy in this draft. They’ve spent the last couple of drafts by taking offensive players like Luke Joeckel and Blake Bortles. Last year they took an edge rusher in Dante Fowler and now they grab the highest rated OLB in the draft. Jack has the potential to be really good and a lot of scouts have been extremely high on him.
6. ** TRADE ALERT ** Philadelphia Eagles (from Baltimore) — QB from California — Jared Goff — So we have a trade. I know what you’re thinking. Why are you predicting trades? Because we’re just having some fun. The Eagles don’t care about the hand measurements of Jared Goff, they want the most ready QB in the draft. I’m still impressed with everything I see in this kid. He can make all the big time throws and really looks comfortable in the pocket. He has his footwork issues and he does struggle at reading defenses at times but if he’s available, a team like the Eagles or Rams could cash in everything they have to get him. Essentially, the Eagles were a quarterback and head coach away from making the playoffs last year. They have a new head coach and now they get the quarterback they need to bring hope back to the City of Brotherly Love.
7. San Francisco 49ers — OT from Notre Dame — Ronnie Stanley — I know you’re tilting your head and questioning this pick. Hear me out before you do. Last year, Anthony Davis suddenly retired. Weird that he is trying to come back to the NFL after I pencil in this pick. However, the 49ers need some help on their offensive line. Ronnie Stanley is the safest pick in the draft and he’s just so fun to watch that is ff you want to see guys get manhandled by a 6-foot-5 offensive lineman. He does everything right and would be an instant upgrade for a team that needs an offensive lineman at both of the tackle positions.
8. Miami Dolphins — DE from Eastern Kentucky — Noah Spence — Can we get off the DeForest Buckner train? He’s a Woolly Mammoth and is slow off the ball. Someone that isn’t slow off the ball is Noah Spence. I love watching his tape and I truly believe that he’s got top 10 talent in this draft. If Spence didn’t have some of the character concerns, I’d rank him higher than Joey Bosa. The Dolphins are going to need some edge rushers if they decide to cap cut a guy like, Cameron Wake. Plus, Oliver Vernon is set to hit the free agent market and he’s not coming back. Overall, you get a guy who can come in and become similar to Von Miller. The Dolphins need to make their overpaid investment in Ndamukong Suh look better.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — WR from Ole Miss — Laquaon Treadwell — The Bucs definitely need a cornerback but let’s assume they cut an aging receiver like Vincent Jackson and then can’t re-sign Doug Martin. That leaves Jameis Winston to throw to Mike Evans and hand the ball off to Charles Sims. Maybe they look at Ezekiel Elliot but I think they’ll take the player that’s rated higher than him and that’s Treadwell. Winston could thrive with two big time receivers like Evans and Treadwell.
10. New York Giants — CB from Florida — Vernon Hagreaves III — The G-Men could take a look at a linebacker or defensive end. Assuming they’re unable to re-sign Prince Amukamara, they take best cornerback on the board. Hargreaves is an athletic corner who isn’t afraid to get physical down the field with wide receivers. He will immediately help the worst ranked pass defense in the NFL.
11. Chicago Bears — DE from Oregon — DeForest Buckner — I’m not a fan of Buckner but here he is. Buckner fills a need for a defensive line that struggled for much of last season. I think Buckner will come in and play inside for a 3-4 defensive front.
12. New Orleans Saints — DT from Alabama — AShawn Robinson — The biggest need for the Saints is at their defensive tackle position. Whether the Saints move to a 4-3 or stay in the 3-4, is yet to be known. However, they’ll need a defensive tackle, no matter what. Robinson could thrive in the New Orleans defense as he gets to play next to Cameron Jordan.
13. ** TRADE ALERT ** Baltimore Ravens (from Philadelphia) — OT from Michigan State — Jack Conklin — So I had Baltimore moving back to gain some additional picks and it works out for them. The Ravens get one of the better offensive tackles in the draft and this allows them the option to move on from Eugene Monroe if they want.
14. Oakland Raiders — ILB from Alabama — Reggie Ragland — Despite the needs the Raiders have in their secondary, they’ll take the highest rated inside linebacker. Ragland is a perfect fit for a defense that doesn’t need him to go all over the field since they have Khalil Mack for that. The Raiders just need Ragland’s football IQ when it comes to helping out with the run defense.
15. Los Angeles Rams — QB from Michigan State — Connor Cook — I’d be surprised if the Rams move up in the draft for Jared Goff. They’ll wait patiently for Connor Cook to fall to them. He’s going to surprise a lot of people after the combine and will answer a lot of questions about his shoulder. Cook does show some inconsistencies and I would think he’d pull a Matthew Stafford comparison for those inconsistencies. However, the Rams have a lot of picks in this draft and answering their biggest question mark at quarterback might suit them best right here and now.
16. Detroit Lions — DT from Louisville — Sheldon Rankins — After losing defensive tackles Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh, the Lions haven’t been the same. They moved up last year to get Gabe Wright who showed some promise but it’s still not enough. The Lions have Ezekiel Ansah coming off the edge but with a lot of question marks at the linebacker position in this draft, they have no choice but to take a defensive lineman. Rankins is starting to pull those Aaron Donald comparisons because he’s coming from off the radar. He was projected as 2nd or 3rd rounder but now he’s a sure thing in the first round. The Lions get terrific value for a guy who brings a lot to the table.
17. Atlanta Falcons — DE from Clemson — Shaq Lawson — The Falcons only sacked the quarterback 19 times last year, if I remember correctly. Additionally in 2016 they got Vic Beasley who looks to be a very good product from Clemson. They pair him up with an old teammate in Shaq Lawson and the Falcons should easily improve in quarterback pressures and sacks.
18. Indianapolis Colts — RB from Ohio State — Ezekiel Elliot — Frank Gore is going to retire and the team is moving on from the failed Andre Johnson experiment. Still though who’s their running back? They don’t have one and they’d be lucky if Elliot is still here. I don’t think any team will trade up to get Elliot but you never know. For now, the Colts must take him so they can help alleviate some of the pressure on Andrew Luck.
19. Buffalo Bills — DE from Oklahoma State — Emmanuel Ogbah — Why they would cut Mario Williams is beyond me. However, they could clear up a significant amount of money by cutting him and could get a much younger player at the position. I think Ogbah is a sleeper in the first round and I’ve had him go as high as 8th overall in this draft. But he’s not as long as you’d like him to be at 6-foot-3 and with guys like Spence, Buckner and Lawson getting more hype, Ogbah falls a little bit. The Bills address a need that holds a lot of value to their future success on defense.
20. New York Jets — OT from Indiana — Jason Spriggs — I know that Todd Bowles is a defensive minded head coach but the Jets cannot neglect their offensive line anymore. From Austin Howard and aging veterans like Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson, the Jets need to address the position. Spriggs is climbing up draft boards and I know I talked about him a few weeks ago with the Seahawks. He’ll be gone before then and I wouldn’t be surprised if a team takes him sooner or moves up to get him. Spriggs is a perfect zone scheme fit player from day one but he can be coached into other schemes. He’s a left tackle at the next level and should instantly help the Jets offense.
21. Washington Redskins — CB from Clemson — Mackensie Alexander — As the Redskins made it into the playoffs last year, they really struggled with injuries. Mostly, those injuries came in the secondary. Here they take a guy who is a perfect fit for their defense and would become a starter within the next year. Alexander is great in both man and zone coverage’s. He does struggle at turning for the ball but overall, he’s an athletic player who fits the bill of being a first round cornerback.
22. Houston Texans — RB from Alabama — Derrick Henry — With some injury concerns for Paxton Lynch, the Texans will address another big need. If they’re moving on from Arian Foster or if he just retires, the Texans need a starting running back. Derrick Henry is a monster and has trees for legs. I could see him getting the ball on almost every play for the Texans.
23. Minnesota Vikings — OLB from Ohio State — Darron Lee — The Vikings always take the best player available. They have some holes to fill at linebacker with the departure of Chad Greenway. Some would make a case for Jaylon Smith here but his injury is getting compared to being just as bad as Marcus Lattimore’s. That’s not a good thing for Smith and it’s incredibly unfortunate. Darron Lee will see a boost up most rankings plus he’s just a good player at the end of the day. Lining him up next to Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks could lead to the best trio of linebackers in the NFL.
24. Cincinnati Bengals — WR from Baylor — Corey Coleman — If the Bengals are moving on from Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, they need to draft another receiver. Corey Coleman could fall down some draft boards because of injury concerns but for now, I like him being paired up to AJ Green. You get two guys that can fly down the field, stretch the field and go up for the ball. Green and Coleman could be just as good as the Evans and Treadwell duo in Tampa.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers — OT from Ohio State — Taylor Decker — Best player available. The Steelers need to keep Big Ben upright if they want him to survive another five years. Decker is a perfect fit for the Steelers and the right side of their line. He might get a shot at left tackle but he’s not very good in pass protection. Overall, he’s an upgrade for a poor offensive line.
26. Seattle Seahawks — DT from Ole Miss — Robert Nkemdiche — I wouldn’t be surprised if Nkemdiche falls out of the first round. He claims he wasn’t high when he fell out of a window and when he threw his teammate, Laremy Tunsil, under the bus. He claims that Tunsil was present at the time of the accident. Whether that may be true or not, don’t ruin other people’s careers to try and benefit your own. Own up to your mistake and leave it at that. However, the Seahawks have a need at defensive tackle and are known to take risks on guys with character concerns (Thomas Rawls). Sure, Rawls went un-drafted but they still have come character guys in their locker room. Nkemdiche could become a terrific talent for them, especially with Pete Carroll as his head coach.
27. Green Bay Packers — DT from UCLA — Kenny Clark — Many reports are indicating that the Packers are going to move on from B.J Raji. I feel like we’ve heard that a lot over the last two years and eventually it has to be true. Clark is highly ranked on my list of defensive tackles (3rd overall) but truly, we never know what the Packers are going to do. They could go with a linebacker or even a tight end. You never know but I feel confident that they will go defense.
28. Kansas City Chiefs — WR from Notre Dame — Will Fuller — After what we saw from him at the combine, I wouldn’t be surprised if Will Fuller went in the top 20 of the draft. He could become the 2nd ranked receiver when it’s all done but overall, he’s really talented. Fly’s down the field and can make some incredible catches. Maclin and Fuller should easily improve Alex Smith and his inability to throw touchdown passes to receivers.
29. Arizona Cardinals — OG from Kansas State — Cody Whitehair — After running a 5.08 in the 40-yard dash and looking really good in the offensive line drills, Whitehair has great bend at the knees and should become a first rounder. The Cardinals took D.J Humphries last year but three years ago they took Jonathan Cooper (OG from North Carolina). Cooper went early in that draft but hasn’t played up to the player he was billed as. Now that he’s nearing the end of his rookie contract, the Cardinals need to be prepared if they can’t re-sign him.
30. Carolina Panthers — CB from Ohio State — Eli Apple — Smart front offices are always prepared for the worst. The Panthers are just that. Apple could come in and learn from Josh Norman who should get a new deal by the time free agency begins. Mind you, the Panthers have guys like Cortland Finnegan and Charles Tillman on their roster at the ages of 32 and 35. It’s time for them to move on from those guys and get some depth in their secondary. Apple is better in zone coverage than man coverage but he draws some comparisons to Bradley Roby, a former Ohio State draftee.
31. Denver Broncos — OT from Texas Tech — Le’Raven Clark — I really like this player and pick. The Broncos don’t have many holes to fill and could be back in the championship next year, however, they need some depth on their offensive line. Clark is a late 1st rounder or an early 2nd rounder and could come in to play left tackle. I think he’ll struggle a bit on the left side but should become a really nice right tackle for the Broncos.
**Please Note** The New England Patriots forfeited their 1st round pick due to ‘Deflate Gate’**
Players That Have Fallen Out of the First Round:
OLB from Notre Dame — Jaylon Smith
DT from Alabama — Jarran Reed
DT from Baylor — Andrew Billings
QB from Memphis — Paxton Lynch
DE/OLB from Georgia — Leonard Floyd
Trade Details
Philadelphia Receives: 2016 1st round pick (6th overall)
Baltimore Receives: 2016 1st round pick (13th overall), 2016 3rd round pick (77th overall) & 2017 1st round pick
