With Super Bowl 50 in the books and the SeniorBowl it’s time to see who’s rising and falling in the pre-combine NFL mock draft! With that don’t forget to tweet your thoughts to me on Twitter, @DowntownTMSNX!
1. Tennessee Titans — OT from Ole Miss — Laremy Tunsil — I understand that the Titans have a serious need for an edge rusher and Bosa is a legit option but with the defensive end position always being so deep in the draft, you can easily snag someone at the start of the second round. Ronnie Stanley will get some consideration as the best offensive tackle in the draft but Tunsil should be the first overall pick. He does have some off the field concerns but I think those will check out to be negative. There isn’t one thing that Tunsil does better, He’s a powerful run blocker and is just a monster pass blocker with great length. He’s without question one of the safest picks in the draft and protecting your quarterback is more valuable than having an edge rusher.
2. Cleveland Browns — QB from California — Jared Goff — If you follow me at all, it’s clearly obvious that Jared Goff has been and will continue to be my top quarterback in the draft due to his football IQ, awareness and accuracy. Goff has some footwork concerns and needs to work on some decision-making with the football. However, all of his weaknesses are coachable and he’s certainly a coachable player. The Browns need to get their QB situation right and he’s the right guy for the job.
3. San Diego Chargers — WR from Ole Miss — Laquon Treadwell — Some would consider this a reach but it makes a lot of sense for the Chargers. Treadwell is the only sure thing at the wide receiver in the draft. The initial burst off the line of scrimmage could improve but he has premier route running ability and has the most sure hands out of any player coming out this season. With players like Malcolm Floyd and Antonio Gates set for retirement, the Chargers need to get another weapon for Phillip Rivers. Stevie Johnson is an aging receiver while Keenan Allen is injury-prone. This is a home run for the Chargers organization and fan base.
4. Dallas Cowboys — DE from Ohio State — Joey Bosa — How can the best overall prospect be this far down the draft board? I think it’s clear with what I have happening above but for more justification, Bosa isn’t an elite edge rusher. He’ll become more of a run stopper than a guy who can get you double-digit sack seasons. There are times that Bosa doesn’t react to the football and will at times get caught in space. Those reasons alone have caused Bosa to have a down season statistically. He’s a top five prospect but the top three teams in the draft can get more bang for their buck. The Cowboys are in a peculiar situation as they have to decide what to do with Greg Hardy. I don’t believe Hardy will be back and their future end position could look very nice with Bosa and last years draft pick, Randy Gregory.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars — CB/FS from Florida State — Jalen Ramsey — I would not be opposed to the Jaguars going out and getting the best pass rusher or offensive lineman on the board. However, I think getting the best defensive back in the draft is a must for Jacksonville. Now I’m not saying Ramsey is like Patrick Peterson or will be better but he’s extremely physical and can jam any receiver at the line of scrimmage. Also, Ramsey would be getting drafted higher than Peterson did, just a little FYI. It’s clear I like Ramsey and to me he’d become a home run for a defense that needs someone like this in their secondary.
6. Baltimore Ravens — OT from Notre Dame — Ronnie Stanley — If Ramsey is on the board, the Ravens will address their estroucious secondary but he’s gone so they’ll take the best player on the board. Ronnie Stanley is an instant upgrade over Eugene Monroe and would be really beneficial for Joe Flacco who returns from his torn ACL.
7. San Francisco 49ers — DE from Oregon — DeForest Buckner — Chip Kelly finally has the quarterback he wants for his offense and that’s Colin Kapernick. I could totally see Kelly going out and making the bizarre selection like DeForest Buckner because he went to Oregon. However Buckner makes sense for the 49ers who should be moving to a 4-3 scheme and are going to need another edge rusher as I expect Arik Armstead to move inside.
8. Miami Dolphins — DE from Oklahoma State — Emmanuel Ogbah — Like I’ve said before, the Dolphins don’t have the money to re-sign defensive end Oliver Vernon and they might even have to trade or cut Cameron Wake because of their cap space. Either way, they need to pair an edge rusher next to Ndamukong Suh to prove that they didn’t overpay for him (cough-cough…they did). Ogbah to me is one of the best defensive ends in the draft and is one of the safest picks for any team. He can fit any system and has incredibly strong hands. His strongest attribute is his ability to fire off the ball and get that outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. Right now he’s the second ranked defensive end on my prospect rankings list and could become a stud in Miami.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — OLB from UCLA — Myles Jack — The Buccaneers could very well look into their pass rush with this selection. Another position of need is potentially looking into the best defensive tackle available. They do have Gerald McCoy but getting him some help on the inside of the defensive line is crucial. However, the Buccaneers will do the smart thing and draft the best player available which is Myles Jack. They could use another linebacker to pair with Lavonte David and they could only hope that Jack is on track to be the player that every expert is marking him out to be.
10. New York Giants — ILB from Alabama — Reggie Ragland — The Giants have the worst ranked pass defense in the league and then go out and bring back Steve Spagnuolo as their defensive coordinator (eye rolling emoji). The biggest reason why this team is terrible at defending the pass, is that they don’t have a linebacker to handle any of their underneath or crossing routes in the middle of the field. Ragland can be that guy for the Giants. Instantly, he can start in the middle as the position is wide open. Jon Beason got cut and retired the other day and their depth at linebacker is awful. Ragland would be a great run stopper and cover linebacker from day one. If he were to go the Giants, I’d project him as my defensive rookie of the year.
11. Chicago Bears — DE/OLB from Eastern Kentucky — Noah Spence — My understanding is that Spence cleared every check mark on the list at the Senior Bowl. The only one that he missed was his interview about the whole drug issue he had at Ohio State. Overall, teams will look past that and put him in the top 15 of their draft board. Right now, the Bears need to get some help with their pass rush. They traded Jared Allen and have Lamar Houston who looks to be a bust of a signing. Spence is a tremendous talent and his film speaks for itself. With more time, he’ll get the drug issue from the past out-of-the-way and should be a name to climb the boards on draft day.
12. New Orleans Saints — CB from Florida — Vernon Hargreaves III — The Saints have potentially the worst pass defense in the league. I know statistically they’re not but wow, they are bad. Hargreaves is a player that has good zone cover skills and is a really athletic kid. I think the Saints would be very fortunate to have him and hopefully, he’d be able to start over Brandon Browner, who leads the league in penalties for any defensive back in the NFL.
13. Philadelphia Eagles — DE from Clemson — Shaq Lawson — Here’s a guy who will be forgotten about come draft day but he could become a very good player at the next level. I love the length he brings off the edge as a pass rusher but he needs to improve on his ability to come up and stop the run. Lawson struggles with bending down the line of scrimmage and being a consistent three-down player. Despite the rise from other edge rushers in the draft, Lawson should be a top-15 talent in 2016.
14. Oakland Raiders — CB from Clemson — Mackensie Alexander — It’s rare to have players from the same college go back-to-back in the draft and I actually have it happening twice. With this pick though, the Raiders get a guy they desperately need. They’ve got a good pass rush, which is led by Khalil Mack, however, they lose a huge presence in their secondary with a retiring Charles Woodson. Alexander is climbing up draft boards and played well in the National Championship game. He’s a young player who’s only a red shirt sophomore so he only has two years of playing experience but he’s got really good man-to-man cover skills and is extremely quick footed.
15. Los Angeles Rams — QB from North Dakota State — Carson Wentz — The Rams are moving to Los Angeles and it only seems fitting to put people in the seats with a new quarterback. It wouldn’t be fair to the fans if they had to deal with Nick Foles for another year. Wentz is climbing up draft boards and there’s a lot to like about him. He’s a smart quarterback who makes good decisions with the football. He won’t be able to stare down every receiver he throws to like he did for the Bison but he should get strong first round consideration. (The Rams will probably have to trade up if they want to get Wentz)
16. Detroit Lions — OT from Michigan State — Jack Conklin — There’s no way that the Lions can go this off-season without addressing their need at offensive tackle. No way is Riley Reiff a left tackle and currently, the team is without a right tackle. Conklin is local kid who does well with both run blocking and pass blocking. He’d be an ideal fit for the Lions and could be an anchor on the left side of their line for the next ten years.
17. Atlanta Falcons — DT from Alabama — AShawn Robinson — The Falcons were the worst team in the NFL at sacking the quarterback (19 sacks) and they’re relatively thin at defensive tackle. With that AShawn Robinson is soaring up the draft boards as he’s got terrific size, quick hands and could become a dominant player for the Falcons.
18. Indianapolis Colts — RB from Ohio State — Ezekiel Elliot — Do they even have a running back going into next year? No more Frank Gore or Ahmad Bradshaw. Needless to say, Elliot makes sense.
19. Buffalo Bills — DT from Louisville — Sheldon Rankins — If you’re going to cut Mario Williams, it’s a clear indication that you’re probably going to draft a defensive lineman. Adding to that, Kyle Williams could become a cap-cut as he’s 33-years-old and due over $8 million this year. I like Sheldon Rankins a lot as he’s got a strong presence when starting inside but he’s also got room to grow coming off the edge. He won’t be like Mario Williams but he’s versatile defensive tackle who can fit in the multiple packages that Rex Ryan likes to run.
20. New York Jets — OLB from Georgia — Leonard Floyd — I’m really starting to like what I see from Leonard Floyd. He could potentially slip into the top 15 of this draft but for now, I like him going to the Jets. Todd Bowles would have a field day for this kid as he’s a terrific edge rusher and is the perfect hybrid player the Jets need.
21. Washington Redskins — DT from Ole Miss — Robert Nkemdiche — Every year we see one or two guys fall down draft boards. Nkemdiche is going to be a guy that drops down boards because his marijuana possession and falling out of a one-story window. He’s got terrific upside as a player but he’s slow off blocks and can struggle with double teams at times. He’d be a terrific fit for the Redskins who desperately need another body in the middle of their defensive line.
22. Houston Texans — QB from Memphis — Paxton Lynch — I’m not sold on Lynch and I wouldn’t be surprised if he fell into the second round but as it stands right now I think he’ll get taken in the first round. Lynch unfortunately also has a shoulder injury and didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl. The Texans will take a guy like Lynch and hope that his deep pass will be explosive with DeAndre Hopkins.
23. Minnesota Vikings — OLB from Notre Dame — Jaylon Smith — Despite the significant injury to his knee, I believe Jaylon Smith is going to be a first rounder. The Vikings have a huge need at outside linebacker with Chad Greenway set for retirement. The Vikings could go out and sign a linebacker for a year to buy themselves some time as Smith gets ready to return to the gridiron. For now though Smith is a home run for a defense that’s already really good.
24. Cincinnati Bengals — OT from Ohio State — Taylor Decker — I like Taylor Decker as a run blocker but not so much as a pass blocker. He’s got terrific upside and seems like a perfect fit for a Bengals team that likes to address their offensive line ever year. He’s the best player on the board and could develop nicely for the team as they have aging tackles like Andre Smith and Andrew Whitworth.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers — CB from Ohio State — Eli Apple — The Steelers defense got better as the year went on but ultimately, their secondary was one of the worst units in the NFL. It’s time for the Steelers to go out and get a cornerback who could be very good for them. Eli Apple isn’t great but he’s an upgrade from what they have. I wasn’t a fan of Bradley Roby and he’s panned out well for the Broncos. Maybe Apple will do the same for the Steelers and their desperate secondary.
26. Seattle Seahawks — OT from Indiana — Jason Spriggs — There’s one obvious need for the Seahawks and it’s offensive line. Russell Okung has had nagging injuries and is also set to hit the free agent market. However Okung will probably be able to re-sign with the team for much cheaper than expected as he just had shoulder surgery. Also, Marshawn Lynch retired, which cleared up some cap room. However, their offensive line has been put together with gum from the bottom of Pete Carroll’s shoe. Go out and get a player who is on the rise and would be a perfect zone blocker for their scheme. Jason Spriggs is athletic and has the length to play on the left side of the offensive line. The Hoosiers only allowed 13 sacks this past year and Spriggs was a big reason to why that happened.
27. Green Bay Packers — DT from UCLA — Kenny Clark — Unfortunately, Clark has fallen down my board. Currently ranked as my third overall defensive tackle, Clark could be on the rise again, if the combine bodes well for him. Clark is a versatile player who is incredibly athletic and is fast off the football. He might lack the powerful strength you’d like to see from an interior lineman but he’s got the best technique of any tackle in the draft. The Packers have to put him on their board as they look to move on from B.J Raji in the middle of their defensive line.
28. Kansas City Chiefs — WR from Baylor — Corey Coleman — I’m sorry but when you have players like Albert Wilson and Jason Avant catching passes for you in the key parts of your playoff game, I think that spells trouble. The Chiefs have neglected their receiver position for years and actually made a splash by signing Jeremy Maclin. Pair someone next to Maclin that can create separation and make plays. Coleman is an explosive receiver who can go up and get the ball. I’d be shocked if his vertical is under 40 inches even though he’s only 5’10. The kid plays bigger than his actual size and isn’t afraid to go down the field and make a play. He’d be a difference maker for a team that lacks talent and depth at the wide receiver position.
29. Arizona Cardinals — DE from Florida — Jonathan Bullard — Bullard is one of the most powerful guys that I’ve seen on tape at the position. Bullard has the perfect size and fit for the Cardinals defense that employs a lot of blitzes. Bullard is a consistent two-gap run-stuffer and is a physical specimen who can play inside or outside. He had 17.5 tackles for loss and will need to play lower to get better at the next level. Put him on the Cardinals and I think he can do that for them.
30. Carolina Panthers — OLB from Ohio State — Darron Lee — Thomas Davis had surgery on his broken arm and after 40 stitches, his arm looks like a 1940’s football. Davis is more than likely set for being a cap cut or will retire. Overall, the Panthers need to add some depth at the linebacker position. Darron Lee is a quick-thinking, run stuffing linebacker. He can drop back into coverage but he can get eliminated from plays as he takes on blocks head-on. Lee has only played linebacker for two seasons but he’s consistently getting better and playing next to Kuechly should help him even more.
31. Denver Broncos — QB from Michigan State — Connor Cook — So Peyton Manning is going to retire and Brock Osweiler is no sure thing to re-sign with the team. I know Brock has stated that he’d like to stay with the team but again, money talks. John Elway will play it smart and draft someone who has only dropped this far because of a shoulder injury. Cook and this core of receivers could lead to a recipe of success on offense.
