After watching the combine and spending a good amount of time evaluating prospects and watching their films, here’s what I’ve come up with before the free agency period, which is set to begin on this Tuesday, March 11th.
1. Houston Texans – DE from South Carolina – Jadeveon Clowney – Speculation is that the Texans are trying to trade for the Patriots backup QB in Ryan Mallet. Reports indicate that it’s unlikely to happen but to me this is Bill O’Brien’s way of saying that he’s not comfortable taking a quarterback with the first pick. If that’s the case Clowney would be the guy then. His numbers are incredible and with a pairing of JJ Watt and Clowney, the Texans could hold the formula for a championship winning defense.
2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) – OT from Auburn – Greg Robinson – I wouldn’t be surprised if one of four things happen here. First is the Rams take OLB Khalil Mack out of Buffalo, Clemson WR Sammy Watkins, or they trade out of this pick. But to me they go with the fourth option and that’s Greg Robinson. He would be a great fit for their offensive line that needs another tackle to pair up with Jake Long.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars – OLB from Buffalo – Khalil Mack – Why would they sign Chad Henne to a new two year deal? I understand having a verteran back up but Gus Bradley is also saying that Henne will be starting week one so to me, Bradley doesn’t trust any of the quarterbacks in the first round either. Mack would be the best pick for their defense as he would be the pass rusher off the edge they need and could very well be the face of their defense for years to come.
4. Cleveland Browns – QB from UCF – Blake Bortles – Early indications are that the Browns might wait until the end of the first round to find their signal caller and I think they’re bluffing. Bortles who is comparable to Big Ben in Pittsburgh, could be the change the Browns need. After re-evaluating the quarterbacks, I think Bortles is the top quarterback in the draft.
5. Oakland Raiders – QB from Texas A&M – Johnny Manziel – The Raiders big board is either Manziel or Sammy Watkins. I think they get the guy with the arm before bringing in some weapons for him. Manziel is athletic and has the tangibles to be a really good quarterback at the next level. In Oakland, he’s either going to shine or fall faster than Jamarcus Russell.
6. Atlanta Falcons – OT from Texas A&M – Jake Matthews – The best pick in the top ten is right here. Matthews has silently been put behind all these boom or bust prospects but the Falcons will get a guy who will be the franchises left tackle for the next 10 years.
7. Detroit Lions (MOCK TRADE WITH TAMPA BAY) – WR from Clemson – Sammy Watkins – It’s time for the Lions to make an aggressive play in this year’s draft. The Lions love Watkins and he loves the Lions. He’s surprisingly still here and the Lions will do what they can to get him.
8. Minnesota Vikings – QB from Louisville – Teddy Bridgewater – One of the three quarterbacks will fall some and I think it will be Bridgewater. I question his ability to be consistent at the next level. Taken here, he can take his time and honestly he falls into a really good situation with Adrian Peterson as his running back.
9. Buffalo Bills – OT from Michigan – Taylor Lewan – No way are the Bills in play to sign one of the free agent offensive tackles so they will upgrade here with the ninth pick. Lewan has helped his draft stock and would fit well in Buffalo. EJ Manuel needs protection and that should be the top priority for this team outside of adding some weapons.
10. Tamp Bay Buccaneers (MOCK TRADE WITH DETROIT) – OLB from UCLA – Anthony Barr Adding a day two pick, the Buccaneers move back three spots to get the guy they could have gotten at their original spot. Now that’s good management. Barr reminds me of either Clay Matthews or Derrick Brooks and I think new head coach Lovie Smith and the fans will love that comparison.
11. Tennessee Titans – CB from Michigan State – Darqueze Dennard – With Alterraun Verner on his way out, they need a replacement in Tennessee. Dennard is the most pro ready corner in the draft regardless of what anyone says.
12. New York Giants – WR from Texas A&M – Mike Evans – More than likely Hakeem Nicks is on his way out and I think he’ll only come back on a one year deal that the Giants can’t offer. Finding another weapon for Eli is a must and Victor Cruz isn’t a number one receiver despite the Giants treating him like one. I’m not the biggest of fans of Evans but his vertical is pretty, his hands are pretty good and his height separates him as one of the top receivers in this year’s class.
13. St. Louis Rams – WR from LSU – Odell Beckham Jr. – The Rams could very well trade back with both of their first round picks but if they can’t expect Beckham to go opposite of Tavon Austin. You need a bigger target for Sam Bradford and ODJ is that guy. He has great hands and really excels in running his routes. In my opinion, his route running is second best in the draft.
14. Chicago Bears – CB from Oklahoma State – Justin Gilbert – I doubt Charles Tillman comes back and I wouldn’t be surprised if Major Wright signs elsewhere. Holes are in their secondary and overall in their defense. Gilbert would be a great fit and could be the second coming of Charles Tillman.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers – FS from Alabama – Hasean Clinton-Dix – The Steelers always go with the best player available and Clinton-Dix is that guy. Ryan Clark is hitting the free agent market and probably won’t be back. Get Clinton-Dix to help the aging secondary in the steel city.
16. Dallas Cowboys – DT from Florida State – Timmy Jernigan – Trust me, I know all about Aaron Donald. I watched the combine and was impressed but most impressed with Jernigan because his expectation was already high and he kept with it. He excelled just as much as Donald or any other defensive tackle. Cowboys need to be smart with this pick and Jernigan is the safest of all defensive tackles.
17. Baltimore Ravens – WR from USC – Marqise Lee – With ODJ and Mike Evans on the rise, Lee falls and the Raven’s don’t mind it. Lee doesn’t have anything elite about him but he reminds me of former Raven in Lee Evans and not the Lee Evans who drops touchdowns but the one that played in Buffalo.
18. New York Jets – TE from North Carolina – Eric Ebron – I consider this falling down the draft board for Ebron who lit up the combine. I wouldn’t be surprised if Detroit sits at ten or trade backs to possibly take him or even if the Bills take Ebron at the 9th spot. However, that’s not the case. Ebron falls to the Jets and even though they have Cumberland, they need someone who is on the verge of elite and Ebron could be the next coming of Jimmy Graham or in my opinion, Antonio Gates.
19. Miami Dolphins – OT from Notre Dame – Zack Martin – Whether they land Brandon Albert or not, they need help up front in Miami. Martin to me is best fitted at guard which is another area of need for the Dolphins. It just seems like the perfect fit but then again, so did Jonathan Martin.
20. Arizona Cardinals – DT from Pittsburgh – Aaron Donald – Shaping up the Cardinals pass rush would help their already talented secondary. Donald would excel very well next to Darnell Dockett and this could be the steal in the first round.
21. Green Bay Packers – WR from Oregon State – Brandin Cooks – They had some injuries at this position and with their defense already shaping up to be good again with the money they’re going to invest in it come free agency, Cooks makes a lot of sense. Tight end would be an option here but I think the Packers will wait until later rounds for that.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – FS from Louisville – Calvin Pryor – The Eagles might need to trade up if they want Pryor but for now, I say they stay put and are lucky to take him at this pick. Pryor is a hard-hitting safety who could very well be a starter from day one.
23. Kansas City Chiefs – WR from Florida State – Kelvin Benjamin – The only thing the Chiefs have to hope for is that Benjamin isn’t a second coming of Jonathan Baldwin who was a big receiver they took a few years ago and just never panned out. Benjamin did not have a good combine but he was impressive with pads and has a size advantage on most of the receivers in the draft.
24.Cincinnati Bengals – DE from Missouri – Kony Ealy – Michael Johnson is gone and they need to add another DE in this draft. Ealy solidified himself as a first rounder at the combine in my eyes and would be a great fit with the Bengals.
25. San Diego Chargers – DT from Notre Dame – Louis Nix – His injuries have hurt his stock but the Chargers will go with the best player available. Corner back is a very strong option but I think they will address that need in free agency.
26. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis) – ILB from Alabama – CJ Mosley – Here’s a player whose stock has stayed the same and is probably the safest pick in the draft but so many teams will overlook him and with that Cleveland is fortunate enough to have him here. He fills a need and will start right away.
27. New Orleans Saints – DE from Auburn – Dee Ford – They need a pass rusher in New Orleans to play opposite of Cameron Jordan. I think there are some character issues with Ford but he’s still a first round talent who should thrive in New Orleans.
28. Carolina Panthers – CB from Virginia Tech – Kyle Fuller – Injuries to Jason Verrett has made him fall into the second round where Kyle Fuller moves in his place of the first round. The Panthers need help in their secondary because there’s no way they repeat their success defensively with the same guys. Fuller is a physical corner who could be a starter in week one.
29. New England Patriots – DT from Minnesota – RaShede Hageman – Vince Wilfork is having trouble staying healthy, is 32 years old and I just wouldn’t be surprised if he gets cut or traded. However, there are reports that both sides are trying to get a new contract. That’s probably so the Patriots can free up money to try to add a weapon for Tom Brady. Either way, finding a replacement for Wilfork should be on their list. Hageman can learn now and in a year or two can be the replacement for him.
30. San Francisco 49ers – OG from UCLA – Xavier Su’A Filo – His combine really helped him and there’s no doubt he becomes a first rounder. The 49ers could use help at their RG spot and to me this is a safe pick and makes the most sense.
31. Denver Broncos – OLB from Ohio State – Ryan Shazier – I thought the linebackers for this team played good but there needs to be some kind of upgrade. With Shazier still on the board, he makes sense and I think could really come in as a starter at some point of the season.
32. Seattle Seahawks – TE from Texas Tech – Jace Amaro – With the possibility of losing Golden Tate, they need a weapon. I think you find a weapon and need in Amaro who could be a sleeper in this draft. Especially in the end of the first round. Teams would be fortunate if he fell to the second round.