Rather than try to guess which players will be taken by which teams, I’m going to act as General Manager for each team for this Mock Draft. Now the Rams and Eagles already went and did the worst things that they could possibly do by mortgaging their future for quarterbacks that I’m not sold on. I’ve said multiple times that I would not take any quarterback this year in the Top 10, but if I absolutely had to it would be Jared Goff. This draft really reminds me of the 2013 NFL Draft Class (though I like Goff more than I liked EJ Manuel). Meanwhile, the Titans and Browns are laughing hysterically because they know they need as many picks as possible and that they are not going to make the playoffs next year. Now they have a ton of picks the next two years and are poised to rebuild. The Rams I understand because they just moved to Los Angeles and want to make a big splash to make everyone excited for the year…there is some off-the-field value to this idea and they already have a pretty good defense. On the other hand, the Eagles had around $34 Million tied up in Sam Bradford and Chase Daniels and now they mortgaged their future to draft another QB…a year after GM Howie Roseman said that mortgaging the future for one quarterback rarely works. This screams ownership stepping in which is just hilarious/brutal.
But I digress, enough of my rant…here we go:
- Los Angeles Rams (via Tennessee Titans) – Jared Goff, QB, CalWell now that I’ve assumed control of this team, I see that I do not have any future draft picks and that I do not have a quarterback, so I better draft the best one in the Draft.
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Cleveland Browns) – Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida StateI cannot do it and I won’t do it. The future is ruined, but there is no way that I’m drafting Carson Wentz at #2. The Eagles fans will demand that he plays as soon as Bradford or Daniels falters and he will get eaten alive. Get the best defensive player in the draft and move on.
- San Diego Chargers – Laremy Tunsil, LT, Ole Miss
Rivers is getting older and it is time to make sure that he is protected. The Chargers need to bolster their offensive lineman so you might as well take the best OL available.
- Dallas Cowboys – Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Bosa would bolster the pass rush big time and if it had been a better year for QBs, I would have suggested taking a QB to develop behind Romo. This obviously isn’t the case this year and so the need at DE is addressed.
- Jacksonville Jaguars – DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon
Get Dante Fowler back from injury and have Buckner to put next to him? The Jaguars defensive line effectively gains two top 5 picks and they are in business.
- Baltimore Ravens – Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Since they’re paying Joe Flacco like he is an Elite QB, you’ve got to protect him so that he can do his thing. Stanley would be a huge plug and play tackle for them to add.
- San Francisco 49ers – Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
Jack has some question marks health-wise but he’s too much of a freak to pass up. Jack bolsters a linebacking corps that was absolutely gutted last offseason and while things aren’t perfect in San Fran…this would be a step in the right direction.
- Cleveland Browns (via Miami Dolphins through Eagles) – Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
The Browns now have a ton of draft picks to play with and I think that this would be a little bit of a luxury pick, especially with Duke Johnson in the backfield. That being said, Elliott makes the offense better and anything that can help them is necessary.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
The Bucs are in need of help in the secondary and VH3 is the best remaining CB in the draft.
- New York Giants – Leonard Floyd, EDGE, Georgia
The Giants signed Olivier Vernon to a monster contract this offseason, but you can never have enough pass rushers.
- Chicago Bears – Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Perfect fit for the defense and fills one of the many holes they currently have in that unit.
- New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
My favorite defensive tackle in the draft and a player I wish would fall to the Lions. At this point, I don’t see it happening and his versatility would be a major asset for the Saints.
- Miami Dolphins (via Eagles) – Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
I do not love Conklin, but the Dolphins need to help out their offensive line. They are a candidate to trade up for Ezekiel Elliott and to be honest, the Browns and Dolphins should probably swap picks if this is how the draft plays out.
- Oakland Raiders – William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Raiders fans would flip out that they took another corner in the first round from Houston, but he can actually play so it won’t be as bad as they think.
- Tennessee Titans (via Rams) – Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Treadwell would be a nice little toy for Mariota to use and he desperately needs some help on that offense. He can block at an elite level in the run game and while he’s not a burner, he’s the best WR in the Draft.
- Detroit Lions – Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
The Lions have a number of options here, but I would choose to take Decker to play RT. Then if you decide not to sign Reiff next offseason, you move him to LT and you’re not in a terrible spot.
- Atlanta Falcons – Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
A fantastically athletic linebacker and his versatility will be great for the Falcons. He won’t have to come off the field with his ability to cover tight ends and wide receivers.
- Indianapolis Colts – Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
Kelly gives Andrew Luck some stability at center and they have plenty of weapons on offense. It’s time to keep your stud quarterback upright so he can do his job.
- Buffalo Bills – Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Blew up on the scene this year and he does have the danger of being a one-year wonder but the Bills need the help on defense badly enough that they will have to roll with it. Not a perfect scheme fit…but it will have to do.
- New York Jets – A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
Went rom a plethora of defensive lineman to it being a need. Robinson allows them some flexibility on the line.
- Washington Redskins – Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
The Skins need to solidify the interior of their defensive line if they are going to take the next step.
- Houston Texans – Karl Joseph, S, WVU
Addressed CB in round 1 last year and now it is time to take the second-best safety in the draft. Joseph plays like a missile and will be a huge asset in run support.
- Minnesota Vikings – Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Teddy Bridgewater and Stefon Diggs could use some help and Doctson gives this very good team another weapon on offense.
- Cincinnati Bengals – Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Coleman is the perfect replacement for Marvin Jones and the Bengals desperately need a WR now after it being a position of strength last year.
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
One of the worst secondaries in the NFL and in dire need of a cornerback and a safety. They might even prefer Karl Joseph fall to them too.
- Seattle Seahawks – Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State
Bar none the worst offensive line in the league. This pick is purely take the best offensive lineman on the board and see what happens.
- Green Bay Packers – Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
The Packers need another ILB to pair with Jake Ryan so they can move Clay Matthews back outside. Ragland and Ryan is a fantastic tandem of just pure, hard-nosed football players.
- Kansas City Chiefs – Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
Marcus Peters and Eric Berry are two crucial pieces in the secondary and Eli Apple would be another step towards turning it into an elite unit. Now Apple can’t cook, but he’s a solid football player.
- New England Patriots – FORFEITED
- Arizona Cardinals – TJ Green, S, Clemson
A corner to play opposite Patrick Peterson would be best, but a safety to help Mathieu and Co. on the back-end will do just fine too.
- Carolina Panthers – Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
The most athletic tackle in the draft who played in the Spread could make a seamless transition here. Cam Newton gets some more protection from guys like Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware who were in his lap the entire Super Bowl.
- Denver Broncos – Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
This would be the point in the draft where if you’re the Broncos that you desperately try to scramble and trade back. But if you cannot, then you take a chance on Connor Cook. Mark Sanchez is not the answer for the Broncos, that’s for sure.
The Daily Traub 