Back to Chicago we go for the second straight year of the NFL Draft. The last two weeks have seen unparalleled trades and speculations about who will be going No. 1 overall. While it's pretty clear that it will be a QB, there's still questions about whether it will be Jared Goff or Carson Wentz. So, let's take a look at how things probably won't play out on Thursday night.
1. Los Angeles Rams via trade from the Tennessee Titans - Jared Goff QB California
Most of the reports over the last week or so have Goff as the most NFL ready QB in this year's draft. I admire the fact that the Rams had the guts to move up to take a QB, but I don't think Jared Goff is the next Aaron Rodgers and historically when teams give up this much for one player, it backfires. The Rams have a very good defense and a great running back, but I wonder who Goff is going to throw to?
2. Philadelphia Eagles via trade from Cleveland Browns - Carson Wentz QB North Dakota State
Just when we thought the Rams made a ballsy move, the Eagles show that not only are they moving up, but they're so confident it's the right move that they're going to take whatever QB the Rams don't, because they like both Wentz and Goff far more than they do Sam Bradford. Wentz led the Bison to multiple National Championships, but there are serious questions about the competition he played against and the fact that the Bison were a run first team. He certainly looked the part though at the combine. Goff and Wentz will be forever linked based on these bold trade moves, and it's going to be fascinating if Bradford forces a trade and both Goff and Wentz start week 1.
3. San Diego Chargers - DeForest Buckner DE Oregon
A lot of mock drafts have the Chargers falling in love with Buckner as a stud defensive lineman, and there's been a ton of buzz that they'll make Buckner a bolt come Thursday night. For a team with several needs and an aging QB, the Chargers have a lot of options with the No. 3 overall pick and they stay on the West Coast with the huge pass rusher out of Oregon who starts on day 1.
4. Dallas Cowboys - Joey Bosa DE Ohio State
Dallas Owner and GM Jerry Jones had a lot of things to say about Jalen Ramsey. He likes his fire, his competitiveness, and he admires that Ramsey got suspended for being too aggressive in practice. That having been said, I still think the Cowboys need more help up front to get a pass rush with the departure of Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory's reliability up in the air, and based on that I think they make Bosa a Cowboy.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jalen Ramsay CB Florida State
Gus Bradley has got to be licking his chops, seeing as how the guy many saw as the best player in the draft is still on the board. Being that Bradley was the Defensive Coordinator in Seattle for the beginning of the Legion of Boom, he clearly knows a good defensive back when he sees one, and if Ramsay's available at No. 5 you can bet the Jags will be racing to the podium to hand in their pick.
Courtesy of gridironnow.com
6. Baltimore Ravens - Laremy Tunsil OT Ole Miss
Tunsil was thought to be the No. 1 overall pick before LA and Philly both decided to mortgage their future on quarterbacks. He was then predicted to go to San Diego, but after the Chargers, Cowboys, and Jags all go with defense, the Ravens are given a gift as Laremy Tunsil falls right into their lap. The Ravens obviously have a history of taking left tackles from Ole Miss and Tunsil heads to Baltimore to protect Joe Flacco's blind side for foreseeable future.
7. San Francisco 49ers - Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame
San Francisco gets some offensive line help to protect their quarterback as Chip Kelly goes after the star left tackle from Notre Dame. There's a big question as to whether Tunsil or Stanley is the best overall tackle in this year's draft, but with Baltimore already having taken Tunsil, the 49ers go with the best option on the table and make Stanley a 49er.
8. Cleveland Browns from trade with Philadelphia Eagles - Jack Conklin OT Michigan State
The run on offensive tackles continues with the Browns taking Jack Conklin out of Sparty. If RG3 is going to be their starting QB, they're going to need to solidify that offensive line and Joe Thomas is a pretty good tackle to pair with Conklin as they bookend the Cleveland front five. I was going to go with Myles Jack here, but news about his medical issues has him plummeting down draft boards.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Vernon Hargreaves CB Florida
Hargreaves doesn't have to go far from home as the Bucs make him the No. 9 overall pick. Tampa made a run at Josh Norman in free agency last week, but they get a very good CB out of the Swamp who will start in Week 1 against Matty Ice and the Falcons.
10. New York Giants - Ezekiel Elliott RB Ohio State
The Giants must feel like they've been living right as Zeke Elliott somehow makes it all the way to No. 10. The G-Men went heavy on defense during free agency, and they haven't had a star running back for some time. That changes on Thursday night as Eli Manning, OBJ, and now Ezekiel Elliott make for a pretty impressive offense.
11. Chicago Bears - Leonard Floyd LB Georgia
The Bears were all primed to take Elliott if he fell to them, but New York made sure that didn't happen. John Fox takes Leonard Floyd from the University of Georgia to sure up his defense in the middle of the field. Chicago has struggled at defense of late, and Floyd is a versatile player who can rush the passer and drop into coverage.
12. New Orleans Saints - Shaq Lawson DE Clemson
The Saints need some serious help on defense and they go with who they believe is the better of the two defensive studs out of Clemson. With Cam Newton, Matty Ice, and now Jameis in the division, they need to get those quarterbacks out of their comfort zone and that starts up front. Lawson is an explosive player and he's dynamic enough to play in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 scheme.
13. Miami Dolphins - Eli Apple CB Ohio State
There's been a lot of chatter about Miami trading back, and they may do so, but I'm not sure any of these teams want to jump this high up to take a skill position player. So, Miami takes the cornerback out of Ohio State to help their defense on the back end.
14. Oakland Raiders - Sheldon Rankins DT Louisville
The Raiders look to be on the rise in 2016, and strengthening the interior of their defensive line by drafting Sheldon Rankins is a good first step. Rankins is only 6'1, but he's 300 lbs and causes trouble for interior and exterior linemen.
15. Tennessee Titans from trade with Los Angeles Rams - Taylor Decker OT Ohio State
The Titans traded out of the No. 1 overall pick and still get a starting offensive tackle to protect Marcus Mariota. Decker might not have all the talents of Tunsil or Stanley, but he anchored the offensive line at Ohio State for multiple years and did a phenomenal job of both blocking for his quarterback and opening lanes for Ezekiel Elliott. Tennessee gets a great value here with the No. 15 overall pick.
16. Detroit Lions - Kevin Dodd DE Clemson
The Lions add another pass rusher in Kevin Dodd out of Clemson. Dodd was impressive all season, especially during the National Title game against Alabama where he had 3 sacks. Pairing Dodd with Ziggy Ansah should give Detroit two young instinctive players to chase after Aaron Rodgers in the Fall.
17. Atlanta Falcons - Darron Lee LB Ohio State
Lee is a little bit raw as he switched from safety to linebacker just a couple of years ago, and some people think he's undersized, but he's extremely athletic. While he has a little difficulty taking on big offensive linemen who get the second level on running plays, his speed allows him to be able to effectively cover wideouts as well as tight ends. Atlanta needs help on defense and the Falcons go with another young linebacker to pair with Vic Beasley.
18. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Kelly C Alabama
The Colts have not drafted well in the past couple of years, and they have glaring weakness on both sides of the ball that Andrew Luck was able to mask in 2014. That offensive line is shaky, and adding an elite center who can sure up the middle and provide Luck with some protection from the interior defensive linemen is a smart move by Indy. Kelly provides that stability and should be a reliable starter for many years in the NFL.
19. Buffalo Bills - A'Shawn Robinson DT Alabama
Rex Ryan loves drafting defensive players in the first round and the Bills continue with that trend by taking A'Shawn Robinson out of Alabama. Robinson is great run stopper and more importantly he eats up offensive line blockers that allow other defenders to get in the back field. Robinson can start right away for the Bills and gives the Rex's defense a big body inside.
20. New York Jets - Paxton Lynch QB Memphis
The Jets were patient and they waited all the way to No. 20 to take a QB. I could see them or Buffalo trading up to take Lynch, but I don't think he's a top 10 pick. I do think there's value though at No. 20. I still expect the Jets to bring back Ryan Fitzpatrick for a 1-2 year deal, let Lynch sit and learn and then he can start in 2017-2018. Lynch played great at times, but he also looked rather pedestrian in certain games throughout the year. Still, a 6'6 QB who has a rocket arm is hard to pass on.
21. Washington Redskins - Andrew Billings DT Baylor
While the Redskins have a decent DE group, they need to sure up the middle of their defensive line, and Andrew Billings fits that mold. The Redskins added corner Josh Norman last week to their secondary, but they need help with run stopping and Billings should provide immediate assistance in that area.
22. Houston Texans - Corey Coleman WR Baylor
Coleman is a burner, running a 4.37 40 and his speed along with his play making ability should give Brock Osweiler another target to throw to besides DeAndre Hopkins. The knock on Coleman is his limited route running ability and issues with drops, but Bill O'Brien's coaching should be able to curb those issues.
23. Minnesota Vikings - Laquon Treadwell WR Ole Miss
The Vikings give Teddy Bridgewater another weapon in Laquon Treadwell out of Ole Miss. If Treadwell were a little faster, he'd clearly be the first wide out taken off the board, but a relatively pedestrian 40 time spooked some scouts. Still, he's the most polished the wide receiver coming out this year, has a unique ability to make contested catches in traffic, and uses his big frame to protect against defenders.
24. Cincinnati Bengals - Josh Doctson WR TCU
And the run on wide receivers continues. The Bengals go with Josh Doctson out of TCU to pair with A.J. Green. Doctson has great ball skills and gives Andy Dalton another weapon to throw to along with Green and now Brandon LaFell. Doctson is a little more polished as a route runner than Corey Coleman, but like Treadwell his 40 time didn't impress scouts. Cincy gets a good No. 2 receiver with this pick and the Bengals look to have a formidable wide receiving corps going forward.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson CB Houston
The Steelers secondary had a rough year. Jackson fills a position of need for Pittsburgh and he can start right away. He's got good size with decent speed and he was near the top of the collegiate ranks in pass breakups.
Courtesy of patriots.com
26. Seattle Seahawks - Jason Spriggs OT Indiana
The Seahawks are in need of a left tackle and with Spriggs on the board, the Hawks take the Indiana big man to protect Russell Wilson. Spriggs has long arms and quick feet, two things you look for in a starting NFL left tackle. The Seahawks line clearly struggled down the stretch last year to protect Wilson, so I think they go offensive line in the first round.
27. Green Bay Packers - Reggie Ragland LB Alabama
A lot of draft experts have the Packers taking Reggie Ragland out of Tuscaloosa with their first round pick, so that pretty much means he won't be going to Green Bay, but he does fill a position of need and Green Bay loves taking players from Bama. Ragland didn't miss many tackles this season and he's a very good run stopper, and that's a welcome change of pace for Green Bay.
28. Kansas City Chiefs - Robert Nkemdiche DT Ole Miss
Had it not been for some serious character concerns Nkemdiche could have been the first defensive tackle taken in this draft, but those questions caused him to fall all the way to Kansas City at No. 28. If you watch footage of him against Alabama he looks like an absolute wrecking machine, but in other games he clearly took plays off and didn't appear interested. If Andy Reid can motivate him to play consistently hard every game, the Chiefs may have gotten a top notch interior defensive lineman.
29. Arizona Cardinals - Noah Spence DE Eastern Kentucky
The Cardinals see themselves as a Super Bowl contender right now, and with Carson Palmer's window seemingly closing every year, they beef up their pass rush by taking Noah Spence out of Eastern Kentucky by way of Ohio State. Spence actually FedExed his drug screening results to all 32 NFL teams per ESPN to prove how he's changed and that he'd a valuable asset to their team. If he lasts this long, the Cards are getting a very good defensive end at No. 29.
30. Carolina Panthers - Emmanuel Ogbah DE Oklahoma State
Firstly, I'm not comfortable at all with this pick, because the Panthers draft best player available and Dave Gettleman's ideas of best player available is almost always different than everyone else's. That having been said he usually makes the right decision. With Charles Johnson on a 1 year deal and Kony Ealy needing some help on the other side, defensive end is a position of need and Ogbah is seen by many as a first round talent. The Panthers believe in concentrating their efforts up front with a staunch pass rush, so while a cornerback or safety could also be a likely pick, defensive end makes more sense here.
31. Denver Broncos - Jarran Reed DT Alabama
With the final pick in the 1st round of the 2016 NFL Draft the Denver Broncos select Jarran Reed out of Alabama. Amazingly, Reed had zero, yes that's zero missed tackles for the 2015 season. He gives Denver another big man up front to stop the run and get after the quarterback to add to their already stellar defense. Denver thinks that they can get back to the big game with adequate quarterback play based on their defense, and while everyone expects them to take a QB in this spot, I think they go defense and wait until the next round.
Enjoy the Draft tonight. Cheers!
