Good news, everyone! It is the season of Mock Drafts and I am contributing to all of the drafting babble. My mock draft is, like most mock drafts, a first round mock. But I do include two additional picks for the Redskins sake.
I do have a few guidelines about my mock draft I want you to keep in mind while you read my picks. First, I do not try to guess who will make trades. It is impossible, and can drive you insane very easily. Second, my picks are based more on best player available rather than perfect scheme fit. Third, I do have some opinions about certain players that you may not agree with, and I encourage you to voice your disagreements in the comments section. I would prefer everyone keep it constructive, but I know how angry people can get about mock drafts. Just try not to rage too hard. Lastly, I also try to speculate about other players these teams could be looking at with their picks in an attempt to be logical and prevent possible mock draft rage.
Now, with the first mock pick in Sean’s mock draft, the Houston Texans select…
Round 1
1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina, DE): I’m not sure Houston will be the team to draft Clowney, but the guy is a monster. He should go number one overall. Clowney and Watt would be too tempting for me to pass up if I was the Texans GM. I believe Clowney is the best player in the draft, and I think people over-hype his work ethic problems.
2. St. Louis Rams: Sammy Watkins (Clemson, WR): Watkins is a pretty safe bet to be a productive receiver at the next level. The Rams may need a left tackle as well, but putting this playmaker with Tavon Austin could create another dynamic offense in the NFC West. If I was a GM, I could not pass up on the next A.J. Green or Julio Jones.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kahlil Mack (Buffalo, DE/OLB): Mack could be an outside linebacker or a defensive end at the NFL level. He may be better suited as an outside linebacker, so I am not convinced the Jags pick him. They need lots of players, but Mack would certainly help Gus Bradley’s defense, regardless of scheme.
4. Cleveland Browns: Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville, QB): This is becoming a recurring theme in my mock draft, but I am not sure the Browns keep this pick either. If the Browns want to draft a signal caller, Bridgewater is the best in the draft. The Browns would likely rather have Watkins, so I would not be shocked if they trade down. Most people are not sure who the best quarterback is in this draft, but I am sure that the only signal caller that can be a day 1 starter is Bridgewater. His game will likely transition the fastest to the Pros, so if the Browns want a day 1 quarterback, Teddy is their guy.
5. Oakland Raiders: Greg Robinson (Auburn, OT): Remember how the Raiders lost their best offensive lineman for no reason? Robinson would be a must draft at this point for them.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews (Texas A&M, OT): The Falcons need lineman in the worst way. If Matthews is still on the board at 6, they will not hesitate to draft him.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans (Texas A&M, WR): Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans? Sounds good to me. Lovie will need playmakers for Josh McCown. Jackson and Evans would be similar to Marshall and Jeffery in Chicago.
8. Minnesota Vikings: Anthony Barr (UCLA, OLB): Barr is a really raw prospect and he does not fit the Vikings scheme as a linebacker, but he could possibly play defensive end. I would not be surprised if the Vikings trade down at 8 if the first 7 picks go as I predict. Zimmer will likely want more players for his new defense. This is one of those "best player available" kind of picks, but I would not be shocked if Barr falls because of how raw he is. Rawness has not stopped players from going crazy high in the draft before, so I do not think it will start to now.
9. Buffalo Bills: Eric Ebron (UNC, TE): The Bills need a Tight End, and Ebron is a monster. This would be a great fit for the Bills.
10. Detroit Lions: Justin Gilbert (Oklahoma State, CB): The Lions defensive backs could use some upgrades. Gilbert is the best corner in this draft in my opinion, and this makes sense at 10. Then again, I would not be surprised if the Lions are one of those teams that tries to trade up for Mack or Evans.
11. Tennessee Titans: Blake Bortles (UCF, QB): Most mock drafts have Barr going to the Titans, but a signal caller makes sense for the Titans. Ken Whisenhunt fancies himself a Quarterback Guru, so taking the prospect that looks the part and just needs some "coaching" or "instruction" would make sense. I’m not sold on Bortles as an NFL signal caller, but I will admit, he does look like a quarterback. Then again, so did Scott Mitchell.
12. New York Giants: Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh, DT): The Giants defensive line is a very far away from its Super Bowl wins a few years ago. Donald would work well with Pierre-Paul and help the Giants generate some interior pressure.
13. St. Louis Rams: Taylor Lewan (Michigan, OT): Watkins and a nasty left tackle? The Rams would probably love for this to happen.
14. Chicago Bears: Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix (Alabama, FS): HaHa would make a lot of sense for the Bears. The Bears defense was a shell of its former Urlacher led self, so HaHa would be a good pick for them.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Timmy Jernigan (Florida State, DT): The Steelers need to start replacing the aging guys on their defense now. Jernigan would be a good addition and a great nose tackle.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Calvin Pryor (Louisville, FS): The Cowboys defensive backs are laughably bad. Pryor will not fix their defense, but he would be a step in the right direction.
17. Baltimore Ravens: Zack Martin (Notre Dame, OG): It is no secret that the Ravens offense could use some help, including the offensive line. Martin is versatile and a logical pick with the best tackles gone. However, if Lewan falls to them on draft day, they will draft him.
18. New York Jets: Brandin Cooks (Oregon State, WR): The Jets need receiver help. Cooks can take the top off the defense for them and could help create space for Decker, Vick, and Chris Johnson. The Jets have so many needs, so it is hard to guess what they will draft. I would not be surprised if the Jets draft a defensive player. It is Rex Ryan after all. I have a feeling Rex would love players like C.J. Mosely, Dee Ford, or Louis Nix.
19. Miami Dolphins: Morgan Moses (Virginia, OT): The Dolphins need offensive lineman. They will most likely want Zack Martin, but Moses would be a good addition for them as well. They need two tackles badly, so Morgan would be a good place to start.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Derek Carr (Fresno State, QB): Quarterback Guru Bruce Arians already alluded to looking for Carson Palmer’s replacement in the draft. I think Carr is the kind of signal caller Arians would like. He looks like a Quarterback in terms of size, and his completion percentage will really appeal to modern NFL coaches.
21. Green Bay Packers: Ryan Shazier (Ohio State, OLB): Shazier looks like an excellent fit as an inside linebacker in the Packers defense. The Ohio state standout makes a lot of sense for the Packers, but they may also be interested in C.J. Moseley.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Bradley Roby (Ohio State, CB): The Eagles need defensive backs, much like every other team in the NFC East. Roby has been a riser in the past few months, and I suspect the Eagles will seriously consider him with Gilbert off the board and the worries around Darqueze Dennard.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Odell Beckham Jr. (LSU, WR): This would be a lovely pick for the Chiefs. Beckham is a talented receiver and Alex Smith would love to have a talent like him on the offensive side of the ball. However, the Chiefs lost a lot of defensive players, and are in need of a tight end. Jace Amaro could be an appealing option for them at 23.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Dee Ford (Auburn, DE): The Bengals are a pretty good team that seems to have trouble turning the corner. Dee Ford would be a good addition for the Bengals here. They also need cornerbacks, but they have had some trouble drafting some lately. I think the Bengals would likely avoid Dennard and Fuller might be a bit of a reach for them at 24.
25. San Diego Chargers: Darqueze Dennard (Michigan State, CB): The Chargers also need some defensive back help, and I think they would draft Dennard here. He will likely be a solid player in the NFL and a good addition for the Chargers here. This is another "best player available" kind of pick, but corners do make sense for the Chargers.
26. Cleveland Browns: Louis Nix III(Notre Dame, DT): The Browns need to add good players to their roster and that is not news. If they take their quarterback at 4, Nix would be a good pick here. I do think it is possible that Bridgewater will be the available at 26 if they pick someone else at 4 or trade down, but I do not want to try and guess trades, because it is too hard. Nix is versatile and talented, but the Browns could easily draft C.J. Mosley. Nose tackles are more valuable though, since they are much harder to find.
27. New Orleans Saints: C.J. Mosley (Alabama, MLB): The Saints need more good defensive players, and a top shelf middle linebacker would be a great addition to the team. Rob Ryan would get a steal here for his defense at 27.
28. Carolina Panthers: Marquise Lee (USC, WR): The Panthers have a few major offensive needs here. They could opt to take one of the lower end tackles here, but I think Lee is the best player for them here. The Panthers need a receiver that can take the top off of the defense with the loss of Steve Smith.
29. New England Patriots: Ra'Shede Hageman (Minnesota, DT): Ra'Shede Hageman is the best player on the board here in my opinion. And Vince Wilfork does not seem to be the Patriot he once was. He allegedly requested to be cut from the team during this off-season. Yikes. The Bills defense needs help, but guys like Allen Robinson and Johnny Manziel could be possibilities here. But who are we kidding? The Pats are most likely to trade down.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Fuller (Virginia, CB): Fuller is a great selection at 30, but a receiver could make sense as well. Allen Robinson is still on the board here and it would not be a surprising pick here. But one of the NFL’s scariest defenses is not getting any younger and some defensive back help would be good for them.
31. Denver Broncos: Xavier Su'a-Filo (UCLA, OG): The Broncos could use some interior line help and Xavier is my favorite guard in the draft. He would be an excellent pick for the Broncos here.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Jace Amaro (Texas Tech, TE): I wonder how much better Wilson would be if he had a reliable pass catching tight end? Jace Amaro would likely show is that Wilson is much better. Amaro would be a great pick for the Seahawks if he is still there.
Round 2
1 (33). Houston Texans: Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M, QB): I think Manziel going here makes the most sense. He is the best signal caller on the board at this point and he would be selected where he belongs, in the second round. Manziel is more likely going to be a first round pick, but I do not think he should be.
2 (34). Washington Redskins: Cyrus Kouandjio (Alabama, OT): This would be fantastic if Cyrus was still here for us at 34. I am not convinced he will be, but someone like Morgan Moses or Xavier Su'a-Filo would also be solid picks too.