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Having a first round pick to talk about the upcoming draft is nice. Having a competent GM on board (and no, I'm not talking about Ken making the pick in this mock... I'm talking about McCloughan) to make the pick makes it even nicer. The addition of Scot has really turned up the excitement level for fans as they look forward to our first first round pick in years (when I phrase it like that, it is just so hard to believe and I can imagine fans from other teams reading this and laughing at that).
Here's how I think things may go down as of today:
#1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
He's as close to a finished product as you'll find in this year's QB crop and even though he throws a few too many INT's, his talent is unquestioned. He's really a no-brainer right now at #1 for the Bucs. They need a QB in the worst way and it would be a boost to a fan-base filled with a lot of people who also follow and root for Florida St.
#2 Tennessee Titans
Leonard Williams, DL, Southern California
Seen by many as the #1 overall prospect in this draft, I like the Titans to go with Williams and give Mettenberger a chance as their QB. Some people think they'll go with Mariota, but I think Williams is too good to pass up.
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars
Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
Jacksonville's whole team is pretty much a mess and Gregory is the best player on the board.
#4 Oakland Raiders
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The Raiders took Derek Carr last year and he proved over his rookie season that he may have some staying power in this league. The best thing the Raiders can do to ensure their QB pick pays off is to give him some weapons. Enter Cooper. He'd immediately step in as their best receiver and help Carr continue to improve and grow. They pretty much need to build around Carr now and Cooper is the best way for them to do that at #4.
#5 Washington Redskins
Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Pick Made by Ken Meringolo
"My time picking for the Redskins is just about over, as future mock draft authors will decide for themselves who the Skins should select in the upcoming draft. As such, I feel like I need to really bring this home with a pick we can all get excited about. Naturally, I picked the most exciting position on the field to target: offensive tackle. You're welcome!
I have been consistently sticking with Brandon Scherff here, based on the somewhat consensus ranking of him at the top of the OT crop. My point has been made. Today, I am looking to cast my net over the other offensive tackle prospect that has me worked up. At 6'7" and 312 pounds, Andrus Peat, the OT prospect out of Stanford has the size and strength that Jay Gruden favors on his offensive line. What is most intriguing about this guy is his rare athleticism for a man of this size. Imagine this guy getting a head of steam as he sweeps around to lead block--someone is going to get hurt! He will most likely be able to play either left or right tackle, but an offensive line with Trent Williams on the left side and Peat on the right can inflict some serious pain on opponents. While Scherff would come in with his Iowa pedigree and lock up a spot somewhere on our line immediately with high-level play, Peat is a guy who might actually have a higher ceiling at the tackle spot."
#6 New York Jets
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The National Championship hurt his stock a little bit, but he's still basically a lock to go in the top six. He makes me think of Colin Kaepernick and I think most any team would be happy with Kaep at the #6 spot... especially the Jets. They need a QB... bad.
#7 Chicago Bears
Danny Shelton, NT, Washington
The Bears could seriously use some help/depth along their DL. I'm even more inclined to think they'll go DL because of who they hired this off-season (John Fox and Vic Fangio). Those guys are the perfect coaches for Danny Shelton at the next level.
#8 Atlanta Falcons
Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri
The Falcons need help all over their front seven on defense and Ray is the best available of the bunch. Ray gets to the QB. It's exactly what Atlanta needs.
#9 New York Giants
Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
BPA + they need OL help = Scherff. He makes perfect sense at #9 to NYG.
#10 St. Louis Rams
La'el Collins, OL, LSU
I think the Rams three primary needs are at OL, QB, and secondary (primarily CB). I considered Clemmings and/or Waynes here, but ultimately, I think Collins is the pick. He's versatile and will likely be able to play OT and/or G at the next level. They aren't really in position to get their QB here, so drafting an OL makes sense to make whoever they put behind C look a little better.
#11 Minnesota Vikings
Dante Fowler, Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
This draft is great at the top for pass rushers and the Vikings need help in that department. Getting a talent as good as Fowler at #11 is a great move by the Vikings. It doesn't hurt that he's probably the best player left on the board. Simply too good to pass on.
#12 Cleveland Browns
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Their OL is already pretty good, but what they need most to help their offense, especially with the situation around Josh Gordon, is a WR.
#13 New Orleans Saints
T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
They need help on the OL and Clemmings' ceiling is way up there. He has perhaps the best upside of any player left and not only will he help a year or two down the road, he's probably good enough to help an OL like the Saints' right away.
#14 Miami Dolphins
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Looks like the Dolphins may move forward with Ryan Tannehill at QB and the only way to justify the contract he'll likely get is to give him some weapons. The Mike Wallace situation is kind of up in the air right now and Parker seems to be a perfect fit.
#15 San Francisco 49ers
Vic Beasley, OLB/DE, Clemson
The 49ers do it again, finding great value with their pick. In most other drafts, a guy of Beasley's caliber would be a top 10 pick, but with the dearth of pass rushing talent, he's fallen right into the '9ers' laps. How else are they going to try to contain Russell Wilson?
#16 Houston Texans
Landon Collins, S, Alabama
I think the guy's a top 10-12 talent, but I have him falling a little bit here. The secondary hasn't really been the strong spot for the Texans lately and adding a guy like Collins could do a lot to change that.
#17 San Diego Chargers
Alvin Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
Yep, another pass rusher. Very deep class up here at the top.
#18 Kansas City Chiefs
Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
A very versatile player who could play either LB spot and/or potentially S. The Chiefs need help all over their defense, so this player fits very well here. He's one of the more athletic, versatile players in the draft.
#19 Cleveland Browns
Malcom Brown, DL, Texas
The Browns have two first round picks and needs just about everywhere. Beefing up the DL is never the wrong choice.
#20 Philadelphia Eagles
Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
The Eagles need secondary help more than just about any other positions. Waynes is the best, most complete CB in this draft and with Collins already off the board, he's a pretty easy choice here. BPA and fills a major need.
#21 Cincinnati Bengals
Jordan Phillips, DL, Oklahoma
#22 Pittsburgh Steelers
Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
The Steelers need to improve, and more importantly get younger, all over their defense. CB is one of the weaker positions on their roster.
#23 Detroit Lions
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
The Lions pass the ball too much and are far too reliant on Calvin Johnson. They need to improve their run game. Plus, Reggie Bush is small and injury-prone.
#24 Arizona Cardinals
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
#25 Carolina Panthers
Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Poor Cam Newton got hit so much this year. Their OL needs some major work and Flowers is a great place to start.
#26 Baltimore Ravens
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Steve Smith is old and Torrey Smith is a FA. He's also very talented.
#27 Dallas Cowboys
Eddie Goldman, DL, Florida State
#28 Denver Broncos
Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State
Remember Will Montgomery...? Yeah, he was starting at C for them. Especially if Peyton Manning comes back, improving their OL will be paramount.
#29 Indianapolis Colts
Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
#30 Green Bay Packers
Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
#31 Seattle Seahawks
Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
The Seahawks definitely need some help in the receiver department. Funchess is huge and adds an element to their receiving core that they don't currently possess. They don't have any dominant TE and Funchess figures to be able to line up there sometimes, too. He's the perfect fit for this team and provides a red-zone target unlike they've had recently.
#32 New England Patriots
Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio)
#33 (Round 2, Pick 1) Tennessee Titans
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE/OLB, UCLA
#34 (Round 2, Pick 2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
#35 (Round 2, Pick 3) Oakland Raiders
Eli Harold, OLB/DE, Virginia
#36 (Round 2, Pick 4) Jacksonville Jaguars
Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon
#37 (Round 2, Pick 5) New York Jets
Nate Orchard, OLB/DE, Utah