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While predicting the 1st round of the NFL Draft would be equivalent to predicting the 1st round of the NCAA tournament, pundits from around the country release dozens every year. They’re wrong every season, yet they’re still clamored for them. Not because they’re expected them to be right, but because we want a general idea of what teams might do come draft night.
So
with less than 24 hours until the draft, here is my idea of what might happen.
I’m not predicting that this will be the exact order, just my best guess based
on rumors from teams, team needs, and the talent pool available.
11. LA: Jared Goff- CAL
Will it be Goff or Wentz? That’s the
question LA has left us wondering since they moved up from 15 to the number one
overall pick. I believe they go with the more pro-ready passer in Goff because
Case Keenum won’t cut it this year, and Wentz is at least one year away.
22. PHI: Carson Wentz- NDSU
Philly gets the passer they wanted all
along here in Wentz. The QB with more upside long term, with the ability to sit
behind either Sam Bradford if he stays, or possibly Chase Daniel for a year or
two.
33. SD: Jalen Ramsey- FSU
Sand Diego needs to keep Rivers upright,
so Tunsil should be the pick here. But the Chargers feel scorned by Eric Weddle
leaving, and want to show him he is no longer needed. Ramsey will be their Day
1 starter patrolling the secondary.
44. DAL: Deforest Buckner- ORE
I think the smoke screen here is Ezekiel
Elliot. They want teams to think they’ll take him, but their offensive line can
make anyone successful, especially a one-cut back like Alfred Morris. They go
with the biggest, most athletic player in the draft to anchor their interior
line for years to come.
55. JAC: Myles Jack- UCLA
If Ramsey is still here he is the obvious
choice. However, even if he does not go 3rd overall to San Diego, he
will probably go 4th to Dallas. The Jaguars next best option is
Jack, whom, if healthy, is a transcendent talent. They don’t need defensive
line with Dante Fowler Jr. returning from injury, and Luke Joeckel has improved
every year in the league, so they don’t need offensive line. But a defensive
leader that will anchor the middle of the field is always useful.
66. BAL: Laremy Tunsil- MISS
Nobody knows value better than Ozzie
Newsome. He goes best player on the board, and lands a steal with Tunsil. The
start if another great draft for Newsome.
77. SF: Paxton Lynch- MEM
Chip Kelly wants nothing to do with Colin
Kaepernick or Blaine Gabbert. He already knows what its like trying to succeed
with mediocre QB talent. He wants the 6’7” athletic Lynch with the intention of
molding him into the QB that can finally make the spread offense succeed.
88. CLE: Joey Bosa- OHST
High speculation this pick will be traded
to either the Giants, Bears or Dolphins to draft Ezekiel Elliot. I don’t think this
will end up happening. While both the Bears and Dolphins have reportedly loved
Elliot, both have too many holes to trade up for a position that can be found
later in the draft, especially when both have sophomore RB’s that had
successful rookie campaigns. This leaves New York, who takes a risk that
neither Cleveland or Tampa Bay takes Elliot. This leaves Cleveland with the 8th
pick, where they go with the player with the lowest floor in the draft: Bosa.
99. TB: Ronnie Stanley- ND
Stanley has been flying up draft boards,
rivaling Tunsil on some rankings. Keeping Winston upright and healthy should be
a lesson Tampa takes from Indianapolis and the broken ribs of Andrew Luck.
Protect your star QB.
110. NYG: Ezekiel Elliot- OHST
Their risk of not moving up pays off. New
York finally has a dynamic RB to compliment Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.
The offense becomes one of the best in the league.
111. CHI: Leonard Floyd- UGA
Chicago is eager to get back to the rough
and tough style defense. With the speedy Danny Trevathan in the middle, they take a big and fast edge rushing LB to start putting pressure on the QB. Floyd is long and quick off the end, with a motor that never quits. He will be a great addition to the Bears 3-4 defense.
112. NO: A’Shawn Robinson- BAMA
New Orleans has had defensive troubles
for years. If they ever want to be successful in building a defense, it starts
from the ground up. They need to control the line, and Robinson is a big,
run-stuffing DT.
113. MIA: Vernon Hargreaves- UF
A huge hole filled here. Miami needs a CB
to line up opposite Byron Maxwell. Right now, their options are Tony Lippett or
Jamar Taylor. Maxwell can line up with big physical receivers, but would
struggle against faster, quicker targets. Hargreaves solves that issue.
114. OAK: Sheldon Rankins-LOU
Khalil Mack coming off one edge, Bruce
Irvin off the other. They need someone to fill the middle, and Rankins is the
best option here. A bit smaller, but his quickness goes right along with
Oakland’s mindset on the defensive side of the ball.
115. TEN: Jack Conklin- MSU
What I said about Tampa picking Stanley,
expect substitute Conklin and Mariota. Conklin has been flying up draft boards,
and Mariota needs protection. Protect your star QB.
116. DET: Laquan Treadwell- MISS
Detriot is eager to fill the gaping hole
that Calvin Johnson left. Treadwell is not Johnson, but he has good size, great
hands, and runs exceptional routes. Matthew Stafford will be thrilled to not
have to throw to Golden Tate all season long.
117. ATL: Reggie Ragland- BAMA
Head coach Dan Quinn needs an anchor to
his defense. Vic Beasley will help put pressure on the QB, but a strong, run
stopping middleman is next on his list. Ragland won’t impress with his speed,
but he is big and has a nose for the football.
118. IND: Shaq Lawson- CLEM
Indianapolis needs an insurgence of youth
into their defense. They start with Lawson to help their depleted line. He’s an
exceptional player and man with a never-ending motor. Exactly the type of
player you want in the locker room
119. BUF: Kevin Dodd- CLEM
Rex Ryan can’t help but add more to his
defense. The loss of Mario Williams hurts, and Ryan looks to fill that gap with
the untapped potential of Dodd. He only started one year at Clemson, but came
on strong towards the end of the year, and Ryan loves the potential he brings.
220. NYJ: Darron Lee- OHST
Lee is a great athlete with great
fundamentals, but struggles with his size. However, he fits exceptionally well
into Bowles scheme, and will improve with a coach who can push him to build his
frame.
221. WAS: Robert Nkemdiche- MISS
The biggest unknown in the first round of
the draft. A top five talent, with an attitude and off the field questions.
Naturally, the Redskins take him.
222. HOU: Taylor Decker- OHST
With one of the best defenses in the NFL,
one of the best oung recievers in the game, and a young QB that has become a
huge investment, I reiterate, protect your QB. Osweiler can be great,
especially throwing to DeAndre Hopkins and Jaelen Strong, but he needs to
remain upright. Decker helps the not so nimble quarterback stay on his feet.
223. MIN: Cody Whitehair- KSU
Opening up holes for Adrian Peterson is
the key to the Vikings success. Whitehair is the best guard in the draft. Very
powerful base, and has a very high floor. A nice safe pick for Minnesota.
224. CIN: Corey Coleman- BAY
The loss of Muhammad Sanu hurts. Adding
Coleman makes it better. A speedster that will give Andy Dalton another deep
threat to compliment A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert will be a nice addition to the
AFC North champs.
225. PIT: Eli Apple- OHST
A big, physical corner that fits the
Pittsburgh mantra perfectly. Apple is the best bump-and-run CB in the draft,
and his in your face mentality is just what Pittsburgh likes to see.
226. SEA: Ryan Kelly- BAMA
Seattle learned last year just how
valuable Max Unger was to their run game. Kelly is the best center in the
draft, and will help to reestablish a dominant Seattle offensive line.
227. GB: Jarran Reed- BAMA
Value, value, value. Reed has the
potential to be a top 12 pick, and his fall to 27 is just what Green Bay likes
to see. With Clay Matthews wrecking havoc off the edge, Green Bay has needed to
find a way to sure up the interior. Reed’s big, physical frame will be a force
in the middle.
228. KC: Josh Doctson- TCU
Alex Smith threw a TD pass to a WR for
the first time in over a year last season. Kansas City would like to continue
that trend. Doctson is a great compliment to the speed of Maclin, and his big
frame makes him an immediate red zone threat.
229. ARI: Willian Jackson III- HOU
A great athlete completes Arizona’s secondary.
Jackson III is both big and fast, a rare combination. If he can work on his
ball skills and technique, he could become a pro bowl CB. Being accompanied by
Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu should help him develop.
330. CAR: Mackensie Alexander- CLEM
Josh Norman is gone. Carolina immediately
fills his spot with a CB who has great ball skills and a nasty attitude. If he
can use his attitude against opponents he’ll be successful, but if it boils
over against his own teammates he will quickly be alienated.
331. DEN: Andrew Billings- BAY
The loss of Danny Trevathan leaves Denver
needing to restock their defense. Billings is the best player left on the
board, and will go towards restocking their stout run defense.
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