The NFL Draft changes for each team as they pick up players in free agency, lose players to other teams and cut players for salary cap purposes or otherwise. At this time of year, after the combine and before the draft, players work out at their pro days and make visits to teams interested in them. Some guys may skyrocket up the board due to a great pro day workout (WR Breshad Perriman) some guys may see their stock drop (QB Marcus Mariota) and other guys may get bad news from their combine drug test results that could seriously damage their draft prospects (DE Randy Gregory). Major free agent pickups like DT Ndamukong Suh (Dolphins) and RB DeMarco Murray (Eagles) get fans excited but might not change the draft strategies of their teams because they weren’t looking to address those positions in the draft. However, when a team like the Eagles picks up two new CBs (Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond III) it rearranges their draft priorities. Some teams addressed obvious needs they can now bypass in draft; the Titans re-signed OLB Derrick Morgan and picked up OLB Brian Orakpo, the Jaguars signed DT Jared Odrick, the Falcons addressed their pass rush with DE Adrian Clayborn and OLBs Brooks Reed and O’Brien Schofield, the Rams traded for QB Nick Foles, the Vikings traded for WR Mike Wallace, the Browns signed WRs Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline and the 49ers signed WR Torrey Smith. Just as these free agents fill a hole on one team they can create a hole on another the most notable ones that could be addressed in the first round of the draft are the Redskins losing OLB Brian Orakpo and the Ravens losing WR Torrey Smith. It’s not just roster moves that change but the draft itself has changed as some picks have been traded, most of them are middle rounder choices but the #31 pick changed hands when the Seahawks sent it to the Saints as part of the deal for Jimmy Graham and while that may be the only one to address at this point other changes may take place. Consider my Mock Draft 1.0 null and void and as soon as this one is published it will probably have the shelf life of about a week.
*The first seven picks haven’t changed but my reasoning has a little.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14): Jameis Winston QB Florida St.
This pick has been Winston for quite a while and it seems as though it’s becoming more solidified by the day. Winston spent three days visiting the Bucs back in February and he even had a clandestine meeting with the Commissioner and everything seems to be pointing to him making a good impression on everyone. The talent to be a franchise QB is not in doubt and it seems as though he has quashed the fears that his off-the-field issues might stand in the way. The one player that had a chance to steal the top spot was Oregon QB Marcus Mariota and while I’m loathe to believe a bad pro day will kill his stock as some have speculated he really needed to have an unbelievable workout to overtake Winston here. A team that went 2-14 certainly has plenty of holes to fill but nothing is as important as getting a QB you believe can be a franchise changer.
- Tennessee Titans (2-14): Leonard Williams DT USC
Ken Whisenhunt’s recent assertion that he can see Marcus Mariota fitting into his offense is just a classic pre-draft smokescreen by a coach trying to drum up interest in a pick he would like to trade down from. I’m also not inclined to believe the recent talk about this pick heading to the Chargers as part of a package for Phillip Rivers simply because I think both the idea of trading Rivers and Rivers’ supposed stand against moving to Los Angeles are both negotiating positions for the Chargers and Rivers respectively. The Titans are unlikely to find anyone desperate enough to trade up and if they stay here they will take Leonard Williams the top prospect in this draft, sometimes it’s better not to try to outsmart yourself. Williams is a stud that can line up anywhere on any defensive line in any formation and wreak havoc. He’ll line up as a 3-4 DE and between him, the recently re-signed Derrick Morgan, free agent signee Brian Orakpo and holdover DE Jurrell Casey the Titans will hope to generate a real pass rush.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13): Dante Fowler Jr. OLB/DE Florida
The Jaguars made three major free agent signings in DT Jared Odrick, TE Julius Thomas and RT Jermey Parnell. While it was always unlikely that the Jags would grab a TE or a RT in this spot it does clear up their focus a bit. The Jaguars still need a lot of help in the secondary but they really need a playmaker in their defensive front seven and Fowler is just the type of versatile player head coach Gus Bradley would love. Both Fowler and Vic Beasley performed well at the combine and in my opinion they jumped ahead of Nebraska DE/OLB Randy Gregory but with the recent revelation that Gregory failed his combine drug test it’s a virtual certainty that Fowler and Beasley will go before him. Fowler lined up at DE, OLB and even DT at times at Florida and he will be the perfect menace in Bradley’s defensive attack.
- Oakland Raiders (3-13): Kevin White WR West Virginia
The Raiders have plenty of holes to fill and offensive tackle and cornerback are major needs but the Raiders should probably just stick to best player available. While players like OT Brandon Scherff and DE/OLB Vic Beasley are possibilities it seems far more likely that they will try to add a playmaker for second year QB Derek Carr. The Raiders WR corps wasn’t exactly teeming with Pro Bowlers last year and now Andre Holmes, Rod Streater and Denarius Moore are all free agents that haven’t been re-signed leaving James Jones pretty lonely. Amari Cooper is my top WR in the draft but Kevin White isn’t far behind him and many teams have him as the top guy and I think the Raiders will take a shot with White. A superb athlete with incredible deep speed and great body control make White the type of WR that can make Carr into the franchise QB the Raiders have needed for a long time. Carr did a pretty good job with a less than stellar supporting cast last season and Raiders fans have to be excited about the possibilities of what he could do with real NFL caliber talent around him.
- Washington Redskins (4-12): Vic Beasley OLB Clemson
The Redskins have spent most of their resources in free agency on the defensive side of the ball as they have added defensive linemen Terrance Knighton, Ricky-Jean Francois and Stephen Paea and CB Chris Culliver. On the offensive side of the ball they absolutely need to address the RT position which would make OT Brandon Scherff a logical choice but they still have a major hole to fill on defense. The loss of OLB Brian Orakpo to the Titans in free agency took away the Redskins most dynamic pass rusher even if he did have multiple injury problems that limited his availability. Vic Beasley is the perfect combination of a guy who not only lit up the combine but jumps off the film when you scout him. Beasley isn’t tall and lean like many great pass rushers but he has an electric first step and great burst that makes him dominating coming off the edge. Beasley is too good to pass up and the Redskins defense needs him.
- New York Jets (4-12): Marcus Mariota QB Oregon
The Jets addressed a few major needs with a trade and through free agency. They picked up WR Brandon Marshall for a fifth round pick and they signed CBs Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine and added safety Marcus Gilchrist meaning they overhauled almost their entire secondary. The offensive line picked up a couple of decent players in James Carpenter and James Brewer but they could still upgrade at RT. Even with the upgrade at WR with Marshall it’s hard to imagine the Jets have much faith in Geno Smith and the trade for Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t going to solve the Jets QB problems. Mariota’s pro day got mixed reviews and that usually happens when teams have an agenda, the teams that like him don’t have a problem with his performance and the teams that want to stay away from him use it as an excuse. The Jets are sending a large contingent to Oregon to work Mariota out privately and this franchise needs him to show he can be the answer to their QB problems. Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick are not going to keep the Jets from picking Mariota only Mariota can do that.
- Chicago Bears (5-11): Danny Shelton NT Washington
While most Bears fans are hoping they somehow replace Jay Cutler with anyone not named Jay Cutler that isn’t going to happen at this spot in the draft. The Bears need help all over their defense as they transition to the 3-4 alignment favored by new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The addition of free agent DE Pernell McPhee was a nice move given his young age and familiarity with the 3-4 defense in Baltimore and while the addition of DE Ray McDonald is controversial given his past (domestic violence accusation) his fit in the Fangio’s scheme is flawless (he played under Fangio in San Francisco). The Bears still have absolutely no one on the roster to fill the nose tackle position and those guys don’t grow on trees. Trying to find one in free agency is virtually impossible so grabbing the best one available in Danny Shelton is a no-brainer. Shelton is a big human being who shouldn’t be as athletic as he is at 6’2 339 lbs. John Fox is a defensive minded head coach and he knows the value of a big run-stuffing NT in the middle of his defense, I can’t see him passing on Shelton.
- Atlanta Falcons (6-10): Brandon Scherff OT Iowa
This is the first change from my initial Mock Draft and it comes because of the moves made by the Falcons in free agency. The Falcons defense has been toothless when it comes to pass rushing for too many years but instead of waiting for the draft they signed DE Adrian Clayborn, OLB O’Brien Schofield and OLB Brooks Reed this offseason. Both Clayborn and Reed have disappointed as pass rushers with their initial teams but new head coach Dan Quinn will find a way to get to the QB with these guys. The offensive line was a mess last year due to both injury and ineffectiveness so new blood would be welcome. Quinn may have been a defensive coach in Seattle but he knows the value of a power running game and adding Brandon Scherff would go a long way to establishing the type of punishing ground game Seattle had. Scherff could compete for the RT spot or move inside to guard but either way he could transform the Falcons in the trenches. Best case scenario is Scherff is so good he pushed last year’s top pick Jake Matthews back to the right side, worst case scenario is Scherff becomes the next Marshall Yanda at OG (Yanda was the Offensive Lineman of the Year in the NFL last season).
- New York Giants (6-10): Landon Collins SS Alabama
Collins makes my first leap from his previous spot in my Mock Draft 1.0 (#22 overall) into the top 10. It wasn’t because he wasn’t worthy of a higher pick before it was just the fact that safety tends to be a less valued position in the draft so he slipped. The Giants have holes to fill at LB and on the o-line but Collins is more valuable than anyone at those positions left on the board and the Giants need at safety is overwhelming. Antrel Rolle bolted to the Bears in free agency and Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps are both unsigned meaning the Giants are incredibly thin at the position. Collins is an immediate starter and honestly a likely upgrade over all the safeties the Giants employed last season (even Rolle was starting to show his age). The Giants are probably hoping Scherff falls here and they could take OLs La’el Collins or Andrus Peat, grab a LB like Shane Ray or fortify their WR position with Amari Cooper but Collins fills a huge need with a worthy player.
- St. Louis Rams (6-10): Amari Cooper WR Alabama
The Rams made one major move that overshadows anything they could do in free agency and that was trading their always injured QB Sam Bradford to the Eagles for QB Nick Foles and swapping some picks. It’s pretty rare to see two NFL teams trade starting QBs for each other and even more surprising when one of them is injured as often as Bradford. Regardless of the fact that the Rams re-signed WR Kenny Britt in free agency this team has been throwing darts trying to find a legitimate #1 WR for far too long and if Cooper is available they should sprint the card up to the podium because they will have finally found one. Whether it’s Cooper, White or DeVante Parker if any of them are available the Rams should take them. Cooper isn’t the physical presence a guy like Calvin Johnson is but he’s a magnificent WR who knows how to get open and would make Nick Foles a better QB. Pairing Cooper with Britt on the outside and using Tavon Austin on the inside would open up the Rams passing attack and give Tre Mason some room to run.
- Minnesota Vikings (7-9): Trae Waynes CB Michigan St.
Trading for Mike Wallace means the Vikings addressed their need for a deep threat playmaker and while I’m not a Wallace fan he should be an upgrade over Greg Jennings and he certainly lessens the need for a WR. The Vikings also like WR Charles Johnson and it’s too soon to give up on Cordarrelle Patterson so they will look elsewhere. They need a middle LB but it’s too early to grab Eric Kendricks so they go for the top talent at CB. Trae Waynes has established himself as the top player at the position and he would offer a nice upgrade over Captain Munnerlyn or Josh Robinson opposite Xavier Rhodes. They could grab either Randy Gregory or Shane Ray but they would probably be situational pass rushers at best and they sort of duplicate the skillset of last year’s top pick Anthony Barr.
- Cleveland Browns (7-9): Shane Ray OLB Missouri
I’ve been beating the “Browns must draft a WR” drum as much as anyone but they signed Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline in free agency and while those aren’t the most thrilling moves they are an upgrade over what the Browns had. Bowe needs to respond to the change of scenery and Hartline is a solid yet unspectacular WR but they certainly lessen the need for a WR right here. Ray did fine in his workout at Missouri’s pro day but he didn’t really do anything to move himself ahead of Fowler or Beasley. He moves ahead of Randy Gregory for me because of the revelation that Gregory failed his drug test at the combine, it’s not a secret Gregory smoked marijuana but it calls into question if he can really stop the habit or how bad his habit was that it wasn’t clear of his system before the combine. It also seems unlikely the Browns would go near a guy with marijuana issues given the whole Josh Gordon fiasco. Ray is a talented pass rusher and he fits the OLB role in a 3-4 defense best where the Browns have Paul Kruger, who isn’t much of a pass rusher, and Barkevious Mingo who hasn’t proven all that effective either. Ray should be able to bring some pressure off the edge and help the Browns defense from day one.
- New Orleans Saints (7-9): Randy Gregory OLB Nebraska
The Saints re-signed RB Mark Ingram and signed free agent RB CJ Spiller, they traded away TE Jimmy Graham and WR Kenny Stills, they got back LB Dannell Ellerbe in the Stills trade and C Max Unger in the Graham trade but they sent OG Ben Grubbs packing. Yeah I don’t know what they are doing either. They really regressed last year on the defensive side of the ball and they really only got pressure on the QB from two guys, DE Cameron Jordan and OLB Junior Galette. Galette has some legal issues to deal with and even if he is completely cleared to play the Saints need help at OLB. Gregory has taken responsibility for his marijuana issues and his failed test at the combine so it’s unlikely to send him into a free fall but it will cost him a few spots in the draft which is why he’s available here. The Saints have a pretty veteran team and seem equipped to handle a guy that needs some guidance so Gregory should be fine.
- Miami Dolphins (8-8): DeVante Parker WR Louisville
The Dolphins imported the biggest get in free agency both literally and figuratively with the massive contract for Ndamukong Suh and while he replaces the departed Jared Odrick they still have issues at LB and CB but those can be addressed later. After trading Mike Wallace, cutting Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson and only importing Kenny Stills the Dolphins need help at WR. WR Jarvis Landry was very good down the stretch last year but he is most effective in the slot meaning they need someone outside opposite Kenny Stills. Stills is a nice deep threat but he’s not big at only 6’0 tall Parker on the other hand is 6’3 and plays even bigger. The Dolphins also signed TE Jordan Cameron hoping he’s over his concussion problems and if they add Parker to the group of Stills, Cameron and Landry they might just give Ryan Tannehill a fighting chance to succeed as a QB in the NFL.
- San Francisco 49ers (8-8): Arik Armstead DE Oregon
The 49ers seem to be treading water this offseason. The signed Torrey Smith but let Michael Crabtree walk, they signed Reggie Bush (presumably to complement Carlos Hyde) after letting Frank Gore go to Indianapolis. They didn’t spend the money to keep OG Mike Iupati but brought in veteran OL Eric Pears. They signed 34 year old DE Darnell Dockett but are likely to lose DE Justin Smith to retirement. They have taken major hits to the LB corps with the retirements of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland and are hoping Navarro Bowman can regain his form. After all that they need really need some help on the defensive line because after they released Ray McDonald last season because of his issues if they lose Justin Smith they have zero depth at DE. Armstead is the purest 3-4 DE in the draft and he can make a huge difference because of his size and athleticism but he won’t be enough to turn the whole defense around. They could go CB with either Jalen Collins or Marcus Peters or grab another WR but Armstead is too good of a fit at a major area of need to pass on.
- Houston Texans (9-7): Alvin “Bud” Dupree OLB Kentucky
The Texans made a few free agent moves that will affect their draft strategy this year. They re-signed QB Ryan Mallet and signed free agent QB Brian Hoyer two guys that Bill O’Brien is quite familiar with and it probably means O’Brien will put off drafting a QB another year or two which is perfect because that’s probably when his former Penn St. QB Christian Hackenberg will be available. The signed NT Vince Wilfork who is a nice stop-gap measure to hold down that position for a year and they filled a huge need in the secondary with FS Rahim Moore from the Broncos. Unfortunately last year’s #1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney did virtually nothing last year due to injury and had microfracture surgery on his troublesome knee. Bud Dupree is the sort of freakish athlete Clowney was supposed to be only without the hype. Dupree would make a very good pass rushing OLB with great size to take some pressure off of JJ Watt and even if Clowney makes a full recovery the other OLB Whitney Mercilus is coming close to the end of his rookie deal and hasn’t been the type of pass rusher the Texans envisioned. Dupree is great value and fills a need.
- San Diego Chargers (9-7): Andrus Peat OT Stanford
The Chargers re-signed a couple of key free agents in LT King Dunlap and CB Brandon Flowers but they have also lost a couple of guys out of their secondary in S Marcus Gilchrist and CB Shareece Wright. The Chargers already have last year’s rookie Jason Verrett to cover the loss of Wright and there isn’t a safety available to replace Gilchrist. They could certainly use some help in the front seven on defense but there are more pressing needs on offense. This could be a spot where a first round RB get picked because after losing the oft-injured Ryan Mathews to the Eagles the Chargers don’t have anyone to trust to be their full-time RB. However, after adding free agent OG Orlando Franklin the Chargers could really solidify their offensive line by grabbing Andrus Peat here. RT DJ Fluker hasn’t flourished on the outside but he would make a serious upgrade inside at guard if the Chargers take Peat and slide him in at RT. RBs Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon are certainly possible here but there is great depth at the RB position and a second or third round RB would look a lot better behind a line featuring Peat at RT and Fluker inside at guard.
- Kansas City Chiefs (9-7): La’el Collins OL LSU
The Chiefs are the team everyone wants to give a WR to in the first round of the draft and when you’re the first team to go an entire season without a TD pass to a WR since the invention of the forward pass it makes sense. Rebuilding the WR corps is a must and there is great talent available but Andy Reid just signed Jeremy Maclin in free agency and he’s a huge upgrade over the now jettisoned Dwayne Bowe so that’s a start. However, Andy Reid knows that he needs a good running game with Alex Smith as his QB and while he has great talent at RB with Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis the offensive line needs an upgrade. Collins might not last this long and while his versatility is a strength it might hurt him that he isn’t a natural at any one position. He’s probably best suited inside at guard and the Chiefs could use him there but he could also beat out Donald Stephenson at RT and he’s great insurance if Eric Fisher doesn’t pan out at LT. Andy Reid has always known that you win games in the trenches and Collins is the type of guy you love to have on your side.
- Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo 9-7): Jaelen Strong WR Arizona St.
Letting Brian Hoyer walk and replacing him with Josh McCown is like trading in three of a kind for two pair in a poker game, it’s only a slight downgrade but neither one is likely to win very often. Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline are upgrades to the Browns WR corps but that’s more of an indictment of the Browns WR corps than a compliment to Bowe and Hartline. Bowe had some good years in Kansas City but it’s been a while since he scared anyone and Hartline has caught a lot of passes before but he’s a limited player. Jaelen Strong is an excellent WR with great physicality and he showed surprising speed at the combine. Strong wouldn’t have to become the go-to guy right away with Bowe, Hartline and Andrew Hawkins around but he’d be the most talented WR on the roster and if the Browns could get any production from either McCown or Johnny Manziel Strong could become a top-flight WR.
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-6): Dorial Green-Beckham WR Oklahoma/Missouri
Chip Kelly has taken over as the final authority on the Eagles roster and it seems like he isn’t waiting around to change things up. He sent 75% of his starting secondary packing and brought in Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond III as his new CBs. He let Jeremy Maclin walk a year after showing DeSean Jackson the door and he traded LeSean McCoy and signed the league’s leading rusher DeMarco Murray as his replacement. All of that takes a backseat to the roll of the dice he took by trading his starting QB Nick Foles for new starting QB Sam Bradford. Kelly is putting a lot of eggs in Bradford’s basket so getting him some WR help makes sense. Jordan Matthews had a nice rookie year but he’s best suited playing in the slot meaning an outside WR like Dorial Green-Beckham would fit well. Kelly doesn’t seem like the type to shy away from a controversial pick and while Green-Beckham has plenty of off the field question marks he is a supremely talented WR. If Chip Kelly can find a way to keep Green-Beckham on the straight and narrow he could do wonders with his immense talent.
- Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1): TJ Clemmings OT Pittsburgh
The Bengals have a few needs but none of them are pressing. They could use some help at LB given Rey Maualuga’s limitations and Vontaze Burfict’s injury, they could get a little younger in the secondary and they could also look to replace Damato Peko at DT. There really isn’t a LB worth this spot unless they really love Eric Kendricks and they just spent a first round pick at CB last year so unless they are enamored with Jalen Collins or Marcus Peters that can probably wait. Last season RT Andre Smith ended up on IR and while Eric Winston was a solid replacement he’s coming to the end of the line. LT Andrew Whitworth has been a rock but he’s 34 years old so OT is a good place to look. Clemmings is a player with tremendous upside because he hasn’t always been an offensive lineman so he’s still learning. He can play in place of Smith if he’s not healed from his injury and he’s good long-term solution at LT but he wouldn’t have to be thrown into the fire right away there. Having Whitworth and Winston around to learn from is also a pretty good environment for a guy that is still pretty green at the position.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5): Jalen Collins CB LSU
The Steelers need to get younger on the defensive side of the ball and that is most obvious in the secondary. Almost everyone is hoping SS Troy Polamalu retires simply because he can’t play up to the level he used to and no one wants to see him try to play in another uniform (we all went through this with Ed Reed when he left the Ravens, it wasn’t pretty). Ike Taylor has been let go finally, William Gay is 30 years old and wasn’t that great to begin with and Cortez Allen lost his starting spot last year and only has it back right now because the Steelers have so little at CB. An infusion of youth and talent in the form of Jalen Collins would be a welcome addition in the Steele City. Collins doesn’t have a lot of starting experience under his belt but he has everything you look for in top-flight corner and if there is one thing the Steelers know how to do is teach defense.
- Detroit Lions (11-5): Ereck Flowers OT Miami
Everyone is aware that the Lions lost both starting DTs in Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley and they also lost back up CJ Mosley. They also have an aging starting CB in Rashean Mathis that they could replace but their offensive line needs some attention too. The depth at the DT position along with the addition of Haloti Ngata in a trade means the Lions can afford to address the offensive line issues in the first round and grab a DT in the second. They need a RT to play opposite LT Riley Reiff and Ereck Flowers is just that guy. He’s big, powerful and while he needs some work in pass protection he will be a huge upgrade over anyone currently on the roster. The Lions could grab a DT like Carl Davis, Malcolm Brown or Eddie Goldman or even take a CB like Marcus Peters but Flowers is better value here and the combination of Flowers and a second round DT is better than one of those guys and whatever OT they might get in the second round.
- Arizona Cardinals (11-5): Todd Gurley RB Georgia
If I were advising the Cardinals I would tell them to pull the trigger on QB Brett Hundley out of UCLA simply because Carson Palmer is on his last legs and last year was a disaster when he went down with an injury. They probably won’t do that because they want to take a shot while they have Palmer and while they have a good WR corps they need some help in the backfield. RB Andre Ellington can be a special weapon but he simply isn’t built to carry the load in the running game which is why he got hurt last season. Todd Gurley on the other hand is the perfect complement to Ellington because he was born to do the heavy lifting. Gurley is the closest thing to Marshawn Lynch’s Beast Mode you’ll find and with the addition of OG Mike Iupati in free agency the Cardinals running game could go to a whole new level. Gurley would also bring the added benefit of taking the offensive load off of Carson Palmer and the passing game.
- Carolina Panthers (7-8-1): Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest
The Panthers desperately need an OT even with the free agent signings of Michael Oher (who should start at RT) and Jonathan Martin (who shouldn’t start at all). LT Nathan Chandler isn’t great but I think by the time the draft rolls around the Panthers will have figured out what I already know and that is that DJ Humphries is overrated. A lot of people will have the Panthers taking a WR and with Breshad Perriman’s blazing 40 time at his pro day this is probably going to become a popular spot for him but they have bigger needs. Their starting CBs are Josh Norman and Bene’ Benwikere which means if there is a possible starter left on the board they should take him. Kevin Johnson doesn’t get the notice of Trae Waynes or Marcus Peters but he’s a very good cover guy and he’s just down the road at Wake Forest. Johnson is the first rounder no one is talking about and while OT and WR are needs the Carolina defense has a crying need for an upgrade at CB.
- Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Breshad Perriman WR Central Florida
Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta are the personnel guys calling the shots in Baltimore and they are two of the best when it comes to the draft. They have largely built and sustained the Ravens success with good draft after good draft but there is one notable exception on their record, they have been terrible at drafting WRs. The one good WR they drafted is Torrey Smith and they just let him leave for San Francisco because he’s a pretty one-dimensional player and they were smart enough not to overpay him to stay. The problem now is they have the aging Steve Smith and not much else to speak of at WR. When you invest $100 million in your QB it’s usually a good idea to give him someone to throw to so in comes Perriman. Perriman didn’t work out at the combine because he was rehabbing an injury so his pro day was very important and whether he officially or unofficially ran a 4.22 40 really doesn’t matter because it was certainly under the 4.25-4.3 range and that is blazing fast. Perriman has good size, great speed and probably is a better all-around WR than Torrey Smith. Let’s hope the Ravens poor record of drafting WRs doesn’t jinx him.
- Dallas Cowboys (12-4): Malcolm Brown DT Texas
The signing of free agent DE Greg Hardy is certainly controversial but from a purely football standpoint it addresses the biggest need on the Cowboys roster. With Hardy and a 100% Demarcus Lawrence the Cowboys hope to be able to generate some pass rush off the edge. However, that doesn’t solve all of their problems on the defensive line as they need some help at DT. Brown is the type of quick penetrating tackle the Cowboys need and adding him, Hardy and a healthy Lawrence would go a long way towards curing a longtime ill in Dallas. The Cowboys could certainly use some help at LB as they hope for a healthy return of Sean Lee after the free agent losses of Bruce Carter, Justin Durant and probably Rolando McClain. A lot of mock drafts have the Cowboys taking a RB and while Melvin Gordon is a distinct possibility I think the Cowboys can find a RB later in the draft. They once found a guy named DeMarco Murray in the third round.
- Denver Broncos (12-4): Eddie Goldman DT Florida St.
I had the Broncos taking TE Maxx Williams before and with the loss of Julius Thomas that might still make sense except new head coach Gary Kubiak brought in a favorite of his, Owen Daniels, as a stop-gap and they re-signed Virgil Green. They did lose DT Terrance Knighton and they are woefully thin at the position right now. Goldman isn’t a finished product just yet but he’s 6’4 336 lbs. which means he can come in right away and plug up the middle. The Broncos have to address the DT position and probably more than once in this draft along with middle LB, RT and probably DE. The change to Kubiak’s offense means they may look for different kind of offensive lineman and they can probably find them a little later in the draft. They likely only have one more year of the Manning era but Kubiak will use that year to decide if he likes Brock Osweiler as his future QB or if he drafts one next year, I doubt Kubiak is enamored with much from this year’s draft class.
- Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Melvin Gordon RB Wisconsin
After the signing of Frank Gore I had every intention of changing this pick in my draft until I looked at everything the Colts have done this offseason. No team has signed more players they expect to contribute this offseason than the Colts; RB Frank Gore, WR Andre Johnson, WR Duron Carter, OG Todd Herremans, OLB Trent Cole, ILB Nate Irving and DE Kendall Langford. The only major weakness left in the starting lineup is at safety and the Colts aren’t finding a starting safety unless Landon Collins falls a very long way in the draft. When your roster only needs depth you look for the best available player and while they may need defensive line or inside linebacker depth more Melvin Gordon is too good to pass up. Frank Gore doesn’t have a lot of time left in his career and Gordon would be a nice complement to him this year and can be his eventual replacement down the road.
- Green Bay Packers (12-4): Eric Kendricks ILB UCLA
The Packers have a few glaring needs and they are all possibilities here. They need a NT, an ILB and they could use a TE and while taking Maxx Williams would be nice they really need to address their defense. This pick comes down to a choice between the next defensive tackle, either Jordan Phillips or Carl Davis or grabbing the best ILB in the draft Eric Kendricks. The hole at ILB is substantial because they need two of them to replace AJ Hawk and Brad Jones because they really should move Clay Matthews back outside. Kendricks is used to playing in a 3-4 defensive system and he will excel at ILB for the Pack. This would be a homerun pick for Green Bay as Kendricks is a perfect schematic fit and is ready to step in from day one, for a team that is competing for the Super Bowl that’s a nice piece to find late in the first round.
- New Orleans Saints (from Seattle 12-4): Maxx Williams TE Minnesota
As I said earlier I have no idea what the Saints are doing but looking at the re-signing of Mark Ingram and adding CJ Spiller in free agency and C Max Unger in a trade it seems like the Saints want to run the ball more. Williams is the best TE in this draft and while he won’t replace Jimmy Graham in the passing game (there is no one who will) he is still a solid weapon catching the ball and a good blocker in the running game. Graham never excelled as a blocker but Williams time in Minnesota’s run based offense means he should make an easy transition. Williams will become a better pass catcher playing with Drew Brees and the Saints would fill a need with him here.
- New England Patriots (12-4): Marcus Peters CB Washington
Bill Belichick’s track record of drafting CBs early in the draft is abysmal which is why the two starting CBs in the Super Bowl for the Patriots were free agent signees; Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. It’s a great story the little known and little used Malcolm Butler was the hero of the game with his timely interception but counting on him to step into a larger role is asking for trouble. Drafting Marcus Peters might be trouble too given his issues at Washington but he seems to have made amends and his talent is undeniable. Peters didn’t have a great combine which is why I have Jalen Collins and Kevin Johnson moving ahead of him in this mock draft. Peters is the best pure cover corner in this draft and while he doesn’t run as fast as Trae Waynes and he isn’t the superior athlete Jalen Collins is he might be the guy making the biggest impact next season while starting for the Patriots.
The Hott Read 