2016 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

2016 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

The NFL Draft changes throughout the offseason as teams cut players, sign new free agents and make trades.  My first Mock Draft was obviously done before any of that started and now some changes have occurred.  The bulk of the free agency frenzy is over and while there are a few impact free agents yet to sign on with a new team I’m going to attempt my 2.0 version assuming none of these will have a huge impact on team needs.  The only thing left to change teams’ minds are pro days yet to happen and while some player may move up or down a draft board due to their performance it’s pretty tough to change minds at this point.  Off we go.

1. Tennessee Titans (3-13): Laremy Tunsil   OT   Mississippi

The Titans didn’t make any major moves in free agency as they only signed a solid interior offensive lineman Ben Jones from Houston and picked up underrated WR Rishard Matthews from Miami.  Jones helps out their line but in no way changes their need to upgrade at OT.  Matthews is a very nice pickup and will help Marcus Mariota’s development quite nicely.  Their big pickup was in a trade with the Eagles where they gave up a few spots in the fourth round of the draft to get RB Demarco Murray.  Murray was a disaster in Philly last season but he’s just two years removed from leading the league in rushing so it’s a low risk/high reward move.  Tunsil is still the choice here because protecting Mariota is priority #1 and now they have a quality RB if their offensive line can open some holes.  I’m not a huge Murray fan and I think they should have given David Cobb a real shot at the job since he would be healthy this season but Murray is a solid veteran for a young team.  While I can make a compelling case to take Jalen Ramsey it’s not compelling enough.  DE Joey Bosa was likely the only other player that could unseat Tunsil and he just didn’t show enough at the combine or OSU’s pro day to take the top spot.

2. Cleveland Browns (3-13): Jalen Ramsey   DB   Florida St.

I know the Browns need a QB and if they don’t trade for one this will go back to being a QB in my next mock draft.  However, right now I think they pull off a trade for Colin Kaepernick from the 49ers.  I’m not a big Kaepernick fan but if they give up a 2^nd or 3^rd rounder to get him (and the 49ers should accept a 3^rd rounder) then he’s the guy you are going with and you have to improve the rest of your team.  The Browns are losing free agents left and right (RT Mitchell Schwartz, C Alex Mack, WR Travis Benjamin and S Tayshaun Gipson) so they could go many ways.  Grabbing a talent like Ramsey and slotting him into Gipson’s safety spot would go a long way to helping their defense play well in the back end.  Ramsey gives them depth and versatility in the secondary and he just so happens to be the best player in this draft.

3. San Diego Chargers (4-12): DeForest Buckner   DE   Oregon

The more you watch Buckner the more there is to like about him.  The Chargers 3-4 defense needs linemen even after the addition of free agent DT Brandon Mebane.  Mebane will be a huge addition in the middle and Buckner can line up outside of him and excel.  He fits the defense better than Bosa would and I have a sneaky suspicion Buckner will be the first DE off the board not Bosa.  The Chargers could go with Ronnie Stanley but after re-signing Joe Barksdale I think they go with him and King Dunlap at OT.  They would jump on Jalen Ramsey as Eric Weddle’s replacement if he makes it here but I don’t think he will.  Oh and by the way picking up WR Travis Benjamin from the Browns to line up opposite Keenan Allen is a nice move.

4. Dallas Cowboys (4-12): Joey Bosa   DE   Ohio St.

I had Treadwell here initially but that was before the Cowboys cut ties with Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory got suspended for the first 4 games of next season.  With Gregory’s drug history counting on his return is a dicey proposition.  Perhaps they will reverse course on Hardy but Bosa is too good of prospect to let slip by when they have such a need at DE.  All the talk of drafting a QB is nonsense because this team is still built to win now with a healthy Tony Romo and they need to get guys to help them right away.  Bosa hasn’t looked like the dominant player everyone thought he would be but he’s still plenty good and this would be an excellent landing spot for him because he would be best at DE in a 4-3 like the Cowboys run.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Myles Jack   LB   UCLA

Arguably the most active team in free agency and certainly the one addressing it’s biggest issues in free agency.  DL Malik Jackson, CB Prince Amukamara, S Tayshaun Gipson and RB Chris Ivory are all major additions and DE Dante Fowler also will be coming back from the knee injury that ended his rookie year before it began.  Offense was not the issue for the Jags last season as Blake Bortles took a major step forward and they addressed their one issue of short yardage problems with the addition of power back Ivory.  I could make the case for taking OT Ronnie Stanley but I think the Jags will give Luke Joeckel another season to show he’s a worthy LT before looking to replace him.  Jackson and Fowler will address the needs on the defensive line and Amukamara and Gipson and solid additions to the secondary leaving just the LB corps in need of help.  Jack is coming off a knee injury but it looks like he’ll be ready to go and he’s too good of a talent to let slide by.

6. Baltimore Ravens (5-11): Ronnie Stanley   OT   Notre Dame

LT Eugene Monroe hasn’t been stellar since the Ravens traded for him and last year he got hurt.  His replacement was LG Kelechi Osemele who parlayed his very good play into a major payday from the Oakland Raiders.  Stanley addresses a major need on the offensive line for an offense that needs to find itself again next season.  Injuries took a major toll on the Ravens last year which is a big reason why they are picking this high.  A solid foundational choice like a new LT is right up Ozzie Newsome’s alley and Stanley can be Joe Flacco’s blindside protector from day one and for at least the next half dozen years.

7. San Francisco 49ers (5-11): Jared Goff   QB   California

Chip Kelly hasn’t wrestled personnel control away from GM Trent Baalke yet so the roster is still intact and no major free agent blunders have been signed yet.  The one major deal on the table is trading QB Colin Kaepernick to either the Browns or Broncos (I’m going with the Browns in case you forgot) and unless Kelly thinks RGIII is the answer at QB I’m guessing they draft one (I’m betting he doesn’t think Blaine Gabbert is the answer).  Goff is smart, quick thinking with an even quicker release which Kelly will be able to work with.  It’s a pick’em between Goff and Carson Wentz for the top QB spot and beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think Kelly prefers Goff.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9 from Miami): Ezekiel Elliott   RB   Ohio St.

Howie Roseman has regained personnel control in Philadelphia after the ouster of Chip Kelly and he’s made it quite clear how he feels about Kelly’s moves.  He has divesting the team of Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso (somehow convincing Miami not only to take those two on but letting the Eagles move up to this spot too), shipped off disgruntled RB Demarco Murray and he is looking for a place to send RB Ryan Mathews according to reports.  If new head coach Doug Pederson is going to build this team the way Andy Reid taught him he will build an offense around a good all-around RB and it just so happens this draft has one.  A good RB, a solid offensive line and a QB that won’t mess it all up should be the formula and Elliott would be a huge part of that.  He would make life much easier for Sam Bradford (or Chase Daniel if he beats out Bradford) and he would make the offensive line look good.  Elliott is a star waiting to happen and his all-around game would make him a day one starter for Pederson.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10): Laquon Treadwell   WR   Mississippi

There is always a surprise choice in the first round and this one would certainly look like one on the surface.  The Buccaneers had Mike Evans break out last season as a legitimate #1 WR and they have veteran Vincent Jackson opposite him, however, Jackson is 33 years old and can’t play forever.  If the Buccaneers want to make sure that QB Jameis Winston’s growth continues getting him another playmaker on the outside is a good place to start.  Treadwell would fit the mold they have of big, physical WRs that make Winston’s job easier by being able to make difficult catches.  The Bucs addressed their glaring need at DE with veteran Robert Ayers and their other glaring need at CB with veteran Brent Grimes.  The could still use a RT but this is a bit high for Jack Conklin, Taylor Decker or Jason Spriggs so unless Stanley is still available the best player on the board is probably Treadwell at this point.

10. New York Giants (6-10): Darron Lee   LB   Ohio St.

The Giants are giving the Jags a run for their money as the biggest player in free agency.  The re-signing of DE Jason Pierre-Paul, the signing of DE Olivier Vernon and the signing of DT Damon Harrison has overhauled their defensive line.  They grabbed CB Janoris Jenkins to replace the departed (for Jacksonville coincidentally) Prince Amukamara but they still haven’t addressed the LB corps.  That’s nothing new as they have ignored it for years.  Lee is a freakishly fast player who plays sideline to sideline and hits like a truck.  He isn’t the biggest LB but behind the new beef up front that shouldn’t be a problem.  Lee is special and he jumps off the tape and makes plays everywhere.  The Giants could address the offensive line or get a new WR to go opposite Odell Beckham but they have neglected the LB position too long and Lee is too good to pass up.

11. Chicago Bears (6-10): Vernon Hargreaves III   CB   Florida

In my first mock draft I had the Bears taking Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith but Smith went to the combine and his injured knee came back with some serious question marks.  His medical recheck before the draft will decide if he goes in the first round, slides to the second round or doesn’t get drafted at all.  In the meantime the Bears signed LB Danny Trevathan from the Broncos and Jerrell Freeman from Indy so even if Smith were fine he probably isn’t going here.  Some people celebrated the signing of OT Bobbie Massie and while he’s a nice addition he’s not exactly a special talent.  The Bears defense needs more help than Trevathan and Hargreaves is too good to pass up at this point.  He could pair with Kyle Fuller to make a nice CB duo for the foreseeable future.  They need a pass rusher too but Hargreaves is a better prospect than any of the pass rushers available here.  Having better coverage might make their pass rushers look better anyway.

12. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Shaq Lawson   DE   Clemson

Cameron Jordan lives a lonely existence as the Saints only decent pass rusher so he would surely welcome the addition of Lawson.  The Saints secondary has been a problem for years so getting more pressure on the QB might be a better strategy then continuing to try to find CBs that end up disappointing you.  Lawson is tough guy off the edge and he has some versatility and could be used in multiple ways.  New defensive coordinator Dennis Allen could come up with some creative things to do with Jordan, Lawson and last year’s rookie OLB Hau’oli Kikaha who I still think has some pass rushing potential.  The team could grab Laquon Treadwell if he is available as a replacement for Marques Colston but any other WR would be a reach this high.  CBs Eli Apple, Mackensie Alexander and William Jackson are all possibilities too because Brandon Browner was a disaster last year and was shown the door.

13. Miami Dolphins (6-10 from Philadelphia): Mackensie Alexander   CB   Clemson

If you have the slightest idea what the Dolphins are doing please let me know.  I’m giving them Alexander here because it’s not a pick I would make and I’ve disagreed with virtual every decision they have made this offseason so he must be the pick.  They do need CB help because for some reason they traded for Byron Maxwell and then cut the best CB on the team Brent Grimes.  Grimes was getting older but he’s still better than Maxwell.  Alexander looks good in coverage but he’s not a playmaker and he’s still pretty raw.  I like William Jackson and Eli Apple better so obviously the Dolphins will take Alexander.

14. Oakland Raiders (7-9): Taylor Decker   OT   Ohio St.

The Raiders have been active in free agency addressing the offensive line with Kelechi Osemele, the pass rush with Bruce Irvin and the secondary with Sean Smith.  Osemele should be a dominant guard although he could play tackle but either way they need more help on the edges.  I’m taking Decker over Jack Conklin or Jason Spriggs because I think he’s what they need.  He’s got a mean streak and I think he can handle RT right away and eventually replace Donald Penn at LT.  Irvin and Smith address the defensive needs while this team needs to do everything they can to protect franchise QB Derek Carr.  The defensive line and the secondary are always possibilities or they may like a different offensive lineman but Decker would be a solid choice.  An offensive line with Penn, Gabe Jackson, Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele and Decker would be pretty good.

15. Los Angeles Rams (7-9): Carson Wentz   QB   North Dakota St.

As the saying goes in the NFL draft world “if you don’t have a franchise QB you don’t pass on a franchise QB”.  The Rams don’t have a franchise QB.  We can debate if Wentz is one but the Rams can’t afford to not take that chance.  Case Keenum is a nice backup and that’s more than I can say for Nick Foles at the moment.  The Rams have built a solid offensive line and have a fantastic star RB in Todd Gurley.  A rookie QB can’t ask for much more than that although if I were Wentz and the Rams draft me in the first round I’m going to ask them to get me a WR in round 2.  Gurley is the face of the franchise for the next half decade or so which means Wentz just has to not screw it up.  The Rams could grab Apple or Jackson to replace the departed Janoris Jenkins at CB or take a DE to replace Chris Long but until they get the QB situation rectified they are wasting the talent of Gurley.

16. Detroit Lions (7-9): Jack Conklin   OT   Michigan St.

The Lions have plenty of needs on defense but they have neglected the OT position too long and Matthew Stafford needs the protection up front.  LT Riley Reiff is okay but they need help and whether Reiff stays on the left side and Conklin takes the RT spot or they flip Reiff to RT and let Conklin play the left it really doesn’t matter they just need the help.  Larry Warford and Laken Tomlinson are two big powerful guards and if they add Conklin on the line perhaps they could actually establish a running game which would be helpful considering Calvin Johnson officially retired and they are replacing him with Marvin Jones.  They can take a real RB in the second round.

17. Atlanta Falcons (8-8): Reggie Ragland   LB   Alabama

The Falcons plugged a big hole on their offensive line with the addition of C Alex Mack and while they still need more help there its isn’t as pressing of a need.  If there was a safety prospect worth taking here I could make that argument pretty well but there just isn’t a lot of value right here.  Ragland would be an immediate upgrade in the middle of the defense at MLB and he would bring an attitude this defense is sorely lacking.  The run defense needs help and Ragland would clean it up.  The offense still needs a TE but there isn’t a first round TE in this draft (even if Hunter Henry gets over drafted at the end of the round).  Ragland is what this defense needs most.

18. Indianapolis Colts (8-8): Cody Whitehair   OL   Kansas St.

The Colts need help in the secondary and they desperately need some pass rush but most of all they need to keep franchise QB Andrew Luck upright and healthy.  Whitehair could play RT or he could play RG but either way he’s a massive upgrade.  He would protect Luck and he brings the added bonus of potentially making life easier for RB Frank Gore.  The offense would be much improved with a better running game and Whitehair could be a dominant player on the inside and make that happen.  If I thought the Colts needed LT I wouldn’t hesitate to give them Jason Spriggs but they need a power player with an attitude and that’s Whitehair.  He isn’t a flashy choice but he is the right choice and Andrew Luck will be quite happy.

19. Buffalo Bills (8-8): Noah Spence   DE   Eastern Kentucky

The Bills cut DE Mario Williams because of his less than inspired play this last season and Rex Ryan would certainly love to get some more pass rush to help Jerry Hughes.  Spence is one of the better pure pass rushers in this draft and while he has plenty of character concerns that won’t stop Ryan from wanting him.  Ryan knows that playing in a division where you have to beat Tom Brady means you need to get pressure on him and Spence is the best player left in the draft to do that.  The Bills haven’t been active in free agency other than losing a few players like Williams, CB Leodis McKelvin and LB Nigel Bradham so Ryan needs to replenish his defense.

20. New York Jets (10-6): Leonard Floyd   OLB   Georgia

The Jets are in the same boat as the Bills when it comes to trying to beat the Patriots and Tom Brady and while their defensive line has been strong they need an edge rusher to bring pressure.  Floyd is long and lean and can bend the edge with his great athleticism so he would be a great fit for Todd Bowles’ defense.  This is all assuming the Jets re-sign QB Ryan Fitzpatrick because while he’s no super star he played well in offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s system and he’s light years better than Geno Smith.  If Fitzpatrick bolts for a better offer then Paxton Lynch and maybe even Connor Cook become viable options here.  I could see Gailey liking Lynch’s skillset.

21. Washington Redskins (9-7): Eli Apple   CB   Ohio St.

The seventh sign of the apocalypse is upon us as the Washington Redskins have not signed a single free agent from another team this offseason.  The team franchised QB Kirk Cousins assuring themselves that he will be back as their QB next year.  That took care of their biggest question mark and while they could go a number of different ways CB is certainly a trouble spot.  Bashaud Breeland is a solid player but they need someone opposite him and Apple brings size and talent even if he is still pretty young.  DeAngelo Hall made a nice transition to safety last season out of necessity but it looks like he should stick there.  Apple would pair nicely with Breeland to give the Redskins the best set of CBs they have had in a long time.

22. Houston Texans (9-7): A’Shawn Robinson   DT   Alabama

The Texans started the offseason with QB and RB as the two most glaring holes on the roster and then signed Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller to fill them respectively.  That is two big free agent signings leaving the team free to grab whomever they decide fills the biggest need in the first round.  The defensive line has DE Jared Crick as a free agent and NT Vince Wilfork is not getting any younger.  Robinson is used to playing in a multiple front system at Alabama and he could play the DE spot or slide inside and he’ll be tough at either one.  He is great value at this spot in the first round also and the only thing he may have to worry about is his teammate Jarran Reed getting picked instead.

23. Minnesota Vikings (11-5): Vonn Bell   SS   Ohio St.

This pick is a little bit of a reach as I don’t think Bell is quite this good but he is the best safety prospect in the draft and the Vikings desperately need to find someone to pair with Harrison Smith.  They made a run at Bengals’ free agent George Iloka who played for Mike Zimmer before but they struck out.  They ended up signing Titans castoff Michael Griffin but he is well past his prime.  They could take a WR to pair with break out star Stefon Diggs but Zimmer is a defensive coach and strong safety is a massive need.

24. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4): Josh Doctson   WR   TCU

I’m putting Doctson here because it seems like teams are starting to believe either Doctson or Corey Coleman are the next best WRs after Laquon Treadwell, I disagree but if they believe this I think Doctson fits better.  The Bengals need a WR after losing Marvin Jones to the Lions and Mohammed Sanu to the Falcons leaving AJ Green as their only legitimate WR.  I like Tyler Boyd best after Treadwell and I actually think his skillset and experience would translate best for the Bengals.  Doctson is tall and lean and he needs work while Boyd is also lean but is much better at going over the middle.  Boyd played in a more pro-style offense in college and he would be better suited for the weather in Cincinnati after playing college ball at Pitt.  Corey Coleman is the other option at WR but he is a deep speed WR and Andy Dalton needs someone to run the underneath routes for him.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): Jarran Reed   DT   Alabama

I desperately want to give the Steelers a CB here and William Jackson III would be a nice fit but the Steelers have needed CB help forever and yet they seem to always ignore it in the first round.  Reed is a powerful, versatile defensive lineman who was overshadowed by A’Shawn Robinson and Jonathan Allen but every NFL team knows who he is and I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes off the board ahead of Robinson.  The Steelers have Steve McClendon as a free agent and they need someone to bring some youth and depth to the line.  Reed could play any of the three positions on the Steelers defensive line and be fantastic at all of them.  This feels more like a Steelers first round pick than a CB would.

26. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): Jason Spriggs   OT   Indiana

The Seahawks have taken quite a few blows this offseason with the retirement of RB Marshawn Lynch, the free agent defections of LB Bruce Irvin, DT Brandon Mebane and G J.R. Sweezy and the uncertain future of free agent LT Russell Okung.  The offensive line was a problem last season and they need reinforcements even if they bring Okung back.  Spriggs is a potential Okung replacement at LT and they need to protect Russell Wilson better and get some steady play in the run game.  Spriggs would be a good place to start in rebuilding the offensive line and they shouldn’t stop with him.  It is entirely possible they look to replace Mebane at DT with one of the many talented players like Andrew Billings, Robert Nkemdiche or Sheldon Rankins but I think they can afford to wait due to the depth of talent on the defensive line in this draft while the same can’t be said for the offensive line prospects.

27. Green Bay Packers (10-6): Andrew Billings   NT   Baylor

I can’t believe I’m not giving the Packers a LB so they can move Clay Matthews back outside but that is going to have to wait because there isn’t a LB worth this slot and Billings is too good to pass up.  The Packers will be without BJ Raji and Billings would be a great replacement.  He isn’t tall or overly large for a NT but Billings is strong as an ox and he would look fantastic playing between Mike Daniels and Datone Jones.  He would collapse the pocket on passing downs far better than Raji and he has the brute strength to excel in run defense.  Billings and Daniels can have some epic power lifting competitions between the two of them just for fun.

28. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5): Sheldon Rankins   DT   Louisville

The Chiefs have done a nice job of re-signing their own free agents like Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali and Jaye Howard on defense.  They didn’t go overboard and they brought back the veteran leadership on that side.  The made a very nice signing with RT Mitchell Schwartz and while they still need help on the offensive line I think Andy Reid will draft for value.  Reid has always leaned towards drafting on the lines and if there was an interior offensive lineman worthy of this spot he would jump on it but since there isn’t he’ll look to find a replacement for free agent Mike DeVito and Rankins would fill the spot nicely.  Rankins had a great Senior Bowl and has risen up the boards and deserves this spot.  He is listed as a DT but he can play the DE spot in the Chiefs 3-4 defense just fine.

29. Arizona Cardinals (13-3): Emmanuel Ogbah   DE   Oklahoma St.

The Cardinals need to get younger in the front seven on defense and they must find someone to help Markus Golden rush the passer.  Last season they tried aging veterans Dwight Freeney and Jason Babin in an attempt to get pressure on the QB and while Ogbah isn’t an obvious fit in their 3-4 defense the Cardinals have shown a knack for putting guys in a position to succeed on defense.  Ogbah can rush standing up or with his hand on the ground and that is all the Cardinals need him to do right away.  They could take a guy like William Jackson III for their secondary but Ogbah brings a much more important skill to their defense.

30. Carolina Panthers (15-1): Kevin Dodd   DE   Clemson

The Super Bowl proved that the Panthers need to address the OT position as the Broncos abused them with their pass rush.  The problem is at this point in the draft unless one of the top 5 tackles drops there isn’t one worth taking here.  Germain Ifedi or Shon Coleman might be worth a shot but that’s a bit of a reach when there is better value still on the board.  The Panthers need safety help too but that position is even thinner than OT after Darian Thompson looked quite pedestrian at the combine.  The team cut and then re-signed DE Charles Johnson to a cheaper deal and Jared Allen retired so they need to get some help for the emerging Kony Ealy who actually had a pretty good Super Bowl.  Dodd has been compared to Ealy and while he still needs some work he could be the 3^rd DE for a year and eventually replace Johnson.

31. Denver Broncos (12-4): Robert Nkemdiche   DT   Mississippi

The retirement of Peyton Manning and the departure of Brock Osweiler is going to have everyone putting a QB here but John Elway is not going to put the Super Bowl Champions in the hands of a rookie so unless he is quite certain Paxton Lynch or Connor Cook are future stars I think he passes on a QB here.  The loss of Malik Jackson on the defensive line leaves them a bit thin and they built their Super Bowl winning team on their defense.  It looks like they are going to have to go into the season with an underwhelming veteran choice at QB whether it’s Mark Sanchez, Ryan Fitzpatrick or someone else which is why they matched the offer sheet for RB CJ Anderson, they need offense to come form somewhere.  Nkemdiche has plenty of character questions but Denver has a veteran squad that could take him under their wing.  He is an incredible talent when he’s motivated and he could slide right into Jackson’s spot on the end of their 3 man front.