This NFL draft is going to be highly impacted by the free agent QB market. Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum and AJ McCarron are all likely to sign with teams as starting QBs and depending on where they end up it will affect who drafts a QB early. Cleveland, the NY Giants and Jets, and Denver all pick in the top six and Arizona sits at 15 for now but could make a move up to get a guy if they fail to sign a veteran. For now, I’m making predictions that Cousins goes to Minnesota, Keenum signs in Denver and AJ McCarron ends up in Arizona. That leaves Cleveland and the New York Jets looking for immediate starters in the draft and a few other teams possibly looking for their future starter (NY Giants, Baltimore, LA Chargers, Pittsburgh) or looking to replace guys sooner rather than later (Buffalo, Miami). There are a few other possible starting QBs on the free agent market like Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater but both are injury risks and if Buffalo and Miami decide to move on Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Tannehill would be available also. I don’t think the Eagles are really going to entertain trading Nick Foles unless someone blows them away with an offer because Carson Wentz may not be ready to start the season due to his late season knee injury. Conventional wisdom says the Browns are going to grab a QB #1 overall but I’m not convinced. If they like more than one QB out of Rosen, Darnold, Mayfield and Allen they could wait until their #4 pick and take Saquon Barkley #1 overall instead. One of the more surprising developments in the pre-draft process has been the disappointing showing by the offensive tackle group. Mike McGlinchey, Connor Williams and Chukwuma Okorafor have all shown some pretty big holes in their game and Orlando Brown had a disturbingly poor performance at the combine. The one player that has helped himself is UCLA’s Kolten Miller who had an impressive athletic performance in Indianapolis but he was probably the least consistent of the top OT during the season.
- Cleveland Browns (0-16): Saquon Barkley RB Penn St.
Conventional wisdom says take a QB and never take a RB #1 overall, the last one to go #1 overall was Ki-Jana Carter to the Bengals and that didn’t work out well. The Browns need a transformational talent and I’m not convinced any of the top four QBs are that but I am convinced Barkley can be. He is a true 3-down back that can dominate in so many ways. He’s big, fast, physical and he can catch, block and run as well as anyone. His combine performance was legendary and for once a guy that dominated the combine has the game tape to back it up. The Browns went 0-16 and while they have passed on franchise passers Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson in the last two drafts they should pass here and wait until the fourth pick to grab a QB they like. Whichever one they pick will be better served having Barkley as a backfield teammate for the next five years and I don’t see Barkley getting to #4 overall.
- New York Giants (3-13): Sam Darnold QB USC
I think GM Dave Gettleman will be a little disappointed if Barkley goes #1 because I think he would love to grab him here to help Eli Manning for the next year or two. Since I have Barkley going first the Giants will grab Darnold to be Manning’s eventual replacement. This would be the best-case scenario for Darnold because he needs some time to mature and some time to learn and learning from Manning would help him tremendously. Darnold has some great physical tools but he makes some really poor decisions with the ball and sitting in a QB meeting room with Eli Manning and being coached by Pat Shurmur would give the chance to not get thrown to the wolves and end up a mess.
- Indianapolis Colts (4-12): Bradley Chubb DE NC State
The Colts are going back to a 4-3 defensive alignment after playing in a 3-4 under Chuck Pagano. They need a pass rushing DE because they really don’t have one. Luckily for the Colts the best pass rusher in this draft happens to still be available here. Chubb is a top-notch DE with a good first step and all-around skills that make him a great building block for their defense. The Colts are one of the few teams at the top of the draft not looking for a QB because they are anticipating the return of Andrew Luck. They could certainly use some other positions like offensive line and wide receiver but nobody from those positions rates this high. If the Colts don’t love Chubb, and I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t, they could grab Minkah Fitzpatrick for the secondary. If by some chance Saquon Barkley doesn’t go in the top two he would also be a major upgrade for them and would take a load off of Luck.
- Cleveland Browns (from Houston 4-12): Josh Allen QB Wyoming
If the Browns make the decision to grab Barkley first it’s because they are confident they will still get a QB they like at #4 and they aren’t worried if one or two of them go off the board before they pick again. I think they will rate the top 4 guys pretty evenly and just see who’s left once they pick here. To me this becomes a choice between Allen or Mayfield for them with Darnold off the board. Rosen is my favorite QB prospect but I don’t think the Browns are in love with him. In this case Hue Jackson and GM John Dorsey go with the potential of Allen over the moxie of Mayfield. Allen is a freak with a ridiculously strong arm but he lacks accuracy and polish. They can minimize some of his shortcomings by relying on Barkley to carry the offensive load while Hue Jackson and new offensive coordinator Todd Haley work to refine Allen’s game. Allen also has the type of arm that could help unleash former 1st round pick Corey Coleman’s deep speed and maybe even Josh Gordon if he sticks around and stays eligible to play. My biggest concern about Allen is that the two guys I’ve heard him compared to because of his incredible arm strength are JaMarcus Russell and Kyle Boller, that isn’t a good thing.
- Denver Broncos (5-11): Quenton Nelson OG Notre Dame
If the Broncos strike out on signing Cousins I don’t think John Elway will immediately think he has to go to the draft to find a new starter. I think Elway got burned on his last 1st round QB and he’ll grab a veteran like Case Keenum. Maybe it’s not Keenum, maybe it’s Sam Bradford or Tyrod Taylor but he isn’t drafting a QB at 5, I just can’t see it. Nelson immediately becomes the best guard on the team and he may actually be the best right tackle too. They would most likely play him at left guard and his presence could be a huge boost to second year LT Garrett Bolles. Bolles was fine for a rookie last season but he’s a bit inconsistent and could use a guy like Nelson next to him. Nelson is one of the best offensive line prospects in the last decade and he could be a Pro Bowl player very early in his career. He absolutely dominates at the point of attack and he’s a devastating run blocker going all the way down the field.
- New York Jets (5-11): Josh Rosen QB UCLA
If the Jets strike out on the Cousins sweepstakes I think they pass on the rest of the free agent market and focus on the draft. Being in New York means a lot of media attention and pressure and that won’t bother Rosen one bit. Rosen gets a bit of a bad rap because he’s from an affluent family and people think he’s a bit spoiled and entitled. That’s crap, the kid can flat out play. He’s big and has elite arm talent and the only thing worth questioning is his durability. He’s had a couple of concussions and a shoulder injury sidelined him for a while two years ago. I think he’s the most talented QB in this draft and I would hate to see him go to the Jets but he would be a really good face of the franchise for them. They will need to get him some talent around him but they have a ton of cap space and they should be more than willing to spend it on their offense.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11): Minkah Fitzpatrick DB Alabama
The Buccaneers need a pass rusher as bad as anyone but unless Marcus Davenport proves to be a top seven talent (not completely out of the realm of possibility but not yet) there just isn’t one to take here. Luckily for the Bucs their defense needs more than one thing and defensive back is priority 1B for this team. CB Brent Grimes is a free agent and the Bucs safeties are replaceable so Fitzpatrick is the perfect fit. He can be a CB or a safety and he could excel at either spot. He could be the bigger outside CB they pair with the smaller Vernon Hargreaves or he could play safety and seriously upgrade the back end of the defense. An excellent player who can cover up a couple of different deficiencies on the Bucs defense would be a welcomed addition.
- Chicago Bears (5-11): Calvin Ridley WR Alabama
The Bears finally found a QB in Mitchell Trubisky but his growth might be stunted if they don’t get him some weapons to use. Cameron Meredith should be able to return healthy this season but counting on former first round pick Kevin White to ever get healthy seems like a foolish move. Ridley has good speed and while he doesn’t profile as the most explosive athlete he is a natural WR. He understands the position and how to get open, he’s a natural ball catcher who will make things easier for Trubisky and he has #1 WR potential. The Bears are looking at the free agent and trade markets for a slot receiver and putting Ridley and Meredith outside with a newly signed slot receiver would be a major upgrade over what Trubisky was working with last season.
- Buffalo Bills (TRADE from San Francisco 6-10): Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma
I normally don’t project trades in my mock drafts but I have to here because this makes too much sense. Mayfield is going to go in the top 10 and I think Buffalo will see the need to move up ahead of Miami to get a QB. The Dolphins reportedly like Mayfield a lot. The Bills have the 21st and 22nd overall picks due to their trade with Kansas City last year and San Francisco needs quantity for their roster rebuild. The Bills really need to move on from Tyrod Taylor as they have shown they have no real confidence in him and Nathan Peterman is not the answer. Mayfield is brash and cocky and may rub some people the wrong way but he has some magic to him. He’s not affected by his lack of ideal height and he has a stronger arm than he’s given credit for and I think he has the right game for playing in Buffalo. The Bills need a face of the franchise and Mayfield would certainly fill that role just fine.
- Oakland Raiders (6-10): Tremaine Edmunds LB Virginia Tech
The Raiders fell off a cliff this season which is why Jack Del Rio is gone and Jon Gruden is back as the head coach. The offensive line could use some help at tackle since Donald Penn is aging and Marshall Newhouse really isn’t any good but the offensive tackle group has been pretty underwhelming in the pre-draft process. The defense needs attention too especially at CB and LB. It’s possible the Raiders grab Josh Jackson or Denzel Ward but they may give Bruce Irvin the boot and that will further deplete their LB corps. Edmunds is a big, physical athlete that can do a lot of things and would be a nice toy for new defensive coordinator Paul Guenther to play with. He could literally line up at any of the three LB spots and he can bring some pressure off the edge once in a while and that would help out Khalil Mack. Edmunds brings a lot of skills to today’s game and Raider Nation will love him.
- Miami Dolphins (6-10): Josh Jackson CB Iowa
The Dolphins are making a major trade with the Rams to bring in DE Robert Quinn and pairing him with Cameron Wake is going to create quite the pass rush. They could really use some help in the secondary to take advantage of that pressure and Jackson is nothing if not an opportunistic CB. Pairing him with Xavien Howard would make a really good young pair of CBs going forward for the Dolphins. Jackson is a superior athlete with playmaking ability and he’s the best CB in this draft. People say he looked stiff in the combine drills, they said that about Marcus Peters once too. The only other need the Dolphins might fulfill here is their need at LB. They could grab Roquan Smith since they could really use an infusion of talent at that position too. They could reach for an OG like Isaiah Wynn or Will Hernandez but this is pretty high to grab one of those two guys.
- Cincinnati Bengals (7-9): Roquan Smith LB Georgia
The Bengals have been piecing their LB corps together for a number of years with guys like Kevin Minter and it’s time they find some new blood. Smith would add a speed element they don’t currently have and his tenacity is infectious. He runs all over and hits everything that moves and the Bengals defense could really use a good leader on defense as many of their guys are aging. Smith brings a sideline-to-sideline aggressiveness the team has been looking for.
- Washington Redskins (7-9): Da’Ron Payne DT Alabama
Washington is about to undergo a major offensive transformation as they move on from Kirk Cousins and usher in the Alex Smith era. They have a solid offensive line if Trent Williams can get healthy and they have some weapons on offense like Josh Doctson, Jordan Reed and Jamison Crowder but the defense is a little punchless. Getting Jonathan Allen healthy would help on the front line but they still need more and his former Alabama teammate Da’Ron Payne would be a nice addition to their three-man front. Payne can play the NT position or the end position opposite Allen. A big body like Payne would also help free up their LBs to make some plays. Payne showed some serious athleticism for a man his size at the combine and he’s not just a space-eating DT, he’ll collapse the pocket with his agility.
- Green Bay Packers (7-9): Denzel Ward CB Ohio St.
The Packers drafted Kevin King last year and he has potential but they still need some help at CB. Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins are not exactly lighting it up and both are coming off injuries. King is a tall, lanky CB so Ward’s lack of height wouldn’t be a problem since King can cover the taller WRs the team faces. Ward plays bigger than his size and he’s a tough, physical CB who showed elite speed at the combine. His presence on the outside would also mean Randall could be used as a slot corner and nickelback which is probably where he should be used. With the emergence of Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams I think it’s possible Ty Montgomery is used as a receiver again which would make drafting a WR less of a priority.
- Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Derwin James S Florida St.
If the Cardinals address their QB need with a guy like AJ McCarron it will open up their possibilities in the draft to take the best player they can find. The team has made a habit of taking talented safeties and finding a place for them. They drafted Deone Buchanan a few years ago and then turned him into an inside LB, Tyrann Mathieu is a versatile FS that can play nickelback and last year they drafted Budda Baker who became their starting SS. Mathieu may not be back because the Cardinals may decide not to pay top dollar for a guy with some injury issues. Derwin James is an exceptionally talented safety that can play all over the defense and he probably shouldn’t even be available this late in the first round. If he goes in the top 10 it wouldn’t be surprising at all. If any team can find a way to use the multitalented James it’s the Cardinals.
- Baltimore Ravens (9-7): Courtland Sutton WR SMU
The Ravens have to get some help at WR and while their last 1st round WR pick, Breshad Perriman, hasn’t worked out they really need to take a shot here. Sutton is a big, physical WR with a wide catch radius which could help Joe Flacco out quite a bit. Mike Wallace is a free agent and Jeremy Maclin is likely a cap casualty and drafting Sutton wouldn’t preclude them from bringing one of those veterans back because he would actually complement their skillset since they are smaller, deep ball WRs. They will give Perriman one last chance to make good on his potential but they can’t count on him if they want their offense to be worthwhile.
- Los Angeles Chargers (9-7): Vita Vea DT Washington
Both DTs Brandon Mebane and Corey Liuget could be cap casualties this offseason and the Chargers really need someone to hold down the middle to free up Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram off the edges. The Chargers LB corps leaves a lot to be desired so they too need someone to hold up in the middle of the front line and no one is better suited for that the Vea. He’s a mammoth DT at 6’5 344 lbs. and he’s surprisingly athletic. It may not be the sexiest pick but he’ll make a major impact on the defense overall.
- Seattle Seahawks (9-7): Connor Williams OT Texas
In this version of the mock draft the Seahawks have their pick of any of the OTs available and that would be welcome news for Russell Wilson. Seattle traded for Duane Brown last year and he should hold down the LT spot for a year or two so Williams could come in and play RT initially and then eventually replace Brown at LT. Unless the Seahawks cut or trade a lot of veterans and spend that savings on free agent offensive linemen they should draft more than one in this draft. Starting with Williams is just the beginning. Williams missed most of last season with an injury but he showed up at the combine and looked healthy and athletic and he had actually trimmed a bit of weight. If he had been healthy and there were no questions about his durability he probably would have been a top 10 pick in this draft.
- Dallas Cowboys (9-7): Isaiah Oliver CB Colorado
The Cowboys have a new defensive backs coach in former Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard and supposedly he wants to move safety Byron Jones to CB because he likes bigger, taller CBs like he had in Seattle. Last year the Cowboys drafted Jourdan Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie at CB but both of them are under 6’0 tall. Oliver is 6’1 and would give the Cowboys the type of length at the position Richard is looking for. Oliver is an ascending player and his size is a major asset. The Cowboys could look to get a WR with Dez Bryant’s future with the franchise questionable or they could grab a TE to replace Jason Witten, assuming he doesn’t play forever. The defense could use some depth at LB or at DE. The one surprising spot I think the Cowboys could take is a RT and then they could move La’el Collins back inside to OG.
- Detroit Lions (9-7): Marcus Davenport DE UT-San Antonio
Davenport is a freak athlete from a small school who is just scratching the surface of what he can be. He’s nearly 6’6 and 255 lbs. and he’s got a great first step but he needs to refine some of his pass rushing skills. The Lions need someone to take the pressure off of Ezekiel Ansah and if they decide not to sign Ansah long-term they will need someone to eventually replace him. The Lions could go a couple of other directions like drafting a real RB to replace their less than impressive group. And while grabbing Derrius Guice would be a welcome addition to their offense they can get a RB in a later round that will still be better than what they have. A CB to pair with Darius Slay or DT to replace the aging Haloti Ngata are also possibilities.
- San Francisco 49ers (TRADE from Buffalo 9-7): Mike McGlinchey OT Notre Dame
When you look at the 49ers roster you have to appreciate Jimmy Garoppolo and how he led this team to six wins last year. They have holes all over and that’s why they make the trade with Buffalo to pick up this pick and the next one. They start off with McGlinchey because they need to protect their very expensive investment in Garoppolo and they need a lot of help on the offensive line. McGlinchey can come in and start immediately at RT and has a chance to be Joe Staley’s eventual replacement at LT. He’s not flashy and he may never make a Pro Bowl in his career but McGlinchey will be a solid starting OT for many years and that would be an upgrade to what the 49ers currently have.
- San Francisco 49ers (TRADE from Buffalo from KC 10-6): James Washington WR Oklahoma St.
Garoppolo had to rely pretty heavily on Marquise Goodwin last season when Pierre Garcon was hurt and the 49ers really need to find weapons for Jimmy G. Garcon is 31 so even if he’s back it’s hard to rely on him. Washington is very comparable to Garcon as a very thickly built WR who tracks the deep ball very well. He will stretch the defense for sure and give the 49ers a legitimate #1 WR. Giving the 49ers offense some extra protection up front with McGlinchey and a deep threat with Washington would be a very nice start to this draft.
- Los Angeles Rams (11-5): Ogbonnia Okoronkwo OLB Oklahoma
The Rams got their offseason going in a hurry with a couple of trades before the league year even started. They traded for CB Marcus Peters from Kansas City so they won’t have to pay Trumaine Johnson. They followed that up by trading Robert Quinn to the Dolphins and the only reason they did is because Quinn just wasn’t a great fit as an OLB in their 3-4 defense. They need a pass rushing OLB who can play as a LB and here they grab Okoronkwo because he should be able to fill that role. He was a DE at Oklahoma but he’s only 6’1 242 lbs. so he will have to move to OLB. He’s a more natural fit and he’ll come at a cheaper price than Quinn. If anybody can get the best out of Okoronkwo it’s DC Wade Phillips.
- Carolina Panthers (11-5): James Daniels C/G Iowa
The Panthers are facing losing OG Andrew Norwell to free agency because he may be too expensive to keep and C Ryan Kalil has announced that 2018 will be his last season as he plans to retire. Daniels is not a name you’re hearing a lot as a first round pick just yet but after his combine performance that could change. He’s still just 20 years old and has some physical maturing to do but he would be the perfect choice to come in this season and start at OG in place of Norwell. Playing next to Kalil for a year would give him a great learning environment and then he can step in and take over when Kalil retires after the season. The Panthers have to protect Cam Newton and Daniels is a long-term investment towards that end.
- Tennessee Titans (9-7): Taven Bryan DE Florida
The Titans pressing needs are at OG and OLB as their OGs are pretty average and their OLBs are aging. Those two positions don’t offer the value here that other positions do and with DaQuan Jones a free agent they need a new 3-4 DE for their front. It just so happens that is the best position for Taven Bryan and he’s a very good value here. Bryan is built to be a five-technique and he would be a great addition opposite Jurrell Casey on the other side. It’s possible they will pull the trigger on either Will Hernandez or Isaiah Wynn at OG but Bryan is a really good 3-4 DE prospect and they can find OGs much later in the draft.
- Atlanta Falcons (10-6): Isaiah Wynn OG Georgia
When you’re 10-6 and a year removed from a Super Bowl appearance you have the luxury of addressing a specific need in the first round of the draft. The Falcons have two very specific needs, a DT to replace the likely free agent departure of Dontari Poe and a new right guard because it has been a weakness on the line for too long. The DT position is thinned out a bit with Vea, Payne and Bryan all taken and whether Maurice Hurst’s medical evaluation is cleared or not (he had a heart issue at the combine) he’s not a great fit for what the Falcons need because they need some size up front so they may wait to address it. Wynn played OT at Georgia but he’s considered too short to be one in the NFL and will move inside in the NFL. He has great feet and movement skills and because of that he will be a perfect fit in the Falcons zone blocking scheme. Wynn solidifies a trouble spot at RG for the Falcons from day one.
- New Orleans Saints (11-5): Mike Gesicki TE Penn St.
The Saints had a fantastic draft last year and actually fixed most of what was wrong with their defense and while they could keep adding to it they could use an upgrade at TE. Coby Fleener is okay and Josh Hill is serviceable but this team once employed Jimmy Graham so grabbing an athletic freak like Gesicki could work out well for them. The running game is great with Ingram and Kamara and Michael Thomas is a legitimate #1 WR but adding a threat in the middle for Drew Brees’ last few years would be amazing. Gesicki lit up the combine with his running and jumping and he’ll add a dimension the Saints don’t currently have on offense. The TE position has no clear-cut top player but Gesicki put himself in the discussion with his work in Indy.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3): Mason Rudolph QB Oklahoma St.
Rudolph becomes the fifth QB taken in the first round as the Steelers decide to find an heir apparent to Big Ben. Roethlisberger has openly talked about retirement and so the Steelers look to get a guy that can eventually step in. Rudolph is a big, strong-armed QB and would fit well in their offense. He throws a good deep ball and giving him some time behind Ben would ease his transition to the NFL game. The Steelers have a more pressing need at ILB with the injury to Ryan Shazier so if they were to grab Rashaan Evans here I wouldn’t be shocked, they also need help at safety but there really isn’t much value at this point so they should wait.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6): Chukwuma Okorafor OT Western Michigan
If the Jaguars spend a single draft pick on defense I’ll be surprised. The defense is fantastic and they need to surround Blake Bortles with more talent on offense. If for some reason they let both Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee get away in free agency (I think Robinson comes back and they lose Lee) then WR becomes a massive priority and grabbing a TE wouldn’t be a bad idea either. However, this team wants to rely on the Leonard Fournette and the run game to take the pressure off Bortles so improving the line would be wise. Okorafor is a big body that moves well and he gives them options. They could play him inside at OG until they need him at OT, they could move Jeremy Parnell their RT inside and play Okorafor there or he could replace Cam Robinson at LT and Robinson could move inside or to RT. No matter how it works Okorafor improves their team up front and makes Leonard Fournette that much more effective.
- Minnesota Vikings (13-3): Will Hernandez OG UTEP
If the Vikings pull off the Cousins signing their offense will be almost ready to roll. The one problem with spending a bunch of money on a QB is that you need to go cheaper in some places and you need to protect him. Enter an offensive guard in round one of the draft to do both of those things. Hernandez is a beast and if they plug him into LG between Riley Reiff and last year’s rookie C Pat Elflein they will have the makings of a pretty good blindside to protect Cousins. Hernandez is also a road grader when it comes to the run game and returning RB Dalvin Cook would look really good running behind him. If the Vikings can’t pull off the Cousins signing I think they may just bring back Case Keenum on a short contract and potentially draft a QB like Lamar Jackson at this spot.
- New England Patriots (13-3): Kolton Miller OT UCLA
The Patriots are facing the prospect of losing LT Nate Solder in free agency and I think Belichick will be reluctant to spend big money on a 30-year old OT that is solid but not really elite. Miller is nearly a carbon copy of Solder as he too is 6’8 and athletic, his advantage is he’s younger and much cheaper. Miller shows inconsistency on tape but he’s extremely athletic and as long as the Patriots can get Dante Scarnecchia to return again at the age of 70 to coach the offensive line he’ll get the best out of Miller. Keeping Tom Brady upright is still where the offense begins.
- Philadelphia Eagles (13-3): Leighton Vander Esch OLB Boise St.
This Eagles team is talented and deep. They could look for a new LT as Jason Peters is aging and coming off a serious injury but Vaitai (I’m not writing out his first name because there is no way I’ll spell it right) did a solid job in his place and I’m not sure Orlando Brown or anyone else here would be an upgrade. The CB spot wasn’t great but they gave up a bit to get Ronald Darby so I don’t see them cutting ties with him and they have to be hopeful that Sidney Jones, whom they drafted and basically redshirted with an injury, can upgrade the position. The one place there are some questions is LB. Nigel Bradham is a free agent, Jordan Hicks has had issues staying healthy and there are persistent rumors the team is always looking to trade Mychal Kendricks. I don’t know a ton about Vander Esch as he was a one-year starter at Boise St. but he showed up big in Indy and I was hearing his name quite a bit leading up to the combine. There’s always that one guy in the first round that everyone says Who? This year that’s Vander Esch. He would give the Eagles options and add a very good athlete to their very good front seven.
Notes about this Mock Draft
QB Lamar Jackson – I just couldn’t find a spot in the first round for Jackson and I’m still not totally convinced he goes in the first anyway. He has a few things going for him logistically just in the fact that so many teams need QBs and that includes so many that could look to grab a future starter to replace their aging starter. It would surprise me more if a team doesn’t trade up into the end of the first round to grab Jackson if he falls past say New Orleans at #27. The Vikings, Patriots and Eagles would be primed to trade out of the first round, unless of course Bill Belichick decides Lamar Jackson is the Patriots future starter…yes this scares the crap out me. Some people think Jackson is the future of the NFL (Mike Mayock), I think there is just as much of a reason to believe he’s the future Vince Young.
DT Maurice Hurst – he had a medical issue with his heart detected at the combine and wasn’t allowed to participate until he under goes more testing. He’s a first round talent for sure but until he gets medical clearance he’s not making a mock draft of mine. Best of luck to him that the issue is something easily corrected and not career ending.
Running Backs – How do I have a RB going #1 overall and then not a single other RB in the first round of the draft? Especially with such a good class of RBs? I had a hard time leaving Derrius Guice out of this mock draft but I just couldn’t find a good place for him. Certainly, Detroit is a possibility as are San Francisco and Carolina but the depth of the position works against him. Why spend a first round pick on Guice or Ronald Jones when I could draft John Kelly, Rashaad Penny or Akrum Wadley in the 3rd or 4th round? As much as guys like Leonard Fournette, Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley have proven drafting RBs in the top 10 isn’t a bad idea, guys like David Johnson, Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt have proven getting a guy in the 3rd round can work out just as well.
OT Orlando Brown – Brown has gone from a surefire 1st round pick to out of my 1st round because he just looked disinterested at the combine. A slow 40 time for a guy that’s almost 6’9 and weighs 345 lbs. is not surprising but his lackluster effort in the drills in Indy is a red flag. Usually the coaches are yelling encouragement at the players to finish a drill or run it out but with Brown it was as if they were actually admonishing him for not trying. BIG RED FLAG. Whomever drafts Brown has to hope he only looks like the Stay Puft marshmallow man and doesn’t play like him.
LB Shaquem Griffin – The NFL network made a huge deal out of UCF LB Shaquem Griffin’s workout because just in case you missed the memo Griffin doesn’t have a left hand. It was amputated when he was 4-years old because of a birth defect. This didn’t hamper him as he won the AAC Defensive Player of the Year award and was a dominate force on UCF’s undefeated team. Griffin isn’t going to go in the first round of the draft even though he thoroughly dominated the combine with a record setting 4.38 40 for a LB and some impressive other numbers and work in drills. It’s not his lack of a hand that will keep him out of the first round it’s the fact he’s an undersized linebacker at 227 lbs. He may have made himself a second-round pick, however, and whatever team drafts him is getting a good story and a better football player. Even if he never becomes a full-time starting LB at the very least he’ll be the best special team’s gunner you have ever seen.
The Hott Read 