2018 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

Even though teams have done a pretty good job of mixing up this draft with all of their trades I’m still going to project one because teams are desperate for a QB and both Miami and Buffalo need to move up to get one.  If one falls out of the top 5, as I predict in this draft, one of those teams will move up to grab him.  The Jets moved up to #3 so they could get their QB of the future and maybe the present.  That happened after the Bills made a move up to #12 thinking that might put them in a better position to get their QB of the future and probably the present too.  The Colts moved down and picked up some draft capital from the Jets and they are still in a position to get someone who can really help them; RB Saquon Barkley, DE Bradley Chubb or OG Quenton Nelson.  It helps when you don’t need a QB in a top heavy QB draft.  The Bengals moved down with the Bills trade and picked up LT Cordy Glenn which fills a gigantic need for them and allows them to use the #21 pick they got from Buffalo to fill another hole.  The latest first-round trade involves the Patriots and it isn’t them trading out of the round.  The Pats sent WR Brandin Cooks to the Rams for the #23 pick.  They traded the #32 pick in last year’s draft for Cooks, used him for a year, and now got the #23 pick for a guy they were not going to re-sign at the end of this season.  Cooks will be a free agent next year and there is no way Belichick is spending $14-16 million dollars a year on WR.  The Patriots have depth at WR as long as Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan get healthy and they just made a sneaky good signing of Jordan Matthews.  There could be more trades to come depending on what the New York Giants think about their #2 pick overall.  Do they take a QB, take DE Chubb, grab RB Barkley or sell it off to the highest bidder looking to move ahead of the Jets at #3 for a QB (I’m looking at you Buffalo and Miami)?  Here’s Mock Draft #3, I’ve been working on it for a few weeks but things are changing so quickly it’s been like nailing Jell-O to a wall (Cameron Meredith leaving the Bears and Dez Bryant getting cut are just the latest changes that affected this mock draft).

Round 1

1. Cleveland Browns (0-16): Sam Darnold QB   USC

And around and around we go with Cleveland.  We have circled back to the conventional wisdom and the Browns are basically guaranteed to take a QB #1 overall.  I’ve also come to the conclusion that Darnold may be the safest choice for them.  He’s not the boom or bust choice of Josh Allen and he doesn’t have the baggage of Baker Mayfield.  Josh Rosen is my favorite QB but his aloof, silver-spoon persona may not play in Cleveland (and Jim Mora is not helping him out by perpetuating the myth).  Darnold has a lot to learn and having a year sitting behind starter Tyrod Taylor and new backup QB Drew Stanton would do him a world of good.  He has talent but he makes too many mistakes and that’s something Taylor rarely does so having these two smart, veteran QBs to learn from would be optimal for his development.  The Browns traded for Taylor and traded away DeShone Kizer (to Green Bay), Cody Kessler (to Jacksonville) and Kevin Hogan (to Washington) clearly, they were looking for a culture change in the QB room and this pick should complete it.

2. New York Giants (3-13): Josh Rosen QB   UCLA

I think it’s going to take a pretty impressive offer for the Giants to consider dropping down to Miami’s pick (#11) or Buffalo’s pick (#12) so it comes down to choosing a QB or taking DE Bradley Chubb.  Chubb is an enticing choice but I think they pull the trigger on Eli’s eventual replacement.  This team has considered dumping Odell Beckham because of his off the field personality (and how it sometimes translates to his on the field antics).  Eli Manning has been the face of the franchise for a long time and one thing about Eli, he’s a professional.  He projects a certain level of maturity and professionalism that keeps him out of the Page Six news in New York.  Rosen comes from an affluent upbringing and I think he’ll learn Eli’s professional approach to things pretty quickly and project the face of the franchise demeanor the Giants prefer.  He’s also just a hell of a talented QB.  He can make every NFL throw and he diagnoses plays better than any QB in this draft.  Rosen’s personality will play better in New York than it will in Cleveland so this works out for everyone.

3. New York Jets (from Indianapolis): Josh Allen QB   Wyoming

QBs at 1, 2 and 3.  The Jets traded up to get a QB and I don’t know if they prefer Allen or if they just end up taking him because he’s left but the situation works out either way.  Allen needs time to work on his game and the Jets have Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater on the roster so Allen can sit back and learn.  McCown is an old warhorse at this point and he played pretty well last year so the Jets are comfortable with him starting.  Bridgewater should get some playing time too because McCown is bound to get nicked up at his age, that will also mean Allen can get some reps in practice as they save some wear and tear on McCown.  Allen looks like he was built in a QB laboratory he checks all the physical boxes you can want and his arm strength is ridiculous.  He’s biggest issue is completion percentage and typically guys don’t become more accurate when they go from college to the NFL.  He will be a project for new Jets OC Jeremy Bates but if they can fix his accuracy issues he could be special.  Allen is the quintessential boom or bust QB pick, his ceiling is being the next Elway or Favre, his floor is being the next JaMarcus Russell.

4. Cleveland Browns (from Texans): Bradley Chubb DE   North Carolina St.

I really want to give Cleveland Saquon Barkley here but Chubb is just too good of a value pick.  Barkley is a star but the Browns signed Carlos Hyde and they have Duke Johnson and with all of their other picks they have plenty of opportunities to draft one of the many other good RBs in this draft.  They have a need on defense to improve against the pass and while taking a DB like Mikah Fitzpatrick would help, generating a pass rush is just as effective.  Chubb is in a league of his own in this draft as a pass rusher and if there wasn’t such a crying need for QBs he would almost assuredly be the #1 pick.  Pairing Chubb with last year’s #1 overall selection Myles Garrett could create one hell of a duo.  Defensive backs look a whole lot better when they only have to cover for a split second before the pass rush buries the opponent’s QB.  A new franchise QB and the creation of a fearsome pass rushing duo would be a heck of a start to the 2018 draft for a Cleveland team that is desperate to finally be relevant.

5. Denver Broncos (5-11): Quenton Nelson OG   Notre Dame

This is where things could get really interesting.  The Broncos signed QB Case Keenum and I’m certain that’s because John Elway is loathe to trust a rookie with an aging team that might still be able to squeeze another playoff run out of it’s dominant defense if the offense isn’t completely inept.  However, Elway hedged his bets, he only gave Keenum a two-year deal that is really just a one-year deal with an option for the second.  Now the bigger question, is Elway gun-shy on taking a QB in the first round?  He got burned on his trade up for Paxton Lynch but if things go poorly with Keenum, remember he’s a 30-year old one-year wonder, Elway could change paths quickly.  If Elway doesn’t believe fully in the win now strategy he could draft Baker Mayfield and have him waiting in the wings if Keenum fails.  Quenton Nelson would actually be the best of both worlds, play for now and plan for the future.  Nelson would step in as a starter at OG immediately and seriously improve the offensive line.  Pairing him on the left side with last year’s first rounder Garrett Bolles would set them up there for the next five years for sure.  Nelson is as close to a sure thing in this draft as there is and he fills a gigantic need for the Broncos, both today and into the future.

6. Indianapolis Colts (from NY Jets): Saquon Barkley RB   Penn St.

The Colts decision on this pick will be made if not all of the top four QBs go in the top 5.  Luckily for the Colts the three top non-QB players in this draft; Chubb, Barkley and Nelson, all fill a major need so they simply can’t go wrong unless only two of the QBs go in the top 5.  That would be shocking but even then, new Colts GM Chris Ballard could either take DB Minkah Fitzpatrick or auction this pick off to the highest bidder for the QBs left, he may do that anyway if Mayfield is still on the board (hello Buffalo and Miami).  If not, he ends up with Saquon Barkley and the picks he got from the Jets to move down and he looks like a genius.  Barkley would be a sight for the sore shoulder of Andrew Luck.  Luck would finally be playing with a RB that can carry a huge workload and Barkley is also a fantastic security blanket out of the backfield.  The Colts still have plenty of holes to fill but Ballard picked up two second-round picks this year (and a second-rounder next year) so he can really load up some new talent around Luck and Barkley.  I would suggest some o-line help.  If Mayfield is still here I could see Ballard extracting a nice ransom from either the Bills or the Dolphins and picking up even more picks.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11): Minkah Fitzpatrick DB   Alabama

The Bucs came into the offseason with a huge need on the defensive line and they traded for Jason Pierre-Paul, signed Eagles castoff Vinny Curry and picked up DT Beau Allen.  Putting these three around Gerald McCoy is quite the overhaul of the starting unit.  While Pierre-Paul and Curry are both pushing 30 and are not exactly long-term solutions at DE they are serious upgrades over Robert Ayers and Noah Spence.  The Bucs also brought back CB Brent Grimes and while it’s likely only for a year he gives them a solid CB tandem.  Fitzpatrick is a swiss army knife type of defensive back and he can play CB, free safety or nickel and in Tampa’s defense he may just do all of it.  He will likely primarily play FS and in the slot but he could be Grimes’ eventual replacement.  Either way, he’s a huge upgrade to the talent at defensive back and with a much-improved pass rush the Buccaneers defense should be considerably better.

8. Miami Dolphins (from Chicago): Baker Mayfield QB   Oklahoma

If Mayfield makes it past Denver then every team between sixth and tenth is going to have to explore trading down vs. drafting a guy they like.  What kind of ransom can they get from Buffalo or Miami to move down and allow them to Mayfield.  I’m going with the Bears because they could use a little more draft capital moving forward after giving up quite a bit last year to move up one spot to take Trubisky.  Here they restock some future assets by playing Miami and Buffalo against each other, always better to have two bidders.  The Dolphins seem like they really like Mayfield and considering they haven’t really made a move to commit to Ryan Tannehill I think they make this move.  It may be costly but as the Bears proved last year, if you get your QB of the future, no one cares what you paid.  Mayfield is brash and arrogant and maybe a bit too much for some people’s taste but the Dolphins could use some swagger.  They haven’t had a great QB since Marino and if they think Mayfield is that guy he’s worth the price.  I’m not a huge Mayfield fan and I think he could be a colossal bust but I could be wrong.  His ceiling is being Russell Wilson but his floor is being Johnny Manziel.

9. San Francisco 49ers (6-10): Derwin James SS   Florida St.

The 49ers are a team on the rise because of the trades they made last year.  In the draft, they picked up picks simply by moving down one spot so the Bears could draft Mitchell Trubisky and then during the season they set up the future of their franchise by trading for Jimmy Garoppolo.  Jimmy G is the foundation and now John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan just have to build around him.  The roster still needs plenty of work, the offensive line, WR corps and secondary are still pretty weak even with some offseason additions.  I think they are likely to go with best player available and Derwin James is just that.  It’s nice that he also fills a huge need at safety.  The team let Eric Reid walk in free agency and they are toying with the idea of playing Jimmie Ward at CB.  James has great versatility and could be their SS or FS and can help out as a slot guy.  The fact that John Lynch understands the value of a good safety also works in his favor.

10. Oakland Raiders (6-10): Denzel Ward CB   Ohio St.

The Raiders need help on defense and while they signed Rashaad Melvin at CB to pair with second year man Gareon Conley they are very thin behind those two.  I’ve had them taking LBs in previous drafts and Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds are certainly possible picks but Ward would fill a big need for talent and depth.  The team is really counting on Jon Gruden to get the offense back on track but they need talent upgrades on defense.  Ward isn’t the biggest CB but he’s got speed to burn and Conley and Melvin can handle bigger WRs for now.  In their division they face Phillip Rivers and now both Kansas City (with Patrick Mahomes) and Denver (with Case Keenum) have new QBs that could enhance their passing attacks.

11. Chicago Bears (from Miami): Roquan Smith LB   Georgia

The Bears have been pretty active in free agency and they filled their biggest need with WR Allen Robinson.  However, Cameron Meredith signed with the Saints so it’s completely possible the Bears look at a WR like Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton or DJ Moore.  If they decide to wait on a WR grabbing the best player available would be a good idea because that’s Roquan Smith and he fills a need on defense.  Smith is a versatile playmaking LB who could line up inside next to Danny Trevathan and give the Bears defense a nice speed element in the middle.  Smith is a tackling machine with impressive speed and would seriously upgrade the talent on the Bears the defense.

12. Buffalo Bills (from Cincinnati): Tremaine Edmunds LB   Virginia Tech

The Bills desperately want to move up to get one of the top four QBs but if they don’t they have other needs for this pick.  They also pick later in the first round so they don’t have to reach if they like another QB like Lamar Jackson or Mason Rudolph, although they very well could.  If they go another direction their LB corps really needs some help.  They lost starting MLB Preston Brown in free agency and they weren’t exactly stacked at the position to begin with.  Edmunds is the opposite of Roquan Smith in terms of size because he’s a gigantic LB at 6’5 240 lbs. He could take over the middle or he could fill in outside.  The Bills shouldn’t reach for a QB because they do have AJ McCarron after signing him in free agency, he may not be the long-term solution but he does backstop them a bit if they don’t get one of the guys they want.

13. Washington Redskins (7-9): Vita Vea DT   Washington

Washington has been unusually quiet in free agency with their one really big offseason move coming via trade.  They picked up QB Alex Smith from the Chiefs and let Kirk Cousins walk away.  The other notable offensive change was letting WR Terrell Pryor leave and signing Paul Richardson from Seattle.  Richardson brings more of a deep threat to complement Josh Doctson but it remains to seen if Alex Smith can take advantage of that speed.  The defense needs some new blood and one place they can really use it is up the middle.  NT Ziggy Hood is on the wrong side of 30 and he’s undersized for a NT.  Vita Vea is definitely not undersized at 6’5 344 lbs. and he’s a major talent.

14. Green Bay Packers (7-9): Josh Jackson CB   Iowa

The Packers dipped their toes in free agency far more than they have in the past by signing DE Muhammed Wilkerson and TE Jimmy Graham but the signing of CB Tramon Williams hardly addressed their need at the CB position.  Second year player Kevin King should be ready to handle one corner but the Packers have whiffed on a few other CB draft picks leaving them without much depth.  Jackson is a playmaker as evidenced by his 8 INTs last season at Iowa.  He has good size, good speed and really good athleticism.  The Packers have had success with Iowa players like Mike Daniels and Bryan Bulaga so they should feel comfortable going back to that well.  Tramon Williams is a veteran player that both Jackson and King can learn from and he’ll help ease their transition as starting CBs in the NFL.

15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Lamar Jackson QB   Louisville

The Cardinals are the third team (after Miami and Buffalo) most likely to trade up for a QB but moving up from 15 may cost too much.  Instead they are the most likely team to reach for a QB to fill their need.  They are in a division with Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo and Jared Goff and they are looking to run out Sam Bradford backed-up by Mike Glennon.  That screams reach for a QB.  Jackson is a bit of a lottery ticket, he could be the next Cam Newton or the next Vince Young.  His athleticism is off the charts and he has a strong arm but his intermediate passing needs work and his ability to scramble makes him less likely to go through all his reads.  The Cardinals inexplicably gave Sam Bradford $20 million to be their QB next year but the odds of him getting through an entire season healthy are roughly zero.  Glennon is actually a solid backup option and if the Cardinals don’t take a rookie QB I would bet Glennon starts more games than Bradford next year.

16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7): Maurice Hurst DL   Michigan

This is the first time I’m not projecting the Ravens to take an Alabama player.  They certainly could take WR Calvin Ridley, LB Rashaan Evans or DT Da’Ron Payne but I’m going with Hurst.  He was out of my first round in the last mock draft because of his medical issue at the combine but his irregular heartbeat has apparently checked out fine so he’s back in the mix.  Hurst could be a DT or a DE depending on the defensive front he ends up in and in Baltimore he can play DE and he’ll be fantastic.  Hurst is a beast up front and is tough to handle for any offensive lineman.  The Ravens need some youth on defense and Hurst is a talent.

17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7): Connor Williams OT   Texas

The Chargers have a glaring need on defense at LB so they could conceivably draft Leighton Vander Esch but another need for them is OT.  Russell Okung was solid last year at LT but he’s 30 and his play could drop off at any moment.  RT Joe Barksdale is also 30 but he’s already not very good.  The Chargers would have their choice of OTs since there are a number of them bunched together and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I like Williams’ upside the best, if he hadn’t missed most of last season at Texas with an injury he might be slated to go much higher in this draft.  He is an immediate upgrade over Barksdale and an eventual replacement for Okung.  After adding C Mike Pouncey in free agency and getting Forrest Lamp back from injury at OG the Chargers could be on their way to having a pretty solid offensive line for the foreseeable future.

18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7): Jaire Alexander CB   Louisville

I really do want to give the Seahawks an offensive lineman but I’m not sure they will see OTs Mike McGlinchey, Orlando Brown, Kolton Miller or Chukwuma Okorafor as an upgrade at this point.  The release of Richard Sherman and the loss of DeShawn Shead leaves them pretty thin at CB.  Alexander has quietly been climbing the draft boards since his stellar workout at the combine.  The Seahawks are a team in transition (the new NFL word for rebuilding) and they need talent in a lot of different places.  They don’t have a 2^nd or 3^rd round draft pick so they need to get help here.  Alexander would be an immediate starter opposite Shaquill Griffin.  The Seahawks aren’t sure if SS Kam Chancellor or DE Cliff Avril will be able to resume their careers after major injuries.  They have discussed trading FS Earl Thomas and as good as Thomas is they may be better off if they can get some solid draft choices in return.  This defense needs playmakers and Alexander might be their best chance at getting one.

19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7): Calvin Ridley WR   Alabama

I wasn’t sure the Cowboys would take a WR then they cut Dez Bryant and that made this pick much easier.  It was clear when free agency opened that Dallas was looking to get a new #1 WR as they pursued Sammy Watkins pretty hard before he signed with Kansas City.  When they struck out in free agency it looked like they might hold on to Bryant for one more year but then they decided to cut him anyway.  This means they need a new top WR.  They signed Allen Hurns after he was let go by Jacksonville but he’s a #2 guy at best.  Ridley is a bit thin and needs to add to his frame to hold up long-term but he’s a talented WR.  One of the complaints about Bryant was his lack of precision on his routes and that bothered Dak Prescott, well he won’t have that issue with Ridley.  Ridley doesn’t wow you with any one physical trait but he’s a good route runner and uses that advantage to create separation, another thing Bryant was not great at doing.  The Cowboys have other holes at LB and CB especially but the giant Dez shaped hole in their offense is pretty glaring.

20. Detroit Lions (9-7): Marcus Davenport DE   UT-San Antonio

The Lions franchised DE Ezekiel Ansah meaning he’s in the fold for at least one more year but that might be it.  Even if he sticks around long-term the Lions need some reinforcements at the position and Davenport is a guy that could add a nice pass rushing element right away while he works his way into an eventual starting position.  Anthony Zettel holds his own opposite Ansah but he’s just average.  The Lions do have a huge need at TE after jettisoning Eric Ebron.  TE Dallas Goedert is a small school prospect out of South Dakota St. but he would be a nice weapon for Matt Stafford.  They also signed the mother of all stopgap RBs in LeGarrette Blount and he will give them a good every down back even if it’s just for the year.  They would be wise to use a later round pick on one of the many good RBs in this draft, assuming they don’t want to go with Derrius Guice here.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo): Isaiah Wynn OG   Georgia

The Bengals made a nice move to pick up Cordy Glenn to fill their LT hole but it required them moving down to this spot.  They lost C Russell Bodine in free agency and they still need some help on the interior of their line.  Wynn played LT at Georgia but he’s expected to move inside in the NFL and he has versatility, while he’s likely to be a OG I wouldn’t be surprised if someone took him and tried him at C.  It isn’t an unheard-of transition, the Bears did it with Cody Whitehair a few years ago.  The Bengals also need help at LB but there is better value at o-line.

22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City): Mason Rudolph QB   Oklahoma St.

If the Bills don’t pull off a trade to move up to get one of the top 4 QBs they will be looking pretty hard to get one here.  They may have to move up just to pull this off as QBs are notoriously over drafted.  Rudolph is seen as a step below the top four and fighting Lamar Jackson to be the next one off the board.  Rudolph isn’t the athlete Jackson is but he’s a very good deep ball thrower.  His overall arm strength would be useful in the Buffalo weather and he would have some time to adjust to a pro-style offense since they do have AJ McCarron to hold down the fort until Rudolph is ready.  He’s a better long-term option than Nathan Peterman.

23. New England Patriots (from LA Rams): Isaiah Oliver CB   Colorado

New England picked up this pick from the Rams in exchange for WR Brandin Cooks.  The Patriots have gone about their offseason exactly how the have for many years.  In both free agency and through trades Belichick has added veterans like DE Adrian Clayborn, DT Danny Shelton, CB Jason McCourty and WR Jordan Matthews.  The team grabbed their second McCourty brother, Jason, to fill in for the departed Malcolm Butler.  Hopefully Belichick watched the Super Bowl close enough to know he needs to get a third CB to replace Eric Rowe who was terrible against the Eagles.  Oliver would bring nice size and coverage ability and allow them to not have to count completely on Jason McCourty to be a starter opposite Stephon Gilmore.  The team desperately needs a LT too but there is much more depth left at that position with Kolton Miller, Orlando Brown, Chukwuma Okorafor and Mike McGlinchey still on the board.  The Patriots still have the 31^st pick to address the OT position.

24. Carolina Panthers (11-5): James Daniels C/G   Iowa

The Panthers lost OG Andrew Norwell and their OC Ryan Kalil says he’s retiring after the 2018 season.  They have needs at WR, DE and CB but protecting QB Cam Newton should be priority #1.  Daniels is 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 slide over and take over for Kalil in 2019.  The Panthers have to protect Cam Newton and Daniels is a long-term investment towards that end.  The Panthers could grab WR Cameron Sutton or a CB like Mike Hughes.  Daniels is better value.

25. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Leighton Vander Esch LB   Boise St.

The Titans signed some significant free agents, CB Malcolm Butler and RB Dion Lewis, but they lost one significant player off their defense, LB Avery Williamson.  Williamson wasn’t a household name but he was a very good ILB in their 3-4 defense and they don’t have great options on the roster to replace him.  Vander Esch is still pretty raw considering he was only a one-year starter at Boise St. but he’s a talented athlete who could step in to Williamson’s spot from day one.  His development is key because he’s still a moldable piece who could be a very good coverage LB given his athleticism, a good run stuffer given his size and he can blitz when needed.

26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6): Da’Ron Payne DT   Alabama

Most of the Falcons roster returns intact as they didn’t lose a lot in free agency and they didn’t have a lot of cap room to add significant pieces.  This team has largely been built through the draft and they continue that here.  Their one big addition last season was DT Dontari Poe on a one-year deal and he has now moved on.  They need to replace his size in the middle next to Grady Jarrett.  Having a guy in the middle to eat up blockers makes their speedy LB corps that much more effective.  Payne is a man amongst boys at times and he’s an extremely talented DT who would fit quite nicely next to Jarrett.  Payne is multi-talented and can do a lot of things and might actually bring more versatility than Poe.  He’s not as big but he’s damn effective against the run and the pass.

27. New Orleans Saints (11-5): Dallas Goedert TE   South Dakota St.

The Saints have the luxury of not having any major needs, they need depth on the offensive line, they could always use a playmaker on the defensive line and getting Michael Thomas a better running mate at WR wouldn’t hurt.  The have guys at TE but they don’t have any game breakers.  Goedert is a small school prospect out of South Dakota St. but he profiles as a guy that can make some plays down the field and up the seam.  I suppose if a QB they really like falls here they could try to grab Drew Brees’ heir apparent but that seems unlikely to happen.  Brees would appreciate a guy like Goedert for his last few years in the league.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3): Rashaan Evans LB   Alabama

Pittsburgh has to deal with the reality that Ryan Shazier may never play football again.  He was a major piece of their defense at ILB and filling that spot is important.  Evans was a captain at Alabama so he can bring leadership at a critical position in the Steelers defense.  Shazier relied pretty heavily on his speed and athleticism and while Evans isn’t as fast he is technically sound and he won’t be caught out of position.  He’s the best LB left on the board and he fills a major need.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6): Courtland Sutton WR   SMU

The Jaguars lost Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns in this offseason and while they signed Donte Moncrief and re-signed Marqise Lee they are still lacking a top WR.  They like youngsters Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole but their passing game needs a #1 type WR.  The team is clearly looking to be even more run oriented with the addition of OG Andrew Norwell but Sutton would add a big-bodied WR who would give Blake Bortles a nice target, especially in the red zone and on 3^rd down.  This pick could also be a TE as they finally let go of stalwart TE Mercedes Lewis.  Free agent TE addition Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a talented player but he’s never been the picture of consistency.

30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3): Mike McGlinchey OT   Notre Dame

This pick is likely to come down to either an OT like McGlinchey or an OG like Will Hernandez.  The Vikings team is poised to compete for the Super Bowl with QB Kirk Cousins running the show but an offensive line breakdown could hinder their chances.  They invested in OT Riley Reiff and T/G Mike Remmers in free agency last year and drafted C Pat Elflein so that was three solid additions.  They would probably be best served by taking McGlinchey to be their RT and sliding Remmers inside to OG which would upgrade two positions.  McGlinchey is solid but not spectacular but that makes him a better bet than Remmers at RT.  Remmers would upgrade the interior of the line.  If the Vikings like Will Hernandez better they can take him, plug him in at OG and leave Remmers at RT.  No matter what I find it hard to believe this team won’t address OL in the first round unless there is some top-notch talent that slips to this spot.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Kolton Miller OT   UCLA

It’s hard to believe that the Patriots would go into the season with LaAdrian Waddle protecting 41-year old Tom Brady’s blindside.  With the loss of OTs Nate Solder and Cameron Fleming they Pats are pretty thin at the position.  Miller is a guy that looks better getting off the bus than he sometimes does on the field because he can be inconsistent but he possesses all of the tools to be a starting LT.  He’s similar in size and build to the departed Solder at 6’8 310 lbs.  With the coaching of Dante Scarnecchia Miller could achieve his full potential, if not he’s still a better option than Waddle.

32. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3): Derrius Guice RB   LSU

The rich get richer.  The Super Bowl Champions don’t have a lot of needs and they are fairly deep at critical positions.  They could grab an OT like Orlando Brown here with Jason Peters aging but they won the Super Bowl without him as their backup LT Vaitai (I’m not going to attempt to spell his first name, even with it right in front of me on Google I’ll get it wrong) did just fine.  The team has Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement but they lost LeGarrette Blount and Darren Sproles is 34 years old and unsigned.  Ajayi will be looking for a contract extension and he has questionable knees.  Guice is a serious talent and if Saquon Barkley wasn’t overshadowing every RB in this draft Guice would be the guy everyone is talking about.  The Eagles will have to watch the salary cap issues going forward and replacing Ajayi instead of paying him would be a smart move.

Some guys that certainly could go in Round 1 but I just couldn’t find a spot for them.

OT Orlando Brown (Oklahoma) – The game tape says 1^st rounder, the workouts say 4^th rounder.  It’s possible someone completely overlooks Brown’s disastrous combine workout but he’s too closely bunched up at OT with the other guys like Williams, McGlinchey, Miller, Chukwuma Okorafor and Tyrell Crosby.  When it’s that close the workouts can be a tie-breaker.

WR DJ Moore (Maryland) – He has been getting some mention as a 1^st rounder in other mock drafts and it’s not surprising teams see his physical talents and really like him.  He played at Maryland where the QB position was abysmal so his stats were less than impressive.  He has good size, great speed and in an underwhelming WR group he could sneak in to the 1^st round.

DL Taven Bryan (Florida) – Bryan should be a 1^st round pick and he probably will be I just couldn’t find a place for him specifically.  He’s a versatile defensive lineman that would be best as a DE in a 3-4 defense.  There are quite a few teams that play that defense so he’ll find his way into the 1^st round or he’ll be a great value in the 2^nd.

C Frank Ragnow (Arkansas), C Billy Price (Ohio St.), OG Will Hernandez (UTEP) and OG Braden Smith (Auburn) – This is a very good year for interior offensive linemen.  Quenton Nelson, Isaiah Wynn and James Daniels all go in my first round but any of these four could wind up there too.  The depth and talent at C/G this year is incredible.  There is talent and depth at OT too but not the high-end talent and no doubt starters like there is on the interior.  All seven of these guys are going to end up day one starters for whichever team drafts them.

Round 2- Because I just can’t help myself

33. Cleveland: Orlando Brown OT Oklahoma

He falls out of my round one but barely.  The Browns lost future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas and they need someone to protect their new QB’s blindside. Brown isn’t pretty but he gets the job done.

34. New York Giants: Frank Ragnow C   Arkansas

The Giants spent big on LT Nate Solder and his arrival kicks Ereck Flowers to RT where they hope he won’t be such a liability.  However, they let C Weston Richburg leave and the interior of their line is suspect.  Ragnow isn’t a well-known prospect but he’s a very good center and their old QB and their new QB would appreciate him.

35. Cleveland (from Houston): Ronald Jones II RB USC

Remember when I said the Browns had lots of extra picks to address RB, this is one.  Jones is a very good all-around back and while they have Carlos Hyde it’s hard to count on him staying healthy.  Jones is the future at the position and he might take the job from Hyde even if Hyde does stay healthy.

36. Indianapolis: DJ Moore WR   Maryland

The Colts have TY Hilton and that’s about it at WR.  Adding Saquon Barkley in the round 1 is huge but if there are 9 or 10 defenders in the box he isn’t going anywhere.  Moore and Hilton can stretch the field, now they just have to hope Andrew Luck’s shoulder isn’t swiss cheese.

37. Indianapolis (from NY Jets): Will Hernandez OG   UTEP

Now they use another pick from the Jets to get Barkley someone to run behind.  Hernandez is a beast and the Colts need plenty of help up front.  Don’t worry they still have another pick later in this round for the defense.

38. Tampa Bay: Sony Michel RB   Georgia

The Bucs lost Doug Martin this offseason and they need someone to take the pressure off of Jameis Winston.  Michel was part of a duo at Georgia with Nick Chubb and he was highly effective.  It saved some wear on him so he should be good to go.

39. Chicago: Josh Sweat OLB   Florida St.

Sweat was a major recruit coming out of high school but the Seminoles played him out of position as a DE in a 3-4.  He’ll move to a rush OLB for Chicago and line up opposite Leonard Floyd.  Sweat is a superior athlete and he should generate a pass rush and play the run well and make Floyd better in the process.

40. Denver: James Washington WR   Oklahoma St.

The Broncos have Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders at WR and not much else.  Those two also have major cap numbers coming up and Denver needs to plan for the future.  Washington gives them a third WR for now and a replacement deep threat moving forward.

41. Oakland: Chukwuma Okorafor OT   Western Michigan

Donald Penn is about 115 in NFL years and the Raiders don’t have any depth at OT.  Okorafor could end up being the best OT in this draft and even if Penn is good to go he might lose his job to this kid.

42. Miami: Taven Bryan DT   Florida

There is a giant Ndamukong Suh sized hole in the Dolphins defensive front and Bryan is just the guy to fill it.  He isn’t the same type of player by Bryan is a versatile guy who will make the rest of the d-line around him better.

43. New England (from San Francisco): Harold Landry DE/OLB   Boston College

Landry is the type of hybrid defender Bill Belichick loves.  He’s a pass rusher and he could play some OLB for the Pats.  The team is looking to generate more pass rush and Landry could do that and add depth at LB.

44. Washington: Mike Hughes CB   Central Florida

The Redskins lost Kendall Fuller in a trade and Bashaud Breeland in free agency.  Josh Norman is 30 and overpaid and they signed Orlando Scandrick from Dallas who is 31 and coming off a major injury.  To say they need help at CB is an understatement.  Hughes is a young prospect with a high upside.

45. Green Bay: Martinas Rankin OL   Mississippi St.

The Packers need help on the offensive line and Rankin is a versatile player. He played OT at Miss. St. but he could play G or C in the NFL.  He could end up a starter at G for the Packers and be an injury fill-in at OT when they need him.

46. Cincinnati: Dorian Daniel LB   Clemson

Daniel is a speedy, undersized LB that would fit right in with the Bengals needs on defense.  They signed Preston Brown to play MLB but they need speed at OLB and someone they can count on (that means Vontaze Burfict doesn’t count).

47. Arizona: Tyrell Crosby OT   Oregon

The Cardinals traded Jared Veldheer to the Broncos and signed Andre Smith which is not really a solution at RT.  Crosby could really help stabilize the offensive line, assuming DJ Humphries gets healthy at LT and plays well.

48. Los Angeles Chargers: Harrison Phillips DT   Stanford

Brandon Mebane is 33 and Corey Liuget is suspended for the first four games of the season.  A little help at DT wouldn’t be out of line.  The Chargers run defense wasn’t great even with Mebane and Liuget so Phillips is needed either way.

49. Indianapolis (from NY Jets): Ogbonnia Okoronkwo DE   Oklahoma

Okoronkwo is one of the better pass rushers in this draft and while he’s undersized he would add talent to a Colts defense that needs all the help it can get.

50. Dallas: Carlton Davis CB   Auburn

The Cowboys need help at all levels of their defense and Davis fills a need for a larger CB.  Their new defensive backs coach Kris Richard was in Seattle so he likes his CBs with some size.  Davis is a solid addition.

51. Detroit: Nick Chubb RB   Georgia

Chubb is a power back and he’ll be able to handle a heavy workload for the Lions.  He may make the LeGarrette Blount signing moot before it even has a chance.  Chubb would be the best RB on the Lions since that Barry Sanders dude.

52. Baltimore: Billy Price C   Ohio St.

The Ravens have needs at WR and TE but they lost their starting C in free agency.  The offensive line is essential in keeping Joe Flacco upright and Alex Collins rolling along.  Price only falls this far because he hasn’t been able to work out due to a torn pectoral muscle.  He should be fine by training camp and he’ll slide right in as a starting C.

53. Buffalo: Jamarco Jones OT   Ohio St.

The Bills traded away Cordy Glenn and they weren’t exactly stacked at OT to begin with.  They miss out on the top guys but Jones is a solid prospect and is better than what they have on the roster now.

54. Kansas City: Justin Reid FS   Stanford

The Chiefs finally make a pick after they traded their first rounder last year to move up for Patrick Mahomes.  They solved a few of their holes through free agency and trades; LB Anthony Hitchens, WR Sammy Watkins, CB Kendall Fuller and CB David Amerson were all added.  They still need some depth at OL, DL and LB but FS is a definite need.  Reid is a solid prospect and while he isn’t in the same class as Derwin James or Minkah Fitzpatrick he would make a nice partner for Eric Berry.

55. Carolina: Arden Key DE   LSU

The Panthers can’t count on Julius Peppers to play forever and Mario Addison is 30.  Key was a disappointment this year and he’s a bit undersized weight-wise but he could be a nice pass rush specialist for a year before being counted on full time.

56. Buffalo (from Los Angeles): Christian Kirk WR   Texas A&M

The Bills have Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones as their big outside WR but whether it’s AJ McCarron or Mason Rudolph or someone else at QB they could use a good slot receiver as a security blanket.  Kirk is a great complement inside to Benjamin and Jones outside.

57. Tennessee: Braden Smith OG   Auburn

Tennessee’s offensive line is pretty solid but could use some reinforcements at OG.  Smith is a pretty good prospect and could end up as a starter by beating out Quinton Span or Josh Kline.

58. Atlanta: Mike Gesicki TE   Penn St.

The Falcons haven’t had a real threat at TE since Tony Gonzalez retired.  Gesicki is a supreme athlete and would add a dimension to the offense they are currently lacking.  If they are going to give Matt Ryan big money they might as well get him a major weapon.

59. San Francisco (from New Orleans): Marcell Ateman WR   Oklahoma St.

The 49ers have their QB of the future now they need to get him some weapons.  Jimmy G relied on Marquise Goodwin last year so it’s time to get him a big-bodied WR who will make life a little easier.  Ateman is 6’4 220 lbs. so he qualifies.  Garoppolo’s only real struggle last year was red zone efficiency, Ateman should help.

60. Pittsburgh: Jeff Holland OLB   Auburn

The Steelers don’t have a ton of needs and if they fill the ILB spot in round 1 they have no glaring ones.  Bud Dupree hasn’t been bad but he hasn’t been great and the Steelers may not look to extend him with his rookie contract coming up.  Holland should be a good rush LB who can generate more pass rush opposite TJ Watt.

61. Jacksonville: Malik Jefferson LB   Texas

Paul Posluszny retired which leaves a hole at MLB in the Jaguars otherwise exceptional defense.  They play a lot of sub-packages where only Myles Jack and Telvin Smith are on the field so it should be easy for them to hide Jefferson’s shortcomings.  Jefferson is a fantastic athlete with great sideline-to-sideline speed and would be a solid addition.

62. Minnesota: Donte Jackson CB   LSU

Assuming the Vikings aren’t bringing Terrance Newman back again, he’ll be 40 years old, they could use a new nickel corner.  Jackson is small and fast and would fill in nicely.  They could use a TE too but there is better depth there and they can get one later.

63. New England: Mark Andrews TE   Oklahoma

Whether or not Rob Gronkowski returns the Patriots need to prepare for life without him because he is probably not going to be around long even if he does return.  Andrews is a solid TE prospect and while no one is Gronk, Andrews would still be a weapon.

64. Cleveland (from Philadelphia): Tarvarus McFadden CB   Florida St.

The Browns are pretty weak at CB with TJ Carrie and EJ Gaines set to start without much depth behind them.  McFadden is a bigger CB who certainly looks the part but he is a bit inconsistent.  If the coaching staff can get him to play to his potential he’s a steal at this spot in the draft.