2016 Final NFL Mock Draft

I take full credit for the second blockbuster trade that happened this last week because no way does that trade go down if I hadn’t done a two round mock draft just days beforehand. This had to be the case because it was a fantastic move by the Browns to move down, remove the temptation to draft another QB and pick up so many picks in the next two drafts. When was the last time the Browns made a smart move? It was all because of me. Okay maybe the new Cleveland brain trust isn’t as stupid as all the previous ones they have had since they rejoined the league. I don’t normally forecast trades but I couldn’t help myself and one trade just made too much sense. I would love to forecast the trade that will take place where someone moves up for Paxton Lynch but if I were that good I would be living in Vegas winning my money instead of working for it.

Los Angeles Rams (7-9 from Tennessee): Jared Goff QB California

Yes, I changed my choice since my last draft but not because of anything the Rams did or any change of heart I had this is strictly based on the fact that Philadelphia knows something the rest of us don’t. The Eagles didn’t spend a boatload of draft capital to move up to the second spot to take Goff, Doug Pederson loves Wentz and has the patience to wait for him to blossom. The Rams are taking Goff because he is ready to play from day one. Wentz would have won the job too but he would have had to compete with Case Keenum while Goff steps right in. Goff doesn’t have as high of a ceiling as Wentz but his bust potential is lower and he won’t be afraid to step into the intense limelight of LA. Wentz might be a star in four or five years but the Rams roster is ready to move now and that means getting a guy that can be above average next year. I do like Goff and if he went to a team with better WRs I think he could be dangerous but the Rams’ WRs are just okay and I’m not sure he will necessarily raise their level of play.

Philadelphia Eagles (7-9 from Cleveland): Carson Wentz QB North Dakota St.

They have Sam Bradford as their starter (for now) and they signed Chase Daniel to be the backup but that didn’t stop Howie Roseman from making a major deal to move up from his previously attained #8 pick (in a trade with Miami) to get his new head coach Doug Pederson the QB he wants. I could make the argument that grabbing Ezekiel Elliott at RB is a smarter move or taking Laremy Tunsil as Jason Peters eventual replacement. Jalen Ramsey would be a huge upgrade to their secondary but you don’t make this type of trade to move up for those guys you do it for a QB and a QB only. Wentz checks a whole lot of the boxes you look for when looking for a NFL QB but he is going to need a little time. Bradford is reportedly already upset so perhaps they can trade him to recoup some of the picks they gave up, the Jets and Broncos still need viable starting QBs.

San Diego Chargers (4-12): Jalen Ramsey DB Florida St.

The Chargers are already essentially on the clock because regardless of the order the two QBs are going #1 and #2 and that suits the Chargers just fine because they don’t need a QB and it means they get their pick of the best player in their estimation. LT Laremy Tunsil, DE DeForest Buckner and Ramsey are the obvious candidates and the Chargers will probably be debating those three all the way to draft day. I’m picking Ramsey because besides being the best player in the draft by my evaluation they need him more than Tunsil and he’s better value than Buckner. They have King Dunlop and Joe Barksdale at OT and they hope they are healthy along with the rest of the line this year and if they are then Tunsil would be a luxury. Buckner is a very good 3-4 DE prospect and while they need that they really need someone at safety to replace Eric Weddle. The depth at DE in the draft is better than it is at safety so they can still get a viable starter at DE later but they can’t get anyone on Ramsey’s level except him.

Dallas Cowboys (4-11): DeForest Buckner DE Oregon

This could be Joey Bosa but Buckner is the better DE prospect and while he would be an excellent 3-4 end and the Cowboys run a 4-3 defense he can fit anywhere. Greg Hardy has been jettisoned, Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence are both suspended for failed drug tests for the first 4 games of the year and Gregory is a substance abuse time bomb. Buckner can play end and if by some miracle the Cowboys get Lawrence and Gregory back for the long haul Buckner has the ability to slide inside to DT and pass rush from there. There is plenty of talk of Dallas looking to take RB Ezekiel Elliott here and while Jerry Jones is that crazy his son Stephen has been making the decisions lately and he’s far saner. Elliott is a fantastic talent but with Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar returning and the recent signing of Alfred Morris the Cowboys have far bigger worries the RB. They would absolutely love to get their hands on Jalen Ramsey so a trade up one spot is possible if they are willing to give the Chargers a little something.

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

Myles Jack is one of the lottery tickets in this draft, he could pay off huge or he could be money down the drain. He is recovering from a knee injury and while some reports say his medical re-check didn’t go well that is most likely just a smokescreen coming from a team trying to push Jack down the draft board. He worked out at UCLA’s pro day despite only being at what he said was about 80% healthy. The Jaguars GM and head coach have met with him and I’m pretty certain they would like to add his playmaking to the free agents they signed in the off season on defense. They signed DT Malik Jackson, CB Prince Amukamara and S Tayshaun Gipson and Jack would give them a player at the LB level. His draft position comes down to his medical evaluation because as a player on the field he is a top 5 talent.

Baltimore Ravens (5-11): Laremy Tunsil OT Mississippi

Ozzie Newsome has always been and will forever be the guy who goes with the best player available. While he would love to have DeForest Buckner for his defensive line if he makes it to #6 it is pretty much a consensus that Tunsil is one of the top 2 players in this draft with Jalen Ramsey and Newsome can’t ignore that. LT Eugene Monroe hasn’t been very good lately and can’t stay healthy and the Ravens have a $100 million QB to protect. Tunsil makes Monroe’s health less of a problem and potentially makes him a cut candidate or just a backup swing tackle. Just like last year when Leonard Williams fell to the Jets in the sixth spot Tunsil is arguably the best player in the draft and yet he is here for the Ravens.

San Francisco 49ers (5-11): Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame

The 49ers are in flux at QB and still need to make a decision on what to do with Colin Kaepernick. Unfortunately for them with Goff and Wentz going off the board so early they don’t have a chance to grab his replacement unless they reach for Paxton Lynch. As long as Trent Baalke is still in charge I don’t see that happening. Baalke would love to trade down but if he can’t find a trade partner here he should address his offensive line. The offensive line was a strength not too long ago but Joe Staley is aging at LT, Anthony Davis is supposed to be returning at RT from his one year “retirement” and Alex Boone left in free agency to Minnesota. Ronnie Stanley would plug in nicely at RT if Davis isn’t up to the task of returning and he’s a nice potential replacement for Staley. Perhaps the 49ers could even explore a trade for Staley and see what they could get for him.

Miami Dolphins (6-10 from Cleveland): Ezekiel Elliott RB Ohio St. (TRADE)

I don’t usually do this but I’m calling a trade, okay I never do this but here it goes. If Ezekiel Elliott gets past Cowboys at #4 he’s going to become a hot commodity and the Dolphins won’t have the patience to wait for him. They let Lamar Miller go in free agency and struck out trying to pry CJ Anderson away from the Broncos which leaves them with Jay Ajayi the rookie from last season. I like Ajayi but Elliott is special and they have a prospect crush on him. He would certainly help Ryan Tannehill’s development because he’s a fantastic all-around RB who can run, catch and pick up a blitz. The Dolphins are going all in with Adam Gase and trying to give him some players to coach up.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10): Joey Bosa DE Ohio St.

The Buccaneers will have a choice to make if the draft falls this way. Bosa is the type of pass rusher they need and he fits their 4-3 scheme perfectly. However, it won’t be a lock if CB Vernon Hargreaves is here too. Hargreaves is a top corner prospect and the Bucs secondary was pretty bad last year. Bosa wins out because it has been far too long since the Bucs had a decent outside pass rush and they are wasting the best years of DT Gerald McCoy’s career without giving him some help up front. If Bosa can team with McCoy to improve the pressure the defense generates it will make the signing of CB Brent Grimes more impactful and perhaps resurrect the careers of CBs Alterraun Verner and Jonathan Banks.

New York Giants (6-10): Vernon Hargreaves CB Florida

The Giants signed Janoris Jenkins to a big free agent deal and he replaces the departed Prince Amukamara and teams with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie but they don’t have much else and Rodgers-Cromartie isn’t getting any younger. The NFL is a passing league and having three CBs is usually a good idea. Hargreaves can come in and play in the slot before he eventually takes over Rodgers-Cromartie’s job outside. The Giants are a team that doesn’t usually reach for need and while they tend to value pass rush over all else on defense I think Hargreaves is better value than DE Shaq Lawson or OLB Leonard Floyd. I would argue they should look to a LB like Reggie Ragland to improve their bad LB corps but they have never seemed to care that they aren’t very good at LB.

Chicago Bears (6-10): Jack Conklin OT Michigan St.

Conklin isn’t flashy he’s a lunch pail type of player but that should fit right in with the Chicago Bears. The signing of Bobbie Massie was fine if they play him at RT so they can move Kyle Long back inside to guard but if they line Massie up at LT they will get Jay Cutler killed. Conklin won’t ever be confused with Orlando Pace or Walter Jones but he’ll get the job done better than anyone on the current roster. There is a lack of elite LTs in the NFL and Conklin isn’t going to change that but he’s solid if unspectacular and will be quite an upgrade over anything they currently have on the roster.

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

The Saints could certainly use another CB given Brandon Browner was a complete disaster last season and has been let go. The could use a WR to replace the great Marques Colston who was Drew Brees’ favorite target for years. However, this team’s defense has been bad lately and they have virtually no pass rush outside of Cameron Jordan and Shaq Lawson is solid value at this pick. Lawson may never be a Pro Bowl DE but he can be a double digit sack guy and that would be huge for this team. The secondary would be helped mightily if the defensive line could get some pressure and Lawson is better than any CB they could get at this spot if Ramsey and Hargreaves are gone.

Cleveland Browns (3-13 from Miami): Laquon Treadwell WR Mississippi (TRADE)

The Browns are the wildcard in the top 10 because they certainly need a new QB unless you buy the RGIII redemption story but they also need so many other positions. RT, C, WR and RB on offense are all areas of need so if the Dolphins come through with the right package they will trade down again. They could draft Ezekiel Elliott themselves if they stay at #8 but he would be wasted behind a terrible offensive line. Treadwell has been all over my mock drafts because his future outlook is hard to pinpoint. He could be a dominant physical #1 receiver or he could be just a big-bodied slow WR that never learns to get open. If the Browns really want to give RGIII a chance to succeed at QB it would be wise to give him someone other than TE Gary Barnidge to throw to. Treadwell could make a good target because he helps a QB out with his good catch radius (the QB doesn’t have to be quite as accurate when Treadwell can go up and get the ball). This would be another smart move by the new Cleveland front office, what a concept.

Oakland Raiders (7-9): William Jackson III CB Houston

The Raiders signed Sean Smith from their rivals the Chiefs to address their CB position and last year their waiver wire pick up David Amerson played fairly well but beyond those two it’s a crapshoot. Perhaps they will replace one former first round Houston CB with another. DJ Hayden has not panned out and it may be time to cut their losses. Grabbing a corner would also allow them to use TJ Carrie at the safety position where they need some help alongside free agent signee Reggie Nelson and Nate Allen. Jackson is a very good prospect and would be a hedge against Amerson reverting to his less than stellar play from his time in Washington.

Tennessee Titans (3-13 from Los Angeles): Taylor Decker OT Ohio St.

It is not a given that the Titans will draft an OT now that they are picking 15^th instead of 1^st and have a boatload of picks in the first three rounds. It just so happens that it works out in this mock draft that Taylor Decker is available so their OT situation becomes the tale of two Taylors. Taylor Lewan was all but set to get kicked to RT when the Titans were staring at Laremy Tunsil #1 overall but now it’s not a given. Lewan and Decker can fight it out in minicamp and training camp, one becomes the LT the other the RT but either way it’s better than either Byron Bell or Jeremiah Poutasi lining up at RT. The Titans traded for RB Demarco Murray and while he was terrible in Philly last year he still has some miles left on him so upgrading the line and relying on Murray a bit more would be quite helpful to the development and health of Marcus Mariota. The four other picks in the next two rounds and the extra 1^st and 3^rd next year should really help Mariota’s development too.

Detroit Lions (7-9): Sheldon Rankins DT Louisville

Detroit is going to be upset if the top four OTs are off the board as they are in this mock draft and while I love OT Jason Spriggs I’m not sure the Lions feel the same. It’s a new regime in the front office so it’s tough to tell where they will go. DT Haloti Ngata was re-signed but he’s not getting any younger and Tyrunn Walker was hurt last season so some help up front on defense is needed. Perhaps the new front office will go for best available player if the four top OTs are off the board. Rankins is a disruptive force in the middle and while he’s not big he would make for a destructive pairing with emerging DE Ziggy Ansah. WR might seem like a position of need after the retirement of Calvin Johnson but the Lions signed Marvin Jones and Jeremy Kerley to team with Golden Tate in an effort to not rely on one WR so much. They can still draft an OT in the 2^nd or 3^rd round and whomever they get will still be an upgrade over current RT Michael Ola.

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

In my last mock draft, I had Darron Lee going here because Ragland was off the board and the Falcons could prefer Lee over Ragland but I have Ragland rated higher. Lee is more of the coverage LB while Ragland is seen more as the run-stuffing middle linebacker. Either one would be a huge upgrade to the Falcons LB corps and while there is a perception Ragland is just a thumper in the middle he’s pretty athletic himself. Lee has elite speed that Ragland doesn’t possess but the Falcons could really use an enforcer on defense and someone to set a new tone. Ragland would bring an attitude and might light a fire under some of the rest of the front seven in Atlanta.

Indianapolis Colts (8-8): Leonard Floyd OLB Georgia

I’ve had the Colts taking linemen before and no one would fault them for grabbing G/T Cody Whitehair or OT Jason Spriggs to protect the franchise, Andrew Luck. However, there is a drop off after Decker at OT and while Whitehair will be a very good OG you can get one of those later. Floyd is one of the better athletes you’ll see and the Colts have to get someone to rush the passer. He has great length and can bend the edge on the pass rush which the Colts sorely lack. Robert Mathis is nearly finished, Eric Walden never was any sort of pass rusher and they just cut former 1^st round pick Bjoern Werner. Floyd gives them someone they can just turn loose as a pass rusher and hope he can be the guy. They could reach for a safety like Vonn Bell but Floyd is a much higher rated prospect. Floyd is good value and a major need and for their entire team’s sake I hope they don’t waste another 1^st rounder on project like Werner or a luxury like WR Phillip Dorsett last year.

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

I find it interesting that the two names most frequently mentioned for the Bills pick are Spence and Robert Nkemdiche, they just so happen to be the biggest off-the-field risks in the draft. No one doubts Rex Ryan’s ability to overlook the red flags. The Bills have to get someone to help out Jerry Hughes if Ryan’s defense is going to dominate the way they need it to in Buffalo. Spence has a long list of off-the-field issues but Ryan needs a new DE to replace the departed Mario Williams who was lackluster at best last season. He is a little undersized at DE but then again so is Hughes but both can get pressure and that is all Ryan will ask. The Bills need a RT, a LB or they could be a surprise place for a QB like Paxton Lynch to go but I think Ryan will go with defense first. Spence wasn’t as dynamic at the combine as many had hoped he would be but that just means he should still be available at 19^th instead of going 5-10 picks earlier.

New York Jets (10-6): Vernon Butler DT Louisiana Tech

Butler is the unknown prospect to many because he comes from Louisiana Tech and he plays nose tackle, you don’t get more obscure than that. I’ve had the Jets taking an OLB because they desperately need one but with Floyd and Spence gone there isn’t much value left at the position. One of the biggest losses no one is talking about from free agency was the Jets losing Damon Harrison to the Giants. Harrison was the unsung hero of the Jets great defensive line and while they grabbed Steve McClendon from the Steelers he’s already 30 years old. Butler is big and physical and could step right in to Harrison’s place. It’s not as flashy as getting a pass rushing OLB but it’s just as important for the Jets defense. I would rank A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed from Alabama as better DTs than Butler but Butler is better suited for the NT position the Jets need.

21. Washington Redskins (9-7): A’Shawn Robinson DL Alabama

The Redskins offense was surprisingly affective last season under the guidance of Kirk Cousins so there are no glaring needs that must be addressed that can’t be said about the defense. There are several holes and a lack of overall talent on the defensive side of the ball so grabbing the best available defender would be a good strategy. GM Scot McCloughan knows that building from the line is a good strategy which is why he signed Chargers free agent DE Kendall Reyes but they still need help. Robinson can play multiple positions on the Redskins 3-man line and if you line him up at DE with last year’s rookie LB Preston Smith on the same side you might actually generate some push and pass rush. The Redskins could certainly use a LB too but luckily for them the signing of CB Josh Norman solved one big secondary problem.

22. Houston Texans (9-7): Jarran Reed DL Alabama

Everyone has Houston taking a WR in round one to pair with DeAndre Hopkins to give Brock Osweiler more weapons but I think the value is elsewhere. There are going to be very good WRs in rounds 2 and 3 but Jarran Reed is a top DL that fits the 3-4 alignment of the Texans. Reed could line up at DE opposite JJ Watt or fill in for aging NT Vince Wilfork. He is known as the other Alabama DT in this draft but he’s just as good if not better than A’Shawn Robinson. The Texans can still get a complementary WR in Round 2 for Hopkins but they won’t find a better fit for their defense than Reed.

Minnesota Vikings (11-5): Josh Doctson WR TCU

The Vikings need a complement to Stefon Diggs who was pretty good last season but would be better if he wasn’t the #1 guy. Doctson brings size and speed to the position that could really help in the development of QB Teddy Bridgewater. It is a bit of a pick’em between WRs Doctson, Corey Coleman and Will Fuller but Coleman and Fuller are not as big and may be too similar to Diggs. The Vikings could look to trade up a bit if Laquon Treadwell if they think he’s worth a move. The Vikings could also look to Darron Lee at LB as a replacement for Chad Greenway even though they are bringing Greenway back for another year. Lee has the speed and athleticism to take over the OLB spot and play with Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr.

24. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4): Corey Coleman WR Baylor

It seems a foregone conclusion that the Bengals will grab a WR here because they lost Marvin Jones and Mohammed Sanu in free agency and the pick-up of Brandon LaFell excites no one. It could be any one of a host of WRs at this point and I’m going with Coleman over Michael Thomas or Will Fuller because he’s the better complement to AJ Green and LaFell. Coleman brings deep speed and the ability to play inside like Fuller but he has better hands. The Bengals are a fairly deep team but if they go away from the conventional wisdom they could look to bolster their defensive line depth with a DE like Kevin Dodd or DT like Andrew Billings.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): Eli Apple CB Ohio St.

The Steelers have defied conventional wisdom for several years by passing on CBs in the first round when they clearly have needed them. I was ready to have them pass on one again until they released Cortez Allen after two lackluster years and their 3^rd CB Brandon Boykin left in free agency leaving them with William Gay and Senquez Golson, who missed all of last year, as their top two CBs. They have to do something and while Apple has some issues that need to be worked on he has all the physical traits you look for and could be molded into a top CB in the NFL.

26. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): Germain Ifedi OT Texas A&M

I changed my mind on the Jason Spriggs pick here because while I like him better than Ifedi he is too much of a finesse LT for Seattle’s liking and Tom Cable could turn Ifedi into a very solid OT. This team can’t afford to go into the season with Garry Gilliam and J’Marcus Webb as the starting tackles and my recommendation would be to draft a OT in round 1, an OT in round 2 and then an interior lineman in round 3 and maybe another one in round 4, I’m not kidding. When this team gets to round 4 or 5 I’m going to be screaming Austin Blythe’s name if he hasn’t already been picked.

Green Bay Packers (10-6): Darron Lee LB Ohio St.

The Packers need to get a LB to line up inside so they can move Clay Matthews back to OLB where he can wreak havoc. Lee isn’t your typical ILB for a 3-4 like the Packers run because he’s a bit undersized but he is fast and versatile and this a team that has lined up Matthews at ILB and Julius Peppers as an OLB. Dom Capers has been pretty good at finding unorthodox ways of using players’ talents and Lee would give him one more piece to use. Whether he moves Lee around so he can use his speed to blitz or assigns him the toughest coverage matchup of the day Lee will improve the Packers defense. Getting either Lee or Reggie Ragland would be a dream scenario for the Packers.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5): Cody Whitehair OG Kansas St.

Everyone seems to have the Chiefs grabbing a CB to replace Sean Smith and that’s a reasonable assumption but I’m not sure Mackensie Alexander is what Andy Reid is looking for and Reid has a tendency to go for linemen early. While the pick-up of Mitchell Schwartz is an upgrade over losing Donald Stephenson the loss of Jeff Allen in free agency leaves the interior of the offensive line needing help. Cody Whitehair is the best guard in the draft and has the versatility to kick outside if needed. He would be an immediate starter and would really help the running game.

Arizona Cardinals (13-3): Ryan Kelly C Alabama

The Cardinals are in a position where they don’t need much and their roster is in pretty good shape but they are lacking at the center position. Lyle Sendlein has held down the position for years but he’s a free agent and not expected to return. Kelly is the top center on the board and while the position is usually devalued a bit the Cardinals have the luxury of not caring about that. They have signed free agents and drafted players to improve the line and Kelly would be the final piece. They have to keep Carson Palmer healthy to have an offense at all so this is a good investment.

Carolina Panthers (15-1): Jason Spriggs OT Indiana

Spriggs has some growing to do as far as his technique and overall skill because he didn’t play the offensive line until he got to Indiana. He has fantastic athleticism and I think his upside is immense. The Panthers started Michael Oher at LT and Mike Remmers at RT last season and while it worked well during the season it was a catastrophe during the Super Bowl. Taking Spriggs would allow them to swing Oher over to RT and even though he’s still not great that would be a preferable combination. I would actually advise them to take another OT in round 2 but I don’t know if they will.

Denver Broncos (12-4): Andrew Billings DT Baylor

The Broncos need a QB, we all know that, but Paxton Lynch just doesn’t feel right here because I think John Elway will go with a veteran (calling Sam Bradford). Realistically someone is moving up somewhere to take Lynch so I really don’t expect him to be here and I don’t think the Broncos are that team either. What Elway knows for sure is that replacing Malik Jackson’s production from last season is going to be hard and free agent DE Jared Crick ain’t gettin’ it done. Billings is a beast even though he’s a bit undersized. He can play anywhere along their 3-man front and wreak havoc. Having a disruptive interior presence frees up the outside pass rushers Von Miller and Demarcus Ware and we all know how that worked out for them last season.

The New England Patriots hereby boycott the 1^st Round of this draft because Roger Goodell is an asshat.

Round 2

32. Cleveland Browns: Mackensie Alexander CB Clemson

Joe Haden played 5 games last season, Tramon Williams is 33 years old and Justin Gilbert is a bigger bust than Johnny Manziel. The Browns roster is a wasteland so whomever they take is going to play…a lot. Take the best player available, that’s Alexander.

33. Tennessee Titans: Chris Jones DT Mississippi St.

The Titans addressed the OT position in round one now it’s time to get a little help on the defensive line. Jones is 6’6 310 lbs. and could help at any of the three positions on the Titans line and he adds great depth that they don’t have.

34. Dallas Cowboys: Kendall Fuller CB Virginia Tech

Orlando Scandrick is coming off knee surgery, Brandon Carr isn’t what he used to be and Byron Jones is better off at safety. Morris Claiborne was finally okay at corner but he’s on a short term contract and he needs help. Fuller is also coming off knee surgery but he’s my favorite CB in this draft when healthy. This is good value once he’s fully recovered.

35. San Diego Chargers: Kamalei Correa OLB Boise St.

This may be too low for Correa as he’s a late riser in the draft process. He brings a pass rush as an OLB which is exactly what the Chargers defense needs. If Correa can be a playmaker in the front seven it will make Jalen Ramsey that much more of a playmaker on the backend.

36. Baltimore Ravens: Emmanuel Ogbah DE/OLB Oklahoma St.

Ogbah is an interesting fit since he’s more of a 4-3 DE but the Ravens once took a DE named Terrell Suggs and moved him to OLB and that worked pretty well. Ogbah has good athleticism and he gives them some youth at OLB.

37. San Francisco 49ers: Paxton Lynch QB Memphis

If Lynch is still here the 49ers have to pull the trigger, I don’t think the 49ers would pull the trigger at 7^th overall but they may trade down from there or potentially move up between 15-25 to grab Lynch. I’m not a huge fan of his but someone will take a shot. Lynch isn’t going to be the 37^th pick in this draft but he wouldn’t fall any farther.

38. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kevin Dodd DE Clemson

The Jags offense is fine and they have concentrated this off season on defense and one thing they know for sure is you can never have too many pass rushers. Malik Jackson was brought in to bring pressure inside and they hope Dante Fowler can attack off the edge but DE Jared Odrick isn’t much of a pass rusher so Dodd could be an immediate pass rushing specialist.

39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vonn Bell SS Ohio St.

The Buccaneers got the pass rusher they wanted in Ohio St’s Joey Bosa in round one and now they come back around to his teammate Bell in round two. The Bucs secondary is pretty bad but Brent Grimes helps at CB while Alterraun Verner and Jonathan Banks still have hope at CB, safety on the other hand is pretty bad. Bell would walk in as a day one starter.

40. New York Giants: Derrick Henry RB Alabama

The Giants haven’t been great lately and ownership is getting a little restless. Rashad Jennings is a nice RB but Henry could be an upgrade. I’m not a big Henry fan but he checks all the boxes; big, physical, fast, etc. Eli Manning would probably benefit most here towards the end of his career having a dominant running game.

41. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Bullard DE Florida

Bullard gets lost amongst the DE/DT/OLB group in this draft because his position is unclear. He is extremely versatile and was used in so many different ways at Florida. Bullard is strong and stout and would help the Bears as a 3-4 DE but could bring pressure too.

Miami Dolphins: Su’a Cravens LB/SS USC

Cravens is a bit of a mystery because he was at one time a dominant SS and enforcer for USC and then they moved him to LB. He could play OLB in the NFL or SS but either way his versatility would be a good thing for the Dolphins as they need help at both spots.

43. Tennessee Titans (from LA): Artie Burns CB Miami

Taking care of the offensive and defensive lines with their first two picks they can grab a nice CB prospect with one of the many picks they got in their trade from the Rams. Burns would be a welcome addition to a less than stellar CB group and that’s exactly why the Titans made this trade, time to get upgrades all around.

44. Oakland Raiders: Robert Nkemdiche DT Mississippi

A guy with a troubled past going to the Raiders is nothing new but this isn’t like old times. The Raiders are actually in a positon to be a good place for Nkemdiche. Derek Carr and Khalil Mack are the new leaders of the team and veteran coaches like Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton Jr. would be great for him. He would be a nice versatile defensive line piece to line up at DT or DE. However, I’m not sure a potential future franchise move to Las Vegas is a great idea for him.

45. Tennessee Titans (from LA): Jaylon Smith OLB Notre Dame

This is the other reason making the trade was so huge. Jaylon Smith is a top 10 talent in this draft with a major medical question due to a knee injury. He probably isn’t going to play next season at all but when you have six picks in the top 76 you can take a chance on getting greatness down the road. It’s terrible what happened to Smith and he may never be the same but if he makes a full recovery he becomes a major piece of the Titans future.

46. Detroit Lions: Shon Coleman OT Auburn

Coleman is a great story because at 18 years old he found out he had cancer and after a two year fight he beat it and went on to play college football at Auburn. He’s a bit older than your normal prospect but he’s big, physical and pretty athletic. The Lions need a new RT and Coleman could plug in from day one. Matthew Stafford would welcome him with open arms.

47. New Orleans Saints: Joshua Garnett OG Stanford

The Saints cut Jahri Evans for salary cap purposes earlier this off season after a long career with the team and it leaves them very thin up front. Garnett could step in immediately as a starter on an offensive line with little depth.

48. Indianapolis Colts: Nick Martin G/C Notre Dame

The Colts need help on the interior of their line and Martin has the ability to play both guard and center. He isn’t the player his brother Zack is for the Cowboys but he’s pretty good and gives the Colts some options inside.

49. Buffalo Bills: Deion Jones LB LSU

The Bills LB corps is nothing special and Jones would bring speed and athleticism to Rex Ryan’s unit. His youth would be nice given Manny Lawson isn’t getting any younger.

50. Atlanta Falcons: Hunter Henry TE Arkansas

TE is the weakest position in this draft which might push Henry higher up the draft board than he should be so he might not make it this far. He is the only TE I expect from this draft class to help his team next year at all (South Carolina TE Jerell Adams is a nice prospect but he’s really raw). Henry is a good all-around TE and would be a major upgrade for Atlanta and he would become a Matt Ryan favorite.

51. New York Jets: Shilique Calhoun DE/OLB Michigan St.

Calhoun was a DE for the Spartans but he has the size and athleticism to play as a pass rushing OLB for Todd Bowles defense. He will take some time to transition to LB but his natural pass rush instincts will be used immediately as the Jets have a huge need to bring pressure off the edge.

52. Houston Texans: Will Fuller WR Notre Dame

Fuller is a speed demon that will take the top off the defense and give Brock Osweiler a chance to unleash his arm. The only problem is that Fuller drops too many passes but I think the Texans can live with that if he takes some coverage away from DeAndre Hopkins. Fuller may go higher than this but he shouldn’t.

53. Washington Redskins: Keanu Neal FS Florida

Neal has been a late rising prospect and he brings some much needed talent to a position where the Redskins are lacking. They converted DeAngelo Hall to safety at the end of last season because they were so in need of players. Neal needs some experience and refinement but he’s a major upgrade to what they have. Adding Neal and Josh Norman would fix a lot of problems in the secondary.

54. Minnesota Vikings: Karl Joseph SS West Virginia

The Vikings signed Michael Griffin from Tennessee in an effort to give Harrison Smith some help at the safety position but Griffin is a 10-year veteran and his tank is on E. He could be a great mentor and a short stopgap measure to Karl Joseph who is a pretty good safety prospect that would look very good paired with Smith.

55. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenny Clark DT UCLA

Domata Peko and Pat Sims aren’t getting any younger and the Bengals need to have someone with some heft next to undersized DT Geno Atkins and Clark is a beast. He could come in and push those guys down the depth chart and maybe one of them right off the roster.

Seattle Seahawks: Sean Davis CB Maryland

As much as I want to give the Seahawks another lineman Davis actually fits their profile pretty well. He’s a big CB prospect at 6’1 201 lbs. and he has played safety before and is a physical player. The Legion of Boom needs someone opposite Richard Sherman and re-signing Brandon Browner is not the answer.

Green Bay Packers: Austin Johnson DT Penn St.

The Packers got their new LB in round one now what they need is some beef up front to replace the retired BJ Raji and keep their new ILB clear of blockers. Johnson is 314 lbs. of beef and he can anchor against the run extremely well. He fits the NT mold and will be a nice fill in.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Thomas WR Ohio St.

This may seem like a strange pick but with Martavis Bryant suspended for the year it leaves the Steelers with Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton as the top two WRs. Brown is fantastic but he and Wheaton are smaller players. Ben Roethlisberger likes to have one big guy and Thomas fits the bill. Bryant’s future is murky at best so Thomas is a nice alternative to have.

Kansas City Chiefs: Kentrell Brothers ILB Missouri

The Chiefs still have Derrick Johnson inside leading the way on defense but he’s been in the league 12 years and Jason Mauga is just a guy next to him. Brothers is one of the better ILB in this draft and if the position was valued a little bit more he wouldn’t make it this far. He’s a potential immediate starter in place of Mauga and he could eventually be the rock Johnson has been for so long.

60. New England Patriots: Le’Raven Clark OT Texas Tech

The Patriots have had an interesting off season as they jettisoned young pass rusher Chandler Jones for a pick (the next one) and a OG that needs a fresh start, Jonathan Cooper. They went out and found plenty of veteran help meaning they don’t have any real glaring needs. DT Terrance Knighton, DE Chris Long and TE Martellus Bennett should all play huge roles for this team. The Patriots have Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon going into the last year of their contracts and Nate Solder coming back from an injury so Clark would be a solid investment. Considering Clark played in Texas Tech’s high volume passing offense he should fit right in with the Patriots.

61. New England Patriots (from Arizona): Tyler Boyd WR Pittsburgh

They signed Chris Hogan as a restricted free agent away from the Bills and they added veteran Nate Washington to be a deep threat but Danny Amendola could be cut at any time and Julian Edelman is the only real threat at WR. Boyd would be a welcome addition and would give the Pats a young outside receiver to take pressure off of Edelman and Gronkowski. (Ok I’ll admit it I made this pick because I love Boyd and would love for the Pats to take him but it’s also a smart move, oh and I pray Bill Belichick doesn’t take a CB or S here because he’s terrible at drafting those positions this high).

62. Carolina Panthers: Carl Nassib DE Penn St.

They lost Jared Allen to retirement and Charles Johnson is back on a one-year deal and he isn’t getting any younger. Kony Ealy played well in the playoffs but he could use a hand. Nassib played well last year and could be a strong addition to a position of need.

63. Denver Broncos: Joshua Perry LB Ohio St.

Yes, I have them passing on a QB again. They lost Danny Trevathan in free agency and could really use someone to line up at ILB next to Brandon Marshall. Perry is big and versatile and he would step right in and play well at that position.

2016 Mock Draft 3.0 (Yep, 2 Rounds)

So the blockbuster trade of the #1 overall pick has sufficiently shaken up the 2016 draft and it looks like QBs will rule the day once again. Carson Wentz and Jared Goff aren’t exactly Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III but as the saying goes “If you don’t have a franchise QB you don’t pass on a potential franchise QB” and in this case you trade everything to get one if that’s what it takes. The Rams made their move to get up and get their QB of the future now it’s up to Cleveland to decide if they want the other one or if they want to cash in now that the price is set for trading up.

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

As much as I like Laremy Tunsil and Jalen Ramsey as the two best players in this draft the Rams didn’t give up two 1^st rounders, two 2^nd rounders and two 3^rd rounders over the next two drafts to take an OT or DB. This is about finally getting a QB and moving from being a 7-9 team to making some noise in the playoffs. It seems counterintuitive to think you draft a FCS QB, plug him into your starting lineup and all of the sudden you’re a playoff team but in LA’s case that just might happen. A great running game and a good defense just need a QB that isn’t the dumpster fire like Nick Foles was last year and they could compete. Wentz has a higher ceiling than Jared Goff and while the Rams are looking to be competitive in their first year back in LA they are also hoping Wentz develops into something great a few years from now when they move into their new stadium.

Cleveland Browns (3-13): Jared Goff QB California

I’m not certain the Browns are sold on Goff but new head coach Hue Jackson knows he has to get the QB position fixed and I don’t think RGIII is the answer. Johnny Manziel was an unmitigated disaster both on the field and off and Goff is the anti-Johnny. He’s mature and hardworking and he’s football IQ would allow him to step onto the field immediately as a starter. Goff has a quick release and processes information instantly and will never set foot on the field unprepared. Cleveland could ransom this pick if they aren’t sold on Goff and while it’s unlikely they get a haul like the Rams pulled off it would depend on who’s trading up. The 49ers and Eagles have been rumored to want to move up and since they pick 7^th and 8^th respectively they probably don’t have to give up quite as much as the Rams did since the Rams were moving up from 15^th. Of course if the Browns could get the Jets interested maybe they get as big of a haul since the Jets pick 20^th. Cleveland’s roster is a disaster so if they can get a bunch of picks they should make a deal.

San Diego Chargers (4-12): Jalen Ramsey DB Florida St.

The Chargers are the lucky beneficiaries of QBs going in the first two spots because it means they get there pick of the two top players. OT Laremy Tunsil would fit nicely at LT as a replacement for King Dunlop but I don’t think the Chargers are necessarily looking to replace Dunlop. The Chargers just need their offensive line to stay healthy and maybe an upgrade at center. However, they did lose the heart and soul of their defense with the departure of S Eric Weddle. Weddle had been a mainstay for years and Ramsey is a readymade replacement. Ramsey has future All-Pro ability and he’s a game changer on defense. He’s the best prospect in the draft and Chargers shouldn’t overthink this pick. Tunsil is certainly worth a long conversation and a DE (DeForest Buckner or Joey Bosa) is possible but it’s hard to pass up a once-in-a-generation talent like Ramsey.

Dallas Cowboys (4-12): DeForest Buckner DE Oregon

I’m sure the Cowboys would be more than happy if Ramsey falls here so they could take him and pair him with last year’s 1^st rounder Byron Jones and have two of the most athletic DBs in the NFL. Since Ramsey is gone they can flip a coin between Buckner and Joey Bosa. Bosa had more hype entering the season and the draft process but he wasn’t as dominant during the year and looked just okay during draft workouts. Buckner has really come on and he has the size and versatility to line up in multiple spots. He can start opposite Demarcus Lawrence at DE who started to come into his own last season and if Randy Gregory comes back from his drug suspension after 4 games Buckner can kick inside to DT in passing situations and give the Cowboys good pass rushing from three spots on the line.

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Myles Jack OLB UCLA

I’ve been on the Jack pick for Jacksonville for a while now and here’s why, this team is on the cusp of doing something and Jack can be the impact defender they need. He went back to Indianapolis for his medical recheck from the combine and the only issue was team’s concerned about his long-term viability in the league. His immediate recovery has gone well and the Jaguars are going for a major turnaround this year. They have the offense rolling behind Blake Bortles and they spent big money this off season on DL Malik Jackson, CB Prince Amukamara and S Tayshaun Gipson and with the return of last year’s draft pick Dante Fowler they hope to make a big move in the standings. Jack is the type of LB they are missing and while his knees may not be designed to last 10 years he could make the most of the next 5 with this Jacksonville team.

Baltimore Ravens (5-11): Laremy Tunsil OT Mississippi

Leave it to Ozzie Newsome to stand pat and end up with arguably the best player in the draft at a huge position of need for the Ravens. Tunsil is an immediate LT starter and has the potential to be a top LT in the league in short order (surprisingly there aren’t as many great LTs in the NFL as you might think). Eugene Monroe just hasn’t been able to stay healthy and effective for the Ravens and they need someone to protect Joe Flacco’s blindside. Tunsil is the best OT in the draft and his game would translate well to the passing attack the Ravens employ, he can pass protect long enough to let Flacco throw deep. Tunsil needs some work on his run blocking but he’s big, physical and athletic so he shouldn’t have a problem developing in that area. Newsome gets great value and immediate impact with very low bust potential, sounds like a Ravens draft pick to me.

San Francisco 49ers (5-11): Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame

This pick may depend on if Chip Kelly has managed to wrestle personnel control away from GM Trent Baalke by the time the draft rolls around. The York family has been pretty loyal to Baalke so I’m going to assume he maintains control. What was once a fantastic offensive line under Jim Harbaugh is a shell of its former self now even if Anthony Davis returns from his one year “retirement”. LT Joe Staley is a stalwart but he’s in year 10 and he might be worth more as a trade chip since he isn’t likely to be around to see the end of this rebuild. Ronnie Stanley could step in at RT and eventually replace Staley at LT when the time comes. Joey Bosa is a possibility here but he isn’t a great fit in the 49ers 3-4 scheme so unless the 49ers trade up to #2 to get Jared Goff I think Baalke goes with Stanley. If Kelly is making the call he might grab QB Paxton Lynch from Memphis and before you say this is way too high for Lynch Kelly is the guy who once drafted Marcus Smith from Louisville in the 1^st round in Philly. Don’t worry if you don’t know who that is neither does anyone else, including those who have had to play against Smith.

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

It could be interesting to watch if the 49ers and Eagles get into a bidding war for the #2 pick if they both like Jared Goff that much. My money would be on the 49ers only because I think they need a QB a little bit more and like Goff just a bit more too. The smokescreen coming out of Philly right now is that they don’t want a RB here and won’t take one this high, don’t buy it. New coach Doug Pederson is from the Andy Reid school of offense which means give me a decent QB, a good offensive line and great RB and we’ll be good to go. Ezekiel Elliott is special and don’t let anyone tell you differently. He’s the most well rounded back in this draft and he can play all three downs equally well. Elliott would make life much easier on Sam Bradford (or Chase Daniel) and keep Pederson’s offense moving right along. They could go defense here or if one of the two top OTs falls here that’s possible too but Elliott is too good to pass up.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10): Joey Bosa DE Ohio St.

If you had told me three months ago that Bosa would fall to 9^th in the draft, I would have said you’re crazy but here we are and circumstances change. The trade of the 1^st pick messed some things up and Bosa’s underwhelming combine workout hurt him. The great season by Buckner also had an effect. Bosa is a physical specimen but he didn’t always translate his physical ability to production on the field. Some of this is over analysis of a prospect and Tampa Bay couldn’t be happier if it plays out this way. They need someone to pair with DT Gerald McCoy and Bosa would benefit greatly lining up next to such a dominating interior player. It’s also the right scheme fit since Bosa’s best position would be as a DE in a 4-3 defense instead of a 3-4 like San Diego, Baltimore and San Francisco play.

New York Giants (6-10): Vernon Hargreaves III CB Florida

Chicago Bears (6-10): Jack Conklin OT Michigan St.

As I mentioned earlier there aren’t as many great LTs as you might think in the league so the position may be a bit overvalued in this draft, you will see five OTs drafted in the first round and potentially six. Conklin isn’t flashy and he’s a lunch pail type of player but that should fit right in with the Chicago Bears. The signing of Bobbie Massie was fine if they play him at RT so they can move Kyle Long back inside to guard but if they line Massie up at LT they will get Jay Cutler killed. Conklin won’t ever be confused with Orlando Pace or Walter Jones but he’ll get the job done better than anyone on the current roster.

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

Miami Dolphins (6-10 from Philadelphia): William Jackson III CB Houston

Clearly the Dolphins are planning on the return to health of many of their players on offense and the genius of new head coach Adam Gase to get that side of the ball moving in the right direction. I have no earthly idea what they are doing on defense. They let their best CB Brent Grimes go and replaced him with younger but less talented Byron Maxwell while at the same time they let younger and more talented DE Olivier Vernon leave while signing clearly past his prime Mario Williams. The certainly still have a huge need at CB and I like Jackson’s trajectory here as he is slowly climbing the boards and rightfully so. I’ve never been a big Mackensie Alexander fan but he’ll get a look here as will Ohio St’s Eli Apple. Jackson is a better all-around CB and I think he’s the pick.

Oakland Raiders (7-9): Reggie Ragland LB Alabama

Ragland is a MLB that plays the role of thumper against the running game. The Raiders went out in the off season and got Bruce Irvin to pair with Khalil Mack as pass rushers but they need someone to stop the run. Ben Heeney did a nice job stepping in at MLB last season but he is better suited for being a run and chase LB on the outside. Ragland can line up behind the behemoth interior DTs Dan Williams and Justin Ellis and shut down the running game. I think the free agent signing of CB Sean Smith, the pick-up of David Amerson last year and their willingness to give former 1^st rounder DJ Hayden one more try means they will pass on a CB in round one and go for the LB they need to solidify a much improved defense.

Tennessee Titans (3-13 from LA): Taylor Decker OT Ohio St.

Detroit Lions (7-9): Sheldon Rankins DT Louisville

Detroit is going to be upset if the top four OTs are off the board as they are in this mock draft and while I love OT Jason Spriggs I’m not sure the Lions feel the same. It’s a new regime in the front office so it’s tough to tell where they will go. WR Laquon Treadwell is a popular choice given the retirement of Calvin Johnson but after signing Marvin Jones and Jeremy Kerley to add to Golden Tate I’m not sure Treadwell gives them much bang for the buck here at 16^th overall. DT Haloti Ngata was re-signed but he’s not getting any younger and Tyrunn Walker was hurt last season so some help up front on defense is needed. Perhaps the new front office will go for best available player if the four top OTs are off the board. Rankins is a disruptive force in the middle and while he’s not big he would make for a destructive pairing with emerging DE Ziggy Ansah. They can address RT in the second round and still seriously upgrade from their current starter Michael Ola.

Atlanta Falcons (8-8): Darron Lee OLB Ohio St.

OG Cody Whitehair, S Vonn Bell, TE Hunter Henry or any LB with a pulse are all possibilities for this pick for the Falcons. They are the only team so desperately in need of a TE that they would consider one in round 1 and their offensive guard and safety positions are so bad they could grab Whitehair (the best OG in the draft) or Bell (the best safety not named Jalen Ramsey). Bell and Hunter would be reaches here so it’s either Whitehair or Lee and Lee is better value. Lee is a three down LB who can run circles around the entire LB corps on this team. His speed and coverage ability would be a breath of fresh air and while he may not transform the defense all on his own he would certainly help. They can address OG in later rounds and they will still upgrade but they won’t find a LB of Lee’s caliber later.

Indianapolis Colts (8-8): Leonard Floyd OLB Georgia

I’ve had Cody Whitehair going in this spot before but the Colts can look to later rounds to address the interior of their offensive line. Floyd is a roll of the dice as his athletic ability far outweighs his on field production. He has great length and can bend the edge on the pass rush which the Colts sorely lack. Robert Mathis is nearly finished, Eric Walden never was any sort of pass rusher and they just cut former 1^st round pick Bjoern Werner. Floyd gives them someone they can just turn loose as a pass rusher and hope he can be the guy. They have other holes and they may grab an OT or OG or they may reach for a safety like Vonn Bell. Floyd is good value and a major need and for their entire team’s sake I hope they don’t waste another 1^st rounder on project like Werner or a luxury like WR Phillip Dorsett last year.

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

DE Jerry Hughes resurrected his career in Buffalo but former Bill Mario Williams flopped last year and headed south to Miami. The Bills have to get someone to help out Hughes if Rex Ryan’s defense is going to dominate the way they need it to in Buffalo. Spence has a long list of off-the-field issues that will make teams think twice but Rex Ryan won’t shy away from Spence’s red flags. He is a little undersized at DE but then again so is Hughes but both can get pressure and that is all Ryan will ask. The Bills need a RT, a LB or they could be a surprise place for a QB like Paxton Lynch to go but I think Ryan will go with defense first. Spence wasn’t as dynamic at the combine as many had hoped he would be but that just means he should still be available at 19^th instead of going 5-10 picks earlier.

New York Jets (10-6): Vernon Butler DT Louisiana Tech

Washington Redskins (9-7): A’Shawn Robinson DL Alabama

Houston Texans (9-7): Jarran Reed DL Alabama

Everyone has Houston taking a WR in round one to pair with DeAndre Hopkins to give Brock Osweiler more weapons but I think the value is elsewhere. There are going to be very good WRs in rounds 2 and 3 but Jarran Reed is a top DL that fits the 3-4 alignment of the Texans. Reed could line up at DE opposite JJ Watt or fill in for aging NT Vince Wilfork. Reed is known as the other Alabama DT in this draft but he’s just as good if not better than A’Shawn Robinson. The Texans can still get a complementary WR in Round 2 for Hopkins but they won’t find a better fit for their defense than Reed.

Minnesota Vikings (11-5): Laquon Treadwell WR Mississippi

The stunning drop of the top overall WR in this draft is quite fortuitous for the Vikings as WR is their top need on the offensive side of the ball. They went into the off season with a lot of questions on the offensive line but they signed OG Alex Boone and OT Andre Smith and with the return to health of C John Sullivan and RT Phil Loadholt they hope their offensive line issues can wait a year. Stefon Diggs proved to be a great addition at WR but they cut Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson didn’t exactly light the world on fire. If Teddy Bridgewater is going to progress as a franchise QB he needs someone besides Diggs to throw to and Treadwell has #1 WR potential. Diggs would be better off as a #2 guy that can work in the slot and not have to be the top outside threat but he stretches the field and Treadwell would be a big-bodied complement that can dominate in the red zone.

Cincinnati Bengals (12-4): Corey Coleman WR Baylor

It seems a foregone conclusion that the Bengals will grab a WR here because they lost Marvin Jones and Mohammed Sanu in free agency and the pick-up of Brandon LaFell excites no one. It could be any one of a host of WRs at this point and I’m going with Coleman over Josh Doctson, Michael Thomas or Will Fuller because he’s the better complement to AJ Green and LaFell. Coleman brings deep speed and the ability to play inside like Fuller but he has better hands. The Bengals are a fairly deep team but if they go away from the conventional wisdom they could look to bolster their defensive line depth with a DE like Kevin Dodd or DT like Andrew Billings.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): Eli Apple CB Ohio St.

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

Nothing else is going to matter if the Seahawks go into next season with Garry Gilliam and J’Marcus Webb as their starting OTs. Spriggs doesn’t bring to mind the power running game the Seahawks are known for but he’s a terrific LT prospect with elite athleticism and he won’t get Russell Wilson killed. The Seahawks offensive line is terrible and they could draft Spriggs, Cody Whitehair, C Ryan Kelly or pretty much anyone else on the line here and they are immediately the best offensive lineman on the team. Tom Cable is generally considered one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL but the man is a coach not a wizard.

Green Bay Packers (10-6): Andrew Billings DT Baylor

The Packers absolutely need to get another ILB so they can move Clay Matthews back outside to take advantage of his superior pass rushing skills but that isn’t going to happen here unless Reggie Ragland or Darron Lee fall this far and that’s unlikely to happen. There are plenty of good ILBs they can grab later and for everyone’s sake they better. Billings will be a fantastic addition to the front three because he can play on the nose replacing BJ Raji and he can slide outside to rotate at DE. He’s strong as an ox and he and Mike Daniels would make a powerful pairing up front.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5): Cody Whitehair OG Kansas St.

Everyone seems to have the Chiefs grabbing a CB to replace Sean Smith and that’s a reasonable assumption but I’m not sure Mackensie Alexander is what Andy Reid is looking for and Reid has a tendency to go for linemen early. While the pick-up of Mitchell Schwartz is an upgrade over losing Donald Stephenson the loss of Jeff Allen in free agency makes the interior of the offensive line needed help. Cody Whitehair is the best guard in the draft and has the versatility to kick outside if needed. He would be an immediate starter and would really help the running game.

Arizona Cardinals (13-3): Ryan Kelly C Alabama

Carolina Panthers (15-1): Germain Ifedi OT Texas A&M

The Panthers defied all logic last year and won 15 games with two bad OTs but it caught up to them in the Super Bowl when Denver’s pass rush pounded on Cam Newton all day long. They cannot go into the season without some help and while Ifedi is not a solution at LT he would be an upgrade over Mike Remmers at RT. Ifedi struggled to transition to LT as an Aggie but he was fine at RT and that should be his position going forward. The Panthers could grab DE Kevin Dodd with the retirement of Jared Allen and the aging of Charles Johnson making that a position in transition. Or they could grab Vonn Bell since they need new blood at safety.

Denver Broncos (12-4): Mackensie Alexander CB Clemson

Yes, I know as of right not Mark Sanchez is in line to be their opening day starter but if you think John Elway is going to take a project QB like Paxton Lynch and hand him the keys to the defending Super Bowl Champions you’re crazy. Once the draft rolls around I actually expect one of these picks at the end of the first round to be traded to either San Francisco or the New York Jets so they can trade up to grab a QB. I think the Broncos will either find a way to trade for Colin Kaepernick from the 49ers or maybe they pull off a swap for the Bucs Mike Glennon. Alexander is a solid prospect and while the Broncos have three good CBs, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris and Bradley Roby, Talib is 30 years old Alexander is too good of value this late in the first round to pass on. The team could roll the dice on a character risk Robert Nkemdiche to replace the departed Malik Jackson but Alexander is the safer choice.

The Patriots are boycotting the first round this year 😉

Round 2

Cleveland Browns: Josh Doctson WR TCU

Whether it’s Robert Griffin III, a rookie QB or Josh McCown lining up under center next season the Browns have to do better than Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins at WR. Hue Jackson is an offensive coach and he knows he needs playmakers to fix this offense.

Tennessee Titans: Chris Jones DT Mississippi St.

Dallas Cowboys: Kendall Fuller CB Virginia Tech

Orlando Scandrick is coming off knee surgery, Brandon Carr isn’t what he used to be and Byron Jones might be better off at safety. Morris Claiborne was finally okay at corner but he’s on a short term contract and he needs help. Fuller is also coming off knee surgery but he’s my favorite CB in this draft when healthy. This is good value once he’s fully recovered.

San Diego Chargers: Kamalei Correa OLB Boise St.

Baltimore Ravens: Emmanuel Ogbah DE/OLB Oklahoma St.

San Francisco 49ers: Paxton Lynch QB Memphis

Somehow I see this pick actually happening somewhere between 25^th-32^nd overall as I think the 49ers will move up to grab Lynch if they don’t move up in round 1 to get a QB #2 overall. I’m not a huge Lynch fan and I think he’s going to take some time to develop but he’s a good athlete that could develop for whoever is the 49ers coach after Chip Kelly gets fired in 2 years, yeah that Baalke/Kelly marriage is not going to last too long.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Kevin Dodd DE Clemson

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vonn Bell SS Ohio St.

New York Giants: Derrick Henry RB Alabama

The Giants haven’t been great lately and ownership is getting a little restless. Rashad Jennings is a nice RB but Henry could be a massive upgrade. I’m not a big Henry fan but he checks all the boxes; big, physical, fast, etc. Eli Manning would probably benefit most here towards the end of his career having a dominant running game.

Chicago Bears: Jonathan Bullard DE Florida

Miami Dolphins: Su’a Cravens OLB/SS USC

Tennessee Titans (from LA): Artie Burns CB Miami

Oakland Raiders: Robert Nkemdiche DT Mississippi

Tennessee Titans (from LA): Jaylon Smith OLB Notre Dame

Detroit Lions: Shon Coleman OT Auburn

Coleman is a great story because after a two year fight he beat cancer and went on to play college football at Auburn. He’s a bit older than your normal prospect but he’s big, physical and pretty athletic. The Lions need a new RT and Coleman could plug in from day one. Matthew Stafford would welcome him with open arms.

New Orleans Saints: Joshua Garnett OG Stanford

Indianapolis Colts: Nick Martin G/C Notre Dame

Buffalo Bills: Deion Jones LB LSU

The Bills LB corps is nothing special and Jones would bring speed and athleticism to Rex Ryan’s unit. His youth would be nice given Manny Lawson isn’t getting any younger.

Atlanta Falcons: Hunter Henry TE Arkansas

TE is literally the weakest position in this draft which might push Henry higher up the draft board than he should be so he might not make it this far. He is the only TE I expect from this draft class to help his team next year at all. Henry is a good all-around TE and would be a major upgrade for Atlanta and he would become a Matt Ryan favorite.

New York Jets: Shilique Calhoun DE/OLB Michigan St.

Houston Texans: Will Fuller WR Notre Dame

Washington Redskins: Keanu Neal FS Florida

Minnesota Vikings: Karl Joseph SS West Virginia

Cincinnati Bengals: Kenny Clark DT UCLA

Seattle Seahawks: Christian Westerman OG Arizona St.

If you think I was kidding about the state of the Seahawks offensive line, I wasn’t. Tom Cable needs players to work with and while Jason Spriggs and Christian Westerman may seem a bit on the light side for the power running game they are athletic players that Cable can mold into a solid unit.

Green Bay Packers: Kentrell Brothers ILB Missouri

This would be a dream scenario for the Packers if they can’t get Reggie Ragland in the first round. Brothers is the next best ILB and while he isn’t quite on Ragland’s level he is good enough to be a starter and allow the Packers to move Clay Matthews back outside.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Thomas WR Ohio St.

Kansas City Chiefs: Xavien Howard CB Baylor

The Chiefs need a replacement for Sean Smith and Jamell Fleming and Phillip Gaines don’t inspire much confidence. Howard is a good athlete that would make a nice pairing with Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters. Teams are going to avoid Peters like the plague so the other CB is going to have to make some plays.

New England Patriots: Le’Raven Clark OT Texas Tech

The Patriots have had an interesting off season as they jettisoned young pass rusher Chandler Jones for a pick (the next one) and a OG that needs a fresh start, Jonathan Cooper. They went out and found plenty of veteran help meaning they don’t have any real glaring needs. DT Terrance Knighton, DE Chris Long and TE Martellus Bennett should all play huge rolls for this team. The Patriots have Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon going into the last year of their contracts and Nate Solder coming back from an injury so Clark would be a solid investment. Considering Clark played in Texas Tech’s high volume passing offense he should fit right in with the Patriots passing attack.

New England Patriots (from Arizona): Tyler Boyd WR Pittsburgh

Carolina Panthers: Carl Nassib DE Penn St.

Denver Broncos: Joshua Perry LB Ohio St.

The Blockbuster Trade

So the Titans got the ball rolling a few weeks early in the draft season by dealing the #1 overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams. I find it interesting that the trade happened 2 weeks out but that’s great because I wasn’t sure what ESPN and the NFL Network were going to beat into the ground for the next 14 days but now I can plan accordingly. Since the draft is my thing and I’ve had more than a couple of inquires about my thoughts I thought I would share my views on this trade.

The Rams side of the trade; they get #1 overall and a fourth and sixth round pick from Tennessee this year. They are getting skewered quite thoroughly by the talking heads on TV and radio from what I’ve seen and heard. Everyone wants to point out how bad the Robert Griffin III trade ended up for the Redskins a few years ago (ironically the Rams were on the other side in that one) but that’s a lazy interpretation of what’s happening here. The Rams are giving up two 1st round picks, two second round picks and two third round picks but it’s not the same scenario for them. The Redskins mortgaged their future to get RGIII and in doing so they were never able to build a roster around him that could help him compete. Their offensive line was terrible, the defense wasn’t any good and everything was on RGIII’s shoulders. A bad team doesn’t become great because of a new QB but a good team can take a step to greatness with the right QB. The Rams were 7-9 last year with a number of injuries and playing in a division with Seattle and Arizona. They have a cornerstone piece in RB Todd Gurley and a solid offensive line that just needs a little tweak or two. The defense has DE Robert Quinn, DT Aaron Donald and LB Alec Ogletree to build on. The general consensus is that the Rams intend to draft North Dakota St. QB Carson Wentz #1 overall and while it seems a stretch to think he’s going to be some phenom his rookie year he doesn’t need to be. He only has to be better than Nick Foles and Case Keenum were last season and that’s setting the bar pretty low. The Rams roster isn’t lacking talent it’s lacking a decent QB. Wentz isn’t going to be expected to throw for 4000 yards because Jeff Fisher is going to ride a solid defense and Todd Gurley all day long. Wentz is in for a culture shock heading from North Dakota St. to the bright lights of LA but he won’t be standing in the spotlight alone.

The Titans are in the complete opposite situation of the Rams. They have their cornerstone QB to build around in Marcus Mariota but unlike the Rams their roster is bereft of talent. I was a proponent of them drafting Laremy Tunsil to plug in at LT and moving Taylor Lewan to RT to improve their line in front of Mariota but Lewan can handle LT and they still can get a new OT like Jack Conklin or Taylor Decker at #15. Tunsil is good but it is definitely worth going from him to Conklin or Decker when you pick up 2 second rounders, a third rounder this year and a first and third rounder next year. Their offense needs an OT, a WR and probably an interior OL. The Titans defense needs a lot of help (DE, DT, LB, CB and S, did I miss a spot?). New Titans GM Jon Robinson knows that having a great QB is nice but it’s not worth much if he’s working alone. That’s the reason Robinson traded for RB DeMarco Murray and why he made this trade, the Titans need players not a player. If Robinson can draft as well as he’s played the rest of this off season things will be looking up in Tennessee.

The team that may have gotten the shaft here is the Cleveland Browns but only if they wanted Wentz and that isn’t clear at this point. If they really like Jared Goff better than this trade is great news because that means no one is going to be able to trade ahead of them now for Goff. If they wanted Wentz they are SOL. The silver lining maybe if someone else (San Francisco, Philly, NY Jets?) want Goff the price has been set pretty high to move up. One more thought if you are Cleveland. If you’re not set on taking QB you are now in prime position to trade your All-Pro LT Joe Thomas for as many draft picks as you can and you can draft Laremy Tunsil to be your LT for the next decade. Thomas deserves to play for a good team sometime in his career, he is the best LT in the NFL. #freeJoe

Hawkeyes in Spring

So the Iowa Hawkeyes have kicked off spring practice and I just so happen to have a little time to write about it. If you’re wondering if I’m ever going to write about the 2016 Rose Bowl I attended on January 1^st I regret to inform you that the game never took place. All the pomp and circumstance leading up to it did and all the tailgating and fun took place and then just before kickoff…poof…it was January 2^nd and it was never spoken of again. Got it? Good. Actually everything stopped about an hour before the game because I did not stand in that ridiculous line waiting to get into the Rose Bowl to watch that…that…thing that never happened.

The Hawkeyes are lucky enough to return some very important talent and leadership from last year’s team and may get even more if the NCAA gets off their ass and makes a decision on Drew Ott. First and foremost is the return of senior QB CJ Beathard and this spring is about getting his receivers up to speed and staying healthy. Beathard fought through a sports hernia most of last season and if he wasn’t breaking in a bunch of new pass catchers I would advise him to practice as little as possible. However, since QBs don’t get hit in the spring he should be fine and I’m guessing if anyone lays a hand on Beathard during practice the punishment will be no less than immediate beheading. Make no mistake this is Beathard’s team and it’s certainly his offense.

The leadership on defense is spread around a little bit more but MLB Josey Jewell is the quarterback of the unit. Jewell was a revelation last year when he stepped into the MLB spot and was allowed to just own it. He won’t be asked to do it alone as senior CB Desmond King skipped the 2016 NFL Draft to return to the Hawkeyes and he’s the type of playmaker that every defense dreams of having. He’s a pick machine and there are not going to be a lot of QBs looking to throw his way. There is one more potential major leader on defense and that’s DE Drew Ott if the NCAA ever gets around to deciding if he gets a fifth year of eligibility next season, if he does it’s a major addition to the team. If Ott gets another year I’m not sure the team even has to vote on captains because Beathard, Jewell, King and Ott are basically unopposed.

Offense

Quarterback

Starter: CJ Beathard (Sr)

There isn’t much more that needs to be said about Beathard. He rose to the occasion last year when he was given the keys to the kingdom and he played great even through a tough injury. The only thing that could hold him back this year is a lack of playmakers in the passing game and I’ll get to that in a minute.

Backup: Tyler Wiegers (So)

Wiegers got in the mix a little in relief of Beathard last season but he really doesn’t have much real playing time. However, he is the only QB besides Beathard with any playing time and he has 3 years of practice in so he’s basically the only real option.

Spring Storyline

With Beathard and Wiegers locked into the top two spots the only real story here is the battle of the redshirt freshmen. Ryan Boyle and Drew Cook both spent the year learning and it’s not exactly clear where either of them stand. Ferentz isn’t going to commit to either of them unless he has to and that only happens if there are two injuries. This spring practice will begin to determine their fates because if one of them moves to the forefront of the competition and with the arrival next fall of freshman Nathan Stanley the player one that falls behind might look to make a move. That could mean a transfer (unlikely in my opinion) or a position switch (much more probable).

Running Back/Fullback:

Starters: LeShun Daniels (Sr) Akrum Wadley (Jr)

I don’t care what the depth chart says I’m listing both of these guys here because this team is going to rely heavily on the thunder and lightning pairing. Daniels can be a beast but his power running style lends itself to him getting dinged up a bit so he needs a partner to share the load. Last year Jordan Canzeri was the guy getting the carries after Daniels was hurt and this year I think he’s in a timeshare with Wadley. Wadley’s playmaking may allow him to steal the job away but he’s still a little rough with ball security and Daniels will be asked to get the tough yards.

Backup: Derrick Mitchell (Jr)

Mitchell is Iowa’s third-down back because he’s a great pass-catcher out of the backfield (he should be he was a WR when he first came to Iowa) and he’s good in blitz pickup. The coaches know what they have in Mitchell and they trust him but he’s out for the spring due to off season surgery which leads me to…

Spring Storyline

With Mitchell out and my sincere belief that the coaches need to limit the number of hits Daniels takes it means the internet legend that is Eric Graham should get plenty of work. Graham was a late signee last year as a replacement for the late defection of Karan Higdon to Michigan. Graham came from off the recruiting radar out of Alabama but he looked solid on tape. When there isn’t a lot to see on tape and a guy redshirts but you get little nuggets saying he looks good in practice the “legend” grows. Graham needs to seize the opportunity to shine this spring before the two true freshmen Toren Young and Toks Akinribade show up and steal his “legend” status.

Fullback:

Drake Kulich is listed as the starter at fullback after he made the transition from being a linebacker previously and was mostly just depth last year behind Adam Cox and Macon Plewa. Kulich looks the part but he has some pretty big shoes to fill as Cox and Plewa were sort of the unsung heroes of the running game last season. Redshirt freshman Brady Ross has made the same transition Kulich made from linebacker and will be the backup at the position. Tough hard-nosed Iowa boys usually make solid lead blockers so these two should be able to handle the position.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Starters

WR: Matt VandeBerg (Sr) Jerminic Smith (So)

TE: George Kittle (Sr)

Somehow Matt Vandeberg is already a senior and I guess I should have seen it coming but it kind of snuck up on me. He is the quintessential possession receiver and he is undeniably CJ Beathard’s security blanket. He catches everything thrown his way and just seems to know how to get open when the offense needs him. The Hawkeyes finally figured out how to use him best last season and they should continue that this year. Jerminic Smith stepped in last season when Tevaun Smith was injured and while he wasn’t a major factor he showed big potential against Illinois and he could be a major playmaker. TE George Kittle should step in and be a weapon for Beathard in the passing game. He stepped up last year and was a nice complement to Henry Krieger Coble when Jake Duzey wasn’t able to stay healthy. It would be good if someone steps up to assist Kittle but for now he’s the only TE with real experience.

Backups:

WR: Riley McCarron (Sr) Adrian Falconer (RS Fr) Jay Scheel (So)

TE: Jameer Outsey (So)

McCarron will again be in the mix as a backup WR but everyone should be hoping that at least one of the many underclassmen can step it up. Falconer was very close to playing last year and he was the next-man-in if they had needed him but this year they need him to be a playmaker. Jay Scheel needs to stay healthy long enough to earn some playing time and if he doesn’t make a move on the depth chart now he may get passed by some younger guys. Outsey was a linebacker until last fall when the path to playing time there wasn’t emerging and the Hawkeyes decided to see if his athleticism translated to the offensive side of the ball. He only had one catch last year so he has work to do but there are some raw tools to work with.

Spring Storyline

It’s time for some of the guys on the roster to make a move now or get out of the way. The only givens here are Matt Vandeberg will be Beathard’s go-to guy and George Kittle will be an effective red zone target, after that it’s all a guessing game. Jerminic Smith, Adrian Falconer and Jay Scheel have a leg up but juniors Andre Harris and Jonathan Parker could have the light go on at any time. If the light doesn’t go on or anyone doesn’t step up redshirt freshman Emmanuel Ogwo has the speed to make a difference and incoming freshman Devonte Young might make noise in the fall. Iowa also has a potential late signee if Frank Darby gets the grades to qualify. At TE it’s time for Jon Wisnieski to get healthy, stay healthy and contribute or he will see his football future float away. Redshirt freshman Nate Vejvoda will be competing with three true freshmen in the fall and it’s not a coincidence the Hawkeyes added Noah Fant, Shaun Beyer and TJ Hockenson in the incoming freshman class. Like I said make a move now or get out of the way.

Offensive Line

Starters:

LT Cole Croston (Sr), LG Boone Myers (Jr), C James Daniels (So), RG Sean Welsh (Jr), RT Ike Boettger (Jr)

No, this isn’t listed as it is on the official spring practice depth chart that came out when practice started but I’m fairly certain Sean Welsh isn’t going to start at both C and RG. Welsh is playing C during practice because he’s shown he can play all over the line and he actually did some of his best work at RT last year when the Hawkeyes were dealing with multiple injuries. He may take to the position but if I were a betting man I would guess he lines up at RG, his other starting position he is listed at. James Daniels is sitting out spring after having off season surgery and there are not a lot of options at C so getting Welsh some practice there is a great idea but Daniels will be one of the best five offensive linemen come fall and it’s a pretty standard practice of Kirk Ferentz to start the best five guys. Croston took to LT pretty well last year when Myers went down so he’ll hold down the spot and that might be because he’s not as versatile as Myers who can kick inside to LG. Myers played well inside after returning from injury last year and he adds some nice size inside. Boettger was solid at RT last year and like others he got banged up but if he can stay healthy he’s a pretty good starter.

Backups:

LT Brett Waechter (RS Fr), LG Ryan Ward (Sr), C Steve Ferentz (Sr), RG Keegan Render (So), RT Dalton Ferguson (So)

The starting five looks pretty good but the backups leave a lot to be desired. Waechter is a redshirt freshman that has reportedly looked very good but he has some growing to do and while he’s listed on the depth chart as the backup if something happens to Croston I would expect Myers to kick out to LT and someone replaces him inside. It’s possible Waechter is the next man in as Ferentz has played young tackles inside to get them experience in past so we shall see. It would be nice to see fifth-year senior Ryan Ward actually contribute but I’m not holding my breath. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if Daniels gets hurt it will be Welsh at C not Steven Ferentz. Render and Ferguson are third year sophomores that need to show they deserve their spots before the younger guys pass them up.

Spring Storyline

The good news is that all five expected starters played last season and actually got significant time. The bad news is they got shuffled around a lot last year because of so many injuries meaning they really need to solidify their spots. Health will be important because the backups basically have no experience at all. The truth is that the backups are more likely to be fighting off the challenge of the young guys than they are to be competing for playing time with the starters. Last season’s freshmen class was made up of five prospects and only James Daniels didn’t redshirt. Brett Waechter already has made his move into the two-deeps but Levi and Landan Paulson and Jake Newborg will be pushing to make theirs this spring. It’s unlikely any of the new offensive linemen next year will push for playing time but keep an eye on OT Alaric Jackson because it’s been awhile since Iowa had a true OT recruit and someone will eventually have to pair with Waechter as a bookend.

Defense

Defensive Line

Starters

DE: Parker Hesse (So) Matt Nelson (So)

DT: Jaleel Johnson (Sr) Nathan Bazata (Jr)

As for now we are going to assume Drew Ott is denied his fifth year by the NCAA if only because I don’t want to jinx him. If he’s granted the extra year he replaces Matt Nelson at DE and Ott, Hesse and Nelson make for a nice three-man rotation. Hesse stepped in last year as a redshirt freshman when Ott went down and he held his own. He certainly needs some physical maturation and that he put on some weight in the off season so he should be better able to handle the demands of the position. Matt Nelson is in the same class as Hesse and he has needed even more growth over the past two seasons because he’s 6’7. His height has worked against him because without the matching bulk he can get pushed around but he’s 275 lbs. and now his length can be a positive because he really disrupts passing lanes.

Jaleel Johnson was a force inside last year as a first year starter and his size and power do a lot to make up for the lack of heft elsewhere on the line. He isn’t just a powerful run-stuffer you might think he is as he was quite adept at collapsing the pocket last season. Any time you can have a DT be as disruptive as Johnson is inside it wreaks havoc on your opponent. Nathan Bazata teamed with Johnson to replace Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat after they graduated and the Hawkeyes didn’t miss a beat inside. Bazata is the smaller of the two DTs but he’s a force. He wasn’t as disruptive as Johnson but he made plenty of plays and rarely gives ground.

Backups:

DE: Anthony Nelson (RS Fr) Sam Brincks (So)

DT: Faith Ekakitie (Sr) Jake Hulett (Jr)

The backups at DE are inexperienced and unknown as Anthony Nelson redshirted last season and Sam Brincks is a walk-on sophomore that has never taken a meaningful snap. This is precisely why the Hawkeyes are hoping Drew Ott gets another year. Faith Ekakitie is a solid senior that has plenty of experience and gives the Hawkeyes a nice third tackle to rotate with Johnson and Bazata. Jake Hulett is another walk-on that has not real experience.

Spring Storyline

The spring storyline is about the four redshirt freshmen and how they can contribute. Anthony Nelson has moved into the two-deeps but Brady Reiff, Garrett Jansen and Michael Slater all need to prove that they can be counted on when the season starts. With walk-ons Brincks and Hulett ahead of them they have some work to do. This story is going to continue over into fall camp because Iowa recruited 5 freshmen for 2016 and some of them could play immediately. Chauncey Golston and Cedrick Lattimore out of Michigan certainly look the part while Romeo McKnight, Austin Schulte and Brandon Simon bring a lot of talent to the table as pass rushers. With the exceptions of Jaleel Johnson and Faith Ekakitie the defensive line is very young, Bazata is the lone junior, which means most of the depth will return on the outside but what order that depth will be in is a question.

Linebackers

Starters:

Ben Niemann (Jr) Josey Jewell (Jr) Aaron Mends (So)

Niemann isn’t listed as a starter on the spring practice depth chart but that’s because he’s rehabbing an injury and unlike my conjecture on the offensive line that James Daniels will be a starter I can guarantee you Niemann will resume his position in the fall. Jewell was the foundation of the defense last season and his pairing with Niemann was nothing but spectacular. The two of them were outstanding meaning the team only needs to find a replacement for the graduated Cole Fisher. Fisher was a bit of a shocker when he took the starting job in fall camp last year from previous starter Bo Bower and while Bower is a possibility to start he is actually lining up at Niemann’s spot this spring while Aaron Mends fights off Jack Hockaday for the third LB spot. Mends mostly played on special teams last season but he got more playing time later in the year on defense and he brings a nice speed element to the group.

Backups:

Bo Bower (Jr) Angelo Garbutt (RS Fr) Jack Hockaday (So)

Bower has the most experience of any of the backups as he has previously been a starter during his redshirt freshman season. He’ll hold down Niemann’s spot during spring and he’ll get consideration for the other spot but he likely won’t beat out Mends or Hockaday. Hockaday is an interesting player because they used him last year on special teams just to get him on the field and he’s still raw as a LB because that wasn’t his primary focus in high school. As a true sophomore he has some learning to do but he’s simply too talented to keep off the field. Something tells me the competition between him and Mends will go into the fall. Garbutt redshirted last year and while he’s a good looking prospect I doubt he would actually play if something happened to Jewell. Bower has experience in the middle and Hockaday could slide in there too if needed.

Spring Storyline

Iowa has quite a bit of young talent to sort out this spring and while the biggest story is the competition between Mends and Hockaday the pecking order elsewhere needs to be established. Josey Jewell, Ben Niemann, Aaron Mends, Jack Hockaday and Bo Bower will take the lion’s share of the time at LB this season but young guys like Angelo Garbutt, Nick Wilson and Justin Jinning need to establish themselves before fall when a very talented quintet of players joins the LB corps. Kyle Taylor (Miles Taylor’s younger brother), Nick Niemann (Ben’s brothers), Amani Jones, Barrington Wade and Kristian Welch all arrive in 2016 and the competition will be fierce.

Defensive Backs

Starters:

CB: Desmond King (Sr) Greg Mabin (Sr)

SS: Miles Taylor (Jr) FS: Brandon Snyder (So)

The headliner of the Iowa Hawkeyes this season is Desmond King and he earned it. The Thorpe Award winner returns for his senior season as one of the best playmakers in college football and there won’t be many QBs looking to test him this year. He also was an excellent punt returner last year and he leads a pretty good looking starting backfield for the Iowa defense. Greg Mabin is another Hawkeye missing spring practice due to rehabbing an injury but with two years of starting experience under his belt his job is likely safe in the fall. Miles Taylor was a major upgrade at SS last season and he should only get better with more playing time. Taylor sometimes gets beat in coverage but he brings an attitude to the secondary. Brandon Snyder replaces veteran Jordan Lomax at FS and he should be solid as he battled with Taylor for the starting job last season and he saw real game action in 2015. Lomax was an underrated player and leader but this veteran secondary should be able to cope with his loss.

Backups:

CB: Maurice Fleming (Sr) Josh Jackson (So) Michael Ojemudia (RS Fr)

SS: Anthony Gair (Sr) FS: Jake Gervase (So)

Fleming is the most experienced backup in the secondary but he lost time to Josh Jackson last season. This spring Fleming and Ojemudia are listed as the second unit CBs because Jackson is recovering from an injury. Jackson looked pretty solid and he brings nice size and athleticism to the position. Also the secondary will lose King, Mabin and Fleming after 2016 meaning Jackson is a pretty important player going forward. Ojemudia is playing CB as much out of necessity as he is merit. He has nice size but is still pretty raw. Gair played last year as a backup at both safety spots and he’ll continue to be the third safety and he’ll get time. Gervase is likely a placeholder and the depth at safety is pretty shallow.

Spring Storyline

The storyline is wait until fall. The rehab of Mabin and Jackson means Ojemudia will get plenty of reps to get better but the Hawkeyes better hope the true freshmen coming in August can help immediately in the secondary. Lance Billings, Cedric Boswell, Emmanuel Rugumba and Amani Hooker could all make a move up a depth chart that isn’t all that deep. Hooker is a playmaker and while his potential at safety is enormous he may be needed as a CB if there are any health issues next season. There is room to move at the position and if Hooker isn’t helping out at CB he could be a playmaking safety over the deep middle so Brandon Snyder may want to step up his game. Rugumba is a very good athlete that could play WR or DB so if there is playing time to be had he may make a move too.

Kickers:

I don’t like to talk about kickers or punters but Iowa lost Marshall Koehn and there will be a battle to replace him between Miguel Recinos, Mick Ellis and anyone else with a pulse that might be able to kick a football. The punting position is in even worse shape with the graduation of Dillon Kidd and I wouldn’t even venture a guess who might come out on top there.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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