Arizona Cardinals

24. DJ Humphries   OT   Florida

58. Markus Golden   DE   Missouri

86. David Johnson   RB   Northern Iowa

116. Rodney Gunter   DT   Delaware St.

158. Shaq Riddick   OLB   West Virginia

159. JJ Nelson   WR   UAB

256. Gerald Christian   TE   Louisville

Immediate Impact:  OT DJ Humphries, RB David Johnson

I’ve made no secret that I have little faith in DJ Humphries becoming a great OT in the league and I didn’t think he should go in the first round.  I hate him here even more.  Humphries is an athletic guy that lacks power and isn’t a drive blocker in the run game but the Cardinals already have Jared Veldheer at LT so Humphries is going to have to play the right side.  He’ll be a better pass blocker for Bruce Arians offense but if they want to improve the run game this won’t help.  I love the Johnson pick.  Johnson is bigger than Andre Ellington and can be a far better between the tackles runner.  He will hold up carrying the ball better than Ellington and while Ellington is a good pass catcher and an outside runner Johnson can do those two things when Ellington get hurt.  Johnson is actually a fantastic receiver out the backfield and if you don’t believe me just ask any Iowa Hawkeye defender from last season, they’re still trying to tackle him.

Best Value:  RB David Johnson

I can’t sing his praises enough and he’ll really upgrade their running game.  He’s a starting RB for them since Ellington is best used situationally, he may not actually start to start the season but once Ellington goes down in week 3 or so he’ll take the job and not give it back.  Your new starting RB in round 3 is pretty good value.

Sleeper:  DE Shaq Riddick

Riddick is 6’6 242 lbs. so he’s skinny as a rail and needs to add size but he struggled to produce last year at West Virginia because he played on the line instead of as a rush OLB like he should be.  He’s going to need some work and he has to hit the weights but he’s got a far higher ceiling than their 2^nd round pick Markus Golden because he’s a superior athlete.

Overall Analysis:

Absolutely love the David Johnson pick but it’s probably not a good sign that I like their last three picks better than their first two.  I’ve said my piece about Humphries but Golden is a different story.  The second round was too high for an athletically limited player that tries hard but lacks great pass rush ability.  Golden might be better if he dropped down to 245-250 lbs. range and played ILB.  It’s also too high when better pass rushers like Eli Harold and Lorenzo Mauldin were still available.  WR JJ Nelson is a tiny speed demon that had one of the fastest 40 times at in combine history at 4.25.  The Cardinals have their top 3 WRs in Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown but Nelson might make the team as a return man.  TE Gerald Christian was the final pick of the draft and while that isn’t always optimal for the player Christian could make this roster at TE because with the recent retirement of John Carlson there is room to move on this roster.

San Francisco 49ers

17. Arik Armstead   DE   Oregon

46. Jaquiski Tartt   SS   Samford

79. Eli Harold   OLB   Virginia

117. Blake Bell   TE   Oklahoma

126. Mike Davis   RB   South Carolina

132. DeAndre Smelter   WR   Georgia Tech

165. Bradley Pinion   PT   Clemson

190. Ian Silberman   OG   Boston College

244. Trent Brown   OG   Florida

254. Rory Anderson   TE   South Carolina

Immediate Impact:  DE Arik Armstead

The 49ers have Darnell Dockett and they might still have Justin Smith at DE but Dockett is 33 years old and he’s the young one of those two.  Whether Armstead starts or not he’ll see plenty of playing time and he’s a fantastic fit in the 49ers defense.  He’s still a bit raw but playing the five-technique in a 3-4 defense doesn’t have to be all that complicated and he should have some good veterans around him and his head coach Jim Tomsula knows a thing or two about defensive line play.

Best Value:  OLB Eli Harold

Harold earned a reputation during the scouting process as being soft and while that’s not completely untrue it’s a bit blown out of proportion.  He’s a speed rusher that really has no power move, he isn’t going to bull rush anyone.  If a strong blocker gets ahold of him he’s done.  He needs to gain functional playing strength and learn how to use leverage to beat power.  The 49ers have had edge rushers like this for a while and new defensive coordinator Eric Mangini had them in his previous stops so they will teach him some new tricks.  The good news is he won’t be called on to do anything except speed rush unless the 49ers have numerous injuries at OLB.

Sleeper:  WR DeAndre Smelter

This kid is going to be a real sleeper because he tore his ACL late in the year and I would say there is a better than average chance he spends this season on injured reserve.  Smelter played WR at Georgia Tech which means you can’t base his projection on his college production because Georgia Tech runs the triple option.  Smelter is a strong physical WR and while he isn’t big like Calvin Johnson he is big like Dez Bryant.  Smelter has a lot to learn about the WR position so he should take the year, heal up from his injury and learn everything he can from veterans Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith.

Overall Analysis:

Armstead and Harold are good players that fit the 49ers system and should help in time.  SS Jaquiski Tartt wasn’t my favorite safety on the board (Eric Rowe went one pick later) but he brings a physical presence to the position even more so than the guy he will eventually replace Antoine Bethea.  RB Mike Davis could actually stick on the roster because while he isn’t big he is a power runner and current backups Reggie Bush and Kendall Hunter are not and having a player similar to starter Carlos Hyde isn’t a bad idea.  The two TEs Blake Bell and Rory Anderson might actually end up making the team and Bell is a nice addition considering Vernon Davis’ production fell off a cliff last year.  I have no idea if the punter they took is any good and it’s unlikely we ever hear from their late OG picks.

Seattle Seahawks

63. Frank Clark   DE   Michigan

69. Tyler Lockett   WR   Kansas St.

130. Terry Poole   OL   San Diego St.

134. Mark Glowinski   OG   West Virginia

170. Tye Smith   CB   Towson

209. Obum Gwacham   DE   Oregon St.

214. Kristjan Sokoli   DE   Buffalo

248. Ryan Smith-Murphy   S   Oregon St.

Immediate Impact:  TE Jimmy Graham

I know this is a total cop out but on a team that just went to back-to-back Super Bowls it’s hard for draft picks to have much impact.  It’s even harder when you trade your first round pick to get a veteran.  It’s even harder still when you throw away your late second round pick on a guy that has as much chance of ending up in jail as he does getting a second NFL contract.  Graham becomes the #1 playmaker in the passing game and I’m just glad they didn’t have him in the Super Bowl because he makes that catch and no one ever knows who that Malcolm whatshisname is.

Best Value:  WR Tyler Lockett

Lockett is the only player they drafted that I can actually say I like.  It’s unfortunate that they had to draft him because they drafted virtually the same player in the second round last year WR Paul Richardson.  Richardson tore his ACL in the playoffs and it will be a miracle if he doesn’t spend the season on injured reserve.  I think Lockett might actually be a better WR which is good because Richardson had little effect on the offense last year and Lockett is a dynamite return man.

Sleepers:  CB Tye Smith, S Ryan Smith-Murphy

Tye Smith is from a small school but he has great athletic ability and Ryan Smith-Murphy is from Oregon St. and he’s 6’3 214 lbs. so he has the size the Seahawks like.  I’m not real familiar with these two prospects but I am familiar with the Seattle coaching staff and if they like these two guys I’m not going to doubt them.

Overall Analysis:

The Seahawks have always marched to the beat of their own drummer but the Frank Clark pick is atrocious.  Clark has a checkered past to say the least and he was kicked off the Michigan team because of a domestic violence incident.  The charges were reduced by the witness statements paint an ugly picture and the prosecutor acknowledged they were probably accurate.  Unlike the extensive background check the Buccaneers did on Jameis Winston the Seahawks did not do their due diligence.  When this pick comes back to bite them they will have no one to blame but themselves.  As an on the field note I don’t think Clark was worth the 63^rd pick.  The two offensive linemen they got in the middle rounds are nice depth but they needed to do better than depth on the offensive line.  Marshawn Lynch is going to find it hard to find room to run after the interior of the Seahawks o-line was decimated in the off season.  It’s safe to say I’m not impressed with this draft.

St. Louis Rams

10. Todd Gurley   RB   Georgia

57. Rob Havenstein   RT   Wisconsin

72. Jamon Brown   OL   Louisville

89. Sean Mannion   QB   Oregon St.

119. Andrew Donnal   OL   Iowa

201. Bud Sasser   WR   Missouri

215. Cody Wichmann   OG   Fresno St.

224. Bryce Hager   ILB   Baylor

227. Martin Ifedi   DE   Memphis

Immediate Impact:  RB Todd Gurley, RT Rob Havenstein

Jeff Fisher is building a team in the mold of the Seahawks with an outstanding defense and a great running game.  Gurley is a beast with both exceptional power and outstanding speed.  Anybody that thinks you shouldn’t draft a RB this high hasn’t watched Gurley play.  He may not have a 10-12 year career because of his running style but he will be one of the best RBs in the game for the six years or so.  I think last year’s RT Joe Barksdale won’t be returning because Rob Havenstein just took his job.  Havenstein is never going to win a bodybuilding competition but he is a road grading RT and he will be Gurley’s favorite teammate.

Best Value: RT Rob Havenstein

Getting your no doubt starting RT at 57^th overall is a steal.  Havenstein isn’t pretty to watch but after starting for three years at Wisconsin he knows what he’s doing.  He has better footwork than you would think looking at him and Melvin Gordon seemed to do just fine running behind him.

Sleeper:  OL Andrew Donnal

This isn’t even a homer pick for me Donnal is just the guy no one is talking about.  He can back up four positions on the offensive line and I wouldn’t count him out as a center except he’d be a damn tall center.  He’s not the most athletic player but he understands technique and uses his hands well and he always plays hard.  Donnal will make the roster because he offers great positional versatility but I actually like him better than their second round pick Jamon Brown.

Overall Analysis:

If there was any doubt about where the problems are for the Rams this draft pointed directly at them.  The Rams had nine picks and the first seven were spent on offensive players and out of those seven four were offensive linemen.  The law of averages says that they will find somebody to help their offensive line out of Havenstein, Brown, Donnal and Cody Wichmann.  Their other 3^rd round pick QB Sean Mannion was a serious reach and I actually don’t see him beating out Austin Davis or Case Keenum for a roster spot behind starter Nick Foles.  They probably won’t have a hard time slipping him onto the practice squad if they want to, no one else is going to want him, but that’s a high price to pay for a fourth QB.  The Rams WR corps is not exactly top-notch but I don’t see Bud Sasser making big splash and their two later round picks on defense face an uphill battle to make this roster.  They didn’t really address their need for a #1 WR but with Todd Gurley on board they may not need one.

Atlanta Falcons

8. Vic Beasley   OLB   Clemson

42. Jalen Collins   CB   LSU

73. Tevin Coleman   RB   Indiana

107. Justin Hardy   WR   East Carolina

137. Grady Jarrett   DT   Clemson

225. Jake Rodgers   OT   Eastern Washington

248. Akeem King   S   San Jose St.

Immediate Impact:  OLB Vic Beasley, RB Tevin Coleman

The Falcons signed some players they hoped could generate a pass rush during free agency but that wasn’t enough for new head coach Dan Quinn so he grabbed my favorite pass rusher in this draft Vic Beasley.  Beasley will fill the similar DE/OLB hybrid role that Bruce Irvin fills in Seattle but I’m betting Beasley does it better.  Teams wonder if he can hold up against the run but I say he can and he will.  Coleman isn’t the power back I thought Quinn would go for but he’s better than Devonta Freeman or Antone Smith and he never had a problem carrying the load at Indiana.  I think Coleman wins the starting job in training camp.

Best Value:  DT Grady Jarrett

Jarrett is an undersized, penetrating DT but on the Falcons defensive line that has giants like Ra’Shede Hageman and Paul Soliai his size shouldn’t be an issue.  He’s an excellent 1-gap player and he’ll be a monster on passing downs.  Jarrett will be reunited with his college teammate Vic Beasley and if they can cause the same type of havoc in Atlanta that they did at Clemson Dan Quinn’s defense will be off to a good start.  Getting a disruptive force like Jarrett in the fifth round is highway robbery.

Sleeper:  WR Justin Hardy

The Falcons lost Harry Douglas to free agency in the off season and Hardy can step into his 3^rd WR role without missing a beat.  I’m sure the team was planning on that but Hardy is more than just a 3^rd receiver that’s good in the slot.  Long time WR Roddy White is going to be 34 years old this season and he’s had some injury issues lately so he isn’t going to last forever.  Hardy is a legitimate option to take over White’s spot opposite Julio Jones in 2016.

Overall Analysis:

This is arguably my favorite draft this year.  Beasley, Coleman, Hardy and Jarrett are all fantastic players that weren’t taken too early and some were even taken later than they should have been.  Second round CB Jalen Collins was considered a first round prospect for much of the draft process until some character issues and inexperience pushed him down the board.  He is a very physically gifted player and Dan Quinn worked with some excellent secondary players in Seattle so he may be able to mold the very raw talent of Collins into something special.  Jake Rodgers and Akeem King may never contribute to the active roster but given the potential of the first five players on the board that won’t matter.  I do have one issue with the Falcons draft and that is the complete lack of attention paid to the offensive line.  Matt Ryan can’t run an offense if he’s running for his life and it doesn’t matter if it’s Tevin Coleman or someone else at RB if the Falcons don’t block better the running game isn’t going anywhere.

Carolina Panthers

25. Shaq Thompson   LB   Washington

41, Devin Funchess   WR   Michigan

102. Daryl Williams   OT   Oklahoma

169. David Mayo   ILB   Texas St.

174. Cameron Artis-Payne   RB   Auburn

Immediate Impact:  WR Devin Funchess????

I almost left this space blank because I’m not seeing a lot of help coming from this group this year unless someone surprises.  It’s possible the Panthers will get production from Devin Funchess this year like they did Kelvin Benjamin last year but the truth is that because they are so similar it could hurt Funchess’ production.  Neither of these guys is a deep threat that can take the top off the defense and while their size creates mismatches their lack of deep speed means teams can crowd them and make it harder for them to get open.

Best Value:   ??????

Sleeper:  RB Cameron Artis-Payne

Say hello to the new DeAngelo Williams.  Everyone knows Jonathan Stewart isn’t staying healthy for 16 games and with Williams cut for salary purposes Stewart needs a new running mate.  Artis-Payne is built quite similar to Williams with a matching running style and he could fair quite well.

Overall Analysis:

As much as I love Atlanta’s draft is the same amount I hate Carolina’s.  I am a fan of Shaq Thompson and in time I think he’ll be a very good linebacker.  However, watching NFL Man of the Year Thomas Davis announce Thompson’s selection was awkward.  Davis is 32 years old and coming to the end of his career sooner rather than later and he had to walk on stage and announce the selection of the man that will most likely replace him.  Thompson will be a good player this year in certain defensive alignments but he won’t make a huge difference unless Davis gets hurt.  Drafting Funchess when there were players like Jaelen Strong and Sammie Coates still on the board also surprised me because those two bring a complementary set of skills to Kelvin Benjamin instead of duplicating them.  OL Daryl Williams has a chance to be a good player but he is basically a RT only and if he wins the RT job it means Michael Oher will be playing the left side and that’s not good for anyone.  When fifth round pick Cameron Artis-Payne is your best choice I can’t feel good about a draft.  I also wonder how the Panthers failed to address OT sooner and how they failed to address their secondary at all.

New Orleans Saints

13. Andrus Peat   OT   Stanford

31. Stephone Anthony   ILB   Clemson

44. Hau’oli Kikaha   OLB   Washington

75. Garrett Grayson   QB   Colorado St.

78. PJ Williams   CB   Florida St.

148. Davis Tull   OLB   Chattanooga

154. Tyeler Davison   DT   Fresno St.

167. Damian Swann   CB   Georgia

230. Marcus Murphy   RB   Missouri

Immediate Impact:  ILB Stephone Anthony, OLB Hau’oli Kikaha

I sort of misspoke in my initial first round reaction when I said the Saints don’t need an ILB, I should have said they had bigger needs.  If Dannell Ellerbe is as bad as he was for the Dolphins last year they really will need someone inside next to David Hawthorne.  Anthony wasn’t my favorite ILB and while I would have preferred to see the Saints go in another direction I can see Anthony beating out Ellerbe to start inside.  Kikaha is a player with his warts but he led the nation in sacks last year and he’s a better option at OLB than Parys Haralson.  These two players could add some much need punch and playmaking to Rob Ryan’s LB corps.

Best Value:  CB PJ Williams

Williams was a potential first rounder at one time and while his game has been picked apart and over analyzed it was more his drunken driving arrest that dropped him to this spot.  Williams is a starting caliber CB and he went in the 3^rd round.  The Saints signed Brandon Browner this off season to go with Keenan Lewis whom they signed last year but the depth behind them is two former high draft picks that have failed to live up to their hype (Kyle Wilson from the Jets and Stanley Jean-Baptiste).  Williams gives them a good cover corner with good size and he could also potentially play safety.

Sleeper:  QB Garrett Grayson

I haven’t been Grayson’s biggest fan but I actually love this pick.  Drew Brees is 36 years old, his backup last season was Luke McCown who is 33 years old and is best known as “the other McCown”, not exactly impressive.  Ryan Griffin, a second year player out of Tulane no one has ever heard of, was expected to compete with McCown for the backup job.  To say the Saints don’t have a long-term plan at QB is an understatement.  Grayson needs time, to work on his throwing motion (it needs to be quicker), learn to make better decisions and to figure out the speed of the NFL game.  Grayson has loads of potential and he’s a very accurate deep ball thrower just like Brees.  The Saints have never had a plan at QB after Brees and regardless of what Brees or anyone else thinks playing QB until your 40 is not the norm.  Brady and Manning are trying their best but they are the exception not the rule.

Overall Analysis:
Sean Payton has said he doesn’t expect OT Andrus Peat to compete with veterans Terron Armstead or Zach Strief for a starting spot and just because that’s what he expects doesn’t mean it won’t happen.  Peat is an upgrade over Strief at RT and in two years he’s likely the starting LT.  It’s nice that they aren’t putting pressure on him but the talent will win out.  I like that they got better at LB with Anthony and Kikaha, Williams was a steal for the secondary and Grayson gives them at least some chance at having a QB beyond Brees.  I’m not sure what to expect out of the last four picks and they may not amount to much more than camp bodies but RB Marcus Murphy could be interesting.  He’s a small RB that’s good in the passing game and Payton has had good luck with those types of players.  He had Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles and last season he had Travaris Cadet who was a bigger back but had that sort of skillset.  The Saints signed CJ Spiller in the off season to serve as the complement to Mark Ingram but Murphy could be valuable when Spiller inevitably gets hurt.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1. Jameis Winston   QB   Florida St.

34. Donovan Smith   OT   Penn St.

61. Ali Marpet   OG   Hobart

124. Kwon Alexander   OLB   LSU

162. Kenny Bell   WR   Nebraska

184. Kaelin Clay   WR   Utah

231. Joey Iosefa   FB   Hawaii

Immediate Impact:  QB Jameis Winston, OT Donovan Smith

Obviously when a team drafts a QB #1 overall they expect an immediate impact and the Buccaneers will get just that.  Winston gets an advantage most #1 overall QB picks don’t get and that is two top-notch WRs in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans.  Jackson is veteran presence and Evans is the exciting young guy.  Winston also has some nice talent at TE with second year man Austin Seferian-Jenkins and veteran Brandon Myers.  Donovan Smith may actually be the key to all of this working out because the one thing on offense the Bucs need to improve besides QB is the offensive line.  Smith played LT at Penn St. and he may be asked to do that in Tampa but his best position would be as a road grading RT.  He’s an upgrade at either spot but his long-term future is at RT.

Best Value:  OT Donovan Smith

I’m not the biggest Smith fan but good OTs were flying off the board so Tampa grabbed Smith early in the second round.  He’s a starting OT on either the right or the left side which means he’s worth the pick.

Sleeper:  OG Ali Marpet

Can a third round guard from a Division III school be overhyped?  Obviously I pay closer attention to the draft than most (I realize that’s the understatement of the year) but there was a lot of talk about Marpet before the draft.  He was a LT at Division III school Hobart and he was beyond dominant (he was co-offensive player of the year in his conference) and then he was invited to the Senior Bowl.  He wowed everyone there because he more than held his own while playing guard.  I’m calling him a sleeper because I think he earns a starting job at OG for the Buccaneers and since most people have no idea who he is he’s a sleeper.  Many scouts and coaches won’t be surprised but the media will be because it’s a major step up in competition from Division III football to the NFL (runner-up for understatement of the year).

Overall Analysis:

This draft will certainly be judged by how Winston turns out and that’s just life with the #1 pick.  Smith and Marpet have a chance to seriously upgrade two spots on the Buccaneers offensive line and that will go a long way towards deciding if Winston succeeds or not.  Kwon Alexander is a nice addition late and he’ll add depth at LB and be a core special team’s player.  I’m not sure if the Bucs know what to do with WRs that are under 6’5 but Kenny Bell and Kaelin Clay have a chance to crack a depth chart that is underwhelming beyond Jackson and Evans.  The last guy, Iosefa, was a RB in college but he’s pushing 250 lbs. so he either plays FB and special teams or  he’s not making the team.

Chicago Bears

7. Kevin White   WR   West Virginia

39. Eddie Goldman   DT   Florida St.

71. Hroniss Grasu   OC   Oregon

106. Jeremy Langford   RB   Michigan St.

142. Adrian Amos   S   Penn St.

183. Tayo Fabuluje   OT   TCU

Immediate Impact:  WR Kevin White, DT Eddie Goldman, OC Hroniss Grasu

No offense to Marquess Wilson but White will be lining up opposite Alshon Jeffery on day one and he will be just as productive as Brandon Marshall was last year, he’ll be far less of a headache too.  The Bears didn’t have a NT to plug into their 3-4 defense until Goldman slipped to them at 39.  He’s a big man will nice athleticism and he fits exactly what they need and they have virtually no competition for him so he starts now.  After letting long-time veteran Roberto Garza go it looked like they would go with Will Montgomery at OC and they still might but Grasu is good and he’ll push for the starting job right out of the gate.

Best Value:  S Adrian Amos

In a draft that lacked quality at safety the Bears got a pretty solid player in the fifth round.  Amos doesn’t wow you with his skills but he has good athleticism and he knows what he’s supposed to do and where he’s supposed to be.  Those two traits alone give him a leg up on the Bears roster.  Amos brings value because he’s a fifth round pick that could see a lot of action because the Bears safeties are terrible.  Free agent pickup Antrel Rolle isn’t a kid anymore and Brock Vereen and Ryan Mundy aren’t making the Pro Bowl roster anytime soon.

Sleeper:  RB Jeremy Langford

I’m a big fan of Langford because he has a great NFL skillset.  He is absolutely fantastic in the screen game which the Bears have run for quite some time because Matt Forte excels at it too.  Langford will give Kadeem Carey a run for his money as Forte’s backup and he has a little more speed than Carey.  He carried the ball plenty at Michigan St. so he can handle the workload if needed.  Langford has similar skills to Forte so if the offense is designed to use Forte it will suit him too.

Overall Analysis:

I certainly can’t object to the first five players the Bears drafted and while I’m not all that familiar with Tayo Fabuluje you certainly can’t complain about taking a chance on a gigantic OT in the sixth round of the draft.  White and Goldman are major contributors from day one and I think Grasu and Amos could be starters on this team.  Grasu is a little light and that worked in Oregon’s offense but he needs to get a little stronger.  The Bears did an excellent job of getting value at their picks especially with Goldman at 39 and Langford in the fourth round.  I only have one issue with this draft and that is that they didn’t address their glaring need for a pass rushing OLB.  I assume they believe they can turn Willie Young and Jared Allen into OLBs to play opposite Pernell McPhee but that’s a dangerous assumption.  The 3-4 defense is predicated on getting pass rush from the OLB position and it could be a long year on defense.

Detroit Lions

28. Laken Tomlinson   OG   Duke

54. Ameer Abdullah   RB   Nebraska

80. Alex Carter   CB   Stanford

113. Gabe Wright   DT   Auburn

168. Michael Burton   FB   Rutgers

200. Quandre Diggs   CB   Texas

240. Corey Robinson   OT   South Carolina

Immediate Impact:  OG Laken Tomlinson

The Lions needed offensive line help and since the best OT prospects were off the board at #28 they grabbed one of the best guards in the draft.  Tomlinson is a 6’3 323 lbs. behemoth that knows how to move people off the line of scrimmage and pairing him with Larry Warford gives the Lions serious strength at offensive guard.  Tomlinson will slide right into the starting lineup and improve their running game.

Best Value:  DT Gabe Wright

The Lions neglected to get one of the top ranked DTs early in the draft but they were able to secure Auburn’s Gabe Wright in the fourth round and while he has never been as productive as his skills would lead you to believe he’s a pretty good player to get that late.  The team needs help at DT next to Haloti Ngata and perhaps Ngata’s work ethic will rub off on Wright and he will live up to his potential.  The DT depth chart isn’t great and Wright can make noise quickly.

Sleepers:  CB Quandre Diggs, OT Corey Robinson

Diggs started for four years at Texas and he’s got very natural cover skills.  He is small and he’s not going to be a great matchup against big WRs but he’s got fight and knowhow and he is a physical presence despite his size.  He will come up in run support and he could be a very good slot corner right away.  Robinson is a 6’7 324 lbs. mountain with great length but he’s probably limited to RT duties and that’s actually alright in Detroit.  The Lions RT options are terrible and Robinson has as good a shot at the job as anyone.

Overall Analysis:

The Tomlinson pick was fantastic because the Lions needed to get better on the offensive line.  I’m not a fan of Abdullah and I think they should have addressed RT or DT in the second round instead because there were solid players at those positions still available.  I will say that Abdullah could make a nice complement to Joique Bell but anyone expecting Abdullah to be the bell cow RB will be disappointed.  CB Alex Carter was a nice addition to a secondary that needs an infusion of youth and he and Diggs will both help.  Robinson is never going to be an All-Pro but if he can play RT and just get in the way of opposing pass rushers he would be an upgrade to what they have otherwise.  I would have liked this draft a lot more if they would have taken a DT in the second round instead of Abdullah and then grabbed a RB in round four where they got Wright.

Green Bay Packers

30. Damarious Randall   FS   Arizona St.

62. Quinten Rollins  CB   Miami (OH)

94. Ty Montgomery   WR   Stanford

129. Jake Ryan   LB   Michigan

147. Brett Hundley   QB   UCLA

206. Aaron Ripkowski   FB   Oklahoma

210. Christian Ringo   DE   Louisiana-Lafayette

213. Kennard Backman   TE   UAB

Immediate Impact:  LB Jake Ryan

The Packers better hope that their fourth round draft pick can make an immediate impact.  They are woefully thin at ILB and while that is probably Ryan’s best position in a 3-4 defense it isn’t like he’s a sure thing.  I’m assuming they think differently but they did wait until the fourth round to take him.  When I look at Ryan I see a poor man’s AJ Hawk and considering the Packers cut ties with Hawk in the off season I’m not sure how this helps.

Best Value:  QB Brett Hundley

I was absolutely floored to see Hundley still on the board in the fifth round of this draft and I’m sure Ted Thompson was too.  Obviously the Packers don’t need a QB and barring an injury Hundley will be holding a clipboard all year but he was too good to pass up.  He could develop into a very solid backup to Rodgers for a couple of years and then he could bring excellent value as a trade chip down the line.  Hundley was always going to need time and he won’t be rushed at all in Green Bay.

Sleepers:  CB Quinten Rollins

It’s a little hard to call a second round pick a sleeper but I’m saying it here because I think Rollins ceiling is sky high.  Rollins played basketball for 4 years at Miami (OH) and joined the football team by chance and then he excelled.  He got by on pure talent alone and once he gets NFL level coaching there is no telling how good he could be.

Overall Analysis:

I understand that the Packers see Randall as a nickel corner playing over the slot and while that is a need taking him in the first round and Rollins in the second round seems redundant especially when you have a huge need at ILB.  They could have had their choice of any of the top ILBs at Randall’s spot and they passed again in the second and third rounds too.  WR Ty Montgomery was over drafted in the third round.  He brings value as a return man but so do many players that went later.  Ryan isn’t a bad player for depth but they needed more help at LB.  FB Aaron Ripkowski is the type of player the Packers have had in John Kuhn so he couldn’t have found a better place to go.  The last two players are only making the Packers if they are outstanding special team’s players.

Minnesota Vikings  

11. Trae Waynes   CB   Michigan St.

45. Eric Kendricks   LB   UCLA

88. Danielle Hunter   DE   LSU

110. TJ Clemmings   OT   Pittsburgh

143. Mycole Pruitt   TE   Southern Illinois

146. Stefon Diggs   WR   Maryland

185. Tyrus Thompson   OT   Oklahoma

193. BJ Dubose   DE   Louisville

228. Austin Shepherd   OT   Alabama

232. Edmond Robinson   OLB   Newberry

Immediate Impact:  CB Trae Waynes, LB Eric Kendricks

Mike Zimmer likes press CBs and now he can pair Waynes with Xavier Rhodes and he has the best set of press corners in his division.  The two of them are big, strong and not afraid to take on anyone and in this division that is worth its weight in gold.  Kendricks is a smart player that will slide right into the middle LB spot this year for the Vikings because they need him there but it’s not his ultimate position.  He isn’t built to play MLB in a 4-3 defense so a year from now they will likely slide him over to replace Chad Greenway on the weakside (I’m a little sad about that but Chad’s had a long career that’s coming to an end).

Best Value:  OT TJ Clemmings

I’m not privy to the medical reports teams have on prospects but everyone says that it was questions about his medical checks that dropped Clemmings all the way to fourth round; well it had to be because he has first round talent.  If he stays healthy he can steal Matt Kalil’s job at LT unless Kalil really improves his performance over last season.  Clemmings is an athletic kid that has just scratched the surface of his talent and needs time to develop offensive line skills.

Sleeper:  WR Stefon Diggs

The Vikings traded for Mike Wallace and they really like Charles Johnson on the outside too, they are hoping Cordarrelle Patterson grabs the slot receiver role but if he slips just a little Diggs is going to take it from him.  Diggs is a quick-twitch athlete with burst and speed and he can be all the things the Vikings have wanted Patterson to be and more.  He lacks discipline and he needs someone to push him but he’s such a natural playmaker he won’t be denied a spot on this team.

Overall Analysis:

This is one of my favorite overall drafts because Waynes, Kendricks, Clemmings and Diggs were all fantastic value picks.  I also like the additions of Tyrus Thompson and Austin Shepherd because the Vikings offensive line needed some depth and some competition.  Thompson could be a player if the coaching staff can light a fire under him (they should invest in 24 hour a day motivational speaker for Diggs, Thompson and Hunter).  I have two issues with this draft.  Obviously the Vikings have no plans to get rid of Adrian Peterson and every intention of having him play because they did nothing in this draft to address the position.  Even if they have no plans to get rid of him this off season Peterson isn’t going to last forever and they could have taken advantage of the RB depth in this draft and found an heir apparent.  My other issue is with Danielle Hunter.  Hunter is the second coming of Barkevious Mingo and that is not a good thing.  Hunter looks like a supreme athlete that just needs to put it all together but he had very little production at LSU and I don’t see him turning it on it the pros.  It may seem like good value to get a raw prospect like him in the third round but I just don’t see him making a difference and there were prospects on the board that will.

This is my initial reaction to each of the 32 first round picks in the NFL Draft.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:   Jameis Winston   QB   Florida St.

He’s been the pick since the beginning.  Lovie Smith and GM Jason Licht just tied their careers to Winston and they hope he can swim.  He’s not Andrew Luck but he’s not JaMarcus Russell either.

2. Tennessee Titans:   Marcus Mariota   QB   Oregon

Square peg meet round hole.  Mariota might be a franchise QB but not in Tennessee.  I just don’t see this ending well for either side and that’s a shame because Mariota deserves a better fit and Whisenhunt deserves a QB that fits what he does.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars:   Dante Fowler Jr.   OLB   Florida

Fowler said he’d be shocked if the Jaguars passed on him and he was right, even with Leonard Williams on the board they took him.  I have this vision of Gus Bradley standing in front of a white board with a marker drawing defensive alignments including Fowler and laughing like he’s Dr. Evil.

4. Oakland Raiders:   Amari Cooper   WR   Alabama

The Raiders used to roll the dice like degenerate gamblers betting their last $20 trying to win back their rent money.  Now they act like a middle-aged man maxing out his IRA and putting money is his children’s college tuition fund.  Cooper is about as sure a thing as you’ll find in this draft and I’m setting his season totals at 90 catches, 1300 yards and 10 TDs, Derek Carr has a new best friend.

5. Washington Redskins:   Brandon Scherff   OL   Iowa

If there was ever a player who could fulfill the legacy of “The Hogs” it’s Scherff.  I’m stunned by this pick not because Scherff isn’t worth it but because new GM Scott McCloughan must have locked owner Daniel Snyder in a broom closet to make this pick.  No flash, all substance.  Somebody get Mr. Snyder some bottles of water and some energy bars, you can let him out on Sunday.

6. New York Jets:   Leonard Williams   DL   USC

Wait…what the f….How in the hell did this happen?  The Jets have arguably the NFL’s best defensive line with Sheldon Richardson, Muhammed Wilkerson and Damon Harrison and they get Leonard Williams.  How did the rest of the league let that happen?  Yeah he was just too damn good to pass up.  Todd Bowles you lucky bastard.

7. Chicago Bears:   Kevin White   WR   West Virginia

John Fox had to be salivating over the possibility of Williams falling to him but White slides right in to Brandon Marshall’s old spot and gives Cutler a hell of a WR duo.  He’s a younger, faster and saner version of Marshall.

8. Atlanta Falcons:   Vic Beasley   OLB/DE   Clemson

Dan Quinn took his version of Bruce Irvin instead of his version of Marshawn Lynch and I can’t blame him.  Beasley is a stud and he and Fowler may have to have to have a fight to the death at the end of the season to see who gets Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

9. New York Giants:   Ereck Flowers   OT   Miami

There was talk during the week that Flowers was moving up the board but really?  He’s a RT upgrade over Justin Pugh but this seems high to me.  Flowers struggles with speed rushers and I don’t think he brings any versatility because he’s not going to move inside to guard and he’s not a LT.

10. St. Louis Rams:  Todd Gurley   RB   Georgia

Well I’ve been seeing the second coming of Marshawn Lynch but Jeff Fisher was seeing his next Eddie George.  Gurley says he’ll be ready for Week 1, I’m sure as hell not going to doubt him.  Beast Mode 2.0 is coming to Los Ange…sorry…St. Louis, for now.

11. Minnesota Vikings:   Trae Waynes   CB   Michigan St.

So now the division has Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White.  The Bears pick of White didn’t make this happen but it certainly made Mike Zimmer feel that much better about his decision.

12. Cleveland Browns:   Danny Shelton   NT   Washington

The Browns run defense was atrocious this last season and teams just ran all over them.  Better come up with a new plan of attack this year, Shelton is a beast.  I don’t want to say he’s going to completely solve their run defense issues because that’s a lot of pressure on a rookie but he’s going to completely solve their run defense issues

13. New Orleans Saints:   Andrus Peat   OT   Stanford

This pick got mixed reviews but I don’t see the problem, Peat is an immediate upgrade at RT over Zach Strief and he’s probably a year of two away from being an upgrade at LT over Terron Armstead.  It’s about time the Saints spend some of their draft picks on offensive linemen.

14. Miami Dolphins:   DeVante Parker   WR   Louisville

Parker joins Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings and TE Jordan Cameron and that means Ryan Tannehill has no more excuses.  Parker is stud and he’s a legitimate #1 WR so it’s time for Tannehill to prove he’s a top-flight QB.

15. San Diego Chargers (from San Francisco):   Melvin Gordon   RB   Wisconsin

When Gurley went off the board at #10 the Chargers had to fear Gordon might go soon after so they moved up two spots to get him.  Gordon is the best RB the Chargers have had since Tomlinson’s heyday and this is an excellent move.  Gordon is a day one starter and he’ll make Phillip Rivers’ life easier, for as long as Rivers sticks around.

16. Houston Texans:   Kevin Johnson   CB   Wake Forest

I’m surprised at this only because Bud Dupree is still available but Johnson is a nice pick up.  Kareem Jackson just signed an extension but Jonathan Joseph is 31 and his contract is up next year.  Johnson makes a hell of a third CB for now and in a division where Andrew Luck is ruling the roost loading up on cover guys isn’t a bad idea.

17. San Francisco 49ers (from San Diego):   Arik Armstead   DE   Oregon

Too good of a fit and the 49ers picked up a later pick to drop two spots and still get the guy they want, well played.  Armstead is raw but if San Francisco can get Justin Smith to return for one more year he can learn from Smith and newly signed Darnell Dockett, that’s pretty good veteran leadership to learn from.

18. Kansas City Chiefs:   Marcus Peters   CB   Washington

Damn you Andy Reid.  Peters is the best CB in the draft and Reid went for best player available instead of need.  Peters can fill in while Sean Smith is serving his 2 game suspension to start next season but if anyone thinks he’s relinquishing his starters role when Smith returns you’re crazy.

19. Cleveland Browns:  Cameron Erving   OL   Florida St.

The first true WTF moment of the first round, I’m shocked it was the Browns.  I love Erving but his best position is OC and the Brown already have one of the league’s best OCs in Alex Mack.  Erving isn’t replacing Joe Thomas at LT so I guess he’s going to play RT?  Other players were a better fit and far more of a need. Bud Dupree, Nelson Agholor, Breshad Perriman and Jaelen Strong all spring to mind.

20. Philadelphia Eagles:   Nelson Agholor   WR   USC

See I told you Chip Kelly doesn’t hate 6’0 200 lbs. WRs in general he just didn’t like DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin.  Agholor gives Kelly a great player for his offense and give Jordan Matthews some much needed help.

21. Cincinnati Bengals:   Cedric Ogbuehi   OT   Texas A&M

I had Ogbuehi moved way down the board and it wasn’t just because of the knee injury, his play wasn’t stellar last year especially compared with where he was the year before.  Ogbuehi probably won’t see the field next season as he rehabs his ACL injury but the Bengals can afford to do this because they have Andrew Whitworth, Andre Smith and Eric Winston at OT, a pick for the future.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers:   Alvin “Bud” Dupree   OLB   Kentucky

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.  The Steelers sit tight and get a really good pass rusher, we may have to make that Fowler/Beasley death match for Defensive Rookie of the Year a three way battle.  Dupree is raw but wow does he look like a great fit, this is why the Steelers are always better than the Browns (okay having Big Ben helps).

23. Denver Broncos (from Detroit):   Shane Ray   OLB   Missouri

If Ray had been in Colorado on Monday instead of Missouri he wouldn’t have been doing anything illegal I guess.  DeMarcus Ware isn’t getting any younger so grabbing his eventual replacement isn’t a bad idea but the Broncos had bigger needs, literally.  DT anyone?  RT maybe?  I guess Ray will be new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips new toy.

24. Arizona Cardinals:   DJ Humphries   OT   Florida

I’m admittedly not a Humphries fan but this makes even less sense.  They have Jared Veldheer at LT and Humphries is not the power player you want at RT if you’re trying to improve the run game.  Strange match especially since there was still a CB like Byron Jones on the board.

25. Carolina Panthers:   Shaq Thompson   LB   Washington

Thompson is a great athlete but he doesn’t have a definite NFL position and the Panthers have far bigger needs.  They may not have been in love with any of the offensive linemen left but Jake Fisher and TJ Clemmings would both have made far more sense.  Byron Jones would have helped their secondary tremendously and Breshad Perriman, Phillip Dorsett or Jaelen Strong would have made a nice complement to Kelvin Benjamin.

26. Baltimore Ravens:   Breshad Perriman   WR   Central Florida

Need meets value and the Ravens get a new #1 WR.  Perriman needs some refinement and maybe an eye exam (he drops too many easy catches) but he can learn from one of the greats, Steve Smith.  Joe Flacco said they didn’t need to draft a WR to replace Torrey Smith but he was wrong and he’ll love having Perriman around.

27. Dallas Cowboys:   Byron Jones   CB   Connecticut

I was never a believer in the pre-draft hype that Jones was going in the middle of round one and this is a far better place for him.  He has a legitimate shot at a starting job in Dallas and his arrival may spell the end for draft bust Morris Claiborne.  And Orlando Scandrick just lost any leverage he thought he had in contract negotiations.

28. Detroit Lions (from Denver):   Laken Tomlinson   OG   Duke

They must not have liked any of the OTs left on the board so they grabbed a powerful interior player.  Tomlinson can pair with their other power guard Larry Warford to really solidify the interior of the offensive line around new OC Travis Swanson.  Tomlinson should help especially in the run game.

29. Indianapolis Colts:   Phillip Dorsett   WR   Miami

TY Hilton 2.0 has arrived.  The Colts WR corps is TY Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief, newly signed CFL standout Duron Carter and now Dorsett.  Who even needs a running game?  Go 5 WRs and pretend you’re Baylor.  Now if someone would just block and play defense.

30. Green Bay Packers:   Damarious Randall   DB   Arizona St.

The Packers dreams come true as they have their pick of an ILB they want and they choose…an undersized FS out of Arizona St.  I’m not sure about this pick…okay I don’t like it.  Randall might be a nickel corner for now but he’s under 6’0 tall and less than 200 lbs.  For some teams Randall makes sense but the Packers need ILBs in the worst way.

31. New Orleans Saints:   Stephone Anthony   ILB   Clemson

They must have figured out that Dannell Ellerbe is actually as bad as he played in Miami and not as good as he played in Baltimore.  This is a head scratcher because they don’t really need an ILB and there were far more valuable players here.  There must be something really disturbing in Randy Gregory’s background check.

32. New England Patriots:  Malcolm Brown   DT   Texas

I wait around all night for the Patriots to pick last in the first round and just as they are on the clock they trade the pick…err…wait what…they are actually making the pick.  NO WAY.  I love this pick.  Belichick is usually very good picking defensive linemen and Brown is a beast.  I never expected him to be available but he is perfect in the Patriots defense.  He can play all over and absolutely destroy an offense.  He should slide right into the starting lineup and he should pair well with Dominique Easley.

A few notes:

-Randy Gregory’s pot issues must be far worse than reported because he’s a better talent than Shane Ray and he’s still on the board.

-I have no earthly idea if LSU OT La’el Collins has anything to do with his pregnant ex-girlfriend’s murder but I understand every teams’ reservations given the Aaron Hernandez trial.  If Collins is innocent, like he maintains, it’s very unfortunate for a young man’s future to be so devastated simply because he knew her, if he did have something to do with it, may he rot in hell.

-Jake Fisher and TJ Clemmings are still available as we start round 2 today, a couple of teams are getting good OTs today.

-Jaelen Strong should not have fallen out of Round 1.

-UCLA’s Owa Odighizuwa and Eric Kendricks are still available, that’s two pretty good, versatile defenders.

-No Landon Collins yet?  Talk about devaluing a position.  The Alabama DB stigma from Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dee Milliner must be clinging to Collins.

-Yesterday was Brandon Scherff Day for Hawkeye fans, today is Carl Davis Day, unofficially anyway.

The NFL Draft starts on Thursday and at this point the only thing I’m sure of is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take Jameis Winston #1 overall…I think.  Yeah, it’s going to be one of those years.  This mock draft is probably more of a guess than any previous mock draft I’ve ever done and I’m usually 90% wrong in a good year.  The real issue comes up at the #2 pick where almost everyone believes Marcus Mariota will be picked but there is absolutely no consensus as to which team will get him.  The Tennessee Titans are choosing at #2 and while they could use a QB, Mariota is a terrible fit for the franchise.  The Chargers, Eagles, Jets, Rams, Browns and Bears are all legitimate trade up candidates but it will likely take up until draft day before anyone makes a move if a move is made at all.  Mariota is not the second best player in this draft but then again Jameis Winston isn’t the best player either.  QBs get picked higher than they should because everyone in the NFL knows if you don’t have a QB you don’t have a chance.

Round 1

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14): Jameis Winston   QB   Florida St.

It doesn’t matter what I or anyone else thinks about where Winston fits as an overall prospect because the Buccaneers only have Mike Glennon as a possible starter and they know he’s not a franchise QB.  Taking a chance on Winston is the only play they have here and it’s a roll of the dice.  Winston is not the surefire franchise QB Andrew Luck was a few years ago but he’s not the colossal gamble that JaMarcus Russell once was either.  If the Bucs can find some help on the offensive line in rounds 2 and 3 they can put Winston in a position to succeed.  Solidifying the offensive line, having WRs Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, TE Austin Sefarian-Jenkins and a decent running game would go a long way to making Winston’s transition to the NFL a lot easier on the field.  Of course Winston’s toughest transition will likely take place off the field but if the Buccaneers have any doubts about that they shouldn’t take Winston anyway.

2. Tennessee Titans (2-14): Leonard Williams   DL   USC

Every team is looking for the next JJ Watt and while that is setting the bar extremely high Williams has a chance to be the next transcendent talent on the defensive line.  He can play any position on the line and the Titans would be wise to pair him with Jurrell Casey and turn a weakness into a decided strength.  Williams will get pressure on the QB and take pressure off of Casey along with making new addition Brian Orakpo that much more effective at OLB.  The catch here is that Mariota is coveted by many and the Titans might be wise to find the best deal and take it.  If they can swing a deal for Phillip Rivers from the Chargers I can’t see Ken Whisenhunt passing.  The window of opportunity for any franchise to compete for a Super Bowl is small and while Rivers may only have 3-5 years left in his career adding him to your team immediately makes you a contender.  I don’t think the Titans will get a good enough offer to pass up taking Leonard Williams and going with Zach Mettenberger for at least a year.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13): Dante Fowler Jr.   OLB   Florida

There is a part of me that wants to give the Jaguars RB Todd Gurley out of Georgia because their offense is in desperate need of an every down back so Denard Robinson doesn’t have to carry the load and while Gurley is climbing the draft boards this is way too early.  Fowler has been my choice for the Jaguars for a while now and his Swiss Army knife like versatility leads me to leaving him here.  Gus Bradley needs playmakers on his defense and there isn’t a defensive back rated high enough for this spot so Fowler is the guy.  The Jaguars secondary is crying for help even more than their offensive backfield but Trae Waynes isn’t going 3^rd overall and if you can’t improve your coverage than improve your pass rush and Fowler does that and more.  I actually prefer Vic Beasley myself but I think Fowler is more up Bradley’s alley.

4. Oakland Raiders (3-13): Kevin White   WR   West Virginia

The Raiders are set at QB for the first time since Rich Gannon was suiting up, thank you Derek Carr.  They are also set at one OLB spot after Khalil Mack’s fantastic rookie season and they just signed OC Rodney Hudson to a huge free agent contract.  So that’s three starting positions locked down, only 19 more to go.  GM Reggie McKenzie did a great job grabbing Mack and Carr last season and he actually did even more than that getting guys like OG Gabe Jackson, DT Justin Ellis and even guys like Shelby Harris and TJ Carrie.  Harris and Carrie are nice depth but right now they have to be starters so Oakland needs more talent.  Carr needs weapons if they are going to sustain his development and make him the franchise QB he should be.  White is my second favorite WR behind Amari Cooper but plenty of teams are in love with White’s combination of size, speed and ability.  It’s hard not to like him and he would be a dynamic down the field asset for Carr.  They can’t go wrong with White or Cooper so Raiders fans just have to hope McKenzie can stay on a hot streak on draft weekend.

I’m projecting a TRADE at the fifth pick in the draft because new Washington Redskins GM Scot McCloughan is a lot smarter than previous Redskins’ GMs and the Cleveland Browns are as desperate as ever.  The Browns move up to #5 overall by giving up their #12 and #19 picks of the first round of the draft.  Considering the Browns picked Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel last year in the first round Browns fans should be relieved they only have one pick now. 

5. Cleveland Browns (from Washington 4-12): Marcus Mariota   QB   Oregon

The Browns new QB coach is Kevin O’Connell and he spent the offseason tutoring Mariota before he took the Browns job.  GM Ray Farmer whiffed badly in the first round last year and not only on Johnny Manziel but on CB Justin Gilbert too and he needs to make a move to save his job.  Manziel is a head case and the sooner the Browns accept that and move on the better.  They grabbed a stopgap QB this offseason in Josh McCown and he can hold down the fort until Mariota is ready.  The Browns have the ammunition to get up to #5 because they have two first round picks and they will need to use them because otherwise someone else will move into this spot to grab Mariota ahead of the Jets who would assuredly take him #6.  Redskins GM Scot McCloughan will take advantage of the Browns desperation because he knows he needs more than one player to help his franchise and multiple first round picks will do him a lot more good.

6. New York Jets (4-12): Vic Beasley   OLB   Clemson

The Jets just miss out on the player they want in Marcus Mariota but they get a fantastic consolation prize in OLB Vic Beasley.  The need a pass rushing OLB almost as much as they need a QB because the one team they are desperately trying to beat is the New England Patriots and in order to do that they need to get pressure on Tom Brady.  Calvin Pace is about three years past his prime and even though new head coach Todd Bowles was able to squeeze the last little bit out of John Abraham in Arizona he shouldn’t have to do that in New York with Pace.  The Jets have been waiting years for Quinton Coples to emerge but it’s time to accept that he is what he is and move on.  Beasley would be a terror for Bowles’ defense to unleash on their opponents and adding him to a defense with a great defensive line and a revamped secondary would allow Bowles to have another dominant defense.

7. Chicago Bears (5-11): Danny Shelton   NT   Washington

I tried six different ways of talking myself out of this pick because it just makes too much sense to actually happen.  It is completely possible the Bears grab Amari Cooper to pair with Alshon Jeffery at WR but their defense was so horrific last year and the change to a 3-4 alignment isn’t going to do any good especially when you had virtually no one in the front seven that fits that defense.  Newly signed free agents OLB Pernell McPhee and DE Ray McDonald are a start but you still have a long way to go.  New head coach John Fox is a defensive minded guy and Vic Fangio’s defense needs a rock in the middle to be effective.  Danny Shelton is the definition of an immovable object and he’s clearly the best NT in this draft.  Shelton is the building block you start your 3-4 around and while a pass rushing OLB would be nice to complement McPhee there will be plenty of those around in rounds 2 and 3 but there won’t be another Shelton available.  It’s not a flashy pick but it’s the right one.

8. Atlanta Falcons (6-10): Todd Gurley   RB   Georgia

The first major change for me is Gurley moving from a late first round pick into the top 10.  Gurley had an ACL injury this last year and he wasn’t able to go through any workouts until recently and he looked impressive.  Then his medical recheck just confirmed that his knee is doing fine and he should be ready by fall to play.  RBs have been devalued recently but new Falcons head coach Dan Quinn had an up close view watching Marshawn Lynch carry the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances so grabbing his own version of “Beast Mode” seems like a great idea.  DeVonta Freeman and Antone Smith just are not the same style of RB and Quinn can add to the offensive line later and hopefully take the pressure off of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones in the passing game.  Gurley is a special back and the Falcons have other offensive pieces that are ready to compete for the playoffs right now so adding a back like Gurley that can contribute immediately is a smart choice.  The Falcons may get panned for taking RB so high but Gurley is worth the investment.

9. New York Giants (6-10): Brandon Scherff   OT   Iowa

The Giants have to sweat out the Falcons pick but they get their man in Scherff.  Scherff is being touted as a possible OG and not a tackle but I think the Giants use him at RT and move Justin Pugh inside to guard improving two spots on their front line.  Scherff is a run blocking beast and he’ll be fine pass blocking on the right side.  The Giants have to get more production out of their running game to open things up for Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz and Scherff can remedy that in a hurry.  He isn’t the most graceful athlete you’ll find at OT but Scherff can move mountains in the running game and whether it’s Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen or Andre Williams they will appreciate running behind him all day long.  I don’t know if Scherff’s long-term future is at RT or if he moves to LT or if he moves inside to guard eventually but he can be a piece to the puzzle for a long time no matter what.

10. St. Louis Rams (6-10): Amari Cooper   WR   Alabama

The Rams are rumored to be interested in Marcus Mariota but if that doesn’t come to fruition this would be the best case scenario.  Cooper is my second favorite prospect after Leonard Williams and if he’s available at #10 the Rams should sprint to the podium with his name on the card.  The Rams have been searching for a #1 WR since Torry Holt’s heyday and Cooper is just what they have been hoping for.  Cooper is the best route runner in this year’s draft and his presence would take pressure off of Kenny Britt because he wouldn’t have to be the #1 WR, it would push Stedman Bailey into a 3^rd WR role and it would open up the interior of defenses for slot receiver Tavon Austin and might actually make him a dangerous weapon.  QB Nick Foles had a fantastic year two years ago in Philadelphia and he might actually be able to do it again if they add a WR like Cooper to his arsenal.

11. Minnesota Vikings (7-9): Trae Waynes   CB   Michigan St.

I’m actually hoping the Vikings prove me wrong and take DeVante Parker because I would love to see Teddy Bridgewater get to play with him again and it would make Bridgewater that much better but I think Mike Zimmer will go defense.  In a division where you face Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Jordy Nelson, Randal Cobb and Alshon Jeffery twice a year it’s a good plan to have outstanding CBs.  Xavier Rhodes proved to be pretty good last season but he needs a running mate and Waynes has the size and physicality to hold up in this division and he won’t back down from anyone.  Waynes is the best CB in this draft even though that’s not setting the bar very high this year.  Byron Jones and Kevin Johnson are getting a lot of the ink lately when it comes to CBs in this draft but Waynes is still the one most ready to step in and play.

12. Washington Redskins (from Cleveland 7-9): Shane Ray   OLB   Missouri

The first pick Scot McCloughan picked up in his trade with Cleveland and he gets exactly what he wanted in the first place, a pass rushing OLB to replace Brian Orakpo, and he still has another 1^st round pick.  McCloughan used to work in San Francisco and then in Seattle where he learned a few things from John Schneider and Peter Carroll.  When you need to reshape a roster quantity is preferred especially if you are smart enough to still get quality players.  Ray wasn’t as impressive as Dante Fowler or Vic Beasley in workouts and there are some that think Bud Dupree is a better player but Ray still brings that one quality every team wants, he knows how to rush the passer.  In the pass happy NFL getting to the QB is the best way to stop an offense and Ray has a knack for that.

13. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Alvin “Bud” Dupree   OLB   Kentucky

Dupree is an athletic freak by any standards, at 6’4 and almost 270 lbs. he ran his 40 at under 4.6 seconds and his vertical was 42 inches.  He is still raw in his technique but he is fast, athletic and if he ever figures out how to use his strength to disengage blockers he’s going to be unstoppable.  The Saints need to give Rob Ryan more help on defense especially rushing the passer.  DE Cameron Jordan is very good and OLB Junior Galette can get to the QB too but he’s has some legal issues to deal with.  Even if Galette is available all of next season the Saints could still use help opposite him.  Dupree has been a recent riser on draft boards as his excellent workouts have made teams look at his production at Kentucky more closely and they have seen a player that brings a lot to the table.

14. Miami Dolphins (8-8): DeVante Parker   WR   Louisville

The trade of WR Mike Wallace was addition by subtraction for the franchise and while adding WR Kenny Stills in a trade with the Saints was a nice move it only partially fills the gigantic void in the WR corps.  Wallace wasn’t the only WR to leave the Dolphins in the offseason as both Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson exited too.  Jarvis Landry started to show up late last year but he’s a slot receiver and if the Dolphins want to get a real look at QB Ryan Tannehill before they commit long-term to him they should give him all the weapons he needs.  Parker is dominant #1 type of receiver and would allow Kenny Stills to fill the deep threat position and keep Jarvis Landry inside the slot where he’s most effective.  Add in the addition of TE Jordan Cameron, if he can stay healthy, and Tannehill will have no excuse if he can’t get the passing game going.  Parker is right there alongside both Amari Cooper and Kevin White as a potential #1 WR from day one no matter where he goes but if he gets with a solid WR he could be spectacular.

15. San Francisco 49ers (8-8): Arik Armstead   DE   Oregon

They cut Ray McDonald last season due to off the field issues, Justin Smith may be leaning towards retirement and the only player they signed in the offseason is 33 year old Darnell Dockett who is coming off a year lost to injury.  Saying that the 49ers need help on the defensive line is like saying fish need water.  New head coach Jim Tomsula is the former defensive line coach so he knows better than anyone that his defense will be useless if they don’t get some help up front.  The 49ers have a unique need for a 3-4 DE and Arik Armstead is the best pure five-technique DE in this draft and his youth and athleticism would be a welcome addition.  Armstead doesn’t fit every defense and as a 4-3 DE or DT he doesn’t rate this high but he would flourish under Tomsula.

16. Houston Texans (9-7): Randy Gregory   OLB   Nebraska

Gregory has been considered a top 10 prospect through most of the draft process but that changed a few weeks ago when his failed drug test at the combine was revealed.  Initially reports said that his stock wouldn’t take a hit because teams already knew about his marijuana use at Nebraska but the truth is teams are concerned and now they have a reason to look at other prospects more closely.  Dupree and Ray benefit the most because they are on the same level as Gregory as OLB prospects but they don’t have a possible drug suspension hanging over their heads.  When everything else is equal between prospects the guy with the admitted substance abuse problem slips down the board.  Gregory would be a boon for the Texans as they look to fill the hole left by Brooks Reed’s departure to Atlanta, Whitney Mercilus’ lackluster career so far and Jadeveon Clowney’s knee issue.  They have a few other needs but OLB depth is a real concern.

17. San Diego Chargers (9-7): Landon Collins   SS   Alabama

There’s always one team that takes a guy no one was expecting them to take and everyone is picking the Chargers to grab an offensive lineman or a running back so I’m going out on a limb.  The Chargers lost Marcus Gilchrist to the Jets in the offseason and it’s a bigger loss than you might think.  Gilchrist paired with Eric Weddle to make a nice safety duo and the Chargers don’t really have much in reserve.  Collins has been taking it on the chin over the last few weeks as his game has been picked apart and while you can find his issues when you look for them overall Collins is still a heck of football player.  Alabama defensive backs haven’t proven to be all that successful over the past several years but you can’t hold that against Collins.  The Chargers definitely need a new RT so Andrus Peat or Ereck Flowers is a possibility and if I’m wrong on Gurley going so early and he’s here he’s a no-brainer, even Melvin Gordon makes plenty of sense given the Chargers backfield concerns.  Collins would step right into Gilchrist’s shoes and having Eric Weddle beside him would help his transition considerably.

18. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7): Ereck Flowers   RT   Miami

Andy Reid has a penchant for taking linemen (offensive or defensive) early in the draft and it’s been a pretty solid strategy throughout his career.  The Chiefs still need a WR but Breshad Perriman might be a little too similar to the recently signed Jeremy Maclin and Dorial Green-Beckham and Jaelen Strong might not rate as highly as Flowers.  The Chiefs need a center and a RT meaning Flowers and Florida St. OC Cameron Erving are in play right here.  Flowers is a big and powerful run blocker that needs some work on his pass protection but he would enhance the Chiefs running game on day one.  Erving is a distinct possibility but I think Flowers wins out and the Chiefs address center later on.  Either way Reid gets a big body up front to aid his offense in the trenches.

19. Washington Redskins (from Cleveland via Buffalo 9-7): La’el Collins   OL   LSU

The Redskins addressed their pass rush need with the first pick they got from Cleveland in my make believe trade for Marcus Mariota now they have a chance to address their needs on the offensive line.  Collins is projected by most to end up inside at offensive guard and that’s certainly a possibility but he could plug in at RT for Washington and he would be a huge upgrade.  The Redskins have needed a RT for a few years now and while Collins may not be a long-term solution there he could be one for the short term and improve the protection for RGIII and open some holes for Alfred Morris.  Down the line if the Redskins find a better RT option they can slide Collins inside to guard where he would likely dominate his competition.

20. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6): Byron Jones   CB   UConn

Jones is not the second best CB in the draft but this is a projection based more on Chip Kelly’s preferences than on most teams’ boards.  Jones is a superior athlete as he showcased by breaking the broad jump world record at the combine.  He’s a pretty good corner that missed a lot of last season with an injury and he still needs to refine his game because he relies pretty heavily on his athletic skill, that works in college but can get you beat in the pros.  Kelly loves athletic skill and believes that if he puts athletic players in his system they will do well.  Jones doesn’t have the pure cover skills of Marcus Peters or Kevin Johnson but he put in the time to come back from his shoulder injury and that shows he has the dedication to refine his cover skills and he could become a fantastic player in time.  The Eagles secondary was terrible last season and they are making a concerted effort to overhaul it, Jones could join Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond as the new CBs in the Eagles defensive backfield.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1): TJ Clemmings   OT   Pittsburgh

I never thought I would be able to say this about the Bengals but they don’t have any glaring needs on their team.  They could use some help at LB, they could use some more youth in the secondary and adding depth to the interior of the defensive line is never a bad idea but considering the ineptitude of the Bengals in the 90’s and early 2000’s this is incredible progress.  RT Andre Smith had some health issues last season and LT Andrew Whitworth and backup RT Eric Winston aren’t spring chickens anymore so the Bengals have the luxury of grabbing a potentially great OT a year before they may even need him.  Clemmings is oozing with potential because of his physical ability and relative inexperience as an offensive lineman.  He has only been playing offensive tackle for a couple of years and while he excelled as RT at Pittsburgh he shows many of the great athletic traits of a potential LT.  Teams that are able to grab the best player available usually sustain winning longer than teams that have to draft for need.  The Bengals are finally a team that can do that.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5): Kevin Johnson   CB   Wake Forest

The Steelers defense is in need of a talent and youth infusion at almost every level but pass rushing OLB and CB are the two most glaring needs.  Finding CB Kevin Johnson out of Wake Forest still available at this point would be a blessing because he has very good coverage skills and he would fit into the hard working, blue collar culture of the Steelers.  Johnson isn’t flashy and he’s going to just go about his job as best he can and the Steelers need a new #1 corner (they could probably use a #2 corner also).  Between all of the OLBs and CBs left Johnson is the highest rated player so he makes the choice easy here, the Steelers will likely be looking to grab one of the sleeper OLB in the second or third round.

23. Detroit Lions (11-5): Andrus Peat   OT   Stanford

The Lions could use help at DT next to newly acquired DT Haloti Ngata, they could possibly try to upgrade at CB opposite Darius Slay and replace Rashean Mathis with someone that isn’t 135 in NFL years or they could try to upgrade their offensive line at either RT, LG or OC.  Andrus Peat is 6’7 313 lbs. and he would be a massive upgrade over any RT they have on the roster.  Peat isn’t a road grading run blocker like Brandon Scherff or Ereck Flowers but he’s actually a pretty good pass protector and for a team that likes to feature Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate a pass blocker would be just fine, that’s not to say he wouldn’t upgrade the run blocking too.

24. Arizona Cardinals (11-5): Melvin Gordon   RB   Wisconsin

The Cardinals could very well be the landing spot for a third QB in the first round if they like UCLA QB Brett Hundley enough because we all saw what happened to that team last year when Carson Palmer went down and Palmer isn’t getting any younger.  I still believe Hundley is the only QB other than the top two that has a chance at becoming a long-term starter in the NFL so it’s still possible someone pulls the trigger earlier than expected.  The Cardinals could also use an upgrade at RB and Gordon would give them a homerun hitter that can actually carry the load.  Andre Ellington is a big play guy but he just isn’t physical enough to carry the ball 20 times a game.  Gordon never had that problem as he is used to being in a run heavy offense.  Gordon also projects to be a much better NFL RB than the long line of great Badger backs that haven’t done much in NFL.

25. Carolina Panthers (7-8-1): DJ Humphries   OT   Florida

Okay so I’m back on the Humphries to the Panthers pick because the Panthers need to sure up their offensive tackle position and it’s either Humphries or Oregon OT Jake Fisher and Fisher just doesn’t feel right here.  Humphries can plug into the LT spot so they can move Michael Oher to RT where he’s less of a liability.  The Panthers still need help at CB but unless Kevin Johnson or Byron Jones is available I think they pass here.  The Panthers aren’t likely to gamble on Marcus Peters and Jalen Collins recent failed drug test revelation while at LSU is going to cause him to fall.  They could reach for CB Ronald Darby but Humphries is better value and fills a bigger need.  WR Breshad Perriman could also be the pick and he would pair well with Kelvin Benjamin but I still think protecting Cam Newton has to come first.

26. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Breshad Perriman   WR   Central Florida

The Ravens have to address their lack of playmakers on offense or their $100 million investment in Joe Flacco last year is going to be money down the drain.  I don’t blame them for letting Torrey Smith walk as a free agent given his one-trick pony skillset but they can’t go into next season with Steve Smith as their #1 WR.  Perriman has the pedigree and #26 overall feels like a more likely landing spot than somewhere between #12-#18 like some are projecting.  He is actually an upgrade over Torrey Smith because he’s a more complete WR (he can run more routes) but he’ll still have a learning curve.  The Ravens rarely reach for need but in this case Perriman not only fills a need but he might be the best prospect available.

27. Dallas Cowboys (12-4): Malcolm Brown   DT   Texas

You expect more flash from the Dallas Cowboys but their team is in pretty good shape overall and the last few years they have focused early on the offensive line.  The fact that they have built such a good offensive line through the draft should point them in the right direction on how to fix their defensive line problems.  Signing DE Greg Hardy was controversial and now he’s been suspended for the first ten games next year so grabbing a DE is a possibility but the value lies at DT.  Malcolm Brown is a quick, penetrating DT which is exactly the type of player defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli likes.  Brown is Texas Longhorn originally from Texas so being drafting by the Cowboys will make for a nice story.

28. Denver Broncos (12-4): Jake Fisher   OT   Oregon

Quite often there is an offensive tackle that sneaks into the late first round when a team needs help at the position but the surefire guys are off the board.  Fisher has been moving up the board late in the process and it conceivable that the Broncos will reach a little bit to get a RT they think fits Gary Kubiak’s style.  Fisher isn’t an elite athlete and the zone blocking system Kubiak uses would hide some of his deficiencies so he could play RT.  The Broncos need a DT too but if OTs come off the board like I think they will the Broncos may need to grab Fisher here to make sure they get one.  They need to solidify the position to give themselves a chance to compete in what is likely to be Peyton Manning’s last season.

29. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Cameron Erving   OL   Florida St.

Erving’s best position is probably as a center considering he excelled there after moving inside in the middle of last year.  However, Erving has also played left tackle and his versatility could be very useful for the Colts as they could use help at either OC or RT.  The Colts could let Erving battle for either position and use the best 5 linemen they have by slotting him in where they need him.  The Colts need help in the secondary and at inside linebacker meaning LBs Eric Kendricks, Stephone Anthony or Benardrick McKinney are all possibilities as are DB Eric Rowe and CB Marcus Peters.  My final thought on the Colts is that if both Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon are off the board at this point (as they are in this mock draft) they could be a landing spot for a third RB in the first round like Jay Ajayi of Boise St.

30. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Eric Kendricks   ILB   UCLA

If the season started today the Packers would line up on defense with a gigantic gaping hole in the middle of their defense, they could slide Clay Matthew inside to cover like they did last year but that creates another problem on the outside.  Carl Bradford might be able to hold down one ILB spot but Eric Kendricks would come in as an immediate starter on day one.  Kendricks is also a very versatile player due to his years in UCLA’s variable defense so Dom Capers could come up with some creative ways to use both Kendricks and Matthews all over the field.  It’s almost a foregone conclusion that the Packers will take and ILB in the first round and I would bet that even if they do it won’t be the last ILB they take.

31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle 12-4): Dorial Green-Beckham   WR   Mizzou/Oklahoma

The Saints have a second first round pick from the Jimmy Graham trade with Seattle and after using their first one on an OLB for their defense they should really consider getting Drew Brees some help.  They traded away Graham and WR Kenny Stills and WR Marques Colston isn’t getting any younger so adding a talented playmaker like Green-Beckham would certainly help their offense.  Green-Beckham has a number of off the field issues but a strong veteran offense led by head coach Sean Peyton, QB Drew Brees and WR Marques Colston could be the perfect environment for Green-Beckham to turn himself around.  The Saints took WR Brandin Cooks last year and he was off to a terrific start before an injury ended his season and Green-Beckham is the exact opposite type of WR from Cooks so they would play well off each other in the future.

32. New England Patriots (12-4): Marcus Peters   CB   Washington

This possibility makes me both excited and scared at the same time.  The Patriots need talent at CB after losing both Darrell Revis and Brandon Browner in free agency and Peters is arguable the best pure cover corner in this draft (I would argue he is the best).  It isn’t even his off the field issues that concern me because they have to do with not getting along with coaches and flying off the handle at his coaches and I don’t see that being an issue with Bill Belichick, Belichick has handled far tougher divas than Peters.  My fear stems from the fact that Bill Belichick has a terrible history drafting CBs in the early rounds of the draft and I don’t want him to jinx Peters by taking him here.  The Patriots need him because he profiles as a future #1 CB and those are hard to find.  Peters is only available because he isn’t the supreme athlete that Byron Jones is and Kevin Johnson gets along with people better and is a pretty good cover man himself.

Round 2

33. Tennessee Titans: Eric Rowe   DB   Utah

The Titans need to address the RT position but Rowe is moving up the draft boards pretty quickly and represents good value.  He can come in as a CB and help out there but he may eventually move over to FS and he could be the long-term replacement for the aging Michael Griffin.

34. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Owamagbe Odighizuwa   DE   UCLA

Odighizuwa has first round potential so the Buccaneers would be lucky to find him here early in the second round.  After letting Adrian Clayborn walk in free agency and cutting Michael Johnson after just a year they really need to find some talent at DE and Odighizuwa is a talent for sure.

35. Oakland Raiders: Ronald Darby   CB   Florida St.

Darby was overshadowed in his own backfield by PJ Williams and Jalen Ramsey but Ramsey isn’t in this draft and PJ Williams got himself into a little off the field trouble.  Darby is a solid player in his own right and after an impressive athletic display at the combine teams took notice.  The Raiders need talent and Darby is good enough to become an immediate starter, he probably isn’t going to be in the conversation as the best CB in the NFL but he’s better than almost any CB on the Raiders roster.

36. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jay Ajayi   RB   Boise St.

The Jaguars are building a nice offense with QB Blake Bortles, WRs Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns, free agent TE Julius Thomas and they addressed their offensive line in the offseason with RT Jermey Parnell and OC Stefen Wisniewski.  Now they need a RB that can carry the load, no offense to Denard Robinson but he is a situational back.  Ajayi is 6’0 220 lbs. and he can be the workhorse.  Blake Bortles development would be seriously aided by having a back like Ajayi to take the pressure off the passing game.

37. New York Jets: Brett Hundley   QB   UCLA

The idea that the Jets are going to go into the season with Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick as their top options at QB is laughable.  Smith hasn’t shown a whole lot of promise and the new regime at GM and head coach has no allegiance to him whatsoever, Fitzpatrick is nothing but a stopgap.  Hundley may need a little time but he is a far superior option to either of these two and would actually bring some hope of competent QB play.

38. Washington Redskins: Quinten Rollins   CB   Miami (OH)

After addressing their two most pressing needs (OLB and RT) in the first round after my make believe trade with the Browns the Redskins get some youth for the secondary.  Rollins played basketball for 4 years at Miami (OH) and only one year of football but he’s an intriguing prospect.  The Redskins can hope DeAngelo Hall has one more year in him to help Rollins transition to the NFL and then be ready to take over.

39. Chicago Bears: Jaelen Strong   WR   Arizona St.

The Bears may luck into the best of both worlds if they can get Danny Shelton in round 1 and still have a WR like Strong available in round 2.  Strong is one of my favorite players in this draft and he’s going to be an excellent addition to any team.  The Bears could replace Brandon Marshall with Strong and hope that Jay Cutler figures it all out at the age of 32.

40. New York Giants: Damarious Randall   FS   Arizona St.

Randall isn’t the biggest safety in the draft but the Giants need a lot of help at the position and Randall could be a very good centerfielder at FS.  The Giants don’t have much on their roster and a player like Randall would step right into a starting position on day one.

41. St. Louis Rams: AJ Cann   OG   South Carolina

There is a perception that the Rams need to take a RT in this draft but their RT from last season Joe Barksdale is still on the free agent market because he hasn’t found a suitable offer.  Greg Robinson is going to move outside to replace Jake Long at LT meaning the Rams should grab Cann and plug him in at guard and then re-sign Barksdale to help solidify their line.

42. Atlanta Falcons: Eli Harold   DE/OLB   Virginia

After grabbing Todd Gurley in my first round the Falcons look to help their defense out a bit.  The free agent additions of Adrian Clayborn, Brooks Reed and O’Brien Schofield help the pass rush but Harold would bring speed off the edge that new head coach Dan Quinn would love.  Harold would be a situational pass rusher to begin with but he has the type of versatility Quinn had in Seattle with Bruce Irvin.

43. Cleveland Browns: Eddie Goldman   DT   Florida St.

After making a bold move to get yet another QB of the future the Browns need to address the fact that the middle of their defense was terrible last year against the run.  Goldman is good 3-4 NT prospect that would make a major difference up front for them.  Of course they could always draft Bryce Petty after taking Marcus Mariota because if they just keep drafting QBs sooner or later they have to stumble into a franchise QB, right?

44. New Orleans Saints: Maxx Williams   TE   Minnesota

Williams is the top TE in the draft but he is no Jimmy Graham.  That’s not a problem because the Saints are looking for a TE that can be a pass catcher but also contribute in the running game.  Williams knows how to block from his time with the Gophers and while he may not be the mismatch Graham was he’ll do just fine.

45. Minnesota Vikings: Stephone Anthony   LB   Clemson

The Vikings middle linebacker spot has been an issue for a few years and the loss of Jasper Brinkley in free agency didn’t help the problem.  The Vikings shouldn’t go into the season with Audie Cole as their starting MLB and Anthony has been moving up the draft board.  He’s got good size and instincts and would be a major upgrade over Cole.

46. San Francisco 49ers: Benardrick McKinney   ILB   Mississippi St.

To say that the 49ers need help at ILB is an understatement.  The retirements of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland and the injury history of Navarro Bowman makes Michael Wilhoite the closest thing to a sure thing they have and they were trying to trade him a couple of months ago.  McKinney is a big ILB with range and a knack for being in the middle of the action.  The 49ers would have to be crazy to pass on him here because he’s a starting caliber ILB and they are in short supply in San Francisco these days.

47. Miami Dolphins: Shaq Thompson   LB   Washington

The Dolphins LB corps is nothing to write home about and they would be lucky if Thompson falls this far.  Thompson has proven to be a bit of a tweener in his workouts being a tad small for LB and a little slow for SS but he’s a player and he could play weakside LB for Miami and probably be their best LB.

48. San Diego Chargers: Donovan Smith   OT   Penn St.

Smith is a 6’6 338 lbs. giant that moves very well considering his sheer size.  The Chargers would do well to grab Smith and plug him in at RT so they could move DJ Fluker inside to LG where his power would be an asset and his lack of lateral movement wouldn’t be a detriment.  Fluker would excel inside and Smith should be able to better handle outside rushers at RT.

49. Kansas City Chiefs: Nelson Agholor   WR   USC

The Chiefs get lucky with things falling their way after grabbing RT Ereck Flowers they still get a very talented WR in Agholor.  After adding Jeremy Maclin in free agency Agholor would be a great complement to him because while Agholor isn’t a great deep ball receiver that is exactly where Maclin excels.  Maclin and Agholor would be the best Chiefs receiving duo since…the beginning of time?

50. Buffalo Bills: Laken Tomlinson   OG   Duke

The Bills traded their first round pick last year to move up and draft Sammy Watkins so this is their first choice in the 2015 draft.  I would like to give them a QB to upgrade over Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel but that doesn’t exist at this point in the draft.  Surprisingly the Bills don’t have any other major holes on their team and their best course of action would be to upgrade the interior of their offensive line.  OG Laken Tomlinson would be a big upgrade over Chris Williams and getting better upfront  would make new RB LeSean McCoy that much more effective.  Cassel is likely to hold off Manuel but he is just a caretaker and he would be well served by a great ground game.  Tomlinson is not a household name, guards rarely are, but he’s an excellent prospect that would make a major difference for the Bills.

51. Houston Texans: Devin Smith   WR   Ohio St.

The Texans cut Andre Johnson in the offseason and while DeAndre Hopkins proved to be a very good WR last season they need a deep threat to take the top off the defense.  Smith is the absolute definition of a deep threat and pairing him on the outside with Hopkins while free agent signee Cecil Shorts works inside the slot would give QB Ryan Mallett (or Brian Hoyer) some weapons in the passing game.  Smith may be primarily known as a deep threat but something tells me Bill O’Brien could get the best out of him.

52. Philadelphia Eagles: Phillip Dorsett   WR   Miami

While it certainly seems like Chip Kelly has an aversion to small, fast WRs given he cut DeSean Jackson last year and let Jeremy Maclin walk this year, he knows a playmaker when he sees one and Dorsett would be a good complement to Jordan Matthews and Riley Cooper.  Dorsett’s elite speed and elusiveness would be a welcome addition and he and Matthews can both play inside the slot or outside receiver.

53. Cincinnati Bengals: Carl Davis   DT   Iowa

Domata Peko struggled last season and he’s been in the league 10 years so his time may be coming to an end.  Geno Atkins wasn’t his usual dominant self last season either but he’s only 27 so the Bengals are hoping he can bounce back.  Atkins needs a big body next to him because he’s undersized and Davis is 6’5 320 lbs. so he qualifies.  Davis would be great value here because he’s a legitimate first round possibility and he’s ready to contribute immediately.

54. Detroit Lions: Grady Jarrett   DT   Clemson

The trade for Haloti Ngata was a nice move after losing Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley but the Lions still need more help at DT.  Jarrett would be a great player to put next to Ngata who is a 340 lbs. behemoth that can anchor down because Jarrett is at his best as a penetrating force.  Jarrett’s lack of girth wouldn’t be an issue lined up next to Ngata.

55. Arizona Cardinals: Preston Smith   DE   Mississippi St.

The Cardinals lost Darnell Dockett to free agency and even though he missed time last year due to an injury that just showed them how much they need a new 3-4 DE.  Smith is 6’5 271 lbs. and his strength and powerful hands make him an ideal candidate to be a five-technique end.  He doesn’t have the pure speed to be an effective edge rusher in the NFL but he does possess the ability to anchor and hold the edge as well as get some push up field the way a 3-4 DE must.

56. Pittsburgh Steelers: Danielle Hunter   OLB   LSU

Hunter looks the part of an elite pass rusher in workouts but he never really put it to use on the field.  The Steelers are in need of some reinforcements at OLB given Jason Worilds surprising retirement and Jarvis Jones inability to take over the spot.  Arthur Moats is just a guy and James Harrison is well past his prime but perhaps the Steelers can fashion Hunter’s physical gifts into an actual pass rusher.

57. Carolina Panthers: Jalen Collins   CB   LSU

Collins likely cost himself a round in the draft after the disclosure that he failed drug tests while at LSU.  Collins wasn’t a perfect prospect to begin with because he lacks experience and is still very raw but the information about drug use at LSU seems to be new information and teams will go for players they feel more comfortable with instead of taking a chance.  The Panthers need some help at CB and Collins wouldn’t be asked to be a major contributor from day one and they could hope that newly signed veteran Charles Tillman would be a good influence on Collins his rookie year and help him transition to the pros.

58. Baltimore Ravens: Lorenzo Mauldin   OLB   Louisville

The Ravens rarely reach for need and that’s why they take Mauldin here instead of getting a CB or a safety.  Mauldin would be good insurance behind aging OLBs Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil and would be an excellent pass rushing specialist as a rookie.  Mauldin is versatile enough to replace the departed Pernell McPhee and he could be an eventual full-time replacement for Suggs or Dumervil.

59. Denver Broncos: Jordan Phillips   DT   Oklahoma

I’ve made my feelings about Phillips pretty well known but a guy that is 6’5 330 lbs. is only going to drop so far no matter how raw he is.  The Broncos reach a little in the first round of this mock draft to grab RT Jake Fisher but they get a guy here in Phillips a little later than most expect.  The Broncos need bodies at DT so Phillips won’t have the luxury of easing into a rotation but they need help all over the defensive line so he won’t be alone in learning on the job.

60. Dallas Cowboys: PJ Williams   CB   Florida St.

Williams draft stock has fallen behind guys like Quinten Rollins, Eric Rowe and Ronald Darby because he freelances too much and gambles too often.  His recent DUI arrest did not help his cause but his loss might be the Cowboys gain.  Morris Claiborne has been a bust and Orlando Scandrick is apparently unhappy so that leaves Dallas with Brandon Carr and needing some significant help at CB.  Williams has the ability to be an excellent cover corner in the NFL and he will contribute immediately.

61. Indianapolis Colts: Tevin Coleman   RB   Indiana

The Colts were hoping to grab Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon in the first round but Coleman is more than a consolation prize here in the second round.  Coleman’s big play ability would be the perfect complement to Frank Gore’s grind-it-out style and he can eventual replace Gore because he’s able to handle a heavy workload.  The Colts continue to put playmakers around Andrew Luck and hope it puts them on the way to a Super Bowl.

62. Green Bay Packers: Paul Dawson   ILB   Baylor

I said Eric Kendricks wouldn’t be the last ILB the Packers take in this draft and it just so happens that the best available talent at this point in the second round is Baylor’s Paul Dawson.  Dawson wouldn’t just be a choice for depth he is a legitimate starting candidate next to Kendricks and I would expect him to win the job.  The Packers only other real need is at NT and there aren’t any of those worth this draft spot.

63. Seattle Seahawks: Ali Marpet   OL   Hobart

The Seahawks big offseason move to get TE Jimmy Graham was certainly justified considering their need for a playmaker on offense but it overshadowed the fact that they gave up their starting OC Max Unger along with their first round pick.  Adding Unger’s loss to the free agent defection of OG James Carpenter and the Seahawks need to address the interior of their offensive line.  Marpet was a Division III All-American who started at LT for three years before earning an invite to the Senior Bowl.  He moved inside to OG in Mobile and more than held his own against the best competition he faced.  Marpet isn’t an elite athlete but he is smart and aggressive and some think he may be able to play OC.  The Seahawks need help inside and they could take Marpet and give him a chance to win a job at either OG or OC.  GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll have never been afraid to think outside the box so this pick is right up their alley.

64. New England Patriots: Michael Bennett   DT   Ohio St.

Bennett isn’t the space-eating NT that Vince Wilfork was but there aren’t any of those left that are worthy of a second round pick even if it is the last pick of the round.  Bennett is the type of versatile lineman Bill Belichick likes given his penchant for using multi-variable fronts.  Bennett can be an interior DT or play the edge and anchor against the run.  He has multiple pass rush moves and most importantly would bring youth and talent to the defensive line.  It doesn’t hurt that Bennett has played the last few years for Urban Meyer, a trait Belichick apparently loves.