I am usually known as the optimist when it comes to the Iowa Hawkeyes especially when they have just started fall camp but when it comes to the Hawkeye offense Kirk Ferentz did the one thing that could remove my usual sunny outlook, he kept Greg Davis as his offensive coordinator.  I don’t completely fault Davis for Iowa’s inept offense last season I only blame him for about 95% of the problems.  The injuries the struck the running backs last year (Mark Weisman and Jordan Canzeri were always seemingly banged up and LeShun Daniels went down), the lack of production at TE (a little bit Davis’s fault for not using them but they didn’t really give him a reason to) and the offensive line somehow being less than the sum of its parts were the 5% that wasn’t Davis’s doing.  The terrible game-planning, the awful play-calling, the complete inability to use the playmakers available to him and the total predictability of the offense are all on Davis and somehow I don’t believe making Brian Ferentz the run-game coordinator is going to fix all of that.  Kirk Ferentz somehow found a way to convince Gary Barta that he didn’t need to fire Davis and replace him with someone competent which means Ferentz probably bought himself another year because when this team finishes .500 or below he can blame the assistants and fire some of them and then he gets to keep his job.  Barta should have insisted on the change this off season but he had no leverage because Ferentz knew he wasn’t going to write that buyout check yet but that decision is going to get easier every year as the price drops…unless of course Barta gives Ferentz another ridiculous extension.

Quarterbacks

Starter:  CJ Beathard   Junior

Backup:  Tyler Wiegers   Redshirt Freshman

There are a lot of Hawkeye fans that blame Jake Rudock for Iowa’s inept offense and many of them are in love with the idea of CJ Beathard unleashing the full force of Iowa’s offense on the world.  I’m here to tell those people they are setting themselves up for disappointment.  Rudock certainly played the game a certain way (very quick to take the underneath throw and play a conservative game) but the idea that Beathard’s gun slinging way is going to open up Greg Davis’s offense is insane.  The offense is designed to play horizontally not vertically with the idea that you throw short and let the receivers make plays; it’s an antiquated philosophy that makes playing defense against your passing game easy.  You don’t have to cover much down field and it brings the defense closer to the line and stifles your run game too.  Any QB running this offense is going to struggle and while Beathard had his moments last year I don’t think he can overcome the schematic disadvantage he’ll have with this team.  Anyone that watches college football and asks why this short quick passing game works for other teams it’s because those teams spread the defense out.  A short range passing game works when you use 5 WR sets and take advantage of the mismatches it creates, Davis’ offense uses 3 WR and maybe a TE which doesn’t create mismatches at all.

As skeptical as I am about Beathard the Hawkeyes better hope the offensive line can keep him healthy because he’s the only QB on the roster that has ever taken a live snap in a college football game.  The rest of the QB depth chart includes his backup Tyler Wiegers, a redshirt freshman, Ryan Boyle and Drew Cook, two true freshmen along with a true freshman walk-on Ryan Schmidt.  I may not be Beathard’s biggest supporter but he’s the best chance Iowa has unless Wiegers takes a gigantic step.

Running Backs

Starter:  LeShun Daniels   Junior

Backup:  Jordan Canzeri   Senior

Fullbacks

Starter:  Adam Cox   Senior

Backup:  Macon Plewa   Senior

The Hawkeye offense needs the running game to carry the load because playmakers are few and far between in the passing game.  LeShun Daniels showed the coaches enough during spring practice and in workouts over the summer to take the starting spot from Jordan Canzeri and it’s about time he gets his chance.  Daniels was used sparingly two years ago and again last season before an injury took him out at midseason.  He has a combination of size and speed that is lacking elsewhere on the roster but he’s the type of back that needs carries to get into a rhythm and stay there.  He can handle the workload far better than Canzeri or Akrum Wadley and the Hawkeyes must trust him.

Canzeri is a very nice back to have and against certain defenses his style works very well but he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy and he’s not built to carry the ball 20-25 times a game.  He should make for a very nice complement to Daniels and used correctly they should keep each other healthy, fresh and effective.  Hopefully putting Brian Ferentz in charge of the running game will help the Hawkeyes find the right combination in the backfield.

Adam Cox was a walk-on that earned a scholarship last year and promptly blew out his knee and missed the season.  Macon Plewa stepped in and was fine until he was injured and missed some time also.  Having both of these experienced blockers back at fullback should help the running game overall and provide some solid protection in the passing game.

The Rest of the Depth Chart:  Akrum Wadley is certainly the third RB simply because he has actual experience but he had fumbling issues last season and while he could be a playmaker if he can’t hold onto the ball he won’t play much for Kirk Ferentz.  Derrick Mitchell is a sophomore that switched to RB from WR in the spring and did some very nice things and could give Wadley a run for money.  Marcel Joly was a defensive back until he made the switch to RB in the spring also but the jury is still out on him.  CJ Hilliard redshirted last year and hasn’t had a chance to make a move yet and he could get passed up pretty quickly.  True freshman Eric Graham was an 11^th hour signee out of Alabama that certainly looks like a redshirt this season but stranger things have happened at RB for the Hawkeyes.

Wide Receivers

Starters:  Tevaun Smith   Senior         Matt VandeBerg   Junior

Backups:  Jacob Hillyer   Senior         Jay Scheel   Redshirt Freshman

Tevaun Smith is the best NFL prospect at WR I’ve seen at Iowa in Ferentz’s entire tenure and it won’t matter a bit if someone doesn’t take some of the pressure off of him.  Iowa’s offense isn’t designed to get Smith into a mismatch meaning one of the other WRs is going to have to step up so teams can’t just double cover him on every play.  Matt VandeBerg is a nice slot receiver but if he is lining up outside in two receiver sets opposite Smith he scares no one.  Smith is a playmaker and it would be nice if Iowa would find a way to get him into single coverage with motion but that seems like a longshot.  He should catch at least 80 passes this season but he probably won’t and Iowa’s offense will suffer because of it.

Jacob Hillyer brings a different dimension to the position because he’s 6’4 and he knows how to use his height.  He should be a dynamic red zone weapon but so far he hasn’t been.  He doesn’t possess the speed to beat defenders regularly but it would be nice if he steps up on the outside and plays well enough to allow VandeBerg to play mostly in the slot.  The best news I’ve seen in the two-deeps so far is Jay Scheel listed at WR.  Scheel is a complete unknown because he missed his redshirt season last year recovering from a knee injury and he played QB in high school not WR.  The reason this is good news is because his potential as a playmaker is much higher than that of Andrew Stone or Riley McCarron the other possible players that could have been in the two-deeps.

The X-Factor:  Jonathan Parker has made the move to WR from RB and even though he made one of the most boneheaded plays I’ve ever seen in a football game in Iowa’s bowl game last year he is the type of playmaker the Hawkeyes need.  Parker has game breaking speed and Iowa must figure out ways to get him the ball in space and it needs to be more than running the jet sweep.  Speed is a completely useless trait if the defense knows exactly where you’re going.

Now or Never guys:  There are three players currently on the roster that have been around long enough to earn playing time but just haven’t made the leap yet.  Andrew Stone is a senior walk-on that has made the depth chart here and there but just isn’t likely to get real playing time.  Riley McCarron was the talk of spring practice a couple of years ago but he just hasn’t stayed healthy and he’s been passed by other players.  Andre Harris is a third year sophomore that has ability but just hasn’t put it together.  He needs to make the leap to legitimate helpful WR or he’ll get passed by younger players.

The Future:  It’s fairly obvious that Tevaun Smith is the only upperclassman WR I feel good about but I think Iowa may have some young talent that just needs a chance to shine.  Joshua Jackson redshirted last year as a defensive back but moved to WR in the spring.  He was a very good WR in high school and he could blossom if given the chance.  Sophomore Ronald Nash just walked on to the Hawkeye team this year after spending last season at Iowa Western Community College and while he’s not a highly regarded recruit he could be a very solid possession receiver rather quickly.  Then there are Iowa’s three true freshmen.  Adrian Falconer from Florida and Emmanuel Ogwo and Jerminic Smith, both from Texas, could add the dynamic playmaking the offense needs if they can convince the coaches to accept some freshman mistakes along with the big plays.  All three bring a speed dimension the offense is sorely lacking and after watching some film on all three I really like the way Smith plays.  I’m hoping for a possible Smith (Tevaun) and Smith (Jerminic) duo on the outside putting pressure on opposing defenses.

Tight End

Starter:  Henry Krieger-Coble   Senior

Backup:  George Kittle   Junior

Coming back from injury:  Jake Duzey   Senior

Henry Krieger-Coble will start the year in the starting lineup but that’s because Jake Duzey was injured in the spring and is still working his way back.  Krieger-Coble is a good blocker and he’s been underused in the passing game because guys like Duzey, Kittle and Ray Hamilton have been bigger threats in that area.  He’s a capable pass catcher but he doesn’t put the defense back on its heels.

George Kittle is still more of a big WR that lines up at TE than he is a pure TE.  He’s a threat down the seam because he has excellent speed and good hands.  The offense has to find a way to get Kittle lined up against either slower defenders so he can use his speed or smaller defenders to take advantage of his size.

The loss of Duzey hurts because he’s a matchup nightmare at TE.  At 6’4 250 lbs. he has good size, excellent speed and he’s dangerous in the open field.  The Hawkeyes need as many playmakers as they can get and Duzey would be a big one.  All is not lost as they hope to have him back by Big Ten play but the opening four games would be a little easier with one of the best pass catchers on the team playing.

Will We Finally See Him:  Third year sophomore Jon Wisnieski hasn’t seen action after redshirting his first year and then suffering an injury that kept him out last season.  He was a pretty good prospect coming out of high school and he has the right size and athleticism to be a very good TE.  He has some rust to knock off but with Duzey out and no real depth behind Krieger-Coble and Kittle it’s time for Wisniewski to step up and earn some playing time.

*Redshirt Freshman Jameer Outsey made the move from LB to TE at the outset of fall camp and while he’s a good athlete that played TE in high school he’ll have to make major strides to get meaningful playing time this season.

Offensive Line

The offensive line wasn’t great last year and replacing LT Brandon Scherff and RT Andrew Donnal with two guys that have very little experience doesn’t bolster my confidence.  The interior of the line struggled last season until Tommy Gaul was inserted at center and Austin Blythe moved over to guard and stabilized a troublesome spot.  Blythe moves back to center where he’s very good but that means the guard spots are back in the hands of Jordan Walsh, Eric Simmons and Sean Welsh.  Walsh needs a Matt Tobin-like senior season leap and Welsh sat out the spring for personal reasons so the jury is out on him.  Iowa is always at its best when its offensive line is dominant but 4 out of the 5 spots are questionable so confidence is low.

Left Tackle

Starter:  Boone Myers   Sophomore

Backup:  Cole Croston   Junior

Myers is in the unenviable position of replacing a Hawkeye legend in Outland Trophy winner Brandon Scherff.  It doesn’t help that he’s a former walk-on who is virtually unknown to anyone except the most diehard fans.  He hasn’t played much at all and he wasn’t expected to take over the position but he won the job in spring practice.  Myers is plenty big and he’s a pretty good athlete but he can’t possibly play up to the level of Scherff so the Hawkeyes need to hope he can just hold his own.

Croston is actually still a walk-on but he’s played well enough that he seems to be the third tackle.  If either Myers or RT Ike Boettger go down with an injury it’s likely Croston steps in.

Left Guard

Starter:  Eric Simmons   Senior

Backup:  Sean Welsh   Sophomore

Welsh was the starter at the beginning of last season as a redshirt freshman and he struggled quite a bit.  He didn’t participate in spring practice as he dealt with some personal issues and senior Eric Simmons stepped up and took over the position.  Simmons has been a backup at all three interior line spots since he joined the Hawkeyes from IWCC as a sophomore.

Welsh could work his way back into the starting lineup if he is ready and focused on football.  He has plenty of talent and the coaches recognized that last year but he needs to put those struggles behind him and concentrate on being more consistent.

Center

Starter:  Austin Blythe   Senior

Backup:  Eric Simmons   Senior

Blythe is the one offensive lineman the Hawkeyes know they can count on and he’s been named to a few preseason award watch lists including the Rimington Award list for best center.  Unlike most of the recent centers for Iowa Blythe isn’t an undersized player that relies on his technique.  He is a powerful athlete with good size and plenty of experience and he’s an NFL caliber player in the pivot.

Simmons is the listed backup at center and if Blythe goes down (God forbid) Simmons would slide over to center and the Hawks would insert Welsh or someone else at left guard.

Right Guard

Starter:  Jordan Walsh   Senior

Backup:  Mitch Keppy   Junior

Walsh has a lot of experience as he’s been either the starter or shared the starting spot at RG for the past two years.  Unfortunately not all of that experience has been good.  He has struggled time and time again but the Hawkeyes have yet to come up with a better solution.  The Hawkeyes have had players in the past that took major steps their senior year and everyone is hoping Walsh’s talent finally shines through.

Mitch Keppy is a junior that hasn’t played yet and while he’s found himself in the two-deeps now he has a whole host of players coming up behind him and while the hope is he can push Walsh and possibly help out at the position he will have to hold off some underclassmen.

Right Tackle

Starter:  Ike Boettger   Sophomore

Backup:  Keegan Render   Redshirt Freshman

Boettger is a third year player that has only played offensive line for one season as he came to Iowa as a TE.  He has great size and athleticism and last year he stepped in at LT when Brandon Scherff went down for a short time.  Many believed he would succeed Scherff at that spot but the coaches believe Myers is better suited to the left side and expect Boettger to excel at RT.

The Hawkeyes have struggled recruiting true offensive tackles for a number of year which is why Render is listed here.  He would only play tackle if two injuries occur as Cole Croston would step in to replace Myers or Boettger if either has to come out of the game.  Render might be an eventual guard if he proves to be one of the best five linemen.

The Forgotten Man:  Ryan Ward came to Iowa as a four-star offensive tackle but he has never lived up to the billing.  He has rarely cracked the two-deeps in his career and the only playing time he has managed is as a jumbo blocking TE in power run formations last season.  Ward is a fourth year junior that is unlikely to see a fifth year.

The Interior Depth:  Keegan Render is joined by three other redshirt freshmen that I think could push for playing time at the guard positions if Welsh and Walsh falter.  Ross Reynolds, Lucas LeGrand and walk-on Dalton Ferguson are all similarly built guys that are young and just need some time to learn what they are doing and they could provide nice depth inside.

The Future:  The Iowa Hawkeyes signed a class of five true freshmen that could someday be the starting lineup.  Levi and Landan Paulsen are twins from northwest Iowa and could eventually form the left side of the line with Levi at tackle and Landan at guard.  Levi sustained an arm injury during the summer but he was always going to redshirt anyway so he’ll use this season to rehab.  Jake Newborg out of West Lyon will start his career as a guard even though he could eventually move to DT.  Brett Waechter was an early enrollee back in the spring but he didn’t participate in spring ball as he was rehabbing a shoulder injury, he could be a future offensive tackle.  The most heralded member of the class was also an early enrollee center James Daniels.  RB LeShun Daniels younger brother is the future starter in the middle and the future is likely next season.  Daniels could be a star.

Kicker

Marshall Koehn is the kicker and he’s got a big leg and became far more consistent at the end of last season than he has ever been before.  Oh and he might win the punting job too.

We are only a few weeks out from the end of the 2015 NFL Draft and some have already put out their 2016 Mock Drafts and that’s just crazy.  It’s nearly impossible to predict the draft the week before it takes place so trying to do it a year in advance is absolutely impossible.  Prospects emerge and others falter and we have no idea who will be picking where in next year.  Making it even more difficult to predict the past two drafts had surprising teams picking #1 overall because no one saw the Buccaneers being so terrible after their off season spending spree in 2014 and the Texans certainly weren’t seen as the worst team in the league the year before.

If you’re a college football fan and an NFL fan then it is fun to watch the college football season with an eye on the players that might be helping your franchise in the future.  This is not a mock draft, it’s not a comprehensive list and it will inevitably change over the course of the season.  If you don’t believe me just look at this year’s actual draft where names like Kevin White, Kevin Johnson, Breshad Perriman, Damarious Randall and Bud Dupree were not first rounders at this time last year while Randy Gregory, Landon Collins, Jaelen Strong and PJ Williams looked like sure things.  Here are 30 or so players to watch this season and I’m sorry to say there isn’t a Hawkeye among them.

1. Joey Bosa DE   Ohio St.

Bosa is a beast that combines power, speed and pass rushing skills that make him the odds-on favorite to be the top pick in next year’s draft.  Unless one of the many QB prospects steps up their game and becomes a viable franchise player Bosa has the best chance to go #1 overall.  Other than a franchise QB a franchise pass rusher has become the most important position in the NFL and Bosa has been compared to JJ Watt, of course every pass rusher gets compared to Watt.  He will have competition for the top spot in the draft but the only thing keeping him from being the top DE will be if he decides to stay in school for his senior year.  That would be a shocker.

2. Ronnie Stanley OT   Notre Dame

Stanley is a 6’6 318 lbs. prototypical LT that could have been the top tackle in the 2015 draft but he returned to Notre Dame instead.  He has only started for a year but teams see the type of power and athleticism they look for in a franchise LT.  If he had entered the 2015 draft he would have been a top 10 pick and would have pushed Brandon Scherff to be the top offensive lineman off the board.  Depending on the needs of the team picking first next year Stanley is a legitimate possibility to go #1 overall.

3. Kendall Fuller CB   Virginia Tech

Putting Fuller this high is a little more projection on my part because I really like him.  He is the younger brother of Chicago Bears CB Kyle Fuller, a player I really liked a couple of years ago.  Kendall is a bit bigger and plays a more physical style than Kyle and that makes him a fantastic prospect.  He’ll have some competition as the top CB prospect (I’ll get to Vernon Hargreaves III in a second) but he’s my choice right now.  The 2015 draft didn’t have top 10 caliber CB prospects but the 2016 draft has two.

4. Shawn Oakman DE   Baylor

Oakman is 6’8 280 lbs. so you would think he played basketball at Baylor not football but instead he’s an intriguing DE prospect.  He has the length and strength to be a monster five-technique in a 3-4 defense but he has some character questions that have to be answered.  He was kicked off the Penn St. team before he transferred to Baylor and some question his drive because at his size he should dominate more.  He could slip if he doesn’t answer those questions but I think he does answer them this season.  He needs some technique work because he relies so much on his physical ability, if he finds some football skills he’ll be scary good.

5. Vernon Hargreaves III CB   Florida

The debate will rage throughout the season about which CB is the top prospect and Hargreaves could certainly come out on top and whether a team takes him or Fuller they will be getting a great CB.  If Hargreaves had been in the 2015 draft he would have been the first CB drafted and while he doesn’t have elite size teams are looking for these days he has fantastic instincts and true cover ability.

6. Jalen Ramsey FS   Florida St.

Ramsey is a do-it-all safety that can cover pretty much anyone, come up and support the run and the Seminoles love to use him to blitz.  He is probably my favorite prospect for next year and listing him as a FS is too narrow of a designation.  He’s been a major part of the Florida St. defense since he was a freshman and he has only gotten better.  To me he’s the next Ed Reed and that is high praise.

7. Laremy Tunsil OT   Mississippi

He’s only a junior this year and he’s coming off an ugly leg injury but this kid checks all the boxes as a LT prospect.  He’s good in pass blocking and run blocking and he has good size.  He may not come out if he struggles coming off his injury and this position is fairly deep but if he plays like he did pre-injury he has top 10 potential.  Ole Miss’s season was not a fluke in 2014 and they have quite a few potential top prospects so scouts will spend plenty of time watching him and his team.

8. Connor Cook QB   Michigan St.

The 2015 draft proved two things about QBs; 1. Franchise QBs are hard to come by, 2. Teams are willing to reach for someone they think has the potential to be a franchise QB.  Cook is 6’4 220 lbs. with a good arm, some mobility and by the end of this season he’ll have quite a bit of starting experience at the collegiate level.  If he turns in a monster year he can vault himself to the top of the board or he could fall flat on his face and end up in the fourth round.

9. Christian Hackenberg QB   Penn St.

Anyone that watched Hackenberg in 2014 is asking how in the hell he could be considered a top prospect because he seriously struggled all year.  Well he was quite good in 2013 as a freshman under Bill O’Brien and at 6’4 234 lbs. he has prototypical NFL size.  Hackenberg has the talent to be a franchise QB if he can get his head right.  He struggled playing for a new coach, in a new system and without his top WR from the previous year Allen Robinson.  If he can put together a good year teams will fall all over him and the first in line will be the Houston Texans, coached by Bill O’Brien himself.

10. Jared Goff QB   California

Goff is slightly under-the-radar especially compared to Cook and Hackenberg but he’s an intriguing prospect.  He will inevitably be compared to Aaron Rodgers given the fact he attends Cal and he’s a solid athlete that moves well just like Rodgers.  Goff will only be a junior and he hasn’t even turned 21 yet which is good because he needs to fill out his 6’4 frame.  He might not declare for the 2016 draft but if he has a good season it’s possible and he’ll move up the boards quickly.

11. Leonard Floyd OLB   Georgia

Floyd is an elite athlete that is long and lean and plays the rush OLB for the Bulldogs.  He might be a little too lean at the moment and he needs to add some good weight so he doesn’t get dominated in the run game or crushed by power blockers when they get their hands on him.  Floyd’s speed is his best asset but sometimes he relies too much on it as a pass rusher and he needs to refine some other moves.

12. DeForest Buckner DE   Oregon

Buckner was a college teammate of San Francisco 49ers first round pick Arik Armstead and he’s a similar player.  He has great size for the five-technique position in a 3-4 defense and if you ask scouts that watched Armstead play they will tell you Buckner has even more potential.  He also has the versatility to be a DE in a 4-3 should someone take him that runs that defense.

13. A’Shawn Robinson DT   Alabama

Robinson isn’t a dominating player like a Leonard Williams was this last season but he has positional and scheme versatility like Williams.  Robinson is 6’3 320 lbs. so he has great size and he can play inside or out on a three man line or he could be a DT in a four man front.  Robinson is somewhat overshadowed playing with great players at Alabama but NFL teams know who he is and he could be a top 5 pick if he keeps progressing.

14. Myles Jack LB   UCLA

The Bruins have been sending good defenses players to the NFL for the past several years under Jim Mora and Jack is the next one.  He plays linebacker and running back in the PAC-12 so the Shaq Thompson comparisons are ample but that’s lazy.  He’s not the same player and he’s a better LB prospect.  Jack doesn’t turn 20 until December so he still has some filling out to do and he can add to his 225-230 lbs. frame.  He’s a good athlete with good instincts and with so many playmakers moving on he should really shine for UCLA.

15. Taylor Decker OT   Ohio St.

Decker is 6’7 315 lbs. and he’s the type of athlete teams love to see at LT.  He is a good pass blocker and a good run blocker and he has the length teams look for in a blindside protector.  He has played RT but he moved over to LT last season when the Buckeyes won the National Championship and if I were to hazard a guess I would say there is no way he’s still available at 15 in next year’s draft, he’s too good.

16. Ezekiel Elliot RB   Ohio St.

If you’re sensing a theme with some of these picks you won’t be surprised when the pre-season polls come out and Ohio St. is #1 and it probably won’t be a close vote.  Overshadowed last year in the pre-season by Braxton Miller and during the regular season by JT Barrett and all the great Big Ten running backs Elliot broke out in the post season.  He was still nearly overshadowed by Cardale Jones’ breakout stretch but Elliot stood tall next to him.  Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon busted their way into the first round of the 2015 draft and Elliot will keep the streak alive in 2016.

17. Laquon Treadwell WR   Mississippi

Treadwell is another of those Ole Miss prospects and he is also coming off a bad leg injury.  He will need to prove he’s healthy and that he has the speed to be a top WR because he certainly has the size at 6’2 225 lbs.  Treadwell’s size and speed combination are what set him apart but he will have plenty of competition to be the first WR off the board.

18. Robert Nkemdiche DL   Mississippi

Urban Meyer is going to be the most hugged man at next year’s draft but Hugh Freeze is going to be a close second.  Nkemdiche is still a work in progress but he was one of the best recruits in the country a few years ago for a reason.  He’s big, strong and physical and can play multiple positions on the defensive line.  He will give A’Shawn Robinson a run to be the top DT but he might be a DE to some.

19. Max Tuerk OL   USC

Tuerk offers great versatility as he has played both LT and C.  His best position is C and that’s what he will be drafted to play.  He has good size and mobility and plenty of experience.  Playing for USC also means he’s played in a pro style system so his transition should be quicker.

20. D’haquille “Duke” Williams WR   Auburn

Williams is another top WR prospect coming off an injury that ended his season prematurely.  Sammie Coates was a third round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers but before Williams injury Coates was the “other” Auburn WR.  Williams is in the same boat as Laquon Treadwell and if he proves he’s healthy they can duke it out to be the top WR on the draft board.

21. Rashard Higgins WR   Colorado St.

Higgins will be hard pressed to duplicate the production he had last year with his QB Garrett Grayson off to the NFL but he can afford to fall off a little and still have a great year, that’s what happens when you have 96 catches for over 1700 yards and 17 TDs.  Higgins is 6’2 like Treadwell and Williams but he’s only 188 lbs. so he needs to add some size to his frame, other than that he’s a game breaker.

22. Jaylon Smith LB   Notre Dame

Smith is the do everything type of linebacker and he can line up inside or outside.  He’s a tackling machine and a playmaker.  He has scheme versatility which is a must in today’s NFL and he can be a three down backer and that’s what gets LBs draft if they aren’t elite pass rushers.

23. Corey Robinson WR   Notre Dame

If Urban Meyer, Hugh Freeze and Brian Kelly didn’t make so much money I would suggest they split a hotel room in whatever city hosts next year’s draft but they can afford their own suites.  Robinson is the son of basketball Hall of Famer David Robinson and he got some of his father’s physical gifts as he is almost 6’5 215 lbs.  With a little more consistent QB play from the Fighting Irish Robinson could put up some huge numbers.

24. Spencer Drango OL   Baylor

Drango has been Baylor’s LT for the past three years but it is more likely he ends up playing inside at guard in the NFL.  He is big and powerful but he lacks the overall athleticism teams look for in a LT.  He might end up at RT but it seems like a foregone conclusion that he’ll be an NFL guard.

25. Derrick Henry RB   Alabama

TJ Yeldon left Alabama early and was a second round pick, part of the reason he didn’t go back to Alabama was the fact that Henry was taking over his job.  Henry is a big back in every sense of the phrase, he’s 6’3 245 lbs. and even at that size he’s got plenty of speed.  If he comes out early he will give Ezekiel Elliot a run for his money to be the first RB taken.

26. Su’a Cravens S   USC

A 6’1 225 lbs. safety that actually has range is hard to find.  Cravens has played some LB but he projects best as a SS that can actually cover and tackles everything in sight.  Cravens is athletic and experienced and will make someone’s defense a lot better.  His size may get him pigeon-holed as a box safety but he’s more than that.

27. Shilique Calhoun DE   Michigan St.

Calhoun went into the 2014 season with some hype coming off a great sophomore season and while he played well he didn’t quite live up to it.  He could be a pass rushing OLB at 6’5 250 lbs. but he plays better with his hand on the ground and on the line of scrimmage.  Playing DE in a 4-3 defense would be best.

28. Tyler Boyd WR   Pittsburgh

Boyd is a natural pass catcher with great body control and hand-eye coordination.  He’s been bumping Larry Fitzgerald off the top of the record books at Pitt and that is no small feat.  Boyd has good size at 6’2 190 lbs. but he could still stand to fill out his frame a little bit but he’s one of several players that should make the 2016 WR draft class the third good one in a row.

29. Emmanuel Ogbah DE   Oklahoma St.

Ogbah was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2014 and he earned it.  He has good size and pass rushing skills and he could really climb the draft boards with another good year.  Ogbah is overshadowed a bit right now do to the depth of the defensive line prospects but teams will have a very close eye on him.

30. The Wildcard QBs (all five of them)

-Cardale Jones  Ohio St:  Everyone wants to anoint the Buckeyes National Championship Game starter as “the next big thing” but I’m not on board yet.  Jones was third string going into last season and while I’m sure he’ll play this year I’m not convinced he’ll start over JT Barrett.  Jones fits the profile of an NFL QB at 6’5 250 lbs. but he’s going to have to do it for more than three games to convince me, oh and he’s going to have to beat out Barrett and possibly Braxton Miller too.

-Trevone Boykin  TCU:  I have been reading every 2016 mock draft and prospect list I find and I have yet to see Boykin listed.  He’s not your traditional NFL QB prospect and he’s still more athlete than QB but he could blossom into something special.  Boykin doesn’t compare to your usual athletic QBs in the NFL because he’s bigger than Russell Wilson (Boykin is 6’2), he’s smaller than Cam Newton (Boykin is 205 lbs. not 245 lbs.), he’s more athletic than Ryan Tannehill (the last college WR turned QB turned NFL draft pick) and he doesn’t have the hype of Marcus Mariota (although I don’t know why).  Teams need to keep an eye on him.

-Gunner Kiel  Cincinnati:  Kiel’s journey started off way back in high school when he committed to LSU and then de-committed and ended up heading to Notre Dame instead.  That didn’t last either after he lost the starting job to Everett Golson and transferred to Cincinnati.  There are plenty of top prospects this happens to and so many of them never pan out but Kiel has actually done very well for the Bearcats.  He’s 6’4 210 lbs. so he fits the profile and he’s got an NFL caliber arm.  Another good year at Cincy and he’ll be all over NFL teams’ radars.

-Nate Sudfeld  Indiana:  I know you’re reading this and thinking INDIANA?  Yes, sometimes good QB prospects come from unexpected places like Cincinnati and Indiana.  Sudfeld’s 2014 season was cut short by injury and he doesn’t put up ridiculous numbers but that has to do with lacking elite WR talent too.  He is 6’5 240 lbs. and he has a big arm that teams will love.  Sudfeld needs to raise his game a bit but he’s a wildcard for sure.

-Cody Kessler  USC:  You would think a guy that threw for 3826 yards, 39 TDs and only 5 picks would rate a little higher but Kessler doesn’t seem to stand out just yet.  He’s only 6’1 so he doesn’t fit the NFL mold like the other prospects that are 6’4-6’5.  However, he is highly productive and he has the one stat I really look for and that’s a high completion percentage.  Kessler’s completion percentage was just under 70 % and that’s fantastic.

As far as next year’s draft goes the QB position looks far better off than it was in 2015 and if you don’t believe me I just listed 8 top prospects at the position and there were only 7 QBs drafted in 2015 total.

Other prospects to watch out for in 2016:

OT  Jack Conklin   Michigan St.

OT  Germain Ifedi   Texas A&M

DT  Andrew Billings   Baylor

DT  Sheldon Day   Notre Dame

DE  Carl Lawson   Auburn

OLB  Darron Lee   Ohio St.

OLB  Dadi Nicolas   Virginia Tech

OLB  Jordan Jenkins   Georgia

LB  Eric Striker   Oklahoma

CB/S  Jalen Mills   LSU

CB  William Jackson   Houston

CB  Cameron Sutton   Tennessee

 

 

 

 

Houston Texans

16.  Kevin Johnson CB   Wake Forest

43.  Benardrick McKinney ILB   Mississippi St.

70.  Jaelen Strong WR   Arizona St.

175.  Keith Mumphery WR   Michigan St.

211.  Reshard Cliett OLB   South Florida

216.  Christian Covington DT   Rice

235.  Kenny Hilliard RB   LSU

Immediate Impact:  CB Kevin Johnson, ILB Benardrick McKinney

At first glance it doesn’t look like the Texans need a CB with Jonathan Joseph on board and the re-signing of Kareem Jackson but this team plays in a division currently dominated by Andrew Luck and the Colts.  The Texans don’t have any depth beyond Joseph and Jackson so Johnson immediately becomes the nickel corner and with the way the Colts are collecting WRs that’s going to be an important position.  He’s also likely to be Joseph’s eventual replacement.  McKinney immediately becomes a starter next to Brian Cushing at ILB if Cushing can stay healthy enough to start too.  McKinney has some issues to work on (he’s coverage skills are lacking) but he’s big, physical and a major upgrade over the current ILB talent.

Best Value:  WR Jaelen Strong

Getting Jaelen Strong in the third round is THE steal of this draft.  Strong was a first round pick in my opinion and he’s a top-notch starting WR in the league.  The Texans signed two veterans, Cecil Shorts and Nate Washington, to join DeAndre Hopkins but Strong will make his presence felt.  He’s big and physical and he proved he has more speed than he’s given credit for in scouting reports.  Strong is a playmaker that will make life easier on either Ryan Mallet or Brian Hoyer, whichever one wins the QB job.

Sleeper:  OLB Reshard Cliett

I’m taking a shot in the dark here because I’m not seeing a major sleeper in this draft class.  The Texans need depth at LB and OLB could need extra help if Jadeveon Clowney’s knee proves to be a chronic problem.  Cliett is more athlete than football player but he brings an intriguing athleticism to the position.  He’s not a classic pass rushing OLB and is more of a pursuit player so it’s possible he helps at ILB instead.  The Texans have Clowney, they hope, and Whitney Mercilus but not much else outside so if Cliett can show some versatility he could be useful.

Overall Analysis:

They took a CB everyone loves in Johnson, an ILB they desperately need in McKinney and got the absolute biggest steal of the draft in Strong so that’s a pretty good start.  WR Keith Mumphrey is a try-hard player but he will struggle to make this team as a WR unless he can prove to be a valuable special team’s player.  It’s possible that after Hopkins, Shorts, Washington and Strong that the Texans may want a very good special team’s player as their fifth receiver so don’t discount the possibility completely.  Christian Covington is a very talented but raw defensive lineman that I’m not sure is a great fit in an odd front but his talent was well worth a late pick.  RB Kenny Hilliard is an interesting addition given that the Texans drafted his former LSU backfield mate Alfred Blue last year.  They are similar style RBs and the both fit the style the team uses but Hilliard may find the depth chart hard to crack with Arian Foster, Blue and free agent signee Chris Polk ahead of him.  Hilliard is another guy that might make the roster if he shows special teams value.

Indianapolis Colts

29.  Phillip Dorsett WR   Miami

65.  D’Joun Smith CB   Florida Atlantic

93.  Henry Anderson DE   Stanford

109.  Clayton Geathers S   UCF

151.  David Parry DT   Stanford

205.  Josh Robinson RB   Mississippi St.

207.  Amarlo Herrera ILB   Georgia

255.  Denzell Goode OG   Mars Hill

Immediate Impact:  WR Phillip Dorsett

Dorsett has elite speed that sets him apart from most WRs but he still needs some work on actual WR skills like how to catch the ball consistently and being precise in his route running.  I don’t believe anyone from this draft class is going to have a major impact on the Colts team this year but Dorsett can be a playmaker and they will use him in certain situations.  Dorsett will find it hard to get a lot of snaps at WR with TY Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief and CFL import Duron Carter ahead of him but his impact could come in the return game.

Best Value:  CB D’Joun Smith

Smith is a very nice CB prospect that lacks the ideal length teams are looking for these days which is why he fell to the third round.  The Colts have Greg Toler and Vontae Davis as starters but Smith could be a slot corner now and eventually replace one of these two in the future.  He’s a good cover man and was well worth a third round pick.

Sleeper:  RB Josh Robinson

Robinson is 5’8 217 lbs. so he is basically Frank Gore’s clone.  Gore was signed to give the offense a legitimate running game and Daniel “Boom” Herron should be a nice backup given how he played at the end of last season but the Colts need depth.  Gore isn’t going to last forever, Herron is better as a complementary back and they can’t count on Vick Ballad to be healthy which means Robinson could get a shot.  He’s a powerful bowling ball type of runner and he won’t go down easy, if something happens to Gore Robinson could step in and he might be Gore’s long-term replacement.

Overall Analysis:

Dorsett and Robinson add some nice depth now with value down the line to the offense.  Smith and S Clayton Geathers should add depth to the secondary.  Geathers is a guy that can add some physicality to the secondary and given the state of their safety depth chart don’t count out Geathers getting some playing time.  Henry Anderson was a nice addition as a five-technique DE and his college teammate David Parry adds to the defensive line depth that could use it.  I wouldn’t expect Herrera or Goode to make the team.  The only issue I really see here is that the Colts didn’t address their offensive line like they needed to in the draft.  Dorsett was a luxury pick and when you just played in the AFC Championship game it’s okay to do that but they need to protect the long-term health of franchise QB Andrew Luck.  It’s nice to surround him with all kinds of weapons, and they have all kinds of weapons, but if he’s running for his life those weapons are useless.

Jacksonville Jaguars

3.  Dante Fowler Jr. DE   Florida

36.  TJ Yeldon RB   Alabama

67.  AJ Cann OG   South Carolina

104.  James Sample S   Louisville

139.  Rashad Greene WR   Florida St.

180.  Michael Bennett DT   Ohio St.

220.  Neal Sterling WR   Monmouth

229.  Ben Koyack TE   Notre Dame

Immediate Impact:  RB TJ Yeldon

Denard Robinson did a nice job last season when he finally took over for the ineffective Toby Gerhart but Robinson broke down physically because he isn’t built to be an every down back.  Yeldon is 6’1 226 lbs. and while his running style is a little too upright he is a punishing runner with good speed.  He will allow Robinson to be a versatile offensive weapon instead of a full-time RB.  His presence also takes some pressure off of Blake Bortles.

Best Value:  OG AJ Cann

Cann was considered a possible first round pick so grabbing him early in the third round was excellent value.  Cann has the ability to be a dominating OG or he could also be a center.  The Jaguars just signed free agent Stefan Wisniewski to be their new C so more than likely Cann will have to compete with Brandon Lindor at RG but he could win that job.  At the very least Cann provides valuable versatility backing up all three interior spots and waits for Zane Beadles contract to become untenable.

Sleepers:  WR Rashad Greene, DT Michael Bennett

Greene is one of my favorite WRs in the draft because he just gets the job done.  He isn’t a physically imposing player and while he’s fast he doesn’t have elite speed but he just understands the position.  The Jaguars spent two early draft picks on Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee last year and undrafted free agent Allen Hurns was a find but Greene will push for playing time.  Greene brings value as a return man and all three of those guys got dinged up at some point and Greene will shine if given a chance.  Bennett has always been a bit of a defensive line tweener, too small to be a DT and too slow to be a DE.  However, he’s always been a playmaker and oddly enough he reminds me of a similar player that plays for Seattle, a guy named Michael Bennett.  The veteran Bennett is a better player now but he faced a lot of the same questions when he entered the league as the rookie Bennett does now.  The rookie Bennett is tailor-made for Gus Bradley’s defense.

Overall Analysis:

The biggest news regarding the Jaguars draft class happened the week after the draft when #3 overall selection Dante Fowler Jr. tore his ACL during minicamp.  Having the one guy you were depending on to be your major playmaker on defense go down with a season ending injury is never good but Fowler should recover so next year it will be like the Jags had two first round picks.  I love what the Jags did on the offensive side of the ball adding Yeldon, Cann and Greene and I think 7^th round pick TE Ben Koyack could be a major steal.  Free agent signee Julius Thomas was obviously a major addition but Koyack adds nice depth and he can make some plays too.  Blake Bortles will have a couple of nice safety nets in Thomas and Koyack, always a good thing for a young QB.  I don’t like the fact that they virtually ignored their defense (a strategy made worse with Fowler’s injury) when their secondary is still one of the worst in the league.  The one defensive back they did draft was an in-the-box SS James Sample from Louisville and SS is the one position they actually have a potentially good player in Johnathan Cyprien.

Tennessee Titans

2.  Marcus Mariota QB   Oregon

40.  Dorial Green-Beckham WR   Missouri/Oklahoma

66.  Jeremiah Poutasi OL   Utah

100.  Angelo Blackson DT   Auburn

108.  Jalston Fowler FB   Alabama

138.  David Cobb RB   Minnesota

177.  Deiontrez Mount OLB   Louisville

208.  Andy Gallik C   Boston College

245.  Tre McBride WR   William & Mary

Immediate Impact:  QB Marcus Mariota, OL Jeremiah Poutasi

Zach Mettenberger can protest all he wants and say he isn’t going to just give up the starting QB job but that won’t matter because it is Mariota’s to lose.  Mariota is a great athlete, a great leader and a high character guy and the Titans are going to give him every chance to be the face of the franchise.  Mariota doesn’t fit the Ken Whisenhunt QB mold but if they can figure out an offense he can run he could be special.  The Titans drafted Taylor Lewan last year when they had Michael Roos and Michael Oher as their starting OTs and now they are both gone and Lewan will be thrust into the LT spot meaning they still need a RT.  Poutasi is a big and powerful man that would be best suited inside at OG but he’s a far better choice at RT than anyone else currently on the roster so he’s going to get thrown into the fire pretty quickly.

Best Value:  RB David Cobb

Cobb may also be an immediate impact player and I suppose if he is you could call him a sleeper but I’m going with great value here.  Last year’s rookie RB Bishop Sankey was fine but he wasn’t great and in Whisenhunt’s offense he’s better as a third down situational player.  Shonn Greene was supposed to be the power complement to Sankey but Greene just isn’t very effective anymore (he rarely has been in the NFL).  Cobb is a downhill power runner that fits the scheme and he certainly won’t wilt under the pressure of a ton of carries.  I completely expect Cobb to start by week 5 at the latest and that means the Titans got their starting RB in round 5.

Sleeper:  WR Tre McBride

All the talk about the Titans that wasn’t focused on Mariota was about their second round pick Dorial Green-Beckham and it’s for all the wrong reasons.  Tre McBride is a small school product that will initially have to make the team with his return ability but he could push some veterans out the door at WR.  He needs some refinement on his route running skills because unlike his college days he won’t be the best athlete on the field but this kid will work hard to get better.  Kendall Wright is the only real certainty on the WR depth chart and veterans like Justin Hunter and Hakeem Nicks better show up or the young guys are taking over.

Overall Analysis:

There is a common phrase used in draft analysis “love the player, hate the pick” and it can mean a few things; it can mean taking a player too high or that the player doesn’t fit the team or that the team should have done something else.  I have avoided that phrase in my analysis but it I’m going to use it now, I love Mariota but I hate the fit.  Mariota is everything you want your professional athletes to be as a fan and he’s everything the team wants in a franchise player because by all accounts he’s a genuinely great person.  Unfortunately I don’t think he’s a great fit for Whisenhunt.  Coaches in the NFL tend to coach what they know (unless you’re Belichick then you can do whatever and it works) and supremely gifted athletic QBs are not Whisenhunt’s style.  Maybe they will both prove me wrong.  The team followed up drafting the saint in the first round with the sinner in the second.  Dorial Green-Beckham has physical traits that rival Calvin Johnson but he has character traits that are more Josh Gordon.  If Green-Beckham can learn from Mariota and Tre McBride how to act he may have a chance to have a great career.  I like the late pick of OG/C Andy Gallik because he’s a good player that can back up all three interior positions and you rarely go wrong getting offensive linemen out of Boston College.   The choices of Mariota, Green-Beckham, Poutasi, Fowler, Cobb, Gallik and McBride shows that the team realizes their offense needs some help and all seven of those guys should make the roster.  The Titans didn’t address their defense in any meaningful way in the draft but that was their focus in free agency with the additions of OLB Brian Orakpo, CB Perish Cox and S Da’Norris Searcy.  Mariota and Green-Beckham are most likely to define this draft but there are some other good offensive additions.

Baltimore Ravens

26.  Breshad Perriman WR   UCF

55.  Maxx Williams TE   Minnesota

90.  Carl Davis DT   Iowa

122.  Za’Darius Smith DE   Kentucky

125.  Buck Allen RB   USC

136.  Tray Walker CB   Texas Southern

171.  Nick Boyle TE   Delaware

176.  Robert Myers OG   Tennessee St.

204.  Darren Waller WR   Georgia Tech

Immediate Impact:  WR Breshad Perriman, TE Maxx Williams

The Ravens made the wise decision to not overpay Torrey Smith but it meant they had to get some WR help in the draft; enter Breshad Perriman.  Perriman was a little overshadowed by Amari Cooper, Kevin White and DeVante Parker until he broke out at his pro day.  His blazing fast 40 time made him all the rage and he vaulted up the draft boards, luckily for everyone the hype settled down and he went later in the first round where he belonged.  He needs a chance to settle in and learn and now he gets to learn from Steve Smith and provide Joe Flacco with a deep receiver, as always the Ravens did well.  Maxx Williams was a steal because no one is certain of Dennis Pitta’s long-term status and Williams can step in and start if need be.  He’s not going to be the next Jimmy Graham but he might be the next Jason Witten.  As always the Ravens did well.

Best Value:  DT Carl Davis

The Ravens do the best job every year of consistently getting good value at almost every pick.  It’s hard to pick one so I’m going with Davis.  He was a potential late first rounder and getting him in the third is highway robbery.  The one knock on Davis is that he takes plays off and he really didn’t do a great job of convincing teams he won’t be that way in the pros but I have another prospective.  When Davis got to Iowa he was a big kid that was soft and just used his sheer size but over his first couple of years he transformed his body from a soft overweight kid to a powerful man.  He’s going to be fantastic in Baltimore’s system because he can move around on the line and give them many looks.  The Ravens did well.

Sleeper:  RB Buck Allen

I debated putting Za’Darius Smith or Nick Boyle here but Allen could make a difference sooner than either one of them.  The Ravens resigned Justin Forsett but until last season he hadn’t really accomplished much other than being a reliable backup.  If Forsett’s season was a one year wonder Allen could step in and make a huge difference.  New offensive coordinator Marc Trestman likes backs with skills like Matt Forte had for him in Chicago and that’s Allen.  If Forsett falters or doesn’t react well after having so many carries last year I’d put my money on Allen to step into the lead back role.  Again, well done.

Overall Analysis:

The Ravens are the best drafting team in the league and they have been since they have been in Baltimore.  I always seem to like their drafts and this year is no exception.  Perriman fills a huge need, Williams too and he was a steal, Davis was such great value, Za’Darius Smith is the type of player they get and turn into a good contributor and Buck Allen is a fourth rounder that has starting ability.  Two guys they took late that I like are TE Nick Boyle and WR Darren Waller.  Boyle was a small school TE with great athleticism that can develop behind Williams and I suppose if you’re going to take a shot in the 6^th round you might as well take it on a 6’6 240 lbs. receiver, Waller, you might strike gold.  My only question here would be that they had nine picks and the only defensive back they took was a raw CB out of a small school Tray Walker.  Their secondary could have used some help and someone that could have helped a little sooner. But like I said, they did well.

Cincinnati Bengals

21.  Cedric Ogbuehi OT   Texas A&M

53.  Jake Fisher OT   Oregon

85.  Tyler Kroft TE   Rutgers

99.  Paul Dawson LB   TCU

120.  Josh Shaw DB   USC

135.  Marcus Hardison DT   Arizona St.

157.  CJ Uzomah TE   Auburn

197.  Derron Smith S   Fresno St.

238.  Mario Alford WR   West Virginia

Immediate Impact:  TE Tyler Kroft

The Bengals need help at TE as Tyler Eifert is pretty much all they have and he’s coming off an injury.  Eifert isn’t known for his blocking regardless of his health and Kroft can actually excel there.  A team that has Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard at RB and Andy Dalton at QB should be looking to run more so while Kroft isn’t going to put up big numbers or get noticed much I think he contributes quite a bit this year and makes an impact.

Best Value:  LB Paul Dawson

Dawson was the 99^th pick and he is a starting caliber middle LB so it’s hard to argue with the value there.  The Bengals don’t appear to need Dawson right now but starting MLB Rey Maualuga is a limited player and free agent signee AJ Hawk isn’t any better.  Maualuga has the experience but Dawson will eventually unseat him.

Sleeper:  DB Josh Shaw

Shaw is best known for idiotic lie he told last year when he injured himself and tried to pretend he was a hero (Google it if you want to know more) but he’s actually a pretty solid prospect.  He played CB and safety in college but he’s probably best suited to be a FS and Reggie Nelson isn’t getting any younger.  Shaw could eventually replace Nelson and I think he’ll make a pretty solid safety.

Overall Analysis:

The Bengals are so good their first two draft picks were for the future and not a single player in this draft is needed to start this year.  I never thought I would write that sentence.  I’m not a huge Cedric Ogbuehi fan but I see some of the skills and physical gifts that make teams think he can be a future LT.  He’ll spend the season rehabbing his ACL injury and there is no pressure for him to play this year.  Jake Fisher could certainly contribute but with LT Andrew Whitworth, RT Andre Smith and backup OT Eric Winston around he probably won’t be needed.  There is a chance Winston could call it a career and Fisher becomes the swing tackle but it’s remote.  Kroft, Dawson and Shaw can all contribute as backups and on special teams but they are unlikely to be needed otherwise.  TE CJ Uzomah could make the team simply because of a lack of depth at TE and his ability to be used as an H-back.  Alford only makes the team if he’s an unbelievable return man and the Bengals can actually afford to carry someone for that specific role.  S Derron Smith was one of my underrated guys and if Josh Shaw finds a place at CB instead of safety Smith may be Nelson’s eventual replacement.  He’s a ball hawk and playmaker so don’t count him out.

Cleveland Browns

12. Danny Shelton DT   Washington

19.  Cameron Erving C   Florida St.

51.  Nate Orchard OLB   Utah

77.  Duke Johnson RB   Miami

96.  Xavier Cooper DT   Washington St.

115.  Ibraheim Campbell S   Northwestern

123.  Vince Mayle WR   Washington St.

189.  Charles Gaines CB   Louisville

195.  Malcolm Johnson TE   Mississippi St.

198.  Randall Telfer TE   USC

219.  Hayes Pullard ILB   USC

241.  Ifo Ekpre-Olomu CB   Oregon

Immediate Impact:  DT Danny Shelton, OL Cameron Erving

The Browns need help on both lines but getting a run-stuffing NT was priority #1 given how bad they were stopping the run last year.  Shelton is a whole lot of man to plug into the middle and he’s far more athletic than someone his size should be.  He will make the entire front seven better just being on the field.  Erving was an interesting choice for the Browns given the fact that his best position is probably C and they already have Alex Mack but Erving has versatility.  He could take over at RT or inside at OG depending on where they need him.  This may have been the Browns way of hedging their bet with Mack coming off an injury and having an out clause in his contract coming up but Erving will help somewhere next season.

Best Value:  RB Duke Johnson

Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West were solid rookies last year and they could form a nice duo but Johnson may make it a trio.  He’s not big so he probably isn’t going to be an every down back but he has skills that Crowell and West don’t have and depending on the offense they run he may fit better.  He’s a talented RB and getting him in round three was good value.

Sleepers:  OLB Nate Orchard, DT Xavier Cooper, CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (not this year)

Orchard is a DE/OLB that is more comfortable rushing with his hand on the ground but he’ll be a stand-up OLB for the Browns.  He was a highly productive player at Utah and he has superior pass rush skills compared to Barkevious Mingo.  Orchard could steal the OLB job from Mingo.  Cooper is a good pick and on the Browns line that was less than stellar last year he could make some noise.  Cleveland signed veteran Randy Starks and they have Desmond Bryant but Cooper could make for a nice rotation player.  Ekpre-Olomu would have been a second or third rounder if he hadn’t torn up his knee during practices for the College Football Playoff games.  He will sit out this season rehabbing but he’s a natural corner with great instincts and fluid movement that won’t be out worked by anyone.  The Browns spent a 2014 1^st round pick on Justin Gilbert and they were less than enthused with his work as a rookie. They are hoping for a turnaround in year two but if I were a betting man I would bet Ekpre-Olomu is a starting CB for the Browns in two years not Gilbert.

Overall Analysis:

Shelton, Erving, Orchard, Johnson and Cooper should all contribute this season and that’s a pretty solid haul in one draft.  The Browns aren’t exactly stacked at safety so fourth round pick Ibraheim Campbell could see some action too.  They drafted two blocking TEs in Malcolm Johnson and Randall Telfer so that could help the running game.  There was one big issue the Browns didn’t address and that was the passing game.  They didn’t grab a WR until they got Vince Mayle in round four and while he has nice size he isn’t exactly an upgrade over the middling veterans they signed in free agency.  They also didn’t address a pass-catching TE to replace the departed Jordan Cameron leaving veteran Rob Housler that job.  I suppose when you’re trotting out either Josh McCown or Johnny Maziel at QB you must figure it doesn’t matter who’s running the routes.

Pittsburgh Steelers

22.  Bud Dupree OLB   Kentucky

56.  Senquez Golson CB   Mississippi

87.  Sammie Coates WR   Auburn

121.  Doran Grant CB   Ohio St.

160.  Jesse James TE   Penn St.

199.  Leterius Walton DT   Central Michigan

212.  Anthony Chickillo DE   Miami

239.  Gerod Holliman S   Louisville

Immediate Impact:  OLB Bud Dupree, CB Senquez Golson

The Steelers are counting on an aging James Harrison, an ineffective Jarvis Jones and an unspectacular Arthur Moats at OLB so while Bud Dupree will need some refinement he won’t find playing time hard to come by.  Dupree is a gifted athlete with great size and this is a perfect situation for him.  The only position worse off for the Steelers than OLB is CB and while Golson isn’t the biggest CB he is tough and talented.  He’s an upgrade over their current depth chart and he’ll be starting sooner rather than later.

Best Value:  OLB Bud Dupree

Dupree had been climbing the draft boards late in the process due to his combination of size and athleticism but he slipped a bit because teams addressed other needs.  The Steelers could not have expected him to fall to their pick at 22 and had to be ecstatic when he was there.  He could have been a top 10 pick and no one would have questioned it so #22 overall is good value.

Sleepers:  CB Doran Grant, S Gerod Holliman

I said CB was worse off than OLB but it’s actually the entire secondary that needs help.  Cortez Allen was benched last season and William Gay isn’t getting any younger or any better so the door is open for Senquez Golson and fourth round pick Doran Grant.  Grant is more cerebral and more technician than he is athlete but he has starting ability and he certainly can’t be much worse than what the team has had the last few years.  Troy Polamalu’s retirement is a blessing in disguise because his play had fallen off quite a bit.  Holliman isn’t replacing Polamalu, that job falls to Shamarko Thomas for now, but the Steelers could use a playmaker in the secondary and that’s all Holliman does.  He’s a horrific tackler but he can cover and he makes great plays on the ball which is why he had 14 INTs last season.  The Steelers could use that kind of ball hawk.

Overall Analysis:

Dupree, Golson, Grant and Holliman should all contribute to a defense that needs an infusion of youth and talent.  Leterius Walton and Anthony Chickillo are interesting developmental prospects that I really like.  Walton is long and powerful and he could develop into a very good five-technique DE in a couple of years.  Chickillo is a bit of a tweener and teams weren’t sure if he should be a DE or a DT so he fell in the draft.  The Steelers might be best served by having him slim down a bit and trying him at OLB.  He may not be a great edge rusher but he can be a solid backup and a good run stuffer at that position.  While the Steelers rightfully concentrated on their defense their two offensive picks have a chance to really work out.  WR Sammie Coates drops too many passes but he was definitely worth the 3^rd round pick they spent on him.  He brings a different look with his size and physicality and while he’s at best going to compete for the 3^rd WR spot he has potential down the road.  TE Jesse James isn’t a fluid athlete and he’s not a natural pass catcher but he’s 6’7 261 lbs. and has potential.  The Steelers depth chart has Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth at the top and neither one is a spring chicken so James is a nice developmental prospect.

Denver Broncos

23.  Shane Ray OLB   Missouri

59.  Ty Sambrailo OT   Colorado St.

92.  Jeff Heuerman TE   Ohio St.

133.  Max Garcia C   Florida

164.  Lorenzo Doss CB   Tulane

203.  Darius Kilgo DT   Maryland

250.  Trevor Siemian QB   Northwestern

251.  Taurean Nixon   CB   Tulane

252.  Josh Furman DB   Oklahoma St.

Immediate Impact:  OT Ty Sambrailo, C Max Garcia

The Broncos offensive line wasn’t great last season and the biggest issues were at RT and C.  The team had moved Manny Ramirez to C and Louis Vasquez to RT to plug the holes but Ramirez was traded during the draft and Vasquez isn’t a long term solution at RT and is better at OG.  Add in the fact that new head coach Gary Kubiak wants to bring back the zone blocking scheme he’s used to and new blood was a must.  Ty Sambrailo is an exceptional athlete especially for his size and while Max Garcia doesn’t fit Kubiak’s usual mold he’s a better option at C than Gino Gradkowski.

Best Value:  OT Ty Sambrailo

Sambrailo is exactly what Kubiak likes and he will immediately plug in as a starter at RT and be a huge upgrade over Chris Clark.  Getting a starting RT in the second round with the 59^th overall pick is pretty good value.  It is also possible that if the Broncos have to make a choice about keeping Ryan Clady down the line Sambrailo could move over to LT.

Sleeper:  DT Darius Kilgo

Kilgo needs to work on his functional strength and he needs technique work but the Broncos need bodies at DT.  They simply don’t have many interior defensive line players and while they could still sign some free agents off the scrap heap Kilgo gives them a young guy who can play.  He isn’t going to rush the passer much but he can occupy some blockers to allow Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and possibly Shane Ray to get to the QB.

Overall Analysis:

Shane Ray was the talk of draft week after his arrest for marijuana possession early in the week and couple that with the toe injury teams were talking about already and it looked like he was in for a free fall.  The Broncos actually traded up to grab him at 23 and while he didn’t fall as far as many thought he did slip a little.  Ray won’t be asked to take on a lot this season with the presence of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware at OLB he will simply be a pass rushing specialist.  However, he better get ready for year two because Ware is 33 years old and isn’t likely to see 2016 in Broncos uniform.  They addressed their offensive line issues with two solid choices in Sambrailo and Garcia.  I had every intention of making TE Jeff Heuerman my sleeper choice here but he went and tore his ACL during minicamp last weekend so he’s out for the year.  He had a chance to make some waves and make some veterans nervous but he’ll have to wait a year.  The Broncos must have liked Tulane’s pass defense this season as they took both CBs Lorenzo Doss and Taurean Nixon along with Oklahoma DB Josh Furman, all three will provide training camp competition but not all three will make the team.  QB Trevor Siemian was just a shot in the dark at the position.

Kansas City Chiefs

18.  Marcus Peters CB   Washington

49.  Mitch Morse OL   Missouri

76.  Chris Conley WR   Georgia

98.  Steven Nelson CB   Oregon St.

118.  Ramik Wilson LB   Georgia

172.  DJ Alexander LB   Oregon St.

173.  James O’Shaughnessy TE   Illinois St.

217.  Rakeem Nunez-Roches DT   Southern Miss

233.  Da’Ron Brown WR   Northern Illinois

Immediate Impact:  CB Marcus Peters, OL Mitch Morse

If Marcus Peters keeps his nose clean he will be the best CB from this draft.  The Chiefs will likely be missing Sean Smith for the first two games of the season due to a suspension and Peters will fill in as the top CB.  He’s better than Phillip Gaines or Marcus Cooper and when Smith returns it won’t be Peters going to the bench.  The Chiefs traded for OG Ben Grubbs from New Orleans and they seem to want to give Eric Kush a try at center but Morse could push for the other OG spot.  He could also push for the RT spot potentially because Jeff Allen and Donald Stephenson don’t really inspire confidence.  Morse has versatility and the Chiefs’ line isn’t exactly stable so he is going to get a chance to play somewhere.

Best Value:  ILB Ramik Wilson

I like Wilson more than most and I actually love him here for the Chiefs.  Derrick Johnson has had a long and distinguished career in Kansas City but he’s almost 33 years old and coming off an Achilles injury, he can’t play too much longer.  The sad thing is his ILB position is in better shape than the other side.  The Chiefs need new blood and Wilson can be a starter and with his starting experience at Georgia he won’t be overwhelmed.  A fourth round pick that can step in as a starter is great value.

Sleeper:  CB Steven Nelson

Nelson is too short, too slow and he doesn’t have the fluidity of a great CB but the kid fights like hell and never gives up.  Sean Smith is entering the last year of his contract and Marcus Peters was drafted as his eventual replacement but the Chiefs don’t have great depth at the position and Nelson gives them that now and a guy that could become a starter opposite Peters down the line.  Phillip Gaines and Marcus Cooper are solid young corners who could develop but Nelson has just as good of a chance as they do.

Overall Analysis:

Peters, Morse, Nelson and Wilson are four pretty solid players that will help now as well as down the line.  WR Chris Conley was the star of the combine showing off elite athleticism but for some reason I just didn’t see it on the field.  He’s got deep speed but I’m not sure that’s a useful thing with Jeremy Maclin around, one deep threat receiver for Alex Smith might be too many.  There were WRs on the board that would have complemented Maclin better and given Smith a more effective duo (Sammie Coates and Justin Hardy come to mind).  The last four picks aren’t going to make a huge difference and are most likely headed for the practice squad because they need plenty of development.

Oakland Raiders

4.  Amari Cooper WR   Alabama

35.  Mario Edwards Jr. DE   Florida St.

68.  Clive Walford TE   Miami

128.  Jon Feliciano OG   Miami

140.  Ben Heeney ILB   Kansas

161.  Neiron Ball OLB   Florida

179.  Max Valles ILB   Virginia

218.  Anthony Morris OT   Tennessee St.

221.  Andre Debose WR   Florida

242.  Dexter McDonald CB   Kansas

Immediate Impact:  WR Amari Cooper

Leonard Williams was the best player in the draft Amari Cooper was a close second.  The only person that likes this pick more than I do is Derek Carr because his life just got a lot better.  Just before the draft the Raiders signed free agent WR Michael Crabtree and then they drafted Cooper which means Carr just went from driving a Pinto to driving a Porsche.  Cooper is a star and with a legitimate QB throwing to him he’ll be fantastic.  He also makes Crabtree better because Crabtree is better as a #2 WR than as a #1.

Best Value:  TE Clive Walford

Walford was arguably the second best TE behind Maxx Williams and they got him in the third round.  The Raiders TE depth chart isn’t exactly teeming with Hall of Famers so Walford can move up quickly.  He’s not a great blocker but he’s a good athlete and he’ll give Carr the safety net a good TE provides.  With Cooper, Crabtree and Walford the Raiders are actually surrounding their franchise QB with legitimate NFL caliber talent.

Sleeper:  LB Ben Heeney

Heeney is one of those linebackers that is too short and too slow but plays like his hair is on fire and coaches love him.  The Raiders signed Curtis Lofton in free agency to take over as their MLB but Lofton gets hurt a lot.  They also signed Malcolm Smith from Seattle and many people thing that is hedging their bet on Lofton but starting OLB Sio Moore is coming off yet another injury and they may need Smith to cover for him.  The Raiders don’t have a lot of depth in the LB corps so when Lofton goes down and Smith is covering for Moore Heeney might get plugged in at MLB.  He won’t be pretty to watch but he’ll play his heart out.

Overall Analysis:

Cooper is a homerun pick and Walford fills a huge need.  I’m not a huge fan of Mario Edwards Jr. especially for this team because I think he’s a better fit as a DE in a 3-4 defense because he lacks the pass rush skills to be a DE in a 4-3.  He can bulk up like he did last season and line up at DT but he’s far less effective at a higher weight.  Grabbing an OG late in the fourth round is fine and Feliciano might actually work out but I’m not sure he’s an upgrade over what they already have.  The LBs they took in the fifth and sixth rounds, Neiron Ball and Max Vellas, just are not the type of guys the Raiders need because they are too injury prone (Ball) and too raw (Vellas) to help any time soon.  Anthony Morris and Dexter McDonald might develop but it’s doubtful.  The Raiders definitely need to help out their return game but even a seventh round pick was a waste on Andre Debose.  The soon-to-be 25 year old sixth year senior out of Florida would have been available as an undrafted free agent.  The Raiders are not a strong enough team to carry a player that is solely a return man and there is virtually no chance Debose makes the roster as WR.  GM Reggie McKenzie had a great draft last year; I don’t think he followed it up with another one.

San Diego Chargers

15.  Melvin Gordon RB   Wisconsin

48.  Denzel Perryman ILB   Miami

83.  Craig Mager CB   Texas St.

153.  Kyle Emanuel OLB   North Dakota St.

192.  Darius Philon DT   Arkansas

Immediate Impact:  RB Melvin Gordon

Branden Oliver, Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown are not going to be able to fend off Gordon for the starting nod so they should all just focus on what ancillary role they can play in the offense.  Gordon is a homerun hitter that is actually a very good between-the-tackles runner and he can play all three downs.  The Chargers didn’t trade up two spots for a backup and Phillip Rivers will appreciate having a RB with Gordon’s skills lining up behind him.

Best Value:  RB Melvin Gordon

Both Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon crashed the 1^st round party that RBs hadn’t been invited to for a couple of years and both were well worth it.  If you like players that have high ceilings and high floors Gordon is your man he was one of the safest prospects to take because he has very little bust potential.  He was certainly better than the fifteenth best prospect in this draft.

Sleeper:  OLB Kyle Emanuel

Emanuel is coming out of North Dakota St. which means everyone thinks he’s just some small school kid but North Dakota St. has been the best FCS program for quite a while.  Emanuel put up some big numbers and he certainly wasn’t playing against NFL level offensive lines but he has really good edge pass rushing skills.  The Chargers have Jeremiah Attaochu at one OLB spot and the oft-injured Melvin Ingram at the other one so Emanuel will have a shot at playing time.  It’s a major step up in competition but the North Dakota St. players seemed to always rise to the occasion against their biggest opponents.

Overall Analysis:

Love the Gordon pick, he’s a star waiting to happen.  ILB Denzel Perryman was too short and too slow for a lot of people’s tastes but he’s a gamer.  When he steals Manti Te’o starting job just remember I told you he would because I’m telling you he will.  Perryman is a tackling machine and his body may not hold up to playing ten years in the NFL but he’s going to tackle everything in sight for the next five.  CB Craig Mager was the first player off the board I didn’t know, it eventually happens every draft but it’s usually not at #83 overall.  The Chargers are taking a shot on another small school player with some raw skills but I wouldn’t bet on him making much noise any time soon.  The last choice of Darius Philon is a bit strange because he doesn’t look like a 3-4 defensive lineman.  He doesn’t have length of a five-technique DE and he is too small to be a NT so I wouldn’t count on him too much.  The Chargers only had 5 picks so they couldn’t hit a lot of needs but I think the 3^rd round pick they spent on Mager would have been more wisely spent on an offensive lineman like TJ Clemmings or Daryl Williams.  If they felt the need to get a CB there someone like Steven Nelson or Josh Shaw would have offered a quicker return.  Ignoring the offensive line all together seems strange given the holes they have left to fill.