I digress, these players have been working hard. With the combine over and pro days finishing up, the players are getting in their top form.
Moving forward, here is my official first mock draft:
1. Tennessee Titans
OT Laremy Tunsil - Ole Miss
Plain and simple, the Titans need to get help on the line. They need to protect Mariota and establish a run game. There is no other choice a this point.
2. Cleveland Browns
QB Carson Wentz - North Dakota State
Now cutting ties with Johnny Football, the Browns need to look for their future signal-caller. Wentz is tied at this point for best quarterback in this class with Cal's Jared Goff. I believe that Wentz is going to be Cleveland's choice and will start by week 5.
3. San Diego Chargers
DB Jalen Ramsey - Florida State
Chargers were a wreck this season. They need to get a player that can be there difference maker. Bosa is that exactly. While I would advise San Diego to draft an O-lineman, the best one is off the board. It is smarter to draft someone who is billed as the number one guy at their position rather than get the number two at the third spot.
4. Dallas Cowboys
DE Joey Bosa - Ohio State
The Cowboys also had a ton of problems this year, but this was all due to injury. The main problem without the injuries is that Dallas cannot get to the quarterback on defense. While I would love to say "send Ramsey to Dallas," they need help in their front seven. Bosa allows this to become a very young group by adding himself to the core of Demarcus Lawrence, Sean Lee, Jeremy Mincey, and Randy Gregory.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
OLB Myles Jack - UCLA
Jacksonville has a top-5 draft pick yet again. Shocker! Offensively, the Jags are sound. They could use an extra O-line guy though. Defense is the real trouble. Outside of their middle linebackers (P. Posluszny & T. Smith), the Jags have no playmakers. Jack is billed as the top defenders this year and can play anywhere on the field. If he is still available at this point, I see no other scenario where the Jags take anyone else.
6. Baltimore Ravens
OT Ronnie Stanley - Notre Dame
The Ravens could not protect their players this year. Ten starters were injured by the very end of the season. All were season-ending. It is time to focus on some protection. Adding Stanley gives the Ravens a player who can play guard or tackle.
7. San Francisco 49ers
WR Laquon Treadwell - Ole Miss
The 49ers have almost no playmakers on offense. With Anquin Boldin entering his 13th year in the league, he might retire this off season. It seems to be the trend as of right now. New Head Coach Chip Kelly should go after the top receiver in the draft to add depth at the position and give Treadwell a place where he can be molded into one the the league's best threats in the passing game.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
RB Ezekiel Elliot - Ohio State
After a dismal season of rushing, Philly traded away DeMarco Murray to the Titans. Reports say they are still looking to shop Ryan Matthews. Elliot was one of the best running backs the college game has to offer. He is a great pass catcher like Matt Forte, has impressive lateral movement like LeSean McCoy, and keeps his legs moving no matter what, like Marshawn Lynch.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DE DeForest Buckner - Oregon
The Bucs did an amazing job drafting last year. They got some much needed help on the offensive line and their future, franchise quarterback. Now it is time for the defensive help. With the best corners off of the board, the Bucs should look to the 6-7 monster from Oregon that can add a beastly presence to the defensive line.
10. New York Giants
DE Shaq Lawson - Clemson
The Giants have held on to JPP. He is not the same player he was two years ago. Literally. He lost a finger guys. Time to replace him with someone who is just a disruptive on the line. Lawson was third in sacks at the college level. I expect he will do the same in the professional realm.
11. Chicago Bears
LB Jaylon Smith - Notre Dame
The Bears need help in their front seven badly. This says a lot considering how bad the team has been over the past few seasons. They need to get new linebackers in Chicago fast. Drafting a guy like Smith could be a risky move, but one that could pay off. He was the top linebacker for the Irish this season and has good size (6-3) to contend with even the tallest receivers and bigger running backs.
12. New Orleans Saints
DE A'Shawn Robinson - Alabama
There is talk of the Saints parting ways with Cameron Jordan. If this were to happen, Robinson should be first on their list of eligible draftees to replace the former pro-bowler. He is fast, strong, and helped Alabama win a national title against one of the top offenses in the country. He would be perfect for the 4-3 scheme the Saints run as well.
13. Miami Dolphins
CB Vernon Hargraves - Florida
Miami took a huge hit in their secondary losing Brice McCain and Brent Grimes. Hargraves is the best, pure, cornerback in this draft. He disrupts receiver routes and is deadly in zone coverage. He flocks to the ball and cannot be stopped.
14. Oakland Raiders
CB Eli Apple - Ohio State
Charles Woodson is gone. It is now time to look at the future of the Raiders' secondary. It looks bleak as of right now. Apple can fill an immediate need for the Raiders here. This former Buckeye gives Oakland some much needed young blood in the secondary.
15. Los Angeles Rams
QB Jared Goff - Cal
They could go receiver here, but the Rams are looking for a franchise leader. Who better to lead and get people in the seats than a guy from their new state. Geoff may not start day one, but do we really believe Case Keenum or Nick Foles are going to be the top guy for the entire season?
16. Detroit Lions
DT Robert Nkimdiche - Ole Miss
The Lions did not have the same defense this past year as they had in their playoff run the year prior. The loss of Suh is still hurting. Even with multi-year pro-bowler Haloti Ngata. Nkimdiche was billed as the second best lineman in the country before his incident at the end of 2015. He is still a good player and I feel as though Detroit will attempt to make a push for drafting him.
17. Atlanta Falcons
DE Kevin Dodd - Clemson
The Falcons need help everywhere except the running back position. Dodd played with Beasley, who had an underwhelming year at best. Bringing them together could help with the chemistry on defense. Dodd was ranked 5th in FBS for sacks too. Something the Falcons were not very good at this past year.
18. Indianapolis Colts
C Ryan Kelly - Alabama
Kiper had this a week after I posted it, so I am now taking full credit for this pick. Kelly is the best overall lineman for the Colts to take. He provides a good foundation for the front line. This not only helps Andrew Luck stay healthy, it also gives Frank Gore a better shot at running between the tackles.
19. Buffalo Bills
DT Sheldon Rankins - Louisville
The Bills lost Mario Williams. Issues in the locker room with Williams and coaches seems to be the consensus as to what is happening. With one of the best defense, I can see the Bills keeping it that way. Rankins was one of the better players on a shoty Cardinal team. He is, plain as day, a run stuffer. One can never have too many of those.
20. New York Jets
LB Reggie Ragland - Alabama
The Jets after this season had no Linebackers under contract. This means it is time to draft a guy and re-sign a few. Ragland was one of the cornerstones of the Tide defense. He could catch a running back on the outside or between the tackles. The best part is that he is very good at containing the quarterback. This can help in a division that includes Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Tannahill.
21. Washington Redskins
DT Jarran Reed - Alabama
The Redskins lost Terrance Knighton this off season. Reed could be the answer to a team that is still feeling the aftershock of losing London Fletcher. Reed is a great run-stuffer and will help a lot both on the field or just adding depth to the skins' depth chart.
22. Houston Texans
OT Jack Conklin - Michigan State
The Texans were able to address their concerns at running back and quarterback during free agency, signing Brock Oswieler and Lamar Miller. They lost some talent on the line in the process. Time to take one of them. Conklin would be a solid choice. While not being the "sexy" pick, it fills a glaring need. Plus, lining up against Watt, Wilfork, and Clowney during practice could greatly improve his game.
23. Minnesota Vikings
WR Corey Coleman - Baylor
The Vikings are poised to make yet another playoff run this year. They cut players weighing them down (Mike Wallace), kept the people that mattered (Terrance Newman), and signed some impact players (Alex Boone). The receiving core needs help though. Patterson won't cut it. Wright is alright depending on the day. Diggs needs help. Coleman provides a deep threat to the offense. He ran a 4.3 during his pro day. This could be Bridgewater's new best friend outside of AP.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
WR Michael Thomas - Ohio State
This is strictly a need basis here. The Bengals lost Sanu and Jones in free agency. While Green and Eifert are still top five players at their position, they need one more guy on the outside. Thomas has been seen going from late-first to mid-third in mock drafts and I feel that he will end up here.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Mackenzie Alexander - Clemson
The Steelers are still realing from the loss of Ike Taylor and Troy Palamalu last year. They need defenders in the secondary. Alexander has played on the biggest stages this past year and showed promise. The Steelers are alwasy on Super Bowl watch, so it would be no surprise seeing Alexander be NFL ready for this team.
26. Seattle Seahawks
OG Cody Whitehair - Kansas State
The Seahawks had one of the worst offensive lines in football last season. With the loss of Max Unger, J.R. Sweezy, and Russell Okung over the past two seasons, they need help. And quickly. Whitehair can provide some stability on the interior for run-blocking.
27. Green Bay Packers
DT Vernon Butler - Louisiana Tech
There aren't many holes to fill in here for the Pack. Always in the playoffs. Always on point. With the retirement of B.J. Raji, Green Bay should look to fill that hole with another DT. Butler is one of those products from a lesser known school that could become a franchise player in a matter of months.
28. Kansas City Chiefs
WR Josh Doctson - TCU
The Chiefs need a new threat in the passing game. I feel as though this is more geared towards getting better weapons for Alex Smith. Kelce and Maclin cannot do it all by themselves. Doctson at 6-3 could provide the vertical threat the Rams need to separate themselves.
SS Karl Joseph - West Virginia
The Cards lost Rashad Johnson to the Titans this offseason and are looking to make another run to the Super Bowl. Joseph offers a strong defender to lineup with Tyrann Mathieu to defend against the deep ball. While he is recovering from an ACL injury, he is still a top prospect. The Cards can afford to take a chance here if need be.
30. Carolina Panthers
OT Jason Spriggs - Indiana
The Panthers are in no way ready to give up on a trip to the Super Bowl. They retained most of their players and will have a healthy Kelvin Benjamin to become a threat in the passing game with Greg Olsen and Devin Funchess. They need more talent upfront though. Spriggs has been a popular pick in mocks for Carolina and I agree. It is time for Michael Oher to step down and let a new guy take the reigns.
31. Denver Broncos
QB Paxton Lynch - Memphis
I originally had Emmanuel Ogbuh here, but Osweiler left and they got Sanchez... Anyway, Lynch is 6-7 and has one of the best arms in college. He is comparable to a young Ben Roethlesberger. While he is no longer considered a first round talent, Broncos need to have someone compete against Sanchez for the starting position.
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