The UKFD Mock Draft Part 2 - Picks 16-31

Article by Ian Hughes

Now for the second half of my mock draft. And remember, this isn’t how I think the draft will turn out. It’s who I would pick if I were the GM for all 31 picks in this year’s 1^st round.

#16 (Detroit Lions): Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss

Detroit need to find an Interior Pass rusher. They haven’t filled that slot since the loss of Suh. Nkemdiche could be that difference maker in getting after the QB if he can find some consistency.

#17 (Atlanta Falcons): Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State

Atlanta need all the help they can find on Defence. They have needs everywhere. The best guy left for them on the board would be the 3 down LB out of Ohio State. He is a bit undersized for a LB but he is a great athlete that eats up the ground and cover in space.

#18 (Indianapolis Colts): Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

A No Brainer here. The Colts saw last season how bad it could be if they don’t keep Andrew Luck upright. They have one of the best young QB’s that the NFL has seen, they don’t want him to turn into David Carr. Securing the line will make the whole Offence play better, letting them look to fix the Defence in the 2^nd and 3^rd rounds.

#19 (Buffalo Bills): Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama

Rex Ryan is desperate to build this Defence in his image. Reggie Ragland is the guy to do it. Old School Thumper that is going to provide a lot of attitude plays. Lacks some coverage skills but provides edge rush ability out of sub packages. A Prefect fit if ever I saw one.

#20 (New York Jets): Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

This is where my draft board shows probably its biggest difference to the rest of the football world. I have Connor Cook as the 3^rd best QB in the draft. And he just happens to be the best fit for the Jets. Will control the football game, get the ball where it needs to be and won’t lose the Jets many football games.

#21 (Washington Redskins): Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

For all the problems Washington had on Defence last year, they really need to start solidifying their OL. There main problem with their Defence in up-front and they can fix that in round 2. They can’t wait till the 2^nd round to pick up a Center as I expect the top 2 to be gone before they get another look.

#22 (Houston Texans): Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

Texans need to start putting some points up on Offence, so this Defence can go out and win playoff games. They went and got a QB in FA, added some talent at RB. All they need is someone to complement Hopkins at the #2 WR spot. Fuller should be that guy. Real fast, Home Run threat. Not going to be a superstar, but will make the team better just by running Deep.

#23 (Minnesota Vikings): Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

We are in the area of the 1^st round where we will start seeing the WR’s sneaking into the conversation. Minnesota probably have one of the most rounded Rosters in the NFL. They just need to solidify their position in the NFC North. Picking Docton should do that. With any rookie WR, he will have a slow start, but come the end of the season he will be a solid contributor. A pick for the future.

#24 (Cincinnati Bengals): LaQuon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

Seen by some as the best WR in the draft. For me, his 40 time damaged his stock. Though that won’t make much difference to the Bengals who are really looking for a complement to AJ Green. Treadwell will go over the middle and get dirty. A great fit.

#25 (Pittsburgh Steelers): William Jackson III

I think the only way the Steelers don’t take a Corner at #25 is if the scouts have fallen in love with one of the Top OGs in this year’s Class. I have gone with the Corner, Jackson. The secondary in Pitt was just awful. They need help their more than they do on the line. Jackson gets the nod over Apple because of his aggressive nature when attacking the football. Will suit the scheme nicely.

#26 (Seattle Seahawks): Cody Whitehair, OL, Kanas State

Seattle’s OL has disappeared over the last couple of years, and with the loss of Lynch they will need to do a better job of creating running lanes for human RBs. Cody Whitehair would be the best guy for them. Has some value at all 5 positions, but is projected better at Guard. Will upgrade the OL day 1.

#27 (Green Bay Packers): A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama

It pains me as a Bears fan to try and make the Packers a better football team, but hey it’s only a mock. Green Bay need to get some consistency out of their Defence. They have been a lot of moving parts, players playing all different positions across the LB core. I feel they would be best taking a DL man, and I still had Robinson on my board. Personally I feel he can play a bit high at times, but at #27, I feel a bit happier taking the risk than I would of at say #15.

#28 (Kansas City Chiefs): Corey Colman, WR, Baylor

A Home Run threat on every touch, Colman is going to sneak into the bottom of the 1^st round. A nice competent to Maclin. Is a bit small for a Wideout but if he produces, that conversation will stop quickly. Some like him more than Treadwell and Fuller.

#29 (Arizona Cardinals): Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

All the Cardinals are missing is a Corner to play opposite Patrick Peterson. I will not deny them the opportunity to find that person in this draft. With only 2 Corners with a 1^st round grade left on the Board, I decided to go with Apple. Is Pro ready, but needs to take some chances on balls thrown his way and step up his tackling.

#30 (Carolina Panthers): Sterling Shepard. WR, Oklahoma

The Carolina Panthers could have won the Super Bowl if they did 2 things better. Block Von Miller or Catch the Football. There is not a Tackle left on my board that can block Miller. But there is a WR sat on the board for whom drops are collectors items. Yes, he is a small guy. He will have to make his living in the slot, which will be no problem for him.

#31 (Denver Broncos): Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State

Denver have lost some guys from the trenches. This could be dangerous for them. There were options on both lines but Jones stood out for me. There was no OL player on my board that I trusted as a 1^s round talent. So DL led me to take the highest rated 3-4 guy on my board. Jones is a big strong brute of a player. Has some pad level issues and his motor could do with some work, but stepping into that defence with Bill Kollar and Wade Phillips coaching. I see him exploding in the next 3 years.

Notable Omissions:

Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia: He just isn’t on my board, it happens every year. Some teams will not have guys on their board, be it because of off the field issues or Scheme fits etc. For me, it’s his size. Built like a WR trying to play OLB in a 3-4 front. I just don’t see it going well. He might have some value as a Pass Rush Specialist, but that doesn’t give me enough value in the 1^st round.

Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: I see him as 4-3 Nose more than anything else. Lack of statue and arm length is a concern. I still think he could play very well in the NFL, but I think there are better options out there for a large portion of the team.

Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson: I have Lawson as a 4-3 DE that has limited Pass Rush value. I just don’t see much of a market for him after the Raiders at #14, I just don’t like him that high.

Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis: I will be very surprised if Lynch doesn’t get his name called Thursday night. But this is my mock, not yours (best Deion Sanders impression). I don’t think more than 4 QBs will go in the 1^st round (at most) and I have him as the 5^th best in the draft. Simple as. If this mock was 2 rounds long, you’d probably see his name called. But he’s not a 1^st rounder for me.

The UKFD Mock Draft Part 1 - Picks 1-15

Article by Ian Hughes

I have left doing a mock draft till late in the process this year. The main reason being, the later you leave it, the better feel you have for how it will all lay out. That being said, this is going to be my draft. If I were the GM for each team picking in the 1^st round. So I don’t expect this list to line-up well with what will actually happen on the 28^th. Here are my 1^st 15 picks.
#1 (LA Rams): Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota St

The Rams need a QB, they made to trade to go up and get the best one in the Draft. To me, I like Wentz a bit better starting Week 1. He ticks the boxes and has the bonus of fitting the Rams system that will revolve around Todd Gurley for the next 6+ Years minimum.

#2 (Philadelphia Eagles): Jared Goff, QB, Cal

Another team that jumped to get a QB, and I won’t deny them that. Goff is clearly in the conversation for top QB in the Draft, and I think the Eagles would prefer him to slide as he could be the better fit in Doug Peterson’s offence that we expect to look very similar to Andy Reid’s west coast system.

#3 (San Diego Chargers): Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

The Chargers end up with the hardest decision in the draft in my opinion. Tunsil or Ramsey? Tunsil wins here for me, mainly because I feel you can find a passable Safety to sure up a defence elsewhere. Finding a starting Left Tackle can be an ongoing nightmare. I am taking the tackle and keeping Rivers upright for as long as he wants to play in San Diego.

#4 (Dallas Cowboys): Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

Another tough one but for me it’s not so tough. I think we all know what Dallas want to do on Offence, pound the rock. So for me, they need to solidify the Defence. That eliminates the RB argument. It comes down to where on the Defence you think they need the most help. I feel you can find a quality DL player in the 2^nd or 3^rd, they are pretty set at DB. Myles Jack can start Week 1 for Marinelli. Can Cover and Tackle, plays the run well. Also a security blanket as Lee has had injury issues.

#5 (Jacksonville Jaguars): Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State

Ramsey finally comes off my board. Personally I have him as a Safety, but his length and athletic ability has put him at the top of the Corner conversation. The Jags could do with an upgrade at either position. A FS to partner Cyprien, or #1 Corner.

#6 (Baltimore Ravens): DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon

The Ravens need help on both lines and Buckner is the highest rated guy left on my board. Big, Physical DL man. Will play the DE positon in the Ravens 3-4. Will dominate in the run and pass game, 3 down player that will never have to leave the field for sub-packages.

#7 (San Francisco 49ers): Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida

This roster is in desperate need of help at more positions than a GM would probably like. I have gone for the Corner out of Florida. Hargreaves has drawn comparisons to a Corner that played for the current DC in Cleveland, in Joe Haden. Jim O’Neal has a background in the Defensive backfield. This seems to me to be a great fit for the coaches and the team.

#8 (Cleveland Browns): Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State

Cleveland have dropped out of the big name picks after trading out of the #2 pick. This is where the saying ‘taking the best guy on the board’ starts to come into effect. Cleveland have a need at DL, outside rusher and WR. None of those players provide value at the #8 slot. So Elliot comes off the board to become a Bell Cow RB for a team that would previously done OK with RB by committee.

#9 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

It’s all about the Offence in Tampa. They need to start thinking about protecting their young QB. Stanley is my #2 OT in this draft. More of a finesse guy but has the opportunity to be a starting LT for a long time in the NFL.

#10 (New York Giants): Jack Conkin, OT, Michigan State

This pick makes all sorts of sense. They need a Tackle. Conkin can play either side of the line. Physical guy. You need to protect your QB and block for your RB. The Giants aren’t far away from being a quality Offence. There isn’t much value at taking anyone else.

#11 (Chicago Bears): Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

My Chicago Bears… I have done them over in my own mock draft. They want an OT; I have already picked the top three. They want a Baller at FS, they were never getting Ramsey. They want an every down 3-4 DE, I have given Buckner to the Ravens. Time to take the best guy left. A lot of people will still have Joey Bosa at the top of their board with the current picks. But by now you’ll know I am not that hot on him. I am going safe with Jarran Reed. The guy plays the run and plays it well. Not much of a Pass Rusher, but there is plenty of that elsewhere on the Roster. (side note: I want the bears to Trade down from the 11^th pick to garner some extra selections this year or next)

#12 (New Orleans Saints): Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson

Dodd is THE pick for the Saints. It needs to be Defence here. Could be Corner or DL. I like the DE position over the Corner at #12. I think Dodd is diverse enough to help the saints right away, with the football IQ to learn and progress quickly into a full time 4-3 DE.

#13 (Miami Dolphins): Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

I have 2 Tigers going back to back. The only real value to be found at #13 for the ‘Phins is a Corner. I have Alexander over some of the other because of his competitive nature and reactive. Just needs to play the ball a bit more to be a good NFL Corner. That’s before he tidies up his technique. Could be one of the best around in 4-5 years time.

#14 (Oakland Raiders): Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio

I would eventually take Bosa here. Oakland have lost Aldon Smith and gained Irvin, but I still thing the DL needs some work. Bosa will take one of the full time DE spots for the Raiders. Then move inside to DT in lighter sub-packages when they want Irvin and Mack rushing together.

#15 (Tennessee Titans): Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor

Tennessee I think would love to add some more Offensive pieces in the draft. Right now, there is no value for them at #15. So you look at the Defence and you see a hole at the NT position. Andrew Billings would be a great fit. Plays clean and is still raw. Physically dominant at the age of 21, I am scared to think what this guy could be with some quality coaching.