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 1st 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 2nd and 3rd 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 3rd
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
2nd 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 1st 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 1st 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 1st 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 1s 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 1st
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 1st round (at most) and
I have him as the 5th 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 1st
rounder for me.
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