Mock Draft 2.0

MOCK DRAFT 2.0 - 4/13/2017

ROUND 1

1. CLEVELAND BROWNS

Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M: Garrett was the best position player in the draft, last month, he still is this month. Browns hope Garrett is next Bruce Smith rather than the next Jadeveon Clowney.

2.  SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 

Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford: 49er have a desperate need at quarterback to energize new head coach Kyle Shanahan's "choke first" offense, but the talent just isn't there. 49ers defense was even worse than its offense and the need is there for a big body inside to try and help stop the bleeding.

3. CHICAGO BEARS

Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama: The run on defensive linemen to start the draft continues. No way the Bears waste a pick this high on a safety or corner.  Bears were one of the worst defenses in the league last year, and they need to shore up everywhere on that side of the ball. They also need DB help but there will be plenty of secondary help in the 2nd round. Not that much quality on the DL in this draft and Bears need to cash in with a player who could turn out to be the best of the lot.

4. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

 
Jamal Adams, SS, LSU:  The Jaguars already upgraded the DL with Calais Campbell so it makes sense to flow with the draft and add the highest rated safety to a secondary that already includes Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye at corner. Adams should give them a big, athletic presence on the back line and shore up a weak unit that gave up 400 points last season.

5. TENNESSEE TITANS (FROM LOS ANGELES RAMS)

Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State : The Titans have two first round picks but little else, and will probably go Defense/Offense early in this draft. They could go for Alabama TE OJ Howard here, but Lattimore could be the icing on a rebuilt defensive backfield cake.

6. NY JETS

 
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama: The Jets are trying to act like they're not desperate for a QB, but they should be. Having said that, this pick is too high for the QB value in this draft and the Jets basically don't have a viable TE on the roster unless Austin Sefarian-Jenkins gets a wake up call. If he does, the Jets might have a quality 1-2 punch at the position.If only they had somebody who could throw the ball.

7. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State: The Chargers were terrible on the back end last year, giving up 423 points mostly through the air. Hooker is a strong center fielder type who can help take away the deep ball at least. Teamed with the Chargers smallish CB's he also brings some size to the defensive backfield. 

8. CAROLINA PANTHERS

Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU: Carolina fell apart last season after everything went perfect in 2015, and the lack of a consistent running game was a big part of it. Fournette has some red flags but the size and freakish talent is undeniable. Panthers will hope that a revitalized running game will take some pressure off douchbag QB Cam Newton, who crashed and burned when the pressure was on. 

9.  (TRADE) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS FROM CINCINNATI BENGALS

Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee: The Saints ranked dead last in pass defense in 2016 and Barnett can drastically upgrade the pass rush right away. They leap from #11 to #9 to keep the Bills from taking the player they want.

10. BUFFALO BILLS

Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan: With the top corners gone, the Bills could have their pick of the litter at another obvious area of need at WR, but they think the new #2 WR is already on the roster. Instead they flip the draft upside down and take Peppers, who can be a LB/S hybrid and energize their defense at two levels. They will find better CB value in the 2nd round when they pick at #44.

11.CINCINNATI BENGALS

Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin: This is the need pick the Bengals would have had to make at #9 but at least they traded down and got something for doing it. The pick is a reach but after the hits they took in free agency on the offensive like they need to draft the replacements as a top priority. They can always come back and get a defensive player in round 2. Ramczyk can step in and replace Andrew Whitworth at LT, on paper at least. Another pick born of desperation.

12. CLEVELAND BROWNS (FROM PHILADELPHIA)

Mitchell "Don't Call Me Mitch" Trubisky, QB, North Carolina:The Browns have plenty of picks left to stack up at other positions, but they do the smart thing for once and take the best fit QB off the board. There are lots of ties between Trubisky and the Browns organization, and although it's a little high, they need to take the QB. The funniest part of all this is that Mitch isn't anywhere near as good as Carson Wentz, who the Browns foolishly passed on last year.

13. ARIZONA CARDINALS

Haason Reddick, OLB, Temple: Cardinals defense got shredded in free agency so they have little choice but to try and rebuild through the draft. Safety is a major position of need but the value isn't there and Reddick can add some youth and speed to the LB corps and add to the pass rush. He'll be a good player for the next regime to build around after the Cardinals go 6-10 under Bruce Arians and Steve Keim.

14. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (FROM MINNESOTA)

John Ross, WR, Washington: Fit, meet need. Ross has Deshaun Jackson-like breakaway ability but without all the personal baggage. He'll team with Carson Wentz to terrorize NFC East secondaries for years to come.

15. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama: This is a reach but the Colts had one of the worst offensive lines in football last year. Robinson could play either tackle spot or even guard and be an upgrade over the players the Colts have at those positions now. My guess is he ends up at RT and Joe Haeg moves inside to RG.

16. BALTIMORE RAVENS

Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama: Ravens could use a safety but the value isn't there. Foster is a Bobby Wagner type with great range and speed. Weed test at the combine may cause him to fall but he sticks here for now. Pedestrian pick but a necessary one.

17. WASHINGTON REDSKINS

David Njoku, TE, Miami: The Redskins gave up a ton of yards and touchdowns on the ground last year, and you might think they'd be looking defense, but they signed 5 defensive free agents. Adding a WR makes sense too since they lost Pierre Garcon and Deshaun Watson, but they replaced them with Brian Quick and Terrell Pryor. Adding Njoku as a target over the middle provides a boost for Kirk Cousins' confidence, if nothing else. Some people think Njoku is a better receiver than OJ Howard.

18. TENNESSEE TITANS

Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan: Having already addressed the secondary the Titans come back and add one of the top WRs the draft. They probably wanted Njoku but will settle for  Davis' 4.48 speed. Not many holes left to fill on an improving roster.

19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State: Cook gives the Bucs a dynamic option out of the backfield that's likely to be more consistent than the group they have there now. Scoring more points on the ground must be a priority for the Bucs because of Jameis Winston's limitations as a passer. Getting a consensus top 10 talent at #19 will also help them get good draft grades, which is always a priority to energize listless fan bases.

20. DENVER BRONCOS

Garett Bolles, OT, Utah: The Broncos need both a RB and an upgrade on the offensive line. The line wins out because of the scarcity of talent there in this draft. Bolles can be a solid guard and possibly even a tackle at the pro level. Running back will have to wait for the 2nd round.

21. DETROIT LIONS

Zach Cunningham, OLB, Vanderbilt: The Lions addressed concerns along the offensive and defensive lines through free agency but lost speed at linebacker with the decision to release DeAndre Levy. Cunningham, a two-time All-SEC pick, has the range and length to fill this hole immediately. 

22. MIAMI DOLPHINS

Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan: Dolphins still need to add to the pass rush and Charlton is the best prospect on the board. 

23. NY GIANTS

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford: McCaffrey is exactly the Patriots-like, annoying, quick punk-ass white guy the Giants need to upgrade their run, pass and return games. He'll especially add a dynamic pass catching option out of the backfield for Eli Manning so he doesn't have to force the ball downfield so much.

24. OAKLAND RAIDERS

Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State: The Raiders' offense is OK but they need to keep adding to a weak defense to make a serious run. Conley comes from a big-time program and should help solidify the back end issues the Raiders had last year.

25. HOUSTON TEXANS

Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson: Unless the Texans can get their hands on Tony Romo, QB remains their biggest need. Personally I'd sign Jay Culter and draft Kizer if I was them, rather than bother with trying to coax Romo out of retirement. Watson may not be a great physical prospect but he has potential, leadership and wins big games. that's more than you can say about any QB on the Texans' roster at the moment.

26. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Kevin King, CB, Washington: If they don't sign Ryan Clady, an offensive lineman like Forrest Lamp is a possibility here but so is a trade down into the early 2nd round. Lacking a 4th and 5th round pick, this would fit the Seahawks draft playbook. However, King may represent too great a value for them to pass on and risk losing. Physically, the 6-3 King is a virtual Richard Sherman clone, and was essentially raised in the Seahawks system at UW. He could start immediately on the right side opposite Sherman and fill a spot that's been a problem since Byron Maxwell departed in free agency. A year spent in the DB room with Sherman and Earl Thomas will set King up to be Sherman's eventual successor as the best shut-down corner in the NFL.

27. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Zach Cunningham, OLB, Vanderbilt: The Chiefs' could always use another outside pass rush guy, so they pass on Kizer and Mike Williams to take the "sure thing."

28. DALLAS COWBOYS

Mike Williams, WR, Clemson: Cowboys need to add to the defense but Williams has slipped too far and Jerah wants to keep the Dak-Fense going to prove cutting Romo wasn't a mistake. They can get some good defensive players on day two.

29. GREEN BAY PACKERS

Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky: Packers would be sorely tempted by WR Mike Williams if he fell, but after losing guards T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton Lamp is the smart pick to protect Aaron Rodgers. Lamp starred at left tackle for the Hilltoppers but made a seamless transition inside to guard at the Senior Bowl.

30. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Obi Melifonwu, SS, Connecticut: Melifonwu is a super athletic defensive back who can make an impact for the Steelers right away. Their secondary has been a problem for a while and the playoff loss to the Deflatriots exposed the need to get better on the back end.

31. ATLANTA FALCONS

Charles Harris, DE, Missouri: After their epic collapse in the Super Bowl it's obvious the Falcons biggest need is more depth in the pass rush rotation. Harris will add to that even if the Falcons are likely to hit bottom next year while coping the psychological impact of their epic choke job.

32. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (FROM NEW ENGLAND)

TJ Watt, OLB, Wisconsin: Saints will tempted to replace WR Brandin Cooks with this pick, but they need to stick to their commitment to add talent at every level of the defense. Watt is a marginal 1st round pick, but he's big, strong, athletic and a relentless worker which can only rub off on his teammates.


Other Seahawks Picks
If I were running the Seahawks war room, I would look to trade my 2018 1st round pick into the early part of the round 2 and take Washington's Sidney Jones and redshirt him for a year. But that would be too clever and I doubt the Seahawks will do anything like that. That leaves OL and DT/DE as the biggest needs left to fill on day two, when the Seahawks have 4 picks.

Round 2 - Pick #58 - Issac Asiata, OG, Utah: If they don't sign Clady or Jahri Evans, the Seahawks probably come back with an OL in the 2nd round. Asiata is a mauler in the run game which is a point of emphasis for the Seahawks this year. Western Michigan's Taylor Moton might also be a consideration here if falls this far, but given his athletic ability that's doubtful. So either Asiata pushes 2016 1st round pick Germain Ifedi to RT or Ifedi lines up next to Moton at RG.

Round 3 - Pick #90 - Sidney Jones, CB, Washington: If he lasts this long after his Achilles tear, I think the Seahawks snap him up. Some boards have him in this range.
Round 3 - Pick #102 - Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson: Adding a defensive lineman will be a priority early in this draft for the Seahawks.
Round 3 - Pick # 106 - Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson: With Luke Wilson and Jimmy Graham free agents in 2018, it makes sense to add another TE to the roster this year.
Round - 6 - Pick #210 - Jalen Reeves-Maybin, OLB, Tennessee: Seahawks are looking to add a linebacker with quickness at some point in the draft.
Round - 7 - Pick #226 - Bryan Cox, DE, Florida: Looking for an outside pass rusher.