Welcome everyone to the one and only version of my mock draft! We’re only a few days away from the NFL Draft, it’s past time for a mock draft to be posted on this website.
Before I get into the picks, there’s a specific process that I’ve followed. I look at what a team’s needs are and I also look at what they’ve done in free agency to address some of those needs.
Enough with the preamble, let’s get on with the projections!
1. Cleveland Browns – Myles Garrett OLB Texas A&M
This one seems like a no-brainer. Garrett just screams number one pick. While there are other holes to fill, the amount of picks they have makes it easier to take advantage of one of the deepest drafts in recent memory.
2. San Francisco 49ers – DeShaun Watson QB Clemson
Blaine Gabbert isn’t the future of this franchise and this team needs to find some stability. Kyle Shanahan has an ability to make good QBs great based off of what he’s done with Matt Ryan. With everything that’s gone on in the city by the bay, the 49ers need to find that guy who can get some fans to come back and maybe Watson is that guy.
3.Chicago Bears – Jamal Adams S LSU
While the Bears need to find a quarterback of the future much like the 49ers, the need for a safety is all too real. Sure there’s several other guys to choose from that can do the job, but Adams seems to have the most upside
4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Leonard Fournette RB LSU
If you have to go back to back with LSU, this is how it needs to happen. While some of the mock drafts have him going to the Carolina Panthers, Blake Bortles definitely needs to have a run game to compliment the passing game. Fournette seems like a perfect fit for this team.
5. Tennessee Titans – Marlon Humphrey CB Alabama
Tennessee is beginning to take steps toward getting into the conversation of winning the AFC South. Mind you, the division isn’t exactly a strong one, but the steps they’re taking have been positive. One of the biggest needs has to be getting a corner like Marlon Humphrey
6. New York Jets – DeShone Kizer QB Notre Dame
The Jets are another franchise at a crossroads. If you Google Jets quarterbacks and you see a whole lot of mediocre. This is the year the Jets get their QB for the future and will likely cut loose Josh McCown not long afterwards.
7.Los Angeles Chargers – Jonathan Allen DE Alabama
The Chargers have a pretty decent offense if they can stay healthy. They’re also moving towards a 4-3 defense under Gus Bradley. Why not compliment Joey Bosa with one of the best defensive ends in the draft?
8. Carolina Panthers – Christian McCaffrey RB Stanford
The Panthers would love to have Fournette to compliment Jonathan Stewart, but McCaffrey is just as good for this team. The former Stanford Cardinal has a lot of tools that could help any team who picks him up.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Derek Barnett DE Tennessee
Barnett is an absolute beast on the field. If the Bengals don’t take Barnett at 9, they’re out of their mind and are gift wrapping him for the Saints.
10. Buffalo Bills – Mike Williams WR Clemson
The Bills are in desperate need to get a solid wide receiver. Having a quarterback like Tyrod Taylor can only get you so far. Getting Mike Williams to the Bills has to be the best choice for Buffalo.
11. New Orleans Saints – Taco Charlton DE Michigan
First off, it’s an awesome name. Most importantly, he can be a good compliment to Cam Jordan and they’ve needed one for quite some time.
12. Cleveland Browns – Mitch Trubisky QB North Carolina
With Cleveland’s second pick, they need to get a quarterback and despite only one year of tape, Trubisky has a ton of upside.
13. Arizona Cardinals – Marshon Lattimore CB Ohio State
The defense of Arizona has been stellar, but it wouldn’t hurt to get another solid body in the secondary.
14.Indianapolis Colts – Solomon Thomas DE Stanford
The Colts need a good front seven guy to replace Robert Mathis. Heck, they need more than just him when it comes to their defense as a whole. Thomas is a good start.
15. Philadelphia Eagles – Corey Davis WR Western Michigan
While the Eagles have players like Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith in the WR corps. It’s becoming clear that the front office is building around Carson Wentz. It’s probably the smartest move that they can do going forward if they want to try and crack through the proverbial glass ceiling
16. Baltimore Ravens – Dalvin Cook RB Florida State
With Kenneth Dixon out for the first four games of the regular season, the Ravens need to answer one question: Do they trust Danny Woodhead and Terrence West in the backfield? If not, getting a guy like Cook could fit into their system extremely well
17. Washington Redskins – Reuben Foster LB Alabama
Despite recent news about the linebacker out of Alabama, it would be absurd to not pick up a talented player like him. The Redskins need to grab someone that can be a long-term solution to their linebacker predicament.
18. Tennessee Titans – John Ross WR Washington
John Ross is a solid wide receiver that the Titans need to seriously consider. Marcus Mariota has Delanie Walker and Rishard Matthews as solid targets. The Titans are close to getting over the hump and possibly winning a poor AFC South. Getting another solid wideout is a definite need.
19. Tampa Bay Buccanneers – Malik McDowell DT Michigan State
The Bucs are about one step away from cracking the top half of the NFC South standings and possibly getting a wild card spot this season. I like McDowell with his ability to get a lot of pressure on the quarterback. The defensive line is probably the weakest spot the Bucs have right now and getting McDowell could bolster that frontline
20. Denver Broncos – Cam Robinson OT Alabama
If the Broncos have a lot of faith in Trevor Siemian, they will need to bolster up the offensive line. Cam Robinson was a strong offensive tackle with Alabama and can really help fix that hole in the long term.
21. Detroit Lions – Charles Harris DE Missouri
Detroit’s defense is their weak spot and getting a solid pass rusher is a high priority. Harris may not be the sexiest pick in the world, but at the 21st pick, the Lions are getting a solid defensive end.
22. Miami Dolphins – Haason Reddick LB Temple
Lawrence Timmons isn’t the long-term answer at linebacker for Miami. He’ll be good for depth, but not the perfect fit. Meanwhile, Haason Reddick is a great pickup at 22. He showed off in a big way during the senior bowl, going all over the field and getting after it.
23. New York Giants – Jarrad Davis LB Florida
Davis could be an ideal fit on either Miami or New York, but Reddick will be getting drafted right ahead of him. He’s an ideal fit in the Giants system.
24. Oakland Raiders – Caleb Brantley DT Florida
The Raiders have done a great job of building up their team through the draft over the last few seasons. The front seven is already pretty strong with Khalil Mack, and Brantley has a lot of upside.
25. Houston Texans – Patrick Mahomes QB Texas Tech
The Texans are in desperate need of a quarterback so why not pick up a player from the state of Texas? The former Red Raider is one of the best choices for Houston if they want to keep competing in the AFC South.
26. Seattle Seahawks – Ryan Ramcyzk OT Wisconsin
The offensive line has really struggled since losing Max Unger. With that, the Seattle Seahawks need to get someone that can fill an important hole offensively and keep Russell Wilson vertical.
27. Kansas City Chiefs – Zach Cunningham ILB Vanderbilt
The Chiefs have to find someone to replace a Derrick Johnson and Cunningham is an adequate pick for Kansas City. The former Commodore has been talked about lately amongst the league around the end of the first round.
28. Dallas Cowboys – Gareon Conley CB Ohio State
Conley is definitely one of those corners that could be a perfect fit for one of the few weak spots that the Cowboys have.
29. Green Bay Packers – Adoree’ Jackson CB USC
The Packers were shredded a few months ago by Matt Ryan in the NFC title game. They’ll need a player in the secondary to fit that role. Don’t be surprised if this isn’t the only one they’re picking up this season.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers – TJ Watt OLB Wisconsin
James Harrison isn’t getting older and that makes linebacker a priority. TJ has that natural talent a lot like his brother and should be definitely considered to help the Steelers defense become even better.
31. Atlanta Falcons – Forrest Lamp G Western Kentucky
The Falcons have to get an offensive lineman, preferably a guard. There aren’t many guards that are going to be picked up in the first round so they have a solid chance to get a good player to help them try and sustain the success they had last season.
32. New Orleans Saints – Tre’Davious White CB LSU
The former Tiger seems like a perfect fit at 32. While past drafts show that the Saints haven’t drafted a Tiger worth anything in a long time. Perhaps Coach O has mended that fence and White is too good of a talent to pass up.
-Clint Domingue