We are a mere 3 weeks away from the eve of the 79th Annual NFL Players Selection Meeting (that’s the official name….Wikipedia bitches!) This draft is going to have quite a few fireworks, particularly in the Top Ten. There are a few blue chip studs that every team would like to roster (don’t buy the Jadeveon Clowney has never worked a hard day in his life reports one bit). On the flip side, this draft is extremely deep. There are terrific prospects to be had in the middle rounds. There will be some teams that are aggressive and go get “their guy”; while others try their damndest to trade down and stockpile picks (here is looking at you, Hoodie). Enough chit-chat, on to the picks…..
Clowney would have been the hands down No. 1 pick in last years draft. There isn’t a QB prospect worthy enough to pass on this guy. As I stated above, I’m not buying into these made up negative claims about his work ethic; at the same time I’m not going to enshrine him in Canton before he even plays.
Sammy Watkins is a stud. He dominated SEC competition at age 18. If the Rams can’t pull off a trade, he should be the pick. Picks 2 and 3 are up for grabs in terms of trading up. In this scenario I have Atlanta trading up to the 3-hole to grab Mack.
Four picks in and I have two pass-rushers and two pass-catchers. This is where the draft gets really interesting as the Jags, Browns, Raiders, and Vikings are QB-desperate (you could even make an argument for the Bucs as well). Who starts the QB run? How highly do teams covet these QBs? Can they be had later in the first round? Second round? In my mock the Raiders get first crack. I’ll let Teddy’s film speak for itself and try to erase his horrific pro-day from my memory (a few more huffs ought to do it). Bridgewater gives them a chance. He’ll have the opportunity to learn (how not to throw pick-6’s) from Matt Schaub. Again, I have Atlanta and Jacksonville swapping picks in the first, so Bortles is a Jaguar in this scenario. Sure, Gus Bradley would love to have Clowney or Mack on his defense, but this has got to be the most QB-needy franchise in the league. Ebron and Donald continue to rise up my mock drafts (I had them at 23 and 25, respectively in Mock 2.0). Ebron is a big-bodied, athletic mismatch. It gives the Bucs a second option in the passing game after Vincent Jackson. Minnesota is a complete wildcard. I think they’d jump at the chance to draft Bortles and I think Norv Turner probably has a mild hard-on for Carr. But is 8 overall too high for David’s kid brother? I think so. Then again: Matt Cassel, Christian Ponder. Barf! Mike Zimmer is a no nonsense, old school, defensive minded coach. He grabs the disruptive interior force in Donald. For the record, I think Jake Matthews and Greg Robinson are better prospects than any of the guys drafted last year (and there were 4 OTs drafted in the first 11 picks last year); so for the Bills and Lions to get them at 9 and 10 is great value.
Johnny Football ladies and gentlemen! Whizz knows as well as anyone that you have to have a QB to win in this league. Ginger keeps harping on the fact that if the Giants can protect Eli they will basically win the Super Bowl. Fine. Enter Taylor Lewan. St. Louis grabs Watkins and Clinton-Dix. Their roster is loaded with talent (thank you Dan Synder). Will there be a QB with more pressure to succeed this season than Sam Bradford? Chicago and Dallas are both searching for able-bodied defensive linemen; which means Jerry will probably end up draft a Guard.
There are some serious playmakers available in the second half of the first round. I love the player-team pairs for this group of picks.
I really think you’ll see Derek Carr go somewhere in this range. I know I keep harping on the depth of this class, but for a good reason, check out these notable missing prospects: Jace Aramo, David Yankey, Brandon Cooks, Ryan Shazier, Jordan Matthews, Stephon Tuitt, Cyrus Kouandjio.