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2016 NFL Draft Day 1 Review

April 29, 2016 by Steel Haven



Round 1


1. Los Angeles Rams (from Tennessee)

QB Jared Goff - California

The NFL dictating that the Rams wait the full 10 minutes to make this pick to build dramais utterly stupid. Everyone knows Goff is the pick. Done at 8:15 instead of 8:05. Another reason why Roger Goodell is so easy to hate, gets booed.
  • Needs: QB, WR, S, C/G, TE, OT
  • My Projection: QB Jared Goff - California

2. Philadelphia Eagles (from Cleveland)

QB Carson Wentz - North Dakota St

Wentz.... Again, everybody knew this was coming.... Only the fifth QB ever drafted in the first round from NCAA DI-FCS (formerly known as DI-AA).
  • Needs: CB, RT/G, RB, WR, QB, OLB/DE
  • My Projection: QB Carson Wentz - North Dakota St

3. San Diego Chargers

OLB/DE Joey Bosa - Ohio St

The draft begins in earnest. Talk of Bosa's fall out of the top 5 proves to be premature. Buzz surrounding Stanley, Ramsey proves to be a smoke screen. Smart, solid decision by Tom Telesco. Bosa makes plays, measurables be damned.
  • Needs: DE, C, S, OT, TE, OLB
  • My Projection: OT Ronnie Stanley - Notre Dame

4. Dallas Cowboys

RB Ezekiel Elliott - Ohio St

Posted mock draft later than I wanted earlier this afternoon because of decision late last night to switch this pick from Ramsay to Elliott. At least I have that going for me.
  • Needs: DE, CB, OLB, RB, WR, QB
  • My Projection: RB Ezekiel Elliott - Ohio St

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

CB/S Jalen Ramsey - Florida St

Surprised Kiper and especially Gruden. Not sure why. Gruden really reaming Ramsey, obviously doesn't like him as a player.
  • Needs: M/SLB, C, S, DT, OG, DE/OLB
  • My Projection: CB/S Jalen Ramsey - Florida St

6. Baltimore Ravens

OT Ronnie Stanley - Notre Dame

Stanley does go ahead of Tunsil. I actually think Stanley is a bit overrated. Not that a post on Tunsil's twitter page right before the draft of someone (not confirmed to be Tunsil) smoking a bong was a good thing.
  • Needs: OLB, OG, OT, CB, ILB, RB
  • My Projection: OT Laremy Tunsil - Mississippi

7. San Francisco 49ers

DE DeForest Buckner - Oregon

Oregon..... Chip Kelly..... Match made in heaven. Actually this is mostly a coincidence. Really the best player available at a position of at least secondary need.
  • Needs: WR, QB, G/C, LB, OT, DE
  • My Projection: DE DeForest Buckner - Oregon

8. Tennessee Titans (from Miami thru Philly/Cleveland)

OT Jack Conklin - Michigan St

Gruden gushing about Conklin, loves him. I think he is sort of similar to the player they want him to replace on the left side, Taylor Lewan. Price was a third rounder this year and second rounder in 2017. Titans keep all three of their second rounders this year. Tunsil officially in free fall.
  • Needs: OT, CB, NT, WR, OLB, OG
  • My Projection: OT Taylor Decker - Ohio St (at 15)

9. Chicago Bears (from TB)

OLB Leonard Floyd - Georgia

Jump the Giants for Floyd, a hot name the last couple of weeks.
  • Needs: LT, CB/S, DE, OLB, QB, RB
  • My Projection: OT Jack Conklin - Michigan St (at 11)

10. New York Giants

Eli The Big Apple - Ohio St

Had Apple going to the Steelers at 25. Like him obviously. Don't particularly understand him going this high, especially considering the position was addressed in free agency. Reports that Jack was removed from their draft board likely true. Think gamble on him, pick of Apple's teammate Darron Lee made much more sense.
  • Needs: WR, OT, LB, S, G/C, RB
  • My Projection: OLB Leonard Floyd - Georgia

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Chicago)

CB Vernon Hargreaves III - Florida

Tampa war room probably laughing their asses off when Giants reached for Apple over Hargreaves. Three defensive backs off the board through 11 picks, not a good sign for the Steelers.
  • Needs: CB, S, C/G, DT, DE, RT
  • My Projection: CB Vernon Hargreaves - Florida (at 9)

12. New Orleans Saints

DT Sheldon Rankins - Louisville

Pick made too much sense, mocked correctly by basically everybody.
  • Needs: DE, CB, OG, OLB, WR, DT
  • My Projection: DT Sheldon Rankins - Louisville

13. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia)

OT Laremy Tunsil - Mississippi

Consensus top pick in the draft approximately 10 days ago. Hard to quibble with this pick even if Tunsil was smoking a bong at/during the draft.
  • Needs: CB, RB, G/C, DE, DT, OLB
  • My Projection: M/OLB Myles Jack - UCLA

14. Oakland Raiders

S Karl Joseph - West Virginia

Brutal hitter. Another player with a lot of buzz recently. Coming off a torn ACL, expected to be ready for camp. Sort of scared his physical style is going to lead to a very short career. Being compared right now on ESPN by Boomer to Bob Sanders which only belabors that point.
  • Needs: DE, OT, S, RB, M/WLB, DT
  • My Projection: DE Shaq Lawson - Clemson

15. Cleveland Browns (from LA thru Tennessee)

WR Corey Coleman - Baylor

Biletnikoff Award winner. Ultra-productive. Speed to take the top off a defense. Never ran a pro route at Baylor, needs a lot of development. Dimunitive, the one receiver that will not tower over Senquez Golson.
  • Needs: QB, WR, OLB, DE, OT, RB
  • My Projection: OLB/DE Joey Bosa - Ohio St at 8

16. Detroit Lions

OT Taylor Decker - Ohio St

Last of the top tackle prospects, if he can play the left side fills a major need.
  • Needs: OT, C/G, SS, DE, DT, LB
  • My Projection: DT Jarran Reed - Alabama

17. Atlanta Falcons

S Keanu Neal - Florida

Reach for need. Reports they fell in love with him in pre-draft process prove true.
  • Needs: S, TE, OG, DE, DT, OLB
  • My Projection: OLB Darron Lee - Ohio St

18. Indianapolis Colts

C Ryan Kelly - Alabama

Should have mocked Kelly here. Wasn't giving Ryan Grigson enough credit. I'm impressed Grigson actually addressed the offensive line.
  • Needs: G/C, OLB, ILB, CB, S, RB
  • My Projection: CB William Jackson III - Houston

19. Buffalo Bills

DE Shaq Lawson - Clemson

Lawson falls a bit due to shoulder. Nice match of player, value, need. Plus Rex Ryan loves Clemson where his son is a walk-on WR.
  • Needs: DE, LB, T/G, WR, DT, QB
  • My Projection: DE Emmanuel Ogbah - Oklahoma St

20. New York Jets

LB Darron Lee - Ohio St

Best player available. Eerily similar to Steelers drafting of Ryan Shazier, the player Lee replaced in Columbus. Lee should fill a similar role to Shazier.
  • Needs: OLB, OT, OG, QB, ILB, TE
  • My Projection: OLB/DE Kevin Dodd - Clemson

21. Houston Texans (from Washington)

WR Will Fuller - Notre Dame

Reportedly wanted to add speed opposite DeAndre Hopkins. Moved up a spot at the price of a sixth rounder in 2017. Fuller's game is all about speed. Not sure if the Redskins had a trade in place for someone that wanted Fuller, or might of taken him themselves. Probably neither, just a bluff the Texans didn't think was worth calling.
  • Needs: TE, WR, NT/DE, C/G, S, OT
  • My Projection: NT/DE A'Shawn Robinson - Alabama (at 22)

22. Washington Redskins (from Houston)

WR Josh Doctson - TCU

Polished receiver should contribute immediately. Don't really have much of an opinion on this pick to be honest, neither love it nor hate it.... Not as high on Doctson as some, yet don't have a problem with his being taken in this range.
  • Needs: C/G, NT, ILB, RB, S, WR
  • My Projection: ILB Reggie Ragland - Alabama (at 21)

23. Minnesota Vikings

WR Laquon Treadwell - Mississippi

Last of the projected first round receivers likely ends the run on the position. Security blanket for Teddy Bridgewater in the short to intermediate passing game.
  • Needs: WR, SS, OT, OLB, CB, DT
  • My Projection: WR Laquon Treadwell - Mississippi

24. Cincinnati Bengals

CB William Jackson III - Houston

Damn. Had Jackson pencilled in to Steelers since the Jets passed on him. Disappointment tempered somewhat because of growing feeling with all the receivers coming off the board that this was going to happen. Marvin Lewis loves drafting corners in the first round.
  • Needs: WR, DE, DT, S, C, CB
  • My Projection: WR Corey Coleman - Baylor

25. Pittsburgh Steelers

CB Artie Burns - Miami FL

Interesting. Kevin Colbert takes a corner for the first time in his 17 years in charge of the draft. Basically ran to the podium with the pick. Obviously liked Burns a lot. Wonder if they would have taken him over Jackson. Were said to really like Apple and to be honest Burns is a similar prospect. Good size. Track athlete, but also a football player. Led the ACC with 6 interceptions. Young which Colbert likes in an early pick, turns 21 on Sunday. A little too grabby in coverage, needs technique work. Seems very mature for his age. Came out early because Mom died in October, he is legal guardian of his two younger brothers.
  • Needs: CB, S, NT, OT, OLB, ILB
  • My Projection: CB Eli Apple - Ohio St

26. Denver Broncos (from Seattle)

QB Paxton Lynch - Memphis

Wish the Steelers could have made this deal. An extra third rounder would have been nice. Not sure if they were afraid the Chiefs or Panthers would take Burns. Lynch is a major developmental project. Likely will roll with Mark Sanchez for a season which should be interesting to say the least.
  • Needs: QB, G/C, ILB, DE, TE, RB
  • My Projection: DE/NT Vernon Butler - Louisiana Tech (at 31)

27. Green Bay Packers

DT Kenny Clark - UCLA

Needed to add talent to the defensive front seven.... Did....
  • Needs: ILB, NT/DE, OLB, TE, CB, OT
  • My Projection: OLB/DE Noah Spence - Eastern Kentucky

28. San Francisco 49ers (from KC)

G Josh Garnett - Stanford

Myles Jack or Connor Cook? Emphatically NO. Pick immediately being savagely panned by every analyst on TV and the internet. Traded second, fourth and sixth rounders. Reportedly jumped the Seahawks for Garnett. Huge need. Had 12 total picks before trade so price not excessive. Understand wanting a specific player. Just think as good or better lineman are available, would have been available at 37.
  • Needs: WR, QB, G/C, LB, OT, DE
  • My Projection: WR Will Fuller - Notre Dame (to Chiefs)

--   New England Patriots

Forfeited, penalty for deflate-gate.
  • Needs: DT, OT, RB, DE, CB, WR

29. Arizona Cardinals

DE/DT Robert Nkemdiche - Mississippi

Steve Keim and Bruce Arians roll the dice. Succeeded in the recent past gambling on Tyrann Mathieu. Will try again. If Nkemdiche pans out the addition of him and Chandler Jones to an already stellar defense is scary.
  • Needs: CB, C/G, ILB, DE, QB, S
  • My Projection: CB Mackensie Alexander - Clemson

30. Carolina Panthers

DT Vernon Butler - Louisiana Tech

Seems like a clear case of taking the best player available on their board. Already have Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei on the roster. I'm OK with not picking for need.
  • Needs: CB, OT, SS, DE, RB, WR
  • My Projection: S Keanu Neal - Florida

31. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)

T/G Germain Ifedi - Texas A&M

Possesses the kind of athleticism Pete Carroll, the organization prefer. Love the trade down to make the pick. Actually like Ifedi better than the more athletically limited Garnett. Think the 49ers did them a favor if they really wanted Garnett with this pick.
  • Needs: OT, G/C, CB, DT, OLB, QB
  • My Projection: C Ryan Kelly - Alabama (at 26)
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