- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QB Jameis Winston - Florida St
I'm expecting a fairly wild night. Not with the first pick or maybe even the second although a trade involving Chip Kelly could be mind blowing. After that all hell should break out fairly quickly. Not trades per say. The difference between this draft and the last couple is the dearth of talent especially at the top. Individual draft boards are going to be radically different. Trying to decide whether to reach to fill a need or take the best available player within reason a much more frequent occurrence than in a normaldraft. More injuries and off the field issues among the top prospects than I can ever remember further clouds the issue. At 12 minutes after 8 the Ginger Hammer steps to the podium, takes his boos like a man that makes over $45 million a year and announces Winston. Not having Winston for a photo op and ridiculous audio blurb at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University was an added bonus. Would be nice if no players were invited to the draft.
- Needs: QB, DE, OT/G, S, RB, CB
- My projection: QB Jameis Winston - Florida St
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- Tennessee Titans
QB Marcus Mariota - Oregon
Mariota it is..... Reportedly asked for the sun and the moon to move out of this pick which is exactly what they should have done. Zach Mettenberger's agent has reportedly already asked for a trade after this pick. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
- Needs: QB, RT/G, RB, NT/DE, WR, ILB
- My projection: QB Marcus Mariota - Oregon
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- Jacksonville Jaguars
DE/OLB Dante Fowler - Florida
GM David Caldwell reportedly wanted Collins, defensive minded head coach Gus Bradley was set on Fowler. Bradley apparently has excellent powers of persuasion. Fowler basically completes what should be an incredibly improved defense. His post selection interview makes me appreciate Winston and Mariota not going to Chicago even more.
- Needs: DE/OLB, FS, RB, M/WLB, WR, C/G
- My projection: DE/OLB Dante Fowler - Florida
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- Oakland Raiders
WR Amari Cooper - Alabama
A much needed weapon for David Carr. I thought Williams, Fowler and Cooper were clearly the best three players in the draft. Can't complain about this selection.
- Needs: DE, WR, RT/G, DT, CB, S
- My projection: DT Leonard Williams - USC
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- Washington Redskins
T/G Brandon Scherff - Iowa
Don't like this pick very much. Sort of a blah selection. This is a workmanlike RT/G prospect that quite frankly would not have been a top 20 pick last season. I can't really call this a major reach given the lack of top end talent in the draft. Probably couldn't have traded down since the Jets with the next pick might have possibly considered him. Just think that with talent on the board like Williams, Beasley and White an opportunity to improve the overall talent on the roster was lost. There are RT prospects that could be had tomorrow night.
- Needs: RT/G, LB, FS, CB, RB, WR
- My projection: OLB Vic Beasley - Clemson
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- New York Jets
DT/DE Leonard Williams - USC
Wow. A pure, unadulterated selection of the best player available. Defensive line depth chart was stacked before this selection. Could mean Muhammad Wilkerson will not be resigned.
- Needs: QB, RT/G, OLB, RB, S, WR
- My projection: OLB Alvin Dupree - Kentucky
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- Chicago Bears
WR Kevin White - West Virginia
Can Jay Cutler be rehabilitated? Having White around to stretch the field can't hurt. His presence should also help Alshon Jeffery and Matt Forte. Good value although defense needs talent desperately.
- Needs: S, RT/G, NT/DE, LB, WR, CB
- My projection: WR Amari Cooper - Alabama
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- Atlanta Falcons
OLB Vic Beasley - Clemson
Bradley got his LEO at 3, his successor as defensive coordinator at Seattle Dan Quinn gets his at 8.
- Needs: DE/OLB, RB, C/G, FS, TE, MLB
- My projection: RB Todd Gurley - Georgia
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- New York Giants
OT Ereck Flowers - Miami FL
Didn't expect GM Jerry Reese to reach for an offensive lineman. Flowers should start immediately on the right side allowing Justin Pugh to move inside improving two positions. Guess this pick sort of had to be made.
- Needs: S, RT/G, DE, DT, LB, WR
- My projection: WR Kevin White - West Virginia
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- St. Louis Rams
RB Todd Gurley - Georgia
Had to be shocker both Scherff and Flowers are off the board. Jeff Fisher loves to run the ball. Who is going to block? Having only 4 more picks in this draft isn't going to help them in their bid to improve the offensive line. I am now going to give myself a backhanded pat on the back. I actually had nine of the top ten actual selections in my mock's top ten. Missed only on Flowers over Dupree. Unfortunately I only matched the top three to the correct team.
- Needs: C, OT, OG, WR, CB, QB
- My projection: T/G Brandon Scherff - Iowa
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- Minnesota Vikings
CB Trae Waynes - Michigan St
Best corner in the draft for defensive minded Mike Zimmer. Made too much sense.
- Needs: CB, OT/G, MLB, S, WR, RB
- My projection: CB Trae Waynes - Michigan St
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- Cleveland Browns
NT Danny Shelton - Washington
Two in a row, I need to pinch myself. Not my favorite player to be honest. Two down run stuffers don't have as much value in today's league. I believe this player is a two down run stuffer. Yet he fills a need in what I will again repeat is a draft that lacks top end talent.
- Needs: QB, WR, OLB, NT/DE, TE, RT
- My projection: NT Danny Shelton - Washington
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- New Orleans Saints
OT Andrus Peat - Stanford
Protection for the aging Brees. Major gamble on high upside young early entrant with huge frame that needs considerable developmental work. Really surprised they didn't address the defense.
- Needs: LB, OG, TE, WR, CB, NT/DE
- My projection: OLB/DE Randy Gregory - Nebraska
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- Miami Dolphins
WR DeVante Parker - Louisville
Let the draft fall to them and then took the best player available at a position of need. Hiring of Mike Tannenbaum as Executive Vice President of Football Operations seems to have had a positive effect.
- Needs: OG, CB, WR, S, OLB, DT
- My projection: WR DeVante Parker - Louisville
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- San Diego Chargers (from San Francisco)
RB Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin
Traded a third day pick this year and next year to move up two spots. Had to be afraid someone was going to jump into the 15th or 16th pick to beat them to Gordon. That's two backs in the top 15 after none were taken in the first round the last two seasons.
- Needs: RB, NT, G/C, WR, OLB, OT
- My projection: RB Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin at 17
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- Houston Texans
CB Kevin Johnson - Wake Forest
Like this pick mostly because I wanted Johnson off the board before the Steelers selection. Has a slight frame and not a good tackler. Not that he doesn't try hard or that he isn't aggressive. Just don't think his slight build will ever allow him to improve his short comings enough to develop into more than a limited slot corner. Jon Gruden agrees with me. Damn, now I am worried I am wrong and Johnson is going to be the next Neon Deion.
- Needs: QB, ILB, WR, OLB, C/G, DE
- My projection: WR Breshad Perriman - UCF
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- San Francisco 49ers (from San Diego)
DE Arik Armstead - Oregon
Traded down for a couple of extra picks and still got their man, at least the man I thought they wanted. Smart move, this is the way to play the draft.
- Needs: ILB, CB, DE, WR, OG, TE
- My projection: DE Arik Armstead - Oregon at 15
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- Kansas City Chiefs
CB Marcus Peters - Washington
Another corner I don't really like. Kicked off his college team due to clashes with a new coaching staff, didn't always play hard on the field. This is working out pretty well for the Steelers. Player still available that really surprises me is Dupree. Could he make it to 22?
- Needs: C/G, CB, OT, ILB, DE, WR
- My projection: CB Jalen Collins - LSU
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- Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo)
OL Cameron Erving - Florida St
Interesting pick. The lineman I had them taking was gone. I love Erving's versatility. Likely a day one starter at RG over John Greco where I think he might actually be better suited than C. Plus provides insurance policy for Alex Mack. Last season when Mack got hurt the line fell apart.
- My projection: OT Ereck Flowers - Miami FL
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- Philadelphia Eagles
WR Nelson Agholor - USC
Chip Kelly loves players from the PAC-12. Return ability a plus. No surprise Kelly took the first player I did not have in the first round of my mock, although I did have him being taken at 36.
- Needs: WR, S, OLB, CB, OG, DE
- My projection: WR Phillip Dorsett, Miami FL
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- Cincinnati Bengals
OT Cedric Ogbuehi - Texas A&M
Second player I did not have in the first round of my mock comes quickly, I did have him at 38. Tore an ACL in the Liberty Bowl. Perfect situation for him since he will have time to develop/recover with Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith both under contract for another season.
- Needs: DT, DE, OT, WR, LB, C
- My projection: OT Andrus Peat - Stanford
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- Pittsburgh Steelers
OLB Alvin Dupree - Kentucky
Third straight draft they’ve used their first rounder on a linebacker. Had him going at 6 in my mock so obviously love the pick. Perfect scheme fit at strong side OLB giving Jarvis Jones one more season to see if he can stay healthy, develop on the weak side. Long frame, ridiculous athleticism. Corners will be available later. Keep streak alive of not taking a corner in the first round since Chad Scott.
- Needs: CB, OLB, TE, WR, S, DE
- My projection: CB Byron Jones - UConn
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- Denver Broncos (from Detroit)
OLB Shane Ray - Missouri
Jumped the Cardinals for Ray. DeMarcus Ware not getting any younger, Von Miller not exactly the most stable person. Depth pick for the future if everything goes right, could be needed sooner. I admit to not really thinking of this as a possibility in the pre-draft process, but it makes sense.
- Needs: G/C, FS, RT, NT, TE, ILB
- My projection: T/G Jake Fisher, Oregon at 28
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- Arizona Cardinals
OT DJ Humphries - Florida
Change direction with Ray off the board. Had Humphries going a pick later so don't think it is a reach or anything. Not much is left to take this high on the defensive front 7 without gambling on free falling Gregory. Losing out on Ray just has to be a bitter pill to swallow given their needs.
- Needs: OLB, ILB, NT/DE, RB, CB, S
- My projection: OLB Shane Ray - Missouri
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- Carolina Panthers
OLB Shaq Thompson - Washington
Versatile playmaker. Special teams demon and nickel LB to start his career. Possible replacement for Roman Harper in the future. Love the player. Not sure about ignoring both the offensive line and WR.
- Needs: OT, WR, DE, SS, CB, RB
- My projection: OT DJ Humphries - Florida
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- Baltimore Ravens
WR Breshard Perriman - UCF
Best player available at a position of need. The Ozzie Newsome way. Dynamic athlete will need to develop consistency.
- Needs: WR, CB, RB, TE, S, OLB/DE
- My projection: CB/S Eric Rowe - Utah
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- Dallas Cowboys
CB Byron Jones - UConn
Jerry Jones was reportedly enamored with him. A personal favorite of mine, mocked him repeatedly to the Steelers.
- Needs: RB, CB, DE, DT, S, OLB
- My projection: CB Kevin Johnson - Wake Forest
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- Detroit Lions (from Denver)
OG Laken Tomlinson - Duke
Guard depth chart is barren. Obviously a player they targeted. A bit of a reach, but at least they dealt down to get a little extra value.
- Needs: DT, G/C, RT, RB, CB, WR
- My projection: DT Malcom Brown - Texas at 23
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- Indianapolis Colts
WR Phillip Dorsett, Miami FLA
A luxury pick. Burner definitely provides value. Just shocked the offensive line or defense was not addressed.
- Needs: S, G/C, RT, ILB, CB, RB
- My projection: SS Landon Collins - Alabama
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- Green Bay Packers
S Damarius Randall – Arizona St
Undersized safety tweener. Stock soared late in the process. Likely to be used as a slot corner early in his career filling a need. Lack of size and tackling ability bothers me.
- Needs: ILB, CB, NT/DE, TE, OLB, RT/G
- My projection: CB Marcus Peters - Washington
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- New Orleans Saints (from Seattle)
ILB Stephone Anthony - Clemson
Need pick. Much like Mel Kiper surprised Anthony went before Kendricks.
- My projection: NT/DE Eddie Goldman - Florida St
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- New England Patriots
DT Malcom Brown - Texas
Nice value pick for Belichick. Perfect fit for the system.
- Needs: CB, OG, WR, DT, RB, S
- My projection: OL Cameron Erving - Florida St
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