By: Murphy Wheeler
Image Credit: Gerry Broome/AP Photo
- Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett DE Texas A&M
It’s plain and simple, Garrett is the best prospect in the draft. Cleveland would be foolish to pass him up at number one. However, it is the Browns so don’t be surprised if they mess it up and reach for a quarterback.
- San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas DE Stanford
Thomas has officially reserved his place as the second best prospect at this point. He’s an athletic freak for his size so even though the defensive line isn’t as big of a need as others for San Francisco, he would be hard to pass up.
- Chicago Bears: Jamal Adams S LSU
Chicago could really use a cornerback here and Marshon Lattimore would be a good option but Adams seems like a better option at safety. He could be special and even though the Bears recently signed veteran safety Quentin Demps, Adams would still be an understandable choice.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette RB LSU
Jacksonville seems really interested in Fournette. This seems like a pretty logical pick even though there are questions about Fournette’s athleticism. He would still eventually be a better power back option than Chris Ivory down the road.
- Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore CB Ohio State
This is a pretty easy pick. If Lattimore doesn’t go off the board to Chicago at number three, Tennessee will most likely grab him here. Cornerback is the Titans’ biggest need and Lattimore is a classic shutdown corner.
- New York Jets: Malik Hooker S Ohio State
A lot of people think New York might reach for a quarterback here but I don’t think they will. They could let Josh McCown handle it for a year and try to get a better option at the position next year. Safety is still a huge need for them and Hooker has maybe the best instincts of any defensive player in the draft.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Jonathan Allen DT Alabama
Los Angeles would love to get a safety and I’ve had Hooker going here in past mocks before I had the Jets passing on a quarterback. Allen might be a top three talent so he would kind of fall into the Chargers’ laps. The defensive line isn’t their biggest need but Allen would fit in well alongside Joey Bosa and it would be a best available option situation.
- Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey RB Stanford
McCaffrey has understandably risen since my last mock draft. He’s a do it all back that excels at catching out of the backfield. Carolina seems to be desperate to move on from Jonathan Stewart at the position and there are few options better than McCaffrey.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster LB Alabama
Cincinnati has a few needs but inside linebacker is by far the biggest. They could possibly go with Haason Reddick, who is quickly climbing up draft boards but Foster would be a surefire starter in his rookie year, which is what the Bengals are looking for here.
- Buffalo Bills: O.J. Howard TE Alabama
Buffalo could go in a variety of directions with this pick but Howard seems like a good bet. Charles Clay led them in receptions last year but Howard would be an improvement. There hasn’t been a tight end prospect of his quality in a draft since Vernon Davis.
- New Orleans Saints: Haason Reddick LB Temple
As I said, Reddick has suddenly found himself in top ten discussions as of late. He might be the most athletic and explosive defensive player in the draft and could player anywhere from inside linebacker, outside linebacker or defensive end. He’d be an excellent pick for New Orleans, who could use help at just about anywhere on defense.
- Cleveland Browns: Mitch Trubisky QB North Carolina
The first quarterback finally comes off the board. Cleveland has been really high on Trubisky, so don’t be surprised if they trade up for him. However, I think they could stay put at twelve and still get him as long as New York can force themselves not to reach at number six. Trubisky has established himself as the best quarterback in the draft so this would be fine if Cleveland is desperate at the position.
- Arizona Cardinals: Mike Williams WR Clemson
Arizona is another team that could do anything with their first round pick. It really depends on what happens in front of them but in this situation, Williams would be a great pick. The Cardinals could get arguably the best wide receiver in the draft and have somebody to fill Larry Fitzgerald’s role once he retires.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Dalvin Cook RB Florida State
In my last mock draft, I had Gareon Conley going here. He would have been a great fit for Philadelphia but I find it hard to believe anybody will want to take a chance on him in the first round after his rape allegations. Therefore, the Eagles decide to fill the hole they have at running back and grab Cook before he drops.
- Indianapolis Colts: Derek Barnett DE Tennessee
This would be great for Indianapolis. They are most likely going to go for a pass rusher here and Barnett is one of the best in the draft. He’s a top ten talent so if he falls this far the Colts will definitely take a chance.
- Baltimore Ravens: Corey Davis WR Western Michigan
Baltimore definitely needs some help at wide receiver and Davis would be the best option here. The argument could be made for Davis as the best receiver in the draft so Baltimore would be satisfied with this decision. Davis could give Joe Flacco a nice weapon after the Ravens lost Steve Smith and Kamar Aiken this offseason.
- Washington Redskins: Jarrad Davis LB Florida
Davis has really climbed the draft boards since my last mock draft and I really like him as a player. He’s been praised for his character and has great athleticism to go along with it. Washington could use some help stuffing the run up the middle so he would be a solid choice.
- Tennessee Titans: John Ross WR Washington
Tennessee has two glaring needs: secondary and wide receiver. After addressing the first need with the fifth pick, they would obviously jump on a prospect like Ross at eighteen. His speed sets him apart from everybody else in the draft and he could give the Titans a dangerous downfield receiving threat.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: David Njoku TE Miami
Tampa Bay is another team with some options but after the Austin Seferian-Jenkins experiment failed last year, tight end seems like a good position to address here. Njoku and Howard stand out from the rest of the tight ends of this class but his elite pass-catching and athleticism are enough to take a chance on in the top twenty.
- Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramczyk OT Wisconsin
This is where I’ve had the first offensive lineman coming off the board in all my mock drafts. This is a pretty deep O-line class so it’ll be easy for teams to wait on picking them. However, this is Denver’s biggest need and Ramczyk would be a reliable option for them.
- Detroit Lions: Charles Harris DE Missouri
Harris is another player that has really risen since my last mock draft that I really like. He’s extremely versatile and can play either defensive end or outside linebacker. Lucky for Detroit, both are big needs for them so they could plug Harris in right away at either spot.
- Miami Dolphins: Forrest Lamp OG Western Kentucky
The offensive lineman start to really come off the board now. Lamp could be really valuable for teams looking for line help as he can play any position with ease. Miami has bigger needs but would have to reach to address them here so Lamp would be a safe pick.
- New York Giants: Cam Robinson OT Alabama
The case could be made for Robinson as the best offensive lineman in the draft. In fact, he probably is if you base it off of pure talent. The thing that will turn many away from him is questions about his attitude but I see the Giants taking a chance.
- Oakland Raiders: Marlon Humphrey CB Alabama
Some people have Humphrey going higher than this so maybe I’m crazy. However, I see him falling here and Oakland has a big enough need at cornerback to take him. He’s got great size for his position so he would be fit well with what the Raiders want in their secondary.
- Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes QB Texas Tech
Finally, another quarterback comes off the board. I’m starting to really like Mahomes. He’s fearless and I think teams are starting to notice. I know a lot of people think Houston might surprise us and go with an offensive lineman here but I think quarterback is just too big of a need for them right now.
- Seattle Seahawks: Kevin King CB Washington
Much like Houston, Seattle is another team that desperately needs help on the offensive line. However, with Richard Sherman rumors swirling and a lack of depth at the position, cornerback is another major need for them. There are options at both positions so this will be a tough decision for the Seahawks but King fits the mold of the kind of defensive back that they love in their system. He’s tall and lanky and would be a great fit alongside Sherman if he stays.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Deshaun Watson QB Clemson
I finally caved in and have Kansas City going with a quarterback. I didn’t want to because I have actually been one of Alex Smith’s biggest supporters but if a talent like Watson is still on the board, I don’t see how they could go in a different direction.
- Dallas Cowboys: Takkarist McKinley LB UCLA
When players rise on the draft boards, it only means that some will fall as well. Some players like Gareon Conley and Jabrill Peppers have obvious reasons as to why they have dropped, while others like McKinley do so unjustly. Therefore, he falls into Dallas’ lap here, who should be looking for the best defensive option with this pick. They’d get an uber-athletic pass rusher with him.
- Green Bay Packers: T.J. Watt LB Wisconsin
Watt might be even more athletic than his brother J.J. and is just as versatile as he can play either defensive end or outside linebacker. That’s hard for teams to pass up and Green Bay is another team that should be looking for the best defensive option in the first round.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Obi Melifonwu S Connecticut
Melifonwu has kind of come out of nowhere on mock drafts as of late and seems like just the kind of player Pittsburgh would love to have. They love big, athletic, hard-hitting safeties and the little-known Melifonwu fits that mold perfectly.
- Atlanta Falcons: Malik McDowell DT Michigan State
I’ve had McDowell going to Atlanta in every mock draft I’ve done. It’s a perfect fit. Atlanta’s biggest need is at defensive tackle and McDowell is a first round talent. It isn’t a flashy pick but it’s one the Falcons need to make.
- New Orleans Saints: Tre’Davious White CB LSU
If we’re really discussing New Orleans’ draft needs, it has to start with their defense, especially their atrocious secondary. Now that Gareon Conley is probably out of the question, they won’t reach for one at number eleven. However, they can get the best cornerback available here and there will be plenty of quality ones to choose from at this point. White’s not the biggest corner but he has the instincts to make him dangerous on the field.
A Hoosier Perspective 