I wanted to do write-ups for this whole mock but I would be working on it until draft day and that does no good because there will assuredly be changes over the whole course. In this mock I have written up the top ten but I have also added a twist and have included my picks for each team with the assumption that I am GM I have trouble each mock after about pick 15 but I found this a very good thought exercise none-the-less. I hope you enjoy and always invite feedback, good or bad.
1) Houston Texans - Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: Unless someone makes a reasonable argument why they would go a direction other than this pick or trading down I don't see a change here in the next three weeks. Clowney is the best player in the draft, a freak athlete and it doesn't appear to be a franchise QB in the draft. My Pick: Same
2) St. Louis Rams (Via Washington) - Jake Matthews, OT, Auburn: This pick stays the same as well and the logic remains the same. Matthews is more NFL ready than Robinson and has less question marks. Matthews played on both tackle positions and was a rock at both positions. My pick was the same because I would take Matthews over Robinson and the lack of pass pro snaps for Robinson is the reason. My Pick: Same
3) Jacksonville Jaguars - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville: The Blaine Gabbert experience didn't go the way the Jaguars had planned but so changes are needed to the helm of the Jaguars ship.I think they turn to Bridgewater the new regime won't want to replicate what the old did by taking a project or a QB with accuracy issues. My Pick: Kahlil Mack, OLB, Buffalo: I personally think the Jaguars should take Mack, he is the best player left on the board outside of maybe the two tackles but it would be foolish to use back to back top 3 picks on tackles without addressing your QB situation.
4) Cleveland Browns - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: Both Manziel and Bortles have concerns about their projections to the next level and how much time it will take to develop them into top flight QBs. Hoyer at worst is a stop-gap for the Browns but the performance last season showed signs of being above average in the league and as Eli Manning has shown that is really all that is necessary. Watkins becomes the pick then, and when added with Josh Gordon there would finally be enough weapons for the first time in a decade. My Pick: Same
5) Oakland Raiders - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn: Oakland lost Jared Veldheer in free agency and balked on signing Saffold (good move). With Matthews already off the board Robinson and his immense upside could be a boon for a rebuilding franchise. That upside doesn't come without risks, Robinson lacks refinement in his pass protection. He is a mauler and the worst case scenario is he moves inside but that would be Robert Gallery act two. Not a bad worst case but not what you want out of #5. My Pick: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville: I'm going the QB route, with the trade of Pryor and the roster weak under center (and most other positions) I'm taking Bridgewater, my top rated signal caller in the draft. His hands and frame are a concern but he made all the throws you want, has enough athleticism to make just about every play you need but he is not a runner which to me reduces the concerns about his stature. That and the fact that he missed no time to injury in his college career.
6) Atlanta Falcons - Kahlil Mack, OLB, Buffalo: The Falcons will almost assuredly miss out on Jadaveon Clowney at six without a trade into the top two and for our purposes here, number one. Mack fills the same type of need in a slightly different way. Mack would play outside line backer in both the Falcons 3-4 and 4-3 sets and be used both as a pass rusher and in coverage. Mack has the athleticism and speed to play in space and would be a great addition to a weak front seven. My Pick: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn: With Mack off the board at number three to Jacksonville and Matthews at two to St. Louis if I was the Falcons brain trust I would take Robinson without a second look. Robinson has the most upside of the three tackles at the top of the draft and is an absolute beast in the run game. The knock for Robinson is his pass protection and the footwork that goes along with that aspect of the position. I believe he can grow into that as it is a lack of passing snaps that is the major problem but you are still risking that he makes that jump quickly and hopefully early in camp.
7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M: My Pick: Same Tampa Bay lost Mike Williams in the offseason and seem to be set with McCown and Glennon going forward towards this season which shifts the focus to the weapons at the QBs disposal and defensive backs. Evans should be able to fill in Williams' role from last season, with a knack for high pointing the football and a sure set of hands Evans at worst would be able to supplement a deep and red zone threat for a young Tampa Bay squad. Evans isn't a blazer but I never got the impression that he was slower than one would want a wideout to be.
8) Minnesota Vikings - Blake Bortles, QB, UCF: Minnesota drafted Christian Ponder in the 2011 draft, since then he hasn't produced or shown the growth that the Vikings wanted out of what they thought was there franchise altering QB. Matt Cassell is poised to be this years starter but with a new coaching regime, Norv Turner's love for big strong armed QBs and Zimmer's disdane for the Manziel circus I think Vikings will take Bortles with the plan to sit him at least to start the season. My Pick: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama: I like Bortles well enough but I don't think any of the QBs after Bridgewater are high end number one picks or will be all that far above average when the final score is tallied. I do believe that the Vikings should look to their secondary and a way to strengthen a young but improving corps of players. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is the best safety in this class, he has great range and playmaking ability to cover over the top or in man against TEs.
9) Buffalo Bills - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama: Everything I wrote above for my choice of Clinton-Dix applies to why I have the Bills picking him here at number nine. That with the additional loss of Jarius Byrd to free agency. The addition of Clinton-Dix to this secondary would take a small step back short term but would be just as good going forward. My Pick: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State: If Clinton-Dix is there this pick is a no-brainer but with him off the board the task of identifying the best defensive back and that lands at corner, for my purpose I'm using a compilation rankings with some personal preference which brings me to Justin Gilbert. Although not overly tall at 201 pounds Gilbert brings the size and agility to be physical and jump with taller recievers.
10) Detroit Lions - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State: The Lions finally have promise on the offensive line and have one of the more stout defenisve front four rotations in the NFL but the secondary continues to have significant holes I think this pick comes down to Giblert and Louisville's Calvin Pryor. Gilbert wins out in the Mock because of the increased emphasis on big physical corner backs who can play man against the number one types and with the weapons in the NFC North that is paramount. Gilbert for his case should be an upgrade on what currently populates the Lions roster. My Pick: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville: For me Pryor is the superior player and would probably be my pick here even if I didn't have Gilbert going to the Bills. With Rodgers, Cutler and whoever the Vikings bring in to QB and recievers like Nelson, Patterson, Marshall and Jeffries means that good sideline to sideline help over the top to slow down these weapons. Pryor is not as well known as his QB but has gained traction and should be a healthy addition to any defense.
11) Tennessee Titans - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: My Pick: Same
12) New York Giants - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: My Pick: Same
13) St. Louis Rams - Eric Ebron, TE, UNC: My Pick: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
14) Chicago Bears - Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh: My Pick: Same
15) Pittsburgh Steelers - Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU: My Pick: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
16) Dallas Cowboys - Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota: Same
17) Baltimore Ravens - Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: My Pick: Darqueze Dennard
18) New York Jets - Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State: My Pick: Eric Ebron, TE, UNC
19) Miami Dolphins - Zack Martin, OT/OG, Notre Dame: My Pick: Xavier Su'a-Filo
20) Arizona Cardinals - Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: My Pick: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF
21) Green Bay Packers - Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville: My Pick: C.J Mosley, ILB, Alabama
22) Philadelphia Eagles - Marquise Lee, WR, USC: My Pick: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
23) Kansas City Chiefs - Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State: My Pick: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
24) Cincinnati Bengals - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State: My Pick: Dee Ford, DE, Auburn
25) San Diego Chargers - Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: My Pick: Same
26) Cleveland Browns (Via Indianapolis) - C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama: My Pick: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
27) New Orleans Saints - Dee Ford, DE, Auburn: My Pick: Marquise Lee, WR, USC
28) Carolina Panthers - Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA: My Pick: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
29) New England Patroits - Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame: My Pick: Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
30) San Francisco 49ers - Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: My Pick: Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame
31) Denver Broncos - Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State: My Pick: Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin
32) Seattle Seahawks - Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri: My Pick: Same
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