Houston Texans: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
The Texans are clearly in need of a quarterback and Bortles has quietly been moving up draft boards. However, the Texans could decide to make the fans happy and bring in Johnny Manziel to keep him in Texas. They could also add Jadaveon Clowney to pair with JJ Watt, making that the scariest defensive line in football. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins): Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn The Rams are reportedly looking to trade down, which would be a good idea for them to do. There are many teams in need of a quarterback and the Rams, sitting at number two, could be a perfect trade suitor. If, for example, the Browns want to jump the Jaguars to make sure they get their guy, the Rams could still get their guy at the fourth pick or even trade it away again. However, they are in need of a tackle and Robinson is the best available. Jacksonville Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville Owner Shad Khan came out and said “everybody knows we are going to draft a quarterback, maybe two.” However, the general manager also said they would consider trading down. With the desperate need for a quarterback, I do not see the Jags dealing this pick. They will take a quarterback; it will just matter who is available at the time. Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M It was reported that the Browns are “willing to trade up” to pick Johnny Manziel. That trade I mentioned with the Rams was not just an example; it is a legitimate possibility. I do not think the Browns are really that far away. If Manziel comes in and shines, they could win some games in 2014. Oakland Raiders: Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina The Raiders need a lot of help. If Clowney, who is by far the best defensive player in the draft and a once in a generation talent, falls to them at five, they have to take him. They have passed on exceptional talent in the past; they cannot afford to do it again. Atlanta Falcons: Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Buffalo The Falcons need some help on defense. They will be looking to take the best defensive player available. A pass rush is absolutely necessary to have success in the NFL and while Osi Umenyiora was decent for the Falcons, he is 32 years old and they need an upgrade in their pass rush and run stop. Mack is the NCAA leader for forced fumbles and tackles for loss. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA The Bucs need an edge rusher and Barr can provide some pass rush that will help a secondary that already has some very good talent on it. He is also very good against the run. Minnesota Vikings: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State While the Vikings will be in the market for a quarterback, Ben Goessling of ESPN believes Ryan Mallett could be a trade option for the Vikings saying, “Mallett and Adrian Peterson have a friendly relationship through a mutual coaching connection, and Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has done a number of deals with the Patriots. If the Patriots were open to moving him, it's possible the Vikings could take a look.” However, that has yet to happen and quarterback is a major need for the Vikings. Buffalo Bills: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M Nobody in the Bills’ backfield had a very good season. EJ Manuel was constantly hurt and they did not get the production out of CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson that they expected. Matthews could very easily be the second pick in the draft that falls right into the Bills’ lap at nine. Detroit Lions: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson The Lions need a wide receiver to line up opposite Calvin Johnson. Yes, Megatron can beat double and even triple teams. However, if they want to win, they need to give Stafford another option so he does not have to keep forcing it into tight spaces and hoping Calvin comes down with it. Tennessee Titans: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan After Robinson and Matthews, Lewan is the best offensive lineman available. The Titans need to upgrade their line. Lewan is a very good run blocker who will most likely start on the right side then could become the starting left tackle when the team and Michael Roos part ways. New York Giants: CJ Mosely, MLB, Alabama The Giants have needed an upgrade at linebacker for a few years now and have yet to address it. Mosley They were so weak at linebacker last year that they traded for Jon Beason. While he could be back, they could still use an upgrade at linebacker Mosely is the best available. St. Louis Rams: HaHa Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama After offensive tackle, secondary is another need the Rams need to address. While they do need to upgrade the cornerback position, they can hope that Cortland Finnegan gets back to his ways of a shutdown corner and they can draft the best safety in the draft. Chicago Bears: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan St. With Charles Tillman leaving Chicago, the Bears need to get a replacement cornerback to play opposite Tim Jennings. However, they also need to replace DT Henry Melton and S Major Wright. To do so, they could look to add either Timmy Jernigan or Louis Nix III on the line or Clinton-Dix at safety if he falls to them. Pittsburgh Steelers: Marqise Lee, WR, USC Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said that the Steelers intend to take a tall wide receiver early in the draft. While Mike Evans has about four inches on Lee, I believe they would go for a guy with more speed, like Lee, who still has great down-field playmaking abilities. Baltimore Ravens: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M The Ravens need to get a receiver to replace Anquan Boldin. Evans has great size and ability to win a jump ball. With teams game planning for Evans, Torrey Smith could finally live up to expectations as a go-to wide receiver. Dallas Cowboys: Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida St. DT Jason Hatcher said he will test free agency and, after coming off a Pro Bowl year in which he had nine sacks, he could be tough to retain. Jernigan is considered by many to be the best defensive lineman available and would instantly upgrade the Cowboys’ defensive line. New York Jets: Eric Ebron, TE, UNC Unfortunately for the Jets, the top three receivers are all gone by now. However, they need any help they can get on offense and Ebron, the best tight end in the draft, is available and could give Geno Smith a legitimate weapon. Mel Kiper writes, “Ebron is the kind of new-breed tight end who can be split out, line up in the slot, or take a hit from a strongside linebacker and get into a route where he becomes a constant matchup threat and a likely winner for contested passes.” The Jets need exactly that type of player. Miami Dolphins: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame Do I really even need to explain why an offensive lineman is a necessity for the Dolphins? Between the Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin saga and the sub-par play of Tyson Clabo, this is the number one need for Miami. Arizona Cardinals: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama Head Coach Bruce Arians stated that he believes OT Bradley Sowell will improve next year and that tackle is not their top need. However, they could still use an upgrade over Sowell. Green Bay Packers: Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech Jermichael Finely is not only a free agent, but he is coming off a major injury and spinal fusion surgery. Amaro led the NCAA in receiving yards by a tight end and with the possibility of losing Finley and maybe even James Jones, Amaro could help the Packers keep their offense at an elite level. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma St. The Eagles are in serious need of some secondary help. They do not have a true number one corner to cover guys like Dez Bryant and Pierre Garcon, each of whom they see at least twice a year. Gilbert brings size and speed to the secondary and should be able to prey on the gun-slinging tendencies of Eli Manning and Tony Romo. He will not single-handedly change a secondary that allowed the most passing yards per game in 2013 (289.8), but he is a step in the right direction. Kansas City Chiefs: Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, Louisville The Chiefs need some help on offense. Alex Smith is a very good game managing quarterback and Jamaal Charles is arguably the best running back in the game; however, they need to add to their passing attack. Jamaal Charles was their leading receiver in 2013. Beckham is a guy who has potentially game changing speed after the catch, turning a short slant route into an 80 yard touchdown reception. Smith does not like to throw downfield but could still end up with a lot of passing yards with Beckham’s YAC ability. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida St. For a team with a good defense, the Bengals could use a serious upgrade at cornerback. Adam Jones and Terrence Newman are both getting up their in age and Leon Hall is attempting to recover from his second torn Achilles in the past three years. In addition, Hall is making almost $9 million next season. The Bengals should try to get him to restructure his deal and if he is unwilling, it is always possible they cut him. However, with their lack of depth at corner, the Bengals surely do not want it to come down to that. San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU The Chargers’ cornerbacks are not very good. They gave up the fourth most passing yards per game in 2013 (258.7). He is not very tall, standing at only 5’9”, but is believed to be the quickest man coverage cornerback in the draft by Todd McShay. Cleveland Browns (from Indianapolis Colts): Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida St. The Brows got their quarterback, Johnny Football, with the fourth pick in the draft. Now, they get a receiver to line up opposite Josh Gordon. Gordon had an incredible season, but teams will begin to plan for him and then who will the Browns go to? Benjamin, 6’5”, Gordon, 6’3”, and Jordan Cameron, 6’5”, would give the Browns a plethora of red zone options. While they still need a running back, they have probably learned their lesson when it comes to taking them in the first round. New Orleans Saints: Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee The Saints are not very strong at the tackle position and the one thing they should be most concerned with is keeping quarterback Drew Brees healthy. To do so, they need to upgrade their offensive line. Carolina Panthers: Davante Adams, WR, Fresno St. After Steve Smith, the Panthers are very weak at WR, and Smith is no spring chicken, at 34 years old. If they can add an offensive threat, they could seriously compete for with the Niners and Seahawks for the NFC Championship. New England Patriots: Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame Pass rush is possibly the number one need for the Patriots. Assuming the re-sign Aqib Talib, defensive line and safety are the top two positions they need to address. Tuitt has the size to play inside on a four man line, as well as the speed to be an edge rusher. Tuitt with Chandler Jones and Rob Nincovich could give the Patriots the pass rush they are in need of. They could also look to draft Louis Nix III as Vince Wilfork’s replacement. San Francisco 49ers: Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame Nix could very easily be gone in the middle of the first round. However, with the way the NFL currently is, nose tackle is a dying bread. Nix is an exceptional run stuffer, but lacks pass rushing skills. The Niners, though, are in a position to take the best player available, as they have no glaring needs. Denver Broncos: Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida The Broncos cornerbacks are Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (free agent), Chris Harris (torn ACL), Champ Bailey (old), and Quinton Jammer (bad). They need to seriously upgrade their secondary. Unfortunately for them, they are one of many teams with the same need and are at the end of the round. The Broncos did have scouts at the Florida vs. Georgia Southern game. Teams scout many players throughout the year so it may not mean much. Seattle Seahawks: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon St. The Seahawks could potentially lose Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin to free agency. However, they also played just about the entire season without Percy Harvin. Cook and Harvin could make for the speediest wide receiver duo in football. They are already the favorites to win the Super Bowl in 2014 and if they add to their offense, they could be an even better team than they were last year. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MOCK DRAFT CHART
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SAMUEL PERICOLOSam is a graduate of Assumption College where he studied History, Marketing, and Political Science and was a Co-Producer on a weekly sports talk television show. Archives
March 2018
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