Ahh April, arguably the greatest month in sports. You have the NCAA Basketball Championships, the start of baseball, NBA playoffs, and of course the NFL Draft. Every year all the so-called experts make their own mock draft only to change it about 40 times. And even though they’re mostly wrong, people like myself are completely enthralled with them. I mean, I look up mock drafts like my mother looks up recipes for pie crusts. They’re all pretty much the same and they never come out right. So with that being said I’m going to do my best Mel Kiper impression and, quite possibly, make the best mock draft of the year.
St LouisL.A. Rams – Jared Goff QB Cal – The Rams are in a tough place here, not position wise but as a franchise in general. Having moved to L.A.with a fairly decent team, they need to take that next step. While they could have gone with Carson Wentz here, I think Goff gives them the best chance to win sooner rather than later. A lot of pressure comes with being the first overall pick, especially when that team just moved to one of the largest cities in America. I think Wentz may not be ready for all that.- Cleveland Browns – Laremy Tunsil OT Ole Miss – Now here’s where I go against the grain a little. I don’t think the Browns take the other QB available. Let’s face it, the Browns suck. And I’m pretty sure they HAVE to know that, right? So I think they take Tunsil here and see if they can keep RG3 upright next season. And if RG3’s leg falls off, they can go for Deshaun Watson next year. Also I predict this pick will be traded. Possibly netting the Browns Paxton Lynch later in the 1st. Don’t count out Connor Cook getting taken by the Browns in one of the next couple rounds, as well.
- San Diego Chargers – Jalen Ramsey CB/S FSU – The Chargers are just one of those teams that is constantly fluctuating from being good to bad. Ramsey is a unique talent who can practically play anywhere in the secondary. The Chargers have a lot of needs, but I think at #3 you take the BPA and go with Ramsey.
- Dallas Cowboys – Carson Wentz QB SDSU – This probably won’t happen, but it should. Everyone knows Jerry Jones loves him some Tony Romo. So much so that he will probably ignore the fact that Romo is a fragile little flower and avoid drafting a QB, settling instead for signing Johnny Football as a back up. I think Wentz is a perfect fit for the Cowboys. He can learn for a year behind Romo and really develop his game during that time.
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Joey Bosa DE OSU – Bosa is an interesting prospect, for some reason people LOVE him. However, he kind of disappears when he matches up against a quality OL. I think Bosa will eventually be considered the biggest bust of the draft but until then let the lovefest continue.
- Baltimore Raves – Leonard Floyd DE/OLB Georgia – There are a few other defensive players available here the Ravens could take. Myles Jack could also see his name be called here, however I think with his injury he suffered last year scouts may be skeptical. Also, Floyd gives the Ravens versatility. Something they rely heavily on with the type of hybrid D they run.
- San Francisco 49ers – Myles Jack LB UCLA – I can see the 49ers trading out of this spot as well. Unfortunately for Chip Kelly they won’t get Mariota for the pick, however. If the 9ers can’t trade out of here, and Kelly isn’t allowed to draft a WaWa Gobbler Hoagie; I think they take Jack. They have an obvious hole at LB with Patrick Willis retiring and they don’t really have a leg to stand on. (a joke in reference to Jack’s bum knee)
- Philadelphia Iggles – DeForrest Buckner DT Oregon – While I think the Iggles will end up taking Big Zeke, Buckner is the more money pick. The Eagles offense is trash. Pure Philly trash, much like everything else that comes out of that city that wishes SO much it could be in NJ. The one thing they have going for them is a pretty decent D. Adding Buckner, especially since Fletcher Cox is old as fuck, is a solid move for a terrible franchise.
- Tampa Bay Bucaneers – Shaq Lawson DE Clemson – The Bucs are in a tough spot right here. They just missed the top defensive prospects but desperately need some help on D. Hargreaves could be an option here, since the Bucs like to draft kids from Florida schools. But with the recent signing of Brent Grimes I think they opt to add another big man up front to go along with McCoy and Robert Ayers.
- New York Giants – Ezekiel Elliot RB OSU – My boy big Zeke! Now I am a little biased on this one, I’ll admit. If Zeke is even available at 10 I’m not entirely sure the Giants draft him, and instead wait til the 2nd round where Derrick Henry might be the pick. But the one thing the Giants offense was missing last year, aside from a consistent #2 WR, was a consistent run game. Elliot is an animal and can bring back the nostalgia of Brandon Jacobs.
- Chicago Bears- Vernon Hargreaves CB Florida
- New Orleans Saints – Sheldon Rankins DT L’Ville
- Miami Dolphins – Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame
- Oakland Raiders – A’Shawn Robinson DT Alabama
- Tennessee Titans – Jack Conklin OT Michigan St
- Detroit Lions – Robert N’Kemdiche DT Ole Miss
- Atlanta Falcons – Darron Lee LB OSU
- Indianapolis Colts – Laquon Treadwell WR Ole Miss
- Buffalo Bills- Eli Apple CB OSU
- New York Jets – Paxton Lynch QB Memphis
- Washington Redskins – Kevin Dodd DE Clemson
- Houston Texans – Josh Doctson WR TCU
- Minnesota Vikings – Corey Coleman WR Baylor
- Cincinnati Bengals – Reggie Ragland ILB Alabama
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Hunter Henry TE Arkansas
- Seattle Seahawks – Taylor Decker OT OSU
- Green Bay Packers – Will Fuller WR Notre Dame
- Kansas City Chiefs – William Jackson III CB Houston
- Arizona Cardinals – Andrew Billings NT Baylor
- Carolina Panthers – Jarran Reed DT Alabama
- Denver Broncos – Noah Spence DE Eastern Kentucky