1. HOU: ** TRADE **
ATL: DE Jadeveon Clowney
2. STL: ** TRADE **
TB: WR Sammy Watkins - STL wants out of this spot because the best players available here don’t really fill their needs. Mack doesn’t strike me as a fit in Jeff Fisher’s Defense, and they’re loaded with receivers. For the Bucs, I find it hard to buy that they’re moving on from Mike Glennon. The kid had a decent year, and they added McCown to come in and either start or to mentor Glennon. What makes more sense is that talk being a smoke screen to prevent another team jumping ahead of them to grab Watkins, who is a much-needed offensive weapon. They desperately need one.
3. JAX: LB Khalil Mack - Merry Christmas Gus Bradley.
4. CLE OT Jake Matthews - I think Cleveland will get a phonecall from Detroit trying to move up and grab Mike Evans. Detroit wants to finally fill their WR2 role in a permanent way by getting the best weapon they can possibly get their hands on. Why does Cleveland stay put? They can pick the best tackle in the draft, and they feel confident that they can grab their QB with their 2nd first rounder. Noone else is taking David Carr before they pick.
5. OAK ** TRADE **
DET: WR Mike Evans - Oakland wants to move out of this pick because their team is full of trash, so they need to draft for quantity more than quality. It would be a different story if one of the elite players in this draft was there, like Watkins or Mack, but they’re gone. Detroit sacrifices a 2nd, gets back a 6th, and fills their WR2 need. They’ll utilize some of their many later-round picks to try to move up at some point again.
6. ATL ** TRADE **
HOU: QB Johnny Manziel - I actually think Ryan ‘The Amish Rifle’ Fitzpatrick could be the best mentor possible for Johnny Football. Their styles are a bit similar. Fitzpatrick is a better mobile quarterback than he gets credit for, and his accuracy has always been his biggest problem. But his football IQ is his best asset, and Manziel’s biggest liability. Houston doesn’t love taking Manziel this high, but at least it’s not at #1, and the risk of waiting around and missing out on one of the best QB prospects in this draft is just not worth it. If Houston has to go to war with Fitzpatrick and no long-term option at QB, heads will roll.
7. TB ** TRADE **
STL: CB Justin Gilbert - Methinks the Rams’ biggest need is at corner. I can’t buy them taking an OT this high with Jake Long on the roster, nor do they want to swing for the fences at QB with Bradford on the roster. Ideally, I think they wouldn’t mind moving back AGAIN from this spot, but they just lack suitors with the best 2 WRs off the board. I could see them taking Ebron too, but I lean CB here because they had 4 of them in for visits, and no TEs.
8. MIN ** TRADE **
NYG: OT Greg Robinson - Boy, Minnesota is really in a spot here. They have no great passing targets. They need a QB, but I can’t imagine how they could be in love with anyone on the board. Tackles are on the board, but they just drafted Matt Khalil last year. If they move back, they have to be worried about missing out on a good WR or QB option. They could take Ebron, but the optics of taking another TE in the 1st round (after taking Rudolph pretty recently) just aren’t good. So, they roll the dice and let the Giants, who are ecstatic that Greg Robinson is still on the board, come up and grab their guy.
9. BUF: TE Eric Ebron - The guy is a freak and we need one.
10. DET ** TRADE **
OAK: WR Odell Beckham, Jr. - After seeing the board shake out, Oakland is now in the position to take pretty much the best player available. They could go Bridgewater, but because they brought in QBs like Mettenberger, Savage and Carr, my thought is that they have a mind to take their QB later on. Instead, they take Beckham, who I think is even a bit underrated. If it wasnt for Watkins, Beckham might be the guy getting all the hype this year. He has a very similar skillset, and I think he really pops out in watching tape. Finally, Oakland grabs a WR in the 1st that won’t be a bust.
11. TEN: LB CJ Mosley - Tennessee allowed the 3rd-most rushing TDs in the league last year.
12. NYG ** TRADE **
MIN: QB Blake Bortles - Again, they’re not in love with Bortles, but it’s clear that they can’t go to war with Cassel and Ponder.
13. STL: S HaHa Clinton Dix - The Rams have to be ecstatic to snag the top safety in the draft after just nabbing the top corner in the draft. The Cowboys called to trade up, but they can take a hike - they’d take HaHa too.
14. CHI: DT Aaron Donald
15. PIT: LB Anthony Barr - The Steelers ranked 25th in sacks last season, which seems unbecoming for a Steelers team. Let’s try to fix that.
16. DAL: S Calvin Pryor - Oh, poor Dallas. Their best targets all went in the last 3 picks. But they get the next best safety in Pryor.
17. BAL ** TRADE **
CAR - OT Taylor Lewan - Lewan is a great value here and the Ravens consider snatching him up. But, Carolina calls and makes them an offer they can’t refuse. Carolina is shocked he falls this far, so they jump on the chance to make it happen, giving up #28 and #60.
18. NYJ: CB Darqueze Dennard - In need of cornerback help, they’re thrilled he’s there.
19. MIA: G/T Zach Martin - Martin’s flexibility is perfect for Miami. He just has an unfortunate last name…
20. ARI: WR Marquise Lee - This may seem strange, but the Cards could really use a slot guy. Ted Ginn is not going to cut it. They could go safety or corner, but what fun is that?
21. GB: S Jimmie Ward - They badly need a safety, and are thankful there’s a good one even there at this point.
22. PHI: WR Brandin Cooks - PHI is now in need of speed at WR.
23. KC ** TRADE **
STL: QB Derek Carr - #lawlcuzcleveland. STL rounded up a ton of ammunition, and they make a move with KC, who has no 2nd round pick to jump ahead of cleveland and take their guy. They make Carr a 1st-rounder, but not so high that they can’t stick with Bradford if he’s healthy and good.
24. CIN ** TRADE **
SF: CB Kyle Fuller - happy with the talent falling at corner and with a ton of ammunition, SF pounces on Fuller.
25. SD: WR Kelvin Benjamin - San Diego could use some size at WR. I could also see them going TE or CB here, but with Fuller gone, they’ll wait on the value.
26. CLE: G Xavier Su'a-Filo - The Browns are a bit on tilt after losing Carr to the Rams, but they keep their cool and decide to shore up their OL once and for all. The Browns were dead. last. in rushing touchdowns last year. RB remains a need, but with the top tackle and the top guard in the draft, they should be able to get production out of whoever they line up behind... whoever they play at QB.
27. NO: CB Bradley Roby - The Saints capitalize on good corner talent falling in the draft. I don’t buy all the mocks with the Saints taking a WR like Benjamin here. Brees will get production out of anyone, and they have some talent. I’d expect Nick Toon to step up to the plate.
28. CAR ** TRADE **
BAL: OT Cyrus Kouandjio - The Ravens have to replace Michael Oher.
29. NE: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins - The Patriots would like to replace Aaron Hernandez, and ASJ is a very similar type of player. He also happens to be the best ball-catcher on the board.
30. SF
CIN: DE Kony Ealy - I must say, I wasn’t terribly impressed with Ealy when I watch some highlights, but everyone seems to love this guy, and he’d be the 2nd DE off the board at the 30th pick, which seems like a pretty good value.
31. DEN: LB Ryan Shazier - Denver gets a guy with incredible speed for a LB
32. SEA: Cody Latimer - Seattle lost some pieces in Free Agency, so they try to replace one in Latimer, who should prove a solid, steady option for Wilson.