1. Houston Texas: Brett Hundley, Quarterback, UCLA
This has been a very disappointing year for the Texans. Some predicted a trip to the Super Bowl, but the dreadful season so far for Matt Schaub has made that impossible now. Case Keenum, who turns 26 in February, got his name called for duty throughout the season.
Although some promising starts, he just came off his worst start as a Texan last Monday, against the Jaguars. With no clear cut No. 1 quarterback prospect, I expect after the combine that Hundley could put himself in that group. He also has possibly the most upside of any quarterback in the draft.
2. St. Louis Rams: Khalil Mack, Linebacker, Buffalo
The Rams initial first-round pick. Some expect the Rams to take a quarterback, but I expect them to give Sam Bradford one more year to show he is durable enough to be a quarterback in the NFL. Also some say draft Jake Matthews. I believe that is too high to draft someone to play right tackle, and could wait till a future draft to get a long term replacement for Jake Long. Mack, who I believe will surpass Barr for No. 1 outside linebacker after the combine, would start right away and give the Rams one of the best defenses, and certainly a top front-seven defense in the NFL.
3. Atlanta Falcons: Jadeveon Clowney, Defensive End, South Carolina
The Falcons here select the best player in the draft. The Falcons are in the bottom half of total defense and have a poor pass rush while Clowney would have an immediate impact. The Falcons have had a very disappointing season possibly due to many injuries on the offense. Hopefully with the addition of Clowney, and a healthy offense with Sam Baker, Julio Jones, Roddy White, and Steven Jackson all back next season, they should be on the top of the NFC come this time next year.
4. Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, Quarterback, UCF
Christian Ponder has not worked, Matt Cassel has not worked, and neither has Josh Freeman. The Vikings still need a quarterback to make throws to Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jerome Simpson, and Kyle Rudolph to take some pressure off of Adrian Peterson’s work load and have defenses guessing.
This pick also depends on if Bortles declares as a Junior, which I believe he will because of a great Junior season, draft stock soaring, and a quarterback heavy at the top for next years draft class.
Some may also say this is very early for Bortles? Todd McShay has moved him to his number two quarterback prospect.
As with McShay, just another guy, I do agree with him. I also have heard that Bortles is on the top of many teams draft board as a quarterback prospect. Bortles would also fit the system for the Vikings very nicely.
5. Oakland Raiders: Jake Matthews, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M
The Raiders current left tackle is Khalif Barnes, who is in his final year of his contract and will turn thirty two this April. Their right tackle is Tony Pashos who will turn 34 this summer and who is also in his final year of his contract, so youth on the outsides of the offensive line is needed. The Oakland Raiders could draft a quarterback here, but could also wait till next year if Matt McGloin or Terrelle Pryor do not pan out. The Raiders also have a need for wide receiver, but with the deep class for wide receivers, I expect them to take one on day two of the draft.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater, Quarterback, Louisville
Although Chad Henne has had a few past, well, more than impressive starts compared to most for Jaguar quarterbacks, he is not the franchise guy, and neither is Blaine Gabbert. Bridgewater, who some have him rated the number one quarterback, is still left of the board and the Jaguars who simply need a quarterback will more than gladly willing to take him. With Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon, they could have potential to have a better offense.
7. Cleveland Browns: Derek Carr, Quarterback, Fresno State
The Browns, well they have a whole list of quarterbacks who have failed since coming back to Cleveland. They need to find that guy, and Carr is that guy the Browns have wanted all along. Carr is a great athlete who can launch the ball to the likes of Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin running downfield. With a top defense in the NFL, the Browns could be playoff contenders if they can finally find the guy to run the offense and put it all together.
8. Buffalo Bills: Anthony Barr, Linebacker, UCLA
Barr, who is a great value pick here, would give the Bills a very promising linebacker core with the likes of Kiko Alonso, Nigel Bradham, and Manny Lawson. The Bills also have a need for wide receiver, but with a very deep draft for wide receivers, I see the Bills and also some other teams looking for a wide receiver during day two.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Murphy, Defensive End, Stanford
The Buccaneers really need some help getting to the opposing quarterback as Daniel T’eo-Nesheim, Adrian Clayborn, and Da’Quan Bowers have all struggled as a group. Murphy, who I believe is being underrated would be a huge addition. The likes of Donald Penn and Demar Dotson have been holding their own.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers: HaHa Clinton-Dix, Safety, Alabama
The Steelers, the team who needs the most draft picks they can get.
The Steelers have so many needs that you could go almost any position with this veteran team.
With this being Ryan Clark’s final year of his contract at the age of thirty four, I could see them searching for the next safety to patrol the secondary, and also with the aging Troy Polamalu, at 32, only has one year left on his contract,
so it makes it that much easier to put Clinton-Dix here.
Clinton-Dix is also by far the best safety in this draft class, a class of safeties that is not very deep.
11. Tennessee Titans: Cameron Erving, Offensive Tackle, Florida State
With Jake Locker’s foot injury keeping him out, it is hard to know whether or not the Titans go with a quarterback here. I believe the Titans take a quarterback later in the draft such as Jimmy Garoppolo and give Locker another try. The Titans also have two offensive tackles at the ages of thirty one, in the likes of Michael Roos and David Stewart. Erving has a lot of potential at left tackle and could protect whoever the quarterback is for the Titan’s future.
12. St Louis Rams: Aaron Donald, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
The Rams really was hoping for HaHa Clinton-Dix, but unfortunately he has already been taken. Some argue to take an offensive tackle here, but I expect Rodger Saffold to re-sign with still Jake Long on the left side. They also have a need at running back, but too early to take one in the first round. With taking Donald, that gives the Rams a fantastic front seven with Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald, Kendall Langford, Khalil Mack, Alec Ogletree, and James Laurinaitis. With Cortland Finnegan coming back next year, this could be one of the best defenses.
13. New York Giants: CJ Mosley, Linebacker, Alabama
The New York Giants have had a decent year at defense but need help in the linebacker core. Spencer Paysinger is a free agent at the end of this year and Cj Mosley would be an immediate upgrade.
14. New York Jets: Jace Amaro, Tight End, Texas Tech
Jeff Cumberland becomes a free agent at the end of the year while Amaro would also be an upgrade.
Geno Smith has had an up and down year for his rookie campaign, and do not see the Jets already drafting a replacement.
The Jets need to give Smith some more weapons on the field, and Amaro does that and opens up the field for the likes of Santonio Holmes and Stephen Hill.
15. San Diego Chargers: Ekpre-Olomu, Cornerback, Oregon
The San Diego Chargers have had one of the worst defenses, and the secondary is a big reason for that. Epkre-Olomu, one of the top defensive backs, would come in and start right away.
16. Green Bay Packers: Eric Ebron, Tight End, North Carolina
James Jones is a free agent at the end of the season, so is Jermichael Finley and Andrew Quarless. The Packers need to find another playmaker and Eric Ebron is one at tight end. The Packers also have a need for secondary help, I almost slotted Darqueze Dennard here but this is a deep draft for cornerbacks, so they can grab one later on.
17. Chicago Bears: Louis Nix, Defensive Tackle, Notre Dame
The Bears have had a horrible run defense and Nix, a big body (6’2 345lbs), would be a road block in the middle. Corey Wootton is also a free agent at the end of the year, just in case he does not re-sign, Nix would be a great replacement. The Bears also have a need at outside linebacker but could address that in the second round. Louis Nix is also a good value pick here.
18. Baltimore Ravens: Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson
The Ravens are in the bottom half of passing offense. A big reason to the lack of success would be to missing Anquan Boldin.
Sammy Watkins is a given here, sliding to number eighteen due to more pressing needs for other teams and a deep wide receiver class is a steal. Jacoby Jones is also a free agent at the end of the year.
19. Dallas Cowboys: Kony Ealy, Defensive End, Missouri
The Cowboys have one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They have the worst pass defense, and that is a due to lack of success on the opposite side of Demarcus Ware on the defensive line. Ealy has had a great year and could start right away on the Cowboys.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Cyrus Kouandjio, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
A great value pick here. The Cardinals also have need for left tackle and could move Bradley Sowell to right tackle since this is Eric Winston’s last year of his contract. Having Kouandjio and Jonathan Cooper would give the Cardinals two recent first-round picks and great potential at their spots.
21. Miami Dolphins: Taylor Lewan, Offensive Tackle, Michigan
The Dolphins had a disappointing offensive line even before the fiasco with Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito. This is also Tyson Clabo’s last year of his contract. Taylor Lewan is a great pick here and would start right away.
22. Detroit Lions: Davante Adams, Wide Receiver, Fresno State
Matthew Stafford needs another weapon other than Calvin Johnson. Adams also takes away double teams and gives Johnson more opportunities. Adams also has potential to be a top ten wide receiver in the NFL.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Daqueze Dennard, Cornerback, Michigan State
The Eagles have one of the worst passing defenses in the NFL. The Eagles could go for a safety, but none worth taking over Dennard, who is a great value pick as well. Dennard could come in and start right away moving Brandon Boykin to a nickel cornerback role.
24. Cleveland Browns: Mike Evans, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M
The Browns took Derek Carr with their first pick and now get him another weapon.
The likes of Josh Gordon, Cameron Jordan, and Mike Evans are a talented group for Carr to throw too.
The Browns could also go Brandon Scherff here to move Mitchell Schwartz to guard, but Evans is too good to pass up.
25. Cincinnati Bengals: Gabe Jackson, Offensive Guard, Mississippi State
This is Mike Pollak’s last year on his contract. Jackson could come in and start right away, the best guard in my opinion. This could give the Bengals a very good offensive line, The Bengals could also go cornerback, but with a deep cornerback class, they could draft one in the second or third round.
26. Carolina Panthers: Marquis Lee, Wide Receiver, Southern California
It is obvious the Panthers should use this pick on offense as they have one of the best defenses. The Panthers need to get some more weapons for Cam Newton to look downfield for. This is also Brandon LaFell, Domenik Hixon, and Ted Ginn’s last year of their contracts.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Jason Verrett, Cornerback, Texas Christian
The 49ers could use some help in the secondary with both Tarell Brown and Eric Wright in the last year of their contracts. Verrett is a great value pick here and could start right away.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: Allen Robinson, Wide Receiver, Penn State
With the Chiefs having one of the best defenses in the NFL, it would be apparent that they would address the offense. The Chiefs also could add a playmaker or a guard because of Jon Asamoah ‘s last year of his contract. Robinson is also a very good value pick.
29. New England Patriots: Kelvin Benjamin, Wide Receiver, Florida State
Another player yet to declare, having two years of eligibility left but also going to be turning twenty three, I could see Benjamin declaring for the draft. Benjamin is such a talented wide receiver with great size that Tom Brady would love. The Patriots do need a tight end, but with Amaro and Ebron already of the board, Benjamin is a good choice here.
30. New Orleans Saints: Vic Beasley, Linebacker, Clemson
Vic Beasley is a great pick here for the Saints to play 3-4 OLB who would also fill a need and start right away. Beasley does need to bulk up some, but he is a very talented pass rusher with potential. Why did Beasley fall so much? First, there are many players that get drafted way higher or lower than most project, it happens every year, look at Justin Pugh or even Geno Smith. And also I think his value is going to drop after the combine.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Scott Crichton, Defensive End, Oregon State
Crichton has great potential as a defensive end, I like him so much I compare him to Julius Peppers, but he will need to get a bit stronger. Crichton would start right away and be great help for Bruce Irvin to get to the opposing teams quarterback.
32. Denver Broncos: Pierre Desir, Cornerback, Lindenwood
In a top heavy cornerback class, Pierre Desir is the last of four to go into the first round. Obviously the Broncos should be going defense with the best offense in the NFL. Also Champ Bailey only has one more year on his contract, the Broncos need to get a replacement and some depth at cornerback.