NFL Mock Draft
The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away. Organizations have been working around the clock trying to determine which collegiate could alter the trajectory of their franchise. Before I list my draft projections, there are two things I feel certain of in this draft:
· There is a clear-cut number one choice (see below), but there is no clear-cut second prospect. Because of this teams will try to trade down, but will be unable to accumulate adequate draft capital because other teams will be trying to do the same.
· I also have a sneaking suspicion that a team (maybe the Browns or Chiefs) will trade up into the top-ten to select a quarterback.
With that being said, assuming the current draft positions remain constant, here is how I think it will shake out:
1. Cleveland Browns – Myles Garrett, Defensive End, Texas A&M. While the Browns desperately need a quarterback, they simply cannot pas sup on the 6’5” 270-pound pass rusher out of Texas A&M. He is undoubtedly the best player in this draft. Playing the same position as Von Miller, and from the same school, the comparisons are pretty accurate. In fact, Garrett is 20 pounds heavier than Miller. Simply put, he’s an athletic freak, and an athletic freak who wreaks havoc on opposing quarterbacks is worthy of the number one overall selection.
2. San Francisco 49ers – Solomon Thomas, Defensive End, Stanford. Thomas has climbed draft boards unlike any prospect. His athleticism, his quickness, his brain – scouts love him. The 49ers have an abundance of holes, as does every other team selecting this high, but a defensive end with Thomas’ motor has very little bust potential. I think the Stanford product stays on the West Coast.
3. Chicago Bears – Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback, Ohio State. Playing in a division with the likes of Aaron Rodger and Matthew Stafford, the Bears could always use an addition to their secondary. Signing Mike Glennon this off-season likely takes them out of the quarterback market, here, at number three. Lattimore, the Ohio State product, has the potential to be a lockdown corner at the next level.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Leonard Fournette, Running Back, LSU. Fournette is a house. 6’2” and 230-pounds, the Louisiana native has been destined for the NFL since he entered high school. Check out his highlight tape. The Jaguars offense has weapons on the outside – Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns – and Fournette would give them a real threat out of the backfield. While he is limited in the passing game, Fournette would add some needed punch to the Jacksonville offensive attack.
5. Tennessee Titans – Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson. The Titans need to provide Marcus Mariota with a playmaker, and Williams provides just that. Built in the same vein as Brandon Marshall, Williams is as physical as any wide receiver in this draft. He obliterated Alabama in the National Championship Game. Expect him to do the same on Sundays.
6. New York Jets – Mitchell Trubisky, Quarterback, North Carolina. Let’s call a spade, a spade: The Jets are desperate. They do not currently have a competent quarterback on their roster. While they could very possibly wait until next draft, where they would likely have another high selection, and the likes of Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen could be available, I don’t see that happening. I think Trubisky, despite his lack of experience (only 13 collegiate starts), will be too tough for the Jets to turn down.
7. San Diego Chargers – Jamal Adams, Safety, LSU. Ed Reed 2.0. That’s what Jamal Adams appears that he can be. The Chargers, with a defensive foundation of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa, could really use an enforcer in their secondary. “Enforcer” might as well be Adams’ middle name. The hard-hitting SEC talent would add a ferocity to a Charger team in their first season in Los Angeles. Yes, Phillip Rivers is getting older, and yes, they could use another weapon on offense, but Jamal Adams is too great of a player to pass up in this spot. The Chargers pounce and Adams ends up a lightning bolt.
8. Carolina Panthers- Christian McCaffrey, Running Back, Stanford. A second Stanford product in the top-ten? Yup! The Panthers are in dire need of some complexity to their offensive scheme. Power run, power run, pass. That seems to be the extent of their playbook. McCaffrey would add an element to their offense that has been non-existent in Cam Newton’s tenure; not to mention his playmaking ability as a returner man. McCaffrey to Carolina makes too much sense. It has to happen!
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Malik Hooker, Safety, Ohio State. The Bengals aren’t really in need of too much. They are a good football teams, and quite frankly, I am surprised they finished last year with as poor of a record as they did. I think they will take the best player still available here with the ninth pick, and that is Hooker. Adding a safety with the ball skills of the former Buckeye will add an element of youth to an aging defense.
10. Buffalo Bills –John Ross, Wide Receiver, Washington. The former Husky opened eyes at the NFL Combine where he ran a 4.22 forty-yard dash. That is next-level speed. The Bills could surely use another wide receiver alongside Sammy Watkins and Ross is their guy. There have been plenty of speedsters who haven’t quite panned out – see Darius Hayward-Bey, Stephen Hill, etc., but John Ross has impressive ball skills to go along with his other-worldly speed. Tyrod Taylor would be licking his chops to have Shady McCoy and then Ross and Watkins on the outside. If the Bills pull the trigger on Ross, they could become one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL.
