In a approximately a month and a half on April 25th, the best potential prospects will gather at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the first round of the NFL Draft. This draft class is unusual because it's very deep with offensive lineman and defensive players, but pretty weak for quarterbacks, running backs and to a lesser extent, wide receivers. The only guarantee this draft has is that it's sure to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory with no clear-cut top pick and a lot of guys that are even in their potential. I've spent some time looking at the prospects and the needs of every team in the league and here's how I think the first round will shake out at this point in time.
1.Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Jockel, tackle (Texas A&M)
Now that they traded for Alex Smith, The Chiefs aren't completely helpless at any position, but there are plenty of positions where they could use improvement. With this investment in Smith, I think the Chiefs will want to protect him as best as possible and I think this will result in them picking up highly-touted offensive line prospect Luke Jockel. Jockel is athletic as hell and can block in a traditional dropback passing or option scheme with equal effectiveness. The Chiefs did just franchise their star left tackle Brandon Albert, but I don't think this will deter them from taking Jockel. Jockel will perfectly compliment Albert and give the Chiefs a great tackle combo that should give Smith plenty of time to throw and the backfield plenty of holes to run through.
2.Jacksonville Jaguars: Bjoern Warner, defensive end (Florida State)
I would make the argument that there is no team with more problems in the league than the Jacksonville Jaguars. They are fine at running back and wide receiver and that's about it. With the amount of issues they have, it makes this pick hard to predict, but I think Flordia State defensive end Bjoern Warner makes the most sense. The Jaguars pass rush was absolutely awful last year and Warner has the potential to become one of the best in the league.
3.Oakland Raiders: Geno Smith, quarterback (West Virginia)
Let's face it: This quarterback class is pretty awful and I'm not sold on any of them being any good. If there is one team that is known for taking risks that don't pay off, it's the Oakland Raiders. Geno Smith is the best quarterback in this weak class and he seems like the type of player Oakland will overvalue and take in the top 5. If I were them, I would take one of the many talented defensive players available since their defense needs works across the board, but Oakland's general management has expressed doubt in the aging Carson Palmer and that mentality leads me to believe they will select Smith in the first round.
4.Philadelphia Eagles: Lane Johnson, tackle (Oklahoma)
Philly is definitely going offensive lineman with this pick and while Central Michigan's Eric Fisher is another possibility, I think they will go with Oklahoma's Lane Johnson with the fourth pick. Johnson is the type of freakishly athletic player (he is a converted quarterback that ran a 4.72 40 at the combine) that seems like the perfect fit for new head coach Chip Kelly's run-heavy system.
5.Detroit Lions: Dee Millner, cornerback (Alabama)
Detroit has a clear need at corner and although I think Millner is a bit overrated, he certainly has the coverage skills and raw athleticism to be a great corner at professional level.
6.Cleveland Browns: Dion Jordan, defensive end/linebacker (Oregon)
Cleveland has plenty of money to spend this offseason paired with a lot of needs on both sides of the ball. Their front seven on defense is of particular concern and even if they pick up someone like Cliff Avril or Paul Kruger in free agency, they are going to need additional help. Dion Jordan seems likes the perfect fit for me because of his versatility and speed off the edge. The Browns can't rush the passer at all and adding Jordan would certainly help them out.
7.Arizona Cardinals: Eric Fisher, tackle (Central Michigan)
If Geno Smith slips to number 7, don't be surprised if they take him. Otherwise, they need to address their horrendous offensive line and Eric Fisher seems like a great place to start. He can play on both sides of the line and blocks equally well against the run and pass. Fisher would be a godsend for whoever ends up playing quarterback for the Cardinals at the start of next season.
8.Buffalo Bills: Shariff Floyd, defensive tackle (Florida)
Buffalo's run defense was 31st in the league in the last year and having a defensive tackle like Shariff Floyd in the middle of the line would greatly help matters. With Buffalo switching to a 3-4 defense this year, they need an anchor nose tackle to stop the run and help open up the pass-rushing lanes for Mario Williams and that is exactly the type of player Floyd is.
9.New York Jets: Ezkiel "Ziggy" Anzah, defensive end/ outside linebacker/defensive tackle (BYU)
The Jets are a complete mess in a lot of areas, but their defensive line and linebackers are particularly of concern. They need a dynamic athlete to lead the defense after letting go of most of their defensive leaders to free up the salary cap and Ezkiel Anzah has the potential to be that guy. He has an almost mirroring story to New York Giants defensive Jason Pierre-Paul. Anzah is a versatile pass-rusher with a ton of raw athleticism who didn't start playing football until much later than most of their counterparts (Pierre-Paul didn't play until his senior year of high school and Anzah didn't start playing until he got to BYU.) The Jets will hope that Anzah will be as good as Pierre-Paul and with a defensive wizard like Rex Ryan as head coach, he very well could be.
10.Tennesee Titans: Chance Warmack, guard (Alabama)
The Titans desperately need to open up more running lanes for Chris Johnson and a bulldozer-esque guard like Chance Warmack will be able to do so.
11.San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Cooper, guard (North Carolina)
The Chargers could go with a corner here as well, but their offensive line needs some work if Phillip Rivers want to get back to the top of his game. Jonathan Cooper is a skilled guard that would help free up rushing lanes and give Rivers a bit of a boost in a pass protection.
12.Miami Dolphins: Xavier Rhodes, cornerback (Florida State)
With top corner Sean Smith probably leaving in free agency and the Dolphins set to spend big money on potentially re-signing Jake Long and Reggie Bush and bringing in a top-flight wideout like Mike Wallace or Greg Jennings, they are going to need to turn to the draft for a cornerback. Xavier Rhodes seems like a perfect fit for the Dolphins. He's a big, athletic corner with potential shutdown ability that will be put to the test when he faces guys like Stevie Johnson and (potentially) Wes Welker twice a year.
13.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Desmond Trufant, cornerback (Washington)
This might be the most obvious pick of the draft. Tampa Bay had the worst pass defense in the league in the last year and they are going to take the best available corner in the draft and that looks like it's going to be Washington's Desmond Trufant at this point in time.
14.Carolina Panthers: Star Lotuleli, defensive tackle (Utah)
Utah defensive tackle Star Lotuleli could very well end up the being the steal of the draft. Once thought to be the best prospect in this year's draft, his stock has went down recently because of a heart condition that kept him out of the combine, but the Panthers should absolutely take the risk on drafting him. Lotuleli has the potential to a premier run-stuffer which is exactly what the Panthers need. Carolina struck gold defensively with Luke Kuchely in the first round last year and if his heart condition checks out fine, Lotuleli has all the tools to be another defensive stud for the young Panthers team.
15.New Orleans Saints: Barkevious Mingo, defensive end/ outside linebacker (LSU)
As anyone who watched the Saints last year knows, the Saints are an absolute mess on defense. Given how bad their defense is all-around, they are going to be looking to take the best defensive player on the board when they are on the clock at pick no.15 and I think that will be LSU defensive end/linebacker Barekevious Mingo. Mingo is an exceptional athlete with the flexibility to play defensive end or outside linebacker and exactly the type of explosive presence the Saints need on defense.
16.St. Louis Rams: Cordell Patterson, wide receiver (Tennessee)
Both of the Rams starting receivers from last year (Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson) are free agents this year and even if only one or none of them leaves, they should take Cordell Patterson as insurance. Patterson has great hands and is a dynamic athlete that reminds me of a guy like Julio Jones or Demaryius Thomas. Patterson is a bit of a project with his weak route running and only 1 season of college experience, but the reward could be very high for who ever gives him a chance.
17.Pittsburgh Steelers: Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle (Missouri)
The Steelers defense is talented, but they are aging rapidly. Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson would be a perfect fit for the Steelers and a possible steal at pick 17. Richardson is raw, but extremely athletic that could very well take the reigns at nose tackle right away since Casey Hampton is a free agent. The Steelers have a great system and Richardson could learn a lot from their experienced and talented defense.
18.Dallas Cowboys: D.J Fluker, tackle (Alabama)
Dallas's offensive line is in ruins right now and to establish some form of continuity opposed to the utter chaos that ensued last year with practically no one finishing the year in the same place they started on the line, they need to draft an offensive lineman in the first round. D.J Fluker isn't quite as talented as Luke Jockel, Eric Fisher or Lane Johnson, but he's a solid pass-protector who will more than suffice for Dallas's ailing line.
19.New York Giants: Alec Crabtree, inside linebacker (Georgia)
Alec Crabtree might have some character issues, but that won't deter the Giants from taking him. Crabtree is a top-notch talent that should fill the Giants inside linebacker void quite nicely and should help out the inconsistency problems the defense had last season.
20.Chicago Bears: Tavon Austin, wide receiver (West Virginia)
Tavon Austin's draft stock has skyrocketed after his strong showing at the combine. The Bears have showed an interest in revamping their offense after hiring Marc Tresman as their new coach and taking Austin would make complete sense. Brandon Marshall had very little help last season and while they drafted Alshon Jefferey in the 2nd round just last year, Austin's speed and ability has a deep threat would help open the Bears passing game and give Marshall a bit of break right away.
21.Cincinnati Bengals: Kenny Vacaro, safety (Texas)
The Bengals lone weakness on defense is at the safety position and Texas's Kenny Vacaro is a hard-hitting, solid safety that should be able to help out immediately.
22.St. Louis Rams: Matt Elam, safety (Florida)
The Rams defense is coming along nicely thanks to a great front seven. Their secondary needs some work though and I think Florida safety Matt Elam would be a good pickup for them. Elam is an enforcer who makes good reads on the ball and could very will fill the missing piece to puzzle for the up-and-coming Rams defense.
23.Minnesota Vikings: Kennan Allen, wide receiver (California)
The Vikings needs more options in the passing game and Kennan Allen seems like just the right guy to compliment Percy Harvin. He is also talented enough to take over as the number 1 guy if Harvin happens to leave the Vikings this offseason.
24.Indianpolis Colts: Jarvis Jones, defensive end/linebacker (Georgia)
The Colts have let go of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis is getting up there, so landing a guy like Jarvis Jones would greatly help the Colts. He's an elite edge-rusher with top 10 potential, but his health concerns will cause him to slip late in the draft and the Colts very well could be the beneficiary. If Jones lives up to his potential, he could be the next Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis terrorizing opposing quarterback for the Colts.
25.Seattle Seahawks: Justin Hunter, wide receiver (Tennessee)
Justin Hunter, much like Tavon Austin, had a great combine which bolstered his draft stock immensely. With the underwhelming numbers from Sidney Rice since he joined the team and Golden Tate not being number 1 reciver material, the Seahawks would love to have a speedster like Hunter around to grow with young quaterback Russell Wilson.
26.Green Bay Packers: Sam Montgomery, defensive end (LSU)
Sam Montgomery is a bit of a project, but Green Bay needs help at defensive end and Montgomery has shown flashes of excellence with his ability to spread the field and strong tackling ability.
27.Houston Texans: DeAndre Hopkins, wide reciver (Clemson)
Houston hasn't really had to worry about receivers for a while because of just how good Andre Johnson has been for them, but they really need to start looking at a second option and DeAndre Hopkins is a talented guy with great hands that could learn a lot from a star wideout like Johnson.
28.Denver Broncos: Sylvester Williams, defensive tackle (North Carolina)
Sylvester Williams is a big, disruptive force in the interior line that could make an already dangerous Denver defense that much better.
29.New England Patriots: Jonathan Banks, cornerback (Mississippi State)
The Patriots need corners desperately especially with Aqib Talib and Kyle Arrington hitting the free agent market and Jonathan Banks is a guy that has a fair amount of upside and reminds me a lot of ex-Patriot corner Asante Samuel (average speed, but tall with good ball instincts.)
30.Atlanta Falcons: Tyler Effert, tight end (Notre Dame)
Even if Tony Gonzalez comes back for another season, he's not going to be playing for much longer. Notre Dame's Tyler Effert is one of the more coveted tight end prospects in recent memory with the size, strength, speed and hands to be a top-flight tight end in the league.
31.San Fransisco 49ers: DaMontre Moore defensive end (Texas A&M)
DaMontre Moore is talented, but he needs some time to develop and with the amount of talent on the field and in the coaching staff, Moore could become something special.
32.Baltimore Ravens: Manti Te'o, inside linebacker (Notre Dame)
The Ravens are clearly going to need to attempt to fill the massive shoes left by Ray Lewis and I think they are going to make the high risk/high reward pick in Manti Te'o. Te'o is as risky as they come, but that breakout potential and Baltimore's willingness to take risks paired with a need for an inside linebacker makes this seem like a logical choice for the Ravens.
No comments:
Post a Comment