Mock drafts might be one of the most inane things to do before the draft, but everyone seems to have out a mock draft, so I began the tradition myself a few years ago. The key to this draft is going to be the quarterbacks. Where does Johnny Manziel go? What happens to Teddy Bridgewater? Is there a surprise like there was a few years ago when the Titans and Vikings surprised everyone and selected Jake Locker and Christian Ponder at 8 and 12? The QBs will be the storyline come Thursday night when the draft kicks off with Round 1.
Round 1
#1 Houston Texans select
Jadeveon Clowney DE-South Carolina
-He is the best player in the draft, and the Texans won't hesitate taking him and pairing him with J.J. Watt.
#2 St.Louis Rams select
Khalil Mack DE/OLB-Buffalo
-I can see the Rams trading this pick, but I think they stay put and add a WR later on. They get Mack to add to their explosive pass rush.
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars select
Johnny Manziel QB-Texas A&M
-The Jags really need some to add some sizzle to their franchise, and they need a QB badly, so I think they go out on a limb and grab Manziel at #3.
#4 Cleveland Browns select
Sammy Watkins WR-Clemson
-Why not pair Watkins with Josh Gordon and create a pretty sick 1-2 punch at WR?
#5 Oakland Raiders select
Greg Robinson OT-Auburn
-The Raiders need help on the O-Line and they grab a safe bet in Robinson.
#6 Atlanta Falcons select
Jake Matthews OT-Texas A&M
-The Falcons could try to move up and take Clowney, but I think they stay put and add another solid OT in Matthews.
#7
TRADE. Tampa Bay trades #7 overall pick to Buffalo Bills for Bills 1st round pick (#9 overall) and Bills 2nd round pick (#41 overall).
Buffalo Bills select
Mike Evans WR-Texas A&M
-Another Aggie goes off the board, as the Bills trade up to get second best receiver in the draft.
#8 Minnesota Vikings select
Aaron Donald DT-Pittsburgh
-Vikings get some interior help on the defensive line with the addition of the fast rising Donald.
#9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers select
Blake Bortles QB-UCF
-Although they added Josh McCown in free agency, the Bucs get their QB of the future.
#10 Detroit Lions select
Justin Gilbert CB-Oklahoma State
-The Lions need help in the secondary and they grab the best CB in the draft in this spot.
#11 Tennessee Titans select
Anthony Barr DE/OLB-UCLA
-The Titans are in an interesting spot and they could trade down, but they stay put and look to add a pass rusher like Barr.
#12 New York Giants select
Zack Martin OT-Notre Dame
- The Giants need to help Eli Manning on the offensive line, so they get Martin, who is rising fast up many teams draft boards.
#13 St. Louis Rams select
Odell Beckham WR-LSU
-The Rams passed up Watkins at #2, but they add receiver help for Sam Bradford by getting Beckham here at #13.
#14 Chicago Bears select
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S-Alabama
-The Bears need help on the defensive side of the ball, so they go with Clinton-Dix, who is the best safety on the board.
#15 Pittsburgh Steelers select
Eric Ebron TE-UNC
-The Steelers have to get some offensive playmakers. Ebron fits that bill as one from the TE spot.
#16 Dallas Cowboys select
Calvin Pryor S-Louisville
-Dallas has to get help on defense, and Pryor is the type of impact player at safety that teams covet.
#17
TRADE. Baltimore trades #17 pick to San Francisco for 1st round pick (#31 overall) 2nd Round pick (#54 overall) and 4th round pick (#129 overall)
San Francisco 49ers select
Darqueze Dennard CB-Michigan State
-Everyone is speculating that the Niners will move up, and I think they will and grab Dennard, and go for a WR in round 2.
#18 New York Jets select
Brandin Cooks WR-Oregon State
-The Jets need a receiver to add to their offense. Cooks seems to be linked to them for quite some time.
#19 Miami Dolphins select
Taylor Lewan OT-Michigan
-The Fish really need a tackle in this draft, and they get Lewan to fall to them.
#20 Arizona Cardinals select
Ra-shede Hageman- DT Minnesota
-The Cards could use some more help to add to their defense so they go with Hageman in this spot.
#21 Green Bay Packers select
C.J. Mosley- LB Alabama
-The Packers get a solid pick with Mosley in this spot. They need to add to their defense and they get a potential starter with Mosley.
#22 Philadelphia Eagles select
Kyle Fuller- CB Va Tech
-The Eagles could go many different directions here, but look they add Fuller to their secondary.
#23 Kansas City Chiefs select
Marqise Lee- WR USC
-Lee fits what the Chiefs need which is another playmaker in the receiving corps.
#24 Cincinnati Bengals select
Kony Ealy-DE/OLB Missouri
-The Bengals select Ealy as a pass-rushing replacement for Michael Johnson.
#25 San Diego Chargers select
Bradley Roby CB-Ohio State
The Chargers fill a need by getting another top corner in this year's draft.
#26 Cleveland Browns select
Derek Carr QB-Fresno State
-The Browns get the QB they wanted late in the first round. Carr will bide his time before becoming the team's future signal caller.
#27 New Orleans Saints select
Jason Verrett CB-TCU
-Another corner goes in the first round this time to the Saints.
#28 Carolina Panthers select
Cody Latimer WR-Indiana
-Latimer is a name that has really surged the past few weeks. The Panthers need help at WR, so they land Latimer late in the first round.
#29 New England Patriots select
Louis Nix DT-Notre Dame
-The Pats always seem to need defensive help the past few years, and Nix can come in and make an impact right away.
#30 Baltimore Ravens select
Jordan Matthews WR-Vanderbilt
-The Ravens could use more help at WR, and they grab a player that I love in this draft in Matthews.
#31 Denver Broncos select
Ryan Shazier LB-Ohio State
-Finally, the Broncos get a player that I covet fall to them. Shazier would be a great fit in Denver's defense. He can play all three downs and would replace the departing Wesley Woodyard.
#32 Seattle Seahawks select
Xavier Su'a-Filo OG-UCLA
-The Super Bowl champs add some help to their offensive line.
