3/24/2016 – James Fedewa

Assuming and Guessing, here’s my third NFL mock draft this season (third published, but tenth of the season) – 3.1

#    Round 1

1    Tennessee (3-13)    Jalen Ramsey, S/CB, Florida State

The Titans are looking to trade down for additional draft picks, but their price is too steep. Ramsey has been getting a lot of hype recently and this momentum takes him to the #1 overall pick. The Titans have drafted only one defensive player in the first round once in the last 8 years, which is very lopsided. Tennessee needs a defensive playmaker and Ramsey is as good as it gets.

2    Cleveland (3-13)    Jared Goff, QB, California

Robert Griffin III signs with Cleveland, but Cleveland could see RGIII as a temp or a reclamation project QB. Cleveland still drafts their franchise QB and as much as the Browns like Wentz, they love Goff. If Hugh Jackson can fix RGIII, he can become expendable and traded. Tunsil could be selected here, and Cleveland could trade Joe Thomas for a 1^st round pick.

3    San Diego (4-12)    Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Mis

Tunsil is a premier left tackle in the mold of Dallas’ Tyron Smith and protecting Philip Rivers the highest priority in San Diego. This pick also helps last years first round pick, running back Melvin Gordon, as Tunsil run blocks just as great as he pass protects. Current left tackle King Dunlap becomes trade bait, but could also be a very good swing tackle. **Look for San Diego to trade down, pending the demand of quarterback prospects.

4    Dallas (4-12)    Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

With Romo getting older and breaking his collar bone twice last season, Dallas fell apart without him. The Cowboys already have a solid team, but it is built around the quarterback and if Romo goes down again, they’ll be in better shape with Wentz. Wentz has the prototypical size of an NFL QB and a cannon for an arm. The fact that Dallas has an option to draft a franchise QB with this very early pick is a huge bonus, and they know the value of a franchise QB (even if he’s a backup for a season or two). Wentz can learn behind Romo, until Romo retires (which could happen sooner than expected – he turns 36 next month). This just feels like a Farve / Rogers type of story…* if the Chargers trade their #3 pick and that team picks Wentz @ #3, which is very possible, Dallas will then select Joey Bosa.

5    Jacksonville (5-11)    Joey Bosa, DE/OLB, Ohio State

With the new additions of DL Malik Jackson, and DE Dante’ Fowler returning from a missed rookie campaign, Jacksonville still goes defensive line with their first pick. Bosa and Fowler can play outside and Jackson can play very well inside, giving the Jaguars a scary defensive identity..

6    Baltimore (5-11)    Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

The Eugene Monroe experiment has failed and adding offensive line through the draft is the highest priority. Bunkner looks tempting here, but the Ravens could be starting two rookies on their o-line next year, and if they do, they better be very good.

7    San Francisco (5-11)    DeForest Buckner, DE/DT, Oregon

San Francisco loses out on drafting their franchise QB here, but a suspected trade may happen here with San Diego. Paxton Lynch is very tempting here too, but the 49ers (and Chip Kelly) go after this former Oregon Duck. Buckner is massive and is also reunited with the other former duck Arik Armstead. Good ole’ Kaep sticks around for a season with Chip.

8    Philadelphia (7-9)    Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

Myles Jack is a top 5 talent, athletically, but a late season meniscus injury should cause Jack to slide a bit. Undersized and rangy linebackers are not typically drafted (early) in the first round, especially coming off knee injuries. I think Jack is a bit over-rated and should slide to the 2nd round, but Philly fans love Myles Jack. He can play OLB, Nickle Safety, Running Back, he is talented, but I think he actually sides into the late teens.

9    Tampa Bay (6-10)    Shaq Lawson, DE. Clemson

Lawson might be the best pass rusher in this class and he should go earlier. Lawson was the best player on a fierce Clemson defense, which was loaded with great players (which says a lot). Tampa needs as many pass rushers in this draft as they can find.

10    New York Giants (6-10)    Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Elliot is a great prospect and top ten player. New York Giants use a running back by committee, and they have some good RB’s, but Elliot is better than all three, combined. Keep Vereen and Elliot and dump the rest.

11    Chicago (6-10)    Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky

Spence could be this year’s version of Von Miller, but he was banned from this conference from repeat drug offenses (ecstasy). A 5 star recruit out of high school, Spence transferred to Eastern Kentucky and thrived. The Senior Bowl showed scouts that he has first round talent, and if he remained at Ohio State, he could have been the first overall pick this year (or even last year). But, with a poor combine performance, he will slide a little bit, and out of the top ten picks, but he’s still an impressive player.

12    New Orleans (7-9)    Robert Nkemdiche, DE/DT, Ole Miss

A few months ago, Nkemdiche was a top three draft prospect, but a weird hotel incident near the end of the season projected him to drop right out of the first round. But talent is talent (and he may have taken the fall for some of his other teammates that were with him during the hotel incident. Nkemdiche is a wonderful prospect that climbs back to the middle of the first round. Nkemdiche 300 lbs. of muscle, anger, quickness and power.

13    Miami (5-11)    Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida

The top corner prospect slides to #13? Without hesitation, Miami picks Hargreaves. Good prospect will fit in well in the new Dolphins defense.

14    Oakland (7-9)    A’Shawn Robinson, DE/DT, Alabama

Robinson is an intimidating bearded beast. He commands double teams, which makes other teammates look very good too. He’s probably the most intimidating man in this draft class.

15    Los Angeles (7-9)    Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Seems like the Rams have been looking for a QB for a while now. Bradford was brittle and Foles was a mistake, but Paxton Lynch is as good as QB prospect coming out of college this year (just as good as Wentz or Goff). Lynch could probably learn from the sideline in his first season, but he’s going to be an upgrade to anyone currently on the Rams. Drafting Lynch could make Foles trade bait, which could earn them a future conditional draft pick.

16    Detroit (7-9)    Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

Honestly, I think this the “safe” choice for the Lions. Drafting quality offensive linemen is never a bad thing, and Conklin fills an immediate need at right tackle for the Lions. Conklin can probably play any o-line position and still be groomed to be the left tackle of the future.

17    Atlanta (8-8)    Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

Alexander, Jackson III or Apple? Hmmm… Which CB will the Falcons draft? Apple tested very well at the combine and he is an impressive playmaker. The Skins go with Apple’s and his large upside.

18    Indianapolis (8-8)    Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

The Colts needs an OLB in the worst way, but they can also draft an ILB too. Why not get both in one pick? Move Floyd inside and out, and he’ll make plays all day. If used correctly, Floyd can have double digit sacks and lead the team in tackles.

19    Buffalo (8-8)    Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson

Dodd projects all over the place in this years draft, all within the early in the first and late in the second. He has the prototypical size for a Rex Ryan 34OLB, plus he plays in pain (so he’s always available). Solid pick up here and a very good player.

20    New York Jets (10-6)    Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State

Ogbah is a powerful force with a great motor and looks the part. He tested very well at the combine and can convert to a big OLB pocket crusher in the Jets 34 defense.

21    Washington (9-7)    William Jackson III, CB Houston

Quality cornerback prospect that has been climbing up up up draft boards.

22    Houston (9-7)    Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor    

Give Brock Lobster as may weapons as you can, to justify his massive contact. If he can’t excel with Hopkins, Strong and Coleman, he’ll be the worst QB signing in history. Coleman is a perfect complement to the WR in Houston.

23    Minnesota (11-5)    Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

Treadwell sides quite a bit in this draft, but so do all the wide receivers. The Vikings get a big possession receiver Teddy Bridgewater desperately needs.

24    Cincinnati (12-4)    Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

Cincy lost two wide receivers in free agency, and they add the speedster Fuller. A great compliment to AJ Green. The Bengals just got VERY fast.

25    Pittsburgh (10-6)    Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor

The Steelers offense is fun to watch, and so is the Steelers defensive line. But there is a lack of depth on the D-Line and plugging Billings in at NT completes the 3 (of the 34).

26    Seattle (10-6)    Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama

Seattle can go offensive line here (left tackle) or defensive tackle, but Henry is too good to pass up. He will have some big shoes to fill, taking over from Marshawn Lynch, but Seahawks fans will embrace Henry’s similar running style. Maybe Seattle can trade Jimmy Graham for a left tackle, as they have played better without him.

27    Green Bay (10-6)    Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State

Rankins, Calhoun or Ragland could be picked here, but speed ILB’s are the lastest NFL trend. Lee is FAST and turns into Green Bay’s version of Ryan Shazier.

28    Kansas City (11-5)    Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

Cornerback might be the biggest need, and Mackensie Alexander is available,but Rankins might be a star. He’s already been playing 34DE and shined in Louisville.

—    New England* (12-4)     — Pick Forfeited for Deflategate

29    Arizona (13-3)    Shilique Calhoun, OLB/DE, Michigan State

Nearly a clone of Chandler Jones, adding duel pass rushers is the best thing Arizona can do.

30    Carolina (15-1)    Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

The Denver defense exposed the Panthers weakness in the Super Bowl, their offensive tackles. Decker starts at right tackle immediately and is a big upgrade, replacing Mike Remmers.

31    Denver (12-4)    Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

Bye Bye Brock Osweiler… Denver fails to offer Brock Osweiler a quality contract and he leave free agency. Just like any other year, Super Bowl winning teams get picked apart by free agency and Denver cannot afford to keep their Payton Manning groomed QB. This becomes Elway’s fatal mistake, but Conner Cook is no joke either. He’ll be just a good as Brock Osweiler, and cheaper. Great pick. *I could see the Chiefs drafting Cook, just to screw with Denver (nah).