Draft Nuggets 2017: Entry #12
By Jeff Bowers of www.draftnarrative.com
Twitter: @sportsnarrative
Mock Draft 2.0
With most of free agency settled (0ver 75% of Top 100 free agents have been signed) and only a few QB shoes to drop (Romo, McCown, Cutler, Daniel), most of the league begins to shift their focus back toward the NFL Draft. As Pro Day workouts continue into April, this is the time when teams begin to finalize their boards and find the best way to fill needs and get the best player available too. So here is mock draft number 2: a two-round mock with emphasis on filling the top 2 (or more) needs for each team.
ROUND 1
1. Cleveland Browns – Myles Garrett, OLB, Texas A&M
The only pick everyone is certain to get right in their mock draft. Garrett is the best player in this draft by far.
2. San Francisco 49ers – Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
I believe the Niners will be tempted by a QB here and will also attempt to trade down. But with a brand new GM at the helm, I think they will just take the safe pick in Allen as they transition to a 4-3 defense
3. Chicago Bears – Jamal Adams, S, LSU
By signing Mike Glennon in free agency, the Bears delayed their need for a QB here so they upgrade their secondary with the jack-of-all-trades Adams
4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Tigers go back to back as Fournette is hopefully the spark the Jaguars need to get going on offense next year.
5. Tennessee Titans – Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
The Titans are looking to upgrade their secondary and their receiving core. They begin with the best CB in this draft.
6. TRADE! Cleveland Browns – Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
The Browns burn a little of their massive draft capital to move up 6 spots and land their QB in Trubisky.
7. Los Angeles Chargers – Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
The Chargers are hoping one of the top safeties falls to them at 7 to finally replace Weddle. Hooker is a good option in centerfield.
8. Carolina Panthers – Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
The Panthers 2 oldest players are their starting DE Charles Johnson and Julius Peppers. Thomas gives them a future at that spot.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
The Bengals desperately need help rushing the QB and Barnett was a very productive college sack man.
10. Buffalo Bills – John Ross, WR, Washington
The first WR off the board is the Huskies burner to pair with Sammy Watkins on the other side.
11. New Orleans Saints – Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
Taco will team up with Cameron Jordan to bookend the Saints pass rush.
12. New York Jets – OJ Howard, TE, Alabama
The Jets need playmakers on offense and get the steady target for whatever QB they play.
13. Arizona Cardinals – Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
The Cards need a future a QB and get one in the National Champion from Clemson
14. Philadelphia Eagles – Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Cook is a Jamal Charles clone for Doug Pederson’s offense and makes Carson Wentz very happy.
15. Indianapolis Colts – Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
The Colts take the best ILB in the class in Foster to fill a need against the run.
16. Baltimore Ravens – Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
The Ravens are desperate for help at WR and are happy to see Davis slide to them at 16.
17. Washington Redskins – Haason Reddick, ILB, Temple
The Skins add both pass rush and run stopping in the versatile Reddick.
18. Tennessee Titans – Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
As the wideouts slide, the Titans are happy to grab a true #1 target for Mariota in Williams.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
The Bucs need a RB to balance their offense and take the all-purpose McCaffrey for that role.
20. Denver Broncos – Garrett Bolles, OT, Utah
The Broncos must improve their OL and take the athletic Bolles to do just that.
21. Detroit Lions – Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA
The Lions need a complimentary pass rusher opposite Ansah. Though raw, McKinley plays with passion and speed.
22. Miami Dolphins – Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
When motivated properly, McDowell can be a dominate force up front. Pair him with Suh and that could be scary.
23. New York Giants – David Njoku, TE, Miami
The Giants have needed a dynamic TE for some time and hope that Njoku can fill those shoes.
24. Oakland Raiders – Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
The Raiders are dedicating this draft to fixing their defense and begin with the sliding CB from Bama.
25. Houston Texans – Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
A QB they hope is the heir-apparent to Tony Romo soon.
26. Seattle Seahawks – Kevin King, CB, Washington
With a possible trade of Richard Sherman on the horizon, the Seahawks replace him with the 6’3” CB from their home state.
27. Kansas City Chiefs – Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
The Chiefs replace Charles with the explosive back from Tennessee
28. Dallas Cowboys – Jabril Peppers, S, Michigan
There are 3 requirements for a Cowboys pick in round 1 this year: he must be on defense, he must be flashy and he must be a “war-daddy.” Peppers fits all 3 with his plus kick returns too.
29. Green Bay Packers – Charles Harris, OLB, Missouri
The Packers must get some help for Clay Matthews in the pass rush and hope Harris is just that.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers – Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
The Steelers lost Lawrence Timmons in the offseason and replace him with Cunningham.
31. TRADE San Francisco 49ers – DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
The Niners jump back up into the 1st round to get the extra year contract on Kizer.
32. New Orleans Saints – Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
The Saints complete round 1 with the corner from LSU, assuming they don’t trade this pick back to New England for Malcom Butler.
ROUND 2
33. Cleveland Browns – Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
34. Atlanta Falcons – Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky
35. Jacksonville Jaguars – Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
36. Chicago Bears – Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
37. Los Angeles Rams – Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
38. Los Angeles Chargers – Dan Feeney, G, Indiana
39. New York Jets – Budda Baker, S, Washington
40. Carolina Panthers – Taylor Moton, OT, Western Michigan
41. Cincinnati Bengals – Obi Melifonwu, S, UConn
42. New Orleans Saints – Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State
43. Philadelphia Eagles – Derek Rivers, DE, Youngstown
44. Buffalo Bills – Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
45. Arizona Cardinals – Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
46. Indianapolis Colts – Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
47. Baltimore Ravens – Jordan Willis, OLB, Kansas State
48. Minnesota Vikings – Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy
49. Washington Redskins – Dalvin Tomlinson, NT, Alabama
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TJ Watt, OLB, Wisconsin
51. Denver Broncos – Caleb Brantley, DE, Florida
52. Cleveland Browns – Adoree Jackson, CB, USC
53. Detroit Lions – Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
54. Miami Dolphins – Marcus Williams, S, Utah
55. New York Giants – Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson
56. Oakland Raiders – Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan
57. Houston Texans – Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland
58. Seattle Seahawks – Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
59. Kansas City Chiefs – Raekwon McMillen, LB, Ohio State
60. Dallas Cowboys – Trey Hendrickson, DE, Florida Atlantic
61. Green Bay Packers – Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
62. Pittsburgh Steelers – Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
63. Atlanta Falcons – Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
64. Carolina Panthers – Josh Jones, S, NC State