Kyle Bazin Mock Draft 1.0: This mock will include a trade or two that I see likely to happen but later in the first round trade are hard to predict back into the first round so I will keep those picks generally the same. The trades are all completed using the Draft Trade Chart that NFL teams use. Here is the link http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/draft/draft-trade-chart/ .
#1 - LA: Carson Wentz, QB North Dakota State
Carson is the best QB in this draft. He is just a plain winner and he has great mobility which is going to be necessary in the NFC West. Many people question Carson because of his conference and the teams he played but this team has done nothing but win championships in Division 1A and part of it is because of this guy. This team is very close to finally getting over the hump and the last piece is a QB. Hopefully Wentz is that guy to get them to the promise land.
#2 - PHI: Jared Goff, QB Cal
Therefore, Goff goes second. I feel like the Eagles expect to get Wentz but in my opinion Wentz is better thus goes #1. Goff has huge numbers at Cal and is a good fit for Doug Pederson's offense. Either Carson or Wentz could go one or two and many reports have said that Goff is actually the likely #1 overall pick, but I think based on fit per team and the better player it should be Goff to the city of brotherly love.
#3 - SD: Laremy Tunsil, OT Ole Miss
The best (arguably) player in this draft goes 3rd because of the way the league values QBs. Last year there was 20+ OL combos for the Chargers. Tunsil will hold down Rivers' blindside and also open up running lanes for last years 1st round pick, Melvin Gordon. The offense couldn't get anything going because of the line and Tunsil will help.
#4 - DAL: Jalen Ramsey, CB FSU
If you told the Cowboys they were getting the best player in the draft, they would assume you were talking about this guy. Maybe the best corner to come out since Patrick Peterson and should be a huge addition for this poor defensive group.
#5 - JAX: Myles Jack, LB UCLA
It's been the consensus pick for a while to the Jags at #5. I have no worries about his injury and think that the injury talk about him not being ready is just a smokescreen. I fully expect him to be a "Jack-of-all-trades" for this team where he can truly play any LB position.
#6 - BAL: Deforest Buckener, DT Oregon
This team needs help on the defensive line. Buckener should be a guy that you can plug and play at LE in a 3-4 or as a small, quick DT in a 4-3. Ozzie Newsome will take advantage of this freak athlete in his 3-4 defense and wreak havoc on the likes of Big Ben, Andy Dalton and *insert futures Browns QB here*.
#7 - SF: Ronnie Stanley OT, Notre Dame
His draft stock has risen immensely in the coming weeks and just in time for the 49ers to not feel like he is a reach at #7 anymore. San Fran was ranked dead last in OL production this past year (SD was 31st) and he will fill a huge need for the team.
#8 TRADE ALERT – MIA (from CLE): Ezekiel Elliot, RB Ohio St
Mike T is known for his splashy Draft day moves and this year will be no different going up 5 spots and giving up a 3rd rounder and 4th rounder (and the Dolphins get a 5th rounder back) for what could be the best back in the draft since AP. Elliot fills a huge need and is also the BPA for the Dolphins at 8. Cleveland trades back again to stock pile more picks and gets in good range for a QB (spoiler alert).
#9 - TB: Joey Bosa, DE Ohio St
Bucs war room: "THANK YOU MIAMI! WE OWE YOU A ROUND OF BEERS ON US!" The Bucs are in serious need of a DE and a corner and Hargreaves has fallen too far to justify taking him at 9. Bosa should be a nice fit with the Bucs and is also the top guy on the Bucs board at this spot. They got their guy and didn't need to trade out. (This was also a good spot for either a Miami trade or someone looking to get Elliot or Lynch.)
#10 - NYG: Jack Conklin, OT Michigan St
"Ohh that's a sexy Offensive Lineman you just picked. What number is he going to wear? I can't wait to buy his jersey." These are not the comments you will get after this pick is made but it's a glaring need and the Giants made a ton of splish splash in Free Agency that they calmed down a little for the Draft.
#11 - CHI: Leonard Floyd, LB Georgia
The guy the Bears wanted all along. Floyd's stock started to rise when Jack's fell but for good reason. This guy is a stud rushing the passer and should be able to provide a new element for a team ranked 30th in sacks last year.
#12 - NO: Sheldon Rankins, DT Louisville
The Saints ranked 30th in the league for their DL last year. Cameron Jordan can't do it all by himself and his secondary didn't do him any favors. They lost some pieces back there but if you have a good DL to rush the passer and stuff the run, then why worry about the secondary? Big Rankins will be a great asset in the Big Easy.
#13 TRADE ALERT- NYJ (from CLE and MIA): Paxton Lynch, QB Memphis
Paxton shouldn't probably be drafted in the 1st round but because of the need to have a QB in the league today people scramble in the draft and take them too early. Good for the teams that have franchise QBs. Bad for teams like the Jets who haven't had much success in this position as of late (minus Fitzpatrick last year). Not the best thrower in this class, but he may be able to create some opportunities with his legs. The Browns get a 3rd this year and a 5th next year.
#14 - OAK: Vernon Hargeaves, CB Florida
Hargreaves is simply the best player available at this point in the draft and the team that is most interested to move up (the Steelers would have to give up a 2nd and a 3rd rounder according to the Draft Trade Chart that NFL teams use) simply doesn’t have the fire power to take him. The Raiders also struggled with wanting to pick Robert Nkemdiche, but they just lost an all-time great DB and hope to be drafting another one here.
#15 – TEN: Taylor Decker, OT Ohio St
Titans are interesting because they have a lot of needs and at this pick and where the board has fallen (they would prefer Conklin here) they are forced to take Decker here. Unfortunate for teams like the Colts and Lions after them, but nonetheless they need someone to play RT across from Taylor Lewan. For Mariota to have success they are going to need to be able to run the ball with new workhorse back Demarco Murray and from there the passing game will open up. The Titans made a lot of the right moves this offseason.
#16 – DET: Shaq Lawson, DE Clemson
The less famous Shaq may not be as talented, but he is a workhorse and (barring further injury) will give 110% on every snap. This is a guy that is going to give a huge spark to this defense for years to come. Hopefully, he can stay healthy though. He is coming off an injury-riddled year at Clemson, but if not for this injury he should probably be top 10.
#17 TRADE ALERT – WAS (from ATL): A’Shawn Robinson, DT Alabama
Washington traded their 1st and 3rd rounder’s and received this pick and a 6th rounder of this draft so they could move up to take the best player available on their board. This guy was projected to go earlier, which is why the Redskins needed to trade up to secure their guy. I’d say it has been a pretty good week for the WAS defense getting a shutdown zone corner in Josh Norman and now filling a big hole in the defensive line with this 307 pound run stuffer.
#18 – IND: Ryan Kelly, C Alabama
Two straight Alabama products for Nick Saban’s resume and a much needed improvement at the OL for the Colts who have always struggled to protect their All-Pro QB Andrew Luck. He helped lead the way for Derrick Henry to get his Heisman Trophy last Fall and the Colts plan to continue this trend to get Frank “old guy” Gore back to his well… non-aging workhorse style.
#19 – BUF: Robert Nkemdiche, DT Ole Miss
The player with the most potential left on the board is going to the Buffalo Bills. Rex Ryan loves his defense, but this past year he ended up blaming it. His defense did not produce to his liking and uses his 1st round pick on a player that is multi-dimensional and one of the most athletic defensive players in this draft. If not for his drug and effort issues, he would have been a top 10 pick.
#20 – CLE (from NYJ and MIA): William Jackson III, CB Houston
The Browns finally take their selection and they choose a guy they were targeting all along. WJ3 has risen up draft boards since a fantastic combine performance as well as the CB position rising because of the great talent and need at the position. Hargreaves was available at 13, but Cleveland wanted a long, rangy corner. Jackson is 6 ft and ran an impressive 4.37. Putting him across from the impressive Joe Haden should be able to let this young corner flourish and learn from an All-Pro.
#21 TRADE ALERT – MIN (from ATL and WAS): Laquon Treadwell, WR Ole Miss
The 3rd and final Ole Miss Player of the 1st round starts the run on receivers. Quon is recognized as the best WR available in this draft by many, including me, but it is close. Treadwell is long, tall and did not hurt himself at the combine, but he also did not help himself. The Vikings made sure they got in front of Houston to take him to become their new #1 receiver after Mike Wallace left for Baltimore. Teddy Bridgewater is very happy with his new friend and knows that this receiver is going to get that ball with the length he has. They had to give up their 4th round pick to get him, but the Vikings feel that Quon was worth it.
#22 – HOU: Josh Doctson, WR TCU
As I said, here come the WRs. Houston is upset that Minnesota traded up to get Quon, but are still very happy with the quicker Doctson and he is the same height as Quon. New QB Brock Osweiler is excited to be paired with Deandre Hopkins already, but is very thankful that the Texans GM is helping him with a 2nd receiver.
#23 – ATL (from MIN): Darron Lee, LB Ohio St
Atlanta was able to move back, acquire more picks, and still get their guy. Darron Lee is a quick LB that will provide a boost in the Falcons’ pass rush. The Falcons weak point last year was their defense couldn’t stop teams when they needed to. This pick should be able to provide a break to their secondary and should increase more opportunities for turnovers for Pro-Bowler Desmond Trufant.
#24 – CIN: Corey Coleman, WR Baylor
The Bengals have one of the most complete teams in the NFL, but they could use a friend for Andy Dalton and to help give AJ Green some breathing room. They go with the very fast (4.37 seconds in the 40) Coleman to help stretch the field and test the (rather poor) secondary’s of the AFC North. This pick made too much sense for the Bengals and they aren’t upset at all with Doctson and Treadwell going before them.
#25 – PIT: Eli Apple, CB Ohio St
The Steelers have been gifted something special. Earlier in the draft, they tried to trade up to get Vernon Hargreaves. Little did they know that Apple (many people see him as a top 15 pick) would fall all the way to them at #25. This was the Steelers most glaring need and are ecstatic with this tall, rangy corner which will help them contain AJ Green, Breshard Perriman, and whoever the Browns want to put at WR.
#26 – SEA: Jarran Reed, DT Alabama
The 2nd of the Alabama DTs is taken to the immaculate Pete Carrol defense up in the Pacific Northwest. The best player available looks to improve the weakest link of the Seattle defense throughout the year. With the team losing key player Bruce Irvin, they will hope that Jarran can pull a couple of players onto him so that pass rushers can get to the QB as Bruce was.
#27 – GB: Reggie Ragland, LB Alabama
Another set of back-to-back Alabama players brings a studly underrated linebacker to a poor Packer defense. Clay Matthews needs an inside LB to help him control the defense and this guy should be great for years to come controlling the exceptional defense at one of the top college football programs. Look for Ragland to follow the Packers mold of drafting great players.
#28 – KC: Will Fuller, WR Notre Dame
Fuller is the best wideout available this late in the 1st round and should help Alex Smith and alleviate double coverages from Jeremy Maclin. This kid ran the 40 yard dash (4.32 seconds) the fastest of the other 3 WRs taken before him and is standing at 6 feet exactly. Look for Will to be able to stretch the field at the WR2 position, so Maclin will still shine in short/intermediate/deep routes.
#29 TRADE ALERT – CLE (from ARI): Kevin Dodd, DE Clemson
Dodd has been put very closely to his former teammate Shaq Lawson in many mock drafts, but Shaq just has the drive to push him higher then Kevin. Kevin has a better potential because he is less of an injury risk but the Browns are happy to trade up for him after trading down 3 times already in this draft. One of the best players available on their board, Dodd will provide a lot of pressure to opposing QBs and has the talent to pair with fellow rookie corner William Jackson III to form a decent Browns defense. The trade was difficult to figure out because of the picks acquired in this draft and where they were located. The Browns gave up the 100th pick (4th round) in the draft and the 32nd pick (2nd round) for the 29th pick and a 5th round pick next year.
#30 – CAR: Artie Burns, CB Miami (FL)
Carolina just lost their star corner due to them not wanting to pay for Norman’s contract next year. They saved a ton of money, but they lost one of their best defensive players and especially have left a gaping hole in their secondary. Artie Burns is a quick, raw corner that can hopefully fill that spot for the Panthers. He also is at 6 foot so they don’t lose out on Norman’s height. Burns has a ton of potential and opportunity to grow in this spunky Panthers D that pressures the QB like no other. Look for Artie to have a good, yet unexpected season.
#31 – DEN: Christen Hackenburg, QB Penn St
The next QB taken in the draft is argued by many. Some would say that Connor Cook has to be the next guy because of the way he just wins games. Some go with Hackenburg because he has looks like he will fit the NFL mold better than Cook. Regardless of your camp, the Broncos need to draft a QB. Mark Sanchez is not the answer. Every team he has been on, he has not been the answer. He is there to not make mistakes and he still makes them. The Broncos still need to try to sign a veteran QB like Fitzpatrick, but getting a rookie QB that can learn under John Elway and a team that just won the Super Bowl isn’t a bad gig at all.
I referenced Mike Mayock’s newest and last top 100 prospects (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000655903/article/mike-mayocks-2016-nfl-draft-top-100-prospect-rankings?campaign=tw-nf-sf25029325-sf25029325), NFL.com’s Mock Draft Centra; (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/mock-drafts) and also my own knowledge of the teams and players. To find out about additional needs for teams I referenced CBSSports’ article on each teams needs (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25563508/2016-nfl-draft-team-needs-ranking-position-units-of-all-32-teams).
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