EPT
Here are my first ten mocks, I will be updating this post in the next two days with subsequent picks.
1. Houston Texans
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Bridgewater played amazing in his bowl game against Miami. Until I get to see Blake Bortles in his bowl game against Baylor, and the 'draft process' beginning, I think that it's safe to put Bridgewater as the top quarterback this upcoming draft for now. Bridgewater has the potential to lead the Texans back into the playoffs with whoever the new coach is (most likely Bill O'Brien) - think KC with Alex Smith/Andy Reid.
2. St. Louis Rams
Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
I definitely think that the Rams will trade down this pick to whoever wants Clowney, or whoever wants the first pick of the quarterbacks available after Bridgewater. However, in this mock, I won't be predicting trades. This is a no-brainer for St. Louis - Jake Long went down with a torn ACL and MCL, and nobody knows how well he's going to be after surgery. The Rams need to protect Sam Bradford if they want any chance of making the playoffs.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
The Jaguars made a derp mistake last year when they decided to draft an offensive tackle (Luke Joeckel) over a pass rusher (Dion Jordon). Remember back then, Eugene Monroe was still on the team. While it was destined for Joeckel to eventually take over on the blind side, a temporary right tackle could have been found on the free agency market - good pass rushers are rare in the NFL. Clowney is a perfect fit in Gus Bradley's defensive scheme and I'm certain he will get the most out of him.
4. Cleveland Browns
Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Even with Rob Chudzinski's firing (which IMO was a bad decision, but hey, it's typical Cleveland, so who's honestly surprised), Cleveland still needs a franchise QB. I think the Browns are willing to take a shot on Manziel, despite his douchebag attitude. The only problem I see is that how is his lifestyle going to mesh with the amazing city of Cleveland?
5. Oakland Raiders
Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
I'd slot Blake Bortles here, but I'm not too sure whether he'll be declaring, so I've decided to leave him out of the mock for now. Here, Oakland lands a legitimate WR1 for Pryor to throw to. I think if you give Greg Olson the entire off-season to work with Pryor to get him over his mental limitations, he could be a legitimate starter in the league. Adding Mike Evans (who plays a lot like Vincent Jackson in his prime) is a better target to throw to than Denarius Moore or Andre Holmes.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA
Barr is the perfect prospect for the Falcons to take here and the best player available. The Falcons pass-rush is abysmal, and Barr will immediately help the team in his rookie season.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
Greg Robinson has shot up many big boards as he has impressed mightily through out this year in Auburn's run to the national championship game. With Tampa Bay looking to stick with Glennon, for now, Tampa Bay need to protect him. Donald Penn has regressed horribly the past year.
8. Minnesota Vikings
Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
The Vikings are really, really desperate to fix their QB problem. Freeman predictably bombed, Ponder regressed terribly and Cassel is a career back-up at best. Derek Carr is a prototypical pocket QB who can make any NFL throw. Question marks remain however over the level of competition he played and the awful bowl performance against USC. He can fix this through the draft process in the upcoming months.
9. Buffalo Bills
Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
Mike Pettine loves to use hybrid schemes in his defense over in Buffalo, and Khalil Mack, a local product, would be the perfect fit. He can line-up as a rush linebacker in a 3-4 or an outside linebacker in a 4-3. Combining him with Mario Williams would make a deadly tandem.
10. Detroit Lions
Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
The Lions are desperate for a WR2 across Megatron. Watkins is the best player available here and makes the most sense for the team. Stafford cannot function whenever Megatron is double or even triple covered for whatever reason.
11. Tennessee Titans
C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
I wasn't really sure who to give the Titans here, as they could also go towards an OT to replace Roos/Stewart if they depart in free agency in the upcoming years. At the moment, I'll put in Mosley here as I did in my last mock.
12. New York Giants
Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
The Giants' O-Line is getting old and as a result, Eli Manning has predictably struggled. Lewan, along with most of the Michigan Wolverines, has struggled this year, but I don't think that should bump his draft stock down that much.
13. St. Louis Rams
Marqise Lee, WR, USC
St. Louis would have loved to have the bigger bodied Evans to complement Tavon Austin, but Marqise Lee has shown with his frame he can operate on the outside well. The Rams give Bradford another weapon to work with and to see if he is indeed their franchise QB.
14. Chicago Bears
Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
With Henry Melton coming off a torn ACL, there's no predicting how well he'll pan out for the Bears next year. He's also a free agent, which may allow the Bears leverage in contract talks. Regardless, Hageman has been awesome for the Gophers and is a good fit for what the Bears run on defense.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
Cyrus Kouandijo, OT, Alabama
Despite their amazing ability to remain relevant even after their offensive line went down for the season, the left tackle is still a hole that needs to be filled. Cyrus Kouandijo has the athletic ability to be a good tackle in the NFL.
16. Dallas Cowboys
Haha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
I expected the Cowboys to take someone like Matt Elam or Eric Reid in the last draft, but in typical Jerry Jones fashion, made the move down to take a third-round graded center (that being said, Travis Frederick has being amazing for them so far). Here, they can provide an upgrade next to Barry Church.
17. Baltimore Ravens
Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech
Pitta is an upcoming free agent, and while their offensive line is their biggest need, I don't see someone worth taking over Amaro here.
18. New York Jets
Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
Kellen Winslow is not the long term solution at Tight End, while Jeff Cumberland is mediocre. Ebron gives Geno Smith a big weapon to throw to.
19. Miami Dolphins
Louis Nix, NT, Notre Dame
With Paul Solilai possibly walking this off-season, the Dolphins can replace him at the NT position with Louis Nix, arguably the best 3-4 NT in the class.
20. Arizona Cardinals
Cameron Erving, OT, Florida State
The Cardinals are desperate for an upgrade over Bradley Sowell after trading Levi Brown to the Steelers earlier in the season. Having a talented lineman like Erving next to Jonathan Cooper, coming off a season-long injury, will help Carson Palmer (or whoever the Cardinals draft in later rounds) more time to throw the ball.
The next 10 picks of the mock will come tomorrow!
