:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44355578/usa-today-7485079.0.jpg)
To start, this will change. A lot. The teams likely won't be picking in this order but this is the projected draft order if the season ended today.
Also, for the playoffs, the draft order is based on the team's record when they are knocked out of the playoffs so the worst record of the two lowest seeded AFC and NFC teams are put before the other AFC or NFC teams with better records, i.e., that's why Dallas is drafting before Cincinnati because Dallas has the second worst record in the NFC and why Arizona and New England are drafting 31 and 32, respectively. It's a bit confusing but I hope I explained it well enough.
Round 1
- Tampa Bay - Marcus Maiota - QB - Oregon
Mariota gives Lovie Smith a much better option at QB than McCown at this point and could be a long term solution for this franchise. - Tennessee - Leonard Williams - DL - USC
Williams is a beast against college competition and is viewed as a Top 5 NFL pick. Jameis Winston could also be considered here but the current coaching staff likely wants to see what Zach Mettenberger can do and a top teir QB isn't needed to excel in Ken Wisenhunt's offense. - Jacksonville - Brandon Scherff - OT - Iowa
Scherff may be a bit of a surprise here but he's one of the top OT in this draft and the Jaguars desperately need to give Blake Bortles some time to throw. - Oakland - Amari Cooper - WR - Alabama
Oakland is devoid of any true playmaker on the outside for QB Derek Carr. Cooper is the best WR in this draft and could make an instant impact for the Raiders. - Washington - Randy Gregory - DE/OLB - Nebraska
Realistically, Washington needs to look for a more consistent replacement for Brian Orakpo who can't seem to stay healthy. Gregory gives them a solid, versatile pass rusher to step in immediately. - New York Jets - Jameis Winston - QB - Florida State
Wouldn't this be a trip? Winston has the talent to succeed in the NFL but has shown issues in being able to deal with off-field distractions. His INTs are up significantly but all he does is win. Can he handle the New York media scrutiny though is the real question? - Atlanta - Shane Ray - OLB - Missourri
Atlanta needs to generate some form of pass rush as they are deficient at getting any noticeable pressure on opposing QBs. Ray gives them an opportunity to take one of the better pass rush guys in the draft. - New York Giants - Cedric Ogbuehi - OT - Texas A&M
Yes, Ogbuehi struggled this past year but the Giants need talent all over their line and with some coaching, Ogbuehi could turn out to be a solid LT or a great RT. - Chicago - Dante Fowler, Jr. - DE - Florida
Chicago desperately needs to find some way to get pressure on QBs. Fowler is an aggressive, high-motor guy who can get after the QB
. - Carolina - Andrus Peat - OT - Stanford
Peat is reportedly on the fence about declaring for the draft. If he enters, Carolina will be ecstatic to take him. He has all the physical tools to be a great LT in the NFL. Peat at least could give Cam Newton a chance in the pocket. - Minnesota - Melvin Gordon - RB - Wisconsin
I expect Minnesota to move on from Adrian Peterson and likely look to upgrade the RB position from their current guys. This is a bit high for Gordon, or any RB in my opinion, but with the top OTs gone, they go with best player available at a position of need. - St Louis - Connor Cook - QB - Michigan State
Did I say this was a practice mock draft? If the Rams don't resign Sam Bradford to a much more team friendly deal, I'd expect them to take a QB. Question is, do they reach for a solid QB in Cook or risk it until the later rounds? QBs are over-valued but he's a great game manager who can make the necessary throws. If they don't go QB, they'd likely look at DB or RB. - Houston - DeVante Parker - WR - Louisville
Houston needs an heir apparent to Andre Johnson so DeAndre Hopkins can keep doing his thing. They also desperately need a QB but taking Brett Hundley here seems like too much of a reach for even me to make. - Cleveland - Kevin White - WR - West Virginia
White gives Cleveland and QB Johnny Manziel a weapon opposite Josh Gordon and allows Jordan Cameron more room to operate in the middle. - San Francisco - Danny Shelton - DT - Washington
The 49ers don't have a ton of holes but could use better players along the defensive line. Shelton offers them a huge guy who can make plays. This pick will likely change if/when a new coach is hired. I'd also expect them to take a long look at Vic Beasley here. - Miami - Vic Beasley - OLB - Clemson
Beasley immediately helps the Dolphins at a significant position of need. He can get after the passer and provide a instant spark to the defense. - Kansas City - Jaelen Strong - WR - Arizona St.
Kansas City needs a starting caliber WR to take some of the pressure off Jamaal Charles and the running game. Strong has prototypical WR1 size and can make all the tough catches. - San Diego - Ronnie Stanley - OL - Notre Dame
One of the biggest needs for the Chargers is on the OL. Stanley has prototypical size and athleticism to be a starting LT for a long time in the league and allows D.J. FLuker to stay at his more natural RT position. - Cleveland (from Buffalo) - Eddie Goldman - DT - Florida State
Cleveland is at an interesting place here and could go a number of different ways. Goldman gives them a interior DL who has great burst off the snap and is a force against the run with his play recognition skills. - Philadelphia - Landon Collins - S - Alabama
No way in the world Collins likely lasts this long in the actual draft but thus far, I drafted most teams on needs and S wasn't the primary need for most teams up until now. Collins is a physical safety that plays with range. He'd be a great addition to any secondary. - New Orleans - Shaq Thompson - OLB - Washington
Depending on if he comes out and how he performs, Thompson could go much higher than this. He's got all the tools one looks for in an OLB though, i.e., size, speed, aggressiveness, which are musts in Rob Ryan's defense, that is if Rob Ryan is still the DC next season. - Pittsburgh - Ereck Flowers - OT - Miami
Pittsburgh could look to strengthen their OL with this pick. Flowers could be a steal at this position as he's got the size and aggressiveness Pittsburgh seems to like. - Baltimore - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu - CB - Oregon
The first CB off the board goes to a team that needs CB help. Ekpre-Olomu has the all-around skills to be a productive CB in the league for a long time despite lacking the prototypical CB frame. - Dallas - Shalique Calhoun - DE - Michigan State
Calhoun is a natural pass rusher with good length and ability to hold the edge. Dallas needs another pass rusher after losing DeMarcus Ware last season. - Cincinnati - Trae Waynes - CB - Michigan St.
The Bengals need a CB who has great overall awareness and is physical in run support, a must for Bengal CBs. He'd upgrade the secondary in a big way. - Detroit - Marcus Peters - CB - Washington
Peters is likely the most talented CB in this draft with prototypical size and awareness but has significant red-flags after his dismissal from Washington. With Jim Caldwell as a calming influence, it could be a great fit for this arguably troubled prospect. - Indianapolis - La'el Collins - OL - LSU
It was tough to make the pick between Collins and the top ILB Bernardrick McKinney. Obviously, I took Collins because protecting Andrew Luck should be both a short-term and long-term goal. Collins has the size and aggressiveness to slide inside to play RG and has the athleticism to kick out to RT if/when Gosder Cheilus is no longer with the team. Another OL early would make me very happy. - Green Bay - Bernardrick McKinney - ILB - Mississippi St.
McKinney is arguably the top ILB prospect in this draft and fills an immediate need for the Packers defense. He's big, fast and versatile, which translates well to that defense. - Seattle - Alvin Dupree - DE/OLB - Kentucky
Seattle really enjoys loading up on pass rushers and Dupree gives them a good one. He's got a solid motor and is great at getting to the QB. They could go TE at this position but there aren't any first round TEs available in this year's draft. - Denver - A.J. Cann - OG - South Carolina
Denver's biggest issue in the Super Bowl last year and at the beginning of the season was interior pressure on Peyton Manning. Cann is arguably this year's best OG prospect and would immediately solidify one of the shaky OG positions. - Arizona - Shawn Oakman - DE - Baylor
Oakman is a bit of an athletic freak on the defensive line. He is huge and incredibly strong. He's a bit top-heavy though which could cause leverage issues. Regardless, he's worth the risk in the late first round. - New England - Dorial Green-Beckham - WR - Oklahoma
Once considered one of the top WRs in this draft, Green-Beckham was dismissed from Missouri before landing with former rival Oklahoma. He's very similar to Randy Moss in that he's a big, fast, long-strider who is great at taking the top off a defense. If anyone can get the most of Green-Beckham, it's Belichick.
If you guys have comments, love or hate, hit me up on Twiiter @Reed_StephenT and I'll do my best to get back with you.