Another NFL Mock Draft from Another Stampede Blue Writer

Since last year my final mock draft was done more than a week prior to the actual draft and many things changed, I decided to wait until the day before the draft in case some of the other Stampede Blue writers decide to compare our accuracy again. You will not fool me this time! Ok, ok, on to the good stuff.

As per usual, I won't be 100% right on this but this is my best guess based on my own analysis of best player available and team needs at each selection. Also, there are no trades because they take way too much time. For brevity, I'm only doing write-ups on Round 1 and the Colts picks.

ROUND 1

1. Rams: Jared Goff - QB - Cal
   
   Goff is the perfect fit for Jeff Fischer to continue going 8-8.
   
   
2. Eagles: Carson Wentz - QB - North Dakota State
   
   Wentz should be a solid QB but probably nothing spectacular, a lot like Alex Smith in my opinion.
   
   
3. Chargers: Jalen Ramsey - DB - Florida State
   
   Ramsey is the best player in the draft. With the loss of Weddle, this solidifies their S position.
   
   
4. Cowboys: Joey Bosa - DE - Ohio State
   
   Bosa or Elliott, which Buckeye does Jerry grab? He wants Elliott but his football people will win this and they'll take Bosa, just like they won the Johnny Football debate.
   
   
5. Jaguars: Myles Jack - ILB - UCLA
   
   I'm torn on this pick. I actually think Jack could fall to Chicago or New Orleans but I've got him going here since he's the best player available. Jacksonville could surprise many and take DeForest Buckner here though.
   
   
6. Ravens: Laremy Tunsil - OT - Mississippi
   
   I hate Ozzie Newsome, as the best OT in the draft falls to him. It's so simple: let others make mistakes and you clean up.
   
   
7. 49ers: Ronnie Stanley - OT - Notre Dame
   
   Stanley is an athletic OT who could help Chip Kelly's offense immediately.
   
   
8. Browns: DeForest Buckner - DE - Oregon
   
   This is the player I think Cleveland wanted all along and would have taken at 2 if they didn't trade down. 
   
   
9. Bucs: Vernon Hargreaves - CB - Florida
   
   The best CB left goes to Tampa Bay, who needed to improve their secondary in the worst way.
   
   
10. Giants: Shaq Lawson - DE - Clemson
    
    This pick makes me so mad because I wanted Lawson to fall to the Colts. That obviously didn't happen and the Giants get a hand up on everyone else by improving their pass rush.
    
    
11. Bears: Ezekiel Elliott - RB - Ohio State
    
    A surprise pick here but I'm not thinking Chicago is sold on Langford and with Elliott on the board it's a no-brainer.
    
    
12. Saints: Leonard Floyd - OLB - Georgia
    
    The Saints need to improve their pass rush and Floyd is the biggest boom.bust pass rushing prospect available.
    
    
13. Dolphins: Eli Apple - CB - Ohio State
    
    The Dolphins need to pick between Apple, Jackson and Alexander here. I went Apple due to the phsyical traits and upside he offers.
    
    
14. Raiders: Sheldon Rankins - DT - Louisville
    
    This is a great pick for Oakland as a penetrating DT like Rankins can cause havoc on opposing offenses.
    
    
15. Titans: Jack Conklin - OT - Michigan State
    
    This is a meh pick to me. The rumor is they want a RT and Conklin is a solid, mauler RT.
    
    
16. Lions: Taylor Decker - OT - Ohio State
    
    Detroit must upgrade their OL and thankfully take Decker off the board so Ryan Grigson can't crew up his entire draft and maybe won't get an F in the post-draft grades for not taking a RT in Round 1.
    
    
17. Falcons: Keanu Neal - S - Florida
    
    Boom! Biggest surprise right here. I don't like Neal as a prospect and I don't like his game. He's a big hitter in a time where the big hit is being legislated out. However, this is more of a Kam Chancellor style pick for the Falcons, plus Neal has been invited to the Draft so he'll probably go in the first 40 picks.
    
    
18. Colts: Ryan Kelly - OT - Alabama
    
    As if this pick is a shock to anyone who follows me on Twitter. Kelly immediately upgrades the Colts entire offense. How, you might ask? Because he makes Andrew Luck more comfortable in the pocket, he opens up big, beautiful running lanes. I mean they'll be the biggest, most beautiful running lanes you'll ever see. And you know what, the AFC South is going to pay for the running lanes. Ha! Alright. But seriously, Kelly is an intelligent center who will easily build a bond with Luck. He's a tough blocker who enjoys finishing plays. Kelly keeps his head on a swivel and doesn't get confused in pass protection. He's incredibly consistent as well, he wasn't penalized once last season and only gave up one sack. Please, tell me protecting Luck isn't the most important thing the Colts could do right now? Kelly does that and more. 
    
    
19. Bills - Kevin Dodd - DE - Clemson
    
    Dodd, like Neal, isn't projected to go in Round 1 by many but got an invite to attend the draft. He's a perfect fit for Rex Ryan and his defense.
    
    
20. Jets - Paxton Lynch - QB - Memphis
    
    Even if Fitzmagic is re-signed, the Jets need a QB for the future and most of the best will be gone by the time their next pick comes along.
    
    
21. Washington - Vernon Butler - DT - Louisiana Tech
    
    Same as Dodd and Neal above, Butler got an invite to the draft so I assume there's a team that wants a massive NT. Washington fits that description.
    
    
22. Texans - Josh Doctson - WR - TCU
    
    The Texans land the best WR in the draft without having to move anywhere, which likely won't happen.
    
    
23. Vikings - Laquon Treadwell - WR - Mississippi
    
    Treadwell gives the Vikings and Teddy an option who can get open on his own but can help take pressure off AP.
    
    
24. Bengals: Corey Coleman - WR - Baylor
    
    The Bengals will likely try to move up to get another WR but in this case they go with the best available, which is arguably the best WR in the class.
    
    
25. Steelers: William Jackson III - CB - Houston
    
    Jackson is a great CB who I could see going in the early teens. He's got great talent. 
    
    
26. Seahawks: Jason Spriggs - OT - Indiana
    
    Seahwaks will be pissed if they can't get Ryan Kelly but they need to improve the OL. Spriggs allows them to do that and gives them an athletic OT.
    
    
27. Packers: Reggie Ragland - ILB - Alabama
    
    The Packers take Ragland, which allows them to move Clay Matthews back to OLB.
    
    
28. Chiefs: Mackensie Alexander - CB - Clemson
    
    The Chiefs pair up another young corner with Marcus Peters, which may be overkill but you can never have enough talented coverage guys.
    
    
29. Patriots: Still Forfeited
    
    This pick is still forfeited. The Court of Appeals correctly overturned the District Court's ruling that Brady is a saint. That exact phrase might have been in the district court's opinion. Well, Brady isn't and the Pats got caught. 
    
    
30. Cardinals: Darron Lee - LB - Ohio State
    
    Arizona loves to take "hybrid" players and put them in a position to succeed. Lee encompasses the hybrid style they love.
    
    
31. Panthers: Jarran Reed - DT - Alabama
    
    I'm not sure where the Panthers are going to go here but they have a lot of DL contracts coming up soon so it may be best to get some protections in case they can't sign them all.
    
    
32. Broncos: Connor Cook - QB - Michigan State
    
    Cook gives Elway a consistent QB that won't make the dumb mistake, for example, like butt fumble.

ROUND 2

1. Browns: Michael Thomas - WR - Ohio State
   
   
2. Titans: Andrew Billings - DT - Baylor
   
   
3. Cowboys: Artie Burns - CB - Miami (FL)
   
   
4. Chargers: Germaine Ifredi - OT - Texas A&M
   
   
5. Ravens: Noah Spence - OLB - Eastern Kentucky
   
   
6. 49ers: Will Fuller - WR - Notre Dame
   
   
7. Jaguars: A'Shawn Robinson - DT - Alabama
   
   
8. Bucs: Emmanuel Ogbah - DE - Oklahoma State
   
   
9. Giants: Tyler Boyd - WR - Pittsburgh
   
   
10. Bears: Karl Joseph - S - West Virginia
    
    
11. Dolphins: Derrick Henry - RB - Alabama
    
    
12. Titans: Cody Whitehair - OG - Kansas State
    
    
13. Raiders: Jonathan Bullard - DE - Florida
    
    
14. Titans: Kamelei Correa - OLB - Boise State
    
    
15. Lions: Robert Nkemdiche - DT - Mississippi
    
    
16. Saints: Josh Garnett - OG - Stanford
    
    
17. Colts: Chris Jones - DT - Mississippi State
    
    This defensive line class is so deep that someone is going to fall. In this case, it's Chris Jones. He would be a dramatic upgrade at the DT position and could play right away. With the right coaching and some work on his technique, he could be a Pro-Bowl player. However, right now, he's still a bit of a project who needs to jump start his motor but he's got a ceiling that's through the roof. No, seriously, it's that high.
    
    
18. Bills: Kenny Clark - DT - UCLA
    
    
19. Falcons: Hunter Henry - TE - Arkansas
    
    
20. Jets: Joshua Perry - OLB - Ohio State
    
    
21. Texans: Vonn Bell - S - Ohio State
    
    
22. Washington: Sterling Shepherd - WR - Oklahoma
    
    
23. Vikings: Kendall Fuller - CB - Virginia Tech
    
    
24. Bengals: Austin Johnson - DT - Penn State
    
    
25. Seahawks: Nick Martin - OC - Notre Dame
    
    
26. Packers: Carl Nassib - DE - Penn State
    
    
27. Steelers: Vadal Alexander - OG - LSU
    
    
28. Chiefs: Jeremy Cash - S - Duke
    
    
29. Patriots: Jerald Hawkins - OT - LSU
    
    
30. Patriots: Jahid Ward - DE - Illinois
    
    
31. Panthers: Shon Coleman - OT - Auburn
    
    
32. Bronocos: Devontee Booker - RB - Utah
    
    

ROUND 3

1. Titans: Xavien Howard - CB - Baylor
   
   
2. Browns: La'Raven Clark - OT - Texas Tech
   
   
3. Chargers: Christian Westerman - OG - Arizona State
   
   
4. Cowboys: Christian Hackenburg - QB - Penn State
   
   
5. 49ers: Kentrell Brothers - ILB - Missouri 
   
   
6. Jaguars: Landon Turner - OG - North Carolina
   
   
7. Ravens: Pahraoh Cooper - WR - South Carolina
   
   
8. Giants: T.J. Green - S - Clemson
   
   
9. Bears: Jordan Jenkins - OLB - Georgia
   
   
10. Dolphins: Su'a Cravens - OLB - Southern California
    
    
11. Bucs: Braxton Miller - WR - Ohio State
    
    
12. Raiders: Jonathan Williams - RB - Arkansas
    
    
13. Titans: Leonte Carroo - WR - Rutgers
    
    
14. Browns: Cardale Jones - QB - Ohio State
    
    
15. Saints: Sebastian Tretola - OG - Arkansas
    
    
16. Eagles: Deion Jones - DE - LSU
    
    
17. Bills: Rashard Higgins - WR - Colorado State
    
    
18. Falcons: Charles Tapper - DE - Oklahoma
    
    
19. Colts: Jaylon Smith - LB - Notre Dame
    
    This may be the biggest dream of dream scenarios that could actually come true. Smith is a Top 5 talent but no one knows if he'll ever play again. In the past few years, big name prospects that have gotten hurt late in the year or during pre-draft workouts have been taken at the end of Round 3. This is where Smith might end up. He also could be taken in Round 2 or Round 4. It's really a toss up but even if he comes back at 80%, I'd take Jaylon Smith at 80% than any other player available at this point.
    
    
20. Jets: Nick Vannett - TE - Ohio State
    
    
21. Washington: Jalen Mills - S - LSU
    
    
22. Texans: Austin Hooper - TE - Stanford
    
    
23. Vikings: Connor McGovern - OG - Missouri
    
    
24. Bengals: Shalique Calhoun - DE - Michigan State
    
    
25. Packers: Maurice Canady - CB - Virginia
    
    
26. Steelers: Kyler Fackrell - OLB - Utah State
    
    
27. Seahawks: Javon Hargrave - DT - South Carolina State
    
    
28. Chiefs: Kenny Lawler - WR - California
    
    
29. Patriots: Will Redmond - CB - Mississippi State
    
    
30. Cardinals: Jack Allen - OC - Michigan State
    
    
31. Panthers: Charles Tapper - DE - Oklahoma
    
    
32. Broncos: Dominique Alexander - ILB - Oklahoma
    
    
33. Lions: Tyler Matakevich - ILB - Temple
    
    
34. Patriots: Makiek Collins - DT - Nebraska
    
    
35. Seahwaks: Sheldon Day - DL - Notre Dame
    
    
36. Broncos: Bronson Kaufusi - DE - BYU