1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE/OLB, South Carolina. Jadeveon Clowney is a once in a generation type of talent. While the concerns about his work ethic are real, and the Texans have a huge need at the most important position in the game, we simply cannot see them passing on such a gifted player like Clowney. He obviously has enough talent to warrant the first overall selection. Nobody can confidently say the same about any of the quarterbacks in this class.
TRADE: Atlanta Falcons send the 6th, 37th, and 103rd picks to the St. Louis Rams for the 2nd pick.
2. Atlanta Falcons Select Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo. The Atlanta Falcons have showed a willingness to move up from the 6th pick in this draft, and the St. Louis Rams apparently would love to move down. Clowney appears to be Atlanta's main target, but a trade with the Rams seems much more realistic. While he may not be a freak athlete like Clowney, Khalil Mack is a great athlete in his own right. Mack is a versatile and tenacious player who would give the Falcons an immediate much needed upgrade to their pass rush.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars Select Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson. The Jacksonville Jaguars could go in many different directions with this pick. QB is certainly an option, but they seem willing to wait until later in the draft on the position. Pass rusher would be an option, but the top two were scooped up right away. The Jaguars need to find an impact player with this pick, and that is exactly what Sammy Watkins will be. Watkins is an elite-level athlete, with impressive speed and quickness. He is also an incredibly sure-handed WR. The Jaguars get a dynamic player who will step in and contribute right away.
4. Cleveland Browns Select Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M. Quarterback is a huge position of need for the Cleveland Browns, and they are swinging for the fences with this pick. The questions about his game translating to the NFL are fair, but nobody can deny the elite playmaking skills that Manziel possesses. He is a great athlete with a NFL arm who would instantly add a ton of energy to the Browns’ offense. Manziel certainly comes with plenty of risk, but he also has a ton of upside, and would instantly be the face of the Browns’ organization.
5. Oakland Raiders Select Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M. The Oakland Raiders have a ton of needs in this draft, and they simply cannot afford to miss with this pick. Taking a QB here will be tempting, but each are too risky for the Raiders here. While no prospect is a sure thing, Jake Matthews is as close as it gets. His upside is limited, but Matthews has great athleticism, work ethic, and technique that will likely carry him to a long career in this league. He could step in immediately and play a solid left tackle for the Raiders.
6. St. Louis Rams Select Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn. The Rams trade down, and still get the guy they would probably have taken with the second pick. Greg Robinson is a big (6'5, 332 lbs.) and athletic offensive tackle prospect with a seemingly endless ceiling. He is an elite-level run blocker, as he uses his incredible size and strength to open massive holes in the run game. While he is inconsistent against the pass rush, Robinson has the skills to make huge improvements with proper coaching. He would be a massive upgrade for the Rams immediately at RT.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M. With Vincent Jackson being the only experienced WR on the roster, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would run to the podium to take Mike Evans if he is still available. Evans is an athletic freak with an incredible combination of size, speed, and leaping ability. He also does a fantastic job of high-pointing the ball in jump ball situations. Evans has massive upside, and paired with Jackson, the Bucs would have one of the best WR duos in the league.
8. Minnesota Vikings Select Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida. The Minnesota Vikings seem ready to move on from the Christian Ponder era, and for good reason. Blake Bortles’ ability to push the ball down the field would make him a great fit for Norv Turner’s vertical passing game. While he may need some time to grow into a NFL QB, Bortles has plenty of potential. With an impressively strong arm, nice athleticism, and strong leadership skills, Bortles has a chance to become great.
9. Buffalo Bills Select Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina. Eric Ebron is a physical tight end with elite athletic ability. He certainly has the potential to become a great TE in the mold of Jimmy Graham or Antonio Gates. As great as Ebron is athletically he does struggle with drops. Obviously, that is not ideal, but his massive upside will make him worth the risk to somebody early in the draft. The Bills land a potentially elite level target for E.J. Manuel with this pick, as they try to help him lead them to the promise land.
10. Detroit Lions Select Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State. The NFC North is loaded with freak athletes at the WR position. If the Detroit Lions expect to keep up, they simply must address their cornerback situation. Chris Houston, Darius Slay, and Rashean Mathis simply is not good enough. Justin Gilbert is an elite athlete at the CB position who excels in man-to-man coverage. His technique and mechanics could use some work, but Gilbert would give the Lions an athlete who would give them a chance against guys like Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall.
TRADE: Chicago Bears send the 14th and 82nd picks to the Tennessee Titans for the 11th pick.
11. Chicago Bears Select Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh. The Bears struggled mightily on the interior defensive line last season. While they have made some moves to help sure up the position in costless agency, they still have plenty of room for improvement. Aaron Donald is a perfect player for their system, and would be worth trading up for in this situation. Donald is a very impressive defensive tackle prospect who is as NFL ready as any prospect in this draft. While his size is somewhat unimpressive (6’1, 285 pounds), Donald is an incredibly explosive player who excels as an inside pass rusher. Donald is a great athlete with a high-motor, making him extremely difficult to block, and a perfect fit for the Bears.
12. New York Giants Select Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan. Taylor Lewan is an impressively athletic tackle prospect with huge upside. While it may not be their biggest need, the Giants’ offensive line could certainly use some work. Lewan is a talented player who will help them up front, potentially in a big way.
13. St. Louis Rams Select Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama. The Rams have a huge hole at the safety position that they must fill in this draft. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is not only the best safety prospect in this class, he is likely the best player available on the board. This pick is a no-brainer for the Rams, as Clinton-Dix’s athleticism and playmaking ability will immediately help their secondary a ton.
14. Tennessee Titans Select Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA. The Tennessee Titans trade down, and still land an incredibly athletic prospect with huge upside, who fits perfectly into their plans on defense. Under new defensive coordinator Ray Horton, the Titans will transition to a 3-4 defense this season. Anthony Barr is a perfect fit as a 3-4 pass rushing outside linebacker. His tools are very raw, but Barr’s athleticism is elite and incredibly intriguing.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers Select Louis Nix III, NT, Notre Dame. The Pittsburgh Steelers could go in many different directions with this pick. Cornerback, Offensive Line, and Wide Receiver are all also options in the first round. That said, Louis Nix is one of the top prospects remaining, and he happens to fill a need on the roster. Nix is a big run stuffing DT with surprising athleticism, who would fit in perfectly as the nose in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense.
16. Dallas Cowboys Select Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri. The Cowboys have a ton of needs they must fill in this draft, and after losing DeMarcus Ware this offseason, a pass rusher is certainly one of them. Kony Ealy is an impressively athletic player who does a great job of getting to the QB. He will not solve all of their problems defensively, but adding Ealy would be a big step in the right direction for Dallas.
TRADE: San Francisco 49ers send the 30th, 61st, and 129th picks to the Baltimore Ravens for the 17th pick.
17. San Francisco 49ers Select Odell Beckham Jr, WR, LSU. With 11 total picks, including six in the top 100, the San Francisco 49ers can certainly afford to move up in the first round. With his impressive speed and quickness, Odell Beckham Jr. will give the 49ers a different dynamic in their passing game. Beckham uses his speed and athleticism to create separation from defensive backs extremely well, and would be another weapon for QB Colin Kaepernick.
18. New York Jets Select Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State. With the 49ers trading up and sniping Beckham from them, the New York Jets add a similar player in WR Brandin Cooks. At 5-foot-9, 189 pounds, Cooks does not have ideal size for a NFL receiver. That said, he does have impressive speed, quickness, and athleticism that allows him to take it to the house at any moment. Cooks also shows great toughness and physicality for a player of his size. The Jets simply need to add offensive playmakers, and Cooks certainly fits that description.
19. Miami Dolphins Select Zack Martin, OL, Notre Dame. The Miami Dolphins have needs all over the offensive line. Zack Martin is a very versatile prospect who has legitimate potential to play all five offensive line positions at a high level. Martin is a tough and physical player who has underrated quickness and athleticism. His versatility would be huge for the Dolphins as they lack impact talent and depth on their offensive line.
20. Arizona Cardinals Select Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville. The Arizona Cardinals have an obvious hole at the safety position, and Calvin Pryor could be the perfect player to fill it. Pryor is a very athletic and aggressive prospect who is not afraid to lay a hit on somebody. Pryor also has nice ball skills. His aggressiveness gets him into trouble at times, but his athleticism makes up for it more often than not. Also, the Cardinals’ defense struggled mightily defending the TE position last season. Pryor has the athleticism to handle this new breed of athletic tight ends.
21. Green Bay Packers Select C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama. Not only is this a case of drafting the best player available, C.J. Mosley also fills a need for the Green Bay Packers. Mosley is a very developed player with good, but not great, athleticism. He is a high-energy player who is always in position and around the ball. Mosley would slot in perfectly next to A.J. Hawk in the middle of the Packers 3-4 defense.
22. Philadelphia Eagles Select Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn. The Philadelphia Eagles lack a legitimate pass rushing option. With impressive speed and athleticism off the edge, Dee Ford would give them exactly what they need. Ford is also an impressively intelligent pass rusher who does a very nice job of setting up opposing blockers. He would fit in immediately and give the Eagles a nice pass rushing option from the outside linebacker position.
TRADE: Jacksonville Jaguars send the 39th and 70th picks to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 23rd pick.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars Select Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville. There are plenty of questions surrounding Teddy Bridgewater, but there is no denying the success he had for three season in college. Bridgewater does not have the typical frame of an NFL quarterback, and his arm strength is average. However, he is an incredible accurate and intelligent QB who has great playmaking ability. Bridgewater is also very poised in the pocket, and shows incredible footwork and mechanics. The Jaguars cease an opportunity to trade up and land their QB for the foreseeable future at a great value.
24. Cincinnati Bengals Select Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State. The Cincinnati Bengals must get younger at the CB position, and adding Darqueze Dennard would be a great step in the that direction. Dennard was a lock-down corner in college, and shows the ability to do the same in the NFL. He would fit perfectly with the Bengals, as they run a ton of press man-to-man coverage, and that is an area in which he excels. Dennard also has great ball skills, which is obviously nice for the CB position. Dennard just seems like a great fit for what the Bengals do defensively.
25. San Diego Chargers Select Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech. The San Diego Chargers struggled to stop the pass last season, and their lack of playmakers at the CB position was a big reason why. Kyle Fuller is a long and athletic corner who would give the Chargers someone with the potential to shut-down elite receivers. Fuller is aggressive in both the pass and run game, and also shows incredible pass route recognition skills. He is a value this late in the first round, at an obvious position of need for the Chargers.
26. Cleveland Browns Select Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State. Ryan Shazier is an exciting prospect with great athleticism, who would be a great fit for the Browns’ defense. New Browns’ head coach Mike Pettine loves athleticism and versatility at LB, and that is exactly what Shazier brings to the table. While he does struggle at times in coverage, Shazier is an impressive pass rusher, and is impactful against the run. He could step in immediately and play a key role for Pettine defensively.
27. New Orleans Saints Select Jason Verrett, CB, TCU. While he does not have ideal size for a CB (5’9, 189 pounds), Jason Verrett is an aggressive and athletic player who would be a great addition to the New Orleans Saints’ defense. Verrett has great leaping ability that helps make up for his lack of size. While he is probably best suited as a nickel corner, I believe he will be able to hold his own against outside receivers. Regardless, with teams going to more three and four WR sets, Verrett should be able to lineup inside most of the time.
28. Carolina Panthers Select Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana. After losing Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, and Ted Ginn this offseason, the Carolina Panthers will definitely be in the market for a few wide receivers in this draft. Cody Latimer is a fast rising prospect, who was once considered a late-round guy before his recent ascent. Latimer is a physical WR with great hands and impressive route running ability. His lack of elite athleticism is certainly concerning, but Latimer is a consistent player who is likely to succeed.
TRADE: Tampa Bay Buccaneers send 38th and 69th picks to the New England Patriots for the 29th and 130th picks.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State. It is certainly not surprising to see the New England Patriots trade out of the first round to land more middle round picks. It feels like they do it every year. On the other hand, Tampa Bay trading back into the first would be a little surprising. At this point, Derek Carr is a great value, and would give the Bucs their possible QB of the future. Carr has the look of a NFL quarterback, especially when you get to see his rocket arm in action. While his footwork needs improvement, and he makes poor decisions at times, Carr shows great leadership abilities and above average accuracy. It always comes back to his arm, as Carr can make any throw on the field.
30. Baltimore Ravens Select Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois. While this is far from the sexiest pick in the draft, the Ravens land an impactful prospect at a position of need, after trading down to pick up assets later in the draft. Sounds like a win. Jimmie Ward is the best coverage safety in this class. Selecting Ward would allow the Ravens to have Matt Elam play strong safety, which plays to his strengths much more.
31. Denver Broncos Select Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia. Protecting Peyton Manning is the number one priority for the Denver Broncos, and Morgan Moses certainly helps that goal. Moses has the athleticism and footwork that gives him positive pass blocking skills. On top of that, Moses is a very strong player who does a nice job opening up holes in the run game. Moses is a potential future LT, with his downside being that of a solid guard or RT.
32. Seattle Seahawks Select Marqise Lee, WR, USC. This is a case of the rich getting richer. Marqise Lee was once considered the top WR in this draft class. While there are concerns about his hands and his ability on deep routes, Lee is a dynamic athlete who was very productive in college. The Seahawks are in a great position by having such few holes on their roster, and could certainly afford to take a risk on a talent like Lee.