NFL Draft 2015 - Live Blog

NFL Draft 2015 - Live Blog (Day One)



#32 New England Patriots
I had Malcolm Brown going at #19 but the Patriots get to take him here. Good value pick which helps address the departure of Vince Wilfork. I don't quite buy his best player ever drafted by New England claim but the Patriots would have been happy to see him still available here Grade B

#31 New Orleans Saints
The Saints second 1st round pick of the draft switches to defense. Stephone Anthony was the defensive leader at Clemson but I've got to question him as a 1st rounder as I don't envision him as a sideline-to-sideline backer, most of his good work will be done enforcing the middle. Grade C

#30 Green Bay Packers
Damarious Randall was a surprise pick to many. He's leapt up draft boards from mid to late round pick into the 1st.It's his coverage skills which will be coveted, such is the way in the modern NFL. He's not the most physical safety and this will need improving. The Packers pick of safety in 1st round for 2nd consecutive season continues a rather bizarre drafting trend by GB; 2010 and 2011 they took OT's (Bulaga and Sherrod) then switched to defensive end 2012 and 2013 (Perry and Jones) and have now gone safety in 2014 and 2015 (Clinton-Dix and Randall). Grade C

#29 Indianapolis Colts
I know they've got Andrew Luck, but they've got a real deep receiving corps anyway. It's not that I don't think Phillip Dorsett isn't going to make it in the NFL but it's not a need (defensive playmaker anyone?), there were better rated receivers available (Jaelen Strong, Dorial Green Beckham, Sammie Coates, Devin Smith) and he's questionable hands. What he does bring is superstar deep speed and it's this that must have turned heads in Indy Grade D

#28 Detroit Lions (after trade with Denver)
Lions move down and take Laken Tomlinson from Duke. 4 yr starter at Guard and team captain with prototype size for the position. He's an anchor on the line, in both positive manner (0 sacks, 0 hits, 4 hurries in 2014) in pass protection and negative manner in the run game as an immobile liability at the second level. Surprised he's made the 1st round but with the Lions so heavily pass reliant maybe it's not such a bad team fit for Tomlinson. Grade C

#27 Dallas Cowboys
With Gurley and Gordon off the board it would have been a reach for Dallas to grab someone like Coleman or Abdullah here. Instead Byron Jones impressive athleticism at the Comine has enticed Dallas to swoop. Grade C

#26 Baltimore Ravens
Brashad Perriman fits a definite team need. Plenty of pedigree - his father played 10 years in Detriot. Perriman averaged over 20 yards a catch in college and whilst his hands are genuine reason for concern I can see him as a deep threat in the Torrey Smith vein for Joe Flacco Grade B

#25 Carolina Panthers
Shaq Thompson has an intriguing skill set - will he stay at LB as per his college career or switch to Safety? I mentioned him in my 1st round mock to Green Bay at #30, but I discounted it as I thought 1st round was too much of a reach, but he went even higher. Can't wait to see how the Panthers plan to utilise him as they must have a unique plan - but I'm grading this as too early for Carolina and Thompson Grade C

#24 Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Front Office claimed they did not have any immediate needs and they were good to their word with the drafting of OT D.J Humphries. Some scouts feel Humphries could become the best tackle in this draft class, but he comes into the NFL after only two seasons at Right Tackle following a switch from Defensive End. Looks well suited to Left Tackle in the pros, but may need a developmental year to convert the prototypical size and athleticism into experience and gameday nous. Grade B+ 

#23 Denver Bronces (trade with Detroit for pick #28, OG Manny Ramirez, 5th rounder 2015, 6th rounder 2016)
And Shane Ray is off the board. I had him going at #6 until the citation for marijuana possession this week. Great natural pass rusher and despite the stupidity of the caution he has responded admirably in facing up to the error in public this week. The pick comes with obvious risk, but is one a successful franchise like Denver can take. The value of getting a true Top 10 talent this late in the round was just too good to pass up on. The leapfrog above Arizona and Baltimore makes a lot of sense too. Grade A-

#22 Pittsburgh Steelers
Great choice for the Steelers here, bearing in mind some pundits had Dupree to Atlanta in the top 10 (though this high would have been a reach in my opinion). He's a little raw but freakish athlete and will be going into a Steelers system that will help develop him. One of those ideal situations for player and franchise Grade B+

#21 Cincinnati Bengals
Andrew Whitworth dared the Front Office to pick a Tackle and they've duly obliged. Cedric Ogbuehi is the 3rd Texas A&M OT to make the 1st round in 3 years (Luke Joeckel & Jake Matthews). For me the pick was a bit off radar. Ogbeuhi has prototype tackle size and balance and looks the part, but is coming off an ACL tear, missing the combine and facing questions on commitment levels in 2014. Potentially great pick but comes at risk Grade C+

#20 Philadelphia Eagles
I suppose Nelson Agholor will be regarded as an anti-climax to the excitement of the attempts to obtain Marcus Mariota, but he was moving up draft boards swiftly and supposedly a target of the Patriots at #32. The bonus to this pick is that the Eagles retain future 1st round picks and star defender Fletcher Cox. Agholor's a good system fit, not the most physical receiver, but an uncanny match with Jeremy Maclin. Was a need pick but can't help feeling the Eagles need to upgrade that secondary more urgently Grade B

#19 Cleveland Browns
Their second pick of the night and another uncharacteristically "safe" pick by the Browns. Cameron Irving can play anywhere on the O-line and will offer great versatility. Ideally suited at Center, the Browns have Alex Mack there at least for one more year. To me, it feels a bit too high, especially with Mack on the roster. Irving has improved year-on-year in college after conversion from DT so maybe the Browns see a particularly high ceiling. I thought Erving would be around on Day Two though. Grade C

#18 Kansas City
No lineman for Andy Reid? OK, he's surprised me there! Kicked off the Washington team for clashes with coaches, Marcus Peters owns the red flags that make this a really risky pick. Probably a good fit for Peters to be matched with Coach Reid but it's a risky pick for a talented corner with issues. Grade C

#17 San Francisco (trade from San Diego)
I'm laughing but not as hard as the SF Front Office. They gain two additional picks and still grab the player they wanted in the first place. Arik Armstead might be a bit unrefined but has potential under the correct tutelage. This gets a bonus grade for the trade. Grade B

#16 Houston 
We'll never know if the Texans were going RB, but they take CB Kevin Johnson who should start day one. Grade B-

#15 San Diego (trade with 49ers - for pick #17, 4th round, 5th round picks)
OK a surprise that the Chargers felt they had to leap 2 places and get past Houston. A 4th and 5th rounder seems a high price for 2 places up. RB was a need pick and Melvin Gordon is a 3-down back (ok will probably spot with Danny Woodhead on 3rd downs). I only downgrade this pick due to the price paid for 2 slots up. Grade B

#14 Miami Dolphins
I had this one mocked from day one. Devante Parker as direct replacement for Mike Wallace. Parker was likely to be available at #14 and with great hands a perfect fit for a West Coast style offense like Joe Philbin's. Grade B

#13 New Orleans Saints
Andrus Peat - Surprised the Saints didn't go defense but with Brees aging I suppose it's vital he's well protected now. I had Peat as 2nd rated lineman and the best yr 1 starting tackle from the class. Bit inconsistent, you'd expect him to be a force in the run game with his size, but he's better in protection. Grade B

#12 Cleveland Browns
Danny Shelton - well I had him going to the Bears at #7 for their new 3-4 defense, He's an absolute behemoth and the Browns 32nd ranked defense will not be ranked their in 2015 if Shelton plays all 16 games. Great to see his delight at being picked too. I bet Roger Goodell didn't expect that bearhug!
Grade B+

#11 Minnesota Vikings
Trae Waynes - great pick for the Vikes. Lot of sense to match him across from Xavier Rhodes. Mike Zimmer has two top corners to play his preferred press coverage schemes and Rhodes has one of the best defensive coaches to rid him of his grab a receiver tendencies. Waynes is super-fast and should not get beat deep by anyone.
Grade A

#10 St Louis Rams
Brave, brave pick. Gurley, if fit, would have been top 10 undoubtedly. He could have fell as he won't be fit until at least pre-season. First RB selected in 1st round since 2012 and all this after serious ACL this year. If he returns 100% could be absolutely awesome. So Nick Foles has now handed off to Lesean McCoy and soon to be Todd Gurley. Some QB's are just born lucky. The recovery from injury will dictate success of this pick but I love the risk & reward. Grade B+

#9 NY Giants
Giants select OT Ereck Flowers. I suspect their #1 target was Scherff but thought maybe Todd Gurley was a leftfield option. Didn't have Flowers as 2nd rated tackle, he's a big beast but can struggle with outside speed rushers. Addresses a need for NY though. Grade C+

#8 Atlanta Falcons
Get in! Atlanta secure pass-rusher Vic Beasley, the lifelong Falcons fan. He's even dressed in Atlanta's red and black. This is a dream pick for Beasley and hopefully the perfect scenario for Atlanta. I didn't expect him here at #8 I'm going to mark the pick down slightly just because Beasley is one dimensional at the moment but fills the most pressing need for the organisation perfectly Grade A-

#7 Chicago Bears
The Bears make my day. Not only do they select WR Kevin White who was my favourite player in the draft class BUT this leaves it wide open for Atlanta to swoop for Clemson's Vic Beasley. If Cutler doesn't make a star of White, it's time to move on from Cutler Grade A

#6 New York Jets
New York go BPA instead of need. It's now a pretty fearsome front four in NY as Leonard Williams finally moves off the board. I bet the Jets can't believe it - they get the top player of the 2015 class sitting still at #6. Grade A

#5 Washington Redskins
Wow ok first real shock of the draft for me. Skins select Brandon Scherff. He's arguably the top O-lineman in the draft but is ideally suited as a power Guard. #5 overall seems too high for an interior lineman, particularly with the top-graded player overall still on the board.
Grade C for making the pick here.

#4 Oakland Raiders
I called WR but thought Kevin White not Amari Cooper. Cooper's very polished and has broken some of Julio Jones records in Bama. Good for Carr to get a #1 receiver. Seems a safe pick to make and very un-Oakland like. Grade B+
This lines up Leonard Williams to the Skins or a strong bargaining chip with pick #5.

#3 Jacksonville Jaguars
Dante Fowler Jr it is.......
Falcons fans may be little bit gutted, wondering how their draft board looks right now?
If Beasley goes between 4 and 7 it gets very difficult. Fowler's a very talented defender, it's between him and Williams as to best defensive player in this class. Gus Bradley will love him. Grade A

Footnotes on 1st two picks.... first time 2 QB's have gone 1 and 2 since Andrew Luck and RGIII; Bucs play Titans in Wk1 of 2015 season - wow!

#2 Tennessee Titans
And it's Mariota......
This was the pick for the blockbuster trade. Disagree with pundits. If Eagles offered two 1st rounders, 3rd rounder and Cox you have to take a top class starter plus 3 high picks over a rookie QB unless you are 100% certain he's one of the very best can't fail QBs. Mariota is high character and could certainly be a class act - compared lots to Colin Kaepernick. Chip Kelly will be gutted. There is no truth in the rumour Kelly is trying to trade himself to Tennessee
Grade B- for the pick, QB is always a risk but Mariota is exceedingly high character
Grade D for not taking the volume of draft picks and quality players from Philly if reported offer was genuine

#1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
OK no real surprise here - Jameis Winston of Florida State goes to the Buccaneers. 
Becomes the fifth QB picked in 1st round by Tampa ---- Josh Freeman (2009), Trent Dilfer (1994), Vinny Testaverde (1987) and Doug Williams (1978) prior; Two of these four have Superbowls rings (though neither with Tampa)
Grade B-  Intelligent QB and has had success wherever he has played and is used to pro-style offense. Off-field issues are major red flags but Buccs will have researched aplenty. It's not an Andrew Luck type of sure thing pick but no-one will be surprised Tampa went in this direction.

One loyal supporter is happy with the 1st pick

20:00 We are on the clock

19:55 5 minutes to go
The Eagles supposedly offering two 1st rounders, 3rd rounder plus Fletcher Cox and other players. No deal thus far. I'd snatch their hands off. 

19:45 15 minute countdown
No news of any deals yet. Presuming Tampa Bay make the obvious choice at #1 then the phones really start ringing for Tennessee. Putting money on them using a lot of their allocated minutes before submitting pick or trade.

19:30 Cutler to Titans?
Looks like Chicago have spoken to Tennessee about a deal to move to #2 but the Titans don't appear to be interested in Jay Cutler as trade bait

19:!5 The Gold Carpet
Potential draftees well trained in their standard responses of "loving to go to any of the 32 teams" as they interview with their families on the gold carpet. Waiting for someone to break the standard response but it's just not going to happen....

15:55 Off the table?
NFL.com reports La'el Collins agent is drying to pull him from the draft following the death of ex-girlfriend Brittany Mills. It's believed Collins is not a suspect but his draft stock may have fallen. It's believed they are targeting entry into the Supplemental Draft. It's a dangerous precedent - what happens when red flag behaviours occur - would a Shane Ray type incident allow a player to request a similar route?

08:30 The Morning Line
Plenty of pre-draft hype this morning. On the back of NFL.com reporting last night that Eagles slot corner Brandon Boykin and and LB Mychal Kendricks are on the trading block for draft picks, NBC's ProFootbalkTalk lead with the news that the Eagles would consider trading Fletcher Cox to help a move up the boards. Mariota mania continues with reports of Cleveland offering two 1st round picks to the Titans for their #2 overall according to ESPN's Pat McManamon whilst Ken Whisenhunt continues to talk up Mariota as a QB fit for the Titans. In other rumours, NBC report Seattle's Bruce Irvin could be a trade target for Atlanta but stories surrounding Adrian Peterson to Arizona or Dallas have quietened despite AP alledgedly telling local reporters in Texas that playing in Dallas 'would be nice'. Meanwhile SI's Robert Klemko has the Falcons trading up to #3 in his latest Mock Draft here which includes a link to a nice report on Fowler including why he wants the Falcons to come calling on draft day


03:17 Chicago Local Time -----  The calm before the storm. 
Mock drafts aplenty are in by the experts, a few hours sleep grabbed by many, whilst behind the scenes deals are discussed and debated within each franchise. The biggest question on everyones mind is --- the blockbuster trade for Marcus Mariota. Will it happen? What will it cost? Who will pull the trigger? Will Tennessee sit pretty or any of the suitors such as Cleveland or San Diego make a move? Philadelphia fans are still wondering if Chip Kelly will gamble the house to obtain the QB he recruited out of high school, developed into a successful college QB and try to re-create the success in his system in the pros?

Falcons needs entering the draft

Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft 2015

A more in-depth look at the Falcons needs and potential players in the upcoming draft

Major Requirements
 - DE/OLB pass rusher
 - Running Back
 - Offensive Line

Upgrades & Depth
 - Tight End
 - Wide Receiver
 - Secondary
 - Linebacker

The pass-rush

The Falcons failure to address the pass-rush via personnel or scheme ultimately led to the dismissal of Mike Smith. Since 2012 the team has ranked no higher than 28th in terms of defensive sacks during the regular season and posted a measly 22 sacks during 2014 (equal with Justin Houston's individual effort in KC). The Falcons have continually failed to address the pass-rush via the draft in recent years. Only Rashede Hageman (2nd round, 2014) has been drafted in the first 3 rounds of any draft spanning 2011-14, and efforts in free agency have largely been ineffective in improving the dire pass-rush too.

Thomas Dimitroff remains but with a weakened role, Scott Pioli now heads up scouting and 1st year HC Dan Quinn holds overall say on final roster. They've signed Adrian Clayborn on a 1-yr deal from Tampa Bay in free agency and Quinn has brought in former Seahawk O'Brien Schofield as a role player, but they still need more help.

The #1 aim of the draft should be to provide impetus to the pass-rush. The Falcons pick at #8 so will like have at least 1 of the top 3 pass-rushers still on the board. This is the most important draft pick since Matt Ryan and they need to hit a home-run on a pass-rusher.

The candidates

Dante Fowler - Florida
Pro: Versatile, fast with long arms. Compares favourably with Khalil Mack from 2014 class.
Con: Pass-rush technique requires improvement, relies too much on his physical skills;
Verdict: Likely gone before #8, will be high on the Falcons board.

Shane Ray - Missouri
Pro: Explosive power, tough with fast hands. 3rd in nation with 14.5 sacks and 22 TFL's in 2014. Versatile enough to play as DE or pass-rush 3-4;
Con: Not the longest arms, can get pegged by bigger tackles;
Verdict: Good fit for any system, thus will be attractive to many teams and could be gone before #8.

Vic Beasley - Clemson
Pro: Explosive former RB and possibly best pass rusher in class (33 sacks in final 39 games in college). Tore up the combine. Boyhood Falcons fan.
Con: May need more power in pro's without sacrificing speed. Some questions on competitive nature.
Verdict: Ideally suited as a 3-4 rusher, Beasley will be a popular pick if he's on the board at #8.

Randy Gregory - Nebraska
Pro: Tall, long arms, productive. Room to add power. Stronger than expected. Can play on line or up.
Con: Positive drug tests are major red flag. Can be manhandled by bigger linemen.
Verdict: Would have been top 10 pick but drug test omissions could see a slide. A pick you're not sure you want your team to risk but would hate your rivals to draft. If the 3 guys above are gone at #8 it's going to be a very tough decision for the Front Office.

Other Options : Bud Dupree, Arik Armisted;

Late Round Sleeper :
Max Valles - Virginia
Pro: Tall, rangy. Led team with 9 sacks in '14. 13 batted passes last 2 yrs. Can play hand down or up.
Con: Sack totals skewed by plays where didn't beat lineman. Raw and slow to process at times. More athlete than football player right now.
Verdict: Would be development option but an interesting choice if he's still available in the later rounds. Experts have him going anywhere between Rds 3-7.

Running Back

The Falcons seem high on 2nd-yr RB Devonta Freeman who will see his role expand (65 carries, 30 receptions as a rookie) in his sophomore year, but he may be more suited to a complementary role than the workhorse the current depth chart indicates. The only back-up to Freeman with any NFL experience is special teams demon Antone Smith who only has 29 career carries to his name.

The ideal scenario here is the availability of Todd Gurley early in Round 2. No RB has been selected in the 1st round since 2012 but it's highly likely two players (Gurley and Melvin Gordon) could be taken within the first 32 picks. The unknown with Gurley is whether injury concerns ward teams away from spending a 1st round pick. The Georgia bulldog would be a popular pick in Atlanta and is a top 5 talent but coming off an ACL tear. Assuming the high likelihood that Gurley is unavailable, it will be interesting to see how high Atlanta prioritise a pick at RB. This draft contains a decent pool of backs who are likely to be available in rounds 2, 3 and 4 which could all warrant serious consideration.

The candidates

Todd Gurley - Georgia
Pro: Full set of speed, power and balance (2014 - 61% of rush yards after contact), good safe hands;
Con: Injuries, limited experience in pass protection
Verdict: Unlikely to be available by Falcons 2nd round pick. Pass rush higher priority?

Ameer Abdullah - Nebraska
Pro: High character. Highly productive, decisive runner. Good receiver too - no drops in last 2 years.
Con: Lacks ideal size and top-end speed, frame not suited to pass protection. Ball security issues.
Verdict: Would be a likely 1st round back if bigger, a steal for the Falcons if he made 3rd round.

Tevin Coleman - Indiana
Pro: Decisive, powerful runner, very physical style. Reaches top-speed quick and is fast.
Con: Impatient runner, doesn't break many tackles. Receiving skills need improvement
Verdict: Ticks the workhorse box and has breakaway speed. Could excel given right backs coach.

Jay Adayi - BYU
Pro: Versatile, good feet and can fight tough inside yards and break outside
Con: Red flags from 2011 (torn ACL and arrest for stealing) will be investigated.
Verdict: Could be a chain-mover option with alternative style to Freeman if he lasts until 3rd round.

Late Round Sleeper
Jeremy Langford - Michigan State
Pro: Productivity; Hard-nosed style; Workhorse back; More than capable in pass protection;
Con: Impatient runner at times, habit of running into blockers; Heavy workload in college;
Verdict: Relatively unheralded in what's a deep RB class, some scouts feel there is little difference between Langford and the more acclaimed Abdullah and Coleman. Could be exceptional value if he falls into later rounds;

Offensive Line

Kyle Shanahan's zone blocking scheme calls for mobile O-linemen and it will be interesting to see if this drives personnel changes within the group. The Falcons have yet to overhaul although they did release long serving Justin Blalock in the off-season, but this was more a salary cap move than scheme fit. The rest of the group returns with the addition of free agency signing Mike Person who has yet to show any substantial playing time in the league. I can't see the Falcons addressing the O-line in the first round unless an attractive trade offer downwards was accepted, but could see a pick potentially spent between rounds 2-4 on one of a number of guys who could become solid starters with a year to develop into the system. I've taken a look at guys who may be available around that time.

The candidates

Cameron Irving - Florida State
Pro: 2-yrs experience at LT before switch inside. Good athleticism, footwork; Improved each year;
Con: Limited experience at C; Can be overpowered with bull-rush, needs more leg strength;
Verdict: Can play multiple positions though best suited inside. Only played 2 years on O-line after switch from DT but shown improvement each year. Would offer Falcons versatility.

Jake Fisher - Oregon
Pro: Scheme fit with good footwork, likely move to guard but has ability to play RT;
Con: Needs to bulk-up and add power; One of most penalised tackles in 2015 draft class;
Verdict: Falcons may eye Fisher as ideal zone-block fit to cross-train over multiple positions.

Ali Marpet - Hobart & William Smith
Pro: Scheme fit with good feet quickness. 1st ever div III at senior bowl. Impressive combine.
Con: Huge leap from small school and inferior opposition to the NFL. Needs to bulk-up;
Verdict: Great story and may suit Falcons zone-block scheme. Huge learning curve in his first year and would probably suit a switch from tackle to G/C. A steal if he makes 4th round.

Tre Jackson - Florida State
Pro: 3-yr starter for successful FSU team,
Con: Potential conditioning issues - reliant on size than skill
Verdict: Didn't stand out for me on tape, but is projected as 2nd round pick. Think he would suit power system rather than Falcons zone scheme, I'd prefer the more versatile but less experienced Cameron Erving from same O-line


Upgrades & Depth

Tight End

Prior to free agency the Falcons only had Levine Toilolo on their roster at tight end. He's been largely disappointing even as a large end-zone target at 6'8 and appears suited to a back-up role. No run was made for Julius Thomas but they did address the position with the signings of Jacob Tamme and Tony Moeaki. It's safe to say Matt Ryan will continue to miss Tony Gonzalez but the position is stronger than in 2014. With three tight ends on the roster it's possible the Falcons won't address the position with a draft pick. However, some late round options such as Rutgers Tyler Croft could compete for playing time and it remains possible that the highest rated player at the position, Maxx Williams, could be available when the Falcons pick in the 2nd round.

Wide Receiver

It's possible a mid-to-late round pick could be spent on a receiver to provide depth. Harry Douglas was allowed to depart in free agency, albeit replaced by Leonard Hankerson. Roddy White is not getting any younger and durability, which was a strength for White over many years, is starting to become a concern. Julio Jones is too good to not match-up with a dangerous #2 receiver and this draft class, like 2014's, seems to have real depth to it.

Secondary

The Falcons are only 3 years removed from selecting Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford in consecutive rounds of the draft. Alford doesn't have the size that Coach Quinn had at his disposal in Seattle and therefore could be seen by the new coaching staff as a better slot option than starting corner. Trufant may also not stack up in physical stature to the Legion of Boom but is a star on the rise and can only get better with support from a consistent pass-rush. The Falcons allowed Robert McClain, Dwight Lowery, Javier Arenas and Josh Wilson to leave in free agency and in return signed only Phillip Adams. It's possible further depth is secured via the draft, potentially fitting the Seahawk mould of a tall, physical defensive back, either at Corner or Safety.

Linebacker

The position most addressed during free agency with Brooks Reed, Justin Durant and O'Brien Schofield all added to provide competition in an area of weakness. We've addressed pass rush options already above, but it's likely that Atlanta considers another ILB at some point to provide cover and special teams skills.

NFL Mock Draft 2015

It's  less than a week until the NFL's annual collegiate draft and it's time to have a pop at a bit of a mock draft. Here goes it for 2015 . . .

1.       Tampa Bay – Jameis Winston  QB Florida St 

The general consensus is that the Bucs will take Jameis Winston #1. They allowed Luke McCown to leave via free agency and have only Mike Glennon on their roster. I think Glennon's a serviceable option but when you have #1 pick it's usually an opportunity to draft a face of a franchise. The Bucs recently drafted young weapons Mike Evans and Austin Seferian Jenkins, and need someone capable of getting the ball into their hands more often.

I think it almost certain a QB will be selected 1^st overall for the 8^th time in the last 12 years. I don’t think this pick is a Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck kind of sure thing pick. However, Winston is pro-ready and a confident and intelligent gameday QB who has successfully run a pro-style offense in college. He’s an on field leader who has incredibly only lost 4 competitive games in total over his last 4 years of high school and college. Winston has received criticism for a high number of interceptions but the main knocks on Winston which make this a higher risk pick are for numerous off-the-field misdemenaours. If the Buccaneers decide these were down to immaturity and not character flaws then I believe he will be chosen #1 overall. If they believe Winston is a red flag, I'd suggest the Bucs should be looking Leonard Williams or to stockpile some picks.

2.       Tennessee Titans – Marcus Mariota QB Oregon 

In 2012 Quarterbacks were selected with the first two picks of the draft (Andrew Luck and RGIII) for the first time since Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb went #1 and #2 in 1999. It’s not a strong QB class and coupled with a barren free agency pool where arguably the best free agent, the ex-Titans cast-off Jake Locker opted for retirement aged 26, there could be a scramble for essentially the only other QB with a 1^st round scouting grade.

I've changed this pick so often, usually plumping for Leonard Williams, but with the Titans making noises about their QB bargain Zach Mettenberger in the 6th round last year I start to feel suspicious.... In a weak division the Titans could be a great spot for Marcus Mariota to develop into an NFL calibre QB. Mariota is definitely not a sure fire pick having played his college career from the shotgun. What he is though is mobile, athletic and high character.  I’m torn on this one, if the Tennessee Front Office plays safe they go with Leonard Williams whose regarded as the best player in the draft, but if they roll the dice on QB it’s a brave pick but could provide a lift to the franchise Eddie George labelled as rudderless.

3.       Jacksonville Jaguars – Dante Fowler Jr DE/OLB Florida 

In my mock of 2014 I wrote verbatim that the last time the Jaguars failed to pick outside the top 10 was back in 2007 and here they are again, projected to select a player #3 overall. This is a team with many needs who could be in a prime position to stock some picks from a QB needy team should Mariota be available. I never really know where Jacksonville will go, they always surprise and go with their board (Tyson Alualu in 2010 and Blake Bortles in 2014) regardless of where they are predicted to be selected by draft experts, which you have to admire to a certain extent.

Looking objectively at the Jaguars I’d say they need playmakers - defensively via pass-rush and offensively via WR and RB. Based on the fact that no-one picks RB's high anymore I'd discount this but would it be a huge shock for Jacksonsville to buck that trend? Even for the Jaguars that would be a surprise. I'd personally take West Virginia WR Kevin White here, but think it's unlikely. I think the Jaguars jump at Leonard Williams if he’s on the board, based on best player, or take an explosive difference maker such as Dante Fowler Jr or Vic Beasley - I'll ignore Randy Gregory and Shane Ray as options following recent drug related admissions. The Jags have been burnt with red-flag draftee Justin Blackmon and will be looking for a player they can keep on the field. I'm leaning towards Fowler as the choice right now.

4.       Oakland Raiders – Kevin White WR West Virginia

Leonard Williams, the supposed best player in the draft class is still available and the Raiders will be interested. They have also made noises about being open for business with a potential trade partner. However, Derek Carr was a relative success in his rookie year and the Raiders will be looking to provide him with a better supporting cast. I’m thinking a receiving target would benefit Carr most picking at #4. There's an argument that the Raiders bide their time until round 2 in a deep receiver class, so there is still a strong case for Williams being the pick here.

However, the highlight of the combine for me was West Virginia’s Kevin White who had a monster day and moved himself above Amari Cooper into the top receiver available. The knock on White was his top-end deep speed - but his 40 time of 4.35 displayed enough deep speed to add to his portfolio of 109 receptions in 2014. He would likely provide Carr with a legitimate #1 receiver immediately. I think he could become the best Raiders receiver since Tim Brown, he really looks a beast.

5.       Washington Redskins – Leonard Williams DE/DT USC

Rumours were that the Skins were eyeing up a trade with Philadelphia if Mariota remained on the board. I don't buy them helping a divisional rival, but can see a potential deal with Cleveland here who own 2 first round picks and may be targeting a leapfrog of the Jets to gain Mariota.

However, I have Mariota mocked off the board regardless. With Leonard Williams still available I think there could still be suitors for the #5 pick in a trade, but assuming the Skins remain at #5, will they be looking O or D? 

Fundamentally I’m unsure of the match-up with Jay Gruden and RGIII as scheme / philosophy fit, but I think it's one of those marriages that both HC and QB need to make work or they're out of the capital. With this in mind, maybe a WR weapon might be of interest to aid a return to form for the struggling passer.

It’s pretty obvious that this Washington team is devoid of talent on defense outside of Ryan Kerrigan and Jason Hatcher. Injury prone Brian Orakpo was allowed to leave in free agency so Washington may look to acquire pass-rush help, but with Leonard Williams still on my board, I hardly think Washington can believe their luck handing in the card for the powerful lineman who can probably play anywhere on the line and may be an ideal 3-4 end fit.  Should the Skins actually trade down I think the priority would change to O-line, but I don’t think any O-linemen are rated highly enough in this draft class to go top 5.

6.       New York Jets – Shane Ray DE/OLB Missouri

A lot of people are predicting Mariota to the Jets. This would mean giving up on their 2013 2^nd round pick Geno Smith after only 2 seasons. There is a new regime in New York and they are not tied to previous draft picks, so I could certainly see it happening. 

However, aside from the fact I have Mariota as gone, I suspect a move to the Jets could be a disastrous fit for the unassuming passer in the cauldron of New York.  

Instead, my guess is another addition to the D, new HC Todd Bowles loves to blitz and I've previously had Shane Ray on their board due to his dynamic pass rush ability and versatility to fit in a number of defensive systems. However, an injury concern followed by a marijuana possession citation this week is likely to lead to a drop down draft boards by many teams. I think it more likely now that the Jets switch their attention to Clemson's Vic Beasley as their guy.

7.       Chicago Bears – Danny Shelton NT Washington

The Chicago defense of '85 is all but a distant memory - last year it was porous and a new 3-4 scheme is to be adopted by Vic Fangio in 2015. They face Green Bay twice a season and Matt Stafford and Megatron twice also. Consequently I think CB could be a consideration on D, but the switch to 3-4 also requires a powerful plugger in the middle - hence my leaning towards the huge Danny Shelton.

The trade of Brandon Marshall could bring into play someone such as Alabama’s Amari Cooper as a polished replacement at receiver, but I’m going to stick with man mountain Shelton to Chicago, on the basis of him being such a good fit in their move to a 3-4 system and the deep class at receiver in 2015.

It's a hard pick to predict - pass rush, DB, or even O-line. There are a lot of holes to fill on this team. They could even be a trade up target for someone wishing to leapfrog Atlanta for a pass-rusher.

8.       Atlanta Falcons – Vic Beasley OLB Clemson

This is where it gets interesting.... I don’t think there is any secret that the Falcons are targeting dramatic improvements defensively with the hire of Dan Quinn as HC. The glaring absence of a pass rush since John Abraham departed is something the Falcons have failed to address in recent drafts, it’s now imperative it is addressed successfully this time around.

Picking at #8 the Falcons know they are likely to have at least 1 of the top 4 ranked pass rushers available here. The revelations of Randy Gregory's failed drug tests coupled with Shane Ray's marijuana citation this week now leave the waters particularly murky. It could be a special moment for Vic Beasley to be joining his boyhood team, he blew up the combine, but some feel the best fit for Beasley may be more of a 3-4 look than Atlanta's D. He's an athletic freak but some scouts suggest he is a bit one dimensional at present, but that's surely a great project for Dan Quinn to earn his hire. Other mocks keep mentioning the raw Bud Dupree as an option and with Gregory and Ray on the slide this is conceivable. Arthur Blank has talked about relaxing the character scoring on their scouting evaluation so maybe Randy Gregory or Shane Ray do remain options, but I'm not sure I get that feeling from either Thomas Dimitroff or Coach Quinn. I'm sticking with the Pick Vic option right now, but this is while I consider the Jets pick at #6. There seem to be rumours coming out of Atlanta that a move up the draft could be in order. If so, I think this could be a consequence of yesterdays news with Shane Ray - the Falcons now needing to move up to secure Dante Fowler or Beasley.

Other pressing needs for the franchise to address in later rounds will be further pass rush help plus slots at linebacker, tight end and running back to fill. A real exciting gamble would be for Atlanta to bypass the pass-rushers again and go hometown hero and bring in Georgia RB Todd Gurley - I'm not sure Thomas Dimitroff could be seen to abandon the pass-rush problems in yet another draft class though.

I've got a keen eye on Jay Adayi, Tevin Coleman or Ameer Abdullah as possible second or third round picks at RB, or Michigan State's Jeremy Langford in a later round. I also like the look of small school O-lineman Ali Marpet if he was around in the 3rd, who not only would be an amazing story as the first player ever drafted from Hobart & William, but could be a good zone block fit in Kyle Shanahan's system. If TE Maxx Williams hasn't slid into the Falcons hands in Round 2, I'd like the selection of Tyler Kroft from Rutgers in the 4th or 5th round. I've seen a fair bit of him and he's more athletic than people realise and is off the radar a little bit due to poor QB play at Rutgers. He'd be surprisingly worthwhile value and shows versatility from the position.

9.       New York Giants – Amari Cooper WR Alabama

The Giants could be looking to improve either side of their lines in the draft. Based on an already thin O-line free agency market combined with projecting the top 3 edge rushers off the board, I’m assuming that the Giants will look to bolster the O-line with their first pick of the draft. The top rated pick here is Scherff who might not be top 10 talent but is arguably the best O-lineman available in 2015. My only consideration here may be that Scherff is better suited to guard and a high 1st round pick on an interior lineman could be a stretch.

The Giants run defense was ranked last in yards per rush (4.9 avg) in 2014 and should Danny Shelton slip past the Bears he could come into play here. However, I project him off the board by now.

On this basis, I'm going for a leftfield selection and going WR – Victor Cruz injury woes have mounted and the addition of another playmaker opposite Odell Beckham would give the Giants a fearsome group of receivers. Alabama's Amari Cooper may not be as explosive as former Alabama wideout Julio Jones, but he has broken some of his school records and is a polished prospect ready for the pros.

10.   St Louis Rams – Brandon Scherff OG/OT Iowa

The Rams are woefully short on the O-line and are dropping a new QB into their system in 2015. They need to provide a pocket to help the new passer, so #1 priority is likely to be the O-line. This team isn't too far away from playoffs with good QB play but whether they have that QB in place yet or not I do not know. I wonder if Mariota would be a trade up target if he gets past the Titans?

I'm not completely sold on Nick Foles, and I have to wonder whether rumours of Sam Bradford 's retirement threat led to the Rams pulling the trigger on a rare QB-QB trade in an effort to get a return on a former 1st rounder? This might be unfair on Foles who is only 1 year removed from his breakout season in Philly, but I still think there would be a likelihood of a Mariota pick here if he was available. 

Instead with Mariota gone, I think the Rams will still look to help the offensive side of the ball via O-line support or an explosive WR, though CB could be an equally tempting move. 

Brandon Scherff is regarded as the top lineman in the draft and would be an immediate plug-in at a position of need, so I'll lean that way here.

11. Minnesota Vikings - Trae Waynes CB Michigan St

If the AP situation becomes clearer this may influence any draft decisions in Minnesota. Right now I don't see a deal happening and I expect AP back in Minnesota. 

I'm projecting Mike Zimmer to look to bring in a physical press corner to match up with Xavier Rhodes and allow Minnesota to challenge receivers and put pressure on opposing QB's in a division which includes Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford and (ahem) Jay Cutler. 

Trae Waynes is the obvious choice here - he was the fastest corner at the combine and excels in man-to-man coverage. Left on an island in college, he conceded only 2 receiving TD's over the last 2 seasons. The only knock on him has been his tendency to grab receivers. This needs coaching out of him in the NFL or the 9 penalties conceded over the last 2 seasons in college will multiply in the pros.

If an AP trade happens in the meantime, Minnesota may need a change of strategy to focus on keeping pressure off the shoulders of 2nd year QB Teddy Bridgewater. I could see them looking at RB's Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley to help ease the burden. The wildcard pick here could be WR Devante Parker - which would be a reunion with Teddy Bridgewater's #1 target in college.

12. Cleveland Browns - Randy Gregory OLB Nebraska

I'd love Mariota to be around at this point to test how much Cleveland likes Johnny Manziel. I don't think he'll be available, but won't discount an Aaron Rodgers like slide or indeed a Browns trade-up courtesy of their 2 first round picks.

However, I'm suggesting another risky pick, by way of Nebraska's Randy Gregory. I suspect the Browns may shy away from Gregory, following issues with previous red flag draftees Josh Gordon, Johnny Manziel and Justin Gilbert. They've seemingly wasted these high picks on players with debatable personality traits.

However, based on talent alone, Randy Gregory could have gone top 5. A failed drug test at the combine - not his first either apparently - means that Gregory is on the slide and a high risk / reward for someone brave enough to pull the trigger. The Browns have a need on defense and I'm going Randy Gregory at #12 to stop him getting to the Saints!

13. New Orleans Saints - Jalen Collins CB LSU

The Saints have both leading pass rushers hitting free agency after 2015 and I suspect they will be hoping Randy Gregory continues to slide down draft boards and falls into their lap. Failing this, other options remain with high-ceiling / low-floor pick such as Bud Dupree or Arik Armstead if they focus on the pass-rush.

The departure of Jimmy Graham, whilst irreplaceable, could lead to the Saints looking for an offensive weapon to placate Drew Brees (Parker, Perriman, Strong). Parker seems to be the #3 ranked receiver, but Strong is a bigger target who has been compared with former Saint Marques Colston and even Larry Fitzgerald in his style of play. However, I'm going to factor in the Saints owning two first round picks and wishing to prioritise defense initially.

On this basis, my scenario would be  for the Saints to stay on defense but focus on improving the secondary, possibly with LSU's highly rated but inexperienced corner Jalen Collins or maybe risking the talented but troublesome Marcus Peters.

14. Miami Dolphins - Devante Parker WR Louisville

The Dolphins could have interest in OT Marcus Peat here and could also be looking CB if Waynes or Collins remained on the board. However, I'm going to push for a replacement for Mike Wallace at WR. There are a host of good WR's available in this draft and whilst Parker may not have been the most eye-popping at the combine he owns possibly the best hands in the entire class. He's been attributed with only 3 drops in his entire college career and should make a #1 receiver for a West Coast style offense such as in Miami.



15. San Francisco 49ers - Arik Armstead DT/DE Oregon

The 49ers have a number of needs to address in the early rounds of this years draft. The O-line needs some help following the departure of Mike Iupati and I'd certainly expect a WR to be taken at some point in the first 3-4 rounds. There is also a need for LB depth following the retirements of veteran Patrick Willis and Chris Borland after a single NFL season, and finally the defensive line is in desperate need of an injection of youth.

Upon this basis I think the 49ers will look for the best player available at any of these positions of need. In likelihood this will likely result in a DT or DE be selected. I'm plumping for the raw Arik Armstead who flashed serious signs of improvement in his last year at Oregon after he left the basketball team to focus on football. He draws comparisons with Calais Campbell with his ability to play either end or inside on the D-line. The 49ers would be happy with this pick if they were to get Campbell type play out of Armstead.

16. Houston Texans - Andrus Peat OT Stanford

In my opinion the biggest need for this team is at QB but it's a pretty poor class overall and at #16 the Texans aren't really likely to be able to consider addressing the position. 

There is talk of the Texans looking towards WR following the departure of Andre Johnson, but I think it more important for the team to address the need at OT. Andrus Peat may be ideally suited to RT but could probably play both positions, and could certainly plug and play at RT as a rookie. In a deep class of WR's it's probably most likely the Texans address the O-line first.

Should the Texans look to defense in the 1st round, I think the likeliest option would be at cornerback.


17. San Diego Chargers - Todd Gurley RB Georgia

Ignoring the Philip Rivers trade rumours, the Chargers lost Ryan Matthews in free agency and sitting at #17 are likely to be in a position to have their pick of running backs as a replacement.

No RB has been selected in the 1st round since 2012 - the inauspicious picks of Trent Richardson, Doug Martin and David Wilson were the last occasions, but it's time to buck the trend. The obvious option is a choice between the ultra-productive Melvin Gordon or the arguably more talented but injured (ACL tear) Todd Gurley who may only just be coming to fitness during the pre-season.

18. Kansas City Chiefs - La'el Collins OT FSU

I was once told that Andy Reid always takes linemen high in his draft and the Chiefs have followed this trend since 2012 (Dontari Poe, Eric Fisher, Dee Ford). The need to replace Dwayne Bowe at WR was addressed via Jeremy Maclin in free agency so all I can see here are the Chiefs following the Andy Reid blueprint and in this instance going O-line with La'el Collins. Don't ignore a potential trade-down here.


19. Cleveland Browns - Malcolm Brown DT Texas

The second of the Browns picks is scheduled at #19, assuming no huge trade up earlier in the day. This is a big draft for Ray Farmer and I do expect moves. In this situation I'm going with the Browns sticking to defense with their second pick and looking for value on the interior D-line. There is a definite need here and Malcolm Brown from Texas offers versatility inside as a 3-4 or 4-3 tackle whom experts are seeing rise up their draft boards. 

There are other positions to address and if the Browns retain both their first round picks it's possible they split them between offensive and defensive picks such as in 2014. If this were the case, WR could likely come into play and there are plenty of viable options at the position still such as Breshad Perriman, Jaelen Strong and Dorial Green-Beckham. O-line could also be a possibility. 


20. Philadelphia Eagles - Landon Collins S Alabama


No reunion for Chip and Marcus here. The Eagles could consider raw prospect Bud Dupree if still available, or another Oregon reunion for Kelly and Arik Armstead, but the Eagles were probably a QB and defensive secondary away from a serious challenger last year.

Landon Collins is inconsistent but a playmaker and easily the best safety available this year. He's better as a downhill safety and can offer some pop across the middle and in run support. He may not be the most convincing in deep coverage but if allowed to attack could generate some big plays.

Other logical options here could be a WR following Jeremy Maclin's free agency departure, or maybe the drafting of an OT prospect to eventually replace the immense Jason Peters.

In terms of some later round fanciful picks for the Eagles - Mychal Kendricks younger brother Eric could be around late in Round 2 and would offer LB help, so too could Virginia's Eli Harold who could be a nice OLB pass rush prospect, and what about former Duck Ifo Ekpre-Olomu whose injuries could see his stock fall and be a bargain pick for Chip in rounds 3-4?

21. Cincinnati Bengals - T.J Clemmings OT Pittsburgh

Do the Bengals reach for a need such as their secondary or draft based on rating? I'm going halfway house with the Bengals, aware of both OT's potentially hitting free agency at the end of 2015, looking for OT depth. Because of this they can go with the rd1 prospect rated with the higher potential ceiling.

Scouts believe Clemmings protection technique has issues but they are perceived as coachable, and if ironed out could see him as a potential Pro Bowler. He's only a one year starter on the O-line in college, but personnel evaluators are reminding people that the same was true of the Eagles Lane Johnson who went #4 overall in 2013.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Eddie Goldman DT/NT Florida State

The end of the Troy Polamalu era, and for certain he can't be replaced in this draft. The Steelers defense, so long a strength, needs further investment from this years draft, and it starts here for Pittsburgh.

I've had Bud Dupree down as a selection for a while,  which would provide an improvement to the pass-rush, but I've changed my mind and opted for Florida State's Eddie Goldman, who would be a good-fit in the Steelers system and would do everything that would be asked for of a Steelers noseguard. He may not provide the dynamic pass rush of Dupree, but is strong against the run and will remain a threat on passing downs.

23. Detroit Lions - Michael Bennett DT Ohio State

The biggest free agency story outside of Philadelphia was Ndamukong Suh's free agency movements. With Suh finally off to Miami and a $114m contract over 6-yrs, the Lions quickly addressed his departure via a trade with the Ravens for Haloti Ngata, which is a great signing but purely a short term measure.

The franchise know that Suh can't be replaced and it may be unfair to even select a DT following his departure, but I'm going to suppose that the Lions look for a successor and since fellow 1st round pick Nick Fairley also departed in free agency, there is necessity at the position. 

I have the Lions taking Ohio State's Michael Bennett, which may be a little bit of a reach as he's regarded as borderline 1st/2nd round. He may lack Suh's power but is a disciplined up-field disruptor according to scouts in the know and was a team leader in college.

24. Arizona Cardinals - Bud Dupree OLB Kentucky

I've considered this one at length. I know Bruce Arians is interested in upgrading the running attack and would love to coax Adrian Peterson to Arizona. Failing this, I have the outstandingly productive Melvin Gordon on the board to tempt the Arizona Front Office.

I've also got WR Jaelen Strong on the board, who Mike Mayock compared to Larry Fitzgerald during the combine, so who better to learn from than the man himself in Arizona?

However, I've an inkling that the Cardinals want to address departures at LB and former basketball player Bud Dupree brings power and athleticism, even if maybe not yet the strength to be an every down player initially.

25. Carolina Panthers - D.J Humphries OT Florida

It's the part of the 1st round where conflict of need and the board becomes noticeable. Fortunately for the Panthers I have a couple of 1st round graded O-linemen available and a nice match with one of Carolina's pressing needs. They could also reach for a WR need with Strong and Perriman moving up a number of experts draft boards recently or the wildcard of Dorial Green Beckham who possesses round 1 talent but a host of on-field and off-field red flags, which led to him being kicked off the team at Missouri. 

This one could come down to personal preference. I've settled on OT D.J Humphries out of Florida which could be a reach. He's been injured during his last 2 college seasons, missing 7 games, but still elected to take early eligibility and carries only 19 college starts into the draft. However, he's athletic and quick but understandably needs to learn more about playing the position.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Melvin Gordon RB Wisconsin

Do the Ravens take the final OT with a 1st round grade or do they look at addressing WR or even possibly TE position?

I'm going with a surprise pick here, despite a breakout season for Justin Forsett, he's no spring chicken, and whilst I think Baltimore can get value from RB's in later rounds, the production of Gordon could be just too much to pass up on.


27. Dallas Cowboys - Marcus Peters CB Washington

They need a replacement RB following the departure of their bell-cow Demarco Murray to divisional rivals Philadelphia, but with such a strong draft class I don't think the Cowboys will be tempted to reach with a 1st round pick if Gurley and Gordon are off the board.

I've got an inkling the Cowboys may roll the dice on Marcus Peters. He's a talented corner but comes with baggage having been kicked off the team at Washington. He seems to divide opinion by talent evaluators who seem to have him listed as top 15 talent through to 5th best corner in the draft class. He's the sort of player the Cowboys seem to like taking risks on. Jerry Jones certainly isn't afraid of baggage, maybe Dez Bryant could take him under his wing!

28. Denver Broncos - Breshad Perriman WR Central Florida

I have Denver drafting a need position and going for a big wide receiver with big play speed. The son of Brett Perriman who played 10-yrs for the Lions at WR, Breshad is 6'3 and has acceleration and deep speed. So why is he still on the board at #28? Because his hands can be inconsistent. He's possibly the most talked about receiver in this draft by the scouting fraternity (well ok, maybe outside of Dorial Green Beckham) but it's his hands that will provide most causes for concern. No-one dares drop a Peyton Manning pass. The more safe-handed Jaelen Strong could also be considered here.

In terms of other options, I could see an OT as a pick for Denver but I only have Ereck Flowers remaining with a 1st round grade and personally don't see him fitting a zone block scheme.

29. Indianapolis Colts - Paul Dawson ILB TCU

The time is now for Indy with some veteran grey beards added in free agency with the hope to push them further in the playoffs. 

The Colts could do with some OL help but think they may be looking for instant impact in rd1 so I'm rolling the dice with Paul Dawson who was equally disruptive on the field making plays or off the field in a not so positive manner. 

It's probably likely this is too high for Dawson, he's talented but some scouts are dropping him a round or two solely down to character issues. 

My logic is that the Colts know they have to focus on improving their run defense after the Patriots ran all over them twice last season. Dawson would be someone who could act as an enforcer as an interior LB. Equally the Colts could be looking at a big plugger on the D-line. 

30. Green Bay Packers - Maxx Williams TE Minnesota

This pick might be a bit of a reach for the 1st round but Williams is undeniably the best pass catching tight end prospect in this years class, with good hands and impressive straight line speed. It's entirely possible Williams slips into the 2nd round but I think he would offer an instant upgrade on Andrew Quarless in Green Bay.

Other likely options for Green Bay here could be re-enforcements in the Packers secondary - I don't have many of the 1st round graded corners remaining here but maybe Connecticut's Byron Jones or one of Florida State's pairing of Ronald Darby and P.J Williams could be an option or possibly Wake Forest's Kevin Johnson. My other inkling on defensive picks could be an inside linebacker to allow Clay Matthews to move back to outside LB permanently. I've Dawson off the board a pick earlier so maybe Benardrick McKinney or Eric Kendricks could be positional need picks.

The real wild card could be Washington's Shaq Thompson who could be a real playmaker in the right scheme. He's undersized to be used as a conventional linebacker but played inside and out in college (and also played tailback, rushing for 456 yards). Safety is a possible switch for him, and the reason I place him here with Green Bay is that I could see him being used in the sort of attacking Charles Woodson role, operating as a safety but lining up all over the field. Because of the questions over his ability to play safety, it's unlikely Thompson will go this high, but stranger things have happened...

31. New Orleans Saints - Jaelen Strong WR Arizona State

The Saints may be beginning to prepare for the end of the Drew Brees era, their moves this off-season appear to be re-setting their approach to more focus on power running and improving their defense.  This is their second pick of the 1st round and comes courtesy of their trade of Jimmy Graham to Seattle. 

This pick could be another opportunity to upgrade their defense, or even possibly to secure a replacement for Graham, although in a supposed weak TE class this may not be likely. The only possible 1st rounder at the position is Maxx Williams, but many experts think that this is too high for him.

I do suspect though that the organisation may make an offering to Brees after losing his favourite target. The option I'm going for is a big strong possession receiver - the Saints selecting WR Jaelen Strong, whose earned comparisons as Marques Colston part deux.

32. New England Patriots - Jordan Phillips NT Oklahoma

I can never predict the Patriots come draft day and they do enjoy trading down to stockpile picks. Will they select at #32? 

My offerings.... RB Tevin Coleman would be a surprise but one heck of a physical runner up in New England. CB is a need and Ronald Darby of Florida State is a good cover guy. Belichick was willing to take a risk with Aqib Talib, so if Marcus Peters falls this low I could see him risking the pick on another talented corner with off-field issues. 

OT Ereck Flowers is a possible future Left Tackle in the pro's and whilst he would be a development pick, he shows huge upside. 

However, I'm plumping for NT Jordan Phillips as someone who could contribute immediately in attempting to fill the large boots of Vince Wilfork. Phillips would be a good plug to fit into the middle of the D-line to help against the run and is a good scheme fit too for the defending Super Bowl champions.