April is that time of year when everyone believes they should be the general manager of their respective NFL teams. With the NFL draft right around the corner, I put on my expert analyst hat and chose who I thought would be picked in the first round of the draft. Everyone on the internet is an expert right? Picks 1 through 31 are listed below with the team name, top needs, my pick, and the reason I chose them. Enjoy!
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Los Angeles Rams – 2015 record: 7-9
- Top needs: QB, WR, C, S, CB
- Pick: Carson Wentz, QB (North Dakota State)
- As Nick Foles and Case Keenum try their hardest to lose their starting role, the Rams overpay for what I think was the worst move in the offseason. I don’t see why else they would move up to this pick other than to beat everybody to Wentz.
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Philadelphia Eagles – 2015 record: 7-9
- Top needs: QB, ILB, OT, OG, WR
- Pick: Jared Goff, QB (Cal)
- Phase 1 of the eagles Chip Kelly cleanse is underway as they get rid of anyone tied to his memory. The next step in the rebuilding process is to bring the fan base back. After the trade for the 2nd overall pick, we have to believe this was to ensure the pick of a top tier QB.
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San Diego Chargers – 2015 record: 4-12
- Top needs: DL, OT, OG, S, TE
- Pick: Laremy Tunsil, OT (Ole Miss)
- With the depth of the defensive line talent in the draft and Tunsil available, this one is a no-brainer for me. Although I love seeing Phillip Rivers get smoked from his blind side, Tunsil would be the perfect answer to keeping him on his feet and allowing him to make plays.
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Dallas Cowboys – 2015 record: 4-12
- Top needs: CB, QB, RB, DT, pass rush
- Pick: Jalen Ramsey, CB/S (Florida State)
- With Tony Romo preparing to be back the Cowboys starting lineup, the cowboys focus on defense and select Ramsey. I believe he should be the top pick in the draft, but team needs have taken precedence.
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Jacksonville Jaguars – 2015 record: 5-11
- Top needs: OLB, DT, S, OG, C
- Pick: Deforest Buckner, DE (Oregon)
- Acquiring Malik Jackson and getting Dante Fowler back will be a huge plus for the Jags pass rush. Buckner adds some much need depth on the edge. His massive frame and quick decision making will bring the Jaguars to the next level.
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Baltimore Ravens – 2015 record: 5-11
- Top needs: OT, OG, CB, OLB, WR
- Pick: Ronnie Stanley, OT (Notre Dame)
- Yes, there have been character concerns with Stanley. But…this man is way too talented in a crucial tackle position to be overlooked. Flacco and Stanley are destined to be besties.
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San Francisco 49ers – 2015 record: 5-11
- Top needs: QB, ILB, OT, OG, WR
- Pick: Paxton Lynch (Memphis)
- Even if this annoying Colin Kaepernick cold war ends with him remaining with the 49’s, Chip Kelly will make finding a quarterback that can run his offense a priority. Lynch is that guy.
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Cleveland Browns – 2015 record: 3-13
- Top needs: QB, WR, DL, ILB, OL
- Pick: Laquan Treadwell, WR (Ole Miss)
- With the departures of WR Travis Benjamin, C Alex Mack, and OT Mitchell Schwartz, there are more than a few holes the Browns need to fill. I believe that that Browns will draft a QB, such as Cardale Jones, but they look here to provide an offense with their second weapon behind Gary Barnidge.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2015 record: 6-10
- Top needs: CB, OT, S, WR, DE
- Pick: Vernon Hargreaves, CB (Florida)
- Many are saying Hargreaves will slip in the draft because of his size and lack of fit with most NFL schemes. As the most polished cornerback in the draft outside of Ramsey taken with the first pick, the Bucs take an educated risk and add the Florida alum to their roster.
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New York Giants – 2015 record: 6-10
- Top needs: LB, WR, OL, RB, S
- Pick: Myles Jack, S/LB (UCLA)
- The Giants made aggressive moves early in free agency including resigning Jason Pierre-Paul and paying Olivier Vernon absurd money. Myles Jack meets multiple needs in the Giants roster including the interior linebacker corps and competition at the safety position opposite Landon Collins.
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Chicago Bears – 2015 record: 6-10
- Top needs: Pass rusher, DE, QB, OL, CB
- Pick: Leonard Floyd, OLB/DE (Georgia)
- Developing a pass rush presence is at the forefront of the bears mind. The bears receive Leonard Floyd as a gift at the number 11 spot. He has the length and athleticism, and could prove to be a menace in the NFL if he beefs up.
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New Orleans Saints – 2015 record: 7-9
- Top needs: OLB, WR, CB, OG, DL
- Pick: A’Shawn Robinson, DL (Alabama)
- Throwing Robinson in with Cameron Jordan, Bobby Richardson, and Nick Fairley will monger fear in the NFC South . Although this isn’t a glamorous pick, the saints need to take some pressure off of their secondary.
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Miami Dolphins – 2015 record: 6-10
- Top needs: CB, S, OT, OG, DE
- Pick: Joey Bosa, DE (Ohio State)
- I have to imagine that Miami is going to get in on the defensive fun, but this was one of the harder picks for me. Miami will look to beef up the d-line with some youth as current defensive end’s Cameron Wake and Mario Williams move into their mid-30s. Don’t be distracted by his sunshine flow and surfer dude cadence, Bosa will be a great NFL athlete.
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Oakland Raiders – 2015 record: 7-9
- Top needs: OT, CB, ILB, S, RB, DL
- Pick: Sheldon Rankins, DT (Louisville)
- The Raiders have been active this offseason addressing needs left and right. With Mario Edwards’ recent neck injury, the raiders will look to add some quality depth to their d-line. Rankins is the best on the board.
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Tennessee Titans – 2015 record: 3-13
- Top needs: OT, WR, CB, S, DE
- Pick: Jack Conklin, OT (Michigan State)
- The titans are the story of the draft with the blockbuster trade of the first pick to the LA Rams. I see no reason why they wouldn’t take the first few picks to beef up their defensive line, offensive line, and secondary.
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Detroit Lions – 2015 record: 7-9
- Top needs: OT, CB, DT, ILB, DE
- Pick: Taylor Decker, OT (Ohio State)
- Protecting Stafford and developing the run game will be a huge area of improvement in 2016. Locking up a young, bell-cow left tackle and moving Riley Reiff to his more natural habitat is a change in the right direction. Decker has the frame and work ethic to be an NFL left tackle.
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Atlanta Falcons – 2015 record: 8-8
- Top needs: Pass rusher, TE, S, ILB, OG
- Pick: Kevin Dodd, DE (Clemson)
- Just having Vic Beasley isn’t enough. Adding Dodd off the edge will aid in Dan Quinn’s quest to make opposing QBs lives a living hell.
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Indianapolis Colts – 2015 record: 8-8
- Top needs: OT, OG, OLB, CB, S
- Pick: Jason Spriggs, OT (Indiana)
- The Colts are desperate to find protection for their leader Andrew Luck, and Spriggs has the technique and know-how to bolster any NFL offensive line.
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Buffalo Bills – 2015 record: 8-8
- Top needs: OT, DL, WR, LB, K
- Pick: Shaq Lawson, DE (Clemson)
- With a need to upgrade the defensive line and linebacker core, the bills are going to select a defensive animal. Shaq Lawson is a guy who can make an impact early and “Make the Ryan brothers great again.”
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New York Jets – 2015 record: 10-6
- Top needs: Edge rusher, ILB, TE, CB, OL
- Pick: Jaylon Smith, LB (Notre Dame)
- Jaylon Smith is the answer to the Jets question, “how can we make our defense more insanely talented?” Smith can set the tone on the edge in the outside-linebacker spot.
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Washington Redskins – 2015 record: 9-7
- Top needs: C, DL, ILB, WR, CB
- Pick: Jarran Reed, DL (Alabama)
- Although I hate seeing Reed leave the board, he is the best defensive lineman left. Look for the redskins to snag him up and throw him in the starting rotation.
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Houston Texans – 2015 record: 9-7
- Top needs: WR, TE, OT, OG, DE
- Pick: Josh Doctson, WR (TCU)
- With offense clearly on the team’s mind after throwing cash at Brock Osweiler and stealing Lamar Miller for a bargain, they will look to add depth to WR and Doctson is the choice. The Texans want to add team speed alongside DeAndre Hopkins and Doctson has the ability to make plays in the air.
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Minnesota Vikings – 2015 record: 11-5
- Top needs: WR, CB, OT, OG, P
- Pick: Will Fuller, WR (Notre Dame)
- If Teddy Bridgewater is the guy for Minnesota, they need to continue bringing in talented weapons around him. Fuller is arguably the NCAA’s best deep threat with the ability to confuse safeties and make big plays.
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Cincinnati Bengals – 2015 record: 12-4
- Top needs: WR, NT, LB, C, OG
- Pick: Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor)
- After losing two key WR assets in Jones and Sanu, the Bengal’s look to add a deep threat with crazy quickness off the line of scrimmage. A perfect harmony with their number one guy AJ Green.
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Pittsburgh Steelers – 2015 record: 10-6
- Top needs: CB, S, OG, OT, OLB
- Pick: Eli Apple, CB (OSU)
- The Steelers were able to put up crazy high scores, but they also managed to allow almost as much as they put up. If they want to make a deep playoff run they need to improve their secondary. Apple’s size and natural strength land him in a spot of dire need for the Steelers.
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Seattle Seahawks – 2015 record: 10-6
- Top needs: OT, CB, C, DT, DE
- Pick: Jonathan Bullard, DT/DE, (Florida)
- After losing Brandon Mebane, the Seahawks will look to build depth in their interior defensive line. Bullard played really well for Florida as one of the SEC’s best run defenders. Forcing the QB to force the ball into the “Legion of Boom.”
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Green Bay Packers – 2015 record: 10-6
- Top needs: ILB, CB, OLB, OT, TE
- Pick: Reggie Ragland, ILB (Alabama)
- Clay Matthews has been the Swiss Army Knife of the Packers defense since he started his career, but the current defense puts too much pressure on him to make plays. They will look to add depth in the linebacker core and take some weight off of Clay’s back. Ragland has the instincts and situational awareness to be a major addition to any squad.
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Kansas City Chiefs – 2015 record: 11-5
- Top needs: OLB, QB, S, WR, D
- Pick: Darron Lee, OLB (Ohio State)
- With Darron Lee still on the board, the Chiefs will push the need of quarterback until later in the draft. Although small, he has a keen eye for making plays and the confidence to back it up.
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Arizona Cardinals – 2015 record: 13-3
- Top needs: S, C, OLB, CB, TE
- Pick: Keanu Neal, S (Florida)
- Chandler Jones limited the needs of drafting a much-needed pass-rusher, so adding additional playmakers to a defensive backfield including Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu seems like a logical move.
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Carolina Panthers – 2015 record: 15-1
- Top needs: OT, DE, DB, RB
- Pick: Su’a Cravens, S/LB (USC)
- This pick is merely based off of hearsay that the Panthers have crazy interest in Cravens. The NFL analysts view him as more of a safety, but throwing a multi-dimensional player into an already great defense is a good decision.
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Denver Broncos – 2015 record: 12-4
- Top needs: QB, OG, LB, DE, S
- Pick: Connor Cook, QB (Michigan State)
- With the depth of defensive talent in the draft and the urgent need of figuring out who the signal caller will be, I find quarterback a safe option here. Connor Cook is a Big Ten pro style QB that would be a perfect fit into their offense.
I am sure there are many of you that disagree, so feel free to comment or tweet me @evbtuesdays and lets debate! Don’t forget to subscribe and follow me on Instagram at EVBTuesdays. Have a great week everybody.
Stay casual until next Tuesday!
EVB
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