The NFL Draft feels closer than ever and final boards are being scrutinized, ties are being broken and scouts are being interrogated for every last piece of information available. Especially after the shakeup at the top, the entire top-10 is altered and that change trickles down to every team in the league.
With that, we present for you our final NFL Draft mock of the 2016 season. We’ll be going three rounds in our final mock, starting with the team that made the big move for the first-overall pick.
Round One
No. 1 to the Los Angeles Rams (from TEN): Jared Goff, QB, Cal
Why: They didn’t come all the way up to one to take a kicker. This pick boils down to one of the two quarterbacks and while reports are conflicting, Goff should ultimately be the selection. First, as risky as it is to move up 14 spots in the draft to take a quarterback with the No. 1 pick, doing so to take a player who only started 23 games in Division II is the type of decision that causes ownership to clean house if it goes south. Second, as well as Wentz can spin the football, Goff has the better game film regardless of competition.
No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Why: With Goff off the board the Browns have limited options with this pick. All signs point to quarterback being the selection, but with the Rams moving up to one they no longer have their pick of the littler, nor do they have leverage to trade down. If they are set on one of the two and he isn’t available, they could consider one of the big-name defensive players in this draft and move forward with Robert Griffin III.
No. 3 to the San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
Why: With the Titans out of the mix, Tunsil seems destined to end up in San Diego (and eventually Los Angeles). For many, Tunsil is the best player on the board and the Chargers are desperate to get some protection for Philip Rivers.
No. 4 to the Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State
Why: Jerry Jones gets to be general manager of the year, with tremendous needs all over their defense and three offensive players coming off the board in the first three picks. The Cowboys can seemingly do no wrong here, but Ramsey is a versatile player who can fill holes in the secondary and make life easier for the front seven.
No. 5 to the Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
Why: Jack joins Dante Fowler in Gus Bradley’s defense and turns the linebacking core from a weakness to the most athletic group in the NFL. Jack’s health is the only thing that could keep him out of the top five or six picks of the draft at this point and, lucky for the Jaguars, he seems to be really healthy.
No. 6 to the Baltimore Ravens: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Why: The Ravens are known for taking the best player available as much as any team in the league, but this is a rare time when need and fit meet. Buckner was an incredible pass rusher this past year at Oregon and strong against the run with the ability to play on the interior or as a 3-4 defensive end. They will have a chance to go corner, running back or edge rusher, but Buckner can slide in as an impact player on the defensive line.
No. 7 to the San Francisco 49ers: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Why: The Rams moving up really hurts Chip Kelly’s chances of landing Goff or Wentz, but if the 49ers take a flier on Lynch in the top 10 there could be a surprising fit in this offense. Kelly’s offense revolves around accuracy and quick decisions, as well as the athleticism to threaten in the running game as a quarterback.
No. 8 to the Philadelphia Eagles (from MIA): Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
Why: The Eagles were dismal in the secondary last season before trading away Byron Maxwell and, although getting rid of that contract is a good thing, it leaves them barren at the position. Hargreaves should be able to compete right away despite being undersized and even as a rookie could relieve some of the coverage woes of the past few seasons.
No. 9 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Why: The Buccaneers did a great job in last year’s draft getting a franchise quarterback and picking up offensive tackle Donovan Smith in round two. Smith fared alright as a rookie, but the chance for the team to protect Winston with a big-time left tackle and moving Smith to the right side is tough to pass up, even with the draft’s best pass rusher still on the board.
No. 10 to the New York Giants: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Why: After adding Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison and re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants no longer have a tremendous need along the defensive line. However, players like Bosa don’t fall to the 10th pick very often and the Giants should look at this as a steal even if he is only a rotational player as a rookie before taking over for Pierre-Paul in 2017.
No. 11 to the Chicago Bears: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Why: The transition to a 4-3 defense will be much easier by setting the tone on the edge and Lawson is the type of player who plays the run and rushes the passer from that spot. By holding on to the defensive end position, that will allow John Fox to employ Pernell McPhee in a more multiple role he thrived in during his time in Baltimore and the Bears can take their steps towards rebuilding a defense that has been lacking in over the past few seasons.
No. 12 to the New Orleans Saints: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
Why: The Saints quietly have become one of the teams in the league most desperately in need of talent. That desperation transcends need, where aside from Drew Brees–who is nearing the end of his own career–the only position the Saints are really rock solid at is left tackle. For that reason, they could capitalize on a player like Lee, the extremely versatile Buckeye who made the move from quarterback to safety before settling as this draft’s most athletic linebacker. An even better move for the Saints if the board breaks this way would be to offer up this pick to the highest bidder, possibly some team looking to jump ahead of Miami to take the best running back available.
No. 13 to the Miami Dolphins (from PHI): Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Why: Aside from depth at almost every single position on the field–Thanks, Ndumakong–the Dolphins have two major holes that will likely require rookies to fill regardless of where those players are drafted. Those positions are running back and cornerback and with Hargreaves already gone they have to consider themselves lucky Elliot is still on the board. First-round running backs have become a controversial suggestion, but Elliot’s ability to impact the game as a runner, receiver and blocker have him as a potential exception to the rule. The Dolphins could still target a corner here, even if it seems a little high for the next group of players at that position.
No. 14 to the Oakland Raiders: A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
Why: Rebuilding the offensive line won’t prohibit them from tacking a tackle in this draft, but considering what they have up front as it stands it will be tough for them to pass on a player that could be a stud for them in a way another offensive lineman wouldn’t be in 2016. Robinson is the type of defensive lineman that can play inside in a 4-3 or on the end in a 3-4 and command enough attention to let the pass rushers work on the edge while still being stout against the run. The best way for the Raiders to get the most out of Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin and eventually Aldon Smith is to add more impact players into the middle of the defense. Another possibility in this scenario would be to try to jump over Miami and get a chance at Elliot, which would be the equivalent of Robinson helping Mack and Irvin except instead the running back would help Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and Kelechi Osemele.
No. 15 to the Tennessee Titans (from STL): Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
Why: At No. 1, the Titans were expected to take an offensive tackle. After the trade, they added two second-round picks and a third-round pick in this draft (albeit giving up some capital on Day 3) as well as a first and a third next year. The beauty of it is they still get their offensive tackle. Conklin played on the left at Michigan State, but seems like a better bet to move to the right side in Tennessee. Taylor Lewan quietly played well for the Titans on the left side, so even though he’s more comfortable on the right, he could stay there. Conklin also could have very high upside at guard down the line if the Titans ever choose to bump him inside.
No. 16 to the Detroit Lions: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
Why: Ezekiel Ansah looks to be every bit the pass rusher they hoped he would be when they drafted him and here they find a great pairing for him by taking Ogbah in round one. At Oklahoma State he was extremely productive rushing the passer while being at the forefront of the defense, switching sides based on formations and always being trusted to protect the edge on the wide side of the field. He isn’t necessarily the best run defender from that spot, but he shows the potential to be trusted with that task as the Lions move into 2016 with a great pair of young bookends on the line.
No. 17 to the Atlanta Falcons: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
Why: Even after adding Vic Beasley in last year’s draft, the Falcons are in desperate need of improving the pass rush. There are still options on the board to help with that, but finding one of value that fits the way Dan Quinn likes to do things isn’t really in the cards sitting in the middle of round one. The Seahawks reached for Bruce Irvin in a similar situation and Quinn might see Kamalei Correa as the type of player that fits that mold, but instead they stay truer to their board and grab a linebacker in Ragland who can own the middle of a defense. He isn’t in the mold of Bobby Wagner, but Ragland is a big, strong man in the middle who actually has impressive cover skills, particularly in zone coverage, for a man his size who is thought of by some as a two-down player.
No. 18 to the Indianapolis Colts: Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky
Why: With the top three offensive tackles off the board, the next group of players isn’t quite as attractive and the Colts have an equal or greater need at pass rusher to deal with. Spence comes in with some character red flags after his exit from Ohio State, but he has elite skills as a pass rusher and has been productive throughout his collegiate career. He has the ability to play as a 4-3 defensive end but should transition well to 3-4 outside linebacker and if there is anything the Colts need more than actual production from a pass rusher, I’m not sure what that is.
No. 19 to the Buffalo Bills: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
Why: The Bills are sitting in an uneasy spot in this draft, with a roster that is above average at most spots but all kind of peaking and not enough cap space or assets to kick it into the next gear without huge developmental jumps from their young players. The offensive line isn’t a travesty with Cordy Glenn and Richie Incognito in the fold, but adding Decker to the right side will hopefully fill a hole that has existed for awhile in Buffalo. Rex Ryan likely wants to spend his capital to help fix his defense and going offensive line in round one will allow him to shift focus to the other side of the ball for the rest of the draft.
No. 20 to the New York Jets: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
Why: Quarterback is the biggest need, but the board favors a cornerback here. Any of the top three left on the board could fit into Todd Bowles’ man-heavy scheme, but Alexander just looked like the best of the bunch with his swagger and preparation fueling an extremely impressive career at Clemson. He made a habit of being avoided by quarterbacks in college despite never recording an interception and across from Darrelle Revis the duo could make sure there are no easy completions to either side of the field against the Jets.
No. 21 to the Washington Redskins: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
Why: After making the playoffs the Redskins can consider 2015 to be a great step forward, but that also leaves them drafting here where their talent probably would have warranted a slightly higher selection. They could target a safety which would fill a need, but scouts disagree on whether a safety is worth this high of a selection or which one would be (spoiler alert: I think Karl Joseph definitely is). Instead, Apple becomes the big, physical corner teams dream of with the athleticism to develop into an elite player in the defensive backfield.
No. 22 to the Houston Texans: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Why: The first receiver off the board in this mock isn’t one of the tall, physical specimens we are used to seeing targeted and the 22nd pick is a little later than you’d expect. Coleman fits in here as a complement to DeAndre Hopkins, who is that big, physical and not particularly fast receiver who has been dominant early in his career. Coleman brings the explosive speed component to the Texans’ offense that they have been missing for nearly the entire length of their existence. He has work to do as a route runner, but big-play ability makes him a dangerous weapon in his own right.
No. 23 to the Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Why: This draft doesn’t have a ton of perfect matches in round one, at least not like most of us fans and pundits are used to, but the Vikings targeting Doctson just makes sense. Minnesota got a huge boost from Stefon Diggs last year, but in order for Teddy Bridgewater to keep developing he is going to need another reliable target on offense, preferably a bigger one to complent Diggs. Doctson can be that guy, with a 6’2″ frame and the ball skills to fight for 50/50 balls. He fights for the ball as well as anyone in this draft and was a touchdown machine at TCU which would hopefully translate to the NFL as Bridgewater threw only 14 touchdowns in 2015.
No. 24 to the Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
Why: Make it three with the run on receivers here. One would think this would fill a big need in Cincinnati, but the signing of Brandon LaFell and the number of free agents they have looked into bringing in dull that a bit. They have equal or greater needs along the defensive front seven and could even stand to add to their secondary. However, Thomas has been rumored to be the top wideout on their draft board and the idea of pairing A.J. Green with another physical beast could help keep the offense moving forward even with the losses of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu.
No. 25 to the Pittsburgh Steelers: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
Why: Corner and safety are among the top needs for the Steelers, but that seems to be the case every year and rarely do we see Pittsburgh target those positions early on. Instead, Billings is the closest thing physically to fan-favorite Casey Hampton while still being enough of an athlete to not just be a big body in the middle. Many teams, including the Steelers, have made the mistake of overdrafting the large man and hoping he solves a problem, but Billings has the strength to hold up in the middle and is also an incredible athlete at his size. He could be much more than just someone who occupies blockers, but with some coaching could double as a nightmare nose tackle against the run with pass rushing upside, like a more polished Dontari Poe.
No. 26 to the Seattle Seahawks: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
Why: Rankins is a disruptor on the defensive line who has the ability to penetrate gaps and make big plays in the backfield. While everyone would likely agree the Seahawks wouldn’t be wrong to draft offensive lineman after offensive lineman in this draft, they just don’t value the position high enough. What they could look for is an impact defender and although there might be some other players who make more sense in the scheme, Rankins is the one who probably has the highest upside as a playmaker. He would fit right in with the rest of those players on defense.
No. 27 to the Green Bay Packers: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
Why: Always true to his board, look for Ted Thompson to avoid making the splashy pick. While there are receivers around that could make sense here, the Packers won’t overreact to a bad season by taking a limited player that doesn’t fit the all-around player they usually look for at the position. Instead, Reed gives them a big-time nose tackle who can stay in the middle and allow the rest of the front seven to give hell to opposing offenses. He even has some upside as a pass rusher, which could make him the next B.J. Raji, maybe one who stays in his prime a little bit longer. While an inside linebacker would allow Clay Matthews to kick outside, a great nose tackle could allow a lesser linebacker to get the job done in the box.
No. 28 to the Kansas City Chiefs: William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Why: Receiver has to be an option, even if Jeremy Maclin helped improve the passing game for Alex Smith and Andy Reid, but the guys left available seem less scheme fits and the Chiefs won’t want to overdraft them. Instead, they could turn their attention to a replacement for Sean Smith opposite last year’s first-round pick Marcus Peters. Jackson comes in much like Peters as an aggressive player comfortable in a man-to-man scheme. And while he isn’t as polished in coverage, he possesses the height and speed teams covet at the position. Additionally, he gives them another ball hawk at corner, making throwing to either side of the field–or to Eric Berry up the middle–a risky proposition for the turnover averse.
No. 29 to the Arizona Cardinals: Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia
Why: A defensive tackle like Rankins could have done well here, but even with the acquisition of Chandler Jones the Cardinals should find it hard to be content with their pass rush as it currently stands. Floyd is a little bit of a hot-and-cold prospect, flashing big plays here and there while going quiet in between. However, the Cardinals recently have been drawn to the bigger, more physical pass rushers and have shown the ability to get production out of almost anyone. Adding a supreme athlete like Floyd could yield great results, especially in tandem with Jones off the edge.
No. 30 to the Carolina Panthers: Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida
Why: The Panthers could definitely stand to upgrade a few spots on their roster, particularly at receiver and offensive line. The receivers left on the board could intrigue them, but they have continued to draft best player available and at this spot that could very likely mean a defensive lineman, particularly one with some upside as a pass rusher. Enter Bullard, a defensive end from Florida with the versatility to play anywhere along the front four. He could come in as a situational pass rusher who will see the field from a number of spots as a rookie in 2016.
No. 31 to the Denver Broncos: Ryan Kelly, OC, Alabama
Why: Offensive line issues plagued the Broncos almost as much as poor quarterback play did in 2015, but they managed to win a Super Bowl despite that. Now, with Lynch off the board much earlier, the Broncos have to think about quarterback with this pick. While Gary Kubiak is as good an option as any to turn Connor Cook into an above average starter, look for the Broncos to improve the offensive line by adding the best center in the draft and either targeting a quarterback later in the draft or going forward with Mark Sanchez, or maybe even Johnny Manziel (but probably not).
Round Two
No. 32 to the Cleveland Browns: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Why: With Wentz in the fold, the Browns need to find him somebody to throw to. Nobody is happier about Laquon Treadwell’s drop into round two than Wentz, who gets a huge receiver with strong hands to grow with.
No. 33 to the Tennessee Titans: Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia
Why: Trading down from the first pick cost them a shot at the best defensive back in the draft in Ramsey, but Joseph gives them the best pure safety in this class. He helps to begin to rebuild a secondary that’s been bad other than Jason McCourty.
No. 34 to the Dallas Cowboys: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Why: The Cowboys passed on the defensive end in round one to take Ramsey, but they get an edge rusher of note here in round two. Dodd finished strong at Clemson and if Randy Gregory gets on the right path the two could be a formidable pair of ends for Rod Marinelli.
No. 35 to the San Diego Chargers: Kamalei Correa, EDGE, Boise State
Why: Although I can see why they’d look to address the secondary here after securing the franchise left tackle with their first pick, they have a pass rusher here that could come off the edge opposite Melvin Ingram and maybe even match the versatility from the other side of the defense.
No. 36 to the Baltimore Ravens: Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn
Why: Taking Stanley in round one had to be in consideration, but after deciding to take Buckner that leaves them open to go for an offensive tackle here. Coleman needs developing but is the best on the board.
No. 37 to the San Francisco 49ers: Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
Why: As much as Chip Kelly may say he wants a tall receiver, Shepard gives him what he was hoping to get in Nelson Agholor last season in Philadelphia. Shepard is an underrated route runner with surprising speed and a tremendous amount of strength for his small frame. Lynch will love throwing him the ball on crossing routes in Kelly’s offense.
No. 38 to the Jacksonville Jaguars: Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
Why: The Jaguars have a chance to dip into the group of safeties available, but addressing the offensive line is a worthwhile investment where they are mediocre at best across the offensive front. Whitehair has positional versatility and could give them flexibility to switch things up in any number of combinations.
No. 39 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keanu Neal, S, Florida
Why: Getting the offensive tackle early may be something close to a luxury pick, but they do need to improve their defense, particularly in the secondary. Neal is one of the bigger safeties in the draft, but he also flashes some coverage skills and the athleticism to play further away from the line of scrimmage as well.
No. 40 to the New York Giants: Darian Thompson, S, Boise State
Why: The Giants luck out here with Thompson still being available in round two. Landon Collins was pretty good and maybe better than expected as a rookie, but they still have a weakness in the secondary and get a ball hawk that allows Collins to play more in the box where he is most comfortable.
No. 41 to the Chicago Bears: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
Why: While Chicago has a long way to go to rebuilding the defense, they make a worthwhile investment here in injured Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith. He is expected to miss all of 2016 after his medical re-check, but it seems teams feel comfortable he will return to full strength by 2017. For many scouts, “full strength” falls somewhere in between Luke Kuechly and Khalil Mack, which means he would have had a great shot to go in the top five if healthy.
No. 42 to the Miami Dolphins: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
Why: After getting their running back in round one, corner isn’t the best value in round two. The best value actually is Nkemdiche, the monster defensive tackle from Ole Miss. Some have discounted him as overrated on film, but he is available primarily because of off-the-field issues. In terms of talent and upside, he easily could have been the first defensive lineman taken in the draft.
No. 43 to the Tennessee Titans (from STL via PHI): Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State
Why: The Titans follow in the footsteps of what the Packers and Steelers did in round one, helping their entire defense by drafting a large nose tackle who can control the offensive line in the middle. Johnson doesn’t have quite the upside as Billings and Reed, but should be a great value at this spot in round two.
No. 44 to the Oakland Raiders: Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Why: After an excellent free agency and a few good drafts, the Raiders can take a real big swing here with a high upside pick in Henry. The Heisman Trophy winner isn’t likely to be the best running back available on most boards, but his size and speed is tantalizing for a team that can harness that.
No. 45 to the Tennessee Titans (from STL): Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
Why: Speaking of teams that can afford a big swing, the Titans have enough picks in the top 76 to take a chance on Fuller, who has blazing speed but probably drops passes too often to be considered a sure thing. However, he could really help stretch the field for Marcus Mariota and Notre Dame was able to live with the drops because of the production.
No. 46 to the Detroit Lions: Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State
Why: Glover Quin is still a pretty good starting safety, but adding a player like Vonn Bell will give them another versatile option who can hold up in coverage or in the box. Nominally a strong safety, he isn’t the big bruiser that plays almost a hybrid-linebacker role, but his coverage skills underneath and ability to play the ball give him dangerous potential.
No. 47 to the New Orleans Saints: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
Why: Jones has seen a pretty meteoric rise in his draft stock after a relatively quiet career at Mississippi State, yet there is still a chance he falls on draft day. Any further than this would be surprising, as the Saints run up to get a playmaker on the defensive line.
No. 48 to the Indianapolis Colts: Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
Why: After passing on offensive line in round one, the Colts rectify that with their second pick. Spriggs has some pretty clear flaws as an offensive lineman, but is among the few left at this point with the physical skills to have some upside as a left tackle eventually. Technique and failure to improve have been knocks against him, but size and athleticism make him a high-reward selection.
No. 49 to the Buffalo Bills: Artie Burns, CB, Miami
Why: It might be hard to imagine Burns falling this far, but it is almost impossible to imagine him getting past Rex Ryan. Burns is one of the most physical cornerbacks available in recent memory, to the point it is almost a detriment to his overall draft stock. His man-to-man comfortability along with his athletic frame make him a perfect fit for the Bills defense.
No. 50 to the Atlanta Falcons: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
Why: Targeting a second wideout might seem like a good idea considering how shaky the position is after Julio Jones, but Kyle Shanahan’s offenses have routinely featured only one receiver, with tight end as the second option. Henry has the soft hands and route running ability to be Shanahan’s new Owen Daniels and could be the best way to upgrade the offense at this spot.
No. 51 to the New York Jets: Shilique Calhoun, EDGE, Michigan State
Why: Lorenzo Mauldin looked great in limited playing time as a rookie, but you can never have enough pass rushers and the Jets specifically need the type of pass rushers that can affect the game from the linebacker spot. Calhoun will get another edge rusher on the field with upside and working behind the dominant defensive line should give him opportunities to produce.
No. 52 to the Houston Texans: Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
Why: Offensive line was a strength for the Texans for a long time, but many of those players have gotten long in the tooth and need younger players behind them. Ifedi isn’t the best kind of high-upside talent as a player who didn’t live up to the hype in college, but if it clicks the Texans can find themselves a very good starter here in round two.
No. 53 to the Washington Redskins: Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
Why: Everyone has different favorites when it comes to the defensive tackles in this draft and the scattered nature of those opinions drops everyone’s value. Clark doesn’t get the most love, but he might be the fiercest competitor at the line of scrimmage and Myles Jack owes a lot of his highlights to Clark in front of him.
No. 54 to the Minnesota Vikings: Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford
Why: The Vikings could go a number of ways with this pick, but taking the best offensive lineman available makes sense. Tackle is a bigger need with Matt Kalil on his last chance there, but Garnett is an extremely natural guard and should be able to provide a great impact at this spot.
No. 55 to the Cincinnati Bengals: Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska
Why: Like Clark before him, Collins suffers from depth at his position group. However, going back to his tape from 2014 and he might have been among the best of the bunch. Last year’s film didn’t match and he finds himself dropping because of it, but could find his pass rush back next to Geno Atkins in Cincinnati.
No. 56 to the Seattle Seahawks: Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana
Why: Thomas Rawls was a great story as an undrafted free agent, but the Seahawks will have to add more depth at running back, especially if they continue to not have interest in upgrading the offensive line. Howard gives them a good change of pace back with the potential to carry the load if Rawls falls out of favor and his pounding style will win over fans, coaches and teammates in Seattle.
No. 57 to the Green Bay Packers: Leonte Carroo, WR, Rutgers
Why: Head coach Mike McCarthy publicly called for the general manager to help the offense this offseason and while the Packers won’t likely change their draft board to accommodate that request, Carroo makes a lot of sense at the back of round two. Carroo is a mature receiver not only in this draft, but unusually so for any year. He rarely dropped passes and found ways to get open at Rutgers, making him a great second or third or fourth option in Green Bay.
No. 58 to the Pittsburgh Steelers: Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU
Why: Cap woes have made it hard for the Steelers to hold on to their own free agents and this year they lost offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum. They aren’t dead in the water at the tackle positions, but Mike Adams never developed into a starter and Hawkins could replace him as a swing tackle they will try to develop into a starter.
No. 59 to the Kansas City Chiefs: Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina
Why: In this mock they passed on some receivers for a cornerback because the receivers didn’t necessarily fit the scheme. Here they have a chance to grab Cooper, who can work out of the slot or on the outside and provide a deep threat and toughness on underneath routes.
No. 60 to the New England Patriots: Tyvis Powell, S, Ohio State
Why: Bill Belichick has a long history of drafting defensive backs at the back of round two and most of that history is pretty ugly. However, here he targets a safety that assumingly has the seal of approval from his close friend Urban Meyer. Powell is an athletic safety who can play deep but might also be able to come up and cover slot receivers as a nickelback.
No. 61 to the New England Patriots (from ARI): Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame
Why: Thanks to the Chandler Jones trade, the Patriots have back-to-back picks here in round two, which almost makes up for not having a first-rounder. Despite a reluctance to draft receivers high, I think they would consider Carroo, but with him off the board they take a chance on Sheldon Day, who comes in with the ability to play on the interior defensive line or as a 3-4 end who can be a great run defender.
No. 62 to the Carolina Panthers: Spencer Drango, OT, Baylor
Why: The Panthers need to add talent to the offensive line and here they get a swing tackle who had a great college career. This may be a reach on some boards, as Drango isn’t as highly thought of as his production at Baylor might dictate, but they get a solid player who can fill a hole or even bump inside as a guard if necessary.
No. 63 to the Denver Broncos: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
Why: After getting the middle of their offensive line some help in round one, the Broncos go out and mirror that pick by strengthening the middle of the defensive line with Butler. After Malik Jackson signed in Jacksonville the Broncos need some depth in the middle in order to allow the pass rushers to continue to wreak havoc.
Round Three
No. 64 to the Tennessee Titans: KeiVarae Russell, CB, Notre Dame
Why: With the first pick in round three, the Titans make their fifth selection of this draft. With that depth in mind, they can afford to take a chance on Russell, the athletic Notre Dame corner. Russell is recovering from a knee injury that cost him most of this past season, but has tremendous upside in coverage with the versatility to play in man and zone schemes.
No. 65 to the Cleveland Browns: Jerell Adams, TE, South Carolina
Why: First Wentz, then Treadwell and now Adams in the third round. With three picks, the Browns have just reloaded their offense with athletes. Adams brings some of the vertical presence that Treadwell’s lack of speed might prevent. Losing two key pieces on the offensive line isn’t great, but they are doing all they can to set up their quarterback for success.
No. 66 to the San Diego Chargers: Jalen Mills, S, LSU
Why: Replacing Eric Weddle is impossible, but the Chargers still need to add talent to the secondary. Mills has some upside with athleticism, good instincts and the ball skills to make an impact in the defensive backfield.
No. 67 to the Dallas Cowboys: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
Why: No Goff or Wentz for the Cowboys, but the pressure to take a backup quarterback could be too much to continue to let Cook slip down draft boards. Cook made a lot of great plays at Michigan State and Jason Garrett will have time to develop the bad decisions out of his game while he backs up Tony Romo.
No. 68 to the San Francisco 49ers: Will Redmond, CB, Mississippi State
Why: The 49ers have holes everywhere and after focusing on quarterback and receiver earlier in this mock, grabbing the best corner available will give them a chance to improve a defense that will likely be well ahead of the offense in 2015.
No. 69 to the Jacksonville Jaguars: T.J. Green, S, Clemson
Why: The Jags have done a great job filling holes across the roster and that leaves them with the ability to go out on a limb at certain spots. Green’s film isn’t always great at Clemson where he was surrounded by talent, but his supreme athleticism as a free safety could give Gus Bradley a developmental center fielder to mimic the range of Earl Thomas on the Jacksonville defense.
No. 70 to the Baltimore Ravens: Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE, Maryland
Why: The Ravens could use a stand-up pass rusher and Ngakoue is a very athletic 6’2″, 255-pound edge rusher who could play as a rookie in Baltimore. The hometown kid had 13 sacks in 2015 and the Ravens need that production from their pass rush.
No. 71 to the New York Giants: Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas
Why: The Giants were definitely considering running backs with each of their previous two picks, but are rewarded for their patience with Collins. He isn’t Elliot, but he is one of the more complete backs in this draft who could come in and help turn the running game around.
No. 72 to the Chicago Bears: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh
Why: The Bears keep building here by adding a receiver to play across from Alshon Jeffrey (with last year’s first-round pick Kevin White’s health still a concern). Boyd was once thought of as a potential first-rounder and should be able to work different areas of the field than Jeffrey and White.
No. 73 to the Miami Dolphins: Landon Turner, OG, UNC
Why: The Dolphins still don’t get their cornerback, but adding a power run blocker to the offense line will go a long way to paving the way for Elliot and the running game.
No. 74 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kalan Reed, CB, Southern Mississippi
Why: Reed is one of the most underrated players in this draft, a tough player who has great ball skills with four interceptions this past year. He is a good tackler and has the size and speed to compete with NFL receivers.
No. 75 to the Oakland Raiders: Justin Simmons, S, Boston College
Why: It is tough for the Raiders to go in the wrong direction here because of the great job they did building the roster and Simmons will have a great chance to take his physicality and make Raider Nation fall in love with him. He is a big hitter who can play in the box but also hold up in coverage.
No. 76 to the Tennessee Titans (from STL): Joshua Perry, LB, Ohio State
Why: After taking some chances on high-upside players with a few of their first five picks in this draft, they take Perry here to slot in as a starting linebacker. Perry is a big, bruising in the box player and should fit inside in the 3-4.
No. 77 to the Philadelphia Eagles (from DET): Charlie Westerman, OG, Arizona State
Why: The Eagles need to rebuild the offensive line after Chip Kelly alienated the guards in favor of running backs and they start that process by drafting Westerman. The Arizona State guard is very athletic and could come in and make an impact right away.
No. 78 to the New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia
Why: Without Marques Colston, the Saints need to add pass catchers for Drew Brees. Brandin Cooks should be the top target, but adding Mitchell will allow Cooks to work all over the field. Mitchell can work on the outside, with good speed and a lot of toughness in his thin frame.
No. 79 to the Philadelphia Eagles: Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia
Why: Marshall is a surprise here, coming off a career as a backup at Georgia, first to Todd Gurley and then to Nick Chubb. However, he was the prized recruit once upon a time when Gurley was an afterthought and his incredible combination of size and speed just might be a poor man’s Jamaal Charles in Doug Pederson’s offense.
No. 80 to the Buffalo Bills: Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas
Why: Ridgeway is a prospect who was rising up boards, with the ability to penetrate in the middle of the field. He was productive as an interior pass rusher with 9.5 sacks over the last two seasons and has the athleticism to make plays laterally against the run.
No. 81 to the Atlanta Falcons: Charles Tapper, DL, Oklahoma
Why: Tapper isn’t the prototypical pass rusher as a defensive end, notching 13.5 sacks over the last three seasons at Oklahoma. The Falcons could use him as a 3-4 defensive end and hope that he adds a little pass rush but at least opens up paths to the quarterback for Beasley behind him.
No. 82 to the Indianapolis Colts: Su’a Cravens, LB, USC
Why: The Colts need to improve their defensive backfield as well as their run defense and Cravens gives them hope to do both. He is somewhere between a strong safety and a traditional linebacker and the Colts can employ him in multiple ways in their defense.
No. 83 to the New York Jets: Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State
Why: The Jets starting tight end, Jeff Cumberland, caught five passes for 77 yards in 2015. Backup Kellen Davis had three catches for 18 yards. That is the entire offensive production at the position for Gang Green. Vannett isn’t a potential 90-catch guy, but he is a complete tight end who can block and has good hands to complement speedster Jace Amaro.
No. 84 to the Washington Redskins: Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
Why: The Redskins have a number of receiving options on the roster, but adding Braxton Miller could give them an incredible athlete that could be in place to succeed Pierre Garcon on the outside.
No. 85 to the Houston Texans: Deion Jones, LB, LSU
Why: Houston’s defense revolves around J.J. Watt and (hopefully) the pass rushing combination of Jadaveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus. They still could use a lateral run defender like Jones, who can fly at linebacker and protect the field sideline to sideline.
No. 86 to the Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford
Why: The Vikings grabbed a very good offensive lineman in round two, but grabbing Murphy here gives them a swing tackle and a backup plan in case Matt Kalil falls apart.
No. 87 to the Cincinnati Bengals: Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri
Why: Vontaze Burfict put himself on the hot seat in Cincinnati in the playoff loss to the Steelers last season and while he still has a future in black and orange the Bengals could stand to add to their linebacker group. Brothers was a tackling machine at Missouri and even though his combine numbers weren’t off the charts he should find a home as a long-time starter.
No. 88 to the Green Bay Packers: Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA
Why: The Packers got Carroo in the second round and they go back to the offensive skill player pool to help Aaron Rodgers in round three. Perkins was very productive at UCLA, rushing for nearly 3,000 yards over the past two seasons while also catching 56 passes to add a dynamic playmaker in the backfield.
No. 89 to the Pittsburgh Steelers: Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Why: Even before they cut Cortez Allen, the Steelers needed a cornerback so badly that first round wasn’t out of the question. Landing Fuller in round three is a steal for them, based on the pedigree Fuller has and the potential he had coming out of Virginia Tech. He is only available because of some inconsistent tape and injuries in 2015.
No. 90 to the Seattle Seahawks: Cole Toner, OG, Harvard
Why: A lot has been made of the Seahawks not investing in the offensive line, but eventually they have to take a stab at fixing the five guys up front. Toner is a Harvard guy who played tackle, but likely translates to either a guard or center in the NFL.
No. 91 to the New England Patriots: C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame
Why: This might be reading into fit more than Bill Belichick ever would, but the offense kind of cratered after losing Dion Lewis last season. Lewis is back, but having a dynamic receiving threat behind him could prevent Patriot fans from watching James White fail to track down the deep throws when he beats linebackers. The former Notre Dame receiver rushed for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns on 6.6 yards per carry in 2015.
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