Ian Johns Final Mock Draft - Season 62
by adelfish | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
Indianapolis Colts (via MIN) – Kamryn Killings, QB, Oregon St. – There is no surprise to be had here, and not much more to say. “Hitman” Killings has been the talking point of Redzone since the middle of the season, and after the Colts mortgaged their future to get the #1 overall pick, all that remains to be seen is if he lives up to expectations. Previous Pick: CB Delvin Givens
2. Miami Dolphins (from NYG) – Zach Breaston, S, Penn St. – Miami packaged a number of draft picks and sent them to New York to make sure they get their man. The staff has already confirmed that Breaston will be the pick here, and the team hopes he will be the missing piece to help them in a strong AFC East. Previous Pick: EDGE Stephen Silvers
3. New York Giants (from MIA) – Donte Aiken, CB, Auburn – The Giants knew their guy would be available at #3, so trading down was a no brainer. Though Aiken’s draft stock has dropped slightly, he is still one of the most impressive defensive prospects in this draft. The Giants need as much talent out of the draft as possible, and Aiken will be one of the best DBs in the division. Previous Pick:OT Quincey Kilgore
4. Cincinnati Bengals – Delvin Givens, CB, Oregon – Cincinnati could use help in a number of places, but at this spot in the draft they need to consider value and need, and pick what fits both criteria. Givens is believed to be one of the top DBs in the draft, some considering him more talented than Donte Aiken. With only two CBs on the roster at the time of writing, this pick just makes sense. Previous Pick: S Zach Breaston
5. New York Jets (via DET) – Will Turner, DE, Washington – The Jets made some big moves this offseason, acquiring not only this pick from Detroit, but WR Allen Robinson II and husband of World Cup champion and gold medalist Julie Ertz, TE Zach Ertz. After loading up on offensive talent, I believe the Jets will look to draft one of the top defensive prospects we’ve seen in Redzone. Turner will be a game changer, and the Jets get their guy at #5. Previous Pick: EDGE Rashaun McGee
6. Las Vegas Raiders (via NO via CAR) – Darrelle Timmons, S, Notre Dame – It’s no secret that the Raiders went into this offseason with the desire to upgrade their secondary. I’m sure if they had their way, S Zach Breastonwould fall right into their lap at #6, but that’s been decided for them. Some would consider Timmons a reach here, but I think the allure of a Heisman winner will be too strong for the team to pass on. Previous Pick: QB Fernando Giraldo
7. Detroit Lions – Evan Hood, WR, Clemson (via NYJ via PIT) – Outside of Kenny Golladay, the Lions are hurting at the wideout position. Right now, their WR2 is a guy named Quintez Cephus. Who is Quintez Cephus? Exactly. If the Lions plan on making the most of Stafford’s last few years, they’re gonna need some immediate offensive help.Previous Pick: DE Jonathan Stockton
8. New England Patriots – Stephen Silvers, EDGE, Stanford – Although they have a top 10 pick, the Patriots still have a solid amount of talent on the roster. Simply put, they still have the luxury of taking the best player available, and at this pick, that is Silvers without question. Although they just signed DEs Olivier Vernon and John Simon, both are 30 years old and neither is the future for this team. Coach Glenn should run to the podium to make this pick.Previous Pick: WR Matt Gabriel
9. Atlanta Falcons – Tevin Wofford, QB, Notre Dame – Atlanta is in the midst of a rebuild, and QB is the most needed position at the moment [at the time of writing there were 0 quarterbacks signed to the team]. Now that the team is moving on from Matt Ryan, it imperative that they get their QB of the future. Is Wofford a top 10 prospect? He sure isn’t. But he’s athletic and shows some potential. If there’s one position a team will reach for, it’s gonna be QB.Previous Pick: LB Adrian Bryant
10. Kansas City Chiefs – Terrelle Kendricks, CB, Oklahoma – The Chiefs had one of the worst passing defenses in the league last year, and are obviously looking to improve in the secondary. After moving S TyrannMatheiu for the #16 pick, I believe Kendricks is in play for the Chiefs here. The team decided to move on from CB Pierre Desir in the offseason and will need someone to help Charvarius Ward on the outside. Previous Pick: CB Donte Aiken
11. Minnesota Vikings (via IND) – Brian Torrence, EDGE, Baylor – The Vikings are living nice right now. After acquiring a historic haul for the #1 overall pick, they’ll be able to land a top edge rusher right outside of the top 10. Torrence should come in and start immediately opposite Danielle Hunter, fortifying that front seven even more to make a run for the division. Previous Pick: QB K. Killings
12. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jeremiah Barrett, TE, Georgia– Jacksonville has the luxury of drafting back to back here, so they can go for best available as well as need. At #12, Jeremiah Barrett is the pick. He performed much better than his projections during the season, and would be an immediate weapon if inserted into the Jags’ offense. Previous Pick: No Change
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR) – Isaiah Clifton, IDL, LSU – Like previously stated, talent as well as need. Clifton is the best interior defensive lineman in the draft, and is a steal at #13. He would more than likely come in behind Taven Bryan during his rookie season, but I don’t believe that will last long. Previous Pick: IDL Braydon Stringer
14. Cleveland Browns – Jaime Woodbury, EDGE, Penn St.– The Browns are similar to the Patriots, in that both rosters are set up with talent, maybe just needing a small push to turn it into results. This team doesn’t need much, but after losing Olivier Vernon to free agency, the LDE position is wide open. Woodbury is the type of prospect who would flourish having already established talent around him. This would be a home run pick for Cleveland. Previous Pick:CB Terrelle Kendricks
15. Dallas Cowboys – Paul Wilson, TE, Oregon – We all know this coach loves having a solid tight end as one of the focal points of his offense, so it was a little surprising to see the Cowboys let Trey Burton explore free agency. Another team that has talent at many positions, I believe the depth at TE in this draft is exactly what the Cowboys were hoping for. If they take Wilson in the first, expect him to be a ROY candidate. Previous Pick: S Darrelle Timmons
16. Kansas City Chiefs (via CAR via NO) – Adrian Bryant, LB, South Carolina – I believe that LB is an absolute position of need for the Chiefs, and with a lack of depth there in this class, they’ll need to take their guy here. Bryant is a player who has performed well above his projections and can start day one in Kansas City. Previous Pick: N/A
17. Buffalo Bills – Taylor Hicks, LB, Oklahoma – Initially, I had the Bills taking Michigan HB Bo Pettis here to strengthen the run game, but just last week, they traded a pick to Detroit for 2nd year HB D’Andre Swift. They also traded for DE Dante Fowler Jr to help with the pass rush. While Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds are a great tandem at LB, they could use some depth there as well. Hicks is a solid prospect, one that would benefit from being in the Bills’ system. Previous Pick: HB Bo Pettis
18. Philadelphia Eagles (from CHI) – Rashaun McGee, EDGE, Oklahoma St. – Funny enough, I had the Bears taking McGee here before they traded this pick to Philadelphia, but it still works out in the end. The Eagles lost a few assets this offseason due to needing to manage the salary cap, and at this point don’t have much depth ortalent at the DE positon. McGee falling to #18 would be the stars aligning for the Eagles; I’d be shocked if he falls any further than this. Previous Pick: N/A
19. Los Angeles Chargers – Braydon Stringer, IDL, Boise St. – The Chargers have a solid roster, but its one that is aging very quickly. After losing Melvin Ingram III to free agency, the team was able to sign free agent Everson Griffin on a one year deal. The defensive line still needs some work, as Linval Joseph is 32 y/o, on the final year of his contract, and coming off of a season where he recorded just 5 tackles in 3 games. This is a necessary move for LA.Previous Pick: EDGE Brian Torrence
20. Washington Football Team – Fernando Giraldo, QB, Alabama – If consensus has been Killings is the best QB prospect the league has seen, its almost the opposite for Fernando Giraldo. The Saints were rumored to have interest in him early in the year, but after a poor senior year and combine, they fucked up their entire offseason trying to get away from him. Nevertheless, after sending QB Dwayne Haskins to Pittsburgh, I think Giraldo could turn into a star with Washington under Coach Snyder (no relation). Previous Pick: CB Cortez Hardwick
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (via NYJ via SEA) – Bo Pettis, HB, Michigan – The Steelers have their QB of the future locked up in Dwayne Haskins, and the defense is pretty solid as well. They lost James Conner this offseason, and will need to find a new threat out of the backfield. Pettis is the best HB in this draft, and should be the final piece in this Steelers offense to help them challenge their division rivals. Previous Pick: N/A
22. Denver Broncos (via MIA via HOU) – Jonathan Stockton, DE, Ole Miss – (sigh) Okay, listen. I went over my board, I double checked picks, tried to make sure everything made sense and…….here we are. The Broncos have a solid DE in Bradley Chubb, and though they just signed Melvin Ingram III to a 2 year deal, sources are saying he’ll play more snaps out of a two point stance. Stockton here makes sense not only for depth, but the continued success of this team. Previous Pick: EDGE Jaime Woodbury
23. Green Bay Packers – Rob Cutler, LB, Michigan – Green Bay is another team with a talented roster, but outside of Za’Darius Smith, there is nothing at LB. Rob Cutler hasn’t been considered a 1st round pick for most of the year, but after a strong combine and senior bowl, I believe he should be high on the Packers’ draft board.Previous Pick: T Michael Copeland
24. New Orleans Saints (via LV) – Chris Tatum, CB, Florida – New Orleans currently only has 3 cornerbacks on the roster, two of whom are 32 y/o Janoris Jenkins and 33 y/o Patrick Robinson. For reasons unknown, they traded from pick #6 (rec’d from CAR) all the way back to pick #24 for…… basically a 1st round Las Vegas pick next year. I just….. I don’t know. Previous Pick: TE Paul Wilson
25. Denver Broncos – Kendrick Babineaux, HB, Boston College – The Broncos get another pick in the first round and I have them taking the best player available, who just so happens to be a HB. The team let Phillip Lindsey walk to free agency, and now the HB room is comprised of Melvin Gordon III and Royce Freeman. If Babineauxshows the level of talent projected, I could see him becoming HB1 sooner rather than later. Previous Pick: No Change
26. Houston Texans (via TB) – Josh Kershaw, TE, Washington – After a rocky start to the season, the Texans finished with a 10-6 record and playoff appearance, contrary to what many believed would happen. They need to continue to capitalize on that momentum, and Kershaw would allow that to happen. Kershaw impressed scouts with his quickness at the combine, and would be an immediate TE1 if drafted by Houston. Previous Pick: S Zach Wilbon
27. Arizona Cardinals – Quincey Kilgore, T, Clemson –While Quincey Kilgore began trending up toward the end of the season, some would still believe this is a reach. In an abysmal OL class, I believe Kilgore is a great fit in Arizona. Though he’ll need some refining at the professional level, I believe that the staff in AZ could turn him into a pro bowl lineman. Previous Pick: LB Earnest Hurst
28. Baltimore Ravens – Thaddeus Selvie, DE, Arkansas – Baltimore is a team without many flaws, but they do have a position of need. Just this week, they signed DE Ryan Kerrigan on a 1 year deal, but Kerrigan is 33 y/o and I don’t believe that an extension will be coming. Selvie is the best DE left on the board and could benefit from a year of learning from someone like Kerrigan. Previous Pick: S Timmy Black
29. Pittsburgh Steelers (via NYJ) – Cortez Hardwick, CB, Cincinnati – The Steelers have a solid team as previously stated, but could improve when it comes to depth at CB. With two picks in the 1st round, Hardwick could enter the Steel City as a project, and turn into a starting defensive back not long after. Previous Pick: DE Will Turner
30. Philadelphia Eagles – Blake Weston, WR, New Mexico St. – Another team with multiple 1st round picks, the Eagles will need to bolster the offense after losing pro bowl TE Zach Ertz. Blake Weston has supporters as well as detractors, but similar to my Washington pick, I believe he can flourish with the right coach. This would be a good team for him to develop and the staff would love to pair another young WR with Jalen Reagor. Previous Pick: WR Evan Hood
31. Tennessee Titans – Alex Lawson, IDL, Temple – Tennessee made an incredible run to the Super Bowl on the strength of their offense and run game. Unfortunately, they did not earn the opportunity to hoist the Lombardi, and a big reason for that is the defense. The only DT rostered right now is Ndamukong Suh, who was recently signed as a free agent and has a 1 year deal. Lawson would naturally be the future at the position, but the team will need to find a solution fast. Previous Pick: No Change
32. San Francisco 49ers – Andrew McKee, HB, Florida St.– Coach Ernest and the Niners were able to secure another Super Bowl victory, and they did so primarily by having an elite passing attack. As of writing, the only HB on the roster is Raheem Mostert, and McKee could provide a new element to the offense as a receiving threat out of the backfield. The Niners could use new element on their way to another Super Bowl bid. Previous Pick: LB Taylor Hicks