Just one advance outside of draft day, JWack and I have sat down and mocked up the 1st round. This is a bit before free agency though, and I didn't want to rush and redo it all after signings, so just run with it. It's still top notch!
1.) Green Bay Packers - WR Earnest Malone (UCLA): This guy has what Nate Burleson calls "toe-drag swag". GB has a few decent receivers already, but with Aaron Rodgers it never hurts to have enough weapons.
2.) St. Louis Rams - WR Derek Parker (MIA): Crazy fast with great hands and quick feet. Another Tavon Austin type with higher upside. A bit shaky over the middle sometimes, but should quickly gain confidence and dominate.
3.) Jacksonville Jaguars - CB Sendarius Felton (USC): #1 CB in the draft that brings speed and great skill. Jags are hurting at corner and this guy is sure to make waves by Week 1.
4.) New England Patriots - LT Calvin Noble (UF): This guy right here is a boulder. Perfect for protecting the blind side. At 6'5 and 308 lbs there will be few men to push him around. Much needed after QB Connor Cole took some hard hits toward the end of the year.
5.) Buffalo Bills - LG Connor Galvin (LSU): In his freshman ear, this guy was the lead blocker causing havoc for the LSU HBs to run free. Great at pull off and running around the edge, and would be a perfect fit for the growing Bills run game.
6.) Dallas Cowboys - CB Kierre Jeffery (OSU): This guy here was known as the Human Fly Trap at OSU. Sticks to receivers like glue and stays on them with ease. What he lacks in speed, he makes up in quickness.
7.) Cincinnati Bengals - ROLB James Mack (TEN): Seems like your average OLB, but this kid is going to be a legend. Great tackler off the edge, and equally as talented in the passing game. Learning the pro side of the game might be a challenge for him, but once he's over that hump he'll be a force.
8.) Houston Texans (from 49ers) - LOLB DeJuan Cole (UCLA): Houston really has no need for talent, but with a pick this early it puts them in line to take another star to add to their defense. Very quick feet and easily confuses O-lineman off of the edge. He also makes sure running backs don't squeak by outside.
9.) Kansas City Chiefs - SS Reshaud Slaughter (MIA): Defense is key here, and I believe this guy is the best defensive player in the draft. He had a knack for hitting hard and knocking out the ball as part of a good MIA defense. Think a non-injury prone Bob Sanders.
10.) Arizona Cardinals - QB Dillion Moses (TEX): This is the Cardinals QB of the Future. Great arm that also lead to stringing together multiple games without INTs. He was a front runner for the Heisman, until Derek Parker ran awa with it (literally). Can't get any sweeter than this with the QBs in this class.
11.) Cleveland Browns - RT Zach Terrell (OKLA): Word out of Cleveland is that they want O-Line. Well this would be a great selection. Great RT that blocks even better for the ground game. Quick to set his feet and get low.
12.) San Diego Chargers - DT Aaron Sullivan (TEN): Another steal. Sullivan will be a bit disappointed falling this low, but he'll be just fine in an already great Chargers defense. The best DT in this draft and the second best defensive player. Freakishly quick feet and great at shedding blocks to fill gaps.
13.) Minnesota Vikings - QB Mike Wilson (USC): This guy has a cannon and hes not afraid to sling the rock. He excelled in getting the ball deep down field to his receivers, though he was a bit off at key times. Look for him to polish up and shape up to be a possible elite QB in the future.
14.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - MLB Jessie Stewart (WISC): There are two great MLBs in this draft, and it was hard to choose between the two. But this is the best fit for Tampa. This guy is a vacuum for any player over the middle. Once he wraps up, theres no way out of it. Great tackler that makes even greater decisions.
15.) Miami Dolphins - CB Ja'Mario Robinson (TEN): Raw, thats the only way to describe this guy. Was the best CB on the board, until he had issues in the DB drills during both the combine and his pro day. A huge project. But the payout should be worth it.
16.) Atlanta Falcons - MLB Sterlin Armstrong (ALA): Atlanta always has bad luck when it comes to MLBs, but it should change with this stud. Quick to sniff out the play and track down the ball carrier. Best tackler in the draft.
17.) Tennessee Titans - DT DeShun Simmons (TEN): This guy is all power. Going to need a bit of a polish and it'll pay off in the future. Comapre him to Marcell Dareus in BUF. Clear cut NT ready to disrupt at the line.
18.) Washington Redskins - WR Markeith Jackson (AUB): This kid will be a welcome addition to the much need WR corps in WAS. Great hands and quickness, but has a knack for dropping balls with defenders sniffing him out. Needs a confidence boost.
19.) Denver Broncos - RG Connor Jordan (NEB): This guy is a once in a lifetime O-Lineman. Power, burst, and smarts. Look for him to make waves in the ground game at somepoint.
20.) Carolina Panthers - CB Patric Spears (MIA): Another part of an insane MIA backfield last year, this guy is ready to put fear into receivers. Being the strongest corner in the draft and registering the highest vert, he's sure to disrupt and cause issues for any receiver he meets.
21.) New York Jets - HB Sintamuel Huval (AUB): Highest rated running back this year. This man is a semi truck. Just powers through most tacklers and has no fear in punching it up the middle. His skill will allow Bryce Petty to rely on the run game and make key throws, hopefully saving his career.
22.) Houston Texans - ROLB Rashard Saunders (LSU): Never hurts to grab another LB right? In this case, Saunders in a huge work in progress. He possess the skills, just needs to work on his reaction time. Has a hard time locking onto ball carriers and keeping them from escaping. Decent tackler though.
23.) Detroit Lions - MLB Malcolm McDonald (OSU): Detroit already has a great team, but this guy would be a smart pick. Fastest and strongest MLB in this draft, he'd be a monster over the middle. A great player that keeps DET in the championship hunt.
24.) New York Giants - HB Javonte Albury (TAMU): Giants and speed backs goe hand in hand (see Tre Mason last year) and this guy is the one they've been saving themselves for. A Shady McCoy in the making, this guy is hard to tackle. Slippery and quick to shake up a defender, he be a fox around the outside.
25.) Indianapolis Colts - TE Tommy Pugh (WISC): Greatest route running TE in this draft, Pugh would instantly make noise on the field. Great hands near the sideline, but general has some issues catching open looks.
26.) Seattle Seahawks - TE Marquise Ford (TX): Losing Jimmy Graham won't be an issue with this guy on the field. 6'6" with a 38.1" vert, Ford clearly had a basketball background himself. This is THE guy Seattle needs to keep their championship hunt alive.
27.) Chicago Bears - HB DeSean Pleasant (TX): "Da Bears" go safe here with a running back thats sure to see field time this year. Elusive and quick to cut, Pleasant would make a great 3rd down back.
28.) Baltimore Ravens - CB Tre Zachary (OKLA): With the CB talent dwindling, the Ravens should rely on combine stats more than tape here. With an already great defense, Zachary should learn well and become a great all-around corner. Having the highest vertical jump out of the group is a huge plus.
29.) Oakland Raiders - FS Rashuad Stallworth (TX): Oakland and safeties go hand in hand over the recent years, and this guy will be a star. Made huge plas at Texas last year and cause a few fumble with his hard hits. After some time on the field he'll be quick to make a name for himself.
30.) Philedelphia Eagles - MLB Raysean Taylor (UGA): A lot of the Eagles stars left last year, and getting to the NFC Championship won't be easy. MLB play was a huge jey last year, and drafting Taylor here should help keep that going. He's a little on the raw side, but he makes up for that in tackling. Hard hitting in the middle should keep some receivers on their toes.
31.) Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Dustin Joyner (MSU): Big Ben 2.0, this kid has a ROCKET arm with the feet reminiscent of Peyton Manning in the pocket. Had some rough throws in both his pro day and his combine, but don't let that sway you from his knowledge of the game. Definitely the future in Pittsburgh.
32.) New Orleans Saints - LE Broderick Jolly (ALA): Being the championship team, there shouldn't be too many holes to fill to keep that momentum going. But this kid is a nightmare for running backs. Quick to fill gaps and hit holes to stop HBs, he will be a welcome addition to a great Saints defense.
In a live press conference at 3PM EST Robert Kraft (owner) announced the most bizarre and unheard of news to ever hit the NFL, or even the professional sports world. Full quote to follow:
"In my old age, the responsibilites of team ownership are starting to wear me thin. I love the Patriots dearly. So much in fact, that in order to run the team efficiently and effectively, my staff and I have come up with a way to keep me involved...but also relieve the stress and burdens that I have faced in the past few years. I'm pleased to announce, and being the first ever to do so, that I am bringing on Spencer Murray as a stand-in owner for this organization. I will still have legal and financial ownership, but Mr. Murray will essentially be me.
I'm going to be completely upfront with you, though. Mr. Murray has no experience in owning a professional sports team. At least, outside of a video game. But after meeting him randomly and having a long, deep conversation about football and the NFL today, I couldnt help but to see a younger, hungry version of myself. Our PR Department will relase more information regarding this news and Mr. Murray's responsibilties later on during the week. Thank you all for your time."