Our latest mock draft, where the Buccaneers continue to fix the defensive secondary.
Can you believe we are just two weeks away from the start of the NFL draft? Philadelphia, PA will be simply buzzing as the Buccaneers and the rest of the NFL converge upon their city to select the NFL stars of tomorrow. It’s a day when the dreams of many finally begin to be realized as the young players hear their names called from the podium.
What will Jason Licht and company do at 19? Will they go running back, or continue to revamp the defense, which is on the brink of stardom? Will they stay at number 19 to get the job done? We have two more weeks to speculate on these and other NFL draft questions. However, speculation season is in the home stretch.
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With that, we continue our contributions to speculation season. This morning, we are bringing you another mock draft from our Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, David Harrison and Zach Sauers.
Last time we heard from these two guys, it was for a seven round Bucs mock draft. Each one gave us their version of where the Bucs will go in each of the seven draft rounds.
This time, it’s bigger. This time, these two have come together to bring us a full first round mock. In the coming pages they will switch off, with David taking the odd-numbered picks, and Zach taking the even- numbered picks.
Now that you know the rules, let’s get right to the action.
Myles Garrett has been considered the top talent in this year’s draft class since jump-street. No reason to change now.
The Browns defense needs a good amount of help. Bolstering their pass rush up front certainly helps.
Garrett is an elite athletic talent as a defensive end and may be able to put up rookie numbers similar to those of Joey Bosa.
Combining his elite talents with those of Emmanuel Ogbah and Danny Shelton will make for quite the group to terrorize opposing quarterbacks.
A second first-round pick gives this team a great opportunity to really boost their teams overall talent levels.
At the top though, getting the best player in the class is a must.
The former Aggie isn’t perfect, but what he brings to the table immediately means this isn’t a player who will likely be unseeded anytime soon.
If he can get stronger at the point of attack and learn to get off blockers more consistently, then he’ll develop into one of the top defensive ends in the league. Perhaps, one of the best we’ve ever seen.
Cleveland gets their man up front, and the Browns get to harass Ben Roethlisberger, Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco a bit better in 2017.
With the second overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the San Francisco 49ers select Solomon Thomas, defensive end out of Stanford. The pick here for the 49ers is simple, bulking up the trenches with a great overall player. Thomas is the second best player on my board, and he goes to a team that is looking to build back to greatness. The Thomas pick not only solidifies a team grooming a great crop of young defensive line talents, but also helps this team in the long run to his high ceiling.
Much can be argued on behalf of a quarterback due to the current situation in the Bay area, but John Lynch and company make a wise decision to stay clear. All of their best quarterbacks in this draft class will need a season to groom, so look for the 49ers to target another signal caller in the later rounds. Taking a quarterback at number two means starting immediately and none of the current crop are ready to do that.
The 49ers must select an impact player in the number two position. Projects come later in the draft. Thomas has the ability to help this team both now and in the future. He’s the guy at number two.
The Bears obviously needed secondary help entering the offseason. They got some by signing Prince Amukamara, but still need to look to the draft for more.
Jamal Adams is the top safety in the class by most, and should be the name turned in when Chicago takes him at number three.
He can attack the run and hang in coverage against the pass. His all-around skill set makes him attractive to any team, and a must have for one in a division with Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford.
Everything being said about this young man says he’s a leader on the field and this defense could use one of those.
It shouldn’t take long for him to take hold of his normal role, and his impact will be felt early and often.
Furthermore, his talents should lead to Chicago getting out of the cellar in turnovers. This unit secured just eight interceptions in all of 2016.
With the third overall selection, John Fox could really use any elite defender to help out their side of the ball.
Adams is the best talent available and getting the top safety in the class is just a bonus after the 49ers secure Solomon Thomas.
It may not bring the team back to the top of the NFC North, but bringing in the LSU Tiger immediately puts them on a trend up the power rankings.
With the fourth overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the Jacksonville Jaguars select Leonard Fournette, running back out of Louisiana State University. The Jaguars jump at the opportunity here when the best pure runner drops right into their lap.
As you have seen in the past few seasons, Blake Bortles succeeds when his offense is able to run the ball. I for one have not and will not give up on Bortles, and drafting a bell cow who can handle 25-30 carries a game will be great for the Jags. The big bodied back who is considered the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson is just too much for this team to pass up on. After ultimately failing on finding a true number one back in T.J. Yeldon and Chris Ivory, Tom Coughlin shows this team the ways of the force.
With an effective running game, Bortles finally gets the opportunity to realize some of his potential. As mentioned earlier, he can be effective when the Jaguars are displaying an effective running game. Get him some help and that team is going to start to turn the corner.
The Jaguars once again look to be talented team going into the 2017 season, but will they finally fix their putrid offensive line?
The Titans and Buccaneers have been linked ever since Tampa took Jameis Winston and Tennessee was left with Marcus Mariota as their consolation prize.
I’d say this AFC South franchise is probably happy with where they’re headed as both young teams seem to be on the rise.
Last year, Vernon Hargreaves III gave the Bucs a boost on defense and helped usher in a new kind of attitude and aggressiveness in their secondary.
Marshon Lattimore can do the same for the Titans in 2017, and gives the team perhaps the best secondary front in the division.
Despite limited starting time in Ohio States pro-factory defense, Lattimore looks to be a sure-fire future pro bowler with athleticism and mechanics that make scouts drool.
His playmaking ability was evident his entire 2016 season in Columbus, and he paired up well with teammates Malik Hooker and Gareon Conley to form the best secondary in the Big Ten Conference.
Another team with multiple first-round picks, going defense early means the team could double-up on this side of the ball later to really boost their stopping power.
Or, they could go offense and combine some scoring heat to go with their improved defense.
Either way the team decides, it’s an early win for Tennessee with Lattimore brought in to help lockdown the likes of T.Y. Hilton and DeAndre Hopkins.
With the sixth overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the New York Jets select OJ Howard, tight end out of Alabama. BOOO! Well luckily for the Jets the draft is in Philly, or fans would be going wild for this pick.
Why would the Jets take a tight end? A tight end! Well where do we start? Minus the fact that this team has ultimately turned into a dumpster fire, they take the best player available. OJ Howard is not only the best tight end prospect coming out this draft class, but he is also the best pass catcher.
Howard has been on the rise since the combine’s incredible numbers, and here he slips into being one of the highest selected tight ends in history. The Jets decide to pass up on more defensive talent so that they are able to help whoever is under center this season, win a few games.
This may be a shock pick for some, but don’t be surprised if Howard is even taken a couple picks earlier. OJ Howard is the real deal folks.
Keenan Allen is a great talent. Bottom line though is he’s played nine games in the last two seasons.
He’s not an injury prone bust yet, but drafting his potential replacement isn’t a bad idea when you’ve got a guy like Mike Williams coming out of Clemson this year.
Wide receiver Travis Benjamin has game-changing speed and deep ability. He can’t fully take advantage of it though if there isn’t another threat to keep defenses from cheating deep on him.
If Allen can stay healthy, then bringing Williams in to play opposite of him while Benjamin presents the speed mismatch just makes Philip Rivers that much more exciting to watch.
In case of injury, Williams and Dontrelle Inman provide the veteran quarterback a fighting chance to still produce a suitable passing attack in the AFC West.
With the former Tiger’s ability to win jump balls and significantly tilt the scales on 50/50 balls, this is a move which just makes too much sense at this point.
Williams as a number two gives this offense a wide receiver duo which could one day compete with the likes of Denver’s and Oakland’s.
In case of chronic injury returning to Allen, drafting him gives them a head start to repairing their passing game right before they likely begin looking for their next franchise quarterback.
With the eight overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the Carolina Panthers select Jonathan Allen, defensive end out of Alabama. Panther fans, rejoice! After falling out of the top five, Allen finds his home in Carolina who are on their way to somehow finding a way to beat the Buccaneers. (Joking, or am I?)
Allen has been, and will be a force to be reckoned with once he reaches the NFL trenches. The Alabama standout was one of the main cogs in one of the best front sevens college football has seen for over a decade. Allen’s force across the defensive line has made his reputation into being a top five talent on most draft expert’s boards. So why the drop? Allen’s injury history is something to take note of, but it is not enough for Carolina to pounce on another defensive line talent.
Carolina’s aging defensive ends are an issue, and after trading Kony Ealy to the New England Patriots, it is time to plan for the future. Allen is the pick here.
Hard to believe really the Bengals were a legitimate contender coming out of the AFC North just two years ago.
Their team, and defense specifically, has certainly fallen off a bit. They still have a good nucleus of talent to build from, but need some big-time leadership and talent transfused.
Alabama’s Reuben Foster is just the guy to awaken the talent lying dormant in the Bengals defense, and his leadership can’t really be questioned.
Sure, he had a flare up with a staff member at the NFL Combine, but no damning stories have surfaced and nothing points to it being anything more than an isolated incident.
Anyone believe players and team medical staff haven’t had the occasional spat? No? Alright then, moving on.
Foster’s talent is so solid that seeing him at ninth overall gives the feel of a slide while he still gets taken in the Top-10.
An immediate starter for Cincinnati, the Crimson Tide prospect would team up to become downright scary playing alongside Vontaze Burfict.
Adding Foster to the defensive talent along with Browns’ top pick Myles Garrett should get the attention of the Steelers and Ravens as they patiently wait for their first grab off the big board.
With the tenth overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the Buffalo Bills select Corey Davis, wide receiver out of Western Michigan. Finally, the Bills have another pass catching threat on their roster!
The Bills walk out of the first day a happy organization after being in play for the drafts best receiver. Mike Williams may have been taken earlier, but the best receiver was still on the board. After comparisons to Terrell Owens, there is no secrets that Davis can play at a very high level. Due to the injuries that of bugged Sammy Watkins throughout his young NFL career, the Bills need to look for another threat to their dynamic offense.
The new defensively minded head coach Sean McDermott makes his first overall selection in a receiver who will truly change the way this offense performs. Will Tyrod Taylor finally be able to succeed at a high level? Or will the Bills make an attempt at young gunslinger later on in the draft?
After the Saints sent Brandin Cooks packing to the defending Super Bowl Champs, wide receiver could really be a target here.
However, the team can’t ignore the defense any further, and need to take a young man who can help bring the unit up to par.
Playing against the offenses in the NFC South isn’t ever an easy task, and it’s even worse when your team is thin at most positions.
Haason Reddick has special athleticism and plays fast. He’d immediately become New Orleans’ best linebacker and help the team in run support as well as mid-level pass defense.
Some view him as an eventual edge rusher or outside linebacker. Personally, I see him lining up with the Saints as their middle linebacker sooner rather than later. Reddick has made a meteoric rise up draft boards this off-season.
It’s fully possible his stock will settle a bit before the big day, but he’s a day one talent for certain.
Questions about him center mainly on lack of experience and level of competition.
Coming out of Temple, teams will have to be really certain his special athleticism will lead to real NFL results.
Drafting him is definitely a bit of a gamble, but with so much raw talent, it’s hard to believe he won’t be effective somewhere on this defense.
With the twelfth overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the Cleveland Browns select, Mitch Trubisky quarterback out of North Carolina. The first quarterback off the board is none other than Ohio native Mitch Trubisky. For the first time in a long time, the Cleveland Browns organization has a quarterback who actually wants to play for them.
After having two picks in the first round, the Browns take a gamble here on a big armed young gunslinger with tremendous upside. In no way do I expect Trubisky to come in and start the first game for the Browns this season, but he is a quarterback Hue Jackson can groom into a true talent.
It is no secret come draft day that the Browns will be looking to once again add a quarterback name to the carousel, but it finally ends here. Adding Trubisky gives the Browns hope. Whether you want to accept it or not, Jackson is a fantastic head coach and the Browns are a team on the rise. However, in the NFL you are nothing without a quarterback. Trubisky gives the “Dawg Pound” a guy they can finally pin their hopes on.
Is it possible the Cardinals have any better draft luck here?
Losing Tony Jefferson hurts, but gaining Malik Hooker to play alongside “The Honey Badger” Tyrann Mathieu is almost too good to be true. With Carson Palmer showing a bit more of his age every year, and Larry Fitzgerald nearing the end of his playing time, the Arizona defense will need to step it up to keep their games close.
David Johnson can take over a contest by himself, but is best when helping his team wear down the clock and opposing forces.
Hooker is a true playmaker in every sense of the word. His ball skills are amazing and his willingness to crash down against the run is admirable.
He’s gotten some critics who say his tackling is a weakness rather than a strength, but while it may not be his biggest strength, I believe his tackling abilities are underrated.
Arizona has found themselves blessed after taking a risk on the troubled Mathieu coming out of LSU.
Taking a shot on a one-year starter coming off of off-season surgeries, should yield them the same return.
A potent starter who will create headaches for opposing quarterbacks all season long.
With the fourteenth overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the Philadelphia Eagles select, Christian McCaffrey running back out of Stanford. FLY EAGLES FLY! That is just what they did, and that is exactly what McCaffrey can do.
The selection of McCaffrey not only gives the Eagles one of the most all-around talented college prospects but also one of the best running back options in this draft. McCaffrey is a running back who can come in and split the load with a fellow runner (Ryan Matthews) and still be an utter success in Doug Pederson’s system. One minute he will be lined up in the backfield, and the next he is causing absolute havoc as a slot receiver in the passing game.
McCaffrey is exactly what this Eagles’ offense needs to produce at a high level. He is a multi-faceted threat that can make defenses cringe. He will join Matthews to help take the pressure off of his quarterback.
If Philadelphia continues to build the pieces around the talented Carson Wentz, they just may bring in their first Lombardi.
I’ll admit it, figuring out who the Colts should draft isn’t all that easy.
First off, the defense needs a lot of work, but on the other hand, how often do you get a quarterback like Andrew Luck and wide receiver like T.Y. Hilton?
I know in Indianapolis it seems like a constant reoccurrence for this team, but they shouldn’t take it for granted. Putting a playmaking every-down back to go with their dynamic duo makes all the sense in the world.
Buccaneers fans will be mad, but I mean, do we really think the best running back in the draft is going to last until 19th? It’s somewhat surprising he lasted this long. Don’t worry, the class at running back is a deep one. The Bucs can add one later on.
With many talented players on the board still, the Colts will need to determine which side of the ball they want to bolster the most.
Their division is a tightly wound race which can have any of the four teams win it any given season. Putting their offense on top of the AFC South could be a priority, and getting Cook in their backfield helps them do it.
With the sixteenth overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the Baltimore Ravens select, Taco Charlton defensive end out of Michigan. After having a good amount of wiggle room in the draft, the Ravens are able to nail down a top pass rushing prospect and fill a need due to the lack of talent at the defensive end position.
The monstrous 6’6” Charlton is an immediate impact player the Ravens can stick into their defensive line. With Charlton comes much room to grow. If you watch his tape at Michigan you see a player who is just scratching the surface of his potential. John Harbaugh is just the type of coach to bring in a player such as this and get absolutely every drop of talent he can out of him.
Charlton’s slow rise on the draft boards may be due to his high ceiling, but his pure athleticism is not something to be mistaken by. Charlton is big, strong, lean player who will bring a force back to what really is a Ravens’ defense. Plus, who would not like a player named Taco? If someone named Nacho comes out in the 2018 class, they would just be a perfect fit.
Look, none of us really knows if the Redskins want to commit to Kirk Cousins as their franchise quarterback or if they’re basically just marking time until the next franchise guy comes along.
Either way, no quarterback is going to stay healthy behind a porous offensive line. Even Cam Newton, who moves around with the best of them, can’t stand up to a pounding. Being great up front is essential.
Washington has already invested in the offense this off-season despite the fact they lost both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson.
Adding Terrelle Pryor will look like a really smart move if last year’s top pick Josh Doctson can come back healthy and Jamison Crowder can keep up his impressive 2016 performance.
Running back is definitely a potential target here as well, but putting more talent up front will make the position look better as is. It’s not going to be the sexiest pick in the draft, and some may even have a different tackle higher on their own board than Robinson.
Bottom line though, the team needs help up front, and Robinson brings plenty of it. He can be the cornerstone of the line, no matter who the quarterback is.
With the eighteenth overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the Tennessee Titans select, John Ross wide receiver out of Washington. The Titans get their man, a talented young speedy receiver who will fit perfectly into Mike Mularkey’s offense.
The notorious Ross has been a prospect who has received many up and down reviews cemented himself as first round prospect due to his incredible combine performance. After breaking Chris Johnson’s long lasting 40 yard dash time, Ross literally and figuratively burst onto all 32 team’s draft boards. He isn’t only fast, however, as he can play the position as well.
The selection of Ross gives the Titans a true weapon both on offense and also special teams. Tennessee is a young team, and supplying Marcus Mariota with as many weapons as they can is something this team will do. A strong offensive line, running back stable, and quarterback only leaves one last offensive question mark. Who will be catching these passes? With the selection of Ross, they believe that he will do the trick.
Could Ross be the final weapon that helps Mariota take his game to the next level? The Titans are a talented bunch. He certainly won’t hurt.
Not very creative I know, but in this mock, the Buccaneers draft their safety of the future and possibly their nickel of today.
Budda Baker does it all. He can cover the top end of the secondary, tackle in the box and lineup with most tight ends with relative success.
In year one, if the team likes what they have at safety enough to roll with it, they can allow Baker to develop a bit as an understudy while he comes in to play nickel.
If one of their safeties goes down to injury, or if they simply like him better, then he could be an impact player as a rookie.
There’s no real rule to drafting, but it is a bit unorthodox to grab a secondary piece with the top pick two years in a row.
Still though, a duo of Vernon Hargreaves III and Baker could develop into the best safety/corner combination in the NFC South. Isn’t that an exciting thought for us as Bucs fans?
The Buccaneers have studs at every position group except safety and running back.
Tampa can solve half of this issue right here by taking the former Huskie playmaker.
With the 20th overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft the Denver Broncos select, Ryan Ramcyzk tackle out of Wisconsin. John Elway gets the left tackle his team deserves with the election of Ramcyzk.
The remarkable journey of Ryan Ramcyzk finally gets a new chapter after he is selected by the Broncos here towards the middle of the first round. After drafting a quarterback early last season, cementing him with a true blind side protector is exactly what Elway is going to do. Without an offensive line, no quarterback will be able to excel. You can’t complete passes while lying on your back, which means you need an offensive line.
Although much work has been done to the Broncos’ offensive line throughout this off-season, it is not finished yet. Ramcyzk overall abilities in both the pass and run game is something Denver will not want to pass up on, and with a weak offensive line class they answer the bell early.
The defensive has not dropped off since the Super Bowl run, so it is time the Broncos focus on repairing the once powerful and respected offense. The offense starts up front. Bring in the left tackle that can be a cornerstone for years.
I’ve said it before, and I still stand by it, Derek Barnett just looks like a Detroit Lion.
I can’t explain it, and I’m not even going to try to here, but he seems to fit the style of player and the personality destined to play for Motown’s own franchise.
Playing alongside Haloti Ngata, Ezekiel Ansah and A’Shawn Robinson will give Barnett a real good shot at looking overly impressive in his rookie season.
The four should be able to find ways to get to opposing quarterbacks and really complicate enemy passing attacks as they do. They are too talented to do otherwise.
In year one without Calvin Johnson the Lions proved they had the ability to stay competitive in the NFC North. Year two should see the team get a bit more comfortable without their star receiver, and bulking up their pass rush should certainly help keep opponent scores in manageable ranges.
Allowing quarterback Matthew Stafford lower scoring opponents to play against should free up what the offense can do, and make Detroit even bigger threats to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. Look out for the Lions in the near future. They are close.
With the twenty-second pick in the 2017 NFL draft the Miami Dolphins select, Forrest Lamp guard out of Western Kentucky. Head Coach Adam Gase fills the hole on his offensive line with the selection of Lamp, and creates one of the strongest left sides in the NFL. With this pick, the AFC East should be concerned.
No worries here for Ryan Tannehill after this selection, the Dolphins choose to pass up on various prospects to take a shot on the best offensive lineman in this year’s class. Lamp has been a name to keep an eye on over the past few weeks, seeing his draft stock skyrocket anywhere from top ten to the bottom of the first. Miami chooses to continue to build on their Dallas rivaling offensive line, who helped both Tannehill and running back Jay Ajayi flourish this past season.
Gase made it clear during the start of his head coaching career that he would take nothing less than 100 percent, and here he continues it. Lamp gives the Dolphins a lineman who is not only durable but also extremely talented. Take a look at his tape versus Alabama. Wow. Lamp will be a huge asset to this Dolphins team.
A whole lot of linemen going in this area, but hey, games are won in the trenches right? New York has already added Brandon Marshall to go with Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard.
On defense, they showed solid improvement in 2016 and will likely look to boost the linebacking group later on in Day 2.
Day one though, goes towards giving Eli Manning more time to find his talented receivers, and give second year running back Paul Perkins some lanes to run through.
Garrett Bolles will be used more to give Perkins some space to run to instead, but still, it’s effective. Erik Flowers hasn’t been the greatest talent at left tackle since coming in, but Bolles is better suited for the right side and gives Flowers one more year to prove he can be the future.
An upgraded line to go with an upgraded receiving corps and a promising young running back should keep the Giants in the mix for returning to the post-season.
Look out for this team to really threaten the Cowboys for the division crown as teams now get a full year of tape on Dallas’ young offensive nucleus.
With the twenty-fourth pick in the 2017 NFL draft the Oakland (Las Vegas) Raiders select, Tre’Davious White cornerback out of Louisiana State. Raiders fans, no longer will your secondary be abused by opposing cornerbacks, Jack Del Rio has your back.
After a successful run from the Oakland Raiders during the 2016 season, there was no secret to what this team needed to accomplish this off-season. Fix the defense! Derek Carr and his high- powered offense are one of the best groups in the NFL, but the Raiders could have been much more successful with a better defense.
Chalk it up to the defensive line or the secondary, something needs to be done in Oakland. The Raiders take the best corner available here to build upon the resurgence of talent in their secondary. White brings a competitive and experience background to Oakland, and will compete for a starting gig right out of the gates.
Keep an eye on these Raiders, if Del Rio is able to figure out his defense, you may just seem them preparing for a Super Bowl run. Hey, what happened to the Raiders the last time they made the Super Bowl?
While I’m normally an advocate of teams following one mistake at a key position by taking another risk at the same one, this draft pick makes sense.
Watson moves better than Brock Osweiler ever did, and if plays don’t develop on time then he can get some things done with his legs to free things up a bit.
Lamar Miller will benefit from teams having to keep an eye on the quarterback on top of the running back, and of course, a talented pool of receivers should make for some fantastic plays.
Watson is the most pro-ready in this year’s class in my opinion, and has shown he’s just a flat-out winner. Defeating a team like Alabama who is stocked with future NFL defenders should only boost his stock.
Like I wrote about with the Lions before, Houston’s own defense will help keep opposing scores lower so their rookie quarterback isn’t forced to put the team on his shoulders too often in 2017.
This team can’t move forward with Tom Savage as their quarterback, and unless they plan on signing Colin Kaepernick, this is the obvious choice.
Watson brings a winning attitude, winning ability, and potential that is through the roof.
Os-who? Deshaun is king of Houston by the end of 2017.
With the twenty-sixth selection in the 2017 NFL draft the Seattle Seahawks select, Kevin King cornerback out of Washington. Pete Carroll gets a replacement for Richard Sherman? Not impossible here.
Yes, the Seattle Seahawks have in mind a defense without Sherman, and whether it happens this year or the next it seems inevitable. Sherman is beginning to age, and although he still may be arguable the best corner in the game, his replacement may come soon. See Darrelle Revis for all of the proof you need. It ends quickly for these guys.
The selection of Kevin King gives the Seahawks the perfect replacement to either learn under Sherman or even replace him if Sherman is moved. The 6’3” corner is almost exactly what you would expect out of a Seattle corner, and he is not limited to just one spot. Much like you see with many corners on Seattle’s roster, they are able to play a multitude of roles. King who has seen action at both safety and corner has proven recently to draft experts that he is a capable first round talent. Sherman, you would look great with a star on your helmet.
Bringing Eric Berry back was crucial to keep the Chiefs defense in contention with the Broncos’ unit. Still, the team needs to boost their secondary, and can’t expect to stay competitive without a legit running mate for Marcus Peters outside.
Quincy Wilson is one of the better corner talents in this class, and his pro day may have just put him over Ohio State’s Gareon Conley for the time being.
There are some other needs, and some may even argue linebacker is a bigger need. This being said, none of the linebackers available at this point look like to have the star potential Wilson has.
Early on in this process it was his teammate Teez Tabor who got most of the attention and first-round buzz. Very quickly though, everyone who watched tape of the Florida Gators defense realized Wilson was the better NFL prospect, and it isn’t even all that close. While Tabor will require top coverage against even some of the league’s average receivers, this cornerback should develop into a guy coaches can trust to matchup one on one on the outside.
Having two guys they can trust gives Kansas City more flexibility with their defensive play call, and should also lead to more interceptions from the entire secondary. Wilson will get tested early and often against the likes of Emmanuel Sanders, Michael Crabtree and Travis Benjamin – or Mike Williams if this mock proves accurate – but he’ll be able to stand-up well for the most part.
With the twenty-eighth pick in the 2017 NFL draft the Dallas Cowboys select, Jabrill Peppers safety out of Michigan. Just how Jerry Jones can Jerry Jones get? If there are any players in this year’s draft class that look like Cowboys, it would be Jabrill Peppers or Adoree Jackson. Fortunately enough for Peppers, he does not make it out of the first round as Jerry swoops in for the talented multi-purpose defensive prospect.
After losing two essential safeties in the free agency period this offseason, it is no surprise that Jerry turns to target that position. Peppers gives the Cowboys a player who can rotate down from safety to a linebacker, essentially playing two roles for the Cowboys scarce defense. That offense is explosive. With a good defense, that team will be absolutely scary.
Besides Sean Lee, the Dallas Cowboys have been hurting for defensive talent for quite some time. Although a pass rusher may be a wise choice, in a deep defensive class for both positions, they choose to go safety due to Pepper’s swiss army knife appeal.
Admit it, Peppers would make a great Cowboy. He also will be a great addition.
Lance Zierlein from NFL.com has compared Takkarist (Tak) McKinley to Tamba Hali in his draft profile, and it’s easy to see why. The young man just has something which makes you believe he’s got a bright future. While he’s raw in many aspects, the talent is there and he should be able to develop into a nice pro at this level.
The great thing for McKinley in this situation is he isn’t going to be asked to be the hero on the defense. He’ll have some nice pieces around him to help him come into his own as a rookie. Clay Matthews and the returning Nick Perry will also benefit from this selection as offensive linemen have their hands full with the never-ending pursuit McKinley brings to every snap.
Getting good defensive linemen in front of solid linebacker always leads to better play, and when the second level guys make plays in the offensive backfield, it can really affect the trajectory of a game.
Honestly, McKinley has a second-round grade for me, but in a class with a fairly shallow first-round pool of talent there’s going to be some reaching done in this part of the draft. As day one talent goes, Tak has some serious upside. While he does have a day two evaluation from me, he’s at the top of that group and should bring Packers fans years of fun.
With the 30th pick in the 2017 NFL draft the Pittsburgh Steelers select, T.J. Watt linebacker out of Wisconsin. I saw it coming, you saw it coming, and we all saw it coming. The Steelers are on the lookout for a replacement for James Harrison. The ageless wonder Harrison has been a legendary Steeler throughout his days, but those days are numbered. With the unfortunate bust on Jarvis Jones, the Steelers must look to find a replacement for Harrison.
T.J. Watt out of Wisconsin is just the perfect guy for the job. This standup outside linebacker prospect has traits to become a special player in the NFL, much like that older brother of his. The selection of Watt not only gives the Steelers a replacement at outside linebacker, but also a play-maker opposite Bud Dupree.
At 30th overall, the Steelers may see it as a wise decision to target an outside backer, but do not rule out a possible quarterback depending on who they see fit. Ben Roethlisberger has fooled with retirement rumors for too long, and we ALL know Landry Jones is not the long-term option. For me, however, the choice is Watt.
By now, every individual who loves this time of year has heard the knocks on Malik McDowell. He’s lazy sometimes, doesn’t finish plays, will flat-out take plays off and quite honestly doesn’t always look like he loves being on the field like he should.
Well, then there’s the other side of the coin, and it’s amazing. When this young man is firing on all cylinders it’s a great thing to see. His talent level is high and his potential even higher if a coaching staff can tap into his youthful ebbs and flows.
Atlanta had great success with guys like Deion Jones and Keanu Neal in 2016 and those two specifically along with guys like Vic Beasley helped take them to the Super Bowl.
Of course, their elite offense had a little to do with it as well.
Securing the middle of their defensive line is key to making a return to the big game, and McDowell could be the missing piece they’re looking for. His other young teammates should be able to keep him motivated and the coaching staff has demonstrated they know how to tap into young underrated talent. Plus, a few million dollars is quite the motivator. If he can bring himself to giving maximum effort at the NFL level then this kid could be something special. If not, well, there’s always 2018 right?
He’s a gamble. No doubt about it. If he won’t play hard for a team which could get him a ring in his first season, he won’t play hard for anybody. This would be bad news for the Falcons, but they have the best shot at drafting him in the first round and getting top pick talent out of him.
With the thirty-second and final selection in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft the New Orleans Saints select, Obi Melifonwu safety out of Connecticut. Sean Payton continues to build upon his lackluster defense with two first round defensive talents.
The athletic freak Obi Melifonwu gets his name called with the final pick in the first round, and it is a relief for Saint fans. Melifonwu’s selection brings a big bodied safety who plays like a corner down to the bayou. The 6’4” 225 pound safety had one of the best combine performances in recent years for a defensive back, and it did not go unnoticed.
4.40 in the forty yard dash is a fantastic time, and a 141 inch broad jump is explosive.
Any of the 32 teams in this league would love to take a shot at Melifonwu, but some value him more than others. The contribution Melifonwu brings to the Saints is someone who can match up on big bodied receivers like Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin in the NFC South. Look for the Saints to attempt another playoff run before Drew Brees calls it a career. This guy could be the catalyst on the back-end.
Next: Next Wave of Renovations for RayJay Announced
So what do you think of our draft? Where do you agree and/or disagree? Let us know …