1. Cleveland (1-15) - Myles Garrett, DE/OLB (Texas A&M) - Garrett should be a consensus even though the Browns haven't made that official yet. He's a potential defensive cornerstone. PICK HIM.
2. San Francisco (2-14) - Jamal Adams, S (LSU) - There are truly so many options that John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan can go with here, but with the defensive state in San Francisco, Adams is the pick. A QB can be selected in the later rounds.
3. Chicago (3-13) - Marshon Lattimore, CB (Ohio State) - The Bears have Prince Amukamara and Kyle Fuller - both former 1st round selections, but Lattimore can make that secondary very good. However, there is a possibility of Adams here if he isn't picked #2 or Malik Hooker.
4. Jacksonville (3-13) - Leonard Fournette, RB (LSU) - T.J. Yeldon hasn't worked out in his first few seasons so the Jaguars may look to do what Dallas did at #4 at year ago and pick the most explosive RB in the class.
5. Tennessee (9-7) from LA Rams - Solomon Thomas, DE (Stanford) - A very safe pick here as all experts point to Solomon Thomas as being a "respectable" pro player in the very least. If he's gone before #5, the Titans will obviously have to look elsewhere.
6. TRADE: Cleveland (1-15) from NY Jets - Mitchell Trubisky, QB (North Carolina) - Trades are difficult to project, but I could see one here if the Browns get worried about their targeted QB. Cleveland has the picks to do it and the Jets could still get their guy by moving down.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11) - Malik Hooker, DB (Ohio State) - He will be the first WPIAL player drafted in the 1st Round that hasn't attended the University of Pittsburgh since 2000, and he could be the next Ed Reed. Tremendous ball-hawking skills and a nose for the end-zone - Hooker would help solidify a spot left open by Eric Weddle's departure last offseason.
8. Carolina (6-10) - Christian McCaffrey, RB (Stanford) - Jonathan Stewart is aging as the Panthers' RB and this would be a perfect time to give Cam Newton and that offense another weapon. McCaffrey could play RB or slot and give Newton a lot of options.
9. Cincinnati (6-9-1) - Jonathan Allen, DE (Alabama) - Cincy goes for the best guy available in the form of Jonathan Allen. A defensive front with Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap looks pretty good, but Allen can be a great depth guy that can jump in if he has to.
10. Buffalo (7-9) - Reuben Foster, LB (Alabama) - The Bills need help at the linebacker position as Ramon Humber is the guy in the "Will" spot at the moment. Joining two Alabama guys in Foster and Reggie Ragland would set up a good, young LB core for Buffalo.
11. New Orleans (7-9) - Marlon Humphrey, CB (Alabama) - The Saints have two 1st Round picks and the first one needs to address the main need - the secondary. Humphrey is one of the better CBs in a draft full of them.
12. TRADE: New York Jets (5-11) from Cle., from Phila. - O.J. Howard, TE (Alabama) - Josh McCown signed a 1-year, $6 million deal with the Jets this offseason, but QB isn't out of the question to mold for a year. However, the Jets are in dire need of a TE and Howard is the best one on the board.
13. Arizona (7-8-1) - Patrick Mahomes, QB (Texas Tech) - Carson Palmer's successor could be picked tonight in the form of Patrick Mahomes out of Texas Tech. Mahomes' draft stock has risen mightily since the combine and pro days took place and the expectation of a 1st Round selection is pretty much a certainty. If he doesn't go here, he could drop to Houston at #25.
14. Philadelphia (7-9) from Minn. - Derek Barnett, DE (Tennessee) - Derek Barnett was overshadowed last season due to the high talent level in SEC defenses with players like Garrett, Adams, Foster and Allen. Barnett has the athletic tools and joining a talented defensive line in Philly could make Eagles' fans excited for the team's future.
15. Indianapolis (8-8) - Charles Harris, LB (Missouri) - Harris is another riser in this draft that came onto the scene after the combine and pro days took place. His ability to play DE could give him a shot at immediate impact in place of Kendall Langford on the Indy defensive line.
16. Baltimore (8-8) - Mike Williams, WR (Clemson) - After losing veteran WR Steve Smith to retirement this offseason, the Ravens can replace him immediately by drafting arguably the best WR available, and that is Mike Williams. Williams made a handful of great catches in his collegiate career coming from fellow 1st Round hopeful, Deshaun Watson.
17. Washington (8-7-1) - Takkarist McKinley DE/OLB (UCLA) - McKinley is a long, lengthy player that can play OLB or DE in the Redskins' system. Filling in for Stacy McGee or Terrell McClain seems more likely for a quicker impact, but his versatility will make him a value to that defense.
18. Tennessee (9-7) - Corey Davis, WR (Western Michigan) - The Titans have a very good setup for this year's draft because of the two relatively early 1st Round selections. After picking a defensive star at #5, I see Tennessee finding Marcus Mariota a big-time target in the form of Corey Davis.
19. Tampa Bay (9-7) - Dalvin Cook, RB (Florida State) - A connection between a QB and RB could prove to be vital in getting a team over the hump and that's what the Bucs could have if they go with Dalvin Cook at #19. Cook and Jameis Winston are both former Florida State stars and two guys that could elevate Tampa Bay to the top of the NFC South.
20. Denver (9-7) - Ryan Ramczyk, OT (Wisconsin) - One pick that surely looks like a lock in the opening round of tonight's draft is Ryan Ramczyk from Wisconsin. The Badgers have a good history of offensive linemen in the NFL and the Broncos are in need of a juggernaut bruiser in the trenches like Ramczyk.
21. Detroit* (9-7) - Jarrad Davis, LB (Florida) - Tahir Whitehead is the starting MLB for the Lions and Jarrad Davis can add depth or even jump the guy that had 99 solo tackles a season ago for Detroit. Nonetheless, the Lions need somebody to aid the linebacker core so they could look to Davis or to others based on who's available.
22. Miami* (10-6) - Forrest Lamp, OG (Western Kentucky) - Miami can continue to build its offensive line by adding a solid guard like Forrest Lamp. A promising offense can help the Dolphins return to the playoffs with a more solidified offensive front.
23. New York Giants* (11-5) - David Njoku, TE (Miami) - This is a really talented football team on both sides of the ball with the exception of offensive line and a reliable TE. Njoku is the second-best TE on the board and could give Eli Manning yet another target for next season joining OBJ, Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard. If Fournette,
McCaffrey and/or Cook fall the Giants would go there, or New York could jump early on Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon.
24. Oakland/Las Vegas* (12-4) - Haason Reddick, LB (Temple) - If Haason Reddick falls to #24,t he Oakland Raiders should be licking their chops. Even though CB is more of a concern, that area is very deep in this draft so the Raiders could jump on a guy that would add to the LB position, joining Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin.
25. Houston* (9-7) - Deshaun Watson, QB (Clemson) - Would be surprised if the national-champion signal caller fell this far, but let's face it, Houston...we have a problem, and that problem is not having a QB. Right now, Tom Savage is in the starting role, but being a former 4th-round pick, Savage may not be the guy to carry this franchise. Watson is a proven winner and Bill O'Brien will not let him slip by #25.
26. Seattle* (10-5-1) - Garett Bolles, OT (Utah) - The Seahawks really need to select either a guard or tackle with their first pick and Garett Bolles may be their guy here. After Seattle added Luke Joeckel in the offseason, they could be looking for Bolles to make his mark at RT or at one of the guard positions.
27. Kansas City* (12-4) - Tre'Davious White, CB (LSU) - Kansas City has a highly-talented defense, but a piece this team could add is a corner opposite Marcus Peters. Adding Tre'Davious White to this mix could make the Chiefs secondary even more lethal than before.
28. Dallas* (13-3) - Adoree' Jackson, CB (USC) - The Cowboys like some flash and Adoree' Jackson has it. One of the faster players in this year's draft, Jackson could provide help to Dallas not only on defense, but also in the special teams game, making him a versatile and very attractive player for the Cowboys somewhat needy secondary.
29. Green Bay* (10-6) - Joe Mixon, RB (Oklahoma) - Aaron Rodgers had to basically do it all last year for the Packers because his main RB was Ty Montgomery - who is more known for his receiving. Although this could be considered a reach, especially with Mixon's shady past, the RB from Oklahoma has a lot of upside and could fit right into an offense now without former 1,000-yard rusher, Eddie Lacy.
30. Pittsburgh* (11-5) - T.J. Watt, LB (Wisconsin) - The signing of Coty Sensabaugh and the hopeful return of Senquez Golson make it look like the Steelers will steer away from the CB position and look at a pass rusher in the 1st Round of tonight's draft. If T.J. Watt is on the board, Steelers Nation would welcome him with open arms as the potential replacement for the aging James Harrison down the road. His brother is pretty good if you follow football and he claims T.J. is even better.
31. Atlanta* (11-5) - Taco Charlton, DE (Michigan) - Adding Dontari Poe to the defensive line was a big offseason move for the defending NFC Champions. Adding another name to that pass rush in the opening round could be where Atlanta looks. With Brooks Reed and Ra'Shede Hageman as the two starting DE's for the Falcons, Taco Charlton could be the man picked to jump right in to one of those slots.
32. New Orleans (7-9) from NE - John Ross, WR (Washington) - Even though New Orleans should use its second 1st Round pick of the night on another defensive player, look for the Saints to replace Brandin Cooks and give Drew Brees another slot/deep threat. John Ross is the fastest player in the draft after dawning a record-breaking 40-yard dash time of 4.22 seconds, which would also give the Saints another option in the return game, joining veteran Ted Ginn Jr.
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