1. BROWNS- MYLES GARRETT, EDGE/texas a&m

-OR- SOLOMON THOMAS/edge, JONATHAN ALLEN/interior, MITCHELL TRUBISKY/qb

Cleveland will have to go out of their way to mess this one up. Myles Garrett is pretty clearly the top prospect in the draft and taking a quarterback from the 2017 class this early would be unwise especially in the midst of a long-term rebuilding process.

 

2. NINERS- SOLOMON THOMAS, EDGE/stanford

-OR- JONATHAN ALLEN, MITCHELL TRUBISKY, JAMAL ADAMS/s, MARSHON LATTIMORE/cb

One of the toughest slots to project in the draft, there is no clear-cut correct selection here. I believe Jonathan Allen is the best option but rumors over the last month have suggested the Niners prefer late-charging Stanford prospect Solomon Thomas, an incredibly promising player in his own right. However, a cornerback or safety are feasible options for this pick, a trade is on the table and it wouldn’t even surprise me if they reach for a QB.

 

3. BEARS- MIKE WILLIAMS, WR/clemson

-OR- JONATHAN ALLEN, MITCHELL TRUBISKY, JAMAL ADAMS, MARSHON LATTIMORE

This is a bit of a bold prediction, but the Bears used their top pick on a front seven player last year and I’m thinking they’ll be looking to make more of a splash this time around. Mike Williams is my favorite receiver in the class, but the third pick is a tad high. With Alshon Jeffrey departing, a slight reach makes sense if they like Williams as much as I do.

 

4. JAGUARS- LEONARD FOURNETTE, RB/lsu

-OR- OJ HOWARD/te, JONATHAN ALLEN, REUBEN FOSTER/lb

This is another toughie. Jacksonville has a glaring need at RB and could be looking to land the top back in the class in their final push to support the teetering Blake Bortles. OJ Howard also makes sense in this regard. Rumors are also suggesting heavy interest from the Jags in Fournette. But we must keep in mind that this will be Tom Coughlin’s first pick as head of football operations and to me, a running back at #4 is not very Coughlin-esque.

 

5. TITANS- MARSHON LATTIMORE, CB/osu

-OR- MARLON HUMPHREY/cb, JAMAL ADAMS, MALIK HOOKER/s

The Titans need to add some depth to their defensive backfield and are in an excellent spot to do so at #5. The bigger question here is which of the plethora of options does Tennessee prefer? All four DBs listed above would make for exciting additions.

 

6. JETS- JONATHAN ALLEN, INTERIOR/EDGE/alabama

-OR- JAMAL ADAMS, REUBEN FOSTER, OJ HOWARD

A repeat of the 2015 draft looks very possible as Allen, a top-3 talent, could easily wind up falling as far as pick #6 just as Leonard Williams did two years ago. GM Mike Mccagnan has demonstrated a willingness to take the best player on the board even if it adds to an area of strength. The only weapons the Jets have left are on the defensive line, but with never-ending drama surrounding Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, I could see NY jumping at the opportunity to take a high-character, high-upside player that will fit well in their defense.

 

7. CHARGERS- JAMAL ADAMS, S/lsu

-OR- MALIK HOOKER, MARLON HUMPHREY

The Chargers have a much more complete squad, especially on defense, than most realize. But they have a need at safety and should have at least one excellent option at the position. If both Jamal Adams and Malik Hooker are available, I would prefer Adams by a hair. Things will get hectic if both safeties are off the board by pick #7, but I find that scenario pretty unlikely.

 

8. PANTHERS- CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, RB/stanford

-OR- (LEONARD FOURNETTE), OJ HOWARD, DEREK BARNETT/edge, DALVIN COOK/rb

Six weeks ago I would have been shocked to see Christian McCaffrey go this high. But his performance on film is remarkable and his combine workout was phenomenal as well. The kid is a natural. While I do believe Fournette is a better and more desirable fit in Carolina, McCaffrey is an outstanding plan B.

 

9. BENGALS- REUBEN FOSTER, LB/alabama

-OR- CAM ROBINSON/ot, DEREK BARNETT, FORREST LAMP/og, MALIK HOOKER

This pick is too obvious to actually pan out this way. Reuben Foster is a formidable talent and potential day-one starter with some off-field concerns. Luckily for him, the Bengals don’t seem to mind these types of prospects. His hard-nosed, physical style also seems a match in Cincinnati. But Malik Hooker or one of the top offensive lineman could also make a lot of sense here. 

 

10. BILLS- MALIK HOOKER, S/ohio state

-OR- (MIKE WILLIAMS), JOHN ROSS/wr, COREY DAVIS/wr, MARLON HUMPHREY, OJ HOWARD

I don’t think Mike Williams will fall further than this spot, but I’m also not sure fellow outstanding wide receiver prospects John Ross or Corey Davis will be seen as good value options at #10 if Williams gets snapped up in the top 9. Malik Hooker will be a bit of steal if he’s still available and fills a need. I think it’ll be a slam dunk if it works out this way for Buffalo.

 

11. SAINTS- OJ HOWARD, TE/alabama

-OR- MARLON HUMPHREY, DEREK BARNETT, TACO CHARLTON/edge

The Saints are such a complete and utter defensive dumpster fire that many will immediately recoil at the thought of this selection. But think about how much of a boon the addition would be to their offense. And also think about how little overall impact a defensive selection will have on their disinterested defending. There will be other opportunities in later rounds for New Orleans to stock up on young defenders. Howard will likely be the best and highest-impact player on the board at this spot.

 

12. BROWNS- MITCHELL TRUBISKY, QB/unc

-OR- COREY DAVIS, JOHN ROSS, DESHAUN WATSON/qb, FORREST LAMP

I think this is a perfectly appropriate spot to make a move on Mitch Trubisky if Cleveland has him as their top QB on the board. I don’t, but almost all of the buzz over the last month has suggested universal agreement among NFL evaluators that Trubisky is the #1 quarterback in the class. Obviously, QB is a position of need in Cleveland. Snagging one of the two remaining top tier wide receivers (Corey Davis or John Ross) would also be a good idea. As would top offensive line prospects Forrest Lamp or Cam Robinson.

 

13. CARDINALS- MARLON HUMPHREY, CB/alabama

-OR- PATRICK MAHOMES/qb, DESHAUN WATSON, JOHN ROSS, COREY DAVIS

A physical, instinctive and experienced corner seems to be exactly what Arizona is looking for in attempting to restore their defense to its former glory. But wide receivers Corey Davis or John Ross would make a lot of sense here too and I find Ross to be a particularly good fit for Bruce Arians’ attack. It is theoretically a good value spot for Deshaun Watson (in my opinion only, NFL scouts disagree strongly), but I think there’s potentially too much to gain from this pick to spend it on a player that will be sitting the bench this fall.

 

14. EAGLES- DALVIN COOK, RB/florida state

-OR- (CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY), DEREK BARNETT, TACO CHARLTON, CHARLES HARRIS/edge

I believe that the Eagles are both in a great position to add a major offensive weapon for Carson Wentz and eager to do so. McCaffrey or Fournette will likely be their preferred options, but Dalvin Cook’s pass catching versatility and every-down potential might actually make him the best fit for Doug Pederson’s scheme. And he should be available at #14. It is also likely that Philadelphia will have a choice of several high quality defensive edge players if they balk at taking Cook.

 

15. COLTS- FORREST LAMP, OG/western kentucky

-OR- (DALVIN COOK), CAM ROBINSON , DEREK BARNETT, TACO CHARLTON, JABRILL PEPPERS/s

The Colts want one of the three star running backs of this class in the worst way, but the Eagles are perfectly situated to ruin their day by selecting Dalvin Cook at #14. In this scenario, the Colts could potentially turn in a few directions, namely an edge rusher, defensive back or offensive lineman. My recommendation would be the most versatile offensive lineman in the draft and it seems a sensible first selection for new GM Chris Ballard. Cam Robinson would also be a windmill dunk in this spot.

 

16. RAVENS- DEREK BARNETT, DE/tennessee

-OR- CAM ROBINSON, TACO CHARLTON, TAKKARIST MCKINLEY/edge

 

17. REDSKINS- JABRILL PEPPERS, S/michigan

-OR- (FORREST LAMP), RYAN RAMCYZK/ot, DESHAUN WATSON

 

18. TITANS- COREY DAVIS, WR/western michigan

-OR- JOHN ROSS

 

19. BUCCANEERS- TACO CHARLTON, EDGE/michigan

-OR- (DALVIN COOK), CHARLES HARRIS, TAKKARIST MCKINLEY

 

20. BRONCOS- CAM ROBINSON, OT/alabama

-OR- GARRETT BOLLES/ot, RYAN RAMCYZK

 

21. LIONS- JOHN ROSS, WR/washington

-OR- ADOREE JACKSON/cb, CHARLES HARRIS, TAKKARIST MCKINLEY, HAASON REDDICK/edge

 

22. DOLPHINS- CHARLES HARRIS, EDGE/missouri

-OR- TAKKARIST MCKINLEY, HAASON REDDICK

 

23. GIANTS- DAVID NJOKU, TE/miami

-OR- RYAN RAMCYZK, GARRETT BOLLES

 

24. RAIDERS- HAASON REDDICK, EDGE/temple

-OR- (DAVID NJOKU) CALEB BRANTLEY/interior, TAKKARIST MCKINLEY

 

25. TEXANS- PATRICK MAHOMES, QB/texas tech

-OR- DESHAUN WATSON, DESHONE KIZER/qb

 

26. SEAHAWKS- GARRETT BOLLES, OT/utah

-OR- ADOREE JACKSON, KEVIN KING/cb, CALEB BRANTLEY

 

27. CHIEFS- DESHAUN WATSON, QB/clemson

-OR- TAKKARIST MCKINLEY, CALEB BRANTLEY, JARRAD DAVIS/lb

 

28. COWBOYS- TAKKARIST MCKINLEY, EDGE/ucla

-OR- CALEB BRANTLEY, ADOREE JACKSON

 

29. PACKERS- ADOREE’ JACKSON, CB/usc

-OR- (JABRILL PEPPERS), GAREON CONLEY/cb, KEVIN KING, QUINCY WILSON/cb

 

30. STEELERS- JARRAD DAVIS, LB/florida

-OR- TIM WILLIAMS/edge, MALIK MCDOWELL/interior

 

31. FALCONS- TJ WATT, LB/wisconsin

-OR- ZACH CUNNINGHAM/lb, GAREON CONLEY, MALIK MCDOWELL

 

32. SAINTS- GAREON CONLEY, CB/ohio state

-OR- (WATSON, MAHOMES, TRUBISKY), CHIDOBE UWUZIE/cb, KEVIN KING