One month out mock draft
With the NFL Draft now officially just one month away, it’s time to start mock drafting. There’s still plenty of intrigue remaining in this draft, which is only about 10 or so players deep in terms of sure-fire first rounders. After those 10 players are gone, beauty will be in the eye of the beholder.
With no further ado, here’s where I think things will go in a month:
1. Tennessee, Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss: The Titans are going to try to trade the top pick with the thinking they can move down a little and still acquire solid talent while stockpiling picks. But if they don’t Tunsil will be the pick.
2. Cleveland, Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State: Despite signing Robert Griffin III, the Browns still need a long-term QB option. Griffin is signed for just two seasons. If he works out, great. Then they can trade Griffin or Wentz.
3. San Diego, Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State: The Chargers let Eric Weddle walk. They get his replacement.
4. Dallas, Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State: Bosa is a high-motor solid football player. The Cowboys have a serious need to upgrade their pass rush.
5. Jacksonville, Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA: Jack might be the best pure athlete in this draft. The Jags can team him with last year’s top pick, Dante Fowler, to provide a serious upgrade defensively.
6. Baltimore, Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame: Eugene Monroe just doesn’t get it done at LT for Baltimore. Stanley will be a big upgrade.
7. San Francisco, Jared Goff, QB, California: The 49ers need to move on from Colin Kaepernick.
8. Philadelphia, Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State: After trading DeMarco Murray, the Eagles could use a young primary ballcarrier.
9. Tampa Bay, Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida: Hargreaves is just 5-9 and change, but he’s polished enough to start right away.
10. N.Y. Giants, DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon: The Giants were once feared for their pass rush. They need to get back to that.
11. Chicago, A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama: Robinson can play inside or out and is a big-time run stuffer.
12. New Orleans, Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson: The Saints need to upgrade their pass rush. Lawson should do that.
13. Miami, Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State: Lee replaced Ryan Shazier at Ohio State and though he’s not quite as good, he has similar traits.
14. Oakland, Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State: Back-to-back Buckeyes. After signing Sean Smith in free agency, the Raiders finish a makeover of their secondary.
15. Los Angeles, Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis: The Rams need to make a splash after landing in L.A. Jeff Fisher has played without a QB prospect for too long. Lynch won’t start right away, but he could be a long-term solution.
16. Detroit, Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: The Lions allowed Ndamukong suh and Nick Fairley to walk the past couple of seasons. They need a young body on the inside to compliment emerging star Ziggy Ansah.
17. Atlanta, Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss: Nkemdiche has some red flags, but his talent can’t be argued. If not for those issues, he would be a top-10 pick. Head coach Dan Quinn is a former defensive line coach and will see the value here.
18. Indianapolis, Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State: The Colts have to do a better job of protecting Andrew Luck. Conklin will give them some options to improve the front five.
19. Buffalo, Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky: Rex Ryan has never been one to back away from a player with a questionable past. Spence was thrown out of the Big Ten while at Ohio State for repeated ecstasy use. But he can get after the passer.
20. N.Y. Jets, Leonard Floyd, LB. Georgia: Tom Brady is nearing the end of the line and disruptive edge rushers such as Floyd could hasten that.
21. Washington, Reggie Ragland, Alabama: The Redskins allowed 4.8 yards per carry last season. Ragland won’t fix that by himself, but he’s a good start.
22. Houston, Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss: After signing Brock Osweiller, running back is the biggest need. And while Derrick Henry will be tempting, running backs can be had later. Treadwell gives the team a solid option opposite DeAndre Hopkins.
23. Minnesota, Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor: They’ve invested in Teddy Bridgewater and addressed the offensive line in free agency. Coleman gives them a speed option on the outside who is cheaper than Mike Wallace.
24. Cincinnati, Josh Doctson, WR, TCU: The Bengals like their receivers big. And after losing Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu in free agency, Doctson fits the bill.
25. Pittsburgh, William Jackson III, CB, Houston: Given the choice between Jackson and Mackensie Alexander, the Steelers go with Jackson. He’s bigger, faster and has shown better ball skills. Think Ike Taylor with hands.
26. Seattle, Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State: The Seahawks don’t have any of their starting five on their offensive line remaining from their Super Bowl win a couple of years ago.
27. Green Bay, Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor: The Packers would have loved for Ragland to fall so they can move Clay Matthews back outside. But they’ll have to address that later. Billings replaces B.J. Raji.
28. Kansas City, Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson: After losing Sean Smith, the Chiefs need a replacement. Alexander doesn’t have Smith’s size, but paired with Marcus Peters, he gives Kansas City a nice, young duo.
29. New England, forfeited
30. Arizona, Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State: Another big body to pair of recently acquired Chandler Jones.
31. Carolina, Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson: The Panthers are taking a page out of the Giants/Seahawks’ book and stockpiling pass rushers.
32. Denver, Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State: Why not? The defense is solid. There’s a lot to like offensively. But there’s no quarterback.