Ahhh, it's April and Draft Season for the NFL. Christmas in April! After being deprived of football goodness, it's time for football enthusiasts (obsessors) like myself to stalk mock drafts to find out if my Eagles will build a future with a sexy draft pick, or trade back and crush my dreams.
But I digress, in an attempt to be as unbiased as possible (see my heartbreaking 7th pick), I've decided to make my own mock draft, as if I were qualified to do so. I've been relentlessly checking in on Bleacher Report to see draft news, and I've practically memorised the top 10 players on Matt Miller's Big Board, which I used as my Big Board for this mock.
Without further ado, here's my mock draft for the first round of this year's draft.
1. Tennessee Titans- Laremy Tunsil, OT
This is a toss up between Tunsil and Jalen Ramsey, but I see the Titans taking Tunsil as the second part to last year's Mariota pick. Together Tunsil and Mariota can build careers on the Titans, in an attempt to get the franchise going.
2. Cleveland Browns- Jared Goff, QB
Arguably the best quarterback in the draft, I see the Browns taking Goff over Wentz because Goff is more polished and NFL-ready. The Browns need an NFL ready QB, not another project.
3. San Diego Chargers- Jalen Ramsey, CB/S
I would consider Ramsey the best player in this draft, but because of the Titans' and Browns' needs, he falls to number three. San Diego lost CB Patrick Robinson and safety Eric Weddle, and Ramsey can play both positions.
4. Dallas Cowboys- Joey Bosa, EDGE
With Randy Gregory getting busted for drugs again, and Greg Hardy leaving the team, the Cowboys will need a new pass rusher. Bosa has been in talks as the best defensive end in the draft, and Jerry Jones will love to have him.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars- Myles Jack, LB
Myles Jack is the best (healthy) linebacker in the draft, and is the complete package. The Jaguars are putting a ton of effort into making a defense, so Jack will fit perfectly with this plan.
6. Baltimore Ravens- DeForest Buckner, DL
The Ravens love defensive linemen, and they're going to love Buckner. One of the safest picks in the draft, Buckner will make an immediate impact on defense as a run-stopper.
7. San Francisco 49ers- Carson Wentz, QB
My inner Eagles fan's heart sinks, since I've been following Wentz since the beginning of the draft process and would love to wear his jersey in midnight green. The 49ers need a quarterback, and although Goff is a better fit for them, Wentz is still a phenomenal prospect with athleticism that Chip Kelly will love.
8. Philadelphia Eagles*- Vernon Hargreaves III, CB
The Eagles have the most organic secondary I have ever seen. It seems as though every year there is a new starting pair of corners, and until very recently, no consistently starting pair of safeties. Hargreaves is the best corner in the draft, and paired with Eric Rowe, the Eagles could finally have a good pair of corners to stay.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Noah Spence, EDGE
The Bucs are in need of a pass-rusher, and Noah Spence has gotten a lot of attention for rivalling Bosa as the best pass-rusher. Spence has had off the field issues, but that hasn't stopped the Bucs before ("Famous Jameis" Winston).
10. New York Giants- Ronnie Stanley, OT
This is one of my favorite picks of the draft in an ironic sense. As an Eagles fan, it does my heart good to see the Giants consistently feel the need to draft offensive linemen who bust, either physically with injury, or based on talent and performance. Stanley is one of the best linemen in the draft and is set to compete with Ereck Flowers from last season. Although I do not think Stanley will be a bust, he is a continuation of the Giants' habits of making shaky draft choices.
11. Chicago Bears- Mackensie Alexander, CB
The Bears need help in the secondary, and Mackensie Alexander may not be the sexiest pick (never recording an interception in his college career), but there's a reason he's the second best corner in the draft. He ought to help them nicely.
12. New Orleans Saints- Shaq Lawson, EDGE
Shaq Lawson is a very well-rounded defensive end, and could help a struggling New Orleans defense. He is a pretty safe pick in this draft.
13. Miami Dolphins- Ezekiel Elliot, RB
Considered the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson, "Zeke" will fill the void left by Lamar Miller. But didn't the Dolphins draft Jay Ayaji last offseason? Doesn't matter, Elliot is the real deal.
14. Oakland Raiders- Jack Conklin, RB
Jack Conklin is one of my favorite players in this draft, and is considered the most physical lineman in first-round discussion. Derek Carr should beg the Raiders to draft him.
15. Los Angeles Rams- Paxton Lynch, QB
I love Nick Foles. I'll admit it, I'm a believer that he isn't terrible (Eagles fan bias), but the Rams don't seem to agree with me. They'd rather play a clearly concussed Case Keenum than Foles, so Lynch will be their pick. Lynch needs a lot of developing, but he has probably the highest ceiling of all the quarterbacks in this year's draft.
16. Detroit Lions- Josh Doctson, WR
With Calvin Johnson retiring, it's not a matter of if the Lions will draft his replacement, but who. Doctson is, in my opinion, the best wide receiver in the draft. Laquon Treadwell may be more similar to "Megatron" (Calvin Johnson), but Doctson may be more effective, more often, thanks to his speed and versatility.
17. Atlanta Falcons- Darron Lee, LB
The Falcons, much like the Jaguars, have been steadily working on making a defense through multiple drafts now. Darron Lee is a tremendous athlete, running a faster 40 time than his teammate Braxton Miller (a wide receiver), and this athleticism will make him irresistible to the Falcons.
18. Indianapolis Colts- Taylor Decker, OT
Andrew Luck needs some help on the offensive line, and Decker is a huge offensive tackle who can hold down the line for years to come. This is another safe pick that could really help.
19. Buffalo Bills- Reggie Ragland, LB
I'm going to sound redundant with my favorite players in the draft, but Ragland has an aggression (like Conklin, only in linebacker form) that I love to see. The Bills lost Nigel Bradham to the Eagles (ha!), but Ragland should make the Bills forget about Bradham very fast.
20. New York Jets- Leonard Floyd, EDGE
No matter how many pass-rushers the Jets draft, they always seem to need more. Leonard Floyd reminds me of Dante Fowler Jr. from last year, and I think he is the best option for the Jets at 20.
21. Washington- Sheldon Rankins, DL
With the departure of Terrence Knighton, it's time the Redskins get some youth in the middle of their d-line to compliment Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith. Rankins checks all the boxes there.
22. Houston Texans- Laquon Treadwell, WR
Treadwell is the best wide receiver available here to benefit incoming-QB Brock Osweiler. With DeAndre Hopkins playing alongside Treadwell, and with Osweiler and Lamar Miller in the backfield, I think the Texan's offense will get recognised this year.
23. Minnesota Vikings- Cody Whitehair, G
The Vikings need a guard, and Cody Whitehair is the best guard in the draft. I think this is a slight reach, as Whitehair is more of a late-first, very early-second round pick, but again, Whitehair is the best guard in this draft, and I don't see many teams in need passing him over.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Corey Coleman, WR
The Bengals lost Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones to free agency, so they are looking to add a new wide receiver alongside A.J. Green. Coleman is a speedy guy, and with defenses focusing on Green, Coleman could take the tops off of opposing defenses without them even noticing. I like this pair.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers- William Jackson III, CB
William Jackson III looks like a great slot corner, or future outside cornerback. He is fast and can make plays, and I see the Steelers grabbing him a tad earlier than he should go, late in the first round.
26. Seattle Seahawks- Jason Spriggs, OT
Russell Wilson needs a new offensive tackle to replace former Seahawk and Russell, Russell Okung. Spriggs is the best tackle available here, so I see the Seahawks reaching for him at 26.
27. Green Bay Packers- A'Shawn Robinson, DL
A'Shawn Robinson is huge, much like former Packer B.J. Raji. Robinson plugs the middle of the offensive line, and could be a steal this late in the first round for the Packers.
28. Kansas City Chiefs- Jarran Reed, DL
Robinson's former teammate follows right behind him, filling a need at defensive line for the Chiefs.
29. Arizona Cardinals- Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE
I have seen Emmanuel Ogbah at the top of some mock drafts, and nowhere near the first round in others. In mine, he is found somewhere in the middle, being the Cardinals' best option at pass-rusher, which is a glaring need for them.
30. Carolina Panthers- Andrew Billings, DL
The last of my "favorite players in the draft" series ends with Andrew Billings, who could be the biggest first-round sleeper in the draft. A fast playmaker, Billings is a very effective interior defensive lineman who could add to the Panthers' stacked defense.
31. Denver Broncons- Christian Hackenberg, QB
This pick hurt. Hackenberg is such a dilemma to try to predict, but the Broncos suddenly found themselves without Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler. RG3 is off the market as a Brown, and nobody seems to want Johnny Manziel or Ryan Fitzpatrick. A team with a big ego would need to draft Hackenberg, thinking they could be the ones that bring back the freshman at Penn State who was making scouts gush at before his decline. What better ego than a, "We just won the Super Bowl" ego? This pick will bring Broncos fans back to the days of drafting Tim Tebow in the first round.
Let me know what you think about my first-ever mock draft! If you like it, maybe I'll consider dropping out of college and going into the sports analyst field of work (sorry Mom and Dad).