As always, here's my one and only mock draft for the year. For people that will ask, I always put together my mock drafts from the perspective of what I think the Ravens are going to do, with the exception of 1 pick that is always my own. I may not always be as high on some of the mentioned prospects as where they ultimately go in the draft, but this is meant to be my best guess at what I think could actually happen.
Round 1:
1. Cleveland Browns - Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
This one is a no brainer. There's really not much that needs to be said here other than I'm not buying that they're even considering anyone else.
2. TRADE - Cleveland Browns - Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
...and this is why I don't believe they're considering anyone else. SF is a motivated seller and CLE has been stockpiling picks for a long time, and now is the time to use them if they really believe this is a franchise QB. Buffalo is my dark horse to make a move up, but I'll give it to Cleveland
3. Chicago Bears - Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Pending health, this is a perfect fit at this spot and for Chicago. They invested a good amount into their secondary this offseason and it's not time for them to add a front 7 piece that can really help boost their pass rush, even if it's not a true EDGE guy.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
The Jaguars are a team with quite a bit of talent, but not quite enough to make them good yet. The QB is a big reason, but the QB also has no running game. Ivory was a bust of a signing and adding a top flight RB could really take some of the pressure off of Bortles.
5. Tennessee Titans - Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
CB in Tennessee is ugly outside of Logan Ryan, and they get an opportunity to fix that early with arguably the top player at the position. I think they'll opt to wait until their next pick for their other need.
6. New York Jets - Jamal Adams, SS, LSU
The Jets patience pays off again, a la Leonard Williams a few years back. They get one of the best and safest prospects in the draft and finally end the Calvin Pryor experiment.
7. Los Angeles Chargers - Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State
This pick almost makes too much sense, but I don't really see any other way this goes if Hooker is still on the board. This is a prime opportunity at a rare prospect at a great position of need.
8. Carolina Panthers - Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
I'm buying the hype here. I personally wouldn't consider McCaffrey here, but the Panthers have a huge need to get Cam some help on offense. I think they realize he can't do it all by himself.
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
This one pains me but I think it's the best pick Cinci could make. They get what I think is a top 5 player at a position of need. I'd hate having to play him 2 times a year but this is where he slots in for me.
10. Buffalo Bills - Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
Even Sammy Watkins is a question mark at WR, and the "talent" behind him is pretty much non-existent. I think they could be the team that moves for Mitch but I'll give them WR help this time.
11. New Orleans Saints - Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
Did you see what they were throwing out there at CB last year? Breaux is the only decent piece and he needs to stay healthy.
12. San Francisco 49ers - OJ Howard, TE, Alabama
The 49ers get a nice amount of picks from the Browns trade and can afford to take BPA now, as they should be doing anyways. Howard will be a top player and safety net for whoever their future QB is.
13. Arizona Cardinals - Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
QB is a strong consideration here, but I'll go WR this time. I'd guess they're more movers into the late 1st for a QB, but I won't project that here. Instead, they get a WR since Fitz is on his last hoorah.
14. Philadelphia Eagles - Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
Philly reaches into the CB well and takes the 3rd CB in the top 15. CB has long been a dark hole for them. I think they'd hope McCaffrey is here but since he's gone at 8, this is option B.
15. Indianapolis Colts - Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
I'd guess Indy is ecstatic if this happens. They invested a lot on the EDGE so Reddick can play ILB for now, but he'll see plenty of time outside as well. Indy needs a versatile threat on their defense and they get the best one here.
16. Baltimore Ravens - Derek Barnett, OLB, Tennessee
It was hard to pass on Reuben Foster here, but this would be a great scenario for us to be in come draft day. Barnett doesn't have insane athleticism, but he's very developed in a lot of areas, and I can't see this team passing on a top pass rusher when the opportunity is there. He should be able to start for us from day 1 and really help strengthen an anemic pass rush. It certainly wasn't my intention to have 2 top talents fall to us, but hey, that's the way the board fell once I considered what I think can actually happen.
17. Washington Redskins - Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
And the fall stops here. I think they'd much prefer Reddick due to his versatility, but they won't shy away and they take the best player available.
18. Tennessee Titans - John Ross, WR, Western Michigan
It all works out for Tennessee. Two big needs filled by two big players in their first 2 picks. They get Mariota the WR he desperately needs and they continue their ascent into a talented team. It might not be the WR they want, but they still get some semblance of talent there.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Tampa Bay is one of my biggest wild cards as I really don't know which direction they're going to go. The outside of their line is pretty suspect though, so they find a long term option at RT.
20. Denver Broncos - Garret Bolles, OT, Utah
The Broncos OT situation is ugly and if they really want to succeed, they're going to need to do something about that. I'll give them Bolles here, but the other option is a strong possibility as well.
21. Detroit Lions - Jarrad Davis, ILB, Florida
With Levy officially out, the Lions could use some help in the middle of their defense. Davis would be a lot more popular if he wasn't injured through a lot of the process. Detroit gets a great player and leader for the middle of their defense.
22. Miami Dolphins - Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
Cameron Wake isn't getting any younger and their only other big threat on the edge is Andre Branch who had a career year and got a nice contract. Immediate help might not be needed but future help is.
23. New York Giants - Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
I think I could beat the Giants current tackles. I think you could easily switch Bolles and Ramczyk here and at 20, but I just get the sense that Denver might like Bolles a littler better for some reason.
24. Oakland Raiders - Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
The Raiders are an ascending team and they add another insanely talented player. He has some interesting character concerns but Oakland has never taken those into that strong of consideration.
25. Houston Texans - David Njoku, TE, Miami
Consider me one not buying the QB to Houston hype this early this year. I think they'll take a shot on a guy on day 2, but on day 1, they add a dynamic threat for when they acquire said QB.
26. Seattle Seahawks - Kevin King, CB, Washington
They get the local prospect who should be a great fit in their defense. They just miss out on the OL run so Wilson can continue to get killed, but they seem alright with that.
27. Kansas City Chiefs - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
I see Arizona trying to jump KC for a QB, but I won't do that in this mock. Instead, KC gets their QB of the future... finally. Alex Smith is still a viable option, and Mahomes gets the time he needs to work on those mechanics before he takes over.
28. Dallas Cowboys - Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
The Cowboys need a lot of things on defense but nothing more than CB. They get a guy that should be ready to play from day 1 here.
29. Green Bay Packers - Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
The Packers take whatever CB the Cowboys don't, and they should get great value out of the physical Wilson here. I'm not sure why he doesn't get more love but a team at the end of the 1st should be very happy with him.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers - Josh Jones, SS, NC State
Big, physical, hard hitting S. This is an AFC north player through and through and unfortunately, our bitter rivals get him.
31. Atlanta Falcons - Charles Harris, DE, Missouri
The Falcons needed a more consistent presence on the edge to go along with Vic Beasley.
32. New Orleans Saints - Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA
More defensive help for the Saints who have had an awful pass rush and defense as a whole. They take the chance on the upside of Takk.
Round 2:
47. Dion Dawkins, T, Temple
I think Dion Dawkins is the exact type of player we have in mind for hopefully solving this OL issue. Dawkins fits that power profile we keep touting and should be able to slot in at RT. He's been coached very well at Temple, but still needs some seasoning. I think we could bring the best out of him and he should be a guy that can play inside as well should that time ever come. He reminds me a lot of KO.
Round 3:
74. Taywan Taylor, WR, Western Kentucky
Alright, this is my pick of the draft, but I think the Ravens would have a strong interest as well. Taylor can play all levels of the field, but his best role is probably in the slot. He has great short area quickness, solid hands, and breakaway speed for when he does go deep. My one concern is that he goes out of bounds a lot, but that can be coached out of him.
78. Shaquill Griffin, CB, Central Florida
When have you ever known this team to pick the hot name at CB? I'll go with Griffin here, who does a little bit of everything but has no real standout traits. He's aggressive in the run game, has good speed, plus ball skills, and actually knows how to turn and look for the ball. With Carr in the fold, he has time to hone in some of his skills before we have to put him on the field.
Round 4:
122. Chase Roullier, C, Wyoming
I'm not sure why Roullier doesn't get more love, but he's a mauler in the middle of the line. He doesn't shy away from contact, and much like Dawkins, I think that's the type of guy the Ravens would want. I think he's a more consistent version of the good Jensen that we've seen.
Round 5:
159. TJ Logan, RB, North Carolina
The Ravens want a home run hitter at RB and this is the guy. He's never going to be a RB that handles a full workload, but put him in the backfield on 3rd downs and you have a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
Round 6:
186. Elijah Lee, LB, Kansas State
Lee should be a good STer out of the gate while he works on getting better at ILB. He's a little tall for 3-4 ILB but has good speed and potential as a coverage guy. In the 6th, I think he's worth a shot as I think he could be a 3 down LBer with some development, and he's in a good place for that.
