Preseason NFL Mock Draft

Nothing brings people together like a mock draft. It is early, very early even, in the college football season and the NFL regular season has yet to get under way, but that shouldn't stop anyone from projecting a draft that is a few months down the road. After all, THE EAGLES HAVE A FIRST ROUND PICK AGAIN. Sorry. Am I yelling? Excuse me, I am just excited because the Eagles traded Sam Bradford FOR A FIRST ROUND PICK. I will now stop yelling. So, how could the draft in May possibly play out and who can the Eagles come away with?

Draft Order Using Super Bowl Odds from footballlocks.com

1. Cleveland Browns- Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson: If the Browns are drafting this high, the RG3 experiment most definitely failed. With an offense filled with young talent at the skill positions, Hue Jackson will need a signal caller who can operate his system at a high level. Watson is an incredibly cerebral passer who does a great job operating the offense at Clemson. This would be a slam dunk addition to a team so desperate for legitimacy at the quarterback position.
2. San Fransisco 49ers- Deshone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame: Similar to the Browns, the Niners are picking this high if their quarterback situation goes to hell, which is a more likely scenario than Clevelenad's. Kizer is relatively inexperienced, but ever since he stepped in for Malik Zaire a year ago, Kizer has looked like a star for the fighting Irish. The strong armed, aggressive passer would be a welcomed presence on a roster totally bereft of playmakers.
3. Tennessee Titans- Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M: The Titans look like a team on the cusp of taking the next step, but their roster still needs an influx of talent on both sides of the ball. It would only make sense for the team to take the best player in the draft in Myles Garrett. Garrett is an elite athlete who can play standing up or with his hand in the ground. He could completely change the Titans defense playing next to Jurrell Casey.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Jamaal Adams, Safety, LSU: Like the Titans, the Bucs look set for the future considering their quarterback situation, but still need talent on the defensive side of the ball. Jamaal Adams is a big bodied safety with incredible athleticism. He is an aggressive playmaker who would fit in on a Bucs defense that is desperate for playmakers in the secondary. After drafting Vernon Hargreaves in 2016, the Bucs would be smart to add another young, physical athlete to the back of their defense.
5. San Diego Chargers- Carl Lawson, EDGE, Auburn: The Chargers have one of the worst rosters in the league and after having a top three pick a year ago, their defense still looks like the team could use a lot of help. Enter Carl Lawson, and athletic freak pass rusher out of the SEC who former first round pick Laremy Tunsil stated was the most challenging defender he faced in college. Lawson will provide an immediate boost to the Chargers front seven and put their defense in the right direction... if they can actually sign him to a deal, of course.
6. Detroit Lions- Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama: After selecting Taylor Decker in the first round a year ago, the Detroit offensive line is still far away from being a complete unit. The team is in desperate need of physical athletes in their trenches and Robinson would be a massive upgrade over Riley Reiff. Having bookends of Taylor Decker and Cam Robinson would make Matt Stafford very happy.
7. Buffalo Bills- Tim Williams, EDGE, Alabama: After having one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2014 under Jim Schwartz, the Bills mightily regressed in Rex Ryan's first season. The once potent pass rush became flaccid and in desperate need of rejuvenation. The Bills added Shaq Lawson in the 2016 draft, but the Clemson defender is dealing with shoulder injuries that will stunt his development. Regardless of how Lawson pans out, a team can never have too many pass rushers and Alabama's speed freak off the edge would be welcomed onto a team in need of some juice on defense.
8. Cleveland Browns (From Philadelphia)- Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama: The Browns defense is maybe one of the putrid units in the entire NFL. I am not sure there is a less talented or shallower group of players in the league. Jonathan Allen is an incredibly versatile lineman who can disrupt from various spots along the formation and is an adept pass rusher and run stopper. While there are sexier picks, Allen might be the safest player in the class and the Browns absolutely need dependable playmakers, especially on defense.
9. Miami Dolphins- Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama: The Dolphins have an underrated roster, but their weakness in the secondary could absolutely sink any team in a pass heavy NFL. Marlon Humphrey is a big bodied, physical and athletic cover corner who can play in man coverage and come up to stop the run. He is a tone setter that the Dolphins desperately need.
10. Atlanta Falcons-JuJu Smith Schuster, WR, USC: The Atlanta Falcons have a lot of needs on both sides of the ball, but the offense simply has not been the same since it had a viable number two receiver. Ever since the 2012 season, which was Roddy White's last strong year, the Falcons have been flailing to find competency across from all world star, Julio Jones. JuJu Smith Schuster is a complete receiver with very few holes in his game. He is well built, polished and athletic and putting him in a situation where he would never be doubled would make the Falcons especially potent on offense and give Matt Ryan a chance at long awaited resurgence.
11. New Orleans Saints- Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia: After signing Drew Brees to a new extension, the Saints are set to continue to have a strong passing game for the next few years. As for their running game, while Mark Ingram has been solid for the Saints, they could benefit from a more dynamic option. Nick Chubb is a do it all running back with size, speed and ability to contribute in the passing game. Putting him on a team where there would never be stacked boxes would be devastating for the rest of the league.
12. Tennessee Titans (From Los Angeles)- Mike Williams, WR, Clemson: The Titans made waves this offseason when they traded their presumptive number one wide receiver, Dorial Green Beckham, to the Eagles a few weeks ago. Beckham leaving leaves some questions considering Kendall Wright's clock is ticking in Tennessee and the only other options in the passing game is a rookie out of UMass, an aging (yet good) Delanie Walker, and Rishard Mathews. The Titans would be smart to invest in a young, athletic receiver for their franchise quarterback and Mike Williams is the direction they need to go. His skill set could make him one of the best receivers in the league if he can stay healthy.
13. New York Jets- Ryan Anderson, EDGE, Alabama: The Jets have a talented defense at almost ever position with the exception of the edges of their defensive line. The Jets depend on interior pressure to elevate their EDGE players, but why not add an athletic defender who can create opportunities for himself. Anderson is the underrated member of Alabama's monster front, but he is still a play maker who could make the Jets defensive line absolutely unstoppable.
14. Houston Texans- Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama: The sixth Alabama player to go in the top fifteen in this mock and a welcome addition to a Texans defense that could use new blood at linebacker. Brian Cushing has been trending downward and with his contract, the Texans would be smart to invest in the athletic linebacker from the Crimson tide. Foster can run with anyone in coverage and has the physicality to attack downhill. Letting him run behind that defensive line could push the Texans defense to being one of the best in the league.
15. Chicago Bears- Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State: The Bears made strong effort over the offseason to upgrade their defense through free agency and the draft. On offense, the team has firepower with Alshon Jeffery and the potential of Kevin White. However, the team has yet to establish a top back in their offense and it is yet to be seen if Jeremy Langford can be the guy in Chicago. If he fails to take the reins of the offense, it would be a no brainer for Chicago to add Florida State's lightning bolt, Dalvin Cook. Cook's speed and receiving ability would make him a multi faceted weapon in the Chicago offense.
16. Washington Football Team- Pat Elflein, Center, Ohio State: Washington has a good job the last few years reloading their roster and to be frank, it has very few holes. However the team could absolutely get better along their interior offensive line. Elflein was a spectacular guard for Ohio State before meting over to center this season where he looks even more natural. This is a no brainer if Washington is dedicated to getting tougher in the trenches.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars-Duwane Smoot, EDGE, Illinois: The Jaguars have been rebuilding a broken roster for what seems like years but still look to be far away from contention. A big thing holding Jacksonville back is their lack of pass rushing presence on defense. Duwane Smoot would bring much needed athletic ability to the edges of the Jaguars defense and could be the missing piece that makes a defense full of young players dynamic.
18. Baltimore Ravens- Teez Tabor, CB, Florida: The Baltimore Ravens have suffered from a bad roster the last few years and one of the spots the team is particularly weak is in the secondary. Like his former teammate and top 12 pick, Vernon Hargreaves, Tabor is a good athlete who plays extremely physical. While Tabor does not have the ball skills that Hargreaves has, he is a longer athlete who fits more into the NFL prototype of what a corner should be. While that does not necessarily make him better now, he could grow into a better player and one that Baltimore would welcome.
19. Oakland Raiders- Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford: The Raiders have done a great job collecting foundational pieces for their team and rebuilding their roster unit by unit. One are the team can definitely get better is depth at the offensive skill positions. The has a dynamic star in Amari Cooper and a seasoned veteran in Michael Crabtree, but the play makers at receiver and running back are underwhelming after those two. The Raiders could kill two birds with one stone in drafting Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey is the most versatile player in college football, excelling on every down and putting a player with open field moves behind one of the best offensive lines in the league would be deadly.
20. Dallas Cowboys-Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State: The Cowboys probably lost their season with Tony Romo's injury, although Dak Prescott gives the team hope at the quarterback position of the future. However, there is no question that the Cowboy's defense is still the biggest issue on their team. Injuries, suspensions and flat out horrific play has let Dallas down on defense and they are in desperate need of stability. Ohio State has had two first round linebackers in the last three years and McMillan looks like he could be better than either of them. While McMillan is not the out of this world athlete that Ryan Shazier or Darron Lee are, he is still a very good athlete who has great smarts and physicality. He would be a welcomed presence on a Cowboys defense where the linebackers can't get on the field; be it for suspension or a gust of wind injuring them.
21. New York Giants-Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida: New York has spent a lot of capital on rebuilding their defense recently: Paying guys like Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison and drafting Eli Apple in the first round. Despite the investments, the defense still has a glaring hole at linebacker. Jarrad Davis is a very athletic linebacker who plays like his hair is on fire. While he is a bit aggressive and undersized, he would bring an athlete to linebacker that the Giants have not had in a while and he could look nice behind their talented defensive line.
22. Indianapolis Colts-Leonard Fournette, RB, Colts: The Colts have a lot of holes all over their team, but they would be remiss to not add such running back if Leonard Fournette would fall to them, which would be a surprise. Fournette's strength and straight line speed as a runner are special and would give the Colts a dynamic at running back that they have missed for over a decade. While they have pressing needs, the Colts offense might be unstoppable with a healthy Andrew Luck and Leonard Fournette in their backfield.
23. Kansas City Chiefs- Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State: The Chiefs were one of the teams interested in drafting Paxton Lynch in 2016 before the Broncos swooped in and took them. While Alex Smith has helped the Chiefs be successful the last three years, the team still needs to look for a player to groom while they can. Rudolph may not be as physically talented as some of the other quarterbacks in this class, but he is very accurate, tough in the pocket and does a good job when the play breaks down. Andy Reid will love Rudolph's accuracy and mobility. Rudolph could sit behind Alex Smith until Smith's contract is done and immediately step in. I bet the team would not miss a beat.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Caleb Brantley, DL, Florida: Come May, I would be shocked if Brantley lasted this long. He is a high motor defender with great strength and burst. The Bengals have been desperately looking to add more juice to their defensive line outside of Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, so Brantley would be a no brainer to stick into that group if he is available.
25. Philadelphia Eagles (From Minnesota for Sam Bradford!)- Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon: There are a lot of directions the Eagles could go here, with talented offensive linemen and cornerbacks still available at this pick. However, it makes the most sense to add what is likely the missing piece on their offense. Right now the make up of the offense is an aggressive, athletic young quarterback matched with a tall group of receivers and tight ends. Now imagine adding a 230 pound running back with power, break away speed and receiving ability... That would be a pretty damn hard offense to stop.
26. Denver Broncos- Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame: The Broncos have a pretty stacked roster, but there are questions along their offensive line. While they did add Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung in the offseason, those seem more like stop gap moves than long term starters. McGlinchey is a big bodied, light footed offensive lineman who would be an excellent fit for Gary Kubiak's offense.
27. Arizona Cardinals- Cordrea Tankersly, CB, Clemson: The Cardinals have a talented defense, but the team still lacks depth at cornerback behind Patrick Peterson. With Tryann Mathieu constantly moving around, the team needs a consistent presence on the other side of the secondary. Cordrea Tankersly is more physically gifted than his former teammate and second round pick, Mackenzie Alexander, and has the potential to be a much better player. Adding another athlete like Tankersly to the Cardinals secondary would be scary.
28. Carolina Panthers-Desmond King, CB, Iowa: After letting Josh Norman walk this summer, the Panthers are depending on a lot of youth and inexperience at cornerback to help their defense. While the corners may have an easier time given the talent of Carolina's front seven, it would make sense to add playmakers to the secondary if able. Desmond King is not the biggest corner, but he has play making ability with a willingness to get physical and bring the hit. He would be an excellent addition to a talented Panthers defense.
29. Seattle Seahawks- Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State: If McDowell lasted this long in spring, the Seahawks should sprint up to the podium to make a selection. The Seattle defense, while talented, could use more playmakers on their defensive line. McDowell is an incredibly gifted defender with hulking size and impressive athletic ability. He is versatile and disruptive from various spots along the defensive line. This would be a no brainer pick for a team in need of youth and athletic ability up front.
30. Pittsburg Steelers- Marcus Williams, Safety, Utah: Marcus Williams may not be a name a lot of people know yet, but the Utes' ball hawk is one of the best pure free safeties in the country. He has good size, athletic ability and most importantly, great instincts. The Steelers secondary has a lot of youth and question marks, so adding a ball hawk like Williams would allow the team to keep Sean Davis at cornerback and allow Mike Mitchell to work more as a strong safety.
31. Green Bay Packers- Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan: The Packers lost Jordy Nelson for all of 2015 and their offense took a noticeable step back. The team could not operate at their expected explosiveness and efficiency through Randall Cobb and Davante Adams as the top two receiving threats. Now, Jordy Nelson is back, but getting up in age and the team is still waiting for a viable number three option to emerge. Corey Davis is an athletic receiver with awesome size and strength. He can burn down the field and win at the catch point, making him the perfect young weapon to step into the Packers offense and immediately perform.
32. New England Patriots-Ethan Pocic, C/G, LSU: The Patriots are constantly reshuffling along their offensive line but they have made it work because of who is usually taking snaps under center. After this year, it is to be seen who will be starting at quarterback in 2017 due to Tom Brady's age. If a young QB were to take command, the patriots would be smart to invest heavily in the offensive line. Pocic has been one of the best centers in the country during his career, using his smarts, athletic ability, size and physicality to pave the way for LSU's running game. He may need to move to guard in the NFL due to his massive height, but regardless he, would be a welcomed presence on a New England line in need of some consistency.