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Nick Sardina’s Mock Draft

I consider myself an expert in mock drafting. However, it usually turns out the same way as my NCAA Basketball Tournament bracket: I study all the possibilities for countless hours, make my expert picks, and finish behind my daughter who took 8 seconds to fill out her bracket.

In the end, I’m usually feeling like Dumb and Dumber. Mock. Yeah. Bird. Yeah. Enough nonsense, here we go:

  1. Houston Texans: (QB, NT, 3-4 DE, RT, WR): Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina. It will be Clowney, Mack or a trade down. Mack is the best fit, but I think most teams are afraid to pass on Clowney due to his unmatched potential.
  2. St. Louis Rams: (OT, S, CB, WR, QB): Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn. With Clowney gone, it would come down to Robinson, Jake Matthews or possibly receiver Sammy Watkins. I have Robinson as my top-rated player, so you know where I would go.
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars: (QB, DE, WR, OT, RB): Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo. The Jags will have their choice of Mack or wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Both fill definite needs, but I believe the Jags will still be able to get a good receiver in the second or third round, while likely not being able to find anyone close to Mack in those spots.
  4. Cleveland Browns: (QB, WR, DB, OG, RB): Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson. Manziel or an offensive tackle like Taylor Lewan or Jake Matthews will also be tempting, but I believe Watkins is one of the four elite players in this draft and receiver just happens to be a need area for the Browns.
  5. Oakland Raiders: (S, QB, WR, TE, OG): Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M. The Raiders would love to get their hands on Mack, Robinson or Watkins, but in this scenario they are all gone. Next up would be Matthews, Lewan or Evans. This is a tough one, but I’ll go with them giving Matt Schaub another weapon.
  6. Atlanta Falcons: (OT, DE, TE, CB, S): Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M. Unless they can trade up for Clowney or Mack, the Falcons will be in line to take the best available offensive tackle. I hear chatter they prefer Lewan, but I have Matthews as the higher-ranked player and I’ll stick with him.
  7. Tampa Bay Bucs: (OT, OG, WR, TE, QB): Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M. Three Aggies in a row! Now we know this has zero chance of happening … right? If Evans is gone, this either will be Manziel or Aaron Donald. Either the Bucs are trying to entice someone to trade up into this spot to take Manziel, or they are taking him. Which one is it? Who knows? But with all the talk about Mike Glennon not fitting what they do, it makes me think they could have their eyes on Manziel.
  8. Minnesota Vikings: (QB, DE, LB, DB, OL): Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State. If I’m the Vikings I grab either Pittsburgh defensive tackle, Aaron Donald or Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley. However, cornerback is a huge need and Gilbert is the most physically talented of the bunch. I have Gilbert as my fourth-rated cornerback, but his upside is hard to pass.
  9. Buffalo Bills: (OT, LB, S, WR, TE): Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan. The Bills could try to move up to get Clowney, Mack, Watkins or Evans. If stuck at No. 9 they will decide between solidifying the offensive line, adding a playmaking tight end like Eric Ebron or continuing to build the defense with a C.J. Mosley.
  10. Detroit Lions: (CB, S, WR, LB, OT): Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State. The Lions are a wild card in the top 10. They are itching to trade up to grab a Watkins or Evans, but if they stay put, should have a choice of top defensive backs or even a linebacker in C.J. Mosley. Time to build a secondary that can hold leads.
  11. Tennessee Titans: (QB, CB, RB, OT, WR): Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida. I’m thinking the Titans either go cornerback or quarterback with this selection. New head coach Ken Whisenhunt was in Pittsburgh when the Steelers grabbed Ben Roethlisberger, and Bortles has some of Big Ben’s game. If Bortles is gone or they choose to bypass him, expect them to go defense.
  12. New York Giants: (TE, DT, OL, WR, LB): Zack Martin, OT/G, Notre Dame. In this scenario, I was struggling between Martin and Pittsburgh defensive tackle, Aaron Donald. I think protecting Eli Manning will win out, although a tackle likeDonald could immediately help restore what used to be the most disruptive front four in the NFL.
  13. St. Louis Rams: (OT, S, CB, WR, QB): Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama. This was a tough decision for me. The Rams could go Odell Beckham, but I think they need more help on the back end of their defense. I took Clinton-Dix over Pryor because he fits better as a free safety, while Pryor is more of a hybrid free/strong safety. If Manziel is still available … all bets are off.
  14. Chicago Bears: (S, CB, DT, LB, OL): Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh. I have Donald as my sixth-rated player, and if he drops farther than this, the Cowboys would be extremely pleased. Donald is a perfect fit for what the Bears like to do on defense. Chicago could also target the defensive backfield by taking a Calvin Pryor or Kyle Fuller.
  15. Pittsburgh Steelers: (CB, OT, S, NT, DE): Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech. If this scenario plays out, expect the Steelers to decide between Fuller or Odell Beckham Jr. Fuller wins out because receiver is the deeper position and corner is a more pressing need. Another possibility could be tight end Eric Ebron.
  16. Dallas Cowboys: (DT, DE, S, LB, WR): Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA. The Cowboys love the spotlight and rumors are swirling around them taking Johnny Manziel, should he be available. I know a few Dallas diehards that might stick their heads in an oven if this comes to fruition. The Cowboys need defense! They need help on every level of their pathetic defense and should be able to improve the pass rush if they grab Barr, who immediately upgrades the position. A safety like Clinton-Dix or Pryor would also be in the conversation if they are available.
  18. Baltimore Ravens: (S, CB, DE, NT, OL): Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina. If the board falls this way, the Ravens will likely be torn between adding Ebron, Pryor or C.J. Mosley. All three – tight end, safety and linebacker – are need areas. Ebron adds another weapon to an offense that struggled mightily in 2013.
  19. New York Jets: (CB, WR, OT, OG, S): Odell Beckham Jr., LSU. The Jets will run up to the table to take Beckham Jr., should he still be sitting there at No. 18. If he’s gone, expect them to look at receiver, Brandin Cooks or upgrading the secondary with a corner or safety.
  20. Miami Dolphins: (OT, OG, CB, S, ILB): C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama. Every mock I’ve seen has the Dolphins selecting an offensive linemen. As a fan of the Fins, I agree that this is the No. 1 priority. But, I couldn’t pass on my fifth-ranked player in Mosley to reach for a tackle like Morgan Moses or Cyrus Kouandjio. Mosley fills a need and leads the defense for the next 10 seasons.
  21. Arizona Cardinals: (S, OT, TE, OLB, QB): Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville. The Cardinals already have one of the more talented defenses in the NFL. If they can add an intimidating force like Pryor, they could become the best. If Blake Bortles fell to No. 20, Arizona would definitely consider him. If not, they should improve the defense with a Pryor, Ryan Shazier or Anthony Barr if they’re available.
  22. Green Bay Packers: (S, TE, OLB, WR, DL depth): Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State. I think the Packers would prefer Mosley because he is more of a fit to play inside next to A.J. Hawk in their 3-4 scheme. However, few players in this draft have the athleticism of Shazier, who could play both inside or outside. The pack should also look to upgrade the defensive backfield and receiving corps.
  23. Philadelphia Eagles: (WR, CB, LB, OG, S): Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State. It likely will come down to a corner or a receiver, unless one of the top linebackers – Mosley, Barr or Shazier – is still available. I think they go corner because Chip Kelly figures he can plug in a receiver later in the draft … perhaps grabbing one of his former Ducks, like De’Anthony Thomas or Josh Huff.
  24. Kansas City Chiefs: (WR, S, OG, TE, CB depth): Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State. Andy Reid selected DeSean Jackson and gets Cooks, who has similar quickness and speed, while also being a polished route runner. If the Chiefs don’t like what’s available at receiver, they could go offensive line or upgrade the defensive backfield with a Jason Verrett to match up better with Peyton Manning and the Broncos.
  25. Cincinnati Bengals: (DE, CB, slot WR, SLB, RT): Jason Verrett, CB, TCU. Verrett will immediately upgrade an aging secondary in Cincinnati. I think Ryan Shazier and Bradley Roby would be in the discussion if they were available, but Verrett can play from the first day of training camp and will add toughness to the secondary.
  26. San Diego Chargers: (NT, WR, CB, G, OLB): Louis Nix III, NT, Notre Dame. With all the top corners already gone in this scenario, the Chargers turn to upgrading their porous run defense with a quick and powerful giant in Nix III. Nix immediately upgrades the position and helps keep guards off former teammate, Manti Te’o.
  27. Cleveland Browns: (QB, WR, DB, OG, RB): Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville. The Browns have already added a weapon in Watkins, now they get their quarterback of the future in Bridgewater, who will sit behind Brian Hoyer for a season or two. QB Derek Carr is also a possibility, as is adding a defensive back.
  28. New Orleans Saints: (CB, OLB, WR, DE, G/C): Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Ga. Tech. The Saints would love for one of the top-5 cornerbacks to fall, but in this scenario they are all gone. Would they reach for a Stanley Jean-Baptiste or another corner? I say they won’t, instead opting to grab Attaochu, who is among the best pass rushers in this draft.
  29. Carolina Panthers: (WR, CB, S, OT, TE depth): Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama. While receiver is their most pressing need, the depth of the position in this draft allow Carolina to wait until the second or third round to give Cam Newton a new weapon, or two. Kouandjio, Morgan Moses, or even Joel Bitonio would bring immediate help to the line, which has lost tackle Jordan Gross to retirement.
  30. New England Patriots: (DT, LB, SS, C, TE): Stephon Tuitt, DE/DT, Notre Dame. The Patriots will likely trade down with a team trying to come back into the first round to take a quarterback. If they make a pick, the Pats have the luxury of taking the best available player. I think if the board falls this way, Tuitt or Ra’Shede Hageman would be options along the defensive line and Xavier Su’a-Filo would help upgrade the interior offensive line.
  31. San Francisco 49ers: (CB, WR, DE, LB, NT): Marqise Lee, WR, USC. The Niners are one of the teams that could be aggressive in moving up. If this scenario plays out, San Francisco would be ecstatic to add the dynamic Lee to the receiving corps. Cornerback is also a pressing need, but the top-5 are gone.
  32. Denver Broncos: (LB, KR, OG, OC, CB depth): Xavier Su’a-Filo, G, UCLA: The Broncos need to improve their interior offensive line, and Su’a-Filo would immediately jump into the starting lineup. Middle linebacker and defensive backs are also other areas of need for the defending AFC champs.
  33. Seattle Seahawks: (WR, CB, OG, OT, TE): Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State. Seattle doesn’t have many needs, but they could use a mismatch nightmare in Benjamin. The Florida State standout displayed his ability with the game-winning catch in the National Title Game. Despite his slow 40 time, this 6-5, 240-pound wideout can go up and get it with the best of them.

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