Move over, McShay. Time for my annual three-round mock draft in which I play the general manager for each team at each pick for the 2018 draft. That's all 100 picks from Rounds 1-3. You can check out Todd's here.
To be clear: I'm not projecting picks based on what I'm hearing around the league. This is me making three full rounds of picks based on what's best for each team at that slot, so that each team gets an "A" grade. And it's not easy to get an "A." I'll be discussing some of my picks on SportsCenter All-Access on ESPN and WatchESPN on Tuesday night.
The ground rules:
At each slot, I make a pick in the best interest of only the team with the pick
No trades. I try to address team needs, but as with the actual draft, value can supersede need.
I'm not projecting picks. This is more of a look at where I see value up and down the board, based on my rankings.
I have explanations for every team's picks below, in order of when they first pick in the draft. That means the Browns are at the top, and the Rams -- who don't pick until No. 87 -- are at the end.
There is also a pick-by-pick version at the bottom, which will help give you an idea of who was off the board when I made my picks. And click on the links below to go to each team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAC | KC | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | OAK | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS
Cleveland Browns
Round 1 (1): Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Round 1 (4): Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Round 2 (33): Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
Round 2 (35): Geron Christian, OT, Louisville
Round 2 (64): Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
This is my top-ranked quarterback, running back and 3-technique defensive tackle with the Browns' first three picks. General manager John Dorsey is in a great spot with two picks in the top five, and it would be tough to pass on NC State's Bradley Chubb at No. 4. Could you imagine him getting after quarterbacks on the other side of Myles Garrett? I went with Barkley, though, who will help make better the quarterback that Cleveland takes at No. 1.
Christian would be in the mix to replace longtime left tackle Joe Thomas, and Hubbard is one of the top true 4-3 defensive ends in this class. This class is going to hinge on the quarterback. The Browns have added some weapons in the offseason, and Allen wouldn't have to start right away with Tyrod Taylor on the roster.
New York Giants
Round 1 (2): Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Round 2 (34): Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
Round 3 (66): Nyheim Hines, RB, NC State
Round 3 (69): Da'Shawn Hand, DL, Alabama
I still think the Giants should grab a quarterback with their pick (unless they get blown away by a trade offer). Eli Manning is 37 and on the down side of his career, and New York has a talented roster that shouldn't be picking this high in the future. Is GM Dave Gettleman really going to pass on a signal-caller who could be Manning's ready-made replacement?
Wynn could be an immediate starter, as the Giants lost interior linemen Weston Richburg, D.J. Fluker and Justin Pugh in free agency. Hines is an undersized speedster (he ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine) who will help in the receiving and return games. Hand, a former five-star prospect, underwhelmed at Alabama, but he has the physical tools that teams look for at the end of Day 2. He would play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme.
New York Jets
Round 1 (3): Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Round 3 (72): R.J. McIntosh, DT, Miami
Remember, the Jets traded three second-round picks (two in 2018, one in 2019) to move up three spots, so they're light on capital in this draft. GM Mike Maccagnan & Co. are targeting a quarterback, and I've said for a while that Rosen is the most NFL-ready of all of the top quarterback prospects in this class. Could Rosen pass up Josh McCown (and Teddy Bridgewater) and start in Week 1?
McIntosh would be an end in the Jets' 3-4, as they're looking for a replacement for Muhammad Wilkerson. McIntosh had 21 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.
Denver Broncos
Round 1 (5): Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Round 2 (40): Donte Jackson, CB, LSU
Round 3 (71): Braden Smith, OG, Auburn
Round 3 (99): Dorian O'Daniel, LB, Clemson
Signing Case Keenum shows me that the Broncos don't think Paxton Lynch is the long-term answer. And giving Keenum only a two-year deal shows me the Denver front office isn't settled on him, either. Mayfield is extremely talented and the type of quarterback who makes his teammates better.
Jackson, one of the fastest players in this class, could play in the slot as Bradley Roby transitions to take Aqib Talib's place. The right guard spot is wide open for the Broncos, and Smith started 41 games at Auburn. O'Daniel is a tackling machine who might be a better fit inside in a 3-4.
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 (6): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Round 2 (36): Ronald Jones II, RB, USC
Round 2 (37): Connor Williams, OT, Texas
Round 2 (49): Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford
Round 3 (67): Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB, Oklahoma
I really like this Colts class. They added the Jets' two second-round picks, and they have to get starters there. Their roster is depleted from several poor drafts, but GM Chris Ballard has a chance to get back in shape.
You should know all about Chubb at this point -- he's the best pass-rusher in this class. Jones is a big-play threat with questions about his receiving skills. He has the athletic profile of Alvin Kamara. Williams could be a right tackle or guard for the Colts. Phillips is one of the strongest prospects in this class (he bench-pressed 225 pounds 42 times at the combine) and could play nose tackle. Okoronkwo is likely a situational pass-rusher as he doesn't have ideal size (6-2, 253), but he has a relentless motor.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1 (7): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
Round 2 (38): Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
The Bucs had two huge needs to fill this offseason: pass-rusher and defensive back. They had one of the league's worst defenses in 2017. They traded their third-round pick to the Giants to get Jason Pierre-Paul and also signed Vinny Curry, so consider that need partially filled. Tampa could still go after a pass-rusher at No. 7, particularly if Bradley Chubb is still on the board.
So I'm going with a versatile defensive back in Fitzpatrick here. Some teams see him as the draft's top safety, and others see him as the draft's top cornerback. He could play in the slot. He can help in run support. Fitzpatrick is an all-around player.
Hernandez is a road-grader and powerful interior offensive lineman. Running back is another position the Bucs could target at No. 38.
Chicago Bears
Round 1 (8): Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Round 2 (39): Lorenzo Carter, OLB, Georgia
Nelson makes a ton of sense in Chicago, as his former position coach at Notre Dame, Harry Hiestand, joined the Bears this offseason. I expect Chicago to take a close look at Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, too.
As I wrote in my two-round mock there's a chance Carter goes in Round 1. Cornerback is another position to watch at No. 39.
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 (9): Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Round 2 (59): Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
Round 3 (70): Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
Round 3 (74): Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn
The uncertainty around Reuben Foster's future has me rethinking the 49ers' first pick. They have a glaring need at cornerback, but Smith is the type of talent that is tough to pass up. And if Foster gets his off-field issues straightened up, Smith could move outside to weakside linebacker, and San Francisco would have one of the most talented front sevens in the league.
Oliver fills the hole at cornerback, as he can compete with Ahkello Witherspoon for the spot opposite Richard Sherman (if the longtime Seahawks corner is healthy). Pettis is a dynamite punt returner -- he set an FBS record for career punt return touchdowns with nine -- and can be a deep threat. Johnson might be a steal here. He was one of the best backs in college football in 2017.
Oakland Raiders
Round 1 (10): Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Round 2 (41): Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Round 3 (75): Oren Burks, LB, Vanderbilt
With Roquan Smith off the board to San Francisco a pick before this one, I'm grabbing my top-ranked cornerback for the Raiders, who got only 89 snaps out of last year's first-rounder Gareon Conley. I have a higher grade on Ward, a college teammate of Conley's, who is a better athlete but a little smaller.
Kirk is an explosive slot receiver and return man. He might be off the board here, but he's a steal if the Raiders can grab him as another weapon for Derek Carr. Burks is a versatile defender who is rising after he ran a 4.59 40 and had a 39-inch vertical jump (among other outstanding testing numbers) at the combine.
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 (11): Derwin James, S, Florida State
Round 2 (42): James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
Round 3 (73): Jerome Baker, OLB, Ohio State
The Dolphins' offseason makeover is among the most drastic of any team. Ndamukong Suh, Mike Pouncey, Jarvis Landry, Jay Cutler, Cody Parkey, Damien Williams, Jermon Bushrod and Julius Thomas are among the players who were shipped out. While Miami has filled a few roster holes, some remain, including both linebacker spots, as well as at offensive guard and safety.
The 11th pick is James' floor. I don't see the Dolphins passing on him (unless they trade up to grab a quarterback). Washington could be another deep threat, while Baker is one of the top 4-3 outside linebackers in this class.
Buffalo Bills
Round 1 (12): Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Round 1 (22): Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Round 2 (53): Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis
Round 2 (56): Billy Price, C/G, Ohio State
Round 3 (65): Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
Round 3 (96): Daurice Fountain, WR, Northern Iowa
So let's assume Buffalo keeps all of these six of these, which I don't think is likely. (Remember: No trades in the "Grade: A" mock!) The Bills have the picks to move up for a quarterback if they want, but they also have the picks to plug holes on a flawed roster.
In this scenario, the Bills get two of the draft's best athletes with their first two picks. Edmunds and Jackson are both raw, but they have the upside to be Pro Bowl players. And with AJ McCarron on the roster, Jackson wouldn't have to start in Week 1. Miller and Price could step in and play immediately. Buffalo added Vontae Davis on a one-year deal but needs another corner opposite Tre'Davious White. Fountain is an under-the-radar big-play threat who had 12 touchdowns as a senior in 2017.
Washington Redskins
Round 1 (13): Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
Round 2 (44): Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
Payne addresses the Redskins' biggest 2017 weakness: Run defense. He could end up at nose tackle. Michel would give them a dynamic, every-down back. I'm not sold on Rob Kelley or Samaje Perine. Michel and former teammate Nick Chubb are battling with USC's Ronald Jones II to be the third running back picked, likely early on Day 2.
Washington's third-round pick went to Kansas City in the deal for Alex Smith.
Green Bay Packers
Round 1 (14): Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, Texas San Antonio
Round 2 (45): D.J. Chark, WR, LSU
Round 3 (76): Duke Dawson, CB, Florida
I've been consistent in picking Davenport to the Packers, and I won't change now. It's a perfect fit for a team in need of young pass-rushers and a prospect in need of time to adjust to the speed of the NFL.
So long, Jordy Nelson; hello, another deep threat? Chark didn't put up huge numbers in college, but he has elite athleticism. The 5-foot-10 Dawson is one of the best slot corners in this class. Green Bay could also target a swing tackle on Day 2.
Arizona Cardinals
Round 1 (15): Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
Round 2 (47): Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Round 3 (79): Luke Falk, QB, Washington State
Round 3 (97): Shaquem Griffin, OLB, Central Florida
If Arizona passes on a quarterback at No. 15 -- in this scenario, Lamar Jackson and Mason Rudolph are still available -- offensive tackle is at the top of the Cardinals' list of needs. Are they really going to rely on Andre Smith at right tackle? The 6-9, 309-pound Miller is rising after he was one of the most athletic big men at the combine. He's my top-ranked tackle.
Arizona doesn't have much at receiver outside of Larry Fitzgerald, who will soon be 35 years old, and Sutton could make an impact in 2018. Falk, a former walk-on who started 40 games for the Cougars, had a great week at the Senior Bowl and impressed teams in meetings. He's not the most athletic quarterback, but he's accurate when he has time to set his feet. The Cardinals have short-term answers in Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon and still need a guy who will be their QB1 long-term.
You should know Griffin's story by now. His combine workouts put him in the mix to be taken on Day 2. He's undersized at 6-0, 227, but could be a situational pass-rusher, nickelback and special-teams demon at the next level. As I wrote after the combine, if I were a general manager, I'd want him on my team.
Baltimore Ravens
Round 1 (16): Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Round 2 (52): Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma
Round 3 (83): Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas
Ridley underwhelmed at the combine, but his college tape shows a player who's nearly uncoverable. I'm going to trust the tape in this case and still make him my top-ranked wideout (Maryland's D.J. Moore is not far behind). Baltimore could also target an offensive tackle at pick No. 16.
Andrews essentially played as a 6-5 slot receiver for the Sooners, so he's going to have to learn how to block before he sees meaningful snaps. But he's a great weapon to add for Joe Flacco. The Ravens lost Ryan Jensen in free agency, and Ragnow could be the starting center in Week 1.
All in all, Flacco is probably the person most happy with these picks.
Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1 (17): Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Round 2 (48): Jessie Bates, S, Wake Forest
Round 3 (84): Brandon Parker, OT, North Carolina A&T
Get to know Tevita Tuli'aki'ono Tuipulotu Mosese Va'hae Fehoko Faletau Vea. Yes, that's Vea's full name. The 6-4, 347-pound nose tackle is a physical specimen who would help plug the Chargers' biggest hole in the middle of the defense. Bates is a pick to help strengthen the spine, too, and he's rising after he tested in the top tier among safeties at the combine. Bates also pitched in as a punt returner for the Demon Deacons. L.A. could also address inside linebacker with its first two picks.
The Chargers will hope Parker is a steal like the last player to be drafted from North Carolina A&T: running back Tarik Cohen, who the Bears snagged in Round 4 last year. The 6-8 Parker was an important part of Cohen rushing for 5,619 yards and 56 touchdowns in his college career, and he started 48 straight games at left tackle and was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year three times.
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 (18): Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
Just one pick for Seattle, which used its No. 2 pick to acquire Sheldon Richardson (whoops) and No. 3 pick in the deal for Duane Brown. I thought about offensive tackle here because the right side isn't settled, but cornerback is just as big of a need. Richard Sherman is gone to the 49ers, and the Legion of Boom is in peril. Shaquill Griffin had a solid rookie season, but the other spot is up for grabs.
Alexander is undersized at 5-10, 196, but he could help outside or in the slot. I also think he could be the Seahawks' primary punt returner.
Dallas Cowboys
Round 1 (19): Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Round 2 (50): Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
Round 3 (81): Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays State
Anthony Hitchens got a big free-agent deal from the Chiefs, and we still don't know if Jaylon Smith is going to get back to his pre-injury form. That's why if I'm the Dallas GM, I'm taking a hard-hitting, versatile linebacker in Evans. He's a three-down player with a high ceiling.
Gesicki won't be Jason Witten's replacement on Day 1 -- he was a glorified slot receiver for the Nittany Lions. He needs time (and coaching) to figure out how to be an inline blocker. As a receiver, though, the 6-5, 247-pound Gesicki is a nightmare matchup for linebackers and safeties. I really like Shepherd, who broke a hand in practice at the Senior Bowl. I don't know if he'll be a penetrating 3-technique, but his tape is impressive.
Depending on what happens with Dez Bryant over the next few weeks, wide receiver could be another position to address with these picks.
Detroit Lions
Round 1 (20): Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
Round 2 (51): Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Round 3 (82): Breeland Speaks, DL, Mississippi
I thought about an edge rusher at pick No. 20, but Bryan has the highest ceiling of all of the interior rushers in this class, and the Lions need all the help they can get along the defensive line. Bryan is raw and underperformed in college, but he has the athletic traits that make scouts drool and coaches want to work with him.
Could Chubb be an every-down back? He impressed teams at the combine, and I think he's squarely in the Round 2 conversation. Ameer Abdullah has underperformed when he's been healthy, and Chubb could be an upgrade. In a class lacking true 4-3 defensive ends, Speaks is one of the best. He had seven sacks last season.
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1 (21): Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Round 2 (46): B.J. Hill, DT, NC State
Round 3 (77): DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State
Round 3 (100): Genard Avery, ILB, Memphis
Cincinnati already added a left tackle in Cordy Glenn (and bumped back to pick No. 21 in the trade with the Bills), but I see McGlinchey as a right tackle in the NFL, and I'm not sold on Jake Fisher or Cedric Ogbuehi as above-average NFL starters. The Bengals can overhaul their tackle spots and improve after a disastrous 2017 season in which Andy Dalton was sacked 39 times.
Hill's game is all about power, and he can learn from one of the most powerful defensive linemen in the NFL in Geno Atkins. Hill started 44 games at NC State. Hamilton was a late addition to the Senior Bowl roster, but he was one of the best receivers there. Inside linebacker is a need Cincinnati must address on Day 1 or 2. Avery is a thumper.
New England Patriots
Round 1 (23): Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Round 1 (31): Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida
Round 2 (43): Brian O'Neill, OT, Pitt
Round 2 (63): Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond
Round 3 (95): Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State
No way Bill Belichick keeps all these, right? Just check out his history with two first-round picks. If I'm in his shoes (and I can't trade up or out), I'm grabbing the versatile Vander Esch at No. 23 and finding out his best fit later. I like him as an inside linebacker in a 3-4, but he could also play on the edge.
Hughes fills a need as the Patriots lost Malcolm Butler in free agency. Same with O'Neill, who is raw, but could compete for the left tackle spot vacated by Nate Solder. Ballage is a big, athletic back who had 64 catches over the past two seasons, so he fits what New England likes.
But you want to know about Lauletta, right? He's my seventh-ranked signal-caller and the Spiders' all-time leader in passing yards (10,465), passing TDs (73) and total offense (10, 651). He's a project, for sure, but New England has Tom Brady for now and needs a young passer to groom.
Carolina Panthers
Round 1 (24): Justin Reid, S, Stanford
Round 2 (55): Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State
Round 3 (85): Jordan Lasley, WR, UCLA
Round 3 (88): Jaylen Samuels, H-Back, NC State
I just like the fit with Reid and Carolina, which parted ways with Kurt Coleman this offseason. I think Reid will make my All-Rookie team wherever he ends up -- he'll be ready to contribute in Week 1.
Defensive end and wide receiver are my top two needs for the Panthers. Lewis had 23.5 career sacks in college and could be groomed as Julius Peppers' replacement. Lasley was Josh Rosen's favorite target in 2017, but he had a couple of off-field incidents that teams are looking into. Based on his tape alone, Lasley is a top 50 prospect, but he didn't test as well athletically at the combine.
Samuels is my top-ranked H-back, and we know offensive coordinator Norv Turner likes to use fullbacks. Samuels isn't a 245-pound monster like Mike Tolbert, but he's versatile and will pitch in on special teams. Get creative, Norv, and find some snaps for Samuels with Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel on the field at the same time.
Tennessee Titans
Round 1 (25): Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
Round 2 (57): Austin Corbett, C/G, Nevada
Round 3 (89): Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State
Can you name the last South Dakota State player to be picked in the first round of the NFL draft? Too slow. It's guard Lynn Boden, who was the No. 13 overall pick of the Lions in 1975. He started 47 games over five NFL seasons. Goedert will have earned it, though -- he's really, really good and the most complete tight end in this class. South Carolina's Hayden Hurst is a better blocker, but Goedert is much better as a pass-catcher and has shown that he can stay inline and block.
If Tennessee passes on a tight end -- the coaches might think 2017 third-round pick Jonnu Smith is Delanie Walker's long-term replacement -- pass-rusher or interior offensive line makes sense at pick No. 25. Corbett started 49 games at tackle for Nevada but will move inside at the next level. Gallup would be a nice addition at the end of Day 2.
Atlanta Falcons
Round 1 (26): D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
Round 2 (58): Rasheem Green, DL, USC
Round 3 (90): Jordan Akins, TE, Central Florida
The Falcons have a strong roster. They don't have any gaping holes. They did lose Dontari Poe, Taylor Gabriel, Adrian Clayborn and Andre Roberts in free agency, but defensive line could be addressed here. But I went with one of my favorite receivers in this class in Moore, who would give Atlanta a devastating wideout trio alongside Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu.
Green led the Trojans in sacks in each of the past two seasons (16 total). Akins, a former minor league baseball player, turns 26 this month and put on more weight to move to tight end. He could battle for time with Austin Hooper.
New Orleans Saints
Round 1 (27): Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
Round 3 (91): Mike White, QB, Western Kentucky
Where's that second-round pick? It went to the 49ers last year when the Saints traded up to take a running back in the third round. I panned that move in my draft grades, but the back they took ended up being Offensive Rookie of the Year. Yeah, Alvin Kamara is a stud, and I noted my whiff in my re-grades.
As for this draft, tight end makes total sense -- Coby Fleener has been a free-agent bust. Hurst is already ahead of most college tight ends in that he can block. At the end of Day 2, I'm going with the 6-5 White, who threw too many interceptions in college but flashed an NFL skill set. This is about the range I expect him to be taken. I wouldn't be shocked if the Saints went after Drew Brees' successor with their first pick, either.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1 (28): Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College
Round 2 (60): Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
Round 3 (92): Chris Campbell, CB, Penn State
Pittsburgh's top need is linebacker -- inside and outside. Ryan Shazier's football future is in doubt, which leaves a hole in the middle of the Steelers' 3-4. Maybe Jon Bostic can be a good one-year stopgap while the Steelers use a later pick on competition. In this mock, though, I thought Landry was too talented to pass up. He's an edge rusher who had 16.5 sacks in 2016 but struggled with injuries in 2017 and wasn't as productive. He came back from his injury at the combine and put up outstanding testing numbers.
Penny is more insurance in case the Steelers decide to not pay Le'Veon Bell. They took James Conner on Day 3 last year, but he barely played as a rookie. Penny is more of a big-play threat than Conner. Campbell is a bigger corner whom I've heard teams like as a late Day 2, early Day 3 flier.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1 (29): Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
Round 2 (61): Uchenna Nwosu, DE/OLB, USC
Round 3 (93): Tre'Quan Smith, WR, Central Florida
Yes, that's quarterback No. 6 in the first round. That would tie the record for most quarterbacks in the first round (the 1983 draft turned out pretty well). Rudolph could go anywhere from the end of the first round to early in the third round. That's a wide range, but it represents the various opinions about the 6-5, 235-pound signal-caller, who had 92 touchdown passes and only 26 interceptions in his college career. Rudolph throws a beautiful deep ball, but he's a little stiff. In this case, he might be the best available QB option for Jacksonville at pick No. 29. And I don't think Jacksonville is set for the long-term with Blake Bortles.
I thought about a tight end on Day 2 here, but several options were already off the board. Nwosu was unblockable down the stretch in 2017, finishing with eight sacks in his final six games. He'd be an end in the Jags' 4-3. Smith ran a 4.49 40 at 210 pounds at the combine, and he'd add to the stable of young Jacksonville wideouts.
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1 (30): Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Round 2 (62): Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Round 3 (94): Colby Gossett, OG, Appalachian State
Offensive line makes sense in the first round for the Vikings, but I didn't have a tackle or guard still on the board who is rated as a Day 1 pick. So I moved on to the next-biggest need, which is corner. The Vikings are set at both starting spots, but we still haven't seen enough from former second-round pick Mackensie Alexander to know if he's a quality NFL player. Jackson, who led the FBS with eight interceptions last season, was tremendous in his lone season as a starter.
Brown had one of the worst combine workouts I've ever seen, but he was better at the OU pro day, and at some point you have to trust the tape. He was dominant protecting Baker Mayfield's blind side for three years, and he's a monster in the run game. He's probably going to have to play right tackle in the NFL. Gossett is an under-the-radar gem who started 46 straight games at right guard for the Mountaineers.
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1 (32): Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Philadelphia's second-round pick goes to the Browns from the Carson Wentz trade (I think GM Howie Roseman & Co. are just fine with that), while its third-round pick is in the Bills' hands as a result of the Ronald Darby-Jordan Matthews swap from last year.
Hear me out on a running back with the last pick in the first round: A knee injury caused Jay Ajayi to drop in the 2015 draft, and while he impressed after the midseason trade from Miami, I don't think we can automatically slot him in as the Eagles' top back for the next five years. Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and Donnel Pumphrey are also on the roster, but none are as talented as Guice, who I think can be a much better pass-catcher than the LSU offense allowed him to be. Guice would add to an already-loaded offense.
Kansas City Chiefs
Round 2 (54): Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
Round 3 (78): Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State
Round 3 (86): Tim Settle, DT, Virginia Tech
With no first-round pick because of the trade up for Patrick Mahomes last year, Kansas City has to get creative to fill its needs. Harrison would be a great fit next to a (hopefully) healthy Eric Berry. Rankin started at left tackle for the Bulldogs but could be a swing tackle at the next level. Settle is an ultra-talented nose tackle who could compete for the starting spot.
Wide receiver is another position Kansas City could target on Days 1 and 2, even with the free-agent addition of Sammy Watkins.
Houston Texans
Round 3 (68): Anthony Averett, CB, Alabama
Round 3 (80): Desmond Harrison, OT, West Georgia
Round 3 (98): P.J. Hall, DL, Sam Houston State
Both of the Texans' top picks went to the Browns in last year's Deshaun Watson trade, but Houston added a third-rounder in the deal that sent Duane Brown to the Seahawks. If the Texans can get one starter out of these three picks, it would be considered a success -- drafting is really tough, and there are so many prospects already off the board.
In this case, I went with projects with these picks. All three are raw talents. Averett is undersized but super-fast (he ran a 4.36 40 at the combine). Harrison was out of football for a few years but resurfaced at D-II West Georgia. He looks like a tight end without pads and has great feet, but can he be coached up? Hall had stellar stats at Sam Houston State but is a tweener in the NFL. Could he play defensive end in Houston's 3-4?
Los Angeles Rams
Round 3 (87): Andrew Brown, DL, Virginia
Les Snead dealt the Rams' first-round pick for Brandin Cooks, and the second-round pick was also traded for a wide receiver. The Bills own it as a result of the preseason Sammy Watkins deal last year. So with only one pick here, I'm looking for the guy with the highest upside on the board. That prospect is Brown, a former five-star recruit who came on the last two seasons and had 23.5 tackles for loss. At 6-3, 296, he'd likely be a defensive end in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme.
