Well in a weeks time, I have apparently had a lot of changes of heart about what teams will do because the 2.0 version of this draft is drastically different than the 1.0. Most of the same players are drafted throughout round 1 but the teams and slots in which the drafting takes place is very different starting at the top.
1. Houston: Jadeveon Clowney (Previously: Blake Bortles)
Pairing Clowney with Watt is too tempting for the Texas pass up on with the depth of the quarterback class and ability to draft a potential starting quarterback at the top of round 2.
2. St. Louis: Sammy Watkins (Watkins)
Recent word out of the St. Louis is they may pursue a quarterback with the 2nd pick but I firmly believe this to be a smokescreen created to raise the value of the 2nd pick in an opportunity to trade. Watkins should be the pick here.
3. Jacksonville: Blake Bortles (Clowney)
Jaguars decide to go quarterback and keep Bortles in Florida where he has proven he can win. Bortles is the safest quarterback pick in this draft and could be a solid starter for the Jaguars for years to come, but I advise starting Chad Henne an additional season and letting Bortles learn slowly.
4. Cleveland: Johnny Manziel (Mack)
As a Browns fan, I do not like this pick but I believe that Jimmy Haslam will be too intrigued by the dynamic that is Johnny Football to not push for him to be drafted. My concerns? Manziel's ability to run around like a mad man in the 5 degree weather of the AFC North after getting blasted by Vontaze Burfict on the previous run. Confession time: if the Browns do draft Manziel, I will turn into the biggest Johnny Football fan ever.
5. Oakland: Greg Robison (Manziel)
A bad quarterback can look a lot better when given the time to throw and Matt Schaub is not a bad quarterback. Give him the time and opportunity to throw and he can win some games for the Raiders.
6. Atlanta: Khalil Mack (Mosley)
This is the dream scenario for Atlanta, a team in dire need of a pass rusher and presence on the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons will without a doubt be contemplating trading up to draft either Mack or Clowney, but in this draft it would be unnecessary. They will have to hold themselves back from sprinting the card to the table if Mack is still there at 6.
7. Tampa Bay: Mike Evans (Evans)
Dynamic talent to pair with Vincent Jackson to create a duo that makes Mike Glennon look like a much better quarterback. Watch out NFC South but an offense featuring Evans, Jackson, and Doug Martin is pretty impressive and will cause issues for those defenses.
8. Minnesota: Teddy Bridgewater (Robinson)
Mike Zimmer spent two days with Bridgewater in Minnesota this past week being convinced that Teddy can excel in the NFL. Who cares if he has to have a glove on to play quarterback, there is no rule that says he can't wear one year round. Remember this guy was the surefire number one quarterback in this draft coming into the offseason and a poor pro-day has derailed him. For reference, Brady Quinn had a pro-day labeled as one of the best ever.
9. Buffalo: Darqueze Dennard (Dennard)
The Bills are very close to be a very good football team and by beefing up the cornerback spot, they fill one of their weaknesses. And remember they face Tom Brady twice a year, so you can never have enough good corners.
10. Detroit: Jake Matthews (Matthews)
Matt Stafford is a top 5 quarterback when he is not injured or being knocked down more times than anyone is able to count. When he is dinged up and knocked up over and over again? Not so much. Jake Matthews brings a big, athletic body to the Lions and will help to protect Stafford's blind side.
11. Tennessee: CJ Mosley (Donald)
The Titans may be the toughest team to predict who they will select because it could be logical for them to select anyone from an offensive lineman to a wide receiver to a linebacker. Well, in this draft they sure up the middle of the defense and bring leadership to the middle linebacker spot. Mosley will being athleticism and toughness to this defense.
12. New York Giants: Taylor Lewan (Lewan)
Much like the Falcons, this draft could not have played out better for the Giants who badly need offensive line help and were able to grab potentially the most athletic of the O-Line prospects. The Giants just have to hope that the legal troubles do not hold back Lewan and he can become the cornerstone of that line.
13. St. Louis: Justin Gilbert (Clinton-Dix)
After grabbing a play making wide receiver at #2 like Sammy Watkins, Jeff Fisher gets a shutdown corner to help stop the opposing passing game. The opportunity to go against each other everyday in practice will do nothing but help both Gilbert and Watkins as they grow into stars for the Rams.
14. Chicago: Kyle Fuller ( Gilbert)
The Bears have to improve their pass defense and with Justin Gilbert going the pick before, they are forced to take the next best corner on the board in Kyle Fuller. The rest of their secondary is aging quickly and Fuller will be able to infuse some new life and ability to the Monsters of the Midway.
15. Pittsburgh: Aaron Donald (Moses)
Donald has been dominating Heinz Field on Saturdays and will now get the chance to do the same on Sundays as the Steelers focus on an aging defense with a dynamic defensive lineman. Donald will have an opportunity to place his name as the most recent on the long list of great Steeler defenders.
16. Dallas: Ha Ha Clinton Dix (Pryor)
Cowboys have opportunity to grab the best safety in the draft and immediately improve a dreadful secondary. Last season it was practice going against the poor back end of America's Team. Don't be surprised to see the Cowboys possibly pull the trigger on a Derek Carr in this slot, remember that Romo is 34.
17. Baltimore: Zach Martin (Martin)
The Ravens have to get back to running the ball first and letting Joe Flacco play the way he plays best, in the play action. The best way to get a running game back? Strengthen the offensive line and hope that Ray Rice doesn't find himself in jail for too long.
18. New York Jets: Brandin Cooks (Cooks)
Geno or Vick need more play makers and home run threats around them in this offense. Cooks brings that highlight reel threat to the game each time he touches the football and will bring excitement to the Jets offense that has been badly missed the last few seasons.
19. Miami: Morgan Moses (Jerrigan)
Moses can start his career playing RT and create a great offensive line tandem with Branden Albert on the other side of the line. Ryan Tannehill can be a great quarterback when given time to see receivers and the field, placing Moses opposite of Albert will give him all day. Moses is also good for the run, which will put smiles on the faces of Knowshon Moreno and Lamar Miller.
20. Arizona: Derek Carr (Bridgewater)
There may not be a better situation for Carr than in Arizona where he can comfortable sit behind Carson Palmer and learn from a true professional for a season before taking over the reins to the offense and being a successful quarterback of the future.
21. Green Bay: Calvin Pryor (Roby)
With few holes, if any, on the offensive side of the ball the Packers select the top rated defensive back remaining and fill a need in the secondary.
22. Philadelphia: Odell Beckham (Beckham)
Replacement for DeSean Jackson comes in the form a similar bodied wide receiver with strong hands and speed to burn. Beckham will allow Brian Kelly to continue to deploy fast and big play offensive calls. This offense would be scary good.
23. Kansas City: Timmy Jerrigan (Nix III)
The Chiefs defense began to slow down towards the end of last season and adding Jerrigan, who's own stamina is a concern, adds depth for the club and allows him to work in a rotation to stay fresh. This is a perfect situation for Jerrigan to play to the most of his ability.
24. Cincinnati: Bradley Roby ( Fuller)
Roby fills one of the very few holes that this Cincinnati team currently possesses. With the exception of the secondary, this defense is already pretty stout and could lead this team back to the playoffs. Roby will allow the aging Terrance Newman to slide to the slot and a combo of Roby and Pacman Jones is no secondary to mock for opposing offensives.
25. San Diego: Eric Ebron (Verrett)
Fills multiple holes for Chargers. Ebron gives Rivers an additional target in this high volume passing game while also lining up a replacement for Antonio Gates as he continues to age and slowly break down.
26. Cleveland: Jason Verrett (Jean-Baptiste)
Cleveland gets their wish and has a solid cornerback fall into their laps at 26 with Verrett. The addition of Verrett will allow Buster Skrine to slid inside where he is an above average cover on the slot receiver and give a viable corner to start opposite Pro-Bowler Joe Haden on the other side. Cleveland lost multiple games they should not have last season with late half and game breakdowns in their secondary.
27: New Orleans: Anthony Barr (Barr)
The Saints can score, this we all know but they need to continue to improve that defense so Drew Brees isn't forced to throw 5 touchdowns a game to win. Barr is a huge talent that for some unknown reason has kind of fallen off the map as a high prospect. At the beginning of the offseason he was labeled as one of the best. The Saints would be very happy with this pick.
28. Carolina: Marquise Lee (Lee)
Seriously, if they don't draft a wide receiver Cam Newton will have no one to throw the football too. They have to go wide receiver. No questions.
29. New England: Ryan Shazier (Ebron)
Shazier plays the fast and physical defense that Belicheck likes without the attitude of the recently departed Brandon Spikes. Think Tedy Bruschi with better speed.
30. San Francisco: Kony Ealy (Ealy)
Aldon Smith is either on his way out of San Francisco or his way in to a prison or possibly both. The 49ers are too good of a football team and organization to put up with much more from Smith. Ealy will bring another pass rusher to the tenacious defensive line in San Fran.
31. Denver: Louis Nix III (Shazier)
Paired with Terrance Knighton will create a monster in the middle of the Bronco's defensive line. It was obvious in the Super Bowl that you win championships with defense and fill stat sheets with offense. I think they would prefer the championships.
32. Seattle: Ra'Shede Haseman (Haseman)
And the rich get richer.....
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