In recent weeks, there has been talk of electric Penn State running back Saquon Barkley falling to the Washington Redskins at No. 13 in the NFL Draft. How credible are these ‘talks’? Let’s find out.
The Washington Redskins have a number of positions they could address with the No. 13 pick in the NFL Draft, but most people can agree that if Saquon Barkley manages to drop that far, he will be the pick, regardless of who else is on the board.
At first, such a scenario appears to impossible. But we said the same thing about Jonathan Allen dropping in the 2017 NFL Draft. And now, he’s a key cog of the future of the Washington Redskins defense. He was expected to be selected in the top five. He didn’t come off the board until pick No. 17.
Now, to assume that the same thing will happen with Barkley is a dangerous game to play. But is such a thing impossible? Can Barkley drop to No. 13 in the NFL Draft, if all the cards fall in the Washington Redskin’s’ favor? That’s the question we look to answer in the coming slides. Take a look at our NFL Mock Draft 5.0!
I’m not high on Sam Darnold. But from what I understand, many NFL teams are. With a need for a big-armed quarterback and a change of pace, the Cleveland Browns have to be one of those teams.
Darnold, for all his flaws, has a number of quality traits that bode well for his NFL future. At 6-foot-4, 220, Darnold has the perfect size to fit the mold of a prototypical NFL quarterback. His tape is inconsistent, and he has a propensity to turn over the football. But he made throws in his college career that few quarterbacks could match. His anticipation skills are superb, and his intangibles are more than NFL-ready.
Darnold’s mechanics are sloppy, and his lower body is on the thin side, but teams in need of a talented thrower under center will weigh his potential more than any other qualities. Darnold, in the right situation, has a chance to be very good. The Cleveland Browns, still in rebuild mode, will look to provide him with all the tools he needs to be successful.
The Buffalo Bills, with the No. 21 and No. 22 picks in the NFL Draft, have quite a bit of trade leverage. They also have a big need at the position of quarterback.
With all that leverage, why would the Buffalo Bills risk losing the most pro-ready quarterback prospect in the entire draft? The answer is simple. If they’re smart, they won’t.
The Buffalo Bills, in this mock draft, decide to leapfrog the rest of the competition, jumping up to the No. 2 pick to grab their franchise quarterback. Even two first-rounders won’t be enough for this pick, however. There will be plenty of teams calling, and to make it here, the Bills are going to have to fork over a bit more value. A trade for this spot could end up looking something like this:
The Giants are in a good situation at No. 2. This year, with all of the NFL-caliber quarterbacks available, and with so many teams in need of a quarterback, the Giants can use their leverage to coax teams to give a little more than expected. Here, the Bills are forced to give up both first-round picks this year, an additional second-rounder, and a third-rounder in 2018.
The immediacy of the Bills’ former two first-round picks gives them a bit more leverage than what the Redskins had when they traded for Robert Griffin III. Nevertheless, the price will still be steep. But for a team with a near playoff-caliber roster, Josh Rosen is more than worth it.
The Indianapolis Colts could trade down from this spot, if they got an offer enticing enough to accept. But their defense has been very bad for a very long time, and something tells me that they won’t pass up the opportunity to add another blue-chip player to their front seven. Bradley Chubb fits perfectly with this pick.
No one has to overthink it. This pick simply makes sense. The Indianapolis Colts have been thin on the defensive side of the ball for years, and by adding Chubb, they would reinforce a front seven in desperate need of top-five talent. Chubb can provide that, and more.
The New York Jets tried the prototypical, tall, big-armed quarterback twice. They failed both times. After missing out on Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency, and failing to nab the most pro-ready quarterback prospect, Josh Rosen, the Jets decide to trade up and grab the next best thing: Baker Mayfield.
It won’t come cheap for the New York Jets. They’ll have to give up the No. 6 pick in the NFL Draft, as well as one second-round pick and a third round pick, both in this year’s draft. It was a necessary cost to leapfrog the Denver Broncos, who are also yet in need of a quarterback (even though they likely signed at least one serviceable quarterback in free agency).
The biggest knock on Baker mayfield is his size, but other than that, he’s a solid prospect. Like Josh Rosen, the concerns surrounding his attitude appear to be overblown. Mayfield is a prospect with a history of winning. He can play well off-script, and as far as accuracy goes, there are few better than the former Oklahoma Sooner.
Most teams will favor the traditional non-Big 12 quarterbacks over Mayfield. But the New York Jets have tried that. And it hasn’t worked for them. Here, they get a quarterback who might lack a few inches. But he exudes confidence, he has all the necessary traits to win at the next level, and with a team that desperately needs his services, he just might.
The Broncos could easily be in need of a quarterback here, but I see John Elway favoring free agency this year. His drafted quarterbacks, Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian, have left a lot to be desired. It also helps that Quenton Nelson will likely be available at No. 5. He’s a player the Denver Broncos can’t afford to pass up.
I mocked Nelson to the Broncos in my NFL Mock Draft 4.0 as well. Why? It’s simple. The Broncos have a glaring need on the offensive line, and Nelson, considered to be one of the best guard prospects to hit the NFL Draft in the last two decades, would undoubtedly fill that need. Here’s what I had to say about Nelson in my previous mock draft.
"Nelson, 6-foot-5, 330, has the size to dominate on the interior of the offensive line, and he consistently uses it to his advantage. He made a living out of locking down interior defenders last year, and his consistency is rare among incoming offensive guards. There isn’t a glaring flaw in Nelson’s game. He’s big, he’s nasty, and he is fundamentally sound. He would improve the Broncos’ offensive line from day one, and saying he’ll make the Pro Bowl in his first year isn’t that bold of a prediction."
Must Read: Why the Washington Redskins must re-sign Junior Galette
No prospect is ever a guarantee. But Quenton Nelson is about as close as it gets.
With the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns chose to address one of their greatest needs, and with the sixth overall pick, they do the same thing, this time picking Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to bolster the secondary.
Fitzpatrick is everything a team could want in a defensive back. He has good size at 6-foot1, 202. He’s versatile, boasting the ability to play both cornerback and safety proficiently. He has the speed and athleticism to do both, and over his career, he’s shown a willingness to do that as well.
Fitzpatrick saw enormous amounts of success at Alabama, and in the NFL, that should only continue. Fitzpatrick eats, breathes, and sleeps football, and for the Browns, a team still in rebuild mode, they need as many of those kinds of players as they can get.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why would the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass on Saquon Barkley at No. 7? The team just released their starter in Doug Martin, and Barkley would presumably be a great value pick here.
Part of this selection is me simply trying to find a way to get Barkley to drop to No. 13 in the NFL Draft. But another part of it is actually adressing another need for the Buccaneers. Dirk Koetter’s squad needs more talent on the defensive side of the ball. There’s no two ways around it. The unit is serviceable as it is, but the team struggled mightily in pass coverage and overall defense. Adding an all-around talented player like Roquan Smith would fix that.
Smith is a bit undersized, but right away, he would give the defense a fast player on the second level who can make an impact anywhere on the field. Smith is very technically sound, and he presents upside as a rusher, a run stopper, and a coverage man. In the latter area, the Buccaneers need help, especially from their linebackers.
Related Story: Assessing Washington Redskins first-round options: ILB Roquan Smith
Perhaps the Buccaneers, who have a few decent options at running back in Charles Sims, Jacquizz Rodgers, and Peyton Barber, will opt to wait a round and instead shore up their defense with a player that, in terms of impact, is not considered to be far off from Barkley. The team can easily get a player like Sony Michel or Rashaad Penny on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, all the while giving their defense a much-needed boost with the No. 7 pick.
This NFL Draft pick makes sense for the Bears. For too many reasons.
The Bears have their quarterback, at least for the near future, in Mitch Trubisky. Now they need to equip him with weapons. In my last mock, I had the team pick SMU’s Courtland Sutton, citing his upside and playmaking potential. But since then, I’ve had a change of heart. For the Bears, Calvin Ridley is a better fit. Why? It’s quite simple.
Ridley is more reliable. In fact, he’s the most reliable wide receiver in this class. He can come into the NFL and start right away, with little to no learning curve. He’s an incredibly polished route runner, possessing a sharp attention to detail and the rare consistency gene.
Riley didn’t produce on a never-before-seen level at Alabama, but he never had an NFL-caliber quarterback there, either. With Trubisky throwing him the football in Matt Nagy’s offense, Rildey can fill the role he’s been ready for all along. You might not see him make the one-handed catches like the other guys. But he can create separation and give his young quarterback an immediate option to throw to. Ridley could be the key to the Bears’ success.
The Miami Dolphins, not confident with the progress and future prospects of Ryan Tannehill’s career, decide to trade up and ensure their acquisition of the biggest arm in this year’s draft: Josh Allen of Wyoming University.
Allen, 6-foot-5, 233, fits the mold of the Adam Gase quarterback. Gase, widely heralded as a quarterback whisperer, has a wealth of knowledge to teach Allen, and perhaps a change of pace could bode well for Miami, a team that’s been the doormat of the AFC East for years now.
In the trade to the No. 9 pick in the NFL Draft, the Dolphins are forced to ship off their No. 11 pick, their No. 42 pick, and an additional fourth-rounder in 2017. The price may seem high, but it’s the price the Dolphins will have to pay. Several teams will be calling if a talented quarterback drops this far, and to beat out other interested teams, like the Cardinals, Chargers, and Steelers, the Dolphins will have to pay a bit more. Their earlier pick in the NFL Draft gives them more leverage, and so the 49ers, who need such a pick, comply.
Allen will get a chance to start immediately in Miami, but his lack of a strong supporting cast is a cause for concern. There is no quality starting running back on the Dolphins, and their receiving core is seriously lacking. With Jarvis Landry on the trade block, the talent there will only decrease.
Nevertheless, the Dolphins have a chance to grab a quarterback with upside, and with Adam Gase on the case, that potential could be easily unlocked.
The Oakland Raiders didn’t get an interception until Week 11 of the 2017 regular season. Their defensive backfield lacked the presence of a playmaker; a true ballhawk. By picking Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson, they’ll get just that.
The Oakland Raiders used their first-round pick in the NFL Draft last year on a cornerback as well, picking Gareon Conley late on Day 1. Despite that selection, the need at that position still exists. Conley, albeit promising, is still in the early stages of his development, and Sean Smith can’t be relied on as a consistent starter.
Jackson, standing at 6-foot-2, is an enticing talent. He only had one year of quality starting experience in college, but he made it count, nabbing eight interceptions en route to a historic season for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
He may not be the most refined prospect, but he plays with an edge, and he has a knack for getting his hands on the ball and making plays. The Raiders will be happy to have Jackson. He’ll turn the tide for an unimaginative defense, giving them a true playmaker to pair with Conley.
The San Francisco 49ers have a gaping void at the cornerback position. Rashard Robinson, once hailed as the team’s answer there, quickly let it be known that he was, in fact, not the answer in 2017. He was promptly traded. The team drafted Akhello Witherspoon in April lat year. He showed promise. And he should only keep growing. But he can’t work alone.
While the Oakland Raiders preferred playmaking ability and star potential, the San Francisco 49ers make this pick with their mind on mechanics and athletic ability. Ward is a cornerback who will measure out as a bit undersized at the combine, but on the field, he makes up for his short stature with his athletic prowess and fundamental acuity.
Ward comes from Ohio State, a school with a long lineage of successful NFL defenders. In recent years, names like Joey Bosa, Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore, and Vonn Bell come to mind. If you look back further, you’ll see names like Malcolm Jenkins and Cameron Heyward. This school has produced more than enough to make the NFL notice, and many see Denzel Ward as the next player to add to that list.
Related Story: Which cornerbacks are worth the Washington Redskins' No. 13 pick?
Ward is a polished product, and on the 49ers defense, he’ll be able to fill in right away and compete, whether the team favors him on the outside, at nickel cornerback, or in a mixture of the two roles, due to his size. Ward is the type of player John Lynch will love, and he’s a perfect compliment to the talent already on that defense.
The loss of Andrew Whitworth hurt the Cincinnati Bengals. He may have been an aging veteran, but he remains one of the top five blindside blockers in the league, and without him, the Bengals’ offense struggled.
In 2018, one of the primary goals of this team should be to find the long-term replacement for Whitworth at the position. At No. 12 in the NFL Draft, with all of the other standout players at various positions, it’s likely that the Bengals will be able to have first choice when it comes to which offensive tackle will join them in the impending season. For their purposes, there are few options better than Connor Williams.
Williams’ 2017 season was a down year for the big-bodied blocker, but even so, he displayed some of the traits that have had scouts drooling for years. Williams, 6-foot-6, 320, has very good size for the position, and although his range isn’t as large as other tackles, he has solid technique, and he’s very athletic for his size.
The Bengals don’t just need help at tackle, and so if they think that Williams’ measurements make him better suited to play guard, then this selection will give them the flexibility to make that choice. Either way, Williams is a very precise, nuanced blocker with exciting upside at the professional level.
Here we are. Pick No. 13 in the NFL Draft. And Saquon Barkley is on the board.
You’ve seen how it might happen. And there are other ways. There could be a longer run of quarterbacks in the top ten, one that pushes Barkley, along with other talented prospects like Smith and Nelson, out to this pick. But what does this pick mean? What would Barkley bring to the Washington Redskins offense?
Let’s not act like Barkley would drop for no reason. As good as Barkley is, even he has his flaws, and those flaws may cause some teams to favor other positions with their early first-round picks.
We all know Barkley is an incredible talent. He has very good size, standing at 5-foot-11, 221. His speed, coupled with his size, makes for a devastating combination on the field. When faced with contact, Barkley, like Derrius Guice, has outstanding balance, and as far as athletes go, Barkley could be the best one in the NFL Draft. His return skills only make him more valuable to the Washington Redskins. But why would he fall here in the first place?
As natural of an athlete as Barkley, the running aspect doesn’t come so naturally. His decisiveness is inconsistent, and sometimes, he gives up on holes that would be favorable routes for him. Running backs do need patience, but they also need to know when to stop using the flutter feet, and start bursting up the middle. Barkley doesn’t have the feel for that yet. In time, it may come, but he may never be perfect.
Barkley also doesn’t often play to his size. His thick frame allows him to carry dangerous momentum into defenders, but rarely does hie use that to his advantage. Barkley doesn’t demand contact. He doesn’t create it. He sheds it. Shedding contact is fine. And it’s a good skill to have. But if Barkley doesn’t impose himself against professional defenders at the next level, he could find it hard to stay on his feet as often as he did in college.
The big issues with Barkley are indecisiveness and happy feet. Neither of these issues will keep him from being at least a decent back in the NFL, and many would say that other quality NFL backs share the same inefficiencies from time to time. But these kinks, as small as they may be, may convince scouts that they can settle for less later on, rather than use a high pick on a running back who, with all of his promise, still needs refining.
As for the Washington Redskins, this shouldn’t scare them one bit. If Barkley is on the board at No. 13, the value of that pick would be astronomical. They would have to pull the trigger. Barkley would give the Washington Redskins a more athletic version of Derrius Guice. His big plays in college were no flukes; Barkley’s ability to stay on his feet and make defenders miss is matched by players few and far between. He would be an exciting partner for Chris Thompson, and he could be the missing piece for the Washington Redskins offense.
Harold Landry’s down year in his final college season will deflate his value, but the magnitude of such a move will likely be minimal. Landry was an incredibly disruptive defensive end in his time with the Boston College Eagles, and some team will value his nuance, burst, and polish more than other rushers. The Green Bay Packers are a likely suitor.
At 6-foot-3, 250, Landry would be a perfect fit on the edge in Mike Pettine’s defense. The Packers have long sought a presence to set the edge, and Landry can provide them with that.
In 2016, Landry accrued 16.5 sacks for the Eagles, breaking out as a surefire NFL prospect. His final season wasn’t as consistent, as injuries forced him off the field for much of the year. But at the combine, he’ll show that he still has the same burst and lateral movement skills, as well as his relentless hand use, and scouts will be reminded why they fell in love with Landry in the first place. He falls to No. 14 in the NFL Draft here, but that’s as far as he’ll go.
For the Arizona Cardinals, who will likely still need a quarterback come NFL Draft time, this is a steal of a pick.
Lamar Jackson is widely regarded as a carbon copy of Michael Vick, but that assessment doesn’t do justice the skills that Jackson has as a thrower.
Jackson can run, and that makes him very dangerous. But he doesn’t opt to run before finishing his reads, like other NFL quarterbacks, such as Tyrod Taylor. Jackson keeps his eyes downfield, which makes his evasion skills even more impactful. Jackson can extend the play and make plays off-script. That’s valuable in the NFL, and with weapons like David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, Jackson could do great things early.
NFL News: Kansas City Chiefs trade Marcus Peters to Los Angeles Rams
At 6-foot-3, Jackson has all the traits to succeed at the next level. He’ll be leaving Louisville, but in this mock draft, he remains a Cardinal. And Arizona couldn’t be happier to have him.
Bob Quinn and the Detroit Lions, seeing an opportunity to grab their perfect compliment to Theo Riddick, decide to trade up to the No. 16 pick in the NFL Draft and grab Derrius Guice.
Guice, a standout running back from LSU, burst onto the scene two years ago when Leonard Fournette was lost to injury, and the Tigers had to turn to Guice instead. Guice flourished in the role, and now, he’s being recognized as an arguably better prospect than Fournette was.
Because this draft is so top-heavy, Guice will slip, and there’s a chance he could slip to No. 16 in the NFL Draft. If so, teams could be clamoring to acquire him. The Lions are one such team. Guice is the perfect fit, the missing piece for that offensive unit, and his services are needed for a team that is on the cusp of playoff contention.
The Lions don’t need to give up as much as a team trading into the top ten would have to shell out. Their No. 20 pick and No. 82 pick may do the trick.
The Lions, with Guice, get a No. 1 back, and a player who can create for himself, elevating an entire offense the moment he sets foot on the field. Here’s what I had to say in a recent article on Guice:
"Guice cruises through contact. It isn’t uncommon to see him carrying one to three defenders on his back while gaining extra yards. Guice’s balance is matched by a mere few in this draft class. He has the uncanny ability to stay on his feet and keep the play alive, something Washington Redskins running backs have struggled with in recent years. He has the lateral quickness to keep his opportunities alive, and he has the brute strength to capitalize."
With Guice, the Lions offense, equipped with a stout receiving core and an electric third down back, would be complete. And Matthew Stafford could get his first playoff win with Matt Patricia at the helm, and Derrius Guice in the backfield.
Derwin James is one of a few players whom I’ve mocked to the same team in both of my NFL mock drafts. The fit with Los Angeles is an impeccable one, and if he makes it this far down the NFL Draft board, the Chargers would have to pick him up.
The Chargers will have a need at safety once the dust of free agency clears. Tre Boston is set to hit the open market, and thus, there will be an opening at free safety. Luckily for the Chargers, that’s where Derwin James fits best.
James has exceptional size, standing at 6-foot-3, 214, and he moves very well for having such a long frame. How he test at the combine will have some bearing on how early he gets drafted, but right now, it’s clear that he has the coverage skills to be a very good safety in the NFL.
James’ blitzing skills only reiterate the notion that he is a player who can do everything. Consistency is an issue for the the Florida State product, but he has all the skills, he has the right mentality, and he is going to start for a team on day one next year. The Chargers will not hesitate to draft him if he makes it this far.
After dealing with Aaron Donald for four years, the Seattle Seahawks, with the No. 18 pick in the NFL Draft, decide to find their own Aaron Donald.
To say Maurice Hurst is the next Aaron Donald would be a stretch. The Michigan product is far less refined, and he isn’t as burly, but he was consistent at the college level, displaying an impressive burst of the line at the point of the snap. He’s able to use his quick twitch to gain early leverage on opposing offensive linemen, and he has the strength to win those one-on-one battles.
Hurst fits the Seahawks’ 4-3 scheme as a three-technique defensive lineman, and with the Seahawks failing to get compensation from Malik McDowell, due to a serious injury suffered by the former second-round pick in the offseason of 2017, adding another defensive tackle through the NFL Draft might be necessary. Hurst fits the team well, and he could start right away.
Da’Ron Payne is a lineman with exceptional upside. Washington Redskins fans likely won’t be happy to see him go to the Cowboys in the NFL Draft in this mock, but the pick is a logical choice for a franchise that needs talent on the defensive line.
One could argue that Vita Vea would be the better pick here. In fact, I’m not so sure I’m sold on the Cowboys passing over Vea. But I feel as if the Cowboys would value Payne’s length and explosiveness over Vea’s refined, albeit inconsistent level of play. Our own Jacob Camenker had the following to say of Payne’s play.
"Despite his 6-foot-2, 320 pound frame, Payne has excellent movement skills and is a very fast player. He will be able to quickly shoot gaps and overpower interior defensive linemen at the nose tackle position, and that could make him strong against the run and the pass. In the modern NFL, collapsing the interior of the pocket is one of the most important skills, and Payne’s ability to do that will make him an attractive candidate."
Editorials: The Redskins should avoid drafting a defensive lineman in Round 1
Payne is an enticing power on the defensive line, and there’s no guarantee that the Washington Redskins won’t pass him or Vita Vea by. But if Barkley falls, then a few talented players in the NFL Draft are likely to fall with him. Thus, Payne falls to this pick. And the Cowboys have their starting defensive tackle.
The Baltimore Ravens have to be done playing games. It’s time to find a wide receiver they can count on.
The team has been plagued by woes in the receiving core for years. Breshad Perriman still has yet to blossom, and many are considering it due time to label him a bust. Mike Wallace could come back, but he’ll be 32-years old by the start of the 2018 season. Jeremy Maclin will be 30.
The Ravens could end up trading for Jarvis Landry, but even so, they need a wide receiver who can do it all. A player they can truly count on to be a reliable target for Joe Flacco in the near future. A player like D.J. Moore.
More from Riggo's Rag
- What will Emmanuel Forbes bring to the Washington Commanders?
- Highlighting the best Commanders 2023 NFL Draft betting props
- 3 late Commanders rumors drawing buzz ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft
- 4 bold predictions for the Commanders 2023 NFL Draft
- Commanders News: Chase Young trade, draft day, CB riser and Sam Howell
There’s nothing truly fantastic about Moore. His size is average but bulky, at 5-foot-11, 215. His speed is good for his size, but he won’t take the top off of a defense. What is great about Moore is his exceptional ability to make catches, and make the most out of those catches. It sounds simple, because it is simple.
Moore has stellar hand-eye coordination. He’s very good facing one-on-one matchups, and as we saw at Maryland, he doesn’t need a good quarterback or a good supporting cast to produce. Moore can do things on his own. He can create with his balance, staying upright like a running back after making the catch. He’s a player that isn’t flashy, but his sheer reliability can be flashy from time to time, simply because it isn’t normal.
Moore has plenty of fans on the Maryland Terrapins coaching staff, and when he ultimately makes the 40-minute drive from his college to the city of his new team, the Ravens’ coaching staff will be just as enamored with the rookie wide receiver. Moore can play, and he’ll give the Ravens receiving core a bit of credibility, something they’ve lacked for a long time.
I don’t like giving the New York Giants these picks, because I don’t like giving the New York Giants two talented players. But don’t blame me. Blame the Bills.
After trading down from the No. 2 pick, the Giants have plenty of options on the board here. With the No. 21 pick, they could do far worse than picking USC running back Ronald Jones II.
Jones is a bit on the small side; he measures at around 6-foot-0, weighing just above 200 pounds. He’s not a bruiser like Derrius Guice. Jones makes his living with his agility, using swift jump cuts and unreal direction changes to keep the defense guessing.
Jones is monster at the line of scrimmage. Where other backs might lack in decisiveness, Jones thrives under pressure. His cuts are precise, and he takes angles on his cuts that few backs can replicate. This ability will allow him to create for himself in the NFL, even with a subpar offensive line (although the Giants work to solve that with the next pick).
Jones may need to bulk up, but for the New York Giants, who are in desperate need of a legit running back, Jones gives them all the elusiveness and instinct that a starting running back should have. But of course, a running back is nothing without their lead blocker. Hence, the Giants’ NFL Draft selection at No. 22.
Isaiah Wynn, like Ronald Jones, in a sense, is undersized at his position. Measuring in at around 6-foo-2, 300, he leaves a bit to be desired in the way of size. But everywhere else, he can only be described as solid.
Wynn moves well. Perhaps this is a reflection of his undersized frame, but Wynn has quick feet, and he’s relatively athletic for the position he plays. Fundamentally, he has very good hand placement, and at Georgia, he anchored an effective running game, headed by the one-two punch of Sony Michel and Nick Chubb.
With Wynn, the Giants’ offensive line gets a little bit stronger, and Ronald Jones gets a lead blocker he can trust. There’s stilll plenty of work to do on that front, but these two NFL Draft picks are two steps in the right direction for an ailing offense.
Roquan Smith may be the more polished inside linebacker of the two, but Rahsaan Evans has Smith beat in two areas: Size and sheer potential.
Evans was a stout player on the Alabama Crimson Tide defense in 2017. For the years before that, he largely sat behind Reuben Foster. But when he finally got his chance to shine, he did, showcasing his talents on the national stage and solidifying his status as a Round 1 linebacker.
On the tape, it’s easy to see why Evans’ NFL Draft stock has been soaring. Evans possesses a brutal combination of size, strength, and speed. How he tests at the combine could determine whether he’ll be available at this point.
For now, it’s safe to say he could fall, although things will change once free agency passes by. One thing is certain: Rahsaan Evans is a superb talent, and for a Rams defense that needs only a playmaking linebacker after the acquisition of Marcus Peters, Evans is a player who can complete the puzzle.
Disclaimer: This article was written before the terms of the Marcus Peters trade were announced. If the Los Angeles Rams lose their first-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs, then the information above is obviously outdated.
The Carolina Panthers have a problem at the wide receiver position. Devin Funchess is their No. 1 receiver, an underwhelming option in his own right, and behind him, there are almost no names worth recognizing as reliable targets. That needs to change. And with the NFL Draft selection of James Washington, it can.
Catching passes from Mason Rudolph, Washington thrived at the University of Oklahoma State. He amassed over 1,000 yards in his final three seasons, and in his final two, he eclipsed 70 receptions, solidifying himself as a clear No. 1 receiver in a pass-heavy offense.
Teams will have a large sample size from which to gather information on James Washington, and they will all likely come away with the same conclusion: This kid can play.
Washington is a receiver who wins battles, not just with his physicality and balance, but also with his quick feet and lateral agility. Washington has a background as a tennis player, meaning he needs brisk feet to stay one step ahead of his opponent. At 6-foot-0, 205, he has good size for battling for yards after the catch. He’s a player who doesn’t go down easily. He’s slippery and strong at the same time, and that is a combination that can be deadly in the NFL.
Washington is the perfect receiver for Cam Newton. He’s athletic enough where he can grab the balls that are just a little too high, and he can also take short passes and use his elusive abilities to keep moving the football down the field. The Panthers have a big-bodied receiver in Finches. Now they just need the jack-of-all-trades. Washington is a player who can be that for them.
The Tennessee Titans don’t have a pressing need on the defensive line, but when a game-changing defensive lineman like Vita Vea drops this far in the NFL Draft, the ‘best player available’ philosophy makes a whole lot of sense.
Vea, 6-foot-5, 330, has a very impressive combination of size and athleticism. He moves gracefully, but packs a punch like thunder. Consistency is an issue for Vea. His flashes are bright, but sometimes they seldom appear, and in the NFL, he will have to work on his polish. Newly-anointed head coach Mike Vrabel should be able to help him with such a task.
Ultimately, the Titans could opt to address a position of greater need here, but by adding Vea to the front seven, they would immediately improve the unit. The pairing of Jurrell Casey and Vita Vea would have the potential to be a devastating combination.
The Atlanta Falcons are on track to lose defensive tackle Dontari Poe to free agency. Thus, they’ll need to add more talent on the defensive line in the draft. Florida’s Taven Bryan fits the bill, in this sense.
Bryan is far from a perfect prospect, but on a stout defense such as the Falcons’ unit, he can come in and produce on a rotational basis right away. His potential is sky high, and as I wrote in my last NFL Mock Draft, Bryan was born to shed blocks on the interior.
"The production wasn’t always there for Bryan, but the stat sheet doesn’t do his impact justice. Bryan was a player who constantly demanded double teams from opponents. His size, 6-foot-5, 293, allows him to match up with clashing offensive linemen, while his sheer athletic talent makes him a nightmare to block."
For the Falcons, who don’t have very many holes to patch up, Taven Bryan would be a good selection in the NFL Draft. He’ll fill the need left by the departure of Dontari Poe, and in time, he can become a lynchpin for the defense.
The New Orleans Saints surprised a lot of people in 2017. No one knew how close they truly were to having a competitive team, but now that we know, it’s clear that the team only has a few succinct needs. One such need is tight end, and by picking South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst in the NFL Draft, they can easily fill that need.
Hurst will be 25 years old when he enters the league, but aside from that, he’s the most complete tight end prospect in this draft. Hurst offers good size at 6-foot-5, 250, and his athleticism allows him to move quicker than most at his size. He’s a technically sound blocker, and he plays with an edge, always seeking out the most yards as possible.
Hurst would be a perfect fit for the New Orleans Saints, who have all the pieces in place, save for a starting tight end. Hurst is a pro-ready prospect who can be plugged in as a top target for Drew Brees right away. For a less complete team, such a pick would be wasteful. But for the Saints, it’s the right move.
Ryan Shazier is on the road to recovery after a scary spinal injury suffered during the regular season, and if he continues to progress, he should be ready for the 2018 season. But Shazier’s absence revealed a dangerous weakness on the Steelers’ defense: Lack of depth in the middle.
The fill-ins for Shazier never came close to nullifying the loss of the All-Pro linebacker. In the team’s AFC Divisional matchup versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, Blake Bortles (yes, Blake Bortles) tore apart the defense by going up the middle time and time again. The Steelers didn’t have an answer. In the future, if injuries hurt them once again, then they need a solid insurance plan. Tremaine Edmunds can be that player.
Edmunds is a raw prospect at inside linebacker, but he has clear and tantalizing potential. The Virginia Tech product possesses long arms and harrowing strength. He has the speed to cover the entire field, and his stock has been steadily rising throughout the draft process.
Must Read: Why locking up Zach Brown long-term should be a priority
Edmunds could go earlier than this slot, but there’s also a real chance he makes it this far, with all the talent at other positions. With this pick in the NFL Draft, the Steelers ensure that if they suffer another loss in the linebacking core, they won’t suffer the same consequences they did in 2017.
In the playoffs, it became clear that, as good as the Jacksonville Jaguars defense is, they have a clear and present need at the safety position.
Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church are both serviceable starters, but nothing more, and both of them are getting older. Behind them, the Jaguars don’t have any depth, and so finding efficient use of playing time was likely a chore of a task for the Jaguars’ coaches.
The Jaguars can remedy this problem at the position of safety by drafting a younger, more electric talent to pair with the stabilizing veterans in the fold. Alabama’s Ronnie Harrison is a player in the NFL Draft who matches that description almost perfectly.
Harrison, 6-foot-3, 214, has the length and the athleticism to cover the entire field, and he has an aggressive playing style, not afraid to take risks. His aggression can get him into bad situations, but he’d bring youth and speed to a Jaguars’ safety unit that is very much lacking in such departments. Harrison has a bit of development to undergo before he can be a game changer, but with veterans in place to help him transition, that shouldn’t be a problem.
In my last mock draft, I had Mike McGlinchey going to the Minnesota Vikings. This time, nothing changes. The Minnesota Vikings have a clear need on the edge of the offensive line, and with Kirk Cousins coming to join the team this offseason, they’ll need to find him his respective Trent Williams.
McGlinchey isn’t Trent Williams. But he’s a stout offensive tackle in his own right. Here’s what I had to say about McGlinchey in the last mock draft:
"The Vikings got away with a subpar offensive line for much of 2017, but down the stretch, the unit faltered. There wasn’t enough size or talent on the starting lineup, and the depth players were even worse. In Round 1 of the NFL Draft, the Vikings can do a lot worse than drafting a solid blocker up front. Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey is an option that checks all the boxes. McGlinchey is a behemoth on the edge, standing at 6-foot-8, 315. He’s surprisingly athletic, and right off the snap, he keeps his balance and moves his feet well. His team’s lack of offensive success in 2017 may cause McGlinchey to be overlooked in favor of other tackle prospects, but McGlinchey was solid week in and week out."
The Vikings need to find a solution for the offensive line, and by choosing Mike McGlinchey in the NFL Draft, they would certainly be taking a step in the right direction.
In my last mock draft, I had the New England Patriots selecting Marcus Davenport, another edge rusher, with this NFL Draft pick. However, in this mock, Arden Key drops, due to some character and injury concerns, and the Patriots are eager to lock down his talents.
Key is a talented player. That alone is undeniable. Before his final season at LSU, he was being hailed as a possible top five pick. However, inconsistency and a perceived drop in impact led to a slide in value, and now, Key is viewed as a fringe first-round prospect. Some teams may weight his abilities higher than others, but the fact of the matter is that a slip like this is very possible.
With this pick, the Patriots undoubtedly get value from Key’s upside. At 6-foot-6, he’s long enough to wrench blockers to the side, and up until his final season, he had a quick, abrupt get-off at the line of scrimmage. Due to injuries, that quality wasn’t as prevalent in 2017, and that is something he’ll need to work on getting back.
When it’s all said and done, the New England Patriots need more talent on the defensive side of the ball. Arden Key can give them that, and at the No. 31 pick in the NFL Draft, it will be hard to pass up on this opportunity.
Depth at cornerback is an issue the Philadelphia Eagles will look to solve this offseason. The reigning Super Bowl champions don’t have many glaring needs on the roster, but at cornerback, they are set to lose one or two players to free agency. Thus, finding another player in the NFL Draft to bolster the relatively young unit will become a primary goal.
At this pick, the Eagles have some choices to assess, such as Isaiah Oliver, Mike Hughes, and Jaire Alexander. Here, I have them picking Alexander, for several reasons.
Earlier in the first round, Alexander is a risk. But here, he holds more value. More value, one would argue, than Mike Hughes, who only has one good year of good starting tape, and Isaiah Oliver, who has potential, but is too sloppy to warrant a selection in Round 1 or Round 2.
Alexander beats the other two options for this spot because of his pro-readiness, and his playmaking potential. Alexander isn’t as far along as Hughes, and his injuries may have set him back in recent years, but he is by far the most athletic out of the bunch.
At 5-foot-11, 192, Alexander can come in and fill a multitude of roles for the Eagles. He could fill in on the outside as a depth player, or he could move to the slot if Patrick Robinson leaves via free agency.
Next: Assessing Redskins first-round options: Roquan Smith
Alexander compares favorably to former Washington Redskins cornerback Kendall Fuller, and Fuller has the talent to play both inside and outside. Perhaps, with the No. 32 pick in the NFL Draft, the Eagles will remember this comparison to a former foe, and they’ll draft Alexander, with the hopes that he can grow on a stacked defensive roster and eventually fill the need desired from him.