With the Senior Bowl in the rear-view mirror and the Super Bowl behind us as well, it’s time to start mock drafting to get ready for April’s draft.
Here is the link to Part 1 of this first-round mock.
And on to Part 2…
17) Los Angeles Chargers: Vita Vea, NT, Washington
A monster of a human, Vea was a clog and a major reason other teammates were able to fly around the field and make plays. The Chargers are able to team up a clog in the middle next to superstar Joey Bosa.
18) Seattle Seahawks: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
The Seahawks really aren’t that far away from getting deep in the playoffs. However, they need to get back to what they do best, playing physically and running the football. The offensive linemen went quick, so adding Guice with his powerful engine is an outstanding consolation prize. This is an early Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.
19) Dallas Cowboys: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
To be honest, Hurst should go much higher than this. However, this is how the chips fell. The Cowboys make out like a bandit and now form one of the youngest, most talented front sevens in the NFC.
20) Detroit Lions: Arden Key, Edge, LSU
He’s a massive wild card who could set your franchise back or elevate its pass rush to an elite level. Key will have to answer those questions during the pre-draft process. However, if he can do that, he will hear his name called in the top-10 picks. Adding a playmaker off the edge to help Ziggy Ansah has been a priority for years. It’s time.
21) Buffalo Bills (From Chiefs): Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
You just don’t find 6-foot-5 inside linebackers with the range, football IQ and tackling ability like Edmunds has. Edmunds also has football genes as his father was a tight end and will immediately fit the mold of what a Bills linebacker looks like. What could be a rare talent also helps fill a major hole in the linebacking unit after the swing and miss on Reggie Ragland.
22) Buffalo Bills: Derwin James, S, Florida State
Here’s the steal of the draft thus far, as James should be long gone by now. Adding his ball-hawking ability and versatility next to budding cornerback Tre’Davious White is a match made in heaven.
23) Los Angeles Rams: Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia
The Rams catapulted into legitimacy thanks to Sean McVay’s offensive mind. Adding Wynn to the mix will complete the offensive line and give them a combination that could dominate for years. Wynn dominated the Senior Bowl and helped prove his move inside was a smooth one in which he thrived. Plus, his ability to kick back out to tackle if needed is a huge value boost with the extra versatility.
24) Carolina Panthers: Connor Williams, OT, Texas
The thing I love about Ron Rivera is how much he cares about his trenches, constantly upgrading and adding talent when he can. It wasn’t long ago Williams was regarded as the top offensive tackle and a lock to be a top-10 pick. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his senior season. If the Panthers can keep him healthy, they have a new cornerstone at the tackle position. The addition also gives Norv Turner some flexibility in his new offense.
25) Tennessee Titans: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
The Titans overachieved in making it to the Divisional Round largely due to some great drafting last year. The trend continues as they add a possible Pro Bowl talent in Alexander at a position that is desperate for youth and talent. Alexander plays with outstanding passion, energy and swag — all vital attributes to play on the outside in the NFL. Alexander is the real deal, and in a pass-happy league, you just can’t have enough guys that can run down the field and cover.
26) Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
The Falcons have very few glaring weaknesses up and down the roster. Rather than reaching on an average offensive lineman, they take the best talent available and make a strength even stronger.
I’m begging you, get to know this name now before it’s too late. Bryan showed flashes of brilliance against big-name schools like Michigan and Texas A&M earlier in the season. He is unblockable at times with an outstanding first step off the ball, as well as the power to anchor in the running game. Dan Quinn will love this new bully on the inside.
27) New Orleans Saints: Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
The Saints arguably had the best draft class of anyone last season and look to continue the trend by getting Drew Brees the best tight end of the class. Goedert shattered records for the Division II Jackrabbits and looked the same when finally put against top-tier competition at the Senior Bowl. Giving Brees a big weapon up the seam means bad news for the rest of the league.
28) Pittsburgh Steelers: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
The Steelers nab the last of the top-tier cornerbacks in Oliver to help inject a cornerstone piece into their secondary for the first time since Troy Polamalu. Oliver is a long and strong cornerback that fits the mold of a Mike Tomlin defender. Oliver could be one of the best of the bunch from the class five years from now.
29) Jacksonville Jaguars: James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
Outside of the question marks at quarterback, it’s a crapshoot when assuming what position the Jaguars will target. Unfortunately, they have some huge names hitting free agency at the wideout position. Adding the highly-productive Washington and his huge catch radius could help the progression of Blake Bortles, giving him a 50-50 jump ball receiver. Washington is on fire early in the pre-draft process after destroying the Senior Bowl to go with his out-of-this-world production for the Cowboys.
30) Minnesota Vikings: Billy Price, G, Ohio State
The Vikings did an outstanding job rebuilding their offensive line last year. Now, it’s time to finish the job. Price’s resume is as clean as a whistle, starting over 50 straight games while winning the Remington Award. Pair him up next to his old teammate Pat Elflein for some serious chemistry on the interior line.
31) New England Patriots: Marcus Davenport, Edge, UTSA
Leave it to the Patriots to draft the first small-school defensive player. Bill Belichick doesn’t care where you come from. Instead, he looks for balls of clay to mold. Davenport is a lot of clay at 6-foot-7 with long arms and a ferocious motor. If anyone is going to turn Davenport into the next Chandler Jones, it’s Bill.
32) Philadelphia Eagles: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Like the teams before them, the Eagles remain needy on the offensive line. However, reaching for a tackle just doesn’t make sense. Evans helps patch up the Eagles only weakness at the linebacker position as a player who can make an immediate impact. Nobody prepares his players for the NFL like Nick Saban, and Evans will be primed to be a three-down linebacker on what now appears to be the league’s most savage front seven.
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