This article is part of our NFL Draft series.
I'll have an additional one-round, final mock draft Wednesday, but here is my last guess at the first four rounds. Thanks for reading!
1. Los Angeles Rams (from TEN) – Jared Goff*, QB, California (6-4, 215)
I'm skeptical that Goff was worth the price the Rams paid, but he should be a fine middle-tier starter in the NFL.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (from CLE) – Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (6-5, 237)
Wentz is raw and has a low floor, but his high ceiling clearly had NFL teams swooning. With the Sam Bradford drama flaring up, Wentz might feel the pressure sooner than the Eagles intended.
3. San Diego Chargers - DeForest Buckner, (3-4) DE, Oregon (6-7, 291)
Buckner is a Calais Campbell type of prospect, making him a great pick for a San Diego team that needs to improve its 3-4 run defense.
4. Dallas Cowboys – Jalen Ramsey*, CB/S, Florida State (6-1, 209)
Someone might trade ahead of Dallas to get Ramsey, because he's frankly too good of a deal for the Cowboys at the fourth pick.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Laremy Tunsil*, OT, Mississippi (6-5, 310)
Character questions may loom larger than most expected with Tunsil, in which case he might fall even beyond this. If he's here, though, I think Jacksonville takes him before Myles Jack.
6. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa*, DE, Ohio State (6-5, 269)
Bosa might not have dominated the way people expected him to last year, but he's still a slam-dunk of a top-10 pick, and one that Ozzie Newsome tends to capitalize on when the opportunity presents itself.
7. New York Jets (from SF) – Paxton Lynch*, QB, Memphis (6-7, 244)
-NYJ trades No. 20, 2017 first-round pick and Muhammad Wilkerson to SF for No. 6
I figure the Bills and Jets both are hoping for Lynch, and if that is the case, both teams would certainly have the motive to trade up for Lynch. If they're willing to ship out Wilkerson, the Jets would have more ammo.
8. Cleveland Browns (from MIA via PHI) – Ezekiel Elliott*, RB, Ohio State (6-0, 225)
An analytics-heavy approach might lead a team to avoid running backs in the first, but there actually is a chance to exploit inefficiency by acquiring Elliott at this spot. If Elliott is as good as we all think he is, he'll be an annual rushing title threat. A runner of Elliott's caliber would go for big dollars in free agency, but Cleveland could get him here and under $4 million per year for the next four years. That's a clear bargain.
9. Chicago Bears (from TB) - Ronnie Stanley*, OT, Notre Dame (6-6, 312)
-CHI trades No. 11, No. 106 and Willie Young to TB for No. 9
I think the Bears have reason to think the Giants would take Stanley at 10. In that case, I think they'll try to trade up.
10. New York Giants - Myles Jack*, OLB, UCLA (6-1, 245)
The Giants could go for a receiver in this situation, but they'd have a hard time passing on Jack at this point, even if his knee is a concern.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from CHI) – Corey Coleman*, WR, Baylor (5-11, 194)
There hasn't been any press chatter reinforcing my belief to this point, but I still strongly suspect the NFL is a lot higher on Coleman than the general public is. There is very little in his film, production or athletic profile to distinguish him from Odell Beckham, who the NFL was quite high on, for obviously good reason. The Buccaneers should try to add Coleman to provide depth behind Vincent Jackson and an eventual long-term partner in crime to Mike Evans.
12. New Orleans Saints - Vernon Hargreaves*, CB, Florida (5-10, 204)
The Saints pass defense has been beyond bad, so adding the top pure corner would be a great value at this spot.
13. Miami Dolphins (from PHI) - William Jackson, CB, Houston (6-0, 189)
I think the Dolphins might take Emmanuel Ogbah here, but otherwise corner should be the target.
14. Oakland Raiders – Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (6-6, 310)
Any given team can use an explosive, versatile defensive lineman like Jones, but Oakland might especially be in the market for such a prospect due to Mario Edwards' career uncertainty.
15. Tennessee Titans (from LAR) – Shaq Lawson*, (3-4) OLB, Clemson (6-3, 269)
Lawson could easily go higher than this, but the question with his shoulder might be enough to break the draft order tie in Ogbah's favor.
16. Detroit Lions – Emmanuel Ogbah*, DE, Oklahoma State (6-4, 273)
Draft Twitter hates this guy, but Ogbah has great production and similarly great workout numbers. The Lions could take him here if they want a bit more pass-rushing power behind Ezekiel Ansah and Devin Taylor, with the former struggling with durability throughout most of his career and the latter a free agent after the upcoming season.
17. Atlanta Falcons – Josh Doctson, WR, TCU (6-2, 202)
I realize the Falcons could use a player like Darron Lee or maybe even Karl Joseph at this spot, but I think Doctson would be the obviously correct pick in this scenario. The Falcons were willing to go into last year with just Roddy White, Leonard Hankerson and Jacob Tamme serving as the truly awful complementary pass catchers behind Julio Jones, which didn't work out so well. They did sign Mohamed Sanu in free agency, but Sanu is far below the league average as a starter. I'm choosing to be an optimist here and assume the Falcons will not be so eager to make the obviously same mistake this year. Meanwhile, Jones is not a durable player, and Atlanta needs to face the fact that if injury should strike Jones – a player with a considerable injury history – they become one of the worst teams in the league. Doctson's presence would mitigate that risk a great deal, I think.
18. Indianapolis Colts – Leonard Floyd*, (3-4) OLB, Georgia (6-6, 244)
Floyd was not especially productive in college and his height/weight profile alone strongly implies he won't be a factor as an NFL pass rusher. Players at the 6-foot-6 build but below 260 pounds have a profoundly bad recent history in the NFL, making Floyd a likely Manny Lawson type. Since this is a pick I would consider bad, I have to consider it a strong possibility for Ryan Grigson.
19. Buffalo Bills – Robert Nkemdiche*, DT, Mississippi (6-3, 294)
Rex Ryan loves drafting defensive linemen, including ones with questionable character. If they can't get to Paxton Lynch, I love Nkemdiche's chances of landing in Buffalo.
20. San Francisco 49ers (from NYJ) – Laquon Treadwell*, WR, Mississippi (6-2, 221)
Treadwell's skill set would present a nice complement to the deep route prowess of Torrey Smith and slot game of Bruce Ellington.
21. Washington Redskins – Keanu Neal*, S, Florida (6-0, 211)
Washington likes to find hard hitters at safety, and Neal should provide that much opposite converted cornerback DeAngelo Hall.
22. Houston Texans – Will Fuller*, WR, Notre Dame (6-0, 186)
Will Fuller is great; accept it. Although people might accuse me of being wrong about this if he has to catch passes from Brock Osweiler.
23. Minnesota Vikings – Michael Thomas*, WR, Ohio State (6-3, 212)
The Vikings have no size at receiver, and the further development of Teddy Bridgewater has to be the top priority.
24. Cincinnati Bengals – Darron Lee*, OLB, Ohio State (6-1, 232)
The Bengals have bodies at linebacker, but not much of a sum. Lee is a high-upside prospect who might be able to play surprisingly early on.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers – Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia (5-10, 205)
The Steelers hate drafting cornerbacks in the first round, even when they need cornerbacks. They did pick Troy Polamalu in the first round that one time, though.
26. Seattle Seahawks – Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana (6-6, 301)
Spriggs checks all the athleticism boxes that Seattle consistently focuses on.
27. Green Bay Packers – Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville (6-1, 299)
I can imagine Green Bay picking Le'Raven Clark here, but Rankins is the more proven product and perfectly fits the defensive line prototype Ted Thompson pursues.
28. Kansas City Chiefs – Jonathan Bullard, DT/DE, Florida (6-3, 285)
Bullard can play end in a three-man front, and just about any spot in a four-man front. He might not be that different from Allen Bailey, who's been good for the Chiefs.
29. Arizona Cardinals – Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (6-4, 311)
I admittedly don't have a great reason for placing Kelly here – I'm mostly putting him at this spot because I feel like he'll be a first-round pick one way or another, and the Cardinals really could use him. I was surprised by Arizona's selection of D.J. Humphries last year, so I tried to be a bit counterintuitive.
30. Carolina Panthers – Derrick Henry*, RB, Alabama (6-3, 247)
I'll be disappointed if this doesn't happen. Henry would be so difficult to stop with Cam Newton posing a rushing threat off the fake.
31. Denver Broncos – Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech (6-5, 316)
Clark is probably a project after playing in a spread scheme that used few or no pro-style concepts, but his upside is easily apparent.
Second Round
32. Cleveland Browns – Noah Spence*, (3-4) OLB, Eastern Kentucky (6-2, 251)
33. Tennessee Titans – Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State (6-7, 310)
34. Dallas Cowboys – Andrew Billings*, DT, Baylor (6-1, 311)
35. San Diego Chargers – Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State (6-4, 301)
36. Baltimore Ravens – Jack Conklin*, OT, Michigan State (6-6, 308)
37. San Francisco 49ers - Germain Ifedi*, G/OT, Texas A&M (6-6, 324)
38. Jacksonville Jaguars – Artie Burns*, CB, Miami (FL) (6-0, 193)
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (6-4, 307)
40. New York Giants – Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma (5-10, 194)
41. Chicago Bears – Eli Apple*, CB, Ohio State (6-1, 199)
42. Miami Dolphins - Kevin Dodd*, DE, Clemson (6-5, 277)
43. Tennessee Titans (from PHI via LAR) - Reggie Ragland, (3-4) ILB, Alabama (6-1, 247)
44. Oakland Raiders - Su'a Cravens*, LB/S, USC (6-1, 226)
45. Tennessee Titans (from LAR) – Mackensie Alexander*, CB, Clemson (5-10, 190)
46. Detroit Lions - Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame (6-4, 299)
47. New Orleans Saints - Jarran Reid, DT, Alabama (6-3, 307)
48. Indianapolis Colts - Joshua Garnett, G, Stanford (6-4, 312)
49. Buffalo Bills - Jeff Driskel, QB, Louisiana Tech (6-4, 234)
50. Atlanta Falcons – Sean Davis, CB/S, Maryland (6-1, 201)
51. New York Jets – Charles Tapper, (3-4) OLB, Oklahoma (6-3, 271)
52. Houston Texans - Hunter Henry*, TE, Arkansas (6-5, 250)
53. Washington Redskins - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (6-4, 323)
54. Minnesota Vikings – T.J. Green*, CB/S, Clemson (6-2, 209)
55. Cincinnati Bengals - Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State (6-1, 203)
56. Seattle Seahawks - Travis Feeney, OLB, Washington (6-4, 230)
57. Green Bay Packers - Rees Odhiambo, G, Boise State (6-4, 314)
58. Pittsburgh Steelers - KeiVarae Russell, CB, Notre Dame (5-11, 192)
59. Kansas City Chiefs – Xavien Howard*, CB, Baylor (6-0, 201)
60. New England Patriots – Justin Simmons, S, Boston College (6-2, 202)
61. New England Patriots (from ARZ) – Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa (6-3, 220)
62. Carolina Panthers - Tyler Boyd*, WR, Pittsburgh (6-2, 197)
63. Denver Broncos – Cardale Jones*, QB, Ohio State (6-5, 253)
Third round
64. Tennessee Titans – Willie Henry, DT, Michigan (6-3, 303)
65. Cleveland Browns – Leonte Carroo, WR, Rutgers (6-0, 211)
66. San Diego Chargers - Vonn Bell*, S, Ohio State (5-11, 199)
67. Dallas Cowboys – Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia (6-0, 198)
68. San Francisco 49ers – Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech (5-10, 215)
69. Jacksonville Jaguars - Max Tuerk, C, USC (6-5, 298)
70. Baltimore Ravens - Joshua Perry, LB, Ohio State (6-4, 254)
71. New York Giants - Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU (6-6, 305)
72. Chicago Bears - Kamalei Correa, (3-4) OLB, Boise State (6-3, 243)
73. Miami Dolphins – Paul Perkins*, RB, UCLA (5-10, 208)
74. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jalen Mills, CB/S, LSU (6-0, 191)
75. Oakland Raiders - Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia (5-11, 219)
76. Tennessee Titans (from LAR) - Hassan Ridgeway*, DT, Texas (6-3, 303)
77. Cleveland Browns (from DET via PHI) - Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA (6-3, 314)
78. New Orleans Saints - Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State (6-7, 277)
79. Philadelphia Eagles – C.J. Prosise*, RB, Notre Dame (6-0, 220)
80. Buffalo Bills - Shilique Calhoun, DE/OLB, Michigan State (6-4, 251)
81. Atlanta Falcons – Austin Hooper*, TE, Stanford (6-4, 254)
82. Indianapolis Colts – Devontae Booker, RB, Utah (5-11, 219)
83. New York Jets - Jerell Adams, TE, South Carolina (6-5, 247)
84. Washington Redskins - Charone Peake, WR, Clemson (6-2, 209)
85. Houston Texans - Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State (6-4, 314)
86. Minnesota Vikings - Graham Glasgow, C/G, Michigan (6-6, 307)
87. Cincinnati Bengals - Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State (6-1, 309)
88. Green Bay Packers - Jordan Jenkins, (3-4) OLB, Georgia (6-3, 259)
89. Pittsburgh Steelers - Marquez North*, WR, Tennessee (6-2, 223)
90. Seattle Seahawks - Joe Dahl, G, Washington State (6-4, 304)
91. New England Patriots - Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama (5-10, 197)
92. Arizona Cardinals - Will Redmond, CB, Mississippi State (5-11, 182)
93. Carolina Panthers - Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (5-11, 187)
94. Denver Broncos – Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard (6-3, 250)
95. Detroit Lions (comp) - Kolby Listenbee, WR, TCU (6-0, 197)
96. New England Patriots (comp) – Christian Westerman, G, Arizona State (6-3, 297)
97. Seattle Seahawks (comp) - Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn (6-5, 307)
98. Denver Broncos (comp) - B.J. Goodson, LB, Clemson (6-1, 242)
Fourth round
99. Cleveland Browns – Bronson Kaufusi, DT/DE, BYU (6-6, 285)
100. Cleveland Browns (from TEN via PHI) - Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma (5-11, 185)
101. Dallas Cowboys - Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama (6-1, 210)
102. San Diego Chargers - Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State (6-6, 304)
103. Jacksonville Jaguars – Rashard Robinson, CB, LSU (6-1, 171)
104. Baltimore Ravens - Kyle Fackrell, OLB, Utah State (6-5, 245)
105. San Francisco 49ers - Joe Schobert, LB, Wisconsin (6-1, 244)
106. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from CHI) - Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame (6-1, 293)
107. Miami Dolphins - Willie Beavers, OT/G, Western Michigan (6-4, 324)
108. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – James Cowser, DE, Southern Utah (6-3, 248)
109. New York Giants - Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State (6-3, 301)
110. Los Angeles Rams - Maurice Canady, CB, Virginia (6-1, 193)
111. Detroit Lions - Anthony Brown, CB, Purdue (5-11, 192)
112. New Orleans Saints – Deion Jones, OLB, LSU (6-1, 222)
113. Los Angeles Rams (from PHI via TEN) - Jeremy Cash, S, Duke (6-0, 212)
114. Oakland Raiders - James Bradberry, CB, Samford (6-1, 211)
115. Atlanta Falcons – Jatavis Brown, OLB, Akron (5-11, 227)
116. Indianapolis Colts - Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford (6-6, 305)
117. Buffalo Bills – Jon Theus, OT, Georgia (6-6, 313)
118. New York Jets - D.J. White, CB, Georgia Tech (5-11, 193)
119. Houston Texans - Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas (5-11, 220)
120. Washington Redskins – Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State (6-4, 217)
121. Minnesota Vikings - Brandon Wilds, RB, South Carolina (6-1, 220)
122. Cincinnati Bengals - Darian Thompson, S, Boise State (6-2, 208)
123. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jordan Howard*, RB, Indiana (6-0, 230)
124. Seattle Seahawks - Stephen Weatherly, DE, Vanderbilt (6-4, 267)
125. Green Bay Packers - Joel Heath, DT, Michigan State (6-5, 293)
126. Kansas City Chiefs - Kentrell Brothers, (3-4) ILB, Missouri (6-0, 245)
127. Chicago Bears (from NE) - Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State (6-4, 253)
128. Arizona Cardinals - Lawrence Thomas, DT, Michigan State (6-3, 286)
129. Carolina Panthers – Roy Robertson-Harris, DE, UTEP (6-5, 256)
130. Baltimore Ravens (from DEN) – Jack Allen, C, Michigan State (6-1, 294)
131. Green Bay Packers (comp) - Tyler Ervin, RB, San Jose State (5-10, 192)
132. Baltimore Ravens (comp) - Pharoh Cooper*, WR, South Carolina (5-11, 201)
133. San Francisco 49ers (comp) – Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State (6-2, 226)
134. Baltimore Ravens (comp) - Wendell Smallwood*, RB, West Virginia (5-10, 208)
135. Dallas Cowboys (comp) - Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford (6-3, 218)
136. Denver Broncos (comp) - Alex Collins*, RB, Arkansas (5-10, 217)
137. Green Bay Packers (comp) - Moritz Boehringer, WR, Germany (6-5, 227)
138. Cleveland Browns (comp) - Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee (5-11, 212)
139. Buffalo Bills (comp) - Rashard Higgins*, WR, Colorado State (6-1, 196)
