So yesterday we laid out how the first ten picks will go down when there are absolutely no trades happening. Here’s how he next 11 picks shake out:
– The Jets are on the clock now with the 11th pick overall and plenty of options. Seriously, they are like the guy going to the Ponderosa lunch buffet saying give me one of everything right now. Although they will be tempted to replace Robby Anderson with another wideout, the depth of WR in this draft will allow them to ride with the freight train OT that is Mekhi Becton. This dude is a behemoth. 6’7″ and 365 pounds put runs like a 5.1 40 time. What do they call that? Lamborghini motor in a tank? He is the last of the “Big 4” OT in this draft left and while I do question his love of the game the upside potential is there. This is a big swing for the Jets as the bust potential is here as well, but the Jets have been signing any offensive lineman they can this off-season to help give Darnold/Bell a chance.
– In the #12 slot, the Las Vegas Raiders (nope, still not used to that crap) luck into their choice of WR. QB Derek Carr is below average when it comes to the deep ball so he is going to need a crafty technician or a YAC-machine. He will get both in the form of WR CeeDee Lamb. Fun fact: Since 2016, 11 WR have been drafted in the first round. Absolutely 0 of them have made a Pro Bowl. This years crop will change that in a hurry. Lamb tops the pecking order of WR in this class due to his ability to create yards after the catch and make something out of nothing. He will have to do that a lot in Vegas who are void of play-makers outside of RB Jacobs and TE Waller. Lamb has also been creeping up in the books over the last week and is now a +100 favorite to be the first receiver drafted if you are looking to double your money. Gruden will probably be calling a lot of Spider 2 Y Banana this year….
– Fresh off of a stunning second half collapse in the Super Bowl, the 49ers find themselves drafting in the lucky 13 slot after trading away stud DL DeForest Buckner to the Colts. In a budding young team without any obvious weaknesses, it gives the 49ers the opportunity to go best available. Coincidentally that fills their need at WR with Jerry Jeudy out of Alabama. Jeudy and Deebo Samuel would combine to form on of the best young receiving duos in the league with Kyle Shanahan calling the plays. The only thing that could screw this up is if QB Jimmy G continues to focus on hitting on Erin Andrews and his dating life more than football.
– The Buccaneers are obviously in win now mode after today’s acquisition of Gronk to add to Tom Brady and their stud WR. And they clearly need to focus on the defensive side of the ball to help them win games now. The best bet to pay dividends immediately for them is CB CJ Henderson out of Florida who has been jumping up draft boards. He can immediately help a secondary that was prone to getting scorched last year for big plays. It will be needed playing against the Falcons and Saints four times a year.
– The Broncos have quietly had a stellar offseason filling needs at OL, DL, and DB through trades for CB AJ Bouye and DL Jurrell Casey and signing OL Glassgow away from the Lions. If QB Lock continues to improve, they could be on to something here. With the 15th pick, WR Henry Ruggs III is a true complement to emerging stud WR Courtland Sutton and would provide the offense with some speed and big play potential for RBs MGIII and Phillip Lindsey to operate underneath. John Elway would rip a hole in the back of his pants if Ruggs falls to him here.
– Next on the clock are the Atlanta Falcons at 16 who are rumored to be in the hunt for a move up. Everything they draft should be on the defensive side of the ball this year. The offense started to gel and really came on as the year progressed, so getting any type of improvement on the defensive side of the ball will equate to more wins. DE K’Lavon Chaisson is a no-brainer at this point in the draft and immediately upgrades the pass rush. This is another situation where need meets best available.
– Next up are the Dallas Cowboys picking at #17. They watched Miami overpay for last years top CB Byron Jones and do have a legit need for secondary help. However the cowboys have a propensity to draft or sign guys with character/injury concerns on the defensive side of the ball. See: DE Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory and LB Jaylon Smith. The best example of that in this draft is DL Javon Kinlaw. Massive talent but injury concerns over his hip and knee have teams concerned as they are unable to physicaly check him out. Jerry JOnes likes to roll the dice though so the fit makes sense.
– The Dolphins are back on the clock and are looking to add a weapon for Justin Herbert long term. Miami is another team who have quietly improved greatly through free agency and are looking for some extra support in the passing game to pair with Davante Parker. WR Justin Jefferson would be a top 10 pick in most years, but the Dolphins will benefit from this loaded class of WR. Jefferson was wildy productive at LSU against top competition and saved some of his best performances against the best competition. I’d really like to see him make it to the Eagles but am convinced he will not last that long. With TB12 out of NE, all of a sudden the AFC East is up for grabs and the Dolphins may in position to take over.
– Now its the Raiders turn for their second first round pick at #19. By addressing WR with their first pick, they can look to shore up a shaky secondary with this pick. CB Trevon Diggs will give the Raiders a great building piece along with last years first rounder Jonathan Abram to retool the secondary. Diggs has great size and ball skills from his time as a WR and could develop into a shut down corner with time. If you’re with Chucky knock on wood.
– For the third selection in a row a team is on the clock for the second time and the Jaguars are looking to improve their dismal offensive line now at Pick #20. The next best Offensive Lineman is OT Austin Jackson out of USC. Jackson is extremely young but extremely athletic and profiles to be a great LT with improved coaching and technique. Whether he gets that in Jacksonville remains to be seen but at least it shows Tua that you are trying to protect him, right?
– At #21 the Eagles are up and likely very disappointed the top 4 WR are off the board. I can see them moving back to recoup some extra draft capital after drafting a league-low 10 total players in the last 2 drafts. If they stay pat, they likely select LB Kenneth Murray out of Oklahoma. Go ahead and name me any Eagles linebacker. Unless you can name their long-snapper too I seriously doubt you have heard of any of them. The Eagles usually invest high picks in the offensive and defensive lines, but selecting Murray gives them an athletic LB that could lead the league in tackles in year 1. The boo birds will definitely be out in Philly if this is the pick, but it might just be the prudent move to make if they cannot trade back.
See you back tomorrow as we close out Round 1 with our predictions for the Draft!