1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – Texans beat writer John McClain thinks the pick will be traded, or used on Johnny Manziel or Clowney. For now I’ll stick with Clowney, but that might change between now and the draft.
2. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins): Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson – I expect the Rams to try and trade this pick, but I’m not sure which team is willing to sacrifice the assets to move up. If the Rams stay at this spot, I expect this pick to come down to Watkins or Khalil Mack.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack, DE, Buffalo – With Clowney off the board, I think this pick comes down to Mack or Blake Bortles. Mack is the better talent, and I think Jags are willing to wait on a QB as their rebuilding process is still years away from being done.
4. Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – With Watkins off the board, I expect the Browns to target a QB at No. 4. I think it’ll come down to Manziel and Bortles, with Manziel my pick for now.
5. Oakland Raiders: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF – Don’t be surprised if Oakland tries to trade down, as that seems to be Reggie McKenzie’s M.O. The Raiders need a QB and taking Bortles would (hopefully) shore up the position for years to come.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn – The Falcons need more protection for Matt Ryan. Robinson is a top-five player and could go earlier than this. Rumors indicate the Falcons may try to move up, so don’t be surprised if they do just that.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M – With the trade of Mike Williams, Tampa’s need for another wide receiver is even greater. Evans resembles Vincent Jackson in many ways, so don’t be surprised is Tampa tries to move up for Watkins or grab a tackle here and a speedier WR later.
8. Minnesota Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – If Bridgewater is on the board, I don’t see the Vikings passing on him. They need a QB and Bridgewater is the most pro-ready of the QBs in the draft. This would be a great pick for the Vikings.
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9. Buffalo Bills: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M – The Bills would be happy if Matthews slips to them at No. 9. He is a more than adequate replacement for Erik Pears at right tackle. The Bills could take a tight end, linebacker or wide receiver.
10. Detroit Lions: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State – The Lions need a corner badly and Gilbert is the best one in the draft. Rumors say they might move up to get Watkins, but the price might be too great. Plus, they paid a lot of money to Golden Tate.
11. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA – The Titans are switching to a 3-4 defense and are in need of a lead pass rusher. Barr could go in the top 10, so getting him here is a steal.
12. New York Giants: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan – The Giants need a tackle to keep Eli Manning on his feet. I expect this pick to be spent in the trenches, either on the offensive or defensive side.
13. St. Louis: Ha Ha Clinton Dix, S, Alabama – The Rams need a safety to pair with T.J. McDonald, who struggled last year (Pro Football Focus subscription required), but is young and talented. Clinton-Dix is the top safety in the draft. An offensive or defensive tackle could be in play here too.
14. Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh – With Clinton-Dix off the board, the Bears can fill a big need on the interior of their defensive line. They did a nice job adding some ends, but still need a DT.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State – The Steelers have neglected the cornerback position for too long. Dennard would be an instant upgrade and should be the pick if he is on the board here.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri – The Cowboys need help badly on the defensive line, even with the addition of Henry Melton and Jeremy Mincey. Ealy is the best 4-3 defensive prospect outside of Clowney.
17. TRADE: San Francisco 49ers (via Baltimore Ravens): Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech – The 49ers have plenty of picks, and Fuller won’t last to No. 30. The Ravens like to trade down, and the two teams have proven they can make deals happen. Fuller is rising and I expect him to be a first round pick. The 49ers can give up their first and second round pick (No. 61) for this pick, although the trade value chart says that’s slightly below the value of the Ravens’ pick.
18. New York Jets: Eric Ebron, TE, UNC – The Jets need to find more weapons for Geno Smith and Ebron is the best one on the board. Ebron will likely go between No. 9 and No. 18.
19. Miami Dolphins: Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame – The Dolphins signed Branden Albert, but they need more help as they overhaul their offensive line. Martin is the best of bunch after the Matthews/Robinson/Lewan trio. Miami might have to move up to ensure they get Martin.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Dee Ford, LB, Auburn – The Cardinals need someone who can get to the quarterback, and that’s exactly what Ford does best. Pass rushers always seem to go higher than other positions, so this isn’t a terrible reach.
21. Green Bay Packers: C.J. Mosely, LB, Alabama – MLB isn’t a huge need for the Packers, but if Mosely slips this far the Packers should grab him quickly. It’d be a classic value pick by the Packers, who could look for a safety as well.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Marqise Lee, WR, USC – With the release of DeSean Jackson, the Eagles need a wide out, even with Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper returning. Lee might not last this long, but Kelly knows what he can do on the field, having coached against him in college. The Eagles could take a corner, safety or pass rusher here as well.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville – The Chiefs would love to get Pryor in the first. He fills a major need, but might not last this long.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Bradley Roby, CB, OSU – This really isn’t an ideal situation for the Bengals. The needs don’t really match up with value. Roby is not as bad as he looked last year, and the Bengals can bring him along slowly throughout the season. A player like Ryan Shazier could be an option here.
25. San Diego Chargers: Louis Nix III, NG, Notre Dame – With the loss of Cam Thomas to the Steelers, the Chargers need a new nose guard. There isn’t a better one in this draft than Nix.
26. Browns (via Indianapolis Colts): Odell Beckham, WR, LSU – The Browns have Manziel already in this mock, and can give him another weapon in Beckham. Beckham doesn’t get the hype that other wideouts do, but he’d be a great fit in Cleveland.
27. New Orleans Saints: Ryan Shazier, LB, OSU – The Saints need more linebackers, especially ones with potential like Shazier. While he lacks a true position, he’s versatile enough to play inside or outside linebacker. Rob Ryan would find a way to get the most out Shazier.
28. Carolina Panthers: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State – The Panthers desperately need a wideout, especially with the loss of Steve Smith. Cooks is the best one left on the board.
29. New England Patriots: Timmy Jernigan, DT, FSU – The Patriots resigned Vince Wolfork to a 3-year deal, but it’s deceptive because there is no guaranteed money after the first year. Jernigan could replace Wilfork after next season as the team’s nose guard. A wide receiver or tight end could be the pick here too.
30. TRADE: Ravens (from 49ers): Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame – The loss of Arthur Jones hurts, but Tuitt is a quality replacement. The Ravens could pull the trigger on a tackle or wideout as well.
31. Denver Broncos: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU – The Broncos signed Aqib Talib, but they still need help at corner. With limited needs, the Broncos could just take the best player on their board.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech – If the Seahawks can get Amaro, Russell Wilson would be ecstatic. Amaro would give the Seahawks yet another dangerous weapon on offense.
Round 2:
33. Texans: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State – This might be too perfect. David Carr’s younger brother goes to Houston. Carr might go before this and if he does, any number of QBs could go off the board at No. 32.
34. Redskins: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama – Kouandjio’s stock has fallen after a poor bowl game and combine. However, he’s still a talented player who should be a solid right tackle in the NFL. The Redskins need a tackle to help protect RGIII.
35. Browns: Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA – The Browns need some help on the interior of the offensive line, and Su’a-Filo is the best guard in the draft. He could be a first round pick.
36. Raiders: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, FSU – The Raiders have a franchise QB now in Bortles and get a (potential) No. 1 wide out in Benjamin. Benjamin has the best size-speed combo since Calvin Johnson, but is raw in his route running and catching. He needs to develop, but could be great.
37. Falcons: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington – The Falcons need a replacement for Tony Gonzales, and Seferian-Jenkins can fill that role. Despite his red flags, he’s got the potential to be an elite tight end.
38. Buccaneers: Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota – The Bucs need some help on the defensive line, and Hageman has the potential to be a impact player.
39. Jaguars: David Yankey, OG, Stanford – The Jaguars need a QB, but there aren’t any worth grabbing here. The Jags also need help on the offensive line badly, and Yankey will be a solid pro at the next level.
40. Vikings: Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU – The Vikings need help at linebacker, and Van Noy is versatile enough to play multiple positions. He’s the type of player new head coach Mike Zimmer would love to have.
41. Bills: Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State – The Bills need a safety to replace Jairus Byrd.
42. Titans: Carlos Hyde, RB, OSU – With the release of Chris Johnson, the Titans need a new running back. Hyde, in many ways, is the opposite of Johnson. He’s bruiser who loves contact.
43. Giants: Dominique Easley, DT, Florida – If Easley wasn’t crippled by injuries during his time at Florida, he’d be a candidate to go in the first round. The Giants need some help up front, where they struggled last season.
44. Rams: Morgan Moses, OT, Virigina – The Rams could use another offensive tackle for the future. Moses might go before this.
45. Lions: Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State – Never a team to avoid loading up on the defensive line, the Lions could use some help replacing the departed Willie Young.
46. Steelers: Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State – The Steelers signed Lance Moore and Darius Heyward-Bey, but they aren’t consistently effective wide receivers. The Steelers need a big target for Ben Roethlisberger, and that’s exactly what Robinson is. If Benjamin slips to round two, don’t be surprised if the Steelers try to move up to get him.
47. Cowboys: Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois – The loss of Jarius Byrd leaves a big hole in the back end. Ward is no Byrd, but he’s an underrated player who I think will go higher than most expect.
48. Ravens: Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana – Latimer hasn’t gotten much hype, but he’s a talented player. This strikes me as a classic under-the-radar Ravens pick.
49. Jets: Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State – It’s a deep wideout class, and Adams is a better fit across from Eric Decker than a Jordan Matthews-type. Even with the Decker signing, the Jets need another wideout.
50. Dolphins: Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor – The overhaul of the Dolphins' line continues as Miami grabs two linemen. Richardson has the potential to be a mauler in the running game.
51. Bears: Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee – Jordan Mills may have been a rookie last season, but he was awful (PFF subscription required). Richardson could start right away.
52. Cardinals: Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson – The Cardinals have Patrick Peterson, but they need a long-term answer across from him. They signed Antonio Cromartie, but he is a short-term player.
53. Packers: Marcus Martin, C, USC – Since the Packers let Evan Dietrich-Smith leave for Tampa, they need a new center.
54. Eagles: Trent Murphy, LB, Stanford – The Eagles could use another pass rusher, and getting Murphy in the middle of round two is solid value.
55. Bengals: Joel Bitonio, OG/OT, Nevada – Bitonio might be the best player you’ve never heard of. He needs work, but is versatile enough to play several spots on the line. With the loss of Anthony Collins, the Bengals could use some help on the line.
56. 49ers (via Chiefs): DeMarcus Lawrence, LB, Boise State – Getting Lawrence here would allow the 49ers to have a backup plan for whatever happens with Aldon Smith.
57. Chargers: Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska – The Chargers could use another cornerback, and Jean-Baptiste fits into the new mold of corners that are becoming popular. He’s a big, physical corner that can compete with larger wideouts.
58. Saints: Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson – The other Clemson wide out is no slouch. Adding a player with Bryant’s size-speed combo would make the Saints offense even more dangerous.
59. Colts: Dion Bailey, S, USC – The Colts need safety help at both spots, and Bailey is the best one left on the board.
60. Panthers: Billy Turner, OT, North Dakota – The retirement of Jordan Gross hurts the Panthers. Turner is raw, but has potential. Drafting late in the second round, the Panthers don’t really have any other options.
61. Ravens (from 49ers): Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech – Remember, the Ravens have this pick thanks to the first round trade between the two teams. Attaochu isn’t a big name right now, but he’s a talented player. Taking him would give the Ravens some depth behind Elvis Dumervil, the aging Terrell Suggs and the ineffective Courtney Upshaw.
62. Patriots: Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt – The Patriots have plenty of tiny wideouts, but no big red zone threats. Taking Matthews would fix that.
63. Broncos: LaMarcus Joyner, CB/S, FSU – The Broncos can basically take the best player on their board, since they have few needs. Joyner has some Tyrann Mathieu elements to his game.
64. Seahawks: Jack Mewhort, OT, OSU – I’m not the biggest fan of Mewhort, but the Seahawks can get by with him at right tackle. They need one since Breno Giacomini left in free agency.