NFL Draft: First Edition of the Mock Draft, 2 rounds: 4 quarterbacks, 7 offensive tackles go in round 1

Round 2

33. Houston Texans – Dominique Easley, DT Florida

Much will be determined by the head coach selected by the Texans, but as much as they would like to be able to take Bridgewater and go win the Super Bowl his rookie season, that might not be realistic.  In Easley, they stash a player for a year who some would argue had top 10 talent.  As a result, when Bridgewater enters year two, J.J. Watt will be playing on the same defensive line as the incredibly talented Easley.  The question will be whether that is in a four man front where the two are next to each other or across from each other in a three man front.  Fortunately, both Watt and Easley can be effective in both schemes.

34. Washington Redskins – Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh

There are some big questions to be answered in Washington and beyond just asking who the coach is, they have to figure out what defensive scheme they are going to run.  Their defensive line has not distinguished itself as a 3 man front and may be better suited to be a 4 man front with Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan as defensive ends.  In either scenario, Donald who can come in and shoot gaps and get after the quarterback quickly or just play as depth.  He does have experience as an end in a 3 man front though he is not ideally suited to do it.

35. Oakland Raiders – Cyril Richardson, OG Baylor

Like with the Clowney pick, the Raiders opt for talent above everything else here.  They plan to resign Jared Veldheer and they drafted Menelik Watson last year to be their bookends, but they need more interior help as their guards are not great.  Richardson is a tremendous athlete with size and strength but needs to work to make more use of his functional strength.  The combination of size and strength could allow the Raiders power their way down the field.

36. Cleveland Browns – Bishop Sankey, RB Washington

The Browns go right back to Seattle and grab Jenkins’ teammate Sankey.  Arguably the most talented running back in the class, the Browns ultimately pull the trigger because the fit is just too good for what their offense does.  Sankey is a great runner but he is also an impressive receiving threat out of the back field in a position the Browns have little.  The easiest way to help a rookie quarterback is also giving him a solid running game and the combination of Sankey and Dion Lewis coming back from injury should be able to provide that insurance.

37. Atlanta Falcons – Daquan Jones, DT Penn State

The Falcons continuing their defensive front by adding a versatile defensive tackle in Jones.  His athleticism and strength are impressive if he can play with a more consistent pad level.  Jones potentially has the ability to play both the 1-technique and 3-technique spots, which could have him work in a rotation.  Conceivably, Jones and Corey Peters could end up in on situations where the Falcons are rushing the passer.

38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bryan Stork, C Florida State

The Buccaneers look to improve the interior of their offensive line and do it more in the image of Greg Schiano as it looks more and more like he will be back next year.  Stork is the road grading type of pivot that Schiano should love but is certainly a talented pass blocker as well.  Jeremy Zuttah may be better served as depth at all three interior spots than their starting center.

39. Jacksonville Jaguars – Anthony Johnson, DT LSU

The Jaguars defensive line is really thin and while they have gotten some production out of Sen’Derrick Marks, they could use additional help at just about any spot on the line.  Johnson gives them a nice 4-3 defensive tackle that is best suited to play the nose, but offers some help as a pass rusher as well.

40. Minnesota Vikings – Jarvis Landry, WR LSU

The Vikings have their quarterback in Bortles and if he can come in and be effective, the Vikings have a pretty solid offense built around him.  However, they could use another reliable receiving threat that can also be an outstanding blocker for Adrian Peterson.  Landry gets open and just has reliable hands that allows him to move the chains.  He also has a good amount of size and strength to be a power threat after the catch that can be a nice complement with Greg Jennings and the developing Cordarrelle Patterson.

41. Buffalo Bills – Treny Murphy, DE Stanford

This pick is based on fit far more than value.  The Bills have the ability to play a hybrid of the 3-4 and 4-3, but having Alan Branch as their left end is hardly an ideal situation.  He is perfectly fine as depth behind Marcel Dareus and Kyle Williams to give them beef up front.  Murphy would give them someone who could play on the left side across from Mario Williams but can also play as a standup end.  There are some technical issues that Murphy needs to address but the physical potential is there.

42. New York Giants – Travis Swanson, C Arkansas

The Giants have lost both David Baas and Jim Cordle to injuries and are currently using Dallas Reynolds, whose first position is not center.  The question for the Giants is if they are satisfied with any of them or if they want to upgrade the position.  Swanson is a terrific pass blocker but also brings a great deal of size and strength.  Swanson also gives them versatility and he could play left guard if they wanted to go that route.

43. Tennessee Titans – Yawin Smallwood, ILB Connecticut

The Titans have some pieces for a nice defense but need a man in the middle to run an athletic group of linebackers.  Smallwood is impressive in how he is able to play the run.  He consistently does a great job of reading, taking on blocks, fighting through trash and making plays.  The Titans really do not need a three down backer as they have a number of smaller, athletic linebackers that can fly all over the field and while Smallwood might be able to help in that capacity, they need him to shut down the run.

44. New York Jets – Jordan Matthews, WR Vanderbilt 

After snagging Ebron in the first round, the Jets are fortunate to find Geno Smith another weapon in Matthews.  Smith now has a talented option on the inside and one on the outside, both which bring size and athleticism.  They would also make it so the presently injured but physically impressive Stephen Hill would be a nice third option that can stretch the field and hopefully develop into the player they thought he was when they drafted him.

45. St. Louis Rams – Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M

The Rams draft an insurance policy for Bradford after all.  Manziel will only have 26 games under his belt when he comes out of college and has a lot of areas to develop in terms of mechanics and decision making.  The fit in a dome and with the talent the Rams have is a good one for Manziel and there is clearly talent there with him, but he is best suited not to play right away if possible.  With Braford there, he can hopefully just work on his craft and develop, but should Bradford be injured again, they have someone with a little more talent than Kellen Clemens waiting on the bench.

46. Pittsburgh Steelers – Darqueze Dennard, CB Michigan State

Dennard is a tremendous, physical corner who will play the run and hit opponents in the mouth.  He is not afraid to be physical with opposing receivers but there are some questions with his deep speed and how well he is able to make plays on the ball while it is in the air.  Dennard is really well suited to play in the Steelers scheme because he is able to play the run out on the edge and he can come in and fight for playing time early competing against the quickly aging Ike Taylor.

47. San Diego Chargers – Kyle Fuller, CB Virginia Tech

The Chargers have hemorrhaged corners the past couple seasons, losing Quentin Jammer and Antoine Cason.  Now, they are in a position to reload and select a terrific all-around corner in Fuller who has shown he can play in coverage as well as the run with the ability to make plays on the football.  He has battled some nagging injuries, but he has been a consistently good corner this year.

48. Dallas Cowboys – Will Sutton, DT Arizona State

The Cowboys get their 3-technique to play in the middle of the defensive line.  Sutton would be better off losing a bit of the weight he put on, but when he is going, he is a great fit in this system.  He is both incredibly quick but uses his hands, leverage and technique extremely well, which makes makes him a frustrating matchup for opponents who play too high or rely too much on brute strength.

49. Green Bay Packers – Odell Beckham Jr., WR LSU

No one could blame the Packers if they did nothing but address the defensive side of the ball.  Nevertheless, Rodgers makes the most of the investment in skill positions when he gets the chance and the Packers have been really good at getting second round receivers.  James Jones has run his course there and Beckham has developed into an outstanding receiver who is also dangerous on returners.  The combination of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Beckham in that offense could be nasty.

50. Detroit Lions – Weston Richburg, C Colorado State

With two talented centers already off the board, the Lions might make a slight reach to grab Richburg.  Dominic Raiola has been playing for the Lions forever and the play has not been great for the 34 year old center as of late.  Richburg gives them a center that can step in and play right away or provide depth at a couple spots.  He is the type of worker that an offensive line coach would love and his potential is there for him to keep gaining strength and becomes a franchise center.

51. Baltimore Ravens – Sean Parker, S Washington

The Ravens defense has done a nice job this year and had the offense been able to match it, they would be a contender again.  That is basically the same for James Ihedigbo, who has been solid, but is not really a long term solution there.  Parker gives them a player who can make a big hit, can be a consistent tackler when he wants to be and is pretty solid in coverage.

52. Arizona Cardinals – Stephen Morris, QB Miami(FL)

Morris has all the tools to be a successful quarterback but just needs to be more consistent.  He loves to throw the deep ball which makes him a nice fit with Bruce Arians.  If Arians can help him break through the wall that has been holding him back from being a consistent passer, there is a talented offense with Larry Fitzgerald there in Arizona waiting for him.  It also helps that they addressed the left tackle position and the hope is that Jonathan Cooper can come back healthy next season.

53. Chicago Bears – Christian Jones, OLB Florida State

The Bears continue to work on their defense and bring in Jones to help an aging and weak outside linebacker group.  Jones is formerly a strong side linebacker who moved to weak side linebacker.  Athletically, he has the ability to make plays all over the field but needs to do better when it comes to taking on blocks.  Jones can run in coverage but needs to make more plays on the football.

54. Miami Dolphins – Tre Mason, RB Auburn

The Dolphins have not found a running back that has been able to carry the load this year.  Perhaps better suited for a rotational role, Lamar Miller could be an explosive change of pace to the physically talented and no nonsense style of Mason.   He can hopefully give them something they have been desperately needing in someone who can fight for tough yards and a legitimate run threat to pair with Tannehill.

55. Philadelphia Eagles – Stephon Tuitt, DE Notre Dame

Should Tuitt declare along with Nix, he is a terrific fit in a 3-4 scheme that can kick inside and play as a rush tackle.  Tuitt has incredible physical gifts but needs to learn how to bend to take more advantage of them.  As a result, he could have a similar draft slotting as Margus Hunt did last year with incredible upside if he can consistently play behind his pads and play lower.  The Eagles scheme would be a nice fit for him if he can across from Fletcher Cox as the Eagles just try to get enough defense to go with Chip Kelly’s offense.

56. Indianapolis Colts – Brandon Coleman, WR Rutgers

With the injury to Reggie Wayne, they have to prepare for life after him.  Wayne has never really been injured before but the combination of age and the nature of the injury could mean retirement for him.  T.Y. Hilton has been able to step up his production but they have not gotten production from other receivers that has been consistent.  Coleman is a terrific athlete and if he can develop, the combination of Andrew Luck and Brandon Coleman could be a difficult one to stop.

57. Cincinnati Bengals – David Fales, QB San Jose State

The Bengals are in a tough situation.  Andy Dalton is good enough where he can guide the Bengals to the playoffs, but not good enough to win the Super Bowl.  They can keep riding with Dalton and hope he breaks through and becomes the quarterback he does not appear able to or try to keep bringing in quarterbacks in hopes of dethroning him.  Fales fits the Jay Gruden led West Coast Offense the Bengals run, but his arm strength is not ideal for the AFC North.  He makes up for it in large part due to accuracy and the ability to anticipate when his receivers are coming open.  In Cincinnati with a bevy of weapons including A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Marvin Jones, Giovani Bernard, Mohamed Sanu, Jermaine Gresham, Andrew Hawkins, etc. etc. etc., that might be a good pairing.

58. Carolina Panthers – Paul Richardson, WR Colorado

Last year, the Panthers doubled up on defensive tackles in the first two rounds of the draft and so far, it has been a huge success.  This year, they double up on wide receivers hoping for the same results.  Richardson is a terrific #2 option across from Lee that is able to attack in all areas of the field with deep speed.  Newton has two receivers that can take a catch and take it to the house as well as options to beat teams over the top with a tight end in Greg Olsen that can take up attention in the middle of the field.

59. San Francisco 49ers – David Yankey, OG Stanford

Yankey appears to be about ready to graduate, so he may go ahead and declare for the NFL Draft.  If he does, he could get a call from his old head coach Jim Harbaugh to push Alex Boone for the right guard spot and provide depth in general.  Yankey is the type of lineman the 49ers love with his ability to be an effective drive blocker but he improved as a pass blocker as well.

60. New Orleans Saints – Shayne Skov, ILB Stanford

As the Saints continue to bring in pieces that fit their 3-4 scheme under Ryan, Skov is the type of player he should love.  Skov is a thumper who can play in short zone and blitz, which are all will utilize.  Skov and Curtis Lofton make for an intimidating duo in the middle of the field as well.

61. New England Patriots – Daniel McCullers, DT Tennessee

The Patriots have done their best to make due in light of the injury to Vince Wilfork, but the injury to Wilfork was a significant one and he is 32.  Neither of those things make him done in New England, but another humungous human being to play the nose would be a huge help.  McCullers is enormous and holds up a the point of attack really well.  He needs to work better on his pad level and his stamina because when his motor is going, he can be frighteningly effective but is virtually immovable.

62. Denver Broncos – Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State

Every year a corner is drafted earlier than their play warrants based on their outstanding physical gifts.  This year, Gilbert fits that bill with prototypical height, size and speed.  He still is developing in coverage and is virtually nonexistent as a run defender, but Champ Bailey cannot play forever and the Broncos have some youth they might like but they want to play from ahead and that typically requires a lot of corners.  Gilbert also fits that because he is extremely aggressive trying to make plays on the football and when teams are behind trying to come back, he could end up getting some interceptions as a result.

63. Kansas City Chiefs – Vic Beasley, DE Clemson

The Chiefs have the best set of pass rushing outside linebackers in the league in Justin Houston and Tamba Hali but when they both were hurt, the lack of depth was painfully obvious.  Beasley has tremendous athleticism and the ability to rush the passer but the combination of needing to big stronger combined with his lack of overall length and struggles against the run, he is best suited to be a situational pass rusher at least initially.

64. Seattle Seahawks – Seantrel Henderson, OT Miami(FL)

There may not be a more Pete Carroll type player than Henderson in this draft.  His physical talent and potential are immense but off field concerns and concentration have gotten in the way and dropped him in the draft.  Carroll and GM John Schneider will almost always bet on talent and if Henderson is right, the combination of Henderson and Jackson on the offensive line give the Seahawks an incredible amount of power and size.