Round 2
33. Houston Texans
Stephon Tuitt
Defensive End, Notre Dame
Analysis: Tuitt is an athletic 300lb end that could get much better if he plays with better leverage and at least reduces the amount of time he goes around blockers. Working with a player like J.J. Watt could be a great situation for him as well as the Texans as they will have two extremely athletic, long ends on that defensive line.
34. Washington Redskins
Justin Gilbert
Cornerback, Oklahoma State
Analysis: Gilbert has the measurables to be a great corner and has been able to cause turnovers. He needs to eliminate giving up separation and start tackling the opponent if he wants to realize how good he can truly be as a player. Washington keeps trotting out DeAngelo Hall due to lack of options. Gilbert is oddly similar to Hall, so they might like taking the younger, bigger version.
35. Cleveland Browns
Marqise Lee
Wide Receiver, USC
Analysis: After getting their quarterback and some offensive line help, they add another weapon to their offense in Lee. If not for an average year by his standards due largely to playing through pain, Lee might be regarded much as he was as a sophomore. His loss is the Browns gain and gives them an impressive set of weapons that should allow a quarterback to have a ton of success.
36. Oakland Raiders
Jimmy Garoppolo
Quarterback, Eastern Illinois
Analysis: The Raiders know Schaub is not a long term answer. He does, however, make it so they do not need to rush a rookie signal caller. Garoppolo can sit and develop for a year or two while competing with Matt McGloin. Garoppolo has a quick throwing motion with a good amount of zip on the football, but needs to do better with avoiding sacks and getting the ball to his second and third options.
37. Atlanta Falcons
Dee Ford
Defensive End, Auburn
Analysis: Ford had a great season and carried it over to a dominant week in the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He is a fantastic addition to the Falcons new look 3-4, but there were some medical concerns at the combine and he does not offer a ton against the run. The good news is the Falcons need all of the pass rush they can get and he can help there.
38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Tight End, Washington
Analysis: One of the areas the Bucs have been hurting in has been at the tight end spot. Jenkins gives them another giant of a target, but he can be a terrific blocker that helps to create more holes for Doug Martin. A foot injury discovered at the combine prevented Jenkins from working out, but healthy, he can be outstanding.
39. Jacksonville Jaguars
Dominique Easley
Defensive Tackle, Florida
Analysis: There are rumblings that Easley could contribute this year, but the Jaguars are not going anywhere in a hurry so they can take their time and make sure his knees are right. Healthy, he along with Clowney form an incredible pairing on their defensive line as they were arguably both top 10 talents in this class.
40. Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Matthews
Wide Receiver, Vanderbilt
Analysis: The Vikings have their quarterback and they have a playmaker in Cordarrelle Patterson as well as a weapon in Greg Jennings. What they could use is someone who can extend drives as well as make plays after the catch. Matthews is an underrated player that does so many things right from a technical standpoint. His athleticism is better than some expect, but he does need to eliminate the drops.
41. Buffalo Bills
Scott Crichton
Defensive End, Oregon State
Analysis: Jim Schwartz has said he will match his scheme to the talents of his players, but Crichton would give them the flexibility to play more even fronts, which is more Schwartz’s comfort zone. They could stand him up as well, but he is best suited to play with his hand on the ground.
42. Tennessee Titans
Carlos Hyde
Running Back, Ohio State
Analysis: Chris Johnson is gone and the remaining options are less than great. Ken Whisenhunt seems to have a type and Hyde fits it. The hope is he can help take pressure off of Jake Locker and use that relatively new interior of the offensive line to give that offense a badly needed running game.
43. New York Giants
Weston Richburg
Center, Colorado State
Analysis: The investment in the trenches continues, this time with a pivot. The Giants have an iffy center situation after moving Dallas Reynolds there in a pinch and signing J.D. Walton as a free agent, but he is coming off of an injury. Richburg is a nasty run blocker that has a similar mentality as Tom Coughlin’s son-in-law, Chris Snee.
44. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)
Deone Bucannon
Safety, Washington State
Analysis: The Rams seem to have found something they like in T.J. McDonald, but they still need more help at safety. Bucannon has range, can make plays on the ball and be an intimidating presence, giving the Rams more toughness and athleticism on the back end.
45. Detroit Lions
Ja’Wuan James
Offensive Tackle, Tennessee
Analysis: The Lions have Riley Reiff at left tackle, but they could use additional help on the other side. James played right tackle at Tennessee and has everything a team is going to look for physically, but just needs to eliminate some mental lapses and misreads that get him in trouble.
46. Pittsburgh Steelers
Darqueze Dennard
Cornerback, Michigan State
Analysis: The Steelers need some youth at the corner position and Dennard fits what they like to do. Having a corner that can play physically and hangs tough in coverage. Dennard is a good corner, but he needs to make more plays on the ball to make teams more afraid to throw at him.
47. Dallas Cowboys
Will Sutton
Defensive Tackle, Arizona State
Analysis: The Cowboys need a 3-technique defensive tackle in the middle of that defense and Sutton fits what they want to do beautifully. Now, at 295lbs, in great shape, he could be one of the biggest impact rookies. Along with Ealy and signing Henry Melton, the Cowboys have a chance to take a weakness and make it into a strength.
48. Baltimore Ravens
Kelvin Benjamin
Wide Receiver, Florida State
Analysis: The Ravens have a few receivers, but Joe Flacco really likes having a target to throw the ball. Benjamin can play in the slot like a tight end or play out wide and press opponents deep. Along with Dennis Pitta, it gives them a pair of weapons that can create space on the outside for Torrey Smith and Steve Smith.
49. New York Jets
Troy Niklas
Tight End, Notre Dame
Analysis: The Jets continue to add weapons and get a somewhat raw, but incredibly athletic Niklas that could become the next Rob Gronkowski with his 6’6″ 260lb size and speed. Jeff Cumberland is decent but adding Niklas gives them some legitimacy in the middle of the field.
50. Miami Dolphins
Bishop Sankey
Running Back, Washington
Analysis: The Dolphins signed Knowshon Moreno, but nothing about their running game seems like a safe bet. Lamar Miller has already been put on notice by the coaching staff. Sankey is a fantastic runner that can also be a receiver and they have to find a way to make life easier on Tannehill.
51. Chicago Bears
Timmy Jernigan
Defensive Tackle, Florida State
Analysis: The Bears were a different team once they lost Melton last year and now that he is in Dallas, they really need to revitalize the defensive tackle position. Jernigan is a talented 1-gap player but they could also use more of a power lineup with he and Stephen Paea in the game at the same time.
52. Arizona Cardinals
Gabe Jackson
Offensive Guard, Mississippi State
Analysis: If Jackson lasts this long, the Cardinals should run this pick up. Much like Larry Warford last year, Jackson was dominant in college and the Cardinals could go from having one of the worst offensive lines in recent memory to one of the better ones in the league. With the additions of Jared Veldheer and Jon Cooper coming back (hopefully 100%) from the broken leg, they have three extremely talented players stepping in this year. Carson Palmer would really appreciate it.
53. Green Bay Packers
Terrence Brooks
Safety, Florida State
Analysis: The Packers have found themselves with a gaping hole at free safety and Brooks has tremendous athleticism and a ton of potential. He should be able to step in and play early and if the Packers can stay healthy, they should have a revitalized secondary,
54. Philadelphia Eagles
Brandin Cooks
Wide Receiver, Oregon State
Analysis: The Eagles got rid of Desean Jackson because he and Chip Kelly did not get along and he made a ton of money. Kelly is confident his offense can make receivers (See: Maehl, Jeff). For the offense they run and the speed they want to play, Cooks can give them everything they had in Jackson at a much cheaper price. And if the trend from last year continues, they will get a lot of players that he played against.
55. Cincinnati Bengals
Stanley Jean-Baptiste
Cornerback, Nebraska
Analysis: The Bengals need youth at corner. The Dre Kirkpatrick experiment is hanging on by a thread at this point and they have managed to get more than some might have expected out of some of the veterans they have brought in. Baptiste is still learning the position but his combination of size, length and his ability to mirror opponents has teams excited.
56. San Francisco 49ers (from Kansas City)
Pierre Desir
Cornerback, Lindenwood
Analysis: The 49ers have struggled to find good corner play and it has cost them at times. Desir played at the FCS level and excelled, but he really showed what he could do at the Senior Bowl when he took on all comers and looked impressive. He has length and is an aggressive player that has faced a lot of challenges in his life and come out better for them.
57. San Diego Chargers
Antonio Richardson
Offensive Tackle, Tennessee
Analysis: King Dunlap had a career year last year and maybe the Chargers are satisfied with what he can bring to the left tackle position. Richardson gives them some insurance for Dunlap but also gives them someone who could step in and play guard. Richardson is a powerful blocker that fits what they do much like D.J. Fluker.
58. New Orleans Saints
Travis Swanson
Center, Arkansas
Analysis: The Saints protection for Drew Brees is focused on the middle of the line. They have a ton of money focused on their guards and athletic tackles that can kick out opponents. In an effort to maintain that strength up the middle, they add the best pure pass blocking pivot in the draft in Swanson who has the same type of bulk their guards do.
59. Indianapolis Colts
Calvin Pryor III
Safety, Louisville
Analysis: The Colts need a safety to pair with Laron Landry and Chuck Pagano’s defense gets the guy who has much the same attitude as Landry in Pryor. Pryor runs like a deer, but he also tends to hit like Rob Deere. He needs to get far more refined in his angles and avoiding the whiffs, but the athleticism is certainly impressive.
60. Carolina Panthers
Cody Latimer
Wide Receiver, Indiana
Analysis: With the line addressed, the Panthers can focus on the biggest and most discussed need. Latimer has a ton of potential and upside but just needs time and reps to get there, which should not be a problem in Carolina.
61. San Francisco 49ers
Kareem Martin
Defensive End, North Carolina
Analysis: The 49ers are set to get Tank Carradiine back from IR, but they are always proactive in constantly finding front seven players they like. Martin has similar dimensions as Carradine and both could end up playing on the defensive line, giving them a huge boost in athleticism.
62. New England Patriots
DaQuan Jones
Defensive Tackle, Penn State
Analysis: The Patriots are desperately in need of adding more talent and options at the defensive tackle spot. Jones is impressive when he plays with leverage, showing a good amount of power and quickness. He can potentially contribute as the 1-tech or 3-tech spots on the defensive line.
63. Denver Broncos
Jeremiah Attaochu
Outside Linebacker, Georgia Tech
Analysis: The Broncos have great rushers in Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, but they would be smart to invest in youth there in case Miller gets in trouble off the field and because Ware is not there for the long term. Attaochu fits the team’s defensive scheme with his speed and quickness and would be in a great situation being able to learn from those two while also being able to keep them fresh.
64. Seattle Seahawks
Trai Turner
Offensive Guard, LSU
Analysis: The Seahawks continue to revamp the right side of the line and add in one of the more intriguing upside players in the draft. Turner looks like a butterball, but showed remarkable athleticism in testing as well as his functional strength. He did not have a ton of experience in Baton Rouge before going pro but the early returns were impressive. Turner could get substantially better and become a fixture on that line.