Each player will have a link to a website where you can see their film so it’s easier for the readers to do their own video scouting. As always, this is not a mock draft of what this author would do. It’s a mock draft based on what the team is likely to do based on the current perceptions of the prospects in college football.
16. Detroit Lions: Corey Coleman, WR Baylor
Even before Calvin Johnson was hinting at retirement, wideout was a potential position for them to consider. Now with Johnson looking for the exits, it become almost must have.Coleman should thrive on that turf in the Motor City. He’s fast, quick and with good hands. The question with him is if he was a product of that Baylor offense and if he doesn’t know the finer points of the game.
15. St Louis Rams: Carson Wentz, QB North Dakota State
Jeff Fisher is apparently the Rasputin of the NFL: no matter how bad his teams are, they do just enough for him to keep his job. Even with the Rams shelling out a lot for Foles, they still need a QB: Foles isn’t the answer.
Wentz has great tools but you have to wonder if the competition he played against made his stats look better than they were. The Rams are desperate for a QB but not desperate enough to try Connor Cook.
14. Oakland Raiders: Myles Jack, LB UCLA
One of the worst kept secrets in this draft is that the Raiders are enamored with Myles Jack. They believe that even though he’s chunked up to 245 lbs(He usually has played around 225) he’s the best fit to fix their defensive issues.
Jack is an amazing athlete, but the weight gain and ACL tear makes his a bit risky these days. And with the retirement of Woodson, the Raiders need a defensive back much more than a linebacker.
13. Philadelphia Eagles: Tre’Davious White, DB LSU
No matter whom the coach is in Philly, it doesn’t change that they have two big glaring holes: the cornerbacks and the interior offensive line. This is a big high to take any of the linemen to move inside but it’s a good spot to take a corner.
White is a man press corner who will struggle if you ask him to play a lot of zone. However, he has the strength to press most wideouts and has a good ability to locate the ball.
12. New Orleans Saints: Kendall Fuller, DB Va Tech
Fuller struggled this year with a number of injuries and ultimately didn’t have the same season he did in 2014. He’s still seen as an extremely talented corner who appears to have NFL ready skills as an outside corner.
The Saints need to kidnap the corners on their roster and drop them off in the middle of Canada without a cellphone: they’re that bad. Fuller probably starts day 1 for them.
11. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel Ogbah, DL Oklahoma State
They have their share of edge rushers, but none of them is nearly as talented as Ogbah could become. And the Bears learned the hard way that you have to become 2-3 deep on the edge if you want to run a 3-4 defense successfully.
Ogbah probably is a better fit for a 4-3 team, but he’s done well in coverage when he’s dropped back at Okla State. He’ll probably slot into the Aldon Smith role in Fangio’s defense: a dedicated rusher.
10. New York Giants: Ezekiel Elliot, RB Ohio State
If Sean Payton is the hire in the Big Apple, then all bets are off for this pick. Barring that, Reese will do what he always is want to do: take the most talented player on his board.
Elliot has some issues off the field, but there’s no questioning his potential on it. The Giants’ recent running back by committee approach has been a failure(18th in rushing yards in 2015, 23rd in 2014) so they need to adjust to having a prime back.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Robert Nkemdiche, DL Ole Miss
This is a pure best player available pick. Nkemdiche doesn’t fill any major needs for them and might not be the greatest fit in their defense, But this is assuming Doug Martin stays, if he leaves then Ezekiel Elliot could be the pick here.
The Bucs won’t care about Nkemdiche’s post season issues, they didn’t blanche from taking Winston and they need the sheer talent on the defense.