The latest in my 2016 NFL mock draft series, let’s examine a round that rarely gets any mocks, the 2nd. As always this is what I think that the teams will do, not what I would do as their GM/decision maker.
47. New Orleans Saints: Vernon Butler, DT Louisiana Tech.
This is assuming that the Saints go defensive back or guard in round 1. They need defensive line help if they’re going to run Allen’s system properly. Butler is an interesting prospect who passed on Power 5 conference offers to go to La Tech. If they can teach him to stop standing up, he could be a very effective 3 tech very quickly.
46. Detroit Lions: Jason Spriggs, OL Indiana
The LIons need a lot of things, but one of those is a real left tackle. Reiff is just too slow and stiff to continue in that role. Spriggs dominated the combine and probably solidified his place as a top 50 pick. He’s still best used in a zone block role, but could be an effective pass blocker early in his career for a team that wants to gun it with Stafford a lot.
45. Los Angeles Rams: Jack Conklin, OL Michigan State
Despite all the draft picks and money that the Rams have invested in their offensive line, it’s still a wreck. Robinson and Saffold are probably guards and they don’t have much talent anywhere else. Conklin would be an attempt to fix this. He’s probably not quick enough to play left tackle, but could be a decent starter there. But even if they get a quality right tackle, that’s a big win for them.
44. Oakland Raiders: Jalen Mills, DB LSU
Even with Woodson, the Raiders’ defensive backfield was a mess. They got some decent play from David Amerson but DJ Haden just isn’t making enough progress to rely on. Mills might be a safety/slot corner tweener but any help is appreciated in that unit.
43. Los Angeles Rams(from Philadelphia): Paxton Lynch, Qb Memphis
Jeff Fisher, for some reason, talked about having Foles and Keenum as his quarterbacks in a positive way https://twitter.com/ESPNNFL/status/702566090111643648 recently. This isn’t good and it’s not going to be good enough unless Foles figures out how to rebound as a passer. Lynch needs work, especially on his mechanics but drafting him and squeezing some decent play out of Foles could be enough to give Fisher time to get Lynch developed.
42. Miami Dolphins: Joshua Perry, LB Ohio State
The Phins just dont see enough production from their outside backers. They got almost nothing from their starters there in 2015 and their defense needs to get something from them if they’re going to have even an effective defense in 2016. Perry is getting lost in the shuffle with so many great former Ohio State defenders in this draft, but he shouldn’t. He’s big enough to play the SAM and is the kind of never-ending motor type player that they need.
Next: Picks 32-41