FanPost

We All Love Mock Drafts, Right? Just Me? Well Here's my Round 1 Mock Draft 1.0

DISCLAIMER - This is my first FanPost ever so I'm not sure how this will look aesthetically. Also, I'm an engineering student, so my writing is probably worse than your middle school kid's. Please keep that in mind. Anywho, here we go!

If you're like me, you can't get enough mock drafts. During these weeks it's mostly just bottom-tier FAs visiting teams (shout out to Whats-his-face Escobar), a few guys getting in trouble, Pro Day footage here and there.... and the ever glorious mock drafts.

Maybe the reason I love them is because we get to feel like we know just as much as the so-called "experts" on ESPN and NFL Network. Because, really, nobody knows much of anything. Experts can put in 11,203,774 hours into research and calling teams and evaluating film whereas I spend like 3 hours a week watching some simple film and the aforementioned networks, and both of our mock drafts will probably end up being half right at best. PLUS it's the only fun part leading up to the actual draft. Everyone is playing "If I were the GM" as if this were a real-world Franchise Mode from Madden.

So, if I were a GM, my philosophy would be a very unscientific mix between Best Player Available and Biggest Team Need. Is that the best strategy? Who cares? That was just my mindset while making this Round 1 Mock Draft. Please feel free to tell me why mine is stupid, or share yours, because I can't get enough of all of this!

PICK 1, Cleveland Browns - Myles Garrett, Texas A&M - I think 99% of all the sane, sober people in the world can agree on this one.

PICK 2, San Francisco 49ers - Malik Hooker, Ohio State - I just feel like this guy is Eric Berry Lite, plus it fills a need.

PICK 3, Chicago Bears - Jamal Adams, LSU - This guy can ball out and supposedly has fantastic leadership capabilities, which I think is a HUGE upside and why I was O.K. with the Chiefs maybe "overpaying" for Berry. Plus, he fills a need for the Bears. Not their biggest need, but a need.

PICK 4, Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Fournette, LSU - Now, this isn't exactly a big need for them position wise, but I've admittedly been a big fan of him for the past two years and feel like he's exactly what they need to take some pressure off of Bortles and maybe get their offense rolling.

PICK 5, Tennessee Titans - Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State - Not only does this fill one of their biggest needs, but he's also arguably the best CB prospect in the draft. Can't knock them for taking him over Solomon or Allen.

PICK 6, New York Jets - Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina - This is probably where things really start to get controversial. Is Trubisky really worth the 6th overall pick in the draft? Probably not. But will that keep a team desperate for a QB to reach on one? I certainly don't think so. I could also see Reuben Foster or Haason Reddick going here.

PICK 7, San Diego Chargers - Jonathan Allen, Alabama - Allen before Solomon Thomas? What?!? Personally, I just feel like he's a better fit on the inside of the DL. Solomon will be a better player if he's put in the right system, but he's got unusual size. Plus, I just feel like turning heads.

PICK 8, Carolina Panthers - Solomon Thomas, Stanford - There's no way he falls this far, is there? I'm not sure. Who knows. But he fills a need, and there's no way he falls this far. Right?

PICK 9, Cincinnati Bengals - Reuben Foster, Alabama - This is another one I'm iffy about. They signed Kevin Minter, who I like, but I don't like as much as Foster. Maybe they take O.J. Howard here, or Njoku, or someone else who makes way more sense but I can't think of at the moment. Regardless, Foster is my final answer. Lock it in.

PICK 10, Buffalo Bills - Mike Williams, Clemson - They're going with someone from Clemson here. But they just signed a new (shortish term) deal with Tyrod Taylor. Give them another Clemson WR playmaker, and a QB next year if Taylor doesn't pan out.

PICK 11, New Orleans Saints - Marlon Humphrey, Alabama - A bit of a reach? Maybe. But the kid is a stud, that's no doubt, and it fills a big need.

PICK 12, Cleveland Browns - O.J. Howard, Alabama - Wow, three Tide players in four picks. I get it, though. All the ties to the Senior Bowl coaching him, to him being a freak of nature, to blah blah blah. Tight Ends are growing to be a sexier and sexier position, and I don't mean that because Kelce has a killer hair/beard combo.

PICK 13, Arizona Cardinals - Corey Davis, Western Michigan - Not only is Larry Fitzgerald going to get bit by father time one of these days, but I also just reeeeally don't want them to take a QB. Even though I'd understand it. For the Chiefs' sake, I don't want them to take a QB. So here we are, with an outstanding WR. Not a bad choice.

PICK 14, Philadelphia Eagles - Dalvin Cook, FSU - So this is another pick I'm iffy about. They have a need at CB, but the CB class is very deep and I believe they can get a solid prospect in the second or third rounds. And Dalvin is a heck of a RB, and deserves the connections to Jamaal Char-- ... Hold on... If I say his name I might cry. They also need a RB, btw.

PICK 15, Indianapolis Colts - Taco Charlton, Michigan - I'm a huge Michigan fan, full disclosure. I have been for a long time. However, I'm not really in love with Taco's game. I love Tacos. Not quite Taco Charlton. BUT, a lot of people seem to like him, and the Colts' DL is in need of something, anything, to bring them youth and sparks. Malik McDowell is also very likely here.

PICK 16, Baltimore Ravens - Tre'Davious White, LSU - They added our old friend Brandon Carr in the offseason, which opens them up to also taking Haason Reddick here after releasing Elvis Dumervil. However, I feel like their secondary is in need of more work than their front seven right now.

PICK 17, Washington Redskins - Jabrill Peppers, Michigan - A lot of people question what his true position is, but if you think he's a linebacker then I think you're silly. I think he's a Nickle CB, maybe a SS. Either way, he's an incredible athlete and an immediate impact player on both defense and special teams. Honey Badger pt. 2?

PICK 18, Tennessee Titans - John Ross, Washington - I actually really liked their rookie WR from last year, Tajae Sharpe. Did he do well enough to keep the Titans from drafting a replacement? We'll see.

PICK 19, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Malik McDowell - The Bucs did address the position in the offseason by signing both Chris Baker and Sealver Siliga, but Malik is too good to pass at 19 and they could still use some help IMO. Maybe this is where McCaffery goes off the board, as well. I think this would be a great spot for him.

PICK 20, Denver Donkeys - Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin - I'd want to upgrade my offensive line, too, if I had to face the likes of Bosa, Mack, and Houston two times each every year.

PICK 21, Detroit Lions - Caleb Brantley, Florida - I actually don't know much about Caleb Brantley other than the fact that he's perceived to be a very good DL in this draft class, and the Lions could certainly use a solid DL.

PICK 22, Miami Dolphins - Haason Reddick, Temple - FINALLY he comes off of the board, right? Does this guy play LB, does he play DE, does he play a hybrid EDGE? I'd probably put him in as a 3-4 OLB EDGE guy, but he also has the athleticism to play 3-4 ILB. Wherever you put him, he's got a lot of upside and I just don't think he will fall out of the first round. He also might not make it to 22, so we'll see. This is why this stuff is fun!

PICK 23, New York Giants - David Njoku, Miami - The Giants probably have bigger needs than TE, but again, the position is becoming sexier and this guy is one heckuva TE. I'm very interested to see where he ends up and how he does in the NFL. He's going to make whatever QB he plays with very happy, that's for sure.

PICK 24, Oakland Las Vegas Raiders - Derek Barnett, Tennessee - Saying "Las Vegas Raiders" is going to take some time to get used to. That stadium looks beautiful, though. I'll be honest - I'm not very high on Derek Barnett. I know he had a lot of production in college but I'm not convinced. I've been wrong plenty of times before, though. And I've also been right. Only time will tell with Barnett, but he definitely gives me Raiders vibes.

PICK 25, Houston Texans - Deshaun Watson, Clemson - This pick hurts. It hasn't even happened yet, but it already does. We all know that QB is on the table for Houston, and I've grown to love the idea of Watson with Reid in KC. Don't get me wrong, I also really like Mahomes, but Watson.... and if he falls this far, only to go two picks before the Chiefs, I'll be livid. That's why I wouldn't mind the Chiefs trading up to pick 20-22 to snag him. Maybe the Texans are nice. Maybe they take Cunningham or Jarrad Davis. But for now, this is unfortunately my prediction.

PICK 26, Seattle Seahawks - Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky - Boring but fills a need. See also Tim Williams.

PICK 27, Kansas City CHIEEEEEFS - Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech - Here it is. The savior that Kansas City needs. I'm actually a big Alex Smith fan, but there's no question that the time to draft the QBOTF is upon us. If not this year then next. Even with all his totally fixable mechanics issues, this kid can play. Please go read MN's review of him if you haven't yet, but are somehow reading this garbage post. This mock was totally made with hopes in the back of my head that the Chiefs could take Mahomes or Watson at 27, so I steered it in that direction. If both are unavailable, Jarrad Davis is my pick here. Fills a huge need, plus he's got that leadership factor that I discussed earlier.

PICK 28, Dallas Cowboys - Gareon Conley, Ohio State - The Boys' secondary is trash. They desperately need an upgrade at CB and S. Here is one of those needs getting filled by the next best CB still on the board, IMO.

PICK 29, Green Bay Packers - Charles Harris, Missouri - They need players everywhere on their defense, honestly. Harris, Cunningham, Tim Williams, Jarrad Davis - really any good defensive prospect still on the board is at play here. Maybe they're good at S. They don't need a safety. But anything else, yes.

PICK 30, Pittsburgh Steelers - Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt - Cunningham is raw, and honestly I would prefer Davis, but I think teams are slightly higher on Cunningham here. I've played linebacker, so it's the only position that I can even remotely evaluate when watching film and not feel like I'm just making stuff up, and he's got a lot to love but a lot to hate. However, you can't deny the production and instincts of Zach and the thought of him with Shazier at ILB is pretty intimidating.

PICK 31, Atlanta Falcons - Tim Williams, Alabama - This was a hard pick for me to predict. They probably need interior DL more than they need exterior DL, but the Falcons are pretty solid all around. They also need OL, but there isn't an OL that I, personally, would feel comfortable taking given who is still on the board at 31. Except... Garrett Bolles.... Oh well. Also, let's take yet another moment of silence for all the Falcons fans and/or Patriots haters (me).

PICK 32, New Orleans Saints - Jarrad Davis, Florida - The Saints defense has never quite been the same since the last time they won the Super Bowl. For a few obvious reasons, but either way their defense kinda sucks now. I had them upgrading their secondary earlier by selecting Marlon Humphrey at 11, and now it's time for them to add some talent to their run defense and front seven. However, if they take McCaffery here I wouldn't be too surprised.

Some final notes:

I'm well aware that the best I could hope for is that this is only half right, even if there isn't any trades in the first round which there likely will be. I've made my predictions and here they are. If you actually read this, you'll see that with a lot of picks I have like 2 or 3 other players that I've predicted might go there. It's all just part of the fun.

So please feel free to comment and let me know what you think. Share links to your mock drafts as well. Tell me why I'm stupid for not having the Falcons take Bolles, or for letting McCaffery slip out of the first round, or Takkarist McKinley. He's another guy the Falcons could and probably should take, if he's there.

But most of all, try to enjoy this part of the offseason!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.