Shit happened since the last Mock Mock draft, huh? The first two picks were traded, the third and fourth picks are huge question marks and the previous consensus top pick could plummet. Oh, and the top linebacker supposedly has a bum knee that will prevent him from having a long career. Shit definitely happened.
The Rams and Eagles made big moves for quarterbacks who definitely aren’t consensus top picks. Hell, one of them was thought of as a late-round sleeper last December. That caused a huge shakeup in the top 10 picks, but probably doesn’t effect the Bears pick too much.
The final Mock Mock Draft is going to have some pretty big changes from last time. At least, I think it will, I don’t even remember who I had going where. Shit, I don’t even remember who I had the Bears picking.
One thing to remember before you dare suggest a player won’t be drafted where I project him: Kyle Long was considered a reach and Gabe Carimi was considered a steal. I’m pretty sure the draft isn’t going to go like this and the Bears probably aren’t going to draft any of the players I have slotted to them. But, whatever.
And we’re off…
1. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff, QB, California. This is the pick most people in the know think is going to happen. It makes sense. The new LA teams brings in a good-looking California boy with a big arm. He has major flaws, but he’s probably a safer bet than the other top QB in this draft.
2. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz, QB, Middle of Nowhere. Wentz is huge, athletic and has a big arm. Also supposedly a football junky. Problem: It’s such a crazy projection that nobody knows if those tools are going to translate to the NFL. There have been a lot of big, athletic, strong-armed guys who didn’t make it despite being productive at a major university.
3. San Diego/Los Angeles/San Antonio/Las Vegas Chargers: DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon. I did a little homework on this one and, by that I mean, I looked at their roster. They have two mediocre, but highly paid offensive tackles and a former first-rounder who has already been kicked inside. They also have somewhat significant investments in their secondary, two good, young pass-rushers and two solid, young inside linebackers. They lack depth and talent on their defensive line. Buckner makes the most sense. Stay classy, San Diego.
4. Jerry Jones: Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida St. They drafted Byron Jones to be a cornerback last year, but ended up moving him around and he’s now supposedly going to play safety. Ramsey can replace Jones at cornerback or pair with him at safety.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack, LB/S, UCLA. I don’t know whether or not to believe the talk about Jack’s knee, but I think he and the Jags are a pretty good fit.
6. Baltimore Ravens: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio Stats. Little known fact: The Ravens are switching to a 4-3 defense. They also badly need to add to their pass rush and replace Terrell Suggs. Bosa is just a classic Baltimore pick.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Emmanuel Ogbah, Edge, Oklahoma State. There’s a surprise in the top-10 every year. This year, it’s Ogbah. Guys that big, athletic and productive are usually good. Like the Bears, the 49ers put strong emphasis on length.
8. Cleveland Browns: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi. Getting Tunsil here would allow them to trade Joe Thomas for another high pick. My guess is they’d get at least a second rounder for him.
9. Miami Dolphins: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State. Trade from Tampa Bay. Rumor is the Dolphins want Elliott badly. They probably wouldn’t have traded out of the top 10 if they knew the Broncos would match the C.J. Anderson offer, so they move up and grab him before either the Giants or the Bears can.
10. New York Giants: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame. They took a tackle in the first round last year, but Ereck Flowers didn’t play well as a rookie and is probably better off as a right tackle. Stanley would go much higher in most drafts.
11. Oakland Raiders: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida. This was kind of a worst-case scenario for the Bears, but the Raiders would have a great chance to move up and grab a player who some consider to be the best coverage corner in the draft.
12. New Orleans Saints: A’Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama. Robinson might be boring to watch, but he dominates the line of scrimmage. He’s been the focus of opposing offenses for two years and they’ve still had a hard time getting him blocked. And he just turned 21.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson. Mike Smith is known for liking big defensive ends and Dodd seems to be a good fit.
14. Chicago Bears: William Jackson III, CB, Houston. I didn’t do this mock with the plan that the Bears would end up with one of my favorite players, it just kind of happened. Really, it was a worst-case scenario, but could be a home run. Jackson has a perfect combination of size, length and speed for the Bears defense. He also showed awesome ball skills in his final year at Houston. Ryan Pace said he wanted to add an explosive playmaker, Jackson is that.
15. The Only Ten I See Titans: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State. Conklin would likely play the right side with Taylor Lewon as their left tackle. He’s a mauler.
16. Detroit Lions: Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville. Rankins has been called a “poor man’s” Aaron Donald. He’s not the athlete or the prospect Donald was, but he’s a legitimate first round talent. Rankins would give the Lions some inside push to help Ziggy Ansah.
17. Atlanta Falcons: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State. Lee is kind of a poor man’s Myles Jack which works because the Falcons want to run the same kind of the defense the Jaguars do and, in order to do so, they need an athletic linebackers like the Jags got in Jack and the Seahawks (where both team’s head coaches came from) do in Bobby Wagner.
18. Indianapolis Colts: Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia. I don’t know, the Colts always seem to make bad picks, so I’ll give them Floyd. Floyd could be fine, but only with a defensive coordinator who knows how to use him, I don’t think the Colts will.
19. Buffalo Bill: Shaq Lawson, Edge, Clemson. I don’t know if Lawson is ever going to be a great pass-rusher, but he’d be great value here. At the very least, he’ll set the edge against the run and would really benefit from playing with Marcell Dareus.
20. New York Jets: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State. Great combination of size and speed. Was very good during the second half of the season for Ohio State last year.
21. Washington Whiteskins: Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama. Pure power with breakaway ability. I get why people are concerned about Henry, but physical freaks with his production usually turn out OK. The Redskins don’t have a decent running back on their roster.
22. Houston Texans: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor. Coleman adds speed and explosiveness to their offense.
23. Minnesnowta Princes: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. Maybe the best receiver in the draft, reminds me of Jordy Nelson. The Vikings always seem to draft guys I don’t want them to draft.
24. Cincy Bungles: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame. Deep receiver to open up their offense. They lost their second and third receivers in free agency.
25. Shittsburgh Steelers: Artie Burns, CB, Miami. Not talked about much, but a good fit for Pittsburgh’s defense.
26. Seattle Seahawks: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama. Seattle lost their brawler in the middle, Brandon Mebane. Reed is a good replacement for him.
27. They think being called “Cheeshead” is a compliment: Kenny Clark, NT, UCLA. The Packers badly need to add talent and depth to their defensive line. Ted Thompson only drafts athletic defensive linemen high, this could be the pick.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis. Alex Smith is in his 30s and has a long injury history. Plus, he’s not that good. Lynch gives Kansas City someone to develop, which Andy Reid likes to do.
29. Arizona Cardinals: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Mississippi. Gotta risk it to get the biscuit, right? Nkemdiche might be the most talented player in the draft.
30. Carolina Panthers: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State. You watched the Super Bowl, right?
31. Denver Broncos: Chris Jones, DE, Mississippi State. They have to replace Malik Jackson and Jones has a similar skill set.
41: Chicago Bears: Keanu Neal, S, Florida. Great combination of size and athleticism. A big hitter, who is thought to have good range. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to Kenny Vaccaro, a first round pick when Ryan Pace was with the Saints.
72. Chicago Bears: Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State. When I watched Nassib, I saw Derek Wolfe. That was probably because they’re both white and wear the number 95, but whatever. He’d play mostly on passing downs as a rookie, developing into a five-technique.
75. Chicago Bears (From Raiders): Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana. Power back to add to Bears rotation.
106. Chicago Bears: Jerrell Adams, TE, South Carolina. Adams will have to bulk up to play as an in-line tight end, but he has a lot of potential. Not really agile enough to be a move tight end, but has good speed.
127. Chicago Bears: Tyrone Holmes, Edge, Montana. Small school guy who could be a situational pass-rusher as a rookie, while contributing on special teams.
150. Chicago Bears: Stephane Nembot, OT, Colorado. Very raw and athletic. Could develop at RT or LT.
185. Chicago Bears: Ronald Blair, DL, Appalachian State. He was dominant against Clemson and finished with 7.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss last year. A little short, but he has long arms. Drops because he didn’t test well at the combine.
206. Chicago Bears: Brandon Doughty, QB, Western Kentucky. Just figured I had to throw a QB in there somewhere.
230. Chicago Bears: Shawn Williamson, DB, Eastern Wisconsin. Small school prospect with good size and speed. Starts on special teams, chance to develop into more.
