Top Wide Receivers in 2015 Draft

by Justin Rasile

1) Amari Cooper, Alabama Crimson Tide

Height: 6'1          Weight: 210

40 Yard Dash: 4.42 Seconds

Vertical: 33 Inches

Career Stats: 228 Catches, 3463 Yards, 31 TDs

Stud.  Cooper was an absolute stud in college but what matters now is how will he transition to the NFL. This kid did everything his coaches asked of him; he worked his ass off and that helped lead to him being a Heisman finalist and a BCS National Title ring.  He starts off with very good burst off the line and maneuvers his body in a way to get off of press coverage. He is a fast straight-line runner but it is his shiftiness that will translate very well to the next level.  He jukes and head shakes and has a great arm swipe.  He doesn’t know what the sound is when the ball hits his pads because every catch he makes is with his arms extended.  Once he has the ball in his hand, Cooper has the ability to take it to the house every time.  While the ceiling for Cooper is pretty high, he may not be an elite wide receiver but he fits onto every team because of his versatility.  I loved watching him catch a screen pass, make one defender miss and weave his way through traffic into the endzone.  Lane Kiffin even gave him the ball on a few end arounds.  From everything that I have heard about this kid is that he is an extremely hard worker and goes out and does his job everyday. 

2) Kevin White, West Virginia Mountaineers

Height: 6'3          Weight: 215
40 Yard Dash: 4.35 Seconds
Vertical: 36.5 Inches
Career Stats: 144 Catches, 1954 Yards, 15 TDs

I think when all is said and done, Kevin White could be the best receiver in this loaded draft class.  He is going to need some polishing on some things, mainly his route running.  Some experts are saying he is a mix between Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss. I don’t know if I can say that just yet but the potential to be great is definitely there.  He has amazing straight line speed like Moss and besides similar hair, Fitz and White both are amazing at jump balls.  He very rarely goes up for the ball and not come down with it.  Even when White is contacted before the football gets to him he manages to find a way to make a play on the ball and usually catch it.  The Mountaineer adjusts his body in the air very well when the ball is thrown his way and has incredibly strong but soft hands.  I have two issues on White though.  One is his route running because on nearly every single play he does one of two routes; either a go or a screen.  He proved that he has top end, which explains why he separated with such ease.  Very rarely did I see him attempt a 3 or 10-yard slant route, a dig route, 15 to 12 yard curl.  Nothing.  But those can be taught at the next level so I am not too worried on that.  The other issue that concerns me is his ability to play against tougher competition.  White was born in New Jersey and started his collegiate career at a two-year school in Pennsylvania.  He then transferred to West Virginia and was a little slow to adjust to big boy college ball.  Within seven months, he will be going up against the best of the best.  It will be a wake up call for this man but I think he is up for the challenge. 

3) Devante Parker, Louisville Cardinals
Height: 6'3          Weight: 209
40 Yard Dash: 4.45 Seconds
Vertical: 36.5 Inches
Career Stats: 156 Catches, 2775 Yards, 33 TDs

Don’t let Parker’s 2014 numbers fool you.  He was injured for a bunch of games in the beginning of the season but in the six games he did play he hauled in 43 catches for 855 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Insane numbers for a guy adjusting to losing his quarterback from last year in Teddy Bridgewater.  He showed no signs of that broken foot slowing him down so that should not be an issue and he established a very good relationship with a quarterback he did not have a lot of practice and game time experience with.  Just like Cooper and White, Parker high points the ball extremely well and with his strong hands, he comes down with the ball.  One thing I absolutely loved about Parker was his sideline awareness.  He dances along that sideline and tiptoes and toe taps his feet to stay in bounds to complete the catch. This works in his favor as he does a very good job of winning fade routes in the end zone.  In the battle against Florida State, Parker put on a show.  He caught 8 balls for 214 yards, which is an average of 26.8!  What makes that so great is he played against two Florida State corners who will each be drafted in either the first or second round of this years draft.  If the Vikings have any sense in them, they will take Parker with their 11^th overall pick and get him back with his quarterback to establish a great tandem. 

4) Jaelen Strong, Arizona State Sundevils
Height: 6'2          Weight: 217
40 Yard Dash: 4.44 Seconds
Vertical: 42 Inches
Career Stats: 157 Catches, 2287 Yards, 17 TDs

Strong blew the ceiling off the combine when he jumped an incredible 42 inches, the highest of all the top receivers, and also turned in an impressive 4.44 forty yard dash.  He jumped 3 and a half feet standing still which is incredible. The former Sun Devil is still a very raw receiver but the upside is clearly there.  He posted back-to-back 1,100 yard seasons and 17 total touchdowns in his two season at Arizona State.  He has very similar build to my other top 3 receivers (6’2” and 210 pounds).  Strong, not ironically, is also very strong.  He is a tough guy to bring down and gets low to the ground while protecting the ball.  Occasionally, he lets the ball hit his body but once he catches it he drives his feet on first contact and usually makes it hard for the defender to bring him down. The back shoulder throw is a hot route that is nearly impossible to cover and Strong has done a pretty damn good job at running it.  His route running could use some fine-tuning but I could see Strong being a very good number two receiver.  

5) Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri Tigers/Oklahoma Sooners
Height: 6'5          Weight: 237 
40 Yard Dash: 4.49 Seconds
Vertical: 33.5 Inches
Career Stats: 87 Catches, 1278 Yards, 17 TDs

Pull your head out of your ass DGB!  The former Missouri Tiger is such an animal on the gridiron and if not for all of his off the field baggage (selling and smoking pot) he could be a top 10 pick.  Now it is not certain where he goes but all you need is that one team to take a chance on you.  Ideally, if he goes to Seattle or New England I believe Belichick and Carroll will be able to reach the young man and make sure he put all of his off the field mishaps behind him.  Green- Beckham is one of my favorite players to watch and I hope to watch him play for a long time on Sundays.  He is a tower at 6’5” and 235 pounds and still ran an impressive 4.49 forty-yard dash.  He is a long strider but accelerates very quickly and gets in and out of his breaks well.  He still manages to get behind the secondary with his deceptive speed and take one to the house.  His game tape against Kentucky in 2013 is my favorite tape to watch as he shows he is a man among little tiny infants (7 catches for 100 yards and 4 incredible touchdowns).  He is one of those guys that even though he is covered, he’s still open.  With all of the off the field issues that has followed this kid, I hope he gets as far away from his “friends” as possible.  Any team would love to have him but there are already General Managers that have taken him off of their draft boards.  Wake up man.  You could be great.

6) Breshad Perriman, Central Florida Knights
Height: 6'2          Weight: 212
Career Stats: 115 Catches, 2243 Yards, 16 TDs

There seems to be a trend of these receivers in the works.  All of them are over 6’2 and 210 pounds; Perriman is no different.  He is that big and physical receiver that can go up and get the ball.  He finds a way to create separation, whether through his deceptive quickness or illusive route running, and gets down the field to make an insane circus catch.  Perriman looks NFL ready even though he has been involved in a spread offense in his collegiate career, he runs all of the routes asked of him and runs them pretty fluidly.  Slants, digs, deep posts, comebacks, and go routes.  Having a father who was a former NFL receiver doesn’t hurt either.  His blocking capability is above average so at least he isn’t an issue in that area and believe it or not but offensive coordinators do appreciate a good run blocking receiver.  I have noticed two major flaws for the receiver from Central Florida.  First, although he makes some outstanding and insane circus catches, he tends to have that easy drop that infuriates coaches and quarterbacks.  He will have created the separation and comes back to a wide-open throw then straight up drop the ball.  Frustrating as hell.  The other issue is his mistiming on jumps.  Somewhat of a weird problem to have but it is something that can be fixed.  Maybe he is still adjusting to his body but the more work he gets in with a professional wide receiver coach, the less likely this will be an issue.  Perriman looks the part to be a legit wide receiver, it’s up to him to fix his flaws and catch the fricken ball! 

7) Sammie Coates, Auburn Tigers
Height: 6'1          Weight: 210
40 Yard Dash: 4.43 Seconds
Vertical: 41 Inches
Career Stats: 82 Catches, 1757 Yards, 13 TDs

Often times watching this kid, I felt bad for him. Coates has the ability to be a damn good receiver at the next level but his production was skewed by horrible quarterback play and terrible inaccuracy by Nick Marshall.  He is big, fast, and strong when he wants to be.  He gets pushed around a bit while run blocking but that is because he stands way too tall when engaged with a defender.  But when it comes to using a strong stiff arm, he has no problem throwing around his weight.  Playing with Marshall as his quarterback was an issue more times than naught but Coates did have a great chance to get open while his QB was scrambling around trying to stay off the ground.  This extra time allowed Coates to move around and find an open area on the field.  He is more than a one trick pony.  Even though he can be a big time burner with great deep speed, Coates can shake one defender and take the ball to the house.  When the ball is in the air, the Auburn Tiger always has a good shot at coming down with it because he is great at positioning himself to make the best play on the ball.  Coates definitely needs more polish on his route running as he ran the same few routes all game long; mainly deep posts and go routes.  He also tends to get lazy when the ball is not going his way.  Whether it be a quick throw to the other side of the field or a running play, Coates may take the play off.  As far as his hands go, he makes great catches all over the field but has that occasional mind fart and lets the ball slip through his hands.  With better quarterback play, Coates has the ability to be a very good NFL receiver.

Are We Nearing the End?

by Justin Rasile

            Do we have an issue on our hands and in our heads?

24 years old.  Prime of his career.  Jaw dropping stats and an incredibly bright future.  The recent news of Chris Borland retiring has been a major sports story for the past few days and it looks as though his decision may resonate throughout the NFL for quite some time.  In fact, his choice may be the beginning of a trend.  He barely started 8 games in his rookie season and in that time he accumulated 107 tackles and 2 picks.  Fantasy football leagues that use the individual defensive player format were drooling over this kid when he racked up 18, 17, 13, 16, and 14 tackles in five separate games.  Seemingly mind blowing stats that helped lead some teams to their fantasy championships and gave 49er fans hope for their defensive future after a dismal offseason (which included Patrick Willis’s stunning retirement to keep his body in tact as well).  Then Borland made a stunning announcement that after just one year of professional football, he would be retiring from the game he loved.  And not because of an ACL or Achilles tear or any kind of noticeable injury, but for the potential damage that you cannot see until years down the road.  Within the past five years, the realization of brain injuries and their connection to football has been astronomical.  CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a degenerative disease in which repeated blows to the head cause brain tissue to erode and tau protein begins to build.  This leads to depression, anxiety, memory loss, aggression, and even suicide.  There may possibly be a link to football players, CTE, and the short fuses that players have when they are involved in these domestic abuse cases because you sometimes don’t think clearly.  CTE has been found in MANY football players.  There have been multiple reports that state in their research that they have found CTE in over 95% of deceased football player’s brains.  Stunning statistics that seem never ending and only seem to be increasing as more information and brains are gathered. 

One of the greatest books I have ever read is League of Denial written by Mark Fainaru- Wada and Steve Fainaru.  In it they do some amazing research on the recent history of brain diseases and how it has affected the NFL and their players.  They detail a once great man and pro football hall of famer center Mike Webster.  Webster was considered a smaller player and always carried a chip on his shoulder during his illustrious 16-year career.  He was known as a gentle giant off the field and had a great relationship with his family and friends.  Although as a center, you are in the trenches with the largest athletes in the world and collision and pain are a forgone conclusion.  Helmets are constantly banging and heads are taking huge hits. There are over 50 offensive plays run a game so headaches are going to be a constant.  It’s the things that we don’t see that are the real issues.  Broke, memory loss, mood swings, and depression were just a few of the issues that Webster had as his brain deteriorated and his body began to shut down because of it.  But the most disturbing story about Webster was when he asked his son to taze him with a stun gun just so he could fall asleep for twenty minutes.  Webster died in agony and there was nothing he could do about it.

         

               All of this research we now have on our hands, and the more we are gathering, are giving players an inside look into what could happen to them down the road in their lives.  You can end up like Ben Utecht, former Indianapolis Colts tight end, who is in a constant battle trying to remember his best friends’ names and memories that seem so close but remain so distant.  He has even written a letter for his wife and daughters to be read if he ever gets to the point where he doesn’t remember who they are.  Then there is Kosta Karageorge, an Ohio State wrestler and football player, whose body was found in a dumpster dead from an apparent suicide after he was missing for a few days.  Brain trauma and concussions are considered to be a factor in the young 22 year olds death.  Junior Seau is also a name that should ring a bell in every football player’s ears.  He purposefully shot himself in the chest just so his brain could be preserved.  Seau even tried to kill himself by driving his own car off a cliff.  Now I know I am probably a bad example considering I only played four years of high school football but on my accounts I have had at least four concussions while playing and roughly eight concussions throughout my 24 years of living.  Am I scared?  You bet your ass I am.  Concussions are no joke and something that people cannot take lightly.  I am not here as an advocate for stopping what I believe to be the greatest game in the world, and one that I attribute to shaping me into the man I am today.  I just believe that people have to stop and smell the roses and take a good long, hard look at their lives and where they want to go with it.  The information is there for players and parents to make an informed decision about playing football.  And like Chris Borland said, “I don’t want to negotiate health for money”.  Truer words have never been spoken my friend.

Top Quarterbacks for 2015 Draft

by Derek Rampulla

1) Jameis Winston, Florida State Seminoles
Height: 6'4          Weight: 231
Career Passing Stats: 7964 Yards, 66.1% Completion, 65 TDs, 28 INTs
Career Rushing Stats: 284 Yards, 1.8 Yards Per Carry, 7 TDs

Jameis Winston is far and above the best quarterback in the draft. He is a better prospect than Mariota, and many scouts believe that he is the second best quarterback prospect in the last fifteen years (the first being Andrew Luck). He has so many of the features that usually take years in the NFL to hone in on at such a young age. It is crazy to think how much better he could be if he didn't play baseball in the spring. I think that his most impressive trait is his ability to feel pressure and react to it in the pocket. He has a great feel for opposing defenses and knows how to move around to get the best platform to throw from. Unlike a lot of young quarterbacks, he doesn't feel the need to break the pocket and pick up yards with his feet. He is more than capable of doing so, but he is a passer first who always keeps his eyes down field and is looking to make a play with his arm. Winston is also used to running a pro style offense which will give him a leg up on the other quarterbacks, especially Mariota. A lot of quarterbacks who come from some type of spread offense often struggle with the transition to a pro offense. He already has the familiarity of the system, and his high football IQ should make his transition to the pros as painless as possible. His IQ will serve him well from the get go as he already has a great understanding of blitzing concepts and knows how to change his protection. Winston also has a great arm, possibly one of the best, and will be able to fit passes into tight windows. His only real knocks besides off the field issues are his lower body mechanics. I have rarely seen him step into his throw as the normal motion goes. He has such a powerful arm that he doesn't need to step into his throws to get velocity on the ball. Surprisingly, he maintains very good accuracy and ball placement, but he will have to work out that issue for the pros. Other than that, the only real negative to his game right now is his elongated throwing motion. From playing baseball, he has a slightly more dragged out motion that could cause passes to get tipped at the next level. He also won't have as much room in the pocket in the NFL, and when it takes longer to get your pass of it opens you up to fumbles. But aside from those two issues, I think that Winston is as ready as they come. There is little doubt he will be a starter for the first game regardless of who drafts him.


2) Marcus Mariota, Oregon Ducks
Height: 6'4          Weight: 222
Career Passing Stats: 10,796 Passing Yards, 66.8% Completion, 105 TDs, 14 INTs
Career Rushing Stats: 2237 Yards, 6.7 Yards Per Carry, 29 TDs

I see the debate between Winston and Mariota a lot like the debate between Andrew Luck and RG3. One is good athlete who has a great grasp on the pro game while the other is a superb athlete with high upside. Mariota definitely has all the athleticism in the world for a quarterback as he routinely picks up big yardage when plays begin to break down. On top of that, Mariota is a lot like Winston in the sense that he keeps his eyes down field as long as he can before he takes off. The problem with this is that Mariota tends to break the pocket a lot more frequently than Winston will, and that is something that he absolutely has to change to succeed. There has been a lot of debate regarding Mariota ever since the championship game, but it was clear to see even last year that there were going to be some issues in Mariota's transition to the NFL. He has a lot of the same problems that you get with a spread quarterback, or any quarterback who seems to find success in a high powered offense. He will have to adapt to the pro system which is not always easy for someone who comes from a system like Oregon's. The Ducks run an offense that simplifies the game greatly for the quarterback. Most of them have relied on their athleticism to make plays, but it has been proven that you have to win from the pocket to be successful in the NFL. The championship game against Ohio State showed that he really doesn't feel comfortable with down field throws when he doesn't have a clean pocket. Mariota is apparently a really smart guy, so if he is drafted into the right system he could easily become a very good player. He has a very good arm, so once he gets some reps under his belt he should not have a lot of problems making all the necessary throws. He also has a very compact release which will serve him well when things break down. He might not be as ready as Winston is, but he definitely has the potential to become a very good player.


3) Garrett Grayson, Colorado State Rams
Height: 6'2          Weight: 213
Career Passing Stats: 9190 Yards, 68.8% Completion, 64 TDs, 27 INTs
Career Rushing Stats: 283 Yards, 1.3 Yards Per Carry, 4 TDs

Grayson doesn't have the same publicity as either Winston or Mariota, but he is a solid quarterback who has a good chance of being the third quarterback taken. He really isn't worthy of a first round pick, but he could definitely be taken by a team that will be getting rid of a quarterback in the next few years. He already has a lot of tools in place, but just needs some refinement in his game. Grayson has a very strong arm that allows him to make more plays. He can get the ball outside of the numbers and get it down field. He doesn't have a cannon, but it should be sufficient at the next level. Despite his arm strength, he does tend to struggle a bit with his accuracy down field. Against some of the better teams he faced, he had some issues with connecting on passes over twenty yards. This kind of goes hand in hand with the other weakness in his game which is ball placement. He has good short to intermediate accuracy, but sometimes he doesn't always lead his receiver well and can miss some plays. He did not take a lot of snaps from directly under center, but he is a player who will stand tall in the pocket. He has lapses with feeling the pressure at times, but he is not the kind of player to try and run when he doesn't have his first read. Grayson goes through his progressions very well and does a good job of not locking onto a receiver. He is definitely a guy that is going to have to sit for a couple of years, but Grayson could be a steal in the second round if picked by the right team.

Post Combine Mock Draft

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

JR: Jameis Winston, QB- This is the pick.  We all know it.  The Bucs are going for their quarterback of the future and definitely the best quarterback in this draft.

DR: Jameis Winston, QB- The Bucs really don't have much of a choice with their first pick. Unless someone offers them around three first round picks to move up, they need to take Jameis. He would help close the gap in the NFC South.

2.  Tennessee Titans:

JR: Leonard Williams, DT/DE- The Titans get the best player in this draft who will be a staple for a Tennessee front.

DR: Dante Fowler, DE/OLB- The Titans really can't go wrong with Williams or Fowler. I think Williams is the better player, but Tennessee's leading sacker last season was Derrick Morgan with 6.5. Fowler would cause havoc and open up more opportunities for Morgan.

3.  Jacksonville Jaguars-

JR: Dante Fowler, DE- Fowler is the more complete and pro ready pass rusher with great burst, tenacity, and intelligence that Gus Bradley loves.

DR: Leonard Williams, DT/DE- I was mistaken in my last mock when I said the Jaguars couldn't get to the quarterback. They showed they can last year, but can stand to add a guy who could play almost any position along the defensive line.

4.  Oakland Raiders:

JR: Amari Cooper, WR- Derek Carr needs a true number one receiver to grow with and the Raiders get him one here.  James Jones can only do so much.

DR: Amari Cooper, WR- Our picks remained unchanged for the Raiders. They have some pieces in place on defense, but need more firepower for their offense. James Jones should not be your number one receiver.

5.  Washington Redskins:

JR: Randy Gregory, OLB/DE- Brian Orakpo cannot stay healthy.  When he leaves for free agency, Washington gets the explosive pass rusher they desperately need.

DR: Randy Gregory, OLB/DE- I'm changing this from Landon Collins since it seems like the Redskins will move on from Orakpo (or the other way around). Gregory should be able to come in and provide a relatively seamless transition.

6.  New York Jets:

JR: Marcus Mariota, QB- New Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has experience running the spread offense, which can make Mariota’s transition to the NFL easier.  I pray they would sit this kid for at least 10 games.

DR: Kevin White, WR- White showcased his incredible athleticism at the combine by running a 4.35 40 yard dash while standing at 6'3. He is a game changing receiver that the Jets haven't had since.....ever?

7.  Chicago Bears:

JR: Danny Shelton, NT- A tough nose tackle that the Bears will need to help address the holes in their new 3-4 defense.

DR: Landon Collins, S- The Bears should be thrilled if they can land Collins. Their secondary was a mess last year despite the stellar play of Kyle Fuller. Collins could help round out the overhaul.

8.  Atlanta Falcons:

JR: Vic Beasley, OLB/DE- Atlanta has desperately needed a pass rusher and Dan Quinn gets what Mike Smith never had.

DR: Shane Ray, OLB/DE- Atlanta was awful at rushing the passer last year, so an upgrade is obviously needed. Scouts have been picking apart Ray recently, but I still believe he is an excellent option for Atlanta at this juncture.

9.  New York Giants:

JR: Brandon Scherff, OG- Taking a page out of their NFC East rival’s playbook, the G Men go for a versatile offensive lineman that can maul defenders at the line.

DR: Andrus Peat, OT- My pick here is unchanged. A premier left tackle is needed as Eli was heavily pressured all of last year.

10. St. Louis Rams:

JR: Kevin White, WR- The Rams get their number one receiver and help Sam Bradford or whoever is behind center.  White can be an absolute beast if he is brought up and trained right.

DR: Marcus Mariota, QB- I still think that this is the perfect landing spot for Mariota and works out well for the Rams. Bradford can't stay healthy, so it is likely the Mariota would see some game time this year.

11. Minnesota Vikings:

JR: Malcom Brown, DT- The Vikings miss the days of the two Williams’ brothers clogging up the middle of that defense and being the best at stopping the run.  They allowed over 100 yards rushing in all but three games this season, including over a 150 yards in five games.

DR: Devante Parker, WR- Weapons for a young quarterback are always beneficial. This pick might change if the Vikings do decide to release Adrian Peterson. 

12. Cleveland Browns:

JR: Devante Parker, WR- With the bone-headedness of Josh Gordon and him potentially never playing again in the NFL, it looks as though the Browns will have to look elsewhere for some playmakers.

DR: Danny Shelton, NT- The Browns absolutely have to upgrade their defensive line. They couldn't stop the run at crucial points last season which cost them a playoff spot.

13. New Orleans Saints:

JR: Alvin Dupree, OLB/DE- Junior Galette and Cameron Jordan did decent but nothing spectacular at getting to the quarterback.  They need a pure pass rushing playmaker to wreak havoc off the edge.

DR: Vic Beasley, OLB/DE- Same idea, just a different player. Beasley would get the Saints back to where they were a couple of years ago when they had a top ten defense that was focused around blitzing.

14. Miami Dolphins:

JR: Trae Waynes, CB- The Dolphins already have one great corner in Brent Grimes but the Dolphins need cap space so it looks as though Cortland Finnegan will be a cap casualty.

DR: Trae Waynes, CB- What Justin said. Waynes is also just too talented to not take at this juncture.

15. San Francisco 49ers:

JR: Maxx Williams, TE- The tight end from Minnesota is a fast riser.  Michael Crabtree may be leaving in free agency and Williams can be that big target that Vernon Davis clearly isn’t anymore.

DR: Sammie Coates, WR- Coates is the ultimate boom/bust pick. He is still raw as a football player, but his athleticism and potential would greatly benefit a Niners team that lacks receiving threats.

16. Houston Texans:

JR: Erik Kendricks, ILB- A playmaking inside linebacker that JJ Watt would fall in love with and help make this defense one of the premier defense.

DR: Shaq Thomspon, ILB/S- I still like the idea of Thompson going to the Texans. He is a do it all type of player who could make this defense elite.

17. San Diego Chargers:

JR: Melvin Gordon, RB- Ryan Matthews has played decent but is as fragile as they come so the Chargers find their feature back in a true great talent.

DR: Jaelen Strong, WR- I'm changing my pick from Gordon because I think that the Chargers need a receiver more. Keenan Allen had a bit of a sophomore slump with teams focusing on him more, so another receiver across the field would open up more options.

18. Kansas City Chiefs:

JR: Landon Collins, SS- Such a sad story about Eric Berry.  A phenomenal player and his career could be cut way too short, so it looks as though the Chiefs will have to replace him.

DR: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR- I cringe at the thought of DGB being drafted back into his home state, but he is simply too talented to pass up. Alex Smith isn't a world beater, but it isn't like he really has that much to work with.

19. Cleveland Browns:

JR: La’El Collins, OT/OG- Adding a mauler like Collins would help the Browns all along the offensive line.

DR: Denzel Perryman, ILB- Keeping with the theme of bolstering the defense after they miss out on the top receivers in the class. Perryman could be a starter from day one.

20. Philadelphia Eagles:

JR: Marcus Peters, CB- I live in the Northeast and constantly hear Eagles fans complain about how terrible their secondary was and how Cary Williams is the worst corner in the league.  So maybe this will fix that.

DR: Marcus Peters, CB- I agree with what Justin said. Eagles fans are the worst.

21. Cincinnati Bengals:

JR: Devin Smith, WR- Andy Dalton needs a receiver to take the top off the defense.  AJ Green and Mohammed Sanu are nice but don’t have that breakaway speed.  Smith will open up areas all over the field.

DR: Mario Edwards, DE- The Bengals simply could not rush the passer at all last year. Edwards is very athletic and could play multiple spots.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers:

JR: Shane Ray, OLB- James Harrison and Jason Worilds could easily leave through free agency so adding a young pass rusher is a must to that old defense.

DR: Jalen Collins, CB- I'm not sure how much longer the Steelers can go without upgrading their corners. They desperately need to in order to get over the hump and back into the playoffs.

23. Detroit Lions:

JR: Dorial Green Beckham, WR- Imagine Matthew Stafford throwing to Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, and Green-Beckham.  Just imagine it.

DR: Melvin Gordon, RB- Here is a slightly better scenario for the Lions. They have just released Reggie Bush and Gordon is as dynamic of a running back as they come. The Lions would be much more balanced offensively with him in the backfield. 

24. Arizona Cardinals:

JR: Jaelen Strong, WR- Larry Fitzgerald is such a polarizing figure in Arizona and if the Cardinals decide to move on from him, and even if they don’t, they need to look forward to the future.  Michael Floyd is a good number two and Strong is right in Arizona’s backyard.

DR: Brandon Scherff, OG- The Cardinals are a tough team to mock because they really don't have a tremendous amount of needs. But giving them another lineman would go a long way for whoever is playing quarterback for them next year.

25. Carolina Panthers:

JR: Andrus Peat, OT- Opponents sacked Panthers quarterbacks 42 times this past season.  Keeping Cam Newton upright and healthy is a must for this franchise.

DR: Erick Flowers, OT- Again, same idea as Justin. Cam cannot keep getting obliterated.

26. Baltimore Ravens:

JR: Phillip Dorsett, WR- Even if Torrey Smith doesn’t leave, Joe Flacco needs more targets.  Steve Smith, who will be 36 at the start of next year, started off strong this year but tapered off towards the end.

DR: Ronald Darby, CB- This pick will likely come down to a corner or receiver. I believe Darby is a better prospect than Dorsett and could help shore up an aging cornerback unit.

27. Dallas Cowboys:

JR: Shaq Thompson, OLB- A true playmaker that has the ability to play both sides of the ball but is probably best suited for outside linebacker.

DR: Todd Gurley, RB- It is starting to look like the Cowboys won't be retaining Demarco Murray which I think is a good call. Gurley is a tremendous running back who could really thrive in Dallas's offense.

28. Denver Broncos:

JR: Eddie Goldman, DT- If Terrance Knighton does not come back, this Broncos defense will need another big body to clog up the middle.

DR: Maxx Williams, TE- Same pick as last time. Julius Thomas probably won't be retained, and Williams is a better overall tight end since he can actually block.

29. Indianapolis Colts:

JR: Todd Gurley, RB- As a Jaguars fan, this scares me to death.  The thought of Andrew Luck and Gurley teaming up with T.Y. Hilton on the outside would be a deadly trio.  He can also be brought along slowly until fully healthy.

DR: DJ Humphries, OT- Humphries is a prospect on the rise. He would be able to help bolster an offensive line that allowed Luck to be constantly under siege last year.

30. Green Bay Packers:

JR: Arik Armstead, DE/DT- A long and built defensive end that can add to the talent on this Packers defense.  Oh yeah, and getting trained by Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews isn’t a half bad gig.

DR: Eric Kendricks, ILB- AJ Hawk was recently released, but he needed to be upgraded anyway. Kendricks has the ability to make the plays in space that Hawk never could and is a capable run defender.

31. Seattle Seahawks:

JR: Devin Funchess, WR- Time for Russell Wilson to have a big-bodied endzone threat. 

DR: Devin Smith, WR- None of the Seahawks wide outs are true deep threats. Smith would give a more dynamic feel to the passing game.

32. New England Patriots:

JR: Jordan Phillips, DT- I don’t think any team will want to block Vince Wilfork and Phillips.  Two giant boulders in the middle of the defense will command at least three offensive linemen every single play opening up lanes for Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich.

DR: Devin Funchess, WR- There is debate over what position Funchess will play, but regardless of that he is a sorely needed player. The Patriots need more big bodies lining up out wide other than Brandon LaFell.