Posted in: NFL, Sports | Tagged: BC Mock Draft, entertainment, Jamal Adams, Myles Garrett, nfl, sports

The Bleeding Cool NFL Mock Draft Part 1 (Picks 1 – 10)

Published Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:01:00 -0500

Last updated Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:08:09 -0500

We are three days from the 2017 NFL Draft and it's time to do the first ever, Bleeding Cool Mock Draft. Now I'm going to break this into three parts. First part covering the first 10 picks, second part picks 11 to 20 and the third part will be picks 21 to 32.

Now most of the team have the draft boards locked in and it would take a lot to change it. But things can always happen. A trade, a signing, a positive drug test, an off-the-field incident suddenly coming to light. There is still a lot of drama going into the draft. Right now, the New Orleans Saints are in talks to sign Adrian Peterson. You arguably the best runner in the NFL (or at least was) to a team with Drew Brees at quarterback, you've got the potential for a very strong offense and could shift the balance of power in the NFC South.

And there is a lot of smoke screen talk happening from all the teams. No one is coming out and saying who they want, but all of them are hinting at as many different scenarios as they can. The Cleveland Browns were supposedly set at #1 taking Myles Garrett, yet rumors are they are seriously considering taking Mitchell Trubisky with the pick. But most of what you hear in the last few weeks… minus the drug test on Jabrill Peppers… is just talk.

One thing to know about the BC Mock, there are no trades. Teams pick where they are.

First Pick: Cleveland Browns
Selection: Myles Garrett DE (Texas A&M)
Analysis: I'm not buying the quarterback talk at this point. Garrett projects to be an absolute beast and the Browns need a pass rush. The team can take him here and use the pick at number twelve to get a quarterback if they're worried one won't last. Garrett has been the unanimous top pick since January and that hasn't changed. The Browns have to get a difference maker with this pick and Garrett is the best option.

Second Pick: San Francisco 49ers
Selection: Solomon Thomas DE (Stanford)
Analysis: The Niners could go many directions here, but I don't see them going QB. The options really come down to best player available for this team. Safety Jamal Adams is project out as better overall, but Thomas fits the Niners defense better and is a local coming out of Stanford. Thomas will likely be a double-digit sack producer for quite a few years and nothing makes a defense better than the opposing quarterback lying on his back.

Third Pick: Chicago Bears
Selection: Marshon Lattimore CB (Ohio State)
Analysis: The Bears will have to stop for a moment and think about this one. They have the best safety and cornerback available to them. But corner is a bigger position of need and Lattimore has the size and speed to be a shutdown corner that every team wants. He's been nagged by hamstring injuries while in college, but when healthy he can take the opposing teams best receiver out of the game. This will be too much for John Fox and crew to pass up.

Fourth Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars
Selection: Jonathan Allen DE (Alabama)
Analysis: The Jaguars will run this card up to the podium to get Allen. The big man can play both inside and outside on the d-line and excels both against the run and the pass. They could go for someone on the offensive line and the team doesn't seem to be to certain about Blake Bortles just yet, but Allen is just too rare of a talent to pass up here and there just isn't a quarterback worth of this high of a pick.

Fifth Pick: Tennessee Titans
Selection: Mike Williams WR (Clemson)
Analysis: The Titans need someone for Marcus Mariota to throw to and Williams is a good choice. He has the size for the jump balls and the strength to fight for position. He's the endzone type receiver teams have been going after for a while now. Williams also has good numbers after contact, which is a good indicator that he'll transfer well into the NFL.

Sixth Pick: New York Jets
Selection: Jamal Adams S (LSU)
Analysis: Some folks have Adams going second or third. For him to drop to sixth would be a dream scenario for the Jets who have needs all over the field. Adams is smart, physical and athletic and likely to be a team captain in no time. For a team looking to change the culture, Adams will bring the right attitude and play-making ability. Sometimes the best thing you can do to fix a team is bring in the right type of players.

Seventh Pick: Los Angeles Chargers
Selection: O.J. Howard TE (Alabama)
Analysis: Tight End is not exactly a position of need, but with the Chargers moving to Los Angeles they need to have some playmakers and the team is known for having a great tight end, so it only makes sense that they grab Howard at this point. He is a game changing receiver that will be a match-up nightmare for defenses. This is a team with a legacy of Antonio Gates, another top flight tight end would get fans excited.

Eighth Pick: Carolina Panthers
Selection: Leonard Fournette RB (LSU)
Analysis: This is the perfect pick for both the team and the player. Fournette is the type of hardnosed, downhill runner the Panthers like and they need to bring someone in to take some of the load off of an aging Jonathan Stewart. But Fournette has carried a lot in college and could use to be part of a rotation that doesn't ask him to carry 25 times a game. Between Stewart, Fozzy Whittaker and Cam Newton, Fournette will be able to ease into the starting roll and give his ankles a bit of a rest.

Ninth Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Selection: Forrest Lamp G/T (Western Kentucky)
Analysis: The offensive line isn't the sexiest pick you can make on day one, but having your quarterback up right and holes opened for your runners will be damn sexy on Sundays this fall. The O-line is the Bengals biggest need and Lamp is the brightest looking guard / tackle on the list. He projects to play guard, but has experience at tackle and would be worth taking a look at in camp.

Tenth Pick: Buffalo Bills
Selection: Corey Davis WR (Western Michigan)
Analysis: The Bills desperately need people to catch the ball and Davis is easily the second-best receiver in the draft. He has three seasons of over 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns and was named the MAC's Offensive Player of the Year. They could also go after a tight end or corner here, but none project as high as Davis and wideout is just as big of need.