Written by Roy Countryman
1. Cincinnati: Joe Burrow, QB (LSU)
Cincinnati, get your cigars ready- Joe Cool is coming to turn your franchise around!
2. Washington: Chase Young, EDGE (Ohio State)
The Predator gets unleashed in DC, where they look to build a DL like San Francisco did that led to a Super Bowl appearance.
3. Detroit: Traded to Dolphins: Jedrick Wills, OT (Alabama)
Miami trades up to get their choice of the OTs, and they come away with the best one in the draft to protect FitzMagic and their next face of the franchise.
4. NY Giants: Andrew Thomas, OT (Georgia)
Everyone is mocking Wirfs here to the Giants, but I am sticking with my gut here as they prefer the surefire LT in Thomas.
5. Miami: Traded to Lions: Derrick Brown, DT (Auburn)
The majority of media pundits have Matt Patricia and Co. taking a CB, but their IDL is in shambles after releasing Snacks Harrison.
6. LA Chargers: Tua Tagovailoa, QB (Alabama)
Tom Telesco is willing to take risks on health issues, and if you read the tea leaves in their free agency moves of OL reinforcements to Tua’s blindside.
7. Carolina: Jeffrey Okudah, CB (Ohio State)
Carolina sits back and gets one of the cleanest prospects in this draft as they immediately replace James Bradberry.
8. Arizona: Isaiah Simmons, LB (Clemson)
Arizona really considers trading down to grab some more picks, but the thought of adding a defensive force to the offensive force they selected last year is too good to pass up.
9. Jacksonville (Traded to Falcons): C.J. Henderson, CB (Florida)
After having a gaping hole at CB since arguably the days of Deion Sanders, the Falcons jump up and grab one of the best cover men in the draft.
10. Cleveland (Traded to Broncos): Henry Ruggs, WR (Alabama)
With Drew Lock under center, Denver needs to keep adding pieces around him, and what better weapon than a Tyreek Hill-esque playmaker for a QB that likes to throw the ball downfield.
11. NY Jets: Mekhi Becton, OT (Louisville)
Sam Darnold will pay for whatever travel expenses needed to get Becton to New York if it means keeping him upright and healthy.
12. Las Vegas: CeeDee Lamb, WR (Louisville)
Since Mayock and Gruden seem intent on giving Derek Carr another shot at being the starter, they need to add playmakers who can make dynamic plays after the catch.
13. San Francisco (f/IND; Traded to Dolphins): Jordan Love, QB (Utah State)
Love is my favorite QB in this class, and I believe he has a higher upside than Burrow. The Dolphins moved quickly to secure a facility visit prior to the shutdown, and with this pick, they get their next face of the franchise.
14. Tampa Bay: Tristan Wirfs, OT (Iowa)
The last of the “Big Four” OTs to go off the board goes to maybe the best location possible for his talents. He can enter and start on day one at RT with Tom Brady and a litany of weapons around him.
15. Denver (Traded to Browns; Traded to Eagles): Jerry Jeudy, WR (Alabama)
The Consensus #1 WR throughout the draft process drops to the 15 possibly due to some concerns about his knee, but the Eagles bite at the opportunity to add speed and playmaking to a WR corps severely lacking it.
16. Atlanta(Traded to JAX): Javon Kinlaw, DT (South Carolina)
After trading Calais Campbell to Baltimore and cutting Marcell Dareus, the IDL in Jacksonville is lacking a dynamic talent in their front seven. They get one of the biggest values of the draft here at 16 after a trade down with Atlanta.
17. Dallas: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE (LSU)
The Cowboys have Demarcus Lawrence and little else along their defensive front, as Randy Gregory has proven he cannot be depended upon.
18. Miami (f/PIT; Traded to SF; Traded to NE): Justin Herbert, QB (Oregon)
With Herbert taking an Aaron Rodgers-Esque fall, New England jumps at the opportunity to add an athletic passer in Herbert to replace Brady.
19. Las Vegas (f/CHI): A.J. Terrell, CB (Clemson)
Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden love championship pedigree if last year taught us anything with the Clelin Ferrell pick. They go back to the well to patch up their secondary needs opposite Trayvon Mullen.
20. Jacksonville(f/LAR): Trevon Diggs, CB (Alabama)
Diggs may not be ranked this high on other team’s CB rankings, but is an ideal fit for the Jacksonville scheme and should be able to step into a Jalen Ramsey role quickly.
21. Philadelphia (Traded to CLE): Grant Delpit, S (LSU)
After trading down twice and gaining picks, the Browns sit and fill their need for a playmaker at safety with one of the best ballhawks in this class, even though he needs to tighten up his tackling.
22. Minnesota (f/BUF): Kristian Fulton, CB (LSU)
Solid CB who can step in day one as a starter for a unit in Minnesota that lost three corners this offseason.
23. New England (Traded to SF): Austin Jackson, OT (USC)
Joe Staley is getting long in the tooth, and Kyle Shanahan is taking a page out of Doug Pederson’s book and getting an apprentice at LT before the master retires.
24. New Orleans: Patrick Queen, LB (LSU)
After the Kiko Alonso injury and losing Klein in free agency, New Orleans needs another playmaker in the LB corps beside Demario Davis.
25. Minnesota: Justin Jefferson, WR (LSU)
After trading Stefon Diggs, the Vikings have a hole at #2 WR on the depth chart, and they fill this need with one of the most well rounded WRs in this class.
26. Miami (f/HOU): Xavier McKinney, S (Alabama)
After securing their LT and QB of the future, Miami finishes their litany of Round One picks with a dynamic Swiss-army style defender that Brian Flores can have fun with.
27. Seattle (Traded to JAX for Yannick Ngakoue): Jonathan Taylor, RB (Wisconsin)
After trading Ngakoue to the Seahawks, the Jags could go in a variety of ways here, but with the news that they are shopping Leonard Fournette, they replace him with a younger version with more upside.
28. Baltimore: Kenneth Murray, LB (Oklahoma)
A presence in the Oklahoma locker room moves to Baltimore where they are severely lacking this type of playmaker at the position.
29. Tennessee: Marlon Davidson, EDGE (Auburn)
This pick comes down to Gross-Matos or Davidson, and I leaned towards Marlon due to the trade of Jurell Casey as he possesses the versatility to play IDL and EDGE.
30. Green Bay: Jordyn Brooks, LB (Texas Tech)
The Pack went out and signed Kirksey after he was cut by Cleveland, but he’s had trouble staying healthy, so they continue their positional makeover here.
31. San Francisco: Ross Blacklock, DT (TCU)
After trading DeForest Buckner to the Colts, their defensive line could use an injection of talent to the depth chart.
32. Kansas City: Cesar Ruiz, C (Michigan)
Gotta keep the face of the NFL clean, and step one in that process is at the pivot position.