1. Cleveland Browns (4-12) - Jarvis Jones (OLB/Georgia)
Brandon Weeden has looked pretty awful and a new regime is very likely in Cleveland since they have a new owner, but I highly doubt that the team is going to abandon their quarterback after one season, especially after giving him a four year deal.
Just as bad as their offensive needs, however, is the need to address their pass rush. The team has 13 sacks so far this season, but six of them came against Cincinnati.
Jones has been the best defensive player in the nation this season. Last week against Tennessee marked the first game this season where he was unable to register a sack.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) - Geno Smith (QB/West Virginia)
Geno Smith has outplayed Matt Barkley in every game this season and with the rise of mobile quarterbacks who are also accurate in the NFL like Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton, Smith will easily ascend to the top of this list of he keeps playing at a high level.
3. Minnesota Vikings (5-11) - Jonathan Hankins (DT/Ohio State)
Hankins and Star Lotulelei are neck-and-neck at this position, but for now the edge goes to Hankins. Minnesota may need to replace 32-year-old free agent to be Kevin Williams. Either way, they will need to bring in youth to the position.
4. Indianapolis Colts (5-11) - Barkevious Mingo (DE/LSU)
With Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis aging, the Colts will need to inject some youth into their defensive line rotation. Mingo registered his first sack of the season last week against Towson.
5. Oakland Raiders (6-10) - Matt Barkley (QB/USC)
In this draft, Oakland lands their franchise quarterback who is also a homegrown prospect. Barkley will not only provide Oakland with an opportunity to contend in the AFC West, but he will also sell seats, something desperately needed in Oakland.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10) - David Amerson (CB/NC State)
Tampa Bay needs to upgrade their secondary across from Aqib Talib. Eric Wright can't defend anyone and Ronde Barber needs to retire.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9) - DeMarcus Milliner (CB/Alabama)
The best player available makes sense for Pittsburgh. Ike Taylor will most likely be a cap casualty next season.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9) - Logan Thomas (QB/Virginia Tech)
Matt Cassel proves each week that he cannot be a reliable quarterback in the NFL. Kansas City has the talent on their team to win, but not at the most important position on the roster. Thomas has a cannon for an arm and is deadly with his legs as well.
9. Miami Dolphins (7-9) - Sam Montgomery (DE/LSU)
Miami does not have much on their pass rush across from Cameron Wake. Wide receiver is also an option here, but no receiver in this draft is worth a top-ten pick.
10. St. Louis Rams (7-9) - Luke Joeckel (OT/Texas A&M)
Sam Bradford has already been sacked 14 times this season. Roger Saffold works better on the right side, but the team is stuck using him on the left side due to their lack of talent across the offensive line. Joeckel is a veteran stud who has started at left tackle since his freshman year.
11. Detroit Lions (7-9) - Eric Reid (S/LSU)
The key to beating the Lions right now is to open up the vertical game against their defense. Detroit and Oakland are the only two teams in the league who have not intercepted a pass this season.
12. Buffalo Bills (7-9) - Tyler Wilson (QB/Arkansas)
Do you think Ralph Wilson regrets giving Ryan Fitzpatrick that big contract? Fitzpatrick continues to disappoint in Buffalo. Wilson has played well since recovering from a concussion and may even slide up in the draft.
13. Denver Broncos (7-9) - Star Lotulelei (DT/Utah)
The Broncos need to improve their interior pass rush, which in the end will help take pressure away from Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. Lotulelei could easily be a top-ten pick in this draft and would be a great fit in Denver's system.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9) - Marcus Lattimore (RB/South Carolina)
Cincinnati got rid of Cedric Benson this offseason only to bring in another running back who can't average more than 3.5 yards per carry. Lattimore has showed no signs of rust from the knee surgery he has last year.
15. Arizona Cardinals (7-9) - Taylor Lewan (OT/Michigan)
Kevin Kolb is winning in Arizona, so I will lay off addressing a quarterback there for now, but he is still getting pummeled. Arizona has surrendered 14 sacks this season. If the team wants to continue winning, they will need to protect their quarterback.
16. New Orleans Saints (8-8) - Jackson Jeffcoat (DE/Texas)
Will Smith will be 32 next summer. Regardless, the Saints only have six sacks this season and need to bolster the pass rush. Jeffcoat has recorded a sack in each of his last three games.
17. Seattle Seahawks (8-8) - Robert Woods (WR/USC)
Fans may remember Golden Tate for his game-winning interception last week, but I remember him dropping two passes in the end zone beforehand. Russell Wilson will need someone to throw to in order to be successful in the NFL.
18. St. Louis Rams (7-9) - Justin Hunter (WR/Tennessee) (via Washington)
Danny Amendola has been a pleasant surprise for the Rams this year, but he is not the long term solution as the team's top wide receiver. Hunter could overtake Woods as the top receiver of the class.
19. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) - Xavier Rhodes (CB/Florida State)
Dominique Rogers-Cromartie is an impending free agent and Andy Reid has always made sure to have a healthy stock of cornerbacks on the roster. If Rogers-Cromartie walks, Rhodes will be a no-brainer.
20. Carolina Panthers (9-7) - DJ Fluker (OT/Alabama)
Carolina is giving up way to many sacks for them to be comfortable with. Jeff Otah was released in the offseason, but he was never replaced.
21. Dallas Cowboys (9-7) - Barrett Jones (C/Alabama)
The Cowboys need help on their interior offensive line. DeMarco Murray has the potential to be a stud in the NFL, but the Cowboys offensive line is holding him back. The team is only averaging 3.4 yards per carry and are among the worst rushing teams in the league.
22. New York Jets (9-7) - Keenan Allen (WR/California)
With Santonio Holmes out, the Jets are going to see just how bad their receivers are. Stephen Hill was a nice additon during the draft last year, but he can't be relied upon as the team's top target.
23. Tennessee Titans (10-6) - Alex Okafor (DE/Texas)
Tennessee has absolutely nothing to offer in the pass rush department. Derrick Morgan is healthy, but not looking good. Okafor already has four sacks this season.
24. Atlanta Falcons (11-5) - Tyler Eifert (TE/Notre Dame)
Tony Gonzalez will be a 36-year-old free agent this offseason and will most likely retire. Either way, he has taken a step back on what has been a Hall of Fame career.
25. Chicago Bears (10-6) - Manti Te'o (LB/Notre Dame)
Brian Urlacher is in the twilight of his career and Chicago should look into molding his replacement. Te'o could rise in this draft.
26. San Diego Chargers (9-7) - Terrance Williams (WR/Baylor)
Last year, San Diego lost Vincent Jackson, this year, they may lose Malcolm Floyd. Robert Meachem was a nice addition, but the Chargers will need more at the position.
27. New York Giants (10-6) - Chris Faulk (OT/LSU)
The Giants need to overhaul their entire offensive line. Eli Manning is entering the second half of his career and if the team wants to preserve him, they need to protect him.
28. New England Patriots (10-6) - TJ McDonald (S/USC)
Patrick Chung is a free agent in 2013. Regardless, the Patriots need to upgrade their leaky secondary.
29. San Francisco 49ers (12-4) - Kawann Short (DT/Purdue)
The 49ers defense has been stifling, but the team could upgrade at defensive tackle. Short is an animal who could easily be picked earlier.
30. Houston Texans (13-3) - Jake Matthews (OT/Texas A&M)
Houston needs to upgrade their right tackle position. Matthews' father, Bruce, was a Hall of Fame tackle for the Oilers.
31. Green Bay Packers (10-6) - Le'Veon Bell (RB/Michigan State)
Green Bay can't be satisfied with Cedric Benson at running back. Bell is a contributor in both the run and the passing game for Michigan State.
32. Baltimore Ravens (9-7) - Bjoern Werner (DE/Florida State)
The absence of Terrell Suggs has effected the Ravens pass rush significantly. Werner is the best player available and has 6.5 sacks so far this year.
Unless the Raiders can land Geno Smith by reasonable means either by Smith dropping to them in the Draft or through a carefully negotiated trade up with trade bait like McFadden/Seymour/Kelly/Huff Oakland will draft defense above all else since Palmer is servicing this offense without any major issues. We'll be fine for another year with Palmer.
ReplyDeleteI think we'll see a trade down (or two) if the Raiders are picking in the Top 5...this is of course, if they aren't in a position to draft Geno Smith. Players like Manti Te'o, Michael Buchanan, Jackson Jeffcoat, Bjoern Werner, David Amerson, John Jenkins, Corey Lemonier and Arthur Brown...getting two of these guys with a trade down (or two) will be a huge first step in rebuilding the Allen/Tarver defense in Oakland. There is also a possibility of taking a RT or LG with one of their first two picks should a top guy drop...Taylor Lewan, Barrett Jones, Jake Matthews, Dallas Thomas, Brennan Williams, Oday Aboushi and Chance Warmack should also be on Oakland's very broad radar next April.
Oakland definitely needs to address their defense (I had them taking David Amerson at one point) but if Barkley is available, I can't see them avoiding a franchise quarterback who is also from the area
DeleteThe way the Lions are playing, you may want to consider swapping the records and draft positions with Minnesota.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people are concerned with some of the team's records (Jets are the big on usually) so I will disclose how I go about finding the record and deciding who picks where. In the preseason, I type up the entire week-by-week schedule in an Excel spreadsheet and pick the winner of each game. Monday night/Tuesday morning, I update the spreadsheet to reflect my inaccuracies (picks I had wrong) and change it to the overall record and draft position. For example, I went 12-3 this week in my picks so not much changed, whereas in Week 2 I went 8-8 and had to make many adjustments
Delete