By Sam Donnelly and Andrew Yourell, Sports Staff
There are no sureties when it comes to the NFL Draft; the imprecise science of scouting, closed-door meetings, various team needs, player preferences, and the ability to trade up or down for desired picks makes predicting the NFL Draft a near-impossible task. But TNH staff writer Sam Donnelly tackles the task this week, with the Draft slated to begin on Thursday, April 30.
The Draft offers several interesting threads this year, with former UNH offensive coordinator and current Eagles head coach Chip Kelly potentially making a splash to land Marcus Mariota, one of his recruits from Oregon.
RJ Harris and Mike Coccia, two UNH standouts, are potential late-round picks.
And in a non-UNH related thread, it’s always interesting to see what Bill Belichick will do. Which Rutgers captain will the Hooded One trade out of the first round to pick?
Donnelly has selected his picks for the bottom 10 teams, who are first to pick, and sports editor Andrew Yourell rounded out picks 11-32. This draft will not predict trades that teams make.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
JAMEIS WINSTON
QB, Florida St.
I’ll be honest, I don’t like this pick but this is what is going to happen. Lovie Smith has followed Winston so closely and shown so much interest in him that it seems almost definite. I’ll give Winston one thing: forget about all the off field stuff, Winston lost one game in his career as a starting quarterback. Whenever his team fell behind, Winston carried them back. He also has a Heisman. I don’t like the pick, because I don’t like his accuracy and the condition of his shoulder, but for all intents and purposes, Winston goes number one.
2. Tennessee Titans
MARCUS MARIOTA
QB, Oregon
This pick is tricky. The Titans have come out and said they like Zach Mettenberger, but I don’t believe it and neither should you. I think Jon Gruden summed it up well when he called Mariota, “Russell Wilson, but 6 feet 4 inches.” That is what he is. Mariota’s athleticism and overall football IQ are unmatched. If I was Lovie Smith and the Bucs, I would draft him. I think he will go second. Also look out for a trade up from a team like the Chargers who are willing to deal Philip Rivers. The Cleveland Browns have also offered the Titans their two first round picks, 12 and 18, in exchange for the second pick. Wednesday morning, ESPN insider Sal Paolantonio reported that sources close to Eagles head coach Chip Kelly—the former UNH football offensive coordinator—say that he is quietly trying to move up to grab Mariota. Anything can happen here, but I think the Titans will draft Mariota.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
LEONARD WILLIAMS
DE, USC
Williams is 6 feet 5 inches tall and 300 pounds. He also ran a 4.97 at the NFL combine. He is the best defensive end in the draft, in my opinion. The one thing I will say is that you can’t teach size. He has all the measurables. I think he needs to play hard every play, the same critique analysts had for No. 1 overall pick Jadaveon Clowney last year. Mel Kiper did call him one of the ten safest picks in the draft. He may need to be developed, but he is an animal. He also played top-level competition in the Pac 12.
4. Oakland Raiders
AMARI COOPER
WR, Alabama
This is a typical Raiders pick, but probably the smart one too. Cooper has scary speed. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the combine. That’s fast. What’s funny is that the combine corrected his time to somewhere between 4.35 and 4.38. That’s really fast. Cooper also played in the SEC and ultimately dominated games. In the Iron Bowl this past season, Alabama trailed by two touchdowns in the third quarter before the Alabama game plan became throw the ball deep and let Cooper run past everyone. He finished with 13 catches for 224 yards and three touchdowns. If David Carr improves from last season, I think Cooper is a perfect fit.
5. Washington Redskins
DANTE FOWLER, JR.
DE, Florida
I believe Fowler will fall to the Redskins. Some people think he might be better than Williams, but I don’t think he has the size. He reminds me a lot of Brian Orakpo. Fowler played in the SEC as well and dominated some games. He is probably a better athlete than Williams and will be a suitable professional outside linebacker in a 3-4 system. Watch out for the Falcons, who have hinted this entire week that they will make a move to get him.
6. New York Jets
VIC BEASLEY
OLB, Clemson
The Jets are a team that might make a trade up for Mariota. That being said, I think Beasley will be a good fit if Mariota is off the board by the time the Jets pick. He’s another very athletic and sizable outside linebacker. He would be a great addition to the Jets 3-4 scheme and has been called “the most explosive pass rusher I’ve seen in some time,” by an NFC executive. If the Jets take Beasley, it would add a strong pass rusher, especially with the threat of Muhammad Wilkerson being traded. Still not going to rule out a Jets trade though. They might make a move with the Chargers with hopes to land Philip Rivers.
7. Chicago Bears
TRAE WAYNES
CB, Michigan St.
With the loss of pro-bowl cornerback Peanut Tillman, the Bears are in need of a cornerback to solidify their secondary. Waynes is compared to Antonio Cromartie for his length at the cornerback position. He also ran a 4.31 forty-yard dash at the combine, the fastest of any cornerback. He would fill a need for the Bears immediately and allow them to draft freely the rest of the night. He isn’t the best in man-to-man coverage, but he closes quickly and in the NFL that is a very important trait.
8. Atlanta Falcons
DANNY SHELTON
DL, Washington
If the Falcons don’t trade up to grab Fowler, or if Beasley doesn’t fall to them, I think they will take Shelton. Atlanta was 21st in run-defense and Shelton would help fill the holes that their defense had. I am not sold on this pick though. I think the Falcons need a pass rusher and my immediate pick was Shane Ray from Missouri or Randy Gregory from Nebraska, but both guys can’t stay away from marijuana. Will the Falcons take the risk? Maybe for Ray, but Shelton is a good pick here.
9. New York Giants
BRANDON SCHERFF
OL, Iowa
Eli Manning was constantly under pressure last season. Scherff is probably the best lineman in the draft and could step right in and play immediately. He is strong and mean which is the perfect combo for an offensive lineman. Eli Manning has proved that when he has time he is pretty good. Manning also has plenty of weapons now with Odell Beckham Jr., a healthy Victor Cruz, Reuben Randle, and the addition of former Patriot Shane Vereen. The offense is poised to score, Manning just needs to be protected and Scherff does that for them.
10. St. Louis Rams
KEVIN WHITE
WR, West Virginia
I think White fits the perfect spot for the Rams. After getting Nick Foles in a trade with the Eagles, the Rams finally have a quarterback with legitimate experience. Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt are good receivers, but the Rams need another weapon for Foles. White is that. White ran a blistering 4.37 forty-yard dash at the combine. That is miraculous considering he stands at 6 feet 3 inches and 215 pounds. He gives Foles a guy to go to in the red zone and a deep threat, which is a rare combination for a wide receiver.
11. MINNESOTA VIKINGS:
Devante Parker, WR, Louisville
12. CLEVELAND BROWNS:
Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona St.
13. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS:
Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
14. MIAMI DOLPHINS:
Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
15. SAN FRANCISO 49ers:
Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon
16. HOUSTON TEXANS:
Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
17. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS:
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
18. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:
Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
19. CLEVELAND BROWNS:
Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas
20. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES:
Damarius Randall, FS, Arizona St.
21. CINCINNATI BENGALS:
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
22. PITTSBURGH STEELERS:
Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut
23. DETROIT LIONS:
Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
24. ARIZONA CARDINALS:
DJ Humphries, OT, Florida
25. CAROLINA PANTHERS:
La’el Collins, OT, LSU
26. BALTIMORE RAVENS:
Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami
27. DALLAS COWBOYS:
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
28. DENVER BRONCOS:
CAMERON ERVING, C, Florida St.
29. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:
Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida St.
30. GREEN BAY PACKERS:
ERIC KENDRICKS, LB, UCLA
31. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
32. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:
AJ Cann, G, South Carolina
