Post-combine mock draft
Saquon Barkley still penciled in at No. 1
INDIANAPOLIS – The scouting combine is supposed to provide one final, level playing field — theoretically — for NFL draft prospects to compete while being evaluated by all 32 teams.
But Saquon Barkley, whom we pegged as the top pick in our mock draft a month ago, proved to be a man among boys during his workout at Lucas Oil Stadium and somehow managed to elevate his lofty stock. Asked if the Giants should take the Penn State star with the second pick, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock replied, “Saquon Barkley — if he’s there at two — is the most obvious choice in the draft. He’s special. He’s different. He’s all those things.”
And based on what we saw and heard during the combine, we think Barkley might wind up atop a lot more mock drafts.
1. Browns — Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State: Some draft observers suggested his combine performance might have been the most impressive ever. The NFL Research Twitter account provided this context for the 6-0, 233pounder when comparing his numbers against those posted by recent all-pros in Indianapolis: Stronger than Joe Thomas, quicker than DeSean Jackson, faster than Devin Hester, jumps higher than Julio Jones. As crucial as quarterbacks are, how do you pass on talent like this, especially when you also own the fourth overall pick?
2. Giants — Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California: He didn’t throw at the combine, which could make him a perfect candidate for the Giants, who probably wouldn’t need him to throw a regular-season pass in 2018, either. New GM Dave Gettleman would probably love to get a shot at Barkley and will probably be tempted to add G Quenton Nelson, one of his beloved “hog mollies,” to what might be the league’s worst offensive line. But at the end of the day, it’s rare for the Giants to be in position to draft a franchise passer — they haven’t had a top-five selection since they wound up with Eli Manning in 2004.
3. Colts — Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State: With all signs pointing toward Andrew Luck’s return, they’re one of the few teams at the top of a quarterback-rich draft that doesn’t appear to need one. GM Chris Ballard will almost certainly be fielding calls from teams including the Cardinals and Bills (Buffalo owns two first-round picks) for what could be a very coveted selection. But Ballard also badly needs to reload a supporting cast — Barkley and Nelson would be ideal fits — that had too often let Luck down in recent years. Chubb looks like the pre-eminent pass rusher in a draft that seems deficient at this highly coveted position.
4. Browns (from Texans) — Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming: Good luck finding better arm talent in this draft, and Allen put it on display to the world with a 70yard hookup during the combine’s passing drills. Now arm strength isn’t a good indicator of success in the pros — just ask JaMarcus Russell — where decision-making and accuracy are far more valuable attributes. However ... arm strength does count for something in Cleveland’s windy, lakeside atmosphere (not to mention tough conditions that arise in every other AFC North city), and new GM John Dorsey is the guy who traded up to get Patrick Mahomes’ howitzer for the Chiefs a year ago.
5. Broncos — Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA: Few teams appeared as poised to win immediately as Denver, home to a championship-caliber defense and a pair of Pro Bowl wideouts — if GM John Elway can solve the quarterback dilemma that has existed since Peyton Manning retired two years ago. Rosen is widely viewed as the most NFL-ready passer coming out and seemed to allay some fears at the combine that his personality won’t mesh in a pro locker room, though a veteran-laden one such as Denver’s might be a plus for a 21-yearold assimilating into the working world.
6. Jets — Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma: This might be a good spot to pause and acknowledge that the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes — the Jets, Broncos and Browns are all expected to be serious suitors — could greatly influence the top of the board, as free agency generally will shape the draft once veterans can begin switching teams on March 14. But the Jets, who have five different leading passers in the decade since they moved on from Chad Pennington, are still searching for a longterm answer to what’s become a perennial problem. Mayfield’s fiery persona and willingness to lead would theoretically fit well on a young team that needs an alpha male on offense.
7. Buccaneers — Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama: No team was worse at stopping the pass in 2017 than Tampa Bay, which is also set to lose CB Brent Grimes and S T.J. Ward in free agency. Enter Fitzpatrick, part of the breed of versatile young defensive backs who can roam deep like a safety, blitz like a linebacker and cover like a corner, especially in the slot.
8. Bears — Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame: Per Mayock, Barkley and Nelson are the two best players in a draft dominated by the quarterback conversation. Chicago has a Pro Bowl-sized hole on its offensive line after declining G Josh Sitton’s option for 2018. Nelson will almost certainly be an upgrade, even when compared with an accomplished vet such as Sitton.
9. 49ers — Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia: He can run all day and would form a nice three-down tandem with 2017 firstrounder Reuben Foster as San Francisco transitions to a 4-3 defense that emphasizes rangy linebackers. And with 61⁄
2 sacks last year for the Bulldogs, Smith
(6-1, 236) should also be an effective blitzer.
10. Raiders — Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech: At 6-5, 253 pounds, he’s bigger than Smith yet nearly as athletic. Edmunds racked up 301⁄ tackles
2 for losses over the past two seasons and is just the kind of asset a disappointing Oakland defense, ranked 23rd in 2017, badly needs.
11. Dolphins — Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State: The latest entree from a Buckeyes corner pipeline that’s produced three first-rounders in the past two drafts. Miami’s vulnerability at corner becomes apparent in games when opponents aren’t running the ball incessantly.
12. Bengals — Connor Williams, OT, Texas: It’s criminal that Cincinnati finished last in total offense in 2017 given the talent at the skill positions. The obvious reason for the Bengals’ struggles was horrific offensive line play, especially at tackle, in a division where staunch defenses make it virtually impossible to mask such a problem.
13. Redskins — Vita Vea, DT, Washington: No team gave up more yards on the ground last season than Washington, which was also gashed for a ghastly
4.5 yards every time an opponent handed off. Teaming Vea (6-4, 347) with 2017 first-rounder Jonathan Allen, who played only five games as a rookie, would go a long way toward remedying this weakness.
14. Packers — Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio: Despite having OLBs Clay Matthews and Nick Perry, Green Bay collected a pedestrian 37 sacks in 2017. Worse, opposing quarterbacks had a collective 102.0 passer rating against the Pack, the worst showing by an NFC defense. Davenport will be making a big jump from UTSA’s competition level, but in this scenario he could focus early on showcasing his pass rush ability in sub packages.
15. Cardinals — Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama: Arizona desperately needs a quarterback but doesn’t have the cap room to make a serious play for Cousins and probably lacks the requisite draft position to get one of the top prospects. Maybe the Cardinals can find a way to trade up or maybe they move back a bit to get Louisville’s Lamar Jackson. But if they hold at No. 15, Payne could be the right value, an immensely strong player who would inject youth into an aging front and could eat blocks that free guys such as NFL sack champ Chandler Jones and former first-rounder Robert Nkemdiche.
16. Ravens — Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama: He appears to be the best of what seems to be a relatively weak crop of receivers, and even the best at this position usually struggle adapting to the NFL.
17. Chargers — Derwin James, S, Florida State: The Bolts are probably about to lose S Tre Boston in free agency. And GM Tom Telesco admitted the team needs more production at linebacker, a spot James could man on passing downs (unless he’s playing deep or covering the slot). Also, the value is too good here.
18. Seahawks — Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida: Whether it’s planning for life after Richard Sherman or simply replacing free agent Byron Maxwell, Seattle could use more corner help. And with no picks in Round 2 or 3, the Seahawks only have one shot to get a good player at a premium position.
19. Cowboys — Arden Key, DE, LSU: Demarcus Lawrence had a breakout
2017 with 141⁄ sacks but is basically on a
2 one-year prove-it deal after being franchised. Key also has much to prove after leaving Baton Rouge but made a good impression at the combine when he weighed in at a sculpted 238 pounds, though he’ll surely need to add some weight back to hold up in the NFL.
20. Lions — Derrius Guice, RB, LSU: Leonard Fournette’s former backup at LSU could be just the physical presence needed by a Detroit team that has ranked 28th or worse running the ball over the past four seasons and was dead last in 2015 and ’17.
21. Bills — Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama: Buffalo seems likely to lose leading tackler Preston Brown in free agency. What better way to offset such a loss than with an athletic, instinctive player from Tuscaloosa.
22. Bills (from Chiefs) — James Daniels, C, Iowa: Buffalo already lost one its most reliable players, C Eric Wood, to a career-ending neck injury. Fortunately, the Hawkeyes are known for producing NFL-ready linemen.
23. Rams — Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville: He was one of the combine’s stars after blazing a 4.38 40-yard dash. But aside from the speed, he thrives in press coverage and isn’t afraid to hit.
24. Panthers — Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford: He’s strong (combine-high 42 reps on the bench press), scheme versatile and highly intelligent after graduating early with a double major.
25. Titans — Sony Michel, RB, Georgia: Derrick Henry will take over as the primary back in 2018, but Tennessee could use a shiftier outside runner who’s likely to be more of a factor in the passing game.
26. Falcons — Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M: Atlanta’s roster isn’t lacking much. But a new slot receiver would help Matt Ryan and, perhaps, Julio Jones if Kirk can make an immediate impact in the short passing game with his sub-4.5 speed.
27. Saints — Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama: Kenny Vaccaro’s disappointing tenure in New Orleans is coming to an end. Harrison is the instinctive, reliable tackler Vaccaro rarely was and could be another nice addition to a blossoming secondary.
28. Steelers — Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa: He has excellent ball skills (8 interceptions in 2017). None of Pittsburgh’s corners had more than two picks, and the pass defense as a whole looked too vulnerable in big games.
29. Jaguars — DJ Moore, WR, Maryland: Jacksonville opted not to tag Allen Robinson, increasing the need for it to reload at receiver with Marqise Lee also poised to leave. Moore is one of the risers coming out of the combine after posting a 4.42 40, the kind of speed that could also create space for the league’s top-ranked rushing attack.
30. Vikings — Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame: For a team that will be making some kind of reinvestment at quarterback (Cousins? Case Keenum?), improved offensive line play is probably imperative.
31. Patriots — Leighton Vander Esch, OLB, Boise State: A long (6-4,
256), athletic player who would be a nice addition to a New England defense that obviously needs some help given its most recent performance.
32. Eagles — Brian O’Neill, OT, Pittsburgh: Jason Peters is 36 and lasted only seven games last season. Philadelphia would be wise to begin eyeing a next-gen blind-side bodyguard for Carson Wentz.