Mock draft:
With the three-day NFL draft starting Thursday, here is an updated preview of the first round.
Mock draft season is almost over as the real draft approaches. Many fans would be surprised to hear that NFL executives use mock drafts, too, to prepare for the draft. They do it so they can best gauge the needs and tendencies of the teams picking around them. With the draft less than a week away, here’s my second and final first-round mock draft. Some picks have remained the same since my first mock draft, while dynamics in the draft process have changed others, and I am now projecting trades. May your favorite team get your favorite prospect.
1. Cleveland Browns
Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M There have been rumblings that Cleveland could go quarterback here, but Garrett is the right choice. Even the Browns can’t mess this up, right?
2. San Francisco 49ers
Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford The 49ers’ pick could shake up the draft if they go QB or trade down. Instead, they select a dominant pass rusher for their new 4-3 scheme.
3. Chicago Bears
Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama After finishing tied for 24th in sacks and 27th in run defense, the Bears fill one of their many defensive gaps by adding Allen, who can do both.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU The Jaguars seem stubborn enough to give Blake Bortles another shot at QB, so they grab Fournette to be the center of their offense.
5. Tennessee Titans
Mike Williams, WR, Clemson Tennessee makes its franchise QB happy by securing a big, reliable No. 1 receiver in Williams.
6. Cleveland Browns (via trade with New York Jets)
Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina Browns get antsy worrying that the Chargers, Bills or Saints would nab Trubisky, so they use their extra draft picks to finally get an offensive cornerstone player.
7. Los Angeles Chargers
Jamal Adams, S, LSU Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley tries to rebuild the Legion of Boom in L.A. after Adams, a do-it-all safety with a big hit stick, falls in his lap.
8. Carolina Panthers
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford Cam Newton has too much on his shoulders these days, so Carolina opens its offense with a triple-threat playmaker who becomes Newton’s top weapon.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee A once-great Bengals defense is now old and unproductive. They add a splash of youth and productivity in Barnett.
10. Buffalo Bills
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama Bills miss out on Trubisky yet may end up with a better pick in Howard, who could become a Pro Bowler as a rookie if used correctly.
11. New Orleans Saints
Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State Lattimore is a top-five talent, but his hamstring injuries are scary. Saints need help for their 32nd-ranked pass defense.
12. New York Jets (via trade with Browns)
Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State Jets get a player they’d targeted at six. Hooker’s incredible range and playmaking ability may make him this draft’s top value.
13. Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech Carson Palmer is near the end, and drafting the cannon-armed Mahomes for Bruce Arians to groom as a replacement is a proactive plan.
14. Philadelphia Eagles
Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State Philly is two good corners away from being a contender. Conley gives them one.
15. Indianapolis Colts
Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama It’ll take a gambling general manager to pick Foster, a top-five talent with mounting character questions. Enter Chris Ballard, who helped select Tyreek Hill in K.C.
16. Baltimore Ravens
Charles Harris, OLB, Missouri Ravens often ignore combine testing, which is good news for Harris, who would learn from and eventually replace Terrell Suggs.
17. Washington Redskins
Haason Reddick, LB, Temple Washington defensive coordinator Greg Manusky will be clamoring for Reddick’s versatility to rush the passer, cover and tackle.
18. New York Giants (via trade with Tennessee Titans)
Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin Giants jump Tampa Bay and Denver to get Ramczyk, who will help protect Eli Manning at left or right tackle.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
David Njoku, TE, Miami Like Tennessee with Marcus Mariota, the Bucs are on a hunt to get Jameis Winston more weapons. Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and Njoku? Oh, boy.
20. Denver Broncos
Garett Bolles, OT, Utah The Broncos really like Bolles and have a huge need at left tackle. They could go with a playmaker like John Ross, but they draft for that later.
21. Detroit Lions
John Ross, WR, Washington A surprise given the Lions’ needs, but there’s always a few surprises on draft day. Ross gives big-armed Matt Stafford a consistent deep threat and playmaker.
22. Houston Texans (via trade with Miami Dolphins)
Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson Texans reportedly love Mahomes, but if he’s out of their range, trading up to nab a winner such as Watson is a good backup plan.
23. Tennessee Titans (via trade with Giants)
Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan Peppers is polarizing because some see versatility while others see lack of a true position. Titans see Peppers can play.
24. Oakland Raiders
Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado Jack Del Rio has seen enough of the Broncos’ Chris Harris. Now he’ll try to mold his own version in Awuzie, who can blitz, cover and tackle.
25. Miami Dolphins (trade with Texans)
Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan Miami finished last in the NFL in sacks and 30th in run defense. They get a big, long defensive end in Charlton with star upside.
26. Chicago Bears (trade with Seahawks)
DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame The Bears got the dominant Allen early and trade back into round one hoping to find a franchise QB in the polarizing Kizer. Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan The Chiefs are in the market for a QB, but with the top four gone, they go best player available.
28. Atlanta Falcons (via trade with Dallas Cowboys)
Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky Atlanta waits on a pass rusher to select an immediate starting right guard in Lamp.
29. Green Bay Packers
Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU White should go much higher, but the Packers take advantage by selecting a safe starting cornerback to fix their 26th-ranked pass defense.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers
Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement scare shined light that his window is closing. The Steelers get him an elite downfield weapon.
31. Los Angeles Chargers (via trade with Cowboys via Falcons)
Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama The Chargers trade back into round one for Robinson, who can start Day 1 at right tackle.
32. New Orleans Saints
Takkarist McKinley, OLB-DE, UCLA Saints addressed their corner need early and now get the speedy, high-motor McKinley to help their pass rush.