►Mock draft,
USA TODAY Sports Weekly regularly looks at NFL draft prospects. With the Super Bowl complete, Nolan Vasan of NFLDraftGeek.com provides our first mock draft for Rounds 1 and 2. The NFL draft is April 28-30.
First round
1. Tennessee Titans — Mississippi OT Laremy Tunsil: After leading the NFL with 54 sacks allowed last season, the Titans will be looking to improve their protection plan for franchise quarterback Marcus Mariota. Tunsil would join 2014 firstround pick Taylor Lewan to give Tennessee two bookend tackles.
2. Cleveland Browns — California QB Jared Goff: The Browns again are in the market for a franchise quarterback. Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz are neck and neck to be the first QB off the board, but Goff could get the slight edge based on experience and level of competition.
3. San Diego Chargers — Florida State DB Jalen Ramsey: After nine years with the team, it looks like Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle is on the outs in San Diego. The Chargers could find an immediate replacement in playmaking Ramsey, who has excelled at corner and safety.
4. Dallas Cowboys — Ohio State DE Joey Bosa: Only five teams recorded fewer sacks (31) in the regular season last year than the Cowboys. After the failed Greg Hardy experiment, Dallas could find what it was looking for in the star Ohio State edge rusher, who would add instant life to its pass rush.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars — Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley: As Blake Bortles enters his critical third year in the league,
the Jaguars must improve an offensive line that gave up 51 sacks last season. Stanley could give the Jaguars what they hoped they were getting in 2013 No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel, who has been a disappointment.
6. Baltimore Ravens — Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves III: Accustomed to selecting later in the draft, the Ravens find themselves in an unfamiliar position with a chance to draft a premier talent in Hargreaves who would boost a defense that recorded the fewest interceptions in the league.
7. San Francisco 49ers — Mississippi WR Laquan
Treadwell: Although Wentz could draw interest here, the Niners likely will give Chip Kelly a year to see what they have in Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert. In the meantime, selecting the top receiver in Treadwell would be a major boost for whomever is under center.
8. Miami Dolphins — UCLA LB Myles Jack: Despite missing most of the season with a knee injury, Jack has game-changing athleticism that makes him worthy of top-10 consideration. Jack’s combination of leadership and playmaking could be the piece to take Miami’s defense to the next level.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Oregon DT DeForest Buckner: At 6-7 and 290 pounds, Buckner is a versatile and special player whose 17 tackles for losses helped him earn Pac-12 defensive player of the year honors. His presence next to star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy would give Tampa Bay one of the league’s most imposing defensive fronts.
10. New York Giants — Eastern Kentucky DE Noah Spence: After two failed drug tests in college hurt his draft stock, Spence has seen it rebound thanks to spectacular showing at the Senior Bowl. If he continues to impress, he could be exactly what the Giants — who had one
player with more than three sacks last season — are seeking.
11. Chicago Bears — Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson:
As the Bears continue to rebuild their defense and adjust to the 3-4 scheme, they could find a cornerstone and anchor in Alabama’s Robinson, who can clog running lanes as well as disrupt in the backfield.
12. New Orleans Saints — Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander: Alexander was a shutdown cornerback for Clemson last year, and he would be a welcome addition to a New Orleans defense that ranked last in scoring defense and second to last in passing defense.
13. Philadelphia Eagles — North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz: It would be unlikely a team wouldn’t trade up for Wentz on draft day and keep him from falling this far. But if he is available, the Eagles would jump at the chance to lock up a franchise quarterback.
14. Oakland Raiders — Vir- ginia Tech CB Kendall Fuller: Oakland’s secondary struggled last season, and that was with Charles Woodson, who has retired. Fuller, who is recovering from a torn meniscus, displays the full package of size, athleticism and ball skills when healthy.
15. Los Angeles Rams — Memphis QB Paxton Lynch: Consistent quarterback play might shape the Rams into a contender. They’re in a good spot to obtain one here with Lynch, who not long ago was in consideration to go first overall.
16. Detroit Lions — Ohio State CB Eli Apple: Detroit could take advantage of this year’s deep class of cornerbacks to add another good, young cover corner to pair with emerging third-year player Darius Slay.
17. Atlanta Falcons — Alabama LB Reggie Ragland: Since losing Curtis Lofton after the 2011 season, the Falcons have struggled against the run and lacked leadership on defense. Fresh off of leading Alabama to the national title, Ragland brings both desired attributes to the table.
18. Indianapolis Colts — Baylor DT Andrew Billings: The Colts will be looking to upgrade their 25th-ranked run defense that gave up more than 122 yards per game on the ground. Run-stuffing nose tackles such as Billings aren’t as common as they used to be, so the Colts will be happy to see him available at No. 18.
19. Buffalo Bills — Mississippi DT Robert Nkemdiche: Rex Ryan loves to draft defensive lineman, and if there’s anybody who can develop the immense talent of Nkemdiche, it’s the Bills head coach. Nkemidiche’s college career ended under a cloud when he was suspended from the Sugar Bowl after he fell 15 feet off a wall at an Atlanta hotel and was charged with possession of marijuana. If he stays away from offfield trouble, he’d be an ideal complement to Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcell Dareus.