How rare is this? A draft where a Hawaii player is creating all the buzz. It’s been that way for months with all the trade speculation involving Marcus Mariota. The guessing ends Thursday when the NFL Draft begins. Here’s how deputy sports editor Curtis Murayama sees the selections playing out. (Player listing includes 40 time, bench press/vertical jump.).
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Needs: QB, DE, OL, LB, WR
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State, 6-4, 231, 4.97 na/28.5
Winston can be plugged in and played. He operated a pro-style offense and is familiar with checking protection and reading defenses while under center. He has a strong arm and a sturdy build. He’s battle-tested with the ability to rally his team. He has a football first mentality, unlike last year’s polarizing QB Johnny Manziel.
2. Tennessee Titans
Needs: CB, RT, DL, S, QB
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon, 6-4, 222, 4.52, na/36.0
Remember when the Chargers picked Eli Manning, who sulked until he was traded to the Giants later in the first round? Well, this could be a similar scenario, but without the sulking. The Titans might pick Mariota and continue to negotiate with a trade partner, possibly with the Chargers for a deal that includes Philip Rivers, or the Eagles or Browns. Or, the Titans can just keep him, which wouldn’t be a bad idea in itself.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Needs: OL, CB, RB, S, LB
Leonard Williams, DL, USC, 6-5, 302, 4.97, na/29.5
The Jags should consider themselves lucky that the rush to land a quarterback will allow them to get possibly the top-rated overall player in the draft in Williams or the top-rated DE/OLB in Dante Fowler. The USC product, though, has J.J. Watt ability to take over the line of scrimmage. He’s big, strong, quick and relentless and can play tackle or end.
4. Oakland Raiders
Needs: WR, CB, RB, OT, DL
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia, 6-3, 215, 4.35, 23/36.5
The Raiders will do what they always do: Let speed dictate their pick. White is bigger, stronger and faster than Amari Cooper, though Cooper is more polished and has a better resume. White, though, won’t be a reach like Darrius Heyward-Bey in 2009. He looks like Julio Jones, a receiver White patterns himself after.
5. Washington Redskins
Needs: S, CB, RT, ILB, OLB
Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida, 6-3, 261, 4.60, 19/32.5
Fowler will slide into the role of the departed and oft-injured Brian Orakpo. Fowler has the size to set the edge and the ability and agility to drop and play in space. Nice fit.
6. New York Jets
Needs: QB, OLB, OL, WR, RB
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama, 6-1, 211, 4.42, na/33.0
It’s time for the Jets to get offensive, especially with the ground-and-pound philosophy moving to Buffalo. Cooper is a hold-your-breath receiver whenever he touches the ball.
7. Chicago Bears
Needs: OLB, NT, OL, S, WR
Danny Shelton, NT, Washington, 6-2, 339, 5.64, 34/30.5
This 340-pound immovable object will be the focal point for new DC Vic Fangio’s 3-4. But Shelton is more than a space-eater, he has quick feet and makes plays all along the line.
8. Atlanta Falcons
Needs: OLB, ILB, TE, OL, WR
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson, 6-3, 246, 4.53, 35/41.0
Beasley was a beast at the combine and flashes those qualities in games, though not always. He’s an explosive edge rusher with the ability to cover. But his strength is getting after the quarterback, something the Falcons need after ranking last in yards allowed and next-to-last in total sacks.
9. New York Giants
Needs: FS, LB, DT, OL, TE
Brandon Scherff, G-T, Iowa, 6-5, 319, 5.05, 23/32.5
Time to build a protective front so Eli Manning can find Odell Beckham more often. Scherff can play tackle or guard and is your usual Iowa player who’s ready to plug in and play.
10. St. Louis Rams
Needs: G, WR, CB, OT, S
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville, 6-3, 212, 4.45, 17/36.5
Parker is long and angular and is a tough cover. He makes the tough catches in tight coverage.
11. Minnesota Vikings
Needs: OT, LB, CB, G, DT
Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State, 6-0, 186, 4.31, 19/38.0
Waynes is the best press corner in the draft and boasts both size and speed.
12. Cleveland Browns
Needs: WR, QB, TE, OLB, NT
Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky, 6-4, 257, 4.56, na/42.0
He can wow you with his measurables and do the same off the edge. He has good moves and has the ability to play in space. But his talent didn’t transform into production (no forced fumbles and just one interception in his career).
13. New Orleans Saints
Needs: OLB, OG, WR, TE, QB
Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon, 6-7, 292, 5.10, 23/34.0
The Saints have made strides to improve the NFL’s second-worst defense by signing CB Brandon Browner and LB Dannell Ellerbe and will continue that emphasis in the draft. Armstead’s growth potential might make him a better pro.
14. Miami Dolphins
Needs: WR, G, DT, CB, RB
Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Fla., 6-2, 212, 4.25, 17/36.5
Perriman was already on the fringe of being a first-rounder. His 4.25 40 — some scouts timed him at 4.19 — at his pro day sealed it. Despite his speed, he doesn’t look nearly as explosive as White or Cooper.
15. San Francisco 49ers
Needs: ILB, DL, CB, OL, WR
Malcom Brown, DT, Texas, 6-2, 323, 5.05, 26/29.5
A cruel offseason has torpedoed a once mighty roster, leaving the 49ers with so many holes that they should trade down and select an ILB such as Eric Kendricks because they desperately need one, or two. If not, they should build from inside out by selecting Brown, who can collapse the pocket and deliver a blow.
16. Houston Texans
Needs: WR, ILB, OLB, CB, G
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia, 6-1, 227, na, 17/na
If not for the knee injury, Gurley would probably be among the top 10 picks. He has size, speed, agility, the attitude to be the man. Plus, the Texans can wait on him with Arian Foster still available to carry the load.
17. San Diego Chargers
Needs: OL, LB, RB, DL (NT), WR
Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford, 6-7, 313, 5.18, na/31.0
This pick could belong to the Titans by the end or start of the day. Peat will help upgrade any team. He’s a bottom-heavy player who is a good pass blocker and has the frame to become a dominating run blocker.
18. Kansas City Chiefs
Needs: OL, DT, WR, CB, LB
Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami, 6-6, 329, 5.31, 37/na
Flowers has weight-room strength but isn’t a dynamic power blocker, yet. In time, this youngster could become a dominant left tackle.
19. Cleveland Browns
Needs: WR, QB, TE, OLB, NT
Nelson Agholor, WR, USC, 6-0, 198, 4.42, 12/na
Agholor can make all the tough catches over the middle, can beat coverage deep and can give a team extra as a punt returner, where he averaged 14.6 per return while taking back four for scores during his three-year career.
20. Philadelphia Eagles
Needs: CB, S, G, WR, OLB
Landon Collins, S, Alabama, 6-0, 221, 4.53, 16/35.0
Collins hits and covers. He’s not just a top talent, but one of the few top safety prospects in this year’s class. The Eagles should feel lucky he lasted this long.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Needs: NT, WR, OT, LB, TE
Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State, 6-4, 336, 5.27, na/26.0
Goldman is big, quick, mobile, versatile and can do damage on the inside.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
Needs: CB, S, OLB, TE, OL
Marcus Peters, CB, Washington, 6-0, 197, 4.53,17/37.5
He’s physical with an in-your-face attitude. He makes plays, covers well, tackles well, goes for strips and plays angry. Will be an opponent’s nightmare, but his coach’s, too.
23. Detroit Lions
Needs: DT, CB, OL, RB, WR
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin, 6-1, 215, 4.52, 19/35.0
Gordon can run inside and outside, shows good instincts and breakaway ability.
24. Arizona Cardinals
Needs: ILB, OLB, DT, RB, CB
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska, 6-5, 238, 4.64, 24/36.5
Gregory has top-10 talent, but got knocked down because of his failed drug tests, much like Randy Moss and Warren Sapp and more recently, Tyrann Mathieu. Those guys didn’t turn out too badly.
25. Carolina Panthers
Needs: LT, WR, CB, RB, S
T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh, 6-5, 309, 5.14, 22/32.5
A former basketball player, Clemmings only lacks experience. He has the tools (plus long arms at 35 1⁄8) to become a standout left tackle. He’s already solid on the right side.
26. Baltimore Ravens
Needs: WR, CB, OLB, RB, S
Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami (Fla.), 5-10, 185, 4.25, 13/37.0
The Ravens will have their choice of deep threats in Devin Smith, Nelson Agholor or Dorsett. Dorsett is the fastest of the group (timed at 4.25 at his pro day) and looks smooth, fluid and quick out of breaks with game-changing ability.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Needs: CB, RB, DT, OL, LB
Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest, 6-0, 188, 4.52, na/41.5
Cornerback or running back, either pick will do. With Johnson, the Cowboys will get a complete player who has the ability to play man and zone defenses well.
28. Denver Broncos
Needs: OL, TE, DL, OLB, QB
Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State, 6-5, 313, 5.15, 30/30.5
Erving can play tackle and center. His versatility and agility make him doubly valuable and a good fit for the Broncos’ offensive scheme.
29. Indianapolis Colts
Needs: SS, RT, RB, CB, ILB
D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida, 6-5, 307, 5.12, 26/31.0
He’s fluid and quick and has the athletic ability to become a day-one starter at either right or left tackle.
30. Green Bay Packers
Needs: ILB, CB, TE, DL, OL
Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA, 6-0, 232, 4.61, 22/38.0
He’s naturally drawn to the football with his all-out hustle and pursuit. He can run and cover and play sideline to sideline, much like Clay Matthews.
31. New Orleans (from Seattle)
Needs: OLB, OG, WR, TE, QB
Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota, 6-4, 249 , 4.78, 17/34.5
Williams won’t be Jimmy Graham for his deep-play ability, but he could be the next Jason Witten because of his toughness, blocking ability and dependability.
32. New England Patriots
Needs: CB, G, WR, DT, S, DE
Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State, 5-11, 191, 4.38, 15/41.5
Any suitors for this pick? The Patriots usually trade down. If not, look for them to shore up their secondary, where they lost both starting cornerbacks, or their defensive line, where they lost mainstay Vince Wilfork.
