NFL Draft: Post-Combine Mock

NFL Draft: Post-Combine Mock

This article is part of our NFL Draft series.

The Combine has concluded and, as always, there were a few surprising performances, both of the pleasant and disappointing sort, that figure to shake up the rankings a bit. Here is a revised look at how the first round might look at the moment.


1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston*, QB, Florida State (6-4, 231)

Winston's background as a pro-style passer and convincing projection as an NFL pocket passer appear to have him safely ahead of Mariota in the draft order for now. Whether Winston's past disciplinary issues come up again in the conversation is anyone's guess, but it's hard to see Mariota closing the gap from here.


2. Tennessee Titans – Vic Beasley, (3-4) OLB, Clemson (6-3, 246)

The Beasley-Von Miller comparison only got more obvious after Beasley's dominant showing at the Combine, where Beasley ran the same 4.53-second 40 that Miller did at the Combine, and at an identical height-weight. Beasley even outdid Miller in the vertical (41 inches) and broad jump (130 inches), which helps cement Beasley's status as a top-five prospect.


3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Williams*, DT, USC (6-5, 302)

Williams is a beast and a great fit for almost any team's interior defensive line. He could definitely go second to Tennessee, and in that event I think Jacksonville would take Beasley.


4. Oakland Raiders – Kevin White, WR, West Virginia (6-3, 215)

I was a bit more skeptical of White than most were since he was pretty much a one-year wonder at West Virginia, but a 4.35-second 40 at 215 pounds does a lot to ease my concern there. Most seem to think White will go ahead of Amari Cooper and DeVante Parker at this point, and Oakland might as well go wideout if Williams and Beasley are gone by the fourth pick.


5. Washington Redskins – Dante Fowler*, (3-4) OLB, Florida (6-3, 261)

Washington needs secondary help more than anything, but an edge rusher would probably be the best way to improve its pass defense at the fifth pick.


6. New York Jets – Marcus Mariota*, QB, Oregon (6-4, 222)

Chan Gailey seems like one of the best prospective coordinators for Mariota, who will probably need some unconventional accommodation to adapt to the pro game.


7. Chicago Bears – Danny Shelton, (3-4) NT, Washington (6-2, 339)

The Bears are reportedly planning to run a 3-4 defense this year, in which case they'll need a legitimate nose tackle prospect. Stephen Paea and Ego Ferguson might be able to handle some of that, but Shelton would be a more reassuring prospect for the role. Shane Ray is a consideration at outside linebacker, too.


8. Atlanta Falcons – Shane Ray*, DE/OLB, Missouri (6-3, 245)

The Falcons pass rush has been below average seemingly forever, so Ray would be an obvious consideration if he's available at this pick.


9. New York Giants - Andrus Peat*, OT, Stanford (6-7, 313)

Justin Pugh lacks the length to project safely at tackle, but Peat has all the dimensions you look for in a cornerstone tackle prospect.


10. St. Louis Rams – Trae Waynes*, CB, Michigan State (6-0, 186)

Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson are free agents after 2015, and the likes of Lamarcus Joyner, E.J. Gaines and Marcus Roberson all have size and/or athleticism limitations. Waynes burned up the Combine by running a 4.31-second 40-yard dash, which pairs with very good film to make him the draft's top cornerback prospect.


11. Minnesota Vikings – Amari Cooper*, WR, Alabama (6-1, 211)

Cooper would be an excellent value here for the Vikings, even if they'd be tempted to reunite Teddy Bridgewater with college teammate DeVante Parker. Charles Johnson on one side and Cooper on the other would give Bridgewater a very promising foundational tandem at receiver.


12. Cleveland Browns - DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville (6-3, 209)

The Browns need to get a real WR1 prospect in this draft, as another year of Andrew Hawkins as the lead wideout is just a foolish idea. Parker would get compared to A.J. Green if he were 6-foot-4 instead of 6-foot-3.


13. New Orleans Saints – Eli Harold*, (3-4) OLB, Virginia (6-3, 247)

Harold has high-grade athleticism on a prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker frame, which should interest a New Orleans team that needs to add some pass-rushing help opposite Junior Galette.


14. Miami Dolphins - Jaelen Strong*, WR, Arizona State (6-3, 217)

Strong had an awesome Combine showing, running a 4.44-second 40-yard dash and 42-inch vertical on a 6-foot-3, 217-pound frame. He has clear WR1 potential on a Dolphins roster that currently has just complementary pieces at receiver.


15. San Francisco 49ers - P.J. Williams*, CB, Florida State (6-0, 194)

The 49ers might lose Chris Culliver in free agency, in which case cornerback would be one of the team's most pressing needs. They'd probably prefer a wide receiver here, but there probably isn't one worth picking here if Strong is gone.


16. Houston Texans - Shaq Thompson*, (3-4) ILB, Washington (6-0, 228)

Thompson's profile is remarkably similar to that of Thomas Davis, and Houston could use one of those at the inside linebacker spot.


17. San Diego Chargers – Brandon Scherff, OT/G, Iowa (6-5, 319)

Scherff might be able to beat out King Dunlap for a starting role at left tackle, but if he doesn't, Scherff should be able to earn a starting job at guard, too.


18. Kansas City Chiefs – Landon Collins*, S, Alabama (6-0, 228)

Collins did poorly in agility drills at the Combine, but he still projects as the draft's top safety and a useful starter in a strong safety sort of role. Safety is not a strong position for Kansas City.


19. Cleveland Browns (from BUF) - Jordan Phillips*, DT, Oklahoma (6-5, 329)

Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor could both be on the way out from Cleveland, making defensive line one of the team's top needs. Phillips is a huge player with 3-4/4-3 versatility.


20. Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Collins*, CB, LSU (6-1, 203)

The Eagles are very particular with what they look for in their outside corners, looking most of all for height in their prospective starters. That led them to play inferior players like Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher, but Collins should meet Philadelphia's criteria while providing a talent upgrade.


21. Cincinnati Bengals – Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA (6-3, 267)

Odighizuwa is the top pure 4-3 end in this draft, making him a great value at 21 for a Bengals team that needs improvement all along the defensive line. At 6-foot-3, 267 pounds with 33 and 3/4-inch arms and 11-inch hands, Odighizuwa has great size and even better athleticism. In addition to a 4.62-second 40-yard dash, Odighizuwa killed it in the vertical (39 inches), broad jump (127 inches) and shuttles.


22. Pittsburgh Steelers - Randy Gregory, (3-4) OLB, Nebraska (6-5, 235)

Gregory hurt himself at the Combine by weighing in at just 235 pounds, but the Steelers showed with their Jarvis Jones selection that they're not afraid of players with discouraging metrics.


23. Detroit Lions - Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State (6-5, 313)

The Lions could use help at all of center, guard and right tackle, and Erving can probably play any of those positions.


24. Arizona Cardinals – Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest (6-0, 188)

If Antonio Cromartie walks in free agency, the Cardinals will have a pressing need at cornerback. Johnson has the fast feet and hips necessary to project as a starting NFL corner.


25. Carolina Panthers - T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh (6-5, 309)

Be it at left tackle or right, Clemmings has big upside, and Carolina could use him at either position.


26. Baltimore Ravens – Todd Gurley*, RB, Georgia (6-1, 235)

Justin Forsett is probably a bad long-term investment, and Gurley has top-five upside at running back. Getting him at 26 would be an excellent value for Baltimore.


27. Dallas Cowboys – Melvin Gordon*,RB, Wisconsin (6-1, 215)

I wouldn't have expected Gordon to fall this far before the Combine, but he didn't perform quite as well as I had hoped. A 40-yard dash time of 4.52 seconds is fine, but it's a time that Gurley could probably best at full health and at 20 pounds heavier. Plus, Gordon doesn't have the pass-catching experience that Gurley does, which is an important skill in a Marc Trestman offense. Anyway, even if Dallas re-signs DeMarco Murray, it would be tough to pass on Gordon here.


28. Denver Broncos - Maxx Williams*, TE, Minnesota (6-4, 249)

Williams was a bit disappointing at the Combine, running a 4.78-second 40-yard dash despite weighing in at less than 250 pounds, so I can't project him to go as high as I did in my first mock. It looks like Denver might not be able to afford to keep Julius Thomas around, in any case, so Williams looks like a nice fit here.


29. Indianapolis Colts – Arik Armstead*, (3-4) DE, Oregon (6-7, 292)

Armstead has remarkable short-area athleticism for such a big lineman, and the Colts could use help at most defensive positions aside from cornerback. They'd take Armstead here and hope they found themselves another Calais Campbell.


30. Green Bay Packers – Devin Funchess*, WR/TE, Michigan (6-5, 230)

Richard Rodgers was encouraging toward the end of last year, but Green Bay could improve the efficiency of its passing game by adding a huge target like Funchess for the role previously played by Jermichael Finley. Be it as a tight end or receiver, Funchess would be a touchdown waiting to happen in Green Bay.


31. Seattle Seahawks – Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut (6-1, 199)

Is this an overreaction after Jones' Combine showing? Maybe. But his measurables are truly unprecedented, and he has the above average size that the Seahawks look for in their corners. Jones could be a dominant presence once he's coached up on the Seattle scheme.


32. New England Patriots – Eddie Goldman*, DT, Florida State (6-4, 339)

Vince Wilfork will be 34 in November, and defensive tackle depth in general is not strong for New England. Goldman has the massive frame to project as Wilfork's long-term replacement.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mario Puig
Mario is a Senior Writer at RotoWire who primarily writes and projects for the NFL and college football sections.
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