With the
combine finished and pro-days in full swing, preparation for the NFL Draft is
underway as teams finalize their boards for the big day. With many key free
agent signings over the past week, requirements have definitely changed for
what teams are looking to draft. Let’s take a quick look at teams needs and
what they could potentially draft.
NFL Draft Round 1:
Pick 11: Miami Dolphins | Top Needs – LB,
TE, DT, WR
As coach Adam
Gase and general manager Chris Grier entertain retooling this club, key losses
and meek additions to the team have already taken place. Miami again looks to
have a skewed plan as they add players to the fold. Losing Landry (trade), Suh
(released), and Pouncey (released), leaves rather large holes on the roster to
fill. Rumors have swirled around South Beach that the potential for Miami to
select another quarterback could be a real possibility even with Ryan Tannehill
under his massive contract. Looking to replace Ndamukong Suh is the easy choice
as potential star defensive tackle Vita Vea should be there for the taking.
Having Robert Quinn and Cameron Wake to round out the defensive line, Vea would
fit in perfectly from day one. What makes the Dolphins interesting picking
eleventh overall, is they have become the wildcard with all their chatter thus
far. Is it possible they stand firm in their spot and theoretically see Baker
Mayfield still waiting in the draft room? Perhaps Tremaine Edmunds or Roquan
Smith fall to eleven forcing their hand to finally upgrade their line backer
position? With the many holes and underachieving production from this club over
the years, it’s very possible Adam Gase wants his quarterback to start anew.
Mayfield could find his way to Florida.
Pick 12: Buffalo Bills (via CIN) | Top Needs
– QB, WR, LB, OL
Currently
the Bills sit in the twelfth slot thanks in part to their earlier trade up with
the Cincinnati Bengals. Brandon Beane has done a masterful job this offseason (so
far), with bringing in great talent rounding out the depth on the club while
holding most of his draft capital to still be active in the draft. Obviously
the Bills are eager to jump the board and find their way into the top two positions
to leap-frog the Jets, allowing Beane and McDermott to finally provide Buffalo
with a franchise quarterback the city has longed for since the likes of Jim Kelly.
Holding firm at pick twelve should allow Buffalo to easily reach on super
athletic talent Lamar Jackson if trading up doesn’t pan out. It’s clear to ADF
that Jackson would be a fall back selection for the Bills as Beane has his
sights set on Darnold, Rosen, or Allen. Some suggest Baker Mayfield is the top
choice for the Bills, but ADF isn’t buying that notion. Playing in Western New
York has its challenges of strong winds and harsh weather requiring a strong
armed passer to riffle the ball in any condition, something Mayfield might not
be capable of on a consistent basis. If Buffalo can’t find a way to make a deal
to move up further, we could potentially see the best player available chosen
in the form of more depth on defense. ADF feels buffalo is far from finished
with their movement up the board and should put on quite a show.
Pick 13: Washington Redskins | Top Needs –
LB, OL, RB, DB
With the extreme
changes seen in Washington so far this offseason primarily in losing more
talent than gaining, the Redskins do possess many holes that could be filled
with the thirteenth overall selection. Shoring up a line backing core that has
lost talent would be the largest glaring need on this roster. However, with the
top two line backers likely gone before the Skins get on the clock, reaching
for offensive line or running back talent would be something Washington is
known to do. Trying to fill their needs on the defensive back-end through free
agency still leaves the Skins with holes as Orlando Scandrick is surly past his
prime. Defensive back could easily been seen as the choice of direction here with
Josh Jackson or Mike Hughes, but adding to an already solid defensive line with
Marcus Davenport could be the appropriate decision on draft day.
Pick 14: Green Bay Packers | Top Needs – DB,
LB, OL, DL
Becoming
more active in the free agent market this offseason is a rarity for the Green
Bay Packers. Perhaps the understanding that wasting these many years in not
providing Aaron Rodgers adequate talent to support his abilities has proven
that one Super Bowl victory in his tenure is quite the disservice. Adding Jimmy
Graham and Muhammad Wilkerson to the club has rightly identified key needs now
allowing the Packers to work the draft board with less stress. While defensive
line depth is always a welcome thought to most teams, Green Bay seriously
requires a massive talent infusion in their defensive backfield and line
backing units. Having a true interior line backer in defensive coordinator Mike
Pettine’s 3-4 scheme is invaluable in making this group function productively.
Placing themselves out of reach for the top end talent for interior linebackers,
ADF firmly believes defensive back could be the selection here. Josh Jackson,
Mike Hughes, or Jaire Alexander could find their way to Wisconsin. It’s not out
of the realm of possibilities to see offensive line selected here ahead of
defensive backs, as protecting Rodgers has also been quite the disaster over
these many years.
Pick 15: Arizona Cardinals | Top Needs – OL,
WR, QB, DB
With Carson
Palmer finding his way to retirement and the Cardinals choosing to sign free
agent quarterback Sam Bradford to man the ship, speculation surrounding the
entire roster has come to pass. Understanding that protecting the often injured
Bradford is a top priority, signing guard Justin Pugh was a step in the right
direction. With players like Shipley, Iupati, and Pugh manning the interior of
the offensive line, Bradford should see relief in that department. Rounding out
the rest of the line could suggest offensive tackle be the choice for the
Cardinals with Conner Williams or Mike McGlinchey holding a book-end position. It’s
also clear that a proper succession plan is needed for the franchise to finally
appoint a youthful quarterback to take over the reins rather than the Band-Aid
approach with aging free agent passers. With the top end of the draft likely to
see all top signal callers go, Lamar Jackson should be here for Arizona to
select. Adding to depth concerns at the wide receiver position, this could be
the time we begin to hear rumblings of Alabama product Calvin Ridley being
selected as well. With Larry Fitzgerald returning for another season, Ridley couldn’t
ask for a better mentor as he begins his NFL journey.
Pick 16: Baltimore Ravens | Top Needs – DL,
TE, OL, WR
The Ravens
have been extremely predictable in previous drafts during the John Harbaugh and
Ozzie Newsome regime. Believing this will again be the case selecting in the
middle of the first round, ADF fully expects defensive of offensive line to be
the selection here. Could we witness a changing of the guard and see the Ravens
add much needed skill to the offensive side in terms of receiver talent? While
offensive line has been somewhat of an issue, and adding talent to assist the
aging Terrell Suggs is becoming a priority, defensive line is also very
justifiable to be selected here. With signing Michael Crabtree via free agency,
we could also make the argument for Baltimore to entertain drafting Calvin
Ridley to bolster a receiving group with stability. Ozzie Newsome definitely
has his ways and possesses a keen understanding that building both lines sets
teams up for success for the future, something that should continue.
Pick 17: Los Angeles Chargers | Top Needs –
S, LB, DT, OL
The Chargers
could very well be the best team in the AFC West as we enter the 2018 season,
but adding key talent to a roster already housing fantastic skill, could take
this club over the top. Having a defense that was vastly improved last season,
adding to the depth will be the primary objective with the seventeenth overall
selection. Safety Tre Boston was a revelation once he found his way to LA last
season after being waived. Looking more like a contract to bring Boston back to
the fold is unlikely to happen; drafting a replacement might be somewhat of a
reach at their current spot. Adding depth to the line backer positions warrants
better value at seventeen with Leighton Vander Esch or Rashaan Evans finding
their way to the west coast. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities to
suggest the Chargers could add to their already talented defensive back core
but unlikely in the first round. Offensive line could also be probable, as
keeping Rivers off the turf will go a long way in having a successful season.
Pick 18: Seattle Seahawks | Top Needs – DB,
OL, RB, WR
With the
mass exodus of talented, aging, high priced players leaving Seattle, a full
retooling / rebuilding is already underway for the Seahawks. With salary cap constraints
dictating their terms, a changing of the guard is truly underway as the Legion
of Boom is no more. Realizing that Russell Wilson is effectively in his prime,
surrounding him with protection and viable offensive weapons should be the move
the Hawks take in the first round. Filling need while taking the best available
on the board is the ultimate solution, Seattle may find luck on their side
where they can achieve both. Fully dependent on what’s remaining on the draft
board, the Seahawks have an opportunity to snag the top remaining defensive
backs to help recreate a once feared dominate unit. Between Mike Hughes, Josh
Jackson, and Jaire Alexander, the Hawks could find themselves with another
great talent at the position. ADF wouldn’t be surprised to see more offensive line
talent added to the club with Mike McGlinchey or Orlando Brown completing a nicely
remade line.
Pick 19: Dallas Cowboys | Top Needs – WR, LB,
TE, DL
As Jerry
Jones began to sit idle on the free agent market, recent transactions have seen
wide receiver depth added to the club with Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson
added to the roster. Rumblings continue to suggest that Dez Bryant still could
find his way out of Big-D leaving a gaping hole at the receiver position, hence
ADF declaring receiver as a top need. Seeing Calvin Ridley available to pilfer
out of the green room come draft day at pick nineteen, we could definitely see
Jerry Jones select the Alabama product and cut bait with Bryant shortly after.
Dallas does possess a talented group currently and would benefit from more selections
making them a prime mover down the board. With similar value talent residing at
this half of the draft, it’s not inconceivable to see Jones pull the trigger on
a trade to garner more capital. Outside of their receiver dilemma, correcting
the line backer position with the potential replacement of often injured line backer
Sean Lee, and adding a starter to replace traded sam-line-backer Anthony
Hitchens would benefit a great deal. Dallas has options but limited cap space could
handcuff America’s team this year.
Pick 20: Detroit Lions | Top Needs – OL,
TE, DL, DB
While the
Detroit Lions continue to find ways to miss the playoffs, this draft has the
ability to add viable talent to the mix to make them a contender. Shoring up
the offensive line to provide adequate time for Matthew Stafford should be the priority
in round one. However, adding skill to help defensive end Ziggy Ansah is a
glaring need also to help improve a defensive unit that saw good progression
this past season. Under new coach Matt Patricia, building a foundation similar
to the Patriots could be the elixir to help this club take the next step. ADF
still views the running back situation as a clear issue, but with the free agent
addition of LeGarrette Blount, the multitude of running backs shows a clear New
England Patriot mentality of a revolving door approach. Tight end is another
issue for this Lions club that should be addressed in this draft but would be extremely
surprised if this need was met with the twentieth selection in the draft. Fully
expect offensive line or defensive line to be the pick here.
Stay tuned
for picks 21-32…
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