With a completely different fabric
in preparing for the NFL Draft, teams continue finalize their boards for the
big day that will go ahead. With many key free agent signings over the past
several weeks, the landscape of team requirements has changed for what each
team will covet in the draft. Let’s start the speculation process for what each
team will be looking for.
NFL Draft Round 1:
Pick 22: Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
(From BUF) | Top Needs – DB, WR, DL, OL
Unfortunately for the Minnesota
Vikings, cap troubles forced them into a situation where they couldn’t keep
many from last year’s group. The most notable transaction for this year’s draft
came in a trade of Stefon Diggs to the Bills to now hold two picks in the first
round. Sitting here at pick 22, Minnesota could move in many directions given
the needs this roster now holds.
As we have preached throughout this
series of articles, this class is loaded with talent at the receiver position
and we should see the Vikings take a shot at replacing Diggs with this pick.
While its likely to witness Ceedee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, and perhaps Henry Ruggs
all pilfered off the board before the Vikings are on the clock – Justin Jefferson
makes a world of sense here. Granted, Jefferson isn’t the typical field burner
that would mirror Diggs deep threat ability – he is a pure talented play-maker that would provide more than enough to keep this offense moving in the right
direction.
The retooling begins at pick 22,
and the Vikings will score huge if Jefferson is the selection.
Pick 23: New England Patriots (12-4)
| Top Needs – QB, LB, TE, DL, WR
The New England Patriots find themselves
in a situation that we haven’t seen in the last 20-years. Not having Tom Brady
behind center brings with it much speculation on who will be the starting pivot
come week one of the season. Rumor has already flown around that Bill Belichick
could attempt moving down to secure Justin Herbert from Oregon. While this
could be achieved with the plethora of picks they hold on their board - we
simply can’t envision any situation where he will entertain giving up draft
capital.
Keeping with that speculation of
staying put, the Patriots have other needs that require refinement and we could
witness a line backer or the best available defensive lineman selected here.
With that said, could we see the Pats pull the wool over everyone’s eyes and
take a shot on Jalen Hurts or Jordan Love? With an offensive scheme that should
look vastly different with Brady no longer aboard, all options are on the table
for New England to engineer a new path forward.
In our eyes, we should see Belichick
strengthen the roster as a whole over reaching on a passer with pick 23.
Pick 24: New Orleans Saints (13-3)
| Top Needs – LB, OL, WR, DB, RB
The New Orleans Saints find
themselves in a situation where the roster doesn’t really require a lot of key
additions. This team on paper as of today appears to be the most put together unit
to challenge for the super bowl in 2020. However, adding more depth and play-making ability will go a long way in securing more wins and to hoist that
trophy at the end of the season.
In terms of this evaluation,
adding a center is the largest requirement as Max Unger left the team this offseason
electing to move into retirement. While a center wouldn’t be chosen here at
pick 24, we should see the Saints move to select the best line backer on the
board. This team is literally in the best situation to pick for need over best available
player to help round out the club. With that, could we see Sean Payton ignore
the needs and add more offensive talent to help bolster a receiving core that
recently signed Emmanuel Sanders? The Saints are one of the best built clubs as
of today and will only get better from this class.
Pick 25: Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
| Top Needs – DB, WR, DL, OL
Moving back toward the Minnesota
Vikings at their original placement in the draft, they will have the option to
shore up the defensive backfield after taking a wide receiver with pick 22. With
the top two corners likely already taken, the Vikings should have the choice
between AJ Terrell or Kristian Fulton to help recreate a room that has been decimated
by free agent losses.
While we can’t imagine Minnesota
moving in a different direction outside of wide receiver and defensive back
with picks 22 & 25, there is a chance we see more defensive line pieces
added – specifically defensive tackle. Needless to say, Minnesota will likely
move in the direction we have indicated from both their first-round picks.
Pick 26: Miami Dolphins (5-11)
(From HOU) | Top Needs – QB, OL, RB, S, EDGE
Concluding the final pick of the first-round
trio the Dolphins hold, we suggested quarterback at five and running back or wide
receiver being the likely choice at pick 18. Keeping with the same mantra of
needs and requirements, Miami will move systematically in fixing the offensive
line in hopes to protect their rookie passer for the future.
While this is all speculation and
we could see Miami alter our thoughts with players they covet more, this would absolutely
be the way in which we would move. Between picks 18 and 26, we should see many receivers
taken to force the hand of upper management to snag the player they want. Miami
will be a very different club in 2020 with a load of talent finally coming to
South Beach.
Pick 27: Seattle Seahawks (11-5) |
Top Needs – OL, EDGE, WR, RB
The largest question mark for this
Hawks club coming into the off-season was the contract of Jadeveon Clowney. With
his price tag over-inflated, Seattle has already stated they will bow out unless
Clowney drops his asking price. Nevertheless, edge rushing would be the highest
priority heading into the draft with no deal looming with Clowney. Defensively
the Hawks were improved a season ago, but truly require more pieces to take the
next step.
Could we witness a player like AJ
Epenesa still sitting on the board and ripe for the taking? With that said, Seattle
lost many key pieces to their offensive line making that our first choice at
pick 27. With Russell Wilson still being the top dog to lead the offense, Seattle
is still built to be a dominating running force. Correcting the losses on the
line will go a long way to the offensive success this season and likely won’t
be overlooked. In our mind, this pick will be a lineman – but we’re unsure as
to which side (offense or defense) Seattle ranks higher at this point.
Pick 28: Baltimore Ravens (14-2) |
Top Needs – LB, WR, OL
Mirroring our thought process on
the New Orleans Saints, the Baltimore Ravens almost have a perfect roster to
compete for super bowl supremacy. Adding the right pieces at this point will
aid this club and be the difference in winning and losing. The Ravens did a marvelous
job in securing more talent for that defensive front and will be the anchor of
this defense. Where this team looks thin is obviously at the linebacker
position. Finding a true difference maker to quarterback this defense will be
tricky in this draft, but they could have the opportunity to sang one of the
top three at the position.
If the value doesn’t hold strong
to select a middle linebacker, we would absolutely love the Ravens to provide
more weapons for Lamar Jackson. Wide receiver is still a clear need and with a class
loaded with talent, we should witness Baltimore add a complimentary player to speedster
Marquise Brown. Is it possible we see Tee Higgins or Denzel Mims find their way
to the Ravens to don the purple and black?
Pick 29: Tennessee Titans (9-7) |
Top Needs – DL, RB, OL, TE
The Tennessee Titans found great
fortune when Ryan Tannehill took over the reins to lift the offense to
fantastic levels. As the Titans move forward, they have kept most of their pieces
in place to attempt another run. Falling just one game short of the super bowl,
on paper this squad is truly loaded with talent. The move here would be to add
to either the defensive or offensive lines to keep them strong in the trenches.
With clubs like the Chiefs and the Ravens still possessing high octane offenses
– stopping them will be key.
The other interesting aspect for
the Titans rests in what is the future plan for Derrick Henry? Placing the
franchise tag on his services for the upcoming season will still leave the
front office with a large decision to make. Could we witness a running back
drafted here at 27 to not only ease Henry’s workload, but to move on from him
after this season. Just imagine the Titans drafting Jonathan Taylor to form one
of the strongest running tandems in the entire league. Scoring points while controlling
the clock is the Titans game and Taylor would create a monumental unstoppable
force. I guess we shall see.
Pick 30: Green Bay Packers (13-3)
| Top Needs – OL, WR, TE, RB
Entering the draft process, the
Green Bay Packers continue to make waves in the form of “what if’s”, as a potential
replacement to Aaron Rodgers could come to pass. Jordan Love has been the
passer hooked to the Packers thus far as the future successor, but we really
wonder if that will occur. Green Bay found better balance a season prior under
first year head coach Matt LaFleur, and adding more play-makers to make another
run makes the most sense to us.
With that, offensive line has
always been a concern in the Rodgers tenure, but not selecting a top pass catcher
will have to be risk ranked. Adding Devin Funchess to the team via the open
market, there is potential but nothing credible to this point. Depending on
how many receivers are chosen before we hit pick 30 – the Packers will likely
have an easier selection on position. This pass catching class is uber deep and
its time to give Rodgers the protection he deserves.
Pick 31: San Francisco 49ers
(13-3) | Top Needs – WR, DB, S, OL
Highlighting the 49ers already at
pick 13, we had suggested the notion that safety, defensive back or wide
receiver could be the selection. Following up that move if it is receiver, defensive
back or defensive line could be in play. The 49ers obvious strength is on the defensive
side and we wouldn’t be surprised to witness them stock the cupboards that much
more.
For everything we know of this
49er roster, adding more to the offense is paramount to finding greater success.
So, in terms of this evaluation, correcting the defensive backfield should also
be looked at here as we truly believe wide receiver will be snagged at pick 13.
Pick 32: Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
| Top Needs – DB, RB, LB, OL
With the super bowl champion
Kansas City Chiefs having literally no cap room to resign talent or enter the
open market, this draft is massively important to replace the pieces which walked
out the door. First, we would ascertain the most important need on this roster
rests at the defensive back position, but we could see the Chiefs move in a
different direction. While some feel that Damien Williams is and could continue
to be the feature back on this offense – we feel that adding a true three down
back is the appropriate choice.
While some may scoff at the
suggestion, just imagine what Patrick Mahomes could do with a running back of
supreme talent (remember Kareem Hunt). Depending on how the draft falls, Kansas
City could find unreal fortune with DeAndre Swift or Jonathan Taylor ripe for
the picking. If either one of these backs were to be added to this offense, it
would literally be unfair to opposing defenses to create schemes to stop them.
Though it’s clear that in today’s
NFL, running backs aren’t typically coveted in the first round anymore – but adding
one of these runners would create a balance on offense to allow coach Reid to maneuver
that much more.
TEAMS WITHOUT A FIRST ROUND PICK:
Indianapolis Colts (7-9) – WR,
EDGE, TE, LB
The Colts lost their first-round
pick to the 49ers in a trade for DeForest Buckner.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) – LB,
RB, WR
The Steelers lost their first-round
pick to the Dolphins in a trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Chicago Bears (8-8) – OL, DB, DL,
S
The Bears lost their first-round
pick to the Raiders in a trade for Khalil Mack.
Los Angeles Rams (9-7) – OL, LB,
RB, DB
The Rams lost their first-round
pick to the Jaguars in a trade for Jalen Ramsey.
Buffalo Bills (10-6) – DB, RB, LB,
OL
The Bills lost their first-round
pick to the Vikings in a trade for Stefon Diggs.
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