Nov 21, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (38) reacts during the game against the Baylor Bears at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
With the NFL Draft approaching, the Seattle Seahawks have moves to make with the 26th pick in the first round. Check out who they and the other NFL teams might select.
We here at ECS are trying to get you prepared for the NFL Draft with our two cents on who the Seahawks will take and who they should take. The following Mock Draft has first round selections (and trades) for all 31 picks in the first round (the New England Patriots were stripped of their first round choice for deflating footballs). Here is our latest mock draft:
Los Angeles Rams (from Tennessee Titans): Carson Wentz QB, North Dakota State. Wentz has been soaring up draft lists in recent weeks. With the Titans trading their first round pick for a massive draft haul, the strong-armed Wentz could be the franchise quarterback the Rams are so desperate for, and as much as we’d all like to see the Rams start the season with Case Keenum as their starter against the Legion of Boom, taking either Wentz or Jared Goff here is a no-brainer here for them.
Cleveland Browns:
Jalen Ramsay S/CB, Florida State
. This is hopeful selection for the poor Browns. They signed
wasn’t the answer, why did they sign him? Taking another QB with the second pick in this year’s NFL Draft just doesn’t make sense, in my humble opinion. I hope they take my advice and build up their pathetic defense with the top DB prospect in the draft.
San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil OT, Ole Miss. Tunsil is a perfect fit for the Chargers. They need someone, anyone who can protect Philip Rivers from the likes of Von Miller and Justin Houston in the AFC West. Tunsil fills a position of need and may be the best player on the board overall at number three.
Dallas Cowboys: Joey Bosa DE, Ohio State. The Cowboys could take Cal QB Jared Goff here, but I suspect they add talent to their defensive line, a unit known more for beating up girlfriends than sacking quarterbacks last year. With Greg Hardy on his way out, Bosa makes sense for the Cowboys here, despite his penchant for party drugs.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
Myles Jack LB, UCLA.
Almost all draft experts I’ve read in recent weeks have Jack going to Jacksonville with the fifth pick. Gus Bradley and company appear to have the stud linebacker they’ve always wanted. They are more focused with their front seven than their equally disastrous secondary. If Bosa is still available here, they could take him over Jack.
Philadelphia Eagles (from Baltimore Ravens):Jared Goff QB, California.I could see the post-Chip Kelly Eagles making the Ravens an offer they can’t refuse for the sixth pick in the NFL Draft. And I could see Ozzie Newsome taking the draft picks and building another strong Ravens team from lower picks, as he is wont to do. The Eagles jump ahead of the 49ers to take a quarterback they can hand a clipboard to for a year or two to develop into a starter to eventually replace Sam Bradford.
San Francisco 49ers: Paxton Lynch QB, Memphis. Chip Kelly is likely salivating over Goff, a former Pac-12 player who Kelly is likely at least somewhat familiar with. However, he doesn’t call all the shots in San Francisco, and the Niners will likely settle for Lynch, another fine QB prospect they can plug into Kelly’s system if/when Colin Kaepernick moves on.
Baltimore Ravens (from Philadelphia Eagles):
DeForest Buckner DE/DT, Oregon.
In my fictional mock NFL Draft scenario, the Ravens pick up an extra pick or two later in the draft to drop two places and still grab the beast of a defensive lineman they had their eye on anyway. Buckner, if he falls this far in real life, would be an obvious choice for just about any team that, you know, wants talented players.
Oct 17, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Alex Balducci (56) and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (44) sack Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning (3) during the third quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Leonard Floyd OLB/DE, Georgia. The Bucs need an edge rusher to boost their defensive line that already boasts Gerald McCoy and Robert Ayers. The Bucs are reportedly interested in Floyd and have been in touch with him in recent weeks.
New York Giants: Vernon Hargreaves CB, Florida. The Giants improved their sorry secondary by adding Janoris Jenkins in free agency but they still need help. Hargeaves could instantly upgrade the position as the nickle corner his first year and could move up the depth chart after that.
Chicago Bears: Shaq Lawson DE, Clemson. The Bears desperately need to upgrade their defensive line and Lawson is probably the best pass rusher still available.
New Orleans Saints:Jack Conklin OT/G, Michigan State. I’ll respond to your primary criticisms of this mock pick here instead of in the comments section. The Saints need offensive linemen to protect their golden boy Drew Brees while he can still play, and Ronnie Staley has been falling recently due to his perceived lack of passion for football. Don’t be shocked if Conklin ends up in Saints gold.
Miami Dolphins:
Ezekiel Elliot RB, Ohio State.
I know the Dolphins’ secondary is terrible, but I doubt they can pass up the best running back in the draft as a replacement for
Jan 24, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer laughs with running back Ezekiel Elliot at the start of the national championship celebration at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
Oakland Raiders: Ronnie Staley OT, Notre Dame. The Raiders could always use offensive line help to protect their coveted young pup Derek Carr. They will likely be tempted by Sheldon Rankins, but I’d invest in the offensive line. You can never have too many good linemen (hint, Seahawks, hint).
Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams): Sheldon Rankins DT, Louisville. The Titans took the Rams this morning for several NFL Draft picks this year and next year. One of the many payoffs of the trade for Tennessee could be Rankins, a fearsome, NFL-ready interior pass rusher.
Detroit Lions: Jarran Reed DT/DE, Alabama. The Lions, in the alternate universe of my creation, will likely be licking their chops to draft Reed as a replacement for Ndamukong Suh. Nick Fairly couldn’t fill Suh’s shoes last year and they need a boost on the defensive line.
Atlanta Falcons: Darron Lee LB, Ohio State. The Falcons and Dan Quinn are likely to be celebrating Lee falling to them at 17. They can take the next step in their quest to become Seattle in the South with this rangy, athletic linebacker.
Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Kelly C, Alabama. It’s difficult to imagine the Colts taking anyone other than an offensive lineman in the first round, with the way that opposing defenses treated poor Andrew Luck last season. Kelly has shot up draft lists and figures to be an instant upgrade in the interior of the Colts’ offensive line.
Buffalo Bills: Reggie Ragland LB, Alabama. The Bills’ linebacking corps last season didn’t really cover or stop the run well. Manny Lawson was mediocre at best for them and Rex Ryan likely has his eyes on a top linebacker prospect from a tough, SEC defense.
New York Jets: Taylor Decker OT, Ohio State. I tried to tell the Jets that Breno Giacomini wasn’t actually that good (although I’d gladly take him back on the Seahawks at this point), but they wouldn’t listen. Or I never really wrote a letter to them at all. Decker is extremely versatile, able to play every offensive line position except center. Their big o-line acquisition Ryan Clady is coming off an injury.
Washington:
A’Shawn Robinson DT, Alabama.
I’m gaining a new appreciation for Nick Saban’s defense at Alabama with yet another member of his team selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Robinson is a perfect replacement for the aging
, who signed with the New England Patriots this offseason. Robinson comes in with high marks for potential and could develop into an even better player than Knighton.
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (86) walks off the field after beating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
Houston Texans: Will Fuller WR, Notre Dame. The Texans will likely take Fuller over Laquon Treadwell, another excellent receiving prospect, because they need a deep threat with serious speed like Fuller to complement DeAndre Hopkins.
Minnesota Vikings: Laquon Treadwell WR, Ole Miss. Treadwell could fall right into the Vikings’ lap if my alternate reality comes true. And they’d be happy to take Treadwell, a possession receiver who would in well with Teddy Bridgewater and company.
Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Doctson WR, TCU. With Treadwell and Fuller gone, the Bengals will likely grab Doctson to replace at least one of their departed free agent receivers, Mohammed Sanu and Marvin Jones.
Pittsburgh Steelers:William Jackson CB, Houston. Jackson is likely the best cornerback left in the NFL Draft for the Steelers, who badly need to upgrade their secondary.
Seattle Seahawks: Emmanuel Ogbah DE, Oklahoma State. I know. Everyone is screaming at Pete Carroll and John Schneider to take an offensive lineman with this pick, but the Seahawks have to upgrade their defensive line, too. Say what you will about Bruce Irvin, his absence leaves an opportunity for new pass rushers like Frank Clark to step up. Ogbah could challenge Clark and others for a prominent role in the Seahawks pass rush.
retiring, the Packers could use another big-body in the center of their defensive line. Butler is indeed a big body (6’4″ 323).
Kansas City Chiefs: Eli Apple CB, Ohio State. Everyone could use another long, physical, big cornerback, right? The Chiefs will gladly take Apple here if he falls to them at pick 28.
Arizona Cardinals: Mackensie Alexander CB, Clemson. Another talented cornerback for Bruce Arians and company in the desert to help safety hybrid Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson challenge the LOB for the best secondary in the league.
Carolina Panthers: Noah Spence DE, Eastern Kentucky. There are some off-field issues here, but I could see Ron Rivera and Cam Newton taking the youngster under their wings and teaching him to show off… in a good way… on the field. He might be the best edge rusher left at this point.
Denver Broncos: Johnathan Bullard DE/DT, Florida. Robert Nkemdiche is also a popular name here and is often linked to the Seahawks as well, but some analysts believe that Bullard is the safer prospect who could fit in well in the Broncos defense next to Robert Wolfe and their various edge rushers.
New England Patriots: They lost their first round pick for deflating balls. I don’t feel bad.
So there you have it, an official NFL Draft mock sure to raise the ire of some in the comments section for missing a few obvious names. Let me know who I missed, who should take them, and why. Follow ECS in the coming weeks as we preview the NFL Draft, which, in case you somehow read this entire article and didn’t know, starts on April 28th.
