Final NFL Mock Draft: All Seven Rounds

This took a while. The damn trades at the top made me start over twice too, but nevertheless, it is here. It's obviously going to all be spot on, so at least I have that going for me. In all seriousness, from the backend of round 1 to mid round 3 there are so many possibilities. So many players have certain traits that jump off the board and make you want to pound the table for them in round 1, yet there are also serious flaws in them too. No prospect is perfect, but the overall parity from 20-70 this year shocked me. It was in a good way though, as there are going to be a lot of day 2 starters in this draft. A ton. Trust me. Enjoy!

Round 1

1) Los Angeles Rams (From Tennessee Titans) - Jared Goff, QB, Cal
Goff is good. Like, really good. So just ignore anybody who implies that his hand size and "skinny" build make him a lesser QB. He has terrific accuracy, a strong arm, and plays with good anticipation too. The Rams are picking a QB with the top pick, and it might be Wentz, but Goff can play immediately and play well immediately too. Old school analysts like to say a player like Goff has never had success, but that's just an excuse. When you watch this kids game, he has so many great traits and can become a terrific NFL QB.

2) Philadelphia Eagles (From Cleveland) - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Wow. I've had to change this mock draft two times thanks to trades from Tennessee and Cleveland now. Give Philly credit though, they're going up and getting their guy. Wentz has a big arm, athleticism, and according to coaches he has a really high football IQ.

3) San Diego Chargers - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
This isn't a sexy pick, but Tunsil is a rock. His pro day cemented his status as one of the few elite talents in this draft, and San Diego should be thrilled he falls to them. Phillip Rivers was forced to make magic out of nothing last season, so giving him an actual franchise LT is enormous.

4) Dallas Cowboys - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
The Cowboys should be thanking their lucky stars that arguably the best player in the draft falls to them at 4. Rod Marinelli gets one of the most versatile players in this entire draft, and it just so happens to fill a huge need too. I think Ramsey should play safety, but he can also play nickel corner when they need him too, and frankly they should just let him make plays. He immediately becomes one of the best players on an improving Dallas defense.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
One of the best players in the draft (with Ramsey and Tunsil IMO), the Jaguars should be thrilled with this pick. Jack is a swiss army knife and he is a playmaker. There are concerns about his knee which could lead to a draft day slide, but Jack is still incredibly talented and can make plays for a defense that lacked an identity last season. Also pairing Jack with Telvin Smith is just way to tempting.

6) Baltimore Ravens - DeForest Buckner, DT, Oregon
Buckner, Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan on the defensive line, yikes. I'm saying yikes for the teams that play them just in case that wasn't clear. Ozzie Newsome is one of the best GM's in the league, and he knows how much of an impact a strong defensive front can have. Buckner is the best value in this position, and he would be an immediate 3-down contributor. This is a classic Ozzie pick, and Buckner fits terrifically with the Ravens scheme too.

7) San Fransisco 49ers - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Baalke should get Chip Kelly his guy, and even though I think Goff would have been a better fit, Lynch is terrific in his own right. He's enormous and can just sling it. He needs to be groomed for sure, but the tools for success are there. 

8) Cleveland Browns (From Cleveland) - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
I know, this draft has been boring at the top so far. I'm not trying to be bold, I'm just trying to predict the best possible move for each team. Elliott is an immediate 3-down back, and as Urban Meyer said, "[Elliott] is the best player I've ever coached without the ball in his hand." That is really high praise considering everybody already knows how good he is WITH the ball in his hand. Elliott is the best talent left in the draft, and honestly it isn't even that close.

9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Joey Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
Bosa falling to 9 is incredible value for a team that needs an edge rusher. Gerald McCoy is a stud, but getting him help in Bosa on the edge should make this D take a huge step forward. Bosa isn't perfect, but he can set the edge, be a disruptor in the run game, and if he works on his technique he could still end up being a perennial 10+ sack a year guy. There's a lot to like about Bosa, and this fills a huge need for Tampa Bay.

10) New York Giants - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Stanley is another player who seems to be dropping on a lot of boards, and I'm not sure why. He's a stud in pass protection, and has a very high ceiling as a franchise left tackle. Ereck Flowers was not the answer as a left tackle last season (maybe he'll be better as a right tackle) and Stanley can be. A wide receiver would be very tempting here, but they could get way better value in the second round.

11) Chicago Bears - Shaq Lawson, EDGE, Clemson
Chicago grabs an amazing football player, and fills a huge need too. They need pass rush, Lamarr Houston and Pernell McPhee aren't enough, but damn with Lawson that group can be feared. Analysts seem to be split on Lawson, all I know is he's young, he can f****** play, and I would want him on my football team. Don't overthink it, he's a stud.

12) New Orleans Saints - Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
The Saints are a tough pick. They need talent, just in general, and Rankins has that in spades. Playing beside a big NT like John Jenkins, Rankins can do what he does best, disrupt. Rankins has shown the ability to throw blockers off him, and he can be an enforcer on this defense from the beginning. New Orleans needs to get stronger upfront, and Rankins brings that to the table.

13) Miami Dolphins (From Philadelphia) - Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
I know, I know, Miami needs another cornerback. They also need an impact defender, and Ragland gives them a 3-down Mike for their defense. Playing behind Suh would free him up to make plays, and that's what he does best. His instincts are off the charts, and even though he's not a special athlete, he's an NFL athlete. The knock on him is he's a 2-down linebacker, but that's just not true. Just because he's not Kuechly in coverage, doesn't mean he can't hold his own, and I expect him to be a leader on this defense, and have a big immediate impact. Miami should also genuinely consider Jaylon Smith if it turns out his knee isn't completely ruined, as they are still lacking enough talent to compete in year 1 under Gase.

14) Oakland Raiders - LaQuon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Treadwell would definitely be a luxury pick, but that offense takes another step if they draft him. Already Oakland has an elite offensive line, and their franchise QB in Derek Carr, but adding Treadwell to their core of Cooper and Crabtree would give them so many options on offense. Treadwell in the slot with Cooper and Crabtree on the outside would be incredible. They would have three players with size, athleticism, and who have terrific technique too, and this would put Oakland's offense over the top while helping their young QB grow even more. They could also look at off-ball linebackers such as Darron Lee or possibly Leonard Floyd (depending how they view him) with this pick.

15) Tennessee Titans (From Los Angeles Rams) - Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
This is a steal for Tennessee. Hargreaves has a case to go top 10, and he is one hell of a cornerback. People will knock his size, but that shouldn't matter if you're confident in the football player you're getting. Tennessee should be extremely confident. Think of a healthy Joe Haden, that's the type of football player you're getting. Decker would also be nice here, as would a defensive lineman like Billings, but going VHIII grabs incredible value with need too.

16) Detroit Lions - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
The Lions should be looking at need along with value at this point. There is a case to be made for a dozen different players in the middle of the first round, and Decker fits the bill for a Lions team that struggled to consistently move the ball last season. Some scouts have Decker higher than Stanley, and even though I disagree with that, Decker is a terrific prospect in his own right. Whether he starts at left or right tackle for them, this improves the entire offensive line and possibly allows Riley Reiff to move to right tackle where he would probably excel.

17) Atlanta Falcons - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
I'd like to make it clear, this isn't what I think Atlanta will do, this is what I would do if I were them. Sanu isn't a good number 2 wide receiver, and Josh Doctson can be a great number 1 receiver let alone a number 2 guy. He is the best jump ball receiver in the draft, and one of the best overall weapons in this draft. Matt Ryan would have no excuses with an improved offensive line, a good running game, and the dynamic duo of Julio Jones and Josh Doctson. Atlanta needs to get better on offense to really compete, and this would do just that.

18) Indianapolis Colts - Jack Conklin, OT/OG, Michigan State
Protect Andrew Luck. You had one job Grigson, and you couldn't figure it out. Conklin can help in this department, a lot. I'd have him slide in as the right tackle and play Mewhort at guard, but he gives you some flexibility. Conklin isn't the most athletic, but he's very technically sound and has an extremely high motor. Does a terrific job looking for work, so even when Luck holds onto the ball too long, Conklin can help. This offense has the potential to be the best in the league, but it all starts with protecting Luck.

19) Buffalo Bills - Kevin Dodd, EDGE, Clemson
Dodd fits terrifically with the Bills defensive line. He can slide in immediately as the strong-side defensive end, and playing beside Dareus, Williams and Hughes will allow him to play through any rookie struggles he may face. On the other end of the spectrum, his upside as a pass rusher and impact run defender is too tantalizing for Buffalo to pass on.

20) New York Jets - Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
The speedy off-ball linebacker would fit in perfectly with this Jets defense. They have a hole at linebacker, and their defensive line would free Lee up to utilize his speed and just make plays instead of taking on blockers. Todd Bowles wants to get younger and faster on defense, and Lee helps with both.

21) Washington - Andrew Billings, NT, Washington
There have been many questions about his age, whether he's 20, 21 or 22, but I don't care, Billings is a beast. He is the strongest player in this draft, and it's not just flashy strength it's all fundamental strength. His power consistently shows up on tape, and he has surprising quickness too. Billings is a monster, and takes on multiple lineman better than anybody in the draft.

22) Houston Texans - Cody Whitehair, OG/C, Kansas State
The Texans should feel confident about their defense going into 2016, even without any additions there is talent on all levels (although they need an upgrade at safety). On offense, the additions of Osweiler and Miller are huge, but they should invest in making sure they can get the most production out of those two. Whitehair is as technically sound of an offensive lineman since Zack Martin, and he is a plug-and-play player anywhere on the line. With the losses of Ben Jones and Brandon Brooks, Whitehair brings terrific fit to go along with great value.

23) Minnesota Vikings - Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
Wide receiver seems to be the most obvious route for Minnesota to go, and Michael Thomas is the best available. He is a terrific receiver and I think is becoming very underrated in this draft. He has size, athleticism and is a great route runner. Paired with Stefon Diggs, they could make a formidable pair for Teddy Bridgewater. Corey Coleman would be another great option, but I think Thomas is a better overall receiver and a better fit for the Vikings.

24) Cincinnati Bengals - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Another wide receiver who could be off the board much earlier, but the Bengals will gladly take him here. Coleman is just explosive. He's very raw and needs to show he can consistently run routes (as most Baylor wide receivers do), but he has an abundance of talent. Even without Hue Jackson, I think Cincinnati can get a lot out of him right away, without putting too much pressure on him.

25) Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson III, CB, Houston
This has become somewhat of a trendy pick in mock drafts, but I like it. He's probably a year or two away from really becoming a reliable full-time starter, but his length and speed are too appealing for a Steelers team that has been shaky at best in the secondary in recent years. He has an incredibly high ceiling, and could be a shut down cornerback. Considering this is late in the first round, that upside alone is terrific value.

26) Seattle Seahawks - Germain Ifedi, OT/OG, Texas A&M
Seattle is an incredibly well-balanced team, and a perennial contender, but man does their O-line suck. Ifedi has the perfect build of an offensive lineman, long arms, and is incredibly athletic. He could immediately replace J.R. Sweezy next season, and be even better right from the get go. If Seattle can allow him time to grow and develop, he could be a star. Incredibly high ceiling, and as a late first round pick, this pick has good value too.

27) Green Bay Packers - Jarran Reed, NT/DT, Alabama
Billings would be nice here too, but Reed falls into the Packers lap and fills a huge need too. B.J. Raji is taking a sabbatical, and the Packers don't have the same depth on their defensive line as they did last season. Reed is an instant impact run defender, and while he currently won't bring much in the sense of rushing the passer, he can still develop that part of his game and to start he can try and eat space for the playmakers across the Packers D. An ILB would be nice here too, but the defensive line must be addressed too.

28) Kansas City Chiefs - MacKensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
Cornerback height is like quarterback hand size to me. It is a factor, but it isn't the ONLY factor. Alexander is 5'10, but he can play. Pairing him with Marcus Peters gives KC a potentially dominant cornerback duo for the next decade. Alexander needs to be more consistent, but he has flashed the instincts and ability to be a shutdown cover corner.

29) Arizona Cardinals - Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
The Arizona Cardinals are in win-now mode, and this is a terrific pick for just that. Ryan Kelly can immediately slot in as their starting center, and be a leader on that offensive line. On tape, he plays with a non stop motor and good technique, and he would help open up huge holes in the run game for David Johnson.

30) Carolina Panthers - Karl Joseph, SS, West Virginia
Joseph is getting so much buzz as of late, and he should be the first safety off the board come draft day. He's one of the rare safeties that could be an impact player in both run and pass defense. Carolina will be tempted to go with a CB here, especially after the Norma debacle, but Joseph represents terrific value, an immediate high-quality starter, and a terrific fit with Kurt Coleman at the back of this stellar Panthers.

31) Denver Broncos - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
Going QB is tempting, as is offensive line, but the strength of this team is on defense, and after losing a couple players in free agency they should focus on keeping their defense strong. Robinson has terrific size to be a terror for opposing offenses, and he has shown on tape he can flat out play. He's not as polished as Jarran Reed, but he has higher upside as he's shown flashes of being able to rush the passer.

*New England Patriot's 1st round pick forfeited.

Round 2

32) Cleveland - Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia
33) Tennessee - Josh Perry, LB, Ohio State
34) Dallas - Noah Spence, Edge, Eastern Kentucky
35) San Diego - Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
36) Baltimore - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
37) San Fransisco - Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
38) Jacksonville - KeiVarie Russell, CB, Notre Dame
39) Tampa Bay - Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn
40) New York Giants - Darian Thompson, FS, Boise State
41) Chicago - Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
42) Miami - Artie Burns, CB, Miami
43) Tennessee (From Los Angeles) - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
44) Oakland - Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
45) Tennessee (From Los Angeles) - Kamalei Correa, EDGE, Boise State
46) Detroit - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
47) New Orleans - Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE, Oklahoma State
48) Indianapolis - Kenny Clark, DT/NT, UCLA
49) Buffalo - Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford
50) Atlanta - Su'a Cravens, LB, UCLA
51) New York Jets - Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
52) Houston - Sterling Sheppard, WR, Oklahoma
53) Washington - Jayron Kearse, FS, Clemson
54) Minnesota - Keanu Neal, SS, Florida
55) Cincinnati - Austin Johnson, NT, Penn State
56) Seattle - Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
57) Green Bay - Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
58) Pittsburgh - Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU
59) Kansas City - Shilique Calhoun, EDGE, Michigan State
60) New England - Jordan Jenkins, EDGE, Georgia
61) New England (From Arizona) - Christian Westerman, OG, Arizona State
62) Carolina - Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor
63) Denver - Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State

Round 3

64) Tennessee - Willie Henry, DT, Michigan
65) Cleveland - Jonathan Bullard, DT, Florida
66) San Diego - Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State
67) Dallas - Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
68) San Fransisco - La'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
69) Jacksonville - Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
70) Baltimore - Nick Martin, C/OG, Notre Dame
71) New York Giants - Deion Jones, LB, LSU
72) Chicago - Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA
73) Miami - C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame
74) Tampa Bay - Roberto Aguaya, K, FSU
75) Oakland - Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska
76) Tennessee (From Los Angeles) - Connor McGovern, OG, Missouri
77) Cleveland (From Philadelphia) - Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State
78) New Orleans - Vadal Alexander, OG, LSU
79) Cleveland (From Philadelphia) - Jeremy Cash, SS, Duke
80) Buffalo - Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas
81) Atlanta - Kentrell Brothers, ILB, Missouri
82) Indianapolis - Kevin Peterson, CB, Oklahoma State
83) New York Jets - Alex Collins, RB, Nebraska
84) Washington - Devontae Booker, RB, Utah
85) Houston - Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
86) Minnesota - Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh
87) Cincinnati - Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame
88) Green Bay - Landon Turner, OG, North Carolina
89) Pittsburgh - Jalen Mills, FS, LSU
90) Seattle - Max Tuerk, C, USC
91) New England - Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana
92) Arizona - Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi state
93) Carolina - Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State
94) Denver - Evan Boehm, OC, Missouri
95) Detroit (Comp. pick) - Bronson Kaufusi, DE, Brigham Young
96) New England (Comp. pick) - Daniel Braverman, WR, Western Michigan
97) Seattle (Comp. pick) - Jack Allen, C, Michigan State
98) Denver (Comp. pick) - Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama

*Kansas City's 3rd round pick forfeited.

Round 4

99) Cleveland - Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State
100) Philadelphia (From Tennessee) - Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorodo State
101) Dallas - Leonte Carroo, WR, Rutgers
102) San Diego - Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford
103) Jacksonville - Miles Killebrew, SS, Southern Utah
104) Baltimore - Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech
105) San Fransisco - Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia
106) Chicago - Rashard Robinson, CB, LSU
107) Miami - Charles Tapper, DE, Oklahoma
108) Tampa Bay - Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State
109) New York Giants - Scooby Wright III, ILB, Arizona
110) Los Angeles - Dominique Alexander, ILB, Oklahoma
111) Detroit - Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma
112) New Orleans - John Theus, OT, Georgia
113) Los Angeles (From Tennessee) - Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA
114) Oakland - Sean Davis, CB/S, Maryland
115) Atlanta - Kyler Fackrell, EDGE, Utah
116) Indianapolis - Tyler Matakevich, ILB, Temple
117) Buffalo - T.J. Green, FS, Clemson
118) New York Jets - Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford
119) Houston - Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas
120) Washington - Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama
121) Minnesota - Sebastian Tretola, OG, Arkansas
122) Cincinnati - KJ Dillon, SS, West Virginia
123) Pittsburgh - Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State
124) Seattle - Charone Peake, WR, Clemson
125) Green Bay - Eric Striker, LB, Oklahoma
126) Kansas City - Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois
127) Chicago (From New England) - Denver Kirkland, OG, Arkansas
128) Arizona - DJ Reader, NT, Clemson
129) Carolina - Jason Fanaika, DE, Utah
130) Baltimore (From Denver) - Spencer Drango, OG, Baylor
131) Green Bay (Comp. pick) - Kenny Lawler, WR, Cal
132) Baltimore (Comp. pick) - Jatavis Brown, LB, Akron
133) San Fransisco (Comp. pick) - Kolby Listenbee, WR, TCU
134) Baltimore (Comp. pick) - Keyarris Gerrett, WR, Tulsa
135) Dallas (Comp. pick) - Jerell Adams, TE, South Carolina
136) Denver (Comp. pick) - Cole Toner, OT, Harvard
137) Green Bay (Comp. pick) - Willie Beavers, OT, Western Michigan
138) Cleveland (Comp. pick) - Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE, Maryland
139) Buffalo (Comp. pick) - D.J. White, CB, Georgia Tech

Round 5

140) Tennessee - Eric Murray, CB, Minnesota
141) Cleveland - Joe Schobert, LB, Wisconsin
142) San Fransisco (From San Diego) - Juston Burris, CB, N.C. State
143) Oakland (From Dallas) - Will Redmond, CB, Mississippi State
144) Denver (From Baltimore) - Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina
145) San Fransisco - Graham Glasgow, OG/C, Michigan
146) Jacksonville - Blake Martinez, ILB, Stanford
147) Miami - Deiondre' Hall, CB, Northern Iowa
148) Tampa Bay - Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
149) New York Giants - Jonathan Jones, CB, Auburn
150) Chicago - Fahn Cooper, OT, Ole Miss
151) Detroit - Aaron Burbridge, WR, Michigan State
152) New Orleans - LeShaun Sims, CB, Southern Utah
153) Philadelphia - Roger Lewis, WR, Bowling Green
154) Oakland - Ronald Blair, DE, Appalachian State
155) Indianapolis - Darrell Greene, OG, Mountain Westl
156) Buffalo - Matt Judon, DE, Grand Valley State
157) New York Jets - Bryce Williams, TE, East Carolina
158) Washington - Nick Vigil, ILB, Utah State
159) Houston - DeAndre Houston-Carson, FS, WIlliam & Mary
160) Minnesota - Jared Norris, ILB, Utah
161) Cincinnati - Maurice Canady, CB, Virginia
162) Kansas City (From Seattle) - Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford
163) Green Bay - Tom Hackett, P, Utah
164) Philadelphia (From Pittsburgh) - Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia
165) Kansas City - Isaac Seumalo, OG, Oregon State
166) Houston (From New England) - James Bradberry, CB, Samford
167) Arizona - Ken Crawley, CB, Colorodo
168) Carolina - Moritz Boehringer, WR,
169) Detroit (From Denver) - De'Vondre Campbell, LB, Minnesota
170) Arizona (Comp. pick) - Mike Thomas, WR,Southern Mississippi
171) Seattle (Comp. pick) - Travis Feeney, LB, Washington
172) Cleveland (Comp. pick) - Justin Simmons, FS, Boston College
173) Cleveland (Comp. pick) - Joe Dahl, OG, Washington State
174) San Fransisco (Comp. pick) - Anthony Zettel, DE, Penn State
175) San Diego (Comp. pick) - James Cowser, EDGE, Southern Utah

Round 6

176) Cleveland - Mitch Mathews, WR, Brigham Young
177) Los Angeles (From Tennessee) - Kevin Byard, SS, Middle Tennessee
178) San Fransisco (From Dallas) - Tajae Sharpe, WR, Massachusetts
179) San Diego - Morgan Burns, CB, Kansas State
180) Minnesota (From San Fransisco) - Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard
181) Jacksonville - Ufomba Kamalu, DE, Florida
182) Baltimore - Tyvis Powell, FS, Ohio State
183) Tampa Bay - Demarcus Robinson, WR, Florida
184) New York Giants - Joe Thuney, OG, NC State
185) Chicago - Cody Core, WR, Ole Miss
186) Miami - Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State
187) Washington (From New Orleans) - Brandon Doughty, QB, Western Kentucky
188) Philadelphia - Matt Ioannidis, DT, Temple
189) Dallas (From Oakland) - Daryl Worley, CB, West Virginia
190) Los Angeles - Alex Lewis, OT, Nebraska
191) Detroit - Nate Sudfeld, QB, Indiana
192) Buffalo - Romeo Okwara, DE, Notre Dame
193) Tennessee (From Atlanta) - Clayton Fejedelem, SS, Illinois
194) Oakland (From Indianapolis) - Beniquez Brown, LB, Mississippi State
195) Houston (From New York Jets) - Adam Gotsis, DT, Georgia Tech
196) New England (From Houston) - Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina
197) Tampa Bay (From Washington) - Geronimo Allison, WR, Illinois
198) San Diego (From Minnesota) - Kavon Frazier, FS, Central Michigan
199) Cincinnati - Tyler Ervin, RB, San Jose State
200) Green Bay - Thomas Duarte, TE, UCLA
201) Jacksonville (From Pittsburgh) - Rees Odhiambo, OG, Boise State
202) Detroit (From Seattle) - Avery Young, OT, Auburn
203) Kansas City - Antonio Morrison, ILB, Florida
204) New England (From Chicago) - Austin Blythe, C, Iowa
205) Arizona - Jordan Walsh, OG, Iowa
206) Chicago (From Carolina) - Jacoby Brissett, QB, NC State
207) San Fransisco (From Denver) - Peyton Barber, RB, Auburn
208) New England (Comp. pick) - Tyrone Holmes, LB, Montana
209) Baltimore (Comp. pick) - Nick Kwiatkoski, ILB, West Virginia
210) Detroit (Comp. pick) - Jordan Lucas, SS, Penn State
211) San Fransisco (Comp. pick) - Victor Ochi, LB, Stony Brook
212) Dallas (Comp. pick) - Paul McRoberts, WR, Southeast Missouri State
213) San Fransisco (Comp. pick) - Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida
214) New England (Comp. pick) - Nile Lawrence-Stample, DT, Florida State
215) Seattle (Comp. pick) - Darius Jackson, RB, Eastern Michigan
216) Dallas (Comp. pick) - Stephen Weatherly, DE, Vanderbilt
217) Dallas (Comp. pick) - Kyle Friend, C/OG, Temple
218) Buffalo (Comp. pick) - Andy Janovich, FB, Nebraska
219) Denver (Comp. pick) - Temarrick Hemingway, TE, South Carolina State
220) Pittsburgh (Comp. pick) - Ricardo Louis, WR, Auburn

Round 7

221) Tennessee - Parker Ehinger, OG, Cincinnati
222) Cleveland - Jalin Marshall, WR, Ohio State
223) San Diego - Aaron Wallace, EDGE, UCLA
224) Seattle (From Dallas) - Hunter Sharp, WR, Utah State
225) Jacksonville - Ka'imi Fairbairn, K, UCLA
226) Miami (From Baltimore) - Bralon Addison, WR, Oregon
227) Denver (From San Fransisco) - Terrance Smith, LB, Florida State
228) Pittsburgh (From New York Giants) - Drew Kaser, P, Texas A&M
229) Chicago - Caleb Benenoch, OT, UCLA
230) Miami - Anthony Brown, CB, Purdue
231) Tampa Bay - Kevon Seymour, CB, Southern California
232) Philadelphia - DeAndre Washington, RB, Texas Tech
233) Oakland - Stephen Anderson, TE, Cal
234) Houston (From Los Angeles) - Devon Cajuste, TE, Stanford
235) Detroit - Nelson Spruce, WR, Colorodo
236) New Orleans - Cayleb Jones, WR, Arizona
237) Atlanta - Chase Farris, OG, Ohio State
238) Indianapolis - Trevon Boykin, QB, TCU
239) Minnesota (From Buffalo) - Michael Jordan, CB, Missouri Western
240) New York Jets - Jake McGee, TE, Florida
241) Washington - Jay Lee, WR, Baylor
242) Denver (From Houston) - Nila Kasitati, OG, Oklahoma
243) Minnesota - Darius Latham, DT, Indiana
244) Cincinnati - Kavon Frazier, FS, Central Michigan
245) Pittsburgh - Josh Forrest, LB, Kentucky
246) Seattle - Vernon Adams, QB, Oregon
247) Green Bay - Deon Bush, FS, Miami
248) Kansas City - Briean Boddy-Calhoun, CB, Minnesota
249) New England - Jakeem Grant, KR/WR, Texas Tech
250) Philadelphia (From Arizona) - Jimmy Pruitt, CB,
251) Carolina - Byron Marshall, WR, Oregon
252) Denver - Vincent Valentine, DT, Nebraska

Super Bowl 50 Recap

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The 2015 NFL season officially concluded with Sunday's bout, but before I go into offseason/draft mode, let me get the obligatory gut reactions out of the way. Before I get into the actual game, holy s*** Thomas Davis is one tough SOB.

Peyton Manning

The Sheriff gets to go out on top, if he so chooses. It's great for the sport to see one of the best and most respected players in the history of the game to ride off into the sunset like Peyton Manning did. With that being said, this game does nothing to influence my opinion on him, and it shouldn't for anybody. Peyton Manning is one of the best players in NFL history regardless of what happened in Super Bowl 50, that's just a fact. Even though he was average at best in the Super Bowl, it is fitting that after so many years of Peyton getting the blame for his team not stepping up with him (not saying he was always perfect, but just as an example the Broncos/Ravens game with the Joe Flacco Hail Mary, if it was batted down then that's a win for Manning and the Broncos), he finally gets carried to a win of massive proportions. Peyton deserves it, and I'm thrilled for him, but once again, this changes absolutely nothing about his legacy.

Cam Newton

Every person tearing into Cam right now needs to really take a look at themselves. If you haven't seen Newton's post-game press conference, it is not close to as bad as everybody is making it out to be. Also when he left, it seemed like it was because he heard a Broncos player talking badly about him, but no matter what the reason was, the real question is who cares? It's a post game presser, after he lost the biggest game of his life, in which he was probably extremely disappointed in himself. He's an emotional person. He plays the game with his heart on his sleeve, and because of that he has extremely high highs, and really low lows. For some reason, that pisses a huge portion of people off. I honestly have no idea why, I guess people just love to hate. It's toxic though, and when you go on Twitter or somewhere on the internet and say unforgivable things about a human being who has fun playing a game, then you should really reexamine your entire life.

I feel like I needed to say all of that. Now onto Cam's actual performance and the fallout from that. Cam was rattled for sure, and it's not a surprise that he had one of his worst games of the year against this Denver defense. Look at what they have done to Brady, Roethlisberger and Rodgers this season. Miller and Ware just kept getting to Cam, and the vertical passing game the Panthers like to run didn't fare well all game. The entire Panthers offense looked off all game, Cam included, and it was just an old school ass kicking. What troubles me is Cam not jumping on Von Miller's second forced fumble. I've watched the play several times and even though it wasn't as bad as most think, he still should have jumped on it. It's the Super Bowl, you can't hold back at any point in the game. Cam has a lot to learn from this game, but I don't think any of it is about his attitude. Football needs somebody like Cam. Somebody who won't give cookie cutter answers to every question, somebody who actually has fun playing a GAME, and somebody who is in love with football so much and plays with such passion that he sometimes can't control his emotions. This isn't a bad thing football world, it's great.

Von Miller

John Elway is just going to end up giving Miller a blank check with his name on it, right? Von has a chance to become the highest paid player in football, and it's well deserved to. No matter what team he goes up against, he wreaks havoc. Remmers had no chance the entire day, and time and time again Miller would be right in the pocket blowing up the play. Between his performance in the AFC Championship Game, and in the Super Bowl, Miller consistently flashes unprecedented talent. The biggest moment of this Super Bowl that will stick with me for a really long time was his first forced fumble. He just ripped it out of Cam Newton's hand. He didn't hit the ball out, he took it away from him. My jaw just dropped. The entire play was such a beautiful display of power, speed, bend and  He's just a stellar all-around player.

Marshawn Lynch

HE RETIRED. ON TWITTER. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUPER BOWL. WITH A PICTURE OF CLEATS HANGING. HE IS AMAZING. I don't care if you hate the Seahawks, you gotta respect Marshawn Lynch. He isn't influenced by anybody else, he plays by his own rules and you have to respect that. Oh, and this isn't at all a hot take, but it's still worth mentioning, he should be in the Hall Of Fame. He has the numbers, he was one of, if not the best running back in the league at a certain point, and he was consistently dominant throughout his career. He also had so many wow moments, it seems like each game I would say at least a handful of times "How is he still up?". If Peyton Manning retires, he'll get all the headlines, but we'll already be without another great for the 2016 season.

Super Bowl 2016 Preview

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I'm seeing a lot of people who are absolutely shocked by the teams playing in the Super Bowl. Don't get me wrong, even though I thought Denver and Caroline would win, I'm still a little surprised too. I don't know why though. These are the top seeds from each conference, Denver's defense is one of the best, most complete defenses I have seen in years (sorry Seattle) full of game changing playmakers at every level of the defense. Carolina is such a complete team across the board. Sure, Cam Newton doesn't have the best weapons, but then again they just put up 49 points against one of the best defenses in the league in Arizona, and their defense is also stacked at every level. I truly believe that this is the best outcome of teams possible for the Super Bowl this year. The storylines to sell to the public are endless. On the field and off the field, media members are licking their chops at the opportunity to talk about "The Sheriff's Last Rodeo" or "Dabbin' to Greatness" whatever the ridiculous headlines will be. All of that will be fun, but I prefer to focus on the field, and damn are their some amazing battles that will happen in Santa Clara less than two weeks from today.

Thomas Davis Vs. A Broken Arm
I'll mostly be looking at specific match-ups, but I need to talk about TD first. Like most of you, I want nothing more than to see #58 play in the Super Bowl just two weeks after breaking his arm. He is one of the best guys in football, and he's also one of the most talented linebackers in the league. A few plays before his injury, he read a toss to David Johnson, shed a block, and tackled him for a huge loss. Look it up if you have time, I'm sure it won't be hard to find because it was spectacular. I don't know any other player in the league that makes that tackle, apart from maybe the guy he plays beside. He's an incredible player, and it would be a treat for any and every fan to see him play in the Super Bowl.

Luke Kuechly Vs. Peyton Manning
This is the match-up I'm most looking forward too. I know, it's not as straight forward as the other ones, Kuechly will have a big impact in the run game and Peyton won't target Luke that often. What I'm looking forward to is the pre snap reads, and the games best middle linebacker leading his defense against probably the smartest player in NFL history. LK is the leader of one of the best defenses in the NFL this season, and he's an incredible smart player too. Even though Peyton doesn't make as many pre-snap adjustments as he would in past years, he is still one of the best at finding the holes in your defense, and for Kuechly, he has to make sure that his defense limits the mistakes they make or Manning even in his current state will make them pay. Sidebar, it would be cool to see Kuechly go three straight games with a pick-6.

Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei Vs. Interior Broncos Offensive Line
Apart from Carolina's linebackers, their defensive tackles are what make this defense go. Short has been nothing short of spectacular this season, and Lotulelei has been great in his own right when healthy. Denver doesn't have the strongest offensive line, and there is a lot of potential here for KS and SL to have a field day. To counteract what I'm expecting to be a lot of interior pressure on Manning, they will have to get the run game going early or Manning will have to rely on a lot of quick throws. I'd expect some screens because avoiding the middle of the field should be a priority in the pass game.

Emmanuel Sanders Vs. Robert McClain
This is a bit of an assumption on my part, but I'm expecting Josh Norman to shadow Demaryius Thomas and McClain to mostly guard Sanders. If so, Sanders has a chance at having a big day. From what I've seen of McClain this year (granted not too much), he's been solid; but I'm of the belief that Emmanuel Sanders is actually the best Broncos receiver. He may not have the size or reputation of Thomas, but his route running and reliability, to go along with athletic ability makes him really stand out. If Peyton is going to try and attack a specific part of this Carolina defense, this is where I expect him to look. Sanders can win this battle and unless you're always double teaming him (which brings up other problems throughout the defense) then he will have his shot at a monster day. It just comes down to can Peyton get him the ball, and I think he can.

Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware Vs. Panthers Offensive Tackles
For whoever witnessed the brutality that Ware and Miller laid down against the Patriots in the AFC Championship game, I don't have to go into detail about how good these two are. The Panthers O-line has been really good as a group this year, and they have studs in the middle (Norwell, Kalil and Turner), but Cam Newton has made up for a lot of insufficiencies at tackle. I was completely wrong about Oher this season, as he has more than held his own at tackle, but in pass protection, he still hasn't been the ideal LT. Miller and Ware punished a QB who is known for getting rid of the ball as quickly as possible (among other things). If Carolina doesn't give their tackles help in pass protection, whether that's with TE's or running back's chip blocking, then Cam could be in real trouble.

Broncos Front 7 Vs. Panthers Run Game
Cam Newton plays a huge role in the success of Carolina's run game. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody. But between Malik Jackson, Sylvester Williams, Derek Wolfe, Von Miller, Brandon Marshall, Danny Trevathan and DeMarcus Ware, the Broncos have the athletic ability to contain Newton and Stewart. I don't have a ton of analysis on this specific battle, because these are just two terrific groups of players that execute extremely well. The fallout of this battle in the trenches will be huge though. If Carolina can get their run game going early, then their entire offense will open up, and it will allow Mike Shula (Panthers offensive coordinator) to open up the playbook and start to get really creative so he can stifle Denver's defense. On the other side of the spectrum, if Denver shuts down their run game, I can easily see Cam and the offense start to pinch and try and force plays, and when you're facing the best defense in the league you can't force anything or they will make you pay. Whoever wins this battle should have a big advantage in the Super Bowl, and it could be the key to winning.

Peyton Manning Vs. Turnovers
All I can think of is the Seattle Super Bowl a couple years ago. Manning was facing off against a young, hungry defense, and he got killed in the turnover battle. Seattle led the league in takeaways that season, and Carolina leads the league in takeaways this season. The Panthers embarrassed the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game, and it was mostly due to the fact that Arizona couldn't stop themselves from turning the ball over. With that being said, the current Broncos offense has Peyton playing a very safe game. He is making some throws, but they are to the outside in single coverage for the most part, and when he misses he is missing high so the cornerback doesn't have a chance at it. If Peyton is going to miss, that's where you want him to miss. If we get the Peyton Manning of early season, then it's already game over. But if we get the Manning who has played surprisingly well over the past couple weeks, the one who is limiting his mistakes and running a meticulous, take what they give you offense, then this is going to be one hell of a game.

Prediction
I went 2-0 last week, and am now 5-5 in the playoffs. So this is the tie breaker. The spread as of now is CAR -6. This is a really, really tough line. Carolina seems like the easy bet, but Denver has only lost one game by more than 7 points this season, and that was the game against Kansas City where Peyton Manning imploded. As of now, I'm predicting a really close game no matter who ends up on top, so I'll go Denver. If any quarterback can learn from his mistakes, it's Peyton Manning, and I don't see a repeat of Super Bowl 48 happening again. Although if I'm being forced to pick a winner straight up, then I'll go with Carolina.

My Pick: Denver +6

AFC West Breakout Candidates 2015

Denver Broncos

Bradley Roby, CB: The rich get richer. Denver's talent at cornerback is already at an elite level with Chris Harris and Aqib Talib, and Bradley Roby will push them over the edge. Roby had a solid rookie season, but he has an incredibly high ceiling. He has the size, speed and ball skills of an elite cornerback, he just needs to work on consistency. He sometimes can get caught trying to make the big play and get burned, but if he works on that he could be great. He is in a very good position with Denver too, as they have a wicked pass rush with Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Shane Ray. The Broncos D can bring the heat, which provides more of an opportunity for their secondary to make plays. Roby will bring to light that the Broncos have a terrifying trio instead of a dynamic duo at cornerback. I'm predicting 4 interceptions for Roby and more consistent play too.

San Diego Chargers

Jason Verrett, CB: I'm not overly confident in this choice. Only because I don't know if Verrett has already broken out. Mighty Mouse is a star. I have a huge man crush on this guy, and I think he is going to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for years to come. He has all the traits you would look for in a star cornerback except for size, but he plays way bigger than he is. I could go on and on about how awesome Verrett  is, but it's easier if you just watch some of his highlights. He's incredible. Between him and Flowers, the Chargers have a deadly duo at cornerback. I'm predicting 3 interceptions for Verrett, but more importantly I think he will end the year as a top 5 cornerback.

Oakland Raiders

Derek Carr, QB: There are usually two kinds of opinions on Derek Carr. The first is that he is a franchise QB and had a terrific rookie season. The second is he had a horrible rookie year and isn't a good quarterback. I fall somewhere in between these two views. I think he had a bad rookie season, but he showed me enough flashes of brilliance that I think he is a franchise QB going forward and will make a big leap in year 2. Carr is a very smart quarterback with a big arm, and I'm expecting him to jump to at least a league average QB next year. Drafting Amari Cooper was very smart by Raiders management, because Carr really lacked any explosive go to target, and now that he has just that in Cooper there is no telling what the two can do. Oakland also has hope in the backfield with Latavius Murray, and if he is even serviceable then that will go a long way in helping ease some pressure off of Carr. I'm predicting 3,800 yards for Carr, with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce, TE: The only things that previously stood in Kelce's way to break out earlier is health and playing time. Health is always a risk for every player, but the lack of playing time should not be a problem anymore. Kelce is an absolute animal on the field, which led to his nickname being Mini-Gronk, and it is almost criminal that it has taken KC this long to realize they should play him more. Kansas City does run a conservative offense, but along with Maclin and Charles, they only have three real receiving threats so he should be due for a lot of targets. I don't have much negative to say about Kelce. Talent wise I think he is a top 3 TE in the NFL (behind Gronk and Graham) and if KC uses him well then he will put the NFL on notice early. I'm predicting 950 yards and 10 touchdowns for this behemoth.

Offseason Outlook 2015: Denver Broncos

Offense

Any offense with Peyton Manning will be a top offense in the NFL. That is just a fact. Manning is one of the best quarterbacks of all time, and even at his age he still plays at an extremely high level. The people that say Manning is done after a rough December are completely crazy, he was playing hurt and throughout the year he still played at a very high level. Critics of Manning consistently talk about his arm strength. Everybody knows that Peyton throws ducks out there, that hasn't prevented him from torching a defense, because he is the smartest QB possibly in NFL history. The Broncos are a curious case at running back. C.J. Anderson was actually incredible in his time as the starter last season. The issue is, his career at RB is such a small sample size, there is no sure fire bet that the Broncos are getting that same player. They also have Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman as depth, but none of these backs have shown me enough that they can be the guy next year. Also, any running back in a Manning offense benefits greatly from having Peyton as the QB too, which can skew the numbers. I'm a little bit hesitant because of this to already anoint this as a great ground game, but the talent is there. At wide receiver, the Broncos offense should feel very confident about the players they have. Demaryius Thomas is a top 5 wideout in the NFL, and Emmanuel Sanders flourished in this passing game last year. I'm also predicting Cody Latimer to have a breakout year this year. He struggled to get on the field last year, but this year there are targets to give after the loss of Julius Thomas and Wes Welker. He's also a talented player and if he can build up Peyton's trust early then he should have no trouble in playing a big role for this offense. At tight end, the talent took a big hit this year. Not only did the Broncos lose Julius Thomas in free agency to the Jaguars, but they also lost the recently drafted Jeff Heuerman for the year. He may not have started immediately for them, but he was definitely the most talented TE on the roster, so it was a big blow. Owen Daniels will be a solid starter though as he consistently excels under Gary Kubiak's offenses. The offensive line struggled last year, and this year doesn't look much better. Ryan Clady was good last year, but he used to be an elite left tackle before he got hurt, so there is a possibility of him regaining that form this year. To go along with him, Louis Vasquez is a great right guard. Apart from those two, there are holes among the O-line. Chris Clark was average last year, but he was very consistent and there were some bad stretches. They lost Orlando Franklin and Manny Ramirez, so there will be position battles over center and left guard, but whoever the starters may be are unreliable at this point. Ty Sambrailo should help with Tackle depth, but he doesn't figure to have a huge immediate impact as both starting tackle positions seem to be locked up. The O-line may struggle, but this offense will keep churning out points like it's nothing. I can't stress this enough, Peyton Manning is one of the smartest players in all of sports, and he knows how to utilize his players strengths, and how to pick apart a defense. He will also help his O-line as he is one of the best at getting the ball out of his hands quickly. A top 5 finish on offense is almost a guarantee at this point, and nothing that happened in the offseason changes that.

Defense

I can't believe that this defense wasn't a top 10 overall defense, let alone top 5. The talent all across the board is crazy! On the defensive line, they are only okay. Derek Wolfe, Sylvester Williams, and Malik Jackson are all young players who struggled at times last season, but they have talent and can be solid starters this year. Their linebacker group is ridiculous. Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall (no not the WR for the Jets now) are two young players that were very good last year and could get even better (although Trevathan was injured last year, he was really good in 2013). On the edge, the Broncos have Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, and Shane Ray. It's almost unfair how good that group of edge rushers is. Von Miller is elite, and DeMarcus Ware is still playing at a very high level even though he's getting older. On top of those two players, the Broncos drafted Shane Ray in the first round this past year who was one of the best pass rushers in the entire draft. He fell due to some injury and character concerns, but he has a lightning quick first step, is an extremely explosive athlete, uses his hands very well when rushing the passer, and is very strong for his size. I understand that this is a pick for the future, but he could contribute right away with his talent. In addition to the linebackers, this is an extremely talented secondary unit as well. Chris Harris is the most underrated cornerback in all of football, and he played at an elite level last year. Aqib Talib is another great CB to pair with Harris, and they also have Bradley Roby who had a solid first year and should take a big jump this coming year. At safety they have the very talented T.J. Ward, and he played a big role for them last year and should continue to be a big presence on their defense. They will most likely pair him with Darian Stewart, who is an average starter at best. If Roby takes the jump that many people expect, including myself, then the Broncos could have three top tier cornerbacks to pair with their elite pass rushers. Just based off of that, this defense has the talent to be the number one defense in the NFL. Those expectations may be a little too high, but the talent is clearly there. Under a new coaching staff, I could see how there would be a transition period for the Broncos D. Yet last year, they seemed to be uninspired by former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, so I predict a top 10 finish for their defense this year.

This is still a deadly Broncos team. Everybody is going to talk about the Patriots, Seahawks or even the Packers as the best team in the NFL right now. Don't get me wrong, those three teams have a legitimate claim to fame for that title, but the Broncos are not far behind them. The Broncos offense is going to be elite once again as long as Peyton Manning is healthy, and their defense on paper at least, looks extremely threatening. This is a team that has struggled in the playoffs, so I can understand feeling wary to say a Super Bowl berth is on its way, but let's not pretend that it is out of the question either. The Broncos may have gotten even better, and if Manning stays completely healthy and plays like he did at the beginning of last year, then they could be Super Bowl bound.

2015 NFL Draft Review

The NFL draft was this past weekend, and this year, was actually fairly predictable. At least round 1 was. While many people were hoping for a trade with the 2nd overall pick (including me), the Titans stood pat and drafted Marcus Mariotoh, as Roger Goodell would say. A few picks really did stand out to me in the first round of the NFL draft, in both positive and negative ways.

New York Giants - Ereck Flowers, OG/OT
This was the biggest shock to me in the first half of the first round, and that includes Todd Gurley to the Rams. Sure the need of O-line was there, and a lot of people think the value was there too. I'm not one of them. It wasn't an insane reach either way, but there was a clear divide of talent in the first round. Universally, there were about 10 players, give or take a few, that were elite, blue-chip talents. The Giants had the 9th pick and they had a chance to get one of these players whether it was Todd Gurley or Devante Parker. Both of those picks would have filled needs too, especially because Victor Cruz' status is up in the air a bit, and both of those picks would have helped Eli too. This wasn't an awful pick in any means, and I'm sure that's noticeable because no analyst has really bashed this pick. Yet there were better picks on the board for the Giants, and if they are going to play Ereck Flowers at guard too, then they could easily have waited until the second or third round when the value lined up with the pick.

Kansas City Chiefs - Marcus Peters, CB
This was a steal. The only reason I'm not shaming the Minnesota Vikings for picking Trae Waynes over Marcus Peters is because I'm scared of Mike Zimmer since he will obviously turn any defensive player into a star. Back to KC though, if Marcus Peters can focus on football, this is potentially the best pick in the entire draft. Peters has the size, speed, athleticism, explosiveness, ball skills, smooth hips and toughness to become a top 5 cornerback in the NFL. Kansas City has quickly rebuilt their secondary and their defense as a whole looks pretty deadly now. With Dontari Poe, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Derrick Johnson, Marcus Peters, Sean Smith, Eric Berry (hopefully medically everything will be okay with him), and a lot of other solid players, they have a very threatening defense to go along with their offense. Great pick by the Chiefs.

Denver Broncos - Shane Ray, DE
Elephant in the room, let's get it out of the way. Shane Ray is a very good player, the value for the Broncos was great. That being said, what the hell Denver? Let's look at the Broncos current position, they have Peyton Manning for another year, maybe two. With how they have built their roster, it looks like they are going all out to win a Super Bowl before Manning retires. So what is the point to pick a pass rusher that will have to compete with Von Miller and Demarcus Ware for snaps when they should be trying to protect Manning or give him more weapons. The Broncos offensive line last year was not good. The Broncos could easily have picked D.J. Humphries, who was picked next by the Cardinals, to fill a void left by Orlando Franklin and even give a boost in pass protection. That would have been good value, and filled their biggest need. They did pick Ty Sambrailo with their second round pick, but there O-line still needs work and on top of that they didn't address the running back position at all in the draft. To sum up, good value, very confusing pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Bud Dupree, OLB
Depending on how the Steelers handle Dupree's development, this was a steal. The last few years the Steelers have had one mission. Get younger, faster, and more athletic on defense. They are accomplishing that. Between Cameron Heyward, Ryan Shazier, Jarvis Jones, Cortez Allen, and now Bud Dupree, there is talent on the Steelers defense. Now to focus on Bud Dupree, he is a very talented player. There was talk of Bud Dupree going top 10 before the draft, and the Steelers stayed where they were and got him at 22. He is a big and strong player, lacks a certain amount of consistency, but he landed in a terrific spot with the Steelers. He is extremely explosive, and this was a steal for a team that has a history of developing talented defensive players into stars.

New Orleans Saints - Stephone Anthony, ILB
The Saints had an interesting draft. I completely understand the direction they are trying to take with their team, and with Brees getting up there in age, it could pay off huge. I just did not like this pick at all. I thought there were 4 better inside linebackers then Stephone Anthony still on the board. Anthony is fairly raw in his technique, and he also has questionable instincts. Now that's not to say it's all bad, he's a heck of an athlete and he can grow into a great cover linebacker, which is a big need in the current passing NFL. If they were set on going ILB, I think Eric Kendricks would have been a better choice, or Benardrick McKinney. It is also a confusing pick because the Saints do have quite a few needs across the board. Malcolm Brown would have been a great pick, covering a big need as they need talent on defense and getting a very good value too. Or they could have drafted Randy Gregory which would have been huge for their defense giving Junior Galette a partner in crime to rush the passer.