1) Cleveland Browns – DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M: You can argue all you want that the Browns need a quarterback. But they also desperately need defense. Given this quarterback field seems to be on the weaker side, and the team has another pick at 12, the signal caller can wait. Cleveland gets a top notch defensive player that they will look to anchor around for years to come in Garrett.
2) San Francisco 49ers – QB DeShaun Watson, Clemson: Like the Browns, San Fran can go in a few different directions. That’s because they were so bad that they have plenty of needs. One of these teams are going to throw everyone for a loop by taking the first quarterback. And I do not think the wait will be long. The Niners pull the trigger and hope Watson is their man for years down the road.
3) Chicago Bears – DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford: The Bears can use plenty of help on the defensive side of the ball. Almost every position on that side of the ball can be upgraded with this pick. It will come down to either Thomas or Marshon Lattimore. While the secondary help would be huge, the Bears cannot pass on the upside of Thomas. The man from Stanford will look to bring back the power to the defense in the Windy City.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars – TE O.J. Howard, Alabama: Not often do you see a tight end go this early in the draft. But with Julius Thomas now in Miami, the Jags are in need of some weapons on offense. Howard will do just that. He will immediately become one of the team’s best offensive talents, and will likely be used heavily when it comes to getting the ball in the end zone.
5) Tennessee Titans – CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State: The Titans have two major needs. Their secondary and their wide receivers. They will be absolutely ecstatic to see Lattimore there at five. With there being no clear cut number one wide-out, taking the corner is an easy choice here. Lattimore is not only one of the more talented players in the draft, but he also fills that huge hole the club has.
6) New York Jets – RB Leonard Fournette, LSU: The Jets need a lot of help on offense. A quarterback is certainly a strong possibility here. But my gut tells me they pass and chance they get the guy they want at pick 39. With Matt Forte now over 30, the team will look for their back of the future. Sure Bilal Powell is a nice back, but he is no Fournette. The J-E-T-S will just not be able to pass on the talent as they look towards the future.
7) Los Angeles Chargers – CB Malik Hooker, Ohio State: No surprise, Ohio State gets their second player taken and we are only seven players deep. The Chargers will need to upgrade the defense in some shape or form with this pick. Being in a new home, there will be plenty of spotlight on them. While most may point to safety here, I’m taking the corner.
8) Carolina Panthers – RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford: Alabama isn’t the first or second team that will see two players taken in the first ten picks, as Stanford sees their second player go here. It is time to find the heir apparent to Jonathan Stewart and all of his injury issues. The Panthers will look to give Cam Newton another weapon he can work with in the coming years. Their offense can certainly use a few upgrades and it will all start here.
9) Cincinnati Bengals – LB Rueben Foster, Alabama: Everyone is saying Foster will slide down the board following a failed drug test. But guess what. The Bengals have a history of taking guys with red flags. So they will look past the drug test, and base their pick solely on the need to improve their defense and Foster’s talent. I could see them trading down if they feel Foster is their guy and they feel comfortable in him sliding.
10) Buffalo Bills – QB Mitch Trubisky, UNC: The Bills need a young face to build their franchise around. Sammy Watkins has been to up and down in his career, mainly thanks to injuries, to be considered the name fans clamor for. As much as I love LeSean McCoy, he is getting up there in age. If Trubisky can prove to be that guy, the Bills can find themselves on the up and up in the next few years.