Monday 25 April 2016 16:26, UK
Sky Sports' Neil Reynolds draws up his own NFL Mock Draft as he predicts which rising stars will be snapped up in the first round.
NFL coaches have been tracking the hottest talents in recent months, but which teams will land their preferred picks?
Neil is backing the two most sought-after quarterbacks to be the first two picks of the draft with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans taking Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, respectively.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - QB Jameis Winston
There are some off-the-field concerns with the Florida State passer but the Bucs are desperate and need to find a franchise quarterback. Winston has all the tools to be a quality NFL player.
2. Tennessee Titans - QB Marcus Mariota
The Titans would be willing to shop this pick and could very well do so. If they stay put, they have to find a face of a faceless franchise – and that is Mariota, who is a coach’s dream.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Leonard Williams
The Jags failed to score more than 25 points in any game in 2014 but can address offense in round two. Williams is the best defensive player available in this Draft and a wonderful chess piece.
4. Oakland Raiders - WR Amari Cooper
The Raiders selected their franchise quarterback last year in Derek Carr and now is the time to surround him with talent, starting with the most polished receiver in this Draft.
5. Washington Redskins - OLB Dante Fowler Jr.
The Redskins need help in the secondary and in upgrading their putrid pass rush. Fowler is a dynamic edge rusher in a draft filled with difference makers off the edge.
6. New York Jets - OLB Randy Gregory
The Jets could go with another WR here in Kevin White but I think they need pass rush on the outside and overlook Gregory’s failed drug test at the recent NFL Combine.
7. Chicago Bears - WR Kevin White
The Bears could do with some help on defense but also need to find another WR to replace the departed Brandon Marshall. White offers some intriguing upside despite being inexperienced.
8. Atlanta Falcons - OLB Shane Ray
The Falcons are another team who failed to pressure quarterbacks enough last season. Ray is a high-energy player who is competitive, nasty and hates to lose!
9. New York Giants - OT/OG Brandon Scherff
The Giants need help on the offensive line and Scherff, who could be a good tackle or a very good guard, is just what the doctor ordered. Tom Coughlin will love this tough and reliable blocker.
10. St. Louis Rams - WR Devante Parker
The Rams might be keeping an eye on the bidding war to trade up and grab Marcus Mariota. If they stay put, they can upgrade a receiving corps devoid of a true number one target.
11 .Minnesota Vikings - CB Trae Waynes
The Vikings need to find a premier wide receiver and could be in the market for a RB if they deal Adrian Peterson. But the stronger need is at corner and Waynes is the best available.
12. Cleveland Browns - WR Breshad Perriman
The Browns simply have to find a wide receiver who can be relied upon following the suspension of Josh Gordon. Perriman is big and strong but also offers blazing speed to stretch the field.
13. New Orleans Saints - OLB Vic Beasley
The Saints need to upgrade a defense that ranked 31st in the NFL a year ago. Beasley is purely a pass rusher at this stage of his career but has all-round potential if he can get stronger.
14. Miami Dolphins - OT/OG La’El Collins
I think the Dolphins look long and hard at RB Todd Gurley here, but eventually they help out QB Ryan Tannehill even further by giving him a versatile and granite-tough lineman in Collins.
15. San Francisco 49ers - DT Arik Armstead
This would be a pick based on potential but could be worth the risk as there are not too many 6-foot-7, 300-pound defenders in the NFL. Armstead is raw but Jim Tomsula can coach him up.
16. Houston Texans - NT Danny Shelton
The Texans need another WR and could very well grab one here. But I don’t think they see Vince Wilfork as a long-term option on the nose and Shelton is a space-eater who ties up blockers.
17. San Diego Chargers - RB Todd Gurley
There are lots of needs in San Diego and they could go D-line here but I think Gurley has the room to grow into a special NFL talent and is good value here in the middle of round one.
18. Kansas City Chiefs - C Cameron Erving
The Chiefs need another WR to play alongside Jeremy Maclin but they also need to replace Rodney Hudson at center on an embattled offensive line. The impressive Erving can play center and tackle.
19. Cleveland Browns - DT Malcom Brown
The Browns are back on the clock courtesy of last year’s trade with Buffalo. The Browns need to find some defensive muscle and Brown is a rock who could be especially strong against the run.
20. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Phillip Dorsett
Many expect the Eagles to grab safety Landon Collins in this spot, but I think the shifty and electrifying Dorsett would be a tremendous fit in Chip Kelly’s high-octane attack.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - OLB Bud Dupree
The Bengals could go offensive line but they have to find a way to re-ignite one of the most stagnant pass rushes in the NFL. Dupree is an athletic phenomenon who can play all over the defense.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Marcus Peters
The Steelers needed help in the secondary even before Ike Taylor retired. They also need a pass rusher but I think they opt for a physical and talented cover corner in Peters.
23. Detroit Lions - OT Andrus Peat
The Lions will think long and hard about finding a replacement for Ndamukong Suh at defensive tackle but they also need to do better at protecting Matthew Stafford. Peat will help on that front.
24. Arizona Cardinals - CB Kevin Johnson
Arizona may choose to upgrade a poor running game with Melvin Gordon here, but I think they need to add a corner in their defense after allowing Antonio Cromartie to head back to New York.
25. Carolina Panthers - OT Cedric Ogbuehi
The Panthers must find a long-term answer at tackle and neither comes in the form of Michael Oher or Jonathan Martin. Ogbuehi is very talented and coachable and offers intriguing upside.
26. Baltimore Ravens - CB Byron Jones
The Ravens are another team that may consider Melvin Gordon here but their need in the secondary is much more pressing. The super-athletic Jones should be a model professional.
27. Dallas Cowboys - RB Melvin Gordon
Unless they swing a trade for Adrian Peterson, I expect the Cowboys to go after a runner early in this Draft. Gordon has home-run, headline-making skills and can score from anywhere on the field.
28. Denver Broncos - OT D.J. Humphries
While it will help Peyton Manning in 2015, this would not be a short term move because the Broncos need a long-term answer at RT. Humphries looks the part and plays with a mean streak.
29. Indianapolis Colts - OT Ereck Flowers
This is all about protecting the franchise in QB Andrew Luck, who takes way too many hits. Flowers is a mauler and a brawler who needs refining but he could start from day one as a guard.
30. Green Bay Packers - CB Jalen Collins
The Packers could go inside linebacker here or simply take the best player on their board. But they do need help in the secondary and Collins offers a nice combination of size, speed and aggression.
31. New Orleans Saints - WR Nelson Agholor
With Jimmy Graham traded away, the Saints need passing game help and it could come in the form of the fast-rising Agholor. He can be used all over the formation and also return kicks.
32. New England Patriots - DT Eddie Goldman
The Patriots would have loved Agholor and will look long and hard at remaining players in the secondary. But they also need to replace Vince Wilfork and Goldman can eat up space vs. the run.
Watch the first round of the NFL Draft live on Sky Sports 1 & 3 from midnight on Thursday April 30.
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