Seahawks reporters Bob Condotta and Jayson Jenks took part in their annual NFL mock draft this week. Take a look at how they expect Thursday's first round to unfold.
Here it is, the annual attempt by Seattle Times reporters Bob Condotta and Jayson Jenks to predict the first round of the NFL draft, which is April 28-30 in Chicago.
Condotta and Jenks alternated selections. They did not factor in possible trades. There are 31 first-round picks this year because New England forfeited its selection as punishment for “Deflate-gate.”
1. Los Angeles Rams
Bob’s pick: Jared Goff, QB, California
Comment: The trades in the past week showed the Rams have set their sights on Goff as the QB they can build around as they move to their new/old home in L.A.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Jayson’s pick: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Comment: The biggest gamble of the draft will decide the future of the Eagles for at least the next few years. That’s how much they gave up to get the second pick.
3. San Diego Chargers
Bob’s pick: Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
Comment: The Chargers will be thrilled to see a player some consider the most talented in the draft available to help shore up a porous defense.
4. Dallas Cowboys
Jayson’s pick: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
Comment: Jack, a Bellevue High grad, is an incredible athlete. CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco called him the “best overall prospect” in the draft and quoted one anonymous GM as saying Jack is a faster version of Ray Lewis.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Bob’s pick: Laremy Tunsil, OL, Mississippi
Comment: Tunsil becomes the fall guy after the trades that shook up the top of the draft. The Jaguars will be happy to take him and add to an offense that took some impressive steps in 2015.
6. Baltimore Ravens
Jayson’s pick: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Comment: Bosa has the potential to do everything along the defensive line, and the Ravens could use his disruptive ability.
7. San Francisco 49ers
Bob’s pick: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Comment: New coach Chip Kelly will reach to his Oregon roots and take Buckner, a player he recruited who was Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year last season.
8. Cleveland Browns
Jayson’s pick: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Comment: Lots of talk about the Browns making another deal for this spot, but assuming they stay at No. 8, Stanley is perhaps the best blocker of the bunch.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bob’s pick: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
Comment: The Bucs need more protection up front for second-year QB Jameis Winston and should find it in Conklin, who played tackle in college but could move inside.
10. New York Giants
Jayson’s pick: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
Comment: The Giants need help along the offensive line, and Decker gives them options.
11. Chicago Bears
Bob’s pick: Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
Comment: Maybe not the Bears’ biggest need. But it’s hard to pass on the best cornerback in the draft at this spot.
12. New Orleans Saints
Jayson’s pick: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Comment: Lawson led the country in sacks last year and gives the Saints a premier pass-rushing threat.
13. Miami Dolphins
Bob’s pick: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Comment: The Dolphins finally get a premier running back who can take pressure off QB Ryan Tannehill.
14. Oakland Raiders
Jayson’s pick: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
Comment: The Raiders already have some nice pieces along the defensive line, and Rankins could make that group potent.
15. Tennessee Titans
Bob’s pick: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi
Comment: With the first of their haul of picks from the Rams, the Titans get the best receiver available in the draft to help QB Marcus Mariota.
16. Detroit Lions
Jayson’s pick: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Comment: The Lions need pass-rushing help, and though Dodd lived in the shadow of teammate Shaq Lawson at Clemson, he is very capable.
17. Atlanta Falcons
Bob’s pick: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
Comment: Falcons coach and former Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn loves speed, and Lee has that.
18. Indianapolis Colts
Jayson’s pick: Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia
Comment: It’s very possible, maybe even likely, that the Colts go with an offensive lineman to protect Andrew Luck. But if not, Floyd helps address a pass-rushing need.
19. Buffalo Bills
Bob’s pick: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
Comment: Rex Ryan didn’t get what he wanted out of his defense last season, so he will look to the 6-foot-3, 307-pound Reed, who can play end and tackle.
20. New York Jets
Jayson’s pick: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Comment: The Jets’ quarterback situation is murky, not only long-term but also next season. Lynch gives them someone to build around.
21. Washington
Bob’s pick: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Mississippi
Comment: Washington will take a shot on Nkemdiche and hope his production matches his immense talent.
22. Houston Texans
Jayson’s pick: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
Comment: Fuller is an explosive deep threat with some catching concerns, but he can flat-out fly.
23. Minnesota Vikings
Bob’s pick: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Comment: Teddy Bridgewater needs some targets. Coleman won the Biletnikoff Award in 2015 as the nation’s top receiver. Some, though, question whether Baylor’s system that makes receivers look better than they are.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Jayson’s pick: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Comment: Doctson has the ability to go up in traffic and make tough, contested catches.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers
Bob’s pick: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
Comment: The Steelers desperately need help in the secondary, and Apple, known for his ability to match up against big receivers in college, seems like a natural fit.
26. Seattle Seahawks
Jayson’s pick: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
Comment: Yes, it’s far more likely that the Seahawks draft an offensive lineman or a defensive tackle. It’s also likely that Alexander will be gone by now, and the Seahawks have never drafted a corner higher than the fourth round. OK, so now that we have all of those disclaimers out of the way, Alexander is considered one of the best corners in the draft, and the Seahawks have been known to be unconventional this time of year.
27. Green Bay Packers
Bob’s pick: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
Comment: Ragland could help solidify Green Bay’s inside linebacking corps and allow Clay Matthews to play more outside.
28. Kansas City Chiefs
Jayson’s pick: William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Comment: The Chiefs have been linked to cornerbacks throughout the draft as a position they need to address.
29. Arizona Cardinals
Bob’s pick: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
Comment: The Cardinals could draft a QB as a successor to Carson Palmer. But they might look for that in a later round and help protect Palmer now with Kelly.
30. Carolina Panthers
Jayson’s pick: Kenny Clark, DL, UCLA
Comment: Clark would give the Panthers nice depth along the defensive line and help them more in the future than as a rookie.
31. Denver Broncos
Bob’s pick: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
Comment: In case you haven’t heard, the Broncos need a quarterback. Cook has lots of big-game experience in a scheme that should ease his transition to the NFL.