Mel Kiper Mock Draft 2.0

[nctarheel0619]

30. Carolina Panthers

**Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

The Panthers were creative with their personnel at cornerback this past season; they reached the Super Bowl even with a number of injuries diminishing the secondary. Alexander needs coaching but, like Josh Norman, is a ferocious competitor with the potential for greatness. Repeat after me: Great teams can't have enough good cornerbacks.

Picks from NFC South Teams

17. Atlanta Falcons

*Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

While Vic Beasley flashed potential as a rookie, he wasn't a force consistently, and the Falcons can't go wrong adding more to the pass rush. Lawson is well-coached and has more size to stay on the field and hold up as a three-down defender in either a 3-4 or 4-3 look, thanks to a versatile skill set.

12. New Orleans Saints

Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville

The Saints are in the midst of a rebuild on the defensive side of the ball, and Rankins can be unblockable when he's at his best, with exceptional quickness and the ability to make plays in the backfield from the interior. A stellar week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl secured his place in the top half of Round 1.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

*Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida

The best pure cover corner in the draft would benefit anyone, and the Bucs are in a division where they have to face Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton six times a season. Tampa Bay needs a talent infusion at cornerback, and Hargreaves is going to grade out as a player who is ready to be on the field in Week 1.

Picks of note

1. Tennessee Titans

*Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL draft could end up being directly tied to the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL draft. In short: The Titans have no choice but to improve their offensive line and do whatever they can to make sure Marcus Mariota is on the field for more than the 12 games he played as a rookie. Getting the offensive lineman with the highest upside in the draft is a good place to start.

2. Cleveland Browns

Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

We still have a couple of months to debate whether this will be Wentz or Jared Goff. But remember there's also the distinct possibility that Hue Jackson and the new front office aggressively pursue another QB in the trade market. I note that because regardless of whether the Browns draft a QB in this spot, it's almost certainly not their preference to start him in Week 1.

4. Dallas Cowboys

*Jared Goff, QB, California

This is going to be a fascinating situation. On one hand, the Dallas front office isn't the least bit delusional if they look at the roster with a healthy Tony Romo and believe they can compete for a playoff spot, which makes it harder to take a QB who might not see the field for a couple of years. But ... let's not forget that they need to upgrade the backup QB situation, period. That's what derailed them last season when Romo was out. Tough call, especially if Goff is the top QB on their board and he's available here.

26. Seattle Seahawks

*Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss

If a player like Cody Whitehair is still available at this point, you could see the Seahawks looking to address an immediate need on the offensive line. If not, Nkemdiche is more than a consolation prize if he can stay focused and put major off-field questions to rest. He's a top-10 talent but could see his stock slip if teams don't trust him, especially in a draft that is loaded with future impact starters on the defensive line.
 

[cbarrier90]

I like Alexander alot but being that close only to lose out on Nkemdiche would sting.

[Mr. Scot]

Daniel Jeremiah has us taking Eli Apple.

One thing to remember when looking at any mock draft, analysts have a tendency to draft based on need rather than BPA.

 

[ctrcat]

2 minutes ago, cbarrier90 said:

I like Alexander alot but being that close only to lose out on Nkemdiche would sting.

As I just said in another thread the going rate to get above the Hawks to the Steelers pick is 2 5ths, based on last year's Broncos/Lions trade.  

If Nkemdiche makes it that far he's truly a knucklehead, but appears on the outside to be a very Seahawky pick.

[AceBoogie]

Don't like the idea of ATL loading up with Clemson talent

[Darth Biscuit]

That poor Wentz dude... I don't wish that on anyone...

[PizzaTheHutt]

(Big Ole Miss fan here)

Nkemdiche falling that fall but not landing to us would really suck. Dude is a beast and has been for 3 years, but wow talk about poor decision making skills. He and his brother (starting senior linebacker at Ole Miss) both got into "spice"....synthetic marijuana and it messed his brother up real bad and caused Robert to jump out of a 4th story hotel window in Atlanta. 

It easily cost Robert millions of dollars as a top 10 pick.

Spice is bad, kids! Don't do it...just smoke the REAL stuff instead if you have to get high.

[UNCrules2187]

11 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Daniel Jeremiah has us taking Eli Apple.

One thing to remember when looking at any mock draft, analysts have a tendency to draft based on need rather than BPA.

 

DJ's different - he incorporates what he's hearing from sources around the league into his mocks. Of course, at this early juncture, it's all need-based.

[thefuzz]

5 minutes ago, AceBoogie said:

Don't like the idea of ATL loading up with Clemson talent

Why?

Outside of their WR's what have the put in the league lately?

[SCP]

Sucks ass having to wait so long for the draft. Thanks Gordell.

[Mr. Scot]

12 minutes ago, UNCrules2187 said:

DJ's different - he incorporates what he's hearing from sources around the league into his mocks. Of course, at this early juncture, it's all need-based.

And there'll be big changes to where the "needs" are in about three weeks.

[tondi]

I read somewhere that Alexander was projected to be a 3-4 round pick.  Maybe that was wrong.  I agree he would be a good pickup but would rather get him at the end of the second  Guess a lot of where he goes will be determined by how well he runs at the combine/pro day.

[caatfan]

10 minutes ago, SCP said:

Sucks ass having to wait so long for the draft.  

Yep, but for my work purposes, the last week in April will come all too soon (as in work load increasing), so I find myself conflicted, depending on whether I'm wearing my work clothes, or my Panther hat.

 

7 minutes ago, tondi said:

I read somewhere that Alexander was projected to be a 3-4 round pick.  Maybe that was wrong. 

I've seen him rated as high as the # 1 CB (CBS), and an "exceptional talent" (SB Nation), and as low as the 4th round, so who knows?

[Mr. Scot]

24 minutes ago, SCP said:

Sucks ass having to wait so long for the draft. Thanks Gordell.

Would have been even longer in past seasons (if not for that Super Bowl thingy).