FIRST ROUND MOCK DRAFT (17-24)
Make sure to tune in Thursday on the Ourlads’ Football Radio Network for a mock draft special edition of Ourlads’ Guide to the 2018 NFL Draft with Dan Shonka. Dan and I will go in-depth on every pick in the first round.
17 LA Chargers OT Connor Williams, Texas
INSTANT ANALYSIS
This pick should come down to either Williams or Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey. The Chargers desperately need to bolster the offensive line even more after going with guards Forrest Lamp (2nd-round) and Dan Feeney (3rd-round) in last year’s draft and picking up Mike Pouncey in free agency last month. LT Russell Okung continues his solid play into his 30s, but it’s time to find someone to replace RT Joe Barksdale and help turn this unit into a strength for the first time since Phllip Rivers has been running the show. I’m sure he’s appreciate it.
Other possibilities on our board here include DE/OLB Marcus Davenport and maybe even QB Lamar Jackson.
18 Seattle RB Derrius Guice, LSU
INSTANT ANALYSIS
This is an easy choice as far as I’m concerned. Guice is the closest player in this draft who can remind me of the days when Marshawn Lynch went barreling into defenders on a weekly basis to let the opposition know just how physical Seattle was going to be. Those days have been long gone for several seasons now which is why HC Pete Carroll hired OC Brian Schottenheimer and line coach Mike Solari. Schottenheimer was at his best in New York during a time when the Jets led the league in rushing while Solari wants to change the approach up-front to more of a power scheme. So then which better player in this draft can help you get back to playing hard-nosed power football than Guice?
Keep in mind unless they trade down to add more picks the Seahawks won’t be picking again until the fourth-round at pick 120.
19 Dallas FS Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
INSTANT ANALYSIS
With recent news that Byron Jones will switch back to corner, there’s now a big hole left at Jones’ old spot.
The other big hole on the Cowboys defense is at linebacker after Anthony Hichens departed to Kansas City. I also expect Dallas to use some of their picks to find TE Jason Witten’s eventual replacement like Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews and a receiver with size like Allen Lazard from Iowa State.
The sleeper pick here would be DE Marcus Davenport from Texas-San Antonio. The Cowboys have good depth up-front after taking Taco Charlton last year and signing FA Kony Ealy, but with Demarcus Lawrence tagged for at least one year, the Cowboys might want to stock-up just in case.
20 Detroit DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The Lions can go in a number of directions with this pick, but Davenport is one of the top players left on my board and the Lions can use an insurance policy after tagging DE Ziggy Ansah.
Other possibilities include going with either Isaiah Wynn or Will Hernandez at guard or DT Maurice Hurst. Hurst could be a nice long-term inside partner with A’ Shawn Robinson.
21 Cincinnati C Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The Bengals have got to get back to running the football effectively again after losing LT Andrew Whitworth and RG Kevin Zeitler prior to last season and Ragnow can help them do it.
22 Buffalo OG Will Hernandez, UTEP
INSTANT ANALYSIS
With Richie Incognito retiring, the Bills couldn’t find a better Incognito clone to take over his spot than Hernandez.
GM Brandon Beane should also consider adding more receivers, corners and a middle linebacker.
23 Arizona (via New England trade) QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
INSTANT ANALYSIS
After trading down to gain more picks, the Cardinals can still land one of the three players targeted at No. 15 and Jackson should be the clear choice. The Cardinals need a franchise QB to stash and learn behind Sam Bradford and they need the fans excited about the future.
If Jackson were already off the board by now, then DE Sam Hubbard would be my next choice here as new Head Coach Steve Wilks will be changing the defense over to a four-man front, meaning an upgrade in d-line edge rushers is a premium need.
24 Carolina DE Harold Landry, Boston College
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The Panthers have a lot of holes to fill which makes them a good trade-down candidate. The more picks GM Marty Hurney can use the better.
But if they stay at 24, we’re going to go with Landry over DE Sam Hubbard and OG Isaiah Wynn.
Other top possibilities on our board include TE Dallas Goedert, WR DJ Moore and RB Rashad Penny.