NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Pre-Combine edition

Written by Christian Lysek

We are officially in the offseason. Cuts are already sweeping the league and draft prospects are trying to build momentum going into the combine. The draft is a long ways away, it is never too early to mock the draft. Here is my second mock of the first round.
Note: An OSOB prospect is an "other side of the ball prospect." As long as a player has not been picked in the real mock draft and plays on the opposite side of the ball of the player picked, then they can be selected for the team.

1. Cleveland Brown: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M

There are generally three positions that get taken first overall: quarterback, EDGE rusher, and offensive tackle. This is a bad class for both quarterbacks and offensive tackles. The best EDGE prospect in years happens to be in this draft class. This choice is so easy the Browns can do it.

OSOB Prospect: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

2. San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas, EDGE, Stanford

The 49ers are transitioning to a 4-3 scheme, which means drafting Solomon Thomas makes more sense than it did before. A line with Thomas, DeForest Buckner, and Arik Armstead could be the start of something special and give an identity to a defense that sorely needs one.
OSOB Prospect: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

3. Chicago Bears: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

Unlike the first two teams in this draft, the Bears have enough talent to warrant selecting a quarterback. Mitch Trubisky has only one year of strting experience, but he shows great accuracy and arm strength and could be the leader of the up and coming browns for the next decade.
OSOB Prospect: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jamal Adams, S, LSU
Jonathan Cyprien was a good player last year, but he is a free agent and the Jaguars need to find veteran offensive lineman to protect Bortles. Jamal Adams could slot into Cyprien's strong safety slot and will probably end up being a much better player due to his physicality and instincts.

OSOB Prospect: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

5. Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

Tennessee needs to upgrade its secondary in order to take the next leap in the division. They should look to Marshon Lattimore, who could step in and be their starting lockdown corner with his speed and ball skills.

OSOB Prospect: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

6. New York Jets: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
This may seem like a reach, but the Jets have a horrible offensive line. It is at the level of atrociousness where a young quarterback's development could be thrown off track David Carr style. Ramcyzk could start at either tackle spot and provide help for whoever will be the Jets quarterback.
OSOB Prospect: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

7. San Diego Chargers: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

The Chargers have not been able to fill the void at free safety since Eric Weddle left town. Malik Hooker is a blue chip prospect with a special talent of always being around the ball. He could provide support on the back end to an up and coming defense.
OSOB Prospect: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

8. Carolina Panthers: Leonard Fournette

Jonathan Stewart is old and injury prone and everyone wants to clean Cam Newton's clock. The Panthers could knock out two birds with one stone and draft Leonard Fournette to take over their power running game. He can take pressure off Newton and take the offense to its 2015 heights.

OSOB Prospect: Derek Barnett, EDGE, Tennessee

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

Rueben Forster is a terrifying combination of speed, power, and instincts. The current Bengals linebackers are liabilities on and off the field. Sometimes the most obvious choice is the best one. OSOB Prospect: Garrett Bolles, OT, Utah

10. Buffalo Bills: Deshone Kizer, QB, Clemson

This pick depends on what the new head coach wants to do with Tyrod Taylor. If they let him walk, I doubt they will take Deshaun Watson in the draft because of his similarity to Taylor. In this mock, the choose Kizer because of his tremendous upside. He has every tool you could want as a quarterback, the Bills will just gamble that he will mature and develop.
OSOB Prospect: Montravius Adams, DL, Auburn

11. New Orleans Saints: Derek Barnett, EDGE, Tennessee

The Saints could take a corner here, but they need to build fill the gap at EDGE rusher. Derek Barnett is a proven sack master who will be a great addition next to Cameron Jordan and Sheldon Rankins.
OSOB Prospect: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

12. Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

The Browns take the third QB off of the board with DeShaun Watson. Watson is a proven winner who thrives in the clutch and in leadership positions. If Hue Jackson can improve Watson's accuracy, he has pro bowl potential.

OSOB Prospect: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

13. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

The departure of Michael Floyd and the aging of Larry Fitzgerald is going to come back to bite this team at some point. Williams can play next to and eventually replace Larry Fitzgerald while giving an extra target for Carson Palmer.
OSOB Prospect: Zac Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt

14. Philadelphia Eagles: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
The Eagles need to improve their receiving corps if they want Carson Wentz to properly develop. He has strong hands, size, speed, and the ability to run crisp routes. He is the number one wide receiver the Eagles desperately need.

OSOB Prospect: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

15. Indianapolis Colts: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

The Colts go best defender available here and draft a corner who can play across from Vontae Davis. Wilson is a long corner who can lockdown his man and would help the front seven get coverage sacks.
OSOB Prospect: Dalvin Cook, RB, Indianapolis

16. Baltimore Ravens: Gareon Conely, CB, Ohio State
Gareon Conely may be seen as the other Ohio State corner, but he is the real deal. He has the length and ball skills needed to lock down big wide receivers and should start immediately for the Ravens. OSOB Prospect: John Ross, WR, Washington

17. Washington Redskins: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Fat Rob Kelly was productive and a fun story, but the Redskins need a more consistent running presence to help the passing offense. Dalvin Cook is an explosive runner to can stay on the field all three downs.

OSOB Prospect: Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida

18. Tennessee Titans: OJ Howard, TE, Alabama

While the Titans need a wide receiver more than a tight end, combining Delanie Walker with one of the best tight end prospects in years is too enticing to pass up. OJ Howard can block for the running game and give Marcus Mariota another weapon in the passing game.
OSOB Prospect: Budda Baker, S, Washington

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Budda Baker, S, Washington
The safety duo in Tampa Bay is one of the worst in the league and both are impending free agents. The Buccaneers need to pick a versatile safety like Budda Baker to help out their corners in coverage.
OSOB Prospect: John Ross, WR, Washington

20. Denver Broncos: Forest Lamp, OL, Western Kentucky

The Broncos offensive line really struggled this past season. The Broncos could use an upgrade at any position on the line, and Forrest Lamp is one of the best prospects in the class. Length may force the Broncos to put him at guard, but Lamp's has been nothing but dominant throughout his career and will immediately upgrade the line.
OSOB Prospect: Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State

21. Detroit Lions: Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt

The Lions linebacking core is quite bad. DeAndre Levy is a great player, but he has not been healthy for the past two seasons and nobody has stepped up to replace him. Zach Cunningham is the quintessential modern linebacker who can step in and re-energize a dull linebacker group.
OSOB Prospect: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

22. Miami Dolphins: Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida

If you think the Lions linebacker are bad, just watch the Dolphins. Kiko Alonso is the only linebacker on the team he deserves a starting role next year. Pairing him with the strong and fast Jarrad Davis would go a long way in fixing Miami's biggest hole.
OSOB Prospect: David Njoku, TE, Miami

23. New York Giants: Garret Bolles, OT, Utah

Watching Ereck Flowers play tackle is like watching Alvin and the Chipmunks debate politics. He clearly in need of a move to guard or the bench. Garret Bolles is 25 years old, but he is also a great athlete and blocker.
OSOB Prospect: Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State

24. Oakland Raiders: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

The Oakland Raiders may lose Latavius Murray to free agency, which would mean that they would lose their workhorse. Christian McCaffrey is more versatile than Murray and can be a three down back for the explosive Raiders offense.
OSOB Prospect: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

25. Houston Texans: David Njoku, TE, Miami

While Houston needs a quarterback, there is none here worth a first round pick. David Njoku is a high upside prospect with the receiving skills to ignite a stagnate Texan offense.
OSOB Prospect: Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State

26. Seattle Seahawks: Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana

The Seahawks need to select the best player available no matter who it is. Dan Feeney may just be a guard, but he is a sound technician who has been ready for the NFL for years.
OSOB Prospect: Montravius Adams, DL, Auburn

27. Kansas City Chiefs: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

Marcus Peters is a top-5 corner in the NFL, but there is a hole in the corner spot across from him. The Chiefs need to fill the gap that Sean Smith left and draft a natural cover corner like Sidney Jones.He may be skinny, but he can great speed, hips, and ball skills.
OSOB Prospect: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee

28. Dallas Cowboys: Taco Charlton, EDGE, Michigan

The Cowboys desperately need an EDGE rusher to bolster their lackluster defensive line. Taco Charlton is an explosive player with length and tenacity. Rod Marinelli can make him a pro bowler early in his career.
OSOB Prospect: Zay Jones, WR, ECU

29. Green Bay Packers: John Ross, WR, Washington

Aaron Rodgers finally gets help with this pick. Jordy Nelson is still a great wide receiver, but he is getting old. John Ross can stretch the field and give Aaron Rodgers a reliable deep ball threat.
OSOB Prospect: Takkarist McKinley, EDGE, UCLA

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: TJ Watt, EDGE, Wisconsin

Surprise! The Steelers need a pass rusher again. TJ Watt is a relentless pass rusher who lead the B1G in sacks. He has the physical ability and technique to finally rejuvenate the lacking Pittsburgh pass rush.
OSOB Prospect: Zay Jones, WR, ECU

31. Atlanta Falcons: Montravius Adams, DL, Auburn

Grady Jarrett had an incredible performance in the Super Bowl, but the Falcons interior defensive line was mostly unimpressive before that point. Montravius Adams is a monster of a man just scratching the surface of his potential. He can slide in next to Jarrett and compliment his abilities.
OSOB Prospect: Cam Robinson, OL, Alabama

32. New England Patriots: Carl Lawson, EDGE, Auburn
The Patriots are in danger of losing both Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long to free agency, two key peices in the Patriots front seven. Carl Lawson has had injury issues, but he is a great talent as an EDGE rusher and would be a top-20 pick if he could stay healthy.

OSOB Prospect: D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas