Are you ready for the NFL Draft?
2018 NFL Draft: Second Round
Mock Draft and Analysis By: Gregg Schutze
as of April 26, 2018
33. Cleveland Browns – Sony Michel, 5’11”, 214lbs, RB, Georgia
04/20/18 – Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
Cleveland lands their franchise QB at the top of Round 1 and then look to land a RB at the top of Round 2. Yes, Carlos Hyde was signed to team with Duke Johnson in the backfield, but they have a chance to add Georgia’s Sony Michel, who shared the backfield in college with Nick Chubb. The versatile Michel could be this year’s Alvin Kamara. As a runner, Michel was the lightning to Chubb’s thunder. He had excellent vision to see the hole, then made a quick cut, putting his foot in the ground and showing an exceptional burst to the hole. Michel gets to full speed in a hurry and is a homerun threat. He can also run with power, lowering his pad level and showing great balance to maintain his footing through contact. He ran for 1,000 yards in two of the last three seasons, though his most impressive performance on the ground was as a senior, rushing for 1,227 yards and scoring 16 TD. As a receiver, Michel runs crisp routes out of the backfield and has exceptional hands, catching the ball away from his body. He may be just what the Redskins are missing offensively and has the ability to make a similar impact to what Kamara made this past season.
34. New York Giants – Billy Price, 6’4”, 305lbs, OC/OG, Ohio State
04/20/18 - Billy Price, OC/OG, Ohio State
04/13/18 - Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
The Giants must address their anemic rushing attack that finished 26th in the league with just 96.8 yards per game. While the Giants did sign Nate Solder to take over at LT and Patrick Omameh was signed to replace Justin Pugh, who left for the Cardinals, there is a need at the Center position following the trade of Weston Richburg to San Francisco. Ohio State’s Billy Price’s draft stock inevitably will take a hit as he did suffer a partially torn pectoral muscle during the bench press at the Combine, but he’s said to be ready for training camp, so he’s still deserving of a 1st Round grade. However, the Giants would be the beneficiary of the Ohio State’s Billy Price fall to the 2nd Round. Price is versatile, having played all three interior line positions. He was a mainstay on the Ohio State offensive line and was versatile, having played all three interior line positions, 16 at LG, 25 at RG and 14 at OC. His 55 consecutive starts tied a team record set by current Viking Pat Elflein. Price is known for his brute strength, so it’s a shame we didn’t get a chance to see just how many times he could have repped out 225 pounds at the Combine. He’s quick to make contact off the snap, getting his hands under the defender’s pad level. He fires low out of his stance and is able to drive his man back off the ball quickly on contact. Price is a mauler who isn’t just looking to block you, he’s looking to bury you. He can quickly bring his hips around to seal off defenders inside and the athleticism to climb to the second level. Price is extremely effective as a pulling OG, quickly getting out of his stance, has the ankle flexion to turn the corner in a hurry and has short area quickness to climb to the second level. Price is also under control on the move, quickly locating the defender and clearing him out. He’s also stout at the point of attack in pass protection, showing an ability to anchor and play with leverage. He also has the lateral agility to slide and clear out blitzers. Price does have a tendency to get off balance when he lunges at defenders. This can be especially troublesome when trying to stop a secondary move. He also has short arms (32 inches), which could pose problems sustaining blocks. Price will start right away and will be a productive starter for the G-Men with Pro Bowl potential.
35. Cleveland Browns (rom Houston) – Geron Christian, 6’5”, 298lbs, OT, Louisville, Jr.
04/20/18 - Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Cleveland was able to stockpile picks from last year’s trade with Houston that allowed the Texans to draft Deshaun Watson. I expect the Browns to use this pick to find a replacement for future first ballot Hall of Famer Joe Thomas, who announced his retirement this offseason. Christian was a three-year starter for the Cardinals and has experience at both OT positions, often flipping sides during the game. He has tremendous length (35-inch arms) and as a former basketball player moves well laterally. He can stifle an inside rush with a quick power step and can also slide outside to pick up rushers trying to come off the edge. Christian needs to get stronger to take advantage of his length at the point of attack and needs to do a better job of taking the physicality to the DE and not be so reactionary. I think Christian has the athleticism to start right away on the right side and has the versatility to move to LT down the road.
36. Indianapolis Colts – Isaiah Oliver, 6’1”, 190lbs, CB, Colorado, Jr.
Rashaan Melvin is now in Oakland, leaving unproven Quincy Wilson, Nate Hairston and Kenny Moore at the CB position. Indy has to find a No. 1 corner and would be ecstatic if Oliver ends up falling to the 2nd day of the draft. Oliver is a big CB with good length who runs well and has excellent ball skills, having broken up 25 passes in his three-year career. He also finished 7th in the Pac-12 as a decathlete, which is a testament to his athleticism. Oliver has tremendous deep speed and is a tremendous leaper. However, track stars aren’t used to having to throttle down, meaning he struggles to remain in phase with WR’s who aren’t simply running a go or post route deep. Oliver is physical at the line in press coverage but struggles with footwork in off coverage and can be turned around. I think he definitely looks the part, but there are holes in his ability to cover, which make him a Day 2 pick, which is just fine with the Colts.
37. Indianapolis Colts (from New York Jets) – D.J. Moore, 6’0”, 210lbs, WR, Maryland, Jr.
This is a pick the Colts picked up from the Jets in the trade for the 3rd pick overall. T.Y. Hilton is a clear No. 1 wideout, but Andrew Luck is going to need more help on the outside. Ryan Grant was signed to ad depth to the roster but adding a playmaker like Moore opposite Hilton would give Luck another weapon with legitimate speed over the top. Moore emerged as one of the most explosive players in the FBS as a junior this past season, hauling in 80 passes for 1,033 yards and 8 TD. He’s sudden in and out of his breaks and has the speed to stretch defenses vertically. His explosiveness was also on display at the Combine, finishing in the top 5 among wideouts with a 4.42 40 and finished second with a 39.5-inch vertical leap. Moore has tremendous ball skills, showing an ability to adjust to the ball in the air; he can highpoint the football and does a good job extending for the ball and plucking the ball out of the air with his hands. Moore can create separation late and is elusive in the open field after the catch, often making the first man miss in the process.
38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Derrius Guice, 5’10”, 224lbs, RB, LSU, Jr.
Tampa finally pulled the plug on Doug Martin, letting him go in free agency. The move leaves Jacquizz Rodgers and Peyton Barber on the roster. Landing a No. 1 RB in this draft has to be a priority and Guice is a 1st Round talent who could be pushed to Day 2. If he’s around here, the Bucs have to pounce. Guice made a name for himself as a sophomore in 2016 where he started six games for an injured Leonard Fournette. Guice still went on to lead the SEC in rushing with 1,387 yards and 15 TD. He took over the starting role full time in 2017, where he rushed for 1,251 yards and 11 TD and started 11 of 12 games despite having to deal with injuries. Guice is a big back with a violent running style, initiating contact and running over defenders. He has exceptional balance to keep his footing after contact and drags tacklers for extra yards. Guice has an average burst, but he does have long speed, having run a sub-4.5 40 at the Combine. He often looks for contact, rather than try to elude defenders and make plays in the open field. Guice also wasn’t much of a receiver at LSU, having only 32 receptions in three seasons with the Tigers. However, with Rodgers on the roster as a third-down back, he won’t be asked to catch the ball out of the backfield early in his career.
39. Chicago Bears – Isaiah Wynn, 6’3”, 313lbs, OG, Georgia
The Bears need to find a replacement for Josh Sitton who is now in Miami and Wynn would be a nice addition and can come in and start right away. Isaiah Wynn held down Jake Fromm's blind side for the Dawgs, but his lack of ideal size and length make him best suited inside at the next level. Wynn is light on his feet, an easy mover up front who plays with excellent leverage. His lateral quickness allows Wynn to beat his man to the edge, then take him up the field away from the pocket. Wynn plays with good patience, often waiting for the defender to make a move before sliding outside or using a quick power step to cut off an inside rush. He has active hands and does a good job getting them inside to control the defender. Wynn's agility is also quite effective in the run game. The toss sweep is a staple of the UGA run game and Wynn was often pulling out in front as the lead blocker, getting a kick-out block on the LB in the process. His play during the season carried into Senior Bowl week, where he earned OL of the Week honors after repeatedly showing off his quick feet, leverage and hands to dominate his man all week. Wynn can fill a need inside and should contribute early.
40. Denver Broncos – Rasheem Green, DE, 6’5”,275lbs, USC, Jr.
Derek Wolfe is healthy following offseason neck surgery, but depth at the DE position has to be a concern. Green is an ascending prospect who has continued to get better each season with the Trojans. He has good size and length with the power and quickness to be a five-technique at the next level. I think what may have been most surprising was his 4.73 40 at the Combine after measuring in at 6’5” and 275 pounds; I knew he was a good athlete but was not expecting that! Green is an active DE, posting 55 tackles as a sophomore, which tied him with Adoree’ Jackson for 4th on the team, and followed that up with 41 tackles as a junior. Green was a menace behind the line last year, posting 10.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. He has a quick get-off that allows him to get to the edge on the OT off the ball. His hands are violent and shows good technique in getting the lineman’s hands off him in a hurry. Against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, Green was able to club Billy Price off the ball, then showed the burst to close up the middle to sack J.T. Barrett. He can also convert speed to power to drive his man back into the backfield, disrupting the play before it can get going. Green also uses his length to get is hands into passing lanes, having batted down 8 passes in his career. He does have some work to do as he can be predictable with his pass rush moves and easily gets washed down the line on down blocks. However, I think Green is just scratching the surface of his potential and can be an early contributor and eventual starter for Denver.
41. Oakland Raiders – Maurice Hurst, 6’2”, 292lbs, DT, Michigan
04/20/18 - Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford
Oakland will be looking for a DT to play next to NT Justin Ellis and Hurst is one of the most explosive D-linemen in this draft. still has a chance to be a top 25 pick, but he was not able to participate in the Combine due to a heart condition. Star Lotulelei was diagnosed with the same heart condition prior to the 2013 draft, but after being given a clean bill of health, he was selected No. 14 overall by the Panthers. Two years earlier, Nick Fairley had the same heart condition and fell to the 13th overall pick of the Lions. However, his playing career was ultimately cut short due to the condition. While Hurst has been cleared to play, the uncertainty surrounding the condition could drop his draft stock. Hurst proved to be a force for the Wolverines, lining up at multiple positions and showing one of the most explosive first steps in this draft. He uses his quickness and low pad level off the ball to get early penetration into the backfield. Hurst can also convert his speed to power to drive his man back into the backfield to disrupt run plays and collapse the pocket against the pass. Hurst was largely a reserve until his senior season, but still managed to finish with 32 tackles for loss and 13. 5 sacks from the DT position. He proved to be very active along the interior of the line, finishing 6th on the team with 59 tackles.
42. Miami Dolphins – Hayden Hurst, 6’4”, 250lbs, TE, South Carolina, Jr.
04/13/18 - Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
Miami released Julius Thomas and Anthony Fasano is still a free agent, which means the team has to replace the 53 receptions the two hauled in from a season ago. Hurst is seen as the most complete began his athletic career as a baseball player and was selected in the 17th Round of the 2012 Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. After two years in the Gulf Coast League, Hurst made the move to football and was a walk-on to South Carolina. As a sophomore, Hurst started all 13 games and set Gamecock records for a TE in receptions with 48 and 616 receiving yards. As a senior, he was named 1st Team All-SEC with 44 receptions, 559 yards and 2 TD. Since Hurst was a minor league baseball player prior to his college football career, he will be a 25-year-old rookie when the 2018 season begins. However, he can be a weapon in the passing game, especially on 3rd downs and in the red zone. He posted 10 games in his career with at least four receptions and had five games with at least 75 receiving yards. Hurst shows good speed up the seam and his speed on tape was verified at the Combine, where he ran a 4.67 40. He’s also an effective in-line blocker who can lock out his arms and control his man at the point. He can also seal off the edge to allow the RB to bounce it outside.
43. New England Patriots (from San Francisco) – Mason Rudolph, 6’5”, 235lbs, QB, Oklahoma State
The Patriots are in uncharted territory with two 1st and two 2nd Round picks. The Patriots could put together a package of picks to move up in the draft. Or they could use the picks to add some young talent to the roster. One glaring need is an eventual replacement for Tom Brady. The five-time Super Bowl winner will be 41 years of age at the start of the 2018 season and with the trade of Jimmy Garoppolo, the only QB on the roster is 32-year old Brian Hoyer. I expect the Pats to find a young QB to work with Brady for the next couple of years who can step in once it’s finally time for Brady to call it a career. Expect New England to make a play for Rudolph, though they may need to make the move in the 1st Round to ensure they land him. Mason Rudolph became a hero in Stillwater, OK when he came in as a freshman and led the Pokes to a win over hated rival Oklahoma. In 2015, he led Oklahoma State with 62.3% passing for 3,770 yards with 21 TD and just 9 Int. As a junior, Rudolph really began to turn heads, throwing for 4,091 yards on 63.4% passing with 28 TD and just 4 Int. And then Rudolph put a nice exclamation point on his career at OSU by throwing for 4,901 yards on 65% passing while leading the FBS with 37 TD and just 9 Int. His 377 passing yards per game also led the country. In all, Rudolph left the Cowboys with 32 school records. Rudolph does not have a great arm. In fact, there were several throws down the field that tended to hang up a bit. However, what he does well is survey the entire field, reading defenses and going through progressions. He makes quick decisions and is an accurate passer. Rudolph also does an excellent job with ball placement, putting the ball away from the defense where only his man can make a play. He’s also elusive in the pocket, not only showing the ability to manipulate the pocked to extend plays but he can also spin away from pressure and roll out, keeping his eyes down the field before airing it out. Rudolph played in a spread offense at Oklahoma State, so he’ll need some time to adjust to the NFL game, but it’s not like Brady’s done just yet.
44. Washington Redskins – Harrison Phillips, 6’4”, 307lbs, DT, Stanford
04/20/18 - Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
The Redskins still need to address the NT position to help with their porous run defense, someone who can take on multiple blockers and get penetration up front. Phillips played both at the five-technique and at NT at Stanford and has the combination of quickness and strength to make an immediate impact at the next level. Phillips is not easy to block because he plays with a low pad level, understands angles and has tremendous balance. Much of that can be attributed to his high school wrestling career, where he was an undefeated and three-time state champ as a heavyweight. He’s incredibly strong at the point of attack, absorbing blockers and taking up a lot of space. His 42 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press was the most of any player at the Combine. He can also bench press the OG at the point of attack to get off the block, then has a quick burst to shoot the gap and get into the backfield. Phillips locks out his arms and physically manhandles the blocker, driving him into the backfield to disrupt the play. For as stout as Phillips is at the point of attack, he’s surprisingly agile for his size and has an impressive short-area burst. Phillips can beat interior linemen off the ball with a quick 1st step and an even quicker swim move to blow up the play before it gets going. It’s also rare when a DT leads the team in tackles, but that’s exactly what happened this past season, as Phillips led the Cardinal with 98 tackles. He also led the team with 7.5 sacks and 17.0 tackles for loss. Simply put, Phillips was absolutely dominant at times and his playmaking ability would be welcomed by the Skins up front.
45. Green Bay Packers – Mike Hughes, 5’11”, 191lbs, CB, Central Florida, Jr.
04/20/18 - Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
The Packers have to continue to put emphasis on their pass defense this offseason. Of Green Bay’s 11 Int. a season ago, only one was made by a CB, Davon House, who is not even a starter in the secondary. Last year’s 2nd Round pick Kevin King played in just nine games while dealing with a shoulder injury and ultimately was placed on Injured Reserve to have surgery to repair the injury. He’s expected to be an impact starter in 2018. And the Pack welcome back Tramon Williams, who was with the organization from 2006-2014. However, the 35-year old isn’t a long-term answer on the outside. Hughes began his collegiate career at North Carolina, then sat out the 2016 season as he transferred to Central Florida. As a junior this past season, Hughes finished the year with 49 tackles, 4 Int., one of which was returned for TD, and 11 pass breakups. Hughes' biggest strength is his eyes. He reads the QB and breaks quickly on the football, often undercutting the route to make a play on the ball as it arrives. He does a good job pinning the WR to the sideline on passes up the sideline and will run the route for the WR, often getting on top of the route to make a play on the football. Hughes is also a threat in the return game, having returned two kicks and one punt for TD in 2017. Hughes' vision translates to the return game as he finds the cutback lanes, then uses sudden lateral cuts to get to the hole. He's explosive in the open field and is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. Hughes has a chance to start on the outside.
46. Cincinnati Bengals – Mark Andrews, 6’5”, 256lbs, TE, Oklahoma, Jr.
The Bengals have to decide what to do with the TE position as Tyler Eifert has yet to play a full season in his five-year career. Stingers slowed him up for a couple of games in 2013 and 2015. Eifert had a dislocated elbow that took him out for most of the 2015 season while a lingering back injury took him out the past two seasons. Even if Eifert can return to health in 2018, another playmaker could be used at the position. Mark Andrews, the 6'5", 253-pound former wideout, was a matchup nightmare lining up all over the field for Oklahoma. Andrews had a breakout junior season in 2017, finishing the season leading the Sooners with 62 receptions for 958 yards and 8 TD which won him the Mackey Award for top TE while earning unanimous 1st Team All-America honors. Andrews became a favorite target of Baker Mayfield's because all Baker had to do was put the ball in the vicinity of Andrews and he was hauling it in. He's a good route runner who can create separation out of his breaks and does a good job finding the voids in a defense. Andrews also moves well after the catch, offering some big-play ability. He's not much of an inline blocker yet, but Andrews does a good job down the field on DB's to spring the WR for extra yards.
47. Arizona Cardinals – Courtland Sutton, 6’3”,218lbs, WR, SMU, Jr.
04/20/18 - Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Larry Fitzgerald is back for another season, but the ageless wonder and future Hall of Famer can’t be expected to be around much longer. The Cards lost Jaron Brown and John Brown to free agency, leaving J.J, Nelson and Chad Williams as the other top receiving options on the roster. Adding a playmaker is a must for Arizona. Sutton burst on the scene as a sophomore in 2015, hauling in 49 passes for 862 yards and 9 TD. He followed that performance up with back-to-back 1,000 yard and double-digit TD seasons. Sutton also had 14 100-yard games and nine games with more than one TD reception. He’s a big target with a large catch radius who does a good job extending for the ball to bring in the pass. He’s a long strider who doesn’t look like he’s moving that fast, but he did post a 4.54 40 time at the Combine. Sutton does a good job getting inside position on the corner, then uses his body well to box out the defender and attacks the ball in the air. Sutton isn’t always that explosive out of his breaks and is not very sudden, but he has a knack for creating space and getting separation late to ultimately go up and make a play on the football. He can adjust to the ball while it’s in the air and has excellent body control, especially on back shoulder throws and along the sideline where he can get both feet in bounds before going out. Sutton does a good job coming back to the football, isn’t afraid to go over the middle and will take a big hit and still hang onto the football. He’s also very physical after the catch, where his play is comparable to JuJu Smith-Schuster in that he can outmuscle defenders and will run through tackles to get up the field. Sutton also uses his size to his advantage as a blocking on the outside to spring teammates for extra yards by keeping his hands inside and sustaining his block down the field.
48. Los Angeles Chargers – Ronnie Harrison, 6’3”, 214lbs, S, Alabama, Jr.
The Chargers have a hole at Safety that should be addressed at some point on Day 2. Harrison has a blend of size and speed that is perfect for the Safety position at the next level. He can play in the box and is very physical against the run, though he often looks for the knockout blow and doesn’t wrap up, which could get him into trouble. He’s also a fluid athlete in coverage, showing a quick back pedal along with quick hips with a smooth transition to turn and run with the WR. He also has range over the top and plays with good anticipation. His aggressiveness will get him into trouble as teams will look to bait him. I think Harrison would bring a physical presence to the back end of the Bolts defense and should start right away.
49. Indianapolis Colts (from New York Jets via Seattle) – Sam Hubbard, 6’5”, 270lbs, DE, Ohio State, Jr.
New DC Matt Eberflus is converting Indy’s defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3, which means he’ll be looking for more pass rushers at the DE position and if they can’t get Bradley Chubb in the 1st Round, expect them to look for a pass rusher here. Hubbard racked up 17.0 sacks in three seasons with the Buckeyes, offering a blend of speed and power off the edge. He has a good initial burst off the ball and can not only bend off the edge but will also set up the OT by faking outside, before taking an inside path to the QB. However, Hubbard’s best attribute may be his hands, as he’s able to slap the OT’s hands aside to get off blocks and up the field. Hubbard also has the strength to set the edge against the run, forcing the RB back inside allowing the LB’s flowing to ball to make a play on the ball.
50. Dallas Cowboys – Arden Key, 6’6”, 238lbs, DE/OLB, LSU, Jr.
Demarcus Lawrence racked up 14.5 sacks a season ago, tying him with Calais Campbell for 2nd in the NFL. Dallas has opted to use the franchise tag on Lawrence for the 2018 season. They need to add pass rushers to the roster, especially if they aren’t able to ultimately sign Lawrence to a long-term deal. DT David Irving added 7.0 sacks, but Tyrone Crawford (4.0) and Taco Charlton (3.0) didn’t make the impact Dallas was expecting. Adding a pass rusher the caliber of LSU’s Arden Key in the 2nd Round may be what’s needed. Key racked up 20.0 sacks for the Tigers, with 11.0 of those coming during his sophomore season. Key is a twitchy player with excellent flexibility to bend off the edge. He explodes off the ball and can quickly dip his inside shoulder and has fluid hips to turn the corner in a hurry. However, Key is a bit of a head scratcher as he can look dominant on one play and then seem disinterested the next. Key has a tendency to disappear in gams and can get engulfed by OT’s if he doesn’t win off the ball. His inconsistency has to remind teams of another LSU Tiger in Barkevious Mingo. The two have similar measurables and posted comparable stats while at LSU. Mingo was the 6th pick of the 2013 draft, but has yet to make an impact, recording just 9.0 sacks in five seasons. Key will fall to the 2nd day, where his value becomes worth the risk for the Cowboys.
51. Detroit Lions – Ronald Jones, 5’11”, 205lbs, RB, USC, Jr.
The Lions must address a dismal rushing attack that finished last in the league with just 76.3 yards per game. Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick and Zach Zenner are all still on the roster, but clearly a RB-by-Committee approach is not working in Detroit. Ronald Jones has a slashing running style who has progressed immensely over his three years wearing the Cardinal and Gold of the Trojans. Jones was a 1,000-yard back as a sophomore in 2016 but lacked the power to be effective between the tackles. Jones put in work in the offseason as he added 10 pounds of muscle and came into the 2017 season at 200 pounds. The added muscle allowed Jones to run through tackles that brought him down the season before. Jones is the more explosive RB and is more effective in the passing game, which means he can be a three-down back. Jones has tremendous vision to not only find the hole as he presses the line of scrimmage, but also finds the cutback lane, often completely reversing field to make a play. His burst allows him to get to full speed in a hurry and he can make defenders miss at the second level without losing speed. Once Jones is into the open field, he has the breakaway speed to take it the distance.
52. Baltimore Ravens – Christian Kirk, 5’10”, 201lbs, WR, Texas A&M, Jr.
04/20/18 - Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State
Baltimore had the 29th-raned passing offense and lacked explosive plays. Mike Wallace and Jeremy Maclin are out and in are Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead. Even if Dez Bryant lands here, another vertical weapon is needed and Christian Kirk is one of the most explosive players in this year's draft. Kirk was a model of consistency for the Aggies, with at least 60 receptions, 900 yards and 7 TD in each of his three seasons at College Station. He was also dynamic in the return game with seven returns for TD (6 PR, 1 KOR) in his career and boasted a staggering 22-yard average on 37 punt returns in his career. The ability to separate vertically is apparent, but what sets him apart is his sudden burst and quick acceleration that make him difficult to defend. He is so quick in and out of his breaks that he leaves defenders behind. Kirk also has some ball skills, showing an ability to adjust to the ball while it's in the air and is especially proficient at handling the back-shoulder fade.
53. Buffalo Bills – Austin Corbett, 6’4”, 306lbs, OC/OG, Nevada
04/12/18 - Josey Jewell, MLB, Iowa
Richie Incognito’s retirement seemed to be a bit of a surprise and his loss will be felt up front. I think Buffalo can hold off on finding his replacement until Round 2 because Corbett seems to be a natural fit. Nevada’s Austin Corbett reminds me a lot of another former Wolfpack alum. Like Corbett, Bitonio started at LT for Nevada, but slid over to OG at the next level. Bitonio was a 2nd Round pick of the Browns in 2014 and has started all 47 games in which he played. Like Bitonio, Corbett may not have ideal length, but he makes up for that by being a technician and displaying good movement skills. He fires off the line quickly, stays low as a knee bender and gets his hands under the defender’s pad level in pass protection. He also has the lateral agility to mirror his man and push him up the field. Corbett is a smooth athlete in the ground game as well, showing nimble feet to quickly get out to the second level where he locks onto a defender and drives him down the field. Corbett is durable, having started all 48 games at LT, and can be a leader up front, as he was named team captain for three seasons in Reno. I expect Corbett to be a Week One starter and should be a mainstay up front for the Bills.
54. Kansas City Chiefs – Tim Settle, 6’3”, 329lbs, NT, Virginia Tech, RS Soph.
The Chiefs are looking for another space eater in the middle of their defense as Bennie Logan is a free agent and is not expected back. Settle has rare athleticism for a man his size and is capable of dominating the point of attack at NT. He has the power to not only taken on double teams, but also drive them back into the backfield. However, he also has the burst off the ball to get early penetration into the backfield. Settle proved to be very active in his two seasons with the Hokies, racking up 19.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. While he could have used another year of development before entering the draft, his physical ability is something the Chiefs can be excited about.
55. Carolina Panthers – Michael Gallup, 6’1”, 205lbs, WR, Colorado State
04/20/18 - D.J. Chark, WR, LSU
04/05/18 – Martinas Rankin, OC/OT, Mississippi State
Carolina’s passing attack needs a shot in the arm after finishing just 28th in the league a season ago after averaging a disappointing 192.3 yards per game through the air. The Panthers have yet to find a replacement for Kelvin Benjamin as a No. 1 option on the outside for Cam Newton. Production from the WR position was scarce. Devin Funchess finished 2nd on the team with 63 receptions, but it was rookie RB Christian McCaffrey who led the team with 80 receptions and TE Ed Dickson finished 3rd with 30. The second-leading WR was Russell Shepard with just 17 catches. Carolina gets Curtis Samuel back from injury and signed veterans Torrey Smith and Jarius Wright to provide some depth, but they are still lacking that No. 1 wideout. Gallup was just one year removed from Butler Community College when he emerged as one of college football’s top WR’s as a junior at Colorado State. He finished the 2016 season with a TD in 10 of the final 11 games of the season, including 3 apiece against San Diego State and Idaho to close out the season. Has a senior, Gallup was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award after finishing 3rd in the FBS with 100 catches and fifth with 1,413 yards. He amassed 100 yards in 11 of his final 18 games with the Rams, including three 200-yard games. So why is he not being considered for the 1st Round? There’s concern over his top-end speed. He largely dominated whoever he lined up against, but will he be able to separate regularly? However, Gallup has a knack for getting open. He reminds me of Cooper Kupp in that respect. Kupp ran a 4.62 40 time at the Combine, yet nobody could cover him at the Senior Bowl because he was so sudden off the line. Gallup has that same skill. He does an excellent job reading whoever is lined up over him and will give him a stutter or a head fake and cuts off his man to win at the line of scrimmage. I think what sets Michael Gallup apart from other wide receivers is his elite ball skills. He has a knack for going up and winning 50-50 balls when elevating over defenders to highpoint the football. He tracks the ball well in the air to haul the pass in over his shoulder and has the body control to lay out and fully extend for a pass. His last catch in a CSU uniform was a highlight among his spectacular catches. The catch came against Marshall in the New Mexico Bowl, a game the Rams wound up losing 31-28. It was 3rd and 10 with 2:45 remaining and the Rams needing a big play to keep the drive alive late in the game. Gallup was on the outside and ran past the sticks and turned around. The ball was thrown high and he elevated and reached back OBJ style to haul in the pass with his right hand, extending beyond 180 degrees to make the catch and extend the drive. On one play, Gallup showed off his hands, leaping ability, body control and concentration that make him one of the best with the ball in the air.
56. Buffalo Bills (from Los Angeles Rams) – Carlton Davis, 6’1”, 203lbs, CB, Auburn, Jr.
It appears Buffalo hit a home run when it selected Tre’Davious White with the 27th pick a season ago. While the signing of Vontae Davis gives the Bills a veteran presence in the secondary, it was only a one-year deal and there is little depth at the CB position. Davis is a big, physical CB who likes to jam WR’s and reroute them off the line. He can flip his hips and run stride for stride with receivers and has excellent ball skills, as evidenced by his 28 pass breakups in his three seasons with the Tigers. Davis has to tone down his physicality a bit as he tends to manhandle WR’s, which will get him flagged quite a bit at the next level. He also struggles in off coverage as he tends to give up too big of a cushion to make a play on the ball. However, Davis has a chance to be a quality starter at the next level.
57. Tennessee Titans –Uchenna Nwosu, 6’3”, 251lbs, OLB, USC
The Titans need to add pass rushers to team with starters Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan, both of whom will be free agents at the end of the 2018 season. Uchenna Nwosu developed into a leader of the Trojan defense in 2017 and was one of the most consistent players on the team. As a senior, Nwosu racked up 9.0 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss and his 75 tackles finished 5th on the team. Nwosu does a good job timing up the snap count to get a jump off the ball and has explosive hands to get the edge. Nwosu is always working to get to the ball an is relentless in his pursuit of the QB. However, maybe most impressive is his ability to get his hands up in the passing lane. Nwosu knocked down an incredible 13 passes last season, using his length and has exceptional timing to leap and knock passes down. Nwosu will see the field early because of his versatility to affect the pass in many different ways.
58. Atlanta Falcons – James Washington, 5’11”, 213lbs, WR, Oklahoma State
The Falcons have All-Pro Julio Jones at one starting WR position on the outside, but Mohamed Sanu may be best suited in the slot and with the departure of Taylor Gabriel, that move could happen as long as another WR is found to be a threat on the outside. James Washington posted three straight seasons with 1,000-yard receiving, including 1,549 as a senior which helped earn him the Biletnikoff Award. At 5’11” and 213 pounds, Washington looks more like a RB than a wideout, but then you see his explosiveness on the outside. He may not have the burst that some WR’s have (he ran a 4.54 40 at the Combine), but Washington repeatedly got over the top of defenses, easily eating up the large cushion left by the corner. He does a good job beating the jam off the line and does a good job setting up his routes, making a quick cut to throw off the defender. Washington does a tremendous job tracking the deep ball and can run down balls thrown overhead. However, he’s not the most physical WR, especially in traffic. He also struggles to fight back to the ball when a deep pass is underthrown. You also have to wonder just how much his production was driven by the air raid system that was run in Stillwater, OK. However, Washington’s ability to stretch defenses vertically make him a weapon on the outside and adding him to the roster would allow the Falcons to move Sanu to the slot, which gives Matt Ryan the right balance of weapons.
59. San Francisco 49ers (from New Orleans) – Tyrell Crosby, 6’5”, 309lbs, OT, Oregon
The 49ers need to take a long look at the offensive line. Joe Staley is 33 years of age but is a six-time Pro Bowler and won’t be a free agent until 2020. The Niners also made a deal for Center Weston Richburg. The remaining O-line positions are not set in stone. At OG, Laken Tomlinson and Jonathan Cooper are seen as the starters with Joshua Garnett in the mix as long as he’s fully returned from knee surgery and has reconditioned his body. San Francisco could still be looking at an OG in this draft, but I think the bigger need at this point is at RT as Trenton Brown is recovering from a shoulder injury that placed him on Injured Reserve in December and is only under contract for one more season. Oregon’s Tyrell Crosby is a physical road grader in the ground game, making him a perfect candidate to play RT. He’s physical at the point of attack, has violent hands and will drive defenders back with a powerful lower body. He didn’t look like a great athlete when playing for the Ducks and his 5.23 40 time confirmed that. He often played too high in pass protection and struggled mightily against speed rushers. Crosby more than held his own during Senior Bowl practice, often stoning defenders with his initial punch. His physicality gives him a good chance to stick as a starter at RT.
60. Pittsburgh Steelers – Lorenzo Carter, 6’6”, 250lbs, OLB, Georgia, Jr.
T.J. Watt racked up 7.0 sacks as a rookie while also finishing tied for 5th on the team in tackles with 54 and looks like he’ll only continue to be a force off the edge, while Bud Dupree is continuing to improve at the other OLB spot. However, there isn’t any depth behind the two of them. Carter has a rare blend of speed and size for the LB position which allows him to cover a lot of ground in a hurry. He’s a very fluid athlete despite measuring in at 6’6”and 250 pounds, having run a 4.5 40 time, which was the second fastest time among LB’s at the Combine. His length allows him to cover the field sideline to sideline and can also set the edge against the run. Carter has a quick get-off and has the athleticism to quickly dip his inside shoulder to be a legitimate pass rusher on the outside. He also knows what to do when he arrives at the football, having recorded six forced fumbles while also recovering six in his career. What is puzzling is Carter’s production didn’t match the athleticism. In his four seasons with the Bulldogs, Carter never posted numbers totaling more than 62 tackles, 5.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in any one season. His rather thin frame kept him from setting the edge and wasn’t able to be a physical presence, which had something to do with his reduced output. And if defenders did get into his body, he struggled to get off blocks. If Pittsburgh can get him in space, he has a chance to make a ton of plays while filling out his frame in an NFL strength program.
61. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jessie Bates III, 6’2”, 195lbs, S, Wake Forest, RS Soph.
The Jags are always looking to find athletes to man the secondary and Bates would be a nice addition to be a third safety on the back end of the defense with Barry Church and Tayshaun Gipson. Bates was a Freshman All-American in 2016 after posting 100 tackles and picking off 5 passes, taking two of those back to the house. He can be a valuable deep safety reading the QB’s eyes and can react quickly, driving in a hurry on the football and has the ball skills to make a play on the football. He’s not much of a physical presence and doesn’t offer much in the box. However, with Church and Gipson in the fold, he won’t have to.
62. Minnesota Vikings – M.J. Stewart, 5’11”, 200lbs, CB, North Carolina
The Vikings’ starting secondary is set with Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes at CB and Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo at Safety, but they’re lacking depth. Stewart’s versatility will allow him to provide depth at every position on the back end of the defense. He was a ballhawk for the Tar Heels, having racked up 41 pass breakups in four seasons, though he did post two straight seasons without a single Int. Stewart may be at his best reading the QB’s eyes in off coverage, allowing him to drive quickly on the football in front of him to get a hand in and make the play. He also has the strength to hold up in press coverage. Stewart ran just a 4.54 40 time at the Combine, which is not all that fast for a DB under six-feet tall, which may limit his effectiveness on the outside. However, he can be a slot corner or a third safety for the Vikes.
63. New England Patriots – Nick Chubb, 5’11”, 227lbs, RB, Georgia
The Patriots have operated a committee approach to their backfield for quite some time now and I don’t expect that to change for the foreseeable future. With the departure of Dion Lewis, James White and Rex Burkhead will be looked to as versatile options both carrying the ball and catching it out of the backfield, while Jeremy Hill was signed to a one-year deal in hopes he can regain his form from four years ago when he rushed for 1,124 yards as a rookie. However, what’s still lacking is a power back between the tackles. Nick Chubb came to Athens, GA as a dynamic freshman phenom, rushing for an eye-popping 1,547 yards and 14 TD, but then a devastating knee injury in 2015 nearly derailed his career for good. Chubb is just about back to form, having posted 1,345 yards and a 6.0 yard-per-carry average with 15 TD on the ground while sharing the backfield with Sony Michel. Chubb has big, thick legs that allow him to run through defenders and push the pile. However, he’s not just a one-trick pony. Chubb also des a good job setting up his blocks and has the vision to see the cutback lanes. He has surprising feet and lateral agility to put his foot in the ground and explode to the hole. Chubb may not have posted the top-end speed of some other RB’s at the Combine, having run a 4.52 40, but his 38.5-inch vertical leap and 10-foot 8-inch broad jump were among the top at the position and are indicative of his explosiveness. Chubb was not much of a receiver at UGA, having caught only 31 passes in four seasons with the Bulldogs, but that was Michel’s forte and he won’t be asked to be a receiver with the Pats.
64. Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia) – Armani Watts, 5’11”, 205lbs, S, Texas A&M
Cleveland signed Damarious Randall, but it remains to be seen whether DC Gregg Williams sees him as a Safety or a CB. If it’s the latter, then the Browns will still need a safety to line up next to Jabrill Peppers. Watts is instinctive and covers a lot of ground on the back end of the defense. He tends to take chances, which can get him into trouble, but he can also be quite the playmaker with a nose for the football, having posted 10 Int., breaking up another 18 passes and racking up 6 forced fumbles in his career with the Aggies. He may be undersized, but he’s fearless and is the type of player Williams values in his defense.