NFL Draft coverage: Here's what the experts are predicting
The NFL draft is finally upon us. Tonight in Chicago, 31 college players will hear their name called in the first round ... sorry, Patriots fans!
In honor of the big day, we put together one final consensus of mock drafts from 12 experts.
As always, our experts: SI's Peter King; Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier; Pro Football Focus; SB Nation's Dan Kadar; CBS Sports'Rob Rang, Dane Brugler, and Pete Prisco; NFL Network's Lance Zierlein, Charles Davis, Charley Casserly, and Daniel Jeremiah; and ESPN's Todd McShay.
Enjoy the draft, everyone, and may your team pick a future all-pro!
Here's what the final predictions and thoughts were. Let's find out of the experts are right...
No. 1 Los Angeles Rams — Jared Goff (QB)
Experts: 11 of 12
School: Cal
Other possibilities: Carson Wentz (QB, North Dakota St.)
Key expert quote: PFF: "Goff is the best QB in the draft due to his pocket presence, strong work under pressure (+11.5 grade when pressured led the nation), and quick mind and release that allows him to work through multiple reads and find the open man."
No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles — Carson Wentz (QB)
Experts: 11 of 12
School: North Dakota St.
Other possibilities: Jared Goff (QB, Cal)
Key expert quote: Kadar: "Wentz's ascension has been impressive. Even just in January, Wentz was a mid-first round player. Then teams got comfortable with him and pushed him up."
No. 3 San Diego Chargers — Laremy Tunsil (OT)
Experts: 6 of 12
School: Ole Miss
Other possibilities: Jalen Ramsey (CB, FSU); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon)
Key expert quote: Kadar: "It may be intriguing for the Chargers to try and trade down to a team looking for the best non-quarterback in the draft. It would be smarter for the Chargers just to sit back and take Tunsil."
No. 4 Dallas Cowboys — Jalen Ramsey (CB)
Experts: 5 of 12
School: Florida St.
Other possibilities: Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio St.)
Key expert quote: Brugler: "Joey Bosa or Jalen Ramsey? An argument can be made for both for Dallas — a pass rusher to take pressure off the secondary or a playmaking defensive back who gives the Cowboys' front more time to attack. Maybe Dallas will surprise and just take RB Ezekiel Elliott."
No. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars — Joey Bosa (DE)
Experts: 4 of 12
School: Ohio St.
Other possibilities: Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Jalen Ramsey (CB, FSU); Laremy Tunsil (OT, Ole Miss)
Key expert quote: Zierlein: "I would love to put Myles Jack here as he is literally the perfect fit for Gus Bradley's defense, but worries about his medicals could cause the Jaguars to pass on him and take the top edge rusher in the draft."
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No. 6 Baltimore Ravens — Ronnie Stanley (OT)
Experts: 3 of 12
School: Notre Dame
Other possibilities: Laremy Tunsil (OT, Ole Miss); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio St.); Jalen Ramsey (CB, FSU)
Key expert quote: McShay: "Some teams are cooling a little bit on Laremy Tunsil ... Stanley is the safer prospect in some eyes. His long arms (35½ inches) and athletic skill set bode well for his eventual development into an NFL left tackle."
No. 7 San Francisco 49ers — DeForest Buckner (DE)
Experts: 4 of 12
School: Oregon
Other possibilities: Laremy Tunsil (OT, Ole Miss); Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis); Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Vernon Hargreaves III (CB, Florida)
Key expert quote: Rang: "Rather than reach for the next quarterback, the 49ers could opt to rebuild their once proud defense, pairing Buckner with Chip Kelly and his former Oregon teammate Arik Armstead, San Francisco's top pick a year ago."
No. 8 Cleveland Browns — Ezekiel Elliott
Experts: 4 of 12
School: Ohio St.
Other possibilities: DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Jack Conklin (OT, Michigan St.); Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); Corey Coleman (WR, Baylor); Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame)
Key expert quote: Kadar: "It's hard to pinpoint what the Browns are going to do with this pick. It's likely that it gets traded. If it's not and Elliott is on the board, he can the focal point of Hue Jackson's offense in Cleveland."
No. 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Vernon Hargreaves III (CB)
Experts: 9 of 12
School: Florida
Other possibilities: Jack Conklin (OT, Michigan St.); Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio St.); Andrew Billings (DT, Baylor)
Key expert quote: PFF: "He adds a playmaking option on the back end and Tampa Bay is hoping to get more of the 2014 Hargreaves that posted the second-best coverage grade in the nation."
No. 10 New York Giants — Leonard Floyd (LB) or Ronnie Stanley (OT)
Experts: 3 of 12 each
School: Georgia (Florida); Notre Dame (Stanley)
Other possibilities: Darron Lee (LB, Ohio St.); Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); Sheldon Rankins (DT, Louisville); Myles Jack (LB, UCLA)
Key expert quote: McShay: "The Giants spent big in the offseason to improve their front four and secondary, but they still need to get a few more linebackers who can cover and get sideline-to-sideline against the run."
No. 11 Chicago Bears — Leonard Floyd (LB)
Experts: 4 of 12
School: Georgia
Other possibilities: Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); A'Shawn Robinson (DT, Alabama); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Jarran Reed (DT, Alabama); Chris Jones (DT, Mississippi St.); Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson)
Key expert quote: Brooks: "John Fox and Vic Fangio could upgrade the Bears' pass rush by adding an ultra-athletic defender with speed and rush skills."
No. 12 New Orleans Saints — Sheldon Rankins (DT)
Experts: 7 of 12
School: Louisville
Other possibilities: Jack Conklin (OT, Michigan St.); Kevin Dodd (DE, Clemson); Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis); William Jackson III (CB, Houston); Mackensie Alexander (CB, Clemson)
Key expert quote: Kadar: "The Saints are usually given space-filler defensive tackles with this spot, but Rankins would be a good fit as well. He can offer disruption up the middle, letting the team's linebackers clean up the trash on the outside."
No. 13 Miami Dolphins — Darron Lee (LB) or Eli Apple (CB)
Experts: 3 of 12
School: Ohio St. (both)
Other possibilities: Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson); Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Kevin Dodd (DE, Clemson)
Key expert quote: Tanier: "Darron Lee is the coverage linebacker the Dolphins need on the weak side."
No. 14 Oakland Raiders — Reggie Ragland (LB)
Experts: 4 of 12
School: Alabama
Other possibilities: Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson); William Jackson III (CB, Houston); Sheldon Rankins (DT, Louisville); Leonard Floyd (LB, Georgia); Robert Nkemdiche (DE, Ole Miss)
Key expert quote: Kadar: "The Raiders have done a nice job of adding speed on defense, but still need that enforcer in the middle. Ragland is built for that role."
No. 15 Tennessee Titans — Jack Conklin (OT)
Experts: 7 of 12
School: Michigan St.
Other possibilities: Vernon Hargreaves III (CB, Florida); Taylor Decker (OT, Ohio St.); Eli Apple (CB, Ohio St.); Vernon Butler (DT, La. Tech.); Leonard Floyd (LB, Georgia)
Key expert quote: PFF: "After moving from No. 1 to No. 15, the Titans are in prime position to reload the roster with a plethora of top picks over the next two years. They want to get the running game going and bringing in Conklin to play right tackle is a good start after two monster years of grading, particularly as a run blocker (fourth in the nation each of the last two years)."
No. 16 Detroit Lions — A'Shawn Robinson (DT)
Experts: 3 of 12
School: Alabama
Other possibilities: Jarran Reed (DT, Alabama); Taylor Decker (OT, Ohio St.); Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson); Kevin Dodd (DE, Clemson); Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Sheldon Rankins (DT, Louisville)
Key expert quote: Zierlein: "Big, tough and mean ... Robinson is still a work in progress, but has the physicality and run-thumping ability to deter offenses from believing they can get what they need in the middle of the Lions' defense."
No. 17 Atlanta Falcons — Darron Lee (LB)
Experts: 4 of 12
School: Ohio St.
Other possibilities: Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); Keanu Neal (S, Florida); Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson); Reggie Ragland (LB, Alabama); Josh Doctson (WR, TCU); Laquon Treadwell (WR, Ole Miss)
Key expert quote: Kadar: "Lee is a popular choice for the Falcons in mock drafts because he's such a good fit. He provides a different type of athleticism that most of the teams' linebackers don't possess."
No. 18 Indianapolis Colts — Taylor Decker
Experts: 5 of 12
School: Ohio St.
Other possibilities: Ryan Kelly (C, Alabama); Noah Spence (DE, Eastern Kentucky); Chris Jones (DT, Mississippi St.); Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson)
Key expert quote: McShay: "After failing to protect Andrew Luck last season, the Colts must come out of this draft with a more solidified offensive line. Decker would be a great place to start."
No. 19 Buffalo Bills — Robert Nkemdiche (DE) or Shaq Lawson (DE)
Experts: 3 of 12 each
School: Ole Miss (Nkemdiche); Clemson (Lawson)
Other possibilities: Chris Jones (DT, Mississippi St.); A'Shawn Robinson (DT, Alabama); Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis); Reggie Ragland (LB, Alabama); Shilique Calhoun (DE, Michigan St.)
Key expert quote: Rang: "He's quite athletic, boasting perhaps the most exciting raw talent as any defensive lineman in this draft. Ryan has never been one to shy from talent, even if it comes with red flags, as Nkemdiche does."
No. 21 Washington Redskins — Jarran Reed (DT)
Experts: 3 of 12
School: Alabama
Other possibilities: Karl Joseph (S, West Virginia); Laquon Treadwell (WR, Ole Miss); A'Shawn Robinson (DT, Alabama); Vernon Butler (DT, Louisiana Tech); Reggie Ragland (LB, Alabama)
Key expert quote: Casserly: "Helps improve the Redskins' run defense."
No. 22 Houston Texans — Will Fuller (WR)
Experts: 4 of 12
School: Notre Dame
Other possibilities: Corey Coleman (WR, Baylor); Josh Doctson (WR, TCU); Ryan Kelly (C, Alabama); Sterling Shepard (WR, Oklahoma)
Key expert quote: Brugler: "Given the huge investments made in Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller, the Texans might look to add to their defense with this selection but Coleman just makes too much sense to ignore."
No. 23 Minnesota Vikings — Laquon Treadwell (WR)
Experts: 6 of 12
School: Ole Miss
Other possibilities: Josh Doctson (WR, TCU); Michael Thomas (WR, Ohio St.); Su'a Cravens (LB, USC)
Key expert quote: McShay: "With outstanding hand-eye coordination and body control, Treadwell is highly effective on contested throws and jump balls. He'd give QB Teddy Bridgewater a receiver who can consistently win on short-to-intermediate throws."
No. 24 Cincinnati Bengals — Corey Coleman (WR)
Experts: 5 of 12
School: Baylor
Other possibilities: Josh Doctson (WR, TCU); Will Fuller (QB, Notre Dame); Jonathan Bullard (DE, Florida); Leonard Floyd (LB, Georgia)
Key expert quote: Davis: "QB Andy Dalton will be happy with this selection. It helps shore up a depleted receiving corps, and gives him another player who can play the ball in the air very well and 'uncover' at the end of routes. I still say Alabama C Ryan Kelly is in play here."
No. 25 Pittsburgh Steelers — William Jackson III (CB) or Artie Burns (CB)
Experts: 2 of 12
School: Houston (Jackson); Miami (Burns)
Other possibilities: Eli Apple (CB, Ohio St.); Andrew Billings (DT, Baylor); Vernon Hargreaves III (CB, Florida); Mackensie Alexander (CB, Clemson); Jarran Reed (DT, Alabama); Karl Joseph (S, West Virginia)
Key expert quote: McShay: "Jackson is coming off a highly productive senior campaign in which he led the FBS with 28 pass breakups, and had five interceptions."
No. 26 Seattle Seahawks — No real consensus
Possibilities: Robert Nkemdiche (DE, Ole Miss); Vernon Butler (DT, Louisiana Tech); Jason Spriggs (OT, Indiana); Taylor Decker (OT, Ohio St.); Le'Raven Clark (OT, Texas Tech); Darron Lee (LB, Ohio St.); Sheldon Rankins (DT, Louisville); Cody Whitehair (OG, Kansas St.); Jack Conklin (OT, Michigan St.); Germain Ifedi (OT, Texas A&M)
Key expert quote: Tanier: "The Seahawks need to take the best available offensive lineman in the first round."
No. 27 Green Bay Packers — Andrew Billings (DT)
Experts: 4 of 12
School: Baylor
Other possibilities: Jarran Reed (DT, Alabama); Vernon Butler (DT, Louisiana Tech); Hunter Henry (TE, Arkansas); Sheldon Rankins (DT, Louisville); Javon Hargrave (DT, South Carolina); Kenneth Dixon (RB, Louisiana Tech); Reggie Ragland (LB, Alabama)
Key expert quote: Rang: "The loss of starting nose guard B.J. Raji to a 'hiatus' creates quite literally a massive hole in the middle for the Packers. Stout, strong and surprisingly athletic, Billings would seem to be a logical replacement."
No. 28 Kansas City Chiefs — William Jackson III (CB) or Eli Apple (CB)
Experts: 3 of 12
School: Houston (Jackson); Ohio St. (Apple)
Other possibilities: Artie Burns (CB, Miami); Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson); Will Fuller (WR, Notre Dame); Corey Coleman (WR, Baylor); Laquon Treadwell (WR, Ole Miss)
Key expert quote: Kadar: "If you're the Chiefs, do you gamble on the upside of Apple or go with the pro-readiness of William Jackson of Houston? Both players make sense."
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No. 29 Arizona Cardinals — Ryan Kelly (C)
Experts: 4 of 12
School: Alabama
Other possibilities: Noah Spence (DE, Eastern Kentucky); Keanu Neal (S, Florida); Artie Burns (CB, Miami); Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis); Mackensie Alexander (CB, Clemson); William Jackson III (CB, Houston)
Key expert quote: Prisco: "The middle of their line will be set if they can land Kelly. The already added guard Evan Mathis to go with Mike Iupati."
No. 30 Carolina Panthers — Germain Ifedi (OT) or Emmanuel Ogbah (DE)
Experts: 2 of 12
School: Texas A&M (Ifedi); Ogbah (Oklahoma St.)
Other possibilities: Kevin Dodd (DE, Clemson); Le'Raven Clark (OT, Texas Tech); William Jackson III (CB, Houston); Jason Spriggs (OT, Indiana); Laquon Treadwell (WR, Ole Miss); Vernon Butler (DT, Louisiana Tech); Artie Burns (CB, Miami); Eli Apple (CB, Ohio St.)
Key expert quote: Rang: "Starting offensive tackles Michael Oher and Mike Remmers fared better than expected for most of the year but struggled in the Super Bowl. Ifedi offers the terrific blend of bulk (6-6, 324), length (36-inch arms) and agility Carolina has preferred in the past."
No. 31 Denver Broncos — Robert Nkemdiche (DE)
Experts: 2 of 12
School: Ole Miss
Other possibilities: Germain Ifedi (OT, Texas A&M); Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis); Connor Cook (QB, Michigan St.); T.J. Green (S, Clemson); Chris Jones (DT, Mississippi St.); Cody Whitehair (OG, Kansas St.); Hunter Henry (TE, Arkansas); Jarran Reed (DT, Alabama)
Key expert quote: Tanier: "This is a popular Broncos selection among mock drafters. Robert Nkemdiche is the kind of high-risk, high-reward player a defending champion must gamble on now and then."
