17. Baltimore Ravens – Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
The Ravens will be looking hard for a partner for last year’s top rookie, Matt Elam. Calvin Pryor is a guy I’m not high on but many are and he probably won’t fall much further than this spot on draft day.
18. New York Jets – Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
Brandin Cooks would give them some speed on the outside but it would be tough to pass on Ebron at this point in the draft. He’s a spectacular athlete that can stretch the middle of the field and should free things up for the newly acquired Eric Decker on the outside.
19. Miami Dolphins – Zack Martin, OG, Notre Dame
The Dolphins rebuild of the post-Martin/Incognito OL is underway. Adding a versatile piece like Martin should about complete the rebuild. Martin can play tackle but I think he’s a Pro Bowl guard for a long time. He would be a great addition to this OL and locker room.
20. Arizona Cardinals – Ra’Shede Hageman, DE, Minnesota
I had Darqueze Dennard here until the Cards signed Antonio Cromartie to a one-year deal. With Cromartie in the fold, CB probably moves down the list of needs a bit. Darnell Dockett is aging and carries a huge cap number. This could be his last year in Arizona and they need to look for his eventual replacement. Hageman gives them a monster, physical presence – now if they can get him to work consistently, they’ll have struck gold.
21. Green Bay Packers – Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois
The Packers have nothing in the backend. Barring, and probably even with, a signing coming they need to look at a safety early. Ward is my top ranked safety and I’ll stand firm this is not too early for him to come off the board.
22. Philadelphia Eagles – Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Chip Kelly wants size, athleticism and physicality in the secondary. Fuller fits that bill to a tee. He’s 6-foot-ish and plays with the attitude that Kelly wants on the defensive side of the ball. This one could be a coinflip between Fuller and Darqueze Dennard but something tells me Chip will prefer Fuller.
23. Kansas City Chiefs – Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA
Kansas City lost two guards in free agency and they could stand to add some depth along the OL. FS is a major need but with HCD, Pryor, and Ward off the board, this pick should be a fairly easy one. Su’a-Filo is a guy that I think has Pro Bowl potential on the inside and could kick outside to tackle in a pinch.
24. Cincinnati Bengals – Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan St.
The Bengals need an infusion of youth in their defensive backfield. They will rely on Dre Kirkpatrick a ton this season with the health of Leon Hall in question and the age of Terence Newman. Dennard gives the Bengals youth and physicality in the defensive backfield.
25. San Diego Chargers – Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
The Chargers could take a shot on Louis Nix at this point but Verrett should get the call. If Verrett were a couple of inches taller, the Chargers wouldn’t touch him so they find a great value with the 25th pick.
26. Cleveland Browns – Derek Carr, QB, Fresno St.
The Browns hold off on a QB at No. 4 and land a solid one with their second pick in the first. Carr is a solid value this late as he gives the Browns a guy that can sit and learn for a year or two while Brian Hoyer attempts to bring the Browns back to relevancy.
27. New Orleans Saints – Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
The Saints offensive line is in need of some major help, so one of the tackles could come off the board here. But with Cooks still on the board, it will be tough for them to pass on adding a talented receiver like him this late in round one.
28. Carolina Panthers – Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia
Wow is all I can say. The Panthers are struggling. They’ve lost all their adequate receivers, their OL is in shambles, and the defensive backfield isn’t much better. They could go in a bunch of directions but they need to find a protector for Cam Newton early. Moses should be able to plug in immediately (he’ll have to).
29. New England Patriots – Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame
Nix is officially off the board. The Patriots will be looking for a replacement for Vince Wilfork, who makes a ton of money and spent much of 2013 out due to injuries. Even with Wilfork they need to add talent along the defensive line.
30. San Francisco 49ers – Brad Roby, CB, Ohio State
The 49ers CB’s leave a bit to be desired. Brad Roby had a miserable year in 2013 but was spectacular in 2011 and 2012. His combination of speed, physicality, and man coverage skills should make an immediate contributor for the Niners.
31. Denver Broncos – C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
I’m not blown away by the trio of backers for the Broncos. C.J. Mosley falling this far down the draft is a godsend for John Elway as he continues to add talent to this already talented roster. Mosley could play any one of the three LB spots with his combination of size, athleticism, and coverage ability.
32. Seattle Seahawks – Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida St.
The loss of Golden Tate and health of Percy Harvin have me worried about the future of the receiving corps for Russell Wilson. Kelvin Benjamin is a monster target that is a matchup nightmare down the field and in the redzone. At 6-foot-5, 240+ pounds teams are going to have to account for him all over the field. Now he just has to catch the ball more consistently.
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