The Sports World News NFL Mock Draft reaches version 9.0 as we dig into the last day before the draft kicks off. This is part one covering teams 17-32. This version will NOT include trades, but teams I believe will make a move will be marked.
17. Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
The Ravens have a Rams cast off as their starting safety right now and could use an upgrade. Pryor is a big hard hitting safety that the Ravens covet and he could end up being the best safety in the class.
18. New York Jets: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
The Jets will be drafting mostly, if not all, on offense. Cooks is a great route runner with sure hands, which is what the Jets need most. Cooks runs a great vertical route and will be the deep threat they have lacked.
19. Miami Dolphins: JaWuan James, OT, Tennessee
The Dolphins are desperate for tackle help and are rumored to like James over the likes of other borderline first round tackles. When your need is a desperate as the Dolphins at tackle, it is okay to reach and not get crushed in post draft grades.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
The Cardinals' need isn't glaring here, but they grab a corner of the future in Dennard. The Cardinals are a candidate to take Derek Carr, but in this scenario Dennard is too good of value to pass up.
21. Green Bay Packers: C.J. Mosley, OLB, Alabama
If the pick is between Mosley and Ryan Shanzier for this pick the Alabama project has the edge, but the Packers have the option on which linebacker they prefer. Mosley is as close to a can’t miss as you can get, but can he hold up with his injury history?
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Marqise Lee, WR, USC The local Eagle beats believe Philadelphia will snag Lee with this pick. The Eagles are looking into secondary and receiver help in the first round and would love it if Pryor or Clinton-Dix were to fall to them.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, UCLA
High on the list of needs for the Chiefs is some interior offensive line help. Su’a-Filo is the top pure guard in the draft and would be a welcome addition to the Chiefs. The Chiefs don’t make the most exciting pick, but it’s one that must be made.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
The Bengals get one of the better corners who is making a late push to be in the first round. Verrett will bring a youth rush to the Bengals corner position and if I know the Cincinnati cornerback group, Verrett will see a lot of playing time.
25. San Diego Chargers: Louis Nix, NT, Notre Dame
San Diego needs a huge body to eat up blocks and take on double teams, look no further than Louis Nix. Nix specializes in just this skill and I have mocked him earlier due to this type of skill set becoming more of an endangered species. The Chargers are another team that will load up on defensive talent.
26. Cleveland Browns (via Colts): Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
Bortles hasn’t been talked about much in the days leading to the draft and that scares me. After the Vikings at No. 8, no team has really expressed interest in him to the public. Be sure that some team will surprise everyone and grab him earlier than No. 26, but without a trade this is where he lands.
27. New Orleans Saints: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
The Saints need to add to the pass rush to fully take advantage of the great secondary they now have. Ealy, much like Dee Ford, is a borderline first round prospect, but Rob Ryan and crew could fall in love with his upside and take a chance on a player with a ton of versatility.
28. Carolina Panthers: Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana
The Panthers need for a tackle is their worst hole right now, but Latimer is rising into the first round and no other tackle grades out close. Morgan Moses could still be in play, but the Panthers need receivers almost as bad as tackles.
29. New England Patriots: Ra'Shede Hageman, DE/DT, Minnesota
I really expect the Patriots to trade out of this spot, but the Jaguars and Texans draft so early in the second round they can wait and see what remains on day two. The Patriots instead take Hageman who can move around and play any role they want him to on the defensive line. He can be the eventual replacement for Vince Wilfork and play in a rotation until then.
30. San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
The 49ers grab a big solid red zone target in the form of Benjamin to solidify the receiver core. Benjamin will benefit from all the established receiver talent around him and will be able to take over when one of them leaves the team. This is a good spot for Benjamin and the value is good for the 49ers.
31. Denver Broncos: Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
Shazier is a nice piece to a team loaded with leaders and veterans. He can sit back and play his game while others teach him the ways and he gains experience. Shazier has the speed to run down these players and deliver a hit in the process. Very good technique and delivers at the point of attack.
*32. Seattle Seahawks: Joel Bitonio, OT/G/C, Nevada
The Seahawks are looking to deal this pick and move back. The true utility lineman, Bitonio can play all five position on the line and could be the pick is Seattle sticks around. The Seahawks can use a utility guy like that just in case someone goes down midseason. Bitonio will also compete for a starting guard spot, but in his rookie season he can rotate to where the need is.
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