NFL Draft
Photo Gallery: Tribune NFL Mock Draft
Josh VanDyke and Nich Wolak
•
Updated Apr 28, 2016 at 10:26 PM
The 2016 NFL Draft kicked off tonight with the first round. Here is how Tribune sports reporters Josh VanDyke and Nich Wolak think it would unfold. (TNS photos)
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%20Josh%20VanDyke's%20Take:%20It%20feels%20like%20the%20Rams%20have%20perpetually%20finished%208-8%20every%20season%20under%20coach%20Jeff%20Fischer.%20I'm%20not%20particularly%20high%20on%20any%20of%20the%20QBs%20in%20this%20draft%20class,%20but%20the%20Rams%20need%20to%20make%20a%20splashy%20move%20as%20they%20head%20to%20their%20new%20home%20in%20L.A.%20and%20Goff%20gives%20them%20a%20"QB%20of%20the%20future".)
%20Nich%20Wolak's%20Take:%20With%20Goff%20gone,%20the%20Eagles%20take%20the%20consensus%20No.%202%20gunslinger.%20)
%20Wolak:%20A%20certain%20Florida%20State%20defensive%20back%20made%20waves%20for%20the%20Cowboys%20in%20the%2090's%20%E2%80%94%20Deion%20Sanders.%20While%20not%20quite%20the%20speedster,%20Ramsey's%20ability%20to%20play%20corner%20and%20safety%20makes%20him%20ultra-valuable%20in%20today's%20game.%20%20%20%20)
%20VanDyke:%20The%20Jaguars%20are%20focused%20on%20upgraded%20their%20defense%20and%20Buckner%20would%20be%20an%20immediate%20impact%20player%20for%20a%20team%20that%20lacks%20a%20pass%20rush.)
%20Wolak:%20The%20Ravens%20are%20known%20for%20their%20linebackers,%20and%20they%20pick%20up%20another%20great%20one%20here.%20Jack's%20knee%20injury%20could%20scare%20scout's%20away,%20but%20his%20combine%20numbers%20blew%20the%20competition%20away%20%E2%80%94%20and%20that%20was%20at%20only%2080%20percent%20health.)
%20VanDyke:%20If%20the%2049ers%20are%20going%20to%20run%20the%20Chip%20Kelly%20offense,%20they'll%20need%20a%20long%20and%20lengthy%20tackle%20who%20can%20run%20block.%20Stanley%20fits%20the%20bill%20here.)
%20Wolak:%20I%20see%20the%20Browns%20taking%20a%20Buckeye%20here%20%E2%80%94%20with%20the%20positional%20importance%20of%20defensive%20end%20giving%20Bosa%20the%20nod%20over%20running%20back%20Ezekiel%20Elliott.%20)
%20Wolak:%20Call%20me%20an%20MSU%20homer,%20but%20the%20Giants%20need%20O-line%20help.%20Conklin%20is%20their%20best%20bet%20with%20Tunsil%20and%20Stanley%20off%20the%20board.%20%20)
%20VanDyke:%20The%20Bears%20need%20to%20add%20a%20pass-rushing%20specialist%20and%20Lawson%20is%20one%20of%20the%20best%20in%20this%20class.%20)
%20Wolak:%20The%20Saints%20pluck%20the%20first%20of%20a%20fairly%20strong%20defensive%20tackle%20class.%20)
%20VanDyke:%20I'd%20be%20surprised%20if%20he%20fell%20this%20far,%20but%20the%20Dolphins,%20who%20let%20Lamar%20Miller%20walk%20in%20free%20agency,%20could%20have%20a%20feature%20back%20fall%20into%20their%20laps%20at%20No.%2013.%20)
%20Wolak:%20Al%20Davis%20is%20no%20longer%20with%20us,%20but%20that%20won't%20stop%20the%20Raiders%20from%20taking%20a%20speedy%20corner.%20%20)
%20VanDyke:%20The%20Titans%20need%20to%20protect%20Marcus%20Mariota%20and%20Decker%20has%20the%20ability%20to%20play%20Left%20or%20Right%20Tackle.%20)
%20Wolak:%20The%20Lions%20would%20like%20an%20offensive%20tackle%20here,%20but%20the%20big%20four%20are%20off%20the%20board.%20Reed%20is%20the%20mostly%20highly%20regarded%20player%20on%20an%20other-worldy%20Alabama%20defensive%20line.%20)
%20VanDyke:%20The%20Falcons%20need%20to%20upgrade%20their%20linebacking%20corps%20and%20Lee%20seems%20to%20be%20a%20good%20fit%20for%20them%20with%20his%20size%20and%20athleticism.%20)
%20Wolak:%20The%20Colts%20snag%20one%20of%20the%20few%20remaining%20elite%20cornerbacks.%20%20)
%20VanDyke:%20%20The%20Bills%20need%20to%20add%20weapons%20to%20their%20offense%20and%20Treadwell%20is%20the%20closest%20thing%20to%20Michael%20Irving%20that%20I've%20seen%20in%20awhile.%20)
%20Wolak:%20The%20Jets%20are%20still%20negotiating%20with%20quarterback%20Ryan%20Fitzpatrick.%20Even%20if%20they%20reach%20a%20deal,%20they%20would%20still%20like%20a%20quarterback%20to%20develop%20behind%20him.%20%20)
%20VanDyke:%20Washington%20instantly%20improved%20their%20defense%20by%20adding%20Josh%20Norman%20last%20week,%20but%20adding%20a%20big%20body%20like%20Robinson%20to%20the%20front%20line%20would%20help%20take%20the%20unit%20to%20the%20next%20level.%20)
%20%20%20Wolak:%20This%20receiver%20group%20is%20deep.%20I%20see%20the%20Texans%20grabbing%20a%20Texan%20standout%20at%20the%20spot.%20)
%20VanDyke:%20The%20Vikings%20struck%20out%20with%20guys%20like%20Mike%20Wallace%20and%20Charles%20Johnson%20last%20season%20and%20could%20use%20a%20deep%20threat%20like%20Coleman%20to%20stretch%20the%20field%20opposing%20of%20Stefon%20Diggs%20)
%20Wolak:%20The%20run%20on%20pass%20catchers%20continues,%20with%20the%20Bengals%20adding%20a%20playmaker%20to%20pair%20opposite%20A.J.%20Green.%20%20)
%20%20VanDyke:%20The%20Steelers'%20secondary%20has%20been%20its%20Achilles%20heel%20the%20last%20few%20seasons.%20Joseph%20is%20a%20versatile%20athlete%20that%20can%20play%20just%20about%20anywhere%20in%20the%20secondary.%20)
%20Wolak:%20Seattle%20jumps%20on%20the%20opportunity%20to%20snag%20the%20talented%20pass%20rusher.%20Don't%20let%20%20the%20Eastern%20Kentucky%20fool%20you.%20Spence%20started%20out%20at%20Ohio%20State,%20before%20being%20kicked%20out%20for%20a%20drug%20issue.%20He%20has%20kicked%20the%20habit%20since.%20%20)
%20VanDyke:%20As%20a%20Packers%20fan,%20it%20warms%20my%20heart%20to%20see%20Ragland%20fall%20to%20them%20at%20No.%2027.%20The%20Packers%20have%20been%20missing%20an%20athletic%20inside%20linebacker%20for%20what%20seems%20like%20a%20decade.%20)
%20Wolak:%20Kansas%20City%20can't%20believe%20its%20good%20fortune%20as%20the%20explosive%20Floyd%20falls%20to%20them.%20%20)
%20VanDyke:%20The%20Cardinals%20didn't%20address%20its%20need%20for%20a%20center%20in%20free%20agency,%20so%20Kelly%20would%20be%20the%20likely%20choice%20if%20he's%20still%20around%20at%20No.%2029.%20)
%20Wolak:%20Carolina%20fans%20will%20be%20happy%20to%20grab%20a%20local%20product%20in%20Dodd.%20)
%20VanDyke:%20Maybe%20I'm%20being%20a%20homer,%20but%20the%20Broncos%20need%20a%20QB%20and%20Cook%20has%20the%20size%20and%20playing%20style%20that%20translates%20well%20to%20the%20NFL.%20Say%20what%20you%20want%20about%20his%20perceived%20lack%20of%20leadership,%20but%20his%20talent%20makes%20him%20a%20great%20fit%20for%20that%20scheme.%20)
