With only a month between now and the draft, we went back to the experts to combine their consensus picks for the first round.
While more is coming into focus, there is still a lot of uncertainty.
For some teams, free agency will mean a new approach on draft night. For others, their offseason acquisitions will only complement their strategy in the draft.
Rogelio V. Solis / AP/Press Association Images
Rogelio V. Solis / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Experts: 12 of 14
School: Ole Miss
Other possibilities: Jalen Ramsey (DB, FSU)
Key expert quote: Mays: ”Marcus Mariota had the second-highest sack rate in the league last year, and adding Tunsil would be a way to change that in a hurry.”
No. 2 Cleveland Browns — Carson Wentz (QB)
Bruce Crummy / AP/Press Association Images
Bruce Crummy / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Experts: 11 of 14
School: North Dakota St.
Other possibilities: Jared Goff (QB, Cal)
Key expert quote: Jeremiah: ”Wentz has aced the Senior Bowl and the combine.”
No. 3 San Diego Chargers — Jalen Ramsey (DB)
Doug Benc / AP/Press Association Images
Doug Benc / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Experts: 7 of 14
School: Florida St.
Other possibilities: DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Laremy Tunsil (OT, Ole Miss)
Key expert quote: Zierlein: ”While the Chargers have a need along the defensive line, they also know how beneficial a playmaking safety can be, and Ramsey has playmaking potential to be sure.”
No. 4 Dallas Cowboys — Joey Bosa (DE)
Jay LaPrete / AP/Press Association Images
Jay LaPrete / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Experts: 7 of 14
School: Ohio St.
Other possibilities: Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); Jared Goff (QB, Cal); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon).
Key expert quote: Brooks: ”Rod Marinelli would welcome an energetic pass rusher with terrific hand skills and a knack for disruption.”
No. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars — Myles Jack (LB)
Danny Moloshok / AP/Press Association Images
Danny Moloshok / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Experts: 6 of 14
School: UCLA
Other possibilities: Jalen Ramsey (DB, FSU); Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio St.); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Vernon Hargreaves III (CB, Florida).
Key expert quote: Rang: ”Jack could be the perfect addition to Gus Bradley’s defense, showing the combination of instincts, athleticism and star power this club currently lacks on that side of the ball.”
No. 6 Baltimore Ravens — Ronnie Stanley (OT)
Michael Conroy / AP/Press Association Images
Michael Conroy / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Key expert quote: Brooks: ”After watching Joe Flacco falling victim to an injury, the Ravens could make fortifying the front line a top priority.”
No. 7 San Francisco 49ers — Jared Goff (QB)
Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP/Press Association Images
Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Experts: 9 of 14
School: Cal
Other possibilities: Carson Wentz (QB, NDSU); Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon)
Key expert quote: Mays: ”[N]o quarterback in this draft can sling it like Jared Goff. He’s capable of throws that look like actual wizardry.”
No. 8 Philadelphia Eagles — Vernon Hargreaves III (CB)
John Raoux / AP/Press Association Images
John Raoux / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Experts: 5 of 14
School: Florida
Other possibilities: Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); Eli Apple (CB, Ohio St.) Kevin Dodd (DE, Clemson).
Key expert quote: Rang: ”Hargreaves is a three-time All-SEC pick with terrific agility, instincts, ball-skills and physicality as a tackler.”
No. 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Leonard Floyd
John Raoux / AP/Press Association Images
John Raoux / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Experts: 3 of 14
School: Georgia
Other possibilities: Vernon Hargreaves III, Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd, DeForest Buckner, Mackensie Alexander
Key expert quote: Rang: ”While sporting a relatively lanky frame, Floyd shows surprising power in his hands and complements it with burst off the edge, agility to avoid blockers and a relentless motor.”
No. 10 New York Giants — Shaq Lawson (DE)
David J. Phillip / AP/Press Association Images
David J. Phillip / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Experts: 7 of 14
School: Clemson
Other possibilities: Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Vernon Hargreaves III (CB, Florida); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); Noah Spence (DE, Eastern Kentucky).
Key expert quote: Jeremiah: ”Lawson plays with great technique/effort and his production is outstanding.”
A month from the NFL Draft, here's what the experts are predicting for the first 10 picks
THE NFL DRAFT is fast approaching.
With only a month between now and the draft, we went back to the experts to combine their consensus picks for the first round.
While more is coming into focus, there is still a lot of uncertainty.
For some teams, free agency will mean a new approach on draft night. For others, their offseason acquisitions will only complement their strategy in the draft.
The experts
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay; WalterFootball’s Charlie Campbell andWalter Cherepinsky; Rotoworld’s Josh Norris; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, Chad Reuter, Lance Zierlein, and Bucky Brooks; Fox’s Peter Schrager; CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler and Rob Rang; SI’s Robert Mays; and SB Nation’s Dan Kadar.
No. 1 Tennessee Titans — Laremy Tunsil (OT)
Experts: 12 of 14
School: Ole Miss
Other possibilities: Jalen Ramsey (DB, FSU)
Key expert quote: Mays: ”Marcus Mariota had the second-highest sack rate in the league last year, and adding Tunsil would be a way to change that in a hurry.”
No. 2 Cleveland Browns — Carson Wentz (QB)
Experts: 11 of 14
School: North Dakota St.
Other possibilities: Jared Goff (QB, Cal)
Key expert quote: Jeremiah: ”Wentz has aced the Senior Bowl and the combine.”
No. 3 San Diego Chargers — Jalen Ramsey (DB)
Experts: 7 of 14
School: Florida St.
Other possibilities: DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Laremy Tunsil (OT, Ole Miss)
Key expert quote: Zierlein: ”While the Chargers have a need along the defensive line, they also know how beneficial a playmaking safety can be, and Ramsey has playmaking potential to be sure.”
No. 4 Dallas Cowboys — Joey Bosa (DE)
Experts: 7 of 14
School: Ohio St.
Other possibilities: Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); Jared Goff (QB, Cal); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon).
Key expert quote: Brooks: ”Rod Marinelli would welcome an energetic pass rusher with terrific hand skills and a knack for disruption.”
No. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars — Myles Jack (LB)
Experts: 6 of 14
School: UCLA
Other possibilities: Jalen Ramsey (DB, FSU); Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio St.); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Vernon Hargreaves III (CB, Florida).
Key expert quote: Rang: ”Jack could be the perfect addition to Gus Bradley’s defense, showing the combination of instincts, athleticism and star power this club currently lacks on that side of the ball.”
No. 6 Baltimore Ravens — Ronnie Stanley (OT)
Experts: 6 of 14
School: Notre Dame
Other possibilities: Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio St.); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon).
Key expert quote: Brooks: ”After watching Joe Flacco falling victim to an injury, the Ravens could make fortifying the front line a top priority.”
No. 7 San Francisco 49ers — Jared Goff (QB)
Experts: 9 of 14
School: Cal
Other possibilities: Carson Wentz (QB, NDSU); Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon)
Key expert quote: Mays: ”[N]o quarterback in this draft can sling it like Jared Goff. He’s capable of throws that look like actual wizardry.”
No. 8 Philadelphia Eagles — Vernon Hargreaves III (CB)
Experts: 5 of 14
School: Florida
Other possibilities: Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); Myles Jack (LB, UCLA); Eli Apple (CB, Ohio St.) Kevin Dodd (DE, Clemson).
Key expert quote: Rang: ”Hargreaves is a three-time All-SEC pick with terrific agility, instincts, ball-skills and physicality as a tackler.”
No. 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Leonard Floyd
Experts: 3 of 14
School: Georgia
Other possibilities: Vernon Hargreaves III, Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd, DeForest Buckner, Mackensie Alexander
Key expert quote: Rang: ”While sporting a relatively lanky frame, Floyd shows surprising power in his hands and complements it with burst off the edge, agility to avoid blockers and a relentless motor.”
No. 10 New York Giants — Shaq Lawson (DE)
Experts: 7 of 14
School: Clemson
Other possibilities: Ronnie Stanley (OT, Notre Dame); Vernon Hargreaves III (CB, Florida); DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon); Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio St.); Noah Spence (DE, Eastern Kentucky).
Key expert quote: Jeremiah: ”Lawson plays with great technique/effort and his production is outstanding.”
See the rest of the first round here.
- Emmett Knowlton, Business Insider
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