Right now in conference rooms the size of your local coffee shop, there are grown men analyzing charts, boards, tapes and horoscopes to try and find the first, next or final piece to a Super Bowl run. The NFL Draft is less than a month away and with it dreams will be realized and nightmares will commence.
If you are looking for a mock draft, you can find it here. This is rather a closer look at each team and who would be the ideal fit for that organization. It could come down to scheme, personnel, coaching history or city. At the end of the day, these are the ideal first-round selections for each NFL Team in the Draft.
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1. Cleveland Browns
Sam Darnold, QB — USC
Hue Jackson does not like drama. Bye Josh Rosen. Darnold, on the other hand, has played under the big lights at USC, and has the intangibles to help turn the Browns into a winner. Jackson will have time to mold him, thanks to the Tyrod Taylor acquisition and it becomes a match made in Dawg Pound heaven.
COMPARE: Darnold vs. Josh Rosen
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2. New York Giants
Trade, Please
The Giants have made it no secret they want to trade out of this spot. So, its an ideal situation to deal with quarterback-needy teams like Buffalo, Denver, the Jets and Arizona. But which will make the hotline bling (apologies for the Drake reference)?
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3. New York Jets
Baker Mayfield, QB — Oklahoma
In the last 10 years, the Jets have drafted a quarterback seven times. Hint: None of them have been good. While their track record is not as putrid as Cleveland, they aren't far off. That being said, the Jets love Mayfield's fire and "winningness" (willingness to win). Not only that 'Broadway Baker' has a nice ring to it.
COMPARE: Mayfield vs. Josh Allen
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4. Cleveland Browns
Bradley Chubb, DE — NC State
Last year the Browns took Myles Garrett number one, now they take Chubb four and have solidified their front four for the next decade. Chubb is even a better prospect than Garrett or Jadeveon Clowney. Now, if Darnold fails to deliver they can reroute and make defense its focal point. Yet still leading the Browns back to the postseason. Rejoice, Cleveland!
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5. Denver Broncos
Josh Allen, QB — Wyoming
You know John Elway is salivating at the chance to take a big gunslinger who can throw the ball 82 yards on the fly with a flick of the wrist. The next Uncle Rico would have Bronco fans having flashbacks to number 7 running the show in the mile high state.
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6. Indianapolis Colts
Quenton Nelson, OL — Notre Dame
Speaking of Uncle Rico, both he and Andrew Luck played the same amount of NFL games last year. Luck has taken a pounding his first four years in the league and new general manager, Chris Ballard, knows he has to keep him safe. Nelson was the best-graded prospect at guard in five years, according to Pro Football Focus.
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7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saquon Barkley, RB — Penn State
Not sure on how many shots to the junk Dirk Koetter would take to bring in Barkley, but there's no question Barkley would be an ideal fit for a franchise that is starving for consistent running back play. With Barkley, Mike Evans and Jameis Winston, the Bucs would be set at the offensive skills position for a long time.
COMPARE: Barkley vs. Derrius Guice
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8. Chicago Bears
Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB — Alabama
In a division with Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford, defensive backs come at a premium. Fitzpatrick is the best one in the draft. Chicago would jump at the chance.
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9. San Francisco 49ers
Marcus Davenport, EDGE — UTSA
There are so many different ways the 49ers could go, which is never a good sign for a team's production. Having said that, the 49ers desperately need help getting to the quarterback. Davenport is a violent pass rusher who should improve one of the worst pass defenses in the league.
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10. Oakland Raiders
Roquan Smith, LB — Georgia
"This guy right here is the direct descendant of Chuck Bednarik, Dick Butkus. Just a mean old SOB who'll take your lunch money while he's already brought his lunch pail to his job and is working overtime." John Gruden, probably, after making this pick.
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11. Miami Dolphins
Tremaine Edmunds, LB — Virginia Tech
Edmunds can be a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball. He's young, athletic and aggressive. A lethal combo for a linebacker. Dolphins could go quarterback as well, although it seems more likely they'll trot Ryan Tannehill out for another year.
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12. Buffalo Bills
Josh Rosen, QB — UCLA
And all of Western New York shall celebrate and scream their new savior, the Rosen of Josh. Buffalo is starving for a quarterback and Rosen is arguably the best quarterback prospect. Just be careful of how many questions he asks.
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13. Washington Redskins
Vita Vea, DT — Washington
Washington had the worst defensive line against the run and need someone to plug some holes. Enter the 6-4, 347-pound Tevita "Vita" Tuliakiono Tuipuloto Mosese Va'hae Faletau Vea. Vea can be the run-stopping cornerstone for a revamped Washington defense.
COMPARE: Vea vs. Jonathan Allen
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14. Green Bay Packers
Denzel Ward, CB — Ohio State
Packers need help on the outside and Ward has the potential to shut down half the field. He was dominant at Ohio State, can that translate to the NFL? It's worth the risk, despite his size.
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15. Arizona Cardinals
Lamar Jackson, QB — Louisville
Steve Wilks is coming into a new situation and needs to make a big splash in the draft and Jackson is that player. Arizona can't start the new regime trotting Sam Bradford or Mike Glennon out there. Jackson will bring the excitement. Depending on how big that chip on his shoulder will be come September, he's the darkhorse for Rookie of the Year.
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16. Baltimore Ravens
Calvin Ridley, WR — Alabama
Last year, every Raven receiving threat was injured at some point during the season. For a Marty Mornhingweg-run offense that love to chuck it, that was no bueno. Getting a shiny new toy like Ridley will be at the top of the team's agenda.
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17. Los Angeles Chargers
Mike McGlinchey, OT — Notre Dame
It always seems like Phillip Rivers is unhappy. Why not draft the tackle of the future. Someone to protect him, love him, and keep him playing into his 40s.
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18. Seattle Seahawks
Frank Ragnow, C/G — Arkansas
The most prized possession in Seattle is not a hot cup of jo, but rather Russell Wilson, preferably, upright. Wilson racked up more yards evading tacklers than he did positive yards–unofficially. Seattle needs help on the defensive side, but ideally they'd like Wilson to stay comfortable in the pocket and getting an anchor in the middle of the o-line would do the trick.
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19. Dallas Cowboys
Da'Ron Payne, DT — Alabama
Jerry Jones had to watch with horror as rival Philadelphia hoisted its first Vince Lombardi trophy. To combat that torment, why not take a page out of Philly's playbook and bolster your interior d-line with a nasty lineman who brings the–Payne.
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20. Detroit Lions
Derrius Guice, RB — LSU
Kim Kardashian has had more husbands in the last decade than Detroit has had 1,000-yard rushers. Guice is a perfect match for the Lions and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.
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21. Cincinnati Bengals
Will Hernandez, OG — UTEP
Hernandez is a mountain of a person who should add some color to the offensive line. While Jay Gruden may not be as charismatic as his brother, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and he will love this "football guy."
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22. Buffalo Bills
Christian Kirk, WR — Texas A&M
If the Bills want their next quarterback to be somewhat decent, he needs someone to play catch. The Bills are more known for receivers who have left than they are their current crop of quarterbacks. Like Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, nabbing Kirk would give the Bills someone to grow old with their new starting quarterback.
COMPARE: Kirk vs. Calvin Ridley
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23. New England Patriots
Derwin James, SS — Florida State
James recently boasted he was a top-10 selection, but a knee injury in 2016 may drop his draft stock. If that's the case, Bill Belichick and company would love to have a versatile player who can fill spots at dime linebacker, box safety, deep safety and nickel corner. This might be the quickest draft pick in history should James be available.
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24. Carolina Panthers
Josh Jackson, CB — Iowa
With Kirk and Ridley like to go early in the draft, Carolina can't afford to reach for another receiver. Especially when you consider there will be plenty of talent in the second round. On the other side of the ball, the Panthers have struggled since Josh Norman left town. It only makes sense they try and recreate that magic and take the most skilled corner on the board, according to Pro Football Focus.
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25. Tennessee Titans
Harold Landry, EDGE — Boston College
Mike Vrable is going to want to set the tone and image for his team. The Titans have already changed their image, now they need to set the tone. People have said Landry is a once-in-a-generation player. His addition would make an immediate impact and also satisfy Vrable's defensive bias.
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26. Atlanta Falcons
Taven Bryan, DT — Florida
The Falcons are just two years removed from having the most prolific offense in the NFL and a seemingly insurmountable lead in the Super Bowl. They don't need a first round addition there. They do need help on the defense. With players like Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara within their division, an interior run-stopper has to be a primary get. Bryan can stop the run and crush the pocket from the middle while Vic Beasley terrorizes quarterbacks from the outside.
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27. New Orleans Saints
Hayden Hurst, TE–South Carolina
Drew Brees has been patiently waiting for an apt replacement for Jimmy Graham for long enough. The Saints absolutely killed the 2017 draft and have this team on the verge of getting back to the Super Bowl. Giving Brees a tight end of Hurst's ability just might be the missing link.
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28. Pittsburgh Steelers
Leighton Vander Esch, LB — Boise State
The loss of Ryan Shazier will have Pittsburgh desperate for someone to fill his shoes. Vander Esch will be loved in Pittsburgh and fits the black and yellow persona to a T.
COMPARE: Vander Esch vs. Solomon Thomas
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29. Jacksonville Jaguars
Rashaan Evans, LB — Alabama
Despite having the best scoring defense in the league, Jacksonville struggled with the run, raking in the bottom third of the league. Evans may not be that skilled in coverage, but he is an absolute beast in stopping the run. He would also make the transition from retiring Paul Posluszny smoother than Tom Brady's jawline.
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30. Minnesota Vikings
Orlando Brown, OT — Oklahoma
With Kirk Cousins coming into the fold, Minnesota will want to bring in someone to protect his blindside. Brown will do that and so much more–just don't ask him to bench anything or run 40 yards.
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31. New England Patriots
Mike Hughes, CB — UCF
It was no secret New England was a horrific defensive team. Getting a player like Hughes will make them wonder, Malcolm who?
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32. Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert, TE — South Dakota State
The defending champions have their entire core locked up through 2020, so this draft is more like adding fun accessories to a Maserati. The Eagles, who love to run a lot of two tight end sets, lost both Brent Celek and Trey Burton this offseason. Adding Goedert would be an upgrade and give the Eagles one more weapon on the offensive side of the ball.
COMPARE: Goedert vs. David Njoku