NFL Draft Preview: Team-By-Team Draft Preview
This is a quick look at the hand every NFL team will be working with in this week’s draft. Each team begins each draft with seven selections. Teams like the Packers and Ravens add picks through the compensatory process. Others like the Titans and Browns have stockpiled picks through trades down the board.
This year, teams with double-digit picks are the 49ers (12), Browns (12), Patriots (11), Broncos (10), and Lions (10). Teams with six picks or fewer are the Jets (6), Giants (6), Saints (6), Colts (6), Cardinals (6), Panthers (6), Falcons (5), and Rams (5).
Arizona Cardinals (6)
Round 1, 29
Round 3, 92
Round 4, 128
Round 5, 167
Round 5, 170
Round 6, 205
Overview: The Cards only have six draft picks, but they acquired franchise pass rusher Chandler Jones from the Patriots in exchange for No. 61. They also gave up a seventh-rounder in last year’s Matt Barkley deal. Arizona’s biggest needs are center and cornerback. Expect Alabama C Ryan Kelly, Houston CB William Jackson III, Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander, and Ohio State CB Eli Apple to be in play at No. 29. In what’s regarded as a deep center class, a press-man corner may take first-round precedence in GM Steve Keim‘s draft room.
Atlanta Falcons (5)
Round 1, 17
Round 2, 50
Round 3, 81
Round 4, 115
Round 7, 238
Overview: The Falcons lost their fifth-round pick for pumping artificial noise into the Georgia Dome. Their 2016 sixth-rounder was sent to Tennessee for LG Andy Levitre. Armed with just five draft picks, shot callers Thomas Dimitroff and Scott Pioli find themselves in a difficult spot with so many roster holes. Atlanta needs help at wideout, safety, offensive guard, tight end, defensive line, and slot corner. TCU WR Josh Doctson, Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell, Clemson DE Shaq Lawson, and Alabama DTs A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed could all factor in at No. 17. Florida SS Keanu Neal is a deeper sleeper for Atlanta’s top pick.
Baltimore Ravens (9)
Round 1, 6
Round 2, 36
Round 3, 70
Round 4, 104
Round 4, 130
Round 4, 132
Round 4, 134
Round 6, 182
Round 6, 209
Overview: Compensatory-pick dominator GM Ozzie Newsome added two fourth-round picks (Torrey Smith, Pernell McPhee) and a sixth-rounder (Darian Stewart) via the league’s compensatory process, while the Ravens’ 4-12 season ensured Newsome will draft near the top of each of the first four rounds. Baltimore does need lots of help, notably at offensive line, edge rusher, cornerback, and inside linebacker. Especially if Oregon DT DeForest Buckner goes in the top five, the Rams and Eagles’ trades up for quarterbacks will give the Ravens a shot at Ole Miss LT Laremy Tunsil, Ohio State DE Joey Bosa, and Florida State DB Jalen Ramsey at No. 6. Notre Dame LT Ronnie Stanley could be a fallback target for Baltimore.
Buffalo Bills (8)
Round 1, 19
Round 2, 49
Round 3, 80
Round 4, 117
Round 4, 139
Round 5, 156
Round 6, 192
Round 6, 218
Overview: The Bills have extra fourth- (Da’Norris Searcy) and sixth-round (C.J. Spiller) picks thanks to the NFL’s compensatory process. Otherwise, this is a straightforward draft for GM Doug Whaley. Buffalo’s big needs are edge pass rusher, linebacker, and offensive tackle. Assuming any or all of them are there, candidates for Buffalo’s No. 19 pick include Alabama ILB Reggie Ragland, Georgia OLB Leonard Floyd, Clemson DEs Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, Eastern Kentucky DE Noah Spence, and Ohio State OT Taylor Decker.
Carolina Panthers (6)
Round 1, 30
Round 2, 62
Round 3, 93
Round 4, 129
Round 5, 168
Round 7, 252
Overview: The Panthers have all of their usual picks in this draft save their sixth-round selection, which went to Chicago in last October’s Jared Allen trade. Carolina is not without needs despite last year’s 15-1 record, and is especially likely to target defensive linemen and defensive backs in the early rounds. Although it was before they rescinded CB Josh Norman‘s franchise tag — enhancing Carolina’s secondary needs — Rotoworld college prospects guru Josh Norris has mocked UCLA DT Kenny Clark to the Panthers at No. 30.
Chicago Bears (9)
Round 1, 11
Round 2, 41
Round 3, 72
Round 4, 106
Round 4, 127
Round 5, 150
Round 6, 185
Round 6, 206
Round 7, 230
Overview: Bears second-year GM Ryan Pace had only six picks in his first draft, with just three selections in the top 105. Pace has nine picks this year, five in the first four rounds and six inside the top 150. Chicago added both of its sixth-rounders in 2015 trades “costing” the Bears LB Jon Bostic (Patriots) and DE Jared Allen (Panthers), before sending one to New England with Martellus Bennett for pick No. 127. At No. 11, the Bears are a wild card as one of the NFL’s neediest teams, positioned to stay true to their board and draft best player available. They could look at Notre Dame LT Ronnie Stanley, Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott, Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves, Clemson DE Shaq Lawson, or Georgia OLB Leonard Floyd.
