The Los Angeles Rams are not tipping their hand on whom they are selecting with the first overall pick in tonight’s NFL Draft (8 p.m., ESPN and NFL Network, streamed on NFL.com and ESPN3) — other than to say it will be a quarterback.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who traded up to No. 2, have broadcast their intentions: They are taking the top quarterback who the Rams don’t.
After that . . . the usual chaos.
Besides the order of the quarterbacks at the top of the draft — Jared Goff of Cal and Carson Wentz of North Dakota State — here are some other storylines to watch in the first round:
*How far will Myles Jack fall? The UCLA linebacker is a top 5 talent, but a knee condition has teams worried.
*Where does No. 3 QB Paxton Lynch fit? Will a team trade up for the Memphis signal caller, or be patient?
*Will the New York Jets trade defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson? The two sides are at a contract impasse.
*Where will Ezekiel Elliott go? Running backs have been devalued in recent years, but Elliott is considered special.
Here is a final stab at how the draft might play out. The annual caveat: One unexpected development — and there will be at least one — will throw this all off:
1. Los Angeles Rams (from Tennessee): Jared Goff, QB, California. All signs point to the Rams staying in-state with their choice.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (from Cleveland): Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State. By trading up, the Eagles signaled they were comfortable with either Goff or Wentz.
3. San Diego Chargers: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon. Tricky pick. Most mocks have the Chargers taking CB Jalen Ramsey or OT Laremy Tunsil, so this would be the first shocker. Huge defensive end would be a game-changer in their 3-4.
4. Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State. Deion Sanders 2.0 to the Cowboys? Sign them up.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State. The Jags are going to be very good in two seasons.
6. Baltimore Ravens: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi. For most of the draft process when the Titans held the top choice, Tunsil was projected to go first overall.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame. Some like Stanley more than Tunsil. Wild card alert: Could the Niners trade down for Lynch, or even take him here?
8. Cleveland Browns (from Miami through Philadelphia): Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA. Concerns over a potential knee condition stemming from a 2015 injury push Jack down. He is worth the risk here.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida. With the top offensive lineman gone, Hargreaves makes sense.
10. New York Giants: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State. There are a ton of offensive and defensive linemen available who fit the Giants’ needs, but Elliott is a transcendent player who would give their offense an element it just doesn’t have.
11. Chicago Bears: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson. Medical issues have been cleared. Keep an eye out for a possible trade with the Jets for Wilkerson.
12. New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville. This pick will most likely be a D-tackle.
13. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia): Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State. Dolphins miss out on Elliott, but nab his teammate, a big, fast ballhawk.
14. Oakland Raiders: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama. Raiders are thin inside, and Ragland is an absolute thumper of a run-stopper.
15. Tennessee Titans: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State. The Titans trade down and still address their offensive line. Well done, Tennessee.
16. Detroit Lions: A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama. There is a chance the Lions go offensive line or even wideout.
17. Atlanta Falcons: Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia. Elite physical tools.
18. Indianapolis Colts: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State. The Colts always seem to have to upgrade their offensive line. This year, they actually do it.
19. Buffalo Bills: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson. A Rex Ryan team always goes defense. This position fills a need — and don’t forget the Clemson connection (Ryan’s son plays there).
20. New York Jets: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis. If Lynch is here, the Jets should take him. But will he be? And will the Jets be, since they could move up by trading Wilkerson? An edge rusher and offensive tackle are also pressing needs.
21. Washington Redskins: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama. The pick will be either an interior D-lineman or edge rusher.
22. Houston Texans: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi. This will be a wide receiver among a bunch rated right around here.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU. See above.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor. And the mini-run on receivers continues.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: William Jackson III, CB, Houston. The Steelers have not drafted a cornerback in the first round since 1997. It’s about time.
26. Seattle Seahawks: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Mississippi. An undeniable talent, but numerous off-the-field issues. He is worth the risk this low.
27. Green Bay Packers: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State. Lee has defensive back speed.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame. One word: Speed.
29.* Arizona Cardinals: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama. The Cards don’t have a starting center on their roster.
30. Carolina Panthers: Artie Burns, CB, Miami. Raw but huge talent to who could eventually replace the departed Josh Norman.
31. Denver Broncos: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor. Don’t rule out the Broncos making a draft-day deal for a quarterback, or drafting one. Which one? Stay tuned.
*New England Patriots, slated to pick 29th, forfeited the pick as the result of Deflategate.
Categories: -Sports-
