The NFL Scouting Combine has come and past. As usual there were winners and losers at all positions. My updated first round mock will show most of them. Here it goes...
1-Tampa Bay-Jameis Winston,QB Florida St. This one took a lot of hard thinking, considering all of the off field issues that Winston has been involved in. Issues aside, I firmly believe that the Bucs will take Winston number one, without having any doubts, even though Lovie Smith still claims that "Glennon is our guy".
2-Tennessee- Randy Gregory,DE Nebraska. We can make an argument that Leonard Williams, or even Marcus Mariota belong here, but Gregory is a huge talent, who would be filling a larger need here.
3-Jax-Leonard Williams,DT USC. Most of the analysts are saying that Leonard should go number one, but I don't believe that. I actually think he has more value here, because of all the hype he is receiving. Plus, he fills a much bigger need here.
4-Oakland-Amari Cooper,WR Alabama. This is one of the only picks that hasn't been changed from my last mock. The Raiders are so desperate here, that they'll take anyone. That being said, I still believe Cooper is the best receiver available, even though Kevin White lit it up at the Combine.
5-Washington-Dante Fowler,OLB U of Florida. I had a hard time with this one. The 'Skins [oops] have so many needs that it is a little difficult to guess where they'll start. That being said, maybe if they start with Defense, it will keep the offense off the field?
TRADE: 6-Philly [via NYJ]-Marcus Mariota,QB Oregon. At first I looked at this hypothetical scenario and laughed, then after looking at it some more, it actually makes some sense. I believe that the Eagles really are not sure if Nick Foles is their guy, and they really shouldn't be. Mariota may not be the best prospect available, but based on how Mark Sanchez performed after taking over, I think the Eagles' will do fine waiting a couple years for Mariota to develop. Is this trade a BIG gamble? yes. If it doesn't work out will Chip Kelly lose his job? yes. but, the bigger question, if it DOES work,will Mariota be a stud? yes.
7-Chicago-Danny Shelton,DT U of Washington. Much like Washington at number five, the Bears have so many needs that it is hard to choose a starting point. Even though Shelton had a disappointing Combine, I still think the Bears will strongly consider him here based on his ceiling.
8-Atlanta-Bud Dupree,DE Kentucky- A strong showing at the Combine solidified Dupree's status as a top ten pick.
9-Giants-Andrus Peat,OT Stanford. I originally had Brandon Scherff here, but as expected, he had a disappointing showing at the combine, which will hurt his stock a little. Peat is now the number one OL prospect. He's a tough competitor with a mean streak, which is a perfect fit for the Giants' system.
10-St.Louis-Trae Waynes,CB Michigan St. I originally had Waynes going to Dallas at number twenty-seven, but he had such an impressive Combine, that he is now a top ten pick.
11-Minnesota-Devante Parker,WR Louisville. I originally had Andrus Peat here, but he is not available. I actually wanted to put Parker here before, because of his potential. Parker did not have the best Combine, but I think Minnesota would be a good fit for him, not just because he would be re united with Teddy Bridgewater.
12-Cleveland-Kevin White,WR West Virginia. White had the best Combine of any receiver, but the reason I have White going second is because I think Cleveland would be a better fit for him. The Browns' are probably once again going to have a different QB, Josh Gordon is banished for all of 2015,and Jordan Cameron probably isn't coming back. Who the hell else is there to throw too, besides the mediocre Travis Benjamin?
13-N'awlins-Vic Beasley,OLB Clemson. Another original pick from my previous mock. Beasley helped his stock with a strong Combine.
14-Miami-Brandon Scherff,OT Iowa. I originally had Devante Parker here, but he is already gone. Miami's new offense is going to focus more on running, so an OL upgrade won't hurt.
15-San Fran.-Arik Armstead,DT Oregon. Armstead is another guy who helped his stock a lot by lighting it up at the Combine. He is pretty quick for a big guy.
16-Houston-Eric Kendricks,ILB UCLA. Kendricks is a guy who gets a second round grade because he's still a little bit raw, but when you're playing opposite J.J. Watt, as would be the case here, you don't have to be perfect. I think Houston is a really good fit here, especially IF Jadeveon Clowney is healthy.
17-San Diego-Melvin Gordon,RB Wisconsin. Yes, a running back in the first round. As I mentioned in my previous mock, Ryan Mathews is no longer a three down back, and he's probably leaving via free agency. To make things better, Gordon is an exemplary receiver, which will help the Bolts' porous receiving core.
18-Kansas City-Dorial Green-Beckham,WR Mizzou/Eastern ILL/Oklahoma. Yes, I'm being bullish, I know. D.G.B. probably will not be a first round pick, because of his past. If he was though, Andy Reid would be the guy to take him. The talent is there, as he showed at the combine, but the rest of his garbage will scare the other 31 teams.
TRADE: 19-Seattle [via CLE/BUF]-Landon Collins,DB Alabama. This is the pick that Bills traded to Cleveland at last years draft. Here I have Seattle moving up, to grab the best Safety available. That being said, I think Collins has the skills to potentially move to cornerback, especially in Seattle's scheme.
TRADE: 20-Jets [via PHI]-P.J. Williams,CB Florida St. As part of the "Mariota trade" that I explained a little while ago, I have the Jets drafting the second best Cornerback available.
21-Cincy-Ereck Flowers,OT U of Miami. I originally wanted to move Flowers up a little, but his showing at the Combine didn't give me any reason too. He still has a high ceiling, and should help the Bengals' immediately.
22-Pittsburgh-Malcolm Brown,DT Texas. Malcolm Brown is a sleeper who's stock keeps rising, and his performance at the Combine showed us why.
23-Detroit-Eddie Goldman,DT Florida St. Apparently the Lions' want to keep "Dumb Dumb" Suh, but even if they don't, they still need someone to fill in for Nick Fairley, when he is injured.
24-Arizona-Cedric Obughei,OT Texas A&M. The key to the Cardinals' returning to the playoffs in 2015 will be to keep Carson Palmer upright! If they fail to do so, they will be screwed, point, end, case.
25-Carolina-Jaelen Strong,WR Arizona St. Most of the experts have a third round grade on Strong, which given his injury history, [he missed all of 2013 with an ACL, and a few games in 2014 with a shoulder injury] is understandable. However, if you look at his 2012 tape, you will see why I have him pegged here. He is so explosive after the catch, and he is a gifted route runner. He would definitely be a compliment to Kelvin Benjamin.
26-Baltimore-Benardrick McKinney,OLB Mississippi St.
27-Dallas-Jalen Collins,CB LSU. Collins is arguably better than Trae Waynes, who I originally had going here. He helped his cause by putting on a show at the Combine. Collins would definitely be an upgrade to the current Cowboys' DB's.
28-Denver-Michael Bennett,DT Ohio St.
29-Indy- Gerrod Holliman,S Louisville. I would like to put Melvin Gordon here, but I can't, so the Colts' next area of need is Safety, which Holliman can fill.
30-Cameron Erving,OT Florida St.. even the "BAAAD MAN!", Aaron Rodgers can not keep taking the pounding that he has been taking the last couple of years.
31-N.E.-Devin Smith,WR Ohio St. A respectable showing at the Combine puts Devin Smith, a stand out for the Buckeyes, into first round discussion.
TRADE: 32-Cleveland [via SEA/BUF]-Marcus Peters,CB U of Washington. As part of an earlier mentioned trade with Seattle,the Browns' move down to number thirty-two. Marcus Peters should be gone already, but a shaky background [he was suspended this past season for violating team rules] will hurt his stock.