Along with knowing more about the picks each team has to work with, knowing what other teams’ needs are and what moves would make the most sense can help us determine who the Denver Broncos could be in position to select, assuming they don’t trade up.
I am still tinkering with my mock draft, but here is the draft order in the first round, the top needs for each team to fill and what I believe would be the best approaches for them to take in the first round. One team, of course, does not have a first-round pick (the Patriots) so they finish off the list with the approach I believe is best to take in the second round.
1. Tennessee
Biggest needs: Offensive line, wide receiver, cornerback, safety, defensive line
What makes sense: The Titans have been linked to both Laremy Tunsil and Jalen Ramsey, both players who would fill an immediate need. Trading down is a possibility if somebody wants to jump past Cleveland to get one of the top quarterbacks.
2. Cleveland
Biggest needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, defensive line, linebacker, offensive line
What makes sense: The obvious move is to draft a quarterback. Most of the team’s other needs can be filled in the later rounds.
3. San Diego
Biggest needs: Defensive line, offensive line, safety, tight end
What makes sense: A lot depends on what the Titans do. If they pass up on Laremy Tunsil, he could be available when the Chargers pick. If not, bet on the Chargers drafting for defense.
4. Dallas
Biggest needs: Cornerback, quarterback, running back, defensive line, offensive line
What makes sense: Jalen Ramsey would be an ideal selection if he falls to the Cowboys at No. 4 overall. If not, the Cowboys have been linked to Joey Bosa. I doubt the Cowboys draft a quarterback this early, because they need a player who can help immediately given their hopes of returning to the playoffs. Trading down could be a possibility.
5. Jacksonville
Biggest needs: Linebacker, defensive line, safety, offensive line
What make sense: Unless Laremy Tunsil is available with the pick, drafting for defense would be the best thing. The good news is that the Jaguars will have plenty of options among the top defensive players.
6. Baltimore
Biggest needs: Offensive line, cornerback, linebacker, wide receiver
What makes sense: As I wrote the other day, I don’t think the Ravens are going to panic. In fact, they could be in a good position to trade down if one of the top players slides down the board. That’s especially true if some teams further down the board have reason to believe the Niners will draft a quarterback.
7. San Francisco
Biggest needs: Quarterback, linebacker, offensive line, wide receiver
What makes sense: If the Niners deal Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback makes sense. If not, they may be better off drafting for other needs and taking a QB later. After all, if they decide to move forward with Kaepernick, they don’t want to make any moves that cause more problems between him and the team.
8. Philadelphia
Biggest needs: Running back, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, wide receiver
What makes sense: Ezekiel Elliott appears to be the most likely pick, but if he’s off the board, the Eagles should consider either the offensive line or defensive line.
9. Tampa Bay
Biggest needs: Cornerback, offensive line, safety, wide receiver, defensive line
What makes sense: Defense. Just get some help for the defense. Ideally, it would be a cornerback, but it might be too early to draft one unless Jalen Ramsey somehow falls to this spot. But there are plenty of options for the defensive line.
10. New York Giants
Biggest needs: Linebacker, wide receiver, offensive line, running back, safety
What makes sense: The Giants have already put plenty of money into the defensive line, so adding a linebacker would be their best bet. I’d imagine they’d love to get Myles Jack, who might slip down a few spots if there are too many concerns with his health.
11. Chicago
Biggest needs: Defensive line, linebacker, quarterback, offensive line, cornerback
What makes sense: The best defensive lineman or outside linebacker available. They need to improve their pass rush and there should be plenty of options.
12. New Orleans
Biggest needs: Linebacker, wide receiver, cornerback, offensive line, defensive line
What makes sense: Finding defensive help would make the most sense. Considering the Saints have a lot of needs on that side of the ball, a move down the board could help, particularly if one of the top two QB prospects has slid down to this spot.
13. Miami
Biggest needs: Cornerback, safety, offensive line, defensive line
What makes sense: The Dolphins really need help in the secondary, but the question is whether or not any of the players available would be worth drafting this high. It might help the Dolphins to try to trade down.
14. Oakland
Biggest needs: Offensive line, cornerback, linebacker, safety, running back
What makes sense: The Raiders found plenty of free agents to help shore up the lineup, so taking the best player available at a position of need makes the most sense. They could draft one of the offensive tackle prospects and start him at right tackle, with the idea that he would be groomed to eventually take over on the left side.
15. Los Angeles
Biggest needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, offensive line, safety, cornerback
What makes sense: I mentioned the other day that the Rams don’t have a lot of picks and a trade up the board might not be possible. The ideal situation would be for either Jared Goff or Carson Wentz to slide down to this spot. But if either one falls out of the top 10, it may be wise for the Rams to consider a move up the board.
16. Detroit
Biggest needs: Offensive line, cornerback, defensive line, linebacker
What makes sense: The best thing the Lions can do is address the offensive line. There will be plenty of options available later to address the defense.
17. Atlanta
Biggest needs: Defensive line, linebacker, tight end, safety, offensive line
What makes sense: Given how deep the defensive lineman class is, the Falcons could trade down a couple of spots and still find a good player who could help right away.
18. Indianapolis
Biggest needs: Offensive line, linebacker, cornerback, safety
What makes sense: The Colts really need a better right tackle, but taking a linebacker or cornerback can’t be ruled out.
19. Buffalo
Biggest needs: Offensive line, defensive line, wide receiver, linebacker
What makes sense: An offensive tackle who could play on the right side for a year, then moved to the left side if Cordy Glenn isn’t extended, would be a good move. Or the Bills could take advantage of a deep draft class for defensive linemen.
20. New York Jets
Biggest needs: Quarterback, defensive line, linebacker, tight end, offensive line
What makes sense: The Jets don’t have that many picks, so it will be tough to make a move up the draft board. If they do reach an agreement with Ryan Fitzpatrick on a new deal, or acquire another QB (they could trade for Brian Hoyer), they don’t have to worry about drafting a QB. That would open the door for them to find additional defensive help.
21. Washington
Biggest needs: Offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, wide receiver, cornerback
What makes sense: The Crimson Potatoes are mostly fine on offense but need plenty of help on the other side of the ball. It’s a good year to take advantage of that deep draft class of defensive linemen.
22. Houston
Biggest needs: Wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line
What makes sense: DeAndre Hopkins is a quality receiver but the Texans could use somebody who can draw some attention away from him. That makes them an ideal candidate to draft a wide receiver, or perhaps they’ll consider tight end Hunter Henry.
23. Minnesota
Biggest needs: Wide receiver, cornerback, offensive line
What makes sense: It’s either a wide receiver or a cornerback. At the spot the Vikings pick, they should find good value.
24. Cincinnati
Biggest needs: Wide receiver, defensive line, linebacker, offensive line
What makes sense: While wide receiver would appear to be the obvious choice, the Bengals won’t necessarily do that. They could just as easily take advantage of the many options available for the defensive line.
25. Pittsburgh
Biggest needs: Cornerback, safety, offensive line, linebacker
What makes sense: The secondary. The Steelers need plenty of help there and their pick comes up at a good point to draft for value.
26. Seattle
Biggest needs: Offensive line, cornerback, defensive line
What makes sense: Drafting an offensive lineman would be the best thing, but will there be any available who are worth drafting this early? Then again, the Seahawks haven’t been shy about drafting players who some might consider to be a reach.
27. Green Bay
Biggest needs: Linebacker, cornerback, offensive line, tight end
What makes sense: An inside linebacker who can help defend against the run and free up Clay Matthews for the pass rush would be ideal, but the Packers might want to look for value in a later round. So a cornerback could be the pick.
28. Kansas City
Biggest needs: Linebacker, quarterback, safety, wide receiver, defensive line
What makes sense: Although the Chiefs extended Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson, drafting somebody who can be in a rotational role with them would be a good move.
29. Arizona
Biggest needs: Safety, offensive line, linebacker, cornerback, tight end
What makes sense: I had previously linked the Cardinals to Paxton Lynch, but they might be better off drafting for immediate help. At this point in the draft, it would be fine to draft a safety.
30. Carolina
Biggest needs: Offensive line, defensive line, cornerback, safety, running back
What make sense: Finding an offensive tackle to develop would be a good thing, but knowing the Panthers, they may be more inclined to look for help on defense.
31. Denver
Biggest needs: Quarterback, offensive line, linebacker, defensive line, safety
What makes sense: If Paxton Lynch falls this far down the board – and it wouldn’t surprise me if he did – the Broncos shouldn’t say no to him. If they trade for Colin Kaepernick or Lynch is off the board, then it’s better to address the defense, unless an offensive lineman who fits the zone-blocking scheme is available.
New England (no first-round pick)
Biggest needs: Defensive line, offensive line, cornerback, wide receiver, running back
What makes sense: Given the number of picks the Patriots have, but with no first-round pick, it’s a good time for them to trade up in the second round to get a player who they like. From there, they can take their time working the draft board.
