Last week's blockbuster trade in which the Titans sent the No. 1 overall pick to the Rams in exchange for a boatload of picks has shaken up draft boards everywhere. The Rams now seem intent on selecting either California quarterback Jared Goff or North Dakota State signal caller Carson Wentz. That means fewer quarterbacks for everyone else and more question marks wherever you look.
Mel Kiper has Ezekiel Elliott falling out of the 1st round in his latest mock draft
Kiper also has Jared Goff ranked ahead of Carson Wentz.
With that in mind, Mel Kiper published his latest mock draft on Tuesday. This one featured three rounds of picks and, while it's solely based on what Kiper thinks should happen as opposed to will happen, it could prove to be revealing. Below are some of Kiper's most noteworthy decisions. And as always be sure to check out our latest mock draft from Dan Kadar.
Kiper has Goff ranked ahead of Wentz
Most reports seem to indicate that the Rams are currently leaning towards Goff -- a decision that Kiper believes would be the right call. Not surprisingly, he thinks the Browns should draft Wentz if Goff is off the board and let him develop while backing up Robert Griffin III. There are reports coming out of Cleveland now that the Browns are open to dealing the No. 2 pick. But no matter what happens, it seems to be a given that Goff and Wentz, in some order, will be the first two players to hear their names called on draft night.
Ezekiel Elliott falling to the second round
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Kiper’s latest mock draft is that he has Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, the top running back in this year’s class, dropping out of the first round and going to the Cowboys in the second round. Kiper does acknowledge that it’s unlikely Elliott falls that far, writing, “I know this isn’t a realistic draft scenario, but it’s a glimpse at how I’d draft at running back.”
Further proving his point, Kiper only has one other running back, Alabama’s Derrick Henry, going in the first two rounds. Our own Dan Kadar has Elliott going to the Eagles at No. 8.
During free agency, the Texans inked Brock Osweiler to a long-term deal. But if Christian Hackenberg, who played one year under Texans head coach Bill O’Brien at Penn State, falls to Houston in the second round, it’s possible O’Brien would draft his former player.
"The addition of Brock Osweiler takes QB out of the equation in Round 1, but not Round 2," Kiper wrote "and Hackenberg provides familiarity given his history with my head coach and the potential to challenge Osweiler, not to mention a meager price tag at that position."
Hackenberg could be the backup, especially now that the Texans have released quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and B.J. Daniels.
Meanwhile, if the season started today the Jets, who are still going back and forth with Ryan Fitzpatrick, would take the field with Bryce Petty as their starter. Kiper believes Gang Green should target Michigan State's Connor Cook. Cook, he says, could back up Fitzpatrick or another veteran and "has the tools to become a starter in the future."
As for the 49ers, everything is up in the air there as Chip Kelly gets his footing under him in his first season with the franchise. Drafting Memphis QB Paxton Lynch "gives me a year to see how it works with Kelly and Colin Kaepernick," per Kiper.
The Saints try to rebuild the defense. Again.
New Orleans finished last in the NFL last season in points allowed per game (29.8) and defensive efficiency, according to Football Outsiders. With that in mind it should come as no surprise that Kiper has Sean Payton using the first three rounds of the draft to add three defensive players to his roster: Houston cornerback William Jackson III, LSU linebacker Deion Jones and Ohio State defensive tackle Adolphus Washington.
New Orleans has tried to address its defense in years past, to no avail. Perhaps this is the year where the draft finally morphs that unit into a respectable one.
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