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With the draft order now finalized 28 picks deep, we can now safely start to project where college football's brightest prospects will call home. The draft process is now starting to get more interesting as we inch towards the end of April. The college football season has now closed, but there's still plenty of movement going on in the big boards. Expect things to shake up when the Senior Bowl commences, where NFL scouts have the chance to scrutinize the best of the best as they square off against each other.
Be sure to check us out again next week as we release a new mock draft.
No. 1 Tennessee Titans: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
The future of the team, Marcus Mariota, took an absolute pounding from opposing defenses this year. It even resulted in a season-ending injury when he sprained his MCL in Week 15. While selecting a lineman is arguably the least exciting pick, it's the right one for the Titans.
No. 2 Cleveland Browns: Jared Goff, QB, California
New coach, new quarterback? With Hue Jackson now installed as the head coach/offensive coordinator, pairing the esteemed quarterback developer with an able young arm seems like the most logical move. However, this is the Browns we're talking about. Anything could happen.
No. 3 San Diego Chargers: Joey Bosa, LB, Ohio State
Missing out on Tunsil will be a swift kick to the groin for the Chargers, who so desperately need some help with their front line. However, consolation prizes don't get much better than Joey Bosa. Bosa will give an immediate boost to a stagnant Charger defense.
No. 4 Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State
While the Cowboys already spent a high pick on a secondary prospect last year, joining Ramsey and Byron Jones together is the only logical move. Assuming the Cowboys use Ramsey as pure corner and move Jones to safety, that is.
No. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Contrary to popular belief, the Jaguars' biggest need on defense isn't secondary playmakers. The team is in great need of pass rushers, and Buckner is as good as it's going to get in that department. Buckner is a dangerous and versatile athlete who could become a star if developed properly.
No. 6 Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
With the situations of Eugene Monroe and Kelechi Osemele both up in the air, the Ravens would be smart to opt for the safe pick in Stanley, who is an all-around great lineman. While this pick might ruffle some feathers among the Baltimore fanbase, the team would be wise to take Stanley over some of the more unproven secondary prospects in the first round.
No. 7 San Francisco 49ers: Laquan Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Chip Kelly starts his reign in San Francisco with a shiny new offensive weapon. While possibilities such as selecting Myles Jack, or even a quarterback aren't out of the realm of possibility, it ultimately makes the most sense for San Francisco to invest in a young receiver.
No. 8 Miami Dolphins: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
Hargreaves is slipping down many draft boards, but not the one in South Beach. While the Dolphins could go in a few other directions with this pick, grabbing a flashy corner is the one that will help them become a competitor quickly. If the stud defensive line is aided by a formidable secondary, then the hope is that things will fall into place, and Miami will have the defense that they've dreamed of.
No. 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
With the top linemen and cornerbacks off the board, the Bucs have to settle for Lawson. They could reach for names like Alexander and Apple here, but that doesn't make much sense when Lawson is still on the board. Aside from Gerald McCoy, the Bucaneer line lacks some serious punch, and Lawson will bring that as an all-around rusher.
No. 10 New York Giants: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
At this point, Jack is too good of a value pick to be passed up. The Giants have some rebuilding to do, especially on defense. They have plenty of time to coach up Jack and allow him a full recovery. If all goes well, Jack has potential to be a real star, and the leader of a new and improved Giant defense.
No. 11 Chicago Bears: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
The Bears need a big complement on the inside to Pernell McPhee, the team's biggest offseason addition last year. While the team has some faults on its defensive line, the best player available strategy is what works best for the Bears at pick 12.
No. 12 New Orleans Saints: A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
The Saints need help anywhere and everywhere on defense. In particular, their 31st-ranked run defense needs a facelift badly. Revamping the defense begins with changing up the front seven, and that is where Robinson comes in. Robinson is a menacing force who has sky-high potential.
No. 13 Philadelphia Eagles: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
The Eagles have forgotten about their offensive line in the draft these past few years, but the unit has regressed from its usual high placing. With the departure of Evan Mathis and the inevitable aging of Marcus Peters, it's time to Eagles invest in what makes a offense truly run well.
No. 14 Oakland Raiders: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
With Nkemdiche facing a court appearance on account of marijuana charges, some are wondering if a situation similar to that of Randy Gregory could play out once again. While it's certainly possible, Nkemdiche certainly wouldn't be the first, nor the last first rounder selected with some credible off-the-field issues. Nkemdiche would be the perfect addition to an extremely talented and still growing Oakland defense.
No. 15 Los Angeles Rams: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
The Rams are very fortunate to have their man fall to them. The Rams are so thirsty for a franchise quarterback after years of volatility, and Lynch is their savior. New city, new quarterback.
No. 16 Detroit Lions: Mackenzie Alexander, CB, Clemson
Many are saying that Detroit will go for a big man on the defensive line with their first pick. I just don't foresee that happening. The Lions should be content with Ziggy Ansah and Haloti Ngata manning the front line for the mean time. Their secondary on the other hand, is a hot mess. A guy like Alexander can come in and prop up the secondary with his great press skills.
No. 17 Atlanta Falcons: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
It's no secret that Coach Dan Quinn loves defensive playmakers. He made his living on them in Seattle. If he can snag Smith in the draft, it will be the perfect landing spot for the injured linebacker. Quinn doesn't mind the wait if he gets the end result he wants.
No. 18 Indianapolis Colts: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
The Colts have a lot of problems, but protecting their franchise quarterback is probably the most important one. No team wants to see the future of their team go down with a lacerated kidney. That's why the Colts will be smart and make a big investment in their line by drafting the consistent Decker to help out in pass protection.
No. 19 Buffalo Bills: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma St.
Should Mario Williams leave New York this offseason, the Bills will be initiating a search party for a new end rusher. That search party concludes quickly after stumbling upon Ogbah, a versatile rusher who can line up anywhere Rex Ryan wants.
No. 20 New York Jets: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Chris Ivory is probably on his way out, and while teams are skeptical about taking running backs in the first, Elliott is worth it. His immense talent is too much to pass up here, and the Jets just so happen to also need some help in the backfield. A perfect pick for a team that has embraced the best player available philosophy.
No. 21 Washington Redskins: Andrew Billings, DL, Baylor
Washington needs a run stuffer on their front line, and Billings fits that description quite well. Since Washington already has a great presence on the edge, Billings will help complement that attack.
No. 22 Houston Texans: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
The Texans are sick and tired of not being able to confidently pencil in their starter at quarterback each and every Sunday. It's been a roller coaster of emotions at quarterback, and the ride departs when Carson Wentz hops on board. Wentz is an exceptional talent, and the Texans should cross their fingers in hopes that another team doesn't grab him.
No. 23 Minnesota Vikings: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
A big-bodied receiver is just what is in order for the Vikings. Stefon Diggs can't do it all by himself, and Adrian Peterson is going to break down sooner or later. Picking a wide receiver is a vote of confidence for Teddy Bridgewater, who the Vikings should really unleash in his third season.
No. 24 Cincinnati Bengals: Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
The Bengals are completely sold on the idea of drafting the player they deem best available, even if that means he won't make an impact immediately. Case in point would be the selection of Cedric Ogbuehi, who was viewed as a reach by many and received little playing time this year. While Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap are in the primes of their careers, that won't last forever. Training up Clark to be the next great lineman in their defense seems like a move Cincinnati would make.
No. 25 Pittsburgh Steelers: Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
I know, Pittsburgh never takes a corner in the first round. But this year could be the outlier. The team is in desperate need of some help in the secondary, so badly that it'd be almost masochistic for them not to take a corner or safety. While Fuller doesn't have much tape due to a torn meniscus, his upside his huge, and it's enough to separate him from the rest of the secondary prospects left in the bottom of the first.
No. 26 Seattle Seahawks: Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama
It's important that Seattle builds on either line, offensive or defensive. Selecting Reed will provide an anchor for the Seahawks defensive line, which has been overshadowed by the secondary and linebacker corps recently.
No. 27 Green Bay Packers: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
The Packers are very mechanical, albeit boring drafters. They have a need, they fill it. One of those needs is edge rusher, and Dodd can certainly fill that need as a skilled pass rusher.
No. 28 Kansas City Chiefs: Vadal Alexander, OG/T, LSU
The Chiefs can essentially be put down to select an offensive lineman here. While there's a possibility that they could select someone on the opposing line, it seems as if the team will continue the trend of improving their line. Alexander is grading out as the best guard in the draft, and is regarded as a superb run blocker.