fb-pixelBen Volin’s mock NFL draft - The Boston Globe Skip to main content
NFL DRAFT | THURSDAY, 8 P.M. (ABC, ESPN, NFL)

Ben Volin’s mock NFL draft

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray.sue ogrocki/AP/Associated Press

1. Arizona Cardinals

Needs: WR, TE, G/T, DT, DE, OLB, CB

Projected pick: QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma

Comment: The Cardinals have a ton of needs, and, frankly, quarterback isn’t anywhere near the top of the list. But quarterback is the only position that matters, and if you have a chance to take an electric athlete and playmaker like Murray, you go for it.

2. San Francisco 49ers

Needs: WR, G, DE, OLB, CB, S

Projected pick: DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State

Defensive lineman Nick Bosa of Ohio State.Joe Robbins/Getty Images/Getty Images

Comment: The 49ers have invested a lot in their defensive line: three straight first-round picks on Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, and Solomon Thomas, plus a big trade and new contract for Dee Ford. But you can never have enough pass rushers, and Bosa has the potential to be dominant like his brother Joey.

Advertisement



3. New York Jets

Needs: WR, RB, edge rusher, OT, DT, CB

Projected pick: OLB Josh Allen, Kentucky

Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen.Bryan Woolston/Associated Press/file/FR171481 AP via AP

Comment: The Jets need another wide receiver for Sam Darnold, but this pick is far too early for one. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is tempting here, but the Jets badly need an edge rusher. They would rather Bosa fall to No. 3, but will gladly take Allen, who had 17 sacks last year.

4. Oakland Raiders

Needs: WR, TE, RB, DT, DE, LB, CB

Projected pick: DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama

Quinnen Williams of the Alabama Crimson Tide.Christian Petersen/Getty Images/Getty Images

Comment: The Raiders need a pass rusher to replace Khalil Mack, and are probably praying that either Bosa or Allen falls to No. 4. They also could use a speedy linebacker, even after signing Brandon Marshall and Vontaze Burfict this offseason But they have a need at defensive tackle, too, and Williams is too good to pass up.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Needs: WR, RB, G, DE, LB, CB, S

Projected pick: LB Devin White, Louisiana State

LSU linebacker Devin White.Darron Cummings/Associated Press/Associated Press

Comment: The Bucs love speedy, ball-hawking linebackers, and have a hole in their lineup after losing Kwon Alexander to the 49ers. Enter White, an undersized but blazing-fast linebacker who will rack up a ton of tackles.

Advertisement



6. New York Giants

Needs: QB, DE, DT, LB, CB

Projected pick: DT Ed Oliver, Houston

Comment: It just doesn’t feel like the Giants are ready to move on from Eli Manning yet, and if they take a quarterback at No. 6, there would be tremendous pressure on them to play the rookie as soon as things go south with Manning. But their defensive line is a mess, and they will take the best defensive tackle or edge rusher available.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Needs: TE, OT, DT, DE, S

Projected pick: OT Jawaan Taylor, Florida

Comment: The Jaguars need reinforcements at tackle with Cam Robinson coming off a torn ACL and Jermey Parmell released for salary-cap reasons. Taylor has the size to play either tackle spot and protect the Jaguars’ shiny new investment, Nick Foles.

8. Detroit Lions

Needs: G, TE, DE, DT, S, LB

Projected pick: TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa

Comment: The Lions already spent big money on Trey Flowers to strengthen the defense. Now they have to put more weapons around Matthew Stafford and improve their 25th-ranked scoring offense. They signed tight end Jesse James in free agency, but that shouldn’t preclude them from taking Hockenson, one of the most complete tight ends to come out in years.

9. Buffalo Bills

Needs: OT, RB, DT, DE, CB

Projected pick: OT Jonah Williams, Alabama

Comment: The offseason has been all about putting better pieces around young quarterback Josh Allen. They signed center Mitch Morse and receivers John Brown and Cole Beasley in free agency, but still have a big hole at one of their tackle spots. Enter Williams, one of the safest picks in the draft — a plug-and-play rookie at either tackle spot.

Advertisement



10. Denver Broncos

Needs: QB, WR, G, TE, DE, LB, S

Projected pick: QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State

Comment: John Elway’s quest to find the replacement for Peyton Manning continues into its fourth year. The Broncos traded for Joe Flacco, but he’s more likely a one-year seat-warmer than a long-term answer. We’ll see whether the Broncos have to trade up to get Haskins, but he is the big, strong-armed, pocket quarterback that Elway craves.

11. Cincinnati Bengals

Needs: QB, WR, G, OT, DE, LB, S, CB

Projected pick: LB Devin Bush, Michigan

Comment: The Bengals have a ton of needs as they start over under new coach Zac Taylor. And they are a dark horse candidate to draft a quarterback, with the team’s progress seemingly stalled under Andy Dalton. But they need a linebacker after getting rid of Vontaze Burfict, and Bush makes a lot of sense as a speedy tackling machine.

12. Green Bay Packers

Needs: TE, G, RB, LB, S

Projected pick: G/T Cody Ford, Oklahoma

Comment: The draft board doesn’t quite fit the Packers’ needs here. The top two linebackers are gone, and this pick is a little too high for a running back, safety, or tight end Noah Fant. But every team can always use more offensive line help, and the Packers draft a versatile player in Ford, an unusual athlete for his size (329 pounds).

Advertisement



13. Miami Dolphins

Needs: QB, OT, G, TE, DE, DT, CB

Projected pick: DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson

Comment: The Dolphins are rebuilding, and could go in a million directions. They are a team to watch in case Kyler Murray drops, but I don’t think they’ll be in on the other quarterbacks. Finding a pass rusher is a must, with Cam Wake gone and Charles Harris struggling. Ferrell is a safe, consistent edge presence who can rush the passer or defend the run — perfect for Brian Flores’s new defense.

14. Atlanta Falcons

Needs: G, RB, CB, LB, DT

Projected pick: CB Greedy Williams, Louisiana State

Comment: The Falcons have to beef up their 25th-ranked scoring defense to match their top-10 offense. Defensive tackle is one need, and Clemson’s Christian Wilkins is an awfully tempting choice here. But the Falcons have a bigger need at cornerback. Dan Quinn loves those lanky, press-man cornerbacks, and Williams would be a solid fit in the Falcons’ scheme.

15. Washington Redskins

Needs: QB, WR, G/C, TE, CB, DT, S

Projected pick: QB Drew Lock, Missouri

Comment: Alex Smith probably is done playing football, so the Redskins need to find a new quarterback, even after trading for Case Keenum. They should be in on Murray, Haskins, and Josh Rosen, but ultimately will land on Lock, who has a strong arm and will be locked into a cost-effective four-year deal. Washington also loves making a splash with receivers in the first round, so Mississippi’s D.K. Metcalf feels like a possibility here.

Advertisement



16. Carolina Panthers

Needs: WR, G, TE, RB, DE, CB

Projected pick: DE Rashan Gary, Michigan

Comment: The Panthers are looking to add more weapons on offense to surround Cam Newton, and could use help in the secondary. But their pass rush has a big hole after losing Julius Peppers to retirement, and Gary is a great talent, dropping to 16 only because of a reported shoulder injury that could hamper him as a rookie but isn’t supposed to be a long-term issue.

17. New York Giants (from Cleveland)

Needs: QB, DE, DT, LB, CB

Projected pick: DE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State

Comment: Giants again bypass a quarterback, opting to improve their defense rather than finding someone to put the heat on Eli Manning. A recently reported heart issue led several teams to downgrade Sweat or even remove him from their boards completely, but the Giants need pass-rushing help, and they get a top-eight talent at No. 17.

18. Minnesota Vikings

Needs: G, TE, DE, S

Projected pick: TE Noah Fant, Iowa

Comment: The Vikings’ 19th-ranked scoring offense was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. They badly need interior offensive line help, but those players can be found in the middle rounds. The Vikings still have Kyle Rudolph at tight end, but he is nearing the end, and Fant is an elite athlete and receiver.

19. Tennessee Titans

Needs: TE, DT, edge rusher, LB

Projected pick: DE/OLB Brian Burns, Florida State

Comment: The Titans need to improve their offense, but that falls mostly on Marcus Mariota. They also need to improve their pass rush, even after signing Cam Wake in free agency, and Burns would be a solid fit. He’s not polished against the run yet, but has great speed and can be a situational pass rusher right away.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

Needs: WR, OT, TE, DE, LB, CB

Projected pick: CB Rock Ya-Sin, Temple

Comment: The Steelers need a replacement for wide receiver Antonio Brown, but they have a tremendous track record of finding talent in the second round and later in the draft. The defense needs more work at all three levels, and they go for the best defensive player available — in this case Ya-Sin, who had a great week at the Senior Bowl and could be one of the small-school gems of the draft.

21. Seattle Seahawks

Needs: G, DE, DT, LB, CB, S

Projected pick: CB Byron Murphy, Washington

Comment: The Seahawks desperately need a pass rusher after trading Frank Clark. And with two first-round picks in the 20s, they are a candidate to trade up and snag one. But in this draft, with all of the top pass rushers off the board, they fill another need at cornerback. Murphy has the size the Seahawks covet, and gets bonus points for being a local kid.

22. Baltimore Ravens

Needs: WR, RB, G, DL, edge rusher, LB, CB

Projected pick: DL Dre’Mont Jones, Ohio State

Comment: The Ravens are rebuilding their defense after letting their best linebacker (C.J. Mosley) and two top pass rushers (Za’Darius Smith, Terrell Suggs) leave in free agency. The Ravens probably would prefer a true edge rusher here, but Jones has the speed to be a great interior pass rusher and the size to be a force on the end in the run game.

23. Houston Texans

Needs: OT, G, TE, CB, DT

Projected pick: OT Andre Dillard, Washington State

Comment: The Texans have Deshaun Watson coming into his own as a superstar, and a veteran defense that has only one or two years left together. The one major hole is on the offensive line, and the Texans snag Dillard, perhaps the best pass blocker in the draft, to be a Day 1 starter at either tackle spot.

24. Oakland Raiders (from Chicago)

Needs: WR, TE, RB, DE, LB, CB

Projected pick: RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama

Comment: The Raiders have needs across the board, but one of their most glaring is at running back, with Marshawn Lynch retiring and no obvious fill-in candidate on the roster. Enter Jacobs, a three-down running back who averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year, caught 20 passes, and scored 14 touchdowns for the Tide.

25. Philadelphia Eagles

Needs: G, RB, DE, LB, CB, DT

Projected pick: DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson

Comment: The Eagles have a glaring hole at middle linebacker, but there isn’t a great candidate here, and they can still find a starter in the second or third round. Instead they draft Wilkins, a Framingham native, to replace Timmy Jernigan and be a disrupter in the middle of the defense.

26. Indianapolis Colts

Needs: G/T, WR, edge rusher, DT, CB

Projected pick: DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame

Comment: It’s tempting to mock a wide receiver here to give Andrew Luck another weapon. But the Colts’ biggest needs are on defense, especially cornerback and defensive line. They stay in-state to nab Tillery, who has the size and length to play inside or on the edge.

27. Oakland Raiders (from Dallas)

Needs: WR, TE, QB, RB, DE, LB, CB

Projected pick: WR D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi

Comment: Sure, the Raiders just spent big money on Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams in free agency. But they still need depth at receiver, and they race to the podium to draft Metcalf, a big, physical deep threat who was the talk of the Combine. This is one pick that Al Davis would have loved.

28. Los Angeles Chargers

Needs: OT, G, TE, DT, LB, CB, S

Projected pick: S Darnell Savage, Maryland

Comment: The Chargers are a dark horse for a quarterback — a drafted player or Josh Rosen — but here they stick to their most immediate need and go with Savage, who can replace departed free safety Jahleel Addae. Savage can play center field or slot cornerback. An offensive lineman is a possibility here, too.

29. Seattle Seahawks (from Kansas City)

Needs: G, DE, DT, LB, CB, S

Projected pick: DE Zach Allen, Boston College

Comment: This is probably a reach for Allen, who is more likely a second-round prospect. But the Seahawks don’t pick again until the third round (84th), and desperately need a defensive end to replace Frank Clark. Allen is big and physical and would be a good fit in Pete Carroll’s defense. The Seahawks need to swing some trades and collect more picks.

30. Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans)

Needs: WR, TE, G, RB, LB, S

Projected pick: WR N’Keal Harry

Comment: After shoring up the offensive line with the 12th pick, the Packers use their second first-rounder to get another weapon for Aaron Rodgers. Harry has great size (6-2, 228) and excels at back-shoulder throws, which just happens to be Rodgers’s specialty.

31. Los Angeles Rams

Needs: G, C, LB, CB, DT, DE

Projected pick: G/C Garrett Bradbury

Comment: The Rams could use defensive line help after letting Ndamukong Suh leave in free agency. But they also need to beef up that offensive line in front of Jared Goff, and Bradbury is an athletic guard/center who can start right away.

32. New England Patriots

Needs: WR, TE, OT, DE, LB, QB

Projected pick: DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State

Comment: Quarterback! Wide receiver! Tight end! Those are the picks that everyone is expecting from the Patriots. Which means, of course, that the Patriots will take a defensive tackle. It’s not the biggest need, but Simmons was a sure-fire first-rounder who will fall in the draft after tearing an ACL in February. A classic Bill Belichick pick.


Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin