Mel Kiper Jr., Football analyst 9y

Kiper's 'Grade: A' mock draft

NFL, NFL Draft, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins

In this one, I'm the general manager ... for every team. This isn't me projecting picks, this is me making them, for three full rounds, based on what's best for each team at that slot. Thus the "A" grade. (I know, I know.)

Please read the ground rules:

1. At each slot, I make a pick in the best interest of only the team with the pick. I won't pass on a player at No. 4 just because I like the team better at No. 5.

2. No trades unless they're already done. I note team needs, and I try to address them, but like the draft, value can supersede need.

3. Again: I'm not projecting. It's more a look at where I see value up and down the board.

As with previous years', there's a team-by-team look below, as well as a pick-by-pick version so you can see how the order of the picks progressed and get an idea of who was off the board when each team selected.

Picks in order, Rounds 1-3


Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Top needs: QB, DE, OT, WR

Round 1 (1) QB Jameis Winston, Florida St.
Round 2 (34) OT D.J. Humphries, Florida
Round 3 (65) DE Mario Edwards, Florida St.

Analysis: There's no debate in my war room about the No. 1 pick. It's not just because I think Winston is more NFL-ready than any other QB in the draft, and thus it serves me as GM to take him and perhaps help my own job security; it's about talent, and I'm willing to bet on Winston's here. We make this pick and start planning with the goal of Winston as our Week 1 starter. I think we have the weapons to help him succeed early. We also have a clear need for a tackle, and I'm happy to see Humphries available at No. 34, though I would have taken Jake Fisher ahead of him (the Titans grabbed him at No. 33). Humphries could push to start at right tackle. Edwards isn't a great pass-rusher, but I think he's really tough to move in the run game and is a pretty good value at No. 65. My reasoning for having WR as a need is that that depth chart looks much different if either Vincent Jackson (now 32 years old) or Mike Evans is on the shelf for any period of time.

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