JEFF ALLEN: CHARGERS, DALLAS and ELLIOT CONTROL THE DRAFT
The waiting is over and the NFL draft is tonight. It’s generally given that quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz will go
1-2 in the draft. Both the Rams and Eagles have traded up at prohibitive prices to get these spots so going any in any other
direction would seem rather pointless. Picks 3-10 are pretty much a crap shoot. We basically know who the players will be
but team preference and the ever present lurkers looking to move and grab that one “must” have player is always a possibility.
After the top ten, the dominos will pretty fall into place with each team drafting for need or the best available player on the
board. This is the Jeff Allen Sports take on the first hour of the draft.
On the board ….
1- The Los Angeles Rams: (Jered Goff, QB, Cal): no secret here. The Rams are moving to a new home and need to make a
splash after foundering in St. Louis the past five years. Fisher has cleared house, especially on a highly thought of defense.
That could be a good thing … for Jeff who was unquestionably on the hot seat but who has probably bought himself another
3-5 year with his SoCal connections and his possibly misguided reputation for developing quarterbacks like Steve McNair.
2- The Philadelphia Eagles: (Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State): Philly is on the hook for $20 million in cap space this
year on Sam Bradford and Chase Daniels alone. This move, in our eyes, is a preemptive strike to keep Wentz from going to
Dallas two picks later. Wentz will undoubtedly have two years to learn. Forget trading Bradford with his awful two year deal.
Daniels might be highly sought after of the two in any case.
This is where it gets interesting …
3- The San Diego Chargers (Offensive Tackle): The Bolts will almost certainly go offensive line hoping to keep Philip Rivers
as upright as possible for the next three years. San Diego has put out rumors about a thirst for DB Jalen Ramsey but this is
thought to be a ploy to pick up extra picks by trading down as the players they cover most …. Yunsil, Stanley or Conklin will still
be available several spots down the board.
4- The Dallas Cowboys: (Ezekial Elliot, RB, Ohio State): The Cowboys are in a bind in that they have several need and the best
player on their draft board is reportedly Ramsey. It should unfold like this. Jacksonville also desperately wants Ramsey and is
reportedly in talks with San Diego to move up. If the Jags get this done, Dallas could take Elliot in that it makes a ton of sense
with their great offensive line and would also prevent the Giants from possible picking him up at No.10 or better if Big Blue
decides to try and move up.
5- The Jacksonville Jaguars: Will either move up to grab Ramsey or go defensive line with Joey Bosa from Ohio State or
Deforest Buckner from Oregon. If Ramsey is gone, Jacksonville could also move down if the right deal comes down the line.
6- The Baltimore Ravens: This is the easiest call on the board as the Ravens will go offensive line, Tunsil if available or Ronnie
Stanley out of Notre Dame.
7- The San Francisco 49ers: A lot will depend on whether or not San Francisco can get a deal done to move Colin Kaepernick.
They are reported to be close. If the 49ers stay put, they’ll go best player available from whoever is left at the offensive or defensive
line.
8- The Cleveland Browns: Moving down from two was a great move as this team just has no talent at all on either side of the ball.
QB Paxton Lynch will be there if the Browns already feel that RG III is not the answer. Vernon Hargreaves, a corner from Florida,
has been assciated with Cleveland for weeks and in many respected mock drafts.
9- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Should Joey Bosa fall this far, he’ll probably be playing at Raymond James Stadium this fall. Other
players linked to the Buccs are Hargreaves, Stanley and Leonard Floyd … a big offensive lineman out of Georgia.
10- The New York Giants: The Giants biggest need is offensive line but they will not pass on Elliot if he is available and as we’ve
stated previously. A 20-30 carry back that gets stronger as a game progresses will only make the “bad Eli” a “better Eli” and also
open up the throwing lanes for Beckham and Cruz. The G-Men spent nearly $40 million dollars to improve their defense. They could
further improve their stop unit by building an offense with can run clock and sustain drives. New York would have taken Doug Martin
years ago but Tampa Bay beat them to him by moving to the first round slot above New York. Elliot is a special back and the Giants
won’t be caught napping again.