Pete’s Mock Draft: Picks one through five

Peter Holland Jr./ Staff Writer

As much as NFL season is exciting and people can’t wait until September comes, nothing is more exciting and intense than the NFL off-season.  My favorite event of the off-season is the NFL Draft. The NFL Draft feels like a three day Christmas, just waiting for the NFL teams to announced who are they drafting out of college and NFL fans will react uncontrollably on what the team got as if it was a Christmas president.

The NFL Draft is less than two months away and draft analysts like Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay and Mike Mayock have their mock drafts, projecting who should this team pick just according to their position needs. I will be making my mock draft every week, and here is my first with picks one through five.

1. Tennessee Titans (2-14) Laremy Tunsil Offensive Tackle Ole Miss 6’5 315

The Titans hold the number one overall pick and they need as much help they can get. They have their quarterback in Marcus Mariota, who they drafted last year with the number two overall pick. Unfortunately, the Titans failed to protect Mariota last season as he’s been sacked 38 times, which is ranked 10th in the NFL. Here comes Tunsil, a massive behemoth who only gave up two sacks in his college career. His size and quick footwork as a pass blocker could be the answer for the Titans.

2. Cleveland Browns (3-13) Carson Wentz Quarterback North Dakota State 6’5 223

It’s no secret that that once again, for two decades, the Browns have yet to find their franchise QB. I’m not a huge fan of drafting a player from a sub-division school as high as the first round, or even in the top five. However, Wentz is not an ordinary sub-division QB. He’s basically the perfect prototype of an NFL quarterback in this day of age. He has size, a strong arm with excellent accuracy. Even at 6’5 223, he’s also very mobile and can make plays outside the pocket. The Browns can’t let this opportunity go to the waste, what do they have to lose?

3. San Diego Chargers Jalen Ramsey Defensive Back Florida State 6’1 209

Ramsey could arguably be the best all-around football player in this year’s draft class. The only question evaluators have been asking ever since he declared was where to put him in the secondary. Is he a cornerback or a free safety? To me he has the skills of a cornerback but the size of a safety. The Chargers need a playmaker on defense, especially in the secondary since long time starting free safety Eric Weddle decided to walk away and test the free agent market. If Ramsey is available at number three, look for the Chargers to get on top of that.

4. Dallas Cowboys (4-12) Joey Bosa Defensive End Ohio State 6’6 276

There are some questions in regarding to Bosa with his immaturity and what defensive scheme fits him as an edge rusher. With the Cowboys already decided that they won’t be looking for a quarterback to developed for whatever happens to Tony Romo. Cowboys has also decided not resign troubled defensive end Greg Hardy. Not to mention pass rusher Randy Gregory, who they drafted last year will be suspended for the first four games due to breaking substance abuse policy. Having Bosa will be a huge boost for the Cowboys defense because he’s a dominant force at defensive end. His upper body strength to penetrate and wear down offensive linemen to get to the quarterback is sensational and could impact the Cowboy’s front four.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) Vernon Hargreaves III Cornerback University of Florida 5’11 192

The Jags, just like the Chargers, need more playmakers on the defensive side. Hargreaves could be the answer. With his size and his ability to read the QB’s eyes is what the Jaguars need for their defense. As all SEC cornerback, he has experience going one on one against big time receivers, such as Amari Cooper, former All-American wide receiver from University of Alabama now rookie sensation for the Oakland Raiders. Vernon is a day one starter, who is not intimated with the completion of the NFL.