21. Cincinnati Bengals: DT Malcolm Brown, Texas
The Bengals still have a decent situation at defensive tackle with the duo of Peko and Atkins. However, Peko is getting older and slower, and it may be time for the Bengals to start looking for a long term answer at their second defensive tackle position. For Cincinnati to continue their dominance at the point of attack on the defensive side of the ball, they need a stout run stopper with the ability to dissect plays before they even start. Malcolm Brown can provide the AFC North contender in that way. This is also just a nice value pick here, as Brown is likely the best player available at this point in the draft. Brown possesses great footwork and uses his hands to disrupt ball carriers from the second they get handed the football. He also owns a great size and length for an ever-growing standard of defensive line in today’s league.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest
The Steelers happened to finish 27th in the NFL in passing defense, and although some of that has to do with their rather pedestrian pass rush from a season ago, the Steelers front office has not grabbed a talented cornerback in quite some time. At 6-0 and 188 pounds, Johnson has great size for the position and can use his lean, nimble frame to keep up with even the fastest wide receivers. He will definitely have to hit the weight room once he joins a franchise, as he needs to add strength to a small build. This will allow him to quickly rise up the Steelers cornerback depth chart and play with some of the best pass catchers in the NFL.
23. Detroit Lions: OT Erick Flowers, Miami (FL)
The Lions could elect to look for an interior defensive lineman here after losing Suh and Fairley to free agency, however with all the guaranteed studs off the board like Shelton, Brown and Goldman, the Lions will have to address another need here. They could reach for someone like Arik Armstead from Oregon, but he may not be the greatest pick here, unless the Lions choose to trade back a few picks. In my opinion, Detroit can look at two offensive tackles with this pick, in Erick Flowers of Miami or D. J. Humphries of Florida. Humphries fits better at left tackle, and the Lions really only need a right tackle in this situation; so the decision goes to Flowers. At 6-6 329 pounds, the Miami product has the prototypical frame for a successful right bookend in the NFL. Although a recent knee injury that recovered a year ago may scare a few teams off, there is no denying Flowers overall talent and upside. He can outmuscle even the best defensive ends, and can open up running lanes with ease.
24. Arizona Cardinals: RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
Todd Gurley may have more upside than Gordon, but considering the former Badger’s insane production in his junior season at Wisconsin, and the scary knee injury Gurley suffered during midseason of the 2014 college football year, the choice goes to Gordon. His 2,587 yards led all of college football, and he also scored 29 times. The knock that everyone is using on the former Heisman finalist is that he hasn’t displayed an ability to catch the football out of the backfield. He countered that point with 19 receptions for 153 yards and three scores. Also, the Badgers were a run-first offense, almost to a fault, and rarely passed the ball, therefore they never really gave Gordon a chance to showcase any of his pass protection ability either. Gordon’s adept vision and acceleration in space immediately gives an offense ultimate firepower to equip. The Cardinals’ offense was lacking any firepower once they lost both Carson Palmer and Andre Ellington to injury, and Gordon has show great durability throughout his short, promising football career.
25. Carolina Panthers: OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
Clemmings’ length, athleticism and upside are the only three reasons that a franchise like the Carolina Panthers should grab the big, burly lineman here. With former All-Pro and Panther stalwart Jordan Gross a year removed from his retiring from the NFL, the Panthers’ depth along the offensive line has become very thin, especially at the offensive tackle spot. Clemmings can use his wide and lengthy arms to cut off any square away edge rushers trying to break at the quarterback. Clemmings will need some serious time to develop, and may not be able to be a full-time starter in his rookie campaign, at least not at the level in which he could reach in the coming years. Without a lot of experience playing football, the Pittsburgh product will certainly go through growing pains as he translates his game to the highest level of play, but his upside is too much to pass up here, especially for a talent-hungry team like Carolina.
26. Baltimore Ravens: DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA
Although Odighizuwa doesn’t possess a lot of pure brute strength, he has the power and speed off the edge that every NFL franchise covets in this day and age of passing, passing, and more passing. At 6-3 and 267 pounds, the UCLA product has the size to disrupt the running game without giving up speed. He is able to step into running lanes quickly and open up teammates to make plays with his motor and drive to get better. After losing Haloti Ngata to Detroit, and suffering through an aging defensive front, it is time for the great drafting front office in Baltimore to turn the page and grab a guy like Odighizuwa, who fits rather nicely in the Raven’s 3-4 defensive scheme.
27. Dallas Cowboys: DT Arik Armstead, Oregon
The Cowboys draft a less than glamorous prospect here, although one that can take the Cowboys front seven to a whole new level in the coming seasons. Arik Armstead stands at a monstrous 6-7 and weighs 292 pounds. He certainly will have to hit the weight room once he enters the NFL, but he can use his raw power and decent footwork to play with the body he has now. He is a natural block-shedder with great pass rushing potential, something the Cowboys desperately need and crave in the middle of their defense. With Henry Melton leaving after a year out with an injury, this pick also checks off a major need for a still-developing Cowboys defense. A cornerback, running back, or even a wide out might be tempting here, but those positions have nice depth in this class.
28. Denver Broncos: TE Maxx Williams, Minnesota
Julius Thomas just left Mile High City for greener pastures in sunny Florida, and the Broncos have a blistering need at tight end, especially for Peyton Manning, who is not getting any younger. Usually franchises can wait until at least Day 2 to grab an on-line receiver, but this year’s class may only have one tight end that can start and produce from opening day. At 6-4 and 249 pounds, Williams has ideal size for the position and has the soft hands that new head coach Gary Kubiak covets, as his offense revolves around tight end production. Williams also showed nice quickness, and although his 4.78 40 time is not super speed in the fast NFL, not many other tight ends were faster than the former Golden Gopher. Some have compared Williams to Jason Witten, which is quite accurate, and also awesome company for the young pass catcher.
29. Indianapolis Colts: OLB Eli Harold, Virginia
The Colts could go in many different directions with this selection, however, they cannot go wrong with adding another pass rushing presence on the edge. Eli Harold has been one of the most underrated prospects since he declared he was leaving the Wahoos early for the NFL, and has been rising up boards ever since that decision. With a 4.60 40 yard dash time at the combine, you know this player brings an incredible amount of speed, but he also doesn’t sacrifice his power and strength for that quality. He is a great tackler in space, and has long powerful strides right as the snap is released. I would not blame the Colts for improving their front seven with this pick, and as long as they beef up Harold while holding on to his top-notch speed, the former Virginia standout could be a great NFL player.
30. Green Bay Packers: CB P. J. Williams, Florida State
P.J. Williams brings a Charles Tillman-like impact to any defense that he is a part of. At 6-0 and 194 pounds, he also possesses decent size and great tackling ability at cornerback. The Packers are currently scrambling for outside corner help, as they watched Davon House and long-time member of the Packers Tramon Williams walk away from the freezing northern plains of Wisconsin. With the likes of Kevin Johnson, Trae Waynes and Marcus Peters gone at this point in the draft, the talent and upside is starting to thin out at the position. The Packers already have a lockdown corner in Sam Shields on the outside, however he can only cover one receiver at a time. Casey Hayward is an absolute ball hawk and has played outside a little bit, although he is much better suited in the slot and in dime packages. Williams has smooth coverage skills and great instincts, valued traits for every professional cornerback in the league.
31. New Orleans Saints (via Seattle): WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
After trading two of Drew Brees’ top targets in do-it-all tight end Jimmy Graham and deep threat wide receiver Kenny Stills, it may be the right time to grab the aging Brees a young, tall red zone target on the outside. Green-Beckham has had many issues off the field, however, his talent and ceiling-less upside cannot be argued. If the Saints are already starting to rebuild, and have already grabbed a versatile pass-rushing threat in Dupree, they cannot go wrong with the former Number 1 overall high school recruit. At 6-5 and 237 pounds, Green-Beckham reminds me a bit of Dez Bryant with his ability to make near-impossible catches over defenders and threatening the middle of the field with his undervalued speed in open space.
32. New England Patriots: C Cameron Erving, Florida State
After moving from offensive tackle to the center position, Erving tore up his opponents at the college level. He has light feet and solid footwork for his 6-5, 313 pound body. He plays lighter than he is and is a great run blocker, especially in space. He plays with great leverage and pad level, and uses his hands to latch on and hold on when handling big, burly defensive tackles in pass-rushing situations. Bryan Stork was a rookie at center last season for the Patriots, and even though he played well, he might be better suited at guard. If New England likes Stork where he is, they can use Erving’s versatility to side him around the line as needed.
*Section Photo credit to Ronald Martinez, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Associated Press.