Okay, so maybe it wasn’t as good as we thought it’d start. Maybe they could have shown more Tyrion being Tyrion. More Mother of Dragons. Less Eliara Sand. And waaaayyyy less aged Melisandre. Did you really have to show us all of that Benioff and Weiss?
Well, at least we got a awesome surprise with Lady Brienne coming to the rescue of Sansa Stark and Theon. And a boring King Doran finally exiting the show. Finally.
Anyway, it’s good to have Thrones back. You know what else it’s good to have back… FOOTBALL! Part me always Ned Stark dies immediately after the season ends. You hate to see it go. The time between each season feels like centuries.
So yes, football’s back. Even if for only a short while. So in honor of it’s presence, I’m jam packing this mock draft with some of my favorite Thrones quotes. Onto the show…
1. Los Angeles Rams select Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
A Lannister always pays his debts.
The most memorable line of the series goes to the Rams. They had to sacrifice all those picks for a franchise quarterback. But not just anyway quarterback, the best quarterback available. Yes, Wentz is the number one quarterback in this year’s draft. And yes he is going number one. You don’t just move up to snare a “more NFL ready” Jared Goff. That’s insane.
2. Philadelphia Eagles select Jared Goff
When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.
For Philly’s new general manager Howie Roseman its HUGE gamble for the second best quarterback, who’s more likely to be a bust than a star. Why didn’t the Eagles just trade to a spot in front of the 49ers? Everyone knows the Chargers, Cowboys, Jaguars, AND Ravens weren’t drafting a quarterback.
Here’s what the Browns get:
2016 1st, 3rd, and 4th
2017 1st
2018 4th
Eagles get:
2017 4th … wait, that’s it? Oh wait, and a Sam Bradford trade request!
3. San Diego Chargers select Jalen Ramsey
I wish I was the monster you think I am.
This year’s feast-or-famine prospect, Jalen Ramsey. Viewed a secondary “monster” by everyone, who shot up the draft board even more after his HUGE combine performance, is throwing everyone off his scent. He isn’t the gamer Ed Reed displayed on tape coming out of Miami, or even the lockdown corner Darrell Revis showed in Pittsburgh. Draft Ramsey at your own risk.
4. Dallas Cowboys select DeForest Buckner
Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again.
For Jerry Jones. The Cowboys owner/general manager, and sideline cheerleader. Seated nicely in a fantastic slot, and probably chaotic one too, to trade back for more picks, or solid seasoned vets, or choose from the cream of the crop. Here’s a couple of interesting choices:
A. Draft Buckner or Myles Jack or Bosa
B. Trade back and get A’Shawn Robinson with more picks and/or solid vets
C. Trade all the way back and draft Laquon Treadwell, with picks and/or a solid vet
It has to be choice B right? He’ll get his two starting defensive ends in week 5, after a not so difficult four game season start. And he can shore up any weak roster spots with a veteran. Just know he most likely wont get to try again in this super lucky spot again.
Also, he just signed Alfred Morris and has a 1,000 yard back in McFadden. Why would he Draft Ezekiel Elliott? It makes no sense.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars select Myles Jack
Kill the boy and let the man be born.
Finally there’s hope in Jacksonville. Byron Leftwich wasn’t the answer. Blaine Gabbert never was. Mark Brunell provided only small sparks. David Garrard topped out at good, but never great. But with Blake Bortles maybe there’s a chance. Years of being an adolescent/boy-ish franchise are now maybe over. Finally.
6. Baltimore Ravens select Laremy Tunsil
Go on, do your duty.
Because what else is General Manager Ozzie Newsome suppose to do. He has a $100 million Super Bowl quarterback to protect.
7. San Francisco 49ers select Vernon Hargreaves III
I prayed to the Gods take him away, make him die.
How pissed/annoyed are 49ers fans right now? As soon as Philly climbed the board, they knew what they were taking. To matters worse, their failed attempt to trade Kaepernick, who doesn’t want to be there, only increases 49ers fans hatred for the Eagles.
8. Cleveland Browns select Joey Bosa
I learned how to die a long time ago.
For Browns fans, picking Bosa might be great, but unless they’re drafting someone of Andrew Luck’s caliber, I’m not sure anything can get their hopes up.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Ronnie Stanley
The things I do for love.
Is there any other position, besides offensive line, for their promising quarterback Jameis Winston that Tampa Bay should draft?
10. New York Giants select Reggie Ragland
There are no men like me. There’s only me.
For Reggie Ragland, the only middle linebacker worthy of being selected in the first round this year, one of a kind.
11. Chicago Bears select Shaq Lawson
Winter is coming!
It was another long cold December and empty January in Chicago for Bears fans. There’s isn’t one move that’ll fix this team right away. On bright side, it’s a move in the right direction.
12. New Orleans Saints select A’Shawn Robinson
I am Daenerys Stormborn and I will take what is mine, with fire and blood.
This year’s most devastating defensive prospect is A’Shawn. Is there anything more terrifying than lining up across from him and telling yourself, “Do I really have to block that?”
13. Miami Dolphins select Ezekiel Elliot
You know nothing Jon Snow.
For anyone drafting Ezekiel Elliot in the first round, especially this high. You know one team will, even if it isn’t the Dolphins (who should’ve just re-signed Lamar Miller). We’ve learned good running backs can be discovered in later rounds (DeMarco Murray 3rd round), and if you’re even a tiny bit unsure you’re not grabbing a home run back you shouldn’t draft them in the first. The latest example is Melvin Gordon, and Chargers fans are still sulking. We do know Elliot isn’t that home run back like Adrian Peterson and Todd Gurley. He’s good, but not 1st round great.
14. Oakland Raiders select MacKenzie Alexander
Power resides where men believe it resides.
To this year’s self promoting most self assured prospect. At this stage I wouldn’t pass on Alexander. I want a corner who has the guts to declare himself great. You have to have that confidence if you’re going to succeed in the league, especially after facing receivers who are 6’2” plus and run 4.5 40 yard dashes.
15. Tennessee Titans select Jack Conklin
Every flight begins with a fall.
The Mariota Era began in spectacular fashion (4 touchdowns, 158.3 quarterback rating) only to crash and burn back to reality. If Tennessee is to see him prosper they’re going to have to protect him.
16. Detroit Lions select Laquon Treadwell
I swear to you sitting a throne is a thousand times harder than winning one.
Back to square one for Detroit after two years removed from possessing the number one defense and a near division round playoff appearance. It was bad enough with Suh’s departure, but the surprising retirement of Megatron definitely assured that.
17. Atlanta Falcons select Jonathan Bullard
You can’t hammer tin into iron, no matter how hard you beat it, but that doesn’t mean it’s useless.
Remember the Falcons sprinting to a 5-0 start? Sure it was a neat surprise, but all the discipline in the world can’t overcome injuries and a definite lack of talent in the NFL.
18. Indianapolis Colts select Taylor Decker
I’ve much liked my head. I don’t want to see it removed just yet.
After an off-season in which he was almost fired, Ryan Grigson finally does what he should have done from the start; draft an offensive lineman to protect his star quarterback.
19. Buffalo Bills select Leonard Floyd
Ser Barristan loves his honor, Grand Maester Pycelle loves his office, and Littlefinger loves Littlefinger.
Rex Ryan loves Rex Ryan, and Rex Ryan loves defense. There is no way he passes on adding a tough defender to the Bills.
20. New York Jets select Kevin Dodd
Have you seen the wall?
I’m fat, not blind.
To Todd Bowles and the rest of the Jets organization; with Darrell Revis losing a step, and Antonio Cromatie now long gone, the defensive pressure needs to be strengthened to compensate for a lack of coverage. Bowles isn’t blind to this. The Jets were successful because of their suffocating defense.
TIME TO SPEED THIS UP…
21. Washington Redskins select Darron Lee
22. Houston Texans select Will Fuller
23. Minnesota Vikings select Josh Doctson
24. Cincinnati Bengals select Ryan Kelly
25. Pittsburgh Steelers select Kendall Fuller
26. Seattle Seahawks select Robert Nkemdiche
27. Green Bay Packers select Vernon Butler
28. Kansas City Chiefs select Eli Apple
29. Arizona Cardinals select Noah Spence
30. Carolina Panthers select Jason Spriggs
31. Denver Broncos select Emmanuel Ogbah
*All quotes from Game of Thrones
