Just touching base with where I sit right now in terms of what I want in the first. Obviously this is a pre-season look with much change to come and this is going to be a little repetitious. There's not a bunch of new names.
My current favourites:
1. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
I just think he's plug and play for what I think is our joint biggest need looking ahead to next year. Throw in elite speed for the position too. There's little projection or guesswork with Brown. Just stick him at MIKE and the run defense will follow. A don't overthink it pick.
2. Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
It wasn't planned to have Clemson 1&2. Again, I think he's a like for like replacement for our biggest position of need. I picked out Hampton because he's pretty buzzy right now but Ellis Robinson, Zabien Brown or one of the other top corners could be in the running too. It'll come down to how they play and whether they declare.
3. KJ Bolden, Safety, Georgia
Don't let the fact that he's no 3 concern you. I would take any of this top 5 with equal glee and don't really have them ranked. Bolden could be the perfect compliment to Woodson, allowing Woodson to play closer to the LoS where he excels.
4. David Stone, A'Mauri Washington, Will Echoles, DT
So I love Echoles' game most, but I can see worthwhile arguments for the other two. for now, I have these three marginally ahead of the Miami duo. It's going to be fun to see how the DT position shakes out. Last year I got to focus on miami because of their two EDGEs. this year it'll be for the DTs.
5. Chris Cole, LB, Georgia
As with Bolden, Cole isn't really below the others on this list. I do think he has more to prove than the others in terms of floor, but arguably has the highest ceiling of the lot.
If I was drafting tomorrow, it would be from one of the above but if I was to look outside the box, I would be delighted with the below should they be considered BPA. They just don't share the same value/need worthiness of the above.
1. The two TEs, Johnson & Green.
2. The two WRs Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh. Luxury picks for sure but I can absolutely how they would benefit this team. both really excite me.
3. KVA. I have two doubts here. Firstly, is he a plug and play Mike? Secondly his injury issues. He needs a clean season fitness wise. Great linebacker though.
And we haven't had any pass rushers yet (aside from Cole).
