NFL Mock Draft: Full 1st round action
By Ben Almquist
19. Buffalo Bills: Sheldon Rankins – DT – Louisville
Why?: Rex Ryan loves to dominate up front, and he gets a player who can do that in Rankins. The Bills lost a lot of talent from their DL group in free agency, and the players they still have may be too expensive to keep in the future. Rankins can play DT or DE in Ryan’s defense, and he’s an ideal pickup for them here.
Outside pass rusher: The draft board hasn’t fallen quite the way the Bills want for their edge rusher. Noah Spence is still on the board, but there are some question marks with him both on and off the field. That might not bother Rex Ryan, but GM Doug Whaley may prevail as the cooler head, especially with Rankins still on the board.
20. New York Jets: Mackensie Alexander – CB – Clemson
Why?: Antonio Cromartie is gone and Dee Milliner has not lived up to expectations. A lot of people are talking about the lack of interceptions, but Alexander is a legitimate shutdown corner. There will be a lot of frustrated QBs making very bad decisions against the Jets with Alexander and Revis on the outside.
Alexander not a fit?: The Jets may be thinking the same as some analysts are now and back off of Alexander. If that is the case, Eli Apple (CB – Ohio State) is still sitting there for them and would be just as solid of a pick. Regardless, this pick really should be spent in the secondary to try and build a defense that doesn’t put a lot of pressure on the offense to put up points.
Next: 21-22