One Player each AFC Team Should Draft

We are within TWO WEEKS of the NFL draft, one that is sure to shake up the league and answer questions we have been waiting for for months. This is the first of 2 articles, NFC and AFC, and one player each team should draft. By this, I could mean in any round, just a player that would fit nicely on their roster and schemes. For example, we all know the Jags are taking Trevor Lawrence so he won't be the player in this article for them and etc.

Tennessee Titans: Elijah Moore, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss // Moore is a player that the Titans cannot miss out on. They will be in great position to snag him in the early 20s with their first round selection and he would be a huge pickup for the team. With Corey Davis out the door to New York (Jets), the Titans are in desperate need of another WR for Ryan Tannehill to work with other than AJ Brown. Brown is so good but he can't be all they have. Insert Moore who is one of the fastest players in the entire draft. Moore isn't only fast, he has other great receiving qualities about him and would fit in on the Titans offense seamlessly.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Pat Friermuth, Tight End, Penn State // We know the Jags are going Trevor Lawrence at 1 so another player we think they should draft is Friermuth out of Penn State. Kyle Pitts is far and away the best pass catching tight end in the draft, but from a do it all standpoint, Friermuth takes the cake. He can catch well and run routes well but he is also an exceptional blocker from the TE spot. At 6'5, he is a massive target to add to the offense and give Trevor Lawrence an outstanding option to look for under pressure. This is one of my favorite fits of the draft.

Houston Texans: Kellen Mond, Quarterback, Texas A&M // One of three teams to not own a first round pick, the Texans still have a ton of great talent to look for in the later rounds, and Mond should be high on their list of priorities. Mond is one of the most exciting prospects in this draft. A second round or so talent, Mond was an amazing player and leader at A&M and has some exceptional traits that you see in pro bowl QBs in the NFL. With Deshaun Watson's future so murky in Houston (and the NFL at all) right now, the Texans need a backup plan, and Mond can be more than that. Coached up correctly, I strongly believe Mond can be a star in this league, and Houston should really target him.

Indianapolis Colts: Teven Jenkins, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State // While there were some receivers I think would make a lot of sense for Indy, tackle is just a bigger need and so I think Jenkins is the guy this team needs to take. A hot rising name on draft boards right now, Jenkins has the look of a stud NFL offensive tackle. Carson Wentz needs his protection and Jenkins is a mauler who has passion dominating on the line. 

New York Jets: Greg Newsome II, Cornerback, Northwestern // Zach Wilson is going to be the pick at 2, but with their additional first from the Jamal Adams trade, the Jets need to snag Greg Newsome II. The Jets have improved a ton of holes in their roster this off-season to this point and after drafting Wilson at 2, corner will be their biggest need by far. Newsome is gaining a lot of hype right now as he has great size for a corner, is fast, and plays good coverage. Robert Saleh will love having him on his defense.

Buffalo Bills: Javonte Williams, Running Back, North Carolina // The Bills are in an interesting spot. They have such a great roster with few holes, but one that could be addressed is the RB position. The Bills basically abandoned the run game later in the season and it worked, but balance is needed for continued success so snagging Williams would be a huge pickup for them. Williams who reminds me a lot of Nick Chubb, would fit so well within this offense and the team and city would embrace his tackle breaking, bruising, style of play.

Miami Dolphins: Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Florida // The Dolphins are almost surely going to be taking a pass catcher at some point in the early rounds of this draft and specifically their 6th overall selection. I think they need to grab Pitts opposed to another top catcher like Ja'Marr Chase or Devonta Smith. Pitts is a match-up nightmare as we already know and can exploit so many weaknesses on a defense. With DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, and Will Fuller already in the fold at WR, taking a mismatch tight end makes all the sense in the world to add to what they already have. 

New England Patriots: Justin Fields, Quarterback, Ohio State // The Pats can only get their hands on Fields if the Niners decide to pass up on him at 3 for Trey Lance or Mac Jones. That being said, it is very possible that happens and if it does, the Pats need to do whatever it takes to land Fields. A dual-threat stud, Fields would be a perfect fit in NE. He can learn behind one of the greatest mobile QBs in NFL history in Cam Newton for a year and then be ready to lead the next era of Patriots football. It also helps that he would have Bill Belichick around to help his development. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Brady Christensen, Offensive Tackle, BYU // Whether it's with their first round pick or a little bit later pick, the Chiefs should find a way to add Brady Christensen to their football team. Protecting Patrick Mahomes is clearly what the Chiefs are looking to do after this off-season following an embarrassing super bowl loss where Mahomes had no time to throw at all. Christensen is one of the most athletic guys in this draft. He may have some work to do skill wise as an overall protector on the line, but the athleticism he possesses is second to almost anyone. If there is any team that would be able to turn a somewhat raw player into a stud, it would be Andy Reid and the Chiefs.

Los Angeles Chargers: Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, South Carolina // The Chargers will have a lot of holes they want to fill heading into this draft, but a player I think they need to make sure they end up with is Jaycee Horn. One of the most fun players to watch from this class, Horn is a physical corner who gets in your face and talks trash which he backs up with his stellar coverage. Not only are the Chargers in need of a CB1, but they need a guy who will captivate the locker room along with Justin Herbert and help give this defense an identity. If they feel they need to move up a few picks to secure Horn, I think they must do it. O-line can wait til the later rounds.

Denver Broncos: Trey Lance, Quarterback, North Dakota State // With John Elway in charge in Denver, he has to make a move up to secure Lance in this draft. Since Peyton Manning, Elway has had no success finding his successor at the QB position. Drew Lock doesn't look like he is going to be much so I think to save his job and hopefully the future of this club, the Broncos must go with Lance. He is raw and needs good coaching, but I think Lance has a great chance of being a future NFL star.

Las Vegas Raiders: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Guard/Tackle, USC // After one of the worst off-seasons of any team in the league, the Raiders will look to the draft to rebound. Their offensive line has been completely overhauled and the team is going to need a ton of starters for next season. Vera-Tucker from USC has to be this teams top target. He is unlikely to slide to them at 17 so they may have to move up, but it would be well worth it. AVT showed he can play super well at any spot on the O-line and so he could be plugged in wherever they need right away.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Wyatt Davis, Guard/Center, Ohio State // Whether they get him in round 1 or 2, Davis to the Steelers is a great fit. With the retirement of long-time anchor of their O-line Maurkice Pouncey, the Steelers will look to fill his role right away. Davis is capable of doing so. He has super strong tape from his time at Ohio State and can be a day 1 starter. If they can snag him in round 2, what a pick it would be.

Baltimore Ravens: Terrace Marshall Jr., Wide Receiver, LSU // A pick I have mocked since day 1 of the off-season, Marshall to the Ravens is one of my favorite fits in this draft. The Ravens did add Sammy Watkins, but that is definitely not enough to aid a terrible receiving core that Baltimore carries over from last season. Pairing Watkins and Marquise Brown with Marshall though, is enough. Marshall is 6'4 but boasts elite speed. Lamar Jackson will be able to lob the ball up to him. I really really love this fit and it has to happen. Baltimore maybe should trade ahead of Tennessee to ensure it does.

Cleveland Browns: D'Wayne Eskridge, Wide Receiver, Western Michigan // Definitely not their first round pick, but Eskridge in rounds 2+ would be a home run for Cleveland. With a super team assembled, Cleveland cannot afford to keep relying on Rashard Higgins to continue to be their 3rd WR and make clutch catches. Adding Eskridge to a OBJ/Jarvis Landry WR core would be dangerous. He has amazing hands, runs beautiful routes, and is super tough. He would fit right into the slot in Cleveland's offense and make the team even richer.

Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle, Oregon // The Ja'Marr Chase to Cinncy rumors have really gained some hype lately, and while he would be such a great add to the offense, the Bengals need Sewell more. Picking O-line isn't the flashiest and so Chase seems like the better pick to some, but the Bengals need to protect Joe Burrow more than anything. Burrow had such a promising rookie year before tearing his ACL. Sewell is one of the best tackle prospects we have seen in years and the team needs to take him at 5 over the likes of Ja'Marr Chase.