With two weeks to go before the NFL holds its annual draft, the rumors and smokescreens are running rampant.
Player so-and-so is slipping because of this or that. Player X is rising on the boards because of something else. It's all hearsay and guessing at this point as NFL teams typically play things pretty close to the vest.
But we all have guesses on how this thing will go when it kicks off April 25.
Here's mine:
- Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma -- The Cardinals seem intent on starting over again at quarterback despite taking Josh Rosen in the first round in 2018.
- San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State -- The 49ers are solid at defensive tackle. They could use an edge rusher.
- New York Jets: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky -- The Jets have improved their offense this offseason. Now, they need to get someone to rush the passer.
- Oakland Raiders: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama -- Jon Gruden's Buccaneers teams were built around Warren Sapp. Williams has that kind of talent.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White, LB, LSU -- Bruce Arians starts the Steelers heartbreak again.
- New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State -- Haskins is one of those players whose stock is said to be slipping. I don't believe it.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida -- The Jaguars invested in Nick Foles at quarterback. Now, they need to protect him.
- Detroit Lions: Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State -- With Ziggy Ansah still unsigned, the Lions could use a pass rushing threat.
- Buffalo Bills: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State -- Dillard might be the best pure pass blocker in this draft.
- Denver Broncos: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston -- The Broncos have edge rushers. What they don't have is someone to push the middle.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan -- The Bengals could go offensive line here. And tight end T.J. Hockenson is tempting. But so is Bush.
- Green Bay Packers: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa -- Green Bay's receiving corps gets a big boost.
- Miami Dolphins: Brian Burns, OLB, Florida State -- The Dolphins will pass on a quarterback this year because they're playing the long game, hoping to stink enough this season to get a shot at a top QB next year.
- Atlanta Falcons: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson -- The Falcons need an interior presence on their defensive line.
- Washington Redskins: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri -- Alex Smith might never play again and Case Keenum is just a placeholder.
- Carolina Panthers: Clelin Farrell, EDGE, Clemson -- When the now-retired Julius Peppers was your best pass rusher, you need pass-rushing help.
- New York Giants: Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama -- Williams can line up pretty much anywhere but center.
- Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford, OL, Oklahoma -- Like Williams, Ford could play either guard spot or at RT. And the Vikings need help all along the line.
- Tennessee Titans: Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan -- I don't love Gary as a player. He's more of an athlete than a football player right now. But he's a heck of an athlete.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington -- Tight end Noah Fant is tempting. So is a safety such as Nasir Adderley. But Murphy is young (21) and talented. He's not a speedster, but neither was Joe Haden. Murphy is technically sound and will likely find playing time in the slot. The Steelers get their pick of corners in this draft, instead of settling for the fifth- 0r sixth-best guy. Chris Carter takes a more detailed look at the cornerbacks in this draft in this week's Carter's Classroom
- Seattle Seahawks: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU -- Williams is a pure man-to-man corner. He's not much of a tackler, but his size and speed are intriguing.
- Baltimore Ravens: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Mississippi -- Metcalf is big and fast. But he turns like a battleship. Still, the size-speed combination is exciting for an offense that needs a deep threat.
- Houston Texans: Garrett Bradbury, C, North Carolina State -- The Texans need offensive line help in the worst way and get the best center available.
- Oakland Raiders: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa -- The Raiders could use the speedy Fant to keep the middle open when teams double Antonio Brown.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware -- The Eagles pluck a much-needed safety out of their backyard.
- Indianapolis Colts: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma -- The Colts pair T.Y. Hilton with the equally speedy Brown.
- Oakland Raiders: Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State -- Simmons would have been a top-10 pick if not for a torn ACL suffered working out in February. The Raiders can afford to take a chance on him with their third first round pick.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson -- A run-stuffing tackle is just what the Chargers need.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Rock Ya Sin, CB, Temple -- Ya Sin is a big, physical corner with raw skills. The Chiefs could use all the help they can get on the back end.
- Green Bay Packers: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida -- The Packers added strong safety Adrian Amos in free agency. They remake their secondary with a true free safety.
- Los Angeles Rams: Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame -- Tillery has some off-field issues and his motor doesn't always run hot. But when it does (witness a four-sack game against Stanford), he can be dominant.
- New England Patriots: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke -- Tom Brady wants to play until he's 45. That's great, but the Patriots need to find someone to groom behind him who isn't 33-year-old Brian Hoyer.
Other Steelers picks:
52. Pittsburgh Steelers: Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State -- Campbell is an intriguing size-speed combination who excels with the ball in his hands.
66. Pittsburgh Steelers: Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia -- Thornhill has the range to be a true free safety. He also has good ball skills as his six interceptions and seven pass breakups last season would suggest.
83. Pittsburgh Steelers: Germaine Pratt, LB, North Carolina State -- Pratt is a former safety who had 104 tackles and six sacks last season while still learning the position. He also had four career interceptions for the Wolfpack.
122. Pittsburgh Steelers: Foster Moreau, TE, LSU -- Mostly used as a blocker for the Tigers, Moreau surprised with 4.66 speed at the Combine to go along with a 36.5-inch vertical leap.
141. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M: At 5-foot-8, 206 pounds, Williams is built like a fire hydrant. But he's a patient runner who catches the ball well out of the backfield.
175. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordan Brailford, EDGE, Oklahoma State -- Brailford is a nice developmental pass rusher who has good size and speed.
192. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontavious Russell, DL, Auburn -- Russell could be a nice rotational player who can play the nose. Perhaps he pushes Daniel McCullers off the roster.
207. Pittsburgh Steelers: Gary Johnson, LB, Texas -- Johnson is undersized but fast. He's also very aggressive. He could be a special teams demon.
219. Pittsburgh Steelers: Gary Jennings, WR, West Virginia: Jennings has excellent size and speed. If he develops well, he could be a nice No. 4 or 5 receiver down the road, one capable of contributing on special teams, which is what you're looking for in Round 7.