The annual football ‘job fair’ is upon us. So Bing Predicts is weighing in on which pro teams the elite college football players might sign on with.
The Bing Predicts models use web and social data to algorithmically determine the most likely matches between players and team for a given position. This marks the second year we’ve predicted the football draft, and last year we were, on average, off by just one spot in the first nine selections.
First Round:
Bing predicts that, for the sixth time since 1993 and the second time in as many years, the top two picks will be quarterbacks. Our models predict that Cal’s Jared Goff will be the No. 1 pick and go to Los Angeles while North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz will be second on the board and head to Philadelphia. To demonstrate the value of these quarterbacks, both LA and Philadelphia traded up for the opportunity to select these two players. By going to Los Angeles, Goff would continue to reside in the state where he grew up and went to college.
The next five predictions, in order, are:
Jalen Ramsey (FS) to San Diego,
Joey Bosa (DE) to Dallas,
Myles Jack (OLB) to Jacksonville,
Laremy Tunsil (OT), once a rumored No. 1 overall before the Tennessee/Los Angeles trade, to Baltimore,
Deforest Buckner (DE), re-joining his former college coach, to San Francisco.
Picks by Position:
Besides Goff (QB), Tunsil (OT), Ramsey (FS), Bosa (DE), and Jack (OLB), who made our list of top seven picks, here are the top predicted players from other positions.
Kicker – Roberto Aguayo from Florida State is a hot commodity given the new kickoff and extra point rules, and thus should be, by a wide margin, the first kicker chosen
Running Back – Ezekiel Elliott from Ohio State
Cornerback – Vernon Hargreaves III from Florida
Wide Receiver – Laquon Treadwell from Ole Miss
Fullback – Glenn Gronkowski from Kansas State will become the fourth Gronkowski brother earning playing experience in the league
Tight end – Hunter Henry from Arkansas
Defensive Tackle – Sheldon Rankins from Louisville
Inside linebacker – Reggie Ragland from Alabama
Center – Ryan Kelly from Alabama
Offensive Guard – Cody Whitehair from Kansas State
Strong Safety – Vonn Bell from Ohio State
These are the projections at the time of publication. The caveat: Trades between now and the draft may change team picks, which may alter where certain position-players are selected. Visit Bing to see the most up-to-date predictions leading up to draft day.
- Walter Sun, Bing Predicts Team Lead