If only the FCS was drafted this year

Apr 4, 2016 - 5:59 PM (STATS) - With Carson Wentz and Noah Spence considered first-round talent for the upcoming NFL Draft, there's a growing sense of normalcy to that scenario as opposed to an FCS player not being chosen in the top round since 2008.

Imagine if NFL teams could only select players from FCS schools.

Then here is what you would see in the first round on April 28:

1. Cleveland Browns (trade from Tennessee): Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State - Kevin Costner calls in to suggest the trade in case the Browns didn't see "Draft Day." To move up all of one spot, but mainly to prevent another QB-starved team from trading for the top pick, the Browns surrender running back Isaiah Crowell (Alabama State) and the first pick in the second round. They land a franchise quarterback who knows a little something about winning.

2. Tennessee Titans (trade from Cleveland): Noah Spence, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky - The Titans are hardly settling in the trade, getting the draft's best pass rusher for their 3-4 scheme.

3. San Diego Chargers: Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah - He avoided weight training until college, yet Killebrew is one of the hardest hitters in the draft.

4. Dallas Cowboys: Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana - Everybody's talking about how the teams picking in the top 10 seek quarterbacks, but plenty want cover corners as well. Jerry Jones is happy to be first in line.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State - Jags coach Gus Bradley, the NDSU grad, hands a jersey to Haeg and then asks if he can try on one of his national championship rings. There's plenty to spare, of course.

6. Baltimore Ravens: DeAndre Houston-Carson, FS, William & Mary - The Ravens, always big on drafting from the FCS, ranked last in the NFL in interceptions last season. "DHC" has a nose for the ball.

7. San Francisco 49ers: Cole Toner, OT, Harvard - Chip Kelly argues that Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams' background at Eastern Washington makes him eligible for the draft, but the NFL turns down the request. Getting a Harvard man is surely a smart move, and Kelly delights in preventing his former team, which picks next, from filling one of the needs he left behind.

8. Philadelphia Eagles: Victor Ochi, DE/OLB, Stony Brook - The Eagles seek to bolster their pass rush. Stony Brook's first-ever draft choice vacations in opposing backfields.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Deiondre' Hall, CB/FS, Northern Iowa - Hall expresses relief he will play the Saints and Falcons twice this year instead of North Dakota State.

10. New Orleans Saints (trade from New York Giants): Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State - The Saints trade up two spots into the top 10, feeling Hargrave is too good of a player to be available. The cost is former Chattanooga star Davis Tull, an outside linebacker who was on injured reserve last season.

11. Chicago Bears: James Cowser, DE, Southern Utah - Looking to improve their subpar pass rush, the Bears get a player who set FCS career records for sacks and tackles for loss.

12. New York Giants (trade from New Orleans): Paul McRoberts, WR, Southeast Missouri State - Opinions differ on McRoberts, but to get him and Tull from the trade is a pretty good haul. With McRoberts in the fold, Odell Beckham Jr. will need to do some serious trash talking on the basketball court.

13. Miami Dolphins: James Bradberry, CB, Samford - In retrospect, it was probably unfair that Samford used to have both Bradberry and safety Jaquiski Tartt - the 49ers' second-round pick last year - in the same secondary.

14. Oakland Raiders: LeShaun Sims, CB, Southern Utah - The Southern Utah trifecta is complete with Sims joining Killebrew and Cowser in the top half of the first round.

15. Los Angeles Rams: Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard - Speaking of trios, there are some draftable FCS tight ends still on the board. It's down to two after the Braunecker selection.

16. Detroit Lions: Luke Rhodes, ILB, William & Mary - A four-year starter at William & Mary, Rhodes saved some of his best performances for the Tribe's games against FBS competition.

17. Atlanta Falcons: Don Cherry, ILB, Villanova - Cherry, runner-up for national defensive player of the year in 2014, has been the forgotten man in the buildup to the draft. But the Falcons know about inside linebackers from CAA Football considering the success of Delaware's Paul Worrilow.

18. Indianapolis Colts: Josh Woodrum, QB, Liberty - Quarterback is not considered a position of need - until one considers how much Andrew Luck takes a beating.

19. Buffalo Bills: Nick Ritcher, OL, Richmond - Here's the feel-good story of the day: Ritcher's father, Jim, played 14 years on the Bills' offensive line (1980-93), going to four straight Super Bowls.

20. New York Jets: Temarrick Hemingway, TE, South Carolina State - Just as his teammate Hargrave did in the top 10, Hemingway probably should not have lasted this long among the top 20 picks.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (trade from Washington): Jamaal Jones, WR, Montana - With the teams in front of them also in need of a wide receiver, the Bengals move up three spots to grab Jones from Montana's NFL-rich program. The Bengals surrender former Southern Illinois linebacker Jayson DiManche to the Redskins.

22. Houston Texans: Tyrone Holmes, DE/OLB, Montana - Drafting from Montana also sounds like a good idea to the Texans. They grab the 2015 STATS FCS defensive player of the year.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Torian White, OL, Hampton - The Vikings have needs on their offensive line. They just have to decide which one the versatile White will fill.

24. Washington Redskins (trade from Cincinnati): Devaunte Sigler, DT, Jacksonville State - While injuries plagued him during his senior season, Sigler was the Ohio Valley Conference's defensive player of the year in 2014.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan Smith, CB, North Carolina Central - The Steelers want Smith to fill some holes in their pass coverage, but he also set N.C. Central's all-time record with 168 solo tackles - which isn't common for a cornerback.

26. Seattle Seahawks: Makinton Dorleant, CB, Northern Iowa - There was a lot of talent on UNI's defense last season. Dorleant was one not to miss.

27. Green Bay Packers: Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State - The Packers always seem to be looking for quality tight ends. They get one in the one-time Miami Hurricane.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Myke Tavarres, OLB, Incarnate Word - Tavarres was at FBS, JUCO and FCS schools. The NFL is next.

29. Arizona Cardinals: Lac Edwards, P, Sam Houston State - The Cardinals got by last season despite some subpar punting. Enter Edwards as a problem solver.

30. Carolina Panthers: Marshaun Coprich, RB, Illinois State - It's hard to ignore Coprich's 4,241 yards and 50 touchdowns on the ground - as well as a whopping 691 carries - over his two seasons earning Missouri Valley offensive player of the year honors.

31. Denver Broncos: Clay DeBord, OT, Eastern Washington - Quarterback has been the most visible position of need with the Super Bowl champs, but the new starter will appreciate another big body up front.

The New England Patriots are without a first-round pick due to Deflategate. Tennessee, you're on the clock for Round 2.