Now that free agency is over it’s time for my first and only mock draft of the year. To be clear this is NOT WHAT I WOULD DO but it’s what I think is most likely to happen on draft night. I make a two round go of the process and in round 1 I will give you more of a writeup and in round 2 it will be more succinct because, well I have a more than full time job that takes up a ton of my time and this is a hobby I don’t get paid for. Let me know what you think.
- Arizona Cardinals - QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
This is certainly not what I would do but he fits tremendously well in Kingsbury’s offense and was recruited by the new head coach coming out of high school. Murray is lightning quick with an impressive arm and has experience working in a very similar system. This opens up a lot of options for what will happen next with Josh Rosen.
2. San Francisco 49ers - Edge Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Everyone could say they could look to trade back but it’s not going to happen. Bosa is the clear cut best player in this draft class and the 49ers have a need for an edge rusher, this is just too easy of a pick. The front 7 in the Bay is going to be nasty in 2019 and beyond.
3. New York Jets - OLB Josh Allen, Kentucky
The scheme fit and need here are absolutely perfect and despite the Jets wanting to trade back with no second rounders this year due to last year’s move up to 3 to get Sam Darnold, they stay put and get a superstar. Allen is an elite pass rusher at a position the team desperately needs, simple move.
4. Oakland Raiders - DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama
The Raiders are atrocious at rushing the passer, and after filling the void at left tackle with the overpaid Trent Brown and at wide receiver with A.B. and Tyrell Williams, they fill the void with the best interior player in the draft. Williams is an absolute menace and while he’s not a traditional edge rusher, he provides more than enough as a pass rusher.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - MLB Devin White, LSU
I could easily see a team trading up ahead of the Giants right here for the rights to Dwayne Haskins but no one gives Tampa a good enough offer so they draft the Tiger star. White is an insanely fast and productive middle linebacker who will be an upgrade over the departed Kwon Alexander. The Bucs adding Shaq Barrett on a super team friendly deal made this move possible.
6. New York Giants - QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
In a move that should have been made last year, the Giants finally draft the future. Haskins can sit for a year while the Giants make a run at the first overall pick in 2020 and learn from Eli. Haskins needs a bit more seasoning and this gives the G-men a talented backfield duo with Haskins and Barkley to build on.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars - OT Jawaan Taylor, Florida
The Jags went out and got their quarterback with former super bowl MVP Nick Foles, now it’s time to protect him. They need better line play after they were decimated with injuries last year and Taylor has an immense upside as a right tackle. He’ll be an upgrade there no matter what and while they considered other positions, when you invest 88 million in a qb, you better keep him upright.
8. Detroit Lions - Edge Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
The Lions considered Hockenson here and wanted to take a bigger swing at wide receiver but adding Sweat and Trey Flowers in one offseason makes this pass rush absolutely nasty. Sweat’s ability to play 34 outside linebacker or 43 end makes his versatility perfect for Patricia’s scheme and while corner was certainly in play here too, pass rush helps coverage.
9. Buffalo Bills - OT Andre Dillard, Washington State
The Bills had a quietly sensational offseason, adding really quality pieces around Josh Allen, and they continue that here with the selection of Dillard. He’s a prototypical left tackle and gives the Bills a better chance to have Allen be successful.
10. Denver Broncos - QB Drew Lock, Missouri
Elway had to be lying when he said Flacco was entering his prime, the team needs to finally get the quarterback position right. Lock has an immensely high upside and his talent in a year or two could be among the top 8 in the league at the position. The Broncos helped out their secondary and they still have other needs but they draft the future with the 10th pick.
11. Cincinnati Bengals - LB Devin Bush, Michigan
The Bengals are desperate for help at linebacker, and frankly all over the place but they get a superstar in the Wolverine alum. Bush is crazy fast and can play all 3 downs in the league from the word go. He instantly makes that defense much better and closes the gap with Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and the upstart Browns.
12. Green Bay Packers - WR D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss
Oh how scary would this freaking be? Metcalf could easily go ahead of this because his ability is as maybe the highest ceiling in this entire draft, but he isn’t a refined player yet. Because of that he drops a bit in this mock and goes to the Packers and Aaron Rodgers in this iteration. He could end up a rookie pro-bowler if that happens.
13. Miami Dolphins - OT Cody Ford, Oklahoma
Ford is a massive beast at right tackle and at worst kicks inside to guard. The Dolphins elected to let Ja’wuan James walk creating a hole at right tackle and they fill it with the former Sooner. They obviously considered quarterback here but from all the buzz you here, it’s clear they are much more enamored with the 2020 class (as am I).
14. Atlanta Falcons - DT Ed Oliver, Houston
The Falcons are going to pair Ed Oliver with his clone Grady Jarrett for the best interior pass rushing duo in the NFL. Oliver and Jarrett will terrorize opposing offenses with their quickness and can create so many negative plays by doing so. This would be a fun pairing to watch.
TRADE: The Redskins trade pick 15 to Arizona for QB Josh Rosen
Rosen becomes the future for the Redskins after Alex Smith’s brutal injury. The Cardinals pick up a huge draft asset and everybody wins.
15. Arizona Cardinals - CB Greedy Williams, LSU
For the past three or four years Arizona has been trying to find a running mate for Patrick Peterson so they go back to the Bayou again for Williams. He’s 6’3 and is a true cover corner, it would give Arizona one of the better corner duos’ in the league.
16. Carolina Panthers - TE TJ Hockenson, Iowa
Hockenson seems to be everyone’s consensus top tight end in this class and the Panthers are in need of a future replacement for Olsen who can’t seem to stay healthy. They definitely thought about a stud edge rusher here but end up going with the Hawkeye.
17. New York Giants - WR Hollywood Brown, Oklahoma
The Giants keep going after skill position players adding the speedy Brown. The team needed to replenish the outside receiver spot and take the Sooner who runs sub 4.40 and can turn any play into a touchdown.
18. Minnesota Vikings - OL Jonah Williams, Alabama
He was once considered the obvious top linemen in the draft but a poor offseason had Williams falling to 18th. The Vikings will be thrilled as Williams could likely be solid to good at any of the 5 offensive line positions and would be an upgrade over almost anyone there. The Norsemen need an influx of talent along the line and they get on here with the All-American.
19. Tennessee Titans - DL Christian Wilkins, Clemson
This is a prime spot for a trade back for the Titans but instead they stand pat and get someone who can pair up next to star Jurrell Casey. Wilkins’ versatility is a huge plus for coach Mike Vrabel in that he can play 5 technique in an odd front or 1-7 technique in an even front. A chess piece for the former Patriots coordinator.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - OLB Brian Burns, Florida State
This came down to Burns or a corner and the team went with an edge rusher instead. Getting Steven Nelson certainly helped and it allowed them to address the pass rusher first before targeting a db or an inside linebacker they desperately need in the next couple of rounds. Burns freakish athleticism is huge and it keeps him off a division rival in Baltimore who could be looking for an outside rusher as well.
21. Seattle Seahawks - DE Rashan Gary, Michigan
The Seahawks get the unlikely faller in this year’s draft with the ultra talented Gary falling to 21. He never had much production at Michigan but the Hawks are confident they can figure it out with him to get him to the potential he had as the nations number one recruit. Pairing him with another Wolverine in Frank Clark could be terrifying.
22. Baltimore Ravens - DE/OLB Clellin Ferrell, Clemson
I don’t know if he can actually play outside linebacker but he fell too far and Baltimore desperately needs some pass rush help after losing T-Sizzle. Ferrell is one of the more NFL ready prospects in this class and he shows better movement skills than one might think. It’s a bit of a weird scheme fit but I think he’s more than capable.
23. Houston Texans - CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
The Texans aren’t thrilled with this but they need help at corner and left tackle badly and it looks like a serious reach to take a left tackle prospect here. While they need an upgrade at guard it seems rich there so they stick with the analytical darling in Baker. He’s not the speediest but he’s damn solid at a position of need.
24. Oakland Raiders - OG Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
Lindstrom is a super fast riser this year and Mike Mayock made a huge splash this offseaosn, now time to add some steak to all that sizzle. The Raiders traded a really good guard in Osemele and now they replace him with a super high floor interior blocker.
25. Philadelphia Eagles - RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama
This Eagles team is still fully in win now mode and they have a big hole at running back. While Jacobs isn’t the most refined player he’s super talented and is definitely an instant starter the second he walks in the door.
26. Indianapolis Colts - DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
Chris Ballard won 2018 and has been calculated and solid in 2019 so far with the exceptional signing of Justin Houston. The team still has major needs at wide receiver but the Funchess signing was low risk and now the team goes out and gets a stud 340 pound interior defender from Clemson. He’s a really good player who will cause problems in the division, good value here at 26.
27. Oakland Raiders - CB Byron Murphy, Washington
Honestly I have no idea what Oakland is going to do but they need a corner so I’m drafting one of the better ones here. They take an interior pass rusher, a guard, and a corner, and who the hell knows if I’m right.
28. LA Chargers - OT Dalton Risner, Kansas State
The team needs a right tackle desperately, and while they also need an interior defensive player, keeping Rivers upright should be a priority. Despite scoring a lot of points last year it was Rivers propensity for getting rid of the ball quickly and two stud running backs that did a lot of that work. Risner isn’t a perfect prospect but he’s solid and would help instantly.
29. Kansas City Chiefs - Edge Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
The Chiefs let go of two incredible pass rushers this year and are switching to a 43 defense. Ferguson isn’t the perfect fit there as he might be better in a 34 but KC has to get pressure on the QB and Ferguson is the all time D1 sack leader, it’s a match made in necessary heaven.
30. Green Bay Packers - G/C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
The Packers need help on the interior of their line and I know they went out and paid a bunch for a backup linemen this year but McCoy is a crazy fast riser in this process. The fastest linemen in the draft he can play guard or center and provides an upgrade inside. Rodgers won’t be mobile forever.
31. L.A. Rams - C Garrett Bradbury, NC State
He should go higher than this but for whatever reason he slips to 31. The Rams are ecstatic in the fact they get the best center in the draft and one of the more solid ones toward the end of round 1. With a lack of depth they could look to trade back but this pick was too simple for them.
32. New England Patriots - TE Noah Fant, Iowa
A second Hawkeye tight end goes to replace Gronk. Fant isn’t a good blocker yet but he has time to develop, he is a freak athlete who can run and jump and provide a tremendous option in the passing game to TB12. Fant’s speed and leaping ability will make him a match-up problem that I’m sure Belichek, Brady, and McDaniels will exploit.
ROUND 2
33. Arizona Cardinals - OT Tytus Howard, Alabama State
34. Indianapolis Colts - WR AJ Brown, Ole Miss
35. Oakland Raiders - DE Chase Winovich, Michigan
36. San Francisco 49ers - WR Parris Campbell, Ohio State
37. New York Giants - DE Jachai Polite, Florida
38. Jacksonville Jaguars - TE Irv Smith, Alabama
39. Tampa Bay Bucaneers - OLB Oshane Ximenes, Old Dominion
40. Buffalo Bills - DT Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
41. Denver Broncos - WR Terry McLaurin, Ohio State
42. Cincinnati Bengals - OT Kaleb McGary, Washington
43. Detroit Lions - CB Roc Ya-Sin, Temple
44. Green Bay Packers - RB David Montgomery, Iowa State
45. Atlanta Falcons - CB Lonnie Johnson, Kentucky
46. Washington Redskins - WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
47. Carolina Panthers - DE Zach Allen, Boston College
48. Miami Dolphins - DT Jonathan Simmons, Mississippi State
49. Cleveland Browns - S Nasir Adderly, Delaware
50. Minnesota Vikings - OT Greg Little, Ole Miss
51. Tennessee Titans - WR N’Keal Harry, Arizona State
52. Pittsburgh Steelers - LB Mack Wilson, Alabama
53. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Trayvon Mullen, Clemson
54. Houston Texans - OT Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia
55. Houston Texans - RB Miles Sanders, Penn State
56. New England Patriots - DE/DT Dre’mont Jones, Ohio State
57. Philadelphia Eagles - DE Joe Jackson, Miami
58. Dallas Cowboys - DE LJ Collier, TCU
59. Indianapolis Colts - S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
60. LA Chargers - DT Gerald Willis, Miami
61. KC Chiefs - S Taylor Rapp, Washington
62. New Orleans Saints - WR JJ Arecga-Whiteside, Stanford
63. KC Chiefs - CB Justin Layne, Michigan State
64. New England Patriots - DB Juan Thornhill, Virginia
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