2019 NFL Mock Draft 3.0 (it’s long)

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2019 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

This is my last mock draft before the big event coming on Thursday night.  It’s lying season in the NFL so don’t believe anything you hear.  There are a few things I think could be true.  Dwayne Haskins may fall a bit if the Giants have really decided he’s not their guy.  I still think he’s the best QB in this draft but he could end up somewhere between picks 10-15 instead of in the top 7.  I still think Kyler Murray goes number 1 overall and I still disagree with it.  Arizona only has until the draft to trade Josh Rosen or they lose all leverage and won’t get anywhere near his value for him.  They already waited too long as teams like Denver and Washington traded for veterans, that doesn’t take them out of the discussion but it means they aren’t as likely to pony up valuable assets.  If Arizona GM Steve Keim ends up with both Murray and Rosen on the Cardinals roster after the draft he should be fired on the spot, that’s dereliction of duty.  I went a little bit crazy and just kept going so this is a THREE round mock draft so if you make it to the end…congrats, that’s real dedication.

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (3-13): Kyler Murray           QB                       Oklahoma

This pairing has been beaten to death over the last several months as everyone assumes Kliff Kingsbury is enamored with Murray’s fit in his offense.  The bump in the road here is the presence of Josh Rosen.  Rosen is no slouch and he could certainly run Kingsbury’s offense.  He may not be the athlete Murray is but Rosen is a highly accurate passer and the timing and rhythm of Kingsbury’s offense needs pinpoint accuracy.  Murray is a talent but I wonder about his long-term viability given his size and penchant for scrambling.  Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury will be staking their NFL careers on whichever QB they decide to go with, I would bet on Rosen, they probably won’t.

  1. San Francisco 49ers (4-12): Nick Bosa            DE                        Ohio St.

Teams that go 4-12 clearly can use help all over but the 49ers got some help offensively in free agency (RB Tevin Coleman, WR Jordan Matthews) and they are hoping to get more help with the return of QB Jimmy Garoppolo and RB Jerick McKinnon.  That means they can focus on defense in the draft.  It just so happens this draft is stacked on defense and with the Cardinals going Murray first overall the 49ers get their pick.  Taking Nick Bosa, the top overall prospect in the draft, seems like a solid strategy.  It just so happens he would fit right in opposite newly acquired Dee Ford and allow the team to slide Solomon Thomas inside and leave him there.  Bosa would complete a really good defensive front four of himself, Thomas, DeForest Buckner and Dee Ford.  That’s a front you can build on.

  1. New York Jets (4-12): Quinnen Williams           DT                        Alabama

This one will truly be a pick’em between Williams and Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen.  The difference here I think comes down to the defense new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will want to run.  He’s always been more of a 4-3 defense kind of guy and that defense would also suit their best defenders DL Leonard Williams and newly signed MLB CJ Mosley.  Quinnen Williams would pair inside with Leonard Williams at DT and provide protection of Mosley.  Also, the 4-3 alignment would probably benefit LB Darron Lee, that’s an added bonus.  Quinnen Williams is an absolute beast and he’ll make the entire defense better.

  1. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Josh Allen            DE/OLB               Kentucky

Jon Gruden claims it’s hard to find good pass rushers, here’s one, don’t pass on him.  Allen returned to school last year and really improved his stock and he’s the best pass rusher not named Nick Bosa.  Allen is actually more than a pass rusher so he would be a fantastic addition to the Raiders defense that needs playmakers.  This pick should be an easy decision for Mike Mayock the new GM of the Raiders with Murray and Bosa at 1 and 2 the Raiders simply take whichever guy (Allen or Quinnen Williams) that the Jets pass on.  If for some reason the Cardinals pass on Kyler Murray it would be a very Gruden move to take Murray even though he already has Derek Carr.

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11): Montez Sweat           OLB/DE               Mississippi St.

The Buccaneers defense is undergoing some changes with the coaching change to Bruce Arians as he brought in his former defensive coordinator from Arizona Todd Bowles.  Bowles prefers a 3-4 alignment and they need edge rushers for that defense.  Sweat will be perfect for that job as he is a bit of a tweener and has elite athleticism and can really bend the edge from the OLB spot.  While a lot of mock drafts have the team taking Devin White to replace Kwon Alexander the team signed Deone Buchanan, a guy Arians and Bowles turned into an ILB in Arizona.  The only pass rushing OLB they have is newly signed Shaquil Barrett unless they think they can turn Jason Pierre-Paul into one…btw, they can’t.  Their secondary is suspect and they could really use some new blood but getting a better pass rush is another way to improve your secondary’s performance.

  1. New York Giants (5-11): Rashan Gary          DL                        Michigan

This is the first time I’m going away from the Giants drafting Dwayne Haskins.  Either Dave Gettleman is pulling off the greatest misinformation campaign ever or the Giants really don’t see Haskins as their guy.  There are rumors they prefer Daniel Jones from Duke and if that’s the case they can use the #17 pick they got in the Beckham deal from Cleveland to land him.  Gettleman likes to draft lineman and this team needs help on both lines.  Gary is a fantastic athlete that simply didn’t produce much at Michigan but teams think they can get more out of him.  He’s a bit of a tweener, not really a DT and not really a DE but defensive coordinator James Bettcher runs a 3-4 defense so he will find a place to use Gary.  This pick will be exceptionally unpopular with Giants fans but Gettleman won’t care.  The Jones pick later will be even more unpopular.

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Jawaan Taylor           OT                        Florida

Jacksonville seems poised to try to ride the running game of Leonard Fournette and using the run/pass option with Nick Foles to set it up.  That offense will go a lot farther if they upgrade the front line.  They are pretty solid at the other four positions but RT is a problem.  Taylor still has some maturing to do but he can step right in at RT and be a huge upgrade over holdover Will Richardson and free agent Cedric Ogbuehi.  Taylor is a mammoth human being and while he’s a little raw his talent will overcome.  If the Jags can keep Fournette healthy and on the field and they get LT Cam Robinson back healthy the offense will be much improved with Foles running things instead of Blake Bortles messing everything up.  Foles doesn’t have to be great he just has to not be Bortles level bad.

  1. Detroit Lions (6-10): Jonah Williams            OT                        Alabama

The Lions addressed a number of their major needs in free agency with DE Trey Flowers, CBs Justin Coleman and Rashaan Melvin, WR Danny Amendola and TE Jesse James.  They even recently signed RB CJ Anderson as insurance for the sometimes injured Kerryon Johnson.  One issue they didn’t address was the right side of their offensive line.  RT Ricky Wagner is nothing special and RG Kenny Wiggins is just a placeholder.  Some people think Jonah Williams will slide inside to guard in the NFL but I think he would be just fine at RT.  Either way he could be a starter and an upgrade to the Lions offensive line.  This team could go for a pass rusher if Montez Sweat or Rashan Gary slide this far but if not, I think upgrading the offensive line would be a solid move for Matt Patricia’s team.

  1. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Ed Oliver           DT                        Houston

The Bills seriously upgraded the WR corps with John Brown, Cole Beasley and Andre Roberts, they also added C Mitch Morse, OG Quinton Spain and OT Ty Nsekhe to the offensive line.  While they could use some more help in the secondary the one guy they will miss the most is retired DT Kyle Williams.  He was a mainstay on their line and they are lucky that a guy as talented and disruptive as Ed Oliver is still available here at #9.  Oliver is an undersized DT but he’ll spend a lot of time in their opponent’s backfield and blowup a lot of plays for the Bills defense.  This team will have to seriously consider a TE like TJ Hockenson or Noah Fant to help out their second-year QB Josh Allen but Oliver has too much value still sitting here ninth overall.

  1. Denver Broncos (6-10): Devin White            LB                         LSU

I’m still fairly certain John Elway is gun shy about taking a QB in the first round, he hasn’t been good at drafting them which is why he traded for Joe Flacco.  New head coach Vic Fangio is a defensive whiz and in Chicago last year he had rookie LB Roquan Smith, a multifaceted LB.  Denver’s 3-4 defense has two hardnosed thumpers in the middle in Todd Davis and Josey Jewell, neither of whom is great as a coverage LB.  White has elite speed and athleticism and would offer a different dimension.  There is a pretty good chance I have White going too low as he could go as high as #5 overall to Tampa Bay.  If he falls here, I think Elway gets Fangio a new ILB for his defense.

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10): Dwayne Haskins           QB                       Ohio St.

The Bengals haven’t been a team talked about when it comes to taking a QB but if Haskins falls, I think it makes things interesting for them.  New head coach Zac Taylor has no allegiance to Andy Dalton and it may be time for the team to move on from Dalton, Haskins gives them a reason to do so.  Haskins is a pocket passer who would look quite good in Taylor’s offense.  Taking an Ohio St. QB to take over in Cincinnati isn’t a bad thing either, it’s not like Bengals fans are enamored with Dalton at this point so with a new coach it might be time to completely turn the page.  I think Haskins is the best QB in this draft and while the Bengals may have more pressing needs, this would be a solid reboot for the franchise.

  1. Green Bay Packers (6-9-1): TJ Hockenson          TE                        Iowa

The Packers passing attack has undergone some changes the last few seasons with the loss of Jordy Nelson last year and now Randall Cobb this year and the emergence of Devante Adams as the top WR.  Jimmy Graham was brought in to add some playmaking from the TE spot but he’s not the player he used to be.  New head coach Matt LaFleur was hired to update the offense and adding a TE with the all-around skills of Hockenson would be a solid start.  With Cobb gone Aaron Rodgers can use a middle of the field weapon to open things up outside for Adams and Hockenson brings the added benefit of being an outstanding blocker.  Hockenson can be the type of TE we see in the NFL with guys like Zack Ertz in Philadelphia, Travis Kelce in Kansas City and George Kittle in San Francisco.

  1. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Brian Burns            DE                        Florida St.

The Dolphins signed Ryan Fitzpatrick to be their QB this season so that they will be bad enough to get a high pick next year so they can draft their QB of the future in a draft that will have better QBs than this one.  They need help on the offensive and defensive lines so this is a solid draft to address those needs.  With Cameron Wake moving on to Tennessee and then trading Robert Quinn to Dallas it leaves them with the very underwhelming Charles Harris as their best pass rusher.  Burns is a freak off the edge and while he isn’t the biggest guy, he can get to the QB.  The Dolphins are taking the long view on rebuilding so grabbing a pass rusher who may need a little time to fully develop is a sound strategy.  An offensive lineman like Cody Ford or Andre Dillard is possible but there is depth at O-line they can take later.

  1. Atlanta Falcons (7-9): Cody Ford           OL                        Oklahoma

The Falcons offensive line needs some help.  They signed two offensive guards in the off season and neither one is all that great.  They also need help at RT where they have Ty Sambrailo penciled in at the moment.  Ford could fill any of those three needs.  He has the potential to be Pro Bowl caliber player at OG while he could also excel as at RT.  The Falcons need help on the defensive line as well and they could take Christian Wilkins or Dexter Lawrence to line up at DT next to Grady Jarrett.  However, I think they know they need to get better up front on offense to help Matt Ryan in the passing game and improve the running game.  Ford is a versatile piece that will help them put their five best offensive linemen on the field when they line up opening weekend.

  1. Washington Redskins (7-9): Drew Lock           QB                       Missouri

The Redskins wait patiently and are rewarded with a QB falling to them.  This team traded for Case Keenum to fill the void left by Alex Smith’s gruesome leg injury last season but it’s time to get the future of the franchise now.  Lock is capable of fitting into Jay Gruden’s offense but having Keenum around means he will have to earn it.  If he’s not ready they don’t have to rush him and while this team may act like they believe Alex Smith will eventually return I would have my doubts.  Lock is a big, strong-armed guy who can make all the throws.  He hasn’t always been consistent but you can see an NFL caliber player when watching him.

  1. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Clelin Ferrell           DE                        Clemson

The Panthers defense is predicated on getting pass rush from the front four and with the retirement of Julius Peppers the team is in dire need of an outside edge rusher.  Ferrell is the best one left on the board and he’s a very good choice.  He isn’t the stoutest DE and he needs some work against the run but he’ll add the pass rush the team needs with his quick first step.  The team could use some help on the offensive line but they seem to be convinced Taylor Moton can handle the LT spot.  The secondary still needs some work and a safety to pair with Eric Reid wouldn’t be a bad choice.  Ferrell is likely the last of the top pass rushers on the board so getting him is good value.

  1. New York Giants (from Cleveland): Daniel Jones               QB                       Duke

The rumors are that the Giants aren’t enamored with Dwayne Haskins and actually prefer Daniel Jones at QB.  If that’s true this would work out well for them even though it’s a bit of a reach to take Jones here.  They have this luxury since this is their second 1st round pick.  This is the pick they got from Cleveland for Odell Beckham so the pressure will be one Jones.  Not only will he be the guy replacing a two-time Super Bowl winning QB but he’s the guy they got for Odell Beckham (there’s more to the trade but this is how it will play).  Jones is a solid prospect who received excellent coaching in college from David Cutcliffe but he seems like just a guy to me.  I like Haskins and Lock better and if you made me pick, I would probably take Ryan Finley over him too.  I really don’t think Jones is that much better of a prospect than Will Grier.  The truth is teams fall in love with certain QBs and they can’t be talked out of it, something tells me this pick is going to be comparable to the Vikings when they took Christian Ponder.

  1. Minnesota Vikings (8-7-1): Dalton Risner           OL                        Kansas St.

The Vikings are pretty set at the skill positions on offense and their defense is solid too.  However, the offensive line leaves a lot to be desired.  They need help at both guard positions and they could upgrade at RT.  Risner would give them options at all three spots.  Many think he will slide inside and play guard but he can be a pretty solid RT in the NFL.  Risner could legitimately play all five offensive line positions as needed, he played C for a time at Kansas St.  His versatility makes him valuable and he would upgrade any of the three positions the Vikings need and he could be Pat Elflein’s backup in the pivot too.  I think he wins the RT job and solidifies a trouble spot for the team.

  1. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Noah Fant           TE                        Iowa

The Titans signed Adam Humphries to play slot receiver and Roger Saffold to solidify their offensive line.  They made these moves because they have to see if Marcus Mariota is really their franchise QB or if they need to move on after this season.  One of the things that hurt Mariota last season was Delanie Walker’s injury at TE.  Mariota has always relied on Walker and when he went down Jonnu Smith simply didn’t step up.  Drafting Fant would give the Titans offense a dynamic athlete and pass catcher over the middle and provide Mariota with the safety valve he needs.  Walker is 35 years old and coming off a major injury, they simply can’t rely on him.  If Mariota can up his game with all the talent around him; WRs Corey Davis, Tajee Sharpe and Humphries, RB Derrick Henry and TE Fant, then the Titans will likely stick with him.  If not, it’s time to move on and next year’s QB draft class could provide a new face of the franchise.

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6-1): Devin Bush           ILB                       Michigan

The Steelers haven’t adequately replaced Ryan Shazier since his injury from a few years ago and the inside of their defense has suffered.  Bush has a similar profile as a smaller, athletic LB who hits like a truck and runs exceptionally well.  The team signed Mark Barron this off season but both Jon Bostic and Vince Williams could use replacing at ILB and Bush is simply too good to pass up if he falls this far.  The team could look to find help at CB with Greedy Williams or Byron Murphy but Bush just seems like a better fit.

  1. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): Christian Wilkins           DT                       Clemson

Wilkins isn’t the flashy penetrator Quinnen Williams is and he isn’t in the athletically gifted category like Rashan Gary but he’s a steady as they come.  He can play all over the line if needed and he will look really good lining up inside next to Jarran Reed for the foreseeable future.  The Seahawks have DE Frank Clark on a franchise tag and they need to sign Reed next year so they need some affordable bodies on the d-line.  Wilkins brings immediate help and cost certainty.  He isn’t an edge rusher but can play some end on running downs but he’ll earn his paycheck inside and be a steady force keeping MLB Bobby Wagner clean.

  1. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): DK Metcalf           WR                      Ole Miss

The Ravens suffered plenty of losses in free agency over this off season; OLBs Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith, S Eric Weddle, LB CJ Mosley, and WRs Michael Crabtree and John Brown.  They could look to replace Suggs and Smith at OLB but there isn’t great value left at this point unless you like Jaylon Ferguson a lot.  No WRs have gone here and they desperately need to find at least one outside receiver for Lamar Jackson to throw to this year.  DK Metcalf is a physical freak with incredible speed and he’s built like Mr. Olympia.  He isn’t he smoothest WR but he would offer Jackson a dynamic downfield threat and a wide catch radius.  The Ravens would have their pick here so they could take Marquise Brown, AJ Brown, N’Keal Harry or any other WR they want, Metcalf is just my choice here.

  1. Houston Texans (11-5): Andre Dillard           OT                       Washington St.

The Texans’ offense can be dynamic but it would help if they stop giving up over 60 sacks like they did last season.  The offensive line is pretty bad and they need help almost everywhere.  LT would be a good place to start and Dillard is the best pass blocking OT in this draft.  He can step in on day one and that would allow the team to not rely on free agent Matt Kalil to have to step in because he’s never been anyone’s answer at LT.  Julie’n Davenport can compete at RT or inside at guard and offer a better alternative there or just be depth, another thing they haven’t had on the line.

  1. Oakland Raiders (from Chicago): Greedy Williams           CB                        LSU

The Raiders have done a lot of their offensive upgrades this off season through free agency.  They brought in LT Trent Brown, WR Antonio Brown, WR Tyrell Williams, WR JJ Nelson and RB Isaiah Crowell while the defense only got LB Brandon Marshall, LB Vontaze Burfict and S Lamarcus Joyner.  The defense needs more help and Josh Allen was a nice start but getting the best CB in this draft at #24 overall is a pretty nice gift too.  Williams is a long, athletic corner who doesn’t tackle much but he can cover.  The team has Gareon Conley and Nick Nelson listed as starters and Williams can take Nelson’s job, he’s that good.  The Raiders are stockpiling talent at this point and if they start this draft off with Allen and Williams, they are doing things right.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7): Jeffrey Simmons           DT                       Mississippi St.

The Eagles should be looking for a LT who can eventually replace Jason Peters, probably sooner rather than later but there isn’t one here.  This team also needs a LB but with Devin White and Devin Bush off the board it would be a reach here.  The Eagles could go CB but this feels like a best player available kind of pick.  Simmons injured himself during his draft prep and is unlikely to be ready to open the season but if he was, he wouldn’t still be on the board here. He’s a dynamic interior defensive lineman who can collapse the pocket as well as stuff the run.  The Eagles have Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson at DT but not much else.  Cox has had his share of injuries and Jackson hasn’t always been a model of consistency.  These two are both approaching the age of 30 within a couple of years and they make a lot of money.   All that seems to point to a good time to find their eventual replacement.

  1. Indianapolis Colts (10-6): Marquise Brown           WR                      Oklahoma

I haven’t had Marquise Brown in my mock drafts because he’s been dealing with a Lisfranc injury in his foot and that can be a problem for a WR.  However, he checked out just fine at Oklahoma’s pro day and teams seem less worried about the injury than before.  Brown is an undersized WR with elite speed and cutting ability and while some teams may find his size an issue the Colts have done quite well with TY Hilton who fits the same profile.  Andrew Luck has always found ways to get Hilton the ball whether it was on the outside or in the slot and now Brown and Hilton can flip flop throughout the game and cause massive headaches for opposing defenses.  The team could go a number of ways on defense but with so many defenders going early it leaves some really good talent available here in the mid-20s and Brown is simply too valuable to pass up.

  1. Oakland Raiders (from Dallas): Josh Jacobs           RB                        Alabama

The Raiders went defense with their first two picks and filled two major needs, pass rusher and cornerback.  The third pick could go many ways but they should really look to go for the best value.  Jacobs is considered the best RB in this class and while they could get one later why not take the best one with your third pick.  The team signed Isaiah Crowell but drafting Jacobs would give Crowell someone to share carries with and Jacobs is a better option than Jalen Richard or DeAndre Washington who haven’t proven to be reliable full-time backs.

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (12-4): Dexter Lawrence          DT                       Clemson

The Chargers re-signed 34-year-old Brandon Mebane to man the middle at NT but he’s obviously aging and has had some injury issues.  With Mebane’s issues and the loss of Corey Luiget the Chargers have an obvious need on the defensive line.  Lawrence is a mammoth human being at 6’4 and over 340 lbs. but he’s not just a run-stopping anchor.  He can fill Mebane’s NT spot or he could line up next to him in Liuget’s old DE position on the three-man line.  The Chargers need help up the middle to stop the run and Lawrence will do that quite well but he’ll also draw attention away from outside rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4): Garrett Bradbury           OC                       North Carolina St.

The Chiefs didn’t re-sign free agent center Mitch Morse leaving a pretty sizable hole in the middle of an otherwise solid line.  Leaving a hole that big in front of your franchise QB is not a great idea and Andy Reid knows the importance of a good center.  Bradbury’s name doesn’t get mentioned a lot, centers’ names rarely do at draft time, but he’s an excellent prospect and can start from day one.  Getting Patrick Mahomes a center he can trust and grow with is a smart use of a late first round pick.  The Chiefs have a number of needs on the defense as they transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 but none of the prospects they could get on defense offer the value a 10-year starting center does at this point.

  1. Green Bay Packers (13-3): AJ Brown           WR                      Ole Miss

The Packers could go a number of ways with their second 1st round pick.  After taking TJ Hockenson with the 12th pick they could decide to address their defensive secondary and a safety like Deionte Thompson or Nasir Adderley is completely possible but I’m not sure they offer the same value as AJ Brown.  Brown has been a bit overshadowed by his Ole Miss teammate DK Metcalf but Brown is the one that actually produced in college.  He’s a guy that could fill the Randall Cobb role and line up inside or outside.  The team really only has Devante Adams as a proven commodity at WR while the younger guys are still trying to figure it out.  Brown would be a load to handle in the slot and Aaron Rodgers would appreciate having Brown and Hockenson added to his arsenal in the passing game.  My dark horse WR here is Deebo Samuel, he’s an excellent pass catcher who can lineup inside or out too.

  1. Los Angeles Rams (13-3): Byron Murphy           CB                        Washington

The Rams biggest needs are at DT or LB but the value just isn’t there at this point.  They could draft Jaylon Ferguson as a pass rusher or reach for a guy like Jerry Tillery at DT but there is far better value at CB.  Both Murphy and Deandre Baker are worthy of first round picks and while the Rams have Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Nickell Robey-Coleman both Peters and Talib are getting older and more expensive.  Both of them could be gone in a year and giving Murphy a year to learn on the job would be smart move.  The team does need to address some holes on the offensive line as John Sullivan wasn’t re-signed at center and Andrew Whitworth will be 37 at LT.  Neither of those positions offer the value of Murphy either and for a team that just made the Super Bowl they can afford to take the best player available.

  1. New England Patriots (11-5): Kaleb McGary           OT                       Washington

When everyone thinks Bill Belichick is going to zig, he zags.  The team used a first-round pick on OT Isaiah Wynn last season and then he blew out his Achilles and missed the season.  For now, Wynn is penciled in as the starting LT to replace Trent Brown but he’s really not built for the OT position and with him coming back from his injury it will likely be even tougher to play that spot.  McGary’s name hasn’t been mentioned much but he’s a 6’7 offensive tackle who’s a bit raw but he has lots of potential.  Everyone thinks the Pats are going to try to draft Gronk’s replacement but unless they move up for Hockenson or Fant the best they can do here is Irv Smith Jr., I don’t see them taking him.  They can draft McGary and let offensive line guru Dante Scarnecchia work his magic with him.  Wynn was drafted to cover for the eventual loss of Joe Thuney so for now he’s becomes the backup at about four spots on the line.  This would be a very Patriots pick, assuming they don’t trade out of round 1 (they’re going to trade out of this pick).

Round 2

  1. Arizona: Deebo Samuel                WR                      South Carolina

Regardless of who the Cardinals end up going with at QB, if they want Kliff Kingsbury’s offense to work they need better receivers.   Larry Fitzgerald is a Hall of Famer but he’s not the best fit in the offense and he isn’t going to play much longer. Christian Kirk fits the profile but he missed time last year.  Samuel fits any offense and he’ll be excellent.

  1. Indianapolis (from NYJ): Jaylon Ferguson        DE/OLB                             Louisiana Tech

The Colts need to generate more pass rush to make their defense more effective.  They signed Justin Houston to help out there but he’s not the player he was at his peak in Kansas City.  Ferguson is a pass rushing machine and he should bring the heat off the edge.

  1. Oakland: Chase Winovich             DE                                    Michigan

Winovich is a slightly undersized DE who never quits coming.  He isn’t the athlete his teammate Rashan Gary is but Winovich was the defensive lineman at Michigan who actually produced.  With Josh Allen drafted earlier taking Winovich would be Jon Gruden’s way of doubling down on that pass rush he thinks is so hard to find.

  1. San Francisco: N’Keal Harry           WR           Arizona St.

The 49ers rely pretty heavily on TE George Kittle and WR Marquise Goodwin to move the ball through the air.  While veteran Jordan Matthews may have something left the team really needs a true outside threat with good size who can be a red zone target.  Harry is a big, powerful WR who would complement Goodwin quite well.

  1. New York Giants: Deandre Baker           CB           Georgia

Baker offers great value as he has first round ability.  The Giants currently have Sam Beal penciled in opposite Janoris Jenkins and that’s not great.  Also, Jenkins could be getting too expensive to keep around after next year so it’s time to get some new blood.  Baker isn’t the most physically gifted CB but he’s a great cover guy.

  1. Jacksonville: Nasir Adderley           S           Delaware

The Jags defense is undergoing a few renovations and one of those renovations is at safety.  The team released Tashaun Gipson and Adderley would make a very suitable replacement to line up with Ronnie Harrison.

  1. Tampa Bay: Rock Ya-Sin           CB                        Temple

New defensive coordinator Todd Bowls needs some help, he got his pass rusher in the round 1, now it’s time to get someone to cover.  Ya-Sin is a good-sized corner with coverage skills and he can pair with Carlton Davis on the outside so Vernon Hargreaves can man the slot position.

  1. Buffalo: Zach Allen           DE                        Boston College

The Bills aren’t exactly stacked at defensive line and the edge needs some work.  Jerry Hughes has been solid for them but he’s on the wrong side of 30.  Trent Murphy is just a guy and is likely to be a cap casualty in the future. Allen isn’t the speediest edge rusher but he gets home with his technique and work ethic.  He can set the edge also and he’s very good value at #40 overall.

  1. Denver: Elgton Jenkins           OC                       Mississippi St.

The Broncos lost Matt Paradis in free agency and for now they are planning to move Connor McGovern from OG to C and that will weaken two positions.  Jenkins can start right away at C and let McGovern stay at OG where he’ll be more effective.  Joe Flacco needs a clean pocket and that starts on the interior line.

  1. Cincinnati: Mack Wilson           LB                         Alabama

The Bengals have to remake their LB corps as Preston Brown is the only above average member of the group and he’s on a short-term deal.  Wilson can play for the year next to Brown and then eventually take over in the middle.  He isn’t a great fit outside but he’s better than what they have.

  1. Detroit: Oshane Ximines           DE                        Old Dominion

The Lions signed Trey Flowers to play one side of the d-line but they need another pass rusher.  Flowers is a good all-around DE but they need someone to bend the edge and Ximines is a smaller speed rusher.  Ximines is a small school prospect but he has a skill set Matt Patricia will find quite intriguing.

  1. Green Bay: Deionte Thompson           S                           Alabama

The Packers went offense with their two 1st round picks so they go defense here.  They have Adrian Amos and Josh Jones at safety but both guys are better suited playing close to the line.  Thompson can cover the deep middle and allow those guys to do what they do best.

  1. Atlanta: Amari Oruwariye           CB                        Penn St.

Atlanta lost two CBs this off season in Robert Alford and Brian Poole so they need some help.  Desmond Trufant and Isaiah Oliver are a solid duo but Oruwariye would give them three solid players and he has the size Dan Quinn looks for in a CB.

  1. Washington: Parris Campbell           WR                      Ohio St.

The Redskins got there QB of the future (and probably the present) in round one, time to get him some help.  The top WRs on the roster are Paul Richardson and Josh Doctson, a playmaker who can take it the distance any time he touches it is a good place to start.  That’s Campbell.

  1. Carolina: Chris Lindstrom           OG                       Boston College

Lindstrom is a technically sound guard who is light on his feet and can move.  The Panthers need some interior line help to keep Cam Newton healthy and improve the run game.  Lindstrom needs to add some strength but he will be ready to play day one, he’s not flashy he’s just rock solid.

  1. Miami: Yodny Cajuste           OL                        West Virginia

Cajuste looks the part of a LT but he is missing the foot speed necessary to excel there.  However, his strength would be a huge asset at RT where the Dolphins could really use him.  At worst, he could be a very good OG and the team needs help there too, it’s a win-win for the Dolphins.

  1. Cleveland: Justin Layne           CB                        Michigan St.

Cleveland has done a fantastic job of picking up players this off season to really set up a good year; WR Odell Beckham, DT Sheldon Richardson, DE Olivier Vernon, and even RB Kareem Hunt (suspended the first 8 games of the year).  However, there are a few holes left to fill, Jaime Collins’ OLB spot and the hole at CB opposite Denzel Ward are the two most noticeable ones.  Ward was fantastic as a rookie last year but he needs a partner and given Ward’s smaller stature a bigger CB might be nice.  Layne has good size at 6’2 and he can play.  At this point, anybody is better than either Terrence Mitchell or TJ Carrie.  Layne will hold up much better when teams throw away from Ward’s side of the field.

  1. Minnesota: Jerry Tillery           DT                        Notre Dame

Not your typical DT at 6’6 295 lbs. but while he looks tall and a bit slight for the interior line, he’s incredible difficult to move off his spot when he anchors and he’s very disruptive.  Tiller should probably go higher than this but this is where he ends up in this mock draft.

  1. Tennessee: Charles Omenihu           DE                        Texas

Omenihu is a large DE prospect at 6’5 280 lbs. and he would look good on Tennessee’s line next to Jurrell Casey.  He can rush the passer but also set the edge and allow their pass rushing OLB’s to get to the QB.

  1. Pittsburgh: Juan Thornhill           S                     Virginia

The Steelers took Terrell Edmunds in the 1st round last year but he needs a running mate.  Sean Davis is holding down the FS spot for now but he’s going into the last year of his contract and he’s not great.  Thornhill is a speed demon who can cover a whole lot of ground in deep centerfield.

  1. Philadelphia (from Baltimore): Blake Cashman           LB                        Minnesota

The Eagles desperately need help at LB and Cashman showed impressive athleticism at the combine that no one was expecting.  He was a tackling machine for the Gophers and that’s exactly what the Eagles need to line up with Nigel Bradham.

  1. Houston (from Seattle): Lonnie Johnson           CB                        Kentucky

The Texans will lineup 35-year-old Jonathan Joseph at one CB spot and Bradley Roby on a one-year contract at the other spot, they need CBs.  Johnson is a long, athletic CB who could give them depth for a year and then take over as a starter.

  1. Houston: Irv Smith Jr.           TE                        Alabama

It seems unlikely that Irv Smith Jr. will fall this far but he does in this mock draft.  The only real knock against Smith is that he isn’t ideal size for a TE.  At 6’2 242 lbs. he’s a smaller than a lot of the TEs teams look for these days.  He’s highly productive and the Texans have been missing that component in their offense.

  1. New England (from Chicago): Dawson Knox           TE                        Ole Miss

Knox is more potential than production because Ole Miss simply didn’t use him as much in the passing game.  He’s a good athlete with solid hands and while he needs some work to reach his potential, he has all the tools you look for, and New England is looking for them.

  1. Philadelphia: Greg Little           OT                        Ole Miss

Little was a highly regarded recruit out of high school and has started a lot of games but he hasn’t lived up to his hype.  He looks the part of a long, athletic LT and he can become that with the right coaching.  This is the Eagles taking a shot on potential, they don’t need him this year if Jason Peters stays healthy but that’s no given.  Little is a lottery ticket and if he pays off, they get a long-term LT at #57 overall.

  1. Dallas: Jonathan Abram           SS                         Mississippi St.

Dallas has needs on the defensive front and in the backfield and the value is at safety here.  Abram is an in the box safety who will come up and support the run well and bring a little attitude to the back end of the defense.  The Cowboys traded their first-round pick for WR Amari Cooper during the season so this is their first pick.  A DE is a possibility as they could take a shot on a guy like Jachai Polite who hasn’t looked good in the draft process but Abram is a good choice who can step in and help right away.  A TE is also possible so Jace Sternberger is also a name to remember here.

  1. Indianapolis: Khalen Saunders           DT                        Western Illinois

Saunders is small school prospect that made a name for himself in the run up to the draft.  He’s short but stout and would give the Colts someone to play as a NT on their defensive line.  He’s only 6’0 but he weighs 324 lbs. so he’s basically a fire hydrant that is nearly impossible to move.

  1. Los Angeles Chargers: Joejuan Williams           CB                        Vanderbilt

The Chargers need someone opposite Casey Heyward so they can continue to deploy Desmond King in the variety of ways they did last year to cover trouble spots.  Heyward is a good cover guy with average size while Williams is a 6’4 CB who would really help cover bigger WRs.

  1. Kansas City: Amani Hooker           S                           Iowa

The Chiefs let Eric Berry go this off season and while they signed Tyrann Mathieu they still aren’t very good at the other safety spot.  Mathieu is a versatile player and so is Hooker, he lined up as a safety/linebacker hybrid at Iowa last year.  He can cover and tackle and new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will love having these two safeties.

  1. New Orleans: Erik McCoy           C                          Texas A&M

The Saints traded their first-round pick this season in last year’s draft to move up to take DE Marcus Davenport.  Luckily this team isn’t in need of a lot of things although it would really help if Davenport gets healthy and actually gives them some help at DE so Cameron Jordan doesn’t have to do it all himself again.  One thing they do need is a new center with the unexpected retirement of Max Unger.  The Saints only go as far as Drew Brees takes them and keeping him healthy and upright is always the first goal on offense.  McCoy is a good-sized guy who needs a little more strength but the Saints have good guards who can help him hold up until he gets that strength.  He’s the best center left on the board and Drew Brees will welcome him with open arms.

  1. Kansas City (from LA Rams): Terry McLaurin           WR                      Ohio St.

This pick is the Chiefs hedging their bets on Tyreek Hill and his off the field issues.  If Hill faces a suspension or the team has to let him go McLaurin is a very good route-runner with great speed to fill the spot.  If Hill sticks around McLaurin is a special teams star and just another weapon for Patrick Mahomes.

  1. New England: Anthony Nelson           DE                       Iowa

The Patriots have never cared about having the speediest or twitchiest DEs, they care about guys who will stay disciplined and do their jobs.  They had to let Trey Flowers go because he costs too much money and while they brought in Michael Bennett, they need some young blood up front on defense.  Nelson is a solid edge rusher who can set the edge against the run and he can even slide inside on some downs, Belichick will love his versatility and consistency.

Round 3

  1. Arizona: Jachai Polite           DE                        Florida

Never a bad idea to add a pass rusher who has first-round talent but has fallen to round 3.

  1. Pittsburgh (from Oakland): Kelvin Harmon           WR               North Carolina St.

Harmon can play inside the slot or on the outside, good versatility to use alongside JuJu.

  1. San Francisco: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson           FS               Florida

The 49ers need playmakers in their secondary, they are simply not very good at safety.

  1. N.Y. Jets: David Edwards            OT                        Wisconsin

The Jets offensive line needs some reinforcements, Edwards could play a number of positions.

  1. Jacksonville: Jace Sternberger                         TE                        Texas A&M

Nick Foles had guys like Zack Ertz, Dallas Goedert and Trey Burton (at one time) in Philly, here he gets a TE.

  1. Tampa Bay: Taylor Rapp           S                           Washington

Todd Bowles knows a lot about secondary play and adding Ya-Sin in round 2 and Rapp here helps this team a lot.

  1. Denver: Tyree Jackson           QB                       Buffalo

John Elway has a type of QB he likes, tall and strong.  No one is taller or stronger than Jackson.  He needs some time but that gives Flacco some breathing room.

  1. Cincinnati: Dre’Mont Jones           DT                  Ohio St.

Geno Atkins isn’t getting any younger and Jones is really good value here.  If he had had better workouts, he would have gone a lot higher than this.

  1. New England (from Detroit): Ryan Finley            QB               North Carolina St.

The Patriots need to get someone to develop behind Brady.  Finley is an older prospect who fits the Brady style, he could execute New England’s passing attack without much trouble.

  1. Buffalo: Hakeem Butler           WR                        Iowa St.

The have John Brown, the deep threat, and Cole Beasley, the slot guy.  Zay Jones hasn’t been great so they need a big, powerful outside receiver who can win in the red zone, sounds like Butler.

  1. Green Bay: Tre Lamar            LB                         Clemson

Lamar is a two-down, run-stuffing kind of LB.  The Packers could use a thumper like him.

  1. Washington: Julian Love           CB                        Notre Dame

Josh Norman isn’t getting better with age.  Love isn’t the most impressive specimen but he can cover.

  1. Carolina: Vosean Joseph           LB                         Florida

The team lost Thomas Davis, an undersized weakside LB with impressive speed.  Joseph is an undersized weakside LB with impressive speed.

  1. Miami: Damian Harris           RB                        Alabama

Most teams don’t go with just one back anymore.  While Kenyan Drake is solid Harris would be a welcome addition to replace Frank Gore as his running mate.

  1. Atlanta: Daylon Mack           DT                        Texas A&M

Mack is a big dude who would look good inside next to Grady Jarrett and make his life a bit easier.

  1. Cleveland: Michael Dieter           OL                        Wisconsin

Dieter has some versatility to play all over the line and that’s something that could come in handy for Cleveland.

  1. Minnesota: David Montgomery           RB                        Iowa St.

He has a similar profile to Dalvin Cook so they would make a nice duo.  Cook has had some injury issues; Montgomery would mitigate that concern a bit.

  1. Tennessee: Devin Singletary           RB                        Florida Atlantic

Dion Lewis wasn’t as effective in Tennessee as he was in New England.  Singletary brings a similar skill set and would complement Derrick Henry well.

  1. Pittsburgh: Kahale Warring           TE                        San Diego St.

He’s a sleeper TE prospect who can block well and will bring more in the passing game than you think.  They lost Jesse James and Vance McDonald needs a running mate.

  1. Seattle: Darnell Savage Jr.           S                              Maryland

The Seahawks have a need in the deep middle with Earl Thomas officially gone and their safety group not being all that deep.  Savage is fast and plays centerfield quite well.

  1. Baltimore: D’Andre Walker           OLB                      Georgia

Walker was more of a DE at Georgia but Baltimore is used to turning DEs into OLBs, they did it very well with Terrell Suggs.

  1. Houston: Conner McGovern           OG                       Penn St.

Solid but unspectacular is exactly what you’re looking for in an OG late in round 3.  When your line is as bad as Houston’s was you take it and say thank you. (It’s weird, the Broncos have an OG named Connor McGovern too)

  1. Chicago: Miles Sanders           RB                        Penn St.

This is the Bears first pick in this draft because they traded both their first and second round picks.  They have a pretty solid roster but they traded away Jordan Howard and only replaced him with Mike Davis.  Tarik Cohen will pick up some slack but he’s not an every down back.  Sanders had the unfortunate responsibility of replacing Saquon Barkley at Penn St. so he didn’t get the credit he deserved for being as good as he was.  Sanders isn’t Barkley but he’s a solid back and he would handle some of the workload in Chicago just fine.  He’s a more dynamic player than Davis so I think Bears fans would love him.

  1. Detroit (from Philadelphia): Sean Bunting           CB                        Central Michigan

Solid corner from a small school with some skills to build on.  The Lions take a shot on potential.

  1. Indianapolis: JJ Arcega-Whiteside           WR                      Stanford

The Colts signed Devin Funchess to be the big WR in their offense, he’s terrible, they better draft one instead.  Arcega-Whiteside is a jump ball specialist.

  1. Dallas: Joe Jackson           DE                        Miami

The Cowboys are counting on Taco Charlton who hasn’t done much to this point in his career and Robert Quinn who hasn’t been good in a number of years opposite Demarcus Lawrence, reinforcements can’t hurt.

  1. L.A. Chargers: Tytus Howard            OT                        Alabama St.

Howard is a small school prospect who may need some time to adjust to the NFL.  For now, he can compete to be the RT and potentially be the replacement for Russell Okung at LT down the road.

  1. Kansas City: Austin Bryant            DE                        Clemson

The fourth member of Clemson’s defensive line would be a nice addition at DE where the Chiefs need help in their transition to Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.

  1. N.Y. Jets (from New Orleans): Trayvon Mullen            CB                        Clemson

An inconsistent corner who has plus athletic ability.  He’s worth taking a flyer for a team that needs someone to push Brian Poole to his more comfortable nickel role.

  1. L.A. Rams: Renell Wren           DT                        Arizona St.

The Rams need a replacement for Ndamukong Suh.  Wren is a behemoth and he would complement Aaron Donald quite well.

  1. N.Y. Giants (traded twice): Riley Ridley            WR                      Georgia

The team needs an outside receiver and while it’s foolish to think Ridley can replace Odell Beckham, he is a fantastic route runner and he would easily be the third receiver behind Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate.

  1. Washington: Christian Miller           OLB                                 Alabama

Washington has had some success with Alabama defenders so they go to that well one more time to get some pass rush help.  Miller isn’t in the same category as many other Tide defenders but he’s solid.

  1. New England: Andy Isabella           WR                      UMass

The Patriots WR corps has looked better and while Julian Edelman is playing well, he is 32 years old and has had some injury issues.  Isabella would be fantastic addition for now and an eventual Edelman replacement.

  1. Jacksonville (from LA Rams): Darrell Henderson            RB                        Memphis

A smaller, speedier back to complement Fournette.  The team lost TJ Yeldon their change-of-pace back.

  1. Los Angeles Rams: Michael Jordan           OL                        Ohio St.

Jordan is 6’6 but he actually played center at Ohio St., he has some versatility and the Rams could use that right now.

  1. Carolina: Jaquan Johnson           S                           Miami

Carolina signed Eric Reid but they need someone who can play centerfield behind him.  Johnson can also hit a bit too.

  1. New England: Emanuel Hall           WR                      Missouri

Yep, two WRs in this round.  Hall is a outside speed receiver and that is something the Patriots are sorely lacking.

  1. Baltimore: Mecole Hardman           WR                      Georgia

Hardman is a smaller receiver who will excel in the slot and as a return man.  He may be a bit redundant with Willie Snead still there but the Ravens need WRs, he’s the complement to DK Metcalf and he may actually be more productive early compared to Metcalf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Published by Nathan Hott

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