NFL Mock Draft 3.0

NFL Mock Draft 3.0 (Post New League Year aka Free Agency and Trades)

Free agency and trades always change the draft needs of so many teams and while most of the world has come to a standstill NFL free agency moved forward. There have been big name free agent moves like Tom Brady to Tampa Bay and Phillip Rivers to Indianapolis and major trades like DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona, Stefon Diggs to Buffalo and DeForest Buckner to Indianapolis. However, it isn’t just the major free agents that change things, smaller moves can make some positions less important and other moves may make another a major need. Free agency isn’t over and more moves will change teams’ perspectives. For example, there are quite a few quality CBs still on the market so a team like the Cowboys, who seem to have a crying need at the position, may choose to fill it with more cost-efficient free agents instead of in the draft. The QB market moved pretty quickly but there are still a few big names out there and few teams with holes to fill. Here’s what I see so far after the first wave of free agency. Oh yeah, and two teams traded their first-round picks for players; Indianapolis traded for DeForest Buckner and Buffalo traded for Stefon Diggs.

Round 1

Cincinnati Bengals (2-14): Joe Burrow QB LSU

The Bengals have made a few moves in free agency, the biggest was placing the franchise tag on WR AJ Green. It’s a risk considering his injury history the last several years and the fact it might upset him but they are trying to hold onto him for one reason, Joe Burrow wants them to. Burrow knows he needs playmakers and when healthy Green is a potential top five WR in the league. Barring a Godfather-like offer from a team like the Dolphins or Chargers to move into this spot the Bengals are starting their rebuild around Ohio native Joe Burrow. He has a lot of physical qualities similar to Tom Brady and the Bengals hope he lives up to the billing.

Miami Dolphins ***(from Washington)***: Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama

I still think this is the most likely trade early in the draft and free agency has only convinced me more. The Dolphins come into the draft with three first round picks and that was good news considering the state of their roster. However, they have spent like drunken sailors in free agency and they have far less needs. They have signed at least seven likely starters; OG Ereck Flowers, OC Ted Karras, RB Jordan Howard, DE Shaq Lawson, LBs Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts, and CB Byron Jones. The team has seemingly been attached to Tua since they traded Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills and their “tanking for Tua” plan was off and running. They were too good to end up with the first pick but a confluence of events puts them in position to get Tua anyway. If he can get healthy and stay healthy Tua will be the best QB in a Dolphins uniform since Dan Marino, it’s a bit of a gamble but when you’ve been searching or a QB for 20 years, you have to take a shot when you have it.

Detroit Lions (3-12-1): Chase Young DE Ohio St.

The Lions were bad on defense and Matt Patricia needs to get this right or he’ll be out the door sooner rather than later. Young is best prospect in the draft regardless of position but because QB is such an important position he falls here to #3, that’s lucky for the Lions. The pass rush wasn’t great last year and while Trey Flowers is a good overall DE, he’s not an elite pass rusher. Young has all the tools to be a 15 sack guy. With the team trading CB Darius Slay and replacing him with free agent Desmond Trufant they are going to need more pass rush to make their defense better. The team signed Jamie Collins in free agency to play LB and he’s a solid blitzer but Young is a just a different level when it comes to getting to the QB.

New York Giants (4-12): Mekhi Becton OT Louisville

The Giants addressed a number of their pressing issues on defense in free agency. They spent a lot of money on CB James Bradberry and signed two free agent LBs from the Packers, Blake Martinez and Kyler Fackrell. Add in the franchising of DL Leonard Williams and I think GM Dave Gettleman will look to help out his young QB. Gettleman likes big lineman and they don’t get any bigger than Becton. He’s 6’7 364 lbs. and moves like a guy 100 lbs. lighter. The team still has Nate Solder at LT and they signed Cameron Fleming but Solder might not be around too long and Fleming is probably better suited as a swing tackle and not a starter. Becton could be the RT as a rookie and eventually replace Solder at LT. He’s not my top OT but I can see him being Gettleman’s choice.

Washington Redskins ***(from Miami)***: Isaiah Simmons LB Clemson

This is a difficult decision for the Redskins because they will almost assuredly need a new starting LT and there are some good ones left but after trading down with Miami, they pick up another 1^st round pick so they go for the elite defender here. Simmons is a star at LB and Washington is pretty thin in the middle of their defense. Ron Rivera was spoiled in Carolina with Luke Kuechly manning the middle for him, here he gets Simmons to do the same. CB Jeff Okudah could be a consideration here but the team signed Kendall Fuller so the position isn’t as big of an issue. If they go offensive line either Tristan Wirfs or Jedrick Wills could be the pick.

Los Angeles Chargers (5-11): Justin Herbert QB Oregon

The Chargers signed OT Bryan Bulaga and traded for OG Trai Turner so the offensive line is less of a priority, they also signed DT Linval Joseph and CB Chris Harris so that’s two big holes on defense they filled. With Phillip Rivers off to the Colts the team is looking to move on at QB and when you’re moving into a new stadium it’s a good idea to have someone at QB to sell tickets. When you don’t get a big name like Tom Brady your next best bet is selling the hope of a new top draft pick at QB. Herbert is a lottery ticket; he might be a huge jackpot or he’s a huge bust. He looks the part of a top QB and the franchise can only hope he takes them beyond an early playoff exit in the not too distant future.

Carolina Panthers (5-11): Jeff Okudah CB Ohio St.

The Panthers traded for LT Russell Okung and signed QB Teddy Bridgewater to address their two big issues on offense. They have a couple of big holes to fill on defense with the retirement of MLB Luke Kuechly and the free agent defection of CB James Bradberry. They get lucky with Okudah falling to the seventh spot as he can step in and be the #1 CB immediately. Bradberry was a good CB who got paid by the Giants like a great CB, if the Panthers end up replacing him with Okudah they won’t even miss him. I think Okudah has a higher ceiling than the level Bradberry plays at.

Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1): Tristan Wirfs OT Iowa

The Cardinals pulled off the heist of the year when they got WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Texans and now that they have an elite #1 WR for Kyler Murray they can focus on protecting their QB long enough for him to get Hopkins the ball. They re-signed LT DJ Humphries but the RT spot is still suspect. Wirfs is a beast and while I think he can play LT; I know he can dominate on the right side. His athleticism would come in handy in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and would solidify the group in front of Murray quite nicely.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10): Jedrick Wills OT Alabama

The Jaguars have added some players on defense after trading Calais Campbell and AJ Bouye and cutting Marcel Dareus. They picked up DL Rodney Gunter and LB Joe Schobert. Schobert is a big addition as he can man the middle and allow Myles Jack to move back outside where he’s more comfortable. They can certainly use more help on defense and Derrick Brown would be a solid choice but they are committing to Gardner Minshew at QB after trading Nick Foles and getting better protection up front should be all Minshew needs on offense. Wills will have to make the transition to LT after playing RT at Alabama but he has the skills and athleticism to do it.

Cleveland Browns (6-10): Andrew Thomas OT Georgia

The Browns have made some major free agent acquisitions. On offense they signed TE Austin Hooper and RT Jack Conklin, the top free agents at each position. Conklin is especially important because the Browns offensive line was a major issue. However, Conklin is a RT and should stay there meaning they still need a LT. Thomas is the last of the top four OTs in this draft and he just so happens to be able to play the left side. He’s one of my favorite players in this draft and with him on the left side and Conklin on the right the offensive line should be a strength in front of Baker Mayfield. No more excuses for Mayfield or this offense.

New York Jets (7-9): CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma

The Jets will be disappointed to miss out on one of the top four OTs and they might reach for either Josh Jones or Austin Jackson here but there is better value at WR, another position of need for the team. Personally, I prefer Jerry Jeudy but the Jets lost Robby Anderson and Lamb is a better replacement skill-wise for Anderson. Lamb is an excellent deep ball receiver with fantastic tracking skills and a knack for getting yards after catch. Sam Darnold got some help on the offensive line in free agency, OT George Fant and C Connor McGovern, that’s not enough but at least it’s a start.

Las Vegas Raiders (7-9): CJ Henderson CB Florida

The Raiders have been busy in free agency and it’s been heavily leaning towards fixing their defense but I don’t think they are done. They have added; DT Maliek Collins, DE Carl Nassib, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, LB Cory Littleton, S Jeff Heath and CB Eli Apple. Only Nassib is unlikely to start. Apple was a solid addition at CB but they need more help. This pick is a bit high and will surprise some people but Henderson looks like the clear #2 CB behind Okudah and the Raiders need help there, lots of it. They will certainly kick the tires on Jordan Love and they may even look to move up if they really fall in love with one of the top three QBs. WR is a major need even after the signing of Nelson Agholor but this is a deep WR class, they can wait.

San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis): Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama

The 49ers picked up this pick from Indianapolis in exchange for DL DeForest Buckner, the Colts needed DL help and San Francisco saves some money and gets a valuable pick, that’s a win-win scenario. The 49ers found a gem in WR Deebo Samuel last year but then Emmanuel Sanders (who they traded for last year) bolted to New Orleans so Samuel needs some help. Jeudy is a master technician who runs routes like a machine. He also showed good speed at the combine so that shouldn’t be a concern. Kyle Shanahan will love Jeudy’s ability to handle anything he throws at him and he will become a favorite target of Jimmy G. He’s my favorite player in the draft that isn’t a Hawkeye.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Josh Jones OT Houston

If you’re going to invest in a 43-year old QB you have to do better than Joe Haeg at RT. Tom Brady has weapons in Tampa Bay but he’s never been a mobile guy and this offensive line will get him killed. Donovan Smith has been a fixture at LT for the Bucs, even if he isn’t exactly an All-Pro, but the right side is suspect. Demar Dotson is a free agent and so far, they have only brought in Joe Haeg, he’s a solid guard and a decent backup OT but you have to do better for Brady. Jones is a big, athletic guy who will pass block quite well and that will help Brady take advantage of his plethora of offensive weapons.

Denver Broncos (7-9): Derrick Brown DT Auburn

This would be a surprise if Brown is still here at 15^th overall. He’s a top 10 talent but with the potential of three QBs and four OTs in the top 10 there isn’t a lot of room because Brown isn’t better than Chase Young, Jeff Okudah or Isaiah Simmons as a defensive prospect. If Jacksonville passes on him at #9 Brown could easily fall here, d-line isn’t a major priority for the teams in between 10-14. The Broncos lost several d-linemen off last year’s team and while they traded for Jurrell Casey they need someone to man the middle so Casey can play outside on the 3-man line. Brown is a beast and would be well suited to play upfront for Vic Fangio’s defense. This would be quite the coup for Denver as Brown is an excellent player and should pay immediate dividends.

Atlanta Falcons (7-9): Kristian Fulton CB LSU

The Falcons lost TE Austin Hooper in free agency and then traded for Hayden Hurst to replace him. They let Devonta Freeman go and then signed Todd Gurley. Finally, they let Vic Beasley go and they replaced him with Dante Fowler, Jr. None of those are upgrades unless Todd Gurley somehow regains his form from about three years ago. The Falcons cut Desmond Trufant and they have yet to get someone to replace him. Fulton is a very good prospect with a lot of experience and has played in many big games in his career. He isn’t the flashiest guy but he can step in on day one. So far, the Falcons are hoping healthy seasons from RT Kaleb McGary and OG Chris Lindstrom will make their offense better and I’m not sure what makes them think their defense will be better. Right now, they look like they are treading water, when you’re 7-9 treading water isn’t a great strategy.

Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Trevon Diggs CB Alabama

As almost everyone expected the biggest casualty of the Cowboys massive number of free agents was Byron Jones. Jones made out like a bandit moving on to Miami for the biggest CB deal in the league but it leaves the Cowboys looking for a new #1 CB. The good news is they kept Amari Cooper (even if it is for a ridiculous $20 million a year) and Dak Prescott comes back (he may be a bit disgruntled if he’s still on the franchise tag next season without a long-term deal). Losing Jones means Anthony Brown and Chidobe Awuzie are their top two CBs. In an increasingly pass happy NFL that’s not great. Diggs is a big corner who’s a little stiff at times and he’s not the elite athlete Jones is but then again Byron Jones is a special athlete. Diggs has only been a CB exclusively for three years as he used to be a WR (like his brother Stefon Diggs). He’s still raw at the position but as he grows, I think he can be a top corner, he may never be a lockdown #1 guy but he still has potential.

Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh): Austin Jackson OT USC

In my early trade scenario, I think the Dolphins give up the #5 pick, #26 pick and a pick next year to move up for Tua. That means they get to keep this pick. If they invest all that draft capital in getting Tua they have to get him some protection. They already signed Ted Karras and Ereck Flowers to improve the interior of the offensive line, now Jackson can step in at LT. Julie’n Davenport played there last year after coming over in the Laremy Tunsil trade but he’s just not great there, they can move him to he right side to compete for that spot. Jackson has all the length and athleticism you look for in a LT but he’s still raw when it comes to his technique. That’s understandable considering he was a true junior and isn’t even 21 yet. Jackson can grow into the position alongside Tua at QB.

Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago): Jordan Love QB Utah St.

This would be a bit strange only because if Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden actually like Jordan Love I don’t think they will have the patience to pass on him at #12 but let’s say they do. If Love is still here, I can see Gruden liking his physical skills so much he believes he can turn him into his own version of Pat Mahomes. Love is an intriguing player. He was very good two years ago with a nice group of players around him at Utah St. Then all those guys left and he struggled last year. He looks the part of an NFL QB and while the Pat Mahomes comparisons are completely unfair to anyone, there are physical skills that resemble Mahomes. If this happens, Derek Carr will be looking for a new home.

Jacksonville Jaguars (from LA Rams): Javon Kinlaw DL South Carolina

The Jaguars are in the midst of a massive makeover on defense and they need some fresh bodies up front with Calais Campbell traded, Marcel Dareus not returning and Yannick Ngakoue very unhappy on the franchise tag. They also need help at CB but Kinlaw is a better prospect than any CB still on the board and he can play inside or out and collapse the pocket from any position. He would start inside next to free agent acquisition Rodney Gunter but could also play DE on some downs when the undersized Josh Allen plays more like an OLB. This is a transition year for Jacksonville, of course that is their perpetual state.

Philadelphia Eagles (9-7): Henry Ruggs III WR Alabama

The Eagles filled their biggest need with their trade for the criminally underrated CB Darius Slay from Detroit. They also re-signed Jalen Mills whom they plan to move to FS to replace Malcolm Jenkins and while they still need some help in the secondary, they have a bigger need on offense now. With Nelson Agholor leaving, DeSean Jackson aging and Alshon Jeffrey being his usual disgruntled self they need to get Carson Wentz some new blood at WR. Ruggs is a speed demon who will take the top off of the defense, basically he’s what DeSean Jackson was back when he could stay healthy. He also happens to have exceptional hands and while he’s a bit skinny he’ adept enough to get open and once he has the ball, no one is catching him.

Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo): AJ Epenesa DE Iowa

There are not a lot of teams having a tougher off season than the Vikings. They lost Trae Waynes and Mackenzie Alexander in free agency and cut Xavier Rhodes, that’s their three top CBs. They traded Stefon Diggs because he’s been extremely unhappy with the offense and QB Kirk Cousins in particular. They cut DE Everson Griffen hoping to re-sign him to a restructured deal but he has become unhappy with their offers and is now looking to leave. They desperately need help at CB but losing Griffen is a killer for their defense. This is the pick they got in the Diggs trade from Buffalo and they see great value in getting the #2 DE AJ Epenesa all the way down here at #22. They have another 1^st round pick to use on a CB if they so choose and there are still quite a few free agent CBs they can sign. Epenesa didn’t have a great combine but he’s a top-notch DE prospect overall and he would pair well with their speedy outside pass rusher Danielle Hunter. Epenesa can set the edge and he’s a power rusher, giving the Vikings a different look than they get from Hunter.

New England Patriots (12-4): Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma

Everyone is asking the same question, what are the Patriots going to do at QB? I can tell you one thing for sure; Bill Belichick isn’t drafting one here. Belichick hasn’t ventured into the veteran QB market so far because he isn’t giving up any assets for Andy Dalton or Cam Newton when he knows they both will end up getting cut. I think he’s waiting until the draft to see what the Raiders end up doing with Derek Carr. If the Raiders get a QB they like in the draft than Carr becomes available, if he doesn’t than Dalton or Newton should still be available. For now, the Patriots go with Murray because he’s the best player left on the board and they just lost Kyle Van Noy and Jaime Collins in free agency. Murray can step right in and start on day one.

New Orleans Saints (13-3): Patrick Queen LB LSU

The Saints filled their biggest need on offense by signing WR Emmanuel Sanders to play opposite Michael Thomas, he’s the best WR they have had opposite Thomas in his career. They could look for more depth at WR but it’s a deep position so they can wait. At LB they have Kiko Alonso in the middle and while he can be solid, he can never seem to stay healthy. Queen is a tackling machine and could step into the middle pretty quickly. He would give them a nice building block in the middle of the defense moving forward and he can be the quarterback of their defense for years to come.

Minnesota Vikings (10-6): AJ Terrell CB Clemson

The Vikings are counting on former top draft pick Mike Hughes to step in as a starter and even if he does, they still need a couple more CBs to field a decent defense. Terrell isn’t as flashy as Okudah or Henderson but he’s an excellent CB. He has been the #1 guy at Clemson the last few years and he never backs down from a challenge. He has excellent size and plenty of speed. He will be challenged given the fact he likely steps in as the top CB on day one and I think he will rise to the occasion.

Washington Redskins (from Miami/Houston): Justin Jefferson WR LSU

If the Redskins trade down with Miami and pick up this pick it might be wise to get QB Dwayne Haskins another weapon. The team hasn’t done much in free agency other than pick up some depth on the offensive line and in the secondary. They are likely to need a new LT with Trent Williams still insisting on a trade but there isn’t a great option here. Terry McLaurin proved to be a viable deep threat last year and he works well with Haskins. Jefferson is a master of the underneath routes and would give Haskins a nice security blanket to look to on 3^rd down and in the red zone. Jefferson doesn’t wow you with his athleticism but he has a knack for getting open and the Redskins need to give Haskins every chance to succeed.

Seattle Seahawks (11-5): K’Lavon Chaisson DE/OLB LSU

The Seahawks have shuffled the deck on the offensive line but I’m pretty sure Brandon Shell and Cedric Ogbuehi are not upgrades over Mike Iupati and Germain Ifedi. They re-signed Jarran Reed at DT which is good and brought back Bruce Irvin at DE, which is not. Jadeveon Clowney is still sitting out there as a free agent who hasn’t found the market he was hoping to find. They could still bring him back but even if they do Chaisson is a solid investment at this point. Chaisson might be more OLB than DE but Pete Carroll has never been one to stick strictly to the definition of DE or pass rushing OLB, he’ll use whatever works. Chaisson is raw and needs a little time to develop but he can handle being the pass rushing specialist early on and grow into whatever the Seahawks want him to be.

Baltimore Ravens (14-2): Xavier McKinney S Alabama

The Ravens went to the trade and free agent market to remake their defensive line getting Derek Wolfe and Calais Campbell. Their biggest loss of the year is RG Marshall Yanda who announced his retirement after a stellar career. They could look to replace Yanda with someone like Cesar Ruiz or Lloyd Cushenberry III but I think they look to improve the back end of their defense and go with the best player still available in McKinney. In the pass happy NFL, it pays to have safeties who can cover and McKinney would pair nicely with Earl Thomas to form quite the duo. McKinney is an athletic guy with good coverage skills, skills that make him a potential CB if a team wants to try him there. They absolutely should look for an ILB but with Simmons, Murray and Queen off the board the value just isn’t there. They can pick one up later in the draft.

Tennessee Titans (9-7): Ross Blacklock DL TCU

The Titans re-signed QB Ryan Tannehill and franchised tagged RB Derrick Henry so their offense gets back two important pieces. They did lose RT Jack Conklin but the OT spot doesn’t have much value left here. On defense the team signed OLB Vic Beasley hoping a change of scenery will reinvigorate his career. One big piece that is missing now is DE Jurrell Casey who they traded to Denver. Casey has been a star for them for years and trading him creates a huge hole. Blacklock was fantastic at TCU and he has the skill set to be a 3-4 DE and he would be a nice bookend to Jeffrey Simmons, the Titans top pick from last year’s draft.

Green Bay Packers (13-3): Laviska Shenault WR Colorado

The Packers have been pretty quiet in free agency. They signed RT Ricky Wagner to replace free agent Bryan Bulaga, Wagner is cheaper but there’s a reason he’s cheaper. They also signed Christian Kirksey at ILB and he will replace Blake Martinez who left for a big payday with the Giants. They also lost TE Jimmy Graham, not that they will notice and backup LB Kyler Fackrell which hurts their depth. They haven’t done anything to improve the offense around Aaron Rodgers and that has to be priority #1. Shenault had a poor showing at the combine but that was because he was injured. He had surgery after the combine on a core muscle injury, once he’s healthy he should be back to his old self. Shenault is a jack-of-all trades kind of guy and he would be an excellent addition to the WR corps to help take the pressure off of Devante Adams.

San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Yetur Gross-Matos DE Penn St.

The 49ers will return their Super Bowl team largely intact after they re-signed DL Arik Armstead and S Jimmie Ward. They had to trade DeForest Buckner so they could afford to bring back Armstead but they did a great job getting Indianapolis’ first-round pick for him. That pick got them the WR they need which means they can pretty much go wherever they want with this pick. S Grant Delpit is a possibility but with Ward back safety isn’t as pressing of a need. They don’t need to replace Buckner on the defensive line because they have plenty of depth but Gross-Matos is too good of a value this deep in the first round. He’s still raw and while he doesn’t bring quite the inside/outside versatility of Buckner he will fit nicely in the rotation at DE.

Kansas City Chiefs (12-4): D’Andre Swift RB Georgia

The Chiefs desperately need CBs but for some reason there is a boatload of veteran free agents at the position that have found a very cold CB market. Ronald Darby, Logan Ryan, Prince Amukamara and the Chiefs own Bashaud Breeland, just to name a few. I think Andy Reid will sign one or two (or maybe three) of them to affordable contracts since the market is flooded right now. That will leave him the opportunity to draft the best player available or make a luxury choice like taking a star RB for his incredible offense. The Chiefs haven’t invested heavily in the RB position in the draft since Larry Johnson but when you just won the Super Bowl you usually don’t have a lot of needs. Damien Williams was good at RB but Swift is another level of talent. He would fit the Chiefs scheme quite well and he’s used to sharing the load so Williams wouldn’t be completely out of the offense.

Round 2

Cincinnati: Zack Baun OLB Wisconsin

Baun may not be a perfect fit in the Bengals scheme but I think he has some versatility they could use. He could juice up their outside pass rush which lacks a consistent force and still play some of the traditional LB position because they are pretty thin there too.

Indianapolis: Tee Higgins WR Clemson

The Colts traded their first-round pick for DT DeForest Buckner which fills a huge need for them. Buckner is a versatile defensive lineman and they need all the help they can get up front. The team’s big free agent pickup was QB Phillip Rivers and now they have to get him some help at WR. TY Hilton has been working mostly on his own for several years now and Rivers needs options. Higgins might be a victim of circumstance since he didn’t work out at the combine and pro days are not happening at this point. He may fall here even though he has first-round talent. Higgins is big, physical and fast. Rivers will like his large catch radius and he will draw the defense away from Hilton. If the team can get anything out of last year’s rookie WR Parris Campbell they might have a pretty good passing offense.

Detroit: Grant Delpit S LSU

Like I said earlier, Detroit’s defense has been terrible and Matt Patricia has to fix it fast. They lucked into Chase Young in round one and now they luck into a top safety in round two. Delpit struggled a bit last season but he has plenty of talent and Patricia could deploy him the same way New England has used Patrick Chung for so many years.

New York Giants: Jalen Reagor WR TCU

Golden Tate is on the wrong side of 30 and Sterling Shepard never seems to stay healthy so if they Giants want Daniel Jones to succeed, he needs help. Reagor is a talented receiver who can play both inside and out.

L.A. Chargers: Isaiah Wilson OT Georgia

The Chargers signed Bryan Bulaga and for now he’s penciled in at LT but that means they still need help on the right side. Wilson is a beast at 340 lbs. He’s built to be a top RT.

Carolina: Neville Gallimore DT Oklahoma

Carolina has lost some depth on their defensive line and Gallimore has first-round ability so this is a value pick.

Miami: Jonathan Taylor RB Wisconsin

The Dolphins signed Jordan Howard but I’m not convinced he’s enough for an offense that will be relying on either Ryan Fitzpatrick or a still recovering Tua Tagovailoa.

Houston: Curtis Weaver OLB Boise St.

The Texans pulled off one of the worst trades in NFL history when Bill O’Brien decided to trade WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for RB David Johnson and his bloated contract and a second-round pick. He didn’t even get as good of a pick as the Vikings got for Stefon Diggs and Hopkins is the more accomplished receiver. Now O’Brien is overpaying for a RB, not the position you want to be overpaying in the NFL today. Apparently, he thinks Will Fuller, Kenny Stills and Randall Cobb are good enough at WR. Here they take Weaver because the team also never adequately replace Jadeveon Clowney after trading him to Seattle. Weaver is a solid player who should fit their scheme, which probably means O’Brien won’t be smart enough to actually take him.

Cleveland: Brandon Aiyuk WR Arizona St.

The Browns have Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry but #3 WR Rashard Higgins is a free agent and while they have a boatload of talent at the skill positions, they are not real deep at WR. Aiyuk is a playmaker and he’s better than anyone they can get at their position of greatest need, ILB.

Jacksonville: Bryce Hall CB Virginia

The Jaguars have traded Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye since the trade deadline. Hall would have been one of the top CBs in this draft if he hadn’t missed most of last season with an injury. I think it’s worth a flyer to see if he can regain that form and be a #1 CB for a team that really needs one.

Chicago: Cesar Ruiz G/C Michigan

The Bears have had an interesting off season. They traded for QB Nick Foles who is supposed to put pressure on Mitch Trubisky to play better or just outright take his job. It seems like a half measure because I’m not sure he’s a huge upgrade if he takes the job and that probably means he doesn’t put a lot of pressure on Trubisky. They signed Robert Quinn to a huge contract even though he’s on the wrong side of 30 and while he was productive last year in Dallas, he’ll be moving to OLB when he’s really only been successful as a true DE. He’s replacing the underwhelming Leonard Floyd but for the contract they gave him he needs to play like the DE he was for the Rams and Cowboys and not like the OLB he was for the Rams and Dolphins. The Bears offensive line had some struggles last year and they lost OG Kyle Long to retirement so they need to replace him. Ruiz is a solid interior lineman with versatility and he would slot in very well. It seems like a safe pick but sometimes safe if what you need.

Indianapolis: Jaylon Johnson CB Utah

The Colts cut Pierre Desir and they signed Xavier Rhodes. Rhodes is only on a one-year deal and Rock Ya-Sin is the only other outside CB of note (Kenny Moore is very good in the slot). Johnson was the top CB on a very good Utah defense and he’s a good get in the second round.

Tampa Bay: JK Dobbins RB Ohio St.

This team has weapons in the passing game but they only have Ronald Jones at RB after Peyton Barber left in free agency. Dobbins is short but he’s an explosive playmaker and could bring a little of the skill set of RBs Brady had in New England.

Denver: Jeff Gladney CB TCU

The Broncos traded for AJ Bouye from the Jaguars to fill the void left by Chris Harris’ departure. They still need help at the other outside CB spot as Bryce Callahan is best suited inside. Gladney is a bit overlooked in this class but he’s a good player and would be a solid addition.

Atlanta: Cole Kmet TE Notre Dame

Losing Austin Hooper was a blow to the offense, replacing him with the underwhelming Hayden Hurst isn’t making Matt Ryan feel any better. Kmet is a big, athletic target who should actually help replace Hooper’s production.

NY Jets: Ezra Cleveland OT Boise St.

The Jets missed out on the top tier of OTs but they get a really good developmental prospect in Cleveland. He certainly looks the part of a LT and he has plenty of skills to build on. They desperately need offensive line help.

Pittsburgh: Julian Okwara OLB Notre Dame

The Steelers traded their first-round pick last year for Minkah Fitzpatrick, considering the impact he had on their defense the team doesn’t regret that trade at all. The team isn’t necessarily looking for anything specific. They could use some help on the interior o-line and their d-line isn’t getting any younger. However, they really are in a position to draft the best player available and Okwara fits the bill. He also would be a good third pass rusher behind Bud Dupree and TJ Watt and he could serve as insurance in case they can’t sign Dupree long-term. This could be a place they look to grab a QB considering Big Ben’s age but I think for now they like Devlin Hodges upside and they won’t want to mess with that.

Chicago: Marlon Davidson DE Auburn

Davidson was “the other” defensive lineman at Auburn this season as Derrick Brown took most of the spotlight. He was overshadowed but he’s damn good in his own right. The Bears could use some depth on the defensive line and Davidson would be a good DE in their 3-4 defense. This would be a great pick.

Dallas: Lloyd Cushenberry III C LSU

The Cowboys have had one of the most talented offensive lines for about the last five years. One of the best players they had was C Travis Frederick and he just announced his retirement. Cushenberry would be a nice pickup so the team wouldn’t have to rely on Joe Looney at center.

LA Rams: Cam Akers RB Florida St.

The Rams traded their first-round pick for Jalen Ramsey and that’s a pretty solid player to have, they just have to be certain to hold on to him long-term. One mistake they are paying for is signing RB Todd Gurley to an expensive contract two years ago and now they just released him even though it was a major financial hit. They need more than Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson at RB if they are going to stick with Jared Goff at QB. Akers played on some pretty bad Florida St. teams but he’s a heck of a talent and he brings a myriad of skills to the table. The team could do way worse with a second-round pick.

Philadelphia: Tyler Biadasz C/G Wisconsin

The Eagles could use reinforcements in the secondary but they also have to consider that both C Jason Kelce and RG Brandon Brooks are over 30 and they don’t have a lot of depth on the o-line. Biadasz could fill in either spot if need be and he can be a starter down the line.

Buffalo: Terrell Lewis OLB/DE Alabama

The Bills traded their first-round pick to the Vikings for WR Stefon Diggs and addressed one of the biggest needs on the team. John Brown and Cole Beasley were good but the group needed another playmaker and Diggs is that guy. There other need is at DE where they did sign veteran free agent Mario Addison from Carolina. Addison is a solid addition and he will fit right in as he used to play in Carolina where his head coach Sean McDermott was the defensive coordinator. The only problem is Addison is 32 years old which means he’s even older than Jerry Hughes and this team needs to add some youth on the edge. Lewis is a bit of a hybrid as an OLB/DE type but he can be a designated pass rusher for now as he fills out and can potentially replace Addison or Hughes.

Baltimore: Shane Lemieux OG Oregon

The Ravens just lost future Hall of Famer Marshall Yanda at RG and their offense is highly reliant on the run game. They need to be sure they have a solid replacement and Lemieux is a versatile guy that looked really good at the combine. No one can be expected to be as good as Yanda but Lemieux should be a pretty good starting guard for quite some time.

Miami: Ashtyn Davis S California

The Dolphins have drafted three offensive players after spending the bulk of their free agent money on defense. It’s time to invest a little in the future of the defense. Davis would be a starter at safety pretty quickly, Eric Rowe and Adrian Colbert aren’t exactly setting the world on fire.

Houston: Brycen Hopkins TE Purdue

The Texans are down one amazing weapon on offense after trading DeAndre Hopkins, Brycen Hopkins (no relation) isn’t going to replace him but he would add a nice receiving option at the TE position. Darren Fells was alright at TE but they would get a more dynamic receiver in Brycen Hopkins.

Minnesota: Denzel Mims WR Baylor

The Vikings traded Stefon Diggs and if they don’t want Adam Thielen to be double or triple teamed on every snap, they should get him some help. Luckily this is an exceptionally deep draft at WR and Denzel Mims is a very talented player still available here in round 2.

Seattle: Lucas Niang OT TCU

The Seahawks haven’t invested much draft capital in their offensive line over the years and while they did bring in some free agents to help out, they really need to plan for life after Duane Brown at LT, he is 34. Niang is a guy with plenty of size and potential, give him a year to learn from Brown and he might be the future at LT.

Baltimore: Justin Madubuike DL Texas A&M

The Ravens invested heavily this off season in their defensive line signing Derek Wolfe and trading for Calais Campbell. They join Brandon Williams to form quite the starting trio. The only problem is Campbell and Williams are both aging players. They need some youth and Madubuike is a versatile guy who would give them some good depth.

Tennessee: Noah Igbinoghene CB Auburn

The Titans lost Logan Ryan leaving them with Adoree Jackson and Malcolm Butler as their top two CBs. Jackson is probably best suited on the inside and Butler hasn’t been great for a while. Igbinoghene is a talent and he could start on the outside for them.

Green Bay: Hunter Bryant TE Washington

Green Bay wasn’t very good at TE last year and that was with Jimmy Graham, and Graham has moved on. Bryant is more pass catcher than blocker but they held on to veteran Mercedes Lewis so he can do the dirty work.

Kansas City: Troy Pride Jr. CB Notre Dame

The Chiefs don’t have a ton of needs but CB is one. Even if they sign a veteran (or two) they could use some youth. Pride is a talented athlete and while he may not have elite skills, he is good enough to start on the outside in the NFL.

Seattle: Jeremy Chinn S Southern Illinois

Chinn is a bit under the radar since he played at Southern Illinois but the Seahawks like big safeties and they might see a little Kam Chancellor in this kid. He’s 6’3 219 lbs. and he can come up and hit. He’s pretty good at making plays on the ball too even though he isn’t the best pass defender.

NFL Mock Draft 2.0

Yep, it’s 2 rounds because I just can’t help myself.

This mock draft comes post combine and pre free agency, while I’m not a huge fan of making major changes to teams’ draft boards because of workouts it does happen and there is some valuable information gathered during the combine. Anybody who bemoans the validity of the combine is simply missing the point, if teams didn’t value the information gathered at the “underwear Olympics” they wouldn’t have the event. Yes, teams that overvalue one or two of the physical tests are doomed to make bad choices but, in some cases, they start to see the reality they were missing on game tapes. Tristan Wirfs is the perfect example of teams assuming he isn’t a great athlete and deeming him unable to play a certain position but physical testing showed them, they need to go back to the game film and reassess their previous findings. Most testing at the combine simply confirms what teams already know, sometimes that’s good for the player, sometimes that’s bad. What the combine really does is puts players in an equal environment for comparison. Heres’ my Mock Draft 2.0. Free agency starts in a week and that should blow this thing all to hell.

Round 1

Cincinnati Bengals (2-14): Joe Burrow QB LSU

Burrow didn’t work out at the combine and he really only met a few teams high enough up to draft him but he’s going to Cincinnati unless someone gives up a King’s ransom in draft picks for him. That’s not going to happen so Burrow goes home to Ohio and the Bengals getting the fresh start for the franchise they need. Andy Dalton gets shipped off to another team and Zac Taylor gets his QB of the future. I like Burrow. He fits the mold of a good to great NFL QB. He has great size, arm strength, accuracy and touch. He’s the best thing to hit Cincinnati since WKRP.

Miami Dolphins **(from Washington) **: Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama

I don’t normally predict trades but this one just makes too much sense. The Dolphins have been after Tua all year and as long as his medical check on hip comes back fine, I think they will move up to make sure no one trades into Detroit’s spot and steals Tua away. The Redskins need players and while it’s tough to pass on Chase Young, I think the Dolphins will make an offer they simply can’t refuse. I think they give the Redskins two of their picks in the first round of this draft and more, how much more I can’t say but they want to get this deal done and get their QB. The Redskins are not one DE away from turning things around and dropping to the #5 pick means they pick up extra draft picks and still get one of the three elite defenders in this draft (Young, Jeff Okudah or Isaiah Simmons) or potentially the offensive tackle they will need to replace Trent Williams.

Detroit Lions (3-12-1): Chase Young DE Ohio St.

Matt Patricia will be dancing a jig if this prediction comes true. The Lions signed Trey Flowers last year from the Patriots but Flowers has never been a major sack guy. Young has the potential to be at least a 15 sacks per year type of player. The Lions defense was awful and the best pass rusher in the draft and the best overall defender would go a long way towards helping Patricia fix that side of the ball. Having their pick of the best defensive players in the draft is a pretty good problem to have but Young is the one that can most affect the game overall and Patricia needs this defense to play better or he’s looking for a new job soon.

New York Giants (4-12): Isaiah Simmons LB Clemson

The Giants have changed coaching staffs once again and this time they are going with former Bill Belichick disciple Joe Judge. He was a special team’s coach but he learned all kinds of things from Belichick and one thing he learned from Belichick is you should build a defense with multi-dimensional players. There is no better multi-dimensional player than Simmons. He can play about five positions including all three LB positions and both safety spots. He can also be used as a blitzer from any of those spots and that makes him immensely valuable. Simmons is the swiss-army knife of defensive players and it’s only unfortunate for the Giants that there’s only one of him. I think in Joe Judge’s estimation Simmons will be more valuable to him than CB Jeff Okudah which is why the Giants go with him.

Washington Redskins **(from Miami)**: Tristan Wirfs OT Iowa

The Redskins passed up a chance at Chase Young to drop down here to five in the trade with Miami and pick up more picks. As much as Ron Rivera would like Young, he knows this team needs more than just a DE and two picks in this first round plus more (I wouldn’t be surprised if they get Miami’s #1 next year). The team could obviously pick the remaining elite defensive player in Jeff Okudah but I think they make a different calculation here. LT Trent Williams wants out of Washington and now the team seems more than willing to grant his wish. He’s 31, had some health issues and didn’t play last season, moving on seems prudent considering this team isn’t likely to compete while he’s still around. Wirfs blew up at the combine and showed the type of athleticism teams missed when watching him on tape. He can play LT and I think the new Redskins regime gets a new long-term answer at LT for their offense.

Los Angeles Chargers (5-11): Mekhi Becton OT Louisville

I know the prevailing wisdom is that the Chargers take a QB here to replace Phillip Rivers and right now everyone seems to have them slated to take Jordan Love, I’m not convinced. I think the Chargers are looking at a possibly signing a veteran or just going with Tyrod Taylor and drafting someone in the second or third round. I’m not sure opening a new stadium with a rookie who isn’t Burrow or Tua at QB is the way they want to go. If they can trade up for Tua they might but I think Miami outbids them. They just traded starting LT Russell Okung to Carolina for a new starting OG Trai Turner. They needed a new RT already which makes OT a huge priority. Becton is a mountain of a human being with excellent athleticism and he should slot in to LT immediately. I could see this team going with Taylor at QB for now and drafting someone like Jalen Hurts in round two hoping he can compete with Taylor.

Carolina Panthers (5-11): Jeff Okudah CB Ohio St.

The Panthers defense needs work and this would be a lucky break for them if Okudah falls this far. He is certainly worthy of going higher than seventh overall but the needs of other teams push him here, it reminds me a little of Jacksonville lucking into Josh Allen last year. The Panthers need help at all levels on defense and with James Bradberry set to be a free agent there is a ready-made spot for Okudah to step in and start. The team could go with DT Derrick Brown but I see Okudah as better value here, getting a #1 CB is never easy and having one fall into your lap should never be taken for granted.

Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1): Derrick Brown DT Auburn

There is a lot of discussion about the Cardinals taking a WR but with the depth of the class and the fact they still have Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and last year’s rookies Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson I think they can go elsewhere. That elsewhere is the defense that needs reinforcements everywhere. Brown is the best defender left on the board and he would slot in nicely on a line that isn’t exactly teeming with playmakers. Brown would help take some of the pass rushing load off of OLB Chandler Jones and he’s a good run stopper. The team could lose some depth on the d-line in free agency so Brown is a solid choice all around.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10): Jedrick Wills Jr. OT Alabama

The Jaguars have a number of needs on defense and really only one need on offense. They are not satisfied with the health or performance of Cam Robinson at LT and the value of Wills is higher than any defender they can get here. Wills played RT at Alabama and a lot of that was due to the presence of Alex Leatherwood at LT. Wills will have to make an adjustment to move the left side but he possesses the athleticism to make the transition. It’s a matter of him picking up the footwork and technique of the left side. It’s possible the Jags go for a guy like DT Javon Kinlaw or DE AJ Epenesa because there are no other defenders that might rate this high but Wills is a higher rated prospect overall and fills a need.

Cleveland Browns (6-10): Andrew Thomas OT Georgia

The Browns are one of the teams considering a trade for Washington’s Trent Williams but even if they get him, they could still use Thomas, they aren’t exactly stacked on the offensive line. Thomas is also the last of the top OT left after this early run. Four OTs gone in the first ten picks just shows you how important protecting your QB is in the pass happy NFL. Thomas is one of my favorite players in this draft and even though he may have fallen behind Wirfs, Becton and Wills in the pecking order that doesn’t mean he isn’t a legitimate 10-year starting LT with Pro Bowl caliber talent. I would feel quite confident plugging him in at LT and not worrying about the position for the next decade, the Browns have been searching for that since Joe Thomas called it a career.

New York Jets (7-9): CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma

The Jets will be highly disappointed if there is an early run on OTs like I have in this draft. They desperately need to address the o-line and now they have to make a calculation, do they take the top WR on the board or draft the fifth best OT. WR is a big need too and taking either Lamb, Jerry Jeudy or even Henry Ruggs III is better value than the next OT. Lamb is a top-notch deep threat that Sam Darnold would welcome with open arms. I like Jeudy better but many teams have Lamb ahead of him and he would fill the void left by the likely departure of Robby Anderson in free agency. Lamb would actually be an upgrade in terms of consistency. The team will clearly have to address offensive line later but they also have some money to spend in free agency and are also a potential landing spot for Trent Williams in a trade from Washington.

Las Vegas Raiders (7-9): Justin Herbert QB Oregon

As much as I’m sure some fans would like Tom Brady to be the Raiders QB when they open up in Vegas, I just don’t see the fit for either side. Brady has other options that are closer to winning and don’t have to go through Patrick Mahomes just to win their division. Also, while Gruden may like Brady’s winning ways, I’m not sure his current skill set is what Gruden wants on the field. If the team is turning the page on Derek Carr they need to start over with a new, shiny toy at QB to excite the fan base in Vegas. Herbert passes the eyeball test, he’s big, athletic and has a big arm. There is plenty of WR depth in this draft to get Herbert some new targets and team already has a good o-line and great RB which is a perfect combo for an incoming rookie QB who needs a little time to adjust.

Indianapolis Colts (7-9): AJ Epenesa DE Iowa

The Colts are almost certainly going to sign a veteran QB to either replace or at least compete with Jacoby Brissett. The rumor is that Phillip Rivers is coming to reunite with Frank Reich and Nick Sirianni, two coaches he played for before back in his San Diego days. If the Colts are in win-now mode with Rivers I think they have to address the defensive line. Justin Houston is 31 and not nearly as effective if he has to play too much, and Jabaal Sheard is a free agent. AJ Epenesa didn’t have a good combine performance but the game film is there. With Kemoko Turay, an undersized DE manning one side they would be smart to grab Epenesa who could back up both Turay and Houston and bring some size on running downs and be a power rusher to complement their speed on the edge. A lot of mock drafts have them taking a WR and while I love Jerry Jeudy the team still doesn’t know what the have in last year’s rookie WR Parris Campbell, it’s too early to give up on him and this draft has plenty of depth at WR.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Javon Kinlaw DT South Carolina

The Buccaneers have a number of free agents including their QB Jameis Winston but I don’t see Bruce Arians looking to start over with a rookie when he has an offense that is poised to perform now. The other place this team has free agents is all over their front seven. They are likely to franchise tag Shaq Barrett after his breakout year as a pass rusher but that means they could lose guys like Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul, Beau Allen and Carl Nassib. They need some new blood and Kinlaw is ready made to play on day one. He would fit well at DE in their 3-man front and be a cheaper and younger replacement for Suh. Kinlaw is a bit of a steal at this spot because he’s a very talented d-lineman and the Bucs would be lucky to have him.

Denver Broncos (7-9): Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama

The Broncos think they found their QB of the future in Drew Lock and now it’s time to build the offense around him. They have WR Courland Sutton, TE Noah Fant, RBs Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsey. They could address the offensive line but Jeudy is too good to pass up. He’s arguably the top WR in the draft and his technical proficiency is an ideal complement to Sutton and Fant in the passing game. Jeudy is a master route runner and Lock will love the fact that he is always exactly where he’s supposed to be. The team has a lot of free agents on the defensive line but they would have to reach a bit for a guy like Neville Gallimore or Ross Blacklock to fill that need, taking Jeudy is the smart move.

Atlanta Falcons (7-9): K’Lavon Chaisson OLB/DE LSU

The Falcons are letting Vic Beasley walk after years of hoping he would be the star pass rusher they needed. There was lots of promise but he never broke through to be consistent. The team also has an important free agent at LB in De’Vondre Campbell. Chaisson is another undersize pass rushing LB but he brings one element the Falcon love, speed. They have to get better on defense if they want to get back to being a playoff team and with Tampa Bay and Carolina in transitional stages and Drew Brees aging in New Orleans, they team needs to make a move soon. Chaisson may be a bit of a gamble but he could pay off huge.

Dallas Cowboys (8-8): CJ Henderson CB Florida

The Cowboys have signed extensions with guys like DE Demarcus Lawrence, RB Ezekiel Elliott and RT La’el Collins, now they have to sign Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper and pretty soon the money is going to run out. The one big free agent they are most likely to lose is CB Byron Jones, someone is going to pay him more than they can afford (the Eagles would love to steal him from their chief rival). That would leave a gigantic hole in the back of their defense and while Henderson isn’t Jones, he is the second-best CB in the draft and his rookie deal won’t break the bank. Henderson is long and fast and he will hold his own immediately and he will step in as their #1 CB. That’s the best they can ask from this draft.

Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh): Josh Jones OT Houston

I think the Dolphins pull off their Tua trade by giving up the 26^th pick in the draft not this one. But if they do, that pick necessitates this one. If you’re going to draft a QB with an injury history you better draft some guys to protect him, especially when your offensive line is as bad as Miami’s was this last season. Jones is the fifth OT drafted but he’s definitely worthy of being a starting LT in the NFL. The Dolphins have lots of holes to fill but making sure Tua is successful is the most important part of their rebuild.

Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago): Henry Ruggs III WR Alabama

The Raiders got their new QB earlier, now it’s time to get him a new toy to play with. Ruggs is the definition of a deep speed receiver and that’s what this team needs. They have Tyrell Williams who is the big WR at 6’4 and they have Hunter Renfrow, he covers the slot. Ruggs would be the guy to go deep and open up the middle for Renfrow to work inside, TE Darren Waller to find some space and for Williams to play the intermediate area. Herbert has a big arm and he would be wasting it if the team doesn’t find a player that can take the top off the defense. Ruggs isn’t your average deep threat either, he catches almost everything and he can be equally deadly on the inside and the outside.

Jacksonville Jaguars (from St. Louis): Trevon Diggs CB Alabama

The Jaguars defense was fantastic a couple of years ago but it feels longer. The team traded Jalen Ramsey during the season and have now agreed to trade AJ Bouye to Denver this off season, all of the sudden their CB position looks really rocky. Diggs is a good athlete with a heck of a pedigree coming out of Alabama. He also has NFL genes as he’s the younger brother of Vikings WR Stefon Diggs. Trevon doesn’t wow you like Okudah and he isn’t as fast as Henderson but he’s a damn good CB and the Jags need more than one of those in this draft, might as well start here.

Philadelphia Eagles (9-7): Justin Jefferson WR LSU

The Eagles have two glaring issues going into the off season. In the secondary they have a boatload of free agents and at WR Nelson Agholor is almost certainly out and Alshon Jeffrey may have worn out his welcome. I think the team will look to spend some money at CB with Byron Jones their top target and then maybe bring back a player or two. At WR Justin Jefferson is a guy that isn’t the biggest, isn’t the fastest and isn’t at the same level as the top three but he just gets it done. Even with All-World WR Ja’Marr Chase leading the way at LSU Jefferson was still a go-to guy at crunch time. When you need a first down, he’s there. He will make Carson Wentz’s life a lot easier.

Buffalo Bills (10-6): Yetur Gross-Matos DE Penn St.

Everyone seems to think this team needs to get Josh Allen some WR help but that is a deep position they can address later. At DE the team relies on Trent Murphy, who has never set the world on fire and Jerry Hughes, who isn’t getting any younger. DE is not the deepest position in this draft and Gross-Matos has a skill set Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier might appreciate. He isn’t the most refined pass rusher but being around veterans like Hughes and Murphy could really aid his development. Playing for smart defensive minded coaches like McDermott and Frazier wouldn’t hurt either.

New England Patriots (12-4): Tee Higgins WR Clemson

I’m operating under the assumption that Tom Brady returns to New England but even if he doesn’t it’s not like this team is drafting Jordan Love or Jacob Eason in round one, if there is no Brady, they are signing a veteran. Assuming Brady is back they have to get him some weapons, hence the reason they use a second consecutive 1^st round pick on a WR. Last year it was N’Keal Harry, he’s a big, physical power WR, Higgins is big and physical but he has actual deep speed, a skill that is not Harry’s forte. The Patriots passing game problems stem from the fact that no one takes the top off the defense. They could use Higgins deep speed and playmaking ability to open up the offense for Harry to work the intermediate area and Edelman and their host of RBs to work underneath. The defense needs some help but if Brady comes back it will be because they promised to get him some help in the passing game.

New Orleans Saints (13-3): Kristian Fulton CB LSU

In the pass happy NFL, it’s a little scary when you have a couple of impending free agents at CB like the Saints do; Eli Apple and PJ Williams. They need to get Marshon Lattimore a new running mate and there just so happens to be one not too far away. Fulton can step in right away opposite Lattimore and hold his own, as good as he is he wasn’t the top CB at LSU by season’s end (seriously, Derek Stingley Jr was a freshman who is unbelievable) so he knows what it’s like to have teams throwing at him to avoid throwing to the other side. Fulton may not have elite athleticism of Jeff Okudah or the speed of CJ Henderson but he’s plenty good and will be a consistent starter.

Minnesota Vikings (10-6): AJ Terrell CB Clemson

A run on CBs early would be bad for the Vikings seeing that they have two free agents in Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander and Xavier Rhodes might have to be a cap casualty after a down year and a high salary. Terrell didn’t test like Okudah and Henderson but he’s a natural CB with great instincts and great size for the position. He started for two years at Clemson as the #1 corner so he’s used to playing against top competition. He struggled in the National Championship game in the first half against LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase, there is no shame in that, what was impressive was how he bounced back in the second half and played quite well. CBs need confidence and a short memory, Terrell has both.

Washington Redskins **(from Miami)**: Laviska Shenault WR Colorado

I think the Redskins pick up this pick from Miami in the earlier trade. While you would think Ron Rivera would want to get some defensive help the organization has to make a decision on whether or not they want to move forward with Dwayne Haskins at QB. I’m working under they assumption they are going with Haskins for at least this year and that means getting him some help. Wirfs was the first pick to stabilize Haskins protection, now he needs weapons. WR Terry McLaurin was good last year as a deep threat and he clearly has a connection with Haskins, now they need someone underneath. Shenault is a jack-of-all-trades type of WR and can even line up in the backfield. He didn’t have a great combine but he was dealing with a core muscle injury that required surgery. He should be fine well before the season starts and Washington would be lucky to get him.

Seattle Seahawks (11-5): Julian Okwara DE Notre Dame

I’m throwing a bit of a wildcard into the mix here and that’s generally what the Seahawks do, at least lately, in the first round. Recently, they took DE LJ Collier and RB Rashaad Penny in the first round and here they take Okwara. Okwara is a talented player who missed a lot of last season with a broken leg so he was sort of out of sight, out of mind. The team could have massive defections on the defensive line including DEs Jadeveon Clowney and Ziggy Ansah as well as DT Jarran Reed. They will be counting on Collier to step up at one DE spot but he didn’t show much as a rookie. Collier is a power rusher while Okwara is smaller and will use more speed. Okwara might actually be better as a 3-4 OLB but the Seahawks have never been married to convention on their defense. Okwara hasn’t gotten a lot of love as a potential 1^st round pick but before he was injured, he was showing the type of development that could get him there and the Seahawks don’t care what other teams think of a prospect.

Baltimore Ravens (14-2): Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma

At 14-2 the Ravens had a fantastic season and the lion’s share of the credit goes to MVP Lamar Jackson, now it’s time to help him out but not like you think. The team could certainly use another WR but at this point a guy like Jalen Reagor isn’t head and shoulders above someone you can get a bit later. Murray is the best LB not named Isaiah Simmons in this draft and the Ravens played Josh Bynes entirely too much in the middle of their defense last year. This is a team with a legacy of Ray Lewis and CJ Mosley at ILB, Murray is the type of talent and leader who could take that mantle. While getting Jackson another weapon on offense sounds nice, getting the defense some help in the middle would take some pressure off the offense.

Tennessee Titans (9-7): Zack Baun OLB Wisconsin

The Titans have three major free agents in QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Derrick Henry and RT Jack Conklin, losing any of the three would mean those positions would be high on the priority list. If they have them back then OLB jumps to the top of the list. Cameron Wake is 90 in NFL years (he’s 38 in regular human years), Harold Landry hasn’t proven to be a difference maker yet and while Kamalei Correa had a nice run in the playoffs, he’s a free agent and a little too inconsistent to count on. Baun isn’t a household name outside of Wisconsin but he has a great overall skill set. He can rush the passer as an OLB but he also plays quite well as an overall LB. He’s not flashy, he’s just good. I’m pretty sure that’s the Titans team slogan.

Green Bay Packers (13-3): Jalen Reagor WR TCU

Over the last several years the Packers have let go of WRs Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb and have tried to replace them with the likes of Geronimo Allison, Equanimeous St. Brown, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and even Allen Lazard. It’s time to get Aaron Rodgers and Devante Adams some help. Reagor is a master in the slot and he can play outside too. He would become a dangerous weapon for Rodgers and take a whole lot of pressure off of Adams. The team could go for an OT replacement if they lose RT Bryan Bulaga or they could take a TE but Reagor addresses a huge need and he would make Rodgers happy.

San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Xavier McKinney S Alabama

The 49ers secondary was the beneficiary of a great pass rush but they could really use some help in coverage. Jimmie Ward was their FS but he’s a free agent and he’s clearly behind DE Arik Armstead and WR Emmanuel Sanders in the pecking order to be re-signed. McKinney is a great fit in San Francisco because he’s such a versatile player and his best position to use that versatility is at FS. Former safety John Lynch is making this pick as GM and he will love McKinney’s skill set. The 49ers made it to the Super Bowl and they aren’t that far from winning it so while I wanted to give them an OT to groom behind 13-year veteran LT Joe Staley, they need someone who will be more impactful since they don’t have a lot of draft picks this year.

Kansas City Chiefs (12-4): D’Andre Swift RB Georgia

The rich get richer on offense. The Chiefs are likely to franchise DT Chris Jones, they can’t afford to lose him. They also need to re-sign either Bashaud Breeland or Kendall Fuller at CB or they are in a world of trouble there. The problem is that at CB the best available here are Bryce Hall, Jeff Gladney or Damon Arnette, those guys aren’t nearly as valuable as the best RB in the draft. Personally, I like Jonathan Taylor more than Swift but Swift is the more proven pass catcher and that fits the Chiefs offense a bit better. The Chiefs aren’t a team that has cared to invest in the RB position, current starter Damien Williams was a cheap free agent who replaced mid-round draft pick Kareem Hunt. However, when you’re the team that just won the Super Bowl and you don’t have a ton of glaring holes to fix, you can draft the best available player, that’s Swift.

Round 2

Cincinnati: Austin Jackson OT USC

The Bengals are investing in a rebuild around Joe Burrow so they better get him some protection. They drafted Jonah Williams last year and he missed the season with an injury, he can come back and take the RT spot. Cordy Glenn is their incumbent LT but he’s 30, injury prone and they are looking to trade or cut him. Austin Jackson is a little raw but has all the makings of a starting LT.

Indianapolis: Jordan Love QB Utah St.

The Colts are almost assuredly going to sign a veteran QB (the money is on Phillip Rivers) but he isn’t a long-term answer. Love is the type of player that could use a redshirt year and this would be a great scenario for the Colts. (I really believe Love goes in the first round somewhere, I just couldn’t find a spot for him)

Detroit: Neville Gallimore DT Oklahoma

The Lions luck into Chase Young in round one and then have Gallimore fall into their laps here. Their starting DT duo of A’Shawn Robinson and Mike Daniels are both free agents so having a first-round caliber DT falling to them here works out great.

New York Giants: Curtis Weaver OLB/DE Boise St.

The Giants defense will be changing to a multiple front look with Joe Judge coming in and bringing Patrick Graham to run the defense. Simmons is the swiss army knife in the middle of defense, Weaver can be that from the edge. He’s not a traditional DE or OLB so he’ll be little of both.

Los Angeles Chargers: Jalen Hurts QB Oklahoma

Hey, look what I predicted earlier. I think the Chargers may go for broke here and bet big on Hurts being their version of Lamar Jackson. For now, they can count on Tyrod Taylor to be the placeholder at QB but Hurts is a lottery ticket and this team is looking to make a splash in Los Angeles.

Carolina: Patrick Queen LB LSU

The Panthers lost All-Everything MLB Luke Kuechly to retirement, if they are lucky enough to have Patrick Queen fall to them here after Okudah falls to them in round one they will officially be the luckiest team at the draft. Queen is first-round quality and would fill a huge need.

Miami: Jonathan Taylor RB Wisconsin

The Dolphins have no RB to speak of at the moment and Taylor would give them a bell cow to rely on while breaking in Tua at QB. Taylor is my favorite RB in this draft and even though that team needs more help on the o-line, Taylor will still be effective.

Arizona: Cesar Ruiz C/G Michigan

The Cardinals re-signed LT DJ Humphries but center AQ Shipley is a 33-year old free agent and Ruiz showed great movement skills at the combine. He should really solidify the middle of the line in front of franchise QB Kyler Murray.

Cleveland: Grant Delpit S LSU

Morgan Burnett is on the wrong side of 30 and Damarious Randall is a free agent, that makes safety a very thin position. Delpit came into the year as a possible 1^st round pick. Some of his limitations (he’s not the surest tackler) showed through so he ends up here.

Jacksonville: Ross Blacklock DT TCU

The Jaguars have some issues on defense and in the front seven they cut DT Marcell Dareus and DE Calais Campbell will turn 34 next season. Blacklock is versatile d-line prospect who can make some plays, which is what they need.

Chicago: Cole Kmet TE Notre Dame

The Bears have a few needs but none are bigger than helping out QB Mitch Trubisky if they really are going to stay with him. Even if they decide to sign a QB as competition for him they could use a little help on offense. Trey Burton is a good TE when he’s healthy, he’s just never healthy. Kmet is a big, athletic guy who can really bring something to the table offensively. He would be a nice safety valve for the QB, whoever it is, and that would open some things up for Allen Robinson at WR and the run game. They could certainly look to replace the retired Kyle Long at OG but you can get quality guards later. Kmet is actually the highest rated TE on the board, that’s good value at 43^rd overall.

Indianapolis: Denzel Mims WR Baylor

The Colts need to get some help for TY Hilton at WR and for whomever they have at QB. Mims was a highly productive WR at Baylor who went to the combine and showed elite athleticism. He would be a nice complement to Hilton and could grow as a #1 WR to pair with Jordan Love long-term.

Tampa Bay: Isaiah Wilson OT Georgia

RT Demar Dotson is a free agent and they don’t have a lot of depth on the o-line to begin with. Wilson is a mammoth OT who showed really excellent athleticism at the combine. He’s a natural RT and could step in immediately.

Denver: Justin Madubuike DT Texas A&M

The Broncos have all three of their starting defensive linemen heading for free agency, it’s unlikely they can bring all three back. They run a 3-4 defense and Madubuike would fit in pretty well and has some versatility.

Atlanta: JK Dobbins RB Ohio St.

The Falcons have Devonta Freeman at RB but they could look for a partner or potentially an upgrade. Freeman was at his best sharing the load with Tevin Coleman before he left but he might actually end up just being replaced by a guy with fresher legs like Dobbins. Dobbins isn’t big but he plays big when he needs too. He’s very talented and this team could use him.

New York Jets: Ezra Cleveland OT Boise St.

The Jets missed out on the top tier of OTs in the first round so they went with the WR they need, here they get an OT from the next group. Cleveland is a bit raw but he has all the athletic traits you need to turn him into a very good starting LT. Sam Darnold would welcome him to an offense that needs help up front.

Pittsburgh: Terrell Lewis OLB Alabama

The Steelers have a big free agent in OLB Bud Dupree that they want to bring back and they may even franchise him if they must to keep him. Even if they are able to keep Dupree and continue to pair him with TJ Watt, they are pretty lacking at OLB behind those two. Lewis is a multi-dimensional player that could help out at the LB spot in a lot of ways. He falls a little bit here as he could go much higher but he lacks one elite skill, he’s good at a lot of things but isn’t elite at any one in particular.

Chicago: Bryce Hall CB Virginia

The Bears let Prince Amukamara go and they need some help at CB. Hall missed most of the season with an ankle injury and he didn’t work out at the combine. His ankle should be fine and if he had played all season, I think he could have been first round pick. This pick could be a huge steal.

Dallas: Brandon Aiyuk WR Arizona

The Cowboys have free agents coming out of their ears and while there are plenty of high-profile ones, including WR Amari Cooper, the overlooked issue is the it’s not just Cooper who’s a free agent at WR. Both Tavon Austin and Randall Cobb are also that means they need help even if they re-sign Cooper. Aiyuk has first round potential so stealing him here would be a coup. Maybe he’s Coopers replacement if he leaves, if not he’s a heck of a #3 WR with Cooper and Michael Gallup in front of him.

Los Angeles Rams: Lloyd Cushenberry III C/G LSU

The Rams biggest free agent to re-sign is LT Andrew Whitworth even though he’s 38 because they don’t have an alternative. Even if they bring him back, they need help on the interior of the line because Austin Blythe is a free agent and they had to trade for Austin Corbett last year just to try to piece together the interior of the line. Cushenberry would be an upgrade at center and could play guard if they want to keep Brian Allen in the pivot. They should re-sign Blythe since he played well at multiple positions for them but he might price himself out of LA if he gets a solid offer elsewhere. This is the Rams first pick since they traded their #1 for Jalen Ramsey and with all of the issues they had last season, fixing the o-line should be priority #1.

Philadelphia: Antoine Winfield Jr. S Minnesota

I have the Eagles making some moves in free agency to fill their CB issues but that might not leave room for re-signing FS Rodney McLeod. Winfield isn’t the biggest guy but he is tough and physical and would fit in right away. He can make some plays and playing with a veteran like Malcolm Jenkins would be a good place for him.

Buffalo: Chase Claypool WR Notre Dame

The Bills have two talented WRs in John Brown and Cole Beasley but they share one common trait, they are small in stature. The team needs a bigger WR to give Josh Allen a different type of target. Claypool is 6’4 229 lbs. and he blazed his forty at the combine. That’s the type of athlete they need to make their offense more well-rounded.

Atlanta: Brycen Hopkins TE Purdue

The Falcons are staring at a future without Austin Hooper at TE if he gets a big deal in free agency. Matt Ryan likes using his TE and even if they bring Hooper back it couldn’t hurt the offense to have another pass catcher at TE. Hopkins has plenty of work to do on his overall game but he could be very good in the passing game.

Miami: Marlon Davidson DE Auburn

Davidson has been the “other” defensive lineman from Auburn because Derrick Brown has taken up so much of the spotlight but Davidson is an excellent player. He would fit really well in the Dolphins defense under Brian Flores. He would be a good 3-4 DE with lots of versatility to move around.

Houston: Jeff Gladney CB TCU

The Texans don’t have a lot of draft capital to work with so they need to address some very specific needs. Both Jonathan Joseph and Bradley Roby are free agents at CB and Joseph is aging. Gladney isn’t a household name but he is a very good-looking prospect. He might even be gone long before this as there isn’t a lot of separation between the third CB prospect and Gladney being the seventh. Houston could also go shopping for more help at offensive line but I think Gladney is better value here than taking an interior offensive lineman that probably wouldn’t start right away.

Minnesota: Jacob Eason QB Washington

This pick may seem out of left field but Kirk Cousins is entering the last year of his three-year guaranteed deal he signed with the Vikings as a free agent. The team hasn’t gone as far as they would like and it might be time to plan for a new chapter. Even if they want to bring Cousins back, he is going to be 32 this next season. Eason is a wildcard for sure, he could be the next John Elway or he could be the next Kyle Boller. Minnesota is buying a lottery ticket.

Seattle: Jaylon Johnson CB Utah

The Seahawks need to address the offensive line but they have never really prioritized that so I’m not going to assume they will here. They have Shaq Griffin and Tre Flowers starting at CB but they don’t have much depth. Johnson was a big-time player on a team with a damn good defense. He isn’t a big name but he has plenty of game.

Baltimore: Josh Uche OLB Michigan

The Ravens could potentially lose pass rusher Matt Judon, although they are trying to re-sign him, but even if they keep him, they could use Uche. Judon could use a running partner and the Ravens ask their OLBs to do more than just rush and Uche has a good all-around game.

Tennessee: Cam Akers RB Florida St.

The Titans have every intention to re-sign Derrick Henry and even if they do, they still need to get someone to give him a break. Akers was a true talent on a team that wasn’t very good the last few years and I think he’ll be a better pro than he was at Florida St. When Henry goes out of the game Dion Lewis just isn’t good enough to run the offense through, Akers is.

Green Bay: Lucas Niang OT TCU

OTs Bryan Bulaga and Jason Spriggs are both free agents and even if they bring Bulaga back they need depth and starting LT David Bakhtiari is a free agent next season. They have to protect Aaron Rodgers if they expect him to use his new shiny WR Jalen Reagor. Niang isn’t a big name but he’s a good developmental OT.

Kansas City: Noah Igbinoghene CB Auburn

The Chiefs have some holes to fill in the secondary and while Igbinoghene is raw he has plenty of talent. The kid has come a long way considering he wasn’t even a CB until two years ago. If he has to be a starter right away, it could be painful. If they can ease him in, he could end up being really good.

Seattle: Tyler Biadasz C/G Wisconsin

I wouldn’t doubt Biadasz and I would actually draft him higher than this but he does have some limitations in terms of getting outside and getting to the second level. He is strong as an ox and in an interior fight he’ll win every time but outside the box he can struggle. The Seahawks need some new blood on their o-line and when Justin Britt got hurt last season they struggled at center. Biadasz and play guard or center so he’s a great pick up for them, Russell Wilson will agree.

NFL Combine Hott Read-CBs and Safeties

Cornerback is a position of depth in this draft even if it is lacking for elite talent beyond Jeff Okudah of Ohio St. Safety is a position lacking in depth and elite talent period. No offense to Xavier McKinney and Grant Delpit but neither of them are going to be mistaken for Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu. Okudah has a chance to be a perenniel Pro Bowler. The race at the combine was to prove who was the second best CB and whether or not they are worth at least a mid-first round pick. Coming in to today the contenders were; Kristian Fulton, Trevon Diggs, CJ Henderson, Damon Arnette, and AJ Terrell with an outside possibility of a Cam Dantzler or Bryce Hall. There were some clear winners and clear losers in this race. At safety some players enhanced their value but overall it’s a group that was lacking star power.

Cornerback

Jeff Okudah is the star of the group and he showed why when he ran 4.48 at 6’1 205 lbs., he couldn’t be a more prototypical CB if you made him in a lab. He’s also competitive enough that even with no competition for the top CB spot he still wanted to work out. He ran his forty and then went to compete in the on field drills. He ended up leaping for a pass and coming down hard and hitting his head on the turf. He was a shook up by it but he wanted to continue. Luckily for him Deion Sanders was on the field covering the combine for the NFL Network and literally talked Okudah into skipping the rest of the drills (the guy has nothing more to prove). Even though he was supposed to call it a day he decided to still do the jumping tests (he just couldn’t help himself) and even a little banged up he hit 41 inches on the vert and over 11 feet on the broad jump. This guy is unreal.
The race for the second CB had two guys bow out early as Bryce Hall only did the bench press (he’s still coming back from an ankle injury) and Cam Dantzler ran a 4.64 in the forty (see you round 3). Trevon Diggs didn’t workout other than the on field drills but he looked good enough to stay in the competition but he lost ground today. Damon Arnette ran 4.56 which doesn’t eliminate him from the competition either but it does make teams start to wonder if he ends up as a safety. CJ Henderson ran 4.39, Kristian Fulton ran 4.46, and AJ Terrell ran 4.42 and the competition was on.
CJ Henderson showed why it seems like he has such great makeup speed on the field, because he does. He also proved highly athletic with a 37.5″ vert and a 10’7 broad jump. He looked very smooth in drills and he may have had the best overall day.
AJ Terrell ran plenty fast at 4.42 and his 34.5″ vert and 10’9 broad jump showed his athleticism too. He wasn’t quite as natural as Henderson in the drills but one thing Terrell has that every CB needs is a short memory. He got torched early in Clemson’s game against LSU by Ja’Marr Chase but he rebounded to play well in the second half. Chase is a stud and Terrell never backed down.
Kristian Fulton went 4.46 in the forty, 35.5″ in the vert and 10’3 in the broad jump. He is a slightly less athletic player than Henderson and Terrell but he’s just a tough guy to shake in coverage. All three guys are 1st round picks but I think Henderson pulled slightly a head overall.
Javelin Guidry from Utah made himself some money. He’s 5’9 and most likely going to be a nickel corner but that’s an important position to everyone in the NFL and Guidry ran a 4.29 forty to make everyone go back and watch his tape. He apparently played in the slot a lot at Utah which only helps his cause, he has plenty of experience.
UCLA’s Darnay Holmes had a good day. He ran faster than expected (4.48) but it was his work in the position drills that really stood out. This kid is smooth and looks natural at everything he does. It’s easy to forget UCLA’s football team (their fans are trying to anyway) but Holmes is a bright spot for them.
Iowa’s Michael Ojemudia ran a faster than expect 4.45 forty and that’s going to help but he looked a little stiff in the position drills. I’m not sure he can stick at CB in the NFL but I can see him making a Micah Hyde like transition to safety and playing that position for a long time in the league.
One guy who is for sure going to have to transition to safety is Florida St.’s Stanford Samuels. He ran 4.65 but honestly it was the slowest looking 4.65 I’ve ever seen and I’ve been watching the combine intently for quite some time.

Safety

Xavier McKinney pulled up with cramps during his forty and ended up with a 4.63, he’s not actually that slow, but then he pulled out of the rest of the workout. Grant Delpit didn’t work out at all and Ashtyn Davis only did the bench press. That took the top three safeties out of the day and those guys are by far the best of the bunch.
Jeremy Chinn of Southern Illinois had a fantastic day. He’s 6’3 221 lbs. and he ran 4.45, had a vert of 41″, and a broad jump of 11’6. That’s a freaky athlete that almost every team would be glad to take a chance on. Considering there’s an opening for the fourth safety in this draft, Chinn put his best foot forward and had a good day.
Two other players on the opposite ends of the physical stature spectrum both turned in good days. Clemson’s Tanner Muse is 6’2 221 lbs. and ran 4.41, jumped 34.5″ and 10’4. Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield Jr. is 5’9 203 lbs. and ran 4.45, and jumped 36″ and 10’4. Those are good numbers for anyone of any size. Winfield looked especially good in the on field drills but that’s not a surprise considering he’s the son of Antoine Winfield and was born to play defensive back.
Iowa’s Geno Stone had a day to forget. I believed when he announced his decision to turn pro a year early that he was making a mistake. Today only confirmed that idea. In what was a very pedestrian group of safeties Geno Stone managed to finish in the bottom five of all four physical tests he did on the day; forty, vert, broad jump and bench press. Technically 5 guys finished with worse forty times but one of those guys was Xavier McKinney, the top safety in the class, who pulled up with a leg cramp about 5 yards shy of the 40 and still only finished .01 seconds behind Stone’s time.

NFL Combine Hott Read-DL and LBs

Saturday was a bit of a let down after the WRs impressed on day one and the offensive line impressed on day two with almost all of the top prospects at those positions deciding to compete in the physical testing. DE Chase Young and DT Javon Kinlaw, two of the premiere players, didn’t participate. Also among the notable players that either didn’t participate at all or only participated in some events were; K’Lavon Chaisson, Yetur Gross-Matos, Terrell Lewis, Curtis Weaver, Julian Okwara, Troy Dye and Josh Uche. Some of these were due to injury and some just decided to wait until their pro days to workout. Add in the fact that Isaiah Simmons pulled out after running one forty and both Kenneth Murray and Patrick Queen pulling up lame with hamstring injuries after their second fortys and there was a lot of star power sitting on the sidelines during the workouts. There were some impressive moments but overall Saturday was a bit disappointing.

Defensive Tackle

Derrick Brown has been considered the top DT prospects in this draft since he announced last year he was returning to Auburn and he has done nothing but solidify that spot all year long. He didn’t need to workout in Indy but he did and he looked very impressive. He’s 6’5 326 lbs. and moves like a guy who’s 250 lbs. He’s smooth, he’s powerful and he should be a top five pick. He might not be because other positions get valued more than DT but he should be a top five pick.
Javon Kinlaw didn’t workout in Indy and he was the only guy who could have competed with Brown for the top DT spot. That chance is over, regardless of how he works out at a pro day. Kinlaw is a top 15 pick but he can’t catch Brown after Brown’s performance.
If you are trying to figure out who the #3 DT is in this class that puts you in the same boat as every talent evaluator in the NFL. There are three viable options and if you ask all 32 NFL teams you will get a pretty even split between Oklahoma’s Neville Gallimore, TCU’s Ross Blacklock and Auburn’s Marlon Davidson.
Gallimore is the shorter guy with the quick first step who doesn’t always use it to his advantage. Blacklock is the athletic one who doesn’t seem to possess the power to anchor but can collapse the pocket on passing downs. Davidson is the guy who looks like a DT but plays better on the end. He fits best on the end of a three-man line and not as a pure pass rushing DE.
The only other DT of note is Texas A&M’s Justin Madubuike. He’s a bit lean and he relies quite a bit on his ability to slip through gaps and isn’t known for his power. He actually put up 31 reps on the bench press but you don’t see him using that type of power on the field. It sort of feeds into the narrative that the bench press isn’t a great measurement for a guy’s power on the football field.

Defensive Ends

Chase Young had no reason to workout in Indy and after the showing by the DE group as a whole he only solidified his spot well above the rest of the group. He is as clean of a prospect as there is and barring a catastrophic event (I’m talking him losing a leg in a shark attack type of event), he’s a top three pick at worst.
The one guy who had any chance of closing the gap between himself and Young was Iowa’s AJ Epenesa and that chance vanished in exactly 5.04 seconds. That was Epenesa’s forty time and while no one expected Epenesa to be fast that time was disappointing. He rebounded during the on field drills and looked fairly quick and smooth. He’s still the second best DE in the class but that has as much to do with the rest of the class either sitting out or not looking impressive at all. Epenesa cost himself any shot at going in the top 10 and he’s probably looking at going somewhere between 20-30 but it’s all going to depend on the right team wanting him. He’s a power rusher, not a speed rusher and while teams are looking for speed, a pass rusher is a pass rusher however they get there.
The DE class overall isn’t overly impressive and with Yetur Gross-Matos and K’Lavon Chaisson not working out it got real thin. Gross-Matos and Chaisson are both still raw and Chaisson is undersized and probably fits better as a pass rushing OLB than a true DE.
One impressive physical speciman at the combine was Florida’s Jabari Zuniga. He’s 6’3 264 lbs. and looks like he was chiseled out of granite. He ran an impressive 4.64 in the forty and had 29 reps on the bench press. All of these physical gifts are nice but it makes his play all the more frustrating because while he will flash with an impressive pass rush one minute he then disappears for a too long of a stretch. He has had some injury history that works against him and he really struggles against the run but if someone drafts him to be a pass rushing specialist he could be a double digit sack guy.
There are two other DEs I liked at the combine and both tested out physically better than I thought they would but neither of them will get drafted because of their physical gifts. Michigan St.’s Kenny Willikes and North Dakota St.’s Derrek Tuszka are two guys who’s motors run constantly. They are the opposites of Zuniga in the fact that they don’t usually make the flashy play but they are never far from the action. Opponents never forget about these two as they are constantly fighting to make a play even if they don’t get there. Willikes is a second day (2nd or 3rd round) pick while Tuszka is more a sleeper that should be moving a up a bit after a good showing in Indy.

Linebackers

This was supposed to be the Isaiah Simmons show and it was, it was just a very short show. Simmons ran the forty in 4.39 seconds and then dropped the mic and walked away. There was no reported injury issue he apparently just felt like that’s all he needed to do, and he was right. Simmons is a special type of talent who could play about five different positions on defense at a Pro Bowl level. He should be a top five pick like Brown, unfortunately like DT, LB isn’t valued as much either so he may not make the top five. Wherever he goes, he’s a good bet to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year next season.
The LB group got even thinner for the on field drills after top prospect Kenneth Murray and Patrick Queen both pulled up with hamstring issues during their second forty runs (Simmons looks like even more of a genius not running a second time). Simmons, Murray and Queen are the only three legitimate LBs who should go in the first round of the draft (not counting pass rushing OLBs like K’Lavon Chaisson or Zack Baun). While neither Queen nor Murray are as fast as Simmons they both ran blazing fast fortys; Queen 4.50 and Murray 4.52.
Having so many pass rushing OLB prospects sit out the workouts (Chaisson, Terrell Lewis, Josh Uche and Curtis Weaver) left it open for a guy like Wisconsin’s Zack Baun to show out. He ran 4.65 and looked good overall. That is going to help him on draft day, along with his versatility. Baun can rush the passer like those other guys and he offers better pure LB skills than those guys. Those other four have to be pass rushers to be useful defenders while Baun can do more in coverage and as a run stopper.
Two LBs who came into the combine needing a good showing due to some off the field issues were LSU’s Michael Divinity and Mississippi St.’s Willie Gay Jr, and boy did they go opposite directions. Divinity was suspended for a multitude of reasons and missed most of his senior year. Gay was suspended for some academic improprieties and while he did get to play his last year he didn’t start a single game. Divinity went out and ran a 4.85 forty and showed very little physically. Gay ran a 4.46 and absolutely balled out in the testing and drills. These are two guys with similar issues, similar physical profiles and they show exactly where the value in the combine lies. Gay just earned himself a shot at getting drafted, making a team and having a future in the NFL. Divinity just punched his ticket to the XFL. Having the opportunity to evaluate players side-by-side is exactly what the combine is all about.

The final day of the combine will feature the defensive backs. Jeff Okudah is the top CB and there is no way any of the other guys pass him, the real fight will be who is the second best CB. At safety, Grant Delpit will try to impress after having a bit of a slow year while Xavier McKinnie of Alabama will show his myriad of skills and probably confuse even more teams about whether he’s a CB or a safety.

NFL Combine Hott Read-OL and RBs

While the WR position is the deepest in this draft the Offensive Line is a pretty impressive group and should have as many as six OTs go in the first round. After the combine Tristan Wirfs, Mekhi Becton, Jedrick Wills and Andrew Thomas are guaranteed to go in round one and they should all be off the board in the top 15-18 picks. Josh Jones and Austin Jackson look like 1st round guys at this point and while QB is the most over drafted position, offensive tackle is a close second. Two guys look like worthwhile projects that could end up drafted higher than they should be, Ezra Cleveland and Isaiah Wilson.

Running back has certainly been a devalued position overall the past half decade and a Super Bowl that featured Damian Williams and Raheem Mostert as the starting RBs didn’t help the cause but it’s still a position of need for a number of teams. Luckily there are some dynamic players in this group, none of whom are seen as top 15 picks but the back half of round one through rounds two and three should provide some serious talent at the position. Jonathan Taylor, D’Andre Swift and Cam Akers really solidified themselves as top players at the combine.

Offensive Line

The offensive line drills might as well have been called the Tristan Wirfs show. I knew he would test well but he exceeded even my expectations. He set the combine record in the vertical for offensive lineman, tied the record in the broad jump and then ran the fastest forty time of the position group this year at 4.85. By the way, Wirfs is barely 21 years old and if just scratching the surface of his talent. Anybody who doesn’t think Wirfs can play OT in the NFL just isn’t paying attention.
Mekhi Becton ran the forty in 5.10, that’s good for an offensive lineman, that’s exceptional when you consider he’s 6’7 364 lbs. After doing one position drill he pulled up with a bad hamstring and cut his workout short but he did what he needed to do, he impressed. Becton might be he first OT off the board, he’s not my top guy but he’s worthy of a top 10 pick.
Jedrick Wills looked good, he’s plenty athletic and his workout only confirmed what his play on the field already tells you, he’s an immediate starter next season. The biggest question for Wills is can he flip to the left side or does he stay on the right side in the pros. The commentators noted that while playing RT at Alabama he protected Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side but that doesn’t mean he’s comfortable flipping to the left side and changing his stance and all the other things that look different from that side. It’s not as easy as you might think. Both Becton and Wirfs have played both RT and LT so that might give them an edge.
Andrew Thomas didn’t do anything to stand out athletically but he looked plenty good and solidied his stock. Thomas is the type of player that while he might not have the potential ceiling of Becton or Wirfs he has the highest floor of any of the OT prospects. Is he a hall of famer? Maybe, maybe not but he’s a 10 year starter who won’t get your QB killed.
Josh Jones and Austin Jackson are kind of the opposite guys in the fact that Jones looks good on tape but doesn’t stand out athletically. Jackson looked good at the combine, he was overshadowed by he freaks Wirfs and Becton but he’s a very good athlete. On tape it doesn’t always translate. He just needs some more work and he’ll be damn good.
Ezra Cleveland is an early entry guy out of Boise St. At 6’6 311 lbs. he fits the mold of a starting LT and his 4.93 forty along with 30 reps on the bench press means he has the athleticism and strength to be just that. He’s still a bit raw and he needs some technique work but he’s a round two pick and probably pretty high in that round.
Isaiah Wilson is another gigantic athlete at 6’6 350 lbs. and he ran a 5.32 forty. He has 35.5 inch arms and when he engages the defender it’s over. He too is pretty raw but he is well worth the investment. Wilson will likely be a RT only but he has the potential to be the best RT in the NFL in three years with the right coaching (assuming Wirfs ends up at LT for someone).
The interior linemen aren’t as impressive as the OT class. With Tyler Biadasz sitting out the drills and Lloyd Cushenberry coming up lame after his forty it left the door open for some other guys to look good but I’m not sure anyone other than Biadasz has a shot of going in the first round, even Cushenberry might only be second round guy. Michigan C Cesar Ruiz looked good as did Oregon’s Shane Lemieux. Washington C Nick Harris had a good workout but nothing is going to make up for him being a bit undersized at 6’1. There are some quality players but the C/G position is going to be 3rd round and lower position.

Running Backs

Jonathan Taylor owned the combine. He was the only RB to run the forty in under 4.4 as his official time was 4.39, and he did that weighing 226 lbs. While I understand that D’Andre Swift, JK Dobbins and even Cam Akers are talented prospects Taylor isn’t getting the respect he deserves. He ran well, caught the ball well and generally looks like a stud RB. Someone is going to get a huge steal with him in the draft. You can’t convince me he won’t be the most productive RB out of this class in the NFL.
D’Andre Swift looked good. I like his skill set. He was fast enough and he looks really smooth running the drills. Swift isn’t the tallest guy but he’s built like a bowling ball and can do everything you need a RB to do.
Cam Akers is almost the forgotten man because the last couple of years at Florida St. have been pretty rough. Akers is an exceptional talent and he displayed all his playmaking ability at the combine. This is one of the guys that can really benefit from the combine because since his team wasn’t very good he wasn’t always able to show off his skills on the field. He’s a great back for today’s game because he excels in the screen game.
One guy that you can throw out the combine stuff and just go with the game tape on is Clyde Edwards-Helaire out of LSU. He’s short and he only ran a 4.6 forty but he clearly plays faster than that and he brings a modern day skill set to the position. He’s never going to be your go-to goalline/short yardage back because he lacks size and power but he has so many skills otherwise he’s incredibly valuable as an offensive weapon.
The NFL has seen a lot of teams go to the multiple back system where you use different players with different skill sets depending on your need. This draft has guys who fit as backs who work well in space and can catch the ball; Eno Benjamin, Darrynton Evans, and Anthony McFarland. As well as bigger, power backs like AJ Dillon, Zack Moss, and Mike Warren.
One guy I like better than most is Vanderbilt’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn. He isn’t dynamic in any one particular thing but he ran 4.51, he has excellent size at 5’10 214 lbs. and even though he played on a less-than-stellar Vanderbilt team he was still a productive back. Even when his SEC opponents knew he was Vandy’s best offensive weapon. He can be a productive NFL back.
One guy that didn’t participate is Ohio St.’s JK Dobbins. Dobbins is small, fast and shifty. Not participating won’t affect his draft stock overall but there is a bit of a jumble at the top of the position. Swift, Taylor, Dobbins, Akers and Edwards-Helaire are generally considered the top five, all of them should somewhere from the 20th overall pick in round one to somewhere through the second round.

Defensive Linemen and Linebackers go on Saturday. I guess we will see if AJ Epenesa can impress as much as his teammate Wirfs did in the physical testing. Chase Young isn’t working out so Epenesa has a chance to make himself the star of the defensive line drills.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: