We are back! It’s the NFL offseason which means, more importantly, it’s NFL mock draft season.
I’ve always looked at the start of mock draft season as the Monday after free agency begins, because every year the player movement wildly alters the state of the draft. And sure enough the blockbuster deal that sent New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr to the Cleveland Browns saw the Browns first-round pick make it’s way to the Big Apple in return.
Of course the player movement also gives insight to how the teams, some of them with new coaches at the helm, are looking to build their rosters. With the Green Bay Packers investing heavily in pass rushers Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith surely shows that they’ll address other needs early in the draft.
So lets jump right into it. Here is our first mock draft of the season…
1.) Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Regardless of where you stand on the “Is Kyler Murray too small?” debate, the Heisman Trophy winner is going first overall. His Pro Day solidified it. Now the question is, where does last year’s first round pick Josh Rosen wind up?
2.) San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio St.
The massive deal the Niners gave Dee Ford after trading for him, combined with the three first round picks already invested in the line surely makes this a key spot for a trade. Would the Jets jump up one spot to land Bosa?
3.) New York Jets: Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan
The Jets will be moving to a 4-3 under new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and Gary is the perfect fit for his aggressive, attacking style of defense. While, Gary’s numbers aren’t too impressive, his freakish athleticism shows great potential.
4.) Oakland Raiders: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
Arguably the best prospect in the draft falls right into the laps of the Raiders. It will be interesting to see how first time general manager Mike Mayock approaches the draft after years of covering the event for the NFL Network.
5.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach Allen, OLB, Kentucky
Tampa is under construction at the moment. New head coach Bruce Arians has a lot to fix on this sinking ship. One of those things is building a new defense as he and coordinator Todd Bowles are transitioning the unit to a 3-4 base. Allen, is the perfect building block as he would give them an ideal pass rusher for the formation.
6.) New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio St.
The Eli Manning is over. Period. And has been over for a few years now and it’s time the Giants brass address the situation. Haskins, would give them a legit heir after Manning retires.
7.) Jacksonville Jaguars: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Jacksonville believe they still have a Super Bowl contending roster, especially now that they have a Super Bowl MVP manning the ship in Nick Foles. Now armed with a quarterback, they need to protect him. Taylor would be a great bookend to Cam Robinson.
8.) Detroit Lions: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
Fant is a very intriguing prospect. While teammate T.J. Hockenson is viewed as one of the more complete prospects in the draft, Fant is the more explosive of the Hawkeyes. Teaming Fant with newly acquired Jesse James would give the Lions a real dynamic duo at the position.
9.) Buffalo Bills: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
With the retirement of team legend Kyle Williams there are big shoes to fill in Orchard Park. Oliver is the man to (potentially) fill them. While he is undersized for the position, Rams’ playmaker Aaron Donald has proven that’s not always an issue.
10.) Denver Broncos: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington St.
Denver brought in veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and then lost three important players along their offensive line that already was average at best. That’s not a good series of events. They need to protect Flacco and Dillard should be able to start Day One.
11.) Cincinnati Bengals: Devin White, LB, LSU
This is the easiest pick in the mock draft. The Bengals had the worst defense in the league last year and cupboard is bare at linebacker. White is the best linebacker in the draft and gives Cincinnati a valuable building block.
12.) Green Bay Packers: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
As mentioned earlier, the edge is the most important need for Green Bay, but they addressed that need via free agency. There second biggest concern is tight end. Jimmy Graham provided little spark to the offense. Hockenson, is the total package. He can be a major weapon for Aaron Rodgers and can help inline as a blocker.
13.) Miami Dolphins: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t the long term answer at quarterback, obviously. They need somebody to develop. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a good pro to study under, but the team may be looking ahead to the 2020 draft class to address the need.
14.) Atlanta Falcons: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
The defensive line has been a problem the Falcons just haven’t been able to solve. They’ve spent two first round picks in Vic Beasley and Takk McKinley and the pair have been largely inconsistent. Now they need to go back and this time address the interior. Wikins would pair well with three-technqiue Grady Jarrett.
15.) Washington Redskins: Montez Sweat, OLB, Florida St.
Sweat has been rocketing up draft boards after impressive showings at the Senior Bowl and at the combine. Now, by the our final mock draft, Sweat could very well be in the Top 10, but for this scenario the Redskins finally get a true edge rusher to compliment Ryan Kerrigan.
16.) Carolina Panthers: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
Two years ago the Panthers dropped big money on Matt Kalil to be their left tackle, he was cut this offseason. Cam Newton takes a beating and at this point his health is a concern. Williams may be the end to their rotating door at left tackle.
17.) New York Giants: Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi St.
This is simply a value pick. While there are significant red flags off the field, Simmons is a Top 10 talent. However, after tearing his ACL in a pre-draft workout his stock has dropped. The Giants are rebuilding, redshirting Simmions wouldn’t be the worst.
18.) Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford, OG, Oklahoma
Another versatile lineman, Ford can start at right tackle or guard. The good things is the Vikings need help at both positions. With a running back as dynamic as Dalvin Cook, Ford’s best position for Minnesota may be as a road grader on the inside.
19.) Tennessee Titans: Brian Burns, OLB, Florida St.
While they did draft Harold Landry in the second round last year and sign Cameron Wake in free agency, more needs to be done to address the edge in Tennessee. Burns, is a freakish athlete with his best football ahead of him.
20.) Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
For so long the interior linebacking corps has been lackluster. Bush can change that. He is the perfect example of the 21st century linebacker – smaller than average, fast, and an explosive tackler.
21.) Seattle Seahawks: Nasir Adderly, S, Delaware
The Legion of Boom is no more. But adding Adderly to a young secondary with Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flowers? Now that is intriguing. Adderly comes from a lower level of competition, but he dominated. A versatile prospect who has range, ball skills, and tackling ability.
22.) Baltimore Ravens: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
The Ravens are heading into the 2019 season with Lamar Jackson under center and virtually no targets. That doesn’t work when trying to develop Jackson’s passing game. Brown is, arguably, the best receiver in the draft.
23.) Houston Texans: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
Murphy will have to battle the one year starter label, but he has the speed and ball-hawking ability to be a considerable playmaker. That’s music to Houston’s ears as they boasted the 28th overall pass defense last season.
24.) Oakland Raiders: Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
The Raiders have done well to add to their receiving corps, but running back is still a major issue. Jacobs is the top at his position in a limited draft class and while he isn’t the biggest back, he would be a perfect pairing to Marshawn Lynch.
25.) Philadelphia Eagles: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
While Fletcher Cox is still an All-Pro talent, veterans Haloti Ngata retired and Tim Jernigan is coming off a three game campaign in 2018. More is needed to bolster this unit and Lawrence is the answer.
26.) Indianapolis Colts: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
Pairing Metcalf with veteran T.Y. Hilton would give quarterback Andrew Luck a tremendous tandem, not to mention Devin Funchess was brought in viva free agency. Metcalf can stretch the field which would give even more room for Hilton to work with.
27.) Oakland Raiders: DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia
Oakland’s cornerback situation has been toiling in mediocrity for far too long. Baker was a three year starter for the Bulldogs. They don’t come more battle tested than that. Highly competitive, Baker has equal ability to play in man or zone.
28.) LA Chargers: Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio St.
Campbell is a straight up burner. An all-state track star in high school, Campbell has the size to go along with that speed to provide a serious threat out of the slot which, now, is a major concern with veteran Tyrell Williams signing with the divisional rival Raiders.
29.) Kansas City Chiefs: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
Maybe the most talented cornerback in the draft, but has serious bust potential. Despite being a Thorpe Award finalist, questions of commitment swirl around Williams. Kansas City is thin at corner and needs to take this gamble.
30.) Green Bay Packers: Jonathan Abram, S, South Carolina
Green Bay just cannot solve the Rubik’s cube at defensive back. They have invested so much high draft capital in recent years and only come away with one true starter in Jaire Alexander. They need help at safety and maybe they can strike gold again with Abram.
31.) LA Rams: Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State
The interior of the line needs to be addressed after being thinned out by free agency and needs an injection of youth overall. Bradburry, was the Remington Trophy winner last season in college football.
32.) New England Patriots: A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
Wide receiver is a major issue for New England. They need size, they need speed, and they need someone who can separate. Lucky for them, Brown checks all three boxes. A good route-runner with strong hands, Brown is Ole Miss’s all-time leader in receiving yards.
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