I don’t agree with this pick, but I have come to terms with
the fact that it’s likely to happen. I don’t even
fully know if I believe that Arizona will to take Kyler Murray
or if they’re setting a smokescreen to drive up the price
of this pick. All I know is that Murray is an unconventional quarterback,
who has the potential to change the position in the NFL. There
was a scout that said, “Imagine if your quarterback had
the vision and speed of your running back or if your running back
had the arm of your quarterback. That’s Kyler Murray.”
There will be some that argue he’s too small, but I don’t
fully buy into that. While I don’t necessarily believe he’s
flawless, he has elite NFL upside if his team’s system is
suited towards his strengths. For the record, I’m not entirely
sure Arizona is the team that makes this pick, but Murray seems
like a near lock to be taken first overall.
Previous Pick: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
2. San Francisco 49ers - Nick Bosa,
DE, Ohio State
The 49ers are the big winners of the Kyler Murray pick with the
best player in the draft, Nick Bosa, falling in their lap. Bosa
already features an NFL body, while possessing the ability to
win with either speed or power rushing techniques. In his last
full season at Ohio State, he posted 8.5 sacks and 16.0 tackles
for a loss. He also recorded 4.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for a loss
in 2018 before ending his season with an injury. San Francisco
has a need at edge, and this would be an ideal situation for them.
They can stay put with the second overall pick, but still take
the best player in the draft, who happens to fill a void in their
defense.
Previous Pick: Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
3. New York Jets - Josh Allen, EDGE,
Kentucky
The Oakland Raiders are dying for potential pass rushers after
trading Khalil
Mack, meaning they could potential unload draft capital to
trade up to this spot for Josh Allen. If they don’t, he’ll likely
be the next New York Jet. He has progressively gotten better throughout
his collegiate career, breaking out as a senior. In 2018, Allen
recorded 17.0 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss in 13 games. He
has elite burst off the edge, although he struggles at times with
hand placement. His athleticism has been enough to get by, but
the addition of finesse/power moves will only make him that much
more dangerous. While Allen is known for his pass rushing abilities,
he is more than capable of dropping into zone when needed. There
are some scouts that believe Allen has the potential to slide
over a position to middle linebacker, while others say he can
add weight to become a 4-3 defensive end if needed. The most likely
scenario is Allen stays standing as an edge rusher, but the versatility
can’t hurt his stock. There is quite a bit of smoke that New York
will select Quinnen Williams if he’s available here, but
it’s tough to trust smoke when it’s known that that
team wants to trade.
Previous Pick: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
4. Oakland Raiders - Quinnen Williams,
DE, Alabama
This is an interesting situation. There are three players generally
seen as better than the rest, and the Oakland Raiders would be
getting the third with Arizona reaching for a quarterback. Williams
is versatile, but he’ll likely play defensive end for Oakland
rather than defensive tackle. He was outstanding against the run,
but Oakland is in dire need of pass rushers. While Williams is
far from a slouch in that department, he isn’t the most
polished pass rusher in this class. He played 15 games for Alabama
in 2018, recording 8.0 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss. He has
also flashed quickness with great bullrush potential. Similarly
to New York and Arizona, there are reports that Oakland is going
to do something “surprising,” but there’s no
true reason to believe that. The fact of the matter is, Oakland
is getting one of three elite level prospects, and his somewhat
limited pass rushing skills shouldn’t keep the Raiders from
overlooking him.
Previous Pick: Quinnen Williams, DE, Alabama
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Devin White, LB, LSU
It’s rare that teams will look at middle linebackers this
early in the draft, but White has the potential to be special.
He’s is a sure tackler, who owns sideline-to-sideline speed.
White also comes with strong play recognition and a good first
step. He is an average defender in man coverage, while finding
significantly more success in zone. Over the last two seasons,
White owns 256 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 25.5 tackles for a loss
at LSU. The Buccaneers have plenty of holes throughout their team,
but middle linebacker is one of the most glaring. I wanted to
mock Ed Oliver here, but that feels more like an ideal dream than
a reality. They could reach a bit on White here, but he can hold
down their defense for the next decade.
Previous Pick: Devin White, LB, LSU
6. New York Giants - Dwayne Haskins,
QB, Ohio State
Personal feelings aside, this is likely the right pick for the
Giants. They have rode a terrible Eli
Manning for years now, and they need to find his successor.
Haskins has only started one season at the collegiate level, but
he found plenty of success, throwing for 4,831 yards and 50 touchdowns,
while recording only eight interceptions. He also completed 70%
of his passes in 14 games. He’s a pocket passer with a solid combination
of accuracy and arm strength. Haskins is also a solid decision-maker
when throwing from a clean pocket. That may be an issue with New
York, as they are in desperate need of help along the offensive
line. Jonah Williams would be my first pick here, but New York
will likely overdraft a quarterback after selecting a running
back over a potential franchise quarterback with the second pick
of last season’s draft.
There have been reports that the Giants aren’t even looking
into Haskins, which seem like a smokescreen to stop other teams
from jumping them. Similarly to the Murray situation, only time
will tell.
The Jaguars are one of the more difficult teams to project. This
is likely a bit of a reach for Jawaan Taylor, but they simply
don’t have many pressing needs like other teams. They recently
signed Nick Foles
to a major deal, and they’ll likely want to keep their new investment
healthy. More importantly, they are likely going to continue to
focus heavily on their rushing attack, while letting Foles simply
not lose the game. Taylor would be an immediate upgrade at right
tackle, and he’s known as a dominant run blocker. He has flashed
good hands with a quick burst off the line. He could potentially
turn into a left tackle down the road, but for now, he would solidify
what already projects as an above average offensive line.
Previous Pick: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
8. Detroit Lions - Brian Burns, EDGE,
Florida State
WRashan Gary is an interesting option here, but I’m swerving
with Brian Burns. Many scouts have stated that Burns comes with
the highest upside of any edge rusher in this draft, which is
extremely high praise. He should naturally play as a 3-4 outside
linebacker, but there will likely be no issues changing him to
a 4-3 defensive end with his frame. He needed only 33 games at
Florida State to contribute 38.5 tackles for a loss and 23.0 sacks.
I’d expect the Lions to try to trade out of this pick, as
cornerback is a more pressing need, but if they can’t, they
can at least take a player with elite upside.
Previous Pick: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
9. Buffalo Bills - Jonah Williams,
OT, Alabama
The Bills selected their franchise quarterback (Josh Allen) last
year, and now they need to protect their investment. They have
multiple holes along the offensive line, and Williams is a player
that can play either tackle or guard. He’ll immediately slot into
the starting lineup and likely upgrade any position he takes over.
He’s an extremely technical tackle, who has quick and impressive
hands. Williams has also shown the ability to get to the second
level, while potentially moving on to other players after his
initial block. Williams has some of the most uncertain value in
this draft, but it’s likely he works his way into the top-10 on
draft night. There are some people that would argue OT Jawaan
Taylor would be the best pick here, and I may be one of them,
but the versatility of Williams could be what Buffalo is looking
for.
Previous Pick: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
10. Denver Broncos - Drew Lock, QB,
Missouri
Lock is a big quarterback, who owns a cannon for an arm and has
no business being selected in the top-10 of this draft. That’s
the exact reason John Elway will pull the trigger on him. Elway
loves quarterbacks with size and powerful arms. He tends to ignore
the red flags, such as a career 56.9% completion percentage at
Missouri. The Broncos recently traded for Joe
Flacco, but he simply isn’t the long term answer. While he
may be a one or two year starter to allow Denver to wait until
a better quarterback class, that seems somewhat unlikely. Quarterbacks
are generally overdrafted, even in weak classes. Lock has the
exact profile Elway tends to look for in a quarterback, and there
have already been reports that this pick is a near “lock.” Keep
in mind, even though Lock comes with substantial risk, he also
comes with quite a bit of upside if he can reach his ceiling.
Previous Pick: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
11. Cincinnati Bengals - Devin Bush,
LB, Michigan
As noted in my last mock, the
Bengals need help at middle linebacker. I mocked Devin White to
them, but he has since moved up in value. Bush is another athletic
middle linebacker, who can play from sideline-to-sideline. He
has a few similarities to White, making this pick rather easy.
In two full seasons with Michigan, Bush posted 161 tackles, including
10.0 sacks and 18.5 tackles for a loss. Bush likely won’t
end up being the difference maker that White will be, but he can
be a solid starter for years to come.
Previous Pick: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
12. Green Bay Packers - T.J. Hockenson,
TE, Iowa
Tight ends tend to go overlooked in the NFL Draft, which is a
reason I have T.J. Hockenson falling to the Packers here. They
are in dire need of a replacement for Jimmy
Graham, and Hockenson is seen as close to a lock of a tight
end as there can be. He totaled 49 receptions for 760 yards and
six touchdowns at Iowa last season, taking over the top role from
Noah Fant. He’s an extremely sure-handed tight end, who will add
consistency in the intermediate passing game for Green Bay. He’s
also an elite run blocker, and will immediately help their running
back duo. This is a perfect fit, as Hockenson may be the best
player available, but he also fills a massive void in the Green
Bay roster.
Previous Pick: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
13. Miami Dolphins - Rashan Gary,
DE, Michigan
The Dolphins lost two pass rushers in Cameron Wake and Robert
Quinn, and they will need to replace that production. They’re
a team that can sit on a high upside option, such as Rashan Gary,
who other teams are a bit more hesitant to take because of their
openness to losing games next season. Gary recorded 9.0 sacks
and 18.0 tackles for a loss over 22 games at Michigan, but he
was never truly seen as an elite option in college. He’s
more or less being drafted solely on potential; as he could eventually
play three downs for Miami, while defending the run and rushing
the passer at the same high level. The Dolphins will be looking
for a high pick to draft their quarterback of the future next
year, and taking a developmental project like Gary makes quite
a bit of sense here.
Previous Pick: Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State
14. Atlanta Falcons - Ed Oliver, DT,
Houston
The Falcons are a team that has a clear need along the interior
defense line. Ed Oliver arguably has the talent to be a top-five
draft pick, but that may not happen after an injury-riddled season.
Through 32 career games, Oliver posted 13.5 sacks and 53.0 tackles
for a loss. He’s a small defensive tackle, but uses his
speed and athleticism to make up for his lack of size. He also
owns an elite motor, displaying the ability to chase plays down
from the back side. Through his time at Houston, Oliver flashed
the ability to be a difference-maker in both the run and pass
game. If he isn’t getting to the quarterback, he’s
getting his hands in the passing lanes. We’ve seen undersized
defensive tackles find success in the NFL before, and Oliver could
be next.
Previous Pick: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
15. Washington Redskins - Daniel Jones,
QB, Duke
Someone is going to reach on a quarterback, and it seems like
at least four will be taken in the first round. Daniel Jones would
likely be the fourth, as he has been compared to Peyton Manning
at times throughout the draft process. While that comparison is
a bit odd to most of us, it only takes one team that believes
that for him to get drafted on Thursday night. The Redskins currently
have Case Keenum and Colt McCoy battling for their starting job
this morning. Alex Smith looked promising with the team, but there’s
very little confidence that he’ll come back 100% for them.
Jones threw for 8,201 yards and 52 touchdowns over three seasons
at Duke. He also added 1,323 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.
Many scouts believe Jones is the safest quarterback in this class,
although he doesn’t come with a ton of upside. That may
be what the Redskins need at this point.
Previous Pick: Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan
16. Carolina Panthers - Andre Dillard,
OT, Washington State
The Panthers are a team that relies heavily on the health of Cam
Newton. While his playing style leads him to plenty of hits, they
don’t need him taking unnecessary hits from a lack of pass
protection, which was the case last season. Andre Dillard played
in Washington State’s pass heavy offense, and he is arguably
the best pass blocking tackle in this draft. He will need to work
on his run blocking, but Carolina is specifically in dire need
to players, specifically a left tackle, that can pass block. There’s
a chance he’s off the board by now, but this is a match
made in Heaven.
Previous Pick: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
17. New York Giants - Montez Sweat,
DE, Mississippi State
There have been rumblings that Montez Sweat’s medicals could
keep him out of the first round, but similarly to the quarterbacks,
it only takes one team to take a chance on him for him to end
up getting drafted on Thursday. At this pick, Sweat is a great
value, and that may be too much for the New York Giants to pass
up. Sweat posted elite measurables at the NFL Combine, and a player
with his athleticism doesn’t come around often. He has elite
acceleration, utilizing his speed on pass rush moves. He has also
learned how to use his length to his advantage. He posted 30.0
tackles for a loss and 22.5 sacks over his final two seasons at
Mississippi State, and if there weren’t questions about
his heart, Sweat could have potentially been a top-10 pick in
this draft.
Previous Pick: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
18. Minnesota Vikings - Garrett Bradbury,
OG/C, NC State
This may be a little high for Garrett Bradbury at first glance,
but it makes sense. The Vikings need help across their offensive
line, and there aren’t any tackles left to take with this
pick. Instead, they’ll get a versatile lineman, who has
the potential to play center or either guard position. That will
help him get on the field from Day One and immediately upgrade
their biggest problem last season. A trade out of this pick to
take a tackle that could go later also makes sense, but as it
stands, Bradbury is an immediate upgrade along the offensive line
for the Vikings.
Previous Pick: Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
19. Tennessee Titans - Clelin Ferrell,
DE, Clemson
Ferrell is a player that is seemingly dropping down draft boards
because of question marks about his athletic abilities. He was
recently seen as a top-10 pick though, and this would be a relatively
large drop off. He was a major part of Clemson’s national
championship teams, while recording 21.0 sacks and 38.0 tackles
for a loss over his last 29 games. He has displayed multiple pass
rush moves throughout his career, specifically using great acceleration.
Ferrell will need to continue to develop as a run stopper, but
he can take over as a 3-4 OLB for the Tennessee Titans.
Previous Pick: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Byron Murphy,
CB, Washington
The Steelers feature a few needs early in this draft, but only
cornerback truly sticks out here, as there are no edge rushers
or linebackers truly worth this pick. Murphy is a versatile cornerback,
who has the potential to play outside or in the slot. He also
has flashed the ability to play in press or off coverage. If that
isn’t enough versatility, Murphy has found success in both
man and zone coverage during his time at Washington. He recorded
four interceptions and 13 pass deflections in his final season
in college, and he possesses CB1 upside. There’s potential
for Murphy to become a premier cornerback in the NFL, who can
shadow opposing WR1s. For that reasons, it’s impossible
for the Steelers to pass on him here.
Previous Pick: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
21. Seattle Seahawks - Greedy Williams,
CB, LSU
It’s tough to know exactly what to do with the cornerbacks
in this draft, as their rankings range from nearly top-five picks
to second rounders. There are also plenty of question marks about
which cornerback is the best and so on among the top four options.
Greedy Williams has the potential to be a CB1 throughout his career,
and that’s something the Seahawks have lacked in recent
seasons. Williams is extremely athletic, while also possessing
tremendous size. He has flashed the ability to play in both press
and off coverage, and the only true knock on him is his effort
in run support. I expect Williams to fall a bit on draft day,
but being the second cornerback taken in this draft will be far
from a disappointment.
Previous Pick: Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
22. Baltimore Ravens - D.K. Metcalf,
WR, Ole Miss
The Ravens are a near lock to draft a wide receiver, but it remains
to be seen which one they will take. D.K. Metcalf has largely
been deemed the WR1 of this class because of his pure upside.
Baltimore could use a big-bodied receiver, who owns tremendous
speed to pair with Lamar Jackson. At the NFL Combine, Metcalf
posted Julio Jones-type numbers, and that is more than enough
to get him potentially drafted in the first round. He lacks refinement
in his routes, as he wasn’t asked to run a full route tree
at Ole Miss. With that being said, he recorded 65 receptions for
1,215 yards and 14 touchdowns in only 19 games without being the
WR1 for his team. He comes with as much risk as any receiver in
this class, but he also comes with as much upside, and that’s
something the Ravens would be wise to draft.
Previous Pick: Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State
23. Houston Texans - Cody Ford, OG,
Oklahoma
Deshaun Watson was under pressure as much as any quarterback in
the NFL last season, and the Texans are going to need to address
that in this draft. Ford is a player that seemingly brings a high
floor and an even higher ceiling into the equation. He can immediately
slide into their starting lineup as a guard, while cross-training
his skills as a tackle. He doesn’t necessarily have elite size
for the outside, but he owns a great first step combined with
tremendous power. Ford also uses his hands extremely well, which
is why he projects to play tackle in the long run. He also features
the athleticism that can help him get down the field to the second
level after his initial blocks. This isn’t necessarily a sexy
pick, but it’s the most logical for Houston.
Previous Pick: Cody Ford, OG, Oklahoma
24. Oakland Raiders - Noah Fant, TE,
Iowa
The Raiders are a team looking to ooze upside. They also need
help at the tight end position, as Jared
Cook looks primed to sign with the New Orleans Saints. Oakland
has added multiple pass catchers for Derek
Carr, and adding a tight end is the next step for their offense.
He needed only 39 receptions last season at Iowa to post seven
touchdowns, and he can immediately make a difference in the red
zone for Oakland. Fant will also create mismatches for a team
that has Antonio
Brown to draw double-coverage. Fant needs to improve in the
run game, but Oakland will likely be leaning heavily on the pass
this season.
Previous Pick: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
25. Philadelphia Eagles - Marquise
Brown, WR, Oklahoma
One rumor spreading at the moment is that Marquise Brown is locked
into the first round. Teams get enamored with speed receivers,
and Brown fits the bill. His nickname is Hollywood for a reason.
Through only 25 games at Oklahoma, he recorded 132 receptions
for 2,413 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was a consistent deep threat
for Oklahoma, and he can fill that role in the NFL. The Eagles
added DeSean Jackson to their team this offseason, and Brown could
learn from one of the better deep threats in recent NFL memory.
He likely won’t ever turn into a WR1, but he can be a game-changer
for years to come, which is something Philadelphia has lacked
recently.
Previous Pick: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
26. Indianapolis Colts - Christian
Wilkins, DT, Clemson
The Colts aren’t a team that has a ton of needs, but the
interior defensive line is one of them. Clemson’s players
were three of the biggest “losers” in my new mock
draft, as they fell quite a bit. Wilkins is a massive, NFL-ready
player, who can slide into the starting line on day one. Some
believe he can slide to defensive end if need be, but he’ll
likely stay at defensive tackle for Indianapolis. Over his last
three seasons, Wilkins has totaled 36.0 tackles for a loss and
14.0 sacks. He isn’t a sexy player, but he’ll make
everyone along the defensive line better for the Colts.
Previous Pick: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
27. Oakland Raiders - Deandre Baker,
CB, Georgia
This hasn’t been the Oakland Raiders M.O. in this draft, but with
three picks, they don’t have to stick to one plan. Deandre Baker
isn’t seen as a high upside prospect, but he is seen as one of
the safest in this draft. He comes with relatively average size,
and tremendous speed. He has the ability to play at the line or
off coverage, but he has looked significantly better in man. That
doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t play zone, though. He simply
uses his speed better in man, which may end up with him generally
guarding receivers that are looking to take the top off of defenses.
Baker likely will never turn into a shadow cornerback, but he’ll
be a starter in the NFL for years to come, which is something
Oakland needs at this point.
Previous Pick: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
28. Los Angeles Chargers - Jerry Tillery,
DT, Notre Dame
The Chargers are a team that has a few needs, but interior defensive
line makes the most sense here. Jerry Tillery was recently given
plus news about his recent surgery, which could help thrust him
into the first round. He has continuously progressed throughout
his time at Notre Dame, and he posted 17.5 tackles for a loss
and 11.5 sacks over his last two seasons. Tillery can anchor the
Los Angeles interior against the run, while also putting pressure
on opposing quarterbacks. He’s a potential game-changer
in an already stout defense.
Previous Pick: Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
29. Seattle Seahawks - Jeffery Simmons,
DE, Mississippi State
Simmons was a lock to be selected inside the top-15 of this draft,
but off-field issues, including a confrontation with a woman and
a recent injury have hurt his stock. He was an elite player over
his final 26 games at Mississippi State, totaling 30.0 tackles
for a loss and 7.0 sacks over that span. He also added five pass
deflections and three forced fumbles in those games for good measure.
He’s a potential difference-maker on the defensive line, and the
Chiefs are a team that need defensive help. They’re also a team
that is focused heavily on offense, and will be willing to wait
for Simmons to get healthy to incorporate him in their defense.
They have also proven that they’re willing to take chances on
players with shaky pasts, and Simmons is a steal at this pick
from a talent perspective.
Previous Pick: Jeffery Simmons, DE, Mississippi State
30. Green Bay Packers - Dalton Risner,
OT, Kansas State
The Packers recently signed Billy Turner as a versatile player,
who will likely start at guard, but play backup right tackle,
as well. They could use this draft pick on Dalton Risner, who
has the potential to play either guard or tackle position in the
NFL. He’s a powerful player, who can help in both the run
and pass game. Bryan Bulaga likely won’t be in Green Bay
too long, and they’ll now have multiple options to fill
when he leaves. Risner’s best position will likely end up
being right tackle in the NFL, making this the perfect selection
Previous Pick: Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State
31. Los Angeles Rams - Dexter Lawrence,
DT, Clemson
The Rams could use help at nose tackle, and this is the perfect
fit. Dexter Lawrence was the unsung hero of the Clemson defense,
as he is a massive defensive tackle, who continuously handled
double-teams, while others were given one-on-one opportunities.
He posted 18.0 tackles for a loss and 10.0 sacks over 38 games,
which is far from impressive numbers. As we know, he is a player
that contributes more than statistics. Lawrence will create a
dynamic duo with Aaron Donald in the middle of the Los Angeles
defensive line, and teams will be forced to guard one of the duo
one-on-one. He has the potential to change the dynamic of this
defense.
Previous Pick: Garrett Bradbury, OG/C, NC State
32. New England Patriots - N’Keal
Harry, WR, Arizona State
There is a case to be made for N’Keal Harry being the best wide
receiver in this class, but there are multiple receivers that
could potentially take that role. He has never created elite separation,
but he owns elite numbers in terms of contested catch percentage.
Harry will need a confident quarterback, who is willing to throw
him open. Insert Tom
Brady. At Arizona State, Harry recorded 155 receptions for
2,230 yards and 17 touchdowns over two seasons. He would be one
of the most talented receivers the Patriots have drafted in the
Brady era.
