The NFL Draft is fast approaching, and no one has any idea what’s going to happen.
One can always reason what might happen in the NFL Draft, but the inherent inclemency of draft season is what makes it so exciting. The NFL Draft keeps its subjects on their toes, and just when you think you understand what teams are thinking, unpredictability rears its ugly head again.
This far out, with the results from free agency still pending, predicting the results of the 2019 NFL Draft is almost impossible. But with the stacked defensive line prospects, diverse allotment of needs, and polarizing quarterbacks, we can at least try.
So, who does you team pick in our NFL Draft Mock 3.0? An elastic edge rusher? A controversial quarterback? When it comes to the NFL Draft, everything outside of kicker is possible. See what possibilities your team entertained, in the coming slides.
If the Arizona Cardinals keep this pick, it’s essentially a two-man race for the No. 1 overall pick, unless you believe there’s any merit to the Kyler Murray-Josh Rosen swap rumors.
If you ask me, I don’t think it’s realistic, nor smart of the Cardinals to give up on Rosen so early, after he flashed franchise quarterback qualities on a weekly basis last year, despite being thrust into one of the worst offensive situations in the NFL. So with quarterback off the table, there are two players to watch for No. 1 overall pick candidacy: Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa, and Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
The Cardinals, to put it lightly, need help all across their defensive line. Aside from Chandler Jones on the edge, there is little to be confident about. Robert Nkemdiche’s future with the team is very cloudy, as the former first-round pick has undergone almost no development in Arizona, and Corey Peters, their other interior defensive line starter, is primarily a run defender who’ll turn 31 years old this offseason.
Now, the Cardinals, who’ve been starved of line talent, suddenly have the opportunity to take one of the two best prospects in a line heavy NFL Draft. It’s almost too good to pass up.
Bosa could be the pick here with his all-around prowess, but with Jones already on the edge for Arizona, and with no surefire starter to compliment him on the interior, Quinnen Williams, perhaps the biggest riser of the 2019 NFL Draft, becomes the pick.
To accurately describe Williams’ potential, think back to recent Alabama defensive linemen, such as Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Dashawn Hand. Standing at 6-foot-3, 285, Williams has the highest upside of all of them, as well as one of the highest floors. It’s hard to find a weakness in Williams’ game, as the redshirt sophomore has the power, quickness, athleticism, and hand speed to dominate opposing offensive linemen.
Bosa’s injury in his final collegiate season also led to Williams edging him out for the No. 1 pick. But don’t worry. Bosa won’t fall far.
Told you.
The San Francisco 49ers are in a very good spot this year. With only two prospects in the running for the No. 1 overall pick, one is guaranteed to be available at pick No. 2, so that the 49ers can scoop up the spoils.
If the Cardinals pick Bosa, the 49ers will get to bolster their interior defensive line by putting Quinnen Williams next to All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. But if the Cardinals pick Williams, the 49ers will get to add an elite edge presence, something they’ve lacked for some time.
Nick Bosa isn’t the No. 1 pick in this mock NFL Draft, but he’s about as good a consolation prize as the 49ers can get. The second football brother of the esteemed Bosa family is a well-rounded prospect with a stellar understanding and utilization of what it takes to win on the defensive line. Compounding solid physical traits with excellent I.Q. and technical prowess, Bosa should be a productive NFL starter for a long time.
The New York Jets still have an offensive line problem, but now, with franchise quarterback Sam Darnold at the mercy of his blockers, that issue takes on compounded importance.
Many have mocked defensive players to the Jets with this pick, and with good reason; the Jets have plenty of room for talent on that side of the ball as well. But the Jets made a very expensive investment in Sam Darnold last year. They can’t have him standing in the pocket without a bookend to protect his blindside.
When Adam Gase first arrived in Miami, his Dolphins made the decision to draft Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil. Now, as the new head coach of the New York Jets, Gase will want the same kind of protection for his young quarterback. And when it comes to protection, Alabama’s Jonah Williams is very solid.
A former five-star recruit who started for three years as the Crimson Tide’s left tackle, Williams earned a reputation as an offensive lineman who simply doesn’t get beat. With a rangy 6-foot-5, 301-pound frame and nimble feet, Williams has what it takes to maximize his strength and minimize the impact of the edge rusher lining up across from him. His hand placement is precise and comes with a punch, and while he’s sometimes late, those fluctuations are few and far between.
Williams is a pro-ready tackle with room to grow and add to his already attractive resume. With an offensive coach now in New York, with a quarterback he needs to protect, Williams could suit up in green, come summer time.
Jon Gruden famously stated that it was hard to find great edge rushers in the NFL, just days after trading All-Pro defensive end Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. Gruden and the Raiders caught a lot of flak for that saga, but let’s be real: It was all part of the plan.
Now, in 2019, the Raiders have three first-round picks (or do they?), and they’re gearing up to restock their roster with top-tier talent. They first pick in the top five, and luckily for them, this NFL Draft class is packed to the brim with high-quality edge rushers. After Nick Bosa, Brian Burns and Josh Allen round out an exceptional positional top three. While Burns is the more refined prospect at this point, Allen is a bigger player, with a bigger name. Thus, he might be the apple of Gruden and Mayock’s collective eye.
Last year, Allen wasn’t a lock for the first round, but in 2018, the former Kentucky Wildcat drastically boosted his stock with a rejuvenatory campaign. In thirteen games as a starter, the senior outside linebacker logged 56 total tackles, 17.0 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles.
At 6-foot-5, 260, Allen is a looming spectacle, and he can move very well for his size. He shows flashes of attention to detail with his technique, and while he’s raw, the Raiders need all the help they can get on the edge. Brian Burns might provide more immediate help, but Allen is an investment for Jon Gruden’s precious future. With any luck, it will pay off in earnest.
The Giants might say they’re ready to commit to another year of Eli Manning, but even they have to know they’re playing with fire. Manning was decent at best last year, and he’s proven that he’s not close to the quarterback he was at the peak of his career.
Still catching heat from drafting a running back second overall in 2018, the Giants will want to maximize the time they have with Saquon Barkley, who has already ascended as a superstar in the NFL. In 2018, they tried to get their superstar an offensive line. In 2019, they’ll try to get him his comrade in the backfield, and they’ll jump up a spot to do it, making a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, blocking out other quarterback-needy teams at a cost.
Putting Pat Shurmur into the equation, it’s possible that the Giants could be interested in Kyler Murray, as he has more upside. But Dave Gettelman has a fierce reputation as a traditionalist football mind. He’s building his offense around the running game, and he does not cater to analytics or the new wave of offensive thinking. He’ll want a quarterback who fits the prototypical mold.
As I write this, I suddenly find myself convinced that Gettelman would like Daniel Jones, as he most accurately fits the prototypical mold. But as good as that would be for Redskins fans to hear, Jones can’t seriously be considered while Dwayne Haskins is still on the board.
As a pure NFL prospect, Haskins isn’t perfect. He’s somewhat lacking in mobility (Don’t let Stephen A. hear you say that) and there is debate over how much upside he actually has. But as it stands now, Haskins is the smartest quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft, and by a wide margin. His understanding of the game is very impressive for a player his age, and right out of the gates, he’d be a very capable distributor in a well-stocked Giants offense.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been trying to solidify their cornerback room for what seems like a decade, and even now, after spending a top ten pick on Vernon Hargreaves in 2016, and after spending two second-round picks on M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis last year, a need still exists at one of the most important defensive positions.
While it’s hard to predict what Jason Licht will do, in any given year, it’s easy to predict what the team’s priorities might be. They seem content with giving Jameis Winston more time, so quarterback is off the table for now. Offensive line and wide receiver could end up being key needs, depending on what happens in free agency. But even with all the uncertainty, one thing is clear: With Brent Grimes regressing, and other players failing to inspire, adding a top-flight cornerback is at the top of the to-do list.
Luckily for the Buccaneers, Byron Murphy is a top-flight cornerback. And he’s available in the 2019 NFL Draft. No. 6 may seem a little bit high for Murphy, who has been consistently mocked between No. 10 and No. 20 at most outlets. But the Buccaneers know the importance of a lockdown cornerback in today’s NFL, and as I wrote recently in Murphy’s scouting report, he possesses the desirable traits for that role.
"[Byron] Murphy checks plenty of boxes as a future starting NFL cornerback, but the most important one is easily his ability to move. It sounds simple, but being able to move effortlessly, and turn one’s hips at a moment’s notice, without sacrificing space, is an invaluable trait in the NFL. And Murphy has it. His movement is incredibly fluid and abrupt. If he can even add ten pounds, he’ll be a nightmare for opposing receivers for years to come. His floor? Solid starter. Ceiling? Perennial All-Pro."
Last year, Todd Monken helped the Buccaneers maximize their offensive potential. After seeing their own success, and the offensive success of division rivals such as the Saints, Falcons, and Panthers, the Buccaneers have to know that skirting around the No. 1 cornerback position is no longer an option. With Byron Murphy, a need becomes a strength, just like that.
The Jaguars have a penchant for unimaginative, unorthodox decision making on NFL Draft day, and in this mock, they add to that reputation. But, as the old adage goes, every blind squirrel occasionally finds an acorn. And in T.J. Hockenson, the Jaguars could stumble upon a fully-grown tree trunk.
In the modern NFL, tight ends are undervalued, and the position itself is often dismissed as secondary. But as Rob Gronkowski displayed in the Super Bowl, a tight end who can block and function as a receiver with proficiency is a very potent threat, allowing offenses versatility.
The Jaguars might simply like Hockenson because they want to do everything they can to try and legitimize their woeful selection of Leonard Fournette. Adding a borderline elite blocking tight end would help do the trick; although some help is needed on the interior offensive line, if the Jaguars want to make the Fournette experiment work, they need to build their team to be physical. Adding Hockenson does that.
That said, Fournette’s future in Jacksonville is just as cloudy as Blake Bortles’, as the LSU product’s contract guarantees were voided by his team. He has since challenged that action legally, and it’s hard to imagine that the two sides don’t have an icy relationship at the moment. Even if Fournette is gone, however, Hockenson still serves a purpose. With top-tier upside as a receiving tight end, and a high floor, he’ll be a reliable safety valve for the team’s next quarterback right away.
The Lions have a good amount of talent on their defensive line. Nose tackle Damon Harrison headlines the group, even in his aging state, and A’Shawn Robinson backs him up as a capable run defender in his own right. Dashawn Hand is a bit more versatile, emerging as a solid starter in his rookie campaign, and behind him, Kerry Hyder provides depth as an interior pass rusher.
Interior defensive line likely isn’t Bob Quinn’s priority this year; more talent is needed on offense to help Matthew Stafford, whom the team is committed to for the foreseeable future, and on defense, it almost seems as if the second and third levels need more help than the first, although depending on what happens in free agency, edge rusher could be an area of concern as well.
In the playoff hunt not so long ago, the Lions are suddenly scrambling to add impact players, and with T.J. Hockenson surprisingly off the board this early, their top offensive target might be gone, leaving them to instead go with the best player available: Ed Oliver.
With Oliver’s acquisition, an already deep defensive line becomes a stacked, versatile unit for Matt Patricia. At 6-foot-1, 274, he’s a bit undersized, even for the same mold the Lions followed by drafting Hand last year. But while Oliver is lacking in size, he’s incredibly athletic and explosive, and uses precise hand placement to win the leverage battle over opposing linemen. For the Lions, who have a multi-faceted group on the defensive line, Oliver could even occasionally line up on the edge. He’s capable of fulfilling any role Patricia asks of him, and that could make him a very attractive choice for Detroit.
The Buffalo Bills have their quarterback for the time being. Wyoming product Josh Allen was one of the most polarizing prospects of the 2018 NFL Draft, and when he was selected by the Bills, many wrote him off as a bust right away.
But Allen exceeded early expectations in 2018. Although accuracy concerns were still prevalent, the cannon-armed quarterback was hard to miss, at times throwing lasers, and showing off his impressive athleticism as both a pocket evader and a runner. He’ll have to keep working at improving his precision any way possible, but he performed well as a rookie in 2018, given how devoid of talent the offense around him was.
That seems like a good place to pivot to the Bills’ pick at No. 9. With a good amount of pieces in place on defense, and a franchise quarterback presumably in tow, the Bills now must invest in a supporting cast for Josh Allen. One could argue that offensive line should be the pick here, but there’s a particular receiver in this NFL Draft class who fits very well with the Bills, and could be a godsend for Josh Allen.
D.K. Metcalf.
Some will be turned away from Metcalf because of his somewhat lacking college production, but stats do little to provide context. For the entirety of his collegiate career, Metcalf was fighting for catches with teammates A.J. Brown and Damarkus Lodge, both of whom figure to go somewhere in the first three rounds in the 2019 NFL Draft, and his final season was ended prematurely by a neck injury.
Now, Metcalf is healthy, and he should wow NFL teams at the combine later this month. At 6-foot-4, 225, Metcalf is the big-bodied receiver Allen needs, yet Metcalf has surprising mobility, agility, and burst for his size. A stellar athlete with a star’s upside, Metcalf is the kind of playmaker that can elevate the Bills offense from the very first snap.
There are rumors that the Denver Broncos might still draft a quarterback with the No. 10 overall pick, even after trading a fourth-round pick for Joe Flacco. In a sense, those rumors have some merit. John Elway has whiffed countless times at the most important position in sports, and this year, he could decide to overhaul the position completely, giving Flacco a first-round pick to mentor.
But if all you want is a mentor, you don’t take on an $18.5 million cap hit when you already have a quarterback with a starting salary on the roster. The Broncos will presumably cut or trade Case Keenum, giving them $10 million in dead cap to swallow. Teams don’t make this kind of move when they’re starting over. They make this kind of move when they’re trying to maximize aging assets, while they still can.
Elway now has a quarterback who fits the only mold he’s had success with. Like Peyton Manning, Flacco is a big-bodied quarterback. Like Peyton Manning, Flacco has a Super Bowl ring. There’s just one problem: Flacco isn’t Peyton Manning. But the Broncos are stuck with him for the time being, for better or worse.
With a quarterback now in place, the Broncos can focus on other areas with the No. 10 overall pick, and with Brandon Marshall’s future with the team in question, inside linebacker is a position to address. Here, the Broncos take Mack Wilson, a 6-foot-2, 232-pound linebacker from Alabama who has the size, athleticism, and smarts to be a quality starter at the next level.
Sometime in the next geologic epoch, the Cincinnati Bengals will find their defensive coordinator. And when they do, the next order of business will be simple: Get him a starting linebacker.
Mack Brown is off the board, but that’s okay. There are three linebackers at the top of the 2019 NFL Draft class who stand out amongst the rest. With Brown gone, only the two Devin’s remain. While Devin White has a number of quality traits to his own name, Michigan’s Devin Bush is the pick instead, at No. 11.
Bush is a bit small for a linebacker, by NFL standards, standing at 5-foot-11, 240. But Bush’s size becomes a secondary aspect of his game when one witnesses his speed, and the impact he provides across the entire field.
Bush’s sheer speed and tenacity gives him an edge over most, but his coverage instincts are also superb, and in a league where coverage linebackers are taking on increased importance, that’s the deal-breaker for Zac Taylor’s Bengals at this juncture.
Matt LaFleur will have a leg up on most of the new coaches in the NFL, for one reason and one reason only: Aaron Rodgers.
The precise passer gives LaFleur a talented, established quarterback to work with while he implements his new offense, but the job isn’t finished with the marriage of the two. Brian Gutenkunst has to work to give Rodgers a supporting cast he can trust, through free agency and the NFL Draft.
Well, like a good neighbor, Oklahoma tackle Cody Ford is there.
Ford played right tackle in college, and he was elite at that position, with an excellent blend of athleticism, functional strength, and precise, potent hand technique. But if the Packers chose to do so, they could move him inside, where he’d be a competent starter at guard, something the Packers need, in order to give their offense time to develop.
The Dolphins have basically publicly admitted that they are making the #TankForTua hashtag a reality. But if they get the chance to draft the player who beat Tua Tagovailoa out for the Heisman win in 2018, they simply can’t pass up the opportunity.
It’s a year of new faces for the Miami Dolphins, with former Patriots defensive assistant Brian Flores set to surmise a role as the head coach, and longtime starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill set to be released. At such a turning of the guard, it only makes sense to complete the transition with a new starting quarterback.
That’s what Kyler Murray wants to be, now that he’s fully committed to football. The commitment to football had to come with some kind of assurance that he’d be picked in Round 1, and although he slips a bit in this mock, the Dolphins are happy to scoop him up without having to trade up.
Murray’s height, which exists somewhere in the realm between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10, will attract negative attention, but it shouldn’t hold too much weight in your standard evaluation. Teams are supposed to look for elite traits in potential franchise quarterbacks, and Kyler Murray has two such traits: Elite speed, and elite arm talent.
Murray’s ability to work through progressions may still need refining at the next level, and some teams may be taken aback by his previous indecision. But Murray is an investment worth making for the Dolphins. Even though they plan on tanking anyway, to get a high pick next year, Murray’s combination of elite traits doesn’t come by very often.
Vic Beasley was very good in 2016, but for the two years since then, his edge rushing presence has been almost non-existent. Takkarist McKinley has been more promising in the early goings of his career, but if Beasley’s career is past its peak already, the Falcons need to try and instill some more production from the edge.
At this pick, there are a number of qualified edge rushers still on the table. Jachai Polite brings impressive speed from Florida, and Montez Sweat is a well-rounded prospect with eye-catching physical traits. But the Falcons take neither with this pick. Instead, they take Florida State edge rusher Brian Burns.
At first glance, it seems as if drafting another edge rusher might be a bit premature for the Falcons, and there are certainly other options to consider for Dan Quinn’s squad. But Burns brings elite potential, with exceptional burst off the line and bend around the edge. As a pass rusher, Burns is already a high-floor prospect, with the potential to generate ample pressure right out of the gate.
Burns does need to add some weight; he’s currently listed at 6-foot-5, 231, and he could be easily out-muscled in some situations, especially as a run defender. But as a pure pass rusher, Burns brings a deadly combination of burst, bend, and technique, and he’s an investment worth taking for a Falcons team that once boasted a dominant defensive line.
It’s all theoretical at this point, but if the Redskins were to trade back, it would likely be the cause of a quarterback slipping. This trade back features the Gruden brothers, a few “hey mans”, and a swap of first-round picks.
The official terms of the trade? The Raiders get the No. 15 overall pick and the Redskins second-round pick, while the Redskins get the Raiders two remaining first-round picks and an early fourth-rounder, something they could certainly use to remedy their lacking depth.
So who is Jon Gruden trading up for? And why is trading up? Doesn’t he already have Derek Carr?
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Yes, Gruden does have Derek Carr. But does he actually like Derek Carr? That’s the question that needs answering, and I’m not sure the answer’s yes. Carr was average for most of last year, and he’s made a bit of noise this offseason, proclaiming his desire to… *checks notes* fight Stephen A. Smith.
To put it simply, Carr isn’t helping himself often these days, and Gruden’s early overhaul of the Raiders’ roster showed that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get “his guys” in the building. He’s got ten years to do it. Chances are he’s not too concerned about the short-term repercussions of making a quarterback change that might be necessary.
This takes us to the Senior Bowl, where Gruden was the coach of Missouri quarterback Drew Lock. Lock smiled when Gruden was name-dropped in an interview, and the two seemed to share a rapport with one another over the course of Senior Bowl week. Lock would go on to have the strongest performance of any signal caller in the game itself, showing off his redeemable traits in a preparation-strained situation.
Lock isn’t a perfect quarterback prospect; some outlets have his value dipping outside of Round 1, as his footwork is a very serious concern. But Lock has very good athleticism for a quarterback, and his arm talent is easily second in the 2019 NFL Draft class, only to Kyler Murray’s. Lock is also very charismatic; he has the quarterback mentality that not only wins teammates over, but also might earn the favor of a coach like Jon Gruden. Lock has the unique traits that make a quarterback worth gambling on, and Gruden, never one to back away from the bold choice, might jump at the chance to acquire his guy.
In this situation, Carr would either be cut, traded, or held onto for another year, if his contract proves to be too much for possible suitors. Per Spotrac, the dead cap incurred by the release of Carr decreases from $27.4 million in 2019 to just $5 million in 2020, so Gruden, if he was sold on Lock, could draft Lock, integrate the quarterback into the system in 2019, whilst waiting out Carr’s contract, then release or trade Carr in 2020 and move onto the next steps in getting his next era rolling. It makes just enough sense where it’s worth theoretical consideration. And with Jon Gruden, nothing is off the table.
Fans call him Clelin Ferrell, when it’s actually pronounced Clee-lin Fur-rell. But scouts might call him one of the most polished pass rushers in the 2019 NFL Draft.
In an NFL Draft class with standout players such as Joey Bosa, Josh Allen, and Ed Oliver, Ferrell, who was at times in the top three conversation, has been somewhat overlooked. But the Clemson product should have a very long career, and he’ll succeed another rusher who saw a similar fate.
The Panthers recently lost a legend to retirement, as Julius Peppers hung up his cleats after accumulating 159.5 sacks and 175 tackles for loss in seventeen NFL seasons. His production will be hard to replace, but if the Panthers want one of the safest bets, then they want Clelin Ferrell.
Ferrell has a pedigree of production himself, as he amassed 27.0 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss in three years as a starter for the Clemson Tigers. Standing at 6-foot-5, 260, Ferrell has the size the Panthers like in their 4-3 defensive ends. He’s not the athlete that other rushers are in this NFL Draft class, but he has an innate sense for leverage points as a rusher. Technically, he’s advanced for his current prospect status, and he can be a modest contributor on day one.
Whether Ferrell can develop into a perennial double-digit sack player is up for debate, but the 22-year old generates pressure and does so with reliability. He’d be a valuable addition to an already-competent Panthers defense, with some upside to boast.
The Browns are undergoing a rebirth of sorts just south of the Great Lake Erie. Years of drafting early have forged a solid talent base. Baker Mayfield is entrenched as one of the up and coming star quarterbacks in the league, and his dynamic offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens is now the team’s head coach.
That said, while things are looking up in Cleveland, there’s still work to be done. On defense, some talent can be added on all three levels, even though the unit as a whole is generally solid, and on offense, the edges of the line could use some shoring up.
With an investment like Mayfield now standing in the pocket, at the mercy of opposing defensive linemen, the Browns need to make sure not just anybody is out there at tackle. Desmond Harrison exceeded expectations as an undrafted rookie, but he and Chris Hubbard aren’t necessarily long-term solutions. The Browns need a long-term solution. And Jawaan Taylor could be what they’re looking for.
Standing at 6-foot-5, 330, Taylor has outstanding length and power, and he mends his physical traits together with acute mental awareness and three years of starting experience in college. Taylor would be an immediate starter on whatever side the Browns desire, and with any luck, he’ll protect Mayfield for years to come.
The 2018 NFL season may have forced the Minnesota Vikings’ hand; when the NFL Draft rolls around, they’ll be compelled to draft for need in the first round. Kirk Cousins didn’t respond well to the consistent pressure he faced in 2018, and because the Vikings are tied to him for two more years, they’ll simply have to solidify the unit around him as best they can.
One tackle slot should be held down by Riley Reiff, who had a decent season on his own. But opposite Reiff, the Vikings are very thin, and the search for another bookend extends to the NFL Draft. While the pick itself may be a bit premature, the player, Yodny Cajuste, is ready for the challenge the NFL presents.
For Cajuste, the little things, and the big things, matter. At 6-foot-5, 315, Cajuste has the size to be a starting tackle in the NFL, and while for some, this size would bring concerns surrounding mobility and agility, Cajuste is fairly solid in that area. He’s a great athlete, albeit a bit stiff, and his attention to detail allows him to handle his assignments from snap to snap.
It’s up to the Vikings what they decide to do if they draft Cajuste. They could move Cajuste to right tackle and keep Reiff on the left, or they could switch Reiff to right tackle and keep Cajuste at his natural position. Whatever the case, adding Cajuste gives the Vikings two quality tackles, and most importantly, it gives Kirk Cousins more time and comfort in his offense.
The Tennessee Titans somehow lucked into grabbing Harold Landry in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Landry would go on to have a modest rookie season, flashing his potential as a rusher with adequate bend.
Landry locks down one side of the line for Tennessee, but with Brian Orakpo retiring, the Titans need to add someone else. Given Mike Vrabel’s defensive background, and the work he once did with Houston linebackers Jadaveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus, he’ll want to fill the looming void sooner rather than later.
Jachai Polite fulfills the intended purpose, in that case. The Florida product has perhaps some of the best speed off the line in this NFL Draft class, and he exploded onto the scene in 2018, logging 19.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, four pass deflections, and six forced fumbles.
Polite is a bit on the small side for an NFL edge rusher, but he makes up for it with his exceptional burst. And speed isn’t the only trait to his name. By combining it with a vast array of rushing moves, Polite brings a potent punch wherever he goes.
If there’s one area that’s given the Steelers grief in recent years, it’s their secondary. Although the linebacking core has regressed, in the wake of Ryan Shazier’s absence, the secondary, part of Mike Tomlin’s domain, has frequently been prone to disappointment.
Veteran starter Joe Haden, although still a quality cornerback, is set to turn 30 years old two weeks before the NFL Draft, and first-round pick Artie Burns hasn’t panned out how many had hoped. Like it or not, it’s looking like a serious investment in a new boundary cornerback is necessary for the Steelers. Luckily for them, one of the highest-potential cornerbacks in the NFL Draft fell to them in this mock.
Greedy Williams might not be the No. 1 cornerback in the 2019 NFL Draft class, but he has the upside to rival Byron Murphy with a little development. Williams’ length immediately stands out on the field, and he moves well for his size, possessing plus athleticism and agility.
That said, Williams does have issues with consistency, issues that prevailed increasingly in his final collegiate season. Effort is spotty on some plays, and if Williams is to take the next step in the NFL, he has to bring one-hundred percent. He’s not an ascending prospect heading into the NFL Draft, and that might hurt his stock. But the Steelers showed with the Burns selection that they’re willing to take risks on cornerbacks with development left to realize.
The Seahawks could go offensive line here, but they’ve shown in recent years that they prefer to trust their inconsistent development there, while letting Russell Wilson go on with little help from his blockers. Seattle has long emphasized building defense, and after a lapse in last year’s first round, they’ll attempt to return to their Legion of Boom roots.
The Seahawks already have two starting cornerbacks in place, but neither is fairly established. Shaquill Griffin was often overwhelmed in 2018, and with his speed, he could be a better match in the slot, if he even maintains a starting role in 2019. Rookie Tre Flowers, meanwhile, impressed to the point where he should have a starting boundary job in 2019. But that leaves a void opposite him, a void Deandre Baker could end up filling.
Georgia’s Deandre Baker rounds out the top three cornerbacks in the 2019 NFL Draft. He doesn’t offer the same mobility that Murphy provides, or the same athleticism that Williams promises, but Baker compliments the Seahawks’ current pieces well, in the sense that he’s a long, physical boundary cornerback who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty in close quarters.
Questions will pervade about Baker’s speed, but he’s a smart prospect with a polished game, and his seven interceptions and 23 pass deflections over three years are proof of that. Baker would complete the Seahawks’ secondary, in an age where the secondary might be one of the most important units on the field.
By trading former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco to the Denver Broncos, the Baltimore Ravens have put all speculation to bed: Lamar Jackson is the franchise quarterback, and now, it’s time to get him some weapons.
The Ravens double-dipped at tight end last season, giving Jackson a solid duo in Mark Andrews and Hayden Hurst. They also managed to cement the roots of a solid offensive line for Jackson, lucking their way into drafting starting tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in the third round.
The makings of an exceptional supporting cast are present around Lamar Jackson, but more weapons can be added. At running back, the Ravens have four pending free agents, with only Kenneth Dixon left on the roster. And at wide receiver, the team’s top returning receiver is 31-year old Michael Crabtree, while speedster John Brown awaits an uncertain fate, with his one-year contract ending soon.
Even if the Ravens bring back Brown, their receiving core will be somewhat lacking. Adding a versatile pass catcher who can line up at the X, Y, and Z would be a good choice for new general manager Eric DeCosta to make, and at No. 22, Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry is a player who makes a lot of sense.
Harry is a player who showed off his versatility over the course of his career with the Sun Devils. At 6-foot-3, 217, he has the size and vertical ability to high-point 50-50 balls, but his best trait is, surprisingly, his run-after-catch ability. He excels as a runner, using crafty direction changes and shifty moves to make defenders miss. Harry will enable the Ravens to magnify the creativity that Lamar Jackson allows them to use, and in time, he could develop into a clear-cut No. 1 receiver.
The Houston Texans have been in need of offensive line help for quite some time. Too long, it seems. Before Deshaun Watson, the need was best conveyed by league-leading sack numbers, but now, all one has to do is watch Watson weave in and out of rushing lanes to know that, at some point, he needs some help.
Watson is already one of the fastest-rising stars in the NFL, with incredible playmaking ability at the quarterback position. With the weapon core the Texans are building on offense, imagine if Watson had more time to throw. For Houston, it’s almost a necessity that an offensive lineman constitutes this pick, and in this mock, they go for an interior blocker, deciding on Boston College guard Chris Lindstrom.
Lindstrom is a very polished blocker who should be a starter early in the NFL. Over the course of his college career, he’s made a case to be the first interior lineman taken off the board in the 2019 NFL Draft, and as I wrote in a recent seven-round mock draft, Lindstrom is widely recognized as such a talent.
"Listed as the No. 1 interior lineman in the 2019 NFL Draft by three of five Draft Network writers, Lindstrom wins with a myriad of traits, from his solid athletic profile, to his well-tuned hand placement, to his brute strength in the battles of the trenches."
While one player won’t fix a unit, the Texans could use a well-rounded, immediate starter like Lindstrom to help make life a little easier for their star quarterback, while also opening lanes for Lamar Miller in the running game.
After trading back with the Oakland Raiders, the Washington Redskins have some decisions to make at the tail end of the first round of the NFL Draft, with two first-round picks to use.
Ultimately, the Redskins could go in countless directions with these two picks. Wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive end, linebacker, cornerback; it’s all on the table. With their first pick in the first round, however, the Redskins, in this mock, decide to address perhaps their least inspiring position on the roster: Safety.
Chauncey Gardner-Hill garnered consideration for this pick, as did Delaware’s Nasir Adderly. But Deionte Thompson is the Alabama guy, so naturally, he’s the one who earns preference in the eyes of the Redskins.
Thompson’s selection isn’t simply a case of the ‘Bama blues, however. Thompson has the traits of a future impact starter at safety. His athleticism is promising, and he possesses the range and playmaking ability that the Redskins have been looking for from their safeties. While Thompson will need to work on his keys more, and measure risks with more patience, he immediately fills a need for Washington, and gives them immense developmental upside to work with.
There’s no guarantee Devin White lasts this long in the NFL Draft. The Steelers could use a linebacker of his caliber, and with his size and speed combination, he could even fail to make it past the top ten.
There’s a heightened degree of ambiguity surrounding the evaluation of this year’s linebackers, and in this NFL Draft mock, White is the one who slips. While White’s camp wouldn’t be happy, the Philadelphia Eagles would be very willing beneficiaries; with Jordan Hicks set to hit free agency, the Eagles need a boost on the second level. White should provide that, with a little refining.
Like the other Devin in the 2019 NFL Draft, Devin White has impressive range for a linebacker, and can make plays from hash to hash. With 256 tackles in two full years as a starter at LSU, White has shown he can make an impact, and his activity at linebacker is something the Eagles would likely covet, if he falls to them.
There are some concerns with White, however. His coverage instincts are not up to par, and mentally, he has some progress to make before he’s ready to go toe-to-toe with NFL offenses. But he has gotten more consistent in that area, and with continued development, perhaps he can smooth out the remaining creases.
The Indianapolis Colts exceeded expectations in 2018, due in part to a spectacular 2018 NFL Draft class put together by general manager Chris Ballard. The return of Andrew Luck was critical as well, as the Stanford product won Comeback Player of the Year with over 4,500 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. But Ballard’s class gave them the pieces to complete the puzzle.
In the first and second rounds, Ballard’s Colts nabbed two All-Pro caliber players in offensive guard Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard, and now, in 2019, Ballard will be tasked with upholding the same precedent of excellence he set in 2018.
Because of their success in the 2018 NFL Draft, and because they have so much cap space to play around with, the Colts have some flexibility heading into the 2019 NFL Draft. They can afford to prioritize upside and developmental potential, as opposed to immediate dividends, and their first-round pick in this mock, Texas defensive lineman Charles Omenihu, mirrors that philosophy.
Omenihu is a hulking figure at 6-foot-6, 275. He has a monstrous wingspan as a defensive lineman, and his athleticism should give him versatility at the next level, if he’s put in the right situation. Stampede Blue’s Zach Hicks spotlighted Omenihu as a player who fits Chris Ballard’s speculative draft tendencies at edge rusher. Here’s what Hicks had to say:
"If any player fits the mold that Ballard likes in his defensive ends, its Charles Omenihu. Mostly a sub-rusher for Texas, Omenihu was very disruptive with a quick burst off of the line and a lengthy frame. He was a standout at the Senior Bowl where he put together a couple good practices. Omenihu also excels at tackling and has a relentless motor. His weaknesses are his lack of bend on the edge and inconsistent run defense."
The Colts could use some more depth and versatility on the defensive line, even with the emergence of pending free agent Margus Hunt. Omenihu could give them that and more.
The second pick of the first round for the Redskins is up, and this time, they move to the offensive side of the ball.
Offense is arguably the side of the ball that should be prioritized by the Redskins in the 2019 NFL Draft. The unit was anemic for a good portion of 2018, and even with Derrius Guice returning to full health, the team is almost completely starved of reliable playmakers.
The Redskins could go the playmaker route with this pick, as Kelvin Harmon, Noah Fant, and Deebo Samuel are all still on the board. But the opportunity to grab an athletic, high-upside interior lineman presented itself, so instead, the Redskins went with North Carolina State lineman Garrett Bradbury.
Washington Commanders
The mention of “high-upside” next to Bradbury’s name might haunt Redskins fans with the recent memory of selecting Geron Christian in Round 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft. Christian was met with the same moniker, and in year one, he showed how much ground he truly has left to cover. But Bradbury isn’t the low-floor, high-ceiling type. His floor is a bit higher, as Joe Marino of The Draft Network wrote in Bradbury’s draft profile:
"Bradbury came to NC State as a tight end recruit and leaves as an outstanding NFL interior offensive line prospect. His technical refinement and consistency is even more impressive considering the relative newness to his position. Given his lateral mobility and proven success in the Wolfpack’s zone blocking run scheme, he projects most favorably to the same role in the NFL. Bradbury’s range as a blocker will be major asset to him and his NFL offense. By year three, Bradburry has the upside to become a solid starter that is primed to sign a lucrative second contract."
The Patriots showed the NFL in Super Bowl how impactful good offensive line play can be, and the Rams generously conveyed the inverse: The underwhelming offensive line play will, by extension, cause an offense to underwhelm. By drafting Bradbury, the Redskins ensure that their offensive line won’t underwhelm in 2019, as long as they stay healthy.
The Chargers almost have to draft an interior defensive lineman in this year’s NFL Draft. Their team is ready for another playoff run in 2019, but the defense, solid on the second and third levels, needs a better foundation up front. The Patriots exposed this weakness in the divisional round of the playoffs, as Sony Michel tore apart Los Angeles.
Scheming played a hand in Los Angeles’ downfall versus the Patriots, but if they’d had stronger play up the middle, they may have been able to pull off their secondary-heavy look that worked so well against Lamar Jackson. Competence across levels on defense allows coaches to be more creative with versatile pieces, such as Derwin James. So with the No. 28 pick, the Chargers should look for competence on the defensive line, and one prospect who fits the bill is Christian Wilkins.
Part of a vaunted defensive line group hailing from Clemson, Wilkins has impressive size and production on his resume. Standing at 6-foot-4, 300, Wilkins was a tackle-for-loss machine in college, logging 40.5 stops behind the line and 16.0 sacks in four seasons as a full-time starter.
In the NFL, Wilkins offers early experience, technical prowess, and inextinguishable effort. While he lacks length, Wilkins has a nice blend of athletic talent and detailed refinement that should make him an attractive selection for the Los Angeles Chargers. He has a high floor, which is what Los Angeles, a team built to win now, needs from their first-round rookie.
The Chiefs’ offense is set. They’ve got a top-flight franchise quarterback, a plethora of weapons at his disposal, and a solid offensive line to facilitate. One could make the argument for a running back here, but after seeing the kinds of returns Kansas City got from Damien Hill late in the 2018 season, they likely don’t feel the need to force the issue at that position.
If the Chiefs spend their first-round pick anywhere in the NFL Draft, it has to be on the defensive side of the ball. The Chiefs were consistently in shootouts in 2018, and while they were able to come out on top often enough, with their transcendent offense, their defense too often failed to carry its own weight, especially against the pass, where they ranked at No. 31 in the NFL, allowing 273.4 yards per game.
With Steve Spagnuolo replacing Bob Sutton as defensive coordinator, the Chiefs could prioritize an overhaul of their secondary, and seek out flexibility from their first-round NFL Draft pick. With Florida’s Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, they’d get just that.
Gardner-Johnson is listed as a safety, but truthfully, his 6-foot-0, 208-pound size, speed and awareness allows him to line up at a number of different spots in the secondary. He logged nine interceptions and 12 pass deflections in three years with the Gators, showing off his ball skills. Whether he’s in the box, in the slot, or single high, Gardner-Johnson has a unique blend of talent and tenacity that the Chiefs shouldn’t pass up.
Offensive lineman? Check. The Packers, with two first-round picks, were able to add a stellar lineman to the fold at No. 12 in the NFL Draft. Now, the focus turns to defense, where they have a void on the edge waiting to be filled.
The Packers got decent returns from Kyler Fackrell last season, but Nick Perry could be heading out the door after logging just 1.5 sacks on the year. Fackrell alone is far from a consistent force to be reckoned with, and so the Packers need to capitalize on a strong edge class.
Montez Sweat might not fit the Packers as well as a Brian Burns or a Jachai Polite, but by prioritizing the offensive line with their first NFL Draft pick, the Packers have put themselves in this position. Still, Sweat is a very solid prospect in his own right. He’s still developing, but as I wrote in my Saturday Spotlight article on Sweat, there’s a lot to like.
"Sweat is a still-developing edge rusher who’s at least decent at almost everything. Sweat has some bend, but not enough, as he sometimes gets re-routed by tackles. He has good burst, but he doesn’t fly off the line all the time. He shows flashes of bullish strength, but he needs to improve on that, nonetheless. Sweat’s length, motor, and production make up for the natural inconsistencies that most college players have. He has room to improve. But the prospect, Montez Sweat, brings a lot to the table."
Sweat had a good week of practices at the Senior Bowl, which could have elevated his stock, and if he tests even remotely well at the combine, he could be gone well before No. 30. But in this NFL Draft mock, he’s still available, and the Packers decide to take a chance on him.
The Rams’ defense received lots of scrutiny over the course of the 2018 season. Much like the Chiefs, the Rams were often caught up in high-scoring affairs.
Unlike the Chiefs, however, the Rams invested a treasure trove of assets into their defense in 2018. It wasn’t all for naught; Ndamukong Suh became a valuable part of a stacked interior line rotation, but Marcus Peters underwhelmed as a boundary corner, and voids at linebacker and edge rusher were revealed.
The Rams could address one of those two positions at this NFL Draft pick, but another need on the other side of the ball revealed itself in the Super Bowl: Offensive guard. With their line failing to come through on the big stage, the Rams’ offense was inert through four quarters, and Jared Goff’s poise was derailed by consistent pressure.
It’s still unclear whether or not Austin Blythe is a long-term solution at right guard, and veteran Roger Saffold is set to enter free agency this offseason. With how important offensive line play is for success in the NFL, the Rams can’t sneak around this. By drafting Dalton Risner at the tail end of Round 1 of the NFL Draft, they’ll acquire a mauler with a mean streak, one who can be further mentored by Robert Whitworth and John Sullivan.
Out with the Gronk, in with the Fant.
The Patriots won their sixth Super Bowl of the twenty-first century earlier this month, and a big reason why was the versatility that Rob Gronkowski gave them as a blocker and a receiving threat. Even when he wasn’t catching the ball, he was drawing the attention of the Rams’ defense, spreading them thin, so that New England could keep Los Angeles on their toes.
Gronkowski has been a facet in Bill Belichick’s offense for years, but now, after three Super Bowl rings, four All-Pro bids, and five Pro Bowl berths, Gronkowski is contemplating retirement. He was contemplating it last offseason as well, with the beating his body has taken in the NFL, but now, with Gronkowski set to turn 30 years old this offseason, the possibility of retirement is as real as it’s ever been.
Gronkowski’s departure, were it to happen, would come at an opportune time for the Patriots, however. Because the 2019 NFL Draft is both top heavy and impressively deep at the tight end position. One player in the NFL Draft who’s been consistently linked to the Patriots, as a result, is Iowa tight end Noah Fant.
The second Iowa tight end to come off the board in Round 1, Fant isn’t as polished as his teammate, Hockenson, but Fant boasts perhaps more athletic upside. At 6-foot-4, 240, Fant has good size as a receiving tight end, and with competent blocking ability, he can entice the Patriots as their next versatile chess piece at tight end. The Patriots quietly revolutionized the usage of the tight end over the past decade, and with Fant, they can continue to live in the future, in a league where the past is still popular.