NFL Draft Mock 5.0: Two-round mock, post-free agency

Last time I did a first-round NFL Draft mock, I had the Oakland Raiders select Josh Allen at this pick. Since then, I’ve watched tape of both Brian Burns and Josh Allen, and I have what might be considered a hot take to present to you:

Brian Burns >>>> Josh Allen.

While Allen has some redeemable qualities, his tape leaves something to be desired. Burns, meanwhile, showed off his well-rounded skill set, and he generated pocket penetration far more often than Allen. Burns has the burst, flexibility, bend, length, and technical precision to flourish in the NFL as a top-tier edge rusher.

Despite all his positive traits, however, Burns has, more often than not, been mocked far below Josh Allen. Allen is often a surefire top ten pick in mocks, while Burns has fallen as far as outside the top twenty. While it’s possible that Burns could drop, for whatever reason (It’s the NFL Draft; anything can happen), he shouldn’t.

This selection is more a testament to Burns’ prowess than a representation of what is likely, but it can’t be ruled out as a possibility. Jon Gruden said, after trading Khalil Mack, that great edge rushers are hard to find. As long as his watches the tape, he should see a great edge rusher in Brian Burns, and he shouldn’t hesitate to fill his team’s most pressing need with a top five player in the class.