Mock Draft 1.0
1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow QB LSU
Easiest pick in recent memory, Burrow took a huge step from 2018 to be the best player in college football, completing almost 80% of this passes without a dink and dunk offense. One of the most memorable college seasons in memory results in a #1 pick hoping to turn around a franchise that hasn’t been relevant in some time.
2. Washington Redskins: Andrew Thomas OT Georgia
THEY PASS ON CHASE YOUNG!? In a word, yes. Defensive line is a strength of this bottom feeding team and is already young enough to grow with the rebuild. Even if this new staff retains Trent Williams, he’s not getting any younger and Thomas would have the opportunity to learn under one of the best who happens to have similar traits and ability as the young Thomas. His frame, length and athleticism in addition to the polish he’s gained starting at LT in the SEC for 3 years makes him one of the most exciting Tackle prospects to come out in the last 10 years.
3. Detroit Lions: Chase Young EDGE Ohio State
As a Lions fan, this is almost a bad spot assuming the Redskins do what most people think and take Chase Young at two, with the other best players available not necessarily matching well with the team needs. That said, Chase Young falls into their lap here, Bob Quinn buys a bottle of Don Julio for the war room, they take 9 minutes and 59 seconds partying, and hope they can spell his name correctly after throwing back some celebration tequila.
4. New York Giants: Jeffrey Okudah CB Ohio State
The Giants have plenty of needs. They could look to help their young QB adding an alpha type outside weapon. In this scenario I add that alpha to the other side of the ball where their most glaring weakness lies. I like Deandre Baker, I think he will be a fine pro; but, adding a potential star across from him makes for an exciting young duo.
5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama
On one hand I loved Josh Rosen coming out and this pick is essentially me giving up on his evaluation, whether it’s the places he’s played or his talent, something hasn’t clicked with the Dolphins looking much more competent with Fitzpatrick under center. Miami has a bad roster, but they also have 3 first round picks and my philosophy says you need to take a chance on a franchise QB when you have the opportunity at #5.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Derrick Brown IDL Auburn
The Chargers have a formidable edge tandem, perhaps the most prolific in the league. With Derrick Brown, they become a 3 man rush that no 5 man line would be equipped to stifle. Brown has unnatural explosiveness for a man his size and the anchor to control double and triple teams without giving up ground. Single blocking Brown, Bosa or Ingram will be a problem for years to come.
7. Carolina Panthers: Javon Kinlaw IDL South Carolina
Derrick Brown would have been perfect here with the likely departures of Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, but Carolina gets the next best thing in a guy who will wind up as a top 10 prospect in Javon Kinlaw, who in 2019 was every bit as disruptive in the middle as his Auburn counterpart.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs OT Iowa
I believe Arizona has something cooking with their young skill players and triggerman, but as elusive as Murray is evading rushers I would like to see him with time to survey a defense as he had at Oklahoma. Wirfs has an enormous ceiling, even as a more raw Tackle prospect. He has the ability to play on either side of the line and is fantastic getting to the second level which would be a boon to the run game as well.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma
Thought about Isaiah Simmons here, who fits the athletic profile they like on D, but I think they’re going to give this QB situation one more year to play itself out. Be it Minshew or Foles, they’re going to need another weapon, and pairing Lamb with Chark on the outside with Dede Westbrook operating the slot gives whoever is under center a hell of a shot to earn the keys to the franchise.
10. Cleveland Browns: Isaiah Simmons Defensive Weapon Clemson
Isaiah Simmons is a special defender, and could easily be gone by this point in the draft. Luckily for Cleveland he is available and can fill a multitude of roles. He is comfortable in the slot and at deep safety, which would improve on the Jabril Peppers role after hes been gone a season. He can replace Joe Schobert if they elect not to resign the budding LB, or if they do retain his services, can be added to Schobert and Mack WIlson to create the best young LB corps in the league.
11. New York Jets: Jedrick Wills Jr OT Alabama
The last of the potentially blue chip OT prospects, the Jets get a guy who throws people around in the run game if they choose to keep Leveon in town. Wills shows all the traits you like to see in pass protection, giving Sam Darnold some much needed help in year 3.
12. Oakland Raiders: Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama
This WR class is absolutely stacked. There will be startable talent drafted mid day three. Because of this, i can see some of the top flight talent available into the middle of the first round. Oakland is a major benefactor of this and lands one of the most solid prospects we’ve seen at the position in years. Jeudy’s, crisp routes, separation ability and catch radius for his size are outstanding and will undoubtedly transfer to the next level.
13. Indianapolis Colts: AJ Epenesa EDGE Iowa
Perfect blend of value and need here. Justin Houston isn’t getting any younger, Jabaal Sheard is a pending FA who hasn’t hit 6 sacks since 2015, and they don’t have a whole lot budding behind them. Epenesa is a physical edge rusher capable of stopping the run, while possessing an impressive technical skill set and incredible power off the edge getting after the QB.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Grant Delpit S LSU
Any team coached by Bruce Arians can score with anyone. At some point, Tampa Bay’s defense needs to make a stop. Delpit is an asset in the box as well as deep. He can come off the edge, cover the slot, or play single high. These are all needs for the Bucs and his services will be gladly squired.
15. Denver Broncos: Kristian Fulton CB LSU
I wanted to go WR to give their QB another weapon, but with what I believe to be the clear 2 best WRs off the board, there’s a huge group of impact players left, so they can address that need later. For now they take a potential shut down corner to either replace or play alongside impending FA Chris Harris.
16. Atlanta Falcons: Yetur Gross-Matos EDGE Penn State
Powerful, long and athletic, Yetur Gross-Matos is the edge rusher Atlanta has been hoping for since the decline of Vic Beasley. Adding a running mate across from Beasley could even create a resurgence that would greatly benefit the Falcons defense which failed to create pressure in 2019. Gross-Matos has the stature to bump in to 3 tech and the athleticism to burn and bully around the edge making him a dynamic pass rushing option.
17. Dallas Cowboys: Henry Ruggs III WR Alabama
The Cowboys have been tough to mock for the last few years because on paper their roster is loaded at nearly every position. Part of making this pick is a sneaky suspicion that Dallas and Amari Cooper aren’t going to find agreeable terms with the need to resign Dak still looming. With or without Cooper, Ruggs fits into this offense and gives them a 4.2 chess piece with a different skill set than Cooper and now-established Michael Gallup.
18. Miami Dolphins: Tyler Biadasz IOL Wisconsin
After adding their franchise signal caller, Miami aims to protect their investment with the best interior lineman to come out of Wisconson since Travis Fredrick. Biadasz has the versatility to play all 3 positions across the middle of the trenches and is a monster in a phone booth. Strong base with heavy hands and solid in pass protection, Biadasz is a future captain and all pro no matter where he lands.
19. Oakland Raiders: Trevon Diggs CB Alabama
Jerry Jeudy fell into their lap early, and part of me thought QB with only the top 2 off the board, but both Justin Herbert and Jordan Love are cut from the same cloth as Derek Carr. If Jon Gruden wants to move on it makes no sense to take a younger less experienced version of the same player he already has. Trevon Diggs is raw but has a high ceiling to solidify the Raiders secondary on a young team.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: K’Lavon Chaisson EDGE LSU
While this may seem to make for an embarrassment of riches in the pass rushing department, edge is a hidden need of the Jaguars. Yannick Ngakoue could leave in free agency, and the aging Calais Campbell is entering the final year of his contract. Chaisson is a long and twitchy athlete with a massive ceiling. Allowing him to add to his frame in his rookie campaign would be a major benefit and, along with Josh Allen, could create the premier pass rushing duo for years to come.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: KJ Hamler WR Penn State
DeSean Jackson showed in week 1 what a true deep threat can unlock in this offense, allowing Carson Wentz to throw for 313 yards and 3 TDs on over 8 ypa (highest of the season). Hamler has averaged 17 yards per catch in 2 years at Penn State and can probably run a 4.4 on one leg. Slam dunk pick for Carson Wentz and the Eagles.
22. Buffalo Bills: Raekwon Davis IDL Alabama
Peek behind the curtain, I had this pick as Jonathan Taylor.. but after watching the wildcard game, Devin Singletary looked every bit the 3 down NFL running back Bills fans said he was all year long. RB will need to be invested in later but 1st round seems irresponsible. On the other side, the run defense has gotten roughed up this year, and with Corey Liuget likely headed elsewhere in free agency, they’ll need a run-stuffer inside next to Ed Oliver moving forward. Raekwon Davis fills that role.
23. New England Patriots: Jordan Love QB Utah State
Justin Herbert is on the board, and he may be the safer pick here, but Jordan Love’s ceiling is limitless and Bill Belichick has the pedigree and the balls to take a chance on a guy he believes in without acknowledging the “consensus”.
24. New Orleans Saints: Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma
New Orleans has a potent and filled out offense, and a defense with talent at all three levels. The weak point of the team is play-making ability right in the middle and Murray brings that in spades. Murray is an old-school football player with new school athleticism. His strength is his sideline to sideline ability and pass defense but has talents evading blockers and getting downhill as well. He can get engulfed in the box from time to time, but when he gets free is a natural play-maker that the Saints could really use.
25. Tennessee Titans: CJ Henderson CB Florida
In a class thick with secondary talent, Henderson is the last CB with apparent #1 shut down capabilities. He is smooth in coverage and has a natural play making ability that will have the defensive minded Vrabel overlooking his mediocre tackling. Pairing Henderson with Adoree Jackson creates a problem for opposing teams passing attacks and boosts a secondary which is thin at CB outside of Logan Ryan, who is entering the last year of his contract.
26. Minnesota Vikings: Creed Humphrey IOL Oklahoma
With consistent investment, Minnesota continues to turn their biggest weakness into a strength. Bradbury looks like a fantastic starter going forward and Brian O’Neill has proven his doubters wrong, albeit with plenty of work to do. Creed Humphrey solidifies the middle of this reworked offensive line adding another brute with smooth movement abilities. He his comfortable in pass protection and has great overall strength in the run game which would assimilate perfectly into the Vikings power zone scheme with play action off of it.
27. Miami Dolphins: Bryce Hall CB Virginia
The injury worries me here, but Bryce Hall is as complete a football player at this age as we’ve seen recently. Along with Tyler Biadasz that makes 2 quality starters as soon as the 2020 draft concludes, which is exactly what Miami should be looking for after taking a chance on their franchise QB.
28. Seattle Seahawks: Paulson Adebo CB Stanford
With the days of the Legion of Boom long behind us, Seattle remains searching for a new identity defensively. They continue to add pieces, and have some good ones, with 2 solid CBs in Flowers and Griffin and a veteran presence at Safety in Quandre Diggs. This room is still missing a true shut down option, and Adebo offers that potential. The Stanford product is long and extremely fluid in his movements, playing with grace and intention. He has quality ball skills and shows potential to be a #1 CB with a high floor that would add plenty of ability to this young secondary.
29. Green Bay Packers: Laviska Shenault WR Colorado
Devante Adams is one of the best pass catchers in the game, and Green Bay is quite barren outside of that. Shenault is a WR in the mold of Dez Bryant and comes out of Colorado with strong hands, burst and play-making ability. He can play outside or in the slot and would be a beautiful addition that could extend Aaron Rodger’s formidable years.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Travis Etienne RB Clemson
But Kevin, the defense sucks, the pass rush needs replacing, and they can’t stop the run. I want to watch the world burn. Travis Etienne to the Chiefs.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Jeff Gladney CB TCU
This 49ers team suddenly finds themselves in a position with very few holes, but the secondary is one of them, needing to add more youth and depth. Jeff Gladney is a long, perimeter CB who has no hesitation tackling on the outside, should be a nice piece for one of the best defenses in football moving forward.
32. Baltimore Ravens: Tee Higgins WR Clemson
This Baltimore offense is rounding into form, despite the lack of talent on the outside. The natural compliment to a downfield threat like Hollywood Brown is a savvy big bodied, long limbed, route runner like Tee Higgins. Adding an outside threat who can win without much separation to the bevy of tight ends and speedsters makes this a dynamic offense that can win in many ways.