3-round GM mock after the first wave of free agency

3-round GM mock after the first wave of free agency

Now that the first wave of free agency is over, the picture has become a little clearer (somewhat) as to what each team has left on their to-do lists. Of course, there are a lot of excellent players still available, and things could change again (and again).

Below is not necessarily how I think the draft will unfold, but how I, personally, would pick for each team if I were in charge. I’ve included many trades as I think various teams would benefit from either moving up to land a particular player or by moving down to accumulate additional draft capital.

  1. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU – Please, Cincinnati, do not mess this up. Take the franchise quarterback.
  2. Washington Redskins – Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio St – The Redskins are tempted to move down, but they aren’t overwhelmed enough to pass on a truly elite pass-rushing prospect.
  3. Miami Dolphins* (via trade with Detroit) – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama – The critical spot in the draft. The Dolphins give up a pair of 2nd rounders to move up two spots and land their guy.
  4. New York Giants – Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama – The Giants are tempted to take Jeffrey Okudah or Isaiah Simmons, but they settle on the guy they think is the best lineman in the draft.
  5. Detroit Lions* (via trade with Miami) – Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio St – The Lions are huge winners to move down a couple spots, pick up some premium picks, and still land the perfect replacement for Darius Slay.
  6. Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon – The Chargers ultimately stand pat and land the guy they love in Herbert. He can sit behind Tyrod Taylor for a season.
  7. Jacksonville Jaguars** (via trade with Carolina) – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson – The Jaguars absolutely love Simmons and bribe the Panthers to pass by adding in some quality draft capital.
  8. Arizona Cardinals – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa – With the acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals turn their attention to protecting Kyler Murray. Wirfs is a great addition.
  9. Carolina Panthers** (via trade with Jacksonville) – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn – A poor showing at the combine has some believing Brown will fall outside of the top 10. I’m not buying it. He’s too good. Carolina nails it by adding some draft picks and still landing an elite interior prospect.
  10. Cleveland Browns – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville – The Browns would have loved for Wirfs to fall, but Becton is a HUGE consolation prize. He has the highest upside of any tackle in the draft.
  11. New York Jets – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia – The safest of the tackle prospects, Thomas fills a huge need for Gang Green. Thomas is as steady as they come.
  12. Las Vegas Raiders – C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida – The Raiders may be tempted to take their favorite receiver here, but there is too big of a gap between Henderson and the next cornerback on their board.
  13. San Francisco 49ers – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma – The trade turns out to be DeForest Buckner for CeeDee Lamb. Not bad for either team. Lamb is a perfect fit as an elite after-the-catch receiver.
  14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina – With Tom Brady now at the helm, the Bucs are NFC contenders. They have a great run defense but could use an interior pass rusher like Kinlaw to help the pass defense.
  15. Denver Broncos – Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama – The Broncos need to add a playmaker to pair with emerging star Courtland Sutton. Ruggs is the fastest player in the draft and will create plenty of opportunities for the entire Bronco offense.
  16. Atlanta Falcons – K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU – The Falcons have been somewhat busy at the start of free agency, including adding Dante Fowler Jr as an edge rusher. They draft a nice compliment in Chaisson to give opposing quarterbacks fits.
  17. Las Vegas Raiders*** (via trade with Dallas) – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama – The Raiders seize an opportunity to move up and land the guy they were tempted to take at 12.
  18. Miami Dolphins – Grant Delpit, S, LSU – The Dolphins would love to trade down here and pick up some of the lost draft capital from the Tua trade earlier, but they are unable to find a trade partner. So they take Delpit, who provides a nice boost to the back end of an improving defense.
  19. Dallas Cowboys*** (via trade with Las Vegas) – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU – The Cowboys gave serious consideration to staying at 17 and taking Jeudy, but the deep draft class at receiver allows them to pick up an extra third-rounder and draft an excellent prospect at a position of need.
  20. Minnesota Vikings**** (via trade with Jacksonville) – Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU – The Vikings have lost five starters on defense, including three in the secondary. They make a move up to ensure they land their favorite corner prospect in the draft, non-Okudah division.
  21. Philadelphia Eagles – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson – The trade for Darius Slay allows the Eagles to take the receiver they like the most. Here, its Higgins, who provides an excellent combination of size, athleticism, hands, catch radius, and after-the-catch ability.
  22. Jacksonville Jaguars**** (via trade with Minnesota) – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama – The Jags moved down only a couple of spots and picked up an extra couple of picks from the Vikings and still were able to nab their favorite safety in the draft.
  23. New England Patriots – Jordan Love, QB, Utah St – It’s a new era in Foxborough. Nobody knows who will be under center for the Patriots in 2020, but Love has all of the tools you’d want in a potential franchise signal-caller. The rebuild is officially on.
  24. Miami Dolphins***** (via trade with New Orleans) – Josh Jones, OT, Houston – The Dolphins move up again to get in front of Minnesota for the right to draft Jones.
  25. Minnesota Vikings – Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor – The Vikings traded their best receiver and will look to replace him with Mims, the player who single-handedly improved his stock the most between the Senior Bowl and the NFL Draft Combine.
  26. New Orleans Saints***** (via trade with Miami) – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU – The Saints keep Queen close to home and pair him with All-Pro Demario Davis. An excellent boost in the middle of the defense for the Saints.
  27. Seattle Seahawks – Zack Baun, EDGE/LB, Wisconsin – Baun is a tough player to peg. He’s capable of being an excellent starter as an edge rusher or as an off-ball linebacker. His versatility provides a massive boost to a Seattle defense needing an infusion of talent.
  28. Baltimore Ravens – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma – Murray plays like a Raven. He’s fast, he’s strong, and he’s aggressive. This is a match made in heaven for the team many believe will be the Super Bowl favorite come September.
  29. Tennessee Titans – Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma – The Titans drafted Jeffrey Simmons last year in the first round, but they add Gallimore to be his running mate on the inside. That could form a scary interior rush duo.
  30. Green Bay Packers – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU – The Packers need to add additional help for Aaron Rodgers. Jefferson is a precise route runner that should take attention away from Davante Adams.
  31. Indianapolis Colts****** (via trade with San Francisco) – Jacob Eason, QB, Washington – The Colts signed Philip Rivers, but they need a long-term answer at the quarterback position. Eason sits for a year but is a great fit for Frank Reich’s offense.
  32. Kansas City Chiefs – Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio St – Arnette isn’t the fastest corner in the draft, but he’s physical, smart, and technically sound. He fits a defense that significantly improved throughout the 2019 season.

CONTINUE TO SECOND ROUND

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