The 2019 NFL Season is officially over. Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs for their epic run through the postseason, coming back from double-digit deficits in all three of their playoff games to win their first Super Bowl in 50 years.
But, not even the champions can rest as the NFL is a 365-day season. It truly is. So, its time to move onto the second season, the NFL offseason.
While the NFL Draft is a couple of months away, teams are already doing their due diligence. The Senior Bowl has come and gone, and fans are lining up their favorite prospects for their favorite teams to draft.
Below is a 3-round mock draft. A version with trades and compensatory picks. A version from which I can see unfolding. Be gentle!
1. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU – There have been some rumors that the Bengals love Oregon QB Justin Herbert. Don’t believe the hype. Burrow is not only the best QB prospect the league has seen in years, but he’s also the most pro-ready, as well. This is an absolute no brainer for Cincinnati, and they better not mess this up.
2. Washington Redskins – Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State – The Skins may have more pressing needs than taking a pass rusher, but, like Burrow, he may be the best prospect at his position in years. I have a higher prospect grade on Young than I did on either Bosa brother when they were entering the draft.
Young can do it all, and he would probably be the top pick any other year. Either way, this is a great year to have the second pick of the draft.
3. Miami Dolphins (via trade with Detroit)* – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama – The pre-season favorite to be the top pick, Tua is coming off a significant hip injury, similar to the one that ended Bo Jackson’s career prematurely many years ago. Now, modern medicine should allow for a full recovery here, and it’s a chance that the Dolphins will be happy to take to land what could be the face of their franchise for the next decade-plus.
4. New York Giants – Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama – Wills seems to be separating himself as the best OL prospect in this draft. He’s a mauler, plain and simple. With the Giants committed to second-year QB Daniel Jones, the smart move is to keep fortifying his protection and allow him to develop while providing a boost for all-world RB Saquon Barkley. This is an excellent fit for the G-Men.
5. Detroit Lions (via trade with Miami)* – Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio St – The Lions win in multiple ways here. Okudah is the player they likely would select if they stay put at 3. But, they move back, pick up a late 1st and a 5th and still land the player they covet. Okudah checks off just about every box you’d want in a shutdown corner. Plus, with Darius Slay entering the final year of his contract, this is a great fit for both player and team.
6. Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon – Herbert had a solid week at the Senior Bowl, likely cementing his status as a top 10 pick, if not better. He’s big, he has a cannon of an arm, he’s plenty mobile, and he throws with accuracy downfield.
My professional comparison is a slightly less athletic Colin Kaepernick, but with a little more upside in terms of natural arm talent. The Chargers need to find a replacement for Philip Rivers, and if Tom Brady doesn’t land in Los Angeles, Herbert may be their best bet as part of a rebuild.
7. Carolina Panthers – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn – Brown is a complete player, able to fit just about any system for either position on the interior of a defensive line. He can be used as a two-gap defender or as a penetrating rusher. His versatility will provide options for whichever team has the good fortune of drafting him.
All I know is that players of his size don’t often have his explosion off the line. I see multiple pro bowls in his future.
8. Arizona Cardinals – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma – The Cardinals should really be looking to invest in their offensive line, but the temptation to pair Lamb with his college QB Kyler Murray may be too great to pass on. Lamb is an explosive player that wins at all three levels.
Lamb is amazing after the catch and is a natural fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. The Cardinals will need to improve their line, but they’ll look to do that later in the draft and through free agency.
9. Indianapolis Colts (via trade with Jacksonville)** – Jordan Love, QB, Utah St – Love has all of the tools you look for in an NFL QB. However, his production at the collegiate level leaves many wondering what he will become.
The Colts, and Frank Reich, believe he can be molded into a star and take the chance to move up and grab their guy. He threw far too many interceptions at Utah St, but his size, arm strength, and mobility are worth taking a gamble on.
10. Cleveland Browns – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa – I believe Wirfs will stick on the right side at the pro level, which is no longer devastating to the value of an OT prospect. Defenses have pass rushers coming from all angles, so Wirfs can provide ample value at that spot, as a potential pro bowler at RT.
If the Browns do decide to move him to the blindside, I think he can be an above-average starter, but it wouldn’t be his best spot.
11. New York Jets – Mekhi Becton, OT, Lousiville – Becton is flying up draft boards, and rightfully so. Nobody at his size should move as smoothly as Becton does. At 6’7” and nearly 380 pounds, Becton is capable of simply overpowering defenders. But, he possesses long arms, quick feet, and a huge body that seems impossible to get around.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Becton eventually becomes the top tackle off the board come draft day, but, for now, the Jets land a potential star to protect Sam Darnold.
12. Las Vegas Raiders – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama – The Raiders need to add an offensive playmaker. Tyrell Williams is a very good deep threat, Darren Waller is one of the best Tight Ends in the league, and Hunter Renfrow proved to be a reliable slot weapon and chain mover. Now, they go land the star. The sub 4.4 guy that runs route like a five-year veteran. Jeudy has no flaws in his game and is a perfect fit for the Silver and Black.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade with Indianapolis)** – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson – The Jags hit a home run with this pick. Simmons has precisely zero business falling outside of the top 10 in this draft. He might be the best defensive player in the draft not named Chase Young.
Simmons can play all over the place, lining up at linebacker, safety, slot, edge rusher, and even on the perimeter at CB. He’s the ultimate chess piece that gives the Jags another weapon for a good, yet underperforming defense in 2020.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina – If you are looking for an explosive, penetrating DT, Kinlaw is your guy. He was dominant in Mobile and really locked in his status as a mid-first round pick. The Bucs possess an outstanding run defense but could use a boost to the pass rush, especially from the interior. Kinlaw is an excellent match of best player available meeting a team need.
15. Denver Broncos – Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama – Ruggs is the fastest player in this draft, and it wouldn’t shock anyone if he were to end up being the top WR taken come April. But, the Broncos are delighted to see him on the board here.
With emerging star Courtland Sutton, Ruggs give the Broncos another weapon for young QB Drew Lock to work with. They are another team that could look at the offensive line, but Ruggs will be too tempting to pass on.
16. Atlanta Falcons – AJ Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa – The Falcons have spent years trying to go with pure speed on the edge. Epenesa is the opposite kind of player. He’s a power rusher that has provided the Hawkeyes with a lot of production. I think he’s more of a base alignment EDGE that should kick inside on pass downs, but the Falcons will take whatever production they can get from him.
17. Dallas Cowboys – K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU – The Cowboys would love for Henry Ruggs to fall here, but with him off the board, they will look to trade back. Unable to find a trade partner, they take the uber-talented Chaisson, whose athletic traits are elite.
With Robert Quinn likely to move on in free agency, they will need help with the pass rush. Chaisson’s college production doesn’t match his natural talent, but teams will fall in love with him after he destroys the combine.
18. Miami Dolphins – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia – After moving up to land Tua, the Dolphins make the necessary move to protect their investment. Thomas has a lot of power and excels in the run game, but must improve in pass sets.
Thomas is an average athlete for the position, but is exceptionally strong and can be dominant once he gets his hands on the defender. Overall, he profiles as a good player with room to grow once his feet catch up to his hands.
19. Las Vegas Raiders – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida – Henderson possesses many of the traits you look for in a top-end corner. At 6’1,” you aren’t afraid to leave him on an island against bigger receivers, but you also know he’s got the athleticism and agility to match up with the quicker players.
Henderson is solid in run support, but stands to be even better, and more physical, as his body fills out. Coming away with Jeudy and Henderson would provide the Raiders an excellent pair of talents to work with.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU – Fulton is an excellent cover corner that possesses the stickiness teams look for in a 1st round player. He has outstanding lateral and change of direction abilities while standing 6’0 tall. That’s not overly common for players of that size.
But, despite being a big, physically gifted defensive back, Fulton is not all that aggressive as a tackler in run support. He still possesses tremendous upside and could certainly go much higher than this.
21. Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU – Only, 5’11,” Reagor doesn’t necessarily have the size you look for in a first-round WR. But, he’s unbelievable at high-pointing the football and playing much bigger than his actual size. His burst is outstanding, and he has elite speed, as well. He will blow away the combine, moving him way up draft boards.
While Reagor can undoubtedly be an outstanding slot at the next level, his vertical ability is something to behold. The Eagles need to add a true weapon for Carson Wentz, and Reagor would be a great fit with his versatility for a Doug Pederson offense.
22. Buffalo Bills – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson – Higgins has tremendous size for the position. His hands are outstanding, as well. I love him as a vertical threat for the big-armed Josh Allen, but he can play underneath as he is excellent after the catch.
Higgins gives the Bills an immediate red zone target and complements the underrated John Brown perfectly. If Higgins makes it past the Eagles, the Bills could quickly jump to the podium.
23. New England Patriots – Josh Jones, OT, Houston – Isaiah Wynn has not worked out for New England since being selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Still, I think he’s best suited inside at guard. Joe Thuney has been the Pats’ best lineman for the last couple of years, but he’s a free agent and could be on his way out the door.
So, the Pats could certainly take Jones, a player who dominated in Mobile and absolutely stonewalled pass rushers throughout his college career. The thought here would be to kick Wynn inside and let Jones take over on the blindside for whoever is under center in Foxborough in 2020.
24. Green Bay Packers (via trade with New Orleans)*** – Laviska Shenault Jr, WR, Colorado – Shenault is a versatile weapon that is absolutely deadly with the ball in his hands. With Aaron Rodgers taking fewer shots downfield than ever, Shenault is a perfect fit and gives the Packers a legitimate weapon opposite Davante Adams.
Shenault also provides tremendous versatility as a gadget player on reverses ala Deebo Samuel for the 49ers. The Packers pay a decent price to move up, but with Rodgers’ window closing, they take a chance to upgrade an offense needing an influx of talent.
25. Minnesota Vikings – Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama – The Vikings are certain to move on from Xavier Rhodes, who has experienced a sharp decline over the last couple of seasons. Trae Waynes and Mack Alexander are both free agents, and the Vikings are in cap hell. So, the fit here is logical. Plus, bringing in this particular player may keep their superstar WR, Stefon Diggs, happy.
However, in a vacuum, the younger Diggs is an excellent player with terrific cover skills with a tendency to get his hands on the football. With an aggressive front seven, Mike Zimmer is looking for his back-end players to create some turnovers. This makes too much sense.
26. Detroit Lions (via trade with Miami)* – Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn St – The Lions use this extra pick from their earlier trade with Miami to land an edge player with elite upside. The production isn’t exactly lacking wither, with 17 sacks over the last two seasons. Gross-Matos has great size already, but also has the quickness and bend to get to the QB. I love this fit for a defense that is re-tooling.
27. Seattle Seahawks – Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame – The Seahawks traded for Jadeveon Clowney last year, but could stand to find a player to rush from the other side. Okwara is an explosive player that has a knack for getting around the edge of blockers and reaching the QB.
Okwara is not particularly strong at the moment, but he is a big play waiting to happen. For a coach that loves to create turnovers, Pete Carroll will love the idea of adding a player like Okwara.
28. Baltimore Ravens – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU – Queen adds yet another playmaker to a defense filled with them. Queen has unbelievable range as a true sideline-to-sideline defender and as a downhill player penetrating the line of scrimmage. He’s not the biggest linebacker in the world, but the Ravens will play to his strengths and allow him to become a star.
29. Tennessee Titans – Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma – Gallimore was another star in Mobile. He dominated all week and made a case for himself as a first-round prospect. He has the quickness to play as a 3-technique penetrator on the interior and give the up-and-coming Titans another weapon to their vastly improved defense.
Gallimore also has the ability to play the nose, if needed. His versatility will be appealing to most teams, but the Titans present an excellent opportunity for Gallimore to make an early impact.
30. New Orleans Saints (via trade with Green Bay)*** – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma – The Saints trade back and still land a perfect match. Murray is another athletic linebacker who packs a lot of power and is a sure tackler. He would give the Saints a tremendous pairing in the middle of their defense, along with Demario Davis. Picking up the extra picks certainly doesn’t hurt, either.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama – The 49ers do not have a lot of holes, as of now. However, they aren’t in the best of cap situations, and they will have a lot of players that need new contracts. In McKinney, they land a versatile defensive back that can be deployed in several different ways.
McKinney’s best position may be as a true centerfielder with outstanding range. However, he also can play in man coverage in the slot or as a blitzer getting after the QB. The 49ers defense gets a little richer with this selection.
32. Carolina Panthers (via trade with Kansas City)**** – Jacob Eason, QB, Washington – The Panthers make the aggressive move to land their QB of the future. Eason was very inconsistent throughout his college career, but there is no denying his arm talent. He has an enormous arm that can threaten a defense at all levels.
Having a pair of young studs in RB Christian McCaffrey and WR DJ Moore can only help Eason with his transition to the next level. The Panthers make this move back into the first round, knowing it gives them an extra year of team control via the fifth-year option.
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