17. New England Patriots (from Dallas Cowboys): Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Here’s a big potential trade, with the Patriots dealing up with Dallas to take their ostensible quarterback of the future in Herbert. He fits the New England paradigm as a big guy with a big arm and some mobility, and while he needs help with second- and third-level reads and accuracy to the boundary, he’s got more on the ball than Jarrett Stidham, who’s the only Tom Brady replacement on the horizon at this time. And while I might love for Bill Belichick to go against type and select a more mobile new-wave quarterback for his last era in Foxboro, it might be too big a stretch even for him.
18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh Steelers): Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
The Dolphins selected Alabama Swiss Army knife defender Minkah Fitzpatrick with the 11th pick in 2018 draft, and watched as Fitzpatrick became one of the NFL’s best slot cornerbacks in his rookie campaign. Then, they traded Fitzpatrick to the Steelers for this pick, and Fitzpatrick became one of the NFL’s best deep-third safeties. McKinney would give the same level of quality and versatility to a secondary that’s stacked at the cornerback position, but has very little of note at safety.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago Bears): Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
The Raiders made some good moves on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, but with a cornerback group comprised of Trayvon Mullen and a bunch of guys, it won’t matter much against the NFL’s better passing games. In other words, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock had better stock up on cornerbacks with a quickness in this draft. Fortunately, it’s a deep group, Gladney is one of the best with his quickness to trail receivers, footwork to match through the routes, and toughness as a tackler. He’s not the biggest in this group at 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds, but he projects well at the NFL level, especially as an eraser of intermediate and deep routes.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams): Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
Remember when we said a few picks ago that it was time for the Jaguars to stock up on cornerbacks? That’s still true, even with the loss of quality as just about every other defensive position, and the organization’s seeming need to antagonize Yannick Ngakoue, its best pass-rusher. Johnson never allowed a passer rating higher than 57.6 in three high-target seasons with the Utes, and he’s one of the better diagnosticians among cornerbacks in this class. If you want a guy who’s going to run his receivers’ routes for them based on excessive film work, Johnson is your man.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Jefferson was primarily a slot target at LSU, partially because he was so good in that role, and partially because when you have Ja’Marr Chase on the outside, you kinda want to stick with that. But as my Touchdown Wire colleague Mark Schofield recently pointed out in this outstanding tape piece, Jefferson also has the attributes one prefers in a boundary receiver. He’d be an ideal component in a Doug Pederson offense even if the Eagles’ receivers could stay healthy, and even more so if they can’t.
22. Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo Bills): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
The departure of Stefon Diggs to Buffalo via trade leaves the Vikings in need of a speed receiver who can win at the catch point and has an above-average catch radius. This is especially true considering the fact that Minnesota has re-committed to the decidedly average Kirk Cousins with a three-year, $96 million contract extension. Higgins checks all the boxes as a Diggs replacement — at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he has the ability to make all kinds of contested catches, and last season, he caught 15 of 23 targets of 20 air yards or more for 565 yards and six touchdowns.
23. Dallas Cowboys (from New England Patriots): Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan
Losing cornerback Byron Jones and defensive linemen Robert Quinn and Maliek Collins (not to mention slot receiver Randall Cobb) in free agency would seem to make the Cowboys’ draft priorities clear.
“You’re getting in a spot where we’re gonna be looking at both the back end and front end on defense,” Cowboys VP Stephen Jones recently said on Dallas radio. “And then obviously after losing Cobb, certainly that’s a position we’d be more than willing to look at too, the receiver spot.”
Sure. But bear with me here. The cornerback, edge-rusher and receiver classes are rounds deep this year, and the interior offensive line group is decidedly not. The Cowboys are looking to replace the recently retired Travis Frederick, and that offensive line doesn’t look nearly as good without him. When Frederick was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2013 draft, even he was surprised. And yet, for all the caterwauling about that pick, Frederick proved to be an immensely valuable player, and worth his draft slot. Ruiz is a plug-and-play guy who could fill Fredrick’s slot immediately.
24. New Orleans Saints: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
Adding speedy possession receiver Emmanuel Sanders to a receiver group topped by Mike Thomas gives Drew Brees options he hasn’t had in a while. Now, let’s do something more for Brees in the person of Shenault. The Colorado alum isn’t the most practiced route-runner in this class, but he has size/speed attributes you can’t teach, and he’s a beast in short areas and after the catch. With Shenault on board, the Saints would have a receiver group that’s capable of making any defensive coordinator highly agitated.