2019 NFL Mock Draft #1

The 2018 regular season has ended, the calendar now says 2019, and the playoffs are about the begin. All of this adds up to a new mock draft. While the entire draft order isn’t set (won’t be until after the Super Bowl), the top twenty picks are locked in. There are some definite surprises this season, which have altered the franchise mindsets considerably. Other teams are on the expected track most would have predicted. Let’s take a look at the next step in team development, the draft:

The Sports Guys 2019 NFL Mock Draft

First Round (First Edition):

1. Oakland Raiders (via trade with Arizona) select: Nick Bosa (Edge, Ohio State)

Let’s start off with a bang… a trade! The Raiders are flush with draft capital and have a massive need on the edge with Mack now playing in Chicago. Gruden mentioned this in seemingly every post-game press conference this past season. Bosa represents the best player and talent in the draft this year and could be a building block in Oakland for years to come. With this being a “defensive draft” at the top, Arizona will consider moving down the board since they don’t have as many needs up front. In this scenario they move back to #4, add #25, and shuffle some middle round picks around to complete the deal.

2. San Francisco 49ers select: Greedy Williams (CB, LSU)

While I think Josh Allen (the edge rusher from Kentucky, not the Bills starting QB) is the next best player, the 49ers have taken so many defensive lineman recently at the top it’s time to move in a different direction. When an aging Richard Sherman is your best corner, some additional talent at the position is needed. The 49ers take Williams here, which will help them better match up with the division favorite Rams, along with helping them slow down the duo of Lockett/Baldwin in Seattle. We’ve seen elite corners get drafted in the top 10 recently and pay huge dividends early on (Lattimore in 2017, Ward in 2018).

3. New York Jets select: Josh Allen (Edge, Kentucky)

The Jets are getting a new head coach which may or may not mean a new defensive scheme. Either way, when you can acquire an edge rusher as talented as Allen, you do it. After his dominating season that ended with a bowl win on New Year’s Day, he stated that he thinks he deserves to go #1 overall. He just might.

4. Arizona Cardinals (via trade with Oakland) select: Jonah Williams (OT, Alabama)

The Cardinals drafted Josh Rosen to be their quarterback of the future. This offseason will be about getting him help. Since it’s too high for a wide receiver, the Cardinals should look to the top offensive lineman in the draft. Williams was a dominant tackle in college, and he could be dominant at a variety of positions along the offensive line in the NFL.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select: Clelin Ferrell (Edge, Clemson)

We will see Ferrell’s talent on display in the National Championship Game this week, which will be a great way to prove he’s worth a top ten pick. Tampa Bay’s defense was atrocious this year and I would anticipate plenty of change on that side of the ball. Acquiring an elite edge rusher is near the top of the list. While they would hope for Bosa or Allen, Ferrell is a nice consolation prize.

6. New York Giants select: Dwayne Haskins (QB, Ohio State)

Haskins is the second Buckeye selected in the top 6, and the first quarterback taken in this draft. It seems that he is competing with Daniel Jones (Duke) for the honor of top QB in the 2019 draft. While Haskins has limited college starting experience, he has elite tools and it led to a fantastic season. We saw Mitch Trubisky go #2 overall after his lone season as a college starter. Obviously, his lack of starting experience won’t be much of a factor. The Giants will likely bring back Eli Manning for one more season, which would allow Haskins to develop a tad longer.

7. Oakland Raiders (via trade with Jacksonville) select: Devin White (LB, LSU)

This is now the second LSU player taken in the top 7 and also the second pick made by the Oakland Raiders. I have the Raiders acquiring this pick by trading away Derek Carr. The trade will be Carr and a late pick in exchange for Blake Bortles and a 1st and 2nd round pick. Jacksonville gets a quality QB in order to win now and return to the playoffs. Oakland takes on the bad contract of Bortles and trades away Carr in order to acquire two top picks and continue to tank. It pays off with some elite talent here, and will land them one of the elite 2020 quarterbacks a year from now. White fills a need at linebacker for Oakland, and his elite physical tools will allow him to stand out for the silver and black.

8. Detroit Lions select: Ed Oliver (DT, Houston)

While the Lions have a larger need on the edge, Oliver would be tough to pass on here. At one point this season, he was in the discussion for the #1 overall pick. Getting him this late is tremendous value. While the Lions need to improve on offense, the defense has to load up in order to win in the tough NFC North.

9. Washington Redskins (via trade with Buffalo) select: Daniel Jones (QB, Duke)

This largely depends on Alex Smith’s recovery, but there is talk about his playing career being over after a devastating leg injury. If that’s the case, the Redskins have no plan at quarterback in the present or future. The buzz around Jones has been building as many are making Carson Wentz comparisons. We’ll see how high he continues to climb throughout the draft process, but Washington won’t mess around when it comes to acquiring a signal caller to compete with… Josh Johnson... for QB duties moving forward. That’s why they’ll trade a second round pick to move up and nab one of the few first round QB prospects.

10. Denver Broncos select: Drew Lock (QB, Missouri)

While I think this is too high for Lock, QB’s continuously get drafted too high year after year. He’ll have a chance to cement his first round status at the Senior Bowl among other places. Why the Broncos? Case Keenum has just one year left on his current contract, so now is the perfect time to select a potential replacement, especially since Keenum was disappointing this year.

11. Cincinnati Bengals select: Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama)

While the Bengals possess larger needs than a defensive lineman, Williams is a legit top five player in this draft and presents unreal value at #11. He’s a plug-and-play starter for years to come in a division that features potent running attacks with the Ravens, Steelers, and Browns. Williams not only shuts down the run but applies tremendous quarterback pressure up the gut, the best place to hurt opposing offenses.

12. Green Bay Packers select: Rashan Gary (Edge, Michigan)

There could be a lot of changes in Green Bay this offseason. We know the coaching staff is undergoing changes which could lead to new schemes and player personnel. Regardless of all of that, edge rusher is going to be a need this offseason. Gary was a highly touted player out of high school and played extremely well at Michigan against the pass and run. He’s different than Clay Matthews but could be the guy that replaces him in 2019.

13. Miami Dolphins select: Montez Sweat (Edge, Mississippi State)

Last offseason, the team lost Suh, and this offseason they could lose Wake (a free agent). Luckily, there are plenty of great players along the defensive line in this draft. Sweat is a pure pass rusher. He may struggle against the run, but he can get after the quarterback (11 sacks this year). He’d be a great addition on the edge.

14. Atlanta Falcons select: Dexter Lawrence (DT, Clemson)

Another stud you can watch play in the National Championship Game, Lawrence would help improve a terrible run defense. Seeing as the Falcons play the Saints and Panthers twice a year, that’s an important part of the team to beef up.

15. Buffalo Bills (via trade with Washington) select: Cody Ford (OT, Oklahoma)

The Bills lost a lot of pieces along their offensive line the last couple of seasons. It shows! Ford would help improve the unit at either tackle or guard. This would kickstart their running game and protect Josh Allen a bit more. With an extra second round pick due to this trade, they can then address wide receiver to give their new QB some improved weaponry.

16. Carolina Panthers select: Jaylon Ferguson (Edge, Louisiana Tech)

There are plenty of options for Carolina with this pick, but getting younger on the edge is of the utmost importance. Ferguson may be a tad raw, but you can’t argue with his production. Not only did he amass 15 sacks this season, but he’s up to 42.5 for his career. And while I like Polite from Florida a tad more, Ferguson fits a 4-3 scheme much better.

17. Cleveland Browns select: Marquise Brown (WR, Oklahoma)

The Browns are a team on the rise with a legit chance at the playoffs next season. There are still some holes to be filled, but none bigger in my opinion than wide receiver. Coleman was a busted pick a couple years ago and Gordon is gone. So I have them selecting Brown, who would provide explosive plays while Jarvis Landry could remain a reliable chain mover. I chose Brown on N’Keal Harry based on that speed, but also because he played with Baker Mayfield, the Cleveland QB, in college for the Sooners.

18. Minnesota Vikings select: Greg Little (OT, Ole Miss)

Obviously, the Vikings failed to meet expectations this year. Kirk Cousins was not as good as his contract demands. Part of that was the woeful offensive line in front of him. Little has the size and tools to be a force at the next level. This pick was a no brainer.

19. Tennessee Titans select: Jachai Polite (Edge, Florida)

Tennessee must improve offensively, but they have holes to fill on defense as well. Orakpo and Morgan will be free agents this year, so finding another outside linebacker that can get after the quarterback is important. Polite is a perfect fit opposite Harold Landry (a 2018 draft pick) whose job will be to go sack quarterbacks such as divisional players Deshaun Watson and Andrew Luck.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers select: Deandre Baker (CB, Georgia)

A lot of this depends on the Antonio Brown situation. A huge need at wide receiver could appear if Brown ends up leaving the Steelers. But if he stays, the Steelers will continue stockpiling defensive talent. Baker received the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in college football this year. He’d be a great selection for a team trying to win now.

21. Philadelphia Eagles select: Trayvon Mullen (CB, Clemson)

Philly has struggled at corner the last few seasons and their top corner, Ronald Darby, will be a free agent coming off a serious injury. Mullen would give the team better depth and a potential replacement depending on how things turn out.

22. Indianapolis Colts select: N’Keal Harry (WR, Arizona State)

As much as a love T.Y. Hilton, I equally dislike the rest of this team’s wide receivers. They clearly need a number two option. Harry not only has some elite skills, he has a massive frame, which gives them a nice complement to the smaller, speedier Hilton. This would also make their starting quarterback very, very happy.

23. Seattle Seahawks select: Devin Bush (LB, Michigan)

Seattle is in the playoffs, but is a roster that I think is full of holes. Due to that, I think they go best available in the draft. Bush is a top ten talent that simply fell in this mock due to fit and need. Pete Carroll would gladly take him as he loves versatile linebackers.

24. Baltimore Ravens select: Jeffrey Simmons (DL, Mississippi State)

The Ravens possess the #1 defense in the NFL, but Simmons is the best player available here by a long shot, and the Ravens always draft based on their big board. He can play in a variety of schemes, including fitting in with Baltimore’s defensive front.

25. Arizona Cardinals (via trade with Oakland from Dallas) select: D.K. Metcalf (WR, Mississippi)

In this mock, I had Arizona adding this pick via trade with Oakland in exchange for the first pick. Arizona selected an offensive tackle earlier to better protect Josh Rosen. Now they add Metcalf to give him another weapon. The team may add a receiver no matter what, but especially if Larry Fitzgerald really does retire. Noah Fant (tight end) is another option here.

26. Houston Texans select: Noah Fant (TE, Iowa)

While the Texans could use help in the secondary and offensive line, they must continue to support Watson. Jordan Thomas has been pretty good for them during the second half of the season, but Fant is a rare tight end talent that would be a big upgrade for most teams in the NFL, including Houston.

27. Oakland Raiders (from Chicago) select: Deionte Thompson (S, Alabama)

The rebuild in Oakland may be long, so they must rely on taking quality players at each and every pick. In this mock, I already have them addressing the first two levels of their defense. This addresses the third. Thompson is clearly the top safety in this year’s draft. He did a little bit of everything at Alabama. The Raiders have a poor secondary but he would help improve it.

28. Los Angeles Chargers select: Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)

A behemoth inside on the defensive line, which would make for a perfect compliment to Joey Bosa on the outside for LA. He broke onto the scene this year and was very disruptive up front. The arrow is still pointing up, so by the time the draft rolls around, he could be taken much higher.

29. New England Patriots select: Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson)

In case you are counting, this is the third Clemson defensive lineman off the board and the fourth player overall from the team. Wilkins is scheme-versatile and can play multiple positions. I had him pegged in the first round a year ago before he decided to return to school. Let’s just say that he’s the real deal.

30. Los Angeles Rams select: Brian Burns (Edge, Florida State)

As good as the defensive line should be for the Rams, they lacked consistent pressure outside of Donald. Linebacker still may be a bigger need, but edge rusher makes a bigger impact. Burns has Pro Bowl potential and would give the Rams some better options up front. LA went all-in this year and may be faced with some interesting decisions if they come up short in the playoffs.

31. Kansas City Chiefs select: Byron Murphy (CB, Washington)

The Chiefs possessed an all-world offense this year, but the defense was really bad. After trading away Peters last year, corner is a massive need. Murphy is the best one available and would likely be an instant starter for this team. Finding a long-term guy to replace Justin Houston is another offseason task.

32. San Francisco 49ers (via trade with Green Bay from New Orleans) select: Mack Wilson (LB, Alabama)

Josh McDaniels is the favorite to fill the Packers head coaching vacancy. If he gets it, would he follow the Patriots way and trade out of the end of the first round? Without top quarterback options, that may be harder to do, but Mack Wilson may be worth it for the 49ers. He not only fills a void left open by Reuben Foster, but the value at #32 is terrific for a player of his caliber. Wide receiver is another need for San Francisco, but look for that need to be addressed aggressively in free agency or via trade. They’ve already expressed interest in OBJ...

That wraps up the first round. As the draft approaches, we’ll add a second round mock as well, and potentially a third. Enjoy the playoffs!

By: The Sports Guys