2019 NFL mock draft
Yesterday I posted my trade predictions for the first round of the upcoming NFL draft - today I implemented those changes into my 2019 NFL mock draft
1st overall pick – Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray – QB – Oklahoma
Kliff Kingsbury gets his quarterback, as the Cardinals will give him the best opportunity to succeed. Murray can throw, run and run to throw, he’ll give defensive coordinators fits all year.
Alternative pick: Nick Bosa, but they could also trade down if any team is willing to offer them enough.
2nd overall pick – San Fransisco 49ers: Nick Bosa – Edge – Ohio State.
Bosa is probably the best player in the draft, and despite trading for Dee Ford the 49ers still need edge rushers. He’s the closest you will get to a sure thing in this draft.
Alternative pick: Quinnen Williams, but I don’t really see them going with anyone but Bosa.
3rd overall pick – New York Jets: Josh Allen – Edge – Kentucky
Allen has become an elite pass rusher, but he would also be a first-round prospect as an off-the-ball linebacker. He will fill arguably the Jets’ biggest need from day 1.
Alternative pick: Quinnen Williams. Williams is the better prospect for me, but Allen fits a bigger need. I would not be surprised if they picked either of these two players.
4th overall pick – Oakland Raiders: Quinnen Williams – Defensive interior – Alabama.
The Raiders need help across their defensive line, so they will be more than happy to pick Williams or Allen, depending on who might fall to them. I have Williams ranked as the 2nd best player in the draft, so I see great value in this selection.
Alternative pick: If Gruden and Mayock have their eyes on a top QB prospect, this might be the time to get him, but this is too early for my liking.
5th overall pick – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White – Linebacker – LSU.
Devin White becomes the leader the Buccaneers need in the middle of their new 3-4 defence, as he has everything the modern NFL linebacker needs. They also have a need at cornerback, but positional scarcity at inside linebacker makes White the better pick.
Alternative pick: White’s LSU teammate Greedy Williams.
6th overall pick – New York Giants: Jawaan Taylor – Offensive tackle – Florida.
Taylor is a force in the run game and is a great fit at right tackle for the Giants, as the look to create more holes for Saquan Barkley.
Alternative pick: Dwayne Haskins or Ed Oliver.
7th overall pick - Denver Broncos (via Jacksonville - projected): Dwayne Haskins – Quarterback – Ohio State.
The Broncos trade up to get their QB for the future, and I see Haskins as the most likely pick here.
Alternative pick: Drew Lock. Lock’s big arm might be too much for John Elway to resist, as he can sit and learn behind Joe Flacco.
8th overall pick – Detroit Lions: Greedy Williams – Cornerback – LSU.
Cornerback is the Lions’ biggest need as they look to solidify Matt Patricia’s defence, and Greedy Williams is the best press-man corner in the draft.
Alternative pick: T.J. Hockenson. The signing of Jesse James does not fill the need the Lions have at TE, but I think it’s too early to pick at that position.
9th overall pick – Buffalo Bills: D.K. Metcalf – Wide receiver – Ole Miss.
They might have signed John Brown and Cole Beasley in free agency, but the Bills still need to find weapons to help Josh Allen and Metcalf’s freaky athleticism makes him their instant number 1 receiver.
Alternative pick: Ed Oliver (need) and Byron Murphy (scheme fit) could both be valuable contributors to the Bills defence.
10th overall pick – Jacksonville Jaguars (via Denver - projected): Jonah Williams – Offensive tackle – Alabama.
The Jags need to add at least one new peace to their offensive line, and Williams is by some regarded as the best offensive lineman in the draft.
Alternative pick: T.J. Hockenson would fill a great need, but I think they will address this in round 2 or 3.
11th overall pick – Cincinnati Bengals: Devin Bush – Linebacker – Michigan.
They might be tempted to select a QB in this spot, but they desperately need help on defence. The gap from Bush to the next linebacker in the draft is big, and the position might be the weakest on the team.
Alternative pick: Drew Lock or Andre Dillard.
12th overall pick – Green Bay Packers: T.J. Hockenson – Tight end – Iowa.
The Packers addressed most of their defensive needs in free agency, so they need to get weapons for Aaron Rodgers through the draft. Hockensen is great as a blocker and a receiver, making him less predictable than Jimmy Graham.
Alternative pick: Deandre Baker.
13th overall pick – Miami Dolphins: Ed Oliver – Defensive interior – Houston.
I don’t think the Dolphins will draft a QB until 2020 or maybe even 2021, so they go with the best player available to add to a roster full of needs.
Alternative pick: Brian Burns.
14th overall pick - Atlanta Falcons: Brian Burns – Edge – Florida State.
The Falcons get a force on the edge in Burns, who can also help open things up for Vic Beasley to become a decent football player again.
Alternative pick: Defensive interior Christian Wilkins or edge Clelin Ferrell.
15th overall pick – Washington Redskins: Drew Lock – Quarterback – Missouri.
I still think they might trade up for him, but in this scenario, they stay at number 15 and still get their guy. He might not be the starter week 1, but I don’t see Case Keenum being the starter by the end of October.
Alternative pick: Marquise Brown.
16th overall pick – Houston Texans (via Carolina - projected): Andre Dillard – Offensive tackle – Washington State.
In the second of my projected trades, the Texans trade up to get the protection for Deshaun Watson they need.
Alternative pick: Cody Ford or Dalton Risner, it’s just a matter of which offensive lineman they like the best.
17th overall pick – New York Giants (via Cleveland): Rashan Gary – Edge – Michigan.
Gary’s an athletic freak, but there have been questions regarding his pass-rushing ability. Nonetheless, the Giants look to fill a great need with a player who has huge upside.
Alternative pick: Christian Wilkins or Daniel Jones.
18th overall pick - Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford – Offensive tackle/guard – Oklahoma.
I don’t see the Vikings going any other way than strengthening their offensive line, and Ford is the best player left on the board.
Alternative pick: Chris Lindstrom.
19th overall pick – Tennessee Titans: Christian Wilkins – Defensive interior – Clemson.
Wilkins’ fall stops in Tennessee who need a partner for Jurrell Casey in the middle of the defensive line.
Alternative pick: Jerry Tillery or Clelin Ferrell.
20th overall pick - Pittsburgh Steelers: Byron Murphy – Cornerback – Washington.
The Steelers need help in their secondary and Murphy is the best overall coverage corner in the draft, is pick for me if he’s still available.
Alternative pick: Marquise Brown or Hakeem Butler.
21st overall pick – Seattle Seahawks: Jerry Tillery – Defensive interior – Notre Dame.
After trading Frank Clark to the Chiefs, the Seahawks needs pass-rush help and that is Tillery’s forte.
Alternative pick: DeAndre Baker or Clelin Ferrell.
22nd overall pick – Baltimore Ravens: Marquise Brown – Wide receiver – Oklahoma.
I can’t see the Ravens picking anything other than a receiver at this pick, and Brown is the type of threat that forces defences to focus on something other than the Ravens’ rushing attack.
Alternative pick: N’keal Harry, Hakeem Butler, A.J. Brown or Parris Campbell.
23rd overall pick – Carolina Panthers (via Houston - projected): Chris Lindstrom – Guard – Boston College.
There have been questions over Daryl Williams’ injury history, but I think the Panthers will improve the interior of their offensive line with Lindstrom instead.
Alternative pick: Dalton Risner or Greg Little.
24th overall pick – Oakland Raiders (via Chicago): N’Keal Harry – Wide receiver – Arizona State.
With Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams occupying the outside receiver positions, Harry takes over the slot and gives Derek Carr a valuable target in the middle of the field.
Alternative pick: DeAndre Baker or Noah Fant.
25th overall pick – Philadelphia Eagles: Jonathan Abram – Safety – Mississippi State.
The Eagles get their future box safety in the shape of Jonathan Abram.
Alternative pick: Until they traded for Jordan Howard, I could not see the Eagles pass on Joshua Jacobs.
26th overall pick – Indianapolis Colts: Clelin Ferrell – Edge – Clemson.
Although they could easily select a WR with this pick, Ferrell is too good of a player to pass up here. They pick second in round 2, so they should still be able to get their receiver.
Alternative pick: Hakeem Butler.
27th overall pick – Oakland Raiders (via Dallas): DeAndre Baker – Cornerback – Georgia.
The Raiders return to the defence with their third pick in the first round and get their new number 1 corner.
Alternative pick: Noah Fant.
28th overall pick – Los Angeles Chargers: Nasir Adderley – Safety – Delaware.
Last year Derwin James fell in the Chargers’ lab. This year they draft his new safety partner. Adderley is a classic centre field coverage safety, who will cover the back end while James is moved all over the field.
Alternative pick: Greg Little or Dalton Risner.
29th overall pick – Seattle Seahawks (via Kansas City): Noah Fant – Tight end – Iowa.
Unles Will Dissly turns out to be as good as he looked in the first couple of games in 2018, the Seahawks do not have a legitimate receiving threat at tight end. Fant can attack the seams and become a big target for Russell Wilson.
Alternative pick: Montez Sweat.
30th overall pick – Green Bay Packers (via New Orleans): Hakeem Butler – Wide receiver – Iowa State.
They might have drafted several receivers last year, but none of them are as good as Butler, who will make an immediate impact.
Alternative pick: A.J. Brown or Erik McCoy.
31st overall pick – Los Angeles Rams: Garrett Bradbury – NC State.
NC State ran more outside zone than anybody in college football. The Rams did the same in the NFL. Bracbury can be a starter from day 1 after John Sullivan’s retirement.
Alternative pick: Dexter Lawrence.
32nd overall pick – New England Patriots: Will Grier – Quarterback – West Virginia.
Grier becomes the fourth QB of the board as the Patriots want to secure his fifth-year option by drafting him in the first round.
Alternative pick: Dexter Lawrence or they might trade back.
