I’ll start this by saying that Mock Drafts are mostly a futile exercise because there is so much unpredictability that can happen in a given year. This year there is even more uncertainty than normal as nearly all of the Pro Days were cancelled so players that did not work out at the Combine did not have an opportunity to show scouts what they can do. I do not typically publish a mock draft, but since everyone is locked down in quarantine, I figured why the heck not. Let’s give it a try and have some fun. Most mock drafts don’t include trades, but that’s stupid because trades happen in real life, so I’m going to include them.
First Round
1. Cincinnati – Joe Burrow (QB-LSU)
Burrow won 15 games this past season as the quarterback at LSU. He led the Tigers to the National Championship, winning TWO playoff games. The Bengals have won 15 games total in the last 3 seasons combined and haven’t won a single playoff game since 1991.
2. Washington – Chase Young (EDGE – The Ohio State University)
Young might be the best prospect in the draft. Unfortunately for him that means going to the football equivalent of the Edmonton Oilers.
3. TRADE Detroit to Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert (QB-Oregon)
With Philip Rivers gone, the Chargers get concerned about all of the trade rumors swirling around the Top 5. They pull the trigger and move up with Detroit, trading their 1st, 2nd and 4th rounders to move up 3 spots and select their QB of the future. At least Herbert is used to wearing some wacky uniforms.
4. New York Giants – Isaiah Simmons (LB/S-Clemson)
Dave Gettleman is an old school kind of GM. The common thought seems to be that the Giants will take an offensive tackle to help protect Daniel Jones and pave the way for Saquon Barkley. However, in his career as GM Gettleman has used first round picks on 2 running backs, 3 defensive tackles, a quarterback, and a hybrid safety/linebacker (Shaq Thompson). Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons is an athletic freak who is a rangy defender that can cover all over the field and be a matchup nightmare. The Giants bank on being able to land a lineman at the top of the second round.
5. Miami – Tua Tagovailoa (QB – Alabama)
There’s a lot of smoke around Tua’s medicals and there may be some temptation for the Dolphins to move up, but at the end of the day the Fins stay pat and get the guy they had been projected to want since last year.
The Dolphins are not tanking you guys why would you even think thathttps://t.co/7o5ToREgkX pic.twitter.com/nOqB6xVk6T
— Social Distance Dave (@DrawPlayDave) September 10, 2019
6. TRADE: LA Chargers to Detroit – Jeff Okudah (CB – The Ohio State University)
The Lions could have taken Okudah at 3, but since the Chargers got skittish and moved up, Detroit added a 2nd and a 4th round pick and got the same player at 6. Of course, the Lions aren’t exactly known for their history of savvy draft decisions so this probably won’t actually happen.
7. Carolina – Derrick Brown (DT – Auburn)
The Panthers let Cam Newton walk, brought in Teddy Bridgewater, and signed Christian McCaffery to a massive contract. The Panthers were 29th in the league in run defense last season, and add the draft’s best interior defender.
8. TRADE – Arizona to Atlanta – CJ Henderson (CB – Florida)
The Falcons have been known to make big moves up the draft board before. This time they give up their 1st, 2nd and swap 3rds with Arizona to get into the Top 10. With Okudah off the board, the common thought is that Henderson is the draft’s second best corner and that Jacksonville (with the trading away of Jalen Ramsey last year) could be in the cornerback market. Atlanta moves up to get ahead of the Jaguars.
9. Jacksonville – Tristan Wirfs (OT – Iowa)
The Jaguars are picking in the Top 10 for the 12th time in the last 13 years. Will this year’s pick make a difference? Probably not. They seem to be veering towards a Tank for Trevor in 2020. The Jags are reportedly looking to deal away Leonard Fournette, Yannick Ngakoue wants to be gone, and they are going to let Gardner Minshew start at quarterback. With all of the draft’s offensive linemen still available, the Jags take the most athletic lineman of the group and can figure out where he plays later.
10. Cleveland – CeeDee Lamb (WR – Oklahoma)
The Browns need a lineman, but they’re also the Browns. It doesn’t matter how many good players you put around Baker Mayfield, he’s still going to be Baker Mayfield.
11. New York Jets – Mekhi Becton (OT – Louisville)
The Jets get some protection for Sam Darnold, but it still won’t help Le’Veon Bell average more than 2.1 yards per carry.
12. Las Vegas – Henry Ruggs III (WR – Alabama)
Jon Gruden is the draft’s ultimate wild card. No one saw the Clelin Ferrell pick coming last year. The Raiders have undergone a full-on rebuild, but if there’s one thing we know about Gruden it’s that he loves speedy players. Ruggs is an absolute burner. The Eagles may try to make a move up here to get Ruggs, but he will definitely go to San Francisco if he doesn’t go at 12.
13. San Francisco – Jerry Jeudy (WR – Alabama)
Jeudy is one of the most consistent receivers in this draft class. San Francisco covets his teammate and burner Henry Ruggs, but if Jeudy is available he can slot in to Emmanuel Sanders’ role on the outside. He is a sharp route runner and will do well in San Francisco’s play-action game.
14. Tampa Bay – Javon Kinlaw (DL – South Carolina)
Now that it’s TOMpa Bay will the Bucs add a player to help Brady in the offense or shore up a leaky defense that ranked 29th overall in points allowed? They opt to go with defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, despite some injury concerns. Brady will get killed behind that offensive line trying to run Bruce Arians’ offense.
15. TRADE Denver to Philadelphia – Justin Jefferson (WR-LSU)
With the Top 3 WRs already off the board, the Eagles get anxious. Philly makes the move up by swapping their 2nd (pick #53) to Denver for their last 3rd (pick #95). Denver traded down with the Steelers last season and do it again with Philadelphia this year. The Eagles need wide receiver help and wanted to get ahead of the Cardinals. Denver also could have used receiver help, but John Elway also likes draft picks.
16. TRADE Atlanta to Arizona – Xavier McKinney (S – Alabama)
Kyler Murray really wants them to add help on offense, but with only 6 picks the Cardinals opt to move down. However, the Cardinals had the worst total defense in the league along with the worst passing defense. So the Cardinals take the top safety in the draft class.
17. TRADE – Dallas to New Orleans – Patrick Queen (ILB – LSU)
The Saints don’t have a lot of draft capital, so this trade up with Dallas costs them a 3rd round pick this year along with a future pick. The return is worth it for New Orleans who addresses their biggest defensive need, going all-in to win in what may be Drew Brees’ final year. Getting a hometown product from LSU doesn’t hurt either.
18. Miami – Jedrick Wills (OT – Alabama)
After trading away Laremy Tunsil, the Dolphins need help along the offensive line. Wills may be best suited to be a right tackle, but with Tua being a left-handed quarterback this would mean the Fins snag a QB and his blindside protector in the same draft. This is the pick Miami got from Pittsburgh in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
19. TRADE – Las Vegas to Baltimore – Kenneth Murray (ILB – Oklahoma)
The Raiders have two first round picks and already used one on a wide receiver. After the 19th selection, they do not pick again until the middle of the 3rd round when they have 3 picks (80th, 81st, 91st). Baltimore has holes to fill in the middle of their defense and has two second round picks (55th and 60th). The Ravens send one of their 2nd rounders to Vegas and swap third rounders (Vegas has 3 and Baltimore has 2). Baltimore takes Murray, a rangy linebacker from Oklahoma who can run and cover in the middle of their defense, to play behind their rebuilt defensive line.
20. Jacksonville – K’Lavon Chaisson (EDGE – LSU)
The Jaguars spent a first round pick on Josh Allen last year and put the Franchise Tag on Yannick Ngakoue, who has demanded a trade. They are also reportedly looking to deal away Leonard Fournette, so this pick is a possibility for a running back to be taken as well. With a tackle already taken, they add an edge rusher to eventually fill Ngakoue’s spot.
21. TRADE – Philadelphia to Denver – Andrew Thomas (OT – Georgia)
Everyone seems to think Denver is going offense, and after the trade down the Broncos now have the 21st pick along with 2 picks in both the second and third rounds. While a wide receiver would make sense as well, with one of the top four tackles still on the board the Broncos jump on Thomas, hoping he can form a bookend with 2017 first rounder Garrett Bolles.
22. Minnesota – AJ Terrell (CB – Clemson)
The Vikings have never been shy about drafting corners in the first round before. With two first round picks and plenty of wide receiver talent still available, they opt for Terrell, Clemson’s shutdown corner over Kristian Fulton because he fits better in Mike Zimmer’s press man scheme than Fulton, who is likely a better zone corner.
23. TRADE – New England to Green Bay – Jalen Reagor (WR – TCU)
The Patriots have a need to fill at quarterback to replace Tom Brady, but without a QB-needy team picking behind them, they are able to move down with Green Bay, acquiring the Packers 3rd round pick. Green Bay has been in love with high-SPARQ players recently and Reagor fits the bill as one of the most athletic receivers in the class. He gives Aaron Rodgers a downfield threat.
24. TRADE – New Orleans to Dallas – Cesar Ruiz (C – Michigan)
The Cowboys acquired the Saints 3rd and a future pick in order to move down. The Saints needed an inside linebacker, a spot where the Cowboys are incredibly deep. Dallas has needs at Center, EDGE Rusher, and Safety. All are possibilities here. Jerry Jones has never shied away from taking offensive linemen in the first round before. They need to replace Travis Frederick and have been tied to Ruiz throughout the draft process.
25. Minnesota – Brandon Aiyuk (WR – Arizona St)
The Vikings already have Adam Thielen, who is a capable deep threat. Aiyuk gives them a sound route-runner with short-area quickness who can also contribute in the return game.
26. TRADE – Miami to San Francisco – Austin Jackson (OT – USC)
The 49ers already landed a WR at the top of the draft. Needing help on the offensive line, they want to get in front of tackle-needy teams Seattle and Las Vegas. The Dolphins have already made two first round picks (a QB and a tackle) and are willing to move down. There is some uncertainty among the second tier of tackles (USC’s Austin Jackson, Boise St’s Ezra Cleveland, and Houston’s Josh Jones) but San Francisco gambles on the upside of the young USC product.
27. TRADE Seattle to Indianapolis – Jordan Love (QB – Utah State)
In a move that surprises no one, Seattle trades down. In a somewhat surprising move, it is Indianapolis who moves back up. With Philip Rivers signed for just one year, the Colts bring in a player they know will need to sit and learn, but using a first round pick gives them the benefit of a fifth-year option on the tail end of his contract. The Colts see the need to get in front of both New England and Las Vegas in order to get Love, making this an easy deal with Seattle.
28. TRADE – Baltimore to Las Vegas – Kristian Fulton (CB – LSU)
The Raiders need help in the secondary, and with the trade down are able to acquire a second round pick where they currently do not have one. They nab LSU’s Kristian Fulton, who is a much better zone corner than man corner but has that nasty streak that Jon Gruden loves and comes from a National Championship program which Mike Mayock craves.
29. Tennessee – Isaiah Wilson (OL – Georgia)
After a run to the AFC Championship Game, Tennessee threw big money at Ryan Tannehill. The Titans are a ground-and-pound run-the-ball-and-play defense outfit and don’t have many holes. Their biggest needs are for a bookend pass rusher with Harold Landry (though they did sign Vic Beasley in free agency) and to fill the hole at RT left by Jack Conklin’s departure. They opt to fill the offensive line gap here by taking Georgia’s Isaiah Wilson, an absolute mauler in the run game who could play either right tackle or guard. He fits perfectly into Tennessee’s power rushing attack.
30. TRADE – Green Bay to New England – Zach Baun (LB – Wisconsin)
The first pick of the post-Tom Brady era. Will the Patriots try to stink it up for a year and enter the Tank For Trevor sweepstakes? They don’t have a second round pick, but the trade down with Green Bay netted them their fourth 3rd round pick. With the Colts moving up and snagging Jordan Love, the Patriots turn to the defensive side of the ball where they take the versatile Zach Baun. While he lined up mostly as an edge rusher at Wisconsin, Baun has the ability to cover in space and can also play off the ball as an inside backer. This is the type of defensive versatility Bill Belichick loves, from players like Adalius Thomas to Kyle Van Noy.
31. TRADE San Francisco to Miami – Antoine Winfield (S – Minnesota)
After trading away Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miami has needs to fill in their secondary. They could also go with a running back here, but there is plenty of second round depth at the position. Instead, the Dolphins take the top free safety in the class in Winfield.
32. Kansas City – Jonathan Taylor (RB – Wisconsin)
There are other holes that could be filled on the defending Super Bowl Champions, but Taylor’s combination of size and speed gives Andy Reid’s offense another big-time playmaker that can be moved around to create mis-matches. Taylor’s fumbles may be a bit of a concern, but some of that also came from his high workload.
Second Round
33. Cincinnati – Denzel Mims (WR – Baylor) – Long-term replacement for AJ Green.
34. TRADE: Indianapolis to Seattle to Cleveland – Ezra Cleveland (OT – Boise St) The Browns took a WR in the first round and want to get ahead of OT-needy teams Detroit and New York so they trade a 3rd and 4th to Seattle, who acquired this pick in Indy’s early trade up.
35. Detroit – Josh Jones (OT – Houston) – Jones fell out of the first round but goes in the early second. His pass blocking will fit Detroit’s scheme well.
36. TRADE: New York Giants to Jacksonville – DeAndre Swift (RB – Georgia) – As two offensive tackles go off the board in front of them, the Giants bail out. Some consider Swift to be the top back in the class. With the Jaguars looking to move Leonard Fournette they add a three-down capable back.
37. TRADE: LA Chargers to Detroit – AJ Epenesa (EDGE – Iowa) – A CB, OT, and DE in the first 40 picks. Solid haul for Detroit. Epenesa is best suited for a 4-3 defense where he can use his strength to set the edge.
38. Carolina – Trevon Diggs (CB – Alabama) – Carolina’s defensive rebuild continues.
39. Miami – JK Dobbins (RB – The Ohio State University) – The Dolphins add a back that can run with power and speed to go with Tua and an offensive tackle taken in the first round.
40. Houston – Ross Blacklock (DT – TCU) – Houston needs an anchor in the middle and Blacklock can provide just that. He has the explosiveness to also create pressure from the inside.
41. TRADE Cleveland to Seattle -Yetur Gross-Matos (EDGE – Penn State) – After trading down twice, the Seahawks finally make a pick. Seattle finished 31st in the league in sacks. Pete Carroll will gamble on youth and upside.
42. TRADE Jacksonville to NY Giants – Lucas Niang (OT – TCU) – The Giants need offensive line help badly but after missing out on the top tier of tackles by going defense in the first round, they add an extra 4th rounder by trading down with the Jaguars.
43. TRADE Chicago to Dallas -Grant Delpit (S – LSU) – Chicago has just two picks in the Top 150, so they acquire an extra 3rd to move down a few spots. Dallas has been tied to Delpit throughout the draft process and with him falling this far they move up and snag him.
44. Indianapolis – Michael Pittman Jr (WR – USC) – The Colts add one of the best route-runners in the draft, an all-around receiver with a tough attitude. He can be a steady target for Philip Rivers this year and complement TY Hilton’s speed game.
45. Tampa Bay – Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – LSU) – Edwards-Helaire’s all-around game will make him a dynamic offensive threat in Tom Brady’s offense.
46. Denver – Laviska Shenault (WR – Colorado) – Shenault’s an all-around baller who was used in a variety of ways by Colorado (out wide, in the slot, as a RB and as a wildcat QB). Expect Denver to get creative with getting him the ball to ease Drew Lock into the offense.
47. TRADE Atlanta to Arizona to New England – Jalen Hurts (QB – Oklahoma) – The Steelers were never taking a QB, but there was enough smoke to scare a QB-needy team into moving up. The Patriots don’t have a second round pick but after an earlier trade have 4 in the third, so they package some picks together to send to Arizona to take the Alabama and Oklahoma QB.
48. NY Jets – Tee Higgins (WR – Clemson) – Having gone with an offensive lineman in the first round, the Jets add the lanky Clemson receiver who can be a field-stretcher and step into Robby Anderson’s role.
49. Pittsburgh – Cam Akers (RB – Florida St) – The Top 4 RBs are gone, but Akers’ all-around game suits the Steelers style. He can be a steady and consistent presence in the backfield.
50. Chicago – Jeff Gladney (CB – TCU) – With 2 picks in a row, the Bears address a hole in the secondary with a physical, aggressive corner in Gladney.
51. TRADE Dallas to Chicago to Las Vegas – Justin Madubuike (DT – Texas A&M) – The Raiders are loaded with 3rd round picks and trade one to Chicago here to move up and take the athletic 5-tech from Texas A&M.
52. Los Angeles Rams – Josh Uche (EDGE – Michigan) – The Rams lost both of their edge rushers in free agency and need to restock the position. With all of the viable Round 2 running backs off the board, the Rams call up their old trade partners and negotiate to send a mid-round pick to Jacksonville in exchange for Leonard Fournette.
53. TRADE Philadelphia to Denver – Jaylon Johnson (CB – Utah) – Denver adds another tough, physical corner to their secondary.
54. Buffalo – Jeremy Chinn (LB/S – Southern Illinois) – Buffalo has one of the deepest rosters in the AFC. Without many glaring needs they add the versatile Chinn who lined up all over the field for the Salukis.
55. Baltimore – Tyler Biadasz (OL – Wisconsin) – With Marshall Yanda retiring, the Ravens add the versatile Wisconsin lineman who can play both Center an Guard.
56. Miami – Curtis Weaver (EDGE – Boise St) – With a few teams needing pass rushers coming in the next few picks, Miami does not wait to add help to their defensive front.
57. Los Angeles Rams – Jordyn Brooks (LB – Texas Tech) – The Rams add a defender with speed and range to the middle of their defense. Brooks can run and cover and will help in pass defense.
58. Minnesota – Marlon Davidson (EDGE – Auburn) – Minnesota already addressed CB and WR and now add a versatile defensive lineman who can play either 5-tech or on the edge.
59. Seattle – Lloyd Cushenberry (C – LSU) – After signing BJ Finney in free agency, the Seahawks take their long-term answer at Center.
60. TRADE Baltimore to Las Vegas to Chicago – KJ Hamler (WR – Penn State) – Trying to do everything they can to salvage Mitch Trubisky’s career, Chicago adds the Penn State speedster Hamler.
61. Tennessee – Neville Gallimore (DT – Oklahoma) – The Titans add an anchor in the middle of their defense who has the athleticism to get after the passer as well.
62. Green Bay – Cole Kmet (TE – Notre Dame) – The Packers continue to stack players around Aaron Rodgers, giving him a new WR and TE.
63. Kansas City – Damon Arnette (CB – The Ohio State University) – The Chiefs restock their secondary with the other corner from Ohio State.
64. Seattle – Ashtyn Davis (S – California) – Since losing Earl Thomas, the Seahawks have been missing that true centerfielding free safety. Davis has those traits and can anchor the back end.
