It’s Draft Day! What better way to celebrate Draft Day than with my final Mock Draft? We all know who is going to the Bengals at the top. What we don’t know is what lies behind them with what could possibly be a scattering of trades and a trainwreck of technical issues.
This is a predictive mock. The only thing you can’t do is predict trades, which I think there will be a handful of. But here we go!
1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU – This has been solidified since mid-December
2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State – Best player in the draft goes #2
3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State – Top Defensive Back in the Draft replaces Darius Slay
4. New York Giants: Jedrick Wills Jr, OT, Alabama – Played Right and Left Tackle at Alabama protecting Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side
5. Miami Dolphins: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon – There’s a lot of talk about Miami trying to trade up to secure their QB which many people believe will be Herbert.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama – The social distancing issues affected Tua more than most, who could have benefited from being able to have team doctors clear him from his injury.
7. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn – Many people have Brown as a top 3 or 4 player in the Draft. The Panthers hey-day for their defense was when they had 2 dominant Defensive Tackles.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa – Thanks to Bill O’Brien, the Cardinals don’t have to worry about taking a Wide Receiver here. They sure up their depleted offensive line with Wirfs.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson – Might be the best Linebacker AND Safety in the Draft. Unfortunately for Simmons, those 2 positions have been devalued in recent drafts. That’s why he slips to 9 here. Don’t be shocked to see Jacksonville trade out of this pick.
10. Cleveland Browns: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia – By signing one of the top Right Tackles in the NFL, Jack Conklin, in free agency, they need someone who can play on the left side. Thomas has proved that over 3 years. There’s still some skepticism that Becton can be a true Left Tackle.
11. New York Jets: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama – The Jets have made enough moves during free agency to show me they are going to lean towards bringing in a #1 receiver.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma – The best Wide Receiver in the Draft with the ball in his hands.
13. San Francisco 49ers: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida – I fully expect the 49ers to trade back from either 13 or 31, if not both. Without a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round pick, they can utilize their 2 first rounders to add capital. If they stay, look for them to add a top Cornerback or Wide Receiver.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville – They need to protect their Quarterback better this year. Especially because it is now Tom Brady.
15. Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama – Two notes: 1. I think the Broncos could trade up for their Wide Receiver of preference. 2. I think there’s a good chance Ruggs is the first one taken.
16. Atlanta Falcons: K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU – I’m not a big Chaisson fan, but getting after the Quarterback is a priority in the league. I also fully expect the Falcons to trade up for one of the top Cornerbacks or possibly Simmons.
17. Dallas Cowboys: AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson – Finding a replacement for Byron Jones should be a priority for the Cowboys, along with finding a pass rusher to play opposite Demarcus Lawrence.
18. Miami Dolphins: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama – The Dolphins take the replacement for Minkah Fitzpatrick, with the pick they acquired for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
19. Las Vegas Raiders: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina – This isn’t a need pick for the Raiders, it’s just Mike Mayock taking the best player available.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU – The Jags seem committed to Gardner Minshew, so they need to build talented pass catchers around him.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU – I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Eagles trade up for their WR of preference. I just don’t see one that is worthy of this pick, especially with Queen on the board.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU – The Vikings fill their biggest hole with a guy who has been linked to them for a while.
23. New England Patriots: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State – Where Love lands in the Draft is one of the biggest question marks. His 2018 tape is much better than 2019, in which he lost 9 of 10 other starters on offense.
24. New Orleans Saints: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma – Murray is one of my favorite players in the Draft. He has a non-stop motor and will fill a big need for a potential Super Bowl team.
25. Minnesota Vikings: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor – The Mims hype was blazing after the Combine. It seems to have died down, but I still really like the kid and think he’s deserving of a 1st round pick. Great compliment to Adam Thielen.
26. Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin – Many people have Swift as their top RB. I love Taylor. There are a lot of questions about his workload, but he could be a perfect fit for today’s NFL, where the team can take a Running Back, and reload 4 or 5 years later.
27. Seattle Seahawks: Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge, Penn State – Assuming Jadeveon Clowney is not back in the mix in Seattle, finding a pass rusher should be at the top of their wish list.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State – Aiyuk’s ability to make plays after the catch will be what will make him fit in with Baltimore’s offense right away.
29. Tennessee Titans: Austin Jackson, OT, USC – The Titans have an identity of an in your face, run it down your throat offense. Losing Conklin will hurt. Drafting Jackson will make it hurt less.
30. Green Bay Packers: Michael Pittman Jr, WR, USC – There’s too much smoke in the rumors that Pittman will slide into the 1st without there being any fire. He’s a perfect fit to play opposite Davante Adams.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU – Again, it would not shock me if San Francisco traded out of this pick, especially to a team looking to get back into the end of the 1st round for a Quarterback. But here, they find their replacement for Emmanuel Sanders.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah – I can see the Chiefs trading back just like the 49ers. It also wouldn’t shock me to see a Running Back like D’Andre Swift, but this class is deep and they should be able to get a good one in the 2nd.
