It is mock draft season for half of the teams in the NFL. Here is my unofficial first mock draft of the season. I will play General Manager for all 32 teams. What direction will your team go in round 1? Tune in. Draft order are courtesy of Tankathon, they have up to date standings.
1. San Fransico 49ers
Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State. Although the Niners are ranked 21st in sacks but they do not have go to rusher. Bosa is the best edge defender in this draft class. Some believe he is a better prospect than his older brother Joey Bosa. Heading into 2019 this niners team is full of potential, Bosa is a game changing talent and must needed draft pick.
2. Arizona Cardinals
Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. The most athletically gifted defensive tackle since all-pro Aaron Donald. Oliver is arguably the best DT in this class. He is quick, explosive, and powerful. Pairing Oliver with elite pass rusher Chandler Jones will provide a huge boost for this Cards defense.
3. Oakland Raiders
Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson. Somehow after trading away the best edge defender in the NFL (Khalil Mack) John Gruden utters, “Great pass rushers are hard to find”. The Raiders are ranked dead last with 10 sacks on the season. Clelin Ferrell is one of the best edge defenders and rushers in this class. Gruden drafts HIS guy to build the defense his way.
4. New York Jets
Jonah Williams, LT, Alabama. The Jets hopefully drafted their franchise quarterback by selecting Sam Darnold in April. We’re aware they must surround him with more skilled weapons but protecting him is priority one. Williams is the best offensive lineman in this class. He is a quick-footed and powerful tackle. He will positively impact the pass and run game for whoever drafts him.
5. New York Giants
Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon. Eli Manning is a 2-time superbowl champion and mvp. His time in the big apple has come to an end, whether it’s via retirement or being released. The giants’ offense has an excessive amount of talent and explosion on offense, time for a change. Justin Herbert is currently atop of most college quarterback rankings. Inserting his athletic ability, lively arm, big frame, and accuracy to Shurmur’s offense will elevate this team’s potential next season.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
Drew Lock, QB, Missouri. Although, Dwayne Haskins and Will Grier are on the board, Locke is a lock. Drew offers more athletic ability in addition to his powerful arm. The RPO is the new hot trend in the league and having a dual threat quarterback is key. Locke would help the new look Jags offense and lift some of the burden of third year running back Leonard Fournette.
7. Atlanta Falcons
Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama. The falcons defense has been decimated with injuries to their defensive stars. Ranking 25th in the league in rushing yards allowed. Adding Quinnen to this defensive line will give them a disruptive and powerful prospect. Williams could have an immediate impact and become their best defensive lineman early in his career.
8. Detriot Lions
Greedy Williams, CB, LSU. The lions have a few needs on their defense including pass rusher. From a value standpoint, snagging a potential shut down corner to pair with an elite corner (Darius Slay) is good business. Williams is known as the corner that can shut down one side of the field. A tandem of him and slay would give their NFC north foes headaches to game plan for.
9. Buffalo Bills
DK Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss. Buffalo has been a surprising team because they won games this season. Josh Allen has shown flashes of productivity and talent. Brandon Beane must provide Allen with offensive help. DK injured his neck earlier in the season but declared for the draft insinuating he’s been cleared. DK is a big, physical, & athletic play maker. He could become Allen’s best friend down field early on.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia. Tampa Bay needs to improve their secondary and passing defense. Through 12 games, they’ve allowed 26 passing touchdowns with only 3 interceptions. That is atrocious defense. In terms of cornerback prospects, baker is as good as it gets. He has a combination of speed, hands, and coverage abilities needed to play immediately. In a division with 3 quality quarterbacks to face, an improved secondary is key.
11. Green Bay Packers
Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi St. The Packers are ranked 3rd in sacks but with Clay Matthews getting older, it is time to add a go to rusher. They’ve selected three defensive backs early in the past two drafts, continue to build this defense. Sweat is a long athletic edge defender with quickness to add. Packers must fix their defensive woes and Sweat is a start.
12. Cleveland Browns
N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona St. Baker Mayfield is consistently showing game to game improvements. They need to upgrade the offensive line, but the value is not here. Adding Harry with Jarvis Landry, Antonio Calloway, Nick Chubb, & David Njoku provides a young athletic core of skill players to work with. Harry offers a big catch radius and red-zone target with strong hands. Bake would love that arsenal of weapons if this pick comes to fruition.
13. Miami Dolphins
Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State. The reign of Ryan Tannehill is over in Miami. Tannehill, Osweilier, & Cutler all have started games for the dolphins over the past few years. Haskins is a big strong-armed pocket passer. Haskins can make every throw with accuracy that Tannehill didn’t possess coming out of Texas A&M. A new era is needed in Miami to leave the realm of mediocrity.
14. Tennessee Titans
Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky. With Brian Orakpo & Derrick Morgan contracts coming to an end, adding another pass rusher is vital. Josh Allen has the production & athletic ability that you can’t pass up. He also offers the ability to drop into coverage on top of rushing the passer.
15. Denver Broncos
Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State. The Broncos have won 2 straight and seem to be in the hunt for a wildcard playoff spot. This is the reason they’ll be fooled into passing on a young quarterback. Amani is the perfect build for the Broncos defense. A tall physical press man cover corner that loves to play in the hip pocket of receivers. Continuing to build a dominate defense is a good way to go.
16. Philadelphia Eagles
Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama. Everyone desires to find an Ed Reed/Earl Thomas ball hawking safety. The Eagles secondary has been their achilles heel all season. Adding Thompson will boost this group when healthy. He has the speed and range to bait quarterbacks into turnovers. In order to get back to the superbowl winning defense, solidifying the backend is vital.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Noah Fant, TE, Iowa. Tyler Eifert has played 14 out of 48 games over the last three years, meaning his tenure is over in Cincy. Dalton and this offense needs a play making tight end to roam the middle of the field. Fant is an athletic pass catcher with solid blocking ability. He can be a matchup nightmare at the next level and the Bengals should be the beneficiaries.
18. Indianapolis Colts
Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida. I desperately wanted to draft a stud receiver for Andrew Luck and Frank Reich offense, but they have a formidable passing attack with their current weapons. Polite is an explosive bendy pass rusher that will terrorize quarterbacks. Stud rookie linebacker Darius Leonard is the leading sack artist with 6, but he plays middle linebacker. Time to put pressure on these qbs in this division.
19. Seattle Seahawks
Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi St. The Seahawks attempted to add an explosive big man inside their defensive line when they drafted Malik McDowell. After a bad ATV accident, he was released with a non-football injury designation. Simmons is a nimble and powerful tackle. He understands the importance of leverage and length. A defensive line of Simmons, Clark, & Reed is tough to block.
20. Carolina Panthers
Yodny Cajuste, LT, West Virginia. The panthers offensive line is a shell of themselves due to injuries. Taylor Moton has played tackle this year but a healthy line up will place him inside at guard. Cajuste, is athletic, flexible, and long. He could be an upgrade over the average left tackle Matt Kalil. Upgrading the o-line can ensure Cam Newton & Christian McCaffery have the protection needed to make big things happen.
21. Washington Redskins
Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State. The redskins have one of the least appealing receiving corps in the league. Josh Docston is not a number one receiver and wildly inconsistent. Hakeem Butler has been compared to Randy Moss. His incredible long frame and elastic arms provides an amazing catch radius. He can effectively win the jump ball and eat up grass on downfield routes. The skins need a number one caliber receiver, this could be their guy.
22. Oakland Raiders
Devin White, ILB, LSU. Another defensive pick, Gruden desires an athletically gifted defensive unit. White has the range and speed to cover ground and attack sideline to sideline. An angry tackler white is, he has the tools to be a weapon in coverage. His ferocious attitude will work well with coach Gruden old school philosophy.
23. Baltimore Ravens
Brian Burns, EDGE, FSU. Terrell Suggs dances as if he’s still 22 years old but he is 36 years old. Father is undefeated as they say. Brian Burns can be a nice pupil to the elder statesmen. He has a good burst, footwork, and an array of pass rushing moves. The Ravens pass rush is tad inconsistent and needs a shot in the arm.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Byron Murphy, CB, Washington. The Steelers have Joe Hade, Mike Hilton, & Cam Sutton. Neither of those names are game changing talents. Murphy is extremely smooth. A tough hardnosed corner, he isn’t afraid to come up and tackle. He loves to bait quarterbacks into risky throws. Pittsburgh needs a corner that can compete no matter the play call, Byron Murphy can help this secondary.
25. Minnesota Vikings
David Edwards, LT, Wisconsin. The Vikings spent a lot of money on quarterback Kirk Cousins. Although he does fit this team, the offensive line performance has been subpar at best. Edwards is a mammoth of a man (6’7 319lbs). He is a road grader in the ground game and polished in pass protection. This move would give the vikes two young starting tackles going forward.
26. Houston Texans
Dalton Risner, T, Kansas State. The Texans are riding an 8 game winning streak, but their offensive line is arguable the worst in football. Kendall Lamm has been average all season. Risner is a powerful blocker that will drive through defenders. Deshaun Watson would be happy with this pick.
27. Oakland Raiders
Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State. A strong & powerful framed receiver that can win on all three levels. He has the size to be a traditional possession receiver, with the ability to make play down field. Derek Carr or whoever is under center will need a number one target, Harmon is the guy.
28. Los Angeles Chargers
Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama. Continue building towards a dominate defense Anthony Lynn. Davis is a powerful and physical interior lineman. The chargers have lost Corey Liuget for the season with a knee injury. Davis could be a nice long-term replacement and present-day partner manning the middle.
29. New England Patriots
Mack Wilson, ILB, Alabama. Over the past few years, the patriots’ defense has been slow and unathletic in the front seven. Hightower is better as a rush linebacker than in coverage. Bill must add speed and athleticism to his defense. Mack is a three-down linebacker and a perfect student to learn how to lead a Bill Belichick’s defense.
30. Los Angeles Rams
Chase Winovich, EDGE, Michigan. The biggest Achilles heel of the rams’ defense is lack of edge pressure. Their interior line has Aaron Donald and Suh but little to no impact off the edge. Chase Winovich has 17.5 sacks & 40.5 tackles for loss in 3 years of starting at Michigan. That’s the type of production and impact the rams need to help boost their defense.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia. This defense ranks in the bottom half of nearly every major defensive statistical category. They’re reportedly receiving a huge boost with All Pro safety Eric Berry returning from injury. With an incredibly potent offense, improving this putrid defense is top priority. Bryce is a tall, long, & rangy corner. He is more of an off-ball corner but his abilities to play sticky man coverage would be welcome in KC.
32 Green Bay Packers (New Orleans Saints)
Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma. The Packers offense ranks 8th in passing yards per game, but only has one receiving option over 500 yards receiving (D. Adams). Hollywood Brown would bring all world speed to this offense. He runs clean routes and plays with a patience in/out of breaks. He is the perfect complement to Rodgers, Adams, & Jones in this offense.
Damian Parson is an Analyst for Couch Rider Report. Follow/Like us on Facebook or Twitter.