With the Super Bowl in the books and the NFL combine on the horizon, now’s the time to start firing out 2019 NFL mock drafts in anticipation of what should be an intriguing and hard-to-predict first round this April.
For Bears fans, the draft doesn’t get started until the third round. But it’s worth monitoring what happens in the first round to see which players slide into Day 2 as possible trade targets for GM Ryan Pace.
The early picks will be dominated by defense, at least for now. Quarterbacks are always a threat to jump up the draft board, and this year is no exception. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray are both worthy of first-round selections, and with several quarterback-needy teams picking at or near the top of Round 1, there could be a surprise trade or two in an effort to secure one of the top passers.
But enough of the nonsense. Let’s get after it.
(1) Arizona Cardinals – Nick Bosa | EDGE | Ohio State
Don’t overthink this one, draft fans. Teams bad enough to earn the first overall pick usually spend it on a quarterback, if they don’t have one. The Cardinals have one — Josh Rosen — and because of that, they have the luxury of using this year’s top choice on the best all-around player in the class. Bosa is a layup for Arizona’s front office. He has an ideal combination of burst, power and flexibility to become one of the league’s dominant edge rushers early in his career. Easy pick.
(2) San Francisco 49ers – Quinnen Williams | DL | Alabama
The 49ers, like the Cardinals, are set at quarterback with Jimmy Garoppolo. As a result, they too will look for help on defense and end up with 1(b) to Bosa’s 1(a). Williams is a straight-up freak who brings a Fletcher Cox-like game-wrecker skill set to the NFL. San Francisco needs that kind of player on their defensive line in an effort to compete with the Rams and their high-powered offense for the next several seasons.
(3) New York Jets – D.K. Metcalf | WR | Ole Miss
This is a really, really big leap of faith on Metcalf’s final draft value. I’m betting on a big NFL combine performance from the son of former NFL receiver Eric Metcalf. If he runs a 40-yard dash as fast as his film and body-type suggest he’s capable of, he’ll easily become one of the five most-coveted players in the class. For the Jets, they have to provide QB Sam Darnold with weapons and they have to do it now. Maybe the outlook on this pick will change after free agency if New York adds some veterans on offense. But knowing what we know now, Darnold-to-Metcalf would be an ideal building block for an offense that’s been stuck in neutral for a long time.
(4) Oakland Raiders – Josh Allen | Edge | Kentucky
The Raiders pass rush was non-existent last season, an obvious side effect of trading arguably the NFL’s most dominant sack artist in Khalil Mack. That horrific decision by coach Jon Gruden will become even worse now that Oakland will have to invest a top-five pick on a player who won’t come anywhere near Mack’s floor, let alone his ceiling. Still, Allen is a promising pass-rush prospect who’s a high-end all-around athlete who’s capable of being effective as a rush specialist and in coverage. He has to get stronger at the point of attack, but his pass-rushing upside will push him into the first few picks in the draft.
(5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ed Oliver | DL | Houston
Remember when Oliver was a contender for the first overall pick? Yeah, me too. He may not have an ideal physical make-up, but man, can the dude wreak havoc along the defensive line. The Buccaneers have an unsettled situation with Gerald McCoy this offseason which could force this pick to happen. But even as a luxury choice, Oliver makes a lot of sense.
(6) New York Giants – Kyler Murray | QB | Oklahoma
Just imagine, for a second, an offense that features Murray, Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham, Jr. Yeah, scary. The Giants would be foolish to pass on Murray because of an outdated scouting myth that suggests quarterbacks under 6-feet tall can’t thrive in the NFL. Sure, Murray may be the shortest of the recent ‘short’ quarterbacks (Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield come to mind), but he’s a rare athlete with a big-league arm. He’ll have the benefit of sitting behind Eli Manning for at least one season, too. This pick seems way too obvious to me.
(7) Jacksonville Jaguars – Dwayne Haskins | QB | Ohio State
The Jaguars appear ready to finally move on from Blake Bortles and they’re probably a season or two behind the curve with that decision. Haskins offers a traditional pocket-passer’s skill set and has every trait in his right arm to suggest he can be a productive starter in the NFL. He has good accuracy, plenty of arm strength, his throwing mechanics are sound and he’s a good decision-maker. The biggest negative in his game is his lack of mobility, but Jacksonville should overlook that in an effort to get a player with a pretty reliable skill set.
(8) Detroit Lions – Rashan Gary | DL | Michigan
The Lions tap into a hometown prospect in Gary, who should be one of the big winners at the NFL combine. He’s a raw player with astronomically high upside, and those are the kinds of guys that teams will usually take a shot on in the top 10. He wasn’t a productive pass rusher in college but he did prove more than capable of being, at worst, a strong run defender. If he puts it all together as a pass rusher, he has the potential to become one of the more dominant defensive linemen in the NFL. It’s a big ‘if,’ however.
(9) Buffalo Bills – Jonah Williams | OT | Alabama
Need, meet value. Value, meet need. This is exactly how Bills fans should hope the first round unfolds in April. Buffalo has a high-end playmaker at quarterback in Josh Allen, but they need to bolster the offensive line so he can do more with his arm rather than be forced to tuck and run. Williams is a very, very safe pick and will be a plug-and-play starter at either tackle or guard. There’s been speculation in the draft community that teams are viewing Williams as a guard on the next level, and that’s OK. He’s going to be a very good starter regardless of where he settles in, and for a Bills team in desperate need for offensive line help, he makes perfect sense.
(10) Denver Broncos – Drew Lock | QB | Missouri
This pick is becoming way too popular. And that means it’s probably the least likely to actually happen come draft day. But the way the first round has fallen in this mock draft, the Broncos, who will certainly be eyeing a quarterback in the first round, will have little choice but to actually pull the trigger on Lock, who separated himself from the contenders for QB3 at the 2019 Senior Bowl. Denver GM John Elway swung and missed on Paxton Lynch a few years ago and it looks like he whiffed again on Case Keenum in free agency last year. That leaves Lock as the best option available for the Broncos to get a long-term developmental starter in the fold. It’s a bit of a reach.
(11) Cincinnati Bengals – Jawaan Taylor | OT | Florida
Taylor is flying up the first round and he could end up leapfrogging Jonah Williams for the first lineman selected by the time April rolls around. A natural right tackle, Taylor has the complete skill-set to be an immediate starter for Cincinnati, a franchise that’s been searching for consistent line play for some time. Taylor is an effective run and pass blocker who will enhance the Bengals’ all-around productivity from Day 1.
(12) Green Bay Packers – Clelin Ferrell | EDGE | Clemson
Steal? Yeah, I’d say so. Ferrell slips out of the top 10 and falls into the Packers’ waiting hands. Green Bay needs an upgrade over Clay Matthews and Nick Perry, and Ferrell fits that bill. A highly productive sack artist for the national champion Tigers, Ferrell is a technically sound pass rusher and is stout against the run. He has All-Pro potential and will be an immediate starter for a defense looking for a difference maker.
(13) Miami Dolphins – Daniel Jones | QB | Duke
The Dolphins could literally go in any direction here. They need help along the offensive line and there are some quality defensive players still on the board. But they’ll never turn the corner if they don’t fix their quarterback situation and Jones is the best prospect remaining on the board. Sure, this feels like a reach, but Jones has some really impressive traits and has been coached by David Cutcliffe, Eli Manning’s former mentor. Jones can make every throw, has prototypical size and enough movement skills to keep himself clean in the pocket. He won’t be around for Miami’s second-round pick, so if they want him, they’ll have to strike here.
(14) Atlanta Falcons – Montez Sweat | EDGE | Mississippi State
Sweat is the hot name early in the draft process. He won the Senior Bowl weigh-ins and had an effective week of practices in Mobile. That said, Sweat was inconsistent last season at one point registering only one sack over a four-game stretch. Still, he finished the season with 12.5 sacks and has a two-year total of 22.5. He looks the part, and if he gives 100 percent effort every snap, he could become one of the more productive pass rushers from the 2019 class.
(15) Washington Redskins – Marquise Brown | WR | Oklahoma
The Redskins have some real issues facing their passing attack next season with the unknown status of QB Alex Smith. With no real prospect worth grabbing at this point in the mock draft, they’ll address the aerial attack in another fashion by grabbing Marquise Brown. Brown is an electrifying threat with the ball in his hands who’s drawn comps to DeSean Jackson. Assuming Washington adds a bridge quarterback in free agency, Brown will bring some much-needed juice to the offense.
(16) Carolina Panthers – Cody Ford | OT | Oklahoma
Ford slips a bit in this mock, as some draft analysts have him pegged as a top-10 selection. And it’s possible he will be. But assuming he’s on the board when Carolina picks in Round 1, they’ll pounce. The Panthers can’t afford to let QB Cam Newton take any more hits, especially not after offseason shoulder surgery that has his immediate future in doubt. Enter Ford, who brings a starter’s skill set at offensive tackle from the first day he steps foot inside the Panthers’ locker room.
(17) Cleveland Browns – Devin White | LB | LSU
Pure value pick for the Browns, here, which is a breath of fresh air for a franchise used to being forced to fill holes. White is an instinctive plug-and-play inside linebacker who will immediately elevate the overall talent level on Cleveland’s defense. His best trait is his closing speed, which in today’s NFL, is a must-have for inside linebackers.
(18) Minnesota Vikings – Dalton Risner | OT | Washington State
Dillard, a veteran of 39 starts at left tackle for the Cougars, finished the season as a Third-Team All-American and was graded by Pro Football Focus as the top pass-blocking offensive tackle in the nation. Sounds like a perfect fit for the Vikings, whose tackle play was less than ideal in 2018. Dillard excels in pass protection because of his active feet and lateral movement skills, but he has to get stronger at the point of attack to evolve into a top-level starter in the NFL.
(19) Tennessee Titans – Brian Burns | EDGE | Florida State
More pass-rushing upside here with Burns, who leaves FSU after a breakout season of 10 sacks in 2018. He’s a refined pass rusher with juice, which is a combination that’s hard to find. His tape suggests he’ll be, at worst, a top-20 pick. The Titans have Harold Landry already in the fold and can build a great one-two punch by adding a player like Burns in the first round.
(20) Pittsburgh Steelers – Greedy Williams | CB | LSU
The Steelers need a playmaker in the secondary and Williams is one of the few cornerback prospects in the 2019 draft class capable of filling that need. Is he the next great lockdown cornerback? No, probably not. But he has plenty of man-coverage upside to serve Pittsburgh’s defense well against AFC North opponents, most notably Baker Mayfield and the soon-to-be high-flying Browns.
(21) Seattle Seahawks – Jeffery Simmons | DL | Mississippi State
The Seahawks need help along the interior of their defensive line and Simmons, who may end up a top-10 pick by the time the draft rolls around, would be a Day 1 starter. He’s a disruptive penetrator who had 18 tackles for loss in 2018. Seattle cannot enter 2019 without addressing their laymen’s group of defensive linemen and adding Simmons in the first round will result in an immediate upgrade.
(22) Baltimore Ravens – Jachai Polite | EDGE | Florida
The Ravens could go in a few directions here and helping QB Lamar Jackson with a new weapon at wide receiver will certainly be considered, but the bread and butter for Baltimore’s success over the years has been its defense, and they’ll continue that trend in Round 1. Polite is a twitchy player who enjoyed a breakout 11-sack season in 2018 and would factor into the Ravens’ pass rush immediately in his rookie season.
(23) Houston Texans – Byron Murphy | CB | Washington
Murphy may end up the top cornerback in the class by the time the draft process is said and done, but in this mock draft scenario, the Texans get a twitchy cover guy with excellent ball skills and playmaking ability. Murphy’s value trumps need for Houston with this pick as many fans (and QB Deshaun Watson) would probably prefer offensive line help.
(24) Oakland Raiders from Chicago Bears – Josh Jacobs | RB | Alabama
The biggest winner in the 2019 NFL draft is the Bears, who essentially selected Khalil Mack with the No. 24 pick. Wow. As for the Raiders, they’ll add juice to their offense with Jacobs, who offers a high-end explosive running style tailormade for success inside and outside in the NFL. With the lack of elite skill players in Oakland, Jacobs would quickly emerge as the bell cow.
(25) Philadelphia Eagles – DeAndre Baker | CB | Georgia
Cornerback has been a big need for the Eagles over the last few seasons and it’s time for the club to invest a first-round pick in the position. Baker isn’t the fastest corner in this class, but he’s instinctual and excels in press coverage.
(26) Indianapolis Colts – N’Keal Harry | WR | Arizona State
The Colts are a team on the rise thanks to a healthy Andrew Luck and an offensive line that can protect him. Now it’s time to find him another weapon to complement T.Y. Hilton, and Harry fits the bill. The former Sun Devil has potentially dominant traits and a 6-4 frame to boot. He’d be like a perfect mix of Hilton and TE Eric Ebron in one player.
(27) Oakland Raiders from Dallas Cowboys – Kelvin Harmon | WR | NC State
The third and last first-round pick for the Raiders leaves them with little choice but to grab a receiver since all of the top pass-rushing prospects are off the board. There’s no position on Oakland’s roster as thin as wide receiver, so grabbing the 6-3 Harmon with the hope he’ll become the primary target in the passing game would be a wise decision.
(28) Los Angeles Chargers – Christian Wilkins | DL | Clemson
Wilkins has been a consistent force for the Tigers’ defensive front and offers the Chargers a plug-and-play starter here at the bottom of the first round. He’s always around the football and had a knack for getting to the quarterback, too, registering 10.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
(29) Kansas City Chiefs – Mack Wilson | LB | Alabama
The Chiefs have a need at linebacker and Wilson, although a bit undersized, is an every-down linebacker who’s ready to start from Day 1. Depending on what happens with Dee Ford in free agency, Kansas City may have no choice but to look for a pass rusher here. But Wilson would make a ton of sense at the bottom of Round 1.
(30) Green Bay Packers – Nassir Adderley | Safety | Delaware
Adderley is enjoying a big jump up the draft board and he should settle in as a first-round pick once all is said and done. He’d be a great pick for the Packers who are still searching for a young long-term starter at safety.
(31) Los Angeles Rams – Deionte Thompson | S | Alabama
The Rams’ secondary could get raided in free agency, making Thompson a safe choice with starter’s upside at the end of Round 1.
(32) New England Patriots – T.J. Hockenson | TE | Iowa
Arguably the top tight end in the class, Hockenson represents the perfect replacement for Rob Gronkowski, should the future Hall-of-Famer decide it’s time to walk away from the game. Even if Gronk doesn’t retire, grabbing Hockenson is a fantastic move for the future.
