It’s finally time to draft these guys. From the college perspective, here’s pre-draft analysis on every pick, along with the right answer for each team over the first two rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.
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2019 NFL Draft: April 25-27
You have so many better things to do with your life than sit through the 2019 NFL Draft. Or maybe you don’t, but you want to know what’s going to happen.
Of course there will be trades to screw this all up, but until those happen – by the way, never, ever, ever, ever bother with any mock draft that projects trades – here are the correct answers …
Note … this will be updated Thursday morning just before the fun really kicks in.
2019 NFL Draft Prospects
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OGs & Cs | OTs
DTs | DEs | Edge Rush | LBs | CB | Safs
1. Arizona Cardinals
The Pick Will Be: QB Kyler Murray, OKlahoma
In a day and age when finding a decent starting quarterback just isn’t that hard, and in a draft loaded up top with prototype of prototype defensive prospects, Arizona – if it’s not bluffing and really is going with Nick Bosa – is making one giant “whatever, dude” No. 1 overall pick.
2. San Francisco 49ers
The Pick Will Be: DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Yeah, there might need to be a PR spin to sell Bosa to the Bay Area, but if Arizona is going to pass on the obvious-to-everyone-else No. 1 player in the draft, the Niners will 1) send Cardinal GM Steve Keim a basket of mini-muffins with a note saying 2) thanks for the perennial All-Pro pass rusher, or they’ll 3) trade down a spot or two and be given a massive haul to then 4) select Quinnen Williams.
3. New York Jets
The Pick Will Be: DE/LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
There might be a whole slew of goofy things happening in the top two, but here’s where this really gets weird. Quinnen Williams is right there for the taking – assuming he doesn’t go second overall – but if the Jets stay here, they essentially get the guy they were hoping to land when they rolled out the love for Minnesota’s Anthony Barr in free agency.
4. Oakland Raiders
The Pick Will Be: DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama
The Gruden/Mayock reality show starts here. With four picks in the top 35, they can play around with a whole slew of options and parlay them into an even bigger haul – or go with a quarterback here. There will be some thoughts about Houston DT Ed Oliver or Michigan DE Rashan Gary, but the defense works around the star of star defensive tackles in this draft. Williams isn’t Warren Sapp, but … this is the guy to build a franchise around.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Pick Will Be: DT Ed Oliver, Houston
The Bucs will hang out right here and let Bosa, Allen, Williams or Oliver fall right into their lap. There’s a chance they go linebacker with LSU’s Devin White, or with Gary, but assuming Murray really does go No. 1 overall – or before the five – this is the best spot in the draft.
6. New York Giants
The Pick Will Be: QB Daniel Jones, Duke
There might be a few other chances early on in the draft for the Giants to grab a quarterback of some sort, but they need to land the one they want. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, Missouri’s Drew Lock, and Jones will all be on the table. Jones has become the high-riser through the process – and the Giants fan will rightly boo.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Pick Will Be: OT Jawaan Taylor, Florida
Need, need, need. There might be some other terrific options on the board – especially if Rashan Gary slides – but the Jaguars have to help out the offensive line. Watch out for Iowa TE TJ Hockenson to possibly be the call, but finding a steady offensive tackle is the bigger need.
8. Detroit Lions
The Pick Will Be: DE Rashan Gary, Michigan
How concerned is Detroit about Mississippi State DE Montez Sweat’s heart condition? They desperately need a sure-thing pass rusher, but an end like Gary works for the Lion line, too.
9. Buffalo Bills
The Pick Will Be: TE TJ Hockenson, Iowa
What do you give a young quarterback like Josh Allen? A fun toy to play with. Don’t be stunned if Hockenson goes a a few picks earlier than this – he’s a special talent with instant star potential.
10. Denver Broncos
The Pick Will Be: LB Devin White, LSU
The defensive front has to come up with more options and more playmakers. There’s a chance the Broncos go quarterback here – especially with Dwayne Haskins sliding – but White would be the one to build up the run D around.
NEXT: 2019 Mock Draft: 11-20
11. Cincinnati Bengals
The Pick Will Be: LB Devin Bush, Michigan
At some point, Cincinnati needs to do something to improve the quarterback situation, and both lines could use a massive boost, but assume a Devin goes here – either White from LSU or Bush from Michigan.
12. Green Bay Packers
The Pick Will Be: OG Jonah Williams, Alabama
The Packers have enough early picks to have a little fun. They’d love it if a Devin would slide to this spot, and getting Hockenson is a dream, but Williams would be a nice value pick. His versatility would be an instant boost somewhere up front. They’ll get their tight end later.
13. Miami Dolphins
The Pick Will Be: DE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
The Dolphins need to figure out the quarterback situation at some point – it’s just cake, Ryan Fitzpatrick, not love – but there’s no need to draft one this high with Josh Rosen supposedly on the table. Instead, they take a chance on greatness – risks and all – on Sweat.
14. Atlanta Falcons
The Pick Will Be: DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
Former Clemson star Vic Beasley might not be getting the job done, but that doesn’t mean the Falcons can or should ignore another Tiger pass rushing prospect. If they don’t reach for a corner, Ferrell, Sweat, or Florida State’s Brian Burns goes here.
15. Washington Redskins
The Pick Will Be: QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
The slide stops here. It would be a decent situation for Haskins to take a little time to get up to speed behind Case Keenum. Give it three weeks.
16. Carolina Panthers
The Pick Will Be: OT Andre Dillard, Washington State
This is the Montez Sweat spot if the health concerns cause him to tumble down the first round. Ferrell and Florida State’s Brian Burns might be options, too, for a pass rush that needs more killers, but the offensive line needs a young star to build around.
17. New York Giants (from Cleveland)
The Pick Will Be: CB Byron Murphy, Washington
Theory time … LSU’s Greedy Williams is going to be one of the draft’s biggest sliders. Assume the Giants don’t mess around and take a quarterback early on, and assume they’ll go wide receiver later – even though DK Metcalf is on the board. Flip a coin between Murphy and Georgia’s Deandre Baker.
18. Minnesota Vikings
The Pick Will Be: DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson
The Vikings really, really, really need help on the offensive line, but that can come later. They also need a stud defensive tackle who can step into a starting spot right away, or at least provide some much needed depth. Washington State’s Andre Dillard or Bama’s Jonah Williams go here if one of the star O linemen is still on the board.
19. Tennessee Titans
The Pick Will Be: DE Brian Burns, Florida State
If Minnesota – or someone else in the top 18 – doesn’t take Wilkins, Tennessee will be more than happy to snap him up as the leader of the D line. More pass rushing help would be nice, too, and grabbing Sweat, Ferrell, or Burns here to go along with Harold Landry would be scary-good.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pick Will Be: CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
Baker, Murphy, or Greedy Williams – the Steelers will take a cornerback. The Giants will take Baker or Murphy, and Pittsburgh will grab the other. If Devin Bush or Devin White miraculously falls this low, linebacker would be the pick.
NEXT: 2019 Mock Draft: 21-32
21. Seattle Seahawks
The Pick Will Be: S Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
Seattle never goes the conventional route, and draft value is meaningless to the franchise. Assume secondary, and assume the idea is to get more playmakers at either corner or safety. The Seahawks will have their pick of safety options, but Abram is the right fit.
22. Baltimore Ravens
The Pick Will Be: WR DK Metcalf, Ole Miss
The Ravens desperately need defensive line help, and it’ll kill them to not take Mississippi State DT Jeffery Simmons and sit on him for a year while the torn ACL heals. It’ll also kill them to not give Lamar Jackson someone to throw to.
23. Houston Texans
The Pick Will Be: C Garrett Bradbury, NC State
The Texans will be big players in the second round and can bulk up on certain positions then. First, they need an upgrade across the board on the offensive line to give Deshaun Watson a fighting chance. Nick Martin is a fine center, but Bradbury is better.
24. Oakland Raiders (from Chicago)
The Pick Will Be: QB Drew Lock, Missouri
You just know the Gruden/Mayock tandem is dying to find a new quarterback to build around. They might overpay with all of their draft picks to move up to take Lock, or they can sit right here and wait for him to drop right to them. He’s the deep bomber they’re going to want.
25. Philadelphia Eagles
The Pick Will Be: CB Rock Ya-Sin, Temple
And here comes the slight curveball. Out of the top corners, Murphy and Baker will be gone, and Greedy Williams will be right there, but … the Eagles go with the local guy with the massive upside.
26. Indianapolis Colts
The Pick Will Be: DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
This is a team on the verge of true greatness, and they just need one part of the puzzle to potentially get over the top. A massive prototype defensive tackle in Lawrence – a top five talent who’ll slide because of the PED suspension – could be just that guy.
27. Oakland Raiders
The Pick Will Be: DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
Mock drafts are fickle things. One trade screws everything up, so the idea is to get as close to the pin as possible, while trying to come up with a gameplan for how things could and should work out.
Where’s the value? What might be there? If the Gruden and Mayock don’t overthink this and royally screw this up, they should be able to 1) go best player available at the four. 2) grab one of the key quarterback options at 24, and 3) get a steal in Simmons right here.
This is one of the few teams that doesn’t have to win right now and really is thinking about 2022. Put Simmons with whatever defensive star they get at the 4, along with a quarterback that gets a few years to develop, and helloooo Vegas.
28. Los Angeles Chargers
The Pick Will Be: OT/OG Cody Ford, Oklahoma
It seems like this gets said in every draft, but it remains true – whatever it takes to keep Phil Rivers upright. The Charger line could use a few pieces, and the versatile Ford should be an instant fit for some spot.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
The Pick Will Be: WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
The Chiefs almost never, ever go remotely close to chalk with their picks. Okay, so the Raiders are the Raiders and they might be all over the speed of Hollywood, but assuming he’s still on the board, and with the concerns over Tyreek Hill’s issues, this is the absolute perfect guy for the perfect offense.
30. Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans Saints)
The Pick Will Be: TE Noah Fant, Iowa
Take the best offensive lineman on the board at the 12 to protect Aaron Rodgers, and wait for either Alabama’s Irv Smith or for Fant to fall here. One or both will absolutely be on the board for the taking.
31. Los Angeles Rams
The Pick Will Be: C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
The Rams need a center, and McCoy or NC State’s Garrett Bradbury will be here to make the rich even richer.
32. New England Patriots
The Pick Will Be: OG Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
The fan base will dream he impossible and hope to get a tight end who might be able to replace Rob Gronkowski, but with two picks in the second round, there are a few chances to play around the pass catching options. No, Bill Belichick isn’t going to keep this pick – assume he trades down into the early second – but if he stays, flip a coin between Lindstrom or Kansas State’s Dalton Risner for the interior of the line.
NEXT: SECOND ROUND MOCK DRAFT
2019 SECOND ROUND MOCK DRAFT
33. Arizona Cardinals
The Pick Will Be: OT Dalton Risner, Kansas State
34. Indianapolis Colts (from New York Jets)
The Pick Will Be: CB Greedy Williams, LSU
35. Oakland Raiders
The Pick Will Be: RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama
36. San Francisco 49ers
The Pick Will Be: WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
37. New York Giants
The Pick Will Be: WR N’Keal Harry, Arizona State
38. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Pick Will Be: OT Tytus Howard, Alabama State
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Pick Will Be: RB Miles Sanders, Penn State
40. Buffalo Bills
The Pick Will Be: S Taylor Rapp, Washington
41. Denver Broncos
The Pick Will Be: S Nasir Adderley, Delaware
2019 NFL Draft Prospects
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OGs & Cs | OTs
DTs | DEs | Edge Rush | LBs | CB | Safs
42. Cincinnati Bengals
The Pick Will Be: DT Dre’Mont Jones, Ohio State
43. Detroit Lions
The Pick Will Be: CB Amani Oruwariye, Penn State
44. Green Bay Packers
The Pick Will Be: TE Irv Smith Alabama
45. Atlanta Falcons
The Pick Will Be: CB Lonnie Johnson, Kentucky
46. Washington Redskins
The Pick Will Be: WR AJ Brown, Ole Miss
47. Carolina Panthers
The Pick Will Be: DE Chase Winovich, Michigan
48. Miami Dolphins
The Pick Will Be: DT Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
49. Cleveland Browns
The Pick Will Be: S Darnell Savage, Maryland
50. Minnesota Vikings
The Pick Will Be: OT Greg Little, Ole Miss
51. Tennessee Titans
The Pick Will Be: WR Parris Campbell, Ohio State
52. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pick Will Be: LB Mack Wilson, Alabama
53. Philadelphia Eagles (from Baltimore)
The Pick Will Be: DE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
54. Houston Texans (from Seattle)
The Pick Will Be: OT Kaleb McGary, Washington
55. Houston Texans
The Pick Will Be: RB David Montgomery, Iowa State
56. New England Patriots (from Chicago)
The Pick Will Be: WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford
57. Philadelphia Eagles
The Pick Will Be: OT Tyler Roemer, San Diego State
58. Dallas Cowboys
The Pick Will Be: DE Zach Allen, Boston College
59. Indianapolis Colts
The Pick Will Be: S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
60. Los Angeles Chargers
The Pick Will Be: DT Trysten Hill, UCF
61. Kansas City Chiefs
The Pick Will Be: CB Julian Love, Notre Dame
62. New Orleans Saints
The Pick Will Be: CB Trayvon Mullen, Clemson
63. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams)
The Pick Will Be: DE Ben Banogu, TCU
64. New England Patriots
The Pick Will Be: QB Ryan Finley, NC State
2019 NFL Draft Prospects
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OGs & Cs | OTs
DTs | DEs | Edge Rush | LBs | CB | Safs