As much as we all love to watch the combine drills, they shouldn’t matter too much to your favorite NFL team. If that team’s personnel office is filled with smart people, they have their draft boards fairly well-defined, and they’re using the combine to probe prospects from a personality perspective in interviews, and from a medical perspective with the checkups.
Still, there are those players who bump their stock up with specific performances, and the meter can go down just as quickly. With that in mind, here’s a mock draft that takes into account not only performances on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium, but what happened in the interview rooms, and what might have had scouts going back to look at a bit more tape.
1. Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Rumors are flying thick and fast both ways about Arizona’s interest in selecting Murray first overall and trading Josh Rosen. We know that Kliff Kingsbury loves Murray and that Murray would be an ideal fit for what Kingsbury wants to do. Most likely, this will come down to what kind of compensation the Cardinals could get for Rosen If it’s higher than a third-round pick, look for Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim to do some dealing.
2. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, edge, Ohio State
With all the talk about freakish performances among defensive linemen at the combine, sometimes it’s best not to overthink things. The 49ers need an elite edge rusher, Bosa qualifies in every sense, and he will take San Francisco’s defense to a new level in conjunction with DeForest Buckner.
3. New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
There are those who wonder just how Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has held on to his job, and the lack of talent along the defensive line is one of the reasons why. Williams had an exceptional combine, and when you put that with his game tape, he’s the very definition of a safe pick who will also be highly effective.
4. Oakland Raiders: Josh Allen, edge, Kentucky
Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have a lot of work to do with their three first-round picks, and job one is to establish some kind of consistent edge presence. A true speed merchant to the quarterback with the potential for a ton of tackles for loss and forced fumbles as well as some coverage ability, Allen could be the pace-setter for a rebuilt Oakland defense.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White, ILB, LSU
The Buccaneers defense was subpar in most categories in 2018, and while the secondary was the primary issue, the linebacker rotation could be facing a big hit if Kwon Alexander ends up somewhere else in free agency. Even if Alexander comes back at a reduced price after his torn ACL, this is a team in need of players who can define a defense. White blew up the combine with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash and good showings in all the drills, and his tape shows the very definition of a modern linebacker.
6. New York Giants: Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
Most believe that the Giants will go quarterback or offensive line here, but if there’s one thing we know about general manager Dave Gettleman, it’s that he’s generally on point to do something unpredictable. This recent tidbit about Gettleman in the fray for Josh Rosen makes a lot of sense, and if the Giants have their quarterback problem relatively solved, it would make a ton of sense to give defensive coordinator James Bettcher a true wrecking ball for his multiple fronts. Oliver would truly shine as a three-tech tackle, but Bettcher would place him to succeed everywhere from nose to end.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
There’s one problem when projecting Dwayne Haskins to Jacksonville: New offensive coordinator John DeFilippo requires a relatively mobile quarterback for his ideal passing game, and Haskins shows serious warts when asked to adjust from pressure and throw on the move. Lock isn’t as well-developed from a quarterback perspective, but he is terrific on the move and he can make any throw the Jaguars’ new offense might require.
8. Detroit Lions: Montez Sweat, edge, Mississippi State
Sweat made himself more money than anybody else at the combine, D.K. Metcalf included. Running a 4.41 40-yard dash at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds will have NFL evaluators going back to his tape to see if the athleticism that allowed him to blow up the combine drills shows up on tape. It does, and under the right circumstances, Sweat could become a thoroughly unblockable pass rusher from the edge and inside. The Lions will need his skills with Ezekiel Ansah most likely on the move.
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9. Buffalo Bills: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
First of all, the stuff you’re hearing about Metcalf’s inability to run routes because he had a bad three-cone time is just dumb. Everything else checks out athletically to a ridiculous degree as he showed at the combine, and when he’s asked to run more than two routes, he can be a nightmare to cover, especially after the catch. Quarterback Josh Allen is going to need targets like Metcalf if he’s ever going to develop into an NFL-caliber player.
10. Denver Broncos: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
Yes, the concerns about Haskins throwing on the move apply to any offense, but in acquiring Joe Flacco, the Broncos have made it clear that they prize hypothetical functional velocity (which Flacco doesn’t have to the degree he used to) over mobility. In that regard, Haskins is an ideal fit because he reads the field and makes decisions like a five-year NFL veteran. The rest of it will have to come in time. What we do know is that after whiffing on every quarterback decision he’s made since Peyton Manning, John Elway needs a win here.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
At the combine, Williams insisted that his measurables don’t define him as a player, and he’s certainly correct about that. The Bengals need talent at both tackle positions, and he has the intelligence and root strength to succeed at the next level. Speed rushers will give Williams fits at times, but he has the attitude to set the tone for an offensive line in need.
12. Green Bay Packers: Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
Running a 4.58-second 40 at 6-4 and 277 pounds told the world all it needed to know about Gary’s athleticism. He needs development in the technical areas of his game, but new Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine would have a field day lining an athletic freak like Gary all over the defensive front.
13. Miami Dolphins: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
The Dolphins need a reset at quarterback, as the Ryan Tannehill experiment seems to have come to an end. But if the draft falls this way, there’s no point in overpicking for a guy they can develop and get in later rounds. Taylor would be an immediate impact starter at either right tackle or guard with the potential to kick over to the left side over time.
14. Atlanta Falcons: Cody Ford, OL, Oklahoma
The Falcons tagged defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, which takes one major need off the board. And with the deepest defensive line draft in at least a decade, Dan Quinn and his staff can find players to augment Jarrett’s explosiveness in the second and third days. With that in mind, it’s time for Atlanta to turn its attention to an offensive line that’s been a recurring problem for a while. Ford has the athleticism to play tackle, but in the near term, he could also become one of the more dominant guards in the NFL.
15. Washington: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
In this hypothetical draft, it’s the Giants that trade for the services of Josh Rosen, not Washington. And whatever Jay Gruden may say about his confidence in Colt McCoy as the team’s starter, we know better than that. With Alex Smith’s future very much in doubt, it’s time to give Gruden his first developmental quarterback since Andy Dalton. Jones is an overdraft here, but a lot of quarterbacks are overdrafted. The question is whether Jones has the potential refinement and consistency to run an offense as complex as Gruden’s, and all signs point to yes there.
16. Carolina Panthers: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
Pass rusher is the primary need for the Panthers, but there’s also been a need at left tackle for a while, and certainly for a player who can seal the position up on a long-term basis. As is the case for every team in need of defensive line help in this draft, the depth at every position will allow for first-round talent in the later rounds. Dillard may be debited to a degree because of his time in a Mike Leach offense, but beyond his obvious athleticism, he does have the potential to be a plus run blocker.
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17. Cleveland Browns: Andraez “Greedy” Williams, CB, LSU
The rich get richer. The Browns have assembled most of the pieces for a top-10 defense, and new coordinator Steve Wilks is very secondary-minded. Denzel Ward played exceptionally well as a rookie last season, but injury and depth issues abound around him. Pairing Ward with a cornerback of Williams’ length and fluidity might give Cleveland one of the league’s most formidable duos.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Greg Little, OT, Mississippi
Whether or not the Vikings will ever get a reasonable return on the Kirk Cousins investment is a matter of some debate, but one thing’s for sure — it’ll never happen if Cousins has to bail water behind the kind of offensive line he played behind in 2018. Little has the quickness and agility to improve Cousins’ blindside protection right away, and over time, he could develop into an estimable power blocker as well.
19. Tennessee Titans: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
Part of the reason the Titans offense fell off in 2018 was the lack of a credible pass-catching tight end. Delanie Walker lost most of his season to an ankle injury, and he’ll be 35 when the 2019 season starts. Fant, who impressed at the combine with smooth performances in the drills, didn’t produce much in Iowa’s stone-age offense, but watching his tape reveals a great route runner with next-level speed who can easily find open spots in just about any defense.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Deionte Thompson, FS, Alabama
In 2018, the Steelers’ safety dance was more like a scrum. Neither Morgan Burnett nor Sean Davis was consistent, and the team is still trying to figure out how best to utilize second-year man Terrell Edmunds. Every NFL team needs a true boundary-to-boundary safety who can play the deep third well, and Thompson has proved the ability to do that play after play.
21. Seattle Seahawks: Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson
The Seahawks need another pass rusher to pair with the franchise-tagged Frank Clark, but what if the best defensive lineman on the board when they draft isn’t a traditional edge guy? At 6-4 and 342 pounds, Lawrence ran a 5.05 40-yard dash before tweaking his left quad, and one imagines he would have put on a Dontari Poe-like performance in Indy had he stayed healthy. On the field, Lawrence can dominate everywhere from head-up nose to end with amazing speed and very heavy hands. Pete Carroll would love to have a versatile talent like this; remember how he used Red Bryant as a big end years ago.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Brian Burns, edge, Florida State
Terrell Suggs may look ageless, but Father Time eventually comes with receipts. And with Ravens GM Eric DeCosta worried that the market for pending free agent Za’Darius Smith might be “out of control,” it’s time for DeCosta to restock Baltimore’s defensive line now that he has the top job. Burns ran a 4.53 40 at 6-5 and 249 pounds, and while there are legitimate concerns about his play strength if he’s dealing with offensive linemen on stunts and line moves, there’s little worry about his raw speed off the edge.
23. Houston Texans: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
Yes, the Texans need help all over their offensive line, but what if the best blockers are gone when they pick here? Go with the best player available, and that might just be Murphy at this spot. Plus, it’s not like the Texans don’t need reinforcements in their secondary, as well. Murphy doesn’t jump off the tape as more athletic cornerbacks do, but it’s hard to nail down anything he does consistently wrong on the field.
24. Oakland Raiders (from Chicago Bears): Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
Wilkins didn’t just impress with his combine drill performances; he also gained a lot of new fans last week with his backstory: He got his degree in communications in just 2 ½ years, becoming the first Clemson scholarship athlete to get a bachelor’s degree in so short a time. He’ll also enter the NFL with a master’s degree in athletic leadership. On the field, Wilkins shows his athletic leadership with an infectious personality, and he brings impressive quickness and strength to the three-tech position. He’d be a tremendous asset to an Oakland defense looking for definition.
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25. Philadelphia Eagles: Nasir Adderley, FS, Delaware
It’s time for the Eagles to start retooling their secondary, and where better to start than with top-level defender with the potential to play either cornerback or safety? Adderley, a cousin of Hall of Fame defensive back Herb Adderley, brings a compelling combination of athleticism and coverage talent to a defensive backfield that requires an influx of young talent.
26. Indianapolis Colts: Clelin Ferrell, edge, Clemson
While I love the idea of giving Andrew Luck another great receiver in the first round, Luck might benefit just as much from a defense that could terrify a few more opposing quarterbacks. Perhaps the most gifted member of Clemson’s ridiculously stacked defensive line, Ferrell would bring impressive strength and speed to an edge rotation that could use a power boost.
27. Oakland Raiders (from Dallas Cowboys): Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
The Raiders want to run the ball — a lot — and they weren’t doing it all that well with Doug Martin and Marshawn Lynch. To break Jon Gruden’s backfield out of 2014, let’s give the coach Jacobs, who is decisive to and through the hole, has impressive tackle-breaking ability, brings next-level speed downfield at times and is a credible pass catcher. In a world full of rotational backs, Jacobs can do it all.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Mack Wilson, ILB, Alabama
The Chargers go into the 2019 offseason with three linchpin linebackers — Jatavis Brown, Denzel Perryman, and Hayes Pullard — ready for free agency. So it’s probably time to get younger, faster, and tougher, especially for a defense that played seven-DB packages last season to its detriment at times. A prototypical modern linebacker with the ability to get in space and cover quickly, Wilson can also move down and thump running backs.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
Those who see Harry as a bit slow and mechanical on the field may be missing the point. Like Keenan Allen, he’s a smooth athlete with an excellent route understanding. Guys like that tend to play faster than they look. And with a 4.53 40 at 6-2 and 228 pounds, maybe those speed concerns are a bit far-fetched. Put him in Andy Reid’s offense as a complementary piece to the demon acceleration of Tyreek Hill, and you have a guy who’s going to win contested-catch battles underneath and occasionally break a big play himself.
30. Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans Saints): Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, FS, Florida
The Packers put their safety rotation together with spit and baling wire last season, especially after trading Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Gardner-Johnson may be the most versatile safety in this draft class, with the ability to do everything from blitz in certain packages to excelling in the deep third. He’ll need some refinement before dealing effectively with the best the NFL has to offer, but from a potential standpoint, he’s off the charts.
31. Los Angeles Rams: Jachai Polite, edge, Florida
Apparently, the Rams presented Polite with the most favorable combine impression during meetings, because they were the only team that didn’t bash his tape. While other teams would be in the right to have questions about Polite’s ability to face up against offensive tackles and not dissolve in strength situations, Polite would be a very interesting fit in Wade Phillips’ 5-2 fronts. The Rams are in need of a speed edge rusher, and Polite certainly fits the description there.
32. New England Patriots: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
Both Hockenson and Noah Fant are players in need of some projection at the NFL level, because Kirk Ferentz’s offense wasn’t made for receiver production. But Ferentz and his staff certainly know how to develop tight ends, and if you line up Fant, George Kittle of the 49ers, and Hockenson, it’s Hockenson that may impress as the most traditional tight end with new-school receiving ability. Putting him on a field with Rob Gronkowski and a quarterback in Tom Brady who has ripped defenses apart with two-tight end sets seems almost unfair.
