Everybody does mock drafts, most everybody does more than one, and every mock draft is done for different reasons. To get clicks? Well, duh. That would be reason No. 1, dear reader. Let’s not be arch about this. That aside, what we’re trying to do when we drill down into different scenarios with all these different mocks is to get a sense of where things stand at the moment.
Where things stand at this moment is: The scouting combine is next week. Free agency doesn’t start until mid-March. Even the unofficial official tampering period is still weeks away. So, with this mock, let’s do away with the potential trades that will be incessantly discussed by the NFL’s power brokers at the Indianapolis Steak ‘n Shake at 3:30 a.m. Let’s instead look at where each team might go with their picks if the draft started now, without the benefit of combine drills, player interviews, pro days and knowing which roster holes will be filled in free agency. When the combine is done, it’ll provide an interesting reference point as we move forward with our future mocks.
Picks 1-8 | 9-16 | 17-24 | 25-32
1. Cincinnati Bengals (2-14): Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
One of the most hilarious things about the news lull between the Super Bowl and the scouting combine is the need to make a whole lot out of very little. Thus, we have Joe Burrow refusing to pledge absolute fealty to the Bengals, and What It All Means. (Here’s a good explainer of what it actually means). None of it really matters. The Bengals need to get themselves out of the quarterback purgatory they’ve been in with Andy Dalton since 2011, and Burrow brings a combination of arm talent, ability to throw on the move, and poise under pressure that reminds me of pre-injury Sam Bradford. It’s stuff you can improve upon, but you can’t really teach. Throw away the one-year wonder stuff, and bail on the concerns about his arm strength. Burrow is the best player in this draft class, and as such, should be the overwhelming first pick. Which he will be.
2. Washington Redskins (3-13): Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Wait, what? No Chase Young? Well, here’s what we know. The Redskins selected Mississippi State edge-rusher Montez Sweat with the 26th pick in the 2019 draft. Sweat could easily hit the second-year performance bump that edge defenders often see. Washington also has Ryan Kerrigan under contract through 2020 and the underrated Matt Ioannidis through 2022. It’s not as if new head coach Ron Rivera and new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio wouldn’t benefit from Chase Young on their defensive line, but there’s also the matter of the secondary to consider. Washington just released cornerback Josh Norman in a cost-cutting and performance-based move. Outside of Quinton Dunbar, there’s nobody at the position who inspires much confidence at all, and the Redskins appear to be playing hardball with Dunbar. Okudah would solve some of the cornerback problem quickly; the ongoing franchise dysfunction is another matter entirely.
3. Detroit Lions (3-12-1): Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
So, if the Redskins turn the 2020 draft upside down by not taking Chase Young, Matt Patricia’s Lions get an unrivaled edge-rusher, which is one of many things Detroit’s defense needs. Trey Flowers signed a five-year, $90 million contract with $56 million in guarantees last offseason and put up 61 total pressures despite dealing with injuries. Flowers and linebacker Devon Kennard combined for 14 sacks in 2019; everyone else in Detroit’s defense also combined for 14. Young is a game-wrecker at the level of the Bosa brothers — and he’ll make every part of Detroit’s defense better by that standard alone.
4. New York Giants (4-12): Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Two sure things about Giants general manager Dave Gettleman: He loves him some “Hog Mollies,” and he doesn’t give a rat’s posterior what anybody thinks about his picks. So, were Gettleman to take Becton, a 6-foot-7, 369-pound mauler and eraser in the run game with high potential for his frame in his pass sets, don’t be surprised. Becton might not be from the “Build Your Ideal Left Tackle” factory in the modern NFL, but as Gettleman has made clear on multiple occasions, he’s not scouting and signing for the modern NFL, anyway.
5. Miami Dolphins (5-11): Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
All signs are positive regarding Tagovailoa’s fractured hip, and thus his NFL future, which leaves us with his NFL potential. Tagovailoa doesn’t have the biggest arm in this draft class, but he checks most of the other boxes when you look at the needs for the new generation of dual-threat NFL quarterbacks who are redefining the position. While he’s more than adept in a shotgun/pistol offense with lots of run-pass options, he also shows the potential to shine under center with multiple reads at his disposal, both in and out of the pocket. Yes, he was surrounded with insane talent at Alabama, but 87 touchdowns to 11 interceptions and a 10.9 yards-per-attempt average over three seasons doesn’t just happen. Nick Saban has compared Tagovailoa to Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers in the abstract; that doesn’t just happen, either.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11): Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Were the Chargers to take Herbert here as they transition to the post-Philip Rivers era, it would be a great example of the importance of the quarterback position in regard to draft capital. Herbert isn’t the sixth-best player in this class; not even close. But he’s a big guy who can throw from the pocket; he has a smooth, gliding running style for his size, and there are enough shot plays on tape to make offensive coordinators and quarterback coaches set aside the rushed throws, general inaccuracies, and the fact that his long, lanky frame can lead to a deliberate release of the ball when quickness and decisiveness should be the order of the day.
7. Carolina Panthers (5-11): Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
The Panthers are about to undergo a major rebuild with new head coach Matt Rhule, and if there’s one thing Rhule learned in his time as a college head coach — especially at Baylor over the past three seasons — it’s that you want as many athletes as possible on defense, no matter the situation. With Thomas Davis off to the Chargers last season and Luke Kuechly recently retired, the Panthers’ longtime linebacker paradigm could easily change. Shaq Thompson has become an athletic force as a new-school, built-like-a-safety linebacker, and Simmons fits a similar suit. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, this is not a traditional run-fit thumper; per Pro Football Focus, Simmons played over 100 snaps on the defensive line and at free safety, and over 200 snaps in the box and in the slot. As long as his NFL team doesn’t try to turn him into Mike Singletary, Simmons has the potential to be a lockdown modern defender at the highest level.
8. Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1): Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
Kyler Murray already is stumping for the Cardinals to bring receiver CeeDee Lamb, his former Oklahoma teammate, to the Valley of the Sun. And it makes sense for a couple of reasons: Lamb is an outstanding playmaker, and it makes sense to keep your quarterback happy with targets he trusts. But methinks Murray, who absorbed a league-leading 48 sacks in his rookie campaign, will also be pleased if he isn’t forced to run for his life all the time. Re-signing left tackle D.J. Humphries was a step in the right direction, and putting Wills on the right side would cement Arizona’s tackle tandem as more than solid. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Wills brings a nasty disposition to his run-blocking, and he’s technically proficient enough to help in a right-handed offense where the quarterback constantly expands the pocket.
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9. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10): Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
The Jaguars have a clear and obvious need at cornerback, but they can address that with the first-round pick they got from the Rams in the Jalen Ramsey trade. But Jacksonville also must address a run defense that finished 31st in Football Outsiders’ metrics and allowed 5.31 running back yards per carry. Enter Derrick Brown, who can disassemble any blocker he faces with freaky quickness, grown-man strength, and the kind of legitimate versatility that every NFL defensive coordinator wants these days. Brown’s 13 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss over four seasons? You can put that in a big box of “whatever,” turn on YouTube, and go watch him hunt. He’s the NFL’s next great defensive interior lineman, and few teams are more in need than the Jaguars.
10. Cleveland Browns (6-10): Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Not that the Browns were going to bring Greg Robinson back after a subpar season, but Robinson’s recent arrest doesn’t exactly help his case. The Browns have enough drama to deal with as is. What they don’t have is a backside protector for Baker Mayfield, and a run-cruncher who can help Nick Chubb, the NFL’s most underrated running back, do even more spectacular things. Thomas is technically sound, with the ability to play either left or right tackle and the kind of demeanor that makes edge defenders nervous when they’re trying to tackle running backs. Thomas isn’t a perfectly finished pass-protector, but it’s fun to watch him erase defenders in the run game, and he’s got the skills to put everything else together.
11. New York Jets (7-9): Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
There are those who believe that Wirfs could stay at tackle in the NFL; others believe his best move is to guard. The Jets’ likely response? “Who cares, we are throwing up emergency flares up and down the entire line.” Wirfs is a weightlifting monster who is more agile on the move than that description might indicate, and though he’s not your prototypical left tackle, there’s a spot for him on any NFL roster at right tackle or guard. New York’s tackles combined for 17 sacks and 91 total pressures allowed last season; their guards allowed seven sacks and 70 pressures. Wirfs would be a massive improvement anywhere the Jets want to put him.
12. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Only the Dolphins finished lower in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted defensive metrics than the Raiders in 2019 — and the Dolphins were throwing a Tankapalooza party. That means the Raiders are in obvious need of all kinds of defensive talent. That said, Jon Gruden also needs a true No. 1 receiver to pair with breakout tight end Darren Waller. Lamb would thrive in Gruden’s West Coast concepts because he’s got ideal quickness to all parts of the field, and he’s a route-runner on the rise. Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock, who compiled an admirable haul in the 2019 draft, can find the ideal target for whomever their quarterback will be right here.
13. Indianapolis Colts (7-9): A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
The Colts come into the 2020 offseason with $86,162,964 in cap space, so their ability to be big players in free agency with all that cash makes their draft strategy highly interesting. What we do know is that outside of Justin Houston, who put up 11 sacks and 60 total pressures for Indy last season, there aren’t a lot of true pressure artists on the roster. Linebacker Darius Leonard finished second with five sacks, but he’s just as valuable in coverage and stopping the run. Epenesa would bring a lot to coordinator Matt Eberflus’ defense, because at 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, he can add pressure around the edge and by using inside moves. He’d be a great fit with one of the more highly regarded defensive staffs in the league.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Last season, no defense improved more against the run than Tampa Bay’s. Under coordinator Todd Bowles, the Bucs went from 31st to first in Football Outsiders’ run defense metrics. However, there are all kinds of potential departures along the defensive line, with Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul, Carl Nassib and Beau Allen among the team’s upcoming free agents. Kinlaw, who really came on during Senior Bowl week, has the frame (6-foot-5, 315 pounds), the intensity and the penetrative ability to create tackles for loss against both the run and the pass. When he receives coaching at the next level to refine his hand use and pad level, he’ll be an illegal force on whatever team is lucky enough to have him. Kinlaw is the kind of player who could be very good but under the radar in his first NFL season — and a perennial All-Pro from then on.
15. Denver Broncos (7-9): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
If the Broncos lose cornerback Chris Harris Jr. in free agency, Von Miller will be the only remaining key piece of the 2015 defense that led the franchise to its last Lombardi Trophy. So there’s that. But in the draft, John Elway may want to accelerate the process for new franchise quarterback Drew Lock by giving him another target. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton has become a legit No. 1 option, and tight end Noah Fant is developing nicely, but adding Jeudy, the most technically proficient and toolsy receiver in this draft class, would provide the route awareness to mitigate Lock’s occasional bouts of inaccuracy, and Jeudy has enough downfield speed to catch up to Lock’s fastballs.
16. Atlanta Falcons (7-9): Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
The Falcons saw a major uptick in effectiveness on the defensive side of the ball when Dan Quinn moved Raheem Morris from receivers coach to full oversight of the secondary, which led to Morris’ promotion to defensive coordinator. This was the right move, but if Atlanta is going to get over last season’s 1-7 start and 7-9 finish, the defense is going to need cornerback help. Last season, Desmond Trufant was the only Falcons cornerback with an interception (four, actually), but he also gave up five touchdowns and allowed an opponent passer rating of 106.3. Fulton allowed a 43.6% completion rate last season, and while he does give up the occasional big play due to concentration lapses, he fits the model of the Quinn-preferred cornerback — big, opportunistic and able to erase opposing targets for long periods of time.
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17. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
To call McKinney a safety in the traditional sense would be to misunderstand his value and versatility. If you remember Minkah Fitzpatrick’s roles for the Crimson Tide, when he played six different positions for Nick Saban, you’ll have an approximate idea of what McKinney brings to the table. Last season, per PFF, McKinney had 285 snaps in the box, 227 snaps from the slot and 271 snaps at deep safety in 2019. He does it all well, from sniffing out screens to covering deep, and woe to the receiver who tries to run a slant in his area. Getting yards after the catch in his territory tends to present a similar problem. The Cowboys, who could lose cornerback Byron Jones in free agency because of the truckloads of cash it will take to re-sign quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper, really need a complementary player for safety Xavier Woods, could use every bit of McKinney’s versatility on the other side of the ball.
18. Miami Dolphins (from 8-8 Pittsburgh Steelers): Josh Jones, OT, Houston
The Laremy Tunsil trade left the Dolphins with … well, not much at left tackle. The Julie’n Davenport experiment went about as well as expected, as Davenport, acquired from the Texans in the Tunsil deal, allowed five sacks and 28 total pressures for Miami in just 350 pass-blocking snaps. Davenport allowed 12 sacks and 69 total pressures in 684 pass-blocking snaps in 2018 with the Texans, so maybe that’s just who he is. Josh Jones is still a football project, but his athletic profile is excellent, and he showed improvement over the course of the 2019 season and into the 2020 Senior Bowl. Once he learns to get out of his stance quicker and becomes more aggressive and defined in his pass sets, he could be an ideal pass-protector for Tua Tagovailoa, or whomever Miami’s quarterback happens to be in 2020 and beyond.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from 8-8 Chicago Bears): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Twelve touchdowns and two interceptions. That’s what the Raiders’ cornerback group allowed and generated last season. While it’s true that the linebacker group also has been a serious issue, especially since Vontaze Burfict Vontaze Burficted himself out of the NFL again, there’s no consistent winning in the modern NFL without a dynamic group of cornerbacks. Diggs, the younger brother of Vikings star receiver Stefon Diggs, also has a receiving background, which adds to his understanding in zone and match concepts, and he’s able to use his size (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) to affect routes off the line and high-point for interceptions and deflections. He’s not who you want trailing speed receivers down the seam, but he works well as a boundary guy in a embryonic Richard Sherman sense and can improve coverage in the short and intermediate passing game. Diggs is the kind of defender the Raiders need.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from 9-7 Los Angeles Rams): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Trading Jalen Ramsey to the Rams got the Jaguars this pick and allowed the franchise to escape Ramsey’s upcoming contract haul. At the same time, cornerback A.J. Bouye is a likely cap casualty. Fellow corners D.J. Hayden and Tre Herndon weren’t bad in 2019, but for this defense to ascend again, more is needed at the position. Henderson would be an upgrade simply because he does everything well — he has the size and aggression to be an excellent boundary cornerback, he has the footwork and technique to play match coverage through the routes, and he’s versatile enough to blitz and play the run. He did allow a few big plays in 2019, but as long as he keeps his aggressive mindset going, he’ll be an asset at the NFL level.
21. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7): Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
Philadelphia’s receiver group was a M*A*S*H unit last season, and by the time Doug Pederson’s group limped into the playoffs, it was by far the slowest and least imposing in the tournament. Per Pro Football Focus, running back Miles Sanders led the team in receptions of 20 or more yards downfield. Getting DeSean Jackson back on the field for more than three games would certainly help, but Jackson is also 33 years old and coming off a core injury — and he could be a cap casualty in 2021. Ruggs would alter the look of Philly’s receiver group with or without Jackson, because he has game-changing speed that shows up every time he touches the ball, whether he’s beating a cornerback downfield or taking a simple screen to the house. Of his 1,716 career receiving yards for the Crimson Tide, 878 came after the catch, and he averaged 9.0 yards after catch per reception.
22. Buffalo Bills (10-6): K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
Under head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, the Bills have developed one of the NFL’s best defenses. But one thing they don’t have, with Jerry Hughes recovering from a wrist injury and having declined Shaq Lawson’s fifth-year option, is an edge rusher they can incorporate for the present and future. At times, Chaisson brings current Vikings and former LSU edge-rusher Danielle Hunter to mind because, although Chaisson doesn’t yet have all the moves to put it together play after play, his speed to the quarterback just screams off the tape, and his closing quickness to the pocket is especially snappy.
23. New England Patriots (12-4): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Whether the Patriots have Tom Brady or not in 2020, they have an absolutely desperate need for receivers who can separate from coverage and create big plays. It was the primary weakness that held their offense back last season, and if there isn’t serious intent to upgrade at the position, it’s difficult to imagine Brady feeling comfortable with his chances at another ring before he hangs it up. Higgins is more a glider than a burner, but at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Higgins has the size and mentality to be a great contested-catch receiver at the NFL level. As far as his ability to separate downfield? Last season, he caught 15 of his 23 targets of 20 or more air yards. Last season, the Patriots’ entire receiver group caught 16 of its 42 deep targets, per Pro Football Focus. Let’s give Brady a chance to succeed if he stays in Foxborough.
24. New Orleans Saints (13-3): Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
This isn’t complicated. Drew Brees came back for his 20th NFL season because he believes the Saints have the potential to win the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy. Michael Thomas is one of the league’s best receivers, and he had 185 targets last season. Ted Ginn Jr. had the second-most targets among New Orleans’ wide receivers with 56. Shenault would provide a perfect link between Thomas, the technician, and package receivers such as Ginn and Taysom Hill. The Colorado alum isn’t the most polished route-runner, but he has the potential to dominate in downfield and contested-catch situations. Saints head coach Sean Payton has proven that he can bring out the best in receivers who aren’t all-tool guys, and Shenault would impact New Orleans’ passing game more than those of many other teams as a result.
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25. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
There is need, there is desperate need, there is Oh-My-God-Are-You-Kidding-Me need, and then, there’s how much the Vikings need to upgrade at the cornerback position. Outside starters Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes combined to allow nine touchdowns with just one interception in 2019, and while Mike Hughes was decent at times, and Mackensie Alexander was good in the slot, it’s highly unusual for a Mike Zimmer defense to be without a single credible boundary defender. The potential of losing safety Anthony Harris in free agency unless the Vikings are somehow able to rectify the NFL’s worst salary cap situation compounds this issue. Johnson isn’t a big name, and some teams might shy away because he’s only 6-foot-0 and 195 pounds (those measurements may hit a dose of reality at the combine), but he can dominate as a disciplined zone cornerback.
26. Miami Dolphins (from 10-6 Houston Texans): Zack Moss, RB, Utah
How much do the Dolphins need a running back? Consider that after they offloaded Kenyan Drake to the Cardinals last October, Miami was in a unique position to allow Ryan Fitzpatrick, their 37-year-old quarterback, to lead the team in rushing. Which he did. There are several backs in this class you’ll hear about as potentially the best in the group, but nobody breaks tackles like Moss, the 2019 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. Per Pro Football Focus, Moss forced 87 missed tackles on his 234 rushing attempts last season; 1,042 of his 1,412 rushing yards came after contact; and he added 33 more missed tackles on his 66 career receptions. More than just an inside bruiser, Moss also has the wiggle to get through inside gaps and the acceleration to move outside the tackles and pick up extra yards. There are also some elements of peak Marshawn Lynch’s demonic playing style in Moss’ game.
27. Seattle Seahawks (11-5): Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
Trading for ex-Lions safety Quandre Diggs last October probably saved the Seahawks from missing the playoffs last season. After moving on from Earl Thomas, Seattle tried to replace the future Hall of Famer in the aggregate, which didn’t go well. Diggs is under club control through the 2021 season at ridiculously reasonable prices, but if we’re ever to see a reboot of the Legion of Boom, Pete Carroll and John Schneider are going to have to get another shot-calling safety with range, field smarts and a nose for the ball. Enter Winfield, the son of the former Bills and Vikings cornerback. The younger Winfield missed all but eight games in 2017 and 2018 due to injury, but he recovered brilliantly to pick off seven passes last season. I recently watched tape with Winfield, and he explained how he’s able to add to his already estimable athleticism by understanding what’s going to happen on the field even before it happens.
28. Baltimore Ravens (14-2): Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State
It’s very tempting to select an off-the-ball linebacker in the first round for the Ravens, and nobody would be surprised if Baltimore went for C.J. Mosley’s longtime replacement early. But the extent to which the Ravens had to generate pressure through blitzing — they ranked first in the NFL last season by far with a 54.9% blitz rate — has to be a concern for a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The secondary is good enough to handle the additional responsibilities generated by blitzing that much, but it still leaves little margin for error. Weaver, who put up 34 sacks in three seasons for Boise State, is a run-and-chase edge disrupter who can slip inside to generate pressure from multiple gaps. As is the case with 90% of collegiate pass-rushers, he’ll be even more effective when he learns to use his hands to generate a variety of moves.
29. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
As Pro Football Focus recently pointed out, “The Titans had nine players with 100 or more pass-rushing snaps [in 2019]. The only one with a pressure rate above 10% was Cameron Wake.” Wake, who just turned 38, also played in just nine games and had just 2.5 sacks. Linebacker Harold Landry is a rising star, and we all know how good defensive tackle Jurrell Casey is as a multi-gap force, but it’d be nice for Tennessee’s defensive coaching staff, still likely reeling from coordinator Dean Pees’ retirement, to have more options at the edge. Tremendously athletic at 6-foot-5 and 264 pounds, Gross-Matos needs help with his hand moves (which can be said of nearly every collegiate defensive lineman), but he’s got the potential to be the final piece in what could be a formidable group of quarterback disrupters.
30. Green Bay Packers (13-3): Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine loves to roll out different dime packages, and that requires his linebackers to be full-field rovers who can read and react with impunity, especially against the run. To put it kindly, Green Bay’s linebacker corps did not present this ideal scenario in 2019. So as much as the Pack needs to come back with more receiving targets for Aaron Rodgers, an every-down linebacker might be the bigger need. Queen fits the modern linebacker paradigm at 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, but he’s not just a safety with a linebacker’s positional designation — he can zoom through gaps to help stop the run, and he’s an impressively physical player all over the field. More importantly, Pettine won’t have to wonder what his only linebacker on the field is trying to accomplish anymore.
31. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Grant Delpit, S, LSU
As impressive as San Francisco’s defense was through most of the season, there was that late-season lag when Dee Ford, Kwon Alexander and Jaquiski Tartt were out with injuries. Tartt is under team control through 2020, but the 49ers could lose Jimmie Ward in free agency, and Ward might be fungible based on performance, anyway. Like any great defense, San Francisco’s requires a true shot-caller at safety, especially because so much of what coordinator Robert Saleh runs is more execution-based than scheme-dependent. So if Delpit is still on the board at 31, general manager John Lynch should run a quick 40 and turn in Delpit’s name. The LSU alum could fill multiple roles in Saleh’s defense, especially after he cleans up his issue with missed tackles. More importantly, per Pro Football Focus, Delpit allowed just 13 receptions on 21 targets for 196 yards and one touchdown versus two picks in 2019.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4): Jordan Elliott, DL, Missouri
The reigning Super Bowl champs could go a few different ways here — cornerback and linebacker for sure, and with defensive lineman Chris Jones about to get a nuclear (and well deserved) payday in free agency, it would also be wise to reinforce the defensive interior. Let’s start there in this case, since the Chiefs have $13,674,494 in cap space before any releases, and Jones is going to get somewhere between $17 million and $20 million per year. Like Jones, Missouri’s Elliott is a relentless pocket-pusher who can wreck a double-team when he remembers to use his hands to get separation, and at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, he fits the paradigm that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo likes in his defensive tackles — ruthless to the quarterback, and effective in multiple gaps.
Picks 1-8 | 9-16 | 17-24 | 25-32
Touchdown Wire editor Doug Farrar previously covered football for Yahoo! Sports, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, the Washington Post, and Football Outsiders. His first book, “The Genius of Desperation,” a schematic history of professional football, was published by Triumph Books in 2018 and won the Professional Football Researchers Association’s Nelson Ross Award for “Outstanding recent achievement in pro football research and historiography.”
