Pre-Combine Mock Draft
Clearly, the combine and free agency will affect this
greatly. Furthermore, there is a good chance that there is a lot of movement in
the top 5 to 10 picks. This mock represents the players that I think teams should take given their current needs. Additionally, the rules are that no projected trades can happen so where a team sits is where they sit. The top 10 teams that pick on draft day I believe will look very different.
1. Browns – Saquon Barkley RB Penn State – While there is
always the Penn State curse that has been floating around for 30 years, Barkley
will break it. With that being said, the question is, should the Browns take
him first overall. Yes, of course they should, they have the 4th
overall pick too and the boy they want will still be there.
2. Giants – (I think the most likely scenario here is that
the Giants trade out) Bradley Chubb DE NC State – The temptation to take a QB
is here but the Giants have tended to take whomever they feel is the best
player, particularly at DE. JPP is past his prime and needs to be rotational.
Chubb is just too talented to pass up here. Look for them to take the QB later
in the draft or do not forget that they have Davis Webb and he still could develop.
3. Colts – Roquan Smith LB Georgia – Smith is the best
player at this point that can help them. The two others they were hoping for
are gone. While this sets up a scenario where teams will be willing to trade up
for their QB, no trades, and this is the board.
4. Browns – Josh Allen QB Wyoming – I have a feeling that
the Browns covet Allen and his gunslinger playing style. Look who is at the
helm evaluating players. Allen is not the safest QB in this draft but if you
give him some good coaching and have him clean up his game a little (not too
much, you need to keep some gunslinger in him) he could be very exciting to
watch. They better issue him #4 though.
5. Broncos – Sam Darnold QB USC – This is a dream scenario
for Darnold and the Broncos as they fit together well. The Broncos need to
forget that they did something silly in the past at QB and go with the safest
QB pick in this draft. Darnold plays smart and will take advantage of defensive
mistakes without taking too many risks. The broncos need exactly that.
6. Jets – Josh Rosen QB Cal – Rosen is going to have some
trouble if this happens. The New York media is not as bad as some of the other
big cities, but they are not easy on high expectation players. Rosen needs to
show he can mature and he may be one of the riskier players in this draft. But
the Jets cannot go another year without bringing in a good QB.
7. Buccaneers – Minkah Fitzpatrick DB Alabama – Fitzpatrick
is one of the more interesting players in this draft and will likely play
safety who moves into the slot in the nickel. The Buccaneers could use another
young player in secondary. The temptation to go with Quenton Nelson is
definitely here though.
8. Bears – Quenton Nelson OG Notre Dame – The Bears just let
Sitton go and they need to strengthen their line. Nelson has too much talent
and such a nasty streak that they would be foolish to pass him up here. I know
guards are not as highly thought of but a good player is a good player.
9. 49ers – Orlando Brown OG/T Oklahoma – The top OT is a bit
of a tossup and with Nelson going to the Bears one pick ahead of this, the
49ers go with a possible right tackle but likely guard to strengthen up the
line. The offensive weapons available here are not good enough to be taken
here.
10. Raiders – Denzel Ward CB Ohio State – There is a little
debate as to who the top CB is in this draft and it is more about deciding on
style of play and athleticism. Ward is likely the first CB off the board and
would add some athleticism to the Raiders defense.
11. Dolphins – Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma – Even before he
was hurt, it was questionable as to if Ryan Tannehill would be the starter much
longer. The Dolphins have another shot at a potential franchise QB and this
time, they are not reaching to take him.
12. Bengals – Connor Williams OT Texas – The Bengals have
some holes and they always seem to grab somebody a little odd. In this case,
they go with their needs and strengthen an offensive line that needs a bit of
help.
13. Redskins – Vita Vea DT Wahsington – There is definitely
reason and temptation to go after Courtland Sutton or even Calvin Ridley here
as they need a WR. But Sutton is too much of a wild card, Ridley is a
possibility but Alabama WR have not translated well into the NFL, and a very
good player that can help the Redskins is sitting right here in Vea.
14. Packers – Dallas Goedert TE South Dakota State – Okay,
this looks a bit high for him. The Packers also really need help on defense.
But I truly believe that he is the best all-around TE to come out in a long
time. He reminds me a lot of Jason Witten. Likely the Packers in the real world
could trade down here if they had their eye on Goedert, but we are sticking to
the rules here. CB and Pass-rusher come later in the draft for them.
15. Cardinals – Mason Rudolph QB Oklahoma State – This is
where the reaching begins a bit. With that said, Rudolph has enough talent to
play decent right away and can develop over time. I am not sure that he is ever
going to be great but he should be serviceable. Not what you want in a QB but
they do not have a lot of choice here and QBs are always over drafted.
16. Ravens – Calvin Ridley WR Alabama – Ridley looks to be
the best WR in this draft although Sutton could also be. Ridley is less risky
and more developed at this point. When you have an athletic WR who understands
how to run routes, that can be dangerous. Perfect pick here for the Ravens.
17. Chargers – Mike McGlinchey OT Notre Dame – The Chargers
continue to ignore OL in the first round and really really really need to do
something about that. McGlinchey should be a safe pick here and may never be
spectacular but might be similar to Bryan Bulaga.
18. Seahawks – Derwin James S Florida State – The Seahawks
need offensive line help a lot but James is too good to pass up at this time
and he fits them so well. The Seahawks are getting old in the secondary and
need some youth. Josh Jackson is also a strong possibility here.
19. Cowboys – Courtland Sutton WR SMU – Obviously this is
going to depend heavily on deciding if Dez Bryant is worth bringing back, or
this could influence that decision. Sutton is a bit raw but he is worth the
gamble at his point.
20. Lions – Marcus Davenport DE Texas-San Antonio – Even if
Ziggy Ansah returns, this is a plum position for Davenport as he needs some
seasoning and could be used as a rotational player with Ansah and Zettle.
21 and 22. Bills – Lamar Jackson QB Louisville and Billy
Price C Ohio State – I feel like this is pretty common thought at this point.
The Bills need a QB as the Tyrod Taylor and sadly Nathan Petermon ships sunk
last year. The loss of Eric Wood presents a major hole in the offensive line
which makes taking Price a good pick here.
23. Rams – Josh Jackson Iowa – The Rams need to continue to
build their secondary up and Jackson fits their team well. There are some
concerns with top end speed but his speed is comparable to a lot of other
corners that have been successful in the NFL. I typed this pick up a day before the Marcus Peters trade and
almost switched it, but it still makes a ton of sense for them so I am staying
with it.
24. Panthers – Mike Hughes CB Central Florida – The Panthers
corners have been pretty solid but Hughes would be an upgrade to a very good
defense. He seems to fit their mentality on defense pretty well. There is some
definite thought here at OL but there is nobody that is worth it at this point.
25. Titans – Da’Ron Payne DT Alabama – Payne has a quick
first step and plays smart. The Titans need to continue to build up their
defensive line as it is getting up in age and needs some juice.
26. Falcons – Tim Settle DT Virginia Tech – Settle is pretty
athletic for a big guy, he does look to have some baby fat on him so perhaps
some conditioning will improve him more. There are some bigger name players at
DT here, but Settle could add some needed bulk to the defensive line for the
Falcons allowing them to let either or both Rubin and Poe walk.
27. Saints – Christian Kirk WR Texas A & M – Drew Brees
(I am assuming he is re-signed) needs more weapons and getting rid of Cooks
last year was a little odd in that they left the cupboard a bit bare. Kirk
needs to continue to refine his game but he looks pretty smooth overall. The
big question is whether he was relying too much on speed and if he can build
more savvy into his game.
28. Steelers – Harrison Phillips DL Stanford – The Steelers
were a difficult one to figure out since they seem to be a bit unpredictable in
the first round. Looking at the board though, Phillips fits a position that
could use a little more juice for the Steelers. The other side of this is that
Phillips has a good first step (though he looks like he may stand up a little
too tall at times) but most of all, he has a lot of awareness. This is a really
good fit for the Steelers. I am also wondering if they jump at CB Donte Jackson,
who I am pretty sure will skyrocket post-combine.
29. Jaguars – DJ Moore WR Maryland – The Jaguars will go WR
here and it is just matter of which one. Moore and James Washington are very
similar players if you watch their games. Both have good awareness and sell
routes but also do not run the routes quite as crisp as you would like. Moore
gets the edge because he is a more explosive player and lacked the supporting
cast that Washington had at Oklahoma State.
30. Vikings - Chukwuma Okorafor OL Western Michigan - Free
agency is really going to tell us a lot about the Vikings and the QB situation.
Regardless of who is back there, they need to bring in a little more protection
in the middle to solidify the line. Okorafor played tackle in college but he
has the build and setup of a guard, though he could play RT. There is a little
temptation for a DL here but I think that there are some guys getting a little
overrated so Okorafor is a good pick here.
31. Patriots – Kolton Miller OT UCLA - Who really knows with
the Patriots? I do have a feeling that they may also go with a CB and in that
case my guess is Isaiah Oliver or Donte Jackson gets taken (I like Jackson a
lot so that is who I would go with). But in the end I think they are going to
look at their tackle position and decide to upgrade it for the future by taking
Miller here. Miller needs a bit of seasoning but all the tools are there to
develop.
32. Eagles - Rashaan
Evans LB Alabama – The Eagles seem to be ready to let Kendricks go or at least
give him some competition and he is in the middle age of a football player so
why not bring in some energy and juice with Evans. Evans is better than many of
the previous mercurial Alabama linebackers. Good pick here.
Okay, so some crazy picks here but that is what makes the
draft fun right? The combine and free agency will change a lot of this. Odds
are that the top 10 will be a flurry of trades but do not be surprised if 5 out
of the 6 QBs listed here do go in the first round.
