Mock Draft 2.5 - Post Free Agency Mock Draft with projected trades allowed

Mock Draft 2.5

Post Free Agency Mock Draft with projected trades – This mock draft represents the way that I see things falling in the draft based on teams and some projected trades. I will only include trades that are possible and will use the standard trade value chart. For 3.0 I will go back to my standard Will Pick and Should Pick leading up to draft day. Additionally, look for Packer and Bear picks. If there are other teams that you would like me to take a look at and assess, why not send me a tweet? @draftcompass

1. Browns – Saquon Barkley RB Penn State – I am going to maintain that this will happen here. So no change from the last mock draft. In a year when they have the 4^th overall pick and there are some solid QBs, I say roll the dice. A good running back makes an average QB solid. Obviously I have no insights whatsoever except my gut feeling here but I think the Browns have two QBs on their radar and they will get one of them.

2. Broncos (Broncos trade 5^th pick, 1^st round next year, QB Paxton Lynch; Giants trade 2^nd pick, 108^th pick) – Sam Darnold QB USC – Gil Brandt had a great quote on NFL radio last weekend, “They should call April the month of liars” based on all the smoke screens that come out. A report that the Giants would take Darnold if he was there is just that, a smoke screen. The Giants trust in Eli Manning for this year and a few years down the road. This trade allows them to take a look at Paxton Lynch for a year and they still have Davis Webb. If neither works out, they have a 1^st rounder in the bank to trade away next year for future years or to draft a QB. The Broncos on the other hand get the man that they want by leveraging their future and officially giving up on Paxton Lynch. The Browns look at this and smile, they did not want Darnold anyways.

3. Jets  – Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma The Jets traded up for a reason and liked two guys, their first choice is gone. So they go with their 2^nd choice and are happy to have such a competitive QB on their roster ready to learn for the first year and then take the reins. They lost the last time they rolled the dice on talent with Hackenburg so they avoid the potential of Rosen or Allen this time around.

4. Browns – Josh Allen QB Wyoming – As I have said in previous mock drafts, the Browns interest in Darnold is classic Ron Wolf misdirection. The entire time the Browns have had their eyes on Allen over everybody else. While they would take Rosen as a consolation prize if Allen were not here, Allen is here, and the Browns get two potential franchise players.

5. Giants (From Broncos) – Bradley Chubb DE NC State – Now that the Giants have traded down they are loaded up for next year and still get the player they wanted. Chubb is the best defender in this draft hands down and the Giants still have Eli Manning to run the offense. Chubb is just too talented to pass up here. Gettleman has been quoted as saying he wants somebody who will get a gold jacket; I count 2-3 that have that type of potential in this draft and Chubb tops that list.

6. Colts – Quenton Nelson G Notre Dame– The Colts will feel much better in this spot and grab the best OL in this draft. Who cares that he plays guard when he is going to be a dominant guard. I keep wondering if there is also a possibility that the team that drafts him might move him out to RT. The Colts could do that or keep him at guard. Either way, they have strong and nasty new OL.

7. Buccaneers – Minkah Fitzpatrick DB Alabama – No change here, 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. There are even some reports that teams are thinking of making him a straight up CB. I am not sure about that but he will be an upgrade for the Buccaneers none the less.

8. Cardinals (Cardinals trade 15^th and 47^th pick; Bears trade 8^th pick) – Josh Rosen UCLA QB – The Cardinals see Rosen falling and do what they can to move up to grab him at this spot. The Cardinals really should have planned for the future but did not do so, they need a QB bad and Rosen is their guy.

9. 49ers – Derwin James S Florida State – James could bring some leadership and swagger to this defense. He is similar to Eric Reid but a much better player so this is a nice upgrade for the 49ers.

10. Raiders – Tremaine Edmunds LB Virginia Tech – The Raiders are going to look at their board and needs and see a lot of potential in drafting this athletic of a linebacker to run all over the field.

11. Dolphins – Calvin Ridley WR Alabama – I want the Dolphins to take a QB here but they seem quite happy with Tannehill at this point. So, why not reload the WR room with a dynamic playmaker like Ridley?

12. Bills – Lamar Jackson QB Louisville – As I said before, I have a suspicion that the team out there that has Jackson as their number 2 QB in this draft is the Bills. They figured that they would move within striking distance of where he will go so they can make another move if need be. Jackson is a guy that can be molded but needs a bit of work before he should be thrown in the fire. Bills prepared for this and their patience will pay off.

13. Redskins – Vita Vea DT Washington – Roquan Smith is tempting here but the need is greater for Vea and Vea is a great athlete for his size. Perhaps the Ngata comparison is not right, but he is solid.

14. Packers – Denzel Ward CB Ohio State – Ward falling here is a gift for the Packers and fills a need, no chance they pass him up here unless they have Josh Jackson graded higher, which I would doubt.

15. Bears (From Cardinals) – Mike McGlinchey OT Notre Dame – This is the area where McGlinchey should go and the Bears picked up some change from dropping down, yet, end up with the player they wanted. The Bears are putting together a solid team but need to protect Trubiski now.

16. Ravens – Courtland Sutton WR SMU – Sutton is a bit unrefined but the talent is there. The Ravens made a mistake in overdrafting Perrimen a few years ago so it is time to fix that mistake with a guy who can leap up and grab those Flacco passes.

17. Chargers – Da’Ron Payne DT Alabama – There are a lot of talented players at this point, a little too many for teams to go crazy to trade up. Looking down the board and with Cory Liuget being suspended and Mebane getting a bit older, the Chargers reload their line with a stout defensive lineman who is a player maker.

18. Seahawks – Josh Jackson CB Iowa – Jackson is an excellent fit for the Seahawks and the type of defense they run and is far too good of a football player to pass up on at this point. Again, there is some thoughts of trading down but Jackson is too big of a play maker to trade down from here.

19. Titans (Titans trade 29^th, 89^th, and 199^th, 47^th picks; Cowboys trade 19^th pick)  – Roquan Smith LB Georgia – The Titans make a big move to grab a player that has fallen too far and is at a position of need for them. They pay a big price but it is a worthwhile price for a player who is a great athlete and can do a lot of things for a creative defensive coordinator.

20. Lions – Marcus Davenport DE Texas-San Antonio – The Lions are going to see a pass rusher that will be too good to be true at this point. This is also a good spot for Davenport as he will be able to develop a little bit and start out as a rotational guy on passing downs.

21. Bengals – Will Hernandez G UTEP – Hernandez is a brute, aggressive, and powerful player. He will need to make a slight adjustment in that UTEP did not face absolute top competition but good enough competition. The Bengals need more players like Hernandez.

22. Steelers (Steelers trade 28^th and 92^nd picks; Bills trade 22^nd pick) Mason Rudolph QB Oklahoma State – The Steelers panic and leapfrog the Patriots who may have some interest in Rudolph to groom an underrated QB behind Big Ben. The Steelers will learn from the Cardinals facing a debacle at QB after Palmer retired and take a page from the Chiefs and Packers. Rudolph takes over once Ben calls it quits in a year or two and the price they pay here looks like a deal.

23. Patriots – Harold Landry OLB Boston College – Originally, I had the Patriots taking Isaiah Oliver but typically they go with a pass rusher over a CB. Landry is a little bit of a wild card as he was better as a junior than senior and that will give some teams pause. But at this point, the Patriots improve their pass rush with Landry.

24. Panthers – Isaiah Oliver CB Colorado – The Panthers have tended to like taller tougher CBs and Oliver has a lot of solid skills. With the trading of Worley, there is a bit of a need here for the Panthers.

25. Cowboys (from Titans) – Taven Bryan DT Florida – The Cowboys could use an athletic DT and Bryan is very versatile and has a high motor. The Cowboys need a high character guy on the defense and forget about some of their past mistakes.

26. Falcons – Maurice Hurst DT Michigan – I watched some tape on Hurst and I feel like I am missing something. He does not seem to be a top defensive lineman based on his tape. However, there is a sentiment out there that he is. The Falcons need some DT help and will make a mistake here in drafting Hurst.

27. Saints – Isaiah Wynn OT/G Georgia – I am changing things up here as the more I look at it, the more I think that no TEs will go in the first round so Hayden Hurst drops out of this spot. The Saints could use a strong OL to solidify their line and Wynn has shown versatility and is a good football player.

28. Bills (from Steelers) – James Daniels C Iowa – The Bills rolled the dice by trading down and end up with the player they wanted at 22. With Eric Woods having to retire and now losing Incognito the interior of the line needs a lot of help. Daniels can play either spot and will be great at both spots.

29. Jaguars – DJ Moore WR Maryland – Moore is used to poor quarterback play and Bortles is average for the most part. Moore is a smart explosive player who will do well in the NFL. Nice pick here to help a team that needs to reload their WRs.

30. Vikings – Connor Williams OT Texas – The Vikings need to strengthen their line and Williams is the top rated Offensive Lineman here. I am still not seeing it with Williams so I think he will be a bust personally but may be worth the gamble here.

31. Patriots – Brian O’Neil OT Pitt – So I understand this seems like a reach at this point. However, the Patriots target and hone in on underappreciated OL that have loads of potential. Think about when they drafted Sebastian Vollmers, I loved him at the time but had him as a 4^th or 5^th, not a 2^nd and it worked. Even Logan Matkins was considered an odd pick for the end of the 1^st round. O’Neil is still growing and is smart, athletic, powerful for his size, and has plenty of growth potential at a position they need.

32. Eagles – Leighton Vander Esch LB Boise State– The Eagles can truly take the best available player here but LB is a need for them. They did not seem happy with what they had at LB and Vander Esch can play any of the linebacker spots.

Maybe a few too many trades but we have seen some pretty crazy 1st rounds in the past. 

If you missed the No Trades Mock Draft, please take a look at that posting as well. Keep an eye out for Mock Draft 3.0 and the Packer and Bear Picks in the near future.