Two Weeks Out Mock Draft/Post Free Agent Frenzy Mock Draft

I will continue the Should Pick and Will Pick format from previous mock drafts (Notice how all the professionals are doing this now? Maybe I should have pushed harder to market myself instead of making this a hobby). Time has gotten the best of me so projected trades mock draft will have to be a dream for next year. Enjoy!

1.       Cincinnati Bengals – It is interesting as to what is going on with the Bengals as I write this. They still have Andy Dalton and no apparent trade partner. This means that maybe that are going to hang onto him for a bit. That opens up the possibilities. As I said before, I think that they may want to consider trading out of this position to get stronger draft capital. Imagine if they drop back, still grab a good QB, and some supporting cast. In this scenario there are no trades so that will be explored in the future.

Should Pick: Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama– The more that I look at it and the more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards Tua over Burrow. Burrow has said some questionable things in his interviews that make me think that perhaps he might be a little bit of a headache. Additionally, his one year of success adds to his bust potential. Compounding all of this is that Tua’s health looks to be much better. I am not saying that Burrow is a bust or not worthy of this pick but I am saying that Tua even with the injury might be the better pick.   

Will Pick: Joe Burrow QB LSU – This seems to be inevitably what will happen. Either way, I think the Bengals make a good pick, I am just not sure that Burrow is a good fit to go to Cincinnati.

2.       Washington Redskins – I am not buying into the Redskins pulling a Cardinals and going after a QB. One thing working against them is the Trent Williams debacle which brings offensive line to the forefront. Second overall is too high for the quality that is available at OT so a trade down would be prudent. The Redskins do not need Chase Young on their team and they have other needs that are much greater at this point.

Should Pick: Isaiah Simmons LB Clemson– Simmons offers a dynamic player who a creative coach could use in multiple ways. With what the Redskins have in their defensive front seven with Simmons, they could be extremely formidable and can play conservative offense if the OL does position does not get settled.

Will Pick: Same – Chase Young DE Ohio State – As I said before I am not quite as hot on Chase Young as I was on some former Ohio State Defensive Ends. He needs to show just a bit more technique over just dominating his opponents physically. The other thing is that they have plenty of pass-rushers on the roster so it might be better to focus a little bit more on need here. However, you take your shots when it is a high ceiling player and you hope you do not have to pick second overall in the near future.

3.       Detroit Lions – As things fall in both scenarios, the Lions have a lot of choices. No matter what, they will get a potential franchise player here. Or they could look for a trade partner that is going to go bananas here. I am going to think that the latter happens on draft day.  

Should Pick: Chase Young DE Ohio State – No question at this point, Young offers an opportunity to have a great pass rush from both sides of the line. As they say, a great pass rush makes your corners a whole lot better so this should help them ease the loss of Slay as well.

Will Pick: Isaiah Simmons LB Clemson – Simmons is simply too good of a player to pass up and Patricia will find creative ways to use him to his strengths. I know they are high on Tavai but Simmons is a difference maker.

4.       New York Giants – The Giants purgative should be pretty clear here to go after an OL. As I have said in basically every mock draft I have done, Gettlemen is a bit unpredictable in his drafts though. But I think this one will be a bit more straightforward.

Should Pick: Tristan Wirfs OT Iowa – No change here. I am a big believer in protecting your young investment. There are countless QBs that fell apart despite being super talented. There are other tackles that are getting more press but I am a bigger fan of Wirfs than any of the other OTs in this draft. His feet are good and he is good at really understanding how to block for a specific play with redirecting defenders. Additionally, you are not going to find too many more experienced tackles coming out of college. Do I think he is a top 5 talent, no, but sometimes you have to make the decision to go with the guy that is going to help your team the most in the long run. With all of this being said, a part of me also really wanted to go CeeDee Lamb here.

Will Pick: Mekhi Becton OT Louisville – I have a strong suspicion that this is the direction that Gettlemen goes. I am not sure if the media is creating the hype around him or if teams are legit falling in love with Becton but the more I see of him the more I question if he is going to be as great as some are thinking. There is no doubt that he is a crazy athlete for his size but that may just be the issue; his technique and feet look just a little sloppy sometimes on tape. He has been winning with domination over technique. So are we looking at Jonathan Ogden or Leonard Davis here?

5.       Miami Dolphins – In both scenarios the Dolphins have their shot at two of the three QBs that should go in the first round.

Should Pick: Joe Burrow QB LSU – The reality is that this is the perfect scenario for both Joe Burrow and the Dolphins. Ryan Fitzpatrick embodies that hard working persistent presence who might be able to guide Burrow and help him to learn humility a bit (You would think he has it by now but he started to run his mouth a little recently). In the end, the Dolphins have their long term answer at QB and Burrow is given a season or half season to develop a bit.

Will Pick: Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama – As I have said already, I like Tua better than any other QB in this draft. The medical could be of concern but he has such great QB skills that you feel like he has to find a way to make it no matter what. Again, having Fitzpatrick to help ease Tua in will be invaluable.   

6.       Los Angeles Chargers – The Chargers did enough in free agency to shore up their Offensive Line so that is no longer as big of a need, though they still should draft a few. Now they focus in on the most important position.

Should Pick: Justin Herbert QB Oregon – Herbert is a bit of an enigma as he has been a little hot and cold in games. However, when it came down to it, he showed up at the Senior Bowl which may be indicative of his true abilities and that his supporting cast at Oregon was not great. I think Herbert is the last of the QBs worthy of going in the first round and I think there is a big gap ahead of and behind Herbert. I have seen Herbert compared to Tannehill and I feel like that is a really accurate representation of his potential, though he is significantly more refined than Tannehill was coming out of college.

Will Pick: Same – The Chargers need a QB and something for the fans to latch onto.  

7.       Carolina Panthers– To me, the Panthers may have stolen free agency with signing Bridgewater. He is exactly what they needed at the QB position and is still relatively young. They can truly go with whomever is the best player available now.

Should Pick: Derrick Brown DL Auburn – They may need a CB more than a DT but Brown next to Shorts could really be a tough matchup for any defense. Watching Brown against LSU last year really was interesting because he was so disruptive that they were triple teaming him at times. He is never going to get a massive amount of sacks but he is going to be very disruptive and eventually push Shorts off the roster in a few seasons.

Will Pick: Jeff Okudah CB Ohio State – I am still not seeing a dominant Cornerback in Okudah but he certainly has talent. The Panthers are in need of a corner so they hone in on the one with the most potential in this draft.

8.       Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals are in a nice spot here to grab the best player available and can set themselves up for the future. Last year, they went with the guy that they thought they needed to be successful and I have a suspicion that they will do the same again this year regardless of who is available.

Should Pick: Jeff Okudah CB Ohio State – Okudah being available here is a perfect fit for the Cardinals. He will not have to be the man right away and can be honed by Peterson. A great situation for both sides. With that being said, this is strictly an upside pick, Okudah is probably my third favorite cornerback in this draft.

Will Pick: Derrick Brown DL Auburn – Brown is too dynamic to pass up at this point and he can be a real weapon in a 3-4 as he can play all three positions as well as being a great fit for nickel. Maybe it is not their greatest need on the surface but it is the right pick here.

9.       Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jaguars have perhaps put themselves into the position of a clear need at CB but the top rated guy is off the board. In the last mock, Okudah fell to them. That will not happen anymore. They have extra picks and a lot of needs so taking the best player available would be prudent.

Should Pick: CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma – This really was a struggle for me. But in the end, I am looking at the guy that can help them the most at this point in time. I was watching tape on somebody else going against Oklahoma and I just keep having moments of, “This guy is so good” when I watch Lamb. A perfect guy to have DJ Chark complement. They can pick up defenders later in the draft.

Will Pick: Javon Kinlaw DL South Carolina – I personally think that there is a huge gap between Kinlaw and Brown but it seems that others have him pretty highly rated. With that being said, he is not a bad pick here but I am not sure that he is ever going to be dominant.

10.   Cleveland Browns – The Browns added a key free agent in Jack Conklin but there is still some work to be done there. The most obvious need is Offensive Tackle and they essentially have the pick of the litter here. With that being said, there are certainly some tempting players here.

Should Pick: Andrew Thomas OT Georgia – A large part of me really wanted to put Henry Ruggs III here. The reason being is that I feel Odell Beckham is such an inconsistent player and is really a pain. So the thought there would be to replace him. But I doubt they will. With that being said, Offensive Tackle needs to be addressed and Thomas is the next in my line.

Will Pick: Same – Thomas has a slight edge over Willis so they go with him.

11.   New York Jets – It is going to be tough to pass up on some of the talent here but the Jets are going to be desperate for a cornerback. So a reach may be in their future.

Should Pick: CJ Henderson CB Florida – Few Cornerbacks have as good of sticking skills as Henderson. I am still a little torn because he is really hesitant to make contact with the ball carrier which is not my favorite thing in any football player. Still, I think there is a possibility that he ends up being the best cover corner in this draft.

Will Pick: Tristan Wirfs OT Iowa – With Wirfs available here, they have to forgo the need at CB and protect their investment.

12.   Las Vegas Raiders – The Raiders are in bad need of another WR to take over the number one spot.

Should Pick: No Change - Henry Ruggs III WR Alabama – I personally prefer Ruggs over teammate Jeudy as he makes tougher catches and can do more with the ball in his hands. I know Jeudy is supposed to be this ace route runner and all but I just keep going back to tape of Ruggs and I like him better.

Will Pick: CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma – In this scenario there should be no hesitation taking Lamb here. A major need and the best one is there for the taking.

13.   San Francisco 49ers (From Indianapolis Colts) – The 49ers lost Emmanuel Sanders after renting him for a half season. But that does not mean they need to rush out and get another wide receiver right away. They have this pick because they traded away Buckner as they foresaw not being able to afford all of their current defensive lineman. Additionally, their defensive backfield had some issues late last year. Finally, some offensive line help could also be in order. Essentially, they have a lot of smaller holes so it just comes down to the best player available in one of those spots.

Should Pick: Mekhi Becton OL Louisville – To me, this is really the right place for Becton because they can play him at Guard, which is where he will belong in the NFL.

Will Pick: Same pick at this spot, different team - Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama – Jeudy in my opinion has inflated stats. Last year I rated Terry McLaurin ahead of teammate Parris Campbell. With that comparison being made, both Ruggs and Jeudy are much better players. For the 49ers and their scheme, Juedy makes a lot of sense.

14.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Okay, so they got Tom Brady. I doubt he is going to be a miracle worker. With that said, he is going to be a game manager at worst and a top 10 QB at the very best. I am going to go with the former. He has weapons like crazy but needs one last Dutch Boy to seal the holes.

Should Pick: Jedrick Wills Jr. OT Alabama – Willis is the perfect pick for the Buccaneers here. While I am not sure that he is going to be dominant in the NFL per se, he deserves to go in this spot and to this team.

Will Pick: Same – It just makes perfect sense for this team at this spot.

15.   Denver Broncos – The Broncos just need to keep bringing in new blood to reinforce their team. There are some clear needs but they at least feel like they have their QB finally.

Should Pick: Same - Bryce Hall CB Virginia – What Chris Harris brought to the CB position for the Broncos was feistiness that is rare in a CB. I like Hall a lot as he is athletic and has that same feistiness as a football player. Some guys you watch and think they are good players at their position but Hall seems like a good football player in general. When I watch him play he reminds me of LeRoy Butler for some reason. Butler played S in the NFL but was a corner in college not because he could not play corner in the NFL but because he was a game changer that needed to be all over the field. Hall might be of similar ilk.

Will Pick: Same - Henry Ruggs III WR Alabama – Sorry for being a bit boring here with no change but both picks make sense. It would be tough to argue with this one as Ruggs would be an excellent complement to Sutton. They have greater needs but Ruggs might just be too talented to pass up at this point and it helps your young QB.

16.   Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons are still in desperate need of reinforcements on defense as they have made a few wrong guesses. It should be time for them to make a good decision but I really think they are going to make a mistake here.

Should Pick: Javon Kinlaw DL South Carolina– Based on the players available in this scenario the best player at a position of need, though not their greatest need, is Kinlaw. Like I said, I am not as sold on him but his potential is immense. There should also be strong consideration for Jerry Jeudy in this spot as well. CB needs to be addressed but nobody is quite worth this spot.

Will Pick: A.J. Epenesa DE Iowa – I am not seeing the player that other people are seeing on film. If you look at his highlight reel, he looks great. But watch him in a game and you see a guy that is good but not great. His best asset is taking advantage of opportunities which is a great trait to have but he will never be dominant. The Falcons are desperate for a pass rush.

17.   Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys have a few holes but generally speaking they are in a pretty solid place here.

Should Pick: Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama – While they have greater needs elsewhere, getting Jeudy at this spot makes too much sense for the Cowboys. I think he makes Amari Cooper expandable at his next contract and it allows Jeudy to develop a bit more for the time being.

Will Pick: Same – Same - Xavier McKinney S Alabama - The Cowboys need a safety and McKinney fits that bill. With that being said, I just do not see the same energy from him as a few other safeties in this draft.

18.   Miami Dolphins– The Dolphins got their QB with their first pick so now they can address other glaring needs to help that investment. The last time I asked, “Why the Dolphins got rid of Tunsil will puzzle me for years” has now been changed to, “Good job, he is asking for way too much money” so nice job there.

Should Pick: Same - Josh Jones OT Houston – Jones has a lot of potential but he still needs some work. If he can drop his hips a little and sustain a strong base he might turn out to be just as good as any OT in this draft. He also might need to play with a little more mean in him.

Will Pick: Grant Delpit S LSU – After going back and forth on different players I realized that Delpit is just a great fit for the Dolphins with Brian Flores at the helm. He will bring attitude to that defensive backfield even if there might be bigger needs.

19.   Las Vegas Raiders – The Raiders have addressed WR already and some solid players are available for them at this spot.

Should Pick: Tee Higgins WR Clemson – This may sound crazy but good lord imagine this group of WR. Higgins as your tough WR, Ruggs as your deep threat, and that magic elf (Credit goes to Mr. Chris Duarte for that designation) Hunter Renfro in the slot. Oh yeah, they have a solid tight end in Waller too. Who needs anything other than a slightly below defense with that passing attack?

Will Pick: CJ Henderson CB Florida – This is going to be a great pick for the Raiders here. Again, I struggle with Henderson’s lack of physicality but his coverage skills are just so impressive to me. It has been a long time that I have been excited about a CB that lacks physicality but Henderson is going to be good.

20.   Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jaguars did not get their CB with their first pick in either scenario so that need must be addressed.

Should Pick: Kristian Fulton CB LSU – Fulton is not the most exciting CB and his skills are what they are. That can be both good and bad but the bottom line with Fulton is that he is consistently good and savvy for his age.  

Will Pick: Same – I like Bryce Hall better but I am in the minority. Fulton should be the pick here if the cards fall this way.

21.   Philadelphia Eagles – Unfortunately, the Eagles biggest issue is that Carson Wentz just cannot seem to stay healthy and that puts them in an odd spot. There are other areas that they can shore up to help the team of course so they should consider best player available at this spot. They got their CB in Darius Slay via trade so they can move on to other needs.

Should Pick: Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma – The Eagles could really use a WR but at this point the best ones are gone. Moving on to other needs Murray could turn out to be a top tier MLB. He is a fun player to watch and is very well rounded, though his coverage skills are not quite as good as others. Still, he is playmaker and will help the Eagles quite a bit.

Will Pick: Tee Higgins WR Clemson – In this scenario, the Eagles would be foolish to pass up a WR like Higgins who could be the muscle and a giant target for Wentz.

22.   Minnesota Vikings (From Buffalo Bills in which they snookered them into a terrible trade) – I guess this trade is retribution for Herschel Walker. In any case, the Vikings have some needs but also might be best off to go for the best player available. The WR well is starting to dry up so it may not be worth a reach here.  

Should Pick: Curtis Weaver DE Boise State – I probably like Weaver more than others. Last year I said that I thought Maxx Crosby was a strange player to watch because he looks almost clumsy yet always gets the sack. I would not say Weaver looks like that exactly but he has that “How did he do it” trait and a high motor. I think he is going to be very good in the NFL.

Will Pick: Trevon Diggs CB Alabama – I guess I always feel suspect with Alabama defenders. I am not the biggest fan of Diggs as he just seems average to me. But it is an area of need for the Vikings and he is the next one up on the board.

23.   New England Patriots – One thing you can count on is that the Patriots will take whoever they darn well please regardless of what anybody else thinks. I do think that there is a good chance that they trade back here.

Should Pick: No Change - Jalen Reagor WR TCU – The Patriots system is built for guys like Reagor and he is not going to last until their next pick. They really should just resign Brady or sign another FA QB then take a developmental guy later.

Will Pick: K'Lavon Chaisson Edge Rusher LSU – Belichick is the sort that will get Chaisson to play up to his potential and stop reading his press clippings. While on the surface QB is their biggest need, I have a suspicion that they have a plan that others do not realize and it does not involve Jordan Love. With the way that QBs are falling down the board (I legit think this is how it is starting to look now) they can be patient with the guy that they really want. My speculation (Charlie Weis is yelling at me from afar I can feel it) is that Jake Fromm ends up a Patriot in the second round.

24.   New Orleans Saints – The last time around I said that the Saints were in a “Win Now Mode”, however, the cards fell just a little bit differently here and with picking up Sanders in Free Agency.

Should Pick: Jordan Love QB Utah State – Per what I said last time, Love plays like a wild puppy on the football field which comes with crazy good plays and some pretty ugly reactions to pressure. What this all means is that he needs to develop a little bit. While everybody loves Taysom Hill, he will be 30 this year and I think he is a fun exciting player but not a long term answer. However, he is good enough to allow for the Saints to have a holdover period if they need him as an emergency starter. Treat Love like Andy Treated Mahomes and we may have something. Treat him like David Carr and we know how that story ends. This should be a slam dunk pick for the Saints and the rest of the draft can be dedicated to the here and now.

Will Pick: Same – The Saints can see the long-term advantage of a move like this and it looks suspiciously like the scenario at 24 from 15 years ago…

25.   Minnesota Vikings – In the Should Scenario, the Vikings took a pass-rusher and in the Will Scenario they took their CB with the previous pick which will directly dictate what happens with this pick.

Should Pick: Neville Gallimore DL Oklahoma – While the Vikings need a CB badly Gallimore has too much going for him to pass him up at this point. I know, to rookies on the Defensive Line but sometimes you just got to go with it. Gallimore is a high motor player at a position of need even if it is not their greatest need.

Will Pick: Laviska Shenault Jr. WR Colorado – I really think that this is a big mistake as I am not too hot on Shenault. I keep hearing about how good he was in college but I just do not see a dominant player on tape. The Vikings (We will discount Jack Snow since he was traded right away) are batting 1/5 on WRs they draft in the first round and 4/5 of those WRs have been “Physical Freaks” in some way. They do not need to add a sixth to that.   

26.   Miami Dolphins – This is not going to be the most interesting projection here, sorry. Just a flip flop from their last pick essentially. The problem is that they really need a RB but anybody here might be too much of a reach.

Should Pick: Grant Delpit S LSU – I know I have said it before but I really like Delpit and his fit with the Dolphins seems perfect.

Will Pick: Josh Jones OT Houston – Their Should Pick now falls all the way down to their Will Pick. In the end, it makes perfect sense to conclude their rebuilding.

27.   Seattle Seahawks – I said it at the time but Seattle’s selection of LJ Collier was such a head scratcher last year. This year, they need to not reach and just grab the best player available that can help them.

Should Pick: Same - A.J. Epenesa DE Iowa – I do not see Epenesa’s skills translating to a lot of teams but his high motor play and attitude fit perfectly with what the Seahawks do. This will help to erase last year’s reach with Collier and allow them to let older guys walk to free up some cash. If Epenesa makes it in the NFL, it feels like it has to be with a team like the Seahawks.

Will Pick: Yetur Gross-Matos DE Penn State – This is the attempt to erase last years mistake with Collier or hope that he turns it on and now you have two pass-rushers. I think the JPP comparison is fair for whene Pierre-Paul was coming out of college and that he was no sure thing. YGM was good in college but his tools are better than is output at this point. Probably well worth the risk at 27.

28.   Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens are pretty well stocked at most positions so they can avoid reaching at this point.

Should Pick: Ashtyn Davis S California – There is a lot to consider here but Davis seems to be flying under the radar a little bit to me. Per what I said the last time will learn the ropes from Thomas and be a dynamic player in the future. McKinney is still available in this scenario but Davis is my man.

Will Pick: Kenneth Murray MLB Oklahoma – Murray is going to be too good to pass up at this point. I have a strange suspicion that people will look back at this pick and say, “The Ravens did it again!” I kind of wish that they had the 26^th pick and picked Murray there.

29.   Tennessee Titans – The Titans secured Tannehill which was the top priority. They lost Jack Conklin for a lot of money. Trading away Jurrell Casey was very strange to me so they need to consider replacing him. They also really need to get stronger at cornerback. I think they may have overachieved a bit last year but we shall see.

Should Pick: Cameron Dantzler CB Mississippi State – I kept going back and forth in my head on this one but I like Dantzler better than Trevon Diggs. Diggs needs to put some weight on him but if he can do that then I think he could be an excellent player. His coverage skills allows for you to be more creative with Adoree Jackson as well. I did consider Yetur Gross-Matos here as well but felt that Dantzler might be less of a gamble even if he is not projected this high.

Will Pick: Neville Gallimore DT Oklahoma – The Titans need to rebuild their defense a bit with some of the losses they had. If the scenario plays out this way, there should be little hesitation on their part to grab Gallimore to develop one of the best interior rushing duos in the league.

30.   Green Bay Packers – Brian Gutekunst has made it pretty clear that he is looking at one of two spots here, LB and WR. He also hinted at being okay with looking for Aaron Rodgers successor (I think that is a smoke screen). History would state that Gutekunst will not even stay at this spot but if he is to stay, he tends to go for the best player available.

Should Pick: Zack Baun LB Wisconsin – Christian Kirksey allows for the Packers to draft a guy like Baun who could contribute right away on a part time basis while he bulks up a little. The interesting thing with Baun is that a creative defensive coordinator can move him around a bit because his skill set in diverse. I like him better than Patrick Queen for the Packers defense.

Will Pick: Bryce Hall CB Virginia – Kevin King has been a tease at CB and his injury history prior to last year was extensive. With that thought in mind, Hall is the best player available here and could help them right away whether he overtakes King this year or next year.

31.   San Francisco 49ers – With their first pick they covered OL in the Should scenario and WR in their Will scenario.

Should Pick: Jordan Elliot DT Missouri – Throw on the tape of Elliot and you see a guy that is always around the ball and reading the offense. He also has a frame that can hold more weight so you can throw a few pounds on him. I have a feeling that he is one that teams are keeping in their back pocket to nab in the 2^nd round, but the Niners won’t let him get by here and they will grab a WR later.

Will Pick:  Same – Elliot is a solid pick that fills a need for them long-term

32.   Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs have the potential to lose a few guys on defense in free agency so this is a bit dependent on who they lose. With that being said, I also would be very surprised if there were not enough teams jockeying to get this slot so the Chiefs decide to trade out.

Should Pick: Jonathan Taylor RB Wisconsin – The Chiefs seem to like versatility and last time I had Swift here but I think Taylor is the better pick as a pure runner. They can load up on CBs later but not a talent like Taylor.

Will Pick: A.J. Terrell CB Clemson – The Chiefs need a Cornerback and Terrell was good in college with the exception of a few bad burns in the Championship game. He is not spectacular but he should be able to hold down his side of the field which is all you can really expect at this spot but hope that he turns into a top CB.

This will have to be the last edition of Should and Will Mock draft. Next up Packers and Bears picks. But I will also accept a request in there if I have time so feel free to tweet or message one.