7th Overall, Carolina Panthers: CJ Henderson, CB (Florida)
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I’m sure the Panthers would love for Okudah to fall – and I think that in this scenario, there is a real chance they could look to move back and add picks – but their need at corner is so big, and CJ Henderson is so good, that this would make a lot of sense. Henderson is an excellent cover man, with great movement skills and athleticism, but he will need to improve significantly as a run defender before he can make the most of his natural talent.
For the Panthers, he will be expected to start right away, taking over #1 CB duties from James Bradberry.
8th Overall, Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs, OT (Iowa)
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The Cardinals had one main goal this offseason – making life easier for Kyler Murray. Having swindled the Texans out of DeAndre Hopkins, they now need to focus on the offensive line in front of him. Wirfs would also be excellent value at this point, and the Cardinals would likely be very pleased if things play out so they can take whichever of the top two tackles the Giants don’t. Wirfs does need to improve his pad level, but he is an extremely good athlete, and shows good footwork and hand usage to make him a valuable piece both in pass protection and as a run blocker.
9th Overall, Jacksonville Jaguars: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S (Clemson)
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It looks as though the Jaguars are looking ahead to next year’s draft and don’t expect to be hugely good in 2020 – after having moved a number of their major assets for draft picks, and if you are looking for non-quarterbacks who need some time to develop, but could be a key piece of a roster going forward, Simmons is going to be towards the top of the list. He is clearly an excellent athlete, and flashes in both deep zone and man coverage while able to hold his own as a run defender in either role, but he does need to develop further across the board, and would make most sense for a team that is looking more long-term than short-term.
10th Overall, Cleveland Browns: Mekhi Becton, OT (Louisville)
Cleveland is another team that could really do with some offensive line help, and while Becton isn’t somebody I would prioritize at the position, it is hard to ignore the fact that he is getting a lot of love in NFL circles and would make sense in what is expected to be a somewhat run-heavy offense. Becton’s power and hand usage both are impressive on tape, but his lower body is very much a work in progress – this could make him vulnerable to speed rushers in obvious passing situations, at least at first, but with Wirfs and Wills off the board, Becton is as likely as anybody to be the Browns’ preference at offensive tackle.
11th Overall, New York Jets: Andrew Thomas, OT (Georgia)
There isn’t a shortage of teams in need of offensive line help, and similar to the Browns and Cardinals, the Jets need to put their young quarterback in a better situation to have success, starting with keeping him upright from time to time. Thomas seems to be another player whose stock is only on the rise after falling down draft boards somewhat over the course of the season, and while he does need to make significant improvements to his knee bend, he is a good athlete for the position and flashes nice footwork. The Jets are still several pieces away, but they need to start adding talent on the offense, and Thomas would be a logical first step in that regard. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them try to hop over the Browns via trade.
12th Overall, Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb, WR (Oklahoma)
The Raiders are still in the process of retooling under Jon Gruden, and having traded Amari Cooper away to the Cowboys, the Raiders are still in need of a number one receiver – while I am not quite as sure of Lamb as a #1 option as many around the NFL, I am not the one making the decision. Lamb is undeniably excellent after the catch, has great hands and does a good job of separating at the catch point, but he will need to make continued strides as a route runner to reach his ceiling in the NFL.
