No matter how the mock drafts and big boards and player breakdowns are making you feel, the draft is still actually quite a ways off and most teams’ needs will likely change significantly with free agency – but as we move towards the Combine this week in Indianapolis, draft season is very much open. With that comes the usual swathe of the aforementioned hot takes, big boards and mock drafts – in fact, the latter looked fun enough that we thought we’d have our own go at mocking the first round two months before anyone shakes Roger Goodell’s hand in Nashville.
So here it is – a way-too-early, pre-Combine 2019 first round mock draft – for you and your friends to mock.
Quinnen Williams. Photo Credit: Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports
1. Arizona Cardinals; Quinnen Williams, 3-4 DE Alabama
The Cardinals have enough needs that no position is off the board with the positional exception of cornerback – unless there is a clear top quarterback that generally means best player available, and in this draft class that probably means either Quinnen Williams or Nick Bosa – let’s give Arizona Williams. The Cardinals do have other needs, in particular on the offensive line, but Williams should start from Week 1 and offer them an interior pass rusher to compliment Chandler Jones.
2. San Francisco 49ers; Josh Allen, 3-4 OLB Kentucky
The 49ers moved to a 4-3 defense a few years ago and it really hasn’t worked well, with their other early defensive line pick, Solomon Thomas, probably being better suited to playing 3-4 DE than on the edge. With that in mind, it would make a lot of sense for them to look to go back to a 3-4 defense, but in order to do that, they’d need to add edge rushers who can play in space, exactly what Josh Allen offers a team.
3. New York Jets; Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida
The Jets are another team that has a lot of potential needs, and this probably a pick they’ll look to trade out of – not something I’m including in this mock, because then you’re throwing darts at other darts – but if they are forced to stay at 3, they could certainly use some offensive line help – Taylor has a high ceiling and is top of a lot of offensive line boards. News broke Monday morning that Taylor would not be participating in many drills at the Combine – a perfect example of how draft boards can change in an instant this far ahead of the draft.
Nick Bosa. Photo Credit: Jay LaPrete/Associated Press
4. Oakland Raiders, Nick Bosa, 4-3 DE Ohio State
Oakland really, really needs pass rushers and while I’m not as high on Bosa as some, he is almost certainly the best edge rusher on the board at this stage. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Raiders try and trade up – unless a quarterback goes off the board early – in an attempt to get one of the ‘big three’ pass rushers, but they’d likely be very (VERY) happy if Bosa fell to them at 4.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers; DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia
Their offensive line was a mess last season, but with Taylor off the board there really isn’t a clear next best offensive linemen in many people’s eyes. Another massive issue for the Bucs over the past few seasons has been at the cornerback position, with many of their current corners being viewed more as safeties around the NFL; the Bucs are another team who could look to move down, but Baker is the top corner on many boards and certainly fills a need.
6. New York Giants; Devin White, LB LSU
It wouldn’t be a shock to see a QB here – but there are rumors that they plan to stick with Eli for yet another season, and in a class without a clear #1 QB that wouldn’t be a complete shock. I’m sure Gettleman would love to go with a lineman here, but there just isn’t a clear fit. LB is a need for the Giants – as are a lot of things – and Devin White certainly gives Gettleman the kind of speed he has historically looked for at the position.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars; Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State
As opposed to the Giants, who can stick with Eli and tank again in 2019, the Jags have to get a quarterback, and while I’m not totally sold on Haskins as the #1 in this class, I can’t see Coughlin going for Kyler Murray and many have Jones as more of a late 1st round pick. Having talked about teams which might look to trade down, the Jags may well be one of the teams looking to move up in order to make sure they get their man, especially with New York potentially eyeing a QB as well.
DK Metcalf. Photo Credit: Getty Images
8. Detroit Lions; DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss
Having lost Eric Ebron and Golden Tate, the Lions need to add some more weapons as their offense looked pretty poor last season – Kerryon Johnson aside. Metcalf is one of the favorites to test off the charts at the Combine and certainly has a lot of upside. Unless they are sold on moving on from Stafford and rebuilding, they need to give him somebody to throw to.
9. Buffalo Bills; AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss
The Bills offense was horrifically bad for most of last season – they only had two receivers to catch more than 300 yards worth of passes; that’s…..not good. While this is something they might target in free agency – Hi Devin! It’s also a pretty weak free agent receiver class, and while I think this is quite high for Brown, the Bills have to give Allen somebody to throw to. Offensive line is another option.
10. Denver Broncos; Rashan Gary, 3-4 DE Michigan
I have no idea what the Broncos are doing. They have two highly paid mediocre quarterbacks, are rumored to be looking to release their best offensive player and have somehow managed to let their defense go to seed. Depending on how the rest of the offseason works out, there are a lot of places they could go with this pick, but Gary is getting a lot of draft love around the league and is likely to destroy the Combine.
Mack Wilson. Photo Credit: Marvin Gentry/USA Today Sports
11. Cincinnati Bengals; Mack Wilson, LB Alabama
This is quite high for Wilson – but the Bengals really need linebacker help and Wilson’s movement skills are well-suited to the modern NFL. Given the change going on in Cincinnati, this could also be a quarterback if they feel Dalton isn’t their guy moving forward.
12. Green Bay; Ed Oliver, 3-4 DE Houston
Green Bay has Aaron Rodgers, a decent offensive line and a handful of weapons, this pick is probably going on the defense. Having doubled down on corner last year, this could well be the year they look to target the front seven, and while pass rusher is another option, Oliver is probably too good to pass on at this point.
13. Miami Dolphins; Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma
Tannehill’s time in Miami is likely coming to an end, and while the Dolphins are another team that could look to move up to get their guy – they would likely be picking between Murray, Lock and Jones if the board fell this way and Murray is the highest regarded around the league based on what has been said thus far – but let’s see how tall he is this week.
14. Atlanta Falcons; Christian Wilkins, 4-3 DT Clemson
The Falcons’ defense was decimated by injuries last season, and should they resign Grady Jarrett, they will have a chance to use this pick to pair him with a run-stuffer as they did with Poe in 2017. Wilkins isn’t an elite pass rusher but he flashes potential in this regard and is an elite run defender.
Daniel Jones. Photo Credit: Mark Brown/Getty Images
15. Washington; Daniel Jones, QB Duke
Washington is one of the teams reported to very much be in the market for a QB, and while Drew Lock is another option here, Jones is better regarded around the league and, should they fail to have moved up, Washington will likely be happy getting him this far through the draft.
Up Next: Picks 16-32
