Gridiron Seasonal

1 Arizona – Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma. Would you rather have Jay Cutler and Joey Bosa or Russell Wilson?

2 San Francisco – Nick Bosa, DE Ohio State. I like Quinnen better here, but Bosa will feel safer for John Lynch.

3 New York Jets – Josh Allen, OLB Kentucky. Allen fits the mold of Anthony Barr who the Jets almost signed from Minnesota.

4 Oakland – Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama. Best player available. The Raiders want Devin White. They could say to themselves they got “that guy” in Vontaze Burfict and get more value out of a pass-rusher with Williams if that need has been filled with Burfict.

5 Tampa Bay – Devin White, ILB LSU. White’s perceived value has skyrocketed.  While Tampa Bay needs secondary help, the Kwon Alexander departure may have signified a move to add an inside linebacker as his replacement. White’s generally considered to have ‘top ten value’ where the corners and safeties like Greedy Williams, DeAndre Baker or Nasir Adderley are more rank 15-25 draft value prospects.

6 New York Giants – Ed Oliver, DT Houston. Oliver may not be the next Aaron Donald, he still routinely beats his blocker and will more than replace Olivier Vernon. Dwayne Haskins should be the pick here, but the Giants look like they want to hold out until the 2020 class.

7 Jacksonville – Rashan Gary, DL Michigan. Tom Coughlin won two championships in New York with a front four that could pressure the QB without sending additional blitzers. Jawaan Taylor is the heavy favorite here for the Jaguars in most other mock drafts. Taylor is a run-blocking Right Tackle who’s ceiling, at its very highest doesn’t justify a top-ten selection in any universe. T.J. Hockenson is also very popular here. I struggle to see Jacksonville drafting a Tight End this early. Nick Foles isn’t the identity of the Jaguars, the Defense is. Gary’s a boom-or-bust prospect who will be attractive for Coughlin to move around the D-Line. I would want Jonah Williams here, but I think Tom Coughlin will want Gary at number Seven.

8 Detroit – T.J. Hockenson, TE Iowa. Hockenson can competently block and has demonstrated value as an athletic and reliable pass-catcher. Hockenson can have a Gronk-like impact on the field for Detroit as a dual threat tight end.

9 Buffalo – Christian Wilkins, DL Clemson. Wilkins can take over for Star Lotulelei after the 2020 season, Lotulelei is the highest paid player on the Bills roster with an out after the 2020 season. Lotulelei plays well enough to be a starter but not enough to justify his contract. The Bills starting depth chart has been heavily redone through free agency with four new projected starters on the offensive line, new offensive weapons in John Brown, Tyler Kroft and Frank Gore. Bringing in Wilkins will free up cap space in the future for Buffalo and start alongside Lotulelei in the mean time.

10 Denver – Drew Lock, Missouri QB. John Elway seems to like Lock more than any other QB prospect and he’s still running the show. The Broncos are actually a pretty complete roster with holes at maybe tight end and safety.

11 Bengals – Devin Bush, Michigan ILB. The Bengals are stable on offense but have an aging defense. Dwayne Haskins is being mocked here, but Andy Dalton is still performing better than the majority of first round QBs drafted year after year. Bush can contribute immediately.

12 Green Bay – Montez Sweat,  Miss. State OLB. Sweat has a sky-high ceiling with improving college production throughout his time in school. If Sweat actually falls this far the Packers they can get a value pick.

13 Miami – Jonah Williams, Alabama OL. Williams is a top ten athlete in this draft class. If Miami really wants to embrace the tank, building on the offensive will set up their future QB for success.

14 Atlanta – Clelin Ferrell, Clemson DL. Beasley struggled last season and Atlanta’s defense overall struggled with injuries in the secondary. Ferrell has a tops resume after consistently pressuring the QB. Ferrell has the size to be able to move inside if McKinley moves outside.

15 Washington – Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State QB. If Haskins is available here Washington has to strongly consider drafting Alex Smith’s replacement. Bruce Allen has been drafting defensive talent early as of late, Haskins had a phenomenal season with Ohio State and may be the closest the Redskins get to a heir apparent passer for some time depending on how the 2019 season plays out.

16 Carolina – Jawaan Taylor, UF OT. Taylor fits the Panthers identity as a successful run blocker. He is an adequate pass-blocker as well.

17 New York Giants – Daniel Jones, Duke QB. I don’t like Daniel Jones being drafted in the first round, but supposedly the Giants are high on Jones. Talent evaluators have discussed his height and college coach as reasons why Jones can compete at the next level.

18 Minnesota – Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame DT. The Vikings keep whiffing on early round offensive linemen. Dexter Lawrence has the build of a talent on a 3-man down scheme. Tillery graded well in Pro Football Focus. I think he’ll fit right in on a elite Vikings Defense.

19 Tennessee – Noah Fant, Iowa TE. Delanie Walker is 8,000 years old. Fant can mismatch against linebackers that Mariota can use.

20 Pittsburgh – Greedy Williams, LSU CB. The Steelers secondary needs help. Greedy is a tops coverage man.

21 Seattle – Byron Murphy, Washington CB. Seattle could use an offensive lineman like Cody Ford. Pete Carroll likes defensive backs.

22 Baltimore – A.J. Brown, Ole Miss WR. The Ravens don’t pass a ton, but Brown does an excellent job at getting open and making yards after the catch. The Ravens have NO receivers.

23 Houston – Cody Ford, Oklahoma OL. The Texans still have a bad offensive line. Deshaun Watson needs an offensive line.

24 Oakland – Deandre Baker, Georgia CB. Baker is the most reliable corner prospect in this class. Gruden loves building out the defense.

25 Philadelphia – Andre Dillard, Washington State OT. Jason Peters is 37 years old and not competing at the same level as he once was. Dillard is an elite pass blocking prospect.

26 Indianapolis – Marquise Brown, OU WR. Brown is arguably the best wide receiver in the class. Andrew Luck deserves a real wide receiver.

27 Oakland – Brian Burns, Edge FSU. Gruden is an analytics guy and I don’t buy that he’ll draft a first round running back. Burns helps the Raiders anemic pass defense.

28 Chargers – Dalton Risner, Kansas State OL. The Chargers need help at inside linebacker and offensive line. Risner can play at right tackle in 2019.

29 Seattle (LOL) – Jeffery Simmons, Miss. State DL. Simmons won’t play in 2019, but he has the potential to be a top five player when he gets healthy. Seattle didn’t necessarily plan on having this pick, so they could take this opportunity to draft for talent over need.

30 Green Bay – Parris Campbell, Ohio State WR. Campbell moved well at the combine and caught 90 passes at Ohio State. Campbell fits the mold for speedy, productive wide receivers the Packers have liked to draft.

31 Rams – Dexter Lawrence, DT Clemson. The Rams could draft a tackle to eventually replace Andrew Whitworth. Lawrence can help fill the void left by Ndamukong Suh.

32 New England – Will Grier, WVU QB. Ageless Tom Brady can’t play forever. Grier had a poor Senior Bowl performance but was consistently competitive throughout his college career. Bill Connelly gave Grier good marks in his “success rate” metric for ranking a QB in terms for advancing on 3rd downs and making plays when they count.