Pro Day’s are in the process right now for some, while others are waiting for their pro days on the horizon. The teams and picks are beginning to become set in stone and some moves were made where other teams claim picks in the first round.
All of the previous trades are still in play as well as some new ones. An insane amount of trades are usually made every year on draft night, so it’s not that abnormal.
NFL Free Agency has just about come and gone and now we take a nose-dive into the 3rd edition of the NFL First Round Mock Draft beginning and #1 with…..
#1. Arizona Cardinals- QB Kyler Murray
Previous Pick: QB Kyler Murray Oklahoma
It’s been obvious that the Cardinals are in love with Murray as they’ve made a ton of positive remarks for the talented athlete out of Oklahoma. With the chances of trading Rosen increase, so does Murray’s chances of going #1.
#2 Oakland Raiders (Trade Via SF.)- DE Nick Bosa Ohio State
Previous Pick: DE Nick Bosa Ohio State
Oakland stays true to their move up and they make a big trade that was first made in the NFL Mock Draft 2.0. They pick the best defensive player in the draft and have something to build off of on that Defensive Line.
#3 New York Jets (AFC)- OT Jonah Williams Alabama
Previous Pick: OT Jonah Williams Alabama
What’s been talked the least is the move of LeVeon Bell coming to New York. With OBJ and Antonio Brown taking headlines, it was Bell that decided to pair up with young QB Sam Darnold.
Le’Veon will also be getting some help in the form of OT Jonah Williams to anchor more than likely the left side of the offensive line.
#4 San Francisco (Trade Via Oak.)- OLB/DE Josh Allen Kentucky
Previous Pick: DT Quinnen Williams
San Francisco has drafted a ton of defensive lineman in the first round, but Josh Allen is different. He is a pass rusher, but also loves disguising blitzes to get to the QB. He also holds his own in coverage. Allen is the whole package and should contribute big time for the SF defense.
#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers- DE Montez Sweat Mississippi State
Previous Pick: OLB/DE Josh Allen Kentucky
Sweat has continued to climb up boards with his impressive Combine and his physique. Sweat wont last long in the draft and the Bucs need defense in the worst of ways. This will help the rebuild of the defense and bring in a young potential star.
#6 New York Giants (NFC)- QB Dwayne Haskins Ohio State
Previous Pick: QB Dwayne Haskins Ohio State
There have been rumblings of the Giants privately working out Daniel Jones. Which brings up thoughts of NY going defense with their first pick of the first round. After trading OBJ and getting a first rounder, it has come up as Daniel Jones potentially being their guy.
I don’t quite believe it yet and think Haskins is still the guy and who they will get at 6.
#7 Jacksonville Jaguars- DT Quinnen Williams Alabama
Previous Pick: DE Montez Sweat Mississippi State
Jacksonville may have other needs and with Nick Foles being their QB, getting weapons around him may be needed. But not many WR’s taken in the Top 10 end up being elite talent in the NFL. Williams has been sliding down a little bit, but is finally taken at #7.
#8 Detroit Lions- DT/DE Ed Oliver Houston
Previous Pick: CB Deandre Baker Georgia
Oliver has started to slowly move down boards, but it’s nothing against his play. His attitude and the way he handled the end of his Houston career has brought up a couple of questions. He is still very good though and will be an important piece to the Lions if he last that long.
#9 Buffalo Bills- OT Greg Little Ole Miss
Previous Pick: DT Ed Oliver Houston
Oliver gets taken right before Buffalo is able to get him. Buffalo goes for their back up plan as they try to help Josh Allen get some protection and Greg Little is a good one.
#10 Miami Dolphins (Trade Via Den.)- QB Drew Lock Missouri
Previous Pick: DT Rashan Gary Michigan
Teams overvalue and trade their future for a QB that may not work out in the end. The Dolphins are in full tank mode and might not take a QB and wait for a guy like Tua or maybe even Trevor Lawrence. New coach, new QB would be ideal for right now.
#11 Cincinnati Bengals- ILB Devin White LSU
Previous Pick: ILB Devin White LSU
Cincinnati might be the biggest losers of the first round after not being able to trade up to get Haskins or Lock. Cincinnati is in a rare position where they are a predicted by many to finish last in their division, but did get rid of Marvin Lewis.
White is a electric talent and from a all around game standpoint, might be better than Allen. But Josh is more versatile than Devin. With Burficit gone, White gets a chance to command the LB’s in Cincy.
#12 Tennessee Titans (Trade Via GB.)- CB DeAndre Baker Georgia
Previous Pick: CB Greedy Williams LSU
I’ve also thought that Baker has a higher NFL ceiling than Williams and I think he gets picked before Greedy. DeAndre gets passed up by a couple of other position needs for teams. Tennessee has a speedy and talented Adoree Jackson and now adds DeAndre.
#13 Denver Broncos (Trade via Mia.)- WR N’Keal Harry Arizona State
Previous Pick: QB Drew Lock Missouri
With the Broncos trading for Joe Flacco, there isn’t an urgency for a QB in this class. John Fox has whiffed with drafting QB’s, so it might’ve been the best move to get a short term veteran. Courtland Sutton is a good player and had a solid rookie year. Harry brings more of an explosive asset to the offense.
#14 Atlanta Falcons- DT Rashaun Gary Michigan
Previous Pick: DT Christian Wilkins Clemson
As the dust settles, Gary is still available and I like Gary’s upside a bit more than Christian Wilkins. Atlanta’s biggest glaring weakness is run defense and they address it at #14.
#15 Washington Redskins- DE Brian Burns Florida State
Previous Pick: WR N’Keal Harry
Washington does need a QB, but they play the waiting game and realizes there isn’t a Starting caliber QB left in the draft. They go for a best player available and decide to go with a guy that has been climbing up boards since the end of the season.
#16 Carolina Panthers- G/T Cody Ford Oklahoma
Previous Pick: OT Greg Little Ole Miss
Keep Cam up right. That is the goal for Carolina and they are able to do that with the 2nd best lineman in the draft.
#17 New York Giants (NFC) (Trade Via Cle.)- S Deionte Thompson Alabama
Previous Pick: DE Brian Burns Florida State
New York has whiffed on their most recent safety drafted in the first round and are looking to change their fortunes this time around. They address QB at #6 and with the #17th pic, they go get a potential defensive captain in Thomspon.
#18 Minnesota Vikings- OT Jawaan Taylor Ole Miss
Previous Pick: G/T Cody Ford Oklahoma
This isn’t a deep lineman class, but lineman are needed by a lot of teams. The Vikings go out and get their back up plan after Ford and Little were already taken.
#19 Green Bay Packers (Trade Via Ten.)- WR/TE Hakeem Butler Iowa State
Previous Pick: TE Noah Fant Iowa
It will be somewhat of a mystery as to where Butler ends up at position wise. But team wise, GB is a match made in heaven for Butler with having a top 5 QB in all of football. GB needs offensive playmakers and Butler has the height and speed to spread the field at 6’6.
#20 Pittsburgh Steelers- LB David Long Michigan
Previous Pick: S Deionte Thompson
The Steelers lost LJ Fort in Free Agency and there is a slight need at the linebacker spot. The losses of AB and Bell aren’t terribly significant when they have guys like JuJu and James Conner. Depth will be needed later in the draft, but for now, the Steelers get David Long.
#21 Seattle Seahawks- CB Julian Love Notre Dame
Previous Pick: OT Jawaan Taylor
The OT’s are off the board, so Seattle goes a different route and gets a rare first round DB. Love forced 21 incompletions (good for 6th in CFB) and 14 coverage stops last season (ranked number 10).
#22 Baltimore Ravens- WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown Oklahoma
Previous Pick: WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown Oklahoma
Hollywood is going to be cold up in Baltimore, but the Ravens would welcome Marquise with open arms. With how well they played down the stretch, there’s a good chance Baltimore could be on the downfall this season, but Marquise will give Lamar Jackson a weapon.
#23 Houston Texans- DT Dexter Lawrence Clemson
Previous Pick: WR/TE Hakeem Butler
With receiver being just about taken up for the first round, Houston goes for a guy that fell out of the top 15 and would be a gem at #23. Lawrence hopes to bring a presence that has not been felt with a healthy JJ Watt and Clowney.
#24 San Francisco 49ers (Trade Via Oak.)- S Taylor Rapp Washington
Previous Pick: CB Byron Murphy Washington
San Fran continues their great first round with the best Safety in the Pac 12 with Taylor Rapp. With an already loaded defense, SF gets one more in the draft and looking to break through in 2019.
#25 San Francisco (Trade Via Phi.)- AJ Brown WR Ole Miss
Previous Pick: WR DK Metcalf Ole Miss
AJ is the more productive player than DK and has a higher ceiling in the NFL. SF has the best first round in a very long time as they have 3 first round picks and get AJ with their 3rd and final one.
#26 Indianapolis Colts- WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside Stanford
Previous Pick: S Taylor Rapp Washington
JJ is by many, is considered to have the best combination of size and hands. That compliments really well with a small and very fast T.Y. Hilton. That also gives Andrew Luck another weapon and with this move, Indy could take another step forward as they look to be a legit Super Bowl contender.
#27 Oakland Raiders (Trade Via Dal.)- CB Byron Murphy Washington
Previous Pick: WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside Stanford
Oakland has a ton of problems that were fixed with AB signing on offense. They get the best defensive player in the draft at #2 and continue their draft with another coveted Corner than will lock down any slot receiver.
The next 5 picks are ones that I’m confident enough that they will stay as is. For more information on each pick, check out the 2.0 Mock Draft.
#28 Los Angeles Rams (AFC)- DE Clelin Ferrell Clemson
Previous Pick: DE Clelin Ferrell Clemson
#29 Kansas City Chiefs- CB Trayvon Mullen Clemson
Previous Pick: CB Trayvon Mullen Clemson
#30 Green Bay (Trade via NO.)- DE Jaylon Ferguson La Tech.
Previous Pick: DE Jaylon Ferguson Louisiana Tech
#31 Los Angeles Rams (NFC)- LB/DE Sutton Smith NIU
Previous Pick: LB/DE Sutton Smith NIU
#32 New England Patriots- DT Jerry Tillery Notre Dame
Previous Pick: DT Jerry Tillery Notre Dame
Image Credit: https://www.ganggreennation.com/2018/10/20/18002284/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-montez-sweat
