This year’s NFL draft class is star-studded, with teams expected to land lots of young talent, especially in the first-round.
In this mock draft, fans will see the Cardinals select the best overall player in the 2019 draft, the Giants pairing Saquon Barkley with a brand new quarterback, the Steelers finding Antonio Brown’s replacement, and the Patriots gifting Tom Brady with his next great tight end.
1. Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, Defensive End, Ohio State
Bosa is the surefire number one overall pick and a defensive presence that will play a huge role in bringing the Cardinals back to the playoffs.
2. San Francisco 49ers: Quinnen Williams, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
The 49ers have selected a defensive lineman early in the draft each of the past few years, but have continued to struggle. That ends when they draft an absolute force in Quinnen Williams.
3. New York Jets: Josh Allen, Defensive End, Kentucky
Allen is the pass rusher the Jets need to change a game defensively.
4. Oakland Raiders: Rashan Gary, Defensive End, Michigan
The Raiders will select Gary with the hopes of finding a talented replacement for Khalil Mack.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jonah Williams, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Tampa Bay should increase the talent on their offensive line with the goal of protecting Jameis Winston and establishing a successful run game with good run blocking.
6. New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, Quarterback, Ohio State
Imagine Haskins and Saquon Barkley paired on the Giants offense. No obvious contender to win the NFC East has emerged yet, but this duo would be a real threat offensively.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ed Oliver, Defensive Tackle, Houston
Putting Oliver alongside Calais Campbell, Malik Jackson, and Yannick Ngakoue would secure the Jaguars as a top-five defense talent-wise.
8. Detroit Lions: Clelin Ferrell, Defensive End, Clemson
Ferrell could be a smart pick and a great fit for Matt Patricia’s developing defense.
9. Buffalo Bills: Jawaan Taylor, Offensive Tackle, Florida
It is time for the Bills to invest a top pick into a player who can protect quarterback Josh Allen effectively.
10. Denver Broncos: Drew Lock, Quarterback, Missouri
The Broncos have not been successful since the Peyton Manning-era, and therefore it is right to use their first-round pick on a new, young quarterback like Lock.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: Cody Ford, Offensive Lineman, Oklahoma
Ford would be the third offensive lineman taken thus far, and he is the right fit for the Bengals offense.
12. Green Bay Packers: Jeffrey Simmons, Defensive Tackle, Mississippi State
The Packers will definitely pick a front-seven player (defensive end, defensive tackle, or linebacker) with their selection. Simmons seems like the most reasonable option at their spot, but they could also look towards his Mississippi State teammate, EDGE Montez Sweat.
13. Miami Dolphins: Kyler Murray, Quarterback, Oklahoma
It’s finally time to move on from Ryan Tannehill. Murray, despite being considered “undersized,” has the potential to succeed in the NFL. Take Russell Wilson for example, who has a similar size to Murray. Although Wilson fell to the third-round of his draft year, he put the doubters to rest not long into his career.
14. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Wilkins, Defensive Tackle, Clemson
The Falcons could have Wilkins starting on day one if starter Grady Jarrett decides to leave in free agency.
15. Washington Redskins: Daniel Jones, Quarterback, Duke
Colt McCoy is not a reasonable starting quarterback for the Redskins next year, and there are many doubts about whether Alex Smith will be ready to play. Washington then has two options: look towards the draft or look towards free agency. If they do, in fact, look towards the draft, then Daniel Jones will be their guy at pick No. 15.
16. Carolina Panthers: Devin White, Linebacker, LSU
Luke Kuechly and Devin White? Together? On the same team? This inside linebacker duo would be dominant in rushing the passer and stopping the run. White would be the Panthers’ young replacement for Thomas Davis.
17. Cleveland Browns: Greedy Williams, Cornerback, LSU
This would mean back-to-back LSU Tigers players selected here at picks 16 and 17. Another defensive duo emerges, too. Williams could be paired with Denzel Ward and be added to a developing secondary.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Andre Dillard, Offensive Tackle, Washington State
If the Vikings are going to overpay Kirk Cousins, they might as well protect him. If Dillard, a senior out of Washington State, is still available here at pick No. 18, Minnesota should invest their first-round selection in him.
19. Tennessee Titans: Brian Burns, Defensive End, Florida State
When thinking about Burns’ NFL potential, questions about his strength emerge. This will cost him the chance of being a top-ten pick, but slipping down to Tennessee at nineteen puts him on a team that has a shot at making the playoffs next year.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: D.K. Metcalf, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
Metcalf could be picked anywhere between mid-first-round and the second-round, and it seems likely that the Steelers will look for Antonio Brown’s replacement early in the draft. The Steelers are definitely a strong candidate to land Metcalf and his abilities.
21. Seattle Seahawks: Deandre Baker, Cornerback, Georgia
Seattle will be looking to enhance their secondary in both the draft and free agency. Earl Thomas is expected to leave in free agency, however, with a large group of free agent safeties this year, the Seahawks would be best to turn in that direction. The cornerback prospects in this draft are far more talented than the free agents, and Baker would be a great fit alongside starter Shaquill Griffin.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Josh Jacobs, Running Back, Alabama
With Joe Flacco traded to Denver, Lamar Jackson is now the definite starting quarterback for Baltimore. Yet, when he is involved in the run game, it runs the serious risk of injury. The Ravens should take Jacobs, the best running back of his draft class, if he is still available because Jackson needs to stay healthy and have less involvement in the run game.
23. Houston Texans: Dalton Risner, Offensive Tackle, Kansas State
Offensive tackle remains the most important need for the Texans, and Risner would be the best available option at their pick.
24. Oakland Raiders (from CHI): A.J. Brown, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
The Raiders will get Michigan EDGE rusher Rashan Gary with the fourth pick and then look for an offensive player for their second selection in the first round. Wide receiver is one of their major needs, and A.J. Brown will be the best still available.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Byron Murphy, Cornerback, Washington
There are a variety of different players the Eagles could pick here, but cornerback is the direst need. Murphy is the last of the three cornerbacks worthy of being picked in the first-round (other two are Deandre Baker and Greedy Williams). He has also received the preparation for becoming an NFL cornerback.
26. Indianapolis Colts: Jachai Polite, Defensive End, Florida
Last year, the Colts picked linebacker Darius Leonard in the third round. He went on to become last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. Polite is a fantastic EDGE rusher who can help improve the pass rush for the Colts defense.
27. Oakland Raiders (from DAL): Nasir Adderley, Safety, Delaware
Head coach Jon Gruden was impressed by Adderley during the Senior Bowl, and he seems like he could be a great addition to the Raiders defense.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Chris Lindstrom, Offensive Guard, Boston College
Guard is among the main offseason needs for the Chargers, and Lindstrom will surely be available here at the end of the first-round. He is the number one option at guard if Cody Ford is picked earlier in the first-round.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Devin Bush, Linebacker, Michigan
By the end of the first round, teams are looking to fulfill their needs with the best, first-round-worthy players still up for grabs. Bush fulfills that need for a talented linebacker in Kansas City.
30. Green Bay Packers (from NO): Kelvin Harmon, Wide Receiver, North Carolina State
The Packers land Mississippi State product Jeffrey Simmons with their earlier selection, and now can look to add a receiver to a group that includes Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, among others. Last year, they went with cornerback Jaire Alexander in the first-round. This year, they will bring in Simmons and Kelvin Harmon.
31. Los Angeles Rams: Johnathan Abram, Safety, Mississippi State
The Rams run the risk of Lamarcus Joyner departing in free agency and can add Abram to their stacked secondary in case Joyner does indeed leave.
32. New England Patriots: Noah Fant, Tight End, Iowa
Fant has been compared during the draft process to 49ers tight end George Kittle and Giants tight end Evan Engram, too. If Rob Gronkowski decides to retire, Fant should be a no-brainer when finding his replacement.
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