Carter Thomson Mock Draft 2.0

Author: Carter Thomson

Mock Draft 2.0 – 2019

*Note: These picks are made based on what I think the teams should pick from what I have been reading from many other NFL Insiders that have been talking to scouts and team personnel along with what it seems most likely teams will be doing with rumors flying around. These are my thoughts after compiling results from previous mock drafts from experts in the field and from watching the pre-draft process unfold this year which includes the combine and player pro days. This is the Final, Final mock draft you will read before the draft. I hope you enjoy.

1. Arizona Cardinals:Kyler Murray, QB – Oklahoma
   • I wasn't initially on board when I heard the Cardinals were thinking of drafting another QB with another 1^st round pick. But then I thought about it more and if Kliff Kingsbury is going to run a college style spread offense Murray is the guy for that and not last year's draft pick Josh Rosen. You have to have the right fit and Murray and Kingsbury would be a great fit. They may have to take a little loss on Rosen but could still get a 2^nd rounder for him I believe.
2. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, DE – Ohio St.
   • This is perfect for the 49ers as the best player in the draft falls to them at 2. Even after trading for Dee Ford this is still a need for the 49ers as former 1^st round picks haven't panned out yet. A pass rush with Bosa and Ford would be fantastic for the 49ers defense. This is too early to draft a receiver which is another big need for this team after they missed out on trading for Odell.
3. NY Jets:Josh Allen, OLB – Kentucky
   • The Jets could look to trade down from this spot after giving up multiple picks last year to trade up for Sam Darnold. But since I don't project trades the Jets could use an elite pass rusher to pair with Leonard Williams and CJ Mosely in the middle. Allen can be their guy to get after the QB with Williams and Mosely taking care of the middle.
4. Oakland Raiders:Quinnen Williams, DT – Alabama
   • Williams is the top player on a lot of boards and the Raiders would love to see him fall to them. They need to replace Khalil Mack and while Williams and Mack don't play the same position, Williams can still wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. He's got a quick first step and ridiculous strength so this is a great replacement option for Mack. Jon Gruden should be ecstatic to get this guy.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Devin White, ILB – LSU
   • Tampa Bay is giving Winston another year so next year they may be looking for a new QB next year. But for now, they need a new leader on their defense after losing Kwon Alexander to free agency. White has exceptional athleticism and can is worthy of a top 5 pick. He doesn't come off the field and can do it all whether it be a sure tackler or covering running backs out of the back field.
6. NY Giants:Ed Oliver, DT – Houston
   • New York needs a quarterback with Eli's age and performance in the past couple years. But the Giants have said they are riding with Eli this upcoming season and the Giants are rumored to really like Duke QB Daniel Jones who they think they might be able to get with their second first round pick. So why not take a game changer on defense in Oliver. They traded Damien Harrison last year to the Lions so there is a hole in the front of their defensive line that Oliver could definitely fill.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars:Jawann Taylor, OT – Florida
   • Jaguars got their quarterback in Nick Foles in free agency so now they have a couple of options on how to help him out with this pick. They could go WR, TE to give Foles a new weapon but the most important thing is keeping Foles upright and Taylor might be the best all around tackle. I think the Jaguars are still going to be a run first team so Taylor can help with both pass and run blocking.
8. Detroit Lions:TJ Hockenson, TE – Iowa
   • The Lions are rumored as a team that wants to move down in the draft but here with Hockenson climbing draft boards the Lions get another weapon for QB Matt Stafford. Last year the Lions wanted to trade for Gronk from the Patriots and Hockenson has a lot of similar traits that Gronk had. Not saying that he is an exact comparison to Gronk but they are both elite blocking tight ends along with fantastic receiving tight ends as well. Stafford could really use a game changing tight end.
9. Buffalo Bills:Jonah Williams, OT – Alabama
   • Still a tackle for the Bills as the try to protect Josh Allen. Jonah Williams is a little more versatile than Taylor as Williams can play both guard and tackle, I think, so the Bills can place him wherever they feel their biggest weakness is on the offensive line. Williams started as a freshman for Nick Saban so he'll start right away protecting Josh Allen.
10. Denver Broncos: D.K. Metcalf, WR – Ole Miss
    • The Broncos traded for Joe Flacco after he lost his starting job to Lamar Jackson and pairing Metcalf with Flacco is a perfect match in my opinion. Flacco's big arm throwing deep balls to Metcalf flying down the field would make the Broncos offense explosive which is something they would be lacking without Metcalf. Also it could open things up for Phillip Lindsay running the ball.
11. Cincinnati Bengals:Dwayne Haskins, QB – Ohio St.
    • New coach Zac Taylor wants his own quarterback and the Bengals realize that it's time to move on from Andy Dalton. Haskins would come in with some weapons of AJ Green, Joe Mixon, speedster Tyler Boyd. The Bengals have a lot of other holes as well but it's time for a change in the quarterback especially with a new coach as well who can grow with his own quarterback.
12. Green Bay Packers:Brian Burns, OLB – Florida St.
    • The Packers I think would really like Hockenson as a tight end fit but Burns is something this team doesn't have. They don't have that edge rusher as quick and athletic to bend around offensive linemen and get to the quarterback in 3 or 4 seconds. Yes they did sign the two Smith's in free agency but those guys weren't every down players so adding Burns would give the Packers a great rotation of pass rushers which is something this defense has been missing for a while and could really improve this defense. Packers may be looking at offensive players here too whether it be WR, linemen or another tight end but the pass rushers are so strong at the top of this draft that the Packers can't pass on all of them.
13. Miami Dolphins: Montez Sweat, DE – Mississippi St.
    • The Dolphins have holes all over this team and are looking at a rebuild after moving on from QB Ryan Tannehill. New coach Brian Flores doesn't seem to be too high on this quarterback class and could look to next year where the class is much stronger. They would also be taking a risk on Sweat here as he has been diagnosed with a potential heart problem which could see him fall far in this draft. If that gets cleared the Dolphins would be getting a top 5 prospect after his combine numbers where he ran the fastest 40-yard dash for a player over 270 pounds. He'll be chasing down some receivers with his speed and effort.
14. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Wilkins, DT – Clemson
    • If Taylor or Williams drops to the Falcons, they would take them but they could really use another defense plug on that D-line especially since the franchise tagged Grady Jarrett. This gives the Falcons leverage if they want to resign Jarrett and Wilkins is ridiculously athletic for his size. Part of a championship culture at Clemson as well so the Falcons are getting a really good player in the middle of the draft.
15. Washington: Drew Lock, QB – Missouri
    • QB Alex Smith is questionable to play football again after a gruesome leg injury and right now their QB is Case Keenum. We saw how that didn't work out for the Broncos so I think Drew Lock to Washington makes sense same as Mock Drat 1.0, I made. Lock has a big arm and good accuracy and might possibly start right away if he went to Washington.
16. Carolina Panthers: Clelin Ferrell, DE – Clemson
    • Julius Peppers retired this offseason so they need to replace that production of getting after the quarterback. Ferrell showed how productive he can be getting after the quarterback especially against top talent when he got the best of Jonah Williams in the NCAAF Championship so this is exactly what the Panthers need after losing their top pass rusher to retirement.
17. NY Giants (via trade with Cleveland Browns): Daniel Jones, QB – Duke
    • The Giants get their quarterback here in the pick that got for trading away Odell Beckham. The Giants have been connected to Jones for a while as he learned from the same coach as Eli Manning and Peyton Manning which is something the Giants really like about him. He has a lot of experience in college, more than Murray and Haskins so this could be the heir apparent to Eli Manning after sitting a season behind him.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford, OT/G – Oklahoma
    • Same position, different player for the Vikings as I said in Mock Drat 1.0, they need to protect Kirk Cousins and give him time to throw the ball to his weapons. Ford can play tackle or guard so wherever the Vikings need him most. His athleticism is something the Vikings definitely need and will be a day one starter for them.
19. Tennessee Titans: Chris Lindstrom, OG – Boston College
    • Tennessee is going to want to run the ball from what we saw last year and a full healthy season of Derrick Henry will be scary for that team. There tackle positions are set but Lindstrom could be an upgrade at guard and Lindstrom tested really well in the pre-draft with the combine and he is aggressive in his run blocking approach which is exactly what the Titans are looking for.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Bush, ILB – Michigan
    • Same pick as Mock Draft 1.0 but the thing is Bush may go earlier with teams becoming really high on after watching him at the NFL combine and really showing off his athleticism. But the Steelers need to find a leader, 3 down linebackers in the middle to replace Ryan Shazier and Bush can definitely be that guy. The question is will he be there at pick number 20?
21. Seattle Seahawks: Rashan Gary, DE – Michigan
    • Seattle recently just traded away top pass rusher Frank Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs so they replace him right away with Rashan Gary here at 21. Gary has fallen a little bit due to his lack of production at Michigan after all the hype that surrounded him coming out of college. But the potential that he has and how productive he can become is really intriguing to a lot of teams. He could go as high as 6 and as low as 28 maybe. The Seahawks snag him here to replace some of the pass rush they lost this offseason.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Marquise Brown, WR – Oklahoma
    • Baltimore could really use a pass rusher but the top guys have been taken ahead of them and it would be a reach if they tried to grab anyone else at this point. Why not give an explosive Lamar Jackson the most explosive receiver in this draft class in Brown? Brown can be a number 1 option for Jackson and take the top off the defense with his speed and agility. The Ravens need a few more weapons on that offense end and Brown paired with Jackson would be really fun to watch.
23. Houston Texans: Andre Dillard, OT – Washington St.
    • Same pick for Houston here as well as Deshaun Watson was the most hit QB last year by far and has a history of knee injuries. Protecting him has to be the Texans number one priority and Dillard is a natural left tackle. Other teams may pass on him because he is best at left tackle and his value could be significantly diminished if you tried to move him somewhere else on the line. He might be the best pass blocker in this draft and the Texans desperately need help protecting Watson this upcoming season.
24. Oakland Raiders (via trade with Chicago Bears): Josh Jacobs, RB – Alabama
    • Marshawn Lynch has retired this offseason. The Raiders, even after trading for Antonio Brown this offseason still could use more weapons on offense and Jacobs is the best running back in this draft class. Can be a dual threat running and catching out of the backfield and wasn't worked to hard in college so he won't get worn down quickly. Picking him at 24 instead of 27 now because the Eagles could be thinking about him at pick 25.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Deandre Baker, CB – Georgia
    • Same pick as last time for the Eagles as the secondary is still their biggest weakness on this defense. Their defensive line is still loaded after adding Malik Jackson and resigning Tim Jernigan, now they need their secondary to give them just a little more time to get to the quarterback. Baker is a great tackler too from the outside and his instincts to read and react to receivers are natural which make him an excellent fit for the Eagles.
26. Indianapolis Colts: Jeffery Simmons, DT – Mississippi St.
    • Yes, Simmons did tear his ACL during this pre-draft process but if that didn't happen, he was a potential top 5 pick. The Colts, after nailing last years draft, could take the risk with Simmons and hope that he could return near the end of the season or if they make the playoffs. The Colts could use a pass rush up the middle and if they are patient with Simmons this could be the steal of the draft.
27. Oakland Raiders (via trade with Dallas Cowboys): Greedy Williams, CB – LSU
    • The Raiders still need a lot of help on the defensive side and they need a corner opposite of Conley. They signed Joyner to fill a safety spot now Williams could fill the other corner spot. Williams may be a hesitant tackler but his one on one coverage skills are phenomenal and as a big 6'3” corner he can match up with some of the bigger receivers in this league.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Dexter Lawrence, DT – Clemson
    • Los Angeles needs a run stopper up the middle and there is none better left in the draft than Lawrence. Last year the Chargers couldn't pass on Derwin James, and that proved to be right as he is now when of the best safeties in football. But we saw the Patriots run all over them in the playoffs this past season and Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are rendered ineffective if the middle is wide open. Lawrence can plug the middle and stop the run as he won't lose one on one with his size.
29. Seattle Seahawks (via trade with KC Chiefs): Byron Murphy, CB – Washington
    • Time for the Seahawks to start remaking that Legion of Boom. Earl Thomas in Baltimore, Sherman in San Francisco, Kam Chancellor retired. Murphy can be their number one corner from day one with his coverage instincts and ability to react to the ball. Same spot for Murphy as Mock Draft 1.0 just a different team as he improves the Seattle secondary immediately.
30. Green Bay Packers (via trade with NO Saints): Noah Fant, TE – Iowa
    • Matt LaFleur loves to use 3 tight ends and Fant can be the slot tight end that Jimmy Graham used to be. His athleticism is off the charts and could be a great weapon for Aaron Rodgers. This also makes Graham expendable next year if he has another unproductive year with the Packers. While Fant is nowhere near the blocker Hockenson is but he is willing so he could improve. Fant up the slot could open the field up for Davante Adams as well. I think Rodgers would be thrilled with another weapon on the offensive side.
31. Los Angeles Rams: Garrett Bradbury, OG/C – NC State
    • The Rams lost both Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan to free agency this year so they need to rebuild their offensive line a little bit to protect Goff and give Todd Gurley some lanes to run through. Bradbury can play either guard or center so his versatility will be appreciated. He is a great pass blocker and give can Goff time to get the ball to his weapons out of the backfield.
32. New England Patriots: Irv Smith Jr, TE – Alabama
    • Same pick for the Patriots as Rob Gronkowski officially retired. Irv Smith can provide some of the same that Gronk gave Tom Brady. His athleticism down the middle of the field will really benefit an aging Tom Brady and he is a decent run blocker too which is great for the Patriots as they have started to become a run first team. Smith can be a nice replacement with Rob Gronkowski retiring this offseason.