Early Mock Draft
Note: I'm not trading, this is simply how I would draft if I were each team at this point.
1. Arizona - Nick Bosa - DE - Ohio State - This is the best player in the draft for me. Ideally, the Cardinals should seek to trade back if they can. They don't need a QB, and they need pretty much everything else. Bosa is a fine alternative, with an elite all-around game who profiles as an All-Pro.
2. San Francisco - Quennin Williams - DT - Alabama - Not sure he's as elite as others believe he is. But he's incredibly young, incredibly polished for his age. Was torn between the interior player in Williams, and the EDGE player in Brian Burns. Again, this is a spot that could be a prime trade back spot for them after they deal for AB or Beckham.
3. New York Jets - Jonah Williams - OT - Alabama - The Jets cannot miss on this pick, and it must help support the franchise they just invested into with Darnold. This isn't a top heavy draft, but with a depth of talent along the OL in the top two rounds, they could go elsewhere and wait.
4. Oakland - Brian Burns - DE - Florida State - The bend and athleticism is as good as you're going to find. He's not just an athlete, he's more refined than he gets credit for with his hand usage and arsenal of moves. Oakland has to get after the passer.
5. Tampa Bay - Clelin Ferrell - DE - Clemson - A polished, low floor EDGE prospect that has been super productive. Debated this pick between Farrell and Ed Oliver.
6. New York Giants - Greedy Williams - CB - LSU - Best CB in the class for me and its not really that close. Long, fast, polished. I know everyone is going to mock a QB here, and its probably going to be happen. But this QB class isn't good enough to warrant this selection and its my mock.
7. Jacksonville - Ed Oliver - DT - Houston - Perfect fit for this defense, who can ramp up the pressure on opposing QBs and force them to play into their secondary. They'll go get a QB via trade or free agency.
8. Detroit - Jachai Polite - DE - Florida - They've got to get after the passer, full stop. They've got nobody there, and Polite has some really good dip and rip off the edge. They've got to be hoping Burns or Farrell falls.
9. Denver - Rashan Gary - DL - Michigan - He's not quite an edge, not quite an interior defender, but he's a monster and would give the Broncos one of the most formidable front seven's in football.
10. Buffalo - Jawaan Taylor - OT - Florida - Another team that must protect the investment, he can protect the right side and be a force in the running game. Elite movement skills, huge frame. He's going to be a really good player.
11. Cincinnati - Josh Allen - DE - Kentucky - Some awareness with the fan base, some hype. I don't buy into the hype, but I think they'll take him if he's here. They don't do much scouting, so they're likely not going to see the flaws in his game.
12. Green Bay - Devin White - LB - LSU - See ball, get ball. Flies to the ball, sometimes too fast. But he's going to be a great player in this league. Fits perfectly into that defense where he can fly sideline to sideline.
13. Miami - Dwayne Haskins - QB - Ohio State - I'd guess they'll bring in a mentor for him. But he's a pretty good fit with an experienced coordinator like Jim Caldwell and guy out of the Pats system like O'Shea who understands quick reads and efficient route combos, which are Haskins strengths
14. Atlanta - Joshua Jacobs - RB - Alabama - This may surprise some people, but the Falcons offense has not been great. They're going to lose Coleman this off-season, they need to control the ball and open up the back end for Ryan, who has not been great recently.
15. Washington - Kyler Murray - QB - Oklahoma - This is a pretty intriguing fit, to me. Gruden is probably too much of a traditionalist for this, but his offense with a dynamic runner like Murray would be tough to stop.
16. Carolina - Cody Ford - OT - Oklahoma - The offense is going to center around rushing the football and short, efficient passing. Putting a road grater like Ford into the line rotation would help protect Newton and open up more holes. Violent player, really could be special if he shows he's athletic enough.
17. Cleveland - TJ Hockenson - TE - Iowa - The Browns will want to spread the field and obviously, given the addition of Hunt, run the football. Hockenson is one of the best tight end prospects of the last two decades. He's a future All-Pro, and gives Freddie a schematic advantage with Njoku and some elusive WRs that they can send in any direction at any time.
18. Minnesota - Chris Lindstrom - OG - Boston College - The interior OL was horrendous and needs a makeover. I think Elfein can be good, but they should add at least one veteran in addition to Lindstrom, who is technically efficient and has a pretty low floor as a good starter. Garrett Bradbury from NCST would also be an option here.
19. Tennessee - Dexter Lawrence - NT - Clemson - Yeah he's pretty well suped up on Osterine, but he's a massive guy and can sit in the middle of that defense to hold up the running game. Ideally they'd maybe look towards an EDGE player to improve a weaker pass rush.
20. Pittsburgh - DK Metcalf - WR - OleMiss - They're going to have a big hole to fill on offense. Metcalf is never going to replace AB, but he'll play the role of a clean Martavis Bryant who can win at multiple levels and make big plays.
21. Philadelphia - Byron Murphy - CB - Washington - Great zone corner fits perfectly into this defense. Struggles with attacking the catch point, can get overmatched at times, but in a zone he's a great read and react player who has all the tools to be a good player.
22. Indianapolis - Christian Wilkins - DT - Clemson - Athletic player, technically sound and well coached. Sometimes gets washed out of plays by bigger and stronger players. Good at everything, but isn't a very elite player IMO.
23. Seattle - Nasir Adderly - S - Delaware - Plays like a LB, with a violent nature that always is around the ball. Replaces Earl Thomas and tries to keep up some of that necessary attitude their defense always seems to play with.
24. Baltimore - Mack Wilson - LB - Alabama - As the offense transitions to a ball control, rushing-oriented offense, the increased pressure is on the defense to force turnovers and get off the field. Wilson is another guy from Bama who can play sideline to sideline and shows good stack and shed skills.
25. Oakland (from Dallas) - Kelvin Harmon - WR - NC State - Seems odd that they dealt Mack and Cooper only to replace them with unproven first rounders. But Gruden is an odd guy. Harmon is the most skilled WR in this draft, huge upside as a career-long above average player who can go get you 80-100 balls each year.
26. Houston - Dalton Risner - OL - Kansas State - Not exactly sure where he fits best on the line, but Houston needs help in a few spots. He's another guy who is undervalued for not having the highest ceiling, but he's really good. And he'll always be really good.
27. Oakland (from Chicago) - DeAndre Baker - CB - Not quite as refined as Williams in man coverage, but he's a four year guy with a ton of experience and physicality. Is he fast enough for Gruden? We'll find out.
28. Los Angeles Chargers - Yodny Cajuste - OT - WVU - Sort of a projection pick, but Cajuste is really athletic though not yet too well refined. He's got some good power.
29. Kansas City - Chauncey Gardner-Johnson - S - Florida - The secondary was a pretty good point of concern for this team. Gardner has good range enough to play deel, but is physical enough to be a help in run support. He and Berry would be a versatile tandem.
30. Green Bay (from New Orleans) - Devin Singletary - RB - FAU - His burst and short area quickness reminds me of Alvin Kamara. An absolute X-factor in a lineup with Aaron Rodgers, that could add another level to the Packers offense.
31. Los Angeles Rams - Montez Sweat - DE - Miss. St. - Fowler and Suh depart via FA, and Sweat can line up and provide some good speed and pressure off the edge. The pass rush will be key to continuing their defensive success.
32. New England - Charles Omenihu - DL - Texas - Freakishly long and powerful, can be versatile and play in multiple gaps. Kind of guys NE historically likes. With Brown and Flowers possibly leaving via FA, this is a huge need.
33. Arizona - Greg Little - OT - OleMiss
34. Indianapolis (from NYJ) - Marquise Brown - WR - Oklahoma
35. Oakland - Devin Bush - LB - UM
36. San Francisco - Deionte Thompson - S - Alabama
37. NY Giants - Daniel Jones - QB - Duke
38. Jacksonville - Irv Smith - TE - Alabama
39. Tampa Bay - Amani Oruwariye - CB - PSU
40. Buffalo - N’Keal Harry - WR - ASU
41. Denver - AJ Brown - WR - OleMiss
42. Cincinnati - Jaylen Ferguson - DE - LA Tech
43. Detroit - D’Andre Walker - DE - Georgia
44. Green Bay - Taylor Rapp - S - Washington
45. Atlanta - Jace Sternberger - TE - Texas A&M
46. Washington - Christian Miller - DE - Alabama
47. Carolina - Hakeem Butler - WR - Iowa St
48. Miami - Oshane Ximines - DE - ODU
49. Cleveland - Dre’Mont Jones - DL - Ohio State
50. Minnesota - Isaiah Buggs - DL - Alabama
51. Tennessee - Elgton Jenkins - OL - Miss. St.
52. Pittsburgh - Julian Love - CB - Notre Dame
53. Philadelphia (BAL) - Andre Dillard - OT - Wash. St.
54. Houston (SEA) - Jerry Tillery - DL - Notre Dame
55. Houston - Chase Winovich - DL - Michigan
56. New England (CHI) - Riley Ridley - WR
57. Philadelphia - Joejuan Williams - CB - Vanderbilt
58. Dallas - Dawson Knox - TE - OleMiss
59. Indianapolis - Trayvon Mullen - CB - Clemson
60. LA Chargers - Vosean Joseph - LB - Florida
61. Kansas City - Wyatt Ray - DE - Boston College
62. New Orleans - Drew Lock - QB - Missouri
63. Kansas City (LAR) - Miles Sanders - RB - Penn St.
64. New England - Anthony Nelson - DL - Iowa
Browns:
1 - TJ Hockenson
2 - Dre’Mont Jones
3 - Antoine Wesley - WR - Texas Tech
3 - Tre Watson - LB - Maryland
4 - Justin Layne - CB - Michigan St.
5 - Darius Slayton - WR - Auburn
5 - Kyle Shurmur - QB - Vanderbilt
5 - Oli Udoh - OT - Elon
6 - Joe Dineen - LB - Kansas
