NFL Mock Draft: Second Edition.
NFL Mock Draft: Second Edition.
Mock Draft number two is here and gets a major shakeup with Kyler Murray’s decision to enter the NFL Draft.
1. Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, Edge, Ohio State.
Newly appointed head coach Kliff Kingsbury could decide to pick his own QB here. Instead, he plays it smart and chooses the best player in the draft. Bosa is just too good to pass up and will give the Cardinals defense two dynamic edge rushers to build around.
2. San Francisco 49ers: Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky.
This selection is perfect for the fit and need of the 49ers. They desperately need to improve their pass rush and Allen is the premier stand up edge rusher in the draft. He will fit perfectly in their 3-4 defensive scheme.
3.New York Jets: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama.
With no WR worthy of this high of a draft pick, the Jets draft Sam Darnold's blindside protector for the next decade.
4.Oakland Raiders: Clelin Ferrell, Edge, Clemson.
While not quite Khalil Mack, Ferrell has double-digit sack potential with his speed and usage of hands off the edge. The Raiders will still need more help generating a pass rush, but this pick puts them on the right track.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama.
Will Bruce Arians give Jameis Winston a chance to prove himself? My gut says yes. In a top 5 filled with defensive lineman, the Bucs keep big man train rolling. Williams was unblockable for the tide this year. Additionally, with rumors of Tampa potentially cutting Gerald McCoy this offseason, Williams will also fit a pressing need for the Bucs.
6. New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State.
Sometimes the stars just align. Haskins was a Giants fan growing up and has publicly stated that he wouldn’t be opposed to learning behind Eli Manning for a year if necessary.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma.
This pick comes with no shortage of risk considering Murray has yet to choose between Baseball and Football. Still, the Jaguars roster is devoid of QB talent, and Murray’s talent is worth the risk. While undersized, he is an incredible athlete who has a lot of potential to become an elite passer.
8. Detroit Lions: Montez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi State.
While Sweat is somewhat of a project, he has the kind of length and quickness you can't teach. He needs to add a bit of muscle to his frame, but his game tape reminds me of a young Julius Peppers.
9. Buffalo Bills: Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State.
The Bills already have a solid defense in place, so they start acquiring new toys for Josh Allen to play with. Harmon is 6’3” 213 pounds with great speed for his size. He also has a large catch radius that will do well with Josh Allen’s gun-slinging mentality.
10. Denver Broncos: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri.
Do the Broncos regret signing Case Keenum to a big deal? Probably. While Keenum wasn’t exactly horrible for the Broncos this year, he was certainly not what they envisioned relative to his contract. Lock has all the tools you want in a QB but needs to play with more consistency if he wants to succeed in the NFL.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU.
Opposing offenses put up video game-like numbers through the air when facing the Bengals this year. Another standout on the long list of recent of LSU corners, Williams will help remedy that as he possesses the ability to become a lockdown corner.
12. Green Bay Packers: Brian Burns, Edge, Florida State.
Clay Matthews looked a step slower this year, raising doubt to his long term future in Green Bay. In comes Brian Burns. He will probably be a pass-rushing specialist his first year in the league but has the potential to be every down player after a year or two in an NFL weight room.
13. Miami Dolphins: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke.
The Dolphins have yet to reach a head coaching decision, making this selection a little murky. That being said, I find it hard to believe that the next coach will want to stick with Ryan Tannehill. Jones needs some polish but has all the traits teams are looking for in an NFL quarterback.
14. Atlanta Falcons: Jachai Polite, Edge, Florida.
Polite is the rare combination of an explosive athlete who also has a non-stop motor. He has great speed and bends around the edge. His is not the biggest guy at the position but his relentlessness prevents him from being a liability in the run game.
15. Washington Redskins: Will Grier, QB, West Virginia.
It appears that Alex Smith may never play again, leaving the redskins QB room in shambles. Griers throwing mechanics are a bit broken but he displays elite accuracy on short and intermediate throws and flashes just enough arm strength to be a viable NFL QB.
16. Carolina Panthers: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington.
It’s no secret that the cause of the Panthers' late-season collapse was due to poor play in the secondary. Murphy has the best game tape out of all CBs this year and has a chance to become the missing piece Carolina has been looking for since letting Josh Norman walk a few years ago.
17. Cleveland Browns: N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State.
The Browns give Mayfield another toy to play with here. Harry size will be a perfect compliment to WR Jarvis Landry and Antonio Callaway.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss.
Though Little had a somewhat disappointing final year in college, his frame and athleticism are too good to pass up this far into the first round. The Vikings O-line took a big step backward this past year and Little should be able to contribute immediately.
19. Tennessee Titans: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
A top 5 talent, Oliver drops all the way to 19 due to character concerns and injury history. The Titans can’t get this selection in fast enough.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin White, LB, LSU.
The Steelers find their replacement for Ryan Shazier in what might actually turn into an upgrade. White is one of the most athletic linebackers to come out in recent memory and plays with a rare level of aggression that allows him to make up for his shortcomings in play recognition.
.
21. Seattle Seahawks: Rashan Gary, DT, Michigan.
Projected as an interior lineman in the NFL, Gary’s draft stock could skyrocket after the Combine despite less than ideal college production. An absolute freak athlete at 6’5” 285 pounds, it wouldn't be out of the question for him to match the 4.57 40 time coaches reported for him at Michigan.
22. Baltimore Ravens: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss.
With all their eggs now in the Lamar Jackson basket the draft arguably the best WR in the draft. Metcalf would be drafted much higher if it went for an injury that derailed his senior season.
23. Houston Texans: N’Keal Henry, WR, ASU.
A monster red zone target at 6’4” 213 pounds, Henry has strong hands and high points the ball with ease over defenders. Some questions about his speed will have to be answered at the Combine, and he struggles at times to create separation with his route running. With Lamar Jackson seemingly handed the keys to the offense, the Ravens look to get him a playmaker at receiver with no clear number one option on their roster.
24. Oakland Raiders(from Chicago): Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama.
The Raiders could opt for another pass rusher here but instead decided to sure up the back end of their secondary. Thompson is a day one starter with his speed and instinct and has Pro Bowl potential in the future.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson.
Some may partially attribute Mullens success to Clemson's fierce D-line. However, Mullen sure looked like a first-round draft pick during the National Championship game. With plus speed and experience playing man to man on an island, Mullen will bolster the Eagles shaky secondary.
26. Indianapolis Colts: Oshane Ximines, Edge, Old Dominion.
A bit of a project coming out of Old Dominion, the Colts select Ximines after not being able to get nearly enough pressure on Patrick Mahomes in their Playoff elimination. Ximines is very raw but has the tools to become an elite pass rusher.
27. Oakland Raiders (from Dallas): Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma.
Speed kills. With their third first-round pick the Raiders give Derrick Carr a speedy deep threat to try to inject some life into a listless Raiders offense.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama.
Wilson isn’t like previous Alabama linebackers as his strength is actually more in coverage than stopping the run. He flows sideline to sideline with ease and can cover tight ends coming up the seams, making him an asset in today's NFL.
29. New England Patriots: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford.
The Patriots finally decide to draft Tom Brady a WR in the first round! Their offense has looked limited at times this year as the Patriots struggled to scheme their mediocre WR’s open. Whiteside isn’t an elite athlete, but he is very smart and runs excellent routes which is something the Patriots covet.
30. Los Angeles Rams: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan.
The Rams have struggled to stop the run this year in large part due to mediocre linebacker play. Bush has sideline to sideline ability and great aggressiveness and instincts for the position. While being undersized sometimes leads him to have trouble shedding blocks, he makes up for it by being the best blitzing linebacker in the draft
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia.
The Chiefs secondary has been challenging to witness at times during the season. Baker isn’t a great athlete but he makes up for it by always being in the right position to make plays due to his elite instincts.
32. Green Bay Packers(from Saints): A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss.
Randall Cobb is now in the downside of his career, so the Packers draft the speedy slot receiver from Ole Miss. Posing intriguing size as a slot receiver, Brown excels running the ball after the catch and should provide Rodgers a safety blanket on third downs.
-By:Russell Muhs