Inside the Hashes; Bloggers Final mock draft
Inside the Hashes; Bloggers Final mock draft
In this special edition feature, we at ITH selected four bloggers to do a fantasy style mock draft on Skype. The four participants were Austin Bronstad, Reggie Thomas Jr, Russell Muhs, and our CEO Jerome Jones. Each person had randomly assigned picks and just a minute on the clock to make their selection. This is the final Mock of two. Let us know in the comments below your thoughts on the draft, and which blogger you think made the best picks!
#1. Cardinals- Russ: Kyler Murray; QB
Kliff Kingsbury gets his guy. Murray is the most dynamic player in the draft with an unprecedented ability to be elite throwing the ball, as well as running. His size is his only concern but his talent is too immense to pass up on.
#2. 49ers- Reggie: Nick Bosa; EDGE
The Niners need a lot of help at many different positions but I think they wait to give Jimmy Garoppolo the help on the offensive side in the later rounds and snag Nick Bosa who has the potential and upside to be an all-pro for many years.
#3. Jets- Austin: Quinnen Williams; EDGE
There is absolutely no reason to pick anyone with this pick besides Williams. At this point you are getting the best player at the third pick and the Jets could use some D-Line help.
#4. Raiders- Jerome: Josh Allen; EDGE
Coach Jon Gruden had to be trolling when he said: “Great pass rushers are hard to find, after trading Khalil Mack last season. You can’t replace Mack, Gruden, but you can get a highly productive one in Josh Allen. Josh will help a well-known need for the Raiders. If they don’t go for a QB, a potential sleeper selection here.
#5. Buccaneers- Reggie: Rashan Gary; EDGE
The Bucs could go any way they want here with this pick especially on the defensive side of the ball. Which is why they’ll elect to go with Rashan Gary in major hopes of revitalizing the D-line with Mccoy, Vita Vea, and Gary.
#6. Giants- Jerome: Dwayne Haskins; QB
The Giants would love to get the QB of the future. Haskins wants to be in NY. Best to get the QB now than to wait at 17. Have him learn from your veteran QB in Eli Manning and start him when he is ready. Speaking as an Eagles fan, that would be the best thing they could do.
#7. Jags- Austin: TJ Hockenson; TE
While even I have my questions about this pick this is where I think they will go. While the offensive line could be helped, they need weapons for newly acquired Nick Foles and Hockenson is a receiver and a blocker all packaged into one person.
#8. Lions- Russ: Montez Sweat; Edge
With Ziggy Ansah’s status still up in the air, the Lions should look to bolster their pass rush. Sweat recorded numbers at the NFL combine and has the college production to back it up. He will need to bulk up a bit to be a player that can help stop the run, but his floor is an elite passing down sack specialist.
#9. Bills- Russ: Marquise Brown; WR
There is some concern that his lingering injury could affect his draft stock. The bills will see otherwise and Brown is a deep threat who can outrun anyone. And be able to run under the 70-yard bombs that Josh Allen can throw.
#10. Broncos- Austin: Drew Lock; QB
Denver continues its search for a franchise QB through this draft and seems to have fallen in love with the young QB from Missouri. It should be interesting to see if Elway will finally have picked the right QB.
#11. Bengal- Jerome: Devin White; LB
One of my favorite players in this draft, Devin White fills a need for Cincy. I honestly am not sure he would fall to 11 in this draft unless there are 3 or 4 QBs selected in the top 10. SOMEONE will trade up for him, but in this mock draft situation, the Bengals got a steal.
#12. Packers- Reggie: N’Keal Harry; WR
Many people have the Packers going defense, not I. I just see a new HC that is going to want to prove a point in year 1 especially being that he is going to have arguably the best QB in the game. The pick here will be N’keal Harry which will give Rodgers a solid duo of Adams and Harry for the next 4-5 seasons.
#13. Dolphins- Jerome: Ed Oliver; DL
Hey, Dolphins, RUN TO THE PODIUM!!! This is an absolute steal here and a really good fits the Dolphins. After losing Cameron Wake in free agency, they need some attitude up front.
#14. Falcons- Reggie: Greedy Williams; CB
Greedy Williams will be the 1st DB off the board. Now that comes with a lot of expectations but picking him here I know the Falcons will look at this as a steal given the fact he's 6’3” frame will help him in practice going up against the likes of Julio and Sanu.
#15. Redskins- Austin: DK Metcalf; WR
The Redskins need help at skill position on offense and who better than possibly the biggest boom or bust player in the draft? If Metcalf is a hit, he could be Julio Jones. If not, he could be another Kevin White.
#16. Panthers- Russ: Jawaan Taylor; OT
With Cam Newton’s injury history, the Panthers need to make it priority number one to protect him better. Taylor can come in and immediately be effective at right or left tackle.
#17. Giants- Austin: Clelin Ferrell; EDGE
After all the trades the Giants have made, they have left themselves with even more holes on defense before. They should look to start filling those holes starting with Ferrell.
#18. Vikings- Reggie: Jonah Williams; OT
Let’s be honest, the Vikings underachieved with Kirk Cousins last season. Even though that’s not to my surprise, the Vikings don’t have a lot of holes to fill. So they do what any team would do that has given their QB a fully guaranteed contract, they protect him and get OT Jonah Williams.
#19. Titans- Russ: Devin Bush Jr.; LB
The Titans could look to add some talent at WR or TE, but Bush is too talented to fall any further than 19. He is a fast, instinctive linebacker who excels against the run and in coverage. He is a perfect fit in today’s NFL.
#20. Steelers- Jerome: Hakeem Butler; WR
Steelers could use a DB here and probably should but you just traded arguably the best WR in the NFL, and I'm not sold on JuJu Smith-Schuster as the WR1. Get a big body WR who can block in the running game, and have a big catch radius. They can’t keep relying on finding a gem WR late in the draft (Although they are really good at it).
#21. Seahawks- Jerome: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson; DB
The best of the LEGION OF BOOM days, the Seahawks had two great safeties both Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Both are gone, and they need to get back to what made them great. I was flip-flopping back and forth between Gardner-Johnson and Nasir Adderley but I think CGJ is a better fit for the Hawks.
#22. Ravens- Reggie: Mack Wilson; LB
With 4 of the top 5 WR’s already gone, the plan to build around Jackson has to wait until the 2nd round. All is not lost as they draft another Alabama LB in Mack Wilson that they believe can be similar to CJ Mosley just without the injury bug.
#23. Texans- Russ: Andre Dillard; OT
Deshaun Watson got hit more than any other QB in football last year. Dillard is raw but has the best pass blocking potential in the draft this year. Easy pick for the Texans.
#24. Raiders- Austin: Josh Jacobs; RB
Oakland will be looking for some big hits on these picks and one of the biggest words is that they are looking to pick Jacobs at 24 if he is still available.
#25. Eagles- Reggie: DeAndre Baker; CB
The Eagles had their eye on Josh Jacobs but being that he was picked 1 spot ahead of them they go with another pressing need like CB. And with only 1 CB selected thus far they opt to take Deandre Baker over Byron Murphy, reason being is taking a CB from the University of Washington is still leaving some bad feelings for the organization, see Sidney Jones.
#26. Colts- Russ: Byron Murphy; CB
The Colts front office is jumping for joy when they realize Murphy has fallen to them at 26. Murphy has elite game tape and put up good enough numbers at the combine to quell any concerns about his speed and athleticism.
#27. Raiders- Austin: Christian Wilkins; DL
Wilkins is one of the top defensive talents coming out of the draft and Oakland has a huge need at defensive line. Wilkins would be no surprise for the Raiders here at 27.
#28. Packers- Jerome: Nasir Adderley; DB
I'm a huge fan of Nasir Adderley. I got to watch him in person at the senior bowl and I was telling everyone to watch this kid. He didn't disappoint. Adderley will fit nicely this defense with the Packers getting two pass rushers in free agency and drafting some young corners in the last few drafts. With Adderly, this defense might sneak up on people.
#29. Chiefs- Austin: Garrett Bradbury; OL
(Prior to the Frank Clark Trade; In possession of Seattle)
Kansas City definitely has its holes to fill but adding Bradbury to the line would be huge for the offense. Bradbury would be a great player for the Chiefs to add to try and secure the offensive line.
#31. Rams- Russ: Rock Ya-Sin; CB
Is Ya-Sin a reach this early in the draft? You could certainly make that argument, but the Rams need help in a bad way for their secondary. Ya-Sin is incredibly raw but has great length and is sticky in man to man situations. Given a year or two of development, Ya-Sin could turn himself into a top 15 corner in the league.
#32. Patriots- Reggie: Irv Smith; TE
This may have been the easiest pick to make in the draft. It’s obvious the Pats are in need of a TE with Gronk's retirement. So the pick here will be Irv Smith Jr. and that because Bill Belichick knows that Saban guys are used to a very strict and tight regimen which will help Smith to be molded for exactly what Brady and Bill need and want from him off and on the field.