Jacob Keppen’s “What I Would Do” Mock Draft

Draft day is upon us, and too many people fall into the trap of trying to predict the NFL Draft. Just like with your March Madness bracket, the truth is you can’t truly predict what is going to happen come April 29th. With that in mind, I’m not even going to try to predict the draft here. In this draft, all of the NFL GMs have been fired, and I’ve been brought in to replace them. Each pick is what I would do personally as the general manager of that team.

1.Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson

This has been the pick for an entire year now. Trevor Lawrence is still the best player in this draft. Next pick...

2. New York Jets - Justin Fields, QB Ohio State

Justin Fields is the 2nd best quarterback in this draft. Justin Fields would be the best quarterback in most other drafts, he just so happens to be behind one of the best quarterback prospects I’ve ever seen. Fields have everything you look for in a franchise quarterback. Mobility, throwing ability, and pinpoint accuracy.

3. San Francisco 49ers (via MIA, via HOU) - Zach Wilson, QB BYU

This is one I battled on for a while. I stared at the screen trying to decide between Zach Wilson and Trey Lance, just how I did when trying to rank the two. Ultimately I like Wilson slightly more and think he’s the quarterback Kyle Shannahan’s been waiting his entire life for. He can make any throw you ask him to and would immediately be greeted by one of the best situations a rookie quarterback can get.

4. Atlanta Falcons - Trey Lance, QB NDSU

When you are in the position to take a franchise quarterback to replace your aging veteran, you do it. The Falcons are a team needing a rebuild from the Dan Quinn era, and the best way to start off the Arthur Smith- Terry Fontenot era is by taking the franchise quarterback of the future. Trey Lance fits Arthur Smith’s system to a T and has the perfect opportunity to sit and learn behind Matt Ryan.

5.Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OT Oregon

Get out of here with the idea of drafting a receiver with this pick! Take that idea, crumble it up, and yell “Kobe!” as you toss it into the garbage. I’m not letting the Bengals out-Bungle themselves here. Joe Burrow just got hurt last year. Penei Sewell is a great prospect with otherworldly upside at left tackle. Protect your quarterback, build through the line.

6. Miami Dolphins (via PHI) - Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU

The Miami Dolphins can go with any of the top three receivers in this draft and it would be a good pick. Ultimately last year’s first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa needs a true number 1 receiver. I go with Chase because he has the best chance to be a big play X receiver for Tua. He’s a dynamic threat that should help out his quarterback a ton. 

7. Detroit Lions - Rashawn Slater, OL Northwestern

I thought about taking a wide receiver here. Yes, the Lions wide receiver room currently is horrendous. It looks a bit like your base Madden Ultimate Team. Then I looked at the rest of this roster and the state the team is in, and that idea went out the window. This team pretty much needs help everywhere, a full rebuild. Rashawn Slater is an elite line prospect that can possibly play any position on the line you ask him to. Build through your line first.

8. Carolina Panthers - Jaylen Waddle, WR Alabama

The Panthers wide receiver situation actually isn’t as great as you think. I’m a huge DJ Moore fan and think he’s criminally underrated. Yes, Robby Anderson is quite good as well but he has a year left on his deal. After those two, there’s nothing really in terms of dynamic pass catchers since Curtis Samuel moved on to Washington. Waddle would immediately replace Samuel as the Panthers dynamic threat.

9. Denver Broncos - Jaycee Horn, CB South Carolina

The Broncos are a weird team to draft for. I’d love to trade out of this spot here… but that’s not allowed in this draft. I know they just signed Ronald Darby in the offseason, but they need another corner opposite to him pretty badly. Jaycee Horn is the best cornerback in this class and his aggressive play will help make him the next great Bronco corner.

10. Dallas Cowboys - Kyle Pitts, TE/WR Florida

NFC East fans… cover your eyes. Yes, the Dallas Cowboys already have a good crop of receiving weapons in Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and last year’s first-round pick Ceedee Lamb. Yes, the Cowboys did already have a really good offense but a good offense isn’t cool. Do you know what is cool? An unstoppable offense. With Kyle Pitts, the Cowboys create a terrifying conglomerate for opposing defenses to try and defend. Even if you are able to cover all of their weapons, they still have Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard running the ball.

11. New York Giants - Devonta Smith, WR Alabama

This entire year is seeing whether or not Daniel Jones has it or not. The Giants already proved that by bringing in star receiver Kenny Golladay from Detroit. They have their number 1 guy in Golladay, and some good pieces such as Darius Slayton, but New York still needs a standout #2. Devonta Smith is the perfect Z receiver that can get open quickly and make magic with the ball in his hands. He is the perfect complement to the physical Golladay.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA via SF) - Patrick Surtain, CB Alabama

Thankfully for Eagles fans, the top weapons are all gone by #12. This pick no matter what receiver is there should be Patrick Surtain. I recently asked football fans who the top 5 Eagles cornerbacks of the past decade were. Included were guys such as Nolan Carroll, Cary Williams, and Ronald Darby. These are guys that potentially crack a top five, not the lowlights such as Leodis McKelvin and Byron Maxwell. The Eagles have been abysmal at cornerback for the past decade and it is time to end that. Patrick Surtain is a technically superior prospect with very good athleticism. 

13. Los Angeles Chargers - Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech

This pick is pretty much the Bengals pick 2.0. You have a young star franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert. You do not let him get hurt. The hardest part of building a team has been figured out: the quarterback. Now it’s time to protect him. Christian Darrisaw has extremely high potential with a relatively high floor.

14. Minnesota Vikings - Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL USC

Will Ezra Cleveland stay at guard this year, or will he make the transition to left tackle? Doesn’t matter, the Vikings need help on the line no matter what. Alijah Vera-Tucker is a plug-and-play starting left guard who is a great scheme fit for Minnesota. Say Cleveland isn’t ready for a left tackle, Vera-Tucker has extremely good tape at left tackle from this past year. He might even perform well there and keep Cleveland at guard. Taking AVT gives you options at the offensive line.

15. New England Patriots - Mac Jones, QB Alabama

Is Mac Jones my 15th rated player? No, he is not. He didn’t receive a first-round grade from me either. Despite all that, I am very big on getting your quarterback before it’s too late. Of all the positions to reach on, quarterback is the most acceptable to do so. All it takes is for one team to like your guy, and now he’s not so much your guy anymore. Take Jones here and let him take over for Cam in the future.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech

Caleb Farley might not be as technically advanced as Horn or Surtain, but boy is there some phenomenal upside. Farley has the size and athleticism that you look for in a cornerback. He battled some injuries, but when he played he was really productive. He needs to clean up his technique a bit, but the upsides there. There are some medical concerns, but that’s for the doctors to clear up. As long as he’s ready to go, I want him here on my team.

17. Las Vegas Raiders - Teven Jenkins, OT Oklahoma State

The Raiders sort of really forced themselves into this draft pick didn’t they? They traded starting right tackle Trent Brown back to the Patriots in an extremely surprising move. Luckily Vegas, there’s a high-caliber right tackle in Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins ripe for the taking. Good thing for Las Vegas too, they could’ve looked a bit foolish. Jenkins is nasty and a great technician that can lead the way for Josh Jacobs. 

18. Miami Dolphins - Micah Parsons, LB Penn State

Somewhere the great Ray Roberts is reading this with a big grin on his face. The Dolphins get his guy with their 2nd first-rounder. I love Parsons’ fit in the Dolphins system too. They have some good pieces on defense, but could really use a standout linebacker. It might take him a while, but I believe Parsons has Devin White-like potential in the league. 

19. Washington Football Team - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB/S Notre Dame

This pick just feels really fun. Washington has one of the best defensive lines in the league. They’ve heavily invested in their line to make a defensive juggernaut, and their defensive prowess showed at times last year. With that great line, you add an extremely versatile player in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah who can just fly around and make plays all over the field for the football team.

20. Chicago Bears - Greg Newsome, CB Northwestern

This isn’t the most ideal situation in the world for the Bears. They missed out on a good amount of players in this draft. The top-tier weapons are all gone. The elite quarterbacks are gone, guess it’s a good thing they got Andy Dalton this offseason. Teven Jenkins was just selected picks before. The Bears take the best cornerback available in Greg Newsome who can be a potential lockdown man coverage corner for Chicago.

21. Indianapolis Colts - Liam Eichenberg, OT Notre Dame

This has pretty much been my pick for the Colts in every mock draft since they traded for Carson Wentz. Anthony Castonzo is now retired. You have to protect Carson Wentz. You invested assets in the former #2nd overall pick and he’s had many injury problems in the past. The Colts don’t need to swing for the fences with a boom or bust lineman here, they need a steady guy that gets the job done. This is Liam Eichenberg.

22. Tennessee Titans - Asante Samuel Jr, CB Florida State

The Titans cornerback situation is… less than ideal. The best cornerback currently on the roster is Janoris Jenkins. You have to think they didn’t let Adoree Jackson walk for no reason, therefore I’m giving the Titans my highest rated cornerback left in Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton should make a good pairing moving forward.

23. New York Jets (via SEA) - Jaelan Phillips, EDGE Miami

As the end credits to Brooklyn Nine-Nine says “Not a doctor, shh” I am indeed not a doctor. I can’t diagnose Jaelan Phillips and his concussion problems. What I can do is clearly see on the tape that he is extremely talented. He has the highest potential out of any edge rusher in this class, and if he stays healthy will be dangerous in New York.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Alex Leatherwood, OT Alabama

The Steelers have a big need at left tackle. If Big Ben is starting next year, they best fill that hole immediately. Alex Leatherwood just seems like a Steeler doesn’t he? He’s experienced, athletic, and a very smart left tackle.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR) - Dillon Radunz, OT North Dakota State

I’ve made this pick many times before, and I will continue to do so because it makes too much sense. The Jaguars franchise-tagged Cam Robinson, but he isn’t the long-term answer for the Jags. Dillon Radunz can play guard for a year and then man the left tackle position for Trevor Lawrence. 

26. Cleveland Browns - Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota

The Browns have a bigger need at wide receiver than you think. Jarvis Landry is a reliable but not a dynamic receiver, and who even knows with Odell Beckham Jr. moving forward. Baker Mayfield improved a good amount this past year and adding another top-level weapon will help him take an even bigger step this upcoming year.

27. Baltimore Ravens - Sam Cosmi, OT Texas

The saga is over. Orlando Brown has been traded, and that leaves a big hole at right tackle. Sam Cosmi has experience at right tackle and has a lot of upside. He’ll need a bit of time, but with most of the top-level tackles off the board, Cosmi is the right pick for the Ravens to make. Protect your quarterback.

28. New Orleans Saints - Kwity Paye, EDGE Michigan

Cam Jordan isn’t going to play forever. Eventually, you have to find a replacement, and I love Kwity Paye as the guy to do it. Paye has great hands and all the athleticism in the world but just has to learn more technique and pass rush moves. Who is better to teach him than Cam Jordan. I can see Paye being a great successor to Jordan.

29. Green Bay Packers - Baron Browning, LB Ohio State

The Packers have a massive need at linebacker and offensive tackle. Since the Ravens took Cosmi just picks before, linebacker it is! Baron Browning is an athletic linebacker who can be used as an all-around weapon for the Packers. He can pretty much fill any role asked of him by Mike Pettine.

30. Buffalo Bills - Najee Harris, RB Alabama

The Bills are a team without a ton of holes. The most noticeable one is at running back. Despite a good overall offense, the Bills didn’t get a ton of production out of their running backs. I don’t want Allen to have to carry the offense all by himself, so Najee Harris makes a ton of sense. He’s one of my favorite running backs I’ve ever watched and can help cement Buffalo’s contender status.

31. Baltimore Ravens (via KC)  - Terrace Marshall Jr, WR LSU

Please, please, please… GET LAMAR A #1 Weapon. I’m too tired of seeing Lamar Jackson disrespected every single offseason by fans and the national media. It’s time to get him a true #1 receiver. Terrace Marshall is a big play every time he touches the ball and a big red zone target. Finally, Lamar gets some help.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -  Christian Barmore, IDL Alabama

The Buccaneers are the perfect place for Christian Barmore to go to. He has a ton of potential as a pass rusher but didn't play a ton in college. He was never a full-time starter, and that was mostly due to his run defense. Tampa Bay already has Vita Vea and the still going strong Ndamukong Suh. Barmore would be a great rotational pass rusher who can develop without having to be an immediate complete product for the defending super bowl champs!

Writer

-By: Jacob Keppen