You have to hand it to the National Football League -- even though the product isn't nearly as exciting as the one produced by college football, the Shield definitely knows how to stay in the news cycle 365/24/7. From Super Bowl to OTAs to the NFL Draft, there isn't a time when the pros aren't relevant.
The best thing about the NFL is the draft -- and the second best is all of the people predicting how the draft will end up. Everyone and their mother has a mock draft, some very good, some funny, some plain ridiculous. But they all take a stab at it, knowing that it isn't likely to be close to right.
This is another one of those attempts, and though it may turn out to be more correct than most, it still won't be great. Just telling you that up front, so that when all of this actually comes true you will be even more amazed.
There will be two facets to this mock -- one that predicts how the teams WILL draft, the other saying how they SHOULD. Both are can't miss stuff, so enjoy.
2019 NFL DRAFT PROJECTION (NO TRADES)
1. Arizona -- QB Kyler Murray/Oklahoma
Quarterback is not a problem area for the Cards, lack of offensive weapons FOR the quarterback is. This is just a usual spinning of the wheels in Arizona, and a big reason the Cards always have a high draft pick. Murray does not change the offensive situation much at all.
2. San Francisco -- DE/EDGE Nick Bosa/Ohio State
Niners are thrilled with Cards lack of focus and take the best defensive and overall player in the draft. Teamed with DeForest Buckner, Bosa should give San Fran one of the best young pass rush combos in the league.
3. NY Jets -- OT Jonah Williams/Alabama
Everyone keeps screaming defense, but don't you need to protect last year's QB investment? Williams is pro-ready and should help open up holes for Le'Veon Bell as the Jets rely on power football to win games.
4. Oakland -- DE/EDGE Josh Allen/Kentucky
Jon Gruden controls the world, or at least this year's draft, with three first-round picks. That may not be enough to address all of what ails the Silver and Black, but Allen would be a great start at bringing some snarl back to the defense.
5. Tampa Bay -- LB Devin White/LSU
The Bucs have been sorely lacking in leadership on defense, and White would be able to remedy that on day one. A sideline to sideline force, White is one of the toughest, most instictive defenders in this year's draft.
6. NY Giants -- DT Quinnen Williams/Alabama
Not in their wildest dreams did the Giants think the best interior defensive force would fall to them, but lo and behold. This guy is a run-stuffer deluxe and can harass the quarterback.Should be a fixture for 10+ years.
7. Jacksonville -- TE TJ Hockenson/Iowa
The signing of Nick Foles alleviated the Jags QB issue, but he needs weapons, and who better to stretch the field than Hockenson? He's also an excellent blocker when Jacksonville wants to pound the football. Jags could opt for OL help, but Hockenson is a true game-changer.
8. Detroit -- DT Ed Oliver/Houston
Few in college football can create gap pressure better than Oliver, and even though he's a tad undersized by NFL standards, he's a playmaker deluxe. In a division that features Aaron Rodgers, foes need someone who can collapse the pocket.
9. Buffalo -- OT Andre Dillard/Washington State
The Bills need all kinds of help up front, especially if they want to see what Josh Allen is all about. Dillard is an exceptional pass blocker in a huge area of need, and would be ready to play the minute he walks into camp.
10. Denver -- QB Drew Lock/Missouri
Though there are better options available, John Elway seems to love the big, strapping, rocket-arm signal caller -- even if their accuracy is an issue (see Flacco, Joe). Lock will be able to sit and learn for a season before taking over what Elway hopes is a productive run under center.
11. Cincinnati -- QB Dwayne Haskins/Ohio State
If the Bengals haven't grown tired of Andy Dalton, the fans certainly have. Grabbing a QB from Ohio State would certainly sate the masses, and the fact that he has the ability to process information quickly and throw the ball as well as anyone in this year's class would certainly help the Bengals going forward.
12. Green Bay -- TE Noah Fant/Iowa
The Packers have huge needs on defense, but do you think Aaron Rodgers will allow the front office to neglect the offense? Of course not. What Aaron wants, Aaron gets, and in Fant he'll get a freakish athlete who will be able to move the chains, and who has a nose for the end zone.
13. Miami -- DE/EDGE Brian Burns/Florida State
I may be in the minority thinking that the Dolphins didn't exactly address their QB problem by signing Ryan Fitzpatrick, so maybe they surprise and go QB here. But the defensive worries are plenty, and the home-state Burns can get to the passer like few others in this draft.
14. Atlanta -- DT Dexter Lawrence/Clemson
The Falcons were beset by injuries on D last year, which exposed their lack of depth on that side of the ball. Plugging Lawrence in to the middle of the D-line would immediately solve one glaring issue.
15. Washington -- CB Greedy Williams/LSU
The Redskins could opt for a QB (maybe Will Grier?) if they truly think Alex Smith won't play in 2019, or may trade up for Haskins. If that doesn't happen, Williams would be an upgrade to the current corner situation. Though not a great (or willing) tackler, Williams could be a shutdown guy.
16. Carolina -- DE Clelin Ferrell/Clemson
Could the Panthers shock the world and grab a QB (Daniel Jones?) to allow Cam Newton's balky shoulder to heal? They can't feel safe with what's behind him, so maybe they go that route. But getting to the passer is a problem, one that Ferrell would remedy.
17. NY Giants -- QB Daniel Jones/Duke
Dave Gettleman has gone this route before -- taken a somewhat inaccurate, lanky, cerebral passer who worked with David Cutcliffe. So why not mine that well again? Jones has some accuracy issues, though wasn't helped much by his WR corps. He runs better than people think, too, and isn't nearly the disaster many are making him out to be.
18. Minnesota -- OT Jawaan Taylor/Florida
The Vikings need help all over the OL, and while Cody Ford could be an option, Taylor has the versatility to kick inside to guard, but would likely start out at right tackle. Needs to hit the weight room, but the potential is definitely there.
19. Tennessee -- DE Rashan Gary/Michigan
Last year's selection of Harold Landry proved to be very good, but the rest of the Titans D-line is a question mark. Gary didn't always display the effort or production that matched his hype, but he has the athleticism to get off the ball quickly and disrupt the QB. Can also kick inside when they want to go heavy.
20. Pittsburgh -- LB Devin Bush/Michigan
Conventional wisdom says the Steelers will take a receiver after the Antonio Brown fiasco, but the defense slipped a bit last season, and the toughness was not always on display. Bush would change that as he is a straight-ahead, hard-nosed defender who can stop ball carriers in their tracks.
21. Seattle -- DE Montez Sweat/Mississippi State
There have been some teams concerned with a heart issue diagnosed at the combine, which reportedly has caused some teams to remove him altogether from their boards. That's fine with the Seahawks, who will gladly snap him up as a replacement to the recently traded Frank Clark. Sweat has a great motor and a variety of moves to get to the quarterback.
22. Baltimore -- WR AJ Brown/Ole Miss
The Ravens appear to be moving forward with this Lamar Jackson as QB thing, so why not at least give him some artillery outside? Brown was the Rebels best, most polished receiver, and is especially good after the catch. He's also not afraid to go over the middle and is an excellent leader.
23. Houston -- CB Byron Murphy/Washington
Some scouts question whether Murphy can be anything more than a nickel corner given his stature (just a shade over 5-9), but the kid can cover and hit and has a nose for the football. The Texans were 28th against the pass last year, and Murphy would be a plug and play option for a team that desperately needs to get better on the back end.
24. Oakland -- RB Josh Jacobs/Alabama
The recent retirement of Marshawn Lynch means the Raiders are in need of a runner, and while there are better backs in this draft, few run with the power and attitude of Jacobs. He's low to the ground, will be good in the passing game and should help keep more drives going.
25. Philadelphia -- OG Cody Ford/Oklahoma
The Eagles could opt for help along the defensive front, but the offensive line is a sneaky concern which neesd addressed. Ford is strong and mean and would bring swagger to a unit that was missing it a lot in 2018.
26. Indianapolis -- WR Deebo Samuel/South Carolina
The talk for years has been that Indy is just lacking the defense to support Andrew Luck's quarterback play. Well, the Colts weren't that bad on the stop side last year, but lack a big body outside for Luck to target. Samuel is that big body, and is fearsome after the catch. He could also bring juice to the return game.
27. Oakland -- CB Deandre Baker/Georgia
The Raiders final first round pick addresses problems in the secondary, where only Gareon Conley seems like a steady force. Baker is a good tackler and solid cover guy, and would add a playmaking dimension that is sorely missing.
28. LA Chargers -- DT Jerry Tillery/Notre Dame
The Chargers seem set for years on the outside with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, but were too often victimized by an inability to collapse the interior of the pocket. Tillery can do that, and is also stout against the run.
29. Seattle -- WR Marquise Brown/Oklahoma
The Seahawks will never truly be a flashy offensive team, but adding a home run threat for Russell Wilson would not be a bad thing. While there may be questions about Brown's size, none exist about his ability to run by defenders. He would open up things underneath, too, when Seattle wants to lean on the ground game.
30. Green Bay -- S Johnathan Abram/Mississippi State
Since the Pack addressed offense with their earlier first-rounder, they would turn to defense for the second one. Abram is a rangy safety who can cover and play the football, but he makes a living as a hitter. He also has a high football IQ and would be a stabilizing force from the minute he joined the team.
31. LA Rams -- C Garrett Bradbury/NC State
Sean McVey likes flash, but also realizes that there is a glaring need up front. With Bradbury, LA would have an anchor in the middle for a decade, and a tough guy, to boot. That may run slightly counter to the Cali ethic, but it will be a welcome addition.
32. New England -- DT Jeffery Simmons/Mississippi State
Leave it to the champs to snag what could be one of the best picks of the entire draft. An injury while training for the draft means he likely won't play in 2019, but this selection is about potential, which Simmons has an abundance of. A year watching and rehabbing will only help, and he'll be ready to terrorize teams in 2020.
2019 NFL DRAFT (WITH ME AS GM FOR ALL TEAMS, WITH PROJECTED TRADES)
1. Arizona -- DE/EDGE Nick Bosa/Ohio State
2. San Francisco -- DT Quinnen Willams/Alabama
3. NY Jets -- OT Jonah Williams/Alabama
4. Oakland -- DE/EDGE Josh Allen/Kentucky
5. Miami (from Tampa Bay) -- QB Dwayne Haskins/Ohio State
6. NY Giants -- DE Montez Sweat/Mississippi State
7. Jacksonville -- OT Andre Dillard/Washington State
8. Detroit -- DT Ed Oliver/Houston
9. Buffalo -- WR Deebo Samuel/South Carolina
10. Carolina (from Denver) -- QB Daniel Jones/Duke
11. Cincinnati -- TE TJ Hockenson/Iowa
12. Green Bay -- TE Noah Fant/Iowa
13. Tampa Bay (from Miami) -- LB Devin White/LSU
14. Atlanta -- DE/EDGE Brian Burns/Florida State
15. Washington -- QB Kyler Murray/Oklahoma
16. Denver (from Carolina) -- CB Greedy Williams/LSU
17. NY Giants -- DT Dexter Lawrence/Clemson
18. Minnesota -- OG Cody Ford/Oklahoma
19. Tennessee -- DE/EDGE Clelin Ferrell/Clemson
20. Pittsburgh -- RB Darrell Henderson/Memphis
21. Seattle -- LB Devin Bush/Michigan
22. Baltimore -- WR N'Keal Harry/Arizona State
23. Houston -- OT Dalton Risner/Kansas State
24. Oakland -- CB Deandre Baker/Georgia
25. Philadelphia -- DE Rashan Gary/Michigan
26. Indianapolis -- WR AJ Brown/Ole Miss
27. Oakland -- RB Devin Singletary/Florida Atlantic
28. LA Chargers -- QB Drew Lock/Missouri
29. Seattle -- WR Marquise Brown/Oklahoma
30. Green Bay -- S Johnathan Abram/Mississippi State
31. LA Rams -- CB Byron Murphy/Washington
32. New England -- DT Jerry Tillery/Notre Dame
That concludes our Mock Draft for 2019. Let us know what you think, and what you like more -- my pick or what is forecast for your team.
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