After months of evaluation and speculation, click-bait and hot takes, the 2019 NFL Draft will finally go live from Nashville on Thursday night. As much as we all want to think we know heading in, we all understand that once teams officially go on the clock, the entire game changes. There will be prospects that unexpectedly rise and slide, trades that make perfect sense and none at all, and selections that surprise no one and shock everyone. It’s what makes the draft fun as a fan and compelling as an evaluator.
With that being said, I am pleased to present my 4.0 and final 2019 NFL Mock Draft. These first-round projections are based on the current draft order and my impression of team needs as of April 23, with consideration given to potential trade scenarios.
Enjoy the draft!
FIRST ROUND
1 | Arizona Cardinals — Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
I started the process projecting Kyler Murray to the Cardinals when virtually no one else was and despite recent reports that the Arizona front office is still weighing its options in the eleventh hour, I will finish the process with that projection.
2 | San Francisco 49ers — Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama
The 49ers may consider Nick Bosa here, but I think the Raiders might make a play to move up for the Ohio State end. That said, whether they sit at #2 or bump down to #4 in a trade, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that San Francisco prefers Quinnen Williams regardless.
3 | New York Jets — Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
I’ve liked the fit, but I’ve hesitated projecting Ed Oliver to the Jets because I couldn’t confidently say they would draft him at #3. I still can’t say for sure, but I could see a trade-back situation where they drop down a few spots and are still able to land him.
4 | Oakland Raiders — Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
With scenarios on the table that include them standing in to draft the third of the three top defenders, taking the first LB off the board, and potentially coveting a QB, the Oakland war room has gone dark at #4. I’ll venture that the Raiders will attempt to work a deal with the 49ers, jumping up to #2 to draft their pass rusher.
5 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Devin White, LB, LSU
The Buccaneers could look at drafting Josh Allen here, but I feel like they might make a go of it with their edge defenders as they are. Instead, I’ll follow the smoke that’s been wafting around Tampa Bay all draft season and project them to take Devin White.
6 | New York Giants — Josh Allen, RSH, Kentucky
There’s no way to tell if the Giants are truly interested in drafting a QB at #6 — until they don’t. If Josh Allen remains on the board after the top five cards have been turned in, I think there’s a strong chance he goes from one Big Blue to another.
7 | Jacksonville Jaguars — Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Jawaan Taylor to Jacksonville has been a popular prospect-team projection. The fit and value makes sense, so I’m maintaining the pick I made for the Jaguars in my seven-round Super Mock.
8 | Detroit Lions — Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama
I’m not sure the Lions don’t look for defensive help or possibly trade out of #8, but Jonah Williams to Detroit has been gaining steam in recent days. He’d be an immediate upgrade and long-term solution for an offensive line in need of both.
9 | Buffalo Bills — Brian Burns, RSH, Florida State
The Bills spent millions of dollars in free agency to improve their offense, which leads me to believe this pick will be on defense — specifically a pass rusher. Brian Burns has the tools and traits to develop into an incredibly disruptive force off the edge for Buffalo.
10 | Denver Broncos — Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
While they traded for former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, John Elway and the Broncos clearly love Drew Lock — they might even trade up to guarantee they get their latest QB of the future. That said, if they choose to ride with their veteran signal caller, expect one of the next two picks to become a Bronco instead.
11 | Cincinnati Bengals — Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
I think Dwayne Haskins would make sense for the Bengals with Andy Dalton as the bridge, but Cincinnati might not have the opportunity to draft the former Buckeye if Miami or Washington moves up. Devin Bush would make an excellent alternative for a team that seemingly has an annual offseason need at LB.
12 | Green Bay Packers — T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
The Packers have veteran options at tight end in Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis, but both are past their prime and neither is long for Lambeau for more than a season at best. If T.J. Hockenson lasts until #12, I expect him to be bound for Titletown.
13 | Miami Dolphins — Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
Christian Wilkins would be a quality player, leader, and locker room presence for a franchise starting over. I could also see the Dolphins trading back, as they desperately need picks to help rebuild a roster that might be the most devoid of talent in the league.
14 | Atlanta Falcons — Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma
The Falcons will look hard at adding another edge rusher, but I don’t think Ty Sambrailo is their first choice to fill the vacancy at right tackle. I do think they like Cody Ford, though, and I think he steps right into the starting role.
15 | Washington Redskins — Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
The Redskins appeared to be a suitor for Josh Rosen and they still might be. However, they might be content to draft a QB and I think their guy, if available, is Dwayne Haskins. I’d venture they’d even consider chasing him up the board into the top ten if they could strike a deal.
16 | Carolina Panthers — Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
Drafting an edge rusher like a sliding Montez Sweat or high-floor Clelin Ferrell is a definite possibility for the Panthers, but I think it’s time they finally drafted a left tackle. Andre Dillard would be the target.
17 | New York Giants (via CLE) — Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
The word is that the NFL likes Daniel Jones more than those of us in the draft community and that the Giants covet him the most. That’s enough for me to assume that if he’s on the board at #17, he will be drafted as the eventual successor to Eli Manning.
18 | Minnesota Vikings — Chris Lindstrom, OL, Boston College
The Vikings offensive line has the potential to be a game of musical chairs before the season begins and they project to introduce another player early. I would expect Chris Lindstrom to come in and start at guard or possibly right tackle.
19 | Tennessee Titans — Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State
I feel like the Titans are one of the hardest teams to read in the first round because they can realistically go in any direction. That said, they were linked to Jeffery Simmons before his ACL injury and might still value him enough to draft him at #19.
20 | Pittsburgh Steelers — D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
Everyone expects D.K. Metcalf to be drafted in the first round and I think Pittsburgh is a potential landing spot. He has the size and straight-line speed that they tend to employ outside and he would enter into a situation where he can develop instead of dealing with the pressure to be WR1 right out of the gate.
21 | Seattle Seahawks — Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
The Seahawks were able to flip Frank Clark to the Chiefs, the key piece in return being Kansas City’s first-round selection at #29, but that makes Seattle’s first order of business drafting his replacement at #21. Clelin Ferrell may not have Clark’s ceiling, but he’s ready-made for a starting role in the NFL.
22 | Baltimore Ravens — Garrett Bradbury, C, North Carolina State
The Ravens could pursue an edge rusher or wide receiver here, but I venture their priority will be protecting QB Lamar Jackson and strengthening their running game now led by Mark Ingram. Garrett Bradbury would project to be their new starter at the pivot.
23 | Houston Texans — Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
The two glaring weaknesses for the Texans are the offensive line and the secondary. The cornerback position should stretch until their back-to-back selections in the second round, but offensive tackle will not. If they don’t attempt to trade up for one of the top three tackles, Little is the consolation prize.
24 | Oakland Raiders (via CHI) — Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
The Raiders don’t have much in the way of a weapon at the tight end position and Fant is exactly that. The Iowa product would fit in nicely as a matchup player alongside their remade receiving corps that now includes Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, and Ryan Grant.
25 | Philadelphia Eagles —Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
With a lingering shoulder issue, questions about his positional fit, and his lack of college production, I expect Gary will be drafted lower than his athletic profile would suggest. But, I feel like the Eagles might be the team to swoop in, bank on his potential, and attempt to groom him into an impact professional.
26 | Indianapolis Colts — Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
The Colts could be in the market for another front-line defender, but they’ve also been connected to Johnathan Abram, who would pair with Malik Hooker to give Indianapolis one of the better young safety tandems in the NFL.
27 | Oakland Raiders (via DAL) — Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple
I expect cornerback to be a target for the Raiders early, which could put any of the top prospects in play. While Mike Mayock’s voice as an analyst has been absent from draft coverage, I can just hear him raving about Rock Ya-Sin and jumping at the chance to drape him in the silver and black.
28 | Los Angeles Chargers — Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
If they don’t look to escape the first round with an offensive tackle, cornerback looks to be where need and value line up for the Chargers. Greedy Williams could be a steal for San Diego with his measurables and coverage skills.
29 | Seattle Seahawks (via KC) —Montez Sweat, RSH, Mississippi State
I have a feeling the Seahawks might elect to parlay the pick acquired from the Chiefs in a trade down to procure more draft assets. But if they stand in, I could see them double-dip at edge by taking Montez Sweat, whose stock is rumored to have fallen due to concerns about his known heart condition.
30 | Green Bay Packers (via NO) — A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
The Packers will probably give consideration to drafting an offensive or defensive lineman with their second first-round selection, but they could also choose to upgrade their pedestrian receiving corps by pairing A.J. Brown with Davante Adams.
31 | Los Angeles Rams — Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson
The Rams have multiple positions of reasonable need, including their offensive line and virtually every level of their defense. Seeing they’re short a second-round pick, trading out of the first round is also a possibility. If they stand in and pick, Dexter Lawrence makes sense to line up next to Aaron Donald, where he can draw double-team blocks and push the pocket with his power.
32 | New England Patriots — Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
The Patriots are loaded with draft capital, but I don’t expect them to make twelve picks over the course of seven rounds. Look for them to wheel and deal, possibly shooting up the board in the first round to draft a playmaker — perhaps the electric Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown.
Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX
