By Matt Papiernik
SteelerNation.com
Each week I will be updating this mock draft. As the draft approaches, I will be adding additional rounds as well.
1. Arizona Cardinals - Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
- Arizona may have the worst kept secret ever, as it is well known that they will be selecting Kyler Murray with the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. They already have a first round QB on their roster in Josh Rosen, but new coach Kevin Klingsbury wants to bring in his own QB.
2. San Francisco 49ers - Nick Bosa, DE/OLB, The Ohio State
- Bosa, similarly to his brother, leaves OSU after three seasons and did not disappoint. Although he missed his last season due to injury, it shouldn't cause him to slide down many, if any, draft boards. He is the most talented player in this class at a premium position, the 49ers will gladly take him at #2 overall.
3. New York Jets - Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
- This is likely to be a common spot where people talk about a trade-up for a QB, as teams may need to jump the Raiders in order to snag Dwayne Haskins or Drew Lock. However, if the Jets don't feel they're getting enough return, they can take arguably the best player in the class in Quinnen Williams. Williams offers a rare combination of strength and quickness, that most men his size just don't possess. Williams will be a welcome addition to the Jets front line, as their defense needs help in several areas.
4. Oakland Raiders - Josh Allen, DE/OLB, Kentucky
- The Raiders are considered to be a potential landing spot for one of the top quarterbacks. However, Dwayne Haskins appears to be falling down draft boards, and none of the other top prospects seem to be making a significant impression with the Raiders. However, the Raiders can take advantage of this draft class helping one of the worst pass rushes in the league. Bringing in an elite edge rusher could definitely change that, as Josh Allen has been dominate while at Kentucky. Allen lit up the combine and solidified himself atop the draft.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Rashan Gary, DT/DE, Michigan
- The Buccaneers were once viewed as a team that was trending up and just a couple pieces away from being able to make a deep playoff run. However, that no longer appears to be the case. With rumors of them possibly wanting to move on from Gerald McCoy, they could look to add another defensive lineman in Rashan Gary. Gary has some position flexibility, as he can play on the edge or kick inside. Wherever the Bucs choose to use him, he should be a big boost to their pass rush.
6. New York Giants - Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
- The Giants desperately need to find Eli Manning's replacement, but they seem content for now, and don't appear to love any of the quarterbacks in this draft. The Giants had horrible offensive line play this past season, as their right side struggled to do much of anything. One thing they can do to help change their team trajectory is protect their future signal caller, and help open running lanes for Saquon Barkley. Taylor is the top offensive lineman in the class, and possesses a nasty mean streak. Biggest knock on him has been his false start penalties, but that is something he should be able to resolve rather easily.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
- Jacksonville appeared to be on the cusp of a championship just two seasons ago. Now, they have replaced their "franchise" quarterback, and are having to make some cap decisions on aging players. Their defense is still mostly intact, but they do need additional people who can get after the quarterback, especially on the edge. Here they grab one of the most productive edge rusher in the draft in Montez Sweat. Sweat managed almost 30 tackles for loss over his two years in Mississippi, and really improved his stock with a great combine performance.
8. Detroit Lions - Christian Wilkins, DE/DT, Clemson
- The Detroit Lions are going to need some help upfront on defense this year, as they are likely losing Ezekiel Ansah to free agency, and Damon Harrison is already stating he wants a new contract. Christian Wilkins can definitely help fortify their front line. Wilkens possesses a quick burst off of the LOS and a great first punch. He plays both the run and the pass extremely well, and helped lead a fierce Clemson defense for several seasons.
9. Buffalo Bills - Ed Olver, DT, Houston
- The Bills definitely need more help on offense than defense, but there simply is too much defensive talent in this draft to pass up on a potential elite player. Ed Oliver may have the highest upside of any players in this draft class, and was once in the conversation for the number one overall pick. Some motor issues and slight character issues have dropped him a few spots on many people's boards, but there is no denying his rare combination of size and speed.
10. Denver Broncos - Devin White, LB, LSU
- The Broncos seem to be stuck between trying to compete for a playoff spot, and wanting to rebuild. They don't have a clear answer at quarterback even after trading for Joe Flacco, and they are slowly losing pieces to free agency. Yet, they still have a lot of talented pieces which keeps them out of the running for top quarterbacks without trading up. Here they can select Devin White who fills a massive need for them. The Broncos lost both Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan over the last two off-seasons. White is the top middle linebacker in this class, and can be an instant impact player in the middle of the Broncos' defense.
11. Cincinnati Bengals - Dwayne Haskins, QB, The Ohio State
- The Bengals, like the Broncos, are stuck between competing and rebuilding. Part of that last year was due to injuries, but it is also due to Andy Dalton not ever developing into a top tier quarterback. With new coaching regimes usually comes a new quarterback, unless there is a great one already in place, which isn't the case here. There are rumors flying around that Dwayne Haskins may never been as high on team's draft boards as the media indicated. However, it is clear he is the number two quarterback in this class, if not the number one.
12. Green Bay Packers - TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa
- The Green Bay Packers have been very aggressive in free agency and were able to address many holes on their defense. However, they still lack proven weapons outside of Davante Adams for Aaron Rodgers to throw to. They can address that need here by getting the top tight end in the draft, TJ Hockenson. Iowa has two tight ends that might go in the first round, but Hockenson is definitely the superior of the two right now. He is a great all-around tight end, who can block and be a threat down the seam for Rodgers.
13. Miami Dolphins - Cody Ford, OG/OT, Oklahoma
- The Dolphins appear to be officially entering their rebuild, as they traded away their starting quarterback. They currently don't have a top pick, so unless they are willing to trade up, or they fall in love with one of the lower ranked QBs, it is unlikely they take one in the opening round. If that happens to be the case, they should just build their roster from the inside out, and that is what they do here getting the best interior offensive lineman in the class. Cody Ford has the ability to play all positions on the offensive line, but he is best suited on the interior, where he can help fortify Miami's offensive front.
14. Atlanta Falcons - Brian Burns, DE/OLB, Florida State
- The Atlanta Falcons are only a couple years removed from being an elite team. They need another player to get after the quarterback. Brian Burns has three years of good production, and uses his great size and speed to beat tackles around the edge. Burns does have a small build and does have questions to answer if he can hold up against the run, but he should be able to make an immediate impact in passing situations.
15. Washington Redskins - Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
- The Washington Redskins thought they traded for their new franchise quarterback in Alex Smith, but unfortunately he suffered a gruesome leg injury and his career may be over. They have since traded for Case Keenum, but he is nothing more than a stop-gap. The best QB available at this point is Drew Lock, and the Redskins are likely hoping no one trades up for him. Lock has put up big numbers during his time at Missouri, and greatly helped his stock returning to school. He improved is accuracy and decision making in his final season, which will help him become a starter sooner rather than later.
16. Carolina Panthers - Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
- The Panthers need to have one goal this off-season, protect Cam Newton. Newton has constantly been running for his life the last couple years, and not by design. Newton has struggled with his health at times due to his physical nature, so keeping him lean on designed pass plays will greatly help. Andrew Dillard profiles as an athletic left tackle who excels in pass protection. Adding him to the Panthers offensive line would help give Cam time in the pocket.
17. New York Giants (via Cleveland Browns) - DK Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
- The Giants appear set on letting Eli Manning continue to play no matter how bad his play gets. Even if it costs them some talented players along the way. The Giants traded away a top wide receiver to get this pick, and they select the top wide receiver in the draft in DK Metcalf. Metcalf is a freak of nature physically, as he looks more like a linebacker at times than a receiver. Metcalf is far from a perfect prospect however, as he has a lot of work to do to refine his route running. However, with the Giants rebuilding, he'll be given plenty of time to work on his craft.
18. Minnesota Vikings - Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
- The Vikings offensive line was in shambles last season, as Kirk Cousins was running for his life, and their running game was very suspect. They need multiple upgrades along the front line, but Devin bush is a very promising talent that is too good to pass on. The Vikings second biggest need is a middle linebacker, and here they fill that need. Bush has incredible speed for the position and was all over the field for the Wolverines. He lacks ideal size, and there are some questions on his instincts, but his physical talents are too much to pass up on in today's NFL that requires linebackers to be able to defend the pass very well in order to be successful.
19. Tennessee Titans - Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
- The Tennessee Titans are a couple pieces away from being a really good team, along with some better luck in the health department from their starting quarterback. One area that they need help in is their secondary, as their secondary has some big names, but performance was very underwhelming last season. Byron Murphy can be a nice plug and play player for the Titans going into 2019. Murphy is by no means an elite athlete, but he does have a great feel for the game with rare instincts. He plays the ball tremendously in the air and is always a threat to create a turnover. He lacks ideal size, but his play making should help him overcome those shortcomings.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Clelin Ferrell, DE/OLB, Clemson
- The Steelers are being counted out by several members of the media this year, but they still have an elite quarterback, and are likely to have a top offense again. Ideally one of the top middle linebackers would fall to them here, or they would trade up. However, landing a top pass rusher is a nice consolation prize. Clelin Ferrell had opposing quarterbacks constantly on the ground while playing for the Tigers. He played mostly with his hand on the ground for them, but he has the athleticism to transition to a stand up outside linebacker in the NFL depending on scheme.
21. Seattle Seahawks - Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
- Seattle has holes on defense to sure up, but they also have needs on the offensive side of the ball as well. While their offensive line improved last season, there is still a lot of work to do there. Jonah Williams is a very experienced player who can help them immediately improve. Williams played left tackle at Alabama, but with his size and technique, he likely will be able to play anywhere upfront they need him outside of center.
22. Baltimore Ravens - Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
- The Baltimore Ravens completely changed their philosophy this past season, mostly due to switching to new franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson. They have went with a run heavy scheme utilizing multiple tight ends and a limited passing game. This leads to the need of a wide receiver that can make plays in space, and Marquise Brown can do just that. Marquise, the cousin of Antonio Brown, is a dynamic player who possesses great speed and quickness, and is able to get a lot of yards after the catch. In Baltimore's offense there won't be a ton of passing down the field, so Brown's ability to catch the ball at the line and gain big chunks of yards will be critical.
23. Houston Texans - Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College
- The Houston Texans have some star power on both sides of the ball and are capable of making big plays. However, they struggle at one of the most important things for a top NFL team which is protecting their star quarterback. They have needs at both tackle and guard, but any offensive tackle right now could be considered a reach, and Chris Lindstrom is good value here. Lindstrom is very athletic and is able to move laterally to counter interior rushers. He also pairs well with the zone run scheme that the Texans like to run with his ability to move laterally.
24. Oakland Raiders (via Chicago Bears) - Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
- With the second of the Raiders three first round picks, they add an offensive weapon in Josh Jacobs. The Raiders lack a three down running back, and Jacobs can carry a heavy workload for them. He is a very decisive runner and gets up field quickly once he picks his lane. He is also a great threat out of the backfield, and has the ability to line up in the sot if needed. The only knock on Jacobs is his top end speed, but that shouldn't be an issue as he develops into the workhorse for the Raiders.
25. Philadelphia Eagles - Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
- The Eagles number one need is far and away the cornerback position. They have Ronald Darby coming off a torn ACL, and have gotten inconsistent play from anyone outside of him. Deandre Baker is a press man-to-man corner who excels when jamming opposing wideouts at the line of scrimmage. Over the past two seasons Baker has not allowed a single touchdown while playing for the Bulldogs, which is a pretty incredible feat. Baker had a poor combine and that hurt is stock, but he has shown to be able to overcome his testing numbers to this point.
26. Indianapolis Colts - Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
- The Indianapolis Colts have a lack of outside talent both on offense and defense, but here they are able to snag one of the top interior defensive talents in Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence was once considered to be a top ten pick, but his potential didn't result in increased production. He has a rare combination of size and speed, as he ran his 40 yard dash in just over five seconds, at 340lbs. The Colts do have a hole to fill on the interior as well, as they released Jonathan Hankins last off-season, and failed to adequately find a replacement.
27. Oakland Raiders (via Dallas Cowboys) - Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
- The Oakland Raiders add another weapon to their offensive arsenal in Noah Fant. Fant has the acceleration and speed of a wide receiver, but the body of a tight end, which caused consistent mismatches in college. He currently lacks the technique and strength to be an inline blocker, but that is something that can be easily added throughout the first few years of his career. Jon Gruden loved using Jared Cook as a mismatch last season, and he can use Fant in a similar fashion.
28. Los Angeles Chargers - Dre'Mont Jones, DT, The Ohio State
- The Chargers have some top tier players on defense, but do have a hole in the middle of their defensive line. Dre'Mont Jones is able to fill the hole, and should be able to do so early on in his career. Jones is a quick, gap-shooting, three-technique defensive tackle that is very disruptive with his ability to get into the opponents backfield. In his last season at Ohio State, his potential finally turned into production as tallied 13.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. He needs to add more weight, specifically to his lower body, and work on his technique, but there is no doubting his upside.
29. Kansas City Chiefs - Parris Campbell, WR, The Ohio State
- The Kansas City Chiefs had one of the most explosive offenses in the league, but definitely have holes that are appearing. They cut their star running back after a video emerged of him striking a woman, and their star wide receiver Tyreek Hill is being investigated again by authorities. They need to add a wide receiver regardless of the outcome with Hill, so here they can grab another speedy receiver in Parris Campbell. Campbell was a track star in high school, and blazed at the combine with a 4.31s 40 yard dash. Campbell didn't use his speed to get deep often in college, as he was mostly featured on screens and shallow crosses to run away from defenders. If he can develop his route tree he can easily become the top wide receiver out of this draft class.
30. Green Bay Packers (via New Orleans Saints) - Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
- The Green Bay Packers strangely trade away HaHa Clinton-Dix during the middle of last season, that paired with not resigning Morgan Burnett last off-season, left holes in the back end of their secondary. They can help fill that void by adding the top safety in the draft class here, Johnathan Abram. Abram is a physical strong safety who excels at run support and keeping plays in front of him. Abram also does a solid job at covering opposing tight ends down the seam, which is very important in today's NFL. He does struggle matching up against slot receivers or in zone, but he can make an immediate impact with his other skills while those continue to develop.
31. Los Angeles Rams - Garrett Bradbury, C/OG, North Carolina State
- The Los Angeles Rams used a lot of resources and money last off-season in order to take a shot at a championship. It almost worked, as they ended up losing in the Super Bowl. They do not currently have any huge gaping holes on their roster right now, so they an address a lesser need, which is an interior offensive lineman. Bradbury put on a show at the combine and is a great athlete. Bradbury has good strength and technique which enables him to drive opposing lineman off of the line of scrimmage. He is on the smaller side, but as long as he keeps his technique in form, that shouldn't hurt him.
32. New England Patriots - Jeffery Simmons, DE/DT, Mississippi State
- The New England Patriots yet again won the Super Bowl. Yet again, they snag a falling prospect here in Jeffery Simmons. Simmons tore his ACL while training for the combine, which will likely delay his start to the season, if not cause him to miss it all together. However, he was considered a top ten pick before the injury. Simmons has elite athleticism for an interior lineman, and consistently was able to get around opposing guards with raw talent. He needs some improvement on his instincts, as he doesn't have a tremendous feel for the game at times. Some teams ma have taken him off their draft board all together due to an incident back in 2016, but that likely won't be the case as he falls to the end of the first/early second.
Rounds 2 and 3 on next page
33. Arizona Cardinals - Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
34. Indianapolis Colts (via New York Jet) - N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
35. Oakland Raiders - Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
36. San Francisco 49ers - Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
37. New York Giants - Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
38. Jacksonville Jaguars - Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
40. Buffalo Bills - Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington
41. Denver Broncos - Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
42. Cincinnati Bengals - Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
43. Detroit Lions - A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
44. Green Bay Packers - Chase Winovich, OLB, Michigan
45. Atlanta Falcons - Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
46. Washington Redskins - JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford
47. Carolina Panthers - Eric McCoy, C/OG, Texas A&M
48. Miami Dolphins - Zach Allen, DE/DT, Boston College
49. Cleveland Browns - Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State
50. Minnesota Vikings - Elgton Jenkins, C/OG, Mississippi State
51. Tennessee Titans - Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
52. Pittsburgh Steelers - Darnell Savage Jr., S, Maryland
53. Philadelphia Eagles (via Baltimore Ravens) - Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State
54. Houston Texans (via Seattle Seahawks) - Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
55. Houston Texans - Damien Harris, RB, Alabama
56. New England Patriots (via Chicago Bears) - Riley Ridley, WR, Geogia
57. Philadelphia Eagles - Bobby Okereke, LB, Stanford
58. Indianapolis Colts - Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple
59. Dallas Cowboys - Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
60. San Diego Chargers - Michael Deiter, C/OG, Wisconsin
61. Kansas City Chiefs - Amani Hooker, S, Iowa
62. New Orleans Saints - Jachai Polite, OLB/DE, Florida
63. Kansas City Chiefs - Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame
64. New England Patriots - Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn
Round 3
65. Arizona Cardinals - Renell Wren, DE/DT, Arizona State
66. Pittsburgh Steelers - Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
67. San Francisco 49ers -Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida
68. New York Jets - Kelvin Harmon, WR, North Carolina State
69. Jacksonville Jaguars - Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
70. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - L.J. Collier, DE/OLB, TCU
71. Denver Broncos - Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State
72. Cincinnati Bengals - Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson
73. New England Patriots - Germaine Pratt, LB, North Carolina State
74. Buffalo Bills - David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State
75. Green Bay Packers - Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
76. Washington Redskins - Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion
77. Carolina Panthers - Nasir Adderly, S, Delaware
78. Miami Dolphins - Ryan Finley, QB, North Carolina State
79. Atlanta Falcons - Lonnie Johnson Jr, CB, Kentucky
80. Cleveland Browns - Chuma Edoga, OT, USC
81. Minnesota Vikings - Ben Banogu, DE/OLB, TCU
82. Tennessee Titans - Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M
83. Pittsburgh Steelers - Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State
84. Seattle Seahawks - Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt
85. Baltimore Ravens - Dru Samia, OG/C, Oklahoma
86. Houston Texans - Josh Oliver, TE, San Jose State
87. Chicago Bears - David Long, CB, Michigan
88. Detroit Lions - Marvell Tell, S, USC
89. Indianapolis Colts - Terry McLaurin, WR, The Ohio State
90. Dallas Cowboys - Kahale Warring, TE, San Diego State
91. Los Angeles Chargers - Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida
92. Kansas City Chiefs - Ben Powers, C/OG, Oklahoma
93. New York Jets - Miles Boykin, WR, Notre Dame
94. Los Angeles Rams - Christian Miller, DE/OLB, Alabama
95. New York Giants - D'Andre Walker, OLB/DE, Georgia
96. Washington Redskins - Cameron Smith, LB, USC
97. New England Patriots - Dawson Knox, TE, Ole Miss
98. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn
99. Los Angeles Rams - Jaquan Johnson, S, Miami
100. Carolina Panthers - Emanuel Hall, WR, Missouri
101. New England Patriots - Trysten Hill, DT, Central Florida
102. Baltimore Ravens - Justin Hollins, DE/OLB, Oregon
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