Who does Cecil Lammey have the Broncos taking in his Mock Draft 1.0?
Feb 25, 2019, 7:25 AM
Everyone loves mock drafts. Actually, everyone loves to hate mock drafts. But it’s that time of year where, once again, I release my first mock draft of the season.
This mock draft was done right before I leave for the NFL Scouting Combine. The information gathered during my annual “All-Star Road Trip” (East-West Shrine Game, Reese’s Senior Bowl) is quite reliable, and the Combine is the last time that good information can be had. After that, it seems agents and NFL teams will float a lot of misinformation as they jockey for position.
I will do three more mock drafts before the 2019 NFL draft in Nashville, Tennessee, at the end of April. There will be some “what if?” scenarios examined in those mocks, but this mock is straight forward and a projection of what I think these teams will do in the first round.
Hold onto your hats and get ready to fire up the keyboard in response to my first 2019 mock draft.
- Arizona Cardinals — Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
I know everyone thinks the Cardinals will make a splash here with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Kyler Murray, but he’s not the best player in this class. Williams is.
Arizona’s defense gets an immediate upgrade with a dominant and intimidating presence who should make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable early and often.
- San Francisco 49ers — Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The 49ers have had some impact defensive linemen over the years, and Bosa will fit right into that category.
Bosa, the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, should be an elite pass rusher from his first start in the pros.
- New York Jets — Josh Allen, edge, Kentucky
I fully expect this pick to be up for grabs, as the Jets don’t have a second-round pick this year after trading it away in the package to move up for quarterback Sam Darnold last year.
If they stay at this spot, getting a pass rusher is a must. Allen is fast off the edge and one of the most disruptive players in this draft.
- Oakland Raiders — Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
This is another spot where quarterback Kyler Murray could land, as I’ve heard since early January that the Raiders like him a lot.
With three first-round picks in 2019, the Raiders avoid the hype of a quarterback and go with a supremely athletic edge player in Sweat.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan
The Buccaneers have a ton of work to get done with new head coach Bruce Arians. With this pick, I believe they’ll get new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles one of the most versatile players in this draft and go with Gary.
Gary can set the edge as an end or move inside on third downs to get penetrations as a rusher. A 2018 shoulder injury will be examined closely at the Scouting Combine this week.
- New York Giants — Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
This is the worst kept secret in the league, and perhaps the one pick that is the same in almost every mock draft out there.
Haskins is seen as the best quarterback in this draft class, and the Giants need to find someone they can turn the offense over to when they figure out what to do with the aging Eli Manning.
- Jacksonville Jaguars — Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
It’s a quarterback run.
Once seen as a late first-round pick, Lock had a solid Senior Bowl earlier this year and has moved up into the top-10 conversation.
The Jaguars messed up and paid Blake Bortles last year. Here they work to correct that mistake with the selection of Lock, who could be a franchise quarterback.
- Detroit Lions — T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
After letting Eric Ebron go last year, the Lions have been looking for an impact tight end. Hockenson is the best tight end in this class and worthy of a top-10 selection.
Hockenson can block with authority, but he is a fine receiving option where he can get open from an in-line stance or from the slot.
- Buffalo Bills — D.K. Metcalf, WR, Mississippi
The Bills need to find a quality receiving weapon for second-year quarterback Josh Allen.
Metcalf will need to have his neck injury from 2018 checked out at the Combine, but a clean bill of health means he could be the first wide receiver off the board, as he is here.
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LSU linebacker Devin White. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Denver Broncos — Devin White, ILB, LSU
Having White fall to No. 10 is a perfect scenario for both sides. I think he’s a top-three player in this draft, but the need (see: desperation) at quarterback with teams in front of the Broncos could push White within their range.
White is the best inside linebacker in this class, and he can play on all three downs. He could step right in and start for the Broncos under head coach Vic Fangio.
Last year with the Bears, Fangio took top-10 linebacker Roquan Smith and made him into a star. I fully expect White to follow in that path if the Broncos get him in the first round, even if they have to move up to get him.
- Cincinnati Bengals — Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama
New Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has to find a threat at the tight end position. They haven’t had an impact player at the position in quite some time, as Tyler Eifert, who is set to be a free agent, has failed to stay healthy over the last few years.
Smith is still somewhat raw at the position, but a Pro Bowl upside is there due to his build up speed and athleticism.
- Green Bay Packers — Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
Finding better edge rushers is a must for the Packers defense, and Ferrell is a game-wrecking defensive end who can win with strength and quickness.
The Packers have another first-round pick later in this draft where they can address needs on offense, but Ferrell is too good to slide much further.
- Miami Dolphins — Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Murray goes off the board to a team that is going to face a lengthy rebuilding process, including a 2019 season where they might tank.
The Dolphins haven’t had a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino, and they hope Murray can be that guy. Murray is small but elusive and has a strong arm where he can flick the ball off platform and get it downfield in a hurry.
He may not work out, but Murray will have South Beach buzzing about his potential.
- Atlanta Falcons — Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
It’s a three-corner league now, and Williams should not fall this far. He’s the best corner in this draft class in my opinion, mainly due to his length and nose for the ball.
Williams can be a dominant force in coverage, working well with veteran Desmond Trufant and last year’s second-round pick Isaiah Oliver.
- Washington Redskins — Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
There is no question that Washington is in the market for a quarterback. We may never see last year’s starter Alex Smith play football again after a horrific leg injury suffered in the 2018 season.
Jones did not look like a first-round quarterback at the Senior Bowl practices earlier this year. His upside as a smart pocket passer is what attracts the Redskins to this pick.
- Carolina Panthers — Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
The Panthers could use some help on the defensive line, especially with defensive end Mario Addison entering the final year of his contract.
Oliver is a top-10 talent but may fall a bit due to perceived attitude issues. He’s regularly, and unfairly, compared to Aaron Donald. But Oliver is a disruptive force who needs to impress in the interview process at the Combine.
- Cleveland Browns — Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
Why not get quarterback Baker Mayfield more weapons on offense?
Brown is incredibly elusive and makes defenders miss with ease. As a sophomore, he was a 1,000-yard receiver with Mayfield tossing him the rock with the Sooners. It would be interesting if they got to try and duplicate that success in the pros.
- Minnesota Vikings — Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
The Vikings need a ton of help on the offensive line.
Williams doesn’t weigh a ton — 305 pounds — but is the best offensive tackle prospect in this class. Adding him as a Day One starter should give quarterback Kirk Cousins much better protection.
- Tennessee Titans — Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
That’s right, two Iowa tight ends could go off the board in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Fant isn’t as strong a blocker as Hockenson, but he’s sound in his technique and a fine receiving option who draws comparisons in the scouting community to Eric Ebron.
The Titans need to add talent at the position with an aging Delanie Walker, and Fant should push Jonnu Smith for snaps immediately.
- Pittsburgh Steelers — Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan
The Steelers have historically found great linebackers in the draft, and Bush would fit right in with what they do.
Bush is fantastic when it comes to finding the ball and getting to the play in a hurry, and with plenty of natural violence.
- Seattle Seahawks — Greg Little, OT, Mississippi
Seattle’s offensive line still has work to do in order to better protect quarterback Russell Wilson and blast open holes for its rushing attack. Enter Little, who is anything but at 325 pounds.
Little is an earth-moving tackle as a run-blocker, and he covers a lot of ground with his kick slide in pass protection.
- Baltimore Ravens — Jachai Polite, OLB, Florida
The Ravens have a need for youth when it comes to their pass rushers. Terrell Suggs is no spring chicken and set to be a free agent (although the Ravens should keep him around for 2019).
Polite is one of the most feared edge rushers in this draft class. He gets off the line quickly and led the nation with six forced fumbles in 2018 in addition to racking up 11 sacks.
- Houston Texans — Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State
The Texans need to do a better job of protecting franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Risner was one of the most impressive prospects, regardless of position, at the Senior Bowl earlier this year. The closest thing you’ll find, attitude-wise, to Quenton Nelson, Risner brings a nastiness to the field that opponents will fear.
- Oakland Raiders (via Chicago Bears) — Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
The Raiders will double up on defensive prospects with their first two picks. Oakland’s secondary needs help, especially playing in the AFC West against the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Philip Rivers.
Baker may struggle against larger receivers, but he certainly is a feisty player who doesn’t back down from any challenge.
- Philadelphia Eagles — Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
The Eagles are likely to let Ronald Darby move on in free agency, and that creates a hole in the secondary that must be filled. That’s the reasoning behind the pick of Murphy here.
Murphy is a playmaking ball hawk who can get his hands on the ball.
- Indianapolis Colts — N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
The Colts are in a Super Bowl window, but they need more weapons in their passing attack.
Harry could provide big-play potential for Andrew Luck with an elite size-speed combination. Some say he doesn’t get enough separation in his routes, but Harry attacks the ball in the air and consistently wins at the point of the catch.
- Oakland Raiders (via Dallas Cowboys) — Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
That makes three defensive picks for the Raiders in the first round.
Wilkins gives them strength up front with a non-stop motor. He’s a versatile player who shined both at end and tackle during his days in college at Clemson.
- Los Angeles Chargers — Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Back-to-back Tigers go here, although their games are a bit different.
The Chargers are getting an anchor in the middle of the defensive line with Lawrence. He may not add much in the way of interior pressure on the passer, but he certainly won’t get pushed around.
- Kansas City Chiefs — Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
This is the only running back I’ve got going in the first round.
The Chiefs have a supremely talented quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, but they need a ground game that can threaten a defense. That was lost when Kareem Hunt was released last year, and that is back in place with a bruiser like Jacobs in the first round this year.
- Green Bay Packers (via New Orleans Saints) — Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
A wrist injury, which needed surgery, in February doesn’t knock a playmaker like Thompson out of the first round.
The Packers need help in their secondary, and Thompson should be ready in time for minicamp later this year.
- Los Angeles Rams — Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
The Rams could move on from Ndamukong Suh, letting him walk in free agency after signing him to a one-year deal last offseason. That creates a need for a defensive tackle, and Tillery would be a great fit for a Wade Phillips defense.
He’s huge and provides an interior pass rush that could be almost unfair when teamed up with Aaron Donald inside.
- New England Patriots — Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
New England has two second-round picks, and they might try to get Grier in that spot. I fully expect the Patriots to start planning for the future, again, and that’s what makes Grier an option here.
Grier ran a version of the “Air Raid” offense in college and is accurate enough to work the short-to-intermediate passing game effectively.
