Lammey Mock Draft 3.0: Broncos land highly-touted DL, but not at No. 10

Everyone loves mock drafts. Well, everyone loves to hate them. But my second mock draft, released last month, never stood a chance. I had the Denver Broncos selecting offensive tackle Jonah Williams (Alabama) with the No. 10-overall pick, which seemed reasonable at the time. But the very next day after my mock draft 2.0 dropped, Denver added offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James in free agency, thus negating the need for a right tackle in the first round.

My third mock comes out on April Fools’ Day, so it’s fitting that we get a little foolish with these projections.

This mock draft follows the beginning period of free agency and with about a month left before the 2019 NFL Draft. Teams have mostly filled holes with free agents, if possible, and now they begin the process of doing mock drafts to help build their draft board.

This is a “what if” mock draft with trades galore. Most of these picks will be wrong, but it’s fun to see what kind of buzz is out there about teams, along with their interest and their willingness to maneuver up or down in the first round.

I will do one more mock draft before the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville, Tennessee, at the end of this month.

1. San Francisco 49ers (projected trade with Arizona Cardinals) — Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State

The worst kept secret in the league is the 49ers interest in Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa. The Cardinals have shown a bit of interest in Bosa, so the 49ers don’t hesitate and move up one spot to get their man.

2. Arizona Cardinals (projected trade with San Francisco 49ers) — Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

The Cardinals played the game and won. Their interest in Nick Bosa was serious but not as serious as their desire to draft Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. They move down one spot, and according to the trade value chart, should get a second-round pick in exchange for that move.

3. Detroit Lions (projected trade with the New York Jets) — Quinnen Williams, DE, Alabama

The Lions are in a good spot to get a premium player at no.8 overall but that’s nowhere near close enough to get a talent like Quinnen Williams. Even though Lions blogs don’t want them to, the team moves up to add even more talent to the defensive line. They acquired Trey Flowers in free agency, and Williams is a great player to pair with the veteran and certainly emboldens their pass rush.

4. Oakland Raiders – T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa

The Raiders let Jared Cook go in free agency to the New Orleans Saints. They’ve acquired wide receiver Antonio Brown via trade with the Steelers but they’re not done adding quality weapons to the passing game. Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson’s draft stock has been soaring since January and he seems to be cemented as a top-10 pick. The Raiders like him so much, they scoop him up with their first of three first-round picks in the 2019 NFL draft.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devin White, ILB, LSU

The Buccaneers are locked in on Devin White at no.5 overall. They let Kwon Alexander move on in free agency earlier this year, clearing the way for White to be their pick. Any team that wants White (like the Broncos perhaps) will have to move in front of Tampa to secure the young prospect.

6. New York Giants – Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky

Most every mock draft under the sun has Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins going off the board here. In fact, both of my first two mock drafts featured that selection. It may be a smokescreen, but as we get closer to the draft it seems like the Giants aren’t as in love with Haskins as many thought they would – or should – be. They get a tremendous pass-rusher in Josh Allen, a prospect who gets after the quarterback with a relentless motor. Now that they have two first-round picks (thanks to trading away Odell Beckham Jr.), the Giants have flexibility in the draft.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

In this mock, we are going to have some fun and explore picks that go against conventional wisdom. With Nick Foles added to be their starting quarterback in free agency, hardly anyone would guess the team goes with a quarterback in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. They probably won’t make this pick, but I’ve heard from people that I trust the Jaguars are enamored with Haskins and could take him to groom behind Foles. We shall see!

8. New York Jets (projected trade with the Detroit Lions) — Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan

The Jets have been shopping their third-overall pick for quite some time and in this mock they got the Lions to bite. Moving back proves to work out wonderfully for the team as Rashan Gary falls to them. Gary had just 10.5 sacks over three seasons, so the team is drafting him and projecting that his rare physical gifts will finally equal big-time production in the pros.

9. Buffalo Bills – Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State

The Bills could go in a number of different directions here. They add to their pass rush when a phenomenal player who has set the pre-draft process on fire. Sweat ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at 260 pounds at the Scouting Combine earlier this year. There’s little chance he falls this far, but you just never know.

10. Washington Redskins (projected trade with Denver Broncos) — Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

With Broncos head coach Vic Fangio proclaiming that neither Devin White nor Devin Bush to be as good as Roquan Smith (the first-round linebacker he coached last year with the Bears), the Broncos go ahead and move back. Washington has been desperate for quarterback help, and they’ve already traded with the Broncos once before this offseason – for Case Keenum. This time, the trade with Denver nets them their quarterback of the future. Lock will compete with Keenum and Colt McCoy for the starting job but there is little doubt he will one day take over as the leader of the team.

11. Cincinnati Bengals – Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan

The Bengals are finally without long-time inside linebacker Vontaze Burfict as the team released him a couple of weeks ago. They’ll add Devin Bush to the mix here, likely with quality results. Bush is smart, seems to always be around the ball and has natural leadership ability. He’s a three-down player who can play a variety of linebacker positions.

12. Green Bay Packers – Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

The Packers let Randall Cobb move on in free agency. They have big wide receivers behind Davante Adams to move up with the depth chart, but they could use more speed and playmaking ability at the position. That’s where ‘Hollywood’ Brown comes into play. He had Lisfranc surgery but has been cleared to run in his recovery and Adam Schefter projects that Brown could be back for post-draft minicamp.

13. Miami Dolphins – Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

The Dolphins may have wanted a quarterback here but the top three have already been selected. They instead add talent to the offensive line. The Dolphins lost Ja’Wuan James in free agency, so they have a need to fill and Jawaan Taylor does just that. Taylor is a road-grading right tackle who brings toughness and an intimidation factor to the field.

14. Atlanta Falcons – Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

The Falcons can go a number of different directions with this pick. They go with a player in Jonah Williams who can step in and start at right tackle over Ty Sambrailo. Williams is smart, understands blocking angles and has the versatility to play multiple positions on the offensive line.

15. Denver Broncos (projected trade with Washington Redskins) — Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

The Broncos move back in this mock and still get a top-10 talent in Ed Oliver, defensive tackle from Houston. There is no doubt that Oliver is one of the most disruptive players in this defensive talent-laden draft.

Oliver regularly draws comparisons to Aaron Donald, but NFL.com compares him to Michael Dean Perry. There is some concern about his frame being maxed out at 280 pounds and whether or not he should play shade nose tackle or three-technique on the defensive line. Some also believe with his incredible athleticism that Oliver could play inside linebacker at the pro level.

No matter where he plays for the Broncos, head coach Vic Fangio should be able to get the most out of Oliver. That is a dangerous projection for the rest of the NFL.

16. Carolina Panthers – Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

The Panthers need to get better up front on defense, and that’s where Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell comes in. He’s overcome a lot to get to this point, and that tireless work ethic will come in handy at the pro level. Ferrell can set the edge and get after the quarterback with prototypical size and strength for the defensive end position.

17. New York Giants (via Cleveland Browns) — Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

The Giants have a second first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft since they traded away wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Some would think a wide receiver to replace Beckham would be the call here. That makes sense, but so does continuing to add defensive talent. Wilkins is a plug-and-play defender with massive size and the ability to push the pocket.

18. Minnesota Vikings – Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma

The Vikings offensive line needs a ton of work – and they just can’t avoid taking an offensive lineman in the first round. Ford is seen as a player who could play tackle at the pro level. However, some think the safer bet is to play him inside at guard where he can use his strength and athleticism to dominate.

19. Tennessee Titans – Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson

The Titans are in need of defensive help. Good thing the 2019 NFL draft is chock full of talent on that side of the ball. Lawrence is capable of playing in multiple defensive fronts and he’s known as a run-stuffer up front with limited moves to get to the quarterback.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

The Steelers need help in the secondary, and that can’t be ignored. Byron Murphy is not the biggest, strongest or fastest cornerback in the 2019 NFL draft. He may be the best ballhawk of the group, however, and that nose for the ball should help the Steelers defense put up a better fight when attacked through the air.

21. Seattle Seahawks – Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State

Seattle’s offensive line is a work in progress. Dalton Risner can play multiple positions across the offensive line. There is a debate about if his best position is inside at guard or outside at right tackle. No matter where Risner lines up, he has the aggression to dominate.

22. Baltimore Ravens – D.K. Metcalf, WR, Mississippi

The Ravens need playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. They are going to use quarterback Lamar Jackson mostly as a runner with free agent addition Mark Ingram pounding the rock as the lead running back. They will go to the air at times, and that’s where the need for wide receiver help comes in. D.K. Metcalf doesn’t run a ton of routes, but he’s big, fast and can run ‘go’ routes to get open. He makes for the perfect deep target for Jackson.

23. Houston Texans – Greg Little, OT, Mississippi

The Texans could use a player like offensive tackle Greg Little. Some in the scouting community consider Little the prototypical left tackle prospect. He brings basketball agility to the offensive line and is tough for pass rushers to get around. Protecting quarterback Deshaun Watson better is a must in 2019.

24. Oakland Raiders (via Chicago Bears) – Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

The Raiders go with secondary help here. A month ago, Greedy Williams would never be on the board this far into the first day of selection. Now, there are some mock drafts that have Williams falling out of the first round. Williams has good length and recovery speed but teams may hold it against him that he’s not known as a motivated tackler.

25. Philadelphia Eagles – Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State

The Eagles are regularly mocked a running back at this position, but they just traded the Bears for Jordan Howard last week. With that need filled, the Eagles look for secondary help. Abram is a hard-hitting safety who brings an attitude to the field the Eagles need more of.

26. Indianapolis Colts – N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State

The Colts made a head-scratching move in free agency when they added wide receiver Devin Funchess on a one-year deal. That doesn’t solve their need at the position, so they look to the draft for more help. N’Keal Harry is a big-bodied prospect who has a run-after-the-catch ability. The Colts passing game uses T.Y. Hilton to stretch the field, and they could use Harry to damage defenses on underneath routes.

27. Oakland Raiders (via Dallas Cowboys) – Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida

The Raiders continue to add intense players with attitude in the first round. 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.

28. Los Angeles Chargers – Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame

The Chargers have been pushed around on defense, but that stops if they add a guy like Tillery in the first round. Tillery is huge and disruptive in the middle of the defensive line. He can be a dominant player at the pro level on all three downs.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Garrett Bradbury, C, North Carolina State

The Chiefs lost center Mitch Morse in free agency and need help up front. Bradbury is a versatile player with many starts at guard and center. He is a former tight end and brings that athleticism to the offensive line. He could be a quality 10-year starter in the NFL.

30. Green Bay Packers (via New Orleans Saints) – Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State

With their second first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, the Packers add to their pass rush with Brian Burns. During his college career at Florida State, Burns brought a basketball skill set to the football field. He’s tough to get blocked as he’s slippery when getting after the quarterback.

31. Los Angeles Rams – DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia

There is no way DeAndre Baker should be here for the Rams, but in this mock, he is available and makes for a no-brainer pick. Baker can learn from the best in the game like Aqib Talib and work his way onto the field as the Rams no.3 corner as a rookie.

32. New England Patriots – Irv Smith Jr, TE, Alabama

The Patriots lost tight end Rob Gronkowski to retirement and are lucky that Smith falls to them at the end of the first round. Smith is a versatile player who can line up in multiple spots and reminds some in the scouting community of former Patriots tight end (and 2004 first-round pick) Ben Watson.