Let me just get this in there straight away; there’s no way I think this happens, I’m not saying it *at all* I’m just saying, now he’s measured at 5’10 and 207 lbs, what if Kyler Murray does go off the board at number one overall… what IF the Cards did take him or traded back for a Kings-bury’s ransom?!
I’ve also included a few other juicy picks for you all. Enjoy!
- Cardinals – Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Look, if we’re going to get weird, let’s get weird. The Cardinals trade Josh Rosen to the Redskins for the 15th overall pick and Kliff Kingsbury kicks his era off by selecting his quarterback.
- 49ers – Nick Bosa, Edge, Ohio State
The other big winner in the Kyler Murray trade in this scenario are the 49ers who just sit pretty at number 2 and get the perfect player to take their defense to the next level.
- Dolphins (mock trade with the Jets) – Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
Two Buckeyes back to back. The Dolphins would have to pay a heck of a lot to do this but with Murray off the board they simply have to get a QB. So they mortgage their future and hand the keys to the franchise to Young Simba; Dwayne Haskins.
The Jets also win as they get the claw back some of that draft capital they spent last year moving up to take Sam Darnold.
- Raiders – Josh Allen, Edge, Kentucky
Allen is paired with Arden Key off the edge and brings that speed. He’s raw but he has just come off a monster year in Kentucky. He’s the guy that Oakland rests their hopes on in replacing Khalil Mack.
- Buccaneers – Quinnen Williams, IDL, Alabama
With all the QB movement up front and the fact Oakland doubled down last year on the interior defensive line, Tampa Bay hits the jackpot. This would be like when a lottery team wins the number 1 pick in the NBA; Quinnen Williams is the best player in this draft for some. Tampa gets their replacement for Gerald McCoy and someone to pair with Vita Vea… that’s a lot of interior pass rush right there.
- Giants – Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Jawaan Taylor is a big man, with really long arms and enough quickness to thrive in the NFL. Last year he really improved, cut weight and put some impressive performances on tape. He didn’t work out at the combine due to a hamstring injury but watch out at the pro day… Taylor is a top 10 lock.
- Jaguars – Garrett Bradbury, IOL, N.C. State
This might be a shock pick but Garrett Bradbury is the best interior lineman in this draft and if anyone is going to sneakily move up the draft, it’s going to be him. The trade talks surrounding Leonard Fournette seem to have died down somewhat so they’ll probably be pounding the ball again in 2019. Norwell, Linder and Bradbury would form one of the best interior trios in the league.
- Lions – Brian Burns, Edge, Florida State
Ziggy Ansah is gone and he needs replacing; having a top 10 pick is the ideal spot to replace a guy at a premier position, so go and do it. I’d like to see the Lions double dip on edge guys bringing one in via free agency… probably more of an old head to can mentor Burns and compliment him from the other side. A’Shawn Robinson and Snacks Harrison would complete a nice D line if they went and put that plan into action.
- Bills – D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
I said it in my previous mock, the M.O for Buffalo this off season absolutely had to be to a) protect Josh Allen and b) give him some targets to throw to. Metcalf is, in my opinion, the best target you can give someone in this draft class.
- Broncos – Ed Oliver, IDL, Houston
For any defense the name of the game is to get to the opposing quarterback as often as possible, first and foremost. That’s the game… yes, it helps having ball-hawking DB’s but if you stop the ball coming out in the first place because the passer is on the ground, that’s even better. Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Ed Oliver; Your QB better be able to move.
- Bengals – T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
How about this for a cat amongst the pigeons? Look, I know I’ve pretty much mocked the Bengals getting a linebacker the whole time… let’s spice it up, the draft is 7 rounds long, they can get (a poor) one later on.
Give Andy Dalton a helping hand and complete the offense. Mixon in the backfield, Tyler Boyd, A.J Green and now T.J. Hockenson. That’s going to be a problem. The game is now just about scoring… Tyler Eifert used to score an awful lot, let’s bring that back to the Queen City; a tight end being a mismatch problem.
- Packers – Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
The Iowa tight ends go back to back and Aaron Rodgers has the weapon that Jimmy Graham was supposed to be to play with Davante Adams and those young guys the drafted in the mid rounds last year. Like I said above, the game is about putting up points.
- Jets (trade with Dolphins) – Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma
The Jets are a winner here along with the Dolphins. They slide back 10 spots and still get one of the best offensive linemen in the draft. I view Ford as a tackle but I know some may see him as a guard at the next level. Either way Sam Darnold has an athletic guy in front protecting him.
- Falcons – Christian Wilkins, IDL, Clemson
There’s no way Grady Jarrett is leaving town but they need someone to come in and play next to him. Wilkins could have come out last year but he went back to Clemson amamd improved his stock greatly. If it wasn’t for all the trading up front he could be off the board much earlier.
- Cardinals (mock trade with the Redskins) – Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
So as mentioned above, Josh Rosen is now the starter in D.C which gives the Cards another first rounder which is incredibly valuable given that have so many needs. Williams becomes Kyler Murray’s blind side protector for the next decade.
- Panthers – Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
Cam Newton is injured far too often, Lindstrom helps there. Chris Lindstrom played at Boston College where they ran the ball more than most teams in the NCAA. Carolina also have 3 starters whose contracts are up so the need is definitely three.
- Browns – Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR, Oklahoma
Once Freddie Kitchens took a proper hold of the offense the Browns really started to feel dangerous, so in my book they’ve just got to keep adding weapons. John Dorsey started to do so when he took the decision to sign Kareem Hunt, he could continue that by adding the small but speedy Brown to Cleveland’s wide receiver corps. Brown gives Baker Mayfield a deep ball outlet and frees up space underneath for Jarvis Landry and David Njoku.
- Vikings – David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin
Edwards comes in as a tall and thick tackles who is agile and light on his feet and can form a nice pair of young bookends with Brian O’Neill who was drafted last year. Edwards was part of a talented line in Wisconsin, whom we actually joined as a tight end before switching to tackle. One of my favourite players in this draft.
- Titans – Jachai Polite, Edge, Florida
The Titans are currently in the business of getting younger in the front seven, they made a nice start to this last year by drafting Rashaan Evans and Harold Landry. Landry and Polite coming off the edges is pure speed, probably too much speed for a lot of tackles to handle… you know what I said earlier ok about the game being about getting to the QB.
- Steelers – Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
Greedy is exactly the kind of long and athletic corner the Steelers love to draft in the first round. They’ve reached for guys of this mould early in the past… obviously they’re not great at getting the picks right hence why they keep having to make them but I think Greedy is a good player who could solve this problem for Pittsburgh.
- Seahawks – Jaylon Ferguson, Edge, Louisiana Tech
The Seahawks are always the team most likely to spring a surprise in the first round. Ferguson lead the NCAA in sacks so has plenty of production under his belt but obviously at a lower level of competition… but that didn’t stop the Saints trading a first rounder for Marcus Davenport last year. If Ferguson can figure out how to do it again at much better competition he’ll go a long way to replacing Frank Clark in Seattle.
- Baltimore – Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State.
Harlem Butler killed the combine are forced his way into the first round. Conveniently for Baltimore, they need a no bodied, wide receiver with speed and a gigantic catch radius. I present them, Hakeem Butler.
- Texans – Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
I avoided drafting a linebacker to Cincinnati earlier to mix it up to the Texans getting an offensive lineman is even more important… no one wants DeShaun Watson to die. Dillard is one of the best pass protectors in this class, so he fits the bill there.
- Raiders (via Bears) – Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
The Raiders continue to upgrade their defense with their second pick of the first round. Gareon Conley now has another corner to partner up with in Murphy. I feel like it would be beneficial if the Raiders got a loaded defense with Kansas City and L.A. both possessing potent offences in the AFC West. They have their QB and a serviceable offensive line so they can skip those positions here. As for the rest of the offense, there’s plenty of wide receiver talent and the sweet spot for running backs is going to be in rounds two through four. They don’t have to wait too long to address offense whether that be at pick 27 or early in the second round either.
- Eagles – Kelvin Harmon, WR, N.C. State
Philly has just had a few wideouts leave town this off season and behind Alshon Jeffery, they do not have a great deal of depth or even another solid starter so play on the other side.
Much like the Ravens earlier on, they have the good fortune that this draft class is choc full of wide receiver talent at the top and they’re doubly fortunate that they have a good roster with few holes so they have the luxury of being able to choose good players. I present them, Kelvin Harmon.
- Colts – David Long, CB, Michigan
Long really helped his stock last weekend in Indy, so maybe he could use that good memory to continue to play well at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Colts need some help at corner too so one of the combine’s biggest winners plays the correct position for them to make this selection.
- Raiders – Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
This is an identity pick as well as filling the need at free safety. Josh Allen, Byron Murphy and Thompson could become cornerstones of the Raiders defense for years to come and would have a bond, both between each other and in the minds of fans, since they were all drafted in the same round.
- Chargers – Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
L.A. want to learn from their loss to the Patriots in the playoffs and draft a linebacker who can both tackle and drop into coverage, GM Tom Telesco said the Chargers are prioritising the position in the off season. Wilson can do those things really well and the thought of Wilson and Kyzir White, along with the return of Adrian Phillips back can form a tough tackling trio that can all all cover.
- Chiefs – Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
Kansas will eventually have to move on from Eric Berry. In the meantime, Adderley can play alongside Berry and learn from him. Adderley can play both safety spots, so he has that flexibility that all defensive coordinators crave.
- Packers (via Saints) – Clelin Ferrell, Edge, Clemson
Packers fill their need at edge by taking Ferrell. Two big ticks in those boxes for the first round. Ferrell can rush the passer but is also a good edge setter and run defender so he adds that discipline that other edge defenders lack.
- Rams – Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
The Rams won’t mind having Bush’s fiery temperament on their squad and they need to freshen up their linebacking room a little bit; they have star power at the defensive line and in the secondary, now they’ll hope Bush brings some more to the front 7.
- Patriots – Jeffrey Simmons, IDL, Mississippi State
I said this in my last mock about the Eagles and that they won’t care that Simmons is injured to start off with, nor will the Pats. Simmons will be healthy eventually and he’ll fit what New England wants really nicely.
