Follow Brandon @WNS_Brandon
Follow Whole Nine Sports @WholeNineSports
Well, Mock Draft season is officially upon us. Three weeks into the college football season, two weeks into the NFL season, and approximately seven months away from the 2020 NFL Draft. The order was determined by reversing Vegas odds, before anyone asks how their team is picking in a certain spot. Also given how early this is, it’s more of a notice that these prospects are guys that I think could get called on day one as opposed to who would actually end up where. I did however account for scheme fit in deciding which player to take in a specific spot.
1.1 Miami Dolphins
The pick: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
After their egregious tanking, the Miami Dolphins get their man. Although he’s the first pick, Tua isn’t perfect. There are questions about his arm strength and durability but he’s also the most accurate prospect we’ve seen in a long time.
1.2 Washington Redskins
The pick: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Washington has found some success so far this year in the passing game but Jerry Jeudy is special. If the Dolphins weren’t so clearly tanking for what we assume to be a quarterback, he’d be the #1 overall pick.
1.3 Arizona Cardinals
The pick: Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
Personally, Chase Young is my EDGE2 but in this Cardinals defense, I think Young is the better fit than Epenesa.
1.4 Oakland Raiders
The pick: AJ Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
My EDGE1 goes to Oakland here to work opposite Clelin Ferrell. Ferrell and AJE should instantly become one of the best young edge duos in the NFL.
1.5 Cincinnati Bengals
The pick: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Andy Dalton has looked better this year than he did in recent years but I don’t think Zac Taylor is going to see Dalton as the answer.
1.6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The pick: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Andrew Thomas going into the year was widely thought of as a top-2 tackle in this years class. With the Walker Little injury and Thomas impressing early, he’s separating himself from the pack.
1.7 New York Giants
The pick: Grant Delpit, S, LSU
The Giants defense has looked worse than pitiful to start the year and a lot of the issues are in the secondary. At this point, the Giants would be adding the best player available.
1.8 Jacksonville Jaguars
The pick: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Jacksonville went out this offseason and paid a QB in Nick Foles but didn’t really address their weak receiving core. Taking CeeDee Lamb gives this team a legitimate #1 option.
1.9 Indianapolis Colts
The pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
This Colts defense has been impressive since the start of last season so if the Colts can add another great playmaker, they become just that much better.
1.10 New York Jets
The pick: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
The secondary for the Jets did not look good in week 1 and it’s not likely they drastically improve as the season goes on. Henderson is my CB1 and he’ll be bringing tremendous coverage ability and a great work ethic to the Jets.
1.11 Detroit Lions
The pick: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
The Lions have the most underrated cornerback in the NFL in Darius Slay. The best secondaries however, need more than just one strong cover man. Drafting Okudah combined with Slay on the outside and Coleman in the slot, the Lions have a top CB trio.
1.12 Carolina Panthers
The pick: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
The run on cornerbacks continues with Paulson Adebo out of Stanford joining the Carolina Panthers. Donte Jackson shows promise and James Bradberry is another underrated cornerback, but like I just said, you really need a cornerback trio.
1.13 Buffalo Bills
The pick: Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
YGM has been a beast so far this season so Sean McDermott and the Bills should be chomping at the bit to add him to their team.
1.14 Denver Broncos
The pick: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
We took a break from cornerbacks but now we’re right back at it. When the Broncos were in their prime a few years ago, they had a killer pass-rush and lockdown secondary. Adding Jaylon Johnson helps Denver start getting back to that model.
1.15 Atlanta Falcons
The pick: Kenny Willekes, EDGE, Michigan State
The Falcons currently have Allen Bailey as one of their starting defensive ends. Bailey is 30 and on a two-year deal so Willekes would be a solid replacement with the ability to both stuff the run and rush the passer.
1.16 Tennessee Titans
The pick: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Marcus Mariota hasn’t shown that he can be the answer and it’s incredibly unlikely that Ryan Tannehill could be either. The Titans have a good enough supporting cast where all they need is a quarterback to make some good plays and be consistent; enter Jake Fromm.
1.17 San Francisco 49ers
The pick: Shane Lemieux, IOL, Oregon
The 49ers are a surprisingly solid team that doesn’t have a ton of weaknesses outside of injuries. One place they could stand to upgrade however is on the interior of their offensive line. Shane Lemieux is the best available guard here.
1.18 Miami Dolphins (HOU)
The pick: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
Miami took Tua Tagovailoa with their first pick so it makes sense that with their second pick of the round they take a #1 receiving option for him. I would rather they take an offensive lineman but it just doesn’t make sense to trade a surefire tackle to draft a possibly good tackle.
1.19 Cleveland Browns
The pick: Walker Little, OT, Stanford
Walker Little has unfortunately been a bit banged up but I don’t think that’s going to hurt his stock much. He lands somewhere that desperately needs help at his position and can win games.
1.20 Pittsburgh Steelers
The pick: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
I’m still not completely sold on Chaisson as a first-round prospect yet, mainly durability is what concerns me so he’s got a second-round grade from me. That being said however, if he doesn’t seem like the perfect SPARQ’d up defender that the Steelers would draft then I don’t know who is.
1.21 Seattle Seahawks
The pick: Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Seattle could use some help on the defensive interior alongside Poona Ford and Derrick Brown is a Day 1 starter with a high floor.
1.22 Baltimore Ravens
The pick: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
Ah, the Alabama defender to Baltimore Ravens guarantee. I initially thought of putting Kenneth Murray here but figured the Ravens would be more likely to select Moses. Moses fills the role that CJ Mosley left empty, continues the Bama/Baltimore pipeline, and gives the Ravens a great young linebacker.
1.23 Oakland Raiders (CHI)
The pick: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Kenneth Murray has been flying around like a bat out of hell so far this season and he’s helped his draft stock quite a bit early. The Raiders find an off-ball linebacker here that can come in and cause some havoc immediately.
1.24 Los Angeles Chargers
The pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The biggest knock on the Chargers in recent years outside of the incessant injury bug has been that they don’t usually have a top offensive line. Although they’ve invested more in the line lately, drafting Wirfs in the first could push this line up into the next tier.
1.25 Green Bay Packers
The pick: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
The Packers have a ton of wide receivers that are more WR4s instead of WR2s so drafting Jalen Reagor gives them a speed demon opposite Davante Adams that could help stretch the field vertically.
1.26 Minnesota Vikings
The pick: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
The Vikings walked out of cut day with four wide receivers for a reason; they lack depth at the position. Much like cornerbacks, most good teams have at least three good ones and the same goes for receivers offensively.
1.27 Dallas Cowboys
The pick: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
Dallas is trying to pay everyone they possibly can and eventually they’re going to run out of money. Byron Jones broke out as a top cornerback in the NFL last season and his sure to demand big money. Drafting Bryce Hall gives Dallas an experienced corner that can contribute immediately.
1.28 Philadelphia Eagles
The pick: Richie Grant, S, Central Florida
Richie Grant is a versatile safety that knows how to make some serious plays. Grabbing Grant gives the Eagles someone they could groom behind Malcolm Jenkins for a little while.
1.29 New Orleans Saints
The pick: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
The Saints have a weakness depth-wise and it’s at receiver. Much like the Packers, the Saints have a bunch of guys that could fill small roles but lack someone who can be a reliable #2. Drafting Henry Ruggs III gives the Saints that #2 option and one of the fastest players in all of football.
1.30 Kansas City Chiefs
The pick: Cam Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
Kansas City desperately needs help throughout this defense so adding in someone that can be viewed as one of the most complete cornerbacks in the 2020 draft.
1.31 Los Angeles Rams
The pick: Anfernee Jennings, EDGE, Alabama
Anfernee Jennings is someone I was incredibly impressed with before he announced his return to Tuscaloosa. Jennings is a versatile edge that has active hands and quick reactions. I’m expecting big things from him early.
1.32 New England Patriots
The pick: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
A smart corner with great ball skills, Gladney being added to this already solid Patriots secondary to eventually replace Jason McCourty.
