2019 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Giants, Packers Find QB Successors
By Henry McKenna
As the 2018 NFL season wemnds down and playoff elemmemnatemon becomes prevalent, let’s look forward to the 2019 NFL Draft. Our femrst 2019 NFL mock draft was back emn Apreml, remght after the 2018 draft. We demd our second emn September after a month of football. Our themrd came roughly at memdseason.
1. Arizona Cardinals | Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The Cardinals might keep their hands on their phones leading into the draft to potentially move back. They could sell this pick to a bidder looking for a quarterback. (This quarterback class isn’t getting much hype, but they somehow seem to rise up draft boards every year.) If not, the Cardinals can be happy to take Bosa, who should be just as good as his brother — and his brother has been a game-wrecker.
2. San Francisco 49ers | Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
In three of the last four years, the 49ers have gone with a defensive lineman. But they don’t have a player with Allen’s skills and physical abilities. He seems like the kind of player who will be a combine warrior. That will only affirm his excellent production as a pass-rusher in 2018 with 14 sacks. The one worry with Allen is that Kentucky’s strength of schedule wasn’t all that impressive. Still, his freakish abilities could jettison him up the draft board.
3. Oakland Raiders | D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
If the Raiders can somehow finagle a means to land Bosa, they’d be wise to do so. It’s not a crazy thought either. Teams might end up trading into the top two picks for quarterbacks. That might cause Bosa’s fall. If the quarterbacks prove undesirable in this class, the Raiders certainly have the ammunition to move up. In the meantime, however, they can replace Amari Cooper instead of replacing Khalil Mack. In a small sample size, Metcalf has been a monster. He just needs to show he’s got the measurables at the combine.
4. New York Jets | Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
Oliver’s meetings with teams should help. His attitude problems seem to have hurt his draft stock. But he’s the same player that everyone thought he’d be — and that potential had him in the discussion to be the No. 1 pick. Oliver would be an enormous upgrade in the interior, and would likely elevate Leonard Williams’ level of play.
5. Atlanta Falcons | Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
The Falcons cornerbacks are aging, and the team figures to cut Robert Alford, as he’s not playing up to his fiscal value. Frankly, none of Atlanta’s cornerbacks are playing well. Isaiah Oliver, a 2018 second-round pick, hasn’t been great, nor has Desmond Trufant.
6. Buffalo Bills | Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
Josh Allen, meet Williams. In a perfect world, you two will play together for the next decade. Williams is going to have your back(side).
7. Jacksonville Jaguars | Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Let the quarterback run begin. The Jaguars have given up on Blake Bortles, and may resort to a Brock Osweiler-style trade where they give up a pick with Bortles in order to relieve themselves of his contract. (Why in the world did they extend him in the first place?) The hope with Herbert, a spread quarterback, is that he’ll acclimate to the NFL in ways similar to Baker Mayfield and not Marcus Mariota.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
Tampa Bay badly needs help in their secondary. Murphy is an obvious solution, with excellent athleticism, ball skills and tackling ability. This pick would be a no-brainer for the Bucs.
9. Detroit Lions | Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama
Williams might be the Lions pick at No. 1. He’s the type of defensive lineman that Matt Patricia (and Bill Belichick) will covet. Fundamentally sound and athletically gifted, Williams is a beast, and will help Patricia look better in his second year.
10. New York Giants | Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
One of these quarterbacks is going to rise up draft boards. I’ve got a hunch that Jones will be that guy. He’s from a small school, and thus might be off the media’s radar. NFL teams surely haven’t missed him. Good performances at the prospect All Star games would build his stock. That could give him a spot holding a clipboard behind Eli Manning. Though Jones may not be a backup for long.
11. Cincinnati Bengals | Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
It’s too easy to project LSU linebacker Devin White to the Bengals. They desperately need linebacker help. But they also need a pass-rusher, which is a better position to take at this point in the draft considering how the rookie wage scale deflates a defensive end’s salary. Ferrell has 20 sacks over the last two years for Clemson. He’s a beast and a major upgrade. The Bengals will have to draft a linebacker later or find one in free agency.
12. Cleveland Browns | Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
Protect Mayfield. General manager John Dorsey will pull the trigger on a gifted player to take over at left tackle, where they are woefully untalented.
13. Washington Redskins | Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
With Alex Smith’s future in the NFL looking more and more uncertain, the Redskins would be wise to draft a quarterback high in the draft while also pursuing more options in free agency. Haskins will be their quarterback of the future. If the Redskins were happy to work with Smith, they might not mind Haskins’ proclivity to check down. That’s, in part, how he has completed 70.2 percent of his passes. In 2018, he has 4,580 passing yards, 47 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2018.
14. Carolina Panthers | Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida
Polite is a physically gifted speed rusher in need of a little development and coaching in the NFL. The Panthers already have two gifted rushers, but Julius Peppers is one a one-year deal and Mario Addison’s contract expires after the 2020 season. It wouldn’t hurt for the Panthers to start thinking about the future, even if they bring back Peppers for another year.
15. Green Bay Packers | Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
Aaron Rodgers better get ready to feel like Brett Favre. Lock is a prospect who many thought might be the top player in the class, but instead his value fell slightly over the season when he completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 3,125 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Teams will fall in love with his pocket presence and intelligence. He’s got a lot of arm talent. He’d be a great understudy for Aaron Rodgers, if Lock lasts this long in the draft.
16. Philadelphia Eagles | Brian Burns, EDGE, FSU
Another talented defensive lineman on the Eagles’ front? Yes, please. Burns has 29 sacks over the last two seasons with 15.5 in 2018. He’s a fun athlete to watch, and would bring some youth and speed to the Eagles edge.
17. Miami Dolphins | N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
Big, physical, tough and reliable. Harry is everything Devante Parker hasn’t been. The Dolphins may have solid depth at receiver, but they don’t have a true top option. That’s what Harry will be within his first two seasons in the NFL. He’s an acrobat when the ball is in the air, and he’s great after the catch.
18. Denver Broncos | Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
Von Miller and Bradley Chubb will help Baker adjust to the NFL with quarterbacks struggling to make good throws and sound decisions. Though, acclimation may not be a problem for Baker, who was one of the top corners in the SEC.
19. Indianapolis Colts | Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
Let the defensive rebuild continue. Thompson would be an excellent compliment to Darrius Leonard, who has a clear path to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Thompson can help Leonard with run support, but is an excellent safety in coverage as a ball-hawking deep man.
20. Tennessee Titans | Devin White, LB, LSU
Give Titans coach Mike Vrabel the best linebacker in the draft. Who says no? Tennessee already has a strong stable of linebackers, but White’s got excellent character, outstanding production and is even drawing on-field comparisons to Ray Lewis.
21. Baltimore Ravens | Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State
Give Lamar Jackson some help. Harmon had two great years at NC State with his 2018 season being his most production. He had 81 receptions for 1,186 yards and seven touchdowns. The Ravens badly need help at receiver, and Harmon would be a nice compliment to John Brown, if he re-signs, and Willie Snead, who is on contract through 2019.
22. Minnesota Vikings | Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
Let’s make the Vikings’ front-seven even more fearsome. Tillery isn’t the swiftest of foot, but he’s a big, high-energy presence in the middle of the defense. Even if Sheldon Richardson re-signs, Tillery makes sense for Minnesota.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers | Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State
The Steelers’ decision to draft Artie Burns still burns. (Sorry.) Pittsburgh cuts their losses and tries to draft another cornerback in the first round.
24. Seattle Seahawks | J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford
Russell Wilson is carrying the Seahawks, as usual. Doug Baldwin looks like a mess due to injuries, and it’s fair to wonder whether he can be productive after going MIA this season. Arcega-Whiteside would be a fun player to watch flourish in Seattle.
25. Oakland Raiders (from Dallas Cowboys) | Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
Allen’s production has been very solid. He had 100 tackles in 2017. He put up 61 more with 6.5 sacks this season. In 2017 when Harold Landry was supposed to emerge, Allen instead began to get attention. He’ll have to continue to develop as a pass rusher, but he defends the run well, and could be one of the most complete defensive end prospects in the draft.
26. Oakland Raiders (from Chicago Bears) | Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
Keep the defensive line help coming for Oakland. Maybe they can use Gary and Allen to replace Khalil Mack. Gary, an outstanding athlete, can move along the defensive line to multiple positions. The Raiders would be luck to get him at this point.
27. Houston Texans | David Edwards, OT, Wisconson
Edwards can start immediately at right tackle for the Texans. A tight end convert, Edwards is a big presence as a run blocker.
28. Los Angeles Chargers | Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
Wilkins is an outstanding interior rusher who should be absolutely monstrous between Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa.
29. New England Patriots | Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
The Patriots are likely to part ways with Dwayne Allen this offseason. And who’s to say Rob Gronkowski won’t retire? The Patriots draft a complete tight end to ensure they’re set at the position.
30. Los Angeles Rams | Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State
He’s a tricky prospect, as he’s something of a tweener at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. He’s light to be playing defensive end full-time, but his excellent ability to rush the passer is awfully tempting, and could put him on Wade Phillips’ radar.
31. Kansas City Chiefs | Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama
The Chiefs defense badly needs help. Let’s give them a little relief right in the heart of the unit. Davis a stout run defender and could develop into a strong interior rusher, too. He has certainly been a space-eater in the middle for the Crimson Tide on every down.
32. Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans Saints) | Oshane Ximines, EDGE, Old Dominion
Green Bay went with a pick for the future in the beginning of the round. Now, they’ll think more about the present with Ximines, who should help shore up their pass-rush. He won’t be a three-down player right away, but could bring some relief to the Packers struggling pass defense.