The NFL Draft is coming up on Thursday Night and the mock drafts are running rampant throughout the football social media world. I, unfortunately, do not have the time nor knowledge to put together a multiple round mock draft, but the first-round should be plenty. So without further adieu, the Definitive Douglas Draft Board:
1) Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Despite reports coming out of the Cardinals camp that the organization is moving on from the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, we have seen smokescreens like this before. Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive philosophy matched with Kyler Murray’s dual-threat prowess is just too much for the Cardinals organization to pass up.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The best pass-rusher in a deep defensive end class in the 2019 NFL Draft. Bosa shut down his Ohio State career a quarter of the way through the 2018 season due to a core injury. However, from what we saw of Bosa in college and at the combine, he has every chance to be even better than older brother Joey, a defensive end for the Los Angeles Chargers.
3) New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
The rumors that have been circulating around the Jets is they want to build a solid interior to stop running attacks in the AFC East. With a new 4-3 scheme, the Jets moved Leonard Williams inside to the DT position and signed former Ravens MLB CJ Mosley. Alabama’s Quinnen Williams would be a great complimentary piece to Leonard Williams and make it virtually impossible to establish a rushing attack against the Jets.
4) Oakland Raiders: Josh Allen, DE/OLB, Kentucky
With Quinnen Williams potential rise in stock, it appears that Raiders fans will get the edge pass-rusher they’ve longed for since Jon Gruden traded Khalil Mack to Chicago prior to the start of last season. Allen is from the same mold as Khalil Mack, very close in weight, but Allen is 2 inches taller than Mack. Allen set the SEC ablaze with a conference-leading 17 sacks with his Kentucky Wildcats.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
Tampa Bay is in need of a youth movement on the defensive line, Gerald McCoy has been the anchor of the defensive front for 9 seasons and is heading into his age 31 season. A guy like Rashan Gary would benefit greatly from playing alongside a heady veteran like McCoy, which would help him when it is his time to lead Tampa Bay.
6) New York Giants: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
According to reports, New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman is “crazed about getting a pass-rusher” with the 6th pick. If that’s the case, the best one remaining will be Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver. The only reason Oliver has slipped this far is not by his own doing, that’s how deep this class of pass-rushers is. There are some solid QB’s the Giants can get in the middle rounds.
7) Jacksonville Jaguars: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
The Jaguars add youth to an aging pass-rush by adding Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat. I got an up close look at Sweat during the 2019 Outback Bowl between Iowa and Mississippi State and it was obvious Iowa’s game plan was to shut down the 1st-team All-SEC defensive end. While it allowed others such as Jeffery Simmons to play more freely, Sweat was still a factor in the game and still got a good amount of pressure on pass rush.
8) New England Patriots: TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa [pick via DET]
With Gronk retired the door is open for a new tight end to come into New England and they are willing to pull the trigger and trade up for TJ Hockenson. There has been a ton of hype around the Iowa tight ends of Hockenson and Noah Fant and Bill Belichick loves the players his former assistant, Kirk Ferentz, produces in Iowa City. Hockenson reminds me a lot of former Iowa and Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark with his receiving skills and is a ferocious run blocker.
9) Buffalo Bills: Devin White, LB, LSU
Buffalo took Tremaine Edmunds with their 2018 1st-round pick and it paid off greatly, as Edmunds recorded 121 tackles in his rookie campaign. The Bills will go the same strategy as last year and continue to build a quietly scary defense. Devin White might have one of the highest football IQ’s in the draft and has the athletic ability to make plays most linebackers can’t. This could be a linebacker duo Buffalo hasn’t seen since Darryl Talley and Cornelius Bennett.
10) Denver Broncos: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
Yes, Denver just picked up Joe Flacco in a trade with Baltimore, but Flacco is 34 years old and in the decline of his career. However, it does present a great situation to bring in a guy like Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and have Flacco be a mentor to him and show him the ropes. John Elway has swung and missed on several quarterback prospects, but he will finally find his crown jewel with Haskins.
11) Cincinnati Bengals: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
The Bengals could use more consistency with their pass protection. Last season, Andy Dalton and Jeff Driskel were sacked a combined 37 times with a patchwork offensive line. Bringing in a guy like Florida’s Jawaan Taylor could give the Bengals 2 tackles in Taylor and Cordy Glenn that can give Andy Dalton consistent protection.
12) Green Bay Packers: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
With the departures of Jake Ryan and Clay Matthews, the linebacker core in Green Bay is not very talented. Michigan linebacker Devin Bush can change that quickly. Bush will have to adjust to a 3-4 defense quickly, but has the athletic ability to cover up what he won’t have in the mental aspect. Defense has been an issue for a long time in Green Bay and Bush would be a huge step in fixing it.
13) Miami Dolphins: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
The Dolphins struggled to find a #1 receiver following Jarvis Landry’s departure to Cleveland prior to last season. D.K. Metcalf posses the ability to become a consistent #1 receiver, especially under the tutelage of the Dolphins new offensive coordinator, former Patriots receivers coach Chad O’Shea. Metcalf exploded onto the draft scene following his stellar combine showing and has drawn many comparisons to Josh Gordon. If he is like Gordon on-the-field, he is going to be a huge problem in the AFC East.
14) Atlanta Falcons: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
The Falcons need help on the offensive line and last season showed it. Matt Ryan was sacked 42 times last season, way up from the 24 times in 2017. Drafting Jonah Williams at right tackle would be a big step in fixing the offensive lines. Williams is the next in a long line of former Alabama offensive linemen to be drafted in the 1st round and has a great upside.
15) Washington Redskins: Drew Lock, QB, Mizzou
No matter where he goes, Alex Smith somehow always finds a way to be replaced by a younger guy. Smith will soon turn 35 however, and it would make total sense for the Redskins to take a quarterback in this spot. Both Gruden brothers love their strong-arm quarterbacks and Mizzou’s Drew Lock fits that profile. For him to be an effective starter, he will have to improve on his accuracy.
16) Carolina Panthers: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
Cam Newton has yet to have had a really good offensive line protecting him in his time in Carolina. He would at least like a solid blindside protector and Washington State’s Andre Dillard can deliver that to him. Playing in a pass-happy offense like Mike Leach’s air raid has prepped Dillard mightily for the next level.
17) New York Giants: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke [Pick via CLE]
The Giants picked up the 17th overall pick in their trade with Cleveland that sent Odell Beckham to the Browns. Dave Gettleman said that Giants would worry about their quarterback issues later…well later turns out to be 11 picks later. Jones’ stock shot up after his performance at the NFL combine and would be the first Duke QB drafted in the 1st round in the Common Draft Era.
18) Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford, OL, Oklahoma
The Vikings offensive line has been hampered by injuries for the better part of Mike Zimmer’s tenure as head coach. Add the rising age of individuals on the offensive line, such as Riley Reiff, taking Oklahoma’s Cody Ford at this point would be very beneficial. Ford is a versatile lineman with experience at tackle and guard.
19) Tennessee Titans: Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
The trend of the NFL is showing that interior pass-rushers are becoming just as important as exterior pass-rushers. One of the interior pass-rushers that have flown under the radar is Clemson’s Christian Wilkins. Wilkins passed up a chance to declare before this past season, but came back to help Clemson capture a national championship. Jurrell Casey will love having another plug in the middle with him.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
For the past couple seasons, Pittsburgh’s front seven defensively has been very solid in slowing down their opponents, their back four has left to be desired. The Steelers have been going through DB’s like a college kid goes through liquor bottles. Byron Murphy looks like he could be a long-term answer for the Steelers.
21) Seattle Seahawks: Brian Burns, DE, Florida State
Gone are the days of a Seattle defense that was feared rather than respected, a front four that once boasted of Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Brandon Mebane. Now none of them currently don the blue and green, but pairing current defensive end Frank Clark with Florida State’s Brian Burns is a step in recreating that vaunted Seattle front.
22) Baltimore Ravens: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
With the Lamar Jackson era now officially underway in Baltimore, the Ravens offense needs a home-run hitter in the passing game. The man affectionately known as “Hollywood” was the most explosive receiver in college football a season ago and was Kyler Murray’s favorite target. Brown has the game-breaking speed to quickly become Lamar Jackson’s favorite target.
23) Houston Texans: Garrett Bradbury, C, North Carolina State
DeShaun Watson spent most of last season running for his life as the Texans gave up a league-leading 62 sacks in 2018. While there are no real stud offensive tackles available, getting a stud center like Garrett Bradbury is definitely a start. Outside of the tackles, centers are essentially the quarterback of the offensive line and Bradbury could start Day 1 in Houston.
24) Oakland Raiders: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU [Pick via CHI]
The second of Oakland’s three first round picks goes towards reshaping the Raiders secondary. Oakland signed safety Lamarcus Joyner back in March and Gareon Conley closed out the second half of 2018 very strong. Greedy Williams was LSU’s top DB in 2018 and continued a long line of shut down corners that have come out of Death Valley, this is a home run pick by the Raiders.
25) Philadelphia Eagles: Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
The Eagles defensive line as whole took a minor step back due to injury in 2018. That didn’t stop Fletcher Cox from tallying a career-high 10.5 sacks. Cox will soon have a rookie that could be equally as disruptive as him in Jerry Tillery. Tillery was the key cog in the Notre Dame front that helped send the Irish to playoff. If Tillery develops like he should, this could be a defensive line reminiscent of Buddy Ryan’s Eagles in the late 80s.
26) Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
The Colts have had issues at safety seemingly since Bob Sanders left almost 10 years ago. They have not been able to keep a solid pair in the defensive backfield for awhile, but Jonathan Abram could change that. Abram was a do everything player his senior season in Starkville, leading the MSU in tackles at 99, registering 3 sacks and 2 interceptions. He could be a game-changer at safety in Indy.
27) Oakland Raiders: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa [Pick via DAL]
The Raiders final 1st round pick is one that is going to make Derek Carr and Jon Gruden very happy. Oakland released Jared Cook after the 2018 season and he went and signed with the Saints. To replace him the Raiders are drafting a guy that Colin Cowherd has said “is gonna eat the NFL up”. Noah Fant stands at 6-5, 250 lbs with 4.5, 40-yard speed. If he can clean up the drops he had while at Iowa, he’s going to be an unbelievable receiver.
28) Los Angeles Chargers: Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
Unfortunately we won’t see any of Jeffery Simmons in his rookie season after he tore his ACL while training for the combine. But the Chargers have time to wait as they already have a star-studded defensive line with Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. Add Simmons in the mix at defensive tackle once he is healed, and the Los Angeles Chargers might have the best front in football.
29) Seattle Seahawks: Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame [Pick via KC]
The Seahawks sent Frank Clark to Kansas City on Wednesday in exchange for a 1st and 3rd round pick in this year’s draft and Kansas City’s 2nd round pick in 2020. Seattle’s secondary is nowhere near as talented compared to when the “Legion of Boom” roamed the defensive backfield. Seahawks have been without a lockdown corner since the departure of Richard Sherman, but Notre Dame’s Julian Love gives Seattle a lot of help at the cornerback position.
30) Green Bay Packers: Dalton Risner, OT/G, Kansas State [Pick via NOLA]
One of the big issues the Packers have also had is protecting Aaron Rodgers, the interior of the offensive line especially. Kansas State’s Dalton Risner could step in and help the problem right away. Risner has experience as both a guard and tackle, which could lend himself to replacing Bryan Bulaga sometime down the road.
31) Los Angeles Rams: Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M
With the departures of Roger Saffold and John Sullivan have opened up spots on the interior offensive line in Los Angeles. Texas A&M’s Erik McCoy appears to be a good candidate to at least come in and play at center. The Rams already have one of the highest-rated guards of 2018 in Austin Blythe, and McCoy brings a lot of versatility to the Rams interior.
32) Detroit Lions: Irv Smith, TE, Alabama [Pick via NE]
The Lions traded down after giving the Patriots the 8th pick for TJ Hockenson. Luckily for Detroit, this tight end class is very deep and Irv Smith is a very good pickup, especially in the last pick of the 1st round. Smith was Tua Tagovailoa’s safety blanket and does a solid job in the blocking game. Matt Patricia shouldn’t be disappointed with this acquisition.
