Chris Lindstrom

Jordan Katz 2019 NFL Mock Draft 6.0: Final

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The culmination of the Draft Process is finally upon us.. THE NFL DRAFT IS HERE! With this being my final personal mock draft for 2019, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for reading my draft coverage and interacting with me throughout the draft season. It means a lot to me that you all enjoy my draft coverage and continue to read it each and every year.

At this point, y’all know how this works by now. This mock draft is strictly what I would do if I was in charge of all 32 teams. If you’re looking for my prediction mock draft, aka how I think the draft will actually, play out, you can find that here (https://draftstock.net/2019/04/18/jordan-katz-2019-nfl-prediction-mock-draft-3-0-final/). All trades made in this mock are denoted with an asterisk next to the team name. The only difference from my other personal mocks is that there is a little less analysis in this one. By now, you all know the players I like and do not like. You all know who I think possesses NFL traits and who does not. So while this mock definitely has in depth analysis, it’s not as in depth as my other personal mock draft.

Thank you all once again for your support throughout the year. #MockLyfe rolls into town one final time. Let’s get to it.

ROUND ONE

1) Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State- Bosa is still my number one overall player, and he’s still a position of need for the Cardinals. Terrell Suggs is a one year fix at best. Truth be told, he’s a rotational rusher at this stage in his career. Bosa can make an impact and take this defense to the next level.

….and no, this still should not be Kyler Murray.

2) San Francisco 49ers: Brian Burns, EDGE Florida State- Yet another change from my most recent personal mock draft. Truth be told, this is where I should have been all along. Burns is an elite pass rusher off the edge. His dip and bend ability is second to none in this draft, and that includes Mr. Bosa. The Niners move Arik Armstead inside to play Burns off the edge.

3) *Oakland Raiders via New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama- The obvious question here is why would the Jets not just select Quinnen Williams? The answer is simple. The Jets desperately need more assets in this draft. One player alone does not make this a 10-6 roster, but assets and depth might.

Oakland has four picks in the first 35 selections, which means they can get creative and move up a spot to land a game changer, even if they pay a little extra.

4) *New York Jets via Oakland Raiders: Jonah Williams, OT/OG/Ten Year All Pro Wherever You Want To Play Him, Alabama- Williams should still be a tackle in the NFL because his footwork and technique are elite. Despite sometimes being thrown by a first punch, Williams, is agile enough to handle it, stay on balance and redirect an oncoming rusher. He does this time and time again on tape. That is the making of an elite left tackle in the NFL.

5) *Washington Redskins via Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma- If there’s a team that should trade into the top ten for Murray in this draft, it’s Washington. Assuming it works and Murray is the dynamic playmaker we saw at Oklahoma, Washington will get exponentially better over the next two years and solve their need for a franchise QB.

On the other hand, should it flop and not work out, Washington will be in a very good position in two years to take Trevor Lawrence. Their competition is the Giants, who seem committed to a quarterback this year, the Dolphins, who seem like they will be bad enough for the top pick next year, and the Raiders, who will either stick with Derek Carr or take a QB in this draft.

6) New York Giants: Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State- Since I am running all 32 teams in this mock, guess what I refuse to do Giants fans? SELECT A QUARTERBACK WHEN THE ROSTER HAS SO MANY HOLES! Sweat is a dynamic pass rusher, possessing the ability to win with power and technique. He showed the ability to dip and bend at the combine as well. If a team teaches him how to become a multifaceted pass rusher (Sweat doesn’t run the arch a lot on tape), Sweat could be an All-Pro in the future.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars: DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss- I know the Jaguars need to fix the right side of their offensive line, but I’m higher on DK Metcalf than I am the remaining offensive linemen. And because the Jaguars also need playmakers in order for Nick Foles to truly open up the offense and make it multidimensional, “Superman,” lands in Jacksonville.  

8) Detroit Lions: Rashan Gary, DL Michigan- If you remember from the “Fans Only Mock Draft,” I gave the Lions Gary because of his versatility. Gary can rush from a five tech, using his power to collapse the pocket. I think he can also slide inside and use his quickness to beat interior offensive lineman. Head Coach Matt Patricia comes from New England, where versatility is king. That’s why this pick is the perfect fit.

9) Buffalo Bills: Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida- The Bills signed an entire new offense this offseason. The only problem is, they really didn’t make a move that should lead to significant contribution besides Mitch Morse. Taylor can start at right tackle from day one, and he will bring toughness and intensity to the Bills front line. Even though this is a reach on my personal board, the fit, coupled with no one wanting to trade up, makes too much sense.

10) Denver Broncos: Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College- Hey Broncos fans, guess what position I’m also not going to give you in round one? A QUARTERBACK! Just be smart, take the best player on your board at a position of need, and move on. For me, that’s Lindstrom, who is as complete a prospect along the interior since Zack Martin (and Martin is technically cheating cause he was a tackle at Notre Dame).

11) Cincinnati Bengals: Devin White, ILB LSU- The Bengals linebacking core is a mess right now. White would not only provide stability to the group, but he would also be the only true three down linebacker they would have. Easy selection here.

12) Green Bay Packers: Ed Oliver, DL Houston- Oliver falls right into the Packers lap, which is exactly the scenario the Packers could wind up with on draft day. Oliver is an ideal three technique at the next level, but a 3-4 scheme would allow him to use his quickness and power at multiple spots along the defensive line like JJ Watt or Aaron Donald do. I’m not saying Oliver is as good as those players, but his game is molded after Donald, which makes his ideal fit the exact same as those players.

13) Miami Dolphins: Jeffery Simmons, DT Mississippi State- Full disclosure, Miami tried to trade out here but was unsuccessful. Simmons is unlikely to play a lot this year, but that’s not a huge concern to the Dolphins because they aren’t looking to win in 2019. This makes them the perfect team to select the dynamic interior pass rusher who to tore his ACL back in February.

14) Atlanta Falcons: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- Atlanta has a decision to make this upcoming offseason. Do they pay Vic Beasley or do they pay Grady Jarrett? Jarrett looks like the much better player at the moment, but Beasley still has the upside to return to the dominant pass rusher he once was.

Regardless of their decision, the smart play would be selecting Wilkins and figuring it out later. If Jarrett stays, the Falcons have a terrific interior pass rush. If Jarrett walks, the Falcons have his replacement.

15) *Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Washington Redskins: Anthony Nelson, EDGE Iowa- Call me crazy, but Carl Nassib and an aging Jason Pierre-Paul do not seem like the answer to generating a dominant pass rush.

Nelson is a technically sound player, showing good discipline in his gap assignments, and the power to collapse the pocket on passing downs. Nelson shows solid ability to run the arch as well. At 6’7, Nelson has the game and athleticism to be a quality edge player at the next level.

16) *New England Patriots via Carolina Panthers: Noah Fant, TE Iowa- The Patriots have the ammo to move all around this draft for players they covet. After the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, you best believe that Bill Belichick is looking to come up this draft board for one of the Iowa tight ends.

Carolina is unlikely to trade out of 16, but based on the way the board fell and the needs they have in this draft, it makes a lot of sense for them to do so in this particular mock. Plus, I’m running the show here, so if you ain’t down with that, I’ve got two words for ya.

17) New York Giants via Cleveland Browns: Byron Murphy, CB Washington- The Giants continue to rebuild their defense with this selection. Murphy is elite in off coverage, his footwork is outstanding and his ability to mirror receivers is very impressive. There’s not many defensive backs in this draft class with big time upside, but Murphy is one of them.

18) Minnesota Vikings: Erik McCoy, C/OG Texas A&M- The difference between other mocks and my board for this selection is that McCoy, not Garrett Bradbury, is my top center this year. Both players are very close on my board, and both players are very similar. McCoy, like Bradbury, does an excellent job of finishing blocks in the run game, and both possess quality footwork. I like McCoy’s ability in pass protection slightly better than Bradbury, which is why he’s my top Center.

Despite having Pat Elflein, the Vikings take McCoy because he can slide over to guard and succeed. Just like Bradbury, both players are athletic enough to become pulling guards at the next level.

19) Tennessee Titans: N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State- N’Keal Harry is a perfect fit for Tennessee. He’s explosive with the ball in his hands, he runs clean routes from the slot, and he wins one-on-ones along the sideline with his size and the ability to high point the football. Whether it’s Harry, a tight end like TJ Hockenson, or a different pass catcher all together, Tennessee needs a weapon early in this draft.

20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Bush, ILB Michigan- Pittsburgh needs a signal caller in the middle of their defense, as well as a three down linebacker. Bush is a big time athlete, he shoots gaps, and he flips his hips effortlessly. If the Steelers can find a way to land him, it’s a massive win.

21) Seattle Seahawks: TJ Hockenson, TE Iowa- Hockenson is an elite player in this draft. He’s a phenomenal blocker, a red zone threat, and he wins down the field with size. Russell Wilson operates better when he has a tight end as an option, and there is no better option for the Seattle Seahawks offense in this draft than TJ Hockenson.

22) Baltimore Ravens: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR Oklahoma- I still love this fit for the Ravens. Hollywood Brown is a playmaker down the field, and he’s a playmaker with the ball in his hands. What makes him an ideal pick for the Ravens is that Brown is a sneaky good route runner. “Desean Jackson 2.0,” becomes Lamar Jackson’s newest offensive weapon.

23) Houston Texans: Andre Dillard, OT Washington State- Insert offensive lineman here remains the selection for the Texans. Dillard steps in from day one and protects Deshaun Watson’s blindside.

24) Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears: Rock Ya-Sin, CB Temple- The Raiders secondary was very inconsistent in 2018. One of these two backend first round selections should be used on addressing that issue. Ya-Sin mirrors receivers well and has the ability to excel in multiple coverage schemes at the next level. While he may not go round one during the actual draft, I think he is well deserving of a first round selection.

25) Philadelphia Eagles: Deionte Thompson, FS Alabama- This is a bit of a reach, but as I mentioned in my prediction mock draft, safety appears to be the Eagles biggest need. Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod are taking up a fair amount of cap room for a team that will need to pay Carson Wentz soon.

Thompson is my top safety this year because of his ball skills and range from the single high position. He does need to improve on his angles to the football, but every one of the safeties in this class has flaws.

Editor’s Note: I know many have Johnathan Abram or Chauncey Gardner-Johnson as their top safety. While I don’t agree, I can’t really argue if you have one of about six different safeties as your top guy. 

26) Indianapolis Colts: AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss- The Colts primary need has shifted with the acquisition of Justin Houston. I think defensive line is still in play in round two, but a receiver will be one of the first two selections.

Brown is a perfect scheme fit for the Colts, as I have said on a number of occasions. I think Andrew Luck would look his way a lot on third downs.

27) Oakland Raiders via Dallas Cowboys: Josh Jacobs, RB Alabama-Jacobs isa smart runner between the tackles, he contributes in the pass game and he makes defenders miss in open space. The late retirement of Marshawn Lynch has the Raiders in desperate need of a running back, so they take Jacobs a little higher than he should go.

28) Los Angeles Chargers: Greedy Williams, CB LSU- Just like the prediction mock draft, Greedy Williams goes to the Chargers at 28. I still like the idea of them selecting a player along the defensive front at some point, but a boundary corner is definitely the more pressing need.

Now it is true that Williams remains the most polarizing player in the draft. However, I’m trusting my analysis of his tape on this one. He showed terrific ability to mirror and trail in cover one and cover three, and strong ball skills. If he cleans up his backpedal (pretty much his footwork in general), Williams can be one of the better players in this draft.

29) Seattle Seahawks via Kansas City Chiefs: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson- I’m standing by Ferrell despite his rough showing this past month. He’s a power rusher with a good sense of gap assignments and he’s able to gain leverage against opposing tackles on a consistent basis.. Ferrell may never be a double digit sack player, but I think he can be a quality pro for a long time.

30) Green Bay Packers via New Orleans Saints: Irv Smith Jr., TE Alabama- While one could argue this is a reach because the tight end class is incredibly strong top to bottom, the big three of Smith, Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson are all worthy of round one selections. All three are very good blockers, each one of them runs terrific routes for the tight end position, and they all have good hands. That’s why even though the class is talented, Irv Smith is the pick here for Green Bay.

31) *Denver Broncos via Los Angeles Rams: Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State- Even though I’m not as high on Haskins as many seem to be, I still think he’s one of two quarterbacks worthy of a first round selection. He has a great knowledge of the game and explosive arm talent. Assuming he refines his technique, and sits for a year (I cannot overstate how important that is for Haskins), I think he possesses enough value for a QB needy team to trade back into round one and get the fifth year option on him.

32) *Carolina Panthers via New England Patriots: Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky- Assuming the Panthers are true to their word and wish to give more 3-4 looks in 2019, Allen would be a great selection. His dip and bend ability has been well documented, but he can also drop into coverage and react out of a zone defense. The versatility he provides would mesh nicely with Ron Rivera’s schemes.

Editor’s Note: Obviously Allen is not falling to this spot. I have him lower on my personal board than most, which is why he is picked later in this mock.

TRADES IN ROUND ONE

1- Oakland Raiders trade the #4 #35,  #140 and to the New York Jets for #4 and #105.

2- Washington Redskins trade the #15, #46, a 2020 1st Round Pick and a 2020 4th Round Pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the #3 Overall Selection.

3- New England Patriots trade the #32, #56, and #134 to the Carolina Panthers for the #16 Overall Selection.

4- Denver Broncos trade #41, #125 and #148 to the Los Angeles Rams for the #31 and #251.

ROUND TWO

33) *Houston Texans via Arizona Cardinals: Garrett Bradbury, C NC State- The Texans offensive line needs a massive makeover during this draft. Bradbury is one of two very talented, all around centers in this draft. He has the athleticism and power to be a quality starter for years to come. Houston trades up to land a second day one starter on the offensive line.

34) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: Khalen Saunders, DT/NT Western Illinois- Saunders is an elite athlete with the ability to play anywhere from a zero tech to a three tech. Something the Colts lack along their defensive front is explosive athleticism, hence why they signed Justin Houston. Saunders is a perfect fit along the Colts defensive line.

35) *New York Jets via Oakland Raiders: Jachai Polite, EDGE Florida- Unfortunately, I am not privy to the information that scouts have on Polite’s horrific interviews. Obviously he struggled during the draft process, that is well documented. What is unknown is if his interviews were so bad that his quality tape should be thrown out the window.

Assuming it was not, I think a team could look to snag him in round two. He’s still a quality rusher on tape and an impact player if his off the field issues checked out.

36) San Francisco 49ers: Deebo Samuel, WR South Carolina- The lock of round two seems to be the Niners selecting the best available pass catcher. Samuel’s route running ability will match up nicely with the Niners west coast offense.

37) New York Giants: Dalton Risner, OT/OG Kansas State- Risner has the versatility to play guard or tackle at the next level. His toughness, leadership and physicality in the run game are three qualities the Giants will love to have in their locker room and on their offensive line.

38) Jacksonville Jaguars: Cody Ford, OG Oklahoma- Ford is a much better prospect at guard than at tackle. Despite not being the most agile guy, Ford is a physical player. He keeps his shoulder pads square at the second level, and he’s also able to get his hands on defenders quickly. Jacksonville’s offensive line needs work so this is an easy fit.

39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nasir Adderley, FS Delaware- The Buccaneers secondary was beyond subpar in 2018. Adderley’s ability to play single high, as well as his willingness to come into the box and make tackles, should help the Bucs defense immediately.

40) Buffalo Bills: Kelvin Harmon, WR NC State- Harmon would be a nice compliment to the rest of the Bills receiving core. He’s an excellent route runner and he high points the ball well. Harmon may not have tested as well as some of the other receivers during the draft process, but his tape is very strong. He is still worthy of a high selection in this draft.

41) *Los Angeles Rams via Denver Broncos: Dexter Lawrence, DT/NT Clemson- Lawrence is a beast in the middle of a 3-4. One could argue that, pound for pound, he is a top five athlete in the class. He eats space, stacks and sheds blockers when put in one-on-one situations, and he can collapse the pocket as a pass rusher. The Rams need a nose tackle in the middle of their 3-4, making Lawrence a perfect fit.

42) Cincinnati Bengals: Yodny Cajuste, OT West Virginia- Hey Cincinnati, DO NOT START BOBBY HART! Back to you, Jim.

43) Detroit Lions: Amani Oruwariye, CB Penn State- I like Oruwariye’s ability to mirror receivers and make plays on the football. Detroit uses a lot of different coverages and defensive sets, something I think Oruwariye can do from the boundary position. I like this fit.

44) Green Bay Packers: Mack Wilson, ILB Alabama- The Packers have a glaring hole in the middle of their linebacking core. Wilson may come with some athletic concerns, but his tape is very good and he’s arguably the best cover linebacker in the draft. I still think he’s a day one starter in the right scheme.

45) Atlanta Falcons: Tytus Howard, OT Alabama State- Howard has the potential to be one of the top offensive lineman in this draft class. He’s smart, he has ideal size and length, and his technique continues to improve. A perfect fit for him would be going to a team that would not have to start him right away unless he earned it.

46) *Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Washington Redskins: Justin Layne, CB Michigan State- Layne’s man cover skills get the bulk of the conversation, but I like his footwork in off coverage equally as much. I think Layne is one of the more underrated players in this draft because his upside is significantly higher than the middle of round two.

47) Carolina Panthers: Amani Hooker, FS Iowa- Hooker has an interesting skill set for a free safety, mainly because his best attribute might be his ability to play nickel corner. Having said that, he still shows good range and reaction time in cover two and cover three. His versatility should fit nicely in the Panthers secondary.

48) Miami Dolphins: Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State- It’s been quite some time since the Dolphins had a legitimate deep threat. Butler is 6’5 and runs a sub 4.5. If that’s not a mismatch down the field, I’m not quite sure what is. Whoever the QB of the future is for the Dolphins, they do not stand much of a chance with the receiving core as it is currently constructed. Butler gives them a legitimate target.

49) Cleveland Browns: Joejuan Williams, CB Vanderbilt- Joejuan Williams corrected the athletic questions surrounding him after the combine with a very strong pro day. That went a long way towards reassuring me my tape evaluation of his make up speed was correct. His press skills are very good, but as a press corner you need to be able to make up ground if you are beat. Since he showed he can, he’s a top 50 target in this draft.

50) Minnesota Vikings: Charles Omenihu, DL Texas- Omenihu is a very good pass rusher and he’s quick off the ball. The athletic three tech was a perfect fit last year next to Linval Joseph. I’m not saying Omenihu is the next Sheldon Richardson, but my guess is that the Vikings defensive formula should remain the same up front.

51) Tennessee Titans: Renell Wren, DT/NT Arizona State- The Titans need depth along their defensive front; I’ve said that for the past few mock drafts. Just like the past few mock drafts, I once again have given them the athletic run stuffer that is Renell Wren.

52) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordan Brown, CB South Dakota State- Brown is another underrated corner in this draft class. He flips his hips effortlessly, and he’s able to drive off his back foot well in zone coverage to make up ground. I like his ball skills as well, he locates the ball well when put in one-on-one situations. This is an ideal pick for the Steelers in round two, should they land Devin Bush in round one.

53) Philadelphia Eagles via Baltimore Ravens: Parris Campbell, WR Ohio State- Campbell’s ability at the next level will be dependent on his route running. He’s so explosive with the ball in his hands that if he can separate at all and sink his hips into his route combinations, he could be a matchup nightmare in the slot. He did show the quickness at the combine to be a good route runner, but his route tree was simple at Ohio State. Only time will tell just how good he can truly be.

54) *Arizona Cardinals from Houston Texans via Seattle Seahawks: David Edwards, OT Wisconsin- Much like Campbell, Edwards has an obvious key to his NFL success as well. Despite being very intelligent, his footwork needs to improve to be effective on the right side at the next level. Arizona is desperate for offensive line talent, so they select Edwards in hopes that his technique will continue to improve.

Editor’s Note: This could be one player that falls flat on my “intelligence over sheer athleticism,” theory for offensive line. Edwards really struggled with his pad level and his technique in pass protection last year. I’ll roll the dice though and say Edwards can contribute at the next level.

55) *Arizona Cardinals via Houston Texans: Emanuel Hall, WR Missouri- Hall is a big time deep threat. He wins with speed at the top of his route, and he can beat DB’s on 50/50 balls with size and athleticism. Hall would be a terrific compliment to Christian Kirk in the present and the future.

56) *Carolina Panthers from New England Patriots via Chicago Bears: Nate Davis, OG Charlotte- Nate Davis is one of my favorite players in this draft because he finishes blocks with power and intensity. He’s consistently competing and it shows in the run game. I like his athleticism as well, I think his footwork is good and he pops out of his stance with his pad level on plane. This may be a little high for him, but Carolina needs a starting guard and that can definitely be Davis.

57) Philadelphia Eagles: Damien Harris, RB Alabama- Another player who may be a little too high, but the Eagles need of a running back demands it. Howard is a two down running back at best, and I honestly question if he’s even that anymore. I have not seen a player take this much of a nose dive in a long time.

Harris is essentially insurance for everyone currently on the Eagles roster. He has good vision between the tackles, he can block, and despite Josh Jacobs being the primary pass catcher at ‘Bama, Harris can catch the ball out of the backfield as well.

58) Dallas Cowboys: Trysten Hill, DT UCF- Dallas is a tough team to gauge because they have two glaring needs on day two; defensive tackle and safety. The order in which you give them those players depends on who is on the board. With most of the safeties still available and defensive line flying off the board, the Cowboys jump on Trysten Hill.

59) Indianapolis Colts: Johnathan Abram, SS Mississippi State- Abram is a quality in-the-box safety. He shoots gaps and makes tackles around the line of scrimmage. Putting him in the same secondary with Malik Hooker is a perfect match.

60) Los Angeles Chargers: Jerry Tillery, DL Notre Dame- Much like Tennessee a few spots ago, the idea of giving the Chargers more talent along their defensive front remains the same as my previous mocks. Tillery would wreak havoc with all the one-on-ones he would see playing opposite Joey Bosa and next to Melvin Ingram.

61) Kansas City Chiefs: Trayvon Mullen, CB Clemson- Mullen is a tough guy to grade because he excels in mirroring receivers in man-to-man coverage, but he’s not great in press, nor is he stellar in off coverage. Having said that, he is my best available corner at this point, and the Chiefs need secondary.

62) New Orleans Saints: Blake Cashman, ILB Minnesota- With only one pick in the first three rounds, the Saints will have to decide on trading backwards or selecting their best player available at this spot.

Cashman is clearly the next best off ball linebacker, and it’s by a sizable amount. Therefore, the Saints just select him and worry about the rest of their needs on day three.

63) Kansas City Chiefs via Los Angeles Rams: Elgton Jenkins, C Mississippi State- Jenkins is a really good option for the Chiefs as a starting center on day two. Should they pass and go elsewhere, look for the Chiefs to try and convince a veteran like John Sullivan to sign a one year deal in hopes of winning a championship after the draft.

64) New England Patriots: Andy Isabella, WR UMASS- The ideal Patriots wideout once again finds his way to New England at the end of round two. The buzz on Isabella has grown, but his athleticism and ability to run routes out of the slot still make his ideal fit the New England Patriots.

TRADES IN ROUND TWO

1- Houston Texans trade the #54 and #55 to the Arizona Cardinals for #33 and #103.

ROUND THREE

65) Arizona Cardinals: Dennis Daley, OT South Carolina

66) *Green Bay Packers from Pittsburgh Steelers via Oakland Raiders: Chase Winovich, EDGE Michigan

67) San Francisco 49ers: Darnell Savage, FS Maryland

68) New York Jets: Corey Ballentine, CB Washburn

69) Jacksonville Jaguars: Christian Miller, EDGE Alabama

70) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB/FS Florida

X) New York Giants- Forfeit Due to the Selection of Sam Beal in the Supplemental Draft

71) Denver Broncos: Jace Sternberger, TE Texas A&M

72) Cincinnati Bengals: Daniel Jones, QB Duke

73) New England Patriots via Detroit Lions: Zach Allen, DL Boston College

74) Buffalo Bills: Rodney Anderson, RB Oklahoma

75) *Pittsburgh Steelers via Green Bay Packers: Max Scharping, OT Northern Illinois

76) Washington Redskins: Riley Ridley, WR Georgia

77) Carolina Panthers: Tyree Jackson, QB Buffalo

78) Miami Dolphins: Connor McGovern, OG/C Penn State

79) Atlanta Falcons: Oshane Ximines, EDGE Old Dominion

80) Cleveland Browns: Juan Thornhill, SS Virginia

81) Minnesota Vikings: Kaleb McGary, OT Washington

82) Tennessee Titans: Dru Samia, OG Oklahoma

83) Pittsburgh Steelers: Damarkus Lodge, WR Ole Miss

84) Kansas City Chiefs via Seattle Seahawks: Miles Sanders, RB Penn State

85) Baltimore Ravens: Maxx Crosby, EDGE Eastern Michigan

86) Houston Texans: David Long, CB Michigan

87) Chicago Bears: Sean Bunting, CB Central Michigan

88) Detroit Lions via Philadelphia Eagles: Dawson Knox, TE Ole Miss

89) Indianapolis Colts: DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia

90) Dallas Cowboys: Sheldrick Redwine, FS/SS Miami

91) Los Angeles Chargers: Bobby Evans, OL Oklahoma

92) Seattle Seahawks via Kansas City Chiefs: BJ Autry, OG Jacksonville State

93) New York Jets via New Orleans Saints: JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR Stanford

94) Los Angeles Rams: Kahale Warring, TE San Diego State

95) Cleveland Browns via New England Patriots: Ben Banogu, EDGE TCU

96) Washington Redskins: Shareef Miller, EDGE Penn State

97) New England Patriots: Isaiah Buggs, DT Alabama

98) Jacksonville Jaguars via Los Angeles Rams: Karan Higdon, RB Michigan

99) Los Angeles Rams: Julian Love, CB Notre Dame

100) *Baltimore Ravens via Carolina Panthers: Mecole Hardman, WR Georgia

101) New England Patriots: Vosean Joseph, ILB Florida

102) Baltimore Ravens: Germaine Pratt, ILB NC State

TRADES IN ROUND THREE

1- Green Bay Packers trade the #75 and #114 to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the #66 and #192.

2- Baltimore Ravens trade the #113 and a 2020 4th Round Pick to the Carolina Panthers for the #100 and a 2020 6th Round Pick.

Jordan Katz 2019 NFL Mock Draft 5.0

Posted on Updated on

It’s been a few weeks since the last installment of my personal Mock Drafts. Now that the Combine has ended, as well as the first wave of free agency, it’s time to get back on the Mock Draft bandwagon.

The Combine did me a big solid this year by confirming a lot of things I saw on tape. I didn’t have to go back and re-watch many of the players that I was high or low on, because the athletic testing and drill portions of the combine not only confirmed players I was high on, but exposed weakness of players I was lower on.

Having said that, there were still some testing results that I didn’t see coming. For example, Devin Bush showing elite level athleticism, which I did not see coming. I thought he was fluid, but he showed the kind of stuff that a round one linebacker is made of (I still have a round two grade on him, but you will see him much higher in this mock). A reverse example would be Greedy Williams, who really struggled during the on the field drills. His backpedal and ability to flip his hips out of the backpedal were oddly erratic. Williams became even more polarizing after the weekend in Indianapolis.

These are just two examples of a few different things you will see in this mock draft. As always, trades are denoted with an asterisk, and both teams have to be in a position to make a deal happen. That’s why you won’t see any trades in the top 5, even though that will definitely take place in my Prediction Mock Draft (the goal there is to get every selection correct). This is strictly what I would do if I was the GM for every team. Let’s get to it.

ROUND ONE

1) Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State- Bosa’s three cone time and workout during the drills should leave little doubt that he is the best player in this draft. When you factor in his terrific tape, it leaves you puzzled as to why the Cardinals might go Kyler Murray at one instead of Bosa.

2) San Francisco 49ers: Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama- The Niners are essentially penciled in to a pass rusher in some fashion if they keep the second overall selection. Williams goes here in a second straight mock draft for me because of his ability to create pressure along the interior.

3) New York Jets: Brian Burns, EDGE Florida State- With the Jets still being unable to trade out of the third selection, they move to selecting their biggest need. Burns goes here because of his ability to dip and bend around the edge and the fact that he has the frame to bulk up and play the run without losing the athleticism that makes him a top prospect. He can also work back to the QB with a strong move-set if the tackle takes the arch away.

4) Oakland Raiders: Ed Oliver, DT Houston- Oliver should’ve worked out at the combine. Even if he tested in a lower bracket athletically than people thought, not only would it have been forgiven because he clearly put on water weight, but he also still would’ve tested as one of the better pound for pound athletes at the combine. This may have locked him into the 9-15 range come April, however I would take him before that. He’s lightning quick off the line, he can stack and shed, and he can collapse the pocket as a pass rusher.

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jonah Williams, OT Alabama- Tampa Bay’s offense should be much improved under the coaching of Bruce Arians. In order for this to happen though, the Bucs offensive line has to improve in 2019.

Williams has all-pro potential at guard or tackle. I think he is far and away the best offensive lineman in this draft, and well worthy of a top five selection in this draft.

6) New York Giants: Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State- There’s a really good chance that the Giants would take a Quarterback here as their future starter, then use the rest of the draft to address other needs. I think this is a massive mistake. Why rush to take a mediocre QB when you can wait a year for guys like Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert? Or, if you are with David Gettleman, and truly believe that Eli Manning has a few good years left (you’d also be wrong, but that’s neither here nor there), why not wait for Trevor Lawrence? The Giants would be better off continuing to rebuild this roster and inserting the Quarterback last.

Therefore, if I were running the Giants, I would take an elite edge talent like Sweat, trade down from 17 (we’ll get to that later), and wait on the QB until next year.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars: DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss- The Jaguars will want to open up their offense in 2019 behind Nick Foles. The problem is, they currently do not have an elite target to allow them to do so.

Metcalf has some negative buzz because of his three cone and short shuttle, but that’s just lazy scouting. When you watch the tape, you see a player who destroys corners at the line of scrimmage, and can sink his hips to allow himself to separate in and out of cuts. He obviously wins over the top as well as anyone we’ve seen in a while, but his route running being “subpar,” is a farce. This dude is an elite talent.

8) Detroit Lions: Byron Murphy, CB Washington- Murphy is far and away my top cornerback in a weak draft class, which means he lands himself in the Top 10. Matt Patricia looks to use his corners aggressively, which also make Murphy a perfect fit. He can man up defenders on the boundary as well as from the slot, and his footwork is tremendous in off coverage. His versatility opposite Darius Slay will be a big boost to the Lions defense.

9) *Washington Redskins via Buffalo Bills: Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma- Washington still makes sense to aggressively pursue Murray if he falls past the Cardinals at the top spot. They need a true playmaker at the quarterback position, and that guy is most assuredly not Case Keenum. Washington jumps Cincinnati and selects their quarterback of the future.

10) Denver Broncos: Devin White, ILB LSU- Devin Bush was the talk of the combine for the off ball linebackers, and rightfully so because his combine was tremendous. However, Devin White tested equally as athletic. White’s tape is much better than Devin Bush, so I still think he should be the first Devin off the board in 2019.

11) Cincinnati Bengals: Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida- Bobby Hart was the worst contract of Free Agency 2019. There’s no reason that Hart should be starting on a team in 2019. In fact, there’s so little reason that I’m still giving the Bengals a right tackle at 11 if I was in charge of the draft.

Taylor is a mauler in the run game and he excels when he’s able to get his hands on defenders early in the play. He would give the Bengals offensive line some much needed toughness.

12) Green Bay Packers: Devin Bush, ILB Michigan- As I mentioned earlier, Bush wowed in Indy. He showed elite athleticism and insane fluidity in his hips. I think he has a tendency to over pursue on tape, but that’s a flaw of all three of the top inside linebackers in this draft. I was pleasantly surprised by his tape all year and he’s worthy of ILB2 on my board after a superb showing at the combine.

Editor’s Note: This is still super early for Bush to go off the board based on my big board, but because ILB is so thin this year and the Packers need a signal caller in the middle of the defense, Bush gets catapulted up the draft board.

13) Miami Dolphins: Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College- Miami has clearly entered a rebuild, which lends itself to “BPA,” being the selection at 13 if they cannot trade down. Lindstrom is a 10 year starter at guard in the NFL with All-Pro potential. He has little to no weaknesses in his technique and he can start on the left or right side.

14) Atlanta Falcons: Jeffery Simmons, DT Mississippi State- I know Simmons is set to miss the first month or so of the season because of an ACL tear, but his talent and tape still warrant him to be a top 20 selection. If your defense is in a position to wait for Simmons to come back, his pass rushing ability will make him well worth the wait. Putting Simmons next to Grady Jarrett could create a phenomenal interior pass rush.

15) *Buffalo Bills via Washington Redskins: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR Oklahoma- The Bills did make a lot of acquisitions to their offense, but I wouldn’t call any of them significant. They still need a true playmaker to bring the added dimension that their offense is missing.

Brown can beat the defense over the top, he’s a better route runner in and out of cuts than many are advertising, and most importantly for the Bills, he’s explosive with the ball in his hands.

16) Carolina Panthers: Rashan Gary, DL Michigan- If the Panthers are looking for the bigger 4-3 defensive end that they have used so effectively over the last 15+ years, Gary falling to 16 would be a home run. I still believe he’s better as a three technique, but his power and athleticism on the edge could make him a matchup nightmare for teams at the next level, particularly the ones going to smaller and more athletic offensive tackles.

17) *New England Patriots from New York Giants via Cleveland Browns: Noah Fant, TE Iowa- Can you figure out what I would do if I was the Patriots yet? New England has 12 draft picks in a noticeably weak draft class. That lends itself to doing one of two things; either trade up and land a player they covet, or trade for assets next year. Fant has slid down the board twice, and lord knows the Patriots would love to find a scenario where they could trade up for one of the two stud tight ends in this draft.

The Giants also have 12 selections in this draft. So why would it make sense for the Giants to trade backward and acquire more assets in a weak draft class? The answer is very simple; the Giants roster is a mess. They need picks now, later and in the future. The more assets they have, the better chances there are of them being able to draft contributors this year and pick up future selections.

18) Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford, OG/OT Oklahoma- Ford is a better scheme fit than Andre Dillard because of his ability in the run game. I think interior line play is the biggest need along the front for the Vikings, so Ford makes more sense than Dillard in that regard as well.

19) Tennessee Titans: TJ Hockenson, TE Iowa- If one of the Iowa tight ends are on the board here at 19, I cannot see a way the Titans pass. They need a legitimate threat on third downs in the middle of the field, and someone who can block in the run game. In short, they need TJ Hockenson.

20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Rock Ya-Sin, CB Temple- Ya-Sin has highs and lows on tape, but the potential to be a quality starter is very noticeable. I like his ability to mirror receivers and he drives well off of his back foot in off coverages. He makes a lot of plays on the ball as well. Pittsburgh uses a lot of different looks in the secondary, so the scheme fit makes a lot of sense.

21) Seattle Seahawks: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- Wilkins uses his quickness in both the run and pass game to create disruptive plays time and time again. His athleticism and intelligence along the defensive would be a big boost to the Seahawks front four.

22) Baltimore Ravens: N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State- The Ravens lost some key pieces in free agency, but the number one goal for the offseason remains getting Lamar Jackson weapons. Harry put to rest any questions about his ability to stretch the field at the combine, showing quality numbers in the 40 as well as the agility drills. Harry’s best trait is his ability with the ball in his hands, which will allow Baltimore to use him in a number of different ways and make him a chess piece in what I still suspect will be a semi-unconventional offense.

23) Houston Texans: Andre Dillard, OT Washington State- Houston needs offensive line. That’s all the analysis needed here.

24) Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears: Anthony Nelson, EDGE/DE Iowa- All throughout the draft process I’ve been a huge fan of Nelson. He was incredibly similar to Clelin Ferrell on tape, winning with technique at the line of scrimmage instead of sheer dip and bend ability. What I thought separated him was he possessed the ability to run the arch, and his quickness off the line was much better. After the agility drills at the combine, Nelson solidified himself as the round one talent I saw on tape.

25) Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Jacobs, RB Alabama- Jacobs ran a less than impressive 40 time at his pro day, but that’s not a death sentence. Alvin Kamara and Le’Veon Bell didn’t have impressive times either, and they still excel in the pass game. To me, his value in a mock draft as well on my big board remains unchanged. Philly is a team that can reach for him in the backend of round one because they need a game changer at running back.

26) Indianapolis Colts: AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss- Brown is a perfect complimentary piece to T.Y. Hilton. He excels in the short to intermediate window, separating with quickness at the line of scrimmage and out of the break. The Colts signed Devin Funchess for a year to be a quick fix to their receiving core, but they still need a playmaker out of the slot.

27) Oakland Raiders via Dallas Cowboys: Greedy Williams, CB LSU- I think Williams can still be a quality cornerback in the NFL. His drill portion of his combine workout was a struggle, but he has phenomenal athleticism, good ball skills and the ability to mirror receivers. If his footwork can improve in off coverage, and he learns to become more physical, Williams could be the top flight corner many thought he was.

28) Los Angeles Chargers: Dexter Lawrence, NT Clemson- Even though the Chargers signed Brandon Mebane, they still need size up front. Lawrence is a dominant nose tackle against the run, and he’s athletic enough to play on passing downs. He can help collapse the pocket and create one-on-ones for the Chargers dominant pass rushers.

29) Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky- By now you all know that I’m lower on Josh Allen than the media is, but what a fit this would be. Allen’s ability to dip and bend around the edge would be a phenomenal compliment to Chris Jones’ ability to generate pressure from the interior.

Editor’s Note: I don’t think Allen is as good at using his hands to gain leverage as some of the other rushers in this draft. That’s the rationale to me having him lower on my board.

30) Green Bay Packers via New Orleans Saints: Irv Smith Jr., TE Alabama- I know the Packers signed Marcedes Lewis and still have Jimmy Graham, but neither are the players they used to be. Smith is a legitimate playmaker in the middle of the field, he would immediately be their best run blocker at the position, and he’s improving as a route runner.

31) *Denver Broncos via Los Angeles Rams: Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State- I still love the idea of a team that needs a QB of the future trading up into round one to get the fifth year option on the player of choice instead of overdrafting him in the top half of round one. If you have to trade up anyway, why not wait until the point where you can give less draft capital instead of panicking and trying to make lemonade out of oranges in the top 10?

32) *New York Giants via New England Patriots: Erik McCoy, OG/C Texas A&M- The Giants offensive line still needs work in order for Eli Manning to “be a quality quarterback,” like GM David Gettleman thinks he can be. McCoy barely edges Garrett Bradbury as my top center, but both of them have good footwork and athleticism. They both possess the power to finish defenders and the ability to square the shoulder pads at the second level. McCoy is just a little better at it than Bradbury, which is why he’s the selection here.

TRADES IN ROUND ONE

1- Washington Redskins trade the #15, #46 and a 2020 2nd Round Pick to the Miami Dolphins for the #9 and a 2020 4th Round Pick.

2- New England Patriots trade the #32, #56, and #97 to the New York Giants for the #17 and the #143.

3- Denver Broncos trade the #41, #71 and #125 to the Los Angeles Rams for the #31 and #94,

ROUND TWO

33) *Detroit Lions via Arizona Cardinals: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson- Detroit needs a quality edge rusher opposite their newest free agent acquisition Trey Flowers. With Clelin Ferrell falling down the draft board due to poor agility drills at the combine, the Lions come up to grab a player who’s tape still screams successful NFL starter as an edge player.

34) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: Khalen Saunders, DL Western Illinois- Saunders is an impressive athlete for his size. His quickness as well as his ability to stack and shed make him a really intriguing day two prospect.

35) *Pittsburgh Steelers via Oakland Raiders: Mack Wilson, ILB Alabama- Wilson didn’t have the best pro day, but he’s still one of the better off ball linebackers in a very weak draft class. The Steelers need a three down middle linebacker desperately, so they come flying up the draft board for the only one left.

36) San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Harmon, WR NC State- I’m still rolling with Harmon as one of the better receivers in this draft despite a less than impressive Combine performance. His tape is really strong. Harmon creates separation at the line of scrimmage as well as anyone in the draft, and he wins one-on-ones with his size and ability to high point the football. I think Harmon would be an excellent compliment to Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis.

37) New York Giants: Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State- Sticking with the “the Giants should wait for a Quarterback until next year,” theme, New York needs to revamp their receiving core before their quarterback of the future steps onto the field. Butler is a ridiculous athlete with the ability to make some absurd catches. If he fixes the drops that plagued him at Iowa State, he could be a superstar in the NFL.

38) Jacksonville Jaguars: Yodny Cajuste, OT West Virginia- I think Cajuste could become a quality starter at either left or right tackle in the NFL. He wins with inside hands in pass protection and has the ability to counterpunch with strength.

39) *Houston Texans via Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Garrett Bradbury, OG/C NC State- Bradbury’s game is very similar to Erik McCoy’s. Both players finish opponents in the run game, and both players possess quality athleticism for the center position. In an effort to continue to revamp one of the worst offensive lines in football, Houston trades up to land a high quality starter along the interior in Bradbury.

Editor’s Note: Here’s the Tampa Bay trade down I alluded to them making back at the fifth selection. The Bucs are pretty much guaranteed to trade down at some point in the first two rounds of this draft because they need extra assets.

40) Buffalo Bills: Dalton Risner, OG/OT Kansas State- Risner is a mauler in the run game. He drives opposing players backwards with a strong lower base, and gets his hands on opponents quickly in both the run and pass game. Risner should make a good right guard at the next level.

41) Los Angeles Rams via Denver Broncos: Jachai Polite, EDGE Florida- Polite had a tough Combine week. He had a tough interview process, he showed a slower than normal 10 yard split for someone of his size, and then he got hurt and had to miss the rest of the workout.

Fortunately, his tape is still very strong, and the Rams were supposedly his best interview. He now has some questions to answer, but Polite’s ability to bend around the edge and get to the passer should keep him as a second round selection.

42) Cincinnati Bengals: Daniel Jones, QB Duke- This is a definitive overdraft, but Jones is one of three quarterbacks on my board with a day one or two grade. He has solid arm strength and decent anticipation, but he has to sit at least a year in order to succeed.

43) *Arizona Cardinals via Detroit Lions: Deebo Samuel, WR South Carolina- Samuel was one of my biggest surprises this year when I dove into his tape. I expected to see flashes of greatness, but inconsistency. Instead I saw one of the more complete receivers in the draft. With precise route running, solid hands and the ability to win one-on-ones from multiple spots across the line of scrimmage, Samuel is a really quality option for any team looking for a day two pass catcher this year.

44) Green Bay Packers: Parris Campbell, WR Ohio State- Here’s an interesting fit that I’m a big fan of. Campbell is a weapon, put the ball in his hands and he creates plays. What surprised me when breaking him down was his route running. I don’t think Campbell is just a gimmick receiver, even though lots of his touches resembled that at Ohio State. Giving Aaron Rodgers a weapon like Campbell would be very interesting.

45) Atlanta Falcons: Tytus Howard, OT Alabama State- Howard needs to continue to polish his technique in all three sets, but he has the ideal size and frame for a right tackle at the next level. He shows a level of intelligence for the position that you can’t teach, which is very impressive considering he’s still relatively new to the offensive line (he was a quarterback in high school). This is a good target for the Falcons on day two should they go defensive line in round one.

46) *Buffalo Bills via Washington Redskins: Amani Oruwariye, CB Penn State- Even though the Bills signed Kevin Johnson and EJ Gaines in free agency, they only signed both players to one year deals. They still need a number two corner of the future. Oruwariye has good ball skills, he mirrors receivers well, and his hips flip effortlessly for a bigger corner. His backpedal and press coverage need to improve, but every corner in this class comes with baggage in some way.

47) Carolina Panthers: Deionte Thompson, FS Alabama- The safety class fell hard in this mock draft, but that could be representative of what happens on draft day. Thompson is still my top safety in this draft class because of his ball skills in the back as well as his willingness to come up and tackle from the single high position.

48) Miami Dolphins: Charles Omenihu, DL Texas- “Just Draft Talent.” That is the slogan for the Dolphins in this draft. It doesn’t matter what position, just take the best player on the board. 

49) Cleveland Browns: Justin Layne, CB Michigan State- Somehow, the Browns snag a quality number two corner, a major need for them, despite having traded their first round pick to the Giants in the Odell Beckham trade. Layne is a big time athlete for a bigger corner, and his ability in man coverage ranks among the top in this draft class.

50) Minnesota Vikings: Jerry Tillery, DT Notre Dame- One of the more under the radar losses this offseason was the Vikings losing Sheldon Richardson. They need to replace him with an athletic three technique that excels at rushing the passer in order to keep their front four as dominant as it was last year. Enter Jerry Tillery.

51) Tennessee Titans: Renell Wren, DT/NT Arizona State- The Titans need depth along their defensive front in this draft. Wren has impressive athleticism for someone of his size, a good motor, and the ability to stack and shed.

52) *Oakland Raiders via Pittsburgh Steelers: Damien Harris, RB Alabama- The two Alabama running backs are the only two RBs worth selecting in the top 64 this year. Both Harris and Jacobs are three down backs at the next level. They excel at running between the tackles, they can pass protect, and they can catch the ball out of the backfield. After trading backwards, Oakland grabs Harris to compete for their starting running back job.

53) Philadelphia Eagles via Baltimore Ravens: David Edwards, OT Wisconsin- I’ve mentioned how I am much higher on Edwards than most because of the intelligence he shows for someone that is still new to the offensive line position. The Eagles are a perfect team to snag him on day two and let him develop his technique for a year before replacing Jason Peters.

Editor’s Note: Hal Vaitai has been too inconsistent for me to trust him long term at the position. That’s why the pick here is Edwards.

54) *Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Houston Texans via Seattle Seahawks: Nasir Adderley, FS Delaware- Another second round steal here. With safeties falling down the board, Tampa Bay grabs a single high ball hawk for Todd Bowles’ defense.

55) Houston Texans: Jace Sternberger, TE Texas A&M- I think Deshaun Watson could benefit from a move tight end in the middle of the field. Sternberger has good hands and a solid catch radius, but his fluidity in his route combinations that have me excited about what he could be at the next level.

56) *New York Giants from New England Patriots via Chicago Bears: Joejuan Williams, CB Vanderbilt- Joejuan Williams struggled during the combine, but his 40 time was much better at his pro day. Normally I would still be inclined to not evaluate that as highly, but Williams was laser timed at Vandy. He reaffirmed what I thought I saw on tape; the makeup speed would translate for a guy who excels as a press corner. I still like Williams as a CB2 in the NFL.

57) *San Francisco 49ers via Philadelphia Eagles: Amani Hooker, FS Iowa- Hooker, in my opinion, is a better version of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. I think he has better man skills in the slot, I like his ability to play the run better, and he reads and reacts just as well from the single high spot. San Francisco needs game changers in the secondary, or at the very least, players who can do multiple things. They trade up for Hooker.

58) Dallas Cowboys: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB/FS Florida- Dallas needs a ball hawk at free safety, but they also need a guy who can play nickel as well. If that doesn’t describe CGJ in a nutshell, I don’t know what does.

59) Indianapolis Colts: Johnathan Abram, SS Mississippi State- Abram is a quality in the box safety. He shoots gaps around the line of scrimmage and boy is he a thumper. I don’t think he’s a liability in cover two either, although it’s definitely the portion of his game that needs work. Overall, Abram can be a chess piece if he becomes a better player in coverage.

60) Los Angeles Chargers: David Long, CB Michigan- The Chargers lost some depth in the back end of their defense from last year to this year. Because it’s such an integral part of their defense, they should look to replenish the cornerback position early in this draft.

61) Kansas City Chiefs: Trayvon Mullen, CB Clemson- Mullen didn’t do a lot during the Combine to solidify his draft position. If anything, he confirmed the up and down play I saw on tape. Mullen can man up well at the line of scrimmage and his ball skills are impressive. Having said that, he has to become more consistent in order for him to succeed in the NFL.

62) New Orleans Saints: Jordan Brown, CB South Dakota State- A run on defensive backs like this is the exact kind of panic that could happen in this draft. It may not be to this extent, but the lack of cornerback and safety depth will get teams to jump at the chance to select players they are high on. New Orleans needs a number two corner, so they round out the run on secondary players with Jordan Brown.

63) Kansas City Chiefs via Los Angeles Rams: Elgton Jenkins, OG/C Mississippi State- The Chiefs desperately need to replace Mitch Morse early in this draft. Having a quality center to help direct traffic up front is very key for a young QB to continue to develop. Jenkins moves well in the short areas of the field, which should mesh nicely with the Eagles scheme up front.

64) New England Patriots: Andy Isabella, WR Massachusetts- Offensive weapons is the biggest need for the Patriots this offseason. After trading up for Noah Fant in round one, the Patriots select Isabella in round two.

Editor’s Note: Isabella is more than just a shifty receiver out of the slot. He reminds me a lot of Julian Edelman. He is able to win route combinations on the boundary with his quickness in and out of cuts. Isabella was also a former track star in high school, so he has the ability to stretch the defense. If the Patriots grab him at some point in this draft, look for him in your fantasy football drafts come September.

TRADES IN ROUND TWO

1- Detroit Lions trade the #43 and #89 to the Arizona Cardinals for the #33 and a 2020 5th Round Pick.

2- Pittsburgh Steelers trade the #52, #84 and #122 to the Oakland Raiders for #35, #218 and a 2020 6th Round Pick.

3- Houston Texans trade the #54, #86 and #195 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the #39.

4- San Francisco 49ers trade the #67 and #104 to the Philadelphia Eagles for the #57 and #208.

ROUND THREE

65) Arizona Cardinals: DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia

66) Oakland Raiders: Dawson Knox, TE Ole Miss

67) *Philadelphia Eagles via San Francisco 49ers: Blake Cashman, ILB Minnesota

68) New York Jets: Dennis Daley, OT South Carolina

69) Jacksonville Jaguars: Darnell Savage, FS Maryland

70) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Miller, EDGE Alabama

71) New York Giants- Forfeit Due to the Selection of Sam Beal in the Supplemental Draft

72) *Los Angeles Rams via Denver Broncos: Kendall Sheffield, CB Ohio State

73) Cincinnati Bengals: Dru Samia, OG Oklahoma

74) New England Patriots via Detroit Lions: Trysten Hill, DT UCF

75) Buffalo Bills: Chase Winovich, EDGE Michigan

76) Green Bay Packers: Oshane Ximines, EDGE Old Dominion

77) Washington Redskins: Emanuel Hall, WR Missouri

78) Carolina Panthers: Kahale Warring, TE San Diego State

79) Miami Dolphins: Sean Bunting, CB Central Michigan

80) Atlanta Falcons: Maxx Crosby, EDGE Eastern Michigan

81) Cleveland Browns: Nate Davis, OG Charlotte

82) Minnesota Vikings: Bobby Evans, OT/OG Oklahoma

83) Tennessee Titans: Riley Ridley, WR Georgia

84) *Oakland Raiders via Pittsburgh Steelers: Isaiah Johnson, CB Houston

85) Seattle Seahawks: Juan Thornhill, SS Virginia

86) Baltimore Ravens: Damarkus Lodge, WR Ole Miss (double wide outs because they need it)

87) *Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Houston Texans: Ryan Bates, OL Penn State

88) Chicago Bears: Zach Allen, DL Boston College

89) *Arizona Cardinals from Detroit Lions via Philadelphia Eagles: Kaleb McGary, OT Washington

90) Indianapolis Colts: Vosean Joseph, ILB Florida

91) *New York Jets via Dallas Cowboys: JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR Stanford

92) Los Angeles Chargers: Max Scharping, OT Northern Illinois

93) Kansas City Chiefs: Rodney Anderson, RB Oklahoma

94) New York Jets via New Orleans Saints: Jamel Dean, CB Auburn

95) Los Angeles Rams: Germaine Pratt, ILB NC State

96) Miami Dolphins from Cleveland Browns via New England Patriots: Mecole Hardman, WR Georgia

97) Washington Redskins: Ross Pierschbacher, OG/C Alabama

98) New England Patriots: Tyree Jackson, QB Buffalo

99) Jacksonville Jaguars via Los Angeles Rams: Sutton Smith, OLB Northern Illinois

100) Los Angeles Rams: Sheldrick Redwine, FS/SS Miami

101) Carolina Panthers: David Montgomery, RB Iowa State

102) New England Patriots: Ben Banogu, EDGE TCU

103) Baltimore Ravens: Drue Tranquill, ILB Notre Dame

TRADES IN ROUND THREE

1- New York Jets trade the #105 and a 2020 4th Round Pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the #90.

2019 NFL Combine Winners and Losers

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With the NFL Draft prospects departing from Indianapolis, it’s time for a recap on how the two days went for both sides of the ball. Even though the NFL Combine is a point of contention among the draft community, the Combine serves a purpose. It is meant to seek out weaknesses in a player, both in terms of technique that you see on the field during the drills, as well as their fluidity as an athlete.

The question that trips up scouts and analysts is how much do you weigh what you see in Indianapolis against the tape? If an offensive lineman looks stiff in the hips during the drills, do you knock him down a peg even if his tape is good? Let’s say a wide receiver shows an elite 40 time, but struggles with the 3-Cone drill. Where does that put his athletic score? Does a defensive lineman that crushes the 3-Cone get a pass if he struggles in the 10 yard split because he has bad technique on his 40 yard dash?

Regardless of your views on the combine, down here there’s always winners and losers, and you don’t want to be caught on the wrong side of that line (to paraphrase Bruce Springsteen). So with that in mind, here’s who I feel were the winners and losers of the Combine this weekend.

Day One Winners (RBs and OL)

1- Chris Lindstrom, Garrett Bradbury and Erik McCoy: The top players along the interior really stepped up and made their presence felt this weekend. Garrett Bradbury and Chris Lindstrom were big breadwinners, dominating the athletic testing and showing elite level fluidity in their hips and ankles during the drill portion of the combine. I thought Erik McCoy stayed stride for stride with Bradbury throughout the day as well, and he remained my top center in this draft. All three of these guys should be quality starters at the next level.

2- Josh Jacobs: How do you win the combine without participating? When the rest of the position group performs incredibly average. Jacobs was easily most people’s RB1, but there was some buzz around the running backs you could get in rounds two and three, like Damien Harris, David Montgomery and others.

However, none of the potential three down backs tested well enough to challenge Jacobs for the top spot. This makes Josh Jacobs even more of a commodity come April, and a potential Top 20 lock.

3- Miles Sanders and Justice Hill: Keeping in mind the aforementioned analysis about the running backs, there were two players that did shine at the position. Sanders and Hill showed explosive athleticism, and both players on tape are shifty backs that show explosiveness in the open field. Sanders in particular is a favorite of mine. He’s a willing blocker and a terrific pass catcher out of the backfield. Teams should look at both of these guys as game changers out of the backfield in the pass game.

Day One Losers

1- Elijah Holyfield: Not many players had a worse combine than Elijah Holyfield. Holyfield tested extremely poorly during the athletic portion of the combine, with the pinnacle being a 4.79 and a 4.81 in the 40 yard dash. Even as a bigger back, you have to be able to show quality quickness and some breakaway ability. Holyfield showed none of that. His stock is definitely down.

2- Greg Little: This isn’t a shocker for me, but Little tested extremely poorly. His tape was constantly underwhelming because the supposed five star recruit and big time athlete never showed up. This weekend, Little confirmed that he is a right tackle at the next level, and he needs to be developed even further He was too stiff during the drills and too slow during the athletic tests.

3- Wisconsin Offensive Linemen: The buzz on the Wisconsin players was already low heading into this weekend. After the on field drills at the Combine, their collective stock might have dipped even further. David Edwards was a little high out of the stance when hitting the pads, and he was a little stiff in the hips during the other drills. The same goes for Michael Dieter. While I think Edwards still gets drafted between the third and the fourth round because of his intelligence at the position, this could be a rough go for a group that was deemed the best offensive line in college football just six months go.

Day Two Winners (QB, WR and TE)

1- Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins: The top QB’s had themselves a good weekend. First off, we have to start with the most anticipated measurement in the history of the combine. Kyler Murray came in at 5’10 and over 200 pounds, then decided to call it a Combine because he physically couldn’t help his draft stock any further. Now some will question his decision not to throw, and we’ll get to that later on in the article (Big J tease right there). The reason he didn’t is because he couldn’t further his draft stock by throwing. All the rumors were surrounding his measurements. People were questioning if Murray would come in over 5’9. Once he matched Russell Wilson, the only way his draft stock could fall is if he stunk it up during the drills throwing to receivers he didn’t know. So he took his paycheck and exited stage left.

On the other hand, Dwayne Haskins chose to let it rip, and boy did it work out. The ball popped effortlessly out of his hands. At least once a drill he showed some elite level anticipation, which was his big question mark for me. There were definitely still some questions on my end, a few throws were behind guys and a tad late. The other Quarterbacks were so average though, that Dwayne Haskins looked elite. He’s a top ten lock.

2- DK Metcalf and AJ Brown: The Ole Miss duo absolutely crushed the Combine. Metcalf’s freakish performance has been well documented, but that doesn’t mean it’s being over exaggerated. His athletic testing was otherworldly for his size. Don’t get trapped into his slow three cone either. This dude sinks his hips on tape and gets a clean release almost every time. Metcalf is an elite wide receiver at the next level if he stays healthy, and that was confirmed this weekend.

AJ Brown was someone who I thought would test much better than people realized. Not to brag, but he proved me right. Brown had a sub 4.5 40 and almost a 37 inch vertical. He could definitely wind up in the first round of my personal mock draft, and you should see him off the board in the first 50 picks come April.

3- N’Keal Harry and Hakeem Butler: Speaking of receivers, N’Keal Harry and Hakeem Butler put to rest any questions about their ability to win down the field. Harry was a quality prospect before this event, the one thing that he needed to answer to put himself into the round one conversation. He did that, so expect to see Harry off the board on day one.

Butler might have been the most impressive player in this position group not named DK Metcalf. At 6’5 he posted a 4.48 40 yard dash, a ridiculous number for someone of that size. I still have reservations about his tape; he often has drops and double catches. With that being said, I’d be shocked if Butler made it out of round two.

4- Noah Fant: TE1 is a legitimate conversation now. If you’ve read my mock drafts, you know I’ve had Fant higher than TJ Hockenson from day one because Fant does more in the passing game without losing a step as a blocker. Fant blew the combine away, testing through the roof and showing clean cuts in and out of route combinations on the field during the drills. TJ Hockenson had a great day in his own right, but a 4.51 40 yard dash and a 6.81 3 Cone drill have teams salivating at the idea of selecting Noah Fant.

5- Parris Campbell: Campbell was going to be extremely fast, so it’s not his athletic testing that wowed me. It’s how smooth he was during the drills. I didn’t love his route running on tape, and I thought he had some double catches as well. Campbell showed none of that this weekend. I will have to go back and rewatch Campbell’s tape because he showed none of the weaknesses I thought he would. Expect to see him go off the board early in a month or so.

Honorable Mentions: Tyree Jackson (ran a 4.6 at 6’7! He also flashed at times during the drills, showing that massive arm strength), Emanuel Hall and Andy Isabella (both receivers absolutely torched the athletic portion of the event), Josh Oliver and Kahale Warring (two small school TE’s that could be day three steals)

Day Two Losers:

1- Kyler Murray: Here is the wrap up to the Big J tease I alluded to earlier in the article. Murray obviously put on water weight to get up over 200 pounds, and this is why he chose not to participate in any drills or athletic testing. He wasn’t comfortable doing so at the weight he was at. For me, that would stem the conversation of if he is able to take NFL punishment. Murray will still be fine in terms of his draft value, but I can see teams not being thrilled about this decision.

2- Kelvin Harmon: Harmon really struggled in the athletic portion of the combine, which was a major concern for him. Obviously Harmon was not a blazer at NC State, but he showed quickness in and out of cuts on tape and the ability to high point the ball. He did not show the measurables to have those skills translate against more athletic NFL Defensive Backs. I’m still sticking with him as a high end round two pick, but he fell down my big board a bit.

3- Isaac Nauta and Kaden Smith: Here’s the deal; if you run a 4.9 as a skill position player, you’re out. It’s that simple. Both these guys tested dreadfully slow this weekend. They gone.

Day Three Winners (DL and LBs)

1- Brian Burns: Burns has been in my top five players the entire draft process, and he dominated this weekend. He moves so fluidly for someone that is nearly 6’5, and weighing in at 249 did not slow him down at all. This dude is a freight train coming off the edge.

2- Montez Sweat: Speaking of freight trains coming of the edge, Montez Sweat confirmed every reason why I had him in my top ten players. His technique was never a question, but he proved this weekend he was a better athlete than he was given credit for. He answered questions about his ankle flexibility with a good 3 Cone Drill, and you can’t ignore his 1.55 10 yard split. A great showing for Sweat in Indy.

3- “The Big Fellas,” Dexter Lawrence and Khalen Saunders: Both these guys were deemed to be phenomenal athletes for their size, and they proved it. These two beasts rolled into the combine over 320 pounds (D-Law was 340) and both came in with impressive 10 yard splits for their size. In my opinion, their tape matches their combine performances.

Lawrence is a behemoth in the run game and he can collapse the pocket to help his teammates get to the passer. Saunders was moved all over the lot at Western Illinois, he even stood up at times and rushed from the edge. He’s explosive for his size with a great first step.

These two will be quality starters in the NFL.

4- Anthony Nelson: Here’s another edge player that I expected to test better athletically, and he proved me right. Nelson showed good ankle flexibility with a terrific 3 Cone, and he was a fluid mover during the on field drills. I had him a little too low on my previous big board, partially because I was hedging my bets. That won’t happen next time.

5- Blake Cashman: Cashman won the “I need to go watch this player ASAP,” award this week. In a weak linebacker class, he made himself some money. To list off the athletic testing, 4.5 flat on the 40, a 37.5’’ vertical, 10’2 on the broad jump, sub 7 on the 3 Cone and a 4.12 short shuttle. Supposedly the production is there on tape, which would make him a very attractive option for teams that miss out on the big three off ball linebackers.

Day Three Losers:

1- Jachai Polite: Polite is a puzzler. His tape is really impressive, and everything you heard out of the Florida camp about him was positive. Having said that, he didn’t interview well at all, and he tested even worse, posting a 1.71 10 yard split at 258 pounds. He wasn’t particularly great at the start of the on-field drills either, and then inexplicably stopped the workout with a hamstring injury. Polite’s tape should still keep him in the first 75 picks, but the former Gator has definitely lost the first round hype. A big story on draft day will be how far Polite falls.

2- Clelin Ferrell: Ferrell showed very little dip and bend ability during the 3 Cone and Short Shuttle, and his drills weren’t much better. Now this isn’t a surprise to many, but as someone who thought he was a better athlete than his tape showed, he drops down my board a bit.

I do still think he will be a very productive pro. He’s great against the run and he collapses the pocket by long arming tackles. 

However, Ferrell has to fall because his ceiling is just not as high as some of the other defensive linemen in this draft. That was confirmed this weekend.

3- LJ Collier: I was never on the LJ Collier bandwagon because I wasn’t high on his tape. For those that were, the athletic testing should have you extremely concerned. Collier never looked fluid and struggled all throughout the day. Maybe he can bulk up and kick inside, but I don’t think he has the technique to do so.

Honorable Category of Confusion: Ed Oliver- Okay, we all knew Ed Oliver put on some weight to measure in bigger, and that’s why he didn’t want to run. However, he could’ve ran and done all the drills at that weight and still tested in at least the 80th percentile across the board. He was made for weekends like this. Heck, he posted a workout video this summer where he was doing linebacker and defensive back drills! His stock could have received a freebie boost this weekend, but alas, he refused. I’ll never understand why.

Day Four Winners

1- The Safeties: The safety class was deemed to be ridiculously weak, and day four could’ve gone real bad for them with Deionte Thompson and Nasir Adderley sitting out. However, players like Jonathan Abram, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and Amani Hooker stepped up and showed some surprising athleticism throughout their portion of the Combine. It’s still not a strong class, but this group did surprise a bit.

2- Byron Murphy, Justin Layne, David Long and Rock Ya-Sin: Here’s why this group is so big; these four were the only players among the cornerbacks to put up even an average performance during the drills on the field.

Murphy was the cleanest in and out of his backpedal, he flipped his hips fluidly and he never lost momentum coming out of his T-Step in the “W-Drill.” He confirmed CB1 for me despite an average 40 time.

Layne is a long, athletic corner that stepped up and showed precision in his backpedal down the hash marks. He also tested very well athletically.

Long was the biggest winner of the combine, catapulting his draft stock with a clean backpedal and natural footwork. His tape is a bit confusing, but some team will gamble on him in day two.

Ya-Sin ran a solid 40 on his second run, but he started slow during the drill process. However, there’s a reason they call it “Temple Tough.” The former Temple corner got better as the day went on and confirmed the first round player I saw on tape.

Day Four Losers

1- The Cornerbacks Not Named Above: This group is by far the biggest loser of the combine. The question about the corners was simple; would the athletic testing match the collegiate tape and production? The answer was a resounding no. Almost every guy struggled with their backpedal, many players flipped their hips before the coaches asked them to, and the technique was just stiff across the board. This will become a massive storyline during the NFL Draft because these cornerbacks furthered the polarizing analysis about him.

2- Trayvon Mullen and Greedy Williams: These two cornerbacks are worthy of their own category because of how rough their days were. Mullen never looked comfortable during the drills. He was often flat footed and stiff in the hips. His tape was inconsistent, and that was confirmed this weekend. It’ll be interesting to see where he winds up.

Greedy Williams is the biggest culprit of the polarizing analysis. He came out of the blocks and ran a 4.38, a terrific time. Then he got in the drills and couldn’t get it right. He stumbled out of his backpedal and he flipped his hips early on three separate occasions, once coming out of the backpedal in the first drill and twice during the backpedal and weave drill. Then he announced that he had cramped up, and his day was done. The guy who is by far the toughest evaluation for NFL teams became even more of a question mark this weekend.