Everybody does a mock NFL Draft. Why? Mostly because they are fun to do for the writer and semi-fun for the reader to get excited about their team’s pick and how they stack up to other mock’s. So without further adieu I release the BengalsGM.com first ever NFL mock draft:
1. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow (QB – LSU) No need for explanation, if so you should not be on this website.
2. Washington Redskins – Chase Young (DE – OSU) Although this is not a need position for the Skins who had a bottom-tier defense last year this is a can’t miss pick just like the Bosa’s and Clowney were not. If Joe Burrow was not a QB this is who the Bengals would have selected and is the best player on the board. The Skins could entertain trades here but Young would be hard to give up.
3. Detroit Lions – Jeffrey Okudah (CB – OSU) This is probably too early to take a CB but I expect Detroit to trade out of the #3 slot with a thirsty-for-a-QB team. I could easily see the Dolphins trading up here to slam dunk Tua with the draft capital that they have. You can’t ignore the Lions need for defense, one that was ranked 27th and CB is a huge hole for them.
4. New York Giants – Jerry Jeudy (WR – Alabama) I wanted to go OL here but at the #4 slot there just wasn’t a player who warranted that slot in a weak lineman class. Daniel Jones needs some early success and he looked good as the 2019 season progressed. If the Giants can’t get help to protect Jones here then get him a player who can get open and Jeudy is certainly the best day-one WR on the board.
5. Miami Dolphins – Tua Taglovailoa (QB – Alabama) This was also a no brainer pick for Miami. They are going to ride Crazylegs Fitzmagic for one more season and when they are eliminated from contention in Week 8 then the Tua era will begin. This is a good spot for Tua actually. Miami has enough draft capital to surround him with young players and let them grow in a system together. If Miami does not work a trade up with the Lions then this is their pick at 5.
6. Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Hebert (QB – Oregon) The run on QB’s begin and when they pitch and miss on Tom Brady and can’t land a trade for Cam Newton they are forced to go QB here. The Rivers era is unfortunately over and the Chargers need to rebuild around youth. They have a good core but struggled this year in the pass. If LA can’t be active in FA at the QB position then Hebert is their guy.
7. Carolina Panthers – Isaiah Simmons (OLB – Clemson) Since Luke Kuechly decided that his livelihood was worth more than a NFL paycheck the Panthers need a 1:1 swap with a top prospect. Clearly Simmons is that and this may force the Panthers to ride their existing lineup of QBs for one more season. Maybe they will start the tank-4-Lawrence and go back-to-back on Clemson players two years in a row.
8. Arizona Cardinals – CeeCee Lamb (WR – Oklahoma) The Cardinals defense stinks and was ranked 31st in defensive efficiency. They should take Derrick Brown here but instead they want to give Kyler Murray another weapon to help his chances of panning out. Lamb is definitely the best WR on the board since Jeudy is gone and will be a nice pairing with the ageless wonder in Larry Fitzgerald.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Brown (DT – Auburn) There are a few positions I can see here for the Jags but the best player on the board in a need position will be Brown here. Their run defense was terrible and Brown is a plug-n-play guy who can help that rebuild. I would like to see an offensive weapon here for a team that flirted with being a contender and then not a contender. Who is throwing the ball next year and wouldn’t you like to help Minshew….I mean Foles…..I meant Minshew out here.
10. Cleveland Browns – Andrew Thomas (LT – Georgia) There is no question that this is glaring hole on this Browns team. This is a huge year for Baker Mayfield and his future as the Browns signal caller. Mayfield has the WR and RB talent around him but he is often under pressure and forced to throw balls that are too risky. The Browns would like to take a safety here and some mocks had that but when you pick 10 you take something that isn’t sexy and is more stability. I am also high on Tristan Wirfs here but his stock is not as high and he might be more of a RT in the NFL.
11. New York Jets – Jedrick Wills Jr. (OT – Alabama) I hate this pick but the Jets need OL help so bad they reach past a lot of great skill positions and take need. Wills is a RT and maybe only a RG but that Jets OL is so bad they have to invest in it somehow. Sam Darnold shows signs of being the real deal but he will be broken if you can’t let him throw the ball in a clean pocket or make holes for that running game. I can also see WR here but they cannot ignore this line.
12. Oakland Raiders – Marvin Wilson (DT – FSU) The previous picks all went for need and this allowed for Oakland to take the next best defensive player that was not a safety. You are not going to pair Abrams up with another stud in the backfield and they need to solidify their core a little better on that defensive line. I expect Oakland to go heavy on defense this season after trading away Khalil Mack and having a terrible season.
13. Indianapolis Colts – Henry Ruggs III (WR – Alabama) Ruggs was a pure stud this season and the Colts could definitely help that offense that sputtered in the second half of the season. Jefferson from LSU also got some looks here but Ruggs is too good of a prospect to pass up. No matter what Indy is going WR at this position and will likely ride their current QB situation one more year or try to take a flyer on a guy in rounds 2-4.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tristan Wirfs (OT – Iowa) Another need-based reach for a team that could use some help on the defensive side of the ball. We know that Jameis Winston was a INT machine this season but he also shows signs of making big throws and escapability. If the Bucs don’t go OL here then I expect them to Javon Kinlaw or K’Lavon Chaisson here. They are the best players on the board and the best way to help an offense is to get them on the field attempting touchdowns more often.
15. Denver Broncos – Grant Delpit (S – LSU) I wanted to give the Broncos a WR here and anything to help Drew Lock in his first full season of play. Delpit was still on the board and has extremely high draft grades The Broncos need help in the secondary and if they don’t go CB with CJ Henderson here then Delpit is their guy. He is great in space and can force a run or pass situation. At LSU he played in a way that we hoped Taylor Mays could have by pressing the box but dropping into coverage. Tackling is suspect but he can make plays.
16. Atlanta Falcons – AJ Epenesa (DE – Iowa) The WR’s continue to plummet in this draft but since Epenesa is still there the Falcons have to take him. Atlanta needs help pass rushing and setting the edge. Epenesa can be that guy for them. I could also see Atlanta trading out of this position here and moving down to a team that wants to go get Jefferson (I am looking at you Cowboys) and not give up a lot .
17. Dallas Cowboys – Justin Jefferson (WR – LSU) The Cowboys are in a bind this year with expiring contracts I can see them letting Amari Cooper walk and re-signing Dak Prescott which will destroy their cap room. Jefferson makes a lot of sense here and at 17 is quite the steal. If they like Tee Higgins more then they could go with the Clemson kid but Jefferson is a nice replacement for skills lost heading into 2020.
18. Miami Dolphins – Tee Higgins (WR – Clemson) I wanted to go Swift here and give the Dolphins the best RB on the board but they are not a running game away from rebuilding this offense. Higgins is the best offensive player on the board here and a good way to build around Tua. Back-to-back offensive players for the Fins is good progress for them but thy did not go after the best player on the board.
19. Oakland Raiders – CJ Henderson (CB – Florida) The best CB on the board falls to the Raiders. After going DL in with the first pick the come back and reinvigorate the backfield with their second. This is a solid and safe pick for the Raiders and Mike Mayock will be happy to get Henderson here. It would be fun to have this much draft capital and be aggressive with re-shaping a defense. Tom Brady….I mean Carr is going to need help from his defense in their new stadium.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars – Noah Igbinoghene (CB – Auburn) The Jags need a replacement for Jalen Ramsey and the Auburn stud is a good first step. Like the Raiders the Jags paired a DT with a CB and have went heavy on defense in the first round. Trevon Diggs and Xavier McKinney are also names to watch out for here if they are still available. I like the Jags going aggressive on the defensive side of the ball.
21. Philadelphia Eagles – Laviska Shenault Jr. (WR – Colorado) The Eagles definitely need to help out Carson Wentz and they are clearly the best team in the NFC East. The Eagles have the third oldest team in the NFL and their TE led the team in yards (916). The Eagles need help at the WR spot and Shenault Jr. is loaded with talent. He didn’t play at a big name school (although I do remember when Colorado was considered a football school in the early 90’s) but he could be a Julien Edelman type of player.
22. Buffalo Bills – Devonta Smith (WR – Alabama) Load up on WR’s at this point and let’s give Josh Allen more weapons. I am itching to give Dobbins or Swift away but Singletary caught on hot at the end of the season and I see no reason not to ride him into 2020. The Bills can make that next step this season and as a Bengals fan you want to root a little bit for the Bills who, like Cincinnati, are a small market team who have had little success and poured a lot of love out to Andy Dalton in 2018.
23. New England Patriots – Jacob Eason (QB – Washington) Who knows what is going to happen with the GOAT. One thing we know is that the Pats turn water into wine and have a thin bench right now at QB. If they do not make a trade for Dalton, Newton or sign Teddy Bridgewater or Taysom Hill then Eason is the pick. The Pats need help on the OL but all of the best prospects are taken in the first round. If the Pats see something in Eason then he is gone and if not then they will go Xavier McKinney as the best player on the board. We know they won’t miss on their pick….because that isn’t what they do.
24. New Orleans Saints – Bradon Aiyuk (WR – Arizona State) The Saints need a lot of help at WR and besides Michael Thomas their skill players are a little lackluster. It is assumed that Brees will be back and giving him the best WR still left on the board is a good way to tell him to stay for one more run. Aiyuk is not a household name but at ASU he put up household numbers. I also like Curtis Weaver here.
25. Minnesota Vikings – Xavier McKinney (S – Alabama) Finally he goes off the board The Vikings need help in the backfield and instead of taking the best CB available they took the best backfield guy available. Zimmer loves defense and it appears he has the offense with Captain Kirk to get him far enough in the playoffs. Take the best guy on the board and role!
26. Miami Dolphins – De-Andre Swift (RB – Georgia) The Fins should go defense here but with the top offensive guy still on the board how could they not be tempted here. With this pick they would go QB, WR and RB with their first three picks and overhaul their entire offense. Look to the later rounds for them to start chipping away at defense and who knows what edge rusher can still fall to them, there are still a lot of good ones.
27. Seattle Seahawks – Ross Blacklock (DT – TCU) For some reason this guy plummets down the draft board after Todd McShay has him ranked as the #13 best player. The Seahawks have the offensive firepower but they need to shore up their defense to make a run further into the playoffs. I like EDGE for the Hawks here but Blacklock is a stud and you can’t coach raw talent….someone great said that once
28. Baltimore Ravens – Curtis Weaver (DE – Boise State) They need a pass rush and Weaver is their guy. The Ravens have re-invented themselves as an offensive team where defense used to reign supreme in Charm City. The Ravens struggled on the edge this year and it will help to start making defensive investments. The days of Ozzie Newsome are in the past but the Ravens are still making great decision in the draft. Look for them to make a trade either up or down from this position as well.
29. Tennessee Titans – J.K. Dobbins (RB – OSU) Yes I know that Henry carried (literally) them through the playoffs but dropping major coin on a RB in the offseason is not the best use of cap space. Dobbins is available and he has to be the pick here. Derrick Henry was great but they can still move on with Tannehill at the helm and make a run next season.
30. Green Bay Packers – K.J. Hamler (WR – Penn State) The Packers need some more skill position players and Hamler fits that need. All of the huge names are taken and how many more years do you have Rodgers for. Load it up and make a run and Hamler can be a guy to add some depth on the perimeter.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Kristian Fulton (CB – LSU) You look over on the other side and see Richard Sherman….oh yeah! Fulton isn’t a need for the Super Bowl losers (let’s hope) but he is the best player available. The way it is stacking up right now in this draft you are left with DT and DE as your other options Why not solidify your backfield for the long-term and make the investment now.
32. Kansas City Chiefs – Kenneth Murray (ILB – Oklahoma) Best player left on the board so why not. They just won the Super Bowl and showed that their offense can put a ton of points up. Let the defense get better and Murray is going to do that for you.
33. Cincinnati Bengals – Raekwon Davis (DT – Alabama) We are going to address OL at some point but there are not enough good players in this draft to select one at 33. Davis is a monster and we need to plug the middle where Billings and Tupou have struggled to complement Atkins. I don’t love the pick here but I am sure that I will mock this pick 40 more times but for right now this is what we are looking at. Whodey!