Welcome to 2019 NFL Draft week. With only a little more than two days before the first pick of the first round is called Thursday night, it’s high time for a new, penultimate mock draft.
Since we last did this exercise two weeks or so ago, more things have changed as rumors about particular player-team matches have swirled across the league. With the stock of many prospects on the rise, there are literally more possible first-rounders than we know for sure what to do with.
Once more with feeling and still working no trades, here’s the latest take on what we think teams are thinking as it’s also become crunch time for all their near-final answers.
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NFL mock draft 2019
1. Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Murray squashed plenty of questions about his undersized frame by measuring better than expected (5-10, 207 pounds, 9 1/2-inch hands). His dynamic playmaking, backed by smarts and accuracy, has the Cardinals locked on Murray going to work in a Kliff Kingsbury passing offense suited to him. That looks like the case regardless of whether they can trade last year’s first-rounder, Josh Rosen, which is still very likely.
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2. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Bosa is a no-brainer for the 49ers here. Pro Bowl tackle DeForest Buckner had a breakout pass-rush season, and fellow first-rounder Solomon Thomas found another gear after he slid inside. Bosa is a sleek edge force (6-4, 266 pounds) with even more upside than that of brother Joey.
3. New York Jets: Ed Oliver, DT/DE, Houston
The Jets plan to stick with a base 3-4 defense, but Gregg Williams’ strong 4-3 background suggests a hybrid scheme where he will make good use of quick interior defensive linemen beyond Leonard Williams. Here’s going with the mild upset of taking the versatile Oliver over tackle Quinnen Williams and edge rusher Josh Allen. Oliver has become more of an end/tackle tweener in many scouts’ eyes rather than the pure inside force of Williams. Gregg Williams, however, can get the most out of Oliver lining him up everywhere.
4. Oakland Raiders: Josh Allen, DE/OLB, Kentucky
The Raiders shouldn’t hesitate to jump on Khalil Mack’s ideal replacement if the Jets go with either Oliver or Williams, making their choice as easy as the 49ers and Bosa. Allen was productive in college and is loaded with the kinds of moves that will allow him to continue racking up sacks in the NFL. He also is capable of making plays in coverage.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White, ILB, LSU
White covers a ton of ground against the run and also will upgrade their intermediate coverage as Kwon Alexander’s replacement. He's the rangiest defender in the 2019 class and can be Todd Bowles’ most impactful 3-4 inside linebacker since the best of Daryl Washington in Arizona. White showed off his elite speed and athleticism at the Combine in a compact package (6-0, 237 pounds).
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6. New York Giants: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
Former Cardinals defensive tackle James Bettcher can think about getting a new potential Calais Campbell for his 3-4 scheme. Williams is a massive (6-3, 303 pounds) and explosive interior disruptor. It’s hard to ignore his Aaron Donald-like potential after a meteoric rise through his final college season.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Rashan Gary, DT/DE, Michigan
Gary, a versatile defender, will produce better in Todd Wash’s base 4-3 than he did with the Wolverines with prime inside-outside Michael Bennett-like upside for it. Gary uses his hands, power and big frame (6-4, 277 pounds) to occupy run-blockers. He also has some intriguing inside pass-rush ability.
8. Detroit Lions: Montez Sweat, DE, OLB, Mississippi State
Sweat crushed his Combine workouts, running the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds and recording a vertical of 36 inches, which is ridiculous at his size (6-6, 260 pounds). He translates that into relentless pursuit of the passer. Matt Patricia should be thrilled to get him to pair with former Patriot Trey Flowers in the Lions’ new-look edge rush.
9. Buffalo Bills: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Now that the Bills have a big-arm, downfield-throwing quarterback in Josh Allen, they can finish shoring up his pass protection after landing Mitch Morse, Spencer Long and Ty Nsekhe in free agency. Taylor (6-5, 312 pounds) offers agility, smarts and technique to handle most athletic edge-rushers. He has been rising up boards as scouts realized he is not just relegated to right tackle and can thrive better than anyone else in this class on the left side. He would immediately replace and be a major upgrade from Dion Dawkins.
10. Denver Broncos: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
The Broncos will think long and hard about quarterback if they stay here, but it’s hard to ignore the best tight end in the draft with his stock rising to this range. Hockenson looks like the next great all-around player at the position with his hands, physicality, smarts and agility. At 6-5, 251 pounds, he lived up to his billing at the Combine.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
Forget putting Haskins in a “mock mock” — this pick ensures the Bengals are taking a fresh approach everywhere after hiring young offensive-minded head coach Zac Taylor to replace Marvin Lewis. They’ve had lukewarm feelings of late toward Andy Dalton, who transitions more into high-floor veteran bridge or backup QB. Haskins cemented his draft stock late in the Buckeyes’ season, when he had some jaw-dropping games with his big arm and downfield accuracy. He has ideal size (6-3, 231 pounds) as a strong pocket passer with the right dose of athleticism.
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12. Green Bay Packers: Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan
The Packers made major free-agency moves to address outside linebacker in Mike Pettine’s 3-4 with Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith and also signed an elite safety in Adrian Amost. After not re-signing fellow former Wolverine Jake Ryan, they should love to get Bush, who is right there with White in being able to do everything well on the second level. Bush did his best to match White athletically at the Combine, proving his size (5-11, 234 pounds) is no limitation to his playmaking.
13. Miami Dolphins: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
The Dolphins lost Ja'Wuan James in free agency and need a bookend for Laremy Tunsil in front of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Kenyan Drake. Dillard backed up a big week of Senior Bowl practices with an impressive Combine performance. His athleticism was on full display to prove that, at 6-5, 315 pounds, he is the smoothest pass protector in this class.
14. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Wilkins, DT/DE, Clemson
The Falcons have a lot of options to address either their offensive or defensive line nicely, but the team that drafted former Clemson stars Grady Jarrett and Vic Beasley have become more enamored with Wilkins of late. He can line up everywhere and is equally effective stopping the run outside and getting to the QB inside. He measured (6-3, 315 pounds) and tested as well as advertised at the Combine.
15. Washington Redskins: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
The Redskins have a couple short-term Alex Smith contingencies in Case Keenum and Colt McCoy and if they don’t target a quarterback later in the draft, trading for Rosen would be an option, too. Using this pick instead to go after a true No. 1 go-to receiver makes a lot more sense. Metcalf lived up to his reputation as a beast (6-3, 228 pounds) at the Combine with his blazing 40-yard dash time (4.33), high number of bench-press reps (27) and amazing vertical (40 1/2 inches). He is a classic size/speed prospect, and then some.
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16. Carolina Panthers: Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma
Ford is a raw lineman but he can immediately start and address the Panthers’ big weakness at tackle, where he’s built to deliver as a big-time run blocker for Christian McCaffrey before rounding into a physical pass protector.
17. New York Giants (from Browns): Clelin Ferrell, DE/OLB, Clemson
After stealing Quinnen Williams early, the Giants go for another Dave Gettleman-type “hog molly” for their defensive front. Ferrell stood out on Clemson’s line because his size (6-4, 264 pounds) makes him a good outside run-stopper to add to his explosiveness as a pass-rusher.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
Williams is a strong pass protector who also is big enough (6-4, 302 pounds) to pave the way in the running game. That would be welcome news for both Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook.
19. Tennessee Titans: Brian Burns, OLB, Florida State
The Titans drafted Harold Landry last year and added Cameron Wake, but here they can raise their edge-rushing quotient for a long time. Burns had 15.5 sacks in his final Seminoles season and was a borderline first-rounder until the Combine, where he arrived bulked up at 6-5, 245 pounds without showing a drop-off in his explosiveness.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
The Steelers signed former Chief Steven Nelson in free agency, but Joe Haden, who turns 30 in April, is in the final year of his contract. That should make them love having the draft’s top cornerback available this late. Williams is a long, lean corner (6-2, 185 pounds) who has rare speed, quickness and agility for his size. He’s not the most physical player, but he is fundamentally sound in coverage, and he uses his length at the line of scrimmage to break up routes.
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21. Seattle Seahawks: Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
The Seahawks traded away Frank Clark after franchise-tagging him and that puts a bigger onus on Pete Carroll to get the team's edge pass rush back to where it once was when Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett were at their best together. Ferguson shows some explosive pass-rush moves and has been productive in that area and he will stay on the field in the NFL as a big (6-5, 259 pounds), natural edge run stopper.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State
The Ravens got Mark Ingram to add to their run-heavy offensive mentality with Lamar Jackson at the controls and now they need to solidify the weakest position up front. Bradbury would be a huge upgrade from Matt Skura between Alex Lewis and Marshall Yanda. At 6-3, 306 pounds, Bradbury has the size, power, smarts and athleticism to anchor an offensive line as a strong starter for a decade.
23. Houston Texans: Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington
The Texans will think about a corner here, but ultimately they can’t ignore offensive line early again after Deshaun Watson was sacked a league-high 62 times last season. McGary has steadily risen up the board as he’s proved to scouts that he can match his massive frame (6-7, 317 pounds) with some power and explosiveness and is athletic enough to handle at least starting at right tackle before rounding out his footwork and agility to possibly play on the left side in time.
24. Oakland Raiders (from Bears): Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
The Raiders can go back to defense with their last first-rounder with the ideal starter to put opposite Gareon Conley in Paul Guenther’s cover-2 zone scheme. Murphy is a smooth, fluid cover man. What he gives up in size and press potential (5-11, 190 pounds) he makes up for in speed, aggressiveness and ball-hawking skills.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
The Eagles will think about safety and defensive line here, but after bringing back DeSean Jackson, they add another younger big-play threat to boost Carson Wentz. Aptly nicknamed "Hollywood” for his Florida hometown, Brown has plenty of flash as a field-stretcher. He (5-9, 166 pounds) has elite vertical speed and great quickness coming in and out of routes. Brown missed the Combine and the Sooners' pro day coming off Lisfranc surgery, but he should be good to go for the heat of the offseason program.
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26. Indianapolis Colts: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
This pick lines up very well for the Colts as they continue to pile talent on Matt Eberflus’ young defense. With edge pass rusher less of a concern after signing Justin Houston, they need to upgrade next to Margus Hunt up front to better help linebackers Anthony Walker and Darius Leonard. Lawrence is a textbook inside run-stuffer with ideal size (6-4, 342 pounds).
27. Oakland Raiders (from Cowboys): Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
The Raiders didn’t re-sign Doug Martin and they are still waiting on whether Marshawn Lynch will return for another season. They need to move forward with a young, three-down option. Jacobs (5-10, 220 pounds) is the best bet of any feature-type back to go early. There’s a bit of Ezekiel Elliott in him; he’s a smart, complete back who runs with great vision and power, and he is equally elusive as an outside runner and receiver.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
The Chargers need someone else who can get to the quarterback from the inside to better complement what Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram do on the outside. At 6-6, 295 pounds, Tillery was a beast as a three-technique in college, and he backed that up with a stellar Combine. He matured with his play and temperament to unleash his pass-rush skills in his final season with the Irish. Quarterback also will be a positional consideration here.
29. Seattle Seahawks (from Chiefs): Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
The Seahawks need to restore their Kam Chancellor-like presence in their rebuilding secondary with this extra first-rounder. Abram (5-11, 205 pounds) is a physical run defender with some untapped coverage playmaking potential in the Landon Collins vein. He can operate well in Ken Norton Jr.'s scheme, likely at strong safety.
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30. Green Bay Packers (from Saints): Irv Smith, TE, Alabama
The Packers added to their strong offseason defensive haul with Devin Bush, so here they can go for an Aaron Rodgers-friendly playmaker who can both complement Davante Adams and help Aaron Jones. Smith is a technically sound run blocker and route runner who has shown vertical receiving juice to go with compact size (6-2, 242 pounds). He delivered a strong enough Combine to place himself behind Hockenson as the draft’s second-best tight end.
31. Los Angeles Rams: Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M
McCoy (6-4, 303 pounds) is a powerful, seasoned lineman who packs an extra punch to pair with his physicality. With Bradbury off the board, Rams should consider targeting McCoy to immediately start at center after deciding not to bring back John Sullivan.
