First Round draft order + picks + alternatives!
A lot of the content you’re going to see over the next month is going to be geared toward free agency and draft predictions leading up to the opening night of the 2019 NFL draft, Thursday, April 26th at 7pm.
Of course, the Colts pick 26th overall, currently have 9 picks in the draft, and there’s a lot of buzz around the organization and its future. The draft is a weird puzzle, in that for months before it happens, there’s some order to it. You know who picks when and as football fans, we like to think we know what our teams need, right? If we didn’t, we wouldn’t put so much time into the draft from our perspective here at Stampede Blue. Chris Ballard has said specifically that “I like them picks” and “I’m a scout at heart”.
Stampede Blue’s staff has taken on the scout role and our primary focus since the end of the 2018 season has been the draft. I hope you have enjoyed the free agency content so far and again, as the draft approaches, I hope you enjoy all the draft content we put out. I’m looking forward to the launch of our second annual draft guide. That said, I wanted to start a project which I will keep updated over time as we approach the draft.
I can’t possibly predict the final draft order or who goes where. That’s a fool’s errand. I simply want an updated draft board that I keep up with and I figured I’d share it with you. Of course, I’ll try to think real hard about who goes where and who picks what, but largely it’s a crap-shoot, right?
That said, I’ll be using The Draft Network to determine a team’s most pressing needs and you can see what I see here. I’ll be using Drafttek’s Top 100 player board to fill those needs and you can see what I see here.
Let’s get into it.
1. Arizona Cardinals - OU QB Kyler Murray
If I were the Cardinal staff, the world is truly my oyster. I could trade QB Josh Rosen and draft OU QB Kyler Murray because of the relationship between Murray and Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury. I could also shop the first pick and see what I could get for that. I could also keep Rosen, let Murray fall somewhere else and draft OSU EDGE Nick Bosa. We will update this as we get closer to the draft. My heart leans Murray.
2. San Francisco 49ers - OSU EDGE Nick Bosa
The 49ers would be remiss if they didn’t draft a QB in this class because who knows what you’ll get when Jimmy Garoppolo comes back, right? I’d thought the Colts could trade Brissett and the 26th pick for the 2nd pick, but I’m sure you’ll shoot that down in the comments, right? Let’s say they hang on to the pick, don’t take OSU QB Dwayne Haskins (if Murray isn’t available, right?), and instead take the aforementioned Bosa or Kentucky EDGE Josh Allen. For the purpose of this draft board, let’s say the 49ers take Bosa.
3. NY Jets - Kentucky EDGE Josh Allen
The Jets need defensive line help most of all, so I think this pick comes down to Bosa/Allen or Ed Oliver, Quinnen Williams, but with EDGE rushers coming at a premium, I think the Jets scoop up Mississippi State EDGE Montez Sweat if they don’t get Allen. For the purposes of our mock draft, the Jets select Josh Allen.
4. Oakland Raiders - Mississippi State EDGE Montez Sweat
The Raiders need an EDGE and while I could see this pick raising some eyebrows by going elsewhere (like taking Alabama RB Josh Jacobs here instead of with either of the other two first round picks they have), my thought process will always be that you prioritize pass rushers early. That said, there’s argument for Alabama DT Quinnen Williams or Houston DT Ed Oliver. For the purposes of this draft board, the Raiders select Montez Sweat.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Clemson EDGE Clelin Ferrell
The Buccaneers need a pass rusher (a pattern emerges!) and until draft day itself, we won’t know how the picks ahead of this will go, but should the draft go exactly Murray, Bosa, Allen, Sweat — I think Clelin Ferrell is the pick here.
6. NY Giants - OSU QB Dwayne Haskins
The Giants need a pass rusher and would really serve themselves moving on or at least trying to move on from Eli Manning. That said, I have a hard time believing they won’t take Haskins with the idea of having him start mid-season because he has the tools to do so. I could see them taking an offensive lineman or even one of either Ed Oliver or Quinnen Williams, but for the purposes of this draft board, let’s say Haskins is the pick.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars - UF OT Jawaan Taylor
Again, the Jaguars need a pass rusher and I could see an Ed Oliver or Quinnen Williams pick, but you have to think that with the signing of Nick Foles, you have to protect that asset. Taylor is the highest graded tackle in this class and meets the needs of the team.
8. Detroit Lions - LSU CB Greedy Williams
This is absurd! The Lions could really use a pass rusher! However, if we are trying to fill the most pressing need with the best player available, selecting Greedy isn’t a reach and fills a need. Again, we could talk about reaching for an EDGE rusher or even taking Ed Oliver or Quinnen Williams. Greedy is the pick here.
9. Buffalo Bills - Houston DL Ed Oliver
I’d argue the Bills have done a lot to improve their offense and as a result, they’re also up for a pass rusher (who’d have known?). That said, if we’re drafting responsibly and trying to fill a pressing need, the Bills are in for a defensive lineman. We could argue a reach for an EDGE or a Quinnen Williams pick. Ed gets the nod here.
10. Denver Broncos - Alabama DT Quinnen Williams
There are arguments here for a quarterback, a defensive lineman or linebacker here, but for the sake of doing what’s best for your team right now, let’s say the Broncos think they’ve got a solid starter in Joe Flacco (stop laughing!) and decide to bolster that defensive front instead.
11. Cincinnati Bengals - LSU LB Devin White
The Bengals are in for a linebacker, an offensive tackle or tight end, so I could see this pick coming down to Devin or Alabama OT Jonah Williams. For the sake of our draft board and my sanity, let’s say they go with Devin White here.
12. Green Bay Packers - Alabama OT Jonah Williams
The Packers have pressing needs at safety, tight end and offensive tackle. For the sake of our draft board, let’s say they get Aaron Rodgers some protection. Arguments for Iowa TE Noah Fant or Virginia S Juan Thornhill are also acceptable.
13. Miami Dolphins - Missouri QB Drew Lock
No sane human looks at QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and legitimately expects he’ll be the long term solution to replace Ryan Tannehill. There are arguments for offensive tackle, EDGE (shocker!) and offensive guard. For the sake of doing what helps your franchise the most, I think a viable alternative to the roller coaster ride that Fitzmagic will take you on is indeed Lock.
14. Atlanta Falcons - Washington CB Byron Murphy
There are arguments for a defensive lineman or EDGE here, but again, if I’m the Falcons, I want what’s best for my franchise without having to reach for a player. Arguments could be made for Rashan Gary or Brian Burns, but for the sake of our draft, let’s take the BPA and give the Falcons a cornerback.
15. Washington Redskins - Ole Miss WR D.K. Metcalf
Ah, the perennial dumpster fire that is the Washington front office. Okay, so there are arguments here for an EDGE rusher or offensive guard. I could absolutely see the Redskins taking Rashan Gary or Chris Lindstrom (which would be a reach), but for the sake of keeping our board in order, let’s give whichever poor soul starts at QB a new target.
16. Carolina Panthers - Florida State EDGE Brian Burns
The Panthers need an EDGE rusher, offensive tackle, offensive guard and a safety. Here we can take Burns, S Deionte Thompson, again OG Chris Lindstrom or reach for an offensive tackle and take Andre Dillard. If we’re just using the tools we have, prioritizing pass rushers leaves us taking Brian Burns here.
17. NY Giants - Florida EDGE Jachai Polite
Having taken Haskins with the 6th pick, the priority again shifts to pass rusher. There are arguments for offensive tackle and cornerback as well. The Giants could also take Andre Dillard (reach) or Penn State CB Amani Oruwariye (also a reach) here. Let’s give say the Giants select Polite.
18. Minnesota Vikings - Michigan DL Rashan Gary
The Vikings are in need of offensive line help in the form of a guard or tackle. Again, we could reach and take Dillard or Lindstrom, but if Gary falls to you at 18, you take him if you need him.
19. Tennessee Titans - Ole Miss WR A.J. Brown
The Titans need an EDGE rusher, a guard and a wide receiver. It would technically be a reach to go get Jaylon Ferguson or even Lindstrom. According to the big board, the best player available at a position of need is wide receiver. The Titans select A.J. Brown.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Iowa State WR Hakeem Butler
The Steelers need a wide receiver, a linebacker, a cornerback and an EDGE rusher. This means either Hakeem Butler, Devin Bush, Amani Oruwariye or Jaylon Ferguson. The player that meets a most pressing need without reaching for it would be Hakeem Butler. In my opinion, this is the best WR in this class.
21. Seattle Seahawks - Alabama S Deionte Thompson
The Seahawks are in for a safety, an edge rusher and a cornerback. Arguments for a reach in Jaylon Ferguson or an acceptable pick in Amani Oruwariye will be heard, but Thompson meets both a pressing need and is the best player left on our big board.
22. Baltimore Ravens - Michigan LB Devin Bush
The Ravens are in need of a wide receiver, a linebacker, an offensive lineman and/or EDGE rusher. Options include reaching for WR N’Keal Harry, taking Bush, and/or reaching for Lindstrom or Ferguson. Let’s not reach, youngblood, and take Devin Bush.
23. Houston Texans - Virginia S Juan Thornhill
The Texans are in need of offensive linemen and a safety as the most pressing needs. Without reaching (although less so at this point) for Lindstrom or Dillard, let’s replace the Honey Badger and crown Thornhill the next Texans starting safety.
24. Oakland Raiders - Alabama RB Josh Jacobs
Raider Nation goes bananas as the most complete running back in this class falls into their laps at 24. Having addressed the need for an EDGE rusher, options at this point are Jacobs, CB Amani Oruwariye, or Alabama LB Mack Wilson (a reach at this point).
25. Philadelphia Eagles - Washington State OT Andre Dillard
The Eagles have pressing needs at safety, running back and offensive tackle. They could reach a bit for S Taylor Rapp, also reach for RB Damien Harris, or simply take an offensive tackle at roughly his big board position (drafted 25th rated 29th?). It’s not a sexy pick, but it fills a need and isn’t a reach at all.
26. Indianapolis Colts - Clemson DT Christian Wilkins
The Colts have pressing needs at defensive tackle, wide receiver, safety and cornerback. Options galore as the Colts would jump on Wilkins, could barely reach for WR Marquise Brown, take S Taylor Rapp or take one of my favorite players in this class in CB Amani Oruwariye. For the purposes of lighting a fire in your belly, let’s dream a little and select Wilkins with this pick.
27. Oakland Raiders - Penn State CB Amani Oruwariye
Much to the dismay of Colts fans, the Raiders continue to draft responsibly and having drafted based on needs with the first two picks (stop laughing!), they’ll again take the best player on the board that also fills a need instead of reaching for LB Mack Wilson.
28. LA Chargers - Boston College DL Zach Allen
The Chargers have pressing needs at offensive tackle, defensive lineman and wide receiver. Options include clearly reaching for Ole Miss OT Greg Little, slightly reaching for a wide receiver in N’Keal Harry or simply taking the best player available also at a position of need in DL Zach Allen. Another option is Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence.
29. Kansas City Chiefs - Iowa TE Noah Fant
Frankly, if this draft goes the way I have projected, I would trade back if I were the Chiefs. That said, options that also meet pressing needs including reaching for an EDGE rusher in Jaylon Ferguson, reaching for a cornerback in DeAndre Baker, or again, reaching for a linebacker in Mack Wilson. My experience tells me the later picks in the first round that aren’t necessarily a position of need result in a tight end being selected, so let’s throw to Noah Fant AND Travis Kelce, eh?
30. Green Bay Packers - Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson
Having done the right thing with their earlier first round pick by taking an offensive tackle, the Packers’ most pressing needs are tight end and safety. They could absolutely reach a little and take S Taylor Rapp, but I have a feeling that for the first time ever, players that are on the same team that also play the same position get drafted back to back. What kind of clearly engineered ESPN 30 for 30 is in the making here? I know, right? Right!?
31. LA Rams - Alabama TE Irv Smith, Jr.
Much like our Kansas City pick, the Rams’ most pressing needs are an EDGE rusher, a linebacker and a cornerback. Based on our board, they could reach for Jaylon Ferguson, Mack Wilson or DeAndre Baker. Again, if we take the best player available at a position of need, we reach. If we don’t reach and don’t trade back, we take a tight end. My cohorts think that Kaden Smith is the 10th ranked TE, and if I were the Rams, I would draft Irv Smith, Jr. to steal him from the Patriots because I’m petty like that.
32. New England Patriots - Clemson DL Dexter Lawrence
The Patriots’ most pressing need is a defensive lineman, an EDGE rusher or a wide receiver. This means either reaching for Jaylon Ferguson, taking WR Marquise Brown, or simply taking the best player left at a position of need in Dexter Lawrence.
from Stampede Blue - All Posts https://ift.tt/2Uadw8x
No comments:
Post a Comment