NFL Mock Draft 1.0

I love me some mock drafts. Usually, I can't get enough of them. The issue this year is that they all look the same, and nothing has changed in months. I cannot believe that everyone knew months ago how this draft would play out. My guess is that we are in for a number of surprises. Let's see if I can nail a couple of them.

Round 1

1. CINCINNATI BENGALS: QB JOE BURROW, LSU - No surprises just yet.

2. WASHINGTON REDSKINS: DE CHASE YOUNG, OHIO STATE - Still waiting...

3. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (via Detroit): QB TUA TAGOVAILOA, ALABAMA - Let's go! It will cost them the 6th and 37th picks this year and next year's first rounder, but there are so many reasons this deal makes sense for the Chargers (they need fans, Tua is a stud, he won't be there at 6, they will be better next year so the first rounder won't be as painful). Pay the price. Go get Tua.

4. NEW YORK GIANTS: LB ISAIAH SIMMONS, CLEMSON - Gettleman has started to address the linebacking corps, but Simmons is a freak. Everyone else has o-line here.

5. MIAMI DOLPHINS: QB JUSTIN HERBERT, OREGON

6. DETROIT LIONS (via LAC): CB JEFFREY OKUDAH, OHIO STATE - Love it when a trade down works to perfection. Detroit has to be considering Okudah at 3. Now they get him and a suite of picks.

7. MIAMI DOLPHINS (via Carolina): OT MEKHI BECTON, LOUISVILLE - Traid alert! The Dolphins got their QB at 5; now they protect him for years to come. The Panthers get picks 18 and 26 for their troubles.

8. ARIZONA CARDINALS: OT TRISTAN WIRFS, IOWA

9. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (via Jacksonville): OT JEDRICK WILLS, ALABAMA - The Bradys move up to protect their new QB in exchange for picks 14 and 45.

10. CLEVELAND BROWNS: OT ANDREW THOMAS, GEORGIA - The run of stud offensive linemen comes to a finish here.

11. NEW YORK JETS: CB C.J. HENDERSON, FLORIDA - The vast majority of mock drafts have slotted a wide receiver to the Jets here at 11. I don't disagree that it's a position of need; my issue is that this is one of the deepest wideout groups we have seen in years. There will be plenty of value in later rounds to address that need. It's a similar story with offensive linemen. So, let's give the Jets a player that is at the top of the class in a shallow position group that fills a position of need. Then the Jets can go OL (Tyler Biadasz in Round 2?) and WR (Michael Pittman or Tyler Johnson in Round 3?) later in the draft. In a dream scenario, the Jets would trade down a few slots and pick up some more assets and still nab Henderson.

12. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: QB JORDAN LOVE, UTAH STATE - Mayock and Gruden have been suspiciously quiet leading up to this draft. I think something is brewing.

13. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (via Indianapolis): WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON, LSU - My biggest surprise of the round would be this JJ as the first wide receiver off the board. This could end up looking really bad when he ends up as the sixth WR taken but you can find 55-1 odds out there that he will be the first WR taken.

14. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (via Tampa Bay): DT DERRICK BROWN, AUBURN - Brown is in play for the Jags at 9. Getting him here plus the 45th pick would be a coup.

15. DENVER BRONCOS: WR JERRY JEUDY, ALABAMA - John Elway would be doing backflips if Jeudy drops to 15.

16. ATLANTA FALCONS: DE K’LAVON CHAISSON, LSU

17. DALLAS COWBOYS: WR CEEDEE LAMB, OKLAHOMA - Jerry Jones will not be able to pass on this physical freak even if WR isn't the biggest position of need.

18. CAROLINA PANTHERS (via Pittsburgh via Miami): DT JAVON KINLAW, SOUTH CAROLINA

19. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (via Chicago): WR HENRY RUGGS, ALABAMA - Are we sure this guy isn't just John Ross 2.0? He had 40 catches last year. 209 players had more. I know this isn't a quantity contest but this guy should have been way more dominant with this skill set than just having 40 catches.

20. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (via LAR): CB KRISTIAN FULTON, LSU

21. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: LB PATRICK QUEEN, LSU - Every mock I have seen has Philly going WR here (usually Justin Jefferson). I'm not buying it.

22. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (via Buffalo): CB TREVON DIGGS, ALABAMA - No pick in the first round would make me as happy as the Vikings using the 22nd selection - which they acquired in exchange for Stefon Diggs - on his brother. [Folds hands in prayer]

23. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: C CESAR RUIZ, MICHIGAN [Insert boring 10x All-Pro here]

24. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: WR DENZEL MIMS, BAYLOR - Drew Brees can't play forever so let's get him some weapons while he's here.

25. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: CB JAYLON JOHNSON, UTAH - Quick way to revamp the secondary.

26. CAROLINA PANTHERS (via Miami): S ANTOINE WINFIELD JR, MINNESOTA - Another surprise here with Winfield being the first safety off the board.

27. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: OT AUSTIN JACKSON, USC

28. BALTIMORE RAVENS: OT JOSH JONES, HOUSTON

29. TENNESSEE TITANS: DE A.J. EPENESA, IOWA

30. GREEN BAY PACKERS: WR BRANDON AIYUK, ARIZONA STATE

31. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: DE YETUR GROSS-MATOS, PENN STATE

32. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: S XAVIER MCKINNEY, ALABAMA