NFL Mock Draft 4.0

Author | Michael Weitzner

With the biggest part of NFL free agency finished, it’s time for an updated NFL Mock Draft! There haven’t been the major changes to NFL rosters like what we saw at the beginning for free agency (like Hopkins traded to Arizona, Diggs traded to Buffalo, Slay traded to Philadelphia, and of course Tom Brady signing in Tampa). But there were still roster building signings all around the league. If you want to review our previous mock, click here for Mock Draft 3.0 and click here for a breakdown of the Miami Dolphins team need (the name of this blog is “Almost Sports Miami” so don’t be surprised it’s so Dolphins focused).

1.         Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

We’ve known for months that Burrow was going to be the pick. Don’t overthink it.

2.         Washington Football – Chase Young, Edge, Ohio St.

3.         Detroit Lions – Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio St.

Trading Darius Slay basically carved Jeff Okudah’s name into the tablets at the Lions team facility, even after signing the aging Desmond Trufant.

4.         New York Giants – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

5.         Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

With free agency basically in the books and the teams’ inability to bring players in for interviews/evaluations, it’s becoming more possible that Miami will not have to trade up in the Draft to get Tua. But now that I’ve typed that into existence, some team like the Jaguars are going to trade up to #4 to get him. Anyways, Miami need a quarterback.

6.         Los Angeles Chargers – Jordan Love, QB, Utah St.

With Tyrod Taylor being the only “not terrible” quarterback on the roster, the Chargers need to do something. It now comes down to whether the Chargers make a run at signing Jameis Winston or Cam Newton; and even if they do, if that stops them from taking a quarterback anyways. I prefer Jordan Love over Justin Herbert so Love is the pick.

7.         Carolina Panthers – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

8.         Arizona Cardinals – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

9.         Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn

The Jags seem to be hashtag [insert catchy slogan for losing a ton of games in order to get the 1st overall pick next season to draft Trevor Lawrence]. A good way to do that is draft an interior defensive lineman that will certainly be good but not make an incredibly big impact in year one, for more information, check out Miami Dolphins’ 2019 1st round pick Christian Wilkins.

10.       Cleveland Browns - Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama

11.       New York Jets – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

This is a really tough one: give Sam Darnold more weapons and draft a guy like Jerry Jeudy or protect Sam Darnold and draft an offensive tackle. This is a loaded wide receiver draft and there aren’t many starting offensive tackles after the first round.

12.       Las Vegas? Raiders - Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Fun fact: Hunter Renfrow is currently the second best wide receiver on the Raiders. Easy pick here. The only debate is which elite wide receiver prospect. My favorite is Jerry Jeudy so he’s the pick.

13.       San Francisco 49ers (from IND) - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

14.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Jones, OT, Houston

Same pick with the same analysis: I don’t know if you heard but Tom Brady is signing with the Buccaneers. That means that every move/signing/trade/draft pick going forward is about TB12. Offensive line is the weakest spot on Tampa Bay’s offense.

15.       Denver Broncos - Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

So I know the Broncos used a 2nd round pick last year to draft quarterback Drew Lock. But Broncos’ General Manager John Elway loves these big, tall quarterbacks. There’s one team every draft that takes a quarterback when you don’t think they will.

16.       Atlanta Falcons - Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina

17.       Dallas Cowboys – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

18.       Miami Dolphins (from PIT) – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

In this mock, the Dolphins miss out on the top 5 offensive tackles. Instead of totally reaching for a tackle, the Dolphins bolster their secondary with first safety taken in the Draft. With the signing of Byron Jones, Miami could have one of the best secondaries in the league.

19.       Las Vegas! Raiders (from CHI) - K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

20.       Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

21.       Philadelphia Eagles – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

22.       Minnesota Vikings (from BUF) - Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado

23.       New England Patriots - Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin

The Patriots lost (pushed out?) Tom Brady and basically only have Brian Hoyer and Jared Stitham to replace him. However, Bill Belichick isn’t the type of guy to reach for a quarterback. Instead, he replenishes his elite defense.

24.       New Orleans Saints - A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa

The Saints have done an amazing done filling critical needs during free agency. That leaves the Draft open for luxuries, like pass rusher. 

25.       Minnesota Vikings – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

26.       Miami Dolphins (from HOU) – Lucas Niang, OT, TCU

After drafting the lone safety so far in the 1st round, the Dolphins need to address offensive tackle. Realistically, the Dolphins need two offensive tackles to have a solid offensive line. Lucas Niang is more of a right tackle (Tua’s blind side) but would still likely be starting from day one.

27.       Seattle Seahawks – Cesar Ruiz, IOL, Michigan

28.       Baltimore Ravens – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

Baltimore has a young quarterback who just won NFL MVP (Lamar Jackson, if you haven’t heard). He won MVP even without an elite wide receiver on the roster.

29.       Tennessee Titans - Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge, Penn State

30.       Green Bay Packers - Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU

31.       San Francisco 49ers – Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

32.       Kansas City Chiefs – Grant Delpit, S, LSU