NFL Mock Draft 5.0

Author | Michael Weitzner

A lot has happened since the last NFL Mock Draft (if you want to review Mock 4.0, click here). The NFL Draft is still happening, but will be conducted completely online like an amateur fantasy draft (that’s right; you shouldn’t consider your league a “pro fantasy football league” unless you do an in-person draft). There have been crazy trade rumors like Miami wants to trade up to #1 for Joe Burrow. And possibly the most insane thing to happen, both the Atlanta Falcon (oh my god, terrible. What were they thinking?) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (basically the same uniforms from the last 25 years, excluding the weird uniforms during the Jameis era) released their uniform redesign! Anyways! The real NFL Draft is two weeks away so there are only a few mock drafts left! Enjoy!

1.         Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

We’ve known for months that Burrow was going to be the pick. All the rumors about Miami wanting to trade up are either fake or not going to happen, Cinny loves Burrow too much to trade him away.

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

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

The Lions are putting out smoke signals to anyone who wants Tua that they will need to trade with Detroit to get him. However, since there hasn’t been a trade yet and I’m not putting mock trades into this mock draft, the Lions play is safe and get the top corner in the draft.

4.         New York Giants – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

5.         Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

There are two theories for what’s been going on with all these Miami rumors: (1) Miami is afraid of Tua’s injury since there haven’t been pro days or private team workouts, OR (2) Miami is in love with Tua and wants everyone else to fear the Tua injuries so they don’t try to jump the Dolphins. Personally, I think (hoping and praying) it’s the second.

6.         Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

The Chargers are seemingly refusing to sign either of the top quarterback free agents (Jameis Winston and Cam Newton). This seems to point to the fact that the Chargers are looking to take a quarterback in the draft. I believe Jordan Love has more potential and I would take him here, but with the compressed pre-draft schedule, the Chargers might be looking for a safe pick: Herbert.

7.         Carolina Panthers – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Wirfs can play offensive tackle or guard. The Panthers traded All-Pro guard Trai Turner for the aging left tackle Russell Okung. Wirfs could play guard if Okung continues to start, but Wirfs might also beat him out at tackle.

8.         Arizona Cardinals – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

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]. This draft’s pick is about team building, not winning.

10.       Cleveland Browns - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

11.       New York Jets – Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama

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

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 - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

16.       Atlanta Falcons - Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Poor Patrick Queen has to play in those absolutely atrocious uniforms hahahahaha!

17.       Dallas Cowboys – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

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

The Dolphins again miss out on the top 5 offensive tackles in the draft. Since there is no offensive tackle to draft, the Dolphins continue the offseason construction of an elite secondary.

19.       Las Vegas! Raiders (from CHI) - Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina

20.       Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) – Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

21.       Philadelphia Eagles – Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota

Have ya’ll looked at the Eagles secondary? Besides Darius Slay (who they literally just traded for), there aren’t many quality starters.

22.       Minnesota Vikings (from BUF) - Jordan Love, QB, Utah St.

I know, I know . . . the Vikings just extended Kirk Cousins (ridiculous) contract. But according to overthecap.com, Cousins’ contract is effectively only a two year deal and Minnesota could cut him in 2022 with minimal dead money. Jordan Love is an electric player but he needs time to develop. Also, I can’t allow an awesome quarterback prospect to fall to the Patriots.

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

24.       New Orleans Saints - K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

The Saints have done an amazing done filling critical needs during free agency. That leaves the Draft open for luxuries, like pass rusher. K’Lavon Chaisson has fallen enough in the draft and finds a nice home, playing opposite of Cameron Jordan.

25.       Minnesota Vikings – Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado

26.       Miami Dolphins (from HOU) Cesar Ruiz, IOL, Michigan

After completely missing out on offensive tackles, the Dolphins still do Tua a favor and improve the offensive line as a whole. Cesar Ruiz will likely be a center in the NFL; even with the signing of center Ted Karras, Ruiz could easily win a starting spot at center.

27.       Seattle Seahawks – Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State

28.       Baltimore Ravens – A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa

29.       Tennessee Titans – Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

30.       Green Bay Packers - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

Personally, I believe Davante Adams is an elite wide receiver and his greatness gets shadowed by Aaron Rodgers being his quarterback. But regardless of how you feel about Adams, he was essentially the only receiving threat on the team. Get him and Rodgers some help with an elite slot receiver prospect.

31.       San Francisco 49ers – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

32.       Kansas City Chiefs – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

I still can’t believe how awesome the last 10 minutes of the Superbowl was. That’s it. That’s the analysis.