NFL Mock Draft 6.0

Author | Michael Weitzner

We are 1 (ONE!) week away from the NFL Draft! Even though we are going to basically watch an online fantasy football draft with individuals who are extremely unlikely to know how to use a fantasy football drafting platform, it’s still an extremely exciting time! There have not been any draft picks traded since the Diggs to Buffalo trade and none of the top 5 picks have been moved. As the draft draws nearer, the more craziness seems to be floated into the ether. This will be the second to last NFL Mock Draft from Almost Sports Miami so please read and enjoy!

1.         Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

We are a week away from the actual NFL Draft but we’ve known this pick for MONTHS.

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

We’ve known this pick for months too . . . it’s really not that complicated.

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

4.         New York Giants – Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn

5.         Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

All these rumors and news about the Dolphins trading up to #1 to take Joe Burrow or taking Justin Herbert at #5 is ridiculous. If Tua wasn’t hurt, he might have been the #1 overall pick. The Dolphins would be cowards to pass on Tua at #5.

6.         Los Angeles Chargers – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Well the Chargers desperately need a quarterback, both Jameis Winston and Cam Newton are still available to sign as free agents. I think one of them (Cam Newton) will end up in LA. That means the Chargers could use their first round pick to give that quarterback (Cam Newton) some added protection.

7.         Carolina Panthers – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

This may seem odd since Carolina just signed Teddy Bridgewater to a 3 year, $63 million contract. But in 2022, the Panthers could cut Bridgewater and only have $5 million in dead cap. That means Herbert can develop for a year and eventually beat out Bridgewater in year 2.

8.         Arizona Cardinals – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

9.         Jacksonville Jaguars – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

10.       Cleveland Browns – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

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 CeeDee Lamb 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 – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

13.       San Francisco 49ers (from IND) – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

14.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

Different pick but 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 – Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina

17.       Dallas Cowboys – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

18.       Miami Dolphins (from PIT) – Josh Jones, OT, Houston

The Dolphins luck out and get their starting left tackle in the middle of the first round. Taking Tua in the top 5 almost guarantees that Miami is using substantial draft capital on the offensive line.

19.       Las Vegas! Raiders (from CHI) – Jordan Love, QB, Utah St.

By signing Marcus Mariota, the Raiders are indicating that Derek Carr’s reign as starting quarterback is all but over. The perfect way of turning the page on the Derek Carr era would be drafting the quarterback of the future in Jordan Love.

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

21.       Philadelphia Eagles – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

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

The Vikings are (without a doubt) in win now mode. The only issue is that the Vikings traded away one of their only offensive weapons, other than Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook. Laviska Shenault Jr. could be the dynamic #1 wide receiver, which allows Thielen to move all over the field.

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

Zack Baun can play on the line as a pass rusher or as a traditional linebacker. That means he is exactly the defensive asset that Bill Belichick loves to have on his team. Obviously the Patriots cannot replace Tom Brady (especially this late in the first round) so the next best move is bolstering an already great defense.

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

25.       Minnesota Vikings – Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

26.       Miami Dolphins (from HOU) – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

Miami lucked out with Tua falling to #5 then lucked out again by having one of the five offensive tackles fall to #18. Now they luck out again by having the top safety in the draft fall to #26. The Dolphins already have an elite (and possibly best) cornerback duo but need a starting safety.

27.       Seattle Seahawks – Cesar Ruiz, IOL, Michigan

Russell Wilson is crying tears of joy right now. The Seahawks are finally trying to improve the offensive line. While the Seahawks missed out on the group of offensive tackles who are considered better than the rest, Cesar Ruiz is the top interior offensive lineman and will likely start right away.

28.       Baltimore Ravens – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

29.       Tennessee Titans – A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa

30.       Green Bay Packers – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

Same pick as last draft. 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 – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

32.       Kansas City Chiefs – A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

Shout out to Mark Ellenbogen with the A.J. Terrell O/U of 31.5!