NFL Mock Draft 8.0: Final Mock

Authors | Mark Ellenbogen & Michael Weitzner

IT’S DRAFT WEEK BABY! It’s finally here! The NFL Draft is this Thursday! To celebrate draft week, Almost Sports Miami’s Final NFL Mock Draft has arrived! We did it funky again, making alternating picks between Michael Weitzner (odd numbered picks) and Mark Ellenbogen (even numbered picks). No trades, just a classic mock draft. Please read through the entire mock and enjoy the real Draft!

Mark Ellenbogen - Evens

Michael Weitzner - Odds

1.         Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Duh . . . We’ve known this for months (what feels like years because of these stay at home orders). The Bengals aren’t trading down. They aren’t going to surprise us. Burrow is the pick.

2.         Washington Football - Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio St.

Washington gets the best overall player in the draft at #2, just like San Francisco did last year.

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

Ever since trading Darius Slay, this pick has been written in blood. Okudah is the best corner in this Draft and the Lions have a big need for one.

4.         New York Giants - Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

While New York’s defense was bad last year and could use a player like Isaiah Simmons or Derrick Brown, ultimately they decide to give Daniel Jones some much needed protection.

5.         Miami Dolphins - Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Tua is clearly a better player, prospect, quarterback than Justin Herbert. While Tua is coming off a season ending injury, there is no excuse for not taking him.

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

The Chargers will be content to stay at 6 and take whichever QB out of Tagovailoa and Herbert that Miami doesn’t. In this case it’s Herbert. They may say Tyrod Taylor will be their starter, but they need a QB of the future after moving on from Philip Rivers.

7.         Carolina Panthers - Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

Simmons is the most dynamic defensive player in this Draft (maybe other than Chase Young). He could be an elite pass rusher, coverage linebacker, or in the box safety. Regardless of what position he plays, he is a game changing player on defense.

8.         Arizona Cardinals - Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Arizona may be tempted to reunite Kyler Murray and CeeDee Lamb, but decide to bolster their offensive line instead after acquiring DeAndre Hopkins.

9.         Jacksonville Jaguars - Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

The Jaguars are rolling with Gardner Minshew. Instead of trying to rebuild their defense, the Jags get an offensive weapon that will help Minshew right away.

10.       Cleveland Browns - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

Baker Mayfield was under constant pressure last year, so they give him a left tackle after signing Jack Conklin in free agency to be their right tackle.

11.       New York Jets - Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

While the Jets have an offensive minded coach (or one who alleges to be), Brown is too much of an elite defensive talent to let slip past them. The Jets have already invested over $30 million in the offensive line this offseason and signed last season standout Breshad Perriman from the Bucs.

12.       Las Vegas? Raiders - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

The Raiders have needed a dynamic receiver since trading away Amari Cooper to Dallas and Lamb fills that void.

13.       San Francisco 49ers (from IND) - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

After making the Super Bowl with Jimmy Garoppolo, it's clear that the weapons around Jimmy G are more important than Jimmy G himself. The 49ers lost Emmanuel Sanders in free agency so they take the fastest wide receiver in the Draft.

14.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

In case you haven’t heard, Tampa has a new QB and he’s going to be 43. The Bucs already have good weapons (much better than what New England had), so they will attempt to give Brady the best line they can to keep him upright.

15.       Denver Broncos - Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

The Broncos miss out on the top 3 wide receiver prospects in the Draft. Instead of reaching for another wide receiver (in an extremely loaded wide receiver class), the Broncos improve their defensive line.

16.       Atlanta Falcons - CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

It’s no secret that Atlanta has to improve on defense if they want to have any shot at making the playoffs. They have a need at corner and Henderson, while not the most physical, is very good in coverage.

17.       Dallas Cowboys - Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

Losing cornerback Byron Jones to Miami leaves a gaping hole in the Dallas secondary. Fulton missed significant time in college because of off the field issues but is an elite prospect. Sounds like a Dallas Cowboy to me.

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

It would be very surprising if the Dolphins didn’t take an offensive lineman with at least one of their three 1st round picks. After trading Laremy Tunsil right before last season, Miami needs a left tackle and Jones can be the guy.

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

With the move to Las Vegas, the Raiders need to make a splash in some way. The perfect example of a non-splash is signing Marcus Mariota to back up Derek Carr. Neither of these guys were drafted by the current front office and Love is an exciting player. Even if he needs a year to develop, the hype around Love will define the Raiders’ first season in LV.

20.       Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) - Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

Jacksonville needs help at corner since they traded away both Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. Johnson is a physical press corner who can replace one of those starters they traded.

21.       Philadelphia Eagles - Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado

Injuries at the wide receiver position torpedoed the Eagles season last year. Getting depth at the position is one thing, but Carson Wentz never gelled with Alshon Jeffrey and needs a #1 WR. Shenault has bust potential, but could also be a #1 WR. 

22.       Minnesota Vikings (from BUF) -  Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

After trading Stefon Diggs to Buffalo, Minnesota will look to replace him. Jefferson was Joe Burrow’s top target last year at LSU, with a school record 111 receptions and 18 touchdowns. He can bring big play ability for Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense.

23.       New England Patriots - A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa

The Patriots seem to be content with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer as their leading quarterbacks going into 2020. That means the Pats will improve the front-7 to continue their elite defense. Epenesa can play on the edge or inside, giving him positional versatility that Belichick loves.

24.       New Orleans Saints - Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

While only a one year starter, Queen is fast and physical and played great in LSU’s biggest games at the end of the season. New Orleans takes the nearby Tiger to improve their defense.

25.       Minnesota Vikings - Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

The need for a cornerback and the front offices love of prototypical bodies leaves only one guy that the Vikings will take. Diggs is a 6’1 and 205 lbs cornerback who started at Alabama. Diggs can get a little grabby down field but he looks the part.

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

McKinney is a versatile and rangy safety that can be moved all over the field. Sound familiar Dolphins fans? Much like his Crimson Tide predecessor, Minkah Fitzpatrick, McKinney is an impact defender that can play wherever you need him to. He led Alabama in interceptions this past season and Miami needs a safety after trading the aforementioned Fitzpatrick and releasing Reshad Jones.

27.       Seattle Seahawks - Autsin Jackson, OT, USC

Russell Wilson (and every single Seahawks fan) has been begging the team to improve the offensive line to help extend Wilson’s prime. Jackson is the first step in that direction.

28.       Baltimore Ravens - Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

Baltimore never really replaced C.J. Mosley last year and they’re able to now with Murray, who is the best pure linebacker in the draft. He’ll bring a force back to the middle of their defense.

29.       Tennessee Titans - K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

Ryan Tannehill is signed long term. Derrick Henry is not going anywhere. A.J. Brown is the #1 WR. This means the Titans can start improving the already good defense. Chaisson is young and still needs to develop to succeed in the NFL but has the pass rush potential teams kill for.

30.       Green Bay Packers - Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona St.

Davante Adams is a great receiver, but Green Bay would be wise to take some pressure off of him and give Aaron Rodgers another weapon. Aiyuk is a Swiss Army knife that can be used inside and outside that will make the Packers offense even more explosive.

31.       San Francisco 49ers - A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

What more do the 49ers need? They made the Super Bowl and had a top-15 pick, which they used to get one of the top three wide receivers in this Draft. Richard Sherman is getting up in age and the other boundary corner spot also needs to be filled.

32.       Kansas City Chiefs - D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

Andy Reid has never drafted a running back in the 1st round, but he had never won the Super Bowl until a few months ago either. Damien Williams had a good Super Bowl, but Swift would give Kansas City a true #1 back who can run inside, outside, and catch the ball out of the backfield.