Our first mock draft of the 2019 season as we approach the Super Bowl. This first mock is to explore the needs of each team in this first round and see how some players may rise and fall based off those needs. In the last 3 years, only 1 QB drafted in the first round was not acquired by trade and that was Baker Mayfield last year, so that’s a big thing to think about for these kinds of mock drafts. So let’s take a look at our first mock draft of the season.

Round 1

#1 Arizona Cardinals

Nick Bosa – EDGE – Ohio St | I believe this first pick is going to come down to Nick Bosa or Quinnen Williams, and I think few teams pass up an opportunity to take an elite pass rusher. The Cardinals also need a lot of help in the trenches, so they could look to trade back in the top 10 to gain some capital and draft a guy like Jonah Williams.

#2 San Francisco 49ers

Josh Allen – EDGE – Kentucky | With Bosa off the board, the 49ers are in a similar spot of taking the next elite pass rusher or the BPA in Williams. They are in desperate need of a top pass rusher, so I see them going Allen over Williams.

#3 New York Jets

Jonah Williams – OT – Alabama | This is the most likely spot in my opinion that a team will trade up for the top QB. So I don’t see Jonah Williams being drafted this high, I do see the Jets taking an offensive lineman, likely trading back to do so.

#4 Oakland Raiders

Quinnen Williams – DT – Alabama | The first of 3 first round picks for the Raiders. They’d like to see Allen or Bosa fall to this spot, but if they don’t, they will gladly take the player that many consider to be the top player in the draft.

#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Greedy Williams – CB – LSU | This is another great trade up spot for a QB needy team. The Bucs have a lot of needs and they sit one spot ahead of the first true QB needy team. I think the Bucs will look to help out the defensive side of the ball if they stick with this pick.

#6 New York Giants

Dwayne Haskins – QB – Ohio St | The Giants obviously need a QB, whether they stick with Eli this year or not. I think they could put Haskins in a great spot by keeping Manning for this year and letting Haskins sit for a year. He is definitely the best QB in this class, but he is also still raw. This could be a great scenario for Haskins and the Giants.

#7 Jacksonville Jaguars

Kyler Murray – QB – Oklahoma | I think there is a very good chance the Jaguars will look to acquire their QB in free agency and not the draft (my guess is they’ll have Nick Foles under center next year). But if they don’t, they’ll likely look to take the next best QB in the draft.

#8 Detroit Lions

Clelin Ferrell – EDGE – Clemson | Detroit will definitely be looking on the defensive side of the ball. Ferrell to the Lions just seems like a perfect fit.

#9 Buffalo Bills

Ed Oliver – DT – Houston | The Bills need some help in the trenches, especially with the retirement of Kyle Williams. Ed Oliver is a dominant force up front.

#10 Denver Broncos

Byron Murphy – CB – Washington | We could see the Broncos take a QB here, or more likely trade up for one, but with Haskins and Murray off the board, the Broncos will look to take the next best player available on their big board.

#11 Cincinnati Bengals

Devin White – LB – LSU | The Bengals are another team with a lot of needs, but at the top of the list is linebacker. Here they take the top linebacker in the draft. This is another spot teams could look to trade up to grab a top edge rusher in front of the Packers.

#12 Green Bay Packers

Jachai Polite – EDGE – Florida | Packers desperately need a pass rush. I think you could safely insert whatever the top 3-4 edge rusher still available here.

#13 Miami Dolphins

Rashan Gary – DL – Michigan | Miami is another team we could see either take a QB or trade up for one, but I think they are another team that will look to fill that void in free agency. So I believe they will look to improve the defense and this is another pick that just makes sense to me.

#14 Atlanta Falcons

Jeffery Simmons – DT – Mississippi St | The Falcons need some help on the defensive front. They were in he bottom third of the league in run defensive and QB pressures. Simmons should be able to help improve that.

#15 Washington Redskins

Daniel Jones – QB – Duke | I see a lot of people mocking WRs to the Redskins here, but I just don’t see it. I don’t believe any of the WRs are top 15 talent and the Redskins have far greater needs than that. The biggest being the QB. The reports don’t look good on Alex Smith playing next year, so the Redskins will need a QB. I think there is a chance Washington could look at acquiring a rental through free agency (I’ve heard Gruden is fan of Tannehill if he were to be released). But for now, the Redskins are QB desperate, so I have them taking the fast rising Daniel Jones.

#16 Carolina Panthers

Brian Burns – EDGE – Florida St | The panthers need to get younger on the defensive front and are currently lacking an explosive edge rusher. Could also be a potential landing spot for Alabama safety Deionte Thompson.

#17 Cleveland Browns

Yodny Cajuste – OT – WVU | Browns now need to protect their Rookie of the Year quarterback. Sounds like the Browns are looking to extend LT Greg Robinson, so they could look to further improve the defensive line and take a guy like Christian Wilkins. But in the end, I think they want to improve protection on their biggest investment.

#18 Minnesota Vikings

Cody Ford – OG – Oklahoma | Speaking of protecting your biggest investment. I think if the Vikings don’t take an offensive lineman here their die hard fanbase may revolt.

#19 Tennessee Titans

Christian Wilkins – DT – Clemson | The Titans need help across the defensive front. Wilkins is a dynamic player that can help in the run game and help create pressure.

#20 Pittsburgh Steelers

DeAndre Baker – CB – Georgia | The Steelers primary needs are on the defensive side of the ball, both at corner and at linebacker. We could see them take a guy like Mack Wilson out of Alabama, but I think they’ll grab one of the top corners in this draft.

#21 Seattle Seahawks

Deionte Thompson – S – Alabama | With Earl Thomas likely gone, the Seahawks need to find a new star in the secondary. Thompson looks to be the top safety in this class.

#22 Baltimore Ravens

N’Keal Harry – WR – Arizona St | The Ravens have their QB of the future, now they need to get him some weapons. You can insert whichever WR is top of their board here.

#23 Houston Texans

Jawaan Taylor – OT – Florida | Deshaun Watson was the most sacked QB in the league last year by a wide margin. They need to improve the offensive line. I see a lot of people mocking a tight end here, but I just don’t see it.

#24 Oakland Raiders (from Chicago Bears)

Montez Sweat – EDGE – Mississippi St | As Gruden said, It’s hard to find a good pass rusher. I don’t think the Raiders stay put in all 3 1st round slots, but if Sweat were to fall here, Gruden would take him in a heartbeat.

#25 Philadelphia Eagles

Josh Jacobs – RB – Alabama | With the top edge rushers off the board, the Eagles will look to their next biggest needs, RB and a WR with speed. Jacobs has quickly risen draft boards and could be exactly what the Eagles are looking for on offense. If they go the other direction, we could see Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown here.

#26 Indianapolis Colts

DK Metcalf – WR – Ole Miss | The Colts need a weapon opposite TY Hilton. Metcalf and Hilton could make for one of the most dynamic passing games in the league.

#27 Oakland Raiders (from Dallas Cowboys)

Marquise Brown – WR – Brown | Doesn’t this pick just feel right? You can just image Al Davis salivating over his speed and athleticism. The Raiders need to add a play maker on offense, and Hollywood Brown just seems like a perfect fit.

#28 Los Angeles Chargers

Dexter Lawrence – DT – Clemson | Chargers biggest needs are in the trenches on both sides of the ball. With Brandon Mebane an UFA, the Chargers look to grab the best NT in the class.

#29 Kansas City Chiefs

Mack Wilson – LB – Alabama | The Chiefs biggest needs are at linebacker and in the secondary. With the top 3 corners off the board, the Chiefs take a guy they can plug in and start right away at ILB.

#30 Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans Saints)

Taylor Rapp – S – Washington | Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Packers trade back out of this spot. With the need of edge rusher addressed, the Packers will look to their next biggest needs, safety or tight end.

#31 New England Patriots

TJ Hockenson – TE – Iowa | With the chance Gronk retires after the Super Bowl, it only makes sense to mock the Patriots a tight end. Most big boards have Noah Fant ranked higher, but I think the Patriots will go for a more complete Y than just a play making TE.

#32 Los Angeles Rams

Devin Bush – LB – Michgan | I think the Rams are likely to trade back from this position. But the Rams have 2 primary needs heading into this draft, an edge rusher and inside linebacker. Bush has great athleticism and instincts and could fit right in to this defense.