With just a week to go before the 2019 NFL Draft – it runs from Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27 – it seems only fitting that we take a stab at a mock draft and pick our top thirty-two selections for the first round. If you want to keep up with NFL updates, check out our own NFL page.
Of course, there is still plenty of time for the sort of last-second trade ups and downslides that are typical right up until teams are actually on the draft clock, but this is the draft order as it stands right now.
We’ll get to our 2019 Mock Draft in just a sec, but first, we answer a few general questions about this year’s draft overall.
Who will be the first player drafted, Kyler Murray or Nick Bosa?
That’s always the big question every NFL draft season – who will receive the honor of being the first player selected overall?
Last year it was Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield when the entire football world assumed it would be USC quarterback Sam Darnold.
This season it has floated between another Oklahoma quarterback, Kyler Murray, and Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa, but in the end, most mock drafts predict the first overall selection will go to Murray based more on need rather than on who is the better player.
Will some quarterback hungry team trade up with the Arizona Cardinals for that first overall pick?
That’s what many draft experts are predicting may happen, but every year they predict a team more desperate for a franchise quarterback will trade up to get the first pick.
The question this year is whether Arizona still considers second-year quarterback Josh Rosen their franchise quarterback or if they are indeed willing and ready to move on from him.
The other argument is that if the team begins to surround Rosen with talent, they might begin to see more from him than they did in 2018 when the rookie threw for just 2,278 yards and 11 touchdowns to 14 interceptions with a completion percentage of 55.2.
Which teams do not have a first round pick?
- The Cleveland Browns, who used their 17th pick in a trade for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants.
- The Chicago Bears, who used their 24th pick in a trade for pass rusher Khalil Mack from the Giants.
- The Dallas Cowboys, who used their 27th pick in a trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Giants.
- The New Orleans Saints, who used their 30th pick in order to move up in last year’s draft to select defensive end Marcus Davenport.
Which teams have more than one first round pick in 2019?
- The New York Giants will have four first-round picks, which are their 4th pick overall, then the 17th pick the got from the Browns for OBJ, the 24th pick they got from the Bears for Mack and the 27th pick they got from the Cowboys for Cooper.
- The Green Bay Packers will have two picks in the first round, which are their 12th pick and the 30th pick they got from the Saints for letting them move up last year to get Davenport.
Here are our mock picks for the 2019 NFL Draft:
Arizona Cardinals – QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again, and that is exactly what the Cardinals might have to do this season by snagging Murray after last year’s first-round pick, Rosen failed to impress.
San Francisco 49ers – DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Some mock drafts have the 49ers taking DL Quinnen Williams with the second pick, but with Bosa, they get an edge rusher with proven NFL genes and arguably the best player in this class.
New York Jets – DL Quinnen Williams, Alabama
The Jets’ 26th ranked run defense could use the kind of help the giant 6-foot-4, 295-pound Williams brings, whose redshirt-sophomore season included 8 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.
Oakland Raiders – EDGE Josh Allen, Kentucky
The Raiders desperately need to fill the large pass-rushing hole left by the departing Mack, and Allen has the skill-set and the first-step explosiveness to make that happen.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – EDGE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
With this many quality pass rushers in the draft class, it’s anybody’s guess which order they go in, but include in the cue Sweat, who has impressed scouts with his incredible appearances at the Senior Bowl and the scouting combine.
New York Giants – QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Assuming there are no trade ups or downs, the Giants could land Haskins, who could be a solid young backup to aging veteran Eli Manning, though Haskins would most likely end up playing before the end of the season if Manning’s win record continues to falter.
Jacksonville Jaguars – WR D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi
With quarterback Nick Foles under center, the Jaguars add Metcalf, who is graded to be an instant starter and whose size (6-foot-3, 228-pounds) and speed (40-yard dash in 4.33 secs) makes him an ideal target for Foles.
Detroit Lions – TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
Why not give quarterback Matthew Stafford some help with the soft-handed Hockenson, who caught 49 passes last season for 760 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills – DT Ed Oliver, Houston
Oliver is below 300-pounds, but he tackles like a big man, with 192 in three seasons at Houston (53 for loss) and 13.5 total sacks.
Denver Broncos – QB Drew Lock, Missouri
Just because the Broncos have taken on Joe Flacco doesn’t mean they don’t have to plan for the near future, and Lock allows them to do that.
Cincinnati Bengals – LB Devin White, LSU
The Bengals need a lot of help on defense, and White brings speed and playmaking to the field.
Green Bay Packers – OT Jawaan Taylor, Florida
The Packers need to keep Rodgers safe and add depth to their line, especially with right tackle Bryan Bulaga’s contract coming up next season, and Taylor gives that to them.
Miami Dolphins – OT Andre Dillard, Washington
The Dolphins could use some help with their 18th ranked rushing attack, as well as someone to help keep FitzMagic safe.
Atlanta Falcons – EDGE Brian Burns, Florida
Adding Burns to their already decent pass rush will give head coach Dan Quinn a player who will fit perfectly in his system.
Washington Redskins – DL Christian Wilkins
With the quarterback position settled now by the Case Keenum trade, they can begin focusing on their defensive needs and Wilkins fits.
Carolina Panthers – OT Cody Ford, Oklahoma
The Panthers could use some depth on the O-line, and Ford adds tremendous size and quick feet to the mix.
New York Giants (from Browns) – EDGE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
With the pick they got from the Browns for OBJ, the Giants can snag some pass-rushing help with Ferrell.
Minnesota Vikings – CB Greedy Williams, LSU
Williams will fit nicely into the Vikings 3rd ranked pass defense and his 8 interceptions in two seasons could help improve a unit that only snagged a total of 12 picks last year.
Tennessee Titans – TE Noah Fant, Iowa
Fant averaged 13.3 yards per catch last season on 39 receptions, and quarterback Marcus Mariota could use that kind of midfield help.
Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Byron Murphy, Washington
In two seasons, Murphy had 6 interceptions, one he returned for a touchdown, and the Steelers could use that kind of help in their secondary that only picked off 8 total passes last season.
Seattle Seahawks – CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
Baker had 40 tackles, 2 interceptions, 9 passes defended and a forced fumble last season and the Seahawks 17th ranked passing defense could use that kind of help.
Baltimore Ravens – DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
Last season the Ravens had the fourth best rushing defense, and Tillery brings a 6-foot-7, 305-pound frame into that mix.
Houston Texans – OL Garrett Bradbury, North Carolina State
The Texans need to protect quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was sacked a league-leading 62 times last season, and Bradbury brings 300-pounds of protection with him.
Oakland Raiders (from Bears) – RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama
Jacobs can run and catch with 140 touches for 887 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, filling a giant hole that exists in the Oakland backfield right now.
Philadelphia Eagles – DL Jeffrey Simmons, Mississippi State
Though Simmons tore his ACL in the offseason, he’s a top-ten player who could be well worth the risk given a full recovery.
Indianapolis Colts – WR Hakeem Butler, Iowa State
With great hands and speed, Butler will give quarterback Andrew Luck another target and will give defenses something to think about besides T.Y. Hilton.
Oakland Raiders (from Cowboys) – WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
Brown caught 75 balls last season for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns and will give quarterback Derek Carr someone else to look for besides Antonio Brown.
Los Angeles Chargers – DL Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
The Chargers rush defense was ranked 9th last season and Lawrence adds tackling depth to the line, with 36 tackles last season, 1.5 sacks and an interception.
Kansas City Chiefs – DB Deionte Thompson, Alabama
Whoever is the best defensive player on the board when the Chiefs are on the clock is whom they should select after a promising 2018 season with a 31st ranked defense.
Green Bay Packers (from Saints) – WR N’Keal Harry, Arizona State
Any chance to get new head coach Matt Lafleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers another offensive target should be snagged, especially one who can win jump balls as Harry can.
Los Angeles Rams – OL Greg Little, Ole Mi
Chances are the 6-foot-6, 325-pound Little can help create some holes for running back Todd Gurley, who will need to rest more if his arthritis diagnosis turns out to be correct.
New England Patriots – WR Parris Campbell, Ohio State
Assuming the Patriots don’t add defensive depth or trade back to a lower round, the idea of giving quarterback Tom Brady a quick target like Campbell could prove worthwhile.