Here is my third and final mock draft with the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft set to get underway on Thursday night:
1.) Arizona Cardinals - QB - Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)2.) San Francisco 49ers - DE - Nick Bosa (Ohio State)3.) New York Jets - DT - Quinnen Williams (Alabama)4.) Oakland Raiders - DT - Ed Oliver (Houston)5.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB - Devin White (LSU) 6.) New York Giants - EDGE - Josh Allen (Kentucky) 7.) Jacksonville Jaguars - TE - T.J. Hockenson (Iowa)8.) Detroit Lions - EDGE - Rashan Gary (Michigan)
If you created a profile of the combination of person and football player Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane want in their organization, Christian Wilkins might as well be the poster child for it. By all accounts, his character is impeccable, and he’s the kind of player guys in the locker room gravitate to due to both his leadership and personality. He was named a team captain at Clemson as a junior and won two national titles there. He’s incredibly bright, earning a Master’s degree in Communications Studies in less than four years, as well as the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the “Academic Heisman,” given to “the American college football player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance.” When Wilkins was in high school, his grandfather, who he had lived with, was accidentally shot and killed by an officer in a SWAT raid at his home. Wilkins transferred to Suffield Academy in Connecticut, where he excelled on and off the field. He was a top-25 national recruit and chose Clemson, where he made an impact immediately as a freshman. Wilkins had a stellar college career, finishing with plenty of experience, also something the Bills value. In four years, Wilkins played in 55 collegiate games, including four ACC Championship games, four bowl games, and three National Championship games. He had 192 tackles, including 40.5 for a loss, and 16 sacks. He even batted down 15 passes. At 6’ 3” and 315-pounds, Wilkins is athletic and agile for his size. He can beat offensive linemen off the ball and to a spot, allowing him to make plays in the backfield or get down the line of scrimmage before getting blocked out. He’s not a two-gap anchor and needs to get stronger at the next level to take on double-teams, but since the Bills already have Star Lotulelei doing that, they wouldn’t need Wilkins to have to fill that role. They could allow him to be an attacking, but disciplined three-technique (line up on the outside shoulder of the guard), helping against both the run and pass. To me, Wilkins doesn’t have as high of a ceiling as Ed Oliver, but he also has a higher floor and is a very safe pick who will probably be a solid starter for years.10.) Denver Broncos - QB Drew Lock (Missouri)11.) Cincinnati Bengals - OT - Jawaan Taylor (Florida)12.) Green Bay Packers - TE - Noah Fant (Iowa)13.) Miami Dolphins - QB - Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State)14.) Atlanta Falcons - EDGE - Montez Sweat (Mississippi State)15.) Washington Redskins - WR - D.K. Metcalf (Mississippi)16.) Carolina Panthers - OT - Andre Dillard (Washington State)17.) New York Giants - QB - Daniel Jones (Duke)18.) Minnesota Vikings - OL - Cody Ford (Oklahoma)19.) Tennessee Titans - DT - Jerry Tillery (Notre Dame)20.) Pittsburgh Steelers - CB - Greedy Williams (LSU)21.) Seattle Seahawks - EDGE - Brian Burns (Florida State)22.) Baltimore Ravens - C - Garrett Bradbury (NC State)23.) Houston Texans - OT - Jonah Williams (Alabama)24.) Oakland Raiders - RB - Josh Jacobs (Alabama)25.) Philadelphia Eagles - S - Jonathan Abram (Mississippi State)26.) Indianapolis Colts - S - Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (Florida)27.) Oakland Raiders - EDGE - Clelin Ferrell (Clemson)28.) L.A. Chargers - DT - Jeffery Simmons (Mississippi State)29.) Seattle Seahawks - CB - Rock Ya-Sin (Temple)30.) Green Bay Packers - S - Nasir Adderley (Delaware)31.) Los Angeles Rams - LB - Devin Bush (Michigan)32.) New England Patriots - WR - Marquise Brown (Oklahoma)
33.) Arizona Cardinals - OT - Greg Little (Mississippi)34.) Indianapolis Colts - WR - N’Keal Harry (Arizona State)35.) Oakland Raiders - TE - Irv Smith, Jr. (Alabama)36.) San Francisco 49ers - CB Deandre Baker (Georgia)37.) New York Giants - OT - Dalton Risner (Kansas State)38.) Jacksonville Jaguars - DT - Dexter Lawrence (Clemson)39.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - OG - Chris Lidstrom (Boston College)
