The thing with mock drafts is that they never work out the way you expect them to. Heck, the number one overall pick keeps changing, so how can you expect any semblance of order? I go into every mock with the same thoughts about our needs, particularly that Edge is the biggest need, but even picking as high as 12 means that things are constantly in flux.
Here’s our 10th mock of the year:
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Round 1
Most of the Edge guys were gone at 12. I love Brian Burns’s potential, but I can’t pass up Ed Oliver. My infatuation with getting an Edge player is because I think they need pass rush. Ed Oliver delivers that. It’s hard to pass on a guy who consistently penetrates like this:
Houston iDL Ed Oliver – consistently wins early w/his hands & athleticism – pic.twitter.com/76UGQuiKQh
— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) January 27, 2019
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At 30, I was hoping Burns might slip as the picks between 13 and 29 have been light on Edge in previous mocks. None fell, so I had a tough choice. There’s lots of needs to fill and I have a hard time selecting, which makes me so glad that we have this extra pick. In the end, I went with Noah Fant, the most freakishly talented Tight End in the class.
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Round 2
With top Edge talent dried up, I went with the next biggest need and took Nassir Adderly, who is my top safety. Passing on Dalton Risner here always stings, but I think it’s a lot easier to find an interior lineman later than a top defensive back.
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Round 3
I finally went with much-needed talent at Edge and took Jaylon Ferguson. At 6’5, he still has a lot of room to add meat. He’s not explosive with the elite flexibility of the top Edge prospects, but he has good burst and was ultra-productive with 17.5 sacks and 26 TFL in his senior year. A beast against the run, he has gret hands to attack, but needs to learn to use them to shed blocks better.
To get him, I passed up Elgton Jenkins, who would shore up guard (and serve as a backup center) because I still have faith in finding OL help later.
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Round 4
This is where I grab some of that sweet mid-round offensive line help with Bobby Evans. Athletic and strong with great mobility for zone blocking, he has some technique with hands and position to clean up, but playing LT and showing the versatility to move inside makes him a valuable pick for a team with needs up in multiple places on the line.
WIth the second pick in the 4th, I took DeMarkus Lodge, a quick, fast receiver with great ball skills who can be a good fit in the slot out of the gate.
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Rounds 5-7
I’m still not diving this deep, but I noticed OL help is still on the board with guys like Garrett Brumfield, Dennis Daley, and Chuma Edoga.
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Analysis
I didn’t come away with one of the elite Edge talents, but Ferguson will still probably be the best on the team. Having Ed Oliver blowing things up from the line will make him even more effective and putting Adderly behind it all is a nice way to help the D at three levels.
Offense got some big help, too, with Noah Fant looking like a rich man’s Jermichael Finley and DeMarkus Lodge coming in to earn snaps. Evans could start at RG and move out RT if and when necessary.
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Of Note
- Josh Allen is becoming a guaranteed top 3 guy with Nick Bosa
- The Jaguars take a QB almost every single mock, which seems odd – I know they need a QB, but none of the guys seem worthy of the #7 overall pick, especially with the amazing talent available on defense.
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Check out our PFTW 2019 Mock Draft Archive to see how other scenarios played out!
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